150 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



t February 25, 1869. 



from the floor; bnt wo liiiow uothing of the position rr intontion. In 

 your case we wonlrt coaorelo the bottoms of the bordcTBiha-Fo tliemmostly 

 abOTO the onttide lovel, and plant inside the bouse. FJace drains or open 

 rabble aboTO the concrotu. In ench stiff soil drainioj is particularly 

 necessary. 



Plaktino a Labob Oabden Vase {A. B).— As traileia for snch a 

 VttBC, DolhiDg is more effectual hx summer for tnnging over the sides 

 than Lu(ihotpermun), Maurandya, and a few TropiKolimia ot the olegans 

 breed. Ivit-s, especially the (jjeen kinds, would bo a fine permanent 

 drooping cJiiing; but Iben, natbat must bo planted inside, it i.< apt to rob 

 the central plants in summer, and of coarse ycu would require to cut-in 

 the roots every year. Wo can hnve no objection to your centering tio 

 Taso with Huniea elegans, and ringa of Pelargonium, Lolclia, or Varie- 

 ^ted Grafs ; but a Hnmca is rntber out of plpce when planted in a voeo 

 out of doors 7 feet liigb. Oftm a simple plnnt^ng looks best. An edi-ing 

 of green I-vy, atid nefirly thrcefourths ot a ball ot scarlet, would look 

 itnposing; so would a centre of scarlet, and rings of white or ycUow 

 rariegnted Pelaigoniums, with the green edging. 



Maiden Peach Tiiees i-ok Okchabd Hol-se (/(j7ior(ir«ii.i>.— Your maiden 

 Peach trees, if Ihcy shov bloom buds, should lot fruit much this season. 

 Yoa may leave a few fruit, but as jou intend the trees for pyramids in an 

 OTchard house, belter cut bsck these side thoots with a few joints of 

 the stem. The Nectarines being young trees, with some aide shoots 

 near the top and two or tlreo near the bottom, need give you no trouble, 

 as the stem between is bristling with wood buds. These buds on the 

 stem coming stroncly will yield as good, most libeh better, shoots than 

 the side ones now made, .-ind therefore, according to Btren((th, we would 

 cut back these sido shoots, leaving them from 'J to 6 inches in length. 

 This will encourage the shoots from the stem. 



Seeps (S. H. Joiin).—Vle did not try to obtain the first seed von men- 

 tion. That of Solanum capsicastrum ought to be supplied to you by any 

 IjODdon seedsman. 



Peach-thee PncNiKfi AND .SroppiKo (ff. D. B.).— The trees ouglit to 

 havelmd Ihe shoots fLorfened, ns this is their first season Yoa will 

 bnd piirticnlnrs ns to trnimug and pruning the Peach, by referring to 

 Tol. .M ., Kew Scries, [.netH l^l, »i. aeu, Sfi2. 40J, end 4i% also in the 

 present volume, pi>ge3 !ij imd ISl, the whole snbicct being fully treated 

 " j°.^ illuslrnted. Tli.i laterals should be stopped when they have 

 ttnde three leavef , nod the shoots intended for next year's bearing when 

 they have grown 12 or 10 inches. 



Weepi.sg ■R-jllows (0. ai.-Salij; babvlonicadoes not socceod, as your 

 experiincc verifies, in exposed sitnatiuns. It is the finest of all the i 

 Weeping Willows ni plncea not eiposed to cutting winds, or where i 

 sheltered by other trees, Tlie Kilmarnock, American, and Huntingdon 

 Tarietiea are hardier, end would, rn doubt, seri'e your purpose. They arc 

 weeping, and suitable for llie pofilion vou name ; for planting on islands, 

 and on the mnroin of laltes said streams, they arc very desirable. The 

 SUTor and New Weeping Bircli are also good. 



East Lothian Stocks (.^Ipl.a).— These ar^ splendid, no doubt the 

 finest of the Intcrmedifrte Stocks. They aUain a height of l.J foot or 

 more, under good cultivation, and should bo pbinted I foot apart in good, 

 light, nch soil. With regard to tho lawn, see tuswer to " E. W.," this day. 



PtANTIWO-OtT STErHANOTIS AKB ALlA3r.\I,DA tJ. TT.),— Wc shou'd at 



onec plant the above out in the border where they are to remain, and 

 FO as to allow of (heir beccming established in their new positions with 

 the present year's growtli. If tho plants are anlall thev may be grown in 

 pots till strong and of a good size for planting out, otherwise plant out at 

 once. 



Clippino Box (l<lern).~XS y:,a, intend to cut tho Box hard-io, which 

 may be necessary, end will for a time at least render tho Box unsightly, 

 »e should adMsc you to do eohy the middle of April, end the Box will bo 

 MOTming a good appearance by btddiiig-out lime. If it only requires 

 trimming and culling in(o form, as the reduction in height and width 

 *tU not dimiTjifh its greenness, the cutting had lest ba done at the end 

 of Jane m moist weather. 



Mabakta zebbis* auLTDES (Oi-oaian).— It reqnirea a hoase Willi a 

 tempcratnre of from CO" to 65' at night, and from 70' to 75^ by day. with 

 k rise from sun heat and air to 80' or 90' in .summer, and in winter to 

 between 55 and CUP at night, and 65 and 70' bv day. A posiUon near 

 the glass should be given, but not nearer than 1 foot, and plenty of room 

 must be afiVjrded sidew.iys. No shade need bo given, except from very 

 bnght sun, and when the leaves are wet, as the sun falling powerfully on 

 the leayes whikt wet causes them to blister, curl, and become spotted 

 and brown, in which stoto they should not be; a moist atmosphere, 

 though essential, should not be sought bv oelnging the plants with 

 water overhead, but by BprluUling two or thwo times a-day the floors, 

 walks, and other surfaces with water, giving a slight sprinkling over- 

 head in the afternoon, and that only when the plant is growing. A 

 eompost of tiro parts loam from rotted turves, one part flbroos paat, and 

 *nc part leaf monld \Till grow it well, the loam and peat being torn in 

 »ie«i3 wilh the hand, and not made very fine, addiug one-sixth of silver 

 •and. Good drainage must be given. The plant is an evergreen, but the 

 Old leaves perish ou Ibe appearance of the new. Tho part of leaf is from 

 Bomo Aloe, but we ennnot say which without a full-sized leaf and flowers, 

 VbicQ ore necessary for identification. 



Oraftiko Seedliko I.emoh (H.Tn).— Your seedling nngrafted will bo 

 a very JoDg time betoio it flower and fruit in its present state. It 

 BlioiJd be crafted, and new is a good time. Place the stock in a hotbed, 

 ana Beer It close until the graft has taken. 



- ^TECTrKG Ptdathiiiai. Peak Thees (.4 Bfm'mier).— The best material 

 ■a tiffany. No plan answers bettor than putting in round the trees slaters' 

 laths l.J inch by half an iocJi. thrusting them into the ground ail round, 

 at from 1 foot to 1 foot G inches .ipart, and so .bat their tops will reach 

 above the trees. Draw fhem together at toj, and secure them with 

 Wnng. Tie laths should be put in so that they do not touch the Pear 

 Bhoots and blossom. Over this framework the tiffany should le plaraid, 

 made to fit exactly, and then sewed togother. It will only need to bo 

 aupped over the framework, and the trees will be secure in their conical 

 JMChtenps, for tmcli these are ; fhey must not be employed by day except 

 •when the weather is frosty. They need not reach the ground by 1 foot, 

 ■aless the branches are lower, and to keep the tiffany ou the trees on 

 jnndy nights, pnt a few nails in the laths just below the place to which 

 Uie tiffany reaches down, and wHb strings in the tiffiiny opposite the 

 Bails yon may make all seouiB .against wind., d itsM itiM.vj '■ Jo>, 



IhvorAOATiNG Golden Feather Ptbethbum (F. J.).— Tho side shoots 

 may be slipped off now, and they strike freely in sandy Boil if placed in a ■ 

 mild hotbed of about 70 , and a top beat of from 6J° to 60 at uighi. It 

 is also increased by seed, but the best coloured aud dwarfest plants ai'» • 

 from cuttings. See also an answer to another correspondent this day. 



AoEBATOii FOB BEDDiKa (/rf«in ).— The best dwarf Adcratom is that 

 called Prince Alfred, a variety of A. ccelestiuum nauum, the latter heme- 

 also dvarf and good. 



Trainino Ivy-EEATED Pedabcootcus (7df»ii).— The varieties you name 

 are good for bedding, as well as for baskets and pot culture. All tho 

 training they require is to peg the shoots so as to coven tto surface of tbo 

 beds. 



Select Gbeenhodse Plakts (/.fcm).— Camellias PImbriata, Valte-- 

 varedo, and William Downing ; Azalea Flag of Truce, Etoile de Gand, 

 Clapliam Beauty, Acaeia longiflora magniflca, Chorozema cordatum ■ 

 splendens, Correa Brilliant, Oytisus racemosus elcgans, Folygala Dal- 

 maisiana, and Mouochirtum sericeum mullidorum. 



Obakge Ci-LTUBK (.i. A. B.) — The seeds or pips gemiinote the first' 

 year, but we do not know exactly how long they are in doing so. In a 

 brisk heat they take about three weeks. Plants may be propagated fronj 

 cuttings, boat being necessary ; they must be kept close, covering with 

 a bell-glass and giving bottom heat. The seedlings may' be grafted when 

 of tho .size of the scions, but best when a little thicker. They are large 

 enongh to be grafted in the second or third year. They should be graftfed 

 in March or early in April, before Ihe scions betrin to grow. The training 

 is c^nlined to stopping the long shoots, and pruuiiig so as to form a com* 

 pact head, dwarfness being secured by growing the plants in small pots. 

 The fruit is produced from the wood of last and previous years. Ttia 

 Lemou will succeed on the Oraugo, and vf-ce varsif, 



Dbying Ferns {Fido).~The best way to dry Ferns is between she'etrf 

 of thick blotting paper, changing them frequently, and finally placing 

 them in fresh sheets. 



Fern SpoSes Soiyraa (Wfin).— Threoparts All a pot or pan with pieces 

 of pots or crooks, then to within half an inch of the rim with sanay* 

 fibrous peat twothirds, and one-third fibrous yellow loam j and make leyel 

 with the rim, and slightly raise in the centre, with some of the compost' 

 finely broken and sifted. Blake smooth, and give a good waterinffV 

 brushing the epores from the fronds over the surface whilst the soil is 

 wet, and cover with a bell-glass, setting it on the soil witliin the rim of 

 the pot. Place tho pot in a saucer of water, which should always be kept 

 full, and put It in a liouse where there is a heat of from 60' to 70'. 

 Keep tho soil moist, bnt as long as the surface remains inoist dbnotwawr. 

 Sprinkle the water lightly from a fine-rosed wateriug-pot or syringe, Sfid 

 so as not to dislodge the spores. 



Beet foe EDcrao (Florn).— The seed should be sown precisely in tlia 

 same manner as it is in the kitchen garden— that is, in a drill abont 

 6 inches from the grass, Box, or other edging, and about an inch deep^ 

 placing the seeds rather thinly in tho drills, aud cover with fine soil) 

 The seedlings should be thinned out to a distance of 6 inches from plant 

 to plant, and those pulled may be planted where required, and they will' 

 be equally good for decorative purposes wilh those not transplanted. 



Golden Feather Ftrhthbdm PBOPAOATioNf7d«m'. — Ton may Increase 

 your stock by taking off the side shoots, parieg the ends smooth, and 

 removing the leaves halfway up the outting, inserting that portion ia the 

 soil, which may be sandy loam two-thirds, and one-third leaf mould, with 

 a free admixture of silver sand. The cuttings should be placed iU' a 

 hotbed, kept close, moist, and shaded uutibthey have rooted, when tueyi 

 should be gradually hardened-oil^ and may be planted out in Uay. 



Potting PEEAKooNitJ&r and Caloeolabia Cottinos (/d#m).— Thecut- 

 tings of Pelargoniums should be potted singly in 8-inch small pots before 

 being placed in tho hotbed, and the Calceolarias also ; but there iS' no 

 need to place either of them in pots in a hotbed, as they succeed eqaaUy^ 

 well if kept in a house or frame from which frost is excluded ; and bae 

 Calceolarias do betterwhen not potted, but planted out in good rich soil 

 in a cold frame, and protected from frost by a oovei'ing of mats. 



KosE NOT Flowering [F. L. T.). — The Rose you name is very free- 

 flowering. We would not prune it beyond removing any straggling shoots,' 

 and shortening those that are very long. Jf it do not flower, lift in No-, 

 vemher and replant. ' i.. . 



Compost fob Dapitne and Poltoala (Wem).— We presume they aro 

 greenhouse varieties, bnt you do not say. For the Daphna the soil should! 

 consist of two-thirds fibrous peat and one-third loam from rotted turves; 

 with a free admixture of sharp sand ; give' good drainage, and do not 

 overpot. For Polygala use three parts sandy fibrous peat and one part 

 turfy loam, with a Iree admixture of sharp sand. The last is propagated 

 from cuttings of the|half-rip(aied shoots of the currenVyear, putting them 

 in in sandy soil, placing in a hotbed, and covering ^ith a bell-glass. 



PnoTECTiNd Wall Tree Blossoms (H. W. B.).— The material shouid 

 be close, BO as to exclude frost, for if it admit beeS it will not excluSei 

 frost. "The trees, therefore, sliould be closely covered op at night, and 

 the covering removed every fine day when there ia no frost. Use it at 

 no other time, for the trees must have light and air. 



Pelarooni^m Flowers iMrwrroft). — Tbeflowersare bermaphredite — 

 that is, male and ft^uiale are present in one. The piatils or female ports 

 rise from the centre of the flowers, and have hoi-n-liko dfvisloofl, arid 

 around them are the anthers cai'i>ing the pollen or dust, which it is JieceSr 

 sary to place with a camel-hair pencil on the points of the boms of the 

 pistil. ' , , . ■ ,•; 



Camellia akd -\z.\xea Cuttings (/(fend.— The proper time to take 

 cuttings is at the end of July or beginning of August, or when the shoots 

 are ripe at their bases. The outting^ may bo from 4 to 6 inches long. 

 Cnt l>elow a joint, removing the lower ieavos but preserving tho tw.o 

 upper leaves. The cuttings should be inserted in small pots filled with a 

 mixture of pent, loam, and sand, with half an inch of silver sand on the 

 top. Plnoge in a gentle bottom heat of from7ij^ to 76", keep close, sbadedi 

 and moist, and in about six weeks they will be well rooted. Araleas fti^ 

 propagated in the same way, but the cuttings are taken off earlier,,c^| 

 when tho bases of the shoots become firm. 



Peach Tree Buds Falling [Lhrt> Boss).— Tt results from the hTiaa. 

 being imperfect, which may be occasioned by a deficiency of light, tbw' 

 trees being under the shade of 'Vines or other plants, allowing the shoots.' 

 to grow top closely and overshadow each other, a deficiency pf W%^t . 



