AprU 8, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



283 



Correspondents Bhould not mis up on the same sheet questions 

 relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee sub- 

 jects, and Bhould 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 post. 



Strawberries Cankered (Hrad GanhruT). — TieBch the grouud and 

 manore liberally with charred refnse and bone dust. 



Pears' Blossoji Buds on Leading Shoots (I. S.).— This is not an iil- 

 common occurreuce, and cannot be prevented; leaf buds will start further down 

 on the young wood, and must be traiucd in the same place that the leaiiiuK 

 buds would have been trained. We have seen walla 14 feet hiyh furuished 

 from the base to the summit with trees trained as yours are, but they were on 

 the Pear stock. The Quince Btoek is uped when dwarf trees are required ; but 

 ©Ten on the dwarf stock the same height may be attained. 



Jerusalem Artichokes {H. r.).— Plant at once fully 2 inches deeper 

 than usual, and if towards the autumn the ground cracka by the swelling of 

 the tubers surround the stems with soil. Exposure of the tubers to light and 

 air is, we believe, the main cause of their not boiling tender. 



KosES for Bleak Heavy Soil (Amntrur).—Yoxix only chance seems to 

 have strong sorts on seedling Briar, but you must not expect really good 

 Roses under the conditions mentioned. AVa recommend Cbarles Lefeb\Te, 

 John Hopper, Madame Clemence Juigneaux, Stnateur Vai^se, Boule de Neige, 

 Gloire de Dijon, Gtncral Jacqueminot, Fibher Holmes, Marechal Vaillant, 

 Baroness Rothschild, Abel Grand. Counters of Oxford, Victor Verdier, 

 Madame Victor Verdier, Madame Eugi'nie Verdier. 



AucoBA Beriues {H. H. B.).—\oMr old Aucuba did not produce berries 

 because it was a female plant; bo soon as you planted a male plant near, 

 fertility became a matter of course. No Aucuba berries were produced in 

 this country until Mr. Fortune brought a male plant from Japan a few years 

 since. 



Honey Locust Seed {J. GranO-— Apply to the seedsmen who advertise 

 in oar columns. 



Apple (J. E.).— A variety to precede (he Blenheim Orange— that is, to be 

 ripe in September, you may grow the Wormsley Pippin. 



Name of Grafton {A Gardener).— \Yo do not think the name originated 

 from any practice in your craft. The sign of "Grafton" the chronicler and 

 publisher in Elizabeth's reign was a graft issuing from a tun ; and Stowe, his 

 rival chronicler, patirically obt-crved that it was "the noise of an empty tun 

 and an unfruitful graft." Grafton retorted that Stowe's Chronicle was com- 

 posed of " lyes foolibiily stowed together." 



Ink for Zikc Labels (E.G.). — Make a saturated solution of sulphate of 

 copper in gum water. Write with a quill peu. When quite dry give the labels 

 a coat of white hard vartish, the labels being slightly warmed before applica- 

 tion, — (English Mechanic.) 



Flo^\t:rs for Button Holes (A Beginner). — Amongst forced flowers — 

 Lily of the Valley, Pinks, Tree Caruations, Bouvardias, Spirfea japonica, and 

 Koses are Buitable; also Gardenias, Ericas, EpaQrises, Heliotropes, Luculia 

 gratissima, Rogiera gratiesima, Burchellia capensis, Clerodendron Balfouri, 

 Eranthemum pukhellum, Eucharis amazonica, Euphorbia jacquiui:i.flore, 

 E. splendens, Hoja curuosa, H. bella, Ixora acuminata, I. javanica tloribuuda, 

 1. amabilis, Ja^minum gracile, J. Bambac tlorepleno, Pancratium fragrans, 

 Pentas kermesina, Roudeletia Bpecioea major, Stephanotia floribunda, Taber- 

 E.-emontana corouaria Ilure plenu ; the last are stove plants. The fuUowing 

 greenhouse plsintB are uteful:— Adenandra fragians, Bouvardia afurecamed, 

 Camellias, Citrus (Oraugei, Cyclamen persicum, Daphne indica alba and 

 rubra, Dracophylluni gracile, Habrothamnus aurantiacum, H. faRcicularis, 

 Jaaminom graudidnrum, Lautana vars., Mandeviila suaveolens, Myrtles, Per- 

 guJaria odoiatipsima, Pelargoniums, especially the double-flowered, Pimelea 

 decuesata, P. Piicctabilis rotea. Plumbago capensis, Polygala opposiiiftlia, 

 PolygaJa Dalmai.-.iaua, Primula cortusoides amoena and vars. alba, grandi flora; 

 Rhododendron fragrantissiraa, Jasminiflorum, Prince of Wales, aud Princess 

 Royal, Rhyncospermum jaeminoidcs, Statice profusa, double Primula biueusis, 

 the double varieties of Azalea. There are also Roman Hyacinths, Narcissus, 

 Tuberose, and Violets. There is no work on "forcing flowers." 



Surplus Seed {Idem). — To mix old with new seed is not honourable — 

 nay, it is adulteration, an imposition upon purchasers, and one that cannot 

 he too Beverely censured. Kew seed germinates more surely and strongly 

 than old, but we should not, nevertheless, destroy old seed until we had 

 tested its growing qoaUty, and if that proves equal to new seed, then feel 

 justifled in using it. 



Cucumber House ( T. H.).— Place the plants 2 feet 6 inches apart, or have 

 five plants in each of your beds. For the Cucumbers a hghter description of 

 soil is requu-ed than for Melons, light turfy loam for the former, and strong 

 loam for the Melons, with a fifth of manure intermixed, or if the loam be rich 

 omit the manure. The wires are bebt secured to the roof by an angle iron at 

 each end, guide irons at about every 3 feet or beneath every rafter, the angle 

 iron secured to the ends by bolts, aud the guide bars at the top and bottom, 

 with holders screwed into the rafters to have them the'proper distance from 

 the glass, aud all to be pierced with holes for the wires to pass through. 

 Something of the kind you want is given in the Journal for January 2Sth, this 

 year, page 70. 



Rose House (K E.).—lt you have Roses upon the roof so as to cover iti 

 the space beneath will be made too dark for the successful cultivation of 

 dwarfs. One uj) each laftcr would be a different thing to covering the roof, 

 hut even those ought not to have a greater spread than 12 to 15 inches, leav- 

 ing a clear space between each of 2 to 2^ feet, which will admit of light to the 

 dwarf plants. Cocoa-nut fibre refuse is not, unless thororghly reduced, good 

 for pot Roses, and in that state is a desirable addition. 



Passiflora eDulis (il/rs. H.).— It will succeed in a vinery if it can have 

 hght, but not beneath the shade of the Vines. The vinery wc presume is 

 heated sufliciently for the Grapes to ripen in July or August. The Passion 

 Flower would be best planted out, and the foliage must have light, the shoots 

 being trained at about the same distance from the glass as the Vines. The 

 fi-uit will ripen about August. The new fruit from Japan is a kind of Quince, 

 and is said to make an excellent conserve. 



Hardiness of Primulas (Hawkshead].—AM the Primulas you name are 

 hardy, but not as border plants, for many of them are alpine, and require the 

 treatment of alpines, having the shelter of rock from drought in summer and 



wet in winter. W'e think yours havo gone off from damp, and the pots not 

 btiug plunged their roofs may havo been destroyed. The atmosphere also may 

 have been too ckse, which is pernicious. 



Mushroom Bed (A Suhscriher).— Make ihe bed of fresh horse droppinga, 

 aud not a " little firm" but very hard, the firmer the better, and about a foot 

 deep. We like the droppings better when they have a small quantity of short 

 Utter, but this is not mateiial for so small a bed. The droppmgs ought not 

 to be wet, but be kept under cover. In about a week the Iieat will be at its 

 highest; spawn it when it is reduced to 75' at 2 inches deep, and at this 

 deplh put in the spawn, pieces about 1 I to 2 inches square, and inches 

 apart, aud covtr-up, beating firmly. In about a week you may earth the bed 

 2 inches thick of good loam, aud beat very firm. In six weeks you may 

 expect Muehruoms to appear, but duriug that time the bed is not to be 

 watered, or not until they Bhow, and then keep only just moist and regularly 

 so. If they do not appear at the sis weoks' end you may commence watering, 

 but lightly at a'l times, yet keep moist, the extreme either way will destroy 

 them. 



Cyclamens [Lilla).— Your plants will bloom as usual next year by the 

 following treatment : Water sufliciently to keep the fohage frewb, withholding 

 the water as it shows signs of decay, yet when the plants are quite at rest do 

 not permit the soil to become dust-dry. They will start into fresh growth 

 towards the autumn, and must then be repotted, carefully removing a portion 

 of old soil, and adding fresh. A cold frame is the best pla^e for them, or 

 they may be stood in a shady place out of doors in May. 



Sparaxis and IxiAS (Anxioit.t Inquirer). — In last week's answers to 

 correspondents you would see particulars of treatment. After flowering they 

 are to be kept dry, and potted in September. When at rest they may be 

 kept in the soil in any cool place. 



Cyclamen persicum (Jt^m).— Keep the seedlings moist until they show 

 indications of going to rest, when they may be placed in a cold frame or ba 

 planted-out in a bed in a sheltered open border, aud they should not be 

 watered, the moisture afforded by the soil being ample. In September, or 

 earlier if they begin to grow, they "should be taken up aud potted, and placed 

 in a frame, keeping rather close, and in October be removed to a greenhouse. 

 If kept in pots in a frame see to watering occasionally, so as to keep the soil 

 from becoming dust-diy, but avoid makiug it sodden. Repot when they are 

 commencing growth, and do it without injury to the fresh rootlets. 



Neapolitan Violets (Wcm).— Divide the plants into as many parts a3 you 

 can, preserving a Httle root to each division or sucker, and these plant out 

 in good rich hght soil in a shady border, a foot apart every way. V^^ater weU 

 during dry weather. Keep all runners cut off as they appear, or if you want 

 stock they may be layered; but the plants will not be so good for flowering 

 as those which were not allowed runners. Remove with balls to a frame at 

 the close of September, or they may be potted. 



Solancm Capsicastrum (J. W. L.)— Cut the plants in now with a view to 

 compactness, and keep rather dry until they are breaking freely, then tiirn 

 out of the pots, reduce the ball, and return to the same size of pot ; place in a 

 pit, keeping rather close and moist, and in June put them outdoors in an open 

 worm situation, housing in September, or grow-on in a cool airy light house. 

 They are, however, much cleaner and healthier for an outdoor sojourn in 

 summer. 



Sparrows Eating Peas (/dcju).— They wUl eat Peas a foot high, much more 

 when 3 inches ; and even a yard high we have known them eat the growing 

 haulm. Dust them with quickhmc, which will not injure the Peas, whilst it 

 will keep off slugs, beetloy, and other predatory vermin as well as the sparrows. 



Geranium Leaves Dotted (OW SH'jsr;-i(>fr}.— The traces of insects upon 

 the leaves are those of thrips, which may be destroyed by fumigating wi:h 

 tobacco, choosing a calm evening, and having the foliage of the plants dry. 

 The plants are suffering from the cold ungenial weather. Brighter and 

 warmer weather will put them all right ; but you must admit air earlier in 

 the day so as to dry up any deposition of moistmre on the leaves during the 

 night, before the sun falls powerfully upon them. 



Zonal Pelargoniums Dying {R. B. T.).— No cause other than that of a 

 disorganisation of the plant's tissues can be assigned as the malady by which 

 you lose your plants. It is common to aU plants, and especially those in a 

 high state of cultivation, and is mainly a consequence of the treatment being 

 too liberal in the plant's early stages, which causes an imperfect development 

 and undue vigour, and this results in disorgaaised tissue ; the young growths 

 suddenly blacken and snivel, dimply because the roots are inert, and the 

 stem incapable of transmitting to them a sufficient supply of sap. There is 

 no remedy other than lees rich soil, more air, and a drier atmosphere. 



Gas-heated Boiler.— In answer to " J. E.," p. 262, the size of my boiler 

 is as follows :— Diameter, 14 inches; height, 4 inches at centre; and 3 inches 

 at sides. The case is 15 inches diameter, height IGJ inches to bottom of flue, 

 and 26 inches to top of flow pipe. I have no doubt but that it would heat 

 150 feet of 2-inch pipe sufficient to keep out any frost, as I could keep my 

 house up to 48"' during the severe weather without tuining the gas fully on.— 

 J. W. 



Beetle Injuring Vine Shoot3 [A. B.).— It is the Pitch-coloured Weevil, 

 Curcuho picipes. Spread a sheet under the plants attacked, aud go at night 

 with a lantern aud shake the plants. The weevils are then feeding, and will 

 fall on the sheet. 



Names of Plants (6f. S.) —The Begonia is probably a hybrid. (Edtcin)' 

 — Hypoestea sanguinolenta. (A. B.).— Sparmaunia africaua. (F. B.). — 

 B;pc'kea vtrgata. (P. W.). — Hypoestes sanguinolenta. {Mrs. Oliver). — 

 Htbbertia dentata. (J. S.).— 2, helagiuolla sp. ; 3, Abutilon sp. ; 4, Cono- 

 clinium ianthinum. [W. T.). — 2, Ficus stipulata; 3, Gyranogramma calome- 

 lanos; 4, G. ochracea. {W. J. W.). — 2, Aspidium angulare ; 3, A. coriaceum. 

 {iV. £).).— Erica carnen. Early-flowering Heath. (Fred, and L. M. H.).— 

 Erytbronium dene-canie, Dog's-tooth Violet. The specific names allude to 

 the shape and colour of the roots. 



POULTRY, BEE, AlTD PIGEON OHKONIOLE. 



EGGS. 



We have only to glance at the advertisements to see how 

 great a trade goes on in egg-selling. It ia perhaps the only busi- 

 nesB in which membere of every lank of life can meet on the 



