64 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Medlabs. — X. Z. — The proper time to gather medlars is, the latter part of 

 October or the beginning of November. We would advise their being kept in 

 the following manner, which will effectually prevent them from acquiring that 

 dry rotten state, to which they are so liable : — Select a dry day for the purpose, 

 and see that none are bruised ; have them placed singly on open shelves in a cool 

 place, and look them over once a week, and the moment one is found decaying 

 (not ripening), remove it, as one will taint the whole. They are much affected 

 by a minute fungus, which spreads in an incredibly short time, and destroys an 

 immense number. By attending to these directions, this fruit will be eaten in 

 perfection, which is seldom the case in this country. Referring to your proposed 

 graft, we do not think that you would increase the size of your small fruit. 



Gloxinias. — J. D. — Gloxinias may be grown wherever the accommodation 

 of a greenhouse and a hot-bed frame can be had. In February, or March, the 

 bulbs should be potted in a mixture of loam, peat, or leaf-mould and silver sand 

 filling the pot one-third of its depth with crocks to insure a good drainage, and, 

 placed into a lively heat of about 60°, where they may continue until the blooms 

 are produced, receiving air and water as may appear necessary. When the first 

 flowers are expanded, which will be about May, the plants should be taken to the 

 greenhouse, observing to shade them from powerful sunlight, and by attention to 

 watering will continue on nearly all the whole summer. The bulbs should be 

 kept perfectly dry and at rest through the winter. 



Stokesia cxanea. — J. F. C, Leeds. — Stokesia cyanea is a handsome herba- 

 ceous perennial, requiring ordinary greenhouse temperature, but will succeed 

 very well in the open border during the summer months. It is increased by seed 

 or by division of the roots, and naturally produces its attractive blue flowera in 

 August. We have not made experiments with the annuals for the purpose you 

 mention, but will bear this and your other suggestions in mind. 



Cuttings or Itt. — N. C. H., Barnstaple. — Ivy will strike all through the 

 summer, but it succeeds most readily in the spring. It should be struck in very 

 sandy loam, and transplanted to where it is to remain. Do not be in a hurry, a 

 month or six weeks hence will do to take the cuttings. 



Mistletoe. — Annie, Hammersmith. — Preserve the berries in sand until 

 April, and then make a tongue in the bark of an apple, pear, thorn, or lime tree, 

 and insert a berry so that the tongued bark will close down over it. Choose good 

 positions on the trees, such as a fork in the main boughs, about eight feet from 

 the ground. A mere slit in the bark will suffice to hold a berry, but the birds 

 will discover the berries and eat them, unless they are covered, and the best way 

 to protect them is to lay over the incision a tuft of moss and bind it down with a 

 strip of bast. Mistletoe grows very slowly, and requires at least seven years to 

 form a feature on the tree which supports it. 



Roses on theib own Roots. — J. Smith, Heyham. — The month of April is 

 the best time to turn out roses on their own roots, and you had better keep yours 

 in their pots till then. 



Geraniums with Blanched Stems.- — Polly. — Tour geraniums are suffering 

 from insufficient light. You must give them all the light you can, and if you can 

 arrange to put them in a hot-bed next month, you may first prune them so as to 

 get rid of the weakly shoots and induce a new growth of stroDg green foliage, 

 but do not cut them unless you can provide heat for them. 



Walnut not Fkuiting. — New Subscriber. — The walnut tree is a long time 

 coming to a fruiting condition. While in a young state it grows vigorously for 

 many years, when once it has taken good hold of the soil, and it is not until 

 this exuberant growth is fomewhut exhausted, and a moderate growth succeeds, 

 that the tree begins to bear. Walnuts delight and succeed only in a deep alluvial, 

 rich eoil ; their roots spread far and deep, and aBmost vegetation refuses to grow 

 beneath their shade, the proper position for them is the outside of the orchard or 

 corner of a field ; their habit unsuits them for the garden. It is not usual to 

 prune them. The necessity of gathering the fruit by thrashing it irom the tree 

 with poles, rendering any futher pruning unnecessary, and the management of 

 mature trees may be said to be confined to the removal of decaying limb3. 





