Afey 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
451 
trees without such preparation if spread on the ground and pointed into the 
moist soil, where they slowly decay and benefit trees that require manurial 
aid. 
Fish Manure for Roses (IF. It. B.). —There is no doubt of fish manure 
being chemically well suited for Roses, but a chemical analysis of Eoses 
would be or no value unless every plot of ground in every garden where 
Eoses are grown were analysed too, and its constituents thus ascertained. 
From experience we can vouch for fish being a capital manure, not only for 
Eoses but for every crop, the main thing being not to apply it too heavily, 
and always some little time before growth is desired to be accelerated. It 
is best applied as a surface dressing and lightly pointed in. For Eoses a 
dressing in March and another early in July would be likely to be most 
beneficial. 
Spray Engine—Turnip Fly (E. B., Herts'. —We have seen the spray 
engine to which you refer work effectively, and no doubt one of a suitable 
size for your purpose, charged with an insecticide and used in time, would 
keep Eose trees free from aphides ; we will not say mildew, because the 
attacks of this depend so much on the nature of the soil, and especially the 
position of a garden. We know of no simpler method of checking the attacks 
of the turnip beetle than by dusting the plants early in the morning, when 
they are wet with dew, with finely sifted ashes mixed with soot and a little 
superphosphate of lime. Farmers sow stimulating manures with the seed 
to force the growth of the plants as quickly as possible, as they are not 
seriously attacked when rough leaves are produced ; but, whatever may be 
used, they cannot grow quickly in cold weather. 
House for Vines ( Old Ebor). —The house with a S.W. aspect, which 
does not receive the sun until 8.30 at this time of year, and having it the 
remainder of the day, will be suitable for growing Grapes ; but it will be 
necessary to have the house ventilated as soon as the sun shines upon it, as 
there will be danger of the foliage being scorched. A little air should be 
given in advance of the sun acting powerfully upon the house, which, in¬ 
ducing a circulation of air, will dissipate the moisture accumulating through 
the night. It is not necessary for the Vines to be planted outside ; indeed, 
they are often best planted inside, and in your case we should make a border 
half the width of the house in the first instance, having 24 to 27 inches 
depth of soil over 9 to 12 inches thickness of rubble for drainage. Medium 
turfy loam, with a tenth of old mortar rubbish, is a suitable compost for 
Vines, adding about a fortieth part of half-inch bones. The most useful 
Grape for such a house is the Black Hamburgh, and if you require a white 
one Foster’s Seedling would be a suitable companion. 
Grapes Scalding ( Dorking). —The cause of Grapes scalding is a deficiency 
of ventilation. It is not caused by anything you have done to the border, 
though the exposure of the border during the cold weather of April and 
early May would be likely to check root-action and lessen the supply of 
nutriment, consequently aggravate the evil of scorching. When Grapes 
approach the stoning process it is well to leave a little air on constantly, and 
to increase it early in the morning, and proportionately with the increased 
sun heat, and employ gentle fire heat constantly so as to secure a circulation 
of warm air, and this attended to until the stoning is effected will mostly 
effect a satisfactory issue, as when the Grapes begin to change colour for 
ripening they are safe from scorching. 
Gloxinia Leaves Scorched ( F\ J.). —Scorching is not caused by the use 
of stimulants, but plants that are made gross by their use are more liable to 
have the foliage scoiched than those that are grown slower and have the 
growth solidified as made. The only way that stimulants would act injuri¬ 
ously would be in too powerful doses, destroying the roots, and the plants 
would then collapse under powerful sun, or its use upon the foliage would 
burn the leaves and cause them to spot. The cause of the leaf sent being 
scorched is its being acted directly and powerfully upon by the sun whilst 
wet, which may be from deposited moisture through the night, or from 
syringing or watering. The only remedy is early ventilation and shade from 
powerful sun, especially after a dull period succeeded by a bright one. 
Grapes Splitting (TV. B.). —We are not able to inform you the exact size 
of the gimlet used by Mr. Thomson for boring through the laterals of his 
Vines for checking the flow of sap to the bunches. The size, we imagine, 
should be determined by the thickness of the parts to be operated on and 
the luxuriance of the growth. A hole an eighth of an inch in diameter may 
safely be driven, when needed, through a stem from 1 to 1J inch in circum¬ 
ference, according to the vigour of the Vine. Perhaps Mr. Thomson will 
oblige by supplying any further particulars he may think desirable in this 
process, which he and others have found so useful. 
Bignonia capreolata var. atrosanguinea (IF. Day'). —A very distinct 
form of a species common in North America. It is hardy in the south of 
England and in Ireland if trained against a south wall, but generally, in 
this country at least, it proves most satisfactory when treated as a cool 
greenhouse climber. It likes a light airy position, plenty of water during 
summer, and a rest in winter. The roots should be planted in a well-drained 
loamy soil, and the shoots should not be cut back, but thinned, as the flowers 
are borne on the young ripened shoots of the previous year. There is a fine 
plant of this dark-flowered variety in the conservatory (No. 4) at Kew which 
flowers every year. The other specimens to which you allude did not 
reach us. 
Dissolved Bones for Chrysanthemums (IF. J.). —We have very little 
doubt that the manure of which you send a sample is quicker in its action 
than bonemeal; in fact, by dissolving bones in acid the oily or gelatinous 
matter is removed, and the superphosphate of lime which is produced is 
much more soluble in water than bonemeal, and hence more immediately 
available for plants. It should, however, be used sparingly in the soil, or it 
may produce excessively luxuriant growth, and the quantity can always be 
increased if needed in the form of top-dressings. Bonemeal cannot do harm 
to Chrysanthemums, and often does good by acting just when extra support 
is needed towards the end of the season. We have not_ tried Beeson’s 
manure for these plants, but have heard of cultivators doing so satisfac¬ 
torily. If we understand its preparation rightly it must be quicker in its 
action than bonemeal, and also sufficiently lasting for most or all kinds of 
softwooded plantB in pots. We suspect the sample of dissolved bones you 
have sent contains some other addition with the object of rendering it still 
more quickly effective. 
Asparagus Failing (E. M., Nottingham). —We have seen some excellent 
crops in your neighbourhood, and think the soil generally is suitable for 
Asparagus culture. The roots sent resemble those we have seen when 
failing through being checked in transplanting. Did you use much sale 
or strong artificial manure in the composition of your beds? Established 
roots will take a great deal of this, but newly planted ones are often injured 
by it. We think one of those causes is the reason of your failure. Vege¬ 
table refuse and road scrapings are very good in which to plant young roots. 
We have frequently made up an extra mixture of this, dug out two or three 
spadefuls of the soil in the beds, and filled up while planting with the 
compost around the roots, and every plant succeeded. We have no doubt 
you will have much better results by sowing seed. It may be put at once 
into the beds if they are not overdone with the matter we speak of ; if so, 
take a spadeful of the soil out 1 foot apart each way all over the beds, add 
gritty stuff, make a small hole in the centre of each new part, put two or 
three seeds into each, and allow these to become permanent plants. No trans¬ 
planting will be necessary, and we feel sure you will soon secure good 
beds. It is a very difficult matter to transplant three-year-old roots success¬ 
fully. Being out the soil for any length of time on a dry windy day is very 
injurious to them, and this is why we find it, as a rule, best to raise our own 
seedlings. 
Names of Plants.—We only undertake to name species of plants, not 
varieties that have originated from seed and termed florists’ flowers. 
Flowering specimens are necessary of flowering plants, and Fern fronds 
should contain spores. Specimens should ar;ive in a fresh state in firm 
boxes. Slightly damp moss or soft green leaves form the best packing, dry 
cotton wool the worst. Not more than six specimens can be named at once. 
( M. H. S.). —Saxifraga granulata, very well grown. (IF. J.). —Eibes aureum 
or yellow-flowering American Currant. It is a native of Missouri, and 
we have rarely seen finer specimens. (J. E.). —1 and 2, Varieties of Phlox 
setacea; 3, Saxifraga Wallacei; 4, Saxifraga ceratophylla. [Harrison). — 
Ixia craterioides. (IF. A. B.). —1, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flava plena; 2, 
Geranium atro-sanguineum; 3, Lupinus polypbyllus ; 4, Iberis corifolia ; 
5, Hesperis matronalis. 
COVENT GAEDEN MAKKET.— May 27th. 
Market is still supplied with forced fruit3, Grapes and Strawberries. Vegetables 
plentiful. 
FRUIT. 
Apples .. .. 
s. d. 
2 6 
s. 
to 4 
d. 
6 
Oranges. 
s. 
4 
d. 
0 
Chestnuts 
.. bushel 16 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
peraoz. 15 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. 
per 100 lbs. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
i 
0 
Currants, Red 
.. 4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
0 
0 
,, Black 
.. \ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English .. rb. 
2 
0 
Figs .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Plums . 
$ sieve 
0 
0 
Grapes .. .. 
s 
0 
5 
0 
Strawberries.. .. 
.. tb. 
2 
0 
Lemons.. .. 
10 
0 
15 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 
3 
0 
d- 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
Artichokes .. 
dozen 
s. 
2 
d. 
0 
s. 
to 4 
d 
0 
Asparagus 
• • 
bundle 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Beans, Kidney 
, , 
100 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Broccoli .. .. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
. , 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Capsicums 
. • 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Carrots .. .. 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Cauliflowers .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Celery .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Cole worts dez. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Cucumbers 
. . 
each 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Endive .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Herns .. .. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Leeks 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 
4 
a. d. a. d. 
Lettuce.dozen 1 0 to 2 0 
Mushrooms .. ..punnet 0 0 14 
Mustard and Cress punnet 0 2 0 o 
Onions.bunch 0 3 0 6 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 2 0 SO 
Parsnips.dozen 10 2 0 
Potatoes .. .. .. cwt. 4 0 5 0 
,, Kidney .. cwt. 4 0 5 0 
Rhubarb.bundle 0 4 0 0 
Salsafy.bundle 10 0 0 
Scorzonera .. .. bundle 16 0 0 
Seakale .. .. per basket 10 0 0 
Shallots.Ib. 0 S 0 0 
Spinach.bushel 2 0 4 0 
Tomatoes .lb. 0 0 0 0 
Turnips.bunch 0 4 0 0 
DAIRY FARMING. 
SPRING. 
( Continued from page 430.) 
In quoting from Professor Sheldon’s great work on Dairy 
Farming last week we had in view the fact that many a 
manager of a home farm could not afford to purchase that 
somewhat expensive hook, which clearly sets forth the views 
of the best modern authorities, many of which we have had 
occasion to put to a severe practical test. There can be no 
doubt that much of the disease among young animals arises 
from mismanagement more than actual carelessness. A 
person entirely ignorant of animal physiology must of neces¬ 
sity be working very much in the dark in his treatment of 
