February 5, 1874. ] 



JOURNAL OF fiORTIOULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



129 



pots seldom require water roore than once a-week at this season, 

 bat the soil Bhould not be allowed to become too dry. The 

 house ought to be thoroughly fumigated before the flower buds 

 open to destroy aphis. Ventilate freely in the day time, shutting 

 up close at night. 



STOVK AN'C GBKENHOUSK. 



Orchids throwing-ap flower spikes must be carefully watched ; 

 they bhould be examined every uight with a lantern if slugs are 

 in the house. Oncidium ampliatum, the flower spikes of which 

 are now throwing up, is exceedingly attractive to them. There 

 is no better way of getting rid of them than by looking over the 

 plants, say at 8 aud 10 p.m. We have not yet been able to entirely 

 eradicate bug from the house, this pest is now showing signs of 

 active life. Oar plants that are known to bo infested with it 

 are looked over {with a sponge dipped in water wherein soft 

 soap has been dissolved), once a-week if possible. There is a 

 possibility of getting rid of mealy bug entirely if it is foDowed- 

 up persistently. Green fly seems to be more than usually 

 abundant this year. The only certain destructive agent in 

 greenhouses or forcing pits is tobacco smoke, but the houses 

 must be fumigated immediately it appears, for if it is allowed to 

 increase the plants are much weakened. Roses, stage and 

 fancy Pelargoniums, suffer the most from its attacks. The 

 worm which attacks the Rose bud in an early stage of its de- 

 velopment must be searched for on Roses being forced. It can 

 readily be detected by observing the leaves ou the shoot near 

 the top, they are ingeniously fastened together as a means of 

 protection. 



The greenhouse department is now gay with spring-flowering 

 bulbs and plants. As regards nearly all forced subjects, they 

 ought to be removed from the forcing house before the flowers 

 are expanded, as if these are allowed to open in heat, as a rule 

 they will not continue long on the plant when removed to a 

 cool house. See that all specimen hardwooded plants are trained 

 into shape as soon as possible. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



We ran the lawn-mower over the lawn, and this has greatly 

 improved its appearance. Digging shrubbery and herbaceous 

 borders, sweeping walks, aud keeping all as tidy as possible. 

 Continue to propagate all bedding plants of which there ie not 

 a aufficieut stock. — J. Douglas. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



S. Dixon & Co., 48a, Moorgate Street, London, E.C. — Select 

 Lint of Vegetable Seeds, Flower Seeds, Potatoes, ((-c. 



Drummond Brothers, 52, George Street, Edinburgh. — Cata- 

 logue of Vegetable and Flower Seeds. — Select List of Hybrid 

 Gladioli, d'c. 



Teutschel & Co., Colchester. — Retail List of Japanese Lilies, 

 Orchids, <£c. 



John Harrison, Grange Road, Darlington. — Descriptive Cata- 

 logue of Vegetable and Flower Seeds, Bedding Plants, d'C. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*,* We request that no one will write privately to any of the 

 correspondents of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All 

 communications should therefore be addressed solely to 

 The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, d'C, 171, Fleet 

 Street, London, E.G. 



We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the 

 same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on 

 Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them 

 answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on 

 separate communications. Also never to send more than 

 two or three questions at once. 



N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next 

 week. 



Books (A ConKlant Stihscriher). — Loudon's edition of *' Repton'a Land- 

 Hcape Gardeniug." Appleby's *' Orchid Manual." The latter can be bad 

 from our office free by post if you enclose 2». 7^d. postage stamps with your 

 address. 



Bdrnino Oil in Greenhouses (H. T. fl.).— Any combustible burnt in a 

 gresnhouse is injurious to the plants unless there is a flue or chimney of some 

 kind to convey tlie fumes from the burning (combustible into the open aii". 



Vine Burdhr {J. B.), — You Trill have seen directions for forming one in our 

 last number, pa^je 106. 



Croquet Ground {J. A.}, — We published full directions for making a 

 bowling green in our No. 468, and the same directions apply to a croquet 

 lawn. It should not be less than a quarter of an acre, and oblong is the best 

 form. 60 yai'ds by 20 yards is a good proportion. 



Fuchsia MAi.F0R3iEt> IJ. E.). — It is a curious sport, three small corollas 

 in one calyx; but it would not be permanent, probably, if the branch pro- 

 ducing it were rooted; nor, if permanent, do we think it would be so graceful 

 as the flower in its normal form. 



Stove Plants (Julia J/.).— We hope in a short time to have a series of 



communications on the subject. We have at present no manual on their 

 cultivation. 



Ofi'-iiiDs (F. M. J.).—" The Orchid Manual " includes the culture of gi*een- 

 houso aud hardy Orchids. You can have it free by post if you enclose thirty- 

 two postage stamps. 



Planting Flower Beds (S. N. 3/.).— Wo cannot undertake planting, wo 

 can only criticise that which is prnposed. If you send another plan with 

 your own arrangement we will suggest any alterations we tliink desirable. 



LiTCHi OR LiTCHEE (Gf.). — The usual botanical name applied to the tree 

 bearing this fruit is now Euphoria Litchi, but it baa been included in other 

 genera, as Dimocarpus, Nephelium, Sapindus, and Scytalia. It was intro- 

 duced here by Mr. Warren Hastings in 17bS. The dry fruit mot with in our 

 markets gives but a faint idea of what it is when eaten fresh in its native 

 country. 



Forming Bu8H\' Cinerarias (F. H.). — Your query was answered last week, 

 page 106. We would add that the plants should not be crowded, but be kept 

 neai- the glass and not touching each other, turning them round if they axe 

 likely to be one-sided. 



Plants under Red Cedar (X. F.).— As you cannot get grass to grow you 

 may raise some plants of Pyrethrum Tchiatchewi, sowing the seed in pans, 

 and placing them in a greenhouse near the glass ; when large enough to 

 handle prick out an inch from eaclmtlier, and linally plant out about 3 inches 

 apart, having loosened the soil about the tree, and watering until established. 



Pond Cleaning (Idrm). — Some lime mixed with the mud ami decaying 

 matter taken from the pond would prevent any injury to the members of your 

 family from the effluvia given off ; and whilst the pond was being cleaned you 

 might use a disinfectant, as chloride of limo. 



WooDLicE (W. H. H). — Having tried the potatoplan — aboiled onewrapped 

 in a little hay and laid on its side — without avail, we can only recommend you 

 to place some damp hay against the foot of the walls uf the structure where 

 they are troublesome, aud in the luovuing pour bailing water on the hay and 

 down the walls ; the woodhce will be seureted under the hay close to the wall. 

 In this way we have kiUed them by thousands ; and the boiling water, if the 

 soil is tii'm, does not penetrate deeply and cannot injme the roots much, as it 

 need not be poured on in the quantity to do hai'm. Moss is quite as good as 

 the hay, or better. We have also poisoned them by mixing laid with finely 

 giound oatmeal, so as to form a crumbling paste, added about a table-spoon- 

 ful of arsenic to a half-pint, and placed it on pieces of slate in their haunts ; 

 but gieat care is necessary in using the poison, und it is not always that the 

 woodliee will take it. 



Seeds for New Zealand (C. W. D.). — The principal London or pro- 

 vincial seedsmen know what seeds are most suitable for the district you name. 

 It would be best for you to trust to th'^m to send out a collection. 



Camellia Flowers noi" Expanding {R. B. Shaw). — The buds do not 

 expand from the plants having more blooms than the roots can supply with 

 nourishment, they not being in a very active state. We should repot the 

 plant as soon as the flowering is over, but not give a large shift, nor place it 

 in a tub as you propose. Drain well, and keep the neck or collar high in the 

 centre of the pot or tub, aud remove what old soil can be taken from 

 amongst the roots by a pointed piece of wood. Use the top inch of a light 

 loamy pastme, chop or tear it up tine, and press firm. If the pot admit of an 

 inch or so of fresh soil all round the ball it is large enough. 



Pajipas Grass Culture (W. Rmnell). — Cut off the dead parts in April or 

 when the young growths are being made, but we prefer to leave them until 

 the young growths are somewhat advanced. Slulch round the plant when it 

 begins to grow with some rich compost or well-rotted manure, and water with 

 hquid manure in dry weather. 



MeSEMBRVANTHEMUM CORDIFOLIU3I, ECHEVERIA GLAUCA, AND POINSETTIA 



Sowing {F.J. T.). — The Mesembryanthemum and Echeveria seed sown now 

 in a gentle hotbed and grown-on will, by bedding-out time, form nice little 

 plants available for planting-out in .Tune after being well hardened-off. They 

 require to be kept near the glass and to be very carefully watered. Poinsettia 

 pulcherrima comes into flower in winter, and is grown for its scarlet bracts. 

 It should be sown in a hotbed, grown in heat tlnougU the summer, and kept 

 near the glass, so as to be d^varf. It should have a warm greenhouse or cool 

 stove. Cuttings put in during August make the best plants. 



Perennial Phlox Seed Sowing (H. H.).— Sow the seed in Mai-ch in a 

 pot or pan well diained, and filled to within a quarter of an inch of the rim 

 with a compost of light fibrous loam two parts and leaf soil one part, with a 

 free admixture of silver sand. Make the surf ace fine and even, scatter the 

 seeds evenly, and then cover with fine soil lightly. Place in a gentle heat, 

 keeping near the glass, and when the seedlings show the second leaves prick-ofE, 

 in pans or boxes about an inch aoart, and return to the hotbed, shading from 

 bright sun for a few days. Harden well off, und p'.aut out-doors in rich light 

 soil about a foot apart, where they are to remain to fiower. 



American Blighi' (C. Y.). — Dress the Apples with the paraffin undiluted 

 applying it to every pitrb of the stem and braucheri, and particularly to the 

 swelling, but keep it from the buds. You should likewise lay bare the roots, and 

 the thick parts of these may also be dressed with paraQiu, using a brush. Do 

 not pour the paraffin about, but confine it to the stem, branches, aud thick 

 roots if you find these infested by the blight. If the roots are attacked, the 

 soil removed should be replaceil by fresh. It may be necessary to go over the 

 trees in summer, applying the paraffin by means of a brush to the parts 

 affected, but taking care to keep the oil from the leaves and young wood. 



Destroying Daisies on Lawn {C. A. D.).~l( your lawn is of moderate 

 extent we should advise yuu to employ Watsons lawn sand, which undoubt- 

 edly destroys Daisies and other weeds ; but the lawn is made to appear brown 

 for a time. It may be had of most of the principal nurserymen and seedsmen, 

 du'cctions for its use being furnished with the article. The old plan of 

 grubbing them up with a knife is a tedious but nevertheless good mode of 

 getting rid of them, and if yon do not employ the lawn sand we advise this. 

 It is remai'kable how soon they appear again after they have been removed, 

 and we incline to the opinion that on some soils it is waste of time seeking 

 tu extu-pate them. It is better to cut off their heads with a Daisy-knife erery 

 second or third day, for it is only when they flower that they mar the appear- 

 ance of a lawn. 



Errata. — Page 103, third line from top, first column, for " stooping " read 

 sloping. Page 103, twelfth line from top, first column, for " dies " read dries. 

 Page 104, sixth line from top, fiist column, for '* wlien not wanted" read 

 w]icre not wanted. 



Insects on Clcb-rooted Cabbages (C. L.).— They are a species of the 

 Acarus, or Mite, and feed upon the decayed parts of vegetables. Whether 



