November 17, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



397 



vegetables, salads, &c, that will require but little protection 

 even in severe weather, when the house is dry, and the air in- 

 side still. When, however, the trees in pots are of considerable 

 size, it is often prejudicial to lift them and pack them closely 

 together, as thus the branches and bearing twigs are often 

 bruised and broken. In their case, if the weather should be 

 severe, a little litter should be put on and hang over the sur- 

 face of each pot. A little artificial heat in severe weather 

 would render all this unnecessary, but then it would not be an 

 unheated glass case, and the inexperienced are very apt to use 

 too much of this artificial heat in winter. In cold orchard 

 houses such things as Parsley, Wallflowers for early blooming, 

 early-flowering hardy annuals, <fcc, may he kept in a similar 

 manner, and with but little trouble. 



Chiefly to get the glass in better order, but partly to give 

 the Figs a nipping, we have unroofed a low pit or Fig house, 

 as after all our careful washing we still found traces of the 

 dread mealy bug. This has enabled us to give rafters, &c, a 

 coat of antieorrosion paint, which will shut up insects' eggs if 

 there are any. A few degrees of frost will do the Figs no harm, 

 and may settle all the bugs that are alive. We feel more in- 

 terested, as until lately we had never been annoyed with this 

 troublesome insect. In the hope of having a little frost first, 

 we have forborne smearing the shoots as alluded to lately. We 

 shall now have to look after the mealy bug everywhere, and 

 see that he do not gain a hold. All purchasers of stove plants 

 would act wisely by putting every new plant into a sort of 

 hospital at first to prove it, especially as respects this insect — 

 that is to say, if the general stock is clean. It is very un- 

 pleasant to be ever cleaning, as gardeners are obliged to be in 

 many places, and then never be quite sure. But for the work 

 in the Fig house, that, too, would have been filled with plants 

 before now. 



ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



For keeping a clean, smooth lawn nothing is better than a 

 wooden roller, say 1 foot in diameter and 4 feet in length. If 

 a little rough, it will, so far as worm heaps are concerned, dis- 

 pense with all sweeping. The roller will merely be required to 

 be scraped now and then to get rid of all the earthy matter. 

 For small spaces, to keep down earth heaps there is nothing 

 better than rolling, and then next day following with a good 

 watering of clear lime water, which will thus go freely into the 

 fresh-made holes, and kill the worms. For large lawns we 

 mnst_ chiefly depend on the roller alone, as the watering is 

 laborious when the lawn is large, and, besides, the worms are 

 often good helpers to us as cultivators, even though their 

 earth heaps give a little annoyance. By the sides of wa'ks the 

 heaps are often troublesome, and there lime water may be 

 applied, as salt, though rather more effectual as respects deter- 

 ring or killing the worms, would leave the part salted soft and 

 retentive of moisture for the winter. 



Considerable time has been taken up in getting the beddiDg 

 plants Baved in sheds, potted, and packed for the winter as 

 previously stated. We were obliged to smoke some Cinerarias, 

 which we rarely require to do, and we mention this all the 

 more because the insects (green fly) came, we have no doubt, 

 from breaking the rule so often recommended, of (after ex- 

 cluding frost), keeping the plants airy, cool, and moist. These 

 plants had been placed rather close to a hot-water pipe in 

 a pit, and as we were a little apprehensive, the pots stood 

 on moss in a saucer. At one end of this pit there were Cu- 

 cumbers, and so the pipe that went through was rather warm. 

 The temperature where the Cinerarias were was modified by a 

 little air left on, so as to neutralise the heat, but still the dry- 

 ness was too much, and the smoking became necessary. Other 

 plants standing cooler in another place, whence these insect- 

 troubled ones were taken, that they might bloom sooner, were 

 as healthy as need be. Many such circumstances open up the 

 wide question — Whether we might not, by knowing better what 

 plants rejoice in, keep away insects altogether, or whether we 

 do not invite these to come by our treatment ? It would appear 

 that the juices of a healthy, luxuriant plant are less tempting to 

 insects than the same juices when the plant is less healthy and 

 vigorous. We have no doubt that extra heat will ever be at- 

 tended with a number of insects. — R. F. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



P. Lawson & Son, Edinburgh, and 20, Budge Row, Cannon Street, 

 London. — Catalogue, of Forest Trees and Shrubs. 



Stuart & Mein, Kelso. — General Catalogue of Forest and Orna- 

 mental Trees and Shrubs, Fruit Trees, Boses, &e. 



James Dickson & Sons, Newton Nurseries, and 102, Eastgate Street, 

 Chester. — Catalogue of Forest Trees, Fruit Trees, and Ornamental 

 Trees and Shrubs. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



* s * 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 , &c, 171, Fleet 

 Street, London, E.C. 



N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next 

 week. 



Books. — A correspondent wishes for the names of books treating on 

 Raisin, Currant, and Fig drying, and on South Australian gardening. 

 (A. Y.). — "The Cottage Gardener.,' Dictionary" will give you the informa- 

 tion on all the subjects you name. It can be had at our office for 6s. Qd., 

 or post free for 7s. Id. 



Creosoting Wood. — A Constant Reader would be obliged if " Upwards 

 and Onwards " would state how and at what cost this process is effected. 



Late Peas.— A correspondent writes that " Mr. Stephen Castle, of 

 Prestwich, says in his letter in your last publication that to have Peas in 

 October on thi9 side Manchester must be very rare. Peas were gathered 

 and eaten several times (the last time at the very end of the mouth), in 

 October, at Polefield Hall, Prestwich, the residence of Mr. Howarth 

 Ashton." 



Poplars (W. C).— The rows of Poplars in the Regent's Park, and near 

 Buckingham Palace, are the common i.ombardy Poplar. They will be 

 higher in time. 



Mastic l'homme Lefort (W. CO. — Most of the London seedsmen who 

 advertise in our columns could supply you. 



Select Chrysanthemums (3. B.). — White : Beverley and Mrs. George 

 Rundle. Rose-shades : Prince Alfred, Christine, and Lady Harding. 

 Crimson and Purple : Dr. Sharpe, Alma, and PriDce Albert. Yellow, 

 Orange, and Brown : Annie Salter, Golden Beverley, Little Harry, and 

 General Slade. The above are for specimens. Pompons. — White, Golden, 

 and Lilac Cedo NulIi,|White Trevenna, Golden Aurore, Bob (late), Salamon, 

 Duruflet, Andromeda, Florence, Prince Victor, and Sainte Thais. 

 Japanese. — The Daimio, James Salter, Red Dragon, The Tycoon, Na- 

 gasaki Violet, Wizard, and Negro; Comet, Dr. Masters, Meteor, Jupiter, 

 and Chromatella. The last five are all shades of yellow and orange. 



Floor of Greenhouse (3. Y.). — We have no objection to the earth 

 being the floor in your small greenhouse vinery. There will be no 

 danger of damp if you water carefully in winter. Concrete, or even 

 gravel, and still more, tiles, would be neater ; but earth is very well pro- 

 vided you have a pathway, and nothing is better than a narrow trellis of 

 wood crossing in short pieces. Then when you clean the narrow trellis 

 and rake the ground the bottom will always look neat with little trouble. 



Laurels Dying {R. 0. F. S.). — We think the dryness may have some- 

 thing to do with your Laurels dying off one branch at a time. There 

 are places, however, where the Laurel will not flourish many years, un- 

 less it is frequently cut down or shortened back. It is not quite so safe 

 to cut in midwinter as early in autumn or the middle or end of March ; 

 but if work is pressing in spring we would not hesitate to cut back now, 

 say, if the plants are large, cutting them all down from 2g to 4 feet from 

 the ground. The whole plant must be so treated. If a few branches or 

 limbs are cut and the others left, the plants will most likely die at the 

 points, and then farther back. We have frequently renewed Laurels by 

 thus cutting-back. The cut places should be smeared over ; lightish 

 paint is best. 



Cucumbers Scabbed (Jas. Asbury). — The rind of the fruit is affected 

 by a dry gangrene, a result of the imperfect elaboration of the sap ; but 

 we are unable to tell whether it is caused by the roots absorbing some 

 mineral in a soluble state that the leaves and fruit cannot appropriate, 

 or is due to some influence of the atmosphere. All we know about it is 

 that it is most common in limestone soil, or where the plants are supplied 

 with water from limestone; but we have had it from using water from 

 ironstone. It is a subject well worthy of investigation, and we should be 

 obliged by our correspondents giving their experience. 



Lichen on Araucaria imbricata (Forester).— From your description 

 we think the green moss is a Lichen, which may be destroyed by scrub- 

 bing with a brush dipped in strong brine, so as to moisten every part of 

 the bark affected. Equal portions of salt and water will not be too strong, 

 but the solution must be applied to the parts where there are no green 

 leaves, and there only. You may also dust the tree whilst wet with quick- 

 lime, which will destroy both the moss and the Lichen, but is more 

 unsightly than brine, which leaves no trace of its application. 



Covering Vines with Glass (3. Vernon).— We should prefer erecting 

 against the wall the glass slanting, or having a lean-to about 6 feet wide, 

 and this will allow of space for a walk inside ; and you could have Straw- 

 berries and Tomatoes on the front without injury to the Vines on the 

 wall, only keep the Tomatoes low so as not to shade the Vines. At the 

 top and bottom have a board 11 inches wide hung with hinges, which yon 

 can open or shut as needed The moisture from the border will not be 

 too much, and when the Grapes are ripening you can secure dryness by 

 withholding water and giving an abundance of air. Upright sashes we 

 do not approve of in your case, for they would be more costly and afford 

 no greater advantages than a lean-to. Besides the Strawberries and To- 

 matoes you could have Vines on the roof at every 6 or 8 feet ; or if you 

 wished for Peaches and Nectarines, you might have two rows of double 

 cordons respectively 1 and 2 feet 6 inches from the front, which in a 

 6-feet width of house would leave you half the width for the walk and the 

 Vines. The glass frame ought not to be removed in the winter. It would 

 be very useful in winter for growing salads. 



Various (Centurion). — Benrre d'Aremberg would he improved by plant- 

 ing against a south wall, but a west aspect is best, though we have had 

 it fine on a south wall. Cleveland Bigarreau and Werder's Early Black 



