October is, 1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 345 
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Cranston’s Nursery and Seed Company, King’s Acre, Hereford.— 
Catalogue of Fruit Trees. 
James Walters, Exeter .—Catalogue of Hoses. 
Erratum.— The name of Mr. G. Humphries, Kington Langley, Chippenham, 
as a voter in the Rose election, ought to have been placed in the nurserymen’s 
instead of the amateurs’ list, where it was inadvertently inserted last week. 
Potatoes (//. .1/.).—Your crop is a good one if produced under the ordinary 
mode of culture, but is not extraordinary. AVe have known more than twice 
the yield when special attention has been given towards securing the best 
results. 
Oranges Splitting (IK M.). —The trees have received a check of some 
kind during some period of the season, possibly during the hot weather of 
July, when the skin may have become firm and lost its elasticity, thereby being 
unable to expand, as the growth afterwards became more free. AVe are not 
sure, however, that we understand your letter, which is too brief to make the 
condition of the trees and the treatment they have received intelligible. 
Distinguishing Iris Roots ( J. P.). —The English and Spanish Irises can 
be readily separated from the German Irises, as the former have roundish bulbous 
roots, while the latter have rhizomes—that is, long, cylindrical, or irregularly 
formed brownish roots. You will not so readily separate the English from the 
Spanish, but the latter are generally the smaller, and are more slender in form. 
Bottling Grapes {George ).—The laterals on which the bunches are hang¬ 
ing are inserted in bottles of water, ordinary wine bottles being suitable, and 
placed in a slanting position so that the fruit hangs clear of the bottles. A 
room having a regular temperature of about 40 3 will do, but a few degrees more 
will do no harm, and a dark place is better than a light one. A very dry and 
too warm room conduces to the shrivelling of the berries ; and on the other hand, 
if the temperature is very low, moisture is condensed on the fruit and its keeping 
property is impaired. 
Large or Small Garden {J. P. of Pork). —AVe have not had the pleasure 
of inspecting the garden to which you refer, and are consequently unable to say 
whether we consider it a large or small one. The number of men employed is 
not always a criterion of the size of a garden. AA r e know of gardens where a 
dozen men are kept not a quarter of the size of others where not half that 
number of men are employed. If you would like to write to Mr. Pettigrew, 
his address is Bowdon, Cheshire. 
Striking Roses (/. Wilton). —You have been rightly informed ; cuttings 
of nearly all Roses will strike if inserted in the open ground at the present time. 
Firm wood should be chosen, the portions that have borne flowers being usually 
suitable, and it is immaterial whether the cuttings are taken with a heel and 
cut smoothly across close under a joint. They may be about 9 inches long, two- 
thirds of the length in the soil, and one-third out. It is better to make trenches 
for them and then press the soil firmly round them; if thrust into the soil the 
ends are liable to injury by coming in contact with stones. If the soil is of a 
strong adhesive nature it will be an advantage if sand or gritty material is 
placed round the cuttings. The cuttings of last winter failed because they were 
inserted too late. 
Fuchsias and Pelargoniums {J. B.).— You had better gradually reduce 
the supply of water to the Fuchsias so that the wood becomes firm and most of 
the leaves fall, then keep the plants in a cool temperature so as to give them a 
rest. About March place them in gentle heat after pruning them into the 
form required, and when they have fairly commenced growth turn them out of 
the pots, removing most of the old soil from the roots, and repot in fresh com¬ 
post, then by syringing regularly in fine weather, and watering carefully, you 
may have them blooming freely by the time you name. If the Pelargoniums 
are Zonals you may keep them steadily growing in a light po ition in a tempe¬ 
rature not exceeding 50° at night; if they have not a light position they will be 
kept drier and cooler, as growth made in the absence of light is always unsatis¬ 
factory. If your plants are show varieties they should be wintered on a shelf 
near the glass in a night temperature between 40° and 45°, watering the plants 
with great care. 
Ventilating Greenhouse (F. If.). —Either of the modes of providing 
top ventilation will answer, and no one can so well tell you which method will 
be least expensive as the head carpenter you are employing. He will have no 
difficulty in giving you the close approximate cost of both methods. It is im¬ 
possible for anyone to answer the question from your letter, as you do not even 
state whether you have rafters and framed lights or not. The old Vine is not 
likely to do much good ; still, perhaps with the Deanery gardener’s aid you may 
improve it. As a black Grape the Black Hamburgh is the best, and Foster’s 
Seedling is the most likely white variety to succeed in the house. You may 
grow stone fruits in the house if the trees are not shaded, also Cucumbers in 
summer, but some skill and much attention are requisite in succeeding with 
many crops in the same house. Many plants will grow in the shade, such as 
Ferns, ornamental-leaved Begonias, Camellias and Azaleas. Bulbs and all kinds 
of spring-flowering plants can also be grown before the Vines and trees shade 
the house too much. You had better obtain our “ Garden Manual,” post free. 
Is. 9 d., and our “ Greenhouse for the Many,” post free, 10d. 
Culture of Pentas carnea (A'. D.). —You will not find this plant diffi¬ 
cult to grow successfully, provided the temperature of a stove or intermediate 
house can be secured. The compost should consist of light turfy loam, peat, and 
leaf soil in equal parts, with a plentiful admixture of sand. The pots must be 
thoroughly drained, as water should be freely supplied when the plants are 
growing. It is an old favourite in many gardens, owing to the flowers being 
produced in the dull season; though w.th judicious management the plants 
may be had in flower during the greater portion of the year. The specimen you 
send is a spray of Sibthorpia europma, a hardy plant native of this country, and 
found in wet shady positions. A very pretty form with variegated foliage is in 
cultivation. 
Peaches and Nectarines ( Tregrninn ).—The space being sufficient for 
six trees, four Peaches and two Nectarines, will perhaps suit you. Good Peaches 
for your purpose are Hales’ Early, Grosse Mignonne, Royal George, and Belle- 
garde ; good Nectarines, Lord Napier and A'iolette Hative. If the soil is fertile 
and the water passes through it freely it will not be necessary to incur much 
expense in making a border ; the site, however, must be well drained naturally 
or artificially. Order the trees now, and request that they be sent as soon as 
ready, and plant them as soon as they are received. The roots must be spread 
out quite straight, and covered about 3 inches deep with fresh loam, working it 
well amongst them, and on the surface of the soil over the roots, and a foot 
beyond them, spread a layer of half-decaj'ed manure 4 inches thick to exclude 
frost and enrich the soil. This will be better than mixing manure with the 
soil. Do not secure the trees tightly to the trellis, as the border may settle 
somewhat, and the branches would then be injured ; attach them loosely at first, 
then in the spring train them equidistant from each other, merely shortening 
any branches so as to secure well-balanced trees. Keep the house cool during 
the winter ; even a little frost will not do harm to the trees, but must be ex¬ 
cluded if you have plants in the house, and do not force to induce early growth 
in the spring, but let the trees start naturally. You had better cut off at once 
two-thirds of the growth from the top of the Alnes to which you referred, and 
the lower growths, on which you must depend, will be benefited and form 
stronger eyes. AVe shall have pleasure in answering a letter at any time when 
you need information. 
The Mango (IKY. TK).—The fruits which you state you have recently 
seen in Covent Garden Market are Mangoes, the produce of an East Indian tree 
allied to the Rhus Cotinus, so well known in English gardens. The tree is 
50 feet high, with a spreading top, and when in flower is not unlike the Sweet 
Chestnut. The fruit, when fully ripe, is oval or somewhat kidney-shaped and 
flat, varying in size from that of a small Apple to a goose’s egg; of a yellow or 
reddish colour, speckled with black, and filled with a fine agreeable juice. Some 
are full of fibres, and the juice runs out of these on cutting, or with a little 
handling ; but those which have few or no fibres are much the finest; they cut 
like an Apple, but are more juicy, and have a rich sweet-perfumed flavour, 
accompanied with a grateful acidity. It is eaten without any preparation, 
except taking oil the rind with the fingers or a knife, and is esteemed a very 
wholesome fruit, superior to the finest fruits of India, with the exception of the 
Maugosteen and some of the finest Pine Apples. Gentlemen within the tropics 
eat hardly any other fruit in the hot months ; but if no wine be drank with it 
the Mango is apt to produce boils, at least with new-comers, which are, how¬ 
ever, conducive to health. Jellies, preserves, tarts, &c., are made from the 
unripe fruit in India. Preserved in sugar, it is not unfrequently served up at 
the tea-table. AVhen unripe, it is very sour ; and in this state boiled with sugar, 
butter, and eggs, it yields an acrid juice that tastes like boiled Apples or Goose¬ 
berries. The Javanese boil the unripe fruit in brine, which taste and are used as 
Olives ; others boil them and steep them in vinegar and pepper to eat with meat 
like Cucumbers Much of the unripe fruit comes to Europe in the form of 
a pickle. There are several other species of Mangifera which produce eatable 
fruit, but they are all inferior to even the worst of M. indica. M. sylvatica, 
besides being eaten, is dried by the natives of India and kept for medicinal 
purposes. The fruit of M. oppositifolia is the size of a small pullet’s egg, and is 
universally eaten in Burmah. 
Name3 of Fruit {II. R. J .).—AVe are only able to identify three of the 
Apples ; 1, Round AVinter Nonsuch ; 4, probably 7 Alfriston ; 6, Ross Nonpareil. 
{S. B .).—1, Cellini; 2, Vineuse. (A. B.). —1, Fearn’s Pippin. AVe cannot name 
the others from such unsatisfactory specimens. {II. II.). —1, not known; 2, 
Court of AVick ; 3, Birmingham Stone Pippin. {Reader). —1, The Apple is Kerry 
Pippin ; the Pear is Flemish Beauty. {T. R.). — Pears: 1, Verulam : 2, Ne Plus 
Meuris ; 3, Beurrd Mortefontaine ; 4, Beurrd Hardy ; 5, Napoleon ; 6, Nouveau 
Poiteau. The Apples next week. {€. E .).—Blenheim Pippin. {G. W. V .).— 
1, Braddick’s Nonpareil; 2, not known ; 3, Reinette Diel; 4, Franklin's Golden 
Pippin; 5, Dumelow’s Seedling; 6, Lord Lennox. (G. S. A’.)— 1, Cox’s Orange 
Pippin ; 2, Dumelow’s Seedling ; 3, not known; 4, Blenheim Pippin ; 5, 
Blenheim Pippin ; 6, Brownlee's Russet. {C. Wood). —Lewis’s Incomparable. 
(Ramalho). —1, Pitmaston Pine Apple. AVe do not know Forfar Pippin, and there¬ 
fore the name may be correct. You have an old edition of the “ Fruit Manual,” 
and the last is out of print. (Bickley). —Court Pendu Plfit. (0. Me A .).—Pears : 
1, Jargonelle; 2, Marie Louise, both apparently from late blossoms; 3, Glou 
Mor^eau. Apples : 1, AVinter Colman; 2, Probably Tower of Glamis ; 3, Edin¬ 
burgh Cluster. {Leon). —Berries, Rhamnus catharticus (purgative). Apples : 
7, Alfriston ; 8, Cellini; 9, Flower of Kent; 10, Forge ; 15, Golden AVinter Pear- 
main ; 18, Beauty of Kent. {G. K).—Beurrd Bose. {E. L., Godaiming). —The 
wild fruit is Pyrus torminalis. Pears : 2, Chaumontel; 3, Beurre Ranee. The 
other Pears are worthless, and must be wildings or Perry Pears. The Apple is 
Golden Reinette. 
Names of Plants {E. II. G.). —1, Taxodinm sempervirens ; 2, Libocedrus 
Doniana (rather tender) ; 3, Too much withered to be determined, but it is pro¬ 
bably a Salvia ; 4, Coronilla Emerus; 5, Cratmgus orientalis ; 6, Griselinia litto- 
ralis. {G. P., Ilfracombe). —1, Echeveria secunda glauca ; 3, Cerastium tomen- 
tosurn ; 2 and 4 were too shrivelled to be determined ; 5, Mentha Pulegium 
gibraltaricum ; G, Sedum acre; 7, Diplacus glutinosus. (if. R. Y.).—1, Hip- 
pophae rhamnoides : 2, Dracocephalum Rupreehti; 3, Senecio pulcher ; 4, Bou- 
vardia elegans. (Y. It. T.). —1, Aralia Veitchii; 2, Crataegus orientalis ; 3, 
Viburnum Lantana ; 4, Calceolaria bicolor ; 5, Asplenium bulbiferum ; 6, Pteris 
argyrasa; 7, Croton volutus. {Inquirer ).—Colchicum autumnale. 
Golden Syrup for Bees {H. M .).—Golden syrup is obtained by clarifying 
the treacle which remains after repeated crystallisations of cane juice. It is 
therefore almost entirely destitute of crystallisable sugar, and necessarily con¬ 
tains considerable proportions of certain mineral salts, and of the re-actions pro¬ 
duced by the agents employed in the various stages of refinement. Even in its 
purest forms it seems to be repugnant to the bees, as they can scarcely be prevailed 
on to take it; and even though they may be compelled to live on it, it would in 
all probability be a fruitful source of diarrhoea. But when we know that much 
so-called golden syrup is now produced from glucose, and consequently contains 
quantities of sulphate of iron, arsenic, dextrin, and other substances poisonous 
to bees, we can only advise you to the greatest caution in experimenting with it. 
Though apparently cheaper than syrup made from pure sugar, the latter un¬ 
doubtedly contains so much more real bee-food that, even though there were no 
objectionable qualities in it, golden syrup will be found dearer m the end. 
GO VENT GARDEN MARKET.— OCTOBER 12. 
The supply and demandremain practically the same as last week, bat prices 
are a little firmer. 
