418 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  18,  1899. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  8,  Rose  Hill  Road, 
Wandswortb,  S.W.,  and  NOT  to  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers, 
Fleet  Street.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately  to 
any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matteis 
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. 
Bhubarb  for  Early  Marketing  ( W.  B.). — Hawkes’  Champagne  has  the 
advantage  of  colour  and  earliness,  but  it  is  too  small  in  the  stem  for 
general  acceptance,  hence  Victoria  claims  precedence  for  general  market¬ 
ing  purposes,  and  after  trying  all  the  varieties  we  found  the  darker  form 
of  Victoria — there  are  probably  several  types  due  to  soil  or  growth  in 
different  localities — the  most  profitable  for  either  forcing  or  outdoor 
cultivation.  Of  course  some  customers  prefer  a  red  Rhubarb,  and  will  give 
more  for  a  bunch  than  for  one  of  Victoria,  but  bulk  fells  vastly  in  favour 
of  the  grower,  hence  some  grow  both  varieties,  but  rely  mainly  on 
Victoria.  If  you  want  an  early  variety  grow  Hawkes’  Champagne. 
Asparagus  for  Market  (^Idem). — There  are  many  forms  of  the  Giant, 
and  when  true  and  carefully  selected  all  are  good  for  general  cultivation, 
including  marketing  purposes.  Some  growers  like  the  Early  Argenteuil, 
but  it  is  not  always  to  be  obtained  true.  By  careful  selection  types  are 
cultivated  that  possess  earliness,  size  of  heads,  and  abundance  of  produce. 
Sulphate  of  Potash  Dissolving  (W.  T.'). — The  sulphate  very  often 
deliquesces  in  moist  air,  though  this  may  appear  quite  dry.  We  do  not 
know  of  any  other  reason,  though  possibly  it  may  be  due  to  some  defect 
of  the  article,  and  of  which  we  can  form  no  opinion,  but  we  have  found 
it  desirable  to  use  the  sulphate  soon  after  receiving  it,  or  mix  with  some 
absorbing  substance,  such  as  fishmeal. 
Manure  for  Growing  Exhibition  Onions  {Idem). — The  best  we  know 
of  is  apply  a  dressing  ot  kainit  in  the  autumn,  lbs.  per  rod,  then,  or 
very  early  (not  late)  in  spring,  apply  a  dressing  of  very  short  manure, 
1  cwt.  per  rod,  with  3^  lbs.  of  basic  slag  phosphate,  and  half  as  much 
mineral  superphosphate,  harrowing  or  raking  in.  Then  when  the  young 
plants  are  well  up  and  beginning  to  grow,  use  finely  crushed  nitrate  of 
soda,  three-quarter  pound  per  rod,  and  continue  these  applications  of  the 
nitrate  about  every  three  weeks.  The  method  of  growing  large  bulbs  of 
Onions  by  raising  the  plants  under  glass  has  more  than  once  been 
described  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture.  There  is  no  work  on  the  subject 
you  name,  and  the  specimen  you  submitted  cannot  be  identified,  being 
spoiled  through  the  delay  arising  through  wrong  direction.  The  correct 
address  is  published  every  week  at  the  head  of  this  (“Correspondents’  ”) 
page  and  the  leading  article. 
Leaves  from  Fumigated  Peach  House  (Sylvia). — The  leaves  are  simply 
blistered  by  the  use  ot  the  tobacco  paper,  which,  however,  is  of  excellent 
quality,  and  not  likely,  except  in  overdose  and  misapplication,  to  injure 
the  foliage  of  Nectarine  and  Peach  trees.  It  requires  knowledge  and 
judgment  to  use  tobacco  paper  and  nicotine  essence  by  fumigation 
and  vaporisation  when  the  foliage  is  tender.  The  trees  have  different 
degrees  of  susceptibility  to  injury,  which  occasions  the  need  of  great 
circumspection.  The  injury  probably  arises  from  the  expansion  of  the 
air  moisture  by  the  heat  given  off  from  the  burning  tobacco  paper,  causing 
the  condensation  of  moisture  on  the  surface  of  the  leaves,  especially  on 
their  thinner  and  cooler  parts,  near  the  edges  of  the  foliage,  and  thus 
scalds  their  tissues.  We  have  noted  every  phase  of  both  fumigation  and 
vaporisation,  and  consider  both  extremely  dangerous  in  the  case  of 
tender  foliage.  With  the  foliage  harder  and  the  moisture  of  the  house 
reduced  to  a  minimum,  no  harm  results  if  careful  not  to  give  an  over¬ 
dose.  For  the  reasons  given  we  consider  it  advisable  not  to  fumigate, 
but  instead  steep  the  tobacco  paper  in  water  or  even  nicotine  essence 
treated  similarly,  and  syringe  the  trees  with  the  deer  ction  or  solution, 
using  2  ozs.  of  softsoap  to  each  gallon. 
• 
Mice  Eating  Seeds  (C.  C.). — Had  your  Beans  and  Peas  been  moistened 
with  petroleum,  and  forthwith  dusted  with  red  lead,  sowing  immediately, 
and  further,  if  a  covering  of  sharp  ashes,  half  an  inch  thick  and  a  foot  or 
so  wide,  had  been  spread  on  the  surface  of  the  soil  over  the  rows,  a 
slight  sprinkling  of  petroleum  bting  given  occasionally,  we  suspect  the 
culprits  would  have  gone  elsewhere  for  vegetable  food. 
Planting  a  Vine  (Idem). — If  you  can  find  a  good  Vine  well  established 
in  a  pot,  and  you  can  secure  it  with  unbroken  growths  up  to  (5  inches 
or  more  long,  the  Vine  will  grow  if  planted  with  the  ball  of  soil  practically 
intact,  only  removing  the  crocks  and  loose  surface  soil ;  in  fact  proceed¬ 
ing  exactly  as  if  shifting  into  a  larger  pot,  and  packing  a  turfy  compost 
firmly  round  the  mass  of  roots.  The  soil  in  the  pot  must  not  be  dry, 
or  very  wet,  when  planting.  Your  other  question  cannot  be  answered 
this  week. 
Galeopsis  dubia  (L.  Row). — The  flower  sent  represents  Galeopsis 
dubia,  and  as  it  will  probably  be  unknown  to  many  of  our  readers,  we 
give  an  illustration  (fig.  92)  of  the  flowers  and  foliage.  It  is  a  member 
of  the  Labiatm  family,  and  is  an  example  of  a  native  plant  succeeding 
well  under  cultivation.  It  is  an  annual,  requiring  a  somewhat  sandy' 
soil,  in  which  it  grows  freely  and  flowers  during  the  late  spring  and 
Fig.  92.— Galeopsis  dubia. 
summer.  The  flowers  are  yellow,  varying  slightly  in  the  depth  of 
colour,  sometimes  very  pale  or  rarely  white,  while  forms  have  also  been 
observed  with  a  purplish  tinge.  They  are  large  and  clustered  at  the 
apex  of  the  stems,  the  leaves  being  sharply  cut  at  the  margins.  This 
Galeopsis  is  widely  distributed  in  Europe,  but  is  somewhat  rare  in 
England.  It  is  readily  raised  from  seeds,  which  are  produced'freely. 
Destroying  Slugs  (J.  A.), — The  pests  are  very  troublesome  in  some 
cases,  and  become  almost  proof  against  dressings  of  quicklime  and  soot, 
though  we  find  these  excellent,  especially  when  used  just  after  dark,  so 
as  to  fall  on  the  molluscs,  the  lime  being  quick  and  the  soot  fresh. 
Some  prepare  lime  water,  a  peck  of  quicklime  being  placed  in  a  tub, 
slaked,  and  30  gallons  of  water  poured  on,  stirred  well  and  then  allowed 
to  settle,  using  the  clear  lime  water  after  three  or  four  days.  It  is 
applied  in  the  evening  with  a  fine  rose  watering  can  when  the  slugs  are 
out  feeding,  and  not  many  safely  escape  the  effects  of  the  lime  water. 
Another  good  plan  is  to  use  finely  crushed  nitrate  of  soda,  2  lbs.  per 
rod,  preferably  before  sowing  or  planting,  or  if  cropped  use  when  the 
plants  are  dry,  and  keep  from  their  hearts.  Of  traps  we  have  foiinl 
fresh  brewers’  grains  very  serviceable,  placing  in  small  heaps  on  slates, 
and  attending  to  them  after  dark  with  a  lantern.  Of  all  traps  the 
mixing  of  treacle  with  bran,  the  syrup  being  thinned  w'ith  a  little  rum  so 
as  to  admit  of  ready  sprinkling  on  the  bran,  appears  the  most  attractive. 
