January 5, 1S71. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



13 



cutting-making, if, without moving sashes, we could have more 

 easily reached the plants. 



Obtaining fresh platforms and repairing others prevented our 

 doing BO much as we might have done in houses to which 

 we could gain access. Merely for the sake of getting inside, by 

 opening and shutting a small door, a little house will always 

 be better than a place of the same size whore every attention 

 and regulation of the plants must be given from the outside. 



We may mention that though the wind seems to be veering 

 to the south, the frost is still as severe as ever, and if it should 

 continue a week or two longer we shall let Calceolarias, young 

 Cauliflowers, &a., remain covered up just as they are. When 

 the thaw comes, the cautions given last week must be attended 

 to. In such weather, where there can be no growth, covering and 

 uncovering each day are little better than labour thrown away. 



See what was said lately as respects forcing shrubs, Roses, 

 bulbs, &a. All these will be benefited by a gentle bottom heat 

 and bringing them on by a gradual increase of top temperature, 

 the more gradual the better in every way ; the buds break 

 more regularly, and the flowers come finer, and on the whole 

 are sooner fit for gathering. 



All forcing of fruit trees, if not far advanced, should proceed 

 very slowly, until this been frost pass away. With the roots pro- 

 tected, if outside, the frost itself would not be a drawback ; it 

 is the foggy, cloudy weather that, when much heat is used, 

 causes growth to be more weak and juicy than when we can 

 have the help of more sunshine. Many tubers and bulbs may 

 now be potted, and placed in a cool place. Some of the earliest 

 tuberous Gesneras, may be put in pans until growth is pro- 

 gressing, and then the mode of flowering may be decided on. 

 The tubers of Gesnera zebrina do not keep well unless rather 

 dry, and the temperature not long under 50°. The tenderer 

 Caladiums, if dry, will keep in an average temperature of 00° : 

 if much lower for any length of time they shrivel and rot. 

 Most of the Achimenes will be safe in a temperature of from 

 45° to 50°, either in dry soil or sand. These may be picked 

 out now, and placed in small pans in a mild heat to set them 

 going. The same may be said of Gloxinias, easily ^viutered 

 under stages, &c. They may now be repotted for early bloom- 

 ing.— R. F. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



B. S. "U^illiams, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper HoUoway, 

 London, N. — Descnptive Catalogue of Floioer, Vegetable, and Agri- 

 cultural Seeds. 



Cliarles Turner, Eoyal Nurseries, Slouffli. — Catalogue of Seech fur 

 the Kitchen, the Flower Garden^ and'thc Farm. 



Child &; Lorimer, 49, Darley Street, Bradford, and Bradford Nur- 

 series, Shipley. — General Seed Catalogue and Garden Guide. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*** "We request that no one will write privately to any of the 

 correspondents of the *' Journal of Horticulture, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By doing so they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All 

 communications should therefore be addressed solely to 

 The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, cCx., 171, Fleet 

 Street, London, E.C, 



We also request that correspondents ■will not mix up on the 

 same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on 

 Poultry and Eee subjects, if they expect to get them an- 

 swered promptly and conveniently, but write them on 

 separate communications. Also never lo send more than 

 two or three questions at once. 



Books (Sigma). — You can have the " Orchid Manual " free by post from 

 our office if you enclose thirty-two post-ofQce stamps, with your address. 

 All the leading nurserymen publish priced and descriptive lists of Ca- 

 mellias. They would send the lists by post if asked. (G. B. Amtndhcr). 

 — The price of the " Cottage Gardeners' Dictionary " with the Appendix, 

 is 6s. 6d. You can have it free by post from our office for Sd. extra. {A 

 5Hbscj-(7)e)).—" Florists' Flowers for the Many "gives full directions for 

 Pelargonium culture. You can have it from our office post free for five 

 postage stamps. 



CYCLiaiEN Seedlings ELOoariNG (J, Trf(7j7?'ns).— Though you have not 

 succeeded in blooming them until they were fourteen months old, it is 

 quite certain that othtrs whose communications we have published, have 

 bloomed them when ten months old. Read what they say and are still 

 saying. 



Portable OncHAitD and Greenhouse (H. C.),-~lt the woodwork is 

 not fixed into tlie wall, nor to the brick foundation, the whole may be 

 removed legally. 



Roses (W. H. B.).~The Roses named are nearly all of them old sorts, 

 which have been superseded by newer and better ones. Frangois Arago is 

 velvety maroon, a robust grower, and still a good Rose, though too flat. 

 Madame Laffay, red, moderate grower, far surpassed now by other va- 



rieties. La Reine, bright rose, large and full, but often opens badly; at 

 times a very fine Rose, but very capricious. Catherine Guillot, deep 

 rose, a Bourbon, and a free bloomer; still worth growing. Keine des 

 Violettes, violet rose, a bad-shaped flower, apt to fade. Jacques Lafitte, 

 deep rose, a strong but coarse flower, and not free; no longer worth grow- 

 ing. Abd el Kader, dark plum, not full, shy bloomer. Of the seven, only 

 Frani'ois Arago, La Reine, and Catherine Guillot are worth growing, and 

 not one, we think, worth naming in a list of fifty, though if we were plant- 

 ing one hundred varieties, we should find room" for them. 



Pear (J. B. TF/j/k-.)— Colmar Epincux is a synonym of the Passe Colmar. 



Nuts {C. N. £.}■—" Fruit Gardening for the Many " contains what yon 

 require. You can have a copy f<-om our office frtc by post if 50a enclose 

 five postage stamps with your address. 



Sowing Aucuba Berries {A Subscriber, TroJee).~'Wh.en the berries 

 are ripe, which will be known by their parting readily or falling from the 

 plant, sow them in well-drained pans three parts filled with turfy yellow 

 loam two-thirds, and one-third loaf eoil, and cover with a thickness c£ 

 fine soil equal to the diameter of the berries. A gentle watering should 

 then be given, and the pan placed in a cold frame. The soil bemg kept 

 moist, the seeds will vegetate, if good, in due season. 



The Egyptian Melon (G. S.). — We believe it is to be had true. It i& 

 in the catalogues of trustworthy seedsmen, and many gardeners preserve 

 the seed for home use. 



Protecting Pampas Grass (AntJiomj and otliers).— The following from 

 a correspondent opportunely answers your inquiry — "A good protection 

 for the Pampas Grass is a hamper without the bottom, turned the wrong 

 way up, and filled with dry leaves. — C. L." 



Grapes [A Grower of Orapcs).~li the Tokay Grape that was exhibited 

 was the true one it is an excellent late-hanging Grape, but certainly 

 inferior to the White Muscat of Alexandria. We cannot, on any principle 

 of common sense, understand why at the Darlington Show black Grapes 

 should be judged by appearance and white Grapes by flavour, ihe black 

 being Lady Downe's and Oldaker's West's St. Peter's, and the white, 

 Muscat of Alexandria and Tokiiy. If no condition to that effect vra& 

 given in the rules it is an injustice to exhibitors; and the judges who 

 would act thus on their own responsibility are unfit for their office. 



Young Trees Barked by Hares (J. ST.).— If your trees are harked 

 completely all round to the height of a foot you may take tbem up at 

 once and i^lant afresh. If only barked here and there in that space, 

 cover the wounds with some grafting-wax or other similar protection, 

 and dre«s the whole of the trees within reach of the hares with a thick 

 paste of night soil and stale urine from the stable. 



Select Single Fuchsias (A Subscriber) —Dark : Vesta, Enoch Arden--. 

 Lord Derby, Mr. Disraeli, Father Ignatius, and Glowworm. Light : Mrs- 

 Bland, Mrs. Shirley Hibberd, Rose of Denmark, Picturata, Brilliantissima:' 

 and Guiding Star. 



Select PENTSTKaiONS. (Xdem) —Arthur M'Hardv, James Rothschild, 

 Leon Laprevote, Purple King, Flower of the Day, John M'Pherson, Miss 

 Carnegie, Surpasse Victor Hugo, Sunrise, Mrs. A.Sterry Illuminator and 

 Stanstead Surprise. The habit of Christine Nosegay is good, but as we 

 have seen it, scarcely so free-blooming as could be desired. 



Angular Flower Beds {Pcmanbra). — These will bo duly noticed in 

 Mr. O'Donnell's directions. Your plans are neat but not novel. 



DwARE Fruit Trees (AnOld Subscriber, Bandon). — Rivers's "Minia- 

 ture Fruit Garden" and Brehaut's "Cordon Training" contain the 

 directions you require. 



White Flowers for Easter {E. L.).— Lily of the Valley, Spiraea 

 jsiponica. Hyacinths, Narcissus, and Dentzia gracilis are all first-rate. 

 Ww know of no flowers that so^Yn now would bloom at that time. Crocuses 

 and SnowdroiJS ought to be planted without delay, and they will flower 

 naturally by the time you name, or if not, they'may be placed in the 

 greenhouse a short time previously. 



Cam;ellia Leaves Blotched [J. P.).— The leaf sent us is blotched by 

 the sun's rays falling powerfully on it whilst wet. The hlotchiug may 

 have been a result of syringing or of condensed moisture falling on the 

 leaves from the roof. The remedy is to give air so as to have the leaves 

 dry before the sun shines powerfully on them, or to shade from very 

 bright sun. We cannot name plants from leaves only. 



Azalea Weak (Inquirer). — We would not pot the plant until it had 

 flowered, and then we would shift it, giving a good shift ; but could yoa 

 not reduce its ball, and repot in the same sii^e of pot? Two parts of 

 fibrous sandy peat, half a part of loam from turf, and the same of old 

 cow dung, with plenty of sand, will grow Azaleas well. Good drainage is 

 necessary. Encourage fresh growth by a brisk moist heat, shading from 

 bright sun. We think the growth will be stronger another year. We 

 would not top-dress now, but when the buds begin to swell, you may 

 water with manure water, not guano, but sheep droppings, one perk to 

 thirty gallons of water, or cow dung, one peck to tweuty gallons. It is 

 not likely you will succeed in getting leaves as large as those of the 

 young plant, for young Azaleas, as a rule, have larger leaves than plants 

 of considerable size and age. 



Select Double Petunias (Idem). — Mademoiselle Mnrie de Saint 

 Innocent, Acbille Ragon, Victor, Monsieur Daroy, Gloire des PetuniaSj 

 Honour, or Gazelle. 



Ravaces of the Titmouse (W. S).— You ask if we have known " Tom- 

 tits " take Peas out of the pods. The first year we gi'ew Dickson's First 

 and Best Pea, we found the peas taken out of the ports as they filled. 

 Sparrows were blamed, as they are for everything, but we found the 

 depredations were committed by the small blue Titmouse, or, as it is 

 known in Yorkshire, " Billybiter." About 20J vards away from the Peas 

 the bird had its nest in a wall, and the two old birds came to the Peas, 

 one of them every three minutes, and returned to the nest with a pea for 

 the young. The" small blue Titmouse is a great destroyer of fruit tree 

 blossom buds, and is very fond of pecking at fruit, while Peas are its 

 delight. The large Titmouse is fond of bush fruit buds, but we think its- 

 attacks end there, at least we have not seen it interfere with anything 

 except Apples and Peak's. " Tomtit " in Yorkshire is the Wren, which is a 

 sportive innocent creature, perfectly insectivorous. 



Keeping Cut Grapes (F. C.).— Cut off 6 inches of the lateral with each 

 bunch, put that lateral into a bottle filled with water, and store infk cool, 

 dry, dark, iilace. 



