July 17,1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
G1 
these are the better will the trees transplant. We should prune at once, not 
allowing a day’s unnecessary delay to occur in the matter. 
Soil for Vine Border (TF. J. D .).—We presume the bulk of the turf 
proposed to be used contains more soil adhering to the roots than in the 
sample sent, otherwise the border would be little more than a mass of vege¬ 
table matter. Perhaps owing to the dry weather the bulk of the soil had 
become shaken from the portion sent. In its present condition we should 
not like to rely on it for Vines. Cannot you by digging deeper get more 
soil ? Failing this, cannot you get soil from another source for mixing with the 
fluffy turf ? Good garden soil would improve it greatly. In its present state 
we certainly do not consider it suitable for a permanent Vine border ; in fact, 
we should hesitate to rely on it even fora “ few years” without some addi¬ 
tion as suggested. 
Plums Cracked {J.B .).—We fear we are unable to give you a very satis¬ 
factory reply to your question, inasmuch as we are not sufficiently acquainted 
with the treatment as to syringing, watering, and ventilating to which the 
trees have been subjected. If there has been no mistake in these respects 
we can only suggest that the fruits formed while the roots of the trees were 
comparatively inactive, under which circumstances it would not swell freely, 
and the cuticle would necessarily lose its natural elasticity. Then, when 
roots commenced working freely, and the trees were fed liberally, the pressure 
of sap was so great as to cause the collapse of the Plums. We have seen the 
same thing occur after a very hot dry period, suddenly followed by very 
heavy rains in the case of Plume in the open air, nearly the w'hole crop of 
certain varieties splitting instead of swelling ; and the varieties to which 
you refer are amongst those most liable to be affected in this manner. 
Fungus on Cucumbers {B., Wilts ).—Your letter arrived just too late to 
be answered last week. Of the fragment of leaf sent little remained, as it 
was macerated by the moisture by which it was surrounded. The fungus 
had also vanished. Judging by the very weak stem of the leaf, and the 
small ill-fed Cucumber, the plants appear to require more support than they 
are receiving, either in the form of copious supplies of liquid manure or pre¬ 
ferably top-dressings of rough rich soil for inducing the production of fresh 
roots. If you treat them more generously in this respect, and at the same 
time keep the atmosphere and temperature right, we think your plants, if not 
“ too far gone,” will improve rapidly. You say nothing about their general 
condition, nor of the treatment to which they have been subjected. You will 
find the names of plants at the foot of this column. 
Vines and Pines [F. C .).—We are sorry to observe that your Vines are 
infested with mealy bug, there being more than a dozen insects in the par¬ 
ticle of bark you have sent. Dissolve 2 ozs. of softsoap in a gallon of soft 
water, adding also a little soda, then mix in by violent agitation a wineglass¬ 
ful of petroleum, and with this wash the rods, scrubbing the mixture w'ell 
in during the evening. Do not apply it in the morning, or to the young 
wood, fruit, or foliage ; from these parts some of the insects may be dislodged 
by forcible syringings or washing with a sponge. In the autumn both Vines 
and every portion of the house must be subjected to a thorough cleansing, 
as if you allow this pest to get the master j'ou will have little more pleasure 
in Grape-growing, while if it gets on the Pines you will never get it off again. 
Although you may have carried out instructions with exactitude, it does not 
follow that your Pines must be of the first size, as the plants were not in the 
best condition to begin with. We should not have been much surprised if 
they had not fruited at all. We are glad to hear some of them at least have 
done so, and the fruit may attain a larger size than you imagine. It is best 
to remove all suckers till the fruit shows. Queens started at once will, if in 
good fruiting condition, ripen in early winter. The sketch of the Grape does 
not at all resemble the Madresfield Court, the fruit of which is distinctly oval. 
Cinerarias (Mrs. D .).—We have very great pleasure in answering your 
inquiries, and also those of all other correspondents whom we can usefully 
assist. We think you may still have some of your plants in flower by 
Christmas, but they will not be large; at least, those wanted as early as 
possible we should not shift out of 5-inch pots, in which size very attractive 
plants are produced. Your seedlings, as we understand you, are now pricked 
ofl; in a pan. If this is stood on a flower pot or pots, inverted in another pan 
of water, the plants will be absolutely safe from slugs, and the moisture 
evaporating will also be beneficial. The seedlings will be far better in a 
frame than in a house, and they will grow all the more freely if in a shaded 
position. They must be kept regulai-ly moist, and when fairly established 
will be invigorated if exposed to the night dews, placing on the lights in the 
daytime, with ventilation, and keeping the atmosphere of the frame moist. 
When the plants touch each other place them singly in 3-inch pots, using 
rather light soil, such as two-thirds of loam and one-third leaf soil, with an 
admixture of sand. Keep them close, moist, and shaded until they recover 
from the check received in potting, then admit air freely as before, removing 
the lights when the nights are calm and clear. Stand the pots on sharp 
sifted ashes, which always keep moist. As soon as the roots coil round the 
sides of the pots and protrude from the drainage transfer to 5-inch pots, 
using rather stronger loam and decayed manure in place of leaf soil, also 
mixing with the soil a twentieth part of soot, and pot rather firmly. Cool¬ 
ness with moisture, with shade from the mid-day sun, are what the plants 
need, and they must not lack for water for a moment, as especially must the 
soil be moist when shifting is done. When growing freely they may be 
sprinkled every afternoon in bright weather, and on the appearance of the 
first insect fumigate the frame slightly when the foliage is dry. Permitting 
insects to increase, and then using strong measures for destroying them, is 
one of the greatest mistakes that can be made in growdng Cinerarias. Some 
of the plants may be again shifted into 7-inch pots, but the forwardest w'e 
should not shift, nor should we stop the central growth. This we should 
allow to extend and support the plants if needed with weak liquid manure. 
If you desire further information on any particular point do not hesitate to 
write to us, and we will readily attend to your letter. 
lalium Browni (Idem ).—This Lily, if the plants and bulbs are healthy, 
flowers every year ; but the bulbs are liable to decay, as their peculiar form 
renders them liable to hold the water that may collect around them. Special 
care should be exercised to drain well the station before planting by letting 
the soil rest on a layer of stones G inches thick. The bulbs should also be 
well surrounded with sand or other gritty matter, through which water will 
pass freely. The Japanese are said to lay the bulbs on their sides when 
planting as a precaution against the lodgment of water in them, but we have 
irot had occasion to try that method. 
Names of Plants (Clifton). —The flower you have sent is of Chrysan¬ 
themum segetum, the wild Corn Marigold, but now frequently grown in 
gardens. (B., ITiiis).—1, Alnus laciniata ; 2, Pinus austriaca ; 3, Ilalesia 
tetraptera; 4, Orchis maculata; 5, Geranium saneuineum; 6, Anagallis 
tenella, the Bog Pimpernel. (Constant Header). —1, Francoa appendiculata ; 
2, Anemone narcissiflora ; 3, Sidalcea oregana; 4, Sidalcea oregana var. 
densa ; 5, Digitalis ochroleuca ; G, Catananche casrulea. (D. H .).—Arnica 
montana. (Sir B. M.). —The large yellow flower is the Corn Marigold, Chrys¬ 
anthemum segetum ; the small yellow one is Sedum acre ; the other is the 
Bose Bay, Epilobium angustifolium. We arc not able to undertake to give 
the names of Boses, but the variety you send is possibly Triomphe de Bennes. 
Flowers for Bees (J. Felly ).—We cannot better answer your question 
than by extracting the following list of bee-feeding plants from Carter’s 
“ Explanatory Guide ” to their exhibit of food, officinal, and honey-yielding 
plants at the Health Exhibition :—Alyssum saxatile, Anchu.sa italica, Am¬ 
brosia mexicana, Arabis alpina, Melissa officinalis, Ocymum Basilicum and 
suave, Berberis communis, Borago officinalis. Polygonum Fagopyrum, Calli- 
opsis bicolor, Iberis odorata, Clarkia pulchella. Salvia Horminum, Trifolium 
hybridum, Melilotus leucantha. Trifolium pratense perenne, Collinsia bicolor, 
Elsholtzia cristata, Trigonella Foenumgrsecum, Hedysarum coronarium, Ulex 
europreus, Gilia tricolor, Cerinthe minor, Polemonium creiuleum, Brassica 
oleracea acephala, Leptosiphon densiflorus, Limnanthes odorata, Lupinus 
annuns, Malope grandiflora. Origanum vulgare and Majorannm, Mirabilis 
Jalapa, Beseda odorata, Tropreolum majus, Nemophila insignis. Petunia 
grandiflora, Phacelia congesta. Phlox Drummondi, Hesperis matronalis. Salvia 
officinalis and argentea, Satureia hortensis and montana, Scabiosa atropur- 
purea, Mathiola annua, Alyssum maritimura, Lathyrus odoratus, Helianthus 
annuus. Thymus vulgaiis, Brassica Bapa, Omphalodes linifolia, Cheiranthus 
Cheiri, and Whitlavia grandiflora. 
Bees not Swarming (G. T. G .).—You need not fear the presence of 
fertile w'orkers in a hive whose queen is so prolific that a ball of bees, “ more 
in number than would make a large swarm,” is hanging outside. An article 
on supering in another column will supply an answer to your question. 
These bees, not prepared to swarm, would have filled perhaps more than one 
large super during the late beautiful weather. If you had particularly w'anted 
a swarm you should have driven the bees as soon as they needed more room. 
The bees have been hanging idle during the very prime of the honey season. 
If 3 ’ou bad prepared a super and shaken the hangers-out into it, and then 
placed the super over the hive, everything was in favour of obtaining a fine 
lot of comb honey. Do so now, although getting late in the honey season. 
Perhaps you are near heather; if so, you may still look for good results. 
Fertile workers are not tolerated where the queen is prolific. It is in queen¬ 
less stocks, or in stocks whose queens are getting old and sterile, that 
fertile workers gain a footing. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— July 16tii. 
Trade quiet. Supplies well in excess of demand, and pricas generally lower. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
1 
6 
to 5 
0 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
6 
0 to 10 
0 
Cherries.. .. 
7 
0 
12 
0 
Peaches. 
per doz. 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Chestnuts .. 
.. bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pefirs, kitchen .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Currants, Red 
.. h sieve 
4 
0 
5 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
5 
0 
„ Black 
., J sieve 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Pine Apples English .. lb. 
2 
0 
3 
G 
Figs .. .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Raspberries .. 
per Id. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Grapes .. .. 
.. .. lb. 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Strawbei-ries.. 
.. lb. 
0 
2 
0 
9 
Lemons .. .. 
. , case 
15 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
»■> 
0 
G 
0 
VEGETABLES 
s. 
d. 
s. d. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Artichokes .. 
.. dozen 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Mushrooms .. . 
punnet 
0 
0 
to 1 
G 
Beans, Kidney 
lb. 
0 
9 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
., dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions . 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
0 
Broccoli .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
.. J sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. ., 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. .. 
0 
S 
0 
4 
„ New .. .. 
cwt. 
5 
0 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
.. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Celery .. .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
G 
Coleworts doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
6 
Cucumbers .. 
.. each 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Shallots. 
.. lb. 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Endive ., 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Herbs .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes 
.. lb. 
0 
G 
0 
0 
Leeks .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Lettuce .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
G 
„ New .. .. 
bunch 
0 
6 
0 
0 
HAYMAKING. 
THE MANAGEMENT OF GRASS LAND FOR HAY. 
Our crop of meadow hay this year is a good one, decidedly 
