September 22 , 1881 . ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
277 
CORRESPONDENTS 
w 
Books (A .).—The “ Cottage Gardener’s Dictionary ” is not published at this 
office, and we are unable to say when the next edition will be ready. 
Peaches Decaying (D. East). —If you will send fresh fruits wrapped in 
smooth paper they shall be carefully examined; the cotton wool adhered so 
closely to them that it could not be separated without tearing the skin. They 
appear to be infested with a fungus. 
Amaranth us salicifolius (A. A. M .).—Seeds of this plant can be had 
from any seedsmen who advertise in our columns, and the produce will no 
doubt be as good as from seed obtained from Queensland. We have seen much 
better examples of the plant than those you have sent grown from seed raised 
in this country. We do not understand what you mean by asking if the plant 
is a Coleus after you have correctly described it as an Amarautlms. 
Gloxinias Starting into Growth (Idem).— You have given the plants 
too much water after they ceased flowering. If you have a stove in which a 
temperature of G5° can be maintained in the winter you may remove the conns 
and pot them in fresh soil, and grow them on a shelf near the glass ; if you have 
not such convenience, all you can do is to gradually diminish the supply of 
water and permit the growths to wither and the corms to rest until the spring. 
They are almost certain to contain some buds still in a dormant state, and they 
should be kept dormant. 
Insects on Cucumbers (Ilortus).— It is impossible for anyone to say 
with accuracy what the insects are without seeing them. You cannot do better 
than fumigate the house lightly on a few consecutive nights ; strong fumigation 
would injure the plants. If this fails syringe the plants with an insecticide, 
or, what would perhaps be better, apply it with a vaporiser such as was adver¬ 
tised in our columns a few weeks ago. 
Writings on Strawberries (J. A.).—In reply to your question, “ What 
do you think of my compilation of matter from the writings of Messrs. Gloede, 
Thompson, Luclchurst, Douglas, and others, with additions and modifications ? ” 
we reply candidly that we think very lictle of it; and we have an opinion that 
at least some of the writers whose excellent work has been “ modified ” will not 
be flattered by having their names so prominently associated with what you 
have produced. We hope you have sent each of them a copy. You do not 
adopt the usual course of stating whence you obtained the writings ; and we 
presume, therefore, that you did not obtain the permission of the authors for 
thus treating their work. 
Peas (F. Ural;-). —The same Pea was sent to us last year from the north of 
England. It appears to be distinct. Although the pods are short they are re¬ 
markably well filled, and as you say it is very prolific it is no doubt a useful 
variety ; but in appearance the pods are much inferior to those of the leading 
varieties in commerce. The Teas you have sent were much too old to enable us 
to judge of their quality. If you have reason to think the variety possesses 
special merit you should endeavour to have it tried at Chiswick. If you write 
to Mr. Barron he will inform you if he is able to test it with other varieties. 
Insects on Plum Trees (F. J). — The under sides of the leaves have 
been much infested with aphides, of which there are many on those you have sent, 
and the exudations falling on the upper surfaces of the leaves have formed a 
suitable nidus for fungus, hence the present unsightly state of the leaves. The 
trees ought to have been well and timely syringed with an insecticide, and the evil 
would have been averted. As the trees, however, appear vigorous they will not 
probably be materially injured, but you had better prevent similar attacks in 
the future. It is impossible to name small, imperfect and unripe Pears, but it is 
not at all improbable that your tree is correctly named, and you would have had 
better specimens with better treatment. 
Cissus discolor (S. A).—No stove plant is of easier culture than this * 
liaise young plants in the spring ; pot them in a mixture of equal parts of peat, 
loam, and leaf soil, and place them in a moist partially shaded position in a well- 
heated stove. The plants do not grow freely nor the leaves colour well under 
intense light and in a dry atmosphere. We have seen the plant luxuriate in 
tropical ferneries where the air was almost saturated with moisture and the 
shade dense, and we have known an unsightly plant removed from a dry stage 
and placed under it, then commence growing freely. 
Pitmaston Orange Nectarine (IP. J .).—The fruit you have sent re¬ 
sembles a very small specimen of this good Nectarine. Your trees have possibly 
been overcropped, or are otherwise not in satisfactory condition. Fruit of the 
first size and quality is produced in unheated houses ; but to ensure full flavour 
it should hang until it shows signs of shrivelling. Perhaps you gather it too 
soon and before the flavour is developed. The Fern fronds are shrivelled, and 
we cannot determine the names. 
Grapes Shanking (Paddle). —Wet soil is not the sole cause of Grapes 
shanking. Overcropping is a very prominent cause; extreme dryness of the 
soil will also cause shanking, as will a sharp cold current of ah- acting on the 
laterals in their early stages of growth. The only means of ascertaining whether 
a border is too wet is to examine it by digging down to the concrete ; we have 
known some inches of water accumulate on the concrete in consequence of the 
“ fall ” not being sufficient, or the outlet of the drains having been neglected. 
We suspect your Vines have been overcropped—that is, the laterals where the 
shanking occurs are too weak and the foliage insufficient for the local demands 
of the Vine and fruit. You aflord us no data whereon to found anything but a 
general reply, which, however, may lead you to find out the cause of the evil, and 
this being ascertained the remedy in most cases naturally suggests itself. The 
fruit to which you allude is probably the Loquat (Eriobotrya japouica), of which 
you will find a figure and full description on pages 292 and 298 of our last 
volume, the issue of April 4th of the present year. If you have not preserved 
the number it can be had in return for 3 Id. in postage stamps scut to the 
publisher. 
The Artillery Plant (Idem ).—It is quite true that the “ explosions ” of 
this plant can be heard, but they are very faint, and it is only by placing the 
ear near the plant that any sound can be heard at all, but the “ smoke ”—that is, 
the puffs of the escaping pollen, is plainly visible. The plant must be grown in 
a light position on the shelf of a stove, or greenhouse in summer, so that it 
tiower3 freely. If when the the buds are ready for expansion the plant is 
sprinkle! with water, or dipped, and the superfluous water then shaken off, the 
anthers, owing to the great sensibility of the filaments, suddenly expand, and 
the pollen is forcibly dispersed. 
Pyrtis (Cydonia) japonica Fruiting (Kiltie). —It is not at all unusual 
for fruit to be produced by this ornamental shrub when it is grown in a favour¬ 
able position and the branches secured to a wall. We have seen fruits very 
much larger than those you describe. The fruit can be preserved and eaten 
safely by those who like it. but we do not remember having met with anyone 
who said he enjoyed it. If any of our readers have a different estimate of the 
fruit we shall be glad to know how it was prepared to render it acceptable. 
Fig for the Open Air (J. E.). —You cannot have a more suitable variety 
than the Brown Turkey. You may proceed as you propose with your tree ; 
remove also the luxuriant growths, and admit the sun and air to the shorter- 
jointed growths remaining. 
Lily of the Valley (P., Mitcham). —You may either sow the seed now in 
pots and plunge them in frames, or sow in spring in gentle heat. The seed is 
quite ready for gathering ; but we think you have made a mistake in allowing 
it to mature, as the crowns must necessarily be weakened, and the plants are more 
conveniently raised by division than from seed. 
Judging Potatoes and Pens (II. A .).—Unless separate classes are pro¬ 
vided for round and kidney varieties, which ought always to be the case, dissatis¬ 
faction is sure to be given, for, as you state, one judge may prefer round and 
another kidney-shaped tubers. Such occurrences as the one to which you direct 
our attention is the result of the system more than the fault of the men. As 
to a certain judge having “ a particular fancy for a certain variety of Pea, and 
always giving it the prize,” we presume he does not judge alone but has a 
coadjutor, and both agree that a given dish is best. It is not at all unusual 
for a certain variety of Pea and Potato to win several prizes. It is of the first 
importance that the judges selected be competent, and it is desirable in the 
case of provincial shows they should be strangers to the district. The publica¬ 
tion of your letter, as you have stated the case, would be of no service, and 
would provoke unpleasant replies. If you were to give more thought to the 
subjecl and treat it on a broad and general basis you might contribute a letter 
that would be useful. 
Insects Destroying Willow Leaves (IF. Harrison).— The flies sent 
belong to the genus Anthomyia. The determination of the species in this genus 
is difficult without a “series” of the insects can be examined. We note your 
remark that the larva are apparently confined to the species of Salix, leaves of 
which are enclosed—S. Russelliana, we conclude. An importan t question is, How 
the flies could be prevented from depositing their eggs ? for little can be done 
when the larva have hatched out. In plantations of Willow perhaps the flies 
might, many of them, be smoked out of existence if weeds, &e., were made into 
bonfires at the period they are first noticed on the wing ; or you might try the 
effect of saturating some pieces of flannel or other old -material with paraffin and 
hanging them in one of the bushes immediately the insects are seen flying about 
the trees in spring. If you try this experient, keeping the flannel moist for a 
time by renewed applications of paraffin, you will oblige by communicating the 
result to the Editor. The plan has been proved of value in preventing attacks 
of the Celery fly in gardens. 
Wintering Bedding Plants (G. P.). —Altcrnantheras and Coleuses are 
stove plants, and cannot be safely wintered in the structure in which the tem¬ 
perature falls frequently below 55°, and a minimum temperature of G0° is better. 
Mesembryanthemum cordifoliunr variegatum (No. 1), may be preserved on the 
shelf of a warm greenhouse where the temperature does not frequently fall 
below 45° ; it is equally safe in a higher temperature, and will exist in a lower 
if the soil and atmosphere are not too moist. The plant No. 2 is Mesembryan- 
themum teuuifolium, and No. 3 Sedurn Sieboldi, both of which will be safe in 
an ordinary greenhouse temperature, or any house from which the frost is ex¬ 
cluded, the soil being kept comparatively dry during the winter, but nut dust 
dry. Sedum glaucum is quite hardy, and will pass the winter safely in well- 
drained soil from which the rain passes freely, excessive wet being sometimes 
injurious. We cannot advise you on the Saxifraga without knowing the species. 
We do not name varieties of Pelargoniums nor any other florists’ flowers, which 
are far too numerous, and many'of them too much alike to be determined except 
by actual comparison with others in a large collection. We will readily attend 
to your questions and aid you so far as we can if you state your wants fully and 
clearly, yet as concisely as possible. 
Scale on Pear Tree (Idem). — The scale insect on your Pear tree is 
Aspidiotes ostreceformis. If you dissolve 3 or 4 ozs. of soft soap in a gallon of 
water, and add thereto half a pint of paraffin, and apply to the branches, not 
the buds, scrubbing them thoroughly, j ou will soon reduce the numbers of the 
insects. 
Datura Stramonium (F. A., Lichfield).—The above is the name of the 
plant you have sent, and on which you require information. It is commonly 
called the Thorn Apple or Stramonium. It is an acrid narcotic, belonging 
to the family of Nightshades. It is found wild in Britain, having escaped 
from the gardens, and its habitat is generally among rubbish and on dung¬ 
hills. It is easily known by its large oval seed vessels, thickly covered with 
moderate doses it causes numbness, vertigo, dimness of vision, dilation of the 
pupils, produces a slight delirium, intoxication, and forgetfulness, and these 
effects pass off in five or six hours ; but if the quantity taken be large, then all 
the symptoms of poisoning are presented, as heartburn, intense thirst, a feel¬ 
ing of strangulation, delirium, madness, convulsive movements, anil paralysis; 
congestion of the brain ensues, symptoms of inflammation are manifested, and 
death follows in twelve or fifteen hours. M. Orfila states that Stramonium acts 
with more force ou the brain than Belladonna, and produces more furious delirium. 
Stramonium smoked like tobacco is a popular remedy for the cure of asthma. 
Its u s e in this way ha, teen derived from the East Indies, where other suedes 
are used for this purpose. It is the root and lower parts of the stem which are 
so employed, and the smoke excites a sense of heat in the chest, followed by 
copious expectoration, and sometimes attended with tempoiary veitigo and 
drowsiness. The seels have the same nauseous bitter taste as the leaves, and in 
them Brandos discovered an alkaline principle called Daturia, combined with 
an excess of malic aci 1. It is in the form of colourless crystals, inodorous, and 
when first applie 1 to the tongue is bitterish, but afterwards of the taste of 
tobacco ; its action is poisonous. 
Selection of Fruits (R. F .).—The following varieties will be suitable for 
vour purpose. Beaches : Hale's Early, Livers’ Early I ork, A Bee, Dr. Hogg, 
Itoyal George, and Grosse Mignonne. Nectarines : Lord Napier, Stanwick 
Elruge, Improved Downton, and Bine Apple. We doubt if you can plant any 
