January  4,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
17 
EMIGRATION. 
It  is  not  often  we  receive  two  letters  by  the  same  post  from 
gardeners  (“  D.  G.”  and  “  H.  C.”)  seeking  advice  as  to  their  prospects 
of  gaining  a  better  living  in  distant  lands,  than  they  can  obtain  in 
their  own  country.  No  questions  are  so  difficult  to  answer,  because  of 
the  enormous  differences  in  the  health,  strength,  and  capacities  for 
perseverance  of  the  men  themselves.  Some  can  adapt  themselves  to 
unforeseen  circumstances  much  better  than  others,  and  one  will  forge 
his  way  through  obstacles  to  which  another  would  succumb. 
Then  there  is  the  element  of  chance  or  luck — call  it  what  you  will 
— to  exert  an  influence,  as  one  man  may  meet  with  opportunities  that 
another  happens  to  miss ;  and  again,  one  may  make  much  better  use  of 
his  chances  than  another.  This  is  the  case  at  home  and  abroad. 
That  some  men  in  the  gardening  ranks  seem  to  have  been  the  favourites 
of  fortune  none  can  deny  ;  but  all  the  same,  we  suspect  that  far  more 
who  enjoy  comfortable  homes,  do  so  as  the  result  of  their  own  good 
judgment,  industry,  and  perseverance.  They  worked  as  heartily 
in  small  gardens  as  in  large,  however  low  their  wages,  and  thus 
established  a  character  for  competency  and  trustworthiness.  Such 
men  usually  find  opportunities  for  advancement  ;  but  though  the 
waiting  may  be  wearisome,  they  do  not  “  throw  themselves  out  ”  in  a 
moment  of  ^haste  or  despair.  They  are  men  with  a  motto — “Do 
what  is  right,  and  never  despair.” 
It  is  much  the  same  at  home  and  abroad,  though  longer  hours  of 
harder  work  is  the  rule  over  the  water  than  in  the  old  country.  We 
deplore  the  plethora  of  thoroughly  good,  useful,  and  industrious 
gardeners,  who  find  it  hard  to  win  in  the  battle  of  life  ;  and  we  are  not 
over-enamoured  with  the  fashion  of  the  times  to  further  overburden  the 
ranks  by  making  more  “on  {.aper” — men  or  women — in  colleges  and 
schools.  Some  of  these  can  scarcely  fail  to  be  other  than  dilettantes, 
and  therefore  destined  to  reap  disappointment,  of  which,  in  fact,  a 
foretaste  is  in  certain  cases  already  experienced. 
As  regards  emigration,  it  is  entirely  speculative — at  least  in  the 
absence  of  arrangement  for  employment  at  a  given  destination.  We 
are  glad  to  know  of  British  gardeners  who  have  done  and  are  doing 
well  in  other  lands,  though  perhaps  as  many  have  failed  in  the  object 
of  their  hopes,  though  some  of  these  have  found  employment  in  other 
callings,  more  or  less  to  their  satisfaction.  Those  who  succeed  in  the 
States  or  Colonies  write  hopefully,  a  few  glowingly  j  but  those  who 
do  not  have  a  different  tale  to  tell,  of  which  we  can  give  an  example 
in  the  following  lines  : — 
“  Come,  boys,  I  have  eomething  to  tell  you ; 
Come  near,  I  would  whisper  it  low — 
You  are  thinking  of  leaving  the  homestead — 
Don’t  be  in  a  hurry  to  go ! 
“You  talk  of  the  mines  of  Australia — 
Tney’re  wealthy  in  gold  without  doubt; 
But,  ah  !  there  is  gold  in  the  soil,  boys. 
If  only  you’ll  shovel  it  out. 
The  mercantile  trade  is  a  hazard, 
The  goods  are  first  high  and  then  low  ; 
Better  dig  the  old  soil  a  while  longer — 
Don’t  be  in  a  hurry  to  go  ! 
“  The  great  busy  West  has  inducements. 
And  so  has  the  busiest  mart; 
But  wealth  is  not  made  in  a  day,  boys — 
Don’t  be  in  a  hurry  to  start ; 
The  bankers  and  brokers  are  wealthy, 
They  take  in  their  thousands  or  so — 
Ah  !  think  of  the  frauds  and  deceptions — 
Don’t  be  in  a  hurry  to  go ! 
“  Home  soil  is  the  safest  and  surest. 
The  orchards  are  loaded  to-day, 
You’re  as  free  as  the  air  of  the  mountains, 
And  monarch  of  all  you  survey. 
Better  stay  on  that  soil  a  while  longer, 
Though  profits  come  in  rather  slow  ; 
Bemember,  you’ve  nothing  to  risk,  boys — 
Don’t  be  in  a  hutry  to  go !  ” 
We  do  not  know  whether  or  not  those  lines  were  written  by  one  of 
the  several  men  who  have  tried  emigration,  and  found  it  wanting; 
then  struggled  their  way  back  to  the  land  of  their  birth,  and  made  for 
themselves  contented  homes.  The  lines  are  not  inserted  for  the  purpose 
of  dissuading  the  enterprising,  but  we  should  like  to  feel  that  the 
emigrant  gardener  who  has  “  nothing  to  go  to,”  has  enough  money 
to  “  keep  ”  him  in  the  new  land  for  at  least  six  months  (and  look 
well  after  it),  with  a  reserve  to  pay  his  passage  home  again. 
Fruit  Trees  in  South  Aerica. — Fruit  trees  and  shrubs,  while 
well  known  and  appreciated  in  South  Africa,  are  not  offered  for  sale, 
according  to  Consul-General  Stowe  of  Cape  Town.  A  representative 
of  a  United  States  nursery  assured  him  that  he  sold  more  trees  in 
a  period  of  eight  weeks  than  he  could  have  sold  in  the  United  States  in 
twenty-four  weeks.  Fruit  of  nearly  every  variety  can  be  cultivated 
in  South  Africa,  but  the  growers  must,  of  course,  be  educated.  As 
there  are  no  frosts  the  insect  enemies  are  very  destructive,  bub  these 
can  be  held  in  check  by  the  same  means  employed  in  the  United  States. 
American  fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  chemical  preparations,  spraying 
pumps,  can  be  introduced  into  that  country  with  profit. — (“American 
Agriculturist.”) 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Allamandas. 
Amongst  the  many  stove  climbers,  I  think  nothing  looks  more- 
charming  during  the  summer  months  trained  over  the  roofs  than 
Allamandas,  with  their  glorious  foliage,  intermixed  with  magnificent 
yellow  flowers.  When  properly  grown  they  are  of  fairly  easy  culture,- 
but  like  most  stove  climbers  they  require  considerable  attention 
during  their  growing  season.  With  care  Allamandas  may  be  had  in 
bloom  four  to  five  months  during  the  summer.  In  many  stoves  they 
are  planted  in  places  built  for  the  purpose,  but  they  may  also  be 
grown  in  large  pots  with  equally  good  results. 
When  the  plants  have  to  be  restarted  after  their  season  of  rest  they 
should  be  pruned  back  to  within  three  to  four  eyes  of  the  last  year’s 
growth  ;  this  ought  to  be  done  just  when  the  buds  begin  to  swell,  but 
potting  should  not  be  done  for  a  fortnight  after  pruning.  In  the 
meanwhile,  however,  the  soil  can  be  prepared.  The  following  mixture 
will  suit  them  admirably  ; — Good  fiffi-ous  loam  three  parts,  peat  two 
parts,  with  the  addition  of  decayed  cow  manure  one  part  and  a 
sprinkling  of  coarse  sand.  When  potting  every  care  ought  to  be 
taken  not  to  damage  the  young  and  tender  roots.  The  pots  must  be 
clean  and  well  drained,  as  during  the  growing  season  they  require  an 
abundance  of  water.  As  the  growth  extends  more  attention  will  be 
required  iu  tying  and  stopping,  until  the  grower  thinks  enough  good 
growth  has  been  made  to  furnish  the  roof.  Plants  growing  in  pots 
require  more  feeding  than  those  in  borders,  therefore  at  every  alternate 
watering  a  little  liquid  manure  may  be  given,  and  will  be  found 
beneficial,  both  to  the  growth  and  the  flowers. 
The  Allamanda  is  also  one  of  the  most  telling  plants  in  the  exhi¬ 
bition  tents,  as  we  often  see  grand  specimens  shown  by  the  leading 
growers.  These  are  grown  on  balloons  with  treatment  similar  to  tha” 
already  advocated.  The  chief  point  is  to  get  the  growth  well  divided 
over  the  balloon  so  as  to  allow  the  flowers  to  lie  on  its  foliage.  The 
plants  must  be  kept  well  up  to  the  glass,  but  as  the  flowers  begin  to 
open  they  should  be  slightly  shaded.  Some  persons  prefer  to  hang 
paper  Over  them,  but  I  consider  a  slight  coating  of  shading  over  the 
glass  safe  at  this  point.  If  required  for  showing  purposes  the  plants 
should  be  gradually  hardened  by  removing  them  into  the  greenhouse 
quite  a  fortnight  before  the  date  of  exhibition,  for  if  removed  too  soon 
they  are  apt  to  be  injured,  and  soon  lose  their  foliage  and  flowers. 
During  the  growing  period  a  moist  atmosphere  is  essential,  and  they 
should  be  syringed  twice  a  day,  this  not  only  being  beneficial  to  the 
growth  but  also  for  keeping  the  stock  free  from  any  insect  pests,  of 
which  I  think  thrips  are  the  most  troublesome ;  and  if  once  this  enemy 
gets  established  it  cripples  the  foliage  and  growth  very  seriously.  The 
next  important  point  is  the  resting  and  drying  off,  which  should  take 
place  in  October,  therefore  water  should  be  gradually  withheld  until 
the  foliage  is  down,  but  the  growth  must  not  be  allowed  to  shrivel,  or 
much  damage  will  accrue  to  the  buds. 
There  are  many  varieties  of  Allamandas,  including  Hendersoni, 
nobilis,  Schotti,  and  grandiflora.  The  latter  I  have  found  more  delicate 
than  the  others,  therefore  I  would  recommend  equal  parts  of  peat  and 
loam,  with  an  extra  quantity  of  coarse  sand.  Many  growers,  I  under¬ 
stand,  have  discarded  this  grandvariety  owing  to  its  delicate  constitution, 
but  I  think  when  properly  grown  it  surpasses  all  the  others  for  indoor 
decoration.  Yet  one  more  useful  variety  can  be  added  to  the  list — 
namely,  Williamsi,  which,  of  late,  has  been  freely  used  for  grouping. 
It  is  now  necessary  to  refer  to  propagation,  and  I  will  describe  the 
system  I  have  found  most  satisfactory.  After  the  old  plants  have  been 
cut  back,  potted,  and  young  growth  advanced,  say  4  to  5  inches 
in  length,  take  as  many  as  are  required  with  a  heel  of  old  wood,  and 
insert  the  cuttings  singly  in  small  60-pots.  Place  a  small  hand-light 
on  a  hotbed  in  which  the  cuttings  may  be  plunged,  and  by  keeping 
a  fair  amount  of  moisture  over  them  they  will  root  quickly.  As  soon, 
however,  as  roots  have  formed  they  should  be  taken  out  and  kept 
well  syringed,  potting  as  they  require  it  in  very  sandy  soil.  No  doubt 
there  are  other  methods  cf  rooting  stock,  while  the  plants  may  also  be 
grafted  on  neriif olia.  I  have  only  noticed  one  grafted  plant,  which  is 
supposed  to  have  been  worked  twenty-five  years  ago.  Every  season  it 
flowers  profusely.  It  is  grown  in  a  pot,  and  every  February  it  is  turned 
out,  the  ball  reduced,  and  the  roots  cut  well  back  with  a  sharp  knife 
before  repotting. — W.  L.,  King’s  Weston. 
A  Book  for  the  Home. — An  excellent  and  useful  little  work  is 
“  Holloway’s  Almanack  and  Family  Friend,”  and  coming,  as  it  does, 
from  one  who  has  done  so  much  for  education  (as  witness  that  mag¬ 
nificent  Institution  the  Royal  Holloway  College,  at  Egham),  it  may  be 
relied  on  as  an  acceptable  gift.  It  is  issued  free  of  cost,  but  its 
enormous  popularity  is  not  due  to  that  fact  alone.  A  copy  of  the  issue 
for  1900  is  to  hand.  It  is  full  of  excellent  pictures.  Besides  a  mass 
of  information,  which  makes  the  almanack  useful  as  a  reference  book, 
it  contains  a  series  of  illustrated  articles  on  the  old  customs  of  many 
nations.  Every  copy  also  carries  with  it  a  railway  insurance  policy 
of  £100  for  the  whole  of  the  year  1900.  The  little  book  is  sent 
free  by  Thomas  Holloway  (the  proprietor  of  Holloway’s  pills  and 
ointment),  78,  New  Oxford  Street,  to  anyone  who  sends  one  half-penny 
stamp  for  postage. 
