1 Oocr., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 271 
Horticulture 
LIFTING DAFFODILS. 
It is only those varieties of Narcissi or Daffodils which produce offsets 
freely that may be lifted annually, and even with these it is not absolutely 
necessary. What is meant by the annual lifting and drying encouraging 
increase is that by this means it is possible so to separate and plant the offsets 
that the stock is increased more quickly. To dry bulbs of Narcissi in general 
after lifting them is not good practice, especially if they are kept some weeks 
out of the ground. They should be lifted, divided, and replanted at once. The 
fact that your small offsets dried up shows that drying and keeping small bulbs 
out of the ground is not advisable, nor is the separating and planting of very 
small offsets according to the variety to be recommended. 
A BLUE ROSE 
grown by a head gardener, named Macdonald, in the United States, has 
been sent to Kew Gardens. As a rarity it may claim rank with the choicest 
new orchid, and it is therefore not surprising to learn that on the way over the 
Atlantic it received the most careful attention, and was protected in a specially 
constructed miniature greenhouse—a care which was rewarded by its arrival 
with blooms in excellent condition.— B Weekly, 26th June. 
WATERING PLANTS WITH HOT WATER. 
So long ago as 1855 attention was drawn to the use of hot water for water- 
ing plants in a German publication entitled “ Gartenflora.” 
Roses, palms, ficuses, fruit trees in pots, and other plants were experimented 
upon with great success. The plants, at one time vigorous, had sickened and 
developed certain signs of approaching death. The young leaves were limp, and 
the others were spotted with numerous-black areas. The surface of the soil 
was scarified, and then copiously watered with water at the high temperature of 
144 degrees Fahr. The water was applied until it ran out in abundance from the 
hole at the bottom of the pot. The water which first came through was per- 
fectly clear, but later it was appreciably coloured brown. After this washing 
orirrigation the plants were placed into a warmer situation, and the following 
day the young leaves had pricked up, the ugly spots had ceased to grow, and 
three days later the two ficuses were restored to their pristine health. The 
plants soon threw out a large number of new roots and grew vigorously. 
Recently a distinguished Belgian horticulturist has been interesting himselfin 
experiments on clivias, palms, aspidistras, dracienas, primulas, begonias, and other 
plants, using water heated to about 125-180 degrees Fahr. His summarised com- 
ment is :—‘ We do.not know how we can sufficiently recommend this practice, 
either as a curative or a preventive method.” During the winter is perhaps the 
best time to adopt the hot-water treatment by amateurs, and those having 
plants in dwelling-rooms. It is a matter of common knowledge that soil en- 
closed ina pot in which a plant is growing ultimately becomes sour, and has, 
indeed, a certain poisonous quality. This toxicity is due to the presence of 
organic acids in excess, and which in the ordinary open ground conditions would 
lave been removed by bottom drainage. Plants growing in pots are under dis- 
finctly artificial conditions, and there are many causes which lead to the accu- 
mulation of these toxic acids, For instance, too deep planting, or when the 
20 
