October 7, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



325 



immerGed in a pail of water in which a sufficient quantity of 

 Boft soap has been dissolved ; iudeed, it has been necessary to 

 dip all the pot plants only quite recently, &(\ the ppider could 

 not be kept under by frequent Byrinpinf*. The difTiculty with 

 Strawberry plants is to reach the insects, as they feed upon the 

 under Bides of the leaves. 



Mr. W. Taylor*8 remarks last week are very mnch to the point 

 as regards the influence of soils on cultivation, but soil exerciBes 

 quite as much inflaence on the insect pests as it does upon the 

 trees. We could almost venture to say that Mr. Taylor knows 

 nothing of the trouble that we have to keep our plants clean 

 and healthy ; aud not only does this hold good with Strawberry 

 plants, but Viues, Peaches, Melons, aud Cucumbers are under 

 the same control. Gardeners who have had experience only 

 with heavy or clay soil may think too much fuss is made of the 

 difficulty of dealiug with insect pestp, but this only proves the 

 value of experience gained in such widely different circum- 

 stances as that of the different correspondents of this Journal. 



FRUIT AND FORCING HOUSES. 



Vineries. — Those who intend to start their Vines about the 

 end of November should have them pruned and the canes di- 

 vested of all loose bark, thoroughly wapbing them and afterwards 

 painting with the usual dressing — viz., 2 ozs. of soft soap dis- 

 solved in a quart of water, and add to this a little tobacco liquor 

 and thicken to the consistency of paint with flowers of sulphur. 

 A little Boot added will tone down the colour. Our attention is 

 next directed to the inside border. The surfnce soil of this 

 should be removed to the depth of from 3 to 6 inches. If few 

 roots are near the surface the greater depth should be removed. 

 This old soil is to be replaced with some rich dressing. Stable 

 and cow manure in equal proportions answer our purpose best; 

 this is moderately rotted and mixed in about equal proportions 

 of good turfy loam. Many persons might not be able to obtain 

 this, and manure from the hen houses or pigeon lofts could be 

 obtained ; this might be used in the proportion of &ix parts of loam 

 to one of manure. Guano or bones ground to powder are equally 

 well adapted for this purpose. One good Grape-grower always 

 uses cow manure for his Vmes, and though he does not grow 

 large or very highly finished bunches we never tasted better- 

 flavoured Grapes. This may not be attributable to the manure, 

 but to the loam, which is medium clay on a clay subsoil, and 

 well adapted fur Vine culture. 



In the late bouses, as is usual when the leaves begin to fall, 

 there is some difficulty in preventing the berries from decaying. 

 The best way is to air the houees freely by day, at the same 

 time warming the heating apparatus ; but the heat ought to be 

 turned off in time to allow the pipes to become cool before the 

 house is shut up at night. It is quite as well to shut up close 

 as not, for not only are the nights becoming quite cool, but the 

 atmosphere at the same time is usually laden with moisture. 

 We remove all decaying berries and leaves as soon as they are 

 perceived. 



MUSHROOM HOUSE. 



Some instructions for preparing material for the beds were 

 given a few weeks ago; if the material as directed at that time 

 has been prepared by allowing all the rank steam to be thrown 

 off, the beds may be made up. We make up the earliest beds 

 on the ground if that is not required for forcing Seakale and 

 Rhubarb. It is necessary to say that overmoist material may 

 be fatal to the production of a crop, and the same may be said 

 of too much heat. These are two evils that must be guarded 

 against at all hazards. As we have said in former numbers, 

 success or failure rests in the preparation of the materials. The 

 manure can be dried by being spread out in an airy shed, and 

 a large proportion of moisture is thrown off by evaporation. If 

 it is supposed that the bed is too wet at the lime of spawning, 

 some very dry decayed manure may be placed around the spawn 

 when it is inserted in the hole. At present no artificial heat is 

 required. The spawn will run better if the house is merely 

 ventilated by day and shut up at night, so that the temperature 

 does not fall much below 55*^. Overheating, with a dry atmo- 

 sphere combined, will be very injarious. If it is necessary, as 

 it will be in a few weeks, to use the heating apparatus, water 

 must be sprinkled about to counteract its drying effects. A 

 word on ventilation. Good MuBhrooms may be produced if but 

 little attention is paid to the ventilation, but it is much better 

 to see that the house has a renewal of fresh air daily. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



It is now a busy time in this oepartment; all the plants re- 

 quire to be re-arranged. Camellias that have been out of doors 

 since the flower-buds were Bet have now been removed to the 

 greenhouse. Azaleas and all other New Holland plants will also 

 be placed in positions under glass. At this season it is necessary 

 to lay the plants on their sides to protect them from heavy rains, 

 for as long as there is no danger from frosts the hardier species 

 are better out of doors. We have been repotting stage Pelar- 

 goniums. These beautiful flowers are not quite so popular as 

 the zonal or Bcarlet-flowered section. They cannot be had at 

 all seasons, and the plants are subject to the attacks of green fly ; 

 this may b^ against them, as people uow-a-days like plants that 



can be cultivated with the least amount of trouble. If green, 

 fly is not allowed to make any progress, bat is destroyed by 

 fumigation on its first appearance, tbe plants will nob suffer. 

 The potting material used at this time is lighter — contaios more 

 leaf mould and sand, than that used to repot the plants in 

 spring. The mould is shaken from the roots, so that the plants 

 growing in, say, an 8 inch pot, may be potted in one 6 iochea in 

 diameter. We drain the pots well and pot moderately firm. 



Some young Heaths and other hardwooded plants that were 

 potted in August have filled their pots full of roots, and have 

 again been potted. It is now quite late enough for repotting 

 plants of this nature, but it is better that any young speci- 

 mens be shifted at once than that they should be checked in 

 their growth for want of pot-room. The Chrysanthemums that 

 were showing colour in the flowers have been removed to the 

 blooming house; the others will be taken in as soon as they are 

 ready. — J. Douglas. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 

 Secretaries will oblige us by informing ua of the datea on 

 which exhibitions are to be held. 



Jersey.— Autumn October 13th, Chrysanthemnma NoTember 10th. Major 



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

 LouoHBOKOUGH.— November 15th and ICth. Mr. W. Palletfc, 55, Battergate, 

 Sec. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



Charles Turner, Royal Narseries, Slough. — Catalogue of Roses, 

 Fruit Trees, Coniferce, d-c. 



Hoopes Brother & Thomas, Cherry Hill Nurseries, West 

 Chester, P. A. — Trade List of Ornajnental Trees and Shrubs, 

 Fruit Trees, d'C. 



Messrs. William Paul & Sons, Waltham. Cross Narseries, Lon- 

 don, N. — Catalogue of Bases. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

 *,* All correspondence should bo 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 aud expense. 



Alexandra Palace Show. — We find that Mr. Rawling8 of Romford was 

 awarded a special certificate for an excellent collection of named varieties of 

 Dahliae. The blooms were large and in good condition. 



Address iH. B.). — It is not our practice to furnish the names of any corre- 

 spondents who prefer to write anonymoualy. 



Preparing Qdinces for Table (R ). — There are various ways of nsing 

 them, as in cakes creams, jelly, marmalade, pnddiogs, tarts, preserveB, and 

 as i.iickles. To detail all these modea woald take up too much space, bat if 

 you specify your requirements we are willing to aid yon. 



Glsdioli not Flowering {M. H.). — The bulbs ought to have bloomed. 

 Let them remain until the foliage turns yellow then take them up and store 

 in a cool and dry place, planting them again in March. We hope you will 

 have better succeas next year. 



Admitting Azaleas Infested with Mealy Bug and Camellias with 

 Scale to a New Greenhouse iB.). — There is little chance of your clearing 

 the plants of these pests in a new anymore than in an old huuse; and 

 tbout^h we should not object to the CameUiaa, we should not admit the 

 Azaleas had we tbe alternative. 



Edging foe Kitchen Garden Walks— Material for Waiks (Idem), 

 — Edgm^ tUea. if stout and hard-burned so as to withstand frost, are best, 

 and fur the walk asphalt. 



Skating Rink. — *' Oena" asis what is the nature of the flooring of the 

 skating-rink in use at Aston Park and other plai;es ? 



Two Best Peaches for a South Wall {M. E. P,).— It is difficult to 

 select two of tbe very beat as there are now so many very good kinds, but wo 

 give you two selections of two each — Dr. Hogg aud Noblesse, and Crawford's 

 Early and Gosse Mignonne. The last-named is of splendid quality, bat tho 

 tree is rather sabjtct to mildew. 



Select Pyrethrcms (TT. W. B.).— Ne Plus Ultra, Versailles Defiance, 

 Snlfaterre. Delica'isBimum, Miss Kirke, Imiieratrice Charlotte, striatum 

 plenum, Carminatum plenum, Boule de Neige, Galathea, Alfred Salter, 

 RoBBUm Perfectum, Imbricata plena. Brilliant, aud Princess de Mettemich. 



Moving Briars Stbuck and Budded this Year {Briar S/ocfc).— Yon 

 may move them next November, the stock being as efficiently rooted as they 

 will be in twelvemonths hence, though for sale purposes it la necessary they 

 stand a year to become plants instead of buda as at present. 



Heating a Greenhouse (Q. M.). — The very best (and cheapest in tbe end) 

 mode of heating a greenhouse is with a stove boiler fixed iurtide the house and 

 2-inch hot-waier pipes, and for a greenhouse tbe size you name you will 

 require four rows of 2-inch piping the length of the boose. The boiler may 

 be beneath the stage, or you may have it in a shed at the back of tbe house. 

 If you have it inside be careful that the smoke-flue, or that carrying off tho 

 obnoxious products of combustion, be perfectly tight, none of the vapotira 

 escaping by the joints into the house, and take it outside clear of tho wood* 

 work. 



Distance of ^spar^gus Plants (Tilta).— The plants being in rows 

 2 feet apart in beds 4 feet wide, and the beds having 2-feet alleys bttween, are 

 as well as they can be, the plants being 15 inches apart in the rows. Con- 

 nover'e Culuseal is a btrong grower, but will do excellently at the distance yoa 

 have ^ven it. We consider Asparagus does beit a yard apart and 15 inches 



