June 29, 1882.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
545 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, and 
should never send more than two or three questions at once. All 
articles intended 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. 
To Correspondents. —AVe are compelled to postpone the publication of 
replies to several letters until next week. 
Mildew on Peaches (T. Hinds'). —As sulphur has failed to destroy the 
mildew try the effects of Ewing’s composition or paraffin and soapsuds, half a 
wineglassful of the former to a gallon of the latter. Your trees, however, 
appear to require fresh soil, and will never be satisfactory until they have it. 
Vine Roots Dying (IF. /.).—Gas lime used in excess would cause the 
injury of which you submit an example. AVe should remove a portion of the 
soil just down to the roots without disturbing them, and add a top-dressing of 
decayed manure ; this if kept moist would quickly induce the emission of roots, 
which might aid the Vines to mature a fair crop of Grapes. Immediately the 
crop were cut we should remove the soil, and place the roots in suitable 
compost. 
Camellia Unsatisfactory (Subscriber).—It the “barking” is only pre¬ 
sent on the stems where the leaves are yellow it is the result of a lack of vigour, 
and not the cause of the discoloured leaves. The bark has simply shrivelled 
and decayed in places, and possibly the young shoots have been scorched. If 
the bark is healthy where the leaves are green shorten the sickly shoots to good 
buds, and with proper treatment the succeeding growths will probably be 
healthy. 
Roses Injured (A. II.).—We. believe the injury has been caused by birds 
in their search for insects. If there were aphides on the stems you may be 
certain this was the case. AA’e have seen numbers of Carnation flowers broken 
off as the result of birds picking off the insects and injuring the flower stems. 
AVhen the insects were destroyed the birds ceased their nibbling and no more 
flowers were broken. Apply a solution of softsoap and tobacco water or quassia 
water to the stems and the injury will cease. 
Strawberry Depredators (S/roud). —AVe know of one gardener who has 
great trouble with field mice, which take the fruit in large quantities and cause 
much annoyance. AVhether it is the mice that gather the fruits in your case, 
pile them in heaps, and eat out the seeds, we are unable to say ; neither do we 
know whether hedgehogs, of which you have several, ai-e addicted to such prac¬ 
tices. Perhaps some of our readers can give information on the subject of which 
you complain. AVhatever the pilferers may be they are not bad judges, as they 
only select the British Queen for storing, leaving the other varieties untouched. 
Rose of Sharon (Mrs. Lacy). —You were not likely to find this plant in 
Rose catalogues, as it is not a Rose at all. In many districts the St. John’s 
AVort, Hypericum calycinum, is known as the Rose of Sharon. It is a hardy 
plant of rather trailing habit, growing about a foot high, and bearing large 
yellow flowers with numerous prominent stamens. It is useful for covering 
dry banks in pleasure grounds and for planting under trees, as few plants 
flourish better in the shade than this does, but flowers are not produced so 
freely as in an open position. 
Vines not Bearing (IF. A. B.). —Judging by the specimens sent the 
growth of your Vine is over-luxuriant, and the wood has not been matured. 
Are not the laterals too crowded ? AA'e suspect they are, but you do not say 
anything relative to the distances of the A r ines apart and the laterals on the 
rods. If every leaf is fully exposed to the light we should certainly expect 
such growths as the one before us to produce fruit. Train the growths thinly, and 
do not prune closely in winter if the canes are very strong. Had you stated the 
particulars we have indicated, and y'our method of winter pruning, we could 
probably have given a more satisfactory reply. The foliage is very fine and 
clean, and the A'ines ought to bear good fruit, and will do so under proper 
management. 
Phlomis fruticoaa (Bedford).— The plant, of which you send a specimen, 
is commonly known as the Jerusalem Sage, and it succeeds well in any ordinary 
garden soil of moderate depth. It’also succeeds well on a rockery, and when 
well established it is a most ornamental plant in such a position. 
Summer-pruning Currants (Notts Vicar).— You are quite right; it is 
not necessary, and would be injurious, to prune Black Currants in summer the 
same as is advised for the red and white varieties. Even some thought must be 
exercised in pruning these, especially when the work has been deferred until 
the bushes are crowded with growths, and the weather at the same time is hot 
and dry. To prune very severely under those circumstances is a mistake, as the 
great check given to the sap and the sudden exposure of the fruit to the sun 
may cause it to ripen prematurely, and be consequently small. AVe once saw the 
fruit shrivel on some bushes that had been too closely pruned during very hot 
weather. A great portion of the breastwood may be removed without unduly 
exposing the fruit. If three or four good leaves are left at the base of each 
shoot they will be sufficient for every purpose; but if pruning is long post¬ 
poned the lower leaves are imperfect, and fall off when the shoots are closely 
shortened. The terminal growth may also be shortened to a length of about 
9 inches. If the work is done with thought and care the bushes will be bene¬ 
fited by being pruned in summer. A few growths may occasionally with 
advantage be thinned out of Black Currant bushes that aie likely to be much 
crow'ded, but this is seldom necessary when they are growing in open positions 
where there is a free circulation of air. 
The Old Yellow Rose (Lady Mary Gordon). —The blooms you have 
sent are, we believe, of the true old yellow Rose. Rosa sulphurea, and you are 
acting wisely to preserve and increase it. Parkinson in his “Paradisus,” pub¬ 
lished upwards of 250 years aeo, says:—“ The double yellow Rose, first was pro¬ 
cured to be brought into England, by Master Nicholas Lete, a worthy Merchant 
of London, and a great loner of flowers, from Constantinople, w'hich (as wee 
heare) was first brought thither from Syria ; but perished quickly both with 
him, and with all other to whom hee imparted it; yet afterwards it was sent to 
Master Iohn de Franqueuille, a Merchant also of London, and a great louer of 
all rare plants, as well as flowers, from which is sprung the greatest store, that 
is now flourishing in this Kingdome.” AVe have previously explained that the 
term “ sulphurea ” does not sufficiently represent the colour of the flower, w'hich 
is almost as bright as the yellow Crocus. Even if it is scentless it is neverthe¬ 
less desirable that this distinct old Rose be increased, as it is, perhaps, the 
brightest and fullest of all yellow Roses. 
Auriculas Lord Lome and Duke of Argyle (Alfred).— Mr. Douglas, 
and we know of no better authority, writes as follows on these varieties :— 
“ These are two reds, or reddish crimson seifs raised by Mr. Campbell of Falkirk. 
They have both mealed foliage, that of the Duke being much smaller than that 
of Lord Lome ; the Duke is also very slow to increase. I obtained a plant of 
Lord Lome, and in three years our stock of it was not less than thirty plants. 
In three years a plant of Duke of Argyle has not produced one offset. The 
last named is certainly the best, the colour is richer and darker, the flowers 
being better formed. Lord Lome will give from twelve to tw'enty flowers on a 
truss, while the Duke has seldom more than six or eight. Mr. Campbell was 
very proud, as well he might be, of his crimson seifs. AVhen I saw him about 
seven or eight years ago he was anxiously trying to obtaiu a crimson-coloured 
Auricula with green foliage, but he has evidently not been successful. I have 
also tried, but have failed, to obtain a really good one. Duke of Argyle ought to 
be surpassed in its colour, as the petals are notched, which is a serious fault. 
Mr. Simonite of Sheffield exhibited a better crimson at South Kensington, for 
which he had a first-class certificate ; it is as good a colour as Campbell’s best 
variety, and the petals are not notched.” 
Ventilating Vinery (Gardener ).—It is utterly impossible for anyone to 
state a time for opening and closing vineries. The principle of ventilating has 
been frequently advanced, and detailed instructions, such as you require, given 
in our “Work for the Week” columns. Mr. Taylor has also recently referred to 
the subject with great minuteness. Read what he has said on “ Giving Air,” 
and adopt the same practice. We can only say briefly that the moment the 
temperature commences rising in the morning a little air should be admitted, 
increasing the ventilation in advance of the increasing heat until the maximum 
day temperature is reached ; and when the heat commences declining in the 
afternoon reduce the ventilation, so that the maximum heat is maintained as 
long as possible, closing the house as soon as you can, provided the temperature 
afterwards does not exceed 85°. The precise time for opening depends entirely 
on the weather and the aspect of the vinery. 
Laxton’s Pioneer Strawberry (Thickhead ).—You say the answer we 
gave to a correspondent on page 479 does not satisfy you. Possibly not, but 
“ G. P.,” for whom it was intended, has not expressed his dissatisfaction. As 
written descriptions, however accurate they may be, do not appear to make even 
Fig. 109. 
a simple subject clear to all, we make an effort especially for you, to represent 
this Strawberry intelligibly. If you examine the illustration and read again the 
description you will possibly comprehend. You would, perhaps, also like to read 
what Mr. I.axton has said from his experience gained two years ago :—“ My 
Pioneer is the largest and finest of all the early varieties, immediately succeeding 
Amy Robsart, and I think will be found a great advance on Keens’ Seedling. 
From many quarters I hear it is rapidly gaining in favour both as a garden, 
market, and forcing Strawberry. I send you a fruit gathered a few days after 
the first of Amy Robsart, weighing 1 oz. 5 drachms, and exactly 3 inches in 
diameter. There is a Strawberry, received from Messrs. Ellwanger A Barry, of 
Rochester, N.Y., raised by Mr. Durand, also named Pioneer. It has also a great 
reputation in the United States as an early variety, but it has not yet fruited 
W'ith me.” The engraving is of the fruit referred to, but all the fruits do not 
assume this shape any more than all the Keens’ Seedlings grow conical. AVhat 
a curious pseudonym you have adopted ! 
Syringing Vines (A. C .).—No particular method of treatment is appli¬ 
cable to all cases and all districts. AVe have grown Grapes for years without 
systematic syringings and without red spider, but we damped the vineries 
twice or thrice a day according to the weather, and gave the A'ines a few very 
heavy syringings during the season to cleanse the foliage from accumulations 
of soot and dust that found their way to the leaves. In some districts in which 
red spider abounds some thoroughly' competent Grape-growers find syringing 
essential; but we have no hesitation in saying that more injury is done by 
too frequent syringings than too few, and we are convinced the atmosphere of 
many vineries is kept too moist. A close and damp atmosphere encourages 
mildew, and especially if the A'ines are also dry at the roots. AVe cannot name 
the Strawberry, the fruits were much injured in transit. 
Names of Fruit (H. S .).—It is almost too much to expect us to name 
green Gooseberries without informing us of the colour of the fruit when ripe. 
AVe think, however, we are able to identify the variety as Massey’s Heart of Oak, 
of which the following is the description in the “ Fruit Manual : Large and 
oblong, tapering to the stalk. Skin thin, green, with yellowish veins ; rich and 
excellent. Bush pendulous, and an abundant bearer. 
Names of Plants (IF. II. Myers ).—AVe have many times stated that our 
rule is only to name six specimeas at once, and such poor examples as you have sent 
are difficult to identify. If you send more Grasses please let them be larger and 
