370 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICL 



y 



[June 1 1912. 



BATH AND WEST OP ENGLAND 



AGRICULTURAL. 



Mat 22-27.— In connection with the annual 

 show of the above society, held at Odds Down, 

 Bath, a display of horticultural produce was 

 held in a special tent. 



Mr. J. Milburn, Victoria Nurseries, Bath, 

 built an attractive rock-garden outside the tent at 

 the entrance. The exhibit^ was backed by 

 Japanese Maples and fine specimens of Viburnum 

 plicatum and other flowering shrubs. A plant of 

 Rodgersia pinnata was noticeable.. Euonymus 

 kewensis and a group of the white Pseony Mrs. 

 Mesman were also shown by this exhibitor. 



Messrs. J. Waterer & Sons, Bagshot, staged 

 a good exhibit of Rhododendrons. 



Mr. H. E. Jephson, Hessenford, near St. Ger- 

 mans, put up a rocky bank containing good speci- 

 mens of Adiantum pedatum, Aster subcoeruleus 

 var. grandiflorus. a deep reddish-purple variety 

 of Horminum pyrenaicum, Saxifraga primuloides 

 (a miniature and dainty London Pride), Sisyrin- 

 chiums, and the beautiful pink Allium Ostrows- 

 kianum. 



Messrs. Blackmore & Langdon, Twerton Hill 

 Nurseries, Bath, showed Begonias in their usual 

 good form ; the exhibit also contained long- 

 spurred Aquilegias and a beautiful plant of Poly- 

 gonum baldschuanicum. 



Messrs. Rich & Co., Bath, had a good display 



of Pyrethrum Queen Mary, amongst other flowers. 



Messrs. Geo. Cooling & Sons, Rose Growers, 



Bath, filled the end space of the tent with a rock- 



arden backed by Palms and foliage plants, and 



anked with Clematises and Roses. 



Messrs. W. Treseder & Son, Cardiff, ar- 

 ranged a small exhibit of Pelargoniums, Cactus- 

 flowered Dahlias and Pyrethrums. 



Mr. Chas Wall, Melrose Nurseries, S. Down, 

 Bath, had a good exhibit of Carnations. 



Messrs. Jarman & Co., Chard, showed their 

 strain of Centaureas, the deep yellow variety 

 Honeymoon being particularly fine. 



The Cedars Hardy Plant Nursery, Wells, 



occupied two spaces. One was filled with Rho- 

 dodendron fastuosum plenum, the other with R. 

 Pink Pearl. 



Mr. H. N. Ellison, West Bromwich, showed 

 a collection of Ferns in excellent variety and con- 

 dition. 



Messrs. Rowland Adams, White Wells Farm 

 Nursery, Bath, filled a space of about 40 feet with 

 climbing and other Roses; while Messrs. Wal- 

 ters & Son, Bath, had a similar group on the 

 opposite side. 



Messrs. R. Veitch & Son, Exeter, had a fine 

 exhibit, in which a plant of Calceolaria Veitchii 

 was prominent. Many choice flowering shrubs 

 such as Carpenteria californica and greenhouse 

 plants were well arranged behind boxes of 

 Alpines. 



Messrs. Godfrey, Exmouth, exhibited Pelar- 

 goniums and hardy plants such as Oriental Pop- 

 pies, Iris dalmatica and Pyrethrums. 



Messrs. H. and W. Evans, Hardy Plant Nur- 

 sery, Llanishen, S. Wales, showed herbaceous and 

 Alpine plants. Verbascum Caledonia and densi- 

 florum, Trollius, and a collection of Genman Iris 

 were among the former, with Dianthus nedec- 

 tus, D. alpinus, the bright-pink dwarf Phlox 

 u Vivid/' the recently-introduced Geranium 

 Traversii, and many other Alpine plants. 



BRITISH GARDENERS' ASSOCIATION. 



ANNUAL MEETING. 



May 25.— The eighth annual meeting of the 

 above association was held at Carr's Restaurant 

 on thi3 date. Members attended from all parts 

 of the country, and nearly every branch was re- 

 presented. The balance-sheet and annual report 

 were presented and adopted. It was unanimously 

 decided to hold the next annual meeting at Bir- 

 mingham. It is intended to widen the scope of 

 the work of the association, and an effort will 

 be made to improve the Journal. The new 

 members of the Executive Council are Messrs. 

 G. W. Butcher, B. Tindall, Kew ; J. D. Jones, 

 J. Lodge, E. Smallman, W. B. Child, Birming- 

 ham ; T. G. Friend, J. E. Little, London ; W. II. 

 Paine, Kildare ; E. H. Chitty, Highgate ; and T. 

 Aley, East Finchley. Mr. T. Winter was re- 

 appointed treasurer, and Messrs. J. Weathers and 

 Parrott, auditors. 





# # # The Editors 

 consideration, large 

 subjects, suitable 

 Journal. 



will be glad to receive, for 

 photographs of horticultural 

 for reproduction in this 



Beaume Hydrometer : S. J. T. You can pro- 

 cure a Beaume hydrometer for fluids lighter 

 than water — either 70 to degrees, or, for 

 fluids heavier than water, to 70 degrees, price 

 5s. each, also one for fluids heavier than water 

 (0 to 40 degrees) for 3s. 6d. from Messrs. 

 Negretti & Zambra, Holborn Viaduct, London. 



Cantaloup Melons: 



Cantaloup Melons 

 attributed to (1) 



a 



R. 0. F. The failure of 

 to set fruits may be 



check caused by a fall in 

 the temperature during stormy weather, a 

 heavy rainfall, or a period of prolonged cold 

 weather ; (2) excess of moisture at the roots 

 which, coupled with excessive bottom heat, 

 promotes a quick and sappy growth of the 

 foliage and shoots, to the detriment of fructi- 

 fication ; (3) lack of ventilation ; (4) drought at 

 the roots. From your letter, and taking into 

 consideration the weather experienced in ApriJ 

 and early in May, it may be safely assumed 

 that ventilation has been neglected. The 

 moisture arising from the ground and manure 

 would be nearly sufficient to ensure a fair set- 

 ting of fruits. To be successful with Cantaloup 

 . Melons, the plants need to be grown hardy 

 without exposing them to danger from a check 

 by regulating the ventilation carefully and 

 watering according to the weather. 



Carnation Diseased : B. C. Eelworm is pre- 

 sent in the roots of the plants. Infected speci- 

 mens should be burnt, as they will not bloom 

 properly, and are sure to infect other plants. 

 Burn or sterilise the soil with gas-lime. 



Caterpillars on Apple Trees : M., Scar- 

 borough. The caterpillars attacking the Apple 

 trees are those of the winter moth (Cheima- 

 tobia brumata), a very common fruit pest. The 

 moths appear from October to December, the 

 female being practically wingless. The eggs 

 are deposited in various positions — round the 

 buds, in crevices of the bark, &c. — and the 

 caterpillars hatch usually a short time before 

 the buds burst, afterwards feeding on the 

 young foliage, and often spinning the leaves 

 together. The females may be caught by tying 

 a band of greaseproof paper round the trunk of 

 the tree 1 to 2 feet from the ground, and smear- 

 ing it over with sticky grease. The bands should 

 be in working order from October to January, 

 and should not be allowed to dry. Caustic 

 soda is of no avail for the pest, but as soon 

 as the leaves commence to show spraying with 

 Paris green or arsenate of lead should be re- 

 sorted to ; a second application should be given 

 as soon as the blossom has fallen. Paris green 

 should be put on as a very fine spray, 1 ounce 

 of the powder should be used to 10 gallons of 

 water, and whilst the mixture is being made 

 up the fluid should be stirred continuously. 



Fruits Failing to Swell : G. C. There is no 



mildew present. The unhealthy condition of 

 the trees is due to imperfect root action. 



Grapes Diseased: F. iff. B. The injury is 



caused by Botrytis cinerea. Strong Bordeaux 



Mixture would be the best to use, but liver of 



sulphur may be employed if the berries are half- 

 grown. 



Grapes Unhealthy : H. W. There is no fungus 

 present on the vine. The spots are due to lack 

 of ventilation. 



Grubs Attacking Cauliflowers : E. H. 

 Anthomyia radicum, the Cabbage root fly, is 

 the cause of the injury to the plants. Place 

 nitrate of soda about the roots of the plants at 

 the rate of 2 cwt. per acre ; this will check the 

 spread of maggots. If the weather is dry, the 

 soil should be well watered after the nitrate of 

 soda has been applied. 



Horticultural Benefit Societies : J. S. ^ The 



United Horticultural Benefit and Provident 

 Society; secretary, Mr. Collins, 9 Martindale 

 Road, Balham, London. Professional Gar- 



deners' Branch of the Grand U.O. of Odd- 

 fellows ; secretary, Mr. G. Carver, 75, Xnrih- 

 brook Street, Chapel Allerton, Leeds. \\V ar* 

 unable to state whether these are likely to 

 become approved societies under the National 

 Insurance Bill. 



Names of Plants: A. S. A. 1, Pyrus Aria; 2, 

 Fraxinus ornus ; 3, Alnus glutinosa var. laei- 

 niata; 4, Arbutus Unedo; 5, Phillyrea decor 

 6, Thuya dolabrata; 7, Viburnum prunifolium. 

 — H. F., Penryn. Pyrus lobata.— H. It. J. 

 Acer Pseudo-platanus variety purpureum.— 

 T. C, Gravesend. Dendrobium clavatum — 

 W. H. Castle. Orobanche minor. 



Oak Trees Decayed: W. B. M. The fungu*. 



attacking the trees is Polyporus dryadeu 

 which is very destructive to Oak trees. Yuur 

 best plan is to remove the fungus and dress the 

 wound with tar. 



Peach Leaves Falling : E. P. H. The tree is 

 attacked by Peach leaf-curl. All infected 

 shoots should be cut off and the trees sprayed 

 with liver of sulphur. 



Peach Tree Diseased : E. G. The Peach tree 

 is injured by a fungus (Naemospora crocea). 

 The diseased shoots should be cut out, as these 

 will become cankered in time and infect other 

 branches. Spray the shoots with the Bordeaux 

 mixture in winter. 



The 



fruit 



Peak General Todleben : S. J. T. 

 failure of your trees of this variety to 

 may be the result of severe root-prum in 

 1911. If the trees are making* a free growth, 

 as we gather from your letter they are, sum- 

 mer prune them towards the middle of Ju 

 and winter prune after the trees have shed 

 their leaves. We do not advise severe pruning 

 after the trees have been properly formed; 

 once trees have borne good crops of fruit, th< 

 require very little pruning except the cuttii 

 out of ill-placed shoots and the shortening o 

 over-luxuriant growths. 



Pear Leaves Diseased: G. V. P., Hereford. 

 Pear-leaf blister mite is attacking the tree. 

 Hand-picking of the diseased leaves is the only 

 remedy, and this should be done in June. 



Pear Shoots Diseased : W. E. B. The shoots 

 are destroyed by the Pear midge. Pick -it 

 the diseased fruits and burn them. In winter 

 remove about 2 inches of the soil from under 

 the trees and replace it with fresh loam. 



Phlox Deformed : Phlox. The trouble is caused 

 by eelworm. All diseased plants should be 

 destroyed, and the soil treated with gas-iuiie. 



Potato Shoots Diseased : A. J. 0. The shoots 

 are injured by a fungus (Sclerotinia b cjew- 

 tiorum). The soil is infected and should be 

 dressed with gas-lime. 



Spinach xA.C.C, Wandsworth. Apply sulphate 

 of iron at the rate of 1 ounce in 3 gallon oi 

 water, or the same amount on each squa™ 

 yard of ground. Sulphate of iron should .w 

 applied when the plants are young and growing 

 actively. „, 



Sweet Peas Diseased : S. E. £•» #*2; ,? 



injury is caused by a fungus (Thielav a ba a 

 cola) ^ attacking the root. The disea e 

 usually introduced into the sod with ' £« «£ 

 manure. Do not water the Peas at _ n.ght un 

 as it lowers vitality and affords the fn»g» 

 chance to attack the roots. 



Tulips : G. W. There is no d ^J^ 

 the spotting is due to drops of moi»tu ^ 

 the leaves becoming chilled at nign*- thi$ 

 varieties of Tulips are very susceptible 



injury 



Leaves 



a A V The injn 



"» : £A£Lv caused 1 

 (Bot _ 



with 



too much moisture. Afford plenty ot 

 tion early in the day, and spray trie 

 liver-of-sulphur. 



ine 



Vines Diseased: E. P- JB* 

 affected with mildew. 



vines 



»W 



of sulphur twice a week. 



S?ray Sem »itb 1 



Communications Received. -A. W. g^5*S3j»»* 



tribution for R.G.O.F. bo£-J. £._W£ F w 



_H. B._W. D. &_Sons_R- C. r^, g 



H.'C. U~ 



W. L. B.—R. 



land — M. & C. — .. — _ 



J H J. W., Rotterdam— G. a. 



W. I._W. E._G. C, Sussex 



W'. B. H-- 



b. m. v.-** % 



B., Bedford—fj. M. S --E. F. «~- ' ' 



