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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



t July 17, 1866. 



.'t would hardly be worth much, as they all partake too closely 

 of the Noisette character to be really valuable to us. White 

 Roses are scarce ; but we want something larger, of better 

 form, and hardier constitution than those which I have already 

 mentioned. 



I believe Lacharme has had to stand a good deal of chaffing 

 about his yellow Rose, but I for one acquit him of all desire 

 ■to " do " us, and believe it is one of those disappointments to 

 which the raiser of seedlings is subjected. How often have I 

 ceen at my neighbour and friend, Mr. Banks's, seedling Fuchsias 

 of the most promising character, but of which, when I asked 

 the following year, I was told they turned out valueless ; and 

 so it is with the Rose. One and all, however, gave the credit 

 to Charles Lefebvre, as being the finest Rose out ; while of 

 yellow Roses I was asked, " What do you desire more than 

 Mareehal Niel ?" We had, after our tour round the gardens, 

 a quiet chat together about Roses and Rose-lovers, and I con- 

 fess I could not but regard with respect the man who has been 

 so good a raiser of Roses, and has contributed so much to our 

 enjoyment, as Francois Lacharme. — D., Deal. 



POISONED SEEDS. 



In your impression of the 3rd inst. Mr. Fish wishes to know 

 3f any tasteless poison can be procured for the purpose of 

 thinning the feathered depredators of his fruit, &c. As he 

 .has for years given me many valuable hints, may I offer him 

 one in return ? 



The Act of 16th & 17th Tict., c. 113 (18G3), enacts (inter 

 alia), that any person who shall knowingly or wilfully sow, 

 east, set, lay, put, or place, or cause to he sown, Sec, any 

 .poisoned grain, seed, or meal (by 17th & 18th Vict., c. 115, 

 .extended to meat also), shall forfeit on summary conviction 

 £10; but this prohibition is not to extend to seed so 

 J1 dressed " for agricultural purposes only. Mr. Fish may 

 therefore steep in poison the seeds he actually sows, but he 

 must not scatter poisoned seed, See., about. 



I shall conclude by merely stating that half the penalty 

 .goes to an informer, and that accessories informing are freed 

 from penalty. — Lex. 



THE CULTURE OF ADIANTUM CUNEATUM 

 IN A SITTLNG-ROOM. 



I have been asked to state what has been the treatment of 

 the Fern which gained the Gardeners' Chronicle, first prize 

 at the Horticultural Society's Show last June. It has been 

 very simple, my great aim having been to bear in mind what 

 was most natural to the plant. It has been usually grown 

 from June to December, in a Paxtonian basket suspended in a 

 .south-east window ; the soil being a compost of peat, fine sand, 

 .and cocoa-nut fibre. While in full growth (from about April 

 to the end of October), I have watered it very freely with a 

 very fine rose, completely deluging the plant, but always being 

 -careful afterwards to draw off the water from beneath, so as not 

 to rot the roots. When the fructification is over and the old 

 .■fronds begin to die off, I remove them gradually until about 

 December, when I usually strip the plant of all old fronds, 

 this giving me room to train the young fronds as they come 

 up ; these I always train to hang over the basket — it is easier 

 to do it when the plant is clear, and plenty more fronds come 

 -on to fill up the middle. 



During the winter months, from November to April, twice 

 a-week is usually sufficient for watering. This year when I 

 .found the plant was to be exhibited, I removed it from the 

 south-east aspect to a north-west one in the same room, and 

 'lowered the basket on a level with the window, for I found the 

 Jieight drew the fronds. About the beginning of May I again 

 put it in the south-east aspect, and on the 18th of June it had 

 attained the perfection in which it was exhibited ; but I must 

 add that the plant is much finer now than when it was shown, 

 And will be still finer in August, and that I believe the chief 

 element of success is the perfect drainage secured by the struc- 

 ture of the Paxtonian basket, which was provided for me by 

 Messrs. Barr & Sugden, King Street, Covent Garden.— C. D., 

 Deal. 



Obobanciie minor. — On the root of a scarlet Geranium in 

 -one of the beds in my garden is growing a plant of Orobanche 



minor. Is not this rather an unusual position for it ? It 

 usually grows on Clover. — A. R., Bromley. 



[It is a very unusual growth-place for the O. minor ; but it 

 is known to victimise other plants than Clover. Loefling 

 found it in Spain growing on the roots of Elms.] 



TRANSPLANTING THE WELLLNGTONIA 

 GIGANTEA. 



I read with much interest Mr. Robson's article in the Num- 

 ber of June 26th, on transplanting this Conifer. It interested 

 me more especially, because I had recently removed a good- 

 sized specimen, and I am sorry to say that I fear I shall lose it. 



I purchased it from a nurseryman about four miles distant 

 from my own house. This was, I think, in March last, and 

 being an expensive tree, and about 7 or 8 feet high, I gave 

 directions to have it very carefully taken up. This was done, 

 and when it arrived at my garden it was immediately planted 

 on one side of the lawn, in the place prepared for its reception. 

 It was carefully watered daily by my gardener, and for a month 

 appeared to suffer little or nothing from the change, but soon 

 afterwards it showed symptoms of turning brown, and to-day 

 it looks like rusty old iron. It is living, but I am afraid it 

 will he a long time in recovering, even if it ultimately do so. 



If Mr. Robson would give me any suggestions as to tho 

 proper mode of treating it now, he would confer a great favour 

 upon me. Mine is a very good specimen, and I should not 

 like to lose it without some effort to save it. Probably, if I 

 have eventually to replace it, the same result will follow. — 

 T. M. Shuttleworth, Lancashire. 



[This case so closely resembles others which have occurred 

 here, that the result may be attributed to the same cause. 

 Most likely the ti ee had stood two years or more in the place 

 it came from. This I believe to be the cause of most of the 

 failures in transplanting the Wellingtonia, for the season, in 

 this part of England at least, has been favourable for trans- 

 planted shrubs and trees, there having been no long periods of 

 drought. Perhaps if the tree had been screened in some way 

 from the sun and drying winds, and its top frequently syringed, 

 the juices might have been retained in the stem and branches ; 

 but I do not think watering at the root called for at any time 

 when there is moisture there. Most likely if the tree be ex- 

 amined a few green twigs will be found near the bottom, but 

 with their tips mostly dead ; and such, too, will be the case with 

 the whole of the top for a great part of its length. If this be so, 

 the tree will be disfigured for some years, but it may recover in 

 time, not by the present leader being restored to life, but by 

 one of the lower branches being converted into a leader. If 

 appearance for the time is of no moment, I would recommend 

 that one of these branches be tied up to the existing leader, 

 not cutting the latter out, kut simply tying up one of the most 

 likely branches to it — not rigidly tight at first, but, assuming 

 the branch to be horizontal, or, perhaps, slightly pendant, I 

 would raise it a little way at first, and a week or so afterwards 

 raise it somewhat further, until by degrees it had attained the 

 proper upright position. The 'Wellingtonia appears to furnish 

 itself with a fresh leader with as great ease as a deciduous 

 tree, and it would, doubtless, do this without coaxing, but if 

 a little management can accomplish the object sooner, it is 

 worth trying. I am by no means an advocate for much knife 

 work, and if the appearance of the dead part of the tree be 

 not thought too unsightly, I would let most of it remain for a 

 time ; at all events do not cut it back to the live wood, other- 

 wise this will die away in a great measure. 



With regard to replacing the tree by another, that must 

 remain a question with yourself. If its unsightliness cannot 

 be endured, then remove it and plant another in September, 

 taking especial care that it shall be one that was transplanted 

 the autumn before. Most probably such plants will not appear 

 so fine as that which is now the subject of complaint, but there 

 is more likelihood of their affording a successful result. I 

 may observe, that in September, when the tree is transplanted, 

 if the weather be dry it will be advisable to afford shade for a 

 time, and to water over the top as well as at the root, and then 

 I have no doubt that the result will be satisfactory. If it be any 

 consolation to Mr. Shuttleworth to know that others have suf- 

 fered from transplanting the Wellingtonia, I may repeat what 

 was stated in the former article, that several fine trees of it 

 planted here last January have failed in a similar manner. 

 Some of these will be treated as described above, while half 



