352 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAOE  GARDENER. 
April  22,  IS 97. 
/  All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  Thb  Editor/’  S,  Rose  Hill 
Road ,  Wandsworth ,  London ,  S.  W.  It  is  requested  that  no 
one  will  write  privately  to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking 
information  cn  matters  discussed  in  this  Journal,  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 
po9t.  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. 
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  communications 
which,  for  any  reason,  cannot  be  inserted. 
Postal  Disarrangements. — In  consequence  of  the  Ea9ter  holidays 
more  than  usual  delay  seems  to  have  occurred  in  the  delivery  of  letters. 
At  least  such  is  our  experience,  both  as  regards  letters  we  have  posted 
and  received.  Postal  officials,  however,  need  a  little  relaxation,  and  this 
reference  is  not  so  much  a  complaint  as  an  explanation  why  certain 
communications  could  not  be  attended  to  this  week.  wciiaw 
Tullpa  Grelgl  and  Narcissus  Cynosure  ( A .  B.  G.). — The 
form  of  Tulipa  Greigi  that  you  send  with  the  type  is  certainly  beautiful, 
but  such  variations  are  not  uncommon  in  seedling  plants,  and  this  yours 
may  be.  We  have  heard  of  several  similar.  The  Narcissus  Cynosure 
does  not  appear  to  promise  anything  valuable  from  a  commercial  point 
of  view. 
Chrysanthemum  Seed  from  Japan  (Z>.  R.  B.'). — It  is  impossible 
to  say  what  you  may  expect  fiom  the  seed  beyond  Chrysanthemum 
plants.  We  hope,  however,  you  will  be  more  fortunate  than  Mr.  Wells 
was  with  .a  packet  direct  from  Japan.  This  gave  him  2000  plants,  but 
of  these,  if  he  is  accurate,  1999  which  flowered  in  7-inch  pots  produced 
inferior  single  flowers,  and  were  thrown  away,  only  the  remaining  being 
“  double,”  which  he  Darned  Trafalgar.  It  was  the  survivor,  of  a  great 
slaughter  certainly,  but  the  Nelson  of  Earlswood  lives  to  rejoice  in 
honour  of  his  victory. 
Cytlsus  racemosus  (Inigo). — The  flower  shoot  forwarded  by  you 
was  very  much  withered  on  arrival,  but  in  all  probability  the  above  is 
the  correct  name.  Certainly  it  is  a  Cytisus,  of  which  you  may  readily 
increase  your  stock  by  the  prompt  insertion  of  cuttings  of  the  shoots 
the  plants  are  now  so  freely  producing.  Fill  pots  with  light  sandy  soil, 
placing  several  cuttings  round  the  sides.  Keep  these  shaded  for  some 
days,  being  very  careful  in  watering,  and  roots  will  soon  be  formed  in 
any  genial  structure.  Pot  the  young  plants  when  such  a  course  becomes 
necessary,  and  pinch  out  the  points  of  the  Bhoots  so  as  to  insure  a  dwarf, 
compact  habit,  for  in  this  lies  the  chief  beauty  of  the  plant. 
Peach  Shoots  Diseased  (St.  Leonards'). — The  leaves  are  affected 
by  the  silver-leaf  disease,  which  is  usually  attributed  to  frost  when  it 
occurs  outdoors,  as  it  does  very  commonly  on  Plum  tree  leaves,  also  on 
Cherries,  and  frequently  on  Portugal  Laurels.  It  is  a  puzzling  malady , 
and  in  some  cases  fatal,  often  arising  from  poverty  of  soil.  In  your 
case,  however,  the  tissues  are  cramful  of  the  mycelial  hyphre  of  a 
fungus,  which  is,  if  we  make  no  mistake,  that  of  Monilia  fructigena. 
The  mycelium  is  perennial  in  the  ticsues,  and  the  growth  of  this 
causes  the  gumming  or  sudden  collapse  of  the  shoots  during  growth, 
or  even  destruction  of  large  branches.  It  is  greatly  influenced  by 
nutrition,  hence  lifting  is  one  of  the  best  means  of  checking  the 
tendency .  to  its  activity  ;  indeed,  that  and  cutting  away  the  diseased 
growths  and  branches  is  the  most  effective  remedy.  Once  in  the 
trees,  however,  it  is  difficult  to  get  rid  of  ;  the  mycelium,  though  lying 
dormant,  may  wake  up,  and  overcoming  the  resistive  power  of  the  tree 
cause  gumming  as  bad  as  ever,  hence  many  experienced  cultivators 
consider  removal  the  only  perfect  cure.  We  have,  however,  found  lifting 
and  a  properly  constructed  border  of  sound  materials,  together  with 
cutting  out  diseased  parts  very  satisfactory,  the  trees  growing  out  of  the 
disease,  as  the  saying  is,  but  really  eliminating  it  from  their  system.  No 
external  application  is  of  any  use  in  effecting  a  cure,  though  lightly 
dusting  with  a  fungicide  containing  sulphate  of  copper  in  powdered 
preparation,  such  as  fostite  and  anti- blight,  may  prevent  the  spreading  of 
the  parasite.  Use  substantial  food,  such  as  bone  superphosphate  5  parts, 
muriate  of  potash  2  parts,  sulphate  of  magnesia  1  part,  and  sulphate  of 
iron  half  part,  mixed,  applying  2  to  4  ozs.  per  square  yard.  Lifting  the 
trees  at  the  proper  time  should  be  attended  to,  and  cutting  out  and 
burning  all  diseased  growths  or  wood.  This  will  give  the  best  results, 
at  least  such  is  our  experience.  This  reply  will  equally  meet  the  case 
of  another  correspondent. 
An  Empty  Envelope  from  Dnbl'n. — A  duly  stamped  envelope 
addressed  to  Mr,  J.  Wright,  17,  Fleet  Street,  has  been  properly  delivered 
at  171  ;  but  it  has  never  been  gummed  down,  and  if. any  letter  were 
placed  inside  it,  it  has  been  lost  in  the  post. 
Prunus  triloba  ( Erith ). — If  you  refer  to  page  322  you  will  find 
that  the  name  is  not  Prunus  triliba  but  P.  triloba,  aDd  it  is  correct,  the 
leaves  being  three-lobed.  The  species  was  introduced  from  China  in  18571 
Bouvardlas  (ET.  P.). — You  will  perhaps  find  the  desired  infor¬ 
mation  in  the  article  on  page  342.  If  there  are  any  particulars  in  which 
it  aoe3  not  quite  meet  your  case,  please  specify  them  and  the  matter 
shall  have  further  attention. 
Sweet  Peas  Injurious  to  Tame  Pigeons  (TF.  <?.). — Mice  and 
rats  are  good  judges  of  nutritive  quality  and  value  in  Peas.  They  leave 
Sweet  Peas  severely  alone,  and  they  are  not,  as  a  rule,  taken  by  wild 
pigeons.  We  have  heard  of  similar  occurrences  to  yours,  but  our 
pigeons  refused  the  seeds.  They  certainly  are  not  suitable  food,  and 
probably  injurious. 
Illustration  (  W.  E.  G.). — You  were  told  that  the  illustration  I  was 
not  taken  from  the  “  Botanical  Magazine,”  or  any  other  work,  but  from 
a  spray  cut  from  a  growing  plant.  If  you  had  written  when  the  illus¬ 
tration  first  appeared,  and  not  years  after,  we  could  have  sent  you  a 
specimen,  but  cannot  do  so  now.  We  took  some  trouble  to  ascertain 
the  facts  of  the  case,  and  supplied  you  with  the  information  as  soon  as 
it  was  available.  We  are  obliged  by  the  reference,  but  a  visit  to  the 
libraries  you  mention  is  unnecessary. 
Tomato  Seedlings  Withering  (  Anxious) . — The  plants  appear 
very  healthy  at  the  roots  and  in  the  stems,  nothing  being  amiss  but  a 
slight  withering  of  the  leaves.  These  were  examined  microscopically,  with¬ 
out  any  trace  of  disease  being  found,  outside  or  inside  the  tissues.  The 
leaves  appear  to  be  scorched,  due  possibly  to  the  tender  growth  flagging 
under  powerful  sun,  especially  after  a  few  days  of  dull  weather.  This 
is  a  common  occurrence,  and  can  only  be  avoided  by  early  and  careful 
ventilation.  The  cold  weather  accompanied  with  the  biting  winds  would 
conduce  to  the  condition  presented  by  the  leaves.  Grow  the  plants  as 
sturdily  as  possible,  not  sparing  attention  in  ventilating,  especially  in  the 
early  part  of  the  day,  for  it  is  allowing  the  heat  to  advance  considerably 
and  moisture  to  settle  on  the  leaves,  then  admitting  air  too  freely  at 
once,  that  cause  scorching. 
Clean  and  Dirty  Flower  Pots  ( B .  Drayton). — Of  course  you  are 
right.  At  no  time  can  the  great  advantage  of  using  pexfectly  clean 
flower  pots  be  so  well  appreciated  as  when  the  plants  are  being  turned 
out  of  them,  as  the  roots  and  soil  come  out  of  clean  pots  as  freely  and 
smoothly  as  a  jelly  out  of  a  mould  ;  but  if  the  pots  were  dirty  inside 
when  the  plants  were  placed  in  them,  the  roots  adhere  to  the  sides, 
and  half  of  them — and  these  are  always  the  best— may  be  torn  off 
during  the  process  of  removing  the  pot.  Never,  therefore,  in  potting 
use  a  dirty  pot,  but  always  have  it  washed  clean  inside,  and  dried  before 
any  soil  is  put  iD.  This  is  just  one  of  those  little  matters  that  have  to 
be  explained  time  after  time  before  its  import  can  be  understood  or  is 
admitted.  Even  for  years  the  matter  has  been  made  prominent,  yi  t 
not  a  few  persons  either  cannot  or  will  not  comprehend,  and  go  on 
spoiling  plants  in  hundreds.  Practical  lessons  on  the  subject  will  soon 
be  afforded  during  what  is  known  as  “  bedding-out,  time.” 
Vine  leaf  Eusted  ( E .  S.). — There  is  no  disease  on  the  Vine  leaf 
as  caused  by  either  insect  or  fungi,  visible  or  microscopical  animal  or 
vegetable  organism.  The  appearance  closely  resetnbles  an  attack  by 
Vine-leaf  mite  (Phytoptus  vitis)  and  even  the  Grape  Vine  louse  (Payi- 
loxera  vastatrix),  but  there  is  one  specific  distinction — the  leaf  surface 
indentations  are  from  the  upper  side  downwards  when  caused  by  “rust” 
but  in  reverse  order  when  induced  by  the  insects.  Both  require 
harbour,  and  the  plant  structure  grows  away  from  them.  The  leaf  is  a 
very  fine  one,  having  plenty  of  substance,  but  unfortunately  “  rusted.” 
This  is  occasioned  by  a  suddeu  stoppage  of  the  transpiratory  functions, 
and  may  occur  through  the  opposite  extremes  of  a  scorching  and  k 
chilling,  commonly  the  latter,  especially  in  your  case,  with  which  we 
have  to  deal  at  present.  The  cause  is  a  chill.  The  atmosphere  of  the 
house  has  been  allowed  to  become  heated  by  the  sun,  and  rhe  moisture 
correspondingly  expanded,  which,  with  the  sap  made  to  flow  freely 
upward  by  the  heat,  caused  the  stomata,  or  breathing  pores  of  the  leaf, 
to  open,  in  the  endeavour  to  rid  the  tissues  of  the  excessive  moisture  ; 
then  the  lights  have  been  thrown  open  and  evaporation  greatly 
accelerated  by  the  air  drying.  This  is  analogous  to  cooling,  and  the 
consequence  is  the  tissues  a*  chilled,  the  stomata  close,  and  the  mischief 
is  done.  In  order  to  repair  the  damage  the  tissues  form  new  cells,  and 
this  gives  the  thickened  appearance  to  the  leaves  known  as  “  rust,”  the 
dead  cells  being  more  or  less  intermingled  with  the  living,  and  in 
consequence  have  a  rusty  appearance.  This  interferes  more  or  less  with 
the  elaborating  and  assimilating  functions  of  the  foliage,  but  is  not  a 
material  injury  to  vigorous  Vines,  as  yours  are.  The  avoidance  of  the 
evil  lies  in  early  and  careful  ventilation,  a  little  air  being  affordtd 
constantly,  and  care  taken  to  enlarge  the  openings  before  the  sun  has 
raised  the  temperature  to  any  great  extent.  This  you  will  understand, 
and  with  it  you  have  no  occasion  to  feel  alarmed.  As  the  Vines  are 
poor  in  roots  you  may  accelerate  their  formation  by  the  use  of  bone 
superphosphate,  using  about  4  ozs.  per  square  yard,  and  pointing  it  in 
lightly,  if  it  can  be  done  without  disturbing  the  roots,  or  you  may  use 
the  following  mixture: — Bone  superphosphate  3  parts,  double  sulphate 
of  potash  and  magnesia  2  parts,  best  air-slaked  chalk  lime  and  dry  soot, 
in  equal  proportions  by  measure,  1  part,  mix,  and  apply  4  ozs.  per 
square  yard,  washing  in  moderately.  It  is  often  more  convenient  and 
equally  effectual  to  Thomson’s,  Pearson’s,  Innes’,  or  other  advertised 
fertilisers,  any  or  all  being  excellent  for  your  purpose. 
