October 30, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
139 
familiar only with the old free-growing striped strain. 
A friend who called here from Nottingham recently, 
innocently enough actually wanted to know whether I 
pinched the plants, they were so dwarf and compact. 
Naturally I laughed, but the good man seemed in¬ 
credulous when I told him wdiat he saw was the real 
habit of the plants, and nothing more. Really they 
average 15 ins. in height, and from 15 ins. to IS ins. 
through, some, indeed, being broader ; all depends upon 
room. Every single or indifferent flowering plant is 
pulled, and only the very best formed flowers retained ; 
many of the blooms one half the size of African Mari¬ 
golds. For massing, the plants are singularly effective ; 
especially so is the pure yellow’ aurea floribunda, which 
gives a mass of yellow at this time of the year no 
other plant can excel, and about 12 ins. to 14 ins. in 
height. Of course, these features have been obtained 
only by dint of long and patient selection, and, in this 
way alone, the seed florist has accomplished wonders 
during the past twenty years. Sow seed in a cool 
house early in April, doing so thinly. By the middle 
or end of May—all- depending on the weather—the 
plants are safe to dibble from the seed bed direct into 
the open ground. Very much care cannot be bestowed, 
as lots of other things have to be got out just at that 
time. The best of strains will give some single flowers ; 
these arc unsuitable, and should always be removed, 
and replaced by doubles.— A. Dean, Bedfont. 
Camellia Buds Injured. — I have a few 
Camellia plants in a cool greenhouse, and one morning 
last week, while in the house watering, I found some of 
the flower-buds a good distance from where the plants 
stand, and how they got there is a puzzle to me. I 
examined the plants and found nearly all the buds 
more or less damaged, a good many of them nearly cut 
through to the centre, and others w’ith the one side 
torn away. I think it must have been done by mice, 
although, as yet, I have failed in either seeing or 
trapping them, neither will they take poison. If any 
of your correspondents have been troubled in the same 
way and found a remedy, I should be much obliged for 
a hint.— J. Cameron, Auchtcrarder House. 
Bean Ns Plus Ultra.— The Bean to which I 
recently made reference was not a dwarf but a runner, 
and a remarkably fine one, too. I did hear who sent 
it out ; but, unfortunately, have forgotten. It was 
raised by Mr. Neale, of Bampton, Oxon. It is a pity, 
if the samples shown at South Kensington really 
represent its tnie character, that this fine sort is not 
more widely known. I have not heard of a dwarf 
Ne Plus Ultra, and accept the assertion of “ B. L. ” 
that it is a good thing. Will that gentleman kindly 
describe the colour and shape of the seed, as that is 
essential in seeking for information respecting any 
Bean. I cannot but remark on the poverty of invention 
shown in finding names, that we should have so many 
“Ne Plus Ultras ” amongst vegetables.— A. D. 
The Madresfield Court Grape. — I have 
grown this Grape with Black Hamburgh in the same 
house, for the last ten years. They are all planted in¬ 
side, with an outside border to run into. For the first 
four or five years I was much troubled with cracking, 
and was advised to nick the wood just below the bunch, 
that is, cut the wood half through with a sharp 
knife ; I did so for nearly two or three years, still we 
had some cracked berries, and I thought the bunches 
did not finish off so well as they ought to do, conse¬ 
quently, I abandoned the nicking practice and sought 
another remedy. We start our Vinery about the first 
week in February, and the berries begin to colour about 
the first week in June. The last three years I have 
let the growth extend, stopping but very little after 
thinning. About a week after the bunches begin to 
colour, on a fine dry morning, I give a good soaking 
with manure-water, both inside and out for the last 
time, after this we turn all plants out of the house and 
keep a very dry atmosphere, with plenty of air on 
night and day, and a little heat from the pipes, 
according to the state of the weather outside. I am 
pleased to say, that during the last three years we have 
had but very few cracked berries. This year I had 
twenty bunches.on one Vine with two roots, or little 
short of 40 lb. in weight, well finished and not a 
cracked berry among them. Some of the bunches 
have carried me to the top of the list in more than one 
contest this season, and I now have much more faith 
in a dry atmosphere and the extension of laterals, than 
in nicking or boring. — JV. P. D., Weston-super-Mare. 
The Burdock. —Amongst the seedling beds at the 
Darley Dale nurseries, there is a bed of the Burdock, 
Arctium Lappa, which raises the curiosity of visitors ; 
but when its virtues are known, one may say it is 
■worthy of the bit of ground allotted it. Mr. Smithtold 
us of the cures he has witnessed from the bite of the 
viper, as far as sixty years back, by applying the juice 
from the root as soon as possible to the part affected, 
and never knew it to fail. He has repeatedly cured his 
dogs that have been bitten by vipers on the moors 
amongst the heather in the same way.— G. B. 
Dwarfing Michaelmas Daisies. —There is 
another way of dwarfing these plants besides that 
described at p. 124. I prefer to divide the old stools 
into several pieces, and planting them in the open 
ground or in pots plunged their full depth, and then 
cut the plants hard back in June. By this hard 
pruning process, only necessary for the taller kinds, 
the density of their heads of flowers will be rendered 
doubly so, and by being planted out, and lifted and 
potted as required—previously soaking with water—- 
they will be found to make a more vigorous growth 
than when confined to pots. As all the best kinds 
were named in your last issue, I will not repeat them 
here, except to refer to Aster ericoides, which is, 
perhaps, the most elegant of all, and is not mentioned. 
It bears out its specific name most accurately, and is 
certainly a very pleasing plant; the flowers are small 
and white, with yellow centres, and borne in great 
numbers. It is delightfully adapted for cutting pur¬ 
poses, and arranging with flowers in vase decoration ; 
is also among the latest to flower, and grows about 
3 ft. high.— J. 
Chrysanthemums Damping Off.—May we 
ask the specialists to give some logical explanation of 
that mysterious damping which is quickly destroying 
the blooms in most collections of Chrysanthemums near 
London. It is very disheartening, and to me inex¬ 
plicable, at least, by any theory yet advanced. I am, 
however, inclined to believe that if i t were investigated 
scientifically, it would prove to be a disease similar to 
that which attacks Potatos, Hollyhocks, and the like. 
Has Mr. Worthington Smith worked at this subject at 
all ? If he has, his views would be eagerly welcomed 
by distracted growers in all parts of the country. —■ 
Vanda. 
Fir Tree Oil for Rheumatism. —A trust¬ 
worthy correspondent informs us that of all the 
remedies he has tried for rheumatism, and, unfor¬ 
tunately, they have been many, he has never found 
anything give so speedy and permanent relief as the 
Fir Tree Oil of Mr. Griffiths Hughes, of Manchester, 
and he thinks the fact ought to be made known. The 
trial can easily be made by others, and if found of the 
virtue our correspondent is positive it possesses, there 
is no reason why “St. Griffith” should not enter the 
lists with “St. Jacob,” and do his best to get honours 
divided at all events. 
Passiflora coerulea, &c. —I saw this hardy 
climber beautifully in bloom on the 23rd of this month, 
trained over the south front of a suburban residence in 
this town. Yeronica Andersoni W’as also finely in 
flower in another garden. This last-named shrub was 
about 4 ft. high. To-day, the 26th, I have seen a bed 
of Ageratums and Heliotropes also looking as bright as 
in the month of August. One of the Honeysuckles 
trained on the iron palisading of another little domain 
was also flowering freely. We are having a very fine 
October this year. Very different to the same montli 
last year.— J. W., Norwich, Oct. 26th. 
Prunus Pissardii. —On visiting the Darley Dale 
nurseries recently, I was much struck with Prunus 
Pissardii as a bronze-leaved deciduous tree of the first 
water. Large flats of it growing by the purple Nut 
and purple Beech, make them look quite dull against it 
at this time of the year. It is a glorious bright bronzy 
red. I was informed by Mr. Smith, that Mr. Thomas, 
of Chatsworth, was using it pegged down with Acer 
negundo variegata, and a fine effect it must have.— 
G. B. 
Big-noma Chamberlaynii.— Though intro¬ 
duced from Brazil over sixty years ago, this fine yellow 
flowering evergreen climber is very seldom seen in 
gardens, and it was quite refreshing to meet with it at 
South Kensington last Tuesday, when it was honoured 
with a First Class Certificate. The cut flowers exhibited, 
came from Mr. C. R. Scrase Dickens’ garden, at 
Coolhurst, Horsham and his gardener, Mr. D. Kemp, 
informed us that the plant was doing well in a cool 
greenhouse, and had been subjected to hard pruning 
last spring. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
The stock of show and fancy Pelargoniums will now 
need to be placed in some thoroughly open structure, 
where they may be well ventilated, to encourage a good 
sturdy growth. Those required for forcing or early 
flowering should now receive their final shift, but be 
careful to avoid large pots ; full-sized 32’s are, in 
almost all cases, sufficient. Let them be kept growing, 
but by no means coddled, or green-fly will very quickly 
make its appearance. I need hardly say that those 
required to flower early must not be pinched again. 
Many of the “fancies ” are the better if not pinched at 
all ; and if allowed to grow unrestricted, generally 
make good, well-furnished, sturdy bushes, and flower 
more freely than if subject to pinching. Our stock of 
zonals we have staged inside, and by feeding we hope to 
induce them to throw up an abundance of flower, which 
will be most useful for cutting in conjunction with 
Chrysanthemums. 
Herbaceous Calceolarias should now be removed to a 
shelf in the greenhouse or other similar structure, where 
they will receive abundance of air. If they have been 
properly attended to, they should now be good sturdy 
little stuff and clean ; but should there be any trace of 
green-fly .upon them, fumigate before removing them 
from the pits or frames. Unless very much pot-bound, 
do not give them a shift at this season ; later on will 
be far preferable. Chrysanthemums are now coming 
on apace. Jane Salter and Lady Selborne are two of 
the best early-flowering Japanese with us, to be quickly 
followed by the beautiful “Elaine.” Certainly, they 
are very beautiful in any state, and it behoves all who 
make an attempt at a show to discard second-rate 
varieties, and procure some of the newer and far superior 
varieties which may now be obtained. 
We are now busy thoroughly cleaning the occupants 
of the stoves, for no matter how careful one may be, 
unless almost daily attention be given, insect pests 
will become established; after this thorough over¬ 
hauling we hope further attention in this respect will 
not be necessary until the new year. Cyclamens in 
many instances are throwing up their flowers, and 
are consequently assisted with manure-water. We 
find these extremely useful for decorating, and also in 
a cut state, the flowers lasting fresh for a long time 
in water, added to which many of the flowers are 
deliciously scented, but still we think not so generally 
as formerly ; probably, this desirable point has been 
sacrificed in the desire to obtain the giant flowers which 
are now generally grown. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
We this week intend planting a new lot of young 
trees along the front of our early Peach house ; the 
border is all ready for their reception. The trees have 
not yet shed their foliage, but that is to be accounted 
for by the extreme mildness of the autumn so far ; but, 
although the foliage is quite green, far better plant 
now than later on, as the trees by attention will become 
partly established, and start much more readily when 
forcing is commenced in the spring. Be careful to 
keep the sowings of French Beans made frequently, 
remembering that they do not fruit so freely now as in 
the spring, consequently, a few extra pots should be 
put in, say five dozen at a time. We notice those 
sown in the pit are beginning to fruit, thus keeping up 
the supply, the late sowing out-of-doors being just 
over. 
W e have cut the last fruits of late Melons, and the 
house will now be cleared out and painted, after which 
it will be devoted entirely to growing French Beans. 
We have renewed bottom-heat to Cucumbers, which are 
growing rapidly. Great care is necessary now ; train the 
shoots carefully—serpentine fashion, avoid all stopping, 
except it may be, perhaps, a strong shoot likely to take 
the lead'towards the top of the trellis ; should green¬ 
fly make its appearance, fumigate at once, and keep all 
scrupulously clean about the plants, water and syringe 
rather sparingly, but keep a humid atmosphere in the 
house by frequently damping the walks, walls, &c, ; 
admit air, if possible, every day, closing early in the 
afternoon. If the house is short of piping—rendering 
hard firing necessary, place evaporating pans on the 
pipes, this will greatly tend to ward off the attacks of 
spider and thrip. 
