132 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
August  7,  1902. 
—fall  under  that  category.  Still,  there  seems  little  assurance 
that  later.  we  may  not  hear  that  these,  like  their  low-lying  kin, 
may  be  yoked  with  the  same  curse.  ’Twould  be  well  to  beware, 
for  this  opinion  may  yet  undergo  some  modification. 
Sewer  water  most  assuredly  does  contain  pathogenous 
microbes,  and  what  is  equally  as  sure,  they  do  not  become 
devoured  bv  their  saprogenous  comrades.  And  the  rootlets  of 
vegetables  and  plants,  ignoring  their  elective  functions,  absorb 
all  with  the'same  indifference.  Not  many  months  ago  a  German 
bacteriologist  was  curious  to  know  what  was  the  ultimate  fate  of 
the  tuberculosis  bacilli  when  they  finally  found  their  way  into 
the  sewers.  One  might  be  pardoned  for  hoping  that  they  became 
drowned  or  asphyxiated.  But  no  such  luck;  far  from  it;  they 
thrived  better  there  than  in  the  open  air  or  in  river  water. 
It  is  upon  the  virulence  of  a  microbe  that  its  vitality  depends. 
For,  whereas  in  river  water  the  virulence  of  the  tuberculosis 
bacilli  is  practically  nil  at  the  end  of  ten  months,  in  sewer 
water  it  has  been  found  as  active  at  the  end  of  ten  months  as 
it  was.  the  first  day.  This  same  bacteriologist,  having  met  with 
success  in  that,  quarter,  was  encouraged  to  ascertain  what  fate 
awaited  Koch’s  bacillus  when  introduced  into  cultivated  ground. 
Did  its  virulence  become  modified?  Was  it  destroyed?  Not  a 
bit.  He  sowed  Radish  seeds  in  a  flower  pot  and  watered  them 
with  sewerage  containing  tuberculosis  sputum  which  he  had 
previously  preserved  for  forty  days.  Three  months  later  he  found 
in  this  cultivated  soil  the  tuberculosis  bacilli  in  all  their 
virulence. 
Recently  two  distinguished  French  bacteriologists,  Messrs. 
Bourges  and  Wurtz,  have  pushed  these  experiments  still  further. 
They  resolved  to  see  if  it  were  not  possible  to  find  the  Koch 
bacillus  in  the  Radishes,  Ac.,  sown  in  tuberculised  soil.  To  this 
end  three  flower  pots  were  filled  with  soil  and  sown  respectively 
with  Radish,  Lettuce,  and  Cress  seeds.  They  were  didy 
sprinkled  from  time  to  time  with  water  containing  the  Koch 
bacilli.  At  the  end  of  a  certain  period  portions  of  leaves  were 
broken  off  and  inoculated  into  the  peritoneum  of  several  guinea 
pigs.  In  eighteen  out  of  thirty  cases  the  results  were  positive — 
that  is  to  say,  that  the  tuberculosis  bacilli  had  passed  from  the 
soil  in  which  the  seeds  had  been  sown  into  the  leaves  of  Cress, 
Radishes,  and  Lettuce.  Messrs.  Bourges  and  Wurtz  have  made 
a  similar  experiment  with  the  bacillus  of  typhoid  fever.  This 
time,  not  eighteen  out  of. thirty,  but  in  every  case  the  bacillus 
was  found  with  the  greatest  facility  in  the  leaves  of  the  vegetables 
experimented  upon. 
Not  only  do  vegetables  absorb  microbes,  but  their  process  of 
progressive  development  assists  in  drawing  the  microbic  germs 
from  a  considerable  depth  to  the  surface  of  the  soil. 
Pasteur  had  already  demonstrated  that  i-n  the  field  of  Beauoe 
(Indre-et -Loire)  it  was  the  worms  which  played  the  role  of 
exhumer  of  microbes,  and,  bringing  to  the  surface  the  anthrax 
spores  interred  with  the  sheep  which  had  died  of  the  disease, 
maintained  in  that,  region  an  epidemic  of  anthrax.  According 
to  Drs.  Bourges  and  Wurtz,  plants  and  vegetables  can  play 
exactly  the  same  role,  and  bring  to  the  light,  along  their  stems 
and  leaves,  the  microbes  buried  in  the  depth  of  the  soil. 
It  is  thus  easy  to  account  for  the  periodic  epidemics  of  cholera 
or  choleriform  diarrhoea,  which  up  to  the  present  have,  by  their 
sudden  and  unaccountable  appearance,  so  perplexed  epidemio¬ 
logists.  Whilst  this  authenticated  and  interesting  experience 
will  be  welcome  to  the  epidemiologists,  it  will  be  a  sorry  blow 
to  lovers  of  Radishes,  salads,  Ac. — (“Pharmaceutical  Journal.”) 
My  Four  Days’  Holiday. 
Leaving  Swansea  by  early  train  on  a  Tuesday,  and  passing 
through  many  towns,  and  the  country  now  in  its  beauty,  I  arrived 
at  my  journey’s  end.  When  I  alighted  at  Fareham,  distance  from 
Southsea  nine  miles, Isoon  found  good  accommodation, and  much 
enjoyed  the  refreshments  after  my  long  journey.  The  popula¬ 
tion  of  Fareham  is  about  8,000,  and  the  main  street  one  mile 
long,  planted  with  Poplar  canadensis. 
After  a  rest,  I  took  a  stroll  round  the  town,  which  brought 
me  to  a  river  running  to  Portsmouth  Harbour.  Portsmouth’s 
shipping  trade  is  mostly  in  timber,  coal,  and  flower  pots.  The 
shipments  from  here  are  mostly  pots  for  the  Jersey  grower?, 
and  no  better  pots  in  England  are  made  than  those  by  the 
Fareham  Potteries,  the  clay  being  the  finest  in  England."  My 
walk  brought  me  to  these  potteries,  where  I  soon  was  intro¬ 
duced  to  Mr.  J.  Sandy,  J.P.,  the  proprietor.  Years  gone  by 
Mr.  Sandy  sat  at  the  bench  making  pots  himself.;  now  lie  is 
chairman  of  the  Urban  District  Council,  and  of  the  School 
Board  and  other  societies  connected  in  the  town,  and  employs 
more  labour  than  any  other  firm  in  this  place.  I  may  say  from 
what  I  gleaned  that  Mr.  Sandy  is  very  popular.  Should  any  of 
my  brother  gardeners  visit  Fareham,  it  is  very  interesting  to  see 
how  pots  are  made  from  size  one  up  to  ninety.  I  thanked 
Mr.  Sandy  for  the  kind  way  he  received  me,  and,  wishing  him 
adieu,  I  adjourned  to  my  lodgings  for  the  night. 
On  the  second  day  I  was  out  early  and  made  my  way  to  the 
Swanwick  Strawberry  grounds,  a  distance  of  six  miles,  where 
was  seen  at  the  station  no  less  than  one  hundred  fruit  vans  and 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  baskets  for  Strawberries.  No  less  than 
eighty  tons  in  one  day  have  been  sent  away  from  Swanwick 
alone.  Strawberries  were  late.  I  bought  one  gallon  on  my 
visit,  and  paid  7s.,  and  I  am  told  the  first  picking'  fetched  12s. 
per  gallon.  Most  sorts  are  grown,  .but  Nobles  and  Sir  J. 
Paxton  more  so;  and  some  are  introducing  Sir  Chas:  Napier  for 
late  supply.  It  was  a  sight  to  gee  them.  TheW:  were , all-  just 
getting  into  picking  order,  and  with  the  favourable  weather 
record  crops  have  been  realised. 
Bush  fruits  and  Plums  are  extensively  grown,  and  there  is 
a  good  set.  :  ^  , 
After  a  good  rest  on  Sarisbury  Green,  I  wended  my  way  into 
the  main  Southampton  Road,  planted  for  one  mile  straight  on 
each  side  with  Firs.  On  my  right  I  came  to  the  gardener’s 
lodge  at  Coldeast  House,  the  residence  of  C.G.Montefiore,  Esq., 
on  entering  which  I  found  Mr.  Chapman,  the  steward  and 
gardener,  at  his  office.  My  walk  of  about  one  mile  down  the 
carriage  drive  brought  to  view  fine  specimen  Rhododendrons 
in  named  sorts,  all  at  home  in  a  peaty  soil.  I  noticed  fine  speci¬ 
men  Abies  Dougla-si,  A.  Yeitchi,  .A.  amabilis  glauca,  and 
Retinospora  obtusa  gracilis  aurea.  I  also  saw  the  model  stables, 
the  clock  pointing  to  4  p.m.,  thence  to  the  entrance  of  the 
gardens,  which  brought  me  to  Mr.  Chapman’s  office  as  stated,  and 
we  were  soon  “  at  home.”  Mr.  Chapman  was  pleased  to  show 
me  round  for  about  three  hours.  We  came  to  the  frame  depart¬ 
ment,  where  Melons  Windsor  Castle  and  Blenheim  Orange  are 
well  set.  Other  frames  had  just  been  emptied  of  early  Potatoes. 
There  is  also  a  late  lean-to  Peach  house,  all  the  trees  well  set. 
In  the  stove  I  found  Caladiums  done  well ;  also  Dracaenas  and 
Crotons  of  good  colour,  with  fine  Clerodendrons,  Palms  of  all 
sizes,  and  a  fine  batch  of  Ccelogynes,  also-  a  good-  collection  of 
choice  Ferns. 
We  passed  on  to  the  walled  kitchen  gardens,  the  north  wall 
covered  with  Morello  Cherries,  fine  crop.  On  entering  the  door¬ 
way  an  arch  about  100ft  long  presented  itself,  and  this  is  covered 
with  Wistaria  sinensis  and  Roses  of  sorts.  On  the  left  is  the 
long  early  Peach  and  Nectarine  house  with  Early  Grosse  Mig- 
nonne  and  Royal  George  Peaches,  Pineapple  and  Victoria 
Nectarines.  These  trees  were  planted  thirty  years  ago  by  Mr. 
Chapman,  and  they  carry  a  fine  set.  In  the  central  borders 
were  Sutton’s  Seedling  Marrowfat  Pea,  six  peas  in  a  pod,  and 
all  good.  The  early  Black  Hamburgh  vinery  was  carrying  fine 
bunches  and  finishing  them  well.  Muscats  were  good,  Mrs. 
Pince  likewise,  and  no  cracking.  I  never  saw  such  foliage  on 
Vines.  Black  Hamburgh  and  Alicante  had  also  a  good  set. 
We  now  come  to  the  pleasure  lawn.  Roses  are  grown  by  the 
thousand  for  cutting.  I  noticed  a  fine  bed  of  150  plants  of  Papa 
Gontier  (grand).  Souvenir  de  Catherine  Guillot,  Vistss.  Folke¬ 
stone,  Grace  Darling,  and  Enchantress.  There  were  five  mounds 
of  hybrid  Rhododendrons  and  specimen  Cedars.  The  mansion 
is  built  in  the  Italian  style,  and  the  front  planted  some  thirty 
years  ago  with  Ampelopsis  Veitchi  is  howT  completely  covering 
the  front  and  looks  grand. 
From  the  terrace  one  can  see  Osborne  House  and  the  Solent, 
the  evening  sun  shining  on  the  briny  waters.  Looking  to  the 
right  you  see  Netley  Hospital,  one  of  the  finest  buildings  in 
England,  where  our  invalids  are  landed  on  coming  home  from 
foreign  service.  Walking  still  further  brought  us  to  the  farms 
of  500  acres.  The  late  Mrs.  Montefiore  took  great  interest  in 
her  gardens  and  was  good  to  the  parish.  It  was  now  nearly  time 
to  catch  my  train,  so  after  refreshments  with  Mr.  Chapman  I 
thanked  him  for  his  kindness  and  hospitality,  and  thus  ended 
my  second  day’s  outing. 
On  the  third  day’s  holiday  I  took  train  to  Portsmouth  town 
and  viewed  H.M.  dockyard,  a  sight  worth  seeing.  Thousands 
of  hands  are  here  employed.  From  thence  I  took  the  electric 
car  which  brought  me  to  Clarence  Pier,  and  heard  a  splendid 
concert,  then  walked  about  two  miles  on  the  Esplanade,  which 
gave  a  fine  sight  of  the  ships.  I  made  my  way  through 
Palmerston  Road  (a  fashionable  part  of  Southsea)  to  the  new 
Town  Hall,  and  closed  up  with  going  to  the  new  Theatre  Royal. 
On  the  last  day  of  my  four  days  I  was  up  with  the  lark,  and 
found  cut  the  nurseries  of  Messrs.  W.  G.  Drover,  whom  . I  found 
very  busy  finishing  the  potting  up  of  their  specimen  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  for  large  bloom.  I  should  think  about  800  plants  are 
here,  ranging  from  1ft  to  3ft  high.  Mr.  W.  Drover,  the  senior 
partner,  showed  me  round.  Their  specialities  are  Roses,  Garde¬ 
nias,  Adiantums,  Ferns  and  Camellias.  Having  seen  all,  I  left 
and  took  excursion  to  Southsea,  and  went  through  the  Fleet, 
a  sight  I  never  shall  forget.  I  returned  home  by  the  excursion 
train,  arriving  at  Swansea  in  the  early  morning.  I  would  advise 
any  gardener,  who  has  the  privilege  of  a  holiday,  to  go  down 
south.  All  Hampshire  people  are  very  homely.  Thus  closes 
the  record  of  my  four  days’  holiday.— Swansea. 
