122 
August  10,  1*99, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
-  Ibis  Mont  Blanc. — This  variety  of  the  English  section  of  Iris 
is  one  of  the  best  for  the  opei)  border  in  the  month  of  June.  The  pure 
white  blossoms,  each  with  a  laint  yellow  stripe,  are  very'  showy  and  useful 
for  cutting,  as  they  last  a  long  time  in  water. — B.  W. 
-  IIelenium  BOLANDERI. — A  free-flowering  border  plant  that  is 
deserving  of  extended  cultivation  is  H.  Bolanderi.  The  deep  black  disc  and 
pale  yellow  petals  render  it  an  object  of  great  attraction.  In  growth  it 
reaches  3  feet  in  height,  and  in  the  profusion  of  its  blossoms  it  is  all  that 
c  >uld  be  desired. — E.  M. 
-  Isle  of  Wight. — The  monthly  meeting  of  the  Isle  of  Wight 
Horticultural  Improvement  Association  was  held  at  Newport  on  Saturday, 
Dr.  J.  Groves,  B.A.,  .T.P.,  presided  over  a  fair  attendance  of  members. 
Mr.  T.  Robinson  of  Hildyards,  Sandown,  read  a  paper  on  the  “Culti¬ 
vation  of  Grapes,’’  dealing  with  the  methods  of  propagation,  making  of 
borders,  and  the  general  requirements.  The  subsequent  discussion  was 
taken  part  in  by  the  Chairman  and  Messrs.  Midlane,  Collister,  and  others. 
The  exhibits  staged  consisted  of  seedling  Cannas  by  Mr.  J.  II.  Silsbury 
of  Shanklin  ;  spikes  of  Agapanthus  umbellatus  by  Mr.  G.  H.  Honey- 
bourne  of  St.  Wilfred's,  Ryde  ;  Lilium  auratum  by  Mr.  W.  Dyer,  Broad- 
lands,  Newport ;  and  plants  of  Delphiniums  staged  by  Mr.  II.  Webber, 
Newport.  The  adjudicators,  Messrs.  Collister  and  Robinson,  awarded  a 
F.C.C.  to  the  seedling  Cannas,  and  a  certificate  for  cultural  merit  to  the 
Delphiniums.  A  thoroughly  enjoyable  evening  was  brought  to  a  fitting 
c  inclusion  by  votes  of  thanks  being  accorded  to  the  essayist  and  the 
exhibitors.  The  subject  for  the  next  monthly  meeting  will  be  “Garden 
Insects.” 
-  Trips  to  the  Continent. —There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
splendid  facilities  that  are  now  provided  by  our  great  railway  systems 
have  done  immense  service  to  holiday  makers  by  al’owing  them  for  a 
moderate  outlay  to  quickly  reach  any  desirable  place  at  home  or  on  the 
continent.  In  catering  in  the  most  up-to-date  manner  for  the  travelling 
public  the  Great  Eastern  Railway  Company  must  be  accorded  a  very 
prominent  position.  Not  only  can  one  reach  the  many  places  of  beauty 
and  interest  in  East  Anglia  quickly  and  cheaply,  but  by  the  aid  of  the 
now  celebrated  Hook  of  Holland  route  they  tap  the  continent  with  an 
expedition  that  would  scarcely  have  been  deemed  possible  a  few  years 
ago.  The  Company,  however,  not  only  carries  the  travellers  comfortably', 
but  with  the  experienced  aid  of  Mr.  Percy  Bindley  acts  as  guide  and 
adviser.  This  is  done  through  the  medium  of  excellently  printed  and 
admirably  illustrated  handbooks,  of  which  we  now  have  three  before  us. 
The  descriptive  matter  of  the  scenery,  the  roads,  and  towns  is  clear 
and  readable,  and  is  so  full  of  useful  information  that  all  persons  con¬ 
templating  trips  should  write  to  the  continental  department  of  the  G.E.R. 
Liverpool  Street  Station  for  the  books,  which  can  be  read  and  utilised  to 
the  advantage  and  comfort  of  every  traveller. 
-  The  Influence  of  Camphor  in  the  Germination  of 
Seeds. — From  time  to  time  in  the  past  certain  discoveries  have  been  made 
in  horticulture  which  have  attracted  transient  attention  merely  from  their 
novelty  and,  being  regarded  as  trivial  and  unimportant,  have  been  cast  aside 
and  almost  forgotten,  without  being  followed  up  to  any  useful  conclusion. 
But  it  is  not  the  part  of  wisdom  to  pronounce  as  trivial  any  fact  in 
nature  that  is  imperfectly  understood.  Very  many  years  ago  it  was 
discovered  and  recorded  that  water  saturated  with  camphor  had  a 
remarkable  influence  on  the  germination  of  seeds.  There  the  matter 
was  dropped.  Bnt  a  German— the  German  scientists  are  patient  investi¬ 
gators — having  observed  a  record  of  this  effect  of  camphor,  took  up  the 
clue  and  pursued  it  to  learn  whither  it  would  lead.  He  took  seeds  of 
various  sorts,  some  being  three  or  four  years  old  and  possessing  but  a 
slight  degree  of  vitality,  and  placed  them  between  sheets  of  blotting 
piper.  Some  of  the  sheets  he  moistened  with  pure  water  and  others 
with  camphorated  water.  In  many  cases  the  seeds  did  not  swell  at  all 
under  the  influei.ee  of  the  simple  moisture,  but  in  every  case  they 
germinated  when  they  were  subjected  to  the  camphor  solution.  Extend¬ 
ing  the  tests  to  different  kinds  of  garden  seeds,  old  and  new,  the  result 
always  showed  a  singular  awakening  of  dormant  vitality,  and  a  wonderful 
quickening  in  growth.  The  young  plants  thus  stimulated  continued  to 
increase  in  growth  and  development  with  a  vigour  and  vivacity  much 
b  iyond  that  of  those  which  were  not  so  treated.  Yet,  when  pounded 
camphor  was  mixed  with  the  soil  it  appeared  to  exercise  rather  a  bad 
effect  upon  the  seeds,  the  dose  being  possibly  too  strong.  The  tests  are 
believed  to  have  established  the  fact  that  a  solution  of  camphor  stimulates 
vegetables  as  alcohol  does  animals.  Whether  the  strange  power  this 
dosing  appears  to  possess  over  the  latent  life  of  vegetable  germs  can  be 
turned  to  any  practical  account  in  gardening  is  an  interesting  question. 
— (“HmA  rd  Times.”) 
-  Herefordshire  Cider  and  1’erry  Fruit.— It  is  proposed 
to  hold  in  Hereford  this  autumn  an  exhibition  of  cider  and  perry 
fruit,  followed  by  a  conference  on  the  general  subject.  Mr.  Radcliffe 
Cooke,  M.l\,  who  is  taking  the  lead  in  the  movement,  says : 
“There  is  a  growing  feeling  that  the  time  may  come  when  our  suc¬ 
cessors,  if  not  we  ourselves,  may  regret  our  neglect  to  renew  and 
extend  our  orchards  of  cider  Apples  and  perry  Pears.” 
-  .July  Weather  at  Dowlais. — Rainfall,  0*90  inch,  which  fell 
on  nine  davs.  Greatest  fall,  0  30  on  the  1st.  Same  period  1898,  1*02  inch. 
Temperature,  in  the  shade,  7 1  *80«>°.  Highest,  82°,  on  the  30th  ;  lowest, 
38°,  on  the  27th.  There  were  six  sunless  days.  The  wind  was  in  the 
S.W.  on  twenty-five  days.  A  hot  dry  month,  with  the  wind  quiet  on  the 
whole. — Wm.  Mabbott. 
- Sussex  Weather. — The  total  rainfall  at  Stonehurst,  Ardingly, 
for  July  was  2152  inches,  being  0*04  inch  below  the  average.  The 
heaviest  fall  was  1*48  inch,  on  the  23rd,  which  fell  in  half  an  hour,  with  a 
heavy  thunderstorm.  Rain  fell  on  six  days.  The  maximum  temperature 
was  89°,  on  the  20th  ;  minimum  48°,  on  the  2nd  and  14th.  Mean 
maximum  79*11°,  mean  minimum  5G'12°  ;  mean  temperature  67*50°, 
which  is  5*09“  above  the  average.  An  extremely  hot  dry  month.  Over 
2  inches  of  the  rain  fell  on  two  days,  the  1st  and  23rd  ;  on  the  latter  day 
it  did  very  little  good,  except  on  level  ground  when  the  surface  was 
stirred.  The  second  spit  of  our  free  open  soil  is  now  as  dry  as  the  top 
one. — R.  I. 
- July  Weather  at  Belvoir  Castle,  Grantham. — The 
wind  was  in  a  westerly  direction  eighteen  days.  The  total  rainfall  was 
1*79  inch.  This  fell  on  twelve  days,  and  is  1*03  inch  below  the  average 
for  the  month.  The  greatest  daily  fall  was  0*43  inch  on  the  7th.  Baro¬ 
meter  (corrected  and  reduced)  :  Highest  reading  30*170  inches  on  the  31st 
at  9  A.m.  ;  lowest  reading  29*144  inches  on  the  1st  at  9  P.M.  Thermo¬ 
meters  :  Highest  in  the  shade  83°  on  the  19th,  lowest  46°  on  the 
5th  ;  mean  of  daily  maxima  71*87°,  mean  of  daily  minima  54*32°.  Mean 
temperature  of  the  month  03*09° ;  lowest  on  tho  grass  43°  on  the  5th, 
highest  in  the  sun  139°  on  the  19th.  Mean  temperature  of  the  earth  at 
3  feet  60*41°.  Total  sunshine  211  hours  10  minutes.  There  were  three 
sunless  days. — W.  II.  Divers. 
-  Thalia  dealbata. — It  is  usually  the  custom  to  grow  this 
South  American  aquatic  indoors,  but  that  it  is  perfectly  hardy  and 
looks  infinitely  more  at  home  out  of  doors  is  seen  by  the  several  large 
clumps  in  the  lake  and  ponds  at  Kew.  These  were  planted  several 
years  ago,  and  have  grown  and  flowered  well  each  season.  As  long  as 
they  are  covered  in  winter  with  a  few  inches  of  water  severe  weather 
appears  to  have  no  effect  on  them,  as  they  stood  the  frost  of  1895 
without  injury.  When  fully  established  and  growing  strongly,  the 
ovate  glaucous-looking  leaves  surmounting  long  slender  petioles  3  feet 
high,  rising  above  which  are  the  elegant  spikes  of  purplish  flowers, 
make  a  most  conspicuous  object,  especially  if  planted  a  little  way  in  the 
water  so  as  to  rise  among  a  mass  of  Nymphaui  or  other  flat-growing 
plant.  For  those  who  wish  for  a  variety  of  hardy  aquatics  this  should 
certainly  lie  given  a  trial.  If  at  any  time  during  winter  it  is  necessary 
to  empty'  a  pond  or  lake  containing  this  plant  it  is  a  good  plan  tb  cover 
the  crown  with  a  mound  of  hay. — K. 
-  ClSTUS  FLORENTINES.— Observing  a  mention  of  this  plant  on 
page  99,  may  1  be  allowed  to  suggest  that  the  plant  which  generally 
bears  the  name,  in  gardens  is  certainly  not  C.  florentinus  of  Lamarck’s 
Dictionary,  but  one  of  the  varieties  of  Cistus  hirsutus  (Lamarck), 
probably  the  variety  platysepalus  ?  I  rely  upon  the  most  recent  mono¬ 
graph  of  Cistinete,  by  Willkomm,  published  in  1856.  He  reviews  and 
criticises  all  the  portraits  in  Sweet’s  “ Cistinese.”  a  better  known  and 
commoner  work.  In  Sweet  there  is  a  good  portrait  of  C.  florentinus 
(tab.  59).  Willkomm,  however,  does  not  believe  in  this  as  a  species, 
remarking  that  the  characters  are  nearly  identical  with  those  of  C.  mons- 
peliensis  (Sweet,  tab.  27).  Willkomm  says  he  has  never  been  able  to 
see  a  living  specimen  of  C.  florentinus,  and  rather  doubts  its  existence  as 
more  than  a  variety  of  C.  monspeliensis.  Sweet  figures;C.  hirsutus  three 
times  over — vix.,  tab.  19  (the  type),  tab,  47  (var.  platysepalus),  and 
tab.  33  (var.  psilosepalus).  On  referring  to  these  portraits  and  the 
descriptions  of  them,  it  will  be  seen  that  all  of  them  are  much  nearer  the 
Cistus  generally  grown  as  florentinus,  than  is  the  true  florentinus,  as 
represented  and  described  in  Sweet.  The  most  obvious  differeme  is  in 
the  breadth  and  shape  of  the  leaves.  I  have  only  once  seen  the  true 
florentinus  in  cultivation  ;  that  was  in  Kew  Gardens,  where  it  is  no 
longer  to  be  seen,  though  hirsutus  still  grows  there.— C.  Wolley  Dod 
Edge  Hall. 
