374 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 26, 1893. 
either kills tender growths, or causes the leaves and fruits to sicken and 
drop. Cold contracts—stunts shoots and cripples leaves. How the 
spores of Exoascus deformans can push their germinal tubes through the 
cuticle of a leaf when it is contracted—drawn tight to resist the cold— 
or enter the leaf tissues by the stomata when these are closed, ia more 
than I am able to understand. But this is wholly outside the subject, for 
cold weather has nothing whatever to do with the fungus any more than 
it haa with certain species of Crocus flowering in the spring and others 
in the autumn. Yet there is said to be a predisposing cause. What is it ? 
I do not know. Who does 1 But I do know that there is a fungus—a 
plant—named Exoascus deformans by botanists, which is raised from 
seed (spores), requires a Peach tree to grow in, lives on chlorophyll, and 
produces its blossoms and fruits during the early summer months. It is 
a perennial—the mycelium lives in the tissues, and the disease reappears 
year after year on the same branch or tree. 
Now I should like a little information. Whence come the spores ? 
From sunny France ? The balmy East 1 Where does the east wind pick 
up the spores ? It is no use appealing to the wind 1 What about the 
trees on walls in this country ? Are there not any decrepit—half dead 
in branch, distorted in shoot, and blistered in leaf 1 Is it from these 
that the spores are wafted by the east wind and disease set up in trees 
situated westward ? Why, then, do not west winds convey the seeds of 
disease eastwards 1 The spores must come from somewhere, and it is 
certain they cannot bear the drought of summer nor the cold of winter, 
for they are naked cells, and must soon do or die. That is one reason 
the fungus does not raise blisters on the leaves of Peach trees grown 
against walls in the summer. It is also completely foiled by a glass roof 
with careful ventilation in the spring, and it can make nothing of leaves 
with a stout epidermis. Yet it lives from year to year in the same 
garden on the identical trees first infested. 
There is only this preventive and remedy—cut off and burn the 
blistered leaves before the bloom appears on the red warts, also cut off 
and destroy the diseased shoots or branches. By one the spores are got 
rid of, and by the other the perennial mycelium. As for dressings, 
winter applications can be of no use, and as Peach foliage is very tender 
in spring it would not be safe to employ a Bordeaux mixture at greater 
strength than the following : Sulphate of copper, 4 ozs.; quicklime, 
4 ozs.; water, 15 gallons, using as a spray.—G. Abbev. 
SUMMER AND WINTER BEGONIAS. 
I AM very glad that Mr. Molyneux (page 310) is able to report satis¬ 
factorily of his Tuberous Begonias. It is a great deal more than could 
be done in most gardens out of Hampshire I am afraid. True, the very 
favourable autumn with its warmth and heavy rains has greatly 
improved the beds, and like the field Mushrooms Begonias have been 
having a better chance lately than they have had all the season. Some 
tubers lifted a few days ago in a garden I was in illustrated in a very 
remarkable degree the evil influences of the drought. The only growths 
they had been equal to pushing were 3 to 4 inches long, doing little 
more, in fact, than getting fairly through the ground, and about as 
thick as my pencil. Fortunately they were not all like that, otherwise 
the beds would have been eompletely bare. 
I can only hope that the improved aspect which Begonias have assumed 
late in the season will do something to redeem the bad impression 
which many must have formed of them in the full flare of this searching 
summer. There has by no means been a universal failure. Not far 
from where I am now writing there is one of the most beautiful front 
gardens which I have seen attached to a small villa, and its chief 
occupants are Begonias, and if an exception on a larger scale be required 
it may be found in Messrs. Cannell & Sons’ Nursery at Swanley. They 
have thousands of plants blooming in the beds, presenting both to those 
on the adjoining railway, and to those in the nursery itself, a very rich 
and warm glow of colour. 
It is to be particularly noted how much better the doubles have done 
than the singles. Where many of the latter are stunted and ill-clothed 
with foliage and bloom the former are fully furnished with both leaves 
and flowers. It is well worth while to give this fact due consideration, 
for the plants have had the same chance in every way. This would 
point to the advisability of giving special attention to the doubles for 
bedding, and also to the necessity for selecting some of the best and 
most distinct types of them. The Swanley growers have risen to the 
occasion, as they generally do, and have chosen some varieties of 
vigorous but even, compact growth and of pronounced free-flowering 
qualities from the mass of material in the beds with a view to giving 
them special recommendation for outdoor growth. Their action may be 
cordially endorsed, for there is no question of the superior effectiveness 
of beds furnished with floriferous and well balanced plants, bright and 
decided in colour, toothers filled with a heterogeneous mixture (if such a 
phrase be permitted) of seedlings, some of which are strong growers, 
others w’eak, some tall, and some short. 
As instances, four new selections, all doubles, to which varietal 
names have been given may be mentioned. One is Freedom, a salmon- 
pink free-flowering dwarf sort, with a growth as even and level as a 
Tom Thumb Tropreolura ; a second is Attraction, brilliant orange, also 
dwarf, bushy, and floriferous ; a third is Erecta, a rose-coloured form, of 
taller and more upright growth than the others, but very even and 
^ fourth. Red Shirt, a scarlet semi-double, covering itself 
with flowers. These are very conspicuous in the beds, being as regular 
in growth as a number of market Genistas or Pelargoniums, and easily 
to be picked out in their lines. Messrs. Cannell &c Sons are doing good 
work with these special selections of bedders. 
Their collection under glass is also a very extensive one. They have 
five of their long houses full—or rather had, for the structures are now 
being rapidly cleared—besides several more at Eynsford, where, the 
head of the. firm tells me, his son has fairly beaten bim with the quality 
of his plants. Paterfamilias seems rather proud of his defeat. The 
Eynsford plants must be good, for those at Swanley, or such as are left 
of them, are a very beautiful colleetion. The great majority are grown 
in 5 and 6-inch pots, no special culture being attempted, but preference 
given to smaller plants, in order that their true qualities under ordinary 
cultivation may be estimated. A few of the best of the doubles are 
R. B. Parsons, bright pink ; Miss Cochrane, peach, very large ; Lady 
Osborne, rosy salmon, a very distinct shade ; Lord Haddo, bright rose 
with creamy flakes, one of the Carnation-flowered breaks ; Rosebud, 
pale pink, a familiar variety ; Miss E. Wynne, white, crimped flowers, 
a very beautiful sort of drooping habit, well suited for a basket ; Miss 
Lilian Maud, rosy salmon, very large and full; Lady Alice, light yellow, 
very free; Hon. Mrs. Goschen, creamy, very large and free ; Mrs. 
Lynch, soft pink, crimped ; Rev. Mr. Lascelles, clear yellow ; Frank 
Bibby, rich glowing crimson ; Octavie, double white, now thoroughly 
well known ; Mr. G. Paul, cream, very large and full ; J. Lyon, glowing 
crimson, very large, full, and fine ; and Safrano, light apricot, semi¬ 
double. The best of the singles were over, but Albert George (rich 
orange, very large, and consistently good) and Fashion (a charming 
orange-amber sort) were conspicuously beautiful. The plants are all 
from this year’s cuttings, so that their fine appearance represents 
inherent quality, not special cultivation. 
Let no visitor to the Swanley Nurseries leave without inspecting the 
house of winter-flowering varieties, for it is already a beautiful sight, 
and will improve as time goes on. This valuable class is growing 
steadily in popular esteem, and if anything were wanted to prove their 
usefulness and charm the house referred to will supply it. The collection 
is one of the best in the country without any doubt. As might be 
expected Gloire de Sceaux plays a prominent part. Those who have had 
opportunities of estimating the effectiveness of this grand Begonia 
naturally look for it wherever they go, forgetful that all gardeners have 
not had the same chances, but it is only a question of time for it to 
become a universal favourite. Carrierei is a totally different type of 
plant, the foliage being smaller, and the habit more bushy. Plants in 
5-inch pots are a foot high and 15 inches across, being, like well-managed 
Cyclamens, broader than they are high, and, moreover, quite clothed 
with bloom. It is a very valuable sort. Weltoniensis is too well known 
to need comment, and so is nit'da ; but there are two of the semper- 
florens type less familiar ; one is S. gigantea rosea, which has very large 
bright green leaves, and abundance of rosy flDwers ; the other is a sort 
named Laura, the foliage of which approaches heart-shape, and the 
flowers are pink. It is a true winter b'oomer. These are six of the 
best, but that there are many others in every respect well worthy of 
culture a call will at once suffice to prove.—W. P. W. 
COLD HARD WATER FOR PLANTS. 
Mr. Dunn’s last communication (page 361) on the subject clearly 
shows that a little more reflection on the matter may prove of consider¬ 
able service to him. He has not proved a single idea he set forth, but, 
on the other hand, it has been conclusively proved that many practical 
growers, well known and respected in these pages, do cultivate their 
plants and crops successfully, using water such as he condemned. 
Mr. Bardney (page 361), with his usual judgment, now appears on 
the scene in a very conciliatory mood, but I should like to remind your 
able contributor that I have never suggested the use of cold hard water 
during the winter months. My contention was that it can be, and is, 
used between the months of March and November successfully. My 
object in writing was to prove that Mr. Dunn’s pet idea had led him 
beyond the bounds of prudence and modern practice. 
In reply to “ T. A.” (page 340), I am able to state practically that 
the water of the New River Company does contain a large per-centage 
of lime, in fact the river has its origin at the foot of a chalk hill. This 
water when used in Hertfordshire will leave a white deposit on the 
leaves of plants, and there can be no doubt it is very hard. The water 
of the East London Company never sees the light tdl it is applied to 
our plants, and is, as I stated in a previous communication, very cold. 
It is also very hard to the touch, but it does not leave the white limy 
deposit on the leaves like the New River water.—J. B. R. 
One of your correspondents mentioned that water impregnated with 
lime “ burned the rootlets of plants.” Does lime in water burn the 
rootlets of plants ? I hardly think so, or it would not be recommended 
as harmless as a “ slugicide,” doing no injury to plants. Some plants 
thrive amongst lime, while it kills others. Heaths, for example; 
instead of lime in water “ burning,” is it not rather a case of petrification ? 
I have always been of opnion that in watering artificially the 
temperature of the water should never be less than that of the soil 
the roots are in. For syringing, I think the water should be a little 
warmer than the temperature of the air either inside or outside. I have 
watered with cold spring water during a drought, but failed to see any 
good arising. I know of several springs differing in temperature to the 
extent of 20°. Is “pure” water proper food for plants? Very few 
waters are pure ; they soon contract impurities or foreign matter when 
formed into rain drops or pass into streams.—T. N. B. 
