72 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  25,  1901. 
}  All  over  India,  and  countries  of  a  similar  climate,  the  Banana  or 
Plantain  is  extremely  plentiful.  It  has  an  accommodating  growth, 
and  seems  to  be  more  or  less  in  season  all  the  year  round.  It  varies 
immensely  in  excellence,  seme  being  not  worth  touching,  and  others 
of  superb  flavour.  Iq  colour,  too,  they  are  widely  different.  I  have 
met  with  them  a  bright  red,  almost  black,  and  perfectly  white,  as  well 
as  green  (ripe),  and  various  shades  of  yellow.  In  size,  also,  the  various 
kinds  differentiate.  Some  are  of  enormous  length  and  bulk,  while 
others  are  but  a  few  inches  only,  and  some  of  the  smaller  kinds  are 
exceedingly  sweet.  Those  in  java  and  Borneo  are  highly  superior. 
A  different  fruit  altogether,  but  one  which  varies  greatly  according 
to  the  soil,  climate,  and  country  in  which  it  is  grown,  is  the  familiar 
Orange.  Several  naturallv  lay  claim  to  be  the  best,  but  if  one  can 
impartially  go  behind  the  chair,  may  probably  be  given  equal 
precedence.  Thus  in  Jericho,  where  the  Orange  comes  in  about  the 
earliest,  owing  to  the  sub-tropic  heat  (Jericho  being  situated  in  the 
depressed  plain  of  the  Jordan,  immediately  under  the  Jerusalem 
plateau  of  mountains,  and  2500  feet  beneath  the  level  of  the 
Mediterranean),  the  excellence  of  Jaffas,  compared  with  those  here, 
was  laughed  at,  the  Jericho  products  being  claimed  as  the  finest  in 
creation.  Certainly  they  were  wonderful  both  in  size  and  flavour. 
Ihey  are  unhappily  but  little  known,  as  they  will  not  stand 
transportation.  Visiting  its  rival,  Jaffa,  not  long  after,  I  had  full 
opportunity  to  wander  about  the  Orange  and  Lemon  groves,  and 
taste  the  finest  samples  of  the  former.  A  very  beautiful  sight  is 
that  of  the  acres  and  acres  of  Orange  plantations  when  in  the  full 
bearing  of  their  golden  balls  of  fruit,  and  the  scent,  as  may  be 
imagined,  is  a  delicious  one.  How  absurdly  cheap  native  fruits  may 
be  bought  on  the  spot,  thought  comparatively  luxuries  here  in 
England,  may  be  exemplified  by  my  stating  that  on  leaving  this 
Syrian  port  I  was  offered  by  a  seller  a  good  sized  hamper  of  “Jaffas” 
for  a  franc.  Not  being  able  to  do  with  so  many,  however,  I  took  the 
most  I  could,  and  indeed  more  than  enough  to  last  out  the  voyage, 
and  still  supply  my  friends,  for  the  modest  sum  of  the  equivalent  of 
about  a  quarter  of  a  franc. 
I  suppose  one’s  taste  differs  from  time  to  time,  or  we  ungratefully 
forget  past  pleasures,  but  in  travelling  through  America  I  thought  I 
must  really  give  the  palm  to  the  luscious  and  pipless  Florida  Orange. 
In  this  magnificent  fruit  (both  in  size  and  flavour)  I  seemed  to  have 
attained  the  climax  in  Orange  eating.  The  Californian  Oranges,  too, 
are  very  fine  and  grateful  to  the  taste.  And  here  mention  must  be 
made  of  the  Tangerine,  produced  so  largely  along  the  coast  in  Northern 
Africa.  Both  in  Algeria  and  Egypt  I  have  enjoyed  many  an  al  fresco 
lunch  off  these  graceful  little  fruits  ;  for  the  native  penny  you  can 
stuff  your  pockets  as  full  as  you  will,  and  yet  have  paid  handsomely 
for  your  bargain.  Spain  furnishes  some  good  fruit,  and  excellent  stuff 
m  the  form  of  Sevilles,  for  preserving  purposes  ;  but  in  Southern 
.  mnee  and  Italy  the  product  for  the  most  p  rt  is  tasteless,  bitter,  or 
immature,  though  in  the  last  named  country  doubtless  there  are  a  few 
districts  where  the  fruit  is  pretty  well. 
The  Date,  as  I  have  hinted  above,  is  of  a  very  high  class  character, 
exceedingly  sustaining  and  wholesome  withal,  and  can  be  eaten 
continuously  even  by  those  unaccustomed  to  it,  without  the  aid  of 
other  foods  to  keep  the  system  in  order.  The  average  traveller  being 
in  Date  countries  during  the  winter  and  spiing,  when  the  fresh  Date 
is  no  longer  obtainable,  has  to  fall  back  upon  the  dried  product,  a 
very  excellent  substitute,  but  only  comparable  to  the  former  as  tl  e 
mcon  is  to  the  sun.  The  Guava  of  India  and  the  Islands  of  the 
Equator  is  not,  as  a  ripe  fruit,  much  accounted  of,  though  manu¬ 
factured  into  jelly  it  is  highly  esteemed.  It  is  not  a  bad  fruit 
nevertheless,  it  you  can  acclimatise  yourself  to  the  curious  smoky 
sort  of  taste  inherent  to  it.  Passing  to  Japan  for  a  moment,  the 
Persimmon,  a  gigantic  sort  of  Plum,  resembling  in  shaps  a  good 
sized  oval  Tomato,  claims  a  passing  attention,  having  a  fine  flavour 
and  keeping  properties,  which  has  caused  it  to  be  tried  for 
transportation  to  our  own  country  just  now  for  the  first  time, 
and  being  one  of  the  few  flowering  growths  the  Japanese  cultivate 
for  fruit,  rather  than  for  the  sake  of  the  blossom.  The  Plum, 
Cherry,  and  Peach  are  largely  sacrificed  to  their  innate  love  of  flowers, 
and  have  their  branches  ruthlersly  lopped  off  in  all  dinctions 
accordingly  during  each  flowering  season  for  decorative  purposes, 
whether  in  their  processions,  their  houses,  or  for  their  temples  and  idols. 
The  Persimmon  is  also  a  good  deal  used  for  preserving,  and  in  this 
form  is  an  exceedingly  delicious  compot  Such  eastern  fruits  as  the 
Pomegranate  and  Prickly  Pear,  though  partaken  of  largely  by  the 
natives,  and  also  numerous  products  of  the  Melon  class,  can  hardly  be 
considered  fruits  of  the  highest  quality.  Both,  however,  are  readily 
obtainable  in  the  English  markets  at  certain  times  of  the  year. 
In  the  way  of  Nuts,  the  dainty  little  Lychee  (or  Litchi)  of  China 
has  its  own  attractions,  and  this,  too,  may  often  be  obtained  during  the 
winter  season  from  our  Oriental  retailers.  As  regards  the  Fig, 
probably  it  differs  not  very  much  in  flavour  from  that  produce<l 
under  favourable  circumstances  in  the  south  of  England,  sdll  in  Fig¬ 
growing  countries,  such  as  Palestine  and  Turkey,  and  cDrwh°'P,  some 
of  the  finer-fibred  ones  must  be  admitted  a  decidedly  superior  article 
and  in  Constantinople  in  particular,  and  Algeria,  southern  Italy,  and 
Spain,  I  have  tasted  fruit  of  very  great  delicacy. 
The  huge  areas  of  territory  devoted  in  foreign  and  Eastern  lands 
to  the  cultivation  of  the  Grape  hardly  enter  our  present  spberejof 
contemplation,  being  grown  as  it  is  almost  entirely  for  wine,  or  its 
dried  form  in  the  shape  of  Currants  and  Raisins.  Neither  can  the 
best  of  them  compare  for  a  moment  with  our  highly  cultivated 
English  hothouse  article,  which,  under  proper  auspices,  become 
such  superb  fruit.  Indeed,  I  venture  to  think  few  tropical  or  other 
foreign  fruits  can  compare  with  our  own  ordinary  garden  productions. 
Still  comparisons  are  generally  unsatisfactory  and' unfair,  and  doubtless 
Nature  has  provided  her  own  fruits  in  each  particular  spot  to  suit 
the  soil,  climate,  and  requirements  ot  the  denizens  thereon. — -- 
J.  A.  Carnegie-Cheales. 
The  Primula  and  Cineraria. 
How  long  these  plants  have  occupied  in  their  season  prominent 
positions  in  the  greenhouse  I  am  not  prepared  to  say.  My  knowledge 
of  them  goes  back  some  years,  and  in  the  days  when  Azaleas  were 
trained,  hardwooded  plants  so  popular,  and  gigantic  stove  plants  so 
highly  prized,  the  Primula  and  Cineraria  held  their  own  ;  and  common¬ 
place  though  they  were  in  the  way  of  strain  and  varieties  compared  to 
now,  gardeners  took  a  delight  in  them,  and  for  the  adornment  of 
greenhouse  and  conservatory  they  were  considered  indispensable. 
Their  popularity  has  never  waned  ;  on  the  other  hand  it  has  grown, 
and  for  this,  I  think,  thanks  are  due  to  those  who  have  done  so  much 
towards  the  development  of  the  flowers.  There  is  no  such  thing  as 
standing  still  in  these  days.  A  plant  that  will  not  lend  itself  to 
improvement  occupies  its  own  place,  which  is  not  so  high  in  public 
estimation  as  in  the  case  of  those  subjects  that  have  capacity  for 
development. 
In  this  respect  neither  the  Chinese  Primula  nor  the  florists’ 
Cineraria  have  been  found  wanting.  Compare  the  strains  of  to-day 
with  those  of  twenty  years  ago.  The  flowers  are  larger,  colours  mere 
varied  and  brilliant,  plants  more  robust;  all  brought  about  by 
intercrossing,  selecting,  and  the  survival  of  the  fittest.  The  accommo-- 
dating  character  of  the  plants  has  increased  their  popularity.  Aa 
annuals  they  are  raised  every  season ;  a  small  packet  of  seeds  will 
produce  a  batch  of  beautiful  specimens,  and,  with  the  exercise  of  care, 
the  amateur  can  grow  them  as  well  as  the  professional.  But  of  late 
years  neither  the  Primula  nor  Cineraria  has,  in  one  particular  sense, 
pleased  as  it  used  to  do.  Public  taste  has  risen  in  opposition  to 
stiffness  and  formality  in  habit  amongst  flowers.  The  gardener  haa 
found  out  how  this  has  affected  the  plants  in  question.  My  lady 
admired  the  Primulas  and  Cinerarias  i  i  a  way ;  they  were  very  showy,, 
the  colours  beautiful,  but  the  plants  were  a  little  stiff,  you  know. 
She  would  like  them  better  if  they  were  free,  threw  their  flowers  up 
more,  and  less  conformed  to  one  rule  of  habit. 
But  Cineraria  polyantha  and  Primula  stellata  are  free-growing 
varieties,  and  intending  growers  had  better  be  advised,  now 
the  sowing  season  is  coming  along,  and  secure  a  packet  of  each. 
The  former  is,  I  believe,  the  result  of  a  cross  between  Cineraria- 
cruenta  and  the  old  greenhouse  form,  and  the  cruenta  hybrids 
have  charms  hitherto  undeveloped  in  this  popular  family  of  plants. 
Their  flowering  season  in  just  over,  and  after  a  stiff  trial  their  place 
is  assuied.  The  individual  blooms  are  star-shaped  and  smaller  than 
the  ordinary  form,  the  large  heads  of  flower  are  produced  on  long 
stalks,  which  renders  them  highly  suitable  for  decorative  purposes, 
and  many  delicate  shades  of  colour  are  displayed  in  a  batch  of  plants. 
One  more  point — their  Usefulness  for  cutting.  This  is  strongly  in 
favour  of  the  latest  departure  in  Cinerarias,  for  they  come  in  at  a- 
time  when  the  demand  for  cut  flowers  is  great,  and  the  supply  none 
too  plentiful.  Will  the  new  Cineraria  supplant  the  popular  old 
favourite  of  the  greenhouse  ?  I  hope  nofi  There  is  room  for  both 
but  the  latest  departure  has  already  proved  its  indispensability. 
Primula  stellata  is  now  sufficiently  well  known  as  to  hardly  need 
description.  It  has  quite  a  distinction  of  its  own  ;  the  dark  red 
foliage  contrasts  favourably  with  its  numerous  star-shaned  flowers 
borne  on  long  stalks,  and  filling  up  the  gap  of  true  gracefulness  that 
was  hitherto  apparent  amongst  greenhouse  Primulas.  For  con¬ 
servatory  and  table  decoration  Primula  stellata  is  a  most  suitable 
plant,  and  for  the  latter  use  it  surpasses  the  old  sinensis.  The  flowers 
are  of  longer  duration  than  most  varieties,  and  they  are  useful  lor 
cutting,  which,  by  the  way,  is  a  failing  of  P.  sinensis.  The  original 
stellata  has  already  been  improved  upon,  named  varieties  have  sprung 
into  being,  and  it  seems  as  though  the  departure  holds  out 
possibilities  for  further  developments  in  the  future.  In  them  there  is- 
a  splendid  combination  of  grace  and  beauty,  the  outcry  for  freedom  of 
habit  and  less  stiffness  is  effectually  silenced,  and  they  illustrate  the- 
development  <  f  the  greenhouse  Primula.  What  vet  lies  in  front  we 
carnet  sev. —  G.  H.  H. 
