684 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 25, 1887. 
Cercis siliquastrum. —Whether we look upon 
this tree for the beauty of its flowers in early summer, 
the singularity of its orbicular leaves, or the bronzy 
purple and red pods in autumn, it is at all times fall 
of interest. The rosy purple flowers bedecking the 
twigs and branches contrast beautifully with the 
bronzy shining green expanding foliage. Some interest 
also attaches to this tree from the fact that some believe 
it was that on which Judas hanged himself, while others 
state that the English name, Judas Tree, is simply a 
corruption of Tree of Judea, because it grows plentifully 
in that region. It is perfectly hardy in the southern 
parts of Britain, and a large specimen, about 30 ft. in 
height, at Gunnersbury House, Acton, has been an 
object of great attraction for some time. Judging 
from the swollen and knotty trunk of the tree, it must 
be very old. 
A Cherry-time Monster of the Air. —So 
the birds are to believe. It is an improvement on the 
Potato stuck full of feathers, but which birds soon 
become accustomed too, finding it unpossessed of life. 
This present affair is anything but tame in looks and 
actions, and has been found effectual in frightening 
birds from Cherries and other fruits when other means 
have failed. For the body a long Mangel Wurzel or a 
large Parsnip or Beet—the uglier the better—is used. 
Into this feathers are thrust along what is to be the 
back and sides, with two set in the head end for horns. 
For the tail the feathers are mounted on light twigs, 
the object of this being'to keep the suspended monster 
lively by turning with the wind. The eyes are im¬ 
portant parts for giving a life-like appearance. These 
consist of two bits of broken porcelain, thrust into the 
root from the top downward, and with eye-holes gouged 
out of the sides to these. Two small spin-wheels are 
projected forward of the eyes, to add horror to the 
look. They are made of circular pieces of tin about 
4 ins. across. These are cut from the edge to near the 
centre into about ten or more radiations, and the parts 
given a slight twist, windmill-like. A wire nail 
through the centre attaches each wheel to the end of a 
stick, and on this it should revolve in every slight 
breeze. For suspending it a cord which encircles the 
body is carried up to one end of a half hoop-shaped 
iron rod, the other end of which is bolted to a pole 
that is raised slightly above one of the trees to be 
protected. Then the monster bobs about and turns 
with the wind, the spin-wheels fly and chatter, and 
altogether there is a dreadful look to strike terror to 
evil-doing birds, even those disposed to boldness.— 
Popular Gardening. 
The Prostrate Cherry Tree. — Prunus 
depressa is synonymous with Cerasus depressa and 
C. pumila, and constitutes in its natural state a low 
trailing or depressed shrub, of no great beauty 
as regards form, inhabiting the swamps and banks 
of rivers in North America, ranging from Canada 
to Virginia. Grafted standard high, however, 
on some of the stronger-growing Cherries, it forms a 
beautiful weeping tree, of small size, and distinctly 
ornamental character. The small white flowers are 
produced profusely on the twiggy shoots contem¬ 
poraneously with the leaves, which add considerably 
to its effect as a garden plant. A fine specimen grown 
apparently on a stock of the common Cherry, or Gean 
of the woods (Prunus avium) may be seen at the 
Grange, Hackbridge, Surrey, on the banks of a small 
stream near the mansion. It is an old inhabitant of 
English gardens, but less seldom seen nowadays than 
its merits would warrant. 
Rosa rugosa. —Some large bushes of this on the 
rockery at Chiswick are now gay with their large deep 
rose-coloured flowers. The rugose robust-looking 
foliage combines with the flowers in giving this species 
a very distinct appearance from Poses generally, but 
the huge deep red fruits that ripen in autumn, go a 
long way to make the plant a general favourite, even 
with those who are hard to reconcile to single-flowered 
Poses. Rosa ferox, of the Botanical Register, 420, is 
synonymous with this, and being a native of Japan, is 
perfectly hardy. 
A Good Insecticide. —In a copy of the Agri¬ 
cultural Gazette which I have just seen, I find an article 
from the pen of Mr. Samuel Barlow, J.P., Stake Hill 
House, Castleton, Manchester, touching on the benefit 
derived by limestone soils through a dressing of super¬ 
phosphate of lime, and also as an insect destroyer. It 
is in reference to the latter that Mr. Barlow’s experience 
is likely to be most useful to the readers of The Gar¬ 
dening 'World. Having a field of Turnips badly 
infested with fly, Mr. Barlow was induced to try the 
experiment of dusting a few of the plants with super¬ 
phosphate of lime, and he found that it destroyed the 
pest entirely. He then applied a dressing to the whole 
field, and there was an entire annihilation of the fly. 
He made an experiment also on some Pansies infested 
with slugs. They were large tufts of plants, spreading 
over a good space of soil, and they afforded an ex¬ 
cellent refuge for slugs and other vermin. The foliage 
was lifted up, and a good dusting of superphosphate of 
lime was spread over the soil. Not only did it com¬ 
pletely kill the slugs, but woodlice also. The result is 
that Mr. Barlow recommends a dusting of the super¬ 
phosphate of lime over all plants affected by snails, 
slugs, &c., and he remarks: “The application is sure 
to be much more effectual than dusting with powdered 
quicklime, which changes to carbonate of lime on 
exposure to the atmosphere for a few minutes, and it is 
then harmless as a slug destroyer. I found by ex¬ 
periment that after superphosphate had been rained 
upon for ten hours it was still able to destroy slugs. 
The superphosphate used was the ordinary 26 to 28 
soluble.”— R. B. 
Davallia Mariesii. —This elegant Japanese Fern, 
which was sent out a few years ago by Messrs. James 
Yeitch & Sons, is one of the best Ferns we have for 
suspending either in pans or baskets in a greenhouse. 
A pair of excellent examples of it we saw last week in 
Colonel Puget’s garden, at Totteridge, the pans being 
prettily covered with rhizomes, sending out finely-cut 
fronds in every direction ; so grown it forms a very 
beautiful object for indoor decoration. 
American Blight on Apple Trees.— Every 
Apple tree in my orchard (an acre in extent) is attacked 
by the American blight. I discovered it about five 
years ago, and I have used yearly either Gishurst Com¬ 
pound, Fir-tree Oil, Petroleum or Linseed Oil, with a 
stiff brush, but the pest is again appearing as bad as 
ever. Can you, or any of your contributors give me 
any advice ? I should observe that some of the trees 
are old and others matured.— E. H. F. [If persevered 
with, the petroleum should have cleared your trees 
by this time. Try again; by scrubbing all the affected 
parts now with soft soap, and after the fall of the 
leaves, collect the latter and burn them, and then dress 
the trees with petroleum. The insect hibernates in 
the soil in winter, and some unslaked lime should be 
placed at the base of the stems about the commencement 
of the year. Perhaps some of our readers will give 
us the benefit of their experience.— Ed. ] 
The Climbing Hydrangea (Schizophragma 
hydrangeoides).—In Col. Puget’s interesting garden at 
Totteridge, this pretty plant has proved quite hardy for 
several years, and has covered a good space on the 
wall on which it is trained, and now bears many heads 
of bloom. Near by also is a good specimen of the 
yellow-flowered Jasminum Wallichianum, also flowering 
on the wall; and in the various herbaceous borders are 
many pretty and uncommon plants in bloom, mingled 
with such showy old favourites as Papaver orientale, 
Irises, &e., all of which get special attention from Mr. 
Diddams, the gardener. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
-- 5 -- 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Climbing Plants. —Amongst the multitudinous 
subjects claiming attention, climbing plants must not 
be neglected, or endless trouble is caused, and also 
much injury to the bine if allowed to become matted 
together. Such plants as Passifloras, Bignonias and 
other rapid growers need to have their growths regu¬ 
lated almost every other day to keep them in order ; 
some care is necessary in the pruning awa 3 T of super¬ 
fluous shoots, so as to allow of the ripening of the wood, 
and also to avoid over-crowding. Some of the soft- 
wooded plants, which require annually pruning hard 
back, may be allowed to make more wood and so give 
a more abundant bloom. These plants arranged as to 
colour, carefully planted out on the back wall of a case 
in panels, with here and there a suitable Fuchsia inter¬ 
vening, form a most interesting object; but it is not 
in every place space can be provided for them. Still, in 
many of the older establishments they are to be met 
with: that at Chatsworth used to be grand; the one at 
Eaton Hall, when I saw it some years since, promised 
well. Allamandas, if trained to the roof, must be kept 
well thinned out, as over-crowding of the growths is not 
conducive to full-sized flowers, which is what should be 
aimed at rather than the production of a mass of bloom; 
when planted in a suitable position they give an 
immense amount of flower which is valuable for cutting 
purposes when not required to travel far. 
Chrysanthemums should at once receive their final 
shift into flowering pots. These may vary according to 
fancy ; if large specimens are required for conservatory 
grouping, three plants may be potted into a 12-in. or 
14-in. pot ; these will make a grand show, but for 
staging purposes no larger than a 10-in. pot should be 
used. In all cases the habit of each variety must be 
taken into account now, or annoyance will be caused 
when flowering time comes. All the Pompons will 
succeed much better if kept to 8-in. sizes ; they are in 
every instance impatient of over-potting. Let the 
compost that is used be as sound as possible, the most 
suitable being composed of a strong loam, to which 
should be added a liberal sprinkling of bone dust; if 
of a clayey nature, some clean half-rotted leaf-soil 
may with advantage be used, always being careful that 
it is rammed firm, and that the balls of the plants to 
be potted are thoroughly moist. The plants should be 
taken to their summer quarters, half plunged at once, 
and a soaking of water given, after which, for some days, 
they will only require to be kept sprinkled overhead, 
through the rose, morning and evening. 
In the Stoves care must be taken that such things 
as Crotons, Dracienas, &c., do not become infested 
with insect pests ; the syringe should be used morning 
and evening, and the paths and stages frequently 
damped down. Watering had much better be done in 
the evening now that such hot weather prevails, and 
extra shading should also be given. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
Red-Spider in Vineries.— With the present tro¬ 
pical weather prevailing, much care is necessary in the 
ventilating and watering of the Vineries to ward off 
the attack of red-spider, which are sure to manifest 
themselves ; we have entirely dispensed with fire-heat 
as a precaution in this respect, the night temperature 
being sufficiently high to keep the vineries comfortable. 
Frequent damping down is a necessity, or thrip will 
also be apt to make its appearance ; should it do so, 
fumigating must at once be resorted to. 
As soon as the fruit from the earlier houses is all cut, 
let the foliage be examined, and if not clean syringe 
with paraffin mixture ; and afterwards the Vines should 
be kept syringed morning and evening, the house being 
thrown quite open, but the pruning back of the laterals 
had better be deferred for a time. The border should 
also be examined, and if at all approaching dryness, 
should receive a thorough watering, and if the Vines 
are at all weak, liquid or artificial manure should be 
given, which will be found to greatly benefit next 
season’s crop ; much neglect is usually shown in this 
respect. 
Figs will require an abundance of water at the roots, 
and the syringe must be freely used (except where the 
fruit is colouring) ; the house should also be freely 
ventilated, but good use should be made of solar heat 
by closing rather early in the afternoon. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Watering must now be resorted to, and continuously 
while the intense heat prevails, or such crops as Celery, 
Cauliflower, Peas, Beans, and Salads, will be almost usi • 
less unless thus attended to. Much time may be 
gained if a good mulching be given between the rows 
of Peas and Beans, so as to prevent evaporation, or 
reduce it to a minimum. Strawberries, too, have 
suffered terribly, and we have been obliged to flood 
the beds to secure a crop ; we have also watered the 
late sown drills of Peas, as they failed to make their 
appearance. We have sown Silver Skinned Onions for 
pickling purposes. Cardoons are making a good 
growth, but must be kept well watered, and being 
planted by the Celery receive similar attention. As 
much time as possible is devoted to hoeing the different 
seed beds, so as to keep the soil constantly stirred. 
The Planting Out of Green Crops must of 
necessity stand over until rain comes, although much 
of it is sufficiently advanced. We have made a late 
sowing of Runner Beans, and also another sowing of 
dwarf French Beans. We have not yet singled out 
the second sowing of Turnips ; the fly attacked them, 
but by sprinkling gas-lime between the drills they 
have disappeared. — Walter Child, Croom: Court. 
