JOURXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
January  19,  1899.  • 
56-'. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
Barr  &  Son?,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden.— GuiJe. 
E.  Calvat,  Grenoble,  France. — Chrysantheinurm. 
Dicksons  &  Co.,  Waterloo  Place,  Edinburgh. — Seeds. 
W.  Fromovv  &  Sons,  Chiswick. — Seeds, 
Harrison  &  Sons,  Leicester. — Seeds. 
A.  Hart  &  Sons,  High  Street,  Guildford. — Seeds. 
W.  B.  Hartland,  Cork. — Seeds. 
Hogg  &  Robertson,  Dublin. — Seeds. 
W.  Horne,  ClilTe,  Rochester,  Kent. — Fruit  Trees. 
Kelway  &  Son,  Langport. — Manual  for  1899. 
J.  R.  Pearson  &  Son,  Chilwell,  Notts  — Seeds. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  a,  Rose  Hill  Road, 
Wandswortb,  S.W.,  and  iffOT  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  lo  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. 
Browning  or  Brunnre  in  vines  (A.  R.).— On  page  52  you  will  find 
an  article  from  Mr.  G.  Abbey  on  browning.  AVe  trust  the  information 
given  therein  will  assist  you  in  exterminating  the  enemy. 
Books  (^Bookie'). — If  you  do  not  possess  a  book  of  reference  you  will 
find  Johnson’s  “Gardeners’  Dictionary”  useful.  It  includes,  a  great 
amount  of  information,  including  much  of  a  practical  kind.  It  can  be 
obtained  ;  from  a  bookseller  for  9s.,  or  post  free  from  the  publisher, 
12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street,  London,  on  receipt  of  9s.  6d.  If 
you  prefer  a  work  on  vegetables  the  most  complete  is  Vilmorin’s  “Vege¬ 
table  Garden,”  with  cultural  notes  by  Mr.  A.  F.  Barron.  It  is  published 
by  Mr.  John  Murray,  Albemarle  Street.  AVe  do  not  know  the  price,  but 
it  would  not  much  exceed  the  amount  at  your  disposal.  You  must  now 
choose  for  yourself.  Your  other  question  shall  have  attention. 
Small  Black  Ants  (^Subscriber'). — These  little  creatures  are  troublesome 
in  pots  and  care  little  about  water  or  liquid  manure.  Place  a  piece  of 
camphor  about  the  size  of  a  Filbert  in  half  a  gallon  of  boiling  water,  and 
when^cooled  to  110°-115°  apply  to  the  infested  pats.  Some  plants  will 
not  bear  water  so  hot,  therefore  use  judgment  in  applying  to  very  tender 
rooted  kinds.  Guano  wat  r  also  acts  well,  while  Fir  tree  oil  certainly 
kills  the  active  animals.  AVe  have  use  1  this  insecticide  for  ejecting  into 
the  haunts  of  the  ants  in  woodwork  and  brickwork,  and  always  with 
excellent  effect.  Lemon  oil  also  proved  efficacious,  following  the 
instructions  ns  to  dilution.  For  poisoning  see  answer  to  “  J.  S.”  in  last 
week’s  issue  of  Journal  of  Horticulture,  page  38. 
Blotches  on  Leaves  of  “  Greens  ’  (Man  of  Kent), — The  concentric 
discoloured  patches  on  the  leaves  are  due  to  the  action  of  a  parasitic 
fungus,  closely  resembling,  but  distinct  from,  the  Violet  leaf  spot  fungus, 
Peronospora  violse,  which  has  been  prevalent  this  season.  There  is  no 
conidial  form  of  the  parasite,  but  the  resting  spores  on  the  dead  tissue 
are  abundant  and  coincide  with  Peronospora  parasitica,  Pers.,  of  which 
one  form  is  peculiar  to  the  Cabbage  family.  The  fungus  is  an  endophyte, 
and  no  external  application  is  of  any  use  other  than  to  prevent  the  spread 
of  the  disease.  Wo  have  found  the  best  preventive  dusting  with  quick¬ 
lime,  using  as  lightly  as  possible,  and  repeating  occasionally,  the  lime 
being  strewn  with  the  hand  as  near  the  ground  as  possible,  so  as  to  dash 
it  against  the  under  side  of  the  leaves,  and  working  up  and  down  the 
rows  and  on  both  sides  of  them.  It  should  be  applied  when  the  plants 
are  dry,  always  lightly  and,  as  before  stated,  frequently'.  *  will  do  the 
land  good  as  well  as  the  plants. 
Treatment  of  Adiantnms  (Amateur). — Plants  from  which  fronds  have 
been  gathered,  and  only  small  remains,  may  be  cut  over  and  started 
again  into  growth.  If  placed  in  a  temperature  of  55°  to  60°  they  will 
soon  commence  pushing  up  new  fronds,  when  they  should  be  repotted 
without  delay.  If  the  plants  need  larger  pots  remove  the  drainage  and 
any  roots  that  may  be  crowded  about  the  crocks  ;  the  remainder  of  the 
ball  can  bo  placed  in  the  new  pot  without  disturbance.  If  the  plants  arc. 
in  pots  large  enough  they  may  be  divided  by  cutting  them  straight 
through  the  middle  ;  the  drainage  should  be  removed  and  the  plants 
pot'ed  without  disturbing  them  further.  The  soil,  which  should  consist 
of  equal  portions  of  good  loam  and  leaf  mould,  with  the  addition  of 
sand,  must  be  pressed  firmly  into  the  pots.  If  the  plants  have  been 
infested  with  small  slugs  thoroughly  dust  the  crowns  with  soot.  This 
will  drive  them  out,  and  they  can  be  picked  off  a  short  time  afterwards. 
Continue  this  practice  until  the  plants  are  perfectly  free  from  these 
pests.  A  small  white  caterpillar-llke  grub  occasionally  infests  Adiantums, 
and  feeds  upon  the  crowns  and  young  fronds  just  as  they  form  to 
such  an  extent  that  seldom  a  perfect  frond  is  allowed  to  develop.  These 
can  only  be  destroyed  by  thoroughly  shaking  away  from  the  plants  every 
particle  of  soil,  when  they  roll  out  andean  be  destroyed.  The  best  means 
of  stamping  them  out  is  to  burn  any  infested  plants.  After  potting 
stand  the  plants  on  a  moisture-holding  base  and  syringe  freely  amongst 
the  pots.  Very  little  water  will  be  needed  until  the  plants  oommenco  to 
grow. 
Various  Plants  (J.  C.  S.). — Peperomias  or  Pepper  Elders  belong  to  the 
same  natural  order  as  the  Peppers — narael}',  Piperaccae.  They  are 
interesting,  small-growing,  ornamental-leaved  plants,  suitable  for  culture 
in  pots  ;  some  of  the  species  that  are  of  trailing  habit  are  also  well  adapted 
for  hanging  baskets.  These  plants  must  have  a  stove  temperature,  but 
are  excellent  for  temporary  decoration  indoors,  as  their  stout  succulent 
leaves  enable  them  to  stand  the  change  from  the  stove  to  the  sitting-room. 
They  do  well  in  fibrous  peat  and  loam,  with  some  silver  sand.  In  winter 
they'  cannot  have  too  much  light,  but  summer  shade  from  sunshine  is 
icquisite.  They  do  not  require  so  much  wmter  as  many  stove  plants. 
Cypripediura  spectabile  has  light  bright  green  leaves,  furnished  with  soft 
downy  white  hairs,  and  produces  large  flow  ers,  the  pure  white  sepals  and 
petals  being  broadly  ovate,  and  not  longer  than  the  lip,  whilst  the  large 
pouch,  which  is  of  a  beautiful  soft  rose  colour,  is  very  much  inflated.  It 
flowers  in  June,  and  may  be  grown  successfully  either  in  a  pot  or  in  the 
open  border,  thriving  well  in  the  shady  part  of  a  Rhododendron  bed.  The- 
plant  thrives  in  a  compost  of  equal  pai  ts  good  peat  and  friable  loam,  with  a 
fourth  of  thoroughly  decayed  leaf  mould,  and  a  sixth  of  sharp  silver  sand. 
It  requires  to  be  kept  cool  and  moist  in  the  summer  months,  and  from 
frost  in  the  winter.  Pimeleas  are  compact,  free-growing  greenhouse 
plants  that  flower  when  other  hardwcoded  representatives  are  past.  They 
succeed  in  firm  fibrous  pent  and  silver  sand,  and  should  be  given  a  light 
airy  position.  You  need  not  hesitate  to  ask  for  information  at  any  time 
on  anything  in  gardening,  as  we  are  always  pleased  to  advise  according  to 
our  ability. 
Fertilisers  for  Onions  (E.  R.  S.  J.). — 1,  AVe  do  not  consider  common 
salt  a  necessity  for  the  production  cf  a  good  crop  of  Onions  where  the 
ground  has  been  liberally  dressed  with  foldyard  manure,  night  soil,  and 
wood  ashes,  as  the  last  named  will  supply  potash  and  lime,  and  the  animal 
manure  soda,  chlorine,  and  fluorine.  In  some  cases  the  salt  acts  well,' 
counteracting  the  tendency  to  produce  too  much  top,  especially  when  the 
manure  dressing  is  somewhat  fresh  and  the  soil  of  an  open  nature  or 
light.  2,  In  the  latter  case  supply  the  salt  as  soon  as  possible,  or  some 
time  in  advance  of  sowing,  disposing  evenly  on  the  surface  and  leaving 
there.  Five  cwt.  per  acre,  or  85  lbs.  per  rod,  is  a  full  dressing,  but  usually 
half  the  quantity  is  applied.  3,  Bonemeal,  at  least  phosphoric  acid,  is  a 
necessary'  element  for  Onions.  Superphosphate  acts  more  promptly,  and 
is  the  article  for  a  heavy  soil,  using  2-5  cwt.  per  acre.  If  lb.  per  rod.  It 
tends  to  early  maturity  of  crop,  which  is  often  back-ward  on  heavy  land. 
Limestone  soils  need  less  than  other  land,  as  they  are  usually  relatively 
lich  in  phosphoric  acid.  4,  Nitrate  of  soda  must  be  used  very  cautiously 
on  Onions.  If  given  too  soon  the  plants  produce  splendid  tops  and  thick- 
necked  bulbs,  therefore  let  them  begin  to  bulb,  and  then  supply  2J  cw-t. 
per  acre.  If  lb.  per  rod,  having  it  crushed  very  fine,  and  using  when  the 
plants  are  dry.  Repeat  with  half  the  above  quantity,  when  the  bulbs  are 
about  a  quarter  grown,  and  again  still  lighter  when  they  are  half  grown. 
It  is  better  to  mix  the  nitrate  with  dry  earth  to  insure  even  distribution 
and  prevent  injury  to  the  tops.  5,  Bonemeal  does  not  lie  long  in  a  lime¬ 
stone  soil  without  being  of  service.  That  applied  now  will  give  something 
by  the  end  of  April  or  before,  the  micro-organisms  in  the  soil  seizing  the 
ammonia,  or  the  base  with  which  it  combines,  and  work  it  up  into  nitrate 
of  lime.  Thus  applied  in  autumn  or  early  in  spring  it  supplies  nourish¬ 
ment  to  the  following  summer  crop,  and  so  on  for  some  years. 
Names  of  Fruits.  —  Notice.  —  We  have  pleasure  in  naming  good 
typical  fruits  (when  the  names  are  discoverable)  for  the  convenience  of 
regular  subscribers,  who  are  the  growers  of  such  fruit,  and  not  col¬ 
lectors  of  specimens  from  non-subscribers.  This  latter  procedure  is 
wholly  irregular,  and  we  trust  that  none  of  our  readers  will  allow 
themselves  to  be  made  the  mediums  in  infringing  our  rules.  Special 
attention  is  directed  to  the  following  decision,  the  object  of  which  is 
to  discourage  the  growth  of  inferior  and  promote  the  culture  of  superior 
varieties.  In  consequence  of  the  large  number  of  worthless  Apples  and  Pears 
sent  to  this  office  to  he  named,  it  has  been  decided  to  name  only  specimens  and 
varieties  of  approved  merit,  and  to  reject  the  inferior,  which  are  not  worth 
sending  or  growing.  The  names  and  addresses  of  senders  of  fruits  or 
flowers  to  be  named  must  in  all  cases  be  enclosed  with  the  specimens, 
whether  letters  referring  to  the  fruit  are  sent  by  post  or  not.  The 
