64 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Medlabs. — X. Z. — The proper time to gather medlars is, the latter part of 
October or the beginning of November. We would advise their being kept in 
the following manner, which will effectually prevent them from acquiring that 
dry rotten state, to which they are so liable : — Select a dry day for the purpose, 
and see that none are bruised ; have them placed singly on open shelves in a cool 
place, and look them over once a week, and the moment one is found decaying 
(not ripening), remove it, as one will taint the whole. They are much affected 
by a minute fungus, which spreads in an incredibly short time, and destroys an 
immense number. By attending to these directions, this fruit will be eaten in 
perfection, which is seldom the case in this country. Referring to your proposed 
graft, we do not think that you would increase the size of your small fruit. 
Gloxinias. — J. D. — Gloxinias may be grown wherever the accommodation 
of a greenhouse and a hot-bed frame can be had. In February, or March, the 
bulbs should be potted in a mixture of loam, peat, or leaf-mould and silver sand 
filling the pot one-third of its depth with crocks to insure a good drainage, and, 
placed into a lively heat of about 60°, where they may continue until the blooms 
are produced, receiving air and water as may appear necessary. When the first 
flowers are expanded, which will be about May, the plants should be taken to the 
greenhouse, observing to shade them from powerful sunlight, and by attention to 
watering will continue on nearly all the whole summer. The bulbs should be 
kept perfectly dry and at rest through the winter. 
Stokesia cyanea. — J. F. C., Leeds. — Stokesia cyanea is a handsome herba- 
ceous perennial, requiring ordinary greenhouse temperature, but will succeed 
very well in the open border during the summer months. It is increased by seed 
or by division of the roots, and naturally produces its attractive blue flowers in 
August. We have not made experiments with the annuals for the purpose you 
mention, but will bear this and your other suggestions in mind. 
Cuttings or Ivy. — N. C. IT., Barnstaple. — Ivy will strike all through the 
summer, but it succeeds most readily in the spring. It should be struck in very 
Bandy loam, and transplanted to where it is to remain. Do not be in a hurry, a 
month or six weeks hence will do to take the cuttings. 
Mistletoe. — Annie, Hammersmith. — Preserve the berries in sand until 
April, and then make a tongue in the bark of an apple, pear, thorn, or lime tree, 
and insert a berry so that the tongued bark will close down over it. Choose good 
positions on the trees, such as a fork in the main boughs, about eight feet from 
the ground. A mere slit in the bark will suffice to hold a berry, but the birds 
will discover the berries and eat them, unless they are covered, and the best way 
to protect them is to lay over the incision a tuft of moss and bind it down with a 
strip of bast. Mistletoe grows very slowly, and requires at least seven years to 
form a feature on the tree which supports it. 
Roses on theib own Roots. — J. Smith, Hcyham. — The month of April is 
the best time to turn out roses on their own roots, and you had better keep yours 
in their pots till then. 
Gekaniuhs with Blanched Stems. — Polly. — Your geraniums are suffering 
from insufficient light. You must give them all the light you can, and if you can 
arrange to put. them in a hot-bed next month, you may first prune them so as to 
get rid of the weakly shoots and induce a new growth of strong green foliage, 
but do not cut them unless you can provide heat for them. 
Walnut not Feuiting. — New Subscriber. — The walnut tree is a long time 
coming to a fruiting condition. While in a youDg state it grows vigorously for 
many years, when oDce it has taken good hold of the soil, and it is not until 
this exuberant growth is somewhat exhausted, and a moderate growth succeeds, 
that the tree begins to bear. Walnuts delight and succeed only in a deep alluvial, 
rich soil ; their roots spread far and deep, and as most vegetation refuses to grow 
beneath their shade, the proper position for them is the outside of the orchard or 
corner of a field ; their habit unsuits them for the garden. It is not usual to 
prune them. The necessity of gathering the fruit by thrashing it from the tree 
with poles, rendering any futher pruning unnecessary, and the management of 
mature trees may be said to be confined to the removal of decaying limbs. 
