October 21, 1»S!>. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
34 D 
Magnum Bonum.—A good dessert Plum, rather poor crop. Autumn 
'Compote and Belle de Septembre were both failures. Sultan.—A 
.medium-sized black Plum, good cropper, but the wet spoiled them. 
The Czar.—-Good vigorous Plum, capital cropper, but fruit were 
■small. Coe’s Golden Drop.—We had an average crop both on the 
standards and wall trees. Cox’s Emperor.—A grand Plum; we 
have had very heavy crops of this variety, but I believe it does not 
■succeed well in all districts. Washington.—This is a very hand¬ 
some Plum, but usually a shy bearer ; we have had a capital crop. 
Apricot Plum.—A very old variety, resembling small Apricots, 
makes excellent preserve. The Damsons did not bear. Bullace 
.ace a very heavy crop.—E xcelsior. 
EUCHARIS AND THE MITE. 
Some time ago I was brought to task by a gardener for some 
Temarks I made regarding the Eueharis mite. In those remarks I 
made bold to doubt the existence of such an insect, as I had never 
made its acquaintance. Now to the average mind this is only 
■commonplace logic, but he clearly exposed my ignorance by proving 
that there was such an enemy to my favourite flower, as he had 
seen it on some plants under his charge. This evidence, coming 
from one by whose teachings I had often profited, made me anxious 
to learn something of this unknown enemy while it was yet at a 
distance. I would much liked to have seen the infected specimens 
referred to had they been in existence, but as they had been con¬ 
signed to the fire I had to give up the idea of gaining any informa¬ 
tion from them. Ever since I saw the grand plants at Eaton Hall, 
nearly fifteen years ago, I have taken more than ordinary interest in 
Eueharis growing, and when visiting other gardens or nurseries 
always took close notice of any that were to be seen. In some 
places they were good, in others bad, while some had even reached 
the superlative degree of debility. No other plant was to be seen 
in such a variety of stages, and about no other was there more 
concern apparent, or more anxious inquiries made, the flowers in all 
cases being much prized. Of course in a brief visit there was not 
time to know fully how they had degenerated to their present 
condition ; but in no case that came under my notice could the 
mite be blamed as the cause, al though insects frequently were seen 
■attacking the bulbs from the effect of their debilitated state. Like 
all other plants, if they are not in a condition to properly assimilate 
the food supplied to them, the soil turns sour and insects attack the 
roots or bulbs as the case may be, and ultimately place them beyond 
the reach of recovery if suitable measures are not taken in time to 
'restore them. 
In no instance that I have yet heard of has a mite been found 
on a healthy bulb, but in all cases the state of the bulb has been 
below par. Now I never doubted that a mite or any other insect 
attacked a Eueharis bulb when in an unhealthy state, but I have 
never seen an instance which led me to believe that this mite was 
the cause of its unhealthy condition. From the name Eueharis 
mite one would naturally infer that it was an insect roaming about 
for plants that it might devour, instead of being the natural result 
of unhealthy surroundings. Several cases have come under my 
observation which appeared to me to prove that the mite is the 
effect of debility instead of being the cause, but I will only briefly 
notice two at present. In one instance several fine plants which 
always bloomed satisfactorily were, through a change in the 
management of the place, completely denuded of their leaves as an 
•easy manner to get rid of the mealy bug with which they were 
infected. This treatment so crippled them that, although many 
remedies were tried for their recovery, they had ultimately to be 
thrown away. At the time they were turned out of the pots many 
of the bulbs could be seen to be insect-infested, mites and other 
pests tunnelling them in all directions, their existence being 
clearly the effect of the treatment to which the plants had been 
subjected and not the cause of their decay. The other case to 
which I refer was a similar one, though caused by a different agency. 
Through neglect in turning heat on to the pits in which they were 
the plants were cut down to the level of the pots by frost. Until 
then they had been excellent specimens in every respect, but for 
years afterwards they were a prey to parasites and an eyesore about 
the place. The latter were some that I had in my mind's eye when 
I wrote the remarks alluded to at the commencement of this 
article, and to show that their recovery was not a temporary one I 
may state that at present they give every satisfaction to their 
owner. 
These may be considered extreme cases not likely to occur in 
many gardens, and are only quoted here to show the result of a 
check which was clearly the result of their unsatisfactory condi¬ 
tion. Now, although the origin of the mite may not in every 
instance be due to checks so severe as those just noticed, yet my 
observations lead me to believe that in some form this is the 
primary cause of the evil, and I am inclined to consider over 
watering one of the most fruitful causes. This opinion was greatly 
strengthened by the criticisms to which my former article was 
subjected. Take, for instance, the plants of E. Candida which were 
burned after a twelvemonth of the same treatment as the fine 
plants of E. grandiflora. These plants, we are told, received 
copious supplies of water, frequently three times a day. Let us 
compare the state of the two and see whether it is to be wondered 
at that one should fail while the other continued satisfactory. 
The large plants of E. grandiflora were well established, and had 
not been potted for years. All growers know how quickly Eueharis 
bulbs are increased, so that they must have been a mass of bulbs 
and roots capable of absorbing any quantity of water that well drained 
pots would allow to remain. On the other hand, the plants of 
E. Candida were newly bought, and allowing them to be average 
samples the plants were only moderately well filled with roots. 
In this state they were quite unable to withstand the drenchings 
of water which were comparatively harmless to the larger specimens, 
and as a consequence fell into ill health, after which they were 
examined and found to be affected with the mite. If overwater¬ 
ing was not the cause why should it not have affected all alike ? 
The Eueharis requires different treatment from most other 
stove plants, especially as regards watering. At all times water 
ought to be applied with care, but particularly after they have made 
their growth and undergoing a period of rest. At that time they 
emit fresh rootlets, which in their early stages are very tender, and 
an overdose of water or any unnatural treatment will quickly put 
them wrong. When the flower spikes appear more may be given 
occasionally mixed with soot water, which may be continued until 
resting time again. If this treatment is continued for a few years 
the pots will be full of bulbs in various stages, so that sometimes 
a succession of bloom is got from one plant. When they have 
reached this condition water may be applied more liberally, as some 
of the bulbs are always active.—M. D. 
RENOVATING VINES AND BORDERS. 
Vines unquestionably thrive for an indefinite period in a soil 
suited to their requirements, and where they have a good extent of 
rooting area, as may be seen in many places. In many cases, 
however, the roots have extended far beyond the prepared border, 
and are practically beyond control. We have had charge of 
Vines the roots of which had a narrow border of only 2 feet 
wide, and were somewhere beneath a gravel walk 2j- yards wide, 
and the turf of a lawn beyond. One such Vine covered 1000 super¬ 
ficial feet of roof trellis, and in the 2 feet border there were no 
roots of consequence, or if there had been very little could be done 
there. The Vine had been weakened by continuous overcropping, 
and to seek renovation by an increase of growth was the only available 
means. The Vine had been pruned on the spur system for many 
years. We took up fresh canes—they started weakly, but gained 
strength as they gained length ; the spurs were reduced, so that 
they were not nearer than 18 inches on opposite sides of the rods, 
and they showed before the the season was over a decided improve¬ 
ment, as might be expected from the greater space alike of exposure 
to light for the foliage and the encouragement of laterals. 
The pruning pursued afterwards was a modification of the spur 
and rod systems, and the crops were in every respect satisfactory. 
The roots had only 80 feet superficial space of border to support a. 
Vine covering 1000 feet of roof surface. When, therefore, the 
Vines are in borders that do not admit of renovation we advise 
something to be done to their heads by encouraging fresh growth, 
even if it must displace some of the existing, affording it due space 
for development, the principal leaves never being crowded, in order 
to promote a complete assimilation of the sap and the storing of food 
in the wood and buds. This, with due care in culture and judicious 
pruning at the proper time, is, according to our experience, invariably 
attended with better results in the season following the procedure, 
and with persistence ultimately effects beneficial issues little short 
of those attending difficult, expensive, and not unfrequently need¬ 
less border renovation. What little border there may be should 
be made the most of by mulching with rich material to encourage 
roots from the collar, and during dry time all through growth 
liquid manure should be given, and especially when the crop is 
about to colour, accompanying it with a little more freedom to the 
laterals, so that larger supplies of aliment may be applied and with¬ 
drawn from the impoverished subsoil, from which the main supplies 
of uncontrollable borders are drawn lay the Vines in the perfecting 
stages of their growth. 
Borders that are under the control of the cultivator leave no 
excuse for unsatisfactory Vines. With such no time should be 
lost as soon as the leaves have perfected the buds and wood, and 
whilst they are still upon the Vines in removing the soil down to 
