July  93,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
91 
for  at  least  a  century,  was  caused  by  "  bacteria,”  and  suggested  spray¬ 
ing  with  arsenites  1  Why  "  bacteria  ”  should  be  enshrouded  with  bo 
much  mystery  passes  human  comprehension.  The  more  people  know 
about  these  lowly  forms  of  vegetable  life  the  better  they  would  be  able 
to  prevent  the  diseases  they  produce. 
As  regards  British  "  yellows,”  the  malady  is  not  confined  to  Peaches 
and  Nectarines,  bat  it  occurs  in  Almonds  and  Apricots,  if  not  in  Plums. 
The  remedy  is  lifting,  change  of  soil,  especially  where  not  calcareous, 
and  trees  with  a  proper  rooting  medium  and  steady  supply  of  suitable 
food,  the  tree  will  grow  out  of  disease — purely  a  morbid  affection— and 
make  clean,  healthy  growth,  producing  as  fine  or  finer  fruit  as  before  it 
suffered  from  the  malady.  Sometimes  a  little  change  of  nutrition,  such 
as  the  application  of  about  a  quarter  of  an  ounce  per  square  yard  of 
sulphate  of  iron,  gives  a  tree  affected  with  chlorosis  or  paleness  of  colour 
a  beautiful  deep  green  hue  ;  not  that  this  is  always  a  sign  that  chlorophyll 
is  being  manufactured,  nor  is  it  invariably  due  to  the  iron,  for  both  ammo- 
niacal  salts  and  nitrates  will  produce  a  similar  appearance,  the  energising 
principle  in  the  case  of  the  iron  being  due  to  the  sulphur,  as  we  get  a 
similar  increase  from  most  sulphates,  especially  in  combination  with 
nitrogen. 
The  chlorosis  or  “  yellows  ”  is  probably  due  to  an  excess  of  chlorine, 
but  why  it  should  affect  some  branches  or  shoots  on  a  tree  and  not  others 
is  beyond  explanation.  In  some  cases  the  branches  or  shoots  so  affected 
positively  refuse  to  become  green  again  in  their  foliage,  the  green  not 
passing  beyond  the  midribs  and  veins,  and  they  usually  drop  prema¬ 
turely.  Such  parts  are  best  cut  away  so  as  to  give  place  for  normal 
growths,  and  this  being  done  there  is  little  to  dread  from  chlorosis  in 
this  country  provided  care  is  taken  not  to  apply  potash  salts,  especially 
those  containing  chlorine  in  undue  amount. 
As  for  “  bacteria,”  the  septic  are  common  enough,  being  inseparable 
from  putrefaction.  Micrococci,  bacteri,  bacilli,  and  spirilli  abound 
almost  everywhere,  especially  the  latter,  Spirillum  tenue  being  found  in 
the  water  on  Peach  leaves  which  have  decayed  through  water  hanging 
on  them  ;  even  the  flying  (S.  volutans)  may  be  caught  in  the  air  where 
much  vegetable  matter  is  decaying  and  tainting  the  atmosphere, — 
G.  Abbey. 
TUBEROUS-ROOTED  BEGONIAS. 
Since  the  tide  turned  in  favour  of  these  plants  for  the  embellish¬ 
ment  of  gardens,  greenhouses,  and  dwelling  rooms  it  has  been  main¬ 
tained  ;  indeed,  it  has  steadily  risen  higher  and  higher,  until  to-day 
when  but  few  establishments  can  be  found  where  they  are  not 
represented.  With  this  persistent  increase  in  general  favour  nursery¬ 
men  have  lent  their  best  efforts  towards  the  constant  introduction  of 
new  and  Improved  varieties,  of  which  there  must  now  be  several 
hundreds  more  or  less  distinct,  some  good  and  others  bad,  in  commerce. 
No  matter  how  many  are  introduced  in  any  year,  everyone  of  real  merit 
is  certain  to  receive  a  large  share  of  attention  and  to  be  extensively 
grown. 
So  beautiful  are  the  flowers,  so  varied  in  habit  and  leafage  are  the 
plants,  that  it  is  to  be  hoped  they  will  continue  to  spread  in  popular 
esteem,  for  we  could  ill  spare  them  from  our  gardens  now  that  their 
utility  has  become  so  thoroughly  recognised.  The  amateur,  with  only 
a  very  small  garden  or  greenhouse,  now  grows  tuberous -rooted 
Begonias,  while  the  professional  gardener  finds  it  advantageous  to  grow 
them  by  the  score  or  the  hundred,  according  to  the  space  at  his  disposal 
for  their  accommodation.  Amongst  singles  and  doubles  alike  there  is  a 
wide  range  of  colour,  a  graceful  and  floriferous  habit,  combined  with 
handsome  foliage,  that  must  keep  them  to  the  fore,  especially  while 
Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Co.,  Forest  Hill,  continue  their  valuable  work 
in  improving  them. 
Being  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Stanstead  Park  Nurseries  a  few 
days  ago  the  writer  thought  that  a  call  to  see  the  Begonias  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  a  few  notes  for  the  Journal  would  not  be  time  wasted. 
It  was  not  ;  on  the  contrary  the  display  was  an  education  in  Begonias, 
such  as  eieryone  should  secure  the  benefit  of,  and  this  everyone  can  do 
by  following  my  example.  In  pots  there  were  hundreds  of  plants  in 
full  flower,  others  past,  and  many  just  coming  on.  Out  of  doors  there 
were  plants,  many  thousands  ;  and  though  they  have  not,  owing  to  the 
drought,  grown  so  rapidly  as  they  should  have  done,  the  best  of  health 
;  was  clearly  apparent.  Given  some  warm  showers  the  beds  of  Begonias 
here  will  provide  a  brilliant  display  a  little  later  on  that  will  be  worth 
^  everyone  seeing.  There  are  many  scores  of  varieties  represented, 
I  and  one  has  but  to  see  them  in  flower  to  fully  realise  their  imposing 
beauty. 
But  the  object  of  this  pa?  cular  visit  was  to  see  the  plants  in  flower 
t  in  the  houses,  so  to  those  we  will  now  turn.  In  the  first  structure 
we  enter,  a  large  span-roof,  the  varieties  are  almost  exclusively  singles, 
I'  and  it  is  astonishing,  even  to  one  who  has  seen  them  several  years  in 
‘  succession,  what  a  magnificent  spectacle  they  present.  Standing  at 
^  either  end  of  the  house  the  visitor  sees  continuous  banks  of  rich  colours, 
J.  ranging  from  comparatively  small  flowers  to  those  upwards  of  6  inches 
in  diameter,  and  from  pure  white  to  the  deepest  crimson  ;  while  in 
}■'  addition  the  blooms  of  some  forms  are  borne  uprightly,  and  in  others 
they  hang  gracefully  over  the  bold  leafage, 
r  In  mentioning  a  few  varieties  only  those  of  recent  introduction  will 
if  receive  attention,  as  the  older  ones  are  generally  speaking  perfectly  well 
t  known  to  the  readers  of  the  Jovrnal  of  Eorticulture,  Superb  is  the 
.*  substance  of  the  rich  orange  scarlet  Earl  of  Essex,  which  is,  too,  of 
^  splendid  shape,  though  it  by  no  means  surpasses  in  the  latter  respect 
Lady  Plowden,  a  pure  white  variety  of  pleasing  beauty.  Lord  Alden- 
ham,  scarlet  in  colour,  of  considerable  size  and  substance,  is  a  variety 
that  is  certain  to  command  attention,  while  the  chaste,  delicate  blush 
hued  Countess  Nelson  appeals  strongly  to  everyone,  as  will  Lady 
Ampthill,  salmon  pink  in  shade,  and  extremely  floriferous.  The  many 
shades  of  bronze  and  buff  are  very  pleasing,  and  continue  to  rise  in 
popularity.  Of  this  type  the  shapely  blossoms  of  Lady  Wilkins, 
yellowish  bronze,  is  a  model  worthy  of  cultivation.  Besides  these  there 
are  amongst  the  novelties  of  this  season  Lady  Esther  Smith,  cerise ; 
Lady  Foley,  salmon  red  ;  Marjorie  Hoffman,  rose,  very  large  ;  Bir  John 
Dorington,  pink  ;  and  Viscount  Grim=ton,  crimson. 
Remaining  still  amongst  the  singles  attention  may  well  be  called  to 
what  are  probably  the  forerunners  of  a  new  type,  of  which  the  points 
will  be  perfect  shape  and  substance  combined  with  fragrance  in  the 
flowers,  and  chastely  marbled  leafage.  So  far  all  these  attributes  have 
not  been  found  in  one  variety,  but  now  that  a  handsome  foliaged  one  of 
delicious  fragrance  is  with  us  the  other  essentials  may  well  be  deemed 
to  be  within  measurable  distance.  The  flower  of  the  one  at  Forest  Hill 
is  yellow  in  colour,  and  the  scent  is  that  of  a  Mar4chal  Niel  Rose,  so 
much  so  indeed  as  to  justify  that  name  being  given  to  the  Begonia.  Of 
the  fringed  flowers  and  the  bearded  ones,  of  which  the  latter  has  a 
beard  on  each  petal  which,  in  conjunction,  form  a  cross,  nothing  can 
now  be  said,  as  a  turn  must  now  be  given  to  the  doubles. 
The  double  varieties  of  Begonias  are  even  more  numerous  than  their 
single  brethren,  and  to  some  tastes  they  are  more  beautiful.  Undoubtedly 
room  ought  to  be  found  in  all  collections  for  some  of  each.  The 
new  forms  that  will  be  mentioned  are  all  meritorious,  as  no  doubt  many 
readers  who  have  been  recently  to  the  nurseries  will  know  from  personal 
experience.  The  place  of  honour  shall  be  accorded  to  Snowdrift,  the 
very  name  of  which  renders  it  superfluous  to  give  the  colour.  It  is  a 
gem  that  cannot  fail  to  secure  attention.  Another  variety  whose  name 
tells  its  hue  is  Blush  Queen,  and  again  the  flowers  are  superb.  Sturdy 
in  habit,  free  in  producing  its  apricot-coloured  flowers  is  Lady  Frederick 
Fitzroy,  while  the  salmon  pink  blooms  of  Marchioness  of  Downshire  are 
no  less  attractive.  If  Mrs.  F.  W.  Soames  is  not  a  perfect  doable 
Begonia  then  it  must  be  remarkably  nearly  bp  ;  the  colour  is  salmon 
scarlet.  The  broad,  substantial,  beautifully  placed  petals  build  up  a 
flower  that  none  can  fail  to  admire  and  appreciate. 
Lady  Wilmot,  pale  salmon  ;  Miss  Pursell,  orange  scarlet ;  Mr.  J.  T. 
Bennett-Pce,  crimson,  worthy  the  name  of  that  excellent  florist ;  Neat¬ 
ness,  red  ;  and  the  Hon.  Mrs,  Mulholland,  primrose,  complete  the  list  of 
new  ones,  and  all  are  good.  Amongst  older  ones  Duchess  of  York,  Lady 
Theodora  Guest,  Rose  Laing,  Majestic,  Royal  Sovereign,  Lady  Dorington, 
and  Duke  of  Fife  should  have  a  trial,  if  they  have  not  already  had  one, 
as  all  of  them  possess  many  points  of  merit  that  appeal  directly  to  the 
lover  of  these  most  useful  flowers. — Examiner. 
NOTES  ON  VINES  AND  GRAPES. 
Scalding  and  Training. 
”P.  P.”  and  "North  Yorks”  (page  53)  have  done  good  service  by 
reference  to  Vine  borders  and  ventilation,  as  their  remarks  accord  so 
closely  with  my  opinion  on  scalding.  I  have  constantly  noticed  Vines 
too  near  the  glass  and  borders  neglected  in  the  matter  of  watering.  I 
wish  all  young  gardeners  would  learn  to  reflect  when  entering  vineries 
that  just  as  their  own  heads  would  suffer  if  placed  near  the  roof  (late 
morning  watering  of  plants  on  a  top  shelf  tells  how  true  this  is),  so  the 
Vines  all  day  as  well  as  night  suffer  by  being  deprived  of  a  free  circulation 
of  air. 
By  my  advice  this  year  several  Grape  growers  have  lowered  their 
Grape  rods  considerably.  When  a  man  cannot  lower  his  wires  he  can 
lower  the  rods,  and  thus  insure  a  healthy  atmosphere  above  the  foliage 
instead  of  having  many  leaves  fitting  close  on  the  glass,  and  therefore 
wet,  while  the  sun  is  sufficiently  fierce  to  bake  them. 
The  celebrated  Grape  grower,  Mr.  Wm.  Berry  of  Ipswich,  always 
suspended  his  rods  very  low,  and  as  the  berries  increased  gave  large 
quantities  of  water  and  liquid  manure  to  the  borders.  When  Grapes 
commence  colouring  they  really  ask  for  moisture  at  the  roots,  and  when 
they  get  it,  other  things  being  equal  (early  ventilation  and  night  ventila¬ 
tion  more  than  many  practise),  they  colour  well,  keep  well,  and  the 
Vines  are  being  nourished  for  another  year’s  crop.  In  many  places  there 
is  great  need  to  have  written  deeply  upon  the  memory — “Water,  water, 
water,  when  required,”  and  Vines  need  more  than  many  growers  seem  to 
think. — C.,  Devon. 
Whimsical  Freak  of  a  Vine. 
The  way  in  which  a  Vine  here  has  produced  a  bunch  of  Grapes  being 
such  as  I  have  never  seen  or  heard  of,  I  think  a  note  of  it  may  prove 
interesting  and  worth  recording.  The  Vine  is  a  Gros  Colman,  that  was 
planted  in  1885  ;  it  has  two  limbs,  carrying  twenty-seven  large  bunches, 
in  the  ordinary  way  of  bearing.  The  single  stem  is  introduced  from  an 
outside  border  through  a  hole  in  a  freestone  wall,  and  passes  up  to  the 
roof  through  an  opening  in  a  thick  stone  shelf.  At  a  point  where  the 
stem  is  thickest,  quite  9  inches  in  circumference,  and  that  point  not 
quite  inside  the  opening,  a  bunch  of  Grapes  has  been  forced  out  of  the 
stem  without  either  leaf  or  other  growth  of  any  sort.  It  hangs  on  the 
face  of  the  wall,  and  is  now  nearing  the  colouring  stage,  and  lookicg 
quite  fresh  and  healthy.  There  is  no  leaf  or  young  growth  nearer  this 
bunch  than  5  feet. — D.  Thomson,  Dnimlating . 
