448 



JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



I December 4, 1873, 



planting. 6, Mrs. Pollock, edged with a broad band of Viola ; 7, 7» Scarlet 

 Geranium, edged with Me3embryanLhenium ; 8, Mixed or pincusbioa-beds of 

 Blue Lobelia and Variegated Mint ; 9, 9, Blue Lobelia. In view of future im- 

 provement procure a few plants each of Geraniums Rev. T. F. Fenn, Ama- 

 ranth, Maid of Kent, Vesta, Rose Bradwardinc, Mrs. Lain;^, and Bonfire for 

 the beauty of their iiowers. For fine foliage, choose Miss Kingsbury and 

 Duke of Edinburgh, white; Crystal Palace Gem, yellow; and Lady Cullum, 

 golden tricolor. Of other choice beddera take Alcemauthera araa?na, Sau- 

 tolina incaua, Golden Feather (Pyrethrum partbenifolium aureum), Centaurea 

 Clementei, Poleraonium ci'ernleum variegatum, Fcbeveria seeuuda glauca, 

 Sempervivum californicum, and Coleua Verschaffelti spleudeus. These are 

 klnis of sterling merit, and afford ample materials to plant your design well 

 and in good taste. 



Vinery on a Steep Incline {Market Qardc7ici-). — As you say the gi-ound 

 inclines about 1 foot in 10 towards the east, we would build the house on two 

 or more levels, as where a glass roof leans so much one way the water runs 

 along ouo side of each square and invariably finds its way inside. At the 

 same time we like to have a little incline in all our glass houses, say about 

 1 inch in 10 feet. This insures good action in the gutters, and the fall is not 

 apparent to the eye. We would have the back wall 11 or 12 feet high, as a 

 house for late-keeping Grapes oaght not to have too flat a roof, and the front 

 wall 3 feet high with trap-door openings for ventilation. As yon prefer a 

 fixed roof have a number of flaps along the top moveable on hinges, so as to 

 give air when wanted there. The latter may be moved by means of a lever- 

 crank or some other simple contrivance, moving about three (not more) at a 

 place, as having tjo many connected together rarely effects any saving of 

 time, but often the contrary. The width of the house may be about 14 feet 

 in the clear. This would give you a rafter of about 17 feet, which is ample ; 

 but as 2 feet of that length wdl be wanted for the ventilation at top, the 

 glazing-bars will be only 15 feet, and to support them we would advise a 

 pm-lin uuderueath about 8 feet from the front wall-plate, with timber pillars 

 8 feet or so apart to support it. We advise your buildiug the front wall on 

 arches, and we would plant all the permanent Vines inside, but there might 

 be a few planted in the outside border; those might be cut away as the 

 others advanced, or if they promised to do well they might be left. Wo would 

 select for the outside plants some long canes having two or three good 

 terminal buds, and if 8 or 9 feet long all the better, as we would cut out all 

 the buds but the two or three end ones, and plant the Vine as far from the 

 front wall as the cane will allow, merely so as to have its head inside and 

 above the soil, the stem being buried some 6 inches or so the whole way. 

 If the border is good it is not unlikely but these outside Vines may prove 

 some of the best. Those planted inside may be treated in the usual way. For 

 a year or two you might have a few against the back wall. For the 70 feet 

 of main roof wa would plant about twenty Vines inside, and say about ten 

 outside, afterwards cutting away or taking-up any that did not promise to do 

 well. As you want only such kinds as keep well till after Christmas, we con- 

 ceive you contemplate heating the house in some way, as it is seldom that 

 such kinds as Lady Downe's, Madresfield Court, and others do well without 

 fire heat at some time. We would, nevertheless, not omit Black Hamburgh, 

 as it might be cut first if it showed signs of decaying. Our selection for a 

 late house would be Alicauto, Lady Downe's, West's St. Peter's, Madresfield 

 Court, and Black Hamburgh as black, to which may also be added Gi'os Col- 

 man and Mrs. Pince. The white Grapes may consist of Muscat of Alexandria, 

 Trebbiano, and Calabrian Raisin ; the first named on account of its excellence 

 at table. There are other varieties that occasionally do well, as Black Prince 

 and Syrian, hut the above arc sutticient for your purpose, and as you do not 

 mention anything about the Vine border, we presume it is already formed by 

 nature for you. If suited to the wants of the Grape Vine, such a border is 

 better than any mixture, however valuable its ingredients may be. 



PnuNiNG Vines (tV. RiddcU). — The best time to prune Vines is as soon as 

 the leaves have fallen. If pruning is delayed the Vines will bleed, which 

 retards thera to a certain extent, although we do not think bleeding is other- 

 wise injurious. 



Treatment of Ouchard-house Trees (i"fi("m).—Onr orchai-d-house trees 

 in the neighbourhood of London aie always kept out of doors until about 

 Christmas. ^Ye think the trees are benefited thereby. On the other hand 

 Mr. Pearson, of Chilwell, Nottingham, finds that his trees are much injured 

 if they are placed out of doors in that district. It certainly retards the trees, 

 which will cause them to blossom later, and they would be more likely to 

 escape the frosts in an unheated structure. 



TuEATUENT OF ViNES (All Amatcitr). — It is too late to ripen the wood of 

 Vines now. Fire heat ought to have been apphed to them when the wood 

 wao changing to a light brown colour, and the leaves were fresh. Prune the 

 Vines at once. When you prune leave two or thi-ee good eyes at the base of 

 the side bi'anches, as the wood is badly ripened. Cutting the side branches 

 close back would entirely frustrate your hopes of a crop next year. 



Mill Hill Hamburgh— Vise Border {A. Z.). — The Mill Hill is the 

 best type of the large-berried Hambiu-ghs. The bunches are large and 

 shouldered, berries large and of excellent quality. Plant it by all means. 

 Drain your border as you propose ; it may do good, and cannot possibly do 

 harm. As the subsoil is dry it will not ibe necessary to concrete the bottom 

 of the border, but as you intend to add to the border at some future period, it 

 would be well to build a wall in front ; 4j-inch]work set in cement is the best. 

 Brick-on-edge in mortar would not keep the roots inside. The compost you 

 mention will suit very well, and tho turf may bo used freshly cut. 

 Briar Cuttings (7(^'»i).— It is better not to stop the growths. 

 CoLEUs Losing Leaves (W. H. L.). — It is probably occasioned by the 

 plants having at some time sufle:ed from cold. In a gi-eonhouse at tliis time 

 of year they can hardly be kept too ilry, so long as the leaves do not flag nor 

 the wood shrivel. To winter well, the plants x-equire a light airy position in a 

 cool stove or warm greenhouse. They should be young, and well-established 

 in pota in September, and he very carefully watered. Give the plants more 

 air and the warmest situation you can. A close atmosphere and too low a 

 temperatm'e will only cause them to die-off more quickly. 



Grafting Vine [R. S.). — The Black Muscat of Alexandria, or Muscat Ham- 

 burgh, will succeed on the Royal Ascot. It is desirable to have scion and 

 stock of the last year's wood. The scion need not be more than 6 inches long, 

 and should not have more than two eyes. The best timo to operate is when 

 the eyes of the stock are swelled — almost bursting, and at that timo the scions 

 should be dormant, keeping them ■nith the ends in moist clay or stuck in a 

 potato. All the eyes of the f>tock should be removed except one above the 

 X>laco of grafting, and this should not bo allowed to make more than one leaf. 

 The scion is best put on by side- grafting. Grafting is not the easiest plan 

 for a tyro ; inarching is better. It should bo practised when both stock and 



pcion are in leaf, encouraging the growth of the scion, but checking that of 

 the stock above the place of union. 



Cherry Blight (F. M. A'.).— The "black bHght " you mention is the Aphis 

 Cerasi. Steep 4 ozs. of tobacco in a gallon of water for a few days, stirring 

 and squeezing the tobacco. Dip the shoots into the infusion when that can 

 bo done, otherwise syringe thoroughly with the infusion. Next day syringe 

 with plain water, and repeat the application if some aphides stiP remain. 



FoNGUs in Mushroom Bed {J. E.).— The curious bodies which have 

 appeared in your Mushroom bed are an imperfect state of Xylaria vaporaria, 

 of which a notice will bo found in Linnean Transactions, xiiv. Mr. Currey 

 says, "In December, 18tj2, I planted it in damp sand covered it \vith a bell- 

 glass, and kept it moist in a warm room, in a window facing the south. The 

 fertile branches or receptacles som made their appearance above the surface 

 of the sand, and by the end of March ripe fruit was produced." The fungus 

 has occm-red once only before, iu Cornwall, under exactly the same conditions. 

 More specimens would be much valued. Was any pig dung by any chance 

 mixed with the horse manure ? We should be obliged by an answer to this 

 question. — M. J. B. 



Seedling Apple {fl. W.). — The Apple you have sent is not an improve- 

 ment on others already in cultivation ; and although it is, no doubt, useful to 

 the owner, would not be worth cultivating for the general benefit of the com- 

 munity. 



Select Roses {Old Subscriber). — Crimson and Scarlet : Charles Lefebvre, 

 Alfred Colomb, Mario Baumann, St'uateur Vaisse, Duke of Edinburgh, Louis 

 Van Houtte, Mdlle. Marie Rady, Dr. An dry, Victor Verdicr, Dupuy-Jamain, 

 I Jules Margottin, Maurice Bernardin, Red Rover, and Prince Leopold (for 

 pillars), Comtesse d'Oxford, and Madame Victor Verdier. Pivk and Rose : 

 Princess Christian, Mailame Rothschild, John Hopper, La France, Marquise 

 de Castellaoe, Mdlle. Eugt-nie Verdier, Emilie Hausburg, Monsieur Noman, 

 Anna Alexieff, Baronue Prevost, Baronne Louise Uxkull, Elizabeth Vigneron. 

 White : Boule de Ncige, Madame Vidot, Madame Rivers, Madame Alfred de 

 Rougemont, Coquette des Blanches, and Emotion. The above are all Hybrid 

 Perpetuals, and are such as seem to us suitable to your wautP, but the data 

 are insufficient. We cannot name half a dozen yellow Roses deeper in cslour 

 than Mari-chal Miel. There are plenty of salmon and coppery tints. 



Entomology (E. C.).— The " Entomologist," published by Lewmau' 

 Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, and the "Entomologist's Monthly Maga- 

 zine," published by Van Voorst, Paternotter Row, both at 6'i. monthly, aro 

 the only entomological journals now extant. Appai'atus maybe obtained of 

 Mr. Gardner, High Hotborn ; Mr. Meek, 5(J, Brompton Road; Mr. Eedlc, 

 40, Goldsmitli Row, Hackney Road: and of Mr. Downing, Whip's Crop's, 

 East Waltharastow, Esses. Most of the dealers in insects and apparatus have 

 the pupre of Papilio Machaon from December to May, price 4rf. or 5d. each. 

 Those of Vanessa Antiopa are not to be had for love or money. 



Peach Trees Over-luxuriant {C S.). — The vciy vigorous shoots wo 

 should shorten about one-third their length, as you are in want of leading 

 shoots ; and to induce fruitfulness we would take out a trench about 2 feet 

 from tlae stem, and cut off any strong roots, then work under the ball and 

 cutoff any riiots that have struck down, or lift the trees entiiely with good 

 balls and replant. They will never do any good as long as they make such 

 gross and unripe growths. The distance we give from the stem is calculated 

 upon the trees not haviog been planted more than five yeaua. The lifting 

 should be so practised that the fibres may be preserved, and only the thick 

 roots cut or shortened. Cucumbers would succeed in the vinery pit if the 

 Vines did not deprive them of too much light; but if the Vines are close- 

 planted, and cover the roof with foliage, Cucumbers would not succeed. 

 Mushi'ooms would do, but the bed ought now to be made, so that the crop 

 wlil come in before the vinery has a high temperature, as in that the Mush- 

 rooms are often anything but fleshy, and mostly maggoted. 



Climbers for Umbrella Trellises (T/tc S/irt/i}.— The best subjects are 

 the Clematises and Roses ; but as you ask when to sow the seed, we presume 

 you want plants for summer. The tall Trop^olums would answer ; the seed 

 may be sown in April where they are to flower, or, if of the Lohbianum 

 kinds, sow in a gentle hotbed early in that month, and plant out in May. 

 Other plants suitable as summer climbers are Cobttascandens, Eccromocarpus 

 Bcaber, Geranium Ball of Fue, Lophospermum Hendersoni, L. scandens, 

 Maurandya Barclayana and its white variety, Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, and 

 Trop.Tolum eanai'ieuse. Seeds of the last may be sown in gentle heat in 

 April, and tho seedlings planted out iu May. Some of the others may be 

 raised from seed sown in March in a hotbed and grown on, planting out at 

 the end of May, We advise Roses and Clematises as most suitable. 



Hydrangea Culture {T. M. A.). — The young Hydrangeas close to the 

 glass in the gi-eenhouse should have no more water than will keep the wood 

 plump. It is usual for the leaves to fall — all will or ought to fall ; and tho 

 plants should be kept di-y until the buds begin to swell in spring, and then 

 cut away the blackened points of the shoots (caused, wo consider, by the 

 wood not being ripe), leaving any that have prominent buds at the points. 

 Place in pots a size larger, using a compost of fibrous loanj, with a little 

 leaf soil and well-rotted manure, and keep duly watered and in a light fury 

 paii of the greenhouse, training out the shoots so as to form a nice plant. 



Ferns UNTHRi^aNO (J. S. W.). — The Ferns you sent ai'e — No. 2, Polyeti- 

 chum aculeatum ; No. 3, Polypodium vulgai-e. No. 1 was not enclosed. 

 They are both British, and the most enduiing of all in rooms, especially the 

 Polypody, but neither will stand the drying influence of gas. Thoy ought to 

 succeed in the unheated landing conservatory, but it is probably too dry and 

 draughty. Keep the soil and the atmosphere moist, but not so as to cause 

 the fronds to be constantly covered with moisture, aud they will grow well. 

 At this season their gi-owth is mature. 1'hey will not succeed in rooms 

 where gas is used, unless they are covered with a glats shade. 



Herbaceous Plants for Cut Flowers in September {A. MacN.).— 

 There are so few we know suitable for exhibition iu September, that we 

 should be obliged by the names of any that are useful for catting from. 



Climbers for Greenhouse Walls {A ConstanI Subscriber).— 'We pre- 

 sume that neither of the walls is shaded by plants or climbers on the roof 

 If they are, we can only advise Camellias, which aro better of slight shade 

 If not shaded, plant Habrothamuu.s fasciculatus for the longest wall, but it 

 is not nearly so quick a grower as Tacsonia Van-Volscmi, and for the end 

 have Lapageria rosea or Mandevilla suaveolens. Thoy would succeed much 

 better iu borders than in pots, tho soil being taken out 2 feet deep and 

 C inches of diainago put in. There should bo a drain to caiTy off aupeiiluons 

 water. Fill up with a compost of two parts fibrous loam, one part leaf soil, 

 and one part sandy peat, with a half part ot rotten manure and sand. This 



