October  10,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
45 
DRESSING  FOR  VINE  BORDER  (G.  G.).— Remove  the  top 
soil  down  to  the  roots,  but  without  injuring  them,  and  replace 
with  sound  turfy  loam  mixed  with  inch  bones  at  the  rate  of 
2  bushels  of  bones  to  a  cartload  of  soil,  and  surface  the  border 
with  a  covering  of  good  manure.  Do  it  at  once. 
PALM  AND  DRACAENA  SEED  SOWING  (A  Young 
Gardener). — Sow  them  all  in  strong  heat  in  February,  and  in  a 
compost  of  two  parts  fibrous  peat  and  one  part  turfy  loam,  with  a 
free  admixture  of  silver  sand,  covering  each  the  diametef  of  the 
seeds,  and  keep  moist.  A  bottom  heat  of  90deg  is  not  too  much, 
and  top  heat  of  75deg  to  90deg. 
STRENGTHENING  OLD  VINE  (J.  D.).— The  lowering  of  the 
raised  part  of  the  border  and  severing  the  fibres  that  had  issued 
from  the  stem  would,  as  you  say,  weaken  the  Vine  to  a  consider¬ 
able  extent,  the  wood  being  rather  weak  and  the  bunches  small. 
The  scorching  of  the  leaves  would  also  have  a  prejudicial  effect, 
but  this  would  be  counteracted  to  some  extent  by  allowing  the 
laterals  to  remain,  both  as  regards  root  action  and  assimilating 
power.  We  should  remove  as  much  of  the  surface  soil  as  can  well 
be  done  without  injury  to  the  fibres,  picking  it  out  from  amongst 
the  larger  roots,  and  for  some  distance  from  the  stem  outwards, 
supplying  good  turfy  loam  in  its  place.  The  object  of  this  is  to 
induce  roots  to  form  plenti¬ 
fully  in  the  fresh  material, 
and  then  they  can  be  fed  to 
almost  any  extent  by  top- 
dressings  of  fertiliser.  In 
case  the  border  and  the  con¬ 
dition  of  the  roots  do  not 
admit  of  this,  and  the  sur¬ 
face  being  rich  from  top¬ 
dressing  or  mulching  with 
manure  a  dressing  of  air- 
slaked  lime  and  soot  in  equal 
parts  by  measure,  mixed, 
applying  Jib  of  the  mixture 
per  square  yard,  and  point¬ 
ing  in  as  deeply  as  the  roots 
allow  without  injuring  them, 
would  probably  benefit  the 
Vine  by  sweetening  the  soil, 
as  well  as  supplying  essen¬ 
tial  food  and  rendering  other 
available.  As  a  fertiliser 
the  following  mixture  may 
be  used  at  the  time  of  start¬ 
ing  the  Vines  —  dissolved 
bones,  dry  and  crumbling, 
three  parts;  double  sulphate 
of  potash  and  magnesia,  two 
parts  ;  sulphate  of  lime,  one 
part ;  mixed,  applying  4oz  of 
the  mixture  per  square  yard, 
and  pointing  in  very  lightly, 
merely  scratching  with  a 
fork.  If  you  renovate  the 
border,  the  top-dressing  of 
fertiliser  may  be  applied  as 
soon  as  completed,  or  even 
whether  renovated  or  not. 
but  not  if  the  lime  and  soot 
dressing  is  given. 
TREATMENT  OF  TOXICOPHL^EA  SPECTABILE  AND 
OTHER  STOVE  PLANTS  (A.  W.  G.). — Toxicophlsea  spectabile  is 
a  warm  greenhouse  or  cool  stove  plant,  and  is  propagated  by 
cuttings  of  the  young  half-ripened  growths  in  sand  in  bottom  heat 
under  a  bell-glass.  Peat  soil  with  a  third  of  fibrous  loam  will 
growr  it  well,  keeping  moist  at  all  tiihes,  and  watering  freely  when 
in  growth.  Francisceas  succeed  in  a  compost  of  equal  parts 
fibrous  loam,  sandy  peat,  and  leaf  soil,  with  a  free  admixture  of 
silver  sand  and  good  drainage.  Cuttings  of  the  young  shoots 
after  they  become  firm  root  well  in  sandy  soil  in  bottom  heat 
covered  with  a  bell-glass.  Eranthemum  pulchellum  is  also  a  stove 
plant,  doing  well  in  fibrous  loam,  with  a  third  of  leaf  soil,  and 
cuttings  of  the  young  shoots  strike  freely  in  sandy  soil  in  gentle 
bottom  heat  or  without,  but  emit  roots  less  speedily.  Strelitzia 
juncea,  another  stove  plant,  requires  two  parts  fibrous  loam,  one 
part  sandy  peat,  half  a  part  leaf  soil,  and  a  sixth  of  silver  sand 
and  good  drainage.  It  is  propagated  by  suckers  or  dividing  the 
plant,  and  requires  to  be  kept  copiously  watered  when  in  growth, 
and  kept  rather  dry  when  at  rest.  All  require  light  and  airy 
positions,  and  abundant  atmospheric  moisture  when  making  fresh 
growth,  and  wrater  when  not  growing  to  keep  the  foliage  from 
flagging. 
NAMES  OF  YHXJIT. —Correspondents  ivhose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  reques  ed  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (L.  J.  Preston).  1.  Apple  Yorkshire  Beauty; 
2.  Cellini  ;  3,  Reinette  du  Canada;  4.  Manks  Ccdlin ;  5.  Lane’s 
Prince  Albert ;  6  Duchess’s  Favourite:  1.  Pear  Gansel’s  Bergamot; 
2,  bad  specimen,  and  unable  to  name.  (Ignoramus). — Apple  Bess 
Pool;  Pear  Gansel’s  Bergamot.  (G.  A.).-  1.  Apple  Annie  Elizabeth ; 
2.  Lord  Suffield:  1.  Pear  Beurre  Diel ;  2.  Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey- 
(John  Fordyce). — Apple  Beauty  of  Kent. 
NAMES  OF  FLOWERS. —  Correspondents  ivhose  qve  nes  are  un¬ 
answered  ru  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.'  (G.  IL,  Gosport). — Tfie^  weed  is  Ajuga  reptans, 
only  to  be  overcome  by  assiduous  eradication.  (Wcolton).—  Piece  of 
a  Salix  with  the  leaves  punctured  by  an  insect:  the  irritation  caused 
by  the  puncture  induces  the  berry-like  swellings.  (H.  O.  H.). — A 
magnificent  bloom  of  Dendrobium  formesum  giganteum.  (A.  L.). — 
1, 
1, 
Picea  Morinda  ;  2.  Coprosma  Baueriana  variegata.  (C.  D.). — - 
Odontoglossum  Harryanum  ;  2.  Erigeron  mueronatus.  (F.  L.  J.). — 
2,  Eccremocarpus  scaber. 
Helianthus  rigidus 
EDITORIAL  NOTICE. — Our  readers  can  greatly  assist  in  adding 
interest  to  the  pages  of  The  Journal”  by  their  kindly  con¬ 
tribution  of  timely  notes  and  notices,  and  at  the  present  period 
of  the  year  there  may  be  photographic  examples  of  well-grown 
fruit,  &e..  growing  or  otherwise,  that  would  be  worthy  of  repro¬ 
duction.  The  Editor  would  be  pleased  to  have  such  subjects  for 
consideration  and  probable  use.  He  does  not  guarantee  to  pay 
for  prints  unless  by  special  agreement. 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
C. 
and 
Howie^A  Co..  Seed  Merchants 
Street.  Kimberley.  S.A. 
Tlios.  Rivers  &  Son.  Sawbridgeworth.  Herts. — Fruit 
Shrubs. 
Agricultural ‘Agents.  Market 
Trees, URoses 
Phenolo  ical  Obs  rva  io  s. 
October  11th  to  17th. 
11  Fri.  Old  Michaelmas  Day. 
Chestnuts  have  fallen. 
12  Sat.  Honeysuckle ai  <1  Ash 
fall.V?  - 
13  Sun.  Aspenrfeaves' fall. 
( aves 
14  Mon.  Swallow  last  seen. 
15  Tues.  Ladybird  hibernates- 
16  Wed.  Mai  tin  last  seen. 
17  Thr.  Hazel  leaves  fall. 
Gardeners’  Provident  and  Charitable  Institutions. 
'The  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution.—  Secretary,. 
Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram.  175  Victoria  Street  S.W. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. — 
Secretary ,  Mr.  W.  Collins.  9  Martirdale  Read.  Rail  am.  London.  S.W.. 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund.  -Secretary,  Mr.  Brian  Wynne,, 
8,  Danes  Inn  Strand,  London,  W.C. 
