80 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 22, 1880. 
planted. If none of tbe circumstances suggested have promoted the premature 
" piping ” of your Lettuces we attribute the cause to the seed not being of good 
quality. Last year was most unpropitious to the ripening of seed, and sound 
and well-matured seed is the first essential to satisfactory crops. If imperfect 
seed is the cause of your failure it does not necessarily fellow that the seedsman 
is blameable, for we know that the chief nurserymen and seed firms made special 
efforts to obtain the best stocks that were procurable for supplying to their 
customers. 
Insects on Vines (J. S. S .).—Without seeing the insects—and there are 
none on the leaves sent—it is impossible for us to tell you what they are. But 
whatever they are you appear to be able to destroy them, and you cannot do 
better than continue the treatment you have found effectual. Timely applications 
of quassia water might render the shoots and leaves distasteful to the insects 
and prevent their attacks, which is better than cure. We must inform you, 
however, that the numerous warts on the larger leaves are not caused by insects. 
Your vinery has been kept too close and moist at some time, and ventilation has 
been delayed too long in the morning. One leaf is certainly scorched, and the 
whole of them indicate that the ventilators have been closed when there was 
much moisture in the atmosphere when the sun has been shining on the house. 
Never close the house entirely, but leave the ventilators open an inch or two all 
night, increasing the ventilation very early in the morning in advance of the 
rising temperature, and do not syringe the Vines or damp the house late in the 
afternoon. Had you adopted this practice throughout the season your Vines 
would not be in the condition they are now ; they will not, however, we think, 
be seriously injured if you keep them free from insects, admit more air, and 
employ less moisture. We do not think the man who supplied the Vines can be 
properly blamed for their present condition. 
Melons Unhealthy (Idem ).—The leaves sent are much infested with the 
red spider. If the plants are trained on a trellis syringe them forcibly ; if in a 
frame sponge the leaves, especially the under surfaces, with a strong solution 
of soft soap. The red spider, not "the fungus, is the cause of their present very 
unsatisfactory state. 
Cucumbers Unhealthy (J. S., Nottingham ).—The portion of roots you 
have enclosed enables us to say that they are affected with the “ disease,” all 
particulars of which you will find, with an illustration, on page 74 of No. 852 of 
the Journal, which can be had from the publisher in return for 3,pi. in postage 
stamps. Mr. W. G-. Smith there states a remedy. “ salus,” and he is supported 
by Mr. D. T. Fish, but other cultivators consider that to attempt applying a 
remedy to Cucumber roots badly affected with excrescences is to waste time 
needlessly. One who has had great experience gives the following advice in 
cases similar to yours :—“ Raise fresh plants from seed, not from cuttings of the 
affected plants, which destroy. Remove the whole of the soil, give every part of 
the interior walls a thorough dressing with hot limewash, scour the whole of 
the woodwork, close the house, and fill it with fumes of sulphur; then put in 
some fresh sweet soil, and fresh plants will probably prove quite healthy.” We 
should be glad if those who have Cucumbers thus affected would .try carefully 
experiments with paraffin, as it is just possible that a strength might be found 
that would kill the vibrios, nematoid worms, without destroying the plants. It 
must be understood, however, that those trying such an experiment must be 
prepared to sacrifice some of the plants, but this would only be killing them a 
few weeks before they succumbed to the disease. We should commence with 
applying the paraffin at a strength of a fluid ounce to a gallon of water, in¬ 
creasing the strength in different portions of the bed. The result of such an 
experiment carefully conducted would be interesting and might be useful. 
Melons not Setting (F. J.). —Plants growing in frames placed on manure 
are not unfrequently very exuberant from the roots of the Melons passing 
through the soil into the rich compost below, and over-luxuriance is not favour¬ 
able to the setting of the fruit. The only course we can recommend you to 
pursue is to remove some of the exuberant growths, so that those remaining are 
so thinly disposed that the sun can shine on every leaf. Tread the soil very 
firmly, being very careful not to injure the foliage, and do not give any water 
for some days, or only just sufficient to prevent the foliage flagging. If the ends 
of the main shoots are cut off when they reach nearly to the sides of the frame, 
the axillary growths following will produce pistillate flowers, to which pollen 
should be applied from the staminate an hour after the frame has been opened 
in the morning. The fruit-bearing laterals should be pinched at one leaf beyond 
the flower immediately the latter is seen and before it expands. By carrying out 
chis advice we think you will yet obtain some Melons. No growth should be 
permitted except that for fruit-bearing, and all laterals should be removed 
except those on which the fruit sets. We doubt if you will be able to ripen a 
second crop from the plant now swelling its fruit, but you may do so if the 
autumn proves warm and bright. After cutting the fruit carry out the advice 
as to pruning and stopping above recommended, and encourage fresh growth by 
keeping the frame close and moist until flowers appear on the plants, then main¬ 
tain a drier atmosphere until the fruit has set. afterwards keeping the frame as 
warm as possible consistent with efficient ventilation. We thank you for your 
remarks of approval. 
Lapageria rosea Culture (J. B. S.). —This plant is not difficult to 
cultivate either in a pot or border. Good plants can be grown in 11-inch or 
13-inch pots, the shoots being trained to a trellis, a flat one being most suitable. 
Whether grown in a border or pot, good drainage should be secured. A border 
4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, clear of the drainage, will support a 
large plant. The drainage should be, as already stated, very good, for, during 
the season of growth, the watering must be plentiful, and at no time must the 
soil be allowed to become dry. During the growing season a plant in a large 
pot will require a gallon of water daily, and one in a border thrice the quantity. 
Names of Plants (J. Hark). —The two large leaves appear to be those of 
Malva moschata. The fragment of a fleshy leaf resembles an Echeveria, but 
such diminutive scraps are quite insufficient for identification. (G. 0. ,S'.).— 
The plant is Yeratrum nigrum, commonly known as the Black Hellebore, 
though it is by no means related to the true Hellebores, being allied to the Lilies. 
It is a native of Central and South Europe. (E.). —-We only undertake to name 
species, not varieties, of plants, which are too numerous and similar, and can 
only be determined by comparing them with others in a large collection. 
The Coleuses you have sent are not species but varieties, yet as we recognise 
2 as Ajax; 3, Beuity of Fife; 4, Murrayi; and 5, Beauty of Widmore, we 
name them for you. Send leaves of the others to the nurseryman from whom 
you purchased the plants. ( G. 8., Forfarshire). —1, Knautia arvensis ; 2, Scor- 
zonera liispanica; 3, Probably a species of Geranium, but the specimen was too 
much withered for identification ; 4, It is a Centaurea ; 5, Chaarophyllum syl- 
vestre ; 6. Stacliys palustris. (It. II. C .).—Streptocarpus Rexii. (Mrs. Davies ).— 
The fleshy plant is Sedum azoideum variegatum, the other is Campanula fragilis. 
Stop the shoots of Rivina humilis if you wish to obtain bushy specimens. 
POULTRY, PIGEON, AND BEE CHRONICLE. 
THE ROYAL COUNTIES (HANTS AND BERKS) 
AGRICULTURAL SHOW. 
(Continued from page 59.) 
Our last week’s report concluded with remarks upon the Jersey 
or Alderney classes ; but the Guernsey, being also a Channel Island 
breed, we must consider the merits of these and two other breeds 
which were exhibited on the occasion. For the best Guernsey 
bull of any age, and under two years old, with two entries and 
one entry respectively, first prize for bull of any age was awarded 
to Major A. C. Macleay of Lyndhurst, Hants ; the second to 
Mr. J. Carter, Privett Lodge, Gosport. They were both very 
good animals of the breed, but they do not gain public estima¬ 
tion, the chief difference between them and the Jersey breed being 
that the former give richer milk, but less of it; in fact, their milk 
is commonly employed in some dairies for the purpose of colour¬ 
ing the butter. The bull under two years of age which received the 
award belonged to the Rev. J. G. Nichol of Micheldever, Hants, 
and we thought it a useful animal, and rather superior to the older 
animals in the former class, showing as he did all the qualities of 
the breed, with a good outline and correct form. For the best 
Guernsey cow, six entries, first prize given to the Messrs. Wool¬ 
dridge of Woodcote, Chichester; the second prize was taken by 
the Rev. J. G. Nichol. Both the prize animals, as well as the 
reserve number in this class, were good specimens of the breed, 
and we think with some extra attention in the selection of this 
stock that they may be reared so as to lay on fat during the milk¬ 
ing period, and by judicious feeding may afterwards be turned to 
advantage by sale as fat animals. For Guernsey heifers under 
three years old, two entries, both prizes were taken by the 
Messrs. Wooldridge with very promising animals, and capable of 
producing stock of better outline and aptitude to fatten than we 
have yet seen of this breed if judiciously selected, with the object 
of obtaining extremely rich milk also. 
Ayrshire Cattle.—For the best bull the first prize was given to 
Mr. G. Ferme of Streatham Hill, Surrey. This animal represents 
very fairly the breed, which is very hardy, and in various districts 
in Scotland they are able as dairy stock to bear the effect of the 
climate better than any of our English stock. For the best Ayr¬ 
shire cow, eight entries ; and for Ayrshire heifer, two entries.— 
In both these classes the exhibits were the best specimens of the 
breed we have seen, Mr. G. Ferme taking all the prizes with a 
class of stock which are great milkers, and will be more appreci¬ 
ated when they are better known, for in the various counties where 
the land is poor and the climate cold and stormy we generally 
find a crossbred or nondescript stock, which are anything but 
profitable as dairy cattle. But for the poorest and most exposed 
districts we can with confidence recommend the Ayrshire cows 
as the best and most profitable dairy cattle. Brittany Cattle.— 
There were classes for this breed, but they neither attracted much 
competition nor attention from the visitors to the Show-yard, for 
we find that the other milking breeds offer superior advantages. 
Horses for Agricultural Purposes.—These usually form one of 
most popular features of an agricultural exhibition. For the best 
cart stallion foaled before the year 1878 the first prize was taken 
by a splendid specimen well adapted for raising stock for farm¬ 
ing purposes, being of good size, with clean legs, and very active. 
This animal was exhibited by Col. R. Loyd-Lindsay, V.C., M.P., 
Lockinge Park, Wantage, Berks. This horse also received the 
