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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  28,  1901. 
CARDEN, CLEANINGS  > 
mm 3 
The  Battle  on  the  Embankment. — The  thinning  of  the  Plane 
trees  on  the  Thames  Embankment,  though  no  doubt  a  necessary  operation, 
is  a  painful  sight  just  now  to  the  habitue  of  that  magnificent  thorough¬ 
fare.  One  morning  the  trees  stand  in  all  their  strength,  waving  their 
tassels  to  the  seagulls  circling  above  them;  the  next  morning  their 
picturesque  branches  lie  in  neat  bundles  on  the  ground,  and  the  doomed 
tree  itself  has  become  a  mere  s  ake,  on  which  patches  of  clean  pale 
yellow  wood  show  where  the  cruel  saw  has  been  at  work.  A  rope  is 
round  its  neck,  and  its  destroyers  are  hacking  at  the  strong  pink  roots  ; 
and  on  the  third  morning,  as  you  pass,  not  a  sign  betrays  that  under 
the  iron  grating,  neatly  let  into  the  ground,  a  few  d  tys  ago  one  of  the 
limited  number  of  trees  which  make  themselves  thoroughly  happy  in 
London  was  standing  in  full  strength.  It  is  a  subject  for  a  philosopher, 
says  the  “Westminster  Gazette,’'  to  ponder  over. 
Tbe  Uses  of  Spanish  Moss  In  the  Southern  States  of 
America. — Thousands  of  pounds  of  Spanish  moss  a>  e  sent  yearly  into 
Florida  for  the  stuffing  of  pillows.  Besides  this,  there  are  various 
other  uses  for  this  lowly  little  plant.  One  of  these  that  has  been 
recently  discovered  is  that  of  a  strainer  and  purifier  of  cane  syrup. 
It  has  been  found  that  a  fiuer  syrup  can  be  made  by  straining  the  cane 
juice  through  moss  than  through  any  other  material,  and  its  use  in 
sugar  mills  for  this  purpose  is  becoming  general.  Another  new  use  of 
the  moss  is  the  blanching  of  Celery.  The  plant  is  wrapped  from  the 
ground  toward  the  tops  of  the  leaves,  these  being  allowed  to  project 
beyond  the  wrapper.  Successive  wrappings  are  put  round  as  the  plants 
continue  to  grow.  The  moss  is  said  to  be  clean  and  cool,  and  does  not 
cut  off  ventilation,  but  we  fail  to  see  where  the  system  improves  upon 
earth. blanching. 
A  Cherry  Tree  reeding  on  Itself. — An  interesting  report  of 
an  old  hollow  tree  is  given  in  “  Torreya,”  by  Dr.  P.  A.  Rydberg,  as 
follows  :  On  Faitoute  Avenue  in  New  Orange,  N.J.,  used  to  stand  an 
old  Cherry  tree  7  or  8  feet  in  circumference.  About  7  feet  from  the 
ground  it  divided  into  two  trunks.  Just  at  the  j  auction  of  the  two 
there  was  a  big  hole  indicating  that  the  tree  was  decayed  and  hollow. 
Nothing  of  peculiar  interest  about  this  type  was  revealed,  however, 
until  the  severe  storm  came  in  the  spring  of  1899,  when  one  of  the  two 
trunks  was  torn  down.  The  hollow  trunk  contained  several  bushels  of 
Cherry  pits  and  mulch,  produced  by  decayed  Cueiries  and  leaves.  An 
adventitious  root  had  sprung  from  the  margin  of  the  hole,  ramified  in 
this  mass  of  decayed  matter,  and  grown  to  the  size  of  the  thickness  of 
one’s  wrist.  Not  satisfied,  however,  to  feed  only  on  old  Cherries  and 
leaves,  it  had  sent  numerous  branches  into  the  decayed  portion  of  the 
trunk,  and  the  tree  was  actually  feeding  on  itself,  like  tbe  old  wolf 
which,  according  to  the  fable,  was  eating  its  own  frozen  legs.  The 
lines  of  Tennyson  as  to  rising 
.  .  .  On  stepping  stones 
Of  their  dead  selves  to  higher  things 
are  not  inaptly  applied  to  fit  the  case. 
Tree  Ivy. — All  good  cultivators  know  that  a  branch  that  has 
changed  somewhat  from  the  normal  form  retains  its  character  when 
out  off  and  made  to  produce  roots  of  its  own.  Many  new  Roses, 
says  “  Meehans’  Monthly,  have  been  raised  in  this  way  by  propa¬ 
gating  from  a  sportive  branch,  and,  indeed,  fruit  growers  know  that 
a  bearing  branch,  grafted  on  a  young  tree,  continues  to  be  fruitful, 
though  the  branches  of  the  original  may  retain  its  useful  luxuriance. 
In  nurserieB  it  often  happens  that  the  fruiting  or  flowering  branches 
of  plants  have  a  marked  difference  in  their  foliage  and  habit  from 
younger  forms.  Many  varieties  of  Euonymus,  especially  of  the 
Japanese  Burning  Bush  species,  propagated  in  this  way,  are  distinct 
enough  to  be  regarded  as  separate  species.  The  Euglish  Ivy  is 
another  illustration.  The  leaves  of  the  flowering  condition  are  entire, 
and  in  many  ways  different  from  those  in  the  climbing  state,  and 
they  show  no  disposition  to  send  out  rootlets  and  climb,  a3  the 
younger  branches  do.  When  these  fl-wering  brauches  are  cut  off, 
and  made  to  throw  out  roots  of  their  own,  they  carry  this  shrubby 
or  “  tree  ”  character  with  them.  In  this  condition  they  make  pretty 
room  or  conservatory  ornaments  and  deserve  to  be  more  popular. 
Two  Desirable  Plants  for  Florists. — The  Egyptian  Papyrus 
and  Monstera  delioiosa  are  both  very  ornamental  and  useful  plants  for 
florists'  decorations  during  summer.  Though  they  are  both  plants 
from  warm  countries  they  yet  can  be  hardened  sufficiently  to  be 
applicable  in  dwelling  rooms,  as,  for  instance,  to  conceal  the  fireplace 
when  the  fire  is  not  lit.  Both  are  very  distinctive,  and  are  quite  after 
the  style  of  structure  that  is  desired  for  such  decorative  uses. 
Fruit  Market  In  Cold  Siberia. — Siberians,  as  a  rule,  are  not 
great  consumers  of  Lemons,  nor  do  they  use  them  in  tea  as  much  as 
may  be  the  custom  in  Central  Russia,  cream  having  come  into  general 
use  by  the  importation  of  condensed  milk  from  the  United  States, 
France,  and  Switzerland.  Most  of  the  Lemons,  Raisins,  Figs,  honey, 
Olives,  Olive  oil,  Oranges,  and  nuts  imported  into  Siberia  come  from 
Europe  via  Odessa.  All  of  these  are  brought  by  steamer,  usually 
carefully  packed,  and  at  a  cheaper  rate  than  could  be  given  by 
Pacific  Coast  merchants.  Californian  products  have  already  been 
introduced,  especially  the  canned  fruits,  which  are  in  great  favour. 
Some  Lemons  and  Raisins  come  from  the  Uuited  Stages,  Figs  and 
Olives  from  Italy  and  France,  and  a  little  honey  from  Russia,  while 
Oranges  and  nuts  o  me  from  China  and  Japan.  No  fruit  from  China, 
Japan,  or  Manchuria  compares  with  that  cultivated  in  Europe  and 
America,  and  if  it  were  possible  to  supply  leading  fruits  to  the  Siberian 
market,  such  enterprise  would  be  likely  to  prove  a  commercial  success. 
This,  however,  would  largely  depend,  says  the  “  Rural  World,”  on  low 
rates  of  freight,  quick  trausit,  and  careful  packing. 
Jotting  on  Pines. — Suckers  should  now  be  started  to  afford  a 
supply  of  ripe  fruit  from  about  December  onwards.  The  pots  most 
suitable  are  5  to  7  inches,  according  to  the  size  of  the  suckers.  Drain 
efficiently,  use  fibrous  loam  torn  up  moderately  small,  pressing  the  soil 
firmly  about  the  base  of  the  suckers,  and  plunge  in  a  bottom  heat  of  90’ 
to  95°  at  the  base  of  the  pots.  Roots  are  usually  emitted  in  from  ten 
days  to  a  fortnight,  and  until  then  water  is  not  necessary.  If  very 
bright  weather  prevail  slight  shading  is  desirable  for  an  hour  or  two 
at  mid-day,  and  a  light  syringing  through  a  fine  rose  will  be  necessary 
about  twice  a  week.  The  temperature  should  be  kept  at  55°  to  65° 
by  artificial  means,  with  5°  to  10°  or  15°  rise  from  sun  heat.  Any  young 
plants  in  an  unsatisfactory  state  should  be  shook  out  and  repotted 
after  disrooting,  treating  them  as  advised  for  the  suckers.  Any  stools 
with  small  suckers  should  have  the  latter  left  on  until  May  or  June,  and 
then  be  potted.  Old  plants  fiom  which  the  fruit  and  leaves  have  been 
cut  should  be  placed  clos9  together  in  any  pit  having  a  moderate  top 
and  bottom  heat,  where  light  and  air  can  be  secured  so  as  to  have 
sturdy  suckers.  Fruiting  plants  with  tbe  fruit  progressing  will  require 
water  more  freely  and  frequently  at  the  roots,  examining  them 
about  once  a  week  for  affording  a  supply  when  needed.  Recently 
started  fruiting  plants  must  be  kept  at  65°  by  night  and  70°  by  day, 
keeping  the  atmosphere  for  these  plants  and  fruiters  generally  moist 
by  damping  the  paths,  watering  as  required  with  tepid  liquid  manure. — 
Practice. 
Tbe  Fatal  Bloom  on  tbe  Fruit. — Schnirer  reports  the  results 
of  an  examination  showing  the  danger  of  eating  fruit  without  first 
washing  it.  While  at  work  one  day  in  Weichselbaum’s  laboratory  he 
sent  for  some  Grapes  to  eat.  The  fruit  had  been  kept  for  some  time  in 
a  basket  outside  the  laboratory,  and  was  covered  with  dust,  so  that  the 
water  in  which  it  was  washed  was  blaok.  On  examining  this,  Schnirer 
reflected  that,  inasmuch  as  the  neighbouring  street  was  traversed  by 
consumptive  patients  going  to  the  clinic,  the  dust  might  oontain  tubercle 
bacilli,  and  to  settle  this,  he  injected  into  three  guinea-pigs  10  o.c.  of 
the  water  in  which  the  Grapes  had  been  washed.  One  animal  died 
in  two  days,  the  two  others  died  on  the  forty-eighth  and  fifty-eighth 
days  respectively,  the  latter  presenting  marked  tuberculous  lesions, 
especially  at  the  place  of  injection.  The  water  in  which  the  Grapes 
had  been  washed  was  taken  from  the  faucet,  and  the  glass  containing  it 
had  been  sterilised  ;  neither  the  boy  who  had  brought  the  Grapes,  nor 
the  merchant  who  had  sold  them,  was  consumptive.  The  cause  of 
infection  was  beyond  doubt  the  dust  on  the  Grapes.  This  danger  was 
recognised  long  ago  by  Pasteur.  One  day  at  a  large  family  dinner  he 
called  attention  of  those  present  to  the  danger  of  imbibing  germs  while 
eating  fruit,  and  to  impress  the  necessity  of  caution  upon  his  hearers 
washed  his  bunch  of  Grapes  in  a  glass  of  water.  Afrer  he  had  finished 
the  Grapes  and  had  forgotten  his  little  speech,  being  thirsty,  he  drank 
from  the  glass  in  which  the  Grapes  had  been  washed,  thereby  arousing 
much  merriment  among  tne  irreverent  youngsters  present. — (“  Medioal 
Record.’*) 
