June  21,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
CARDEN.  CJlEANINCS 
Tomato  Culture. —  Frequently  Tomato  plants  are  severely  thinned 
■of  leaves  and  branches,  in  order,  it  is  said,  to  let  in  the  sun  to  ripen  the 
fruit.  But  ripening,  says  Mr.  Meehan,  is  an  important  process.  Good 
healthy  leaves  and  foliage  are  essential  to  this,  and  the  fruit  will  ripen 
better  under  the  shade  of  such  foliage  than  when  exposed  to  the  sun 
without  the  leaves.  Wheie  the  branches  are  so  numerous  it  is  of 
advantage  to  thin  out  weaker  ones  to  give  more  strength  to  the  rest. 
Varying  Colours  on  Xaburnums.  —  I  was  asked  recently  to 
account  for  the  different  coloured  bunches  of  “  Golden  Chain”  blooms 
on  the  trees  varying,  as  they  do,  from  a  beautiful  bright  yellow 
through  shades  to  a  lilac  colour,  even  on  the  same  boughs.  On 
examination  with  my  magnifying  glass  1  proved  to  my  own  satisfac¬ 
tion  that  it  is  caused  by  insects  or  mites,  which  restrict  the  sap  and 
growth.  It,  however,  seems  very  singular  that  they  should  change 
the  colours  to  such  an  extent. — J.  Hiam. 
Faeonla  lutea. — To  the  many  gorgeous  flowered  plants  included 
in  the  “  tree  section  ”  of  the  genus  Pmonia  has  now  to  be  added  a  plant 
having  beautiful  golden  yellow  flowers,  which  is  now  flowering  at  Kew 
for  the  first  time,  from  a  small  piece  received  two  years  ago  from  the 
Par.s  Botanic  Garden.  In  habit  it  closely  resembles  P.  Moutan,  but 
appears  more  slender  in  growth.  What  the  size  of  the  fl  )wers  will  be 
as  the  plant  gets  larger  and  stronger  is  doubtful.  At  present  the 
only  flower  open  is  3  Inches  across,  with  ten  petals  of  good  substance. 
The  petals  and  stamens  are  of  the  same  golden  colour,  but  at  the  base 
of  the  stamens  a  reddish  brown  mark  is  to  be  seen.  This  species 
resembling  P.  Moutan  so  closely  ought  to  be  valuable  to  the  hybridist ; 
if  the  colour  of  this  could  be  got  into  the  larger  flowers  of  the  other  a 
very  handsome  plant  would  be  the  result.  Like  many  other  novelties 
of  recent  years  it  is  a  native  of  Yunnan. — W.  D. 
Preventing  the  Onion  Maggot. — Professor  J.  B.  Smith,  of 
New  Jersey,  U.S.A.,  gives  two  methods  of  treating  Onion  beds  to  keep 
away  or  kill  the  Onion  maggot.  For  small  patches  in  the  garden  he 
would  take  fine  sand  and  moisten  it  with  kerosene,  and  sow  it  along 
both  sides  of  the  row,  near  but  not  touching  the  plants.  This  not  only 
drives  away  the  fly  which  lays  the  egg,  but  kills  many  of  the  maggots, 
as  they  leave  one  plant  to  go  to  another,  as  they  will  when  the  first  is 
dead.  The  flv  looks  like  a  small  house  fly.  A  cupful  of  kerosene  to  a 
pailful  of  sand  is  enough.  For  larger  fields,  says  the  “  American  Culti¬ 
vator,”  he  would  make  a  furrow  alongside  of  the  rows,  turning  the  soil 
away  from  the  plants,  using  a  hoe  or  hand  plough  for  that  purpose, 
then  sow  broadcast  about  fiOO  lbs.  of  kainit  and  200  lbs.  of  nitrate  of 
soda  to  the  acre,  after  which  level  the  ground  again.  The  first  rain 
will  carry  the  fertiliser  to  the  plants,  killing  many  of  the  maggots,  and 
increasing  the  crop. 
’Midst  Fields  and  Hedges. — It  is  to  be  hoped  that  every  one 
of  my  readers  wilt  be  able  to  gratify  the  roaming  instinct  which 
makes  most  of  us  pine  for  “  fresh  fields  and  pastures  new  ”  in  leafy 
June.  Lovely  Sussex  should  not  be  overlooked  during  the  wanderings 
to  alt  lovers  of  soft,  undulating,  downs,  sleepy,  unheard  of  villages, 
winding  streams,  and  meadows  richly  jewelled  with  sweet  Flora’s 
choicest  gifts.  Every  hedge  is  crowned  with  fragrant  Hawthorn, 
beneath  which  nestles  the  creamy  “Milkmaid’s”  starry  blooms,  pink 
“  Ragged  Robin,”  nodding  Bluebells,  wild  Hyacinth,  and  azure-eyed 
“  Speedwell.”  Fern,  Milkwort,  and  waving  Grasses  are  in  profusion. 
Along  the  banks  of  the  winding  Ouse,  the  Arun,  and  the  Adur  are 
meadows  deep  and  sweet-smelling,  while  small  boats  and  punts  float 
sleepily  along  the  swift  streams.  Here  and  there  the  square  wooden 
tower  of  an  old-world  Sussex  church  rises  picturesquely  against  the 
velvety  softness  of  a  green-clad  hill.  To  all  this  may  be  added,  says  a 
writer  in  “  Reynolds’,”  the  pure  wholesome  air,  the  blue  smoke  of  wood 
fires  rising  from  the  thatched  roof  of  an  oak  and  plaster  built  cottage, 
the  hum  of  bees,  the  song  of  the  lark  and  wildly  whistling  thrush, 
swallows,  white  breasted  and  blue  winged,  dart  over  the  water  from  over¬ 
hanging  trees.  Everywhere  is  peace  and  health,  and  the  joy  of  life, 
which  comes  at  times  to  even  the  saddest,  weariest,  loneliest  among  us. 
Do  not  forget  that  “  God  made  the  country  and  man  made  the  town.” 
Seek  in  Nature’s  own  heart  your  pleasures,  your  rest,  and  recreation. 
Pine  Apples  from  Jamaica. — Highly  satisfactory  prices  were 
obtained  at  the  sale  in  Covent  Garden  Market  on  Friday  of  the  first 
direct  shipment  of  Pine  Apples  from  Jamaica.  The  fruits  sold  for  from 
Is.  6d.  to  2s.  6d.  each.  Some  of  the  St.  Michael  Pines  were  larger,  and 
consequently  made  more  money.  As  the  latter  often  makes  from  Ss.  to 
8s.  each,  the  new  industry  is  likely  to  prove  of  great  benefit  to  the 
colony. 
Practical  Forestry.  —  One  of  the  arguments  against  forest 
planting  is,  that  one  has  to  wait  so  long  for  returns.  “  Meehan’s 
Monthly  ”  has,  however,  always  contended  that  companies  could  be 
formed  and  land  planted,  the  stock  of  which  company  would  be 
of  increased  market  value  from  year  to  year  as  the  trees  reached  a 
commercial  age.  The  value  of  a  plantation  of  this  kind  has  been  well 
shown  by  the  sale  of  a  ranch  in  California.  Part  of  the  property  was 
unplanted  ;  this  brought  50  dols.  an  acre.  Sixteen  acres  were  in  Alfalfa, 
the  Lucerne  of  other  regions  ;  this  brought  200  dols.  an  acre.  A  plot  of 
110  acres  in  hardshell  Walnuts  sold  for  350  dols.  an  acre,  and  80^  acres 
of  softshell  Walnuts  for  400  dols.  an  acre.  There  is  little  doubt  that 
forest  planting,  intelligently  pursued,  could  be  made  profitable,  forest 
fires  being  the  only  uncertain  element  in  the  operation. 
Injury  from  Red  Spider.— The  red  spider  flourishes  nearly  as 
well  in  the  open  air  in  many  parts  of  America  as  it  does  in  greenhouses. 
It  is  an  especial  lover  of  the  Spruce  family.  The  past  season  they 
were  so  abundant  in  many  parts,  that  when  noticed  the  trees  had  the 
appearance  of  having  been  scorched  by  fire.  This  insect  can,  says  a 
transatlantic  journal,  be  very  easily  kept  in  check  by  spraying  with 
kerosene  emulsion,  and  if  they  can  be  kept  clear  from  young  trees, 
they  are  seldom  troublesome  to  larger  ones.  When  suffered  to  remain 
undisturbed  from  year  to  year  they  increase  rapidly,  and  this  seems  to 
be  the  trouble  now.  The  fact  is,  that  spraying  with  kerosene  emulsion 
has  got  to  be  a  part  of  garden  work,  to  be  as  regularly  attended  to  as 
hoeing  or  pruning.  Every  garden  should  have  its  emulsion  sprayer, 
and  the  trees  should  be  carefully  watched  for  the  appearance  of  insects 
just  as  the  regular  garden  crop  is  watched  for  the  appearance  of  weeds. 
It  is  very  little  trouble  to  spray  hundreds  of  trees  in  a  short  time  with 
a  good  sprayer  ;  and,  generally  speaking,  when  the  insect  is  kept  down 
in  the  younger  trees  it  is  not  troublesome  afterwards. 
Hldalgoa  Wercklel. — Under  the  name  of  Childsia  Wercklei,  this 
new  species  of  Hidalgoa  was  distributed  by  an  American  firm  in  1899. 
A  popular  description,  and  one  that  will  convey  the  best  idea  of  the 
plant,  is  to  say  that  it  is  a  climbing  Dahlia.  It  is  a  native  of 
Costa  Rica,  and  makes  a  mass  of  long,  slender,  succulent  branches, 
which  are  aided  in  attaining  a  height  of  at  least  15  feet  by  means  of  the 
twisted  leafstalks.  The  leaves  are  numerous,  2  to  3  inches  long,  and 
finely  divided.  The  heads  of  flowers  are  similar  to  those  of  a  single 
Dahlia,  2|  inches  across.  The  ray  florets  are  scarlet  on  the  inside, 
orange  scarlet  on  the  reverse,  the  centre  being  composed  of  a  tuft  of 
bright  yellow  florets.  It  succeeds  well  in  a  cool  airy  greenhouse,  grown 
on  a  pillar,  rafter,  or  balloon,  and  is  at  home  in  a  compost  consisting  of 
two  parts  loam,  one  part  leaf  mould,  and  one  part  decayed  manure, 
with  a  little  sand.  Cuttings  root  readily  if  placed  in  a  little  bottom 
heat,  and  large  plants  can  be  had  in  a  few  months.  As  it  is  easily 
propagated  and  easily  managed,  being  at  the  same  time  a  brilliant 
coloured  and  free  flowering  plant,  it  ought  to  become  popular  as  it 
gets  better  known. — R.  G.  K. 
Hawthorn  Enemies. — There  are  some  curious  facts  to  be  noted 
with  respect  to  the  insect  devastators  of  the  Hawthorn,  of  whom  there 
are  at  least  two  dozen  species  belonging  to  the  lepidoptera  alone.  The 
caterpillars  of  the  black  veined  white  butterfly  and  of  the  little  ermine 
moth  do  great  havoc  on  the  foliage,  but,  perhaps,  the  most  remark¬ 
able  of  the  larvae  which  feed  upon  the  leaves  of  the  Hawthorn  is 
that  of  the  brimstone  moth,  which  is  often  present,  though  seldom 
seen.  Nothing  more  perfect  than  its  knack  of  concealment  is  to  be 
found  among  the  many  devices  of  the  insect  world.  This  cunning 
caterpillar  simulates  a  twig  of  Hawthorn,  bent  into  a  curve  like  that 
of  a  twig,  wearing  a  humpy  excrescence  resembling  the  projection  of 
a  twig,  assimilating  itself  in  colour,  greenish  or  brownish,  as  may 
happen  to  be  the  hue  of  the  twigs  among  which  it  places  itself, 
erecting  itself  like  a  twig  with  the  help  of  a  cord  so  fine  as  to  be 
almost  undiscernible.  Sometimes  a  shock  is  given  to  sensitive  nerves 
by  the  discovery  that  a  seeming  twig  feels  soft  to  the  touch  and 
begins  to  wriggle.  It  is  worth  notice  that  the  cocoon  of  this  insect 
is  similar  in  colour  to  its  surroundings,  dark  or  light,  as  they  may 
happen  to  be. — (“  Globe.”) 
