278 



JOURNAL OF HORXICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Soptemoer 23, 1875. 



now is to prevent any decay from spreading on the bunches, nor 

 shonld any dnst be permitted to lodge upon the berries. This 

 cannot be avoided if the vineries are situated near a public high- 

 way; the dust that arises from the traffic penetrates to the 

 Grapes even if gauze is placed over the ventilators. In the 

 matter of mouldy berries from now until the leaves fall we find 

 the Grapes require daily attention. A pair of scissors is kept in 

 the vinery, and if mould is noticed the berry is removed before 

 the decay has time to spread. If it is necessary to apply arti- 

 ficial heat to the vinery, it is best to do it in the daytime. Let 

 the pipes be warmed sufficiently by 2 or 3 p.m., and then stop 

 the flow of the water if the house is connected with others ; if it 

 is not, the fire ought to be lighted in the morning and allowed 

 to die out by midday. When there are no plants in the house 

 the difficulty is easily overcome, but in many places there is no 

 choice in the matter. When plants require water it ought to be 

 applied in the morning, so that the damp may evaporate as 

 much as possible daring the time the ventilators are open to 

 their fullest extent. 



Many persons, will be preparing to plant their vineries, not only 

 for late but also for early fruiting. Lady Downes' is still the best 

 variety for very late purposes ; it is also a Grape that is esteemed 

 by some at a time when Alicante, Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat, or 

 Gros Gmllaume can be had in good condition. If we were to 

 plant a house for very late Grapes, say for nse from January to 

 May, it would be with Mrs. Pinee, Alicante, and Lady Downes' ; 

 half of it would be occupied with the last-named and half with 

 the other two, planting most of Alicante as being the most cer- 

 tain of the two. If no Muscats were grown in any other vinery 

 it would be very desirable to find a place for Muscat of Alex- 

 andria. The same treatment is suitable for all of them. 



CUCTMBEK AND MELON HOUSES. 



Our plants for the winter Cucumbers were planted some time 

 ago, and are now in bearing; if they had to be cropped heavily 

 they would not bear well at midwinter, but by very light cropping 

 at this season Cucumber plants will continue to bear all through 

 the winter. Where a good supply has to be maintained it is 

 better to allow the plants to become exhausted by Christmas, 

 and to have a second set to begin to bear from that time on- 

 wards ; they ought to be planted out by the middle of October. 

 It is well to grow the plants with plenty of air when weather 

 permits, so that a healthy growth may be made to form a good 

 foundation to start upon for future crops ; above all, see that 

 the plants are kept clean and free from all insect pests. This 

 has been repeatedly urged in these papers as advice of the first 

 importance ; for if red spider or thrips continue to suck the 

 juices of the leaves at a time when all the strength of the plant 

 is required to produce fruit, the result may be predicted. 



There is one thing which may seem of minor importance, but 

 it is not so, and that is the position of the soil or compost in 

 which the Cucumbers are planted. This ought always to be raised 

 high enough to allow the sun to act upon it, for if it is placed 

 down in a pit where the sun's rays are intercepted by the front 

 wall, the plants cannot possibly do so well. It is the minor 

 details that are the means of securing success in this as in 

 greater things. The intelligent cultivator will take note of the 

 circumstances under which he is placed, and will act accord- 

 ingly ; but this ought never to be lost sight of— that sun and air 

 are the grand agents that will, if utilised on the best principles, 

 contribute more than all the rest to the cultivator's success. 

 The weather still continues most favourable for Melons, and 

 the autumn crops have been better than those obtained at mid- 

 summer, and very little artificial heat is required to ripen them. 



GKEENHOUSE AND CONSERV.iTOEY. 



It is now a busy time with Chrysanthemum growers. The 

 ardent cultivator is constantly amonRst his plants, tying and 

 training the specimens, and "setting'' the blooms on the plants 

 intended to produce cut flowers. 'This last operation requires 

 some knowledge of the different varieties, as some take longer 

 to open than others, and if they are all " set " at one time they 

 will not be all ready as they ought to be on the exhibition day. 

 All the side growths that start under the flower-buds must be 

 removed as soon as they can be taken hold of with the finger 

 and thumb. When the buds are set manure water is applied at 

 every alternate watering. This also must be a matter of ex- 

 perience, for some of the sorts take as much manure water as 

 the roots will appropriate without injury, while others may 

 require but little or none at all. There are flowers that will be 

 coarse under any treatment, but manure water will be the means 

 of producing this objectionable feature in the flowers. 



'True or perpetual- flowering Carnations are now swelling their 

 buds rapidly, and the first of them will be in flower in October, 

 a succession of flowers are then obtained from two or three 

 dozens of plants for the next twelve months. Last year's plants 

 are still flowering, at least a few of them, as the greater portion 

 have been removed from the house for want of space. Stage 

 Pelargoniums are now ready for repotting ; the old soil ought 

 to be shaken away from the roots and the plants be repotted 

 in much smaller pots. -Azaleas and other New Holland plants 

 are left out of. doors while the weather is favourable ; if a wet 



period should Bet in all of them will be better indoors.- 

 J. Douglas. 



HORTICULTUEAL EXHIBITIONS. 

 Secketakies will oblige us by Informing ua ol the dates on 

 which exhibitions are to be held. 



Ale.xandra Palace (Potatoes). — September 29th antl 30th. ilr. P. McKin- 



lay, 23, Upper Thames Street, London, Hon.-Sec. 

 Jersey. — Autmun October 13th, Ctirysanthemams November 10th. Major 



Howell, Spring Grove, St. Lawrence, Hon. Sec. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



James Dickson, Newton Nurseries, Chester. — Catalogue of 

 Dutch Flower Roots, Roses, and Garden Requisites. 



The New Plant and Bulb Company, Lion Walk, Colchester. — 

 Liht of Japanese Lilies, Orchids, dc. 



Smith & Simons, 36, Howard Street, Glasgow.— CaiaZo^we of 

 Trees, Shrubs, and Bulbs. 



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. 



Heine Claude de Bavay Plum (G. S.).— The Plum etclosed was quite 

 sound. We do not grow this variety in the orchard house, b it out of doors 

 it is 80 uncertain that we thought of discarding it. Probably a maggot 

 inside is tho cause of the defect ; we have often had the fruit injuied by them 

 when no trace of its entrance could be observed outside. We cannot acconnt 

 for it in any other way. 



Large Strawberries. — "C.B.G." wishes " AnExperiencedGardeser" 

 would tell how he cultivated the plants which bore the large Oscars mentioned 

 in this Journal, August 12th. 



Pears Rdsted and Small (L. J. £".).— The disease and the inferior size 

 are evidence that the soil is very much too poor. It should be liberally 

 manured at once, and the surface kept mulched during the spring and summer, 

 Mesemeryanthemcm cordifolium variegatcm from Seed (T. W. B.), 

 — It may be raised from seed, and the best time to sow it is in July, eo as to 

 have tho plants well established before winter, they either bdog pricked off 

 in pans or potted off singly, keeping rather dry during the winter. Sow in 

 gentle heat in February, and grow on in gentle hent, pricking cff the seed- 

 lings when large enough to handle, hardening well off before planting out. 



Vaccinium latifolium (Idem). — We do not know that it has any "nse," 

 only an ornamental evergreen shrub requiring to be gi-own in peat soiL 



Palm and Drac.ena Seed Sowing (A Youn>j Garde iter). —Sovr them all 

 in strong heat in February, and in a compost of two parts fibrous peat and 

 one part turfy loam, with a free admixture of silver sand, covering each the 

 diameter of the seeds, and keep moist. A bottom heat of 90- is not too 

 much, and top heat of 75- to 90'^. 



Raising Variegated Hollies from Seed (Lfi/tor). — The seed will ger- 

 minate, and a majority of the seedlings will be green-leaved, but these may 

 and often do throw off variegated parts. These may be propagated by graft- 

 ing, or the green paits cut away. The seeds will not vegetate untU the 

 second year. Both green and variegated Hollies may be raised from cuttings 

 — the ripened shoots of the current year put in now in sandy soil surfaced 

 with an inch of sand nnder hand-lights on a north border. Hollies have the 

 male and female organs in the individual flowers, but some trees do not pro- 

 duce benies, they being for the most part very vigorous. 



Hyacinth and Tclip Seed Sowing (F. W. H.).— Sow both now in light 

 sandy soil in a sheltered situation, covering about a quarter of an inch deep, 

 and afford protection from frost in severe weather, or defer sowing until 

 March, and the seedlings will appear about June, and are not to be taken up 

 until the July following twelvemonth, planting them again in October. 



Markchal Niel Working on Hybrid Perpetcal {Idem).— It would 

 succeed admirably, the Perpetual upon the Briar being of free growth. 



Diseased Potatoes, are They ISFECTiors (P. M.).—li the season be 

 favourable, Potatoes planted in ground where diseased tubers have been 

 allowed to rot will not be affected. We have known the experiment purposely 

 tried. At the same time it is not an advisable practice to grow Potatoes on 

 the same plot tho following year. 



Fungus on Peae Leaves (J. ^.).— The brown projecting patches beneath 

 the leaves are a fungus, Koestelia cancellata. Gather every affected leaf and 

 bum it ; do not let any remain on the ground— burn all. It is very de- 

 structive. 



Lady Downes' Seedling Grape (J. A.). — This variety of Grape will enc- 

 ceed in a house where it can have a night temperature of 65-"" when the fruit 

 is setting. This it can have in a greenhouse about the middle of May, after 

 that no artificial heat is required until the time of ripening— about the end 

 of August. The greenhouse ought to be Bhut-up at six o'clock during the 

 summer months. We do not recommend Lady Downes' to be planted in a 

 greenhouse, but you asked if it could be growc. We may as well say that by 

 far the best Grape for greenhouse culture is Black Hamburgh. 



StraiiN-berriesfor London Markets [B. IT'.).— Keens' Seedling for early 

 produce, and Dr. Hogg for succession. 



