190 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  31,  1899. 
-  Death  op  Mons.  Ferdinand  Bergman.— It  i9  with  regret 
that  we  learn  of  the  demise  about  a  fortnight  back  of  Mons.  F.  Bergman, 
who  was  for  a  considerable  period  head  of  Bsron  Rothschild’s  gardens 
at  Ferricres,  The  deceased  was  in  his  seventy-fourth  year. 
-  Eyecroft  Nursery. — We  are  informed  that  this  establish¬ 
ment,  which  has  been  so  eelebrared  for  its  Chrysanthemums,  Pelargoniums, 
Begonias,  and  other  plants,  is  now  making  a  further  bid  for  popular 
favour  by  the  addition  of  a  seed  and  bulb  department.  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones 
has  appointed  Mr.  W.  Logan,  for  many  years  with  Messrs.  Barr  &  Son. 
as  manager. 
TECOMA  JASMINOIDES. — As  a  handsome  and  free  growing 
climber  to  cover  large  spaces  quickly,  this  species  i9  not  sufficiently 
known.  The  blossoms  are  fairly  large,  not  nnlike  those  of  Dipladenia 
boliviensis  in  shape,  but  with  a  deep  crimson  instead  of  a  yellow  eye. 
The  plant  roots  readily  from  cuttings  under  a  bell-glass,  and  these  may 
be  potted  in  fairly  rich  compost,  shifted  ns  thev  grow,  and  planted  in 
permanent  positions  when  large  enough.  The  lighter  the  place  the  more 
freely  the  plants  flower. — B.  S.  E. 
- —  Canadian  Forests. — The  forest  wealth  of  Canada  is  greater 
than  that  of  any  other  country’.  The  total  area  of  the  timber  land  is 
nearly  twice  that  of  Russia,  the  next  rival,  and  likewise  nearly  twice 
that  of  the  United  States,  which  stands  next  and  nearly  equal  to  Russia. 
Ontario  is  the  leading  province  in  the  export  of  timber,  and  sends  the 
greater  part  of  its  product  to  the  United  States  in  the  shape  of  plank8, 
boards,  logs,  and  shingles.  QueOec  ships  most  of  its  product  to  Great 
Britain,  exporting  spruce  and  other  lumber,  pine  deals,  and  white  pine 
timber.  Aew  Brunswick  stands  third  in  exports,  while  the  resources  of 
the  other  provinces  are  comparatively  little  developed,  although  British 
Columbia  possesses  the  largest  compact  timber  resources  in  the  world, 
only  a  fringe  of  which  has  been  cut.  The  Pacific  coast  is  heavily 
timbered  as  far  north  as  Alaska,  and  it  is  estimated  that  the  Douglas 
pine,  cedar,  spruce,  and  Alaska  pine  along  the  railway'  line  are  worth 
25,000,000  dole.  There  are  also  vast  areas  of  undeveloped  woodland  in 
the  entire  north  of  the  Dominion  from  Quebec  to  the  Pacific  coast,  a 
large  proportion  of  which  is  almost  wholly  unexplored. — (“American 
Agriculturist.”) 
Chironia  LTNOIDES. — This  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  several 
ornamental  species  of  Chironia  cultivated  in  gardens,  and  is  well  worth 
a  place  in  all  collections  of  greenhouse  plants,  for  in  addition  to  being 
excellent  for  grouping  in  the  conservatory  or  the  greenhouse  it  is  also 
useful  for  the  decoration  of  rooms,  if  given  a  position  whom  it  will 
get  a  little  sun.  It.  is  a  S.  African  plant,  and  has  bpen  in  cultivation 
upwards  of  a  century.  It  was  well  figured  in  the  “  Bot.  Mag.”  as  long 
ago  as  1801,  t.  511.  Like  many’  other  ornamental  greenhouse  plants, 
however,  wh  ch  were  popular  in  the  past,  this  has  been  lost  sight  of  in 
many  places  for  the  quicker  growing  plants  of  to-day.  In  a  few  places  it 
is  still  well  grown,  and  when  shown  in  quantity  never  fails  to  obtain  plenty 
of  admirers.  It  can  be  increased  from  cuttings  inserted  in  sandy’  peat  in 
a  warm  close  cas»  in  spring.  When  the  cuttings  are  rnoted  they  should 
be  potted  singly  in  2^-inch  pots  in  sandy’  peat,  and  pinched  frequently’. 
When  tho  pots  are  well  filled  with  roots  they  must  be  moved  into 
5-inch  pots,  in  which  they  will  flower.  The  flowers  are  rosy  red,  half  an 
inch  across,  and  produced  in  abundance.  The  plant  is  ratter  rigid  in 
habit,  but  the  light  glaucous  foliage  takes  off  any  stiffness.  Plants  can 
be  had  in  flower  for  several  months  during  summer  and  autumn. — W.  Iv. 
Nectarine  Lord  Napier. — There  are  few  varieties  that  will 
carry  so  heavy  a  crop  with  impunity  as  Ibis,  one  of  the  most  useful  varieties 
in  existence,  and,  until  the  introduction  of  Early  Rivers,  the  best  early 
sort  in  cultivation.  It  is  still  quite  indispensable  in  a  collection  of  fruit, 
for  it  fills  a  gap  between  these  early  kinds  and  the  choice  midseason  and 
late  varieties  such  as  Elruge,  Pineapple,  Spencer,  and  others.  The  fruit 
is  not  so  large  as  that  of  Early  Rivers,  but  equally  good  in  quality,  and 
in  the  same  house  it  forms  a  useful  succession.  In  a  cool  house 
without  any  pipes  it  is  now  ripe,  and  was  fit  to  send  to  table  when  the 
last  fruits  of  Hale’s  Early  Peach  and  Early  Rivers  Nectarine  were  done. 
As  noted  above,  the  variety  is  one  that  carries  a  heavy  crop  without 
injury,  and  often  old  weakly  trees  that  seem  quite  beyond  fruiting  will 
finish  up  a  medium  crop  in  quite  good  order.  The  growth  is  fairly  strong, 
and  when  treating  young  trees  it  is  well  to  take  a  comparatively  heavy 
crop  the  first  season  to  prevent  any  approach  to  grossness.  If  by  this 
means  the  tree  is  got  into  a  free-bearing,  not  too  weak  habit,  it  is  far 
better  than  root-pruning.  Young  trees  of  it  and  other  varieties  planted 
four  years  ago  ar«-  now  magnificent,  and  have  carried  large  crops  every 
season,  though  I  have  never  touched  the  roots  since  planting. _ 
H.  Richards. 
-  Cambridge  Chair  op  Agriculture.— We  are  informed 
that  Dr.  Somerville,  of  the  Durham  College  of  Science,  has  been 
appointed  to  the  chair  of  Agriculture  at  Cambridge.  Mr.  T.  H.  Middleton* 
B.Se.,  has  been  appointed  to  the  post  vacated  by  Dr.  Somerville. 
-  CANNA  iridifolia. — This  is  one  of  the  older  species  of  Canna, 
but  a  fine  plant  for  garden  display.  The  flowers  are  rose,  and  occur  on 
tall,  arching  spikes,  while  the  leaves  are  very  handsome,  and  suitable  for 
sub-tropical  work.  C.  iridifolia  is  also  one  of  the  hardiest,  and  in  fairly 
dry  borders  may’  almost  be  depended  upon  to  pass  the  winter  safely, 
provided  a  little  dry  ashes  or  some  similar  material  is  placed  over  the 
roots. — H. 
-  An  Irish  Local  Show. — On  Thursday,  August  17th,  the 
annual  Show  of  the  Fowerscourt  Industrial  and  Cottage  Garden  Society 
was  held  in  the  charming  demesne  of  Lord  Powerscourt.  The  attendance 
was  very  good,  and  the  entries  were  of  high  order.  Apart  from  the 
Show  the  magnificent  natural  scenic  attractions  with  which  Wicklow  is 
favoured,  or  to  give  a  more  fitting  title,  the  “Garden  of  Ireland,”  were  a 
great  incentive  to  pleasure  seek  ers.  all  contributing  to  make  the  respective 
display  a  success.  The  boys  from  the  GUncree  Reformatory  discoursed 
selections  of  music.  The  bronze  medal  given  by  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  for  the  best  collection  of  vegetables,  displayed  by  the  tenants. of 
Lord  Powerscroft  and  Viscount  Monck,  was  won  by  Mr.  John  McCann. 
To  give  a  detailed  list  of  the  prizewinners  would  unfortunately  take  up 
too  much  place  ;  enough  to  mention  the  exhibits  were  most  creditable 
to  their  growers. — A.  O’N. 
' -  A  Valuable  Rubber  Tree. — Besides  the  Vines  (Landolphia) 
and  the  Euphorbiacem  of  the  south,  there  exists  a  tree  met  with  on  the 
east  side  of  Madagascar  which  the  natives  designate  Barabanja.  This 
tree,  which  furnishes  an  abundant  and  much-prized  latex,  appears  destined 
to  play  an  important  role  in  the  future.  There  are  two  varieties,  the  one 
the  more  important,  with  large  leaves,  the  other  with  small  leaves.  They 
belong  to  the  family  of  the  Apocynacese,  tribe  Alstonieas.  The  Bara¬ 
banja  is  abundant  in  the  region  comprised  between  Arohemar  and  the  Bay 
of  Antongil.  The  tree  is  found  wild  up  to  an  altitude  of  1300  to  1600  feet., 
It  prefers  the  glades  and  borders  of  forests,  and  may’  attain  to  a  height  of 
50  feet,  with  a  circumference  of  5  feet.  Specimens  of  this  size  are, 
however,  rare,  for,  about  the  age  of  eight  or  twelve  years,  the  natives 
make  excessive  incisions,  and  verv  often  even  cut  down  the  tree  in  order 
to  gather  the  latex.  The  tree  propagates  itself  readily  from  suckers,  and 
it  is  to  this  that  the  present  abundance  of  the  tree  is  due.  Very  fine 
specimens  are  reported  from  the  neighbnurhoed  of  Antalaha,  Sahambava, 
and  Soarinandriana. — (“  Ivew  Bulletin.) 
-  Potato  Breeding. — The  great  world  of  Potato  consumers, 
or  the  lesser  world  of  Potato  growers,  know  little  of  the  labours  of 
those  few  patient,  persistent  persons  who  have  been  the  raisers  of  the 
many  fine  varieties  that  have  been  or  now  are  in  commerce.  Thus 
there  is  that  octogenarian  raispr,  Mr.  Robert  Fenn,  still  as  enthusiastic 
over  raising  new  varieties  as  he  was  in  the  youthful  days  of  “Upwards 
and  Onwards”  half  a  century  since,  as  I  found  when  calling  upon  him 
the  other  day  at  Sulhampstead.  Some  three  years  since  Mr.  Pringle, 
the  famous  Potato  raiser  of  Vermont,  U.S.A..  sent  to  Mr.  Fenn  an  entirely 
new  and  evidently  distinct  Solanum  species  under  the  designation  of 
Solanum  bulbo-castaneum,  from  Guadalafara,  in  Mexico.  This  species  is 
now  growing  in  the  form  oi  three  strong  plants  in  an  inverted  Seakale 
pot  in  the  little  greenhouse  there.  The  height  of  each  plant  is  about  18 
inches,  stems  single,  fairly  woody’,  erect,  but  after  the  fashion  of  nigrum, 
sending  off  branches  obliquely.  Short  jointed,  the  leaves  closely 
resemble  those  of  the  common  Sage  in  form  and  appearance  but  are  rather 
larger.  Flowers  are  small,  greenish  white,  of  ordinary  Solanum  form, 
borne  in  short  racemes  hanging  like  Currant  blooms.  They  contain  so 
little  of  pollen  that  none  seems  to  self-fertilise,  and  all  fall.  The  roots 
resemble  the  long  stolons  frequently  seen  on  Potato  plants,  and  they  pro¬ 
duce  at  the  extremities  very  small  white  spherical  tubers.  At  present 
the  species  has  not  the  least  commercial  value  ;  but  Mr.  Fenn  has,  after 
trying  pollen  on  various  garden  varieties,  succeeded  in  fertilising  a  flower 
on  a  Potato  plant  in  the  garden,  and  a  fair-sized  seed-apple  is  now  seen 
maturing.  What  the  product  will  be  no  one  can  tell,  and  time  alone  will 
show.  The  variety  which  has  thus  produced  a  berry  is  of  an  original 
cross  of  Solanum  Fendleri  with  a  garden  variety  Antagonist,  a  rough 
stock  being  the  product.  Mr.  Penn  saved  the  best,  and  late  in  the  season 
succeeded  in  cross-fertilising  that  with  pollen  of  International,  and  the 
produce  of  that  cross  is  now  being  tested,  some  being  early,  some  late, 
some  tall,  some  dwarf,  and  the  parent,  carrying  a  berry,  is  one  of  that 
product.  A  remarkably  fine  early  Potato  in  quantity  and  quite  new  is  a 
seedling  from  Woodstock  Kidney. — A.  D. 
