130 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  11,  1914. 
The  Weather. 
Weather  in  South  Perthshire. 
The  latter  lialf  of  Jamiary  was  marked  by  the  ahsehce  of 
frost,  .some  t)oi.sterous  nights,  a  good  deal  of  dull  and  ctrizzly 
weather,  and  .some  day.s  unseasonably  mild  and  springlike. 
Among  the  last  the  23rd  and  the  30th  nit.  are  noteworthy.  In 
the  afternoon  of  Sunday  frost  set  in,  and  Gdeg  were  registered 
during  the  evening,  with  dense  rime,  but  thaw  supervened, 
and  Monday  was  a  dull,  calm  day  with  drizzly  showers. — B.  D., 
S.  Perthshire. 
Sussex  Weather. 
The  total  rainfall  at  Abbots  Leigh,  Hayward’s  Heath,  for 
January  was  5.16in  (the  wettest  January  in  our  record  of 
twenty-three  y^ears),  and  is  2.98;n  above  tne  average.  The 
heaviest  fall  was  0.96in  on  the  30th ;  rain  fell  on  twenty-two 
days.  The  maximum  temperature  was  50deg  on  the  13th,  the 
minimum  20deg  on  the  1st;  mean  maximum,  43.08deg  ;  mean 
minimum,  32.25deg ;  mean  temperature,  37.b6deg,  which  is 
2.33deg  below  the  average  of  fifteen  years.  An  extremely 
variable  month — slight  fro.sts  (32deg  or  below  it  on  nineteen 
mornings),  wet  stormy  days,  a  few  line  bright  ones,  and  a  few- 
foggy  mornings.  On  the  night  of  the  13th  quite  a  heavy 
thunderstorm  passed  over  here  from  west  to  east.  During  the 
last  six  days  of  the  month  we  had  a  rainfall  of  3. loin,  and 
strange  to  .^ay,  two  of  those  days  were  line  and  bright. — IL  I. 
January  Weather  at  Belvoir  Castle. 
The  prevailing  direction  of  the  wind  was  south,  total 
thirteen  days.  The  total  rainfall  was  2.23in  ;  tins  fell  on  twenty- 
one  days,  and  is  0.45in  above  the  average ;  the  greatest  daily 
fall  was  0.75in  (snow  and  rain)  on  the  31.st.  Barometer 
(corrected  and  reduced):  Highest  reading,  30.777in  on  the 
22nd  at  9  a.m.  ;  lowest  reading,  28.847in  on  the  14th  at  9  a.m.  ; 
mean  of  9  a.m.  and  9  p.m.  readings,  29.906in.  Thermometer: 
Highe.st  in  the  shade,  54deg  on  the  13th;  lowest,  23deg  on  the 
22nd  :  mean  of  daily  maxima,  43.38deg  ;  mean  of  daily  minima, 
32.00deg ;  mean  temperature  of  the  month,  37.69deg,  which 
is  0.72in  above  the  average  ;  lowe.st  on  the  grass,  19deg  on  the 
22nd  ;  highest  in  the  sun,  87deg  on  the  13th  ;  mean  temperature 
of  the  earth  at  3ft,  39.67deg.  Total  sunshine,  55  hours  30 
minutes,  which  is  nearly  four  hours  below  the  average;  there 
were  thirteen  .sunless  davs. — W.  H.  Divers. 
Trade  Notes. 
A  Pea  and  Seedling  Protector. 
The  illu.stration  may  be  said  to  speak  for  itself.  The  pro¬ 
tectors  con.sist  of  two  standards.  These  are  made  of  galvanised 
steel,  with  twisted  feet,  which  make  them  very 
rigid.  Hie  standards  are  provided  with  .slot 
holes  through  which  the  black  thread  (greatly 
disliked  by  birds)  passes,  covering  top,  sides, 
and  ends  of  rows,  thus  effectually  protecting 
the  seeds,  culinary  and  Sweet  Peas,  small 
growing  plants  apd  vegetables,  from  the 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 
ravages  of  birds.  Instru'ctions  for  fixing:  Place  the  standards 
in  ground  (as  sketched),  and  pass  the  thread  through  slot  holes 
at  top,  sides,  and  ends.  For  rows  over  30ft  long  an  intermediate 
standard  is  recommended.  The  patentee  is  Mr.  A.  S.  Corbett, 
Vi'cllington,  Shropshire. 
Messrs.  Carter  &  Co. 
Mei-^srs.  James  Carter  and  Co.,  seedsmen,  of  High  Holborn, 
are  shortly  to  open  a  City  shop.  This  will  be  situated  at  the 
Cannon  Street  end  of  Queen  Victoria  Street,  facing  the  IMetro- 
politan  Railway  Company’s  station.  The  shop  will  be  in  tele¬ 
phonic  communication  with  their  Forest  Hill  Nursery. 
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  unjustifi¬ 
able  trouble  and  expense.  In  naming  plants  we  only  undertake 
to  name  species,  or  well-marked  varieties,  and  only  six  on  any 
one  occasion.  Florists’  flowers  we  do  not  name. 
PEACH  TREES  DROPPING  THEIR  BLOSSOM  BUDS 
(Perplexed). — The  roots  you  submitted  f&r  inspection  were  found 
for  thci  most  part  dead,  and  in  some  cases  clothed  with  the 
mycelium  of  .some  fungus;  but  whether  this  was  cause  o-r 'con¬ 
sequence  we  are  not  able  to  determine  detinitel3’'.  It,  however, 
bears  a  close  resemblance  to  that  found  on  the  roots  of  Portugal 
Laurels  and  other  species  of  the  genus  Cerasus,  also  Prunus,  and 
is  an  a.ssumed  cause  of  “  silver  leaf,”  the  fungus  appearing  on  the 
dead  roots  of  plants  or  trees  that  succumbed  being  that  known 
as  Stereum  purpureum.  There  was,  however,  no  fruits  of  this, 
or  other  fungus,  in  your  specimens,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  this 
species  leads  other  than  a  saprophytic  existence,  though  it  is  not 
uncommon  to  find  the  fungus  developed  freely  on  the  dead 
bark  of  many  trees  tlxat  have  been  killed  by  attack  of  some 
fungus  on  the  roots  or  branches.  Recently  Professor  Percival 
ha.s  conducted  some  experiments  which  he  considers  will  demon¬ 
strate  that  the  disease  is  caused  by  a  wound  iiarasito.  We, 
however,  are  sceptical  as  to  whether  the  Stereum  is  the  cause 
of  the  “  silver  leaf,”  especially  as  fungus  developed  on  the  leaves 
of  affected  trees  belongs  to  the  Ascomyces.  Whether  the  white 
fungus  is  cause  or  consequence  of  the  dead  roots,  it  is  certain 
that  blo.ssom  bud  dropping  occurs  where  the  roots  are  perfectly 
healthy,  and  wo  are  not  aware  that  loss  of  roots  causes  the 
buds  to  drop  ;  indeed,  lifting,  which  means  curtailment  of  the 
roots,  is  the  best  known  preventive  of  trees  casting  their  blossom 
buds.  The  roots,  nevertheles,s,  are  dead  and  covered  externally 
with  the  white  mycelium  of  some  fungus,  but  there  are  no 
threads  of  this  in  the  tis.sues  that  would  indicate  its  parasitic 
nature.  The  loss  of  roots  is  probably  due  toi  other  causes,  such 
as  the  soil  being  of  a  heavjq  vegetable  character,  as  it  was 
taken  from  a  low-lying  meadow  when  making  a  pond,  and 
probably  has  settled  into  a  close,  sodden,  and  sour  mass,  being 
deficient  of  calcareous  matter  to  keep  it  sweet,  and  of  gritty 
material  to  ensure  the  access  of  air  for  oxidisation.  In  such 
circumstances  we  have  known  a  dressing  of  air-slaked  lime, 
applied  at  the  rate  of  .(cwt.  per  rod  (30^  square  yards)  to  the 
surface,  and  left  there,  have  a  good  effect.  ivould,  however, 
advise  lifting  the  trees  when  the  leaves  give  indications  of 
falling,  then,  cutting  away  all  the  dead  roots,  relay  those  left 
in  fresh  conqiost  near  the  .surface.  The  keeping  of  plants  in 
Peach  houses  is  a  very  bad  practice,  as  the  trees  are  deprived 
of  the  rest  e.ssential  to  their  well-doing.  There  is  a  great 
difference  in  varieties  as  to  liability  to  cast  the  bud,s,  and  most 
commcnly  arises  from  imperfect  bud  formation,  the  causes  for 
which  are  very  little  understood,  though  possibly  from  defective 
*  nutrition  in  some  respect.  As  before  stated, 
we  have  found  lifting  the  best  preventive. 
The  bud  dropping  is  a  perennial  ques¬ 
tion  of  discussion. 
SULPHIDE  OF  POTASSIUM  BECOME 
CLEAR— RECIPE  FOR  SOLUTION  TO 
DESmOY  MILDEW  (G.  D.).— Hie  cause  of 
the  solution  becoming  clear  is  chemical 
change,  the  sulphide  which  imparts  the  milky 
appearance  to  water  disappearing,  or  the 
solution  becoming  c^uite  clear  in  a  few  days, 
and  also  losing  the  smell.  It  is  of  no  use  for 
spraying  after  going  clear.  For  spraying 
generally,  particularl.v  for  mildew,  ammoniated  carbonate  of 
copper  solution  is  very  effective  and  clear.  Water  4galls,  car¬ 
bonate  of  cofiper  Joz,  carbonate  of  ammonia  lloz.  Mix  the 
carbonate  of  copper  and  the  carbonate  of  ammonia,  and  dissolve 
it  in  about  half  a  pint  of  hot  water.  When  thoroughly  dissolved, 
add  the  4galls  of  cold  water,  and  stirred,  the  solution  is  ready  for 
US6. 
BOOK  ON  THE  CULTURE  OF  VEGETABLES,  FLOWERS. 
&c.  (C.  D.). — -“Garden  Flowers  and  Plants,”  “Greenhouse  and 
Window  Plants,”  and  “Vegetable  Culture,”  price  Is.  each,  and 
imblished  bj'  Messrs.  Macmillan  and  Go.,  London,  would  pro¬ 
bably  suit  you,  as  they  are  chiefly  intended  for  amateurs. 
