November 24, 1863. 



JOtTRNAL OF HOKTICULTTJBE A^D COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



419 



TEADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. 



William Bull, King's Eoad, Chelsea. — List of New, Beau- 

 tiful, aiid Rare Plants. 

 ' B. Whitham, Eeddish Eoad Kurseries, Stockport. — Cata- 

 logue of Forest, Fruit, arid OmoAnental Trees. 



Chivas & Weaver, Chester. — Priced List of Forest, Orna- 

 mental, and Fruit Trees, Evergreens, Roses, Sfc. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



***^ We request that no one will write privately to the de- 

 partmental writers of the " Journal of Horticulture, 

 Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so 

 doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and 

 expense. All communications should therefore be ad- 

 dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- 

 ture, 4'c., 162, Fleet Street, London, B.C. 



We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the 

 same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those 

 on Poultiy and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them 

 answered promptly and conveniently, but write them 

 on separate communications. Also never to send more 

 than two or three questions at once. 

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

 week. 



Dew (S. p. 5.),— Dew does not rise from the earth. It is a deposition 

 of atmospheric moisture, Vou will find an explanation of that and other 

 phenomena interesting to gardeners in '* The Science and Practice of Gar- 

 dening," which you can have free by post from our office for Ss. -id. 



Dissolving Bones (A Subscriber, Cheshire). — The cheapest mode of 

 buying sulphuric acid is by the carboy. It is very cheap, and any chemist 

 could supply you. The following proportions and directions will be a suffi- 

 cient guide :— On a small scale, 6 lbs. bone dust, 3 lbs. oil of vitriol, I^ lb. 

 water. Sprinkle the water on the bones first, and then add the vitriol. Be 

 careful, for it is very corrosive. Use a cask large enough to hold twice the 

 quantity. As much ashes or water may be mixed with the dissolved bones 

 as will enable you to sprinkle it over the plot of ground regularly. The 

 above quantity of bones and vitriol would be enough for lOP equare yards. 



Screen Before a Road [Sesperis). — Laurels will do very well if you 

 do not wish for a tall screen. Arbor Vitae grows somewhat taller than 

 Laurels. We would plant Laurels, Portugal and common, and Hollies if 

 we wanted a low screen, and add Firs at the back if these were too low. 

 From now until April, in mild weather, is the proper time to plant them. 

 You are rightly informed. Laurels grow fast and soon attain a moderate 

 height. To shelter the house the various Coniferae are well adapted for the 

 purpose; but, instead of planting Firs exclusively, we would plant but 

 one or, at least, only two of a species. They would be rather more es- 

 penaive, but that would be amply compensated for by the additional 

 interest they would afford you. You would have many and varied forms, 

 which, we think, would please you more than monotony. Firs, Pines, 

 Cedars, Cupressus, Taxus, Araucaria, Cryptomeria, Picea, andWellingtonia 

 gigantea, can be had at any nursery for a small sum. The beginning of 

 March is a good time to plant them, but we prefer moving them from 

 September and October to the middle of November. The Laurels move 

 best when about 2 feet high, and Firs at any size providing they have 

 been duly transplanted. Three feet is a good size, but tUoae which are less 

 are cheaper and are transplanted with greater satety. 



Bone Dust Foa a Vine-bohdkr [A Constant Subscriber, Yorkshire), — 

 The bone dust should be applied in March, and the guano at the same time. 

 The bone dust should be neatly worked into the border without going so 

 deep as to injure the roots. The guano had better be spread on the surface 

 at twice — in AI arch and May. Rains would wash its fertilising properties 

 down to the roots; but should you dig it In there is a probability of its 

 reaching the roots in its pure state and destroying them. We think it 

 would do tbem good, unless the roots are deep, when lifting would be 

 better. 



Mistletoe oh a Peach Trek (Idem).— We never heard of Mistletoe 

 growing on the Peach, either in Yorkshire or in any other locality. It 

 is usually found in Yorkshire on the Crab Apple, Thorn, Poplar, and Lime 

 trees. We have not seen it on the Oak, Ash, Elm, nor any other common 

 tree. We should be obliged by correspondents stating whether they have 

 found it on any of the Conifers, as there is a prevalent opinion thut 

 it will not grow on trees affording resin. Though it grows freely on the 

 common Thorn (Cralipgus oxycantha), we failed to make it grow on any 

 of the North American species. We should also be obliged by any inform- 

 ation relating to Mistletoe found on any description of tree other than those 

 specified. 



StZPHAKOTIS FLORIBONDA AND IPOM^A HORSPALLI^ PrUNINO (An Old Sjlh- 



scrtber).— The Stephanotis may be pruned at once. The pruning is simply 

 thinning-out the shoots and catting out the w eak, old, and useless parts. You 

 might probably obtain a second bloom, but we would advise you to be content 

 with one rich display, as too much esciteraent has a tendency to weaken 

 plants so subjected. The Iporoaea may be cut back to some prominent 

 eyes, the nearer the root the better. You may do it now, but you nmst 

 allow the plant a period of rest. Three months are not too long, yet it does 

 moderately well after a rest of six weeks. The longer the roots rest the 

 stronger growth and finer bloom may be expected from them. 



Hot-water Pipes and Roots {Old Subscriber, Nottingham).^The pipes 

 should be at least 1 loot from the stems of your Peach trees. Three inches 

 is too near the stems to place hot-water pipes. From 9 inches to 1 foot is 

 the distance we recommend in your case. Vine roots are situated at about 

 1 foot from the surface, some deeper and some shallower ; but, as a rule, in 

 well-made borders they do not run deeper than 20 inches, whilst in some 

 cases they penetrate to a depth of 4 feet. 



Buoxmouth Grape {J. F.).~-A.a the Fruit Conwuittee were not requested 

 to do more than say whether or not they considered Mr. Denham's Grape 

 the Muscat of Alexandria, they did not express any opinion upon its identi- 

 fication. It would, indeed, have been impolitic to have done so in the absence 

 of further information, and of seeing the Iruit growing on the Vine. There is 

 reason, however, to believe that it is tlie true White Tokay; but upon this 

 point it would be useless to assert anything without having had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining it thoroughly. 



ALOCAStA MACEOaHIZA VARIEOATA PrOPAGATTNO AND MaNAOINO (One 



of the Try Company).— It is propagated from suckers. These rise near the 

 stem of the old plant. The soil is removed down to where the sucker rises 

 from the root, and the latter is there cut off with a sharp knife, taking the 

 least touch of the old root along with it. This operation Is best done in the 

 process of repotting tbe old plant. Use very turfy peat and loum from rotted 

 turves half, leaf mould a quarter, and bits of charcoal (broken fine for 

 cuttings, and not larger than a hazel nut for established plants), and silver 

 sand the remainder. In this the cuttings are placed, if very small, in 

 60-sized pots, and the others in a larger size, just sufficient to hold them 

 without cramping. A gentle watering is given, and the pots being plunged 

 in a mild bottom heat of 75^ to 80°, place a bell-glass over them. Keep 

 close and shaded for a few days, and the suckers will soon become estab- 

 lished. Gradually harden-off and grow on in the stove, potting as often as 

 the plants fill the pots with roots. Perfect drainage is essential, and a 

 moist close atmosphere must be maintained to have the plant in perfection. 

 It is hardly possible to give it too much encouragement ; therefore the shifts 

 should be frequent, the watering copious, no dribbling but a thorough 

 wetting. It must be shaded from strong sun, and kept as near the glass 

 as its size will permit. In future pottings the charcoal should be more 

 plentiful, using leas sand— in other respects the compost recommended 

 for raising the plants is suitable. A winter temperature of 60^ to G6° at night, 

 with a rise of lo° to 15° by day, and one in summer of 70'' to 7o° by night, and 

 85^ to 90'^ by day, will grow this plant something like a monstrous Victoria 

 Khubarb plant with leaves nearly a yard across. Plenty of moisture, a sweet 

 atmosphere, and a high temperature, with plenty of pot room, are the 

 main points in its cultivation. 



Sph^rogtne latifolia Pbopagatino and Manaoino [Idem).— This is 

 propagated from cuttings of the hall-ripened shoots. If the cutting has 

 tbree joints, one below, inserted in the soil, and another above, with the 

 apex or growing point, they are just the sort. These, Inserted singly 

 in small pots in a compost of peat and silver sand, root rather freely in 

 a bottom heat of 75" to 30° with a bell-glass over them. They will be 

 well rooted in about six weeks, when they should be hardened a little 

 prior to their bemg placed in the stove. The heat of an ordmary stove 

 suits it. The plant requires a moist atmosphere, and shade from very 

 bright sun. A compost of turfy peat half, light turfy loam and leaf 

 mould in equal parts of the remainder, wifh a liberal admixture of silver 

 sand is the most suitable soil. Perfect drainage must be provided, and the 

 plants require potting when the pots become full of roots. 



Vineries, Peach-houses, &c. [G. PooI).~ln articles by Mr. Thomson, 

 Mr. Fish, and others you would see much ou the arrangement of houses, 

 and there is also much particular matter at page 400 in answer to corre- 

 spondents. With such a carte blanche as you give, and no particulars, we 

 might rewrite a volume and then not meet your individual cise. See 

 description of houses at Keele and Trentham. We think your first house 

 will do very well. We presume the roof has a steep slope. A steep roof is 

 also best for late Grapes. Your late house should be allowed to break 

 naturally, or rather be kept back from breaking. It will need tire heat 

 chiefly when the Vines are in bloom, and then in the autumn and winter to 

 keep the Grapes from damping. These are tbe cheapest Grapes, and, 

 perhaps, the most useful, as they come in when other fruits are scarce. 

 Fine plants are grown in lean-to houses, but span-roofed houses are best— 

 unless in cold northern districts, when a wall on the north side, or part of 

 tbe north hide so as to make a hipped roof, is an advantage merely on the 

 score of warmth. Where fuel ia plentiful the span roof is the best and 

 most convenient. 



Climbers foe Wall (TT. 5.).— Lonicera aureo-reticulata ; Pynis japo- 

 nica, ditto white; Passitiora coerulea, and P. Neumanni ; Wistaria sinensis 

 and alba ; Magnolia grundiflora; Lonicera brachypoda, fl.exuosa. and fra- 

 granti^ima; Jasminum nuditlorum, officinale, revolutura, and Wuliichianum ; 

 Aristolochia sipho ; Bignonia grandiflora, B. radicans major ; Clematis 

 azurea grandiflora, C. flammula, lanuginosa, odorata ccerulea, and Sieboldi ; 

 Atragene austriaca. In addition to these there are numerous cUmtjing 

 Rcaes. 



Flowekinq Shrubs op Low Growth (/(fern).— Andromeda floribunda, 

 and formosa ; Beroeris of sorts ; AhhEea frutex ; Tree Peeony, many kinds ; 

 Buddlea globosa; Potentilla floribunda, and fruticosa ; CUtus, several 

 varieties; Cytisus in variety; Deutzia gracilis grandiflora, and scabra ; 

 Daphnes; Furze (double); Leycesterla formosa; Ribes aureum, san- 

 guineum, var. album, and var. atropurpureum ; and Spiraeas in great variety. 

 EvEBGRRE-'f FOE CENTRE OP Beps (/rf^m). — Cupressus Lawsoniana, 

 Juniperus stricta, and Thuja aurea. The last we think would answer your 

 purpose better than Bay trees, which are not hardy everywhero. 



Soil for Vines in Pots (Jf. G. if.). — We do not recommend pressing 

 the soil very hard in making a Vine-border. The soil shoald be packed 

 rather firmly together with the fork, but no treading or ramming must 

 be allowed. The soil will become quite firm enough in time without 

 any ramming or pressing. The author of the book you name is not the 

 same person of the name that writes for this Journal. The book, however, 

 is a good one. 



Repotting Calceolaeias, &c.— Lobelia Paxtoniana (iVe«f(o).— In your 

 circumstances it would be as well to defer repotting until the change of the 

 day— say the 1st of January, then give a small shift— say into seven or 

 seven-and-a-half-inch pots. You cannot well strike the Lobelia now with- 

 out more help than a cold frame. Encourage growth and take off cuttings 

 as soon as vou can get a little heat in spring. You might easily make a 

 little propagating-box inside of your living-room. We cannot say where 

 you can get Chrysanthemum seeds. The raisers are not likely to part with 

 their best seed. They are raised easily from seed, 



WiNTBaiNo Geraniums in a Cellar {Xovice).—V{e prefer taking off 

 the soft parts of Geranium-shoots, removing all the leaves, dipping the 

 tops left in quicklime, and packing the roots in dryish earth, or moss neither 

 dry nor wet, for keeping in a cellar. The great thing is to preserve vitality 

 but to prevent growth. 



