402 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 8, 1883. 
unless it was introduced with the Vines five years ago ; no Vines having been 
planted since then with the exception of one this year, which is quite 
clean so far. If it was introduced with the Vines, how come they to be 
so vigorous now ? This Hamburgh Vine, one of seven, the others being 
Muscats, has always given good crops of well-finished Grapes ; this year 
it and the Muscats are more vigorous than ever*. Is it possible to intro¬ 
duce phylloxera with imported Lilacs ? 
“ The infested Vines have already been consigned to the fire. The 
border (which is an inside one and completely isolated from the others) is 
being wheeled out. The glass, woodwork, and wires will be washed with 
petroleum, the brickwork washed with hot lime ; the drainage will be 
drenched with a solution of soap and petroleum, and dusted with hot 
lime afterwards, and then we shall plant again. But where are Vines free 
/rom phylloxera to be had ?—R. Gbay.” 
[The portion of cane sent is very good, and the leaf large and of a 
deep green colour indicative of perfect health. Both portions are clean. 
The insects on the root are very small, and have apparently not been 
numerous until recently, and as yet not made any impression on the very 
healthy Vines. Next year the Vines must inevitably have changed for 
the worse, and they have been wisely destroyed. We fear this Vine 
scourge is more prevalent than is generally supposed, and its spread has 
not been limited by keeping its presence a secret, as if it were a disgrace 
to a gardener to have it on the Vines in his charge. It is no more a disgrace 
to him than it is to have the Potato disease in his crop in the garden, and 
not half so much as having thrips and red spider on the occupants of a 
vinery, as these are preventible. We are quite unable to answer the 
question relative to the probability of the phylloxera being introduced 
with Lilacs, but we do not think it very likely that it would live on the 
roots of those shrubs. Can any of our correspondents give information 
on this point ? As to the inquiry of “ where are Vines free from phyl¬ 
loxera to be had ? ” we assume it was not expected to elicit an answer, 
but rather intended to convey the writer’s opinion of the general and 
wide-spread existence of the pest in this country.] 
UVULARIAS. 
Rarely do we see any record of the species of Uvularia 
cultivated in gardens, and we may imagine under the circum- 
stances that it is a genus of plants either little cared for 
or not sufficiently well known to cause their cultivation to 
be more extended. By some they may be looked upon as 
plants more curious than beautiful; but singular and beau¬ 
tiful they are beyond doubt, and they only need to be well 
grown and dispose 1 in suitable nooks in the garden to gain 
the high appreciation they so well deserve. Plants are often 
wanted for a shady position, or to cover spots where most 
plants refuse to flourish or even grow. The Uvularias are 
well adapted for such work, and they would look well if asso¬ 
ciated with hardy Perns so employed, and at the same time 
afford a display of bloom such as few other plants would do 
under similar conditions. In the case of a venerable old tree 
growing on a lawn nothing could be more advantageously 
employed to enliven its immediate surrounding than the 
members of this genus, along with several species of Gaul- 
theria, Ferns, and other shade-loving plants. When so em¬ 
ployed a top-dressing of decayed leaves would prove highly 
beneficial both to the Uvularias and the rest of the plants. 
So far I have simply stated how the Uvularias may be 
employed in occupying spots where the usual kinds of herba¬ 
ceous plants would prove a failure. They are worthy of being 
represented amongst the choicest collections of hardy plants. 
They are of inestimable value for planting in dells, either with 
rock plants, or in moist positions with hardy Perns and bog 
plants, with which they harmonise admirably. A noble form of 
Solomon’s Seal on a moist rock, and a Uvularia on another, would 
indeed produce a most pleasing feature. 
All the species enjoy a light and moist soil, consisting 
mainly of decomposed leaves, peat, and sand. Under such 
treatment they thrive surprisingly. In general aspect they 
approach nearer to the Solomon’s Seals than to any plant 
I am acquainted with; but the flowers, which are invariably 
pendent, vary from 1 to 2 inches in length, according to the 
species producing them. The underground stems are very 
similar to those of the Lily of the Valley and as densely 
produced. The species under cultivation in this country are 
few, and are the North American representatives of the genus. 
U. grandiflora is probably the most noble of all. It grows 
a foot high, and its distant perfoliate leaves are 3 or more 
inches in length by about 1 inch in diameter. Each stem, 
which is indeed a perfect plant, bears about three flowers, 
which are produced singly from the axils of the leaves on 
long, gracefully drooping peduncles, which are furnished with 
a leaf identical in outline with those of the main stem but 
smaller. The flowers of this species are probably the most 
decided yellow of all. U. perfoliata is known from this by 
.its almost truly ovate leaves, which are 1^ inch or more 
across, and rather smaller flowers. U. puberula is somewhat 
dwarfer, with sessile, not stem-clasping leaves, and pale yellow 
flowers. U. sessilifolia is the least of all, attaining a height 
of 6 inches, with leaves 2 inches long by half an inch in 
diameter; its solitary buff-coloured flower with inconspicuous 
green streaks pendent and terminating the main stem. All the 
species have the flower segments free to the base and slightly 
spreading. 
Their flowering season is from the end of April or early in 
May to June. Dividing and replanting is best attended to in 
autumn, as they are not absolutely at rest during the winter 
months any more than are the Snowdrop and Crocus.— 
T. Entwistle, Wood Lawn, Didsbury. 
LEAF SOIL. 
By parcel post I send you a sample of leaf soil made by us from 
last year’s leaves, ready for use in September last, or nine months after 
being gathered. We proceed very much on Nature’s plan, and if you 
think the sample a near approach to the leaf soil of the Belgians, 
perhaps the following note may be of interest to those of your readers 
who have not a large extent of woods to gather leaf soil as manufactured 
by Nature. 
In an out-of-the-way corner of a wood near the garden we have a 
space cleared of all underwood, and levelled so that surface water does 
not collect on it. Here we place all the clean leaves as they are 
collected, leaving them barrowload deep only, so that they do not heat 
to any extent. During the early months of the year a good quantity 
of these is used for hotbeds, forcing Rhubarb, &c. About March the 
remainder of the leaves is spread out about a foot deep, and then 
thrown into narrow ridges by running a fork along the bottom and 
packing the leaves up on each side. In a few weeks the birds generally 
pretty near level the ridges down, when the fork is run along the middle 
of the old ridges, piling them up as before. This is repeated as ofteu 
as is necessary till midsummer. The object to be aimed at is to get 
them into a half-decayed state without allowing them to ferment or 
become saturated with wet. 
After midsummer we take the first opportunity of dry weather to 
shake the whole of it over and remove the shortest to a dry shed, and 
by vSeptember it is fit for use after being passed through a half-inch 
sieve. The remainder is again thrown into ridges, and is placed under 
cover before the ground is wanted for leaves of the current year. We 
make no selection of leaves, but I may say that Oak predominates. 
I have practised this mode of making leaf soil with more or less success, 
according to the season and amount of care taken with it, for several 
years, and I think it was from reading something in your pages which 
first led me to do so. On a clay bottom it is rather difficult to make a 
good sample in a wet season, on account of the moisture absorbed. On a 
gravelly bottom it is much easier. The difficulty of moisture can be 
overcome where the use of an open shed can be spared.—R. INGLIS. 
[This sample sent is similar in character to the Belgian leaf soil, but 
is not equal to it in quality.] 
GARDENERS’ BENEFIT SOCIETIES. 
I am very glad to see the article on page 349 of our Journal on the 
United Horticultural Benefit Society, and I have no doubt hundreds 
will derive benefit from it, as very little has been heard about this 
Society previously. I should think all gardeners who are not members 
of a benefit society will flock to its colours at once, and then, as unity 
gives strength, its funds will probably be in an evhn more satisfactory 
condition than they are at present. 
I think we ought to patronise a bona fide gardeners’ society in 
preference to a mixed one, for two reasons. First, because we are 
helping our brethren in the profession, and we are told by the highest 
authority to show charity at home first. 
Secondly, looking at it as a business matter it is far the best, because 
gardeners are not so liable to require aid in this way as mechanics and 
others, as their occupation is far more healthy, and also their social life 
and morals are considerably better, so that it is not fair for them to 
pay their hard-earned wages into a mixed club on the same scale as the 
other members. I am told this is recognised by some of the life 
insurance companies, and that they insure a gardener’s life at a much 
lower premium than mechanics and others. Another instance of this 
is the small cost per member for sick pay last year in the Gardeners’ 
United Provident—only 4fd. for the year; whereas I could mention a 
mixed club—a branch of a very extensive brotherhood—that paid away 
more last quarter for sickness, &c., than their receipts amounted to for 
the same period. 
There is one thing connected with our other Society, the Royal 
Benevolent, which I cannot understand. Perhaps the Secretary will 
kindly enlighten me through your pages, as I have no doubt others 
would like to know a little about it. 
A friend of mine paid ten guineas to this Society, thinking thereby 
to provide for a rainy day. By-and-by he became seventy years of age 
and unable to pursue his calling any longer. On applying to be placed 
on the pension list he says he was told he had paid the ten guineas as 
a donation, and consequently was not eligible for a pension. I mention 
this for the benefit of others who may be thinking of joining in this 
