18 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
Januar)’  5,  1899. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  a,  Rose  Hill  Road, 
Wandsworth,  S.W.,  and  WOT  to  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers, 
Fleet  Street.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately  to 
any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to 
unjustifiable  trouble  and  expense,  and  departmental  writers 
are  not  expected  to  answer  any  letters  they  may  receive  on 
Gardening  and  Bee  subjects  through  the  post.  If  information 
be  desired  on  any  particular  subject  from  any  particular 
authority  who  may  be  named,  endeavour  will  be  made  to  obtain 
it  by  the  Editor.  Letters  of  inquiry  must  be  accompanied  by 
the  names  and  addresses  of  the  writers,  but  these  will  neither  be 
published  nor  disclosed  when  initials  or  nom  de  plumes  are  given 
for  the  purpose  of  replies. 
Correspondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions  relating 
to  Gardening  and  those  on  Bee  subjects,  and  it  is  convenient  when 
each  question  is  written  on  a  separate  sheet.  All  articles  intended 
for  insertion  should  be  written  on  one  side  of  the  paper  only  ;  and 
the  name  and  address  of  each  writer  must  be  known  by  the 
Editor,  though  not  necessarily  for  insertion.  We  cannot,  as  a 
rule,  reply  to  questions  through  the  ‘post,  and  we  do  not  under¬ 
take  to  return  communications  which,  for  any  reason,  cannot 
be  inserted. 
Cleome  heptaphylla  (.if.  G.  i*.). — This  plant  is  of  moderate  height, 
with  seven-lobed  leaves  and  white  flowers,  the  long  purplish  stamens  of 
which  contrast  with  the  spreading  white  petals.  The  flowers  are  pro¬ 
duced  freely,  and  when  well  grown  the  plant  possesses  a  light  graceful 
appearance.  It  can  be  treated  similarly  to  many  other  annuals  from 
warm  climates — namel}’,  the  seeds  arc  sown  in  heat,  and  the  young 
plants  grown  in  light  soil  in  the  stove  or  placed  during  the  summer  in  the 
conservatory.  It  flowers  late  in  summer  and  autumn,  and  lasts  some 
weeks  in  good  condition  with  ordinary  care. 
Potting  Lilinm  auratnm  (//.  P.  J.'). — Though  fresh  sound  bulbs  often 
answer  if  potted  at  once,  or  planted  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  in  suitable 
condition,  those  which  are  more  or  less  shrivelled  as  often  fail  to  produce 
satisfactory  plants.  It  is  an  excellent  plan  to  place  fresh  cicoa-mit  fibre 
in  boxes  or  flat  baskets,  and  in  this  pre^s  the  bulbs  a  third  to  half  their 
depth,  and  there  let  them  remain  in  the  potting  shed  for  a  few  weeks,  or 
until  incipient  roofs  are  visible  at  the  base  of  the  bulbs,  then  if  they  are 
potted,  or  planted  in  a  suitable  medium,  good  growth  may  bo  expected. 
After  potting  it  is  a  good  plan  to  plunge  the  pots  over  their  rims  in 
cocoa-nut  fibre  refuse,  or  other  light  damp  material,  in  a  frame,  or  even 
outdoors  if  the  pots  are  stood  on  a  base  impervious  to  worms,  and  drench¬ 
ing  rains  are  thrown  off  the  plunging  bed  by  a  shutter  or  other  means. 
Winter  Dressing  Fruit  Trees  (Kewhurst). — The  caustic  soda  and 
potash  solution  advised  in  Cousins’  “Chemistry  of  the  Grrden”  is  best 
applied  by  means  of  a  spraying  apparatus.  It  may,  however,  be  applied 
by  means  of  a  half-worn,  clean,  painter’s  sash-tool,  but  not  in  an 
excessive  amount,  it  sufficing  to  just  wet  all  the  parts  of  the  tree  and 
reach  into  every  crevice,  so  as  to  get  at  the  hibernating  foes,  such  as 
American  blight  and  codlin  moth  ;  it  will  kill  most  pests  and  their 
eggs,  and  also  free  the  trees  from  lichen  and  moss.  The  American 
blight  should  also  be  seen  to  in  summer,  and  the  infested  parts  touched 
with  methylated  spirit  by  means  of  a  small  brush,  and  the  codlin  moth 
prevented  by  spraying  with  Paris  green  shortly  after  the  Apples  and 
Pears  are  set.  This  will  also  make  an  end  of  leaf-eating  and  fruit- 
devouring  caterpillars. 
Forced  Figs  in  Pots  {Mancunian). — As  the  terminal  buds  have 
started,  you  must  take  advantage  of  any  mild  weather  that  may  prevail 
to  increase  the  mean  temperature  of  the  house,  as  when  Pigs  are  fairly 
started  into  growth  they  delight  in  heat,  moisture,  and  light.  The  glass 
must  be  kept  clean,  and  air  admitted  so  as  to  prevent  the  glass  being 
continually  covered  with  moisture,  but  seek  increase  of  temperature  from 
fire  beat  combined  with  sun  heat  in  preference  to  maintaining  a  high 
temperature  in  dull  [weather,  and  especially  at  night,  that  will  cause  any 
great  advance  in  growth  at  those  times.  Maintain  a  night  temperature  of 
55°  to  60°,  ventilate  a  little  at  70°,  losing  no  opportunity  of  admitting  a  little 
air  when  the  morning  promises  an  increase  from  gleams  of  sun,  and  close 
sufficiently  early  for  the  temperature  to  run  up  to  80°.  Syringe  the  trees 
and  walls  twice  a  day  on  fine  days,  but  when  the  weather  is  dark  and  wet 
omit  the  afternoon  sj’ringing  and  damp  the  floors  in  the  evening  instead, 
as  the  trees  are  weakened  and  the  foliage  made  soft  by  keeping  them  wet 
during  the  night,  therefore  always  allow  the  trees  to  become  fairly  dry 
bgfore  nightfall.  Be  careful  not  to  allow  the  heat  about  the  pots  to 
exceed  70°  to  75°,  and  if  the  materials  are  heating  too  violently  turn  them 
as  a  means  of  reducing  the  bottom  heat,  but  it  ought  to  be  kept  steady. 
Costns  ignens  {T.  Long) — The  illustration  and  note  on  page  11  will 
we  hope  give  you  all  the  knowledge  you  require  about  this  plant,  which  it 
is  trusted  you  may  in  the  near  future  see  in  flower,  when  no  one  could 
fail  to  admire  it. 
Tuberous-rooted  Begonias  from  Seeds  {Nemo). — Prepare  pans  by  well 
draining  and  then  filling  with  a  mixture  of  loam  and  leaf  soil  sifted  fine, 
adding  a  sprinkling  of  silver  sand.  Make  the  surface  perfectly  level,  and 
give  a  gentle  watering,  or  enough  to  well  moisten  the  soil.  It  is  a 
mistake  lo  surface  over  with  sand.  The  seed  should  be  sown  about  three 
hours  after  watering  the  pan,  quite  on  the  surface,  thinly,  and  regularly. 
Avoid  letting  it  get  together  in  patches.  It  will  germinate  most  surely  if 
given  the  benefit  of  a  brisk,  moist,  bottom  heat.  Cover  the  pans  closely 
with  squares  of  glass,  and  shade  till  it  is  seen  the  seeds  have  germinated, 
after  which  light  should  be  gadually  admitted,  but  no  sunshine  ought  to 
reach  the  seedlings.  The  soil  must  be  kept  uniformly  moist,  but  no  water 
should  be  applied  to  the  surface.  Whenever  necessary  partially  immerse 
the  pans  in  a  pail,  tub,  or  tank  of  lukewarm  water,  the  soil  thus  becoming 
moistened  upwards.  Tilt  the  glasses  slightly,  when  the  seedlings  are 
plainly  v'sible,  by  way  of  a  preventive  of  damping.  Seedlings  should  bo 
pricked  out  directly  they  can  be  moved  with  a  pointed  stick  in  one  hand 
aud  a  small  forked  stick,  for  lifting  them  out  with,  in  the  other. 
Propagating  ChrysantiiCmums  {Journeyman). — Several  methods  are 
adopted  in  rooting  the  cuttings,  which  should  be  about  3  inches  long.  The 
best  system  is  that  of  placing  them  under  hand-lights  or  in  a  propagating 
frame,  placed  in  a  house  where  a  temperature  of  from  40°  to  50°  is 
maintained.  These  should  be  on  the  side  stages,  and  as  near  the  glass  of 
the  roof  as  possible  to  prevent  the  cuttings  becoming  drawn.  Some 
growers  root  their  cuttings  in  a  cold  frame,  but  they  are  more  liable  to 
suFer  from  damp  ;  others  in  pots  on  shelves  in  an  ordinary  greenhouse, 
but  in  such  positions  they  often  flag  very  much.  The  cuttings  may  be 
inserted  five  or  six  round  the  edge  of  a  5-inch  pot.  Equal  parts  of  light 
loam  and  leaf  soil,  with  a  free  admixture  of  coarse  silver  sand,  the  whole 
passed  through  a  half-inch  sieve  and  thoroughly  mixed,  is  the  best 
compost.  Sprinxlo  a  little  silver  sand  on  the  surface  of  the  soil,  to  be 
carried  down  by  the  dibber  for  the  cuttings  to  rest  on,  the  rooting  being 
quicker  among  sand.  The  soil  should  be  pressed  firmly  round  each 
cutting,  particularly  its  base,  and  a  gentle  watering  given  through  a  fine- 
rosed  watering  can.  Stand  the  pots  on  fine-sifted  ashes  for  securing  a 
cool  moist  foundation,  and  excluding  air.  The  lights  must  be  kept  closed 
until  roots  are  formed,  with  the  exception  that  they  may  bo  taken  off  for 
an  hour  in  the  morning  to  allow  for  the  dissipation  of  moisture,  and  in 
the  evening  the  glass  should  be  wiped  dry.  •Shading  will  not  bo  required.^ 
In  about  a  month  the  cuttings  will  hqve  rooted,  when  admit  a  little  air 
by  tilting  the  light  slightly  at  first,  and  increasing  until  they  can  be 
safely  removed.  But  little  water  will  bo  required  during  the  process  of 
rooting,  yet  the  soil  must  be  kept  sufficiently  moist  for  the  support  of  the 
cuttings  or  plants.  Some  growers  prefer  to  root  the  cuttings  .singly  in 
very  small  pots. 
Compost  and  Manures  for  Chrysanthemums  {T.  C.). — A  successful 
grower  and  exhibitor  was  favoured  with  the  following  analysis  of  the 
Chrysanthemum  plant. 
Potash  . 
Soda  . 
Lime  . 
Magnesia . 
I  ron  . 
Phosphoric  acid ... 
Sulphuric  acid . 
Silica  . 
Chlorine . 
16-23 
10-39 
26-28 
10-22 
3- G6 
19-52 
4- C5 
...  5-99 
3-06 
Nitrogenous  substances  (albuminoids)  . 
100-00 
..  2-92 
In  preparing  compost  ho  cut  the  turf  2i  inches  thick  from  an  old 
pasture  in  the  autumn  -,  soil  hazel  or  yellow  loam,  neither  heavy  nor 
light,  stacking  it  grass  side  downwards,  sprinkling  on  each  layer  of  turves 
quarter  pound  of  basic  slag,  2  ozs.  of  kainit,  and  a  small  dredging  of  soot 
per  square  yard.  Each  layer  of  turves  was  so  treated  to  the  top  ol  the 
stack,  and  in  spring,  when  cut  down  for  potting,  chopping  from  top  to 
bottom  vertically,  the  whole  was  mixed  together,  to  secure  an  even  blend. 
The  compost  came  out  quite  mellow,  enriched,  and  free  from  pests.  If 
the  turf  had  much  herbage  the  basic  slag  was  increased  to  half  pound. 
For  summer  use  the  grower  used  a  mixture  composed  of 
Bone  superphosphate,  dry  and  crumbling 
Nitrate  of  potash,  crushed  fine . 
Sulphate  of  magnesia  . 
...  5  lb. 
...  3  lb. 
...  1  lb. 
This  was  mixed  and  kept  dry.  About  a  teaspoonful  was  blended  with  a 
handful  of  soil,  and  half  of  it  applied  to  a  pot  after  the  final  potting 
about  every  three  weeks.  Between  times,  if  more  vigour  was  needed, 
the  plants  were  watered  with  nitrate  of  soda  and  sulphate  of  ammonia, 
half  ounce  to  ^  gallons  of  water  in  alternate  weeks.  Thus  the  plants  had 
a  top-dressing  of  the  mixture  one  week,  the  next  a  watering  of  sulphate 
of  ammonia,  and  the  following  week  of  nitrate  of  soda,  and  then  again 
the  top-dressing.  But  of  course  he  acted  in  accordance  with  the  state  of 
the  plants,  and  avoided  the  error  of  overstimulation  in  the  earlier  stages, 
or,  indeed,  at  any  time.  Ho  mixed  a  little  leaf  mould  and  crumbled 
manure  with  (he  loam  at  potting  time,  exercising  judgment  in  this  and 
other  routine  matters,  and,  after  all,  sound  judgment  is  more  potent 
than  anything  else  in  growing  fine  Chrysanthemums. 
