265 
September  17,  1903.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
“Botanical  Names  for  English  Readers.” 
The  undersigned  present  the  following  query  : — “  Can  you  tell 
us  if  ‘  Botanical  Names  for  English  Readers,’  by  Alcock,  is  written 
in  dictionary  form?  Also  if  anyone  can  supply  us  with  a  copj^  ? 
It  is  an  oldish  book,  and  we  cannot  locate  one  at  the  moment.” — 
Morgan  and  Co.,  8,  St.  Mary-at-Hill,  London,  E.C. 
Wash  for  Gooseberry  Buds. 
If  “Fruit  Grower”  will  try  two  bushels  of  fresh  lime,  with 
warm  water,  in  a  large  tub,  and  when  hot  add  101b  of  Russian 
tallow,  stirring  until  “  drawn  ”  and  thoroughly  melted,  he  can 
then  strain  it  through  a  home-made  sieve  of  tine-meshed  zinc, 
nailed  on  to  a  square  box  2in  deep.  When  this  is  done,  add  two 
bushels  of  soot,  through  the  same'  sieve.  Thoroughly  work  these 
all  together,  and  then  strain  it  all  through  again,  into  a  forty 
gallon  barrel.  While  still  warm,  we  apply  this  wash  to  Goose¬ 
berries,  Currants,  Plums,  and  any  mossy  trees  by  syringing.  Ibse 
a  nozzle  syringe,  not  the  ordinary  spray.  One  must  have  a  fine 
morning,  for  if  caught  by  rain  before  the  wash  dries  it  will  wash 
off,  but  if  once  dry  it  will  keep  on  through  a  season.  The  tallow’ 
is  inqDortant,  and  must  be  sufficient  to  keep  off  rains.  Very 
rainy  seasons  may  w'ant  a  second  doing.  We  have  not  had  sawfly 
since  using  this  simple  remedy. — Henry  Galton,  Shawford  House 
Gardens,  near  Winchester. 
Our  experience  for  the  last  ten  years  has  proved  that  the  only 
perfect  protection  is  to  thread  the  branches,  using  “  Royles’ 
Threader,”  as  supplied  by  any  seedsman.  The  buds  are  abso¬ 
lutely  untouched.  It  is  only  a  question  of  one  or  two  minutes  to 
each  tree,  and  should  be  done  before  severe  weather  commences, 
say,  about  the  middle  of  November.  Once  each  year  is  sufficient, 
and  the  cost  is  infinitesimal,  the  result  being  always  certain. — 
Thos.  Fletcher. 
Red  Spider. 
W’^ho  has  not  had  his  share  of  combating  with  the  insidious 
attacks  of  this  little  “  animal  ”  ?  For  it  is  not  an  insect,  scien¬ 
tifically  speaking.  Few’  establishments  are  unacquainted  with 
his  presence  at  some  time  or  other  during  the  year,  and  more 
especially  if  the  season  is  a  hot  and  sunny  one.  He  is,  however, 
not  by  any  means  unknown  in  w’et  seasons.  W’here  borders  are 
entirely  constructed  inside,  the  predisposition  to  spider  is  very 
much  greater.  On  the  other  hand,  outside  borders,  especially 
those  having  a  tendency  to  the  damp  side,  may  never  be  troubled 
w’ith  this  pest.  Indeed,  I  know  some  such  borders  where  the 
appearance  of  spider  was  never  knowm.  This  corroborates  the 
well-know’n  fact  that  defective  moisture  at  the  roots  has  a  great 
deal  to  do  with  the  first  appearance  of  spider.  It  is  pretty  well 
understood  that  moisture  is  inimical  to  the  w’elfare  of  spider, 
and  as  a  safe  course  for  preventing  its  appearance,  this  is  the 
best  known,  at  present,  to  gardeners.  To  be  effectual,  never 
allow  the  roots  to  get  into  a  state  dry  enough  to  give  rise  to  an 
attack. 
This  is,  perhaps,  in  many  cases,  not  such  a  simple  matter  as 
one  wmuld  imagine,  especially  wdiero  the  practice  obtains  of  not 
allowing  the  operations  of  the  syringe  beyond  the  period  of  the 
breaking  of  the  young  buds.  Many  good  practitioners  maintain 
that  beyond  this  period,  surface  moisture  tends  to  unduly  en¬ 
large  the  foliage,  and  in  consequence  become  in  texture  ill 
adapted  to  support  a  heavy  crop  of  fruit.  This  may  be  so,  but 
we  think  with  necessary  attention,  a  due  amount  of  fresh  air, 
which  is  alway.s  available,  any  danger  arising  from  this  can  be 
rectified.  When  surface  moisture  and  syringing  are  not  admis¬ 
sible,  the  liability  of  defective  root  moisture  becomes  propor¬ 
tionately  greater.  Few  can  hardly  believe  the,  amount  of 
moisture,  under  such  circumstances,  that  a  full-grown,  healthy 
Vine  absorbs  in  a  hot  day  from  the  soil. 
The  attack  generally  takes  place  before  the  gardener  suspects 
the  presence  of  spider ;  indeed,  it  often  happens  that  the  little 
fellow  has  got  a  fair  footing  before  it  is  detected.  Then,  of 
course,  a  rush  is  made  to  half  drown  the  roots  and  foliage  with 
water,  perhaps  fumigating  and  so  forth,  with  only  comparative 
success.  The  vitality  of  the  spider  is  phenomenal ;  cold  or  heat  • 
apparently  does  not  very  much  interfere  with  its  progress.  Fumi¬ 
gating  appears  only  to  partially  annoy  him,  and  though  sulphured 
pipes  may  be  a  preventive,  it  is  not  a  cure.  For  my  own  part,  I 
believe  an  occasional  dressing  of  short  grass  from  the  mower  a 
very  good  antidote  for  spider.  I  have  always  kept  him  at  bay 
with  this,  and  therefore  recommend  it  to  others  as  worthy  of  a 
trial. — C. 
Query:  Vegetable  Marrow  Jam. 
Would  “  J.  C.”  or  any  other  reader  kindly  give  the  recipe 
for  Vegetable  Marrow  .jam  mentioned  in  Journal  of  HorticiiJturr. 
for  September  10?  That  which  we  have  previously  tasted  was 
very  nasty. — E.  C.  C.  D.  [There  may  he^  various  recipes  for 
making  the  ,iam.  W^e  would  be  pleased  to  hear  from  readers. — 
Ed.] 
“  W.  A.,”  who  has  a  large  quantity  of  Elderberrie.s,  would  be 
much  obliged  for  a  recipe  for  making  wine  from  them. 
The  Croft,  Buicole,  Oxford, 
The  many  people  who  gO'  up  and  down  the  river  Thames  all 
speak  in  high  praise  of  the  beauty  and  charm  of  The  Croft,  a  river¬ 
side  residence  near  Dorche.ster,  which  belongs  to  S.  Randell 
Higgins,  Esq. 
This  charmingly  situated  place  is  now  at  its  best,  and  1  am  sure 
no  words  or  paint  could  do  justice  to  its  sub-tropical  and  fairyland¬ 
like  appearance.  The  flower  beds  and  boi’ders  are  filled  ^\'ith 
Dracaenas,  Fuchsias,  Humeas,  Galtonia  candicans,  Cannas,  Nico- 
tianas,  Ricinus,  Silver  Thi.stles,  Ophiopogon,  Calceolarias,  Lobe¬ 
lias,  Gladioli,  which  are  well  grown  and  judiciously  intermixed 
so  as  to  give  a  charming  effect.  The  boat-house  and  the  balcony 
of  the  residence  are  enhanced  in  beauty  and  effect  by  hanging 
baskets  containing  an  assortment  of  flowering  and  foliage  plants, 
also  by  boxes  and  pots  filled  with  plant.s — in  all,  over  400  plants. 
On  the  lawn,  close  to  the  river,  are  several  large  tubs  filled 
with  the  Ivy-leaved  Pelargonium  Madame  Crousse,  each  about  five 
to  six  feet  high  and  twelve  to  sixteen  feet  in  circumference.  The 
towering  CoiiiferaB  and  the  large  and  well  grown  forest  trees 
relieve  the  architectural  beauty  of  the  residence. 
Fruit  crops  here  are  under  average,  with  the  exception  of 
Apples,  Avhich  are  a  heavy  crop.  The  many  houses  and  frames 
are  well  filled  with  healthy  and  well-grown  plants  of  Caladiums,. 
Ferns  Fuchsias,  Stephanotis,  Campanula  pyramidahs,  Crotonsq, 
DracBenas,  Tuberous  Begonias  (200  plants,  some  four  feet  through). 
Gloxinias  (1,000  plants,  which  are  going  over).  Primulas  (200 
plants,  very  healthy).  The  500  pot  Strawberrie.s  of  Royal 
Sovereign  and  Vicomtesse  H.  de  Thury  lo.ok  remarkably  well. 
The  Tomatoes,  Holmes’s  Supreme  and  Sutton’s  Satisfaction, 
have,  and  are,  fruiting  excellently.  The  Melons,  Hero  of 
Lockinge,  Best  of  All,  Windsor  Castle,  Triumph,  Sutton  s  Scarlet 
and  Epicure,  are  all  carrying  huge  fruits.  The  Cucumbers,  Royal 
Windsor,  Improved  Telegraph,  and  Market  Favourite,  give  every 
satisfaction,  and  are  carrying  heavy  crops  of  fine  fruits,  ihe  work 
and  condition  of  the  place  as  a  whole  testifies  to  the  excellent 
abilities  of  the  very  able  gardener,  Mr.  A.  Morris,  who  will  shortly 
be  leaving  Mr.  Higgins’  service. — S.  Heaton. 
Solomon’s  Seal. 
Polygoiiatum,  or  Solomon’s  Seal,  is  a  common  occupant  of  the 
herbaceous  border,  but  very  frequently  does  not  receive  muclt 
attention.  It  is,  however,  an  excellent  subject  to  grow  in  pots 
for  early  forcing.  If  strong  roots  are  growing  in  the  garden, 
lift  thciii  ill  November,  and  pot  in  ordinary  potting  soil  in  6in  or 
Sin  pots.  Treat  them  in  the  manner  usual  with  bulbs — that  is, 
plunge  under  ashes  outdoors  until  growth  begins,  and  then 
remove  to  the  cool  greenhouse,  affording  a  little  heat  later  on  tq 
help  them  to  flower.  The  plants  produce  long  stems,  _  which 
curve  outwards  in  a  charmingly  graceful  manner,  on  which  are 
borne  long  white  pendulous  flowers,  which  are  very  sweet  scented. 
\  few  plants  will  fill  a  greenhouse  with  delicious  perfume.  If 
roots  are  not  procurable  in  the  garden,  the  bulb  nur.serymen  can 
easily  supply  them  at  a  reasonable  rate.  After  doing  duty  in 
pots  the  roots  may  be  planted  out,  choosing  for  them  partially 
shaded  borders,  where  they  will  prove  attractive  every  spring. 
A  top-dressing  of  soil  and  manure  auplied  in  March,  just  vlieii 
growth  is  heginning,  will  prove  beneficial. — E.  K. 
