August 17, 1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
163 
colour. The skin is of the consistence of that of the Fig, but is thinner. The 
interior is a soft fleshy pulp, purplish-red next the skin, but becoming paler 
towards the middle, and at the centre it is quite white. It is juicy, and in 
consistence is much like a Strawberry, which it resembles in flavour. This is 
one of the best of the Guavas, and is a native of China, whence it has been intro¬ 
duced to Brazil, and now it is grown extensively in both countries. 
The Cherry Plum (J. E.). —The description of the Cherry Plum given on 
page 139 was accurate as far as it went, and was sufficient for the purpose of our 
reply. We now add that the fruit is medium-sized, cordate, somewhat flattened 
at the stalk, and terminated at the apex by a small nipple, which bears upon it 
the remnant of the style like a small bristle. Skin very thick and pale red, 
covered with small greyish white dots. Stalk three-quarters of an inch long, 
slender, and inserted in a small cavity. Flesh yellow, sweet, juicy, and subacid, 
adhering to the stone. This agrees with Linnseus’ description of the fruit, and 
any other account that differs from it in any essential particular is incorrect. 
The other Plum to which you refer is a different variety altogether, and probably 
has no existence now. 
Wistaria Treatment (II. A).—The young shoots should by timely atten¬ 
tion to training be kept from twining round the wires, and be trained-in mode¬ 
rately thin, so as to expose them freely to light and air, thereby solidifying the 
growth and ripening it, so as to induce a free disposition to flower. Any shoots 
not required for training-in should be cut back to a couple of joints of growth, 
and to one subsequently, so as to induce the formation of spurs. The young 
shoots should be trained-in their full length as far as space permits, and be 
otherwise stopped or spurred-in. If the situation be dry supply water freely in 
hot weather. 
Mildew on Roses (IF. HI.). —The measures you have already adopted will 
probably be useful in promoting healthy growth ; at the same time we recom¬ 
mend you to dissolve 3 ozs. of soft soap in a gallon of water, mixing in it 
also a small handful of flov'ers of sulphur, and syringe the trees with this 
mixture at a temperature of 120°. This will check the growth of the mildew, 
if it does not destroy it altogether. We name this remedy because it is generally 
at disposal. Nicotine soap and Ewing’s mildew composition are alike useful 
for the same purpose. 
Earwigs Eating Nectarines (A Forest Hill Reader). —Since the fruit 
is ripe or nearly so it would not be safe to apply any strong insecticides for 
destroying the pests; but by violent syringings you could dislodge them from 
their lurking places, and then prevent them ascending the wall again by a 
barrier of coal tar spread at or near the bottom of the wall, with cotton wool 
wrapped round the stems of the trees also smeared with tar. The insects no 
doubt can fly over the barriers, but that is not their usual method of locomotion 
when in quest of food. If you place a little moss or hay in small flower pots, 
these to be laid along the bottom of the wall, and examine the pots every 
morning, you may destroy numbers of earwigs. Our plan is to shake them into 
water as near the boiling point as possible ; in this way we have killed thousands 
instantaneously, hence painlessly. 
Double Stocks (D. E.). —If you perceive any single flowers that have 
more than four petals choose these for producing seed, removing the others, and 
you will be certain to have a large per-centage of double flowers ; if you have no 
such abnormal flowers do not let too many pods mature on the same plant, and 
support the plants well. You may then hope for good results if the plants are 
in a favourable position for ripening the seed. 
Grapes not Colouring (An Amateur). —We think on the whole you have 
been successful with your Vines. Those in pots are probably cropped rather too 
heavily, and it is not uncommon for young Vines with much extension growth 
beyond the bunches to fail to mature satisfactorily the whole of the berries. 
Undoubtedly the red spider would impair the colouring process. Syringe the 
Vines heavily after the fruit is cut, and wash the insects off the foliage. We 
think we warned you against keeping the old spider-infested Cucumber plants, 
and you are now paying the penalty of having followed what you considered a 
better plan than ours. Had you carried out our suggestions you would have 
had more Cucumbers, less red spider, cleaner Vines, and better Grapes. We will 
readily give you all the aid we can at any time. You have done right by 
liming the border, and it will probably be advisable to syringe the Vines next 
year after the fruit has set. 
Melons not Setting (F. C.). —It is by no means easy for us to state the 
cause of your failure, but we presume it would not be difficult to determine the 
point if we could see the plants. The small size of the flowers indicates that 
the plants have received a check. This may have resulted from temporary dry¬ 
ness of the roots, or an excess of liquid manure ; and again, the atmosphere of 
the house, as is not unfrequently the case, may have been too wet or too dry, 
and in either event the fruit would not set. The bottom heat of 75° to 80° 
would suffice if the treatment were right in other respects ; but you do not 
mention the top heat or temperature of the house, which is a most important 
matter. The upright trellis is not the cause of the evil; still the growths are 
better trained up the roof of a house, and about a foot from the glass—the exact 
angle being of no importance whatever. You have overlooked what has been 
witten, but the subject shall be treated more fully than is possible in the form 
of a reply. 
Peaches and Nectarines (Idem).—' To our taste there is quite as much 
difference in the flavour of some of those fruits, Nectarines especially, as between 
different varieties of Strawberries. The Strawberries you sent arrived like a 
sample of jam—utterly shapeless, and uhdistinguishable for the purpose of 
nomenclature. 
fed as needed and according to circumstances, but no honey should be taken 
from the hive now. By carrying out this plan we think you will have two 
good hives next spring. See what Mr. Pettigrew says on page 161. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— AUGUST 16TII. 
Our market is still very quiet, and the supply of home-grown fruit has 
greatly fallen off within the past week. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
9, 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
Apples. 
} sieve 
0 
ntoo 
0 
Lemons. 
case 
20 
rtoSO 
Api-icots. 
doz. 
1 
0 
1 
0 
Melons. 
each 
2 
0 
4 
Cherries. 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
o 
Nectarines. 
dozen 
4 
0 
12 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges . 
100 
fi 
0 
10 
Currants, Black.. 
4 sieve 
5 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
dozen 
4 
0 
12 
„ Red.... 
4 sisve 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 
4 
0 
0 
0 
dessert. 
dozen 
1 
0 
G 
Filberts. 
tb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Pine Apples, English tb. 
3 
0 
4 
Cobs. 
100 It,. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
tb. 
o 
Gooseberries .... 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Strawberries .... 
lb. 
0 
6 
1 
Grapes . 
lb. 
1 
0 
4 
0 
VEGETABT.ES. 
9. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
9. 
Artichokes. 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Lettuces . 
score 
1 
Otol 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mushrooms . 
. punnet 
0 
i 
Beans,Kidney... 
100 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard & Cress 
.punnet 
0 
2 
0 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Ouions. 
bch. 
0 
6 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
6 
Parsley. doz.bunches 
3 
0 
4 
Brussels Sprouts. 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips. 
. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
Cabbage . 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
o 
10 
Capsicums. 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Potatoes . 
"ewt. 
6 
0 
7 
Carrots . 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Kidney. 
cwt. 
(i 
0 
8 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Radishes_ doz .bunches 
i 
0 
0 
Celery. 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Seorzonera . 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
Endive. 
dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Seakale . 
basket 
0 
0 
0 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Shallots. 
lb. 
0 
3 
0 
Garlic . 
ib. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
3 
0 
0 
Herbs. 
bunch 
o 
9 
0 
0 
th 
o 
o 
Leeks. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips . 
bunch 
0 
6 
0 
d. 
o 
o 
o 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
0 
d- 
6 
« 
s 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
e 
6 
6 
0 
8 
0 
4 
0 
0 
0 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
THE NORFOLK OR FOUR-COURSE SYSTEM OF 
CROPPING. 
(i Continued from page HI.) 
As we have previously stated all that can be said in favour of 
this system of cropping on light, thin, and poor soils, we will now 
refer to the system when carried out upon the mixed and better 
soils in various parts of the kingdom, and the difficulties and 
disadvantages in connection with its adoption thereon. In the 
management of the Norfolk course proper—viz., Wheat, roots, 
Lent corn, and Clover, there is but little opportunity for cleaning 
the land if the season should prove wet and unfavourable when 
making the fallows for roots. From sowing the Lent corn there 
is no time or opportunity for clearing the land of couch or twitch 
as it is called, until after the Wheat crop is cleared off, a period of 
something like twenty-eight months, without breaking in upon 
the rotation and system of stocking, which by its advocates is 
claimed as important, and must be rigidly observed and performed, 
especially the stock of sheep and cattle. 
Numbers of Journal (./. E .).—The date of the number 654 is October 9th, 
1873; and of 789, May 11th, 1876. 
Names of Fruits (Sultmarsh A- Son). —The fruit was so much decayed we 
could not identify it. Plums should always be accompanied with a portion of 
young wood. 
Names of Plants (A. B .).—The plant with variegated leaves is Trades- 
cantia discolor, the other is Isolepis gracilis. (IF. II. Myers ).—12 and 24, Aira 
csespitosa (Tufted Hair Grass) ; 14, Holcus lanatus (Meadow Soft Grass) ; 27, 
Lolium italicum (Italian Rye Grass); 29, Glyceria fluitans (Floating Sweet 
Grass); 30, Briza media (Common Quaking Grass). (G. I 1 ., Devon ).—Ceterach 
officinarum. 
Management of Bees (M. B. I ).).—So far as we understand the case—and 
we do not perceive how you could have made it more clear—both the old hive 
and the swarm are of fair strength, and the bees work actively. As regards the 
former, we should drive the bees into a bar-frame hive and take the honey; then 
feel them liberally at once. The swarm already in the bar-frame should be 
The provision for sheep, especially for breeding ewes, forbids 
the ploughing of the Wheat stubbles in the autumn in order to 
forward the fallow land in the spring, because these stubbles 
afford the only run for the in-lamb ewes until the land is fallow- 
ploughed in the month of December. It is especially valuable 
for this purpose when Italian Rye grass has been sown in the 
Wheat for autumn-feeding, for we have known the stubbles folded 
off for sheep three times between harvest and Christmas when 
Italian Rye grass has been grown for the purpose. Some farmers 
feed their sheep on Clover in the Lent-corn stubbles in the autumn, 
but this practice often ruins the plant of Clover; the Clover 
plants die from this cause during the winter months, and in 
