516 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 18, 1885. 
many bees packed in this way and never lost one. — Rev. 0. Clute (in The 
American Bee Journal). 
*All correspondence should be directed either to “The Editor ” 
or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. Hogg or 
members of the staff often remain unopened unavoidably. We 
request that no one will write privately to any of our correspon¬ 
dents, as doing so subjects them to unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Bee subjects, and should never 
send more than two or three questions at once. All articles in¬ 
tended for insertion should be written on one side of the paper 
only. We cannot reply to questions through the post, and we 
do not undertake to return rejected communications. 
Tulips (Felton). —We believe named bizarre, bybloemen, and rose Tulips 
are included in the collection of Mr. Charles Turner at Slough. As we 
have repeatedly stated, we attempt no such invidious and impossible task 
as stating the “best” place for getting Pansies or anything else. They 
can be had alike good from dozens of florists. 
Gloxinias and Achimenes (A. Z.). —The leaves sent were infested by 
thrips and red spider, which clearly proves the plants have been grown in 
too dry an atmosphere. The only remedy is to distribute more moisture 
and to afford shade from bright sun. The plants may be syringed, or, better, 
dipped in a solution of some insecticide such as nicotine soap (6 ozs. to the 
gallon), and when dry thoroughly syringed. We fear the plants will not 
recover, as they are in a very bad state. 
Furnace not Drawing (J. C.). —There is something seriously wrong with 
the upright boiler or it would have a good draught, as we have one, and it 
draws better than any other, and the buildings on every side are con¬ 
siderably higher than the chimney from the boiler. Upright boilers are 
the best for draught, hence we conclude there is something peculiar in your 
case, the boiler being improperly set or the flue not rightly constructed. We 
do not think a roof 40 feet distant ought to interfere with the draught, and 
before carrying the chimney higher we should try the effect of a pot—one 
that would prevent a down draught—and with this, other things being in 
proper condition, the fire ought to draw well. 
“Invention” (F. T. D.). —So many papers are sent to us every week, 
that unless a note or post card is sent directing our attention to any par¬ 
ticular marked paragraph, it is quite likely to be overlooked. If we were to 
search down every column of every paper that we receive we should have 
very little time left for more important duties. We have not seen the 
paragraph to which you refer, and the paper containing it is now beyond 
our reach, and it will be necessary for us to receive another if you still 
desire us to examine the report. 
Rating Nurserymen’s Greenhouses (L. B .).—You ask if it is “ cus¬ 
tomary or right to assess nurserymen’s greenhouses for the poor rates.” We 
suspect it has become largely “ customary ” by mafiy nurserymen paying 
the rates but the “ right ” to claim them is another matter. Lord 
Kenyon decided there is no more right to assess the greenhouses of a 
nurseryman than the stall of a cobbler, because both are equally necessary 
for obtaining a livelihood. This is an important question that should be 
tested in a supreme court, and the case for nurserymen appears good, 
though obviously no individual can be expected to act alone, but by a com¬ 
bination of effort the cost would be scarcely felt, while the gain might be 
great and permanent. 
Peaches Dropping (Alva). —You do not say one word as to the condi¬ 
tion of the trees, weight of the crop, the treatment accorded, or even 
whether the trees are under glass or in the open air. The fruit drops from 
various causes—defective fertilisation, faulty ventilation, red spider extract¬ 
ing the juices from the leaves, overcropping, sluggish root-action, or an in¬ 
adequate supply of water. The fruit indicates that it is not well supported, 
and if the growth is not healthy very copious supplies of liquid manure with 
a good mulching of rich stable manure over the roots would have a bene¬ 
ficial effect, on the trees at any rate, as it may be too late to save the crop. 
This is as good a reply as you can expect from your one line of inquiry, 
and total absence of information of the nature indicated, and which most 
gardeners would have seen was necessary for the case to be understood. 
However, we have done the best we could for you, if you have not the best 
you could for yourself. 
Lapageria Leaves Scorched (M. C. B., Hants).— You say your plant is 
in “loose ” soil. The Lapageria prefers a rather firm yet somewhat spongy 
aid elastic soil, ample provision being made for drainage, so that very 
copious supplies of water can be given during the growing season. Shade 
from bright sun is also of advantage for the production and retention of 
dark-green leaves. Judging by the appearance of the leaf you have sent, 
we are of opinion that the escape of moisture from the plant by evaporation 
or transpiration has been disproportionate with the quantity imbibed by 
the roots. You had better either give more water or employ shade, or 
both, according to your judgment and as may be the most convenient; and 
further, if you give clear soot water, the colour of pale ale, it will also in 
all probability act beneficially. This may be made by tying some soot in 
an old sack or canvas and immersing for a day or two in a tub of water. If 
you throw a good lump of lime in after the virtues of the soot are extracted 
and take off the scum that forms on the surface, the water will be quite 
clear. It will probably do your plant good to syringe it well every after¬ 
noon when the sun is declining. If the soil is very loose we should make 
it somewhat firm by treading, but not when it is wet. 
Decorating a Dessert Table (Kovice ).—It is difficult to give any instruc¬ 
tions for decorating a table, as so much depends upon individual taste ; but 
a few general rules are applicable, and should be kept in view by those 
undertaking the work. In the first place, whatever is used must be low, 
as to allow of a clear view from one side of the table to the other, or, if not 
that, the plants or flower-stands used should be so tall as to obstruct the 
view as little as possible, hence the heavy objects must be kept close to the 
table, the light ones rising above it. The tallest stands must be in the 
centre, and there the greatest effort at ornamentation should be made, and 
for a table of the size you name it will not need to be very large, but four 
plants disposed in a square around it will be all that need be attempted. 
About four horseshoe vases will be required at the corners, and a dozen 
finger glasses filled in the lightest possible manner will give all that is 
required in the way of flowers. Employing flowers of decided hues, har¬ 
monising in colour or contrasting, but not violently, and keeping as much 
as circumstance admit to one kind of flower, as, for instance, Roses, 
Clematises, or any plants that afford a good variety of colour. Pyrethrums, 
Marguerites, Chrysanthemums, and other flat flowers always show well 
together, and so do tube-shaped flowers, as Gloxinias, Allamandas, and 
Dipladenias. Liliums also afford a fine arrangement. The main point of 
all is not to attempt too much, as that is certain to impart a crowded 
heavy appearance, and only displeases. Good fruit—not too much of it— 
neatly set up is indispensable, and a floral design on the cloth is always 
appreciated when of a bolder type than those in the flower-stands rising 
from it, but a clear space must be left all around of about 16 inches. 
Orchids and Ferns (Rosa ).—Many houses are similarly constructed to 
yours, and yet both Ferns and Orchids are successfully grown in them, and 
as far as we can judge from your letter there is no reason why your plants 
should not be equally satisfactory. At this time of year very little or no 
artificial heat will be required, and syringing the rocks and Ferns twice a 
day should be sufficient, but this must be determined by the weather, as on 
dull wet days no syringing would be required. If the rocks are new and 
porous it will take some time for them to become saturated with moisture, 
but when that is effected small mosses and liverworts will appear, and will 
assist in retaining the necessary moisture. A strong heat is never ad¬ 
visable, even in cold weather, in such a house, and it would be better to 
avoid heating the pipes excessively, preserving an even moderate tem¬ 
perature, and there will then be less difficulty in keeping the air at the 
required state of humidity. Troughs may also be fitted upon the pipes and 
kept constantly filled with water. The Orchids would be benefited by 
placing them upon some substance like shells, shingle, fine gravel, or even 
small cinders or coal. If that is inconvenient, adopt a combination saucer 
and stand similar to that recently described and figured in this Journal, 
page 349, April 30th, 1885, or you can improvise something of the same kind 
by inverting pots in ordinary saucers and standing the plants upon them, 
filling the saucers with water. These act both as insect traps and as 
reservoirs of moisture, which, steadily evaporating, refreshes the foliage of 
Orchids and similar plants considerably. The larger house you mention 
appears well suited for Cattleyas, Lselias, and other genera that require more 
roomy structures and more free exposure to sun than non-pseudo-bulbous 
species and ordinary cool house Orchids of the Odontoglossum type. If 
you will state what Orchids are included in your collection we shall be 
pleased to give you more particular directions as to their culture. 
Vine Leaves Failing (B. H. T .).—Your Vines are in an enfeebled state 
and there is a good deal of red spider on the foliage. This, with the sunny 
weather that has lately prevailed, causing excessive transpiration, is quite 
sufficient to account for the yellow blotches, the spider and sun having ex¬ 
tracted the moisture faster than it has been supplied by the roots. As there 
were no berries in the box when it reached us we are not able to judge as to 
how far it would be prudent to apply Fir tree oil or any other insecticide ; 
but this we know, we could dislodge the enemy with pure water, but more 
forcibly applied and in far greater quantity than is used in ordinary 
syringings. We should give every leaf a thorough drenching, and not 
many insects would remain. A good method of applying insecticides is 
with a spray-distributor the nozzle of which can be placed between the 
bunches and close to the leaves, the under sides of which are made wet, like 
dew, while little or none of the solution falls on the berries. But apart 
from extirpating the insects the Vines need more support. The greatest 
need of all, however, is a mass of active fibrous roots working freely in fresh 
soil not far below the surface. As the roots cannot be safely disturbed now 
give liquid manure freely. If you have drainings from a manure heap 
nothing could be better, and failing this mix three or four ounces of guano 
in a large garden can of water and pour it on each square yard of the border 
if it will pass in freely. Nitrate of soda is quicker in its action, and about 
half the quantity suffices, but if you use it have some warm water for mix¬ 
ing, as the nitrate lowers the temperature of water considerably in which it 
is mixed, and the warmer the water is for your Vine roots the better. In 
the autumn remove some of the old soil and add fresh, on which point see 
our reply to another inquirer. Guano water sprinkled freely in the house 
when closing, each afternoon, would supply the leaves with ammonia, which 
they enjoy, and the red spider does not ; but it should not be used unless 
the Grapes are stoned, and never until the sun is declining. A few hours 
afterwards open the top ventilators an inch or two and leave them open all 
night, admitting more air as soon as the temperature commences rising in 
the morning. As your vinery faces the east early ventilation is of vital 
importance. Assuming the sun shines on the house at four o’clock and the 
sashes are kept closed till six or after, flimsy, blotchy red-spider-infested 
leaves can only be expected in hot weather. 
Butterfly Orchis—British Orchids (A. F. M .).—You are fortunate in 
finding a supply of the lovely Orchid, Habenaria ibifolia. It may be safely 
moved, and will improve and make a good add tion to any collection of 
hardy plants. We find the best way is to dig them up with a trowel when 
