U07 4> 1B76. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTIOUIiTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



359 



a portion of tbe roots being deptroyed frnm potoe canse or other. "We hayo 

 peen overwateiing lio it. Keep the honpo P5^ at night, or it the plants aro in 

 a frame over a ho.bed place ma's over it at nii^ht. 



Gardkn Vases <A. O. S.I.— The cnst-irnn flower vaseH fipnrf d at pace S06 

 may be oblaiued from Audiew Handjbide & Co., Britannia Ircn Works, 

 Derby, and 3-', Walbrook, London, E.O. 



Vine and Peach Leaves Rough ( r, B. RX—We have frequently had 

 onr Vine Jpavps the same as those yon have sent— indeed, very much more 

 affected. It is caneed by too much moisture in the atmosphere. A little 

 more air and Ioah moisture will prevent it in the future, hot thtre is no harm 

 done. The Peach leaves have been eaten by some maggot r,r caterpillar befre 

 they wpre fully developed. Jf most of tbfm are as bad as those sent tbe 

 check to the trees would be KUfticieot to a-?count for the fruit falling. If only 

 a few have b^eo injured the i-auee must he sought pomewhere else. Ynu say 

 nothing of the *reatraent they have leotived, so we cannot suggest anything ; 

 but it may be from the roots being out of order. 



Ltcaste Skinneri Culture (Comfant Reader).— Thia plant sncceeds 

 best in tbe cool Orchid house, or it will do in a cool f-tove araong-t other 

 plants. When its growth is completed tbe plant must be kept randt-rately 

 dry at the mote, and if it is necessary to repot the plant it should be dote 

 jnst before it begins to grow. Druiu the pot well; it ouKht to he rather 

 more than half full of clean drainage; over the drainpgo place some sphag- 

 num moss. The compost should be half f-pbagnum and the other half 

 fibrous ppat, with a few potshtrds to keep the com^iost open. Water the 

 plant freely at the roots when the pseudobulbs are in the course of formation, 



Mttlberry Tree in Tub <M. D ).— Tbe fruit tent will not be large, but 

 when the tree is better eaiablished it will I e Iarg^^. It will not be neceesai^ 

 to have stiff soil for it ; the Mulberry does w-ll in sandy loam. If the frnit 

 ie very numerous you may thin it. The Mulberry belongs to the Linni^aa 

 order MoDo?cia — that is, the stamens are in one flower and the pistil in 

 another, but all are on the same tree. It will not be neceseary to set tho 

 fruit artificially. 



Crown Imperials not Flowering (A Lady in Cheshire).— "Wo can only 

 account for tbe plants not flowenng from the soil being poor. Probably the 

 roots are disturbed, which may, from weakening them, account for their not 

 fliiwering : but with the enrioi ing of the brrder the plants will probably 

 attain fiulBcient strenuth for flowering, they having lij^ht and air and not 

 being disturbed. The plant flowering may have a moieter and better soil. 



Ground Ivy under Evf.rgreen Shrubs (F. T.).— It will not injure the 

 fihrnhs, but give a neat covering to the grrund. It imy le destroyed t y he e 

 ing and raking off, but vihich will do the fhrubs more h«rm than the Ground 

 Ivy, as the hoeing will dtstroythe surface roots. All our throbs are upon 

 grass, which is gone over two or three limes durirg tbe summer with scythe, 

 sickle, or bock, cuttiog off any growth of the grass or weeds likely to inter- 

 fere with the growth of the shrubs, and this has a much better appearance 

 than bare earth. 



Soil for Tacsonia Van-Volsemi [T. L. C.I.— Fibrous loam two parts, 

 and one part each pandy peat and leaf soil, with a free admixture of sand, 

 about a sixth, tbe whole well mixed and broken up moderately fine, bat i;ot 

 sifted. 



Aspect for Climbing DEVONiEwsig Robe in Greenhouse (Idem). — 

 Either an eait or a south wall will answer, but preferably the south. Plant 

 ont the Uope by all means; it will grow much mure freely and sooner cover 

 the Si^ace, giving bloom accordingly. 



Primula cortusoide<i am'ENa Culture (A Constant Subscriber).— It ia 

 not at all difficult to cultivate. We have had it for tbe past six weeks in 

 fine bloom, many plints now being very bandsfme. We can only account 

 for your plants not flowering from their being weak. We do not placeour 

 plants outdoors at all, but keep them in the greenhouse constantly in a light 

 airy position. After they begin to grow tbey are well nipplit.d with water 

 until tbe bloom is p^st and the plants begin to lope their leaves, when they 

 are placed in a slightly shade i situation and occaBiooally watered to keep 

 the Boil from hecom'ng quite (^ry, otherwise the poil is dry during the resting 

 Beason. It is one of the freest-floweripg and best of Primroses. 



Lifting Liliums prom Open Gbound ildem). — It is mainly recommended 

 as a succes>iun to those grown in pots. We, however, have no difficulty with 

 them under pot culture, and all tbe difference in time of flowering is due to 

 the heat to which the plants are subjected. You may plunj^e the plants out- 

 doors in ashes, the pot on a slate as jou propose, and remove to the green- 

 house fur flowering. 



Tulips Arritino at Full Size (Idem).— If yon mean from geed, they 

 usually attain the flowering or fall size in the fifth year, hut some do so in the 

 fourth year. 



Border Fuchsia (A. B. Q.). — There are two equally common, Fachsia 

 coccinea and F. Kiccartoni. 



Flower Borders (A. B. C). — In tho ribbon border discard either the 

 yellow Calceolaria or scarlet Geranium. If you retain tbe Calceolaria then 

 Bubstitute tt second Hue of Culeus for tbe Geranium. Put the Alternantbera 

 next the grass, and the Golden Pyretbrum in a second row behind it. Then 

 you will have — 1, Dahlia^; 2, Colons ; 3, \eliow Calceolaria; 4, Ooleus ; 

 5, blue Viula; 6, Golden Pyrethrum ; 7, Alternauthera araabilis. Or you 

 may have — 1, Dabliaa ; 2, Coleue ; 3, variej^a' ed Grass ; 4, Kcarlet Geranium ; 

 5, blue Viola; 6, Pyretbrum; 7, Alternan'hera. In the chain border take — 

 1, white variegated Geranium; 2, scarlet Geranium; S, dwarf blue Ager- 

 atum; 4, Coleus Veracbaffelti ; 5, Ueranium Crystal Pabice Gem; 6, dwarf 

 blue Ageratum; 7, Fcarlet Geranium; 8, white variegated Geranium. Or, 

 1 and 8, Coleus ; 2 and 7, Geran um Crystal Palare Gem; Sand 6, Ager- 

 atum; 4, scarlet Geranium; 5, white variegated Geranium. If you have 

 a pink Geranium it would prove much m^ro effective in this border than a 

 scarlet variety. The treatment of Cyclamen peraicum will be explained in 

 oar next. 



Tobacco Smoke and Young Cucumbers and Vines IToung Garderur], 

 — With a proper material and moderation in application no injurious results 

 loUow. 



Stopping Vine Shoots f/rfcm>. — The shoots should be stopped two joints 

 beyond the bunch, or. if the leading sbott, allow it to grow to within a foot 

 of the top of the hoase or space it is to occupy, and then take out its point. 

 One bunch only ought to be allowed to each ehoot. 



Select Tree Carnations (J. S.).— Princess Beatrice, Princess Christian, 

 Empress of Germauy, Marchioness of WestmioRter, Monsieur Baldwin, and 

 Le Grenadier. We know of no really good ye'lows exceptiog two, both of 

 which are Picotees — viz., Aacot Yellow and Prince of Orange, To have tree 



Carnations flower in winter they require to be kept from flowering during the 

 previous summer, and need a temppratnre of 50° to 55'^, and a light airy 

 houfe. In an ordinnry greenhouse we bavo flowers late in autumn, and ia 

 spring up to those of another class in tbe open ground coming in. 



Water from a Barrel Stockholm-tarred (A Subscriber). — We have 

 no experience, but always take tbe prenaut'on to burn out the tar before 

 using the barrel, and which charring renders the barrel more durable. 



Gloxinias in Greenhouse (Idem). — They succeed in a greenhouse, but 

 require to be started in a hnthol In March or April, and grown-on until ad- 

 vanced for floweriuR, after the middle of June Bucccediog well in the green- 

 house. They should be kept in winter in tho pots in a pla^e ea'e from frost 

 and dry. Propagation is effected by cuttings and by leaves, which require 

 heat aa that of a hotbed, with shode from bright sun. Sted may also b*^ sown 

 in a hotbed in March. 



Seedling Geranium (A. F. G.l.— Truss very large, but all the petals were 

 shed ; the leaf good, but there aro many similar. 



Pansy (J. T. H.).— Pip fine, but there are too many of the same colour for 

 anyone to identify it. 



Bedding Plants (J S«6seribrr).— Any of the leading florists near London 

 could supply all thoee named by Mr. Cole. 



Rose Trees Cankered (J. E. B.).— "Tho invisible enemy" is the un- 

 favourable soil or subsoil. The roots do not supply a suffiiiency of sap to 

 sustain the growth. Bcmnve tbe soil from over the rtots, and fill the 

 varauciea with equal parts Inara from a pasture and decayed s'able manure. 

 Water plentifully in dry weather. This treatment may procure a late pro- 

 duction of flowers even this season, and enable the trees to provide for next 

 year's produce. 



Insects on Shoot of Plum Tree (J. A.).— Being uncertain as to the 

 tree from which the sprig sent was obtained, we can nnly suppose that tho 

 vast congregation of minute Fpeciraens of a Cuccus belong to C. Pruni of 

 Burmeister. Wash the shoots with hot soap and water or with weak methy- 

 lated spurit.— I. 0. W. 



Name of Fruit {H, H. C.).— It is the Loquat or Japan Quince, Eriobotrya 

 japonica. 



Names of Plants (J. H.) —Tho Grape Hyacinth, Hyacinthus botryoidee. 

 {G. D. P.). — We cannot name jour AzaUa. It is a florists' variety. 



POTJLTEY, BEE, AND PIGEON OHROKEOLE, 



POULTRY CLUBS. 



"We have often noticed how a few energetic fanciers will work- 

 up a breed, and bring it almost from obscurity to become well 

 known. This has happened lately with the Black Cochins, 

 and is now going on with the Leghorns. It is quite surprising 

 to notice how many fanciers there now are of this previously 

 uncnltivated breed, and how quickly the variety is finding a 

 certain place in many ahows. And now we hear of the Leghorn 

 admirers starting a Leghorn club, and eeleciiug a committee 

 with a veteran and faithful fancier as president, and a most 

 energetic poultry-lover as honorary secretary. We believe that 

 these fanciers have put on foot a great undertaking, and that 

 the time will yet come, even in these days, when poultry 

 fanciers are legion and shows are cropping up in every town 

 and village, when we shall lock back upon the work which the 

 Leghorn fanciers inaugurated, and be grateful for it. 



"We confess we believe in clubs, because we think they afford 

 all people with certain fancies to meet together and talk over 

 their hobbies. In startiog such clubs we would make the 

 annual subscription very low, not more than 5s. at most, so thai; 

 the members may be many, and cnnspquently the opinions and 

 original thoughts many. It would be a mistake in starting 

 clubs to charge an entry fee and a heavy annual Bubfcription, 

 for they would bar the very people from joining whom we want 

 —we mean the artisans and working men. The poultry fancy 

 is very interesting, and has great charms no doubt for people 

 in all grades of society ; but it is our fi lends who are not so rich 

 in worldly goods that we want to see enrolled on all sides in our 

 fancy ; and those are the people we want to find in our clubs, 

 and so it is important to keep the expeiisfs down. 



Now, we should like to see several clubs started, one among 

 Dorking fanciers, and another among Cochins, and so on, and 

 then one more for tbe various breeds— that is, for those breeds 

 which cannot individually support a club, among which we 

 would number Sultans, Silkies, Frizzles, and such less known 

 breeds. Surely we can find some energetic fancier like Mr. 

 Kitchen in the ranks of most varieties, who would put their 

 clnb on a good workiug basis. The rules cannot he too simple 

 and too few, and the work should be carried on with the least 

 possible labour and expense ; and then we should like one great 

 mother club, to be called the " Great Britain National Club," 

 to whicb everyone belonging to a branch club should be able 

 to belong without paying any fee, so that being a member of a 

 variety club at the same time would make everyone a member 

 of the mother club. Now, such an institution could have a 

 grand annual meeting at one of the Palaces, where they could 

 talk the doings of tbe fancy over, and ctiticise even the various 

 journals if they liked. Perhaps the mother club would want a 

 paid secretary, and we do not hesitate to say such an one could 

 be found who would fill the ofiice satisfactorily, and then every 

 one of the smaller shows could pay so much a-year from their 

 receipts in proportion to the number of their members to 



