260 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  19,  1903. 
is  much  blossom  all  that  on  the  under  side  or  at  back  of  the 
shoots  may  be  removed.  Fertilise  the  flowers  when  the  pollen 
is  ripe,  leaving  nothing  to  chance.  Ventilate  freely  above  55dGg. 
LATE  HOUSES. — The  buds  are  swelling  fast,  and  in  some 
cases  coining  into  flower.  When  the  blossoms  show  colour  a  little 
heat  by  day  is  a  great  advantage  in  dull  weather,  as  it  allows  of 
a  circulation  of  air ;  but  at  night  it  ought  not  to  be  used,  so  as  to 
maintain  a  higher  temperature  from  that  source  than  50deg. 
Admit  a  little  air  constantly,  but  in  some  cases  the  lights  fit  in 
badly,  and  the  laps  of  glass  are  so  open  as  not  to  need  any  further 
ventilation. — St.  Albans. 
TRADE  NOTES. 
J.  Peed  and  Son,  Roupell  Park  Nurseries,  Norwood  Road, 
West  Norwood,  London,  S.E.,  have  appointed  Mr.  Maurice  Gray 
to  represent  them  in  the  Isle  of  Wight  and  south  and  south-east 
coast  towns  in  place  of  the  late  Mr.  Harrington. 
Begonia  Specialists. 
Lately  we  received  the  illustrated  Begonia  catalogue  of 
Messrs.  B.  R.  Davis  and  Son,  of  the  Yeovil  Nurseries,  AYovil, 
Somerset.  For  a  very  long  period  the  firm  has  enjoyed  a  high 
popularity  for  their  collection  of  tuberous  Begonias,  and  last  year 
they  were  awarded  the  Gold  Medal  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  Avhich  is  a  very  rare  honour  for  a  Begonia  collection. 
The  Yeovil  Begonias  are  eminently  satisfactory,  and  are  true  to 
name. 
Native  Guano. 
The  Native  Guano  Company,  Limited,  29,  New  Bridge  Street, 
Blackfriars,  London,  E.C.,  are  again  able  to  Issue  a  pamphlet  of 
()5  pages,  84in  by  5.Vin,of  testimonials  to  the  achieved  results  of  the 
practical  application  of  Native  Guano  in  the  farm  and  garden. 
The  crops  reported  on,  embrace  all  the  corn  bearers,  with  grass 
lands,  vegetables,  fruits,  Roses,  &c.,  and  come  from  every  county 
in  England. 
Barr’s  Hardy  Plant  Catalogue. 
We  have  pleasure  in  noticing  Barr’s  newly-i.s'sued  catalogue  of 
hardy  herbaceous  plants,  alpines  and  aquatics  for  present  plant¬ 
ing.  Pages  1  to  3  contain  descriptions  of  a  few  really  good,  now, 
and  rare  hardy  plants.  We  draw  attention  to  the  unique  col¬ 
lection  of  Michaelmas  Daisies  (perennial  Asters),  hardy  border 
Chrysanthemums,  Delphiniums  Helianthus  (perennial  Sun¬ 
flowers),  Christmas  and  Lenten  Rose.s  (Helleborus),  Flag  Irises, 
.single  and  double  Pseonies,  perennial  Phloxes,  Pyrethrums,  and 
neAV  hybrid  Water  Lilies.  All  the  above  form  a  special  feature 
of  Messrs.  Barr’s  cultures  at  the  Dittoii  Hill  Nurseries  (near  Sur¬ 
biton),  where  visitors  are  at  all  times  welcome. 
Young  Gardeners'  Domain.* 
Early  Potatoes. 
We  practise  a  system  here  which  enables  us  to  dig  new 
Potatoes  in  January,  and  needless  to  say,  they  are  duly  appre¬ 
ciated.  Ini  July  of  last  year  we  planted  six  rows  of  Woodstock 
Kidney  in  a  three-light  frame.  No  heat  Avas  given,  but  protec¬ 
tion  was  afforded  during  frost.  Towards  the  end  of  January 
two  rows  Avere  lifted,  and  yielded  141b  of  tubers ;  not  large  by 
any  means,  but  still,  very  useful  at  such  a  time.  Potatoes  from 
pots  Avill  follow  these,  and  Avhen  the  latter  are  finished  there  is 
a  fairly  long  span  frame  Avith  haulm  Avell  up  to  draAv  upon.  By 
the  time  all  these  are  used  neAV  Potatoes  outside  Avill  be  in 
evidence.  In  frames  and  pots  the  following  varieties  are  grown. 
Ashleaf,  May  Queen,  Ringleader,  Ninety-fold,  and  Sharpe’s 
Victor. — W.  F.,  March  12,  1903. 
Malmaison  Carnations. 
Where  a  quantity  of  these  Carnations  are  groAvn  one  needs  to 
be  making  lieadAAay  for  their  potting.  We  have  all  ours  noAv 
safe  in  their  floAvering  pots  ready  for  the  summer  display.  Mal- 
maisons,  to  my  mind,  take  the  riist  more  than  do  Tree  varieties, 
and  a  plan  the  head  gardener  suggested  to  me  Avas, 
scraping  the  rust  off  Avith  finger  and  thumb  or  Avith 
a  knife,  and  certainly  Ave  have  saved  some  decent 
plants  here  by  this  method,  AA'hich  othenvise  Avould 
have  had  to  be  flung  aAAmy.  A  shift  into  Gin  and  7in  pots  for 
young  plants  is  ample  to  carry  them  through.  Keep  the  house 
cool,  and  carefully  attend  to  AA’atering  till  the  plants  are  Avell 
rooted.  The  compost  should  be  of  fibrous  loam,  sharp  sand,  and 
leaf  mould. — G.  S.  J.,  Bodorgan,  Anglesey,  N.  Wales. 
*  The  editor  invites  young  gardeners  an'Iio  are  readeis  to  contribute  to  the 
Domain,  and  he  will  at  all  times  endeavour  to  ensure  the  publicatiou  of  their 
letters. 
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. 
GERANIUM  CUTTINGS  (G.  H.).— W*ei  will  be  able  to  reply 
in  our  next. 
DAHLIA  ANALYSIS  (R.  C.) — The  annual  analysis  is  in  course 
of  preparation,  and  will  appear  about  the  end  of  April,  notice  of 
the  date  being  given  in  due  course. 
NAMING  CONE  FROM  SKETCH  (My.).~The  sketch  is  a 
fair  pencil  one  of  a  cone  of  the  Scots  Fir,  Pinus  sylvestris,  in  the 
early  stage  of  formation,  floAvering  taking  place  during  April. 
The  tree  also  has  the  popular  ones  of  Deal  Wood,  Fir  tree. 
Soots  or  Wild  Pine. 
VINE  BORDER  (T.  Q.). — Two  and  a  half  to  three  feet  is  a 
good  depth  for  an  outside  Vine  border.  It  ought  to  be  Avell 
drained,  and  be  prepared  Avith  oare,  using  a  compost  of  turfy 
loam  and  lime  rubble,  three  of  the  former  to  one  of  the  latter, 
Avith  a  sprinkling  of  ground  bones  and  soot. 
YELLOW  MARKS  ON  STRAWBERRY  LEAVES  (F.  G.).— 
The  Heaves  of  the  plant  are  not  affected  by  the  yelloAv  thrip  nor 
any  kind  of  insect,  and  there  is  no  pronounced  fungoid  affection. 
The  yelloAV  marks  are  probably  due  to  “  CaulifloAver  disease,” 
and  the  croAvn  has  iDi'obably  become  “blind”  from  the  same 
cause,  namely,  eelworm  infection.  We,  hoAvever,  did  not  dis¬ 
cover  the  pest,  the  specimen  being  too  much  knocked  about  to 
admit  of  the  desirable  scrutiny.  A  Peach  tree  Avith  .small  pale 
floAA’ers  and  orange-coloured  withered  calyx  is  certainly  not 
Grosse  Mignonne. 
STOCKS  AND  BRANCHES  OF  APPLE  TREES  GREEN 
(An  Old  Reader). — As  the  season  is  so  far  advanced  it  would 
not  be  safe  to  use  a  caustic  alkali  AA  ash,  Avhich  is  the  be.st  winter 
dressing  for  fruit  trees,  not  only  freeing  them  from  lichen  and 
moss,  but  also  hibernating  insect  pests,  and  xiossibly  also  fungus 
re.sting  simres'.  The  .stocks  and  .stems  and  large  branches  may  be 
Avashed  Avith  limeAvash  formed  of  quicklime  to  the  consistency 
of  Avhitewash  Avith  water,  and  applying  Avith  a  brush  as  high  up 
as  can  be  reached  in  the  boles  and  large  branches.  The  other 
parts  of  the  trees  may  be  dusted  all  over  Avith  quicklime  slaked 
Avith  the  smallest  quantity  of  Avater  nece.ssary  to  cause  fall  in 
an  apparently  dry  fine  poAvder.  This  is  best  done  Avhen  the 
trees  are  damp  from  mist  or  after  rain.  This  Avill  free  the 
trees  from  lichen  aitd  moss,  and  anj^  lime  falling  on  the  ground 
Avill  be  to  the  benefit  of  the  trees. 
KAINIT  FOR  VEGETABLES  (Idem).— Yes,  kainit  is  good 
for  vegetables,  supplying,  jjotash,  magnesia,  and  soda.  It  is 
preferably  used  in  advance  of  cropping  at  the  rate  of  IJlb  per 
rod  or  loz  per  square  yard.  If  applied  in  autumn,  34lb  per  rod 
may  be  used.  For  Cabbages,  &c.,  you  AA’ill  find  a  mixture  of  three 
parts  superphosphate  and  one  part  bonemeal  applied  at  time  of 
seedling  or  planting,  at  the  rate  of  31b  per  rod,  and  AV'hen  the 
plants  are  .singled  out  or  have  got  hold  of  the  soil  after  planting, 
top-dress  Avith  a  mixture  of  tAvo  parts  nitrate  of  soda  and  three 
parts  ground  rock  salt  mixed,  applying  3Jlb  of  the  mixture  per 
rod.  It  should  be  applied  Avhen  the  tops  are  dry,  but  the  ground 
moist,  keeping  from  the  centre  or  hearts  of  the  plants.  This 
is  excellent  for  all  the  Brassica  tribe  and  also  for  Mangolds. 
APPLE  TREES  FROM  CUTTINGS  IN  CENTRAL  AFRICA 
(S.W.). — 1,  Apple  trees  from  cuttings  generally  make  small,  dAA'arf 
trees,  but  this  mode  of  propagation  is  A'ery  little  practi.sed  in 
this  oountiy  or,  indeed,  in  any  Apple-groAA’ing  part  of  the  Avorld. 
We  consider  any  and  every  A'ariety  Avould  be  dwarfer  Avhen 
raised  from  a  cutting  and  on  its  OAvn  roots  than  a  tree  of  the 
same  variety  budded  or  grafted  on  a  stock  raised  from  seed, 
though  the  variety  would  be  dAvarf,  medium,  or  strong  growing, 
according  tO'  its  natural  habit.  In  no  case  should  Ave  anticipate 
so  large  a  free-groAving  tree  from  a  cutting  as  by  grafting  or 
budding  one  on  the  free  or  ev^en  broad-leaved  Paradise  stock. 
2.  Trees  from  cuttings  would  not  be  likely  to  bear  as  freely, 
though,  perhaps,  as  early  as  a  graft  on  the  Paradise 
stock.  Similar  remarks  apply  to  trees  from  cuttings  as  com¬ 
pared  Avith  budded  trees,  budding  being  only  a  .similar  process. 
As  the  climate  of  Central  Africa  Avill  be  Avarm  it  is  probable  that 
Apple  trees  from  cuttings  Avould  .succeed,  it  being  feasible  in 
Avarm  countries  to  groAV  Apples  on  their  oAvn  roots,  but  in  many, 
indeed  most  cases,  it  is  not  desirable  to  do  it,  for  trees  groAAn 
from  a  graft  or  bud  on  a  seedling  .stock  are  much  better,  il’he  root 
.sy.stem  of  a  seedling  is  naturally  imicli  stronger  and  more 
