122 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 7, 1895. 
older Vines was nearly, if not quite, a quarter of an inch thick, and of 
course they would suffer more than those from which the bark is 
removed annually. One or two correspondents suggest that the flagging 
might be the effect of the ravages of the spider during the previous 
year, but the fact is some of the Vines which were not badly injured 
in that way flagged just as much as those which were injured the nvost. 
One house of Vines only three years old was barked like the rest, 
and here out of eight or nine varieties the Black Hamburghs only 
flagged, and these very badly. Gros Colman here, perhaps a dozen 
in number, showed no sign of drooping, and yet in the older house it 
exhibited more signs of distress than any other sort. 
Mr. Coates (page 77), is quite correct in saying that clay dressings 
harbour the insects. If the dressing could be made and continue air¬ 
tight everywhere it might do some good, but that is impossible, and 
wherever there is a crack there is a harbour for the enemy. There is 
no use in putting it on during the winter, but although I certainly could 
not see any beneflt from applying it in the summtr, I must think 
the shade it afforded to the stem should count for something, and I 
shall try it again.— Wm. Taylor. 
I WAS much interested in reading Mr. Taylor’s graphic account of 
his experiment in peeling Vines (page 5, January 17th). His was an 
extreme case, no doubt, and a desperate remedy had to be applied. I 
am quite sure it would not have been undertaken by such a skilful 
Grape grower had it not been a case of necessity. I believe his article 
has conclusively proved that close peeling is injurious to the health of 
the Vine, and such extreme cases of treatment ought not to be lightly 
indulged in. What a pity it is that this pointed and decisive letter of 
his could not be made to fit in at the end of those articles on Grape 
growing which were written by him and published in the Journal some 
years ago. Could not those articles be reprinted with such additions as 
Mr. Taylor’s experience might warrant ? Many a young gardener at the 
present day would profit by them. 
I should like to hear what is the aspect of his vinery, and if it is 
glazed with large panes of clear glass. If it is, and has a southern 
aspect, there is no wonder that the leaves flagged and the crop was 
light, for there must have been intense heat beating down on the 
exposed tender green bark, with some amount of transpiration. I think 
more harm is sometimes done to the tender tissues of the inner bark of 
Vines and fruit trees under glass than is often imagined, this intense 
dry heat acting injuriously in checking the proper action and circula¬ 
tion of the sap, and encouraging insect life, more espeeially on Vines 
which have been ruthlessly deprived of their natural protection. I 
regret to say I have had to resort to this skinning process, and know the 
iU effects, but will never again willingly attempt it. 
I believe there is no better cleansing dressing than the following for 
battling against these insidious pests :—Softsoapy water at a tempera¬ 
ture of 100° to 120°, brushing it well into the bark, particularly 
around the spurs, but being careful of the eyes; wash well with this 
until the bark is quite saturated, then before it dries go over them with 
a wash made of a pint of Lemon oil to 6 quarts of water at the same 
temperature, working this well into the bark, particularly around the 
spurs. 1 have a great liking for this insecticide, as I have never seen 
any ill effects from its use. 
In chemistry nothing now seems impossible; surely it could not be 
very difficult for chemists to produce a substance that would penetrate 
the porous bark of Vines without injury, and at the same time prove 
fatal to insect life.—J. Easter, Nostell Priory Gardens. 
PEAT MOSS LITTER. 
As there has been some discussion on this subject in the Journal, I 
venture to send a few remarks representing my experience. A few years 
since I had charge of extensive gardens where peat moss was used as 
bedding for a large stud of hunters. The manure was used for all kinds 
of kitchen garden crops, mulching fruit trees, growing Mushrooms, in 
fact everything that it was wanted for. The effect on most crops the 
first year was about the same as if manure from straw-bedded stables 
had been used. The second year the effect of the moss litter was ruinous. 
After all the manurial elements were used up the decayed refuse caused 
the ground to be filled with fungus, which destroyed all the fibres of 
every plant that it touched. 
1 mulched fruit trees against walls through the summer, leaving it on 
all the winter to decay the following spring. The whole border under¬ 
neath the litter was white with mycelium very difficult to destroy, and 
only got rid of by several dressings of half-slaked lime forked in. The 
same effect occurred in a Peach house where it was used. I mixed some 
with loam for filling pots for layering Strawberries in. The runners 
took to it very quickly, and soon filled the pots with roots. They were 
planted in well prepared ground in August, and all went well until the 
following spring. Just after the fruit had set one plant after another 
commenced flagging, and the whole quarter became a pitiable sight. I 
suspected the cause, and on examination found every ball filled with 
this fungus. With Asparagus the effect was very different. I dressed 
beds heavily with it, but no fungus occurred. This immunity I 
attributed to the use of salt, a few handfuls of which were scattered on 
the beds every week all through the growing season. This destroyed the 
fungus germs, and finer Asparagus I have never seen. 
1 used the moss litter largely for growing Mushrooms, and for 
such purpose I think it has no equal, but it should be kept under the 
horses for some time until every particle is saturated with urine, and 
then thrown into a heap and turned two or three times to sweeten ; it is 
then ready for use, and fine Mushrooms may be expected. It is well to 
add a few wheelbarrowfuls of good loam when making up the bed, as it 
helps to give firmness and durability. Thus we find that though it has 
its drawbacks it also has its good qualities, and should be used with 
care. It has a wonderful effect on grass land, especially c’ay soils, and 
should be used as it comes from the stable, as the manure is soon 
washed out by rain when laying in heaps, and consequently lost.—S. D. 
The annual show of the Farningham Rose and Horticultural Society 
will be held at Farningham on Wednesday the 3rd July.—STANLEY 
Edwards, Hon. Sec. 
Rosa rugosa. 
I HAVE been much interested in “ Practice’s” correction (page 98) 
of my statements respecting R. rugosa. I evidently was not up to date, 
and am glad to be introduced to Madame George Bruant, and to hear 
of other new plants coming on. Unless I am wrong again “ Macartney ” 
is now the one Rose race that has not been as yet improved on. The 
foliage is magnificent, but the flower unsatisfactory. “ Maria Leonida,” 
says Rivers, “ planted in an orchard house and fertilised might give 
some curious hybrids.”—A. C. 
Hardy Noisettes and Teas. 
I PRESUME there are few lovers of Roses who have not remarked 
their winter characteristics. Some of these, for example, will be found 
to be much hardier in constitution than others, and it is rather remark¬ 
able that among the Noisettes two of the hardiest should be perhaps the 
most beautiful of all—viz, L’ldeal and William Allen Richardson. 
This, at least, is the teaching of my own experience. During the past 
month, the most exacting January in the matter of frost we have had in 
Scotland for many years, these superb Roses have yielded much less to 
its influence in my own garden than even the greatly lauded Aimtie 
Vibert, which, like them, is growing on a sheltered south wall. 
Up to the present period, though perfectly unprotected either by 
Fern or Fir branches (the latter of which I keep for the more tender 
Teas) the Noisettes to which 1 have alluded in such complimentary 
terms have not lost half an inch of their wood. I have another William 
Allen Richardson on a wall exposed to the south-east wind which is very 
frequently strongly touched with frost. Having been transferred to 
that exposed position from a conservatory, I expected that in such a 
season as this it would, metaphorically as well as literally, “ go to the 
wall; ” but I find to my gratification that it is perfectly intact. An 
utterly unprotected L’ldeal, planted in one of the most central and 
exposed borders of the garden, has with equal tenacity of existence, 
survived. 
The most vigorous of all Roses, and the strongest in constitution, is 
undoubtedly the redoubtable Gloire de Dijon. I can well understand 
the Dean of Rochester’s enthusiasm for this remarkable Rose. My 
grandest specimen (or rather my youngest sister’s) received during the 
memorable storm of December last a very severe and unexpected 
pruning by the sudden collapse of that portion of the north wall on 
which it was placed. All its leading branches were broken off, and the 
giant Rose tree hurled to the ground. But Gloire de Dijon is famous 
for its capability of producing strong laterals, and I doubt not that in 
virtue of its vigorous character the amputated limbs will be completely 
recovered by the end of next summer. 
During a crucial season like this the Roses that chiefly require pro¬ 
tection from frost are the more delicate Teas ; nevertheless, I find that 
many of these are much hardier than I had anticipated, and one that 
I have found very admirable in this and other respects is Princess of 
Wales, one of the most attractive varieties within the range of my 
acquaintance. I have also been much gratified by the vigour and 
endurance under extremely exacting atmospheric conditions of Madame 
Elie Lambert, a valuable new Tea Rose not yet widely known. Comtesse 
de Nadaillac, also Madame Pierre Cochet, are exquisitely beautiful and 
free-flowering Noisettes, recently introduced ; Mar^chal Niel, which can 
tolerate winter frost with more equanimity than summer rain ; 
Corinna, Medea, Clara Watson, Miss Ethel Brownlow ; Marguerite, a pure 
white variation from Mrs. James Wilson ; Catherine Mermet and her 
two fascinating American daughters, Waban and The Bride ; Madame 
de Watteville, and Marie Van Houtte. All these Roses have distinctive 
attributes, but none more valuable than the special qualification to 
which I have referred. —David R. Williamson. 
The Rose and Mildew. 
With the present season of young growth among our indoor Roses 
I would like to give a few hints on the above disastrous disease. We 
can kill mildew, it is true, but when once its germs have put in an 
appearance on old or young leafage it is very difficult indeed to 
eradicate them without risk of serious injury. Noting this fact, it 
