Merch 28, 1895, 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTULE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
273 
- The reader of the paper on nitrogen, &c., before the Cheehunt, 
Wormley, and District Horticsltural Society was J. Guy, and not by 
J. Grey, as stated on page 249 of our last issue, 
- The Scilly flower season has now fairly set in ; 1136 packages, 
or about 12 tons, were despatched from St. Mary’s, Islands of Scilly, to 
Penzance a few days ago. 
- COBEECTION — CALANTHES AND THEIB CULTTTBB. — On 
page 246 your correspondent, Mr. J. Friend, makes a slight mistake 
in his excellent article, by stating that a few weeks ago a writer was 
recommending us to place three good bulbs in a 5-inch pot. The advice 
reads as follows :—“ Each piece, now consisting of two or three bulbs 
each, should be placed in 7 to 9-inch pots, according to size.” This, 
I think, will fairly agree with the advice of our friend.—S. K., 
Lymington, 
- Vine Mildew. — Mons. Louis Sipiere communicates to the 
French Academy of Sciences a mode of treatment more easily employed, 
less offensive, and more economical than the use of sulphur. M. Sipiere 
avails himself of lyaol by reason ©f its germicide properties. A solution 
of five parts in 1000 of water is most efficacious in destroying insects, as 
well as fungus spores, and is much cheaper than the Bordeaux mixture. 
Three applications should be made, in the course of the summer, in 
spring, and early summer. 
- Tea Cultube in Ceylon. — The Tea growing industry is 
apparently making rapid strides forward in Ceylon. The output for 
the current year is estimated at nearly 94,000,000 lbs., and there is no 
occasion to doubt that these figures will be realised. The planters in 
the island are all making their fortunes, and the country generally is 
enjoying a condition of prosperity hitherto unknown. The change is all 
the more noticeable as it has come so quickly after the dreadful depres¬ 
sion brought about by the Coffee leaf disease a few years ago. 
- Clethea alnifolIA. —Notwithstanding the large numbers of 
species that bloom successively, so that flowers may be had in abund¬ 
ance for most periods of the year, there is a time,!about the end of July, 
midway between spring and autumn flowers, when scarcely anything is 
open. One of the best for this spare time is Clethra alnifolia. The 
long spikes of pure white flowers with the bright yellow anthers render 
it a particular ornament. It is impossible to find anything prettier at 
that season of the year. It has in addition a delightful fragrance. On 
account of the scarcity of other flowers at that period it is visited by a 
very great variety of insects, so that what with butterflies, bees, hornets, 
and other winged insects of many kinds, the flower has an additional 
attraction to those which its own beauty affords.—(“ Meehans’ Monthly.”) 
- Scale in Ameeican Orchabds. —The scale insects have not 
been very troublesome heretofore in the northern and eastern parts of 
the United States, but one of them has appeared in New York orchards, 
attacking Plums and other trees, and threatens to become a serious 
enemy. It may have inhabited certain orchards in small numbers for 
some time, but it never caused any alarm until within two years, and 
now it threatens the total destruction of thousands of trees. Mr. 
Slingerland of Cornell University has been making a study of this 
insect, and, although its life-history is not yet thoroughly understood, 
he has discovered enough to enable him to state that it can be destroyed 
by persistent spraying before spring growth begins. In an illustrated 
bulletin just issued by the Cornell Experiment Station, Mr. Slingerland 
explains how it can be distinguished from the San Jos6 scale, and gives 
directions for treating the trees with the kerosene emulsion, so as to 
prevent it starting in April. 
- Clebodendbon Flowers Falling. — After perusing an 
article in the Journal of the 7th inst. on Clerodendrons, I venture to 
ask advice as to the reason of my losing so many flowers from my 
Clerodendron Balfourianum. I am an amateur exhibitor, and have 
three full-sized specimen plants which I can manage to grow and 
bloom well, but on moving them I lose the flowers. I have often 
wondered the cause of this, as I see other exhibitors hardly lose a single 
bloom. I adopt the following treatment. As soon as the plants cease 
blooming I keep them growing in the stove till January, then dry them 
off a little, and place in the greenhouse, where they remain till June. 
This produces favourable results as far as blooming is concerned, but 
although I have tried hardening them when in flower, and every other 
remedy I could think of, I can attain no better results, as immediately 
I shake or carry the plants I am left with but poor results for my 
labour. I have failed eight years in this, and any advice your 
experienced readers can tender me through your valuable weekly will be 
most thankfully received.— Amateub. 
- The Growth of Ivy.—T he Ivy differs from ordinary plants 
in having rootlets on every ctem, thus rendering it almost independent 
of its main ground-roots. Its notorious killing action upon growing 
trees when it takes possession of them is mainly due to absorption of 
their juices. If there is any moisture in stone or brick walls the Ivy 
will have it. 
-Statue to Mons. Gustave Planchon. — A statue has 
recently been erected at Montpellier, in the south of France, to com¬ 
memorate the life and services of this distinguished botanist, to whom, 
after a study of the Phylloxera on American Grape Vines, was largely 
due the rehabilitation of the Vines of France after they had been ravaged 
by that insect. 
-The Cultivation op Tobacco in France is extending, but 
the quality is ordinary. It is the Tobacco imports from Kentucky and 
Cuba that enable the various mixtures to be prepared. The Government 
has just authorised the Department of Lot et Garonne to plant this 
season 2375 acres with Tobacco, and the number of plants per acre is 
fixed at 12,000. 
- The Fixation of Nitrogen.—T his is described by M. 
Petermann as being effected not only by leguminous plants such as 
Lupins and Beans, but also by Barley. The latter is attributed to the 
influence of rain water, which favours the development of certain low 
forms of vegetable life, and these, after absorbing nitrogen from the air, 
eventually act as fertilisers to the plant. 
- Forcing Strawberries. — May I be allowed to thank 
“ Fragaria ” for his prompt and able answer (page 258) to my 
“ ticklish question ” on page 234 1 But there was really no intention 
of tickling you, “ Fragaria,” as a means of extracting knowledge. 
Yet, no matter the means if the end is gained ; and if “ the blade ” is 
keen to prune, the propagation of sound information is more readily 
effected. Fear not “ Fragaria,” your practical article will bear fruit 
(not weighed by avoirdupois) to others as well as to— Saynob. 
- Cornish Crops. —Cornwall, that forefoot of England thrust 
far out into the benign south-west, gives us the first-fruits of summer 
long ere they ripen under our harsher sky. But the weather appears 
to have been too much even for Cornwall. Mr. G. G. Boswell writes 
from Marazion that he has been round to all the principal market- 
gardening eentres, and never in his experience has he seen crops killed 
as they are this year in Cornwall. In large fields of spring Cabbages 
not one has been left. Hundreds of acres of Broccoli are served the 
same. Tripoli Onions are cut down close to the earth, scores of acres of 
Parsley, Lettuce, and other garden produce being destroyed. 
-The Hessle Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society. 
—At a special meeting of the above Society on March 22nd, a paper 
was read on “Exhibitions, Exhibitors, and Exhibiting,” by Mr. Wm. 
Clayton of Appleton-Roebuck. Exhibitions, he said, have now become 
so popular that nearly all towns and villages have their flower shows. 
With a description of the different classes of exhibitors Mr. Clayton 
passed on to exhibiting, in which he gave some good advice. When 
practical to do so, cut the blooms on the morning of the show, name 
correctly, and stage in such a position that it appears at its best 
advantage. If not successful try again; set your mind on improving 
your exhibits; cherish and support your hobby, and you will not always 
be disappointed.—F. L. S. 
- Floral Fashions in New York.—T he custom once so much 
in fashion of presenting hand bouquets to ladies to carry at dancing 
parties is no longer observed. The discomfort attending the carrying 
about, through an entire evening, of an awkward armload of heavy 
bouquets, as well as the excess to which the fashion was carried, 
furnished a very good excuse for its abandonment. Hand bouquets are 
quite fashionable for theatre parties, however. The form which first 
came into general use last season, under the name of “ shower bouquet ” 
or “ English spray bunch,” is, says the “ American Florist,” the most 
popular, and is well adapted to its purpose, as the flowers are arranged 
to face all to one side, and the bunch may be laid down without injury 
to the flowers, as would be the case with a round bouquet. Lilacs make 
up beautifully in these bunches, either by themselves or in association 
with a few Boses. White Roses and Lily of the Valley are a favourite 
combination. More novel and very rich in effect are Acacia and Brides¬ 
maid Roses. Bridesmaid, Meteor, or Testout Roses are used sometimes 
alone. In this case it takes about three dozen Roses to make the bunch 
properly. When used with Lilac or Acacia one dozen Roses will be 
sufficient. Bridesmaid is the most popular Rose in the market for such 
purposes the present season. 
