February 17. 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 



139 



pure white flowers. RhododendroDB of sorts are also invaluable 

 for forcing. The plants may be lifted from the open ground, 

 potted and placed in heat. Only plants that are -woU furnished 

 with flower buda should be used for potting. They will endure 

 a good deal of water at the roots, and to be freely syringed over- 

 head twice a-day. 



Rosea are very easily forced, but they also must be well 

 established the previous season. The plants should be freely 

 syringed to keep off red spider. The bud worm has always been 

 troublesome to u^ ; bnt like the maggot on the Apple, it is best 

 to destroy it by hand-picking. A pin or needle is used to pick 

 the worms out from the centre of the young growths, where 

 they are invariably found. The most effectual way to destroy 

 green fly is by fumigation, repeated on successive nights until 

 the pest is vanquished. — J. Douglas. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



Secretaries will oblige us by informing us of the dates on 

 which exhibitions are to be held. 



Liverpool (Sprinp Show). March 5th. Mr. R. "Wilsou Ker, (!, Basnett 



Street, Church Street, Hon. Sec. 

 Leeds (Spriop Show}. March iJth and 16th. Mr. G. Forbo^, 103, Hyde 



Park Road, Sec. 

 Bristol (Spring Show). March 22nd and 23rd. Mr. G. Wobley, Hohn 



Wood, 'Westbury-upon-Trym, Hon. Sec. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Rating NrmsERYSTEN's Greenhouses (A. F. O.). — We believo that they 

 are not rateable. Yoa will find ali we have to say on the subject in onr 

 No. 623, page 183. 



Bones for Manure (T. W.). — The fresher they are used the better. Burnt 

 bones are not so fertiliain^, they then are merely phosphate and carbonate of 

 lime. Rabbit's dung is a powerful manure. 



Grape Ghowing (C. rf--- H.). — We cannot inform yon whether a drawing 

 can be had, but we shall publish farther particulars. 



Cucumber House (J. B.). — We do not know a book devoted to the subject. 

 Keane's *' Indoor GardeninK," which you can have post free for twenty 

 postage stamps, gives directions for the house management weekly. 



Eucalyptus globosus (TT*. O. M.). — We never heard of this, it is'probably 

 a mistake for K. globolae. We have no corrections to offer on the planting 

 of your bed. 



List of Cooking Apples (A. B. G.). — We think we did not recommend 

 those you name. The following are excellent, and are named in the order in 

 which they are ready for use : — Keswick Codlin, Bedfordshire Foundling, Al- 

 friston, and Dumelow's Seedling. 



Figs foe Standards (Z-arfy C). — The hardiest variety is the Brown Turkey, 

 but as your garden is favourably situated in Sussex yon may also plant 

 Brown Ischia. 



Soil for Khododendrons {J. TT.).— See notes in to-day's Journal. 



Plant Collector (W. H.). — When you have acquired a knowledge of 

 botany, and a knowledge of all the plants afc present introduced, you conld 

 apply to Messrs. Veitch it Sous and others who occasionally employ col- 

 lectors. We can give you no information. 



pLANriNO Flo^ver Garden (J. Gamcif). — Wo never undertake to specify 

 the plants for the beds, we only criticise any proposed planting. We shall 

 be obliged by a note on ripening the Eeurre Diel Pear. 



Making Vine Border {A Constant Header). — We do not advise you to 

 mix road scrapings with your *' loose, light, friable soil." If you can obtain 

 some clayey loam to mix with it that would be of great advantage. It would 

 be of no use to pave the border unless you concrete it at the pame time ; the 

 roots would go through between the stones or whatever material was used. 

 To every ten cartloads of your soil add one of rich decayed manure and 

 2 cwt. of crushed bones. Two feet 6 inches will be deep enough for the 

 border, but you onght to have 9 inches or a foot of brickbats or some other 

 drainage at the bottom. Barbarossa (Gros Guillaume) and Calabrian Raisin 

 will not do for a cool house; substitute Black Prince and Bnckland Sweet- 

 water for them. 



Treatment of Eucharis amazonica (Idem). — When your plant goes out 

 of flower place it at the cool end of the house and keep it moderately dry 

 untU the end of April or fir=t week in May. At that time your etovc will be 

 at least 65^ at night. You should then pot the plant if it requires repottiog, 

 and water freely. A short article on the foliage plants may appear in a few 

 weeks. 



Starting Caladiums (Miss Wn^h).—Ile-p ^i them the early part of nest 

 month, using a compost of three parts turfy loam, one part leaf soil, and a 

 hall part each of old cow dung and silver sand, with good drainage, bringing 

 them into a moist state at the roots, and gradually, as thoy advance in 

 growth, sprinkling overhead frequently, and shifting into larger pots as re- 

 quired. When in free growth they require abundant supplies of water, and 

 liquid manure twice a-wcek. They succeed admirably in a stove. 



Sowing Primulas, Cinerarias, and Calceolarias [Idem).~For autumn 

 and winter flowering, Primulas and Cinerarias may be sown in a gentle heat 

 from the middle of March to the beginning of April, the seedlings being 

 potted-off singly in 8-inch pots when they show the first rough leaf, keeping 

 them near the glass in a heated house or frame, and shaded from sun until 

 eatabli?hed, and in June remove to a cold frame, in which they should be 

 grown through the summer with plenty of air and slight shade from bright 

 sun, removing to a greenhonee in September. They should be shifted into 

 larger pota as required. Calceolaria seed should be sown the first fortnight 

 of July in a pan placed in a cold place and shaded from snn, pricking-off the 

 seedlings in pans an inch apart when they are large enough to handle, and 

 potting-off singly in S-inch pots before they become crowded in the pans, 

 and removing to a Ught airy position and cool, but safe from frost, in October, 

 shifting into larger pota as required. 

 Treatment of Lilies out of Doors {F. M. S.).— Yon may plant them 



out as soon as the weather la favourable. Place aome sand round the roots. 

 It ia best to leave the roots in the ground all the winter it you liavo a dry 

 Bub soil. Hardy perennials mny be divided this month and next. 



Repotting Ferns (F. TT.).— The moat suitable time is during March 

 when they commence growing. 



Setting Attcuba Flowers (S. M. TT.).— Take a male plant and place it 

 near the female; but if the plants are not in pota, or even if they are, collect 

 the pollen of the male plants, and only when dry, and apply to the female 

 flowers with a camel's-hair brush; but if not in flower at the same time— the 

 male usually flowering earliest— collect the pollen on sheets of clean white 

 paper and keep in a dry cool place until the female plants have the flowers 

 fully open, and apply the pollen, which will adhere to the camel's-hair pencil, 

 drawing the brush acroes the fljwers. 



Riotous Boys ( ir. B.).— Get a summoaa for aome of them to appear before 

 a magistrate. 



Transplanttno a Large Holly (F. Y. Dit«on).— Provided there is no 

 obstacle to lifting with a good root and a good ball, as there may be from 

 looseness of soil and proximity to largo trees, we see no objection to its lifting 

 safely, being careful to preserve all the roots possible; to water carefully, 

 not Boddening tho soil, but keeping moist, and securing against winds, cnt- 

 ting-in the head considerably at plimting, which will afford opportunity of 

 bringing the head into good tihape. If not cut it is likely tho tree will have 

 many of the branches die back, or from poor growth have a miserable appear- 

 ance for a number of years, even if it recover from the removal. Select for 

 the operation moist weather during the early part of April, just when com- 

 mencing growth. 



Camellias for Back Wall of Vinery {W. A. R.).— Camellias planted 

 in a vinery started the first fortnight of February would succeed, but thsy 

 would flower in early autumn. Unless the plants are a good size to com- 

 mence it would be a considerable time before they would have grown to make 

 " a show " of much consequence. They would not be effective for half a 

 dozen years. A few good kinds are — Bonomiana, Countess of Derby, Con- 

 spicua, Mathotiana, Mathotiana alba. Reticulata flore-pleno, Monarch, Valte- 

 varedo, and Mrs. Cope. 



Planting Rhododendrons (Id'.-m).— From now up to and including April 

 is a good time to plant these, but the earlier it is done the better, mild 

 weather being chosen. 



Culture of Deutzia gracilis and Spirxa .taponica (E. L. L,).— Both 

 ought to be potted and introduced to the greenhouse in January, affording them 

 a Hght airy position. They should be watered moderately until ia free growth, 

 and then copiously, the Spirieas requiring a very abundant supply after the 

 spikes rise, and they are aided by weak Uquid manure at that time. After 

 flowering the Deutzias should he placed outdoors in an open situation, and 

 be well supplied with water daring summer, the pots being plunged in ashes. 

 When the leaves fall repot the plants, removing a great part of the old soil, 

 and repot in the same or a slightly increased size of pot, and plunge in ashes 

 over the rim of the pot, introducing a part of the plants to the greenhouse 

 in January, and another batch a month later. The Spiraeas after flowermg 

 to be planted outdoors in good rich soil, and well watered during dry weather. 

 After they die down in autumn take them up and pot, plunging over the rim of 

 the pota in ashes, and int roducing to tlie greenhouse in January and February. 

 Turfy lo^m, with a fourth of leaf soil and well-decayed manure, will grow 

 them well. 



Geraniuh Leaves Spotted (<?. H.I.— The leaves are spotted, but not 

 badly. It arises from too close, cold, and damp an atmosphere. Keep drier 

 and warmer, admitting air freely, and with brighter and warmer weather the 

 plants will come all right 



Cinerarias (John Lawley).—Tbe Cineraria flower buds you sent us are not 

 aa yon apprehend, "blind," but will in due course flower, they being much 

 too backward to do so for a month or sis weeks. Assign them a light and 

 airy position in a greenhouse, they appearing to be drawn and weak. 



SM'-ky district Flower Border (W. J. Tayloi)— The arrangement is 

 good, and the plants will answer tolerably well. Had we to contend with 

 your murky atmosphere we should rather depend upon foliage than blossom, 

 planting in a very open gritty soil to afford a free passage for superfluous 

 water in order that no harm should arise from the frequent pyringing which 

 is really requisite to keep the foliage healthy and clear, and the colours bright. 

 If this is done regularly, aay twice or thrice a-week, tbe deposit of soot — 

 carbon— upon the foliage is washed down to the roots, and a foul pest is thua 

 converted into nutriment. The crimson leaved Iresine Lindeni would answer 

 well as a substitute for the Geranium. Antennaria tomentosa forma a neat 

 edging of silvery grey; it is perfectly hardy, and spreads quickly. Leuco- 

 phyton Brownii and SantoHna incana are also choice grey -leaved plants with 

 elegant minute foliage and a dense compact habit of growth. Mcsembry- 

 anthemum cordifolium variegatum, a succulent with pale yellow -margined 

 leaves and dense-spreading decumbent growth, and the two pretty little golden 

 varieties of Arabis— A. lucida variegala and A. albida variegata, would also 

 answer well. Both of the latter are quite hardv. 



Names of Fruits iW. G.).— The Pear is Uvedalo's St. Germain, and la 

 used for stewing; 4, Reinette de Canada; 5, Claygate Pearmain; 6, Golden 

 Koble. 



POULTRY, BEE, AKD PIGEON CHROinOLE. 



THE SALE SYSTEM AT EXHIBITIONS. 



This present temporary lull of ponltry and Pigeon shows, 

 while the breeding season is going on, seems the opportunity 

 for fanciers of every kind to give any hints to committees and 

 managers of exhibitions that they think advisable for the better 

 conducting of their meetings. There are many schedules of 

 shows which need entirely remodelling, especially of agricultural 

 exhibitions, for there the officers are often cattle people, who do 

 not know whether it is the most advisable to give a class for 

 Brahmas or Polish. Now, the fanciers and amateurs of the 

 districts of their own meetings generally know the strong points 

 of their county, and they should try to get their old-fashioned 

 schedules, which are behind the time, remodelled anS made to 

 suit more the existing wants of the times. They can do this 

 much better among themselves than by having recourse to the 



