824 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 30, 1890. 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
-- 
SEASONABLE WORK in the GARDEN. 
Temperature and Shading of the Stove.— 
The nights are now getting longer and colder, and it 
will therefore be necessary to use more artificial heat to 
keep up the temperature to 70°. Less shading will be 
necessary during the day, and in fact, a fair amount of 
direct sunshine will prove of great advantage in ripening 
off the young wood of many kinds. A little ventilation 
at top even at night will be of service, in allowing the 
superabundant moisture to escape. 
Caladiums.—A great mistake is often made in 
removing these to a cool house after they begin to get 
shabby. Of course, when they cease to be ornamental 
they must be removed from the benches, but the tubers 
would keep better if the pots containing them were 
taken to some pit kept at stove temperature, or at least 
not lower than 50°. In the absence of any such con¬ 
venience the pots might be put under the stove benches, 
placing them on their sides to prevent the drip from 
the plants above entering the pots. 
Gloxinias. — The batch meant for autumn and 
winter flowering should now receive their final shift. 
Pots of a smaller size than were used for the summer¬ 
flowering batches will be most convenient, and con¬ 
ducive to blooming in the dull days now fast approach¬ 
ing. Liquid manure will supply what is lacking in the 
small quantity of soil used. 
Hedychiums.—These, while they last in good 
condition, are very effective for conservatory or green¬ 
house decoration. Late-developed shoots may be 
encouraged to flower by assisting the plants with liquid 
manure. After they have finished flowering, keep them 
somewhat drier at the root. 
Cinerarias.—Give these every attention if they are 
intended to be grown on into large plants. The roots 
must not be allowed to become pot-bound, otherwise 
the plants will throw up weakly flower stems, whereas 
they ought to be making rapid growth. Of course, 
those plants intended for autumn and winter flowering 
should receive their final shift early, small pots being 
used to encourage an early development of bloom. See 
that they do not at any time get infested with green¬ 
fly- 
Chrysanthemums. — Tying and disbudding 
should be the order of the day for some time in all cases 
where large exhibition blooms are wanted. Assist 
with liquid manure. 
Tuberous Begonias. —A little warmth in the 
pipes morning and evening will djspel moisture which 
might otherwise condense on the flowers and foliage to 
their damage. The increased warmth will also keep 
growth moving, and help to prolong the display. 
Plenty of ventilation will always ensure sturdiness of 
growth. Fire-heat would also be found beneficial 
during the prevalence of wet weather. 
Vineries.—The earliest Vines are now losing their 
leaves, and may have their laterals pruned back a little 
so as to allow light and air to have free play 
amongst the shoots and leaves left, in order to 
thoroughly ripen the wood. In the case of very 
vigorous Vines they may not yet show much sign of 
going to rest. A little fire heat may be given during 
the day with plenty of ventilation, allowing the fire to 
die out towards afternoon to avoid any undue excite¬ 
ment to the Vines. The houses in which the borders 
have been re-made sufficiently long ago to permit of the 
Vine roots taking hold of the fresh soil, should now be 
kept quite cool to induce the Vines to go to rest. 
“Where ripe Grapes are hanging it will be necessary on 
dull, wet days to give artificial heat in order to dispel 
moisture. The roots must not, however, be allowed to 
get dry, otherwise the Grapes will shrivel or lose their 
plump character. Give supplies of clear water when¬ 
ever the borders present the appearance of being dry. 
Cucumbers.—Plants required to be in fruit by 
November should now be good stocky plants. It is 
better to have them a little early, so as to allow the 
plants to make good growth without being hurried, 
because they have then more substance, and are better 
able to withstand the effects of bad light, when that 
occurs, than if the plants had been hurried on in a 
high temperature with little ventilation. If still in 
pots they should be kept close to the glass to make 
them sturdy. 
Tigs on tbe Open Wall. —Fruits of the second 
crop now forming may be removed, as they cannot 
possibly attain full size and ripen now. Others may 
develop in their place in 9pring, and so assist in 
swelling the crop produced on the tip of the shoots, 
now only ripening or still growing. 
The Orchard House.—Trees of Apples, Pears, 
and Plums in pots may be stood out of doors to their 
advantage after the crop has been gathered. Trees 
that are planted out will be all the better and cleaner 
if their foliage receives a good syringing at frequent 
intervals to keep insects in check. 
Early Peach House.—From this time onwards 
till the trees are again started into growth in November, 
they should be kept thoroughly cool in order to induce 
as perfect rest as possible. The doors and ventilators 
should be kept open night and day from this point of 
view. Should wind and rain have full access to the 
trees they will be all the better for it. The roots must 
not on any account be allowed to become dry, and 
watering must be resorted to if necessary. 
Auriculas.—The re-potting of established plants 
should no longer be deferred, as if done later the roots 
have too short a time to become thoroughly established 
in the fresh soil. After the operation has been per¬ 
formed give the plants a good watering, and keep the 
frame rather close for a short time till the roots lay 
hold of the fresh soil, after which they should be kept 
cool and moderately dry. Should green-fly make its 
appearance, fumigate or brush the insects off the plants 
with a camel-hair pencil. 
-- 
ARDENING fflSCELLANY. 
——. 
The Clematis-flowered Petunia, “ Holborn 
Blue.” 
We notice that exception has been taken to the des¬ 
criptive name applied to this new selection of Petunia, 
which originated in our experimental grounds at 
Forest Hill, but we think the name as applied to this 
flower offers no suggestion that the habit has been 
changed, nor is such the case. We were struck some 
three or four years ago by the close resemblance it bore 
to Clematis Jackmanni, and since that time we have 
been carefully re-selecting the type each season, and 
have now succeeded in fixing some. In habit the plant 
is more robust than the ordinary Petunia, the flowers 
have also greater substance, and are thrown well above 
the foliage.— James Carter <£■ Co., August 1 9th. 
Scarlet Runner, Chelsea Giant White. 
This is a selection from the variety known as The 
Czar, and is the largest fruiting variety in cultivation. 
The flowers are white with a pale yellow standard, and 
produced twelve to fourteen together on a raceme. 
Under good cultivation the pod attains a length of 
12 ins. to 15 ins., with a proportionate breadth, and 
when in season are of excellent table quality, thick, 
fleshy and tender. It is a fine exhibition variety, and 
when properly selected and nicely staged is very 
difficult to beat. Considering the size of the pod, the 
variety is very productive. We noted a late sowing in 
the trial grounds of Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons at 
Chiswick, and the strength of the stems and the size of 
the leaves all pointed to the vigour of the variety, as 
compared with any of the more common sorts. 
A Remedy for the Potato Disease. 
Mr. Alexander Dean believes that the remedy which 
I have indicated against the Potato and Tomato maladies 
cannot be applied on a large scale. If I had not been 
perfectly sure of the facts I should not have spoken, 
for I think that in a horticultural journal one ought to 
give good advice only, and not lead anyone into error. 
Here are some details of the method of procedure when 
dealing with large areas. One does not use a syringe 
but a pulverisateur, of which I enclose you an engraving. 
With this instrument a man can easily syringe over an 
acre a day of Potatos, using about seventy gallons of 
the liquid indicated in my last, per acre, at a cost for 
materials of about 7s. I believe at this price it would 
pay to dress the Potatos, and even when it would be 
necessary to go over the ground twice in order to fully 
check the disease. Such at all events is what our 
cultivators think and practise. Concerning the fine 
weather, the essential is that it should not rain 
immediately after applying the liquid. Two hours of 
subsequent fine weather will suffice. There is no risk 
of burning the plants, for even when the temperature 
is at 25° Centigrade at the moment of application of 
the liquid it will not burn. In Switzerland we have 
seen many diseases combated, and under sharp 
changes of temperature. One day we may have 35° 
Centigrade of heat, and the following morning perhaps 
5° or 6° Centigrade—very trying conditions for certain 
cultures.— Louis Morhardt, Chdteau de Crans, 'near 
Celigny, Switzerland. [The pulverisateur is carried on 
the back in the same way as a fire extincteur, and has 
force-pump action, the handle being worked with the 
left hand, while the right directs the fine spray 
nozzle.—E d.] , 
The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
I should not say any more on what I regard as a 
trivial matter, if an inaccuracy had not in some un¬ 
accountable way crept into “Fact’s” letter on p. 795. 
It is there stated that “Mr. Wright was asked to 
move the resolution in question”—that the present title 
of the fund be adopted. I was mo3t assuredly neither 
asked to move that nor any other resolution. What¬ 
ever programme was framed was absolutely unknown 
to me. My action was prompted by no one, but was 
spontaneous. It was not premeditated. The con¬ 
versation at the meeting was desultory, and I thought 
the time had come for arriving at some decision, there¬ 
fore I moved the resolution that was adopted. I 
perhaps moved too quickly. Be that as it may, the 
facts are as I have stated them. I did not even write 
down the title, and had most certainly never seen it in 
print, nor was it suggested to me by anyone except 
Mrs. Barron, in slightly different words, but having 
precisely the same meaning. If someone else invented 
the title as well, as appears to be the case, I have not 
the slightest objection. I presume, by what “Fact” 
now says, that my name was down to move the 
adoption of the title, but I really did not know it until 
his statement appeared. After this little discussion 
about the name, let us all try to do what we can to 
increase the substance of the Fund.— J. Wright. 
The Tomato in the Open Air. 
I AM sorry to have to report that the Tomato crop in 
the open air in this district has gone down completely 
with disease, as if the plants had been burnt by smoke. 
One market gardener in Ealing has lost something like 
six or seven acres of plants in this way, and his neigh¬ 
bours are no better off. One thing appears to be quite 
certain, that it is only in a very favourable season that 
a paying crop of Tomatos can be looked for in the open 
air. If we are to have a good supply of English-grown 
Tomatos, it must come from plants grown under glass— 
that appears to be quite certain. The cultivator and 
nature appear to be engaged in a stern struggle this 
season, and the forces of the latter unfortunately pre¬ 
vail. It is now unfortunately seldom that the gardener 
and farmer are privileged to gather in the kindly fruits 
of the earth in due season in plenty and good condition. 
—B. D. 
Melons at Syon House. 
A number of pits are devoted to Melon growing 
at Syon House, Brentford, the seat of the Duke of 
Northumberland. A few kinds are grown for the sake 
of variety, and by the use of pits divided into com¬ 
partments a succession is easily secured. The last of 
the crop of Syon House Seedling was gathered a short 
time ago, and a batch of young seedlings are now again 
in full growth, and are expected to set before the short 
days of autumn make this a difficult operation. The 
fruit is of medium size, globose-oblong, and of a 
beautiful deep yellow when mature, and copiously 
netted. The flesh is scarlet, of good depth, delicious 
in flavour, and melting when in prime condition. Mr. 
Wythes recently obtained a First Class Certificate for 
this new and meritorious variety at a meeting of the 
Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
The fruits of an older and better-known sort named 
William Tillery are now well advanced in size. The 
skin is thin and dark green, the flesh being pale green 
and of excellent quality. It does not set so freely here 
as Limefield, now bearing a good crop. The latter has 
oblong fruits, which were green and mottled with grey 
when we saw them, and rather densely hairy, giving 
them a distinct and curious appearance. It is said to 
be a green-fleshed variety. 
Sportive Fuchsias. 
Flowers of two different varieties of Fuchsias have 
been sent us by a correspondent (“ F. D. S.’’). One of 
them had a very thick tube, and appeared quite 
normal ; but on closer inspection it was seen to possess 
seven sepals and as many petals, making it semi¬ 
double, whereas the proper number should be four in 
