I 
will  INAL  OF 
JIOIITWULTURE  AND  COTTAGE 
GA  IWENEll. 
March  23,  1839. 
province  ciuiHe  a  difTcrent  K^nson  lor  the  crop  from  that  in  which  the 
table  ( irupcH  ripen  in  the  JOaat,  where  tliere  are  ruina  in  November  and 
l''el)rnary. 
Nor  are  the  Cape  grower-H  handicapped,  na  are  Ihoao  in  the  AVest 
Indie.s,  by  want  of  ade(|nato  ateain  aervit'e  or  easily  reached  marketa. 
'rite  htifre  increment  of  wealth  in  the  goldfields  has  caused  passenj^er  lines 
to  increase  their  stcamera  in  number,  size,  and  accomniodation.  Tho^e 
steamers,  meant  to  carry  those  enriched  by  the  poldfiehls.  or  those  who 
in  hope  of  beinjj  rich  are  careless  of  expenditure,  are  the  idtcil  vessola  for 
fruit  transport — speetly,  roomy,  and  furnished  with  ample  cold  atorape. 
Vet  Cape  fruit,  except  the  little  black  Crapes  is  very  dear.  It  is  still  a 
costly  luxury,  not  a  popular  delicacy.  The  .Japanese  I’liima  };rown  in 
South  Africa  wore  recently  sellinf;;  at  la.  n()ieco  in  (Jovent  Carden,  Cape 
reaches  were  la.  (»d,  each,  and  Pears  Kd.  'I'he  ([uality  of  all  three  kinds 
was  jierfect,  but  they  could  only  bo  rep;arded  as  specimen  fruit.  While 
the  crop  remains  dear  and  uncertain  it  is  nut  strange  that  little  Capo 
fruit  is  yet  imported,  compared  with  the  demand.  The  blame  lies  entirely 
at  the  doors  of  the  growers  themselves.  'J'heir  Covernment  is  endeavouring 
to  awaken  Afrikander  opinion  on  the  subject.  They  need  teaching  that 
only  the  best  fruit  is  wanted  here,  that  this  must  be  carefully  sorted, 
■beautilully  packed,  so  that  in  the  package  the  fruit  looks  like  a  piece  of 
deco'ation.  or,  at  least,  ns  fresh  as  when  plucked,  and  that  then  the 
English  public  will  pay  a  good  price  for  it.  At  present  the  farmers  aro 
mostly  too  ignorant  anil  indolent  to  do  this.  The  fruit,  as  the  Government 
botanist  complains,  is  thrown  into  kerosene  tins,  or  any  chance  receptacle, 
and  sent  off  to  bo  hawked  about  the  local  towns  instead  of  being  properly 
graded  and  sold  in  Europe  and  America.  They  should  bo  taught  the 
methods  of  (/alifornia. 
Unlike  the  Cape,  California  has  nonear  markets,  os  at  Ca])e  d'own 
and  .lohannesbarg.  The  shortest  journey  is  to  (>hiciigo,  2.500  miles  by 
rail,  which  costs  .£10  for  every  ton  of  truit.  Now  York  is  3500  miles 
ilistaiit,  yet  tens  of  thousands  of  tons  are  sent  by  rail  to  each  city.  They 
also  ship  their  fruit  another  .'iOOO  miles  by  sea  from  New  York  to  England, 
making  6500  miles  in  all,  and  they  make  this  pay,  though  their  season  is 
the  same  as  our  own.  If  California  had  the  season  of  the  Cape,  and 
could  get  its  Peach  and  (Jrane  crops  into  our  market  in  the  winter  and 
spring,  it  would  double  its  industry.  Put  the  organisation  of  the 
('alifornian  growers  is  perfect.  'I'he  Fruit  Growers’  Union,  in  “acre 
shares,”  so  that  tho  smallest  and  the  largest  owners  are  members,  collects 
the  fruit,  despatches  it,  and  finds  a  market.  Tho  Cape  growers  have  only 
to  study  tho  Californian  system  of  business  and  modern  modes  of  culture, 
and  Nature  will  complete  an  industry  as  valuable  us  the  goldfields  and 
more  lasting.— (”  Tho  Spectator.”) 
riMMliOSF.S  AND  IN  ILYANTIIUSFS. 
I  AM  exactly  of  tho  same  opinion  as  “A.  I ).”  (page  220)  with  regard 
to  tho  sowing  and  general  treatment  of  these  plants,  and,  like  him,  wonder 
at  tho  uunecessary  trouble  some  growers  put  themselves  to  in  otitaining  a 
Slock  of  plants.  There  cmi  bo  no  ipiestionas  to  the  relative  advantage  of 
autumn  over  s])ring  sowing  of  Polyanthus  seeds  ;  especially  is  this  true 
when  it  applies  to  indoor  sowing. 
I  always  make  a  point  of  sowing  as  soon  as  tho  seeds  aro  ripe  enough 
to  gather  trom  tho  plants,  in  drills  sulliciently  wide  apart  to  allow  ot  tho 
ground  being  kept  free  from  weeds.  Old  seed  is  very  stubborn  of  germi¬ 
nation,  even  when  sown  indoors  ;  but  with  outdoor  sowing  of  ipiite  new 
.seeds  ai)]iarently  every  one  germinates  with  regularity'.  Py  sowing  in 
August,  and  tho  beds  kept  free  from  weeds,  the  resultant  plants 
become  hturdy  and  in  lino  condition  for  planting  in  their  permanent  or 
temporary  ipiarters  in  April.  Tho  latter  course  is  adopted  when  provid¬ 
ing  for  the  (lower  garden  in  autumn,  several  beds  being  annually  fur¬ 
nished  with  them  both  in  mi.xed  and  sejiarate  colours.  For  (lower  beds  1 
tiiid  tho  large  golden  coloured  sorts  the  most  effective,  as  tho  mixed  ones, 
though  individually  pretty  and  interesting,  jialo  before  the  self-coloured 
flowers. 
”  A.  1).”  correctly  describes  the  method  of  autumn  sowing  and  spring 
planting  as  siniple  and  satislactory  ;  nothing  could  bo  more  so.  Plants 
intended  tor  the  flower  garden  in  autumn  are  given  the  benefit  of  a  shady 
border,  one  situated  under  a  north  wall,  wdiere  their  growth  proceeds 
slowly,  but  surely,  even  in  hot  summer  weather.  Tho  same  border  is 
reserved  for  the  purpose  every  year,  and  is  kept  in  a  suitable  condition  by 
the  addition  of  decayed  manure  and  old  potting  soil  at  the  time  of  or  just 
previous  to  planting,  .\tter  they  have  done  duty  in  the  flower  garden 
they  are  thrown  away,  unless  there  are  any  of  special  merit  and  it  is 
desired  they  should  be  retained  for  seed  purposes.  Pv  making  an  annual 
selection  of  tho  finest  it  is  easy  to  get  an  assortment  of  the  best  either  in 
separate  shades  or  in  mixture, 
I  fie  abnormally  dry  state  of  tho  soil,  and  tho  absence  of  water  for 
<laily  watering  of  the  seed  tieds,  has  resulted  in  smaller  plants  than  I 
have  had  in  any  previous  spring  ;  but  with  fresh  soil  and  showery 
weather  they  will  no  doubt  make  headway,  and  perhaps  become  ipiite 
large  .enough  by  October  next.  In  the  ])leasure  ground  borders  they 
will  stand  three?  or  four  years,  tho  soil  fteing  somewhat  heavy,  and 
many  positions  shady  ;  still  blanks  occur  from  one  cause  and  another, 
and  are  made  up  from  the  annual  sowing,  either  in  autumn  or  spring. 
In  light  soils  it  would  be  necessary  to  plant  stock  plants  in  cool 
positions,  or  tho  tax  imposed  on  them  in  seed-bearing  would  cause  a 
puriial  it  not  a  total  collapse  at  the  critical  time.  During  tropical 
weather,  which  invariably  occurs  during  the  seeding  time,  the  plants 
flag  badly  when  exposed  to  full  sunshine.  A  mulching  of  the  surface 
with  short  manure  would  suitain  them  materially  during  tho  summer- 
months.  Lifting  and  dividing  is  not  worth  the  trouble,  especially  when 
seed  saving  and  sowing  is  so  simple.  They  reproduce  themselves  from 
seed  fairly  true  to  variety  when  planted  in  separate  colours  for  tho 
purpose. 
It  would  be  advisable  in  the  case  of  any  specially  choice,  which  it 
is  desired  to  perpetuate  true  to  character  from  seed,  that  some  means 
of  protection  bo  provided  against  insect  fertilisation,  muslin  being  as 
good  as  anything.  For  shrubbery  borders,  mixed  colours  afford  tho 
greatest  interest,  but  for  bedding  separate  colours,  especially  the  yellow 
I’olyunthuses,  make  the  nrightest  display.  Taking  into  account  tho  ease 
with  which  they  can  bo  cultivated,  and  the  floral  feast  made  in  summer, 
tho  wonder  is  they  are  not  much  more  largely  grown. —  \V.  S. 
THE  Y()UN(}  (;AI{DENE11S’  domain. 
VoiJNfi  Mkn’k  Dukamh. 
Kk.si'eotinii  the  article  on  page  9!),  to  which  “Thistle,”  refers  on 
pago  174,  there  certainly  is  much  there  that  should  demand  tho  interest 
of  the  young- readers  ot  tho  .lournal,  ond  to  some  it  might  prove  more 
useful  than  the  reading  of  an  article  concerning  the  ciiUivution  of  a  plant. 
I  (|uite  agree  with  “Thistle”  that  it  would  be  better  it  all  the  young 
gardeners  knew  what  was  expected  of  them  before  they  started  gardening  ; 
doubtless  it  would  save  many  a  pang,  certainly  there  would  be  less 
“weeds”  of  whi(?h  to  complain.  Hut  what  of  the  amount  of  trouble 
involved  in  informing  every  beginner  of  the  numerous  items  he  would  be 
subject  to  ns  a  gardener  ?  Only  years  of  experience  will  convince  him 
what  gardening  really  is.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  not  a  few  who  start 
gaidening  do  not  enter  into  it  seriously,  and  eventually  awake  and 
.realise'  they  have  begun  at  the  wrong  end,  or  mistaken  their  calling. 
Many  of  the  young  hands  who  aie  turned  out  of  private  gardens  and 
nurseries  have,  I  consider,  a  poor  foundation  (or  making  u  practical  man, 
more  especially  should  th<‘y  solely  follow  the  private  garden.  Ttie  reason 
for  this,  I  think,  is  that  having  had  about  two  years  in  the  glass  depart¬ 
ment,  they  prefer  to  continue  indoors  rather  than  s(?ek  experience  in  the 
kitchen  garden  or  pleasure  grounds,  though  there  arc,  of  course, 
excejitions. 
When  I  first  applied  for  a  vacancy  in  a  garden  ami  asked  for  par¬ 
ticulars,  I  was  told  to  a  willing  lad  there  was  plenty  of  work,  and  such 
I  found  to  lie  true  ;  but  had  I  been  told  then  that  it  would  fall  to  my  lot 
to  as.sist  in  fitting  hot-water  pipes,  and  in  planting  acres  of  forest  trees, 
another  occupation  might  have  been  mine.  Ilowiiver,  1  hojie  to  see  other 
remarks  than  mine  in  connection  with  young  men’s  dreams,  as  it  will  give 
additional  interest  for  the  readers  of  the  Domain. — F.\li\'o. 
HkiJONIA  MANICATA. 
’ITiih  is  one  of  tho  fibrous-rooted  llegonias  which  is  oftener  seen  in  a 
neglecteil  condition  than  otherwise.  When  well  grown,  us  it  fully 
deterves  to  be,  it  makes  ii  splendid  plant  for  house  furnishing  during  tho 
winter  and  spring,  with  its  glossy  green  foliage  and  tall  spiKCs  of  .small 
pink  (lowers.  If  good  stout  cuttings  made  from  the  leading  shoots  are 
inserted  round  a  48-pol  in  a  light  sandy  compost,  they  will  root  readily 
in  a  night  teinperature  of  60’.  As  they  are  of  a  succulent  nature  there  is 
a  danger  of  their  decay  if  kept  too  close  and  wet  at  this  stage.  To  get 
gooil  plants  for  winter  (lowering  the  cuttings  should  be  juit  in  by  the  end 
of  March.  When  well  rooted  transfer  the  young  plants  to  a  small  pot, 
using  a  compost  of  three  jiarts  good-turfy  loam  to  one  of  leaf  mould,  with 
enough  charcoal  and  sand  to  keep  it  porous.  A  warm  pit  is  suitable 
during  the  suinincr  months,  where  they  can  have  plenty  of  light  and  air. 
When  thoroughly  established  a  weak  stimulant  will  prove  beneficial  in 
keeping  the  foliage  a  healthy  colour  and  producing  good  stout  spikes  ;  a 
tfiin  shading  will  bo  necessary  during  the  hottest  hours  of  the  day. 
In  the  autumn  the  plants  may  bo  given  a  light  place  in  a  vinery,  the 
stove  being  too  close  and  moist.  Cure  must  be  taken  in  staging  and 
removing  the  plants  not  to  injure  the  foliage,  or  the  appearance  of  the 
plants  for  decoration  will  bo  spoiled.  With  judicious  feeding  and  top¬ 
dressing  they  will  remain  satisfactory  a  second  season  in  tho  same  pots. 
Wo  have  two  such  plants  now  in  bloom,  each  carrying  about  two  dozen 
spikes.  They  are,  of  course,  rather  straggling  as  regards  tho  growth, 
but  this  we  consider  enhances  their  beauty,  as  formality  is  done  away 
with,  which  is  a  thing  to  be  desired  from  a  decorative  point  of  view. 
— M.  1. 1’. 
Tub  Gloxinia. 
GiiO.xiNiAS  are  amongst  tho  finest  flowering  plants  that  are  use!  for 
the  decoration  of  tho  stove  during  the  summer  and  autumn  months.  Not 
only  do  they  make  a  beautiful  disjihiy,  but  tho  flowers  are  also 
valuable  for  cutting,  and  by  potting  at  diiterent  times  they  may  be  had 
in  succession  for  several  inonths.  Old  tubers  that  are  stored  tinder  the 
stage  or  elsewhere  should  be  carefully  examined,  and  any  that  show 
signs  of  growth  must  bo  brought  from  their  resting  place,  leaving  the 
dormant  ones  for  succession.  It  there  are  no  signs  of  growth,  place  the 
])Ots  containing  the  tubers  in  a  teripierature  of  65°,  syringing  them  twice 
daily.  As  soon  as  they  commence  to  grow  they  should  be  repotted, 
removing  the  old  soil  from  the  tubers  and  putting  them  into  well  drained 
pots,  using  a  compost  of  eijual  parts  of  good  fibrous  loam,  peat,  and  leaf 
soil,  with  a  liberal  addition  of  sand,  kee[)ing  the  top  of  the  tuber  level 
with  the  surface  of  the  soil. 
'I'he  tubers  may  be  put  into  small  pots  and  be  moved  as  reijuired,  or  they 
