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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  29,  1901. 
CARDEN.  CL'EANINCS\ 
Alternantheras. — This  is  about  the  best  time  to  take  a  crop  of 
cuttings  from  these  plants.  Put  the  cuttings  into  a  box  having  a  sandy 
compost  in  the  greenhouse  and  keep  them  shaded  and  reasonably  moist; 
they  will  root  quite  easily.  After  they  are  rooted  the  best  way  to  handle 
them  is  to  plant  them  close  together  in  shallow  flats,  where  they  may 
remain  until  January  next,  at  which  time  they  can  be  potted  up  and 
grown  right  along. 
Wood  Ashes  as  a  fertiliser  are  specially  valuable  used  in 
conjunction  with  stable  manure.  They  contain  the  elements  of  potash 
and  phosphoric  acid  in  proportions  of  about  5  and  2  per  cent.,  the 
potash  sometimes  running  to  7  per  cent.  The  Canada  wood  ashes  made 
from  hard  woods  are  the  richest. 
Gathering  Cloves. — The  Clove  tree  grows  to  from  40  feet  to 
50  feet  high,  with  large  oblong  leaves  and  crimson  flowers  at  the  end 
of  small  branches  in  clusters  of  from  ten  to  twenty.  The  Cloves  are  at 
first  white,  then  light  green,  aud  at  the  time  of  gathering  bright  red. 
Pieces  of  white  cloth  are  spread  under  the  trees  at  harvesting  time, 
and  the  branches  are  beaten  gently  with  Bamboo  sticks  until  the  Cloves 
drop.  They  are  dried  in  the  sun,  being  tossed  about  daily  till  they 
attain  the  rich  dark  colour  which  proclaims  them  ready  for  shipment. 
A  Clove  tree  begins  to  bear  at  the  age  of  about  ten  years,  and  continues 
until  it  reaches  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
Flower  Gardens  of  the  Sea. — The  sea  has  its  flower  gardens, 
but  the  blooms  are  not  on  plants  as  they  are  on  the  land.  It  is  the 
animals  of  the  sea  that  make  the  gardens,  the  corals  of  the  tropical 
waters,  particularly,  making  a  display  of  floral  beauty  that  fairly  rivals 
the  gorgeous  colouring  and  delicate  grace  presented  by  land  flowers. 
So  closely  do  they  resemble  plant  blooms  that  it  is  hard  to  believe 
that  they  are  wholly  animal  in  organisation.  Dr.  Blackford,  in  the 
Chicago  Chroniole,”  says  that  among  the  coral  gardens  there  are 
fishes  of  curious  forms  and  flashing  colours  darting  about,  just  as  the 
birds  and  butterflies  dart  about  plant  gardens  on  land. 
The  Dargest  Oak. — The  Cowthorpe  Oak  is  reputed  to  be  the 
largest  Oak,  and  is  over  1600  years  old,  and  the  branches  cover  half 
an  acre.  At  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  according  to  Evelyn’s 
“  Sylva,”  it  was  78  feet  in  circumference  at  the  base  of  trunk.  Since 
then  a  quantity  of  earth  has  been  placed  round  it  as  a  support.  It  is 
estimated  to  contain  at  the  present  time  73  tons  of  timber.  On 
Jubilee  Day,  1887,  says  a  writer  to  the  “  Daily  Mail,”  the  vicar  of  St. 
James’s  Church,  Wetherby,  and  the  two  churchwardens  and  ninety-five 
Sunday  scholars  got  inside  the  tree  at  ihe  same  time  and  hoisted  the 
Union  Jack  and  sang  the  National  Anthem  and  the  “  Old  Hundredth.” 
Stone-spllttlng  In  Peaches. — Most  people  are  familiar  with  the 
fact  that,  in  opening  Peaches,  the  two  halves  of  the  stone  will  some¬ 
times  be  found  separated.  Examined  by  a  good  pocket  lens,  the 
mycelinm  of  a  fungus  will  be  found  connected  with  this  condition. 
There  seem  to  have  been  no  carefully  conducted  observations  on  this 
stone-splitting  state,  but  from  analogy  one  might  infer  that  the  fungus 
had  to  do  mainly  with  the  result.  If  there  had  been  any  exposure  to 
the  air,  this  inference  would  not  be  warranted,  as  a  spore  might  float 
on  the  diseased  portion,  but  in  this  sealed  up  state,  it  oan  only  be 
supposed  that  a  spore  made  its  entrance  into  the  fruit  in  its  early 
condition,  and  grew  with  the  fruit’s  growth,  j 
Jottings  on  Pines. — It  is  now  necessary  to  exercise  care  in  the 
treatment  of  young  stock  to  prevent  the  growths  becoming  too  luxuriant, 
that  is,  soft,  artificial  heat  and  free  ventilation  being  employed, 
admitting  air  at  80°,  above  which  ventilate  liberally,  especially  on 
warm  sunny  days,  always  avoiding  currents  of  cold  air  and  sudden 
depressions  of  temperature,  and  closing  the  house  for  the  day  at  80°. 
Maintain  a  night  temperature  of  65°,  and  70°  to  75°  by  artificial  means 
in  the  daytime.  The  bottom  heat  should  be  kept  steady  at  85°  at  the 
base  of  the  pots,  or  between  80°  and  90°.  Water  only  when  absolutely 
necessary,  then  afford  a  thorough  supply  of  weak  liquid  manure,  warmed 
to  the  temperature  of  the  plunging  bed.  The  plants  will  only  need 
syringing  occasionally,  and  it  should  be  effected  early  in  the  afternoon 
of  bright  days,  and  not  excessively.  Fruiting  plants  require  a  liberal 
amount  of  heat  and  moisture,  a  night  temperature  of  70°  to  75°,  and  the 
heat  in  the  daytime  should  range  from  80°  to  90°,  dosing  the  house  at 
°  with  sun  heat,  so  as  to  insure  a  rise  of  temperature  from  that  source. 
Avoid,  however,  a  close  and  very  moist  atmosphere,  as  that  accelerates 
the  growth  of  the  crowns  ;  also  an  excess  of  nourishment,  or  the  fruit 
may,  when  cut,  be  found  black  in  the  centre. — Practice. 
Why  we  Prune. — First,  to  modify  the  vigour  of  the  plant ; 
second,  to  produce  larger  and  better  fruit ;  third,  to  keep  the  tree 
within  manageable  shape  and  limits ;  fourth,  to  change  the  habit  of 
the  tree  from  fruit  to  wood  production,  or  vice  versd ;  fifth,  to  remove 
surplus  or  injured  parts  ;  sixth,  to  facilitate  harvesting  and  spraying ; 
seventh,  to  facilitate  tillage  ;  eighth,  to  train  plants  to  some  desired 
form. 
Lemon  Jelly. — Rub  the  yellow  rind  of  three  large  Lemons  upon 
£  lb.  sugar,  pour  over  it  the  strained  juice  of  six  Lemons,  and  put  it 
into  an  enamelled  pan  with  1  oz.  of  isinglass,  1  pint  of  water,  and  a 
glass  of  sherry.  Stir  these  over  the  fire  until  the  isinglass  is  dissolved, 
strain  the  jelly  through  a  bag,  and  if  not  perfectly  transparent  mix  it 
when  cool  with  the  whites  and  crushed  shells  of  three  eggs  with 
i  pint  of  cold  water.  Let  the  jelly  boil  for  three  minutes  without 
stirring,  then  let  it  settle  for  five  or  six  minutes,  and  strain  it  again. 
Set  it  in  dishes  or  in  small  jelly  glasses. 
Cut  Flowers  In  America. — A  paragraph  going  the  rounds  says  : 
—  “  The  Agricultural  Department  gives  seme  interesting  statistics 
showing  the  surprising  growth  of  the  out-flower  business  in  recent  years. 
The  retail  value  of  out  flowers  sold  annually  is  now  12,500,000  dols. 
Of  this  no  less  that  6,000,000  dols.  is  paid  for  Roses,  4,000,000  dols.  for 
Violets,  and  500,000  dols.  for  Chrysanthemums.”  Roses  and  Violets  are 
popular;  but  it  seems  incredible  that  ten  millions  out  of  twelve  should 
go  for  these  two  items  alone.  Can  it  be  possible  that  twice  as  much 
money  is  spent  for  Violets  alone,  as  for  Orchids,  Carnations,  Lilies, 
Daffodils,  and  all  other  flowers,  Roses  not  counted  ? 
Mulberries  Dying  Out. — Mulberries  are  now  making  their  fitful 
appearance  in  our  fruit  shops,  says  the  “  Evening  News,”  London,  and 
those  who  have  a  special  fondress  for  this  luscious  fruit,  and  who  know 
how  prodigious  is  the  yield  of  some  trees,  cannot  but  wonder  why  it  is 
not  offered  for  sale  in  greater  quantities.  The  opinion  of  Covent  Garden 
is  that  those  who  grow  fruit  for  profit  cannot  afford  to  plant  Mulberry 
trees.  Seven  whole  years  must  elapse  before  a  tree  will  yield,  and  with 
land  at  its  present  price,  market  gardeners  will  choose  for  cultivation 
any  other  fruit  tree  rather  than  the  Mulberry.  Another  drawbaok  to  the 
commercial  success  of  the  fruit  is  that  it  travels  so  badly  and  cannot 
be  kept. 
The  Forests  of  Denmark. — In  relation  to  the  artiole  in  the  June 
number  of  “  Meehans’  Monthly  ”  on  the  Forests  of  Denmark,  Mr.  P.  J. 
Pedersen  says  :  “  You  make  me  say  that  the  natural  forests  of  Denmark 
oonsist  almost  entirely  of  Beech,  Juniper,  and  Tew,  while  I  meant  to 
say  that  they  oonsist  almost  entirely  of  Beeoh,  and  only  mentioned  the 
two  latter  plants  to  state  the  fact  that  they  now  are  the  only  Conifers 
to  be  found  in  a  wild  state.  I  believe  I  put  it  thus,  .  .  .  consisting 
almost  entirely  of  Beeoh — Juniper  and  Yew  (T.  b.)  now  being  the  only 
Conifers,  &o.  The  Juniper,  is,  certainly,  quite  prevalent  in  some 
localities,  but  is  little  more  than  a  shrub,  although  it  will,  in  some 
instances,  reach  a  height  of  about  25  feet.  Of  the  Yew,  only  a  few 
hundred  specimens  are  to  be  found  in  forests  of  south-eastern  Jutland, 
and  it  would  be  wrong  to  give  either  of  the  two  plants  almost  equal 
rank  with  the  Beech.” 
Osmunda  regalls. — Mr.  Druery,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Scientific 
Committee  held  on  August  13th,  exhibited  fronds  of  an  entirely  new 
type  of  Osmunda  regalis  recently  found  in  co.  Kerry  by  M.  M.  A. 
Cowan,  of  Penicuik,  and  W.  Boyd,  of  Melrose.  Nine  plants  in  all  were 
found,  six  of  which  were  fertile,  and  three  barren,  the  latter  being  more 
finely  cut  than  the  former,  and  apparently  forming  the  plumose  type 
of  the  speoies.  In  both  forms  the  usually  simple  pinnules,  with  quite 
smooth  edges,  are  deeply  lobed  on  the  edges  on  the  lower  and  larger 
divisions,  whioh,  towards  the  upper  part  of  the  frond,  merges  into  a 
distinct  and  thorough  tertiary  pinnation,  rendering  the  frond  extremely 
handsome.  The  fertile  spikes  oonsist  also  of  rows  of  bead-like 
sporangia,  while  normally  these  are  only  slightly  lobed.  Mr.  Druery 
has  named  Mr.  Cowan’s  form  O.  r.  decomposita,  reserving  the  naming 
of  Mr.  Boyd’s  find  until  its  distinct  character  is  confirmed. 
V 
