journal  of  horfioulturf  and  cottaof  oarufnfr. 
'r 
550 
Desetnbet  S,  liM.' ' 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be 
directed  to  “  The  Editor.”  Letters  addressed  personally  to 
Dr.  Hogg  or  members  of  the  staff  often  remain  unopened 
unavoidably.  We  request  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  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. 
Correspondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions 
relating  to  Gardening  and  those  on  Bee  subjects,  and  should 
never  send  more  than  two  or  three  questions  at  once.  All 
articles  intended  for  insertion  should  be  written  on  one  side  of 
the  paper  only.  We  cannot,  as  a  rule,  reply  to  questions 
through  the  post,  and  we  do  not  undertake  to  return  rejected 
communications. 
Hollies  (^Somerset'). — Ilex  contorta,  the  Corkscrew  Holly,  and 
I.  tortuosa,  the  Twisted  Holly,  we  consider  identical,  and  probably  the 
plant  named  crispum  ”  differs  but  little  it  anything  from  them. 
Cannot  you  compare  the  leaves  ? 
Chrysanthemum  Robert  3wen  {Thorncliffe), — We  have  not 
seen  a  clear  yellow  bloom  of  the  variety  before,  and  do  not  know  that 
such  blooms  are  prbduced  by  any  particular  buds,  though  we  know  the 
colour  varies  considerably.  Perhaps  some  grower  may  refer  to  the 
subject. 
Propagating  Eugenia  (A^alj^nrgh'). — If  the  Eugenia  berries  are 
fully  ripe,  they  may  be  gathered,  not  waiting  until  they  fall,  and  the 
extracted  seed  sown  in  pots  filled  with  peat,  loam  and  sand,  plunging  in 
a  genial  bottom  heat  of  65®  to  70°.  Cuttings  of  firm  shoots  with  good 
leaves,  the  lower  pair  removed,  and  the  shoot  cut  below  the  joint 
transversely,  inserting  in  sandy  peat  and  loam  in  pots  in  a  stove 
propaeating  frame,  will  root  in  due  course. 
Judging  Cups,  Tubes,  and  Wires  {T.  O.'). — Your  statement  of 
"having  been  placed  second  at  a  show  for  having  cup  and  tube  in¬ 
stead  of  wires  ”  (we  quote  exactly)  is  incomprehensible.  In  the  first 
place,  we  cannot  see  wbat  a  cup  and  tube  could  do  except  in  a  single 
blooin  class,  and  in  the  next  it  is  the  rule  at  Chrysanthemum  shows 
geuerally  to  judge  the  blooms,  and  not  the  attendant  paraphernalia.  We 
cannot  understand  the  case,  and  you  supply  ns  with  no  data  to  enable 
us  to  give  a  definite  reply  to  your  question  A  schedule  with  the  class 
in  qusstion  marked  would  perhaps  be  elucidatory,  but  this  you  have  not 
sent. 
Tomato  Eeaves  Elseased — Petroleum  Emulsion  (^Captain 
S.,  E'  kington) . — The  specimen  arrived  in  excellent  condition,  and  this 
g'''atly  facilitates  examination  and  clearness  in  defining  between  the 
i  utgrowths.  The  specimens  are  infested  by  several  micro-organisms  of 
a  fungoid  nn.'^ure,  some  being  saprophytes  on  the  dead  tissue,  and  clearly 
have  no  commotion  with  those  in  the  living.  The  leaves  with  the  black 
margin  are  in'csted  by  the  Potato  fungus  (Phytophthora  infestans),  and 
from  the  surface  of  the  leaf  appear,  on  the  under  side,  the  conidia- 
bearing  hypbas  The  other  leaves,  with  yellow  margins  to  tbe  spots,  are 
attacked  by  the  top-collapse  fungus  (Macrosporium  solani  or  lycopersici), 
and  are  very  fine  specimens,  the  threads  or  mycelial  hypbae  penetrating 
the  living  tissues  and  destroying  the  cells.  Beyond  burning  the  affected 
plants  after  the  crop  is  cleared  we  do  not  know  of  anything  in  the  way 
of  disinfection  that  is  of  material  use  against  either  pest,  for  the  resting 
spores  are  practically  invulnerable  until  they  crack  tbeir  hard  coats  and 
the  contained  spares  can  then  be  reached.  Nevertheless,  clearing  away 
all  remains  of  old  plants  and  thoroughly  cleaning  the  house  in  the  usual 
manner  gets  rid  of  many  resting  spores.  Another  season  preventive 
measures  should  be  taken,  dusting  tbe  plants  occasionally  with  some 
sulphate  of  copper  powder  fungicide,  keeping  the  foliage  very  lightly 
coated,  and  so  prevent  the  growth  of  the  spores,  or  rather  destroy  their 
germinal  tubes  before  entering  the  tissues  of  the  plants.  This  is  neither 
a  costly  nor  a  tedious  or  dangerous  process,  and  is  certainly  effective 
against  tbe  fungi  named,  as  well  as  against  scab  fungus  (Cladospoiium 
fnlvum,syn.  lycopersici), of  which  we  found  a  few  spores  on  your  specimen. 
It  is  necesiary  that  tbe  under  side  of  the  leaves  be  coated,  and  the 
dressings  commence  when  the  plants  are  about  a  foot  high,  or  not  later 
than  showing  for  fruit.  Though  prevention  is  undoubtedly  the  right 
principle  on  which  t©  rely,  still  in  the  case  of  plants  being  unfortunately 
attacked  the  following  preparation  may  be  tried — it  has  been  found 
useful  in  a  case  this  year  : — Best  Boftsoap,  1^  lb.  ;  petroleum,  ^  pint ; 
rain  water,  7  gallons.  Place  the  softsoap  in  an  iron  pan  with  1  gallon 
of  the  water  and  dissolve  by  boiling ;  then  remove  from  the  fire  (for 
safety),  and  add  the  petroleum,  stirring  briskly  to  form  a  complete 
emnlsiou  or  amalgamation.  Add  the  remainder  of  the  water  (hot)  for 
use,  and,  when  cool  enough,  apply  very  lightly  with  a  syringe  or 
preferably  spraying  apparatus,  and  so  as  to  just  moisten  every  part, 
especially  the  under  side  of  the  leaves.  It  is  named  for  further  trial. 
Roses  for  Planting  In  Bonse  (A  Life  Readerf — Mar^chal  Niel, 
The  Puritan,  Catherine  Mermet,  W.  P.  Bennet,  Sunset,  and  Niphetos 
are  good  of  the  colours  you  name — the  "best”  is  a  question  of  taste. 
Roses  do  well  in  good  turfy  loam,  preferably  rather  strong  than  light, 
with  a  fourth  of  well  decayed  manure,  and  about  a  twelfth  of  charcoal 
"  nuts.”  We  will  supply  what  you  need  in  respect  to  Crotons  and 
Chrysanthemums  in  a  future  issue. 
Staging  In  a  Span-roofed  House  (Idevi). — The  most  elegant 
and  convenient  staging  for  a  stove  we  have  seen,  and  we  claim  above 
all  things  to  be  “  practical,”  had  a  central  bed  with  a  tank  under,  with 
pipes  in  it  for  heating  the  water,  covered  with  slates,  having  open  joints. 
The  tank  being  fed  with  rain  water,  al  ways  gave  tepid  water  of  the  best 
kind  for  watering  and  syringing.  A  3-foot  walk  run  all  round  the  bed, 
and  at  the  sides  and  ends,  excepting  doorways,  was  a  2^-foot  wide  shelf, 
fixed  6  inches  below  the  wall  plates,  this  shelf  being  slate,  with  2-inch 
slate  edging  for  holding  gravel,  and  the  whole  supported  by  galvanised 
ornamental  ironwork.  The  central  bed  was  also  covered  with  gravel, 
having  the  requisite  edging.  It  has  lasted  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and 
the  woodwork  of  the  house  being  of  teak,  and  the  glass,  32  ozs.  British 
sheet,  thirds,  is  still  as  good  as  new.  Perhaps  you  would  find  something 
to  suit  your  taste  for  “  elegance  and  convenience  ”  if  you  were  to  look 
around,  there  being  so  many  forms  of  arrangement  that  it  is  difficult  to 
choose  the  best  for  every^dy.  There  Is  no  one  book  that  equals  the 
standard  of  your  requirement*.  Thompson’s  ”  Gardeners’  Assistant  ”  and 
Nicholson’s  “  Dictionary  of  Gardening,”  are  both  excellent,  but  rather 
expensive.  If  you  want  a  less  costly  work  there  is  “Johnson’s 
Gardfiners’  Dictionary,”  which  teems  with  sound  information. 
Weevil  Eating  Cbrysanthemum  Shoots  {II.  B.) — From  your 
description  we  consider  the  "  small  insect  which  had  a  close  resemblance 
to  a  flea  ”  was  one  of  the  Rhyncbites,  probably  E.  conicus,  which  eats 
the  shoots  of  various  plants  partly  through.  We  wish  you  had 
forwarded  a  specimen  to  us  for  identification,  which  is  absolutely 
necessary  in  order  to  fix  upon  the  proper  delinquent.  The  only  preventive 
is  to  make  the  plant  distasteful  to  the  weevils  by  the  application  of 
some  solution  or  substance  which  will  adhere  to  the  plant.  This  we 
have  found  effected  by  occasional  syringing  with  tobacco  water  and 
soluble  petroleum  solution,  also  when  other  insecticides  have  been  used 
for  the  destruction,  or  better,  the  prevention  of  insects,  there  has  been 
immunity  from  this  pest. 
Crimson  Clirysantliemum  {R.  Oweii), — We  cannot  say  that  in 
our  opinion  the  variety  is  a  pure  incurved  Chinese  Chrysanthemum — 
i  e.,  destitute  of  Japanese  influence,  though  we  certainly  think  it  is  as 
admissible  in  incurved  stands  as,  for  instance,  Major  Bonaffon,  and  in 
those  stands  the  nameless  crimson  may  be  expected  to  find  its  way.  The 
florets  are  exceptionally  broad,  some  of  them  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in 
diameter,  and  they  are  generally  rounded  at  the  tips  ;  but  their  great 
length  and  slight,  though  observable  twists,  in  most  of  them  suggest 
some,  though  not  mnch,  Japanese  influence,  and  hence  we  are  not  able 
to  regard  the  variety  as  a  pure  and  undiluted  Chinese  incurved.  The 
yellow  C.  A.  Owen  with  its  florets  curling  in  one  direction,  as  if  follow¬ 
ing  the  sun  is  bright  and  attractive. 
Destroying  Daisies  on  Dawn  {Daisy').  —  The  best  means  of 
destroying  daisies,  moss,  and  weeds  on  lawns  is  to  employ  a  lawn 
manure  calculated  to  stimulate  the  growth  of  the  finer  grasses,  and  to 
discourage  tbe  daisies  and  other  broad-leaved  weeds.  Bucb  lawn 
manure  is  prepared  by  various  manure  vendors  and  nurserymen,  and  has 
been  advertised  in  onr  columns.  “Lawn  sands,”  also  advertised,  aie 
efiScacious  when  properly  applied  in  the  spring  and  at  intervals  until  the 
effect  desired  is  attained.  We  cannot  recommend  dealers,  but  most 
nurserymen  or  horticultural  sundriesmen  will  be  able  to  supply  you. 
Only  ask  for  *' lawn  manure”  or  “lawn  sand”  for  destroying  daisies. 
It  requires  to  be  somewhat  carefully  used,  therefore  attend  to  the 
instructions  supplied  with  the  article. 
Galvanised  Corrugated  Iron  Sheets  for  Cucumbers  and 
Tomatoes  {Reader). — A  successful  grower  of  Cucumbers  and 
Tomatoes  for  market  has  the  sides  of  his  bouses  and  tbe  bottom  of  the 
beds  formed  of  galvanised  corrugated  iron  sheets,  no  injury  whatever 
taking  place  in  the  plants  or  roots.  The  sheets  for  the  bed  are  supported 
by  cross-bars  (angle  iron)  and  uprights,  at  3  feet  apart,  and  about  2  feet 
6  inches  from  the  glass,  the  sides  of  the  house  being  4  feet  high,  and  that 
of  the  beds  12  inches,  kept  from  jutting  outwards  by  light  angle  iron  at 
bottom  and  cross  bars  at  the  top.  Rough  ashes  are  used  for  drainage. 
This  appears  a  case  similar  to  what  you  propose,  and  so  far  is  satis¬ 
factory  ;  but  how  it  would  answer  in  the  long  run  we  are  unable  to  say. 
We.  however,  do  not  see  that  there  is  likely  to  be  anything  calculated  to 
injure  the  roots  or  plants,  as  if  the  ammonia  acts  prejudicially  on  the 
galvanised  sheets  the  solution  formed  would  pass  off  in  the  drainage 
water,  and  not  being  taken  up  by  the  plants  could  not  injure  them. 
Perhaps  some  correspondent  who  has  used  the  galvanised  corrugated 
iron  sheets  for  shelves  or  bottoms  of  beds  would  oblige  by  giving  his 
experience 
Heating  Bedroom  by  Extension  of  Vinery  Hot-water  Tlpes 
{J  R.) — We  have  had  a  similar  extension  answer  very  satisfactorily, 
and  without  forcing  the  indiarubber  rings  out  of  the  sockets  by  the 
weight  of  water.  In  another  case  of  a  similar  nature  the  joints 
leaked,  and  they  bad  to  be  caulked  with  rope  yarn  coated  with  red  lead 
putty — white  lead  having  suflicient  red  lead  added  and  mixed  to  give 
the  red  colour  and  suitable  consistence.  This  answered  very  well,  and 
would  no  doubt  in  your  case,  but  it  may  not  be  necessary,  as  all  depends 
upon  the  strength  and  condition  of  the  present  joints.  We  suppose  yon 
will  have  a  H  syphon  at  the  end  of  the  vinery  pipes  with  a  valve  on  it, 
also  valves  on  both  the  flow  and  return  pipes  at  or  just  beyond  the  joint 
