188 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE'  GARDENER. 
August  23,  1900 
Fungus  under  Poplar  Tree  {W.  H.). — The  fungua  is  a  Boletus,  but 
whether  the  edible  species  or  not  it  is  impossible  to  say  from  the 
portion  sent.  A  complete  fresh  specimen  with  the  essential  characters 
manifest  is  necessary  for  determining  the  matter.  As  some  of  the 
Boleti  are  poisonous  it  will  be  prudent  to  exercise  caution  in  the  use  of 
the  specimens  you  may  gather  from  under  trees. 
Propagating  Lithospennum  fruticosum  (H.  D.  T.). — Cuttings  of  the 
half-ripened  wood,  or  the  points  of  the  shoots  of  the  current  year, 
having  their  bases  rather  firm,  trimmed  of  their  lower  leaves,  and  the 
base  of  the  shoot  cut  with  a  sharp  knife  below  a  joint,  should  be 
inserted  half  or  two-thirds  their  length  in  a  compost  of  sandy  peat 
one-third  and  silver  sand  two-thirds,  the  surface  of  the  soil  in  the 
cutting  pot  being  covered  with  an  inch  of  the  latter.  The  pot  or  pan 
containing  the  cuttings  should  be  placed  in  a  cold  frame  or  pit,  and 
kept  close,  moist,  and  shaded  from  the  sun  until  the  cuttings  are 
rooted.  The  sand  must  not  be  kept  very  wet  or  the  cuttings  will  damp 
off.  The  cuttings  will  root  much  sooner  if  placed  in  mild  bottom  heat. 
Pleione  lagenaria  (P.  B.  B.). — This  Orchid  is  sometimes  known  as 
the  Indian  Crocus.  The  pseudo-bulbs  of  P.  lagenaria  (fig.  60)  are 
distinct  from  any  other  species,  being  flask-shaped  with  a  peculiar 
overlapping  neck.  The  flowers  are  large  and  solitary ;  sepals  and 
petals  narrow,  deep  rose  colour ;  lip  very  large,  waved  at  the  margins, 
white  variegated  with  yellow  and  rich 
purple.  It  flowers  profusely  during 
the  depth  of  the  winter.  They  are 
mostly  grown  in  pots,  but  succeed 
equally  well  on  blocks;  in  the  latter 
way  they  require  more  sphagnum  about 
them  than  most  plants  grown  in  a 
similar  manner.  When  grown  in  pots, 
which  is  undoubtedly  the  best  method, 
they  must  have  ample  drainage.  The 
soil  should  be  fibrous  peat,  sphagnum 
moss,  and  rich  leaf  mould  in  equal 
parts,  adding  a  small  portion  of  silver 
sand ;  but  the  curious  little  pseudo- 
bulbs  should  not  be  elevated  above 
the  rim  of  the  pot,  as  in  the  usual 
method  of  potting  Orchids.  During 
the  growing  season  moderate  heat  and 
an  abundance  of  moisture  are  necessary 
to  the  development  of  large  strong 
flowering  pseudo-bulbs ;  after  these  are 
formed  they  may  be  removed  to  a  cool 
house  and  kept  tolerably  dry  until  the 
flower  buds  begin  to  show  themselves 
at  the  base  of  the  old  bulbs,  when 
additional  heat  may  be  applied  with 
advantage. 
Leaves  of  vines  Diseased  (Croydon). 
— The  very  small  leaves  are  notable  for 
the  pale,  hairy  growths,  once  called 
Erineum  vitis,  in  patches  on  the  under 
side  of  the  leaves.  The  Erineum  is 
caused  by  a  mite  named  Phytoptns 
vitis,  which  exists  under  four  forms  : 
first,  as  small  larva  with  two  pairs  of 
legs,  and  lies  hidden  in  the  little  felted 
nests  on  the  under  side  of  the  Vine 
leaves.  In  the  second  stage  it  becomes  six-legged,  and  passes  the 
winter  amongst  the  nest  hairs  on  dead  leaves  and  beneath  the  bark 
on  canes  and  rods.  In  the  spring  the  six-legged  creature  gets  another 
pair  of  legs,  ascends  the  Vines,  and  selects  the  lower  surface  of 
the  young  leaves,  which  it  pierces  and  there  deposits  its  eggs.  On 
each  affected  spot  a  dense  growth  of  leaf-hairs  appears,  forming  a 
protection  for  the  eggs  and  the  little  mites  which  soon  emerge  from 
them.  The  effect  is  to  distort  and  ruin  the  leaves.  On  the  upper 
surface  of  the  leaf,  and  corresponding  to  the  felted  masses  of  cream- 
coloured  or  brownish  hairs  on  the  under  side,  there  are  numerous 
large  green  swellings,  giving  the  foliage  a  very  singular  appearance. 
The  pest  is  somewhat  difficult  to  eradicate,  but  good  results  attend 
spraying  with  methylated  spirit,  diluted  about  one-half  with  clear 
rain  water,  directing  the  spray  upwards  so  as  to  coat  the  foliage 
on  the  under  side,  and  of  course  wet  the  nest  hairs.  In  some  cases 
the  methylated  spirit  may  be  used  undiluted,  and  is  of  course  most 
effective,  but  it  is  advisable  to  experiment  on  a  few  leaves  and  ascertain 
a  safe  strength.  Picking  off  all  the  affected  leaves  instead  of  letting 
them  fall  naturally  and  burning  them  may  be  mentioned  as  a  perfect 
cure.  Eallen  leaves  should  also  be  burned,  and  the  Vines  cleansed  and 
dressed,  removing  the  surface  of  the  soil  and  supplying  fresh  compost. 
In  the  box  along  with  the  Vine  leaves  was  a  weevil,  Rhynchites  Alliariae, 
one-eighth  to  one-sixth  inch  long,  coloilr  deep  blue  or  shining  green, 
thorax  finely  pitted,  and  has  a  smooth  dorsal  line.  The  larvae  live  in 
the  stalks  and  midribs  of  the  leaves  of  many  fruit  trees.  The  best 
remedy  is  to  capture  the  beetles  by  shaking  them  down  on  cloths  and 
destroying  them,  or  trays  tarred  inside  may  be  used.  Conspicuously 
injured  leaves  and  young  growths  should  be  removed  and  burned  as 
soon  as  convenient. 
Fig.  50. — Pleione  lagenaria. 
Liquid  Weed  Killer — Glass-stoppered  Bottles  (T.  G.  M  ). — If  you 
write  to  any  of  the  horticultural  sundriesmen  whose  advertisements 
appear  in  the  pages  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture,  you  will  soon  get 
what  you  require. 
Salvia  patens  Buds  and  Flowers  Falling  (ff.  D.). — The  most  pro¬ 
bable  cause  of  the  flowers  (never  of  long  continuance  individually) 
dropping  is  a  deficiency  of  water  at  the  roots  and  keeping  the  plant 
at  a  distance  from  the  glass  in  a  conservatory  or  in  a  badly  ventilated 
part.  Supply  plenty  of  water,  and  give  liquid  manure  once  a  week  ; 
place  in  the  lightest  and  coolest  situation,  and  syringe  the  foliage 
frequently,  but  not  the  fiowers.  The  plant  is  very  liable  to  be  attacked 
by  red  spider  and  thrips  when  grown  under  glass. 
Brodiaea  ixioides  (B.  T.).— You  may  know  this  plant  as  Calliprora 
lutea ;  it  is  very  distinct  in  appearance  and  colour  from  the  other 
members  of  the  genus  Brodiaea  ;  but  structurally  the  difference  is 
slight.  It  produces  slender  flower  stems  from  a  foot  to  18  inches  high, 
bearing  a  large  umbel  of  flowers  on  slender  pedicels  at  the  top,  which 
are  individually  about  an  inch  across,  of  a  deep  golden  yellow  colour, 
with  a  brown  medial  vein  in  each  segment  of  the  perianth.  Generally 
more  than  one  scape  is  sent  up  from  each  bulb,  and  as  they  are 
many-flowered  it  is  a  neat  and  extremely  pretty  bulb  for  the  hardy 
flower  garden.  The  bulbs  thrive  remarkably  well  in  a  warm  position, 
well  drained,  in  light  rich  soil  near 
London,  but  when  planting  should  be 
surrounded  with  sand  and  ashes  from 
burnt  garden  refuse. 
Plantains  on  Lawns  (Tyro). — If  care 
be  taken  the  plants  and  roots  may 
be  lifted  with  a  daisy  fork,  and  any  of 
the  latter  that  break  off  near  the  top 
can  have  sulphuric  acid  (oil  of  vitriol) 
dropped  on  the  part,  and  it  will  kill  the 
root.  Our  plan  in  using  it  is  to  clean 
out  an  old  blacking  bottle,  tie  a  piece 
of  wire  round  the  neck  so  as  to  form 
a  handle  to  hold  the  bottle,  which 
makes  all  safe  in  handling,  then  make 
notches  at  the  end  of  a  stick  about 
as  thick  as  the  finger,  then  notches  all 
round,  and  about  1  inch  up  the  stick  ; 
some  of  the  sulphuric  acid  being  put 
in  the  bottle  apply  the  notch  end  of 
the  stick  and  it  will  retain  sufficient 
of  the  acid  to  apply  to  each  Plantain, 
putting  it  on  the  root.  It  will  kill 
the  Plantain  by  applying  it  to  the 
centre  of  each  plant ;  but  we  prefer 
to  pick  them  up.  Care  must  be  used 
with  the  sulphuric  acid,  not  trusting 
it  to  a  careless  person. 
Names  of  Fruits.  —  Notice.  —  We 
have  pleasure  in  naming  good  typical 
fruits  (when  the  names  are  discover¬ 
able)  for  the  convenience  of  regular 
subscribers,  who  are  the  growers  of 
such  fruits,  and  not  collectors  of 
specimens  from  non-siibscribers.  This 
latter  procedure  is  wholly  irregular, 
and  we  trust  that  none  of  our  readers  will  allow  themselves  to 
be  made  the  mediums  in  infringing  our  rules.  Special  attention  is 
directed  to  the  following  decision,  the  object  of  which  is  to  dis¬ 
courage  the  growth  of  inferior  and  promote  the  culture  of  superior 
varieties.  In  consequence  of  the  large  number  of  worthless  A  /pies  and 
Pears  sent  to  this  office  to  he  named,  it  has  been  decided  to  name  only 
specimens  and  varieties  of  approved  merit,  and  to  reject  the  inferior, 
which  are  not  worth  sending  or  growing.  The  names  and  addresses 
of  senders  of  fruit  or  flowers  to  be  named  must  in  all  cases  be  enclosed 
with  the  specimens,  whether  letters  referring  to  the  fruit  are  sent  by 
post  or  not.  The  names  are  not  necessarily  required  for  publication, 
initials  sufficing  for  that.  Only  six  specimens  can  be  named  at  once, 
and  any  beyond  that  number  cannot  be  preserved.  They  should  he  sent  . 
on  the  first  indication  of  change  towards  ripening.  Dessert  Pears  cannot 
he  named  in  a  hard  green  state.  The  practice  of  pinning  numbers  to 
the  eyes  of  the  fruit  tends  to  destroy  one  of  the  most  characteristic 
features  and  increases  the  difficulty  of  identification.  When  Plums  are 
sent  to  be  named  young  wood  of  the  trees  should  accompany  them. 
Leaves  of  the  trees  are  necessary  with  Peaches  and  Nectarines,  with 
information  as  to  whether  the  flowers  are  large  or  small.  (A.  J.  P.). — 
1,  Stirling  Castle;  2,  Mere  de  Menage;  3,  Mr.  Gladstone.  (Prune). — 
As  we  have  stated  before  Plums  can  only  be  named  when  the  specimens 
are  accompanied  by  examples  of  the  young  wood  of  each.  Pears,  1, 
Beurre  Gifford  ;  2,  Citron  des  Carmes;  3,  Jargonelle.  (C.  O.M). — I, 
Pear  Williams’  Bon  Chretien  ;  2,  Apple  Pearn’s  Pippin.  The  remaining 
specimens  are  not  sufficiently  developed  for  identification.  (H.  H.  F.), 
— The  Pear  is  Doyenne  d’Ete  and  the  Apple  Lane’s  Prince  Albert, 
(TomB). — 1,  Red  Astrachan;  2,  Devonshire  Quarrenden  ;  3,  Beauty  of 
Bath  ;  4,  Mr.  Gladstone. 
