Marcli 1«» 1869. ] 



JOUKNAI. OF HORTIOOLTOBE AND OOTTAGE GABDENEB. 



199 



JorlilisinB artificially, we have little doubt that yonr spectanlos will 

 ena o vou to see clearly enouRh. We kno>v ot too many Inatanres of 

 the tenmle Ancubas bcine fertilised naturally liy hav.nu '"" "/'""';» 

 in-owing near them, to have any fear upon the subject \V o w ould plan t 

 araaleAucuba on the north «de ot the foTiialcR. so that tho.r shadow 

 nilRbt retard the blooming of the male, and then leave a" the rest tc. the 

 bees and flies. Cnlycanlbus pro?cox is a synonym of Cbmionanthus 

 fraRrans. Calycanthus floridns is the Albpiee plant. The I'runus you 

 nieotion is bar'dy. 



Tan kou Melon Pit iSpmcr-r ITfUji.-The tan onRht to stand in the 

 pit until the heat has ri«en ; and soil should tlien be placed upon it, put- 

 tine about a bai-rowfnl under the centre of each hillit ; and raisina it m 

 the form ot a cone flattened at the top on which the plants should be 

 planted, adding more soil to the cones as the roots appear at the sides 

 and continuing this until the bed is covered uitli from 10 to Uinchos 

 thick of soil. The best soil for a Melon is a (.tronj; loam, the top Sinclies 

 of a pasture laid up for ■siy months, then chopped np, and made tolerably 

 small, and in placing it iu the pit tread it firm, at tbo same time let it be 

 moderately dry. Be careful that too much tan la not put in the pit. as 

 new tan sometimes heats violently. The bottom heat should not ex- 

 ceed 90'. 



EocHAlils AMAZONirA FloWERiSG (S. P.).— Your plant kept cool and 

 dry over the winter, should, if now placed in heat, flower in Slay or .June, 

 or the flowering may be earlier or later, according to the condition o[ the 

 plant. The placing in bottom heat would tend to a more speedy growth, 

 and is in most cases benelieial. 



Treitment of Stove Plants (.4 Siidji-riSer, C.).— The Cyanophyllum 

 magnificum wi'h the leaves withered ought to be cut down to within one 

 or at most two joints of the surface of the soil, the nearer the better-and 

 be placed in a bottom heat of from 75 to 80 , and a top heat of fi-oui lO to 

 76" by day, with a rise to HT or 90" from sun heat, and of G.'; at night, 

 maintaining a moist atmosphere by frequently sprinklingthe paths, walls, 

 and every available surface, but avoid wetting the plants overhead at this 

 or any stage of their growth. When the plants have pushed shoots a 

 Jew inches long, pot olT the plants, taking away most of the old soil and 

 placing each plant in a pot - uiticiently large to hold the roots comfortably, 

 returning it t,j the hotbed, and lieepiug the frame close, moist, and shaded 

 Jrom bright sun, until the plant has recovered from the moving, then 

 erposc to light, and admit air moderately, but avoid cold cnrcnts, water- 

 ing copiously after the roots are working freely in the fresh soil. Good 

 drainage should be given. Pot as required. The SphaTogyne latifolia 

 should be treated in the same way. The Eriocnema marmoratum losing 

 alius leaves is only what may be expected of an herbaceous plant. Place 

 it In a hotbed, and'maiutain a moist brisk heat, and when it begins to grow 

 shake out, and repot. The hotbed in the stove will answer well. 



Plunging Materi.il (Kcml.— We do not know of anything bettertban 

 old spent tan siftel, using that remaining in the sieve. Cocoa nut fibre 

 refuse is a good material, but it and sawdust have the defect of caking, and 

 fostering fungus. Silted cinders have none of the above defects, and are 

 excellent. 



Moss ni Flower Pots {f!t. Bridnid].— The canse of the moss on the 

 surface of the soil ot vour flower pots is a consequence of its surface not 

 being stirred, the soil being too clese and wet. The remedy is to repot in 

 more loose soil, and not water oftener than required, and stir the surface 

 frequently with a wedge-hke piece of wood, removing the moss, adding 

 fresh soil if necessary. 



Anemones Weak (7rfem).— You may stir the ground around and between 

 the plants, and give a top-dressing of well-decayed stable-manure. Do 

 not stir the soil so deeply as to injure the roots of the plants. The soil 

 should he hght or sandy, and well drained. 



Peach Blossom Falling (West Cumlfri.md).— The blossom falling, 

 judging from those sent us, is a result of imperfect formation of the buds 

 due to a deficiency of support last year ; and the deficiency may have been 

 want of water at the root, or the trees may have been infested with red 

 spider ; but the trees being on the back wall of a vinery we should attribute 

 it to the trees not having ripened their wood, from not having received a 

 due amount of light and sun beat, it being kept from them by the \ ines. 

 The position is unsuited for Peach trees It would be more profitably 

 occupied by fig trees. Woodlice would not cause the falling of the Peach 

 blossom. 



Cineraria Leaves Ccrled ( Wr ml.— The '.eaves are infested with green 

 aphis. Fumigate with tobacco, having the foliage dry, and filling the 

 house quite full, so that a plant cannot be seen from the outside, the 

 house being shut np closely, and a calm evening selected for the operation. 

 Keep in a position near the glass, and admit air freely. The plants wlU 

 flower in due time. 



Helleborus NIGER CcLTCRE [A. 1'.).— The best time to plant it is in 

 September, the plants being then divided, securing to each division two 

 or three crowns, though one will do, and a fair proportion of root. The 

 soil should be light and enriched with leaf mould, and deeply trenched. 

 An open warm situation should be chosen, but the plant is the better of 

 a slight shade in summer from midday sun. An east or west aspect is 

 preferable to a southern one. 



Melon Ccltdre Lin Amateur).— fca may successfully cultivate 

 Melons in the pit heated by a flue, but it ought to he so contrived as to 

 fm-nisb top as well as bottom heat. Over the flue you must place rubble 

 for drainage, and that should be brought so high that you have from the 

 "lass 2 feet iu front, and 2 feet 6 inches at back, and over the rubble you 

 must place the rougher parts of the soil, or better a layer of turf, grass 

 side downwards, and over that 10 inches in thickness of good, rich, 

 strong loam, and if the top 3 or 4 inches of a pasture all the better, 

 chopping it rather tine, and treading or beating firm. The temperature 

 should be 65 at night at ti^e commencement, and after the plantsare 

 well established it may fill to 60-, but better 6D' to 65', and 70 to 7d- by 

 day, with a rise from sun heat of 15' or 20 , air being given in proportion 

 to the temperature. 



Cherry Tree Usfruitfol (A Yonng Suuxcrihr.r').—Vfe are unable to 

 account for the blossom not setting, but think it due to a want of support 

 We would in autumn lift the tree and reolant, mulching over the roots 

 with rich compost and littery manure. In thus way you may encourage 

 the formation of fibres, and keep them near the surface by top-dressings 

 of manure or rich compost in March and June. 

 Potato Seed Sowing [Idem].— The seed should be sown now in a hot. 



bed cmiiloving a pot or pan flllcd with light sandy loam, scattonng the 

 seeds^hei thinly over the surf-.ce, and cover with fine soil, keepiUB 

 moist but not very wet. When the plants appear keep them near the 

 ^« " a d exposTfully to air, protecting from frost, and pardon off weh 

 nhlolinu out in May in good, rich, light soil in an open situation about 

 e fool aparl The". % may he sown in the open ground >" « w*™ 

 s Altered tuation about the middle of April, scattering tl-" "«/f « rff " 

 thinly and cover with lino soil, aflording protection from severe frosts. 



Protfctino Frcit Trees (T. d.-Thc temporary coping should in- 

 cline to the wall and overlap it a little, so as to throw the wet off: but if 



lie wa"lconi"K does not slope to the opposite face of the wall, then the 

 temporan- coping should incline from the wall or downwards, so as to 

 th?ow off the wet from the trees. The former, however, is the best, as 



h^hgW is not ol'structed. The cheapest and best. mode of taxing a 



T\ " * J 1 ^A^A ;.. *iw.Mi hii* wi- rinlil not way bow best to do it unless 

 w saw rh^'wau'^'coiisuir'a blacksmith, telling iiim what you want The 

 Cheapest and best temporary copings are wood boards, though roofing 

 felt will do. but it wll need a wood frame, and tarpau ing will he too 

 eostlv Wo recommend tiffany of the two articles named by you, and if 

 as ronoer material he required, unbleached linen f; •'"'1''° '-^'''''so 

 which u.DV be had for 4rf. per yard, is excellent and durable, more so 

 Than mostCaterials. but is Mttle employed. . T'"" -"'P -' I;'"" " ,f ?;°„« 

 the protection to the wall is by moans of rings, there being a light iron 



A^I l^ i„ tl,,„t ,,< Ibe coning and the material may, therefore, be 

 drawn aside Ukec tans. We 'know of no simpler plan; but a better 

 nlan is to have a ".ilcr fixed immediately under the coping, and the 

 mateAal tacked to that, which with a cord may be folded or rolled up and 

 maier a 1.1LKCU I.O I , experiment furnishes nothing novel. 



We hi™ pr^ved"''a''ir you have many' times, and we do not advocate 

 wood nroiecUngs as a substitute l.ir front coverings. Both are neces- 

 rarv%Tthef??nt covering is the most necessary, and in your case the 

 pr ejecting coping was not dispensed with. 



Grpb in Tohf (A iJIa:Wi«t!.«).-We answered the same question at 

 pace 167. . , , , 



noS;i(/i.ilii^l;^^t^e?:u^"--— ~^^ 



i Et'?re'l'rrabfce=Xrbt.ses^^^^^^^ 

 lolling soap water, as th'ey will be found in every joint of wood or etone 

 Anemones and Ranuncoluses Planted in Februarv U. l-)--Tho 



but is usual in June. . , ,. v ui. 



Balsam and Aster Seed Sowing (Jdf ml.-The seeds of both should be 



n good rich soil, choosing a warm sheltered situation for the Balsams. 

 APHIS ON PEACH Trees ,Ar,^iou, In,uirer).-U would not do to 8yrin8e 



blossoms. , - - . , „ _^ 



"rr with a fork, not going so deep as to inj ore the roots. 



be brought out about three-quarters of an inch above the bud 



.T.' -Kf TT\ w<i think nil those VOU name would be liKCly lo 

 suS^Ifu Qu^-ei'slfni-'^ro'b'ry y' u'Jn^y find^ome of them have beea 

 ntroduced, but it is certain they will all be scarce. 



T- .„r. f r JT q 1 — Cftlico will not be suitable as 



nrise. Long Prickly is more hardy. . 



rn^^°p,an?ruroutt'good:rich,^Sghu:ii;1irly in'juue.wiU give flowers in 

 autumn il the weather be favourable. , , m m \ 



DESFONTANIA SPINOSA AND LiGCSTRUM JAPONICUM CCLTCRE iJ..M W^ 



_?he first is best treated as a cool greenhouse ij^^ant but is hards a^d 



does well out of doors m an »P«°/''"'J'™'/?^/[°';t being mild, and I 

 winds. LiPUStrom japon.cum may be orced,^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ 



plentiful amount of air give», with abundance ol ii|,ui , o" 

 see its merits as a forced plant. . . .v 



LAP.^oERiA ROSEA CoMPosT (Si'J'-Ht.rl.-The best compost is^^^^^^^^^ 



brown peat full of fine white ^-l;"^'/"".' '„a^eS he dra nage should be 

 roughly, good dramage bemgrrovided,ind>eu ine i- ^^^^ 



verf good, for the pUnt "^I'-^f^^^,'^ J^'^"-^? iZ U^^^^^^ fourth year. 

 ^V^eTe^not^r^fe ?o°lt°teTh:;ricr.5.'a young flowering plant, write to the 

 nurserymen advertising in our columns. 



