548 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 20,1895. 
things in the autnmn to see the overgrown tops bent over, and the 
space between the rows filled with haulm, which rarely if ever is capable 
of producing fruit. The way out of this difficulty is by pinching or 
cutting over the tops before they have quite reached the limit of the 
sticks. Later in the season the side growths may be pinched with very 
good effect, in order to hasten the filling of the pods. It may here be 
remarked that rows of late Peas should be kept picked in the earlier 
weeks of bearing, for if once pods are allowed to ripen, or even to remain 
too long on the plants, growth will be seriously checked. 
As to sorts 1 suppose most people have their favourites. The present 
is the first year that I have dispensed with Ne Plus Ultra. After growing 
Fame for three years alongside it I have come to the conclusion that the 
latter is the better of the two, and particularly so with respect to its 
continued bearing habit. I am also growing a good breadth of Juno, a 
comparatively dwarf sort, of which I have formed a favourable im¬ 
pression. Besides these I am trying a few novelties of recent years, but 
these of course will in no manner affect the crop, even should they fail. 
— R. P. Beotheestojt. 
EXPRESS GRAPE GROWING. 
I AM obliged to “ Market Grower ” for the information and expla¬ 
nation respecting the 300-foot house of Gros Colman Grapes referred to 
by him. The crop was undoubtedly heavy, but unfortunately did not 
finish well. Yet heavy as that crop may have been, judging from 
“ Market Grower’s ” statement, his own Vines are carrying a heavier 
crop at the present time, and he states many of the bunches look like 
weighing 3 and 4 lbs. It will be quite interesting to hear how these 
Vines finish their crops. 
It is wonderful what the Vine is capable of doing under good 
management. As “ Market Grower ” remarks, abundant moisture and 
liberal feeding are absolutely necessary if heavy crops of first-class 
Grapes are to be produced annually. It is unreasonable to expect a Vine 
confined to a limited border to continue year by year for any great 
length of time to mature heavy crops of good Grapes without a supply 
of the necessary foods. As all the available plant food in the soil very 
soon becomes exhausted, and must of necessity be replaced, experience 
has taught me that frequent small supplies of manure are the best. I 
often tell my friends to feed their Vines as they feed themselves, viz., a 
little at a time and often, and give plenty of water, tepid if possible, 
which warms the soil, especially in the early part of the year, and which 
stimulates and encourages root action, cold water haring the opposite 
effect. 
I thank Mr. Bolas for his remarks in his letter of last week, in which 
he refers to a Barbarossa (Gros Guillaume) Vine grown in a lean-to 
Muscat house. Like all the other Vines in this house, it was planted 
out of a 3-inch pot in the latter part of June, 1890. It made a splendid 
cane, and was cut back, leaving about 8 feet of rod. The following 
season, 1891, a second cane was run in, and the Vine carried six bunches. 
The two largest were exhibited at Derby in strong competition, and 
were awarded a first prize in 1892, as stated by Mr. Bolas. This Vine 
carried thirteen bunches, weighing 108 lbs. They were a fine even crop, 
well formed, compact, neatly shouldered bunches, and well coloured, but 
the berries were not so fine as the previous year. Oaly two bunches 
■were exhibited, and were awarded a third prize in 1893. It again 
carried ten bunches, and finer I have never seen. Some of the 
bunches were the largest the Vine has ever carried, and every 
bunch was perfect in finish and good berries. All the bunches 
were exhibited; the two largest were staged not for competition, and 
were awarded a cultural commendation and special first prize. Two 
were placed in open competition, and were awarded a second prize at 
Derby ; four were exhibited at the Botanical Gardens, Manchester, and 
awarded first prize. The ninth bunch was included in my collection 
of Grapes at Earl’s Court, and awarded the silver-gilt medal ; and the 
tenth bunch was staged in my collection of Grapes at the Town Hall, 
Manchester, and was awarded the Society’s gold medal. 
As Mr. Bolas also remarks, i have never had any extraordinary 
Tesults from very strong wood. I have always found that the best 
results are to be obtained from medium well matured wood, as large 
growth generally contains a large proportion of pith which never can 
produce fruit of first-class quality.—W. Innes, Derby. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 11th. 
Scientific Committee.— Present: Dr. M.T. Masters (in the chair) ; 
Mr. McLachlan, Professor Miiller, Dr. Bonavia, Rev. W. Dod, Mr. 
Michael, and the Rev. G. Henslow, Hon. Sec. 
Injury by With reference to this subject, discussed at the last 
meeting, Mr. Dod observed that it was reported from Lancashire that 
while evergreens had been uninjured during the severe frost, yet they 
succumbed to a storm which conveyed much salt from the sea. 
Asparagus Fasciated. —Mr. Arthur Sutton sent a remarkably fine 
specimen of this not uncommon phenomenon in Asparagus. Mr. Dod 
observed that it was probably the result of over-nourishment, as he had 
fertilised Primula rosea with superphosphates, and fasciation resulted 
from it. 
Beetles and Orchids .—Some specimens of cockroaches were received, 
said to be very destructive to Orchids and Ferns. Mr. McLachlan 
named them as Blatta lapponica and germanica. They were doubtless 
imported with the plants. Any method usually adopted for destroying 
cockroaches should be applied. 
Dried Orchid Flowers. —Mr. Chapman, gardener to Mr. Measures, 
sent some remarkably well prepared specimens of dried and varnished 
Orchid blossoms, retaining their colours. 
“ Barbarossa ” Orape. —Dr. Masters exhibited specimens of Grapes 
which had burst, and apparently showing another in the interior. This 
has been the usual interpretation ; but an examination of the monstrosity 
in the young state proved that the interior “ Grape ” was really a seed, 
but coated with a succulent membrane, something like the seed of a 
Gooseberry. Dr. Masters observed that Robert Brown had noticed the 
same phenomenon to occur in Leontice, Berberis, and Crinum. 
Double Daisies .—Some fine specimens of double white Daisies on 
very long peduncles were received from MM. Lambert, Treves. It was 
suggested that they may have been derived from Beilis sylvestris, 
which has very similar scapes, and not from B. perennis. 
Ustilago primulina Disappearing. —Mr. Dod remarked that plants 
formerly badly infested with this disease gradually recovered, and were 
now quite free from it. He observed that the remedy so often given of 
total destruction by burning of plants infected by certain fungi might 
be sometimes too drastic a measure. Dr. Masters corroborated this 
observation, as he had known a similar recovery to have taken place in 
Lilies. 
Infected Soil from New Zealand .—With reference to this matter the 
report from Kew is as follows :—“ The root fungus sent to Kew for 
investigation from Cambridge, New Zealand, is known as Dematophora 
necatrix, Bartig, the cause of the much-dreaded ‘ root disease ’ in vine¬ 
yards and orchards, and is widely distributed throughout France, Italy, 
Austria, and South-west Germany. The fungus also attacks young 
Maples, Oaks, Beeches, Pines, Spruces, and Laburnums ; Beans and Beet 
are also attacked. The fungus can live in tne soil as a saprophyte, and 
there forms at least two forms of reproductive bodies, which are dis¬ 
persed by wind, birds, or small animals. When the mycelium comes in 
contact with the rootlets of a living tree it becomes parasitic, and spreads 
rapidly in the living tissues. 
“ All diseased plants should be burned, and the soil where infected 
plants have grown should be thoroughly mixed with quicklime if avail¬ 
able ; if not the soil should be burnt, so as to destroy all remnants of 
roots which contain the mycelium. Diseased patches of ground should 
be isolated by digging a trench about 1 foot deep, and left open. Wood 
ashes or manure containing potash, but no acid, dug into the soil among 
the roots is a preventive. 
“ The disease has probably been imported with trees from Europe. 
If the roots of imported trees are made very moist, and kept in a warm 
place for three days, the fungus, if present, will show itself under the 
form of snow-white strands and tufts of mycelium.” 
A vote of thanks was unanimously given to Mr. Maasee for his 
important investigation. 
SAXIFRAGAS IN LONDON. 
So many times have the beauties of Saxifragas been extolled in the 
pages of the Journal of Horticulture that it would appear, at first, 
superfluous to refer to them again now. The generality of these articles 
have, however, dealt with their cultivation in country gardens either as 
border or rockery plants, and it is to call attention to their adaptability to 
town gardens that these notes are penned. This then is the excuse, if 
any is needed, for again placing them before readers. It is true that 
many of the larger forms are now extensively cultivated, but it is to the 
smaller gems of the family that I would now refer. Between these and 
their larger brethren there is very little in common ; in fact, on a cursory 
glance, it seems impossible that they belong to the same family. A 
garden of sufficient size should certainly contain representatives of the 
big and the little, but for gardens of very limited extent the latter are 
undoubtedly preferable. They naturally permit of an infinitely greater 
variety, which is synonymous with extended interest, and for this reason 
should be chosen. 
By way of experiment I tried about a dozen sorts, and all but one 
grew, and are now flowering with the greatest profusion in a narrow 
border that gets only the afternoon sun. So well have they done that I 
hope by this time next year to have a much larger collection, and I 
have little doubt that they will afford entire satisfaction. There is a 
rockery in the garden, which is situated within earshot of Big Ben, 
but unfortunately it is used as a stepping-stone for the cats which 
abound, and consequently no plants will grow thereon, except perhaps 
the Stonecrop, which just manages to exist round the margins where the 
felines do not jump on io so much. It was originally purposed to plant 
the Saxifragas on this bit of rockwork, but after considering the matter 
it was decided to leave it to the cats, and place the plants in a narrow 
border that runs round the garden. We had some qualms about doing 
this for fear they should not succeed, but we need not have had, for, as 
previously mentioned, the plants took readily to their new home. The 
idea of planting was originally suggested some two or three years ago 
by the manner in which they were and are grown in Dulwich Park, and 
fostered by the notes referring to them that have appeared in the 
Journal from Mr. S. Arnott. But the circumstances were essentially 
different, for there they had the fresh air from an open space of upwards 
of 70 acres, whereas in my garden the distance between the rows of 
houses certainly does not exceed 60 feet. Nevertheless, we felt bound to 
give them a trial, and would now like other of your town readers to go 
