554 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  21,  1899. 
SCIADOPITYS  YERTICILLATA. 
This  Conifer,  though  'closely  allied  to  the  Sequoias,  does  not,  to 
the  casual  observer,  appear  to  have  much  in  common  with  them, 
having  a  far  different  appearance  in  its  general  characters,  though  the 
catkins  and  cones  of  both  much  resemble  each  other.  Like  many 
others  of  the  common  names  applied  to  various  Conifers,  the  appel¬ 
lation  of  the  Umbrella  Pine  given  to  this  plant  is  misleading,  as  it  is 
not  a  Pine  by  any  means,  being  lurther  removed  from  the  true  Pines 
than  even  the  Spruces  are. 
A  native  of  Japan,  it  is  hardy  in  most  parts  of  England,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  distinct  and  handsome  of  Conifers,  needing  only  to 
be  seen  to  be  appreciated.  It  was  first  introduced  to  this  country 
in  1861,  though  as  early  as  1784  it  had  been  described  by  Thunberg 
from  imperfect  material  as  probably  a  species  of  Yew.  It  is  found 
wild  only  in  a  very  limited  area,  and  maybe  will  be  represented  only 
in  gardens  in  the  future  ;  but  it  Is  a  plant  which  readily  adapts 
itself  to  cultivation,  so  that  it  is  hardly  likely  to  be  entirely  lost. 
In  its  native  home  it  forms  a  tall,  conical,  or  pyramidal  tree 
about  100  feet  high  when  fully  developed ;  but  in  this  country  the 
largest  specimens  are  at  present  probably  not  more  than  25  or  30  feet 
in  height.  The  leaves  are  arranged  in  whorls  on  the  branches  about 
twenty  in  each,  are  4  or  5  inches  long  by  less  than  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  wide,  thick  and  leathery,  and  obtuse  or  slightly  cleft  at  the  tips. 
When  first  expanded  they  are  of  a  light  green  hue,  but  turn  darker 
and  more  shining  with  age.  The  under  side  of  the  leaf  has  a  furrow 
down  the  centre  of  it,  which  is  of  a  yellowish  tint.  . 
The  male  catkins  are  terminal,  chiefly  on  the  secondary  branches, 
and  appear  as  an  aggregation  of  twenty  to  thirty  small  rounded 
heads.  These  first  show  in  the  late  summer,  but  do  not  expand  until 
the  following  spring,  when  the  quantity  of  pollen  shed  by  them  is 
surprising. 
V  The  cones  are  small,  rounded,  and  spineless,  and  from  present 
appearances  will  be  fmely  produced  under  cultivation  in  this  country. 
If  they  show  on  young  trees,  as  they  often  do,  it  is  best  to  cut  them 
off  while  green,  as  their  presence  only  tends  to  weaken  the 
plant. — C. 
NATIONAL  AURICULA  AND  PRIMULA 
SOCIETY. — Southern  Section. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  the  above  Society  took  place  on 
Wednesday.  December  13th.  in  the  Horticultural  Club  Room,  Hotel 
Windsor,  Victoria  Street.  The  statement  of  the  Hon.  Sec.  disclosed  a 
most  satisfactory  state  of  affairs,  sixteen  new  members  having  joined 
during  the  year,  as  against  the  loss  of  six  by  death  and  otherwise. 
Amount  received  in  subscriptions  during  the  year,  £75  7s.  6d.  ;  amount 
paid  in  prize  money  at  the  late  exhibition,  held  in  conjunction  with  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster,  in  April  last, 
£56  17s.  Balance  carried  forward  to  1900,  £20  18s.  9d. 
IV  It  was  decided  to  hold  the  Exhibition  for  1900  on  Tuesday,  April 
24th,  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  a  liberal  prize  list  being  offered  for  Show 
Auriculas,  Alpine  Auriculas,  Primulas,  Polyanthus,  and  Primroses.  The 
Hon.  Sec.  is  Mr.  T.  E.  Henwood,  16,  Hamilton  Road,  Reading. 
NATIONAL  CARNATION  AND  PICOTEE  SOCIETY. 
SOUTHERN  SECTION. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  the  above  Society  took  place  on 
Wednesday,  December  13th,  in  the  Horticultural  Club  Room,  Hotel 
Windsor,  Victoria  Street,  the  President  of  the  Society  (Martin  R.  Smith, 
Esq.)  and  a  large  muster  of  members  being  present.  The  Hon.  Sec.  and 
Treasurer  reported  a  very  satisfactory  state  of  affairs.  Forty-five  new 
members  have  joined  the  Society  during  the  year,  a  number  considerably 
in  excess  of  those  lost  to  the  Society  by  death  and  otherwise.  Subscrip¬ 
tions  received  dur'mg  the  year  amounted  to  £301  3s.  fid.  Prize  money 
paid  at  the  late  exhibition  of  the  Society  held  at  the  Crystal  Palace  in 
July  last,  £228  Os.  6d.,  in  addition  to  three  silver  cups  presented  by  the 
President.  A  balance  of  £229  11s.  lOd.  was  carried  forward  to  the  year 
1900.  The  Society  now  numbers  nearly  400  members. 
It  was  decided  to  hold  the  annual  exhibition  for  1900  at  the  Crystal 
Palace  in  July  next.  Several  new  classes  were  added  to  the  schedule,  and 
it  was  also  decided  to  offer  a  silver  cup  to  the  exhibitor  gaining  most 
points  in  the  undressed  classes  as  a  further  encouragement  to  the  amateur 
members.  The  sum  now  offered  in  prize  money  amounts  to  close  upon 
£300  and  a  silver  cup,  in  addition  to  the  three  silver  cup3  presented  by 
the  President.  It  was  also  decided  to  publish  iu  the  forthcoming  report 
a  list  of  flowers  that  can  be  shown  as  yellow-ground  Picotees,  and 
another  list  for  yellow-ground  Fancies,  much  doubt  having  hitherto  been 
felt  as  to  which  class  some  of  the  varieties  should  be  shown  in. 
A  packet  of  choice  Carnation  seed  i3  sent  to  all  subscribers  of  10s  per 
annum  and  upwards.  This  seed  is  saved  from  the  unique  collection  of 
the  President,  and  generously  presented  by  him  to  the  Society.  The 
Hon.  Sec.  of  the  Society  is  Mr.  T.  E.  Henwood,  16,  Hamilton  Road, 
Reading. 
WORK.foi\.the'\YEEK. 
HARDY  FRUIT  GARDEN. 
Cleansing  Fruit  Trees. — Attention  should  be  given,  when  the  pruning 
of  trees  is  completed,  to  the  cleansing  of  the  stems  and  branches.  Moss 
and  lichen  infesting  the  branches,  colonies  of  scale  and  American  blight, 
red  spider  and  eggs  of  insects  are  all  cleared  away  by  judicious  and  per¬ 
sistent  applications  of  effective  insecticides. 
Moss  and  Lichen. — Mossy  and  lichenous  growths  on  fruit  trees  are 
amongst  the  greatest  evils  to  which  hardy  fruit  are  subject,  because 
harbour  is  provided  for  other  enemies  of  the  trees.  In  ridding  the  trees 
of  these  incrustations  a  preliminary  scraping  may  first  of  all  be  practised, 
employing  a  piece  of  hoop  iron,  but  not  cutting  the  tissues  of  the  wood. 
Having  removed  the  thick  outer  covering,  which  is  best  done  when 
thoroughly  soaked  with  wet,  brush  the  affected  parts  with  hot  lime,  soot, 
and  cow  manure  mixed  in  soapy  water.  Brine  is  also  an  excellent 
cleanser,  as  it,  like  lime  in  an  active  state,  destroys  the  organic  growth  on 
the  stems  and  branches  Lime  and  soot  must  be  well  brushed  over  the 
affected  parts  ;  the  brine  may  be  applied  with  a  scrubbing  brush,  and  in 
a  few  weeks  the  destroyed  growth  will  fall  away,  leaving  the  bark  com¬ 
paratively  clean.  In  order  to  make  the  stems  perfectly  clean  follow  with 
a  cleansing  mixture  of  softsoap  and  water,  or  a  preparation  of  Gishurst 
compound.  Half  a  pound  of  either,  thoroughly  dissolved  in  a  gallon  of 
hot  water,  forms  an  admirable  dressing. 
Scale. — The  scale  insect  infests  many  trees  and  bushes,  including 
Pears,  Plums,  Cherries,  Gooseberries,  and  Currants.  To  destroy  this 
insect  mix  equal  parts  of  lime  and  sulphur  into  a  paste,  and  add  half 
the  quantity  of  soot.  To  this  add  a  pound  of  softsoap  in  a  gallon  of 
water  and  a  wineglassful  of  petroleum  or  methylated  spirits  of  wine, 
mixing  the  whole  into  an  emulsion.  Paint  this  on  the  scale-infested 
parts,  and  the  insects  will  speedily  be  destroyed  and  fall  off.  Another 
excellent  destroyer  of  scale  insects  is  the  now  well-known  caustic  soda 
and  potash  solution,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  L.  Coates  of 
California.  The  method  of  preparing  this  is  to  take  one  pound  each  of 
caustic  soda  (Greenback’s  98  per  cent.)  and  crude  commercial  potash, 
also  known  as  pearlash.  Place  the  chemicals  in  separate  buckets,  and 
pour  on  boiling  water  gently  until  dissolved.  After  this  mix  them  together, 
and  add  ten  gallons  of  water.  Hot  water  is  best,  as  the  solution  should 
be  used  warm  ;  and  it  must  be  sprayed  on  the  trees,  not  syringed  on. 
The  latter  method  of  distribution  is  wasteful,  and  as  the  mixture  is 
valuable  the  most  should  be  made  of  it. 
American  Blight. — Insecticides  which  are  sprayed  on  the  trees  are  not 
effectual  for  this  pest,  as  it  is  one  which  locates  itself  in  cracks  and 
crevices  of  the  bark,  and  is  confined  to  Apple  trees  exclusively.  It  is 
also  the  most  prevalent  on  the  trunks  and  larger  branches,  though  in 
bad  cases  the  younger  parts  of  the  trees  are  likewise  affected.  Prepare 
a  mixture  of  softsoap  and  hot  water,  using  half  a  pound  of  soap  to  a 
gallon  of  water,  adding  a  quart  of  petroleum.  Well  mix  and  churn  this 
to  a  soapy  emulsion,  and  with  a  halt-worn  painter’s  brush  work  it 
thoroughly  into  the  infested  parts.  Before  applying  this  solution  all 
useless  wood  should  be  pruned  out.  The  upper  parts  of  the  trees,  which 
are  not  so  easily  treated  by  brushing,  may  be  cleansed  by  spraying  on 
the  caustic  soda  and  potash  solution.  At  the  present  time  American 
blight  is  not  so  active  as  in  summer,  when  the  white,  fluffy,  cottony 
substance  which  surrounds  the  insects  is  visible.  This  substance,  pro¬ 
bably  laden  with  eggs  and  embryonic  insects,  is  then  readily  carried 
about  by  the  wind.  In  order  to  pievent  this  occurring,  the  precaution 
should  be  taken  of  destroying  it  at  the  time  by  brushing  spirits  of  wine 
directly  on  to  it. 
Bed  Spider. — These  small  but  destructive  insects  may  be  readily 
extirpated  now  by  syringing  the  trees  which  are  affected,  chiefly  Apples, 
Cherries,  Plums  and  Gooseberries,  with  an  emnlsion  of  softsoap  and 
sulphur,  or  spraying  with  the  soda  and  potash  solution.  The  syringing 
and  spraying  must  be  done  from  all  sides,  so  as  to  reach  every  part. 
Preventing  the  Gooseberry  Caterpillar.— Where  Gooseberry  bushes 
were  trouoled  with  the  caterpillar  last  summer,  the  larvae  from  them  will 
be  buried  in  the  soil  beneath  the  bushes.  If  the  soil  is  scraped  away  for 
2  or  3  inches  immediately  underneath  the  branches  and  is  buried  in  a 
hole  betweeu  the  bushes  the  larvae  will  not  be  able  to  emerge  and  do 
damage  again.  Some  fresh,  rich  soil  should  be  spread  over  the  roots  in 
place  of  that  taken  out.  The  bushes  ought  also  to  be  well  dusted  with  fine 
quicklime  when  wet  wtth  dew  or  rain  ;  indeed  annual  dustings  of  quick¬ 
lime  to  both  Gooseberry  and  Currant  trees  are  beneficial,  not  only  as  a 
cleanser  of  the  wood,  but  as  a  protection  to  the  buds  from  the  attacks  of 
birds. 
Cleansing  Apricots,  Peaches  and  Nectarines.— If  the  soda  and  potash 
solution  is  used  to  dress  these  trees  more  water  should  be  added,  and  the 
application  given  while  the  trees  are  in  a  quite  dormant  condiiion  or 
injury  to  the  buds  may  result.  The  solution  must  be  sprayed  on  the  trees 
in  mild  weather.  Painting  the  wood  and  shoots  with  a  prepared  wash 
which  adheres  to  the  bark  is  an  excellent  method.  The  mixture  for  this 
purpose  may  consist  of  4  ozs.  of  softsoap  to  the  gallon  of  water,  mixing  a 
