418 



JOURNAL OP HOBTIOULTDBB AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



[ Jtme 7, 1877. 



When I am told that only a limited number of plants can be 

 grown and for a special purpose, then I can understand the 

 position ; but when old Eoses because they are old, and great 

 bushes because they are great, are considered as being un- 

 worthy of a place in the garden, then I have a right to ask for 

 a reason, and to ask also why the " champion growers " pre- 

 serve such old speoimena. 



Our coachman says " it's time that ' Wyld Savage ' war 

 braaght to t' scratch an showed his mettle ; he's alius at it. 

 Can't ta giv him a wurd ?" To that I have nothing to add, 

 only — A Pakson's Gardener. 



EOSES UNDER GLASS— DESTEOYING APHIDES. 

 During this spring I have made use of a simple and certain 

 remedy in relieving Kose shoots of this noisome pest. I have 

 forty-nine Boses in a house built on terraces with walks and 

 slopes. Forty-five of these Roses are of different sorts. I 

 have lately procured nineteen new climbing Koses from Mr. 

 Merryweather of Southwell, Notts. I never saw Boses grow so 

 well as in this new style of building. I measured a bloom of 

 MarCehal Niel the other day a\ inches in diameter. As you look 

 upon these terraces, the flowers on which are growing in great 

 profusion and splendour, the effect is charming. My plan for 

 eradicating the aphides, which can be applied equally well out 

 of doors, is to procure a rough woolly glove and dip the thumb 

 into Scotch snuff, and then give the thumb and fingers a 

 gentle twist round the shoot. Paralysis is instantaneous to 

 old and young aphides. — Observer. 



THE EFFECT OF FEOST ON FEUIT BLOSSOM. 



The effects of frost are not more deceptive on Apple than 

 on Pear blossom. Perhaps even the deception in the case of 

 the Pear is even greater than that represented in the Apple. 

 Apple blossom often retains its full beauty after the embryo 

 fruit has been killed, but the latter seldom makes any attempt 

 at swelling. When the petals fall the sterility of the blossom 

 is at once apparent. Pears, on the other band, swell to a 

 certain size when there is no possibility of their continuing 

 to form perfect fruit. Outwardly the embryo fruit may be 

 without blemish, and may increase in size as if it were sound, 

 when internally it is black — dead. This has been clearly 

 shown by " Aechamdaud " in the following figures : — 



Fig. 57 represents a healthy and perfect example of the young 



again seen, is black, and the injury may be traced to the centre 

 of the fruit, as shown at r., which is a transverse section of the 

 latter. Fruits like these, having black hearts, are also dead, 

 being killed by frost. 



Fig. 57. 



embryo fruit of the Pear as it exists in its uninjured state. 

 The style in this instance is still of the natural pale green 

 colour. A represents a cross or transverse section of the fruit 

 in its perfect state. 



Fig. 58 represents a young embryo fruit of the Pear, also in 

 section, as at b, showing the effects of the frost after the fruits 

 bad been set and began swelling. The style here, aa will be 



Fig. E8, 



It is important to many that they should become cognisant 

 of the effects of frost on their fruit crops as early as possible, 

 and desirable that all should know of at least one reason why 

 " Pears fall in shoals " at this period of the year. — W. 



UNHEALTHY CUCUMBEES. 



I HAVE recently erected a span-roofed house for the growth 

 of Cucumbers in the winter as well as summer, heated with 

 4-inch pipes, a flow and return on each side for bottom heat, 

 and one row in the centre for atmospheric heat. The house 

 is 11 feet wide, and the same in height, ventilated on both 

 sides and the roof. There is a good boiler attached to it. I 

 planted-out the plants about the end of March ; they com- 

 menced growing vigorously, and continued to do so, showing 

 a quantity of fruit, from three to seven at a joint, which, 

 however, become spotted and drop off. A number of the leaves 

 are also spotted. The plants have plenty of root. I have 

 added fresh soil, yet whUe the plants grow strongly enough 

 the fruit and shoots decay. Can you account for it? I enclose 

 a specimen of the disease. — A. E. C. 



[The above letter is a sample of several others of the same 

 nature which we have received. The diseased specimens were 

 forwarded to an eminent authority, who has replied as follows : 



"It is no new disease, but unfortunately is too common, 

 and at present quite unmanageable. Many causes have been 

 assigned, such as the constitution of the plant having been 

 injured by high manuring, and the consequent produce of a 

 race peculiarly liable to disease. It has accordingly been re- 

 commended to procure seed from some quarter where the 

 disease has not appeared, but this has not proved effectual. 

 It would be easy to propose a theory resting on the fact that 

 myriads upon myriads of extremely minute globules, which 

 spin about with what is called the Brownian motion, are very 

 conspicuous on dissection ; but this, like some of the specula- 

 tions as to contagious diseases in man, arising from germs 

 specific to each, would at present be mere tbeoiy. As regards 

 the specimens sent a careful microscopic examination shows 

 that the velvety appearance which is so striking at the upper 

 part of the fruit arises from a multiplicity of minute glands. 

 These occasionally, as is the case in so many morbid develop- 

 ments, form a nidus for moulds such as Polyaotis, but which 

 have nothing to do with the disease as regards its cause. 

 And then as to the discs, which are pretty generally covered 

 with a mould, examination shows that it is merely a form of 

 Cladosporium herbarum, the universal accompaniment of decay 

 in every part of the world. The condition of the leaves 



