22 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 14, 1886. 
during the summer, but at Ascot most of the plants used for supplying 
cut flowers are planted in beds, to their manifest enjoyment. There is 
another house with Marhahal Kiel trained under the roof, and beneath 
its partial shade a forest of Camellias simply luxuriates, while houses full 
of Gardenias giving promise of bloom enough apparently to supply all 
Bond Street, seem to indicate that the estimation in which these favourite 
flowers are held is not likely to be seriously affected by any ills the plant 
is heir to. If, however, dang r appears in the form of scale or mealy 
hug, the most effective, as well as the cheapest way of eradicating it, is 
found to be by means of pe'roleum and water thoroughly mixed. Among 
other plants, which were looking as hearty as the Gardenias and other 
hard-wooded plants, were innumerable young Palms, including the beau¬ 
tiful Kentia Balmoreana, a far more handsome plant for room-decoration 
than the generally used Seaforthia elegans, which was also extensively 
represented. The finer texture of the leaves of the former makes their 
deep green colour more noticeable, and the whole plant is more dis¬ 
tinguished-looking than is the case with the latter Palm. 
In a charming houseful of forced spring flowers the pretty Cytisus 
Bverestianus, a dwarf fine-leaved form, was especially attractive, and 
appeared eminently adapted for a room plant, while in another long 
house (of which there are upwards of thirty all worthily tenanted) the 
delicious fragrance of masses of Lily of the Yalley and white Lilac 
Charles X., seemed almost solid enough to be cut with a knife. 
There are a good many Boses grown out of doors at Ascot, but there is 
not much temptation at this time of year to investigate them. The 
nursery outside, however, presents a powerful attraction to lovers of 
American plants and Conifer®, of which there are numerous fine examples 
of all the leading kinds. Among the more scarce sorts may be mentioned 
the new French variety of Cupressus Lawsoniana Tom Pouce, a beautifully 
outlined and very dense tree, and a very pleasing variation of the well- 
known Abies lasiocarpa Lowii, called Abies concolor, which has long 
leaves of a beautiful glaucous blue tint; in fact it might he described as 
lasiocarpa with the colour of A. nobilis. The comparatively recent Abies 
polita of Japan, with its stiff noli-me-tangere leaves is also noticeable, 
while there are exceptionally handsome specimens of the rare Abies 
Hookeriana, a tree whose very distinct appearance, with upright habit and 
short glaucous leaves, might induce the supposition that this species had 
at one time been in doubt whether to appear as a Cedar or an Abies, and 
had ultimately decided to adopt the characteristics of both.—T. W. G. 
GROS COLMAN VINE. 
I WAS much interested in Mr. Taylor’s article on Gro3 Colman, but 
should like to ask him a few questions. Is he sure it was potash alone that 
the Vines required ? I mean, has a sample of the soil been submitted to 
an analytical chemist, or has Mr. Taylor’s friend sufficient skill to analyse 
it himself ? If so, will he explain the process ? What was the liquid 
manure composed of ? In the case of Vines, supposing the insufficient 
supply to be potash, would the trifling cost be for farmyard manure or 
“ potassium salts ?” If the latter, will Mr. Taylor state the best way to 
apply them and the quantity per square yard P I gather from the remark 
in the last paragraph that Gros Colman needs more potash than other 
Vines. How did he arrive at this conclusion ? Has he tested Vines of 
different varieties with purely potash manures of different strength to 
warrant him in making the assertion ? 
I have just finished a Vine border (an outside one) 3 feet deep, in¬ 
cluding drainage ; and as I was not allowed to pare more turf than would 
cover the drainage, and cheapness was a sine qua non, the soil only con¬ 
sists of two-thirds heavy loam without fibre, and one-third burnt earth 
with the ashes and charcoal of the wood it was burnt with, and some old 
mortar. Broken bricks were freely used as it was made up. I intend 
planting the Vines, and then mulch heavily with farmyard manure, and I 
think the manure and the wood ashes will give sufficient potash for some 
time. 
As this is my first head place and the first Vine border I have made, I 
cannot afford to risk my reputation by trying experiments with chemical 
manures. I have not much doubt but Mr. Taylor’s theory is correct, as 
turf was used, and the grass would perhaps furnish sufficient nitrogen ; 
but it will do no harm if he will answer my questions, and may be use¬ 
ful to other readers of the Journal besides.—A. L. G. 
Mu. Taylor, on page 576, opens a subject of importance, and doubt¬ 
less opinions will differ respecting it. He mentions the opinion expressed 
by a writer in the Journal, which I well remember, that it is beneficial to 
plant Gros Colman at the north or shaded side of the vinery. This advice 
qualified I think is not far wide of the mark, and whenever opportunity 
affords I intend to act upon it. I have bestowed a good deal of thought 
upon the peculiarities of this Vine, and am happy to say not without 
■ucce-s. 
I hardly know how far I may agree with Mr. Taylor regarding the 
root treatment, as I am rather liberal with potash, not only for Vines 
annually, but to outdoor fruits, but also vegetables with good results ; yet 
when I notice Gros Colman fail to retain its foliage and assume a trans¬ 
parent reddish colour only in a house where several other varieties, black 
and white, succeed admirably I feel loth to believe how any special root 
treatment could very materially stave off the evil. It is difficult to see 
why Gros Colman should need food so entirely different from others. 
Shade, however, in my opinion is of the utmost importance. For three 
seasons now I have had the glass over Gros Colman painted, or in other 
words frosted thinly with the best white paint mixed with varnish. It is 
very transparent and improved the foliage much, and the bunches were 
better coloured. I decided therefore to shade still more if bright weather 
appeared again ; and in June last year we fastened over the frosted sur¬ 
faces cotton well stretched about one-eighth of an inch mesh. This proved 
very satisfactory, although the foliage became rather tinted ; it wa.s of 
good substance and was retained equally as long as others, especially 
those leaves which happened to have other large leaves over them. The 
berries were equal in colour to the best Alicantes ; in fact, late in August 
a bunch was given an artist along with some other choice fruits as speci¬ 
mens for painting. Seeing that our Vines have had abundance of potash 
each season, I can hardly accept it as a remedy, much as I always esteem. 
Mr. Taylor’s notes on Vine topics.— Lathyrus. 
We hear that the heavy snow has seriously damaged trees in 
many public and private gardens, branches being torn off by the weight,, 
and numbers of fine specimens are in consequence irrecoverably ruined. 
The injury has been severely felt at Kew, and Conifers have as usual 
suffered greatly owing to their branches retaining a large quantity of the 
snow. The depth of snow in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens- 
at Chiswick was 7 inches, and the lowest reading of the thermometer last 
week 1-1°, or, as it is termed, 18° of frost. 
- The past week has been a somewhat calamitous one to horticul¬ 
turists, for in a railway collision at Manor Park on the Great Eastern line 
two well-known persons, Mr. Wallace, jun , of Colchester, and Mr. Hors- 
man of the same town, were both injured, though happily, we believe, not 
very seriously. On the same day Mr. William Brown of Hendon, a 
florist who has long held a prominent position amongst the best Pelar¬ 
gonium growers round the metropolis, was found drowned in a well in th& 
nursery. 
_ The Turner Memorial Committee held a meeting at South 
Kensington, on Tuesday, the 12th inst., but was adjourned owing to the 
fund at present obtained being insufficient for the intended purpose. A 
sum of £162 has been subscribed, but it is considered that at least £200 
will be required for investment to furnish a permanent fund. 
_ We understand that the American Exhibition which was to 
be opened in May this year has been postponed until 1887, to avoid 
clashing with the Indian and Colonial Exhibition at South Kensington. 
_ Ax the Show of the Devon and Exeter Botanical 
Society to be held in Exeter on August 20th, 1886, Mes ; rs. Lucombe, 
Pince & Co., Exeter, will offer three prizes, value £3 to 15s., for a 
collection of twelve distinct vegetables. The same firm will hold an 
exhibition of Hyacinths at their nursery, March 5th, this year, when 
three prizes, value £2 2s. to 10s. 6d., will be offered for twelve named 
Hyacinths, distinct varieties. 
_ Mr. F. W. Burbidge, Trinity College Botanic Gardens, Dublin, 
advocates the establishment of an Orchid Society on a broad and com¬ 
prehensive basis, “ so that we may really begin the organised study, 
culture, and exhibition of Orchids in this country for the first time. It is 
lamentable that the isolated studies of observant individuals should be 
hidden under a bushel, or often lost altogether for want of a central 
society or body of experts to which such observations would naturally 
flow and be preserved.” We anticipate that many will be willing to give 
their support to this excellent proposal, and it will probably lead to some 
definite results. 
_ On Thursday, the 8th inst., Mr. James Udale of Sheffield 
delivered an interesting Lecture on the Chrysanthemum at a 
meeting of the Hull Chrysanthemum Society in the theatre of the Royal 
Institution, Hull. The history was referred to, but especial attention was 
given to the culture, which was fully treated. The lecture was followed 
by a discu'sioD, and votes of thanks to Mr. Udale and the chairman 
concluded the meeting. 
_ “W. S.” SENDS'the note appended relative to using salt on 
Asparagus beds :—“ The [idea that salt [.is beneficial to an Asp aragus 
bed doesnot'find favour among all gardeners,[some[of whom hav e learn ed 
from experience that a heavy application will kill the tender plants. 
