September 25, 1866. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICTJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



215 



Pansy (II. Wilton).— Neither the dried specimen nor note was received. 



Heating a Ghxjenhotjsb (M.I)., Manchester).^- Tin- keeping oat frost 

 from a small greenhouse over a nev ly-ereeted room by means of the flue 

 from a stove in thai room piHWiwg ♦h*^na h the greenhouse, will depend 



npon the lire need 111 the room to heat the flue. A rl.. i tc-vr would do 

 this l..tt. i iliiiii an ..pni tireplitee. In cither ra-r a In.' w.uild have tu he 



kept In there od cold nights especially, until the flue in tho grcen- 



honse was warmed. This being dune, we see nothing to prevent the 



plan answering. The uusitiuiis of the room and the greenhouse are the 



very best fur heating by hot water by means oi a olose boiler fed from 

 the greenhouse, box the flue is, perhaps, simpler, We think a simpler 

 plan still would be to have a small iron stove in the greenhouse Ln 

 winter, with a funnel through the ronf, and remove it altogether in 

 summer, say after the 1st of April, but then that would require a little 

 nicety in management to avoid dust and Bmoke, &c. The flue would, on 

 the whole, give least trouble in the house, and by the time it reached the 



level of the floor of the greenhouse it might he made of iron or earthen- 

 ware pipes 8 inches in diameter. 



Wood of Vines Mildewed [T, //■ W.D.). We have seen bad effects 

 from using bones with flesh adhering to them tu constructing Vine 

 borders. We approve of your proposals. We would plant inside, and as 

 the mildewed Vines' have only been planted a twelvemonth we would 

 prefer fresh Vines instead of those mildewed, though we have little 

 doubt that when treated differently the mildew would he no more seen. 

 Still, for all the value of the Vines,' it is better to avoid the risk. 



Men Required for a Flower Garden [Nescio). — Your " flower garden 

 oi 8 acres, a large portion oi which i in grass, with a little shrubbery, and 

 a good portion in flower-beds ; also four large vineries to come in succes- 

 siunally, two largo Peach-houses, a large greenhouse and stove, and nn 

 orchard-house :M fe<t loner '' will require eight men— that is, presuming 

 the flower garden to he laid out in the picturesque style. Where there 

 is a large area in grass in comparison to that occupied by the clumps of 

 trees and shrubs or beds of flowers, that part will he kept in order by 

 four men, the grass being mown by a machine, and gone over once 

 a-week. If it is laid out in the geometrical style, with many gravel walks, 

 grass chiefly predominating, then eight men will not he too many ; and if 

 the beds and borders for flowers be in proportion to the extent of the 

 grounds on the symmetrical mode, a like number of hands would be 

 required to keep it in good order. The houses would require four men if 

 they are what we understand by large. If we form a correct view of the 

 place, we think a head gardener, au under gardener or foreman, a journey- 

 man, an apprentice, and four labourers would he what you require ; but 

 the style of the garden, its extent of beds and bedding-out, walks, &C-, 

 being unknown to us, we cannot do more than give an approximate esti- 

 mate of the labour required. 



Achimekes Done Blooming !K. Hf.). — Keep them moderately supplied 

 with water, reducing the quantity by degrees, so as to leave it off by the 

 time the foliage has assumed a yellow hue. Afford them a light and airy 

 situation, quite as much so, if not more, after flowering as before, and 

 when the stems are decayed and yellow, or withered, cut them off at the 

 surface, and keep the roots in the "soil in the pots, and in a house having 

 a. temperature of from 40° to 45°, giving no water until potted again for 

 starting into growth. 



Cyclamens Lying under a North Wall (Idem). — Have them potted 

 at once without disturbing thc^ ball more than by removing the drainage 

 and any soil that conies away easily, and see to providing good drainage. 

 If of the C. conm family, pot so that the crown of the tubers may be 

 covered with an inch of soil: but if C. persicum, it will suffice if the 

 crown be only just covered. Place in a cold frame on coal ashes, keeping 

 moist but not very wet, exposed in favourable weather, but protected 

 from heavy cold rains, and from frost, and when the weather becomes 

 so cold that they can no longer he kept in the frames, remove to a light 

 airy shelf in the greenhouse. 



Lomaria fluviatilis Cclture [A Constant Reader).— The soil should 

 be composed of equal parts of turfy peat, turfy yellow loam, and pieces of 

 gritstone broken in pieces the size of a hazel nut, the small not being 

 sifted out but mixed with the compost. This, well mixed, chopped with a 

 spade, and made rather fine, will answer perfectly. The pot should be 

 drained to one-third its depth; the drainage may consist of pieces of 

 sandstone with the finer particles sifted out. Pot the plant in March, but 

 should it become sickly at any other period of the year, pot it at once. A 

 rather shady situation is desirable, but not so much so as for Ferns 

 generally, and during growth the watering should be liberal, and at no 

 time ought the soil to he otherwise than moist, and this moist condition 

 should be accompanied by a corresponding amount of atmospheric mois- 

 ture—abundant when growth is being made, and somewhat diminished 

 when the growth is complete. It requires the temperature of a 

 greenhouse. 



Hop Plant Propagating (Alpha).— The Hop ia propagated by division 

 or parting the roots in autumn or spring, the latter being the better time. 

 The divisions, which should have some eyes at the crown, and a portion 

 of root, mav be planted a foot apart against the trellis you propose cover- 

 ing. The Hop may also he increased by cuttings of the shoots of the 

 previous year, taking them off at the crown, with a heel, and this is best 

 done in March. Plant them in the same way as the divisions in rich, 

 deep, loamy soil. 



Stagnant Pont> [A Subscriber). — You may to a certain extent prevent 

 its becoming stagnant by having it well cleaned out, covering the bottom 

 with from 3 to 6 inches of gravel, and before letting in the water plant- 

 ing a number of aquatic plants. These and some water-fowl will render 

 it less liable to become stagnant, the fowls keeping the water in motion. 

 Destroying Crickets [8. Badgers). — Your best plan is to lay poison 

 for the ai, and that is readily done by spreading phosphorus paste on slices 

 of bread in the same manner as butter on bread, and lay these at night 

 near their haunts, removing the poisoned pieces of bread in the morning 

 and burning them. The crickets, if they partake of the phosphorus paste, 

 will be lying dead near it. Being very partial to oatmeal, this maybe 

 given them mixed with arsenic at the rate of one ounce of arsenic to half 

 a pint of oatmeal, adding a little ground aniseed and caraway seed. U 

 these Ingredients be mixed and laid on pieces of paper in convenient 

 places (at night only, or where no domestic animals have access), the 

 crickets will partake of them greedily. You will best succeed by tempting 

 them with the oatmeal and aroniatics only fur a night or two before 

 offering them the poisoned mixture. 



Sfi.kct White 1 1 to rid Perpetual Roses (Learner). — Alba Mntahilis 

 Madame A. de liougemont, Louise Daxzena, Sour des Anges, Mdlle 

 Hounaire, Madame Freeman, Imp. ratrieo Kugruie, Louise Jlagnan, 

 Virginal, Princess Lichten stein, and Madam.' Liivetfl. 



Hops (Kent).-— They are the seed •..--' I oi the female flowers of the 

 Hop plant, Humulus iupulus. It iH a native of Great Britain ; but Hops 



do iji.t « nn to have been used in noil. in:.: beer until the I :.l li c< nt ury. 



Duty was paid on Hops in the BBnd od Henry VI. 'h reign. Ale seems to 

 have been brewed from malt without the addition oi Hope, bat beer bad 

 both for its ingredients. Hops were used for brew ing on the Continent 



before they were ni used in England; and Walter Illitb, writing in L66& 

 twits the citizens of London for "not many years since having petitioned 

 Parliament against two nuisances — Newcastle coals, in regard ol their 

 stench, and Hops in ^regard they spoil the taste of drink, and endanger 

 the people ! " 



JIns. Chitty.— Thirty stamps in a letter, post mark " Worcester," havo 

 been received and forwarded. 



Deodorising [L. P.).— The earth is the best and cheapest deodoriser. 

 Have .i vulcanised indian-rubbex tube to tix on to the nozzle of the pump, 

 and Long enough to reach to wherever the liquid has to be applied. Tho 

 earth will soon remove the smell. We know of many gardens where tho 

 cesspool's contents are used for fertilising, but we never before heard of 

 a gardener so delicate sb to be rendered sick by the application. 



Propagating Mrs. Pollock Geranium (M. J. Ii.).— You will best suc- 

 ceed with this by potting tho cuttings singly in small pots, draining 

 them well, and using a compost of peat, loam, and sand in equal parts. 

 Make a hole in the centre of the pot, and after dropping in Borne silver 

 sand let the base of the cutting rest on it, and fill up the opening round 

 it with the same material. Water sparingly, and place in a mild hotbed, 

 or on a shelf near the glass, in either ease shading. Avoid frequent 

 waterings, otherwise the cuttings will damp oil". Cuttings strike much 

 more readily in spring than autumn. There will be full notes next week 

 on (irapes shanking and spotting. 



Tobacco Gathering and Drying [Preston).-— When the leaves begin 

 t , i ume a yellow colour cut off the plants by the root, and hang them 

 up separately in a dry, shady, and airy place. When the leaves become 

 dry and erisp remove them from the stalk the first wet weather afterwards, 

 as they will then become soft, and pack them evenly in a box, pressing 

 them moderately. In a few days they will heat slightly, then open them 

 out and shake them to let the heat escape; repack lightly, and when all 

 appearance of fermentation is past store them in a box or barrel. The 

 stalks, cut into small pieces, may bo employed along with the leaves for 

 fumigation. 



Housing Camellias and Azaleas (Idem).— It is now Inch time to 

 house these plants, the late and prevailing heavy rains and cold being 

 anything but good for them. 



Dividing Tritoma fa-aria (W. B.).— You may take up the roots and 

 divide them now, but it would be more safely done in early spring. 



Cossignia borbonica (A Regular Subscriber). — It is known to gardeners 

 usually as Iiuizia aurea, having golden-coloured nerves to its leaves. It 

 is an old and hut rarely-cultivated nne-foliaged plant, and as such is 

 good for exhibition. 



Forming a Garden and Planting Fruit Trees neae the Sea 

 (Pegu}ell).—We fear if you have the house to build on a quarter of an 

 acre of land the builders will occupy almost the whole of the ground with 

 their materials, so that it would be better to let them finish their work 

 before commencing gardening operations. If, however, you do anything, 

 begin with the portion of the ground farthest from the intended building, 

 and fence off the part in cultivation at once, or you will find it invaded. 

 Assuming the house to be built, you may consult a recent article by one 

 of our correspondents on the mode of turning to account what refuse the 

 builders may leave in making the walks which you will require. Very 

 possibly a portion behindyour house and the highway, if it face one, will 

 be wanted for ornamental purposes; but if not, we would advise you to 

 crop the ground most directly in front with Strawberries, Gooseberries, 

 and Currants, while behind the house the larger-growing fruit trees, as 

 Apples, Pears, and Plums, may be planted ; also the larger-growing vege- 

 tables. Generally speaking the Broccoli and Cabbage tribe do well near 

 the sea, and so do Potatoes, Asparagus, and Sea-kale. Respecting the 

 culture of these, directions are given in our back Numbers. We fear, 

 however, your space is too limited to advise many fruit trees being 

 planted, but the following varieties are good— viz., King of the Pippins, 

 Dumelow's Seedling, and Stunner Pippin Apples; Williams' Bon Chretien 

 and Marie Louise Pears ; and Orleans, Magnum Bonum, and Goliath 

 Plums. Against the east wall of your house you may plant a Morello 

 Cherry, and a May Duke against the west side, while on the south a 

 Shipley or Brussels Apricot might he planted, as well as a Peach if the 

 situation be good. If you preferred this side to be ornamented with 

 some showy creeper, you might have a yellow or white Banksian Rose, 

 Passiflora cserulea, Jasminum nudiflorum, Pyrus japouica, and Ceauothus 

 azureus. You may, perhaps see an article on this subject in an early 

 Number. 



Apples, Pears, and Plums for Dwarf Standards or Pyramids (A 

 Subscriber).— The following Apples are all good, and include both early 

 and late kinds, as well as for kitchen and table use :— Alfriston, Bedford- 

 shire Foundling, Blenheim Pippin, Cellini, Court of Wick, Dumelow's 

 seedling, Early Harvest, Quarrenden, Hawthornden, Golden Harvey, 

 King of the Pippins, Stunner Pippin, Yorkshire Greening, and French 

 Crab. Twelve Pears may consist of Beurre de Ranee, Beurre Diel, and 

 Easter Beurre, Althorp Crasanne, Aston Town, Williams' Bon Chretien, 

 Citron des Cannes, Jargonelle, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Mario Louise, 

 Winter Nelis, and Ne Plus Menris. Twelve Plums might consist of Coe's 

 Golden Drop, Goliath, Green Goge, Kirke's, Diamond, Jefferson, Yellow 

 and Red Magnum Bonum, Early Orleans, Pond's Seedling. Reiue Claude 

 de Bavay, Victoria, and Washington, all good and likely to do well on 

 open standards in a favourable situation. 



Vines in Pots (Onesiphorus).— You can have the "Vine Manual " free 

 by post from our office if you enelose thirty-two j ns with 



your address. It contains a chapter on the culture of Vines in pots. 

 Black Hainburghs will succeed well in a greenhouse. 



Viola cornuta (Young Soldier).— It is the correct kind. The Picoteo 

 is one of the common border varieties and unnamed. 



