March  27,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
287 
The  Kitchen  Garden 
TRANSPLANTING  ONIONS. — In  favourable  weather  the 
autumn  sown  Onions  may  be  transplanted  into  rich  gi'ound  in 
rows  a  foot  apart,  placing  the  plants  Gin  to  8m  asunder.  See 
that  the  roots  are  placed  in  the  holes  full  length,  keeping  the 
bulbous  part  just  on  the  surface.  Press  the  soil  firmly  round. 
PARSNIPS. — ^The  present  is  an  excellent  time  to  sow 
Pansnips.  The  Student  and  Hollow  Crown  are  good  varieties ; 
but  Sutton’s  Tender  and  True  is  a  fine,  tender,  and  good-flavoured 
variety,  though  not  so  large  as  the  Student.  When  large  roots 
are  anticipated,  sow  in  drills  18in  asunder,  but  for  ordinary-sized 
roots  12in  asunder  will  be  sufficient. 
CARROTS. — Sow  now  the  main  crop  of  Carrots,  including 
some  of  the  short  varieties,  as  Champion  Scarlet,  Horn,  or  Early 
Gems.  These  come  in  earlier  than  the  larger  sorts,  hence  are 
useful  on  that  account.  To  follow  the  above,  sow  some  of  the 
intermediate  varieties,  as  well  as  Long  Red,  Surrey,  and 
Altrincham.  A  suitable  distance  to  draw  drills  for  Carrots  is 
12in  apart.  The  seed  is  light,  so  a  calm  day  should  be  chosen, 
and  the  drills  drawn  in  fine  pulverised  soil  Jin  deep.  In  soil 
given  to  be  heavy  or  wet  sprinkle  the  drills  with  wood  ashes  or 
w'ork  into  the  soil  prior  to  drawing  them.  Sow  the  seed  eivenly 
and  thinly,  covering  with  the  fine  soil  from  the  edge  of  drills. 
BRUSSELS  SPROUTS.- — Where  plants  have  been  raised 
early  from  seed  sown  in  boxes  or  pans  it  is  desirable  now  to 
prick  out  the  seedlings  without  delay,  either  into  other  boxes 
or  into  a  frame.  The  latter,  if  it  gives  nominal  protection,  will 
be  ample,  as  it  can  be  removed  entirely  mth  advantage  shortly. 
If  properly  hardened  the  seedlings  would  succeed  if  pricked  out 
in  the  open  on  a  sheltered  border.  A  sowing  should  also  be 
made  in  the  open  to  furnish  plants  for  later  planting.  It  is 
desirable  to  sow  thinly  and  protect  the  seedlings  from  birds. 
This  can  only  be  done  by  covering  the  seed  bed  eflfectually  with 
nets  or  wire  Pea  guards  if  sowm  in  drills. 
CAULIFLOWER. — A  general  .sowing  of  these  ought  to  be 
made ;  but  if  a  few  score  of  seedlings  have  been  raised  early  under 
glass  prick  them  out  into  good  soil  in  a  frame  where  they  can 
receive  adequate  protection  until  established  and  then  gradually 
hardened  for  early  planting.  First  Crop  is  an  excellent  variety 
for  early  work,  while  for  general  usefulness  Veitch’s  Autumn 
Giant  is  indispensable.  The  latter  variety  may  be  preceded  by 
Walcheren.  Pricking  out  the  plants  immediately  they  are  strong 
enough  is  a  great  aid  in  procuring  stout,  well-rooted  plants  for 
the  final  planting.  Seedlings  already  established  in  boxes  must 
be  hardened  to  cooler  treatment. 
CABBAGE. — If  the  crop  of  spring  Cabbage  is  deficient  a 
further  planting  of  .seedlings  which  have  stood  over  the  winter 
in  the  seed  bed  may  be  made,  or  if  such  are  not  available,  obtain 
plants  from  another  source.  Plant  on  rich  ground  in  rows  2ft 
apart.  Sow  seed  on  a  border  to  obtain  plants  for  the  autumn 
supply.  The  usual  protection  must  bo  given  the  seed  until  the 
seedlings  are  well  developed,  then  prick  out  a  number  on  a 
border  to  .strengthen. 
POTATOES.- — Continue  planting  Potatoes,  dealing  with  the 
main  crop  and  late  varieties.  Give  the  stronger  growing  sorts 
ample  room  between  the  rows,  2ft  Gin  to  3ft.  The  early  varieties 
stood  on  end  in  boxes  to  develop  sturdy  sprouts,  must  have  cool 
and  airy  treatment  to  ensure  their  becoming  hardened  for  plant¬ 
ing  out  very  shortly. 
PEAS. — Early  attention  should  be  given  to  staking  advancing 
Pea  row’s,  doing  the  work  before  the  plants  become  too  tall.  A 
little  earth  drawm  on  each  side. the  rows  is  of  advantage.  Further 
sowdng  ought  to  be  made,  including  such  excellent  sorts  as 
Prince  of  Wales,  Duke  of  Albany,  Sutton’s  Bountiful,  Telegraph, 
Early  Sunri.se. 
CELERY. — Where  seed  was  sown  in  pans  early  in  February 
the  .seedlings  will  now’  be  ready  to  prick  out  in  boxes  or  in  a 
frame.  A  cold  frame  will  be  suitable,  placing  at  the  bottom  a 
layer  of  manure  and  on  this  a  few  inches  of  soil,  making  it  firm, 
and  pricking  out  sturdy  seedlings  4in  apart. 
Mexico. 
“  A  land  of  white  sunshine,  redolent  with  flowers ;  a  land  of 
gay  costumes,  crumbling  churches,  and  old  convents ;  a  land  of 
kindly  greeting,  of  extreme  courtesy,  of  open,  broad  hospi¬ 
tality,”  such  is  the  encomium  bestow’ed  by  a  great  traveller 
writing  of  Mexico.  After  all  (says  an  exchange),  what  land  is 
devoid  of  special  attractions  where  Nature  has  sway  of  her 
artistic  powers,  and  the  high  arts  of  man  are  made  to  join  har¬ 
moniously  in  every  production  ? 
***  All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
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London,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  writo  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondent*,  leeking  information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Joiunai,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable 
trouble  and  expense. 
LOUDON’S  SELF  INSTRUCTION  FOR  YOUNG  GAR¬ 
DENERS  (Scottish  Reader). — We  are  sorry  to-  say  that  this  valu¬ 
able  book  is  scarce,  and  is  only  to  be  met  with  occasionally  at  a 
second-hand  bookseller’s. 
NAIME  OF  INSECTS  (H.  R.,  Kent). — The  larvae  sent  are  not 
those  of  the  cockchafer,  though  they  may  be  turned  up  during 
winter  of  various  size.s ;  the  other,  the  grubs  of  the  common  and 
destructive  weevil,  called  Otiorhynchus  sulcatus.  Your  moth  is 
a  harmless  species,  the-  herald  (Gonoptera  libratrix),  named 
because  it  is  reputed  to  be  one  of  the  pioneers  of  spring.  Emerg¬ 
ing  from  the  chrysalis  in  autumn,  this  moth  hibernates  among.st 
barns,  outhouses,  or  tool  sheds,  and  may  occasionally  enter  con¬ 
servatories,  coming  out  about  the  end  of  March.  The  caterpillar 
feeds  on  Sallows  and  Willows;  it  is  of  a  delicate  green  tint,  with 
velvety  skin,  and  when  adult,  spins  a  cocoon  upon  the  twigs. 
INSECTS  ON  VINES  (A.  B.).— The  insect  (one  only  was  found 
in  the  box)  is  a  Thrips  (T.  adonidum,  syn.  Heliothripa 
hsemorrhoides),  one-  of  the  worst  pests  that  can  gain  a  footing  on 
Vines.  The  larvae  and  pupae  are  yellowish  white,  and  the  perfect 
insect  is  of  a  dull  deep  black,  with  the  point  and  sometimes  the 
whole  of  the  abdomen  of  a  rust  colour ;  the  wings  are  dirty  white, 
the  horns  and  legs  yellowish,  the  extremity  of  the  former  black. 
It  attacks  plants  by  piercing  the  under  side  of  the  leaves,  and  one 
often  sees  at  the  tip  of  the  tail,  a  globule  of  blackish  fluid,  which 
it  soon  deposits,  this  being  that  found  on  the  bunches.  The  only 
desirable  mode  of  riddance  on  Vines  is  fumigation  with  tobacce 
paper,  this  being  of  good  quality,  and  the  fumigation  not  excessive 
will  not  injure  the  Vines,  it  being  advisable  to  fumigate  on  two  or 
three  consecutive  evenings  moderately  and  repeat  in  the  course 
of  about  four  days,  and  also  again  at  a  similar  interval.  Of  course, 
the  insectsi  will  prejudice  the  setting  of  the  Grapes,  but  the 
falling  off  of  the  berries,  or  should-be  berries,  at  flowering  stage 
is  due  to  imperfect  formation,  or  at  least  setting,  of  the  fruit, 
though  there  does  not  appear  anything  defective  in  the  embryonic 
or  bunches  partially  developed  you  enclosed.  The  thrips  thrive  in 
a  dry  atmosphere,  it  not  being  usual  for  them  to  attack  Vines  so 
early  where  they  have  been  duly  syringed  up  to  the  flowering 
stage  or  showing  of  the  bunches,  and  probably  this  practice  has 
not  been  pursued. 
TREATMENT  OF  SMALL  PLANT  OF  STEPHANOTIS 
(John). — As  the  plant  had  but  few  roots,  it  would  have  been 
advisable  to  have  kept  it  in  a  smaller  size  rather  than  given  it  a 
shift  into  a  larger  sized  pot,  as  this  will  not  forward,  but  rather 
retard  the  formation  of  roots.  However,  we  should  keep  the 
plant  rather  dry  at  the  roots,  not  watering  until  the  soil  becomes 
on  the  dry  side,  then  giving  a  thorough  supply,  as  excessive 
moisture  is  against  free  rooting,  and  also  has  a  tendency  to  induce 
soft,  long-jointed  growths.  Indeed,  Stephanotis  should  not  be 
exce.5sively  watered  at  any  time,  and  it  should  be  grown  in  the  ■ 
fullest  light,  training  the  growths  on  strings  in  preference  to  a 
trellis,  especially  when  required  to  be  trained  on  a  balloon  or 
other  shaped  trellis  in  the  pot  for  flowering.  Sturdy,  well  solidi¬ 
fied  growths  are  essential  for  producing  bloom,  hence  the  nearer 
the  glass  without  touching  it  the  growths  are  trained,  the  better 
the  prospect  of  securing  large  bunches  and  fine  flowers  in.  plenty. 
It  succeeds  in  a  temperature  of  GOdeg  to  G5deg  at  night,  70cleg  to 
75deg  by  day,  with  80deg,  85deg,  or  90deg  from  sun.  Under 
those  conditions  it  can  hardly  fail  to  do  well,  being,  of  course, 
potted  in  good  turfy  loam,  not  over-watered  at  any  time,  and 
only  sufficient  given  in  winter,  or  when  at  rest,  to  prevent  the 
foliage  becoming  limp.  There  is  a  difference  in  variety,  some- 
being  indifferent  in  flowering,  and  others,  as  the  Elvaston  variety, 
being  sturdy  growing,  short-jointed,  and  very  floriferous.  If  the 
plant  grows  freely  and  fills  the  pot  with  roots,  it  may  be  shifted 
into  a  size  larger  in  June,  not  otherwise,  as  over-potting  is  a 
great  mistake.  Afford  good  drainage. 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS  (A.  T.). — 1,  Scilla  bifolia  alba;  2, 
Cyclamen  Coum ;  3,  Primula  Forbesi ;  4,  Cornus  mascula ;  5, 
Cydonia  japonica  cardinalis.  (Thos.  B.). — The  Tulip  seems  to  be 
Mens  Tresor.  (John).-  Probably  had  we  flowers  as  well  as  the 
foliage  you  send,  we  might  be  able  to  name.  The  order  is  con¬ 
fused  with  Hymenocallis.  (R.  L.  T.). — 1,  Dendrobium  aureum  ; . 
2,  D.  Ainsworthiae ;  3,  Cypripedium  Lawrenceanum. 
