40 



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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[June 15, 1912 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



• _ 



Abnormal Flowers of Apple : Captain F. C. 

 The chief features shown by the two large 

 abnormal flowers are doubling, owing to the 

 transformation of most of the stamens (and 

 some of the styles) into petals, together 

 with arrest of the ovary. This type of 

 doubling is not uncommon in the Apple. In 

 one specimen two other flowers are represented, 

 but do not look like flowers, because in each 

 of them three of the sepals are transformed into 

 foliage-leaves (phyllody), and the inner parts 

 of the flowers are arrested. ^ Phyllody of the 

 sepals has also been recorded in the Apple. In 

 these specimens the cause of the anomalies 

 cannot be determined, but in other cases the 

 action of mites or other insects has sometimes 

 been found to bring about similar abnor- 

 malities. 



Anemox 



It is best 



to lift the plants each season, but if this is not 

 practicable, they may be allowed to remain in 

 the ground during the winter. 



Back Wall of Glasshouse : G. B. The condi- 

 tions essential for the well-being of the plants 

 in a glasshouse which has a minimum winter 

 temperature of 50° Fahr. are unsuited for the 

 successful cultivation of most fruit trees 

 against the back wall, but Oranges, Lemons, 

 or Citrons might succeed. 



Clematis: W. L. There is no disease present 

 on the portions of Clematis received. 



Cucumbers and Bulbs Diseased : Anxious One. 

 The Cucumbers are attacked by the Cucumber 

 leaf-blotch, a well known disease. Liver of 

 sulphur is the proper fungicide to use, and is 

 safer than placing sulphur on the hot-water 

 pipes. Eelworm is present in the bulbs. (See 

 reply to Old Subscriber.) 



Cucumbers Flaggixg: Old Subscriber. The 

 nodules on the roots are caused by Eelworm. 

 This is a very difficult pest to eradicate, and 

 insecticides are of little avail. The best plan 

 is to burn the plants, and remove the soil in 

 which they have been grown, either sterilising 

 it by baking or burying it in some out-of-the- 

 way part of the garden. The house should 



. then be cleaned thoroughly with carbolic in 

 solution, washing the woodwork with soft soap 

 and carbolic acid in warm water. A correspon- 

 dent in Gardeners' Chronicle, July 8, 1911, 

 page 7, recommends top-dressing pot plants 

 with Rape dust, which acts as an exterminator 

 of Eel-worms and as a fertiliser of the soil at 

 the same time. 



Culinary Peas Diseased: W. H. B. The 

 trouble is caused by Eelworm. (See reply to 

 Old Subscriber.) 



Curled Rose Leaves: Subscriber, A. B., Bed- 

 ford, and H. T. G. The Rose leaves you send 

 are badly affected with, the larvae of the 

 leaf-rolling sawfly (Blenocarpa pusilla). In 

 his work on Roses (Present-Day Garden- 

 ing series), Mr. H. R. Darlington s^ys 

 that during recent years this has be- 

 come one of the worst pests of the Rose. 

 It seems especially partial to climbing Roses, 

 but does not confine itself to them, no Rose 

 being safe from attack. When an attack 

 occurs the leaves are found rolled inwards on 

 the midrib, from both sides ; they are seriously 

 injured and ultimately die. The female 

 sawfly generally commences to lay her eggs 

 during the latter half of May and continues 

 through June. The white eggs may often be 

 found glued to the edge of the leaf which has 

 been turned inwards, but, even with a micro- 

 .^ope, it is sometimes difficult to find the eggs. 

 The sawflies hatch qut at the beginning of 

 September, and Mr. Darlington thinks there 

 must be another generation before the autumn, 

 but he has not yet discovered what they live 

 on. The sawflies are said to be fond of Parsley, 

 but, as the attacks on the Rose are very local, 

 it would seem that thev do not travel far. lne 

 only remedy is to pick off and burn the leaves ; 

 spraying is, of course, useless. It would how- 

 ever, be a wise precaution to remove and burn 

 the soil around affected bushes during the 

 winter or early spring. 



Currant Leaves Curled: A. F. M. The 



leaves are infested with common ^ aphis 

 (greenfly). Spray the bushes with an insecti- 

 cide, preferably a nicotine preparation. 



Double Cherry: A. J. There are numerous 

 good varieties of double pink Cherries ; one cf 

 the best is Prunus (Cerasus) Pseud )cerasus 

 James H. Veitch. 



Fig Tree Unhealthy : J. H. There is no 

 disease present in the fruit of Fig. The drop- 

 ping of the fruits is due to some wrong cul- 

 tural treatment. 



Fungus : P. D. S. Phallus impudicus, a green- 

 capped, gastromycetous fungus, 5 to 9 inches 

 high, common in woods, dense shrubberies, &c. 

 Its presence is readily detected by the over- 

 powering smell of the shiny, olive-green muci- 

 lage which contains the spores 



Gardening for Women : Confidential. We do 

 not know of any nursery garden where you 

 could obtain employment, and so become a 

 qualified gardener, but you might learn of 

 some if you insert an advertisement in these 

 columns. The training which you would re- 

 ceive in a trade establishment would not alone 

 fit you to take charge of a private garden, and, 

 with this end in view, it may, perhaps, be 

 worth your while to apply to the superinten- 

 dent of the Swanley Horticultural College, 

 Kent, asking if she could give you the addresses 

 of past students who are now head gardeners, 

 and who may, perhaps, be inclined to help 

 you. 

 Grapes Diseased : T. B. Black-rot is present 

 on the berries. You should dust them with 

 flowers of sulphur, mixed with quarter its bulk 

 of quick-lime. This will check the spread of 

 the disease. When the vines are resting, spray 

 • them thoroughly with 1 ounce of sulphate of 

 iron in 1 gallon of water. 

 Lawn : /. E., North Wales. The deep-rooting, 

 coarse grasses are evidently obtaining the mas- 

 tery over the finer and shallower-rooting kinds. 

 Your aim must be to feed only the finer 

 grasses, and this may best be done by making, 

 throughout the summer and autumn, frequent 

 small applications of quick-acting manure dur- 

 ing showery weather, but not when heavy 

 rains appear imminent. The best stimulants 

 for this purpose are such as guano, Clay's 

 Fertiliser, or nitrate of soda. These fer- 

 tilisers may well be used alternately, care 

 being taken to spread them evenly over the 

 surface of the lawn, and, to ensure even dis- 

 tribution, it is well to first mix the manure 

 with soil that is free from seeds of weeds. 

 On the approach of winter, you should top- 

 dress the lawn with finely-sifted soil, mixed 

 with wood ashes and leaf-mould, if the latter is 

 available. 



Maggot in Apples : G. P. S. The maggote are 

 those of the Apple sawfly. Remove the sur- 

 face soil during the winter; if growing in 

 grass land apply a heavy dressing of kainit. 

 Vaporite may be used for killing the larvae in 

 the soil. All fallen Apples should be gathered 

 immediately and burnt. Spray the trees when 

 the flowers have fallen in the spring with 

 Paris Green or arsenate of lead. 



Names of Plants : W. T. J. Anthericum lilia- 

 strum.— 17. B. and E. B. Pyrus torminalis.— 

 J. L. I, Gazania splendens; 2, Sedum sar- 

 mentosum variegatum ; 3, Muscari comosum 

 var. plumosum ; 4, Achimenes sp. — /. M. D. 

 Poa compressa.— School Teacher. 1, Hehan- 

 themum vulgare; 2, Plantago media; 3, Pote- 

 rium sanguisorba; 4, Anthyllis vulnerana. — 

 L. M. B. Centaurea macrocephala. — .4. C. 

 1, Rosa species, probably R. macrophylla ; 2, 

 Coronilla Emerus ; 3, Jasminum humile var.; 

 4 Pyrus lobata; 5, P. arbutifolia; 6, Staphy- 

 lea colchica.— H. C. P. Buddleia globosa.— 

 E. TJ. A. The flowers of both specimens have 

 fallen. No. 1 is apparently Staphylea col- 

 chica ; No. 2, Cytisus Andreanus. — D. Price. 

 1, Pellionia Daveauana ; 2, Ceropegia Woodii. 

 —Chorley. 1, Cryptanthus undulatus; 2, 

 Selaginella csesia; 3, Cryptanthus bivittatus; 

 4 Sonerilla margaritacea hybrida; 5, Cero- 

 peoia : 6, not recognised ; 7, Pellionia pulchra ; 

 8 probably Ailanthus glandulosa; 9, Begonia 

 margaritacea.— A nxio us. Zephyranthes cari- 

 nata.— Journeyman, C. B. 1, Pyrus Aria; 

 2 a large form of Adiantum cuneatum.— 

 X W G 1, Nephrodium dilatatum; 2, N. 

 Filix-mas ; 3, Asplenium Filix-fcamina.— 

 GEE. Roses— 1, Yellow Austrian ; 2, Copper 

 Austrian ; 3, shattered beyond recognition ; 4, 

 Carmine Pillar ; 5. Sinica anemone : 6, Euphro- 

 syne ; 7, Aimee Vibert ; 8, probably Reme U. 



de Wurtemburg; 9, unrecognisable.— G. S. 

 All varieties of Thunia alba, No. 9, with 

 purple streaks on the labellum, being near to 

 the variety Dodgsonii. — H. P. Eulophia par- 

 viflora. — A. B. C. Cattleya Mossise.— M. 

 Gongora quinquenervis. — F. B. Odontoglos- 

 sum crispum and Lselia purpurata, the latter a 

 very good variety. — A. E. L. Cattleya 

 Mossiae. — W. B. P. Muscari comosum mon- 

 strosum. — II. K. Lychnis viscaria flore-plena. 

 — C. F. Cymbidium pendulum. — It. 0. 1, 

 Oncidium flexuosum ; 2, Odontoglossum 

 Lindleyanum; 3, Ada aurantiaca. — Humea. 

 Dracaena fragrans, illustrated in the Botanical 

 Magazine, tab. 1081. The Cymbidium has 

 probably been grown too warm and moist. 

 Repot in sandy fibrous loam with a little 

 Sphagnum-moss and keep well shaded.— 

 F. C. Viburnum Lentago. — J. A. J. B., 

 Crown Hill. 1 and 5, Escallonia rubra var. 

 pallida; 2, E. rubra var. ; 3 and 4, E. rubra; 



6, E. exoniensis ; 7, E. macrantha. K. rubra 

 varies to some extent in both habit and 

 flowers. — R. A. Q. 1 and 2, hybrids of Saxi- 

 fraga crustata; 3, Silene alpestris; 4, Dian- 

 thus alpinus (a poor variety) ; 5, Saxifraga 

 hypnoides; 6, S. trifurcata var. ceratophylla ; 



7, S. Lindleyana ; 8, Cerastium arvense var. 

 suffruticosum.— J. M. 1, Teucrium fruticans; 

 2, Crepis biennis. — R. V. Jb Son. Allium 

 Tubergenii. — Hix. Meterosideros floribunda, 



Bottle Brush Tree. 



Nectarines Unhealthy: A. W. S. There is 

 no disease present on the Nectarine plants. 

 The roots have probably been afforded too 

 much moisture. 



Peach Leaves : T. H. C. Peach leaf -curl is 

 present. Cut off all the affected shoots just 

 below the infected leaves and burn them. 



Peach Tree Roots : C. W. There is no disease 

 present. The wood was imperfectly ripened, 

 and this resulted in gumming when growth 

 commenced. 

 Plums Dropping: A. W. G., Tenby. The fall- 

 ing of the fruit is due to drought. No diseaeo 

 is present in the trees. 

 Potatos Diseased: J. 67., Burton-on-Trent. 

 The Potatos are injured by winter-rot, the 

 disease having been introduced with the seed 

 tubers. There is no known cure for the disease 

 when the plants are growing. Procure healthy 

 tubers for seed purposes next season. 

 Stocks Diseased: C. A. The trouble is caused 

 by downy mildew. Spray the plants with liver 

 of eulphur, or dust the leaves with flowers of 

 sulphur when the foliage is damp. 

 Strawberries Diseased : M . B. G. The injury 

 is caused bv Strawberry-mildew. Spray the 

 plants with liver of sulphur. When the leaves 

 are fading in the autumn, cover them with a 

 thin layer of litter or straw, and burn all the 

 old leaves and litter. 

 Strawberries Failing : J. T. B. There is no 

 disease present. The flowers were not 

 fertilised, a common trouble in Strawberries. 

 Sweet Peas : H. E. R. The injury is caused 

 bv a fungus, Thielavia basicola, usually in- 

 troduced with stable manure. There is no 

 known remedy when plants are growing, in 

 future thoroughly soak the soil a fortnignt 

 before sowing with £ pint of formalin m i 

 gallon of water. 

 Tomatos Diseased: P. I. The plants are at- 

 tacked by Tomato leaf-rust (Cladosporium 

 fulvum). The plants should be sprayed cany 

 in their growth with a weak dilution ot w> 

 Bordeaux mixture, or with potassium sul- 

 phide. The house in which they are ^m 

 should be ventilated freely, and diseased por 

 tions of the plants should be burned as soon 

 as they are seen. In gardens where the diseab 

 has previously existed, the spraying shouia u 

 commenced before the leaf -rust appeals. 

 Wistaria, &c. : Amateur. The blindness in iW 

 taria ie often due to mites destroying 

 bloom in the bud stage. Spray the Plan 

 with an insecticide when the ^« r ' b ^J 



Mulch Madonna Lilies in the autumn- 



___ , T "FT H — B. "• 



Communications Received. -Weeds— J. £;„ tc _ A . p 



pear 



Abutilon, "DubUn-J. F., Albury-Alpine, HW p _ 

 — C. E. F._Puzzled_Camatious, £ r/Lauaticus- 

 J. M., Ireland-C. S.-M. M—J. M. <*•-- W g L _ 

 W. H. J._E. M. M.-A. G.-L. Bros _-A. H. - « al 

 A. T. B., Cornwall-J. A. W., Botterdam -A •^•• India 

 A. E. E._G. F._Miss M. G.-W. E—J. *• t f^_H. W. 

 A. D._R. W. & Co._H. H._W. E. G.-Aquatia*-** 



—J.IM.G., New York, 



