April 26, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
351 
nothing when old comb3 are present if these contain pollen, but 
when the very combs are the product of sugar, and no pollen is 
present, matters are different—at least we fancy so. We should 
like experienced pens to discuss the matter, and would like to 
hear if Mr. Pettigrew can explain away the above results, for he 
is the champion of the practice that led to them.— Novice. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
William Paul Ji Son, Waltham Cross, Herts.— Catalogue of New 
Hoses for 1883. 
William Bull, 53 b, King’s Road, Chelsea.— Catalogue of New and 
Rare Plants for 1883 (Illustrated). 
Dickson & Co., Pilrig Park Nursery, Edinburgh.— Catalogue of 
Florists’ Flowers. 
The Continental Horticultural Company (J. Linden), Ghent, 
Belgium. —Illustrated Catalogue of Plants. 
Constante Kerkvoorde, Wetteren, Belgium.— Catalogue of Fruit 
Trees, Rotes , Evergreens, and Plants. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS 
mllllm 
All correspondence should be directed either to “ The Editor ” 
or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. Hogg or 
members of the staff often remain unopened unavoidably. We 
request that no one will write privately to any of our correspon¬ 
dents, as doing so subjects them to unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, and 
should never send more than two or three questions at once. All 
articles intended for insertion should be written on one side of 
the paper only. We cannot reply to questions through the post, 
and we do not undertake to return rejected communications. 
Clematis with Imperfect Flowers (II. E.).— It is very difficult to 
give an explanation of such results without the conditions under which the 
plant has been grown are fully stated. Probably it is due in your case to the 
recent cold weather, which checked the plants and prevented the flowers 
developing freely. The Anemone appears to be a form of A. coronaria, but it 
was so much shattered that we could not determine it satisfactorily. 
Double Cinerarias (A. J. Sanders ).—Although the flowers sent are not 
equal to the best named varieties, such as Thomas Lloyd, they are still very 
good indeed, and far above the average of double Cinerarias obtained from a 
packet of seed. Their excellence, however, is, we suspect, in a great measure 
due to superior cultivation, and such trusses and flowers are certainly meritorious 
productions. 
Exhibiting Auriculas (E. D. 0 .).—There is no stipulated size of pot for 
showing Auriculas in. The majority of the best plants staged are in small 48’s, 
or pots about 4J inches in diameter at the top ; but numbers of very fine 
examples are grown and shown in 4-inch pots. It is a great mistake, and a 
somewhat common error with beginners in the cultivation of Auriculas, to grow 
them in pots needlessly large. 
Tacsonia exoniensis (C. D .).—This is a very beautiful and free-growing 
climber, so free that it’will in a short time so completely cover the roof of a 
greenhouse that only such plants as Camellias, Ferns, Palms, and others 
which endure shade will flourish beneath it. We have no doubt T. manicata 
is sold by several nurserymen, but it is beyond our province to recommend 
dealers. 
Insects on Strawberries (/. .4.).—You erred by not having the plants 
clean before the flowers expanded. Light fumigations on two or three con¬ 
secutive nights will not injure them, but dusting with tobacco powder would 
) erhaps be a safer and more effectual plan of killing the insects. The delay in 
the delivery of the Journal does not rest with us. The numbers are published 
in time for the early trains on Thursday morning, and you had better complain 
of your agent. We will also make inquiries on the subject, to which you very 
properly call our attention. 
Fungus on Pear Trees (F. S .).—In all probability the fungus on the 
leaves and embryo fruit is the result of frost, which has ruptured the sap vessels, 
and the exuding juices have formed a suitable medium for the germination of 
the fungus that is now infesting them. The frost in some districts was quite 
severe enough to do this, even in unheated orchard houses, where the growths 
were a little more advanced, and consequently more tender than in the open 
air. We know of no better and simpler method of destroying the fungus than 
mixing a handful of sulphur in a pail of water,and with this carefully syringing 
the trees. 
Foreign Potatoes (J. S .).—No one who is required to make the most of 
a garden by the sale of surplus produce ought to be expected to cumber the 
ground with Potatoes that are obtained from foreign sources, as not half of 
these can be relied on to afford anything like lucrative crops. You are evidently 
placed in a position of some difficulty, but not more so than some other 
industrious men whom we could name, yet with the exercise of tact and the 
perseverance which we arc convinced you possess we shall be surprised if you 
do not succeed. Some employers are slow to learn the value of a servant, but 
they learn it in time if he displays ability and continuously strives to make the 
best and the most of the means at his disposal. He then ceases to be hampered 
with unreasonable conditions. 
Cerbera Thevetia ( F. O .).—The plnnt of which you sent a shoot and 
flower is Cerbera Thevetia, a member of the natural order Apocynaceae, and a 
native of the West Indies, whence it was introduced to this country about 1735. 
In South America and the West Indies it is said to attain the height of 15 feet, 
but it is rarely seen larger than a small shrub in this country. The plant has 
an acrid milky juice, which, like some of its relatives, is supposed to possess 
poisonous properties. It is rare in cultivation, and we understand that there 
is no living specimen of it in the Itoyal Botanic Gandens, Kew. When well 
grown it must be very handsome, and perhaps you will favour us with a few 
remarks upon the system of culture you adopt, and we should be glad if you 
could favour us with another good specimen in flower. 
Fungus (Country Parson ).—The fungus you have observed is probably 
either the Yeast Plant or the Vinegar Plant, though we cannot determine 
which it be without seeing a specimen or being furnished with a full descrip¬ 
tion. Both these fungi have been regarded as peculiar forms of species of 
Penicillium. The Bev. M. J. Berkeley in his “ Introduction to Cryptogamio 
Botany” says—“It is quite clear that yeast is merely an abnormal state of a 
fungus, very different in habit and forced into a peculiar mode of development 
by its submerged position.” Again, in another portion of the book he observes— 
“ Yeast is in fact nothing more than a peculiar condition of Penicillium, which 
is capable of almost endless propagation without ever bearing perfect fruit.” 
Under the microscope the Yeast Plane is seen to consist chiefly of small 
globules, while the Vinegar Plant consists of delicate interlaced threads. 
Thrysacanthus rutilans (R. C.D .).—Young shoots, not too soft,inserted 
singly in very small pots in a mixture of sand and peat, the former pre¬ 
dominating, and surfaced with pure sand, emit roots freely if the pots are 
plunged in bottom heat of 85° in a warm propagating case or under a handlight 
in a heated frame or pit; or several cuttings may be placed in a larger pot 
and covered with a bellglass, but we prefer the former method, as the roots 
are not injiued by subsequently repotting. The soil must be thoroughly 
watered before the cuttings are inserted, and again immediately afterwards to 
settle the sand round them. The requisite amount of shade and moisture 
must be afforded to prevent the leaves flagging, and eventually light and air 
must be gradually admitted to insure healthy sturdy growth. Gentle bottom 
heat is of great assistance to the plants after they have been repotted, with 
slight shade from the sun during the forenoons of hot days, a warm moist 
general atmosphere being maintained, with careful ventilation, sharp currents 
of air being injurious. 
Auriculas (Idem).— A position on the north side of a wall would not be 
good for the plants “ all the year round.” It would be suitable from June to 
September, and during the remaining months of the year the frame should be 
removed to a warmer and lighter position. The soil in the pots being moderately 
dry frost rarely injures Auriculas in winter, but is decidedly injurious in spring 
after growth has commenced and the flower trusses are visible ; protection must 
therefore at this time be afforded. 
New Potatoes (F. II. C.). —It is quite impossible for us to say what 
quantity of a new variety of Potato you should have before sending it out. 
Unless a Potato has been successfully exhibited—that is, has attracted attention 
at the leading exhibitions, or has been tried and found valuable by a few 
cultivators of repute in various districts, it is not likely to be eagerly purchased. 
As much appears to depend ou the art of advertising as on the intrinsic merits 
of a variety in conducting its sale. We could tell of a new Potato which after 
being tried at Chiswick and honoured with a first-class certificate by the Royal 
Horticultural Society, the raiser had great difficulty in disposing of, and we 
doubt if he obtained 3 s. a peck for his stock of a ton or two, which he hoped 
would bring him a small fortune. A skilled advertiser would have obtained a 
far better return. Nurserymen as a rule do not give much for a new Potato. 
They have so many offered to them that they can afford to refuse to give more 
than a moderate price. We are obliged by your letter. 
Heating a Vinery (J. M.).— Whether four rows of pipes will be an ad¬ 
vantage we have no means of knowing, as from the great mass of correspondence 
with which we have to deal it is utterly impossible that we can keep in mind 
the particular contents of letters that we answered weeks ago. If correspondents 
have occasion to write again on any case that has been previously submitted, 
it is essential that the particulars be repeated. We have not the slightest 
recollection of the size of your vinery, and can only say, that as it is a great 
mistake to limit the extent of piping, you have probably been well advised in 
increasing the heating surface. Miles of piping are fixed with indiarubber 
rings and there is no leakage. When you receive the pipes and rings you will 
see how the fixing is to be done ; but if you have had no experience in setting a 
boiler and attaching and arranging the pipes, you will act wisely by employing 
a man for a day who understands work of this kind. 
Italian Gardens (Willesden ).—The best advice we can give you is to apply 
to the Directors of the Botanic Gardens at Naples (Baron V. D. Cesati) and 
Rome (Dr. N. Pediciuo), and they will readily give you the best information for 
visiting the leading gardens in their districts. There is no Botanic Garden at 
Venice. There are some good gardens near Florence, notably those of Prince 
Demidoff and Marquis Corsi Salviati; and M. Beccari, the Director of the Botanic 
Garden, might inform you of some others. You will find a list of foreign 
Botanic Gardens, their Directors and Curators, on page 226 of our “ Horticultural 
Directory,” price lr., post free Is. 3d. This you might find useful in your 
travels. 
Sulphate of Ammonia (Reader ).—If you read attentively an article 
on the effects of manure on different kinds of Potatoes on page 227, the issue of 
March 15th of the present year, you will find that in experiments with strong¬ 
growing varieties nitrate of soda was worse than wasted, and the results would 
have been similar with sulphate of ammonia. The tendency of the manure is 
to induce a free growth of haulm rather than of tubers, and in the case of very 
strong growers such assistance is not needed. With weak-giowing Potatoes the 
case is different, as a certain strength of haulm is necessary for the production 
of a good crop, and about 1 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia per acre, or half an ounce 
per square yard, applied as a top-dressing during dull or showery weather 
before earthing the plants, might be beneficial. Peruse the article to which 
we have directed your attention, and then exercise your judgment in the 
matter. This is also an excellent stimulant for Onions, but if applied too freely 
or too frequently it is liable to make them “ thick-necked.” The finest bed of 
Onions that we saw last year was the result chiefly of occasional waterings with 
liquid manure made of sheep dung and soot, a peck of the former and a spadeful 
of the latter being mixed in a tub with thirty or forty gallons of water. Sow 
Ne Plus Ultra Peas when the plants of Veitch’s Perfection are just unfolding 
their leaves, and you will have a succession of pods. 
Temperatures for Grapes (J. T.S.).— Your vinerv ought not to be lower 
in temperature than 60° at ten o'clock at night, and 55° early in the morning 
