868 
TUB GARDENING WORLD. 
October 17. 1933. 
wardens' or in an amateur’s garden, where space is usually con¬ 
siderably limited. Damsons are also suitable for planting on 
the outside of orchards by way of shelter to Plums and other 
fruit trees, where they fruit well and are not liable to be 
damaged by the wind on account of their sturdy habit and stiff 
branches. The variety may also bei cultivated extensively for 
market purposes. The fruit ripens about the middle of Sep¬ 
tember. 
Cuscuta reflexa. 
About- the end of August a correspondent sent us some speci¬ 
mens of a species 1 of Dodder growing on Marguerites, and 
which he had never seen, before. He did not state how he had 
come by the pest, but possibly it may have- come as a small 
pie-ce on a Marguerite or on some other plant, or seeds may 
ha-ve wot accidentally mixed with the soil. It- is one of several 
species of parasite which grows upon a- variety of greenhouse 
subjects, and is generally known. a.s- Cuscuta- refle-xa. If ke-pt- 
to the Convolvulus family, but- has so- far lost its independence 
that it can only live upon some other plant. It is so far de¬ 
generate that it- has lost the power of producing either roots or 
leaves. Its thready stems- are furnished with haustoria- or 
suckers, which it pushes- into- the host plant and absorbs the 
food it requires. 
Araucaria imbricata Seed. 
Herewith I am sending you seeds from this ornamental tree. 
You will notice these are well-ripened and fertile seeds which 
were blown from some' large trees growing in tliel grounds here 
by the recent gale. I have not seen such good seed from our 
trees before, and there were a- good many on the ground the 
next morning. 
Houstonia caeeulea : Flowers sky blue and white. 
in subjection it- might be regarded merely as a curiosity, but- 
when allowed to get the upper hand or mastery it proves a 
very troublesome pest indeed. 
Two plants of Marguerite were sent us, -and that, which we 
illustrate was the better of the two. In each case the parasite 
had invested the whole of the plant with its thready stems. 
The Marguerites were approaching the flowering stage, but the 
b-uds did not- seem a-s if they would open. Another very 
peculiar effect- noticeable was that the leaves of the host p-la-nt 
had become thick and fleshy, resembling some of those which 
are peculiar t-o the seaside. 
Thc-sei that are troubled with this sort of parasite should 
keep an, outlook in the e-arly part of the season when the plants 
commence to- grow, pulling off the parasite from every plant 
where it is- not wanted. If specimens' are wante-d out of 
curiosity, they should be isolated from other plants and allowed 
to- take tliedr course. 
As will be seen from our illustration,, the- Cuscuta is; thickly 
covered with its small globular heads- of white flowers, -some of 
which have passed into the- fruiting stage. The plant- belongs 
Most seasons I notice a- goc-d many cones on them, but never 
saw ripe seed, although some two years ago- I found a young 
plant at the edge of a bush of Rhododendron. 
At- Cricket St. Thomas this tree lias produced good seed for 
years-, and I ha-ve s-ee-n, large- plants- raised from seed grown 
there. When, looking over the gardens recently Mr. Lyon 
drew o-ur attention, to- how much more freely it was coming 
on the sunny side of the tree, and when well developed they 
are most ornamental. J- C., F., Chard. 
Public Pakic for Aberaman. —At the meeting of the Aber 
dare Urban District Council recently, Mr. E. M. Harm. 
J.P., persiding, the offer of the Powell Duffryn Company of a 
plot of ground known as Michael’s Field, about eight acres, 
and the Plough Tip, for a park at Aberaman -was accepted, and 
the thanks of the Council were accordel Mr. Hann and the 
Powell Duffryn Company for their generous offer. The surveyor 
was instructed to take steps to have the ground levelled. I' 
will be remembered that some months ago a pretty park and 
recreation ground were opened at Cwmaman by the chairman 
of the Council, the land being given by Lord Aberdare. 
