THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 13 , 1901 . 
522 
xylon Rumphii, Mart., and M. laeve. Inferior 
qualities of Sago are got from many other Palms, 
even including the well known Rhapia flabelliformis, 
L., and the exceedingly useful Mauritia flexuosa so 
essential to the West Indian and tropical American 
natives. Sago seems a strange crop and would 
appear to necessitate great destruction, seeing that 
the trees have to be cut down before the pith can be 
extracted. 
Tea is the dried leaves of an Evergreen shrub 
(Camellia theifera Griff), whose culture is gradually 
extending in Africa, though formerly the East 
Indies, China, Burmab, and Ceylon were the 
principal countries wherein it was to be found. The 
shrub ordinarily grows to a height of 3 ft. to 6 ft., 
and is very bushy with numerous leafy branches. 
Its flowers are white and somewhat like those of a 
Bramble or Dog Rose Before any leaves are pulled 
off, the plants are allowed to have become well 
established, that is, generally their second or third 
year. The •• Pekoe Tea ” is derived from leaves 
plucked from the buds during the early stages of 
opening. Green Tea and Black Tea are only ren¬ 
dered different by their mode of preparation. 
The process of drying takes a long time, and is 
mostly done in the open air. After beiDg dried the 
leaves are then roasted. This is done in shallow 
iron pans heated over a wood fire, the person in 
charge keeping the leaves constantly turned. In a 
few minutes the leaves begin to crack, and become 
soft, moist, and pliable. They are then thrown on 
Bamboo tables where they are rolled. The drying 
and rolling goes on alternately for a while longer, 
when the merchants buy it, and blend it before 
packing in the little Tea boxes so well known to us. 
Indian Tea gives a stronger and darker liquid than 
the China Teas; and the Ceylon Tea is very popular 
because of its rich quality. China Teas arrive in 
London about the end of June or the beginning of 
July. New Indian Teas appear about the end of 
May ; whilst Ceylon Teas come in all the year 
round. There are over fifty blends of Teas. 
Macaroni is simply a dried paste made from the 
flour of a very hard wheat, and water. The paste 
is pressed through holes in sUch a way as to form 
hollow cylinders, and according to the size of the 
cylinder its Dame varies, the largest being called 
Marcaroni, the next vermicelli, and so on. Semolina 
consists of small particles of Corn, Rice, and a hard 
Wheat grown in Italy. 
Sugar is produced all the world over; the two 
principal bring the Cane and the Beet sugar. The 
latter now largely dominates the European markets. 
The sugar cane is cultivated in all tropical and sub¬ 
tropical countries, but the warmer the country the 
more, and better sugar is produced. The canes 
when ripe are cut close down to the ground, for it is 
in the lower joints and in the root-stocks that the 
sugary juice is greatest. These are then passed 
through rollers after which the juice (nowin pans) 
is evaporated by means of heat. The cane refuse, 
megass, and coals are burned to supply the artificial 
heat, but where coals are expensive, the price ofthe 
sugar is grra ly raised. Tnis is one of the problems 
that have taxed those who are tryiEg to re-establish 
the sugar growing industry in the West Indies. It 
has been thought that sun heat might be used to 
effect by concentrating the rays by means of large 
glasses. 
In the Sugar-Beet countries fuel is cheaper to 
buy, and easier to get. Labour is also plentiful, 
whereas in the West Indies many of the Islands are 
very sparsely populated, having less than one hun¬ 
dred to the square mile. Sugar cane requires a 
rich, moist soil, and here again manure is much more 
difficult to get in the cane countries, than in those 
where the Beet is grown. The Sugar Cane has 
until recently suffered from a disease, and as the 
means of propagation has hitherto been entirely 
from young suckers the disease was likewise trans¬ 
mitted. But canes after having been allowed to 
mature were found to flower freely, and a fresh, 
healthy stock of seedlings can easily be raised. The 
failure or decay of the Cane Sugar industry which 
at one time was the mainstay of the West Indian 
Islands, has caused many other crops to be culti¬ 
vated in its stead. So great were the Sugar returns 
early in last century that owners of comparatively 
small estates, say 3,000 acres, could afford to live in 
luxury in London, while their foreign affairs were 
managed for them by a resident estate agent.— 
J.H.D. 
VALLOTA PURPUREA 
Is well worthy of a place in every garden, as it 
produces its splendid flowers during autumn. It 
seems to thrive and flower best on becoming) pot 
bound, applying waterings of liquid manure occasion¬ 
ally ; therefore frequent shifting should be avoided. 
During summer it requires abundance of water, and 
exposure to full sunshine. Unlike most other bulbs, 
Vallotas have no time of inaction ; many cultivators 
at first failing through drying off, until they become 
aware of the fact. If large specimens are required, 
place a dozen bulbs in a 12-in. pot. Repotting is 
best done in autumn, when necessarily required, at 
the same time severing the small bulbs from the 
large, for increasing the stock. For specimens pot on 
intact iDto larger pots. Vallota purpurea, or, as it is 
named, major, generally flowers about August, but 
varies at times according to the temperature in 
which it is grown. Flowering bulbs placed in gentle 
heat, may be had in bloom about March. For soil 
they delight in turfy loam, peat, sand, and cow 
manure. The other three varieties are minor, magni- 
fica, and eximia. The latter two have brighter 
colour than the two former. The two first named 
vary only in size of flower.— Walter Hogarth, Norton 
Gardens, Ratho, Midlothian. 
FILMY FERNS. 
How seldom one meets with these, notwithstanding 
their exquisite beauty and comparative ease of 
culture, if only their few simple wants be attended 
to. They can easily be grown in a frame out of 
doors, behind a north wall, provided they are pro¬ 
tected from severe frost, but if preferred they can be 
grown in a Wardian case in a cool house. There 
are four conditions essential to their successful culti¬ 
vation; these are—shade or subdued light, a humid 
close atmosphere, plenty of water and ample drain¬ 
age. The Hymenophyllums and Trichomanes 
should be grown in pots half filled with drainage and 
potted Orchid-fashion, with equal parts of turfy 
loam and peat, both used in a rough lumpy state, 
with a free admixture of charcoal, sandstone and 
chopped sphagnum. If a block of Oak or other 
hard wood be built into the centre of the pots 
intended for the Trichomanes they will cling to it 
with their rhizomes. Todeas do not require more 
than ordinary drainage, and in their case the sand¬ 
stone may be omitted and silver sand substituted. 
When once they are established they should not be 
disturbed for several years beyond giving them a top¬ 
dressing. Many people think they should be watered 
overhead with a rose, but this is wrong. Give plenty 
of water at the roots, keeping the frame or case 
closed, and this will produce the necessary humidity 
of atmosphere. Todeas should not be attempted by 
those whose room is limited, as plants of T. Fraserii 
and T. superba, when welt grown and fully developed, 
often measure from 3 ft. to 4 ft. across; but for those 
who can afford them space they are lovely objects. 
I close with a list of a few of the more popular 
Filmies:—Todea Fraserii, T. superba, T. pellucida, 
Trichomanes radicans (Killarney Fern), T. r. 
Andrewsii, T. reniforme, T trichoideum, Hymeno- 
phyllum demissum, H. nitens, H. tunbridgense, H. 
chiloense and H. flexuosum. — Chas. Comfort, Broom- 
held, Davidson's Mains, Midlothian. 
———-- 
MIGNONETTE FOR WINTER 
BLOOMING. 
This is a very favourite greenhouse plant, and 
deservedly so. It is so useful for vase decoration, 
or as a window plant. To grow it well it requires 
great care. Seed should be sown this month, in 
7-in. pots, using a compost of turfy loam, leaf soil, 
lime rubble, and decayed cow manure. The pots 
should have liberal drainage, with a layer of manure 
over the crocks, filling the pots to within |-in. from 
the top with the soil named. Then put four or five 
seeds on, and cover slightly over with finer soil, 
giving them a good watering and place the pots in a 
cool frame, kept close until the seeds begin to ger¬ 
minate, when they will require more air. As soon 
as the plants are J-in. high, thin them out, leaving 
the strongest plant. When they have attained the 
height of 3 in., pinch out the leads and continue till 
about July or August. By that time they will want 
staking, and also feeding occasionally with weak 
manure and soot water. The plants will be quite 
safe in the cold frames till October, when they 
should be brought into the greenhouse and placed 
up to the glass to prevent them from being drawn. 
I find “ Machet " the best variety for pot work and 
winter blooming — T. W. B. 
COSMOS BIPINNATUS. 
Cosmeas are slowly coming into fashion, but so 
slowly that it is necessary to be constantly singing 
their praises. Few annuals are so handsome and 
satisfactory in large or small gardens. Sow in heat 
in March or April, and they must be pricked out, 
taken care of, and planted out early in June in good 
rich soil, when the results will be surprising. They 
grow 3 or 4 ft. high, and from July till November are 
covered with large pink or white flowers, the shape 
of a Daisy, which last well in water if cut, and keep 
the plant gay if left alone. The foliage is almost as 
light as fennel, but without the smell, so that it is 
an all round success. If there is no heat, Cosmeas 
may be sown in the ground, but should have a seed 
bed, where the tiny plants may be covered when 
there is danger of frost, and from whence they may 
be transplanted. The real object of transplanting is 
to ensure their having room to thrive, for they are 
both tall and bushy, and one plant to 2 sq. ft. of 
ground gives best results. Crowded small and weak 
they are no good, so they should not be sown in 
their flowering places. A new mammoth variety 
appeared about two years ago which grows a foot 
taller than the others, and has larger flowers, but is 
not otherwise noticeably different. Cosmos sul- 
phureus is a shorter smaller species with yellow 
flowers the size of sixpence; it is very branching, and 
wanders about a flower bed in a casual way of its own, 
but it is a very pleasing plant, and well worth grow¬ 
ing. Cosmea is a synonym of Cosmos .—Albert 
Marks, 4, Orchard Terrace, Chichester, Sussex. 
DAHLIA PROPAGATION. 
Roots that were placed in the hotbed or the propa¬ 
gating frame the latter part of March, will now have 
put forth cuttings. When these are 3 in. or so in 
length they should be taken off with a sharp knife 
close to the old tuber, but not so as to injure its 
crown, because many more shoots will arise from it 
if required. Prepare the cuttings by cutting the 
shoot smoothly across under the first joint, and 
without shortening the leaves. The cutting should 
be put into the smallest sized pots (30’s) into a light 
soil composed of decayed leaves and sand, although 
I have sesn them struck in a pure white sand alone. 
The cutting should be inserted just as far as will 
enable it to stand upright, as the shallower they 
are planted the better. Plunge in a brisk bottom 
heat, cover with a hand glass, and shade regularly. 
Water regularly but not over the leaves. In four¬ 
teen days or so they may be taken from under the 
glass and accustomed to the air by degrees. 
When they will stand without flagging transplant 
into larger pots and gradually harden them off by 
removing from the pit to other situations until they 
will stand the air and temperature of a cold pit; but 
in these they will require to be covered at night 
with mats till the 1st of May or so when they must 
be accustomed to stand the open air so that they 
may be planted out where they are to flower by the 
middle of that month.— T. W. Dollery, The Gardens, 
Whitburn, Sunderland. 
- — ■ ■ ■■ 
HOW TO GROW CYCLAMEN FROM 
SEED. 
Cyclamen seed should be sown in August. Seed 
pans are the best for the purpose; they should be 
filled with a compost of loam, a liberal quantity 
of leaf soil, and a little silver sand. Dibble the seeds 
in about an inch apart, and a quarter of an inch 
deep; place on a shelf in a greenhouse, and shade 
from the sun. When large enough to handle prick 
off into similar soil, putting about a dozen in a 4j-in. 
pot; when ready place them in single pots, and by 
the end of April in 3-in. pots, and flower them in 
4$-in. pots. In the final potting the crown of the 
corm should appear a little above the surface. After¬ 
wards place them in a cold frame near the glass; 
sprinkle them freely overhead once in the forenoon 
with a very fine spray, not too heavily, or the foliage 
will be bent down. Never shut the lights of the 
frame until the leaves are dry, otherwise they will 
become drawn and the constitution of the plant will 
suffer. Give the plants as much air as possible, 
avoiding cold draughts, for sudden changes are very 
detrimental to the Cyclamen. In summer shading 
