I 
27.8..  JOURlSfAL.  OF  HORTICULTURE -.AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  16, 1897- 
packages  by  passenger  train,  as  I  have  proved  on  several  occasions 
they  are  carefully  handled,  and  delivered  in  reasonable  time  when 
forwarded  by  a  cheap  rate  per  goods  train. — An  English  Bee-keeper. 
[Our  correspondent,  “  H.  I.,”  has  sent  ns  sections  of  honey,  but 
omitted  his  changed  address. — Ed.] 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
Barr  &  Son,  King  Street,  Covent  (larden, — Bulbs. 
W.  Fromow  &  Sons,  Chiswick. -*  ititfis. 
Hogg  &  Robertson,  Dublin.  —Dutch  Bulbs  and  Irish  Daffodils. 
C.  I’hillips,  Bracknell,  Berks. — Carnations  and  Picotees. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  8,  Hose  Hill  Road, 
Wandsworth,  London,  <S.  IF.,  and  not  to  Fleet  Street.  It  is 
requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately  to  any  of  our  corre¬ 
spondents,  seeking  information  on  matters  discussed  in  this 
Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable  trouble  and 
e.xpense,  and  departmental  writers  are  not  expected  to  answer 
any  letters  they  may  receive  on  Gardening  and  Bee  subjects 
through  the  post.  If  information  be  desired  on  any  particular 
subject  from  any  particular  authority  who  may  be  named, 
endeavour  will  be  made  to  obtain  it  by  the  Editor. 
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  communications  which,  for  any  reason, 
cannot  be  inserted. 
Boards  for  Chrysanthemums  (A  C.  A.).— The  size  of  boards  for  twelve 
Japanese  Chrysanthemums,  as  fixed  by  the  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society  in  189."),  is  28  inches  by  21  inches,  8^  inches  high  iij  front,  and 
7  inches  in  height  at  the  back,  the  holes  to  be  7  inches  apart  from  centre 
to  centre. 
Hollyhocks  and  Watsonia  Ardernei  (IF.  Davies).— The  samples  of 
seedling  Hollyhocks  are  very  good,  but  a  strain  cannot  be  fully  repre¬ 
sented 'by  one  selected  variety.  We  cannot  say  that  the  blooms  are  equal 
to  the  best  named  varieties  which  we  have  seen  exhibited.  This  would  be 
more  than  could  be  reasonably  expected.  We  wonder  why  you  did  not 
send  several  blooms  of  dissimilar  varieties  instead  of  three  or  four  spikes 
of  one  variety.  Your  practice  of  sowing  early  in  June,  establishing  the 
plants  in  fi-inch  pots,  and  plunging  these  in  ashes  in  a  cold  frame  for  the 
winter,  we  know  from  experience  is  good.  The  spikes  of  Watsonia  are 
charming,  but  you  do  not  indicate  your  method  of  growing  the  plants. 
Artificial  Manure  for  Vine  Border  (7’.  (7.).— Of  the  three  mixtures  you 
name  we  should  prefer  No.  2— namely,  three  parts  steamed  bonemeal,  two 
parts  sulphate  of  potash,  and  one  part  ground  gypsum  ;  but  instead  of 
“  steamed  ”  we  should  simply  use  “  bonemeal,”  as  there  is  more  nitrogen 
in  it,  and  no  loss  takes  place  by  the  escape  of  the  ammonia,  as  the  soil 
holds  it  until  spring,  when,  by  conversion  into  nitrate,  it  can  be  appro¬ 
priated  by  active  roots,  otherwise  it  passes  off  in  the  drainage  water. 
The  appreciable  loss  by  volatilisation  is  scarcely  worth  mention  in  winter. 
Thus  you  would  secure  some  available  phosphoric  acid,  nitrogen,  potash, 
and  lime,  with  the  energising  sulphur,  by  the  time  the  Vines  put  forth 
leaves  and  roots  :  then,  if  supplemented  by  the  spring  dressing,  namely, 
three  parts  dissolved  bones,  1^  part  nitrate  of  potash,  part  sulphate  of 
lime,  and  half-part  sulphate  of  magnesia,  the  crop  could"  not  be  otherwise 
than  well  nourished,  and  the  Vines  in  good  condition  for  another  season. 
No.  3,  however,  has  much  to  recommend  it  in  case  the  border  is  somewhat 
sour  by  the  use  of  stable  or  farmyard  manure  in  solid  or  liquid  form,  but 
instead  of  gypsum  we  should  use  best  chalk  lime,  air-slaked,  three-quarters 
of  a  pound  per  square  yard,  and  then  follow  with  three  parts  dissolved 
raw  bones  and  two  parts  sulphate  of  potash,  first  pointing  the  lime  into 
the  border,  and  using  the  “artificial”  with  the  top-dressing  of  loam, 
k  ou  will  get  sulphate  of  lime  in  the  dissolved  bones,  and  the  lime  being 
down  will  not  cause  much,  if  any,  loss  of  ammonia.  It  is  not  advisable  to 
use  kainit,  e.xcept  in  making  borders,  as  unless  the  border  be  outside  the 
chlorine  is  not  washed  out,  and  the  effect  may  be  seen  in  the  yellow 
colour  of  the  foliage  in  spring,  otherwise  it  acts  well  in  the  proportions 
you  name  ^^three  parts  bonemeal  and  two  parts  best  quality  kainit.  If 
you  use  this,  the  border  ^  being  outside,  we  should  modify  the  spring 
dressing  to  three  parts  dissolved  bones,  two  parts  nitrate  of  potash, 
and  one  part  sulphate  of  lime.  In  the  kainit  you  will  get  magnesia,  so 
there  is  no  need  to  apply  it  again  in  the  spring. 
Diseased  Carnations  ((7.  A.).  —  The  specimens  shall  be  carefully 
examined.  AVe  have  heard  of  syringing  with  limewash,  allowing  it  to 
dry  and  remain  on  the  foliage  for  most  of  a  week,  acting  beneficially. 
Bordeaux  mixture  may  be  expected  to  be  more  potent.  It  has  been 
found,  by  carefully  conducted  experiments  in  America,  that  a  more  dilute 
mixture  than  is  usually  advised  answers  equally  well.  The  original 
mixture  is  therefore  abandoned,  and  the  following  employed  : — Copper 
sulphate  6  lbs.,  quicklime  4  lbs.,  water  45  gallons.  Mix  the  bluestone 
and  lime  in  se[)arate  vessels,  the  former  in  hot  water,  then  place  together, 
stirring  thoroughly.  Adding  1  lb.  of  softsoap  in  solution  is  said  to 
be  advantageous.  The  mixture  should  be  applied  with  a  sprayer,  to 
rest  on  the  leaves  like  dew,  not  running  off  them  like  rain  after  a  heavy 
shower. 
Kitchen  and  Flower  Gardening  (^Inquirer). — The  cheapest  book  we 
know  which  treats  practically  on  flowers,  fruit,  and  vegetables  is  the 
“Garden  Alanual,”  post  free  Is.  9d.,  from  the  publisher,  171,  Fleet 
Street.  There  are  several  designs  on  planting  flower  beds  in  the  “  Parks 
and  Gardens  of  London,”  post  free  for,  we  think,  2s.  lid.,  from  the  same 
address.  It  is  impossible  to  teach  the  use  of  tools  on  paper.  If  young 
men  cannot  learn  their  use  in  gardens  they  cannot  rank  as  gardeners.  The 
only  safe  way  that  we  know  in  acquiring  a  business  is  to  inquire  for  one 
for  sale,  examine  the  books  cai’efully,  and  thus  ascertain  its  value,  on 
which  the  price  can  be  determined.  In  some  towns  there  may  be  room 
for  starting  a  new  business,  but  this,  considering  your  unfortunate 
ill-health,  would  be  too  risky  for  you  to  undertake.  You  should  have 
sent  your  name  and  address.  If  you  want  a  higher  class  book  on  vege¬ 
tables  you  had  better  enclose  a  stamped  directed  envelope. 
Pinus  halepensis  {Somerset). — This,  the  Aleppo  I’ine,  was  introduced 
into  this  country  by  Bishop  Compton  in  1663.  ,  It  is  of  rather  spreading 
habit,  and  often  has  a  thin  appearance,  as  the  leaves  are  not  so  persistent 
as  many  other  species.  It  is  said  in  Veitch’s  “Manual  of  the  Coniferae,” 
an  excellent  work,  to  “  thrive  amongst  the  rocks  of  the  Mediterranean 
shore,  where  comparatively  few  other  trees  find  subsistence.  The  stems 
and  branches  often  assume  the  most  fantastic  contortions,  from  the 
direction  given  to  the  south-west  wind  by  the  rocky  angles  exposed  to 
it.  In  England  it  requires  a  sheltered  situation.”  Your  young  trees  will 
not  be  ready  for  planting  for  some  time.  They  might,  perhaps,  succeed 
in  the  position  you  name,  especially  if  some  robust  growing  trees,  such  as 
Austrian  Pines  were  planted  for  shelter  now,  though  the  probability  is 
that  the  Ale[)pos  would  have  a  more  or  less  stunted  or  “  fantastic  ” 
appearance  as  they  slowly  advanced  in  growth. 
Winter  Dressing  Vines  and  Fruit  Trees  {J.  Guy):— The  simple  formula 
for  preparing  the  mixture  to  which  you  refer  as  having  been  used  successfully 
by  Mr.  S.  T.  AA'^right  for  dressing  A’^ines  and  fruit  trees  at  Glewston  Court 
was  taken  by  him  from  ihe  Journal  of  Horticulture,  T^o.ge  512>,  inne  27th, 
1889.  Mr.  Leonard  Coates  there  wrote  from  Napa,  California  : — “  It  is 
customary  to  spray  our  orchards  thoroughly  in  the  winter  with  a  strong 
caustic  solution  made  as  follows  : — ^  lb.  of  caustic  soda  (Greenbank’s  98*per 
cent.),  5  lb.  of  crude  commercial  potash  (pearlash),  dissolved  in  5  gallons 
of  water  for  Pears,  Apples,  and  Plums,  in  8  gallons  of  water  for  Peaches 
and  Apricots,  to  be  applied  at  a  temperature  of  130°.  This  wash  will 
kill  the  eggs  of  almost  any  insect,  and  leaves  the  bark  in  a  smooth, 
healthy  condition.”  AVe  have  seen  striking  examples  of  the  efficacy  of 
this  dressing  in  orchards,  and  at  least  one  of  its  safety  as  applied  to  Vines. 
Finding  last  spring  some  young  “red  spider”  emerging  from  under  the 
bark  of  some  Vines  at  Chiswick,  Air.  AVright  on  raising  the  bark  found 
colonies  of  eggs.  Though  the  Vines  were  breaking  to  the  extent  of  a 
quarter  of  an  inch  or  more  he  at  once  dressed  them  with  the  solution, 
presumably  the  weaker  form  for  safety.  It  destroyed  every  egg  and 
emerging  mite  without  doing  the  smallest  damage  to  the  Vines.  By  this 
prompt  action  all  invasion  of  “  red  spider  ”  was  prevented.  The  ATnes 
remained  clean  throughout  the  season,  and  are  now  ripening  excellent 
fruit. 
Analysis  of  Kitchen  Garden  Soil  (/(/nommus). — AVe  do  not,  as  a  rule, 
advise  analysing  soil.  The  analysis  has  often  no  practical  value,  for 
though  showing  the  characteristics  of  the  soil,  there  is  nothing  to  show 
what  parts  of  its  constituents  are  available  as  food  for  plants,  and  what 
unavailable.  For  practical  purposes  we  prefer  to  find  the  requirements 
of  the  different  crops  on  a  given  soil  by  the  effects  or  non-efiects  of 
manures.  Analyses,  interesting  as  they  are  from  a  scientific  point  of 
view,  are  of  comparatively  little  value  to  the  practical  cultivator,  and 
most  intelligent  workers  get  on  much  better  without  than  with  the 
tantalising  elaborations  of  the  laboratory.  The  analysis  of  a  soil  has  to 
many  a  cultivator  been  money  thrown  away,  for  either  he  knows  or  does 
not  the  nature  of  the  land,  and  unless  he  Ifhows,  the  result  of  applying 
scientific  methods  without  knowledge  of  their  practical  working,  he  will 
be  disappointed.  Most  County  Councils  have  an  analyst,  who  for  a  fi.xed 
fee  undertakes  to  analyse  soil  and -crops.  If  you  really  desire  to  indulge 
in  the  luxury  of  an  analysis  of  your  soil  by  all  means  do  so,  and  if  your 
County  Council  cannot  aid  you,  we  will  send  the  address  of  one  or 
two  competent  gentlemen  if  you  send  a  stamped  directed  envelope  for  the 
purpose.  From  them  you  can  ascertain  the  cost  of  the  work,  and  they 
would  also  naturally  inform  you  of  suitable  manures  to  use,  as  we  could 
if  we  knew  the  nature  of  the  soil  ;  but  as  to  providing  separate  mixtures 
to  all  the  different  crops,  we  have  never  found  it  necessary  to  go  to  such 
trouble  and  e.xpense.  If  you  wish  to  experiment  in  that  direction,  send 
7d.  in  stamps  to  Air.  AA".  Dyke,  St.  Alargaret’s,  AVare,  for  his  pamphlet  and 
leaflet,  and  you  will  find  plenty  of  good  formulae  to  begin  with.  This 
will  be  less  costly  than  an  analysis,  though,  of  course,  you  can  have  this 
as  well  if  you  so  desire. 
