■May  1,  1902. 
JOURNAl.  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
395 
success.  Specimen  Fuchsias  were  grown,  to  great  dimensions  by 
Mr.  King.  At  one  of  the  large  exhibitions  laeld  at  South  Ken¬ 
sington  by  the  R.H.S.,  he  won  two  £10  prizes  with  Fuchsias,  and 
gained  a  special  medal  for  superior  culture.  When  some  years 
ago  Mr.  Leach  ceased  to  reside  at  the  Castle,  Mr.  King  took  over 
the  Gardens  on  his  own  account,  disposing  of  the  produce.  He 
ceased  to  exhibit  for  prizes,  and  his  services  became  in  much 
Truest  as  a  judge.  Always  straightforward  and  honourable  in 
his  dealings,  he  enjoyed  the  full  confidence  of  exhibitors.  At  the 
Bath  Shows  his  services  were  always  in  request  as  judge.  He  was 
much  esteemed  in  Devizes  by  all  classes.  Of  late  years  he  had 
superintended  the  annual  exhibition  of  Chrysanthemums  held  in 
the  Corn  Exchange  by  the  Devizes  Benevolent  Society,  which  is 
always  a  great  success.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  Fellow 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. — R.  Dean. 
IV.— Botany  in  the  Garden. 
(Continiced  from  page  344.) 
In  his  remarks  on  plant  cells,  page  188,  Journal  of  Horti¬ 
culture,  February  27,  1902,  “Win.  R.  R.”  only  briefly  referred  to 
their  identity,  and  with  the  view  to  provide  a  clearer  impression 
of  a  typical  growing  cell  of  the  higher  plants,  the  accompanying 
drawings  have  been  prepared.  The  elucidatory  context  tells  the 
stoi*y  in  language  robbed  of  all  botanical  strictness,  but  the  end 
is  gained,  which  is  to  convey  an  idea  of  how  cells  divide  grow’,  and 
build  up  living  tissues.  The  smaller  figure,  then,  explains  itself. 
It  show’s  three  stages  in  the  grow’th  of  a  cell ;  the  first  w’ith  a  very 
thin  w’all  of  cellulose  through  which  the  sap  flow’s  and  mingles 
with  the  other  contents  w’ithin  ;  the  second  stage  marks  consider¬ 
able  development,  and  the  third  a  greater  difference  still.  The 
nucleus  is  the  great  centre  of  activity  in  the  cell,  and  is  in  touch 
with  the  less  deuse  protoplasmic  lining  of  the  cell  wall,  or  other- 
w’ise  apportioned  in  that  body.  It  is  not  the  simple  body  that 
the  older  botanists  thought  it  to  be,  but  is  indeed  complex.  The 
larger  cut  show's  the  nuclear  mass  undergoing  a  number  of  changes 
during  the  process  of  division  to  form  new’  cells.  The  process  is 
somew’hat  complicated,  but  seems  necessary’  in  order  to  effect  an 
equal  division  of  the  substance  of  the  mother  nucleus  betw’een  the 
two  daughter  nuclei.  (Note  that  nucleus  is  singular;  nuclei, 
plural.)  The  centrosi^heres,  w’hose  exact  purpose  W’e  cannot 
clearly  define,  are  ahvays  found  near  the  nucleus,  and  when 
division  is  about  to  take  place,  they  move  to  opposite  poles.  The 
threads  (botanically  called  chromosomes)  composing  the  nuclear 
netw’ork  then  begin  to  separate  and  straighten  themselves  out; 
they  arrange  them.selve:s  in  a  plane  in  a  special  manner  (2  and  3), 
and  spindle  fibres,  which  are  protoplasmic  threads,  now’  appear 
and  converge  on  the  centrospheres.  Gradually  and  surely,  little 
by  little,  tlie  chromosomes  or  threads  become  definitely  arranged, 
and  half  appear  on  one  side  and  the  other  half  on  the  opposite 
side.  In  a  vei-y  short  time,  and  probably  by  the  aid  of  the  spindle 
fibres,  they  are  drawn  completely  apart ;  the  spindle  fibres  con¬ 
tract,  and  tw  o  definite  nuclei  appear  in  place  of  the  solitary  one 
before.  During  the  operation,  the  centrospheres  divide  and  so 
form  two,  to  carry  on  the  work  w’hen  the  new  nuclei  in  their  turn 
divide.  A  cell  wall  grows  between  the  tw’o  divisions,  and  thus  a 
complete  division  of  the  cell  has  resulted.  For  fuller  details  of 
this  interesting  process,  resource  must  be  had  to  botanical  text 
books. — J.  H.  1). 
Nature  Notes. 
Blackbirds  and  thrushes  of  a  few’  w’eeks  are  learning  to  obtain 
their  own  living,  and  I  have  seen  several  youngsters  very  strong 
on  the  wing. 
Queen  wasps  are  becoming  more  and  more  numerous.  Sand 
martins  and  sw’allows  are  among  us  again  ;  their  appearance  is 
welcome.  The  nightingale  has  been  heard  for  many  days,  to  be 
correct,  since  the  15th  inst. 
While  demoli.shing  an  ancient  church  at  Lalinde,  near 
Perigueux,  some  workmen  found  an  egg,  apparently  in  a  perfect 
state  of  preservation,  embedded  in  the  mortar  of  a  w’all  that 
had  been  standing  for  fully  800  years. 
On  Wednesday,  23rd  inst.,  heard  Nightingales  a  treat  in  a 
copse,  in  broad  daylight.  I  have  loved  to  w’atch  the  doming  of 
our  migrating  birds  for  over  fifty  years.  Taking  one  year  with 
another,  I  think  the  dates  balance  pretty  evenly,  and  agree 
with  Gilbert  White’s  dates  in  this  neighbourhood. — Alice  Baker, 
Station  Road,  Petersfield.  Hants ;  April  28,  1902. 
Small  tortoiseshell  butterflies  are  to  be  seen  nearly  every  day  ; 
not  so  the  sulphur  butterfly  :  it  is  rare.  I  caught  a  strange 
insect  (fly)  a  while  back.  It  buzzed  like  a  bee,  and  possessed  a 
body  of  like  nature  to  a  humble  bee,  two-winged,  tho.se  being 
spotted  black,  and  a  long,  foi-midable-looking  proboscis.  Its 
movements  were  graceful,  hovering  like  a  humming  bird  moth 
seeking  lioney.  The  abundance  of  finit  tree  blossom  promises  a 
good  fruit  season.  But  who  can  tell? — H.  R.,  Kent,  April  23. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
RASPBERRIES. — Being  gross  feeders,  well-established 
plantations  will  be  furnished  w’ith  abundance  of  fibrous  roots, 
therefore  a  liberal  mulching  of  rich  manure  should  be  applied. 
The  remains  of  the  w’inter  mulching  can  be  cleared  off  along 
with  deep-rooting  weeds  that  should  be  forked  out. 
DESTROYING  INSECTS.— A  watchful  eye  ought  to  be  kept 
on  Gooseberry  bushes,  in  order  to  check  quickly  an  attack  of 
caterpillars.  If  not  numerous  pick  them  off,  but  dustings  of  finelime 
will  prove  effectual.  Crush  the  maggots  which  curl  up  the  leaves  of , 
Apricots,  and  check  the  advance  of  green  and  black  fly  w’hich 
may  attack  the  points  of  young  shoots  of  Plum,  Cherry,  or 
Peach  trees  by  dustings  of  tobacco  powder. 
HOEING  FRUIT  BORDERS.— Where  the  ground  between 
fruit  trees  and  bushes  has  not  been  disturbed  for  some  time, 
Aveeds  wall  begin  to  spring  up  w’ith  amazing  rapidity,  hence  it 
is  desirable  to  check  their  advance  by  hoeing.  This  is  of  much 
assistance  to  young  fruit  trees  and  recently  planted  Straw¬ 
berries,  as  it  serves  to  keep  the  ground  open  for  admitting 
Avarmth.  If  desirable,  later  in  the  season  a  mulch  of  light 
material  can  be  gii’en. 
DISBUDDING,  Ac. — This  method  of  removing  superfluous 
shoots  on  Avail,  cordon,  and  small  bush  trees  cannot  be  so 
readily  practised  AA'hen  the  shoots  get  long,  but  there  aa'III  still 
be  many  Avhich  are  found  better  for  removing  in  this  manner. 
If,  hoAvever,  they  are  found  to  be  long,  cut  them  out  Avith  a 
sharp  knife.  This  is  better  than  alloAving  them  to  croAvd  the 
trees.  In  the  case  of  many  young  Apple  trees  it  is  a  good 
system  of  regulating  groAvth  if  these  are  subjected  to  a  process 
of  disbudding  for  this  purpose  alone,  at  'the  same  time  also 
reducing  the  bunches  of  floAvers  on  the  same  principle.  FloAvers 
at  the  points  of  branches,  or  too  thickly  placed  on  young  shoots, 
may  be  easily  dispensed  Avith ;  indeed,  they  Avill  be  useless 
OAving  to  the  lack  of  Avood  groAvth  above  them.  Shoots  on  all 
young  trees,  therefore,  exhibiting  other  than  Avood  groAvths 
ough  to  have  such  remoA’ed  or  cut  back  to  health^'  AA’ood  buds. 
Proper  extension  of  the  trees  may  then  be  looked  for,  other- 
Avise  leading  branches  maj'  remain  at  a  standstill.  The  import¬ 
ance  also  of  maintaining  the  soil  moist  for  the  roots  from  the 
present  time  oiiAvards  through  the  summer  should  be  considered. 
The  soil  may  or  may  not  need  moistening  at  present,  but  this 
must  be  ascertained  by  examination.  Light  soil  AA’ill  need 
earlier  attention  than  that  of  a  reteiitlA'e  character,  and  a 
mulching  over  the  roots  may  be  given  sooner,  the  colder  and 
moister  ground  being  alloAved  to  become  freely  AA'anned  by  the 
sun  before  applying  a  coating  of  manure.- — East  Kent. 
Fruit  Forciug. 
VINES:  EARLY  HOUSES. — In  those  started  at  the  new 
year  the  Grapes  are  in  an  advanced  stage  for  ripening  ;  indeed, 
some  have  commenced  to  colour,  and  Avill  need  a  cii'culation  of 
Avarm,  rather  diy.  air.  An  arid  atmosphere,  hoAvever,  must  be 
avoided,  inasmuch  as  it  is  sure  to  induce  an  attack  of  red  spider. 
It  is  imperative  to  keep  the  foliage  clean  and  healthy  to  as  long 
a  period  as  possible.  For  destroying  red  siAider  recourse  is 
sometimes  had  to  the  syringe,  Avhich,  even  Avhen  the  AA’ater  is 
soft  and  clear,  is  apt  to  more  or  less  damage  the  bloom  of  Grapes 
advanced  in  coloiu’ing.  Sponging  the  leaves  is  a  .safer  means 
of  preventing  the  spread  of  the  acari,  and  taken  in  hand  on 
the  first  appearance  of  the  pests  is  not  so  tedious  as  it  seems. 
Sulphuring  the  hot-Avater  pipes  should  only  be  had  recourse  to 
Avhen  the  red  spider  is  likely  to  get  tlie  upi)er  hand;  tlien  it 
must  be  judiciouslj’  applied,  or  the  fumes  will  be  as  disastrous 
to  the  Grapes  as  destructiA'e  to  the  red  spider.  Suli)hur  begins 
to  vapori.se  at  170deg,  tlierefore  the  hot-water  pipes  must  be 
heated  betAveen  tliat  temperatTire  and  200deg  for  about  an  hour, 
and  then  tlie  lieat  may  be  alloAved  to  fall  to  tlie  ordinary  heat. 
The  latter  part  of  a  calm  day  should  be  chosen  for  the  operation, 
keeping  the  ventilators  open  Avhile  the  pijies  are  being  heated: 
and  Avhen  they  have  become  sufficiently  so  apply  the  sulphur, 
AA’hich,  being  brought  to  the  consistency  of  thin  cream  Avith  skim 
milk,  can  readily  be  put  on  thinly  Avith  a  brush.  It  Avill  be 
neces.sai’y  to  heat  the  pipes  again  in  about  a  week,  but  they  need 
only  be  nibbed  Avith  a  brush  moi.stened  in  clear  Avatcr. 
HOUSES  OF  RIPE  GRAPES.— Early  Vines  have  ripened 
their  crops  sonieAvhat  earlier  than  usual,  and  Avhere  not  over¬ 
cropped  and  kept  clean  the  Grapes  are  Avell  coloured  and  of 
excellent  quality.  Maintain  a  circulation  of  air,  and  allow  the 
temperature  to  fall  to  60deg  at  night.  The  .soil  should  be  kept. 
