516 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
December  6,  1900. 
CARDEH.CI/EANINCS 
Pistachio  N'uts. —  Pistachio  vera,  the  species  which  yields  the 
eatable  Pistachio  Nuts  of  commerce,  is  deciduous,  growing  about  20  feet 
high,  and  a  native  of  Western  Asia.  It  is  largely  cultivated  throughout 
Southern  Europe.  Its  fruits  are  oval-shaped,  nearly  an  inch  long,  and 
contain  a  seed  with  bright  green  cotyledons.  According  to  a  Ceylon 
paper  the  nuts  are  largely  eaten  by  the  Turk  and  Greeks,  and  also  by 
the  people  of  Southern  Europe,  either  simply  dried  like  Almonds,  or 
made  into  articles  of  confectionery.  Baron  Von  Mueller,  in  his  list  of 
plants  for  industrial  culture,  refers  to  an  ingenious  method  of  inserting 
the  Pistachio  seeds  into  dry  Figs,  to  secure  their  power  of  germination 
during  transmission  to  remote  places. 
Covering  Wounds  in  Trees. — An  Antipodean  authority  says 
that  the  wounds  made  in  the  stems  of  trees  by  pruning  or  otherwise 
should  have  the  wood  preserved  to  keep  it  from  decay  till  the  new 
bark  and  wood  extends  over  it,  but  he  thinks  gum  shellac  dissolved  in 
alcohol  far  better  than  paint.  He  advises  to  put  the  shellac  into  a 
wide-mouth  bottle,  cover  it  with  alcohol,  and  let  it  stand  twenty-four 
hours,  when  it  may  be  applied  with  a  swab  or  a  brush.  It  serves,  as 
nearly  as  may  be,  as  the  substance  of  bark  ;  is  not  affected  by  heat,  or 
cold,  or  wet,  or  dry  weather  j  and  retains  the  sap  up  the  cut,  healing 
the  wounds  without  a  scar.  Limbs  should  be  cut  off  slantingly  ;  never 
square  on  top,  as  is  sometimes  done. 
iimerlcan  Torestry. — American  forestry  has  not  yet  gone  beyond 
the  preservation  of  our  old  forests,  for  general  reasons.  Tree  culture 
for  profit,  according  to  a  transatlantic  contemporary,  which  forestry 
signifies  in  the  Old  World,  is  here  not  thought  of,  nor  will  it  be  while 
we  have  forests  to  burn.  In  the  O'd  World  forestry  is  a  business. 
The  artificial,  hand-made  forests  of  France,  and  especially  Germany, 
supply  most  of  the  timber  used  in  those  countries.  England  depends 
on  outside  sources  almost  wholly  for  its  timber.  England  paid  about 
ten  millions  of  dollars  for  foreign  timber  last  year.  Her  bill  is  annually 
growing  larger.  But  it  is  slow  work  to  make  a  profit  on  timber 
planting.  Thirty-five  years  is  long  to  wait. 
Grasses  worth  Growing. — About  fifty  species  of  Grasses  are 
recognised  in  the  Brutish  Flora  as  indigenous  to  the  British  Isles.  Of 
these  only  about  a  dozen  possess  much  claim  to  recognition  as  of 
practical  value  for  farmers.  There  is  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the 
relative  values  of  several  of  these  Grasses,  but  there  is  no  dispute  as 
to  the  excellence  of  such  well-known  pasture  plants  as  perennial  Rye 
Grasses,  Cocksfoot,  Meadow  Foxtail,  Timothy,  smooth  and  rough-stalked 
Meadow  Grass,  and  two  or  three  of  the  Fescues.  For  all  these,  says 
the  “  Farmers’  Gazette,”  a  place  should  be  reserved  in  mixtures  of 
seeds  for  permanent  pastures,  while  several  of  them  should  also  figure 
prominently  in  seed  mixtures  for  “  rotation  Grasses.” 
Forcing  Hhubarb. — Rhubarb  does  not  force  so  readily  in 
December  as  after  the  new  year  commences,  but  it  is  quite  possible  to 
obtain  useful  forced  produce  by  placing  roots  of  suitable  early  varieties 
in  a  strong  moist  heat  during  December.  A  temperature  of  65°  to  70° 
surrounding  the  roots  during  this  month  will  produce  the  desired  sticks. 
They  are,  however,  better  in  appearance  and  quality  when  forced 
steadily  in  a  rather  lower  temperature.  Warm  corners  near  hot-water 
pipes  will  bring  on  the  stalks,  but  the  clumps  should  be  covered  in  a  dry 
atmosphere  and  surrounded  with  soil  that  ought  to  be  constantly  moist. 
Sprinkle  the  crowns  daily  to  assist  them  in  swelling  and  bursting.  Failing 
a  suitable  position  in  a  heated  structure  form  a  hotbed  of  leaves  and 
manure  in  a  frame  and  place  a  number  of  roots  on  this,  first  covering 
with  soil  and  introduce  some  between.  A  light  watering  may  be  given 
at  first,  but  afterwards  little  will  be  required,  as  the  moisture  from  the 
manure  condenses  and  provides  sufficient  to  maintain  the  proper  degree 
of  dampness,  but  should  the  soil  dry  then  apply  a  good  sprinkling  of 
tepid  water.  Later  supplies  of  clumps  not  needing  so  much  heat  and 
forcing  as  the  earliest  may  be  placed  in  any  warm  corner  under  glass, 
whether  in  light  or  darkness.  If  the  clumps  are  kept  damp  soil  is 
not  necessary  to  surround  them,  but  it  is  often  found  of  great  advantage. 
Under  the  stage  or  on  the  floor  of  a  greenhouse  are  suitable  positions. 
Roots  three  to  five  years  old  are  the  best  for  forcing.  Albert  and 
Linnaeus  are  good  varieties  for  early  supplies,  Victoria  for  later. — E. 
Flowers  on  Tombs.- — In  Turkey,  and  certain  parte  of  Asia  where 
Mohammedans  abound,  a  Mussulman’s  grave  is  never  opened  again  in 
any  case.  In  order  to  avoid  the  least  attempt  the  graves  are  huddled 
together,  and  immediately  after  the  funeral  a  Cypress  is  planted  on  the 
grave,  so  that  their  cemeteries  resemble  a  sort  of  foiest.  In  the  island 
of  Jimor  as  soon  as  the  grave  is  filled  up  a  young  Palm  is  planted. 
The  custom  of  floral  and  plant  offerings  in  homage  to  the  dead  has 
been  general  from  time  immemorial.  The  ancient  Greeks  not  only 
strewed  flowers  over  the  grave,  but  also  planted  Asphodel  and  Mallow, 
because  the  seeds  of  these  plants  were  supposed  to  serve  as  food  for 
the  dead.  Romans,  like  the  Greeks,  attributed  a  special  value  to  the 
Rose  as  a  funeral  flower,  and  left  instructions  that  after  death  their 
graves  be  planted  with  the  favourite  flower.  At  the  present  day  in 
Wales  white  Roses  are  placed  on  graves  of  young  girls.  Chinese  plant 
Roses,  Anemones,  and  a  species  of  Liquorice  on  their  graves.  The 
people  of  Madagascar  have  a  species  of  Mimosa  which  is  frequently 
found  planted  in  their  cemeteries. — (“  La  Semaine  Horticole.”) 
Planting'  Raspberries. — ^This  is  a  good  time  to  make  new  lines  or 
new  beds.  If  floe  fruit  and  an  abundance  of  it  is  desired,  there  is  no 
greater  mistake  than  allowing  old  stools  to  continue  in  ihe  same 
position  and  anchanged  for  years.  I  like  to  make  new  lines  every  four 
or  five  years,  using  fresh  bushy-rooted  plants,  and  as  my  soil  is  not  rich, 
and  I  have  to  plant  in  the  same  position — against  a  north  wall — I  use 
fresh  soil  with  a  little  manure  added.  I  had  been  growing  Baumforth’s 
Seedling,  a  fine  large  red  fruit,  but  liable  to  degenerate  if  not  attended 
to,  and  throw  out  too  many  suckers.  I  got  some  plants  a  few  years 
ago  of  a  new  variety  from  a  Limerick  gardening  friend,  which  I  learned 
he  had  from  Mr.  Rivers,  of  Sawbridgeworth  Nurseries,  named  Hornet 
This  is  comparatively  dwarf,  produces  large  trusses  of  splendid  fruit, 
admirably  suited  for  preserving ;  and  as  it  throws  up  much  fewer  suckers, 
or  unnecessary  shoots,  the  soil  around  is  not  so  soon  exhausted.  I 
am  now  giving  this  variety  preference,  and  can  recommend  it  to 
amateurs  like  myself  where  space  is  a  consideration. — W.  J.  Mtjrpht, 
Clonmel, 
.a.ttentlon  to  Asparagus.  — -  If  Asparagus  beds  have  not  been 
cleaned  and  set  in  order  for  the  winter,  the  work  ought  to  be  done  at 
once,  before  the  soil  becomes  too  wet  or  hardened  by  frost.  The 
usual  plan  of  winter  dressing  is  to  clear  the  beds  of  dead  stems  and 
weeds,  slightly  fork  up  the  surface,  and  apply  a  dressing  of  manure, 
or  some  thoroughly  decomposed  vegetable  compost.  If  the  soil  is  of 
a  close  character,  decayed  and  heavy  manure  is  not  suitable,  as  it  will 
be  more  likely  to  keep  the  roots  wet  and  cold.  Employ  material  of  a 
light  and  open  nature,  such  as  hotbed  refuse  mixed  with  half  quantity 
of  decomposed  leaf  soil  and  burnt  refuse.  For  light  soils  half-decayed 
cow  manure  may  be  employed  about  2  inches  thick,  while  the  burnt 
refuse  from  a  smother  is  also  good.  Sprinkle  soil  over  the  manure  on  the 
beds  and  trim  the  sides  straight  and  even  with  the  spade,  finally  forking 
up  the  alleys  between  the  bsds.  It  is  as  well  to  give  beds  that  ha  e 
been  heavily  manured  annually  a  rest  for  a  year  or  two,  provided  the 
ground  is  rich  in  humic  matter ;  but  if  manure  is  omitted  a  substitute 
shbuld  be  given,  and  this  may  consist  of  old  vegetable  soil  mixed  with 
wood  ashes  or  the  material  from  a  “  smother.”  Fine  gritty  matter  or 
anything  that  will  keep  the  soil  open  is  good  for  heavy  retentive  ground 
— B.  H. 
Convolvulus  Cneorum. — The  Silvery  Bindweed  is  a  dwarf  shrub 
from  Greece  with  lanceolate  leaves.  It  grows  about  18  inches  high,  and 
is  of  semi-procumbent  habit,  which  renders  it  very  effective  on  the  dry 
sunny  aspect  of  rookwork,  where  it  is  hardy  in  all  but  the  severest 
winters.  The  plant  is  evergreen,  and  bears  a  number  of  shining  white 
flowers,  which  have  the  glitter  of  pearl,  and,  like  it,  are  slightly  tinged 
with  red.  Being  of  free  growth,  it  soon  forms  a  spreading  low  bush. 
Cuttings  rooted  in  late  summer,  wintered  in  a  cold  frame,  and  planted 
out  in  spring,  form  a  bush  nearly  a  yard  across  by  September,  during 
which  it  commences  flowering  and  continues  until* frost.  In  order  to 
guard  against  mishap  from  frost  it  is  well  to  root  cuttings  in  August 
under  a  hand-light,  pot  them  when  rooted,  and  winter  in  a  cold  frame 
or  house.  It  may  be  mentioned  that  plants  raised  in  this  way,  grown 
in  a  cool  house,  and  shifted  into  larger  pots  as  required,  are  very  showy 
for  conservatory  decoration.  The  flowers  are  borne  like  tho-e  oi 
C.  mauritanicus  at  the  points  of  the  growth,  hence  stopping  must  not 
be  continued  longer  than  is  needed  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  compact 
plant.  Although  not  nearly  so  trailing  in  habit  as  0.  mauritanicus  it 
makes  a  desirable  basket  plant,  but  is  best  seen  as  a  rock  plant.  It 
does  well  in  loam  with  a  little  leaf  soil  or  decayed  manure,  and 
sand  to  keep  it  open.  Good  drainage  is  essential. — A.  G. 
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