August  6,  1903. 
JOURi^AL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
139 
WISTARIA  DYING  (An  Old  Subscriber)- — It  is  rather  uneoinnion 
for  large  plants  of  this  very  handsome  climbing  deciduous  shrub  to  die 
off ;  but  they  are  sometimes  attacked  on  the  stem  and  at  the  roots  with 
a  cankerous  affection  not  unlike  canker  in  Apple  trees,  which  girdles 
the  stem,  and  the  top,  in  consequence,  collapses.  Probably  the  disease 
is  caused  by  the  fungus  gaining  access  through  a  wound,  and  then  lives 
in  the  tissues  between  the  bark  and  wood,  and  gradually  extends 
circumfereneially  and  girdles  the  stem  or  limb,  and  the  part  above 
collapses.  A  similar  disease  also  attacks  Virginian  Creeper,  but  in  the 
case  of  both  Wistaria  and  that  plant  the  occurrence  is  not  common, 
there  being  very  fine  examples  extant  that  are  much  older  than  thirty 
years,  and  covering  very  large  areas  of  wall.  Probably,  if  you 
examine  the  rootstock,  you  will  find  evidence  of  the  cause  of  the 
mischief. 
TOMATOES  DECAYED  (H.  J.  K.).— The  fruits  are  affected  by 
the  Tomato  rot  (Maerosporium  tomato),  the  fungus  being  often 
extremely  destructive,  both  under  glass  and  outdoors.  The  disease  is 
usually  first  noticeable  Avhen  the  fruit  is  about  half-grown,  and 
commonly  appears  at  the  blossom  end  as  a  small  blackish  spot,  though 
the  disease  appears  in  bad  cases,  such  as  ypurs,  at  the  sides  and 
almost  all  over  the  fruit.  The  tissues  beneath  the  spot  or  spots  are 
destroyed  by  the  fungus,  so  that  the  affected  parts  become  depressed 
or  sunken,  and  the  inside  of  the  Tomato  is  blackened.  The  disease,  in 
this  instance,  is  evidently  caused  by  spores  that  alight  upon  the  fruit, 
the  germ-tubes  of  the  fungus  penetrating  through  the  skin,  and  the 
mycelium  forming  in  the  flesh.  In  many  eases  the  infection  can  be 
traced  to  the  blossom,  the  spores  of  the  fungus  alighting  upon  the 
bloom,  either  when  expanded  or  after  it  has  faded,  and  in  the  dead 
tissue  the  mycelium  forms  and  spreads  to  the  fruit.  Doubtless  the 
disease  is  favoured  by  the  decayed  bloom  being  left  sticking  upon  the 
fruit,  where  spores  are  probably  produced,  and  these  And  a  favourable 
medium  for  germination  in  the  moisture  of  the  atmosphere  condensed 
upon  the  fruit,  as  frequently  happens  from  a  rise  in  the  temperature  of 
the  house  after  a  cold  night,  air  not  being  given  sufficiently  early  to 
allow  of  its  disposition  before  the  sun  acts  powerfully  on  the  houses. 
TJiis  moisture  is  unquestionably  a  contributory  cause  of  black  spot,  as 
excess  of  moisture  in  the  house  favours  the  germination  of  the  fungoid 
spores.  The  removal  of  the  dead  blooms  from  the  fruit  is  a  great  help 
in  preventing  the  disease,  the  bloom  dropping  readily  the  day  after  it 
has  faded  by  tapping  the  plant,  or  its  support,  or  the  footstalk  of  the 
fruit,  admitting  air  freely  and  maintaining  a  genial  warmth  in  the  hot- 
water  pipes,  keeping  water  from  the  fruit.  All  diseased  fruits  should 
be  collected  and  burned,  and  to  prevent  further  mischief  the  plants 
may  be  sprayed  with  potassium  sulphide  solution,  loz  of  the  sulphide 
to  3  gallons  of  water,  in  which  loz  softsoap  has  been  dissolved, 
repeating  at  intervals  of  ten  days  or  a  fortnight. 
NAME  OF  FRUIT.  —  Correspondents  whose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (H.  D.). — Scarlet  Golden  Pippin. 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS. — Correspondents  tohose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
folloioing  number.  (R.  A.  C.). — Adiantum  Williamsi.  (T.  Sceaney). — 
Zenobia  speeiosa.  (W.  B.  R.). — 1,  Silene  Armeria  ;  2,  Centranthus. 
ruber.  (H.  H.  T.). — 2,  Philadelphus  eoronarius ;  3,  Phyteuma  spicatum 
CoYent  Garden  Market.— August  5th. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Vegetables. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz. 
,,  Jerusalem,  sieve 
Batavia,  doz . 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
Cabbages,  Spring,  tally 
Carrots,  bunch  . 
,,  new,  bnch.  ... 
Cauliflowers,  doz. 
Corn  Salad,  strike 
Cos  Lettuce,  doz . 
Cucumbers  doz . 
Endive,  doz . 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
Horseradish,  bunch  ... 
s. 
d. 
s.  d 
2 
0  toO  0 
1 
6 
0  0 
2 
0 
0  0 
0 
6 
1  0 
2 
0 
3  0 
0 
2 
0  0 
0  6 
0  8 
4 
0 
5  0 
1 
0 
1  3 
1 
0 
0  0 
3 
0 
4  0 
1 
6 
0  0 
0 
2 
0  0 
1 
3 
1  6 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
Lettuce,  Cabbage,  doz. 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb. 
Mustard  &  Cress,  doz. 
punnets . 
Onions,  bushel  . 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs.  ... 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
,,  Jersey,  new,  cwt. 
Radishes,  doz . 
Spinach,  bush . 
Tomatoes,  English,  lb. 
Turnips,  bnch . 
,,  new,  bnch.  ... 
s.  d.  s.  d 
0  2to0  2i 
10  0  0 
10  0  0 
16  0  0 
3  0  0  0 
2  0  0  0 
6  0  8  0 
14  0  15  0 
0  9  10 
2  0  0  0 
0  6  0  7 
0  0  0  2 
0  5  0  6 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Plants  in  Pots 
Most  of  the  undermentioned  plants  are  sold  in  48  and  32-sized  pot 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d 
Aralias,  doz . 
5 
0tol2 
0 
Araucaria,  doz . 
12 
0 
30 
0 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
18 
0 
36 
0 
Crotons,  doz . 
18 
0 
30 
0 
Cyperus  alternifolius 
doz . 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Dracaena,  van,  doz.  ... 
12 
0 
30 
0 
,,  Viridis,  doz. . 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Erica  Cavendishi . 
18 
0 
24 
0 
,,  candidissima  ... 
Ferns,  var. ,  doz . 
18 
0 
21 
0 
4 
0 
18 
0 
,,  small,  100 . 
10 
0 
16 
0 
Ficus  elastica,  doz.  ... 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Foliage  plants,  var,  each 
1 
0 
5 
0 
Fuchsias,  doz . 
6 
0 
8 
0 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d 
Geraniums,  doz . 
4 
0to6 
0 
,,  Ivy,  doz. ... 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Grevilleas,  48’s,  doz.  ... 
5 
0 
0 
0 
Heliotrope  . 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Hydrangeas,  pink 
10 
0 
12 
0 
,,  ,  white  ... 
10 
0 
12 
0 
Lycopodiums,  doz.  ... 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz. 
3 
0 
0 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6 
0 
9 
6 
Palms,  in  var.,  doz.  ... 
15 
0 
30 
0 
,,  specimens 
21 
0 
63 
0 
Pandanus  Veitchi,  48’s, 
doz . 
24 
0 
30 
0 
Pelargoniums  . 
8 
0 
0 
0 
Shrubs,  in  pots  . 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.- Fruit. 
s.  d.  s.  d 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
Apples,  Italian,  per  pad 
6  0  to  7  0 
Oranges,  case  . 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s 
10  0to20  0 
Bananas . 
10  0  15  0 
3  6 
5  0 
Cherries,  ^sieves . 
15  0  20  0 
Strawberries,  South  - 
Grapes,  Ilaifiburgh  ... 
10  16 
ampton,  per  bskt. 
0  0 
0  0 
Lemons,  Messina,  case 
10  0  15  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Cut  Flowers 
s.  d.  s.  d 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
Arums,  doz .  2  0  to  3  0 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bnch.  10  2  0 
Carnations,  12  blooms  10  13 
Cattleyas,  doz . 10  0  12  0 
Croton  foliage,  bun.  ...  0  9  10 
Cycas  leaves,  each  ...  0  9  16 
Eucharis,  doz .  2  0  3  0 
Gardenias,  doz .  2  0  2  6 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bnchs .  4  0  5  0 
Gladiolus,  The  Bride, 
doz.  bun .  4  0  6  0 
Iris,  Spanish,  doz.  bun.  6  0  8  0 
Ivy  leaves,  doz.  bun. ...  16  0  0 
Lilium  Harris!  .  2  0  3  0 
Lily  of  Valley,  12  bnchs  9  0  12  0 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
bnchs .  4  0  5  0 
Marguerites,  white, 
doz.  bnchs .  3  0  to  4  0 
,,  yellow,  doz.  bnchs.  16  2  0 
Myrtle,  English,  bunch  0  6  0  0 
Odontoglossums .  4  0  5  0 
Orange  blossom,  bunch  2  0  0  0 
Py  rethrum,  double, 
doz.  bun .  4  0  5  0 
Roses,  Niphetos,  white, 
doz .  10  16 
,,  pink,  doz .  2  0  3  0 
,,  yellow,doz.(Perles)  16  2  0 
,,  Liberty,  doz . 2  0  4  0 
,,  Generals .  16  2  0 
Smilax,  bunch  .  4  0  5  0 
Stephanotis,  doz.  ...  2  0  2  6 
Violets,  doz.  bun.  ...  2  0  2  0 
,,  Marie  Louise...  2  0  3  6 
Notes. 
In  considering  the  events  of  the  past  week  several  topics 
present  themselves  to  ns  as  being  of  more  or  less  interest 
to  the  farming  community.  Since  St.  Swithin  came  in  we 
have  had  rather  more  than  our  share  of  rain.  There  are  no 
little  Apples  this  year  ready  for  christening,  and  we  can 
only  lament  that  this  good  growing  forcing  season  is  of  no 
interest  to  us  who  have  Plum  or  Apple  orchards.  For  the 
Raspberries  the  rain  came  too  late,  and  now,  just  when  we 
wish  to  gather,  the  small  berries  are  saturated  with 
moisture.  ,  ,  , 
The  belated  haymakers  have  but  a  sorry  prospect,  and 
their  expenses  will  be  heavy  and  the  value  of  their  crop  is 
lessened,  so  that  they  are  losers  all  round.  Professor 
Wrighton  has  had  a  high  old  time.  Listen  to  what  he  says 
of  doings  at  Downton :  “  Twenty  days  hay  carting  without 
any  interruption  from  weather  is  an  extraordinary  achieve¬ 
ment  but  was  accomplished  this  extraordinary  year.  Much 
of  the  hay  was  secured  without  a  drop  of  I'ain,  aim 
suffered,  if  at  all,  from  being  rather  too  dry.  The  bulk  of 
the  crop  is  uniformly  heavy,  and  probably  averages  1^  tons 
per  acre.”  Whatever  the  Professor’s  feelings  may  be,  we 
are  thankful  we  are  not  responsible  for  the  safe  ingathering 
of  nearly  200  acres  of  hay— i.e.,  grass  and  Clover.  \A/hat 
the  wear  and  tear  must  be  in  a  catchy  season  is  not  cal- 
chIh.!)!© 
This  droppy  weather  is  all  in  favour  of  the  Turnip  crop, 
so  we  may  hope  to  see  plenty  of  good  keep  to  land  us 
through  the  winter  months. 
As  reports  come  in  from  one  part  and  anothei,  it  is 
curious  to  note  how  in  the  small  area  of  this  island  the 
weather  has  varied  in  such  a  remarkable  degree:  floods 
here  drought  or  nearly  so  there  ;  but  whatever  else  has 
been  irregular,  cold  nights  have  been  pretty  universah 
We  almost  think  we  have  got  about  enough  ram  foi  the 
Potatoes.  These  smudgy  days  are  exceedingly  favourable 
to  baneful  growths,  and  more  than  one  up-to-date  grower 
(we  cLo  not  mean  of  that  Potato  in  particular)  has  been  busy 
with  the  spraver.  The  Potato  sprayer  seems  to  have  come 
to  stav.  We  do  not  hear  much  now  of  spraying  Charlock. 
The  results  were  so  divergent  and  the  cost  was  apt  to 
mount  up.  Charlock  is  tough  stuff  to  deal  '''ith.  and  we 
still  hold  the  belief  of  our  younger  days  that  nothmg  beats 
hand  pulling  ;  but  where  are  the  women  and  children  j  r  es, 
and  this  lack  of  children  is  blamed  for  another  evil,  the 
increase  of  the  sparrow  pest — no  t’me  for  bird-nesting,  all 
