486 
JOURNAL  ON  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  SO,  1899. 
***  All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  8,  Rose  Hill  Road 
Wandsworth,  S.W.,  and  HOT  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  tiot/i  (ft  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. 
Painting  Vinery  (/.  S.)  -Nothing  would  bo  hurt  by  painting  the 
house  inside  as  so jn  as  the  Vines  are  pruned  and  the  Chrysanthemums 
are  over  ;  the  other  occupants  being  bedding  Geraniums,  it  would  only  be 
necessary  to  move  them  out  of  the  way  of  the  painters  as  circumstances 
require  so  as  to  prevent  the  paint  dropping  on  the  leaves.  With  the 
admission  and  free  circulation  of  air,  the  turpentine  vapour  will  pass  off 
and  no  harm  whatever  be  done  the  plants.  Such  at  least  has  been  our 
experience.  We  covered  the  bedding  Pelargoniums  with  tiffany  to 
prevent  the  foliage  being  sprinkled  with  paint. 
Good  Varieties  of  Chrysanthemums  for  Decoration  and  Cutting  (Mem). 
0.  J.  Quintus,  rose  pink  ;  Lady  Selborne,  white  ;  James  Saber,  rosy 
mauve  ;  W.  Tricker,  rose  pink  ;  Mdlle.  Lacroix,  white  ;  Eyecroft  Glory- 
yellow  and  bronze  ;  W.  Holmes,  crimson  ;  Bertha  Rendatler,  yellow,  rose’ 
and  bronze;  Source  d  Or,  reddish  bronze ;  Princess  Victoria,  white; 
Isiveus  and  Lady  L.  Canning,  both  white  ;  the  varieties  are  named  in 
order  of  flowering,  (rom  October  to  January  inclusive. 
Sample  of  Bonemeal  (Birkenhead Reader).  —  The  article  appears  to  contain 
a  large  proportion  of  earthy  matter,  which  imparts  the  dark  colour.  The 
bme  also  appears  to  be  of  a  very  hard  nature,  so  that  it  would  be  slow  in 
decomposing  and  yielding  phosphoric  acid  to  the  soil  for  the  use  of  vege¬ 
tation.  In  other  respects  there  does  not  appear  anj  thing  am'ss  with  the 
bonemeal,  but  why  use  an  article  as  manure  without  a  guarantee  of 
quality  ?  We  cannot  undertake  an  analysis,  and  without  one  no  definite 
estimate  of  quality  and  value  can  be  arrived  at.  Vendors  are  bound  to 
sell  under  a  guarantee  of  quality  if  demanded,  and  any  false  statement 
renders  them  liable  to  prosecution. 
Beet  Soft  and  Flabby  after  Storing  (E.  T  //.).— The  B«et  having  been 
on  a  north  border  would  not  attain  the  maturity  of  root  essential  to  sound 
keeping  It  would  be  too  succulent  and  not  rich  in  sugary  matter  upon 
the  presence  or  otherwise  of  which  depends  the  plump. .ess  in  keeping  or 
the  reverse.  As  this  season  has  been  mild  they  might  bave  been  left  in 
the  ground  a  month  longer,  and  this  would  have  made  a  considerable 
diffeience  in  the  keeping.  The  right  procedure  is  to  lift  the  roots  on  a 
dry  day,  remove  only  the  adhering  soil  that  is  easily  rubbed  off,  and  store 
them  in  a  shed  in  rather  dry  (but  not  dust  dry)  sand.  In  very  dry- 
surroundings  the  roots  turn  soft  and  flabby— that  is,  they  shrink  and  have 
an  appearance  unfit  for  use.  The  roots  may  be  partially  restored  to 
plumpness  by  steeping  in  water  for  a  time,  say  overnight,  those  required 
for  serving  to  the  kitchen  the  following  day.  Why  not  pick  the  roots 
now  in  rather  damp  sand  with  the  tops  outside  ?  They  will  recover  plump¬ 
ness  to  a  great  extent,  if  not  altogether. 
Boot  Excrescence  (C.,  Weybridje). — Th ?  swelling  exhibits  the  p  culiar 
phenomena  of  a  parasite  exploiting  the  host  plant,  and  is  of  so  pro¬ 
nounced  a  character  that  we  hope  to  give  figures  in  a  future  issue.  The 
excrescence  consists  mainly  of  cellular  tissue,  and  comprises  a  series  of 
warts  superimposed  and  having  a  common  startir  g  point  on  the  small 
root  of  the  Apple  tree.  The  substance,  5  inches  in  depth  and  4J  inches 
in  diameter,  is  the  work  of  a  parasite,  first  referred  to  by  Woronin  as  a 
f  ungus,  and  named  by  him  Schinzia  Alni.  Muller  referred  the  plasmodium- 
iike  structures  which  occur  in  the  cellular  tissue  of  the  excrescence  of  the 
roots  of  Alders  to  a  myxomycete  belonging  to  the  genus  Plasmodiophora, 
and  called  it  P.  Alni.  Tnat  on  the  root  before  us  accords  generally  but 
not  entirely  with  the  species  found  on  Alder  roots,  and  may  be  only  a  form 
of  Plasmodiophora  Brassiere.  This  is  a  matter  for  further  investigation  ;  it 
is  difficult  to  disassociate  the  one  from  the  other,  and  also  from  that  of  the 
swelling  in  Potato  root  stems  or  tubers,  which  is  due  to  Pseudocommis 
vitis.  Perhaps  a  dressing  of  lime  would  be  of  service,  using  chalk  lime 
air-slaked  as  the  land  is  light.  A  cwt.  per  rod  would  not  be  too  heavy  a 
dressing. 
Chrysanthemum  Sport  (71  R.,  Guernsey).— The  spoit  from  Western 
King  is  one  of  considerable  promise,  and,  like  its  parent,  should  he 
esteemed  for  the  supply  of  cut  bloom,  notable  for  fine  quality.  Neither 
is  large  enough  to  be  popular  exhibition  kinds.  The  shade  of  yellow  is 
rather  light,  which  may-  be  against  it  in  the  eyes  of  some  persons.  It 
would  be  advisable  to  alter  the  name,  as  a  new  variety  has  already  been 
exhibited  bearing  the  name  you  suggest. 
Large  Vines  (/.  //.). — You  must  have  either  overlooked  or  forgotten 
certain  references  in  our  columns  to  the  Kinnell,  Cumberland  Lodge,  and 
Manresa  Vines,  all  of  which  are  much  larger  than  the  venerable  monarch 
at  Hampton  Court.  You  will  find  on  another  page  reliable  information 
on  the  Kinnell  Vine,  which  is,  having  regard  to  its  size  and  condition, 
probably  the  finest  specimen  in  Britain.  The  Manreaa  Vine  is  the 
youngest  of  the  giants,  and  the  most  remarkable  in  England.  It  is 
covered  by  3825  feet  of  glass,  and  for  years  has  been  “  cribbed,  cabined, 
and  confined  ”  Its  seven  horizontally  trained  rods  are  straight  as  a  line, 
measure  in  the  aggregate  1365  feet,  or  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 
It  is  about  thirty-six  years  old,  and  is  still  in  the  capable  hands  of  its 
raiser,  Mr.  M.  Davis.  Since  1885  it  has  vielded  6  tons  of  first-class 
market  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes.  The  Kinnell  Vine  is  covered  by 
4275  square  feet  of  glass,  or  450  feet  more  than  the  Manresa.  The 
Hampton  Court  Vine  is  covered  by  2200  square  feet  of  glazed  roof,  or 
1625  feet  less  than  the  Manresa  and  2075  feet  less  thin  the  Kinnell  Vine. 
The  Cumberland  Lodge  Vine  covers  an  area  of  about  3100  square  feet. 
This  noble  Vine  continues  in  vigour,  and  yearly  produces  splendid  crops 
of  high  quality  Grapes.  You  will  thus  see  that  the  Hampton  Court  is  not 
the  largest,  but  the  smallest  of  the  big  Vines  referred  to. 
Names  of  Fruits.  —  Notice.  —  We  have  pleasure  in  naming  good 
typical  fruits  (when  the  names  are  discoverable)  for  the  convenience  oi 
regular  subscribers,  who  are  the  growers  of  such  fruit,  and  not  col¬ 
lectors  of  specimens  from  non-subscribers.  This  latter  procedure  is 
wholly  irregular,  and  we  trust  that  none  of  our  readers  will  allow 
themselves  to  be  made  the  mediums  in  infringing  our  rules.  Special 
attention  is  directed  to  the  following  decision,  the  object  of  which  is 
to  discourage  the  growth  of  inferior  and  promote  the  culture  of  superior 
varieties.  In  consequence  of  the  large  number  of  worthless  Apples  and  Pears 
sent  to  this  office  to  be  named,  it  has  been  decided  to  name  only  specimens  and 
varieties  of  approved  merit,  and  to  reject  the  inferior,  which  are  not  worth 
sending  or  growing.  The  names  and  addresses  of  senders  of  fruits  or 
dowers  to  be  named  must  in  all  cases  be  enclosed  with  the  specimens, 
whether  letters  referring  to  the  fruit  are  sent  by  post  or  not.  The 
names  are  not  necessarily  required  for  publication,  initials  sufficing  for 
that.  Only  six  specimens  can  be  named  at  once,  and  any  beyond  that 
number  cannot  be  preserved.  They  should  be  sent  on  the  first  indication  oj 
change  towards  ripening.  Dessert  Pears  cannot  be  named  in  a  hard  green  state. 
The  practice  of  pinning  numbers  to  the  eyes  of  the  fruits  tends  to  destroy 
one  of  the  most  characteristic  features  and  increases  the  difficulty  of 
identification.  When  Plums  are  sent  to  be  named  young  wood  ol  the 
trees  should  accompany  them  Leaves  of  the  trees  are  necessary  with 
Peaches  and  Nectarines,  with  in(ormaiion  as  to  whether  the  dowers 
are  large  or  small.  (B.  B.  II)  — 2,  Beauty  of  Hants  ;  4,  Cobham  ;  5, 
Cox’s  Orange  Pippin,  small  ;  6,  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin,  fine  ;  the  numbers 
of  1  and  3  became  detached  ;  the  large  yellow  Apple  is  Chelmsford 
Wonder  ;  the  fineRussety  variety  Kings  Acre  Pippin  (TV.  B.).  —It  the 
leaves  of  the  small  black  Grape  are  downy  and  whitish  when  young  the 
variety  is  Miller’s  Burgundy  ;  if  not  downy  Black  Cluster.  The  others 
do  not  appear  to  be  suitable  for  o  itdoor  culture.  The  reddish  black  may 
possibly  be  Alicante  and  the  white  Grape  Foster’s  Seedling  ;  but  no  one 
could  be  certain  from  such  imperfect  specimens.  (R.  H.  S.). — Probably  a 
slightly  flattened  fruit  of  Rosemary-  Russet,  of  very  good  quality. 
(./.  C.  A.). — 1,  Court  cf  Wick  ;  2,  possibly  a  chance  seedling  between  the 
Blenheim  and  Ribston  Pippins,  useful,  no  doubt,  but  not  equal  to  either  ; 
3,  Maltster  ;  4,  a  small,  coloured  fruit  of  Dumelow’s  Seedling,  known  in 
the  north  as  Normanton  Wonder  ;  5,  Ribston  Pippin,  but  not  in  the  best 
condition  ;  6,  Willermoz,  a  rarely  seen  and  comparatively  inferior  Pear. 
Names  of  Plants. — We  only  undertake  to  name  species  of  cultivated 
plants,  not  wild  flowers,  or  varieties  that  have  originated  from  seeds  and 
cermed  florists’  flowers.  Flowering  specimens  are  necessary  of  flowering 
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 
rendition  that  are  so  closely  or  firmly  packed  in  soft  green  fresh  grass,  as 
o  remain  unmoved  by  shaking.  No  specimens  should  be  sent  to  rest  in 
Che  post  office  over  Sunday,  on  which  day  there  is  no  delivery  of  postal 
natter  in  London.  Specimens  in  partially  filled  boxes  are  invariably 
njured  or  spoiled  by  being  dashed  to  and  fro  in  transit.  Not  more  than 
fix  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  piper  is  damp.  (T.  II  S.).  —  Euonymus  europreus,  the  Spindle 
Tree.  (M.  L.  (?.). — Sternbergia  lutea,  the  Winter  Daffodil.  (M.  C.)  — 
1,  Cypripedium  barbatum  ;  2,  C.  insigne,  moderately  good  form  ;  3,  a 
poor  variety  of  Odontoglossum  ciispum.  ( F .  F.  P,). —  1,  Adiantum 
formosum  ;  2,  Saintpaulia  ionantha. 
