The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-02 00:00:00

THE CULTIVATION OF GENTIANS,

The mention of the word gentian thrills the heart
of the lover of plants, and the attention of the most
casual observer is arrested by the vivid colours of the
flowers (says the Gardeners' Magazine). The reason
for this is well founded, and it will not be the slightest
exaggeration to say that they are almost without
exception the most valuable treasures the hardy
garden contains. The distinguishing features of the
genus are the vivid blue coloured flowers, and generally
the neat foliage and habit of growth. The gem of
the whole race is doubtless the lovely vernan gentian,
G. verna, a plant which has been more admired by
Alpine travellers than perhaps any other, and is now
regarded as an absolute necessity in any collection,
however small. A very bitter principle characterizes,
the whole order, and this exists in the leaves, flowers,
bark and roots, and is much valued in medicine as a
tonic. Most of them are at home on the rockery,
and, as a rule, will thrive well in a rich, light, peaty
soil. Division is one method of propagating them,
and the most suitable time for effecting this is in
the spring, when they are commencing to grow.
This is the simplest method; but raising of them
from seed is more profitable, but it requires
much patieuce and perseverance. The best
time for sowing the seed is as soon as
it ripens. It is best to sow in 48-sized pots, well
crocked, employing a good loamy soil, with the addi-
tion of a liberal sprinkling of sand and a little peat.
Sow the seed thinly, and lightly cover, then place the
pots in a .cold pit. In watering the seed pots great
care. must be taken not tc wash the seed out of the
soil. In all cases dipping the pots is a safer plan than
pouring the water on them. Ventilate the pit freely
in warm genial weather, and shade lightly if the sun
is too powerful. Watering, of course, must be left to
the cultivator, but all the care needful in this respect
is not to soak the soil but keep it neither too moist
nor too dry. During the winter, if the weather is
severe, the pit must be protected, but in fine weather
admit air freely and as often as possible. Remove dl
moss that accumulates on the soil, especially in the
case of seeds that germinate slowly. It is no uncom-
mon sight to see the pots literally covered with moss
enough to stop any sort of seed from coming up.
, Great care must be exercised when the plants appear.
Give a little at first increasing it as the plants grow
older and become stronger. Prick them into boxes
when they are large enough to handle, and from
these transfer them to their permanent quarters. But
this must only be done on the consideration that the
lants are strong and healthy. If weak and puny
keep them in the frame over winter, and plant outin
spring.

A Philadelphia publishing house advertises a cer-
tain writer as the "popular American female
authoress." Lest there should still be doubt as to the
sex of the person, it might not be out of place, per-
haps, to add that this femaLe •authorese is a she
woman."

THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,

On Tuesday afternoon the first of the series of
meetings of the British Medical Association com-
menced in the Queen's College, Belfast. There was a
very large assemblage of leading medical men of the
three kingdoms, and several from a greater distance
also put in an appearance. The retiring president,
Dr. A. T. S. Waters, F.R.C.P., senior physician to the
Royal Infirmary, and Professor of Medicine in Uni-
versity College, Liverpool, introduced his successor to
the chair. The past year, he said, had not been an
uneventful one in the history of their association. On
the contrary, it had been marked by the enactment
of laws in reference to the society which
had produced material alteration, making the
Executive more responsible than the whole
body. The change was one which he
believed would tend to the increased prosperity of the
association. To that body and the committee of the
Council, which had guided the council to its present
position of strength and usefulness, they owed, in his
opinion, a largo debt of.gratitude. He congratulated
them on the great prosperity of their society and the
steady increase of their members—an increase which
bade fair in the course of years to include within the
association almost every member of the profession in
this country. Dr. Waters concluded by thanking
them for the honour they had conferred upon him,
and by introducing Professor Cuming (Belfast), the
president for the ensuing year.
In the evening Professor earning delivered the
presidential address, which dealt principally with the
nature and chara.;ter of parasitic germs as causes of
disease.