328 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 13, 1887. 
of failure when the operation is attempted by one who 
■cannot bring practical experience to bear on theoretical 
■knowledge.—F elix. 
P.S.—I must ask “A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper” to 
excuse my delay in replying to his criticism on these 
papers. My time, however, is so completely taken up 
that it is impossible for me at present to do so. In the 
course of a few weeks I hope to have the pleasure of 
** breaking a friendly lance ” over one or two points. In 
his criticism on “No. 18” I think “ A Lanarkshire Bee¬ 
keeper ” has misapprehended my meaning, and I must 
confess to not being able to grasp the point of his criticism 
with reference to “queen cells” in stocks from which 
swarms have issued.— Felix. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Dick Radclyffe (Limited), 128 and 129, High Holborn, W.C .—List of 
Bulbs Stoves and Ornaments. 
Martin Grashoff, Quedlenburgh (Germany ).—List of Novelties. 
° 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. 
Insects on Chrysanthemums (IF. M .).—The leaves sent are attacked 
with a species of aphis, of which there are several, some attacking the 
Rose, others the Dahlia, others fruit trees, &c. All these plant-lice differ 
in colour somewhat, but are members of the same family, the one before 
us being the Chrysanthemum louse. They will injure the plant if not 
destroyed by an insecticide. 
Chrysanthemums (Janies). —You can strike the “ strong healthy looking 
cuttings ” now, though we fail to see what advantage you will derive from 
■doing so, as we suspect you will have some difficulty in keeping the plants 
sturdy through the winter. 
Tomatoes (S. 0. L.).~ All the fruits that are showing signs of colouring 
in the open air will ripen if cut now and suspended in a warm glazed 
structure or room, but will not attain such a rich colour nor develope the 
same high flavour as those ripened on the plants in summer. 
The Mammoth Gourd (M. C.). —You are in error in stating that no 
answer has been given to your letter. Please refer to page 305 last week 
and see the second reply in the column. 
Rose William Allen Richardson (Mrs. L.).— You havebeen misinformed- 
So far from its being a weak and bad grower we find few Roses grow more 
satisfactorily. It is suitable for growing against a wall, and in good soil, 
and kept clean, soon covers much space, affording flowers in abundance till 
the approach of frost. 
Pelargoniums in Winter ( J. D. F.).— Zonal Pelargoniums do not flower 
well and continuously in winter in greenhouses of mixed plants, and where 
the temperature often falls to 40° or lower. The position for these plants 
cannot be too light in winter, and a temperature of about 50° is desirable. 
Large Cauliflowers (E. Adams). —In reply to your question as to whether 
“ a large, splendid, crisp, solid head of Veitch’s Giant cut up into half a 
dozen smaller heads, is not then as suitable for table as if the small heads 
were grown on so many miserable plants ? ” we are inclined to answer in the 
affirmative, but every case must be judged on its own merits. Your super¬ 
latives indicate something wonderful even in the way of this fine Cauli¬ 
flower. 
Salting Asparagus Beds (F. Mason).—We think your employer is wrong 
in insisting on giving the beds a heavy salting is soon as they are cleared 
in the autumn, on the ground that salt has a tendenoy to keep the soil very 
wet in winter without any compensating advantages. We prefer its 
application in the spring, and as often as is necessary in the summer, for 
preventing the growth of weeds. Weeding Asparagus is a tedious process, 
and allowing the beds to be crowded with weeds is wasteful, as they 
abstract the virtues of the soil and manure that are necessary for the 
production of strong Asparagus. Show your employer this reply, then do 
as he tells you. Some persons like to have their own way even if it is not 
the best, and in matters of this kind it is well to remember the old saying, 
“ Those who pay the piper have a right to choose the tune.” 
Luxuriant Peach Tree (P. Owen). —No trees lift better than do Peaches, 
and replanting yours, shortening) some of ,the strong roots, would be 
certain to do it good. Turfy loam, with a liberal admixture of lime 
rubbish and wood ashes, would be suitable for placing round the roots. 
A firm and not very deep border will answer your purpose, mulching well 
in summer for keeping the roots near the surface. If you cannot lift the 
tree, cut off some of the strongest roots, paring the ends smooth with a 
sharp knife. 
Lifting Vines (E. G .).—As the Grapes are “ perfectly ripe,” and you are 
anxious to renovate the borders, we should cut the crop at once, inserting 
the laterals bearing the bunches in bottles of water, and suspending these 
in a room where the temperature is equable—45°, or thereabouts. As the 
leaves are fading you may remove them from the severed laterals, but we 
should allow those on the Vines to remain, as several of them may be 
fresh enough to encourage fresh root action, or at leaBt to facilitate the 
callusing of the smoothly cut ends of the roots. We should lose no time 
in border renovation and raising and placing the roots in fresh soil. The 
roots inside the house will be of great service to the Vines next year, and 
we should not disturb them till next autumn, or until the outside border 
is occupied with active feeders from the lifted roots. Protect the border 
from drenching rains and melting snow in winter. 
Woad (ft. I). E .).—The Dyer’s Woad is Isatis tinctoria, from which a 
blue dye is obtained, with which the ancient Britons painted their persons, 
and in consequence of which the northern inhabitants of onr island were 
called by the Romans, Piets, while those of the south were styled by the 
Celts, Britons, from the Celtic word britho, to paint. In Celtic it is called 
glas, signifying blue, and from this the name of Glastonbury is supposed 
to have arisen. As an article of commerce, Woad is now of much less 
value than it formerly was, when it formed a very important feature in 
English agriculture, its place having been supplied by indigo, which can be 
produced in much greater quantity and at a considerably cheaper rate. 
When the plant is ripe, which is known by its first leaves beginning to dry, 
all the leaves are cut off and laid in a heap to wither, in a place sheltered 
from the sun and rain, and are frequently turned over to make them heat 
equally. When properly fermented they are taken to a mill, similar to that 
used for crushing linseed, and there ground till reduced to a paste, which is 
afterwards formed into cakes of about a pound weight, and these are laid to 
dry in a covered place sheltered from sun and rain. In about a fortnight 
this paste has acquired sufficient consistence to be formed into small 
roundish lumps by means of little wooden moulds. As fast as they are 
moulded they are laid on wicker hurdles to dry, and when they have become 
hard they are in a condition for market. The dye obtained from Woad 
makes an excellent blue, and very lasting, but when it is used in the pre¬ 
sent day it is always in union with indigo, which adds considerably to the 
improvement of the colour. The leaves of Woad have a fleeting pungent 
odour, and an acrid durable taste. The plant is still cultivated to a small 
extent in the northern portion of the kingdom, notably about Boston. 
Names of Fruits.—The names and addresses of senders of fruit to be 
named must in all cases be enclosed with the specimens, whether letters 
referring to the fruit are sent by post or not. The names are not neces¬ 
sarily required for publication, initials sufficing for that. Only six speci¬ 
mens can be named at once, and beyond that number cannot be preserved. 
(Fritton) —1, Bergamotte Esperen ; 2, Xe Plus Meuris ; 3, Beurre d’Arem- 
berg ; 4, Fondante de Noel; 5, Not known; 6, Forelle. (Hogg <j- Wood). 
—1, Dutch Codlin; others not kcown. (H. C.). —1, Flemish Beauty; 2, 
Bergamotte Esperen; 3, Beurrb Superfin. (T. Healey). —1, Dutch Mig- 
nonn e ; 2, Old Hawthornden; 3, Cornish Gilliflower; 4, Cox’s Orange 
Pippin ; 5, Not known; G, Carlisle Codlin. (J. M.). —1, Dunmore ; 2, 
Beurre Defays ; 3, Napoleon. (F. A. L .).—We had lOd. to pay for carriage 
of your box. (R. H .).—Louise Bonne of Jersey. (J. Udale). —1, Mardchal 
de Cour; 2, Easter Beurre; 3, Josephine de Malines ; 4, Doyennd du 
Comice; 5, Autumn Bergamotte; G, Not known. (J. P. Bartlett). —1, 
Adams’ Pearmain; 2, Not known ; 3, Burr-Knot. (J. Moresby). —1, Gloria 
Mundi; 2, Flower of Kent; 3, Brabant Bellefleur; 4 and 5, Not known; 
6, EaBter Beurre. (J. Bussell). —1, Glou Morpeau; 2, Broompark; 3, 
Louise Bonne of Jersey; 4 and 5, Not known; 6, Madame Durieux. 
(W. H. P .)—Large Apple not known ; small, Pearson’s Plate; Pear, Comte 
de Lamy. (Henry Heath). —1, Duchesse d’Angouleme; 2, Beurre Clairgeau ; 
3, Nouveau Poiteau; 4, Calebasse Grosse, or if it is melting and richly 
flavoured when ripe it may be Marechal de Cour ; 5, Not known. 
Names of Plants.—We only undertake to name species of plants, not 
varieties that have originated from seed and termed florists’ flowers. 
Flowering specimens are necessary of flowering plants, and Fern fronds 
should bear spores. Specimens should arrive in a fresh state in firm 
boxes. Slightly damp moss or soft green leaves form the best packing, dry 
cotton wool the worst. Not more than six specimens can be named at once. 
(B. P. O.). —Aster Amellus var. bessarabicus. (Constant Reader). —We 
could not recognise the Oncidium, it was too small a scrap; and no 
“ border flower” was enclosed in the box. (W. J. S.). —It is a variegated 
form of Barbarea vulgaris, a member of the Crucifer® family, and we do not 
remember having seen such a well-marked variety before. (J. J.). — 
Asplenium caudatum. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. —October 12th. 
All classes of goods in heavy supply, with business quiet, prices re¬ 
gaining the same. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, 4 sieve. 
1 
d. 
e 
8 . 
to 8 
d. 
6 
Nova Scotia and 
Canada barrel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries, ( sieve .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cobs, 100 lbs. 
45 
0 
bo 
0 
Figs, dozen . 
0 
8 
0 
6 
Grapes, per ft. 
0 
6 
2 
6 
Lemons, case. 
10 
0 
IS 
0 
Melon,each .. .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
6. 
d. 
0. 
d. 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 
6 
0 
to 12 
0 
Peaches, dozen •• •• 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Pears, dozen. 
i 
0 
1 
6 
Pine Apples, English, 
per lb. 
i 
6 
0 
0 
Plums, J sieve. 
i 
6 
2 
6 
St. Michael Pines, each 
S 
0 
6 
0 
Strawberries, per tb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
