May 1, 1907 
THE. AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
II 
ee 
Nutritive Bananas. 
It has been estimated that a banana 
plantation will feed twenty-five human 
beings where a potato field of the same 
size would support but two, and a wheat 
farm only one It has also been ascer- 
tained that chesnut groves, with full- 
grown trees, produce six times as much 
food per acre as any cereal crop In view 
of these facts it has been suggested, says 
the “,Family Doctor,” that a time may 
come when the staples of human food will 
be mainly derived from trees, greatly to 
the advantage of the race 
Practical Points. 
EiscALbonIA MacrantTHa 
This charming rose-flowered shrub suc” 
ceeds well in most localities Its rich 
glossy green foliage and compactness of 
growth renders it invaluable as a garden 
shrub It is also useful as a hedge plant, 
being of vigorous growth, and stands cut- 
ting Cuttings may now be put in, half 
sand and half loamy soil, and place in 
cool frame 
FUcHSIAS 
Cuttings of Fuchsias should now be put 
in This will produce excellent material 
for next spring It never harms Fuchsias 
to prune severely 
PHILADELPAUS CORONARIUS 
The Syringa, or Mock Orange. as_ this 
shrub is popularly called, is a great favor- 
ite with most people, and most gardeners 
even those of small dimensions, include it 
among the occupants Its popularity is 
due to ‘several causes: Firstly, it is an 
exceptionally free flowering shrub, and 
secondly, the flowers are of good size, and 
very fragrant: thirdly, it blooms during 
January and February, after most of the 
floweriny shrubs are over; and fourthly, 
it thrives in almost any kind of soil, and 
often under very adverse conditions Itis 
an extremely old introduction, numerous 
varjeties have been raised A few of the 
best are Double-flo ered Flore Plena, the 
White Variegated. the Golden-leaved 
Aurea, Tomentosus, Lemonei, Micro 
phyllus Cuttings of soft shoots root 
readily in a close frame in early summer 
= 
Many people think that Ferns should 
not be given liquid manure. This is a 
mistake, as a little decayed manure liquid 
given once a week is excellent; as also is 
weak soot water applied twice a week 
during growing season. 
Verbenas make bright and beautiful 
beds during the summer, and are easily 
raised from seed or cuttings. 
Carnations in pots need careful water- 
ing in winter. Always allow the soil to 
become fairly dry before giving a fresh 
supply, and if grown under glass, give 
plenty of ventilation. ‘ 
With one or two exceptions, the older 
varieties of Zonale Geraniums compare 
badly with the newer sorts, and should be 
discarded in favor of the latter. The time 
is at hand for propagating plants for flow- 
ering next season: itis rather later for 
cold distrscts. 
Adiantum Farleyense should not be 
frequently repotted: this noble fern is 
impatient of roots disturbance. 
Leonots Leonurus. from leon, lion, and 
ous, an ear; in reference to fancied resem- 
belence in the corolla. It is a very 
ornamental, small-growing shrub, with 
long spikes of brilliant scarlet flowers. It 
is sometimes called a Salvia, which it 
resembles very much, 
When planting dwarf budded Roses, see. 
that the union is placed below the surface 
of the soil; this will give the Rose a 
chance'to make roots upon its own ac- 
count. 
Phloxes are easy to propagate. The 
best plan is by taking cuttings of young 
shoots, dibbling them into pans or a bed 
of sandy soil. ‘This may be carried on 
any time in the summer, and plants thus 
procured are much stronger than when 
propagation is effected by division of 
roots. If one can spare a frame and make 
up a bed of leaf-mould and sandy loam. a 
nice stock of plants may soon be got 
together for blooming the following year. 
In planting them out in the garden one 
should if possible, give them a deep soil 
enriched with rotten dung, as they pay 
one well for liberal treatment and benefit 
greatly by a cool bottom, especially in a 
dry season. 
Answers to Correspondents. 
S. H.R, Payneham—Asks is this the 
a good time to give a mnich (or liquid 
stable manure) to Orange trees. The 
best time in the year is Mebruary or 
October; if given now, will, produce new 
growth and be very detrimental. 
Subscriber—Ether and cloroform, so 
useful in sending men to sleep, have the 
very opposite effect on plants, which are 
stimulated to the greatest possible ac- 
tivity by these drugs. In Denmark and 
Germany advantage has been taken of 
this fast to force flowers in rooms and 
glasshouses and to make them bloom out 
of season. ‘The resul is said to be marvel- 
ous. 
a 
Poisonous Flowers: 
People who are fond of flowers will 
learn with some suprise that quite a num- 
ber of favorite blossoms are actually 
poisonous, and should for that reason be 
handled with extreme care. Generally 
speaking, all flowers grown from bulbs are 
dangerous in sick rooms, and there is no 
doubt that Hyacinths, Lily of the Valley, 
Tuberoses, and Narcissi should never be 
gent to invalids, since they may prove as 
harmful to a person ina critical state of 
health as a dose of morphia would be— 
without, of course, the benefit which that 
drug sometimes confers. Another com- 
mon flower whose odor is noxious is the 
Poppy, which causes violent headache to- 
gether with a disinclination to move about, 
Naturally it requires a very large number 
of Poppies to cause such results, and the 
handfal of blossoms cultivated in our 
gardens, can scarcely be called dangerous 
In Asia Minor, however, where large fields. 
of Poppies are cultivated for their opium 
tourists have often been miserably ill for 
hours after inspecting the plantations. and 
two cases of death among English tourists 
were traced to this cause. The Primula, 
too, which is such a favorite flower, should 
only be handled with extreme care. One 
variety, known as Obconica.is so dangerous 
that if there is a scratch or aprick on the 
hands when touching it an unsightly skin 
disease is certain to appear, ‘accompanied 
by a painful itching. 
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