September 2,1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 221 
remove the soil not occupied with roots ; turfy loam with a fifth of 
well-decayed manure suits them well, providing good drainage, as 
copious supplies of water are necessary. Supply weak liquid manure 
freely, as the spathes are fine in proportion to the vigour of the plants. 
Those planted out may be lifted and potted at the end of the month, 
and be placed under cover before frost. 
Solanums that have been planted out should now be lifted and 
potted in 6 or 7-inch pots according to the size of the plants, and as 
soon as potted they should be placed near a wall or where they will 
be sheltered until they commence growth. Attend to Tree Carnations 
for winter flowering, placing them in a position where they will 
receive all the light possible, so as to keep them dwarf and stout, as 
upon this depends the production of flowers in quantity. Hydrangea 
cuttings from plants that have formed the buds if now inserted strike 
readily in gentle heat, and form much dwarfer specimens than those 
struck in spring. Take off the cuttings with about three joints and 
insert in small pots, in which they may be allowed to flower, as plants 
in 3 and 4-inch pots give fine heads if supplied with liquid manure. 
Roman Hyacinths. —Place four or five bulbs in G-inch pots, or in 
pans, as close almost as they can be placed to yield flowers for cutting, 
employing turfy loam with a fifth of well-decayed manure and a little 
sand, covering the pots with about 6 inches of ashes or cocoa refuse. 
The plants will soon fill the pots with roots, and should before top 
growth is much advanced be moved to a position near the glass in a 
light airy house, from whence they can be removed to warmer quarters 
to accelerate the flowering; but they must be kept near the glass. 
Indispensable as are these general favourites, the Paper-white and 
double Roman Narcissus are almost as requisite ; hence they should 
be now potted, receiving the same treatment as the Hyacinths. They 
will come in at about the same time, flowering by November with 
gentle forcing, or in an ordinary greenhouse in December. The 
Guernsey and Belladonna Lilies also will need to be potted at once. 
Violets. —Plants that have had the runners removed from them, and 
have been kept free from weeds since they were planted out as rooted 
runners or suckers in spring, will now have formed good crowns. 
Such as are intended for planting in frames or pits should be lifted 
with balls and placed in rich soil, giving a thorough soaking of water 
and keeping off the lights until frost. If deferred until later the check 
consequent upon removal retards the flowering. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
James Carter & Co., High Holborn.— Illustrated Catalogue of Bulbs. 
Charles Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough.— Catalogue of Bulbs and 
List of Strawberries. 
George Bunyard & Co., The Old Nurseries, Maidstone.— Catalogue 
of Roses. 
Samuel Yates, 1G and 18, Old Millgate, Manchester.— Illustrated 
Catalogue of Bulbs. 
Book OS. M. Jr.). —We regret we are unable to answer your question. If 
you can state the subject in connection with which the work was mentioned we 
may possibly be able to find what you require. 
The Hampton Court Vine (A Jones ).—There are between twelve and 
thirteen hundred bunches of Grapes at present on the above Vine, their aggre¬ 
gate weight being estimated at about CflBUJbs. 
Notice to Quit (A Cottage Gardener ).—No one can possibly understand 
the case as you have endeavoured to state it, and the only safe course for you to 
adopt is to consult a solicitor. 
Nicotine Soap (A Victim of Bug ).—This insecticide has been advertised 
in the Journal by the manufacturers, Messrs. Corry & Soper, who state that it 
can be had retail from all seedsmen and florists. 
Melons under Rough Glass ( Bredbury ).—Rough plate glass is unsuit¬ 
able for pits and frames intended for Melons, as it is only during very bright 
summers that the fruit can be depended on to ripen well and assume a high 
flavour in such structures. Much the same remarks apply to Cucumbers— i.e., 
such good crops cannot be depended on under rough as under clear glass. 
Peaches Decaying (Zt. E. II .).—The specimen was very much crushed on 
arrival, but so far as we are able to judge by an examination of the decaying 
mass the fruit appears to have been punctured by some insect, it may be by the 
larvae of a Tortrix. Search carefully, and you may possibly find a small incon¬ 
spicuous caterpillar, and if so you may conclude it is the cause of the mischief. 
Grapes Cracking {H. S. 0 .).—The Madresfield Court Grape is more liable 
to crack than many other varieties, and we have observed that it often cracks 
the worst when the crop is light in comparison with the vigour of the Vine. 
Possibly if j-on notch the wood just below the bunches, and so check the flow of 
sap to the fruit, that you may mitigate the evil. Mildew may be destroyed by 
dusting it with sulphur. 
Land Valuation (J. B.).—lt is impossible for anyone to answer your 
questions satisfactorily without an inspection of the land and possessing some 
knowledge of the district. The land in some localities is steadily increasing in 
value, and the increase in time may be considerable, while in other places the 
reverse may be the case. It is only by a full consideration of these circumstances 
that the leasehold value of the land can be obtained, and whether long or short 
leases are likely to be the most advantageous to the occupier. Consult someone 
in the neighbourhood who has good practical knowledge on the subject. In no 
other way can you act with safety. 
Plants at the North Pole (F. A.).—In 1873 Capt. A. H. Markham 
collected, chiefly at Fury Beach, Ranunculus gracilis, Papaver alpinum, Lychnis 
apetala, Stellaria Edwardsii, Dryas octopetala ; Saxifraga csespitosa, S. nivalis, 
S. flagellaris, and S. oppositifolia; Pedicularis hirsuta, Juncus biglumis, Salix 
arctiea, Alopecurus alpinus, Festuca ovina var., Pleuropogon Sabini, Platysma 
juniperinum, and Alectoria ochroleuca. There have also been found there 
lJraba alpina, Cerastium alpinum, Taraxacum Dens-leonis var., and Poa fiexuosa. 
These were collected in the highest latitude from which flowering plants have 
hitherto been obtained. Of these the Pleuropogon is the only genus absolutely 
confined to the Arctic regions. 
Painting Greenhouses (A E.). —We scarcely understand your question. 
You ask for the “ best form of stage for painting the roofs.” The term “ stage ” 
implies that you mean the inside portion of the roof, as only ladders are required 
on the outside. For this purpose a “box ladder” is employed in some places, 
the steps being flat, and boarded from the back edge of the lower to the front 
edge of the step above it, the steps being of a suitable angle for the roof. A 
workman cannot touch the glass with his feet when on a ladder of this kind. 
Such ladders, however, are heavy, cumbersome, and rather expensive, and most 
painters can do very well without them with an ordinary ladder placed on 
battens and a board placed under the ladder. If you refer to the inside of the 
roof the “ stage ” must depend on the arrangement of the house, and a painter 
will be able to suggest the best form for using. 
Summer-pruning Fruit Trees (Idem). —All the breastwood and super¬ 
fluous growths of Apple and Pear trees should be removed at once, shortening 
them to about four leaves next to the main branches. The buds so left will 
not produce a second growth now; perhaps the top one may do so, but it can be 
pinched, or left to be removed at the winter pruning. Of course any shoots 
required for further branches and the extension shoots for occupying further 
space must be retained. 
Removing Potato Haulm (Idem).— After the disease is clearly present 
in the foliage and stems it is no use removing the haulm for the preservation of 
the tubers, but if the haulm is removed before the foliage is affected the tubers 
will be safe. We have not known it necessary to remove the haulm of Magnum 
Bonums, the stems of which appear to contain much woody tissue, which pos¬ 
sibly arrests the spread of the mycelium of the fungus, and the tubers are left 
in comparative safety. The more fully the stems and foliage are exposed to the 
air the firmer they become, therefore thin planting should be adopted. 
Tea Rose Luxuriant (S. II.).—It is not easy to advise you without 
knowing .the condition of the other portions of the plant. If the other growths 
are healthy, fairly strong, and well placed for covering a wall, it would be 
prudent to shorten the luxuriant shoot so as to equalise the sap and form a good 
foundation for a healthy plant. If the other portions are very weak the shoot 
may grow unchecked for the purpose of encouraging root-action, and be shortened 
as required in the winter, the weaker growths being cut away. 
The Trebbiano Grape (T V.A.B.). —To have this Grape in good condi¬ 
tion it requires a higher temperature than is necessary for Black Hamburgh and 
Foster’s Seedling. The Grapes sent, owing to having been loosely placed in a 
tin box, were so much crushed by being shaken in transit as almost to bo 
unrecognisable, while the juice saturated the letter accompanying them, reducing 
it almost to pulp. The Vine should have the benefit of fire heat now for maturing 
its growth, unripe wood being the source of many failures in Grape culture. 
Propagating and Wintering Tuberous Begonias (F. B., Nor¬ 
wich). —If you insert strong healthy cuttings at once in sandy soil in a propagat¬ 
ing pit they will emit roots speedily', and form small tubers before the winter. 
The cuttings must only be shaded to prevent flagging, and must be inured to 
light and air as soon as possible to induce healthy growth. After the growth 
has died down we should plunge the pots in slightly moist cocoa-nut fibre refuse 
in a temperature of about 55°. If the small tubers are kept too dry they will 
shrivel, and if too wet they will decay, especially if in a low temperature. You 
must not expect every tuber to grow in the spring, for even when great care has 
been exercised in preserving them a number of tubers not infrequently refuse to 
start. We should insert the cuttings singly in 3-iucli pots, and winter the 
tubers in the same pots, as it is too late for inserting cuttings to be potted off 
this autumn. 
Propagating Bedding Pelargoniums (L A).—No one can tell what 
the weather may be a week after writing. In ordinary weather, and the soil 
being moist when used, the cuttings would receive no harm from not being 
watered during that period. In dry weather a good watering may be given ; but 
had showers prevailed, as they have done heavily in some districts, artificial 
watering would have proved deleterious. The soil should not be dust dry for 
long together at any time. Seed of Aubrietias sown now will not produce plants 
that will flower next spring. The same remark applies to perennial Alyssums. 
Second Crop of Figs (X. Y. Z.).—ll the trees are in a house to which 
heat can be applied the shoots may be pinched above the fruit, which will then 
ripen, a proper temperature being maintained. If the trees are m the open air 
and in a weak state, the incipient fruits had better be removed ; but if the trees 
are luxuriant the second crop will do no harm if left on until the fruits shrivel 
and drop off. Without knowing to what trees you refer as being unhealthy we 
are unable to suggest the cause of their unsatisfactory state, but we know that 
many forest trees were considerably injured by the prolonged severity of last 
winter. 
Shaw’s “Market Gardening” (Inquirer).— Owing to an extraordinary 
press of matter that we have experienced for some months past we have been 
reluctantly compelled to defer the publication not only of notices of some books, 
