♦ 
330 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 19, 1883. 
greenhouse or conservatory, and looks extremely well trained up pillars or 
rafters. You may al-o grow Lapagerias alba and rosea, Lonieera semperflorens, 
Rhynchospermum jasminoides, Soliya heterophylla, and Acacia verticillata. 
Temperature for Early Strawberries (E. S. A.).—The structure 
you mention would no doubt be suitable for Strawberry forcing if sufficient heat 
could be maintained. At starting the night temperature should not exceed 50’ 
or 55°, but as the growth advances and the flower trusses show increase it to 
60°, the day temperature with sun heat rising 10° higher. With a pit such as that 
you propose building a covering of mats would be necessary in severe weather. 
The extract you give is correct. 
Seedling Auriculas (J. G .).—The flowers you sent are not up to the 
show standard, except the two seifs, which are fairly good. You should attend 
one of the National Auricula Society’s shows, and you would then be able to 
form some idea of the quality of the seedlings you have raised. There has been 
some slight alteration in the matter you mention, but the difficulty complained 
of has been removed, and you should now obtain each copy about the usual time. 
The Buck-Bean, Menyanthes trifoliata (TT r . 0., Farnham). —This is 
one of the most lovely of our native plants. It grows in marshy places, and is 
very plentiful in Britain, producing an abundance of its white-bearded rose- 
coloured blossoms in May and June. The whole plant is intensely bitter and 
somewhat nauseous, and its bitter properties depend on a principle called rneny- 
anthin, which has a pure bitter taste, is soluble in alchohol and water, but not 
in pure ether, and is chemically neuter. Besides its bitter properties, which are 
equal to those of Gentian, it possesses also cathartic properties, and in large 
doses acts as an emetic. It is a cheap and very valuable medicine, and ought to 
be more generally used. In a scarcity of Hops this plant is used in the north of 
Europe to give a bitter to the beer, 2 ozs. supplying the place of a pound of 
hops. Some people smoke the leaves. Villarsia (Limnanthemum) nymphreoides, 
also a native of this country, has the same properties. 
Destroying Gooseberry Caterpillars (if. JV.).—The communication 
to which you refer appeared on page 317, vol. xxxviii., and the substance of it was 
as follows :—“I commenced using Fir-tree oil at the end of May or beginning of 
June, half a pint of the oil mixed with 2J gallons of soft water. The trees at 
the time were much infested with the caterpillars ; one-half of them I syringed 
with this mixture, and the other half I watered with hellebore tea out of a 
common watering can with a fine rose. The caterpillars on the whole of the 
trees disappeared in a day or two, but within a month they reappeared on the 
trees that had been syringed with the Fir-tree oil, whilst those that had been 
watered with the hellebore tea were left untouched for the remainder of the 
year. I destroyed the caterpillars again with the Fir-tree oil, but they reappeared 
in August.” 
house, which will cool the atmosphere gradually and insure rest for the trees at 
night. This will undoubtedly insure the ripening of the wood. The result can 
hardly fail to be satisfactory another season. 
Lcucadendron argenteum (J. C .).—Your plant is a native of the Cape 
of Good Hope, and a relative of the Proteas, under which generic name it has 
been described by several authors. By the Dutch colonists it was called 
Witteboom or Silver Tree, and was much used for firewood. It has also been 
largely planted, and has become comparatively scarce in a wild state. In this 
country it has been cultivated for about 180 years, so that it is by no means a 
novelty. Greenhouse treatment suits it very well, employing a compost of peat, 
sand, and light turfy loam, supplying water carefully. You will find a coloured 
figure of the plant in the “ Botanical Register,” plate 979, vol. xii., 1826. 
Maidenhair Fern—Cyclamens and Primulas (Amateur, D. P.).— 
The two first of these you may succeed in keeping in a room ; but the last, if 
you have the single forms of Primula sinensis, will probably soon lose their leaves 
after flowering. The Primula is usually treated as an annual, and it is necessary 
to sow seed now for a fresh supply of plants another season, though your best 
plan will be to purchase the plants. The Maidenhair Fern should have a cool 
light position in the room, not too near the fire nor exposed to the sun. Water 
it carefully, never allowing the soil to become dust-dry nor excessively wet. 
Observe if the water passes into the saucer freely, as that indicates whether the 
drainage in the pot is satisfactory. If there is any stagnation turn the plant 
out, and re-arrange the pieces of pots, or place some fresh ones in. The 
Cyclamen, which you say has now lost its leaves, can be kept dry for a few 
weeks, then give a little water, and when growth is commencing increase the 
supply. 
Carbolic Acid v. Weeds ( Inquirer , Armagh). —Mr. Luckhurst, who has 
had much experience in destroying weeds in the manner suggested, has stated 
in our columns that half a pint of the acid diluted with a gallon of water 
destroys strong weeds of two or three years’ growth, and a third less acid to the 
same quantity of water is sufficiently powerful for small weeds. The water is 
first placed in a garden can with a fine rose, the acid measured and poured into 
it. No stirring or further mixing is requisite, but it is immediately poured 
over the weeds through the rose, care being taken to make the entire surface of 
the path wet in order to destroy the weeds. A gallon of water with the acid 
will do 9 square yards of path. This will enable anyone to make a clear compu¬ 
tation of the quantity of acid required to do a given area. Care must be taken 
not to let the acid touch the hands, clothes, or boots. You had better not use 
the acid for destroying weeds on land that has to be afterwards cropped, as 
sufficient to kill the weeds would also prevent the growth of the crops you might 
desire to cultivate, 
Lathraea squamaria (C. C .).~The plant of which you? end specimen is a 
member of the Broom Rape family, Orobanchacere, and bears the name of 
Lathraea squamaria. It is a perennial, and somewhat parasitical in habit, being 
usually found at the roots of trees, especially Hazel and Elms, but we once had a 
quantity of it amongst some common Laurels. You will scarcely succeed in 
cultivating it except by chance, as it seems to display a peculiar partiality for 
particular places. Its common name is Toothwort, which refers to the virtue 
it was at one time supposed to possess of curing toothache. The specific name 
indicates the scaliness of the plant generally. 
Syringing Vines (F. J .).—We do not syringe our Vines after they have 
fairly started into growth, except once after the fruit is set to cleanse the 
foliage, and again once or twice after thinning and before colouring for the 
same purpose. We have no means of knowing whether you can keep your Vines 
free from red spider without syringing. Some persons can and others can¬ 
not, and there is no doubt that the insects are much more numerous in some 
districts than in others. Frequent syringing with water containing lime is 
injurious. 
Substituting Gravel for Grass amongst Shrubs (TV Dumbell).— 
The gravel amongst the shrubs will not be nearly so effective as grass, and the 
grass would be far more favourable to the growth of the trees than gravel. 
We have, however, seen Yews and Hollies thriving well with a slight covering 
of gravel around them, they being kept to formal shapes by cutting. In your 
case we should remove the shrubs altogether were gravel decided on, and if the 
shrubs are retained keep the grass. 
Vines Scorched by Ammonia Vapour (J. if. B .).—A dressing of 
night soil an inch deep on an inside border is excessive. No wonder every leaf 
was burnt and scorched. You did well to remove the bunches promptly, and 
instead of planting young Vines we should cut the present year’s shoots back to 
an eye or at most two from their base, and they will start again freely in a short 
time, making a vigorous growth, as the roots will be active. With proper care 
there is every prospect of the Vines making and ripening a good growth, and 
giving satisfactory crops another season, as there are few plants possessing such 
strong recuperative powers as the Vine. The Vines being only two years old 
are likely to give better results than fresh canes. 
Pruning Raspberries (IF. X).—It is very advisable to encourage the 
production of good fruiting canes rather than to seek a crop of fruit the first 
year. Shorten the recently planted canes to within a foot from the ground, 
and mulch over the roots with good manure. If the young growths which 
issue are numerous, thin them when a few inches high, not leaving more than 
four or five to each stool. The shortened canes may produce a few clusters 
of fruit, which may be permitted to ripen, as they will not materially 
affect the new growths, which will then be well advanced and growing 
vigorously. 
Peaches Falling in First Swelling (A Subscriber for Many Fears ).— 
The cause of the fruit not swelling is imperfect ripening of the wood in the 
previous season. It is not unusual for trees in this condition to blossom and 
even set the fruit freely ; but the fruits remain stationary for about a fortnight, 
and then more than two-thirds fall. This is indeed a very common case, often 
attributed to imperfect fertilisation, but is really imperfect organisation of the 
blossoms—a consequence of the non-ripening of the wood and the imperfectly 
formed fruit buds. “ The trees being in excellent health, making plenty of 
good wood and healthy foliage,” warrant our attributing the non-swelling of 
the fruit to the above cause. Syringing whilst the trees were in blossom is not 
in any case advisable, more especially in an unheated hoijge. They should have 
been kept dry, and air freely admitted whenever the weather was favourable. 
It is usual for the corolla to adhere to the fruit for some time after setting, 
being cast as the fruit swells. We should ventilate freely when the weather 
permits, thereby insuring a sturdy well-solidified growth ; and by early closing 
raise the temperature to 80° or 86° after the fruit is gathered, along with a 
somewhat dry condition of the atmosphere, and toward evening admit a little 
air by both top and front lights, so as to cause a circulation of air through the 
Striking Cuttings of Tuberous-rooted Begonias (Inquirer).— Fill 
a third of the cutting pot with pieces of broken pots, over which place soil con¬ 
sisting of equal parts of leaf soil and silver sand, with a layer of pure sand cn 
the surface, made level and pressed lightly dowii about an inch below the rim of 
the pot. In this insert stout cuttings 2 or 3 inches in length, made in the usual 
fashion by trimming off one or two of the lower leaves and cutting off the bottom 
close under a joint. Press the sand about the cuttings, water well, and place 
the pot in a brisk lively temperature of 70° or 80°. Shade from the sun, and in 
a few days the cuttings will emit roots, and should be sufficiently forward for 
potting in a fortnight. Such cuttings grow so readily and freely that we are 
somewhat at a loss to account for your failure. It might arise from the inser¬ 
tion of cuttings taken from plants growing in a high temperature in cold sodden 
soil, by exposure to cold cutting air in transit to a hotbed, by placing them in 
too low a temperature, or by taking the cuttings from plants growing in a 
much lower temperature—say 15° or 20°—than that which we advised for the 
cuttings. 
Names of Plants (A. P.). —Doronicumpardalianches. (J.H.). —1, Davallia 
elegans dissecta; 2, Alonsoa incisa; 3, a variety of Polyanthus ; 4, Omphalodes 
verna. (J. C.). —Leucadendron argenteum ; see reply above. (IK R.). — 
Maxillaria (Bifrenaria) Harrisonae, a very fine variety of a handsome Orchid. 
(C. C.). —Lathrasa squamaria; see reply above. (G. X).—We have repeatedly 
stated that we do not undertake to name varieties of florists’ flowers, and the 
Azaleas you sent were, moreover, completely crushed owing to their being packed 
in so slight a box. (Sheffield). —1, Chorozema cordatum ; 2, Cuphea platycentra ; 
3, Eupatorium odoratum ; 4, Eriostemon scabrum. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.—April 18TII. 
A BETTER trade during the week, with prices firmer. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
s. 
d 
Apples. 
1 sieve 
2 
Oto7 0 
Grapes . 
lb. 5 
Oto 12 
0 
„ .per barrel 20 
0 
40 0 
Lemons. 
case 10 
0 
20 
0 
Apricots. 
doz. 
0 
0 
0 0 
New Grapes .... 
ft. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Cherries. 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 0 
Nectarines. 
0 
0 
0 
o 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 10 
0 
12 0 
Oranges . 
100 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Currants, Black.. 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 0 
Peaches . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Red.... 
j sieve 
0 
0 
0 0 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 0 
dessert . 
dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Filberts.. 
lb. 
0 
0 
0 0 
Pine Apples, Eng 
tish ft. 
i 
6 
2 
0 
100 lb. 
0 
0 
0 0 
Raspberries. 
lb. 
0 
0 
0 
o 
Gooseberries .... 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 0 
Strawberries .... 
oz. 
0 
6 
0 
9 
VEGETABLES. 
8 
d. 
s. d. 
s. 
d. 
9. 
d 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 0 
1 
o 
Asparagus, English bundle 12 
0 
0 0 
Mushrooms .... 
1 
0 
i 
6 
Asparagus, French bundle 25 
0 
80 0 
Mustard & Cress 
.. punnet 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Beans, Kidney .... 
100 
2 
0 
0 0 
Onions. 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
i 
0 
2 0 
Parsley. doz.bunches 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 6 
Parsnips. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Brussels Sprouts.. 
i sieve 
i 
6 
2 0 
Peas . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cabbage. 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 0 
Potatoes . 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Capsicums. 
100 
1 
6 
2 0 
Kidney. 
. . cwt. 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Carrots . 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 0 
Radishes_ doz.bunches 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 0 
Rhubarb. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 0 
Salsafy. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 0 
Scorzo'nera . 
. bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
4 
0 8 
Seakale . 
. basket 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Kndive. 
dozen 
i 
0 
2 0 
Shallots. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 0 
Spinach . 
. bushel 
5 
0 
6 
0 
Herbs . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 0 
Tomatoes . 
ft. 
1 
fi 
2 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 
0 
s 
0 4 
Turnips . 
0 
3 
0 
8 
