April 25, 1S03. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
373 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
The Editor invites enquiries for reply in this column. These 
iquiries may cover any branch of gardening. Qw stions should be 
>.it as briefly as possible, and written on one side of the paper only ; 
separate sheet oj paper should be used for each question. 
Readers are also invited to give their fellow gardeners the benefit 
their experience by sending supplementary replies. 
Replies cannot be sent by post, even if a stamped , addressed 
velope is enclosed , and the return of specimens cannot be undertaken. 
nonymous communications are treated in the usual editorial manner . 
Address letters: The Editor, “The Gardening World,” 37 and 
8, Shoe Lane, London, E.C. 
ichaelmas Daisies from Seed. (D. N, F.) 
If seeds of the above plant were sown in March, they would 
>wer during the first year, though you could hardly exjiect them 
i be so fully developed as to actually slinw their ultimate 
lality. It would be necessary to retain the best of them for 
ial during the second year. If the seeds come up plentifully 
>u will no doubt be troubled for want of space for the accom¬ 
odation of large plants. During the first year, however, you 
n discard all the small flowered forms and the poor colours, 
serving only the very best, Michaelmas Daisies or perennial 
siers are now so numerous, and the colours so well filled in, 
at only tire very best of each kind should be reserved after they 
ive once flowered to show what they are likely to be. We would 
arn you, therefore, to remember that certain species of Asters 
ive small flowers normally, and it would be necessary to have 
>me understanding of the species which you intend to raise, 
iherwise you would be likely to throw away what might be a 
od variety, justas readily as a bad one on account of the small 
ze of the flowers. 
ist^Way to Raise Smilax. (G. Heath.) 
There is a genus Smilax, but we presume that you refer to the 
ant popularly known as Smilax, and which is grown so largely 
r decorative purposes, especially in the cut state. The proper 
«ine of this plant is Asparagus medeoloides. You are some- 
rat late now to get ihe beat results from seed the first season, 
you had sown the seeds early in March and planted out the 
edtings in a properly prepared bed, when the plants were of 
itable size, .they would have attained sufficient dimensions 
u'ing the season to be suitable for cutting for decorative pur¬ 
ses. If you had made preparations, by sowing at the time in- 
waited ihe plants would have V.een lit. for transferring to their 
rmaneat quarters in July or August. The best plan is to pre- 
re a boi'd vr in a well lighted position,, or to make up a bed of 
il on a bench where similarly suitable conditions can be 
orderl the plants as to light. Shading would often be beneficial 
order to maintain the bright green colour of the foliage, but 
ten the light is not too powerful, this plant cannot be too much 
posed to diffuse light at least. Although it grows in a fairly 
■v temperature, good progress would be made in a temperature 
60 degrees. 
Spraying for Codim Moth. (P. G, WilsoB.) 
Even if your neighbours do not spray their trees, it will be 
decidedly to your advantage to spray your own. It is quite 
true that your neighbours neglecting to spray their orchards 
or trees allow the pest to multiply and spread in your vicinity, 
thus causing, therefore, infestation from time to time. In 
jour case, however, the results of spraying will be immediate, 
inasmuch as all those fruits which get caught with the poison 
will save those fruits from destruction ; that is, provided__you 
repeat the^ application of the insecticide at a sufficiently short 
interval afterwards. The interval between the time of spray¬ 
ing would depend upon the character of the weather, whether 
showery or otherwise. For Apples you might use Paris green 
at, the rate of 150 gallons of water for lib. of the insecticide. 
The first spraying should be accomplished as soon as the 
blossoms fall and while the fruits are still upright, because then 
the spray will fall in the eye of the fruit, which is the place 
where the insects or young caterpillars usually enter the fruit. 
The spray might be repeated 10 days later, or even earlier in 
the event of heavy ram. 
Cherries to Fruit in June. (A. C.) 
There are several varieties which come in early when grown 
against walls, and you would do well to give Early Rivers, 
May Duke, Early Black, Bigarreau, and others of that class a 
trial. The actual time at which they will ripen would, of 
course, depend upon the character of the season. In some 
seasons they might ripen before the required time, and in other 
cases they might be somewhat late. To provide for eventualities 
it would be well to have a few of these trees on walls with dif¬ 
ferent aspects, so as to provide for ia succession. 
Names of Plants. 
, (D- Gb) 1, Pulmonaria angustifolia ; 2, Lathvrus vernus ; 3, 
Sisyrinchium grandiflorum ; 4, Arabis albida flore pleno ; 5. 
Leucojum aestivum ; 6, Vinca minor alba.— (H. H. D.) 1, Den 
drobium Pierardi; 2, Dendrobium wardianum; 3, Cattleya 
Schroderae ; 4, Dendrobium devonianoim ; 5, Cypripedium cal¬ 
losum. (E. F.) 1, Cal listen on salignus (better known as Metro- 
sideros floribunda) ; 2, Hardeubergiiia monophylla; 3, Acacia 
riceana ; 4, Acacia armata ; 5, Eupatoriuin ianthinum ; 6. 
Primula vertici 1 lata. —(M. M. R.) 1, Pteiiis longifolia ; 2, Pteris 
straminea ; 3, Todea barbara ; 4, Nephrolepis Duffii; 5, Doodia 
aspera ; 6, Polystichum angulare proliferum.—(A. C.) 1, Primula 
rosea ; 2, Saxifraga muscaides Rhei ; 3, Ornithogalum nutans ; 
4, Doronicum oauoasicum; 5, Anemone apemnna.—(T. B.) 1, 
Berberis stenophylla ; 2, Spiraea prunifolia ; 3, Ribes saimui- 
neum ; 4. Cupressus mitkatensis ; 5, Thuya dolobrata variegata. 
Communications Received. 
^ ’ ^trill.—Curry and Oo.—Walter Smyth.—Edith Brailey.- 
C. Blair. H. E. Edwards.—Charles Jones.—Henry Trueman 
Wood.—F. Kintan.—Willard N. Clute.—Miss Sievekin<n— 
George Hall.—A. Wray.—W. B.—R. B. W.—D. R G—F West 
—E. M. R.—A. G. T.—W. W. D.—B. R. K.—E. S.—R, M.— 
G. D. 
ring or Autumn Sown Onions, (H. Marsland.) 
Seeds sown in August or September, and grown through the 
liter in the open ground, are usually termed winter Onions, 
ose sewn m January or February in heiat, and ultimately 
Iinted in the open, are generally accepted as spring-sown 
.wus. They would certainly handicap those who sow their 
ions in March in the open ground, and expect to raise Onions 
' exhibition purposes. Although not possessed of a greenhouse 
forcing pit, you might manage to hasten tlhe germination and 
ly growth by means of a bed of fermenting manure, covered 
bh a frame. 
rawberries Planted in Spring. (L. May.) 
it would not be advisable to allow the plants to fruit this 
-son, seeing that they were not planted until March. If the 
1 st has been as severe with you as it has in many other places, 
is mote than likely that much of the blossom is already 
’troyed, and therefore unlikely to produce fruit. Straw- 
nes planted in spring are usually not worth the labour and 
u e necessary to keep the plants watered and the ground 
''erea with straw, to say nothing of the; netting of the beds 
o‘ aVe - 11 1 t m "° m being eaten by birds. Your best plan, there- 
m+r+i! i t0 remove a H the flowers at present, and give the 
n a e a< 'antage of a season’s growth, and they will give 
a much better crop next year. 
Trade Catalogues Received. 
H. Cannell and Sons, Swan ley, Kent.—Floral Guide of Plants 
for 1903. 
Amos Perry, Hardy Plant Farm, Winchmore Hill, London 
N.—Perry’s Catalogue of Water Plants. 
James V eitch and Sons, Ltd. , Royal Exotic Nurserv Chelsea 
S.W.—Novelties. 
Thomas S. Ware (1902), Ltd. , Ware’s Nurseries, Feltham 
Middlesex.—Price List of Bedding Plants, Dahlias, Begonias’ 
Gannas. 
Thought he was in his Father’s Garden.— Lisbon, where the 
King is on a visit, has a public garden in which a police notice 
is displayed offering a reward of something like a sovereign 
foi information that, nmy load to the conviction of anyone plncic- 
ing flowers. Lately one impecunious student accused a hard- 
up comrade of the offence. Before the judge the miscreant 
pleaded absent-mindedness. He was engrossed in a Greek 
classic, he said, and he thought he was in his father’s garden 
the excuse was accented, and he was dismissed. The “ in¬ 
former ’’ drew the reward, and honestly shared it with his 
flower-plucking friend. The whole business had been pre 
arranged, . * 
