108 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 8, 1889. 
rains more than fifty years ago in the “ British Flora.” Mr. 
Berkeley saw species of Polyactis growing from the grains, the 
grains themselves being in fact little compacted masses of fungus, 
spawn, or mycelium. 
The effect upon the host plant in the disease of Lilies, Tulips, 
Humeas, &c., is very like that seen in the “ wet rot ” of Potatoes. 
This “ wet rot ” in Potatoes appears to be caused by a virulent 
rapid growing micro-fungus named Bacillus Amylobacter, which 
is capable of killing by a powerful ferment. 
At the present time it may be open to doubt whether Polyactis 
ana is really capable of producing disease of any kind in plants, 
notwithstanding the laboratory experiments of Prof. Ward, espe¬ 
cially when the fact is borne in mind that all the bad effects of the 
disease were well known before any fungus was seen at all. 
Some of the practical readers of the Journal of Horticulture 
may justly consider this notice very unpractical, useless, and 
indefinite ; if so they must remember that lean only write of what 
I know or have seen. I am in a state of uncertainty as to the 
nature of the disease of Lilies, and I doubt whether any true ex¬ 
planation has yet been given. Remedy there is none, and if the 
disease is caused by a parasite, it must be borne in mind that 
parasites prefer to attack the healthiest plants. Parasites do not 
attack the feeble and dying, but the most robust ; they are 
nourished by the best, not the worst juice's of plants. Other forms 
of wet rot in plants are known to be highly infectious, there¬ 
fore if any of the putrid remains of diseased Lilies are allowed to 
remain undestroyed in gardens they will probably spread the 
disease.— Worthington Or. Smith, Dunstable. 
CANKER IN FRUIT TREES—THE INSECT THEORY. 
Mr. Hiam (page 85) says he is tired of writing on this subject, but 
when he thought he saw an opportunity of making a point he forgot his 
fatigue. Agreeably as your correspondent writes, he does not explain 
how wounds, which he alleges are caused by insects, can at the same 
time heal with the insects still as busy as ever in their destructive 
work ; nor does he attempt a reply to my question as to where the 
millions of insects can have gone, which, according to the theory in 
question, caused the canker in Mr. Tonk9’ garden. Assuming, for the 
purpose of argument, they did cause it, which I am unable to admit, 
how is it that they departed just when he improved and fortified the 
soil 1 It would almost seem as if the pest that is said to eat holes in the 
branches does not like good soil at the roots. He (1 mean the insect) 
must be a funny little fellow, and if ever I get hold of him he shall 
have the best place if I know it on the best tree I can find. 
Mr. Hiam does not attempt to explain how it is that so many trees 
have been cured of canker without the applications of insecticides. 
Some are made to produce clean and healthy growth by the action of 
fresh soil ; others by grafting, which stimulates root activity. 
When the author of the insect theory is obliged, as he says, to give 
up the idea that his insects only attack certain sorts they like best he 
really demolishes his own case, and evidently to his own dissatisfaction. 
All we are told fresh about the mysterious insects is that they “ do 
not fly.” Probably not ; and it is very certain they must be slow 
walkers or they would step from one tree to another close by ; and how 
they managed to reach the solitary branch cut (and figured) from the 
Impney tree with no other cankered parts near is a problem still to be 
solved. If they walked all the way they must have been like their 
patron, very “ tired ” indeed. 
Mr. Hiam does not admit that frost can injure fruit trees in England 
because they endure its greater intensity in canker ; but we have not 
the brilliant summers here that harden the wood in Canada and the 
United States ; but even there, if a grower of fruit of many years’ stand¬ 
ing is not in error the damage sustained by frost is often very serious. 
Be that as it may, a severe winter has never followed a dull summer in 
England without cankered branches following, some varieties of Apples, 
being more tender than others, suffering the more severe’y. Mr. Hiam 
might retort that these are exactly the sorts the insects like if he had 
not cut the ground from under his feet by the above mentioned admis¬ 
sion, that they do not attack those they like best. 
1 am still open to conviction, but since that statement was published 
I am more than ever convinced that whatever insects your correspon¬ 
dent finds in the wounds on his trees are the consequence and not the 
cause of the canker.—W. 
Adiantum CUNEATUM. —Plants that have been yielding fronds for 
cutting during the past six or seven months should be sorted, for 
several of them will have discontinued growing. These should be re¬ 
moved to a cool structure, where more air can play about them, for three 
weeks or a month. This will have the effect of inducing them to rest. 
The small useless fronds at the base should be removed ; in fact, it is a 
good plan to cut all off and start the p'ants again into growth in a close, 
moist, moderately warm structure. Plants subject to this treatment 
will grow and yield quantities of fronds until the end of the year. 
Poung plants in 4-inch pots may be placed into G-inch in a temperature 
of GO . From November they will supply fronds throughout January 
and I' ebruary, the two worst months of the year. Small plants raised 
from spores sown early in the year may be pricked into pans, boxes, or 
singly in thumb pots. Use for these a good proportion of leaf mould to- 
encourage free growth. Afford plants that are growing luxuriantly 
plenty of room, for if crowded thickly together their fronds are liable to- 
be deformed and useless. Give liberal supplies of water, as if the ro®ta> 
become once dry the fronds suffer.—B. 
ROSES IS - POTS. 
Hybrid Perpetuals that are established in pots for forcing will needT 
attention. Plants that were lifted and placed in 7-inch pots last 
autumn should be placed into 9-inch at once. The pots should bo 
well and carefully drained and the plants potted without disturbing 
their roots further than is necessary to remove the old drainage. 
The soil should be pressed firmly into the pots and the plants 
plunged in an open sunny position where they can be carefully watered' 
and liberally syringed to keep the foliage free from insects. These- 
plants will make a strong second growth and fill their pots with 
roots by autumn. Plants that are already in pots 9 or 10 inches in. 
diameter may also be repotted. These should have the drainage, 
removed and the old soil carefully reduced one-third, and larger pots, 
will not be required. The plants should be stood in a shady place for ten. 
days or a fortnight, and syringed during bright weather three or four- 
times daily. This will preserve the foliage in good condition, and root 
activity will quickly commence. When signs of growth are visible- 
plunge the pots in a sunny place. It is a mistake to delay the potting 
of Roses that have to be forced until late in the season. When done 
early they are well established and the pots full of roots before the 
approach of winter, which is of considerable importance in securing 
strong growth and fine early flowers. Use for a compost good fibry 
loam, one-seventh of decayed manure, one 6-inch potful of bonemeal v 
and the same quantity of soot to each barrowful of compost. If the 
loam is of a heavy nature render it porous by the addition of sand ; if 
light, reduce dry clay to powder and incorporate it with the loam. 
TEA VARIETIES. 
Where a house is devoted to the smaller-growing kinds it will be- 
necessary to give them full ventilation day and night. The doors- 
of the structure may also be left opeD, If the lights can be removed 
and the plants fully exposed all the better. Mulch the border to- 
prevent the surface drying rapidly. The plants must not suffer by an 
insufficient supply of water, and the foliage should be kept free from, 
spider by a judicious use of the syringe. Should red spider make its 
appearance syringe the plants with a solution of sulphur and water. A 
3-inch potful of the latter to four gallons of water will be ample.. 
Leave this on the plants for three or four days, then wash the foliage 
with clean water. Rosts in pots may be repotted as advised for H.P.’s. 
Add in the compost advise 1 for them one-third of leaf mould for the- 
Teas. Encourage such varieties as Mardchal Niei, Gloire de Dijon, and 
others to make vigorous growth by feeding them liberally with liquid 
manure if limited for space at their roots. Keep the shoots tied from, 
the glass as they extend.—B. 
TERRA COTTA ROSE. 
1 send you a specimen of my new Rose Terra Cotta, a sport fromi 
Anna Ollivier. It was mentioned by Mr. W. Raillem two years ago, 
when writing about the Roses at the Naiional Rose Show, about the 
middle or end of July. The one enclosed is a fair specimen of what 
they have been for about ten, twelve, or fifteen years, only just one part 
of a dwarf bush t^bout a third). The opposite part is always quite the- 
original flower, cream colour. I have about half a dozen budded on the 
common Briar. I shall send you one or two blooms off each of those 
budded on the common Briar in a few days, then I shall ask you to 
give your opinion of them in the Journal, of Horticulture. One of 
the best qualities is it always takes a few days to open ; for a button¬ 
hole is one of the best, and has always been a great favourite.— 
H. Foster. 
[The bud sent was a very pretty one, neat in form, fragrant, and of 
a distinct shade, fairly well expressed by the name Terra Cotta. It 
is much darker in colour than its parent bloom, which accompanied th& 
specimen of the sport received. The blooms from the Briar are larger 
and of very good shape.] 
ROSE GRAND MOGUL. 
As the bedding season is commencing it is as well that we should* 
know whether Grand Mogul is to be reckoned a distinct Rose, or to be- 
coupled with Jean Soupert in the “ too-much-alike ” schedule. I 
myself can see no difference between them, either in flower, leaf, or 
growth.— Duckwing. 
SOUVENIR D’ELISE ROSE. 
As a buttonhole Rose in a small state this variety is excellent, or for 
bouquets its beautiful form and colour—a delicate pink or a deep blush* 
