436 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Jane 23, 1879. 



sented no obstaole to the unlimited use of sulphur to coun- 

 teract one of the worst enemies the Hop-growers had to con tend 

 with, the cnstom of the trade forbade its use, and a gentleman 

 who some years ago had the temerity to use sulphur as a pre- 

 ventive to mildew, had to pay damages to the extent of several 

 thousands of pounds. Now the uso of sulphur is no longer 

 forbidden by those to whom the Hop-grower knows he is com- 

 pelled to sell his produce, and this has led to greater freedom 

 of aetion ; the grower recollected he had suffered as much from 

 aphis as mildew, and a remedy for the one was as necessary 

 as for the other, and the buyers wisely offered no opposition 

 to the application of such things as were recommended as pre- 

 ventives of green fly. Great results having followed the uses of 

 Tobacco, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was importuned into 

 letting the grower have it duty free under oertain conditions 

 and in a certain form. Meanwhile other substances were 

 tried, and it was thought by using part soft soap with the To- 

 bacco the expense would be lessened. The result being satis- 

 factory, it became apparent that very little tobacco was neces- 

 sary ; and soon after the scheme of the Troasury for letting the 

 powers have tobacco duty free, in mixture with other sub- 

 stances, came into operation, it was found that the expen- 

 sive article was not wanted, and the manufacturers of duty- 

 free Tobacco for fumigating and other cultural purposes were 

 left almost without customers. Of course, a series of experi- 

 ments was required to bring this about, and it is possible the 

 lingering wish to use tobacco may still induce some to prefer 

 it to soft soap ; but the Government mixture has not found 

 much favour with Hop-growers in general. One who has many 

 acres of Hops told me that what little tobacco he used in 

 addition to soft soap last year, he obtained from the tobacco- 

 nist ; but, then, the proportion in which he used it with soft 

 soap was 1 in 40, and he did not seem to set much value 

 upon it as a help. Indeed its use is generally discontinued, 

 and soft soap alone in a diluted state is applied to an extent 

 that would astonish those not acquainted with the expenditure 

 incurred in Hop cultivation. I recollect being in company 

 with a friend from the midland counties one day last summer, 

 in one of the highways of this neighbourhood, when we met 

 a waggon loaded with soft soap, all consigned to one grower, 

 for the express purpose of ridding his grounds of the aphis, 

 and we had no difficulty in seeing the mode in which it was 

 nsed. It is first boiled in a quantity of water so as to thoroughly 

 dissolve it, afterwards more water is added to reduce it to the 

 proper strength, the usual practice being 1 lb. of soft soap to 

 ten gallons of water, and some have added 1 lb. of tobacco to 

 40 lbs. of soft soap, but in general the tobacco is omitted. 



Soft soap is so cheap, and a solution of it so easily made 

 and used, that its application to other plants besides the Hop 

 will at once suggest itself to yoar readers. How often do 

 we not see Roses suffering from aphides, and I have seen it so 

 applied with advantage, and with the Hop-grower's engine too ; 

 for it must be observed that the manufacturers of machinery 

 for projecting the soft-soap solution against the Hop plants have 

 been fully employed, and important improvements have been 

 effected, from the simple one-handed engine to those requiring 

 two or three men. One class of engine, however, soon fell 

 into disrepute — the hydropult ; its powers and durability both 

 failed it in the contest with other machines. I may add that 

 up to the time I write, Jane 13th, these engines have not been 

 in requisition this year, for the Hop plant is unusually clean. 

 Those having fruit trees affected by green fly, or Rose beds or 

 Verbenas suffering from the same enemy, I strongly advise to 

 use this remedy at once, and they will be surprised to find how 

 soon the offensive smell passes off ; and no stain worth men- 

 tioning is left when soft soap is applied at the strength above 

 recommended. If an example be necessary, I may say that we 

 applied it here to some Orange trees in a large conservatory 

 which it is difficult to fumigate, and feel quite satisfied with 

 the result, the disagreeable smell disappearing sooner than 

 that from tobacco water, and no traces were left behind it, 

 excepting such as were caused by the insect. Let all, there- 

 fore, who have plants suffering from any of the aphis family 

 lose no time in applying it at once, and if their operations be 

 somewhat on a large scale, I expect that amongst their other 

 stores in future will be found "a firkin of soft soap." 



Since writing the above, I have ascertained that the whole- 

 sale price of soft soap is under 2d. per lb. I also find that 

 some growers have been using it on their Apple trees to 

 counteract the evils arising from the maggot, while others have 

 used sulphur with the same object. There are many other 

 uses to which this substance may with advantage be applied, 



and I find by The Builder, that its employment for a purpose 

 for which it was recommended twelve or fifteen years ago — as 

 an outer coating or wash for the walls of dwelling-bouses to 

 keep out damp — haB been revived. A strong solution is recom- 

 mended, followed by a wash with alum water. Should it be 

 extensively used in the Hop gardens this season, I hope to be 

 able to give some account of it during the summer. — J. Robsoh. 



ROSES. 



I visited my " pupils," the Rev. R. Price, rector of Child 

 Okeford, and Mrs. Price, to-day, and was gratified by the 

 appearance of the Roses generally. These were especially 

 tine — Baroness de Rothschild, Vicomtesse de Vezins; La- 

 marque, the finest scented Rose in the world ; and Madame Mar- 

 gottin and Adrienne Christophle. both Tea Roses, and of great 

 excellence. The new Roses, Marquise de Castellane and 

 Albion, planted out about ten days ago in my own garden, 

 have passed a good degree for juveniles. 



The Rose I wish to speak of specially is Felix Genero. I 

 am cautious of recommending anything in a hurry. Last 

 year I wished to recommend the above Rose, but determined to 

 wait another year. I have eleven plants of it on the Manetti 

 stook ; I have no experience of it upon the Briar. It is the best 

 Rose, good in every possible respect, that I have seen since 

 Charles Lefebvre, Pierre Notting, and Lady Suffield came out. 

 It is well worthy of M. Lacharme, to whom I tender my 

 thanks. It needs no puffing ; in due time it will speak for 

 itself. It is good as to growth, health, foliage, formation, 

 colour, disposition of petals, outline, smoothness of aspect, 

 substance of petal — in short, I cannot see a fault in it. I 

 have eleven plants in bloom now, and I can see no difference 

 between one plant and another, or between one bloom and 

 another. It is a free bloomer, and I recommend it, on the 

 Manetti stock, to the rosarians of the whole world. 



The Roses here (Okeford Fitzpaine) are now wonderful. If 

 I have not highly recommended Marquise de Mortemart I 

 now make the amende. — W. F. Badcltffe. 



PRUNING ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. 



No. 2. 



EVERGREENS. 



Because evergreens retain their foliage in winter, forming 

 the best shelter, and affording the longest enjoyment, as a rule 

 they are the most extensively planted ; and, as they are looked 

 upon as objects pleasing to the eye, it is of importance that 

 their pruning should be attended to, in order that they may be 

 objects of beauty and interest at all seasons. The beauty and 

 interest of evergreen trees and shrubs may seem to be secured 

 in a plantation of unpruned Sprnce, Pine, Evergreen Oak, See., 

 when viewed at a distance, but even at a distance the difference 

 between pruned and unpruned trees is very great. Unpruned 

 groups assume a sort of wall-like aspect, very different from that 

 fine •' tufted " appearance we observe in all trees which, if 

 viewed from a distance, form groups, but on closer inspection 

 individually fina plants when aided by judicious pruning. 

 Whether formed naturally or by the aid of man, fine trees are 

 always admired, and to secure such being the rule, not the 

 exception, we must resort to pruning, and commence it at an 

 early stage of the plant's growth. 



Conifee.e. — Pruning is necessary even for these, though but 

 little is required ; still it is of great importance to attend to it 

 at an early stage of growth, for if deferred until the trees are of 

 considerable size and age they are more difficult to treat ; mis- 

 placed or adjoining branches cannot be cut off without creating 

 great gaps, but if removed as shoots the vacancy caused by 

 their removal is soon filled up. 



In pruning Conifers we should always bear in mind the 

 natural habit of the tree. All we seek by pruning is to aid 

 Nature in producing well-formed specimens, by taking away 

 deformities she is powerless in herself to remedy. 



It is of vast importance to all planters to plant those trees 

 most likely to form good specimens, and which have free 

 healthy constitutions. Such are all those raised from seed, 

 and as a rule they require the least assistance from man. 

 With no class of trees more than Conifer* is it requisite to have 

 the plants from seed. Some of that family never form any- 

 thing better than spreading ungainly plants when propagated 

 by cuttings or grafting. The latter is a very common practice 

 on the Continent, and now finding its way into our nurseries ; 

 i indeed, many obtain these worked plants from the Continent, 



