THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 5, 1861. 
339 
if so, some of jour numerous readers will set me right, but do 
not let us demand impossibilities of our friends. 
However disastrous the present season has been to Roses, it 
must ultimately tend to good: the wits of growers will be sharpened 
up, new methods of growth will be devised, possibly pot Roses 
be more largely cultivated, and we shall by-and-by wonder that 
we thought so much of our present condition. We are a people 
to rise above difficulties, and to find them the surest road to 
success. After that terrible Crimean winter our army was 
better supplied and in better condition than our neighbours, 
who had been held up before us for our imitation ; and so in 
another year or two we may perhaps look at the roseries as in 
far better condition and more lovely than ever they have been 
before, and our faded beauties of to-day be succeeded by others 
more beautiful, more fragrant, and more enduring.—D. 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY’S MEETING. 
The Entomological Society’s Meeting on the 4tli of February 
was presided over by J. W. Douglas, Esq., who had been 
re-elected President at the anniversary Meeting on the fourth 
Monday in the preceding month, when he delivered the ordinary 
address, which was ordered to be printed and distributed among 
the members. Various entomological publications were announced 
a3 having been presented to the Society since its last ordinary 
meeting: among these were the “Transactions” of the Belgian 
Entomological Society. The President nominated Messrs. Lub¬ 
bock, W. W. Saunders, and Waterhouse to act as his Vice- 
Presidents during the ensuing year. 
Mr. Samuel Stevens exhibited a number of very beautiful 
Lepidoptera recently received from Port Natal, including Sme- 
rinthus Dumolinii, the most beautiful species of Sphingidae 
hitherto discovered. He also exhibited some beautiful species 
of Tinea from India. 
Mr. Frederick Bond exhibited a new British Moth of great 
elegance, Cidaria reticularia, taken during the preceding summer 
in the Lake district; it is nearly allied to C. silacearia. 
Mr. Ianson exhibited a new British species of Rove Beetle, 
Philonthus punctiventris of Kraatz, taken near London by Mr. 
Edwin Shepherd. 
Mr. F. Walker exhibited some very minute eases, supposed to 
be those of Dipterous pupae (belonging to the genus Pliora?) 
found on the inside of the coarse papyraceous covering of a 
hornet’s nest; also the larvae of a Dipterous insect (Anthomyia 
canicularia or an allied species), found on the refuse at the 
bottom of the nest. 
A memoir by Vernon Wollaston, Esq., was read, containing 
descriptions of the species of Weevils (Cossonides), taken in 
the Canary Islands, including a very remarkable new genus with 
singularly formed legs. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
We understand that the trial crops to be cultivated this 
season in the garden at Chiswick are—Broccoli, Kidney Beans, 
Cucumbers, Lettuce, Celery, and Beet. Those persons who 
possess any novelties of either of these vegetables would do well 
to forward them as early as possible to Mr. Eyles, the super¬ 
intendent, so that their merits may be proved. The collection 
of Peas will again be grown this season for the benefit of the 
Fellows and their friends who may wish to examine the different 
varieties, and if there are any sorts which are either new or have 
not been reported upon the Society would be glad to have them. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Aspienium marinum Culture [Deodar ).—We cannot give you better 
directions than the following:, extracted from “ British Ferns,” published 
at our office :—“It should be grown in a well-drained pot in a mixture of 
equal parts sand, small fragments of brick and peat, and be kept in the 
most shady part of a greenhouse where the temperature never falls below 
35°. The water employed should have half an ounce of common salt 
dissolved in a gallon. This Fern should not he watered over the leaves, 
though it delights in a moist atmosphere.” Its native place being rocks 
near the seashore explains why it requires a little salt in the water applied 
to its roots. Snch saline water would not benefit the other Ferns you 
mention as growing under the same glass shade with it. 
Various [M. Villiers ).—The Rochelle Raspberry is cultivated the same 
as the common Raspberry We know nothing about the periodical you 
name. There is no good work upon Rabbits; by degrees you will have all 
the information you need in our columns, and when completed we shall 
publish that information in a separate volume. 
Gold and Silver Fish [J. M ).—We have kept these in a glass vase 
when taken direct from the tank in which they were bred. River water 
is better than spring water for them. 
Root-grafting ( Constant Reader). —It is not more certain of success 
than either budding or grafting on an aged stock ; nor do trees so grafted 
come into hearing earlier, nor are they more easily kept dwarf. 
Dung of Poultry, &c. [II. G. L .).—All these excrementitious manures 
are valuable; and everyone who keeps the animals you specify should 
preserve their dung in a heap, and if under cover, or covered with earth, 
all the better. The dung of poultry mixed with water makes a good 
liquid manure. It would not be a good plan to put such manures at the 
bottom of Strawberry-pots; much better use the usual soil, and apply the 
manure in a liquid form. 
Vine Disease and Mildew [M. II. IF.).—They are one and the same. 
It is a very loose mode of expression to speak of it as “ the Vine disease,” 
and no better proof of this can he adduced than your own case, in which 
the berries “ when nearly three-parts grown discolour and shrivel up.” 
This we consider a case of shanking, and not of mildew. There is some¬ 
thing wrong at the roots. These have descended into a had, wet soil; or 
if planted outside they are too cold. In either case we have often pointed 
out the appropriate remedies. 
Grub in .Soil [Amateur, Thornhill Collieries). —We found nothing alive 
in the box; but we have little doubt that it is the larva of Otiorhynchus 
vastator, and has frequently been mentioned in our columns. 
Tan for a Hotbed (IF. N. A.).— Get the tan fresh and pretty dry, and 
throw it into a heap ; when it heats turn it over, and in a few days it will 
be fit for use. (See articles on “Forcing.”) The mode you propose with 
lime is the best that could be used ; but unless well decomposed, and 
thoroughly well heated and mixed with the quicklime to extract the acid, 
it will not be of much benefit to any crop. 
Climbers, &c., for an Aviary (B. B.). —We think variegated Ivies or 
evergreen Honeysuckles would be your best climbers; and for the low 
plants we should prefer Rhododendrons or Perpetual Roses. 
Epacrises Unhealthy (A Constant Reader). —Epacrises do not like 
being cut down below the bases of last season’s shoots ; otherwise, if worms 
are avoided,the plan will do. The Vine roots outside are probably buried too 
deep; but it is as likely they are too wet and cold : and, therefore, there 
being no root-growth outside, the Vines are compelled to make root-growth 
inside. The remedy is obvious. 
Mitchell’s Mineral Black Paint (G. IF. H .).—If the smell you com¬ 
plain of in your vinery and Peach-house is that of gas tar, and very power¬ 
ful, it will be injurious to the young leaves of the trees ; hut as you only 
painted the trellis, this can hardly he so, and a little extra ventilation will 
remove all danger, probably. The smell of common tar is not injurious to 
the leaves. 
Lentil [Chirurgus). —There are two kinds—the white and the yellow. 
The latter produces the most fodder, and in France it is cultivated for its 
1 seeds, which are used in soups. It prefers a light, moderately fertile soil, 
such as will grow Peas well. Sow in March or very early in April, in 
drills 15 inches apart. The pods are ready for gatheiing in August; if 
left until ripe they open spontaneously, anil shed their seed. The pods 
become reddish when fit for gathering. The seeds are best kept in their 
pods, and shelled as required. 
Hardy Roses for Standards (A Constant Subscribe}'). —Eight hardy 
red Hybrid Perpetual Roses for standards—1, Anna Alexief; 2, Anna de 
Diesbach; 3, Oriflamme de St. Louis; 4, Altesse Imperiale; 5, Comtesse 
de Chabrillant; 6, Eveque de Nimes ; 7, Gdant des Batailles ; and 8, Jules 
Margottin; these comprise all the red shades, and are of the best and- 
newest. Eight white and blush white Roses, or what we call light Roses, 
I as real hardy and really white Roses are very scarce indeed—1, Bouquet 
: de Marie; 2, Doctor Herron; 3, Madame Vidot; 4, Mrs. Rivers; 5, Im- 
peratrice Eugenie; 6, Louise Magnan; 7, Mdre de St. Louis; 8, Princesse 
Olympie, or else Queen Victoria. 
Propagating Case [J. B .).— Your plan will answer admirably; but 
you would succeed better if you had a similar case without any heat in 
which to harden off your seedlings and cuttings before exposing them to 
the air of the room. We presume you can get light and sun as wanted. 
We would not use sawdust at all, but clean silver sand. The sawdust will 
he apt to bother you with fungus, &c., and if not particular it will clog 
and stop up the holes in the bottom of the pots. 
Forcing Neapolitan Violets Early (G. IT.).—Take cuttings or divisions 
in March and April, plant out in a bed in May, 6 inches or 8 inches apart, 
in light, rich soil; water as needed during sunmer ; nip off every runner 
as it appears ; and in September or October p’ant out in a pit where damp 
can be kept off by a little fire heat, or pot sej arately, so as to place in a 
greenhouse warmed to an average of from 40° to 45°. Too much heat 
will defeat the object. 
Soils for Various Plants [Midland). —For Cliantlius, Mandcvilla, and 
Passiflora, fibry loam, heath soil, and a little leaf mould. For pruning 
ditto, shorten the Clianthus when done flowering; and the others when 
established do best when spurred back to a bud or two in winter or spring. 
The Gesnera, Gloxinia, and Achimenes like a richer soil, such as one part 
leaf mould, sweet, one part heath soil, one part fibry loam, half part old 
cowdung, and half part silver sand. The Chlidunthus requires rich loam, 
and to be kept dry all the winter months. 
Water Melons (IF. IT.).—We have grown such called Water Melons 
in the usual way, and also in a large basket, placed in a tub with water 
halfwayup the basket, and alike with success. We hardly ever found 
one of these Melons at all equal to those ordinarily grown for tlieir flavour. 
We should think the scent of the paint would he off before the leaves were 
much expanded. The smell will be moderated by placing vessels of water 
in the house, and giving more heat and more air in consequence. If there 
is any dallying with the painting we should expect the Vines to suffer 
a little, unless plenty of air were given. 
Camellias Sickly—Air for Blooming Vines and Strawberries 
( Mathiola ).—If the worms are gone, and the drainage is all right, the soil 
would soon he right. However, the plan proposed can do no harm, though 
the washing part seems hardly necessary under the circumstances. We 
