September 29, 1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
285 
plant is very hardy and prolific. My friend Mr. Forman is justly 
proud of his offspring, which gained the first prize at the Notting¬ 
ham Show, and also a first-class certificate as a new variety.— 
Henry Boothby, Louth. _ 
Stirling Castle Apple. —It is stated on page 2G1 that “ this 
is probably the finest and most useful late autumn and early 
winter kitchen Apple in cultivation.” This is high praise, and 
probably not a few readers would like the soundness of it tested. 
It appears to me the best way of doing this would be for those 
who consider they have a more valuable culinary Apple in use, 
say from October to Christmas, to name it, and point out its 
superiority. If after this test the claims of Stirling Castle pre¬ 
dominate, it then follows that everybody must plant it. Will 
those of your readers who have fruited Cox’s Pomona kindly give 
their opinions respecting it ?—F. U. 
Jersey Gratioli Pear. —This variety is not often recom¬ 
mended to the notice of cultivators, yet I find it a distinct and 
excellent October Pear. The fruit is roundish, of good size, very 
juicy and melting, and delicately perfumed ; it, however, does 
not keep long after it is ripe, especially where there are children 
about, as in my case. I think one tree at least should be included 
in all collections, particularly as it grows well and bears freely. 
What can be the origin of the peculiar alliance of “home and 
foreign” names of this Pear? This always strikes me as being 
singular.—A Kentish Curate. 
INTERNATIONAL POTATO EXHIBITION. 
In consequence of the large amount of work on the opening day of 
the International Potato Exhibition it was found impossible to give 
proper attention to the seedlings submitted for certificates and prizes ; 
but the matter was taken in hand immediately afterwards, and is still 
in progress. As about one hundred sorts were entered in the four classes 
for seedlings, a certain length of time must elapse ere they can be 
reported on. However, as regards Classes Q, for white kidney, and S, 
for white round, the following awards have been made, of which Mr. 
Shirley Hibberd obligingly sends the appended descriptions 
Magnet .—A very handsome narrow white kidney, of exquisite 
texture and flavour, presenting a most elegant appearance on the 
table. Sent by Mr. Charles Boss of Newbury. First prize in Class 2 
and first-class certificate. 
Kentish Invicta .—A handsome broad white kidney, resembling (as 
shown) the best type of Magnum Bonum. It is, however, far superior 
in quality to that variety ; the texture fine, the flavour full but deli¬ 
cate, and the appearance on the table elegant. Sent by Messrs. Lott 
and Hart, of Faversham. First-class certificate. 
Lady Truscott .—A neat white smallish round, spherical, much 
netted; flesh white, fine in texture; the flavour delicate, buttery, 
gratifying ; the appearance on the table all that can be desired. 
First-class certificate. 
Fenn’s No. 3 Early White Round .—A very neat and handsome 
round of fair size, pebble-shaped; eyes few and even with the 
surface; flesh white and fine in texture ; flavour remarkably good. 
First prize in Class S, and first-class certificate. 
HOW TO KILL THE PEAR SCALE. 
Will you kindly republish a paragraph that appeared in the 
Cottage Gardener fourteen years ago on this subject, and ask 
your readers for any experience they may have had with boiled 
linseed oil for this purpose ? A friend tells me he has used it for 
scale on a Peach tree and on a Stephanotis with good results, but 
I have no personal experience in the matter.— Wm. Taylor. 
[The following is the paragraph referred to— 
“ What could induce you to publish that tremendous receipt for 
killing, not the scale only, but gardeners also ? Picture to yourself 
the gardener’s face growing longer and longer as he reads that‘he 
is to unnail the scale-infested tree, scrub it all over two or three times, 
next wash it with a solution of soft soap, then dress it all over with 
a nasty composition, working it into every hole, angle, or crevice.’ 
None but a man in command of an army of painters as well as sub¬ 
gardeners could attempt to execute such a formidable receipt. 
“ Try the following plan—Paint the tree all over with pure boiled 
linseed oil in January or February ; avoid oiling the bloom buds if 
you can—it is, however, of no great moment. This is a thoroughly 
efficient measure, and comparatively easy of execution. No erratic 
scale will crawl upon the polished branches. My gardener had seen 
this method employed years ago with great success, and he per¬ 
suaded me to allow him to make a trial of it. I said the oil would 
smother the tree. He said the tree would rather like it than other¬ 
wise. Two upright-trained Pear trees on the Quince stock were 
operated on in February last. One tree had only the lower portion 
of the cordons oiled, the upper part being coated with the usual 
horrid composition ; the other tree was oiled all over. When I saw 
it shining like polished mahogany I thought it was indeed all over 
with it. At this moment both the trees thus operated upon are in 
better health than they have shown for years. One is bearing an 
excellent crop of fruit, the other is more luxuriant than is consistent 
with fruitfulness ; but it is ‘ all over ’ with the scale.” 
We shall be glad to have the experience of any of our readers 
who have tried the above remedy.] 
DAHLIA GLABRATA. 
Very different from the Show and Fancy types of Dahlias is 
this graceful species, which with other single forms is now rapidly 
rising in general favour as a pretty garden plant, and one which 
affords a bountiful supply of flowers suitable for cutting. The 
brightness and elegance of these render them very useful for 
Fig. 47.—Dahlia glabrata. 
decorative purposes at this season of the year and until the frost 
affects the plants. The colour, too, a light mauve tint, is very 
delicate, and with the exercise of taste some very pleasing com¬ 
binations may be arranged for vases and other table ornaments. 
Dahlia glabrata requires similar treatment to the other forms of 
the genus—taking the slender tubers up in late autumn and storing 
them in a dry cool position secure from frost. Light rich soil is 
required, and few stakes to keep the plant neat and compact is 
almost all the attention specially needed. 
Earwigs and Peaches. —Earwigs are destroying many hun¬ 
dreds of Peaches here on trees against walls. The means we 
