September 10, 1874. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



239 



shoot, which ehould ho cut back to 13 inchea to produco tlio side shoots auJ a 

 leader. It is folly, however, not to summer-prune, for the lonp; shoots deprive 

 the spurs of the light and air necessary for ripening tlie fruit buda. The 

 *' Modern Peach Pruner" may ho had free by post for lis. Sd. It does not 

 treat of Apple, Pear, and Plum-pruning, which is different. 



Black Hamburgh Vine Out-doors Mii-dkwkd (G. C). — The mildew 

 in your case is due to the excessive drought, the ruotd being iu soil little 

 better, probably, than dust-dry. We should give thom a thorough watering 

 with guaiiO liquid, 1 oz. guano to a gallon of water; one good watering as the 

 Koaaou is bo far advanced will bo sufflciont. Dust the leavoa, shoots, and 

 fruit in every part with fli^wcrs of sulphur; a worsted stocking or muslin bag 

 6xei to a pole i" ^ good mode of application, shaking it bo as to distribute the 

 sulphur, which is a well-known remedy. The Sweetwater should be treated 

 in the same way. 



Grapes Cracking (J. BaUK— To prevent cracking, the border where the 

 roots are should be moderately dry at the time of ripening ; preserve also a 

 dry atmosphere in the house; and as a further precaution cut a notch on the 

 branch to which the buuch is attached, between the bunch and the main 

 stem ; this will check the flow of sap to the berries. 



Grapes Shanked (Bristol). — The cracks are not unusual in the stalks 

 severely shanked. They demonstrate that the Vine roots do not supply sutfi- 

 cient sap. Water abundantly with weak tepid liquid manure. Cut out the 

 shanked berries. 



Vines for Early, Muscat, and Late Vinerv (TT. TV. W.). — For the 

 eai'ly house you will need six Vines— three Black Ilambargh, one Bucklaod 

 Sweetwater, one Foster's White Seedling, and one White Frontignan ; for 

 the Muscat house three Viues— two Muscat of Alexandria and one Madresficld 

 Court. In the late house you may have eight Vines — two Muscat of Alex- 

 andria, one Madrestield Court, which may be cut by Christmas ; or if not to 

 be begun on till then, omit tbcm and have two Mrs. Pince,two Lady Downe's, 

 two Alicante, one Gros Guillanrae, and one Trebbiano. If you want more 

 white Grapes substitute two White Lady Downe's for one each of Mrs. Pince 

 and iUicante, and if you have the Muscat of Alexandria and Madresfield 

 Court omit one each of Mrs. Piuco, Lady Downe's, and Alicante. 



Moving Roses, Ccurants, and Raspberries {Horticuft). — Yon can trans- 

 plant them at Michaelmas. 



Begonla Cqltcre (TF. S.). — There is no book devoted to so simple acuUure. 

 In our No. 595 are all the directions needed. 



ScADBED Potatoes (S. R. J.).— The origin of the scab in the Potato is 

 undetermined. It is merely an eruption, confined almost entirely to the akin 

 of the tubers, and, probably, is occasioned by some ingredient in the soil 

 which causes decomposition in the tissue of the Potato's skin. Soils ma- 

 nured with coal ashes have been observed particularly liable to cause the 

 scab in the tubers. We shall be obliged by any vi our readers sending ua the 

 results of their experience relative to this disease. The scab does not attack 

 all varieties though grown iu the same soil and cultivated precisely alike. 

 This year on a heavy soil in Sussex, Kentish Ashlcaf, Walnut-leaf, and Lap- 

 stone were not scabbed ; but Giant King and a large handsome white kidney, 

 name unknown, were scabbed. 



Weeping Willows Injured by Fbost (J. M.).—lt is evident you have 

 too tender a variety for your situation ; the growths being made late are not 

 well ripened, hence they are injured by frost, and die back. It is the Baby- 

 lonian kind — Salix babylonica. We have to record similar experience of this 

 species. The Kilmarnock, Salix caprea pendula, does remarkably well, having 

 long whipcord-like shoots; the Ameriuau, Salix americana pendula, also 

 grows freely, having larger leaves and stronger shoots. Both succeed with 

 lis in an exposed position. 



Dahlia (TT. R. W.). — Your box and the Dahliait contained were completely 

 flattened by the post-office punches. Possibly it is a seedling, as yon con- 

 jecture; but we have seen a variety very like it in colour. 



Maize (L. J. W.). — The specimen enclosed is a case of sporting, in which 

 some female blossoms are combined with those of the male. 



Clay-like Stratum (R. S. S.).— You should have stated your locality, for 

 then geology would have told us the constituents of the stratum. It is evi- 

 dently aluminous, and if reduced to powder and mixed with alight soil would 

 render this more suitable for Roses. 



Plunging Pots of Bulbs in Cocoa-nut Fibre {.IJaHn).— There is no 

 fear of the cocoa fibre heating. But why place them in boxes ? Could yon not 

 stand the pots on the floor of the cellar, plunging them in the fibre, and cover- 

 ing them with it about 2 inches deep ? The bulbs sliould be potted in moist 

 soil, and the pots be set on a damp bottom, so as to keep the toil moist to 

 insure rooting. The bulbs should be removed to light by the time the crown 

 growth has risen an inch. It answers as well, if not better, to plunge the 

 pots in ashes on the floor of a greenhouse, covering them overhead 2 or 

 3 inches with cocoa-nut refuse, especially for bulbs required for early forcing. 

 Under a stone shelf or other place free of drip answers well. They wiU be 

 ^ell rooted in about tix weeks. 



Greenhouse Heating (M. C). — Your gi-eenhouse is too large to bo 

 heated by a stove, but it could be heated satisfactorily by a portable boiler 

 whi'Th requires no brickwork, and which you will see advertised in our columns 

 weekly. In order to exclude frost, or afford a temperature of 40^ to 45*^ in 

 severe weather, you will need two rows of 3- inch pipes— i.o., a flow and return 

 along the two sides and one end, or you may have all the pipes in front if you 

 find the pipes at the end likely to interfere with doorways. The boiler may 

 be within the hon.-e, care being taken to kc?p down dust by damping the 

 ashes before removal, and having the smoke pipe perfectly smoket ight, and com- 

 municating with the external atmosphere, being taken clear of woodwork. 



Constructing Greenhouse (T. P. F.).— The proportions of your pro- 

 posed greenhouse are good, but you do not say what your intentions are 

 respecting the interior. We should have the front wall arched, having open- 

 ings 2 feet 6 inches wide, and the border inside as well as outside, piduting 

 the Vines inside at 15 inches from the front wall, and training them to a 

 trellis 16 inchts from the glass. For the plants you will need shelves or a 

 stage, so as to have them near the glass and prevent drawing. Three-inch 

 pipes instead of 4-inch will give you all the heat you need to keep out frost 

 in winter, and will effect a saving in first cost, add to the efficiency of the 

 boiler, and require less fuel from haviug less water to heat. 



Bunsen's Burner {F. J).— Any supplier of iras-fittings conld obtain one 

 for you. We do not know where they are manufactured. 



Gas-heated Bon.ER (Regular Snhi^criher).—\ye have never tested such 

 boilers, so cannot say which is best. Write to some of the makers who ad- 

 vertise in our columns. 



Caterpillars Destroying Peas (P.). — Those enclosed are the larvae of 

 the Daddy longlegs (Tipulal, and eat the stems near the surface of the soil. 

 We know of no means of gutting rid of thom except stirring the soil about 

 the roots and picking-out the larvie. 



Grubs on Pear Leaves (J. Oreen). — You will find engravings and a 

 description of this troublesome insect in No. 638, payes 4B4-5. We cannot 

 advise a better remedy than that which you have adopted— namely, dusting 

 with slaked quicklime ; repeating the dose will generally be sufficient to 

 destroy them. See what Jlr. Douglas says this week in "ijoings." 



Name of Fungus {Berrymcad PTiorii). — Agaiicua procerus, eatable. 



Names of Fkuits (L. J. B.). — 1, Christie's Pippiu ; '2, Summer Whorle; 

 3, Broughton; 4, Carel's Seedling ; 5, not known; 6, Parry's Pearmaiu. (T.C.). 

 1, Adele de St. Denis; 2, Fondante des Bois ; 8, Beune tterckmans ; 4, Vicar 

 of Winkfleld; 5, Bellissime d'Hiver. 



Names of Plants (R. Jameson). — The Fern arising from the Surrey peat 

 sent to you is the common Brake, Pteris aquilina. 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON OHEONIOLE. 



BIRKENHEAD POULTRY SHOW. 



The Wirral Agricultural Show was held at Birkenhead on the 

 2nd and 3rd inst. The peus "were Turner's, and were well 

 arranged, and the Show exceedingly well conducted, being the 

 best ever held by the Society. There were twenty-oue classes 

 for poultry, most of which were very well filled, and the quality 

 was exceedingly good throughout, with the exception that the 

 old birds were generally very shaky in feather. 



In Dorkings the winners were very good, but the rest poor; 

 Mr. Walker standing well here, as also in adult CoclunSf with a 

 grand pen of Buffs. In the following class, first came a grand 

 pullet, though the cockerel in the second-prize pen was by far 

 the beat. Brahmas, both adult and young, were good. Adult 

 Spanish were poor, but the winners good in the young class. In 

 Game there was nothing of striking merit. In Bantams Mr. 

 Entwisle obtained the first prizes both for old and young birds 

 with Black Reds, in the former case with the SheflSeld cup cock, 

 which, despite the wild assertions of disappointed exhibitors at 

 that Show, is a bird not easily passed over ; the second in old 

 were Blacks, and in young Brown Reds, Strange to say there 

 were but two classes for Hamhurghs, a point which the breeders 

 duly appreciated by keeping their birds at home. Ducks were 

 grand in both classes, those in young being all Aylesburys; and 

 the Geese a large class, and perhaps one of the best ever seen at 

 a meeting of this kind. 



Pigeons were the great feature of the Show, demonstrating 

 plainly what can be done by one true fancier in a neighbour- 

 hood; the classes throughout were well filled with grand birds. 

 Mr. Fulton showing in every class, was severely handled, as 

 compared with what is generally the case. In Pouter cocks a 

 Black was first and Blue second, and in hens the first and 

 second were Blue. Carriers were very good in both classes, 

 especially Mr. Fulton's Black hen. In Barbs a Yellow was 

 first and a Black second. Dragoons were divided into two 

 classes, the first for Blue and Silver, and the second for Any 

 other colour. In the first-named class the Judge was fairly 

 puzzled, and in the end placed equal firsts and seconds upon 

 both Silvers and Blues. This was truly a grand class. In the 

 next class the first was a Giizzle, the second Yellow. In 

 Anfiverps the winners were Red Chequer.'?, capital headed birds, 

 but a little heavier in body and longer in feather than would be 

 appreciated for racing, but by far the best in the class. In 

 Tumblers the first was a Kite, such as will not be easily for- 

 gotten, the head, beak, and eye being extremely grand; the 

 second beiug an Almond. The fii*st in Owls was a White 

 African, and the second a Silver English, but we preferred the 

 White one shown by Mr. Fulton to either of the above. In the 

 Variety class a Turbiteen was first and an Archangel second, 

 Trumpeters also being thrown into this class. 



Dorkings.— 1, -T. Walker, Rochdale. 2, J. Cowbum, Maesgamefl, Corwen. 

 Chickens.— ^, J. Walker. 2, T. Brocklebank, jun.. Heswatl. /(C, E. W. South- 

 wood. Fiikenham ; T. Brocklebank, j uq. 



Cochins.— I. J. Walker. 2, T. Aspdei-., Church, AccrinRton. he, T. Stretch, 

 Ormakirk; W. H. Crabtree, Levenahulme, Manche»ter. Chick'iis. — 1, T. 

 Stretch. 2, J. Walker, vhc, C, Sidgwick, Kejghley. hc,W. H. Crabtree; T. 

 Aspden. 



Brahma Pootra.— 1, T. F. Ansdell, Cowley Mount, St. Helens. 2, W. H. 

 Crabiree. he. J. Watts, King'* Heath, BirmiuKham. Chickens —1, A. RiRg, 

 Ciateacre, Woolton. 2, T. F. Ansdell. he, W. A. Writrht. Souihport : J. Walker ; 

 G. Maples, jun. Wavertree, Liveryool ; A. RiRET- Liaht.—Chickeytii ~l, S. W. 

 Hallain, Whitwick, Leicester. 2, E. Peel, Rock Ferry. hc,E.tee\; T. A. Dean, 

 Harden, Hereford. 



Spanish.— 1, J. Leemings, Bronghton, Pres'on. 2, G. K. ChilcoH, Fairlawn, 

 Gotham, Bristol, he, H. Wdkinson, Earby, Skipton. Chickens— 1, H. Wilkin- 

 son. 2, J. Leeminfi. 



Game.— 1, C. W. Brierley, Middleton, Manchester. 2, G. C Bamctt, Birken- 

 head. Chickens.— I, T. P. Lyon, Liverpool. 2. G. C. Barnett. he, T. P. Lyon ; 

 ii. C- Bainett (2) 



Bantams— 1, W. F. Entwisle, Bradford. 2, R. H. Ashton, Mottram, Man- 

 Chester, he, W. Johnson, Birkenhead, c, W. Brick. Newtown. Chickens.— 1, 

 W. F. Entwisle. 2, G. C. Barnett. he, G. C. Barnett; J. Walker; T. H. 

 Stretch. 



Hamburghs.— 1, G. & J. Duckworth, Church, Chickens. — 1, J. Saunders, 

 Eidston, BirKcnhead. 2, A. C Lesfi-^r. 



Any othek BhEED. — 1. J. Fearnley, Lowton, Newton-le-Willowa (Silver 

 Polanda). 2. C. Morrias, Upton Lawn, ChfSter (Huudans). he. Rev. N. J. 

 hidlev. Newbury |La Flei-he); J. J. Maiden, Bitrgleswade (Creve-Coear). 

 Chicken'' —1, W. Dring, P'avershfim (Houdans). 2. Rev. A. G. Brooke, Shrewa- 

 bury (Malays), he, S. Elliott, Liskeard (Malays) ; J. Fearnley. 



