56 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 19, 1888. 
H. Cannell «Sc Sons, Swanley, Kent.— Floral (luidc for 1888 (Illus¬ 
trated ) and Complete Kitchen Garden Cataloijue. 
Dobie and Mason, 66. Deansgate, Manchester.— Catalogue of Seeds. 
Agricultural and Horticultural Association, One and All Wharf, 
Creek Roarl, Deptford, S.E.— Vvgctahle and Flou'er Seeds, 1888. 
Diddles ikCo., Loughborough.— Illustrated Catalogue for 1888. 
•ft® 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. 
Primula sinensis variety (7'. F.}. —The variety of which a flower 
is sent is an excellent one, and more nearly resembles I’rincess of Wales 
than any we know, though it appears quite distinct from that. The 
flower is massive, 2^ inches in diameter, of a soft, clear pink colour, and 
a bright pale-green eye. It is well worthy of preservation and increase. 
Class for Creenbouse (G. It .').—-You had better have 21 oz. 
glass, not lighter, and for ordinary purposes of growing plants and 
flowers for sale third quality will answer, though a grade higher, or 
“ seconds,” is better, and necessarily a little more costly. It has been 
recently advertised by Mr. J. B. Ilobinson, Moor Lane, Cripplegaie, 
London, who will supply what you require. 
IHCushrooms (IP. li. It.). —Answers in this column are only intended 
for regular subscribers, and to such they are freely given and as fully as 
is requisite to be useful. That is general information. To answer your 
questions fully would cost ten times more than the charge for the paper ; 
therefore they are answered briefly. 1, Not with good materials in the 
hands of a competent man ; 2, Not if the whole is much broken ; 3, 
Advertise. 
Xmperator Potato (Ji B. Ilgthe). —There is little doubt but that 
this is one of the best Potatoes for market during the winter and spring 
months. It is correctly described on page 610, December 13th, 1887, 
and the tubers are of very good quality. It will grow in any soil in 
which late Potatoes usually thrive, but if very rich or much manure is 
used many of the tubers are apt to grow too large. It is found by 
experience that less manure suffices for producing a good yield of 
marketable tulrers of Imperator than for most other late varieties. It 
will be extensively planted this year in some of the large Potato grow¬ 
ing districts in the north of England. 
Purple Xiaburnum (.7. II. T"). —As a rule the racemes of the 
purple are not so long as those of the best of the yellow Laburnums, 
but are often produced in clusters ; and still smaller clusters of buff- 
coloured flowers are also like to issue from the trees. We once planted 
twenty-four trees, and only one of them bore purple flowers exclusively, 
and though these were of a fair size they did not equal those of the 
Wistaria, and were duller in colour. We do not consider the purple so 
effective .as the yellow, but it is more rare. A deciduous flowering tree 
for arresting the attention of passers-by, excluding as you wish Cherries, 
Hawthorns, and Peaches, is Pyrus Malus floribunda. 
Porclngr Asparag-us (77. A .).—The subject has been frequently 
alluded to during the present forcing season, and possibly you may 
find the information you require on page 435, the issue of November 
17th, 1887. All you have to do is to pack the roots closely together 
before they get dry on any moist base, resting them on a layer of soil 
and covering them and the crowns with any light compost, such as 
leaf mould, giving a good watering. They grow quickly with a bottom 
heat of about 80°, and top heat of 60° or 65°, affording produce in 
about a fortnight. Roots should be put in at intervals of about a 
fortnight for maintaining a regular and prolonged supply. A pit in 
the stove will be very suitable, where the growths can have light. 
Sapbne Dying (A Taunton Suh.tcriljer). — The cause of death is 
apparent on an examination of the plant sent. In the first place the 
stock was faulty, not clean, healthy, and, to employ a grafter’s term, 
“ kind and in the second place the union of the scion with it was not 
gootl, and the descending sap could not pass down below the junction, 
but exudeil there, forming a large callosity. If this had been buried in 
the s )il roots would in all probability have issued from it, and supported 
the plant at least for a time, but it is scarcely likely it would have 
grown into a healthy specimen. Tlie toi) of the stock ought to have 
been cut slantingly u)) to the base of the scion, nor left flat and sejuare 
for holding and ab.sorbing wet, thus causing decay. 
Raising Conifers from Seed (IF. J7.).—Seed gathered in the 
autumn and sown in the open ground in sandy soil during fine weather 
in March will germinate in a few weeks ; but any of choice varieties is 
best with the protection of a light frame, sowing in a mixture of very 
sandy loam and leaf soil, taking care that it is kept uniformly moist, 
and to afford adequate ventilation when the seedlings appear for 
keeping them sturdy. We do not know to what species you refer under 
the name of the “ Welsh Pine,” but possibly some of our readers may be 
able to distinguish the tree thus named or if you send sprays and a 
cone we may perhaps be able to identify the species. The popular name 
cited is, we think, local. An agent to whom you may apply is Mr. C. 
Bates, 24, Mark Lane, and R. Silberrad & Son, 25, Savage Gardens, E.C, 
Vine Roots Decayed (77. —AYe remember receiving and 
examining some Vine roots a few weeks ago, but received no letter refer¬ 
ring to them. These may or may not have been yours. We could not 
find any traces of the phylloxera, and we thought the roots had come in 
contact with some corroding substance in the soil. We have seen good 
and not ill effects from the use of Beeson’s manure, though it would no 
doubt be a mistake to use it in excess ; but so far as we know it is safe 
when the instructions of the vendors are followed. Not knowing the 
weight of the quantity used we can scarcely form an opinion of its pos¬ 
sible effects in your case, but should not think it was the cause of the 
damaged state of the roots, assuming those we examined were sent by_^ 
you. 
Chemical Manures for Fruit Trees (11^. J.). — Of the ingredients 
you name 2 cwts. each muriate of potash, superphosphate of lime, 
steamed bone flour and gypsum would form a good mixture for applying 
to the soil for the support of Vines and fruit trees generally, dressing 
with sulphate of ammonia subsequently it needed, its quantity being 
regulated by the condition of the trees or Vines, an excess causing 
exuberant and sappy growth. If mixed with the other kinds \ cwt. 
would be ample. You will not err by using muriate instead of nitrate 
of potash to garden or farm crops. Having regard to the outlay 
invest- d in both, the former has jiroved the more satisfactory in many 
experiments, though possibly there may be a few exceptions not known 
to us. 
Fungus in Vine Border (A. IF. C,). —The fungus is common in 
leaf soil containing woody matter, such as the twigs and branches of 
trees, also in spent tan, and its presence in the Vine border may be due 
to the pieces of laths introduced with the lime rubbish, i'ou cannot do 
better than proceed as you are doing— i.e., removing as much of the 
decaying woody matter and white fungoid mass as possible, being careful 
not to injure the roots. Dusting with fresh slaked lime will be highly 
beneficial alike in hastening the decay of the woody matter and con¬ 
verting the nitrogenous substance of the fungus into nitrate of lime, 
which will act beneficially on the A'ines. You m.ay also add dry wood 
ashes to the lime, an equal proportion of each, applying the mixture as 
the renewal of the soil_^is effected ; thereby potash will then be afforded, 
which with the fresh soil cannot prove other than advantageous to the 
A''ines 
Seeds Required for Carden Plots (7?.).—The following s eds 
and space the quantities named may occupy has been determined by 
experiments, the seeds being good and uniformly covered at a proper 
depth in suitable soil:—Asparagus, bed of 13 square yards, \ pt.; 
Beans, Broad, per row of 80 feet, 1 qt.; Beet, row of 50 feet, 1 oz.; 
Broccoli, per -4 square yards, J oz.; Brussels Sprouts, per 4 square yards, 
^ oz.; Cabbage, bed of 8 square yards, ^ oz.; Carrots, drill of 120 feet, 
1 oz.; ditto, bed 12 square yards, 1 oz.; Cauliflower, 4 square yards, \ oz.; 
Celery, 4 square yards, ^ oz.; Cress, 3 square yards, 1 oz. ; Endive, 4 
square yards, ^ oz.; Kale, 4 square 5 'ards, i oz.; Kidney Beans, row 
80 feet, -J pint; Leek, 2 square yards, ^ oz.; Lettuce, 4 square yards, 
^ oz.; Mushroom, 7 square yards, 1 bus.; Onions, 1) square yards, 1 oz.; 
Parsley, row 80 feet, 1 oz.; Parsnip, drill of 200 feet, 1 oz.; Peas, early, 
row of 60 feet, 1 pint; Peas, large, late, row of 80 feet, 1 pint; Potatoes, 
row of 30 feet, | pkt.; Radishes, 4 square yards, 1 oz.; Savoy, 4 square 
yards, i oz.; Spinach, 10 square yards, 1 oz.; Spinach, drill of 120 feet, 
1 oz.; Turnip, 4 yards square, \ oz. 
Pruning Peach Trees (F. J.). —It is better to arrange the main 
branches wide enough apart to permit a selection of the summer growths 
being laid in between them, not topping them till the beginning of Sep-' 
tember, if then ; but disbucldiiig is essential to prevent overcrowding, or 
the foliage of one shoot materially overlapping and shading the others. 
The growths then ripen and triple biuls form nearly their entire length, 
the centre one being a blossom bud. The requisite number of shoots 
shouhl be laid in annually, and no more, to jiurinit of much of the wootP 
that has borne a crop being cut out after the fruit is gathered. The pro¬ 
cess has been plaiidy descrilxjd many times in our “ Work for the Week ” 
column, and not long ago. It will be referred to again in time to 
be of service. Peaches are iiruned in the spring, the spur system 
answering fairly well in very favourable positions, but we do nof 
remember having advised you to adopt it. Prune to triple buds, if any. 
On rijK! woo<l when the blossom buds show colour. Undoubtedly 
chemical manures are good for lawns, so is soot. If you mix superphos¬ 
phate of lime and sulphate of ammonia at the rate of 4 lbs. of the former 
to 1 lb. of the latter, and sjjrinkle alx)ut 2 ozs. on each s(iuare yard in 
February, it will do your lawn good. The formula to which you refer 
