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Deocmbir'aS. lB8g:j' 30VMi£ OP HORTICULTtJRE AWD' COTTAGE OAEDENBB: 



5».- 



ftAIIDKN llEMOKS (./. i'oUT.,/).— TllOM 19 DO bOOk Bpocllllly dCVOlud lo 



till' i>nl))ii-l, nor do »« know of niiy "no who buii1'1""» t^if'" o" l'»liLf- 

 ••Flown IJnrdeniuH lor Uii) Many," which you vnu huvo Iri'e by i)<>»t 

 fiomonr iririoo fur livo stuinpB, coulnius a fuw, and mnny arc scnUercil 

 tbroiifjhont our voIumoM. 



IlKUnilluiir M Ylwng Onrdrnrrl-Unae'H '• VcKOtnhk- Kingdom "will 

 lujnrui von a» to tho clnaslHoiUion. You can havo it (r.o hy P""-"; """[ 

 our olli<'-i' for lln. «if. Thick Wolliuu i>iiiu-r. t'llio sizf. is lo bo iirelfrruU 

 l.ir dispbiviun till- plants. A drop of spirit of camphor up.>n oaoh pnj;c 

 will i-hoi-k Ibi- ajjooarancp of insoi-ts ; ri-newinw the applu-ntiou as tho 

 ^mull of tho cumiihor do<Jiuos. Th» book you juoutiou wo do not know. 

 IssECTS i/f. .v., ll'<ijni«?r«r»i).— Tho small Kl'uh trcjm your ynuiiK Apple 

 irue ia a nowlyhatchod L-aleri'illar of the Goat Motb, one of tho i.<re»toBt 

 ou«nueii of fruit treoa, tiv it grows to the length of IJ inches, so get 

 rid of tbein as soon as yon can. lilow tobacco smoke into their burrows, 

 by moans of a fumlRating bellows, to dislndso them, and try the eltcct of 

 tlrrustini! a stiff wire up the holes. )!y no means cut away ll»e '"J',''"'[ 

 parts, but voii may cover the openings with gi-afting clay. (C.).— rue 

 white powdci-v objects on the bark of your Beech trees are not An»!rican 

 blight, hut a'sraall species of Coccus, which, if not cleared off, will 

 gradually cntiraly euvolopc (he stem. , Hot water HU<1 a »"" brash js tho 

 liest remedy. — W. j 



Vauiovs (rort). — The rust in tho water from tlio hot-water pipes wil' 

 be lessened, and the water rendered Softer, by putting an ounce of car- 

 "oonato of annnouia frcjuentlv, say two or three times a-wook, in ino 

 water. Suoh heated water will rarely be injurious lo borders, tcr Irat it 

 will be dangevons to many tender plants in pots. Wo coiisulcr that 

 beating water bv pipe-) passing throilgli a cistern is hotter every way than 

 taking the hot "water from pipes ; tlnuijh we are obliged to do it often. 

 II you could heat your wator without taking it out of the pipes it would 

 ho better in all cases for svringing. If you empty the pipes, or nearly so, 

 often, of course all injurv from iron in the water will he lessened. « e <li> 

 not think merely a trace of iron injurious. Tho hard water you will 

 aoitea easily bv adding carbonate of lime, and allowing tho water to 

 stand in the suu heture usin;; it for syringing. Our water is either so 

 dijrtv or so hard, that we seldom syringe in conscciueuce, unless when 

 tho water is uuusuallv clear. Vou may add a little liiue or challi to your 

 loam for the treea. biit most likely vou will find the trees would (lo weU 

 ill the Ic.am, especially if vou top-dross with a sprinkling of super-pbos- 

 phato of lime, and that 'wo would lika better than tho cnall;, say a 

 qoartcr of a p.und at a time in a vard of border, repeating the dose in a 

 mouth or six weeks. We have met with no phiiits iai the fruit way th it a 

 little of this dooa not suit. We admire your nil dcApn-aiidnm niotto, and 

 hope vou will succeed. You must not lot your pots he frosted, and the 

 StKiwb.iTies when introduced should not be far Irom the glass. We 

 shall be glad to hear from vou on the mode you adopt for the wet and i 

 dry bulb, for showing teioueraturc and atmosphei-ic moisture, but our 

 trade is most opposed to all professional secrets, and we generally say 

 to our friends. Take vour secrets elsewhere, they would not be safe with , 

 us. These measurers of humidilv and temperature are, however, most 

 USffol tor the inexperienced, as we know many old gardeners who can ■ 

 tell the heat and the hnmiditv whenever they open the door of a house, | 

 and without looking at a Ihefmometer or hygrometer at all. We leave ( 

 Ton to decide as to mailing Vour plans known. Y'ou arc quite "?"' ^ ' 

 iiold and maintain vour own views on the utility of sulphur; nghlly 

 used, we hold the reverse, hut we shall be none the less glad to hear .o' Tunr 

 inlxturc that s such a preservative against mice, birds, *c;, attacking the 

 •buds of fruit trees. ■ - - 



Crci'MEERS Decavino (OiTitfant Bcaiicr).— From what you say of the 

 treatment of tho Cuouiiibers, wo can come to no conclusion as to the 

 ■ranso of the fruit showing strong, and then beginning to damp off and 

 wither up when 2 or S inches from the stalk, unless it be from the r.iots 

 being kept too hot, or Ihc plants being allowed toshow t.io many fruit. Try 

 what thiuiiing the fruit freely will do ; also what keejiiug the roots cooler 

 will do. We once had a somewhat similar case, and the roots seemea to 

 ■be moist enough within B inches of the surface, but on digging down we 

 •found the bottom soil very ilry and hot, and when we made holes and put 

 an narrow two-inch-bore drain-tiles and poured in plenty of chilled water 

 thev began to swell freely enough. There are things about Cucumbers 

 which no one can understand, tor after never having had the least trouble 

 w-ith them for a quarter of a centurv, they have troubled us a good deal 

 lately, and ospcoiallv towards autumn. The Vines will take no harm 

 from the asphalt until Ihoy swell tho buibs, but apiece ol calico or even 

 straw would have been better. 



JlELos ASD P,ioPAr,ATiNr,-p:T (A. Y. Z.).— We would proceed thus— in 

 the four-feet space for the bed place two four-inch pipes a couple of 

 inchcB or so from the floor, and around these pipes and -i inches over them i 

 place clinkers, brickbats, ic, covering all with 1 in<:h of rough, clean- | 

 wa^ed hltlc stones or gravel. Have means of pouring water amongst j 

 the gravel as you like, without passing through the soil. Let the soil be 

 about 18 inches thick, and let your wires he a foot from the glass in 

 front, and 18 inches, or at least'lo inches from it at the back, and have 

 two four-inch pipes for top heat. We heated such a place with two three- 

 inch pipes for bottom heat, and two for top heat, but tho heat was not 

 enouL'b. We have added one more three-inch pipe; tho four-inch ones 

 ■would have done. Success depends on not having the pipes too hot. 



Planting Ivy to Covek Tbees (G.). — The most suitable Ivy to plant 

 is Kedera hcLix. or common tree Ivy. Dig a hole by each tree, at least a 

 yard square and 18 inches deep ; fill it up with good rich light loam, or if 

 the soil is of pood light quality, mix with it one-foui-th of well-rotted 

 "manure, and a like quantity of leaf mould, thus forming a slight mound; 

 level its top and plant, leaving a basin-like hollow to hold water._ If 

 the soil is wet and heavy, mix with it one-fourth of brick and lime- 

 rubbish, and a like quantity of leaf mould. If the trees proposed to be 

 clothed arc large, make two holes, and plant t%vo plants of Ivy near 

 each tree next March. The best plants are those which have been gi-own 

 in pots, such may be had with shoots from 4 to 6 feet long to begin with. 

 <Jivo a good watering after planting, and occasionally during the summer 

 when the weather is dry. Nail up the shoots to the trunk of the trees, 

 ■<ltrecting the young shoots, as they are produced , upwards. It is difhcult to 

 say how long the .shoots will gi-ow annually, for that depends on how far 

 the trees sliade the ground at their base, and keep it dry. We havo known 

 ■them grow G feet ill a season, whilst in other cases the growth has not 

 4>c«n more than half that, and sometimes not more than a foot in length. 



TwKWrv AtrlSBS roB Pots (/llp/ncl.— Your pots will answer lur alpinoj, 

 which wo presume you propose to grow without the protection ol a trauie. 

 Instead of selecting a sbadv, give prcf.^r.ucc tr> a sunny and exposed 

 situation, for these plants do not like a close, soft, or still iitmos|**r^! 

 and as vou have no rouk»..rli. raise a mound ol coal ashes, in whioh 

 plunge the pots to the rim torraeo-fa<hion. Tho pots must be drained to 

 one-third their depth, and ho filled to the rhu with tho conqx.sl suitable 

 for each kind, making the surfa. e slightly higher in the centre ol the 

 pots. AquilegSa alpina, loam ol a turfv nature, enriched with one-fourth 

 leal mould, and k.pt moist. It Jias very Lirgi' purplish Wae (lowers with 

 white centres, and grows about a foot high. Dianlhus alpuiu", deep rosu 

 spotted crimson ; grit, turfv peat, and loam in equal parts, which should 

 be kcjit wet. It grows but' a few inclieK blfh. 'rllullelrum anomonnideg 

 Iilenom ; peat, loam, and grit kept moist. VerOBioa saxalilis, blue; plant 

 procumbent. I-oaui and grit in ecjual p;u-ts kept moist. I'hlox Nelwuii. 

 wliite ; requires peat, loam, and grit, or sand. Oxallstr,p:eoloide-!, y.-llow; 

 fine puri'lish br.iwn leave-s. Loam and gravel. Papaver alpinum, v-ollow ; 

 peat, loam, and grit kopt moist. Linnria cynibainria variegata, lino fuliige ; 

 loam and giit. Salifraga atlinis aaid S. pallimta, loam and gi-it; S. oppo- 

 sitifolia, turfv loam and grit, with piei'cs of rotk, kept moist. Silene 

 acaulis, lurfy'loain. pml, and grit ; S. alpestris, and 9. Ischafti. Oentiana 

 verna, blue ; lr>ani and grit or gravel. I>raba bceoticu, yellow ; loam and 

 giil. fiuaplialiuni leoiitopodium. two-thirds grit, and one-third sandy 

 peat. Linum alpiunni, blue ; light loam. Aca-na novir-zeal-indirp, crnnsoii; 

 sandy loam and peat. Campanula garganica, bluish purple; sandy loaih 

 and grit. We by no means conaidiT the above the most choice of alpines; 

 but such as would suit your pnn'ose, though not, jierhajis. your taste ; 

 tor in this, as in liearlv every tiling else, taste varies considerably. Twenty 

 of the choicest plants' for i>r)t culture are Primula farinosa. P. calycma, 

 P. ciliata, P, minima, P. viscosa, P. nivalis, and P. marginata ; Andro-tuco 

 ciliatn, A. chainie-jasme, A. carnoa, A. helvetica, and A. villcsa; Pyrola 

 uniflora, P. meilla, and P. secunda; Erltrichuiunaliuin ; Arotia vitall.ana; 

 Andrruueda hypnoides, A. tetragona; (uid Erioplujruni iUpinuai Spring 

 would be the best time to obtain them; but they could be bought safely 

 at any time, as thev are all grown in pots for sale. The T>reseirt is a good 

 time to obtain them wiicn the weather is mild, for, though hardy, they 

 will not endnro moving about during frosty weather. Any of the principal 

 London and pro-sinclal nurserymen could supply yon with all of them, 

 or obtain them for you. We never recommend dealers. 



Rai«in<i Vises pkoh 'Eves ia SnfJrs /Jc,-.lw;i«r).— On the opposilo side 

 of the cane to the hud place the Unite, and cutslaaitingly so as to bring it . 

 out throe-quarters of an inch below the bud. From the point where the 

 first cut was made, make another cut exactly like the Erst in the reverse 

 direction, and coming out three-quartci-a of ftn inch from tho other side 

 of tho bad. This being done the biid will moivsure IJ inch on the side 

 where the eye or bad is situated, and have two slopijig cuts at the back. 

 Pot the eves in January, in jiols from 41 to inches in diameter, placing 

 one in each pot. In preparing the pots put a croi'k over the hole, and & 

 few smaller upon it, and then an inch or *i ol the Dughor parts of the 

 compost. TliLs may consist of rather light loam from rotted turves a 

 year old, which is best, or light rich loam. Fill the pots with this cofn- 

 IMSt to within an inch of the riin, and exacllv in the centre of each place 

 an eve, the eve upwards, and flat, pressing it diiwn so that the eye may be 

 level with th'c soiL (Jovor with half an incll ot line soil, and give a gentle 

 watering, at once plunge the pots to the rim in a Cucumber-frame if you 

 havo one, and let thcin remain there until May, kjepiug the soil just 

 moist, then remove to the greenhonse. II yon have not a hotbed so early, 

 or have one liter— say March, keep the pots ia the greenhouse without 

 Water until that time, then plunge them in the hotbed until the end of 

 Mav or eariy in June. In this, or tlie former case, pot the eyes after they 

 hnve been in the greenhouse a few days into nine-inch pots in the aama 

 compost as before, and train tho shoots up tho roof of the greenhouse, 

 keeping the soil in the pots well supplied with water, never, however, ,, 

 givin'' any until it is required, at the same time the leaves of the Vines 

 should not bo allowed to flag. When the Vines c^ase growing diTniniBl^ 

 the supply of water, and withhold it altogether when the leaves fall, and 

 then stand them in a cuol place for the winter. If you havo no hotbed 

 place the pots in the grcLuhouse, iind keep the, soil just moist, giving but 

 little water until the shoots appear. Afterwards they arc to be treated in 

 the same wav as those in the hotbed. In January cut the young ^ mcs in 

 to two eyes, 'shift them into nine-inch pots, or tho same size as that in 

 which thev were gi-own in the year before, removing the greater part of 

 the soil, and place them in the crrecnhouse. from which it is not necessary 

 to remove them in vinter if the tempeiaturo from fire heat does not 

 exceed •13". In due time two shoots will spring from the two eyes, make 

 choice of tho stronger, and rah oil' the othu-. Train that left to the rool, 

 and about 1 foot from the glass, stopping the laterals, as thev show, at thS 

 first leaf. In June pot the plants into ItJ or 15-inch po's, draining well, 

 and when the pots become fuU of roots, or savin ihrec weeks, water at 

 every alternate watering with liquid manure. Stop the shoot (take oatits 

 poinil, after it has gi-o>vu S feet, and allow thelater.als to grow, stopping 

 them, however, at the first leaf, and if they shoot agiin let them make 

 six or more leaves. Keep well watered np to the time the plants 

 seem to have done gi-owing. and tho wood is tho thickness of tie little 

 finger and turning brown, then lessm tho supply, and leave off watering 

 when the leaves fall, cutting awav the laterals by d 'rrees as the_ leaves 

 change colour. The Vines, if voii manage them well, will fruit in pots 

 in the following vcar. or vou may plant them out in a border in front of 

 tho greenhouse, train the canes to tlie roof, and have fruit the year after 

 planting. Yoa will find full particulars in the •■Vine Manual." which yoa 

 can have free by post from oar office for -is. S(!. in postage stamps. ^ 



FrMEs rnoM Hot-watek Pipks Kiilixc, Plants (A Vi-ilhn, Slaptf 

 ftiirsJi.— We think. Irom the wav in which your plants arc affected, that 

 the pipes have been coated with gas tar, v.bieh may easily be detecUd by 

 the smell of tho fumes when the pipes are hot. The fumes from pipes 

 thus coated will kill all the plants in time, iluicss the pipes Bl-e take.i out 

 .and the tar burned off. We are not sure that this is the canse of the 

 leaves falUng and the voung growth of tho plants being injured, but it w 

 a verv likelv one. If the pipes were coated with paint or black varnish 

 the fumes would be injurious to vegetation for a time, but you may soon 

 get rid of that bv heating the w.ater in them until it boils, and keeping 

 this heat up until the smell disaijpears, whieh will be the c ise in twenty- 

 four hours. Of course yoa must remove the plants, or give air in pro- 

 portion to the heat. ' , _, , 



r.AEBlT.s Baekino TREES (H. F. B.I.— If you refer to onr NnmbcrpnS- 

 lished December 12th, you will see a reply to tho same question. 



