154 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



[ February 12, 1874. 



freestone it will do only for the foundation; the surface should be of a bard 

 materia), as gravel 2 or3 inches thick. If the stone is soft the drive will, after 

 a season, be very little better than it i3 now, and it ia well to consider whether 

 it would not be cheaper to give a coating of gravel than expend time and 

 labour on that which will not mend matters. 



White and Dark-foliaged Beddinq Plants (T. W.J.). — As you want 

 plants that are between 1 and 1^ foot in height, our selection is confined to 

 Centaurea ragusina (candidissima), which in its improved form, C. ragusina 

 compacta, is of dwarfer, more compact habit. It ia increased by cuttings 

 of the side shoots now, placed in a gentle heat. Cineraria maritima would 

 suit, but the plants must be raised from cuttings, as those obtained from 

 Geed are not of good colour, and grow too stront^ly in the first year. The 

 cuttings may be put in now or early in March in sandy soil in gentle heat. 

 The beat thing for associating with these is Iresine Lindeni, which is readily 

 increased by cuttings in heat. The dark-leaved Beets, as Dell's Crimson, 

 accord well with the Centaurea or Cineraria. The seed may be sown in 

 boxes in a cold frame or very gentle beat early in April, and the seedlings 

 pricked-off, when the rough or second leaves appear, about an inch apart in 

 boxes, shading for a few days, and when established admit air and light freely, 

 and plant in May. You may instead sow in tho second or third week of 

 April where the plants are to remain. 



Select Gladioli (J). R.). — Y'u will find all the information you require in 

 *' The Gladiolus ; its Historj-, Cultivation, and Exhibition," by our contributor 

 " D., Dfa/," published by L. Reeve & Co., Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. Is. 

 "We subjoin a list of the beet twenty-four:— Adolphe Brongniart, Delicatum, 

 Beatrix, Eug'-ne Scribe, Eurydice, Horace Vemet, Jupiter, Legouvi', Madame 

 Furtado, Madame Desportes, Marie Stuart, Meyerbeer, Michel Ange, Norma, 

 Orphi-e, PbctbuR, Primatice, Schiller, Sir J. Franklin,Ulyese,Virgile, Princess 

 Mary of Cambridge, Virginalis, and Mrs. F. Whitboum. 



Charcoal fob Plants (Wife and Mother).— Any kind of charcoal will do 

 to use as drainage or mix with, tho soil for potted plants. About the hive 

 next week. 



Cineraria Leaves Cohling (8. B.).~U the edges curl towards the inner 

 surface it is their natural mode of growth. 



Burnt Clay as a Top-dressing (A. Scoft).— It will be beneficial to a grass 

 field, of which the soil is of a retentive character. It is beat to apply it now. 



Hamilton's System of Pine Ccltuee (H. £.).— His book was published 

 thirty years since, and is probably out of print. The following is his mode of 

 culture : — Suckers taken off in October or November, plant into pots from 

 SJ to 6^ inches diameter at the top, and plunge overhead in the tan ; this 

 causes them to strike root in a very short time. In this state let them remain 

 without any water, except occasionally sprinkling them with the syrintre. and 

 this, in the winter season, only in the early part of the day. In March trans- 

 plant into pots from 7 to 8 inches at the top ; and at this shifting pluutje up 

 to their rims in a heat of about 85^ or even 90'=' for a week or twu after pot- 

 ting, to accelerate their striking root into the fresh soil. As soon as plun^ied 

 sprinkle them over their leaves with water 2- or 3° wanner than the atmo- 

 sphere in the house ; and this mode of watering ought to be repeated twice 

 a-day in the summer season, except in very cloudy weather, when steaming 

 the house will be found to keep the atmosphere and the plauti^ sufiiciently 

 moist ; but as the season advances only water the plants over their leaves in 

 the evening, at the time of closing the house, whilst the sun is still shiniog 

 on the glass, and before its rays are much diminished. As soon as the 

 heat rises in the tan give a good watering at their roots at this season, 

 to settle the soil about them, but after this watering the soil ought to be 

 iept sufficiently moist by watering the plants all over their leaves, every 

 evening, after sunny days. About the latter end of May again shift into 

 larger pots, but at every one of these shiftings the bed must be replenished 

 with fresh fermenting materials, as a brisk bottom heat is of the greatest 

 importance for two or three weeks after the plants have been fresh potted. 

 If there is much sun at the time shade tho plants rather than give much air 

 for a week or two after potting, but at all other periods they ought to have 

 plenty of air. The size of the pots at this shifting ought to be from 9 to 

 10 inches diameter at the top. The plants are every way treated as before, 

 well watered over their leaves after bright sunny days, also plenty of water 

 thrown on the pathways, or on the flues, pipes, &,c. If the plants are in- 

 tended to be tumed-out into the tan in the autumn they may thus remain 

 until the bed is ready for them, but jf they aie to be fruited in pots the fol- 

 lowing season they ought to have then- last shift early in August. The size 

 of the pots required will be from 11 to 12 inches diameter at ihe top, and in 

 order to grow the Queen varieties, as well as the Envllle, to a large size they 

 ought to have their last shift ten or twelve months previously to fruiting. 

 In tho fruiting stove he recommends the maximum heat of the house in 

 November, December, and January, by artificial means not to exceed 6')", the 

 minimum .^5\ In spring and autumn, if fruit are to be swelled, maximum 

 by sunshine SO'^, minimum 68-, medium by artificial heat 70". In the sum- 

 mer the maximum, under the effect of strong sunshine, may rise to 90"^, and 

 may be allowed to drop as low as 70^^ in the morning. In very bright sunny 

 weather, Mr. Hamilton says, the plants in fiiiit had better be shaded than 

 have admitted to them too much aii' at any time of the day. From this 

 Tecommendation of shading we entirely dissent, considering it to be one of 

 the most incorrect practices in modem Pine culture. In this country, where 

 we have so much gloomy weather and consequent deficiency of light, there 

 ia never such an excess for any plant that is a native of the tropics as to 

 render necessary shade when it is established, or its fruit swelling. It is a 

 recommendation not in accordance with the dictates of nature, though 

 such a recommendation was very necessary in those bygone days when Pine 

 plants were cultivated almost without roots. We condemn the shading 

 system altogether for plants of any age which are established with roots. 

 Applied to fruit or fruiting plants it must certainly occasion a considerable 

 sacrifice of their best qualities. A far more correct piinciple is, instead of 

 shading, to secure in fervid weather a genial humidify to tUe interior atmo- 

 sphere. By this method the plants will always maintain a dark, healthy 

 green, have stems stout and well rooted, with leaves short in proportion, 

 ■wide and fleshy, and well able to show and swell-off fruit of the first 

 quality. In order to swell this fruit to a large size no air ought to be 

 given until the thermometer reaches 80' or 85 , which will generally reach 

 that point in the momiuK by nine or half-past. To keep it down to this 

 give it the benefit of air until half-past ten, then close the house and water 

 them over their leaves, thus let them remain until half-past two or three 

 in the afternoon, letting them have all the bonelit of li;^ht and sun. At 

 half-past four close the bonse, syringing a^'ain over the leaves of the plants, 

 which will keep them moist during tho whole of the night. Newly-potted 

 plants will be benefited by a heat of about 90- for two or three weeks, after 

 Vhich time it may fall to 85^ maximum and 80 minimum, bat in the winter 



75^ will be sufficient. The bottom heat required for those plants which are 

 to produce several fruit from the same plant ought to be a3 eqaable as pos- 

 sible, at a medium of about 80-, and not to fluctuate more than 3- above or 

 below; however, a plant will swell well in summer in a bottom heat of 70'', 

 but in winter, when the supei incumbent atmosphere is kept cooler, the 

 plants that are swelling their fruit wlU make httle progress except the bottom 

 heat be about 75^ 



Insects (A SubifcriWr'a Sister, Co. Cork). — As well as we can judge from 

 the shattered and rubbed state of the specimen sent by you, it was the female 

 of the pale Tussock Moth, Dasychira pudibunda, a rather common species. 

 —I. O, W. 



Names of Feuits (TT. Atkitison). — We do not recognise either of the spe- 

 cunens. Are they not local seedlings ? 



Nasies of Plants (A. D. Ramsey). — Euscus HypoglosBum, or double-leaved 

 Butcher's Broom. 



POULTKT, BEE, AND PIGEON OHRONIOLE. 



EXHIBITED BIRDS MUTILATED— HAMBUEGHS. 



I AM sorry to find that the mischievous race of tail-pullers is 

 Hot yet extinct. I sent a Black Hamburgh cockerel to the late 

 Bristol Show, where he won the first prize, and returned minus 

 both sickle feathers. He is thus rendered useless for exhibition 

 purposes for the rest of the season. Of course, I cannot say 

 positively that the mischief was done at the Bristol Show, but 

 I think you will agree that the following facts have a very sus- 

 picious look. 



In 1870 I won the first prize with a Black Hamburgh cock at 

 this Show, and the bird returned home with one sickle feather 

 the less. In 1871 I only won the second prize, and so, I sup- 

 pose, escaped scot free. In 1872 I won both first and second 

 prizes, and when the two cocks returned home I found that a 

 sickle feather had been drawn from each. In 1873 I was third 

 only, and, I suppose, the cockerel was not considered worth 

 meddUng with, for he was returned unhurt. This year I have 

 again won the first prize, and the sequel I have already men- 

 tioned — viz., both sickle feathers are taken. It seems to ma 

 that it will be only prudent to steer clear of the Bristol Show 

 in future, lest my friend, whoever he may be, should take a 

 fancy next time to the whole bird. 



I see "WiLTSHniE Bectob" complains of want of support 

 from the Hamburgh breeders, but I think the reason is not far 

 to seek. It is a long, tedious, and expensive journey from Lan- 

 cashire, the Hamburgh head-quarters, to Bristol, and as long as 

 the Bristol Committee offer only a £2 prize, and charge 7s. Gd. 

 entry, it is not to be wondered that the north-country breeders 

 should prefer to keep their birds for the shows nearer home, 

 where they can win a i.'2 prize for a 5s. entry fee. It may be 

 said that there is a Hamburgh cup offered, bat I do not think 

 that a fifth chance of a cup is much inducement. I do not, 

 however, speak from any personal feeling in this matter. I 

 have always supported the Bristol Show, and I shall be sorry to 

 have to give it up. — W. Seejeantson, Acton Burnell, Bectory. 



P.S. — Since writing to you I have learnt from a friend, Mr. 

 Kilvert, Palms Hill, Wem, who also exhibited some Black Ham- 

 burghs at the late Bristol Show, that his cockerel came home ia 

 the same plight as mine — viz., with both sickle feathers missing. 

 This makes it still more improbable, I might say impossible, 

 that all this mischief could have been done by accident. — W. S. 



NOTES FEOM THE YARD. 



As I think my poultry book would compare favourably with 

 many others, I wUl state a few facts from it. 



Last month the produce of two yards, one containing a 

 Dorking cock and seventeen mixed hens, and the other a Brahma 

 Pootra cock with five hens, was 217 eggs, against 252 laid by the 

 same number last year. Now I think this very good, especially 

 as it is said to be a bad lajdng season. The Brahmas were lay- 

 ing from November, and although none have yet been made use 

 of, there have been several broody hens. The largest yard have 

 the run of a large field and a long run besides ; the others are in a 

 small yard. We feed on whole corn in the morning, and ground 

 oats slaked with milk or water. Last year we had from twenty- 

 four hens and two cocks 1866 eggs, and never wanted for new- 

 laid eggs. We reared a number of chickens. In my next I will 

 say something as to the different breeds. — Ccltor. 



crowing hen PRODUCTIVE. 



I SEE by your answer to " Sp.inish Cock's " inquiry concerning 

 a crowing hen that it is useless to keep her, as she will never lay. 

 I have a White Dorking hen that crows ; she always answers 

 the cock in the morning, and is the best layer out of five. She 

 has laid twenty-six eggs since the 21st of last December to the 

 Ist of the present month inclusive, and she has not left off yet. 

 She is a good sitter and mother as well. Her age is from four 

 to five years ; she has always crowed since I have had her. I 



