October 27, 1892. ] 
383 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Newton Farm, on a portion of a field of Myatt’s Kidneys. Some shaws 
lifted from three different parts of the dressed portion of the field showed 
11 23 per cent, diseased. Other shaws lifted from three different parts of 
the undressed portion of the field showed 19'04 per cent, diseased. Mr. 
Speir calculates the labour and powder used in the repeated application 
as 10s, 6d. or less per acre. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
October 18th. 
Scientific Committee.— Present: Dr. M. T. Masters (in the chair). 
Mr. Morris, Mr. Blandford, Prof. Church, Dr. Scott, Rev. W. Wilks] 
Dr. Miiller, Dr. Russell, Rev. G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. ; and Mr. J. Carru- 
thers, visitor. 
Bouillie bordelaise. —A communication was received by Mr Bland¬ 
ford from Mr. E. D. Till, The Priory, Eynsford, Kent, stating' that of 
twenty-six experiments in gardens, fields, and allotments, on different 
sorts of Potatoes this season, they were all completely successful. The 
mixture used consisted of 1 lb. of copper sulphate, 1 lb. of freshly slaked 
lime, 1 lb. of syrup, and 5 gallons of water. The following are some of 
the more striking results selected from Mr. Till’s report: “ < Early 
Puritan,’ once, twice and thrice syringed respectively, all were good • 
the haulm being green four weeks after the others had decayed. When 
not syringed 25 per cent, were bad. < Wilford Park,’ considered a good 
disease resister ; of seven rows not syringed 5 per cent, only were bad. 
Of a row twice syringed all were good, cleaner, and of a more regular size 
than the others. Of ‘ Sutton’s Abundance,’ 20 to 25 per cent., ‘ Victory,’ 
20 per cent, and ‘ Chancellor,’ 3 per cent,, were bad when not syringed 
‘ Reading Giant,’ when twice syringed, were all good, with more 
than a fourth excess of crop ; all being cleaner and of a more 
regular size than in the rest of the field, where it gave an average 
crop. The haulm was green to September 25th, six weeks after 
the others had decayed. Of seven varieties grown on allotments 
of ‘ Snowdrop ’ twice syringed, all were good ; once syringed, eight 
tubers, bad; not syringed, sixteen bad. Of ‘Early Puritan,’ twice 
syringed, twenty-five tubers bad ; about sixty being bad on two adjacent 
rows not syringed. In a garden, ‘ Beauty of Hebron,’ once syringed, 
all were good and very clean ; while of two rows not syringed 30 per 
cent, were bad.” Mr. Till concludes his report with the^ following 
general remarks :—“ The leaves were very thoroughly syringed on both 
surfaces, and at a date (July 1st, 15th, or 20th to 23rd) when growth had 
nearly attained its full development. The quantity applied at the rate 
of about 350 gallons per acre. The most striking results were on the 
early sorts. The later sorts were freer from the disease. The ‘ Reading 
Giant ’ plot showed a largely increased quantity in comparison with the 
adjoining rows, while the superior size, regularity, and quality were 
very marked. Also the ‘ Ware,’ or selling sizes, were very much more 
regular. This was no doubt due to the haulm being kept in vigour for 
five to six weeks after the rest of the haulm in the field had withered 
There is no mistake about the great advantage of the solution when 
applied to this variety; improved growth was not so marked in other 
sorts, though certainly very noticeable generally.” Prof Church 
remarked that the use of the syrup was to make the hydrated oxide of 
copper more adhesive to the leaves, and he observed that dextrine had 
been used in conjunction with sulphuretted mixtures for Roses and 
Chrysanthemums ; but the special value of sugar was that it entered 
into combination with the lime, and was subsequently set free, retaining 
all its adhesive properties. Mr. Blandford added that the use of sugar 
had been adopted as the best result from a large series of experiments 
carried out in France. 
Docks Attacked by Grubs. —Dr. Masters received a communicatior 
from Perthshire together with specimens of grubs which had attacked 
some Docks. As Rhubarb was about to be placed on the same ground 
being of the same family (Polygonaceae), it was thought the latter might 
be attacked also. It proved to be the “ Ghost Swift,” Hepialus humuli : 
but, as Mr. Blandford observed, this insect is so very generally distributed 
that no remedy could be suggested other than the destroying the plants 
with the grubs as much as possible. r 
Walnuts Imperfect.—Mr. Noble sent specimens of Walnuts, in which 
the shell was imperfectly developed in certain places, though the kernels 
appeared to be sound. It was suggested that the cause might be defec¬ 
tive root action from a clay soil, or perhaps the sharp frost in June when 
they were very young. 
Fog Report .—Some discussion arose as to the desirability of recoin- 
mencing observations on the injuries to plants by fog during the coming 
winter and pursuing them in a systematic way. It is proposed, there- 
fore, to reconsider the programme drawn up in 1891 at the next meeting 
ot the Scientific Committee, especially in its bearings on the best 
practical methods of resisting the injuries of fogs in the construction or 
adaptation of plant houses or otherwise. 
v Peat -™ ,,od -- ’Dr- Russell showed some specimens of wood from a peat 
bed ot a few feet in thickness on Dartmoor, in Devonshire, where there 
are no trees at the present time. One was that of Birch, but the other 
was not recognisable on inspection. It was referred to Kew for com¬ 
parison with some museum specimens. 
M J; G - Paulsent boughs of Ilex Donningtonensis 
Th lar 7 ' / PP - e t ? be . a variety particularly liable to 
fasciation. The cause of fasciation is still unknown among trees. It is 
particularly common in the Ash and Cotoneaster. 
Cunonia capensis. — Flowering sprays of this shrub were sent by 
Mr. Burbidge. He observes that it is an old plant, but not often to be 
seen in gardens at the present time. 
Pelargonium Sport. —A new double variety was received from Mr. 
Canned called ‘ Double New Life,’ having the peculiarity of the petals 
being white, red, and flaked in the same blossom. It originated from a 
double Vesuvius called ‘ Wonderful.’ A flaked variety of the single 
Vesuvius appeared in the Isle of Wight in 1888. It has also sported to 
a salmon colour, as well as white, several times. The leaves are peculiar 
in having acquired almost a purple tint. The original Vesuvius was 
raised by Messrs. A. & F. Smith of Dulwich in 1868. 
Egyptian Figs. — Mr. Henslow exhibited an instrument used in 
Egypt for cutting off the tops of the nearly ripe fruit of the Sycomore 
Fig. It consists of a circular strip of iron, one edge being sharpened, 
and inserted like a loop at the end of a stick. The object is to allow 
the insects to escape (Sycophaga crassipes, Westw.), which always 
infest that species. The Sycomore is never propagated by seeds in Egypt. 
The custom is apparently very ancient, and the Hebrew word translated 
‘"cultivator” as applied to the prophet Amos (ch. vii., 14) really 
signifies “ scraper,” as correctly given in the Septuagint version (written 
at Alexandria). It is described by Theophrastus and Pliny, but no 
mention is made of the insects. As the fruit becomes sweeter it was 
thought to ripen them. 
WORK mithe WEEK. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Tigs.—Early Forced Trees in Pots.— Trees that are to be started 
gently about the middle of November to afford a supply of ripe fruit at 
the close of April or early in May will now need to have the wood 
brushed over, using softsoap, 4 ozs. dissolved in a gallon of boiling water, 
and when cooled to 120° apply with a brush, reaching well into every 
angle, so as to dislodge any scale or hybernating red spider. Very 
little pruning will be required if the trees have been carefully and 
regularly pinched during the growing season, but if the growths are 
irregular or too crowded they must be shortened and thinned to render 
the trees symmetrical and fruitful. Wash the woodwork and walls with 
scalding water after clearing out every particle of the fermenting 
material or beds. Limewash the walls, adding a handful of flowers of 
sulphur to each pailful of limewash. Then dress the trees with a 
mixture of softsoap and sulphur, 4 ozs. of softsoap to a gallon of boiling 
water, adding enough sulphur to form a cream, using a brush and 
reaching every part, being careful not to rub off the embryonic Figs, nor 
to injure the shoots, as those of the current year are very brittle. A 
mild bottom heat is almost a necessity to a successful swelling and 
ripening of the earliest crop ; but the pots, unless small, must not be 
plunged in the fermenting beds, or they will sink with it and be 
subjected to checks in raising the fermenting material. Provide, there¬ 
fore, pedestals of loose bricks on which to stand the pots, so that their 
rims will be a little higher than the pit edge, and the pit can then be 
filled with Oak or Beech leaves pressed down firmly. If the pit is not 
more than 3 feet deep, a third of stable litter may be added, and the 
leaves and litter should be thrown together in a heap, moistened 
if necessary, and turned once or twice so as to thoroughly mix them and 
induce gentle fermentation. Overheating must be avoided, the heat in 
the early stages never exceeding 70° to 75° at the base of the pots, nor 
more than 60° to 65° about them until growth takes place. If trees have 
to be purchased, select those with single stems, and such as have not been 
hard second-cropped, choroughly ripe in the wood, and having Fig buds 
in evidence of cropping. The large fruits will not come to anything ; it 
is the small rounded fruit or buds that give the first crop. The trees 
may be potted if they require a shift, but let it be small; in fact it is 
wisest to merely cut off the drainage portion of the ball, loosen the soil a 
little at the sides, and remove the loose surface soil, shortening any 
straggling roots, and return to the same size of pot or such as will 
admit of a little fresh soil under, around, and over the ball, all pressed 
as firmly as possible. Figs like a calcareous soil, say three parts yellow 
fibrous loam, one part old mortar rubbish, one part road scrapings, and 
one part decayed stable manure, with a 9-inch potful of half-inch 
crushed bones to 3 bushels of the compost, and a similar proportion of 
charcoal, all well mixed. Suitable varieties for early forcing are St. John’s 
(Tresfer), Early Violet, and Angblique (Madeleine). Black Provence 
and White Ischia, are also suitable, have small fruit, Angblique being 
medium size, and bear heavy first and second crbps, without prejudice to 
succeeding year’s crop. White Marseilles and Brown Turkey (Dwarf 
Prolific and Lee’s Perpetual) are unequalled for forcing so as to produce 
fruit from trees in pots in late April or early in May, and they are large 
and good in flavour. 
Early Forced Planted Trees. —Trees planted in borders and intended 
for affording ripe fruit at the end of May or early in June, they being 
started at the new year, must now be untied from the trellis and pruned. 
Those restricted at the roots to small borders in a firm condition will, 
from their short-jointed and sturdy growths, require little more in the 
shape of pruning than thinning out the shoots where too crowded and 
