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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  8,  1900. 
THE  MAGIC  OF  SUNSHINE. 
The  mists  and  fogs  which  rise  from  our  watery  surroundings  have 
too  long  hung  like  a  pall  over  the  British  Isles.  Day  by  day,  almost 
week  by  week,  the  gloom  of  a  sunless  sky  has  been  relieved  only  by 
an  occasional  downpour  of  rain  or  a  blinding  snowstorm.  If  it  be 
true  that  the  restless  energy  and  dogged  determination  of  the 
Briton  are  caused  by  the  climatic  variation  under  which  we  are 
reared,  surely  in  the  luiure  we  ought  to  be  more  determined  than  ever, 
for  a  nation  who  can  press  steadily,  hopefully,  onward  in  spite  of 
depressing  news  received  during  dismal  weather,  must  assuredly 
possess  the  grit  which  makes  for  greatness.  Such  are  the  trying  times 
of  our  lives,  but  fortunately  the  silver  lining  often  follows  the 
dark  cloud,  while  this  in  turn  <;ive8  place  to  the  inspiring  sunshine 
which  sets  the  whole  universe  in  motion. 
The  sunshine  of  spring  is  anxiously  longed  for  by  all  classes  of 
the  community,  but  gardeners  have  special  reasons  for  doing  so, 
because  through  its  influence  the  plants  and  crops  under  their  care 
flourish  with  a  vigour  which  makes  the  heart  glad.  Early  forced 
fruit  and  vegetables  which  recently  have  been  almost  at  a  standstill, 
now  show  considerable  progress  as  each  day  ends,  and  the  leaves  begin 
to  lose  the  pale  coloured  growth  of  winter,  and  assume  a  lich  green 
tint.  With  so  many  illustrative  facts  before  us  concerning  the  power 
of  sunshine  and  lengthening  days  upon  vegetation,  the  question 
naturally  arises,  How  comes  it  that  sunshine  produces  such  wonderful 
results  ? 
Not  only  gardeners,  but  almost  any  adult,  knows  instinctively  that 
heat  and  sunlight  are  potent  forces  in  making  the  earth  “  smile  with 
plenty”  when  moisture  is  also  present,  but  ftw  could  definitely  explain 
why  such  is  the  case.  Although  plant  physiologists  have  not  yet 
drawn  from  Nature  the  whole  of  her  secrets  in  regard  to  the  matter, 
they  are  able  to  afford  us  some  enlightenment.  They  tell  us  that 
as  the  temperature  is  raised  by  the  sun’s  rays,  the  sap  of  trees  and 
plants,  which  thickens  under  the  influence  of  cold,  changes  to  a 
thinner  liquid  that  has  a  more  rapid  circulation.  This,  however,  is 
only  one  part — the  smallest  part — of  the  various  forces  which 
“  King  Sol  ”  sets  in  motion.  Vegetation  derives  a  vast  amount  of  food 
from  the  atmosphere,  and,  under  the  influence  of  sunlight  the  progress 
of  absorption,  decomposition,  and  Exhalation  is  greatly  accelerated. 
The  carbonic  acid  gas,  which  is  absorbed  from  the  atmosphere  through 
the  pores  of  the  leaves,  is  then  quickly  decomposed,  the  charcoal 
retained  by  the  plants,  and  the  oxygen  returned  to  the  air.  Thus  the 
atmosphere  which  surrounds  us  is  being  continually  vitiated  by  animal 
life  and  purified  by  rapid  growing  vegetation. 
There  is  also  another  phase  in  connection  with  the  matter  which 
should  be  touched  upon — viz.,  the  influence  sunlight  exerts  upon  the 
soil.  The  warm  air  being  pressed  into  the  soil  causes  roots  to  extend 
with  great  rapidity,  and  each  tiny  root-hair  within  reach  of  the  atmo¬ 
sphere  draws  some  good  from  it — good  in  the  form  of  gases  which 
unite  with  the  acids  in  the  soil. 
The  above  facts,  I  think,  should  show  us  in  some  degree  the 
subtle  laws  by  which  Nature  sets  her  forces  in  motion  by  the  aid  of 
sunshine,  with  such  wonderful  results.  They  show  us  also  that  the 
time-honoured  practice  of  frequently  stirring  soil  during  the  wwm 
days  of  spring  is  founded  on  a  scientific  principle,  though  probably  in 
the  majority  of  cases  only  practised  because  observation  showed  the 
good  results  which  followed.  The  loosened  surface  lets  in  the  warm 
air  more  freely  than  that  which  is  left  undisturbed ;  and,  as  it  also 
prevents  the  moisture  beneath  from  evaporating,  the  three  great 
essentials — warmth,  air,  and  moisture — are  lound  in  combination,  and 
under  such  circumstances  rapid  growth  will  ever  be  made  provided 
the  soil  is  fairly  rich. 
Work  in  the  open  air  has  recently  been  almost  at  a  standstill,  but 
a  “turning  movement”  should  soon  bring  the  soil  into  that  desirable 
condition  in  which  it  may  be  worked  with  advantage;  then  each  moment 
of  daylight  will  be  precious  indeed  for  all  real  gardeners  who  strain 
every  nerve  to  m>>ke  good  past  delays.  All  experienced  men,  how¬ 
ever,  know  well  how  fatal  it  is  to  let  over-anxiety  force  their  hands 
to  disturb  the  soil  while  it  is  wet  and  clammy;  the  work  cannot  then 
be  either  well  or  quickly  performed,  and  the  soil,  instead  of  crumbling 
under  the  influence  of  wind  and  sunshine,  will  be  converted  into  hard 
lumps,  which  will  take  a  whole  season  to  get  right  again.  Compare 
the  results  obtained  from  seeds  sown  under  various  conditions. 
The  man  who  makes  a  point  of  sowing  his  Onion  or  Carrot  seed  on 
a  certain  week,  when  that  time  arrives  anxiously  looks  out  for  a  break 
in  the  weather,  and  during  the  first  fine  day  makes  a  great  effort  to 
get  the  work  done,  although  the  soil  may  not  by  any  means  be  in  an 
ideal  condition  for  working.  By  dint  of  misapplied  perseverance  the 
task  is  accomplished,  but  the  wetness  of  the  soil  to  a  great  extent  seals 
it  from  the  action  of  air  and  sunshine,  and  when  fine  weather  does 
come  the  seeds  sprout  slowly,  and  the  young  plants  are  pale  in  the 
leaf,  all  because  warmth  and  air  have  not  freely  entered  the  soil. 
The  more  level-headed  gardener  waits  till  a  settled  sunny  day 
arrives,  when  the  soil  is  dry  upon  the  surface;  willing  hands  then 
quickly  loosen  it  with  hoe  or  rake,  it  is  left  for  an  hour  or  two  to  dry 
still  further,  when  the  drills  are  drawn  and  allowed  to  bask  in  the 
magic  sunshine  for  a  time  before  the  seeds  are  sown.  When  all  is 
completed  the  surface  is  loose  and  crumbly,  the  air  and  sunshine  enter 
freely,  and  when  the  seedlings  push  through  the  soil  they  are  sturdy 
and  strong,  and  grow  with  far  greater  rapidity  than  those  sown  a  week 
or  two  earlier  under  less  favourable  conditions,  and  at  the  time  of 
harvest  give  infinitely  better  results. 
Such  examples  might  be  multiplied  indefinitely,  but  for  the  present 
I  think  enough  has  been  advanced  to  show,  in  the  glorious  sunshine 
— -when  we  get  it — the  gardener  has  a  willing  servant,  and  those  who 
have  the  happy  “  knack”  of  turning  that  service  to  the  best  account 
will  ever  press  onward  in  the  “  gentle  art,  the  art  which  gladdens  the 
eye  with  beauty,  and  fills  our  stores  with  plenty.” — Onward. 
ROBINIA  HISPIDA. 
A  SHORT  time  ago  a  writer  of  some  interesting  notes  on  flowering 
trees  mentioned  the  Rose  Acacia  (fig.  5i)  and  others  of  the  Acacia 
family  being  broken  down  by  the  weight  of  the  flowers.  I  can  speak 
with  feeling,  especially  in  regard  to  this  one.  I  have  this  season  had 
fine  plants  of  it  blown  out  at  the  point  where  the  shoots  leave  the  main 
stem,  but  this  is  not  so  much  due  to  any  inherent  weakness  of  the 
species  as  to  the  ridiculous  method  of  grafting — and  badly  grafting — it 
on  half-dead  stems  of  the  Thorn  Acacia.  Worked  low  down  the 
plant  would  make  a  strong,  though  perhaps  not  exactly  a  straight 
stem  ;  but  trees  I  purchased  a  year  or  two  back  were  so  badly  worked 
that  they  had  the  crevices  stopped  up  with  grafting  wax  before  they 
came  into  my  hands. 
What  wonder  if  such  trees  blow  out ;  yet  they  come  from  what 
is  considered  a  first-rate  nursery.  The  same  correspondent  called 
attention,  too,  and  rightly,  to  the  fact  that  Andre’s  Genista  will  not 
thrive  on  some  soils.  Here  I  have  a  great  difficulty  in  getting  it  to 
move,  but  I  should  like  to  recommend  the  Spanish  Broom,  Spartium 
junceum,  to  anyone  who  fails  with  the  former.  It  is  a  beautiful  plant, 
and  very  free  growing,  but  hares  and  rabbits  give  it  no  quarter  if 
they  can  reach  it. — H.  R.  Richards,  Coldham. 
POLYGONUM  BALHSCHUANICUM. 
A  VERY  interesting  article  in  a  recent  number  of  the  “  Revue 
Horticole,”  by  IM.  Dauthenay,  upon  this  Polygonum  leads  one  to  think 
that  it  may  advantageously  be  again  brought  before  readers  wbo 
admire  climbing  plants.  There  is  certainly  no  scarcity  of  these 
indispensable  aids  to  the  beauty  of  the  garden,  but  we  have  few,  if 
any,  at  all  like  Polygonum  Baldschuanicurn  in  general  appearance.  I 
do  not  like  to  say  that  I  care  for  the  tone  of  colour  of  its  foliage, 
although  I  admit  that  many  persons  do,  but  its  flowers  are  so 
attractive,  and  its  general  effect  so  good,  that  one  is  disposed  to 
overlook  any  faults  it  may  have.  Until  recently  it  has  been  too  high 
in  price  to  induce  many  to  grow  it,  but  now  that  growers  have 
apparently  mastered  its  propagation  plants  have  become  much  cheaper. 
Last  autumn  I  obtained  a  good  plant  from  the  continent  at  a  moderate 
price. 
I  was  glad  to  possess  the  details  about  its  introduction.  The 
article  does  not  say,  however,  when  it  found  its  way  into  the  Royal 
Gardens  at  Kew,  where  I  saw  it  last  year.  It  was,  it  appears,  found 
by  M.  Regel  in  Turkestan  in  1882,  and  was  described  and  figured  in 
the  “  Transactions  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Botanic  Garden,”  vol.  vii. 
It  appears  that  it  had  been  named  Atrapbaxis  nov.  sp.,  but  that 
M.  Regel  had  convinced  himself  that  it  was  a  Polygonum.  It  reached 
the  Museum  of  Paris  in  1892.  There,  as  at  Kew,  it  is  perfectly 
hardy.  It  grows  to  a  height  of  12  or  15  feet,  and  when  grown  up  a 
pole  makes  a  pretty  pyramid  of  cordate  foliage  freely  covered  with 
bunches  of  white  flowers  prettily  tinged  with  rose. 
While  this  method  of  growing  Polygonum  Baldschuanicurn  may 
be  convenient  for  a  botanic  garden,  it  is  too  formal  for  most  private 
gardens,  and  I  think  it  could  he  grown  with  better  effect  up  a  tree  or 
against  a  trellis  or  wall ;  not,  of  course,  in  a  formal  way.  It  does  not 
appear  to  be  fastidious  as  to  soil,  but  in  order  to  make  it  grow  freely — 
an  almost  needful  thing  if  we  want  to  enjoy  the  full  beauty  of 
climbing  plants — it  ought  to  have  a  station  well  prepared  for  it  by 
deep  digging  and  free  manuring.  It  has  the  reputation  of  being  a 
difficult  plant  to  propagate,  and  many  have  failed  with  it.  It  is 
however,  said  to  be  easily  increased  by  taking  shoots  of  the  past  year 
and  after  cutting  them  into  lengths,  laying  them  in  pots  or  pans  with 
a  thin  layer  of  silver  sand  above.  These  pots  or  pans  are  placed  in  a 
moderate  heat.  While  I  am  not  prepared  to  place  it  in  the  highest 
rank  of  our  climbing  ornamental  plants,  it  is  superior  to  many  that 
are  grown  at  present. — S.  Arnott. 
