December 8, 1874. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



601 



GRAPEa (A. A.). — The CJrapo called Dr. Ho;,'fl is a new uue, and ia not, 

 therefore, in the last edition of tho "Fruit Maoual.*' It is the bant of the 

 White Frontijiinans, havin*^ a larRer bunch and htrry than any of them, and 

 a mo3t dt'Uoions flavour. It may be Rrown in tho wanie bouac as Black Ham- 

 burgh. The Vine has a very stronfr constitution, and bcara well. 



CuLLMDBR Plants (J. W. 11.). — Apply to the market gardeuoib and uur- 

 eerymen ueai- you. 



Ct)RDON Peach TRainino (J. E.). — The information you need would 

 ocoupy pa^es to impart. Br^-baut's "Modern Peach Pruner," which you can 

 hava from our office free by poet if you enoloee Ss. Sd-, contains all you ask 

 for and much in addition. 



Select Pears fj. £.).— The followiupr list is in the order of merit :—Beurrc 

 de I'Asaomption, Souvenir du CongT> s, AVilliams' Bon Chritien, Thompson's, 

 Pojenni' du Cornice, Olou Morceau, Benrre d'Amanlis, Doyenne Boussoch, 

 Beurr6 Diel, Nouveaa Poitean, Van Mona Lton Loolerc, Beurre de Ranee. 



Ventilators (An Amattur). — Thout,'h commnuicatinj; with a shed, yet, 

 unless that can be kept clused or opened as the greenhouse plants require, it 

 is the safest plan to have shutters to the ventilators. 



Sweet Nancv, — In Cheshire the garden Nai'RisBUs.N.poeticus, used always 

 to be, and is still by cotta^ertt, called " Sweot Nancy." — Castrian. Another 

 correspondent gives N. biflorus as well. 



SlEDLAug AND Pears (I. S., X'imrafje House!.— Write to Messrs. Webber 

 and Co., Csntral Avenue, Covent Garden Market, London. 



Markchal Kiel Rose Pruning ill. S.), — You must n^it cut it hack— if., 

 the growth of the cnn'ent year, or it will flower very sparingly. Coolioe the 

 pruning to thinning-out the long shoots— the old and bare side shoots, but 

 the lees pruning the better. 



Vallota PURruREA NOT FLOWERING (Idciii). — We noticed that this 

 plant did not flower so freely as usual last autumn, probably owing to the dry 

 summer. 



Vines not Shedding Leaves (Sixclair). — The wood will bo ripo now or 

 never, and we should discontinue firo heat, keeping the house cool and di-y, 

 but applying fire beat only to exclude frost, so as to ensure the safety of the 

 plants. We do not think you h'lve anything to fear, the Vines haviuf< been 

 only planted in April. The application of fli-e heat in September was proper, 

 and would assist the ripening; of the wood. The leaves will fall soon if you 

 keep the bouse coitl and dry. Do not water the border, which we presume has 

 not been watered for some time. 



Variegated Beddtng Geraniums (IT. Hiffsr-Z/).— Prince Arthur, chrome 

 yellow ground, black chocolate zone, gold margin; Mrs. Batters, a golden 

 tricolor in the wav of Mrs Pollock, but more vigorous, witli larger and brighter 

 leaves; Brisht Star, silver edge; Prince Mlverwings, white edge, black zone; 

 Harold, golden bronze ; and May Queen, white edge. 



Apple Trees not Liable to Canker (Idfvi). — The kinds loa^t subject 

 to canker are more numerous than those which are liable to it. which aie 

 Ribston Pippin, Hawthorndeu, those being the worst we know; Oran;;e Pippin, 

 Keswick Codlin, Lord SuRieid, and others of the Codlin type, and Nonpareil. 

 The PearmaiuR are also liable to canker. Kinds not liable to canker are 

 Gravenstein, King of the Pippins, Red Astracbau, Reinette du Canada, 

 Dutch Mignonne, Cockle Pippin; those are dessert kinds. Kitchen kinds are 

 Alfriston, Beauty of Kent, Bedfordshire Foundling. Blenheim Pippin. Cox's 

 Pomona, Dumelnw's Seedling, Worner's King, Mere de Menage, Norfolk 

 Bearer, Norfolk Beefing, Rymer, Winter Majeting, and Tower of Glamis. 

 The canker, however, is duo to your soil. A good siu'face-mamu'ing would do 

 them good; in fact in such a soil fmit trees require verj' liberal treatment, so 

 as to encourage their rooting near the murfaco. 



Lily of thk Valley in Pots— Budded Roses {St, £J(/;f(i[H(f,s). — Leave 

 the Lily of the Valley under the wall plunged in ashes, and with a protection 

 of 2 or 3 inches of aihps or cncoa-nut refuse over the pots until you wish to 

 introduce them into the greenhouse, whinh you may do about six week^ before 

 they are wanted to flower. Leave the budded Rises where they are until 

 they have grown a year, aud then plant, covering the junction in the subse- 

 quent autumn with about 2 ur 3 inches of soil. 



Honorary Sechetary's Duty {A Constant fitat/f r).^You cannot compel 

 him to make out a balance sheet though he refuses to obey tho decision of 

 the Committee that he shall. Fur his own character's sake we think he ought 

 to do so. The Committee could compel him to render an account of moneys 

 received on account of the Show. 



Saffron (H. B.). — We do not know who grows the Crocus sativus and pro- 

 pares saffron from it. In Cambridgeshire it was grown largely. The chief 

 supply of saffron comes to us from France and Spain. Can any of our 

 readers inform us whore it is prepared iu England ? 



Winter Cucujibers. — " Your corret^pondent, Mr. William Taylor, at page 

 463, seems to be an advocate for moderate temperatures for winter Cucumbers. 

 I can only get good Cacumbors with a minimum temperature of 60', and 

 never lower than 5b-, tfnd a maximum temperatui^e of G>>'^, sometimes 75*^. 

 Will ' W. T.' kindly state the voi-ieties of Cucumbers he grows ;' — R. R. S. H." 



Cherry (C. P.). — The nearest name to that you mention is the Marcelin, 

 better known in England as the " Monstrous Heart." 



Sale op Fruit, &,c. (Z. 2^.)-— It is quite impossible for us to answer your 

 qiieries. Prices vary with the season and the demand. You should come np 

 to Covent Garden Market aud talk with the salesmen. 



Name of Apple (J. B.).— We do not know Jit by the name of " D'Arcy 

 Spice." If you send us two or three we may identify it. The "Fruit 

 Manual is half printed." 



Camellias Dropping Bids— Cinek.vrias Dying Suddenly (Bcfihuicy). 

 — The cause of the buds falling is diliicult to account for when no particulars 

 of treatment are ^;iveu that are neecssary for forming an opinion. Tho buds 

 usually fall when the plants have not good root power. The roots may he 

 injured by leaving the plants out late in autumn till the soil is soddoned with 

 rain, by want of water, or by a sour soil, any of which causes may produce an 

 inactive state and often decay of the fibres, and tho huds ai"e cast because the 

 c<iudncting sap vessels ai'O closed. A check to growth, as well as loss of roots, 

 will cause the buds to drop; but we think you have sufficient cause for the 

 buds falling in a temperature 40- to 60". From firo heat at this season, 45" to 

 50*^ should be the maximum, aud 40- the minimum for Camellias, air being 

 givtn at DO", but not to lower the temperature, and air taken off at 50 . Ours 

 are blooming Batisfactorily iu such a temperature. The weak liquid manure 

 would he beneficial, but as yours are casting their buds it will do harm. Cine- 

 rarias dying suddenly is a puzzle to plant-growers, and admits of no solution. 



The plants do best when on a cool bottom aud moist, so that frequent water- 

 ings are not required. Probably tho plants have been pot-huiind, and have 

 then had a lar^'e shift, whereas tho shifts whould be frequent and Hin*ll, keep- 

 ing tho neck or coliai- of tho plants slightly raiwed in the centre of the p Jt, so 

 that the water in watering drains from, instead of to, tho sturua uf the plants. 



Deep rnNTiN(j Standard Roses {Id>'m). — Fifteen or eighteen inohes is 

 much too deep to plant. Plant them so that tho uppennont fibres will not be 

 more than 4 to G inches below the aniface, manuring libyriUy, and muloh 

 around with littery manure. Nothing repays liberal treatment so well as 

 Roses. 



Couch Grass in Vise Border (X. Y. 2.I.— You may ^\'itb safoty, bi far 

 as the Couch GraRs is concerned, place a layer of turf, grass side downward-*, 

 at tho bottom of the Vine bonier, upon this the draiua<ie, ooverina it wii.b 

 2 feet of soil not containing Couch-Qrass roots. The roots of this Grass are 

 disposed near the surface. 



Distance of Stage from the Glass (hU-m).—'For a multitude of pui- 

 poses the most suitable distance for the stage would be '6 feet. Tho plunging 

 material you will not r.;quire if you have a stage, aud of those you name 

 neither is suitHhle. The leaves would bo suitable for bittoui neat, which 

 would answer for tho Cucumbers and Melons, and for propagttiug c >vered 

 with cocoa-nut fibre for plungiug the pots into. 



Names of Cjnifers (H.). — It is difficult to n*m'3 the-je from sirays. 

 They appear to be — No. 1, Juniperus chinensis ; 2, Cupressus Liwsoniaua 

 gracilis; 3, Thuja nrientalis aurea; 4, Thuja, occidentalia compacto; 5, Juni- 

 perus virginiana ; 6, Cuprossus Lawsoniaua stricta. 



Names of Fruits {S. M. TV.).— 1, Blenheim Pippin; 2, Ord'ii Apple; 

 3, Margil; 4, Golden Pearmain; 5, Golden Winter Pearmniu. (E. citiii J.). — 

 73, 165, 31, 157, 237, 254, 26, 321, are all Vicar of Winkiield; 4;>, Easter 

 Beurre. Others not recognised; all bad Bpecimeus. [WcUinrf). — Gjlden 

 Reinette. [E. M. 3/.).— Your Pear is Beurre Bosc. 



Names of Plants (A. It). — Chrysanthemum segetum, Coru Marigold. 

 {J. H. R.). — Tamarix gallica. Tamarisk, one of the most graceful of shrubs, 

 and hears exposure to sea breezes on all the south coast. It blooms iu sum- 

 mer, in autumn and winter occasionally. (L. E. B.).—l, Lolium italicum, 

 var. (V); 2, Lepigonum ( ■'porgularia) imarginatum ; 3, Ileloscialiura inun- 

 datum ; 5, Hieracium umbollatiim (VI; 6, Atriplex sp. Specimens very im- 

 perfect, (f^m. fl.). — l,Notochla'oa tenera ; 2.Cheilantbo3 hirta; 3, Athyrinm 

 Filix-fteminn. ( Win. Barlc).~l, Cotyle'lon (Evihoveria) pubescena ; 2, Masem- 

 brjanthemum spectabile; 3, Cotyledon (V); 4, Portulaca oleracea; 5, Mesom- 

 bryanthemum ; 6, EuaUie, specie^ indeterminable. 



'''"""'' ,_ I- - ^Z 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON OHRONIOLE. 



THE EXHIBITION DORKING.— No. 1. 



BY T. COKE BUnNELL. 



DoKKiNGS have alwaya stood well iu the eatiuiatiou of the 

 poultry-lovingpviblic.eveubefore theirtiQeaize aufl comelj'shape 

 were brought promiaeutly iuto notice by public exhibitious. 

 So far back as 18.33 birds of this breed realised high prices, aud 

 iu that year the Rev. — • Boyes sold his prize peu at Hitchin for 

 £50, aud the Rev. S. Douue lost his prize birds at the Midland 

 Counties Show, although protected by tweuty guineas. Other 

 instances of equally high prices are not wanting. In 18(37 Lady 

 Holmesdale's yard of Dorkings, which had beeu under the 

 management of Mr. John Martin, realised over .illJO, and the 

 prices given at this sale for individual birds would almost exceed 

 belief. To come down to the present day, I will only instance 

 my pen of chickens at Oxford last year, which were claimed at 

 the catalogue price of twenty guineas, after winning Prince 

 Leopold's cup ; and my first-prize cock at the Crystal Palace 

 Show this year sold for the same price ; and I am more tban 

 ever convinced that £25 would not now be sufficient to protect a 

 single cock, were he the best of the year and a likely stock bird. 



With such a ready sale for good birds at higb prices in pro- 

 spect, surely a fair field for surplus energy is open to the dweller 

 in the country. For my part I know what it is to have had to 

 give up my profession through delicate health ; and I am sure 

 there are many like myself, who would hail with delight an 

 occupation which gains upon one with success, aud which com- 

 biues with fresh air an occupied mind, a fair amount of excite- 

 ment, and a good prospect of substantial profits. That the 

 latter is no chimera I can positively state from experience ; and 

 lest anyone should be deterred by a want of knowledge, I will 

 add that four years ago I knew as little about exhibition poultry 

 as the most ignorant of my readers. In rder that I may not 

 be considered egotistical I will here aay that the views I shall 

 express on Dorkings are not given solely on my own authority, 

 bnt only after careful study of previous works on the subject, 

 and numerous pleasant chats with some of the most noted 

 breeders of the day. Although Dorkings are my particular 

 fancy, I will not ask anyone to suppose that I think them suited 

 to every exhibitor and every situation. To anyone who has a 

 moderate grass run aud a desire for a plentiful supply of very 

 superior chickens for the table, with a fair amount of eggs, I 

 believe they are unrivalled, but for damp back yards aud other 

 confined spaces they are altogether unsuited. 



It is often said Dorkings are only adapted to a gravelly or 

 chalky soil ; but this is a mistake, or neither Mrs. Arkwright 

 nor Admiral Hornby would have been so successful, their poultry 

 runs being situated on a stiff clay soil. I quote these instances 

 in order that no amateur may be deterred, but at the same time 

 think that anyone situated in a damp locality would be better 



