182 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 28,1895. 
Mulberry is the stump of a venerable Cedar, also a Catalpa, planted 
when the tree was very rare, and several Hollies of long standing. 
Towards Brompton there yet remains upon the remnant of Elm or 
Chelsea Park, some of the 2000 trees planted by a joint stock company 
about 1719 or 1720, the spot having been chosen as suitable for the 
Mulberry, because the soil was dry and the position elevated. These 
w'ere to be used for rearing silkworms, in the expectation of making at 
least £11,000 yearly, but the scheme soon proved a failure. Across the 
Thames we find Lambeth and its neighbourhood formerly famous for 
Mulberries ; here, in the grounds of Carlisle House, was another Queen 
Elizabeth’s tree, described by Oldys as having “ most reverend marks of 
antiquity, with a large head, and spacious arms, upheld by props like 
the pages that supported her train.” Four or five hundred pottles were 
gathered from it in 1753 and subsequently. When some old gardens in 
South Lambeth were being cleared to form Vauxhall Park a few years 
ago, I noticed a white Mulberry with fruit upon it in spite of the 
increased London smoke. Buckingham Palace, I may add, stands on 
the ground occupied by the old Mulberry garden, planted about 1609 at 
the direction of James I., who spent there nearly £1000 on trees. After¬ 
wards it became a place of popular entertainment.—J. B, S. C. 
CLEANING VINES. 
I KNOW of no pest so difficult to clear out of a vinery as mealy bug. 
Especially is this the case where the houses are old and heavily timbered, 
affording as they do much harbour for this and other insects. Once 
fairly established in them, it seems almost impossible to eradicate it. 
Lighter and more modern structures are not so difficult to clean. Of 
course, if labour and time can be given, all woodwork can be, no matter 
how heavy, scrubbed, scoured, and painted, and the Vine rods must be 
similarly dealt with, or all other cleansing operations will be of no avail. 
I succeeded to a large legacy of mealy bug when I came here many 
years ago. I have tried persistently ever since to stamp it out, and 
although I have not accomplished that entirely, have managed to keep 
it in check, so that not much damage has been done. I have had to 
take off all loose bark from the Vines, and where needful much that 
was not very loose, and although I heartily detest the practice, and 
would much prefer seeing the men otherwise employed, I know of no 
other plan. Certainly I would not waste valuable time and try men’s 
patience in denuding Vines of bark if the necessity for the operation 
did not exist, for, like your able correspondent “ E. K.” (page 77), “it 
gives me an uncomfortable feeling,” always fearing that some evil may 
accrue from it, but I can safely say that I have never known any ; in 
fact, the best Grapes I had last year were cut from Vines that have 
been annually subjected to the stripping process for many years (nearly 
twenty), and always heavily cropped. In contrast to this, the worst 
examples I have ever had were from Vines twenty-five years old that 
have not been peeled for many years. The fault of this lies, where it 
invariably does, in a defective border, which will be promptly remedied 
as soon as this great frost has departed. 
I have long given up painting Vines with gas tar and other mixtures, 
preferring washing thoroughly with softsoapy water, to which is 
added a little petroleum. The canes retaining their natural colour can 
be looked over for escaped bug much more efficiently than if coated with 
a pigment of whatever kind. I saw no red spider in our vineries last 
season, but I fear that destructive pest even more than I do mealy bug, 
for Vines will finish Grapes well if not too seriously infested with bug, 
■but if red spider gets a footing all chances of a perfect finish to the crop 
are at an end. 
I have always found thorough drenchings with pure soft water from 
underground tanks applied early in the mornings of bright sunny days 
a great assistance in keeping spider in check, no blemish to the Grapes 
resulting if the water is pure and abundant ventilation given. Until I 
read Mr. Taylor’s account I had never known or heard of anyone 
stripping the bark from Vines for red spider, but no doubt they do 
hibernate beneath the bark of Vines like mealy bug, and ought to be 
similarly sought for. I am inclined to think that, taken as a whole, 
quite as good, perhaps better. Grapes are grown from Vines that are 
judiciously stripped of bark annually, or when necessity arises, than are 
produced from Vines from which no bark is ever taken, as the culti¬ 
vator of the former after taking infinite pains to clean his Vines will be 
less likely to neglect subsequent cultural details than the grower of the 
latter who adopts, very frequently, the “go as you please” system.— 
W. N., Badminton. 
DAFFODILS AS POT PLANTS. 
It is astonishing how little Daffodils are as yet used for pot culture. 
Every year they are more and more in demand for beds and borders, but 
for potting comparatively few people seem to think of them. This 
neglect is certainly not because they are difficult to grow, for of all 
easily grown bulbs perhaps these are the easiest. If potted in the 
autumn from September to end of October (according to the time they 
are required to bloom) in turfy loam with a little sand ; placed on ashes 
in the open air, and covered with any suitable protecting material such 
as cocoa fibre refuse, old tan or leaves, they may be left undisturbed till 
December, January, or February, when, if brought into a cool house, the 
leaves will soon make rapid growth, and a little additional heat will 
quickly bring out the blooms. But it must be borne in mind that the 
more gradually the bulbs are brought on the finer and more lasting will 
the blooms bOi 
A mistake which is often made with these and other bulbs is to 
attempt forcing before the roots have taken full possession of the soil. 
The only way to have extra early flowers is to pot early. About five 
bulbs in a good sized pot will give more satisfaction than a less number 
in smaller pots, but of course the bulb itself will to a certain extent 
determine the size of pot and the number required for it. 
The best Daffodils are certainly somewhat high in price, but this is 
more apparent than real, for after flowering they are not useless like 
Hyacinths and’ Tulips, but if ripened in the pots and afterwards 
planted out in the border they will bloom well the following spring. 
Certainly nothing can be more gracefully beautiful for conservatory 
decoration than these charming spring flowers ; to my mind neither 
Hyacinths nor Tulips—bright and welcome as they are—are fit to 
compare with them. The long time the blooms will last in perfection 
in a cool house is wonderful, nothing but Orchids can equal them. I 
saw some beautiful blooms of Maximus on February 17th, which I was 
assured had been out since just after Christmas. 
The following are a few of the very best Daffodils for pot culture, 
though doubtless many others would succeed admirably :—Emperor, 
Empress, Horsfieldi, Bicolor grande, Maximus, Golden Spur, Obvallaris, 
Countess of Annesley, Princeps, SirWatkin, Barri Conspicuus, Cynosure, 
Poeticus Ornatus, and the old dou’ole Daffodil. 
I hope these few remarks may induce some of those who have passed 
over the Daffodil as a pot plant to give it a trial in the future, and I 
feel sure they will have no cause for regret.—J. Duncan Pearson, 
Chihoell. 
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OF FRUIT AND 
VEGETABLES. 
I QUITE agree with your Lincolnshire correspondent that it would 
be for the advantage of growers at large if a definite scale of weights 
and measures were adopted by growers for sale throughout the country. 
I myself do not think it could be done without the intervention of 
Parliament, as growers in all districts would think their own the most 
satisfactory. 
In my district (Vale of Evesham) vegetables and fruit are chiefly 
sold by the pot—viz.. Potatoes, 80 lbs.; Peas, Beans, and Brussels 
Sprouts, 40 lbs.; Parsley, 20 lbs.; Walnuts, green, for pickling, 72 lbs.; 
Apples, 64 lbs.; Pears and Plums, 72 lbs.; Gooseberries, 64 lbs.; 
Cherries, Currants, Bed and Black, by the side, 63 lbs.; Asparagus by 
the bundle. Bailed 100, containing 120 buds (the practice of making all 
bundles a certain weight, 5 lbs., is gradually being introduced); Straw¬ 
berries in punnets, about 14 ozs., and by the lb. in sieves and trays; 
Radishes by the score, 260 bunches, about seven to nine in a bunch, 
according to size and season, the bunches larger as they get cheaper ; 
Parsnips, Carrots, Turnips, and Onions (not green) are sold by weight, 
about two pots to the cwt.; Carrots and Turnips are sold in bunches 
early in the season, about four or five to the bunch, thirteen to the 
dozen; Vegetable Marrows, Cauliflowers, Savoys, Sage (bunches, a 
handful), pickling Cabbage, and ridge Cucumbers, thirteen to the dozen. 
Cabbage and Lettuce (Cabbage Cos are not grown about here in any 
quantity) are generally sold by the pot—that is, the hamper fairly 
filled—Cabbage, two to three dczm; Lettuce, six to eight dozen. All 
young plants for planting out are sold six score to the hundred. 
It makes it very awkward when fruit and vegetables are consigned 
to Covent Garden to be sold on commission from this district, as their 
weights and measures differ from ours. 
Hoping the above may be the means of eliciting some salesmen’s and 
other’s opinion.— Market Grower. 
It may be stated without contradiction that growers and sellers of 
garden produce are labouring under the injustice of the unwritten law 
of local customs more than any other traders, farmers not excepted, in the 
mode of disposing of their wares. As opinions on the above subject 
were invited by a correspondent of February 14lh, perhaps a few 
extracts out of the Weights and Measures Act, 1878-89, would be helpful. 
Fortunately the Act is in force, and the sooner its provisions are taken 
advantage of the sooner the existing confusion will be done with. Sec¬ 
tion 3 of the Act provides that “ The same weights and measures shall 
be used throughout the United Kingdom.” Section 19, “Every con¬ 
tract, bargain, sale, or dealing made or had in the United Kingdom for 
any work, goods, or wares shall be deemed to be made and had accord¬ 
ing to one of the Imperial weights or measures ascertained by this Act, 
or to some multiple or part thereof, and if not so made shall be void.” 
Again, the same section states that “ No local or customary measures, 
nor the use of the heaped measure, shall be lawful.” 
To use the mildest term possible, it is absurd to buy by the stone or 
any other imperial denomination, and at the same time to demand 
16, 18, or 20 lbs. to the stone, when the Act provides, section 14, that 
“ A stone shall consist of 14 imperial standard lbs.” The public could 
not get more than 16 ozs. to tue Ib. from the retailers. Taking one 
example of your correspondent’s ; Potatoes are sold at 20 lbs. to the 
stone (lucky middleman) in a hobbet. or four bushels; instead of 224 lbs., 
or 16 stones, he gets 320 lbs., or 22f stones ; but as it is done with the 
knowledge of the vendor, there is no remedy, nor is a further Act 
needed, as if the one in force were taken advantage of, it is sufficient. 
The remedy is in the seller’s hands, but collective action is necessary. 
Licensed victuallers have taken steps in some districts to discontinue the 
old custom of “ long pull,” and to give only the imperial measu re. Let 
market gardeners do likewise, combine and enforce their rights ; justice 
is on their side.— Vernier, 
