Fetruary  25,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
159 
-  Stock  for  Tree  Peonies. — Mr.  Bardney  would  like  to 
know  if  any  correspondent  can  inform  him  on  what  stock  Tree  Paconies 
are  worked,  and  at  what  period  of  the  year  ?  They  are  certainly  worthy 
of  more  extended  cultivation,  but  they  are  of  slow  growth,  and  some¬ 
what  costly  for  a  start. 
-  Lemons  from  Cuttings. — Mr.  J.  Yearey  writes  from  The 
Gardens,  Gogerddon  Hall,  near  Aberystwith  : — “  It  may  be  interesting 
to  some  of  the  readers  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  to  know  that 
Lemons  can  be  grown  successfully  from  cuttings.  We  have  some  large 
trees  growing  on  the  back  wall  of  a  late  vinery  that  I  raised  from 
cuttings  about  twenty  years  ago,  which  bear  large  crops  of  very  fine 
fruit  annually — in  fact,  they  are  setting  and  ripening  their  fruit  all  the 
year  round,  and  we  are  never  without  ripe  fruit  on  the  trees.  Is  it 
generally  known  that  the  Lemon  will  bear  so  freely  from  cuttings  ?  ” 
-  Ilex  crenata. — When  making  a  choice  of  dwarf  evergreen 
shrubs  this  Japanese  Holly  should  not  be  overlooked.  It  forms  a  com¬ 
pact  growing  bush  usually  from  3  to  4  feet  in  height  by  the  same  in 
width,  though  it  often  attains  to  larger  dimensions.  The  leaves  are 
usually  ovate  in  shape  with  crenate  margins  ;  in  the  variety  known  as 
I.  crenata  major,  however,  the  leaves  are  almost  round.  The  leaves  of 
the  type  are  green,  but  there  is  a  variety  known  as  I.  c.  variegata 
which  has  its  leaves  prettily  blotched  with  yellow.  The  type, 
together  with  its  several  varieties,  are  easily  grown  and  readily  propa¬ 
gated.  Cuttings  should  be  taken  in  the  autumn  and  put  in  sandy  soil 
in  a  close  frame,  when  they  will  root  during  winter.  A  very  good  way 
to  grow  this  shrub  is  to  plant  it  rather  thinly  in  a  mass  in  the  shrubbery 
or  bed  on  the  lawn,  and  fill  the  open  spaces  up  with  Lilies. — W.  D. 
-  Evaporation  from  Trees,— Dr;  Rothrock  calls  attention  in 
“  Forest  Leaves”  to  the  observation  of  Dr.  Evermayer  for  the  Bavarian 
Government,  who  declares  that  the  evaporation  of  moisture  from  a 
forest  area,  including  transpiration  from  the  leaves,  exceeds  by  50  per 
cent,  the  evaporation  from  a  water  surface  in  the  open,  and  if,  there¬ 
fore,  we  cut  off  great  areas  of  forest  it  is  not  improbable  that  the 
surrounding  atmosphere  is  much  less  humid,  and  for  this  reason  the 
ground  will  dry  much  more  rapidly.  This  will  account  to  a  certain 
extent  for  the  killing  quality  of  the  droughts  in  some  recent  years,  A 
diminished  rainfall  alone  will  hardly  account  for  their  severity,  but  if 
we  couple  with  this  the  fact  that  evaporation  from  the  ground  is  more 
rapid,  we  have  some  additional  reasons  for  the  extreme  dryness  which 
has  prevailed. 
-  Indian  Food  Grains. — In  the  course  of  a  lecture  on  “  Some 
Food  Grains  of  India  ”  Professor  A.  H.  Church  observed  that  the  Indian 
famine  was  due  to  a  lack  of  self-help  on  the  part  of  the  natives  rather 
than  any  lack  of  food.  India  is  a  great  food-producing  country,  and  as 
such  had  helped  to  lower  the  prices  of  food  in  the  United  Kingdom. 
The  lecturer  Baid  that  a  large  number  of  different  vegetable  substances 
might  be  used  as  articles  of  food.  He  had  studied  no  fewer  than  seventy 
varieties  of  air-dried  grains  and  seeds,  and  there  were  no  doubt  many 
more  that  might  have  been  used.  Most  Indian  Grasses  were  much 
charged  with  adventitious  mineral  matter.  By  due  commixture  of  food 
stuffs  belonging  to  different  classes,  such  as  cereals  and  pulses,  a 
sufficiently  near  approach  to  a  nutrient  ratio  could  be  secured.  Another 
condition  required  was  a  suitable  proportion  of  oil  or  fat. 
-  The  Commons  Preservation  Society.— This  Society  has 
prepared  a  scheme  for  the  regulation  of  Ham  Common  and  lammas  lands, 
and  this  is  being  considered  by  the  Board  of  Agriculture.  The  joint 
Committee  appointed  by  the  Open  Spaces  Societies  to  endeavour  to  secure 
the  dedication  of  an  open  space,  playground,  or  place  of  historic  interest 
or  natural  beauty,  if  possible,  in  each  parish  in  the  United  Kingdom  as 
a  permanent  memorial  of  the  Queen’s  reign  has  circulated  a  memorandum 
on  the  subject  to  all  district  and  parish  councils,  and  other  local 
authorities  in  the  country.  The  provisions  of  the  Hastings  Harbour 
District  Railway  Bill,  now  before  Parliament,  are  being  closely  con¬ 
sidered  ;  for  should  the  proposed  undertaking  be  carried  into  effect,  not 
only  will  a  part  of  the  foreshore  be  enclosed  and  Ecclesbourne  Glen 
spoiled  by  an  embankment,  but  East  Hill,  an  open  space  which  cost 
about  £25,000  to  acquire,  will  be  disfigured.  In  addition  to  this  the 
scheme  would  destroy  the  beauty  of  the  prettiest  part  of  Alexandra  Park 
by  the  construction  of  a  viaduct.  The  Society  will  secure  the  opposition 
of  the  Bill  in  Parliament.  The  practicability  of  preparing  legislation 
for  the  better  protection  of  commons,  heaths,  and  woods  from  malicious 
and  wilful  injury  by  incendiaries  is  under  consideration,  and  it  is  felt 
that  these  evils  would  be  greatly  remedied  if  magistrates  were  enabled 
at  petty  sessions  to  deal  with  these  offences. 
-  The  Roselle. — The  Roselle,  Hibiscus  Sabdariffa,  is  a  native 
of  tropical  Asia,  resembling  the  Okra  in  growth,  possessing  great 
resistance  to  drought  and  yielding  an  acceptable  food  product.  It  has 
been  tried  in  agricultural  stations  of  southern  California,  where  it  is 
said  to  be  ornamental,  with  dark  red  stems  and  pods  showing  through 
rather  scanty  green  foliage.  The  juice  from  the  fleshy  calyces  makes 
a  cooling  acidulous  drink,  and  is  useful  for  jelly.  The  mucilaginous 
properties  of  the  juice  render  the  setting  of  the  jelly  certain,  and  its 
dark  cherry  colour  and  sprightly  acid  make  it  very  desirable.  As  it  will 
grow  in  hot,  arid  situations,  Mr.  Wickson,  of  the  Experiment  Station  at 
Berkeley,  is  distributing  seed  to  those  parts  of  the  State  where  it  will 
thrive. — (“  Garden  and  Forest.”) 
-  Champagne  from  Dried  Pears,— A  fact  which  may  have 
a  somewhat  important  effect  upon  the  future  of  the  Pear  market,  Bays 
“The  Grocery  World,”  has  just  come  to  light.  It  is  that  a  rapidly 
growing  demand  has  been  established  in  Europe  for  dried  California 
Pears,  which  are  used  for  the  manufacture  of  champagne.  This  fruit, 
when  used  for  wine,  is  said  to  yield  a  much  greater  revenue  than  when 
sold  simply  as  dried  fruit.  Not  only  is  there  a  demand  in  Europe  fir 
California  dried  Pears  to  make  champagne  from,  but  their  use  in  their 
natural  shape  is  also  greatly  increasing.  The  fruit  is  being  sent  direct 
from  California,  which  reduces  the  freight  charges,  there  being  no 
across-country  tolls  to  meet. 
-  Pine  Apples  and  Diphtheria.  —  Regarding  a  severe  case 
of  diphtheria,  a  Southern  writer  recently  said  that  a  ripe  PineApp’e 
was  procured  and  the  juice  expressed,  and  given  to  the  patient  in  tea- 
spoonful  doses  slowly.  The  authority  for  the  statement  adds:  It 
seemed  to  clear  the  throat,  swallowing  was  easier,  and  in  a  few  houis 
the  child  was  sleeping.  Recovery  followed.  Pine  Apple  was  subse¬ 
quently  used  in  a  number  of  other  cases  with  every  success,  and  the 
people  of  the  neighbourhood  think  it  better  than  any  medicine  that 
comes  from  the  drug  store.  Diphtheria  is  too  critical  an  illness  to 
warrant  experimentation.  A  physician  should  be  summoned  always, 
but  if  the  doctor  endorse  such  a  treatment  then  afflicted  childhood 
should  be  indeed  happy.  Those  of  adult  age  will  regret  that  the 
discoveiy  was  not  made  earlier  in  the  world’s  history. — (“California 
Fruit  Grower.”) 
-  Wolverhampton  Horticultural  Club. — The  monthly 
meeting  of  this  Club  was  held  at  the  Midland  Cafb  on  the  2nd  inst.,  Mr. 
J.  F.  Simpson  in  the  chair,  when  a  most  instructive  and  interesting  paper 
on  Orchids  was  read  by  Mr.  G.  Burrows,  head  gardener  at  Berwick  House, 
Shrewsbury.  The  essayist  first  gave  an  outline  of  the  different  countries 
in  which  the  most  important  genera  are  found,  also  stating  the  altitude 
and  conditions  under  which  they  grow  in  their  native  homes.  He  then 
entered  more  fully  into  the  details  of  their  cultivation  in  houses,  indi¬ 
cating  the  style  of  bouses  most  suited  to  the  different  classes  of  Orchids. 
By  the  able  way  in  which  he  handled  the  subject  the  lecturer  proved 
himself  to  be  an  expert  in  the*  knowledge  of  this  beautiful  class  of 
plants.  Discussion  followed,  in  which  Mr.  G.  A.  Bishop,  Mr.  Bradley 
(Vice-Chairman),  and  others  took  part,  and  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to 
the  lecturer  closed  a  very  successful  meeting. 
ENDIVE. 
We  have  long  since  discontinued  the  culture  of  any  other  variety 
than  the  Improved  Broad-leaved  Batavian.  When  this  kind  is  well 
grown  and  thoroughly  developed  we  find  it  much  better  and  more 
appreciated  than  small  later  sown  plants.  Our  practice  is  to  fill  all  the 
spare  lights  we  can  and  then  pack  good  batches  close  to  the  walls  on 
the  south  side  of  Peach  houses  and  vineries.  Close  to  the  walls  of  such 
houses  a  very  severe  frost  is  necessary  before  covering  is  really  needed. 
As  a  rule  the  plants  are  safe  against  14°  or  15°  of  frost,  and  a  few  Spruce 
branches  or  Yew  prove  ample  to  protect  them  through  ordinary  winters. 
We  have  for  many  years  ceased  attempting  to  blanch  Endive  outside 
by  the  many  methods  recommended.  If  we  have  no  room  in  the 
Mushroom  house  we  place  the  plants  closely  together  in  a  deep  box  with 
soil  about  their  roots,  and  then  cover  the  box  with  slates.  Early  in  the 
autumn  this  is  our  method,  and  we  are  inclined  to  think  when  the  boxes 
are  placed  in  brisk  heat  and  the  centres  forced  up  quickly  and  well 
blanched  it  is  not  so  bitter  as  when  allowed  to  blanch  under  cooler  and 
slower  conditions. 
During  late  autumn  and  winter  the  small  varieties  of  Cabbage 
Lettuce  are  preferable  to  Cos.  The  latter  are  very  bitter  after  the  days 
and  nights  begin  to  be  cold.  In  fact,  when  they  can  be  cut  outside  late 
in  the  season  they  are  very  little  superior  to  Endive,  for  they  are  bitter 
and  somewhat  tough.  Although  we  keep  what  Lettuce  we  can,  and 
store  plenty  of  Endive  as  well  as  force  Chicory,  we  are  of  opinion  that 
good  supplies  of  Mustard  and  Cress  are  more  appreciated.  In  addition 
we  also  grow  a  good  supply  of  Watercress  in  cold  frames.  We  go  to 
very  little  trouble,  and  the  yield  is  both  abundant  and  good.  How  we 
do  this  may  be  described  before  long. — Practice. 
