January 24, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
81 
Letters to the Editor and Questions and Answers. 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
The Editor invites enquiries for reply in this column. These 
enquiries may cover any branch of gardening. Questions should be 
put as briefly os possible, and written on one side of the paper only ; 
a. separate sheet of paper should be used for each question. 
Readers are also invited to give their fellow gardeners the benefit 
of their experience by sending supplementary replies. 
Replies cannot be sent by post, even if a stamped, addressed 
envelope is enclosed, and the return of specimens can not be undertaken. 
Anonymous communications are treated in the usual editorial manner. 
Address letters: The Editor, “The Gardening World,” 37 and 
38, Shoe Lane, London, E.C. 
Angle of Elevation for Vineries (Omega). 
If you intend to force the vineries very early it would be advan¬ 
tageous to have the roof at an angle of elevation of 45 deg. 
Presuming, however, that you do not intend to start the vineries 
before the end of February or the beginning of March, you will 
find that 40 deg. is a very good all-round angle of elevation, 
because you can get the full advantage of the summer sun in 
vour district to assist materially in raising the desired tempera¬ 
ture during the day. A house built to give that angle of eleva¬ 
tion will give you a good length of rod relatively to the width 
of the house, and also favour the ripening of the grapes. 
Will Seeds Vegetate Below the Freezing Point ? (Omega). 
You cannot expect seeds to germinate when subjected to a 
temperature below freezing point (32 deg. Fahrenheit), because 
the seeds or their integuments would then be frozen, more or 
less, quite hard, making growth impossible. Some seeds are 
very ready to germinate in spring, when the temperature is 
rising, even although it falls to freezing point at night or in 
the morning. Amongst them we should place such as Acer 
Pseudoplatanus, the Sycamore. Below 32 deg. it would not ger¬ 
minate, however. 
Essay on Cottage Gardening (John G. Brock) 
We do not remember any essay that might prove suitable 
lo you, or give you a reasonable number of directions, but there 
is a book entitled “ Home Gardening,” which we think would 
be suitable for your purpose. It is essentially a manual for 
amateurs, and contains instruction for the laying out, stocking, 
and -cultivation and maintenance of small gardens. It deals 
with fruits, flowers, and vegetables. The author of the book 
is W. D. Drury, F.R.H.S. The book is illustrated ; price Is. 
in paper covers, with 2d. extra for postage. The publishers are 
Messrs. L. Upcott Gill, 170, Strand, London, W.C. 
Apples Growing in Grass (M. M.). 
We quite agree with you as to the evil effects of growing Apple 
trees in grass, especially in the early stages of their growth. 
It has been ascertained by experience and careful observations 
that the young Apple growing in the grass loses one-fourth of 
the soil-moisture, owing to the ground being covered with grass. 
We therefore consider that young fruit trees will make much 
mo!e rapid progress if the ground above (their roots is kept 
clear from grass and all other vegetation. It is even highly 
advantageous to mulch the ground with farmyard manure 
during the early stages of growth at least. It is quite possible 
to transplant fruit trees successfully after they have been planted 
a considerable number of years in the ground. For instance, if 
they have remained for some time undisturbed, they can be 
prepared for removal by root-pruning them a year previous to 
the removal. The long, rambling roots can be pruned back in 
October or November, and will make plenty of young fibrous 
roots during the coming summer, so that they will lift and 
transplant safely in the following October or November. If the 
trees are not more than three or four years planted you can 
usually remove them without such previous preparation, if care¬ 
fully done. The main object is to save all the fibrous roots 
possible, and the particular root-pruning above mentioned is to 
be done with the object of encouraging thle development of 
fibrous roots. Root-pruning will also restrict the growth of the 
trees, so as to keep them within due bounds. 
Crab Apple Stocks (M. M.). 
We cannot be responsible for what Crab stocks may be in 
certain cases, but, generally speaking, the Crab stocks should 
be seedlings raised from the stock of the wild Crab Apple. 
Even in a state of nature Crabs may be found differing con¬ 
siderably from one another, so that they may give slightly dif¬ 
ferent results when used as stocks for valuable named varieties 
of Apples. We should think also that the stem of the Crab 
would form the trunk of the standard Apple tree, but this 
would depend on circumstances. Some named varieties of 
Apples are very vigorous, and might sometimes be used as the 
stem of the tree with advantage ; but, as a rule, the Crab Apple 
stem is sufficiently strong to form the trunk of the tree, and 
there is no reason why it should not be used for such a purpose, 
provided the variety you have makes a vigorous, straight, and 
clean stem. In these respects you will have to decide whether 
the Ajjple or the Crab makes the best stem. 
Seed Pod from the North of Scotland (J. D.). 
The seed pod which you sent is Henbane (Hyoseyamus niger), 
an annual or biennial plant belonging to the same family as 
the potato. It can only be an idea that it will not grow any¬ 
where except in the north, because we have seen it in several 
places in your county growing and seeding freely. It is, in 
fact, likely to be a native of England rather than Scotland. 
At the same time, we have no doubt it will grow freely, during 
the summer time at least, in any part of Great Britain ; and in 
the south it may live through the winter in the open air and 
flower during the summer. You can sow it in pots or pans at 
the same time as you sow Stocks and Asters. Treat it much in 
the same way, and it will come into bloom earlier than if sown 
out of doors. 
Plants for Naturalising in Woods (W. T. S.). 
You can use bulbs very suitably for planting in woods, 
beginning with such as Snowdrops, Squills, and Daffodils, which 
wiiJ continue the display up to the end of May. At the same 
time you may wish for other subjects. The Doronicums are 
very suitable subjects for naturalising under the shade of 
deciduous trees, provided the shade is not to be very dense after 
the trees come out into full leaf. D. Pardalianches is very suit¬ 
able for this purpose, and flowers. remarkably well after it has 
once become established. The common Arum miaculatum, 
Solomon’s Seal, Lily of the Yalley, Periwinkle, especially the 
smaller one, Yinca minor, all do very well under slight shade 
of trees. Some of the shrubby Spiraeas run wild after they 
have become fairly established. S. salicifolia is very suitable 
for such a purpose. The Mahonia and Butcher’s Broom are 
also good plants for such a purpose. 
Names of Plants. 
(T. B.) 1, Begonia manicata ; 2, Begonia metallica; 3, Begonia 
fuchsioides ; 4, Oestrum elegans ; 5, Eriostemon cuspidatuni.— 
(E. F.) 1, Oncidium vai’ioosum Rogersii ; 2, Dendrobium 
wardianum ; 3, Lselia anceps sanderiana; 4, Oncidium pne- 
textum ; 5, Cypripedium Godefroyae ; 6, Cypripedium leeanum. 
—(W. A. P.) 1, Acacia dealbata ; 2, Dsed'alacanthus nervosus ; 
3, Euphorbia fulgens ; 4, Eupatorium riparium ; 5, Selaginella 
kraussiana variegata ; 6 , Ophiopogon .J a bur an variegatus.— 
(P. D.) 1, Jasminum nudiflorum ; 2, Chimonanthus fragrans 
grandiflorus ; 3, Arbutus Unedo ; 4, Pernettya mucronata.; 5, 
Genius Mas; 6 , Erica carnea,—(Guo.) 1, Nephrolepis Duffii ; 
2, NepliroHum deeompositum glaibellum; 3, Nephrodium 
cristatum. 
Communications Received. 
B. R. Cant and Sons.—Nil De'sperandum.—Paul and Son.- 
H. E. Edwards.-—William Paul and Son.—J. C.—Morgan and 
Co.—W. Watson.—F. J. C.—J. Gregory.—H. F., Edin.— J. C. 
Peebles.—J. Moir.—Kelway and Son.—H. Fraser.—P. W. 
Tulloch.—F. J. C.—W. B. Gingell.—A. J. Ashmore.—J. 
Rogers.—A. P. 
Trade Catalogues Received. 
Vilmorin Andriettx and Cie, 4, Quai de la Megisserie, Paris.— 
General Catalogue. 
Frank Dicks and Co., 68, Dean®ate, Manchester.—Catalogue 
of Select and Reliable Vegetable and Flower Seeds, Gladioli* 
Liliums, etc. 
