Marcli 30, 187L ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



241 



young plants separately, but even before we thinned out the 

 plants in the boxes we had plenty of bloom for cut flowers, &o. 

 In a large bank, on a stage, of these boxes of fine-looking plants, 

 though email in the autumn, very few flowers have as yet 

 shown themselves. We find that this habit of late flowering 

 makes no difference as respects the free blooming in the beds 

 in summer, but it does make a great difference as to obtaining 

 bloom from small plants crowded in boxes before they are 

 thinned out. To some of ua a few handfuls a-week of such 

 flowers would be invaluable. 



Where beds are to be kept as long fall and trim as possible, 

 there should be a reserve garden for cut flowers, and obtaining 

 cuttings for next year's supply. We know that many are 

 forced to imitate our example, and content themselves with 

 small shaded side shoots for cuttings. Would they kindly state 

 if they have noticed such results as to the early blooming of 

 these young plants ? When we took cuttings from nearer the tops 

 of the plants, and where, of course, they were more indurated 

 by sun and air, we have had boxes of these young plants so full 

 of bloom after the turn of the year that they might have at 

 once been turned out in large pieces, or the box entire into 

 ornamental vessels. For two or three years, from depending on 

 the lower more shaded cuttings, we have been deprived of early 

 bloom so as to cut from them for months before it was safe to 

 turn them out of doors. 



We have just had a fresh confirmation of this idea. Wo 

 found that it would be desirable to have more plants of Madams 

 Vaueher white Geranium, and having some old rather straggling 

 plants, we cut them down, keeping the points by themselves, 

 then those that could command a leaf, and those that could 

 have 2 or 3 inches of bare stem. In a fortnight the first were 

 well rooted and showing bloom buds, in sixteen days the second 

 were rooted and breaking from every joint, and a few among 

 them that had a growing point, but taken from near the base of 

 the old plant, grew but showed no signs of flower buds. The 

 third bare-stem lot have rooted and broken all over, but we shall 

 not expect them to show bloom for sis weeks. All have just 

 been potted-off with good roots, many with excellent little 

 balls in less than three weeks from the time of inserting the 

 cuttings. 



These cuttings were set on a mild hotbed, about 20 inches 

 from the glass, and scarcely ever had any shading. We will 

 tell exactly how these cuttings were treated. " Doubtless yon 

 had some of those new earthenware propagating boxes adver- 

 tised in our pages?" Not at all. We admire them for their 

 simplicity, and would wish our cottaaer friends had some to 

 raise favourite seeds and cuttings. We desire still more that 

 they would acquire the habit of using that which lies close to 

 them : hence, though we admire pans, boxes, and pots of 

 earthenware, on the score of economy we prefer shallow wooden 

 boxes, and we hardly dare tell how little they cost when gone 

 about in the way so as to cost less than the value of the wood. 

 But tor striking cuttings quickly, and where they will not stand 

 long, noth'ng comes up to old iron spouting. Iron is fair, 

 galvanised iron better, tin better still, but zinc is best of 

 all. If the spouting is so worn as to have a number of holes 

 all through it, all the better, not at all the worse, though 

 with such shallow spouting drainage is a matter of little 

 moment. Our pieces of spouting, generally a yard in length, 

 were of tin or zinc, some 2 inches deep and 3 inches across. 

 A pole, the diameter of two of these spouts put together, sawn 

 across in pieces about 1 inch wide, and split in the middle, 

 makes nice ends for the spouts, with room for extra water to 

 escape. Well, in the bottom of these spouts a little rough 

 noduled loam and charcoal was scattered, finer sandy loam 

 above, and a little sand on the top, and the cuttings inserted 

 about Ij inch apart. Now, there are many simple modes of 

 doing anything, but search the world through and you will find 

 no really more successful propagating vessel than these old 

 troughs. Of all metals zinc is the best. We believe there is 

 a beneficial chemical action between the zinc, the soil, the 

 water and the roots. Were it not for the first expense we 

 would prefer zinc vessels for plants in pots to any other ma- 

 terial. Many of our readers we know sigh after costly materials 

 and expensive vessels, and then would they not do wonders ! 

 Very possibly they would, but we should have greater faith in 

 their ultimate abundant success if we saw a better use made of 

 the materials, simple though they be, that were close at their 

 elbow and ready to be used. We like to see the highest style 

 of gardening, with every requisite appliance. We also dearly 

 love to see every makeshift made the most of. 

 For general matters allow us to commend especially the 



articles of Mr. Keane for several weeks past. It would be a 

 pity even to try to spoil them by mere reiteration. — E. F. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



Kirk Allen, Brampton. Huntingdon. — Catalogue of Geraniums, Cal- 

 cwlarias, Verbenas, Ftiehsias, dc. 



Charles Tnrner, Koyal Nnraeriea, Slough. — General Sjyriiig Cata- 

 logue/or 1S71. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



* , * We request that no one wUl 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. AU 

 communications should therefore be addressed solely to 

 The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, (Be, 111, Fleet 

 Street, London, E.G. 

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

 sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry 

 and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered 

 promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate' 

 communications. Also never to send more than two or 

 three questions at once. 

 N".B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week^ 



Prizes at the Eoyal Hohticcltubal Society {A Customer).— Write 

 to J. Richards, Esq., Royal Horticultural Society, South Kenaington, and 

 he will Bend you a prize list. 



Bed of Scb-teopioal Plants [J. B,).— We cannot undertake to plant 

 beds, we can only criticise any planting that is proposed. 



Lichens on Apple Trees (C. J. S.).— They indicate there is too much- 

 moisture about the trees. The soil should be drained, and the trees and 

 their branches gi-adually thinned if too thick. This is the only preven- 

 tive. Scraping? off the lichens, and then brushing the stems and branches 

 with a strong brine of common salt, is a temporary remedy. 



PHALa;soP3is ScHlLLEBlANA.— That exhibited by Mr. May, gardener at 

 Melchet Court, at South Kensington on the 15th inst , which we stated 

 had SO flowers, had on when exhibited 38G fully expanded flowers and 13 

 not expanded. 



Irish Shamrock (I. W, B.).— The specimen you enclosed is the Wood 

 Sorrel, and we incline to the opiniou that it is the true Shamrock ; but it 

 is disputed. The name Seamar-o>ih applies to any three-leafleted plant. 

 If you refer to the " Border Magazine," i. 148, published at Edinburgh in 

 September, 1S63, you will see a collection of evidence in favour of the 

 opinion that the Wood Sorrel is the Shamrock. 



Potato Apples {A Constant Reader). — All Potato berries if covered with 

 earth change their colour, and acquire more or less that of a tuber. Thai; 

 one you had, and the plants from it, are merely the produce of the berry's 

 seeds. 



CoNiFER.E PROM Seeds. — " I have sown for the last three or four years 

 a few pans of Thuja orientalis, and put them into the frame, and hava 

 reared numbers with the greatest ease, which also be^.r transplanting, and 

 grow in any soil as well as the commonest weed. A neighbour has raised 

 Cedars in the sam» way, the seeds of which seem not so prolific, though 

 we each picked our own seeds. My success has led me to seek Thujopsis 

 and other seeds, but in vain. Can ' A. B. C help me ? — Vicar." 



Tea Roses having Blind Shoots (E. C). — Tea Roses having blind 

 shoots should have all laterals well siiortened back to twe or three eye?^ 

 all weak shoots entirely removed, and have a liberal top-dressing, if in 

 large pots, or be repotted into rich soil if the pots are small. Malt dust, 

 bones, and horse droppings form a good top-dressing if mixed with leaf 

 soil, Myosotis dissitifiora is the earliest of the Forget-me-nots for spring 

 blooming. The young shoots are apt to come pink at first, especially i£ 

 the soil is too light or sandy. A little well-decayed manure will help to 

 iuvigorate the plants. 



Peach Pruning {Slay Neh). — The best system of pruning Peach trees 

 is that of the Rev. T. C. Brehaut, as given in his work, " The Modern 

 Peach Pruner " It may be had by post from our office for 3s. 8ci. It treats 

 of long and close pruning. The long-pruning system is only available 

 where large spaces are to be covered ; and for small spaces, low walls, ami 

 trellises, the short system is best, and is generally most suitable for an 

 amateur. 



Worsted on Gooseberkt Trees (Idem). — The black worsted to scaro 

 birds is easily placed on the bushes; all that is necessary Is to take it from 

 branch to branch, crossing it so as to form apparent meshes about 

 2 inches wide. The birds are more eflfectually scared by It than by any- 

 thing we know. 



Stopping Pelargoniums for June Exhibition (Shooters Bill), — The 

 plants should have their final stopping at once, or not later than the first 

 week of April. 



Bed of Verbenas {M.S. B.).— We would stir the ground between the 

 plants lightly, and then give a top-dressing of light rich soil. The worst 

 of these plants surviving the winter is that they grow weakly, and their 

 flowers are small and of short duration. You will see by bedding-out 

 time whether they are likely to do any good. If they thrive well, mulch 

 with equal parts of well-decayed manure and loam, and water freely in 

 dry weather. 



Geranium Leaves (Inquirer).— The leaves sent appear to have been 

 punctured by some insect, but what we are tmable to say. It is very 

 common this year, and we think it mainly arises from a cold moist at- 

 mosphere, and too rich and wet soil. Afl'ord more warmth and admit an 

 abundance of air, watering carefully. 



Roses Frosted (G. F., Sujfolk).— The Roses cut down by the frost to 

 the mulching, we would prune to the live parts, and those that are only 

 mottled prune in the usual way. 



