Fobranry S, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTlCDliTtJBE AND COTTAGfi QARDfiNEfi. 



97 



not be able now to say more abont this thing than I was a 

 few montha since in the coiirsn of some notes on Anrionla 

 culture in the pages of the " Florist and Pomologist." Mr. 

 Llewelyn's information upon woolly aphis is the latest that 

 has reached me, and it is of value. 



On first noticing this insect among Anricnla roots, and in- 

 tuitively, of course, for an enemy, I could do no more than 

 suggest a cause and a care. For the cause, that perhaps some 

 leaf soil or soil from the neighbourhood of infested trees has 

 been used ; and Mr. Llewelyn states that he has had this 

 mealy bug among his Apple trees. As the creature is clearly 

 able to exist either above or under ground, and to either live 

 on leaves or feed on fibres, it may have got into communica- 

 tion with the Auriculas through the soil direct or by emigra- 

 ting from infested trees. 



'As for the cure, there can be bat one, and that — extermina- 

 tion ; and I had suggested turning tho plants out of the soil 

 and washing them, root, and stem, and leaf, in a solution of 

 soft soap and water. Mr. Lleweljn states that he has applied 

 this, but simply as a watering upon the soil, and it is even 

 thus suoceesful. If I say I am glad to be thus far confirmed 

 in what I thought would be best to do, your correspondent 

 will not think that I only mean " Sweet are the uses of (another 

 man's) adversity." 



The question is aeked whether Gishurst compound, which 

 is found very effective againet woolly aphis on Apple trees, 

 might not be used for ridding Auriculas of the same pest. 

 For two reasons I would answer. No. 1st, Because I do not 

 exactly know what the celebrated compound is made of, and 

 I would never try a general experiment with mysterious con- 

 diments upon valuable plant life. 2ndly, Because the cheap 

 and homely, simple and invigorating solution of soft soap is 

 enough. 



For Mr. Llewelyn's affected plants I would not recommend 

 less than I should do myself for my own were they in a similar 

 case. I should not, then, bo content with watering the soil 

 with soft-soap solution, fearing that that woolly wrapper may 

 be only too good a preservative of embryo, if not of perfect, 

 insect life. I should be content with nothing short of fullest 

 measures. I would wash in the soap solution the roots and 

 stem, and indeed the whole of an infected plant. I would 

 altogether burn the infected compost, and I would repot the 

 cleansed plants at once in a compost gathered far from tainted 

 sources. I would have the frames cleaned thoroughly, and 

 the pots purified in scalding water, and with fresh ashes and 

 tile laths for the plants to stand on. I would leave nothing 

 about them wherein the mealy pest could lie concealed in any 

 stage of life. I have a lively horror of this insect, and such 

 dread of any nearer and dearer acquaintance with it that I 

 jealously examine every strange plant that may come to me 

 from collections with which I am not very familiar. 



It is, of course, a pity to have to disturb well-established 

 plants now; but the roots are beginning to be very active 

 again, and there is no great increase of foliage yet to be dis- 

 tressed. It seems to me a lesser evil than allowing the spread 

 of this loathsome pest upon the roots.— F. D. Hornek, Kirkhij 

 Malzcard, Ripon.] 



CLIVE HOUSE SEEDLING GRAPE (SO CALLED). 



Tbat which I requested you to insert in the Journal of 

 Horticullurr regardmg this Grape I reiterate without fear, 

 having no interest to servo but what I previously stated. For 

 somewhat more than forty years I have been in the habit of 

 paying a visit to the gardens at Alnwick Castle more than once 

 every season, and by the different gardeners employed there 

 during that time I have had every facility afforded me for 

 seeing all that was considered worthy of notice. I distinctly 

 remember having the seedling Grapes (of which that in ques- 

 tion is one) pointed out to me. I afterwards frequently 

 examined them, and when they began producing fruit had 

 much pleasure in tasting and comparing it with that of older 

 Vines. Not, so far as I remember, have I ever heard the 

 Grape called by any other name there than " Caseley'a Seed- 

 lings, ' and that not only daring the last summer, as Mr. Bell 

 asserts, but for many years previously. 



Having, as I consider, said quite enough about this affair, I 

 now take leave of it.— Eobeet Bowie, The Gardens, Chillina. 

 ham CastI,-. •' 



I snouLi. not have taken the least notice of tho above had 

 my name not been dragged in amongst other mis-statements of 

 Mr. Bell in the Journal. I can only say that I corroborate 



every word that my friend Mr. Bowie says about this Grape in 

 your issue of the 18th, who knew the Grape for years before I 

 ever saw it. If seedling Vines had ever been brought to this 

 place they were never seen or heard of by anyone here as far 

 back as I can trace. I have ample proofs that the Grape was 

 raited by Mr. Wm. Caeeley in this garden some twenty years 

 ago, and it has been grown and fruited here ever since. How 

 it can now turn out to be a new Grape and a Clive House 

 Seedling are problems I leave tho horticultural public to solve. 



The other Grape alluded to by Mr. Bell as not securing the 

 same honours that his adopted child did from the Fruit Com- 

 mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society, was simply because 

 it was thought by some of the Committee that the flavour came 

 too near the Muscat flavour of that excellent Grape Mrs. Pinca 

 to be distinct. — Alex. Ingeam, The Gardens, Almoick Castle. 



[No more need be published on this subject. — Eds.] 



WEST'S PATENT ADJUSTABLE TRELLIS. 



This trellis was exhibited before the Fruit Committee of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society on June 8th, 1876, by Mr. W. 

 MoGrath Compton, Hibernia Wharf, London Bridge, and was 

 considered to be au ingenious conttivauco and worthy of trial 

 by those cultivating Vines and Cucumbers. 



The patentees submit that " by the use of this trellis such 

 portions of a Vine or its produce as are inconveniently placed 

 are rendered moveable, so as to be brought within easy reach 



Fig. 14. 

 for the various purposes of thinning and cleanEing, gathering 

 the produce, or any other ulject for which facility of acoeta 

 is desirable. The trellis can be moved gently to any suitable 

 position. It is adapted for training creepers, &o., in the con- 

 servatory and on the walls of dwelling houses, and can be 

 readily put up or taken down, and affords every facility for 

 cleaning or painting the eaehes or wall against which the trellis 

 may be placed. The lowering of the trellis cannot in any way 

 injure the stem of the Vine if trained as in the drawing, the 

 deflection being very slight. The trellis may be constructed 

 of either iron or wood. When made of the former, which is 

 preferable in many respects, it combines hghtness of appear- 

 ance with strength and durability, and can be fitted to any 

 shaped house. Vines covering a lineal space of 60 or more 

 feet may bo lowered fingly or together by turning one handle. 

 In the drawings, a a shows the trellis in position and lowered ; 

 D B the chains for lowering and raising ; and c c the drums 

 and pulleys round which iho chains work, d d shows the 

 form and construction of the trellis. The cost of the trellis 

 is inconsiderable, not exceeding 3s. 6d. per foot, including all 

 fixtures. It varies according to the build of the house in 

 which it may be fixed ; but when compared with the troable 

 saved and advantages gained by its use, the outlay appears 

 insignificant." 



SOUVENIR DU CONGRKS PEAR. 



AcTUJiN Pears are so plentiful and generally so good that a 



new variety must possess special merit to command approval. 



The Pear mentioned is, I believe, a comparatively now variety, 



