20 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ January 3, 1884. 
Renton’s Monarch Leek ( J. A. W.). —No doubt many persons besides 
yourself would be glad to grow this variety. We are not able to say 
where seed is to be had, but if there is any for sale it will presumably 
be advertised. 
Vinos Unhealthy (.4 Lady).—We have seldom seen Vine wood so 
unsatisfactory. It is soft, immature, and contains by far too much pith. 
Either the border is defective or the foliage has been overcrowded, and 
possibly also the Vines have been overcropped. Without knowing the 
state of the border and roots, the age and distances apart of the Vines, and 
of the laterals on the rods, we cannot give you any useful advice on the 
matter. 
Plum Suckers and Seedlings (J. E. IF.).—The seedlings may be fruited 
if you choose to ascertain if one or two of them may perchance afford you 
new and good varieties, but there is small chance of either the suckers or 
seedlings bearing fruit of any substantial value. We should regard them 
as stocks, to be grafted or budded, the latter being the best method of 
increase. 
Trenching and Planting (//. P., Winchester). —It would be a mistake to 
trench deeply such soil as yours, and bring up a great quantity of clay. 
After trenching the soil should be allowed to settle, but not necessarily “ for 
months.” The subject will be referred to in our “Work for the Week” 
columns in an early issue. 
Cactuses (P. Adams). —We shall shortly publish notes on the culture of 
these plants, with other particulars such as you appear to require, and pos¬ 
sibly they will be of more service to you than anything to which we can 
refer you in the manner you suggest. 
Making a Tennis Ground [J. B.). —If the ground is wet and spongy it 
ought to be drained, and a layer of ashes 2 or 3 inches thick covered with an 
inch of very sandy soil would render the surface firm and porous. If the 
site is naturally dry the ashes will not be advantageous, but rather the 
reverse, as the grass would be the sooner parched and browned in dry 
weather. 
Covering Mushroom Beds (Cambrian). —Equally good crops are had in 
houses and sheds when the beds are covered with hay in some cases and 
short straw in others. Straw shaken from the manure is preferred by 
growers of Mushrooms in the open air, and there can be no better material 
for beds under cover. Mr. Barter’s address is given on the first page of 
“ Mushrooms for the Million,” and you can procure the information you need 
by writing to him. 
Wellingtonias Coning (L. F. Moffat ).—Many trees have produced cones 
in this country. At Orton Hall, near Peterborough, there are thousands of 
them, and seed has been gathered and sown ; but no seedlings have been 
raised, or at least had not been a few months ago. We believe, however, 
that Wellingtonias have been raised from English-grown seed. The example 
you have sent is very fine, the cones, we think, being among the largest that 
have come under our notice. 
Apple Tree Cankered (F. J.). —The specimen you have sent demon¬ 
strates that your tree is seriously affected with canker. In this case the 
disease has certainly not been caused by insects, but is the result primarily 
of immature wood. Are not the roots of the tree in wet or ungenial 
soil? We suspect they are, as the portion sent indicates that the tree has 
made long soft growths. Draining, root-lifting, and the addition of calcareous 
matter appear to be needed. Scrape the parts affected with American blight, 
and follow the treatment generally described by Mr. Iggulden in pp. 550, 551, 
last week. 
Chrysanthemum Flower Defective (B. C.). —You ask “If the treat¬ 
ment has anything to do with the incurving of the florets of Princess of 
Teck ?” It has everything to do with it, and the flower you have sent is 
not half developed because it has only been half supported. Early dis¬ 
budding and adequate support afforded by careful watering, rich top-dress¬ 
ings, and supplies of liquid manure as needed, are the essentials for pro¬ 
ducing well-developed blooms. Some of them are then finished by dressing, 
an art that can only be learned by experience. 
Murray’s Vine Composition (J. D., and others). —You will find this 
insecticide advertised in another column. It is prepared by Mr. G. Murray, 
gardener, West Ashby Manor, Horncastle, and the majority of commendatory 
letters that have been published have been written by gardeners in Lincoln¬ 
shire, where the article appears to have been extensively tried and given 
satisfaction. 
Removing Garden Structures (B. S. J .).—A nurseryman who erects 
greenhouses solely for the purpose of conducting his business can remove 
them if he chooses to do so, as they are part of his stock in trade, and 
the fact of their being on brickwork does not abrogate his right in this 
respect. He is entitled to whatever compensation he can obtain if the 
structures are not removed on the expiration of a lease. This answer only 
applies to bond fide nurserymen and florists, not to persons who grow plants 
for pleasure and sell a number from time to time to assist in defraying 
expenses. 
Cleaning Gourd Seed (J. IF. H .).—Take out the pulp containing the 
seeds and place it in water, letting it remain for a time, then rub it well 
with the fingers in the water, separating the seeds. Remove the matter, 
and in fresh water proceed as before, and eventually the partially cleaned 
seeds may be placed in a hair sieve, immersed in water, and the cleaning 
process completed, when they can be spread out and dried. We are glad 
your Vines are now promising well. No subject is too “trifling” for our 
attention provided we can impart information that may be useful to 
inquirers. 
Species of Cyclamen ( Old Subscriber). —Cyclamen persicum is a native 
of Cyprus and other parts of the East, and was introduced in 1731. Many 
varieties have been raised from it, and amongst them is C. giganteum, a 
form distinguished by its larger flowers and stronger growth. C. hederi- 
folium, C. europseum, C. latifolium, C. neapolitanum, and C. vernum, are all 
natives of Europe, and are quite distinct from C. persicum. They are hardy, 
and have a pretty appearance on a rockery. 
Vine Management (./. C.). —You are perfectly right in your views. 
Nutriment is stored in Vines by the agency of the leaves, and this important 
process cannot be satisfactorily accomplished if the leaves have not space for 
development by full exposure to light and air, nor if they are permitted to 
become infested with red spider or thrips. Overcrowding of the foliage and 
a want of cleanliness are among the chief causes of failures in Grape culture. 
We shall be glad to have your notes when you find it convenient to 
send them. 
Birds and Fruit Buds (C. J.). —A mixture of lime and soot applied to your 
Cherry trees with a syringe or water-engine would not be injurious to the 
buds, and might possibly act as a bird-deterrent. We have found that freely 
dusting Gooseberry bushes with lime when the branches are wet with dew is 
not at all liked by birds ; whether they object to the white colour or not we 
are unable to say, but we know that bushes so dressed have not been visited 
by birds, while others left undressed have been deprived of most of their 
buds. We found that lime similarly applied to Plum trees for destroying- 
moss on the branches also prevented birds visiting the trees. If it is the 
colour of the whitened trees that keeps off the birds then the addition of soot 
would not be an advantage. You might try the lime alone and in mixture 
with soot,' and note the results. 
Introduction of Primula sinensis ( Hants Subscriber). —We presume 
you allude to the above plant, of which so many forms adorn our green¬ 
houses and conservatories in winter. As its specific name implies it is a 
native of China. Mr. John Reeves, who died at Clapham in 1856, first 
directed attention to this plant. He was a tea-taster to the East India. 
Company, and resided in China for many years. In 1821 the Chinese 
Primula, in consequence of his sending a drawing of it, was introduced by 
Captain R. Rowes, and presented by him to his relative, Mr. Carey Palmer, 
of Bromley, Kent. Mr. Reeves commenced sending plants from China in 
1816, and besides sending twelve new Chrysanthemums in 1820 he sent the 
double Chinese Cherry, Prunus serrulata, and the Chinese Plum, Prunus 
salicina, to the Horticultural Society in 1820. 
Heating (J. T. S.). —Provided the level of the water in the supply box is 
half an inch lower than the highest point of the pipes, the circulation, all 
other matters being right, will be perfect. The supply box may be higher, 
but as you ask for the minimum height we have given you a reply that you 
may act on with safety. Two soot doors are usually employed for a saddle 
boiler, but if set, as it ought to be, with what is termed a “ split ” draught— 
which directs the fire from the back to the front along the outside of the 
boiler, thence over the crown and into the flue—a central soot door is an 
advantage. The boiler should be raised on firebricks above the bars, so that 
when the scraper is used in cleaning it passes easily under the return pipes 
to the boiler. This is important. Your last question cannot be answered 
categorically, as everything depends on the setting of the boiler and the 
correct position of the pipes. You may make your own calculation on the 
basis that a square foot of boiler surface exposed to the direct action of the 
fire will heat 40 feet of 4-inch piping. You must remember, however, that, 
the heat passing over the boiler is not half so effective, perhaps about one- 
third, of that passing under the dome. You would perhaps find useful 
information in Mr. Eawke’s manual on hot-water heating, which can be had 
from this office in return for Is. 2d. in postage stamps. 
Samples of Vine Wood (IV. J.). —The Muscat of Alexandria growth is of 
good average quality, being moderately strong, firm, matured, with little pith 
and good buds. The cane may be left a length of 6 feet, taking care to 
insure the lower buds breaking freely, syringing occasionally, and if requisite 
training the cane in a horizontal position. The Black Hamburgh wood is 
also in condition to bear good Grapes, but being weaker than the others not 
more than 4 feet should be left. The Alnwick Seedling rod we should shorten 
quite to the base of the rafter if not below it, and the pruning of all should 
be done at once. Do not attempt to crop heavily next year, and permit no 
crowding of the foliage. There is no doubt that under ordinary circumstances 
that Vines make considerable growth before there is any root-extension ; but, 
as in your experiment, when placed in bottom heat root-movement commences 
with the swelling of the buds. We are glad to hear of your success and that 
our advice has been useful. 
Packing Roses and Deciduous Shrubs for Tasmania (A Fifteen - 
years Subscriber.).— The present time is the most suitable for dispatching 
such plants on their voyage as they would travel well now and arrive at 
their destination at a convenient time for planting. Strong wooden 
boxes should be obtained for the purpose, and could be readily made 
by a carpenter of any requisite size. The roots of the plants should 
be surrounded by soil, clay, and moss, and bound securely with 
matting. They can then be placed in rows either along the bottom or side* 
of the box, each row being secured in position by a batten nailed to the side 
or bottom of the box. They are thus rendered practically immoveable. 
Thoroughly moisten the soil, but allow all that is superfluous to escape 
before screwing the lid on. A few holes may be bored in the sides, but these 
should be protected with large and strong pieces of perforated zinc, or rats 
may prove very injurious. The case when complete must have the directions 
painted legibly upon it, also with the request that it be placed in a cool 
portion of the hold, and the plants will need no attention whatever during 
the voyage. We heard recently of a consignment of Roses sent in this 
manner to Australia, which arrived in excellent condition. You will, we 
presume, send them by steamer and not by a sailing ship. 
Arranging Pipes (Bosa). —In consequence of the great numbers of letters 
we receive pertaining to such a diversity of subjects it is next to impossible 
for us to keep in mind the particulars of a case conveyed in a former letter, 
and as it is our practice to destroy questions as soon as they are answered we 
have nothing to refer to. You ask “ how many through pipes for steam ” 
you should have ? We presume you mean pipes with troughs on them for 
holding water. So far as we remember your case one would be ample, and 
even it would not need to have water in it always, as quite sufficient moisture 
would be provided by syringing the house and damping the walls and paths. 
The pipes will do very well placed side by side, the flow rising gently from 
and the return falling steadily to the boiler. If the incline is very great a 
continuous evaporating trough the entire length would obviously be of little 
use, and it would be better to have some moveable zinc troughs about 4 feet 
long, for fixing on the pipes when and where required. Ttie pipes may be 
