April 18, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
351 
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 as possible, and written on one side of the paper only ; 
a separate sheet of paper should oe 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 cannot 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. 
Water Voles Destroying Plants (Western). 
Trapping is the best method of destroying these creatures if it 
can be managed They are wary animals, and if the rat trap, 
for instance, was set by hand, the trap would carry the smell of 
the latter and frighten the voles away. You could adopt strata¬ 
gem, however. First ascertain where the voles land on the bank 
of the pond. Then drive a stake into the pond where it would be 
just two inches under the surface. On the top of this mail a 
small piece of board, and set an ordinary rat trap on the board. 
If this is placed exactly in their landing place, the voles will 
make for the board, and the trap being set on that, and just 
covered with water, it does not carry the smell of the hand, and 
the voles get caught in making their way to land. 
Cowslip or Oxlip (Primula). 
We do not consider that the' garden Polyanthus is properly 
either a Cowslip or Oxlip of the botanist. T!he Polyanthus of the 
gardem if examined carefully will be seen to more closely ap¬ 
proach the common Primrose in general and also in minute 
structure than either of the two others mentioned. We consider 
then that- the garden Polyanthus is nothing more or less than a 
race of Primroses in which the common stalk of the flowers has 
become elongated, thus resembling an Oxlip in that respect. We 
have frequently seen varieties of the garden Primrose with the 
common stalk more or less elongated, and carrying the flowers 
in an umbel. 
Roses for Hedges (Jos. Davidson). 
There are many kinds of Roses that might be utilised for the 
purpose you mention, but the height of the hedge and your own 
fancy . are large factors in determining what Roses you should 
plant. Sweetbrier hedges inlay be made serviceable as well as 
ornamental, and if you want them to flower freely they should 
not be too severely pruned. The Penzance Sweetbriers are 
equally suitable as the common one. Several of the China Roses 
are very suitable for the purpose of making hedges, as they flower 
more or less continuously all through the summer. The common. 
Monthly Rose is nearly always in flower, and is as suitable as 
any of the China Roses for hedge-making. If you require tall 
hedges for screening unsightly objects, it would be advisable to 
plant one or more of the Rambler Roses. The number, of course, 
l would depend on your own fancy, the various kinds being 
planted either continuously or alternately. In order to furnish 
the hedge quickly it would be advisable to plant them two or 
three feet apart, and train each to a tall stake or to wires 
stretched between poles if you like that plan better. A few stems 
vould be sufficient to fill up the gaps anil produce a perfect 
screen before the plants are many years old. 
Jeight of Walls for Shelter (J. Ridley). 
We do not consider that walls alone would be sufficient to 
make a good shelter for a garden. Walls frequently accentuate 
he velocity of a gale, and tlie wind will often blow over the 
|vail and into the garden without being in the least checked 
r broken. For the mere purpose of shelter against wind a 
hedge would be more efficient. You could, however, have the 
hedge and a wall inside of that, if the use of a wall for fruit tree 
j,rowing is necessary. A Beeoh or Hornbeam hedge would pro- 
j uce a considerable amount of shelter ; they are slow growing, 
howqver, and it might be advisable to plant a hedge of Lombardy 
opiars, because they grow rapidly, do not take up much space, 
md serve to break the wind considerably. Provided there is 
ufficient space a belt of trees entirely outside the garden on 
he north, north-east, and other aspects, from which the prevail- 
mg winds blow, may be planted. You could then plant ever- 
1 1 ] een s in the nature of Yews, Cypresses, evergreen Oaks, and 
mus austriaoa, or any other evergreen conifer that will thrive 
: i your district. These can be thickened up by planting Poplars 
t kinds Which will act as nurse trees, and grow rapidly, thus 
uiducmg shelter, hut which may be cut away when the more 
uiable and permanent trees attain size. 
Rabbits and Wire Netting Fence. (J. R. W.) 
The surest plan to adopt with a wire netting fence is to bend 
about a foot of the netting at right angles to the rest. Dig out a 
trench simply by the removal of one sod of turf. Place the wire 
iu position, fastening it up, then replace the turf on the hori¬ 
zontal portion of the netting, burying the same. The rabbits in 
attempting to get through the fence will burrow as usual close 
to the netting, but when they come to the buried portion they 
are unable to get further, being foiled by the portion that is 
hidden, and not conceiving the idea of going further back before 
they commence to burrow. 
Insect Amongst Anemones (A. Whyte). 
The creature you sent us is usually termed the Cardinal, and 
is considered quite harmless, notwithstanding the showy 
character of its coat. We rather suspect the presence of some 
fungus amongst the Anemones, which would account for their 
dying off. Can you detect any fungus upon the leaves ? If not 
something would be the matter with the roots- 
Dressing for Winter Tennis Court (W. H.) 
You had better commence by laying a solid foundation to the 
tennis court ground, taking out the natural soil or other 
material, and putting in six inches of brick-bats or other rubbish 
that will act as drainage. Over tliis place some rough gravel 
about 2in. deep ; this should be rolled down firmly. Place a 
layer of fine gravel on the top of this, and roll again. Then 
some composition should be made that'will form a surface layer 
over the drainage material. The composition of this material is 
usually hne gravel or fine shingle from the sea 'shore, sifted 
finely so as to get rid of the dust. A coarse sieve should also be 
used to remove the larger stones. Now get some coke breeze ; 
the gravel and coke breeze are placed layer upon layer, and burnt 
by way of preparation. Then it is sifted, while still hot, to get 
rid of the fine dust, and separate the material into two sizes, 
coarse and fine. This material is then mixed with 36 gallons of 
coal tar to a yard of material. Spread it over the surface of the 
tennis court, beat it down, and sift over it some material, which 
will give the asphalte the proper colour. It may consist of very 
fine gravel or sand, of any particular colour desired, and which 
can be readily got. The objectionable black colour of the asphalte 
v.ill thus be obscured. 
Bulb from South Africa (A. D.) 
We have your specimens, and will find out the name for you, 
but as it is an uncommon plant, it will require some little re¬ 
search. Please consult succeeding issues of The Gardening 
Would. 
Poison iu Primula sinensis (S. Green). 
We have heard of Primula sinensis causing injury to the 
hands, arms, etc., of people, iar.d if this is really the cause of 
the ailment, the injury would be the result of poison in the 
glandular hairs of the stems and leaves of the plant. It does 
not affect everyone, for many people have worked with it for 
years and never felt any ill effect. It is largely a matter of con¬ 
stitution. Some have given Oondy’s Fluid as a remedy, or an¬ 
tiseptic for the poison. You can see for yourself the glands which 
are supposed to cause the irritation to tender skins. 
Common Slaters Damaging Young Leaves (Young Gardener). 
You will find instructions in recent back numbers of The 
Gardening World, relating to the destruction of Melons and 
other plants by woodilioe. This is the common name for the 
animals which you know as slaters in your part of the country. 
You should pour hot water down the crevices between the walls 
and the soil, stopping up all crevices in the walls themselves 
with cement or mortar. You could also keep a toad in the house, 
which eats largely of these creatures. 
Names of Plants. 
(D. G.) 1, Soilla aanoena; 2, Lunaria annua (Honesty); 3, 
Vinca major; 4, Vinca major variegata; 5, Arabis albfda; 6, 
Aubrietia deltoidea variegata.—(W. D. R.) 1, Pyrus japonioa.; 2, 
Pyrus floribunda ; 3, Spiraea Ttounbergii; 4, Elaeagnus mul¬ 
ti floras ; 5, Ribes sanguineum albidum.—(R. M.) 1, Corydalis 
cava; 2, Primula marginata; 3, Primula farinosa; 4, Primula 
pubescens alba.—(A. J. M.) 1, Cytisus praeoox; 2, .Cytisus 
bifloras; 3, Kerria japonioa flore pleno ; 4, Prunns pseudoce- 
rasus 1 ; 5, Prnnusl lulsitamliensl; 6, Rhododendron molle.— 
(R. J.) 1, Nephrolepis davailioddes furoans ; 2, Asplenium bul- 
biferum minus; 3, Selaginella Mertensii variegata; 4, Selagi- 
nella oircinata emiliana; 5, Nephrodium decomposition gla- 
bellum ; 6, Nephrodium aristatum.—-(T. B.) 1, Dendrobium 
wardianum; 2, Dendrobium Pieraa'di; 3, Dendrobium nobile 
