July 20, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
51 
and mHst refer briefly to Mr. Pendered’s communication, on page 498. 
He says, “ I first thought the canker was caused by an insect ” (so 
does Mr. Hiam and Mr, Harrison Weir), “ and then by a fungus, but I 
came to the conclusion the insects and fungus were due to the disease, 
and not the disease to them,” No reasons are given for this conclusion. 
This does not alter the facts, “ Canker may differ on various soils and 
in different localities.” Just so, it is a question of varieties suited to 
different soils and localities—a mere matter of selection. Then follows 
a very accurate description of canker in the second paragraph as caused 
by fungus, beating my best endeavours, and he goes on to say, “ As a 
remedy I cut off all the worst cankered branches, and cleaned the 
remainder.” “ The result was a success.” Just so, the fungus was got 
rid of to a certain extent, but not entirely, for “ it comes again after 
a time.” Had Mr. Pendered cut away all the cankered parts in the 
first instance, it is perfectly clear he would not have been troubled 
with canker afterwards, unless the fungus had appeared again in fresh 
wounds. 
Mr. Pendered cures canker in Gooseberry and Currant bushes by 
letting it have its run upon them, and when they are no longer profitable 
roots them out and plants young trees. There is no canker in Goose¬ 
berry or Currant bushes caused by fungus. It mainly arises from larval 
attacks and damage in other ways, the Nectria found on these bushes 
being always on the dead wood or bark, and not in the living tissues. 
The canker, so-called, in the Laurel is really gum, due to a fungus 
(Coryneum Beijerincki), and is the same as that causing gumming in 
Cherry trees. There is no cure but incision or amputation. Old Laurel 
bushes cut off to the ground or near, no matter how large and badly 
smitten they may be, will push strong healthy shoots from the base and 
form fine bushes in less time than the best rooted and most carefully 
planted and tended young shrubs. It doss not matter what the soil 
may be, provided it is such as Laurels will grow in, nor whether the 
locality be high or low, if it is not unfitted for their growth.—G. Abbey, 
WASPS AND THEIR DESTRUCTION. 
A COEEESPONDENT, “J, R. G.” (page 28), writing on the destruc¬ 
tion of wasps, pronounces gas tar the “ most efficacious remedy his 
gardener has tried.” It is the cheapest and most complete destroyer of 
wasps’ nests that I have found, after experience with every method 
recommended in the of Horticulture last week. Hundreds of 
nests have been “ settled ” by pouring a quantity into the entrances 
through the spout of an old watering can. It is the work of half a 
minute, and not in a solitary instance has the plan failed, whether a sod 
was pressed over the nest entrances or not. It is easy to cover them, 
and this is generally done, though scores have been left open for 
purposes of experiment, and always with the same result—nest 
destroyed. A neighbouring gardener, who has used gas tar for more 
than twenty years, never thinks of covering the nest entrance after the 
doctoring. In both these cases gas tar is made on the premises, and 
therefore costs nothing.— Noeth Lincoln. 
Theee are more wasps’ nests this season than I ever remember 
seeing or hearing of before. To make matters worse, all are unusually 
strong at this early date, and the fruit is being attacked even before it 
is ripe. Taking or destroying a few score nests does not seem of much 
avail ; at any rate, I see no great falling off in their numbers. Grapes, 
ripe and ripening, were soon found out, and before we were able to 
apply the right remedy it was scarcely safe to go near some of the 
bunches ; and what is the remedy, will be the question to which many 
readers will be glad to have a reply. For several seasons past I have tried 
Davis’ wasp killer, as a destroyer of wasps and a preventive of their 
attacks, with never-failing success, and once more it has done good 
service. A few drops of this poisonous syrup applied, with the aid of a 
pointed stick, to berries or other fruit that has been started on by wasps 
soon attracts the latter, with the result that those eating it are killed, 
and the rest are apparently frightened away. I would not be without 
so effective a remedy on any account. Gas tar for nests to which it can 
be applied, and Davis’ wasp killer for the rest, are my remedies, and 
they never fail.—W. Iggxjlden. 
Me. E. Beoady on page 14 asks for information from others 
respecting the effects of cyanide of potassium on wasps and the larvae in 
the nests. I have used it with deadly effect in some cases, and have 
known it comparatively harmless in others. There are many things to 
take into consideration—weather, state of the ground when used, cracks, 
position of nests, and species of wasps. We have three species of ground 
wasps—Vespa vulgaris, V. germanica, and V. rufa, and three building 
above ground, all having their peculiarities. I have known the three 
species of ground wasps’ nests within a yard of each other on a favourite 
bank. 
Vespa rufa, which never grows into a large colony, so far as I have 
seen, usually, if not invariably, builds very near the surface, often so 
close that the paper covering may be seen without removing the soil; 
these would be easily destroyed with cyanide of potassium. 
V. vulgaris, on the other hand, often traverse long tunnels, even a 
yard or two in moles’ runs, and in consequence the cyanide of potassium 
would have very little effect on the colony, except the few at the 
entrance. 
V. germanica, the largest and most destructive species, often have 
their nests deeper in the ground, and more frequently than the others 
build in open fields, and are consequently more accessible for using 
cyanide of potassium. 
Wasps are very numerous this season, and the nests unusually strong 
in numbers for this time of year. I took a nest in the Easter week.— 
J. Hiam, 
Roses and the Victoeia Fend. 
At the suggestion of the Directors of the Gardening and Forestry 
Exhibition a committee of ladies organised a Rose sale at the Earl’s 
Court Exhibition on Saturday evening last in aid of the “Victoria” 
Fund. A number of stalls were arranged in the centre of the building 
around the band of the Hon, Artillery Company, and after eight o’clock 
a scene of busy excitement ensued. Although the idea was hastily 
developed upwards of £40 was realised. Among those who rendered 
valuable assistance were the Misses Milner, Mrs. and the Misses Dodson, 
and Mrs. Harry Turner. 
Roses and Rosaeians. 
I am very much indebted to “A Jubilee Rose Grower” for the 
interest he takes in my horticultural welfare. I perceive that the com¬ 
munication he has addressed to your columns has chiefly been inspired 
by my visit to Waltham. It may interest him to learn that I have just 
received a gratifying letter from one of the greatest of English rosarians, 
in which, with reference to that article, he says—“ I have read with 
much pleasure your ‘ Visit to Waltham.’ It is a production of very high 
literary merit, an oiisis in the desert of horticultural literature, and 
marvellously accurate as to details.” I could quote, if I had occasion to 
do so, from another distinguished horticulturist and successful author 
to a precisely similar effect, I hope you will permit me to say that my 
knowledge of modern Roses, such as Margaret Dickson, Mrs. Paul, 
Salamander, White Lady, Gustave Regis, Souvenir de S. A. Prince, 
Mrs. John Laing, Crimson Rambler, and Duchess of Fife, has been 
derived, not from the catalogue, but from practical experience, for 
though not an exhibitor at shows, I may claim to be a successful 
cultivator of Roses. In some instances I have written to their raisers 
regarding their parentage, which for the sake of perfect accuracy in 
description I was entitled to do. In my unconventional estimates of the 
value of these I have been independent and entirely conscientious. The 
characteristics which I have attributed to such Roses as those of the 
late Mr. Bennett, the Messrs. Dickson, Mr. William Paul, Mr. Cant, Mr. 
Cranston, and Mr. George Paul, are those with which I have become 
familiarised through the medium of careful and assiduous cultivation. 
Your correspondent has alluded to the National Rose Society. I have 
the greatest respect for that Association, whose President is my intimate 
personal friend. I think it would be a gain if anonymous contributions 
had a place elsewhere.— David R. Williamson. 
Y'oue correspondent, “A Jubilee Rose Grower” (page 28), is, it 
seems to me, unduly severe on the articles on Roses written by the Rev. 
David Williamson. The latter has at least the courage of his opinions, 
as he signs his name to his articles, which your correspondent, 
“ A Jubilee Rose Grower,” does not. Moreover, Mr. Williamson’s 
writings are enjoyable from the fact that they come fresh from the 
observations of a true lover of plants and flowers, who is keenly alive 
to all that is beautiful in Nature, if not educated (?) in all the techni¬ 
calities and rules of the comparatively small number of Rose growers 
who are also exhibitors. Mr. Williamson draws direct from the garden 
that which too many of our writers on gardening gather from previous 
authors, from the frequenters of exhibition tents and committee rooms. 
It is amusing to find “A Jubilee Rose Giower,” while questioning Mr. 
Williamson’s accuracy, set up the N.R.S.’s new catalogue as an official 
guide. No Rose grower of taste, unless an exhibitor, would be influ¬ 
enced in his selection of Roses for his garden by this “ official guide.” 
It leaves out many of the best Roses for garden and house decoration, 
and recommends others that no one but an exhibitor would care to grow. 
But then it may be said the so-called National Rose Society is only 
an exhibitors’ Society.— Audi Alteeam Paetem. 
NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. 
Peovincial Show at Woeksop.—July 1.3th. 
Histoey seemed bent on repeating itself in one important and 
unpleasant particular in connection with the provincial Show of the 
National Rose Society at Worksop, and that was in providing a 
thoroughly wet and miserable day. Those who had the misfortune to 
taste the pleasures of the Chester Exhibition last year will remember 
the great downpour. But the worst did not come to the worst on 
Thursday last. After heavy showers in the morning the weather settled 
somewhat, and though dull was not so threatening as to prevent people 
coming out. The gratifying result was that in the afternoon the Show 
was crowded, and as the Exhibition of the Worksop Horticultural 
Society (referred to in another page) was held in conjunction with the 
Rose display, the visitors had value for their money. 
