£4 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
f January 31, 18£9. 
incisions, because, as ire have seen, the seed, in germinating, removes 
from its initial place, and the plant might be thwarted in its 
horizontal motions. 
I have yet to remark that although I followed the above-named 
rules of cultivation, the results of my trials were not always satis¬ 
factory, and that out of the five experiments made in different 
years, only the first was quite successful (I had thirty plants out of 
thirty-six). The second and third produced only a few plants, and 
the two last were total failures. One of the failures must be 
ascribed to the bad quality of the seeds. In all the other experi¬ 
ments the seeds came up and showed their radicle at the proper 
time ; but I observed that in mild moist weather my young plants 
were green and fleshy, and that in hot and dry days they became 
grey and wrinkled, and I had every reason to conclude that success 
in sowing Mistletoe depends entirely on the wet or dry season.—• 
Charles Van Geert, Antwerp. 
[We are obliged by this interesting communication, founded as 
it is on successful practice, and indicating as it does causes of 
failure in establishing Mistletoe on trees. The specimen (fig. 12) 
represents one of Mr. Yan Geert’s Mistletoe trees, drawn to a scale 
of an inch to a foot, but Hawthorn twigs should have been more 
prominent for “ drawing the sap.”] 
OLD HOUSES AND MODERN REQUIREMENTS. 
A few remarks on this subject have been suggested to my mind 
by a recent visit to an old-established garden, where the glass 
structures were doubtless thought good when first erected, which, 
however, judging by their antiquated appearance, must have been 
many years ago, when glass was expensive, wood plentiful, and the 
idea seemed to be prevalent that only large plants were required. 
The houses in question, if properly managed, could without doubt 
be made to supply the wants of the establishments when first built, 
but since that time great changes have come over the horticultural 
world, and the demand for plants and cut flowers suitable for the 
embellishment of the mansion has enormously increased. With 
only the same means at command it is easy for a practical man to 
see the great amount of energy and the continuous struggle required 
on the part of the gardener in charge to keep up anything like the 
display expected. Unfortunately, this is not always so well under¬ 
stood by employers as it should be. Even those who are inclined 
to view the matter in a reasonable light often fail to take a true 
grasp of the situation. This arises from various causes ; sometimes 
the gardener is at fault in not explaining the matter in a simple and 
forcible manner, and in pointing out how many little difficulties 
might be overcome with a trifling outlay. On the other hand, cases 
may easily be found where the owners do not understand the 
intricate and elaborate manner in which the gardening of the present 
day has to be conducted to admit of multitudinous duties receiving 
their due share of attention, and therefore cannot fully appreciate 
the watchful energy and inventive skill that are constantly required 
to combat the difficulties of daily labour. In some instances 
employers notice with admiration the extensive and beautiful 
decorations carried out in the mansions of their acquaintances, and 
contrast their own most unfavourably to them, little thinking that 
perhaps double or treble the expense and labour has been incurred. 
Perhaps they compare their own decorations with those of a neigh¬ 
bour, who, they argue, has about the same amount of glass as them¬ 
selves, and in doing so lose sight of the fact that the houses are of 
more modern construction, built expressly for the purpose they are 
used for, or added to as the requirements of the place rendered 
more accommodation necessary. 
In the case of fruit houses old structures are often quite as 
good, and in some respects to be preferred to new ones ; but where 
plants and cut flowers are required in quantity during the winter 
months it is absolutely necessary to provide light and well-heated 
structures. The large lumbering houses with heavy rafters, nume¬ 
rous sashbars which shut out the light and weaken the force of the 
little sunshine we get during the winter months, the flat roofs which 
are so prolific a source of drip, may in some cases be worth preserv¬ 
ing as relics of the past, or to illustrate the rapid strides made in 
the construction of glass houses since they first came into use ; but 
the sooner the greater number of them, especially those used for 
growing winter-flowering plants, are swept away the better for all 
persons concerned. These remarks are written in no complaining 
spirit, but simply to show the real difficulties against which many 
able gardeners of the present day are struggling, and whose efforts 
are perhaps not appreciated, in consequence of the disadvantages 
under which they labour having never been clearly pointed out to 
their employers. Although I am a firm believer in the doctrine 
that difficulties were made only to be overcome, yet I am also con¬ 
vinced that no useful purpose will be served by ignoring their 
existence ; but having first clearly ascertained where the difficulties 
exist, set manfully to work to do our best under the circumstances. 
In dealing with such heavy and unsuitable structures as those 
already described more than ordinary care should be bestowed upon 
the preparation of the houses for their winter occupants, and in 
arranging the plants in the most suitable positions. Every particle 
of woodwork and glass should be thoroughly cleaned before the 
dark days of winter come upon us, so that we may at least rest 
contented that no accumulated coverings of dust and dirt are left to 
shut out the much-needed light. The next step should be to fix 
shelves from 12 inches to 18 from the glass over the sides of the 
walks or in other convenient positions. Objection is sometimes 
taken to such shelves as being unsightly, but I contend that when 
dealing with unsuitable structures appearance must to a great extent 
be sacrificed to utility. Shelves fixed close to the glass are often 
the only positions where there is the slightest prospect of producing 
well-grown and freely flowered plants during the winter months, and 
to succeed in supplying creditable plants should more than compensate 
for the unsightliness of the means taken to provide them. In old 
greeuhouses, where Primulas and Cyclamens have to be grown, 
what should we do without these adjuncts ? or in stoves how much 
better such plants as Pandanuses, Crotons, Gesneras, Aralias, 
and Calanthes thrive upon shelves close to the glass. When houses 
are filled with miscellaneous collections of plants much may be 
done in the way of choosing the lightest positions around the sides 
for quick-growing kinds, which would soon become weak and 
drawn if placed in the centre of the house at a great distance from 
the glass. I strongly advocate the practice of keeping each class 
of plant together as much as possible ; their wants can then be 
attended to much more easily than when managed in the mixed 
way we so often see them. The darkest positions, and those 
farthest from the glass, should be reserved for slow-growing plants 
that are not likely to suffer much, as their growth is almost at a 
standstill during the winter months. I refer to Azaleas, Camellias, 
Boronias, Acacias, and Rh®dodendrons. These are a few of the 
many little contrivances that help to make all the difference 
between success and failure when combating the difficulties of plant¬ 
growing under the conditions above named.— Nil Desperandum. 
THE PEST3 OF THE PAST ROSE SEASON. 
The Rose season of 18S8 was such an unusual one, that a review of 
the prevalence or absence of the usual pests may be interesting as 
showing us something of the likes and dislikes of our enemies. I had, as 
usual, no aphides worth mentioning. I do not think I once took out my 
aphis brush, which is the only weapon I use. Provided the situation 
be fairly open, a prevalence of aphides generally means, I fancy, want 
of nourishment or neglect of some sort. But no piecautions will prevent 
an occasional swarm of the perfect winged insects about August. It is a 
matter of chance or wind where these may fall : but there were pro¬ 
bably no such swarms last year. 
Caterpillars and grubs of various sorts were complained of by some 
growers as unusually plentiful. They were a full average with me, but 
not more, I think. The backward spring was all in their favour. It is 
the forward genial early season, when there are shoots 4 or 5 inches long 
on the plants at pruning time, that is likely to be free from these pests. 
The parent insects are stimulated by the warmth, and lay their eggs on 
the young shoots, which are all cut clean away at pruning time. Ire- 
member one such year, about six or seven years ago, when pruning Roses 
was like cutting down a hedge in summer, and the surface of the ground 
under the plants was quite moist from the bleeding sap. We had very 
few caterpillars that year. Most people delay pruning Teas now until 
well into April, and find probably, as I do, considerably fewer grubs on 
the Teas than on the H.P.’s, which are pruned earlier. 
I remember, by-the-by, what taught me to prune my Teas later and 
harder than I had hitherto done. At a late show, in a hot season, a 
first-class amateur exhibitor, who is not, however, especially celebrated 
for his Teas, appeared with a splendid box of twelve, and beat us all 
with the greatest ease. On asking him how he managed to have such 
good Teas so late in the season, when almost all our first blooms were over, 
he said, “ Oh I some sheep got in in April, just as they were beginning to 
grow after pruning, and ate them all down to the ground.” “ Did they 
really?” said I, “ what a misfortune 1” But at the same time I deceit¬ 
fully made a mental note that I would cut mine down to the ground 
next April, and have done so ever since. In a good situation, and a 
sunny season, Teas are not likely to be too late for the shows ; but it is 
quite possible in this latitude for them to be too early. 
The worst grub of all, to my mind, is the one that bores straight down 
the pith of the stem before the bud is formed. It is possible, with care 
