November IS, 1884. ] 
JOURl^AL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
461 
to the practice of cutting down the plants in May or early June with the 
object of rendering them dwarf, and at the same time of producing good 
blooms. It is impossible to give categorical answers to your question. Very 
much depends on the condition of the plants at the time as to whether they 
can be cut down with advantage. Each cultitator must exercise his judg¬ 
ment, and should try half a dozen of the eairly-flowering varieties as an 
e.xperiment, and note the results the first year. Mr. Harding won the £25 
cup at Kingston with blooms mostly from cut-ldown plants, but no one else 
has done so, while some persons could not 'v^in a 5s. prize by the same 
practice. It is not so applicable to the Japanese varieties, yet Mr. Pithers, 
who is a good grower, has succeeded in thus itreating some of them. See 
his remarks on another page. They are left but of doors after being cut 
down, and shifted as needed afterwards, manute being given the same as if 
not cut down. Three or four or more growths are allowed to extend accord¬ 
ing to the strength of the plants, and very rarely indeed is it necessary to 
stop those shoots. 
Physalis alkekengi {R. Morse ).—The above is the botanical name of the 
plant of which you have sent a spray. It is popularly known as the Winter 
Cherry. It is a hardy perennial, and may be raised from seeds or increased 
by division of the roots. The round red berries have an acidulous, slightly 
bitter, and not unpleasant flavour. They are chiefly recommended as a 
diuretic, but in America they are commonly eaten to quench thirst, and in 
Germany, Switzerland, and Spain they are served at the table as dessert 
along with other fruits. The fruit of P. pubescens, a native of North 
America, is eatable, and made into confections. It is now naturalised in 
Italy, where it is cultivated in gardens and highly esteemed for its sweet 
acidulous berries. 
Rogiera gratissima (D. Masters ).—Perhaps the followdng figure will 
give you an ‘‘idea of what the plant is like.” It is admirably suited for a 
Fig. 74.—Rogiera gratissima. 
greenhouse, and with ordinary careful attention to its cultural requirements 
it flowers freely during the summer. The only objection that can be urged 
against the plant is that it is slightly straggling in habit, but a little judicious 
pruning will go far to obviate this disadvantage. The flowers are of a soft 
pinkish white tint and wax-like texture, and, moreover, possess a most 
agreeable fragrance, rendering them pleasing either on the plant or when 
cut. The culture, though not difficult, requires the care of a judicious 
plant-grower. One point of particular importance is that the soil and pot 
be sufficiently well drained to permit tlie free passage of the water, as stag¬ 
nant moisture soon produces a most injurious effect on the plant. A compost 
of light turfy loam, a little peat, and a good proportion of sand is the most 
suitable, exercising care to avoid overpotting. 
Preserving the Colours of Leaves (Horti ).—The following plan is 
recommended by a lady who has been successful in preserving autumn 
leaves :—As soon as possible after gathering them the leaves must be pressed. 
If they begin to welt or shrivel before you are ready to press them, put them 
in water and keep them there till they revive. See that no soil, no foreign 
substance of any kind, is on either side, and then with a warm, not hot, flat 
iron press and iron each leaf on its upper surface till it is perfectly dry, 
spreading it for this purpose on several layers of paper, or on an ordinary 
ironing-board, just as if it were cotton cloth. This over, oil each leaf on the 
same side on which it was ironed with linseed, olive, or lard oil, using a 
small camel-hair brush or a bit of cotton batting tied to a stick, and then 
place them on dishes in the sunshine to dry. When dry reject all those that 
have a semi-transparent or oily appearance; to prevent this get the thickest 
leaves you can for your collection, and do not oil them too generously nor 
with a rough brush. It is a mistaken notion that autumn leaves need 
varnishing. Varnish makes them brittle and more liable to crack, while the 
excessive lustre that it imparts is irnnatural. Oiling gives suflicient polish, 
deepens, clears, and preserves the colours, and keeps the tissues somewhat 
elastic. When the leaves get dusty wipe them with a damp cloth ; if they 
curl damp them, and place the branch for a few hours between papers under 
a pile of heavy books. 
Halakovna Apple {£. Leicester). —Undoubtedly there is an Apple of the 
above name, though your friend, “ who knows them all,” does not appear to 
know this variety. We know' it very well, and give its description :—Fruit 
small, roundish, in size and shape not unlike a good specimen of Golden 
Pippin, very regular in outline. Skin deep bright crimson over the entire 
surface, and wonderfully beautiful when growing on the tree. Eye full, 
with long pointed segments, which are reflexed at the tips, set in a shallow 
depression, closed. Stalk long,: slender. Flesh whitish, tinged with pink, 
firm and rather dry, but sweet and pleasant. The tree has a fine habit of 
growth, and is very productive, seeming one mass of scarlet when full of 
fruit. Highly worthy of cultivation as an ornamental variety. This was 
received from Russia by the Royal Horticultural Society. 
Dressing Vines—Pruning Scissors {F. J.). —Prune the Vines as soon as 
the leaves fall, then wash the rods well w'ith Gishurst compound or softsoap 
at the strength of 5 or G ozs. to a gallon of water, applying it at a tempera¬ 
ture of 120° or 130°, scrubbing them well with an old spoke brush ; then you 
may paint the rods with sulphur with just sufficient clay to cause it to 
adhere to the wood. Wash every part of the house thoroughly with hot 
water, and if the border is in the house remove an inch or two of soil from 
the surface and add fresh. You can procure pruning scissors from nearly all 
nurserymen and seedsmen who advertise in the Journal; those, for instance 
numbered 33 in Veitch’s catalogue being suitable for the purpose. We 
name these for the purpose of being explicit, but the same kind may be had 
from other vendors of horticultural requisites with whom you may happen 
to have business connections. 
Figs on Wall (IF. II., Hants). —As the trees have ripened the w'ood so 
well, and they are trained to a south wall, it is scarcely likely they will need 
any protection in the winter ; but should the weather prove very severe in 
spring a few Spruce boughs may be useful for the protection of the embryo 
fruit. This now, if the trees are in a bearing state, will be visible in the 
axils of the leaves, or where the leaves have fallen off, resembling bold buds. 
Any incipient fruits that are as'large as horse beans now will fall in the 
spring whether the trees are protecttd or not. We should not think of pro¬ 
tecting unless the weather should prove unusually severe. 
Names of Fruit (IF. M. Rose). —Comte de Lamy. Many packages must 
remain over till next week. 
Names of Plants [G. Simmons). —Your plant is Oestrum aurantiacum, 
which is very effective in the conservatory at this period of the year. 
{Reader). —1, Eulalia japonica zebrina ; 2, Santolina incana ; 3, Alstrcemeria 
psittacina. {G. W. B.). —Chrysanthemums are florists’ flowers, the varieties 
of which we do not undertake t'o riarhe, as several of them resemble each 
other too closely. The names can usually be determined by comparing 
flowers with those staged at exhibitions or in nurserymen’s collections at 
this season of the year. ; 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— November 12th. 
Our market still remains quiet and prices are without alteration. Large arriv.al cf 
Canadian Apples to hand. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples . 
J sieve 
2 
6 
to 5 
6 
Oranges . 
.. 100 
8 
0 to 12 
0 
Chestnuts .. .. 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
perdoz. 
3 
0 
H 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. per 
100 lbs. 
65 
0 
0 
,0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Currants, Red 
A sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
„ Black .. 
J sieve 
0 
0 
•0 
0 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
4 
0 
0 
0 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Plums . 
\ Sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Q-rapes . 
0 
6 
4 
0 
Strawberries.. 
.. lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons .. .. 
«• case 
15 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 
7 
0 
10 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
fl. 
d. 
3. 
d. 
3. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Artichokes .. .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Lettuce. 
dozen 
1 
0 to 
1 
p 
Beans, Kidney 
lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
0 
0 
1 
6 
Beet, Red .. .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Onions. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Brussels Sprouts .. 
4 sieve 
2 
6 
3 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cabbage . 
dozen 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Parsnips .. .. . 
, dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Capsicums .. .. 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Potatoes .. .. . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots . 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 
4 
,, Kidney . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Cauliflowers .. .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Rhubarb . 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Salsafy . 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
6 
Cole worts dcz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera .. . 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Cucumbers .. .. 
each 
0 
2 
0 
4 
Shallots . 
.. lb. 
0 
S 
0 
0 
E udive . 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Herbs . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes 
.. lb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Leeks . 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips . 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
LIVE STOCK. 
SEASONABLE HINTS. 
To subject cattle to the same method of treatment without refer¬ 
ence to individual peculiarities and wants is so clearly opposed to 
the dictates of reason and common sense that we_ might fairly 
suppose it could never be done ; yet how frequently is it so,^ and how 
many valuable animals are lost through the carelessness and ignorance 
