398 
October  22,  189«. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
_ Ants. _ Has  any  reader  of  the  Journal  been  able  to  exterminate 
ants  in  hothouses?  If  so,  will  he  kindly  state  the  method  by  which  he 
succeeded  ? — Ant  Plagtte. 
_  Shirley  Gardeners’  Association. — There  was  an  excellent 
meeting  of  the  members  of  the  above  Association  at  the  Parish  Room, 
Shirley,  Southampton,  to  hear  a  paper  hy  Mr.  J.  Miles,  The  Gardens, 
Portswood,  entitled  “  Pruning  Hardy  Fruit  Trees  for  Pleasure  and 
Profit.”  The  President,  Mr.  W.  F.  G.  Spranger,  C.C.,  in  the  chair.  Mr. 
Miles  dealt  in  a  lucid  manner  with  his  subject. 
- Heavy  Potatoes  and  Tomatoes. — The  Potato  referred  to  by 
“  P.”  (page  374)  must  indeed  be  a  monster.  On  September  4th  we  dug 
a  specimen  of  Prime  Minister  Potato  weighing  2  lbs.  11  ozs.,  which  is 
the  nearest  approach  to  4  lbs.  1  oz.  I  have  known.  While  on  the  subject 
of  outsized  specimen  vegetables  may  I  inquire  through  your  pages  what 
is  the  weight  of  the  heaviest  Tomato  on  record  ?  We  last  year  cut  one 
of  the  Climax  variety  which  weighed  2  lbs.  all  but  J  oz.  This  was 
shown  in  the  window  of  Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker  &  Son’s  establishment,  Liver¬ 
pool. — T.  W. 
-  Violets. — Enclosed  please  find  Violets  for  your  inspection 
— Marie  Louise  and  The  Czar — (the  latter  gathered  out  of  doors.)  The 
Maiie  Louise  have  only  had  the  lights  on  for  the  past  three  days  as  it 
has  been  so  wet.  I  have  picked  to-day  (October  16th)  seventy-eight  dozen 
blooms,  of  which  these  are  a  sample.  I  picked  about  the  same  number 
on  the  10th.  The  plants  are^carrying  large,  clean,  and  healthy  foliage, 
the  average  size  being  1  foot  in  diameter.  Violets  are  in  strong  demand 
for  the  use  of  the  mansion,  being  one  of  the  favourite  flowers. — Wm. 
James  Penton.  [The  flowgrs  on  their  long,  stout  footstalks  were 
superb,  and  our  correspondent  is  to  be  congratulated  on  their  quality.] 
-  Isle  of  Wight  Horticultural  Association.  —  The 
meatibers  of  this  Association  assembled  in  unusual  numbers  at  the  last 
forcnightly  meeting,  when  Mr.  Joseph  Cheal  delivered  an  interesting 
and  instructive  lecture  on  fruit  growing  ;  he  also  brought  upwards  of 
100  dishes  of  splendid  fruit.  In  addition  to  this  local  exhibits  were 
stag  id  by  Mr.  C.  Orchard,  Bern  bridge,  who  had  some  highly  coloured 
Bitmarcks  (which  Mr.  Cheal  specially  mentioned  in  his  lecture)  ;  Mr.  C. 
Snook,  Westhill  Gardens,  had  ten  dishes  of  fine  fruit,  a  dish  of  Blen¬ 
heim  Orange  being  unique  ;  Mr.  Banks,  Landguard  Manor  ;  Mr.  W.  H. 
Geddes,  Chine  House  ;  and  of  amateurs  Messrs.  Edwicker,  Holling, 
F.  and  J.  H.  Silsbury  contributed  usefully  to  the  exhibition. 
-  “Awful.” — When  “  The  ScriSe  ”  went  on  a  “Resting  Tour” 
he  was  evidently  prepared  to  make  the  best  of  everything,  and  it  is  so 
pleasant  to  read  the  articles  that  I  cannot  help  assuring  him  we  must 
join  the  railway  magnate  in  saying  the  narrative  is  “  awfully  interest¬ 
ing.”  Now,  “  Mr.  Scribe,”  pray  don’t  search  the  dictionary  again. 
“Very”  won’t  do,  neither  will  “exceedingly”  nor  “excessively;” 
and  although  I  don’t  (except  in  this  case)  use  the  word  “  awfully  ” 
myself,  no  doubt  the  magnate  used  it  with  due  consideration,  We 
shall  not  complain  of  prolixity  if  the  “  Resting  Tour  ”  continue  equally 
interesting,  but  we  shall  complain  if  there  should  be  too  long  between 
the  instalments,  and  shall  insist  upon  having  the  words  “  to  be  con¬ 
tinued  in  our  next  issue  ”  at  the  end  of  each  one. — A  Sub  (“  Awfully  ” 
Sub)  Scribe. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
October  13th. 
Scientific  Committee. — Present :  Dr.  Bonavia  (in  the  chair) ; 
Dr.  Russell,  llev.  W.  Wuks,  Dr.  Miiller,  Mr.  Douglas,  and  Rev. 
G.  Henslow.  Hon.  Sec. 
Vinets  Diseased. — The  following  communication  has  been  received 
since  the  last  meeting  from  Mr.  Messenger,  Woolverstone  Gardens, 
Ipswich  ; — “  I  enclose  a  bunch  of  Black  Alicante  Grapes  and  two 
leaves,  one  of  Black  Alicante,  the  other  of  Gros  Colman.  I  am  desirous 
of  knowing  the  cause  of  the  discolouration  of  the  stem,  footstalk,  and 
berry,  and  why  the  leaves  are  eying  at  one  particular  place  ;  and 
further,  what  remedy  1  should  apply  ?  ”  The  following  report  has  been 
received  : — “  The  foliage,  leafstalk,  and  also  stalks  and  some  of  the 
b  rries  appear  to  be  infested  with  fungi,  which  I  believe  to  be 
Peronospora  viticola.  which  I  have  seen  attack  Vines  in  the  same  form 
as  those  received.  The  leaves  first  pet  whitish  patches  and  then  dry  up, 
and  the  leafstalks  are  similarly  affected.  It  would  be  advisable  to 
thoroughly  scrub  nr  paint  the  interior  of  the  house,  limewash  the  walls, 
and  remove  the  surface  of  the  border  to  eradicate  any  germs.  It  might 
also  be  advisable  to  see  that  the  border  is  sweet  and  properly  drained.” 
— S.  T.  W, 
Potatoes  Diseased. — Samples  were  received  from  Mr.  H.  S.  Bartlet, 
F  R,H.S.,  of  Severndurg,  Shooters  Hill,  characterised  by  having  spots 
within  them.  They  proved  to  be  a  form  of  the  ordinary  Potato  disease, 
Ptrjuospora  infestans. 
Monstrous  Structures. — Mr.  C.  Browne,  of  Hextable,  Kent,  forwarded 
a  fasciated  form  of  Campanula,  probably  the  result  of  over-nutrition  ; 
a  three-seeded  French  Bean  pod,  due  to  the  union  of  three  carpels  out 
of  the  typical  number  five  ;  and  a  double  Apple,  the  result  of  the 
union  of  the  carpels  of  two  flowers  combined. 
Apple  with  Red  Flesh. — Mr.  Henslow  showed  specimens  of  the  red 
Apple,  known  as  “  Ten  Commandments,”  described  in  “Hogg’s  Fruit 
Manual,”  p.  228.  The  name  is  derived  from  the  ten  red  spots  of  the 
fibro-vascular  cords  passing  through  the  Apple,  the  flesh  of  which  is 
more  or  less  of  a  crimson  hue  throughout.  It  is  a  Herefordshire  Apple, 
and  according  to  Mr.  Wright  (to  whom  it  had  been  submitted)  is  more 
elongated  than  usual.  It  was  received  from  Zeals  (a  village  on  the 
borders  of  Wilts  and  Somerset),  where  there  are  two  trees  near  each 
other,  very  old.  and  9  feet  in  circumference  at  a  height  of  3  feet  from 
the  ground.  Nothing  is  known  of  the  history  of  these  trees.  The 
question  was  raised  as  to  the  form  of  the  Apple  being  due  to  the  locality 
where  the  tree  grew,  as  Mr.  Bailey  has  lately  published  a  paper*, 
showing  how  different  kinds  of  Apple  trees,  though  only  grafted,  often 
assume  the  same  form  of  fruit  when  growing  in  the  same  States  of 
N.  America  respectively.  Mr.  Wright  informed  Mr.  Henslow  that  the 
importance  of  knowing  the  locality  in  England  whence  an  unnamed 
Apple  was  received  had  been  already  felt  by  himself  and  Dr.  Hogg. 
Experiments  with  Salts  and  Pelargonia.—Th^  following  reports 
were  received  from  Rev,  W.  Wilks  and  Dr.  Russell.  The  general  results 
of  the  action  of  salts  used  upon  the  white  flowers  was  nil,  but  with 
chromium  an  effect  was  noticeable  on  the  leaves,  in  that  the  fibro- 
vascular  cords  remained  of  a  dark  colour,  the  interstices  being  yellow 
green.  This  was  the  case  with  Mr.  Wilks’  plant,  aud  to  a  less  extent 
with  Mr.  Henslow’s.  They  had  pursued  the  same  course  as  described  by 
Dr.  Russell,  but  with  no  other  positive  result.  All  the  plants  flowered 
well,  and  were  perfectly  healthy.  Report  of 
Dr,  Wi  F.  Russell's  Experiments  with  White  Pelargoniums. — “  Ten 
white  Pelargoniums  were  received  from  Messrs.  Cannell  &  Co.  They 
were  all  strong  healthy  plants.  Experiments  commenced  on  June  20tb. 
All  the  plants  were  taken  out  of  their  pots,  the  soil  gently  shaken 
off,  and  then  repotted.  Two  of  the  plants  were  repotted  in  ordinary 
good  soil,  the  others  in  soil  which  bad  been  thoroughly  drenched  with  a 
solution  of  one  of  the  following  salts,  all  of  them  being  of  the  same 
strength — viz,,  13  grains  to  the  pint : — Sulphate  of  iron,  sulphate  of 
copper,  nitrate  of  cobalt,  nitrate  of  nickel,  acetate  of  chromium,  sulphate 
of  manganese,  nitrate  of  zinc,  and  chloride  of  ammonium.  They  were 
kept  in  a  conservatory  and  ware  watered  with  the  respective  solutions, 
containing  6^  grains  to  the  pint.  It  was  found  that  the  lime  in  the 
water  used  was  precipitated  by  the  sulphates,  and  so  carried  down  some 
of  the  metal ;  consequently,  on  June30tb,  the  sulphate  of  manganese 
was  changed  for  the  chloride,  the  sulphate  of  iron  was  changed  for  per- 
chloride  of  iron,  and  the  sulphate  of  copper  was  dissolved  in  distilled 
water.  The  plants  were  watered  to  the  same  extent  that  they  would 
have  been  under  ordinary  conditions  of  growth.  August  1st,— All  the 
plants  are  now  in  flower.  All  the  flowers  are  quite  white,  and  all  the 
plants  are  quite  healthy,  September  Ist. — Ail  the  plants  are  quite 
healthy,  and  there  is  no  visible  difference  between  them.  October  let. — 
All  the  plants  are  quite  healthy,  and  still  there  is  no  visible  difference 
between  them.” 
Rev.  W.  Wilks'  Experiments  ivith  Apples. — Three  young  Cox’s 
Orange  Apple  trees  were  chosen  situated  on  one  border,  a  distance  of 
8  yards  separating  each  tree  from  the  next.  Tree  A  was  dressed  with 
1  lb.  of  soot  on  April  Ist,  May  Ist,  June  1st  and  15th,  July  Ist  and  15th, 
August  1st  and  15th.  Tree  C  was,  on  the  same  dates,  dressed  with 
2^  ozs.  of  sulphate  of  ammonia.  The  dressing  was  scattered  on  the 
ground  within  compass  of  the  spread  of  the  tree’s  branches,  and  the 
ground  was  then  immediately  raked  over  somewhat  hardly  to  stir  the 
surface.  Tree  B  was  undressed,  but  similarly  raked  on  each  occasion. 
The  fruit  was  gathered  on  the  21st  of  September,  and  on  examination 
on  October  12th  it  was  found  that  the  produce  of  tree  C  is  very  slightly 
the  highest  coloured,  no  difference  whatever  being  apparent  between  the 
produce  of  A  and  B. 
Experiments  with  White  Pelargoniums. — On  June  24th  ten  plants  of 
a  while  blooming  Zonal  Pelargonium  were  received.  They  were  all 
treated  exactly  as  described  in  Dr,  Russell’s  report.  “After  the  plants 
were  repotted  they  were  for  four  days  placed  under  the  stage  of  a  close 
Fern  house,  and  then  brought  up  on  to  the  stage  of  a  very  light  and 
airy  greenhouse,  where  they  have  stood  till  this  date,  October  12th.  At 
the  commencement  plants  1.3.  4,  5,  7,  and  8  were  somewhat  stronger 
than  2,  6  9,  and  10,  9  and  10  being  the  two  to  which  nothing  was  added, 
and  which  have  been  watered  with  ordinary  water.  Each  plant  has  had 
about  20  pints  of  fluid.  Results  : — The  plants  (none  of  them)  flagged 
at  all  from  the  repDtting  beyond  losing  one  or  two  of  the  lower  leaves. 
All  have  bloomed  well  throughout  the  whole  season,  and  are  still  carry¬ 
ing  flue  trusses.  No.  1  lost  one  limb  from  mildew,  but  this  was 
probably  the  result  of  pure  accident,  and  should  not  he  attributed  to 
the  special  treatment.  It  has  since  made  new  growth  which  is  stronger 
and  more  vigorous,  and  the  foliage  distinctly  larger  than  auy  of  the 
others.  Nos.  2,  8  are  rather  stronger,  and  the  foliage  darker  than  the 
remainder.  No.  7  has  every  leaf  showing  all  the  veins  and  fibrea  in 
clear  pale  yellow,  the  leaves  are  also  somewhat  small,  but  otherwise  they 
are  crisp  and  look  perfectly  healthy.  The  colour  of  the  flowers  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  in  any  case  or  in  the  smallest  degree  affected.” 
»  “The  Plant  Individual  in  the  Light  of  Evolution.”  Address  before  theBioIo^cal 
Society  of  Washington,  Jan.  18th,  1»96.  See  Journal  of  Horticulture,  Oot.  Ist,  1888. 
