152 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August 17, 1876. 



tanduvi, and there is nothing upon which people differ so much, and on 

 which, therefore, difference is allowable.— IX, Deal. 



Hokley's Greenhouse (J. McN.). — We cannot state the particulars you 

 need. It may be advertised again. 



Ornamental Grasses and Everlastings (Anxious Qardener). — Acrocli- 

 nium roseum and var. album, Ammobium alatum, a small white Everlasting; 

 it and the two preceding being half-hardy annuals. Heliebrysum bracteatum 

 and var. alba, H. monstrosum album flore-pleno, and the following double 

 varieties of H. monstrosum flore-pleno — atro-coccineum, luteum, purpureum, 

 and roseum; Ehodantbe maculata, its white variety (alba), andatrosanguinea, 

 R. Manglesi. The Rhodanthea are half-hardy annuals. For quantity, the 

 best plan is to procure a " collection of double Helichirsnms in ten varieties," 

 they being the best, adding the Acroclinium, Ammobium, and Rhodanthe if 

 you wish, but they are not nearly so profitable. Grasses are — Agrostis 

 nebulosa, A. argentea; Briza gacilis, B. maxima; Eragrostis elegans, Lasia- 

 grostis argentea, Paepalum elegans, Piptatherum Thomasi, and Stipa elegant- 

 issima. 



Air of Vinery (Le Grand).— With, a temperature of 92 3 by sun heat, 

 whether the Grapes are colouring or ripe, we should have the air moist by 

 ■watering the paths. 



Maize (E. Stone). — You may continue watering as long as the stems 

 remain green. 



Grapes Shrivelling (W. C). — Unless they are ripe we should water 

 copiously. 



Slues fob Orchard House (Henry Wright).— Boards will answer for the 

 back of the orchard house, and if you were to fix them to the interior of the 

 house— the inside of the posts— you would have a straight face, against 

 which you could train the trees. We should not double-board the Bides and 

 back and fill with sawdust, as that would be almost, if not fully, as expensive 

 as a 9-inch brick wall. A double-boarded back would bs considerably warmer 

 than a single one ; but in seeking warmth and dirability, masonry is prefer- 

 able to woodwork. We hava no recollection of the heating of a small house 

 by a metal pipe fixed into another consuming charcoal. 



Alternantheras for Bedding (C. T. H.).— Amcena, magnifica, and 

 amabilis are the best. 



Reddish-purple Lobelias [Idem). — The two you mention— namelj, Omen 

 and Defiance, are as good as any, to which may be added Purple Prince. 



Onion Maggot (J. £.).— Itis caused by the Onion fly (Anthomyia ceparum), 

 the females of which deposit their eggs within the leaf-sheaths of the Onion 

 close to the ground in May up to September. The eggB being hatched the 

 grub appears which is so disastrous to the Onion crop. There is not, that 

 we are aware, any remedy after the Onions are attacked, but a preventive is 

 had by watering the ground with diluted ammoniacal liquor from the gas- 

 works, one pint being allowed to six gallons of water, and applied to the 

 ground the day before sowing the seed, giving what would be considered a fair 

 watering— six gallons will be sufficient for 30 square yards. Gas lime applied 

 at the time of sowing at the rate of twenty bushels per acre, or sprinkled 

 between the rows at the rate mentioned the early part of May, or if the 

 season be forward the end of April. The fumes given off are offensive to the 

 fly, preventing the eggs being deposited. Hot water, we fear, to destroy grubs 

 inside an Onion mustibe so high in temperature as to destroy bulbs which are 

 not attacked as well as those which are. 

 _ Planting Vines (A Novice). — We prefer to have part inside and part out- 

 side borders for Vines, in all cases planting inside, having the inside border 

 the fall width of the house, and the outside at least half,or better two-thirds, 

 the width of the house ; 15 feet will answer for the width of a lean-to house, 

 but we should prefer to have it 18 to 20 feet The Vines should be planted 

 4 feet 6 inches apart, though for Hamburghs and the non-Muscat or late 

 Grapes, 4 feet will answer. The border should consist of the top 3 inches of 

 a pasture taken off with its turf where the soil ia a good hazel loam, light 

 rather than heavy, and cut up rather roughly — of that ten parts, one part 

 mortar rubbish from an old building, one part charcoal, one part sand or 

 freestone, in lumps from a walnut up to a cricket ball, and one part half-inch 

 bones, the whole to be thoroughly incorporated and put together in a dry 

 state, allowing one-third the depth for Betting. The kindB most suitable 

 are— Early : *Black Hamburgh, ^Foster's White Seedling, Mill Hill Ham- 

 burgh, and Bnckland Sweetwater, *White Frontignan succeeding admirably. 

 Medium: Black Prince, Muscat Trouveren, *Frankenthal, Black Muscat 

 (Muscat Hamburgh), *Madresfield Court, and *Waltham Cross, *Golden 

 Queen being excellent. Late : *Black Alicante, Burchardt's Prince, Mrs. Pince, 

 *Lady Downe's Seedling, Gros Goillaume (Barbarossa), ^Muscat of Alexandria, 

 '■'Calabrian Raisin, Tre^biano, and *White Tokay. As you may only wish 

 for a few kinds, those marked with an asterisk are the moBt suitable. Our 

 " Vine Manual," 2s. 7±d., and " Greenhouse Manual," 10d, in both cases free 

 by post from our office, will aid you. 



Repotting Azaleas and Camellias (Sam). — Azaleas are best potted 

 when the new growth is being made in spring, or so soon as the flowering is 

 past. The present is a good time to repot Camellias, the buds being set. 

 We should not repot the Azaleas until spring, but the Camellias we advise to 

 be potted at once; but it is an evil to give them frequent puttings. Every 

 second year is often enough to pot young plants, and every third or fourth 

 year for old plants. The potB should he well drained, and an inch of space 

 be allowed all around the old ball of soil. Any old soil coming away freely 

 with a pointed stick from amongst the roots should be removed, but be care- 

 iul not to break the roots. Sandy fibrous peat broken up moderately fine is 

 a proper compost for Azaleas; and three parts fibrous light loam and a part 

 sandy fibrous peat is a proper compost for Camellias. 



Culture and Propagation of Lantanas (A Subscriber). — They are half- 

 hardy shrubs, requiring to be kept dry in winter and safe from frost. In 

 spring the shoots should be cut-in to within an inch of the old wood, and 

 being moderately watered they will soon start into growth. When the shoots 

 are an inch long turn them out of the pots, removing most of the old soil, 

 and returning to the same or a Bmaller size of pot, one that will conveniently 

 hold the roots. Keep ralher close and shaded, sprinkling overhead twice 

 daily until the pottiog is recovered from, then afford a light airy position 

 near the glass. When the roots show around the sides of the pot, and before 

 they become closely matted, shift into pots 2 inches larger in diameter, 

 watering carefully for a time; and when the roots are working freely in the 

 fresh soil water copiously, shifting into pots 2 inches larger, watering alter- 

 nately with liquid manure when the pots are filled with roots. Regulate the 

 shoots as they advance, securing to neat stakes. Fibrous loam with a fourth 

 of leaf soil or well-deoayed manure is a suitable compost. Cuttings of the 

 young shoots taken off in spring or any time during summer strike freely in 



a gentle bottom heat shaded from sun. The cuttings should have two joints 

 and the growing point. 



Roses Mildewed (Idem). — The Rose leaves are mildewed. Syringe them 

 on the under side of the leaves, as well as the upper, with a solution of soft 

 soap, 2 ozs. to the gallon of water. The cause of this and other parasites 

 attacking plants is not known. Repeat the application if necessary, and give 

 a good watering to the roots, mulching over the surface with short manure. 

 We do not recognise the plant by the leaf and flower sent. It was too much 

 crushed and imperfect for identification. 



Names of Fruits (5.).— It is either Early Moorpark or Hem^kerk; pro- 

 bably the former. Is is difficult to name Apricots from a single specimen of 

 the fruit alone. (Enutsford). — AH the numbers were off and mixed. 



POULTKY, BEE, AM) PIGEOU OHROinOLE. 



OUR BANK HOLIDAY. 



" Do come and see my chickens, and tell me what I am to do 

 with them, for my grass is all dried-up, and my rnns look like 

 miniature deserts." This invitation came to us in a letter from 

 a friend, and so we determined to go down and advise, although 

 we knew we had nothing fresh to recommend or to suggest. "We 

 little, however, thought of what we were doing when we by tele- 

 gram accepted that invitation, for when we arrived at the London 

 station where our train was to start from we realised for the 

 first time that it was the vigil of the bank holiday. Never can 

 we forget the scene of indescribable confusion. It seemed as if 

 London had en masse determined to set forth, like a mighty 

 army, for Bamsgate and Margate. Men and women by troops 

 all laden with parcels of all imaginable sizes and shapes. 

 Hampers, baskets, bundles, bird cages, fish baskets, champagne 

 cases, ice, portmanteaus, bonnet boxes, and hundreds of other 

 packages all seemed massed together in dire confusion. Women 

 with babies were trying to pull some particular basket or pack- 

 age from a heap ; youths and boys were in everyone's way, with 

 fishing-rods and butterfly nets, as if they expected piscatorial 

 excursions at Pegwell Bay or entomological walks over St. 

 Lawrence's Fields. We stood by oar hatbox, portmanteau, and 

 a basket of birds which we were taking with us, and warded off 

 passengers and their goods. We had a long time to wait, but 

 wait we did patiently, wondering why parents would all take 

 their babies, and others their parrots and dogs, for such a short 

 visit on such a day. Just as we returned to owe .impedimenta, 

 after a brief absence, we heard a crash, and a box of the size of 

 a small house — containing we should think the family plate and 

 linen and effects of a good large family — was plumped down on 

 the top of our own we'll-beloved baBket of birds . We rushed to the 

 rescue, and dragged the remains from under the monster. The 

 inmates were alive and apparently not damaged, but the basket 

 — not a stick was whole in it, and it appeared as if it had been 

 extracted from the maw of a boa constrictor. We determined 

 never if possible to travel on such a day again, and if we had 

 ever to break that resolution never to bring any of our live stock 

 with us. In the north, where two or three shows would be 

 going on, and where the people almost surpass the southerners in 

 their craze for going out holiday-keeping, we could but feel com- 

 passion for those exhibitors who were sending about dogs or 

 birds unattended. But at last we got off, and after sundry stops 

 at all Borts of places where we never should have stopped, after 

 innumerable jerks and jostles, after travelling in a carriage with 

 ssven people on a side where there should only have been four, 

 we arrived at our friend's station, and at once betook ourselves 

 to the yards whose runs were described as like " miniature 

 deserts." 



We certainly did find them in a bad way. They were scorched 

 to the shade of the now-fashionable cream colour, and not even 

 a dandelion leaf or a plantain stalk broke the colour of the sur- 

 face. Well, we spent that Saturday evening in soaking the 

 grass from one end to the other. There were three of us at it ; 

 one drew the water, another carried the pails, and the third 

 poured it on the parched Btrands. We deluged it from one end 

 to the other, and worked at it till dark. Then we went in and 

 looked over a pack of schedules of forthcoming shows, marvelling 

 at the stupidity of many committees and the terrible ignorance 

 many of them Bhowed by their prospectuses, and then we talked 

 over the late disqualifications in Spanish and the peculiarities 

 some judges are displaying who ought to know better, until bed- 

 time. The next morning our evening's work amply repaid us ; 

 the runs looked so much fresher and brighter, and the biros 

 were all at work digging, and rooting, and scratching, instead 

 of standing listlessly idle as they had been before doing for day 

 after day, and learning the abominable habit of feather-eating. 

 We recommended lettuces to our friend, who was as yet young 

 in the fancy, and threw in a bushel nearly of plants which had 

 gone to seed ; and the way the leaveB, and stalks even, disap- 

 peared before us showed plainly that the birds had been pining 

 away for green food. On the Monday morning we set to work 

 and limewashed all the houses inside, and scattered some ears 

 of corn about the runs for the birds to pick out the grains, and 

 we stuck large branches of spruce, firs, and holly about the runs 



