226 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ September 21, 1871. 



rollers wonld be for putting wormcasts out of sight, and we 

 have used them ever since. When a game of croquet is to be 

 played early in the day, the roller helps much to dissipate the 

 dew, as well as to leave the ground smooth and level for mallet 

 and ball. It is of importance to have such things made so 

 light as to be easily managed by a man or a stout boy. In 

 these days, when in most gardens labour power is generally 

 less than the requirements, it is well to avoid machines re- 

 quiring two or more men to work them. 



The heavy rains of last week rendered picking over the beds 

 necessary, so that the bright fresh bloom should not be inter- 

 fered with by that which was faded or discoloured. The points 

 of strong Pelargonium shoots in beds may now be picked out, 

 as that wonld throw more strength into the trusses showing 

 and coming, as many as the weather will allow to arrive at 

 maturity. 



We placed many plants in pots out of doors where they could 

 be rendered quickly secure in any sudden change. 



We top-dressed Silvias, Chrysanthemums, and Colenses in 

 pots ; cut down Pelargoniums, and prepared for fresh potting 

 those first pruned back ; also potted Ferns. The chief work, 

 however, when we could get at it was putting in all kinds of 

 outtings for the flower garden nest year. As stated the other 

 week, we use chiefly shallow wooden boxes not too large for a 

 man to move easily. We almost envy some who can obey the 

 advice so often given about having all such cuttings potted 

 and established before winter. We rarely pot anything ; the 

 rooted cuttings must stand thickly in boxes until spring. We 

 should look in vain for room for pots of what we even now 

 need, and that is much less than formerly. At the same time, 

 where room can be aft'jrded, it is right and advisable to pot 

 singly ; but we never could do it, and the plants succeed very 

 well, nevertheless. In putting cuttings in and potting, let us 

 urge on beginners to use as much as possible fresh sandy 

 soil, however poor. — E. F. 



TRADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. 



Charles Tamer, Royal Nurseries, Slongh. — Catalogue of Hyacinths, 

 J^farcissus^ Tulips, &c. 



John Scott, Yeovil, and Merriott Nurseries, Crewkeme. — OatcUogue 

 of Flower Moots. 



Eobertson & Galloway, 157, Ingram Street, Glasgow. — Catalogue 

 of Dutch Moots, and of Plants for Winter and Spring foicenng. 



Baltet Freres, Grande Pcpiniere de Croncels, a Troyes. — Catalogue 

 Eaisonne. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



K'.B. — Many questions must remain nnans'\7ered until next 

 week. 



EoOES {Idem). — We do not know what yon wish for by asking for " a 

 book on the botany of plants, such as those in a greenhouse." Do you 

 ■mean descriptions of the plants? Perhaps "The Cottage Gardeners' 

 Dictionary " would suit you. You can have it from our office if you 

 -enclose T«. '2,d. with your address. 



Potatoes Influencing their Neighbotjhs (F.-H".).— We do not think 

 "ihat kidney and round Potatoes grown near each other and flowering at 

 the same time would have their tubers affected, although their flowers 

 were cross-impregnated. The seeds would produce cross-breeds from 

 such intermixture. 



ARB0R-V1T.E Browned {H. D.). — We ehould attribute the brownness 

 to ill-health, and we think the manure given daring the past two vears 

 is most likely the ciuse. We should advise your at once removing the 

 surface soil down to the roots, removing all the old soil you can from 

 amongst them, replacing with fresh turfy loam enriched with one-third 

 of decayed leaves, and giving a good watering. The tree, judging from 

 your drawing, being very open, we would not prune but tie-in the shoots 

 -or branches so as to form a more compact specimen, and this by giving 

 warmth and preventing the wind acting on the otherwise open head, will 

 ■enable you to secure a better growth next season. Water early in sum- 

 mer and nutil the growth is complete, but with your light soil over clay 

 it is well to look to the roots. See that the water does not lodge in the 

 subsoil. 



PHtJNiNG Espalier Apple and Pear TaEEs (X. Y. Z.). — The longi- 

 tudinal branches or shoots at their extremities being required for ex- 

 tension, should be trained-in at their fall length without stopping or 

 pruning until the extent of trellis or wireing be covered, and then they 

 should be treated the same as the shoots on the branches, 



DiCKSONiA ANTARCTICA Erowned {IgnoTamm). — We should attribute 

 the browning of the fronds to the draught you speak of, but the atmo- 

 sphere may be too dry, and an attack of thrips may have been the result. 

 Look well to the under side of the fronds, and remove to a position where 

 the air is more still. It can hardly have too much water, the drainage 

 being good. 



Protecting Filberts from Squirrels (G. if., Berwickshire).— Vfe 

 know of no better means of keeping off these animals than netting the 

 trees, and the nets require to be small, or the squirrels find their way 

 throngh. We have no experience of any application to stems that would 

 keep squirrels from ascending, and should be obliged if those who know 

 any mode of keeping off these creatures would communicate it. It would 

 ba a shame to resort to the gun. 



Pandantjs and Alocasia jietaxlica (fl. r. J.).— Pandanus iavanicua 

 variegatus and P. utihs will succeed in a greenhouse with a temperature 

 not lower than 45" in winter, keeping it rather dry, or with no more water 

 than enough to prevent the foliage from shrinking. Alocasia metallica 

 may also be wintered in a warm greenhouse ; but to do well in summer 

 it requires a night temperature of from 65^ to 70-, and 75" to 90*^ by day, 

 with abundant moisture and slight shade. 



Reduction of Wages {Short Wages). — We can hardly advise yon how 

 to act, as we do not know all the circumstances. Your course, to be 

 straightforward, was to have declined the reduction of your wages when 

 YOU moved to the country place in June. If you have received these 

 reduced wages since — whether you had something to make up the loss in 

 other ways or not — we fear your taking the reduced sum for three months 

 would be a bar to your legally demanding what yoa were paid at the other 

 place. Why did you consent to take a fourth less wages, or even seem 

 to do so ? 



FDSGU3 ON Stravtberry Leaf (F. E. p. EastcU^e, Chepstow).— The 

 fungus on the Strawberry leaf is an immature Myxogaster. It is im- 

 possible to name it in the mucous condition before the spores are 

 developed. 



Teees for Boulevard (W. D. jr.). — Either Limes or Oriental Planes. 



Ophiocaryon paradoxum (T. H. T.). — It is a tree hitherto found only 

 in British Guiana, on the banks of its rivers. The generic name is 

 literally " Snake-nut," and refers to the embryo of the seed, which, aa 

 you say, " is like a small snake curled up." The genus belongs to the 

 natural order Sapindacese ; the leaves are pinnate, the flowers small 

 and in panicles, the fruit like a small round walnut. The natives use 

 the seeds as a remedy against snake bites, but they have no known 

 medical power. The seeds are often imported as curiosities. We cannot 

 answer your other queries, 



Glastonbury Thorn {S. Bedwell). — It is not true that there is a Thorn 

 growing where Joseph of Arimathea pitched his staff, for he never was in 

 England. There was, and probably is, at Glastonbury Abbey, a Thorn, 

 which, as Loudon observes, "comes into leaf in January or February, 

 and sometimes even in autumn, so that occasionally in mild seasons it 

 may be in flower on Christmas-day." It is only a variety of the common 

 Hawthorn, and known to botanists as Cratcegua Oxyacantha priecos. 

 Plants may be purchased of nurserymen, and they leaf and bloom ec- 

 centrically wherever they are grown. 



Planting an Oechaed-house {W. B.). — You do not tell ns what use 

 you are going to make of the back wall, but if that is to be covered a 

 irelliaed path would be best. For the border in front 7 feet would be 

 ample, and provided it is properly drained, 18 inches in depth wonld do. 

 The soil, if good, may answer, but for clean growth we would prefer 

 maiden loam. We like people to think for themselves, and do what they 

 can for themselves. We want you, therefore, to calculate for yourself the 

 loads of fresh loam you would want if it were all to be fresh or half 

 fresh. A single horseload will in general contain a cubic yard; if your 

 depth is only half a yard, you will see how far that one cubic yard will go, 

 and can calculate accordingly. 



Vin-es Mildewed (Su-isex). — Your Vines bavins the mildew twice in 

 succession, we conclude that the situation is low. the bouse ill-ventilated, 

 though you say there is abundance of air, or the drainage imperfect. 

 The present duH season is enough to cause mildew in an unheated house, 

 as the ventilation must have been limited to keep up the required tem- 

 perature. Apply a little fire heat; it will be very beneficial in ripening 

 the wood, and at once dust every part of the Vines with flowers of sul- 

 phur, and repeat this in two or three days. In winter, after pruning, dress 

 the canes with a composition of 4 ozs. of soft soap, and enough sulphur 

 to bring a gallon of tobacco water to the consistency of paint, applying 

 the mixture with a brush at a temperature of 120^, Next season, if the 

 mUdew appear, sprinkle guano and salt over the border — two parts guano 

 to one of salt, and one peck per rod, and give a thorough soaking with 

 water 5^ higher than the temperature of the border, washing in the guano 

 and salt thoroughly, and dust the infested parts on its first appearance 

 ■with flowers of sulphur. Except in hot seasons, Lady Downe's and 

 similar kinds will not succeed wiihont fire heat. The rain-water tank we 

 presume is covered. The vegetables attacked with mildew would not 

 communicate it to the Vines, and to keep it from the vegetables dress 

 liberally with guano and salt— two parts guano to one of salt, supplement- 

 ing with a good watering if dry weather follow. 



Tines foh Vineries. (Bal/iam). — For the house in which yon wish to 

 ripen the Grapes in June, we would have four Black Hamburgh, two 

 Frankenthal, one Black Champion, two Buckland Sweetwater, two 

 Foster's White Seedling, and one Troveren Frontignan. For the other 

 house, to maintain a supply to the end of the year, though some will hang 

 well until March or later, we advise two Mill Hill Hamburgh, one Black 

 Muscat, one Mrs. Pince's Muscat, one Madresfield Court Muscat, two 

 Alicante, one Lady Downe's, two Muscat of Alexandria, one Bowood 

 Muscat, and one Trebbiano. The whole of the last require a good heat, 

 but are not otherwise more difficult to grow than Hambuxgbs, succeeding 

 admirably in a border partly inside and partly outside the house, the 

 Vines being planted inside. The border not being ready now we would 

 defer planting until March, but securing the Vines early, and pruning 

 them in December so that they will just reach the wires. The parts cut 

 off will be available for propagation from eyes, keeping the canes cut off 

 with their ends stuck in moist soil until required for insertion. One 

 inch of bones and old mortar rubbish are good for forming Peach tree 

 and every description of fruit border. We omit, however, the lime 

 rubbish, and give instead one part in six of marl, employing good, rich, 

 and rather strong loam for Peach borders. 



Vine Leaves Spotted (Jmateur). — We cannot find any trace of in- 

 sects on the leaf sent us, and we think the brown spots are a result of 

 the leaves being wet whilst the sun's rays fell powerfully on them. Give 

 a little air at night, and you need not fear lor the fruit. 



Vine Border Making {J. H. S.).— We have several times seen pond 

 mud for Vine borders, but it never answered well unless it was exposed 

 to air and sweetened for two years before being used. The preparation 

 would greatly depend on the nature of the mud. On the whole, unless 

 we were sure of the sweetness we would use none of it, and even then 

 use it sparingly. To your using two parts of this mud, one part of 

 stable manure, and only one part turfy loam with a little lime rubbish, we 

 attribute the weak state of your Vines. The richest salmon and the 

 fattest pork are good things, but not quite the things to feed infants on. 



