398 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
November  24,  189?. 
- Hyacinths  and  Onions  on  the  Stock  Exchange.  - 
Interne  enjoyment  is  derived  by  the  micella  eous  mining  ma:ket  from  its 
new  Hyacinth  game.  About  a  week  ago  two  of  its  members  entered  into 
a  competition  as  to  which  would  grow  the  best  Hyacinths.  The  bulbs 
were  duly  bought,  but  the  matter  getting  noised  abroad,  those  of  one 
competitor  were  abstracted,  and  Onions  substituted.  The  bulbs  were 
taken  home  to  be  planted,  but  the  household  of  the  victim  discovered  the 
“  plant,’’  and  the  event  has  now  been  embodied  in  a  song  by  the  market  poet. 
To  the  tune  of  “Poor  Cock  Robin  ’’  the  elegant  stanzas  are  poured  forth 
with  immense  effect. — (“'Westminster  Gazette.’’) 
-  Coventry'  Show. — The  fourth  annual  Chrysanthemum  show 
was  held  in  the  Market  Hall,  Coventry,  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday, 
November  8th  and  9th.  The  entries  were  larger  in  number  than  in  any 
previous  year,  and  the  attendance  of  the  public  on  the  opening  day  was 
a  record  one.  The  principal  prizes  for  the  large  groups  were  taken  by 
Sir  R.  Moon  (gardener,  Mr.  Morris),  W.  Herbert,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr. 
Blake),  G.  Singer,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  Collier)  ;  and  for  cut  blooms  by 
Arthur  James,  Esq.,  Sir  R.  Moon,  W.  Herbeit,  Esq.,  G.  Singer,  Esq., 
and  J.  K.  Starley,  Esq.  Large  bush  plants  were  also  well  in  evidence, 
and  th(  re  was  a  considerable  collection  of  fruit  and  vegetables,  and  honorary 
exhibits  from  Mr.  Martin,  gardener  to  Lord  Leigh,  as  weil  as  from  Mr. 
W.  Fmch  and  Messrs.  Kimberley  &  Son.  The  Secretary  of  the  Society', 
Mr.  E.  Curtis,  had  a  stand  of  horticultural  sundries. 
- -  House  Plants  Requiring  but  Little  Care.— Busy  people 
will  find  the  following  abbreviated  list  valuable  as  representing  plants 
that  ore  easily  cared  for.  No  house  plant  can  be  considered  a  lazy  man’s 
plant— all  should  have  some  daily  attention  ;  but  those  mentioned  bear 
up  well  under  adverse  circumstances.  Rubber  Plant,  both  variegated 
and  green  ;  Dracaena,  variegated  and  green  ;  Cypripedium  insigne,  a 
satislactory  species  of  Lady’s  Slipper  Orchid,  the  flowers  of  which  last 
from  four  to  six  and  eight  weeks  ;  Chinese  Primulas  ;  Begonias,  Umbrella 
Plant,  or  Cyperus,  in  several  kinds  ;  Geraniums  ;  Peperomia,  Ardisia, 
Cyclamen,  Ophiopogon  japonica,  Pand^nus  utiliis.  Limiting  the  number 
to  sufficient  for  placing  around  in  rooms,  in  houses  of  average  size,  the 
snegestions  are  sufficient  with  the  addition  of  the  interesting  Dutch  bulbs, 
such  as  Hyacinths  and  Narcissi.  Palms,  of  course,  are  indispensable, 
though  somewhat  burdensome  to  clean  when  attacked  by  scale.  — 
(“Meehan's  Monthly.’’) 
-  A  Vicars  Fortunate  Decision. — A  correspondent  writes 
to  a  daily  contemporary  : — “  A  lucky  escape  for  a  vicar  is  reported  from 
a  Buckinghamshire  parish.  When  the  Technical  Education  Committee 
of  the  County  Council  of  Bucks  offer  prizes  for  allotments  the  condition 
is  made  that  the  prizes  shall  be  given  in  kind,  and  r.ot  in  money,  though 
each  prizewinner  is  allowed  to  choose  (subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
Committee)  how  his  prize  shall  be  laid  out.  At  a  meeting  of  tho  local 
Committee  in  one  of  tho  neighbouring  parishes  of  Aylesbury  it  was 
proposed  that  tile  prizes  should  be  sent  to  the  vicarage  and  the  prize- 
holders  be  assembled  on  a  given  day'  to  receive  them.  Tho  vicar,  though 
taking  an  active  part  in  any  scheme  for  improving  allotments,  was 
obliged  to  say'  nay  to  this  proposal.  It  is  well  he  did,  for  tho  prizes 
chosen  included  9  tons  of  coals,  several  lots  of  tools,  drapery  and  boots, 
two  loads  of  soot,  and  one  of  manure,  some  sacks  and  some  meal,  and 
lastly  a  suit  of  clothes  and  a  sot  of  harness,  all  of  which,  according  to 
would  have  been  deposited  at  the  vicarage.” 
-  Plants  and  Air  Action. — Plants  respire  carbonic  acid  gas 
chiefly  in  the  form  of  aqueous  vapour  (the  same  form  in  which  it  is  dis¬ 
charged  from  the  lungs).  This  aqueous  vapour,  says  “  J.  M.”  in  the 
“Madras  Mail,”  is  discharged  through  the  lung3  of  the  plant — namely, 
through  the  stomata.  But  the  stomata  practically  close  during  complete 
darkness,  so  that  there  cannot  bo  any  appreciable  discharge  of  aqueous 
vapour  (carbonic  acid  gas)  through  the  closed  orifices.  If  anyone  will 
test  the  temperature  of  foliage  at  night  he  will  find  it  to  bo  much  lower 
than  the  temperature  of  the  surrounding  atmosphere,  a  process  of  radia¬ 
tion  going  on  from  tho  foliage  to  form  the  dew.  Now  no  appreciable 
amount  of  aqueous  vapour  can  bo  formed  within  tho  foliage  of  plants 
unless  their  surface  temperature  be  at  least  equal  to  that  of  the  surround¬ 
ing  atmosphere.  In  warm  rooms  the  orifices  of  the  stomata  may  not 
close  altogether,  and  hence  a  discharge  of  carbonic  acid  gas.  Tho  excess 
of  carbonic  acid  gas  supposed  to  be  given  oil  by  plants  in  a  room  at 
night  arises  from  the  decomposing  process  going  on  in  the  soil  in  which 
the  plants  are  growing.  Similarly  in  woods  and  forests,  an  excess  of 
carbonic  acid  gas  is  given  off  from  dying  or  decaying  vegetable  matter 
in  the  absence  of  the  oxy  genating  influence  of  sunlight,  not  as  aqueous 
vapour,  but  as  pure  carbonic  acid  gas.  On  a  moonlight  night  plants  give 
off  an  appreciable  amount  of  carbonic  acid  gas. 
-  Summer  Show  Schedules.— Mr.  Wm.  Drewott,  Ceres  House, 
Kingston-on-Thames,  will  be  greatly  obliged  if  secretaries  of  summer 
fl  wer  shows  will  send  him  a  copy  of  their  schedu'e.  His  desire  is  to 
obtain  such  as  are  used  for  exhibitions  of  moderate  pretensions,  largely 
for  amateurs,  and  held  at  the  latter  end  of  June. 
-  Polygonum  cuspidatum. — This  perennial  is  not  nearly  so 
much  cultivated  as  its  merits  deserve.  Amongst  the  ordinary  members 
of  tho  herbaceous  border  its  growth  is  rather  too  strong,  while  if  allowed 
to  extend  at  will  it  will  quickly  smother  any  plant  near.  Under  good 
culture  it  reaches  a  height  of  8  feet,  and  in  tho  shrubbery  it  is  useful  for 
filling  gaps.  Its  white  Spiraea-like  drooping  blossoms,  produced  from  tho 
axils  of  tho  leaves,  give  variety  in  September  and  October,  when  flowers 
in  that  part  of  the  garden  are  often  scarce.  As  a  hedge  plant  or 
summer  screen  it  is  capital.  Tho  ideal  position,  as  for  P.  sachalinenso 
is  in  a  mass  by  the  water-side,  for  w'hich  its  semi-drooping  character 
eminently  fits  it.  The  moisture  derived  from  its  close  proximity  to  water 
aids  growth  considerably.  So  freely  does  this  variety  spread  when  once 
thoroughly  established  that  a  large  colony  can  quickly  be  assured  by 
dividing  the  roots. — E.  M. 
-  IIoya  BELLA. — Rarely  does  one  meet  with  this  charming  little 
stove  flowering  plant,  and  yet  it  is  one  of  the  most  elegant  of  the  Hoya 
family.  It  is  by  no  means  so  robust  and  accommodating  as  the  com¬ 
monly  grown  IIoya  carnosa,  and  this  may  be  the  reason  why  it  is  not 
more  widely  grown.  Tho  flowers,  howeter,  are  chastely  beautiful  with 
their  white  waxy  petals  and  star-shaped  centres  of  chocolate  hue.  Tho 
scent  is  sweet  and  the  flower  is  very  useful  for  buttonholes.  A  warm 
stove  temperature  suits  the  plant  well,  and  it  may  bo  readily  increased 
by  propagation  from  cuttings.  When  grown  in  5  or  6-inch  pots  and 
the  growths  tied  to  neat  stakes  this  Hoya  makes  a  very  pretty  specimen 
when  in  bloom.  As  the  foliage  is  apt  to  get  very  dirty  continual 
syringing  is  necessary,  and  a  sharp  watch  must  be  kept  for  mealy  bug,  to 
which  it  is  very  subject,  and  as  the  leaves  are  small  and  brittle  the  plants 
are  difficult  to  clean.  A  fairly  light  soil  containing  peat  and  a  free 
scattering  of  silver  sand  is  a  suitable  mixture  for  this  elegant  Hoya. — 
H.  H. 
-  Market  Apples. — There  was  no  exhibit  which  attracted  or 
merited  so  much  attention,  seen  at  the  recent  Twickenham  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  Show,  as  the  very  fine  exhibit  of  Apples  grown  for 
sale  and  sent  by  that  well-known  market  grower,  Mr.  W.  Poupart. 
These  were  arranged  chiefly  in  flats  and  rounds,  the  fruits  being  well 
elevated  and  pleasingly  dressed  with  leaves.  There  were  some  thirty 
baskets  in  the  group,  and  the  varieties  included  of  cookers  Wellington, 
Bismarck,  Lord  Derby,  Allriston,  Peasgood’s  Nonesuch,  Warner’s  King, 
Hollandbury,  Lane’s  Prince  Albert,  Cox’s  Pomona,  Annie  Elizabeth, 
Waltham  Abbey  Seedling,  Golden  Noble,  Betty  Geeson,  Newton  Wonder, 
The  Queen,  Mere  do  Menage,  Schoolmaster,  and  Lady  Henniker,  eighteen 
varieties,  all  fine  samples  ;  and  of  dessert,  liibston  Pippin,  Court  of 
Wick,  King  of  the  Pippins,  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin,  Rosemary  Russet, 
Baumann’s  Red  Reiuettc,  and  Mother  Apple,  with  some  fine 
Pitmaston  Duchess  Pears  from  pyramid-.  Not  less  interesting  was  a 
bundle  of  first-rate  Seakale,  beautifully  blanched,  showing  how  early  in 
the  winter  this  most  useful  vegetable  can  be  hud  ready  for  use.  Tho 
presentation  of  such  a  collection  of  Apples  from  a  market  garden  in  the 
middle  of  November  shows  that  Mr.  Poupart  is  well  to  the  front  in  the 
culture  of  our  great  national  fruit.— A.  D. 
-  Orchards  and  Viney'ARDS  in  Victoria.— In  a  return  of 
orchards  and  vineyards  just  issued  by  the  Acting  Government  Statist, 
Mr.  J.  E.  Fenton,  the  number  of  Vine  growers  in  the  colony  of  Victoria, 
Australia,  13  given  at  2364,  showing  a  decrease  from  the  previous  year  of 
239.  The  area  of  bearirg  Vines  is  24,772  acres,  or  an  increase  of  931  acres. 
The  produce  of  Grapes  was  436,897  cwt.,  showing  a  decrease  of  144,156 
cwt.;  and  the  vintage  of  wine  1,912,639  gallons,  or  909,624  gallons  less 
than  in  tho  previous  year.  Raisins  made  for  the  year  total  1,480,882  lbs., 
which  is  an  increase  on  the  previous  season  of  217,994  lbs.;  and  Currants 
51,746  lbs.,  or  a  decrease  of  33,643  lbs.  The  number  engaged  in  growing 
fruit  for  sale  is  given  at  3876,  as  compared  with  4067  for  the  preceding 
year,  and  the  total  acreage  under  fruit  31,415  aeres,  as  compared  with  tho 
previous  year’s  32,030  acres  ;  while  the  largo  fruits  gathered  are  returned 
at  442, 2S6  cwt.,  small  fruits  18,950  cwt.,  and  nuts  53,133  lbs.  Dried  fruits 
are  totalled  at  305,502  lbs.,  comprising  Apples  2103,  Prunes  7851,  Peaches 
59,420,  Apricots  220,757,  and  Figs  35,371  lbs.  respectively.  Tho  number 
of  Hop  growers  is  reckoned  at  149,  or  tw  o  less  than  last  year.  The  area 
under  Hops  is  918  acres,  as  compared  with  a  previous  945  acres,  and  the 
total  yield  3628  cwt.,  which,  compared  with  the  preceding  season’s  crop, 
shows  a  decrease  of  2555  cwt. 
