304 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTOKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 1, 187-1. 



French Gardening Magazines (H. B.).— "Revue Horticole," pnblishea 

 at Eue Jacob 26, Paria, and "Flore des Serres," by Louis Van Houtte, at 

 Ghent. 



Cut Flowers Fading Qcickly (Gamma flosf?).— "We did not publish on 

 the day you came, nor do we remember the recipe. No one could tell the 

 cause of failure unless he knew all particulars. 



Seedling Applf {J<nnes Ciitbush d- Son).-~-The specimen Apple sent is 

 very handsome, and although the flavour is not so gcid as to recommend it 

 for desfert use, it would be a useful kitchen Apple. The great beauty of its 

 colouring would make it sell well at market. 



Storing Potatoes (J?. .7. B.).— Store them in a dry cellar or substantial 

 outhouse, in layers alternating with sand, and covering all with 2 inches in 

 depth of sand. 



White Fkontignan Grape (Mrs. C. W.). — It will succeed in your coo^ 

 greenhouse with a south aspect. It deserves the warmest end. 



Small Greenhofse (T. A. G.).— No paraffin lamp would exclude frost 

 from the plants, nor could any other source of heat be employed that pro- 

 duced fumes from buTLing oil, or coal, or gas, unless those fumes could bo 

 conveyed by a fimnel into the aii- outside. Tbe fumes would injure and till 

 the plants. A gas stove would be your best aid. 



Storing Nuts (I't'/oci>/'de).— Do not remove the hupks, and put them in 

 jars in layers alternating with sand, and keep in a cellar. 



AiiABANTHUS Hendeesonh (J. TF.).— It was exhibited and commended at 

 one of the recent meetings of the Eoyal Horticolturnl Society's Floral Com- 

 mittee, and was very sliowy and effective, presentiug great brilli»ncy and 

 diverpity of colour, and the habit, too, was good. No doubt the plants make 

 a brilliant display. "WTieu used as table decorators, the contrast of then- 

 brilliaut colours against the white tablefloth conld not fail to be effective. 

 One or two plants of the gi-oup appeared to be distinct, tbe carmine and 

 orange beiug more vivid, and the daak part much nearer to black. Those 

 varieties we think ought to be propagated from cuttings and named. 

 ■ Allowance for Wear and Tear of Glass Structdres— Manure 

 FOR Vine Border iT. H. T.).— The loss with glass structures is great. They 

 are worth about tifteen years' purchase, ruore or less according to the sub- 

 stantiality of the structures, but tifteen yeais is a fair average, and the wear 

 in that time is about equal to the fli'St cost of wood, glass, &c., equivalent 

 to about &\ per cent, per annum. Poultry manure is a good dressing for a 

 Vine border. One bu'^hel per 30 square yards is a sufficient quantity to apply 

 at a time, and is equal to about six bushels of old hotbed mauuie. 



Winter-dressing Peach Trees {Tdcnij.— Soft soap 1 lb., flowers of sul- 

 phur 1 lb., tobacco juice oce gallon, and a wine-glassful of spirits of turpen- 

 tine well mixed, boiling for about a quarter of an hour, and applying to the 

 trees with a brush at a temperature of 120"^ to 130'=, brushing it well into every 

 hole and crevice, taking care not to dislocate the buds. It should be appHed 

 when the trees are at rest, before the buds have begun to swell. 



Artificial Manure for Hay Crop (/d^m).— Probably for a hay crop, 

 the best manure nest to that from the farmyard, is guano, 2 ewt. per acret 

 applied during moist weather at the close of March or early in April. 



Heating G&eenhottse (S. NX — You could well heat your greenhouse 

 with a stove, as it would dry the atmosphere too much, "but it might be 

 heated by a slow-combustion stove-boiler within the house, having two 2- inch 

 flow-pipes, and the same number of return pipes along one end and the front, 

 having the boiler within the house, and its smoke -chimney taken to the 

 external air clear of woodwork. Write to one of those advertising in our 

 columns stating what you require. 



Keeping GERANiuiis Stocky— Viola cornuta Hardiness ITertia).— 

 The Geraniums will be kept stiff if they be stopped when about 4 inches 

 high, and each succeeding growth afterwards up to April, keeping near the 

 glass, and rfving air whenever the weather is mild. They should not be 

 huddled together, but have room to grow. Viola cornnta is perfectly hardy 

 even in exposed situations, the plants being well rooted and established before 

 ■winter. Tour flowers were all crushed ; we cannot tell from leaves. 



Grapes not CoLouRrNG (/?. H.).— Tour bunches of Black Hamburgh 

 Grapes with some berries quite black and others red and withered, are 

 shanked. The cause is mainly an insufficiency of foliage arising from a 

 deficiency of sap, the roots not supplying enough to meet the requirements 

 of the Vines in a dry and hot period. Probably more air, a greater amount 

 of foliage, and not overcropping, would do much to remedy the evil iu future. 

 The low and shady situation iw not good; but the soil and subsoil appear 

 suitable. The Geraniums thinly planted may not do any great harm, but 

 the border would be better without them, as they will deprive it of much air 

 and warmth. Give the border a dressing of bones Ihalf-inch), an inch thick, 

 pointing them in with a fork, and in spring dress it with soot, making it 

 qtiite black ; when the berries are well get, and also when taking the second 

 swelling before colouring, apply one peck of gu.ino to SO square yai-ds, and 

 give a thorough watering at a temperature of 75*^ immediately after each ap- 

 plication rf guano. Plant the Vine in the outside border the early part of 

 March, before the eyes swell. 



Wintering Lobelias— Dahlias from Cuttings (C/zcc).- Lobelias of the 

 dwarf bedding or Eiinus section wifl not winter safely in a cold frame. 

 The only ones that winter finely in a cold frame aro the herbaceous kinds 

 now but little grown. It is a waste of space to winter Lobelias; they are 

 raised so easily from eeed, make better plants, bloom longer, withstand 

 drought better, and come so true to name. Some kinds it may be desirable 

 to winter, but only those of which seed cannot cheaply and safely be had, as 

 some of the new kinds. Dahlias are best raised from root-cuttiujirs. the 

 shoots when S or 4 inches long being taken off with a heel or small portion 

 of the old tuber, and struck in small pots in gentle heat. The main thing is 

 to strike rather early, say February or early in March. When well rooted 

 remove to a cool house, keeping well aired, with plenty of light and room, 

 shifting into larper pots as required, so as to have good, stiff, strong, hardy 

 plants for planting-out in May. 



Temperature for Stove Ferns (J. C. N.).—A\\ stove Ferns mav b? 

 grown well in a eool stove in winter. November to January inclusive, 55" at 

 night and 60"^ to 65° by day. February to May 5° higher. Juno to Augutt lO'' 

 higher, on both the night and day temperatures first mentioned ; and >>eptem- 

 ber and October 5^ less than from June to August. From October to February 

 inclusive the temperature by day may rise 5'^ to 10^ with sun and air, and from 

 March to September 10- to 15^ or 2u"\ according to the sun heat, giving air 

 moderately, and iu proportion to the amount of sun heat, and uffordiog 

 moisture corresponding to the increased temperature. 



High Rent (TT.).- The rent you are to pay for your plot of ground will 

 prevent you fi-om makiug more of it than a hobby, though you might by 

 working it yourself be able to grow some vegetables for your own use that 

 would give you some return for your outlay. It is useless, however, thinking 

 of making it pay at a rental equal to £75 per acre. By growing a few such 

 things as Cabbft;,'e, Cauliflowers, early Potatoes, to be foUuwed by Brussels 

 Sprouts and Savoys for winter, with Celery, a few Peas, Dsvarf Kidney Beans, 

 and Scarlet Runners, you may supply yourself with most of what you need in 

 vegetables, and thus have some return for rent, besides the pleasure and 

 health-giving employment of cultivatmg them. It would be better than 

 allowing the ground to remain idle. 



Training and SIanuring Vines (H. P.).— Vines trained upright are best 

 treated on the spur system, which insures their breaking regularly, the tops 

 of tbe rods being depressed before they start. The border is beat dressed 

 with manure whilst the Vines are at rest. 



Gloxinia Seeolings {W. J. B.). — We should shift the largest plants into 

 6-ioch, and the nest size into 4^o-iDch pots, and it is likely they will flower 

 this month and onwards in a light airy pusitiou iu the stove, probably up to 

 Christmas, when they may be kept drier, and they will a'jaln in February or 

 Miirch start fresh shoots from the base. The old shoots dying away should be 

 removed when the young ones are advanced an inch. For the supports in the 

 conservatory. Mimosa prostrata, Acacia oleifolia elegans, and Habrothamnus 

 fasoiculatus. 



Trentham Black Grape— Lily of the Valley Forcing for Christ- 

 mas {A. B. C.).— Tiie smallness of the berries of Trentham Black is probably 

 due tu the vigour of the Vine ; bat from what you say we do not think you 

 have it true, as it is a fiee setter, and the berries are large and oval. The 

 Lily of the Vallev should be placed in gentle heat the middle of November, 

 and if possible a bottom heat of 65 to 70-, and a top heat 55^^ to 65*^. Lilium 

 auratum should be potted when the stems turn yeUow, and the pots ought to 

 be placed iu a cool house or frame safe from frost. Instructions for potting, 

 &c., have been repeatedly given. 



Select New Bedding Geraniums (F. E. J.).— Tours is a somewhat 

 difficult question to answer, as there are bo many diversities of opinion as to 

 what is new. Some gardeners think that a plant two years old has become 

 almost obsolete, other gardeners that any plant is new if they themselves 

 have only just obtained it. The best new Scarlets, including Crimsons, are 

 Edward Sutton, General Outram, Han-y King, a seedling from Jean Sisley 

 and very like it. Magenta. — Not many good new ones of this coloui-. Miss 

 Saunders is good, so is Haidee, but truss not lai-ge enough. Pink. — In this 

 colour Mr. Pearson of Chilwell has given us a great many good kinds, as Mrs. 

 Taite, Contessa Quarto, Mrs, Holden, Augusta MUes. Cannell's Master 

 Christine is also good, though it drops its petals in hot sun. White, — Well, 

 the less said about whites the better; wo have never seen a reaUy good white 

 yet, all turn pink in the sun ; none is better yet than Madame Vaucher. 



Gladiolus (T. Sainpsori, Yeovil). — The spikes which you sent us are fine, 

 and some of them quite equal to named yai-ieties, notwithstanding, as yon 

 remark, the bulk of them having been injured by wind and rain. 



Names of Fruits (T. T'.).— Flemish Beauty. {IT.FoicI^i.— King Edward's 

 Pear, or more properly, Edwards' King. {A. B. G.).— Golden Winter Pear- 

 main, or as it is commonly called, King of the Pippins. (Horace Huntley\. — 

 ■WTiite Nonpareil. (G. Dml—1, Urbaniste; U, Triomphe de Jodoigne; 3, 

 Vicar of Wiokfield ; 4. BeuiTe Diel. ( TV. S. G.),— 1, Easter Beurre ; 2, Chau- 

 montel; 4, Beunx' Diel ; 5,Vicarof Winkfield. It is quite clear that, judging 

 from the specimens sent, these varieties do not succeed in your district. Yoa 

 ought to graft the trees with varieties better adapted for it, and if you decide 

 upon doing so we will be pleased to furnish you with the names of the varie- 

 ties which will succeed better. (Chas. T. Hall).— Yonr Grape is very curious, 

 and resembles a small bla<;k Tomato. It is, in fact, a combination of two 

 ovaries, in which the sutures of the carpels are so marked as to give the fruit 

 the appetirance it has. Pears: 1, Beurre de Ranee; 2, Beurre de Capiau- 

 mont; 3, Fondante d'Automne; 4, Hampden's Bergamot. The malformed 

 Pear is caused by a prolongation of the axis in which there has been first an 

 arrest of growth, and the calycinal segments are developed into leaves. 

 Apple: CLllini. (A Learnerl — 1, Marie Louise; 2, Craeaune; 3, Beurre 

 Diel; 7, Bellissime d'Hiver: 9, Downton ; 10, Ne Plus Meuris. (C. IF.).— 

 All the Apples which you have sent from an orchard in the west of England 

 are cider Apples, which we cannot undertake to name. No. 2 is Kingston 

 Black; No. 10 is not Mauks Codlin; No. 7, Chaumontel Pear; 1, Louise 

 Bonne of Jersey Pear; 2, Marie Louise; 3, Beurre de Capiaumont ; 8, Duchesse 

 d'Angouleme. {\V. T.l.— Brickley Seedling. (W. H. Pimt.—l, Winter 

 Nelis; Si, Figue de Naplts; 3, Vicar of Winkfield ; 4, Beurre Diel; 5, Passe 

 Colmar ; 6, Knijiht's Monarch. We cannot make anything of the Grape, 

 which is quite smashed. It appears like Isabella, au American variety — 

 Pears: 1, Bemre de Ranee; 2, Duchesse d'Angoulime ; 3, Beurre Diel; 

 G, Winter Nelis. (E., None ich).— Your Plum is Queen Mother, a deseert 

 variety. (Hurst d- Son\.—\, Beurre Clairgeau; 2, Duchesse d'Angouleme; 



3, Fondante des Bois; 4, Fondante du Cornice: 5, Enfant Prodigue. [Thos.H. 

 Si/kes) —Beurr^ Amande. (Sftruft/und.*).— Cellini. {Hogg d Wood).—V/e 

 cannot distinguish the Apple, it is evidently an imperfect specimen. (W.C.D.). 

 1, Golden Winter Pearmain; 2, Winter Greening; 3, Unknown; 4, Keswick 

 Codhn; 6, Nancy Jackson (E. S. Turner).— The leaf is that of Liquldam- 

 bar styraciflua. A. Fondante de Noil; e, Easter Beun-e; c. Knight's 

 Monarch; d, Carel's Seedling; E, Not known; F, Winter Nelis. (P. Bennett), 

 —1, AVhito Summer Calville; 2, Birmingham Stone Pippin; 8, Gravenstein ; 



4, Autumn Pearmain. (H. il/.).— 1. litunv Clairgeau; S.Easter Beurre; 



4, Louise Bonne of Jersey ; 5. Summer Franc Real ; 6, Corate de Lamy. 

 IL. J. Ba.—I, Nonesuch; 3, Flushing Spitzeubm-gh; 4, Fearn's Pippin; 



5, Golden Noble; 6, Do Neige. (T. £.).-!, Norfolk Storing; 2, Stamford 

 Pippin; 3, Fondante d'Automue; 4, London Sugar. 



Names of VLAiiis (W. A.,Moimt C?air^).— It is a Fungus, Pezizaaurantia. 

 (J. BalCi. — Tou have not numbered the specimens of Ferns, so it would be 

 useless to publish the names iR. A. P.i.— Betula asplenifolia, Asplenium- 

 leaved Buch. It is hardy. (X. Y. Z.).—\ and 4, Sedum Telepbium ; 2, Achillea 

 tanacetifolia ; 3, Alchemilla vulgaris; 5, Adiantum cuneatum(?); 6, Ruscub 

 androgjuus (?)(no flowers). (H. P.).— 20, Pyrus japonica. var. ; 19, SolJya 

 heterophylla ; 18, Campanula (material insufficient); 21, Gaillardia bicolor, 

 vai". Druiumondi ("Bot. Mag.," 3551). [O. O.).— Darea sp. (no fruitj ; 2, Da- 

 vallia (Loxoscaphe) gibbt-rosa; 3, Verbascum Blattai-ia. It is an unusilal 

 occurrence. (Infjii )r<-n(/o).— Apparently ScilU maritima. but your description 

 and drawing ai-e insufficient. (T. H.).— We only name six specimens at a 

 time, you send seventeen! 2, Doodia lunulata; 5, Nephrodium molie; 



6, Pteris sernilata; 7, Phlebodinm aureum; 9, Adiantum hispidulumj 

 13, Adiantum cuneatum. 



