December  2,  1897. 
JOUnXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
529 
-  Gishujkstine. — With  the  drenching  rain  of  a  few  days  ago,  and 
the  consequent  wet  grass  and  puddled  roads,  canie  the  usual  annual 
samples  of  the  great  leather  preserver  and  damp  preventer— Gishurstine — 
which  has  proved  so  serviceable  to  many  during  the  winter  months.  This 
preparation  seems  to  hold  its  own  from  year  to  year  as  a  dressing  for  the 
boots  of  gardeners,  farmers,  gamekeepers,  and  pedestrians  generally,  and 
it  is  difficult  to  imagine  anything  that  could  serve  the  purpose  better.  As 
is  generally  known,  it  is  produced  in  the  great  manufactory  at  Battersea 
known  as  “  Price’s.” 
-  INIaxures  foe  Vegetables. — Under  the  title  of  “  Cultivation 
of  Vegetables  with  or  without  Chemical  Manures,”  IMr.  F.  W.  E.  Shrivell, 
F.L.S.,  delivered  a  lecture  before  the  members  of  the  Chiswick  Gardeners’ 
Society  in  the  K.U.S.  Gardens  on  Thursday  last.  Mr.  S.  T.  Wright 
presided.  The  lecture  chiefly  consisted  of  details  of  a  series  of  experi¬ 
ments  with  fifty  loads  of  manure,  twenty-five  loads  ditto,  certain  chemical 
manures  with  the  latter,  and  certain  chemicals  without  ordinary  manure, 
per  acre,  the  crops  being  Cabbages,  Broccoli,  Beets,  Asparagus,  Rhubarb, 
and  various  other  products  conducted  in  Kent  by  Mr.  Shrivell  and  Dr. 
Bernard  Dyer.  The  results  generally  were  made  to  show  in  favour  of 
the  chemical  manures.  ISlr.  A.  Dean  of  Kingston,  who  was  present,  and 
exhibited  eight  samples  of  artificial  manures,  referred  lengthily  to 
the  matter  of  the  lecture,  though  not  adversely,  chiefly  asking  for  infor¬ 
mation  on  various  points,  and  was  followed  by  Mr.  Gibson  of  Devonhurst 
and  others.  After  Mr.  Shrivell  had  replied,  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was 
carried.  There  was  a  good  attendance,  nearly  all  being  young  men. 
-  Geowixg  L.iCHEXALl.'t.s.  —  While  admitting  the  truth  of 
“  H.  T.  M.’s  ”  remarks  on  page  502,  relative  to  the  beauty  of  Lachenalias 
in  baskets,  I  must  put  in  a  plea  for  their  culture  in  pots.  Every  year 
we  have  a  number  of  6-inch  pots  filled  with  them,  and  the  effect  they 
produce  in  the  conservatory  is  decidedly  effective.  We  do  not,  however, 
confine  ourselves  to  E.  pendula,  which  “  H.  T.  M.  ’  justifiably  recommends, 
but  grow  also  L,  Nelsoni,  whose  yellow  flowers  on  their  long  spikes  are 
so  brightly  beautiful.  I  would  advise  your  correspondent  to  try  it  both 
in  pots  and  baskets  as  it  is  certain  to  give  him  satisfaction.  No  better 
coiirse  of  treatment  could  be  adopted  than  that  recommended  in  the 
note  referred  to,  as  we  have  frequently  proved. — H.  Rose. 
-  Coloured  Bark  for  Winter  Effect.— I  was  much 
interested  in  the  article  on  this  subject  by  “  W.  D.”  on  page  498,  as  T 
have  seen  several  of  the  plants  mentioned  utilised  with  wonderful  success. 
Considering  the  wide  range  of  colour  that  may  he  secured  from  the  barks 
alone  of  many  plants,  without  taking  their  flowers  or  foliage  into  consi¬ 
deration,  it  is  a  matter  for  surprise  that  they  are  not  more  generally  seen. 
If  anyone  wishes  to  see  some  of  the  Dogwoods,  Spirteas,  and  others 
admirably  employed  they  should  visit  the  grounds  of  Lord  Aldenham  a* 
Elstree,  where  ^Ir  E.  Beckett  has  planted  several  immense  beds  that 
materially  enhance  the  beauty  and  interest  of  those  fine  gardens,  both  in 
the  summer  and  winter. — South  Londoner. 
-  Fruit  Cures. — The  so-called  “  fruit  cure,”  although  not  much 
heard  of  in  this  country,  is  well  recognised  at  various  places  on  the 
Continent,  where  so-called  Grape-cure  stations  have  been  established.  In 
a  recent  number  of  “  Modern  IMedicine  and  Bacteriological  Review  ” 
there  is  an  interesting  article  on  the  subject,  in  which  the  historical  side 
of  the  question  is  dealt  wdth.  Thus  we  are  told  that  many  medical 
authorities  in  the  tenth  century  become  enthusiastic  in  their  writings 
over  the  remarkable  curative  virtues  of  Grapes,  whilst  a  certain  Van 
Swieten,  of  a  more  modern  date,  is  said  to  have  “  recommended  in  special 
cases  the  eating  of  20  lbs.  of  Strawberries  a  day.”  The  same  gentleman 
also  reports  a  case  of  phthisis  healed  by  Strawberries,  and  cites  cases 
in  which  maniacs  have  regained  their  reason  by  the  exclusive  use  of 
Cherries  as  food  !  These  instances  rather  savour  of  the  miraculous  ; 
but  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  so-called  Grape  cure  for  indigestion  and 
other  evils  is  carried  on  in  many  places  on  the  Continent,  and  that  people 
betake  themselves  to  Meran,  Vevey,  Bingen,  or  to  Italy  and  the  South  of 
France  with  the  intention  of  devoting  six  weeks  to  the  cure,  during  which 
time  they  are  expected  to  have  gradually  accomplished  the  feat  of  con¬ 
suming  from  8  to  8  lbs.  of  Grapes  daily,  as  the  case  may  be.  Grapes 
are  said  to  exercise  a  salutary  action  on  the  nervous  system,  and  to 
favour  the  formation  of  fat — that  is  to  say,  when  fruit  of  good  quality  is 
employed  ;  if  the  Grapes  are  not  sufficiently  ripe,  and  are  watery  and 
sour,  the  patient  may  lose  rather  than  gain  in  weight.  Dr.  Kellogg, 
Director  of  the  Sanitarium  Hospital  and  Ijaboratory  of  Hygiene  at 
Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  is  of  opinion  that  the  valuable  results  obtained  by  a 
fruit  diet  in  cases  of  biliousness  which  he  has  observed  are  due  to  the 
fact  that  noxious  germs  habitually  present  in  the  alimentary  canal  do  not 
thrive  in  fruit  juices. — (“  Nature.”) 
-  Eccrejiocarpus  scaber. — This  pretty  climber  is  of  vigorous 
growth,  and  if  planted  against  a  south  wall  it  will  endure  the  winter 
provided  the  roots  are  protected  with  long  litter  or  leaves.  It  flowers 
from  July  to  November.  The  orange  scarlet  corollas  are  freely  produced 
on  the  young  growths.  When  the  seedlings  are  large  enough  they  may 
be  potted  singly  into  thumb  pots  placed  in  heat  a  few  days  until 
established,  when  they  should  be  moved  into  the  greenouse. — L.  J. 
-  Zephyranthes  Atamasco. — Though  several  of  the  Zephyr- 
anthes  are  frequently  seen  in  gardens,  either  in  the  borders  or  in  pots, 
the  Atamasco  Lily  seems  to  be  somewhat  neglected.  The  reason  of  this 
is  somewhat  difficult  to  define,  as  it  is  of  easy  culture  and  its  flowers  are 
of  refined  beauty.  Flowering  through  May,  June  and  July,  in  the  open 
garden,  and  a  little  earlier  under  glass,  it  is  of  great  beauty,  and  I  should 
be  glad  to  see  it  more  grown.  Provided  the  soil  of  the  garden  is  fairly 
good,  this  North  American  plant  thrives  admirably,  as  does  it  in  pots,  if  a 
compost  largely  comprising  loam  and  coarse  sand  be  utilised.  I  am  not 
aware  whether  it  may  be  forced  successfully,  but  perhaps  some  other 
reader  will  be.  good  enough  to  state  his  experiences  on  this  point.  The 
colour  of  the  flower  is  white  delicately  flushed  with  pink. — H.  Rose. 
-  “  Photo  Pictures  in  East  Anglia.” — Such  is  the  title  of  a 
beautifully  produced  book,  published  with  the  countenance  of  the  Great 
Eastern  Railway  Co.,  and  a  copy  of  which  is  now  before  us.  In  its 
134  pages  it  comprises  103  photographic  reproductions  by  Payne  Jennings 
of  Ashtead,  these  representing  varied  scenes  and  places  of  interest  in  the 
eastern  counties  of  Essex,  Suffolk,  and  Norfolk,  with  occasional  glimpses 
of  noteworthy  places  outside  the  boundaries  of  the  shires  named.  The 
diversity  of  the  subjects  illustrated  not  only  proves  what  beautiful  places 
may  be  found  in  the  erstwhile  somewhat  de.spised  East  Anglia,  but  also 
that  the  photographer  possesses  the  true  artist’s  conception  of  what  is 
beautiful  in  Nature  and  in  Art.  The  letterpress  which  accompanies  each 
picture  is  gracefully  written  by  Annie  Berlyn,  who  places  before  her 
readers  several  facts  that  are  little  known  anent  many  of  the  portrayals. 
The  entire  book  is  a  work  of  art,  which  reflects  much  credit  on  all 
concerned  in  its  production. 
-  Anemone  japonica  alba. — Times  almost  without  number 
able  writers  have  written,  telling  of  the  beauty  and  utility  of  this  .Japanese 
Anemone,  but  I  feel  constrained  to  return  once  again  to  the  subject.  I 
am  the  more  encouraged  to  this  by  the  magnificent  effect  our  plants  have 
produced  this  season,  better  perhaps  than  we  have  ever  had  before.  The 
plants  made  splendid  growth,  and  continued  producing  flowers  of 
exceptional  size  and  substance  over  a  much  more  extended  period  than  is 
customary.  We  have  them  in  beds  and  in  borders,  sometimes  as  a  mass 
and  in  other  positions  single  plants,  but  all  alike  have  done  well.  Some 
of  the  flowers  towered  to  a  height  approaching  6  feet.  We  consider  them 
worth  growing  well,  and  so  provide  good  soil  and  insure  perfect  drainage, 
both  of  which  we  consider  necessary  to  secure  the  best  results.  There 
are  several  varieties  now  in  commerce,  but  so  far  we  have  not  seen  the 
advantage  of  discarding  the  old  well-tried  favourite  for  the  new.  Easy 
of  culture,  free  in  flowering,  and  readily  propagated.  Anemone  japonica 
alba  is  by  no  means  suflSciently  seen  in  perfect  condition. — M.  R. 
-  A  Book  on  Manures. — I  have  recently  been  asked  to  recom¬ 
mend  a  cheap  book  dealing  with  the  application  of  manures,  animal  and 
artificial,  to  fruits  and  vegetables,  giving  proper  quantities  for  each  crop, 
and  other  minute  details.  That  is  rather  a  large  order,  and  if  anyone  is 
ambitious  to  rush  in  to  fill  the  void  they  are  welcome.  That  a  small  book 
dealing  with  manures,  explaining  their  nature,  origin,  constituents, 
adaptabilities,  methods  of  ipplication,  and  other  really  practical  informa¬ 
tion  might  find  a  sale  is  possible,  but  if  highly  spiced  with  analytical 
tables,  with  chemistry,  and  with  smatterings  of  science  it  would  be 
valueless  to  the  general  public.  There  seems  to  be  about  artificial 
manures  such  a  capacity  to  make  money,  or  apparently  so,  that  pens  to 
praise  them,  even  lavishly  in  trade  interests,  are  plentiful.  All  books  so 
originated  should  have  a  wide  berth  ;  I  would  commend  them  to  no  one. 
To  furnish  in  any  book,  however  impartial,  information  to  meet  every  case 
would  be  impossible. — A.  1).  [We  have  reason  to  believe  that  a  small, 
cheap  book  dealing  with  manures  (though  not  exclusively )  on  the  lines  sug¬ 
gested,  will  be  shortly  forthcoming.  The  author  of  it  is  not  a  “  sraatterer 
in  science,  ’  but  a  genuine  scientist,  yet  is  so  practical  withal  as  to  eschew 
the  bewildering  and,  to  many,  puzzling  and  tedious  analytical  tables  that 
are  so  common.  We  happen  to  have  seen  some  of  the  proof  sheets  of  the 
work,  the  title  of  which  is  registered  “  The  Chemistry  of  the  Garden,” 
and  ol)served  some  rather  trenchant  remarks  on  the  “fallacies  of  plant 
ash  prescriptions.”  The  author  declines  to  give  any  formulm  founded  on 
tabulated  figures.  “A.  D.”  is  always  drawing  something  out  of  some¬ 
body.] 
