•84 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  24,  1901. 
artificially,  with  an  advance  of  10°  to  15°  from  sun  heat.  On  bright 
days  the  plants  as  well  as  the  paths  should  be  syringed,  as  evaporation 
will  take  place  much  more  rapidly,  and  the  atmosphere  will  become 
sufficiently  dry  before  dark.  Lose  no  opportunity  of  closing  early,  so 
as  to  raise  the  temperature  to  70°  or  75°  from  sun  heat.  Allow  the 
temperature  to  fall  to  50°  at  night ;  5°  higher  if  the  weather  be  mild. 
Look  the  plants  over  daily  for  watering,  giving  those  in  need  a  thorough 
supply. 
- - 
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. 
"Wood  Ashes  and  Charred  Rubbish  ( Provincial ). — It  is  not  necessary 
that  such  useful  refuse  be  kept  perfectly  dry  ;  still,  it  should  not  be 
saturated  so  as  to  get  into  a  mortar-like  mass.  It  is  good  for  nearly  or 
quite  everything — flowers,  fruit,  or  vegetables.  It  is  excellent  for 
spreading  in  the  drills  with  Potatoes  and  various  seeds,  for  digging  into 
flower  beds  and  spreading  on  the  soil  over  the  roots  of  trees  and  lightly 
pointing  in.  If  you  had  stated  the  crops  you  particularly  wished  to 
grow,  we  might,  perhaps,  have  given  a  little  more  definite  advice. 
Garden  Refuse  (S.  A.  0.). — If  you  can  procure  about  4  bushels  of 
lime  in  lumps  from  a  kiln,  break  any  that  are  larger  than  your  hand, 
turn  over  the  refuse,  and  in  the  process  mix  the  lime  with  it,  then  cover 
the  heap  with  a  layer  of  soil,  the  compost  will  be  excellent  for 
Potatoes,  and  ready  for  use  in  March,  turning  the  heap  over  a  month 
previously.  The  lime  cannot  be  used  too  soon,  and  more  of  it  than 
mentioned  will  do  no  harm.  In  the  absence  of  lime,  perhaps  the  refuse 
had  better  be  left  till  another  year  ;  but  everything  depends  on  its 
condition. 
Plunging  Pots  in  Propagating  House  (J.  C.).— As  you  cannot 
procure  cocoa-nut  fibre  refuse  or  sifted  spent  tan,  unquestionably  the 
best  plunging  materials  are  leaves  of  a  hard  nature,  such  as  Oak,  Beech, 
and  Spanish  Chestnut.  These  are  better  than  moss  litter  from  their 
more  open  character,  and  also  through  evolving  ammonia  vapour  and 
the  concomitant  moisture,  which  are  very  essential  in  early  forcing 
houses  and  propagating  structures.  Moss  litter  (we  presume  you  mean 
to  employ  it  in  the  fresh  state)  is  not  a  bad  plunging  material  after 
being  properly  moistened  with  rain,  or  preferably  lime  water,  the  latter 
being  clear,  as  it  certainly  is  very  retentive  of  moisture,  and  this  being 
given  off  corresponding  to  the  heat  or  condition  of  the  atmosphere 
aids  in  maintaining  a  moist  state  of  the  air,  so  important  in  propagating 
structures.  If  the  moss  litter  has  been  used  in  stables  it  will  not  be 
suitable  for  plunging  purposes  until  sweeteened,  being,  like  ordinary 
stable  manure,  thrown  into  a  heap,  and  when  heated  turned  outside  to 
inside,  repeating  the  turning  at  intervals  of  about  four  days  two  or 
three  times,  thus  causing  the  dissipation  of  the  rank  steam,  and  so 
treated  the  material  may  be  used  safely  for  plunging  purposes. 
Dressing  Seedling  Asparagus  Roots  with  Bordeaux  Mixture  (W.  S.). 
— The  seedling  Asparagus  roots  that  you  intended  planting  next  spring, 
and  which  were  affected  with  blight  last  summer,  would  not,  in  our 
opinion,  be  at  all  benefited  by  soaking  the  roots  after  being  lifted  ready 
for  planting  in  the  Bordeaux  mixture  that  has  been  recommended  for 
syringing  Asparagus  in  the  summer.  On  the  other  hand,  the  treatment 
would  be  calculated  to  have  a  prejudicial  effect  on  the  growth  of  the 
plants,  while  not  having  any  materially  disastrous  effect  on  the  teleuto- 
spores  or  resting  form  of  the  fungus,  Puccinia  Asparagi.  It  might  act 
prejudicially  on  the  first  growths  from  the  teleuto  or  black  mildew 
spores,  the  spring  or  pro-mycelium  spore-producing  hyphge  being  killed 
by  contact  with  and  absorption  of  the  copper,  which,  though  carbonate, 
possibly  is  dissolved  by  the  ferment  of  the  fungus  to  its  own  destruc¬ 
tion.  If  anything  be  used  as  a  preventive  it  should  be  hot  water, 
the  roots  being  soaked  in  that  at  a  temperature  of  130°  to  IBS3,  or  a 
mean  of  132£°,  for  five  minutes,  which  treatment  is  calculated  to 
destroy  the  protoplasm  contained  within  the  teleutospores,  and  thus 
prevent  their  germination.  It  depends,  of  course,  upon  their  presence, 
they  being  likely  only  to  adhere  to  the  dead  or  remaining  parts  of  the 
“grass,”  and  on  the  orown  or  surface  soil  about  that  of  the  plants. 
The  proper  course  to  pursue  is  to  plant  the  Asparagus  plants  as  they 
are,  and  spray  the  “  grass  ”  from  time  to  time  with  Bordeaux  mixture, 
so  as  to  keep  it  coated  with  the  finest  possible  film  of  this  protective 
and  preventive  material.  This— prevention— is  the  only  rational 
treatment. 
Liability  of  Horticultural  Committee  (17.  T.). — Members  of  com¬ 
mittee  may  be  liable  to  the  secretary  whom  they  have  told  to  incur 
expenses,  but  not  to  the  persons  contracted  with.  If  a  committeeman 
gives  an  order  he  is  liable  and  not  the  secretary. 
Corporation  Allotments  (A.  Webster). — We  cannot  undertake  to 
answer  complicated  legal  questions  such  as  yours,  depending  on  the 
interpretation  of  several  Acts  of  Parliament.  We  have  not  the  Acts, 
and  we  have  not  the  time.  A  practising  solicitor  is  the  proper  person. 
Trachelium  coeruleum  (M.  D.  B.). — This  plant  is  a  native  of  the 
South  of  Europe,  and  though  moderately  hardy  it  suffers  from  unusually 
severe  winters,  therefore  it  is  desirable  in  most  oases  to  preserve  a  plant 
or  two  under  glass ;  but  it  is  easily  raised  from  seed,  and  seedlings 
flower  the  same  season.  Allied  to  the  Campanula,  it  nevertheless  differs 
from  many  of  that  genus  in  its  habit  of  growth  ;  it  does  not  throw  up 
suckers  like  most  of  that  family,  but  produces  side  shoots,  which  make 
excellent  slips  or  cuttings.  These,  if  put  into  a  cold  pit  or  under  a 
hand-glass,  where  some  protection  can  be  afforded  them  in  winter,  make 
good  plants  in  the  following  spring. 
Orchid  Leaves  Spotted  (J.  C.  B.). — The  spots  on  the  Orchid  leaves 
sent  are  caused  by  thrips,  possibly  owing  to  the  plant  having  been 
grown  in  a  dry  atmosphere.  The  marks  will  never  be  erased  from  the 
leaves  attacked,  but  you  should  endeavour  to  rid  the  plants  of  the 
inseots  in  order  to  prevent  any  further  mischief.  Dipping  the  plants  in 
a  fairly  strong  solution  of  softsoap  and  tobacco  water,  and  carefully 
sponging  afterwards,  is  the  best  remedy  ;  but  this  is  quite  useless  unless 
you  maintain  a  morC  suitable  atmosphere.  The  temperatures  you  give 
are  right,  the  fault  lies  entirely  in  the  atmospheric  conditions  of  the 
house,  as  evinced  by  the  poor  texture  of  the  foliage  sent. 
Poplar  Wood  (ff.  W.  C.). — The  wood  of  Poplars  is  put  to  many 
purposes,  notably  that  of  Populus  nigra  (the  common  Black  Poplar),  for 
making  cart  bottoms,  and  in  many  parts  of  the  continent  for  the 
manufacture  of  wooden  shoes.  The  wood  of  P.  alba  is  used  for  the 
purposes  previously  named,  and  also  by  cabinet  makers.  For  making 
musical  instruments  the  timber  of  P.  caulescens  is  in  great  demand, 
but  for  this  purpose  the  wood  must  be  sound  and  large.  P.  monobfera 
affords  some  excellent  timber,  which  when  kept  dry  is  very  durable. 
It  is  excellent  for  use  inside  houseB.  Our  correspondent  will  see  that 
it  may  be  turned  to  good  use,  the  industries  mentioned  being  only  a  few 
of  tbe  more  principal  ones,  there  being  many  others,  but  they  are, 
perhaps,  of  minor  importance.  The  wood  of  Poplars  is  seldom  or  never 
used  for  burning,  being  practically  useless  for  this  purpose. 
Begonias  and  Gloxinias  for  Exhibition  (H.  A.  P.). — Start  the 
Begonias  and  Gloxinias  in  March  in  a  warm  greenhouse.  Shake  out  the 
Gloxinia  tubers  when  half  an  inch  of  new  growth  appears,  and  put 
them  in  the  same  size  pot  in  a  mixture  of  turfy  loam  two  parts,  peat 
one  part,  leaf  soil  one  part,  with  a  sprinkling  of  bonemeal,  crushed 
charcoal,  and  silver  sand.  Use  the  compost  moist,  and  do  not  give 
water  too  freely  at  first.  A  moderately  warm  moist  atmosphere,  with 
slight  shade,  will  suit  them.  When  growing  freely  gradually  inure 
them  to  more  air  and  less  heat,  and  they  will  no  doubt  bloom  freely  by 
the  time  you  name.  The  Begonias  may  be  treated  similarly,  or  the 
mbers  could  be  laid  in  moist  cocoa-nut  fibre  refuse  and  sand  while 
growth  starts,  then  pot  in  the  soil  recommended  for  Gloxinias,  but 
dispensing  with  peat  and  substituting  decayed  manure  at  the  rate  of 
one-fourth.  Immediately  growth  starts  freely  place  the  plants  close  to 
the  light,  giving  them  also  more  air.  During  June  and  July  grow  them 
in  frames,  where  a  sturdy  healthy  habit  will  be  induced.  It  will  be 
safer,  in  order  to  have  plants  in  the  best  condition,  to  start  a  few  later, 
because  the  weather  may  be  such  in  June  or  July  as  to  bring  on  the 
plants  very  rapidly  indeed.  You  must  use  your  own  judgment  as  to 
retarding  or  forwarding  the  plants  during  the  few  weeks  previous  to 
the  show.  When  the  pots  are  full  of  roots  weak  liquid  manure  will  be 
helpful  in  giving  tone  to  the  foliage  and  deeper  colour  to  the  flowers. 
Oncidiurr  Phymatochilam  (Orchis). —  Unless  the  roots  of  your 
Orchids  are  eaten  by  woodlice  or  other  insects,  there  is  something  in 
the  moss  that  is  detrimental  to  them.  Sphagnum  alone  is  hardly  the 
material  to  use  for  the  species  you  name,  but  if  properly  washed  and 
picked  over  before  use  it  would  not  cause  the  roots  to  decay.  The  be3t 
thing  you  can  do  is  to  find  out,  first  of  all,  whether  it  is  the  work  of 
insects  or  not,  and  with  plants  suspended  from  the  roof  this  is  an  easy 
matter.  Dip  each  plant  in  a  vessel  of  water  for  an  hour,  and  if  there 
are  any  insects  in  the  compost  this  will  drive  at  least  some  of  them  out. 
After  this,  lay  some  pieces  of  potato  about  them,  catting  a  tuber  in  two 
and  scooping  it  out  a  little,  placing  the  hollow  side  to  the  compost.  Wait 
a  day  or  two  until  the  flesh  of  the  potato  shrivels  a  little,  and  then  examine 
them  every  morning.  If  there  are  any  you  can  take  it  that  herein  lies 
the  mischief,  and  when  all  are  trapped  it  will  cease  ;  but  if  none  are 
found  then  it  must  be  the  compost,  and  the  best  thing  to  do  will  be  to 
turn  the  plants  out  of  their  baskets  and  give  fresh  material,  using  half 
the  quantity  of  moss,  the  other  half  good  peat  fibre.  See  that  no  foreign 
material  is  introduced  with  either  ingredient,  water  oarefully  after 
repotting,  and  you  should  find  the  roots  enter  the  compost  freely.  Of 
course  we  take  it  for  granted  that  the  atmospheric  conditions  of  your 
house  are  right,  as  a  very  low  temperature,  combined  with  too  much 
moisture  in  the  air,  would  be  likely  to  cause  the  same  tendency  to 
j  decay. 
