April 29, 1875. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



337 



Blackburn.— May 17th, 18th. and 19th. Mr. W. Ditohfield, Hon. See. 

 Ceystal Palace Company.— Flower Show, May 29th ; Rose Show, Jane 19th ; 



Autumn Fruit and Flower Show, September 7th to 9th— Sec, F. W. 



Wilflon. Bees and their appUances, September 2lst to 23rd — Sec, J. 



Hunter. 

 Coventry.— May 31st. Mr. T. "Wigaton, 3, Portland Terrace, Lower Ford 



Street. Sec. 

 Leeds.— Juno 9th, 10th, and 11th. Mr. J. Birkbeck, Delph Lane, Woodhouso, 



Leeds, Sec. 

 Burton-dpon-Thent.— June 16th. Mr. Wm. Shave, Bond Street. Sec. 

 GLA900W.— June 16th, September 8th. Mr. F. G. Douf::all, 1G7, Canning 



Street, Sec. 

 Fareuam.- June 23rd. Mr. H Smith, Sec. 

 Exeter (Roae Show).— Jane 25th. Mr. J. N. Gray, Queen Street Chombera, 



Hon. Sec 

 WrsBEACH.— June 30th. Mr. C. Parker, Hon. Sec. 

 Maidstone.— (Rosea), June 30th, at Vintera Park. H. Benstead, Esq., 



Hon Sec. Rose Club, Mill Street, Maidstone. 

 SpaLDino.- July let and 2nd. Mr. G. F. Barrell, Hon. Sec. 

 Soothoate.- Uily 3rd. John Miles, Esq , Hon. Sec. Southgate, N. 

 DoKHAU AND NoRTHDMBERLAND.— To be held at Elswick Park, Jaly 7th 



and 8th. Mr. R. Revelv. Sec. 

 KrLSBV. — July 8th. Sec, Mr. C. E. Bracehridpe. 

 Oxford (Rohcb).- July 9th. Mr. C. R. Ridley, Hon. Sec 

 Nottingham. -Rose Show. &c., July 9th and 10th. Apply to Alfred Kirk, 



Municipal Ofiices, Nottingham. 

 Hewoeth.- July 14th. Mr. R. H. Feltoe, Heworth, York, Hon.-Sec. 



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 bo subjects 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 post. 



Vines Mildewed (A Onrdener). — We cannot, by the data you pive ub 

 flccnuut for the appearance of the mildew, though it may arise from the im- 

 perfect state of the drainage, causing the border to be wet and the roots in 

 an inactive state. We, however, think the ventilation muHt have bepn 

 defective, and the moisture maintained too creat. The remedy is, as yon no 

 doubt are aware, to dust the infested parts with flowers of sulphur. Before 

 another season the border should be examined, and if tho draina^^e be defective 

 it should be rectified. The sbankins is confirmative of the border being in 

 an nnsiiitable state for the Vine roots. 



Ne vpoLiTAN Violets Torntno Single (Carolus). — The late blooms of 

 plants being comoaratively small and apparently single-flowered is only what 

 may be expected by exhaustion of the plants. The plants ought to be 

 hardened off, the lights removed, and rooted suckers planted in a border of 

 rich soil in an open situation (though if shaded from midday sun all the 

 better), in rows a foot apart, and the plants 9 inches asunder in the rows. 

 They should be well watered during dry weather, keep all runners removed, 

 and banish weeds. Remove the plants with balls to a frame at the close of 

 September. Giant is a form of the Russian, being a stronger grower, and 

 the flowers have longer footstalks. Its season for frames is in winter and 

 spring up to April. Treat it the same as the Neapolitan. In addition to 

 frames you should have beds of Violets outside, which form a good Bucces- 

 eion ; in fact, we have them from September to May inclusive. 



Violas for Spring Bedding (L. L.). — Of Violas, which yon may raise 

 from seed, the best are V. coruuta Bine Bell (violet), V. cornuta alba (white), 

 and V. lutea grandiflora major (golden yellow). Blue Bell is the darkest we 

 know; if yon wish for a paler colour, V. cornuta Perfection in palor and very 

 pood, but is not so early as tho preceding. Pansiea for your purpose are 

 Cliveden Purple, Cliveden Yellow, and Cliveden White; the Cliveden Blue 

 does not perfect seed. The blackest variety is probably Black King. 



TTsES OF Heated Pit (A Constant Reader). — The pit would at this season 

 be moat profitably employed in growing Cucumbers and Melons, and in 

 winter it would, we presume, be employed for wintering b(?dding-out plants, 

 which would be cleared out by May. The plants would, if you can command 

 a sale, be profitable, and is the best nse thit could be made of it for winter, 

 whilst Cucumbers and Melons, especially the former, would also be a source 

 of profit in the summer; but you wUl have to ascertain what is in demand, 

 and produce a supply accordingly. 



Insect on Cucumber Leaves (Howard). — There were no insecte in the 

 box, but the leaves show beyond a doubt that they have been severely 

 attacked by rod spider. Flowers of sulphur sprinkled on the hot-water pipes, 

 or dnsted over the leaves, and mixed with the whitewash, will be the proper 

 remedy. 



Insects on Broccoli Boot (Chepstow). — The Broccoli is very severely 

 clnh-ronted, and the white insects are Acari, which subsist on the diseased 

 part. There would be no Acari if the root was not clubbed. To avoid club- 

 root do not grow any of the Cabbage tribe on the same plot in two following 

 years, either as a seed bed or to grow for cutting. 



Grapes Rusted (H. L. C.).— The cause of rust is much disputed ; but we 

 are quite satisfied that it is caused by the Grapes whilst young being grown 

 in a tfmperature too hi<,'h, and then exposed to currents of cold air. It is not 

 infectious, and there is no remedy. A lower temperature and more careful 

 ventilation will prevent the occurrence. 



Vine Rods Breaking iRREonLARLV (J. M. K.). — Some of the rods break- 

 ing and othtrs remaining dormant demonstrate that the roots do not mipply 

 Builioicnt sap. They are in an outside border, and the exceptionally old and 

 long-continued winter has rendered them inactive. If the border were covered 

 with fermenting hot stable manure, it might now stimulate them. We advise 



you nest winter to have the border mulched, and over the mulch to place a 

 tarpaulin or other rainproof covering. 



Sowing Geranium Seed (rricfp.i).— What you call "the husk," we con- 

 clude is the nril, which feurmouuts every Pelargonium (Geranium) seed. Do 

 not pull it off, but insert every seed with the aril upmost, and let it project 

 above the surface of the soil with which you cover the seed. 



Cork (Jersey).— Write to tho Company. Their ofifices are at 28, Upper 

 Thames Street, London, E.G. 



Cuttings Decaying (IT. C. and S.).— By a careful examination of the 

 soil and a perusal of your case a'j stated, we conclude that the fault is not in 

 the soil or structure. We believe if you water less frequently and more 

 thoroughly, avoiding mere ppriokliugs, and a dose atmosphere, that yon will 

 find a remedy for tho evil of which you complain. Fungus is not the cause 

 hut the effect of the d-icay. We are confirmed in this view by a gardener 

 who has called at our uflii;e and who has frequently had plants from you. He 

 says you " send him good plants, but the roots are too dry at the bottom of 

 the pots, and too wet near the surface." 



Melons in Greenhoube (fl. T. TK).— Takeupthe plantswithout stopploR 

 to within 9 inches of tho top of the trellis, and then takeout the point of 

 each plant. The plants will put out laterals as they grow, and upon these 

 the fruit will be produced With due care in fertilising the flowers, and 

 stopping the laterals two joints beyond tho fruit, you will be able to secure 

 sufficient fiuit on each plant. The plants should be 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches 

 apart. 



Stopping Vine Shoots (H. A. P.).— Trained on the spur system the 

 shoots should be 15 inches to 18 incho^^ distance apart ou opposite sides of 

 the rod, so that the spurs will on both sides of the rod be the distance named 

 apart. Shoots not fruiting should he stopped at the sixth leaf, and to one 

 leaf afterwards throughout the season, and fruitful shoots be pinched at one 

 or two joints beyond the bunch. 



Fertilising (W.m).— It is done by applying the pollen of one plant to 

 another of the same race, its anthers having previously been removed. A 

 pair of sharp-pointed Fcissurs for the removal of the anthers, ana a camel- 

 hair pencil for the application of the pollen, are all the instruments required. 

 Place the pollen of the fertilising flower upon the stigma of the seed-bear- 

 ing one, and enclose in a gauze bag to keep off hees and insects. It is a 

 simple operation, giving very often curious and always interesting results. 



Liquid Manure for Greenhouse Plants (Wfm).— Horse droppings 

 make a good liquid manure, one peck to twenty gallons of water ; and 1 lb. of 

 guano, or one peck of fresh cow dung to the same quantity of water in each 

 case, are also t,'ood hqoid manures for softwooded greenhouse plants, or all 

 plants except those requiriug peat soil. See answer to " Timrpi-:c'^ " respect- 

 ing the Geraniums. Your plants show traces of thrips. Fumigate when the 

 foliage is dry. 



Geraniums Leaves Spotted (TimrpTVce).— The leaves are suffering from 

 what is known as " the spot," arising in most cases from too close and moist 

 atmosphere at night, which causes the depoaition of moisture upon the 

 leaves, and the sun falling upon those whilst wet heats the water and scalds 

 the leaves. It usually occurs in a season like the present— long cold and dull, 

 and suddenly changing to bright days. The only remedy is to admit air 

 more freely, and especially in tho early part of the day, leaving on a little at 

 night so as to prevent the condensation of moisture. 



Geranium Lucius.—'* If ' C. R.' can find no person to supply him nearer 

 from your columns, Mr. Cannell of Woolwich, or Mr. Pottea of Sissinghurst, 

 Kent, have it in stock. — Age." 



Deterring Rabbits (J. H.).— As a wire fence is inadmissible for exclud- 

 ing Rabbits from your flower beds, we know of but one other remedy— a httlo 

 dog chained to a kennal near them. Soot would not protect the flowers. 



Names of Plants (J. O. S. and Ten-years Subscriber).— Your specimens 

 are only leaves, and we cannot name from them. (W. J. H). — 1, Abntiloa 

 Thompsoni, var. marmoratum ; 2, Silene sp. ; 3, BrowaUia elata. (C. B.). — 



1, Sparmannia africana; 2, Acacia sp. ; 3, Styrax sp. (Mary).— Specim-ns 

 unsatisfactory; 1, Saiifraga ciassifoha; 3, S. sarmentosa ? 2, Berberia sp.; 

 4, Thuja occidentalis (Arbor- Vitie). {S. P.).— 1, Eriostemon salicifolium; 



2, Ceterach officinarum ; 3, Asplenium trichomanes. ( iV. G.).—G, Hibbeirtia 

 volubilis; 1, Adiautum rcoiforme; 2, A. rethiopicum ; 4, A. hispidulum; 



3, Cystopteris fragilis ; 5, Selaginella Martensii. (G. H.).— Both indetermin- 

 able from specimens sent; the Moss is a Hypnum; the flower may be Podo- 

 phyllum. (Jio&trn.- l,Prunu8flerotina; 2, Epimediumalpinum; 3, Saxifrag* 

 crassifolia? (no leaves); 4, Cereus speciosissiraus. (A Constant Reader, 

 Shei borne).— CjAonia. japonica. It is not unusual for the flowers to vary 

 from deep to pale rose colour. 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON OHKONIOLE. 



PKOFIT FROM EXHIBITION POULTRY. 



We read the other day in the Pall Mall Gazette a touching 

 account of a poultry-yard. The writer was one who had heard 

 of the glorious coleur-dc-rose-h&thed accounts of eggs and 

 chickens bringing-ia a marvellous profit. He expected to do 

 likewise, bat hia airy castles were soon crushed, and his eggs 

 cost him 2id. more each than he could have bought them for at 

 a shop. His failing so utterly may be accounted for by want of 

 ordinary practical knowledge of poultry; for this he seemed to 

 lack, as poultry kept simply for eggs and table birds should pay 

 handsomely. The absurdity of expecting enormous profits, 

 however, has been so often shown up, that we wiU only speak 

 a word on the profits from exhibition poultry. 



In this branch, again, huge sums are supposed to be made 

 annually. We kuow of one fairly successful amateur who just 

 pays his way, and yet he is considered to be rapidly becoming a 

 young Crosaus. The uninitiated hear of birds realising large 

 prices, of good egg sales, and many money prizes, but they 

 have no idea of the very heavy expenditure. Entry fees, food, 

 attendants, and carriage swallow-up most of the profits, and 



