132 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ February 18, 1869. 



&o that the bnlbg will be entirely covered with soil, bnt not deeper than a 

 conple of inches. The biUbs will not be suitable for growing again in 

 water, but are very pretty for borders. 



Fern Fronds Browned (AnrioM). — We think the fronds of your 

 Adiantam are browned in consequence of water condensing on them, 

 but it is usual for them to be iu such a condition at the present season. 

 The browning may have been caused by a chill, the fronds being wet at 

 the time. The fresh growths will soon restore the plant to its former 

 appearance. 



Repotting Tree Carnations (O W. D.).— It would be well to repot 

 tbe plants now, disrootius them or removing as much of the old soil as 

 possible, and replacing them in the same size of pot as before. Keep 

 them in a frame or cool greenhouse, and rather close and shaded for a 

 few days until they are re-establisbei, then afford an abundance of air 

 and light. When the rotts reach the sides of the pots, shift the plants 

 into pots a pize larger, or from 6-inch into 8-inch, and from 7-inch into 

 9-inch pots. You may pldut them out if you wish for smaller plant?, 

 otherwise old plants bloom more freely than yoimg ones. The cuttings 

 Struck last autumn should be repotted and encouraged, picking off any 

 flower stems if tbey appear, and the plants will be excellent for flowering 

 next winter and spring. 



India-rubber Plant Losing its Foliage (Zdem).— The loss of foliage 

 IB no doubt owing to the plant hiTving been kept in a room. Keep it in the 

 greenhouse, rather dry, until it begins to grow, then give the warmest 

 position, and encourflge it with a moist atmosphere. If you can accom- 

 modate it with a mild bottom heat of from TO'' to 75'^ do so, plongicg the 

 pot to the rim. 



Select Half-habdt Sub-tropical Plants (Litcs).— Acanthus lati- 

 folius; Arundo donax versicolor; Cannes — Annei, orange, discolor flori- 

 bunda, gigantea umjor, grandiflora floribnnda, metallica, musipfolia, Vi ars- 

 cewiczioides grandiflora, and zebrina ; Ferdinanda emincns, Melianthus 

 major, Polynniia prandis, Solanum marginatum, Wigandin caracasana, 

 Pbormium tcnax and its yarie^^ated varitty, Musa ensete, Zea japonica 

 Variegata, Cineraria platanifolia. Andropogon bombycinus, and dcacia 

 lophantha. We purpose shortly to give a descriptive list of the sub-tro- 

 pical and omamental-foliaged plants that may be raised from seed. The 

 plants may be procured through any of the principal nurserymen adver- 

 tising in our columns'. There is not any small manual on sub-tropical 

 gardening. 



Evergreen Honey.=icckle Flowering (Ce/;a).— It is unusual for this 

 to flower now, but we have known similar instances. The flowering is a 

 result of last year's great heat and dryness, and the mildness of the 

 winter. 



Shoots of Pbukus sinensis Dying off (O. G.).— We are unable to 

 account for the sudden withering of the shoots that are about to flower. 

 It is probably due to gum or canker, but we could not say unless we saw 

 a specimen. 



Citron Culture ildnn). — The shoots ought not to be stopped, unless 

 they have a teudency to grow struggling, when they may be stopped to 

 Induce compact growth ; but thi? must be done sparingly, as all the Citron 

 family produce their flowers and fruit from the upper eyes of last year's 

 growth. The host time to prune them is now, or before they begin to 

 grow, cutting out the very weak shoots and such as cross each other, so 

 as to form an open but compact head, and better foliage and fruit. They 

 do not fruit and flower better when grown in small pots, though for deco- 

 rative purposes such may be desirable. In the latter ca<e they should be 

 repotted every year in February, or before they begin to grow, removing 

 as much of tlie old soil as can be done without injurins the roots. Pro- 

 vide good drninage, repot in the same size of pots, and plunge these in a 

 hotbed or give a Flight increase of heat, also a moist atmosphere, so as 

 to encourage speedy root action. To support the foliage and fruit, manure 

 water iind a top-dressing of cow dung must be liberally furnished. The 

 plants would be all the better of not being allowed to flower or fruit; 

 they would grow more, and make more handsome plants in a shorter 

 time than if they were dwarfed by fruiting. 



Temperature of Conservatory (figoder).— Azaleas and Camellias 

 will endure a temperature of 10" below freezing without injury, but the 

 plants must be planted out or the pots protected from frost as you pro- 

 pose, for their roots soS'er if frozen, and the foliage will also anflfer unless 

 the atmosphere is dryland the plants accnstomed to cold from a free 

 admission of air for some time previous. Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and 

 Gloxinias will not endure frost ; the temperature must be kept from 

 falling below 35'^. and it need not exceed 40' from Are heat for tbe first 

 two; but for the Glojunift a temperature of -45^ is desirable, as it is 



properly a store plant, though succeeding in a moderate temperature if 

 kept dry. 



pROPAGATrNO PiT {A Monthly Subacriber).— Of the turf and brick pits 

 we Bhould prefer the latter, and it should be filled with the horse dong 

 and tree loRves well mixed together, thrown into a heap to heat about a 

 fortniyht before being put in the pit, and the heap turned over after it 

 has lain a week ; then put the materials into the pit, beating and tread- 

 ing them down firmly until level with the top of the pit, allowing just 

 room for the lights. In a week the heat will be strong enough, and you 

 may then level the surface, and if the dung and leaves have sunk, add 

 more, so as to bring the bed to within 6 inches of the glass, and 6 inches 

 may be of old tan, sawdust, or other material for plunging the pots in. 

 The heating material will sink to allow room for the cuttings. We do 

 not think you will suffer from damp; but if you do, admit a little air at 

 the back of the pit by tilting the lights. 



Pruning the Banksian Rose {Idem).— In pruning remove the old 

 and long bare shoots, train in the best of tbe young shoots, shorten them 

 a little but not much, and keep them moderately thin. This Rose, how- 

 ever, should not be hard-pruned; regulation would be a better term 

 than pruning. 



Apple and Pear-tp.ee Shoots (Llevf). —The proper distances of the 

 principal shoots or branches are 1 foot, not more, nor less than 9 inches, 

 but the nearer 1 foot the better. 



IjILium AURATtJM SEED SowTNG (A. ^.).— The Seed should be sown 

 early in March in a pot or pan well drained and filled to within about 

 I half an inch of the rim with a compost of two parts fibrous loam, and 

 one part sandy fibrous peat, with about one-sixth of silver sand inter- 

 mixed. Scatter the feeds rather thinly over the surface, and cover with 

 fine soil equal in tuickness to that of the seed. Give a gentle watering 

 and place the pot in a hotbed, where there is a bottom heat of 70"', or, 

 failing a hotbed, place it in a house with a gentle heat. When the seed- 

 lings are well up harden them off and remove them to the greenhouse, 

 placing them in an airy situation well exposed to the light, and keeping 

 them well supplied with water. In autumn they may be potted off. 

 The blooming plant ought to have been repotted in October; but as this 

 has been neglected the drainage of the pot should be looked to, the old 

 soil removed as far as practicable without injury to the roots, and freah 

 soil added. 



Manure Water for Orange Trees (Idem).— Yon may water the 

 Orange trees now showing for bloom and bearing green fruit, with guano 

 water at every alternate watering, 1 oz. of guano being dissolved in a 

 gallon of rain water, and strained before use. 



Sowing Grass Seeds (Idem). — It is too early to sow Grass seeds, 

 though it may be done, but they are beat sown at the beginning of 

 April, when the ground is dry, rolling well afterwards, and if rain fall 

 soon afterwards all the better— indeed, they should be sown when tbere 

 is a prospect of rain soon falling. 



Starting Orchids in Tubs {A Gardener, BroomfieldU — Mr. Joy's 

 Vines are started about the beginning of the new year. 



Tricolor, &c.. Pelargonium Seedlings not Showtng Variegatioh 

 THE First Year (C. C.i. — Many of these will very likely throw out varie- 

 gated shoots during the present year. You cannot do better than plant 

 them out, and when any show signs of variegation pinch the green por- 

 tions away, so that the variegated portion may predominate. Vallota 

 purpurea is worth about 30s. per hundred, such bulbs as jou describe. 

 Cherry Plum (C. H.). — It is the Prunus myrobalana. 

 Peach-tree Culture {Rev. H. N. O.). — We cannot answer about the 

 republication. On tbe diseases will appear in due course. 



Pruning Wall Roses {H. E., Ealiufj).—'^' The season has been abnor- 

 mally mild, and wall Roses are remarkably forward. Leave them as they 

 are for the present, and in due time cut out all the wood that is damaged, 

 and thin-out useless wood. Querists should say whether their Roses are 

 on tbe Briar or on the Manetti stock. — W. F. Radclyffe." 



Pbunino Roses {Anerley.,and Buz), — " If the Roses are on Briar stocks 

 as standards, I would prune at once. If frost cut off any young shoot 

 the side eyes will break. When they have started, stop one and let the 

 other grow. Leave the most vigorous-looking shoot.— W. F. Radclyffe." 

 Names of Plants {Rost&ini—M. H.).— We cannot name plants from 

 leaves only. {Sarah CMrfc).— Clematit flammula. (JSe?Jcparde).—l. Daphne 

 mezereum ; 2, Notholaena chrysophylla (often known as Cincinalis 

 flavens). (BTsftopsfofcc). — Your Epidendrum appears to be E. Hanburii, 

 Lindl. {Sophia}. — Dendrobium nobite. Be so good as to send another 

 specimen of the Fuchsia. ( W. A,). — Apparently JEupatorium glandulosum. 



METEOROIiOGICAIi OBSERVATIONS in (he Suburbs of London f'q^ tiie-T^^eek Gilding Wruary 16fch. 



POTJITRY. BEE, AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 



DELAY IN FORWAPuDING CATALOGUES, &c. 

 Mk. H. Dowseti complains of the Bristol Show catalogues 

 not having been promptly posted, and of the birds claimed not 



having been properly reported. Allow me space to say that 

 all catalogues legibly ordered and paid for previously to the 

 opening of the Show, together with those orders received on 

 the first day of the show, were posted on the 2nd of January, 

 the first day of opening, and thenceforth each day's orders (the 

 , same conditions being observed), were posted each night before 



