396 



JOURNili OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 18, 1876. 



KoTAL CALEDONrAN HoRTicuLTTTRAL SOCIETY. July 5th and September 13th 



OuNDLE. July 5th. Mr. Alfred Kidr. Sec. 



SorTBPORT. JuJy 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th. Mr. E. Martin, Sec. 



Kewabk (ItoeeR). July 6th. Mr. F. K. Doboey, Sec. 



Alexandra Palace. lioses, July 7th and 8th. 



Ealing, Acton, and Hanwell. July 11th (at Fordhook). Mr. R. Dean, 



Ettling. Sec. 

 Helensburgh (Rrees). July 12th and 18th. Mr. J. Mitchell. Sec. 

 ■Wimbledon. July 12th and 13th. Mr. P Appleby, 5, Linden Cottages, Hon. Sec. 

 Kilmarnock. Robbs, Julylbth and 19th. General Exhibition, September 



14th. Mr. M. Smith, 11, King Strtet, Sec. 

 ToNBRiDGE. July 19th. Mr. \\\ Blair, Hon. Sec. 

 ■Wrexham. July 25th. Mr. J. 15. Shirley, Hon. Sec. 

 Headingley. July 26th and 27th. Mr. T. Athinson, Borleywood, Head- 



ingley, Leeds, Sec. 

 Brighouse. July 29th. Measrs. C. Jessop & E. Kawnsley, Hon. Sees. 

 KiLSBY (Flowers). Augast let. Mr. C. E. Bracebridge, Sec. 

 Heworth (Horticultural). August 2nd. Mr. R. H. Feltoe, Hon. Sec. 

 Eawtenstall (R06ENDALE). August 4th and 5th. Mr. M. J. Lonsdale, Sec. 

 Taunton Beane. August 10th. Mr. F. H. Woodforde, M.D., and Mr. 



Clement Smith, Hon. Sees. 

 Filey. August 11th. Hon. Sec, Mr. 'Walter Fisher. 



Clay Cross. August 15th. Mr. J. Stallard, Clay Croes, near Chesterfield, Sec. 

 ■Weston-supee-Mare. August 15th and 16th. Mr. W. B, Frampton, Seo. 

 Preston. August 16th and 17th. Mr. W. Troughton, Hon. Sec. 

 Bhrewsbdry. August 16th and 17th. Adnite & Naunton, Hon. Sees, 

 Miefield Horticiltukal. August 19th. Mr. George Senior and Mr. John 



Rashforth, Hon. Sees. 

 Newbury. August 22ud. Mr. Henry Seymour, Hon. Sec. 

 Chepstow. August 23rd. Mr. B. Thorn, Hon. Sec. 



Eamsgate (Isle of Thanet). August 23rd. Mr. B. B. Schartan, Broad- 

 stairs, Seo. 

 Seaton Burn. August 26th. Mr. B. Bichardson and Mr. W. Ellott, Sees. 

 Montrose. September 1st and 2nd. Mr. Alex. Burnett, 2, High Street, Sec. 

 ruNDEE (International). September 7th, 8th, and 9th. Mr. W. R. McKelvie, 



26, Euclid Crescent, Seo. 

 Glasgow. September 12th and 13th. Mr. F. Gilb. Donghall, 167, Canning 



Street, Seo. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*,* AU correspondence ehould be directed either to ** The 

 Editors," or to "The Publisher.*' Letters addressed to 

 Mr. Johnson or Dr. Hogg often remain unopened unavoid- 

 ably. We request that no one will write privately to any 

 of onr correspondents, as doing so subjects them to un- 

 justifiable trouble and expense. 



Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions 

 relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee sub- 

 jects, and should never send more than two or three 

 questions at once. All articles intended for insertion 

 should be written on one side of the paper only. We 

 cannot reply to questions through the post. 



Building on a Party Wall (Inquirer).— Yoa have no legal right to 

 Tbuild on the top of a party wall. Your Peach house would have been all the 

 better /or being raised by woodwork, and with ventilators on your side of the 

 wall. 



EcHEVERiA RETU8A (H. L. HamvioTid).— It belongs to the same natural 

 •order as the HouEeleek, and is allied to that genus. 



Arrangement of Bedding Plants {A. B. C).— Let the central circle 

 contain some euch mixture as you propose, with an edging of Coleua, using 

 all the varieties you name with the exception ol the Zea and Fuchsias, which 

 should go in the two end beds, thus impaiting a distinct character to them, 

 and a pleasing variety to the entire group. Exercise caution in j'our use of the 

 Zea, as it is a striking p'ant, a little toomuch of which would mar the beauty 

 of the whole design. The narrow chain beds should have dwarf plants of 

 rather bright but not glaring colours — say grey, pink, blue, or purple, yellow, 

 crimson, or carmine, but no bright scarlet with yellow! 



Hardy Bock Plants iMev. C. Fy tic).— Plants, not seeas. of the Litho- 

 Bpermum and AntencBria may be had from any respectuble nurseryman. 

 Mesi^rs. Backhouse of York, who make rock plants a speciality, keep up a 

 Btock of (ach kind. Have also a few FOita of Hetianthemum; of this, how- 

 ever, many lovely varieties may be raised from seed, which any of the large 

 melropolitan seed firms can supply a laige mixed packet, cobting only 6d. 

 Seed of Pyrethrum can also be obtained at the same price from the same 

 Bource. Silcne maritima (Sea'Catebflj) and its handsome double variety 

 S. maritima plena are both kept by Backhouse, but we fear few other nursory- 

 Toen afiurd these useful plants a place. Our own plants of the single variety 

 were procured from their wild habitat on the south-west coast. Linaria 

 cjmbalaria is our only difficulty. One of its wild haunts was the soorco from 

 whence onr supply was obtained, and although the nurserymen liod no place 

 for it, yet you will have no difliculty in doing as we have done, for there is 

 hardly an old wall or ruin which this charming little plant does not grace 

 with the elegant drapery of its slender growth. 



Black Currants Withered (S/jWinj;).— The withered branches demon- 

 strate that the bushes lack vigour. We have seen many instances of the 

 branches dying, and in every case the bushes were either weakened by old age 

 or were growing in dry soil. We have found a remedy by pruning rather 

 severely in winter— cutting down a portion of the buthea and inducing the 

 production of young and stronger thoots, and surfacing the ground with 

 manure. It the mulching be done in winter watering is not necessary. We 

 ■ehould advise that a thorough soaking of liquid manure be given your bushes, 

 covering tlie ground immediately with manure to arrest evaporation, then 

 will sufficient nourishment be afforded, and the evil of which you complain bo 

 Arrested. 



GERANitiM Sport (J. J., Lancashire).— 1^ either the parent nor the sport 

 are equal either in truss or foliage to many others. 



Tulips (C J.). — We cannot tell you who would undertake to name your 

 collection; those who are capable live far away from you. The florista in 

 your county of Somerset conld aid you. 



A Gardener's Will (Anthony). — We cannot tell you whether he died 

 intestate, but yon may easily ascertain by refeiTing to the indexes kept at 

 Somerpet Honpe, and we copy the following very useful directions fmm the 

 Erigli^h Mechanic : — Go to Somerset House, and cruss the quadrangle to the 

 Will Office. Proctedingtothe extreme end of the room, buy a "search stamp'* 

 (Is.) from the attendant. This take to the deek on his right, and hand it to 

 one of the clerks, giving the deceased's name, which name the clerk will 

 write on a slip of paper. Then nearch the indices (which are in racks close 

 to you), and thereupon run through the books (the names are alphatietically 

 arranged) until 3011 come to the name answering the proper description. On 

 findiDg it take the index book to tbo clerk who took your stamp, who will 

 mark the reference number cu the aforesaid slip of paper, and teli you to tike 

 Buch Blip to another dcf-k, when you will either have the actual will produced 

 or the t.flicial copy made in the books, according to its d»te. You may then 

 read it, but must make no notes; only being allowed to take the names of the 

 deceated, the executors, &c. If you want a copy of tha whole, or any part of 

 it, the clerks will ttll you how to obtain it. Cost, only Is. for search and 

 reading. Copies, Gd. per folio, with Is. Id. for stamped paper. 



Seedling Pansy (i?. N.).—lt is a good border flower, but not superior to 

 many other blue selfi?. Viola is the botanical name of a genua, of which the 

 Pansy is one of the species, distinguished as Viola tricolor. 



Vine Leaves Injured (A. M. C.).— No insect is to blame. The stalks 

 and other parts are gangrened because the root^ do not supply sufficient sap 

 to sustain the growth of the branches and foliage. Water abundantly, and 

 with weak tepid hquid manure once weekly. Pick off the diseased leaves. 



Strawberries Mildewing (V. 8.). — It is not easy to tell why they are 

 affected with this parasit<», but it is very likely that the rather close atmo- 

 sphere of the stove contribated to it. We have had them mildewed under all 

 sorts of conditions. On its first appearance dust the leaves with sulphur, and 

 the hot-water pipes may also be painted with it. 



List of Chrysanthemums {West Surrey). — Gluck, large-flowered; Ane- 

 mone, golden yellow ; Guernsay Nugget, primrnso; Hereward, purple, florets 

 silvery at the back ; Le Grand, reddish lilac; Meg Merrileea, sulphur white ' 

 Nil Deeperandum, dark red, incurved ; and Ossiao, purple. With the excep- 

 tion of Gluck, which i* a large-flowered Anemone, and Meg Merrileea 

 (Japauesei, all the others belong to the large-flowered section. They are all 

 good torts. Six best large-flowered, not including any in your list, are Jardin 

 des PJantes, golden yellow; Empress of India, pure white; Lady Harding, 

 rose ; Mrs. Bundle, white; Prince of Wales, dark red; Princess Teck, blush. 

 Six Japanese are Bronze Dragon; Elaine, very large double whitn, early; 

 Fair Maid of Guernsey, very fine large white; Grandiflorum, a splendid golden 

 yellow late-flowering sort; Purpureum album; Red Dragon. The best 

 three Pompons are Cedo NuUi, white; Golden Cedo Nulli; and Bob, dark 

 crimson. 



Grape Vine for Early House (-4.).— Foster's White Seedling. From 

 1 to li foot is too shallow for a Peach harder, but the trees would do it if they 

 were well supplied with water. We annually grow four and five dozens of 

 fine fruit on pot trees, each tree being confined to about a bushel of loam. 



Cocoa Fibre Eefuse for Striking Cuttings (Eittie). — It will answer 

 for striking cuttings, but is the better of an addition of an equal propoition 

 of silver sand. This mixture would, no doubt, grow Geraniums and Fuchsias, 

 but they would gmw too grossly to flower freely. We advise three parts turfy 

 loam to a part each of leaf soil and cocoa refuse, with a sixth part of sand as 

 a more suitable compost for these plants. The cocoa refuse mixed with the 

 soil of beds will be of benefit after the first year, its permanency depending in 

 a measure upjn the quantity used. 



AucuBA Berries (B.). — We do not think the berries will produce any in- 

 jurious consequences on those eating them, bat wa have no experience. 



Thinning Lily of the Valley (Idem). — It is anything bat desirable to 

 disturb a very old, compact, and vigorous bed of these cha'^te sweet plants, 

 especially as you say '' they do very well indeed." Had th»y not given yoa 

 satisfaction we should have said then let the plants have mure liberal treat- 

 ment, but it is always a capital policy to let that doing " well" alone. 



FiiiTiLLARY Culture (81. E. H.). — They require to be grown in deep rich 

 light soil well drained, and as your plants do not produce offsets we presume 

 the soil is poor. Add some well-decayed manure and leaf mould to the soil, 

 and top-dress with a rich compost. An open situation but sheltered from 

 winds is most suitable, and preferable to a shaded site. 



Earthing Potatoes (A. Dumbell). — Being planted 5 inches deep on the 

 flat they will not requirelmuch earthing-up, but we should nevertheless draw 

 a little soil to them, so as to keep the tubers from greening. 



Auriculas after Flowering (Idem). — Remove them to a frame with a 

 north aspect, elevating the framo on bricks at the corners, and admit air 

 freely, protecting from heavy rains. To give fall particulars would take up 

 more ^pace than we can spare, but the essentials of treatment are given in 

 our "Floribta' Flowers," which may be had from our office for 5d. 



Cutting the Trusses of Young Rhododendrons (Idem). — By catting 

 the trusses you will remove the growths which produce the flowers of next 

 year, and will keep the plants from so soon attaining a sizs they otherwise 

 would were the flowers not cut. We are careful in cutting from young plants 

 to remove such as are produced by straggling shoots, and this, so far from 

 being disadvantageous, induces to more bhapely and compact growth. 



Pear Leaves Diseased (Peter Pullet). — The light sandy soil is the 

 probable cause Mulch over the roots, and a plentiful Bupply of water daring 

 dry weather will prevent the spotting. 



Carpet Bedding (W.). — Veronica incana is 4 to 6 inches, and Achillea 

 umbellata 2 to 3 inches in height, both being of course susceptible to the in- 

 fiuence of rich or poor soii. The Veronica from its size would be preferable 

 for your purpose, but we do not see why yoa might not contrive to use the 

 Achillea by raising the soil sUghtly for it above the level of that in which the 

 other plants are put, aud by a little extra care in watering. Certainly, for 

 intiinsic beauty and effectiveness it is far preferable to the Veronica. 



Plants with Blue Neuophila (E. O.). — The very best plant with pink 

 flowers to associate with Nomophila intignis is Paponaria calabrica. The seed 

 should, however, have been sown a month or more ago. Plants raised from 

 seed sown now would of course be proportionally late in coming into flower. 

 Failing the Sfipunaria, some such pink Verbena as Polly Perkins or Madame 

 M^cquin would answer well. Polemonium cseruleumvariegatumand Geranium 

 Lady Plymouth both have a soft yellow variegation. Both form baudtome 

 plants, the growth of the Polemonium being particularly graceful. LitUer of 

 them would tell well with the Nemophila. Consult your own tahte as to 

 which to pat next the grass, and which ioBlde. Either colour would be in 



