-524  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
trench.  Spread  on  a  layer  of  manure  before  adding  the  top  spit, 
fhe  same  procedure  should  follow  until  the  end  of  division  is 
reached,  when  work  back  on  the  other  part,  where  at  the  end 
the  soil  moved  to  commence  with,  is  available  to  fill  in  at  the 
finish. 
1 0-RCING  RHUBARB. — Clumps  of  Rhubarb  roots  that  have 
been  lifted  and  exposed  to  the  weather  for  the  last  week  or  two 
will  be  in  excellent  condition  for  forcing.  Bring  them  into  any 
convenient  place,  where,  during  the  present  month,  they  can 
have  a  heat  of  60deg  to  65deg.  Such  a  temperature  will  neces¬ 
sarily  be  somewhat  drying  for  the  roots,  hence  it  will  be  desirable 
to  surround  them  with  soil,  which  being  kept  moist,  also  the 
crowns,  the  essential  conditions  inducing  root  action  will  be  pre¬ 
sent  and  the  crowns  will  push.  Semi-darkness  produces  the  best 
•coloured  sticks,  and  the  best  flavoured. 
MUSHROOMS.-—  Good  horse  droppings  of  a  moderately  fresh 
character,  mixed  with  but  a  small  proportion  of  straw  or  short 
material,  should  form  the  staple  of  the  manure  for  Mushroom 
beds.  During  the  process  of  collecting  a  sufficient  quantity  the 
manure  should  be  spread  out  thinly  in  a  dry  structure,  and  when 
enough  is  obtained  throw  the  lot  into  a  heap  to  ferment.  After 
this  lias  commenced  and  the  heap  become  hot,  turn  the  whole  of 
it.  After  two  or  three  turnings  the  fierce  heat  has  been  so  far 
spent  that  the  material  may  be  made  into  a  bed,  which  may  be  a 
,an4  placed  together  firmly.  When  at  a  temperature 
of  about  85deg,  and  not  likely  to  rise  higher,  the  spawn  may  be 
inserted  just  under  the  surface  of  manure,  which  may  be  pressed 
closely  round  the  pieces,  having  them  about  the  size  of  small  eggs 
and  nicely  permeated  with  the  mycelium  of  the  spawn.  Soil  the 
bed  at  once,  using  a  mixture  of  good  rich  loam  an  inch  thick.  It 
may  be  moderately  moist  and  firmed  with  the  back  of  the  spade 
smoothly.  Cover  the  whole  with  a  good  layer  of  dry  hay,  which 
keeps  the  surface  uniformly  moist,  and  assists  in  retaining  an 
even  temperature.  At  the  present  season  a  structure  where  a 
heat  of  50deg  can  be  regularly  maintained,  will  largely  assist  in 
^0  early  productiveness  of  the  beds.  When  the  surface 
of  the  beds  becomes  dry,  sprinkle  with  tepid  water  through  the 
covering  of  hay. — Lymington,  Hants. 
- •  9 - - - 
AH  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “  The  Editor,”  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street, 
Xiondon,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately' 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  nu  tter 
discussed  in  th:g  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustiffibU 
trouble  and  expense. 
RAISING  PLANE  TREES  FROM  SEED  (H.  R.)._Yes, 
Plane  seeds  will  germinate  in  the  open  air  in  this  country.  The 
seeds  are  contained  in  the  round  balls  to  which  you  allude.  These 
balls  require  to  be  broken,  and  should  be  sown  in  March:  merely 
pressing  them  into  the  surface  of  the  ground  suffices,  but  they 
must  be  kept  moist  and  shaded.  Platanus  occidentalis  is  dis- 
languished  from  P .  orientalis  by  its  less  deeply  lobed,  more 
concaeous  pubescent  leaves,  and  in  the  fertile  catkins  being 
•solitary  in  the  long  peduncles.  The  Maple-leaved  P.  orientalis 
acerifolia  is  the  commonest  in  cultivation,  and  frequently  bears 
the  name  of  P.  occidentalis,  from  which  it  may  be  readily  dis¬ 
tinguished  when  in  fruit  by  the  peduncles  bearing  more  than 
one  ball  and  frequently  many.  It  is  the  form  known  as  the 
London  Plane,  and  we  consider  yours  is  that  form,  though  it 
may  be  the  species,  which  has  much  larger  leaves,  and  the  tree 
of  more  spreading  habit. 
GARDENERS’  HOLIDAYS. — “  Say  die  ”  asks:  “Is  an  under 
gardener  entitled  to  any  holiday  during  the  year?  If  he  is,  for 
Low  long,  and  are  his  wages  paid  during  it?”  The  only  answer 
is  that  unless  agreed  upon  at  the  time  of  entering  situation,  an 
under  gardener  has  no  claim  to  holidays  other  than  national  ones, 
and  these  are  not  always  given.  There  may  be  moral  claims 
•that  a  young  gardener  might  expect  his  employer  to  recognise, 
such  as  giving  a  holiday  (even  though  not  agreed  on  at  engage¬ 
ment)  in  return  for  certain  overtime  work,  or  night  and  Sunday 
duty  that  young  gardeners  are  nearly  everywhere  called  upon 
to  render  ;  yet  a  gardener  has  not  the  power  to  demand  a  holiday 
against  the  will  of  an  employer,  even  though  he  may  have  done 
any  amount  of  overwork.  It  is  always  best  to  have  precise 
agreements  in  black  and  white.  But  surely,  if  “  Saydie  ”  asks  for 
a  holiday,  and  has  deserved  one,  no  one  will  be  mean  enough 
without  good  reasons  that  can  be  stated,  to  refuse  him  should 
he  ask.  During  “  holidays  ”  wages  are  continued,  otherwise  idle 
time  may  be  called  “  holiday.” 
December  5,  1901. 
PLAN  FOR  CROQUET  GROUND  (Querist).— We  advise 
you  to  obtain  the  “  New  Croquet  Pocket  Guide,”  price  Is.,  which 
will  afford  you  both  a  diagram  and  fuller  information  than  we 
can  possibly  give  you  now.  Any  bookseller  may  get  it,  or  write 
to  “  Lawn  Tennis  and  Croquet,”  Laurence  Pountney  Hill, 
Cannon  Street,  London,  E.C. 
SEEDS  OF  ARAUCARIA  IMBRICATA  (H.  R.).— If  our 
memory  serves  us  correctly,  we  believe  Monkey  Puzzle  trees  have 
been  reared  from  seed  taken  from  cones  matured  at  Dropmore 
and  Linton  Park,  also  in  other  places  in  this  country.  The 
subject,  however,  is  one  upon  which  we  should  be  pleased  to 
have  data  from  our  correspondents,  such  experiences  being  not 
only  interesting  but  useful. 
QUERY. — A  correspondent  writes: — “There  is  a  material 
called  ‘  Ramie  ’  (or  some  such  name),  which  is  utilised  as  a  fibre, 
Could  you  kindly  give  me  the  name  of  the  plant  from  which  it 
is  obtained,  where  grown,  &c.  ?  There  is  also  a  material  called 
Kapoc,  or  Kapuc,  used  as  a  substitute  for  feathers  in  stuffing 
cushions,  &c.  From  what  plant  is  this  derived,  and  what  part 
of  the  plant  is  utilised  for  the  purpose?  Where  does  it  grow 
or  come  from  ?  ”  Can  any  of  our  readers  assist  ? 
LARGE  TREE-MOVING  MACHINE  (W.  Grit).— Our  corre¬ 
spondent  wishes  to  know  where  he  can  obtain  a  machine  for 
trasplanting  large  trees.  He  says  :  - — “  I  see  an  illustration  of 
one  used  by  Mr.  Barron  in  ‘  Dictionary  of  Gardening.’  We  have 
here  four  Horse  Chestnut  trees  which  my  employer  would  like 
transplanted  about  200  yards  from  where  they  now  stand.  They 
are  from  3Jft  to  5ft  in  circumference,  about  4ft  from  the  ground. 
If  you  could  give  me  any  information  with  regard  to  the  above 
you  would  greatly  oblige.”  Good,  serviceable  machines  are  made 
by  Messrs.  Barron  and  Son  of  Borrowash,  Derby,  to  whom  we 
advise  our  querist  to  write. 
ASPHALTING  WALKS  (J.  M.). — We  presume  you  intend 
to  use  the  gravel  of  the  path,  and  no  other  article  but  the 
boiling  hot  coal  tar.  In  that  case,  the  gravel  should  be  quite 
dry,  and  taken  from  the  surface  of  the  walk  2in  or  3in  thick, 
placing  in  convenient  heaps  in  the  centre  of  the  walk,  making 
a  hole  in  the  middle  of  each  heap.  Into  the  concavity  pour  boil¬ 
ing  hot  (make  sure  that  it  boils)  coal  tar  and  mix  to  the  con¬ 
sistency  of  a  stiff  mortar,  then  spread  on  the  ground  2in  or  3in 
thick.  The  ground  should  be  dry,  and  have  the  proper  incline. 
Cover  with  coarse  sand  and,  when  cold,  roll  well.  Thus  you  will 
see  the  work  can  only  be  well  done  when  the  weather  is  dry, 
so  that  the  work  cannot  now  be  done  properly  unless  the  gravel 
is  dried.  It  may  be,  however,  that  you  wish  to  use  other 
material,  say  two  parts  thoroughly  dried  coarse  sand  or  fine 
gravel,  and  one  part  cinders,  thoroughly  dried.  In  that  case 
mix  together,  place  in  a  heap,  and,  making  a  hole  in  the  centre, 
pour  in  boiling  hot  coal  tar.  Mix  to  the  consistency  of  stiff 
mortar,  then  spread  on  the  ground,  which  should  be  dry,  2in 
or  3in  thick,  and  cover  with  coarse  sand,  fine  gravel,  or  spar, 
and  when  cold  roll  well.  If  more  convenient,  two  parts  lime 
rubbish  and  one  part  coal  ashes  may  be  used,  or  even  coal  ashes 
alone.  Dryness  is  the  important  point,  and  boiling  hot  coal  tar 
imperative. 
TAKING  CUTTINGS  OF  CHRYSANTHEMUMS  IN¬ 
FESTED  WITH  RUST  (W.  W.,  Berks).— It  is  not  safe  to  take 
cuttings  from  the  plants  which  have  the  disease,  for  in  the  case 
of  plants  grown  in  houses  the  uredo  form  of  the  fungus,  Puccinia 
hieraci  (P.  tanaceti  of  some  observers),  will  continue  through  the 
winter  on  living  leaves.  Some  growers,  however,  take  cuttings 
from  rusted  plants,  keeping  a  strict  watch  for  the  fungus,  and 
carefully  remove  and  bum  all  affected  leaves.  By  this  means 
the  fungus  is  stamped  out  so  far  as  the  cuttings  are  concerned. 
Where,  however,  the  disease  has  existed,  and  teleutospores  been 
produced  and  dispersed,  a  recurrence  of  the  disease  is  practically 
certain,  even  when  all  the  tops  of  the  diseased  plants  are  burned, 
though  that  is  an  important  matter  in  order  to  destroy  any 
present  teleutospores,  and  thus  reduce  recurrence  of  the  fungus 
in  a  great  measure,  if  not  altogether.  Indeed,  to  combat  rust 
successfully  prompt  repressive  measures  should  be  taken,  spray¬ 
ing  at  intervals,  dating  from  the  growth  of  new  leaves,  with 
potassium  sulphide  solution — loz  sulphide  to  three  gallons  of 
water — and  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves,  which  not  only 
destroys  the  rest-spores,  but  also  those  of  various  other  fungus 
pests  that  attack  Chrysanthemums.  The  advertised  fungicides 
are  also  efficacious  against  the  rust. 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS.— Correspondents  whose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (A.  L.). — 1.  Oncidium  crispum.  (B.  Lane). — - 
1,  The  fruiting  branch  of  that  fine  wall  plant.  Cratasgus  pyraeantha 
Lelandi ;  2,  Pinus  excelsus  ;  3,  Christ’s  Thorn.  Paliurus  aeuleatus. 
(D.  N.).  —  Arbutus  Unedo.  (Andrew  Potter).  —  1,  Osmanthus 
ilicifolius  ;  3,  Saxifraga  hypnoides. 
NAMES  OF  FRUIT. — Correspondents  whose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  reques'ed  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (M.  T.).  —  Apple  Lady’s  Finger  of  Hereford. 
( - ). — The  Pears  were  too  far  decomposed  for  us  to  be  able  to 
identify  them. 
