178 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  4,  1897. 
whilst  affording  facility  for  free  commuication  with  the  atmo¬ 
sphere.  This  being  the  most  important  record  of  temperature 
(shade  readings),  we  have  to  make  it  appear  to  be  incumbent  upon 
those  who  make  public  statements  of  it  to  use  a  standard  instrument, 
or  at  least  one  of  proved  reliability. 
The  barometer,  also  from  the  Greek,  signifying  in  our  tongue  a 
measure  of  weight — Baro-meter,  is  worthy  I  think  of  an  attempt  to 
clear  away  some  apparently  rajstical  and  undoubtedly  erroneous 
ideas  some  persistently  regard  it  with.  It  is  simply  what  its  name 
implies — viz.,  a  measure  of  weight — the  weight  or  the  density  of 
the  atmosphere.  Its  sole  value  as  a  weather  guide  is  founded 
upon  those  calculations  we  are  able  to  deduce  from  atmospheric 
variation.  Commonly  called  a  weatherglass,  because  it  has  so 
little  claim  to  the  appellation  I  suppose,  and  not  any  where  the 
deservedly  popular  aneroid  is  concerned,  for  the  glass  is  there 
replaced  by  a  metal  box  ;  it  claims  no  prophetic  power  beyond 
that  pointed  out.  The  custom  of  marking  off  the  different 
heights,  stormy,  rain,  fair,  set  fair,  appears  to  me  as  relevant  as  it 
would  be  to  mark  at  certain  hours  on  the  clock,  breakfast,  dinner, 
tea,  and  supper,  and  then  if  not  forthcoming  to  say  that  the  clock 
is  wrong. 
Anyway  my  little  aneroid  will  never  deceive  anyone  in  that 
respect,  for  years  ago  I  removed  from  its  face  those  too  often 
sources  of  error  and  mystery.  It  tells  me  now  so  many  inches,  it 
can  tell  no  one  any  more  with  certainty,  but  we  can  hardly  over¬ 
estimate  its  value.  One  must  allow  that  so  far  as  the  general 
public  are  concerned,  or  that  portion  of  it  to  whom  its  significance 
is  represented  by  the  mackintosh  or  umbrella,  the  definitions  are  well 
enough  so  far  as  they  go,  but  they  do  not  go  far  enough  for  toilers  of 
the  land,  or  of  the  deep,  who  are  more  seriously  interested  in  the 
shadows  of  coming  events  not  to  include  all  the  available  data  that 
close  observation  may  afford,  We  may  take  it  for  granted  that  all 
storms  of  abnormal  severity  upon  record  have  been  preceded  by  a 
rapidly  falling  barometer,  and  that  in  some  instances  it  is  the  only 
indicator  we  have  of  an  approaching  change.  As  an  instance  of 
this  I  may  relate  the  most  remarkable  and  sudden  change  wh:ch 
came  under  my  notice  during  a  winter  of  Arctic  severity.  It  was 
the  sharpest  night  of  a  series  of  sharp  nights,  when  the  thermo¬ 
meter  fell  below  zero,  and  our  anxiety  to  keep  things  right  had 
risen  in  proportion.  In  the  wee  sma’  hours  I  made  a  final  round 
with  the  man  “  on  duty.”  “  No  sign  of  a  change  ?  ”  No,  but  “the 
glass"  was  falling — falling  rapidly  ;  that  was  about  2  a.m  ,  and  at 
seven  I  awoke  to  the  sound  of  pattering  rain,  with  a  blessed  change 
of  about  40°  rise  in  the  temperature. 
Some  years  after  that  occurrence,  during  an  autumn  season 
when  Chrysanthemum  growers’  anxieties  approach  a  climax,  under 
similar  indications  of  a  change,  all  preparations  were  made  for  a 
battle  with  the  breeze.  The  barometer  fell  to  an  alarming  extent, 
but  so  far  as  other  appearances  were  in  evidence  there  was  nothing 
to  foretell  the  coming  storm.  The  day  dragged  out  still  and 
oppressive.  Bulky,  light  coloured  clouds  moved  by  an  upper 
current  of  air  revolved  round  the  district  all  day,  and  so  persist¬ 
ently  they  followed  a  circular  track  that  it  was  a  remarkable 
phenomena.  I  concluded,  rightly  or  wrongly,  that  we  were  the 
actual  centre  of  a  widespread  cyclonic  disturbance,  for  next  day’s 
press  reports  detailed  the  damage  which  took  place  all  around  us  at 
the  time  we  enjoyed  immunity  from  it,  although  later  on  at  night 
it  blew  great  guns,  and  shattered  the  conceit  out  of  one  old  work¬ 
man  who  had  been  laughing  at  the  “  gaffer’s  ”  belief  in  that 
“  weatherglass,”  and  all  the  f  ass  of  preparations  made.  I  should 
like  for  every  bothy  to  have  one  of  those  portable,  cheap,  interest¬ 
ing,  and  useful  little  instruments — an  aneroid  barometer — that  our 
lads  might  early  learn  what  it  is,  what  it  can  do,  and  what  it  cannot 
do,  more  of  which  I  should  like  to  detail,  but  it  must  no  longer 
detain. 
I  suppose  it  is  that  a  gardener,  through  life  being  anxious  and 
troubled  about  many  things  from  which  the  weather  can  never  be 
detached,  becomes  addicted  through  daily  and  almost  hourly  obser¬ 
vations  to  a  continuous  forecasting  within  the  limits  of  twelve  or 
twenty-four  hours,  and  that  with  more  or  less  success.  Truly  we 
cannot  do  much  in  this  respect ;  but  it  is  observation  that  prompts 
us  to  grasp  opportunities  which  may  otherwise  be  overlooked,  and 
if  there  are  “  more  things  in  heaven  and  earth  than  are  dreamt  of  in 
our  philosophy,”  we  may,  at  least,  endeavour  to  unravel  that  appa¬ 
rently  hopeless  tangle  the  weather  by  such  means  as  are  presented 
to  us,  and  possibly  find  them  means  to  the  end.  The  science  of 
meteorology  scarcely  appears  to  have  given  results  commensurate 
with  the  labours  expended  on  it,  but  much  has  been  done  to  clear 
the  way  by  removing  various  superstitious  theories  so  long  an 
obstruction.  “  A  hopeless  task,”  some  may  say.  “  There  are  no 
fixed  rules  or  laws  to  guide  our  judgment.”  To  such  I  would 
reply,  “All  Nature  is  but  art  unknown  to  thee  ;  all  chance,  direc¬ 
tion  which  thou  canst  not  see.” — An  Old  Boy. 
(To  be  continued,) 
ANTHURIUMS. 
In  these  days  when  flowers  and  flowering  plants  are  the  rage 
and  have  to  be  produced  in  such  enormous  numbers,  useless 
material  must  be  discarded  altogether.  The  foliage  plants  which 
many  of  us  prided  ourselves  in  growing  at  one  time  are  destined 
to  disappear  from  gardens  generally  if  the  present  rage  continue. 
But  I  look  forward  to  the  more  extended  culture  of  the  best 
forms  of  A.  Andreanum  and  A.  Scherzerianum.  For  years  their 
claims  have  been  strongly  advocated,  and  it  is  regretable  that  they 
are  not  more  generally  grown  at  the  present  time.  The  last 
variety  is  far  superior  to  Masdevallias,  although  we  have  no  objection 
to  these  plants,  and  after  Poinsettias  are  over  we  appear  to 
want  scarlet  in  our  gardens  for  decorative  purposes.  Certainly 
there  are  Tulips  and  scarlet  “Geraniums,”  but  the  first  are  not 
suitable  for  the  purposes  to  which  these  Anthuriums  can  be 
employed,  while  the  “Geraniums”  are  common  by  their  side. 
Personally  I  cannot  admire  the  salmon,  spotted,  and  white  form*.. 
A.  Andreanum  produce*  its  spathes  more  or  less  the  whole  of  the 
winter  and  spring,  and  they  last  a  very  long  time  in  a  cut  state. 
In  a  large  vase  what  can  be  more  effective  than  three  or  four  of 
these,  associated  with  the  same  number  of  Callas  and  a  few  leaves 
of  the  latter.  The  arrangement,  though  simple,  is  striking.  Plants 
the  spathes  or  flowers  of  which  last  a  long  time,  are  what  we  need 
at  the  present  time. 
A.  Andreanum  requires  stove  treatment,  and  a  number  of  plants, 
if  the  spathes  are  not  needed  for  cutting,  are  striking  objects  for 
the  embellishment  of  the  house  in  which  they  are  grown.  A.  Scher¬ 
zerianum  certainly  requires  stove  treatment  while  growing,  then  can 
be  rested  in  an  intermediate  temperature,  and  is  all  the  better  for 
this  treatment,  as  the  plants  flower  more  profusely  and  grow  with 
greater  vigour  afterwards.  One  advantage  of  resting  them  in  a 
lower  temperature  is  that  they  are  easily  forced  into  bloom  after¬ 
ward*  by  introducing  them  into  strong  heat.  Even  supposing  these 
flowers  are  not  needed  in  a  cut  state,  they  are  charming  associated 
with  Cattleyas,  Coelogynes,  Cypripediums,  Odontoglossums,  and 
plants  of  this  nature.  Both  spathes  and  foliage  correspond 
admirably. 
These  plants  are  slow  of  propagation,  which  may  be  one  cauie 
against  their  more  extended  culture.  But  in  spite  of  this  they  are 
worth  growing  with  the  object  of  forming  a  good  stock  in  course 
of  time.  The  best  plan  is  to  grow  A.  Scherzerianum  until  it  divides 
its  crowns  freely,  and  they  are  large  enough  for  taking  off,  when 
the  plants  may  be  split  up  and  established  in  5  to  7-inch  pots 
according  to  their  size.  The  same  remarks  apply  equally  to 
A.  Andreanum.  Some  of  the  compact  growing  kind*  soon  produce 
three  or  four  crowns,  when  they  can  be  rooted  separately,  the 
remaining  stem  above  the  pot  being  cut  into  lengths  of  two 
joints.  These  if  plunged  into  strong  bottom  heat  soon  make 
plants.  The  old  stool  frequently  starts  a  number  of  growths 
from  the  base,  wh;ch  in  course  of  time  can  be  taken  off  and  rooted 
separately. 
Anthuriums  are  not  very  particular  about  soil,  provided  it  is 
light,  open,  sweet,  and  porous.  We  find  they  will  grow  with  the 
pots  nearly  full  of  crocks,  and  then  filled  up  with  moss  used  in 
cakes  as  frequently  found  in  woods.  They  will  grow  in  peat, 
also  in  fibrous  loam.  Our  compost  is  good  fibrous  loam  and  peat 
in  equal  proportions,  with  broken  bricks  freely  added,  and  a  good 
layer  of  moss  on  the  surface.  The  moss  is  replaced  annually,  and 
the  soil  is  washed  from  the  roots  every  second  year.  While  in  a 
lower  temperature  the  plants  are  kept  fairly  dry  at  their  root*,  or 
else  we  find  their  fleshy  roots  perish. — W.  Bardney. 
LOOKING  ROUND. 
Although  only  an  amateur  I  eagerly  peruse  the  pages  of  the 
Journal  of  Horticulture  as  it  is  issued  week  by  week,  and  on  reading 
the  article  “  Looking  Bound  ”  I  thought  I  should  like  to  say  that 
although  only  an  amateur  L  have  spent  many  days  of  my  holidays  at 
different  times  in  visiting  some  of  the  county  seats  and  nurseries  within 
some  miles  of  where  I  live.  Permission  of  the  head  gardener  or  the 
person  in  charge  has  been  asked  to  look  round,  and  I  have  been  shown 
through  and  treated  more  as  a  fellow  gardener  and  not  as  an  intruder 
in  their  domain  because  I  was  only  an  amateur. 
In  several  cases  where  gardeners  have  to  depend  upon  themselves  for 
the  keeping  up  of  their  stock  I  have  been  able  to  exchange  a  few  cut¬ 
tings  or  plants,  proving  I  hope  beneficial  to  both  parties.  One  pleasant 
recollection  I  have  in  my  mind  is  of  a  day  when  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Highbury,  and  being  greatly  interested  in  the  culture  of  Orchids  I 
made  my  way  to  the  lodge  entrance  of  the  residence  of  the  Rt.  Hon.  Jos. 
Chamberlain,  and  asked  (not  without  some  hesitation)  to  see  Mr. 
Burberry,  and  the  pleasant  way  I  was  received  by  that  gentleman  and 
shown  through  the  various  Orchid  houses  I  shall  not  easily  forget.  I1 
take  this  opportunity  of  thanking  all  gardeners  who  are  willing  to  help 
such  as  I,  who  are  lovers  and  growers  of  the  flowerB  in  our  own  quiet 
way  but  not  professional  gardeners. — An  Amateur. 
