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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  23,  1900. 
Timber  lOOO  Tears  Old.  —  Experts  seem  to  be  divided  as  to 
which  of  the  two  hard  woods — Jarrah  and  Karri — of  Western  Australia 
is  the  most  durable.  Jarrah  wood  piles  2  feet  2  inches  square,  driven 
thirty-three  years  ago  at  the  Largs  Bay  pier,  were  found  on  examina¬ 
tion  to  be  as  sound  as  the  day  they  were  put  in.  Some  specimens  of 
Karri  wood  taken  from  a  fence  were  examined  in  London,  and  though 
the  wood  had  been  underground  for  twenty -five  years  it  was  perfectly 
sound.  A  specimen  of  Jarrah  wood  under  similar  circumstances 
showed  serious  decay.  Timber  of  the  Tamarisk  or  Shittem  wood  has 
been  found  perfectly  sound  in  the  ancient  temples  of  Egypt  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  the  stonework  which  is  known  to  be  at  least  4000  years  old. 
Cucumbers. — As  in  the  case  of  all  vegetables,  the  multiplication  of 
the  varieties  of  Cucumbers,  or  in  many  oases  synonyms  of  older  forms, 
goes  on  from  year  to  year,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  there  is  a  better  all 
round  sort  than  Rockford’s  Market  Favourite  if  the  chief  consideration 
is  a  daily  supply  of  average  sized  Cucumbers  of  good  quality.  I  have 
had  this  variety  in  bearing  for  eight  months,  and  the  plants  were  in 
capital  health  when  they  had  to  be  uprooted  to  make  room  for  other 
things.  It  is  hardy,  short  jointed,  and  very  productive,  from  four  to 
seven  Cucumbers  showing  at  each  joint.  If  a  continuous  and  long 
sustained  supply  is  required,  thinning  of  the  fruit  must  be  practised, 
and  if  this  is  carried  out  there  is  little  check  in  the  growth  of  the  plant. 
As  far  as  stimulants  are  concerned,  each  grower  has  his  special  fancy  ; 
personally,  I  have  found  nothing  better  than  fresh  horse  droppings. 
An  occasional  top-dressing  is  given  of  this,  and  the  interstices  filled  in 
with  good  soil. — A.  G.  B, 
Clematises  for  Arbour. — We  have  a  beautiful  display  of 
Clematises  this  year,  though  our  garden  is  exposed  to  some  of  the  worst 
of  London  smoke — that  from  the  frequently  passing  engines  in  a 
railway  close  by.  The  plants  are  trained  over  the  porch  of  a  summer 
house,  not  rigidly  and  formally,  but  naturally,  and  we  have  a  succession 
of  flowers  from  early  spring  until  autumn.  First,  the  charming  white 
Clematis  indivisa  produces  its  clusters  of  pure  white  flowers  in 
abundance  ;  this  is  followed  by  C.  Jackmanni  varieties,  which  are  still 
lovely,  loaded  with  wreaths  of  rich  purple  flowers ;  and  now  the  snowy 
cloud-like  C.  Flammula  is  expanding  its  diminutive  but  pretty  white 
blooms  in  profusion.  The  beauty  of  these  plants  cannot  be  exaggerated, 
and  their  value  for  suburban  gardens  is  inestimable. — R.  J. 
Sedum  spectablle  In  Pots. — Although  generally  grown  as  a 
border  plant,  this  flue  Sedum  is  eminently  adapted  for  pot  culture.  It 
is  one  of  the  easiest  of  plants  to  grow,  and  will  thrive  under  the  most 
adverse  circumstances.  At  the  same  time  it  repays  liberal  treatment  by 
producing  larger  heads  of  bloom.  The  flowers  are  of  soft  rosy  colour, 
and  are  borne  in  masses.  Arranged  with  other  plants  in  the  greenhouse 
or  window  garden  this  Sedum  is  most  effective  during  the  late  summer 
and  autumn  months,  and  amateurs  will  do  well  to  make  a  note  of  it. 
A  compost  of  loam,  leaf  mould,  and  sand  will  suit  it  admirably. — C. 
Growing:  Prize  Gooseberries, — The  trees  are  pruned  of  their 
middle  branches,  and  trained  so  as  to  allow  a  free  current  of  air  amongst 
the  branches,  which  are  bent  or  tied,  so  as  to  be  uniform  in  growth,  all 
buds  near  the  base  of  the  stem  being  nipped  off.  The  berries  are  early 
thinned  according  to  the  fancy  and  ambition  of  the  owner,  some  taking- 
almost  all  off,  others  merely  thinning  them  sufficiently  to  prevent  the 
wind, knocking  the  berries  against  each  other.  Some  grow  them  in 
little  glass  globes  with  a  very  small  hole,  into  which  the  Gooseberry 
when  quite  small  is  introduced,  but  these  are  few;  some  grow  them 
under  shades  of  various  sorts  ;  all  protect  them  from  the  north  wind. 
With  some  kinds  of  berries  the  old  tree  is  chosen  for  the  show  fruit, 
with  others  the  young ;  in  all  the  shoots  of  the  previous  year  bear  the 
best  fruit.  Some  kinds  require  stronger  manure  than  others,  but  all  that 
is  used  must  be  well  decayed.  Some  use  blood  ;  but  as  the  roots  grow 
wide  and  not  deep,  such  rich  manure  as  would  be  used  for  the  Vine  or 
the  Plum  is  to  be  avoided. — P. 
The  Orchid . — In  “  Munsey’s  Magazine  ”  “  The  Rich  Man’s  Flower’^ 
is  pleasantly  discussed  by  Caroline  Sheridan  Baker,  who  refers  to  its 
cultivation,  giving  some  hints  to  growers,  and  also  describes  the  manner 
in  which  it  is  obtained.  “  There  is  no  promise,”  she  declares,  “  that 
the  Orchid  will  come  any  nearer  the  reach  of  the  poor  man.  On  the 
contrary,  great  areas  of  the  wooded  country  where  the  plant  thrives  in 
its  fullest  luxuriance  are  being  denuded  of  timber  year  after  year  by 
the  Coffee  and  Cocoa  grower,  and*  this  continual  encroachment  of  the 
agriculturist  seriously  threatens  the  market  of  the  future.  It  has  been 
found  that  the  Coffee  berry  reaches  its  highest  perfection  in  size  and 
flavour  in  the  same  attitude  as  that  in  which  the  Orchid  best  flourishes 
— from  2000  feet  to  4500  feet  above  sea  level — and  the  demands  of 
commerce  for  the  latter  increase  at  a  rate  alarming  to  the  Orchid 
gatherer  as  he  finds  his  territory  growing  smaller  and  smaller  each  year. 
This,  coupled  with  the  expense  of  transportation  and  the  danger  incident 
to  the  calling  of  the  collector,  who  must  cross  yawning  chasms  upon 
improvised  Bamboo  bridges,  swim  mad  wide  rivers,  spend  nights  in 
tree  tops  for  protection  from  floods,  brave  wild  beasts  and  perilous 
land  slides,  leaves  little  room  for  wonder  why  its  devotees  must  pay  so 
dear  for  the  flower  of  fashion.” 
Iiavender  Farming-. — Why  not  earn  a  living  by  scent  farming  ? 
That  is  the  latest  hint  to  the  unemployed  woman  with  a  certain  amount 
of  capital.  At  Mitcham,  Wallington,  Sutton,  Banstead,  and  through 
the  neighbouring  districts  vast  quantities  of  scent-producing  crops  are 
grown.  A  contemporary  describes  a  recent  visit  to  one  of  these  scent 
farms,  occupying  an  area  of  over  600  acres,  covered  with  broad  breadths 
of  Lavender,  Peppermint,  Rosemary,  Camomile,  and  Pennyroyal.  In 
the  centre  of  one  field  of  Lavender,  comprising  some  70  acres,  the 
owner  has  erected  a  two-storied  chalet,  from  which  commanding  views 
are  obtained  of  all  the  neighbouring  fields.  It  was  delightful  in  such  a 
breezy  atmosphere  to  breathe  the  delicious  odours  given  off  under  the 
influence  of  a  July  sun,  the  power  of  which  puts  strength  and  merit 
into  the  oily  organs  of  the  purple  blue  spikes  which  wave  in  every 
direction.  As  there  must  always  be  a  world-wide  demand  for  these 
sweet  commodities,  it  would  seem  to  be  an  undertaking  eminently 
adapted  for  ladies.  Firstly,  the  right  kind  of  land,  must  be  acquired, 
a  deep  sandy  loam,  preferably  overlying  chalk.  A  plantation  of 
Lavender  stands  four  years,  and  it  costs  about  £40  per  acre  to  pre¬ 
pare  and  put  out  the  young  plants,  so  that  there  is  but  trifling  return 
the  first  year ;  after  this  they  commence  to  be  productive,  and  in 
favourable  times  the  crop  will  give  from  20  to  30  lbs.  weight  of  oil  per 
acre,  which  in  good  quality  is  worth  about  40s.  per  lb.  The  fine 
odour  and  strength  of  the  British  product  makes  it  worth  from  four 
to  six  times  that  of  continental  growth.  August  is  the  month  for 
cutting  and  distilling.  As  the  season  approaches  all  is  bustle  and 
activity.  Lavender  is  cut  with  a  sickle,  laid  with  regularity  in  mats, 
carried  to  the  great  vats,  and  after  a  boiling  process  of  about  two 
hours’  duration  the  rich  oil  comes  out  through  its  proper  channel,  and 
is  soon  prepared  for  the  wholesale  druggist  to  handle. 
Vines  as  To-wn  Plants. — We  have  many  times  referred  favourably 
to  the  Vine  as  a  town  plant,  and  the  following  short  narrative  affords 
evidence  of  it  flourishing  in  a  popular  district  of  London  About 
midway  in  the  Pentonville  Road,  on  the  left-hand  side  going  from 
King’s  Cross,  is  a  three-storey  house  which  lies  a  little  back  from  the 
road.  A  Vine  spreads  its  branches  all  over  the  house.  It  is  covered 
with  large  bunches  of  well-advanced  Grapes.  Mr.  Henry  Bevis  is  the 
happy  owner  of  this  flourishing  Vine  in  the  heart  of  London,  and 
very  proud  he  is  of  it.  “  People  in  Mecklenburg  Square  make  a  lot 
of  fuss  about  their  two-bunch  Vines,”  said  Mr.  Bevis.  “  They  should 
come  and  see  mine.  Why  I  counted  180  bunches  yesterday,  and  then 
had  not  counted  them  all.”  There  is  no  mistake  about  this  Penton¬ 
ville  Vine.  Last  year  there  were  20  lbs.  of  luscious  black  Grapes. 
This  year  there  will  be  more.  Never  has  the  Vine  borne  more  fruit, 
and  never  has  the  fruit  looked  better.  Mr.  Bevis  puts  this  down  to 
the  fact  that  he  has  taken  rather  more  trouble  with  it  than  usual ; 
and  in  spite  of  the  uncongenial  surroundings — a  cocoa  factory  on  one 
side  and  a  shoe  factory  on  the  other — the  Vine  has  flourished.  There 
is  an  interesting  history  attaching  to  this  Vine.  Thirty-five  years  ago, 
when  all  the  houses  in  Pentonville  Road  were  private  houses,  an  old 
root  was  cut  out  of  a  conservatory  which  stood  at  the  back  of  Mr. 
Bevis’s  house.  Mr.  Bevis  stuck  it  in  his  front  garden.  For  two  years 
it  did  not  show  a  leaf.  Then  it  blossomed  forth,  and  has  been  bearing 
fruit  regularly  for  over  tweuty  years.  To  keep  the  Grapes  on  it  is 
no  small  matter.  There  is  not  a  small  boy  in  Pentonville  Road  and 
the  neighbourhood  who  will  not  have  a  good  word  to  say  for  Mr. 
Bevis’s  Grapes.  In  addition  to  a  Vine,  Mr.  Bevis  has  two  Fig  trees 
which  bear  prolifioally  every  year,  but  unfortunately  the  fruits  never 
get  quite  ripe. 
