2 
JOURXAL OF HORTieULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
( Jantiary S'. 
and figured in the Journal, so there is no need to say anything 
about its character, but having seen it I can say that it is one 
greatly to be admired as curious and pretty. Begonias, especially the 
double varieties, have reached wonderful perfection, and the latter 
are now being produced better in form and with stouter stems, so 
that we may soon hope to see them holding themselves upright 
instead of hanging down or needing sticks to support them. The 
progress made in many of our favourites is not by ‘‘ leaps and 
bounds,” but none the less is it sure ; and all honour be to those 
who thus try to enrich our stores and increase our enjoyment. 
Amidst all that is bright and pleasant there will come over us 
while we are here clouds which dim this brightness, and so one in 
looking back over the past must think of those who are no longer 
with us. Heading the death roll in point of time and in the 
general knowledge of horticulturists we must count our late 
lamented friend the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen ; earnest and 
indefatigable, moving in the higher circles of society, he was able 
and willing to use his influence for the benefit of horticulture. It 
was thus he gained for the National Rose Society the patronage of 
H.R.H. the Princess of Wales, and thus he was always able to 
influence for good the magnates of the neighbourhood wherever 
the Bath and West of England Show was held. This was his 
special work ; his kindly and genial manner made him always 
an acceptable companion, and he has been and will be greatly 
missed in all future gatherings of that Society, as well as in those 
of horticulturists in general. Mr. Henry Curtis of Torquay has of 
late years been little seen amongst Rose growers, although I think 
few knew the Rose better or loved it more than he did. Deprived 
by the loss of sight of the enjoyment he once had in his flowers, 
he yet could speak of them with feelings of affection, and it must 
not be forgotten that when the National Rose Society first essayed 
to publish a Catalogue the Committee applied to him for the illus¬ 
trations. His gentle and loving spiiit found other outlets for its 
operations, and in doing good to those around him, showing 
sympathy with them in their times of need, and especially in 
extending to them the benefit of medical electric treatment, he 
spent the latter years of his life. Robert Marnock was compara¬ 
tively unknown to the men of this generation. His work as a 
landscape gardener will long remain to mark his success, while all 
who knew him even slightly can but recollect him as a genial friend 
and companion. As long as the gardens at the Regent’s Park 
remain they will form the most fitting monument to his memory. 
And thus year after changes are ever occurring, while improve¬ 
ments are also ever taking place, the “ work of the Journal ” 
still goes on as successfully as ever. New writers take the place of 
those who have retired. It endeavours to accommodate itself to 
changes so far as they are in the interests of horticulture. Another 
year is before us ; we look hopefully forward, for we are assured 
of the hearty goodwill of our readers. There are many ways and 
phrases for expressing our goodwill, but after all I know of none 
more expressive, more full of hearty sympathy, than that with 
which I now close these few words— 
God bless you. 
—D., Deal. 
SULPHIDES AS FUNGICIDES. 
Mr. Steel suggests that I should give him a wrinkle on the 
treatment of mildew of the Hollyhock. Although I have no 
experience in the operation of remedies on that plant, I have given 
some attention to the treatment of the disease in a great variety of 
others. 
In the columns of the Gardeners' Chronicle of 1885 I introduced 
to the notice of gardeners the powerful effects of solutions of 
sulphide of potassium on all forms of fungoid growth. At that time 
I had about thirty-five years’ experience in the use of the drug in 
the treatment of men and animals for ailments due to low forms of 
animal and vegetable life, but my experience of its application to 
plants was limited. Since then I have by many experiments fully 
confirmed the statement then made—that a solution of sulphide of 
potassium was fatal to all forms of fungus life ; but the larger 
experience taught me it is indispensable that the solution should be 
in actual contact with the fungus in order to produce its proper 
effect. There ate many forms of fungus growth which throw off 
from their surfaces watery solutions, exactly as the feathers of a 
duck throw off water ; in such a case the solution is inert, but in 
all cases where it comes into actual contact it is without excep¬ 
tion fatal to the fungus. I know of no remedy for mildew on any 
plant which is more effectual, and generally so easy of application. 
A solution of half an ounce to a gallon of water is sufficiently strong, 
and absolutely harmless to vegetation—indeed, I have repeatedly 
plunged Orchids and other plants of many various kinds, soil and 
all, overhead in the solution without the slightest injury to them, 
but, on the contrary, with apparent benefit to their aftergrowth. 
This may be due to the potash—a necessary constituent of all 
plants —acting as a manure. 
I know no better method of meeting the difficulty above- 
referred to, as to contact, than the use of the sponge for wetting 
the surface when the fungus throws off the solution ; in some cases 
this may be done by a very fine spray, the small globules of which 
will remain on the mildewed surface. 
Powdered sulphur has for a long time been known as an* 
effectual remedy for mildew, but it is unsightly on the leaves, and 
not so quick in action or convenient in application as sulphur in its 
soluble form when combined with potash, which, as a fungicide, is 
probably inert. There may be a difficulty in procuring the sulphide 
of potassium in good condition. The drug when kept, after a time 
decomposes and becomes inert, and druggists, if they keep it, 
rarely renew their stock, it having gone out of fashion as a remedy, 
probably owing to its offensive odour. If in good condition it will 
make a bright yellow solution. When there is difficulty in pro¬ 
curing the drug, the gardener may himself prepare another sul¬ 
phide, which IS equally efficient, and was frequently used by old 
gardeners, known to chemists as the bi-sulphide of calcium, by 
boiling say 1 lb. of freshly slacked lime, with an equal quantity 
of flowers of sulphur, in a gallon of water for a quarter of an hour. 
The supernatant liquor should then be poured into a bottle and' 
kept well corked ; when required mix sufficient of this with water 
to make a solution for use of a light yellow colour, and deal with it- 
as with the potassium sulphide sclution. 
Sulphide, or more correctly ter-sulphide of potassium, formerly 
known as liver of sulphur, has the strong and well-known odour of 
sulphuretted hydrogen or of Harrogate water, and, in common 
with the latter, many healing qualities, due to its destructive effects- 
on low forms of animal and vegetable life, having a beneficial 
action on all affections caused by them. For external application 
to festering and poisoned wounds to which gardeners are liable, 
whitlows, and many forms of skin disease in men and animals, a 
stronger solution than that recommended for plants, say about half 
an ounce to a pint of water, should be used. In many cases a single 
application effects what appears to be a magical cure, and it nearer 
in the slightest degree, even if many times repeated, does any 
injury. The sulphide solutions discolour lead and other mineral 
paints, but the stain is superficial, and soon wears off.— Edmund 
Tones. 
FLOWER CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
In too many instances the owners of large and small gardens 
alike have been ill-informed enough to imagine that the gardener 
in charge ought to realise sufficient from sales generally as to make 
the garden self-supporting. Not a few gardeners, too, were at one 
time imbued with the same idea, and rented the houses, kitchen 
and fruit garden, receiving, it may be, a fixed sum for keeping the 
pleasure grounds in order, furnishing the flower beds, house and 
conservatory with plants. In many cases little beyond worry and 
anxiety have resulted from the arrangements. A garden was once 
offered to me almost at my own terms, but I declined it. There was 
a time, or say up to about fifteen years ago, when fruit and vege¬ 
tables sold well. Grapes, Peaches, Strawberries, Melons, Cucum¬ 
bers, and hardy fruits generally all realised highly remunerative 
prices, and the same might be said of vegetables, forced or other¬ 
wise. All this is now altered. The case with cut flowers is 
different. These, although largely imported, are of a more perish¬ 
able nature, and the home grower can more than hold his own 
with the foreigner during the greater part of the year. Unfor¬ 
tunately very tew of the glass structures in private gardens are 
well adapted for the cultivation of flowering plants, added to which 
one of the conditions imposed on gardeners renting private places i» 
that everything at the end of a fixed lease shall be left exactly in 
the same state as the lessee takes it over. This, for obvious- 
reasons, is fatal to ultimate success. 
Instead of the gardener renting a garden, let him propose that 
he do the best he can with everything, both as regards economising 
labour and marketing produce ; and let him have, as I have, 10 per 
