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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
()ctol)er  8,  1903 
other  lightning  plants,  its  potency  varied.  When  brought  into 
houses.  Mistletoe  was  believed  to  give  protection  against  tiro; 
also  it  kept  off  nightniare  or  evil  dreams  if  placed  at  the  bed¬ 
side. 
According  to  tradition,  the  plant  was  propagated  by  birds 
that  were  the  nu\s,sengers  of  the  gods,  and  they  carried  the 
seeds  in  their  bills  to  deposit  them  upon  branches  of  trees  that 
were  suitable  for  their  growth.  Special  repute  attached  to  the 
missel  thrush ;  also,  it  seems,  to  the  woodpecker.  It  was 
thought  dangerous  to  out  the  plant  off  Oak  or  Hazel.  From  its 
being  a  plant  of  the  gods.  Mistletoe  was  reputed  to  cure  fits  and 
other  diseases  ;  also  it  stopped  the  effect  of  poisons. 
Then  the  so-callod  Springwort  was  a  lightning  plant  full  of 
jiiystic  powers;  but  it  was  not  easy  to  find,  and  now  its  identifi¬ 
cation  is  doubtful.  Only  wo  know  that  it  was  a  low  growing 
plant.  For  some  reason  or  other  Orimm  thought  this  was  a 
species  of  Spurge,  the  Caper,  or  Euphorbia  lathyris;  it  has  a 
crimson  stem.  Actually,  it  is  a  very  poisonous  plant,  and  great 
liarm  has  been  done  by  its  rash  administration  internally.  One 
idea  about  it  was  that  if  a  portion  of  the  plant  was  buried  in  a 
hole  upon  a  hill,  a  storm  coming  over  that  hill  would  be  divided 
and  soon  dispersed.  The  Westphalian  folk  gather  our  Orpine, 
or  Live-long,  a,s  a  preservative  against  the  stroke  of  lightning. 
In  some-  countries  the  St.  John’s  Wort  i.s  believed  to  bo  effec¬ 
tive;  but  they  must  be  plucked  before  sunrise.  Stonecrop  and 
Houseleek  were  grown  upon  roofs  on  the  supposition  they  gave 
protection  to  the  abode.-^^.  R.  S.  (’. 
Colours  in  Foliage  and  Flowers, 
All  who  are  accustomed  to  observe  vegetation  must  have  been 
struck  with  the  great  variety  of  shades  of  green  which  the  foliage 
of  different  plants  pre.sents.  It  may  also  be  noticed  that  the 
same  description  of  plant  will  exhibit  very  characteristic  dif¬ 
ferences,  not  only  at  different  stages  of  growth,  but  at  the  same 
stage,  in  different  conditions  of  luxuriance,  as  affected  by  the 
external  conditions  of  soil,  season,  and  manuring;  but  especially 
under  the  inffuence  of  different  conditions  of  manuring. 
From  some  researches  made  at  the  Rothamsted  Experimental 
Station  on  this  subject,  it  was  found  that  the  green  chlorophyll 
formation  in  plants  has  a  close  connection  with  the  amount  of 
nitrogen  assimilated,  but  that  the  carbon  assimilated  is  not  in 
proportion  to  the  chlorophyll  formed.  Further,  it  has  been 
found  that  the  presence  in  the  soil  of  certain  mineral  or  ash 
constituentii  of  plants,  and  especially  of  potash,  is  essential  for 
the  assimilation  of  carbon,  no  starch  being  formed  in  the  grains 
of  chlorophyll  without  the  aid  of  the  element  potash. 
In  regard  to  the  colours  of  flowers,  it  has  been  found  by  Dr. 
Hansen  that  there  are  three  distinct  irigments  which  make  up 
the  different  tints,  in  addition  to  chloi’ophyll,  which  forms  the 
green  colouring  matter  in  the  stems  and  foliage  of  all  plants. 
The.sc  Qolours  are  yellows,  rejds,  and  blues. 
The  yellows  are  mostly  in  combination  with  the  plasmic  .sap, 
while  the  others  exist  chiefly  in  solution  in  the  cell  sap.  The 
yellow  pigment  forms  an  insoluble  compound  with  fatty  matters, 
and  is  termed  lipochrome. 
Orange  is  formed  by  a  denser  deposit  of  yellow,  and  the 
colour  in  the  rind  of  an  Orange  is  identical  with  that  found  in 
niany  flowers.  The  red  in  flowers  i.s  a  single  pigment,  soluble 
in  water,  and  decolourised  by  alcohol,  but  capable  of  being 
re.stored  by  the  addition  of  acids. 
Lipochrome,  eombined  with  this  red  pigment,  produces  the 
scarlets  and  reds  of  Poppies,  and  the  heps  of  Roses  and  Haw¬ 
thorns;  but  the  varying  intensity  of  reds  in  Roses,  Carnations, 
and  Pseonies,  and  other  flowers,  depends  on  the  presence  of  a 
greater  or  lesser  cjuantity  of  acids  in  the  soil  or  in  the  manure 
employed.  This  jnay  be  one  of-the  reasons  why  superphosphate 
of  lime,  which  is  always  more  or  less  acid,  forms  such  an  excel¬ 
lent  manure  in  the  growth  of  mo.st  flowering  plants. 
The  blue  and  violet  colours  are  also  decolouriscHl  by  alcohol, 
but  are  reddcnecl  by  acid  solutions.  Florists  have  already  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  irroducing  many  unusual  colours  in  flowers,  and  there 
seem  to  bo  very  good  grounds  for  bt'-licving  that  it  is  possible 
so  to  manipulate  Nature  by  means  of  cheimica!  manurial  agents 
that  she  will  produce  blossoms  of  every  conceivable  tint  and  hue. 
■ — J.  J.  Willis,  Harpenden. 
Remaukable  Apple  Tree. — A  correspondent  has  written  to 
tlio  editor  of  the  “Daily  Express”  as  follows:  “I  have  an 
Apple  tree  with  three  crops  of  Apples  and  bloom  at  the  same 
time.  It  has  the  first  and  ordinary  fruit  ;  then,  having 
bloomed  again,  there  is  a  crop  of  Apples  about  the  size  of 
bantams’  eggs ;  oime  more  it  bloomed,  and  there  is  now  a 
third, crop  with  fruit  about  the  size  of  a  marble.  Since  then  it 
has  bloomed  again.” 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
The  next  fruit  and  flower  show  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday,  October  13,  in  the  Drill  Hall, 
Buckingham  Gate,  Westminster,  1  to  5  p.m.  A  lecture'  on 
“  Autumn  Strawberries  and  Raspbefi'ies  ”  will  be  given  b5'  Mr. 
Jas.  Hudson,  V.M.H.,  at  3  o’clock. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  P.  Laird’s  Silver  Wedding. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Pringle  Laird,  Pinkhill,  Murrayfield, 
have  just  been  presented  with  a  handsome  silver  lamp  on  the 
occasion  of  their  silver  wedding,  by  the  employes  of  R.  B.  Laird 
and  Sons,  Ltd.,  nurserymen,  Edinburgh.  The  presentation  was 
made  by  tlie  oldest  employee.  Win.  Deas,  Mr.  Laird  very  suit¬ 
ably  replying.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  P.  Laird  were  married  at  Truro, 
Nova  Scotia,  on  September  30,  1878. 
Annual  Dinner  of  the  “Provident”  Society. 
The  seventeenth  anniversary  dinner  will  be  held  at  the  Hol- 
born  Restaurant,  Higli  Holborn  (Royal  Venetian  Chamber),  on 
Tuesday,  October  27,  1903,  at  6.30  p.m.  Peter  Barr,  Esq., 
V. M.H.,  has  kindly  consented  to  preside.  The  secretary  will 
be  glad  to  know,  not  later  than  Saturday,  October  24,  the  names 
of  persons  attending.  Tickets  us.  each ;  morning  dre.ss. — 
W.  Collins,  Secretary,  9,  Martindale  Road,  Balham,  S.W. 
Beckenham  Gardeners. 
The  Library  Committee  forward  a  copy  of  the  syllabus  of 
lectures  for  the  coming  winter  se.s.sion.  The  library  and  reading- 
room  at  the  Church  House  is  open  every  Friday  evening,  October 
to  March  (inclusive).  There  are  over  two  hundred  members,  by 
whom  books  may  bo  borrowed  on  application.  All  the  lectures 
arc  public  and  free.  The  new  syllabus  is  very  varied  and  of  a 
high  order  of  merit  as  regards  the  .subjects. — Mark  Webster, 
The  Gardens,  Kelsey  Park,  Beckenham. 
Ipswich  Gardeners’  Society. 
The  third  session  (1903)  has  begun,  and  the  following  are  the 
papers  read  or  to  be  read  : —  October  1,  Culture  of  Apples  and 
Pears  and  their  commercial  iiiiportance,  Mr.  W.  Seabrook,  fruit 
grower,  Springfield,  Chelmsford;  October  15,  The  Evolution  of 
a  Flower,  lantern  lecture,  illustrated  by  micro  photos  from 
nature,  Mr.  A.  Martinelli,  St.  John’s  Road,  Ipswich;  Novem¬ 
ber  5,  Pollination  and  Fertilization  of  a  Flower,  Mr.  E.  Creek, 
Westerfield  Hou.se  Gardens;  November  19,  Discussion,  Chrysan- 
themuums,  &c.,  December  3,  the  Judging  of  Horticultural 
Exhibits,  Ac.,  Mr.  W.  Messenger,  Woolverstone  Park  Gardens; 
December  17,  The  Carnation,  its  type.s,  culture,  and  uses,  Mr.  R. 
Dean,  V.M.H.,  Ranelagli  Road,  Ealing. 
Second  Crops  of  Plums  and  Strawberries. 
The  year  1903  will  be  remembered  by  fruit  growers  and  mar¬ 
ket  gardeners  as  one  of  thei  most  remarkable  they  have  known. 
In  the  fertile  Vale  of  Eve.3ham  a  mild  February  brought  a  fine 
show  of  blois.som  on  the  fruit  trees,  but  there  were  disastrous 
frosts  in  May,  aiid  the  Plum  crop  was  a  failure.  Per.shorei  Plums, 
which  in  prolific  years  have  sold  for  a  shilling  a  pot  (of  721b), 
made  thi.s  year  from  ten  shillings  to  over  a  sovereign.  Last  week 
Damsons  were  sold  in  Eveisham  for  42s.  the  pot.  This  month, 
however,  there  are  more  Plums  to  be  seen  in  the  plantations 
than  during  Juno.  This  is  due  to  a  heavy  second  crop.  Naturally, 
the  fruit  is  not  so  well  grown,  and  the  flavour  is  not  so  good, 
but  both  Victorias  and  Pershores  are  making  more  money  than 
the  fir.st  crop  sometimes  does_  There  is  also  a  second  crop  of 
Strawberries  and  Raspberries,  while  Blackberries  are  very  plenti¬ 
ful,  and  are  being  bought  by  the  jam  boilers.  Apples  and  Pears 
(says  the  “  Daily  Mail  ”)  have  been  a  great  failure  in  the  Evesham 
district,  and  the  vegetable  crops  were  hardly  up  to  average. 
Further  evidences  of  th-e  eccentricities  of  the  season  come  from 
other  quarters.  A  second  crop  of  Plums  has  been  gathered  at 
Dedworth,  near  Windsor,  and  ripe  Strawberries  at  Kingsclere, 
Hants,  and  various  parts  of  Devonshire. 
