222 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND C01TAGE GARDENER. r September 2, 188 °- 
but also of communications of value and interest that have been kindly sent to 
us by various correspondents. Failing an opportunity of referring more fully to 
the book in question, we now say of it briefly that it is a small work on a great 
subject. It is written by a practical and observant gardener, who has very 
fairly described what he saw in his visits to several large fruit, vegetable, and 
flower-growing establishments, and recorded what he learned during such visits. 
As the leading growers of garden produce for market do their work well the 
cultural remarks embodied in the chapters are sound, and may be usefully 
adopted by many gardeners and cultivators of the soil. 
Alsophila australis Unhealthy ( ESheffield).— In all probability the 
wet and cold soil has caused the roots to decay, a process that would be greatly 
accelerated by the injury to the foliage by the sulphurous fumes to which you 
refer. If the roots are dead round the outside of the ball formed by the pot, 
from which we presume the plant was removed, it is no use packing fresh peat 
round them. You had better take the plant up and carefully remove the soil 
until you find live roots, removing all that are dead, then either pot the plant 
again or place a fresh sweet compost of turfy peat and broken charcoal round 
the roots, and if carefully watered that will promote the emission of fresh roots. 
At the same time syringe the stem of the plant frequently, keeping it moist, 
also the atmosphere of the house, and in due time your plant may recover. You 
cannot, however, expect it to thrive if fumes from the stokehole are permitted 
to enter the house. 
Seedling Pelargonium (A Gardener’s Wife). —We are sorry to inform 
you that the flowers of the Zonal Pelargonium shared the fate of nine-tenths of 
those that are sent to us when a little clear gum has not been dropped into the 
centre of the flowers to seal the petals. The moment we opened the box all 
the petals fell except from one flower. If the others are equal to this the 
variety is one of the best that has been submitted to us for a long time. The 
flower is perfectly circular, with stout smooth velvety petals, the colour being 
rich scarlet with a small clear white eye. The truss is good ; and if the foliage 
is also good, the habit sturdy, and the plant floriferous, we consider the variety 
well worth preservation; but whether it is distinct from other varieties in 
commerce it is impossible to say without comparing it with those in a very 
large collection. We are glad that, like many other gardeners’ wives, you take 
such an active interest in your husband’s work. Such encouragement is helpful, 
sweetens labour, and not seldom contributes to success. 
Dwarf Cabbage (Rev. J. A. IF.).—No one could possibly identify the 
Cabbage from the specimen sent. If the plant that produced the heart, and 
which is of the size and shape of a swan’s egg, received no check during any 
period of its growth, but was a full and well-grown specimen, we suspect the 
variety is distinct. By all means preserve the plant, protecting it with a hand¬ 
glass if necessary during the winter, and before the flowers expand in the spring 
envelope them with gauze to prevent insects having access to them. This is very 
important, as it is essential that the flowers be fertilised with their own pollen 
to ensure the perpetuation of the variety. If you succeed in raising a number of 
plants identical in size and form with the parent, we think you will be justified 
in attaching a name to this diminutive Cabbage ; and if the variety proves very 
early as well as very small, it is likely to meet with considerable favour from 
cultivators. 
Muscat Grapes Shrivelling (A Fourteen-years Subscriber). —It is not 
possible for Grapes to swell and ripen when so much infested with thrips as 
yours appear to be. Not only are what you term the “ best” sample of leaves 
covered with the insects, but they have almost entirely destroyed the epidermis 
of the footstalks of the fruit, and so restricted the flow of sap which is essential 
for the swelling of the Grapes. The great injury which the foliage has sus¬ 
tained must also have checked the root-action considerably, and the Vines are 
not in a condition for carrying a heavy crop next year. You must first destroy 
the thrips by sponging every leaf, and when the Grapes are cut syringing with 
an insecticide, and fumigating. You had better also encourage the growth of 
laterals and keep them clean. You do not state the age of the Vines. Possibly 
they would be benefited if the roots were lifted and placed in fresh soil, for 
judging from the appearance of the leafstalks we think the Vines are deficient 
in vigour. You must clearly understand, however, that they cannot possibly be 
brought into a satisfactory state as long as insects are permitted to remain in 
the house. 
Aviary in Greenhouse (TF. J. L.). —We do not know of any contrivance 
by which the birds can be protected from smoke when the house is fumigated ; 
but we have long had birds in a greenhouse, and with cleanliness by syringing 
and otherwise good culture we have succeeded in preventing insects infesting 
the plants, and rendering fumigation unnecessary. This is the best practice you 
can adopt. You would, however, find a fumigating case useful—a wardrobe-like 
frame, well made and covered with close calico or some other suitable material, 
and having closely fitting doors. In this case such plants as show Pelargoniums, 
Calceolarias, Cinerarias, and others subject to the attacks of aphides could be 
fumigated and the insects destroyed before the plants are placed in the house. 
Such a case, in which a few plants can be placed and fumigated as required, 
often prevents the necessity of fumigating a house, and a considerable saving of 
tobacco is effected. 
Costmary (TF. Gleave). —The leaves you have sent are of this old herb, 
which is also known as Alecost. It is the Pyrethrum Tanacetum of Linnaeus, 
and Balsamita vulgaris of Willdenow. The whole plant has a strong aromatic 
and agreeable odour, and a bitter warm taste, from which it has been regarded 
as a stimulant, and very energetic. It formerly enjoyed great reputation as an 
antispasmodic, and macerated in oil it formed oil of balm, so much used for 
applying to wounds, and particularly to contusions. It is a native of the south 
of Europe, and is an old inhabitant of British gardens. It was quaintly 
described and its uses recorded as follows by Parkinson 250 years ago “ Cost¬ 
mary or Alecoast is a sweet herbe, bearing many broad and long pale green 
leaues, snipped about the edges, euery one vpon a long foote-stalke; among 
which rise vp many round greene stalkes, with such like leiues on them, but 
lesser vp to the toppe, where it spreadeth it selfe into three or foure branches, 
euery one bearing an vmbell or tuft of gold yellow flowers, somewhat like vnto 
Tansie flowers, but lesser, which turne into small heads, containing small flat 
long seede : the roote is somewhat hard and stringy, and being diuided, is 
replanted in the Spring of the yeare for increase. Costmary is of especiall vse 
in the Spring of the yeare, among other such like herbs, to make Sage Ale, and 
thereupon I thinke it tooke the name of Alecoast. It is also vsed to be put 
among other sweete herbes, to make sweete washing water, whereof there is 
great store spent. The leaues haue an especiall vertue to comfort both the 
stomack and heart, and to warrne and dry a moist braine.” 
Imported Orchids (S. M. D.). —We cannot better reply to your question 
than by publishing the following from Mr. B. S. Williams’s “Orchid-Growers’ 
Manual,” a work which you will find of great use:—“When unpacked these 
should have every leaf and bulb sponged over, and all the decayed parts re¬ 
moved. There are many insects that harbour about them, such as the cock¬ 
roach, and different kinds of scale, which are great pests. When clean they 
should be laid on dry moss and placed in some part of the Orchid house, where 
they are shaded from the sun. After a week or two pot them, or put them on 
blocks. Water must be given very sparingly at first, as it is liable to rot them ; 
too much of either light, heat, or moisture at first is very injurious. The moss 
or peat should be gradually moistened, and when they begin to grow and make 
roots they should be potted, or put on blocks or in baskets, but care should be 
taken not to have the pots too large, overpotting being dangerous. As soon as 
the plants begin to gtpw those which come from the hotter parts of India 
should be put at the warmest end of the house, but they should not have too 
much moisture when first starting into growth : those which come from the 
more temperate regions should be kept in the coolest part of the house, and 
they should not be allowed to stand under drip, as this frequently rots the 
young shoots as soon as they appear. Such plants as the species of Vanda, 
Saccolabium, Aerides, Angrascum, Phalamopsis, &c., I place so that the heart or 
crown hangs downwards in order that no water may lodge about them. They 
should hang for about a fortnight, and may afterwards be put on blocks or 
baskets with moss; but they must have but little water until they begin to 
grow and make new roots, after which they may be treated in the same manner 
as established plants. This is much the safest mode of treating these valuable 
Orchids on their first arrival in this country'.” The price of the book is Is. 6 d., 
not 5s , as we inadvertently stated a short time ago, and which we quoted from 
an older and smaller edition. 
Names of Plants (E. B. TF.).—1, The fronds appear to be those of Adi- 
antum hispidulum, but are small for that species ; 2. Specimen insufficient for 
identification, but it resembles Aspidinm aculeatum ; 3, Selaginella cassia ; 
4, S. Wildenovii; 5, Hebeclinium ianthmum ; 6, Stapelia bufonis. (R. Masters). 
—Diplacus glutinosus. (II. Begbie). —1, Thespecimen sent was scarcely sufficient 
for identification, but it appears to be a large form of Campanula rotundifolia; 
2 is Hypericum perforatum. (F. C.). —Owing to the specimens having been 
packed in cotton wool they were so shrivelled as to be unrecognisable. 
(G. 1). C. T.). —We cannot with certainty identify the specimen, but it resembles 
Sedum altaicum. (A Reader). —1, Asplenium longissimum; 2, Asplenium dimor- 
phum; 3, Cyrtomium falcatum ; 4 and 5, Insufficient for identification. (C. F.). 
—Both specimens were greatly crushed in transit through the post-office, but 
the one with yellow flowers is apparently Chrysanthemum bipinnatifidum. 
(G. P., Hants).— 1, Leycestoria formosa; 2, Lavateraarborea flore-pleno ; 3, Eupa- 
torium purpureum. 
POULTRY, PIGEON, AND BEE CHRONICLE. 
THE CROSS-BREEDING OF SHEEP. 
(Continued from page 198.) 
Having described the various pure breeds of sheep, without 
which crossing would be comparatively unprofitable, we now 
propose to allude to the plans and systems adopted by the most 
eminent agriculturists in improving and establishing those breeds 
which stand highest in estimation, and also to consider the means 
we have for raising animals of a style and character distinct from 
those we possess at present. We will take first the Hampshire 
and West County Downs. The native breeds in both Hampshire 
and Wiltshire were originally horned white-faced animals. They 
were large, coarse, flat-sided, but hardy sheep, well suited for 
folding on the hills. These horned Hampshires were crossed 
with the South Down nearly or quite one hundred years ago; but 
the Wiltshires were not often crossed, but exchanged for South 
Downs somewhat later, for it occurs that the last flock of these 
horned sheep were seen in the year 1819. Be this as it may, 
both the Hampshires and Wiltshires as Down sheep were coarse 
animals, the former being the worst, and showing less of the 
South Down character than the Wiltshire. Neither of the breeds 
showed any improvement worth notice until about the year 1830, 
when Mr. John T. Twynam of Winchester used the improved 
Cotswold ram with his Hampshire ewes, and the result of the 
first cross gave a strong proof of the preponderating effect of the 
male animal. This cross gave by careful selection of the darkest- 
faced and best sheep a valuable opportunity for the breeders in 
both Wiltshire and Hampshire to improve their flocks, and some 
of them did so by the purchase of rams from Mr. Twynam’s 
flock. It may be fairly inferred, that although special circum¬ 
stances occurred to prevent Mr. Twynam from carrying out his 
original object of establishing a cross breed of a type and character 
similar to what has since been done in the Oxford Down, yet it 
