TIIE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— September 2,1856, 406 
these curious and. beautiful plants, so that you need 
not fear following his example in double-glazing your 
Orchid-house.] 
OAK-GALLS. 
“What an amazing quantity of Oak-galls there are again 
this year! The trees are literally covered with them in 
Devonshire. Could they not be made use of for tanning 
purposes?—A Reader.” 
[There are a great many Nut-galls this year, and they 
might be used for tanning and dyeing; but the question is, 
Are they in sufficient abundance to pay for the gathering ? 
The galls most prevalent in Hampshire, this year, issue 
from the buds, are perfectly globular, and with a polished, 
smooth surface. These are the consequences of the 
punctures made, and grubs hatched in them of the Cynips 
I/uercus terminalis. Some smaller galls, also quite smooth 
and globular, are on the leaves of the Oak. These are 
caused by the similar attacks of the Cynips quercifolii .] 
what we have seen of the fruit we consider it well flavoured. 
We do not know Lady Downs' Grape. We suspect it is 
only a local name for another variety. 
Busby's Golden Hamburgh continues to maintain, and will 
maintain, the high reputation it has gained. It is a first- 
rate Grape.] 
MESSRS. STANDISH AND NOBLE'S SALE. 
“I see with regret that the plants in the gardens of 
Messrs. Standish and Noble are to be sold by auction. I 
trust it is not the intention of both gentlemen to retire from 
the business. Perhaps you can kindly give information on 
the subject. — A Constant Readeb." 
[The sale at Standish and Noble’s will only be of a small 
portion of their nursery stock. The sale will take place in 
consequence of a dissolution of partnership. Mr. Standish 
will continue the business at the original nursery, and Mr. 
Noble will carry on a business a few miles distant.] 
DISLODGING BEES. 
“ Will some of your readers tell me how best to take a 
quantity of honey made between the boards of a large 
granary, -which several swarms of bees have taken possession 
of?—C. R.” 
[Without seeing the cavity between the boards where the 
bees are we cannot state exactly the best way to get their 
store. Once we had a great quantity of honey from a similar 
place, by making an opening opposite the entrance to afford 
a draught for tobacco-smoke, when it was puffed in among 
the bees. The top boards were then removed, and we found 
the combs curiously made in the cavities between the beams, 
some of which were only two inches deep, but the whole 
extended more than a yard in breadth. We destroyed the 
sickly, robbed bees, and made the place secure, to prevent 
other swarms taking possession, to the great satisfaction of 
some cottage bee-keepers, who had lost their swarms in that 
favourite place.—J. W.] 
BLACK CHAMPION, TREBIANA, AND GOLDEN 
HAMBURGH GRAPES. 
“ In your number for August 12th of the present year 
mention is made, in the leading article, of 1 two Black Cham¬ 
pion’ Vines being .planted. Also, in a former number, some 
time ago, the same Grape is mentioned by Mr. Beaton as 
superior to the Black Hamburgh. Will yq" be so kind as 
to inform me through your columns what kind of Grape me 
Black Champion is ? what its distinctive good qualities are ? 
and in what respects it differs from the Black Hamburgh l 
Also, where cuttings of it, true, or plants are to be obtained ? 
“Will you, also, or any of your readers, kindly give me 
information respecting the Trebiana Grape? Is it hardy, 
fruitful, and of good, high flavour, as well as a good keeper ? 
“ I have had a Vine sent to me with a high character, 
under the name of Lady Downs —from its foliage a distinct 
variety. Can you tell me what kind of Grape it is ? 
“ And, once more, I should be glad to know whether you 
have further tested the qualities of Busby’s Golden Ham¬ 
burgh, and can report upon it.—O. M., of Sheffield." 
[We do not know what Black Champion Grape Mr. 
Beaton referred to in the paper you mention, but that which 
is noticed in our leading article of August 12th is a very 
distinct and superior variety. The bunches are large, and 
not shouldered ; berries of the largest size, sometimes as 
big as a pigeon’s egg, roundish-oval in shape, and perfectly 
black, covered with a beautiful bloom. The skin is thin; 
! flesh firm, sweet, and richly flavoured, with rarely any stones, 
but sometimes with one. The berries are thickly set, and 
colour well. It is three weeks earlier than Black Hamburghs, 
and, altogether, a very distinct variety. The variety we 
have described is to be obtained of Mr. Adams, Nurseryman, 
Brentford, of whom the plants in question were had. 
The Trebiana is a White Grape, grown at Welbeck, which 
I Mr. Tillery considers one of the best White Grapes, and 
| which keeps in good condition till the end of March. From 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Flower-garden ( J. W., Matlock). —You should have standard Roses 
in No. 1—three tall ones, at three feet apart, in the centre, and six half¬ 
standards in the six inner angles close to the edge ; and three tall 
standards in No. 3; their position to be determined from the drawing¬ 
room window after stakes are placed in No. 1 to represent the Roses. 
The place is so unbalanced that you cannot use standards in No. 2, 
unless you prefer being out of ordinary ways. 1 and 2 are very well 
planted now ; but 3 is outrageously bad. For mixed Geraniums, plant 
Salvia fulgens and variegated Ageratum in a line across the front of 
them only. For White Petunia, take the second or the best variety of 
Shrubland Rose. You were imposed on with seeds of Lobelia rumosa; 
it never seeded yet. No wonder yours being “ straggling.” A selection 
of mixed Verbenas is the only thing you can use appropriately where 
your Rumosoides stands now ; and mixed greenhouse Geraniums should 
never be put into a bed which forms but part of a whole. In a bed “ by 
itself” they come in very well, and better on mixed borders. 
Melons {Idem). —The hybrid which Mr. Fleming himself exhibits 
never weighs more than 2 lbs. or 2£ lbs. It is of a golden yellow, shining, 
and in shape like a Vegetable Marrow of that weight. We have often 
tasted his produce at the Shows, and we like his Melon the best of all, 
unless it be the true old Egyptian Green Fleshy which is a small, round, 
much-netted fruit. When a Melon of any kind is nearing ripeness it 
should have all the air which the climate will allow of night and day, and 
only as much water at the roots —not over the bed—as will keep Q tIm¬ 
plants from actual flagging. That is just how Mr. Fle*^* 
the Melon. 
.. _ . _ __ iou can obtain it of any of the nursery- 
me^ A n I ear G tonSonT V If they do not happen to have it in stock they can 
procure it. 
r Crass (Argus).—On no account sow the sweepings of 
a tiiv lnft • vou wilt In"- many weeds as grass plants. Write to any 
attend specially to this subject, and who advertise 
of the seedsmen ^ Messrs. Sutton, or Hendle, or Gibbs, or Lawson. 
Tetr.wx ™e nature of your soil, and the size of your ground ; they will 
send you the right quantity and varieties of seeds ; and the seed will 
cost you very little. 
Prolificness of the Desideratum Pea.— An Amateur says, 
“ Having had two seeds of the Desideratum Pea given to me last spring, 
I sowed them, and one of them produced green pods, and the other 
black pods. The green-podded produced 100 good seeds (Peas), and 
the black-podded 105 Peas—making, altogether, 205 Peas from two, 
which I think a verv nice crop, and which 1 intend to grow again next 
year.”—[What is the Desideratum Pea ?] 
Waterproof Cloth. —J. C. says, “Reading a paragraph in 
No. 408 of The Cottage Gardener, on waterproof cloth, you will 
greatly oblige me by inserting answers to the two following questions in 
your next number:—1st. What quantity of sugar of lead and alum is 
necessary for a gallon of water ? 2nd. How long should tne cloth he 
immersed in the solution ? "-[We shall be obliged by replies to these 
queries.] 
Furze (Hedge).—' The best mode of forming a Furze-hedge is by sow¬ 
ing the seed where the plants are to remain. 
Chinese Tree. —Our friend says that the fruit of the tree from which 
a leaf was sent by S. W., Guernsey (page 373), is called, by the English, 
Percimmon, and by the Chinese, Sitza. Various books written on China 
speak of this fruit. Fortune, in his “ Wanderings in China,’ speaks of 
it as a tree with yellow-coloured fruit, somewhat like Tomatoes. We can 
give no further information. 
Cottage Gardeners’ Dictionary (B. Johnston). —A Supplement 
containing the new matter, we believe, will be published. 
Stupefying Bees by Chloroform.-T. HI. would be obliged by 
D. J B. informing him if, since an article headed, “Stupefying Bees 
by Chloroform,” in The Cottage Gardener, Vol. XIII., p. 85, was 
written, be lias made any further experiments of the kind there men¬ 
tioned • and if so, whether he is still of the same opinion, or can favour 
our readers with any suggestions that may occur on the subject. 
Flour Mill (A Subscriber).-Apply to Messrs. Dray, who advertise 
in our columns ; they will send you drawings and all particulars. 
