482 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENED. 



[June 30, 1863, 



Exhibiting Strawberries (Ellen).— Atthe Royal Horticultural Society's 

 Kensington Exhibitions the Society provides dishes; but the exhibitor, or 

 the exhibitor's deputy, must attend to arrange the fruit. 



Seedling Fansies {Taffy).— We do not think that the flowers sent are 

 equal to many of the same character which are now in cultivation. The 

 Geranium was so fallen to pieces that we could make nothing of it. 



Black Deposit on Pelargonium Leaves (Elizabeth). — The black 

 appearance is chiefly the excrement of insects, as green fly and thrips, 

 particularly the former. The leaves had better be removed. We dis- 

 covered no live insects. The warty appearance on the back of the leai is 

 almost a sure sign of stagnant water and insufficient drainage, or a too low 

 close atmosphere. Good root-action and a dryish airy atmosphere are tbe 

 best antidotes for this, and also for securing a healthy vegetation and 

 freedom from insects. If the plants are in bloom and green fly ou them, 

 you had better remove them by the Angers, as smoking is apt to injure the 

 Dlooms. It not in bloom smoke, but do it judiciously— not too much 

 tobacco, nor yet allow the smoke to be hot. 



Vine-border Covering— Trrbbi an o Grape (B. J. J".).— You do not 

 furnish us with enough of evidence to decide whether the gangrening 

 of the berries has anything to do with the condition of the outside 

 border. If, as you say, that the Vines are healthy and the roots near the 

 suface, then we should be inclined to think that the fault was to be found 

 in management, overcropping, &c. However, there can be no question 

 that covering the border with glass will tend to the well-being of the Vines, 

 as the light will get to the soil and cold rains be excluded. We have never 

 yet done so ourselves, but we can see what an advantage such a 

 covering would be ; but that advantage will chiefly depend on the ground 

 of the border being exposed beneath the glass in summer. If at such a 

 time you cover the border with plants, either in pots or otherwise, then we 

 have no great faith in the advantages you will attain. We know one case 

 where VineB were much injured by such a glass covering, but the border had 

 its top in a sloppy state all the summer from watering plants upon it, and 

 the dense foliage kept the sun's rays from reaching it. The Trebbiano 

 Grape is a strong- growing kind producing large white bunches, which, i I' 

 well ripened in autumn, will hang all the winter with ordinary care, and 

 the flavour is rich and sweet. Some people are very fond of it. It is 

 chiefly useful in a late house. 



Cucumbers Deformed and Yellow {A Perplexed One). — We fear you 

 are expecting too much fruit from your Cucumbers. Though some varieties 

 show three or four fruits at a joint seldom more than one swells, or should 

 they all swell they are short crooked things, but more frequently they turn 

 yellow at the point, as in your case. This is owing to the routs being unable 

 to supply nourishment to tbe young fruit in sufficient quantity to keep 

 them swelling freely. One Cucumber at a joint, and that in every foot of 

 space, is enough. Cucumbers seldom turn yellow at the point in the early 

 stages of their growth, or not until a good many have been cut, which we 

 attribute to a little over-greediness on the part of the cultivator. Although 

 we consider too heavy cropping the chief cause of Cucumbers failing, yet 

 anything like a check to the roots will bring about quite as unsatisfactory 

 results. Too little bottom heat, too much or too little watering, or watering 

 with water considerably lower in temperature than the heat of the bed 

 causes an inactive state of the roots, and that will cause the young Cucum- 

 bers to die-off at the point. Syringing the plants with cold water, and 

 allowing water to drip off the ends ot the young fruit, and the sun striking 

 them in that state, scalds them. Allowing a current ot cold air to suddenly 

 reduce the temperature will thiow the sap back and hinder the fruit from 

 swelling. Should none of the above account for the failure, water with 

 weak liquid manure twice a- week, warmed to the temperature of the bed ; 

 for, if the fruit forwarded be a fair specimen, your Cucumbers lack nourish- 

 ment. Keep the house moist by sprinkling every available surface twice 

 a-day with tepid water. Give air early in the morning, and shut up early, 

 never allowing the thermometer to Jail much before you shut up. From 

 75° to 85° is quite hot enough for bottom beat in any stage. 



Glass (W. X. W., Bingley).— The sample enclosed by you would do 

 very well for pit-glazing. 



Names of Mosses (J. E. Dangstein) .— 1, Hypnum splendens ; 2, Hypnum 

 triquetrum ; 3, Dicranum undulatum. 



Names op Plants (E. »S., Hampton Court).— One of the Hippeasters, 

 but not recognisable (if, indeed, it be not one of many wholly unrecognisable 

 seedlings) alter being squeezed flat. (J, K. Rossiter). — Cannot ted a plant 

 from a mere leaf like that. [James McBey). — It is what is called Echitcs 

 picta in gardens. We do not know £. rutilans. Camellias sometimes go 

 spotted like yours; it is a sign of deficient vigour. ( IF. B.).— Looks like 

 Erigeron philadelphicus. [Omega).— 1, Lotus corniculatus ; 2, Orchis 

 pyramidalis; 3, bad, some crueller without leaves; 4, Matricaria cha- 

 momile. 



POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. 



EGGS SAT UPON AND THEN CHILLED. 



I shall feel obliged by any of your correspondents giving me 

 their opinion, from experience, as to the time when eggs being 

 under a hen and then left would be bad. I put fifteen Sebright eggs 

 under a hen at ten o'clock at night. She appeared to sit clo6e. 

 In the morning at six o'clock she was off the nest and the eggs 

 quite cold. At eight o'clock the same morning they were put 

 under another hen, and every egg proved addled. Would the 

 six or seven hours be sufficient time to cause this ? How soon 

 does vitality commence, so as to spoil eggs if afterwards left to 

 get oold? — Evesham. 



[The fact that at six o'clock the eggs were quite cold, and 

 that they were not put under another hen until eight, would 

 account for their being addled. The hen should always be tried 

 for three days ou common eggs to see that she is really broody. 

 Upon the question how long eggs may be sat upon and yet not 



be spoiled if chilled, we should like to hear the results of the 

 experience of our readers ; and shall be obliged by such results 

 being communicated, stating at the same time the variety of 

 fowl by which they were laid.] 



A PACT FOR NATURALISTS. 



To-day I have an opportunity of reading of two cured speci- 

 mens of the "Pintailed Sandgrouse" (Pterocles setarius), being 

 in the possession of Mr. Wm. Emmett, of Pudsey, having been 

 " murdered " by him only last Wednesday, at a neighbouring 

 village called Parsley, and, so far as I can see, if all " naturalists " 

 are of Mr. Emmett's stamp, both these and all other rare animals 

 will continue to be very scarce, both on the undulating hills of 

 Farsley and all other parts of these dominions. No doubt, now 

 that Mr. Emmett's exploits have been duly chronicled, other 

 naturalists (and members of the sparrow-shooting societies) will 

 be on the look-out for the fortunate twelve out of the fourteen 

 which so far have escaped the range of Mr. Emmett'B rifle; and it 

 seems very probable that the whole covey of fourteen will be 

 utterly destroyed or driven to more barbarous climes to seek 

 that existence which they are denied in this civilised land of 

 ours. 



It seems a great pity — nay, I may say, it is a national mis- 

 fortune — that so many of my countrymen should exhibit such 

 6elfish propensities (I cannot use a milder term), in destroying 

 those rare specimens of the feathered tribes which occasionally 

 visit these shores, in order that they may have the gratification 

 of exhibiting in their private collections stuffed and inanimate 

 specimens of what but for them would be living types of the 

 species to which they belong, and be a means of instruction and 

 a source of pleasure to thousands. 



I have not the slightest knowledge of Mr. Emmett. No doubt 

 he i8 an enthusiastic if not a distinguished naturalist, and I give 

 him credit for the best intentions ; but I put it to him, whether 

 he is not contracting rather than expanding a knowledge of 

 nature by such acts ? If the "Sandgrouse" are common on the 

 arid plains of Persia, and found in plenty on the coasts of the 

 Mediterranean, we have no occasion to shoot the few which visit 

 us in order to procure specimens for our instruction. 



Thanks to Mr. Emmett for preserving for us the plumage of 

 the " Pintailed Sandgrouse " stuffed with " Bhoddy," with in- 

 telligence beaming from a pair of glas'fi eyes ; but no thanks to 

 him for depriving us of the pleasure of seeing our native woods 

 and valleys adorned with living specimens of these persecuted 

 beauties, and debarred the pleasure alike of studying their habits, 

 and admiring the splendour of their living forms. — Pbo Bono 

 Publico. — (Leeds Mercury.) 



[ Heartily do we coincide iu this condemnation. — Eds. J. 

 op H.] 



Pkolipic Ducks. — I can add my testimony to your corre- 

 spondent's relative to Ducks laying soon after having hatched a 

 brood. One of my Ducks brought out a brood on Monday, 

 May 4th, and on the following Sunday had laid three eggs. 

 Even while sitting she did not avoid the drake. My other Duck 

 was then sitting, and brought out her brood on the 2nd instaut, 

 and yesterday laid her first egg. The Duck that hatched her 

 eggs on the 4th of May had on Eriday last, the 12th of June, 

 twenty-one eggB in her nest, and is now Bitting on seventeen or 

 more. She began to sit on Sunday last. A shopkeeper in this 

 village informs me that one of his Ducks laid several eggs under 

 the coop, and he has already ( 1 une 23), had two broods from the 

 same Duck this year. — K. O. T. 



Laegb Eggs op Spanish Eowls. — The Eev. C. A. Moore, 

 of Sutterton Vicarage, Spalding, bought some Spanish poultry 

 about two and a half years Bince of Mr. Eowler, of Aylesbury. 

 He says, " I have been very particular in keeping up the breed, 

 and have had some very remarkable eggs from my stock. One 

 egg which a hen produced about a fortnight since weighed 

 3£ ozs. ; but the most remarkable one is that which the same 

 fowl laid on Saturday, and which actually weighs nearly 4$ ozs. 

 This egg I have had painted white in order to preserve it. My 

 fowls have every disadvantage — being confined to within a very 

 small space." 



