494 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 11, 1885. 
outer cuticles of the foliage, but when the leaves are perfectly dry, as those 
are on the plants sent, growth soon ceases and the corms go to rest prema¬ 
turely. We should pot them deeper, or at least shade them from the sun, 
and so arrange them that moisture rises from the base. You may also 
inerease the temperature 5° or 10°, provided you afford more moisture in the 
atmosphere, and at the same time never let the roots get anything like dry. 
The Briar spray sent is infested with the orange fungus, for which we doubt 
if there is any “ easy and certain cure.” Try a solution of softsoap (2 ozs. 
to the gallon of water), adding sulphur, so as to form a thin creamy mix¬ 
ture, which apply with a syringe or small brush ; or you might try Ewing’s 
mildew composition, which, being ready for use, would be an “ easy ” 
method. 
Grapes Setting {Williams). —The Grapes are very well set indeed, and 
the bunches should be thinned without any delay that can possibly be 
avoided, first removing all the smaller berries wherever they may be placed, 
then an excess of the larger, as there are ample of these, at least in the 
examples before us, for producing full bunches. The pale green colour of 
the footstalks and their want of substance indicate that the house is kept 
too close and moist. Admit more air, or at least admit it very early, and 
employ less atmospheric moisture, especially late in the afternoon, and the 
Vines will be benefited while the plants will sustain no injury under an 
intelligent course of treatment; but adopt no sudden changes in manage¬ 
ment, such as going from one extreme to the other, or you may make a 
mistake. 
Sulphur and Lime Preparation for Mildew—Quassia Water ( North 
Hants). —No doubt the receipts you have seen given in this Journal for 
making quassia water are all quite safe and good. We find an ounce of 
chips gently boiled for a time are sufficient in a gallon of water for 
destroying the ordinary green fly on Roses, but have used twice the quantity 
of quassia with a solution of softsoap for the black, which has not done the 
slightest injury to the growths to which it was applied. We always con¬ 
sider it prudent to try the effect of a mild solution of any insecticide in 
preference to a stronger, which is only resorted to when the former is not 
effectual. You had better do the same. You ask if the lime-and-sulphur 
remedy (which is reproduced in answer to another correspondent) is 
reliable. We have seen it used more than once with perfect safety to 
Peach trees and Roses, as it did not injure them in the slightest; but we 
have heard of its having proved injurious. We are not able to account for 
this. The water may be the cause, or some fault in preparation, or, again, 
syringing with the mixture in the morning when the sun reached the trees 
before the foliage was dry. We advise you, if you try the remedy, to use rain 
water, and proceed cautiously and experimentally, applying the preparation 
at night, at first trying half the quantity advised on a branch or two that 
you can afford to injure. We repeat, however, that we have seen it used 
exactly of the strength recorded extensively, both under glass and in the 
open air, with complete success. 
Pear Tree Leaves Blistered ( J. G., Ayrshire). —There is nothing left 
of the moth which you have enclosed ; it seems to have withered to nothing. 
The leaves, however, suggest that your trees are attacked by a small moth 
(Tinea clerckella) of which we append a figure. Every gardener must have 
observed the leaves of his Pear trees, especially those of the Chaumontel, 
blotched with dark brown spots in the autumn. We had a standard tree of 
this variety that annually was thus 
injured, whilst a Swan’s Egg and an 
Easter Bergamot close bv were com¬ 
paratively untouched. These brown 
blotches are caused by the cater¬ 
pillars or grubs of a very small 
moth called the Pear-tree Blister 
moth. The caterpillars of this moth 
belong to a family called miners,” 
on account of their working beneath 
the skin of the leaves they attack, 
feeding only on their pulp. The 
red spots often seen on the leaves 
of the Vine and Turnip are caused 
by grubs of this habit. On opening one of the brown blisters on the Pear 
tree leaf a small, active, shining grub will be found, fleshy, yellowish-white, 
hairy, and with sixteen black feet; the head and a line down the back are 
brown. When thus disturbed the grub lets itself down towards the ground 
by a silken thread. It forms its cocoon in the earth, or beneath some 
withered leaf upon its surface. From this cocoon the moth comes forth 
chiefly during May, though it has been observed at the beginning of April. 
In the drawing the grub and moth are represented of their natural size, 
and the moth magnified. The upper wings are orange, with a silvery spot 
on its outer edge and a mingling of black, lilac, and pink on the inner 
angle ; an orange feathery mark and four black lines mark their upper 
surface, and th p y have a white fringe around them. The hind wings are 
narrow, lead-coloured, and fringed. The best mode of prevention seems to 
be to collect the leaves, and to pare off about an inch of the surface round 
each tree in the autumn, and to burn them. 
White Clover {FT. Yon P. Contich). —There is only one species of White 
Clover, and it flowers profusely in suitable soils and positions. The soil in 
Belgium appears well adapted for Clover, at least we have seen many fine 
examples in some districts; but though White Clover might grow 
luxuriantly in your soil it would not flower profusely if materially shaded 
by fruit _ bushes ; and, moreover, it would probably injure the bushes by 
impoverishing the ground. In reply to your other query our answer is that 
the gentleman to whom you allude might possibly do what you suggest, 
but we are not sure about it. You had better write fully your proposals 
and desire to us, and your letter shall be forwarded, enclosing your card, 
for insuring a properly addressed reply. 
Mildew on Grapes (D. C .).—We are sorry to see the fruit so seriously 
infested. Judging by the wood and foliage the Vines appear to have been 
well managed; yet we suspect the house has been kept closed too long on 
some particular morning, and the atmosphere too moist. There is nothing 
that can destroy the mildew without some “ marks ” being left, because 
the mildew itself injures the cuticle of the fruit. You say you have tried 
Fir-tree oil and sulphur without good effect. Have you tried Ewing’s 
mildew composition ? The following preparation has been found effectual 
in destroying mildew on Peach trees and Roses, but we have not seen it 
tried on Grapes. You might try it on a bunch or two in varying strengths 
and favour us with the results. Take a pound of flowers of sulphur and a 
pound of quicklime powdered, add them together with sufficient water to 
form a paste, add a gallon of water, put the whole in an iron saucepan or 
kettle and boil for twenty minutes. When cool and settled pour off the 
clear liquid and store it in a bottle. Use at the rate of one-quarter of a 
pint to three gallons of water. Observe we do not advise you to proceed 
otherwise than experimentally at first. See our remarks to another inquirer. 
We should ventilate more freely, keep the atmosphere of the vinery drier, 
and give the roots an extra supply of water or liquid manure to meet the 
demands of increased transpiration. The house should never be closed at 
night nor the temperature suddenly rise in the morning, or the berries 
being colder than the atmosphere will cause the moisture in the air, how¬ 
ever slight it may be, to condense on them, and this favours mildew. 
Broccoli {Inquirer). —Your letter arriving some time before the hamper 
has been mislaid, but we remember its contents, and you will recognise 
our reply. The head is a very fine one, and we think the variety worth pre¬ 
serving for growing with others in a trial, as in no other way can its value 
be so well determined. It is impossible for anyone to judge of its merits 
satisfactorily from a solitary example, especially without cooking ; and in 
consequence of the neglect of one of our messengers, which we regret, the 
specimen was not handed to us soon enough for that purpose. 
Plum Leaves Silvery (M. B). —We have many times, and in different 
places, observed the foliage of Plum trees assume a silvery appearance, and 
the branches afterwards die. We have also noticed that the occurrence ha3 
been most frequent when bright and dry days have followed a term of wet 
and dull weather. We have further found that the trees which have suffered 
the most were those with apparently fine healthy foliage, and that the 
leaves after the attack were harsh and dry like smooth paper. As we could 
not find any trace of insects and miidew to account for the condition of the 
leaves we attributed the cause of injury to sudden and extreme transpiration 
—a drying-up of the sap, and the consequent separation of the cuticle from 
the substance'of the leaf, and the cuticle being transparent, must neces¬ 
sarily when raised impart to the leaf a silvery appearance. This is in 
substance what we have more than once stated; but with the object of 
gaining further information we submitted some leaves to Mr. Worthington 
G. Smith, who is an adept in detecting under the microscope, and delineating 
things hidden from ordinary observers. His reply was in accordance with 
our own views on the subject. He found the cuticle raised from the leaves and 
much torn, only adhering to the veins. He attributes this to the substance 
of the leaf shrinking or drying up, which seems to show that at one period 
of growth there was a too rapid formation of leaves, and then the growth 
ceased, and the too much distended material shrunk back and tore itself 
away from the cuticle. For this serious change to which Plums, and occa¬ 
sionally Peaches and Laurels, are liable, we regret to say we know of no 
general remedy. We can only suggest that if your tree makes gross 
growths to lift it in the autumn and place the roots in fresh loam with an 
admixture of calcareous matter, making the soil firm, and thus incite the 
emission of a number of surface fibres, these conducing to sturdier growths 
and smaller and stouter-textured leaves. 
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 arrive 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. 
(J. W. L.). —Lycaste Deppei. ( F. S ., Ticehurst). —Allium ursinum, the 
Broad-leaved Garlick. ( B. T. B.). —1, The copper-coloured Austrian Briar; 
2, Spiraea trilobata ; 3, Crataegus coccinea. {C. H. Stephens). —1, Yitis 
heterophylla variegata; 2, Begonia manicata; 3, Delphinium nudicaule; 
4, Saxifraga aspera ; 6. Limnanthes grandiflorus ; 7, Megasea ligulata. (A 
Constant Header). —1, Briza media ; 2, Scilla patula ; 3, Davallia bullata ; 
4, Fraxinus ornus ; 5, Carex dioica ; 6, Unrecognisable without flowers- 
Please state if you have sent another parcel of flowers with a differen 
signature. (TF. B.). —1, iEchmea Marim Reginae ; 2, Aspidistra lurida ; 
3, Insufficient without flowers ; 4, Sempervivum arboreum rariegatum; 
5, Sedum carneum variegatum. {J. E. C .).—Clianthus puniceus. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— June 10th. 
The market continues well supplied with all classes of fruits ay ’ 
vegetables. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
A sieve 
2 
6 
to 4 
6 
Oranges . 
4 
0 to 
7 
0 
Chestnuts .. 
. # 
bushel 16 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches. 
perdoz. 15 
0 
21 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. 
Currants, Red 
per 100 lbs. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
, , 
A sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Black 
, . 
| sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English .. lb. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Figs .. .. 
dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Plums . 
A sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes .. .. 
S 
0 
5 
0 
Strawberries.. .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Lemons .. .. 
-■ 
.. case 
10 
0 
15 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
3 
0 
7 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
s. d 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Artichokes .. 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Lettuce. 
. dozen 
1 
0 to 
2 
0 
Asparagus 
• a 
bundle 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
0 
0 
1 
4 
Beans, Kidney 
, , 
100 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Broccoli .. .. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
• • 
^ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Potatoes . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums 
# , 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Carrots .. 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Rhubarb . 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
, , 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Salsafy . 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celery .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzonera .. . 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Cole worts dez. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. per basket 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers .. 
each 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Shallots . 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Endive .. .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Heros .. .. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
.. lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Leeks ,, .. 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
