278 
April  1,  1S97. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
TREE  IVIES. 
The  value  of  the  Ivy  as  a  climbing  plant  is  well  known  and  undis¬ 
puted.  The  value  of  tree  Ivy,  however,  as  an  addition  to  the  not  over 
lengthy  list  of  good  constitutioned  hardy  evergreen  shrubs  is  not  so 
fully  recognised.  Everyone  knows  how  well  the  Btrong  growing  varieties 
of  climbing  Ivy  do  under  most  adverse  circumstances.  When  growing 
in  the  middle  of  large  towns  the  leaves  keep  fresh  and  green  where  little 
else  would  exist.  Very  wet  or  very  dry  weather  does  not  appear  to 
affect  them  ;  whilst  for  coming  unscathed  through  London  fogs  the  Ivy 
has  few  equals.  As  the  climbing  Ivy  shows  to  such  advantage  it  is  a 
wonder  we  do  not  see  the  tree  forms  made  greater  use  of,  as  they  grow 
freely,  made  good  plants  in  a  short  time,  and  are  equally  effective 
whether  grown  in  beds,  as  groups  in  the  shrubbery,  or  as  specimen 
plants. 
The  arborescent  form  of  the  typical  Hedera  Helix  is  often  seen  to 
great  advantage  covering  the  tops  of  old  trees  ;  other  varieties,  however, 
which  have  much  more  beautifully  marked  leaves,  are  rarely  met  with. 
Some  of  the  best  varieties  for  the  purpose  alluded  to  are  Hedera  Helix 
arboreBcens,  H.  H.  Rasgneriana,  H.  H.  azorica,  H.  H.  amurensis, 
large  green  -  leaved,  strong  growing  varieties  ;  H.  H.  foliis  aureis, 
H.  H.  foliis  argenteis,  golden  variegated  ;  and  H.  H.  Silver  Queen, 
silver  variegated.  H.  H.  conglomerata  and  H.  H.  minima  are  dwarf 
growing  distinct  varieties.  The  stems  are  very  short  jointed,  bearing 
numerous  small  green  leaves  closely  packed  together.  They  quickly 
form  nice  plants,  and  are  very  suitable  for  planting  on  rockwork. 
Although  most  of  the  varieties  of  the  climbing  Ivy  assume  the 
arborescent  form  when  they  get  above  their  supports,  the  strongest  only 
should  be  grown  as  shrubs.  They  may  be  kept  in  the  tree  form  either 
by  grafting  on  stocks  of  the  common  Irish  Ivy  or  by  rooting  from 
cuttings.  The  former  is  the  most  expeditious  way,  the  latter  the  better. 
When  grafting  is  resorted  to  the  stocks  should  have  all  the  buds 
removed  from  the  base  to  prevent  suckering.  The  stocks  should  be 
established  in  small  pots,  grafted  in  February,  and  stood  in  a  cool  case, 
when  a  union  will  be  effected  in  about  three  weeks.  Cuttings  should 
be  put  in  in  August  in  sandy  soil  in  a  cool  frame,  where  they  will  root 
during  winter.  If  cuttings  or  grafts  are  put  into  too  much  heat  the 
growths  sometimes  revert  to  the  climbing  form.  Whether  grown  from 
grafts  or  cuttings  it  is  advisable  to  keep  the  plants  in  pots  until  they 
are  planted  out  permanently.  Pots  5  inches  in  diameter  will  be  found 
a  good  size  for  the  purpose.  The  plants  should  be  potted  firm,  and  loam 
with  a  little  decayed  manure  used. — W.  D. 
THE  QUALITY  OF  POTATOES. 
I  confess  I  am  somewhat  disappointed  in  failing  to  observe  any 
further  information  towards  an  elucidation  of  the  phenomenon  in 
question — if,  indeed,  it  be  in  the  power  of  anyone  to  give  it.  I  have 
been  at  some  trouble  latterly  in  ascertaining  from  market  gardeners 
and  other  growers  their  views  and  experience  pertaining  to  the  subject, 
but  I  fear  with,  apparently,  not  a  conclusive  result,  requiring  also,  as  it 
evidently  does,  a  scientific  research  as  well  as  an  ordinary  cultural 
observation,  so  cogently  advocated  by  “  A.  D.” 
The  result  of  my  inquiries,  in  the  abstract,  is  to  the  effect  that  the 
condition  of  the  weather  during  the  growing  period  of  the  Potato  was 
mainly  responsible  for  promoting  the  ailment  in  question,  as  evidenced 
by  the  dual  extremes  of  the  weather  last  season — viz.,  a  long  period  of 
dryness,  succeeded  by  several  weeks  of  more  or  less  rain  during  the 
maturing  of  the  crops,  causing  “  supertuberation,”  so  that  the  chemical 
constituents  of  the  tubers  were  not  fully  elaborated  at  the  harvesting  of 
the  crop.  In  contravention  of  this  theory,  several  growers  fere  of  opinion 
that  the  use  of  artificial  manures,  particularly  nitrate  of  soda,  instead  of 
good  farmyard  or  stable  manure,  is  a  contributory  cause  towards  the  evil 
in  question.  In  illustration  of  this  a  grower  at  Bromsgrove,  from 
where  a  large  proportion  of  the  Birmingham  market  supplies  come, 
informed  me  that  a  few  years  ago  he  planted  a  large  breadth  of  Potatoes 
on  a  piece  of  old  virgin  turf,  but  without  manure  of  any  kind,  and  at 
the  earthing-up  period  he  sowed  a  good  sprinkling  of  nitrate  of  soda 
along  the  rows.  But,  unfortunately,  the  protracted  dry  weather  pre¬ 
cluded  the  plants  from  assimilating  the  virtues  of  the  condiment  until 
the  presence  of  the  autumn  rains,  when  a  vigorous  growth  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  discolouration  of  the  tubers  when  cooked  in  a  more  than 
ordinary  degree,  insomuch  that  the  grower  has  ever  since  eschewed  the 
use  of  the  nitrate,  excepting  for  other  vegetables  and  cereals.  As 
regards  the  Potato,  he  now  pins  his  faith  to  farmyard  or  stable 
manure  only. 
When  questioned  as  to  the  reason  why  so  large  a  percentage  of 
cultivators  patronise  nitrate  of  soda  and  other  artificial  manures,  his 
answer  was  to  the  effect  that  artificial  manures  are  more  readily  obtained 
than  stable  manure  ;  also  that  many  growers  do  not  care  for  the  trouble 
of  “  loading  back  ”  from  market  town-made  manure.  Probably  there  is 
a  considerable  amount  of  truth  in  my  deponent’s  asseverations,  and 
which  are  so  far  qualified  by  the  fact  that,  without  exception,  the  best 
consignment  of  Potatoes,  in  regard  to  quality,  I  have  purchased  during 
the  past  winter  from  various  sources  is  one  recently  procured  from  him, 
the  variety  being  either  “  Bruce”  or  “  Magnum  Bonum,”  and  it  is  note¬ 
worthy  that  the  sample  is  of  medium  size,  thus  evidencing  the  absence 
of  strong  or  excessive  manurial  stimulants  in  their  production. 
A  remarkable  feature  presenting  itself  in  connection  with  the  quality 
of  the  numerous  samples  of  Potatoes  procured  from  several  growers 
during  the  past  season,  and  which  in  regard  to  size  and  appearance  were 
all  that  could  be  desired,  was  the  apparent  absence  of  any  internal 
symptom  of  discolouration  prior  to  the  cooking  for  table  use,  conse¬ 
quently  necessitating  a  trial  of  the  sample  before  purchasing  the  stock. 
The  importance  of  the  ailment  in  question  admits  of  no  further  demon¬ 
stration  here,  and  it  certainly  demands  all  analytical  research,  ranging 
as  it  also  does  next  of  importance  to  the  Potato  “murrain”  itself,  and 
probably  as  difficult  to  combat,  if  not  more  so. — W.  G. 
BUTCHER’S  BROOM. 
It  would  be  interesting  to  learn  if  this  somewhat  rare  and  interesting 
indigenous  evergreen  sub-shrub  has  been  known  to  fruit  as  freely  in  the 
British  Isles,  as  it  is  said  to  do  in  the  South  of  Europe.  I  am  partly 
induced  to  ask  this  question  at  the  present  time  from  the  fact  of  having 
recently  seen  a  small  quantity  of  its  branches  profusely  furnished  with 
bright  red  berries  for  sale  in  Birmingham  market  halls,  and  where  it 
attracted  much  attention  and  admiration  in  the  way  of  a  newly  intro¬ 
duced  decorative  subject  there.  The  consignment  came  from  the  Riviera 
amongst  some  cut  flowers. 
The  plant  is  a  familiar  acquaintance  of  mine,  as  for  some  years  when 
resident  near  Stratford-on-Avon  I  had  under  my  charge  hundreds  of  the 
plants  growing  in  the  shrubberies.  Excepting  in  one  or  two  isolated 
instances  berries  were  not  produced,  though  flowers  were  freely  expanded 
in  April  and  May,  Perhaps  this  generally  non-fruiting  proclivity  arose 
from  some  fertilising  disability,  owing  either  to  the  dioecious  character 
of  the  species  or  to  adverse  climatal  influences.  Possibly  the  latter, 
inasmuch  as  I  believe  that  in  the  South  of  England,  and  especially  in 
Arundel  Castle  Park,  where  it  abounds,  the  plants  fruit  pretty  freely. 
Altogether  the  various  characteristics  of  the  plant  constitute  it  one 
of  the  most  interesting  and  unique  members  of  our  indigenous  vegetable 
kingdom.  Its  persistent  foliage,  or,  strictly  speaking,  cladodes,  twisted  at 
the  base,  render  it  a  conspicuous  plant  in  any  garden.  Botanists  assign 
the  genus  to  a  position  among  the  earliest  of  our  plants,  and  degenerated 
in  character. 
Reverting  to  the  habit  of  the  plant,  I  may  remark  that  if  grown  for 
several  years  in  one  position  it  assumes  a  stunted  growth  from  lack  of 
nourishment  required  by  the  numerous  fleshy  Asparagus-like  roots  and 
shootB,  indicating  the  necessity  of  occasional  division  and  transplanting 
into  rich  soil.  These  conditions  also  apply  to  its  congener,  Ruscus 
racemosus,  commonly  called  the  Alexandrian  Laurel,  and  which 
deserves  extended  cultivation  if  only  for  the  sake  of  its  long  and  graceful 
shoots,  so  admirably  adapted  for  decorative  purposes.  Another  species, 
Ruscus  androgynus,  a  native  of  the  Canary  Isles,  and  occasionally  to  be 
found  in  our  own  country  as  a  greenhouse  plant,  also  lends  itself  to 
purposes  similar  to  the  last  named. — G. 
SPRING  SHOWS. 
TORQUAY. — March  24th. 
The  members  of  the  Torquay  District  Gardeners’  Association  held  a 
most  attractive  exhibition  on  Wednesday,  March  24th,  in  the  Bath 
Saloons,  Torquay.  Both  financially  and  artistically  this  was  the  most 
successful  show  ever  held  in  Torquay.  By  arrangement  with  a  local 
firm  the  large  hall,  100  feet  by  50  feet,  was  illuminated  with  the 
electric  light,  and  the  effect  in  the  evening,  when  over  200  ornamental 
electroliers,  standards,  and  brackets  were  lighted,  was  extremely 
beautiful.  Many  of  the  lights  were  placed  amongst  the  flowers  and 
foliage  with  fairy-like  effect. 
A  select  Btring  band,  organised  specially  for  the  occasion,  and  includ¬ 
ing  the  best  local  instrumentalists,  drew  large  crowds  in  the  afternoon 
and  evening.  There  was  a  record  attendance,  which  included  Prince 
Albert  of  Belgium,  who  is  now  staying  at  Torquay.  The  show  was 
formally  opened  by  the  Mayor,  J.  H.  Rockhey,  Esq.,  J.P.,  who  was 
accompanied  by  the  Mayoress,  Miss  Rockhey,  Dr.  R.  Hamilton  Ramsey 
(President  of  the  Society),  and  a  number  of  other  leading  residents. 
The  Committee,  Judges,  and  honorary  exhibitors  had  previously  lunched 
together. 
With  regard  to  the  show  itself,  many  present  observed  that  they  had 
never  seen  a  finer  spring  exhibition.  In  the  centre  of  the  hall  was 
arranged  a  large  group,  consisting  of  high  Palms,  surrounded  by  a 
brilliant  bank  of  flowering  plants.  This  was  contributed  by  Messrs. 
W.  Burridge  &  Sons  and  Messrs.  Horn  &  Sons,  both  nurserymen,  and 
formed  an  effective  centrepiece.  Messrs.  Curtis,  Sanford  &  Co., 
Limited,  showed  a  most  attractive  stand.  The  South  Devon  Fruit  Farm 
contributed  a  good  show  of  fruit  and  vegetables.  Mr.  J.  Snelgrove  of 
St.  Elmo,  Torquay  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  Bale),  exhibited  a  grand  group  of 
flowering  and  foliage  plants,  including  many  Orchids.  Mr.  W.  B.  Smale, 
J.P.,  F.R.H.S.,  was  well  represented  by  a  showy  stand  of  Palms,  Liliums, 
and  Azaleas,  together  with  a  table  of  cut  Narcissi.  Messrs.  R.  Veitch 
and  Son  of  Exeter  attracted  much  attention  with  their  novelties  in  the 
shape  of  rock  plants  and  Cacti,  which,  together  with  their  large  variety 
of  Narcissi,  made  up  a  very  lovely  exhibit.  Messrs.  Allward,  Beachey, 
and  Co,  the  Jadoo  Fibre  Company,  and  Mr.  W.  J.  Godfrey  of  Exmouth, 
also  had  stands,  the  latter  showing  some  fine  new  Zonal  Pelargoniums. 
One  of  the  most  novel  features  was  an  exhibit  by  the  Torquay  Town 
Council.  This  consisted  of  an  imitation  garden,  with  miniature  beds 
laid  out  in  turf  and  backed  with  virgin  cork  and  subtropical  plants. 
