August 31, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
201 
the sun, which hardens every particle of growth, and avoiding a moist 
muggy atmosphere ; but as we are situated on a level with a branch of 
the Grand Junction Canal we cannot well control the latter as much as 
we should like.”—H. J. W. 
WASPS. 
The season proves exceptionally favourable for the development of 
wasps’ nests, and many hornets have made their appearance once 
more after an absence of many years. There is a mistake on page 126 
copied from a contemporary, in supposing that wasps “ develop from 
eggs in a single night,” as it takes weeks to pass through the various 
stages of transformation. The probability is that the wasps mentioned 
were of the species Vespa norwegica, and when taken at this season of 
the year, or a fortnight earlier, the workers naturally become inactive, 
although still inside the nest, as I have frequently noticed. The extra 
warmth and the disturbance of the nest by bringing into a dwelling 
would induce activity. 
About a fortnight ago I cut one of these species of nest out of a 
Hawthorn bush for a farmer, and as it was a very good specimen it was 
intended to be placed in a glass case as an ornament. Before doing so I 
took the precaution to place the nest in a tolerably hot oven all night, 
in order to kill all the wasps inside, and dry any larvae which might still 
exist in the combs. I also have an excellent specimen nest I cut out of 
a Holly tree while the wasps were in full vigour in working. My 
method of procedure is to first drive inside any wasps building or pro¬ 
tecting the nest by syringing with cold water, as a shower, gently, and 
then very carefully release the nest from all sprays except the main 
bough by which, it is suspended, with pruning scissors, and hold the 
main branch firmly, to prevent falling when cutting off.—J. HlAM, 
Astioood Banli, 
ANTI-BLIGHT POWDERS. 
What I may be doing is of very little consequence to anybody I 
surmise, but before my experimental Potato plots, whereon 1 have 
applied the anti-blight powders this year, arrive at their sere and yellow 
leaves, I feel that I should like you to see specimens representing the 
present appearance of their foliage. No. 1 represents leaves upon which 
I have applied a new powder that Messrs. Tate & Buchanan describe as 
“ Agricultural ” anti-blight, distinctive from theij “ Horticultural ” 
powder, which has been three years in distribution. The Agricultural 
is a much cheaper production, and more palpably lasting upon the 
foliage, as you may observe. We have had severe winds and heavy rains 
since I applied it, the (with the fear of Mr. Abbey before my eyes as I 
write it) Phytophthora infesfans spores would find it a great difficulty 
to enter the stomata through the above cuticle protective. Mr. Barron 
and Mr. Barr well know that I do not care a brass farthing about the 
under sides of the leaves, though I would not answer for the disease 
spreading if it gained a bed before the application. 
I begin my dressings with the powder from the youth up of the 
haulm, at least, that is to say, I have done so with the “ Horticultural ” 
anti. The early frost came last year just as Mr. Barr sent me a supply 
and effectually put a stop to my powderings, so I have been using that 
reserve this season till I obtained the new “Agricultural” as I would 
presumably have done gold dust. Nos. 2 and 3 foliage have been 
dressed entirely with the “ Horticultural ” compound which do not 
maintain itself so distinctly upon any foliage, but the beautiful glaze 
and greenery it evolves makes it far preferable for greenhouse work, and 
with me it is quite effective in preventing the Potato disease. No 
mildew or vermin can ever become established on the haulm when dressed 
judiciously with powder. I send you also a first main leaf from one 
of my Tomato plants, which have now eight ripe and fourteen unripe 
fruit upon it. In practice I foreshorten the principal leaves to prevent 
crowding as the plants grow with single stems about 15 inches apart and 
4 to 5 feet high, they are now a beautiful sight; we have Tomatoes 
galore, and between ourselves fried bacon and Tomatoes do not make 
a bad dish. 
In passing Major Thoyt’s lodge gate the other evening, I said to the 
occupant, “ Good evening Pullen, how are the taties ? ” “Bad, bad.” “Why 
you don’t mean to say they are diseased ? ” “ Just look across the garden 
there, they are gone quite black.” Sure enough they were, and I see in 
another neighbour’s garden next to me, he has cut off all his tops. Now 
if my neighbour’s Potatoes are so diseased why should mine be left for 
four consecutive years 1 I will say no more, let those speak who have 
not borne the burthen and heat of the day. 
As to fruit, my Gladstone and Irish Peach Apples were failures, 
plenty of Keswick Codlins, and my Pay the Rents and Wellingtons 
would break themselves down if they were not propped. Pears are 
good with me, or rather were, but the wasps necessitated my gathering 
them before they were ripe. Perry is the consequence, and cider will 
soon prove so with the Apples in part, and I regret to say so with Cox’s 
Orange Pippin, of which I have a full crop. Of small fruits the 
missus’s jam shelves are full, and so are my wine barrels. I never had a 
more bountiful supply of small fruits, but then, you know, I tapped one 
of the finest and unfailing springs when I first came here ; and as Beau 
Brummel was said to say “ Cravats made the man,” I say water made 
my fruit.—R obert FeNjS^. 
[The specimens were withered when examined. We hear, however, 
of a projected pilgrimage to Sulhamstead, when the plants can be 
examined, and the overflowing stores of the veteran and his “ missus ” 
somewhat diminished.] 
National Rose Society. 
It is with fear and trembling that I take up my pen to reply to 
Mr. Grahame, for it appears that in taking any notice whatever of his 
semi-official-looking circular we Secretaries committed, at all events in 
his opinion, a great blunder. For this unpardonable offence he tells us 
we “ must take the consequences of the subject being discussed in the 
gardening Press.” I suppose it is useless pleading that even such a 
fearful crime as simply trying to amend Mr. Grahame’s circular cannot 
justly warrant so dreadful an exposure as that with which the Com¬ 
mittee is now threatened. However, the deed is done, and the conse¬ 
quences must be faced as best they may. 
In such straits one is apt to catch at any straw which happens to 
float by at the time. I am, therefore, wondering whether there is any 
slight consolation to be found in the thought that there is probably not 
a single society in the kingdom the management of which would 
altogether please so exacting a critic as Mr. Grahame. Again, but I 
suppose I must be wrong, I have hitherto been under the foolish impres¬ 
sion that there is scarcely any other horticultural society which possesses 
so spotless a record of the past, or whose affairs would bear as searching 
an examination as our beloved National Rose Society.—E. M., Berk- 
Tiavisted. 
Notes About Roses. 
I FEAR that I must have been misunderstood in what I said about 
Ernest Metz. I never meant to imply that it was not a most beautiful 
Rose when caught, but I did doubt its constancy upon this ground that 
special prizes have been offered for it at the Crystal the last three years, 
that in 1891 and 1892 there was no competition, and that this year, 
which was considered to be an especially favourable one for it, only the 
two great Colchester firms competed, and yet I know that several 
amateurs went in largely for it, and intended to compete, but could not. 
Perhaps another season may prove more favourable. 
I note that your correspondent, Mr. Williamson, (page 170) expatiated 
on the satisfaction that Tea Roses had given him ; he singles out a few 
by name, but curiously enough, three of them are not Teas. L’Ideal is a 
Noisette, as he will see it marked in the Rose Society’s catalogue, while 
Gustave Regis and Cheshunt Hybrid are only Hybrid Teas. The latter 
have been long placed among the Hybrid Perpetuals, but is now 
transferred to the special class of Hybrid Teas. 
A correspondent in one of your contemporaries made the statement 
that Louis Van Houtte was a sport from Charles Lefebvre. This was 
so new to me, and seemed so little credible, that I ventured to ask on 
what authority it was based. To this, as far as I can see, no reply has 
been given. Are any of your readers able to say whether they have 
heard this statement or not ? 
Whatever may have been the disappointment experienced by 
rosarians this year, they have had some compensation in the wealth of 
autumn bloom, not only in the Teas but in the Hybrid Perpetuals ; the 
former especially have been a marvel of beauty. 
While writing on the subject of Roses I would mention a matter on 
which I feel a little sore. I have just received from the Treasurer of 
the N.R.S. a list of those members who have not paid their subscriptions ; 
this, I am sorry to say, amounts to ninety-five, or about one-sixth of 
the whole, and amongst these are to be found members of our Committee 
and many of our exhibitors. As a special circular was addressed to our 
members to ask them not to give this additional trouble, and that the 
plan of deducting their subscriptions from their prize money would not 
be allowed, I think, to say the least, it is very inconsiderate, and 
should this meet the eye of any of those alluded to I hope they will 
make no delay in sending in their subscriptions either to the Treasurer 
or to one of the Secretaries.—D., Deal. 
CONTINUATION SCHOOL GARDENS. 
A NOTE relating to the discovery of recently established school 
gardens in Lincolnshire having gone the rounds of the Press under the 
heading of a “ Novel Idea,” the following letter on the subject appeared 
in a recent issue of “ The Standard.” 
“In reference to the ‘novel idea’ of boys’ gardens in connection with 
schools, as announced in “The Standard” of the 14th inst., as well as in 
other journals, may I, as ‘ Horticultural Instructor,’ acting under the 
directions of the Technical Education Committee of the Surrey County 
Council, briefly describe what is being done in the county mentioned in 
teaching practical gardening to youths in several villages ? _ 
“ Small gardens in close connection with schools, it may be said, is 
by no means a novel idea. I remember, many years ago, observing plots 
of ground attached to the schools at Rangemore, supported by Lord 
Burton, and quite recently I have had the opportunity of inspecting 
school gardens at Hale, near Farnham, where plots of ground have long 
been provided both for boys and girls, the former for the cultivation of 
vegetables, the latter for flowers. These gardens have been established 
for about twelve years, and Mr. E. Cmsar, the schoolmaster, who is a 
