298 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  13,  1899. 
HARDENBERGIA  COMPTONIANA. 
This  hardwooded  greenhouse  climber  makes  one  of  the  prettiest 
sights  imaginable  when  well  grown  and  flowered.  It  is  an  Australian 
plant,  with  glossy  green  ternate  leaves.  The  flowers  are  produced  during 
IMarch  and  April.  They  are  borne  singly,  or  in  groups  of  two  or  three, 
on  wiry  racemes  4  to  8  inches  long.  In  colour  they  are  violet,  with  two 
whitish  blotches  on  the  upper  petal  (fig.  71).  It  can  be  grown  from  seeds 
or  cuttings.  In  the  latter  case  half-ripened  shoots  should  be  used,  3  or 
4  inches  long.  They  ought  to  be  inserted  in  sandy  peat,  and  covered  with 
a  bell-glass  until  rooted.  When  large  enough  the  young  plants  should 
be  removed  to  a  well  drained  border  of  peat  and  loam.  An  annual 
pruning  must  be  given  after  flowering.  When  growth  has  recommenced 
water  should  be  given  liberally,  with  the  maximum  amount  of  air,  until 
growth  is  completed  in  autumn.  After  this  water  should  be  gi»en 
sparingly  during  winter.  This,  with  plenty  of  fresh  air  on  all  suitable 
occasions,  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  secure  a  good  supply  of  flowers 
during  spring. — W.  D. 
Rose  Show  Fixtures  in  1899. 
June  14th  (Wednesday). — Yorkf. 
„  24th  (Saturday)  — Windsor, 
„  27th  (Tuesday). — Westminster  (X.R.S.). 
„  28th  (Wedne.sday) — Bath,  Maidstone,  and  Croydon. 
„  20th  (Thurday). — Canterbury,  Eltham,  and  Norwich. 
July  1st  (Saturday).- — Crystal  Palace  (N.R.S.).  . 
„  4th  (Tuesday). — Gloucester  and  HarrowL 
„  5th  (Wedn-  sday). — Ealing  and  Hanley*. 
„  Oih  (Thursday). — Co'che.ster  (N.R.S). 
„  11th  (Tuesday) — Hereford  and  Woverhamptonf . 
„  13th  (Thursday). — Brentwood  and  Helensburgh. 
„  20th  (Thursday). — Salterhebble. 
,,  25th  (Tuesday). — -Tibshelf. 
*  Shows  lasting  two  days,  .f  Shows  lasting  three  days. 
The  above  are  all  the  dates  dotinitely  decided  upon  that  have  as 
yet  reached  me.  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  the  fixture.s  of  any  Rose 
shows  not  named  above,  or  those  of  any  horticultural  exhibitions  where 
Roses  are  made  a  leading  featuie,  for  insertion  in  future  iists.-f- 
Edward  Mawley,  Itosebank,  B-erkhamsted,  Herts. 
Roses  in  Pots. 
Another  issue  of  the  attractive,  entertaining,  and  useful  little 
book  entitled  “Observations  on  the  Cultivation  of  Roses  in  Pots,’’  by 
Mr.  William  Paul,  F.L.S.,  V.M.H.,  has  come  to  onr  notice.  Nothing 
more  commendati  ry  of  the  excellence  and  .acceptability  of  the  work 
could  be  advanced  than  is  convcyeil  in  the  two  simple  yet  forcible 
words,  “eighth  edition.”  The  gu'dance  given  in  its  pages  has  been  of 
great  service  to  both  amateurs  and  gardeners  in  the  past,  and  may  be 
in  the  present  and  the  future,  for  the  teaching  is  based  on  the  best  of 
foundations  —  successful  experience  —  and  is  concisely  and  clearly 
imparted  by  a  master  in  the  art  of  literary  exposition. 
Greenhouse  Roses. 
To  grow  Roses  well  under  glass  they  should  be  cultivated  as 
climbers,  planting  them  out  in  a  prepared  bed  or  border  where  the 
roots  can  extend,  causing  free  and  healthy  growth  of  wood.  The 
latter  then  requires  to  be  well  ripened  in  order  that  the  buds  may  be 
well  matured,  then  it  is  practically  certain  that  a  crop  of  flowers  will 
be  produced  the  following  season.  The  best  Roses  for  indoor  culture 
as  climbers  are  Marechal  Niel,  William  Allen  Richardson,  Gloire  de 
Dijon,  Climbing  Devoniensis,  and  Lamarque.  These  are  Tea-scented 
and  Noisette  Roses. 
When  they  grow  we’l  long  shoots  are  produced,  which  must  be 
reserved  at  nearly  their  full  length  for  flowering,  the  unripened 
ends  only  needing  to  be  pruned  away.  After  the  plants  have 
flowered  is  the  best  time  for  the  principal  pruning,  and  this  may  be 
carried  out  somewhat  boldly.  In  the  case  of  Marechal  Niel  the  young 
shoots  can  be  shortened  to  a  foot.  Some  of  the  weaker  growths  may 
either  be  cut  out  entirely  or  pruned  to  a  few  buds.  The  ether  Roses 
mentioned  can  also  be  freely  pruned  aftei  flowering,  encouraging 
strong  and  vigorous  shoots. 
Good  compost  should  be  provided  for  Roses,  There  is  nothing 
better  than  turfy  loam  of  a  yellow  colour  and  holding  character, 
mixing  with  it  some  decayed  manure  and  bonemcal,  with  broken 
charcoal  to  insure  porosity.  See  that  the  bed  or  border  is  efficiently 
drained,  and  that  the  compost  is  healthfully  moist  when  planting. 
Syringe  the  plants  freely  that  they  may  be  kept  clean  and  free 
from  insects,  and  ventilate  the  structure  carefully. — E.  D.  S. 
NORTHERN  SPY  APPLE  and  AMERICAN  BLIGHT 
The  Marianna  Stock. 
I  HAVE  on  several  occasions  seen  this  Apple  recommended  as  a 
stock  for  Apples  by  growers  in  New  Zealand  and  Australia,  and  now 
that  the  subject  has  come  before  us  in  the  columns  of  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture  (page  259,  March  30th),  a  little  discussion  upon  it  may 
be  useful. 
To  begin  with,  I  do  not  quite  follow  the  arguments  of  Mr.  Palmer, 
that  owing  to  the  mildness  of  the  N^ew  Zealand  climate  woolly  aphis 
is  rampant.  I  never  knew  this  insect  injured  by  frost,  even  when  it 
stayed  above  ground ;  but  it  generally  goes  down  into  the  soil  at  the- 
approach  of  winter,  and  hybernates  upon  the  roots  of  the  frees  until 
the  spring  weather  induces  it  to  crawl  up  again,  I  have  dug  up  old 
orchard  trees  during  severe  winter  weather,  and  left  the  roots  covered 
with  aphis  exposed  to  the  frost  for  several  days,  and  then  found  theu» 
quite  lively  in  the  midday  sun.  If  anyone  knows  of  American  blight 
being  killed  by  frost,  he  will  do  us  a  favour  by  .stating  the  fact  in  your 
Journal. 
I  think  our  climate  is  quite  as  favourable  as  any  need  be  to  the 
well  being  of  the  woolly  aphis,  and  if  it  flouri.shes  in  New  Zealand 
belter  than  it  docs  during  dry,  warm  sumrpers  here,  I  pity  the 
cultivator  who  tries  to  be  rid  of  it.  I  do  not  think  the  attacks  could 
be  worse  than  some  I  saw  in  my  journeys  last  autumn  through  the 
English  counties.  Of  course  it  is  possible  that  the  insects  may  breed 
more  continuously  in  the  milder  climate  of  New  Zealand,  but  I  think 
very  possibly  that  our  good  friend  the  lailybird  (Cuccinella  bipunctata) 
may  be  absent,  in  which  case  the  cultivators  should  import  some,  as 
they  undoubtedly  help  to  keep  the  foe  in  check,  though  I  do  not 
think  they  will  ever  clear  a  plantation. 
I  fear  I  have  rambled  from  the  subject  of  the  Northern  Spy,  but 
having  returned  thereto,  I  roust  sly  that  I  cannot  bear  out  your 
statement,  Mr.  Editor,  that  it  is  usually  free  from  the  attacks  of 
American  blight.  It  is  many  years  now  since  we  grew  it  here,  and 
one’s  memory  is  apt  to  bo  treacherous,  but  I  asked  my  foreman  this 
morning,  and  he  said  it  used  to  be  a  brute  for  “  bug.”  We  planted 
same  trees  of  “Northern  Spv  ”  for  fruiting,  and  they  got  so  infested 
that  we  de.stroyed  them.  Of  course  that  was  in  the  old  days,  when, 
“  blights  ”  were  looked  upon  as  the  act  of  Providence,  and  sprayers 
were  not  u-ed.  Perhap?  other  growers  in  this  country  will  tell  u.s 
their  experience  with  Northern  Spy  and  the  woolly  aphis — that  is,  rf 
they  have  any  of  either  on  the'r  ])remises. 
The  only  Apple  which  1  know  that  is  proof  against  the  woolly 
aphis  or  American  blight  (Schizoneura  lanigera)  is  Duchess  of  Olden¬ 
burg;  only  once  have  I  seen  ihe  woolly  aphis  on  this  variety,  and 
then  it  was  growing  in  close  proximity  to  a  tree  which  was  so  full  of 
the  pest  that  it  had  probably  swarmed  or  emigrated  to  find  room.  Of 
course  the  aphis  likes  some  varieties  better  than  others,  but  I  think 
all  the  varieties  I  know  are  liable  to  attack  except  Duchess  of 
Oldenburg. 
I  know  nothing  of  New  Zealand  personally,  but  it  is  a  received 
fact  that  Northern  Si5y  is  aphis  proof  in  that  climate.  What  I  would 
like  to  know  is,  does  the  same  hold  good  in  this  climate?  ,  Now,  Mr. 
Editor,  you  question  the  fact  of  a  stock  influencing  tlie  growth  of  any 
other  variety  so  as  to  make  it  distastelul  to  the  aphis  ;  but  surely  we 
need  not  go  to  New  Zealand  to  find  this  ouq  as  all  cultivators  know 
that  Apples  upon  the  Paradise  are  almost  exempt  from  attacks,  whilst 
those  upon  Crab  will  suffer  severely.  I  daresay  that  I  ought  not  to 
know  so  much  about  woolly  aphis,  tjnd  to  some  I  may  seem  to  give 
myself  away  by  writing  upon  such  a  subject,  but  I  have  waged  war 
with  the  pest  for  fifteen  years,  and  know  something  of  its  habits 
and  likes.  " 
The  Marianna  Stock  for  Stone  Fruits. 
A  word  in  conclusion  about  the  Marianna  stock.  It  came  frora 
America  with  a  great  character,  but  we  have  failed  to  appreciate  it 
and  after  four  years’  trial  have  discarded  it.  1  happen  to  know  that 
other  nurserymen  have  tried  it,  for  our  trees  were  packed  along  with 
others  for  other  nurserymen ;  but  then,  the  members  of  our  cult  are- 
so  busy  and  so  bashful.  If  they  would  record  their  experiments  they 
might  prove  almost  as  useful  as  a  Government  station,  which  our 
cousins  .across  the  water  enj.^y. — A.  H.  Pearson,  Chilwell,  Notts. 
[We  are  much  obliged  to  IMr.  Pearson  for  his  communication. 
We  agree  with  him  on  two  points — 1,  the  hardiness  of  the  woolly 
aphis  ;  2,  that  nurserymen  could,  if  they  were  not  so  “  busy  and 
b.ishlul,”  impart  valuable  information  on  stocks  and  other  matters. 
We  shall  now  begin  to  differ,  and  rather  enjoy  the  opportunity  than 
otherwise,  in  the  anticipation  of  something  good  in  return. 
As  our  friend  has  presented  his  credentials — namely,  having 
“  waged  war  with  the  aphis  pest  for  fifteen  years  ”  (without  saying 
who  or  which  was  the  victor)  it  will  be  courteous  if  we  present  ours. 
Our  attack  on  the  enemy  commenced  in  1846,  and  for  three  months, 
we  engaged  from  morning  till  night  in,  what  was  vainly  supposed. 
