December 5, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



453 



many of them will be ready for grafting the following season. February is, 

 perhaps, the best time for grafting. Tongue-gTaftitig is the preferable mode. 

 After grafting set the pots on coal ashes in a pit or shady part of the green- 

 house, and cover them with hand-glasses, which should be left over the plants 

 until the grafts begin to grow, then gradually admit air, and ultimately 

 remove the hand-glasses, and treat as established plants. If the light be 

 strong where the cuttings are placed, it is well to paint the hand-lights on 

 the inside with a size of whitening and milk. 



Consumption of Fuel .(Hamburgh). — It would be perfectly illusory for 

 us to say what your weekly consumption of fuel ought to be, and, what is 

 more, most of the published statements on this subject we consider to be 

 illusory. In some weeks in winter we consume so many bushels; in other 

 weeks in a similar time, with a change of weather, we consume tons. "We are 

 sorry to say that furnace- tending does not advance. Few, unless grounded 

 by some old gardener, know anything about it. 



Notice to Gardener's Assistant (T, C. C). — As your wages were paid 

 weekly you were not entitled to a month's notice before being discharged. 

 Living in the garden bothy makes no difference. 



Leaves Diseased (G. J. B.). — They are not from the Agalmyla, but pro- 

 bably from an iEschynanthus. The ''warts" are a fungus, and would probably 

 be removed by dusting with flowers of sulphur and subsequent sponging. 

 Exposure to more light would probably prevent their recurrence. 



Hares Barking Trees (K. M. H. ). — Dip strips of brown paper in gas tar, 

 and bind them round the stems of the trees as high as a hare can reach. 



Protecting Roses (R. J. S.).— "We do not as a rule advise much pro- 

 tection to Roses, even the tender kinds, unless in exposed situations. If, 

 however, such kinds as Marechal Kiel, Celine Forestier, &c. , are trained on 

 arches, it would be well to tie evergreen branches of spruce loosely over the 

 upper part, to protect against the direct radiation on the upper surface of the 

 branches where most exposed. JIulch the roots with good manure, but leave 

 the manure uncovered — that is, do not throw soil over it to hide it. No doubt" 

 mulchings of manure are not very sightly, but the utility must make-up for 

 the appearance, and covering over the manure with soil often promotes the 

 growth of fungus on the stems of the Roses so covered. Moveable coverings 

 are, no doubt, much to be preferred to those permanently fixed for the winter, 

 but this generally entails more work, care, and attention than can be usually 

 given. We are glad you have turned your standards into arched wa ks by 

 planting dwarfs at the base, and putting pillars and arches to train the stan- 

 dards and dwarfs to, as nothing is, in our opinion, more contrary to the habit 

 of growth of a Rose than the system so generally adopted at one time of 

 growing Roses only as standards. We hope before long such a thing as a 

 standard will never be planted. It is difficult to grow the queen of flowers 

 under any circumstances so as not to make it still beautiful, but when stan- , 

 dards only were grown, and the heads pruned and pinched-in to make a sym- 

 metrical mop, all grace of form was done away with, and the flowers were 

 never so good as on plants grown in a more natural way. We, consequently, 

 hail every movement which may help to dc away with standards. 



Proposed Greenhouse and Orchard House (Novice). — First, we think 

 that for such a space of 33 feet long, it would not be advisable either in ap- 

 pearance or in economy, to make different heights. The back wall being 

 9J feet, we would make the front wall from 4i to 5 feet. By this mode you 

 oould have the walk near the centre, a tree border at back and front in the 

 one case, and a stage at back and a platform in front in the other. The 

 width of the house might be from 9 to 10 feet, the height of glass in front as 

 much as you like. We hoped to have a house this summer, but the place is 

 still empty, height of wall 10 feet, width of border 10 feet, height of front, 

 merely gla s and wood, with wooden ventilator, 4i feet, with a walk down the 

 middle. We could there grow tall plants, or short plants at the back, and 

 dwarf stubby plants in front, and with a stage or platform, there would be 

 storage room for many things beneath. 



Heating [A Young Gardener). — We almost forget the case. We wish our 

 readers would direct us to former answers, and bear in mind that we are 

 unable to keep such letters. From what we can understand of your tracing, 

 the whole arrangement appears to be a very exceptionable one, which no one 

 can work with pleasure or economy. In your case we think there would be no 

 danger in stopping the valve on the return-pipe ; but then, for many years, 

 we have never troubled ourselves with returns, but then we like the flows for 

 different houses to be on the right level. All sinking below boilers should be 

 avoided. 



Slow- combustion Stove (Bessmount). — Any stove fitted with tight feeding- 

 door, or opening and tight-fitting ashpit-door, with careful management will 

 become a stove of slow combustion. That alluded to, was made by Messrs. 

 Green & Brown, of Luton. It is a round stove some 31 inches in height, 

 three feet, on which it stands, raising it still higher, but having only that 

 connection with the stove. It is about 15 inches in diameter, and 44 inches 

 in circumference, inside measure. The peculiarity is, tbat it is fed from the 

 - top, that top fitting so tightly in a groove that no smoke escapes, but goes 

 freely up a side pipe placed some 6 inches from the top. We had a prejudice 

 against this moveable top, thinking that, in the feeding, smoke would get into 

 the house, but this is almost totally prevented by a moveable funnel some 

 2 inches wide. The smoke strikes against the sides of this narrow funnel, 

 and is turned back into the smoke-pipe." The fireplace is lined with firebrick. 

 The ashpit-door fits closely and has a revolving ventilator. A very small 

 opening supplied enough of air for combustion when only a moderate heat 

 was required. Another peculiarity was a small opening nearly opposite the 

 smoke-funnel, a little air turned on which did much to dimmish any 

 appearance of smoke. After trial we should desire no stove as better for 

 general purposes, and where a short horizontal pipe could be carried into a 

 chi mn ey. It did good service, and after being taken down it does good work 

 in another place. We merely had a short side pipe, and took an upright one 

 through the roof. Owing to the moveable top we could not neutralise the 

 dryness except by placing some large pans of water round it on the floor. We 

 found that Geraniums and Camellias flourished as well close to the stove as 

 at the farther end. For plant culture we would prefer being able to place a 

 large zinc or iron pan on the top of the stove, so as to produce vapour when 

 wanted. With an old square stove having a square top fitted with- such a 

 pan we got on very well, but after all our patching and mending, and binding 

 with copper wire, &c, it would no longer hold together. The same principles 

 alluded to in the round stove must be kept in mind in the square one, if 

 effectiveness and economy of fuel are concerned. The furnace would hold 

 about a peck, or a little more, of coke, broken so as not to have the pieces, say 

 larger than hens 1 eggs, a good portion smaller still, but not much mere dust. 

 In a mild night with just a little air on the ashpit-ventilator, the fuel would 

 be all aglow in the morning. In a cold night with more air on the fire would 



be burned out, though replenished after 10 p.m. We cannot, owing to mis- 

 placing memoranda, tell exactly what heat the stove gave out, but though 

 placed at the end of the house, we never found the temperature after the 

 coldest night below 38° in the morning. The general run with some 5° to 6° 

 of frost outside was from 40° to 45°. In mild nights but little firing was 

 used.— R. F. 



Arum italicum and Lxlium croceum Culture (An Old Subscriber). — 

 Plant the Arum in rich light soil in a warm position, or at the base of rock- 

 work, covering the bulbs about 2 or 3 inches deep, and mulch over the spot 

 with an inch thick of partially decayed leaves. Water freely in summer. 

 The Lilium may be planted now in an open situation, sheltered, however, 

 from winds. Plant in rich light soil; add leaf soil and a little peat, about a 

 fourth of each. Plant 3 inches deep, placing some sand under, round, and 

 over the bulbs, then cover with soil. 



Window Fernery (A Young Reader). — By exercising a little ingenuity we 

 think you may have the window-case quite well filled with Ferns, especially 

 as it faces east, which is an aspect suitable for Ferns. We should have the 

 two sides formed into rockwork with what is known as virgin cork, forming 

 some projections with good pockets to hold soil for plants, and have hollows 

 to receive soil. By some skill you may form a picturesque arrangement of 

 rockwork. At the bottom we should provide a tray about 3 inches deep, and 

 have a small pipe to the outside with a tap ; the tray to receive the water 

 draining from the rockwork, and the tap to draw it off as required. The tray 

 should be of zinc, and have a cover of the same perforated. We should form 

 the base into rockwork as well as the sides of the case. The roof of the case 

 should also be covered with rock, taking care in all the arrangements to give a 

 rustic appearance, and to provide holes, crevices, orrecesses for soil and plants. 

 We should then fill all the recesses with soil — in fact all the openings left for 

 plants. The most suitable mixture is two parts sandy peat, one part each cocoa- 

 nut fibre refuse and fibrous loam, with a sixth part of silver sand, and (he 

 same of sandstone broken up in pieces varying from the size of a pea to that 

 of a walnut, not taking out the small, and mixing all well together. Place 

 the soil in all the openings, and then proceed to plant. We should plant at 

 the base the taller kinds, as Nephrolepis tuberosa, Pteris umbrosa, Poly- 

 podium pectinatum, Onychium japonicum, and Nephrodium molle coryrnbi- 

 ferum, giving prominent positions to Doodia aspera, D. caudata, Lomaria 

 L'Herminieri, L. Patersoni, Asplenium bulbiferum, A. dimorphum, A. flabelL> 

 folium, A. monanthenram, A. Veitchianum, Adiantum pubescens, and A. cu- 

 neatum for the recesses; whilst for the projections, Adiantum assimile, 

 A. CapiUus- Veneris, A. setulosum, Acrophorus hispidus, Davallia canariensis, 

 D. dissecta, Lastrea glabella, Niphobolus lingua and var. corymbifera, N. ru- 

 pestris; and at the top we should have a plant of Platycerium alcicorne on 

 a block of wood inverted. A few small hanging baskets would be effective if 

 planted with such subjects as Niphobolus lingua, N. rupestris, Adiantum 

 Capillus- Veneris, A. setulosum, and Acrophorus hispidus. We should further 

 plant at the foot of the window or bottom of the case, and train to each side 

 a plant of Lygodium scandens — that is, to the inner side of the window or 

 door of the case, whilst the outer window-framework we would cover with 

 Ficus repens, confining it to the woodwork. We presume there are shutters 

 to the window, and in that case we do not think you have anything to appre- 

 hend from frost ; and the plants being duly supplied with moisture, which 

 may be applied with a syringe, we think you will have a pleasing case of 

 Ferns. 



Names of Plants [W. H.). — Tour B. dulcis is B. Darwinii; B. Darwinii 

 is B. stenophylla; L. latifolium is L. angustifolium; and L. thymeum is 

 correct. 



POULTRY, BEE, AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 



THE BIRMINGHAM POULTRY SHOW. 

 The enchanter's wand has been at work, or the executive of 

 the Birmingham Show possess Aladdin's lamp. They are 

 hindered by no consideration of expense, they are deterred by 

 no difficulty. That which was faintly whispered last year is 

 now found to be accomplished. It has long been a complaint 

 that the poultry bay was crowded, that the light was deficient 

 and partial. It has all been remedied. A wide and capacious 

 gallery has been erected round the whole of the Hall devoted 

 to poultry. The requisite light has been supplied by removing 

 slates from the roof and substituting glass, and we think more 

 may be done in that way. The disposition of the pens has 

 been entirely altered. Instead of the three or four intermi- 

 nable alleys of the older days, there are now but two that run 

 the length of the building. The rows of pens stretch from one 

 side to the other, and are thus enabled to receive the down- 

 pour of direct light from a roof with a glazed centre, while the 

 extremities are well lighted by occasional glazed openings in 

 the sides of the roof. We anticipate that many who have 

 given up coming to Bingley Hall, on account of their inability 

 to encounter the crowd, will no longer deprive themselves of 

 their pleasure, but, hearing of the comfort and facility with 

 which it may now be visited, they will resume their attend- 

 ance. Viewed from either end of the new gallery, the coup 

 d'wil is charming. The crowd seems like a huge serpent twisting 

 in and out the short alleys, and the truth of 'the old police 

 adage is seen, that there is neither danger nor discomfort in a 

 crowd if its power and pressure are divided. 



The prize list is so full of information that we shall content 

 ourselves with a notice of each class as we come to it. 



That which we say at the outset when we begin about Dorkings 

 we shall often have to repeat — the old cocks were better than the 

 young ones. We could but think of the time when 9 lbs. were 

 considered the extreme weight of a Dorking cock. We know 



