JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  18,  1901. 
H2S 
CARDEN.  CLEANINGS  > 
European  Forests. — Every  nation  in  Europe  has  its  own  forests 
under  its  own  supervision.  Austria  has  over  two  and  a  half  million 
acres;  the  little  Duchy  of  Baden,  about  a  quarter  of  a  million;  Bavaria, 
two  millions.  Denmark  has  a  large  area,  France  has  over  two  at.d  a 
half  million  acres  ;  Sweden,  Norway,  and  Prussia  also  oome  in.  These 
governments  plant  and  care  for  forests,  and  make  money  at  it. 
Developing  Odour  In  Flowers.  —  An  enthusiastic  lover  of 
flowers  (in  Amerioa)  has  succeeded  in  breeding  an  odoriferous  race  of 
Tulips,  and  he  is  now  engaged  in  experiments  with  the  Chrysanthemunq 
to  which  he  expects  eventually  to  impart  the  fragrance  of  the  Rose. 
We  can  only  say,  in  reply  to  an  inquiry,  that  nothing  has  come  to  hand 
throwing  any  light  on  these  related  successes  and  experiments.  From 
a  theoretical  point  of  view  it  seems  impossible.  Odour  comes  from 
the  excretion  of  minute  particles  of  oil.  To  change  the  odour,  the 
character  of  the  oil  would  have  to  be  altered.  When  this  can  be  done 
by  the  cultivator,  we  may  expect  turpentine  from  the  sugar  cane,  and 
get  the  fragrance  of  the  Violet  from  Ailanthus  flowers. 
Pelargonium  Ardens. — This  is  perhaps  one  of  the  least  known 
of  the  Pelargoniums,  and  very  seldom  seen,  but  it  is  a  very  beautiful 
plant.  It  is  not  a  true  species,  but  a  hybrid  between  P.  fulgidum  and 
P.  lobatum.  The  plant  is  dwarf  with  hairy  irregularly  foimed  leaves 
that  spring  from  a  stem  of  moderate  size.  As  the  flowers  open  and  other 
spikes  show  this  stem  lengthens  out,  as  in  the  Cape  Pelargonium, 
P.  echinatum,  and  this  is  when  it  is  most  graceful  in  appearance. 
The  individual  flowers  are  very  bright  scarlet  with  a  deeper  blotch  on 
the  petals;  they  are  small,  hut  produced  several  together  on  umbels 
at  the  top  of  a  wiry  stem,  this  making  them  excellent  for  use  in  vases 
or  specimen  glasses.  The  roots  are  tuberous,  and  consequently  very 
little  water  is  needed  during  the  winter  or  resting  season,  but  it  is  not 
wise  to  leave  them  quite  dust  dry  for  any  length  of  time.  A  gentle 
warmth  is  desirable  in  early  spring,  and  the  plants  soon  commence  to 
flower,  continuing  to  do  so  over  a  long  season.  It  is  now  flowering 
well  in  the  gardens  at  Latimer  House,  Chesham,  Lord  Chesham’s 
beautiful  Buckinghamshire  seat. 
Jottings  on  Fines. — Plants  started  into  growth  early  in  the  year 
are  near  the  flowering  stage,  and  will  be  benefited  by  an  occasional 
sprinkling  at  the  time  the  house  is  closed,  but  when  the  flowers  open 
this  must  not  be  practised.  The  foliage  being  as  yet  tender,  it  will 
be  advisable  to  afford  a  slight  shading  for  an  hour  or  two  in  the 
hottest  part  of  the  day  for  a  few  weeks.  When  the  flowering  is 
over  the  fruit  will  advance  rapidly  if  the  roots  are  in  good  con. 
dition,  and  plentiful  supplies  of  liquid  manure  will  be  requisite. 
Attend  to  ventilating  early  in  the  morning,  commencing  when  the 
temperature  is  at  80°,  and  closing  at  85°  with  sun  heat.  Keep  the 
atmosphere  moist  when  the  house  is  closed,  the  bottom  heat  steady 
at  80°  to  90°,  the  night  temperature  70°,  and  75°  by  day  artificially. 
As  soon  as  the  suckers  appear  remove  all  except  one  to  each  plant. 
Young  plants  in  course  of  preparation  for  fruiting  often  become  soft, 
drawn  and  weakly  in  growth,  through  a  close  moist  atmosphere  and 
high  temperature.  This  should  be  carefully  avoided  by  dispensing  with 
fire  heat  as  much  as  possible.  Maintain  the  temperature  at  60°  to  65° 
at  night,  and  70°  to  75°  by  day  artificially ;  this  is  sufficient  to  keep  the 
plants  in  steady  progress.  Commence  ventilating  at  75°,  gradually 
increasing  it  with  the  temperature  to  85°,  keeping  it  through  the  day 
at  85°,  90°,  or  95°  from  sun  heat,  with  abundance  of  air,  closing  at  85°, 
but  not  so  as  to  greatly  raise  the  temperature.  Sprinkle  the  paths  and 
walls  at  closing  time,  and  syringe  the  plants  lightly  about  twice  a  week. 
Plants  swelling  their  fruit  are  assisted  by  judicious  applications  of 
liquid  manure,  to  be  withheld  when  ripening  commences.  Stake  the 
fruit  to  keep  it  in  an  erect  position.  When  the  suckers  of  fruiting 
plants  become  large  enough  screw  out  the  hearts  of  those  not  required 
for  stock ;  one,  or  two  at  most,  should  be  retained  on  a  plant.  The 
temperature  of  fruiting  houses  ought  to  range  from  70°  to  75°  at  night, 
and  80°  to  95°  by  day.  As  the  fruit  ripens  the  plants  may  be  removed 
to  a  cooler  house,  and  the  fruit  will  then  keep  sound  for  a  lengthened 
period,  longer,  indeed,  at  this  time  of  year  than  any  other. — Practice. 
Asparagus  plumosus. — Seeds  of  Asparagus  plumosus  nanus 
may  be  sown  at  any  time  of  the  year,  but  April  is  the  natural  time. 
Bottom  heat  is  of  great  advantage.  If  the  seeds  are  soaked  four  days 
and  given  good  bottom  heat,  say  70°,  they  will  sprout  in  about  twenty- 
five  days,  and  the  seedlings  can  be  transplanted  twenty-five  days  later. 
Paris  Green. — For  general  purposes  1  lb.  of  the  poison  to  100  lbs. 
of  the  diluting  material  is  used.  If  a  small  quantity  is  needed,  mix  it 
at  the  rate  of  1  oz.  of  Paris  green  to  6  lbs.  of  plaster,  lime,  or  flour.  It 
should  then  be  thoroughly  stirred,  and  shook  over  the  plant  early  in  the 
morning  when  the  dew  is  on.  This  can  be  accomplished  by  placing  the 
material  in  an  old  bag,  or  an  old  vessel,  which  has  previously  been 
perforated.  The  dry  method  is  usually  more  satisfactory  than  the  wet 
method,  especially  where  the  plants  are  small,  but  when  the  plants 
begin  to  form  continuous  rows  the  wet  method  is  preferable,  being  less 
expensive  and  more  easily  applied.  In  preparing  the  Paris  green  for 
use,  it  is  desirable  to  use  about  1  lb.  of  the  poison  in  about  140  to  160 
gallons  of  water.  It  is  desirable,  in  most  instances,  where  tbe  poison 
is  mixed  in  water,  to  add  a  small  quantity  of  good  stone  lime,  which 
his  been  previously  slaked,  usually  an  amount  equal  to  the  weight  of 
the  Paris  green  used.  This  will  help  to  hold  the  Paris  green  in 
suspension.  The  solution  should  be  thoroughly  stirred  while  being 
sprayed.  It  is  at  times  advisable  to  use  the  Paris  green  in  Bordeaux 
mixture  ;  in  this  instance,  4  ozs.  of  the  Paris  green  are  used  in  each 
barrel  containing  40  or  50  gallons  of  Bordeaux,  and  is  sprayed  over 
the  plants. 
Xerria  japonlca. — The  double-flowered  form  of  the  above  plant 
is  one  of  the  oldest  garden  shrubs,  and  one  oommot.ly  met  with  in 
cottage  gardens  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  The  typical  plant, 
however,  is  little  known  and  rarely  seeD,  though  it  is  a  lovely  thing 
when  in  flower.  The  double  variety  was  introduced  about  200  years 
ago,  but  not  until  long  afterwards  was  anything  known  of  the  type. 
About  ten  years  ago  it  was  represented  at  Kew  by  one  or  two  plants, 
which  are  said  to  have  been  obtained  from  cuttings  of  a  variety  with 
variegated  foliage,  one  branch  of  which  had  reverted  to  the  type. 
Now  at  Kew  several  beds  are  to  be  seen,  and  a  dozen  or  more  plants 
have  been  forced  for  the  Temperate  House.  It  does  not  grow  so  strong 
as  the  double  form,  and  makes  a  denser  bush.  Three  to  four  feet 
appears  to  be  its  maximum  height,  with  a  similar  diameter.  If  the 
plants  are  kept  well  thinned  after  flowering  the  branches  assume  a 
graceful  pose,  and  when  oovered  with  newly  developed  foliage,  and 
thickly  studded  with  golden  blossoms  an  inch  across,  they  look 
oharming.  For  decorative  purposes  it  is  distinctly  superior  to  either 
its  double-flowered  or  variegated-leaved  varieties.  Its  cultivation  is  of 
the  simplest ;  rooting  readily  from  cuttings  of  young  wood,  and  growing 
well  in  any  ordinary  garden  soil.  For  forcing  it  is  a  useful  plant.  It 
can  be  grown  and  flowered  three  successive  years  in  the  same  pots, 
forces  easily,  and  remains  in  good  condition  for  at  least  a  month.— W.  D. 
“  Tlie  Pleasures  of  lilfe.” — Gardening  was  certainly  the  original 
primitive  condition  of  man.  If  we  believe  the  Scriptures,  we  must 
allow  that  God  esteemed  the  life  of  man  in  a  garden  the  happiest  he 
could  give  him,  or  he  would  not  have  plaoed  Adam  in  the  garden  of 
Eden.  And  to  the  present  day,  when  a  man  tires  of  the  worries  and 
cares  of  a  business  life,  and  desires  rest  for  soul  and  body,  he  naturally 
retires  to  a  garden  and  finds  pleasure  there  whioh  he  may  seek  in 
vain  elsewhere.  And  if  any  fail  to  find  profit  as  well  as  pleasure  in 
tilling  the  soil  it  is  certainly  because  he  fails  to  “  keep  up  with  the 
procession,”  or  to  advance  with  the  advancement  of  the  present  day 
or  age.  Never  before  in  the  history  of  the  world  were  there  so  many 
to  eat  in  proportion  to  those  who  gather  food  from  the  earth  as  to-day  j 
and  never  did  the  earth  yield  so  much  in  proportion  to  the  work 
spent  upon  it.  Never  before  did  it  cost  so  little  labour  to  earn  food, 
and  never  did  the  great  mass  of  the  eating  population  want  so  much 
food.  Never  before  were  these  eaters  bo  particular  as  to  what  they 
eat,  or  so  ready  to  pay  a  long  price  for  the  best  to  be  had.  So  it 
seems  idle  to  say  that  it  does  not  pay  to  produce  fruits,  vegetables, 
and  flowers.  Perhaps  it  does  not  pay  you,  but  it  pays  somebody,  and 
if  not  you,  did  it  ever  occur  to  you  that  there  must  be  something 
the  matter  with  you  ?  We  are  tired  of  the  people  who  wail  about 
the  unprofitable  farms  and  gardens.  Let  them  go  off  to  the  cities  and 
stay  there.  They  are  not  worthy  to  live  in  God’s  country,  and  deserve 
to  be  turned  out  with  a  curse.  We  know  that  seed  time  and  harvest 
shall  never  fail.  Gardening  is  growing  safer  and  surer.  It  is 
beooming  more  scientific,  more  exact,  more  like  a  manufacture,  and 
therefore  more  profitable. — (“  Massachusetts  Plowman.”) 
