d-i 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



[ January 12, 1871. 



Fuchsia Father Ignatius (A Lady in Cheshire). — It is namo'l ns you 

 conjecture. Corolla cup-shaped, indieo, eometimes striped ■with rose; 

 tube and sepals scarlet. The plant is of compact free-bloomlDg habit. 



Hot Water Circulating Downwards — " ' Poor Gardener' asks me 

 to explain how hot water will descend 22 feet in 100 feet, ami then return 

 to the same pnint on a level. When I wrote before in reply to ' Poor 

 Gardener's ' Inicentations I ought to have mentioned that the flow-pipe 

 first rises from the boiler to heat a propagating pit which is much higher 

 than our greenhouse; the same pipe branches off to heat this pit, and 

 continues its liownward course to heat the greenhouse. The return-pipe 

 in this greenhouse goes back to the boiler after passing tbrough the 

 bottom of the bed in the propagating pit mentioned above, beiug quite 

 on a level, but not below the level of the boiler. I may mention th'it the 

 flir-pipe at the elbow of the hot-wnter pipes at the farthest end from tho 

 fall pipe in the greenhouse has been some time broken off, and I have it 

 plugged up so that only the air-pipe at the top of the fall-pips is of any 

 service to the piping ; still the wtiter circulates freely without the other 

 air-pipe— R. Giddings, Gardener to W. H: Michael, Esq., Cholmeley Park, 

 Highgate." 



Cdcumbee Raising in a Greenhouse (M. P.). — Unless youhave means 

 of covering the bed in front of jour greeiihouse with lights, or keep the 

 temperature higher than is required for any greenhouse plant, you can- 

 not raise or grow Cucumbers there. We would cover the space with 

 lights, having a box made about 15 inches high at back, and 9 inches in 

 front or next the walk, and, to cover it, lights hinged at liacli. It would 

 in that c^ise he a sort of propigating-bos, than which nothing is moro 

 useful. There should be one in every house. The space for fermenting 

 materials over the flue we would fill with well-sweetened horse dung, as 

 free of btraw as possible, but spent hops are good and more lasting thnu 

 dung. Surely those you used last year were old. Fill quite full of the 

 fermenting material in the first instance, all but space for 6 inches ot 

 plunging material, as cinders, cocoa fibre, or sawdust, aud in three or 

 four days the bed will be warm. It will be a good place for cuttings and 

 raising from sef d plants which need such forwarding. 



Old Ca3iellias Sickly (Camellia). — We had a lot oE similar plant?. 

 They had been cut hard Hud been potted a long time. Early last April 

 we turned them out of the pots, picked away all the old soil we could 

 from amonpst the roots, and potted most of the plants afresh in the 

 same size of put, but some we transferred to larger pots. We used the top 

 inch-ltiyer of pasture where the soil was light, and midway between loam 

 and peat, such as is to be had on many commons. It is a soil in which 

 Gorse is plentiful, also Brake and Foxglove where there is shade. 

 This compost was chopped small, and tho pots being well cleaned and 

 drained, we put in the plants so that the setting-on of the roots was 

 about half an inch below the rim of the pots. Then we potted, taking 

 care to work the soil well in, and leave no cavities, and the compost was 

 put in rather firmly. The foil was neithtrwet nor dry. After potting tho 

 plants were placed in a vinery, and were syringed twice a-day, and they 

 started into growth very weakly or tardily, hut recovered very quickly, 

 and have exceeded our expectations. Though the plants may not have 

 such foliage as we could wish, the leaves of the past year are excellent, 

 both in colour and size, and they «re now in splendid bloom. We advise 

 this pinn to all who have sickly Camellias. The plan wr.s first broached 

 in this Journal by our esteemed correspondent Mr. Pearson, of Cbihvell. 



Re-transplanting Roses (R. S. D.).— The Roses planted last Novem- 

 ber may safely be taken uxi and planted where you require them, either 

 this month or in February, be-fore they begin forming fresh roots. Tlie 

 earlier this work is done the better, the weather being mild and the 

 ground not very wet. 



Greenhouse Plants Blighted (B. L. B.).— One of the leaves sent us 

 is covered with black fungus, caused by the secretion of some Coccus or 

 scale insect. The remedy is to dip the plants overhead for about a 

 minute in a solution of 3oz3. of soft soap to the gallon of water, with 

 about twelve drops of spirits of turpentine. Use it at a temperature of 

 140° for plants that have the wood well ripened, hut to those which are 

 partially growing at 125^. The other leaf, which appears to be that of a 

 Myrtle, sjTinge with the same solution, laying the plant on its side and 

 turning it round, so as to thoroughly wet every part. Keep the solution 

 in all cases from the soil. It is infested with red spider, and we think 

 thrips. To freo the leaves of the black fungus, wash them with a sponge 

 and the solution above named. There is no preventive of insects ; they 

 come in the best of structures under the care of the most skilful hands. 



Gladiolus Treatment (Idem). — Except in very sheltered positions, or 

 Tvarm and dry soils, and those iuclined to a sandy peat in character, the 

 bulbs should be taken up in autumn as soon as the leaves begin to turn 

 yellow, be dried in a cool airy place, and kept in a cool place, yet safe 

 from frost. Plant them about the middle of March in ground that has 

 been well and deeply dug, exposed to the weather daring the winter, and 

 liberally manured. Water freely iu dry weather, both orerhead and at 

 the roots. We do not toko up our bulbs, for our soil just suits them, and 

 they spread and grow iu open places in the shrubberies as if they were 

 indigenous. They are, indeed, very hardv, hut do not like wet soils. 

 Under this treatment they flower in July and later. 



Camellia Buds Falling (A Young Beginner). — We think the cause of 

 the buds falling is the roots not supplying sap for the proper expansion 

 of the flowers. In fact, the roots are probably unhealthy, though the 

 evil may he a result of too moist and cold an atmosphere. We advise you 

 to follow the instructions given above. 



PLUM-TRiiE Roots Diseased (CcZf).— The roots sent are destroyed by 

 the mycelium of some fungus, the odour of which is very powerful aud 

 oflfensive. We have no doubt it has found its way into tho border 

 through using manure, leaf soil, or other material containing the twigs 

 or branches of trees ; or it may bo that the border was previously occu- 

 pied with fruit trees, the old roots of which have been left in the ground, 

 and from one or other of those causes the mycelium has found its way to 

 tho roots of the young Plum trees. It is doubtful if anything can be 

 done to save the trees from further decay, but we would advise giving 

 the ground a soaking witla sa't water. 4 ozs. of salt to the gallon of 

 water, making holes so as to admit it more freely to the border. We 

 think your only effectual remedy will be to clear out tlie trees, remove 

 all the soil that exhibits tho "mouldy" appcdrance, and replace with 

 fresh compost and trees; but we would try the suit solution and free 

 waterings next season. Apply the salt solution between now and March. 



Names op Fruits {J. B?-i/an.).— Your Applo is Cop's Golden Drop. 



Names of Plants {E.L. J".).— Zygopetalum Mackayi. {G. H. W.). — 

 Lrelia anceps. (Rairllngs). — 1, Adiantum formosum ; 2, Asplenium Arti- 

 antum-nigrura ; 3, Asplenium raarinum ; 4, Platyloma rotundifolia. 

 iJ. R. P.). — Pittosporuni crassifolium, a New Zealand plant, and quite 

 c:'pahle of enduring greenliouse treatment. By no means should it ho 

 classed as a stove plant. (A Lady Subscriber). — Acacia lophantha. 



POULTSY, BSE, AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 



CUP FOR LIGHT BRAHMAS. 



Having undertaken to get np a subscription cup for tbe best 

 pen of Light Brahmas at the forthcoming Portsmouth Show, 

 will you permit me, through your columns, to thank those 

 Light Brahma-breeders who have already subscribed, and to 

 make an appeal to other friends of our beautiful and popular 

 breed to lend a helping hand? The sum already promised or 

 paid amounts to £i 7s. Two or three additional such subscrip- 

 tions will complete the requisite amount, and I dare say there 

 are some of your readers who, seeing these lines, will be willing 

 to contribute. 



The Portsmouth Show, though of recent origin, promises to 

 be a success, and will combine with her elder sisters, the 

 neighbouring exhihiliouF, to take away the reproach from tbe 

 south of England of being behind the northern and midland 

 counties in the number and excellence of poultry shows. — 

 John Pares, Postford, Guildford. 



COLCHESTER POULTRY SHOW. 



Tour readers will see in an advertisement that there is to be 

 another poultry show in addition to those that have been an- 

 nounced for the last six months — viz., an exhibition of Poultry, 

 Pigeons, and Sabbits, at Colchester. It would be difficult to 

 arrange a more comprehensive schedule than is issued by the 

 Committee. There are forty-eight classes, comprising twenty- 

 six for fowls (including three for Ducks), with the first prize, 

 £2 ; the second, £1. Pigeons secure seventeen classes, includ- 

 ing a class for the best four pairs of working Antwerps. The 

 war excitement and contingencies have caused us to go back 

 some centuries by using the Cirrier Pigeon for the swift dis- 

 patch of important messages. It will be well to increase this 

 breed in the same manner as they are increasing our weapons 

 of defence, for both would be found of great service in the 

 event of a war with this country. Whoever has a stocked loft 

 of good Antwerps at euch a ousts will realise something hand- 

 some. The first prize for Pigeons is £1, the second 10s. The 

 great snccess of the Babbit Show at York, with 123 entries, 

 and undoubtedly the best collection of Rabbits ever brought 

 together, have induced tho Committee to offer £12 in four classes 

 — viz., first prize £2, second £1. There is one class each for 

 Lop-ears, Angoras, Himalayan, and " Any other variety ;" a 

 pen to consist of a single Kibbit, either buck or doe. There is a 

 class for dead poultry. In a railway point of view, Colchester 

 is in a good position, being only forty miles from London, and 

 in direct communication, via Cambridge, with the Groat 

 Northern, Midland, aud London aud North-Western Railways. 

 With these advantages it is to be hoped that aggravating non- 

 arrivals of stock will be avoided. 



Another poultry show is tslkcti of in connection with a fat 

 cattle show to be held in CvilobM4»r during December. Tears 

 ago Colchester had poultry shows uith seren hundred entries, 

 when but few towns had any, and there was scarcely any know- 

 ledge of the instruction and amusement to be derived from 

 them; it now seems as if it intended to begin again, and to 

 hold its position as one ot the originators of this national 

 pastime. — David P. Gooding, Colclifster. 



BRISTOL AND CLIFTON POULTRY SHOW. 



This now celebrated Show, en the whole, more than onsworetl our 

 expectations last week; and if the selling classes, which were wautiuj^ 

 here, aro deducted from the Crystal Palace, it has again maintained its 

 position as having the next large^^t number of entries of poultry to 

 Birmingham, whilst iu point of quality several of the classes were by 

 far the best we have seen during the season. Iu spite of tho lato 

 severe weather the birds were mostly iu fine order, and the number of 

 empty pens not so great as might have been expected. Of the ar- 

 rangements wo can only say they wore as gooil as usual, this Show 

 being always enviably distinguished for absence of complaints and 

 mischances, while the plan adopted of printing the awards iu tho 

 margin of tbe eatalogae adds greatly to tho convenience of visitor?. 

 DOIiKINGS. 



1. At this Show chickens always come first. Mrs. Wheatley came 



