108 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  29,  1903. 
PLANTING  HORSERADISH.— The  ground  for  Hor.-eradi«h 
should  be  prepared  in  the  same  way  as  for  tap-rooted  vegetables, 
that  is,  dig  a  trench  as  deep  as  practicable,  and  work  manure  in 
the  bottom  of  the  trencli  ratlier  than  in  the'  top  soil,  which  will 
in  the  latter  case  induce  a  forked  growth  of  the  roots.  In  pre¬ 
paring'  roots  for  planting,  those  of  about  the  thickness  of  the 
finger,  bin  or  7in  long,  are  the  best.  Rub  off  the  side  fibres  to 
within  an  inch  of  the  base.  Each  root  should  have  a  bold  crown. 
When  planting,  make  holes  a  foot  apart  in  rows  2ft  asunder, 
using  a  sulficiently  long  dibber,  so  that  the  crown  may  be  .just 
below  the  surface.  Pre.ss  the  soil  closely  round  the  root  all  its 
length.  This  method  ensures  thick  and  useful  roots.  A  row  or 
two'  planted  each  season,  according  to  the  demand,  will  prove 
ample.  The  crop  thus  takes  up  less  room,  and  is  more  valuable. 
8EED  POTATOES. — Early  Potatoes  for  eventually  planting 
in  the  open  should  be  laid  thinly  in  shallow  boxes,  standing  them 
with  the  eye  end  upwards.  Place  the  boxes  in  a  light,  cool  posi¬ 
tion,  safe  from  frost  attacking  the  tubers.  Sprouts  Avill  push 
slowly,  short,  and  sti’ong,  and  of  a  purple  colour.  The  weakest 
may  be  rubbed  off,  leaving  one  or  tAvo  of  the  principal.  The 
Potatoes  cannot  be  planted  before  April,  but  by  that  time  tlie 
sprouts  AA'ill  be  of  a  strong  character,  Avell  hardened,  and  Avill 
quickly  push  through  the  soil,  the  growth  being  eventually  much 
forAA’arder  than  from  tubers  planted  earlier  in  the  ordinary  Ava.y. 
A  Avarin,  sheltered  border  .should,  of  course,  be  selected  for  early 
crops,  and  the  shaws,  Avhen  abovm  the  soil,  mint  be  carefully 
shielded  from  late  spring  frosts  by  some  temporarv  protection.— 
E.  D.  S.  ■  X  .  I 
- - - 
*  All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “  The  Editor,”  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street, 
London,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  Avrite  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable 
trouble  and  expense. 
‘  ORCHID  REVIEW”  (Enquirer). — Write  to  the  editor,  Mr. 
R.  A.  Rolfe,  LaAvn  Crescent,  Kew,  Surrey. 
PHOTOGRAPH  RECEIVED  (R.  Filkins).— We  thank  you 
for  the  option  of  using  the  photograph,  but  on  our  pages  it 
could  not  be 'successfully  reproduced. 
DUTIES  OF  A  CEMETERY  SUPERINTENDENT  (W.).— 
Me  Avill  do  our  best  to  obtain  the  information  you  desire.  We 
belieA'e  that  a  superintendent  has  to  keep  a  record  of  expenses 
in  connection  Avith  buying  allotments  in  the  cemetery  under  his 
charge,  also  of  the  opening  of  graves  (the  scale  of  payment 
being  according  to  the  depth  and  Avidtli  of  them),  and  to  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  upkeep  of  the  cemetery. 
BLACK  CURRANTS  ATTACKED  MHTH  AIITE  (ML).— The 
buds  of  the  shoots  sent  are  infested  Avith  the  Black  Currant 
bud-mite  (Phytoptus  ribis),  and  sometimes  the  bushes  liav’e  been 
freed  of  this  dangerous  scourge  by  extremely  hard  pruning,  the 
shoots  attacked  being  all  cut  aAvay  and  immediately  hiirned.  It 
is  advusable  at  the  same  time  to  lift  and  replant  after  liming 
and  trenching  the  ground.  If  the  bushes  cannot  be  freed  from 
the  i>est,  destroy  every  part  of  them  and  plant  afresh. 
ROSES  FROM  CONTINENTAL  NURSERYAIEN  (J. 
Gordon). — M'e  never  recommend  any  foreign  firm  in  these 
columns.  AVe  Avould  quote  for  your  consideration  the  words  of 
Mr.  Bilney,  the  iieAvly-elected  honorary  solicitor  to  the  Gar¬ 
deners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution,  in  a  speech  made  by  liim 
at  the  dinner  held  on  Thursday  last  .  He’  said  :  “  I  haA'e  spent 
some  thousands  of  pounds  Avitii  English  nurserymen,  and  hai'e 
never  once  been  taken  advantage  of.  I  am  quite  content  to 
deal  ))ith  the  home  firms,  and  leaA'e  alone  those  on  the  Conti¬ 
nent.”  To  your  second  question  Ave  Avould  say,  consult  our 
advertisement  columns. 
RAISING  CUSTARD-APPLE  FROM  SEED  (J.  H.  K.).— The 
Custard-apple,  or  Bull’s  Heart,  Anona  reticulata,  is  a  uatiA'e  of 
Brazil,  therefore  requires  a  high  temperature.  It  is  a  stove 
evergreen,  and  rttains  a  height  of  18ft  to  20ft.  The  seeds  are 
readily  raised  if  soAvn  in  pots,  covering  them  about  their 
diameter  Avith  fine  soil,  and  plunging  the  pots  into  a  hotbed. 
The  plants  thriA^e  best  in  a  rich  loamy  soil  mixed  Avith  a  little 
sfiould  be  groAvn  rather  Avarni  whilst  young  ;  but  Avhen 
established  they  thrive  in  a  Avinter  temperature  of  oodeg  to 
Oodeg,  and  summer  temperature  of  60deg  to  80deg.  AVe  do  not 
know  ‘‘  Mumy  Apple,”  but  it  is  probably  one  of  the  Anonas,  and 
Avould  require  similar  treatment. 
CHARGE  FOR  ATTENDING  A  INERIES  (B.  AV.  A., 
Dudley). — Jobbing  gardeners  usually  charge  4s.  6d.  or  5s.  per 
day  of  ten  hours  for  their  services;  that  is,  6d.  per  hour.  You 
can  calculate  hoAv  often  you  Avill  be  in  attendance  during  the 
period  A'ou  state,  and  make  an  offer  or  a  charge  accordinglju 
BRITISH  FRUIT  GROAVERS’  ASSOCIATION  (J.  B.  T.).— 
The  first  meeting  of  this  association  Avas  held  under  the  pre¬ 
sidency  of  Mr.  T.  Francis  Rivers  in  1888,  the  hon.  secretary 
being  Mr.  LeAvis  Castle,  noAv  of  the  Dnke  of  Bedford’s  Experi¬ 
mental  Fruit  Farm  at  Ridgmont,  Beds.  AA^e  belieAm  the  asso¬ 
ciation  existed  till  about  1893,  Avhen  it  then  Avound  up  its 
affairs.  The  objects  Avere  not  exactly  the  same  as  those  of  the 
neAv  Fruit  GroAvers’  Federation. 
A'OTING  FOR  THE  GARDENERS’  ROYAL  BENEA'OLENT’ 
INSTITL'TION  (AA'.  D.). — Doubtless  a  society,  as  .a  society,  could 
agree  by  Amting  first  amongst  the  members  as  to  Avhich  can¬ 
didates  its  A’otes  Avere  to  be  accorded  to,  the  Amice  of  the 
imajority  being  taken,  and  the  secretary  or  other  person  thereby 
empowered  to  vote  on  behalf  of  the  society,  for  the  petitioners 
agreed  upon.  M^e  knoAv  of  certain  societies  whose  members  sub¬ 
scribe  each  2s.  Cd.,  placing  the  amount  in  guineas,  and  allo¬ 
cating  the  fiAm  votes  Avhich  every  guinea  entitles  one  to,  to  a 
person  chosen  Avithin  the  society. 
SAUROMATUM  GUTTATUM  (Amateur). — The  tubers  of  this 
plant,  as  you  mention,  are  exirosed  in  the  shop  AvindoAvs  (some¬ 
times  with  a  floAAer  throAvn  up)  for  Aveeks,  until  they  are  dry,  and 
Ave  should  think  much  exhausted.  Doubtless  this  is  Avhy  your 
plant  noAv  makes  little  progress.  The  tubers  should  be  potted 
during  spring  in  a  compost  of  fibrous  loam  and  peat  in  equal 
parts,  Avith  quarter  of  sand.  A  Avarm  greenhouse  temperature 
(oodeg  to  (55deg)  Avill  suit  the  plant,  but  copious  supplies  of  AA-ater 
are  absolutely  essential.  It  is  an  East  Indian  plant,  and  Avas 
introduced  in  1830.  Your  other  questions  next  AAmek. 
C  UTTING  DOM'N  AHNES  ABOUT  THIRTY  YEARS  OLD.- 
SIX  A^ARIETIES  OF  GRAPE  AHNES  TO  SUPPLY  GRAPES 
FROM  SEPTEMBER  TO  CHRISTAIAS  (M'oodside).— Provided 
the  old  Amines  are  satisfactory,  barring  the  gnarled  and  ugly 
appearance  of  the  old  spurs,  and  a  little  mealy  bug,  it  Avould 
be  advisable  to  cut  the  rods  doAvu  close  to  the  Avail,  leaving 
each  A'ine  to  shoot  again  for  a  neAv  rod  or  rods,  as  each  would 
probably  push  shoots  from  dormant  eyes,  and  a  selection  being 
made  of  the  best  very  strong  canes  be  secured  this  summer. 
AA'hich  would  bear  good  fruit  the  folloAving  season.  We  have 
done  this  in  the  case  of  A’ines  much  older  than  thirty  years, 
but  it  is  advisable  tO’  retain  some  joints  on  the  old  rod,  when 
there  Avill  generally  be  some  dormant  eyes,  and  it  is  even  pre¬ 
ferable  to  encourage  groAvths  from  near  the  base  one  season, 
say  this,  and  after  the  current  crop  is  cut  off  the  old  rods  cut 
them  aAvay  to  the  cane  or  canes  that  has  been  provided  to  sup¬ 
plant  them.  In  this  Avaj-  a  crop  is  not  lost,  arid  the  Amines  after- 
Avards  treated  on  the  extensioir  system  bear  useful  Grapes  in¬ 
definitely.  This  is  a  better  plan  than  uprooting  an  old  ANne 
and  planting  a  neAV  one,  as  the  returns  are  quick  and  satis¬ 
factory,  Avithout  entailing  considerable  expense.  For  a  supply 
of  Grapes  fi*om  September  to  Christmas  we  should  rely  on 
Black  Hamburgh,  Foster’s  Seedling.  Alicante,  AVhite  Tokay, 
Gros  Colman,  and  Lady  DoAvne’s.  The  latter,  if  cut  with  as 
much  Avood  as  can  be  spared  to  the  bunches,  and  the  ends  of 
these  in.serted  in  bottles  containing  rain  Avater,  would  keep,  as 
we  have  often  done,  in  a  di-y  room  from  which  frost  is  excluded 
up  to  June.  Appley  ToAvers  is  no  doubt  an  excellent  Black 
Grape,  and  Avould  most  likely  answer  for  your  purpose ;  but  the 
experience  of  it  is  too  limited  for  positive  advisement. 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS. — Correspondents  tchose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (Cedo  Nulli). — AVe  are  sorry  to  have  so  long 
overlooked  your  query ;  the  flower  vv'as  that  of  Epidendrum  ciliare. 
(N.  F.). — 1,  Brachycome  iberidifolia ;  2,  Salvia  Heeri ;  3,  Veronica 
cupressoides ;  4,  Coi'dyline  terminalis  var.  (.1.  A'.). — 1,  Galanthus 
Elwesi ;  2,  Cyclamen  Coum  ;  3,  Tollema  rubrifolia. 
NAMES  OF  FRUITS. — Correspondents  whose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (Somerset,  “D.  AA^.”). — Catshead.  (R.  Filkins). — 
1,  Apple  Rosemary  Russet;  2,  Apple  Foster’s  Seedling;  the  Pear  is 
General  Todleben  probably  from  a  second  flower-crop  ;  you  might  try 
a  dish  of  No.  2  at  an  R.H.S.  meeting. 
TRADE  NOTES. 
Messrs.  John  K.  King  &  Sons. 
This,  the  Avell-knoAvn  and  original  firm  of  King,  call  our 
attention  to  an  announcement  in  their  spring  seed  catalogue  to 
the  effect  that  all  communications  should  be  addressed  in  full  to 
John  K.  King  and  Sons.  They  say ;  ”  This  caution  is  neces¬ 
sary,  as  there  are  other  persons  trading  under  a  similar  sur¬ 
name  to  our  own,  Avho  have  no  connection  Avith  our  firm.  The 
want  of  this  precaAition  has  sometimes  caused  much  disappoint¬ 
ment,  to  avoid  Avhich  correspondents  Avill  kindly  be  particular 
to  address  ;  John  K.  King  and  Sons,  The  King’s  Seedsmen,  by 
Royal  Sealed  M^arrant,  Coggeshall,  Essex,  or  Reading,  Berks.” 
