Ootobor 21, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
371 
has it been adopted by them ? Simply to free them from that constant and 
almost hourly attention in ventilating, damping, and the atticks of red 
spider brought about by the varying atmosphere caused by the old prac¬ 
tice. The only attention these growers give is liberal waterings at the 
root and syringing the home twice daily according to the state of the 
weather. The syringings given are not mere sprinkles that are dried up 
in a few minutes. Some of them water and syringe with a rose on the end 
of a 2-inch hose pipe, one end in the tank, one man pumping, and the 
other directing the hose. The houses are saturated, or I think the more 
appropriate term will be flooded. They have evidently dispelled the old 
notion of syringing early in the afternoon, so that the foliage will be dry 
by evening. They invariably give the evening 11 dousing ” about eight 
o’clock. I have see a them doing it later, when nearly dark. 
Evaporation, says Mr. Iggulden, is enormous, and if the hoase is 
neglected for five minutes the plants are certain to be scorched. Surely 
evaporation could not be very excessive with the heavy shading that 
appears 1 1 have been applied. Even supposing no shading is used, evapora¬ 
tion could not be so rapid as would be the case in a structure that was 
freely ventilated. To keep the atmosphere of a structure moist when the 
ventilators are open and the external air is hot and dry considerable atten¬ 
tion is needed, and time required to pour water about the floor and other 
parts of the structure to prevent it becoming too dry. Nearly as fast as 
water can be poured down it is drawn out, and the soil in which the plants 
are growing, as well as the atmospheric conditions of the house, become 
much drier than could possibly be the case on the non-ventilating system. 
If Mr. Iggulden’s plants scorched I am afraid they suffered by an insuffi¬ 
cient supply of water at their roots and in the atmosphere. They might 
flag and the foliage wither by this cause, but they ciuld not be scorched 
when heavy shading was employed. 
I am afraid the shade employed was too heavy, and had something to 
do with the failure at the time stated. It must be remembered that 
Cucumbers require a large amount of light if they are expected to do 
well. They may grow freely enough under dense shade, but they cer¬ 
tainly fail to fruit satisfactorily; or, if they do fruit heavily for a time, 
they become exhausted quickly. Shade for Melons is very rarely practised, 
why shade heavily for Cucumbers ? The present growers only syringe a 
little whitening on the glass, and they find the afternoon sun when 
shining directly upon the plants is the most trying. In such cases the 
plants might be slightly scorched if piovision were not made to prevent it, 
but with a southern aspect burning would not take place provided plenty 
of water was applied to the roots and abundance in the atmosphere. 
However, light shade in this position might be applied with advantage. 
Perhaps Mr. Iggulden will explain how he colours his Crotons when 
grown on the non-ventilating principle with shade applied. Some, such 
as the old C. variegatus, C. Morti, and a few others, jwill colour wbh 
shade, but the majority would be perfectly green. If my articles had 
been carefully followed your correspondent would have observed that I 
have from time to time advocated a very close system of treatment. I 
have long since regarded the favoured “chink” of air as a thing of the 
past. I never think of giving air to my stove from November until 
April or May, and very little after. Tea Roses are subjected to the same 
treatment from the time they are started all through the spring months. 
Warm Orchids have the same treatment. I cannot possibly understand 
the object of those who arrange the laps of their Orchid houses so that 
air day and night can have free access. The only object or result that I 
can perceive arises from such treatment is a chill to the plants and an 
increased expenditure for fuel. It is clear that a moister atmosphere can 
be maintained, and also less water is required at the roots of the plants 
without the use of the ventilators. This is a great advantage in the 
cultivation of plants in pots, fur I have long since been convinced that 
watering daily, or twice or more in a day, as the case may be, is not only 
unnatural but injurious to the plants. The longer the soil in the pots 
can he kept in an intermedia'e state for moisture without applying water 
the more luxuriantly they grow. It is on this account that I have advo¬ 
cated again and again plunging the pots, covering the rim and surface of 
the soil if possible. 1 have struck Crotons and grown them by this 
method until they have been large plants in 10-inch po's without pouring 
any water into them. They were grown without air, fully exposed to the 
sun, liberally syringed, the atmosphere and plunging material being kept 
moist. 
It may surprise some of your readers, perhaps Mr. Iggulden too, when 
I say we grew our early Grapes last season until they commenced 
ripening without ever opening the ventilators. We could have cut on the 
7th of May, but the fruit was not required until the following week. 
The f oliage, to all appearance, was equal to another house grown by the 
aid of ventilation, and they coloured equally as well, if not better. Those 
who maintain that a “ chink ” of air top and front is essential to flavour 
and colour can try to explain away these fac’s. Opening the ventilators 
early in the season when forcing Grapes is certainly wrong, and admits 
cold air into the house, causes a chill to the Vines, increases the coal bill 
without any return in the shape of superior Grapes. 
The system of vent lating early and midseason Peach houses after 
they are once started, posses es no advantages whatever over keeping the 
houses perfectly close until the stoning period, or as long as the internal 
temperature can be kept within reasonable bounds. It is a very common 
practice to admit air daily from the time of starting, and frequently a cir- 
cu'ation during sunny weather when in bloom, and so on through their 
various stages until the fruit is ripe. With us this treatment frequently 
■resu ted in a slight touch of mildew on the trees ; the cause was most per¬ 
plexing for a time, but was discovered to be the remit of admitting air 
th it was much colder than the atmosphere of the house. The house from 
which ripe fruit was gathered in May never had the ventilators open 
from the time of staiting until the stoning period, when a little air on 
very bright days was admitted at the top. If I remember rightly the 
front ventilators were never used until the fruit commenced ripening. 
What was the result of this treatment ? No mildew, spider, or fly, and I 
think the condition of the trees was most satisfactory, for they pleased my 
friend Mr. Iggulden. The night “chink” of air on vineries and Peach 
houses at any season of the year, I mean the growing season, is, I am 
firmly convinced, all nonsense. The achievements that were to be accom¬ 
plished by its aid, the scoldings and threatenings, and things more serious 
to the young men in charge, has made but few converts. The old and 
mysterious system of ventilation is fast dying out except with Orchid 
enthusiasts, who have very recently revived it, in fact, are pract : sing it on 
a more liberal principle than ever advocated or practised by the leading 
gardeners of the “gooi old times.” Ventilating plant and fruit houses, 
which perplexed me not a little, and caused me hours of anxious thought 
whether I ever should master the intricate details or not, I have en¬ 
deavoured to make simple and easy in these gardens. For six months 
of the year, or, say, during most trying period of the year, we never venti¬ 
late at all except for Azileas that we want to retard as long as possible, 
and in the conservatory where an agreeable temperature is required for 
sitting in. Even Azaleas and Camellias here make their growth during 
the spring and early summer months without opening the ventilators. 
When plants are grown on the non-ventilation system they require a 
corresponding amount of light—that is, more light than if grown by the 
aid of ventilation. If this is not practised many plants grow too rapidly, 
and do not possess that solidity essential to flower them well or render 
foliage plants lasting under the hardships to which many of them are 
subjected. The majority of houses in private gardens have been wrongly 
constructed, but a great improvement has been made of late years. Too 
much attention has been paid to side lights anl ventilators for houses in 
which to grow decorative plants. Thousands of houses erected for the 
purpose are not suitable. They may have cost much money, but are only 
makeshift places at the best. Side lights and front ventilation are not 
needed; a little ventilation might be provided at the top with advantage. 
In such houses a moist genial atmosphere can be maintained about the 
plants, and considerable labour in watering saved. When little or no air is 
given the plants do not dry half so quickly, and a good syringing or sprinkle 
with a rose watering can suffices for a day or two, or longer, instead of 
pouring water into the pots two or three times a day in hot dry weather. 
The plants do better because a more uniform condition of moisture is 
maintained about their roots. 
The system of plunging plants of late years has partly died out, the 
method, and a good one, having been condemned because the plants were 
injured by careless persons entrusted with the work of watiring. This 
is about the only argument that can be brought forward against plunging, 
which when carefully examined carries neither weight nor force with it. 
Plants do much better plunged—that is, most plants—than st ood upon the 
surface with their pots exposed, evaporation is less, and they stand for 
a much longer period moist without pouring water in their pots. If there 
is one ruinous system of plant culture in vogue it is the laborious 
system of watering which can, to a large extent, be prevented by 
plunging the pots and the close system of culture. Few who have 
not practised these methods of culture can realise the ease with which 
splendid decorative specimens can be grown.— Wm Bardney. 
LAVATERA ARBOREA VARIEGATA. 
This plant, about which there was at one time some doubt as to its 
realising the glowing description given of it, appears to be gaining favour 
with many cultivators. I have seen several examples of it this season, 
and all are noble and ornamental plants, though some are more variegated 
than others. This I think is accounted for by the difference in the 
character or composition of the soil, but in all instances it is a most use¬ 
ful plant for large beds or borders, where it is a very conspicuous plant in 
the background. It is, however, seen at its best when planted as a single 
specimen on the lawn. Here it developes itself into a fine specimen, 
pyramid in shape, compact growth, and well furnished with foliage, and 
capitally variegated. The finest plants I have seen are growing in the 
grounds of Southgate House, Southgate. It is there a great favourite. 
Mr. Osborne is the gardener there, and the way he treats it is by raising 
the plants either from seed or cuttings in early autumn, keeping them in 
store pots all the winter, anl in spring pots them into 5-inch pots and 
grows them in these till planting out time, when suitable situations are 
found for them. They are treated in every way as an ordinary bedding 
plant. The variegation c mss out best where the soil is not too rich. 
Some of the plants are 5 feet high and nearly as much through, stout, 
string, and handsome.— Thomas Record. 
THE INSECT ENEMIES OF OUR GARDEN CROPS. 
THE APPLE. 
(.Concluded from page 1G0.) 
Allied to the aphides and cocci mentioned in our preceding 
article is the little insidious pest that, from its resemblance to a 
musselshell in miniature, has been styled the mussel scale, or 
Aspidiotus conchiformis. 1 have never seen a ma'e and doubt 
if that sex has been noticed in Britain ; it would be winged and 
a brief insect of autumn. The females are flat, curved 
somewhat, wrinkled, and brown or reddish brown, of course 
