Jane 30, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



simple means. We were glad, therefore, to see Mr. Robson 

 bringing soft-soap water so prominently into notice. Of all 

 waBb.es we like it the best, and have frequently recommended 

 it. It is far preferable to common soap, though even that is 

 not to be despised. If we do not boil the soap, we have it 

 dissolved in hot water, and let it Btand some hours before we 

 mix it with the syringing water. Except for particular cases, 

 we have as yet seldom nsed it more than a third of the strength 

 recommended by Mr. Robson — that is, about thirty gallons of 

 water to the ponnl. We know of no insect that cares to come 

 in contact with it. The only drawback hitherto has been the 

 price, as in retail shops in the country it is rather dear. If it 

 can be had for something like 2d. per pound, then we shall 

 have the cheapest and most effectual remedy for insects in all 

 cases where the syringe or the engine can be freely used. We 

 cannot say we have used it much so strong as Mr. Robson 

 refers to, but even at 1 lb. to thirty gallons it is pretty effectual, 

 and, as far as we can perceive, instead of being injurious is 

 beneficial to vegetation. The cleanliness of the wash, and its 

 comparative freedom from offensive smell, greatly depend on 

 thoroughly dissolving the soap, and allowing it to stand some 

 time before mixing it with the water. We shall look with 

 great interest to Mr. Robson's report on its use on a large scale. 

 Few gardeners, however overrun with insects, would think of 

 a waggonload ; but, instead of a few pounds, many of us could 

 manage a hundredweight if the price were much reduced. 



ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



Had we a change of weather, we might do a little to our flower- 

 bed edgings, just to give more variety and fulness, but it is 

 useless to plant in soil like dust, and little or no water to give 

 them. As it is, the beds now beat the lawn. We have hardly 

 lost anything from the drought, except half a dozen Calceolarias. 

 They have been well in bloom for weeks, and are standing the 

 dryness well. Besides the reasons already given, we place 

 much reliance on surface-stirring. We think the surface of 

 most of the beds and borders has been stirred with a Dutch hoe 

 twice during the week. No attempt was made to rake them 

 fine ; in fact, a rake is an abomination to us, with its destruc- 

 tive teeth, but a good hoer will leave all very neat by just 

 drawing his hoe over open spaces. If we had a few showery 

 dull days there would not be much room for the smallest hoe. 

 If we have no change, we must mulch Calceolarias before this 

 is in print. Heat above, and coolness and moisture beneath, 

 are the essentials for their free and healthy growth and bloom- 

 ing. The mulching will assist in securing coolness and moisture. 



Many plants are now demanding attention. Hollyhocks and 

 Dahlias need thinning and staking, and the latter mulching ; 

 Verbenas require pegging, if not bushed up ; Rhododendrons, 

 watering, or mulching, or both ; and Pinks and Cloves to have 

 cuttings taken from them and inserted under hand-lights. Pot 

 Roses ought to be plunged to secure free growth, and yet should 

 have attention paid to drainage. Pinks and Cloves ought to 

 be potted for forcing, in order that they may be well established 

 before winter. Cuttings of Roses may be inserted in a shady 

 place in soil nearly all sand ; and when they have formed a callus 

 they should be potted and placed in a little bottom heat with 

 a close atmosphere until rooting freely. Many of our house 

 plants we frequently use badly after they have served their 

 purpose. Cytisuses stand very well out of doors, and so do 

 Camellias and Azaleas after their buds are set, but they would 

 do quite as well, if not better, if they were continued under 

 glass. They are often removed that other plants fine in flower 

 or in leaf, as Coleuses, Caladiuma, Begonias, and flowering 

 Pelargoniums may be brought in, but they are often injured 

 from the rougher treatment. Heaths that have made their 

 wood in a cold pit should now have plenty of air. Epacrises 

 making their wood should be kept rather close to encourage 

 growth. More air and full exposure to sun will be required in 

 August. Many plants that need pruning back after blooming, 

 succeed best when they have a season of free growth, and then 

 that growth stopped and matured by degrees by a free exposure 

 to sun and air. Most of our greenhouse plants, if gradually 

 inured to it, will stand our fiercest sun uninjured, but the roots 

 in pots are apt to be kiln-baked and the fibres burned up. The 

 best securities are double pots with a space of shut-in air 

 between them, Bhading the pots, or setting them in narrow pits, 

 bo that the pots are somewhat protected and shaded whilst the 

 tops of the plants are exposed. 



We shall have a lot of potting directly of large -flowering and 

 scarlet Pelargoniums for late bloom, Chrysanthemums, Salvias, 

 and Ferns for vases and cutting from. — R. F. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 

 In the Suburbs of London for the week ending June 2Sth. 



22.— Cloudy bnt fiiie ; exceedingly hot ; cloudy but fine. 



23.— Fine, overcast ; fine ; clear and fine. 



24.— Densely overcast; slight rain ; clear at night. 



25.— Fine but cloudy ; fine, cold wind ; clear. 



26.— Overcast ; fine, overcast, densely overcast. 



27.— Densely overcast ; cloudy, fine : denselv overcast 



28.— Cloudy but fine; overcast; cloudy but fine. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



•** We request that no one -will write privately to any of the 

 correspondents of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. AU 

 communications should therefore be addressed solely to 

 The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, dc, 171, Fleet 

 Street, London, E.G, 



Books (Preston).— Apply to Messrs. Bell & Daldv, Br- ok seller?, York 

 Street, Covent Garden. {A. Downc*).— The "Cottage Gardeners' Dic- 

 tionary " with supplement, bound together, costs 6s. 



Flower Show (F. R. T).— Your division into four classes is correct, 

 but as we neither know your funds nor the time of year when the show 

 is to be held, we cannot offer any suggestion. You had better consult 

 Mr. Cranston, and he will tell you of some local show that you might 

 take as an example; then write, to the Secretary and ask him to send 

 you their schedule. 



Myosotis dissitiflora— Mr. D. T. Fish has received many letters 

 asking, under various forms, for some plants. We, too, have received 

 many letters to be forwarded to him. The requests in none of those 

 letters can be complied with. It is most unreasonable to make such 

 applications, and if persisted in must compel contributors to write 

 anonymously. 



Eriobotkya japonica Culture (TF. M. J?.}.— That is the botanical 

 name of the plant of which you sent U9 a leaf. Its common name is the 

 Loquat. It will need to be grown in a house having a warm greenhouse 

 temperature; for though it may grow, it does not succeed well either 

 against a wall or in an orchard house, or other cool house. We advise yon 

 to plant it out in a border made as for Vines, and train the plant to a 

 trellis, or it may be trained as a standard. Give it a good supply of water 

 when growing, and a moist growing atmosphere and an abundance of air. 

 The temperature from February should be 46P at night, and should be 

 increased to 50 ; by April, and then to from 55 ' to 60- up to September. It 

 may fall gradually to 48° by November, and in December and January it 

 will be sufficient if frost be excluded. A good growth having been made, 

 a drier atmosphere will need to be kept up and less water supplied at the 

 roots; in winter give no more water than enough to keep the foliage 

 fresh. Seedling plants are a very long time before they fruit. When they 

 begin to fruit they require a temperature in winter of 50^ at night to 

 ensure perfect ripening. 



Preventing Cabbages Running to Seed (Brillon).— There is no 

 means that we are aware of to keep them from running to seed except 

 not sowing too early, choosing a good kind, pricking-out the seedlings in 

 soon as they can be handled, and planting out in good time 

 From the 10th to the 15tb July is a good time 

 The seedlings will be fit to plant out early in 

 use in good time in spring, with but a small 

 if any. 



Converting a Brickfield into an Osiery (An Ad7nhrr).—V?c have 

 no doubt that your brickfield would make a good osiery, the soil being 

 spread over it as your tenant is b"nnd to do. and water conveyed to it 

 from the river. If the soil were put over it 9 inches or a foot deep it 

 would answer very well. By cuts or open drains the water of the river 

 may be conveyed to different parts so as to keep the whole wet. Osiers 

 are not so profitable as they were formerly ; we have known them sold 

 for from 30s. to 60s. per acre, when growing about five miles from a large 

 town. Of the weight per acre we have no data. 



Verbenas Diseased (A Constant Blaster).— The branch sent shows 

 evidence of both thrips and mildew. The former may be destroyed by 

 umigation with tobacco, and the mildew by thoroughly dusting with, 

 flowers of sulphur. The standing of the pots would not induce disease nor 

 injure the plants. 



LIST3 of Superior Roses (A Constant Header).— Hybrid Perfetuals. 

 —Dark Crimson: Due de Cazes, Empereur de Maroc, Lord Clyde, Mar«- 

 chal Vaillant, Pierre Notting, Prince Camille de Rohan, Souvenir de 

 Dr. Jamin, Baronne Pelletan de Kinkelin, John Keynes. Crimson, 

 Scarlet, and Carmint: Alfred Colomb, Charles Lefebvre, Dr. ADdry, 

 Fisher Holmes, Francois Lacharme, Madame Boutin, Madame Julie 

 Daran, Marie Baumann, Maurice Bernardin, Senateur Vaisse, Madam* 

 Victor Verdier, Duchease de Caylus, John Hopper, Lady Suffield, Juleg 

 Margottba, Victor Verdier. Rose-coloured or Pink : Comte de Nanteuil, 

 Baron Prevost, Felix Genero, W. Griffiths, Cecile de Chabrillant, La 



good soil as 



where they i 



to sow for early Cablinge* 



September, and will be ii 



per-centage of "runners,' 



