106 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 2, 1883 
Lycoperdon giganteum ( W. E.). —The fungus is a small example of the 
Giant Puffball, Lycoperdon giganteum, which is common in some pastures 
and meadows near London and a few other districts. It is edible, and 
esteemed by some fungologists as a great delicacy when cut in slices, peeled, 
and fried in butter after dipping them in yolk of egg. They should be 
gathered young for this purpose, whilst the substance is white and pulpy. 
When yellow stems appear it is unfitted for eating. 
Prunella vulgaris (71 L .).—The weed is popularly known as Self-heal, 
and botanically as Prunella vulgaris, being a member of the family Labiate- 
The best mode of destroying it is by forking it up now and removing from 
the land, also hoeing frequently in the spring. It often appears in lawns, 
and if very abundant the only course that can be adopted is to dig it up, 
relevel the ground, and sow fresh well-cleaned seed. The name Self-heal is 
derived, according to Parkinson, from the fact that “ in France and Germany 
it is a common proverb that they need neither physician to cure the inward 
diseases, nor chirurgeon to help them that have Prunella at hand to use.” 
Pit for Melons (J. T. S.). —As we understand your case, the flue you 
name will be in the pit and under the bed for affording bottom heat, the 
sides of the return flue being intended to supply top heat. We do not think 
you would have sufficient atmospheric heat by this plan. Perhaps, however, 
you mean that the flue is to be in the centre of the pit for giving top heat, 
the sides of the return flue being intended to heat the bed. In this case there 
would not be sufficient bottom heat. In a case of this kind a plan of the 
house drawn to scale, the position of the flue being indicated, is requisite for 
the matter to be clearly understood. Melons can be grown very well with 
the aid of flues, but the flues must be well constructed, and sound judgment 
exercised in the management of the plants both as regards moisture in the 
soil and atmosphere. 
Propagating Tropaeolmns (Idem). —The variety Ball of Fire is very 
good and most easily propagated. Cuttings inserted in pots of sandy soil 
in August, kept moist, close, and shaded for a time to prevent flagging, will 
speedily emit roots. The young plants may either be potted off, one in the 
centre of a 3-inch pot, or three round the sides of a 4J-inch, or they may 
remain in the store pots until spring. A shelf in a greenhouse from which 
frost is excluded will be suitable for them in the winter. When growth 
commences in the spring the plants may be topped and the cuttings rooted 
in heat, any required number being provided in a very short time. Until 
the cuttings are rooted the soil must be constantly moist, but in winter only 
sufficient water should be given to prevent flagging. Avoid, however, mere 
surface sprinklings while the roots may be dry below, or the plants will 
inevitably decay. Choose short-jointed firm growths for cuttings, which 
may be about 4 inches long, pinching out all flower buds as they appear 
after the cuttings are inserted. 
Raspberries Luxuriant (J. if.).—You do not say that all the canes have 
branched in the manner you describe, and if they have not retain the most 
promising of those that are short-jointed and essentially of a fruit-bearing 
nature, cutting the exuberant growths away. If all the canes are as you 
describe, then you must thin-out the laterals, retaining the best, as ifyou cut 
them all off you will seriously impair your next season’s crop. It is not the 
best plan to secure growths of this kind vertically to stakes and shorten the 
canes to the orthodox height of 4 feet, as by this practice the best fruit¬ 
bearing portions are cut away. It is far better to train the canes thinly, so 
as to form a hedge by securing them obliquely to stakes driven between 
those now supporting the plants. The finest crop of fruit we have seen this 
year was on canes trained as described, and from 8 to 9 feet long. Had they 
been shortened to half that length there would not have been half so many 
Raspberries. 
Cropping under Trees (Idem).—In the fruit gardens in the Thames 
valley the land is constantly cropped with vegetables and flowers, and by the 
free use of manure the fruit trees continue in a healthy free-bearing state for 
generations. If you had grown early instead of late Potatoes they would 
have been cleared in time for sowing grass seeds, but as you have grown late 
kinds you cannot sow until the spring—the end of March or beginning of 
April. It is for you to consider whether to take crops of early Potatoes'next 
year, or have strong Cabbage and Lettuce plants ready for planting as soon 
as the Potatoes are cleared off, manuring for these crops, which would be off 
the ground in time for sowing grass se~eds in August. Had you stated the 
size of the trees and the distance they are planted our reply might perhaps 
have been more satisfactory. 
Peaches under Glass (P. C.).— You ask if we “ consider that trees in 
full bloom in a house without heat are liable to be affected by frost, so as to 
cut off all promise of a crop of fruit.” Undoubtedly they are so liable, and 
we have known great losses incurred under the circumstances indicated. 
It is possible in a measure to mitigate the evil by retarding the trees as much 
as possible by free ventilation in winter and early spring; but as a matter 
of fact when glass is erected either the owner or the gardener in charge 
desires to protect plants of some kind, and thus keeps the house close on 
their account, forgetting that he is exciting the trees and causing the 
expansion of the blossom at a dangerously early period. Even when every 
precaution has been taken we have known Peach blossom under glass totally 
destroyed by frost when there were no means of excluding it. As a rule we 
consider that if it is worth while going to the expense of building a Peach 
house, it is worth while also to afford the means of excluding frost and 
securing ciops.of fruit; at the same time we know that in some districts 
and with judicious treatment, good crops are usually obtained in unheated 
houses. 
The Moss Campion (D. W. H.). —The little plant of which you sent 
a specimen is Silene acaulis, popularly known as the Moss Campion. It is 
a native of Great Britain, being found near the summits of the highest 
mountains, generally growing upon rocks. The plant is abundant on 
Snowdon, Ben Lomond, and most of the Scottish mountains, and it is said 
to have been the last flowering plant observed by Saussure when ascending 
Mont Blanc. The habit is dwarf, and as Parkinson remarks, it has a 
‘ number of heads of smalle green leaves thicke set together, tufts in this 
manner spreading over much ground and covering it like mosse.” To this 
resemblance it owes its popular name, and by Gesner it was named Muscus 
nondus for the same reason. 
Duke of Buecleuch Grapes not Ripening (F. J. M.). —We are very 
sorry indeed to see such fine Grapes in the condition of those before 
us, and in the absence of details of culture we can only attribute their 
state to some rather severe check the Vines have received. If the leaf 
you have sent is a fair sample, the Vines are scorched; and if all the 
leaves are like the one before us, that would be sufficient to impede the 
swelling of the fruit. The only suggestion we can offer is, that it would 
be well to encourage the growth of laterals and to keep the roots amply 
supplied with water. It is just possible the border may be too dry. 
Examine it, not on the surface, but 2 feet below, and act accordingly. 
Vine Leaves Infested with Insects ( Ignoramus ).—The leaves are not 
affected with mildew. The black matter on the upper surface of the foliage 
is due either to the presence of mealy bug or scale, but we found no bug on 
the leaves and only one scale. Those you can do little with now, only to 
search for and remove the pests ; but when the Grapes are all cut syringe the 
Vines and house with petroleum, employing a wineglassful to three gallons of 
water, syringing into the watering pot and on to the trees alternately, to keep 
the petroleum mixed, otherwise it w r ill rise to the surface. There are also 
traces of thrips, against which fumigate on a calm evening and repeat in a 
week, being careful to have the foliage dry; and there is evidence of red spider, 
against wffiich syringe thoroughly with clear rain wrnter in the evening, venti¬ 
lating the following morning before the sun acts powerfully upon the house. 
The bunches that are “ going withered ” are unquestionably shanked, which is 
due to a variety of causes, the most general being inactivity at the roots 
through their being deep in a cold wet border, the best remedy for which is 
lifting the Vines and laying in the roots nearer the surface, providing 
thorough drainage, with a proper compost. 
Tydaeas Unhealthy ( Beta). —The rusted and shrivelled appearance that 
these plants, also Gloxinias and Achimenes, often assume is frequently the 
result of diseased corms or tubers. The disease is aggravated by injudicious 
watering and keeping the plants in a house in which the atmosphere is too 
dry. Sulphurous fumes, and even fumigation with tobacco smoke, are in¬ 
jurious to most kinds of Gesneriaceous plants. Apparently you have a very 
unhealthy stock, and you will do well to procure fresh plants that have no 
signs of disease, and give them somewhat different treatment from that which 
the example before us has received. We feel sure there has been some error 
in culture, but are unable to point it out, since you do not state the con¬ 
ditions under wffiich the plants were grown. Is there an excess of iron in the 
soil ? if so, that would in a great measure account for the condition of the 
plants. 
Australian Apples ( T. W. II., Auckland). —Your letter is unanswerable. 
It is quite impossible for anyone to say what price would be given for Apples 
next April, May, and June; but in all probability the price then will be 
lower than would have been obtained for good samples in the corresponding 
months of this year. Last year there were practically no Apples in British 
orchards ; this year the trees are mostly bearing heavily, and there is the 
contingency of consumers becoming “ almost tired of Apples ” before the 
season is over. It is a question if April consignments would be lucrative. 
High-class produce arriving in the best condition later might meet with 
better demand. There is only one way of proceeding practically in this 
matter, and that is by sending samples to a respectable fruiterer, and if the 
varieties are such as find favour in the market, and the fruit arrives in good 
condition, no loss may attend the experiment. A trade of this kind cannot 
be established by correspondence alone, nor in a season. Some varieties of 
Apples may not be worth sending over at all, while others may possess 
considerable value. Named samples should be sent with the view of 
ascertaining the varieties that can be the most profitably sent in quantity. 
If you send produce for which there is a demand fruiterers will be very glad 
to receive it, and will send you a fair price for it, or it can be sold by auction, 
as many tons of French Plums have been sold in London this week at good 
prices, because there is next to no English Plums this season. You will see 
in another column reference to a consignment of Australian Apples, which is 
not encouraging. We have, however, seen fruit from the Antipodes arrive 
in the most perfect condition. The method of packing you propose is good. 
If you send samples to Mr. Webber, Central Avenue, Covent Garden, he will 
give you his opinion on them, which, from a commercial point of view, will 
be entitled to consideration. 
Hydrangea paniculata ( Subscriber ). —This plant can be readily propa¬ 
gated by cuttings of half-ripened wood taken from the plant after flowering, 
and inserted under handlights placed on the shady side of a wall or hedge. 
Younger growths can also be employed for cuttings, and these will root 
quickly if inserted either singly in pots or a number together (the first 
method being preferable), and placed under handlights or in a close frame 
until they are rooted. If propagated in heat give a good watering after 
insertion, and keep the cuttings close and well shaded afterwards until they 
are rooted ; cuttings possessing tw>o joints—one to be in the ground and the 
other just above the soil—will suffice. The chief secret of flowering this 
Hydrangea well in a pot is the thorough maturation of the wood. After 
flowering the plant should be hardened and placed outside, then in autumn 
or early spring should be closely pruned back; if one pair of eyes is left on 
the new wood that will be ample. By giving your plant greenhouse treat¬ 
ment after the new year you will be able to have it in flower by the end of 
the month of June. If required earlier it must be subjected to forcing ; an 
intermediate temperature is best for this purpose, where a fair amount of air 
can be given daily when favourable to maintain a dwarf sturdy growth. If 
forced in a close warm house its growths will be weakly, and may fail to 
flower ; but they flower freely under a more judicious system of forcing. 
White Pinks for Forcing (Idem). —There is no difficulty in obtaining a 
stock of the old white Pink for forcing, provided you possess plants that are 
planted out in beds and borders. Slip off a number of strong growths, and 
insert them as cuttings thickly together in 4, 5, or G-inch pots, whichever 
will be most serviceable for you. The cuttings require but little making, 
and if the shoots are short they may be inserted as slipped off from the 
parent plant, removing the lower leaves- They root much better if a portion 
of the old wood is left attached to them. This may be carried out any time 
towards the end of this month. Any ordinary soil w'ill do for them in which 
a little leaf soil and coarse sand has been intermixed. After insertion give a 
good watering, keep them close in a frame, and shade from bright sun until 
