December 13, 1867. I 



JOURNAL OF HORTIOULTOBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



448 



M«nettl stock. nupTOlally it the part from which the roots talie tbelrrise 



in far romovpd from the surfuco. As your Rose in placed njfainRt n wall 

 it is prubiiljli! that it will Ktriltc on its own roots. If it do not do so it will 

 ho well to littop the ground stirred, so as to admit Ibo wurmtb of tbo sun 

 and air to tbo roots. Jiiuno Dosprozis ii protty Ten-sconlcd Noisette, and 

 a rampoiit Rrowor, and I hope you have Kivtn it a wide berth. It must be 

 cut very little. It is not up to the times, iiiid a wall would have boon 

 much lielter devoted t.i SoKuterrc, Marjcbal Niel. Cilini' Forestier, Tri- 

 omphe de I'.cnnes, and Ololre de DiJou, nil notable yellow Roses, and 

 nbnndaut bloomom tlirou'^b tbo season, boBinnlni,' nRainst walls as early 

 as May, and bloomlnn till stopped by tljo winter.— \V. F. Radclvkie." 



C05IMENCKMF.XT OF WINTER {.vr.).~Tbo Season commences on the 

 •2'iud of Di'comber. You will Bud it so stated in the " Year Uook " and in 

 " The Gardeners' Almanac " lor la&S. 



Peerekvixo (Jrapes <R. It. .9.1.— Dipping them In lime water must bo 

 very objectionable, (or it would not adhere to them unless the bloom were 

 llrst rubbed oil', and then a Rreat beauty is taken from tliem. If the lime 

 did adhere, wo do not think it would preserve the Grapes longer than 

 they can be preserved without it. They maybe kept for months if hung, 

 stalk end downwards, in a cold, dry, dark closet. 



Man ok Kent.— We remember the sltniatiirc, but cannot find any letter. 

 The insect you sketched wo think is the rod spider. 



Waltosia.s Case (II. ijivina).— You had bettor advertise it, stating 

 particulars. 



Various (<3. il/cD.). There is n demand for forced Strawberries, and 

 they pay if Brown skiifuily. They do not bear travelling a long distance. 

 No doubt Crlino would answer as a stock lor some Roses : but no one, 

 unless it has boon tried, can say which. Wo do not think a fortune 

 would be made by growing Mauetti stocks for the trade. 



Heating e.- Gas HI'. G. II',),- In our No. »4I, published on the 10th of 

 October, are plans of all tlie modes of heating by gns. The last stove 

 mentioned thrre would, probably, suit you. 



HEATrxo A Small Greeniioct;«: ,11'. IT.).— Wo thinu that in your 

 small honse vou conbl have made your flue give you all the heat that 

 would be necessary ; but as you have a boiler it will bo as well to use it. 

 We do not quite understand your proposed modes of usii g your two inch 

 pipes; but wo can see that so mauy curved linos will i>e very awkward; 

 and wo think you labour under some niisconceptiou as to tho sunply- 

 clstem, taking'tlio How and return there through stacks of pipes, &c. 

 Now, to make the matter as simple as possible, we will remark that tho 

 two inch pipes you have will answer your purpose : they will heat more 

 quickly and cool moro quickly than larger pipes. They may be placed 

 above each other, with a socket joint at each end : but the best mode 

 wotUd be to have three or four of these pipes on the level, and one as tho 

 rotam pipe, either on the same or a lower level. One of these sets you 

 could have for top heat, and one for bottom heat. If yon wanted top heat 

 and bottom heat at the same time, then all you would have to do would 

 be to have a T-pleco at the top and X-pioce at the bottem of the boiler, 

 and from the top take your two-inch flow into eacli brancli, and from the 

 farthest end of tbost! branch stacks of pipes bring n pipe back to tho 

 T-piece at the bottom. However you arrange it, your flow pipe must 

 come from the top of the boiler, and your return pipe must have access to 

 the bottom of the boiler. Uy the above mode, with a supply-cistern 

 higher than tiie pipes, and commnnicating with these pipes, or. better 

 still, with tbo bottom of the boiler, you would need nothing but a gas 

 pipe open to tlie air at the farther end of yourstackof pipes. If you resolved 

 tp have it in your power to heat only one of these stacks of pipes at a 

 time, then you would require to have a valve on each branch of your 

 X flow pipe : or you may take a single flow pipe from the top of the 

 boiler direct to a supply-eistem, and from thence take a flow into each 

 stack of pipes, to be put on or shut off at pleasure by plugs. Of course, 

 in that case, tho return pipe from each stack must go to the bottom of 

 the boiler. If your stack of pipes is alt on a level you will obtain more 

 heat from them. Suppose you had four pipes altogether, then your flow 

 mast enter into a flange or socket containing three pipes, tho farther 

 end mnst have an open socket for four pipes, and the fourth will then 

 form the return, and, supported at the near end, must go from thence to 

 the boiler. We are thus particular because not long ago a place was 

 nearly blown up because it was not considered necessary to take the flow 

 pipe from the top and the return pipe to the bottom of the boiler. 



Ferns (.-i r-isi-nhire Gardftur).~We cannot enter into details; time 

 would not sufllce to do moro than name plants. Tho causes of sporting 

 are various and very obscure. 



Melon. HOUSE (K. S. C.).— In vols. 7, S, and 11 are plans of Melon- 

 houses and full cultural directions. 



Walls 1.^71 01.1 .Sufcimtrr).- Tho notes on walls are on page 497 of 

 TOl. ix.. First J'eries. Recorameudations will often vary with the practical 

 men consulted, and a slight difference in tho heights and breadths is not 

 productive of serious consequences. 



TjONTEn Water.— " At page 4'2G Mr. R. Fish wishes to Itnow what will 

 care the bad smell of tainte,! water in n large tank. In n similar case 

 I have found jiutting wcll-charrod pieces of wood 1 charcoal) very effec- 

 tnal, to be put in in large pieces, and to remain in. — D. H." 



PEArn Thf.es Inff.sted with Red Stideu i-in out Stitijieribfr), — Dis- 

 solve H 07S. of soft soap in a gallon of tobncco water, and add sufBcient 

 salpbur to bring it to the consistency of paint ; then paint the trees in 

 every part with the mixture, u-inga brush, being csreful not to dislodge tho 

 buds. The dressing ought to be done before the buds begin to swell, and 

 the whole of the wooilwork and every part of the house shoald be tho- 

 roughly cleaned ; the woodw.irk with soap and water, taking care not to 

 allow the soapv water to touch the glass, which siiould be cleaned with 

 water only. The walls should be whitewashed, adding 1 lb. of flowers of 

 snlphnr to every gallon of whitewash. The mixture of soft soap and 

 sulphur which you used last year was, no doubt, too strong for the trees. 

 ana might cau^o the buds to fall ; but the severe sttack of red spider 

 was in itself sufiicientto make them fall. The trees should have amoister 

 atmosphere, and be properly supplied with water at tho roots, during the 

 growing s,'n8on. 



Peaf.s Uottino AT THE CORE (R. iV. /.). — The evil you complain of is 

 probably due to tlie variety, and we do not know how you could prevent 

 it, unless placing the fruit in a dry room with a temperature of .10= to 

 4."i^ would answer. Tho roots being near the surface, it will bo well to top- 



dress the soil with a rich compost, aa one consisting of tnrf cut 2 inches 

 thick, and chopped, enriched with an equal balk of fresh manure. A 

 dressing. « inches thick, may now be applied, the surface twlng provioosly 

 scraped off down to tho roots, and tho old soil taken away. 



Clttino Off Pentstemon Stems (Fnirj/ Footi(ep»l.— It is not good to 

 cut off the stems of these plants at this season; but lor the sako of neat- 

 ness onyoU flowerstonis and decayed foliage maybe rcm.jvcd. The 

 stems are much better left on, lor they servo as a kind ol protection to 

 the plants in severe weather. 



IIoTPED FOR CuiXMRERS (.1 YoHiio BcainnT).— You ought in January 

 to procure a quantity of fresh stable manure and throw it into a heap, 

 sprinkling it with water as it is being miic.l, it it is at all dr>- or strawy. 

 When it has bcg\m to heal and becomes quite warm you ought to turn it 

 over, patting the outside to the inside, and otherwise thorouglily mix It, 

 giving it a g.iod watering. After ten dovs or a fortnight it will have be- 

 come hot. and will have parted with a quantity of r.^nk steam, when yon 

 may mark out a space 1 foot wider than the frame all round, and make 

 up a bed 4 feet high in front and S feet high at back, the dung being well- 

 shaken out, beaten down, and mixed. Tho frame and the lights may 

 then be put on, drawing the latter on closely. When tho heat has risen 

 in the bed the lights mnv be taken olT, and tho frame also it the bed has 

 settled irregularly, in which case tho bed should bo made even by the 

 addition of more dung. The frame and lights may then be replaced, 

 and when the heat becomes strong and a <|uautity of steom rises in the 

 frame, the hgbts should bo left open a little at back to allow it to pass 

 awav. A stout stick or small stake ought to be thrust into the bed from 

 the back immediately under tho frame, and should enter the dung about 

 2 feet ; by drawing out this stoke and taking hold ol it with the hand at 

 the end farthest in the bed, you will be able to tell when you may put ia 

 tho soil, and that is when the stick can be hold in the hand comfortably. 

 A barrowl oad of rather strong turfy loam may be placed under each light, 

 tho whole of tho bod being covered with about an inch of soil, and the 

 remainder piled up under the centre of the light in tbo form of n cone. 

 The soil ought to be dry rather than wet. In three or four days yon may 

 plant the Cucuinbers, thcv having previously been raised in another hot- 

 bed, which need not be made so high by a foot, and that should be made 

 three weeks sooner than the bed in which the plants are to be planted. 

 The seed should be sown in light soil in pots, and kept just moist. When 

 tho plants are showing their rough leaves pot them off singly in sinaU 

 pots, putting tlium in quite np to the leaves, and using some soil that has 

 been placed in tho frame a few days previously to become warm. Water 

 carefuUv, anil always with warm woter. When the plants have made two 

 rough loaves take out tho point with a knife, and in « week or ten days 

 they will be fit to plant out in the fruiting-bed. For the raising of the 

 plants the bed need not be covered with moro than an ineh or two of soil. 

 A good Cucumber for general purposes is Telegraph. Kirklees Hall Defi- 

 ance, and Berkshire Champion are good, tho latter if a Cncumber be 

 wanted often. 



E.VRLY PonTOES (Warn).— -\ ridge made the same as a ground vinerv, 

 and covered with oiled paper, would, if placed upon a mild hotbed, furnish 

 you with early Potatoes much sooner than you could have them from tho 

 open ground without protection. Sheets of neA-8p,iper wUl answer well 

 if coated ouce with linseed oil. 



Annuals in Pots (Boiorcs).— Yonr annuals in a cold frame ought to 

 have tho pots plunged to the rim in coal ashes, and they should have air 

 when the weather is mild and dry, the lights being drawn off entirely ; 

 whilst when the air is moist, or tho weather wet, the lights ought t3 

 remain on, but be tilted at tho back to allow ot a free circulation of air. 

 In severe we.ather the lights ought to have a covering of mats thrown 

 over them. The plants may bo planted out in the borders in JIarch if the 

 weather be mild, otherwise early in April. After February yoii should 

 harden them off by drawing off the lights entirely in mUd weather, only 

 using them in case of heavy rains and frosty nights. 



Clematis (fiifml.— Clematis montana grandiflora has a larger flower 

 than C. flammula, and is no doubt that which you require; but the 

 flowers of C. flammula ore sweet-scented, and on that account the plant is 

 a great favourite. 



CcccHnEP.s FOR Winter and ScintBR— Melon for EiHrnrTioK 

 (T. C. <J.).— Telegraph and Lord Kfuvou's Favourite are good winter 

 sorts ; but as you reqnire a large sort, Kirklees Hall Detlanco will suit 

 you for winter. Dale's Conqueror is probably the finest Cucumber for 

 eihibition, and it attains a very large si-^e— from 8) to S8 inches in length 

 under superior cuUivotion. A g.iod Melon is Meredith's Hybrid Cash- 

 mere, and Mouusden's Moreton Hall is excellent; but it is difflralt to 

 name a single variety for eihibition, as the palm is earned off by different 

 varieties at different exhibitions. 



FcMioATiNo with Sulphue (D. H.).— The placing of sulphur on red 

 hot cinders or coals, and tilling the vinery with tho fumes, wiU injaia 

 the Vines very much if not destroy them. 



Protecting rnoM Frost (F. U.. Srvrnoal;>).—Yom framework may bo 

 covered with tiffioy No. "J, fastening it on the frame with r.iuc naUs 

 having large flat beads. A strip of cloth or list placed upon the tiff.uiy 

 and the naUs driven through it, will prevent their tearing tho tifliiny at 

 tho noil heads. Tho strength of tiffany named is excellent for protecting 

 trees from frost ; but it ought not to be kept over trees in blossom for any 

 considerable leucth of time by day, though it may remain over them 

 during frosty periods. Pear trees do not need shade from sun. 



P.Asi'BERRY Culture (J. D.. .V.D.I.-Ot the poor, thin, short canes, 

 twenty or more to each stool, all which bore fruit this year ought nowUi 

 be cut off close to the ground, aud tho cams of the current year s growth 

 should be reduce.l from twenty or moro to six of the strongest, piUUng np 

 by the root as nionv as vou can witheut injuring tho.sc left, and those 

 you cannot pull upmoy'bo dug up ; but i( they come from tho same root- 

 stem as those ot the strongest canes retained for friut next year they 

 should be e-.-.t off close to the ground with a knife. This done, yon may 

 drive in a st-.ut slake bv each stool or root, bo that it may he 4 feet ont of 

 the ground, and to this'tie the canes, moking them fast. H they roach 

 above the stakes vou mav make one tie immediately above the slakes, 

 and shorten the canes to an inch above Ito last tie. The loose soil shoald 

 be feraied away from the rools of each, and for o distance of 18 inches 

 all round not going so deep as to disturb the root-s. Place round each 

 stool a dressing of well-rottcd manarc 2 or S inches thick, and give tho 

 whole of the space between the rows an equ.il costing of manure, which 



