June 8, 1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
479 
debilitated—and of their age you say nothing—we fear we cannot state the cause 
of their unsatisfactory condition. Your letter would indicate, however, that 
the root-action is either defective or the trees do not obtain the support they 
need from the border. They grow for a time and then fail. Are you sure the 
soil is sufficiently moist, not on the surface but quite through the border ? We 
advise you to examine it thoroughly, and if it is in the least dry to give very 
copious applications of liquid manure. If we have not indicated the source of 
the evil we advise you to invite an experienced gardener to see the trees, and 
consult with him as to the best method to pursue under the circumstances. 
White-leaved Beech (./. Chirk). —The leaves you have sent are nearly 
destitute of chlorophyll, are very thin in texture, and have nn unhealthy appear¬ 
ance; their sickly hue, however, may be partly the result of withering in 
transit. If the tree grows freely, and is in a healthy not a debilitated state, it 
will undoubtedly be most effective in pleasure grounds, as a tree “ appearing 
as if covered with snow” cannot fail to contrast strikingly with the green 
foliage by which it is surrounded. Y T ou do not state the age of the tree. If it 
is healthy in character, and as free in growth as the normal green form, your 
white Beech will be an acquisition ; if not free and hardy it will possess little 
or no value. 
Specimen Begonias (A. B. C.). — We presume you allude to plants of the 
tuberous varieties, but you do not say so. The points to aim at are stout 
short-jointed stems clothed with foliage of the darkest hue, which should partly 
hang over the pots. Each stem should be supported by a stake, and the flowers 
should be numerous, large, of great substance and clear in colour. It is not 
necessary to peg down the growths, and attempts to do so might arrest their 
growth. The plants form natural bushes, and can be produced in an agreeable 
form by the aid of a few stakes. They like rich soil and a rather moist atmo¬ 
sphere, such as maybe produced by keeping the medium on which the pots stand 
constantly moist; and they succeed admirably with the pots plunged in ashes 
or cocoa-nut fibre refuse, in a house or frame having a night temperature of 60°, 
falling to 55° in the morning, abundance of air admitted during the day, and 
plenty of water afforded always. 
American Blight (./. P., Dublin). —You ask if we have had complaints of 
the unusual prevalence of this insect during the present season. As yet we 
have not of the plague being greater than in former years, but we have observed 
it in far too great abundance on many trees. You attribute the prevalence of 
the pest to the last very mild winter ; but while this may have bad some effect 
in increasing the numbers of insects in your district we have seen them, we 
think, quite as abundant as they are now after a severe winter. The winter is 
the time for eradicating the pest, as stronger applications of paraffin or other 
insecticides can be given to the trees when they are destitute of foliage than at 
the present time. Try the effects of petroleum at the rate of 2 ozs. to a gallon 
of water, but mixed with warm soapsuds, and oblige us with the results of the 
application. 
Stimulants for Roses (M. E. II.). —You say you cannot obtain liquid 
manure and ask for a substitute. Y'ou can readily make liquid manure by mix¬ 
ing some good guano with water at the rate of half an ounce to a gallon, and 
you may use it immediately. A convenient method is to mix a thumb-potfnl of 
guano in a garden pot holding 3 or 4 gallons of water and pour at once copiously 
around the trees. Another plan is to sprinkle guano, bonemeal, Clay’s fertiliser, 
or other prepared manure on the soil over the roots at the rate of 2 ozs. per 
square yard and water it in. Such an application would be too strong for many 
flowers, but is not too strong for Roses that need manurial aid. Soot is an ex¬ 
cellent stimulant for Roses in the country; there is fully too much of it in 
towns. 
Naming Plants (Winchester).— Every endeavour is made to name sprays 
of all plants that are sent to us, and, as our columns prove, 90 per cent, of such 
plants have been named, the specimens of which were sufficient for identifica¬ 
tion. Many sprays arrive in such a withered state, or destitute of flowers, that 
it is absolutely impossible for anyone to name them, and if the senders could 
see the state the crushed and withered fragments that reach us they would be 
surprised at their condition. You say the specimens you have sent “must have 
arrived in perfect condition.” We fail to perceive how you could arrive at such 
a positive conclusion, since you only saw them before they were sent off. Had 
they really arrived in “perfect condition" they would have been named, if 
their names were ascertainable, and if they were not the fact would have been 
stated, i-o far from the sprays to which you refer having last sent to us in a 
tin box arriving in perfect" condition, they most certainly never reached our 
hands at all! The cause of the non-delivery of the parcel is, of course, beyond 
our knowledge. We are sorry you have been so unfortunate, but we scarcely 
think the fault is exclusively ours. 
Destroying Slugs ( Amateur , Preston). —There are various modes by which 
they may be reduced in numbers if not extirpated. You say you have picked 
five hundred in a few days; we have killed as many thousands in a week by 
placing small heaps of bran and brewers’ grains at intervals along the borders, 
and a few hours afterwards, towards ten o’clock at night, visiting the heaps, 
which were found covered with the depredators, and these in turn were covered 
with salt. Traps of Cabbage leaves are useful, but only when examined at sun¬ 
rise can any great number of snails be caught. Sprinkling the ground with 
newly slaked lime is serviceable ; but it is time and material wasted when done 
in the daytime after the snails have returned to their haunts. To be effectual 
it must be applied very late at night or very early in the morning when they are 
engaged in a foraging expedition. Old dead lime is of no use whatever for 
destroying slugs. A sprinkling of salt over the entire garden in spring at the 
rate of an ounce to the square yard is beneficial, and stirring the ground fre¬ 
quently between the crops materially checks the movements and ravages of 
slugs. We have not tried paraffin as a sing-destroyer, but do not think half an 
ounce mixed—and it must be well mixed—in a gallon of water would injure 
many plants, while it would almost certainly be distasteful to their enemies. 
Try it cautiously on a few plants of little value at first, and you will soon 
satisfy yourself as to its safety or efficacy. If any of our readers have employed 
paraffin as a slug-destroyer, we shall be glad to hear how they applied it and 
with what results. 
Strawberry Pioneer (G. P., Hants). —The following fairly expresses the 
characters of this 1 trawberry, which was raised by Mr. Laxton, certificated by 
the Royal Horticultural Society, and sent out by Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons of 
Chelsea in 1877. It is a real acquisition among early varieties, being as early as 
La Marguerite, has handsome conical fruit, highly coloured, firm in texture, 
richly flavoured, and with a slight acidity that is very refreshing. Much of the 
fruit has been decidedly above medium size, w ith an occasional very large 
wedge-shaped fruit. The crop is abundant, and the growth of the plants 
vigorous and lobust. It is all the more welcome, supplying as it does a real 
want, for we have hitherto had no really good early Strawberry with large 
fruit that would travel well. As to whether it would be superior to Princess 
Alice Maud for market purposes in your district we cannot say, for varieties 
which are excellent in one county are found unsatisfactory in others, so much 
depending upon the soil and situation. Your best course would be to obtain 
a few plants for trial on a moderate scale at first, which would enable you 
to judge if it is likely to be profitable in that district. 
Cucumbers Diseased (.4. C.). —We fear your plants are attacked with 
the disease about which the late Mr. Fish wrote as follows in 1871 :—“After 
having had my share of the Cucumber disease, and confessing my perfect igno¬ 
rance of the cause or cure, I regret to find that some of the best Cucumber 
growers in the country have been baffled with this disease for several years, 
and, like myself, are as ignorant of the cause as ever. I could do nothing by 
way of remedy, except by sowing and planting often, for by the time a few fruit 
■were produced the disease would appear, and then no treatment was of any use. 
I have had several applications for a remedy. Sorry I am to repeat what I have 
frequently stated—that I know of none, and but one alleviation, and that is fre¬ 
quent planting. I have many suggestions before me as to change of seed and 
soil, composts, temperature, air-giving, watering, &c. All I will say is, it is 
proper to try every means ; but I tried all, and all were in vain. I had seed from 
all parts of the country ; I had maiden loams and soils of all kinds, including 
heath soil pure and unmixed, and all conceivable mixtures of the same; and 
whether in a pit heated by hot water or in a dung-bed frame, in ridges under 
handlights or in the open garden without anything, just when the plants 
began to fruit the spot on the leaf, and sometimes a gummy exudation from the 
fruit, would appear, and then all was about over.” We regret that we are unable 
to recommend any other remedy than that which we adopted ourselves and the 
practice of another cultivator. We emptied the house of every particle of soil, 
burnt sulphur in it, washed every portion of the brickwork with hot limewash, 
painted the woodwork, and used soil for growing the plants less rich and in less 
quantity than before. Dressing the affected parts with charcoal dust we have 
found of benefit; and Mr. Cooling of Derby, who used to grow Cucumbers ex¬ 
tensively for seed, informed us that he had quite checked this form of disease 
by dusting the plants and also the bed frequently and freely with Amies’ 
manure. This fertiliser, being a dry powdery substance, would, we presume, 
have the same effect on Mr. Cooling’s plants as crushed charcoal had on ours, 
and you might well try the remedy ; it could not possibly do harm, and might 
do good. You might also try the plan of growing the plants in large pots, but 
the roots permitted to pass over and through them into very rough soil, as 
practised so successfully by Mr. Coleman at Eastuor Castle, as referred to on 
page 336 in our issue of November 1st, 1877. The Cucumber-root disease is 
illustrated on page 34 of this Journal, the issue of January 4th, 1875, which can 
be had in return for 3,jd. in stamps, sent to the publisher, asking him to forward 
No. 720. The disease as attacking the leaves and fruit is referred to in Nos. 524, 
526, 529, 530, 532, 534, and 536. These numbers, or any of them, can be bad at 
the price above quoted, ojnf. each. Manetti stocks can be had from most 
nurseries where Roses are largely grown. 
Names of Plants (C. D .).—Limnanthes Douglasii. (I V.B.M.). —1, Briza 
media; 2, Dactylis glomerata; 4, Alopecurus pratensis; 6, Authoxanthum 
odoratum ; 7, Holcus mollis; 9, Lolium perenne; 3, 5, and 8 are insufficient. 
(T. J. S.).— Diplacus glutinosus. (E. II. II. V .)—The Candytuft is Iberia cori- 
folia. The “ Nemophila ” is Limnanthes Douglasii grandiflora, a Californian 
annual. (E. J. Day). —We only found a mass of loose petals in the box with 
the leaf, and the Rose cannot consequently be identified. The leaf resembles 
that of the Banksian Rose. (A. J. Brown). —Mesembryanthemum Haworthi. 
(X. L.). —1, Saxifraga muscoides atropurpurea ; 2, Sedum carneum ; 3, Gentiana 
acaulis ; 4, Erinus alpinus ; 5, Anthericum liliastrum. (IK. R. T.). —1, Orchis 
maculata; 2, Cystopteris fragilis ; 3, Bromus sterilis ; 4, Holcus lanatus ; 5, 
Veronica gentianoides ; 6, Musspeuda frondosa. ( R ., Kent). —1, Odontoglo3sum 
vexillarium; 2, Oncidium macranthum ; 3, Restrepia antennifera ; 4, Masde- 
vallia Harryana. ( Watford). —Claytonia perfoliata, (/. D.). —1, Cerasus lusi- 
tanica ; 2,1 Campanula glomerata ;J 3, Polemonium cceruleum album ; 4, 
Asperula odorata. 
“Rational Bee-keeping” (Zenas). —Mr. Abbott of Fairlawn, Southall, 
will be the publisher of a translation of Dr. Dzierzon’s work on “ Rational Bee¬ 
keeping ; ” when it will issue from the press we do not know, but should pre¬ 
sume very soon. The work has been translated by Mr. S. Stutterd of Banbury. 
Returning Cast—Colour of Comb—Killing Drones (Mrs. TK., 
Walton-on-Thames ).—A third swarm or second cast in no way differs in character 
from the one preceding it, and requires the same management precisely. V hen 
after-swarms are returned they not unfrequently reissue on the succeeding day. 
Indeed, sometimes they wear out the patience of the bee-keeper by coming forth 
after having been put back three or four times. Repeated casting usually 
destroys all hope of profit from the parent stock for the year, but the casts will, 
if well cared for, ultimately make capital colonies. Wax differs slightly in 
colour, according to the character of the honey the bees are gathering at the 
time of its secretion. Orchard tree honey often gives a wax of darkish hue, and 
this may account for the observed difference. Does it arise from brood being 
raised in the supers ? If so, the brown pupae cases would easily be detected if the 
comb be examined. The destruction of drones merely means that honey is not 
flowing freely, and that present circumstances would not warrant anj intention 
of swarming ; but this does not involve that the bees certainly will not swarm 
this season. Drones are frequently destroyed, and afterwards a new batch raised 
in the course of the same summer. Indeed, a second slaughter is occasionally 
followed by a third batch. The weather has lately been unfavourable, and care 
should be taken that the bees are not in need. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET—JUNE 7TII. 
Our market has been largely supplied during the week, and with a slight 
reduction goods have been re dily cleared. English Pines are now in demand. 
Grapes dull. 
FRUIT. 
Apples. 
Apricots. 
Ditto . 
Cherries. 
Chestnuts. 
Currants, Black.. 
„ Red.... 
Figs. 
Filberts. 
Cobs. 
Gooseberries .... 
} sieve 
8. 
0 
d. s. 
OtoO 
d. 
0 
Grapes . 
ft. 
8. 
2 
d. 8. 
0 to4 
box 
2 
0 
2 
6 
L^nions. 
case 
15 
u 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Melons. 
each 
4 
0 
5 
n>. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines. 
dozen 
12 
0 
15 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges . 
100 
4 
0 
0 
£ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
dozen 15 
0 
20 
\ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
dozen 
8 
0 
10 
0 
dessert. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
tb. 
0 
9 
0 
0 
Pine Apples, Eng 
lish ft. 
3 
0 
4 
100 It. 
45 
0 
50 
0 
Strawberries ... 
lb. 
2 
0 
G 
j sieve 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Walnuts . 
bushel 
7 
0 
8 
