September 3, 1S74, 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



217 



or tliieo weeks, then put on tho lishta of tlio frame, Iiecp covered with mats 

 until tlio llower-steniB are an inch above the soil with their lower ilower-buds, 

 then expurto them fully to lit^ht, and the leaves will bodh become preen aod 

 the flowi rrt expand. The temperature of the frame Bhould nin!,'e from 55" to 

 65°. After the turn of the year bottom beat is not enKcntial We place our 

 roots on ihe wooden stage that rests with tho laths on the pipes, so that the 

 plants in the pans and boxes receive some warmth. Tho temperature is 55^ to 

 «)U-, 70= or more by day with sun beat and plenty of air. When the first 

 lluwers open the plants are placed in a house with a temperature of 45"^ to 50". 

 We fi.rcb about a dozen pans or boxes of this lovely flower fortnightly from 

 November to April. 



ANTiHKaiNDMS (fi. H. P.).— It IS not unusual for thorn or any other cross- 

 bred plant to produce flowers varying in coloura accordioK to those of their 

 parents. 



The CicoA Nut (A Stove Planter).— We &d\-\se you to cuhivate only the 

 dwarl Pulms. Cocos nucifera, the Cocoa Nut Palm, attania to the height of 

 5b feet, and we have seen it higher in Bengal. The following extract answers 

 more than your other queries:—" The three holes in the shell of a Cocoa Nut, 

 which give it such a comical refemblance to a monkey's head, are for the 

 purpose of allowing the young tree to issue from the shell when the nut is 

 planted. The thell with which the cocoa nuts are covered is extremely bard. 

 When steeped in water it may be beaten out into a sub-tauce resembling 

 flax, from which a coarse material may bo woven. Cocoa Nut matting and 

 similar articles are also manufactured from these shells. Inside the hai-d 

 ehell is a layer of white substance, which is both eaten and also much em- 

 pl'>ycd in the manufacture of cbt^ap coufectiouery. When this subKtauce is 

 exposed to the action of a powerful press an oil is obtained, which may be 

 employed in lamps, and burns with a bright clear flame, witbout producing 

 any siuoke or disagreeable smell. A quantity of milk-like fluid is also con- 

 tained in the interior of the nut, and which, when the nut is young, is much 

 esteemed, but as th« fruit grows older the milk becomes more acid and more 

 cooling. A sweet oil may also be obtained from the milk by boiling it at a 

 gentle'heat,. The milk obtained from the cocoa nut may al-^o be employed 

 insttad of oniinary milk for rice puddings, custards, and similar preparations. 

 The nut itself is also used for puddings, cheesecakes, puffs, &c." — {,CassdVs 

 Housthold Guide.) 



LiLiuM AURiTUM.— "B". G. S." wishes to be informed the largest number 

 of Liliiuu auratum flowers grown on one stem. 



Carnations not Flowering— Planting Clematis Jackmanni— Winter- 

 ing Late-sown Caknations {Dublin). — The s'rong plants of Caruations 

 Btruck early last jear have not flowered from their not being sufticiently 

 strong. ThM soil being probably rich has induced them to grow vigorously, and 

 this has retarded the flowering. They will no doubt bloom well another 

 season. Now is a good time to plant-out Clematis Jackmanni from pots, for 

 the plunts will form good roots before winter, and fctart strongly next ppring. 

 Caruations from seed sown a few days ago will need to have the protection of 

 a frame In winter, with air at every favourable opportunity, and mats over 

 the lights in severe weather. 



Iresine Herbstii Colture (IT. N. R.). — The preceding is the name of 

 the plant you sent us a spray of. It ia used in flower-gardening, being 

 planted-out at the end of May or early in June. Cuttings are taken off in 

 Auyiist and struck in sandy soil in a cold frame, or in September in a gentle 

 hotbed, wiutc-red in the cutting-pots or pans, and grown-ou iu spring. If you 

 preserve the old plants they should be kept rather dry in winter, receiving no 

 more water than enough to keep them fresh. To form busby plants stop 

 frequently, but not after this time, repot in spring, and encourage growth 

 with an increase of moisture. To winter the plants with good foliage they 

 require a warm greenhouse. Three parts sandy loam, half a part each leaf 

 soil and sandy peat, with, a sixth of sand and good drainage, will grow them 

 well. 



Datura not Flowering (7d<'m).— The want of flowers this year is probably 

 a consequence of the wood of last year not having been well ripened. jVfford 

 the plants the lightest and most airy position in the greenhouse, and water 

 only to keep the leaves from falling off prematurely. After the leaves have 

 fallen water only to keep the wood from sbriTelling, and in February cut each 

 shoot to within from four to six eyes of last year's wood, cutting-back the 

 weak shoots most and the strongest least; repot when commencing growth, 

 and shift into larger pots when the shoots are a few inches long, watering 

 abui^dantly when in free growth, and syringing morning and evening until 

 the flnwers expand. A light and airy position only is suitable. 



Mushroom Bed Failing (W. Y.). — From the Mushrooms having appeared 

 in six weeks after s2^a'Wning. it is evident the spawn was good and that the 

 bed has suited the spawn, though it does not seem to have spread well, as 

 the Mushrooms apjieared only around the spawn boles. We presume the 

 bed was covered with 2 inches of soil beaten firm and the surface made 

 smooth. We think ynu ha^e destroyed the spawn as well as the Mushrooms 

 first appearing by the syringing once a-day, which in a house without venti- 

 lation would cau.'-e the surface to become too moist. In such a house, where 

 we have now an abundant crop, we find watering, which we do with a syringe, 

 not rpquired ofrener than twice a-week after the bed has been brought into a 

 sutficieutly mid-,t state for the production of Mushrooms. 



Mushrooms on Lawn (Flycatcher). — It would not answer to take-up the 

 turf in a f^hady and rather damp part of the lawn, and drop in holes small 

 pieces of spawn. Your chances would be greater if in a dry period you put in 

 pieces of spawn and cover wir.h the piece of tui-f taken from the lawn, tread- 

 ing it firmly, in fact level. The spawn should be buried about 2 inches. If 

 this were done in early summer it is likely you would have Mushrooms late in 

 summer. 



Bepotting Azaleas and Camellias (Idem). — They may be potted now 

 but potting is best performed after they bave flowered and are commencing 

 to form fresh growths, in March or early April for Camellias, and April or 

 May for Azaleas, as the time of flowering may be, or if not flowering, when 

 commencing to grow. 



Garden Manil'Be (R. S.). — Use guano in preference to any you name. If 

 you live near gaswtrks you may compound an excellent fertiliser by pouring 

 the ammoniacal liquor from the works upon the weeds and other gewden 

 rubbish. 



Onion Sport (G. S.). — Though uncommon, the combined inflorescence and 

 bulb-bearing occa^-ionally occur in the Tree Onion. We should thoroughly 

 cleanse the flea-infested outhouses and then syringe roofs, sides, and floors 

 with diluted carbolic acid. 



KosES (E. B., Bcrkkamsted). — Mar-jchal Niel and Souvenir d'un j\jni wonld 

 do well in a greeuhouBe. If a wliite were wanted Madame Willermoz might 



be added. (P. H.). — We should not recommend either Anna de Diesbach or 

 Louisa Wood for the purpose for which you require them. John Hopper or 

 Bupuy-Jamain would suit you. 



IlEMoviNo the Soil about Gooseberry Bushes {Mrs. Henderson).— Tho 

 earth should be removed down to the roots in November when ihe leavea 

 have fallen, also for about 18 inches from the stem all round. It may remain 

 out for a month or six weeks, and may then be fllled-up with manure and 

 rich soil. To prevent the a' tacks of the cattrpillar the ground around the 

 stems of the bushes for a distance of 18 inches to 2 ftet should be covered 

 2 or 3 inches deep with tan Jrom the tan yard, leaving it until autumn. The 

 tan should be fresh from the pits after haviig been used for tanning. 



Late Strawberries— Cotting-back Pear Grafts— Apricots undee 

 Glass { Idem \.~FrogmoTe Late Pine, Elton Pine Improved, and Elean.T are 

 good late kinds of Strawberries. The Pear grafts should be headed-back to 

 13 inches, just above a bud. Apricots would succeed under glass trained to a 

 back wall and in front as espaliers, but the front trees must not t-hede those 

 on the back wall. They do better than whea grown in pots, and require con- 

 siderably less labour in watering. 



Hothouse -mTH Iron Sashbars {Novice). — In iron houses, as far as we 

 have experience, there is no very great difference iu the breakage of glass as 

 compared with those of wood, nor greater leakage from the putty parting 

 from the iron. Well painted, we have the impression that iron houses 

 answer as well as those of wood. We i-hould bo glad if those having ex- 

 perience of iion houses would give us particulars. 



Erecting a Greenhouse (S. H. ).— The cost varies according to too many 

 circumstances for us to state the expense. Write to some of the builders who 

 adveitise in our columns, and ask them to eend estimates. 



Ground Vinery (F. J.).- You must buy Rivers's " Miniature Fmit Gar- 

 den." The price is 3^. To answer your queries fully wonld occupy a day. 

 You must send only one questicm at a tune; a letter from you full of 

 questions was put on one side and is lost. 



Elton Strawberry Plants {R. P. H. B.).— It is enumerated in the 

 majority of fruit catalogues. We cannot recommend dealers. Write to one 

 of the principal nurserymen advertising in our columns. It is not too late to 

 plant, but the sooner the better. 



Keeping Currants on the Bushes (/(Z^m.).— There is no mode equal to 

 matting the busbea after the fruit becomes ripe ; mu-^lin and hexagon netting 

 answer well, but it is useless in either case to cover the bushes partially ; they 

 must be entirely enveloped, and n.ade secure against the inroads of wasps 

 and bii-ds. Mats are the best, because they throw o2 the rains, and they 

 ought to be new and of large size. Aiehaugel mats are the best. No wonder 

 your fruit does not keep when tho material is so badly put on as to adinit 

 thrushes. It is of no use if it do not exclude them. 



Grapes Wanting Bloom {A. F.).— The syringing of the Grapes until half 

 grown would be likely to leave a sediment upon the berries, which when the 

 Grapes were ripe would give the appearance of having been " syringed with 

 dirty water ; " but if the water employed were soft cUar rain water no such 

 sediment would be deposited, and it would not interfere with the bloom. Tho 

 injury to this, we imagine, has been caused by the want of ventilation in dull 

 days, and at nights the berries being covered with a dew-like moi.sture, whicli 

 has ran on them and left the bad appearance, which is not " scalding," and 

 destroyed the bloom. When Grapes are ripening they nhould have a little 

 air in dull days and at night, in order to keep up a circulation, and alljw of any 

 vapour passing off, and so preventing the deposition of moisture on the 

 Grapes. 



Dalechampia Roezliana Rosea for Exhibition {E. P.).— Your plant 

 is ctrtamly a good specimen, but it would not stand you in good stead at &n 

 eshibition where no plant would be much thought of unless twice the size. 

 It might, however, stand well at a local exhibirion, but it is not a telling 

 plant at the best for shows, though a very useful one for home decoration. 



Honeysuckle and Clem.itis Planting {R. F. H.).— October or early 

 November is probably the be-'t time, but it may be done at any time during 

 the winter in mild weather up to March inclusive. II the plants are to be 

 taken from a wood or hedgerow they should be taken up carefully when the 

 leaves have fallen, choosing plants which have shoots or branches near the 

 base, and not very strong, a small plant being transplanted more safely than 

 a large one, and growing more freely afterwoids. Good rich light loam, with 

 leaf soil intermixed, will grow it well, as also the Clematis, which requires 

 similar treatment ; but the plants will probably have to be turned out of pots, 

 and should have the hall broken, and the ro-jts spread out. Do not plant 

 deeper than they were before, but keep them rather elevated on a flattened 

 cone, covering the roots about 3 inches deep, and giving a good watering, so 

 as to settle the soil. The shoots should be secured to the wall, training them 

 on the lower part, so as to cover it first. Beyond wateilng in dry weather, 

 and regulating the shoots, they will not require further attention. Tho 

 hardiest and freest- growing Clematis is C. Vitalha, or Traveller's Joy. 



Vines Mildewed ( W. M. S.). — The leaves sent us are attacked by mildew, 

 which may result from a close moist atmosphere, and want ol water at the 

 roots. Dust the I'-aves and all the parts affected with flowers of sulphur, 

 Bflpecially the under surface of the leaves ; see that the border is in a proper 

 state as to moisture, and attend to the proper ventilation of the litiuse. The 

 Vinea appear to us to be weak, and in the reverse of a rich wet border. It ia 

 the atmosphere which is at fault. 



Camellia Leaves BrownediT. C.F.).— The Camellia leavesare browned, 

 their tissues disorganised and destroyed by the son's rays, which, falHug upon 

 them powerfully whilst wet, causes them to spot, especially where water is 

 lodging upon them. A shading of tifJany or other material is necessary, there 

 being no Vines or climbers trained to the roof to afford the shade requisite ia 

 summer. The top-dressing with the loam, peat, and sheep droppings is good, 

 but will not restore the leaves to their proper state. The shading is necessary 

 from April to the close of t-eptember. 



CccDMBERS AND MELONS IN ViNERT (Somcrsct). — Tbo pit vrill bo more 

 useful for plants than for growing either Cucumbers or Melons, the latter not 

 doing much if any good, and the Cucumbers would not be equal to those 

 grown in frames where the plants will have more light. Leaves would be the 

 most suitable materia,! for bottom heat, and should be put in about a fort- 

 night before the Vines are started ; and as the Vine border ia outside, it 

 ought to be covered with from 18 inches to 2 feet of fermenting materials, 

 such as stable dung and leaves, putting them on about a fortnight before the 

 Vines are started, and lenewina up to March. The Cucumbers in the vinery 

 pit would be best grown in pots or boxes, and the shoots trained to a trellis. 

 The Vines we should not start until February, which will give you ripe Grapes 

 in July. The floor of the late house would answer lor the wintering of Gera- 



