Feb. 18-—Scting a large group of Chinese Narcissus in lower in a local garden, reminded us of the care and attention that is given fo these bulbs when they are being prepared for the Spring Festival market. The "Joss Lily" is referred to here as the New Year lower and We had the opportunity this year of watching two farmers. preparing their stock a deserted. garden" next door: we were able to. watch the Interesting proce= ure unseen from one of our windows. On arrival, the men opened negotiations with the 'Watchman and, we presume, the question of commission on' sales was decided. The garden ideal for the purpose of Chinese narcissus forcing, for a high bamboo fence protects It from cold north winds and there is not a tree in the place to cast a shadow. The men quickly got to work and batches of bulbs were cleaned were in water in. shallow - wooden Sally and incisions made in them before they
Yubs that were produced by the score. Each morning, before starting to clean another batch, "the men" would remove the previous Gay's' batch from" Ube water and carefully arrange them upright in another tub. The tubs wore arranged in groups of twenty, four being laced in each row. Tt was most interesting 0 Watch the men changing the water and the position of the tubs each day: the inalde rows Srere never allowed to remain in that, position Tonger than twenty-four hours. As the bulbs produced their flower stems and leaves, the Chief task appeared to be the maintenance of fa correct. proportion: as the nights became older, protection was provided; but the bulbs were never taken into the house. When the Gay arrived for grading' the produce, conter-fences were long and arguments loud. Each bull fu grade "A" had to have a certain number of flower stems and leaves, and if they were not there, arrangements were, made to provide them' offsets were removed {fom some of th Smaller bulbs and these were skilfully attached others with the ald of pieces of wire. The Work was most carefully performed and treat bulbs were dificult to detect. Just prior to the Spring Festival, the stock vanished as sud~ only as it had arrived and the watchman was nailing for days—W3%.
Feb. 18—We heer a lot about rice these days, and. if all accounts are correct, we shall hear' a lot more shortly. To the average per~ Son living in Europe rice is generally as-Sociated with milk puddings: here, it i9 the Staple food of millions. Tt is a panicled gress fand_when In ear it hes a close resemblance {fo Barley; the farina is practically composed of starch and the husk clings to the grain with fgrect tenacity. Tt has lo be detached by pass {ng the grain. between. millstones, When we consider the large quantity of rice it is noces-Sary to grow to feed millions of people, we find it hard to, realize that all seedlings are blented by hand. The plant is an aquatic: it Will not thrive if it is allowed to become dry. fat the roots before the crop begins to ripen, and knowing this, we can only marvel at. the ingenuity of the Chinese farmer who, in many places, grows the chief article of his diet on terraced folds which have to be irrigated by oan or beast with the ald, of many' ingenious contrivances. Yes! rica is expensive these days: but we wonder what percentage of the actual cost of the grain on the market goes {o the farmer snd whether the people Who make the most profit set aside any part of it compensate the farmer for a poor crop. Poot crops are experienced occasionally end when they' are, the farmer suffers. Rice is known to science as Oryza, derived from the Arable word Cris; six species are recognized, including si tive, the well-known rice of' commerce. Mountain' rice (Oryzopsis) thrives on the sides of hills and this plant will stand low temperatures; the grain Is very mediocre, however, but it Is used as food in many parts. Ay the' real article could not be persuaded to grow in Eng lend, attempts were made to introduce Moun-fain rice with practically the same results: the foliage grew vigorously, but seeds were scarce and "it is now used more as a foliage plant. Strenge as it may appear, tice paper is not obtained from the rice plant, but from Fatsta papyrifera, which is erroneously referred to by many' people as the Castor Oil pla wan tang have had" avery marked effec "on Feb 22—Springlike weather cnd_ recent
Veselation: weeds ind wild flowers are grow {ng apace while the hardy annuals are begin. sing to show signs' of life: patches of green fare. to. be seen on many lawns: amongst the {urt, causing them to present an unkempt. Beateneo. The lof "culprit in this respect the: moisturedoving clover "(Trifolium repens). Some. people encourage this plant to" spread over their lawns; but we find that it requires Title encouragement and "we "have avery ocr opinion of the wsetulness of this plant a substitute for "grass, despite the bad Guality "of turf that is arriving' here atthe present Time. Clover is a nuisance on tenne fourrs, not only does it detract from the ap-Dearance of the are: but itis liable to render Bay: dangerous, its sicms and leaves are cally rushed When trodden on and trey" have been known to cense players to sip. Another clover. Like plant (Ozelis) Is also enjoying the Spring weather, we consider ihis fo be even. amore: obnoxious. weed than clover, it spreads rapid and quickly destroys. the finer grasses" the lawn. The ennual.low-spear grass (Por Aranta) ig again brightening up corners of the fawn with ils bright green foliage. This grass {soften included in grass mixtures and it is {sed tu -some. parts os turf grass: However, it not of much use heres it dies after produce ing seed In. early Summer and. leaves bare patches on lawns just ata time when they are Fequired to. look their best, so it has io, be Femoved together with the other undesirables fand it will: not be long before we shall see crowds of "weedy" women giving its removal their close attention and, atthe. same time, carrying on an animated discussion of local Sffairs and their effect on the price of rice-Hiweeds on lawns crowd out-the grasses, they shade them from the light and rob them of food: they absorb nitrogen from the sell and, during dry spells, they transpire water at such fa rate that little' is lett for grass rools, Many of them escape the lawn mower owing to their habit of growth and if we are to have a good Tawn it Is necessary for us to remove them before they have had an opportunity to cause Feb. 24—We notice that many of our local wild Mowers and' weeds are commencing to Hower and that buds are swelling on the weep-Ing willow trees. There are many species of willows to be seen in this, locality; but believe that the Weeping Willow (Salix baby-Tontea) is the one most universally liked. The Pussy Willow (S. discolor) is perhaps in great-of demand for floral decoration work. owing fo its. attractive ments, enveloped in long silky hairs, that appear very carly in the year Defore the Leaves. The willow absorbs large Quantities of water and in this respect Somewhat analogous to the Eucalyptus. "Temple of Heaven" plants are starting to produce flowers; but. we shall have to walt for'a utile while before' this most accommodating plant turns the ground under our trees into a moss of colour. The effect of a mass of these: flowers, When seen from a distance, always reminds us of the beautiful expanses of Bluebeliy we used to admire so much In Eng Ush woods. The Shepherd's Purse (Capsclle bursa-pastors) 1s now producing ils flowers small corymbs at the extreme end of racemes which bear the heart-shaped seed ods from which it derived its common name, well "as the early bullereup (Ranuscutus ternatus). This plant may be a weed, and while we object to it growing on our lawn, thera ix something about a buttercup in' flower that appeals to us. The little Veronica, with ity flowers of a beautiful shade of blue, 1s also peeping from amongst the grasses, while the Wart Weed or Sun Spurge (Euphorbia netios~ chia) is producing its fve.rayod umbels of yellowish.green flowers on stiff and erect Stems in leafy bracts. Ants are said to be extremely fond of the toshy outgrowth of the seed of this weed, while files appear to like the nectar of the exposed flowers.—W..K-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.