September 28, 1876. ) 



JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



293 



Wintering Sempervtvuh californicum, Wigandias, and Oannab 

 (A. B.). — Sempervivum californicum is quite hardy in well-drained soil, but 

 if you have the offsets in pots they may be wintered in a cold frame or house, 

 keeping rather dry. The Wigandias should be taken up and potted before 

 frost, and be afforded a light airy position in a house from which frost is 

 exoluded. "We should not cut back until spring, and then encourage fresh 

 growth in a hotbed, hardening well off before planting out. The Cannas 

 should have the roots taken up after the first frost, be laid in a shed a few 

 days to dry, and be paoked away in sand in a place Bafe from frost, potting 

 them in March and forwarding in a hotbed. 



Trop*eolum speciosum and T. pentaphyllum (Franklin).— Keep them 

 in the pots over the winter in the greenhouse, and plant out in spring— late 

 in March or early in April. T. speciosum flourishes best in peat soil, and would 

 be most likely to thrive with you upon a west aspect. Planted iu an American 

 bed the shoots should ramble over the plants, and when in bloom in late 

 summer they produoe a fine effect. T. pentaphyllnm will now be growing, 

 and should be planted out if you intend to treat it as a hardy subject, but 

 we Bhould give it a position in a cool airy part of the greenhouse. If planted 

 outdoors a south aspect should be afforded it. 



Boussingaultia baselloides (Idem).— We think the spotted oondition 

 of the leaves is due to excessive moisture, especially over the foliage, which 

 should not be syriDged, the foliage being of a thick texture. We also think you 

 have overwatered the roots, though when growing freely the plant requires to 

 be copiously watered, but to be kept rather dry in winter. We should prefer 

 planting it out, training tho shootB to a pillar or trellis in a light airy posi- 

 tion. It flowers in late summer or early in autumn, and is very fine. 



Soot Water (Idem). — After being allowed to settle the clear liquid is good 

 for syringing with, but for watering the liquid should be well stirred up each 

 time it is used. The " Bourn " may be removed from the surface of the pots 

 by a sharpened label, the flat end formed into a wedge. There is always 

 some insoluble parts resulting of burnt Boot or ash, but these may be avoided 

 by placing the soot in a hair bag or stocking. Soot water will keep over a 

 lengthened period, but is best fresh. 



Thuja Lobbii — Sowing Holly Berries (W. C). — The seeds in the cones 

 of Thuja Lobbii are abortive. The Holly berries kept two years in sand may 

 be sown any time between now and Maroh. We should sow in November. 



Dahlias for Exhibition (B. B.).— The beBt twenty-four show and twelve 

 fancy Dahlias are the following : — Show : Barmaid, Royal Purple, Samuel 

 Plimsoll, Acme of Perfection, Arbitrator, CharleB Turner, Cremorne, George 

 Goodall, Herbert Turner, James Cocker, James Service, John Dunnington, 

 John StandiBh, Julia Wyatt, Lady Gladys Herbert, Leah, Mrs. Boston, Mrs. 

 Henshaw, John Bennett, Prince Arthur, Thomas Goodwin, William Pringle 

 Laird, Yellow Standard, ToiBon d'Or. Fancy varieties : Mrs. StandiBh, 

 Henry GlaBscock, Dolly Varden, Ebor, Egyptian Prince, Flossie Williams, 

 Grand Sultan, Laura Haslam, Mies Lilly Large, Mrs. Saunders, Pauline, and 

 Rev. J. B. M. Camm. Transplant your Hoses in November. 



Seedling Fuchsia (Darling tonian). — Its semi-double sepals are un- 

 common, but the beauty of the flower is not improved by them. 



Liming a Garden (Arturus). — Now and in the spring lime should be 

 applied in the evening to destroy slugs. Put on the lime, and add stable 

 manure the next morniDg. Make the surface of the ground quite white 

 with the lime. Peruse Mr. Abbey's article on " Lime Jand its Application" 

 in No. 795i the isBue of June 22nd of the present year. 



Planting Clematises (8. FT.)-— The beBt time to plant is in Marchi 

 though by purchasing now it is likely you may Becure better plants. They 

 may be wintered with the pots plunged in ashes in a frame or in a sheltered 

 situation outdoors. 



Hardiness of Campanula caltcanthema ( Idem). — These varieties of 

 Canterbury Bells are perfectly hardy, requiring a rather light well-drained soil. 



Wintering Seedling Pansies, &o. (A Reader). — Tour position being 

 bleak we should prick the Pansies out on a sheltered border in a rather light 

 well-drained soil, and plant them in spring where they are required to 

 flower. The " Gillies," which we presume are Carnations, Sweet Williams, 

 <Sc , plant now where they are to flower, or they may be planted in spring, 

 moving them with balls. 



Silene pendula compacta (C. Y.).— It iB perfectly hardy, especially in a 

 "moderately light and dry" soil. Plant out in October where intended to 

 flower. 



Transplanting Boses on Manetti (Idem). — Take them up carefully in 

 November or early in December, and if they have to be removed a distance 

 wrap the rootB in straw and mats to keep them from the air and frosts. Plant 

 as deeply as before and mulch well. Defer pruning until late, and cut back 

 rather closely. They will afford good blooms. 



Eucalyptus globulus (Old Subscriber).— There is considerable differ- 

 ence between the winters of Italy and those of England. In this country it 

 does not succeed as a hardy tree except in a very warm situation and dry, so 

 that the growths made are well ripened. We have seen it thriving in a cold 

 house. It requires a moiBt situation, and a wall with protection, or a green- 

 house. 



Removing Water from Soil (IF.).— Nothing will do so so efficiently as 

 drainage, the want of which we presume is the cause of your soil not being 

 dry. If the ground, however, does not suffer from stagnant water, the staple 

 of the soil may be improved by an admixture of old mortar rubbish and ashes. 

 November is the best time to transplant Ptoses, or as soon aB possible after a 

 majority of their leaves have fallen. 



Retaining the Autumn Tints of Leaves (B. Hindley).— It can only be 

 done, so far as we are aware, by drying the leaves between sheets of blotting 

 paper, ohanging them to dry sheets daily. The sheets should be dry and 

 pressed firmly, and relaxing the pressure after the leaves cease to moisten the 

 paper, placing them thinly between Bheets of paper afterwards. 



Pear Eaten (Idem).— The Pear has the appearance of being eaten by 

 wasps, bluebottle flies probably assisting. It is probable that birds may 

 have begun the mischief by pecking at the fruit, complete devastation being 

 effected by the wasps. 



Fungus on Lawn (S. M. H.).~ Sow common salt over it when the fungi 

 appear at the rate of ten bushels per acre. 



Arrangement of Fruit Room (Constant Reader.).— The walls are suffi- 

 ciently thick. We advise you to Bkirt the wall with boards, and plaster the 

 roof as you propose. The floor, we think, will answer as it is. If you find 

 the damp injures the fruit then yon can lay down boards. ■ 



Names of Plants (T, S.).— Acanthus spinosus, Prickly Acanthus. 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PiaEOU CHRONICLE. 



CAN A P0ULTBY FARM PAY?-No. 1. 



This question has been f ally answered in the affirmative by 

 our neighbours the French. Hitherto with no the attempts have 

 ended more or less in failure; but ia that a reason, if a proper 

 method is adopted and due care and supervision exercised, that 

 we should not sucoeed in the future ? From the accounts I have 

 before me of the French poultry farms I gather that if we follow 

 their example and breed for Bale, just as ordinary farmers do 

 their sheep and oxen, there is no apparent reason why a fairly 

 remunerative profit should not be realised by poultry fanners 

 in this country. My belief is that all attempts hitherto in Great 

 Britain have been undertaken and carried out on fallacious 

 bases. The mania for prize-winning and fancy exhibiting has 

 helped to bar suooeBS. Again, too expensive and elaborate build- 

 ings, &c, have been another cause of failure. Look to some of 

 our most suooesBful breeders : ordinary wooden houses have been 

 enough for them, and their birds have everywhere gained com- 

 mendation. Let, therefore, economy and real, not elaborate, 

 efficiency be our aim. 



1st, Let there be plenty of space in the open runs. The 

 poultry will find for themselves much good and wholesome 

 natural food, and bo save extra feeding. 2nd, Let the home 

 feeding be regular and liberal, but not excessive; your birds then 

 will always be in good health and condition. 3rd, Whether you 

 purpose producing eggs or meat for the table, choose suitable 

 breeds for each object. Do not, however, use too many differ- 

 ent breeds, as that involves complications in your houses, yards, 

 and accommodation generally. 4th, Let your personal super- 

 vision be constant, and employ only the best and most trust- 

 worthy assistants. 



I have lately read with pleasure in Mr. L. "Wright's book on 

 poultry of the Bellair (French) farm, that if intending poultry 

 farmers here took this as their model, and only improved upon 

 it so far as their own experience and that of oelebrated poultry 

 breeders suggested, they would soon have a sound system to 

 work on and Buocess be assured. 



To take another line of argument. A farm, say, of fifteen or 

 twenty acres will only support a certain number of sheep or 

 oxen according to its fertility of soil ; all other feeding stuff, oil 

 cake, &c, will have to be paid for extra, and that in nigh pro- 

 portion. Calculate out the product of this in beef and mutton 

 for the market. So many oxen or sheep of such and suoh weight 

 can be raised, but what can we say of poultry ? In this case so 

 much does not depend on the quality and richness of soil; and 

 a greater weight of poultry at less cost, as I purpose showing in 

 my next article, will be raised than could be of beef or mutton. 



Poultry, it is true, are liable to disease, bo are sheep and oxen. 

 With twenty acres, too, if properly managed nearly every requi- 

 site might be raised for the stock kept. Could this be done in 

 ordinary farming ? Byres, cattle-steading, granaries, would ia 

 the case of an ordinary farm be on a much larger and more 

 expensive scale than need be for a poultry farm. 



There is only one question that seems to me of vital import- 

 ance now left for consideration — Is there a good and conveniently 

 situated market for your poultry, easy of access, and where fair 

 wholesale prices can be obtained ? If so, I can see no reason 

 to doubt sucoess. 



I have for the last eight or ten years raised poultry in a large 

 way for my own consumption (selling only at times the surplus), 

 frequently having three or four hundred birds young and old in 

 my yards, and averaging over five thousand eggs per annum, 

 with always a fair supply during winter from young pullets. 

 The direct gain in money was comparatively small, inasmuch 

 as my runs were contracted, bo entailing extra feeding, and little 

 produce went to market, and that not of the best description ; 

 but indirectly my butcher's book was greatly relieved, and I 

 always had a pleasant variety of food for the table. I bred 

 Houdans, Brahmas, Chinese and common Geese, Peruvian and 

 common Ducks. 



As to the question of breeding for actual profit, I have not 

 hitherto tried it ; but so convinced ami from my past experi- 

 ence as an amateur that it will or should pay that I intend 

 shortly, in conjunction with a friend of mine, to undertake 

 poultry farming on a fairly large scale, beginning moderately at 

 first," and eventually, if successful, extending our sphere of 

 action. 



So far I have given you and your readers my ideas and expe- 

 rience, hoping that others will take up this question and give 

 us the benefit of their advice : in any case they must look 

 upon the question in the proper light — viz., profit and loss. — 

 G. E. Harriott, Killmore. 



Nottingham Poultry and Pigeon Show. — The Dog, Cat, and 

 Poultry Show to be held at Nottingham in October, is not under 



