Jannory li 1874. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAIU)ENEB. 



17 



not be large, or they will shade the lower part of the back wall, and the Peach 

 tree will not thrive. 



Destrdying SLnas (H. K. J.). — One remedy would be to take off the 

 surface and burn it, as doing so would destroy not only the kIuks but their 

 eg«a. Unless the land is Btrong we do not advieo this, as we find that re- 

 peated ftjiiilicafions of lime, freeh or newly Blaked, are a perfect cure. It 

 should bo aiipliod at the end of the day or early in the morning', making the 

 K^rtmad quite white, and repeat the application every week or ten days, and 

 best after rain. The ground, between the dressings, ought to be stirred with 

 a hoe or fork. Your case being a bad one, we advice sowing the flower as 

 well aa kitchen garden with salt in March, evenly broadcast at the rate of 

 twenty bushels per acre, following with the lime as may bo requisite. 



Plants under Trees (O. C). — Aa you wish for a few ferns, we may Bay 

 that it is only the commoner kinds that will succeed, and those not well un- 

 less the soil is moist. The most suitable Ferna are Lastrc-a Filix-mas, Athy- 

 rium Filii-fcemina, Lastrea dilatata, Blechmim Bpicant, Puiystichum acule- 

 atum, Scolopandrium \'ulgare, and Polypodium vulgaro. Other plants are 

 Ilypericuin calycinum, Periwinkles of sorts, Primroses, Lily of theValleyin 

 places nnt densely shaded, also Violets, Snowdrops, Winter Aconites; and 

 shrubs, such as common Laurel, Tree Box, Aucubas, Mahonia or Berberis 

 Aquilolium and repens, Butcher's Broom, Laurustinus, Holly, and Ivies, 

 which are probably the finest of all subjects for growing under trees. 



Winter Drebsinq fob Fruit Trees [Idem). — The object being to 

 destroy vermin, use paraffin oil mixed with an equal proportion of soft-soap 

 solution, 4 OES. to the gallon of water, and apply it from the fall of the leaf 

 until the buds begin to swell in mild weather. It must not be applied after 

 the buds have swelled. They may be dressed with 8 ozs. of soft soap to a 

 gallon of tobacco juice, the jnice being heated to 160-, and the soft soap 

 thoroughly dissolved, applying it at a temperature of not less than 90^, nor 

 exceeding 140^. 



Case for Trichomanes {S. A. B.). — Tho case should be lined with zinc, 

 and not only that, but have a loose or false b<jttom of perforated zinc, which 

 should be placed 1 inch above the bottom, and the latter should have a small 

 pipe and thumb-screw, so that water draining from the soil may be removed 

 at plea-iure. The sides, ends, and top of the case should be of Ktass, and the 

 ends should open. The drainage should be placed on the perforated zinc, 

 and consist of an inch or two thick of pieces of stone, and over it some 

 rough pieces of peat should be laid to keep it from choking. Use from 4 to 

 6 inches of soil, but 3 will suffice; it should consist of fibrous, spongy, brown 

 peat, and a third of freestone or sandstone, with a little silver sand, placing 

 pieces of sandstone on the surface. The plants ehonld be plauted rather 

 high, and the interior of the case must always be moist. If they have 

 enough the fronds will have dew-like drops on the fronds every morning. 



Sea Sand for Storing Beet — Heat from Leaves and Dung— Clean- 

 ing Vinery (C S.). — Sea sand answers for the storing of Beet, Parsnips, 

 and Artichokes, but it should be dry, and is then as good as, or better than, 

 pit sand. The heat of a well-mado hotbed of leaves and dung will endure a 

 considerable time, but is liable to diminution of temperature after it has been 

 made from a month to six weeks, it being necessary to renew the heat by 

 linings — that is, when a uniform and continued temperature is required, as 

 in growing Cucumbers or Melons. It will answer without liniugs for raising 

 plants from cuttings or seeds; but if to be used continuously for that 

 purpose, the heat will need to be renewed by linings. All the woodwork of a 

 vine'^y ought to be washed with soap and water, and the glass with clear 

 water, for which the garden engine is very suitable, but the dirt on the glass 

 will need to be dislodged by a brush or sponge, and then driven off with 

 water from the engine. 



Camellias Mildewed {Constant Subscriber). — No wonder your plants are 

 mildewed when, as yon say, the leaves are seldom dry. The low situation and 

 surroundings of the house are such as are favourable to fungi ; but could you 

 not have gentle fires, so as to render tho house drier, air being given freely ? 

 If the plants are very close together the distance should be increased, and 

 the moisture may be kept under by admitting air more freely, leaving a little 

 on at night ; but gentle fires will be neceseary to secure the required tempera- 

 ture, and in dull periods to promote a circulation of air. With this we do not 

 think you will have mildew. It may be destroyed by dusting with flowers of 

 sulphur, through a muslin bag or old stocking, the parts which are attacked. 

 Weight obtainable of Early Grapes {An Old Soldier).— An. ordinary 

 greenhouse, 12 feet by 16, only heated sufficiently to preserve plants in winter, 

 will not produce Grapes early, but now and then good 3rapes which might 

 ripen about August are obtained. Allowing, therefore, that plants are cul- 

 tivated in the house, which necessitates a portion of the glass being kept clear 

 of foliage, you might, perhaps, produce from BO to 100 lbs., but it is difficult 

 to say with anything like certainty what ought to be grown in such a posi- 

 tion; 80 much depends on the management. If, however, your purpose is to 

 compete in the market with others, we would not advise you to attempt to 

 ripen your Grapes too early unless the heating apparatus, the situation, and 

 other cooditions are favourable. The attention req"iied, as well as the price 

 of coals, will leave you but a poor chance to compete with the professional 

 grower, who has large houses contrived expressly for early forcing. 



Fertilising Sandy Soil vtith Liquid Manure {An Old Soldier).Soi\ 

 of the description you name is the most benefited by liquid manure. Some 

 years at:o a friend occupying a plot of such land on the top of a hill, and 

 which under ordinary treatment produced scarcely anything, by dint of deep 

 cultivation and the free application of manure, both solid and liquid, con- 

 trived to have for his horses some of the heaviest crops of Lucerne, Clover, 

 Rye, Tares, and other green foods which we have seen. Much the same may 

 be done for cows, but we would not advise you to give the cows Cabbages, as 

 they taint the milk, and it is now too late to sow or plant anything likely to 

 be of use in the spring, unless it be Cabbages. We would therefore recom- 

 mend the ground to be deeply cultivated, taking care if the surface soil is 

 shallow to keep it still to the top, but disturbing the subsoil as much as 

 possible to allow of depp-rooted plants, like those mentioned, descending in 

 search of food. You might try a small portion of it in grass, but unless well 

 watered it does not do well on dry soils. Better try the Vetches, Saintfoin, 

 Tares, Clover, &c., which all withstand dry weather better. 



Glass House for Vines and Bedding Plants (A Constant Rcad/'r).~ 

 Your plan cannot well be improved, unless it be by tho addition of T iron- 

 bars ae supports to the glazing-bar between the principal rafters, which would 

 otherwise bag-in if of greater length than 6 feet. Tour plan of ventilation at 

 top by glass is also good, but we would adopt a somewhat different arrange- 

 ment in front, and have the pillars immediately underneath where the rafters 

 are. This, however, is of little consequence, as you contemplate having the 

 front hghts made to open, and the easiest mode of doing this is to hang them 



Jon hinges at the top. Tho pipes for heating might bo about 18 inches from 

 the front wall inside, and the Vines planted in that space, the roots being 

 allowed to run outside and inside. As you contemplate only having two 

 pipes, we would recommenl them to bo both together in the fnmt, as the heat 

 will ascend well enough, and the house being a lean-to, the top will always ba 

 warmest. We fear the Peach tree on the back wall will not do much good, as 

 the Vines will speedily occupy all tho glass and deprive the back wall of light. 

 You might, however, plant a Vine or two against the back wall; they would 

 compete with those on tho roof for the light, and you might get a few 

 bunches from them for a year or two, ond if necessary one or more might be 

 trained from the top down tho rafter. We have seen Vines do very well when 

 so treated. There is no better Grape than Black Hamburgh, but you might; 

 also have Buckland Sweetwater or Foster's White Seedling, but let most of 

 the Vinos be Black Hamburgh. If you know of any house near you similar to 

 that which you intend building, we would recommend you to inspect it first, 

 and make inquiries whether improvements cuuld not be effected. You will 

 obtain more information about details by such means than can be given in a 

 column of letterpress, and in general you will find gardeners not only willing 

 but pleased to impart information. We are sorry your oommnnication has 

 been unavoidably delayed. 



Flowering Cinerarias Early (P. Q.). — They may be flowered in autumn 

 and early winter, tho seed being sown in March in a hotbed, and the plants 

 grown-on throughout the summer in cold frames, shifting them into their 

 blooming-pota in August, and removing them in September to a light airy 

 position where they will have a temperature of 45^ to 50'^ from fire heat. If 

 kept in an ordinary greenhouse they will not flower until tho new year. We 

 have some now in a greenhouse at 40^ to i^° that ware sown last March, uij 

 the flowers are Just expanding. 



Row FROM A Quart or Pbas {Idem). — A quart of early Peas will sow a 

 row 100 feet long, but as the early crops have greater viciasitudes of weather, 

 and wet and cold soil to contend agEiinst, we bow rather more thickly, allowing 

 a quart to 90 feet. A quart of the large kinds as the Wrinkled Marrows, will 

 sow a row V20 feet long, allowing for casualties. 



Propagating Pommter de Paradis Stocks (G.). — Those will striko 

 root from cuttings of one or more year's old wood, but are best of two or 

 three years' growth, inserted two-thirds their length in moist soil, and abonfe 

 8 inches apart. Tho cuttings t^hould be 9 or 10 inches long, and all tho eyes 

 ought to be removed except the thiee uppermost. They should have a warm 

 soil, aa from our experience this stock is not suited for the Apple in bleak 

 elevated situations and northern parts of this country. The cuttings should 

 be put in from November to February inclusive. Layers are the best mode 

 of propagation, make stouter stocks in a shorter time, and, consequently, 

 sooner fit to be worked than those from cuttings or suckers. The layers 

 should he made from November to February. 



Covering Crocus Bulbs with Soil (P. D. W.). — We have never grown 

 our Crocuses with the bulb on the surface, or partly covered with soil, but 

 always cover them with soil 1^ to 2 inches deep, which we consider quite deep 

 enough for those grown in puts. Even Hyacinths we bury up to the neck, 

 entirely covering Tulips and Narcissuses. The Celery you mention as being 

 sent to us by bouk post has not reached us ; and judging from what you say, 

 we do not think the caterpillars, beyond the injury to the leaves, will have 

 done the Celery any harm. A Melun frame should face the south, but will 

 answer if facing south-east, but the former aspect is to be preferred. 



Passe Colmah Pear not Ripening (Q. Q.).— This Pear ripens very well 

 with US in the neighbourhood of London as a pyramid on the Pear stock. la 

 cold districts it would require a wall. With us it is now in season. As it 

 does not succeed on your wall, we advise you to regraft it with some other 

 sort. It likes a rather dry warm soil ; if grown on unsuitable soils the flesh is 

 gritty. 



Pansies and Violas (Idem).— Write to Mr. Ware, of the Hale Farm 

 Nurseries, Tottenham. 



^Apple Tree with Bark Parttno from the Trunk {E. M. 3/.).~Re» 

 move all dead bark with a sharp knife, and wrap haybands round the trunk. 



Name of Fruit (J. Bill). — We do not recognise your Shropshire Apple. 

 It is a fine variety for culinary use, and as it is an almost unfailing bearer, 

 ought to be more known. 



Nasies of Plants [Eildare Su6«frt6erl.— Centaurea candidissima. (H". 

 Hicks). — We cannot name plants unleas their flowers are sent; nor did wo 

 ever hear of the name " Creeping Myrtle." 



POTILTET, BEE, AND PIGEON OHEONIOLE, 



THE PAST AND THE PRESENT YEARS. 



Certajn subjects get old ; and if we had to deal with them 

 only, we should shrink from the fact we had nothing new to 

 relate or to chronicle, that our best efforts would be " as tedious 

 aa a thrice-told tale," and that we should do well to let the time 

 and opportunity pass. 



But there are other and better things that are always new, 

 and which we believe we have in common with the rest of maru 

 kind. There are seasons when it is impossible to think of pass- 

 ing time without serious feeling. Thus, when year after year 

 we approach the subject of the new one, we neither wish to nor 

 can repress a feeling of gratitude that we have been spared so 

 many years to report upon the past and to hope for the future, 

 to avoid the shipwrecks in that which is beginning by using 

 largely the experience we have gained in times past. 



We have no need of a profession of faith ; our ideas and 

 opinions are known, and we are proud to say they are approved. 

 We have no new flag to hoist. For many years we have en- 

 deavoured to hold an even balance, to spare no criminal from 

 '* fear, favour, or affection," to charge no innocent one from 

 " hatred or malice." The confidence of our friends, and a con- 

 stantly-increasing circulation with its attending prosperity, em- 

 bolden us to speak as we do. While we do not hesitate to say 

 this much for ourselves, yet as we know the greatest military 



