THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 191 



NOTICES TO CO-RESPONDENTS. 



Peak for a South Aspect. — J. ~E. S., Dalston. — Beurre Bosc is a fine pear 

 but Marie Louise, or Jargonelle are perhaps more productive, and they attain 

 maturity at an earlier date. 



Rose Grubs. — A. M. C. is informed that hand picking is the only practical 

 remedy for the destruction of the grubs which are attacking the rose trees. 



Night Scented Stock.— J". 11. , Devonport. — You ought to experience no diffi- 

 culty in obtaining seed of this plant. We find that it is entered in the catalogues 

 of Messrs. Sutton and Sons, Reading, Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, and in 

 those of several others of the leading houses. 



Books. — A. Subscriber. — Thompson's "Book of Annuals," and "Profitable 

 Gardening " will afford you tbe desired information. There is no book published 

 containing the whole of the information sought for. 



Double-flowering Peaches. — A. D. P. — Your letter came too late to insure 

 a reply last month. The trees should be placed in a sunny position in the open air 

 during the summer months, and supplied liberally with water. Specimens started 

 early should not be placed in the open air before the end of April. If the foliage is 

 attacked with aphis of any kind, syringe them overhead and dust with tobacco 

 powder, and after it has been on twelve hours wash it off again. Centaureas 

 should be planted at the same time as calceolarias and other of the hardiest bedders. 



Calceolarias Dying Off. — A. S. — Probably you use too large a proportion of 

 manure, and also water the plants too liberally. We believe the cause of the plants 

 perishing may be safely attributed to one of these extremes. 



A. D. — Pot them when at rest, and keep in the temperature of an ordinary 

 greenhouse. 



Mrs. H. — The fern is not new ; and it is a very common occurrence to raise 

 ferns from seed. Indeed that is the U3ual mode of propagating the majority of 

 species. 



Covering a Porch {B. B. £.) — The quickest, safest, and cheapest covering 

 would be Virginian creeper. A little less quick would be sempervirens roses very 

 beautiful, fast-growing and abundant bloomers, one only to each pillar. These 

 would require plenty of water, and the ground heavily manured before planting as 

 the chalky substratum will try them. Less quick than the last, but in such a hot 

 place very suitable, Ceanothus papilosus, which would requite some good turf 

 chopped over with rotten cow-dung. Hedera grandifolia, a grand ivy with hu"e 

 leaves, would run up quick, and be rich and shady. Clematises would rejoice in 

 that hot, dry, chalky bottom, and go to the top of the pillars at a rapid pace. Be 

 content with only one kind of plant, have no mixtures. You are in time now to 

 plant any of them from pots. 



Tree Ferns, etc. — G. M. — The newly- imported tree ferns, recently purchased 

 should be put in an upright position in some cool, close, rather dark place, such as a 

 shed, or under the stage of a greenhouse, and syringe them once a day for a week. 

 The next week syringe them two or three times a day, and protect them against 

 draughts of air, so as to keep them constantly damp. In about three weeks they 

 will begin to show signs of growth ; and may then be potted. In preparing them 

 for pots, cut clean away all hard, dead, wiry roots, so as to reduce their stumps 

 considerably. It is seldom, however, that there are any roots left to cut away ; tiny 

 are so closely trimmed before being packed for transit. The best soil is one con- 

 sisting wholly of tough fibrous peat, with plenty of sharp sand. When the crocks 

 are placed, lay over them some rough charcoal, then pot the trees in the usual way 

 and fill the stuff in as firmly as possible. Put them in as small pots as possible • it 

 is easy work to shift them on as they grow, and it is a great help if the roots soon 

 touch the sides of the pots after they begin to grow. Do not make the soil wet at 

 all until the growth has advanced somewhat ; to keep it regularly damp will 

 suffice, but continue to syringe the stems frequently, as the moisture absorbed 

 that way will soonest arouse the energies of the plants. 



Vines and LiauiD Manure. — H. N. — It is quite possible that the liquid 

 manure had something to do with the death of the vines, but it is impossible for us 

 to say whether or not their death has been caused by its being usad too liberally. 

 Two year old vines do not require liquid manure. 



