February  19,  1903.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  173 
*»  *  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  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. 
UNITED  HORTICULTURAL  BENEFIT  AND  PROVIDENT 
SOCIETY  (S.  S.). — Tire  secretary  is  Mr.  W.  Collins,  of  9,  Martin- 
dale  Road,  Balliain,  S.W. 
BEGONIA  WINTER  CHEER  LEAVES  BLIGHTED  (Soco- 
trana). — There  doesi  not  appear  anything  wrong  with  the  manage¬ 
ment,  and  the  two  apparent  diseases  are  reallj'  one,  the  minute 
white  mould  being  a  consequence  of  the  ‘‘  rust,”  and  is  of  a. 
saprophytic  nature.  The  reddish  spots  resulting  in  “  rust  ”  are 
caused  by  a  mite,  not  unlike  a  thrip  in  general  appearance,  but  is 
of  the  Arachnida  or  Spider  family,  andi  very  pernicious  in  its 
effects  on  plants  with  fleshy  and  hairy  leaves,  such  as  Gloxinias, 
Gesneras,  Begonias,  and  Pelargoniums.  It.  is  a  species  of  Tar- 
sonymus,  proba.bly  not  different  from  T.  buxi,  found  on  Box  leaves 
in  hot  situations,  though  somewhat  varied  in  different  host- 
plants,  and  given  the  names  of  T.  begoni,  or  T.  gerani,  according 
to  the  plant  infested,  The  only  known  preventive  and  remedy 
is  spraying  or  dipping^  the  plants  at  frequent  intervals  in  tobacco 
water,  loz  of  the  strongest  shag  tobacco  being  placed  in  a  vessel 
and  a  quart  of  boiling  water  poured  on  it,  covering  closely,  and 
allowing  to  remain  until  cool,  then  straining  andi  applying  by 
means  of  a  spray  diffuser,  and  w’etting  the  leaves  on  the  under 
as  well  as  upper  side..  Thisi  should  be  done  at  intervals  of  about 
four  days  two  or  three  times,  and  then  more  distantly,  so  as  to 
prevent  re-infection.  Try  also  XL  All  insectitude,  or  similar  in- 
SGO t  0r3>cil  03.'t O'l* 
CAMPANULA  PYRAMIDALIS,  AFFECTED  WITH  BLAC  K 
BLIGHT  (Constant  Reader). — In  the  absence  of  .specimen  we 
should  regard  the  attack  as  that  of  black  discoloration,  oausied 
by  Botrytiscinerea,  the  conidialconditionof  Sclerotinia  Fuckeliana, 
which  attacks  numerou.s  plants,  belonging  to  widely  different 
families  both  outdoors  and  under  glass.  Probably  the  disease 
arises  from  small  bodies  in  the  soil  called  sclerotia,  and  a  mixture 
of  air-slaked  lime  and  soot  in  equal  parts,  by  measure,  with  the 
amount  of  both  of  wood  ashes,  all  mixed  together  and  added 
to  the  compost  in  the  proportion  of  a  quart  of  the  mixture  to 
a  bushel  of  soil,  would  probably  prevent  attack  in  the  case  of 
plants  in  pots,  and  outdoors  the  mixture  may  be  applied  at  the 
rate  of  lib  per  square  yard,  and  dug  into  the  soil  with  a  fork, 
taking  small  spit.s  so  as  to  mix  evenly  through  the  ground. 
Spraying  with  potassium  sulphide  (liver  of  sulphur),  loz  tO'  two 
and  a  half  gallons  of  soft  water,  first  dissolving  the  sulphide  in 
a  quart  of  hot  water,  and  when  dissolved  making  up  to  twO‘  and 
a  half  gallons,  destroys  the  conidia,  or  Botrytis  condition,  and 
thus  checks  the  spread  of  the  disease.  Leaves  and  stems  infested 
should  be  collected  and  burned,  otherwise,  if  allowed  to  remain 
lying  about,  the  sclerotia  present  in  their  tissues  will  eventually 
produce  spores,  which  will  again  infect  the  voung  foliage. 
DUTIES  OF  A  CEMETERY  SUPERINTENDENT  (D.  B.).— 
In  addition  to  our  reply  on  page  108  w’e  give  the  duties  of  a 
superintendent  of  a  cemetery  for  a  borough  of  20,000  inhabitants. 
To  attend  to  all  matters  in  connection  with  the  selecting,  pur¬ 
chase  of  grave  space,  excavating,' and  other  matters  connected 
with  burial,  in  accordance  with  ai  scale  of  charges  fixed  by  the 
cemetery  board,  and  keep  a  record  of  the  same  in  a  book  provided 
for  the  purpose.  In  relation  to  this  there  is  the  matter 
of  attending  to  the  conditions  of  erecting  tombstones 
or  monuments,  reopening  graves,  and  subsequent  burials, 
in  all  affairs  seeing  that  the  regulations  are  strictly 
adhered  to.  The  superintendent  has  also  to  act  as 
clerk,  and  in  other  respects  has  full  control  of  all  inter¬ 
ments  ;  to  superintend  the  work  of  the  men  employed  in  grave 
digging,  and  attend  to  all  the  labour  employed  in  furnishing 
and  keeping  up  the  walks,  grass,  trees,  and  shrubs,  flower  beds, 
and  general  working  of  the  whole.  There  are  three  men  in 
addition  to  the  superintendent,  who  is  truly  working,  though 
not  actually  a  gravedigger,  resident  and  attending  opening  and 
closing  of  tile  gates  at  stated  hours,  altogether  having  full  charge 
of  the  cemetery  and  responsible  for  everything  in  connection 
therewith,  except  ca.sh  payments,  which  are  attended  to  by  the 
clerk  to  the  burial  board.  In  smaller  cemeteries  the  superinten¬ 
dent  may  have  graves  to  dig  and  other  heavy  work  to  do,  so 
that  the  duties  vary  with  circumstances,  which  in  most  cases  are 
furnished  to  applicants  when  a  vacancy  occurs.  •  ; 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
John  Forbes,  Hawick,  Scotland. — Florists'  Floivers, 
Peter  Henderson  and  Co.,  35  and  37,  Cortland  Street,  New  York.— 
Everything  for  the  Garden." 
Hudson’s,  34,  Chiswick  High  Road,  London,  W. — Bulbs,  Seeds,  Lilies, 
Plants. 
H.  .1.  .Tones,  Ryeeroft  Nursery,  Hither  Green,  Lewisham,  S.E.— 
Chrysanthemums,  Seeds,  and  Plants.  . 
Kelway  and  Son,  Langport,  Somerset. — Kelivay's  Manual. 
Stenger  and  Rotter,  Seedgrowers,  Erfurt,  Germany. — Seeds,  Bulbs, 
Plants,  and  Sundries.  '  ■ 
Sutton  and  Sons,  Reading. — Farmers'  Year  Book. 
William  Sydenham,  Tamworth,  Staffs.  —  Violas,  Chrysanthemums, 
Asters. 
Ant.  Roozen  and  Son,  Nurserymen,  Overveen  near  Haarlem,  Hollandi 
— Seeds.  '  .  . 
Vilmorin-Andrieux  and  Co.,  4,  Quai  de  la  Megisserie,  Paris. — Chrysan¬ 
themums.  \ 
Webb  and  Sons,  Wordsley,  Stourbridge. — Farm  Seeds,  Manures,  d'C.  ' 
Several  Small  Things. 
How  will  the  new  Education  Act  affect  us  who  live  in 
the  villages  among  a  farming  community  1  That  depends. 
It  is  pretty  certain  to  the  most  dense  comprehension  that, 
although  education  has  in  many  villages  been  cheap,  it  has 
also  been  nasty — that  is,  in  no  wise  suited  to  the  require¬ 
ments  of  the  children,  as  rural  children,  but  far  more  fitted 
to  make  them  consider  country  life  dull  and  tame,  and  to 
pine  for  the  towns.  His  (jrace  the  Duke  of  Devonshire 
considers  now  that  we  farmers  will  have  things  a  little  more 
our  own  way,  and  he  trusts  we  shall  try  to  adapt  the  code  to 
our  real  needs.  We  are  not  quite  sure  that  we  all  know  our 
needs — and  if  we  don’t  know  them  how  can  we  provide  for 
them  ? 
We  want  competent  teachers  who  are  in  close  touch  with 
their  everyday,  common-object  surroundings,  who  have  some 
notion  of  the  processes  of  life  and  death — of  germination, 
growth,  and  the  general  routine  of  the  natural  world.  In¬ 
terest  a  child  in  his  surroundings,  and  he  is  loth  to  leave 
them.  But  as  yet  we  fear  we  have  the  teachers  to  find  and 
prepare  for  their  work.  We  do  hope,  however,  that  some  of 
these  village  schools  will  be  grouped  together,  and  the  older' 
pupils  put  in  the  way  of  a  little  technical  instruction,  if  it 
only  be  a  simple  form  of  gardening,  or  the  like. 
We  cannot  see  Avhy  the  young  girls  in  the  towns  shouki 
have  the  advantage  of  cooking  and  housewifery  classes,  and' 
our  girls  are'  denied  the  privilege.  We  were  allowed  the 
other  day  to  read  the  answers  given  by  the  fifth  and  . sixth' 
standard  girls  on  cooking  and  housewifery,  and  we  were 
astonished  at  their  information,  and  also  struck  by  the  clear 
manner  in  which  they  worded  their  answers.  Why,  Ave  re¬ 
peat,  are  only  town  girls  to  know  hoAV  to  clean  and  cook  t 
Our ’girls  Avant  it  just  as  much,  indeed  more,  for  it  is  from 
the  country  homes  that  the  majority  of  maid-servants 
spring. 
There  seems  to  be  a  feeling  amongst  many  respecting 
£  s.  d.  Certainly,  some  of  the  small  schools  will  he  great 
gainers,  or,  rather,  Ave  should  say,  the  ratepayers.  There  is 
a  small  village  school  close  to  us  here  Avhere  the  school  has 
on  its  books  thirty-six  children,  and  the  rate  is  8d.  in  the 
pound  ;  that  school  must  be  a  gainer.  In  another  village 
there  has  been  a  voluntary  rate  of  3d.  The  buildings  are 
practically  neAV,  and  most  extensive,  and  clear  of  debt ;  that 
school  will  now  get  off  with  2d.  Under  the  old  system  so 
many  escaped  payment,  i.e.,  only  those  paid  who  Avere  (D 
interested  in  education,  or  (2)  had  the  fear  of  their  landlord 
before  their  eyes.  The  people  whose  children  Avere  profit¬ 
ing  Avere  getting  off  scot  free.  . 
