August  4,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
97 
Peach  Culture  ( 0 .  B.). —  After  several  inquiries  we  find  that  the 
pamphlet  that  was  some  time  ago  advertised  in  the  Journal  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  is  out  of  print.  This  is  of  the  less  consequence  to 
you  since  you  have  found  the  way  to  success,  and  can  probably  grow 
Peaches  and  Nectarines  as  well  as  did  the  author  of  the  pamphlet  in 
question.  We  are  obliged  by  your  letter,  and  congratulate  you  in  turning 
the  information  imparted  in  our  columns  to  such  profitable  account. 
The  article  on  page  79  may  be  of  interest  to  you. 
Tomato  Diseased  (  W.  F.  (7.). — The  plant  is  affected  by  sleepy  disease 
fungus  (Fusariam  lycopersici),  which  enters  the  plant  by  the  root  system, 
and  ascends  the  stem  by  the  woody  tissue.  No  outward  application  has 
any  effect  on  the  parasite,  it  is  slow  in  its  action,  yet  mostly  sure, 
the  plants  attaining  to  about  fruiting  stage,  then  turn  yellowish  in  the 
older  leaves  and  black  in  the  younger  growths.  When  this  occurs  the 
end  is  near,  and  nothing  can  be  expected  but  collapse.  We  have 
found  the  most  benefit  from  the  use  of  quicklime,  and  from  dressings  of 
kainit.  The  lime,  best  chalk  air-slaked,  may  be  used  on  growing  plants 
at  the  rate  of  2j  lbs.  per  square  yard,  and  kainit  at  the  rate  of  2  ozs.  per 
square  yard.  The  dressing  mav  be  repeated  occasionally,  say  every  three 
weeks,  surface  yoots  being  encouraged  by  mulchings  of  sweetened  horse- 
droppings  or  other  rich  material,  and  preferably  scalded  before  use,  as  a 
safeguard  against  eelworm.  We  did  not  find  any  other  micro-organism 
— no  fungus  outgrowths  on  the  leaves,  but  only  the  brown  discolouring  of 
the  tissue  on  the  stem,  characteristic  of  the  fungus  named. 
Killarney  Fern  (S.  Alexander). — We  are  pleased  that  the  advice  we 
gave  you  about,  two  years  ago  has  proved  so  satisfactory  to  yourself  and 
to  your  cherished  plant.  It  seems  all  the  same  to  have  led  to  inconve¬ 
nience — the  necessity  for  more  room  for  the  specimen.  You  do  not  say 
whether  it  is  in  a  gieenhouse  or  not ;  nor  does  it  much  matter,  as  all  you 
need  lor  continuing  its  growth,  wherever  it  may  be  thriving,  is  not  a 
costly  case  with  glass  sides,  but  simply  a  box  which  any  joiner  can  make, 
sloping  like  a  garden  frame  and  grooved  near  the  top  so  that  large 
squares  of  glass  can  be  moved  up  and  down  as  required.  As  a  rule, 
they  will  only  need  to  be  drawn  down  an  inch  or  so  for  a  time  in  the 
morning,  leaving  a  small  opening  for  sweetening  the  air.  This  Fern 
enjoys  a  close,  damp  atmosphere  and  shade.  We  have  seen  no  better 
plants  than  in  boxes  as  described.  They  may  be  either  grown  in  pans, 
as  yours  is,  or  planted  out  in  a  suitable  compost,  containing  stones 
which  jut  out  of  the  surface  ;  but  in  this  case  the  “box”  would  be  best 
as  a  mere  frame  of  a  suitable  size  for  placing  over  the  plant,  not  a  box 
with  a  bottom  complete.  If  the  wood  is  painted  inside  and  out  for  pre¬ 
servation  the  paint  must  be  thoroughly  set  and  sweet— that  is,  emitting 
no  o^our  when  the  “  case  ”  is  placed  over  the  plant. 
Parsley  Diseased  ( E .  T.  If.). — The  leaves  are  affected  by  the  Parsley 
leaf-blight  fungus  (Septoria  Petroselini),  which  first  produces  watery 
areas  on  the  leaves,  and  the  parts  affected  die  as  if  scorched.  Then,  or 
soon  afterwards,  minute  black  dots  appear,  these  projecting  slightly  above 
the  cuticle  of  the  plant.  The  dots  contain  the  minute  spores  or  repro¬ 
ductive  bodies  of  the  fungus,  and  spread  the  disease  somewhat  rapidly. 
The  malady  commonly  occurs  in  the  early  stages  of  the  plant’s  growth, 
and  certainly  goes  over  in  some  cases,  if  not  most,  with  the  seed,  especially 
in  the  case  of  Celery,  which  is  sometimes  seriously  injured  by  a  torm  of 
it  — namelv,  S.  P.  var.  Apii.  The  usual  treatment  advised  is  spraying 
with  Bordeaux  mixture  whilst  the  plants  are  young,  and  repeating  at 
intervals  of  ten  days  or  a  fortnight,  continuing  up  to  about  the  middle  of 
July.  We  have  more  faith,  however,  in  the  resisting  forces  of  the  plant, 
always  give  a  change  of  ground  to  avoid  canker  (Psila  rosas)  and  a 
liberal  dressing  of  soot  and  lime  to  the  soil,  with,  sometimes,  a  little 
kainit.  These  help  the  plants  along  in  the  early  stages,  and  if  the  fungus 
appears  a  dressing  is  given  at  once  with  finely  powdered  quicklime.  In 
July  we  cut  the  plants  over  at  the  ground,  removing  every  particle  of 
leaf  but  the  heart,  and  burn  the  parts  removed.  This  we  have  found 
effectual,  using  a  little  quicklime  on  the  plants.  They  send  up 
fine  leaves,  and  the  fresher  these  are  the  better  they  are  liked  in  the 
kitchen.  We  should  cut  the  plants  down,  supply  a  dressing  of  soot  and 
air-slaked  lime  in  equal  parts  by  measure,  pointing  or  hoeing  in.  The 
plants  need  fortifying,  then  they  will  overcome  the  parasite,  but  it  is  well 
to  clear  it  away.  Do  not  save  any  seed  from  infested  plants. 
Points  of  Pear  Shoots  Blackened  ( G .  T.). — The  shoots  are  affected  by 
what  is  known  as  Pear  blight  in  the  United  States,  and  regarded  as  due 
to  the  presence  of  a  specific  germ— one  of  the  bacteria — namely,  Micro¬ 
coccus  amylovorus.  But  be  that  as  it  may,  we  certainlv  discovered  the 
mycelial  hyphae  of  a  minute  fungus  in  the  “yellowed”  tissue  of  the 
leaves,  which  does  not  accord  with  bacterial  trouble,  though  there  were 
some  extremely  minute  spherical  bodies  on  the  blackened  points  of  the 
shoots.  These  accord  exactly  with  Micrococcus.  How  these  minute 
bodies  can  pierce  the  cuticle  of  even  young  shoots  v\  e  have  not  been  able 
to  discover,  but  we  can  understand  how  they  get  into  a  wound  and  kill 
the  twig,  as  may  occasionally  be  seen  in  both  Pear  and  Apple  trees  that 
show  blackened  shoot  points.  There  is  not  the  usual  sticky  sub-tance  on 
the  leaves,  but  that  may  have  been  washed  off  by  rain.  There  is  no 
question  about  the  blackening  of  the  leaves,  and,  in  some  cases,  young 
shoots.  Wo  have  known  the  malady  long  before  bacteria  were  called  by 
specific  names,  and  found  that  sturdy  growing  trees  were  the  least  liable, 
and  those  of  rapid  growth  most  subject  to  the  disease.  The  usual  fungi¬ 
cides  harm  the  foliage,  when  supplied  so  as  to  kill  the  germs.  We  have 
found  the  best  thing  was  to  resort  to  such  cultural  methods  as  will  tend 
to  a  slow,  steady  growth.  First  of  all  cut  off  all  affected  twigs  to  sound 
wood,  and  burn  them,  and  then  supply  a  dressi>  g  of  quicklime  (best  chalk 
lime  air-slaked)  all  over  the  tree.  Some  will  fall  on  the  ground  ;  all  the 
better,  then  apply  a  dressing  of  kainit  to  the  soil,  2  ozs.  per  square  yard. 
Let  the  rains  wash  it  in.  In  the  autumn,  as  soon  as  the  leaves  change 
or  commence  falling,  lift  the  trees,  or  root-prune,  not  doing  too  much  one 
year,  for  the  patient  must  not  be  injured.  Supply  some  lime,  if  needed, 
and  keep  the  roots  near  the  surface.  That  process  carried  out  carefully 
cured  our  trees,  and  they  afterwards  resisted  the  enemy. 
Names  of  Plants. — We  only  undertake  to  name  species  of  cultivated 
plants,  not  wild  flowers,  or  varieties  that  have  originated  from  seeds  and 
termed  florists’  flowers.  Flowering  specimens  are  necessary  of  dowering 
plants,  and  Fern  fronds  should  bear  spores.  Specimens  should  arrive  in 
a  fresh  state  in  securely  tied  firm  boxes.  Thin  paper  boxes  arrive  in  a 
flattened  state.  Slightly  damp  moss,  soft  green  grass,  or  leaves  form  the 
best  packing,  dry  wool  or  paper  the  worst.  Those  arrive  in  the  best 
condition  that  are  so  closely  or  firmly  packed  in  soft  grefen  fresh  grass,  as 
to  remain  unmoved  by  shaking.  No  specimens  should  be  sent  to  rest  in 
the  post  office  over  Sunday,  on  which  day  there  is  no  delivery  of  postal 
matter  in  London.  Specimens  in  partially  filled  boxes  are  invariably 
injured  or  spoiled  by  being  dashed  to  and  fro  in  transit.  Not  more  than 
si  x  specimens  can  be  named  at  once,  and  the  numbers  should  be  visible 
without  untying  the  ligatures,  it  being  often  difficult  to  separate  them 
when  the  paper  is  damp.  ( J .  F.  C.). — Pyrus  Deceaisneana.  (C.  T.)  — 
1,  Veronica  gentianoides  ;  2,  Spiraea  Douglasi  ;  3,  Veronica  teuerium  ; 
4,  Centranthus  ruber ;  5,  Spirsea  bracteata  ;  6,  Myrica  caroliuensis. 
( L .  A!.).  —  Heuchera  sanguinea.  (  W.  A.). — 1,  Lvsimachia  vulgaris  ;  2, 
Leycesteria  formosa ;  3,  Hibiscus  syriacus  ;  4,  Lythrum  salicaria  ;  5, 
Eryngium  amethystinum.  ( G .  0.).  —  Aerides  crassifolium.  (/?.  r.).- 
1,  apparently  a  wild  plant,  of  which  there  were  no  Howers  ;  2,  a  Lantana  ; 
3,  Campanula  isophylla  alba.  (John).  —  Deutzia  crenata  Hore-pleno. 
(it!.  (7.) —No.  1  is  Salisburia  adiantifolia,  the  Maidenhair  Tree.  We  are 
not  at  all  certain  about  the  other,  and  you  neither  mention  its  habit  or 
height. 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET.— August  3rd. 
FRUIT. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Apples,  l  sieve . 
...  0  0  to  0  0 
Grapes,  lb . 
•  •  • 
1  6  to  3  0 
Cobs  . 
...  0  0 
0  0 
Lemons,  case  . 
•  •• 
11  0 
14  0 
Filberts,  100  lbs. 
...  0  0 
0  0 
St.  Michael’s  Pines,  each 
2  6 
5  0 
Gooseberries,  h  sieve 
...  1  6 
2  0 
Strawberries  . 
... 
1  6 
3  0 
VEGETABLES. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
Asparagus,  per  100  ... 
...  0  0  to  0  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2  to  0  4 
Beans,  |  sieve  . 
...  0  0 
0  0 
Onions,  bushel . 
... 
3  6 
4  0 
Beet,  Red,  doz . 
...  1  0 
0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs.... 
•  •• 
2  0 
3  0 
Carrots,  bunch . 
...  0  3 
0  4 
Parsnips,  doz . 
... 
1  0 
0  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz.  ... 
...  2  0 
3  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
... 
2  0 
4  0 
Celery,  bundle . 
...  1  0 
0  0 
Salsafy,  bundle . 
•  •• 
1  0 
0  0 
Coleworts,  doz.  bnchs. 
...  2  0 
4  0 
Scorzonera,  bundle... 
•  •• 
1  6 
0  0 
Cucumbers . 
...  0  4 
0  8 
Seakale,  basket . 
•  •• 
1  6 
1  0 
Endive,  doz . 
...  1  3 
1  6 
Shallots,  lb . 
•  •• 
0  3 
0  0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
...  0  3 
0  0 
Spinach,  pad  . 
•  •• 
0  0 
0  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
...  0  2 
0  0 
Sprouts,  £  sieve 
... 
1  6 
1  9 
Lettuce,  doz . 
...  1  3 
0  0 
Tomatoes,  lb . 
... 
0  4 
0  9 
Mu-hrooms,  lb . 
...  0  6 
8 
Turnips,  bunch . . 
... 
0  3 
0  4 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Arbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz. 
...  6  0to36  0 
Heliotrope,  doz. 
... 
4  0  to  6  0 
Aspidistra,  doz 
...  18  0 
36  0 
Hydrangea,  doz. 
•  •• 
8  0 
10  0 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
...  5  0 
10  6 
Lilium  Harrisi,  doz. 
... 
12  0 
18  0 
Calceolaria,  doz. 
...  4  0 
6  0 
Lobelia,  doz . 
... 
3  0 
4  0 
Coleus,  doz . 
...  3  0 
4  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz.  ... 
... 
3  0 
4  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz.... 
...  12  0 
30  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz. 
... 
6  0 
9  0 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
...  9  0 
18  0 
Mignonette,  doz. 
•  •• 
4  0 
6  0 
Erica  various,  doz.  ... 
...  12  0 
24  0 
Musk,  doz . 
... 
2  0 
6  0 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
...  6  0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
... 
6  0 
9  0 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz. 
...  4  0 
18  0 
Palms,  in  var..  each 
... 
1  0 
15  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz. 
...  4  0 
18  0 
,,  specimens  ... 
... 
21  0 
63  0 
„  small,  100 
...  4  0 
8  0 
Pelargoniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
4  0 
6  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each  ... 
...  1  0 
7  0 
11  11 
8  0 
10  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each  1  0 
5  0 
Rhodanthe,  doz. 
... 
4  0 
6  0 
Fuchsia  . 
...  5  0 
8  0 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— CUT  FLOWERS.— Orchids  in  variety. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  ... 
3  0 
to  4  0 
Mignonette,  doz.  bnchs. ...  1  6 
to  3  0 
A-paragus,  Fern,  bunch... 
2  0 
3  0 
Myosotis,  doz.  bnchs.  ...  1  0 
2  0 
Bouvardias,  bunch . 
0  6 
0  9 
Orchids,  var.,  doz.  blooms  1  6 
9  0 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
1  0 
3  0 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs.  3  0 
6  0 
,,  12  bnchs. 
4  0 
8  0 
Polyanthus,  doz.  bnchs. ...  1  0 
1  6 
Eucharis,  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
Pyrethrum,  doz.  bnchs.  ...  1  0 
1  3 
Gardenias,  doz.  . 
1  0 
4  0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz .  0  6 
1  6 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
„  lied,  doz .  0  3 
0  6 
bnchs . 
0  0 
6  0 
,,  Tea,  white,  doz.  ...  1  0 
2  0 
Iris  doz.  bnchs . 
4  0 
6  0 
,,  Yellowq  doz.  (Perles)  1  0 
2  0 
Lilac  (French),  bunch  ... 
3  6 
4  0 
,.  Safrano(Englisk)doz.  1  0 
2  0 
L'  lium  longiflorum,12  blms 
3  0 
4  0 
,,  Pink,  doz . 16 
3  0 
Lily  ofthe  Valley,  12sprays 
1  0 
2  0 
„  Moss,  per  bunch  ...  0  9 
1  0 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
Smilax,  bunch .  1  6 
2  0 
bnchs . 
4  0 
8  0 
Sweet  Peas,  doz.  bnchs.  ...  1  6 
3  0 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
1  6 
2  6 
