Oaly 6, 1871. ] 



JJUBNAIi OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



15 



is not a pretty free admission of sunlight, we think your thick-rolled non- 

 transparent glass for the roof was a mistake, and if so, you will have to 

 be satisfied with fine-foliaged plants, Ferns, &c., instead of flowering 

 plants. It the aspect is good, is there nothing wrong in the paint, heat- 

 ing, or early air-giving ? 



Tanks and Filters {H. F AT.).— For your tank under ground, 10 feet 

 long, 5 feet wide, and 5 feet deep, we would not advise you to have less 

 than a 9-inch brick wall, and laid in. cement, as well as plastered over 

 with cement, having a portion of clean rough sand mixed with it. If 

 water were a great object we would make the tank larger. You will not 

 be BO secure unless you lay the bricks in cement, but the joints may be 

 as thin as you please. The great point in such work is to usehari- 

 burned bricks, and not to lay any of them until they have been soaked 

 in a tub of water for a few minuses after every air-bubble hag been spent. 

 Before cement plastering the in3ide let the bricks be damped again, so 

 that the cement may catch the bricks firmly at once. After being 

 finished it is as well that the tank should stand a few days before the 

 ■water is admitted. From its being underground there will be no danger 

 ol frost injuring the tank ; the water will be very clear if filtered, but 

 if it be shut out from all atmospheric ioflaences it will for a time be 

 rather hard for domestic purposes. The filtering is entirely for secur- 

 ing purity and clearness; and for tank purposes and rain water from 

 buildings two filters are better than one. It is no disadvantage to have 

 ■s. large filter, except that the water must stand in it before it goes to the 

 tank. For your tank we should say that from 20 to 24 inches each would 

 be enough, but Ihe larger the filters the more seldom will they want clean- 

 ing. The filter thug 

 made is just a little 

 tank divided in two. 

 A would be the base 

 of the filter, la'd 

 ■one brick and ti e 

 thick in cement, b 

 would be the end 

 and side walls, at 

 least faced with ce- 

 ment ; we would 

 prefer laying and 

 'lacing in it. c would 



tie the division, _, , , 



brick - on - bed, and ^' ^' surface level, 



there would be little use in laying that in cement. At the base of this cross 

 wall, if from 20 to 3:) inches across, there sbould be three opoaing-s at the 

 bottom, say of 4 or 5 inches each, so that the w iter should p iss freely 

 from No. 1 to No. 2. Place these fitters in the handiest position as re- 

 spects the tank. Hiving finished the walls, comraance with No. 1 division, 

 and place some clean pebbles and stones at the bottom, piling them up, 

 but lessening in size as they come near the surface, and at the surface 

 t:ee only clean-washed pebbles and gravel. Ooe reason for having these 

 fine is, that by lifting the stone or slate covering— best if there is a cover 

 ior each division — you can remove and renew this fine surface witliout 

 disturbing the rest of the filter. The water entering from the roofs of 

 •the houses by the pipe d, discharges itself into filter 1, and passing down 

 rises again to its level through the openings in the dividing wall, c, into 

 filter 2. This filtnr 2 should have the clean stones smaller, an i for a 

 third of its depth near the top should consist chiefly of finely-washed 

 -shingle and clean charcoal free from dust. Lumpy clean charcoal should 

 sat least equal the qaantity of stones and pobbles in this second division. 

 All this is easily done when the well-washed materials are handy. But 

 tfor the desire expressed we should not havo deemed such details neces- 

 sary, yet we know of many cases where tanks have been made, and great 

 •eomplaints have also been made of the dinginess of the water from sooty 

 roofs. A little additional expense for a double filter would have saved all 

 such complaints. If in the course of time the filters become dirty, theie 

 would be no great labour in taking out all the filtering materials, wash- 

 ing them, and replacing them, with the addition of a little more clean 

 ■eharcoal lumps. It will at once be seen that in a brisk shower the water 

 pour§ into division 1, passes through the openings at the bottom in the 

 dividing wall, c, rises through the stones, shingle, and charcoal in divi- 

 sion 2, and passes clear and pure by the pipe, e, into the tank. As to the 

 size of the tmks, we generally under-estimate the water that falls on 

 oroofs. In the generality of cases, if it could be saved, it would suffice 

 for the wants of the inmates of the house. (Aii Amateur). — See the 

 preceding answer. Of course that applies to filtering roof water for a 

 rather large tank. For smaller reservoirs smaller filters would answer. 

 We do not know exactly what you want. Fcr mere domestic purposes, 

 where only a small qaantity of clear water would be required, a large 

 earthenware vessel, with a cover to it and a tap near the bottom, or even 

 a nice clean barrel, would suffice ; but in either case the p icking of the 

 snterior must be done on the same principle as tbat recommended for 

 larger filters — the rougher materials at the bottom, and the smaller, clean 

 shingle and washed charcoal near the surface. Unless the water is very 

 sooty or muddy, such will act a good time without requiriog cleaning. 

 For a larger affdr, where biick would be cumbersome, strong wood lined 

 with 2inc or lead might be used. Many uniergrouod filters are made 

 with brick and eood mortar, and then lined with cement. The plan 

 recommended is, however, the best. 



Vines Infested with Red Spider {E. S.).— The Vines being much 

 infested we advise you to heat the flue to a temperature of 160'-', and then 

 paint it with a composition of sulphur brought to the consistency of thin 

 paint with a solution of 2 ozs. of soft soap to the gallon of water. Choose 

 a calm evening, shut up the house, apply the composition with a brush, 

 doing it well, and two or three times over, so that fumes of the sulphur 

 naay be given ofi", and unless they he so offensive to the lungs as to drive 

 tbe operator out of the house, they will not destroy red spider. It is well 

 tj let the flue gradually cool after keeping it for an hour or two at the 

 temperature named, and in the following morning give a thorough syring- 

 ing. We should continue the syringing until the Grapes show colour for 

 ripening. Syringe, therefore, forcibly with clear rain water every even- 

 ing. Tho best mode of lessening the drying influences of hot air or flues 

 is to have the cover of fire-tiles dished in the centre about an inch to 

 hold water, and that mostly gives off moist heat sufficient to keep down 

 red spider and thrips. You might have galvanised troughs made to be 

 on the flue, and keep them full of water. If 3 feet long, the width of the 

 flue, and 2 or 8 inches deep, they would be sufficient for the purpose if 

 placed 6 feet apart. 



Melon Blossoms {T. iir.).— The feoaale flowers will require your aid to 

 be fertilised. 



Nectarine Leaf Discoloured (G. 5.).— The shining whiteness of the 

 leaf enclosed seems to be a resuU of the cold sanless weather we have so 

 long had. We have seen several such leaves, and consider the cause to 

 be their development in very dull weather and a moist atmosphere, 

 and tlie sun breaking forth and changing their colour. Had they been 

 diiectly ox>pJsed to the sun'sraya they would probably have been browned 

 —in fact, they generally assutne a brown appearance afterwards. Nec- 

 tarine leaves are more subject to this loss of colour than those of Peach 

 trees. It is not injurious to the trees. 



Camellias and Azaleas not Floweking (ET. L. B.).— The dry heat in 

 winter, unless excessive, would not cause the Camellias to cast their buds, 

 tut this evil may have been a result of too little or too much water at 

 the roots, and not unliUely of an inactive state of the roots. The Azaleas 

 could not flower as they had no flower-buds, owiog to the non-ripeniug of 

 the wood. Continue both in the cool house, and afl'ord abundance of air. 

 They will ripen the wood better and be more likely to flower than if they 

 were placed out of dours this cold wet season. The Eugenia Ugni should 

 be kept in a light airy position in a cool house, and have a moderate 

 amount of pot room ; indeed, it should be under rather than over-potted. 

 The main point is to secure the ripening of the wood, and for tbat an 

 abundance of air and ligbt are necessary. The petals of the Roses had 

 all fallen, but we cannot nama florists' va^i6tie^ They are too numerous. 



Tacsonia VanVolxemi Seedlings Torpid (E. T. ilf.).— The cause of 

 the seedhngs not growing is evidently their not being potted-off from the 

 seed-pans until they were 6 inches high, and then into 5inch pots. They 

 have received a check. Place them io a bottom heat of 70^ to Irf, and 

 continue them there with but little water until they begin to grow, and 

 thtu water so as to keep the soil moist, but let it be dry b,-fore giving 

 any, and then afl"ord a good supply. After they have roots reaching the 

 sides of the pots and are growiug freely, gradually withdraw them from the 

 hotb3d, and harden them off, removing them to the conservatory again, 

 aod plant-out in a well-prepared border. 



Various Plants (Idem). — Dipladenia amabilis is a stove twiner, and 

 requires a compost of three parts turfy peat, one part light fibrous loam, 

 half a part each of charcoal, in pieces from the siic of a pea to that of a 

 hazel nut, and silver sand, tbe whole well mixed. Good drainage is 

 necessary. Water the plant abundantly in summt^r when growing, but 

 in winter keep dry. Spircca jai^onica, after flowering, should be planted 

 out in good rich soil in an open position, and be well supplied with water 

 in dry weather until the foliage turns yellow, or plunge the plants in the 

 pots in an open situation, and water abundantly in dry weather. Ixora 

 coccinea is a stove plant, and does well in a compost of equal parts 

 of sandy fibrous poat and fibrous loam, and one-sixth each pieces of 

 charcoal, broken pots or crocks, and silver sand. Water freely when 

 growing, but keep rather dry in winter. No plants are more benefited by 

 a gentle heat when commencing to gi ow than are these plants. I-asi- 

 andra viacranilia is a gieenhouse or cool stove plant, doing well in an 

 intermediate house. It needs a compost of peat two parts, and one of 

 sandy loam, good drainage, and a good supply of water when growing, 

 and to be kept moist at all times. It is a tall legtty subject, and inferior 

 in every way to Lasiandra macrantha floribunda, one of the finest and 

 freest-flowering of gi'aenhouse plants. 



Plant Leaves Mottled {17. C.H), — The Camellia leaf is variegated, 

 a not UQCommon occurrence when the roots are in an unhealthy state. 

 It is due to bad drainage or too much water. The other leaves are pro- 

 bably mottled from the plants being kept in a very cloje atmosphere and 

 very moist, and the sun shining upon them whilst wet causes the dis- 

 coloration. It may, however, be a result of the late cold weather; it 

 being very dull and cold for weeks, the juices of the plants are ill-elabo- 

 ratiid, and are n jt able to withstand the fierce rays of tbe sun. Perhaps 

 a little more air, and especially in the early part of the day, would afford 

 a remedy. 



Extra Working {B. B. D,).— With only one man you mast have been 

 worked ofi" your legs to manage such an increasing place, and if you did 

 all that extra work without extra remuneration you are both to be pitied 

 and blamed ; to be pitied because you became such a slave to your own 

 enthusiasm, and to be blamed because you did the labour that ought to 

 have devolved on two or three more. We do not think that such long 

 hours of continuous labour as you hAve had benefit anyone in the end. 

 There are plenty of proprietors who will put up a little extra glass, or 

 enlarge pleasure grounds, if the addition cost them no more to keep up 

 during the year. The gardener who under such circumstances doubles 

 his work, acts with bis eyes open. Before he recommends such improve- 

 ments and additions he should first count the cost to himself, instead of 

 grumbling at being killed with work afterwards. You erred in not seek- 

 ing help, and we should not be at all surprised if the person who succeeds 

 you do not obtain much, if not all, the help you asked for. If yon 

 laboured so hard, and for so many hours, you were doing an injustice to 

 yourself and your brother workmen. With regard to your furnishing 

 most of the plants in the houses, conservatory, &c., the recent decision 

 of a police magistrate will make many tbink seriously on the whole 

 question of borrowing and lending cuttings, &c., among gardeners, but it 

 will be a sad thing when a neighbourly feeling among gardeners is les- 

 sened, even in this respect. However, the tendencies of the times feem 

 to point to the propriety of this giving and receiving being done more 

 sparingly. It, to a certain extent, interferes with the work and trade of 

 the regular dealer. What costs a proprietor little is too often little 

 valued. Whatever is thus obtained becomes at ooce the property of the 

 proprietor. We have met with Instances of men who, like our corre- 

 spondent, had to leave collections of their own gathering without a word 

 of acknowledgement, and whilst many sympathised, there were not 

 wanting others who roughly muttered. We cannot but come to the con- 

 clusion, that for the bulk of plants wanted in a garden, it will be most 

 satisfactory to all parties to go to the market, and more especially as 

 from the severe competition everything, except novelties can be obtained 

 on such cheap terms. W e hope our correspondent will be more fortunate 

 in his next place. 



MANuas FROM Earth Closets (JR. H.)-— It is not necessary to keep 

 the manure, but it is well to mix it with four or five times its bulk of soil 

 or ashes, and then apply it to the ground, digging it in before planting. 

 Tha pr.ferable plan is to apply it to the ground before digging, then dig it 

 in, and before planting turn over the ground with a fork. The maggot you 



