Jflnnary 21, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEF. 



oO 



more than a foot or 18 inches in height, will bear as good fruit 

 as old trees ia tubs or planted-out. The fruit is very much 

 superior to that imported from St. Michaers, and there is very 

 great interest and pleasure iu watching the development of the 

 fruit from the flowering stage until it is quite ripe. The fruit 

 when cut with the leaves has also a satisfactory appearance on 

 the dessert table. The usual varieties of Oranges grown for the 

 flowers are composed of thick skins, and a pithy substance 

 inside; but we have the St. Michael's and Maltese Blood 

 Oranges with the skius burst, through being too full. The 

 fruit can also be had through the three winter months, when 

 Grapes are scarce and the best Peara are over. Our earliest 

 plants are now well advanced in flower, and the temperature of 

 the house is about 60°. 



Fig treesj where the buds are not started, are syringed every 

 day ; after the buds start the trees are only syringed on clear 

 days. All ours are grown in pots, and they are repotted every 

 year, as, if we only surface-dress them, the gi-eatest difficulty is 

 to know when the roots require water, as the rich surface 

 always appears moist even when the roots are parched. 



PEACn HOUSE. 



The same treatment is requisite in this house as to dressing 

 the branches and surfacing the borders as has been already de- 

 tailed in the previous numbers for vineries. Watering is also the 

 same ; the only difference is, that Peaches will not bear forcing 

 to the same extent that Vines will, especially early in the year. 

 If the trees are in flower this month the greatest care is neces- 

 sary to prevent the fruit from dropping off. The most frequent 

 cause of this is overdryness at the roots or too much moisture 

 in the atmosphere. The only moisture that is permitted at this 

 time is obtained from sprinkling the paths and borders with 

 water from a fine rose. 



PLANT STOVE. 



We do not approve of potting any plants that are not free 

 growers before the middle of February, but some Ferns and 

 foliage plants that are growing freely will be shifted into larger 

 pots as soon as convenient. These have the pots in which they 

 are growing quite full of roots. It is necessary to pot carefully at 

 all seasons, but much more so at present. The pots are quite 

 clean ; the drainage is also free from any loose mould, and 

 some fibrous material is sifted from the loam, to prevent the 

 compost from mixing with the drainage. With a pointed stick 

 we carefully disentangle the roots that are matted round the 

 ball, and when the plant is placed in the centre of the pot the 

 top of the ball should be about 1 inch below the rim. Orchids 

 in the cool house require attention. Many of the Odontoglos- 

 suma require repotting. The best time to do this is just as 

 the youDg growths are starting. O. crispum, 0. triumphans, 

 O. odoratum, and other allied species require water all through 

 the wioter months ; we never at any time allow them to be quite 

 dry, so that they start at any time,'Jand the best treatment is to 

 repot when they require it. Quite a different course of treat- 

 ment is necessary for the Mexican species. They do much better 

 if allowed to become quite dry at the roots during the winter 

 season, and only giving sufficient water to prevent the pseudo- 

 bulbs from shrivelling. We have repeatedly counselled small 

 shifts for all tender plants, but more especially for Orchids that 

 require large supplies of water. All the New Grenadan species 

 succeed best if sphagnum moss is kept growing on the surface 

 of the pots ; a large supply of atmospheric moisture is also 

 essential to complete success. — J. Douglas. 



PROVINCIAL HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



Secretakies will oblige ug by informing na of the dates on 

 which exhibitions are to be held. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



William Paul, Waltham Cross, London, N. — Select Catalogue 

 of Seeds. 



T. Bunyard & Sons, Maidstone. — Gatalogite of Vegetable, 

 Flower, and other Seeds. 



Barr & Sugden, 12, King Street, Oovent Garden. — Descriptive 

 Spring Catalogue of Choice Seeds. 



W. Cutbush & Son, Nurseries, Highgate, London. — Vegetable 

 and Flower Seeds, A::a[eas, and other Shrubs, <i}c. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*»• All correspondence should be directed either to "The 

 Editors," or to "The Publisher." Letters addressed to 

 Mr. Johnson or Dr. Hogg often remain unopened unavoid- 

 ably. We request that no one will write privately to any 

 of our correspondents, as doing ao Bubjects them to un- 

 justifiable trouble and expense. 



Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions 

 relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee sub- 



jects, and should never send more than two or three 

 questions at once. All articles intended for insertion 

 should be written on one side of the paper only. We 

 cannot reply to questions through the poet. 



Caraway Pippin f^. Cheese). — We beliove it i'^ a synonym of Caraway 

 Russot. It can be obtaineil at any of the nurserioa where frait troes ai-e 

 sreoialities. 



Glasgow Koval Botanic Garden (B. G. G.).— You have no jasb ground 

 for complaint, and there is no question ag to the lojrulity of the treatment. 



Apples and SrRAWBEEU^aEti for Light Soil {Cou^ntr}}).— Apple*— Lnvd 

 Snfiield, Rymer, Alfriston, BeJfont^hiro FoQndlin;?, Cox's i'omona, Waroor'n 

 King, Blenheim Pippin, Damelow'a Seedling, Winter Majetin;:;, Norfolk 

 Bearer, and Annie Klizabeth. Wo add for dessert— Red Astrachan. Cox's 

 Orange Pippin, Reinette An Canada, Dutch Mii,'noune, Kinc; of the Pippins, 

 and Scarlet Nonpareil. The first-naraed dozen are culinary lands. All are 

 good growers and free bearera. StmwberrieaShi Joseph Paxton and 

 President. 



EucuARis AMAzoNiCA NOT FLOWERING (J. C.).— Your plants do not flower 

 because they aio Icept constantly growing. They will now oi' soon be Pitlier 

 throwiag-up for llower or growing, or both. If they do not show for flower 

 shift into larger pots, and encourage growth with a plentiful supply of witei* 

 and moiRtnre, and continue this treatment until the growth is complete, 

 then cease watering ao freely, only giving enough to keep from flagging, 

 affording thorn a light airy position. After six to eight weeks of this restiug 

 process they will most likely, upon water and rai)isture being given, thuw-up 

 for flower, flo-r'ering in early summer ; and after this they are to be encouraged 

 with heat, moisture, and water to make a good growth; and after and in 

 October up to about the new year, be kept dry and comparatively cool, and 

 yet not so dry as to allow the leaves to flag. By the new year they will he 

 throwing-up their flowers, and after it they should be potted, dividelif stock 

 is wanted, aud grown on. Your treatment seems to be good, only yon do nob 

 rest the plants. 



Cinerarias and Calceolarias Suddenly Failing [Jas. H.).— The 

 dying-off of these plants is not due to any grub or insect, but ir^ usually a 

 consequence of plants being irregularly watered, and allowing them to be- 

 come pot-bound before shiftiog into larger pots, al-;o watering upon the nock 

 or collar of tbo plants. The fertile source of the evil is keeping in a dry at- 

 mosphere and warm, they delighting in a cool and moist one, hut well venti- 

 lated and safe from fmst. It is common to these plants and also to Humea 

 elegans. The only culture we have found gnardiog against it is never allowing 

 the plants to become dry, shiftiag into larger pots as those they are in fill with 

 roots, keeping the ueck or collar of the plants slightly raised in the centre of 

 the pots so that the water will drain from, not to it, but covering the roots 

 with soil without burying the neck or stem of the plants, and nut wateriug 

 upon the neck or centres of the plants, keeping moist, cool, or if warm having 

 eon-esponding moisture, and good ventilation. Avoid making the soil sodden 

 by too frequent watering, giving it when it is wanted— not before, but before 

 the plants flag, and a thorough supply sufficient to show itself at the drainage. 



LisiE Water for Worms in Pots {Idem).—'L\me water is not injuriou'? 

 to the roots of plants unless it he applied in too powerful doses. One pound 

 of fresh lime is a sufficient quantity for three gallons of water, in which the 

 lime should be put, stii-red-up well, and let stand for two or three days, aud 

 then pour-off the Clearwater, leaving the lime gedimeut in the bottom, water- 

 ing the plants with the clear lime water. We recommend the Vines after prnu - 

 ing to bo stripped of any loose portions of bark, but not paring and scraping 

 them, and then wash with a brush with clear water at a temperature of 120', 

 aud after dress them with a composition of I lb. soft soap to a gallon of 

 tobacco juice, with sufficient flowers of sulphur to bring it to the consistency 

 of thin paint, and apply wiMi a brush to the rods and every part, taking care 

 not to dislocate or rub-off tho eyes. 



Mistletoe CnLTiVATioN [W. TT.).— It is not a " fungus," nor a "plant," 

 if haviug the roots deriving support from the soil is meant. It (Viscum 

 album), is a genuine parasite, rooting beneath the bark of the troes on which 

 it gi'ows, and deriving from their juices the whole of its nutriment. It tlu-ives 

 best on the Thorn, Apple, Lime, and is very vigoious on Poplars, but does 

 not take so freely upon them as the Thorn, Apple, and Lime. Seeds are the 

 readiest means of propagation, and the best months for sowhig it aro Fe- 

 bruary and March. Make two cuts on the under side of the branch of any of 

 those trees and down to the wood of the branch, in the form of the letter V, 

 raise the tongue of bark made by the cuts, but without breaking it. and into 

 these squeeze oue or two of the seeds from the berries, and lot the toogno 

 back into its place, where the seeds will be held between the bark and wood of 

 the tree, and the seed being goo I the seedlings will soon appear, and renaam 

 attached to the branch. The seeds will vegetate placed upon the branches on 

 a smooth part squeezed from the berries, and to which they adhere by their 

 glutinous pulp, but unless proteiited from birds it is likely they will be eateu. 

 At the under side of the branches, and under a tongue of bark, the seeds are 

 more likely to escape the vigilant eyes of the feathered tribes. 



Sheltering Apiarv (E. L ). — The arrangement shown in your plan will 

 answer very well, but we are not certain that the hedge and shmbs are to the 

 north of the proposed apiary, and will afford them shelter from that point. 

 If it be so, well, we have no other fear; only you say it is at the bottom of the 

 garden. We hope it is not in :i bnllow, and that the Berberises are not large 

 but low, if that be the south of tho hives, as if largo it would interfere with 

 the bees' flight. The evergreens next the hedge and at the sides ought not to 

 overhang the hive'', and the front south space ought certainly to have nothing 

 higher than the flight-bojird within tJ feet nf the hives, and not higher than 

 4 feet fit 12 feet distance from the hives. Place the hives with the entrances 

 southwards, allowing 8 feet between the rows of hives. 



Pruning Vines {Vitis). — The mode of pruning shown by your sketch is 

 right, only we think yon have miscalculated the eyes. Two are ample to 

 leave upon each shoot ; but we think you have not counted one at (he bottom 

 of each shoot, and which, though not so prominent as those higher up, ou'jbt 

 to be calculated upon to give fruit. We may be wrong, but your sketch 

 shows tbe ej'es to be too distant from the base of the shoots, and this will 

 give you in a short time very long spurs, which it is desirous to avoid. Yon 

 will be able to see in a short time after the eyes break, the slioots lieing a few 

 inches long, which are showing fruit, and then you may disbud. One of the 

 shoots last year ou^-ht to have been removed, for yon will crowd them with 

 shoots, having the leaves ill exposed to light and air. We should not multiply 

 them any more. Two shoots from a spur are ample, and the spurs should 

 not bo nearer each other along tho rods than 15 to 18 inches on each side. 



