HORTICULTURAL JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9026, 3 November 1892, Page 6

HORTICULTURAL JOTTINGS.

LEAVES ABSORBING WATER. It is a general impression that plants absorb a great deal of the moisture required for their existence and growth through the pores of their leaves. This, however, appears to be a mistake. Generally speaking, it is only the " rootless" Epiphytes and certain xerophilous plants that can take in water in this way. Sufficient observations have not yet been made upon tropical plants to enable a generalisation to be safely made, bat Herr A. Burgenstein has come to the conclusion that, although the absorption of moisture may take place to a certain extent through the epidermal cells, the stotnates, and the hairs, it is of no physiological importance, at least as regards the flora of Europe. SALTMAKSH'S QUEEN APPLE. A writer in an English gardening journal remarks that in Saltmnrsh's Queen apple the amateur, cottager, market gardener, and, in fact, everybody, will find a very prolific and reliable bearer, and a first-rate culinary variety; an excellent companion variety to Lord SufHeld, now so universally known and grown. The fruit of the Queen is not so conical as the other, but the tree bears a close resemblance, and just now a bash tree about eight feet high and as much through, having a very heavy crop of fine fruit upon it, is to be seen in the gardens of Umberelade Hall, near Birmingham. Mr. Pritchard esteems it so highly that he intends planting more of it, and of Bramley's Seedling. This year apples -are generally small in the Midland districts, and to see a tree of good-sized fruit, such as the one in question, is a treat. THE MISTLETOE. The mistletoe is usually regarded as a parasite that lives upon other trees, robbing them of their juices. Bub there have sprung up defenders of this so-called parasite. At last (says one) the mistletoe's turn to be vindicated has come. The case against this once venerated and still cherished plant has been growing weaker since the discovery of the principle known to the learned as " symbyosis," or that admirable arrangement of nature whereby two plants live in intimate association without injury to either, and even with reciprocal advantage. In the light of this new doctrine it has been suspected that an apple tree (the mistletoe seems to have left off growing on oak since the days of the Druids) renders services to the mistletoe growing on it in summer, while in the winter the evergreen's viscumor glutinous juice supplies the deficiency which the apple tree experiences through the loss of its leaves. THE SEED CROP IN HOLLAND. In the Netherlands large breadths of seeds— garden * and agricultural—are grown. At the date of August 20 advices from one of the most important seedproducing districts—Enkhuizen — showed that there, as in -England, t the harvest would depsnd largely on the prevalence of dry sunny weather during the next two months. Cauliflower was in full bloom, and decidedly promising. Cabbage* savoys, and winter greens looked satisfactory on the whole, but the caterpillar had injured them in some parts. Swedes looked well. Turnips and mangels wore by no means favourable. Beets promised well. Spinach and peas were satisfactory ; but raclish a , poor crop, with the exception of the White Spanish. Onions were good. Beans and cucumbers stood well bub lnnt m weather. „ Carrots looked satisfactory • and parsley, which promised to be a thiVcron in England, was represented an being vorv good. The next six weeks would bo an inxibos time for the seed-grower a home Md abroad. ■ ■■