April 5, 1877. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HOBTIOULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



257 



Chervil, Parsnip, Salsafy, Parsley, Bampion, and Scorzonera. 

 In Part i we have a plate devoted to Mangold Wortzel and 

 Sugar Beets, another to Mangold Wurtzel only; one to orna- 

 mental Gourds, and one to Onions. The names are given 

 very ftUly in four languages — German, English, French, and 

 Bnssian. To all seedsmen and gardeners this will be a book 

 of great value, as the plates are so well drawn and so faithfully 

 coloured that no one who has any knowledge of the subject 

 can fail to recognise the different varieties ; and to those who 

 are only partially acquainted with the various sorts of vege- 

 tables it will be most instructive, as conveying the information 

 required in the most expressive and convincing form. 



We highly commend this useful and beautiful book to all 

 who are interested in the snbjects of which it treats. 



INSECTS AND AMMONIA. 



" B. G., Co. Doiin," in referring to this subject on page 155, 

 states that I have distinctly affirmed that ammonia arising 

 from guano heated in a liquid state will destroy thrips and red 

 spider. Your correspondent further states that " thrips is less 

 hardy than red spider." My experience on the matter was 

 described as follows : — " Impregnating the air with ammonia 

 is, in my opinion, the most simple, safe, and effectual means 

 which can be employed for keeping the foliage of Vines free 

 from red spider. In damping and closing the vineries in the 

 afternoon I always use guano water. I employ no other pre- 

 ventives as sulphur, &c., good though they may be; and while 

 I never syringe the Vines, I feel quite certain that a red spider 

 has not ventured under the roof and lived for the past half 

 dozen years." I further stated that a " much stronger volume 

 of ammonia is necessary to kill mealy bug than is required for 

 red spider, and it must be stronger still to kill thrips." Those 

 statements I adhere to. 



I am quite eatiafied of the benefit resulting to Vines when 

 stable manure and leaves are allowed to ferment in the house, 

 provided the material is in a sweet state when the foliage of 

 the Vines is expanding, otherwise the practice is dangerous. 

 But there are many vineries so arranged that fermenting 

 manure cannot be used, and it is then that guano becomes so 

 valuable as an insect-preventive, and as affording a safe and 

 wholesome stimulant to the Vines. At the time I penned the 

 observations alluded to I had special facilities for testing the 

 value of guano for producing an atmosphere which the Vines 

 rejoiced in, and which red spider detested. I had not the 

 slightest difiicnlty in keeping red spider at bay, but I could not 

 destroy thrips and mealy bug without using the guano at a 

 strength endangering the safety of the Vines and plants. Some 

 plants are more susceptible of injury by the fumes of ammonia 

 than are others, eepecially Ferns. Gesneraceous plants and 

 Spiraea (Hoteia) japonica are also easily damaged, as they are 

 also by the fumes of tobacco. 



After the Grapes have been thinned and are approaching 

 the stoning period and onwards to ripening, I do not think 

 that guano can be sprinkled too freely when the vinery is 

 closed in the afternoon and every part is wet as it should be, 

 and the temperature from the sun is from 80° to 90°. That 

 moisture-laden, ammonia-impregnated tropical atmosphere is 

 in a high degree conducive to the health of the Vines, and 

 correspondingly promotive of disease in insects, especially red 

 spider. I have the beat reason for advocating the application 

 of guano water to the walls and floors of vineries at the time 

 of closing them after the Vines have fully expanded their 

 foliage, and until the Grapes commence colouring. If that 

 practice is adopted in conjunction with otherwise good manage- 

 ment, red spider will do little harm. In my ease — and I was 

 then practising in one of the driest locahties in Britain, where 

 the soil was light and Dwarf Kidney Beans on the border ad- 

 joining the vinery were devoured with red spider — the pest did 

 absolutely no injury in the vinery, although, as before stated, 

 the Vines were never syringed. For a period of ten years, 

 although red spider abounded during the heat of summer, ex- 

 hausting the kitchen-garden crops and defoliating fruit and 

 forest trees, I never saw one of these insects on the leaves of 

 the Vines, nor on any plants in the vinery, unless I introduced 

 them for purposes of experiment. Guano was the sole and 

 effectual antidote, and it is still need in the same vineries with 

 the same effect — healthy Vines and no red spider. 



The period of the year has arrived when Vines are gene- 

 lally in active growth, and when red spider will soon increase 

 and multiply if it can find suitable quarters. It is a part of 

 the gardener's duties to render the conditions unsuitable for 



the prosperity of the pest, and a safe, certain, and beneficial 

 means of doing so is to use guano freely. Water the floors 

 and walls with strong guano water, but not the hot-water 

 pipes, at any rate when they are really " hot," for that would 

 be abusing a system which is good in itself, cheap, easy of 

 application, and in no way unpleasant to the operator or others 

 visiting the vineries. 



Guano is so useful in many ways in gardens that every gar- 

 dener should have it at his command ; and especially where 

 Vines are grown and fermenting manure cannot be placed in 

 the vineries, " genuine Peruvian " is of the greatest assistance 

 in promoting healthy foliage, and checking the increase of the 

 chief enemy of the Vine — red spider. Guano is also valuable 

 as a surface-dressing for plants and crops, for making quickly 

 liquid manure, and for destroying slugs, which it does more 

 effectually than lime, salt, or soot. — J. WEionT. 



EIGHT TO REMOVE FEU IT TREES. 



MAESH V. MAB8ACK. 



This cause was tried in the Tonbridge Wells County Court 

 before J. J. Lonsdale, Esq., Judge. The plaintiff was a market 

 gardener, and for some years held land, and received notice 

 to quit last year, Mr. Marsack having taken the land and 

 agreed to take the trees and Strawberry plants. Marsh gave 

 particulars as to the interview between himself and defendant, 

 adding that a complete bargain was made for the trees and 

 plants, and also a heap of manure, the latter of which had 

 been paid for, and therefore there was an acceptance. Plaintiff 

 put the things there, and as a market gardener had a perfect 

 right to remove them. 



He received the notice produced, requiring him to go out on 

 the 20tb September, the latter clause thereof adding that he 

 was to go out at such time as he entered on the tenancy. 

 Having taken the land in April he understood that he was not 

 to go out until March. On the 6th of October he went to the 

 land and found his look broken off the gate and another put 

 on. In consequence of what Mr. Marsack's man said to him 

 he wont and saw Mr. Marsack on the 9th of October, and he 

 then agreed to take the things, inquiring as to the names of 

 the trees and the varieties of the Strawberries. He agreed to 

 take the whole of them by valuation, and also ultimately took 

 the heap of manure. He told him that he did not think he 

 had to go out until March, and asked him for a little time to 

 have an auction sale to dispose of his things, and he allowed 

 him a month to do so. He got Mr. Charlton, nurseryman, to 

 make a valuation of the trees and plants in consequence of 

 Mr. Marsack's agreement to purchase. The amount of valua- 

 tion was the present claim, and that he sent in three or four 

 times but got no answer. Ultimately Mr. Marsack stated that 

 he had nothing to do with it. 



Cross-examined. Had a public sale, and tried to sell all he 

 could. The ground was about 3J acres, with nearly half an 

 acre of garden. It was let to him on the usual agricultural 

 tenancy, with permission to break it up for a market garden. 

 Always paid the rent yearly at the audit from Michaelmas to 

 Michaelmas. Did not understand from that notice that he 

 had to go out at Michaelmas. Did not know it until he re- 

 ceived a letter from Mr. Delves after Michaelmas. His im- 

 pression was that he was to take a six-months notice to leave 

 at the time he took the land. Did advertise the sale of Straw- 

 berry plants on October 6th in consequence of having to leave 

 his farm. When he paid the first year's rent at Michaelmas 

 he was allowed £1 for not having had the land during the 

 winter months. Would not say positively that it was the 9th 

 when he saw Mr. Marsack. The object of his visit was partly 

 to obtain time, and Mr. Marsack suggested ten days from the 

 16th, and he fixed his sale for the 27th October. Mr. Marsack 

 said he would have nothing to do with the outhouses, but did 

 not say that he would take only one hundred each of the 

 varieties of Strawberry plants. He agreed to take them all. 

 The surplus plants only were inserted in the sale catalogue. 

 Mr. Marsack said nothing of the sort about removing the 

 trees if he (Marsh) had a right to do so. Told Mr. Marsack 

 he was goiug to have them valued, but mentioned no valuer 

 to him. Sent the biU in soon after telling him. Dated it the 

 29th September ; dated another bill the 27th October, as the 

 day on which it was valued. 



By Mr. Burton. Put in the trees and Strawberry plants 

 himself. If Mr. Marsack had not taken them he would have 

 removed the trees and the plants also. Mr. Marsack would 

 not allow him to remove them afterwards. 



