174 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  2,  1899. 
well-known  and  general  favourite  A.  vernalis,  which  about  March  yields  us 
so  freely  its  handsome  yellow  flowers.  It  ought,  however,  to  be  lett  undis¬ 
turbed  as  long  as  possible  if  we  are  to  have  a  good  display.  Earlier  than 
it  is  the  newer  A.  amurensis,  a  desirable  plant,  also  with  yellow  flower-, 
which  is  now  considerably  cheaper  than  it  was  a  lew  years  ago, 
A.  wolgensis  comes  in  between  A.  vernalis  and  A.  pyrenaica.  It  also 
has  yellow  plumes.  The  fine  species  A.  pyrenaica  is  a  little  taller  than 
A.  vernalis,  and  because  of  its  later  blooming  habit  is  of  less  value  to 
many  flower  growers,  as  by  the  time  it  comes  into  bloom  other  flowers 
are  more  plentiful. 
These  are  the  best  of  the  perennial  Adonises,  and  grow  from  9  to 
12  inches,  or  a  little  more,  in  height,  this  depending  upon  the  character 
of  the  soil  and  the  amount  of  moisture.  They  can  be  propagated  by 
division  when  large  enough,  or  may  be  raised  from  seeds.  The  latter  is 
a  slow  process,  as  the  seeds  germinate  slowly  unless  fresh,  and  plants  are 
some  time  reaching  a  flowering  size.  There  is  every  probability  that 
these  showy  plants  could  bo  improved  by  raising  and  selecting  seedlings  ; 
some  plants  of  A.  vernalis  are  much  better  than  others. 
JEthionemas. 
While  these  pretty  Crucifers  can,  in  some  gardens,  be  grown  in  the 
choice  border,  they  are  better  suited  for  the  rock  garden,  and  will  not  at 
present  be  treated  of  in  detail.  It  may  be  said  that  ^E.  coridifolium,  rosy 
lilac  ;  ^E.  grandiflorum,  rose  ;  and  ^E.  pulchellum,  rosy  lilac,  have  been 
successfully  cultivated  in  borders  of  light  soil  in  warm  gardens.  They 
may  be  raised  from  seeds  or  cuttings. 
Agapanthuses. 
Well  knewn  as  a  splendid  pl«nt  for  tubs  or  large  pots,  the  Agapanthus 
or  “  African  Lily  ”  is  only  found  as  a  hardy  plant  in  southern  gardens. 
There  is  an  exception,  however,  which  ought  to  be  more  largely  taught, 
and  this  is  that  a  small-flowered  species,  named  Agapanthus  minor 
Mooreanus,  is  quite  hardy  in  the  United  Kingdom,  except  in  some  excep¬ 
tionally  cold  districts.  It  has  rather  narrower  and  shorter  leaves  than 
the  popular  A.  umbellatus,  and  the  blooms,  which  are  also  produced  in 
heads,  are  smaller  than  those  of  that  species.  The  height  of  the  flower 
stem  is  often  stated  as  18  inches,  but  this  is  variable,  and  with  the  writer 
a  few  inches  more  are  usual.  A.  minor  Mooreanus  is  increased  by 
division,  but  may  also  be  raised  from  seeds,  which  are  obtainable  from 
some  seedsmen. 
Ajcgas. 
A  great  defect  of  the  Ajugas,  or  Bugles,  is  that  of  running  too  freely 
by  means  of  stolons,  and  thus  encroaching  on  other  plants  to  the  detri¬ 
ment  of  the  latter.  Yet  they  have  their  merits  and  uses,  and  it  kept 
within  hounds  are  valuable  in  their  way.  One  of  the  best  of  the  genus 
is  A.  genevensis,  which  is  generally  seen  with  blue  flowers,  although  there 
are  white  and  also  rose  varieties.  It  grows  from  6  to  12  inches  high.  It 
is  said  to  thrive  best  in  bog  soil,  but  with  the  writer  it  has  grown  luxu¬ 
riantly  in  light,  dry  soil.  The  finest  blue  variety  is  known  as  A.  g.  Brock- 
banki.  This  has  very  dark  flowers,  and  also  darkish  leaves.  It  is  trouble¬ 
some  because  of  its  underground  stolons,  which  come  up  where  their 
absence  would  be  preferable. 
A.  orientalis  needs  a  warm  place,  and  does  not  do  well  in  many 
gardens.  It  grows  rather  over  a  foot  high,  and  has  whorls  of  blue 
flowers.  Of  some  value  in  the  garden  to  cover  waste  spaces  or  trail  down 
rockwork  are  the  dark-leaved  and  variegated  forms  of  A.  reptans,  the 
common  Bugle.  The  former  has  exceedingly  dark  leaves,  resembling  in 
colour  the  best  of  the  dark-leaved  Beets.  They  arc,  it  is  perhaps  as  well 
to  say,  much  smaller.  The  variegated- leaved  variety  is  very  prettily 
marked  with  creamy  white.  Neither  of  these  should  be  allowed  to  flower. 
A.  pyraraidalis,  a  native  plant,  is  sometimes  grown  in  gardens.  It  has 
blue  flowers,  and  there  are  also  purple  varieties.  The  Bugles  are  increased 
by  division. — S.  Aenott, 
(To  be  continued.) 
THE  BEST  PEACHES. 
In  conversation  with  a  market  grower  of  Peaches  quite  recently,  he 
told  me  that  he  had  discarded  Royal  George  owing  to  its  susceptibility  to 
mildew.  Such  testimony  as  this  is  quite  opposed  to  the  selection  of 
“  H.  D.,”  p.  119,  who  classes  this  variety  as  the  best  of  Peaches.  Per¬ 
sonally  I  think  it  an  excellent  Peach  when  mildew  is  absent.  I  am 
aware,  too,  that  “  II.  D.”  may  reply  there  should  be  no  mildew  in  a  well- 
managed  Peach  house.  In  spite  of  this  assertion,  though,  we  find  mildew 
where  the  least  expected,  especially  if  cold  east  winds  prevail  for  several 
days  during  the  month  of  May,  combined  with  a  hot  sun.  Cultivators  are 
then  tempted  to  admit  more  air  through  the  front  ventilators  than  is 
wise,  and  mildew  might  often  lie  traced  to  this  cause. 
The  selection  of  six  varieties  for  the  open  air  given  by  “  H.  D.”  I 
consider  so  good  that  I  should  wish  but  one  change — viz.,  substitute 
Bellegarde  for  Royal  George,  The  former  produces  large,  handsome 
fruit,  exceptionally  high  in  colour  on  the  sunny  side  and  very'  rich  in 
flavour.  For  growing  under  glass,  I  do  not  think  Alexander  is  good 
enough  to  rank  amongst  the  best  three.  The  flavour  is  only  moderate, 
and  I  would  rather  plant  two  trees  of  Waterloo  than  one  each.  Wal- 
burton’s  Admirable,  1  think,  should  find  a  place  in  the  list  of  late  varie¬ 
ties.  It  is  a  sure  cropper  under  ordinary  circumstances,  grows  to  a  huge 
size,  while  the  flavour  leaves  little  to  be  desired.  For  midseason  growth 
I  uphold  “  H.  D.  ’ in  his  selection,  especially  in  the  inclusion  of  Violette 
native,  of  which  I  think  very  highly. — E,  Molyneux. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Young  Men’s  Dreams. 
No  truer  article  and  more  to  the  point  was  ever  written  than  that  oa 
page  99,  and  it  should  appeal  forcibly  to  all  young  readers  of  the  Journal. 
What  is  said  about  many  young  men  after  being  a  year  or  two  in  some 
institution  where  horticulture  is  taught  is  perfectly  correct.  They  have 
only  got  the  rudiments  of  gardening  ;  principally  theory  and  what  the 
text  books  afford,  and  have  little  idea  of  the  practical  aspect.  There  ia 
no  one  who  believes  in  science  in  relation  to  horticulture  more  thani 
myself,  but  without  practice  it  is  of  little  use.  Gardening  may  be  a 
pleasant  occupation  to  some  ;  but  the  same  might  be  said  about  many 
another  trade.  There  are  dirty  and  rough  jobs  in  connection  with 
gardening,  and  it  is  the  men  who  do  not  turn  up  their  noses  at  the  dirty 
work,  but  take  an  interest  in  everything,  from  wheeling  manure  to  deco¬ 
rating  a  dinner  table,  that  make  the  best  gardeners. 
It  seems  to  me  that  there  are  too  many  gardeners  being  “manufac¬ 
tured,”  especially  when  we  consider  how  many  are  turned  out  every  year 
from  private  gardens  and  nurseries,  not  to  speak  of  institutions.  It  would 
be  better  if  it  were  made  known  to  all  young  lads  who  are  thinking  about 
starling  gardening  what  was  expected  of  them  and  what  they  may  expect. 
It  might  then  save  many  a  pang  afterwards,  and  also  keep  many  a 
“  weed  ”  from  a  garden.  Although  this  is  nothing  in  connection  with 
the  culture  of  any  plant  it  is  a  subject  that  deserves  to  be  discussed,  and 
I  hope  to  see  a  few  remarks  from  some  other  young  hands  in  the  domain. 
— Thistle. 
OuE  Friend  the  Toad. 
Your  correspondent  “Parvo”  (page  124)  has  not  had  an  experience 
altogether  unique  in  seeing  a  toad  eat  ants.  About  two  years  ago  we 
were  troubled  very  much  by  woodlice  in  our  Melon  house,  in  which  hotbed 
material  is  put,  and  a  ridge  of  soil  runs  on  the  top  the  whole  length  of 
the  house  in  which  the  plants  are  placed.  At  night  this  bed  became 
swarmed  with  woodlice  of  various  sizes,  also  quantities  of  small  black  ants. 
The  former  pest  ate  the  foliage  that  came  in  contact  with  the  soil,  and  also- 
ate  small  holes  in  the  leaves  attached  to  shoots  which  were  tied  to  the 
horizontal  wires  above,  while  the  ants  completely  cleared  the  flowers  of 
pollen  as, soon  as  developed.  These  busy  little  insects  seem  to  work 
incessantly  night  and  day. 
I  therefore  captured  a  couple  of  toads,  which  are  rather  scarce  in  the 
district,  and  put  them  in  the  Melon  house,  where  they  soon  made  them¬ 
selves  at  home  by  burrowing  in  the  soil,  and  sleeping  all  day.  Every 
night  when  going  through  the  houses  at  10  p.m.,  I  used  to  hunt  up  the 
toads  and  watch  them  ;  at  first  they  seemed  to  avoid  the  light  of  my  lamp, 
until  one  night  I  caught  a  good  fat  woodlouse  and  placed  it  on  one  of  the 
toads’  back,  off  which  it  soon  scrambled  and  ran  in  front  of  the  toad  ;  the 
latter  made  a  move  forward,  and  putting  its  tongue  out  with  a  snap,  tried 
to  lick  in  the  insect,  and  after  three  similar  efforts  the  woodlouse  dis- 
aopeared  in  the  somewhat  capacious  mouth  of  the  toad.  Every  night 
after  I  used  to  catch  the  woodlice  and  throw  them  in  front  of  the  toad, 
which  promptly  showed  its  appreciation.  It  was  surprising  how  tame  it 
became. 
The  toad  much  preferred  the  woodlice  to  the  ants,  which  latter  I 
found  it  necessary  to  tempt  from  the  flowers  by  placing  a  few  small  jars 
of  sugar  and  water  thinly  mixed  close  to  the  stems  of  Melonr,  into  which 
quantities  went  to  partake,  and  were  drowned.  When  entering  the  house 
one  night  at  my  usual  hour,  and  about  six  weeks  after  the  toads’ 
incarceration,  I  was  alarmed  to  see  my  friend  the  toad  kicking  about 
ill  a  most  unusual  way.  On  closer  inspection  I  found  it  was  trying  to 
slip  its  skin.  While  watching  its  struggles  to  free  itself,  I  thought  I 
should  be  the  hapiy  possessor  of  a  toadskin,  but  after  using  its  hind  and 
fore  feet  a  great  deal  it  succeeded  in  getting  the  skin  over  its  head  into 
its  mouth,  and  with  one  gulp  it  was  swallowed,  after  which  it  crawled 
away  in  a  new  outer  skin,  which  looked  quite  glossy,  and  two  days  after¬ 
wards  no  one  but  myself  could  believe  so  marvellous  a  change  had 
taken  place.  I  doubt  if  many  persons  have  witnessed  a  similar  occurrence. 
The  temperature  of  the  house  was  75°,  after  a  very  warm  day. 
Another  good  way  to  trap  woodlice  is  to  have  some  small  seed  boxes, 
in  the  bottom  of  which  put  some  dry  moss  ;  examine  these  every  morn¬ 
ing  over  a  pail  of  hot  water,  and  if  any  are  in  the  box  shake  them  out 
into  the  pail.  Sugar  and  water,  in  which  a  little  arsenic  is  mixed,  will 
also  destroy  the  ants. — Foreman  X. 
The  Home  of  Sherry. — This  is  how  Jerez,  from  which  sherry 
takes  its  name,  is  described  in  “  Sell’s  Commercial  Intelligence,”  by 
one  who  has  recently  visited  that  quaint  picturesque  spot  and  become 
acquiiinicd  with  the  community  there.  The  streets  are  wide,  and  dotted 
with  Orange  and  Acacia  trees  ;  and  several  squares  are  made  quite  gay 
with  flowers  and  shaded  with  Palms  or  other  umbrageous  foliage.  The 
market-place  is  bright  and  lively  ;  and  the  numerous  rows  of  snow-white 
houses,  with  emerald  mouldings  and  balconies,  indicate  that  the  inhabi¬ 
tants  are  in  favoured  quarters.  But  the  chief  attraction  of  Jer<  z  is  tha 
wine  stores,  which  are  built  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  and  surround  it 
as  with  a  breastwork.  The  Vines,  clinging  to  the  chalky  slopes  and 
ridges  of  the  more  distant  hills,  are  reared  on  a  white  compact  soil 
termed  albariza,  front  which  the  highest  class  wines  are  derived,  and 
develop,  when  matured,  a  remarkable  flavour.  The  coarser  qualities  of 
wii  es  are  produced  from  Vines  on  the  low  er  slopes  and  valley  from  a  dark, 
alluvial  soil.  Hence  the  best  sherry  is  pr  .diiccd  from  a  magnificent  Grape 
grown  in  exceptionally  suitable  soil  under  most  favourable  climatic 
influence,  and  Vino  de  .lerez  has  no  superior  among  the  write  wines  of  the 
world. 
