322 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 5, 1893. 
Soft versus Hard Water (Jl —We regret your communication, 
arriving rather late, cannot be inserted this week because written on 
both sides of the paper. When the writing is on one side only the 
sheets can be cut into a number of strips for distributing among 
compositors, and the whole matter is set in type quickly, otherwise, as in 
this case of yours, the process is of necessity slow. All matter 
intended for publication should be in accordance with our standing 
request at the head of this column. 
Turfy Xioamfor Peacb and Vine Borders (Z/. O. TF.).—No. 1 is 
probably the richer soil of the samples, being of a darker colour through 
the vegetable matter, and contains less grit than the others. It would 
no doubt answer for the Alicante, Lady Downe’s and similar varieties 
with an admixture of one cartload of old mortar rubbish, one cartload 
of dry wood ashes, and 4 cwt. of crushed bones (J inch to 1 inch) to ten 
cartloads of the loam. No. 2 is an excellent brown or hazel loam, but 
deficient of gritty matter, yet it may be made available for Peaches by 
adding to it one-sixth of clayey marl and a similar proportion of 
calcareous gravel, with J cwt. of kainit and I 5 cwt. of basic slag 
(Thomas’ phosphate) to ten cartloads of loam. The clayey marl should 
be dried and pounded, incorporating all well together, and making very 
firm. No. 3 would answer for the Muscats, as it contains more grit than 
the other samples, yet not enough ; therefore to ten cartloads of the 
loam add two of old mortar or lime rubbish, one of dry wood ashes, one 
of fresh horse droppings, and 4 cwt. of crushed ^ to 1 inch bones, mixing 
well. The proportion of Thomas’ phosphate named above may be added 
with advantage. 
Apples and Pears from Seed QAn Old Suhscriher'). —The seeds 
or pips which have been selected from first-class fruit during a recent 
visit to Normandy should be sown now in an open situation, preferably 
in drills about an inch deep and about 6 inches asunder, or the seed 
may be kept in sand and sown early in the spring. Some persons sow the 
pips in pans, and cover them with small-meshed wire netting to exclude 
mice. In the autumn after sowing the seedlings may be placed in 
nursery rows about 1 foot asunder, and the plants 6 inches apart in the 
rows after shortening the tap root and assorting the plants into sizes. 
The autumn following they may again be transplanted if they require 
more room, planting in rows 42 inches apart and 2 feet asunder in the 
rows. Further transplanting will be necessary as the trees require more 
room, always allowing sufficient space for the sun to reach the ground, 
and for light and air to have free access to the growths. The trans- 
plantings will accelerate fruiting, or it may be furthered by grafting 
the seedling Apples on Paradise and the Pears on Quince stocks. The 
age at which seedlings commence bearing varies from five to twelve 
years, the period depending on the variety ; but the time is greatly 
influenced by soil, situation, and mode of culture. Probably one seedling 
in a hundred will not afiEord fruit equal to the parent, but it is possible 
that something good may be secured. 
Artificial IVIanure as a Substitute for natural (F. Ji).— 
There is really no substitute for animal manures, simply because they 
contain matter which, as humus, adds to the staple and improvement 
of soils. To keep the soil in a fertile condition is another thing, and 
may be eflEected by the judicious use of the substances containing the 
needful elements as food for plants. These are mainly phosphoric acid, 
potash, and nitrogen. Superphosphate supplies the first, also lime, and 
some nitrogen ; kainit furnishes potash, soda, and magnesia, but is 
mainly useful for its potash ; and nitrate of soda contains the essential 
nitrogen. The phosphoric acid and potash must be in the soil for the 
nitrate of soda to act beneficially, for in their absence the nitrate may 
be worse than useless. Two parts superphosphate and one part kainit, 
mixed, may be applied very early in the spring at the rate of 4 ozs. per 
square yard, and when the crops are fairly above ground, or have taken 
to the soil, supply nitrate of soda, finely powdered, at the rate of half 
to three-quarters of an ounce per square yard. For fruit trees the super¬ 
phosphate and kainit mixture may be applied in the autumn, when the 
leaves have fallen, the trees pruned, and just before pointing the 
ground over lightly. This will be in November or December, but it 
must not be given later than February, then in the spring sprinkle on the 
nitrate of soda. All the manure should be spread from the stem out¬ 
wards to 1 foot beyond the extension of the branches. 
Pinus Inslgnls Shoots and Buds Destroyed {E. B!). —The 
caterpillar is that of the Pine-bud moth (Retinia turionana), which 
feeds in the buds and of course destroys them. The only remedy is to 
cut off all the infested parts and burn them. The earlier this is done 
in the season the better, so as to give chance of the formation of new 
buds, which sometimes occur on the shoots that lose their growing 
points. We find the best preventive is to coat the trees subject to 
the attacks of the pests early in July with a petroleum mixture, so 
as to render them obnoxious to the moths, and thus prevent them 
depositing their eggs. The beetle is Hylurgus piniperda, which emerges 
from the tunnel or pupa state from June to September (for there may 
be two broods) and bore into a young shoot and eat out the pith in the 
centre, from the base towards the tip. The shoot dies, dries up, and 
falls oflf. When a number of shoots are affected the consequences are 
very disastrous. There is no better remedy than to cut off the affected 
shoots just below the holes and burn them, or a petroleum emulsion may 
be ejected into the holes, but unless this is done before the beetles reach 
the pith the benefit beyond destroying the beetles is not material as 
regards the attacked parts. It is also advised to syringe the trees with 
a petroleum mixture so as to render them distasteful to the beetles. A 
fluid ounce of petroleum to 3 gallons of water is sufficient, and it is more 
efficient when 6 ozs. of softsoap have been dissolved in that quantity of 
water, keeping the mixture well agitated whilst being applied, which 
should be on a dry day, and through a flne syringe. 
Applying Dissolved Bones and Xalnlt (T. TF. F .'),—It is 
necessary to take all the circumstances into consideration, and supply 
the manures so as to meet the needs of the crops. This was taken into 
account in your case consistently with the information supplied, which 
practically amounted to the soil being deficient in phosphoric acid and 
potash. It was because we thought it desirable to supply these 
essentials, so that they would be available for appropriation as early 
as possible in the spring, that we advised the autumn dressing when 
the ground is being pointed over or lightly dug before the winter. We 
did not mention September. What all practical fruit growers know as 
autumn digging among fruit trees is not done then, but after all the 
leaves are fallen from the trees. This is in November or early December. 
Applied then, the loss from the mixture would be trifling—a modicum 
of nitrogen perhaps, the phosphoric acid and potash being retained and 
ready for use on the first opportunity. When spring dressings are 
advised, some fruit growers have such a dread of losing anything that 
they apply the mixture too late for benefiting the season’s crop, and at 
the same time prejudice the succeeding year’s prospects by inducing 
late growth. Generally speaking February is a very good time for 
applying chemical manures to fruit trees that need them, and the advice 
given in the work you name is perfectly sound. Tour case was regarded 
as special, but if you prefer to apply the manure in February to avoid a 
possible trifling loss in the winter by all means do so, but we should then 
use two parts of bone superphosphate and one part kainit. Late autumn 
dressings of mineral ingredients are much more effectual than late 
spring applications, and those used in March and April this year did 
not do half so much good as did those applied in the preceding autumn, 
the possible loss of a modicum of these notwithstanding. Nitrate of 
soda need not be given unless a heavy crop of fruit sets, when it should 
be supplied without delay, for without nitrogen in adequate quantities 
maximum values cannot be had from the other elements, and nitrate 
of soda is simply wasted unless the soil contains sufficient phosphoric 
acid and potash. Kainit contains about 23’43 per cent, of potassium 
sulphate, and a good quality kainit should contain from 12 to 14 per 
cent, of potash. 
Hames of Fruits.— Notice. —We have pleasure in naming good 
typical fruits (when the names are discoverable) for the convenience of 
regular subscribers, who are the growers of such fruit, and not col¬ 
lectors of specimens from non-subscribers. This latter procedure is 
wholly irregular, and we trust that none of our readers will allow 
themselves to be made the mediums in infringing our rules. Special 
attention is directed to the following decision, the object of which is 
to discourage the growth of inferior and promote the culture of superior 
varieties. In conseq uence of the large number of worthless Apples and- 
Pears sent to this office to be named, it has been decided to name only 
specimens and varieties of approved merit, and to reject the inferior, 
which are not worth sending or growing. The names and addresses of 
senders of fruit to be named must in all cases be enclosed with the 
specimens, whether letters referring to the fruit are sent by post or 
not. The names are not necessarily required for publication, initials 
sufficing for that. Only six specimens can be named at once, and any 
beyond that number cannot be preserved. They should be sent on the 
first indication of change towards ripening. Dessert Pears cannot be 
named in a hard green state. (/. W., Pershorej. — Herefordshire 
Beefing. (C'. D., Wales'). —Cox’s Orange Pippin. (5. J.). —Beurr 6 
d’Aremberg. {C. J.). —Cornish Gilliflower. (^W. S. Payne). —Dumelow’s 
Seedling. (77. Neal, Stapenhill) —1, Marbchal de Cour; 2, Doyenn 6 
du Comice ; 3, Marie Louise ; 4, Comte de Lamy. Please do not use 
needles to affix the numbers ; they are dangerous, and some of your 
numbers were displaced, therefore the fruits cannot be named. 
(IF. Carr). —1 and 6 , Van Mons Leon Leclerc ; 2 , Quite hard and 
unripe ; 3, Doyenn4 Boussoch ; 4, Duchesse d’AngoulSme. (T. S. Inch). — 
1, Souvenir du Congres ; 2, Nouveau Poiteau ; 3, Josephine de Malines ; 
4, Mar 6 chal de Cour ? decayed ; 5, Fondante d’Automne ; 6 , Quite 
hard, and not known, (j’. II. B.). — 1 , Beurr^ Beauchamp ; 2, 
Beurrb Capiaumont; 3, Comte de Lamy ; 4, Marie Louise. (IF. B. B.). 
—1, Ribston Pippin ? not a typical specimen ; 2, Certainly not 
Ribston — graft the tree; 3, Beauty of Kent. (0. E.). — 1, 
Dumelow’s Seedling ; 2, Greenup’s Pippin ; 3, Gravenstein ; 4, 
Lewis’ Incomparable; 6 , Winter Majetin; 6 , Kentish Fillbasket. By 
driving nails into the eyes of Apples for fixing the numbers, you destroy 
one of our aids to identification. (7. Stephens). —The large fruit is 
Kentish Fillbasket; the small one Winter Queening. (TF. J. G .).—All 
the specimens are inferior. 1, Golden Reinette; 4, Swan’s Egg; 
5, Possibly Bergamotte Esperen. ( 6 ^. Orpen). —1, General Todtleben 
2, Flemish Beauty ; 3, Susette de Bavay ; 4, Swan’s Egg; 5, Fearn’s 
Pippin ; 6 , Ross Nonpareil. (.7. S. Bailey). —1, Court Pendu Plat; 
2, Cox’s Orange Pippin ; 4, Franklin’s Golden Pippin ; 5, Beurr4 Bose. 
(6*. (7.) —Sorry we cannot identify the Apple, especially as it is a good 
one. (TF. P.). —We suspect these to be local seedlings, of greater 
promise than the majority and have no recognised names. fiF. J. Gray). 
—1, Dumelow’s Seedling ; 20, Melrose ; 21, Wyken Pippin; 25, Blenheim 
Pippin; 31, Annie Eizabeth. (jET. Hunter). —1, Not recognisable; 
2, Blenheim, a grand specimen ; the Pear is Beurr^ Hardy, (f. Bussell). 
—1, Reinette de Canada ; 2, Ditto ; 3, Probably a small Hollandbury ; 
4, Not recognisable; 5, Greenup’s Pippin; 6 , Small’s Admirable. 
(J1 H. C.). —1, Duchesse d’Angouffime, the others quite hard, and not in 
condition to be named. Pears should be sent on the change towards 
ripening. The above are all the fruits we received up to midday on 
Wednesday. 
