238 



THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



work on the mulberry-tree ? — In order to render 

 your barren mulberry-tree fruitful, moderately 

 thin the shoots, if very thick, in order to expose 

 the remainder more elTeclually to the ripening 

 influence of the autumnal sun, then tie back as 

 many of the branches as possible in the con- 

 trary direction to which they grow, and if they 

 get slightly twisted or cracked in so doing, all 

 the better— now is the proper time. AVe know 

 of no work specially devoted to the mulberry. 



House fob Vijtes. — P. B. says, " I am con- 

 structing a glass-house mainly for vines, but 

 shall attempt to combine plants with them, and 

 1 am desirous of knowing the best slope for the 

 roof, also whether you consider Hartley's rough 

 plate glass the best to use for the roof." Witltu 

 of house, 13 ft. ; height of front, 7 ft. 6 in. ; 

 height of back, 14 ft. Kind of glass recom- 

 mended, British sheet, 16 to 20 oz. to the foot, 

 and to shade from April to end of August with 

 Shaw's titfany, made up the size required, with 

 a stout cord round its edges (or strength, and 

 tucked on to the roof. lioui;h plate is expensive, 

 and not required for a vinery; for sjme de- 

 fcriptions of plant-houses de=!iiable. Witli 7 it. 

 6 in. light in front you cannot get a proper 

 plope or pitch with less than 14 feet of light at 

 back ; 6 to 12 inches more than that would be 

 better, if expense is no object. If you can 

 reduce the light in front, the back may be lower 

 ill proportion. 



Kb>ealmia nutaxs. — E. C. remarks that the 

 plant, respecting which information was sought, 

 " never dies down ;" that is ihe reason it has 

 not flowered for several years. All the plants 

 of this tribe with which we are acquainted re- 

 quire a month or two's rest, when they die off, 

 and, after having been shook out and i"epotted, 

 grow again with vigour ; and, with due encou- 

 ragement as to shifting on, and supplying libe- 

 rally with water, put up a vigorous bloom. A 

 very important item in the management of 

 plants of this tribe is, that the young oft'sets 

 only wiU aiibrd bloom, those which are produced 

 at the extremity of the rhizome should be taken 

 ofFand encouraged, and the old stems discarded. 

 Perhaps E. C. has retained the old steins, and 

 for that reason has had no bloom. Mr. Hibberd 

 feels greatly obliged to E. C. for forwarding a 

 plant. lie will prize it, and before twelve 

 months are over, if all is well, he hopes to be 

 able to otter some practical remarks about it. 



Second Crop of Figs. — A. It., JVanstead. — 

 The only chance you have of saving a portion 

 of the crop is at once to remove all the large 

 fruit, and leave the smallest to brave the winter. 

 If the whole are left, the probability is that the 

 whole win fall, but by removing half, or two- 

 thirds, you may keep the rest. The best method 

 of treating a flg on a wall is to keep it on short 

 diet, say chalky loam without manure. All 

 superfluous shoots should be removed when 

 about three inches long, reserving those for 

 fruiting which are the shortest jointed. This 

 should be carried on all the season, so that the 

 wood reserved will be well ripened by due ex- 

 posure to the sun. About the end of August 

 pinch the ends of the shoots between the finger 

 and thumb, and finish training for the season, 

 Verbenas are of little value for winter bloom, 

 but plants struck last July or August may be 

 got into bloom in the house by giving them good 

 places, and ceasing to stop them. But you will 

 have, along with the bloom, plenty of green-fly. 



Flowees for EyTKA:NCE Hall. — Constant Sitb- 

 tcriber. — We fear you have not light enough to 

 make the lobby a permanent home for plants ; 

 and to keep it gay, it would be better to intro- 

 duce plants in flower from time to time, re- 

 moving and replacing with others as soon as 

 their bloom declined. From the present time 

 to Christmas, pompone clirysaEthemums, scarlet 



salvias, ericas, and tree carnations would bo 

 best ; then, on the turn of the year, camellias, 

 cytisus, primulas, and other spring flowers ; and 

 for the summer whatever pleases your eye most. 

 Have a few potted evergreens, such as Buxus 

 Balearica, golden Enonyiuus, Azalea amcena, and 

 well furnished camellias to fill u]i at any time 

 when flowers are scarce. Pot otf a few hya- 

 cinths and crocuses at once, and also place a 

 few hyacinths in water. Such places as halla 

 and vestibules should be kept gay by succession : 

 first because sameness would weary the eye ; 

 and, secondly, because few plants can be pro- 

 perly gro>vn in such places, though' it does them 

 no h.nm to abide there while in flower. 



Gas Tae os Apple-trees.— jffec. J. llanncnj. — 

 You need be in no fear of your trees dying 

 through being dressed with gas tar to flit the 

 ants. Several of our trees have been dressed 

 with it over and over again, after stopping their 

 wounds and earwig holes with a paste made of 

 clay, cowdung, and common salt, and they have 

 improved immensely, and this year borne heavy 

 crops, while most other trees in the same dis- 

 trict have been barren. But the best thing we 

 ever did for half-exhausted apple-trees, wiis to 

 open trenches round them, till in with fresh 

 earth for them to make new roots into, and 

 then scrub them from head to foot with a dandy 

 brush and strong brine. These trees have since 

 grown young again, and are nialcing new wood 

 of the very best character, and, as just re- 

 marked, have borne lieavily during this present 



• unfruitful season. Make your mind easy as to 

 the safety of your trees. We do not think it 

 advisable to negotiate for gardeners wanting 

 places. The best course is for gardeners and 

 employers to advertise their wants, and re- 

 spectively to bear their own responsibilities. It 

 is a matter we have often thought about, with 

 a desire to promote the interests of both parties, 

 but we do not see that we can render any service. 



Sizes of Pots. — J. L. — This is an important mat- 

 ter, because some societies, in offering prizes 

 for plants, give sizes of pots, according to the 

 number of the cast, and not by measurement. 

 1 he knowing exhibitor will take advantage of 

 this, and go to a pottery which makes the 

 largest pot of a certain designation. If a plant 

 is to be in a 24-pot, those who can get a 24, 8^ 

 inches wide, will prefer it to the regular size of 

 8 inches, and may do so without infrmgemeut of 

 rules. The sizes of pots vary at different pot- 

 teries ; but the following sizes of the pots made 

 by Messrs. Adams, of the KUiis, Belle Isle, may 

 be considered as about the best standard : — 

 Nos. This. : 60. 160, 54, 4S, 40, 32, 23, 24, 16, 

 12, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1. Idchcs Diameter: 2f, 

 •6\, i\, 4f, b\, 6, 6*, 7, 8, 9, 104, llj, 13f, 

 1.5, IGJ, 17^, 19. 



A Thousand Qleeies. — J. M. — Vi'e know of no 

 thoroughly good book to meet your requirements, 

 as you st.ate them. Perhaps you expect more 

 from books than it is possible for them to give 

 you. You cannot do better than procure Sweet's 

 " Hothouse and Greenhouse Cultivator." As to 

 inarching or grafting the Eugenia upon the 

 myrtle, we would remark that Eugenia grows 

 well on its own roots, and may be struck in 

 any quantity all through the summer in a frame. 

 It is, moreover, very hardy. But if you prefer 

 to work it on the myrtle, the best season is from 

 February to the end of May, and keep close, 

 warm, and moist, lUl the union is completed. 

 W^e prefer inarching. The seedling Tac- 

 sonia will have a better chance of flowering 

 if worked on a well-established passion flower, 

 and allowed room to run and ripen its seasonal 

 growth. We think you may expect bloom in 

 your lifetime if you are not already past the 

 allotted term of threescore years and ten. 



GisnuBSi CoiiPOUifD. — A. 3. — It does no harm 



