186 



JOURNAL OF HORTIOULTURB AND OOTl'AGE GARDENER. 



[ :iurcb 4, 1875. 



«he Melons and firm, aWios to each a fourth of wMl-iotted manure, and 

 well inwrporated. The boU should be a foot deep. Sufficient moisture may 

 be bept-up by frequent pprioklinga of the paths, walls. Ac. morning and 

 evenins?, and the plants will require water so a§ to keep them from flagsing. 

 No dtated times can be given f..r waterins?, as it depends upon the weather, 

 growth of the plants, &c. Having no hotbed your best plan would be to ask 

 some neighbour to raia« the plants for you. If you raise your own sow iu 

 small pots and cover with a handlii^ht within'the house. When they have 

 two or three rou^h leaves plant out, but it would be better to raise the plants 

 in a hntbed, and^transfor to the house when the plants are sufficiently f^rowa. 

 The boxes ought to have holea in them, and to be efficiently dramed. The 

 temperature should be 6 i^ to 65^ at night, 70- to 75^ bv day, with a rise from 

 pun heat to 85- or 90 with air. {J. F. S.).— They will succeed fairly erown 

 together, and require pretty nearly the same treatment, only the Melons 

 must nob be wetted overhead when setting, and when ripening they require 

 to be kept dry both at the root and overhead. Real's Scarle'.-flesh is the 

 best of that section. Meredith's Hybrid Cnhm'^re Greeo-floih, and Golden 

 Gem, are Ter>- handsome and good. Thev will an^^fer well, particularly as 

 your house is heated. Little Heath is the only kind we recommend for 

 growiag without heat. 



Truling i-'Tsiti Bosh Ivy f J. JC.).— The common and all Ivies that trail 

 or climb are distinct from the bush or tree Ivies, the latter not climbiog but 

 formini: tree or bush-like heads. They are for the most part varieties of the 

 climbiBi^ kinds. 



LoNtcERA AUREO-RETicuLATA fidtfml.— It flowets ID thii country against 

 fl warm wall. The lljwers are not unlike the common Woodbine, but are 

 white and frajrant. 



EcHBVERiA METALLiCA FROM Seeo (Mem).— It may be raised from seed 

 wi'.hout a hotbed, being sown in pots or pans, and placed in a greenhouse, 

 keeping moist, but the process is much slower and less certain than in a 

 hotbed. 



Camellia Leave*! Variegated (J. F.SmifM.— The leaves are very healthy, 

 even the yell >west one. We do not know what will cause the plant to lose 

 its variegation, it heini? a result in your case not of weakness but of vigour. 

 Probably less rich soil and restricting the root action would give you a 

 remedv, but in this we have no certain data. We have one or two plants 

 affected in a similar mauoer, they, lik^ ynirs, being very vigorous. We shall 

 not pot them for a year or two, as we had some similarly affected, and by not 

 treating so liberally a? before the leaves have resumed their normal htate. 



FcMtGATiN'G Greeshoush (S. £,'.).— Ouce a month will, as a rule, be often 

 enoug»i to fumigate a greenhouse, except under special circumstances, when 

 it may be more freqaeutly resorted to. lo case of a severe attack of aphides, 

 or when the pests have been allowel to get a-head, it is desirable to funiignte 

 on succeeding evenings, aad a^iiu io about a week if there are any insects 

 appirent. 



Beet Woody (Idem).^U may be a consequence of too early sowing of the 

 seed, the plants having run or begun to seed, and the roots are hard, woody, 

 and of bi-i colour ; or it may be a consequence of growing in poor soil, its 

 woodiness being accelerated by the drought of last summer. Kicher ground 

 and not sowing until the beginning of May ought to give you tender roots. 



Lining a Chcumber Bed (W. TV.l.— There are hut two ways, one to place 

 the hot dung against the sides of the frame all rouad, the other to line from 

 the bottom placin-^ it n^rainst the sides, and this liba the other should be of 

 at leait half-sweetened.'as a sifcguard against rank steam finding entrance 

 to the plants. 



Prcning Newly-planted Pyrvmids and Standards (Idem).— Bo not 

 prune the spurs, but cut the side shoots to within half an inch of their base, 

 and shorten the leadiog fihooe.-) to 6 or s inches, but they may be cut less or 

 more according to strength and required form of the tree. The leading shoot 

 of the tree should ha out back to 13 inches. The standard trees we should 

 cut bick at least one-third the growth of last year, and tho side shoots to 

 within half an inch of their ba'iO, leaving the spurs entire, and shortening 

 the leaders of the branches one-third their length. If they have nothing hut 

 young growths shorten them about a third, and thin out if the shoots cross 

 eich other or are crowded. 



Red Spider (Id.^m).— It is one of the greatest pests to the gardener, 

 being very small, scarcely visible to the naked eye ; but when a plant is much 

 infested by them the leaves present on the upper surface the appearance of 

 being scorched. The colour varies; sometimes it is yellowish, at others 

 browo, but generally a dull red. It may be found at most times in green- 

 houses and hothouses, especially those which Lave been kept hot and dry, 

 mistly located on the under side of the leaves, feeding on their juices. 



Wages at Market Garden (ir. ^}.—Ttie wages vary with the locality, 

 buK in most cases a suitable man for rough work could be had for from ISs. 

 to 21.^- per week, with lodging, or a house if a married man. An allowance for 

 those in money is usually 2s. Gd. weekly. If you require labour for glass it 

 will be for a good man at an advance of the wage quoted. 



Pruning Neglected Orchard Trees (2d'*»i).— Thin-out the weak and 

 old branches, especially where very crowded, and those which cross each 

 other, but do it to only a moderate extent— a little each year until they are 

 comparatively thin. Severa cutting often results in exuberant growth. See 

 what Mr. Robson says this weak. 



Depressing Hot-water Pipes {tV. P. H.).~li is practicable to depress 

 the pipes of No. 2 house 18 inches below the level of No. 1 house, but the 

 pipes in No. 2 must not be depressed and again ha i-aised to the level of the 

 No. 1 house pipes. When once the water sinks to a lo'q-or level it should be 

 taken by a gradual decline to the boiler. Neither will it answer to depress 

 the pipe on entering No. 2 bouse, and after going along it again rise to the 

 retnra of No. 1 house; but by having it as a return pipe in No, 2, and re- 

 moving the return of No. 1, putting it so low as to act for the return of both, 

 you may heat your second house satisfactorily, having an air pipe at the 

 highest part of the How iu No. 1 house. By yoiu- projected plan the circu- 

 lation would be impeded, but would, nevertheless, act iu a sluggish sort of 

 way. only you would need an air pipe at every rise just where the depression 

 occurs, for nothing but air iu the pipe will stop the circulation of the water. 



CoNSTRcrcTiNa Removable Gkeenhodse (L. F. O.).— If you place bricks 

 on the surface of the soil, and then the wooden frame resting on the bricks, 

 but not fastened to them or to the back waW, you could remove the house. 

 In our "Greenhouse Manual" are fuller instructions for erecting a remov- 

 able one. 



Forced Oroccses Failing (A. G.I.— The most likely cause of their failing 

 B bringing in too Imuoh beat, they having also been kept much too wet. 



They require very gentle forcing, and to have a light airy position. The 

 smail corms formed above the old ones may be put out outdoors where they 

 will attain a size for flowering. Lilacs, Azalea pontica, and Kalmia« do not 

 answer for forcing two years together. They require a year's rest. The Lily 

 of tho Vallpy raav not have flowered because it had no flower buds, or it may 

 have been brought on too rapidly. 



Camellias and Azalea indica {Idem). — The Camellias which have made 

 good new growth in heat ought to be continued there until the wood is well 

 ripened and the buds set, after which they should be removed to a cool house, 

 and kept cool and airy. If in small pots they may be repotted, taking care not to 

 disturb the ball but merely looseuiui,' the sides, and warming the soil before 

 U80. Keep the Azaleas in heat until they are in flower, and then remove to a 

 cooler house, returning to heat a 'ain after floweriog, and keep in it uotil 

 the growth is complete and the biill set, then place in a cool house. Bou- 

 vanlias should be pruned after flowering, kept rather dry for a time, and in a 

 moderate temperature, and when starting into fresh growth should be en- 

 couraged with a moist heat and be fresh potted, and after a good growth is 

 made they should have a light air}' position in a cool house. 



Urine and its Ammonia {C. r.i.—One pound of sulphuric acid to 100 lbs 

 of urine; it forms sulphate of ammonia. Seven pounds of sulphate of iron, 

 or 14 lbs. of sulphate of lime might be substituted for the sulphuric acid. 



Insect on Vines {An Old Huhicriher).—llh& beetle injuring the young 

 Vine shoots is the CurcuUo picipes, or Dark Weevil. Spread a sheet beneath 

 the Vino, go at night with a lantern and shake the Vine. Tho weevUa then 

 feeding will fall upon the sheet. 



Apsicot Sdcker iOrJi'au). — Your Apricot sucker with a straicht stem of 

 five-years growth will be a good stock for any of the Plums. If you want 

 the tree for a dwarf-trained tree you must graft low, and for a pyramid it 

 must also be worked low — about 6 inches from the ground. Grafting should 

 be done just when the stocks are beginning to grow. If you bud them, July 

 is the best time. 



Ferns for Stove Fernery [Eda]. — Moderate growers are Adiintum con- 

 cinnum latum, Asplenium formosum, Davallia decora, D. paivula, Goniophle- 

 bium loriceum, Lomaria Herminieri, Niphoholus corymbifera, Platycerium 

 alcicorne major, Platjloma flexuosa, Pteris cretica albo-liueata, P. tricolor, 

 Polypodium pectinatum, Nothochlfena trichomanoides, Platycerium grando, 

 Lastrea elegans, Drjnaria diversifolia, Davallia dissecta, Blechnum nitidum 

 contractum, B. cognatum, Asplenium fieniculaceum, Adiantum tenerum, 

 Adiautum peruvianum, A. Sant;i.-Catharinie, and A. tinctum. Where you 

 have space you may introduce Adiantum Capillus- Veneris and A. assimllc, 

 both of which grow freely, and are very useful for cutting. Ferns fur bang- 

 ing baskets are Adiantum setulusum, Cheilauthes alabamensis, Davallia dis- 

 secta. D. decora, Di'ynaria quercifolia, Goniophlebium subauriculatum, Micro- 

 lepia hirsuta nuguata, Neohi-olepis davallioides, N. tuberosa, Polypodium 

 appeudiculatum, Pteris scaberula, and Asplenium caudatum. Foliage plants 

 are :— Criiton Johannis, Dracaena Weismaoni, Ficus Parcelli, Maranta rosea 

 lineata, PauUinia thalictrifolia, and AraUa Veitchi. 



Names of Fruits {Beta). — We regret not to be able to name the Apple 

 you have sent. 



Names of Plants {J. E.\S.). — Sparmannia africana. {Ignoramus). — No 

 doubt a Composite, probably a Helichrysum, but your description is insuffi- 

 cient. (T. EdmomU) —a, Polypodium 'hastatum;. 4, Nephrolepis acuta; 

 5, Adiantum Capillus- Veneris ; b, Adiantum (specimen iosuftil^ient^; 7, -Eschy- 

 nanthus sp. ; 8, Specimen insufficient, it may be an Hypoestos. (Ch^sUr field). 

 — 1, Parmelia saxatUis; 4, P. physodes; 2, Cladonia raogiferina; 3, Evernia 

 prunastri. 



POTJLTEY, BEE, AND PIGEON OHRONIOLE. 



DETENTION OF SHOW BIRDS ON SUNDAY. 



Some readers may think that we are never wearied of remon- 

 strating on this topic ; we are not, and we have strong hopes 

 that many committees which have been in the habit of includ- 

 ing a Sunday in their show time will in future try to avoid it. 

 Of course all will not, still we shall never tire of systematically 

 showing-up such shows in our reports. AVe know the evil con- 

 sequences must be, and are, great both to man and bird. 



We are at a loss to know why committees will include a' Sun- 

 day. We will put monster exhibitions like Birmingham and 

 the Palace out of the question for the time, and only refer to 

 smaller shows. We find repeatedly exhibitions held on the 

 Friday and closing at 10 I'.^i. on Saturday, or held on the Mon- 

 day in addition, and so on. Doubtless, if we asked the secre- 

 taries of these shows wbv they managed their dates so badly, 

 we should have touchid*>*pictures drawn of such and such a 

 show clashing, or Saturday being an early-closing day, or Mon- 

 day the market day, or that by having such a date all the birds 

 can come on from such .ind such an exhibition, and so on. 

 These reasons may appear all very good, but they do not do 

 away with the fact of a Sunday being so frequently included. 

 The extra gain brought by the Saturday people or the marketers 

 we should think was nearly consumed in the extra expenses 

 which Sundays must entail— rent, gas, food, feeders, itc. The 

 cost of these "for a single day is no small item iu a show's ex- 

 penses, as we have good reason to know. 



Then for the exhibitors' servants who so often have to stay out 

 all the days of a show; surely to them the Sunday must be a 

 hard time. What have they to do ? Maybe they are in a 

 strange town and know no one. We can only say they hardly 

 have any alternative but to sit about in the public houses. We 

 do not think it is fair to them to have to spend their Sunday 

 away from home. 



For the birds themselves it is often destruction. We can 

 quote case after case of birds which have been totally ruined 



