September 26.] THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 409 
Planting Evergreens (W. H. G.). —Mr. Beaton said his was a case 
* of necessity, and he also said that “ after the growth is finished ” is the 
proper time to transplant evergreens. 
Weight ok Hive (R. A.). —The state you describe your hive to be in, 
I “ plastered all over,*’ renders it quite impossible to ascertain the weight 
| of its contents. Driving cannot be done with advantage till August, when 
i you will have two or three swarms from it. Whether the bees want it or 
i not (which you cannot ascertain), feed them well in the spring. 
Dahlia-beds (J. D. H. S.).— The ‘‘grey-coloured insect” eating 
your Dahlia flower-buds is probably the Thrips ochraceus. Tobacco 
smoke and tobacco water will destroy it, but your own ingenuity must 
suggest how to apply these remedies. You will find a list of Fuchsias to 
suit you, in an answer to another correspondent to-day. The Cauliflower 
Brocoli you have, is probably the Watcheren variety of brocoli. Cole- 
worts are small cabbages that have not hearted. You may put cuttings 
into the soil of a hotbed as soon as the heat has become mild. Sow your 
Auricula and Polyanthus seed next April. Weigelu rosea is quite hardy. 
You may winter your Cupheaa in your sitting-room. Apply for the seeds 
you require to any first-rate seedsman, and if you wish to obtain the 
means of ascertaining the scientific names of plants, you must learn 
botany. 
Variegated Leaves {M. D. Y.).—All the tints except green assumed 
by leaves, appear to arise from the parts so coloured absorbing an excess 
of oxygen gas from the air, or in the process of decomposing water. If a 
portion of a leaf is submitted to the action of chlorine, a gas which 
powerfully absorbs hydrogen, and leaves free the oxygen, that portion of 
the leaf will be found changed to a pallid colour. Apply to a London 
seedsman for the flower-seeds you require. Which of the Sphinx Moths 
do you mean ? See what is said at page 387 about storing Filberts. Your 
other question shall be answered next week. 
Geranium Cuttings {Jane). —The unripened shoots strike most 
freely. Old geraniums stored away for the winter in a hay-loft should 
be placed upright, and not on their sides in a box “ on top of each other.” 
The Cottage Gardeners* Dictionary will contain epitomes of 
cultivation. 
Manure for Potatoes (W. F.). —On no account put stable manure 
upon any portion of the ground you purpose planting with potatoes. We 
do not think that crushed bones will be of benefit to them; and we 
recommend you to give the ground a dressing with soot and salt just 
previously to digging for planting. Universal experience shows that 
dungs of any kind applied to this crop promote disease in the tubers. 
Vegetable Marrows when ripe may be stored, and their flesh boiled and 
mashed like turnips. To preserve them through the winter no other care 
is necessary than keeping them dry and cool. 
Wintering Plants {R. R. G.).— “ Please to inform me the best way 
to keep petunias, verbenas, heliotropes, pansies, and geraniums, through 
the winter, having no greenhouse, pit, or cold frame, but a spare room 
facing the south, with a dark dry closet in it. And also the best way to 
keep Fuchsia macrantha.” These questions have been answered at least 
a dozen times. Young plants, such as yours, can hardly be kept without 
some better convenience than you have. The geraniums and the fuchsia 
may be kept in the spare room if the frost is kept from them, and the 
pansies will do better without protection in the open garden. 
Annuals for Autumn Sowing {Georgina Herbert).— Clarkias, 
Godetias, Collinsias, Delphinums, Nemophilas, Virginian Stocks for 
edgings, Navel wort, Eucaridium, Erysimum, Platystemon, Leptosiphon, 
Gillias, and Candy tufts, are amongst the best annuals to sow in the 
autumn. 
Rolled Glass {E. C. B.).— The specimen you have sent would answer 
admirably for vineries, or any other structure for the protection of plants. 
Whoever manufactures it, would consult their own interest by advertising 
its price, &c., in our columns. 
Books (J. B., Wortley).— The “Modern Dairy” is published by 
Ridgway, Piccadilly; and/ 4 Spooner on Sheep,’* by Longman and Co. 
Savin {Cravensis). —The only savin we know is the Juniperus Subini , 
and its variegated variety. One of the Ccesalpinia genus has been called 
sometimes the “ Indian Savin.” 
Leek Operative Floral Society. —We are glad that this society 
is flourishing, but it is quite impossible for us to report its 3hows, or those 
of any other local society; for if we admitted one, we could not refuse 
admission to one of the many hundreds now flourishing over the face of 
“ gardening Britain.” 
China-asters {G. H. Patterson).— The best mode of raising these is 
by seed sown in the spring, and the seedlings transplanted in the autumn 
where they are to remain. But we may have something more to say upon 
the subject. 
Peach-tree {J. French). —It was not the eastern aspect that induced 
us to warn you from planting one in your greenhouse, but our knowledge 
that you will never find it repay you for your trouble. We have peaches 
and grapes also ripening well on an eastern wall, and recommend you to 
plant an Acton Scot peach on that aspect. Your heath is Erica lacti - 
I flora, and requires a greenhouse ; and your bedding-out plant is Agera- 
tum mexicanum. The chrysanthemums trained according to Mr. Wea¬ 
ver’s plan, have the stems tied round and round outside the sticks. The 
Victoria plum is oval, red, large, moderate in quality, and fit for dessert 
at the end of September. 
Malt Wine {Ibid). —Will some of our readers furnish us with a recipe 
for making this. 
Melons (T. P.). —It is not necessary for the earth to rest upon the 
manure furnishing the heat; and the fermenting mass, by the soil not 
resting upon it, can be more easily renewed. It is a very common plan. 
We have no doubt that the fllbert will bear if trained as an espalier, but 
remember that the nuts are borne at the ends of the twigs. 
Storing Dahlia Roots {A Subscriber). —As soon as the stems are 
rendered lifeless by the frosts, take up the tubers without injuring them, 
cut off the stems at about six inches above the tubers, and then put these 
into tubs, covering them well with either sand, earth, or coal-ashes, and 
place them in a dry cool place, but where no frost can get at them. 
Rough Plate Glass {W. W. B.). —We consider this and the rolled 
glass mentioned in another answer, perfectly adapted for a small green¬ 
house. It is quite impossible for us to say whether a greenhouse built 
against the back wall of your kitchen chimney would be kept sufficiently 
warm to protect greenhouse plants through the winter. It depends upon 
the fire kept there, the thickness of brickwork, aspect, &c. A pipe heated 
by your kitchen fire might [circulate hot water round the inside of your 
greenhouse. We have sent to J. B. for you. 
Charge for Glazing (J. S. L). —Why not employ any working man 
to do it; and make your own putty ? 
Ginger Wine {A Newly-married Yeoman). —Six gallons of water, 
14 lbs. of loaf sugar, 24 large lemons, and half a pound of white ginger 
bruised. Boil the ginger in the water for half an hour. Strain the 
liquor when quite cold, and dissolve in it the sugar; pour it upon the 
peels of the lemons, and let it remain for twenty-four hours; then strain, 
and add the juice of the lemons. Let it ferment; and treat it in all 
respects as directed for rhubarb wine at page 320. 
Wine from Unripe Grapes {Ibid).— The proportions for this are 
40 lbs. of grapes, and 30 lbs. of loaf sugar, to four gallons of water. 
Vines trained as espaliers on a sheltered slope facing the south would 
grow you grapes fitted for this use. The Black Cluster, White Cluster, 
and White Rissling varieties are most suitable for the purpose. We have 
sent to obtain information about the hive. 
Prize Volume of Cottage Gardener. —We have received so many 
applications for this lately that we must give this general answer— We 
have no more to give away at present. The offer was made last year ; 
and a large number were given, being applied for within the time we 
limited . Now many of our back numbers are nearly or quite out of 
print; and we cannot risk disappointing new subscribers by having only 
imperfect volumes to supply them with. 
Woodlice {M. C. E.). —Your only remedy is to trap them by laying 
on their sides flower-pots half filled with moss. The woodlice creep ! 
under the moss, and may be destroyed every morning and evening. We 
know of no plant “ called Clotemore in the Isle of Wight, used for curing 
boils, with a leaf resembling rhubarb in shape, and the dock in colour.” 
The description agrees best with that of the Burdock {Arctium lappa) ; 
and old herbalists write that it is beneficial to boils and sores. It is 
known also as the Clot-bur. May you not have misunderstood the pro¬ 
nunciation ? 
Mildew on Vines (S'. TF.).—You are not singular in finding “the 
Black Hamburg much mildewed, in a house where the Sweet-water and 
Muscadel are not so bad.” We wish we could point out the cause; but 
in your case we should this autumn clear the roots; cut away all 
that have grown down deep into the soil, and bring all the horizontal 
roots to within 12 or 15 inches of the surface. Mulch the surface through 
the winter, and next spring and summer ; and paint the entire house, 
both this autumn and in the spring, with lime and Sulphur; at the same 
time scraping off all the loose bark, and painting the stems and branches 
of the vines. 
Cuttings {Verax). —Many good gardeners cut through a joint in 
taking off a cutting, but in most cases the safest way is to make the cut 
just below a joint. 
Soil for Petunias {Ibid). —These and verbenas require a deep rich 
soil, or one well manured if poor. 
Cuttings of Melons {Ibid). —April, May, and June are the months 
to make cuttings of melon plants that have been sown in the spring ; and 
plants so raised come sooner into fruit, and are less rank in growth, than 
seedlings. 
Autumn-planting Potatoes {A Constant Reader).— There is no 
fear of the sets suffering from frosts during the winter in Lancashire, for 
they bear those of Yorkshire and Scotland. The winter on the sea-coast, 
too, is always milder than in the interior. You will have seen where the 
potatoes you ask about may be obtained. Ashes mingled with the pota¬ 
toes in your clamps would be of service just in proportion to the effectual 
way in which they were made to keep the tubers separate, and thus help 
to check heating, and the admission of the air. 
Unripe-grape Vinegar {A. Watts). —To each quart of bruised 
berries add three quarts of cold water; after frequent stirring during 
twenty-four hours strain the liquor ; add one pound and a half of sugar to 
each gallon ; and let it remain in a warm place with apiece of thin canvass 
tied over the mouth of the stone-jar, or bottle, for twelve months. 
Mildew on Vines {Herbert).—' Salt and water you find of no avail in 
removing this, and we are much obliged by your statement of the result. 
The mildew is a parasitical fungus. You may shift your Geraniums into 
smaller pots now. 
Oxford Brawn (T. IF.).—Can any of our correspondents give a good 
recipe for making this ? 
