May 16, 1867. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



Z4» 



is not sandy, silver sand should be added liberally. It is essential that 

 the pot be well drained. 



Parbnip Seed Eaten [I. fi.)-— The Parsnip seeds or rather husks have bad 

 their vitality destroyed by some weevil or beetle, i\nd not by slugs as you 

 suppose, for the seeds have never germinated. Had you scattered soot in 

 the drills before sowinp, wo think the seeds would have been jireserved, 

 and fts the pround is noiv infested with slugs, we adviae you to scatter 

 fresh lime over it at dai-k after a showery day. 



Temperature for Muscat of Alexaxdria Vine (A Young Gardener). 

 —The Muscat of Alexandria will do fairly in a house hftving a night 

 temperature of 65^, with a slight increase daring the flowering period. 

 The temperature is not too low, forcing being commenced froni the 

 middle of March to the beginning of April, in fact, it will do well in such 

 a temperature. There is no better variety than the Muscat of Alexandria, 

 though till,' Bowood Muscat is thought to be a more free setter. The 

 Muscat Hinaburf4h will succeed in an ordinary vinery, and so will the 

 White Tokay, if aflnrded a little fire heat when in Howcr, and wlien the 

 fruit is ripening. The White Tokay is a |fair setter, being about equal to 

 a Muscat iu that respect. The Muscat of Alexandria does as well on its 

 •wn roots as when worked on the Black Hamburgh, if not better. 



Pelargonium Leavhs Spotted (O. E. S.).— The leaves were spotted with 

 a funguR, arising most probably from the soil in which the plants are 

 growing being too rich and wet. The atmosphere is also too moist, and 

 not sufiSciently ventilated. Keep the soil drier, and admit more light and 

 air. If the border is badly di'ained, that will be suflicient to cause the 



Pkunus sinensis FLORE PLENo PRUNING {Qwack). — The plant not having 

 bloomed will have made new growth, which you cannot now shorten with- 

 out placing in jeopardy next year's bloom. You may, however, cut out 

 any straggling shoots, leaving enough new ones to form a compact plant. 

 It should be done forthwith. The secret of a good bloom is to secure a 

 good growth, and have it well ripened by exposure iu an open, sunny 

 situation. 



CucuMBKR Culture fWcm).— Extremes of heat and cold are not good 

 for anytbing. and success under such circumstances as you mention is 

 the high road to failure. The thermometer at IOj" occasionally will do 

 no harm apparently at the time, but you may ere long see your plants die 

 in an hour. Air should be given wlien the temperature rises to 80^, and 

 even earlier ; and what is meant by not exceeding 80'' is, that heat must 

 not be exceeded without air being plentifully given, which is sound 

 practice. It is well, too, if the thermometer do not fall below 65^ at night ; 

 but we have had it as low as 55'. The water used for watering will do 

 well after this if it be warmed in the sun or by hot water. 



Market Gardener IJ. W..jun.).—'SVe do not know any of the market 

 gardeners who attend Covent Garden Market with their produce. 



Roses not FLOWBnrao (W. A. O.). — Roses which have made their 

 growth without flowering should not We cut back unless of greater length 

 than necessary for the purpose required ; but they may, if straggling, 

 be cut back to the sixth leaf if weak, or to the eighth if strong. As 

 regards TeuJ, apply to Mr, Baily, 113, Mount Street, Grosvonor Sq,uare, 

 London. 



Jasmines Shedding thbib Flowers iO.P.), — From what yon say we 

 should think the flowers continue but a short time from the house being 

 too warm, and the roots of the plants not sufticieutly moist. Perhaps 

 slight shade would prolong the bloom. Keep them as cool as you 

 can. 



Plum Tree Blighted (A, H, J. L.). — The loaves are attacked by a 

 very peculiar parasitical fungus on their under surface. Dust under the 

 leaves perseveringly with flowers of sulphur, and have the surface of the 

 border over the tree's roots mulched, and watered during dry weather. 

 The Plum, we think, from your description, is the White Magnom 

 Bonum. 



White Lobelia (TT. S.).— Your seedling Lobelia is the best of the 

 white varieties we have seen. If compact in its habit and growth it will 

 be a great acquisition. 



Name of Vine (Live and Learn). — The Vine leaf, very large and downy, 

 resembles that of the Malvoisio de Trieste, a new sort, not perfectly 

 known in this country. It produces very luxuriant fuliage, but seems 

 unfruitful, and not likely to be worthy of cultivation. 



Roses (J. Gresty). — Wo are sorry that wo cannot aid you. The variatlea 

 of these and of all florists' flowers are so numerous, and many are so 

 nearly alike, that it is impossible to name them with certainty from cut 

 blooms. (S.E.). — Your specimen was too much faded to form u correct 

 opinion. We should think it might be Gloire de Dijon. 



Azalea (A. L. X.). — Your Azalea is very distinct from any we have 

 seen, but the roughness of the petals is decidedly much against it. As a 

 decorative plant it will be very useful, and had it but the smooth outline 

 of Criterion it would be lirst-rate. 



Names of Plants iJ. B. L.). — Scolopondrium vulgare, Lastrea dilatata, 

 var,, Asplenium fout'inum, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum. {A. H., Uek- 

 jleld). — 1, Adiautum hispidulum ; 2, S, aud 4, all varieties of Asplenium 

 flaccidum. iPhHohoidomo$}.~l, Saxifraga crassifolia ; 2, a. h. Iberis sem- 

 perflorens : S, Myosotis, sp. ; 4, Saxifraga Hottlerii (?); 5, Narcissus in- 

 comparabiHs (double). Ferns.~l, Nephrodium effusuni ; 2, Pellaea has- 

 tata ; 3, Pteris serrulata ; 4, Selaginella Martensii, var. {J. T., Newport)* 

 —Orchis mascula. iW. H. M , Kiliulne}.~Artih\s stricta. {E. S. B. G.). 

 — Sedum Rbodiola (British). {W. W. E. T^.).— 1, Sftlix aurita, var.; 

 2, Salix phylicifolia, var. {PanU. — Oruithogalum virens. {E. J,, Atherta), 

 — Nepeta glechoma. {Bradford). — Abies cephalonica. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS in the Suburbs of Londoii for the Week ending May 14th. 



POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CERONICLE. 



THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S 

 POULTRY SHOW AT BURY ST. EDMUNDS. 



I M'isn before it is too late to draw attention to the ex- 

 cessively early date fixed for closing the entries for the above 

 Show, being more than six weeks before the day of opening. 

 I do so in no unfriendly spirit, as the liberal prize list must 

 make every exhibitor desire a great success. 



At the time of year fixed for the Show iu question, as every 

 breeder knows, it is peculiarly difficult to tell so long before- 

 hand what birds will be available for exbibition purposes. 

 Your best liens may be broody, in which case they never 

 appear to advantage, or a thousand other circumstances may 

 occur, which may cause the intending exhibitor to prefer the 

 forfeit of his entries to sending his birds. Still, had this been 

 optional, I should not bave drawn attention to the matter; 

 but many may not have noticed that every certificate contains 

 an engagement to pay a flue of 10s. for every pen not sent, 

 thus entailing a loss of las. per pen in case of not sending. 

 Under such circumstances the long date is absolutely pre- 

 posterous and unjust, the only exceptions to the fine allowed 

 being death or disease. 



Such long notice cannot be necessary, and I beg to suggest 

 that the date for closing the list be postponed till June 15th. 

 No objection need be made on the score of past announce- 



ments, as a simple notification in the public journals would 

 reach, directly or indirectly, at least nine tenths of all the 

 regular exhibitors ; and I feel assured such a concession would 

 be received with satisfaction by all. 



For myself, I would be wiUing to risk the entrance fee ac- 

 cording to the usual custom ; but I am not willing to enter 

 birds six weeks and a half beforehand in the middle of sum- 

 mer, with an eneagement to pay 10s. in addition if I do not 

 send them. Unless this be altered I shall keep my fowls at 

 home, and many others will do the same. 



The intention of the fine is evidently to secure a good 

 show ; but will have just the contrary effect now attention is 

 drawn to it. The Committee have simply, with the very best 

 intentions, made ft mistake through want of practical ex- 

 perience iu poultry-show matters ; but we must all, for many 

 reasons, desire to see such a prize list as they offer well sup- 

 ported by exhibitors, and I hope it is not too late to bave the 

 mistake rectified. It may assist in this if others will express 

 their opinions. — Nemo. 



[We consider this is worthy of the immediate consideration 

 of the Society's Council. Time is needed for constructing the 

 pens, therefore without altering the date of entry, it might be 

 sufficient to announce that no fine will be imposed. — Ei;3. 



BRAHMA POOTRAS. 

 Tnour,H never a breeder of these birds, yet as a fair judge of 

 poultry in general, I may sta'e the following : — 

 The pea-combed Brahma Pootras were first produced from 



