476 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 12, 188-1. 
North America, and is one of the most elegant of wild flowers. It delights 
in retired shady woods, groves, and hedges, and flowers in April and May. 
It was called by the old herbalists Alleluja, and Cuckoo’s Meat, because, as 
Gerard says, “ when it springeth forth, the cuckoo singeth most; at which 
time also Alleluya was wont to he sung in our churches.” But Alleluja is 
merely a corruption of the Calabrian name Juliola. The whole plant has a 
grateful acid taste, much more so than the common Sorrel, and is on that 
account used in salads and in sauces. In Lapland it is so plentiful that 
Linnaeus says the inhabitants of that country take scarcely any other vege¬ 
table food than Sorrel and Angelica. The expressed juice of the plant is 
employed to remove spots and iron-moulds from linen, and this it does by 
the great quantity of binoxalate of potassa which it contains. Twenty pounds 
of the fresh leaves have been found to yield 6 lbs. of juice, from which 2 ozs. 
2 drachms, and 1 scruple of salt, besides 2 ozs. and C drachms of an impure 
saline mass are obtained, and is sold under the name of salt of sorrel and 
essential salt of lemons. It is prepared in Switzerland and Germany from 
different species of Oxalis and Rumex. 
Cutting-down Yew Hedge (G . F.).—We once had a similar hedge to 
deal with, and cut it partially down at first, but, as we anticipated, this did 
not answer. We then cut off the branches close to the stems of the trees, 
for stunted trees they really were, removed the old soil from the roots, 
thoroughly saturated the dry ground, added fresh soil, with a surfacing of 
rich manure. Fresh growths were then produced from the stems and a 
healthy hedge formed. Whether your hedge is too much exhausted for 
renovation we have no means of knowing, but we are convinced it will not 
be improved by the “ half-shortening ” you suggest as the alternate plan. 
Pruning Plum Trees {Idem). —Plums do not bear on young wood with 
the same freedom as Peaches do, nevertheless they will bear on short-jointed 
well-matured shoots of the previous year’s growth. It is very easy to err, 
however, in securing too many of these to the wall, thus overcrowding the 
foliage, which is a sure way to prevent the formation of blossom buds. The 
trees bear admirably on spurs and on hard stubby shoots from 4 to 6 inches 
in length, that never fail to form on our trees when the stronger growths 
are pinched. There is no objection whatever to securing some of the 
young growths to the wall when there is ample room between the main 
branches for the leaves to develope without overlapping those on the 
spurs. Subject to the careful avoidance of overcrowding, the com¬ 
bination of young wood and spurs may with safety be adopted, as this 
system properly carried out is productive of good crops of fruit. The pre¬ 
cise method to adopt, however, depends on the condition of the trees. We 
have trees in the most satisfactory bearing state that are managed on the 
spur system exclusively, and others, with which we find it advantageous to 
lay in some young wood annually, removing unfruitful portions at the 
winter pruning; in fact, many are removed in the summer, but an expe¬ 
rienced eye is requisite for determining which to remove and which retain. 
Various {Cambridge). —We cannot understand your failure to obtain seed 
of the Virginian Tobacco from any of the firms you name, except on the 
assumption that you did not apply soon enough. We find it in the catalogue 
of Messrs. Carter & Co., and also under the exact names we gave in that of 
Messrs. Veitch & Sons of Chelsea, and we shall be surprised if it is not 
procurable from the principal seed firm in the town near which you reside. 
We are not able to state whence you can obtain plants, as we know of no 
nurserymen who raise them for sale. We have, however, written to a 
gardener who grows Tobacco for fumigating, and if he has any surplus 
plants he will send you a few. This is all we can do in the matter. It is, 
for obvious reasons, contrary to our established rule to recommend the seeds 
of any particular dealer as the “ bestand as you wish to have the “ very 
best strain ” that is procurable of the flowers you name, your only certain 
course of succeeding is to procure a packet of seed from each of those dealers 
who offer special strains, select the best flowers from the whole of them, and 
from those save seed. By no other means can you secure the “ very best 
strain,” as flowers equally good are obtained from the seed of the different 
growers who pay special attention in the selection of varieties for producing 
it. We will endeavour to procure you the information you need for your 
carpet bed. You have deferred your request, however, so long as to render 
it impossible for us to state this w T eek whether we should succeed or not in 
our desire to assist you in the matter. 
Culture of Abutilons {South Wilts ).—Your plants have either been kept 
too cold, or they have not had the support they need for keeping them 
healthy. Some time ago a successful cultivator of these plants wrote as 
follows :—To grow Abutilons for producing flowers in large quantities they 
should be planted out against a pillar, rafter, or where they can cover a wall. 
Standards grown in large pots or tubs are also very effective in large con¬ 
servatories. These plants flower almost the whole year if properly and 
liberally treated. When plants have attained a fair size in either pots or 
tubs they require liberal feeding and rich top-dressings frequently to keep 
them healthy, otherwise the foliage turns sickly, the w'ood becomes hard, 
and the flowers are few in number. Plants can also be flowered well in 
4 and 5-inch pots. They thrive well under greenhouse and cool-frame treat¬ 
ment during the summer months, but will not flourish so well in the green¬ 
house during winter as in a house that is kept a little warmer. They do 
fairly well in conservatories where the temperature is not allowed to fall 
below 45° by night; but bettei - , and continue to grow and flower with greater 
freedom, in an intermediate house where the temperature is maintained 
between 50° and 55°, according to external conditions. To maintain a 
succession during winter and spring two batches should be propagated—one 
in July, and the other towards the end of August or early in September. 
It is useless to propagate for this purpose earlier, as the plants only become 
tall. The cuttings should be inserted in thumb pots, as every one will root 
if placed in close handlights in Cucumber and Melon houses, and kept 
shaded from strong sun. As soon as the young plants are rooted they must 
be gradually accustomed to cool treatment; in fact, we generally have ours 
in a cold frame by the time they are ready for 4 or 5-inch pots, and the only 
shift the plants get after they have filled the small pots in which they are 
rooted. This batch we grow in cold frames as long as the weather will 
allow us to do so without checking the plants. Growth from the time of 
rooting is slow, and the plants are sturdy and strong with fine foliage down 
to the rims of the pots. We give preference to good strong cuttings, such 
as can be obtained by removing the ends of leading shoots, and then the 
plants are well furnished from the commencement. They seldom lose then 
foliage in the operation of rooting if judiciously treated. While growing 
Abutilons must not suffer by the want of water, and when the pots are full 
of roots libera] feeding must be resorted to. Stimulants should be given 
every time watering is necessary, by which means the plants are kept in a 
healthy vigorous condition. Good loam, to which is added one-seventh of 
manure, with sufficient sand to keep the whole porous, will grow them well- 
If this reply does not meet your requirements please write again, and 
describe the conditions under which your plants are grown. 
Cucumbers Diseased {G. B.). —If your plants are affected with what is 
known as the “ fruit form ” of the “ disease,” we fear you will find it difficult 
to extirpate. Mr. Taylor succeeded in banishing it from Longleat by what 
he termed “ isolation.” “ Plants were raised and grown in an old house quite 
away from those in which the disease was rife ; the attendant had his separate 
waterpots, &c. ; he procured water from a different source, and had nothing 
to do with the houses where the diseased plants were. The first isolated 
stock of plants did very well, and we started another lot for the summer on 
a dung bed. This was also kept isolated from the Cucumber house proper 
with the same result. The house in which the diseased plants had been 
growing w T as fumigated with sulphur, every part that could be reached was 
scalded with boiling water, the walls were limewashed, the woodwork 
painted, and the house remained clear of Cucumbers for four or five months, 
during which time no disease was seen on the place. The result was plants 
in full bearing in the most perfect condition.” Another correspondent, 
Mr. T. Weaver, wrote on this subject last year. “I had some experience 
with this much-dreaded pest a few years ago in a garden where Cucumbers 
were in great demand. It was then August, and every probable remedy had 
been tried that could be thought of—viz., new soils and fresh seed obtained 
from a source where there was no Cucumber disease ; but the results were 
that as soon as the first fruits were seen the disease appeared. Cucumbers 
were, however, wanted winter and summer, so after trying all remedies by 
day we determined to begin by night. Fumigating with tobacco paper three 
nights in succession was tried, the atmosphere being kept drier and the tem¬ 
perature higher. After three or four nights fumigating was again tried. 
This treatment was carried on for about three weeks. The plants were then 
carefully examined, and all spotted leaves and gummed fruits removed, a top¬ 
dressing of fresh soil being applied. The result was that the plants started 
growing freely, and produced a very fair crop of fruit for Christmas and on 
till February, quite free from spot or gum. After that I always kept a sharp 
look-out for the first spot, and if any was seen the fumigator was placed in 
the house two hours after dark. The two following seasons Cucumbers w’ere 
cut by hundreds without a spot. I feel sure if your correspondent will try 
the above cure next season he will not suffer from this troublesome P es t- 1 
may add that I have not seen any traces of it for over three years. ’ The 
“ correspondent ” alluded to was Mr. Harding of Orton Hall, who had to 
battle with the disease in its most inveterate form. He found that.raising 
the temperature of the house 10° had a beneficial effect. We believe his 
plants are now clean, and we shall be glad if he will state to what he mainly 
attributes the banishment of the disease. 
Names of Insects {JR. C., Sevenoaks). —Your No. 1 is a beetle, one of those 
called rove or cocktail beetles, Staphylinus fuscus. In habit they are 
predatory, and remarkable for their very short wing cases ; though possessing 
wings, they rarely fly. No. 2 is one of the tiger beetles, Cincindila cam- 
pestris. These are insects of rapid flight by day ; the larvae or grubs 
excavate holes in sandy places, into which they drag and devour such smaller 
insects as they can secure. The other specimen, No. 3, is the larva, 
seemingly, of Agriotes linearis, another beetle, and a species which is 
occasionally found about gardens; the larva is a subterranean feeder, but 
does not cause any serious damage to plants. Such is, however, caused by 
the wireworms of the genus Elater ; and the insect, of which you add a 
description, is probably one of these, though we cannot speak positively. 
Names of Plants {G. JR. and J. S. B.). —The Whitebeam, Pyrus Aria 
{J. IF., Essex). —1, Sedum carneum variegatum ; 2, Diplacus glutinosus. 
Both are greenhouse plants, but the former will grow well out of doors 
in the summer months. ( L. IF.).—The Laburnum is Cytisus Adami, concern¬ 
ing which some information was given last week. The other is Mespilus 
Smithi, or Smith’s Medlar. The specimen sent this time was a much better 
one than the last, and we are in consequence enabled to give you the correct 
name. {J. J., Lancashire). —1, Pescatorea bella ; 2, Dendrobium crassinode ; 
3, Oncidium carthaginense. {G. IF. C.). —The white-flowered Orchid is 
Dendrobium mesochlorum. (IF. J., Doncaster). —1, Lmaria Cymbalaria ; 
2, Corydalis lutea ; 3, Cornus mascula variegata; 4, Aspho.delus luteus ; 
5, Saxifraga granulata flore-pleno. {JR. A. P .).— Negundo fraxinifolium. 
Honeycomb in Sections (J. S .).—From the fact of your queens being two 
years old it is almost impossible to prevent swarming. Young queens with 
large breeding space are the only sure means to prevent swarming. If your 
straw hives have less breeding space than from 1G00 to 1800 superficial 
inches double side comb they are too small, and should be eked to that size, 
then the sections placed as supers, tiered one above another in crates, keeping 
the bees constantly at work by adding an additional tier as the previous one 
is well begun. If the frame hives are too small place a crate filled with 
frames above the stock. The outer frames of this crate should be for sections, 
but you would find more satisfaction and profit were you to swarm the hive 
(as swarms always work more eagerly than non-swarmers), and double or 
join two swarms together, then when two-thirds filled with comb add supers 
or sections. We shall shortly publish notes that will be useful to you, and 
apiarian articles will appear from time to time equal in interest and possess¬ 
ing at least the same practical value as any that have appeared in the past. 
You will not find anything of the same nature in the other paper to which 
you allude. We are obliged by your letter. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— June 11th. 
BUSINESS somewhat improved, with no alteration in prices. 
