July 29, 187B. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



99 



previously ; of coarse this is not absolutely necessary, nor is it 

 necessary at all if the plants are not heavily cropped. We have 

 had the same plants bear continuously very nearly, if not quite, 

 all tlie year round ; but recently, whether owinR to a change of 

 loam or treatment, the plants do not grow freely. After bear- 

 ing only a few weeks they have stopped growing, and after a 

 few weeks' rest started again. We are changing the loam, and 

 hope to have better results. 



Melons have been poor in flavour this year. Even Scarlet 

 Gem, which is usually good under adverse circumstances, has 

 been of indifferent quality. Those who have only the usual old- 

 fashioned box lights are almost helpless to improve the quality 

 of their fruit in dull weather. In heated houses it is different, 

 for by applying artificial heat and ventilating freely, with a 

 moderately dry atmosphere, the flavour may be much improved 

 in dull cold weather. By planting out at once in a heated house 

 Melons may be obtained in October, after that month the quality 

 of the fruit is bad. For late fruit the soil ought not to be rich ; 

 no manure at all should be added to the turfy loam, and only a 

 very little rotted manure if the loam is of poor quality. 



ORCHARD HOUSE. 



Early Bivers Peach is the first to ripen, as we do not now 

 grow Early Beatrice, which used to be a few days earlier; but 

 the less said about flavour the better. It requires plenty of sun 

 and a dry atmosphere to ripen-off the fruit of this sort, and 

 which cannot be perfected in an orchard house where Early York 

 "will not be ripe for three or four weeks. If a house could be 

 devoted to the Early Peaches raised by Mr. Rivers, where they 

 could have that treatment which they specially require when 

 ripening, a very different opinion would be formed of them 

 than has been formed by those growing the trees with other 

 varieties not ripening at the same time. It is still necessary 

 to syringe freely, and to keep up a high and rather moist tem- 

 perature in the house. 



GKKENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



We have been busy finishing the potting of hardwooded plants ; 

 Heaths and Epacris were amongst them. These require very 

 similar treatment; the potting material is turfy peat, to which 

 is added a liberal supply of white or silver sand. In some cases 

 the plants and pots have become too large for us. When this 

 was the case an inch or more of the ball of roots was sliced off 

 all round with a chopper, and the plant placed in the same 

 Gized pot ; after being established in the pot the plant will be 

 reduced in size. Camellias have also been repotted, the compost 

 being two parts turfy peat to one of loam. In potting Camellias 

 the roots must not be injured, and any plants that have not 

 made roots freely may have the old mould picked out with a 

 pointed stick, and then be repotted in the same sized pot. — 

 J. Douglas. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



Secretaries will oblige ns by informing ua of the datea on 

 which exhibitions are to be held. 



Shkewsbury.— July 29th and 30th. Mr. H. W. Adnitt, Hon.-Sec. 

 SouTHAMPTON.—Juiy 31sc and August 2nd. Mr. C. S. Fuidge, 32, York 



Street, Lower Avenue, Sec. 

 SEDtiELY (Cottagers).— August 3rd. Sir. W. M. Hughes, See. 

 Weston-super-Mare.— August 4th. Mj-. W. B. Frampton, Seo. 

 Ilkeston and Shipley.— August 4th and .5th. Mr. R. Blount, Sec. 

 Newport (Monmouthshire!. — August 5th. 

 Otley.— August 7th. Mr. Jno. Lee, Hon.-Sec. 



Rossendale—Newcftubch.— August 7th. Mr. M. J. Lrinsdale, Newchurch , 

 LiTTLEOVER (near Derhy).— August 7th. Mr. B. Toft, Hon.-Sec. [Sec. 



Canterdury. — August i2th. 

 National Carnation and Picotee SocrETY.— August 13th and 14th, in 



Manchester Botanic Gaidens. Kev. F, D. Horner, Kirkby Malzeard, 



Hon.-Sec. 

 BuENOPFiELD. — August 14th. Mr. J. Hood. Sec. 

 Idle.— August 14th. Mr. H. N. liUagworth. Sec. 

 Coventry {at; Coombe Abbey).— August 17th. Mr. T. Wigston, 3, Portland 



TeiTace, Sec. 

 Dover. — August 18th. 



NoBTHLEACH.— August 18th. Mr. J. Walker, Hon. -Sec. 

 Eastbourne— in the Devonshire Park.— August 19feh. H. A. E. Rumble, 



Esq.. 26, Hyde Gardens, Sec. 

 Glastoneury.— August IDth. Rev. E. Handley, Hon.-Sec. 

 PoNTYPOOL.— August 19th. Mr. Ernest Deacon, Hon.-Sec. 

 Hartlepool.— August 2ith. Mr. Councillor H. Magoris, Hon.-Sec. 

 Newberry.— August 24th. Mr. H. Seymour. Hon.-Sec. 

 Isle of Thanet (St. Peters).- August 25th. 

 Ramsgate.— August 25th. C. D. Smith, Esq., 8, Marine Terrace, Margate, 



Hon.-Sec. 

 Dundee.— August 26th, 27th, and 23th. Mr. R. McKelvie, 51, Reform Street, 



Sec. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

 All correspondence should 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 our 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. 



Books {W, W. L,), — We have not Heen the book you mention. Any book- 

 seller in Worcester could obtain the information. (C M. WA. — *' Dixon's 

 Treatise of Hybridisation and Culture of Tricolor Geraniums" can be had 

 from our office, free by post, 6Arf. 



Grapes (B. W. C).— Write to Messrs. Webber, fruitists, Central Avenue' 

 Covent Garden. 



Chamomile (Ji. H. D.). — It is a tonic. The flowers only are use<l. Put a 

 handful oX them into a teapot that will h<ild a pint, and hll it up with boiling 

 water. A wineglassftiU morning and night promotes digeetion. If your 

 plants never flower it is either because the soil is too rich or you have not the 

 right species of Anthemis. We know of no book devoted to the culture of 

 medicinal plaute. That on garden plans is not published. Enclose live 

 postage stamps and order our " Flower Garden Manual." 



Peach Cultcre (Norire). — Brehaut's "Modern Peach Praner" will suit 

 you. You can havo it free by post from our office if you enclose forty-four 

 postage stamps with your address. 



Window Gardening (fl. J. F.). — "Window Gardening for the Many" 

 contains all the information you require. If yon enclose ten postage stamps 

 with your address you can have it free by post. 



Royal Horticultural Society's Snow.^Our reporter and the ofBcial 

 advertisement given to us state that Mr. Brise was first in "sis florists' 

 varieties sent out in 1873, or not in commerce." Mr. Postans writes to uk 

 that this is a mistake ; Mr. Burley (not Bulby, as stated in the official prize 

 list) was first in this class with varieties raised by him. 



Show Pelargoniums after Flowering {Pclartfotii urn).— StB.n^ them 

 outdoors in a sUghtly shaded situation and on a hard bottom, and in about 

 three weeks cut down each shoot at two or at most three eyes of the base of 

 the last season's growth ; and when they have broken and have shoots barely 

 an inch long, turn out of the pots and remove all the old soil, trimming-in 

 the roots, and repot in a size leas pot tb,an those they were flowered in, and 

 place them in a cold pit or frame, keeping rather close until fresh roots are 

 formed, then admit air abundantly, protecting from heavy rains. At the 

 close of September or early in October remove them to shelves or stages in a 

 light airy position. In November they may be stopped, and in December 

 have them in their blooming pots. Three parts turfy loam, one part old cow 

 dung, one part leaf soil, and half a part of silver sand, forms a good compost. 

 Zonals whit;h havo done flowering may be treated in the same way. 



Caterpillar on Rose Bushes (G. I*.).— The green caterpillar foraging 

 upon the leaves may be destroyed by sprinkling with white hellebore powder, 

 1 oz. to a gallon of water, well mixed, and sprinkleil in the evening or early 

 morning through a rose watering-pot. If any are folded iu the leaves they 

 must be squeezed. 



Potato Seed Saving (Constant Reader). — So soon as the skins are set — 

 as they for the kind you name will be by this time — take up, choosing dry 

 weather, and place them on shelves in a dry shed cool and thoroughly ven- 

 tilated, and but one layer deep, aod if the shelves are of latticework all the 

 better, as the seed will have air both above and beneath. On the approach of 

 frost they should he moved to a situation free from it, and the cooler they are 

 kept up to Februtti7, but safe from frost, the better. The first sprouts 

 should be carefully preserved; the advising of keeping them cool is to prevent 

 undue excitement. We are glad you will soon be able to fruit your seedling 

 Peach trees. 



Madresfield Court Grape Cracking (An Old Reader). — The probable 

 cause of the berries cracking is too dry an atmosphere in the early stages of 

 the growth, and an insufficiency of water at the roots during the first swell- 

 ing period, aod at the second swelling or ripening period tho atmosphere is 

 too moist, and the supply of sap, from too great moisture at the roots, ex- 

 cessive. It may arise from the low temperature you have kept, which would, 

 from lessening the necessity for air-giving, tend te a closer and moister 

 atmosphere. Keep drier and a good heat, admitting air very freely. The 

 Vine is probably cou'^titutionally weak, and iinless it at the second growth be 

 strong, having bsen close cut-in, we should replace it by a fresh cane. 



Tomatoes Infested by Insects and Mildew {R. Q. AT.).- The white 

 fly is difficult of extermination, for upon the application of tobacco smoke 

 it, when the smoke is not dense, drops to the floor or soil, and is so 

 far out of harm's way. Fumigation with tobacco we advise, having first 

 flooded the floors with water; and after the fumigatioB, when the house is so 

 free of smoke as to be endurable, syringe the house, and espacially the plants 

 infested, thoroughly with a dilation of tobacco, one gallon to six of water, 

 and this will take the insects before they rise, and will destroy them. For 

 the mildew, dust the infested psirts with flowers of sulphur and admit air 

 more freely. 



Canna Culture (Canna). — The plants in pots you may either plant out or 

 keep in pots in a greenhouse well supplied with water, shifting them into 

 lar^'er pots as they require it. If planted out they should have a sheltered 

 situation, and a light soil enriched with leaf soil or well-rotted manure, and 

 be well supplied with water in dry weather. After the first frost in October 

 the roots should be taken up and be laid in a shed for a few days t j dry, and 

 then be stored away iu sand in a cellar or other place safe from frost. 



Vines and Plants Browned (4 Thirtecn-years Subscriber).— The ie&ves 

 you have sent us are scorched, probably from keeping the house too close and 

 the foliage wet, which causes the leaves to be browned by the rapid evapora- 

 tion of the water from their surfaces. Admit air more freely, and especially 

 in the early part of the day, with a little at night. There is no trace of 

 insects, and if the Vines have leaves in the same pUght as those sent us of 

 plants and Ferns, and the Grapes aie just ripening, they will not do so per- 

 fectly, and the flavour will be poor. Shade the Ferns. 



SIeloxs not Setting (A Subscriher). — The female flowers you sent ns are 

 very weak, hot are nevertheless perfect, and would set were the frame lined 

 so as to give increased warmth, and admit of air being given not only in fine 

 weather but in dull, and O'^pecially at night, for which there is great necessity 

 when Melons are setting to prevent moisture being deposited upjn the 

 flowers. Leave a little ah- on day and night, whatever the weather may be, 

 until the plants have set the fruit. Keep the Vines rather thin, impregnate 



