198 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ September 6, 13S4. 



E. Verdier, fils aine, Horticulteur, 3 Rue Dunois, Boule- 

 vard, de la Gare d'lvry, Paris. — Trade Catalogue of Gladioli 

 and other Bulbs. — Trade Catalogue of Tree and Herbaceous 

 Polonies, Sfc. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*,£* Many questions must remain unanswered until next 

 week. 



Emigration to New Zealand. — "\F. TF." would be obliged by any infor- 

 mation relative to emigration to New Zealand, and especially -whether it is 

 desirable for a gardener. 



Low "Stages (S. R., Kent).— Gardeners' wages, like all others, are regu- 

 lated by the relative amounts of demand and supply. No combination can 

 compel a master to give 20s. if he can obtain as skilled a workman for 16?. ; 

 and he would be able to do so because no combinations can be general. 

 Strikes and unions always end in great privations to the workman, and in 

 his succumbing at last. 



Bunsen's Burners. — " G. S." will be obliged by our correspondent 

 "A. W. W."' (June 7th), stating where Bunsen's burners are to be obtained, 

 and their price. 



Tore Flower Show (C. Kennaway).—We, cannot criticise in any way the 

 statement made by our contemporary. 



Massing Colours [Mrs. Osborne).— There is no practical book upon the 

 subject. Many relative papers have been published in this Journal, and we 

 are always ready to criticise and suggest alterations in modes of planting 

 submitted to us'for the purpose. We cannot furnish details, we can only 

 point ont defects. 



Centaurea candidtssima Seed {Irish Lady).— It will grow from seed, 

 and that most freely, but the difficulty is to procure the seed. We do not 

 know of whom it may be procured, in fact we rather think it is not yet 

 in the trade. "When you obtain seed we shall be most happy to tell you 

 when and how to sow it to produce plants. 



Fungus in Tan (Orckidophilus).—Tkie fungus complained of is perfectly 

 harmless, though unsightly. It may be destroyed by moving the surface of 

 the tan briskly with a piece of wood whilst it is in its frothy state. Salt 

 will also kill it, and injure the roots of everything it comes in contact with : 

 but nothing is so destructive to the fungus "as quicklime. 



Fern Spores — Hampton Court Tine — Wore on the Tine (Ruby). — 

 The fronds may be rubbed between the hands over the pot until they become 

 so much dust, and then laid on the surface. It is the dust which the spore- 

 cases contain that produces the plant3. and if a quantity of that dust (which 

 is the spores) fall on the soil, it is sufficient without picking off the large 

 brown specks, which as likely do not as do contain spores. The Hampton 

 Court will do well in a cool vinery, and so will any of the Hamburghs, 

 except the Muscat and Golden Hamburghs. The Hamoton Court is cer- 

 tainly a good variety of Hamburgh, but we consider the Tictoria, and Pope's 

 Hamburgh superior to it. We have in the press a book on the Tine, which 

 will be published shortly, and it is likely to suit you. We are obliged by 

 the Nasturtium seeds, which we fear are not sufficiently ripened to germi- 

 nate, but if they do we will let you know about this time next year what we 

 think of it. 



Grafting Azaleas (7F. EC.). — We cannot advise you to graft Azaleas in 

 September, but the operation may be performed at that time if the stock be 

 growing, otherwise it is doubtful whether the graft will take or not. The 

 grafts 6hould be inserted in the strong healthy parts of the stem, their age is 

 immaterial if only they be clean and free in growth. 



Budded Manetti Stocks (Country Curate).— The bud should not be 

 covered with soil, for the moss is sufficient to keep the stock moist and cause j 

 the sap to flow into the bud. You have done quite right to shorten the 

 shoots of the stock, but they must not be stopped too closely, otherwise the 

 bud will be forced into growth, perhaps, late in the autumn, which is a 

 drawback rather than a gain. In spring, after the bud has grown, cover : 

 the stock with soil a few inches higher than the bud, this will probably 

 cause roots to be emitted from that part, and you will have a plant fed by 

 the stock, with the advantage of being on its own roots as well. You may 

 take up the stocks budded with tender kinds of Rose?, pot them, and winter 

 in a cold frame, or protect the buds in winter from the severity of the 

 weather by wrapping some hay loosely round them. 



Grapes Shritellino (S. R.). — The Black and Grizzly Frontignan are 

 about the tenderest of Grapes. Neither of them will bear heavy cropping 

 without being liable either to shrivel or shank ; and for both the soil should 

 have more calcareous matter, as old lime rubbish, bricks, and lumps of 

 stone, than would be requisite for other kinds. In such a season as we 

 have had in the south, watering the borders would be an advantage. In 

 damp summers such Grapes and Chasselas Musque* would be better if the 

 borders were covered with sashes to keep them dry. The Frontignans in 

 pots would have been benefited by weak manure waterings when the fruit 

 was swelling, but as it is now ripening the manure waterings could do little 

 good. If the crop is heary removing a few bunches might help to keep 

 the rest from withering away. 



Apricot Trees in Pots (T. L.). — Not only does Mr. Rivers produce an 

 abundance of fine and well-ripened Apricots in pots without these having 

 their bottoms knocked out, but we have so grown them ourselves. 



Koniga maritima (J. A.).— This is the same as Alyssum maritimum and 

 Glyce maritima. The plant is now generally allowed to form the genus 

 Koniga. 



Florist and Pomologist (G. X.).— The Autumn Nelis will be described 

 under Graham's Autumn Nelis, it being the desire of the raiser that his 

 name should be associated with it. The Editors would be too glad to adopt 

 the courss you desire, but it is not a remunerative one, and they do not 6ee 

 their way to any alteration in the price. If those whose interest it was to 

 have supported the experiment the Editors so liberally attempted had done 

 their duty, the plan need not have been relinquished. 



Names op Fruit (J, M. Sadler). — 1, Louise Bonne of Jersey; 2, Croft 

 Castle; 3, Gansel's Bergamot; 4, NePlusMeuris. (P. J. M.).— 1, Ambrosia; 

 2, 4, 8, 9, 15, Bern-re" Diel ; 3, 6, 16, Uvedale's St. Germain j 5, Poire Figue ; 

 10, Napoleon ; 12, Easter Eeurre"; 13, Norfolk Beefing ; 17, Ne Plus Meuris. 



Jacob.ea Lilt Hardv (Jacob(pa Lily). — You are quite right in your 

 statement that Mr. Beatoo, at page 130, voL i., of The Cottage Gar- 

 dener, affirms that this Lily*' Is found to be quite hardy in England if 

 planted in front of a greenhouse, or in dry earth everywhere, if planted 

 6 inches below the surface;" but he goes on to say that it never flowers 

 unless taken up in autumn. We really do not perceive what information 

 you require more than Mr. Beaton has recorded. 



Cloth of Gold Geranium Failing (A Constant Reader).— TVe grow 

 this Geranium, and find it rather more tender than Tom Thumb or Tren- 

 thim Scarlet. It is a fine plant for an edging to beds, and has an excellent 

 effect in chain and ribbon-borders. We think thit in your case something 

 very obnoxious to the roots is present in the soil in rather large quantity, 

 or the leaves would not wither and die off as you represent. This Geranio.ni 

 likes a rather dry light soil, but in other resoeets its treatment does not 

 differ from that of bedding Geraniums generally, except in its requiring to 

 be taken up and potted a fortnight earlier in autumn, for cold rains make 

 sad havoc among the foliage ; and it ought not to be planted out so soon in 

 summer by ten days or a fortnight. 



Making a Frcit Garden— Protecting Fruit Trees (H. C.).— "We agree 

 with your plan so far as regards planting the wall 100 feet long and 10 feet 

 high with Peach and Nectarine trees, and we know of no reason why you 

 should not plant some part of the space with the other fruits named"; but 

 we do not approve of your plan of having a fixed frame of iron wire netting 

 to protect them from birds. P.ecently we had an inquiry whether these 

 contrivances would answer for protecting the blossoms of fruit trees from 

 frost iu spring and the fruit from the attacks of birds. We are glad to 

 have an opportunity of disabusing our readers of such an idea, and to observe 

 that the buds and fruit of the Peach and Nectarine are rarely if ever.preyed 

 upon by the feathered tribe ; that wire netting affords no protection to the 

 bloom from spring frosts ; that birds do not devour the buds of Strawberries 

 and Raspberries, and consequently the netting is of no use for them at any 

 period except when the fruit is ripening ; that from the time of the fruit 

 being ripe to that of the leaves falling birds do not prey on the buds of 

 Cherry trees, Currants, and Gooseberries— the wire netting is consequently 

 of no value at that time, but obstructs much of the sun's light and heat, so 

 necessary to the perfecting of the wood and maturation of the fruit-buds, 

 on which depend next year's prospects ; lastly, that half-inch wire netting 

 fixed over fruit trees will obstruct one-sixth of the sun's light and heat, and 

 whilst it will not prevent the attacks of insects it will effectually shut out 

 their natural enemies the birds. Had we such a spice of 32 feet in width 

 and so good a wall, we would in the first place examine the soil, and if it 

 was drained of superfluous water, and of a moderately stiff nature, we would 

 merely trench the ground two spits deep. If not drained we would run 

 one drain up the middle of the space at a depth of 4 feet ; and if sandy, 

 light, and poor we would add some stiff loam, give a good dressing of cow- 

 dung, and though trenching it we would tread it firm. We would then 

 plant Peach and Nectarine trees 20 feet apart, the first tree 10 feet from one 

 end, and the remainder 20 feet apart, so that five trees would be necessary. 

 These may be 1 Royal George, 1 Grosse Mitrnonne, 1 Noblesse, and 1 Early 

 Tork Peach, and 1 Elruge or 1 Tiolette Hative Nectarine. The produce 

 when the trees were in full bearing would be about 100) Peaches and Nec- 

 tarines. The most suitable material to protect the bloom from frost is woollen 

 netting with quarter-inch meshes. This may be purchased at about 3d. per 

 yard; but if you do not mind the expense, the best thing that could be 

 done would be to cover the wall with glass. Having a good back wall, you 

 would only need upright posts in fron^ which should be left 4 feet out of 

 the ground, and be covered with three-quarter- inch deals, the uppermost 

 but one being hung on hinges for ventilation. The sashes would be 20 inches 

 apart — that is, the rafters, for we would dispense with the sash system 

 altogether, leaving a space at top 2 feet wide, which would be fitted with a 

 glazed frame to open the full length of the house by lifting up. Glazed and 

 fitted up in every way as a lean-to house 15 feet wide, 10 feet high at 

 back, and 4 feet in front, an admirable fruir-house might be constructed. 

 Peaches and Nectarines might occupy the back wall, 6 feet from which you 

 mi°"ht have a row of Peaches and Nectarines in pots, or planted out 4 feet 

 apart, and trained as pyramids ; 3 feet from these towards the front there 

 might be a row of Plums as boshes, and 3 feet from these again a row 

 i of Cherries, planted in quincunx fashion. A house of this kind would 

 1 be far preferable to a wire cage. With bat ordinary management it would 

 afford some very fine fruit, whilst if well.managed it would be profitable as 

 well as afford a delightful occupation. If you do not approve of thi=, which 

 would not cost much more than a useless wire cage, we would plant the 

 Peach trees as before stated, and 4 feet from the wall mark out a bed 4 feet 

 wide, and plant it with Eclipse Strawberries. We would then leave a two- 

 feet alley, and have another bed 4 feet wide, and iu this plant La Constants 

 and Keens' Seedling Strawberries ; then another four-feet bed with a two- 

 feefc alley between it and its neighbour, and in this plant a row of pyramidal 

 Cherries 6 feet apart, and two rows of British Queen Strawberries. 3 Feet 

 from the edge of this bed we would plant a row of Fastolf Raspberries 

 3 feet apart, and 4 fest from it a row of BUck Currants and Red Currants, 

 which would leave space in front for one row of Gooseberries ultimately, but 

 two to begin with. Now, for protecting the Strawberries nothing surpasses 

 ordinary netting, such as herring-nets, which may be purchased for a mere 

 trifle per yard; but for the Cherries, Raspberries, Currants, and Goose- 

 berries wire netting is better. We advise you to employ nets of any kind 

 but sparingly, and never except when absolutely necessary, and then they 

 should be made moveable ; and it is for you to decide whether flexible 

 netting would not oe much more handy and also more economical than wire 

 netting. In conclusion we would say, presumiug you to have the house, 

 you would plant a row of Raspberries in the ground in front of the house, 

 and 4 feet from it ; at a like distance from these a row of Black and Red 

 Currants; 3 feet farther off a row of Gooseberries; and in front of all, 

 three rows of Strawberries, the first 3 feet from the Gooseberries, and the 

 other 4 feet from the first. >Ve have no doubt but that either of these 

 arrangements would afford yon a quantity of ripe fruit. 



Pink Lobelia (E. L. TT.).— Kermesina Lobelia is as dwarf and compact 

 as speciosa, but when true reddish pink; it should be increased by cuttings, 

 as, when raise! from seed, the seedlings vary iu habit and shade. We have 

 pretty well decided on not using it freely far one reason— there is no means 

 of keeping birds from it when young, unless stringing it or netting it over. 

 As soon as the pink flowers showed away went flower and plant too, unless 

 firmly fastened. When the plants arc fully established the birds do not 

 touch them. They served us with this Lobelia exactly as tbey did; witb. 

 young seedlings of Beet, 



