368 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 1, 1890. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Scientific Committee. —Present: Dr. M. T. Masters, in the chair; 
Mr. Morris, Rev. C. W. Dod, Mr. Godman, Mr. Michael, Dr. Miiller, Mr. 
Pascoe, Dr. Scott, Mr. Wilson, and Rev. G. Henslow (Hon. Sec.). 
Hybrid Xaroissi. —Rev. G. H. Engleheart exhibited a collection of 
hybrids, amongst which was one called George Engleheart, a cross 
between N. poeticus ornatus and Narcissus Tazetta, Bazelman major. 
This was quite new, and received a botanical certificate. Another was 
between N. poeticus and a trumpet Daffodil, Hudibras; this had a 
remarkably large and flat crown. A third, between P. poeticus ornatus 
and Mary Anderson, had an orange streaked cup, both parents having 
an orange-bordered cup ; the colour had become intensified. Mr. 
Engleheart observed that the anthers, being situated half-way between 
the points of the insertion of those of the two parents, was a character¬ 
istic feature of hybrids amongst Narcissi, and that no appreciable 
difference occurs on the hybrids raised when the parentage is reversed. 
He also remarked that Dean Herbert thought that N. Tazetta var. 
Bazelman major was barren with its pollen, as he could raise no plants 
from it. This was probably due to a too chilly climate. Mr. Henslow 
remarked that N. T.azetta is very abundant amongst the rocks in Malta, 
and has two forms, one with a short stout stem and many flowers, 
another with a long stem and fewer flowers. 
Aristolochia Goldieana. —Mr. Morris commented upon the singular 
flower of this plant, which had blossomed at Kew. There had been a 
race between the flower-bud and the shoot-bud. The former was small, 
and proceeded out of the old wood. The flower-bud finally prevailed, 
and the shoot was thereby checked. It is an African species, differing 
from the South American in having ten stamens, &c. It is figured and 
■described in the “ Botanical Magazine,” No. 5672. 
Primrose, Variety. —Mr. Wilson exhibited a seedling from “ Scott 
Wilson,” of a deep blue-purple, with a red eye. 
Plant Diseases. —Rev. C. Wolley Dod gave an interesting account 
of several diseases of plants in his garden, and commented on the 
difficulty of finding curative means, or of hearing of other suggestions 
than burning. He first alluded to a species of smut (Ustilago) on 
Primula farinosa, which appeared to be indigenous, as the plants were 
collected in Lancashire ; and although it was grown with P. denticulata, 
the smut was confined to the former species. dUcidium Ficarim had 
attacked his Hellebores. In this case a dryer soil was suggested as 
likely to prove effective in ridding the plants of the fungus. The 
■“ Lily spot,” due to Polyactis cana, usually appearing late in summer, 
had been seen in April upon Tulips, and apparently the same species on 
Daffodils. It was suggested that a mixture of sulphate of copper and 
quicklime would prove effective, as in the case of Vines described below. 
Puccinia Schrateri had ojcurred on Daffodils from Portugal, and also 
upon the common double sorts. 
Diseased Vines, treatment of, in France, with “ Bouillie Bordelaise.” 
Mr. Dod read the following communication :—“ In the MAloc there are 
three applications of the treatment. (1) The first is towards the end of 
May, when the Vine has produced shoots about 30 centimetres long. 
At this period the flower of the Vine is not yet opened. (2) A second 
application is made at the end of June or the beginning of July. (3) A 
third, about the first half of August. The first application requires 
about 2 hectolitres of Bouillie per hectare ; the other two, 2i to 3 hecto¬ 
litres per hectare. With regard to the preparation of the Bouillie, 
the following is the method employed :—For a 100 kilos. In one 
tub is put 50 kilos, of water and 3 kilos, of sulphate of copper; in 
another tub 50 kilos, of water and 2 of lime. The sulphate of copper 
having been dissolved and the lime well soaked the two liquids are 
then mixed. Cold water is used and slaked lime. Formerly sma’l 
brooms made of Heather or Butcher’s Broom were used to sprinkle the 
liquid on the Vines. Several varieties of syringe are now used. It was 
at first hoped that the Bouillie would destroy both the mildew and the 
Oidium. Up to the present time such has not been the case, and if the 
mildew is absolutely destroyed by this treatment the use of sublimed 
#ulphur has to be continued against the Oidium.” 
Sulphate of Iron as a Remedy against the Potato Disease. —Rev. G. 
Henslow quoted the following passage from a report by the late Pro¬ 
fessor G. Gulia of Malta upon the Orange disease, but bearing on the 
question of the destruction of vegetable parasites :—“ Having watered 
two Azaleas, three Begonias, an Orange, and several Rose bushes with a 
solution of sulphate of iron, in the proportion of six grains to one litre, 
these plants, far from sustaining any injury, seemed to gain intensity of 
colour to their chlorophyll, and their buds shot with greater rapidity 
and luxuriance. Towards the end of the past year Potatoes were 
attacked by Phytophthora infestans to such an extent as to impoverish 
and destroy the crop of the greater number of fields, especially in the 
eastern districts of the island. In a small field adjacent to others 
infected by the fungus the ground was sprinkled with the solution 
prior to the sowing of the Potatoes ; some young plants sprang up, and 
the crop was so abundant as to astonish the cultivators of the neighbour¬ 
ing fields, who were seized with a longing to adopt the method in 
question. Not a single leaf of these plants bore the fatal fungus. 
This was certainly due to the sulphate of iron which had destroyed t’le 
epores buried in the soil, and rendered the plants so vigorous as to 
impede the growth of the pernicious fungus.” 
Colours of Flowers, Experiments on. —The following communication 
*was received from Mr. Smee : “Some years ago, when experimenting 
with flowers and plants placed in a weak solution of silicate of soda, I 
noticed that the plants and flowers were affected by the solution 
according to their colour. The colours disappear in the following 
order :—blue, lilac, red and brown, whilst yellow was the most per¬ 
sistent. Greens behaved according as blue or yellow predominated in 
its composition. The question has occurred to me whether the white 
varieties of flowers are not formed among plants in a similar order. We 
have an example in the blanching of the old flowers of Francesia. 
Then again in the poor varieties of Vanda coerulea, the petals are almost 
white with very pale blue veining. In Cattleya, the colour of the 
petals and lip disappear, leaving the yellow throat and the pale pink 
tint (which so often spoils a white Cattleya from a florist’s point of 
view), as the remains of the red tint in the mauve colour. Therefore, 
as yellow is so persistent, we cannot expect a C. citrina to appear 
amongst our white varieties. The white ‘ciispum’is due to the dis¬ 
appearance of the brown blotches, leaving only the yellow markings on 
the column ; and in the case of the yellow ‘ triumphans,’ which is a poor 
form of the ordinary type, the brown blotches are either absent or are 
in process of disappearance. The only pure white forms of Orchids are 
C. cristata alba and D. Kingianum album, sec. Hseathi.” 
Primrose with Foliacious Corolla. —Mr. Douglas sent a plant with 
the corolla foliacious ; the calyx was normal. It is a not uncommon form. 
WOKK.Foil'raEWEEK.' 
mrm 
of 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectarines. — Earliest Forced House. —Alexander 
stands at the head of the very early Peaches, and ripens from the middle 
of April in a house to which fire heat is applied at the commencement 
of December. It is large and rich in colour, and the quality good. 
Waterloo ripens about the same time, is large and of good colour, but 
unfortunately a clingstone. Those are succeeded by Early Beatrice, 
which although a well coloured and good flavoured fruit, is rather 
small. Early Louise and Early Rivers are tine fruits, though pale in 
colour, and are particularly rich in flavour. Unfortunately they are 
liable to crack at the stone, which is to some extent lessened by fer¬ 
tilising the flowers with pollen from the small flowered varieties. 
Hale’s Early, Early York (Rivers’ variety), and Grosse Mignonne will 
form the connecting link between the very early varieties and such 
standard varieties as Royal George, Stirling Castle, a very tine form of 
Royal George, and Grosse Mignonne, which are several weeks later in 
ripening, there being six weeks between Alexander and Royal George. 
Hunt’s Tawny and Lord Napier Nectarines form a good prelude to 
Elruge and Violette Hative, and a good succession may be secured in 
one house, the only change in the treatment being in not syringing 
such as have commenced ripening. Trees on which the fruit is ripen¬ 
ing must have the foliage and fruit kept dry, or it will act injuriously 
upon the growth, and affect the maturity of the wood for future bear¬ 
ing. As the fruits of the other varieties will not be ripe for some time 
yet, the atmosphere must be kept moist by frequently sprinkling during 
the day, syringing the trees in the morning, and again when closing the 
house. The night temperature will be perfectly safe at 65° to 70°, but 
5° less, though it will retard the ripening, will not tax the energies of 
the trees so much as the higher temperatures. Leaving the ventilators 
slightly open constantly at the upper part of the house will be an 
advantage. In the daytime 70° to 75° by artificial means, and 10° to 
15° more with sun heat, will be suitable temperatures. 
Trees Stoning. —Do not hurry trees undergoing this process, 60° to 
65° at night is ample, and 70° to 75° by day, avoiding high night 
temperatures and sudden fluctuations by carefully attending to ventila¬ 
tion. A little ventilation left on at night will prevent the deposition 
of moisture on the foliage to any serious extent, increasing the ventila¬ 
tion when the sun shines upon the house in the morning, yet with¬ 
out lowering the temperature. Avoid fumigation if possible, it dries the 
foliage as well as the atmosphere, not infrequently crippling the leaves, 
when the fruit may from the check be seriously imperilled and fall. 
Early closing is an advantage, but it must not be done to the extent of 
undue excitement, nor continued until late, the temperature being 
allowed to fall with the declining sun. It is also advisable to allow a 
little extra latitude to the growth, but on no account allow foliage to 
be developed that must afterwards be removed in quantity. 
Trees Swelling their Fruits. —There are two distinct periods during 
which the fruits swell most freely—viz., after setting until the com¬ 
mencement of the stoning process, and after stoning. The first is 
materially accelerated by a genial condition of the atmosphere, and the 
means employed to secure a good root action, which is best effected by 
a judicious and gradual regulation of the growth by the process of 
disbudding and in thinning the fruits. Overcrowding is a great evil, 
but large reductions of growth at one time as well as of fruit are not 
good. The more vigorous the tree the greater is the danger of the fruit 
being cast in stoning, and the evil is afterwards accelerated by severe 
disbudding. In the last swelling after stoning the shoots should be 
well tied down, so that the fruit may have the benefit of all the light 
possible, but a moderate extension of growth will materially assist the 
fruit in swelling, care being taken that the principal foliage and fruit 
be not interfered with. Supply water thoroughly to inside borders 
when necessary, and weakly trees should receive liquid manure. 
