November IS, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
435 
More tender bulbs and tubers, of which Dahlias may be taken 
as a type, should be lifted from the ground before being injured 
by frost. When they are lifted at first they will be very damp, 
and they must on no account be stored in this state, or decay 
and much loss will certainly follow ; but they should be placed 
in some very drv room or shed until they have become quite dry, 
then store for the winter. Where there is a place with an equal 
and not a very high temperature, hardly any covering will be 
required for the bulbs, as a mat, a quantity of moss, or a handful 
of hay thrown over them will keep them plump and fresh; but 
while this is important it must also be seen that the roots are 
properly rested. This is a question of temperature, and no 
attempt should be made to store bulbs in any place where there 
is a strong heat. To place bulbs in warm loHs or close to hot 
pipes or flues is a mistake, as they would soon commence growing 
and would lose all the benefit of complete rest, which is so 
necessai'y to the success of all bulbs. 
Any place where the frost can be excluded and where the 
temperature will not rise higher than that in the open air in the 
shade, will be found an excellent position in which to rest all 
bulbs requiring to be taken indoors in winter. Hothouse bulbs 
of the Caladium and Gloxinia description may be kept in a 
slightly warmer place, but if they are properly developed bulbs 
and well dried, we should rather store them in a cool place and 
with the others than in a position where growth would begin in a 
few weeks after they were stored, and where they would never 
have any complete rest. Storing bulbs in winter is one thing, 
resting them is another. The former is done to preserve them, 
the latter to recruit their energies, and this is the most important 
of all. I have often noticed how weakly a bulb which was never 
properly at rest began growing in spring, and how robustly and 
energetically another which was thoroughly rested commenced 
its growth. The aim of all should be to secure the latter and see 
that rest is complete.—M. M. 
LIQUID MANURE. 
I HAVE carefully read Mr. Abbey’s article (page 401) on the above 
subject, also “ A Thinker’s,” page 392. I cannut see myself what “ Non- 
Believer” needs to convince him that to apply liquid manure when the 
ground is dry is not only dangerous but wasteful. In my opinion the 
illustration of a bottle being half full will hold more water than one that 
is empty is not only out of place, but absurd. Suppose, for instance, 
“ Non-Believer ” had to cultivate soil as it is here, a stiff clayey loam, 
with a subsoil of marl, he would find if it were allowed to become dry it 
would crack. What would become of the liquid manure if poured on 
and washed in afterw,ards 1 A more legitimate way wt.uld be to fork 
the surface over to fill up the fissures, give a good soaking with clear 
water, then, if in summer time, apply the liquid manure in the morning, 
give a good mulching with half-decayed manure, or anything to prevent 
evaporation. The same applies exactly in t ie case of plants in pots. 
Vines, or Peaches.—J. Proose. 
THE CAUSE OF MILDEW. 
I WROTE to you some four or five weeks ago on the subject of mildew 
on Rose trees. My object in doing so was to elicit any useful informa¬ 
tion that your readers might have to give. Perhaps you did not receive my 
note. I think the subject important enough for consideration, at all events 
quite as important as “ whether A, K. Williams should be styled Emperor 
or Empress.” In this week’s Journal “ C. W.” says that mildew is very 
prevalent in cold wet summers. Now, I do not think anyone can call 
the summer of 1884 wet or cold, yet mildew on Rose trees has been very 
prevalent in this neighbourhood (North Cheshire). Sulphur is a snare 
and not a preventive ; its effects are only temporary, and are gained at 
the cost of disfigurement. We want to get at the root of the matter, 
and not to content ourselves with guesses and nasty mixtures.— 
J. C. Clayton. 
[We have no recollection of having received the letter referred to on 
this difficult and important subject.] 
EXHIBITION ROSES. 
In the Journal of 23rd October Mr. Mawley has given a most valuable 
paper on exhibition Roses, and the table of the relative exhibition values 
of the various sorts is certainly extremely useful, and one to which I have 
been looking forward ever since. A similar table for Dahlias appeared in 
your paper. Almost at the same time the National Rose Society issued its 
revised catalogue of Roses, and it is to a comparison of the two that I 
wish tr draw your attention. Of course, in Mr. Mawley’s catalogue there 
are many varieties mentioned which do not appear in the National Rose 
Society’s catalogue. This is only to be expected, as in course of time new 
varieties push out older ones, but I cannot understand why any should 
appear in the National catalogue which are not in Mr. Mawley’s. The 
following are the Roses in question :—Cath. Soupert, 1879 ; Centifolia 
Rosea, 1863 ; Comte Raimbaud, 1867; Egeria, 1878 ; Emily Hausbcrg, 
1868; Harrison Weir, 1879 ; Mardchal Vaillant, 1861 ; Monsieur Boncenne, 
1864 ; Mrs. Laxton, 1878 ; Th^rese Levet, 1866 ; Violette Bouyer, 1881. 
Mr. Mawley does not mention any of the above, of which, with the 
exception of Violette Bouyer, the most recent was introduced in 1879, and 
if in five years a Rose has not made a name it certainly seems to me 
unfitted for the National catalogue. I cannot understand why Violette 
Bouyer is not mentioned, as she was largely shown in 1883. 
Possibly some of your readers can enlighten me on the above point, as 
it cannot be a question of the year with the Roses referred to, as Mr. 
Mawley’s catalogue extends over eight years, which would give every 
kind of Rose a chance.— Aspiro. 
BENTHAMIA FRAGIFERA. 
This distinct and handsome tree succeeds in the south and west of 
England and in some parts of Ireland, but it is tender and very liable to 
he injured by unusually severe winters. In a few districts it grows, 
flowers, and fruits freely, and specimens of the latter are occasionally sent 
us by correspondents. Some of the finest we have seen, however, were 
recently forwarded to this office by Mr. Lakes of Trevarrick, St. Austell, 
Cornwall, one of which is represented in the woodcut, fig. 72. They 
were gathered from a tree 40 feet high, and with a spread of branches of 
ab )ut 45 feet ; it is therefore one of the finest in cultivation, though we 
believe there is one near Cork, Ireland, of similar dimensions. 
The tree is a native of Nepaul, where it was discovered by Dr. Wallich, 
who describes it as being the size of an Apple tree aud bearing its yellow 
scentless blooms in June. As seen in this country the flowers are more 
of a buff hue, not very bright or attractive, but the peculiarly formed 
fruits are of a rich orange colour, and when abundant they give the tree 
a most pleasing aspect. The specimen shown in our figure is drawn of 
its natural size, the leaves being narrow, tapering, and glaucous on the 
lower surface. The fruits do not possess any quality to recommend them 
as food, though they are eaten by the inhabitants of the Himalayas, 
CUTTING DOWN CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
A FEW notes of my experience may possibly be of some interest as 
regards the cutting-down system. I will commence with a few incurved 
varieties, I cut down a plant of Eve to within 4 inches of the pot in the 
second week of May, the result being five very promising flowers on the 
one plant, which I expect to be at their best about the 20th inst. Mabel 
