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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
June  9,  1901 
cal  lieauty  r"  oi’  tliat  any  otlier  slinib  has  more  silvery  foliage  or 
more  graceful  habit  than  Artemisia  tridentata  ?  Yet  both  are 
uncommon.  The  former  is  unpardonably  neglected,  for  no  May¬ 
flowering  shrub  has  floAvers  of  a  similar  colour  or  character  ;  and 
the  Artemisia  seems  to  thrive  sufficiently  well  to  be  recom¬ 
mended. 
Over  the  entrance  porch  of  the  vicarage  here  is  a  massive, 
bulging  specimen  of  the  Californian  Sweet  Bay,  with  odorous 
leaves  shaped  like  a  Salix,  but  coiiaceous,  and  under  the  eaves 
are  seen  clusters  of  Clematis  montana,  Avith  a  specially  large- 
flowered  form  of  the  same,  which  was  obtained  from  Fisher, 
Son,  and  Sibray’s  niirsery  some  years  ago.  In  a  well-sheltered 
corner,  but  facing  the  front,  there  is  a  Clianthus  puniceus,  a 
mass  of  crimson  flowers  upon  the  glossy  green  foliage,  and  this 
plant  is  now  quite  established  in  its  open-air  position,  though  the 
first  few  seasons  demanded  vigilance  in  providing  shelter.  Both 
the  yellow  and  white  Banksia  Roses  flourish,  as  AA'ell  as  Fortune’s 
Yellow  and  the  rare  Rosa  hemispherica,  Avhose  yellow  flowers 
never  expand  unless  the  sun  shines. 
Nandina  domestica,  of  light  and  plumose  growth,  forms  a 
bush  of  6ft.  high,  and  sharply  contrasts  Avith  either  the  horned 
The  Veitchian  Vase.  (See  page  493.) 
Holly — Ilex  cornuta — or  the  handsome  I.  caniellisefolia.  Coro- 
nilla  Emerus,  Avliose  floAvers  and  foliage  on  shrubby,  erect 
branches,  remind  one  of  Lotus  corniculatus  that  grows  on  sunny 
banks,  is  generally  well  apin-eciated ;  and  Elmagnus  argentea, 
Choisya  ternata,  Koelrenteria  lAaniculata,  Parrotia  persica, 
Cotoneaster  Hookeriana,  Daphne  Blagyana.  Plagianthus  Lyalli, 
Fabiana  imbricata,  Olearia  macrodonta  (handsome),  together 
Avith  the  Persimmon  (Diospyros  virginiana)  and  Pomegranate 
(Punica  Granatum)  are  all  more  or  less  knoAvn  to  those  Avho 
love  beautiful  open-air  shrubs. 
The  hardy  Orange  (^Egle  sepiaria  or  Citrus  trifoliata)  Avas 
healthier,  and  therefore  more  interesting  as  a  shrub  than  in  any 
place  I  have  seen  it  hitherto ;  and  the  merits  of  Berberis  con- 
gestiflorum,  Avith  its  heavy,  close  clusters  of  the  brightest  golden 
floAvers,  AA'ere  firmly  impressed  upon  me.  This  Avas  given  the 
advantage  of  a  wall,  and  AAas  floAverin'g  immensely. 
Among  the  herbaceous  plants  and  floAA'ers  that  Avill  interest 
my  readers  there  Avere  a  true  black  small-floAvered  Viola — a 
perfect  little  gem — beautiful  clumps  of  the  true  Cheiranthus 
mutabilis,  as  Avell  as  the  golden  Harper-CreAve,  and  the  old 
double  yelloAV  and  double  red.  Ti-illium  californicum  has  exceed¬ 
ingly  large  Avhite  floAA-ers ;  and  Aquilegia  flabellata,  AA'ith  Avhite 
floAvers  tinged  Avith  the  same  shade  as  one  finds  in  the  inner 
lietals  of  Anemone  Robinsoniaua,  is  a  very  lovely  early-flowering 
“species,  easily  raised  from  seeds,  as  I  AAas  informed.  Geranium 
malvteflorum  and  G.  tuberosum  are  at  their  best;  Avhile  the 
Eccremocarpus  scaber,  Avhich  flourishes  and  flowers  the  Avhole 
Avinter  through,  Avas  still  blooming  freely.  Primula  Munroi, 
AA'ith  true  white  floAvers  (a  lovely  contrast  to  P.  rosea),  and  the 
3Iandragon  (Mandragora  autumnalis),  Avith  lavender  blooms 
peering  out  from  its  clo.se-laid,  crinkled  leaves,  are  always 
interesting.  The  yelloAv  Erodium  chrysanthum  is  not  often 
seen,  hoAvever,  nor  does  one  meet  with  such  huge  Gunneras  and 
Fennels  as  those  in  Canon  Ellacombe’s  garden  at  Bitton.  Every 
season  continues  to  bring  forth  its  iieAV  delights,  and  one  may 
wander  long  amid  the  mixed  borders  of  curious  plants  and 
shiuibs  Avithout  feeling  Aveary. 
Besides  the  long  border,  Avhich  outlines  the  three  sides  of  a 
parallelogram,  there  are  brakes  for  vegetable  produce,  and  a 
large  area  is  in  grass,  upon  Avhich  a  tennis-laAAUi  is  marked  out. 
Some  very  fine  Sequoias  and  Cedars  supply  the  necessary  means 
of  shade,  Avhile  also  giving  the  jdace  a  clothed  appearance ;  and 
without  the  garden  Avails  there  are  sunny  meadoAvs,  lush  Avuth 
meat  for  the  beasts,  and  the  CotsAvold  Hills  rise  high  on  the 
eastAvard  vision. — Wandering  Willie. 
- - - 
Insecticides. 
(Continued  from  page  330.) 
Cook’s  Soptsoap  Emulsion. 
Dissolve  one  quart  of  softsoap  in  tAvo  quarts  of  boiling  soft 
Avater.  Remove  from  the  fire  ;  Avhile  still  boiling  liot  add  one 
pint  of  paraffin  oil,  and  immediately  churn  the  mixture  Avith  a 
small  hand  syringe,  and  in  three  to  five  minutes  a  perfect  emul¬ 
sion  is  made.  This  ahvays  remains  permanent  and  is  very  easily 
diluted  either  with  hard  or  soft  water,  but  the  latter  and  hot  is 
preferable  ;  indeed,  the  hotter  the  dilution  consistent  with  its 
safety  to  the  plant  the  more  effective  the  insecticide.  For  soft- 
l)odied  insects  dilute  from  fifteen  to  tAventy  times ;  for  hard¬ 
bodied  insects  use  one  part  emulsion  to  ten  parts  of  Avater. 
Cook’s  Hardsoap  Emulsion. 
Dissolve  jlb  of  hard  soap  in  tAvo  quarts  of  Avater;  add,  Avhen 
dissoh’^ed  and  lioiling  hot,  one  pint  of  paraffin  oil,  and  churn 
immediately,  then  an  emulsion  is  quickly  made.  This  emulsion 
becomes  stringy  Avhen  cold,  and  must  be  diluted  with  hot  Avater 
for  use.  Paraffin  oil  may  be  emulsified  Avith  sour  milk  instead 
of  soap.  One  part  sour  milk  and  tAvo  parts  paraffin  oil  are 
churned  together,  and  a  thick  buttery  consistency  is  formed 
after  three  to  five  minutes’  agitation,  it  should  be  diluted  from 
ten  to  tAventy  times  Avith  Avater  before  use.  It  Avill  not  keep, 
or  only  in  air-tight  vessels,  thei'efore  must  be  made  as  required. 
In  applying  paraffin  oil  emulsion  to  destroy  mites  or  red 
spider,  loz  of  floAA'ers  of  sulphur  should  be  added  to  each  gallon 
of  the  diluted  emulsion,  forming  into  a  paste  with  skim  milk 
before  placing  in  the  liquid,  and  then  agitating  briskly.  Or 
dis.solve  4oz  to  loz  of  sulphide  of  potassium  in  a  little  hot  AA^ater, 
and  add  to  3galls  of  diluted  emulsion.  The  sulphuretted  paraffin 
emulsion  liquid  or  Avash  is  not  only  effective  against  red  spider, 
but  also  desti’uctive  to  epiphytal  fungus  pests.  As  a  general 
Avash  for  aphides  and  similar  pests  Cook’s  softsoap  emulsion  is 
most  desirable  and  effective  in  the  proportion  of  2oz  or  3oz 
emulsion  per  gallon  of  Avater,  and  Avith  4oz  sulphide  of  potassium 
added  effectual  against  red  spider  or  mites,  and  also  external 
fungus  pests. 
Potash  Fertilisers. 
Mention  mu.st  be  made  of  the  decided  in.secticidal  value  of 
kainit  and  muriate  of  potash  against  ground  insects.  Heavy 
dressings  of  kainit,  10  CAvt.  per  acre,  71b  per  rod,  have  been  used 
for  destroying  Pear  midge  larvie,  applying  about  the  middle  of 
June,  and  2^  to  5  CAvt.  p^’  acre.  If  to  dflb  per  rod.  applied  in 
autumn  or  early  in  spring,  for  preventing  Carrot  grub  and  other 
pests  from  attacking  crops. 
Pyrethrum. 
This  article  is  a  very  finu  and  light  broAvn  poAvder  made  from 
the  floAver-heads  of  species  of  Pyrethrum.  Persian  insect  pow¬ 
der  is  made  from  the  heads  of  Pyrethrum  roseum,  a  native  of 
the  Caucasus  region.  Dalmatian  insect  poAvder  from  Pyreth¬ 
rum  cinerarisefolium ;  Buhach  insect  poAvder  from  cultivated 
plants  of  P.  cinerariiefolium  in  California.  All  the  brands  are 
good  when  fresh  and  imre,  for  by  long  exposure  much  of  the 
insecticidal  value  is  lost.  Pyrethrum  is  used  mainly  as  a  dry 
poAA'der,  and  dusted  over  the  affected  plant.  For  use  in  dry 
poAvder,  it  may  advantageously  be  mixed  Avith  six  parts  of  flour. 
As  a  solution  in  AA'ater,  loz  poAvder  to  3gals  Avater.  If  hot 
Avater  be  used,  cover  up  until  cool  enough  for  application.  The 
poAvder  dissolved  in  alcohol  or  methylated  spirit,  4oz  powder 
and  .l  gill  of  methylated  spirit,  is  an  excellent  insecticide  for 
plants  under  glass,  diluting  the  extract  AA'ith  12gals  of  water. — 
Experience. 
(T-^  be  continued.) 
