278 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Ootober 9, 1873. 



be cleaned. "We have also re-arranged the plants, taking care 

 that they are not too much crowded. Flower is not plentiful at 

 this time of the year, but the Calanthe vestita in variety and the 

 beautiful C. Veitchii will soou be in flower, and a few chance 

 blooms of Gardenia florida and Stephanotis floribunda are very 

 acceptable. Nor must we omit to mention the Eucharis ama- 

 zonica, which freely throws up its clusters of snow-white 

 flowers at all seasons alike. We have also in flower one of the 

 most beautiful of recent introductions, Dendrobium chrysotis. 

 It is one of the most free-growing of the species, and succeeds 

 admirably in an ordinary stove, either suspended in a basket 

 from the roof or grown in a pot on the stage underneath. Both 

 the specimens are floweriug on very strong young growths, 

 though they have not been imported twelve months. The 

 flowers are exceedingly beautiful; there is, of course, a differ- 

 ence in size and refinement, but we have not yet seen a bad one. 

 The flowers on our weakest plant (the other has not yet opened) 

 ajre 4 :i inches across, beautiful clear yellow; the lower petal is 

 finely divided round the margin, so much bO that it resembles 

 a fringe of yellow moss, and at the base there are two crimson 

 purple blotches. This fine Dendrobium ought and will become 

 quite as common as D. nobile. The Bouvardias jasminiflora 

 and Vreelandii have been grown on shelves near the glass in 

 the Cucumber house during the summer months, and are now 

 rewarding us for our care with numerous trusses of pure white 

 flowers ; these are very useful for filling small vases, for button- 

 hole and all sorts of bouquets. 



Chrysanthemuins have been receiving much attention — tying 

 and training specimens. The usual method is to bend the shoots 

 down until the plant assumes a dwarf compact habit of gi'owth, 

 but this system of training is frequently carried to excess, the 

 aim of the cultivator beiug to have dwarf specimens at all 

 hazards, so that the plants have a contorted appearance. Some 

 persons object to this method of training altogether as being 

 unnatural, but when it is well done the plants are very pretty. 

 In all cases the flowers should stand well above a mass of healthy 

 deep green foliage. The plants grown for cut blooms have also 

 required attention. It is now time to remove all side shoots, 

 also deformed and superfluous flower buds. 



FLOWER G.UIDEN. 



Potted-off the Carnations and Picotees ; we were later in layer- 

 ing them this year, else they are usually potted two weeks before 

 this. Our soil is not at all adapted for growing them, but we get 

 excellent flowers by obtaining suitable loam, and placing three 

 plants in a lU-inch pot. The pots are placed out of doors in an 

 open place, and the plants require but little attention. The 

 Rhododendron beds have been for the last six weeks very gay 

 with Liliums. L. auratum was in first, followed by the varieties 

 of L. speciosum, and they had a truly fine effect. If any readers 

 of this paper have open spaces in their Rhododendron beds, 

 plant them with any spare roots of the different Lilies, blowing 

 the lawn weekly keeps it in excellent trim, and the fine weather 

 has been favourable to the flowering of all bedding plants. — 

 J. Douglas. 



TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. 



Harrison & Sons, Leicester. — Catalogue of Dutch and other 

 Flowering Bulbs. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*,* We request that no one will write privately to any of the 

 correspondents of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. Ail 

 communications should therefore be addressed solely to 

 The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, d-c, 171, Fleet 

 Street, London, E.G. 



We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the 

 same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on 

 Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them 

 answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on 

 sepai'ate communications. Also never to send more than 

 two or three questions at once. 



N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next 



Hints about Flotver Shows (S;/ri//)H,':).— The Rev. Abner Browr, 

 PytchJey, Northamptonshire, published a little pamphlet on their manage- 

 ment. We believe it is out of print. We published an epitome of it in this 

 JoumaJ. 



Grapes Mouldy (T. F. G.).— Not having seen a specimen we cannot speak 

 positively, but probably your Grapes are suffering from the Oidium Tuckeri. 



Covering Archtvork o^'er a Walk (M. H. M.).—Yon are quite ri;;'ht in 

 snggefcting Rones and Clematiees to train over the ironwork ; and tm you say 

 Lime trees are planted on one eide for the pui-pose, wc would advise their 

 being taken away by detp-ees, as climbers that may be planted t-u both 

 Bides grow up to cover the arch. lu addition to Roses we would recommend 

 other climbers as well, as Javminum revolutum, J. nudiflorum, and the 

 ordinary white species Wistoi-ia sinensis, and rhaps a Laburnum, Virginian 



Creeper. Aristolochia sipho, Bi^nonia radicans, Ceanothus deutatus. Ivy of 

 two or three kinds, and Honeysuckles, incluaing the Evergreen and Golden- 

 netted Japan one. Even the common Hop is very pretty at times. The fine 

 foliage of some of the Cistuses mii.'ht be introduced, as also Pyracantha and 

 the rich-flowered Cydonia japonica. The genus Clematis affords an endless 

 variety, but the continuous-lloweriuf,' kinds ought to be selected, as C. rubella, 

 Prince of Wales, JackmaiiLi, Staudishii, lanuginosa, and several others, 

 including some of the doubles, as Sophia, candidiasima, Ac. Amongst Roses 

 we would have two or three rambling Ayrshire ; they quickly cover a large 

 space, and can be cut away when better ones grow up. Felicite perpetue and 

 Princess Maiia amongst evergreen, Yellow and White Bank^ian, and ae many 

 Noisette as you like. Fellenberg, Solfaterre, Celiue Forestier, Lamarque, and 

 Martchal Niel may be mentioned as good ; while some Bourbons, as Souvenir 

 de Malmaison, Prince Albert, and iladame Desprez may be introduced ; also 

 Gloiie de Dijon and Eegulus as Teas. Some of the vigorous -growing Hybrid 

 Perpetuals, especially those related to the Bourbon or China section, may be 

 planted, as Louise Margottin, Louise Odier, and Modele de Perfection. As 

 you say your arch is 198 feet long, we would have 150 plants or more on each 

 side, say one h^If Roses and the alternate plants other cUmbers of the kindB 

 mentioned. Take care to plant the most robust growers on the side the Lime 

 trees occupy, and cut the latter away as the others advance. 



Watercress Culture {R. G.). — You must obtain plants and propagate 

 by dividing them. The trenches in which they are gi-own are so prepared 

 that nearly a depth of 3 or 4 inches of water can be kept up. These trenches 

 are 3 yards broad, and whenever one is to be jilantod the bottom is made 

 quite firm and slightly sloping, so that the water which tlows in at one end 

 may run out at the other. If the bottom of the trench is not sufficiently 

 moist, a small body of water is allowed to enter to soften it. The Cresses 

 are then divided into small cuttings, with roots attached to them, and these 

 are placed at the distance of 3 or 4 inches from each other. At the end of 

 five or sis days a slight di-essing of well-decomposed cow dung is spread oyer 

 all the plants, and this is pressed down by means of a heavy board, to which 

 a long handle is obliquely fixed. The water is then raised to the depth of 

 2 or 3 inches, and never higher. Each trench is thus replanted annually, and 

 furnishes twelve crops during the season. In the summer the Cresses are 

 gathered every fifteen or twenty days, but less frequently during winter; care 

 is taken that at each gathering at least a third part of the bed is left un- 

 touched, so that neither the roots may be exhausted nor the succeeding 

 gathering delayed. After every cutting a little decayed cow dung, in the pro- 

 portion of two large barrowsful to each trench, is spread over the naked 

 plants, and this is beaten down by means of the rammer above mentioned. 

 After the Watercresse^ have been thus treated for a twelvemonth the maniire 

 forms a tolerably thick layer at the bottom of the trench, and tends to raise 

 its level. To restoi'e it to its original level all the refuse should be thrown 

 out upon the borders which separate the trenches from each other. These 

 borders may be planted with Artichokes, Cabbages, or CaiHiflowers. 



Pampas Grass (C/i?rfc). — You may gather the flower-heads any time after 

 the stems cease to be green. 



Nectarines kot Ripening (E.E). — We do not think that insufficient 

 water is the cause. \Miat variety of Nectarine have you ? Is it the Red 

 Roman? This is a clingstone, a tine-looking fruit, and the flesh is always 

 tough, and generally in cold districts uneatable. 



Superior Apples {J. E.). — For Dessert: Devonshire Quarrenden, Early 

 Harvest, Cos's Orange Pippin, Ribston Pippin, Blenheim Orange or Pippin, 

 Sturmer Pippin. For Kitchen : Kentish Codlin, Cellini, Cox's Pomona, Haw- 

 thornden, Wellington, StMing Castle. If you want an Apple remai'kable for 

 its handsome appearance, substitute Emperor Alexander for Hawthornden. 



Fuchsia and Geranium Pruning {R. D. W.). — The question is too vague ; 

 the pruning varies with the season and object. For five postage stamps we 

 can send you free by post " Florists' Flowers," which will tell you all about 

 them. 



Site for Greenhouse (J. Jojics). — Your site in the back yard would 

 answer tolerably well for a greenhouse, but we do not think it would answer 

 for Vines, as the house would be deprived of the sun too long each day to 

 ripen Grapes, though they would ripen perfectly were you to assist them with 

 gentle tire heat in cold weather in spring and autumn. It would have been 

 much better to have had the house in a position where it would be fully ex- 

 posed to the suu. 



Planting Crocuses in Lawn (Ralph).— Yon may make holes about 

 S inches deep in the lawn, and drop into each a little fine soil ; then put in 

 the Crocuses, and fill up the hole with fine soil. Place the corms root-side 

 downwards. 



Primitla japonica with Short Flower-stems (F.J. T.). — The cause is 

 probably due to the plants ha\'ing been kept for the past sis months in a cool 

 greenhouse. They would have done much better out of doors, and not had 

 any protection. They have been kept growing, aud are weak, unduly started 

 into flower. Keep in a cold frame, and they will perform better in spring. 



Wintering Echeverias and MESE^rPRVANXHEMrais Udetnt. — Take them 

 up now and pot them in light, open, sandy loam, and keep rather dry over 

 the winter in a dry aud airy part of the greenhouse. The Echeverias are 

 best propagated from seed, and the Mesembrjauthemums from cuttings in 

 sand over sandy loam. Propagation is besc practised in August, or it may be 

 done now ; the only difflculty is to keep from damp. In your case we should 

 defer the operation until spring. 



Celery Hard (IF.). — It is caused by being grown slowly, and by the dry 

 weather we have had lately. The plants have not been duly surpHed with 

 manure in the trenches, and in a liquid state, and they should have had 

 copious waterings. Celery, however, is of very indifferent quality this season. 



Good-hearted Lettuce (W.). — For summer, the best Lettuces are the 

 Neapolitan Cabbage and Paris White Cos. All the Year Round has a close 

 firm head, and is good in spring, summer, and autumn. 



Protecting Plants in Greenhouse (S. noplandi. — We do not know of 

 any means by which you can keep frost from a greenhouse without a heating 

 apparatus. You might do much towards it by having frigi domo fixed to a 

 roller to let the blind down aud roll up as required. This would keep off_ 

 much frost, but would not be sufficient in severe weather. Your house being' 

 small, we advise you to have a gas-heating bidler, especially as you live in a 

 town. It would be as cheap as any other mode of heating, far more cleanly, 

 and better suited to your case. 



Ants in Greenhouse (A. X.). — The only plan we can think of is to mil 

 arsenic and honey together, forming a sort of paste, and place it in saucers, 

 inverting over each another saucer with three pieces of wood between. The 

 lower saucer should be placed in a pot with its edge level with the soil, 



