372 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ October 19,1882, 
It is proposed, therefore, that we hold a show of Pinks in the 
later days of the month of June next year, and that a committee 
be formed to draw up the schedule and regulations, and that the 
friends of the movement communicate at once with the under¬ 
signed. A subscription of 5s. from every lover of Pinks will pro¬ 
vide funds enough, for in truth we do not need a heavy purse, 
but money we must have. I now send round the hat, engaging 
to nominate the committee forthwith, and to announce the date of 
the show instantly upon obtaining from Major Mason an official 
reply to requests I have made anticipatory of this appeal. 
To pronounce a panegyric on the Pink is not needful, and I 
would not burden your well-filled columns with a word more than 
I think 1 may fairly ask room for in the interest of a flower that 
has a name and a fame, but has for some time past shivered in the 
shade of cold neglect. All I wish to do is to give the Pink a new 
start by an exhibition in London. That accomplished, I shall 
gladly hand over the affair to better men, and hope to see the 
Pink show established as a respectable institution. 
Lovers of Pinks, my hat is before you. Put in your crowns, 
and if things do not fit I will return the money. We must begin 
somewhere and somehow, and I propose that we form a society 
for the special purpose of producing one exhibition. As regards 
the farther future, we will leave that for the present to take care 
of itself.— Shirley Hibberd, 15, Urownswood Park, London, N. 
VINES AT LONGFORD CASTLE. 
To those who take more than an ordinary interest in Grapes 
and their culture it is at all times a pleasure to see Vines in a 
healthy and flourishing condition, no matter whether they are 
young or old, growing or at rest; for even if they are at rest, or, 
to speak more correctly, when they are not in active growth, it is 
not by any means difficult for the practical man to see what they 
have been doing, or to foretell with a certain degree of accuracy 
what they are likely to do in the future, supposing, of course, that 
all goes well. In a recent visit to the gardens at Longford Castle, 
Salisbury, I was highly gratified to find the most vigorous and 
promising young Vines of their age it has ever been ray good 
fortune to see, and certainly such as we might almost with cer¬ 
tainty venture to predict will at some future day render a good 
account of themselves. Indeed half of them, which are planted 
out as supernumeraries, are doing so now, each one carrying about 
four bunches and averaging something like 3 lbs. each, and this, 
too, when they were only put in as eyes eighteen months ago, and 
even now are not being cropped at their full capacity, it being 
intended to take another crop from the upper half of the rods 
next year. The Vines are planted in inside borders at a distance 
of 2 feet from each other. The permanent rods will be allowed 
to bear their first crop next year; and so strong is the wood—as 
thick as a stout walking stick, with leaves of that leathery texture 
and dark healthy green which is indicative of the best of health 
—that many gardeners would not have scrupled to have cropped 
them this year. This, however, if it had been done would doubt¬ 
less have been a mistake, as many Vines are crippled for life 
through being overcropped in a young state. The range, which is 
a three-quarter span and with three or four divisions, is planted 
with all the leading varieties—Muscat of Alexandria, Mrs. Pince, 
Madresfield Court, Lady Downe’s, Abercairney Seedling, Treb- 
biano, Gros Colman, Gros Maroc, Alicante, Black Hamburgh, &c. 
The berries of Gros Colman we noticed as being particularly fine, 
some of them measuring 4 inches in circumference, the largest I 
ever remember to have seen. Mrs. Pince and Lady Downe’s were 
also conspicuous by their good colour and finish. Although the 
Vines are now growing in inside borders they are destined even¬ 
tually to occupy an outside one about 14 feet in width, the front 
wall being built on arches for the said purpose. The soil in which 
they are planted is a strong yellowish loam, and contains a small 
per-centage of iron, which is necessary to the well-doing of Vines 
—and has nothing incorporated besides animal manure, bones 
being excluded altogether, as Mr. Ward does not consider them 
absolutely necessary to produce good Grapes, and certainly the 
present state of the Vines would warrant anyone else in coming 
to the same conclusion. 
For a few years past Mr. Ward has had an uphill task battling 
with the phylloxera, and almost all known remedies have been 
tried to exterminate it; but nothing short of what is generally 
known as the “ stamping-out process ” was successful, and that 
success has been attained one cannot for a moment have the 
slightest doubts. The almost continuous anxiety of mind result¬ 
ing to the enthusiast from a visitation of this dreadful pest may 
be more easily imagined than described. Wherever it does appear, 
however, the best advice that can be given is to remove the Vines 
and destroy them without a moment’s delay, clear away every 
particle of soil, apd thoroughly disinfect every inch of surface 
where the old soil has been taken from. Plant again Vines which 
can be warranted to be free from the insect, or put in eyes of the 
varieties required, and as soon as rooted and they have made a 
fair start in growth plant them out. Nothing short of this, so far 
as practical men are aware, has hitherto proved successful.— 
Jno. Horsefield. 
NOTES ON WASPS. 
As “Duckwing” has given us his year’s experience, which 
differs very considerably from mine, I must reluctantly trouble 
your readers with a few lines on a subject which by this time 
I imagine everyone must be tired ; and, therefore, I will endea¬ 
vour to condense into small compass, having kept my “ eyes 
open” a little wider than usual in anticipation. 
Queen wasps were unusually abundant in the spring, I may even 
say winter, for on January 19th last the first was seen and re¬ 
marked upon by me. As the season advanced the cry became 
general ; and, as I have before mentioned, I killed all I could, 
amounting to over one hundred round my own garden. Two 
nests were commenced in my arbour within a few feet, and not¬ 
withstanding my attention and energetic pursuit and destruction 
of queens many escaped, and with the result that I never was 
troubled with so many ordinary wasps as this autumn, in spite of 
all the wet weather during July and August. I have destroyed ten 
nests within a short distance, the wasps from which were constant 
visitors to my fruit and bees, as by careful watching (the wasps 
being fed on a little honey and water for the purpose) I traced 
out each nest. Some of the nests were very strong, and others 
the opposite. Several of the nests I have exhibited at our Amateur 
Gardeners’ Society from the first about as large as a thimble, with 
one very small comb and the single queen, and others in different 
stages of development up till the present time, with the combs 
all cleared out and the queens ready to separate and seek out their 
winter’s quarters. 
One “byke” was exhibited just as it was taken from the earth 
with wasps intact, not as Tom Edwards’ was—“ in his shirt,” but 
securely wrapt in a newspaper. 
In my walks during the past summer I have never notice*! so 
many nests in any season as the present. I counted twenty-three 
within a mile, and round one old marl pit four within 20 yards. 
In one nest I could find no male wasps, although there were 
about fifty queens. Whether these would be fertile or barren 
queens I cannot say, but I have saved several alive if there is 
any means of ascertaining the fact either now or by keeping them 
through the winter, when I imagine their egg-laying capacity 
would be fuller developed. I have trespassed, I find, further 
than I intended, but must just say that I have not seen a hornet 
this season.—J. Hiam, Worcestershire. 
|p WORK, F0I H HE WEEK,.< 
rh 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Plant out, if not already done, the principal crop of Cabbage for 
early summer use, hoeing frequently about those for early spring use, 
drawing a little soil to them to keep them steady and prevent damage 
by winds. Dust occasionally with quicklime if slugs are troublesome. 
Complete the planting-out of Lettuces and Endive for spring use, 
and see to the requirements of those previously planted as regards 
keeping them free from weeds, and applying lime, soot, or wood 
ashes as preventive of the attacks of slugs, worms in some instances 
being also extremely troublesome. 
Run the hoe between the rows of winter Spinach, and thin the 
plants well to allow of large leaves being formed, and prevent 
damping off by well exposing the plants. Only the large leaves of 
this esteemed vegetable should be gathered at this season, as cutting 
too much enfeebles the plants and interferes with the continuity of 
the supply. Winter Onions should be kepc free from weeds, and if 
too thick in the rows thin moderately. Cauliflowers will now require 
attention to protect the heads in case of sudden frosts; a few leaves 
broken down over the heads will be sufficient for the present, and 
will also keep them clean and white. 
