January 31, ISGa. ] 



JOURN"AL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



97 



DBACJ3NA CooPERi LEAVES Brow'ned {T. T.) .—T'hn pi'obable cause is a 

 deftcieocy of roots nr a sour slate of the soil. The phuit is unhealthy, and 

 thut wo Imve no doubt is occasioned by an inactive state of the root^. Repot, 

 draining well, and plunpe in a liotbed, and it will form leaves all right 

 nfter a henllhy root-action has commenced. Dryness is not a likely cause, 

 but constantly svrincing the leaves oTtcn causes these to die off at their 

 extremities. Undue excitement also, or Ueepinj? the plant constantly 

 growing, is a common cause of defective leaf-forinalion, but it is mostly 

 (or "wunt of roots that the leaves go oft' in the manner yours are doing. The 

 article on hybridising relates to any plant, and that on Pisa grandiflora we 

 think gives its culture, or relates to it, but we do not undertake to furnish 

 that which can be readily obtained by a reference to our pages. 



Getianidic Sked Sowing— Cinerarias to Bloom at Michaelmas [Gera- 

 «»«;;i).— The seed of the tirst sown early will not blnoin, or but imperiectly, 

 the same season. Cineraria seed to furnish plants for blooming at Michael- 

 mas should be sown early in March. 



Removed Arbor. Vitjes {5. M. X.).— They will require no stimulants. 

 Mulch the euriace of the soil over the roots to keep out frost now and 

 dri3ught in summer. 



Training for a Gardener {Thanlcful). — Having made so much progress, 

 and you being able to manage a garden so successfully, why not e I'ploy 

 the lad under your own direction 1 After a year or two of such instruction 

 place him under llie bead gardener of some gentleman's garden for a 

 similar period, by whicli time he would be qualified for an under-gardener's 

 situation, or even ihe management of a small garden. 



Book (J. (?.).— Tho best edition of " Withering's BritisU Flora" was 

 published in four volumps by his snn in 1830. Mr. Macgillivray edited an 

 edition in one volume; also one of Smith's "Introduction to Botany." 



Another "Wiltshirr Rector.— If you will send us a sealed stamped 

 letter, undirected, we shall very willingly forward it to the gentleman you 

 raeiition. 



BOUOAINVILL^A SPRCIOSA AND LaPAOERIA ROSEA CdLTT'RE ( C M. Mnjor) 



Pot the Bniigdinvillfoain March, in a nine-inch pot, inn compost of turfy loam 

 two-thirds, and leaf mould on>--'-third, with a free admixture of sand, and 

 grow on in a warm greenhouse, watering copiously up to the middle of 

 August, then gradually withhold the supply, and expost^ the shoots to the 

 full t^un, and admit abundance of air. It should not be crowded by other 

 plants at any stage, but have light on all sirles. Keep the soil dry during 

 the winter, but not so as to kill it. Its flowering depends on the we'll ripen- 

 ing of tile wood. Another season employ a 12-inch i>ot. Pot the Lapageria 

 m a 12-inch pot in a compost of turfy pe^t two-thirds, and one-third turfy 

 loam, using both rough, yet in a broken state. Drain the pot to one-third 

 Its depth, and ihe drainage must be perfect. Train on a trellis, and if it have 

 the northern side of a span-roof, such is to be preferred; but a situation 

 where it receives a full light, vet not the direct rays of the sun, will do. 

 A cool airy structure is to be preferred, and one kept at -10° or 45° in winter. 

 Give water every d:iy, so as to make it show itself at the drainage, whilst 

 the plant is in fluwer and growing, and syringe oceasionallv, keeping a moist 

 but well ventilaled atmosphere. At all times the foil should be kept wet, 

 but doub'e the quantity ol wuter should be given when the plant is grow- 

 ing and flowering. Take care of the long and strong shoots, as from these 

 the flowers are usually produced. 



TROPiEor,tiM TRICOLOR AND Vaixota pnRptJREA CuLTUBE {Yoi'kshirc^.— 

 lot the tubers in 6 or 9-inch pots according to their size. If very small 

 4^mch pots will do. Drain the pots well, and fill to half their depth with 

 turfy loam half, and leaf mould or peat the other half. On this place the 

 tuber, aud when it pushes earth the choot uo as it grows, twisting it about 

 m the pot taking cjre not to bre:ik it. In (his wav bring the soilto within 

 bait an inch of the pot rim. Water sparingly and onlv when necessarv at 

 the eame time keeping the soil healthfully moist. It will do well in a green- 

 house m a light an-y situation, if only frost be excluded. Pot the Sc;irborou"-h 

 Lily (Vallot;i purpurea) in a pot double the diameter of the bulb, in a com- 

 post or turfy loam witi a little leaf mould added. Grow in a light airy ' 

 situation in the greenhouse, watering sparingly at first, but copiously alter 

 growth commences. In winter water less, and give all the light possible. 



CuMUERs FOR HousE-FRONT — Bays AND Laurustinus {A Toung Gw- 

 rfi??iflr).— Wistaria sinensis, Arittolochin Ripho, Bignonia ladicans. PaWiflora 

 coerulea, Pyracanthu. Magnolia grandiflora, also the Exmouth varietv Loni- 

 cera brachypoda aureo-reiiculata. Clematis lanuginosa, C. azurea, Jasminum 

 nudiflorum, and J. ofiicinale. The Bays and Lauiustinus should be fresh 

 top-dressed m spring by removing a quantity of the oli poil, as much as 

 possible, and replacing it with fresh. It wiU'not be necessary tn put them 

 in fl-esh tubs until the tubs are worn out, only they must be too-dressed and 

 kept well watered. Both being rather tender, they should have a sheltered 

 situation in winter. A irnod Rose for a wire is Blairii No. 2, Hybrid China 

 Gloire de Dijon is excellent. 



Flower-oardew Flam {B. TT.).— Wq never undertake planting. All 

 that we can do is to criticise planting submitted to our judgment. 



Fern Manual [Q. (?.).— It eontain-i what you mention. The drawings 

 wore copied from live specimens. 



Destroyino Woodlicr (C J., 0.ron).— When these pests are allowed to 

 increase extensively they are very difficult to subdue. If it is not possible 

 to introduce boiling water into the haunts of the woodlice, the most effec- 

 tual way will be to raise the framework and destroy all of them that you 

 possibly can ; and then scrape away all the loose mortar, and bed the wood- 

 work firmly down on to a layer of Portland or Roman cement, so that every 

 crevice may be filled up and defy their making use of such a retreat To 

 destroy the stragglers that may' have taken up their quarters inside the 

 frame, boiling water may tie applied to the inside of the walls, on which, 

 they are generally found creeping after dark. Poisoned fruita, such as 

 Pears or Peaches laid in the frame at night will also destroy them, aa they 

 are fond of feasting on fruit. Toai^s are great enemies to them, and one or 

 two such lodgers will make short work of great numbers of them. Any or 

 all of these remedies will enable yon to overcome your marauders. 



Names of Fruit {J. iJMsd).— Tour Pear is La Juive. 



Names op Plants (5. Edwards}.— \, Blechnum spicant ; 2, Ceterach 

 officinarum; 3, Asplenium Ruta-muraria; 4, Specimen too imperfect. Any 

 bookseller can inform you about the monthly oiag-^zines you name. (S. M.). 

 — 1, Asplenium bulbiferum ; 2, Asplenium lucidum ; 3, Phlcbodium areo- 

 latura ; 4, Doodia, or Woodwardia candata ; 5, Platyloma falcatum ; 6, Poly- 

 stichum vestitum ; 7, Adiantum forraosum ; S, Selaginella Galeottii ; 

 9, Adinntum reniformf. (J. B. H.).—\t is Poinsettia puleherrima, ^^ native 

 of Mexico. {J. C. Mundell).—!, Gesnera zebrina ; 2, Begonia argyro- 

 wiigma; 3, A Begonia which we cannot name from the specimen sent; 

 4, aoricographis polita ; 5, Calanthe vestita. 



poultry, bee, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. 



Cajiptloboteys regalis 4ND REFULGENS Cl-ltdee (J/, i?.).— Thevrequire 

 the tempcrmnre of a warm stove more close than for the majority of store 

 plants. The temperature should not be less than 60° by night at this season 

 one of 70 or 7o° at night in summer being necessary to secure a free erowlb' 

 f ot them in turfy sanily peat two-thirds, turfy loam one-third, addini; a free 

 attmixture of silver sand. Drain the pots efTecluilly, using a moderate- 

 aized pot at first, shifting into a larger as the small one is well filled ^^ilh 

 roots. Watfr spanoKly, only keeping the soil just moist until sronth fairlv 

 commences, then water more freely, but only when necessary. Place in a 

 constantly m.ast atmnsphere, and about 5° warmer than that of the stove 

 generally. Ihe secret of success rests in keeping up a close regtilarly humid 

 atmosphere, but, at the same lime, a sweet one. They are very impatient 

 of water on the leaves, and should not therefore be syringed overhead If 

 you have no convenience beyond a reenlar stove, you will grow these 

 plants best by having a frame made sufBcientiy large and deep to hold the 

 plants, standing the pots on sand or gravel— better still, plun<»in 

 the nm in sawdust or some such material. In this position a re 

 atmosphere will be secured, and they can have air by tilting the light and 

 this without any tear of sudden changes, which are the bane of the plants 

 Success m the cultivation of these plants lies in maintaining a health'y 

 root-action, and in lieeping all about them sweet and clean, being careful to 

 avoid sudden changes of temperature-an atmosphere at one time humid 

 at another dry, at one time close and stagnant, whilst at another it is airv 

 and the atmosphere made cold or dry by admittance of air. A rather close 

 ana rather """■"'"■• -•■ * -* — -'--- ' 



r them to 

 gular moist 



_ ither warmer atmosphere than that accorded to stove plants genorallv' 

 IS just what suits these, and almost all the fine-toUaged plants. 



JOINT-STOCK POULTRY COMP^mT. 

 Theke is generally at this time of year a desire among 

 those who think of the question to undertake matters on a, 

 large scale. So many schemes are afoot — some, we believe, 

 going so far as to talk of a " Poultry Company, Limited," 

 that we think we shall be doing well by touching on the 

 subject. We have heard of one association or company 

 seeking a hundred acres of light land in order to begin ope- 

 rations directly. We wish them every success, but we do 

 not think it possible. The expenses would oat up all the 

 produce. There is no doubt that a large supply of good 

 poultry in the spring of the year would realise a great sum 

 of money. It is no uncommon thing for young fowls pro- 

 perly fattened and killed to average ^63 per dozen for 

 weelis between the middle of April and beginning of July. 

 It is a tempting sum, and soon runs into large figures ; but 

 it is also the most difficult season at which to produce them, 

 and hence the price. Birds of equal or greater merit in 

 the autumn and winter will make only half the sum. We 

 believe in profitable poultry-keeping on a comparatively 

 small scale, with new-laid eggs for sale at 4d. each during 

 the winter, and a dozen fattened chickens per week during 

 the spring. These in most localities and at all farms may 

 be kept without involving any real extra expense. The 

 return is for the small outlay of food, and a larger item of 

 trouble and painstaking. We have been advocates for years 

 for everything that would increase our spring supply of 

 good poultry. It is needed ; but the trouble aud difficulty 

 are so great, we believe we have made few converts among 

 those who have the time and opportunity to follow our sug- 

 gestions. 



We believe the poultry raised in our rural districts might 

 be easily and profitablv doubled. It admits of easy explan- 

 ation. Small land-holders who now fatten six dozen might 

 as easily fatten eighteen. They have the conveniences at 

 their homesteads of roosting-places, they grow the food, 

 and they understand the question ; yet even to these the 

 remuneration does not appear sufficient to tempt them to 

 enlarge their dealings. Profitable poultry must be produced 

 in the scarce season. Chickens to be ready for the market 

 in May must be hatched in December or January. It is 

 difficult to get eggs then, still more so to find sitting hens. 

 We know persons who have hundreds of fowls, and who have 

 not yet had a broody hen this year. To breed profitably 

 there must be a succession of fattened poultry to come day 

 by day to the market. The process, then, of hatching, should 

 begin in November and continue uninterruptedly. To lose 

 a week would be to lose an advantage that could not be 

 regained till the next year. The supply of poultry is like 

 that of peas, fruit, &c., in the early spring. It is forced, 

 and one is as artificial as the other. The outlay would be 

 too great. Land to rent, houses to build, food to buy, men 



