390 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 20, 1875. 



remedy ia to syringe with tobai^co jaicc dilated with bIx times its volume of 

 water, containing 2 ozs. of eoft soap per gallon. It will not injure the young 

 iruit, but we ahonld not advise it being applied to treea in blossom. 



Men Requibed foe a Garden (Cu/w^an^ iieaA-r}.— For the kitchen and 

 fruit gardens two men will be required, one for the lawn and fljwer garden, 

 one for the drives and shrubberies, and a journeyman gardener and appreotice 

 or youth of sixteen to eighteen for the honses, with a youth or two or women 

 for leaf-clearing, &c. We have made an allowance of a man for the extra 

 xabonr and odd jobs, and with those named we think the place yon describe 

 could be well kept. The calculation does not include the head gardener, who 

 can always be profitably employed in the higher branches of the art without 

 participating in heavy labour. 



Tulips after being Bedded-out (A. P. S.).— They do not improve from 

 being grown in this country, but rather deteriorate, from the practice of 

 taking them up before the growth is complete to make way for the summer 

 occupants of the bed^. Left in the soil until the growth U complete they 

 are little inferior to imported bulbs. The addreas we think you want is 

 Messrs. J. Dobson & Son, Isleworth and Hounslow, London, W. 



Cabbages Clubbing [BcTiry Tidk'.~The disease you allude to is the club 

 or ambury, which is caused by a weevil, or rather its larvie. The plants 

 Bhonld be examined at planting, and upun their stems will bs found, in many 

 instances, a knob or excrescence, which contniua a small white maggot ; this 

 being removed the plant may be planted without euatainiiis any injury. To 

 seep the grub at bay apply a dressing of gas lime to the grouad before plant- 

 uig, and point-in with a fork, applying it at the rate of ten bushels per acre. 

 Salt is also a good application, and so is soot, either at the rate of twenty 

 bushels per acre, but the gas lime ia the most effectual. 



Si,-EiNGiNG Frciting Steawbehbies (J. B.).— They should not be Syringed 

 overhead when in flower, and only very lightly after they are set and are 

 BweUing, discontinuing it after the fruit commences to ripen; the fruit then 

 to be kept dry, as water resting upon it causes it to spot and decay. Water 

 abundantly at the roots with weak liquid manure. 



CLrMBERS FOR WiRE Arcbes (Idem >.— Clematis montana major, Capri- 

 folium sempervirens floribundum, and Jasminum nadiflorum. Boses of the 

 «limbing class are very suitable, as Dundee Rambler (Ayrshire), Princess 

 Louise Victoria (hybrid climbing), and Russelliana (multiflora). 



Plants for a Grave (Eve).~Few plants are suitable for a grave tore- 

 main permanently, as, when not in flower, they have a neglected appearauce. 

 It is much better to have changes, though some, as Snowdrops, the blue 

 Squill (Scilla siberica), Primroses— the common aad the double forma— the 

 spring and summer tinowflake (Leucijum vernum and L. sestivum respec- 

 tiyelyj maybe allowed to remain permanently ; also, Lily of the Valley and 

 Violets, blue and white, double aud single, a plant or two of Christmas 

 Eose (Helleborus nit;er) and Cyclamen neapoHtanum, which flowers in 

 antnmn before the leaves, the leaves coming up after, and are very pretty. 

 Most of these will flower in the early part of the year, and you may 

 add Forget-me-nots; nice plants with balls planted in spring will flower 

 finely in April and May, and in summer we should have an edging of Silver- 

 variegated Ivy-leaved Geranium, and till-in the centre with compact dwarf 

 plants of Fuchsias, both lit^ht and dark varieties, planting them in the spaces 

 between the permaoent plants. They would come off m the autumn, and 

 we should then introduce in the spaces nice little plants of Andromeda flori- 

 bnnda, Skimmia japonica, and Erica herbacea carnea on the margin, with 

 Thujopsis dolabrata, and Cryptomena elegaus in the centre. Tho-e will give 

 an icteresting appearance in winter, and need not be removed until the 

 summer plants are put in. The subject is so difficult that we should be 

 obliged by information. 



Pruning NEWLV-rLANTED Trees (T. E. S. B.).— They, if having long 

 shoots, should have been pruned, but if they had been closely summer- 

 pinched they would not require it. If they have long shoots and have not 

 been pruned— j.f, the sboots shortened, they will be in the plight you 

 ctescrihe. On the general question of pruning yon are right. 



Ants and Green Flies iD. W. IT.).— The ants are said to attack the 

 aphides, but we incline to think they feed upon the sap which the insects 

 cause the leaves to exude. The Pear-tree leaves in your envelope represent 

 the roots of the tree to be inactive. Fresh soil and rich top-dressings we 

 should recommend as a proper remedy. 



Asphalt Drite (L. il/.).— The drive should have a proper foundation of 

 clinkers, brickba'P, or rough gravel, and these should be broken up, and a 

 regular inclining jet even surface given before putting on the asphalt The 

 following receipt is from the "Cottage Gardener's Dictionary :"—" Take two 

 parts of very dry lime rubbiBh, and one part coal ashes, also very dry, and 

 both sifted fine. In a dry place on a dry day mix them, and leave a hole in 

 the middle of the heap as bricklayers do when miking mortar. Into this 

 ponr boiling-hot coal tar, 'mix, and when as stiff as mortar put it down 

 8 inches thick to form the walk. Tbe ground should be dry, and ba beaten 

 smooth. Sprinkle over it coarse eand. When cold pass a light roller over it, 

 and in a few days the walk will be solid and waterjiroof." A neater appear- 

 ance is given by sprinkling with spar, yellow or other gravel, which mu--<t, of 

 course, be fine, and put on immediately after laying down the asphalt in 

 place of the sand It will bear horses without breakiog-up. 



Cucumbers not Thrittng (H.).— The atmosphere is probably too dry, 

 and cold air currents have an injurious tendency on the leaves aud swelling 

 of tbe fruit. The ventilation being on the north side only, and having had a 

 prevalence of easterly and northerly winds, we do nat wonder at the plants 

 being in the plight you describe. Probably some woollen nettitig over the 

 opening would mitigate the evil. 



Melons Swelling Irregularly (F. H.).— The fruit, not swelling is, we 



think, the result of imperfect impregnation. There ia no remedy but to 

 have a healthy root-action prompted by brisk bottom heat, and to have rather 

 more than twice the number of blooms impregnated upon a plant in one 

 ■day, and of those you will generally find a sufficient numbsr to swell kindly. 

 When you have three or fuur upon a plant swelling freely the others may be 

 removed The hgatures you suggest would be iaefftictual. 



Young Potatoes at Christmas (P. ilf.}.— There are two, and probably 

 more, ways of having young Potat es at Christmas. Both cases are met by 

 saving tubers of the preceding year's growth, but treating them in a different 

 manner. The mnderately-carly Kidneys are best. By the one plan they 

 should be laid thinly in a cord and dry place, the sprouts not removed, and at 

 the middle of July they should be planted in an open situation in rich light 

 soil, and in October they will have formed good-sized tubers, wbich should be 

 taken up, stored in boxes in dry soil and made Arm, keeping in a cool place 

 until wanted, but safe from frost. Others treated as regards the sets in a 



similar maimer may be planted in rows 2 feet apart in a warm and dry 

 border early in August, aud thsse are t j be left in the ground until wanted, 

 they being protected in severe weather with leaves and litter. These are 

 infinitely superior than those produced by tbe following plan. Sets of the 

 preceding year are kept in any oool and dry place, the sprouts are removed as 

 they appear, and at the close of July or early in August they are placed in 

 boxes in light rich soil, with 6 inches of soil over them, or in layers with 

 that amount of soil for each. They should be kept in a cellar, or any place 

 having a temperature of 5U^ to Q'i^. In about three monthn they will have 

 formed tubers without top growth, and of such there is only one conclusion^ 

 they are insipid, aud not comparable to those grown by the other methods, or 

 to thote forced in frames. 



Plants for Rockery (W.Russell). — Your rockwork will be suitable for 

 the following plants. After they become established they will not require 

 artificial watering, except in an exceptionally dry period. Acsena novse- 

 zielandise, Achillea umbellata, Alyssum saxatile compactum, Arabis albida, 

 Aubrietia deltoidea, Campanula garganica, Cheiranthus alpinu9, C. Marahalli, 

 Cistus algarvensis, Cyclamen coum and var. vernum, Dianthus fluribundue, 

 Diaba aizoides, Ericas in variety, Erysimum pumilum (similar if not synony- 

 mous with Cheiranthus alpinus), Gentiana verna, Iberis gibraltarica, Linaria 

 alpina, Linum alpinum. Lychnis viscaria splendeuR, Orobus vemus, Oxy i ropis 

 pyrenaica, Petrocallis pyrenaica, Santolina a pina, Saponaria cseapiiosa, 

 Saxifraga affiais, S. cfespitoea, d. coriophylia, S. juniperina, S. opposuifolia, 

 S. pa'mata, S. umbrosa elegantissima, Hedum acre and var. aureum, S. angli- 

 cum, S. Ewersi, S. For^terianum, 8. Kamtschaticum, S. pallidum roseum, 

 S. sempervivoides, Sempervivum araohnoideum, S. calif omicum, Silene 

 acaulis, S. pumiJio, Veronica prostrata. 



Shading Ghkas [Idem). — There is nothing better than a wash formed of 

 whiting and skim or buttermilk to the consistency of whitewash and applied 

 with a brush to the iuside of the house roof. It is easily cleaned off when 

 shading is not required. 



Beetle on Roses iW. L. P.). — The specimens you enclosed were a com- 

 mon weevil, Curculio sulcatus. The best mode of d strojing them would be 

 to spread a sheet beneath the bush after dark and shake it. The insects are 

 then feeding and would fall on the sheet. 



Names of Fruits [J. MolM]. — Your Apple is Bess Pool. 



Names of Plants (Rt:v. S. A. Brenan). — Polemouium cteruleum and its 

 white variety. (\V. F. R.). — An Echeveria, perhaps E. secunda. (J. S.).— 

 Bougainvillea spestabilis. (Thos. Perry). — 1, Pulmonaria officinalis; 2, Om- 

 phalodes verna; 8, Euphorbia amygdaloides ; 4, Myosotis sylvatica (In- 

 quirer). — Apparently Prnnus virginiana. (C. W, M.). — The Wych Elm 

 (Ulmus moutnual. {A. B). — Rosa Banksise. (B.). — Specimens quite in- 

 sufficient. "Grains of Paradise" are the seeds of Amomum Meleguetta. 

 (C. B. H.). — 1, Melaleuca sp, ; 2, Lantana sp. ; 3, A better specimen would 

 oblige. (P. W.). — Gongora atropurpurea, Hook. (Bot. Mag.t. 3220). 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON OHEONIOLE. 



COTTAGERS' SHOWS. 



SnBELY the price of chickens for tahle use has reached its 

 acme. The other day at a fashionable watering-place we were 

 asked 10s. 6i. a couple for spring chickens. When we hear of 

 these prices we can only think the demand must enormoasly 

 exceed the supply. Of course 10s. 6d. was a fashionable price, 

 the ordinary market charge being about 8s. or 8s. 6d. a couple ; 

 but even supposing the price was 7s. 6d., what a help a brood or 

 two of early birds would be to a cottager ! 



This year chickens have been very scarce ; but in most years 

 the cottagers and small farmers in Sussex are able to rear early 

 broods, which help to supply our London markets to a great 

 extent. The higglers go round to the villages, and buying up 

 the birds take them home to fatten; bat even the Sussex 

 cottagers know that chickens are valuable, consequently the 

 higglers have to pay pretty well for the early spring birds. 



Sussex is not the only county where there are country lanes 

 and open common land Chickens can be as well produced in 

 Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, and other counties as Sussex, and we 

 wonder more is not done towards encouraging our cottagers to 

 add by this simple method a few shillings to their weekly 

 receipts. We are sure many can easily keep four or five hens, 

 and have a good profit from them, their cost of keep in a country 

 home would be so trivial, that the greater part of the receipts 

 would come on the profit side. The*-e are some who think that 

 cottagers can cultivate poultry for their own use as an econo- 

 mical and cheap food in these days of dear mutton and beef; 

 but this we do not believe, for if once a cottager tried to do this 

 he must keep a large number, and this would in most cases end 

 in ruin. We have so often been shown that where five hens 

 can be kept profitably ten will not pay ; but we do believe that 

 while chickens realise the good prices they do it will always be 

 very profitable for our cottagers to keep a lew birds. The early 

 eggs and early chickens will find a speedy sale, and be the 

 means of procuring many a little comfjrt which otherwise 

 could not be afforded out of the weekly wages. We beUeve 

 everywhere fowls are becoming more numerously kept by the 

 labouring classes. In the north we know they are, and we 

 hope so, too, in the soutb. We think if those who have the 

 power of doing so will only help the cottagers to see what an ad- 

 vantage poultry would be they would be helping in a good work. 

 We are sure village shows afford a capital way for exciting the 

 love of poultry about the cottage homes. We know of a few 

 villages in one corner of Sussex which club together and have 

 a regular annual gala day. It is often impossible for one village 

 to manage a show, but three or four can work together, and 

 select for their committee members from each, aud then hold 



