September  19,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  270 
Late  Peaches  are  very  noble  in  appearance,  and  of  excellent  quality 
when  well  done.  Prince  of  Wales,  very  little  seen,  is  a  magnificent  fruit 
when  grown  under  glass  and  in  warm  soils,  but  it  is  not  satisfactory 
against  walls  and  in  heavy  soils.  Gladstone,  a  similar  fruit,  does 
splendidly  in  a  late  house,  it  being  very  large  and  of  first-rate  quality 
when  well  fed  during  growth.  For  looks,  Princess  of  Wales  is,  perhaps, 
the  grandest  of  all  late  summer  Pe aohes,  attaining  a  large  size  and 
assuming  fine  colour  under  favouring  circumstances ;  and  Late 
Admirable  also  has  both  size  and  quality  to  recommend  it,  also 
Walburton  Admirable.  Sea  Eagle  sometimes  colours  grandly,  and  even 
when  pale  has  a  very  pleasing  appearance,  its  size  and  good  qualities 
rendering  it  very  desirable.  Golden  Eagle  has  both  size,  golden  colour, 
and  gocd  quality  to  recommend  it,  while  Comet  proves  very  acceptable 
early  in  October.— St.  Albans. 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “The  EditoB,”  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street, 
I>ondon,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  private!} 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matter 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiabl 
trouble  and  expense. 
Crab  Apple  ( G .  H.  S.). — Your  fruits  (pome)  are  those  of  Pyrus  Malus 
Bertini,  a  variety  of  Siberian  Crab. 
Creature  Found  in  Early  Peach  Home  (A.E.M.). — The  box  arrived, 
and  the  specimen  inside  had  been  reduced  to  slime,  which  smelt  most 
offensively,  and  was  at  oi  ce  placed  in  the  fire,  as  it  was  utterly 
impossible  to  determine  oiie  kir  d  of  putrefying  animal  matter  from 
another.  We  extremely  regret  this.  It  was  probably  a  tapeworm. 
Analysis  of  Sewage  Deposit :  its  Value  as  Manure  ( J .  H.). — The 
analysis — 
Moisture  . «  ...  54'90 
Organic  matter  . 10’72 
Nitrogen  (V525,  equal  to  ammonia  0’637 
Phosphates .  1’87  ** 
Silica .  7  25 
Other  mineral  matter  .  . . 25  26 
100-00 
shows  a  very  poor  manurial  artiole,  and  chiefly  valuable  for  the  organic 
matter;  phosphates  and  addition  of  solid  matter  increasing  the  bulk  of 
the  soil,  as  well  as  from  the  lrrge  amount  of  lime  usually  forming  a 
large  proportion  of  the  “  other  mineral  matter.”  It  would  be  a  goon 
dressing  for  (1)  Raspberries  and  (2)  fruit  trees  generally,  applying  ii 
similarly  to  ordinary  farmyard  manure,  and  at  the  same  rate,  12  to 
20  tons  per  acre.  In  addition  to  this  we  should  apply  a  mixture  of 
equal  parts  superphosphate  of  lime  and  kainit,  3J  lbs.  per  rod,  5  cwt. 
per  acre,  and  in  the  autumn.  In  spring,  when  growth  commences, 
finely  crushed  nitrate  of  soda  may  be  used,  If  lb.  per  rod,  2^  cwt.  per 
acre,  it  being  best  applied  at  twicp,  (1)  when  growth  commences,  and 
(2)  as  soon  as  the  orop  of  fruit  is  set,  half  quantity  each  time,  ana 
always  when  the  ground  is  moist. 
Spray  of  Plum  Tree— Leaves  of  Pear  and  Cracked  Pears  ( C .  N.). — 
The  leaves  of  the  Plum  tree  twig  are  affected  by  what  is  kuown  as 
“  silver-leaf  ”  disease.  The  same  also  occurs  on  Portugal  Laurels. 
External  applications  are  not  of  any  service,  but  we  do  not  think  you 
have  any  immediate  cause  for  alarm,  as  the  leaves  are  but  slightly 
affected.  2,  The  Pear  leaves  have  been  affected  by  Pear-leaf  gad 
mite,  Phytoptus  pyri,  and  also  by  the  Pear  scab  fungus,  Fusicladium 
pyrinum.  The  mite  seldom  does  much  mischief,  but  to  prevent  its 
attacks  the  trees  may  be  sprayed  in  winter  with  paraffin  emulsion 
diluted  with  seven  parts  water.  3,  The  Pears  are  infested  by  the 
Pear-scab  fungus,  Fusicladium  pyrinum,  which  frequently  spoils  greater 
part  of  the  fruit  and  sometimes  the  whole  crop.  The  disease  has  been 
successfully  combated  by  spraying  with  dilute  Bordeaux  mixtuie 
(1  lb.  oopper  sulphate  and  1  lb.  quicklime  to  12^  gallons  water).  First, 
just  as  the  flower  buds  begin  to  open  ;  second,  when  the  petals  ( f 
the  flowers  are  falling ;  and  third,  when  the  fruit  is  the  size  of  horse 
beans,  or  slightly  larger.  If  the  season  be  rainy  a  fourth  treatment 
should  be  given  twelve  days  or  a  fortnight  after  the  third.  If  f  oz. 
of  Paris  green  is  added  to  the  12£  gallons  of  dilute  Bordeaux  mixture 
at  the  time  of  the  third  spraying,  it  will  hold  the  codlin  moth 
caterpillar  in  check.  It  is  also  advisable  to  spray  the  trees  whilst 
quite  dormant  with  a  solution  of  copper  sulphate,  1  lb.  to  25  gallons  of 
water.  This  must  not  be  used  at  any  other  time,  and  ordinary  Bordeaux 
mixture  not  be  used  on  foliage  of  the  Pear,  but  only  the  dilute  foim  as 
advised,  for  ordinary  Bordeaux  misture  is  apt  to  scorch  the  foliage, 
especially  when  young,  hence  the  imperativeness  of  only  using  the  dilute 
form. 
Propagating  the  Rose  of  Sharon  (.!.  L.  S.). — The  Rose  cf  Sharon, 
Hibiscus  syriacus,  can  be  propagated  from  ripened  wood  taken  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  season  and  put  in  frames.  Left  there  during  the 
winter,  they  are  rooted  by  spring  time. 
Name  of  Caterpillar  (J.  W.  L.). — The  insect  sent  is  the  caterpillar, 
about  two-thirds  grown,  of  the  death’s  head  moth,  Acherontia  atropos, 
which  occurs  amongst  Potatoes  in  the  autumn,  and  is  found  most 
seasons  ;  in  some  it  is  frequent  about  certain  localities,  especially  sruth 
and  east  of  England.  It  produces  our  largest  moth,  one  with  a 
somewhat  remarkable  history,  and  also  with  some  mystery  attached  to 
its  habits.  Owing  to  the  skull-like  markings  on  the  thorax,  and  the 
power  it  has  of  uttering  a  curious  plaintive  cry,  it  has  always  been 
regarded  with  surprise,  or  even  alarm.  The  caterpillar  is  stated  to 
produce  a  sound  too,  which  is  rather  different,  but  the  specimen 
forwarded  to  us,  owing  to  fatigue  or  fasting,  has  not  attempted  any 
vocal  performances. 
Chrysanthemum  Buds  Decayed  (R.  M.  D.). — The  buds  have  the 
centres  destroyed,  and  in  a  state  of  decay  ;  but  though  we  examined 
them  carefully,  there  is  no  animal  or  vegetable  parasite  present  to 
account  for  the  decaying  of  the  tissues.  In  similar  case  we  have  found 
mites,  an  example  of  which  was  investigated  by  Mr.  G.  Abbey  on 
September  11th,  1893,  and  was  illustrated  in  the  Journal  of  Horti¬ 
culture,  September  28th,  1893,  page  291.  The  attack  is  exactly  the  same, 
and  we  consider  the  buds  have  been  infested  by  the  Chrysanthemum 
bud  mite,  Phytoptus  chrysanthemi,  at  an  earlier  stage.  The  pest  appears 
to  select  hot  and  dry  seasons  for  its  attacks,  and  also  has  a  penchant 
for  some  varieties  more  than  others,  M.  Carnot  and  family  in  your 
case  being  attacked  and  the  buds  destroyed,  while  you  have  not  lost  a 
bud  of  any  other  variety.  Possibly  treatment  with  petroleum  emulsion 
8  ozs.,  and  sulphide  of  potassium  1  oz.,  to  3  gallons  of  soft  water  would 
have  prevented  the  attack,  the  plants  being  sprayed  from  the  early 
part  of  July,  or  even  earlier,  at  fortnightly  intervals  up  to  the  middle  of 
August.  Judging  by  the  vigour  of  the  stems  and  superb  health  of  the 
leaves,  there  does  not  appear  anything  wrong  with  the  management  of 
the  plants. 
Pest  on  Branch  of  Cotoneaster  ( J .  M.  IF.).— It  is  Mussel  scale, 
Mytilaspis  pomorum,  which  infests  several  genera  and  species  of 
rosaoeous  plants,  including  evergreens  ;  we  have  recently  had  specimen 
of  the  pest  brought  to  our  notice  on  the  Myrtle-leaved  Portugal  Laurel, 
Ceratus  lusitanica  myrtifolia.  The  insect  differs  somewhat  in  the  several 
host  plants  in  size  and  even  in  form,  but  there  is  no  distinctive  feature,  the 
life  history  being  identical.  The  most  success! ul  treatment  is  to  spray 
the  bushes  or  trees  whilst  quite  dormant  with  a  solution  of  caustic 
soda  (98  per  cent,  purity),  and  commercial  potash  (pearlash),  1  oz  of 
each  to  a  gallon  of  water,  hot  water  being  used  for  dissolving,  and  the 
solution  applied  at  a  temperature  of  132^°,  or  not  over  135°,  or  lower 
than  130°.  The  weather  should  be  mild  when  the  solution  is  applied, 
but  the  bush  or  bushes  dry.  This  will  usually  bring  off  the  scale  with 
the  eggs  beneath,  leaving  the  bark  quite  clean.  The  larvae  or  young 
scale  hatch  from  the  eggs  towards  the  end  of  May  and  beginning  of 
June,  and  are  then  woodlouse-like  creatures,  which,  moving  about  over 
the  bark  a  few  days  before  fixing  themselves  upon  it  by  inserting  their 
tiny  beaks  far  enough  to  reach  the  sap,  are  then  readily  destroyed  by 
spraying  with  paraffin  oil  emulsion.  It  is  readily  made  by  dissolving 
1  pint  of  softsoap  in  a  quart  of  boiling  soft  water,  then  removing  from 
the  fire,  and  while  still  boiling  hot  add  half  a  pint  of  paraffin  oil,  and 
immediately  ohurn  the  mixture  with  a  small  hand  syringe.  In  five 
minutes  a  perfect  emulsion  will  be  obtained,  and  for  use  should  be 
diluted  with  ten  times  its  volume  of  water,  this  being  preferably  hot, 
and  tbe  solution  applied  at  a  temperature  of  130°  to  136°.  Treatment 
should  commence  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  be  repeated  at  weekly 
intervals  up  to  the  middle  of  June. 
Names  of  Fruit  (C.  N.). — Plum  Victoria.  (TV.  8.). — 1,  Pear 
Souvenir  du  Congi  es ;  2,  Apple  Albury  ;  3,  Cox’s  Pomona;  4,  Cellini; 
5,  Wealthy  ;  6,  Margil  (syn.  Neverfail).  (T.). —  1,  Peach  Royal 
George;  2,  Rubus  fruticosa.  ( N .). — 1,  Plnm  Diamond ;  2,  Apple  New 
Hawthornden  ;  3,  Lady  Sudeley.  ( S .  I).). — Plum  Magnum  Bonum. 
Names  of  Flowers  ( Gymio ). — Epilobium  angustifolium.  (J.  R.  S.). — 
1,  Campanula  persicifolia ;  2,  Piptanthus  nepalensis,  as  figured  last 
week  ;  3,  Tritonia  (Montbretia)  Pottsi  ;  4,  Odontoglossum  odoratum ; 
5,  Epidendrum  radicans.  (A.  T.). — 1,  Thuya  orientalis  var. ;  2,  Quercus 
ruber;  3,  Quercus  pedunculate ;  4,  Clematis  coccinea.  (A.  L,  F.)<  — 
Juniperus  bermudiana,  a  much  confused  species.  (S.  D.). — 1,  see 
‘‘Names  of  Fruits;”  2,  Melissa  officinalis,  the  Balm;  3,  Tanacetum 
vulgare,  the  Tansy  ;  4,  Choisya  ternata.  ( Hugh  Shearer). — Thalictrum 
adiantifolium.  It  is  not  a  Fern,  but  a  border  plant;  you  cannot  stage 
it  with  Ferns.  ( Harborne ). — Euonymus  latifolins.  Others  next  week 
Phenological  Observations. 
Sept.  20th  to  Sept.  26th. 
20  Fri.  Chiffchaff’s  song  ceases. 
21  Sat.  Lime-leaves  fall. 
22  Sun.  Herald-moth  seen. 
23  Mon.  Bush-nuts  fall. 
24  Tu.  Leycesteria  fruits  coloured. 
25  Wed.  Ath-leaves  lemon  coloured. 
26  Thr.  Ivy  flowers. 
Plants  dedicated  to  each  day. 
Meadow  SaffroD. 
Ciliated  Passion-flower. 
Tree  Boletus. 
Bushy  Starwort. 
Dung  Fungus. 
Ox  Boletus. 
Gigantic  Golden  Rod. 
