106 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  4,  1897. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
W.  Atlee,  Burpee  &  Co.,  Philadelphia. — Sjeds, 
Kerr  Brothers,  Dumfries. — Seeds  and  Roots. 
The  Surrey  Seed  Company,  Red  Hill.— Seeds. 
E.  Webb  &  Sons,  Wordsley,  Stourport. — Farm  Seeds. 
*0°  All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be 
directed  to  “  The  Editor.'’  Letters  addressed  personally  to 
Dr.  Hogg  or  members  of  the  staff  ofter  remain  unopened 
unavoidably.  We  request  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to 
unjustifiable  trouble  and  expense,  and  departmental  writers 
are  not  expected  to  answer  any  letters  they  may  receive  on 
Gardening  and  Bee  subjects,  through  the  post. 
Correspondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions 
relating  to  Gardening  and  those  on  Bee  subjects,  and  should 
never  send  more  than  two  or  three  questions  at  once.  All 
articles  intended  for  insertion  should  be  written  on  one  side  of 
the  paper  only.  We  cannot,  as  a  rule,  reply  to  questions 
through  the  post,  and  we  do  not  undertake  to  return  rejected 
communications. 
Errata. — In  the  reply  to  “  P.  H.,”  second  column,  page  84,  tenth 
and  eleventh  line  of  paragraph,  for  “  3£  lbs.  kainit  per  square  yard,” 
please  read  lbs.  kainit  per  square  rod. 
Boards  for  Exhibiting  Grapes  ( Z .). — If  you  refer  to  our  issue 
of  July  23rd,  1896,  you  will  find  the  information  you  require.  The 
copy  may  be  procured  from  our  publisher  for  3Jd.,  post  free. 
Hard  Water  for  Tomatoes  ( T '.  P.  R.) — Hard  wateV  is  not 
injurious  to  Tomatoes  unless  the  lime  exist  in  excessive  amount,  but  it 
is  well  to  have  the  water  exposed  to  the  air  for  some  time  before  use  so 
that  it  may  become  warmed  to  at  least  atmospheric  heat  at  the  time  of 
using.  If  the  water  is  too  limey  soften  it  by  the  use  of  anti-calcaire, 
1  lb.  to  250  gallons  of  water,  mixing  well  and  allowing  it  to  stand 
twenty-four  hours,  then  employ  the  clear  water  only  ;  or  dissolve  1  oz. 
of  washing  soda  in  a  gallon  of  hot  water,  which  add  to  9  gallons  of  the 
hard  water,  and  so  on  in  proportion.  Allow  it  to  stand  twenty-four 
hours,  then  use.  This  seems  to  suit  Tomatoes. 
Medals  of  Honour  (H.  C.). — We  have  received  the  paper  cutting 
that  “  amused  ”  you.  The  paragraph  was  no  doubt  written  to  amuse,  and 
thus  served  its  purpose.  We  have  no  desire  to  find  fault  with  it.  The 
whole  question  is  one  of  individual  taste,  as  bearing  on  the  vanities  of  the 
world.  Some  persons  like  to  be  awarded  cups  and  medals,  others  do  not 
equally  value  them.  Some  persons  like  to  be  addressed  as  “  Esquire” 
who  have  no  legal  right  to  the  title,  others  of  the  same  status  being  well 
satisfied  with  the  plain  “  Mr.”  Some  who  regard  medals  as  mere  baubles 
are  willing  to  pay  for  the  luxury  of  attaching  distinctive  letters  to  their 
names,  and  for  cockades  on  their  coachman’s  hats,  while  others  care  for 
none  of  these  things.  It  is  a  question  of  idiosyncrasy.  No  doubt  there 
are  plenty  of  vain  people  about,  but  small,  we  think,  fear  of  England 
becoming  a  nation  of  popinjays. 
Paradise  Stocks  for  Transportation  to  the  Western  Coast 
of  America  ( Pacific ). — So  far  as  we  know  seeds  or  “  pips  ”  of  Paradise 
stocks  are  not  procurable ;  they  could  not  be  relied  upon  if  they  were, 
for  the  several  forms  of  Paradise  stocks  are  selections  of  species  or  even 
varieties,  hence  must  be  perpetuated  by  layers  or  other  similar  methods. 
The  French  Paradise  is  too  tender  for  this  country,  therefore  the  broader 
leaved  English  and  the  Nonesuch  Paradise  varieties  are  those  commonly 
used  as  dwarfing  stocks.  Stocks  raised  from  pips,  transplanted  the  first 
autumn,  and  allowed  to  grow  a  year,  are  ready  for  working  in  the 
following  season.  Stocks  are  readily  transported  to  America,  and  can 
be  had  of  most  large  nurserymen  at  a  low  price  per  100  or  1000. 
Cypripedlum  leaves  Rusted  (F.  S')  —The  leaves  are  not  infested 
by  any  insects  or  fungi,  at  least  we  failed  to  discover  any,  and  though 
the  appearance  is  that  of  attack  from  eel  worms  our  efforts  to  find  them 
were  futile.  Indeed,  beyond  the  cells  being  yellow  and  having  every 
characteristic  of  Plasmodiophora  infection,  there  was  nothing  discover¬ 
able  in  the  tissue.  This  form  of  rusting”  is  said  to  arise  from  a  chill, 
and  not  to  be  connected  in  any  way  with  micro-organisms  or  anything 
of  a  parasitic  nature.  The  cells  are  ruptured  by  some  agent,  possibly 
that  of  water  long  remaining  on  the  leaves,  or  from  its  containing  some 
noxious  substance,  such  as  that  of  iron.  Taere  was  a  slight  clamminess  on 
some  of  the  spots,  and  in  these  decayed  parts  several  micro-organisms  of 
a  Beptic  nature.  We  can  only  suggest  the  careful  use  of  soft  and  properly 
warmed  water,  not  pouring  it  so  as  to  lodge  on  the  leaves  more  than 
can  be  helped.  In  a  similar  case  we  found  sponging  the  leaves  carefully 
with  methylated  spirit  diluted  with  an  equal  amount  of  water  of  great 
benefit,  but  we  rather  incline  to  the  view  of  the  water  being  at  fault. 
Old  Plane  Tree  Stem  Covered  with  Ivy  (O.  R.  T.). — The 
Ivy  is  a  parasite  of  support,  being  indebted  to  the  shrub  or  tree  for  the 
power  to  carry  its  stems  and  leaves  upwards,  also  in  due  course  its 
flowers,  where  they  may  spread  in  sight  of  the  sun,  its  own  frail  stem 
being  unequal  to  the  burden  ;  but  it  takes  nothing,  though  it  has 
suckers,  from  its  neighbours  or  supporting  tree.  Its  effect,  however,  is 
to  overgrow  and  interfere  with  the  vigour  of  the  shrub  or  tree  it  grows 
upon,  ultimately  smothering  it,  which  in  the  case  of  an  old  tree  is  a 
great  ornament  and  not  materially  prejudicial,  as  under  any  circum¬ 
stances  the  tree  would  gradually  decline,  and  the  Ivy  would  enhance  its 
antique  appearance,  it  increasing  in  vigour  and  beauty  as  the  Plane 
tree  became  older.  Even  after  the  Plane  died  the  Ivy  would  be  a  very 
desirable  object,  therefore  we  should  not  interfere  with  it  under  the 
circumstances.  It  is  different  in  the  case  of  a  young  or  thriving  tree, 
then  the  Ivy  should  be  cut  away,  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  the  growth, 
thus  securing  fuller  development,  as  nothing  can  well  progress  with  a 
heavy  burden  besides  its  own  to  bear,  being  more  or  less  deprived  of  air, 
and  to  some  extent  moisture  by  the  overgrowing  plant. 
Grafting-  a  Camellia  (Amateur). — As  a  rule,  grafting  plants  is  an 
operation  best  left  to  those  who  have  been  rendered  expert  in  it  by  long 
practice,  but  the  engraving  (fig.  26)  will  show  you  how  to  do  it.  The  scion 
is  cut  half  its  length  wedge-shaped,  leaving  on  each  side  an  equal  breadth 
of  bark  diminishing  gradually  to  a  point.  The  stock  (b)  is  slit  at  &  by  a 
single  cut  of  the  knife,  the  blade  penetrating  the  alburnum.  The  scion 
(a)  is  introduced  by  its  base  a,  then  tied  as  represented  at  c.  If  this  is 
FIG.  26.— GRAFTING  A  CAMELLIA, 
done  in  the  open  air  it  must  be  covered  with  wax  or  clay,  because  the 
cut  on  each  side  of  the  slit  leaves  an  opening.  It  is  not  necessary  to  cut 
off  the  top  of  the  plant  when  the  operation  is  completed.  The  work  is 
done  at  almost  any  time  in  the  spring. 
Diseased  Onions  ( S .  11.). — The  Onion  is  infested  by  the  Onion 
mould  or  fungus,  Botrytis  galanthina,  Sacc.,  this  being  found  on  Snow¬ 
drops  and  other  bulbous  plants,  such  as  Liliums,  and  is  the  conidial 
condition  of  Sclerotinia  bulborum.  Reltm.  This  springs  from  a 
sclerotium  formed  in  the  rotten  bulb  or  on  it,  and  even  in  the  ground, 
and  bears  the  ascophores  or  spores  in  asci,  and  resembles  a  minute 
disc-like  Toadstool.  There  are  myriads  of  the  Bntrytis  spores  on  the 
specimen.-  It  and  all  like  it  ought  to  be  burned  to  prevent  further 
contagion.  Infested  land  should  be  well  dressed  with  lime,  and  Onions 
not  grown  therein  for  some  time.  But  the  fungus  is  also  a  saprophyte, 
very  common,  yet  a  very  malignant  parasite  at  times,  sometimes  ruining 
the  autumn  Onions  wholesale  when  fit  for  pulling,  or  should  be,  and 
not  unfrequently  attacking  the  spring-sown  ones,  and  sweeping  them 
off  when  tne  maggot  also  “  bites”— that  is,  in  early  summer,  generally 
in  late  May  or  early  in  June,  and  onwards,  Dusting  with  a  fungicide 
in  powder  is  the  best  preventive,  but  it  is  necessary  to  begin  in  time. 
We  have  also  found  permanganate  of  potash  useful,  and  it  is  not 
likely  to  lead  to  any  danger  to  human  life.  The  permanganate  should 
be  diluted  to  a  deep  rose  colour  (2  fluid  ozs.  to  a  gallon  of  water), 
and  applied  by  means  of  a  spraying  apparatus  when  the  Onions  are  a 
few  inches  high,  say  when  6  inches,  repeating  occasionally.  Probably 
