September  21,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
251 
ANTHURIUM  SOHERZERIANUM. 
Thhrb  is  a  widespread  impression  that  to  grow  this  splendid  Aroid 
a  very  high  temperature  is  necessary,  but  it  is  a  great  mistake.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  some  of  the  finest  plants  extant  are  growing  in  a  much 
cooler  temperature  than  is  usually  prescribed  for  them,  and  both  this  and 
the  handsome  A.  Andreanum  are  roasted  in  many  collections  of  stove 
plants.  Look,  for  instance,  at  the  way  the  plants  grow  in  some  of  our 
principal  nurseries,  planted  out  in  quite  cool  corridors  and  similar  places, 
where  the  temperature  is  not  up  to  stove  point  by  any  means. 
I  know  a  large  collection  in  the  Midlands  where  plants  of  extremely 
rare  and  very  valuable  types  are  placed  in  a  large  conservatory-like 
structure,  that  is  never  kept  at  any  great  heat.  I  saw  theip  recently, 
and  there  were  immense  spathes  ot  most  beautiful  colours,  great  green 
leaves,  and  roots  pushing  through  inches  of  rough  turfy  compost — plants 
yards  across,  that  would  delight  even  the  most  phlegmatic  of  gardeners." 
But  there  is  one  thing  I  can  never  understand,  and  that  is,  why  our 
raisers  of  new  forms,  especially  of  A.  Andreanum,  persist  in  giving  us 
miserable  washed-out  tints  of  purple  and  rose.  They  are  of  immense 
size,  but  infinitely  inferior  to  the  poorest  form  of  the  typical  A.  Andre¬ 
anum  for  beauty.  All  such  ought  to  be  destroyed  when  they  flower,  or 
at  least  kept  only  for  the  decoration  of  large  winter  gardens,  corridors, 
or  similar  structures.  Deep  scarlets  and  crimsons  look  very  well  against 
the  deep  green  foliage  of  healthy  plants ;  and  pure  white  forms  are 
ehaste,  but  we  can  do  without  the  others. — Tl.  R.  Richards. 
DUBLIN  PARKS. 
Apart  from  the  private  parks  that  help  to  enliven  the  darker  squares 
of  Dublin  there  has  arisen  a  newer  movement  to  beautify  our  city,  as 
well  as  to  divert  us  from  the  never  ceasing  worry  of  everyday  life  and  to 
help  to  show  (which  for  a  truer  name  are  termed  the  lower  classes) 
another  aspect  of  life  than  that  which  accrues  from  their  squalid  homes. 
The  converting  ot  crumbling  domiciles  into  grassy  plots  and  pebbled 
walks  has  been  the  logical  outcome  of  the  untiring  devotion  of  the  Earl  of 
Meath,  and  although  we  have  not  a  plethora  of  them,  still  an  occasional 
one  brightens  our  city. 
Contiguous  to  St,  Andrew’s  Church,  a  spot  rich  in  facts  for  antiquarians 
and  archasologists,  and  equally  rich,  unfortunately,  in  the  poverty  of  its 
inhabitants,  has  been  recently  transformed  into  a  park.  It  leads  from 
the  main  thoroughfare  down  to  one  of  the  ancient  gates  of  Dublin.  Grass- 
covered  slopes  and  a  fair  sprinkling  of  shrubs  planted  therein,  as  well  as 
small  plots  set  apart  as  flower  beds,  all  tend  to  make  it  as  picturesque  as 
is  practical  with  the  space  and  limited  means  at  disposal.  The  space  is 
enclosed  with  iron  railings,  round  which  Ivy  is  trailed. 
Next  in  order  will  be  Christchurch.  The  church  itself  is  a  noble 
edifice,  renovated— in  fact,  rebuilt— by  the  munificence  of  Messrs.  Roe 
and  Sons.  A  large  expanse  ot  ground  occupies  the  length  of  it,  and  it  is 
traversed  by  several  concrete  and  pebbled  pathways.  The  smooth  lawns 
and  well-mown  grass-covered  slopes  all  point  to  an  enclosed  part,  where 
stand  the  remaining  ruins  of  some  ancient  monastery,  the  only  vestiges 
that  link  us  to  the  receding  past.  Some  well-grown  trees  and  shrubs  are 
planted  pretty  thickly,  whilst  a  neatly  trimmed  hedge  sets  the  grounds 
off  to  advantage.  An  isolated  pile  of  bricks,  nearly  covered  with  creepers, 
standing  in  a  lawn  to  my  eye  looks  well,  and  as  one  takes  a  lingering 
look  Trinity  College  with  its  magnificent  trees  and  shrubs  can  be  faintly 
outlined. 
Situated  in  the  centre  of  the  metropolis,  yet  beyond  the  busy  hum  of 
commercial  activity,  the  undulating  sward  of  Leinster  Lawn  looks  on 
Merrion  Square  Park,  where  many  doughty  contests  for  horticultural 
honours  have  been  determined  in  connection  with  the  Irish  R.H.S. 
Viewing  it  from  the  standpoint  of  acreage  it  is  by  no  means  extensive. 
But  the  atmosphere  is  heavily  charged  with  memorable  associations, 
though  the  wane  of  years  has  altered  its  character  from  being  the  scene 
of  political  passion  to  be  a  cool  retreat  for  learning.  It  formerly  belonged 
to  the  Dukes  of  Leinster  of  Carton  fame.  Now  that  it  has  become 
the  seat  of  intellectual  work  it  is  flanked,  or  better,  surrounded  by 
superb  buildings  whose  types  of  architecture  are  diverse.  The  blocks 
include  our  national  museums,  library,  and  art  gallery,  whilst  the  house 
darkened  by  the  dust  of  time  is  the  home  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society, 
whose  labours  in  the  agricultural  and  horticultural  fields  are  so  widely 
known. 
At  present  its  autumnal  appearance  is  pleasing.  Of  the  many  diver¬ 
sified  beds  that  brighten,  or  rather  enliven  the  sombre  limestone  surround¬ 
ings,  the  following  deserve  mentioning— a  group  of  Gannas  occupies  a 
semi-circular  bed  and  is  interspersed  with  Gladioli,  and  having  India- 
rubber  plants  in  the  centre,  has  a  charm  of  its  own.  Snapdragons  form 
a  parterre,  where  thoughts  of  incoming  winter  are  dispelled,  as  the  plants 
form  one  mass  of  colour.  Occasional  blooms  of  Picotees  stand  prominently 
out  and  add  materially  to  the  beauty  of  the  whole.  A  star-shaped  bed 
finds  a  place,  and  is  composed  of  single  Begonias.  The  weather  lately 
has  done  irreparable  harm  to  the  blooms.  The  other  beds  are  variously 
composed  of  “Geraniums,”  single  Begonias,  Irises,  and  Pansies,  whilst 
F.cheverias  do  excellent  service. 
Apart  from  the  beds,  groups  of  trees,  which  are  in  abundance,  include 
specimens  of  Weeping  Hawthorn,  Mock  Orange,  and  Silver-leaf  Hollies, 
edged  with  Ground  Ivy  ;  also  Poplars,  Elms,  and  Holly,  with  Nasturtiums, 
Dahlias,  and  Sunflowers,  used  for  border  effect,  increase  the  interest. 
'The  garden  is  under  the  fostering  care  of  Mr.  Kearney,  who  likewise 
superintends  the  park  ot  Stephen's  Green. — A.  O’NEILI.. 
NOTES  ON  ACACIAS. 
I  AM  not  insensible  to  the  charms  of  novelty,  but  neither  am  I  blind 
to  the  interest  connected  with  plants  that  are  useful,  though  it  may  be 
they  are  chiefly  seen  among  old-fashioned  people,  who  can  love  the 
beautiful  because  it  is  beautiful.  Towards  many  such,  getting  discarded 
from  unique  collections,  I  experience  sensations  akin  to  those  which  I 
feel  when  thinking  of  other  days,  and  of  friends  still  dear  to  me,  though 
seldom  seen.  Acaoias  may  be  easily  and  quickly  grown,  and  thus  may 
soon  be  made  to  ornament  a  greenhouse,  until  others  of  slower  growth 
ean  be  reared  to  supply  their  place,  when  the  possessor’s  taste  becomes 
more  fastidious.  The  plants  will  not  suffer  in  winter  in  a  temperature  of 
from  35°  to  45°,  more  especially  if  the  wood  has  been  hardened  by  a  fair 
proportion  of  sunshine,  and  a  diminished  supply  of  water,  the  previous 
autumn. 
With  one  or  two  exceptions  the  whole  of  the  hardy  kinds  of  Acacia 
are  fitted  for  a  cool  greenhouse.  Generally  speaking  the  colour  of  the 
flowers  is  yellow,  and  these  flowers  are  arranged  into  single  globular 
heads,  or  again  along  the  branches  in  the  way  of  a  raceme,  or  a  cylin¬ 
drical  spike.  The  great  proportion  of  those  fitted  for  pot  culture  have 
tough,  leather-like  foliage — in  fact,  it  is  not  foliage  at  all,  though 
answering  the  same  purpose,  but  an  enlargement  of  the  petiole  of  the  leaf 
into  what  in  many  cases  looks  like  a  leaf — and  hence  is  termed  a  phylloid. 
This  is  even  deemed  by  botanists  the  true  term  for  the  pinnae  in  the 
beautiful  pinnated  species  of  the  genus.  In  all  the  group  true  leaves  are 
formed  when  raising  them  from  seed,  but  as  growth  progresses  they  drop, 
and  the  phylloid  takes  their  place. 
A.  armata,  so  called  from  each  phylloid,  or  leaf,  being  armed  with 
spines  at  its  base,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  useful  of  the  group, 
from  the  intense  rich  green  of  its  foliage,  and  the  golden  orange  colour  of 
its  flowers,  produced  from  the  base  of  almost  every  leaf,  and  flowering 
freely  when  a  foot  or  18  inches  high,  as  it  continues  to  do  when  a  bush  of 
some  10  feet  in  height,  and  5  to  6  feet  in  diameter.  It  constitutes  a  good 
sale  plant  in  London  when  about  18  inches  in  height.  It  flowers  generally 
from  January  to  June,  and  yields,  thus,  its  showy  blossoms  at  a  period 
when  flowers  are  most  required.  If  the  young  wood  is  early  ripened  in 
summer,  so  as  to  set  the  flower  buds,  with  or  without  a  slight  forcing,  it 
will  bloom  during  the  whole  of  the  winter  months.  In  cold  greenhouses, 
constructed  upon  the  lean-to  principle,  where  the  covering  of  the  back 
walls  becomes  a  matter  of  importance,  I  can  safely  recommend  this  plant 
as  one  well  fitted  for  such  a  situation,  provided  it  is  not  too  closely 
pruned,  but  enough  young  shoots  procured  to  stand  out  a  little  from  the 
tree  ;  these,  if  well  ripened  in  summer,  will  be  masses  of  golden-orange 
in  the  following  spring,  relieved  by  the  dark  foliage  as  a  background. 
In  summer  and  winter,  when  not  in  bloom,  few  things  could  be  more 
agreeable  than  the  beautiful  deep  green  of  the  plant. 
l'ropagation  is  best  done  by  seeds  when  obtainable,  and  before  sowing 
in  a  hotbed  in  spring  they  should  be  steeped  in  water  at  140®  for  twenty- 
four  hours.  Next,  by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  young  shoots,  at  the 
beginning  of  summer,  inserted  in  sand,  under  a  bell-glass,  and  placed 
in  a  cold  pit  for  several  weeks,  merely  shaded  from  the  sun  and  moist 
enough,  then  they  may  be  removed  to  a  little  bottom  heat  until  the 
roots  have  freely  protruded,  when  they  will  require  to  be  potted  and 
kept  close  until  rooting  ;  shortly  afterwards  nip  out  the  point  of  the 
shoot,  to  prevent  elongation,  and  encourage  growth  of  a  stubby,  bushy 
character.  A  suitable  soil  is  sandy  loam  and  fibrous  peat.  If  likely  to 
grow  too  strong  and  long  give  more  loam — this  will  make  them  more 
robust  and  sturdy. 
The  first  season  from  cuttings  or  seeds  they  will  be  best  under  glass. 
In  the  second  summer  they  may  stand  until  October,  from  the  end  of 
May,  in  a  sheltered  place  out  of  doors,  where  they  will  have  the  morn¬ 
ing  and  evening  sun,  be  secure  from  worms  getting  into  the  pots,  and 
be  saved  from  deluging  rains  and  very  boisterous  winds.  Watering 
will  generally  be  required  in  fair  abundance,  especially  when  growing 
and  opening  the  first  flower  buds.  We  cannot  imitate  their  natural 
climate,  but  towards  autumn  we  should  give  no  more  water  than  will 
just  keep  them  from  flagging.  At  these  two  periods  a  little  liquid 
manure  may  also  be  given.  So  long  as  the  plants  are  young  they  will 
require  repotting  at  least  once  a  year.  When  established,  and  as  large 
as  you  wish  them  to  be,  the  repotting  should  merely  consist  in  getting 
rid  of  some  of  the  old  roots  and  a  portion  of  the  old  soil  along  with 
them,  and  replacing  with  fresh  in  a  similar  sized  pot.  After  such 
operations  give  the  plants  a  shady  place  for  a  time.  The  periods  best 
for  performing  the  operations  are  just  when  fresh  growth  is  proceeding, 
after  flowering  and  pruning,  in  the  beginning  of  summer,  or  early  in 
autumn,  when  the  summer’s  growth  is  all  but  finished.  In  old  plants, 
however,  top-dressing  annually,  and  a  little  liquid  manure  at  the  times 
stated,  will  keep  the  plants  healthy  for  years. — Grower. 
Liquid  Air  for  Fruit  Shipping. — Another  use  for  liquid  air 
is  in  the  preservation  of  fruit  in  the  course  of  transportation.  The 
Fay  Fruit  Company  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  has  made  arrangements  with 
Mr.  Chas.  E.  Tripler  for  the  use  of  his  process  and  appliances  for  the 
manufacture  of  liquid  air.  The  object  is  to  fit  the  refrigerator  cars  so 
that  liquid  air  can  be  made  to  reduce  the  temperature  and  do  away  with 
the  more  costly  and  unsatisfactory  process  of  icing.  Tne  Fay  Company, 
says  an  American  contemporary,  ships  over  2000  cars  of  fruit  and 
vegetables  annually,  and  they  hope  by  the  new  process  to  save  money, 
time,  and  labour,  and  to  get  their  products  in  the  market  in  better 
condition  than  they  can  by  the  present  method. 
