Juno  18,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
543 
ing  varieties  of  Roses  were  ready  for  cutting  on  plants  grown  in 
pots:  Jeannie  Dickson,  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Dr.  Aiulry,  and  Souvenir 
de  S.  A.  Prince. 
In  dealing  with  the  outdoor  quarters,  I  should  have  mentioned 
an  economical  and  effectual  method  of  edging  walks  adopted  by 
Mr.  Francis.  Oak  posts,  from  2in  to  3in  square,  are  driven  firmly 
into  the  ground,  and  then  “faced”  with  strips  of  larch,  the 
West’s  Patent  Aerated  Spray  Sjringe. 
rounded  side  being  arranged  next  the  walks.  This  plan  might 
with  advantage  he  adopted  in  many  quarters  where  shrubberies 
and  herbaceous  borders  abound. 
In  conclusion,  it  is  only  necessary  to  add  that  both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fenwick  take  great  interest  in  their  gardens,  which  prove 
to  them  a  continual  source  of  enjoyment,  and  as  the  efforts  of 
their  head  gardener  are  appreciated,  harmony  and  mutual  con¬ 
fidence  prevail. — H.  D. 
Sunflowers  and  Malaria, 
Years  ago  the  Mississippi  Valley  was  one  of  the  most  unhealthy 
valleys  for  yellow  fever  of  all  the  low-lying  districts  in  the 
Southern  States.  Men  had  ague  every  other  day  ;  they  .saturated 
themselves  with  quinine.  The  residents  along  the  river  banks 
were  conspicuous  for  their  ghastly  yellow  looks,  far  worse  than 
anything  seen  in  Delagoa  Bay  in  the  worst  season.  The  Missis¬ 
sippi  river  at  certain  seasons  overflows,  bringing  down  masses  of 
miasmic  mud,  depositing  the  same  on  the  banks  ;  then  everybody 
goes  down  with  yellow  fever,  which  it  is  impossible  to  shake  off. 
At  last  the  cultivation  of  Sunflowers  was  adopted  by  law,  with 
the  result  that  the  fever  has  been  gradually  conquered,  and  is 
now  a  scourge  of  the  past.  Owing  to  the  profitable  nature  of 
Sunflower  cultivation  immense  paper-mills  have  sprung  up,  uti¬ 
lising  the  fibre,  &c.,  for  many  trade  purposes. 
The  Sunflower  plant  comes  originally  from  Mexico  ;  its  repu¬ 
tation  is  world-wide.  Its  cultivation  when  grown  on  a  large 
scale  is  much  the  same  as  that  for  Mealies.  By  planting  51b 
weight  of  seed  to  the  acre,  broadcast  or  ridge,  IScwt  of  good 
clean  seed  will  return  in  four  months,  with  ordinary  cultivation 
on  average  land;  from  this  3001b  of  oil  can  be  pressed,  or  18  per 
cent,  of  the  weight  harvested.  On  average  land  the  crop  is 
fifty  bushels  to  the  acre,  averaging  one  gallon  of  oil  to  each  bushel 
yielded.  In  the  fertile  valleys  around  Barberton  from  15  to  20 
per  cent,  can  be  added.  Samples  of  seed-crowns  were  exhibited 
at  Barberton  in  1894,  measuring  21in  across. 
The  oil  yielded  by  the  ripe  Sunflower  seeds  is  of  great  com¬ 
mercial  value ;  it  is  superior  to  Olive  and  Almond  oils  for  table 
use;  for  frying  fish  it  is  unequalled.  For  burning  in  lamps 
it  lasts  longer  and  gives  a  brighter  light  than  any  oil ;  for  paint¬ 
ings  (greens  and  blues)  it  is  the  most  brilliant;  in  high-class 
scented  soaps  it  is  most  valuable,  on  account  of  softness ;  it 
makes  the  beet  wax  candles  ;  as  a  drying  oil  it  is  equal  to  linseed  ; 
it  is  the  best  known  oil  as  a  lubricant.  A  farmer  can  increase  his 
income  from  £50  to  £100  a  year  by  growing  Sunflowers  in  every 
odd  nook  and  corner  and  keeping  bees.  Here  again  it  supplies 
the  wax.  The  yellow  flower  is  a  fast  dye.  In  manufacturing  the 
most  expensive  woollen  cloths.  Sunflower  oil  establishes  the 
finest  gloss. 
The  stalk  produces  fibre;  as  fine  as  silk  and  as  coarse  as  flax 
as  required,  in  large  quantities.  Since  rags  have  become  scarce, 
the  fibre  is  used  for  paper-making.  When  the  oil  is  extracted 
from  the  best  seeds,  the  residue,  together  with  the  80  per  cent, 
above  mentioned,  is  again  crushed  into  a  mash  or  oil-cake,  which 
sheep,  pigs,  rabbits,  poultry,  and  horses  will  fatten  on  rapidly. 
Tlie  green  leaves  when  ripe  make  a  fine  fodder,  if  mixed  with 
bran,  for  cows.  Feeding  fowls  on  bruised  Sunflower  seed  is  said 
to  increase  their  laying,  powers.  The  pith  is  used  by  .surgeons, 
also  the  oil  for  demulcent  and  soothing  purposes.  In  “  Tropical 
Cultivation,  Ceylon,  1889,”  we  read:— “In  swampy  places,  where 
intermittent  fevers  are  common,  the  cultivation  of  Sunflowers  on 
a  large  scale  has  been  found  effectual  in  remedying,  and  in  some 
cases  altogether  destroying  the  fevers  peculiar  to  marshy  dis¬ 
tricts  in  tropical  climes.  The  warm,  sheltered,  sub-tropical 
climate  of  De  Kaap  Valley.  Avith  its  much  maligned  malarial  repu¬ 
tation,  is  a  most  suitable  field  for  this  neglected  produce,  of  the 
very  first  commercial  importance  to  the  Government,  the  people, 
and  the  country.” — (Extract  from  the  “Journal  of  the  Society  of 
Arts.”) 
Scottish  Horticultural  Society’s  Outing. 
The  annual  excursion  of  this  association  took  place  on  Satur¬ 
day  last  the  13th  inst. ,  when  over  fifty  members  journeyed  to 
South  Queen.sferry,  under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  McHattie,  presi¬ 
dent,  and  Mr.  Loney,  the  painstaking  .secretary,  to  visit  Dundas 
Castle,  once  the  home  of  the  Dundas  family,  rvho  in  their  time 
occupied  many  important  positions  in  Scottish  history.  The 
estate  is  now  owne4  by  Mr.  SteAvart  Clark,  rvell  known  in  the 
commercial  life  of  Paisley.  The  party  were  receirmd  by  Mr. 
McLennan,  head  gardener,  who  showed  them  over  the  extensir’e 
gardens  and  grounds.  The  gardens  are  large,  and  replete  with 
most  up-to-date  appurtenance.s.  Though  perhaps  no  one  depart¬ 
ment  is  specialised,  every  section  is  in  good  oi’der,  and  shows 
finst-class  cultivation.  The  extensive  range  of  glass  is  repre¬ 
sentative  of  the  best  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  usually  required 
for  the  decoration  of  a  large  mansion,  such  as  Crotons,  Caladiums, 
Palms,  and  Ferns,  each  on  a  large  scale.  Roses  in  pots.  Carna¬ 
tions,  Ixoras,  and  other  flowering  plants  rvere  also  much  admired. 
The  Vines  were  heavily  cropped,  and  looked  like  producing  fine 
finished  crops.  Peaches  and  Figs  also  looked  well. 
Outside,  everything  promised  for  fair  crops  in  this  hitherto 
rather  untoward  season.  Long  lines  of  Violas  in  the  kitchen 
gardens  were  greatly  admired.  The  shrubberies  and  pleasure 
grounds  were  most  attractive,  the  young  foliage  of  the  fine  old 
park  trees  being  now  almost  at  its  best,  Avhile  the  large  breadths 
of  Rhododendrons,  in  full  bloom,  and  of  every  shade  of  colour, 
were  worth  travelling  a  long  Avay  to  see.  These  are  being  added 
to  by  the  present  proprietor,  a  large  quantity  of  young  plants  of 
the  choicest  sorts  having  been  recently  planted,  and  already  pro¬ 
duce  a  brave  show  of  bloom.  Many  beautiful  trees  of  Paul’s 
Crimson  Thorn  were  literally  smothered  in  bloom,  and  are  most 
effectirm ;  while  several  very  perfect  specimens  of  Araucaria 
imbricata  were  also  much  admired. 
Apropos  of  recent  discussions  on  gardeners’  bothies  in  the 
Journal,  the  bothy  recently  built  here  was  the  subject  of  great 
interest,  and  was  keenly  scrutinised,  and  very  warm  approval  was 
expressed  of  the  thoughtfulness  of  the'  proprietor  in  providing 
such  a  comfortable  and  pleasant  home  for  the  young  gardeners. 
In  a  sunny  cottage,  the  exterior  of  Avhich  was  ablaze  with 
flowers,  each  young  man  has  an  elegant  and  comfortable  bed¬ 
room,  Avhile  there  is  a  common  sitting-room,  kitchen,  Ac.,  with 
ample  bathroom  and  lavatory  accommodation. 
After  a  long  and  most  enjoyable  walk,  the  company  AA’ere 
entertained  to  tea  in  the  dining-room,  rvhere  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stewart  Clark  gave  them  a  warm  welcome,  and  expre.ssed  the 
pleasure  it  gave  them  to  have  the  members  of  the  Scottish  Horti¬ 
cultural  Association  as  their  guests.  Mr.  McHattie,  in  a  few 
Avell-chosen  sentences,  expressed  the  thanks  of  the  members  for 
the  kind  rvelcome  they  had  received,  and  for  the  great  attention 
that  had  been  .shown  to  them.  Mr.  McHattie  also  thanked  Mr. 
McLennan,  the  gardener,  and  Mr.  Lewis,  clerk  of  rvorks,  for  the 
great  pains  they  had  taken  to  let  the  members  see  all  the  most 
interesting  features  of  the  place.  The  party  were  afterwards 
shown  over  the  mansion  house,  and  greatly  enjoyed  the  rich 
treasures  of  art  and  the  many  elegant  furnishings  of  the  house. 
The  company  returned  to  Edinburgh  in  the  evening  in  the  best 
of  spirits  over  the  very  enjoyable  afternoon  they  had  spent. — 
T.  M.  E. 
- - 1  § - 
Trade  Notes. 
West  s  Fatent  Aerated  Syray’  Syringe. 
Mr.  C.  E.  West,  of  Roundhay,  a  month  ago,  kindly  placed  at 
our  disposal  and  for  trial,  one  of  his  aerated  spray  syringes.  This 
syringe  is  essentidlb/  for  light  usage,  and  will  soon  become  unwork¬ 
able  if  careful  employment  is  not  made  of  it.  Primarily  and  fun¬ 
damentally  it  is  a  spray  syringe,  a  developed  form  of  scent- 
sprayer.  We  offer  this  caution  in  the  interests  both  of  the  maker 
and  the  purchaser.  It  will  be  seen  from  the  illustration  that  the 
syringe  has  two  barrels.  The  lower  one  contains  the  insecticide, 
which  is  filled  in  by  unscrewing  a  cap  at  the  handle  end.  The 
spray  emerges  through  a  couple  of  small  tubes  at  the  nose  of  the 
syringe,  being  produced  by  the  suctional  draught  of  the  plunger. 
The  spray  is  of  the  finest  possible  character;  quite  an  undis- 
cernible  mist,  in  fact,  and  it  is  stated  that  the  insecticide  never 
clogs  the  working.  By  the  use  of  this  aerated  syringe  tlie  Avhole 
of  a  plant  can  be  “  dewed  over,”  and  a  great  saving  of  insecticide 
can  be  accomplished,  which  is  very  commendable  if  the  insecti¬ 
cide  is  a  bought  preparation.  Fuller  particulars  can  be  obtained 
from  the  maker,  or  a  sample  can  he  obtained  for  5s.  6d.  carriage 
paid.  These  syringes  have  been  on  the  market  for  a  considerable 
time. 
“Nicoticide”  Vaporiser. 
A  sample  tin  of  Nicoticide  was  sent  by  us  to  Mr.  F.  Lansdell, 
The  Gardens,  Little  Hadhain  Hall,  Herts,  for  trial,  and  he  re¬ 
ports  as  follows  After  waiting  for  a  dull,  damp  evening  to 
use  Nicoticide j  I  have  at  last  managed  to  give  it  a-  trial.  It  has 
