August 15, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
689 
®he hardening 'World. 
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EDITORIAL NOTES. 
oundation of Agricultural Instruc¬ 
tion in Germany. 
From one of the Diplomatic and Consular 
'ports, No. 594, hailing from Germany, we 
: te that the foundation of agricultural in- 
; notion in that country was laid by Thaer, 
■ loctor of medicine, about the beginning of 
p nineteenth century. This doctor had 
tde a special study of German and foreign 
ricultural literature, which had even by 
at time assumed considerable dimensions, 
ie influence of chemistry upon agriculture 
is even then being gradually recognised 
/mg to the investigations of Reaumur in 
■ance, Wallerius in Sweden, Home in 
igland, and Bergmann in Germany, and 
Are especially by the researches of Priest- 
7, Ingenhouss, Sennehier, and de Saussure. 
Thaer derived much advantage from the 
study of the superior methods of cultivation 
which even at that time prevailed in the 
United Kingdom. Many of the problems 
which had been seriously engaging his atten¬ 
tion had already been solved by the agricul¬ 
turists of this country, so that he was greatly 
assisted in his investigations by a study of 
the methods of culture pursued by the 
farmers of this country. Considering that 
the science of agriculture was so far advanced 
in those days, it seems that the science has 
been much neglected since then, and, though 
making advances more recently, it seems that 
we have been allowing Germany to outstrip 
us in the matter of educating the young 
farmers of this country. The researches oi 
Thaer led him to establish an experimental 
station at Celle, near Hanover, in 1802. Two 
years later the Prussian Minister induced 
him to set up his establishment at Moglin, in 
Brandenburg. Before veiy long we find that 
eleven farming academies were established 
in Germany between 1802 and 1858. These 
farming academies gradually gave place to 
agricultural high schools and university agri¬ 
cultural institutes. 
Illustrations of Messrs. Backhouse's 
Nurseries. 
We are in receipt of an. illustrated pam¬ 
phlet of the various departments of the nur 
series of Messrs. James Backhouse and Son, 
Ltd., York. These illustrations are admir¬ 
ably executed, and one of them contains a 
beautiful view r in the rock garden at the York 
Nurseries. Other views show the interior of 
the winter garden belonging to W. B. Avery, 
Esq., and furnished by Messrs. Backhouse. 
The tree and shrub department is also illus¬ 
trated with several views, which serve to give 
■an idea of the cultures as carried on hern 
Views in the Cattal branch nursery are also' 
furnished. As illustrative of landscape art, 
a view is given of a bare field in its original 
state and after it has been converted into a 
rockery by the firm. The transformation is 
very great, and the results producing an 
effect which could have hardly been expected 
from so unpromising a piece of sloping and 
unpicturesque ground. Other interesting 
views include a portion of the rockwork 
clothed with, various alpine plants—Ivy, 
Cotoneaster, and other subjects—in full 
bloom. There is even a scientific depart¬ 
ment, with a laboratory, furnished with a 
great variety of specimens, some of which are 
preserved in spirits, and others are dried ac¬ 
cording to their nature. 
Growth of the Banana Trade- 
From Boston we learn, from the views ex¬ 
pressed by President Preston, of the United 
Fruit Co., that the tropical fruit business of 
Europe is only just yet in its infancy, and 
is capable of greatly increase® growth. Hei 
has also 1 stated that the. company had ex¬ 
ported'over 2,000,000 bunches of Bananas 1 to 
England this year, but that, he' thinks, is 
only a drop in the bucket as compared with 
the possibilities of Europe as a whole in the 
consumption of Bananas. Hitherto, the 
company has. greatly demonstrated its ability 
to transport the fruit in good condition, and 
in course of time it will no doubt be possible 
to' greatly extend the carrying power, as the 
new demand increases. Against this, how¬ 
ever, we learn, from New York that a new 
company has .been started for the purpose 
of transporting Bananas, and the old com¬ 
pany has. been cutting down prices trei- 
mendooisly in order to retain its hold upon 
the trade. The new company has somewhat 
more favourable conditions, owing to 1 its 
rental being smaller. What the effect of 
cutting prices will be in the end remains to 
be seem, but if it. will pay to send fruit here, 
rival companies will be a. benefit, to 1 the con¬ 
sumer - rather than otherwise. 
The Mosquito Plant. 
Some time ago we mentioned the fact that 
Captain H. D. Larymore, R.A., Resident, 
Northern Nigeria, had sent, a live specimen 
of the' Mosquito plant to Kew. This is now 
flowering in one of the T-range houses. They 
also, had seeds, and from them several young 
7 . •/ O 
plants have been raised, which may be seen: 
in the Economic Ground at. Kew. The' 
capabilities of the plant for driving away 
mosquitos have been greatly criticised re¬ 
cently by different writers. Captain Lary¬ 
more' replies to this criticism in the “ Times,” 
and thinks it unfortunate that, superficial ex¬ 
periments had been, conducted with a dozen 
mosquitos in Sierra Leone, and accepted a,s 
conclusive evidence that the plant has no 
effect upon the mosquitos. Hei gives' several 
reasons for doubting the correctness of the 
conclusions arrived at, and says, possibly 
the plant employed might not, have been the 
same one referred to by himself; secondly, 
they may not have recovered after trans¬ 
planting; and, thirdly, the well-known smell 
of ripe Bananas may have negatived the scent 
of the plant in the small space where the 
trials were conducted. The Captain, again, 
repeats his statement that, the particular 
Ocimum, given to him by the natives, pos¬ 
sessed the power of driving away mosquitos 
when its, leaves were bruised. He also 
stated that, his wife, by using the leaves at 
night, enjoyed immunity from the torment¬ 
ing insects'. He declares he shall make a 
point, of having a hedge of this particular 
plant in, every garden he owns in the tropics. 
It, seems that Dr. Front expresses 1 it as his 
opinion that an immense amount of harm 
would be done by the publication of Captain 
Larymore’s statement, but the latter says 
that this opinion is both exaggerated and 
unnecessary. Seeing that, the plant is now 
obtainable in this country, it would be in¬ 
teresting if those w T ho, are troubled with mos- 
quitos in London or elsewhere would make 
experiment,si with the plant in order to test 
its efficacy or otherwise. 
