JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
592 
[ December 29, 1881. 
James Yeitch <fc Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea. —Catalogue of Flower 
and Vegetable Seeds ( illustrated ). 
Bruant, Boulevard Saint Cyprien, Poitiers, France. —Catalogue of 
Novelties. 
Charles Sharpe & Co., Sleaford, Lincolnshire. —Catalogue of Vege¬ 
table and Flower Seeds ( illustrated ). 
All correspondence should be directed either to “ The Editor ” 
or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. Hogg or 
members of the staff often remain unopened unavoidably. We 
request that no one will write privately to any of our correspon¬ 
dents, as doing so subjects them to unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, and 
should never send more than two or three questions at once. All 
articles intended for insertion should be written on one side of 
the paper only. We cannot reply to questions through the post, 
and we do not undertake to return rejected communications. 
Correspondence (/.. W. P., and Others). — Owing to the great pressure 
upon our columns, your letters with a number of other valuable communi¬ 
cations we are compelled to bold over until next week. 
Gros Colman Grape (Amateur ).—We do not advise you to include it in 
a “ small collection in a very small bouse,” because the Yine requires as much if 
not more space than any other variety, it being a very strong grower. A 
lateral spread of 4 feet should be afforded, or fine well-finished fruit cannot be 
expected to follow with certainty. 
Poinsettias (L . 0. E.). —We shall shortly publish some cultural notes on 
this brilliant winter decorative plant from a gardener who grows it successfully 
and has afforded us proof of his skill. If, after reading the article in question, 
you require further information we will readily supply it if you will specify 
your wants. 
Ivy for Fence (York). —No doubt Ivy would be as suitable as any other 
evergreen for covering your fence, but it will need to be secured with nails and 
shreds, as it will not adhere satisfactorily to boards whether they are tarred or 
not. The tarred fence when dry and sweet will not prevent the growth of the 
Ivy. The spikes issuing from your Coelogyne are no doubt flower spikes. The 
plant will not require shade at this season, and a genial minimum temperature of 
55° to GO 0 will be suitable. With a moderately moist atmosphere syringing will 
not be required, as too much moisture causes the spikes to decay. 
Leaf miners on Cineraria ( C. E. id.). —These leaves have been attacked 
by a small maggot, the larva of a fly in the genus Tephritis. The species is un¬ 
certain till the insect can be reared to maturity. It is allied to the well-known 
Celery fly (T. onopordium). That, however, quits the leaf and descends to the 
earth to undergo pupation, while on this species the larvae, when adult, have 
secured themselves to the leaves. We fear there is no mode of dealing with 
this pest by way of precaution, but all leaves that have tracks or burrows 
should be removed and burnt. 
Midseason and Late Peaches (J. E.). —You do not state the number 
you require. The following are better varieties than those you name :—Mid¬ 
season—Early Grosse Mignonne, Old Grosse Mignonne, Bellegarde, Noblesse, 
and Royal George. Among the best later Peaches are Barrington, Princess of 
Wales, and Gladstone ; the last-named was exhibited in fine condition and suc¬ 
cessfully at the Manchester autumn Show. Lord Palmerston is a noble-looking 
Peach, but often inferior in quality and seldom first-rate. The best yellow- 
fleshed Peach is Early Crawford, an American variety 7 . The best late Nectariue 
is the Victoria. Very late Peaches are not usually satisfactory ; one of the best 
is Desse Tardive, which y 7 ou may safely include in your collection. If you do 
not possess Mr. Rivers’ work, “ The Orchard House,” you would find it useful. 
It is published by Longmans, and can be tad through a bookseller for a few 
shillings. If you can give us an approximative date of the article to which you 
refer we will endeavour to find it, but the number may bo out of print. 
Persimmon (J. R. L .).—The tree known by the above name is Diospyros 
virginiana, very common in the middle and southern States of America, and is 
there called Persimmon. When ripe the fruit is round, of the size of an ordinary 
Plum, and of a dark yellow colour, containing a soft yellow pulp, in which the 
seeds are enclosed. When green the fruit is very harsh and astringent, but 
when perfectly ripe, and after it has been subjected to frost, it is sweet, glu¬ 
tinous, and agreeable. It is said that in the southern and western States 
it is made into cakes with bran, and used for making beer, with the addition of 
water, hops, and yeast. A spirituous liquor is obtained by distillation, the 
infusion has been fermented. The unripe fruit contains tannic acid, sngar, 
malic acid, colouring matter, and lignin ; and it has been used advantageously 
in diarrhoea and chronic dysentery. The wood is very hard, but brittle and 
white, and is very good for joiners’ tools, such as planes ; but it soon rots when 
exposed to the weather. The bark has been employed as a febrifuge. 
Grapes Shanking (H. id., Paris). — The following extract from the 
“ Cottage Gardener’s Dictionary ” will answer your inquiry—“ Shanking is an 
ulceration or gangrene, attacking the footstalks of the bunches, and appears to 
be occasioned, like shrivelling, by the temperature of the soil being too much 
below that in which the branches are vegetating; and, consequently, the supply 
of sap to the Grapes is much diminished, and the parts which thus fail of sup¬ 
port immediately begin to decay. This is an effect always the consequence of a 
diminished supply of sap, apparent either in the leaves, flower, or fruit. The 
coldness of the soil causes this torpidity in the action of the root; and this 
perhaps at the very period when the greatest demand is made upon it to sustain 
the excessive perspiration which is going on in the leaf, and to furnish fresh 
matter for elaboration, to both which ends it is frequently quite inadequate, 
owing to drenching rains. If the young fibre be examined at such incle¬ 
ment periods it will be found somewhat discoloured, and in some cases quite 
rotten. Shanking, we conceive, is generally caused by the unnatural disagree¬ 
ment of temperature between the root and top, independent, in the main, of the 
question of moisture. It generally occurs with Vines which have been some¬ 
what forced ; seldom on open walls—seldom with Vines forced in pots or tubs.” 
Mignonette in Pots (T.P.C.). —The following instructions, which were 
communicated by a first-rate cultivator, will perhaps be of service to you— 
“ Mignonette, which is a general favourite on account of its delightful fragrance, 
is seldom seen in good condition except in market-growing establishments. It 
is of easy culture, and within the reach of everybody. September is the best 
time to sow the seed for raising plants for spring blooming. The most useful-sized 
pots are 48’s, and the most suitable compost two parts of turfy loam and one 
of decomposed cow manure, with a sprinkling of old lime rubbish. Place over 
the crocks about 2 inches of decayed manure (as the Mignonexte delights in a 
rich compost), and fill the pots with the above compost; press the soil in firmly, 
sow the seed rather thinly, and sprinkle a little soil over it; plunge the pots in 
a cool frame in ashes within 3 inches of the glass, supply water rather sparingly 
till the seed germinates, after which the plants should have very little water. 
Thin the plants out well, retaining about six or seven in each pot. Ventilate 
freely night and day to keep the plants sturdy, leaving the lights off altogether 
on all favourable occasions. Discontinue watering from the middle of November 
till the end of February. This is the secret of success, as if the plants are 
watered through the winter they become weakly and drawn, and the result is 
never satisfactory. Do not mind the plants flagging a little, which sometimes 
they will do when the sun is rather strong. About the first week in March they will 
require to be watered rather more, never allowing them to become dry; ventilate 
freely, and when they show bloom water with liquid manure. Place a neat stick 
to each plant, so that the air may circulate well amongst them.” Seed may also 
be sown now and onwards for producing successioual plants, placing the pots in 
a very light position in a pit or greenhouse. We are unable to give you the 
address unless we know for what purpose you need it. See our request at the 
head of this column. If you require any particular information we are quite 
prepared to supply it if you will state your wants fully and clearly. 
Cypripedium spectabile (A. James). —You have been correctly informed. 
The plant is quite hard) 7 , but it is admirably suited for growing in pots and largo 
shallow seed pans. There cannot be too much said in favour of this lovely 
Orchid, as it possesses merits which should make it a general favourite with 
all plant-growers ; and when its perfect hardiness is taken into consideration 
with its present inexpensiveness there is no reason why everyone should not 
possess one of the very best perennial Orchids. The plant is easily distinguished 
from all others. It grows from 1 to 2 feet high, the stems being more or less 
covered with leaves of a light green colour and conspicuously veined. The flowers, 
which are borne singly or from two to four on the stems, are very showy ; the 
sepals and petals are spending, ovate in form, the petals being much the widest, 
pure white in colour ; the lip is very much inflated, of a rich rose colour, some¬ 
times nearly crimson. The soil best suited for it is good peat and coarse sand, 
with some sphagnum chopped up fine and mixed with the peat. If grown in pots 
several should be placed in a large pot and kept plunged in moss or fibre in a 
shady place. When well-grown it is a most beautiful plant for exhibition pur¬ 
poses, and it can be readily forced. It can be equally well grown if planted out¬ 
side in peat and sand in a shady place or on the rockery, where it is quite at 
home with many of the Primulas, Dodecatheons, and Ferns. It forms a lovely 
companion for Ferns. The stems springing up from among the light green 
fronds of the Lady Fern are exceedingly attractive, and the plant thoroughly 
enjoys such a home. We have had it planted in old stumps with other rarities, 
when it seemed to be peculiarly happy. 
The Cashew Nut ( Lorrimore ).—The Nuts to which you refer are pro¬ 
duced by Anacardium occidentale, a small tree 16 feet high, a native of the 
East Indies, the West Indies, and South America ; but it is supposed that the 
East and West Indian are two distinct varieties. The fruit of this tree is 
formed by the enlargement of the footstalk of the flower, and is about the size 
of a large Orange, with an agreeable subacid flavour and a slight astringency. 
It is sometimes of a yellowish and sometimes of a red colour. The juice ex¬ 
pressed from it and fermented yields a pleasant wine, which, when distilled, a 
spirit is drawn from it superior to arrack or rum, making an admirable punch, 
and acting powerfully as a diuretic. They are eaten when ripe, and frequently 
roasted for mixing in punch to give it a pleasant flavour. At the end and on 
the outside of this fruit grows a kidney-shaped nut, an inch or more in length 
and three-quarters of an inch broad, consisting of two shells. The outer is of 
an ash colour, and very smooth ; under this is another which covers the kernel; 
and between them there is a thick black juice, which is very caustic; but the kernel 
when fresh has a most delicious taste, and abounds with a sweet milky juice. 
They are eaten like Chestnuts, either raw or roasted. These Nuts are what are 
known as Cashew Nuts. The juice which they contain is extremely acrid and 
corrosive, producing, when applied to the skin, severe inflammation followed by 
blisters, and it has often proved very troublesome to those who incautiously 
put the Nuts into their mouth or break the shell. 
Nucleus Hives ( Inquirer ).—AVe have a letter on this subject from Mr. 
Cheshire which did not reach us in time for insertion this week ; it will appear 
in our next issue. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.—DECEMBER 28. 
Little or no business is doing in our market on account of the holidays, 
and there is no quotable alteration in prices. 
vegetables. 
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d a 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms 
1 
Otol 
6 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard* Cress .. punnet 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Beans, Kidney .... 
^ 100 
X 
0 
0 
0 
Onions. 
3 
6 
0 
0 
Iieet, Red. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
pickling .. 
0 
0 
0 
5 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
6 
Parsley. 
doz.bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts.. 
} sieve 
o 
0 
o 
6 
Parsnips .... 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage . 
dozen 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Potatoes .... 
2 
6 
3 
0 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
K idney.... 
3 
0 
3 
6 
Capsicums. 
w 100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Radishes.... 
doz .bunches 
1 
0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
3 
6 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Salsafy. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera 
1 
6 
0 
0 
each 
0 
6 
0 
8 
Seakale .... 
2 
0 
2 
3 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Shallots .... 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Spinach .... 
3 
0 
0 
• 
$>• lb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. 
. V-lb. 
0 
s 
i 
0 
Herbs. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips .... 
. bunch 0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Vegetable Marrows each 
0 
0 
0 
0 
