October 15, lili. ] 



journaij of horticulture and cottage gardener. 



3i9 



Grapes not Colouhihg {A A., Ireland).— The mosfc likely cause of the 

 Glares not colourmsi is too heavy cropping, with a deficiency of foliige. 

 Bittik Ilamburghs aud all black Grapes are fuuud to colour better with rather 

 more fi'iiaytj ttmn the white kiuds. Culoiir aud blooia generally go to;,'eihor, 

 when tboorop is heavy the colour aud bloom are seldom tjoud; it is difti^mlt to 

 obtalu iargQ berries and bunchea well coloured. The border inaide ought not 

 to bo alknved to bicume very dry so as to cra;k. Loosening the amf ice with 

 a fork aud making it fine will lessen the liability to craclc. It is ftulflcieut if, 

 after tlio G'apes aru ripe, the border be kept moist. VVbea the Vinea are at 

 rest iiu wattr should be given ; and if Grapes are hangiug, and expected to 

 bans in good condition eome time, tbe border should be kept dry, but with 

 Buflicieut moisture to keep them from Khrivelling. 



WATKurNG A'iNE BoRDEU (An Amatcur). — As the present season has been 

 exctptiouuliy dry, you bavy done quite ri^jht iu watering the border, tbe h.-aves 

 bein^ gicou. One watering, uult-bs the foil was very dry, would have been 

 suftlcieut alter the fruit was ripe, as it ii dtairable to withbold water in order 

 to secure the proper ripening of the wood, ami the Vinos being in an inactive 

 state vei-y little is required to keep tbe 8oil moderately moist, which is all 

 that is needed. Do not water again until jou are about to start the Vines, 

 Bay at the time of shntting-iip, then give an efficient watering. AVatei-iug 

 can do no good ^heu the Vines are at rest. As a rule it ouL;ht to bo dis- 

 continued alter the fruit is lipe, but the soil ought to be moist until the 

 leaves commence falling. We do not think the decay of the berries at the 

 junction with the foottjlalk is due to any other cause than the watering, but 

 it may be a consequence of too moist an atmosphtre It is usutU for the 

 roots I'j have the app*>nrancG you describe after the fruit has been ripe two 

 months, but we ihiiik you lave ba'^tened t lie decay by the watering, which if 

 not absi luteJy necessary to keep the soil moist, is positively injurious. 



Vine Leaves Changing Colour {A. A.). — The change of colour is quite 

 natural ; the wood of the Vino is ripening, and the leaves change colour 

 before they fall. 



Planting Vines in Greenhouse Floor {Triceps)— U you have no 

 border inside the house, ic will di-peud iu a great measure upon what the soil 

 1b, the means of affordiog water, aud of carrj ing-oEf ihe supeiflLious moisture, 

 ■whether the Vines would succeed planted as you propose by removing a brick 

 in the floor for planting. It is hardly to be exijected that they can do much 

 good ; but the soil may be of such a kind as to be favourable to the Vines, 

 and ihey may thrive. They ought to have some chauce of progressing, 

 whicli it seems to us they cannot have, planted in a hole iu the flojr of a 

 hou&e, the opening being only a foot square. 



Knight's Monarch Pear Dropping {G. Drrry).— We cannot tell why 

 your Kuight's Monarch drops its fruit, considering that it is in a *' freo loara "' 

 aud always mulched. Examine the fruit, and see if they have been attacked 

 with a grub. 



Peach-house Trellis (Jo/(h EZ;/oO.—Vou ought also to fis a trellis to 

 the rafters of the hocse, made of wire, and at a distance of about afoot from 

 the glass. As shown on the plan sent, you do not sufficiently utiuse the space. 



Preventing Potato Disease and Destroying Wirev7orm (Sahib). — 

 When the Potato crop is heavily manured it is more susceptible to disease. 

 We think the manure you intend to use would answer; try it, and let us 

 know the lesult. Cut Potatoes in half, aud get some pieces of Carrot ; insert 

 the iioiuted end of a stick into each, aud bury the pieces in the biarder, leav- 

 ing the stick a little out of the ground to mark the place; esamine them 

 daily, and des'ny the wirewormsiu them. 



Potatoes (J, B.). — We cannot publish such strong testimonials of an 

 unknown variety from an anonymous correspondent. 



Destroying Weeds in Path {L. Forbes). — There would be no danger iu 

 your using the following, which will keep the weeds under for a long time, 

 destroying not only the plants but then- seeds: — Dissolve I lb. of powdered 

 arsenic in three gallons of cold water, boil and keep stirring, then add seven 

 gallons of cold water and 2 lbs. crushed soda, stir the whole well whilst boil- 

 ing, and with a rose watering pot apply hot to the walks in dry weather, from 

 March to May inclubive being the best time. The above quantity will be 

 enough for 25 square yarda. Au inclining board should be placed at the 

 sides of the walks or grass to keep off the hot liquid. We do not know of any- 

 thing hue s lit that would without some offensive ingredient rid you of the 

 weeds, ^alt will destroy them for a time. If you have Box edgings, the salt 

 or the soda and arsenical solution above named must be kept from them, 

 otherwise they will be killed. 



Fumigating (J. G. fl.)-— Nothing answers better than a cylinder made of 

 strong hheet ii-on from 6 to 12 inches in diameter. Tbe bottom of this 

 should be c(»mposed of small iron bars, placed close enough to allow the 

 ashes to drop through, but not cinders. A handle may be attached to the top 

 part similar to that on a saucepan, and a round hole in the side about an inch 

 from the bottom should be made to admit the nozzle of a bellows. Odonto- 

 glossuras aud some Oncidiumfi, as well as some other tender Orchids, will 

 stand moderate smoking. Vandas we have not yet seeuiujured by it. The 

 best cultivatois are shy of us'ug tobacco in Orchid houses, af, Lf too much 

 smoke is put in the house, a choice plant may be spoiled; they prefer rather 

 to wash fly and tbripa off with soapy wafer. 



WATEhPiiooF Paper Covers {F. Thor>ia-'i).~We should prefer calico. 

 Cartridge paper is the best paper for the purpc ee. It should be damped before 

 it is liailtd upon the fram**, because when dry it beciraes taut. It may then 

 be paiiited over with boiled linseed oil in which a little white lead has been 

 incorporated. In nailing on the paper, a strip of tape sh uld be placed 

 between the heads of the tacks and the paper to check the tearing to which 

 the paper is so subject. 



Heating Pit with Flue (H. P.).— It will answer to take the flue along 

 the front, having over it a foot of rubble, and then the soil fur the plants a'. 

 least a foot deep. One side of the flue might be exposed— in fact, form tbe 

 side of the path, which we ehould have at back, with the flue entirtly c^ear 

 of the soil, 80 that you will have the flue along the front for bottom hea^, 

 and at back for top beat, and a pathft-ay, which need not be above 2 feet wide ; 

 it and the flue taking up 3 feet 6 inches, will leave you in 7 feet inside 

 an equal space for the bed— viz,, 3 feet 6 inches; Tfeet hghts will nt t 

 answer for t-o wide a j)it, as jou will need 9-iuch walls wp to the height of the 

 flues at least, and then to the wall plates thej may be -1^ inch; 9 feet lights 

 will be required, and tlie front wall will need to bo 1 feet 6 inches, and the 

 hack about 7 feet. The pit may be sunk 2 or 3 feet, and the path also, so aa 

 to gain head-room, the Cucumbers being trained to a treilia at about a foot 

 from the glass. It would be well if you could arrange to havo ventilators in 

 the front and back walls, a.'i long li-;ht8 are not readily moved. 



Names of Fruits (J. R. P., Croydon).— 'i^o. 1, Black Hamburgh ; 9, Black 

 Cluster. [L. J. B.^—Pcau: 1, Aston Town; 2, Napoleon; 3, Ne Plus 



Means; 4, Ne Plus Mcuris. Apples: I.Yorkshire Greening; 2, RodCaWille ; 

 3, Liko Starmer Pippin. (J. Strachani. — 1, Ord'a Appl«; a, Devonohire 

 Qjarrenden ; 3, Roluusou's Pippin; I, Hawthornden; 6, Kerry Pippin; 



7, Wormsley Pippin; 12, Golden Noble. Wo cannot recognihe the others. 

 (fV. R. Y.}. — The numbers were put on so slightly there were only three 

 attached when the fruit arrived. No. 5, Belle de Noel; 6, Sutlolk Thorn; 



8. Baurre de Ilance. The fruit with the brown side is Chaumontel. (U. S., 

 Harrow}. — No. 1, Beuirc de Ranee; 2, Knight's Monarch. The seedling 

 Apples are very handsome. No 1 is very much of the character of Gloria 

 Muudi, and No. 2 ia iu the way of Franklin's Golden Pippin. We will keep 

 them till they are ripe, aud then report more fully upon them. (T. Cooper). 

 — 2, Lamb Abtiey ±*t;armain; 3, Sturmer Pippin; 4, tiiurrey Flat Cap. The 

 others aiyp;:ar to be cider Applen, which we do not koow. We have norecol- 

 leution <if having seen your former parcel. Did yuu pay the carriage ? For 

 if you did not, it, like many others, would be refuj^ed. lO. A/., Hurbiton). — 



1, Aston Town; 3, Vicar of Winktield ; 5 Elton; 6, KahtarBeurre ; 7, Knight's 

 Monarch; 8, Brown Beurre. Apples: 1, Golden Reinette; 2, Blenheim 

 Pippin; 3, Braddick'a Noupareil ; 5, Wormsley Pippin; 6, Herefordshire 

 Pearmain; 7, Kerry Pippin. (Shirley].—], Hollaudbury; 2, London Pippin j 

 3, Winter Peach; 4, Margil ; 5, Fratikllu's Golden Pippin; 7, Marmalade 

 Pippin; 8, 5carlet Noupareil. (S. M. iV.}. — Apples: 1, Aromatic Ku*i«et; 



2, Blenheim Pippin; 4, HoUandbury ; C, Beauty of Kent; 9, Dutch Mig- 

 nouue; 10, Goldou Winter Pearmain; 12, Dumelow'a Heedling; 13, Nonpa- 

 reil; 14, Pitmaston Kuss&t ; 17, Pitmaston itusset ; 19, GoUeu Keinette ; 

 20, Hoary Morning; 21, Hawthornden. Pears : 1, Glou Monjeau ; 2, Mario 

 Louise; 3, Urbaniste ; 4, VanMonaLe 'n Leclerc; 5, Passe Colmar; 6, Bn>wu 

 Beurre. It is a pleasm-e to name buch specimens as these. (Francis and 

 Arlhtir Dickson db Co.).*— 2. Vicar of Winkfield ; 3, Maiie Louise; 4, Rotten j 

 8, Virar of Winkheld ; 9, Bcurre d'Areraberg ; 10, Flemish Bwauty ; 11, Vicar 

 of Winkheid; 12, Marie Louise; 13, itotten; 14, Orange Bergamot ; I/, Black 

 Worcester; 19, Figue de Naples ; 20, E tteu ; 23, Beurre Blanc des Capucins; 

 28. Red Doyenne; 99, Be'irre Diel. Apples: 1, Mere de Menage ; 2, Hoary 

 Morning. (T. O., Oakwood}. — It is Catawoa, an American Grape. (Robert), 

 — The fruit was quite smashed, aud ttie juice had obliterated i he numbers 

 on the papers. We can only say tJiat the white one is White Tokay. (O.). — 

 The Pear is Nouveau Poiteau, and the Apple Keswick Cudlia. (W. S. (i.J. — 

 1, Brown B*^urie ; 2, Glou Mori,cau ; 3, Pile's Russet ; 4, Scarlet Noupareil ;. 

 5, White Maguum Bonum. (.4. .4.). — 1, Louise Bonne of Jersey; 2, Fon- 

 dante d'Automne ; 3, Van Mods Leon Leclerc; 4, Bergamntte Esperenj 

 5, Suffolk Thorn; 6, Vicar of Winkheld; 8, Sturmer Pippin ; 9, Court-pendu- 

 Piat; 10, Robinson's Pippin; 11, Sturmer Pippin; 14, Flemish Bon Chietiea. 



Names of Plants (Co. Antrim). — We cannot undertake to name florists' 

 varieties of Fuchsias. [Q. S.u — Your Agaric is A. cretaceus.— M. J. B. (In- 

 quirer). — Cyuthus vernicosus, — M. J. B. (Lady King), — Abies Menziesii; 

 Cryx)tomeria clegans. 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 



THE POULTRY-KEEPER.— No. 23. 



PABTBIDGE COCHIN.— COCK. 



The principal ohai-actera of the plumage of the oock are lito 

 thoae of Che heu ; but the markings are on a ground of dark tan, 

 which render here aud there the characteristic marks doubtful, 

 which are more apparent in the breast, the hiud parts, th© 

 thighs, and the feathers of the feet. The shoulders, the back, 

 the coverts of the wings, are of a dark red mahogany. The 

 hackle and the lance-shaped feathers are bright rtd aud dark 

 gold. The tail is iridescent black. In England birds with the 

 darkest possible breasts, and approaching to black, are preferred 

 to those with brown breasts. The three varieties, Cinnamon, 

 Buff, aud Partridge, are natural productions, aud do not seem 

 to come from any cross. 



WHITE COCHIN TiKIETY. 



It is atippoaed that the White, which should be without any 

 dark mark, has been obtained by repeated crossing of the Bulif 

 Cochin cock and the White Malay hen. They often come out 

 with red or coffee-colour tinges ; these should not be bred from. 

 A run of Wtiite Coohina of fine quality is most bright and 

 attractive. 



BLACK COCHIN VARIETY. 



The Black variety seems to have been obtained by the union 

 of a dark Cinnamon Cochin cock with the Breda hen, which is 

 of a beautiful black, aud is not unlike the Cochin-Chiua hen. 

 This variety is highly esteemed as much for its beauty as its 

 productiveness ; but it has two defects : The greater part of the 

 cocks are generally marked on the hackle with red, and some- 

 times on the shoulders and lance-shaped feathers ; also, the 

 cocks are, and that without exception, more or less marked with 

 white at tho root of the tail sickle feathers. These marks are 

 not easily hidden, for they generally reach to the middle of the 

 feather. The white marks appear etjually on the feathers uf the 

 feet in the cock and hen, and this especially after the moulting 

 of the second or third year. 



But these drawbacks render the specimenB without such 

 marks more valuable, and they are more sought after. Certain 

 amateurs admit, provided the birds are well shaped, the Black 

 Cochin with rtd hackle, and these are their reasons : — 



First, the white generally appears less with birds the issue of 

 the cock with red hackle. 



Second, it is almost always amongst the cocks with the reel 

 hackles that the best-shaped and largest specimens are found. 



Third, these red cocks reproduce blackcocks aa often aa do 

 the black ones. 



Fourth, they produce stronger hens, better shaped, and of a 

 purer black. 



