2(34 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  20,  1902. 
taking  care  not  to  use  it  so  excessively  as  to  make  the  soil 
sodden  and  sour.  Under  this  treatment  we  have  known  the 
plants  to  recover  and  grow  on  freely. 
FLOWERS  FOR  DESIGN  (Union  Jack). — As  a  red  we  only 
know  of  Alternauthera  paronychioides  magnifica  that  is  likely  to 
accord  with  blue  and  white  Lobelia,  not  any  flowering  plant 
being  dwarf  enough  for  association  with  them,  or,  if  dwarf 
enough,  not  certain  for  coiitinuity  of  bloom.  Of  plants  raised 
from  seed  the  dwarf  Chrysanthemum  Aster,  in  fiery  scarlet, 
dark  blue,  and  pure  white,  are  the  most  likely  to  meet  your 
requirements,  being  very  free-flowering,  of  stiff  habit,  growing 
9in  to  12in  in  height,  and  bearing  from  fifteen  to  twenty  flowers 
on  each  plant. 
VINE  SHOWING  FRUIT  IRREGULARLY  (J.  H.  L.).— As 
many  of  the  spurs  are  not  sliowing  any  signs  of  fruit,  while  others 
are  showing  bunches  on  three  and  in  some  cases,  four  shoots, 
you  may  allow  two  bearing  shoots  to  each  spur,  still 
retaining  a  shoot  to  each  of  the  other  spurs,  stopping  these 
at  the  sixth  joint,  and  pinching  the  laterals  to  a  joint  or  two 
as  made  so  as  not  to  crowd  the  space  with  more  foliage  than 
can  have  due  exposure  to  light  and  air.  If  the  spurs  are  a  good 
distance  apart  you  may  allow  two  shoots  to  each  spur  not  showing 
fruit,  otherwise  it  is  not  advisable,  as  stout  well-developed  wood 
and  buds  is  all-important  for  fruitfulness.  Two  bunches  on  two 
shoots  .will  give  you  the  equivalent  of  one  to  each  spur,  there 
being  as  many  spurs  not  beating  as  fruiting,  and  this  will  not 
prejudice  the  Vine,  as  the  sap  will  be  transferred  to  more  or 
less  extent.  It  is  not  advisable,  however,  to  overcrop  the  Vine, 
not  allowing  more  than  a  pound  weight  of  Grapes  per  foot  seen 
of  rod.  calculating  so  as  to  under  rather  than  over-cropped. 
GARUENER.S’  EDUCATION  (Apprentice).— We  '  have  a 
lengthy  conimunication  in  hand  on  the  subject  about  which  you 
inquire  for  information,  and,  when  it  shortly  appears,  we  trust 
you  will  enjoy  reading  it.  Fir,st,  then,  you  can  improve  your 
handwriting,  which,  for  an  apprentice,  is  shaky  and  irregular, 
but  legible.  Fractic?  short  notes  for  the  “Domain,”  and  care¬ 
fully  compare  the  printed  articles  with  your  original  composition. 
If  you  have  had  a  good  grounding  in  at  least  the  rudiments  of 
English  grammar,  you  will  soon  improve  in  the  style  of  your 
composition.  Regarding  arithmetic,  you  would  find  Longman’s 
“  School  Arithmetic,”  very  helpful.  Along  with  these  (though 
we  do  not  commend  you  to  undertake  all  the  subjects  at  the 
same  time)  try  to  go  through  Edmond’s  “  Elementary  Botany  ” 
(Macmillan,  Is.  or  2s.),Aiknian’s  “  Food  of  Crops  ”  (Wnton  and 
Co.,  Limited,  2s.),  and  Ormerod’s  “Methods  of  Insect-life” 
(Simpkin,  Marshall  and  Co.,  2s.).  These  will  give  you  an  insight 
to,  and  training  in,  the  theoretical  part  of  a  gardener’s  educa¬ 
tion.  And  it  is  of  primary  importance  to  have  a  standard  work 
bearing  on  the  practice  of  horticulture.  Sutton’s  “  Culture  of 
Vegetables  and  Flowers  from  Seeds  and  Roots,”  price  os.,  will 
greatly  assist  you.  John  Wright’s  “  Primer  of  Horticulture,”  Is., 
though  small,  contains  much  that  is  very  necessary  to  know,  and 
you  should  get  this  book.  “  Fruit  Culture  for  Amateurs,”  3s.  9d. 
(L.  Upcott  Gill),  may  also  be  noted.  Beyond  these,  of  course, 
there  are  some  larger  but  exisensive  works,  which  yqu  may 
inquire  about.  These  are  Nicholson’s  “  Dictionary  of  Garden- 
mg,”  Thompson’s  “Gardener’s  Assistant”  (new  edition),  and 
leathers’  “Guide  to  Hardy  Garden  Plants,  Fruit,  and  Vege¬ 
tables.”  If  you  desire  further  information,  write.  The  names 
of  the  above  publishers  are  all  well  known. 
PARADISE  AND  DOUCIN  STOCKS  (A.  P.  W.).— There 
are  two  forms  under  the  term  of  Paradise  stock :  (1)  The  French 
or  Pomme  de  Paradis  is  a  somewhat  weak  grower,  and  not  of  a 
hardy  constitution,  hence  is  used  chiefly  in  France,  being 
generally  unsuitable  in  England,  for  dwarf -bushes,  being  remark¬ 
able  for  its  tendency  to  emit  numerous  fibrous  roots  near  the 
surface,  and  for  contracting  the  growth  of  the  graft,  causing  it 
to  become  fruitful  at  a  very  early  stage.  (2)  The  Doucin,  some- 
rimes  called  English  Paradise  stock,  but,  according  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Rivers,  regarded  as  identical  with  the  Dutch  Paradise 
mentioned  by  Miller  in  1759,  puts  forth  abundance  of  fibrous 
roots  near  the  surface  of  the  soil,  and  is  not  inclined  to  root 
deeply  jnto  it  like  the  so-called  Crab  or  free  stock — that  raised 
riom  pips  or  seeds  of  cider  Apples.  Apples  grafted  on  the 
Doucin  stock  are  more  vigorous  than  when  grafted  on  the 
firench  Paradise  stock,  and  less  so  than  those  on  the  free  stock. 
1  adapted  for  garden  trees,  for  they  are 
easily  lifted,  their  roots  thus  kept  to  the  surface,  and  the  trees 
cons^uently  kept  healthy  and  fruitful.  Some,  however,  regard 
the  Doucin  ii.sed  as  a  stock  in  Ensflish  nurseries  as  different 
«  'll  ^  Doucins  employed  on  the  Continent,  being  hardier  and 
of  the  same  surface-rooting  nature.  There  are  other  stocks 
under  the  name  of  Paradise,  notably  Mr.  Rivers’  Broad-leaved 
^aradnc',  '^ith  very  broad  leaves  and  a  most  healthy  and  vigorous 
habrt,  and  his  Nonesuch  Paradise;  with  downy  leaves  and  a 
knotted  stem,  is  equally  vigorous  in  habit,  but  with  a  great 
tendency  to  form  fruit  spurs,  hence  remarkable  for  inducing 
dwarf  growth  ^d  fruitful  trees.  For  general  purposes  we 
recornnmnd  the  English  Paradise,  which  is  much  like  the  Broad- 
Jeaved  Paradrie,  and  is  equally  good,  it  being  invidious  to  recom¬ 
mend  one  before  the  other. 
BOOKS  ON  FRUIT  CULTURE  (Edward  Adams,  U.S.A.). 
■ — The  standard  work  on  fruit  culture  in  this  country  may  be 
accepted  as  Wright’s  “  Fruit  Growers’  Guide,”  published  at  about 
3  guineas,  we  believe,  by  \hrtue  and  Co.,  London.  All  styles  of 
training  trees  receive  attention. 
INSECTS  ON  VINES  (A.  B.).— The  insect  is  a  thrips  (T. 
adonidum  syn.  Heliothrips  haemorrhides),  one  of  the  worst  pests 
that  can  gain  a  footing  on  Vines.  We  should  mauitain  a  moist 
atmosphere,  even  having  recourse  to  syringing  the  Vines  until 
the  fir.st  flowers  expand,  then  discontinuing  it  until  the  berries 
are  set.  To  effect  a  good  set  resource  should  be  had  to  artificial 
fertilisation. 
EARLY  AND  LATE  VINES  (G.  W.). — We  presume  the  two 
houses  require  the  same  number  of  Vines  each — namely,  eight. 
For  the  early  house  to  give  a  siipplv  up  to  the  end  of 
November;  Black  Hamburgh,  Mill  Hill  Hamburgh,  Buckland 
Sweetwater,  Foster’s  Seedling,  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  Madresfield 
Court,  Appley  Towers,  and  Gros  Maroc.  For  late  houses  to  give 
a  supply  up  to  March,  or  even  June;  Alicante.  Gros  Column, 
Gros  Guillaume,  Mrs.  Pince,  Alnwick  Seedling,  West’s  St. 
Peter’s,  Lady  Downe’s  Seedling,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  and 
Canon  Hall.  You  say  you  do  not  intend  to  plant  Muscat  of 
Alexandria  or  its  near  relative,  Canon  Hall,  the  very  cream  of 
Grapes,  therefore  you  may  have  Golden  Queen  and  Mrs.  Pearson, 
or  have  two  each  of  Gros  Colman  and  Lady  Downe’s.  The  latter 
we  have  had  vei’y  good  on  June  7  from  bottles  in  a  fruit-room. 
NAMES  OF  FRUIT. —  Correspondents  ivhose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (A.  N.). — Apple,  Beauty  of  Kent;  2.  Brownlee’s 
Russet;  3,  Chelmsford  Wonder. 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS. — Correspondents  ivhose  queries  are  un- 
anr^wered  in  the  present  issue  arc  respectfully  requested  to  consult  th^ 
following  number.  (Constant  Reader). —  Veltheiinia  viridifolia,  a  plant 
of  the  N.  O.  Liliaceoe.  of  the  tribe  Seilltfe.  (J.  W.). — 1.  Lycaste  flava  i 
2,  Euonyinus  eurojjmus ;  3  .Vllamanda  neriifolia ;  4.  Scilla  bifolia  ;  5. 
Scilla  bifolia  alba.  (J.  F.).—  1.  Dendrobium  Cassiope  ;  2.  D.  Pierardi ; 
3,  Lycaste  Skinneit  alba;  4.  Davallia  tenuifolia.  (No  Name). — 
1,  As]3lenium  cieutarium  ;  2.  Acacia  acinacea  ;  3,  Acacia  linearifolia  ; 
4,  Scilla  amcena.  (.\.  B.  F.). — 1.  Cmlogyne  cristata  Limoniana ; 
2.  OiK-idinm  Krameri;  3.  Dendrobium  luteolum. 
EDITORIAL  NOTICE. — Our  readers  can  greatly  assist  in  adding 
interest  to  the  pages  of  •  The  Join-nal  ”  by  their  kindly  con¬ 
tribution  of  timely  notes  and  notices,  aifd  at  the  present  period 
of  the  year  there  may  be  photographic  examples  of  well-gi’own 
fruit.  &c.  growing  or  otherwise,  that  would  be  woi’thy  of  repro¬ 
duction.  The  Editor  would  be  ^rleased  to  have  such  subjects  for 
consideration  and  probable  use.  He  does  not  guarantee  to  pay 
for  prints  unless  by  special  agreement. 
An  Observer’s  Notes. 
Under  this  hea  ing  there  are  many  short  interesting  notes  ou/r 
readers  might  send. 
Bats  now  begin  to  flit  about,  and  .soon  the  cockchafers  emerge 
from  their  pupal  state.  Butterflies,  bees,  and  wasps  ai-e  not 
uncommon  at  this  season,  on  fine  days. 
*  3,“-  * 
Vegetation  progresses  apace  at  Kew,  and  by  the  lake  in  the 
Royal  Gardens  a  tree  of  Salix  babylonica  has  leaves  quite  half 
an  inch  long.  Some  of  the  Prunus  tribe  are  in  flower.  Amongst 
all  the  Bamboos  at  Kew,  the  one  that  has  suffered  least  from  the 
recent  frost  seems  to  be  Phyllostachys  henonis.  Rhododendron 
Nobleanum  is  in  full  flower. — J. 
')r  "Jf  "If 
A  Cabbage  now  on  view  at  Ceombe  Farm  Dairy,  Dorset,  in 
the  shape  of  a  fan,  measures  from  the  bottom  of  the  root  to  the 
top  of  the  plant  24in,  across  top  of  fan  24in,  from  bottom  of  fan 
to  the  top  18in. 
*  'If  "ff 
Every  churchgoer  in  Rhavadar  was  astonished  last  Sunday 
morning  (March  2)  to  find  that  all  the  Crocuses  and  Snowdrops, 
which  grow  in  the  parish  churchyard  in  vast  numbers,  were 
densely  covered  with  beesl  The  presence  of  bees  at  least  a 
month  earlier  than  usual  is  interesting,  and  local  apiculturists 
cannot  recollect  such  an  occurrence  before. — (“Western  Mail.”) 
Herons  are  again  building  their  nests  in  the  trees  at  Wan- 
stead  Park.  *  *  Primroses  are  now  being  sent  from  Lost- 
withiel,  Cornwall,  to  all  parts  of  the  coilntry. 
Birds  in  Their  Old  Nesting  Places. 
That  birds  do  return  to  old  spots  is  apparent  in  the  case  of  a 
pair  of  robins  which  have  nested  in  our  yard  for  three  or  four 
consecutive  years.  The  female  is  extremely  pugnacious,  flutter¬ 
ing  into  one’s  very  face,  scolding  vehemently  if  we  chance  near 
her  nesting  place  The  male  makes  almost  as  many  threats,'  but 
he  always  takes  a  perch  on  a  tree  near  by,  just  out  of  reach — 
