396 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  1,  1902. 
healthfully  moist,  so  as  to  keep  the  foliage  in  good  condition. 
Moderate  air  moisture  also  is  essential  to  prevent  the  foliage 
prematurely  ripening,  and  it  benefits  rather  than  prejudices  the 
keeping  of  the  Grapes,  provided  the  atmosphere  is  not  stagnant. 
As  the  Grapes  are  liable  to  lose  colour  vith  hanging,  a  slight 
shade  will  be  beneficial  in  helping  to  keep  colour,  especially  in 
Black  Hamburgh  and  Madresfield  Court.  A  double  thickness 
■of  herring  netting  or  a  single  thickness  of  pilchard  netting 
placed  on  the  roof  lights  is  sufficient.  It  is  also  desirable,  where 
it  can  be  practised  without  crowding  the  principal  leaves,  to 
allow  a  moderate  extension  of  the  laterals,  which  will  tend  to 
promote  root  activity  and  assist  the  Vines  to  recuperate  their 
wasted  energies. 
SUCCESSION  HOUSES.— Follow  up  thinning  the  bunches 
and  berries,  also  tying,  disbudding,  stopping,  and  regulating 
the  growths.  Allow  crops  proportionate  to  the  vigour  of  the 
yines,  and  retain  as  much  foliage  as  can  have  full  exposure  to 
light  and  air,  for  on  the  amount  of  assimilating  power  and  the 
supplies  of  nutriment  depends  the  health  of  the  Vines  and  their 
^wer  of  swelling  and  perfecting  their  crops.  Examine  the 
borders  at  least  once  weekly,  and  when  dry  water  freely,  assist¬ 
ing  those  in  full  foliage  and  carrying  heavy  crops  with  tepid 
liquid  manure  and  surface  dressings  of  rich  material,  or  a  couple 
of  inches  thickness  of  rather  lumpy  manure  well  sweetened,  but 
not  very  inucli  reduced.  In  addition  to  tliis,  mineral  food  should 
be  provided.  The  advertised,  fertilisers  are  compounded 
of  various  salts  in  a  form  readily  available  as  plant  food,  and 
mainly  consist  of  phosphatic,  iiotassic,  and  nitrogenous 
matters,  which  are  especially  valuable  for  Vines.  Use  a  quarter  of 
■a  pound  per  square  yard  every  fortnight  or  three  weeks,  altemat- 
"uator  or  liquid  iiiaiiure  supplies.  Well-drained  inside 
borders  will  take  almost  any  quantity  of  water  after  the  AUnes 
are  in  full  leafage,  it  having  a  sanitating  as  well  as  a  moisture 
supplying  effect ;  and  the  sweeter  the  soil  or  food  held  in  solu- 
Hon  the  more  healthy  the  Vines  will  be,  provided  the  foliage 
IS  kept  clean,  has  full  exposure  to  light,  and  the  atmospheric 
conditions  are  favourable. 
LA  IE  HOUSES.— Disbudding,  also  tying  and  stopping  the 
■growths,  mmst  be  attended  to  as  they  become  sufficiently 
advanced  Hie  brighter  weather  has  given  the  foliage  'a 
remarkably  healthy  blue-green  colour,  so  characteristic  of 
nealtJiv.  active  feeders  luxuriating  in  phosiihoric,  potassic,  and 
nrirogenoiis  aliment.  Every  advantage  of  sun  heat  should  be 
given  to  increasing  the  ventilation  early  in  the  day  and  of  closing 
eariv  in  tlie  afternoon,  as  a  means  of  securing  a  lono^  day’s 
work  and  of  vigour  and  health  in  the  Vines,  dispensing  vuth  fire 
neat  as  much  as  possible,  and  yet  emploving  enough  to  keep  the 
Vines  in  steady  progress.  Make  selection  of  the  bunches  that 
are  to  remain  for  the  crop,  large  hunches,  especially  loose,  being 
the  Avorst  for  finish,  and  the  medium  sized  and  compact  the  best 
for  perfecting  properly  and  keeping.  Crop  lightly  rather  than 
too  heavily,  and  apportion  the  crop  to  the  vigour  and  variety  of 
Vine. — feT.  Albans. 
'  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  direetet 
ToTiHnn  Chambers,  Pleet  Street 
^ondon,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  ivill  write  privateh 
to  any  ot  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matteri 
cliscussfcd  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  uniustifiabh 
trouble  and  expense. 
yARIETIES  (Young  Exhibitor). — Rho 
is  a.  warm  greenhouse  spet 
(note  that  It  is  warm  greenhouse”),  and,  therefore,  could  o 
^  ^oji^^cbion  of  stove  and  greenhouse  flowers.  1 
variety  R.  Victoria  Regina  ive  do  not  know. 
BACHELOR  OF  SCIENCE  DEGREE  (Oxonian). — The  “  s 
jects  It  is  necessary  to  know  to  be  able  to  pass  [fliiall  the  B 
examination  are,  amongst  others,  the  following:  Bota; 
organic  and  inorganic  chemistry,  geology,  mathematics  pure  £ 
znixed,  physics,  zoology,  geography,  especially  physical.  Th 
or  the  subjects  must  be  taken  at  the  final  examination  It 
advisable,  or  absolutely  necessary,  to  be  able  to  use  the  Lat 
rrench,  and  German  languages.  For  further  information  ap 
to  the  Jieadmaster  of  a  college. 
PLAN  OF  A  GARDEN  (C.  A.  S.). — We  are  obliged  to  ivith- 
hold  the  answer  till  next  week. 
AURICULA  FLOWER  (Oakleigh).— In  size  of  flower  and 
truss,  in  depth  and  beauty  of  colour,  in  sweetness  of  scent,  and 
in  the  evenness  of  the  “  paste  ”  around  the  eye,  your  variety  is 
good,  but  the  general  form  is  a  trifle  too  ragged  to  please  the 
strict  fancier.  It  is  a  sweet,  decorative  variety,  and  we  have 
sent  a  flower  to  Mr.  James  Douglas,  V.M.H.,  for  his  expert 
opinion. 
WHITE-TIPPED  ARAUCARLA  EXCELSA  (C.  P.).— Nothing 
seems  to  be  known  of  a  white-tipped  variety  such  as  you  send 
specimen  of,  by  those  who  have  had  most  experience  with  the 
plant  among  our  acquaintances  here.  The  tips  are  sometimes 
white,  but  never  so  elongated  and  completely  individualised  as 
in  your  plant.  The  novelty  is  worthy  of  care,  and  we  would 
suggest  that  you  graft  suitable  shoots  of  it  upon  an  A.  excelsa 
stock.  By  this  means  you  may  in  time  be  able  to  secure  addi¬ 
tional  plants.  Being  rvhite  and  devoid  of  the  chlorophyll  neces- 
sai-y  for  growth,  even  if  you  struck  cuttings,  the  chances  are  aU 
against  successful  results. 
MATERIALS  FOR  ROCKERY  (Rockery). — The  materials  for 
rockwork  are  so  variable  that  it  is  futile  to  give  particulars  as  to 
costj  indeed,  we  are  not  in  a  position  to  do  so,  as  so  much 
depends  upon  the  selection  of  matei'ial  and  the  distance.  The 
commonest  materials  used  in  rockeries  are  tufa,  costing  about  50s. 
per  ton,  in  trucks,  in  Derbyshire,  and  the  rate  of  carriage  can 
easily  be  ascertained  from  the  railway  company.  Selected  Derby¬ 
shire  spar  costs  42s.  per  ton,  and  pink  Nottingham  spar  42s.  6d. 
per  ton.  Other  material,  such  as  glazed  retort  burrs,  cost  22s.  6d. 
per  ton ;  selected  flints,  21s.  3d. ;  well  bunit  grotesque  burrs, 
18s. ;  and  blue  clinkers,  12s.  6d.  per  ton.  Why  not  write  to 
Messrs.  Wood  and  Son,  Wood  Green,  London,  N.,  and  ask  for 
particulars  of  materials? 
MANURE  FOR  ASPARAGUS  BEDS  (H.  R.,  Guildford).— 
The  fertiliser,  consisting  of  Icwt  kainit  and  2cwt  common  salt,  is 
a  heavy  dressing  for  200  square  yards,  though  a  suitable  one  for 
very  sandy  soil,  as  salt  acts  w'ell  on  sand,  and  of  it  about  2^lh 
Avould  be  used  per  square  yard,  as  kainit  contains  about  one-third 
of  salt  (chloride  of  sodium).  We  should  prefer  a  manure  con¬ 
taining  more  essential  food,  such  as  bonemeal  and  kainit  in  equal 
proportions,  and  applying  71b  of  the  mixture  per  rod,  or  4oz  per 
square  yard,  and,  in  case  animal  manure  is  not  used,  supplying 
a  similar  quantity  of  rape  dust,  all  being  applied  when  the  beds 
are  dressed  in  the  spring  and  lightly  pointed  in.  Or,  if  the 
kainit  and  bonemeal  alone  were  supplied,  follow  as  soon  as  the 
heads  of  the  Asparagus  begin  to  push  Avith  finely  crushed  nitrate 
of  soda.  If  lb  per  rod,  or  loz  per  square  jmrd.  This  is  likely  to 
give  better  results  than  the  heavy  dressing  of  kainit  and  salt 
alone. 
CUTTING  THE  CROWNS  OF  SEAKALE  (D.  W.).— The 
crowns  of  plants  a  year  old  should  be  cut  doAvn  so  as  tO'  make 
a  new  croAvn,  and  that  not  likely  to  run  to  seed ;  but  the  grand 
secret  is  to  reduce  the  neAv  breaks  to  one,  or,  at  most,  two  on 
each  plant  so  cut  dowm,  reserving  the  most  promising  growth  on 
each,  and  removing  the  others  as  soon  as  choice  can  well  be  made. 
Another  season  it  Avould  be  well  to  cut  off  the  crown  before 
groAAth  is  made,  thus  securing  an  earlier  groAAdh,  and,  in  ooPse- 
quence,  longer  time,  for  making  and  maturing  a  good_  groAvth 
early,  which  is  a  very  important  matter  Avhen  the  crowns  are 
required  for  early  forcing.  Cuttings  that  have  been  planted  this 
spring,  being  root  portions  that  have  formed  buds,  will  not  require 
cutting,  but  merely  the  growths  reduced  to  one  on  each,  there 
not  being  any  danger  of  their  running  to  seed,  and,  under 
favourable  conditions,  they  Avill  form  croAvns  available  for  forcing 
next  Avinter. 
NAMES  OF  FRUIT. —  Correspondents  tcJiose  queries  are  un~ 
ansicered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (C.  P.). — Beurr^  Claii-gean. 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS. —  Correspondents  whose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (H.  R.,  Kent). — Amelanchier  canadensis.  (A.  B.  C.). 
— 1,  Aealypha  maerophylla ;  2,  Acalypha  Maeafeeana ;  3,  Adiantum 
Farleyense ;  4,  Eurya  latifolia  variegata ;  5,  Dieffenbaehia  magnifica, 
poor  leaf ;  6,  the  Double  Gean,  Primus  Avium  fl.-pl.  (J.  B.  R.). — 
Maxillaria  Sanderiana.  (N.  L.). — 1,  Hibiscus  Areheri ;  2,  Pandanus 
stenophyllus ;  3,  Asystasia  bella  ;  4,  Sedum  sarmentosuin ;  5,  Tritonia 
crocata,  observe  the  ‘‘  AvindoAvs  ”  at  the  base  of  each  segment. 
(Oxonian). — The  lilac  coloured  spike  is  Petasites  vulgaris,  the  other 
a  species  of  Acer,  but  foliage  is  required  before  Ave  can  determine 
which  one.  (T.  H.  tt). — Narcissi  are  classed  as  florists’  flowers,  being 
mere  varieties  of  species,  and,  therefore,  too  numerous  and  A'ariable 
for  us  to  undertake  to  name  ;  you  should  send  to  Messrs.  Barr  oi*  other 
large  groAver.  From  those  you  send  Ave  identify  the  following ;  1, 
Narcissus  Jonquilla,  the  Jonquil;  2,  N.  prineeps ;  3,  Emperor;  4, 
N.  incomparabilis  Frank  Miles  ;  5,  N.  Leeds!  Duchess  of  Brabant ;  6, 
Orange  Phoenix ;  7,  Leedsi,  the  type ;  8,  Telemonius  plenus ;  9, 
N.  incomparabilis  Sir  Watkin. 
