570 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
June  18  1896. 
repeat  it  is  not  so  ?  Have  it  if  you  can.  If  you  cannot,  take  the  higher 
view  and  endeavour  to  extract  the  moral  from  these  passing  thoughts 
that  “  Our  acts,  our  angels,  are  for  good  or  ill.”  It  is  to  the  latter  section 
of  our  lads  of  the  bothy — those  who  pine  for  what  they  may  never 
receive— -they  are  especially  addressed,  to  be  to  them  not  only  consola¬ 
tory  but  stimulative.  Did  the  matter  require  but  a  casting  vote  to  make 
it  un  fait  accompli  it  should  certainly  have  that  of — An  Old  Boy. 
[Would  the  “  Old  Boy  ”  have  been  a  more  accomplished  man  than  he 
is  now  if  he  had  been  the  recipient  of  greater  indulgences  in  the  days 
of  his  youth?  We  think  we  knew  the  “Tartan  Chief,”  whose  memory 
is  cherished  by  those  who  once  thought  him  hard  to  serve,  including  even 
the  gardener  referred  to  on  page  459,  May  21st,  who  has  made  his 
fortune  early  by  strenuous  endeavours,  including  the  making  of  bricks, 
and  whose  gratitude  to  his  late  zealous  master  has  been  shown  in  a  way  that 
is  altogether  admirable — taking  to  his  home,  bringing  up,  and  educating 
a  fatherless  child,  whose  present  position  and  future  prospects  are  such 
as  would  gladden  the  heart  of  him  who  once  seemed  exacting,  but  who 
proved  “  a  friend  to  lads  with  grit.”  Whether  they  become  “  men  of 
metal  ”  depends  on  themselves,  as  in  the  case  of  the  “  Old  Boy”  and 
the  brickmaker,  who  did  not  faint  under  the  drilling  of  the  past,  or  they 
would  not  be  in  the  positions  they  occupy  to  day.J 
NOTES  ON  LATE  GRAPES. 
In  order  to  secure  a  good  crop  of  Grapes  in  the  late  vinery  treatment 
must  at  the  present  time  be  given  that  will,  other  conditions  being 
favourable,  result  in  thorough  swelling  and  perfect  finish  of  the  berries. 
All  foliage  should  have  full  exposure  to  light,  but  when  the  space  is 
fairly  covered  with  leaves  keep  the  shoots  closely  pinched.  Excessive 
foliage  does  more  harm  than  good,  for  it  is  elaborated  sap  that  builds  up 
the  structure  of  the  Vine,  the  crop  of  the  current  year,  and  the  wood 
and  buds  that  give  the  fruit  of  the  next.  The  foliage  should  be  rather 
thinner  in  the  case  of  white  Grapes  than  in  black  ;  this  more  particularly 
applies  to  Muscats,  which  of  all  Grapes  require  high  elaboration  of  the 
juices  to  insure  their  assuming  the  rich  golden  amber  colour  so  much 
prized.  Avoid  large  reductions  of  foliage  at  a  time,  it  only  tendB  to 
cause  shanking  through  check  given  the  roots,  and  gorcing  with  matter 
that  cannot  be  properly  assimilated.  Keep  the  growths  tied  down  from 
the  glass  and  so  prevent  them  from  scorching.  Vines  extending  may  make 
as  much  lateral  growth  as  there  be  room  for,  always  giving  the  principal 
leaves  or  those  corresponding  to  the  pruning  buds  every  advantage  of 
light  and  air,  not  allowing  them  to  be  interfered  with  in  any  way  by 
the  laterals. 
Late  Grapes  are  gross  feeders,  they  liking  a  good  substantial  soil,  and 
with  plenty  of  small  stones  and  grit  in  it,  yet  somewhat  firm  so  as  to 
induce  a  fibrous  root  formation,  furnish  steady  supplies  of  nutrition,  or 
retain  the  nourishment  supplied  for  the  benefit  of  the  Vines.  Full 
supplies  of  phosphoric  sc  d,  sulphuric  acid,  nitric  acid,  and  hydrochloric 
acid  are  necessary  for  forming  the  essential  phosphates,  sulphates,  nitrates, 
and  chlorides  of  lime,  potash,  magnesia,  and  iron  ;  and  where  the  soil  is 
such  as  not  to  afford  them  in  adequate  amounts  for  the  nutrition  of  the 
Vines  they  should  be  supplied  in  the  form  of  superphosphate  of  lime, 
muriate  (chloride)  of  potash,  sulphate  of  magnesia  and  iron,  with 
sulphate  of  ammonia  for  loamy  and  clayey  soils,  and  nitrate  of  soda  for 
those  of  a  light  or  calcareous  nature.  A  good  mixture  is  formed  as 
follows  : — pure  dissolved  bones,  five  parts  ;  muriate  of  potash,  three 
parts  ;  sulphate  of  magnesia,  one  part ;  sulphate  of  iron,  half  part ; 
sulphate  of  ammonia  or  nitrate  of  soda,  two  and  a  half  parts  ;  mixed, 
and  applied  at  the  rate  of  3  or  4  ozs.  per  square  yard  every  three  weeks, 
oftener  or  more  distantly  as  nourishment  is  required. 
Sulphate  of  lime  is  a  necessity  of  Vine  growth  ;  it  is  supplied  in  the 
superphosphate,  so  that  there  is  no  need  to  repeat  this  substance.  In 
some  cases,  such  as  calcareous  soils,  sulphate  of  potash  is  preferable  to 
the  muriate,  chloride  being  considered  by  seme  to  accelerate  shanking, 
but  this  can  only  occur  in  presence  of  lime  and  very  moist  soil  or  defec¬ 
tive  drainage.  Of  all  the  manures  for  Vines  few  are  better  than  night 
soil,  or  watering  with  house  sewage,  enough  sulphate  of  iron  being 
added  to  make  equal  to  five  grains  per  gallon.  The  sulphate  in  presence 
of  ammonia  is  converted  into  a  double  sulphate  of  ammonia  and  iron, 
the  latter  being  practically  useless  as  a  fertiliser  without  the  ammonia, 
and  is  even  better  when  phosphated,  that  is,  adding  some  superphosphate 
to  the  sewage.  Do  not  allow  the  border  to  lack  moisture,  for  nutrient 
matters  in  the  soil  aie  of  no  use  unless  in  liquid  form,  and  thoroughly 
diffused  through  the  stratum. 
Neglect  in  watering  borders  that  are  well  drained,  as  all  Vine  borders 
should  be,  and  mulching,  especially  where  the  Vines  are  carrying  heavy 
crops,  is  not  only  injurious  to  the  present  crop  through  inducing  red 
spider  and  premature  ripening  of  the  foliage,  but  disastrously  affecting 
next  year’s  crop  of  fruit.  Outside  borders  may  need  a  light  mulch,  as 
the  recent  rains  have  made  them  moist  enough  ;  but  it  dry  afford  a 
thorough  supply  with  some  supporting  food  in  it,  or  apply  a  fertiliser 
after  watering  and  wash  in  moderately.  The  roots  near  the  surface  will 
take  to  it  and  multiply  there  accordingly  instead  of  striking  down  into 
the  depths  of  the  border. 
All  late  Grapes  thrive  best  in  a  comparatively  high  temperature, 
abundant  wholesome  food  at  the  roots,  and  a  genial  atmosphere. 
Maintain  a  night  temperature  of  65°,  70°,  to  75°  by  day  in  dull  weather. 
Admit  air  early,  a  little  at  the  top  of  the  house  constantly,  increasing 
the  ventilation  with  the  temperature,  allow  an  advance  to  85°  or  90°,  at 
which  keep  through  the  day  from  sun  heat,  reducing  the  opening  with 
the  declining  sun.  Close  at  85°,  damping  the  paths  well  then  and  again 
before  nightfall  in  hot  weather  It  is  well  to  close  for  a  short  time,  and 
afterwards  admit  a  lit'le  air,  which  will  prevent  a  vitiated  atmosphere 
and  allow  the  foliage  drying  in  the  morning  by  the  time  the  sun  acts 
powerfully.  Avoid  cold  draughts  or  sudden  depressions  of  temperature  ; 
they  cause  rust  and  favour  the  growth  of  mildew. — G.  A, 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
June  9th. 
Scientific  Committee.  —  Present :  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  (in  the 
chair)  ;  Mr,  Mc.Lachlan,  Dr.  Bonavia,  Mr.  Douglas,  Bev.  W.  Wilks,  Dr. 
Muller,  Dr.  Bussell,  Bev.  C.  W.  Dod,  Mr.  Bennett-P^e,  and  Kev. 
G.  Henslow  (Hon.  Sec.). 
Experiments  in  Colouring  Flowers — As  a  preliminary  experiment, 
Dr.  Bussell  tested  the  power  of  the  soil  to  retain  the  various  salts 
proposed  to  be  used  in  the  case  of  white  Pelargoniums.  He  took  two 
glass  tubes,  1  foot  in  length,  and  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in  diameter, 
and  drawn  out  at  one  end.  These  were  fi  led  with  soil  from  a  garden, 
the  amount  being  85  cubic  inches.  He  poured  in  a  solution  of  sulphate 
of  copper  (13  grains  to  the  pint,  or  quarter  of  an  ounce  to  a  gallon). 
The  water  which  came  through  was  tested  ;  but  4^  pints  passed  through 
before  any  trace  appeared,  and  that  only  after  one  month  ;  56  grains 
were  held  by  the  soil.  Similarly  with  sulphate  of  iron  ;  3J  pints  of  the 
solution  passed  through  before  any  iron  was  present  in  the  water;  This 
took  twenty-eight  days,  so  that  47  grains  were  held  by  the  soil.  As  an 
additional  experiment,  some  of  the  same  soil  was  saturated  by  shaking 
it  with  water  ;  it  was  then  put  into  a  tube  similar  to  the  previous  ones, 
and  e^phate  of  copper  (13  grains  to  a  pint)  poured  on  as  before  ; 
2|  pints  passed  through  before  any  copper  was  traceable.  This  took 
fifteen  days,  so  that  36  grains  were  held  by  the  soil.  The  next  experi¬ 
ment  was  made  with  ammonium  salts.  Ammonium  nitrate  was  poured 
on  the  soil  (13  grains  to  a  pint)  ;  4  ozs.  came  through  before  the 
ammonium  salt  was  found.  The  soil  thus  retained  2|  grains.  This 
took  only  three-quarters  of  an  hour.  Ammonium  chloride. — With  this 
salt,  5  oz°.  passed  through  before  ammonia  was  detee'ed,  therefore  the 
soil  held  3J  grains.  It  ran  through  in  half  an  hour.  The  significance  of 
these  experiments  showed  that  unless  the  salts  be  placed  directly  in 
contact  with  the  roots,  it  might  be  retained  in  the  soil,  and  no  result 
v  ould  follow. 
Prepotency  of  the  Male  Parent. — Mr.  Douglas  brought  a  very 
interesting  communication  on  prepotency  in  crossing  Carnations  from 
Mr.  Smith  of  Warren  House,  Hayes,  Kent,  of  which  the  following  is  an 
abstract : — “  One  very  strong  bit  of  evidence  in  favour  [of  the  male 
prepotency]  is  given  by  the  crosses  on  ‘  Gei mania,’  This  is  a  flower  of 
tremendous  individuality,  and  if  any  flower  could  transmit  its  peculiari¬ 
ties  to  its  descendants,  it  would  be  this;  yet  Germania  (yellow)  is 
swamped  by  the  prepotency  of  the  pollen  parent  in  the  great  majority  of 
caces.  I  baldly  ever  get  a  yellow  worth  having  ;  but  when  I  do  I  find 
them,  as  a  rule,  pure  reproductions  on  a  most  feeble  scale  of  the  mother  ; 
and  I  always  regard  them  as  products  of  Germania  fertilised  by  pollen 
of  flowers  on  the  same  plant  or  from  one  in  the  immediate  vicinity.” 
Mr.  Smith  sends  a  table  of  crosses  in  which  is  Germania  (seed  parent) 
X  King  of  Scarlets  : — Produce,  two  yellow  ground  Picotees,  one  yellow 
self  ;  Germania  X  Sir  B.  Seymour  ;  all  the  produce  took  after  the  male 
parent ;  G.  x  a  maroon,  nearly  all  the  offspring  maroons  ;  G.  X  Mrs. 
Vernon  Harcourt ;  offspring,  five  scarlets  and  one  maroon  ;  G.  x  Ariadne 
gave  scarlet,  crimson,  and  rose.  “The  strongest  evidence  on  the  other 
side  is  afforded  by  the  produce  of  Madame  A.  Warocque  X  G.  I  have 
at  one  time  or  another,  Bince  1892,  saved  nearly  ninety  plants  from  this 
cross,  and  I  never  raised  a  yellow  from  it  ;  a  few  buffs  and  apricots,  but 
never  a  true  yellow,  by  far  the  largest  proportions  being  scarlets,  rose, 
and  crimsons.  It  seems  to  me  to  be  easy  enough  in  a  cross  for  other 
colours  to  swamp  yellow,  but  quite  another  thing  for  yellow  to  over-ride 
other  colours,  unless  it  exists  in  both  parents.  The  most  it  seems  able 
to  do  is  to  produce  orange  and  buff.”  In  further  illustration  of  this  fact 
he  gives  the  following  cases  : — Buby  x  G.  gave  two  rose  (no  trace  of 
yellow)  ;  Governor  (maroon)  x  G.  gave  one  yellow,  one  buff,  two  rose, 
and  one  crimson  ;  Madame  Van  Houtte  and  Ella  Murray  x  G.,  all  the 
(  ffspring  took  after  the  mother.  Mr.  Smith  adds  the  following  interesting 
fact  with  “whites:” — “When  you  cross  violent  contrasts  of  colour, 
such  as  purple  and  yellow,  or  scarlet  and  yellow,  you  are  apt  to  get  a 
good  proportion  of  whites.”  He  gives  as  examples  :  —  Corunna  (yellow) 
X  Hayes  (scarlet)  ;  offspring,  two  whites,  one  scarlet ;  Germania  (}  ellow) 
X  purple,  gives  maroons  and  whites  ;  G  x  N.  Murray  (scarlet),  four 
out  of  five  were  white  ;  Lord  Lefton  x  G.  gave  four  whites,  one  maroon, 
three  yellow  or  buff. 
Primulas  as  Skin  Irritants. — Mr.  Dod  observed  that  besides  the 
well-known  case  of  P.  obcotiica,  which  has  no  effect  upon  himself,  he 
finds  P.  jsponica  to  he  very  irritating,  and  what  is  more  remarkable,  the 
“  farina,”  a  secretion  of  wax  on  the  surface  of  the  plant,  produces  the 
same  effect,  causing  blisters  on  the  hand. 
Cineraria  Hybrids.  —  Mr.  Bennett -Pee  exhibited  a  plant  of 
C.  l’Heretieri  (?)  X  a  greenhouse  variety  of  C.  cruenta,  raised  by  Mr. 
Lynch  of  the  Botanic  Gardens,  Cambridge,  and  also  a  similar  cross  by 
himself.  The  flowers  were  very  different.  In  the  former  they  were  red 
whole  coloured,  the  petals  loDg  and  dependent ;  in  Mr.  I\e  s  they  were 
white,  with  tips  purple  and  the  heads  flatter,  more  resembling  an 
ordinary  garden  form. 
Cytisus  sebparius  var.  Andreana, — A  question  having  been  raised  as 
to  the  seed  of  this  vaiiety  coming  true,  Mr.  Wilks  observed  that  about 
one-thiid  are  true,  but  in  others  the  blosscm  reverted  to  those  of  the 
