432 



JOUBNAL OF HOKTIOULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 



( May 23. 1874. 



is not a good one for a Cucumber houBe, it will nevertheless answer. We should 

 simply have a ylasa roof fixed, and with thiee lights at the upper part to 

 open for ventilation, which need not be more than 3 feet wide and 2 feet 

 long, and raised in a similar manner to stjUgbts. You will need but little 

 front ventilation, but you may have two ventilators in the front wall tbat 

 need not exceed 2 feet by 1 foot. Front lights for such a house are not nece;- 

 sary, a glass roof will bo sufficient. A flue all round the bouse will give you 

 sufficient heat, having the bed for the plants over the flue in front, and troughs 

 on the flue to hold water. These maybe formed of cement, "Thompson's 

 Oardener's Assistant" will suit you. 



Dahlia. Stems Pegging (E. C.).— The bed, we presume, has been tho- 

 roughly dug and manured, exposed during the winter to the weather, and 

 well raised in the centre. In planting, the Dahlias should be planted inclin- 

 ing to the soil, eo that when they have grown a little they can be pegged 

 down. Without this precaution at planting they are apt to break-off at the 

 gi-ound when pegged down; this should be done three weeks or a mouth after 

 plantinsf. The growths, as they advance, will require regulatiug, and pegging 

 should bo proceeded with until the ground ig covered. The show and fancy 

 feinds are not suitable; the dwarf bedding varieties are best. They should 

 be planted at the eame distance apart as each kind attains in height, having 

 the tallest in the centre and the dwarfest at the sides. A dozen good dwarf 

 bedding sorts are :— Dwarf Queen, purple, tipped white, 3 feet ; Leah, yellow, 

 a feet; Bob Ridlev, red, 2* feet; Alhe. Multiflora, white, 2J feet; Little 

 "Wonder, scarlet, 2i feet; The Pet, dark maroon, white tip, 2 feet; Cloth of 

 Gold, bright yellow, 2i feet ; Faust, shaded dark maroon, 2 feet ; Mont Blanc, 

 white, 2 feet ; Dark Model, deep crimson, 2 feet ; Orange Boven, orange, 2 feet ; 

 aad Rising Sun, intense scarlet, lA foot. 



Removing Runners of Strawberries in Pots (O. N.).~Th6 runners 

 should be removed as they appeal-. They impair the vigour of the plants, and 

 the size and quahty of the fruit. 



WooDLicE Destroying (A Cork Subscriber).— The beat way to destroy 

 -woodlice is to place a little hay all round close to the wall or side of the frame, 

 leaving the bed uncovered, and on the removal of the hay in the morning they 

 will be congregated in the angle formed by the wall and side of the bed; on 

 them pour boiling water. The hay as removed should be plunged in boiling 

 water. This repeated a few times will thin their numbers more than any- 

 thing we know. 



Burning Sulphur in Vinery (S. N. M.).~Ot course it would destroy the 

 leaves and berries, for b? burning sulphur you formed sulphurous acid. Dust- 

 ing the leaves of the Vines with flowers of sulphur is the best treatment for 

 removing mildew. Keep the air of the house cool, and the rooto warm and 

 watered with tepid water to promote the production of fresh foliage, and save 

 the few Grapes remaining. 



Melons with Cucusibers (A Lady in Ch'i<hire).—lt is quite true they 

 may be grown together ; but if they are, neither can be so tine or well flavoured 

 aa if grown in separate frames. 



Oiled Canvas (B.).— Old pale linseed oil thi-ee quarts, acetate of lead 

 2 ozs., and white resin 8 ozs. The acetate of lead to be ground with a little 

 of the oil; then add the rest of the oil and the resin, and incorp -rate tho- 

 roughly in an iron pot over a gentle fire, and with a larpe brush apply hot to 

 the calico stretched loosely previously by tacks upon a frame. In twenty- 

 four hours it is fit for use. and may be tacked on the frame tightly to remain. 

 If only a small piece of calico is to be oiled, take a proportion of the several 

 ingredients suflicient for your requirements. 



Propagating Poinsettias (Idem). —The soft young growths will not 

 strike well now, but they do admirably in July or the early part of August, 

 the points being taken off with two joints and the growing point (cutting 

 immediately under the lowest joint), and inserted singly in 3-inch pots in 

 sandy loam, leaf soil, and sand, in equal proportions. Place the cuttings in a 

 gentle bottom heat of 75-, keep close, and shaded from sun. ^Vhen well 

 rooted, admit light and air gradually, and remove to a position near the 

 glass in alit^ht, airy, cool stove or warm greenhouse, shifting into 5 or 6-inuh 

 pots; or if the plants are wanted in small pots 4^ inch pots will suffice. They 

 ehould have the shift into larger pots when they are moved from the pro- 

 pagating frame. Tou may also put in the eyes or cuttings with two joints, 

 but do not remove the leaves except for cuttingsi with two joints, which may 

 have the lowest leaf removed. Insert the eyes with the leaf. These, if placed 

 in gentle bottom heat, kept moist, not wet, and shaded, will soon root and 

 make fresh shoots ; and shifted into larger pots and grtiwn on they will flower 

 during the coining winter. Those from the points of the shoots will flower 

 ^e earliest. 



_ Sulphate of Iron (Idem).— At the rate you name, lib. to 100 gallons of 

 liquid manure, it would be quite safe to apply to Roses, but what benefit it 

 will confer on your neighbours we are at a loss to know, though it may act 

 beneficially on the plants. Without injury to your neighbours you may 

 ftpply the liquid manure, there being no better deodoriser than soil. For the 

 Zonal and Tricolor Pelargoniums there is no better liquid manure than one 

 peck each sheep droppings and soot tn thirty gallons of rain water, applying 

 twice a- week. Guano is also good if applied at every alternate watering at the 

 rate of 1 oz.to the gallon. The liquid in each case should be thoroughly mixed, 

 well Btirring up each time. It will be suitable for Verbenas in pots. 



Clintonia pulchella Failing (A Con^taut lifadcr).— The seed only re- 

 quires to be sown in a pot or pan well drained, and filled to within half an 

 inch of the rim with soil, placing over the drainage an inch of the rough of 

 the compost, and then fine soil sifted. The surface should be made fine and 

 even, and the seeds scattered evenly, and covered very lightly with fioe 

 soil, just enough to say there is some. Place the pots in a hotbed, and water 

 lightly as required, to keep them moist but not wet, aud wben the plantu 

 appear keep them near the glass and well aired, watering carefully. When 

 large en<Migh to handle prick them out carefully in pot? or pans about an 

 inch apart, and shade for a few days, watering very moderately, and when 

 well established harden well off, and plant out or remove to a light airy 

 position in the greenhouse for flowering. The watering should only be when 

 the soil is dry, and then give a thorough supply. Sandy loam with a third of 

 leaf soil will grow the plant well. We are unable to account for your failure, 

 therefore give you the treatment by which we succeed. 



Sanhersonia aurantiaca Culture (E. L. C). — Pot them, just covering 

 the bulbs with soil, which may consist of two parts fibrous yellow loam, one 

 part eaoh sandy peat and leaf soil, with a sixth of silver sand, the whole well 

 mixed, and chopped-up fine but not sifted ; provide good drainage. In 

 potting only let the soil be about an inch below the rim ol the pot, and when 

 the plants have grown a few inches above the rim, top-ilross with the saoje 

 kind of soil a.^ was used in potting. Place in a gentle bottom heat of 75^ to 

 80°, and water only to keep the soU moiat, giving what may be necessary just 



within the rim ; and when they have made roots and are growing freely 

 gi-adually withdraw from the hotbed, and remove to a li^jht airy position in 

 the greenhouse, wntering freely duriog growth, and when this ceases keep 

 rather dry, and in the greenhouse during the winter. Puts twice the diameter 

 of the bulbs are sufficient. If small you may place three or more in a pot, 

 allowing for an inch of soil between the bulbi and the pot. 



Pot Strawberries Failing (Faihtre).— The cause of your uon-succeaa 

 rests, we think, with the plants, last season not being favourable for the 

 ripening of the growth aud full maturity of the crowns. The treatment seems 

 to have been cuiTect, except that the saucers if used at too early a stage 

 may have caused the roots to decay, and now that the berries are ripening 

 they damp-off, which must be caused by too close and moist an atmoaphere. 

 Give more air, and keep drier. 



Cucumbers Gangrened (Coiistantlicader).— The i^eol sent us shows that 

 the Cucumbers have an exudation of sap— a gangrene or ulceration on the 

 surface, resulting from an excess of sap induced by the too rich food which 

 the foliage and fruit cannot elaborate ; and it ie parted with on the surface of 

 the fruit, also the young shoots and stems of the plants. It ia common to luxu- 

 riant plants in a dull and cold period, but disappears in warmer aud brighter 

 weather. Keep ratlier drier, and give a little extra warmth, not taking away 

 many leaves, but rather encouraging growth. The fruit is wholesome. 



Applying Liquid Manure (A. P.). — The Onions may well not come up. 

 You have rotted the seed in the ground with the liquid manure, which ought 

 not to be applied to anything until it has good root-hold and ia well above 

 ground; then pour it between the rows of plants, and not over them, giving 

 a good soaking every week or fortnight as the weather happens to be dry or 

 otherwise. The surface should be loosened to admit of the liquid freely enter- 

 ing the soil, doing it in the intervals between the applications. It may be 

 given liberally to anything in free growth, hut during growth only, and should 

 not be very strong. It is better weak than strong, diluting it if necessary 

 with water. 



Destroying Slugs and Worms (J(7^7h).— Dust the plants and ground late 

 in the evening in mnist weather or after showers with quicklime, but not 

 during rain, and it wih kill all those it touches. Repeating the dusting after 

 each rain, or late in the evening and early in the morning a few times, will 

 rid you of them. 



MusiiBOOMS Eaten- (TT. JV.l.— We do not think the holes are made by 

 the small flies tb which you allude. If you were to examine at night with a 

 lantern we think you would find woodlice or snails. The latter coining in the 

 egg state with the soil are the cause of the mischief. They may be taken 

 and destroyed; one or two do gi-eat harm. Woodl'ce are more diflicult to 

 deal with. The best plan is to place some hay nest the wall with some roasted 

 Potato under, and over this in the morning pour boiling water close in the 

 angle formed by the wall and bed. It will kill all it touches, also the Mush- 

 rooms, but it need not extend over the bed more than an inch or two from 

 the wall. Repeated a few times it will free you of injury from them for some 

 time. 



Dessert Plums for East Aspect (W. W. B.).— Your situation being 

 oold and expoyed, the following will anBwer:^>olden Gage, Belgian Purple, 

 July Green Gage, Jefferson, Kirke's, and Prince of Wales. 



Field Mice on Lawn {W. F. S.).— Procure some of the smallest size of 

 steel spring traps, and set them by the holes aud in the runs of the mice, 

 taking out soil or turf so as to admit the traps level with the surface, and 

 cover them lightly with flue soil so as to hide the traps, no more soil being 

 used than will do this, and setting them aa delicately as possible. Baits are 

 not of much use, but you may scatter a few Peas, and ii the mice take these yon 

 may steep some Peas in water for a few hours, push through them fine brass 

 wire, about three for a trap, and secure them to the upper side of the trap 

 table, setting the trap as before, covered with soil, the Peas appearing above 

 the surface. Wheat strung in the same way forms a good bait, but you may 

 take mice without baiting. The traps may be had of most ironmongers; the 

 only objection to them is their catching anything that forces down the table 

 of the trap, and the hold is so sure that no cat, dog, or pheasant can escape. 

 The traps have cleared us of mice in places where cats could not go. For 

 destroying mice cats have no equal. Ours in about an hour caught a dozen. 



Names of Plants (Roxcth). — It is Pyrus americina or American Service. 

 It may be grafted on the Mountain Ash or on a Pear stock. (R- R.]. — Prunus 

 PaduK, the Bird Cherry. (S. S.). — It is Ceanothus azureus, Blue-flowered 

 Ceanothus. It may be grown as a bush. 



POULTKT, BEE, AND PIGEON CHEONICLE. 



HTEEID BIRDS. 



"Will you kindly permit me to correct an erroneous quotation 

 that appears in last week's Journal, as reproduced from the 

 " American Fanciers' Journal," by James S. Bailey, M.D., in 

 reference to the production of hybrids, as it might lead to great 

 niiBapf rehension ? The doctor says Mr. Hewitt describes the 

 cross of " the Golden Pheasant cock " with five varieties of 

 fowls. Now the fact is this, I never knew an instance among 

 the many attempts made in which " the Golden Pheasant cock" 

 bred with an;/ description of our domestic poultry, as all such 

 efforts have BisiiaUy failed, for in no case has even a single egg 

 proved to be fertilised. 



I have seen the cross between the Golden and Silver Pheasants, 

 a most lovely hybrid, which, strangely enough, possesses a very 

 considerable portion of the plumage of a distinctly bright 

 mauve liitr, though not a single feather of that colour can be 

 found in either parent. 



The hybrid between the " Golden Pheasant cock " and the 

 English hen Pheasant is invariably a bright deep chestnut 

 throuffhout, but still well crested and tippeted as in the male 

 parent. Both the Golden and Silver Pheasant have been so re- 

 peatedly tested with the view to produce hybrids with the com- 

 raou domestic fowl (and that, too, under the most favourable 

 circumstances vrithout success), that I deem it impossible to ob- 



