408 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 23, 1901. 
ints for Amateurs. 
NOTES ON COMMON PLANTS. 
Ficus elastica.—The India Rubber plant is not 
usually associated in the average mind with the Fig 
plant or with the little climbing plant that covers 
the walls of our stoves, and known as Ficus repens. 
But, of course, they are all individuals of the same 
genus. This genus, as a whole, is most varied in 
habit, and is economically of great importance. The 
Fig tree, as we all know, has figured in literature 
from the very dawn of history, and its va'ue and 
importance has in no way declined at the present 
day. 
But we will confine ourselves to the India Rubber 
plant, or rather tree, for though we grow it as an 
ornamental conservatory and dwelling house plant, 
or for sub-tropical bedding, yet in its wide natural 
habitat in the East Indies, it usually grows as a 
stout independent tree. This species was introduced 
in 1815, the name being given by the botanist, Rox¬ 
burgh. At the base of this tree are " butress 
roots,” which radiate out in all directions, and they 
are never more than a few inches in thickness. 
Adventitious roots develop from the branches and 
grow downward into the soil, these becoming thicker 
and thicker during the advance of time until they 
form great pillars supporting the branches. The 
leaves are leathery and smooth, well suited, indeed, 
to resist the heavy rains to which they are subjected 
in their native habitat. In Ficus religiosa (supposed 
by some to be the Fig used by Adam and Eve for 
making their first aprons) the apex of the leaves 
runs out into a long point, called a "drip-tip,” 
whose purpose is to facilitate the conduction of water 
from the leaves. 
Caoutchouc is obtained from F. elastica by cutting 
notches in the stems of the trees, to allow the milky 
latex to ooze out. The trees must at least be twenty- 
five years old before the latex is obtainable. So 
many of the trees have been tapped, as it is called, 
for the latex that there is a danger of the supply 
running short. Legislation, we believe, has demanded 
that the planting of India Rubber trees must be 
performed in “ratio to the extent of the destruction 
done by drawing off the latex. The trees are bound 
to suffer after persistent tapping. The price of 
rubber is rather high at the present time. Rubber 
trees are largely grown in British Central Africa, 
where the collecting of rubber has recently formed 
an industry around Zomba. 
In conclusion it may be of further interest to add 
that the Ficus tribe or genus, Including the Fig and 
Rubber trees, are linked in the same family as our 
common stinging nettles. The Hemp and the Mul¬ 
berry are also members of the same natural order, 
so that our humble F. elastica has much more to 
commend it to our respect than most of us wot of. 
Aspidistra lurida.—The parlour Palms have not 
quite so much interest for us from an economic or 
botanical standpoint, as had Ficus elastica, jet it 
presents points worthy of notice. For instance a 
great many people would be taken aback if you asked 
where the flowers appeared. The flowers are most 
peculiar. They just manage to get above the soil at 
the surface of the ba'l or mass of rhizomes, and in 
general appearance they resemble a sovereign’s 
crown. They are creamy and mauve coloured, 
being so constructed that the "essential organs," 
that is, the pistil and stamens, are closed in a little 
fleshy casket. Oaly the smallest of insects are ever 
found inside, although some botanists suggest that 
the flowers are fertilised by small snails. The usual 
method of propagation is by division of the roots. 
Notwithstanding the immense quantities of this fine, 
dwelling house decorative plant that are yearly 
grown,we have seen well developed plants in 8 in.pots, 
beautifully variegated, selling for one guinea apiece, 
a price that pays. The price of a plant used to be 
reckoned at about gd. a leaf. The species itself, with 
dark green leaves, should be grown in rich soil, 
whereas to bring out the white veining and varie¬ 
gation of A. 1 . variegata, the method adopted is to 
employ a limy compost, without manures. The 
Aspidistra is classified along with Liliums, Yuccas, 
Asparagus, Onions, Agapanthus, &c., in the order 
Liliaceae. 
Fatsia (Aralia) japonica.—The plant widely 
known in gardens as Aralia Sieboldii, and sometimes 
as A. japonica, is properly named Fatsia japonica. 
No doubt the close resemblance in many of their 
more important features led to this species of the 
genus Fatsia being confused with the allied, though 
distinct,genus of Aralia. In Panax again, and also in 
the Ivies, the morphological characteristics all 
generally associate with each other, but at present 
these are separated into different genera from the 
presence of some more or less constant and out¬ 
standing features of their organisms. 
Fatsia japonica is also named as the Castor- 
oil plant, but the true Castor-oil plant is Ricinus 
communis, a member of the order Euphor- 
biaceae, the oil being got from its se:ds. 
Fatsia japonica is simply a useful ornamental plant 
and is almost hardy in the more sheltered parts of 
our Isles. Another Aralia, such as A. Ginseng, is 
extensively grown both in America and in China for 
the Ginseng medicine produced by the tubers. The 
Rice paper tree is also a species of Fatsia (F. papy- 
rifera), whose appearance in its native country— 
Japan—must indeed be grand and dignified. The 
leaves are like those of F. japonica greatly enlarged. 
The name Dimorphanthus mandschuricus though 
nearly always employed by nurserymen and gar¬ 
deners, is incorrect, Aralia being proper. All these 
belong to Araliaceae and the so called Castor-oilplant 
of gardens—the Fatsia japonica alias Aralia japonica 
alias Aralia Sieboldii has no intimate connection what¬ 
ever with Ricinus communis which is, as I say,a mem¬ 
ber of the Spurge family, i.e. Euphorbiaceae. Fatsia 
japonica is largely propagated from cuttiDgs of both 
the stem and the fleshy roots. Some of the stove 
species of Aralia are difficult to propagate other than 
by grafting on certain species. 
Pillar Roses.—Now that the Tea, Hybrid Tea, 
Noisette, and Pillar or Climbing Roses have had so 
many fine varieties added to their lists,we find in the 
greater number of gardens that a Rose conservatory 
has been erected, or is at least contemplated. It is 
rather to be regretted that we cannot depend on 
Roses for a winter display. Our markets are 
supplied regularly with large quantities of Rose 
blooms in winter, but these are imported. 
The Pillar Roses have at all times enjoyed a 
special popularity, and by all means let us uphoid 
the feeling for them. It is true that they produce 
lots of straggling growths, and their presence may 
even abstract from the fullness of light required by 
the neighbours below or around them, but they will 
bear cutting in. Do not allow them to straggle 
about too much, and be very attentive to keep them 
clean, which being attended to one can enjoy an 
additional feature of interest and value along with 
the pot or bush Roses. All the Roses, however, 
should be planted out the same as these Pillar Roses, 
in the doing of which due care will be given so as to 
dispose them in the best positions for a healthy and 
vigorous growth. 
Amongst the varieties specially useful for the 
clothing of pillars are Niphetos, Marechal Niel, 
Lamarque, the Gloire de Dijon race, Catherine 
Mermet, Belle Lyonnaise, Cheshunt Hybrid, climb¬ 
ing Devoniensis (on pillars and roof), W. A. 
Richardson, Celine Forestier, Mdme. Berard, Mdme. 
Chauvry, Bouquet d’Or, Medea, and Le Soleil. 
The beauty of our Rose gardens and conserva¬ 
tories is very frequently marred by the abominable 
use of wooden stakes. If these were at once straight, 
elegant, and fitted for the purpose, there would be 
no objection to them, but ir nearly all cases they are 
much too clumsy, and are apt to snap off when the 
plants develop to the larger sizes. Iron stakes or 
rods with tripod feet should be part of the furniture 
of the garden or Rose conservatory. In very large, 
span-roofed Rose houses, a system of planting might 
well be adopted where the Roses would form diversi¬ 
fied groups in different shapes. Some of these 
groups might unite to form a rounded, umbrella- 
shape ; others could be taken uprightly in imposing 
pyramids, while the pillar Roses and the bush plants 
would come in between. The danger would lie in 
overcrowding, but the thoughtful man would avoid 
harm from any such cause. 
Present Work.—Vines should now be propagated 
from stout and well selected eyes. Place the eyes— 
about 1 in. in length—in small 3-in. pots, using a 
compost of turfy loam. Place these pots in bottom 
heat with a top temperature of 65° to 70°. When 
rooted pot off the Vines. Stove plants will occupy 
attention in the matter of potting and top dressing. 
Fruit houses in working order demand attention so 
far as airing, syringing, disbudding, and tying-in, 
and watering are concerned. Forced Roses should 
be taken from the pits to the cooler greenhouse when 
the buds are half opened. Supplies of shrubby and 
woody plants such as Spiraeas, Kerrias, Pyrus, and 
Prunus, should be brought into heat. Rhododen¬ 
drons lifted from the open force easily. So do Tree 
Paeonits, German Irises, Dielytra, Honeysuckles, 
and ether things. Clematis should now be root- 
grafted, and hardy Rhododendrons can be stem 
grafted.— Beacon. 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
A nyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
"Amateurs' Page " on the top of their letters. 
Types of Clematises.— L. F. : On the authority 
of Mr. Thos. Moore, F.L.S , and Mr. Geo. Jackman 
the genus Clematis is divided (1) as climbing kinds, 
and (2) as non-climbing kinds. Then the next step 
is whether they flower on the (1) year old wood, 
or (2) the growing summer wood. Under these 
latter heads various "types” are taken. Thus we 
have the lanuginosa type with dispersed flowering 
habit, the Viticella type with massed flowers; and 
the Jackmanni type with large flowers borne in pro¬ 
fuse, successicnal clusters ; all of which flower from 
the young wood. C. montana, C. patens, and C. 
florida are types of those that flower on ripened 
wood. The genus is so large and varied that one 
would require a good deal of acquaintance with them 
before they could be all arranged in their proper 
divisions. 
Carden Refuse as a Manure.— J. C.: When the 
vegetables and all the organic material that go to 
compose a vegetable manure heap is clean, a 
quantity of this material is very valuable on all the 
lighter qualities of soil. A good deal can be done to 
sweeten the composition by adding layers of 
unslaked lime to it when turning over the decompos¬ 
ing matter. Such stuff as vegetable mould supplies 
humus to the land and this humus provides nitrogen 
for one thing, also humic and other acids that act 
on the soluble constituents of the soil and render 
them fit for absorption. The nitrifying bacteria 
which are present in the soil in enormous numbers, 
require humus as an essential of their existence. 
Potting Composts.— F. F. : We append a list of 
the plants usually found in the amateur's conserva¬ 
tory or stove, with a note on the sort of potting 
compost that will be found to suit them :—Two parts 
good fibrous loam, one part clean leaf mould, and 
one part sand. (Note that "part” may refer to a 
large or small quantity, but the proportions simply 
mean a double portion, or a half portion of one, which 
is accepted as the unit). The above compost will 
answer for Agaves, Aloysia (Lemon scented Verbena); 
Hippeastrums, Callas, Asparagus, Aspidistra, Auri¬ 
culas (in pots), Begonias, Bougainvilleas, Calceo¬ 
larias, Campanulas, Celosia and Cockscombs, Chry¬ 
santhemum, Cinerarias, Clematis, Cobaea scandens, 
Cyclamen, Haresfoot Ferns, Eucalyptus, Fuchsias, 
Pelargoniums, Humea elegans, Hydrangeas, 
Mignonette, Myrtle, Oleander, Pancratium, Pan- 
danus or Screw Pine ; Pilea muscosa, the Artillery 
plant; Poinsettias, Primulas, Roses, Salvias, Smilax, 
and Solanums. Then for the undermentioned plants, 
a compost containing equal parts of loam, peat, leaf 
mould and sand :—Maidenhair Fern, Aralias, Ardis- 
ias, Asplenium.'Bouvardias, Caladium, Canna, Clero- 
dendron, Cuphea, Datura or Brugmansia, Epiphyll- 
ums, Erythrina, Gardenia, Gloxinia, Grevillea, 
Cestrums, Hellotropium, Hoya bella, H. carnosa, 
Jasminum gracillimum, Lantana, Lastrea.Passifloras, 
Pteris, Tacsonia, and almost any of the little edging 
and creeping plants. 
Peach Trees.— Reader : The buds of your Peach 
trees must have been bored into by a weevil, pro¬ 
bably a species of Otiorhynchus sulcatus, which you 
may discover by a careful examination of the trees 
at night by the aid of a lantern. The best way to get 
rid of these weevils will be to spread a white sheet 
under the trees in the afternoon,so that when you turn 
the light on the trees the weevils will fall on the sheet 
where they may be caught and destroyed. Your trees 
would perhaps benefit from an occasional spraying 
with Paris green. This can be had in the form of a 
