i 
234  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  March  is.  i90o. 
A  genial  atmosphere;  should  be  secuied  by  damping  the  floors  and 
pit  walls  as  they  become  dry,  but  it  is  not  good  practice  to  syringe  the 
bed  between  the  plants.  Examine  the  plants  once  a  week  and  supply 
tepid  water  containing  a  little  stimulating  substance,  such  as  guano  or 
soot,  when  required. 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
Cooper,  Taber  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  Southwark  Street. — Wholesale  Agricultural 
Seed  Catalogue. 
R.  Dean,  Ealing. — Seeds. 
Ellwanger  &  Barry,  Rochester,  N.Z. — Plants, 
W.  H.  Hudson,  High  Road,  Kilburn. — Seeds. 
W.  Watson  &  Sons,*  Clontarf  Nurseries,  Dublin. — Plants. 
Ail  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be 
directed  to  “The  Editor,”  12,  laitre  Court  Chambers, 
Fleet  Street,  Iiondon,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one 
will  write  privately  to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking 
information  on  matters  discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so 
subjects  them  to  unjustifiable  trouble  and  expense,  and  depart¬ 
mental  writers  are  not  expected  to  answer  any  letters  they 
may  receive  on  Gardening  and  Bee  subjects  through  the  post. 
If  information  be  desired  on  any  particular  subject  from  any 
particular  authority  who  may  be  named,  endeavour  will  be  made 
to  obtain  it  by  the  Editor.  Letters  of  inquiry  must  be  accom¬ 
panied  by  the  names  and  addresses  of  the  writers,  but  these  will 
neither  be  published  nor  disclosed  when  initials  or  noms  de  plume. 
are  given  for  the  purpose  of  replies. 
Correspondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions  relatin, 
to  Gardening  and  those  on  Bee  subjects,  and  it  is  convenient  when 
each  question  is  written  on  a  separate  sheet.  All  articles  intended 
for  insertion  should  be  written  on  one  side  of  the  paper  only  ;  and 
the  name  and  address  of  each  writer  must  be  known  by  the 
Editor,  though  not  necessarily  for  insertion.  We  cannot,  as  a 
rule,  reply  to  questions  through  the  post,  and  we  do  not  under¬ 
take  to  return  communications  which,  for  any  reason,  cannot 
be  inserted. 
Tabernaemontanas  {F.  0.  B.,  Lines.). —  The  thoroughly  practical 
article  by  “  G.  P.”,  on  page  230,  will  no  doubt  give  you  all  the  informa¬ 
tion  you  require  respecting  these  plants.  If,  however,  you  wish  further 
information  on  this  or  any  subject"  and  will  write,  we  shall  be  pleased 
to  assist  you. 
Sowing  Gypsophila  elegans  (Gyp.). — Seed  of  this  hardy  annual’ 
which  has  feathery  white  and  pink  flowers,  may  be  sown  outdoors  about 
the  middle  of  April,  Choose  light  fertile  soil  in  an  open  position, 
working  it  well,  and  make  it  flne  on  the  surface.  Sow  the  seed  on  this 
bed,  and  just  cover  with  a  sprinkling  of  fine  potting  soil.  When  the 
seedlings  attain  to  the  height  of  an  inch  gradually  thin  them  out  to 
6  inches  apart,  and  maintain  the  soil  about  them  clean  and  loose  on  the 
surface. 
Eucharis  Infested  with  Mite  (C.  A.). — The  bulbs  are  infested  with 
mite,  which  accounts  for  the  unsatisfactory  state  of  the  plants.  It  is 
generally  advisable,  when  the  plants  become  infested  with  this  pest,  to 
turn  them  out  and  cleanse  the  bulbs  by  means  of  some  approved 
insecticide,  there  being  few  better  than  hot  water,  as  hot  as  it  can  be 
borne  by  the  hand  for  a  minute  (about  145°),  letting  the  bulbs  remain 
in  at  that  time,  rinsing  or  moving  up  and  down  so  as  to  get  the  water 
into  the  scales  or  outer  coating  of  the  bulbs.  They  can  then  be  potted 
in  soil  which  has  been  scalded  previously,  so  as  to  allow  for  draining 
and  getting  into  good  condition  for  potting.  The  plants  should  have 
bottom  heat  so  as  to  accelerate  root  action,  and  get  them  quickly  re¬ 
established.  This  answers  for  a  time,  but  in  mite  districts  it  seems  to 
get  on  the  plants  again,  when  occasional  applications  of  Clihran’s 
Eucharis  mite  killer  will  keep  it  down,  carefully  following  the  instruc¬ 
tions.  You  may  use  soluble  phenyle,  one  part  to  ninety-six  parts  soft 
water,  or  1  gill  (J  pint)  to  3  gallons  of  water.  Both  may  make  the 
plants  rather  queer  for  a  short  time,  but  they  recover,  the  substances 
then  acting  as  manure. 
Ivy-leaved  Pelargoniums  (If.  S.). — Defective  root  action,  caused^ 
either  by  over-watering,  over-dryness,  or  a  too  great  fall  in  the  tem- ; 
perature  at  some  time,  has  led  to  the  injury  to  the  shoot  enclosed,  j 
Perhaps  the  best  plan  to  adopt  now  would  be  to  let  the  soil  get  nearly# 
dry,  then  cut  back  the  shoots  below  all  the  diseased  parts,  and  after)j 
fresh  growths  push  remove  half  of  the  old  soil  or  more,  and  place  freshj| 
compost  round  the  roots.  A  mixture  of  five  parts  loam,  one  of  driedjij 
manure  crumbled  into  small  particles,  one  of  leaf  mould,  and  one  com¬ 
posed  of  equal  parts  of  wood  ashes  (or  crushed  charcoal)  and  sand,  will|i 
form  a  suitable  compost.  | 
Vine  Leaves  Yellow  Spotted  (G.  G.  B.). — The  leaves  show  no  traces 
of  parasites.  Their  appearance  is  probably  due  to  a  deficiency  of 
chlorophyll  resulting  from  the  recent  dull  and  cold  weather.  This 
almost  precluded  ventilation,  and  in  consequence  there  has  been  a 
slight  defect  of  tissue  formation  and  consequent  thinness  of  foliage, 
which  has  been  acted  upon  somewhat  injuriously  by  a  recurrence  of 
brighter  weather  and  drier  atmosphere.  We  cm  only  advise  very 
careful  ventilation,  commencing  early,  and  so  admitting  it  as  not  to 
induce  sudden  drying,  maintaining,  however,  some  evaporation,  so  as 
to  secure  foliage  of  stouter  texture.  It  would  also  be  advisable  to 
allow  as  much  lateral  extension  as  consistent  with  the  full  exposure  of 
the  foliage  to  light  and  air,  always  avoiding  overcrowding  or  interfering 
with  the  access  of  light  to  the  principal  leaves.  The  fertiliser  youj 
name  ought  to  have  improved  the  colour  of  the  foliage,  and  a  top-i 
dressing  of  the  undermentioned  mixture  will  be  followed  by  beneficial ! 
results  : — Dissolved  bones,  dry  and  crumbling,  3  parts  ;  powdered 
saltpetre,  2  parts;  sulphate  of  magnesia,  1  part,  mixed,  using  3  or 
4  ozs.  per  square  yard.  A  light  mulching  of  sweetened  horse  droppings 
would  also  increase  the  root  action,  and  likewise  the  foliage,  improving 
its  colour  by  the  ammonia.  This,  however,  must  not  be  excessive,  or  it 
will  injure  the  foliage  and  tender  growths. 
Plants  for  Beds  (Ladysmith).  —  The  plan  is  a  very  difficult  one 
for  effective  bedding,  a  bed  with  a  design  inside  being  far  superior 
to  a  chopped  arrangement.  Summer  bedding  ; — No.  5,  6,  9,  10, 
Arundo  Donax  variegata,  one  plant  each  centre  ;  Fuchsia  Coral 
Bedder  (Lyes’),  2  feet  apart  ;  Viola  Snowflake,  white,  or  Viola 
A.  J.  Rowberry,  yellow,  as  may  be  preferred  for  a  groundwork. 
No.  2,  3,  13,  15,  Chlorophytum  (A.nthericum)  elatum  variegatum, 
dotted  2  feet  apart;  Ageratum  Swanley  Blue  or  Lobelia  Emperor 
William,  groundwork.  No.  1,  7,-12,  Koniga  maritima  for  white  ground, 
work,  dotted  with  Begonia  semperflorens  Zulu.  No.  4,  8,  11,  14, 
Heliotropium  Mies  Nightingale,  blue,  dotted  with  Veronica  Andersoni. 
No.  16,  18,  Pelargonium  Ivyleaf  Madame  Crousse,  pink,  dotted  with 
Centurea  candidissima.  No.  17,  Begonias  tuberous,  orange  or  bronze. 
No.  19,  Roses  in  variety.  No.  20,  Carnations,  Picotees,  and  Pinks. 
No.  21,  Liliums,  Irises,  Pseonies,  Phloxes,  Delphiniums.  No.  22, 
Tritonia  (Montbretia),  Tigridia,  Gladiolus,  and  Calochortns  vars. 
Spring  bedding  : — No.  5,  6,  9,  10,  Wallflower  Belvoir  Castle,  yellow; 
Tulip  Vermilion  Brilliant.  No.  2,  3,  13,  15,  Wallfl.ower  Ruby  Gem, 
Tulip  Ophir  d’Or,  yellow.  '  No.  4,  8,  11,  14,  Wallflower  Blood-red, 
Tulip  Keisers  Kroon,  yellow  and  scarlet.  No.  16,  18,  Myosotis  dissiti- 
flora,  blue;  Tulip  La  Candeur,  white.  No.  1,  7,  12,  Beilis  Snowflake, 
double  white;  Beilis  Rob  Roy,  double  red.  No.  17,  Tulip  Roi  Pepin, 
rosy  carmine  striped  white.  No.  19,  Narcissus  in  variety.  Hyacinths 
in  variety,  Violas,  Stocks  East  Lothian  or  Brompton.  No.  20,  Scilla 
sibirica  and  var.  alba,  S.  bifolia  and  var.  alba,  Muscari  botryoides  and 
var.  alba,  Chionodoxa  Lacilise  and  var.  alba,  0.  Tmolnsi,  blue;  Crocus 
in  variety.  No.  21,  Hepatica  in  variety,  Fritillaria  in  variety.  Prim¬ 
roses  and  Polyanthus  in  variety.  No.  22,  Galanthus,  Eranthis, 
Auricula,  Alpine  vars.  Ranunculus,  Turban  in  variety. 
Names  of  Fruits. — Notice. — We  have  pleasure  in  naming  good 
typical  fruits  (when  the  names  are  discoverable)  for  the  convenience 
of  regular  subscribers,  who  are  the  growers  of  such  fruit,  and  not 
collectors  of  specimens  from  non-subscribers.  This  latter  procedure 
is  wholly  irregular,  and  we  trust  that  none  of  our  readers  will  allow  | 
themselves  to  be  made  the  mediums  in  infringing  our  rules.  Special ; 
attention  is  directed  to  the  following  decision,  the  object  of  which  is 
to  discourage  the  growth  of  inferior  and  promote  the  culture  of 
superior  varieties.  In  consequence  of  the  large  number  of  worthless 
Apples  and  Pears  sent  to  this  office  to  be  named,  it  has  been  decided  to 
name  only  specimens  and  varieties  of  approved  merit,  and  to  reject  the  \ 
inferior,  which  are  not  worth  sending  or  growing.  The  names  and 
addresses  of  senders  of  fruits  or  flowers  to  be  named  must  in  all  oases 
be  enclosed  with  the  specimens,  whether  letters  referring  to  the  fruit 
are  sent  by  post  or  not.  The  names  are  not  necessarily  required  for 
publication,  initials  sufficing  for  that.  Only  six  specimens  can  be 
named  at  once,  and  any  beyond  that  number  cannot  be  preserved. 
They  should  be  sent  on  the  first  indication  of  change  towards  ripening. 
Dessert  Pears  cannot  be  named  in  a  hard  green  state.  The  practice  of 
pinning  numbers  to  the  eyes  of  the  fruits  tends  to  destroy  one  of  the 
most  characteristic  features  and  increases  the  difficulty  of  identification. 
When  Plums  are  sent  to  Re  named  young  wood  of  the  trees  should 
accompany  tuem.  Leaves  of  the  trees  are  necessary  with  Peaches  and 
Nectarines,  with  information  as  to  whether  the  flowers  are  large  or  small. 
(J.  L.  IV.).— Schoolmaster.  (T.  P.).—l,  Court  of  Wick;  2,  Cox’s 
Orange  Pippin;  3,  Blenheim  Pippin;  4,  Bramley’s  Seedling;  5, 
Wellington;  6,  unknown  and  worthless.  (A.  S.). — 1,  Lord  Derby;! 
Beauty  of  Stoke  ;  3,  Tower. of  Glamis  ;  4,  Nouvelle  Fulvie ;  5,  Josephine 
de  Malines ;  6,  Bei’gamotte  Bsperen. 
