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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



importance. Weeds should not be hoed up and left to die on the ground 

 in the spring, when the leaves of seedlings are quite young, as the Botrytis 

 grows on all kinds of dying and dead plants, and the spores pass on to 

 the leaves of the seedlings. 



" In one instance the fungus causing the diseases was found to spread 

 from stable manure, which had been imperfectly buried in the soil ; the 

 projecting portions of straw were thickly covered with the Botrytis. 



u The Botrytis is very dependent on moisture, and only produces spores 

 in a humid atmosphere ; hence it is so important that damp, low-lying 

 situations should be avoided for nursery purposes. 



" When the disease is present, spraying with the following solution, 

 elsewhere called 'violet mixture,' will check its progress : 



Sulphate of Copper 2 lb. 



Carbonate of Copper 3 lb. 



Permanganate of Potash S oz. 



Soft Soap ^ lb. 



Rain water 18 gallons 



" Every part of the ground within, and for some distance beyond, the 

 affected part should be thoroughly wetted. The soft soap should be dis- 

 solved in hot water. The remaining ingredients are soluble in cold water. 



" All diseased seedlings should be collected and burned." — B. N. 



Cordyline indivisa vera. By J. Ryan (Garden, No. 1717, p. 261 ; 



15/10/1904). — This magnificent plant is seldom met with in gardens 

 in this country. It is a native of New Zealand, and from experience of 

 it during the last few winters we think it will prove hardy in many parts 

 of the British Isles in a position sheltered from the wind, which spoils 

 the leaves by splitting the ends of them. An excess of moisture at the 

 roots during the winter is fatal to it ; therefore it should have a well- 

 drained soil, composed of leaf- soil, peat, loam, and sand. The colour is 

 pale green, with a deep orange midrib and veins. It is such a noble plant 

 that it is a pity it is not more common. It has stood out during the last 

 four winters, and is not injured by ordinary frosts, but in a very severe 

 one we cover it with bass mats— E. T. C. 



Corn-growing*. By C. P. Hartley {U.S.A. Dep. Ayr., Farmers' 

 Bull. 199, 1904 ; illustrated).— The " Corn " alluded to in this pamphlet is 

 of course Indian Corn, and its object is to show that the same quantity of 

 Corn now produced in the United States could be grown on half the 

 present acreage, without any increase in work or expense. 



This change could be effected by — 



1. Improvement in the quality of seed used. 



2. Improvement in the condition of the soil. 

 8. Improvement in methods of cultivation. 



The first condition seems obvious, yet farmers are more careless in 

 this respect than in any other farming operation. 



The soil lias a great influence on production, and several illustrations 

 are given to show the thin crops resulting from a generally poor soil, or 

 from infertile spots in an otherwise fertile field, or from undrained spots, 



