862 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 17, 1903. 
same time use cement freely, so -as to make the joints between 
the stones or bricks perfectly watertight. After clearing out all 
the dead and soft wood) in the holes of the trees, and having 
built up the hole in this way, cover the whole with a good layer 
of cement, so as to thoroughly exclude the rain. The cement 
might then be painted over with something similar in colour 
to that of the bark of the tree, so as to render the repairs 
as unobtrusive as possible to the eye. 
Black Currants. (Disappointed.) 
There is no exact limit of age as to how long the Black 
Currant will continue to bear, profitably, as so much depends 
upon the character of the soil and the treatment which the 
bushes have had. From your description we can plainly see 
that your bushes are very badly infested with the Currant 
bud gall mite (Phytoptus Ribis), a small mite which gets into 
the bud, multiplies in great numbers, and causes the buds to 
swell up to an unnatural size. You might have found a grub 
in the buds, but we scarcely think that this was in sufficient 
numbers to do the damage you mention. Your gardener is 
quite correct in saying, on the score of age and combined with 
the difficulty of getting rid of the pest, the bushes ought to be 
grubbed up. No satisfactory remedy lias yet been found for 
destroying the bud mite without at the same time injuring the 
bushes. When there are only a few swollen buds you can pick 
them off about mid-winter, or as soon as you can determine that 
they are above the natural size for healthy flower-buds. These, 
of course, should be burnt at once to destroy the mites in them. 
If the bushes were a little worse, it might be possible to clear 
them by cutting off the worst of the branches and picking off 
the swollen buds on the remainder. As you state, however, 
your bushes are evidently past remedy. We may here state that 
some people have succeeded in renewing them for a year or two 
by cutting them down to the roots and allowing them to grow 
up again. This would cause the loss of a season’s fruit, how¬ 
ever. In the circumstances under which you are placed, with¬ 
out any secure tenure, it would be scarcely advisable to plant 
Apples. If you desire fruit, we should name Strawberries as 
the most likely to succeed, and give a quick return in the 
ground you mention. There are many useful vegetables which 
you might grow upon such ground if you care to, and they are 
so well known that it is scarcely necessary for us to name them. 
Information Wanted. (Rex.) 
There are many sources from, which you may get the informa¬ 
tion you desire, but we think you will get it most readily 
from the “ Botany of Mexico and Central America,” by W. B. 
Hemsley, in five volumes, published in 1880 to 1888, at London. 
You could also get information in another work termed 
“ Diagnosis Plantarum Novarum vel minus cognitarum Mexi- 
canarum et Centralis Americanae,” published in 1879. This 
work is by the same author. You will also find something of 
interest to you, perhaps, in the “ Orchirlaceae of Mexico and 
Guatemala,” by J. Bateman. This work was published in 
1843, and has foi’ty coloured plates. 
Best Time to Plant Clematis. (Omega.) 
We should say that the best time to plant the various forms 
of hybrid and improved varieties of garden Clematis would be 
some time in spring, say in March, just before they commence 
to grow. The exact time would depend upon the nature of 
the weather and the state of the ground. Select a time when 
the weather is getting sufficiently warm and the ground is 
reasonably dry. 
Apple-tree Planting. (T. A. B.) 
The reason why autumn is the best time is because the leaves 
and stems of the trees are now well furnished with reserve 
matter, and this is being rapidly conveyed downwards for the 
extension of the root system. The trees naturally make good 
growth at the root during early autumn, as the warmth of 
the ground and the abundance of moisture in the soil favour 
the growth of the root system. In the summer time the root 
growth is often restricted owing to the relative dryness of the 
soil. The trees when planted before) the middle of November 
have therefore time to become partly re-established before 
winter. 
Hydrangeas in a Cold Frame. (T. W.) 
You should be able to winter them in a cold frame, provided 
the same is protected with mats or bracken during very severe 
weather. They must be kept as dry as possible by being per¬ 
fectly water-tight and by frequent ventilation, so as to dispel 
damp air. If the frame is in a very damp and stagnant condi¬ 
tion the buds are liable to get killed, especially after frost, but 
if kept perfectly dry there would be less danger. The reason 
why your plants did not bloom well last year was probably 
because the buds were destroyed in this way, or you cut down 
the plants too severely. The flower buds on the common 
Hydrangea are developed during the summer and autumn, so 
that Hydrangeas should never be severely cut down unless you 
want to renew the bushes. The best way is to merely lightly 
trim the plants into shape, leaving all those buds that are well 
plumped up in the autumn, as they are most likely to give you 
flowers during next summer. 
Hyacinths in Glasses. (R. Jenkins.) 
Your best plan would be to select the best bulbs ; that is, 
those that are very plump and firm. Place these in moist sand 
till the roots are about half an inch in length, and then trans¬ 
plant the bulbs to the ornamental glasses. The young roots 
should just dip into the water, but the latter must not be 
allowed to come in contact with the base of the bulbs, otherwise it 
may cause them to decay. 
Names of Plants. 
(W. Cartwright) 1 , Athyrium Filix-foemina Craigii; 2, Cyr- 
tomium caryotideum.— (J. Willard) The plant" used for 
floral decoration is Smilax aspera mauritanica.—(G. R.) ], Rho¬ 
dodendron dauricum ; 2 , Erica ciliaris; 3 , Gaultheria pro¬ 
cumbent ; 4, Arbutus Unedo.—(W. Armitage) 1 , Helianthus 
decapetalus ; 2 , Aster Novi-Belgii; 3, Aster diffusus horizon- 
talis; 4, Chrysanthemum uliginosum ; 5, Aster Novae-Angliae 
luber ; 6 , Impatiens, Roylei.—(V . IX) 1 , Adiantum Capillus- 
Veneris var. ; 2 , Adiantum fomnosum ; 3, Lastrea aristata; 4, 
Lastrea decomposita glabella ; 5, Polypodium Lingua.—(Alex. 
Wood) 1,Oestrum aurantiacum.; 2 , Senecio Petasites ; 3 , Fuchsia 
thymifolia; 4, Coleonema album; 5, Boronia heterophylla; 6 , 
Calathea zabrina.—(T. B.) 1 , Veronica Arudersoni variegata; 2, 
Salvia azurea grandliflora; 3, iSempervivum calcareum; 4 , 
Oxalis corniculata rubra; 4, Oxalis floribunda; 5, Lonicera 
japonica aureo-reticulata.—(T. James) 1, Chrysanthemum Bal- 
siamita; 2, Colohicum autumnale album ; 3, Crocus speciosus. 
—(T. H.) 1, Aster Novi-Belgii; 2, Aster Novi-Belgii densus ; 3, 
Aster cordifolius ; 4, Olearia stellulata ; 5, Cassinia fulvida ; 6 , 
Aster Novae-Angliae pulchellus ; 7, Melissa officinalis a.ureo- 
variegata ; 8 , Pompon: Chrysanthemum, not recognised ; 9 , 
Aster Novae-Angliae ruber.—(Cor.) Anthemis tinctoria.— 
(Philomachus) 1, Polytrichum commune ; 2 , Aster Amellus ; 3, 
Echinops Ritro (a pale flowered var.) ; 4, Aster Novi-Belgii var. 
Name of Fruit 
(H. G. A. K.) The Apple is not recognised as any named 
variety, and seems to be a seedling, apparently a cross between 
Blenheim Orange Pippin and Reinette du Canada. 
Communications Received. 
W. B. Beckett.- W. Collins.—Kewite.—A. H. P.—C. F. Ball. 
—O. Thomas.— P. W. Voet.—M. H.—J. B.—C. E. W.— R. B. 
—H. D.—A. S.—E. M. R.—G. IX—Robson.—T. D. H.—W. W, 
—A. M.—G. Wilkinson.—E. F.—E. and B. May. 
Trade Catalogues Received. 
Frank Cant and Co., Braiswick Rose Gardens, Colchester. 
—Rose Catalogue. 
Harlan P. Kelsey, Beacon Buildings, Boston, Mass., U.S.A. ' 
Kelsey’s Hardy American Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, 
and other rare Native Plants. 
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE. 
P AOB 
Alpine llora . 871 
Araucaria imbricata . 868 
Beechhill Nursery, Murray - 
fiehl. 873 
Begonia, culture of the 
tuberous .. 869 
Cuscuta reflexa. 868 
Damson, Farleigh Prolific ... 867 
Flowers, autumn . 870 
Fruit, hardy . 864 
Garden, notes on a private .. 864 
Gardening, wall . 869 
Herbaceous border, the . 865 
Houstonia caerulea. 867 
Kew, the best flowering 
plants at... . 875 
Kitchen varden, the. 863 
Lemongrass cultivation . 875 
Maranta insignis. 867 
News of the week. 880 
Orchids, among the. 862 
Park for Aberaman, public . 868 
PA <11 
Park for Glasgow, a new ... 881 - 
Phenological observations... S61 
Plants recently certificated . 866 
Plants, useful conservatory . 869 
Poison Ivy, the. S61 
Questions and answers . 881 
Societies :— 
Liverpool root show. 876 
Royal Horticultural So¬ 
ciety. 877 
Society and association notes 878 
Saxifraga macuabiana. S72 
Stove and greenhouse. 863 
Streptocarpus . 870 
Trees and shrubs, hardy. 862 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
Cuscuta reflexa. 873 
Damson, Farleigh Prolific ... 867 
Houstonia caerulea. 868 
Maranta insignis. 874 
Saxifraga macnabiana (see 
Supplement). 
