V2: 



TO COEEESPONDENTS. 



Cool Fernery. — J. W. — Your little bouse -will make a capital fernery. You 

 need not remove the brick floor, but may build the rockwork on it. The best 

 material for the rockery is to be obtained from the brick-field — the large vitrified 

 blocks of spoilt bricks, called iu some parts "burrs," being of suitable colour and 

 texture, and requiring but little skill to turn them to good account. Old tree-rocts 

 will do ; the only objection to their use is that sometimes they develope a growth of 

 fungi to an extent that is amazing. Good rockeries may be made of rough blocks 

 of stone, and the putting of them together is a matter of taste, except that it is well 

 to place them so that there is a good body of soil for the ferns to root into, and 

 suitable pockets for planting in. 



Camellias. — 31. M. J/.— Having a hothouse with vines, an orchard-house not 

 heated, and a conservatory opening out of drawing-room, we can very safely advise 

 you to put the camellias in the first house with the vines till they have made a free 

 growth, then take them to the orchard-house, and lastly put them out of doors. As 

 to the question of atmospheric moisture, the vines will enjoy a considerable amount, 

 except when they are in bloom. And you might manage to have your vines in 

 bloom and the fruit set before putting the camellias in to grow. Further aid maj- 

 be derived from the syringe, to moisten the wood of the camellias and promote a 

 free growth. You evidently do not manure your camellias well, and we imagine 

 there is something wrong about their roots. If they want repotting, let it be done 

 at once, the soil to consist of two parts tough fibrous loam, and one part sandy peat. 

 Many causes operate to cause the buds of camellias to fall. One of the most 

 common is allowing tliem to be dry at the root when out of doors in autumn. The 

 flower-buds are then formed, and they receive a fhock which results in their falling 

 off when they ought to expand. When the buds are swelling for bloom, the best 

 manure-water is made by dissolving one pound of guano in thirty gallons of water, 

 and adding one peck of soot tied in a coarse bag. The liquid, after standing a few 

 days, should be drawn off quite clear for use. The liquid which flows from farm- 

 yard manure is excellent, but must have six times its bulk of water added. Sheep's 

 dung, one peck to thirty gallons of water, is a valuable stimulant, " Standen's 

 Gardener's Friend " is the cleanest and most eflfectual of all the artificial manures. 



Tacsonia igxea.— ilf. M. M. — As yours is a small plant, not growing freely, we 

 suppose it to be restricted for root-room. If it does not grow freely, it cannot 

 flower, and we therefore advise to give it a good border of fibry loam, with about a 

 sixth part of leaf-mould added. Tlie Lycopodium is probably kept too wet and too 

 cold. You do not say which of the many species it is that turns brown, though it 

 has plenty of water. As they all like warmth, plant a bit under a stage, or iu some 

 shady place in the warmest house you have. 



Earth-worms. — (?. E. C. — You are doubtless aware that earth-worms are 

 useful creatures, and it is not advisable to destroy them ruthlessly. The simplest 

 ' way to destroy them is to throw about a peck of unslacked lime into sis gallons of 

 water, and after it has stood twenty-four hours, draw oflP the clear liquid, and 

 •water the ground which is infested by worms. The same lime will supply several 

 solutions; so that, when the first water is drawn off, the vessel may be filled again. 

 Still more effectual is a solution of corrosive sublimate, two drachms to every gallon 

 of water. The best way to deal with weeds iu gravel walks is to pull them out 

 when the walks are soft after rain, and then roll the walks well. At this time of 

 year, one may see at such places as the Crystal Place dozens of boys engaged in 

 rooting weeds out of the walks, the tool for the purpose being a short trowellike a 

 knife. A coating of salt kills every weed, and sometimes damages the edges of the 

 lawn, or the box edging as well ; but in about six weeks the weeds appear again, 

 and grow all the stronger because of the salt that still remains in the soil. 



Dandy Geranium. — L. N. It.— Y<jux favourite Dandy can only be made to o'row 

 freely by being kept in a warm house near the glass. Our old plants of it average 

 two feet high, and two feet through, and flower profusely all the summer, but they 

 are quite fifteen years old. 



Gloxinias eatex. — L. N. B.—Tlhii surface of th'^- leaves being eaten away 

 suggests the presence of some dipterous larva?. Put a few fresh lettuce leaves 

 amongst them, and some slices of apple. They will probably eat these instead of 



