May  14,  1903. 
JOUBl^AL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
437 
GRAPE,  :\IADRli:SFIELD  COT’RT.— Tlii^  is  a  liybrid.  raised 
by  Mr.  Cox.  gardener  to  Earl  Beauchanip.  at  Aladresfield  Court, 
Worcestershire,  by  crossing  Muscat  of  Alexandria  with  the  Black 
Morocco.  It  was  awarded  a  certificate  by  the  Royal  Horticul¬ 
tural  Society  in  1868,  and  vras  subsequently  sent  out  by  Alcssrs. 
Lee,  of  Hauiinei smith.  " 
CULTERE  OF  COIX  (JOB'S  TEARS)  (J.  T.  S.).-The;e 
rather  curious  Grasses  require- care.  They  are  best  treated  as 
annuals,  the  seeds  being  sown  now.  in  shalloAV  boxes,  in  a  warm 
house,  and  planted  out  when  all  danger  of  frost  is  past.  An 
ordinary  garden  soil  will  suit  the  seedlings;  or  the  seeds  may  be 
sewn  at  the  end  of  the  month  in  the  open  border ;  but  it  is 
quicker  and  better  to  raise  the  seedlings  indoors.  C.  lachryma  is 
the  species  usually  grown. 
JASMINUM  HIRSUTUM  (B.).— Tbs  plant  we  figured  has 
been  described  by  several  authors,  and  you  are  mistaken  in  sup¬ 
posing  it  was  only  mentioned  by  Roxburgh  a.s  an  old  title  of 
Guettarda  speciosa.  It  is  figured  in  the  first  volume  of  Edwards’ 
“  Botanical  Register,”  plate  15,  1815.  It  was  also  subsequently 
figured  in  Sims’  “  Botanical  Magazine,”  vol.  xlv.,  plate  1991.  The 
slight  difference  in  the  form  of  the  leaves  of  the  specimen  we 
figured  is  due  to  it  having  been  obtained  from  a  small  plant,  and 
in  that  state  the  foliage,  is  rather  variable.  It  is  grown  both  at 
Kew  and  Chiswick,  where  you  can  compare  the  woodcut  with  the 
living  plants. 
SEAKALE  SEEDING  (J.  B.). — W’hen  Seakale  plants  are 
allowed  to  mature  seed  they  are  more  or  less  exhausted,  and  the 
growths  of  the  following  year  will  not  be  so  robust  as  if  seed  had 
not  been  permitted  to  ripen  ;  still  a  free  growth  of  foliage  is  un¬ 
doubtedly  essential  to  the  production  of  good  crowns.  We  find 
that  two  extreme  courses  are  not  uncommonly  adopted  in  the 
management  of  Seakale  in  .summer.  One  is  to  allow  seed  to  ripen 
on  the  plants,  the  other  to  cut  down  the  flower  stems,  thus  re¬ 
moving  all  the  foliage.  Our  plan  is  to  let  the  flowers  form  on  the 
plants,  and  then  cut  off  the  heads  just  before  expansion,  leaving 
all  the  leaves.  These  unexpanded  flower  heads  are  delicious  when 
properly  cooked.  Those  not  required  for  table  are  thrown  away,  as 
we  do  not  consider  it  wise  to  allow  seed  to  ripen  on  the  planTs. 
If  we  want  a  little  for  sowing,  one  plant  produces  sufficient  for 
our  purpose. 
PETROLEUM  AN  INSECTICIDE  (F.  N.  T.).— M’e  do  not  re¬ 
commend  the  systematic  use  of  petroleum  for  Roses,  Pelar¬ 
goniums,  and  greenhouse  plant-s  generally;  first,  because  such 
insects  as  aphides  are  easily  destroyed  by  other  meairs ;  and 
secondly,  unless  the  oil  is  washed  off  the  foliage  its  constant  use 
would  stop  up  the  pores,  aird  thus  be  injurious  to  the  plants.  If 
we  had  Camellias  infested  with  scale  or  Gardenias  with  mealy 
bug  we  should  not  hesitate  to  syringe  them  with  a  mixture  of 
petroleum  aird  soapy  water,  because  the  oil  would  then  be 
saponified  by  the  alkali  in  the  soap,  and  could  be  wa.shed  off  ;  but 
this  is  different  from  using  the  oil  with  pure  water  and  applying 
it  regularly  for  ordinary  plants  infested  with  ordinary  imsects.  A 
fluid  ounce  of  the  oil  to  a  gallon  of  water  will  kill  most  kinds  of 
insect.s  and  injure  few  kinds  of  plants,  if  any ;  but  it  is  of  great 
importance,  that  the  mixing  be  effectual,  the  nature  of  the  oil 
being  to  float  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  We  have  seen 
petroleum  used  at  twice  the  above  strength  with  safety,  and  we 
have  seen  it  do  injury,  the  different  effects  probably  re.sulting 
from  the  different  qualities  of  water  employed,  or  to  impei'fect 
mixing  of  the  two  fluids. 
AHNES  SCORCHED  (H.  T.  H.>.^You  say  the  Yines  are 
“exceedingly  healthy.”  Judging  by  the  samples  you  have  sub¬ 
mitted  we  arrive  at  a  different  conclusion.  Neither  the  texture 
of  the  leaf,  nor  its  colour,  nor  the  appearance  of  the 
bunch  indicates  healthy  Vines.  If  you  have  sent  us  fair 
specimen.s  of  the  foliage  and  bunches  we  must  inform  you  that 
the  Amines  are  decidedly  unhealthy.  AA’^e  think  the  roots  are  work¬ 
ing  in  ungenial  soil,  and  we  are  almost  certain  some  of  them  are 
decayed,  and  c^uite  certain  the  Ahnes  are  not  receiving  the  nourish¬ 
ment  they  need.  The  atmosphere  has  also,  we  think,  been  kept 
too  close  and  moi.st,  and  we  venture  to  say  the  lights  have  not 
been  opened  soon  enough  in  the  morning— we  mean,  they  may 
have  been  opened  soon  enough  sometimes,  but  not  always.  AA^e 
venture  also  to  predict  the  A’ine  border  is  not  netted  with  healthy 
roots  near  the  surface.  It  is  mo.st  important  that  you  encourage 
.surface-rooting,  as  not  until  you  do  this  and  afford  proper  food 
can  the  Amines  be  healthy.  Y^our  Amines  are  producing  gross 
growth  and  large  flabby  leaves,  and  this  you  niistake  for  health. 
They  should  produce  short-jointed  wood  and  thick  dark  green 
leaves,  with  sturdy  bunches.  As  you  do  not  describe  the  border 
we  can  only  say  that  if  it  is  wet  drain  it ;  if  poor,  enrich  it ;  if 
too  rich  already,  add  lime  freely.  The  root  of  the  evil  is  literally 
at  the  root  of  the  Amines;  while  the  .system  of  ventilation  and 
general  management  in  the  house  have  not  been  the  best  under 
the  circumstances.  AA^e  will  readily  aid  you  further  if  j’ou  wish 
us  to  do  so.  and  will  supply  us  with  the  necessary  data  for  that 
purpose.  AA'e  shall  require  to  know  the  precise  condition  of  the 
border  and  roots,  the  age  of  the  Amines,  with  the  crops  they  have 
previously  borne,  and  any  other  information  that  you  think  will 
enable  us  to  understand  the  case  fully. 
BOOK  ON  CARPET  BEDDING.— AA’e  believe  Messrs. 
Cannell  and  Sons,  of  Swanley,  and  Toogood  and  Sons,  of  South¬ 
ampton,  each  publish  little  booklets,  priced  at  2d.  or  so,  whicli 
contain  up-to-date  plans  and  arrangements  of  plants  for  carpet 
beds.  Since  the  system  has  fallen  back,  few  publications  are 
devoted  to  its  interests.  If  any  of  our  readers  know  of  a  good, 
reliable,  up-to-date  work,  and  would  furnish  name  of  publisher 
and  price,  for  our  corre.spondent,  we  would  be  much  obliged. 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS. — Correspondents  whose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (May-flower). — 1,  Salvia  Heeri ;  2,  Celsia  cretica  ; 
3,  Kalosanthes  (send  when  in  flower) ;  4,  Galega  officinalis. 
(T.  H.  T.). — Asclepias  curassaviea.  (H.  AV.). — 1,  Daphne  Cneorum  ; 
2,  Epimedium  alpinum  ;  3,  Phlox  divaricata  ;  4,  Heuehera  micrantha. 
( - ). — Holbolia  (Stauntonia)  latifolia. 
- - 
Meteorological  Obseryations  at  Chiswick. 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens  at  Chis¬ 
wick,  height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil, 
At  9  A.M. 
o 
1903. 
May. 
eotion  c 
Wind. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
Bain, 
At. 
At 
A  f 
^  3  ® 
®  2  m 
>  ©rn 
Q 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
Highest. 
Lowest. 
i-ft. 
deep. 
2-ft. 
deep. 
4-ft. 
deep. 
o  o 
bi 
Sunday  ...  3 
S.E. 
deg. 
49-1 
deg. 
47-8 
deg. 
53-1 
deg. 
47-7 
Ins. 
0-45 
deg. 
50-3 
deg. 
48-9 
deg. 
47'5 
deg. 
37'2 
Monday  ...  4 
S.E. 
521 
51-0 
68  7 
48-3 
0-02 
50-3 
49-2 
47-S 
47-3 
Tuesday...  5 
S.E. 
56-1 
52-2 
59-2 
41-0 
0-09 
50-8 
49  5 
480 
30  5 
Wed’sday  6 
W.S.W. 
54-7 
50  0 
60  0 
48-8 
O-ll 
51-7 
49-8 
48-2 
43-2 
Thursday  7 
AV.S.AV. 
53-3 
49-8 
59-0 
48-3 
0T8 
52-8 
50-3 
48-3 
44'8 
Friday  ...  8 
S.E. 
49  6 
460 
54-8 
37-2 
0  01 
51-3 
50-8 
48-6 
27-8 
Saturday  9 
N.E. 
EO-9 
47-9 
57-0 
44-0 
0-04 
51-6 
50-6 
48-9 
34-2 
Means  ... 
52-3 
49-2 
58-8 
45  0 
Total. 
0-90 
51-3 
49  9 
48-2 
37-9 
Another  week  of  dull,  cold,  w'et  Aveather. 
The  Board  of  Trade  and  Railway  Rates. 
It  appears  that  before  Ave,  as  agriculturists,  can  get  any 
redress  on  the  matter  of  excessive  raihvay  rates,  we  shall 
have  to  apply  to  the  Board  of  Trade,  whose  representative 
is  Mr.  Gerald  Balfour.  The  question  crops  up  agam  and 
again,  and  it  is  too  great  a  question  to  be  shelved.  The 
Agricultural  Minister  Avas  just  beginning  to  find  his  feet  and 
set  in  action  many  schemes  for  our  betterment,  when,  Avith 
terrible  suddenness,  he  has  been  called  aAA'ay,  and  so  left 
his  Avork  incomplete.  Raihvay  managers  are  often  at 
loggerheads  as  to  the  rate  question,  i.e.,  the  price  per  ton. 
In  the  case  of  large  groAvers  the  raihvay  people  have  often 
to  make  concessio'ns,  but  the  small  people  are  hardly  dealt 
Avith.  To  a  certain  extent  the  AAater  Avays  ai*e  being 
utilised,  but  there  are  difficulties  in  consigning  Potatoes 
from  mid-Lincoln,  say,  to  London  by  boat  or  ship.  In  the 
case  of  seed  Potatoes  from  Dunbar,  Ave  heard  a  curious  ex¬ 
perience  this  spring.  A  vessel  Avas  chartered  from  the 
Humber  to  fetch  100  tons  of  seed  from  Dunbar.  the 
Potatoes  AA*ere  loaded,  and  the  captain  hoped  to  make  his 
Humber  port  in  four  days.  Alas  !  for  the  failure  of  Avell-laid 
plans !  A\d  don’t  like  to  say  hoAv  many  days  passed  before 
he  could  clear  the  harbour  bar,  and  then  hoAV  many  more 
passed  before  fair  AA’inds  alloAA^ed  him  to  sail  southAAard. 
Indeed,  such  Avas  the  stress  of  Aveather  that  he  made 
XorAvay  before  he  saAV  the  Humber  estuary  once  more,  and 
