March  22,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
‘249 
CARDEN.  CJ^EA'NINCS 
••yi 
The  Iioquat. — Though  a  second  rate  fruit  even  at  its  best,  and 
this  is  not  often  seen,  the  Loquat  is  a  useful  plant  where  large  con¬ 
servatories  and  halls  have  to  be  furnished.  Seedling  plants  are  best 
for  this  purpose,  and  if  not  grown  too  rapidly  they  are  useful  for  seven 
or  eight  years  in  the  different  sizes.  A  fairly  stiff  loamy  soil  should 
be  given,  this  being  rammed  in  very  firmly.  Give  small  shifts,  and 
keep  the  foliage  clean  by  occasional  syringing.  Should  thrips  appear 
they  must  be  at  once  got  rid  of  by  fumigating,  or  the  appearance  of 
the  plants  is  spoilt. — H. 
Kennedya  prostrata. — Of  the  many  beautiful  New  Holland 
plants  at  one  time  so  popular  in  English  gardens  few  are  now  culti¬ 
vated  to  any  great  extent.  The  plant  under  notice  was  introduced 
upwards  of  a  century  ago,  and,  though  rarely  seen,  is  one  that 
might  be  cultivated  largely  for  a  variety  of  purposes.  It  is  of  semi- 
woody  habit,  making  prostrate  growths  3  feet  or  more  long,  with 
small,  ternate  leaves  ;  the  wood  and  leaves  being  thickly  covered  with 
fine  soft  hairs.  The  Pea-shaped  flowers  are  scarlet,  with  a  yellow 
blotch  at  the  base  of  the  upper  petal,  and  are  1  inch  across.  They 
are  usually  produced  in  pairs  from  each  node  all  along  the  shoots, 
the  flowering  period  being  from  February  to  May.  Seeds  are  the 
best  means  of  propagation,  and  equal  parts  of  peat  and  loam,  with 
a  good  quantity  of  sand,  form  a  good  compost  for  seeds  and 
plants.  It  is  equally  at  home  grown  as  a  trailing  plant  on  a  tree 
root,  trained  loosely  on  sticks,  on  a  balloon,  or  in  a  hanging  basket. 
When  grown  in  the  latter  way  the  full  beauty  of  the  graceful  shoots, 
flowers,  and  foliage  is  best  seen  and  appreciated.  Good  sized  plants 
can  be  had  in  twelve  months  from  seed  if  gfown  in  an  ordinary 
greenhouse. — D.  K. 
Early  Unforced  Rhubarb. — Many  persons  would  fail  to  realise 
what  an  advance  may  be  gained  in  time  of  pulling  outdoor  Rhubarb  by 
the  simple  use  of  strawy  litter  as  a  covering  to  the  crowns.  At  the 
present  time^  March  14th,  I  am  able  to  gather  short  stalks,  though  a 
supply  indoors  does  not  render  this  necessary.  From  this  outdoor 
supply  comes  much  better  quality  both  in  crispness  and  flavour  than 
forced  roots  furnish.  Considering  how  cold  and  sunless  the  season  has 
been  so  far,  it  is  not  a  little  remarkable  that  activity  can  be  set  up  by 
the  simple  use  of  strawy  litter  as  a  covering  so  early.  This  is  not  put 
11  T1  ■f"  1  1  I'll  O  V*TT  4^ 1  ^  *1  T-n  ^  4-  4*  V.  4.  ^  V.  r,  X-.  1  X-w  yx 
on  until  February,  for  it  is  better  that  the  w 
inter’s  frost  should  be 
allowed  to  exercise  its  influence  on  the  crowns  t(i  insure  complete  rest. 
Although  the  early  sorts  naturally  give  the 
surprising  how  it  advances  late  varieties  like  V; 
from  the  stable,  with  the  short  shaken  out  of  it,  is  what  I  use,  and  as 
this  becomes  washed  with  rain,  and  sweetened 
is  no  taint  given  to  the  stalks  by  the  time  they 
it.  It  is  necessary  to  raise  this  as  the  leaves 
lightly  over  them  occasionally,  so  as  to  protect 
sudden  frosts,  which  so  often  occur  at  this  time 
quicker  supply,  it  is 
ctoria.  Material  fresh 
'Winter  Splnacb  Falling'. — The  culture 
crop  is  fraught  with  occasional  disappointments  brought  about  mainly 
by  air  and  frost,  there 
rise  upwards  through 
develop,  and  shake  it 
them  completely  from 
of  year. — R.  A. 
)f  Spinach  as  a  winter 
winter.  Last  autumn 
ny  places,  uuless  daily 
by  the  influence  of  the  weather — autumn  anc 
was  by  no  means  a  favourable  one,  for  in  mi 
watering  could  be  carried  on,  it  was  impossille  to  get  the  seeds  to 
germinate.  Often,  too,  when  such  a  state  of  (veather  is  followed  by 
an  excess  of  rain,  disease  becomes  very  rife  jamong  the  plants,  and 
the  supply  is  reduced  to  a  minimum.  This  is  vhat  has  happened  this 
winter,  and  the  scarcity  of  other  vegetables  mide  it  the  more  keenly 
felt.  A  reserve  crop,  however,  of  the  useful  Spinach,  or  Perpetual 
Beet,  has  once  more  justified  its  sowing,  and  ptoved  a  good  substitute. 
April  or  May  are  suitable  months  for  sowing.  Dnce  established  all  that 
is  needed  is  to  keep  the  soil  free  from  wee®  by  hoeing.  By  reason 
of  the  continuous  rain  and  snow,  no  seeds  if  the  ordinary  summer 
Spinach  could  be  sown  outdoors  until  the  firsl  week  of  March,  and  in 
heavy  soils  not  even  so  soon  as  this.  The  present  month  for  the  first 
ten  days  was  dry,  and  by  lightly  forking  ovff  the  surface,  the  action 
of  drying  winds  had  a  marked  influence  for  good,  and  allowed  of  sowing 
several  days  earlier  than  would  have  been  Possible  if  the  ground  was 
left  unmoved. — S.,  Wilts. 
Damping'  Off. — This  term  is  applied  to  the  leaves,  flowers,  or 
stems  of  plants.  Its  effects  are  most  marked  on  young  and  tender 
seedlings  when  crowded  together,  or  placed  under  unsuitable  atmo¬ 
spheric  conditions.  It  is  caused  by  a  fungus,  and  is  usually  traceable 
to  an  excess  of  moisture  that  may  be  suspended  in  the  air  or  applied 
to  the  roots.  Damping  off  amongst  cuttings  is  often  caused  by  allowing 
them  to  become  dry,  and  then  suddenly  applying  too  much  water.  A 
temperature  in  a  glass  house  or  propagating  frame  lower  than  that 
outside  very  often  gives  rise  to  “  damping.”  Immediately  damping  is 
detected  amongst  tender  seedlings,  says  a  contemporary,  they  should  be 
separated  and  placed  out  singly  in  fresh  soil.  This  will  invariably 
check  it,  but  the  operation  is  best  performed  before  damping  begins. 
Apbelandra  aurantlaca  Roezll. — A  group  or  two  of  this  brightly 
coloured  Mexican  plant  make  a  charming  addition  to  the  stove  in 
winter  and  early  spring,  besides  being  an  admirable  plant  for  house 
decoration  where  dwarf  plants  are  required.  The  flowers  are  tubular, 
1^  inch  long  and  f  to  1  inch  across  the  mouth,  about  thirty  flowers  con¬ 
stituting  an  average  raceme.  Although  plants  may  be  grown  for 
several  years  it  is  preferable  to  raise  a  new  stock  each  year  from 
cuttings.  These  should  be  inserted  in  sandy  soil  in  March  or  April, 
and  plunged  in  a  case  with  a  brisk  bottom  heat.  After  they  are  well 
rooted  they  should  be  potted  into  3 -inch  pots  in  a  mixture  of  loam, 
peat,  and  sand  ;  afterwards  they  ought  to  be  moved  into  5-inch  pots  in 
which  they  should  flower.  Arranged  with  foliage  plants  the  brilliant 
flowers  are  particularly  pleasing,  coming  at  a  time  when  bright  coloured 
flowers  are  usually  scarce. — D. 
Ferns  In  NTew  Zealand. — In  a  place  that  was  formerly  all  forest, 
hut  which  is  now  more  or  less  cleared,  there  are  on  the  high  ground  acres 
of  Pteris  scaberula,  a  most  beautiful  Fern ;  Loraaria  discolor  is  in 
plenty,  and  grand,  as  are  many  other  Ferns.  At  the  bottom  of  the 
valley  is  a  good  stream,  and  along  its  banks  are  charming  Perns. 
Where  the  cliffs,  overhung  with  scrub,  are  close  to  the  brink,  Todea 
intermedia  hangs  in  all  its  beauty,  Lomaria  ^fluviatilis,  L.  filiformis, 
Pteris  maceleteria,  P.  incisa,  Aspleniums  b'albiferum,  falcatum, 
flaccidum  and  obtusatum,  and  Polypodiums  luxuriate.  Grand  speci¬ 
mens  of  Dicksonias  squarrosa  and  antarctica,  Hemitelia  Smithi,  and 
Cyatheas  are  frequently  met.  Ferns  have  often  lured  me  to  the  bush, 
and  in  my  own  immediate  neighbourhood,  within  an  hour’s  walk,  I 
can  find  about  forty  species,  some  more  plentiful  than  people  used  to 
be  on  Clapham  Common  on  Derby  Day,  and  others  just  the  reverse. 
I  propose  to  write  again,  as  I  want  to  try  if  I  can  send  some 
Adiantum  fronds  for  identification.  I  have  one  plant  which  was 
quite  small  five  years  ago,  and  is  now  6  feet  through,  without  any 
tying  out,  and  nearly  5  feet  high,  the  actual  fronds,  rachis,  and  all 
being  about  40  inches  long. — W.  H.  Taylor,  Wellington,  N.Z. 
Birds  and  Crocuses. — I  was  invited  the  other  day  by  a  neighbour 
to  explain  how  it  was  that  sparrows  destroyed  yellow  flowered  Crocuses 
only,  and  did  not  touch  those  of  other  colours.  My  neighbour  thought 
the  birds  were  offended  by  the  glaring  hue  of  the  yellow  Crocuses.  I 
prefer  to  think  that  the  birds  do  not  pick  off  the  flowers  wantonly, 
but  do  so' because  they  find  in  them  some  secretion  that  is  sweet,  and 
of  which  other  coloured  Crocuses  are  deficient.  But  it  would  be  very 
interesting  to  be  able  to  learn  from  any  source,  if  such  information 
can  be  given,  what  is  the  real  cause  of  the  damage jthus’done  to  these 
flowers.  I  take  it  that  their  action  in  relation  to  Crocuses  and 
Primroses  or  Polyanthuses  is  ruled  by  the  same  object  or  motive.  No 
doubt  we  shall  find  some  correspondents  writing  to^^say  that  with 
them  the  sparrows  destroy  Crocus  flowers  of 'all  colours.  Certainly 
with  Primroses  and  Polyanthuses  they  are  no  respecters  of  colours. 
When  looking  over  the  huge  breadths  of  variously®coloured  Crocuses 
on  the  grass  at  Hampton  Court  just  recently — andjthere ’are  tens  of 
thousands  of  them,  extending  over  a  very  large ^area,  and ’constituting 
a  most  beautiful  display,  far  excelling  in  effect  anything  obtained  from 
beds  or  lines  in  borders — I  noticed  that  there  was'a  large  number  of 
yellow  flowers,  but  no  evidence  of  harm  having  been  done  to  them 
there,  perhaps  because  that  portion  of  the  garden  is  so  largely 
frequented.  But  in  the  more  private  enclosure  ofj||thexinner  gardens, 
where  there  is  much  tree  and  shrub  shelter,  many  flowers  "of  yellow 
Crocuses  had  been  picked  off ;  but  then  there  were  yellows^only  in  this 
position.  Whatever  may  be  given  as  the  reason,  it  must  be  a 
practical  one.  To  suggest  that  the  mischief  is  a  purely|wanton  act 
will  not  do.  Birds  generally  have  a  reasonj  for  what  they  do,  and  I 
can  only  think  that  sparrows  find  in  the_,'Crocus  [^flowers  something 
which  they  like. — A.  D. 
