284 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September S9,1887. 
knowledge and experience rather than endanger the 
prospects of a year by the indiscretion of an hour.— 
Felix. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Webb & Sons, Wordsiey, Stourbridge.— Catalogue of Selected Seed Corn, 
18S7-8. 
William Rumsey, Waltham Cross, N.— Catalogue of Boses, 1887-8. 
All correspondence should be directed either to “ The 
Editor” or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. 
Hogg or members of the staff often remain unopened un¬ 
avoidably. We request that no one will write privately 
to any of our correspondents, as doing so subjects them to 
unjustifiable trouble and expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions 
relating to Gardening and those on Bee subjects, and should 
never send more than two or three questions at once. All 
articles intended for insertion should be written on one side of 
the paper only. We cannot reply to questions through the 
post, and we do not undertake to return rejected communica¬ 
tions. 
LATE INQUIRIES.—It is necessary to again remind correspondents that 
letters arriving on WEDNESDAY MORNING cannot bo answered 
in the “ next issue,” which is then far advanced for press. 
Address (B. N., Notts'). —You will probably be able to obtain what you 
require from Spratts Patent, Limited, Henry Street, Bermondsey, London, 
S.E. 
Wasp Destroyer (Several Inquirers ').—We do not know where it can be 
obtained, and do not think it is advertised. 
Plums for Wall (Rus in TJrbe'). —For the south-east aspect Green 
Gage, and for the south-west Jefferson or Coe’s Golden Drop. 
Mushroom (G.C.). —Yes, it is the common Mushroom, Agaricus cam- 
'pestris. Mushrooms often appear in particular places such as you describe, 
.just as they come in certain portions of a field for several years in 
succession. 
Plum Mirabelle Petite III. Osman). —Your Plum has had various names, 
■■such as Mirabelle Jaune, Mirabelle de Vienne, etc., but its accepted title is 
that given above. It is a va’uable Plum for preserving purposes, and 
though small is usually very prolific, though we know tr es in warm 
Sussex gardens that will not fruit. You do not mention whether your 
frees are free or not. 
Compost for Surface-dressing Vines (Doctor).- —The compost you 
•describe will be a very suitable one, being tho-oughly incorporated, and 
applied not more than 3 or 4 inches thick. It is very desirable whilst 
about work of the kind proposed to remove the soil from amongst the 
loots as far as practicable and supply fresh, making the whole tolerably 
.firm, to effect which the soil should be in good working order. 
Dividing Azaleas (Idem). —Without seeing the plants we are unable 
f o sta’e whether they can be divided or not, but if they can have an 
equal share of roots they may be so treated. It is necessary, however, 
that the plants have good roots, otherwise we do not think the proposed 
division safe. We have lifted many very large plants for forcing, and 
.always found it best to keep the ball entire. The plants could be placed in 
■tubs if too large for pots. 
Cut Flowers for Market (E. J. S.). —There is such severe competition 
now that those well skilled in the trade have a difficulty in realising 
remunerative prices, and there are so many private establishments dis¬ 
posing of surplus produce that the markets, and especially Covent Garden, 
are supplied at low prices. An amateur with nothing but cold frames 
could not safely enter the business. There is no small book devoted to 
the subject. The prices quoted in our columns weekly are the retail 
prices. 
Planting Vines (J. W. E.). —Provided the leaves have not fallen it 
would be advisable to plant the Vines from the pot now, spreading out 
the roots after disentangling them, and by shading the Vines for a few 
•days they will soon become established in their fresh quarters. If the 
leaves are off defer planting until they have made an inch or two of fresh 
igrowth. They should be placed in the house they are to be planted in 
when the house is started. 
Indiarubber Plant Leaves Decayed ( A. F., Purjleet). — The leaf ia 
mot diseased so far as we can detect, but is decayed from the point upward, 
and this is common to the plant when grown in too cold and moist an 
atmosphere. The only remedy we can suggest is to keep water from 
the foliage either by syringing or drip from the roof, and maintain a more 
genial condition of the atmosphere. Sponge the leaves when necessary 
with clear water only, being careful not to injure them, or they will 
certainly decay. 
Fruit Trees for South Wall ( W. Ml. —A south wall is suitable for 
Apricots, Peaches, and Nectarines, Plums, Pears, and Cherries. The choicest 
of those are :—Apricots : Peach and Moor Park. Peaches : Hale’s Early, 
Stirling Cattle, and Barrington. Nectarines : Lord Napier, Pine Apple, and 
Victoria. Plums : Green Gage, Jefferson, and Coa’s Golden Drop. Pear3: 
Jargonelle, Beurrb Superfin, Marie Louise, Pitmaston Duchess, Doyenn6 du 
Comice, Durondeau, and Josephine de Malines. Cherries : Early Rivers, 
May Duke, and Governor Wood. 
Affiliation with the Royal Horticultural Society (J. Sargeant ).—The 
Council receive provincial horticultural and floral societies into association 
upon an annual subscription of five guineas. They offer them the follow¬ 
ing privileges :—One silver Knightian medal, one silver Banksian medal, 
one bronze Knightian medal, one bronze Banksian medal—to be given aB 
prizes at the shows of the provincial society—one member’s ticket for the 
Secretary, and twelve single tickets, admitting the bearer to any one 
meeting or show of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
Cabbage Grub (G. J. B .).—Your Cabbages have been attacked by the 
larva of the great yellow underwing moth, Triphsena pronuba, which 
occurs frequently at the roots of Lettuces also, and on various plants in 
the kitchen garden. The eggs are deposited during July by the parent 
moths, which are conspicuous and should be captured whenever seen. 
1 heir progeny feed from the autumn until spring, when they enter the 
chrysalis stage. Amongst tbe remedies that have been approved is the 
application of soot or soot mixed with lime to the stocks of the plants, also 
ashes or sand moistened with petroleum, and watering with soapsuds,tobacco 
water, or the decoction of quassia. 
Making a Horseradish Bed (A Subscriber ).—It is neerssary that the 
ground be trenched and well manured. If there be any waste refuse from 
the garden partially reduced it may be used advantageously, especially if 
it contain a good proportion of charred refuse ; indeed, the finest Horse¬ 
radish we have seen was grown on a bed formed of a rubbi-h heap, the 
woody portions being used for charring the coarser portions. Tbe value of 
the rubbish heap for Horseradish was no doubt due to the potash. Choose 
long small young portions of the roots for sets, the longer the better, and 
plant in rows 2 feet apart and 1 foot asunder in tbe rows, with the roots as 
straight as practicable and the crown covered with soil. Long small pieces 
of roots make good sets, cutting them into lengths of about 12 to 15 inches. 
They should be planted upright, taking out a trench, and so that the top is 
buried about an inch. Good roots with crowns will give good suitable 
roots for lifting in a year, and the smaller ones without crowns in two 
from the time of planting. 
Placing Slates or Stone under Fruit Trees (Idem). —It is a good plan, 
as it prevents the roots from striking down, causing them to extend 
laterally. They should be placed 2 feet from the surface. Royal George 
and Noblesse are excellent Peaches. Three good Nectarines are Lord 
Napier, Pine Apple, and Victoria. 
Trees for Screen on the Seacoast (E G. A.). —There is no evergreen 
tree so suitable as Pinus austriaca, and it is equally serviceable inland, 
thriving in the bleakest situations and at high altitudes. We should 
plant a good width oE Pinus austriaca near the sea, then an inner one of 
Sycamore, having Holly for undergrowth, which should planted so that 
the Sycamores will ultimately be 24 feet apart every way, and the Hollies 
12 feet, planting the Hollies at those distances apart in the first instance, 
and the Sycamores 4 feet. Inside you can have most kinds of deciduous 
trees and shrubs, also evergreens, Conifers doing remarkably well. 
Apples for Orchard (Idem). —Tho early Apples ate as eligible for 
standards as the late varieties. Dessert Apples : Irish Peacu, Kerry 
Pippin, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Scariet Nonpareil, Court of Wick.^Scarlet 
Golden Pippin, Reinette de Canada, and Allen’s Everlasting. Kitchen : 
Yorkshire Beauty, Duchess of Oidenburgb, Worcester Pearmain, Cellini, 
Small’s Admirable, Dutch Mignonne, Dumtlow’s Seedling, Northern 
Greening. If you want more dessert varieties have Mr. G adstone, Quarren- 
den (Devonshire), Margil, The Queen, Duke of Devonshire, Northern Spy, 
Gipsy King, Adam’s Pearmain, Nonpareil White, and Sturmer Pippin; or 
of kitchen varieties, Lord Snffield, Ecklinville, Blenheim Pippin, Nelson 
Codlin, Peasgood’s Nonesuch, Bramley’s Seedling, Tower of Glamis, Prince 
Albert, Bedfordshire Foundling, and Gooseberry Apple. 
Millipedes in Carnation Bed (M. J. C .).—The caterpillar is a milli¬ 
pede (Julus pulchellus), which is found plentifully where there is decayed 
vegetable matter, and is injurious, as it also feeds on live plants. Some 
Carrot and Potato baits inserted in the soil will entice them, and by 
examining them frequently the millipedes may be destroyed. 
Pears Decaying at the Core (Idem). —It is not unusual for extra fine 
examples of some kinds to decay at the core before ripening, and is pro¬ 
bably due to a deficiency of moisture at the roots during the swelling period, 
the soil not being firm and moisture-holding. The only remedy we can 
suggest is to mulch over the roots and keep them well supplied with water 
in any dry periods that may occur during the swelling period, espe.ially 
after midsummer. 
Dahlias—Seedling Chrysanthemums (E. E., Jersey ).—The Dahlia 
blooms had suffered so much in transit through the post that their florets 
had all fallen, and it was quite impossible to determine whether they are 
distinct or not, but their colours did not indicate anything remarkable. 
We shall be pleased to see blooms of your seedling Chrysanthemums when 
they expand. , 
Culture of Lilium Browni(lF. Eurtfield). —This fine Lily may be grown 
to peifection either in the open ground or in pots in a mixture of roughly 
chopped peat and yellow loam in equal parts, to which give a liberal 
addition of sharp sand or grit. BeiDg still scarce it is deserving of special 
attention. If charcoal iB to be had mix it liberally with tho soil. It is 
perfectly hardy, but if planted in the open ground, ensure a perfectly 
drained position, and mulch annually with leaf soil. Under pot culture 
plant its bulbs (i.e., flowering ones) in 7-inch pots, and let the apex be about 
3 inches from the surface; this potting should be done at once. Repotting 
ought to have been done six weeks ago, as it is one of the parly flowering 
species. Root action recommences in proportion. The pot plants should be 
