534 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 20, 1896. 
slow to the persons interested. The great problem of the times 
appears to rest in the discovery of some method of helping one 
section without hindering the other, and whatever may be the out¬ 
come of collective efiEort on behalf of an over-pressed industry, 
one thing is clear—namely, that those persons engaged in it cannot 
make any possible mistake in striving with all their might to range 
themselves amongst its most successful representatives. This 
can only be done by the acquisition of the widest knowledge, the 
exercise of the best judgment, and the application of methods 
they have discovered to be sound, or which others may have found 
satisfactory. 
The Journal of Horticulture and its supporters are directly 
interested in the successful cultivation of garden products both 
for home use and commercial purposes. At the moment we have 
in view the last named aspect of gardening, in which more and 
more persons are engaging every year in the hope of deriving profit 
from it. Some succeed, while others fail, as in all occupations. 
There is no disgrace in failure when efforts have been conducted 
on strictly honourable lines, and we have no reproach for striving 
and industrious men who are not favoured by fortune in their 
undertakings. A person may be thoroughly competent as a 
cultivator, yet if he doe* not happen to have a supply of what is 
most in demand at a particular time his labour will have been to a 
large extent wasted. If we have more inquiries of one kind than 
another they are from persons who either desire to know what 
can be grown to give profit, or how to remove difficulties which are 
encountered in the work of commercial gardening. 
Several months ago we were inundated with letters in reply to 
a communication inserted from a perplexed correspondent relative 
to the profitable occupation of houses in the winter that were 
devoted to Tomatoes in the summer. Not half of what came to 
hand could be published, and with the view of eliciting information 
of a more precise nature, we offered a silver medal for the best 
essay, or essays, bearing directly on the “ Profitable Occupation of 
Glass Structures in Winter.” This brought a mass of information, 
so great and so varied, that it was most difficult to deal with. As 
a matter of fact no adjudicators could be found to declare any one 
essay to be better than all others. On that basis a decision would 
never have been arrived at. The essays were then divided accord¬ 
ing to the subjects treated—namely, those which dealt with plants 
and flowers mainly, and those which dealt with other crops. Then 
a further assortment had to be made which led to the setting 
aside of some admirably written essays containing valuable hints 
and cultural details, but in which the cost involved and the profits 
obtainable were not indicated with sufficient clearness. A few 
essays had been too hurriedly written and thus lost points. It 
should be borne in mind by writers that the value of literary 
productions is determined on the same principles as exhibits at 
shows ; that is, judges are bound to note all faults as well as 
merits, and they cannot take into account the difficulties of 
exhibitors. 
Ultimately the essays were reduced to four, and these divided 
into pairs according to the subjects treated, with the object of 
granting two medals. Two examiners were in favour of the 
essays of “Excelsior” (Nantwich) and “One of the Craft,” two 
others voting for “ Excelsior ” (Leominster) and “ Practice.” In 
the dilemma a referee, with power to decide the matter in any 
way he thought best, was appealed to, his verdict to be final. It 
was as follows :—“ In my opinion each essay contains something 
better than the other, that should not be lost, and as I cannot 
exclude any of them without a sense of injustice to the writers 
I am bound either to advise a medal for each or not one for any.” 
Silver medals are, therefore, granted to Mr. Peter Williams, Oakfield, 
Nantwich ; Mr. George Summers, Sandbeck Park, Rotherham; 
Mr. George Hart, Buckingham, Shoreham; and Mr. Robert 
Morrow, Leominster. These essays will be published in the hope 
that they will afford useful information that may be turned to 
account under circumstances to which it may be applicable. 
Four other essays are deserving of honourable mention, but as 
the writers have not been communicated with we do not feel 
at liberty to publish their names. 
FIGHTING INSECT PESTS. 
Gardeners assuredly need to be blessed with indomitable 
courage and unceasing energy, for the enemies they have to fight 
against are innumerable, and the persistency with which their 
battles must be waged afford ample scope for the proverbial 
British determination. 
Red spider and thrips are at the present time causing much 
trouble, and strict attention is necessary to prevent their ravages 
destroying many a promising crop. In the case of Peach and 
Nectarine trees under glass or in the open air the difficulties are 
not nearly so great as formerly, because we have now several 
splendid insecticides, which, if used in the right way, may be 
depended on to completely destroy red spider and thrips, with¬ 
out injuring the leaves they infest in the least. Calvert’s carbolic 
soap, u»ed at the rate of 1^ oz. to a gallon of water, will do this, 
but of course especial pains must be taken, when the water is being 
applied with a syringe, that the under side of the leaves is 
thoroughly wetted in every part. There is, however, one objection 
to the use of this preparation on Peach trees under glass—viz., 
that it leaves a settlement on the trees, also the glass and wood¬ 
work of the house. 
The great competition which has been going on between the 
manufacturers of insecticides has, however, at last brought about 
another step in advance, for the XL All insecticide, if mixed at 
the rate of one part to thirty parts of water, will kill red spider 
and thrips in one application, and when syringed on trees or 
plants leaves the foliage perfectly clean and free from disfigure¬ 
ment. The aim of the cultivator should, however, be to try and 
if possible prevent insects from gaining a footing. With this end 
in view care should be taken that the trees do not suffer from want 
of water at the roots, and to prevent evaporation a mulching of 
short manure ought to be given for a distance of several feet 
around the stems of wall trees. In the case of trees growing in 
lightly constructed houses it is often an excellent plan to apply a 
thin shade when a period of tropical weather sets in. 
When red spider once gains a footing in vineries it is a much 
more serious business to completely eradicate it than in the case of 
other fruits ; not because insecticides are less deadly in their 
effect on insects feeding on Yine leaves, but rather because it 
is so difficult to apply them without destroying the “ bloom ” 
which high-class Grapes always carry. True, there are instances 
where the crops are light or the bunches large, and therefore wide 
apart, in which syringing may be practised on a great amount of 
the leaf surface without touching a berry with the moisture ; but 
they may be taken as exceptions. Where full crops of Grapes are 
the rule it i* a most difficult, nay, almost impossible matter to 
syringe either with the insecticide or even clear water without dis¬ 
figuring many of the berries. The question then arises. How, 
then, can we keep down this dreaded red spider ? 
My experience teaches me there is no better plan than the old 
one of thoroughly sponging the leaves with soapy water or 
XL All insecticide. If the work is taken in hand as soon as the 
slightest trace of the enemy is seen it seldom gives much trouble 
unless other details of culture are not well carried out. It has 
always been my practice to keep a sponge and tin containing 
insecticide in each range of vineries, and as soon as a suspicious 
looking leaf is noticed it is thoroughly sponged. If after a few 
days signs are apparent of insects in several parts of the house 
every leaf is sponged, and further trouble is not often needed. Of 
course, it is necessary to continually impress on the young men 
performing the work the importance of taking every care not to 
spatter or rub the bunches during the operation, as the slightest 
touch, though not noticed now, wifi be clearly apparent when the 
Grapes are ripe. 
The practice of painting the hot-water pipes with sulphur is 
one which I never like to follow, except in extreme cases, for both 
Grapes and leaves lose their freshness after the operation. 
Instances sometimes occur when the practice is, however, a 
necessity. This is so when Vines are known to be badly infested, 
and time cannot possibly be spared to sponge the whole of the 
leaves. When this is the case mix in a dry state three parts flowers 
of sulphur with half a part of newly slaked lime, then add gradually 
a sufficient quantity of milk to form the whole into a thick paint, 
stir thoroughly, and apply to the hot-water pipes with a brush. 
Then heat the water in the pipes to boiling point, and keep it at 
that temperature for an hour afterwards, allowing the water to 
