Deoembor Hi, 1871. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOBTIOOLTORE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



571 



reRolis well tmpplied with moislure, Lastrea FUix-mas, L. dilatata, and vara, 

 of both; cristata; Athyrium Filix-fa-miDa In vara., Onoclea aeoHibilig, Poly- 

 podiiim vulf^are, PolyHtichum aofiularo vars., P. aouleatum, Struthiopteris 

 gerraanica, auii Scolopeudrimn vulgare vars. 



lIcsHROOM Beds Failing {H. H.). — The faihire cannot be attribnted to 

 the spawn as Mushrooms have showed, but the spawn being a year old will 

 account for the sraallnes'i of them. The fault, we think, reats in the ma- 

 terials of which the beds were made being too dry. They having appeared 

 when the beds were covered with hay, inducing moisture and the Mushrooms 

 to appear, would lead to the conclusion that the beds were too dry, and the 

 atmosphere also too dry and cold. We never cover the beds with hay or any- 

 thing. In six to eight week'i after spawning the Mushrooms begin to appear, 

 and we then by light sprinklings of water, which has stood in the house 

 twenfy-four hours, bring the bed into a thoroughly moist state, and the 

 Mushrooms come up over the whole surface gi-adually, the bed being seen to 

 about every second day, and all the dry places are damped, and the walls and 

 every available surface is damped. A temperature of 50' to 55 ' is advised by 

 almost everyone, but ours will not come on at all without a temperature of 

 60^ to 6b , and that it answers we may state that we have beds cummencLng 

 to hear in October which continue to do so up to May. Your failure we 

 attribute to the dryness of the materials and of the bad when the Mushrooms 

 were appearing, with too dry and cold an atmosphere. 



MeSEMBRVASTHEMUM COBDIFOHUM VABIEGATUM PROPAGATION (C.L.B.). 



The cuttings strike freely in summer in a cold frame without heat, or in 

 autumn (which is not a good time) and spring in a gentle heat, the cuttings 

 being inserted in sand over very sandy soil, the base of the cuttings just rest- 

 ing on the soil, which may be equal parts sandy loam, leaf soil, and silver 

 Band, the pot or pan being well drained, the compost put in rather firm, and 

 surfaced with half an inch of silrer sand. Water gently, and stand to dry 

 for at least six hours, then water again, aod after standing another six put in 

 the cuttings 8u that they are not crowded. A verj' gentle heat only should be 

 given, and no water, ehaling from bright sun, and avoid damp. The cuttings 

 are the better of being dried a few hours after making prior to in-iertion. 



Roses for under Glass (A'. N.). — Marechal Niel, Belle Lyonnaise, and 

 Sombreuil. Mackintosh's "Book of the Garden" will meet your require- 

 ments ; through any bookseller. 



Sowing Rose Seeds, &c. (3f. 7?.). — The heps will, we presume, have been 

 Gathered. Keep them in a flower-pot in dry sand until the first week in 

 March, and then break them in pieces, and then sow in pots filled with light 

 rich soil, and ci'ver the seeds about half an inch deep. The pots should be 

 plunged to nearly the rim in a sheltered position, or they may he sown in the 

 open ground without pots. Precautions must be taken to keep oft mice by 

 fine wire netting, fiied at about an inch from the soil, but coming down to 

 the rims of the pots. The seedlings will appear in May, or not until the 

 second year. When the seedlings have three or four leaves pot them off 

 singly, and place in the shade for a few days, and when the pots are full of 

 roots plant on ^ in rich soil in an open situation. The best time to dig the 

 roaery is in February, or so soon after as the ground is in a favourable con- 

 dition. The best time to put in Rose cuttings outdoors is in September, the 

 latter part, or early in October, on a north border. 



Salt with Ice IJ. C). — It is averyold practice, and considered to soUdify 

 the ice, but has been found to answer no useful purpose. We find it keep as 

 well without as with salt. 



Paint for Hot-water Pipes {7(f cm).— Lampblack brought to the con- 

 sistency of rather thin paint with linseed oil boiled is the best for applying 

 to hot-water pipes. Ihe pipes ought to be made quite hot — as hot as possible, 

 and the pipes then painted, thoroughly brushing it in. It will only smell 

 until it is dry; but if put on when the pipes are cold, every time the pipes 

 are made very hot for a long time the pipes will give off an unpleasant smell. 

 Give air freely until the pipes are dry, or rather the paint. We cannot 

 answer for its effect upon Vines or plants, but do not think with air there 

 would be any injury. Ours are always done when the house is empty. 



Gros Colman Vine Grafting (A. B. C). — Gros Colman would not, we 

 think, succeed upon Fitster's Seedling, which is not so strong a grower, Groa 

 Colman being a very vigorous and robust grower. Lady Downe's would be 

 better, and it is one of the best late Grapes. Foster's Seedling is a tolerable 

 late Grape, keeping in good condition for about two months after being ripe. 



Adiantum Faeleyense Withering (Tdvm). — From cold and the dry 

 atmosphere the frond withers. The atmosphere should he kept very moist, 

 and this without heavy or any syringing overhead at this season, though ours 

 receive a very light sprinkling twice daily, and is not in anywise injured. It 

 is better, however, avoided, maintaining a moist atmosphere by frequent 

 sprinkling of the paths and surfaces immediately about the plants. They 

 should have the soil kept moist. 



Insect {Ah-x. Qardcner).~lt is not a perfect insect, but the chrysalis of 

 one. 



Crystallising Flowers (3f. J5.\— We know that it may be effected by 

 dipping them into a saturated solution of alum ; the alum forms crystals on 

 them. Will some of our readers send us details ? 



Manuring Pe\r Trees {W. IT.).— Decayed stable manure spread in early 

 spring on the surface an inch thick about 3 feet from the stem. Our " Fruit 

 Gardening for the Many " contains full directions for grafting. 



Vines for Vineries LVfifsirarfft). — Not knowing how the two vineries are 

 to he heated, nor whether you wish for early or late Grapes, nor, in fact, any- 

 thing about the vineries or your intentiouR. we can only say in one vinery you 

 may have Black Ilamburgh and Lady Dnwne'e, and Bowood Muscat and 

 Trebbiano in the other. The two last-named should be in the warmest 

 vinery. 



Names of FRtiiTS U. F. Smith).— "No. 1, Winter Hawthornden; 2, Court- 

 Penda-Plat. (C R. S.).—l, Brown Beurre ; 2, Napoleon ; 3, Marie Louise. 



Names OF PLK-KTs(Castrian\.—l, Adiantum; 2, Melastomalievigata (?) L.; 

 3, Thyrsacanthus Schomburgkianus {Bot. Mag., 48r)l); 4, Eranthemum 

 nervosum; 5, Tradescantia discolor. (Jacobs.— Peristrophe speciosa. Fern 

 indeterminable. [Orchid). — Zygopetalum Mackaii. {J. Q.). — Peristropbe 

 speciosa. { Winchester). — Photiuia serrulata. Serrulated-leaved Photinia. It 

 is a native of China and Japan. It has been called Mespilus glabra and 

 Crattegus glabra, and a portrait of it under the name last mentioned is in the 

 " Botanical Musazino." (C L. D.). — 1, Selaginella caulescens (?); 2, Scolo- 

 pendriom vulgare, var. proliferum ; 3, Lastrea Filix-mas cristata var. ; 4, Aspi- 

 dium angulare. {An Ignorant Lady). — 1, Adiantum hispidulum ; 2, Aspi- 

 dium coriaceum ; 3. Davallia (Loxoscapha) gibberosa ; 4, Polypodium aureum ; 

 5, Nephiolepisexaltata; 6, Athyrium Filix-foemina. (J.^Baie).— We only name 



six specimens at once. 1, Polypodium vulgare (?) ; 2, Asplenium bulbiferum ; 

 3, Adiantum Cap ill us- Veneris ; 4, Pteris serrulata ; G, Adiaotum hiapidulum ; 

 7, Aspidium falcatum. 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON OHRONIOLE. 



THE CREVE-C(EUKS AT ASHFORD. 



YouK reporter's remarka ou the judgment of the French 

 classea are rather severe, and they would be fully justified had 

 the awards been made as they appeared in the prize list and on 

 the pens ; but that was not so, for there was an error, by whom 

 I know not. 



Whom your reporter refers to as a novice I do not care to ask, 

 but I will venture to assert that the awards in these classes 

 were correctly made ; and in justice to my colleague I may eay 

 that there were no two opinions as to where the first in Creves 

 should go, both of us hitting upon Mr. Dring's pen (243) at once, 

 and 2U for second, 24.5 being unnoticed, and the rest all highly 

 commended ; in confirmation of which I herewith forward my 

 judges' book for your inspection. When I left immediately after 

 the adjudications ware over I had a catalogue marked, by one 

 of the officials, handed to me, aud when comparing this with 

 my book I found the error. Mr. Long was with me in the train, 

 aud at once undertook to apprise Mr. Dring of the error ; and 

 on my arrival in the City I wrote Mr. Stiokings, the Secretary, 

 but I am afraid the letter has suffered the same fate as the 

 catalogue which I posted to you at the aame time, and which 

 never arrived at your office. — E. Hhtton, Fudsey. 



THE EXHIBITION DORKING.— No. 3. 



BY T. C. BURNELL. 



Like any other pursuit, success with prize poultry is only to 

 be attained by paying great attention to numerous small details. 

 Anyone expecting to breed and rear valuable birds without any 

 trouble will be most certainly disappointed, while at the same 

 time I think there is no stock which will bo well repay any 

 labour that may be expended upon it. 



It is often said, " How lucky So-and-so is," but depend upon 

 it there is very little luck about it, or we should never see the 

 same exhibitors so continually coming in at the top of the prize 

 list. Occasionally, either when birds get into a dark corner or 

 the judges are overworked, a slight error may occur, but such is 

 sure to be rectified at the next show. 



It may seem a small matter where and on what our birds roost, 

 but such will not be found to be the case. No very elaborate 

 place is required, aud in most stable-yards there is some shed or 

 outbuilding which may readily be converted into a poultry- 

 house, provided only that it is dry and light. If the floor be of 

 brick or stone such had better be removed or covered over with 

 3 or 4 inches of earth or sand, as cold floors are generally 

 thought to cause disease. One of the most necessary points is 

 that the house should be well ventilated without being draughty. 

 Fresh air cannot hurt anything, but a chilly draught blowing 

 right across the perch is very different. The best way to provide 

 fresh air without a draught is to have two or three good-sized 

 openings in the top of the south side of the house, which must 

 not be too low, and for the perches to be placed some way below 

 the veHtilatoi3. 



If the house be dark the fowls will not enter if they can pos- 

 sibly help it, while if we have a sliding window it may be ad- 

 vantageously taken out in summer to allow the entr.inoe of 

 fresh air. 



The inside of the house should be limewashed occasionally — a 

 simple and inexpensive operation, which will go a long way to- 

 wards preventing disease, while the floor and perches should be 

 cleaned at least twice a- week (better still every day), aud chloride 

 of lime, carbolic acid, or some other disinfectant sprinkled about. 

 McDougall's disinfecting powder is very convenient for this 

 purpose, also for sprinkling the nests with, and I believe if these 

 precautions were generally adopted we should hear less of 

 vermin in fowl houses — at all events, I never have such a thing 

 in my own. 



As Dorkings are such large, massive fowls, the perch should 

 not be placed too high from the ground, otherwise in descending 

 from roost of a morning the birds are apt to injure the ball of 

 the foot, a fertile cause of the inflammation which is called 

 bumble-foot, and which I will allude to under the head of 

 Diseases. "The perches should not be more than 1.5 or 18 inches 

 from the ground, they should be quite flat, and at least 3 inches 

 wide. I constantly see advice to the contrary, but I am con- 

 vinced that crooked breasts, though sometimes hereditary, are 

 nearly always caused by round perches, while small narrow 

 perches cause curved aud crooked toes. Very young chickens 

 will require special treatment, which I will describe later on. 



One house and run will not be sufficient if we wish to keep 

 poultry for exhibition ; at least two runs will be required for the 

 breeding stock, and also if possible separate runs for the cock- 



