December 14, 1371. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 



471 



to decrease the quantity of peat, and substitute loam for it. For 

 old plants about one part of peat mixed witli tliree of loam 

 forms a very good and nutritious composi, in which not only the 



subject of the present paper, Phcsuix dactylifera, but the other 

 species of the genus in cultivation, will be found to flourish. — 

 ExPERTo Crede. 



A GOOSEBERRY DISEASE. 



.SciDiUM (Persoon), a genus of plants belonging to the 

 natural family of Faugi, or the Mushroom tribe, and to the 

 class Cryptogamii of Linnfeas. This Fungus consists of small 

 membranous sics or protuberances, which are found parasitic 

 on the leaves, bark, frnit, 

 &o., of several plants; 

 such as the Fir, Violet, 

 Berberry, Hawthorn, 

 Primrose, Nettle, &c. 

 The membrane forming 

 the sac has received the 

 name of peiidium. It 

 pierces the bark or epi- 

 dermis of the leaves, and 

 encloses very minute 

 dust-like seeds or spo- 

 rnles, which are ulti- 

 mately discharged by an 

 opening in its side or 

 summit. Inconsequence 

 of the seeds being con- 

 tained in a membrane, 

 the genus has been re- 

 ferred to a division of 

 Fangi thathas been de- 

 nominated Angiocarpi. 

 There are upwards of 

 thirty known species of 

 the genus, and they re- 

 ceive their names from 

 the plants on which 

 they are found. Link 

 has divided this genus 

 into three sub-genera, 

 the -Esidium properly 

 so called, the Ecestelia, 

 and Peridernium. The 

 J3. cancellatum here re- 

 presented belongs to the 

 second of those divi- 

 sions. It is often found iEcidiuin cancellatum, — a, a berry upon whicli it is seen growing in its natural size ; 

 nn iha laotroo rtf P q ,• 6, leaf cut sbowlng the pait wbcre tho peridia are magnified ; c, a fall-sized leaf 



on me leaves OI rear affected as the berry, appearing like a drop of red paint at a distance, 



trees. To the third divi- 

 sion belongs the 33 . pini , 



remarkable for being the largest species, and for growing not 

 upon the leaves but upon the bark of the Pine tree. They vary 

 in colour. The species that grow on the Gooseberry and Ber- 

 berry leaves are red ; that found on the Scotch Fir is yellow. 



and that on the Meadow Ene bright orange. The JEeidia cause 

 considerable deformities in the plants on which they grow, 

 and some of them are decidedly injurious and poisonous. The 

 Gooseberry xEjidium is said frequently to destroy the young 



fruit of that plant, 

 which we are quite satis- 

 fied to believe ; the spe- 

 cies found on the Ber- 

 berry has been statec', 

 though perhaps errone- 

 ously, to be hurtful to 

 corn growing near it; 

 but as some of oar hor- 

 ticultural friends may be 

 desirous to know how to 

 subdue this pest, and 

 eradicate it from their 

 Gooseberry plantations, 

 I will give my experience 

 on this point, and how I 

 have gained a perfect 

 cure. In 1868 and 1869, 

 about one-third of tle^ 

 fruit here (Mouswald 

 Gardens, Dumfiies, seat 

 of Sir James J. Eeid) 

 become blotched very 

 much by this fangns. I 

 give the ground amongst 

 the bushes a liberal 

 dressing with lime in the 

 autumn, and syringed 

 them over with a com- 

 pound of alam 1 drachm , 

 tobacco essence 2 dittr^ 

 flowers of sulphur { oz., 

 common salt i oz., all 

 mixed in 3 gallons of 

 rain water ; this was 

 done twice before the 

 expanding of the leaf, 

 and again as soon as 

 the fruit appeared fair- 

 ly set. This first de- 

 stroyed the mycelium in the soil, and the syringing cleared 

 the bark of its sporules; and my Gooseberry bushes are 

 now free from all trace of fungus. — Johs Geahah (in The 

 Gardener). 



WORK FOR THE ^^^EK. 



KITCHES GiBDEN. 



The Celery ground will answer well for a new plantation of 

 Asparagus ; the soil should be ridged-up to mellow as the Celery 

 roots are taken up. The best policy with Lettuces for the 

 supply next spring, is to allow them to freeze tolerably firm 

 before covering them np. A very light screen of straw should 

 be shaken over them at first, and when this is frozen add a 

 little more, the object being to keep them frozen as long as 

 possible. Above all, do not uncover them when a thaw arrives, 

 but let them remain until completely thawed. These remarks 

 will bear equally on all other tender vegetables. The tool- 

 house should always be in good order, and the tools clean and 

 in good repair. Those with long handles should be hung upon 

 the highest hooks or pegs, the others at convenient distances, 

 finishing with the water-pots and other small-handled tools on 

 the lowest hooks. Every tool or utensil should have its place 

 and be put away clean when done with. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



It may appear somewhat early to offer advice with regard to 

 preparations for spring, but such is the pressure then that 

 anything which can be done now to forward work should not be 

 deferred. If it can be avoided let no alterations, planting, iL-c, 

 interfere with the ordinary work at that busy season. All the 



pruning, excepting of Figs and Apricots, and most of the nailing 

 of wall trees, as well as the training of espaliers, should be 

 finished if possible by New Tear's-day, and the same may be 

 said of bush fruit. Miking borders or stations for frnit trees 

 should be autumn work ; indeed, where new soil is to be intro- 

 duced, September or October is the most fitting time, as the 

 best of soils may be seriously injured by moving them in a wet 

 state. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



In favourable weather transplanting shrubs, trees, &e., should 

 be carried on. See that all the principal and choice plants in 

 this department have sufficient scope to develope their true 

 character. There are few situations in a garden more interest- 

 ing than a well-arranged shrubbery, where every plant from 

 the largest to the smallest had suflicient room to form a perfect 

 specimen. Collections of shrubbery plants appear to be much 

 less attended to than their true merits entitle them to. Little 

 can be done now except by way of preparation. Should the 

 present frosty weather continue it will afford an opportunity of 

 having all the compost heaps thoroughly frozen. lay repeatedly 

 taking ofi the encrusted surface and piling it up every morning, 

 many of the insects and their eggs will be destroyed. It will 

 also be a good time to cut turf sods, peat, &c., and to lay in a 



