368 



JOURNAL OS 1 HORTIOULTtTEB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 19, 1863. 



FMHran-oAHBEN Plan (M. W.).— We like your first propoial for a centre 

 best— Cineraria maritima, Tom. Thumb, and Flower of the Day. 2, 8, will 

 be beautiful, and so will 5, 11. You have partly crossed the other colours. 

 such as 4 and 10 Defiance Verbena; and we would carry the principle out 

 with 6, 12, white Verbena; 7, 13, purple Verbena; and 3, 9, might also be 

 a puiple or puce, as Christine or "Wonderful, or such dark things as Stella 

 Geranium or even two beds of Heliotrope. The two side wings will also do 

 very well; but we would have preferred edging all the beds there' or 

 edging none. We think also the plan would be improved by doing away 

 with fig. 18, and bringing 15 more into the centre. We also think that 

 there would be too much of the same colours in 20, 18, and 15. We would 

 prefer 18 to be Frogniore Scarlet edged with Cerastium, which would 

 break the line of orange in 20. 18, and 15. We will have your centre 

 engraved, and then return the drawing. 



Old Vises Failing (M. B.).— Under the circumstances of building a 

 new vinery, and the old Vines having failed for three years, we would 

 prefer new Vines in a fresh border. Old Vines often do remarkably well 

 when carefully lifted. If very old there would be some trouble with them. 



Oenotheras acaulis and nana ab Bedders [S. if. S.).— CEnothera 

 acaulis is sometimes good, but in our opinion not much to be depended on 

 for regular fioweiing. Oenothera Drummondi nana is a strong-growing 

 trailing plant, with large, fine, yellow flowers, best treated as a half-hardy 

 annual— that is, sown in a little heat and then transplanted, and thus 

 treated it will bloom until fro.;t comes. The flowers are as large as half- 

 crowns. Treated in the same way as a low plant, with bright orange flowers 

 about the size of a large sixpence, and the plant about 9 inches in height, 

 few annuals are more beautilul than Oenothera bistorta Veitchiana. See 

 article on "Annuals" recently contributed by Mr. Fish. 



Heaths apter Flowering {Country Curate).— Tou might have left the 

 plant of Erica hyemalis a fortnight in the propagating-house after potting, 

 and you had better place the plant now in a frame or pit, where you can 

 keep it closer— that is, with less air than in a greenhouse, until the shoots 

 are growing freely, when more air can be given by degrees to ripen the 

 young shoots in the autumn. Hyemalis stands cutting back more than 

 most Heaths ; and we see nothing wrong in your treatment if you are all 

 right as to soil, which you call poor, but when in a young state such plants 

 must be chiefly grown in sandy heath soil. As they get well established 

 such kinds may have a little fibry loam. If yon have put your plant in 

 loam the sooner you change the soil the better. 



Gooseberrt Saw-plv {J. M., Boston Spa).— the insect enclosed is a 

 small bee, and has nothing to do with the Gooseberry caterpillar, which is 

 the larva of a Saw-fly.— J. 0. W. 



Various {A young Gardener).— The Pancratium speciosum will do best 

 in a mild stove when making its growth, and in a warm greenhouse when 

 in bloom, and when at rest. Give the Cyanophyllum a' little loam with the 

 peat, allow the beat to (all to 65° or 70" at night, and shade from bright 

 sunshine. The Dicksonias and Alsophilas would most likely be the better, 

 if underpotted, of a larger pot and fresh fibry loam and peat, getting rid of 

 a good portion of the oid soil. Keep them a little warmer for a month after- 

 wards, and shaded. They will be the better of weak clear cool manure 

 water such as that from old cowdnng. 



Vines for an Orchard-house (A Three-years Subscriber).— Two Black 

 Hamburghs, Chasselas Musque, Early Saumur Frontignan, and two Roval 

 Muscadines. 



Bedding-out (H~. L.).— We think that in "Doings of the Week," to 

 which you refer, yon will find much of the information you require. In a 

 late article on annuals, you would also find something suitable on sowing. 

 As a general rule, with the exception of Calceolarias, it is well to strike the 

 most of bedding plants early in autumn. The distance of planting in beds 

 and ribbons has, perhaps, not been sufficiently alluded to, and this matter 

 " E. ~E." will bear in mind. Meanwhile it may be stated, that blue Lobelias 

 should not be more than 6 inches apart; Calceolaria Aurea floribunda 

 10 to 12 inches; Tom Thumb Geranium 12 inches; Alma, Bijou 10 to 

 12 inches; larger kinds more apart. It is better to thin when too thick 

 than to have patchy beds. 



Diseased Grapes {Maria).— Not at all owing to mildew. It is called by 

 gardeners " the spot," and is caused by the roots being not sufficiently 

 active to supply the demands for the upper growth. Removing the soil 

 from above the roots, replacing it by some richer compost, and covering 

 the surface at night and during heavy rain with mulch, and uncovering 

 during sunshine usually removes the malady. If the roots have descended 

 Into wet or ungenial subsoil, they must be brought to the suriace next 

 autumn. 



Greenhouse Ferns {Tyro).— Shifting these and Lycopodiums into larger 

 pots now will not retard iheir growth, if care be taken not to disturb their 

 roots. A mixture of cocoa-nut fibre dust, loam, and silver sand in equal 

 proportions will suit them all. By the beginning of June we shall publish 

 a highly illustrated work upon the culture of exotic Ferns, hardy, green- 

 house, and stove. 



Books (Oatlands).— Our new Manual "Manures for the Many," Is in 

 the press. Tou cannot have a more suitable book than Sanders on " The 

 Vine," which is published at our office, price 5s. Tou can have it free by 

 post if you send two additional postage stamps. 



Names op Plants {N. X).— 1, Veronica gentianoides; 2, Corydalis 

 lutea; 3, Asphodelus luteus. (J. D.).—\, Doronicnin pardalianches ; 

 f i » Symphytum; 3, a Carex; 4, a Luzula : all unlit for examination. 

 (C. C.).— The only one we recognise is Euphorbia amygdaloides variegata. 

 The rest are too immature and insufficient. {E. J 1 .)— Erica carnea. (Amicus). 

 — 1, Hyacinthusnon-sctiptus; 2, Valeriana dioica ; 3, Galinm cruciatum ; 

 4, Achillea millefolium. [H. <?.}.— Very crushed, seems to be Begonia 

 lngrami. (A Subscriber, Kilrusli).—l, Caltha palustrisfl. pi, ; 2, Mathiola 

 tristis; 3, Leucojum ajstivum ; 4, Funkia albo-marginata. (^1 Subscriber, 

 Exeter).— The vaiiegated Hydrangea is a greenhouse plant. Your other 

 plant is apparently Heterocentrum mexicanum, and requires stove treat- 

 ment. {M. N. E.).— Your plant is Euryops punctatus, of De Candolle 

 I Prodromus," vol. vi., p. 445). It is a Cape plant, and its hardiness there- 

 lore i doubtful. You describe it as "a hardy evergreen shrub with very 

 pretty foliage, which makes it useful for winter nosegays." Do you mean 

 that it is really hardy, or merely that it has withstood the late mild winter? 

 li you find it permanently hardy, whereabouts is your lesidenee ' We ask 

 tnese questions because it will be generally interesting to know that this 

 a™ < a £' e t0 endure °nr climate. {M. J., Adamstown).— It is the 

 American Cowslip, Dodecatheon Meadia. 



POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. 



POULTRY SHOWS. 



Mat 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th. North London (Agricultural Hall, 

 Islington). Sec, Mr. J. Sillitoe, Agricultural Hall. Entries close May 15th. 



Mat 28th. North Hants. Sea, Mr. Henry Downs, Basingstoke. Entries 

 close April 23rd. 



June 3rd. Beverley. Sees., H. Adams and J. Kemp, jun. 



June 11th. Thorne. Sec, Mr. Jos. Richardson. 



Jult 20th to 24th. Worcestershire. Sec., Mr. J. Holland, Chesnut 

 Walk, Worcester. Entries close June 20th. 



August 29th. Halifax and Calder Vale. See., Mr. W. Irvine, Halifax 



September 2nd. Cottinoham. Sec, Mr. J. Brittain. 



CHICKENS OUT OF DOORS. 



The advent of refreshing showers will bring gladness into 

 many a poultry-yard. The hard, parched, and cracked earth 

 that starved all animal life on its aurfaee, and imprisoned all that 

 was beneath it — that prevented the chickens from scratching, and 

 that yielded no more food than a deal board — has imbibed the 

 grateful moisture, and given liberty to the thousands of ani- 

 malcule that dwell upon and within her. Good times for the 

 chickens; natural food and natural medicine. Now they will 

 grow. And our good, intelligent, but somewhat grumbling man, 

 what will he say ? For some time drought has been the cause 

 of everything that went wrong ; he haB lost his stock in trade, 

 but alter another showery week he will Bhake his head, talk 

 despondingly about wet, and wonder when we shall have any 

 sun. In our leisure we have kept a record of our poultry 

 curiosities, and we find, in answer to the question why there 

 were so few eggs, the following replies within a week: — "Too 

 wet," " Too dry," " Scorching sun," " No sun at all," " No faith 

 in pullets," " Hens too old." 



We will assume that all hens and chickens are out of doors 

 to enjoy the advantage of a grass run, and the varied natural 

 food to be found there ; but it will now be necessary to shift the 

 position of the rips a little, as there is a probability of broken 

 weather. While there was no rain the little hollows and the 

 bottoms of banks were advantageous situations, but they should 

 now be avoided. Little knolls and banksides will be better, 

 as they will not hold rain. A dabbied roosting-place is bad for 

 chickens. Where grass is short and fed-off, of course a rip may 

 be put anywhere, the only precaution necessary is to turn the 

 tack to the mind every night ; but where graBS is long, and 

 growing as it will now, comparatively bare and thoroughly dry 

 spots must be chosen. Chickens of sis or seven weeks old soon 

 perish in long grass if they are overtaken by a heavy shower. 

 The neglect of these simple precautions once C08t us in a four- 

 acre field, thirty-seven out of fifty forward Spanish chickens. 



PROLIFIC EAST-INDIAN DUCKS. 



I have a pen of East-Indian Ducks hatched last year. After 

 laying about twenty eggs they commenced sitting. One of them 

 hatched nine young ones on Friday, May 1st, recommenced 

 laying on the Tuesday morning following, and has laid every 

 day since. I am told that this is not usual ; and if it is as un- 

 usual as I suppose it to be, my brother poultry-fanciers may feel 

 an interest in knowing it. — John Dunoif, Bunbury, Tarporley. 



[It Btrikes us this is a very unusual occurrence. It is one we have 

 never met with in our experience. The earliest ease we know of 

 was one in which a hen took to laying when the chickens she had 

 hatched were only a fortnight old. In that case she immediately 

 became a bitter tyrant to her family, and we were obliged to 

 take them from her ; as when the hen is occupied <with laying 

 the foundation of a new family, the noBes of the previous one 

 are generally broken. We shall be glad to hear how this rara 

 avis conducts herself towards hers ; also, whether she lavs in a 

 nest, or drops her eggs about. An account should be kept of 

 the number.] 



DRONE-BREEDING QUEENS. 



I beg entirely to disclaim any idea of attempting, as Mr. Lowe 

 expresses it, to upset the general belief of bee-keepers as to the 

 worthlessness of drone-breeding queens. It is only under very 

 exceptional circumstances indeed that one of these is tolerated 

 either by " B. & W." or myself. In a general way agreat multi- 

 tude of drones is a great evil, and under ordinary circumstances 



