260 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 2, 1873. 



imlitely np to ChristmaB, all depending on keeping the bed from frost 

 and wet. 



Removing Vine Leates (An Old Siihscriher).—lt will not answer to 

 remove *' many " of the Vine leaves to admit the sun to the Grapes to ripen 

 them. The removal of the leaves or exposure of the Grapes to the sun will 

 not ripen them, and will be injurious to the Vine. The leaves ought to fall 

 naturally; only the laterals should bo removed. The want of colour is duo 

 to the heavy crop ; doubtless, you will find the badly-colom-ed Grapes of fair 

 flavour. We do not think they will colour any better, as we think they are 

 ripe. 



LlLIUM AUItATUM AND LANCIFOLIUM AFTER FLOWERING (7^;m).— The 



plants may be set out-doors in a sheltered spot or cool part of the greenliouse 

 until the stems turn yellow and the leaves fall, then cut them down and 

 repot, removing all the soil that comes away freely from the roots, cutting o£E 

 the stem with its roots just above the bulbs, and repot in a compost of equal 

 parts sandy peat, fibrous loam, and leaf soil, with one-sixth of silver sand 

 chopped-np rather small but not sifted. Drain the pots well, and pot so that 

 the crown of the bulbs may be 3 inches below the rim, and only just cover 

 the bulbs with soil. We invariably place a little silver sand about each bulb. 

 Place in a cool house or a light airy position in the greenhouse, and keep the 

 soil moist. When the shoots have grown above the rims of the pots fill tho 

 pots to the rim with soil, adding one part of well-rotted manure to the com- 

 post named for potting. 



Gladiolus after Flowering {Idem).— lake up the plants when the 

 leaves turn yellow, place them in a cool aii7 place to diy, and when di'ied free 

 them of the dead roots and tops, and keep in a cool and dry place, but safe 

 from frost, until planting time. 



Sating Vegetable Seeds (P. S. J5.).— The saving of garden seeds, except 

 of particular kinds, is not desirable, as the varieties, to be kept pure, requii-e 

 to be grown at some distance apart ; for when two, three, or more kinds are 

 saved for seed in a garden, the kinds get mixed by the agency of insects, and 

 there is so great an advantage in sowing Feeds raised from a distance as to 

 more than counterbalance aoy seeming saving. In saving seeds in private 

 gardens we do not find any gain, so much ground is taken up by the plants for 

 seed, and more is saved of some kinds than would stock a county, and of 

 others very little. Particulars of saviug seed are given in the " Cottage Gai*- 

 deners' Dictionary." We repeat, it is uuly desirable to raise seeds of particular 

 kinds of vegetables, it being more safe, and in the end cheaper, to buy than 

 to save them. 



Hautbois Strawberry Cdxtitre (In^Kirfv).— The Hautbois Strawberry 

 does not require different treatment from other kinds, but it is very important 

 that the runners be taken from fruitful plants. 



Roman Hvacinths in Borders — Planting Hyacinths, Tulips, and 

 Crocuses Out of doors (J. H. £.).— The Hyacinths should remain covered 

 with the ashes until they have made good roots and have begun to grow at 

 top, but they should be removed from the ashes when tho tops have grown an 

 inch, which will be from four to six weeks. The Hyacinths should be planted 

 so that the crown may be covered about 2 inches deep ; and the Tulips and 

 Crocuses covered 1,^- to 2 inches dtep. They should be planted as early in 

 October as the beds ai-e cleared of the beddiug plants. The beginning of 

 November is, however, a good time. If the beds be well raised in the centre 

 it answers to have them in the order you name; bnt if flat we should prefer 

 them in sepaa-ate beds — in fact, we should have all Tulips or all Hyacinths, 

 with an edging of Crocuses to each bed. 



Pruning Roses on their own Roots (C. R.).— The long shoots that 

 have grown a yard or more we should not cut back if your aim be to cover the 

 bed, but peg them down, taking care in doing so not to break them. We 

 prefer, however, to grow them as dwarf bushes without pegging the shoots; 

 and in this case we should cut-back the long shoots about half theii- length, 

 nnless they are flowering, when, of course, you will leave them until the 

 flowering is past and then shorten them, and mulch the bed with littery 

 manuie in December. We like them better not pegged, because we have more 

 freedom in working, and can attend to the requirements of tho plants in 

 manuring, watering, and cleaning, and we have larger flowers and better 

 trusses. 



Asparagus Forcing in Vinery (^onuic/i).— Three-year-old good plants 

 of Asparagus may be forced in a vinery not started until the 1st of March. 

 They should not be taken up until you begin to force, or until the last 

 week of Februarj-. Instead of placing soil on the floor, we should make-up a 

 bed of dung and leaves 15 or 18 inches bi^-h, so as to afford a gentle heat of 

 70'^ to 75°, cover the bed with about 6 inches of light rich soil, and put in 

 the plants as closely together as practicable, placing some soil between the 

 crowns and roots, and over the crowns to the iepth of 1^ to 2 inches. The bed 

 will need to be watered so as to keep it moist, and in all watering use water 

 of the some temperature as that of the bed. The distance from the glass is 

 not material, only the shoots are liable to be drawn-up weak. We have had 

 very good heads at as great a distance from the glass. 



HvAriNTiis IN Glasses (SciUa).—1hQ decay of the roots is probably due 

 to the foulness of the water, which we should change entirely every ten or 

 fourteen days, using rain or pond water warmed to the temperatm-e of the 

 room, and puttiug-in a piece of charcoal every time. 



WoRMCASTs ON A La^vn (C. L. H').— The best mode of getting rid of the 

 wormcasts is to mix fresh lime with water at the rate of 1 lb. to three gallons, 

 and place in a hogshead or other large tub. After stiiTingwell up let it stand 

 forty-ei^'ht hourp, then pour off the liquid, and with it water the lawn, using a 

 rose watering-pot, and giving a thorough soaking. This will bring the worms 

 to the surface, when they may be swept up and cleared away. The lime water 

 is best applied after rain, as the worms are then nearer the surface, the lawn 

 being well rolled the day previous to the application of the lime water. For 

 keeping a lawn in order where wormcasts abound, we find a hght wooden 

 roller preferable to an iron one. The wormcast adheres tn the wood, from 

 which it can be cleared by an iron hoop. Sweeping a lawn in wet weather so 

 dirties the grass as to take away all its freshness. 



Plants Infested wt:th Insects {Marie Lout si). —The leaves sent to us 

 are infested both with thrips and mealy bug. We should clean by sponging the 

 leaves with a solution of soft soap, 3 ozs. to the gallon of water, adding to 

 every gallon three gills of tobacco juice, and afterwai-ds syrint;ing with water 

 at a temperature of llC, the plants being placed on theii- sides and turned 

 oyer so as to thoroughly wet them in every part. The plants must not be 

 dipped in water at the temperature named, but have it syringed on. This 

 will destroy the bug, but the hot water must be kept from the roots. 



Glazing a Conservatory with Fluted Glass (Wem).— We have no 

 donbt that fluted glass if well annealed will answer well for glazing con- 



servatories, and to a great estent do away with the necessity for shading; but 

 this and plate glass are often so badly annealed as to break and cause endless 

 trouble in replacing, giving a good deal of dissatisfaction. We had some 

 rough plate tive-eighths of an inch thick, and it was brittle and cracked by 

 frost more than ordinary 16-oz. The best glass we have used for conservatory 

 and plant-honse roofs is one-quEirter-inch plate, ground on one side, placing 

 the polished face outside and the ground surface inside. It enables ua to 

 dispense with shading. We have not had a single leaf scorched beneath it; 

 but, then, some conservatories ore so badly ventilated as to be little better 

 than ovens under a hot sun, and many ask why the leaves of theii' plants are 

 browned and spotted. 



Names of Fruits [Slough). —'The Apple is Borovitski. We do not know 

 what Pear you refer to that tomtits are so fond of. Calcareous matter is a 

 good application to fruit trees, and may be applied at any time in autumn 

 and spring. (Q. Q.). — The Pear was completely smashed, as well it might be 

 sent in a paper by post. 



Names OF Plants {T. Winlcelman). — Tho answers are not identical, nor 

 were the specimens. The flower from Ireland was single. (JS. M. \V.). — 

 1, Bunium flexuoBum(?); 2, Petroselinum segetam(?). Both specimens so 

 imperfect that we cannot name with certainty. (Julia Maria). — One of your 

 specimens is Anemone japonica, the other we cannot undertake to name from 

 the specimen. (A Lady). — The variegated sprig is Symphoricarpus racemosus ; 

 that in flower is Spira'a callosa, r/(b. ; the other we cannot name. (J. Par- 

 ncll]. — Verbena venosa. (O. Judfje). — Rivina lievis. [Algiers). — Job's Tears 

 (Cois lachryma). [Mary Neve). — A species of Pancratium. [Juvenile). — 

 Clerodendron splendens. or an allied species. [Veritas). — 1, The Sq lirting 

 Cucumber (Jlomordica Elaterium); 2, A Begonia (vai'iety). (Mrs. Parry 

 Jones). — A Habrothamnus, probably H. fascioulatus. (/. X>i/fr). — Euonymus 

 europieus, Spimlle Tree. 



POUITEY, BEE, AM) PIGEON OHEONIOLE. 



A VISIT TO WOECESTER AND ITS SHOW.— No. 1. 



In this article I will endeavour to describe simply and truth 

 fnlly my first peep at the city of Worcester and at its poultry 

 Show, leaving for a future paper particulars both of the place and 

 its feathered exhibition. I had the advantage of never having 

 been even in Worcestershire before ; so that all being entirely 

 new to me, my mind, like a blank sheet of paper, was clear and- 

 ready to receive any impression. I had indeed handled many 

 a delicate piece of porcelain, and gazed upon it with admiration, 

 and been told it was made at Worcester, and usually brought 

 from that city by visitors. Then I bore in mind that it was on 

 a September day that Cromwell conquered Charles II. near to 

 Worcester ; a battle which the conqueror cantingly or jestingly 

 called — (the latter probably, for there was quaint humour in the 

 man) — his " crowning mercy." But more I knew not, and with 

 the cathedral I was even pictorially unacquainted. 



Whatever disadvantages September has for a poultry and 

 Pigeon show, for the latter are sure to be in moult, yet it is a 

 glorious month to go to a show. The fib of Thomson's " gentle 

 spring, efhcrial mildness " everyone, save an enthusiastic school 

 girl, knows to be a fib, while autumn's mildness and gentleness 

 we all know and experience. If I could but choose I would say, 

 " Let me have my threescore years and ten, every day of them 

 a September day." 



'Tis a long pull from Wilts to Worcester, and made longer by 

 delay of trains. The autumn manccuvres have been for many 

 weeks blamed for making our Great Western trains each an 

 hour or so behind time, but surely they cannot bear the blame 

 now. Of course one meets in the train the man who cuts his 

 paper with his railway ticket ; the lady over-anxious about her 

 luggage — N.B., This is a pale-faced old maid. Then a mother 

 with six children returning from the seaside, and who (fact this), 

 takes me into her confidence at once on the subject of papa's 

 absence, measles, and whooping cough. I was afraid she would 

 want to confess to me on the spot, so I told her I had six chil- 

 dren, which no confession-priest ought to have. But no one 

 amused me half so much as a jolly Gloucestershire farmer who 

 got into my carriage, and his only luggage was a huge root of 

 mangold — such a root for the time of year ! I looked at the 

 farmer — I looked at the mangold — they were a capital couple, 

 so smooth-skinned, so healthy-looking, so handsome. Glorious 

 specimens of mankind are England's yeomen. The cream of 

 the poor went in the last generation to fight under Wellington 

 and Nelson, the pick of many a gentleman's family did the same, 

 and both fell ; but England's yeomen remained at home and 

 their race is uniujm-ed, for their best specimens lived and be- 

 came fathers, so that the finest men in the laud are the yeomen. 

 However, here I am at Worcester station, evidently in the land 

 of red brick. I look out for John Martin, formerly of Linton 

 Park, now of Worcester, bend my way towards the town, and 

 down a side street, see flags, and hear a fife-and-drum band. 

 My instiuct leads me right — it is the Corn Exchange. That 

 fife-and-drum band arranged in front are the union boys, whose 

 music brings a crowd and attracts attention to the Show. A 

 good plan this, and one which will cost a committee only a trifle ; 

 and easily adopted too, for each town has a union workhouse, 

 and each workhouse as a rule has its boy baud. JIany a time 

 I have had a diiHculty in finding where a poultry show was held, 

 for placards do not appeal to the eye like flags, and a few notes 

 of music are best of all. 



