236 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  22,  1898. 
„%A11  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “The  Editor,”  s.  Rose  Hill  Road, 
Wandsworth,  S.W.,  and  NOT  to  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers, 
Fleet  Street.  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  departmental  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  accompanied  by 
the  names  and  addresses  of  the  writers,  but  these  will  neither  be 
published  nor  disclosed  when  initials  or  nom  de  'plumes  are  given 
for  the  purpose  of  replies. 
Correspondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions  relating 
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. 
Exhibiting  Ferns  (  Todinorden ). — Pteris  serrulata  cristata’major  is  not 
a  hardy  British  Fern,  but  a  varietal  form  of  a  Japanese  species.  Osmunda 
Tegalis  is  a  North  American  Fern,  and  therefore  not  eligible  for  a  class 
of  British  Ferns. 
Anemones  ( W.  N.). — As  you  desire  to  remove  the  tubers  of  the  plants 
raised  from  seed  “last  July” — we  presume  July  of  last  year — it  is 
advisable  to  allow  the  leaves  to  turn  quite  yellow  before  disturbance. 
The  tubers  may  then  be  planted  when  the  ground  is  in  favourable  con¬ 
dition  in  October.  We  have  had  the  finest  displays  when  the  seedlings, 
raised  thinly,  were  not  disturbed  at  all. 
Repotting  Tea  Roses  ( Sidcup ). — The  present  is  a  very  good  time  for 
giving  fresh  soil.  It  does  not  follow  that  all  the  plants  will  be  improved 
by  having  large  pots,  this  depending  on  circumstances,  such  as  the 
character  of  the  roots  and  the  sizes  of  the  present  pots.  Overpotting  is 
sometimes  indulged  in.  It  is  important  to  have  the  drainage  effective, 
and  any  loose  soil  may  he  removed  from  the  roots,  and  especially  any 
that  may  be  in  a  sour  ungenial  state  ;  some  also  should  be  removed  from 
the  surface.  Pot  firmly  and  plunge  the  pots  to  protect  them  from  frost 
during  the  winter. 
The  National  Chrysanthemum  Show  ( Supporter ).  —  A  verv  o-ood 
supporter,  too,  but  we  are  quite  unable  to  say  what,  if  anything, "has 
been  done  in  endeavour  to  find  a  place  other  than  the  Westminster 
Aquarium  in  which  to  hold  it.  As  no  doubt  you  are  aware,  the  Crystal 
Palace  is  suitable,  and  probably  even  more  so  than  any  building  in  London. 
It  is  not,  however,  always  available  at  a  given  date,  and  besides  the 
Aquarium  authorities  offer  a  substantial  subsidy,  and  as  practical  men 
the  N.C.S.  Committee  have  to  consider  this  in  making  arrangements  and 
provision  for  meeting  the  natural  liabilities  incident  to  the  shows. 
Chrysanthemum  Bud  Mite— Making  Bi-sulphide  of  Calcium  ( A . 
The  buds  are  blackened  and  killed  by  the  Chrysanthemum  bud  mite, 
Phytoptus  Chrysanthemi,  which  is  most  prevalent  in  dry  seasons, 
and  was  first  noticed  as  infesting  Chrysanthemum  flower  buds  in  1893 _ 
a  dry  season— being  figured  and  described  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture 
September  26th,  1893,  page  291.  The  mite  destroys  the  buds,  living 
between  the  scales,  and  browses  upon  the  embryonic  florets.  Sometitres 
it  causes  the  buds  to  assume  a  gall-like  appearance,  but  commonly  only 
turns  them  black  and  “deaf.”  This  represents  your  case,  and  that  of  not  a 
few  others  this  season.  The  usual  “host”  is  the  Centaureas  of  the  montana 
type,  also  Chrysanthemum  segetum.  The  enemy  has  now  departed, 
therefore  no  application  to  the  plants  will  be  of  any  use.  The  best 
pre\ entive  is  to  dust  the  buds  before  44  taking,”  or  as  soon  as  formed,  with 
black  sulphur,  or  spray  occasionally  with  petroleum  emulsion,  one  part 
to  seventy-two  parts  water.  We  have  also  found  that  plants  sprayed 
with  bi-sulphide  of  calcium,  as  a  preventive  of  “rust,”  are  not  affected  by 
mite.  The  bi-sulphide  is  made  by  boiling  1  lb.  each  of  quicklime  and 
flowers  of  sulphur  in  5  pints  of  water  in  an  earthen  pot  for  ten  minutes. 
It  should  be  constantly  stirred  while  it  is  boiling,  then  allowed  to  settle 
and  the  clear  liquid,  when  cool,  poured  off  for  use.  It  may  be  kept  in 
stone  bottles,  tightly  corked,  in  a  dark  place.  For  use,  1  part  to  100  parts 
water.  Against  mite  start  spraying  in  advance  of  the  buds  showing  clear 
of  the  leaves  and  into  the  points  of  the  shoots,  while  for  “rust”  spray  on 
the  under  side  of  the  leaves.  Sulphide  of  potassium,  half  ounce  to  a 
gallon  of  water,  also  acts  well  against  both  the  mite  and  the  “  rust.” 
Renting  a  Small  Nursery  ( S .  R.  A.).— Though  it  is  not  within  our 
province  to  give  estimates  of  cost  (these  depending  entirely  on  the  nature 
of  the  materials  involved),  your  question,  as  put,  is  unanswerable.  Within 
the  radius  you  name  sites  vary  in  rental  to  an  extraordinary  degree,  and 
the  value  of  any  structures  that  may  exist  depends  absolutely  on  their 
condition.  If  you  find  what  yon  consider  a  favourable  and  promising  site 
have  it  inspected  by  a  thoroughly  experienced  man  before  entering  into 
any  undertaking,  so  many  of  which  have  proved  unfortunate.  A  fee  paid 
to  an  experienced  professional,  as  suggested,  might  prove  a  wise  invest¬ 
ment.  No  one  can  give  you  advice  worth  having  without  an  inspection 
and  a  full  consideration  of  existing  facts  and  future  possibilities. 
Rogiera  (Rondeletia)  gratissima  ( G .  L„  Bradford ). — You  will  find 
this  plant  a  very  charming  one,  that  is  admirably  suited  for  culture  in  a 
not  too  cold  greenhouse  where,  with  ordinarily  careful  attention,  it  will 
flower  profusely  during  the  summer.  In  habit  the  plant  is  rather 
straggling,  but  the  judicious  use  of  the  knife  will  do  much  to  overcome 
this  slight  fault.  The  flowers  (fig.  42)  are  of  a  soft  pinkish  white  tint 
and  waxlike  texture,  and,  moreover,  possess  an  agreeable  fragrance, 
rendering  them  pleasing  either  on  the  plant  or  when  cut.  Though  the 
culture  is  comparatively  simple,  care  must  be  exercised  to  keep  it  in  good 
health.  One  of  the  most  essential  points  is  that  the  soil  be  sufficiently 
well  drained  to  permit  the  free  passage  of  water,  as  stagnant  moisture 
quickly  produces  an  injurious  effect  on  the  plant.  A  compost  of  light 
turfy  loam,  a  little  peat,  and  a  good  proportion  of  sand  is  most  suitable  ; 
the  plant  must  never  be  overpotted. 
Small  Fruit  and  Vegetable  Farm  (71  J.). — Unless  your  capacity  for 
cultivation  is  of  an  extraordinary  nature  you  could  not  accomplish  what 
you  suggest  on  the  limited  site  in  the  absence  of  glass.  The  erection  of 
structures  would  involve  a  considerable  outlay,  and  when  erected  could 
only  be  managed  profitably  by  a  combination  of  good  personal  judgment, 
cultural  ability,  and  industry.  Given  these  with  good  soil,  a  full  water 
supply,  and  a  surrounding  population  not  already  well  served  with 
Tomatoes,  Cucumbers,  Mushrooms,  flowers,  or  whatever  might  be  required 
and  that  might  be  produced,  there  are  no  doubt  plenty  of  meD  who  could 
do  what  you  indicate,  as,  in  fact,  there  are  many  who  have  done  a  great 
deal  more  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  truth  compels  us  to  state  that  there  are 
still  a  far  greater  number  who  would  fail  absolutely.  As  a  rule,  or 
principle,  only  those  cultivators  who  can  place  on  the  market  the  best 
possible  products  at  the  least  possible  cost  have  much  chance  of  succeed¬ 
ing  in  the  keen  and  practically  worldwide  competition  of  the  present  day. 
If  you  are  an  amateur  imbued  with  the  prevalent  idea  that  growing  fruit 
and  flowers  is  a  pleasant  occupation,  and  you  cannot  afford  to  lose  a  few 
hundreds  of  pounds  by  indulging  in  the  luxury,  we  should  be  sorry  to 
induce  you  to  enter  on  the  experiment.  If  you  are  a  sound  cultivator  and 
actual  worker  determined  to  excel  yet  unacquainted  with  commercial 
methods,  do  what  we  advise  another  correspondent — consult  a  competent 
professional  adviser  on  the  spot  and  act  accordingly.  This  is  the  best 
advice  we  can  give,  and  if  any  of  our  readers  who  are  experienced  in  the 
subject  in  question  can  improve  on  it  they  are  at  liberty  to  do  so. 
Roses  for  Exposed  and  Smoky  District  (&  N.). — Climbing  for  east 
aspects  :  Dundee  Rambler  (white  pink  edges)  or  Ruga  (pale  flesh, 
fragrant).  Crimson  Rambler,  Felicite  Perpetu£  (creamy  white),  Amadis 
or  Crimson  (Boursault),  Gloire  de  Dijon  (fawn),  and  William  Allan 
Richardson  (apricot  yellow).  In  a  very  smoky  district  we  found  an  east 
wall  best  covered  by  Boursault  Roses — Amadis  (crimson),  Blush  or  De 
Lisle  (pale  blush).  Elegans  (crimson-purple,  white  stripe).  Gracilis  (bright 
pink),  Inermis  (bright  red),  and  Splendens  (rosy  blush).  Hybrid 
Perpetuals :  Alfred  Colomb  (carmine-crimson),  Beauty  of  Waltham 
(cherry-crimson),  Camille  Bernardin  (light  crimson),  Charles  Lefebvre 
(velvety  crimson  scarlet),  Earl  of  Dufferin  (velvety  crimson),  General 
Jacqueminot  (scarlet  crimson),  Harrison  Weir  (velvety  crimson),  John 
Hopper  (bright  crimson),  Mons.  Victor  Verdier  (rich  carmine),  Marechal 
Vaillant  (rose  crimson),  Senateur  Vaisse  (bright  crimson),  Abel  Grand 
(silver  rose),  Baroness  Rothschild  (rose),  La  France  (satiny  pink,  rosy 
centre),  Duchess  of  Leeds  (rosy  pink),  Lady  Helen  Stewart  (crimson 
scarlet),  Maurice  Bernardin  (crimson  shaded  violet),  Mr.  James  Brownlow 
(carmine),  Mons.  E.  Y.  Teas  (cerise  red),  Mrs.  John  Laing  (pink),  Madame 
Gabriel  Luizet  (satin  rose),  Sir  Rowland  Hill  (deep  port  wine  colour  or 
ruby  claret),  Oxonian  (shaded),  and  Clio  (flesh).  We  have  endeavoured 
to  meet  your  requirements  for  44  Roses  of  a  dark  and  light  shade,  and 
those  having  the  strongest  perfume.”  They  are  hardy,  with  the  usual 
protection  in  winter,  and  have  succeeded  in  a  rather  smoky  district.  The 
Ramanas  Roses  (Rosa  rugosa  vars.)  succeed  in  smoky  districts. 
Melon  Roots  Diseased  ( Parvo ). — The  tubercles  on  the  Melon  plant 
roots  are  caused  by  root-knot  eelworm  (Heterodera  radicicola),  a  minute 
creature  about  ore  two  hundreth  inch  in  length  in  the  adult  state.  We 
failed  to  find  the  4i  worms  as  enclosed  in  box  and  the  few  killed  by  lime 
water.”  Possibly  they  were  species  of  white  worm,  which  are  often  asso¬ 
ciated  with  decaying  vegetable  matter,  and  may  sometimes  accelerate,  if 
not  actually  cause,  the  destruction  of  living  tissues.  All  the  eelworms 
we  found — eggs,  cysts,  so-called  larvae,  free  males  and  gravid  females — 
were  alive,  and  in  no  way  affected  prejudicially  by  the  lime  water  if  it  had 
been  used  to  effect  their  destruction.  We  mention  this  as  you  mention 
44  worms  killed  by  lime  water.”  We  still  find  Little’s  soluble  phenyle 
the  most  effective  against  these  pests  when  the  plants  are  growing,  apply¬ 
ing  as  in  an  ordinary’  watering  at  the  rate  of  a  fluid  ounce  to  3  gallons 
of  water,  repeating  occasionally.  A  grower  badly  troubled  with  eelworm 
uses  the  phenyle  at  the  strength  quoted  before  planting  and  afterwards 
lit  half  strength,  or  one  part  in  960  parts,  and  secures  good  crops  of  both 
Cucumbers  and  Melons  where  they  were  formerly  failures.  For  general 
disinfection  there  is  nothing  better  than  scalding  the  soil  and  bed  walls 
