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JOURNAL OP HOHTIGULTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. 



gives vigour and strength to the leaves and is death to the 

 acarus. The Fig ia not particular as to temperature, and if 00" 

 to 65" at night is about the best for them, a few degrees higher 

 or lower does not matter. As the fruit ripens syringing must 

 be entirely discontinued; and then is the time for spider, and if 

 the trees are not free from it in a few days every leaf will be 

 desiccated and drop off even before the fruit has time to be en- 

 tirely cleared off. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



By the time this appears in print a large proportion of the 

 occupants of the flower garden will be planted-out. In an ordi- 

 nary season we should not only have had ours all planted-out 

 but the plants would have started into free growth. As it ia 

 there are yet fine beds full of Wallflowers, and one does not lilie 

 to pull them out until they have nearlv ceased flowering. This 

 week they will be destroyed, and the beds will be planted with the 

 summer-floweringplants. ZonalPelargoniums, Calceolarias, Lo- 

 belias, and other plants that are very hardy do not seem to start 

 into growth; the leaves look as if they felt the severe cold and 

 cutting winds. Those of Lobelia speciosa have changed from 

 bright green to bronze, and Calceolarias seem afllicted with the 

 *'curl." There is no use in uttering complaints when the cause is 

 beyond our control. All that can be done is ti keep the Dutch hoe 

 at work. All plants of dwarf spreading growth, such as Verbenas, 

 Heliotropes, Sec, should be pegged down if they have grown suf- 

 ficiently. The wind is very apt to twist such plants oat by 

 the roots if they are not fastened to the ground with pegs. 

 We shiU not plant the Alternantberas, Colenses, and Iresines 

 out until the weather is somewhat settled. The fierce galea 

 which we have had and are now experiencing cannot last much 

 longer. The lawn must be well swept to free it from stones or 

 any other substances likely to injure the mowing machine. 

 After the beds have all been made right for the time the mower 

 ought to be run over the grass, and the walks should also be 

 swept. An air of quiet and of perfect keeping should prevail in 

 the flower garden from this time forth. — J. Douglas. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*^* All correspondence should be directed either to '* The 

 Editors," or to '* The Pabliaher." Letters addressed to 

 Mr. Johnson or Dr. Hogg often remain unopened unavoid- 

 ably. We request that no one will write privately to any 

 of our correspondents, as doing so subjects them to un- 

 justifiable trouble and expense. 



Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet ques- 

 tions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee 

 subjects, and should never send more than two or three 

 questions at once. All articles intended for insertion should 

 be written on one side of tbe paper only. We cannot 

 reply to questions through the post. 



GrvTNG Notice (Siibscriher). — The question yoa pat would be better 

 answered by a Bolioitor. 



Double Nasturtiums (J. U.).— The flowers are very fine indoad, perfectly 

 double and extremely bright in coloor. Wo have crrown a double Nasturtiam 

 very similar to youra, bat without seeing your plant or a flowering spray of it 

 showing the foliage and habit of ;:;rowth we cannot determine whether the 

 two are dissimilar. If it is really distinct we advise yoa to snbmit a plant to 

 the GxamiDation of the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultoral Society. 



Double Polyanthuses {W. M. B.).— The flawers are the best we have 

 seen. Grow a lev plants well, and exhibit them before the Floral Committee 

 of the Royal Horticultural Society. 



KosES (A Would-ht' Exhibitor).— First, it would with some judges dis- 

 qualify a truss to mutilate it as you propose. I would remark that it ia very 

 rarely indeed that a truss with more than one bloom on it looks well, and 

 it is only sometimes in the case of a Rood Tea or Noisette that more than one 

 are permitted to remaia* Second, I know of no way of meeting your difUcuIty 

 except, perhaps, you might got a slit at a joiut, and so layer your Rosea, but 

 it ia hardly worth the trouble. Third, aeedling Briars are stocks raised from 

 seed, not dug out of the hedge as ordinary Briara are. Thoy are dwarfs. 

 "Write to Mr. Prince, Oxford, about them.— D., Z)f(i^ 



LiLiuM cANDiDuai WITHERING (Caplu'ii C). — Considering that the 

 bulbs are healthy, and the plants until recently grew freely, we can only 

 attribute their extensive decay to ths frosts and cutting winds which have 

 latterly been prevalent. We recently saw some Lilies which had been pro- 

 tected from frost by some canvas coverings place! over them, bat the plants 

 were much injured by the frost winds affecting them below the coverings, 

 and a few clumps which were simply sheltered on the wind side and had no 

 coverings over them are now the most healthy. Mr. Mcintosh of Daneevan, 

 an extensive and succeaaful grower of Lilies, haa alao informed us that cold 

 high winds are more deatructive to Lilies than still, even if rather severe, 

 frosts, and in the future he intends affording his plants side shelter instead 

 of placing umbrellas over them. 



Eucalyptus qlouulus {South Devon).~It the shade is at \iU dense we 

 think the Eucalyptus would not flouriah under trees. Besides the shade 

 baing injurious the soil near largo trees would probably be too dry for it. 

 If you have several plants you might plant them in various positions and 

 let us know the result. Do not plant them too soon, or before the weather ia 

 genial. 



Fern Fsonds (H. L ).— The fronds sent are exceedingly healthy and fine. 

 We shall be Rlad to have details of your mode of culture. 



Spir.ea (IIoTEiAl -lAPONici CoLTOBE {C. B. G.).— Divide the orowus, but 

 not too closelyt and plant them out now in rich light soil in the gardeoi 



affording copious supplies of water throughout the aeaaon to induce lasnrianfc 

 foliage and bold crowns. A partially shaded place, but not under trees, ia 

 the best position to choo.^e. In the autumn the plants may be potted, and 

 they will flower freely in frames or a light window; in fa^t they will flower in 

 the ripen ground if you permit th^m to remain, for they are quite hardy. 



Gooseberry Trees Barren (H. F. <7.1.— is your bushes grow luxuriantly 

 we think they are over-manured, and probably alao the growth is too thick. 

 Thin-out many of the ahoots, so that those remainiui^ can have light and air 

 to mature them. We should not stop all the shoots to within 2 inches as yoa 

 have been advised, but should remove many of them entirely. The side 

 growths of the permanent shoots you may pinch within 3 inches of the base, 

 but we should not stop the terminal shoots until they have grown a foot in 

 length or more. Your remedy lies in thinning out the shoots rather than in 

 stopping them, also in applying manure leas freely, or, perhaps, withholding 

 it entirely for a year or two, according to the condition of the bushes. 



Sowing Seed of Snowdrops— Scarlet Anemones (G. M. W., Expter). 

 —Sow tbe seed as soon as it is ripe in drills 6 inches asunder, covering about 

 an inch deep with light sandy soil. Seed saved from a bed of scarlet Ane- 

 mones will not produce other than scarlet flowers, and even if saved from a 

 mixed bed the seed from scarlet flowers will produce many plants of the 

 same colour as the parents, while others may come dull red or crimson ; the 

 colours are preserved, however, with tolerable certainty. 



Kidney Beans Injured (TT. H. ilf.).— The "insects," as you term them, 

 which are attacking your Kidney Beans are anake millipedes, of which there 

 are several species, the one your crops are infested with being, we think, Julns 

 terreatris. You cannot destroy them in the Beans without destroying the 

 crop; this, however, if the specimens sent are a fair sample, is already be- 

 yond recovery. This being so affords you room for experiment without in- 

 curring any farther loss, and we should like for yon to apply paraffin to the 

 Beans. If you can ddute it to a proper strength to destroy the millipedes 

 without injuring the Beana you will have made a valuable discovery. Apply 

 a little paraffin in Us pure state; use it also in different degrees of dilation, 

 and oblige as with the results. Gas lime dug into the ground during the 

 winter ia a good preventive of the pest. 



Neottopteris nidus (J. C). — The young fronds developing imperfectly 

 snggesta their having been injured in the unfolded state, probably by slugs 

 or woodlice, which may be caught by examining the plant with the aid of a 

 lantern after dork. *' Ragged " fronds, however, are not nnlrequently a re- 

 sult of too dry an atmosphere, the temperature also fluctuating. We do not 

 employ a higher winter temperature than 55^ to 65" for our plants, it being 

 important that they have a good rest during the winter for tbe development 

 of strong fronds in the spring. We should muloh around the plant with 

 cocoa-nut refuse, and keep well supplied with water, sprinkling lightly over- 

 head three times a day, keeping perfectly clear from insects and predatory 



Pelargonium Unhealthy (dmateur). — The leaf sent ia quite yellow, due, 

 we think, to a deflcieacy of water at tho roots. Aff ird weak liquid manure 

 twice a-weok, maintaining more moisture in the house, yet ventilating freoly 

 and shading from brigbt sun. There is no trace of insects, and only slight 

 indications of spot. Guano dinsolved at the rate of 1 oz. to a gallon of water 

 would be a suitable liquid manure. 



CucuMDER Scabbed (Q. ^.).— It is a very common case of gangrene, and 

 arises in every instance that we have observed it from too rich and moist soil, 

 being most prevalent in dull cjld weather, the supply of sap being esceasive. 

 The maiutouance of a higher temperature by day and a ahghtly drier atmo- 

 sphere usually affords a remedy. The gangrene commonly prevails in very 

 vigorous plants, and these require more light and heat for the elaboration of 

 the sap than weaker plants. We use pure loam only for growing Cucumbers, 

 the top 3 inches taken with its torf and laid up for about six months, it being 

 light in texture rather than heavy. We find it easy to apply stimulants in a 

 liquid form or top-dressings of manure as may be required, which we think 

 better than mixing manure with the soil before planting. 



Boiler and Piping (7. .Y. I.).— A flow and return 4-inoh pipe along the 

 front of the house and ooe end, or iji feet of 4-inch piping, will be sufficient to 

 maintain tbe house at a greenhouse temperature in the severest weather. 

 Only a small boiler would be required. We should have one that would not 

 require very frequent attention ; a 20-iuch saddle would answer. Consult 

 our advertising columns. A letter to the advertisers, stating what you 

 require, would bring you particulars both as regards siza and price. 



Vine Shoots Forked (C. S.)— It is most common when the roots are very 

 active — a sign of vigour, and is not unfrequeut when the wood was not well 

 ripened. Encourage but oue of such shoots, cutting the other away at the 

 fork; or if tho shoot at the fork ba as lon^ as required stop it there, keeping 

 tho laterals stopped to one joiot, the shoots being kept so thin as to expose 

 the foliage fully to light and air. Upon this depends the development of the 

 eyes for future bearing, and the thorough ripening of the wood. 



Large-flowered Wallflower (7(ifml.— A. Wallflower of a "beautiful 

 dark colour, very broad fleshy petals, fine bold eye, aud many blooms measur- 

 ing '2\ inches across," is certainly a strain woU worth taking some trouble 

 with, especially as it is a '■ result of many years' selection." 



Grubs in Kitchen Garden (W. G.).— Tbe garden having been previously 

 old meadow land may be infested with the larvss of the Tipula or Daddy- 

 longlegs, also wireworm, We should apply nitrate of soda at the rate of 

 IJ owt. per acre, or 1 lb. per square rod (30\ square yarda). Soot would be a 

 capital application; one peck per square rod is a sufficient application. In 

 tho spring of nest year we should als5 apply lime at the rate of eighty to 

 a hundred bushels per acre. 



Greenhouse Plants for Affobdimo Cot Flowers (J. D.).— Abutilon 

 Boule de Neige, Aloysia citriodora for spravs, Azalea iodica vars., Boronia 

 mogastigma, Bouvardias in variety, Tree Carnations in variety, Cyclamen 

 peraicum vara., Draoophyllum graoile.Epacris vora., Erica vara., Fuchsia vara., 

 Lihonia floribunda, Myrtle for sprays. Lnculia gratis^ima, Camellia vara., 

 Pimelea vara.. Plumbago capeusis. Primula aiuenais double vara., Rhododen- 

 dron jasminiflorum, Rbynchospermum jasminoidea, double Pelargoniums, 

 znnal Pelargoniuma, show Pelargoniums. Acacia armata, A. pulohella, A. 

 Riceana, Agapanthna nmbellataa ia fine for mixing, also Vallota purpurea, 

 Cineraria, Mignonette, Aponogeton diataohyon (an aiuatiol, Diosma capitata. 

 The blooms of Epiphyllum truncatum vara, are very useful, Lilium lanoi- 

 foUum vars., with Sohizoatylia ooccinea, and Tritonia aurea. The Sohizo* 

 stylia ia invaluable late in the season. 



Cauliflower Plants Blind (Adam Niit).~-lt is naually attributed to a 

 sudden check, as that from heat to cold, or from moisture to drought ; but we 

 find an eqaal per-oeatage of *' blind " plants from seeds sown at different 



