hd wm '^^IMHH^pf' #V' m 1 rv^-** l^-s bK ti k^ ■ _: :; ^- 1 ?^a Jv 1 P^B^ft-1 L* s V '4 ^ J 9 ^"""^H k^r ^ t^ r i '^H ■K ^1 ^' '^ ^M^m 1 la ^M i ^ 1 r^ w.-'-f j,»«:j.i li^i f-v w>< . -^ i.«' '^'^ ^•^v-- THE JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE, COTTAGE GARDENER, COUNTRY aENTUEMAN. A MAGAZINE OF GARDENING, RURAL AND DOMESTIC ECONOMY, BOTANY AND NATURAL HISTORY. CONDUCTED BY GEOEGE W. JOHNSON, F.E.H.S., anb HOBEET HOGG, LL.D. THE FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDENS, by Mr. J. Robson, Gardener to Viscount Holmesdale, M.P., Linton Park; and Mr. T. Weaver, Gardener to the Warden of Winchester College. THE FLOWER GARDEN, by Mr. D. Thomson, Archerfield Gardena ; and Mr. G. Abbey, Horton Hall. STOVE, GREENHOUSE, AND WINDOW GARDEN, by Mr. R. Fish, Gardener to Colonel Sowerby, Putteridge Bury, near Luton. FLORISTS' FLOWERS AND FLORICULTURE, by the Rev. H. H. Dombrain. GARDENING CALENDAR, by Mr. William Kcane. POULTRY-KEEPING, by Mr. J. Baily, Rsv. W. W. Wing- field, E. Hewitt, Esq., and other well-known contributors. BEE-KEEPING, by II. Taylor, Esq.; "A Devonshire Bee-keeper; " " B & W. ; " and Mr. S. Bevan Fox. HOUSEHOLD ARTS, by the Authoress of " My Flowers," and others. /sSC«?' LIBRARY NEW YORK BOTANICAL GAROEN. votjUm:b v., nbtv sbhies. vol. xxx., old series. LONDON: PUBLISHED EOE THE PROPRIETORS, 162, FLEET STREET. 18 63. XJ -A^ / 1 i' a LONDON : PRINTED AT THE JOURNAL OF HOKTIlll'LTrRE OFFICE, 17, Johnson's court, fleet street. TO OUR EEADEES. At the close of another Volume, and, in this instance, at the close of another year, the Editors have again to give expression to their gratitude and their hopes. (Jn no one of the twenty-nine occasions on which they have thus addressed you have they in any degree exaggerated the similar feelings which influenced them ; and the successes and the onward prospects which on those occasions justified their words are still more justifying now. They turn over the pages of the Volume just concluded, and to which this Address is to be introductory, and they fear no contradiction to the dictate of their judgment that — it is more than equal to any one of its predecessors in the useful information it contains. Then as to the future. The i^ortrait within this Volume reminds them — were a reminder needed — that one of the most able of the contributors to this Journal will enrich its pages no more ; yet, as statesmen have observed in far more momentous transactions, the Editors have found that when a need for aid is acknowledged, efficient volunteers always step forth and render that need but transient. Those who are insensible to the approbation bestowed upon them by competent judges are devoid of one of the most efficient promptings to efforts for the attainment of excellence. The Editors do not pretend, therefore, to any such insensibility, but acknowledge the high gratification they felt on hearing recently from one who is now the oldest member of their staff, that a gentleman of no small note concluded his observations on these pages by saying — " That .Journal is independent, and I have never found a sentence in it unworthy of a gentleman." Those are characteristics the Editors have always coveted, and never more so than for the two Volumes which will comprise the Journals of 186-i ; for the Editors foi'esee that during its days events and topics appropriate to their pages are likely to occur wliich will require even more than the usually-needed firmness and good temper. INDEX. Abebdbenshihr, gardens in, 168 Aberpavenny Poultry Show, 301 Acacia (rrandis not flowering, 360 Acclimatisation in the antipodes, 524 Acliimenes, wintering, 338 Adeiaster albivenis culture, 439 Adenium obesura, 4T1 ^Echmoa culture, 291 Agraricus fertilis, poisonous, 395 Apave lurida, 191 Agricultural Hall Flower and Fruit Show, 162, 185; Poultry Show, 176 Aldborough and Boroughbridge Poultry Show, 157 Alexandra Park Exhibition, 66, 82 Alismas, 249 Allamanda neriifoHa, treatment of, 518 Allium fragrans, 259 Alocasia — metallica from eyes, 9 ; metalUca culture, 214; Lowii cul- ture, 319 ; macrorhiza variegata, propagating, &c., 419 Aloe, of Vera Cruz, 191; American, blooming, 208 Alyssum saxatile variegatum to pro- pagate, 154 Amaranthna melancholicus ruber, culture, 30, 103,110,141, 145, 151; ■wintering. 128; as a bedder, 205; bicolor and tricolor, 251 Amaryllis — longiflora rosea failing, 37 ; Regina ^pectabilis, 113 ; belladonna culture, 134 ; neg- lected, 307 ; failures, 329 ; cul- ture, 518 American— kitchen gardening, 230, blight, 498 Ammonia— in the atmosphere of hot- houses, 326, 329, 330; in air of plant-houses, 353; for grass land, 411 Ammoniated oxide of iron as a manure, 490 Anchomanes Hookeri pallida, 113 Androsace lanuginosa, 367 Annuals, list of early, 400 Anomatheca cruenta sowing, 319 Ante invadjng wall-frnit, 338 Aphelandra Leopoldi culture, 298, 478 Aphides, and two of their enemies, 53 Apiarian notea, 243, 302 Apiary, an experimental, 322 Apley Towers, flower-garden ar- rangement there, 292 Aponogeton distachyon hardy, 331 Appeal on behalf of the inferior animals, 160 Apples—Winter Hawthornden, 49; dwarf, 259; list of, 477 Apricot trees— in pots, 278 ; trans- plant'ng, 400 AquariHm- green slime in, 37 ; con- structing, 226 Aquatics— list of hardy, 172; hardy, 226, 247, 251, 312, 330, 331 Arabis— variegated, 372, 432 ; to pro- pagate, lltj ; Golden-variegated, 412 Arboretum, a plea for, 410 Arctotis repensfor bedding, 141 Artichokes, 336 Arundo donax culture, 399 Aah-bark for epilepsy, 400 Asparagus— dying, 76; beds, foul, 241; substitute for, 219; forcing, 377 ; making beds, 379, 400 Asphalt walks, 318 Afplenium viviparum culture, 440 Astelma eximium, 391 Aubrietia purpurea edging, 37,478 — Auricula culture, 246 ^■^ Autumn propagation of bedding JT" plants, 81 22 Azaleas— Louise van Baden, 113; select, 259 ; scale on, 338 ; in- ^ O lested by thripa, 399 ; list of, 498 Balcony-boxes, plants for, 254 Balcony, plant-* for eastern, 379 Bananas at the Royal Horticultural Society's Kensington Gardens, 515 Banffshire, gardens worth seeing, 16S Bantams— cTc, hard swelling at, 120 ; Sebright, 178 ; Game cock, dubbing, 223 ; and Spanish, may they be kept together? 364; with Cochin-Chinas, 444 ; points in "White. 4fi4 ; with Dorkings ; whitt-booted, 484 Barr Hall, 231 Battcrsea Park, bedding-out at, 168 Beans— failing, 18; Lima, 230; sta- tistics of, 440 Beaton, Mr. Donald, 266, 415 ; death of, 349 ; mcmoridl of, 385 Bed-centre, evergreen for, 419 Bedding-out— at the Crystal Palace, 101; at Kew, 104; at Kensington Palace Gardens and Hyde Park, 249 ; plants, wintering. 370. 428 Bedding plants — propagating in autumn, 81; of 1863, 141; pro- pagating, 154 ; wintering, 409, 457 ; frames for, 418 ; exhibition of, 469 ; grown in moss, 511 Bedfordshire, gardens worth seeing, 191,271,293 Beds, which is the best way of healing by hot-water pipes ? 514 Bee-keeping in Devon, 202 Bee-keepers, old school ot, 181 Bees — drone-breeding queens, 20 ; queens changing colour, 20; va- riation in colour, age of queen, season in Durham and Gloucester, 39 ; Litiuvian in Australia, season in Hants, 40 ; loss of queens, 38 ; proceedings of prior to swarming, 38; removing to the moors; in Devon, 59; driving, 60; foul brood, 78, 118, 137, 138, 180, 181, 203, 204, 242, 303, 362, 4u3, 404, 424, 443, 444, 461, 483, 484, 503 ; failures, moth, piping, colour of Ligurian queens, gtupifying by chloroform, season in Ireland, flights of a young queen, 79; Ita- lian (Ligurian), SO ; corsair, breed- ing, driving, 96; chloroform tor, season in Lincolnshire, bees con- valescent in Devon, 97; weak and unhealthy, 93; tru<^ causes of failure, 99, 100 ; killing drones, 100; age of queens, 120; destruc- tive effects of chloroform, 118; stupifying by chloroform, failure?, 119; dwiRdling apiary, 119; modem bives and forced swarms, 12u ; wintering, 120 ; experimental management, 137; weak, 135; eblorofoiTu for, 139; Ligurians in Scotland ; fertile workers, 140 ; two queens in one hive, 157 ; foul brood not an artificial disease, 157 ; the foul-bvood cunirover.-y, 158 ; apiarian note?, 159; destroying drones, 159 ; experimenting on, 160; unicomb hives, 160; age of queens, 179 ; effects of fumigation, 180 ; honeydews. 180 ; removing to the heather, 180; wooden hives, 181 ; uniting, M-ax moth'*, 203 ; in Cumberland, 204; honey - taking, 2(H ; hunible bees, 204; intio- aucing sealed combs, comb falling, 223; superstitions, 224; longevity of queen, 242 ; two queens in a hive, 243 ; drone killing, 243; stu- pifying with fungus, 244 ; perfora- ted zinc frames, driving in bar- hives, parthenogenesis, attacks on queens, 263; honeydew, driving, feeding driven, attacked by wa?ps, 264 ; moisture in hives, consump. tion of food in united, 282; two queens; queen's longevity; mis- hapsin uniting; virgin queens, 283; parthenogenesis, age of queens ; honey season, 284 ; mismanage- ment, 284 ; discoloured, 284 ; Mr. G. Fox's apiary, 302 ; virgin queen-* ; parthenogenesis ; intro- duction of a Ligurian queen ; two queens, 303 ; driving ; Edinburgh honey-season ; uniting swarms ; hives with combs but no honey, 304 ; random apiarian notes, 321 ; pollen on, 322 ; parthenogenesis, drones, driving, 323; honeydew, 324; two queens in a hive; loss of queen ; foul brood ; experimental apiary; acclimatisation, 312; light- coloured pollen ; in irame-hives ; fertile workers; foul brood, 343; in Staffordshire; age of queens, 344 ; pollen and honey of ivy, 302 ; drones in October ; in Lancashire ; sources of pollen ; kottle-feeding. 363; experimental apiary, 364; forced swarms, abor- tive brood, 381 ; experimental apiary, 382 ; foul brood ; Ligurians in Edinburgh ; B. & W.'s apiary in 1863, 383 ; season in Northumber- land; how Italian queens are lost, 384 ; moving hives, 334 ; pollen- gathering ; Ligurian, 404; micro- scopic examination of foul brood, 423 ; driving, 423 ; Ligurians, flowers for, 424 ; deposit on hive floor ; feeding, 444 ; gathering pollen in November, 464; to re- medy crooked combs in a frame- hive, 484 ; dying of dysentery, 562; on Lancashire moors, 503; driving, poUen-jatliering, 504 ; in Greece, 504 ; uniting, 523 ; flowers, 524 ; pollen-gathering and breeding in December, 523 Beet— insect attacking, 165 ; notes on red, 211 . Begonias, propagating by leaves, 175 Berberries — culture of evergreen, 57, 85; list of, 87 Eerkhampstead Nurseries, 471 Bilibergia culture, 291 Bird-question, the great, 49 Birds- their use, 15 ; caterpillars eating, 29 ; selecting for exhibi- tion, 116; small, 272 ; and poultry- keepers, 259, 279, 321 Birmingham— Rose Show, 13, 52 ; Poultry Show, 301, 402, 441 ; pens at, 361, 381 ; ten-shilling day, 420; notes on, 460; pens of Game dis- qualifled, 460; breaking rules at. 460; Captain Heaton at the, 500, 519 ; results of, 502 ; relative entries at, 518 ; Mr. Hindaon's Game fowls at, 519 Blackbird, a white, 100 Black Bantams' ear-lobe3, 264 Black Hamburgh Fowls at Birming- ham, 484 Blight, American, 176 Bloom, prolonging in flower gardens, 161 Bloomsbury "Working People's Flower Show, 32 Boilers, 141; their requisites, 61, 81; saddle, horizontal, and tubular 84; a new one suggested, 142; Messenger's, 143 ; Riddell's, 143, 144; to prevent cnioting, 219; empty in winter, 378 ; most econo- miCil, 379; garden, 409, 45 1 Bone-dust for Vine-borders, 419 Bones, dissolving, 419 Borders, foi-mation of for Vines, 245, 259 B'»ronia culture. 76; rutosma, 214 Bowenia spectabilis, 238 Box-edginu'S, 258 Brahma Poo tras- merits, 242; not well encouraged, 401 Bridlington Poultry Show, 117 Brighton Poultry Show, 463 Broccoli— large, 212; rapid growth of, 296; wintering, 335 Brood of chickens, largest, GO Broughton Poultry Show, 301 Brugmansia— to bloom in July, 134; not flowering, 154 ; arborea flower- ing dwarf, 175 Brussels Sprouts, small or large ? 509 Buckinghamshire, gardens worth seeing, 191 Budding, heading back after, 154 Burlingtonia decora var. picta, 471 Buyer and Seller, 479 Cabbage aphis, 259 Caladiums, wintering, 399 Calandrmia umbellata for bedding, 141 Calceolaria — violacea culture, 17, 498; punctata, 113; cuttings, 240. 357, 277,336; canariensis, 333, 369 Calceolarias — herbaceous, 49, 290 ; after flowering, 318 ; repotting, 419 Calico varnishing, 399 Calla palustris, 249 Camellias— propagation by eyes, S ; twelve good, 17 ; CarlottaPapudotf, 49; to bloom in December, 115; out of doors, 135 ; leaves scorched, 258; Hst of twelve, 299; blooms, protecting from, wet, 337 ; drop- ping off, 333; altering their time of flowering, 379; buds falling, 478; lidtof, 498 Canaries— and Bullfinches shedding their feathers, 120; red mites on, 244 Canna roots, wintering, 331 Cannes, gardening at, 468 Carnations — and Picotee, distinction between, 115; seed, 115 ; winter- ing, 196; Lord Clifton, 471 Carrot culture, 476 Catasetum, fimbriatum, 192; cer- nuum, 233 CauUflowers, culture of, 122 ; rate of growth, 123; varieties, 124 Cedar, removing a large, 458 Celandine for toothache, 20 Celery, 310; earl,', 12; forcing in open air, 66, 115 ; earthing-up, 93 ; culture and serving, 217 ; culture. 358 ; blanching, 377, 410 ; aitacked by fly, 477; management. 438; diseased, 439 ; in cocoa-nut fibre refuse, 492 Centaureas— ragusina culture, 41 ; argentea, propagating, 196 ; candi- diesima as a bedder, 290 ; argentea and candidisiima, propagating, 318, 372, 455; propagating. 459; 490 ; gymnocarpa and argentea, 468; for edging, 412 Cepbalotasus Foitunei and drupa- cea, 454 Ceiopegia Bowkeri, 296 Charcoal in composts, 4tiG Chafe's beetle poison, 464 Cherry aphis, 135 Cherries — fallinc in orchard-house, 57; for N. v/all, 379 Cheshire, gardens worth seeing, 191, 313 Chestnut (Spanish), large specimens 125 ChicUens— dying suddenly, 80; lay- ing, 95 ; lameness in, 95 ; destroyed by a hedgehog, 116 ; fresh grcmici for, 220; breedii.g early, 4-0; early, 484 Chicory culture, 358 ; and uses, 432 China grass for tying, 490 Chinese— seed, sowing, 241 ; find Japanese plants, sale oT, 250, 357 Chippenham Poultry Show, 443, 432 INDEX. Chrysanthemum— Society, Amalei* mated, 307; shaws— Agricultural Hall, 386 ; Stoke Xewington, 3S8 ; flowers one on a etcm, 4h6 Cbrycanthemums — to bloom in De- cember, 115; Mr. Salter's, 411; Temple Card' ns, 412; list of select, 440; at the Cry.-tal Paluee, 452; done blooming, 498; for exhibi- tion, 499 Cineraria maritima sowing, 439 Cinerarias frosted ; leavts curling, 518 Cissus discolor, treatment of, 518 Clay, burnt, in coniposts, 486 Clematis — Japanese, 49 ; for a trellis, 299; montami nor flower- ing, 379; Keginie and Fortunei, 471 Clematises, propagating, 33S Clerkemvell Flower r^how. 144 CHanthus Dampieri — culture, 25, 278 ; for bedding, 299 Climbers— for greerhouse, 57 ; for stf^ve, 196 ; for a wall, 419 Coohin-China — fowls management, 20 ; cbickens wfak-legged, 160; fowls, present value, 199; Par- tridge and Grouse coloured, points in, 223, 424 ; vulture hocks in, 264 ; white feathers in Butf, 364 ; losing use of legs, 364 ; blind, 424; fowls at Birmmgham, Captain Heiiton's, 479 ; Partrj?lge, to breeders of, 524 Cocoa-nut— refuse for potting, 135; fibre dust for potting, 154 Cockchafers, large destruction of, 249 Cjke, healing by, 219 Coleua Verochaffelti— as a hedder, 192, 206, 237 ; for bedding, 251 ; hardiness nf. 477 Collingham I'oultry Show, 362 Colocasia odorata, 90 Colours, melody and harmony of, 10 Compo&tP, materials for, 485, 609 Coniiers, to .'top Mceding in, 110 Conservatojy — heating, 17 ; a small, 37 ; and Palm-house connected with residence, 350; floor creen, 360 ; borders, plants for shaded, 400 ; creepers for porch, 400 Contvast r. .-hading, 251 Coop, hen-and-chickenB, 38 Corns— in a cock's foot, 80 ; in fowls and Geese, 304 Cornwall, gardens worth seeing, 191, 373, 413 Cotoneaster— berries, 57 ; nummu- laria not flowering, 175 Cottage gardens, 53 Cott:iges, construction of, 317 Cottingham Poultry Show, 201 Covent Garden Market, 154, 196, 218, 240, 257, 278, 298, 318, 337, 359. 378, 398, 418, 439, 457, 476, 497, 517 Covers of straw for plants, 451 Cranston's "Cultural Directions for the Rose," 511 Crassula rosularis, 113 Cratcegus pyracantha berries, 57 Crt've Ctrur— points of, 2(>4 ; fowls, 380, 440 Crucus Imperatontus, 468, 491 Cross-bied fowls, exhibiting, 223 Croquet and flower-beds, 265 Crowing a nuisance, 301 Crystal Palace— bedding-out at, 101, 213; Poultry Show, 176, 222, 320, 340 ; Flower Show, 184, Cucumber«house heating, 299 Cucumbers — mildew on, 17, 135; preserving, 115; disease in, 152; growing Winter, 163, 335; vul- garity in, 453 ; for exhibition, 458 Cumberland, notes from, 487 Cupheas, hardiness and culture, 219 Cupressus Lawsoniana, heigbt, 439 Cyanophyllum magniticum. 26 ; cut- 'ting down, 176 ; large, 188 ; cul- ture. 228 C^athea dealbata turning brown, *420 » Cyclamen culture, 150 ; Atkinsi, 160 ; ibericum, 150 Dahlia— FLO WKRS become white, 3'I9 ; tubers, ptorirg, 457; stakes, preventing rusting, 498; changin^^ colour, 439 Dampeis— use of, 379 ; management of. 430 Dandelicns, to destroj on lawns, 176 Darlington Poultry Show, 479, 502 Davallias losing their fronds, 134 Day's Giime Paste. 281 Denbighshire, gardens worth seeing, 413 Derbyshi''e, gardens worth seeing, 191, 333 Deutzia cr^nata flore pleno, 391 Devonshire, gardens worth, seeing, 191, 373, 413 Dew, 419 Dewsbury Poultn- Show, 19ft Dielytra cucuUaria culture, 299, 360 Dipteracanthus afliuis, 471 Disa grandiflora, superba, 113; cul- ture, 126 Doddington Poultry Show, 262 Dog's ears swollen, 284 Dorkings— plumage, 20 ; cock unable to stand, 364; feathers changing colour. 484 ; featherless, 484 ; breeding for exhibition, 504 Dracaena — propagation by eyes. 9 ; hflliconlfolia and aiamensis, 440 Driflield Agricultural Society 's Poultry Show, 117 Drighlington and Adwalton Poultry Show, 156 Dublin (Royal) Society's Poultry Show, 501 Ducks— the Cayuga Black, 279 ; at Birmingham. 484; fattening for exhibition, 504 Durham, gardens worth seeing, 9, 313, 357 Easingwold Povltry Show, 242 East Lothian, gardens worth seeing, 233 Echiuocaetus Rhodophthalmus and culture, 70 Edinburgh Horticultural Show, 232 Eggs— chilled, 37, 38, 58, 118; ex- periments on chilling, 155; pre- serving, 1611 ; addled, 178 ; chilled yet hatched, 199 ; destroying vita- lity, 284 Elms, large, 113, 125; becoming va- riegated, 477 Endive, culture, 358 ; wintering, 397 Entomological Society's Meeting, 73,148, 255, 333,492, 513 Erantheraum tuberculatum, 296 Eria—obesa, 49; myristicreformis, 471 Erica camea, 145 Eseuius of the Roman classics, 72 Essex, gardens worth seeing, 271 Eucharis araazonica culture, 196 Eugenia Ugni. hardy, 518 Evergreens— for a north aspect, 278 ; tor a screen, 2&8, 459; for wall, 458 Everlasting - Flowers, drying, 169, 360 Exhibiting and selling poultry, 440 Exhibition schedules, revision of, 108 Exhibitions, benefit from local, 266 ; Eyes, propagation by, 8 Farnbam Castle, 127 Fawsley Hall, 124 Fence, ornamental, 135 Fern, HareVfoot, 240 Fernery— consti-ucting a, 94; glass for, 258 Ferns— in Wardian case, 37; for a glass case, 241 ; lean-to house for, 241; under a north wall. 299; mfested with thrius, 319; hardy, on growing, 348 ; for greenhouse, 439; culture of. 478 Fig— the Castle Kennedy, 89, 127 ; •■ falling, 116 Flora in the Cotswnlds. 269 Florists' flowers, plea for, 311 Flower— Garden at Pentillic Castle, 71 ; gardens, can the period of full bloom be lengthened in ? 161 ; garden plan, 170; borders, give us back our, 287 ; gardens, telling beds in, 294 ; border, light chalky, 498 Flowers— to bloom simultaneously, 241 ; gardeners' names for, 328, 373, 390, 431 ; in a workhoase, 411 Flue heating a greenhouse, 241 Flues, new. construction of, 451 Forcing and plant-houses, econo- mical arrangement of, 51 Forks, trigging, 21 Fowls— killing for table, 135; cook- ing old, 155 ; losing jilumage, 160; at night, 179; growth of, 264 Fraser. Mr., death of, 69 Frost of July 19th, 69, 88, 91, 108 Frosts, late, 150 Fruit— weights used for, 17 ; weight of in France, 32 ; trees, for pot- culture, 220 ; planting, 256, 257 ; select, 258; dwarf in front of wall trees, 258; trees, planting, 297; trees, old and unfruitful, 318 " Fruits, scarcitv of home-grown," 9S2 Fruiterers' Company, 47 Fuchsia, Pillar of Gold. 296 Fuchsias— for a window. 94 ; done flowering, 135; select, 259 Fugnsia cuneiformis, :39i Fungus, poisoning by, 395 Furze, traneplnntiTig, 338 Game— BIRDS, 59; cock, bkak of RED, 424 ; fowls— Birchen Grey, 481; Mr. Hindson's at the Bir- mingham bhow, 499, 519 Gapes, cure for, 444 Gardeners — in Ireland, excluding from exhibitions, 13 ; Roval Bene- volent Society, U, 112, 130, 148, 187, 271, 333, 345; Friendly So- ciety, 26. 68 ; knowledge desirable for,"68, 105 *' Gaideners' Year Book," 490 Gardenia octomera, 391 Gardening— in Japan, 148 ; styles of, 351 Gardens worth seeing, 9, 49, 85, 168, 191, 233, 249, 271, 293, 313, 333, 357,373. 418,437, 466,470 Gardens, naming plants in public, 130 Garnham's Lady's Assistant, 504 Gastronema sangnineum, 471 Geese— lice on, 137 ; distinguishing sex in )Oung. 223 ; baskets for conveying. 223; Toulouse, 264; Sebastapol, 444 ; at Birmingham, 484; corns in, 304 Geraniums— cuttings in open ground, 94; cutting down Zonale, 115; Golden-leavi'd, 116, 128; Cloth of Gold. 155; treatment, 162 ; Mdm. Vaucher culture, 220; lifting and wintering, 2(.i9 ; propagating Cloth of Gold. 211 ; pruning, 259; win- tering, 279, ;J38, 339, 347, 419, 420 ; cuttings in small pots, 338 ; leaves for cuts, 433 ; stopping, 498 ; horse-shoe, what ai-e, 4!^i8 Gesnera zebrina not flowering, 458 Ghosts of the garden, 425 Giehurst Comj'ound, dressing fruit trees with. 353 Gladiolus— Reine Victoria, 110, 122; disease, 103, 185, 144, 168, 170, 189, 210, '2;.0; pronoimcing, 168, 237,329,356; question, 254; fail- ures, 288, 295, 325, 329 ; culture, 369,373; Charles Davis, 391 ; large bulbs, 507 Glam orga nsh i re, gard ens worth seeing, 293 Glass— insurance from hailstorms, 367 ; rough plate, for greenhouse, 458 Glazed houses, construction, 314 Gloucestershire, gardens worth seeing, 313 Gloxinias— list of, 37 ; culture of seedling, 121 ; to flower next sum- mer, 337 Gnaphalium lanatum propagating, 319 Gooseberry caterpillar, 12, 94 Gosliags wasting away, 137 Grapes— spotted, 18, 115; failing, 42 ; spot in, 57; atGarnston Vine- yard, 70 ; Uiildewed, 76, 115 ; shri- velling, shanked, 78 ; Archerfield Early Muscat, 101 ; thinning, 134; preserving, 176, 337; early ripening ut Muscat, 189; pactiing for conveyance to an exhibitirn, 192; keeping. 196 ; shanking, 209, 241 ; Muscat Hamburgh, losing its flavour, 22K ; for a small vinery, 24 6; Muscat, 251 ; in bloom shrivelUng, 409 ; Brosraouth, 419 ; decaying, 439 ; Tynninpham Muscat, 440 ; ripening in green- house, 449; keeping on the Vines, 459 Grass — walks, establishing, 498 ; land, comport for, 498 Grave, plants suitable for, 1 Greenhouse— heating, 76; for bed- ding plants, heating, 135 ; ar- rangeitient of, 164 ; stove, and pits combined, 165; temporary heat- ing, 219; shelf for, 219; floor, to protect from drip, 259 ; heating a small, 318 ; heating from a dining- room fire, 372. 416 ; constructing a removable, 459; plants for show- ing in August, 47"; blinds, 495; vinery, constructing, 498 Greenovea aurea, 296 Giubs, underground, 134 Guano— liquid manure, 57; to apply, 175 ; water, 196 ; on hot-water pipes, 329 ; water as a manure, 477 Halifax Poulte-s Show, 199 " Hand-book of Vine cultivation," 271 Hants (Ea^t) Poultry Show, 320 Heaths— Early-flowering Moor, 145; cultivation of, 130; lists of, 131; propagating hardy. 176; culture of, 227, V52 ; twelve hardy, 240 Heating— from kitchen fire, 13; a small propagating-house, 143 ; a small house and bed, 219 ; dif- ferent levels from one boiler, 428 ; beds by hot-water pipes, which is the best way .' 514 Hedgehog destroying chickens, 116, 136 Hedges- fast-growing, 338 ; under Yews, 338 ; history of. 147 Heliconia bievispatha, 471 Heliotropes— wintering in a room, 400; for winter, 518 Hen — Hamburgh, ravenous, 120 ; house floor, 223 Hens— broody, 384; egg-eating, 504 Heron's plume, 404 Hertfordshire, gai'deus worth seeing, 191,271, 357 Hertfordshire, gardens worth seeing, 313 Hibiscus Huegehi v. quinquevulnera, 296 Hippeastrum equestre culture, 400 Hives — wooden, 138 ; windows in frame, 139; making, new and superior material for, 204 ; frame, 223 ; double-sided wooden, 242 ; various kinds, 281 ; adjusting, 362 ; new material for, 443 " Hogg'sBritish Pomology," continu- ation of, 467 Holland House, gardens at, 612 Holly— moving a large, 94 ; berries, substitutes for, 604, 524 Hollyhock — propagation by eyes, &c., 9, 17; cuttings, 94; seed- lings, culture of, 196; stems, uses of, 336 ; flowers become black, 409 ; changing colour, 439 Holt, Edmund, 432 Homerton Nursery, plants at, 247 IIomoianthuB visoosus, 238 Honey storing, 100 Honeydew. 308 Hops, sulphur and ladybirds, in cul- tivating, 129 Horseradish culture, 338 Horticultural (Royal) Society's Show 4 ; Rose Show, 7 ; Exhibition 206; Committees, 9, 33, 69, lU 132, 172, 215, 253, 293, 389, 469 Hot-water pipes— to stop joints, 259 near roots, 419 Hothouses, atmosphere in, 285 Hoya imperialis, 254 Hull Poultry Show, 421 Humea elegans, leaves falling, 37 Hyacinths — for exhibition, 176 removing sucker.-* from, 498 Hyde Park, bedding-out at, 249 Hydrangea flowers, to obtain blue 458, 512 ImPATIKHS, culture of the GZNl'b' 312 Indian— Railway, notes from, 32 seeds, sowing, 241 Insects, in hothouses, 285 ; garden infested by, 278 Iodine and starch, 338 Ipomcea- hcderaefolia culture, 17 Lcari, 155 ; HorsfallifE pruning, 419 Ireland — landscape - gardening in 85 ; labour and laboui ers in, 391 INDEX. Isabel Powters, Mr. A. Heath's, 623 Islington Agricultmol HnU Poultry Show, ol Ivei7 ^ Si>n*s Dorking Nursery, 109 Ivorv, vegetable, 378 ls.ias. 238 Jai'an Flax for tying, 490 Japanese plants, saleof, 250, 330 Java sparrows claanging colour, 304 Judges should be aloue, 362 Keele Hall, 284, 274 Keighley Poultry Show, 221 Kt-nsington Palace Gardens, bedding- out at, 249 Krnt, gardens worth seeing, 191 Ke\T Gardens, bedding-out at, 104 Kidney Beans— need no sticks, 93; forcing, 397 Kildare Horticultural Exhibition, 143 Lancashire, gabdehs woeth see- ing, 191,249 Land-measuring, 105 Liipageria rosea— culture, 135; out of doors, 272 Laurels— dwarf, under Elms, 491 ; leaves, insect on, 518 Lawn— weeds on, to destroy, 197 ; triangular flower-beds on, 237 ; to remove moss from, 337 ; level- ling and relaying, 477 Lead — pipes, to prevent poisoning by, 313; cistern, water in, 444; iu water, detecting, 464 Leaves, do they absorb moisture? 408 Leeds PouUry Show, 481 Leicestershire and Waltham Poultry Show, 178 Leicestershire, gardens worth seeing, 191, 293 Leigh Poultry Show, 261 Lettuce— planting, 56; large, 111; insect attacking, 165; Cabbage, culture, 358 Lewisia rediviva, 113 Ligularia Hodgsoni, 471 Lilium lancifolium — culture, 94 ; repotting, 299 Lily of the Valley dwindling, 360 " Lime-trees diseased, 126 ; super- phosphate of to apply, 175 Lincolnshire, gardens worth seeing, 191 Linnet, Grey, 284 Linton Park, 145; massing colours at, 169 Linum, flavum cut'ings, 318; lanci- folium failures, 329 Liquid manure, soot as, 144; for Koses, l.i4 Lobelia Faxtoni. 141,439; kermesina as a bedding plant, 164; speciosa not prospering, 259; Paxtoniana cuttings, 419 Lonicera aureo- reticulata hardy, 94, 145; flava, layering, 94; fragran- tissima not flowering, 175 Longridge Agricultural Society's Poultry Show, 300 Low, Mr. H., death of, 240 Maiden-hair Fern culture, 76 Wacleania cordata, 110 Manchester— Field Naturalist So- ciety, 29 ; and Liverpool Poultry Show, 220; Poultry Show, 339, 520 ; Pigeons at, 521 Manufactories, utilising steam from, 298 Manure for flower-beds, 190 Marking trees, 215 May flowers, 49 Mealy Bug on Birch treeH, 477 Melons— failing, 42; thinning, 94; large, 110 ; cracking, 155 ; not coming to perfection, 228 ; house, heating. 360 Meredith's graperies at Garston, 166, 253 Merlhyr Tydfyl Poultry Show, 95 Mesembryanthemum tricolor for bedding, 141 Mtyeiiiii Vogeliuna, 49 Mice— poisoning, 279 ; in garden wall, 459 Miconia pulverulenta, 391 Micro&tylis discolor, 296 Midland counties Bird Show, 322 Middleton Poultry Show, 260 Mignonette— for conservatory, 318; culture of specimen, 430 Mildew of conservatory Vines, 311 Mimulus — cupreus culture, 30; cu- preus, prolonging blooming, 128; cutting ofi" seeds, 146 Mimuluses, Mary and Bessie, 113 Mistletoe— on a Peach tree, 419; on the Gooseberry, 431 ; on the Acacia, 470; on what trees itis found, 509 "i. ■•■- '■^•-- _ Mitraria coccinea— soil for, 299 ; and culture, 374 Monmouth Poultry Show, 341 Moss— for dr-unuge, 175; dyeing green, 404 ; dyeing blue and green, 504; in composts, 511; instead of pots for bedding plants, 511 Moulting, aiding, 344 Mowing machines, 16 Musa- Caveiidishii, weight of fruit, 12; sapientum, var. vittata, 238 Mushrooms— beds, dung for, 67 ; and spawn, to make, 153, 239, 377, 490; culture, 194, 195, 336; pro- duced tardily, 2lu ; to distinguish, 299; forcing, 417; bed manage- ment, 476 ; sprtwn, 490 Myrtle leaves diseased, 318 NECTAaiNJss— Cbickett, 188 ; hardy, 338 ; Victoria, 391 ; buds inserted last year, 459 ; in orchard-houses, 507 Nephelaphyllura scapigerum, 49 Netting— fruit, 93 ; to preserve, 115 Newport Poultry Show, 501, 524 New Zealand Flax culture, 440 NewmiJlerdam Poultry Show, 96 Norfolk Ornithological Society's Show, 422, 484 North Rode Hall, 270 Northern Counties Poultry Show, 380 Northampton, gardens worth seeing, 293, 333 Northumberland, gardens worth seeing, 9, 49, 313 Notes on gardeas, 109 Nuphar, species of, 248 Nymphaeas, 248 Oak, removing Evergreen, 115 CEnothera acaulis for bedding, lU Oleander cuttings, 299 Oncidium— papilio culture, 13; sar- codea, 334 Ophelia umbellata, 113 Orange— propagation by eyes, 8; tree unhealthy, 219 Orchard-house — oriental, 12 ; suc- cessful management of, 146, 187 ; is it a forcing-house 1 389; and Peach-houses, 4i)5, 489 ; a plea for ; management of, 507 "Orchidaceous Plants, Select," 48, 329 Orchids— what constitutes high cul- ture in epiphytal, 289; resting, 450 Ormskirk and Southport Poultry Snow, 15C Omithogalum capitatum, 49 Oswestry PouUry Show, 280 Ourisia Pearce's, 49 Ousel, a white, 100 Ouvirandra fenestralis culture, 400 Oxygen, use of free to plants, 468 Pampas Grass, 366, 487 ; not flowering, 399 Pansy, culture, 27S ; seed, sowing, 299 Pansies — Her Majesty, Prince of Wales, Princess of Wales, and Tho.iias Muore, 471 Papavei', monstrous, 171 Paris, jottiii^js (roin, 62 Parrot picking its feathers, 364 Parsley- growing under difficulties, 147 ; growing for winter, 234 Peaches— triiining, Du Breuil's, 115 ; dropping, 116; trees in pots under Vines, 135; double-flowering be- coming single. 154; Stump of the World, Exquisite, Noblesse Seed- ling, Golden Kareripe, Peach-Nec- tarine, Canary, Monstrueuse de Du^, Honey, Turenne Amelior^e, and Crimson, 188; house, 241; Chancellor, 299; the Stone, 318 ; vnuii^ trees unfruitful, 318 ; for North Wales, 319; hardy, ;.3S; house management, 359 . tvee->. transplanting, 400; hous-^s, 40:, 419; under class and on the op .-n wall, 465 ; on trellis, 477 ; in or- chard-houses, 507 Pears— decaying on the tree, 37; leaves spotted, 91; Zephirin Gr6- goire, 113; De Maraise and Belle Julie, 238 ; the Styrian, 267 ; for espaliers, 299 ; for wall, 299, 360; Josephine de Malines, 319; Gra- ham's Autumn Nelis, 331 ; spotted and decaying, 477; for a north- east and east wall, 478 ; orchard- houses, 508 Peas— dwarf Sweet, required, 12; and bow to grow them, 22 ; de- scriptive list of, 23; changing its colour by crossing, 415 Peat in composts, 486 Pelargoniums — for a window, 94 ; Scarlet and Zonale, a word in favour of, 108; wmtering seedUng, 196 ; Cloth of Gold, propagating, 2U; Achilies and Artist, 296; wintering in a room, 400; selec; list, 440, 498; for exhibition in June, 499 Pentstemons, li^t of, 37, 497 Petunias— Mrs Sodth, 391 ; culture of double, 399 Petworth House, 186 Pheasants, Chinese, 18 Phloxes— list of, 37 ; culture of, 175 Picotee, Col. Clarke, 471 Pigeons — speed of Carrier, 260 ; dung, 278 ; weight of; 364 ; stock- ing a loft with, 364 ; Isabel, 384, 403 ; Show at Sheffield, 401 ; new varieties of, 443 Pine Apples -planted out, 379; de- caying, 439 Pinks, Rev. G. Jeans and Lord Herbert, 296 Finns aristata, 91 Piping surface required for hot- water heating, 45 Pipes— surface of, required, 399; covering for bottom heat, 439 Pit— heating, 219, 319, 379, 399; glass for, 338 ; for bedding plants, heating, 399 Pitcher- pi ants, resting, 450 Plant case— lamp-heating a, heating outside window, heating, 499 Planting, 310 Pleroma elegans, sowing, 115 Plougli, the old Kentish, 48 Plums—in pois, 57; Belle de Sep- tembre, 296 ; for north wall, 379 ; unlruitful, 439 Pocklington Poultry Show, 179 Polauds— white topknot, 424; at the Norfolk Show, 444 Polyporus betnlinus for razor-stropa, 432 Polystichum coriaceum losing its fronds, 134 Poplar, rapid-growing, 154 Post, pltnts by, 196 Potatoes— large, growth of, HI ; culture at Bromborough Poor Works, 268; Royal Ash-leaved Kidney, 237 ; experiments on, 427, 452 ; to grow early, 516 Pot -culture of fruit v. planting-out, 445 Poultry— mortality among young, SO; entrieij, relative number, 197 ; Shows, losses at, 261 ; feeding for exhibition, 264 ; exhibiting, 300 ; exhibitions, 319; for profit, 324 ; with diseased livers, 324; shows, relative entries at, 339 ; Judges should be alone, 339 ; weight of, 361; sale of at exhibitions, 361; selling precautions, 381; stating age at fthuws, 381 ; selling at Ex- hibitions. 401 ; prepaying for, 402 ; exhibiting profitably, 402; food, 444 ; disordered. 464 ; vulture hocks in, 484 ; houses, boarded flo >rs foi-, 484 Powters, Isabel, Mr. A. Heath's, 523 Prickly Fear, to grow, 517 Primulas— sinensis seedling, 219; with short flower-stems, 378 Propdg.iting-house, heiting a small, 143 Protecting plants, 4G7 PuUeis laying, 223 Pyrethrums, 238 360; 360 : Rabbits- EAR gum in, 160; for ex- hibition, 424 Radish culture, 358 Railway arrangements for poultry shows, 479 Ranuncuiusi a — list of show, 45 ; Fidelia and Linden, 113; culture, 360 Raspberry canes, plaiLing, 94 Raspberries on light soil, 338 Red Cap lowKs, 80 Red spider on Grapes nearly ripe, 57 Rhododendrons— Bhotan, atRedleaf, 8 ; Balemaniand Prince of Wales, 49; Countess of Devon, 2^8; Scan- dish's Pefection, 296 ; lime in com- post for, 38 ' ; seedlings decaying, 399 ; ir>m?planting, 469 ; twelve hardy, 478 RicharUia, watering and potting, 458 Richardias. 249 Rhus succedane i treatment, 219 Ribbon-border, 50 Rock plants, 158 Rondeletia speciosa culture, 491 PkOots — ;ireserving, 278 ; and leaves, 332, 370 Rosery at Ipswich, 446 Rosea— in pots, ciilture of, 3; propa- gation Irom eyes, 9 ; briar stocks fur, 17 ; Sho.v, National, 24; stocks, haybands round, 27 ; in pots, second season, 30 ; Hybrid Perpetuals on own roots, 37 ; list of for forcing, 37 ; at Messrs, Erasers', 45 ; Margottin's new, 62; leaves spotted, 115; for the suburbs, 183 ; mildew on, 196 ; Rev. H. Douibrain, Mrs. W. Paul, 238; for borders, 258; new, 306 ; Hybrid Perpetual for a bed, 310 ; six dark Hybrid Perpetuals, 318 ; new, 326 ; for pegging down, 337; Reiaede la Fape, 337; for pot culture, 3oS ; not flowering, 338 ; exbibiting-stands for, 360; pruning, 378; not flowering, 379 ; Madame Falcot, 391 ; pruning pillar, 399 ; transplanting, 399 ; shoot of Banksian, 399; conser- vatory not blooming, 399 ; ex- hibiting, 407 ; trees, burying their roots deeply, 431; Cloth of Gold not flowering, 4t0; exhibiting, 448, 5u6 ; in the suburbs, 449 ; from cutiings, 451 ; in pots for green- house. 451 ; tu bloom in winter, 458 ; Banksian on wall not flower- ing, 458 ; ia cases, 453 ; protecting, 458; for pillars, 459; Cranston's "Cultural Directions for," 511; planting, 515 Rouen— drake's bill, 284; Ducks* bill, colour of, 484 Roupy poultry, 364 Rushes, destroying, 378 Russelia— juncea uulture, 220; jun- cea, 246 Rust, protecting iron from, 3C4 Salvia patula not flowering, 319 Salading for winter, 358 Sand— for potting, 319 ; for plants, 360 ; silver v. ye loiv, 459 ; in com- posts, 509 ; river and drift, 510 Sareopodium psittacoglossum, 296 Sawbridgeworth, notes on novelties at, 44 ; runners rooting, 47 Scotch Bakies, 484 Scottish Ornithul^jgical Association Show, 522 Screen before a road, 419 Sea-kale— serving, 218; under pots, 360 ; planting, 379 ; forcing a row of, 420 Sea-side, trees for, 299 Selby Poultry Show, 58 Senecio pyramidatus, 113 Sexual parts of plants, 135 Shallot culture, 258 Sbeep among Yews, &c., 439 Sheffield Poultry Show, 18, 202 Shropshire, gardens worth seeing, 413, 456 Shrubs of low growth, flowering, 419 Silene Elizabeth*, 238 Silkworms' eggs, 344 Slimy grub, 94 Slugs— trapping, 297 ; new mode or trapping, 317; to destroy, 338; on Calceolarias, 378 Smoky locality, trees, &c., for, 478 INDEX. Snakes destroy chickens, 136 Soot as a liquid manure, 144 Spade, the, 21 Spanish — fowls for a email enclosure, 116; lump in hen's throat, 120; cock's comb drooping, 344, 424 Sparkenhoe Poultry Sliow, 197 Spergula pilifera, destroying worms in, 477 Sphaeralcea acerifolia, 2t)fi Sphccrog-yne latifolia propagating, Ac. 419 SpiriBa venusta not flowering, 360 Spring gardening, 2S8 Spruce Fira for light soil, 439 Squirrel — management, 223 ; feed- ing, 424 Stachys palustris as a substitute for Asparagus, 219 Staffordshire Agrionltural Society's Poultry Sliow, 202 Staffordshire, gardens worth seeing, 191,413 Stamford Horticultural Show. 27 Stauranthera grandiflora, 391 Steam pipes, 298 Stephanotis floribunda fruiting, 372, 410, 448. 469; pruning, 419 Stocks, wintering Emperor and Brompton, 298 Stove— (brick) lor greenhouse, 241 ; arrangement of, 438; portable, in greenhouse, 477, 498 ; plants to bloom in each month, 499 Strawberries— soil, making, 12; tan a? a covering, 14 ; culture, 16, 43, 57, 151, 3G8 ; growing successfully, 25, 305; in France, 30; protecting from slugs, 43 ; growing, 66 ; forcing, 70, 299, 397, 438, 459, 496; slugs on, 87 ; failing, on clayey soil, 91 ; on light soil, 134 ; latest time to plant, 175 ; cutting off leaves, 406, 448, 489; Frogmore Late Pine, 471 ; planting, 496 ; plan of growing near the glass, 517 Studley Royal, 28, 45 Surface-stirring in hot weather, 35 Suffolk, gardens worth seeing, 271, 413. 437 Suffolk Poultry Show, 300 Sussex, gardens worth seeing, 191 Syringing after dressing trees, 498 1 TaGRTES PCMItA POR BEDItINO, 141 Tanks— hot-water, 250; healing a I Cucumber-pit, 259; heating, 278; I heated room, use of, 399 j Tanner's barb, fungns on, 399 : Tai-porley Poultry Show, 2'il ' Teratology, vegetable, 171 Tetrathecu verticillata culture, 42 Thripa on Grapes nearly ripe, 57 Thunbcrgia coccinea culture, 379 Tbyme, Lemon, 115 Tobacco— leaves, drying, 135 ; quan- tity re(iuired for fumigating, 318 Todmorden Botanical Society, 271, 331, 432 Tomatoes, growing under glass, 89 Tonbridge Wells Poultry Show, 380 Torry HUl, 308 Transplanting large shrubs, 269 I Ti'ees— notes on hardy deciduous, 71,88; for a dry soil, 518 Tremandra verticillata, 175 Tremella nostoc, 318 I Trenching, it« advantage?, 417 Trentham, 327, 354, 374, 392, 413, ! 434, 499 ; Tritoma uvaria culture, 219 I Tritomas and their culture, 426 TropEEoIums— culture of, 115, 220; greenhouse, 302 ; select, 518 ! Truffles and Truffle-beds, 295 Tuberoses after flowering, 299 Turf— laying down, 88 ; preparing for potting, 438 Turkeys — baskets for conveying, 223; roupy, 344 Turkey Mill Gardens, 366 Undkrcover for a wood, 459 llropedium Lmdenii, 11 Varnish for rustic seats, 1S2 Verbenas— for early bloom 162; se- lect list of, 175; cuttings, 240; triphylla cuttings, 241 ; Purple King, cuttings. 337 ; list of new, 387 ; classed lists of, 467 Villarsias, 249 Vines— propagating by eyes, 8 ; cut- ting down old, 26 ; mildew, salt for, 57 ; leaves spotted, 76 ; break- ing again soon after forcing, 85; preventing mildew on, 88 ; proper stocks for, 89 ; in a greenhouse, 94 ; mildew, sulphur water a re- medy for. 115; leaf-stalks gan- grening, 124; in pots, 135; in boKcs, 175; lifting, 176; leaves blotched, 196; chemistry of soils for, 209 ; fungus on, 219 ; planting and selecting, 245; culture, 258; border, covering, 257 ; to form, 245, 259; training, 278; for a vinery, 299; turning out, 318; ■weak, 318; for cold vinery, 318; lifting roots of, 332 ; mildew on, 338; propagating from eyes, 356; lifimg roots and remaking the border, 365; cultivation in pots, 367,379; borders, superphosphate of lime for, 379; lifting roots and renewing the border, 385 ; mildew on, 390; in pots, soil for, 419; scorched, 420 ; close pruning, 430; grafting, 447, 458; pruning, 468, 487; starting in January, 459; early, and with Peaches and Pines, 478 ; bone manure for, 478 ; border, renewing and planting, 488 ; forcing, 498 ; renewing without losing a crop, 506, 516 Vinery— planting, 76; for six Vines 94; heating, 220, 299; moderating' its temperature, 380; converting greenhouse to one, 400; manage- ment, 490; back wall to, 420; ground or curate's lean-to, 447; and pinery combined, 458 ; keep- ing air moist, 476; filling up blanks in, 478 Vineries— ground, 272, 319, 349 ; arrangement and planting, 518 Violets not blooming, 499 Virginian Poke, 196 ; eaten in Ame- rica, 220 Wakefield Poultry Show, 201 ; lost fowls at, 280 Walk, weeds on gravel, 338 Walnut tree— unhealthy, 155 ; ma- nagement, 310 Warwickshire, gardens worth seeing, 470 Wasps, 284 ; destroying, 140 : male, 404 : as paper-makers ; male have no stings, 483 Water— importance of clean, 133: Lilies transplanting, 459 Wuterford Poultry Show, 263 Wax moths. 203 Webbla pinifolia, 391 Week, work for, 14, 31. 55, 74, 92, 113, 132. 151, 173, 194, 216, 238, 255, 276. 296, 316, 335, 357, 376, 396, 416, 437, 456, 474, 495, 515 : Doings of last week, 15. 34. 56, 75, 93, 114, 133, 152, 174, 195, 217, 239, 256, 277, 297, 317, 335, 358. 377,397,417,43,^,457,475,496, 515 Weigela rosea for a north wall, 511 Well Head Gardens, 193, 212, 229 Welton Place, 493 What other flowers think of it, 187 Wheat plant's vitsd powers, 271 Whitchurch and Malpas Poultry Show, 263 Window, plants for N.W., 498 Wintering — border plants, house for, 241 ; bedding plants, 279. plants in cold greenhouee, 390; in hotbed frame, 398; but no greenhouse, 399 : plants, 429 Wireworms injuring Vine roots, 94 Woodlice, destroving, 37, 220 Wood, Mr. W., 489 Woods, coloured, in landscape gar- dening, 70 Woodstock Poultry Show, 301 Worcestershire, gardens worth seeing, 233, 373 Worcesterhsire Poultry Show, 76 Workhouse, what may be done there, 284 Worms— in pots, 13 ; to destroy, 259 Yews — what animals ark poi- soned BT IT ? 47 1 ; hedge on clay soil, 477 : cattle among, 491 ; herbivorous, animals among, 524 Yorkshire Agricultural Society's Poultry Show, 117, 482 Yorkshire, gardens worth seeing, 85, 191, 333 Yuccas — removing, 379 ; fllamen- tosa, protecting, 399 Zinc tank, rapid decat of, 215 WOODCUTS. PAGE. Agaricns fertilis 395 Apple-trellis 235 Beaton, Mr. D , Portrait of..... 415 Bees, Apparatus for Uniting 119 ,, Feeder 3G3 „ Foul Brood 423 Boiler, Garden 410 Boronia rutosma 214 Bottom heat for Beds, four modes of giving 514 Catasetum fimbriatura 192 Cephalotaxua drupacea 455 „ Fortune! 454 Colocasia odorata 90 Colourg, Jlclody and Harmony of 10 Conservatory and Palm-house, Ground Plan of 350 Conservatory at Keele Hall 274 ,, at Trentham 414 Coop, Poultry 38 Cyclamen Atkinsi 150 Ducks, CayugaBlack 279 EchinocdCtus rhodoplhalmus 70 Erica elegans 131 PAOE. Erica vastcfiora 181 Flower Garden Plans, 49, 71, 170, 294, 394, 434, 435 Forcingand Plant-houses arrangement of... 51 Foul Brood, microscopic examination ot 423 Gardener's House at Trentham 354 Greenhouse Bhnds, rolling up 495 Holly Hedge 275 Hoya imperiulis 254 Jardiniere, March's 6 Land Measnring 106 Macleania cordata 110 Marking Trees 215 Mitraria coccinea 274 Oncidium sarcodes ,,.. 334 Papaver, transformed 171 Pentilly Castle Flower Garden 71 PmusaristLta 91 Parsley, ridges for 234 ,, Pot for covering 234 Peach-houses, Planting 236 „ Wall Case 236 Pear, Styrian 267 PAGE. Pine-houses, Construction of 314, 315 Polmaise Heating 47S Poultry-feeder S21 Propagating-house at Bcrkhampstead 473 Pits at 474 Bottom heat for 474 Ribbon-border, Plan of 49 Rose, Coupe d'Hebt^ 31 Trentham, Flower Gardens at 394, 434 ., Upright Houses at 355 Truffle, Black 295 Trellis foi Apple Trees 235 Uropedium Llndenii 11 Vegetable Teratology 171 Vineries, construction of 314, 315 „ at Keele Hall 235, 236 „ at Bcrkhampstead 471 „ Trentham 274, 374 Vines, Propagating by Eyes S „ Pruning 487 Wasps' Nests 483 Welton Place, wilderness at 494 }u)y 7, 1863. ] JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day of M'nth Day of Weeli. JULY 7-13, 1863. Average Temperature Rain in near London. j^^.^^,.^ Sun I'ises. Sun Sets. Moon U.ses. Moon Sets. j\Ioon's Age. Clock before Sun. Day at Year. LIBRA NEW Y Day. Night. Mean. 1 Days. m. h. m. h. m. h. Ui. h. in. s. BOTANl 7 To W. Curtis died, 1799. B. 73.e 61.8 tl2.7 ' 19 53af 3 ICafS lafll 2 al (1 d 4 30 133 R W Bell-flower flowerp. 73.8 50.2 P2.» 1 19 54 3 15 8 26 11 17 1 22 4 39 189 QARDl 9 Tn Rampion tlowferi=. 74.0 SO.II G2.0 16 55 3 14 8 53 11 25 2 23 4 49 190 10 F Cardinal-Hewer ttuwers. 74.3 51.1 62.7 14 66 3 14 8 nioin- 34 3 24 4 S8 191 11 S Mullein flowers. 74 S 61 2 631 9 67 8 13 8 27 0 34 4 25 5 6 192 12 SltN 6 SUKUAT AFrKU TRI^1TT. 75.5 511,9 61 2 12 .'8 S 12 8 7 1 30 5 20 6 14 193 ■ 13 M D. Douglas killeil, 1834. G. 75.3 51,8 63,8 13 S9 3 11 8 53 1 IS 6 27 0 22 194 From observatiiins taken near London duvinj tlie last thiny-aix years, the average day temperature of the week is 74 5 °, and its night tem aeratur e Sl.C. The gre.iteat heat was K" on the 12th, 1859 ; and the lowest raid, 36", on the 7lh, 1860. The grea' et't lall c f rain was 1.10 inch. PLANTS SUITABLE FOE A GKAVE. I yTIL ]iuUic taste submits to woll-cliastened rules, it is difficult to say Jiow far it maj-go astrayinitsanxiety after novelty even in this, tlie most solemn of all the instances in which, it exer- cises its avocation — the de- coration of the resting-place of the departed. It affords little surprise, therefore, that now and then an authority, armed v.ith the necessary powers, enforces views differing con- siderably from the wishes of those who would like to do as they pleased with the surface earth above a departed rela- tive. Certainly no assemblage of objects presents so much diversity of ornament as the fashionable cemetery of the jiresent day. A company of weil-dressed people, conform- ing as they invariably do to certain conventional rules, have so many things in common, that in point of diversity they are tame compared with the fancy tomb and its accompaniments. This growth of fancy is of recent date, for our old churchyards present but little variety. Certainly the local custom of one neighbourhood diflers from that of another a hundred miles or more away ; but in each the changing events of a couple of centuries have made but little change in the manner in which the graves of the dead have been honoured by the living. i?ut it is not our province to give any opinion thus upon the stone, marble, and metallic enormities. Another feature has been added which, perhaps, has given rise to as much angry feeling as that of the sculp- ture amongst those who assume to have the direction of matters of that kind — the planting of flowers upon and around a grave ; and it is in answer to a query from a correspondent, " What kind of flowers ought to be planted there?" that I with some unwillingness address myself to the task of giving my opinion on the subject. Although the decoration of the graves of departed friends with flowers is of great antiquity, and has been kept alive by the stirring appeals of the poet as well as the writer of romance ; yet in many parts of England it has either fallen into disuse or has never been practised at all, and it is questionable whether it has ever been so popidar in any part of England as it is in The Principality. The impetus, however, given to it by the customs of many of the well-to-do in the example they set in deco- rating the tombs of their frieuds in our public cemeteries No. 119.— Yet. v., New Series, may, doubtless, find an echo in the other classes ; and after some extraordinary attempts at novelty made by some of the more ambitious something like uniformity may, perhaps, be at length arrived at, and the extrava- gant idea too often displayed may receive such an amount of public censure as to make it a matter of wide exception. Assuredly the simplicity of our primitive fathers never contemplated that the decorations of the graveyard should compete with the parterre, although the latter at that early period was of meagre extent as compared v,'ith its magnitude now ; and most likely the system of planting flowers over a grave had its origin in the first instance in gathered flowers being scattered there. The sympa- thetic mind of the poet can easily suggest to itself the innocent gambols of young children, plucking the Violets, Primroses, and other wayside flowers that came in the way of their accompanying their only remaining parent to visit the grave of her much-loved partner. It is very easy to picture licr seated on the grassy mound, the turf from its recent disturbance having a withered and unin- viting appearance ; and it requires no great flight of the imagination to conjecture the tiny lapfuls ot Daisies, Buttercups, and Violets of the little flower-gatherers left as an ofl'ering on their father's grave ; while on a second visit the mother's ears are saluted on the journey by the news that the eldest of the little party in plucking a Violet pulled up a plant also, and suggests it might perhaps grow on some naked place on "father's grave," where the turf did not meet. Transported there, it grows, is carefully watched, and at each visit its history and how it came there is brought to mind ; and another naked place being jperceived, a plant is this time sought for aoid brought to occupy the vacant spot. Erom such begin- nings it is likely we owe our somewhat overstrained mode of ornamenting the grave with the gayest orna- ments of the flower garden. Observe, I say " overstrained notion of ornament," for I by no means fall into the views of those who think such things suitable there, however much it may be desirable to do honour to the remains of those gone from \is. Certainly the feelings which prompt such offerings are of more consequence than the offering itself ; but society at large would speedily make unpleasant remarks if some mourner at a funeral attended that ceremony attired in the gayest colours that fashion commands in the ball-room. It would bo held as a poor excuse for such an unusual departure from es- tablished customs to be told that " respect for the dead " prompted the bearer to array herself in that way. Following out the sober idea of suiting the ornament to the purpose, let us see in what way the " little spot of gi'ound" — the final earthly resting-place of each of us, or of such as may be so honoured, ma,y be beautified without any departure from the feelings which ought to pervade sucji a place. I bj' no means object to all floral decoration, but as far as possible I would advise its being with low-growing indigenous plants, and more especially such as tlower early. No. 771.— Vol. XXX., Old Sebfes. JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. r July 7, 18G3. Of sucli, many reasons jjoint out the Violet as one of the most suitable. Lowly and unassuming in its out- ward charaoter, its beauties and its worth are ascertained by a closer acquaintance ; besides which, there is sometliing almost hallowed in the name, and I would in this instance go as far as to allow the cultivated variety to be substituted for the wild one. Next to the Violet we have the Primrose, than which neither the flower garden nor the hothouse jjossesses a more lovely gem. If more variety than the wild one be wanted, the double one of the same colour, or the double or single white, might be admitted ; but I would not advise the dark- coloiu'ed ones. Primroses and Violets are imqnestiouably the most im- portant of cm- graveyard plants ; although closely following on them, and perhajjs in some instances, as in that of beautifying the resting-place of a child, the Snowdrop be- comes appropriate ; and this early harbinger of returning spring may al.^o be planted on every grave almost, where its unassuming iiowers present to the iiUgrim the first of Nature's gems of the season. Contrasting, therefore, so well with the herbage which aftenvai-ds succeeds it, the Snowdi'oiJ is by universal consent an acknowledged legal occupant of the grave. I am far fi-om acknowledging the same right to its neigh- bour- in the garden — the Crocus. Its foreign origin and gaudy hue seem to point out a place for it elsewhere. If, however, the taste of the party interested decide on the Crocus, I would confine the colour used to white, or, in stretching a point, blue might be added ; but I think yeUow too glaring to harmonise with other sober objects around it. I believe with these few and simple flowers my ambition in doing honour' to the grave would be satisfied, as all might be planted on an unprotected mound, and all siu'vive the rough ordeal of the scythe. It would, however, be as well to mention here plants adapted to certain localities which might with perfect propriety be included also in our cate- gory. In iby soils partaking of the sand the little Stone- crop (Sedum acre), might be advantageously used. In like maimer on a chalky soil the wild Thyme might form a useful adjunct : there is something appropriate in the sound of the name of the latter. On soils of an opposite character, shady and moist, some of the Mosses might foi-m usefol adjuncts ; and here, again, the plant by its name speaks poetically to our feelings. And while we in all instances would allow the turf to a certain extent to occupy the prominent part of the "sod" which overlies the remains of a departed friend, a judicious admix- ture of the plants mentioned above may form an ornamental feature to au unenclosed grave better than the rough herbage which otherwise might occupy the place. The pretty little grass-lite plant Thrift might, however, be admitted, and might form a usefvd featm-e on exj50sed places near the coast ; and a neat-gi-owing little herbaceous plant, an Everlasting, might be introduced as a fitting object here also. Observe, I have advised the adoption of only low-gi'owing plants as fitting memorials of such a place. The WaUflower which grows on some church walls and on some ascends to the summit of the tower, sowing itself abundantly below, is nevertheless in my opinion nnsiuted to the grave. In like manner Snapdragon, which I have seen take possession of a waU at a great elevation, as well as Valerian, ai-e plants all too tall to meet the requirements of what I would lay down as a standard in such cases. The herbaceous flower-border afi'ords several more plants of great beauty and suitability ; but I am unwilling to allow any but those of home origin a place among our British dead. Much has been said about the Rose, and it is almost sedition to say anything against this acknowledged queen of flowers ; but I am far from certain that the graveyard is a fitting abode for her. Ths time-honoured custom of associating the sombre Yew with oiu- graveyards has in all Ukelihood led to the Cypress being a subordinate appendage to the same object, and small Cypresses are frequently studded around sculptural ornament. This, of course, is confined to the more affluent, and deserves a notice hereafter ; but I would ask a very homely question of those who recommend such aspiring plants as Cypress and Juniper to ornament the graves of a crowded churchyai-d, what it would look liie if every graD-e in the place were simOarly planted ? It would be a perfect shi'ubbery lacking the variety observable elsewhere. Be- sides, a grave planted with shrubs or high-growing plants conceals from view the sight of several of the graves beyond it, thereby acqidring exclusive attention from passers-by. More might be said on this head, but I leave it and pass at once to another feature in graveyard or cemetery decoration — that of the enclosed plots called family graves. Belonging as these objects do to the wealthier classes of society, we might reasonably expect in these tokens of a refined taste. It is much to be feared the spii'it of compe- tition has much to do with the pageantry to Ije found here. Of sculptural ornament it is not my province to speak ; but can anything be more at variance v.'ith the quiet solitude by which the spot is invested than the glaring colour's by which it is too often decked out ? An enclosure containing white stone or marble sculjitiu-e is surrounded by ii'onwork often bronzed or gilded, and through the openings ai-e seen the brightest scarlet Geraniums and yellow Calceolarias that the florist can furnish. It may be that my ideas lag behind the spirit of the times ; but I nevertheless have no hesita- tion in putting them forth as opposed to this glitter. The gayest part of the parterre caimot exceed what is seen sometimes around a grave. Assuredly there is a jjroper place for everything. Elsewhere the Verbena, Lobelia, and Petunia look well, but a grave is not the place for them. That plants ai-e necessary there I admit ; and those proper for such a small plot as is sometimes enclosed render it anything but easy to suggest what is best suited for it ; and I hope some of your readers will impart their oi)inions on this matter. My own are as follow : — If it were possible to retain the verdure of the turf, short, thick, and velvety in the imiform condition it is seen in when at its best, as in showery weather in May after it has been recently mown, I do not know of anything which could improve it ; but the ever-changing features of vegetable life render a certain amount of labour necessary to keep tui'f in order. This is not always convenient to those who reside at a distance from the spot. Something, therefore, that would form a substitute for grass in smaD isolated spots is much wanted ; and when Spergula pdifera was announced to the gardening world as an acquisition Ul^ely to supersede turf, not requiring any mowing, &c., I was in hopes we had a plant in many respects suitable to decorate the grave. Unfortunately, with me at least, the plant has been a com- plete failui'e ; and we must select something else as a sub- stitute for that sod which is destined to cover the remains of all that is left of mortality. A plant that woidd look well at all times, and without the trouble which grass entails, would be a great acquisition. The compact habit and deep green foliage of Saxifraga hyp- noides give it strong claims to our notice, and I am in hopes it will answer. There is, however, no reason why some of the flowers mentioned as applicable might not also be adopted here ; and perhaps a dwarf Rose might be intro- duced, a miniatui-e Cypress or two, or a small stunted Yew, which may have previously been ke2jt in a fiower-pot, and to keep it dwarf may still be kept plunged in that condition ; but gay summer-flowering plants, such as are usually called bedding plants, ought not to be used. Certainly some little order and appearance of cultivation may be shown. The plants may just touch each other, but need not crowd. Supposing a plot G feet square required planting, there might be one or two dwai-f Cypresses, just as the number of graves required. These might stand near the head, and the remainder of the space dotted over with patches of Violets, Stonecrop, Saxifraga hypnoides, or S. tii- dactylitos, which becomes an excellent and closely formed cushion of the deepest gi-een ; a jjatch or two of Primroses, which if removed when done flowering might give place to a dwarf Phlox, of which P. subulata is very good ; and I am not certain but that the deep gi'een foliage of the Saxi&'age might .allow an Auricula by the side of it. Snowdrops, of course, must not be forgotten ; and there is a dwai-f Ever- lasting, the foliage of which, as well as its flower, looks well at all seasons. With these I shordd say be content ; or if some of them were omitted it might perhaps be as well. It is, nevertheless, not unlikely but another set of plants might be adopted by some one else equally well adapted for the pui-pose. July V, 1863. JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. Before concluding, I may add that I by no means disap- prove of the cultm-e of flowers in a public cemetery, although I cannot see in which way the undue preference given to bedding plants can be recommended on any plea excepting that of gaiety at one particular time, and that not of long endurance. Assuming, as is very often the case, that a cii'- cumferential border exists, shutting the interior from out- ward objects, evergreen shrubs oiight to predominate on this border, so as to give it a clothed appearance in winter; whUe in the front of this border may be cultivated a great diversity of flowers. I wiU not say that it may be converted into a fashionable ribbon-border, but many of the plants so used may have a place here, planted amongst others of their heio'ht and character. This may be a feature in the exterior border, but the clumps or beds that diversify the centre ouo-ht to be more sober in their exhibition of floral gaiety, while evergi-eens must predominate stUl more extensively. Nevertheless, such plants as Pinks, Iberis, Ai-abis, &c., might be grown to advantage ; and nothing looks better than the double white Rocket, for with so much turf and evergreen white or light-coloured flowers wUl teU to most advantage, and there are several of the hue — as, for instance, some Campanulas, white Phloxes, and I cannot see any ob- jection to patches of Cerastiiun ornamenting the front ; but beyond this most if not all the other bedding-out plants must keep outside. It is needless for me to foUow this subject further ; but I hope others wiH favour us with their opinion, as it is a topic deserving the iJbtice of those best qualified to take of it a just view, and a series of letters in The Jouenal of Hor- ticulture would be of service. J. Roeson. CULTTJEE OF EOSES IN POTS. This is a topic of general interest, although the following is a reply to " R. S., Bristol," who asks for information how to grow potted Roses in quantities. Although you do not say so, we infer that your object is to get up a stock of Roses in pots, for blooming under glass in spring and early summer, and there is scarcely any other object in the whole round of gardening that is so likely to prove a source of pleasure to those who are fond of that which is sweet and beautiful. Supposing, then, that you desire to have Roses in bloom next sjiring, there are two ways by which your end can be attained. You Ciin either procui'e plants that are already established in pots and in a fit condition to be gently forced into bloom, or you can get plants from the nursery -rows in autumn and pot them yoiu'- self. And as it is your object to grow extensively, the latter is the course that is to be recommended, as being not only the cheapest way of obtaining a large stock, but will, by following the directions which shall here be given, jjrove perfectly successful. You should go to some good Rose-nursery early in autumn, and get the first pick of the number you requii'e fi-om the nursery-rows. Choose those that have broken from three or four buds, that have made half a dozen strong healthj' shoots and have stocks only a few inches high, or, perhaps, better stOl, that are grown on their own roots. Let youi- selection be marked, and having secured them, leave them where they grow tiU the middle of October, about which time they have generally pretty well matured their growth and are shedding their bottom leaves. This is the proper time to Uft and pot them with the view of getting them to form fresh roots before winter, and by gentle forcing to secm'e a crop of bloom the following spring. The plants should be lifted with care, preserving every twiggy root, and shortening with the knife those that are strong and pithy. Pot them firmly in pots ranging in size li'om 6 to 8 inches. The soil most suitable for them is a rather heavy loam, with about a third of well-rotted hotbed manui'e or cowdung, with a slight addition of road grit or coarse sand. The pots should be well drained, and in potting the roots should be nicely distributed among the soil. When potted and watered plunge them at once in a pit or frame where there is a gentle bottom heat. Keep them rather close for ten days, and when the days are di-y syringe them morning and afternoon, and keep them shaded fi-om the sun. After the first fortnight the lights may be taken off them for a few hours in the morning and evening, always putting the lights on for the night ; but do not shut them down closely. The gentle bottom heat and the close moist atmosphere will maintain the action of the roots and leaves, and by the end of November they will have made fi-esh roots to a con- siderable extent, and the buds on the last season's growths wiU be as firm and prominent as those which have not been disturbed at ail. The leaves wUl be aU shed, except a tuft at the top of each shoot. If by this time the bottom heat has not entirely gone, they should be removed to some cool place. Their removal fi-om such quarters wiU in most cases be a matter of necessity, as few are the places where there is such accommodation to devote to wintering plants that can be otherwise protected. They can be plunged in some sheltered place where heavy rains and severe frosts can be guarded against. Sawdust or cinder ashes form excellent material for plunging in, as either of these is not so subject to the destructive inroads of worms, and forms a better pro- tection to the roots than common garden soil. The time to prune Roses thus treated must be regulated and determined by the time that they are requii-ed to bloom in spring. In our own practice we have several times had Roses in bloom, under similar cu-cumstances, early in March; and when required so early they should be pruned by the middle of December. It gives the plants a much better chance the first year ; and, looking at them as permanent objects, it is far the best way to keep them at rest till the middle of February. Let it, however, be supposed that you would desire a few of them to flower in March, that few must be pruned at the time named above. Cut them back to two or three eyes, according to the strength of the shoots, always cutting more closely in the case of the weaker growths. By the first week of January they should be introduced into a temperatiu-e of 45° to 50" at night, and if they can be afforded a bottom heat of 60° it wiU be much to then- advan- tage in causing them to break regularly and strongly. They should be kept near the glass, and be freely syringed with tepid water at least twice a-day — morning and afternoon. As soon as the shoots attain about an inch in length increase the temioeratui'e by 5°, and on every favom-able opportunity admit a good supply of fresh an-. Keep them away from 'the heating apparatus, and shut up early in the afternoon with a moist atmosphere. There are few things more adverse to Roses than a di-y parching atmosphere. Increase the temperatm-e gradually to 60° by the time they show their bloom-buds. Green fly is a gi'eat pest to forced Roses, and must never be allowed to gain a footing ; but their most treacherous and destructive enemy is the small black maggot, with which all Eose-growers are familiar. It folds itself up in the leaves, from which retreat it salUes and eats into the centre of the Rose-bud when little larger than a pea. There is only one way, that I am awai-e of, that you can cope with this enemy, and that is to look over the plants every day ; and wherever you see the leaves folded up or sticking two together, there you wiU find a maggot which you will destroy ivith a hearty good wUl, and put an end to his gluttonous repast. When the buds show themselves above the foliage, be sure to give a free admission of an- on all occasions when weather will permit, at the same time avoiding currents of cold air. If this is not attended to, the flowers and their stems will be weak and short-Uved. Immediately the flowers begin to show theii' colour the plants must be removed to a house where the temperatm-e ranges about 55°, giving the plants plenty of room, light, and ail-. Here they will not only open then' flowers with a, higher colour and a gi-eater perfume, but the stems and leaves will acquire a degree of stifl'ness and strength so desirable in Roses, and which cannot bo attained in a higher temperature and a moister atmosphere. When in ftiU bloom a temperature of 50° is sirffieiently high. Under such cir- cumstances they wiU. remain in bloom a long time, more particularly if shaded from the sun, and carefiiUy attended to with water at the root — that is, if the soil is preserved in that genial condition so commonly described by gardeners as " neither wet nor dry." Under such circirmstances as these you can have the enjoyment of a display of this queen of flowers next March ; but as already stated, it is the better JOtTRNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ July 7, 1863. way for the plants to let them break the first season of their own a,ccord, and let them be bloomed with loss artificial heat. When the plants have done flowering they should by all means be as carefully attended to as if they had yet to bloom. It is too often the case that forced plants are sadly neglected and mismanaged after having yielded their crops of bloom for the season. They should be g-radually hardened- oif and not placed out of doors till aU danger from frost is past. If when lifted in the autumn they were potted into six and eight-inch pots, the strongest of them shotdd be shifted into pots two sizes, and the weakest into pots one size larger. When shifted it is of great advantage to them to be kept under glass for a week or two after. This is pre- suming that they are shifted before all danger from late frosts is over ; but, when shifted later in the season, they may be plunged out-doors at once. Choose a sheltered situation where thoy can at the same time have all the sun possible ; give them plenty of room, and see that the material in v/hich they are plunged is sufficiently 02)en, and the site weU drained, so that no stagnant water can stand about their roots, otherwise these would rot, and as a consequence the foha-ge would become yellow and drop off, leaving you with um-ipe and di.seased plants. Eoses, and in fact all other plants intended to be forced, should never be, as is too often the case, plunged in damp shady situations. Throughout the summer endeavour to supply them with water, sufficient to keep the soil at aU times in a healthy growing condition ; and should worms find then' way into the pots, water with clear lime water. If worked on briars keep them fi-ee from suckers, and remove all flower-buds as they make their appearance, except in cases where Eoses may be required in November ; then Hybrid Perpetuals may be allowed to bring forward the buds which they foi-m after the middle of August ; and by placing them in a cold pit or frame, and later in the season encouraging them with a little fire heat, they will ejqjand and last in flower a long time. This i^ractice is not, however, to bo recommended, e:ccept you intend to grow a large stock of plants, as such treatment is not fa,voiirable to theii- suocessftil foi-cing in spring ; and I should think in your climate youi- Eoses out-doors can be had in flower late in the season. When the plants have mostly shed their foliage, and pre- sunung that yon intend to force a portion of yom- stock caxly, the best-ripened plants should be pruned. Then turn them carefully out of the pots, and examine the drainage, and get rid of any worms which may have iiitruded. When worke'd on the briar stock it freqirently hajipens that the stock gets gi-een and mossy; whenever such is the case, let them be dusted o-.'er with quicklime, which will destroy the pai'asites. Remove the surface soil, and replace it with fresh, rich soil, and when intended to be forced ea,rly they should be placed under glass at once. A cold pit or "vinery iiviU be_ a good place for them, if you desire a constant succession of flowering plants till Eoses are in bloom in the open ground. Continue ttooughout the winter to prune a convenient number, always putting them under glass as soon as they are pmned. It is always best not to piit them into heat tOl after they have been under glass in a cool structm-e • for a fortnight after they are pruned. Bear in mind a,U the time that it is only recommended to leave them out of doors in winter, in case of your not being able to afford them the protection of a pit or frame. It not unft-equently happens that those pruned in February, and left out of doors, have their buds crippled with March frosts, for spare corners under glass are very scarce now-a-days. It frequently happens that those forced the second season after being lifted in eight and 10-ineh pots, requii-e nothing further at the root the third season than simply to see to the^di'ainage, and to remove a portion of the soil ft'om the sm-iace of the ball, and replace it wii h rotten dung and loam in equal i)roportions. This, of course, entirely depends on circumstances. If the roots have made then- way down to the bottom of the pots, leaving a large portion of the top soil inert and unoccupied, they should be partially shaken out, have the strong roots pruned back, and in repotting a good portion of the soil be placed below the roots. My pTactiee has been to shake them out and treat thus every second year, and to root-prune them in a similar manner to that practised with the Geranium, only not so severely. It is not only possible to keep them healthy and in mode- rate-sized pots Ibr many years by this process, but they seem to rejoice in the operation, starting off with inci'eased vigour- with every application of fresh soil. In making a selection of Eoses for forcing you should select the greater portion of j-our stock from the Hybrid Perpetual section. Most of the Teas are beautiful for pot - culture, but generally speaking do not bear early forcing so well as the Hybrid Perpetuals. Then there ai-e Provence, Cabbage, and Moss Eoses, so beautifully fragrant. — D. Thomson. THE EOTAl; HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY'S EXHIBITIOiS^-JuLY 1. The horticidtural ca,mpaign began early this year, and it has closed at that period of the season when Londoners begin to consrJt their "Bradshaws," and when "Mun-ay " is greatly in request. The rival claims of the south coast and its soft sea breeKcs and sunny sands, the jjicturesque scenery of the Cumberland lakes, and the heathery mountains and deep glens of the Highlands, are now becoming matters of anxious deliberation ; those who have country seats to retfre to ax-e beginning to think of a change of quarters, and in another niontli London will have gone out of town. It was, therefore, we think, wisely determined that, the last great horticultural display for the season should take place before this periodical migration commenced. The Eoyal Horticultural Society is not remarkable for its good fortune as regards weather, and when it does have a wet day for one of its exhibitions the fact is sure to be ex- patiated upon, and not unfrequcntly with some embellish- ments, and it is, therefore, only justice to say that no day could have been finer than Wednesday last ; genial in tem- perature, with a bright but not overpowering sun, whilst a gentle breeze kept the afr fi'om stagnation, it was just the day that one would have chosen for out-door exercise. As on former occasions the plants and cut flowers were arranged along each side of the nave of the International Exhibition building, the hot dry atmosphere of which, it may be remarked, caused many of them to give evident signs of flagging, whUst the Fiiiit was allocated in one of the refresh- ment-rooms, involving a voyage of discoveiy to find it out. Many must have failed in the attempt ; for, contrary to all wont, the attendance of visitors to this paa-t of the Exliibition was unusually thin, notwithstanding the high character of the productions which invited their inspection. The absence of the grand specimen stove and greenhouse plants, as grown by Messrs. Whitebread, Green, Peed, and others, which constituted so important a feature in previous exldbitions, was also much to be regi-etted. as it deprived the Show of much of its effect ; and this want the Eoses, fine as they were, and forming as they did a principal, and, indeed, the most attractive portion of the Exhibition, did not fully compensate for. FiNE-FOLiA&ED AND Vaeiegated Plants. — Many large and handsome specimens of this description of plants were exhibited, including Crotons, Alocasias, Caladiums, Latanias, Dracaenas, Ar-aucarias, and a variety of others. Amongst Nni-serymen Messrs. J. & C. Lee took the first pi-ize with a collection in which were a noble Alocasia metallica, a large and very fine CordyUne indivisa, Cyathea Sniithii with its handsome lively green fronds, Cibotium princeps, Ehopala magnifica. and Caladium Baraquini. Messrs. A. Henderson and Co. had the second prize for Alocasia macrorhiza varie- gata and metallica, the naaTow-leaved Croton angustifohum, the elegant fern-Uke Jacaranda SlicifoUa, Dracaena ferrea and cannix-folia, Dieffenbachia maculata, Maranta variogata, Caladium Chantini, and other plants. Mr. BuU, of Chelsea, was third, and he had some magnificent plants -, among which may be noticed a tall and very handsome Ehopala corcova- deiisis. Dractena austi-aUs, Gleichenia flabeUata very large, Paudanus utiUs, Araucaria Bidwilli, AlsopMla excelsa, and Latania borbonica. In a collection from Messrs. Jackson and Sons, of Kingston, there were also several large speci- mens, including a noble Alsophila australis, Coryjjha aus- trahs, Draccenas terminidis and ferrea, and the variegated Pandanns javanicus. July 7, 1865. ] JOiniNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AJfD COTTAGE GARDENER. Among Amateurs fine collections of ten came from Mr. Taylor, gardener to J. Yates, Jlsq., Highgate, and Mr. Smith, of Syon ; tlie former taking the first and the latter the second prize. In Mr. Taylor's exhibition there were Cycas revoluta and Dion ednle, both of them of great size, and a fine Chamaerops Immilis ; and in that of Mr. Smith an immense Latania borbonica, Croton pictum of great height, Calathea or Marauta zebrina, Duranta Baumgardti, and the Wax Palm, Ceroxylon andicola. A third prize was awarded to Mr. Boss, of Newbury. Phlebodium aureum and Coleus Versehaffelti in this collection were good specimens. Prizes were offered for va,riegated Begonias, but we only noticed one collection, which came from Mr. Young, gardener to E. Barclay, Esq., of Highgate, and it received a second prize. It contained handsome plants of President Van den Hecke, Duchesse de Brabant, and grandis, also Charles Encke, Anna von Schonborn, and the better-known Rex, Marshalli, and Eoliissoni. Caladiums afforded a more extensive display, and from the diversity in the markings of their foliage were much more effective. Messrs. A. Henderson & Co. had the first prize for a fine collection, consisting of the pretty argyrites, Belleymei, Chantini, a handsome plant of bicolor maguifica, Troubetskoyi, a large jjlaut of Wightii, picturatum, pteeile, and regale. Mr. Ingram, gardener to J. J. Blandy, Esq., Eeading, had. splendens, variegatum and others already named, and received the second prize ; Sir. Young, Abera- man, coming in third. Fuchsias. — These did not come up to our expectations, being exactly the same plants that were at the Eoyal Botanic Show the previous week, and much deteriorated from what they then were ; exception must, however, be made in favour of Mr. Higgs, gardener to Mrs. Barchard, Putney Heath, who had a first prize for thi'ee fine standards, stand- ing about 9 feet high, of Eose of CastiUe, Prince of Orange, and Venus de Medici, the heads being full of flower. For six plants Mr. Gardener, of Clapham Park, received the first prize for Fair Oriana, Senator, Wiltshire Lass, Madame Cor- nelissen, Eose of CaetiUe, and Isa Craig, aU of them hand- some plants, and fall of bloom. Next came Mr. Cannell, gardener to G. Jennings, Esq., of Clapham ; and in the Nurserymen's class, Mr. Treen, of Eugby, had a third prize. Feens. — Several collections of these, both exotic and British, were exhibited, the latter proving to the majority of the visitors the more attractive of the two, and affording a relief to the eyes from the brOliant colours of the cut Eoses. In the class for Exotic Perns, by an oversight, apparently, on the part of the exhibitors, the requirement that the pots should not exceed 15 inches in diameter was not complied with. Such collections, consequently, were disqualified for receiving the amounts offered in the schedule ; but extra prizes were awarded instead to Mr. Bull, Messrs. A. Hender- son & Co., and Mr. Lavey, of Fetcham, aU of whom had excellent collections. That from Mr. Bull was the finest, all of the plants being large and handsome specimens. It con- tained two very large Cibotiums, Barometz and princeps, Alsophila excelsa and radens, Dicksonia antarctica, Blechnum brasilensis, and Pteris natalensis. Messrs. A. Henderson and Co., whose plants were also very fine, had Cibotiums Barometz, Sehiedei, Cyathea boconensis, Drynaria coronans, Brainea insignis, Phlebodium pulvemlentum, a lai'ge Also- phila australis, Angiopteris erecta, and Drynaria musEefoUa. In British Ferns the finest came from Messrs. Ivery and Son, who had two collections. That which received the first prize consisted of Athyrium FiUx-fcemiua multieeps, corymb- iferum, depauperatum, and pliunosum ; Lastrea Filix-mas cristata and Jervisii, Lastrea decurrens, Onoclea sensibUis. Osmunda regalis cristata, Polystichum angulare Elworthii and proliferum, and Adiautum capiU.U3- Veneris. The other collection was also very select, containing, among others, the new forms of Athyi-iimi FOix-fcemina, distinguished 'by the names of glomeratum, Iveryanum, and Applebyanum, and Blechnum spicant polydactylon. Mr. Salter also exhibited a fine collection, in which Osmunda cinnamomea, and speeta- bilis and Struthiopteris pennsylvanica were beai'ing panicles ; and there were besides Scolopendrium vulgare polycuspis, a variety vAth. the extremities of the fronds much branched, Asplenium lanceolai.um micro Ion. and a handsc mt pjtent of Lastrea Fihx-mas cristata. Mr. Lavey had likewise a second prize for an excellent coUeetion, in which we noticed a fine Trichomanes radicans, and some of the new forms of Athyrium. New Plants. — These were sent ui considerable numbers, some making their appearance for the first time, others having been already shown at previous exhibitions. Messrs. Veitch had two extensive collections containing many of their recent introductions from Japan, not the least impor- tant of v/hioh was the beautiful and sweet-scented Lilium auratrmi, already described in these columns, and of which a faithful representation is given in the Florist and Pomologisl of September last. The specimen exhibited did not. how- ever, give a fail' idea of the great size to which the flowers attain — 8 or 10 inches across — v/hen produced from large bulbs. The hybrid Cattleya between Aeklandia; and Lod- digesi was another beautiful and interesting object, and Hkely to j^rove biit one of a number of other acquisitions in the same line ; Bomaria multiilora, a gi-eenhouse climber from Peru, with orange and scarlet flowers, is also a plant likely to prove an acquisition, more especially as it is very fi-ee-flowering. Among other plants from the same firm were Abies Alcoquiana from Fusi-Yama, or the Sacred Mountain of Japan ; a hardy and beautiful Gymnogramma : Acrophorus affiiis, a very handsome species with shining light green fronds ; Asplenium consimile, a new hardy Fern ft-om CMli ; Drynaria HiUi ; Alsophila Tisnitis denticulata, with handsome shining fi-onds ; and Ligidaria Kajmpferi argentea, with roundish leaves variegated with cream colom-. Besides these there were Sphterogyne latifoHa, Eetinosporas, Sciadopitys, Miconia pulveriilenta, and others noticed in previous reports. From Mr. Bull came Phaseolus Hlaeinus with ornamental Ulac flowers, the fine Aj-aucaiia Eulei fi-om New Caledonia, together with one of its cones measuring about 20 inches in length ; Latania Versehaffelti, a variegated Broussonetia papyrifera, Euterpe edulis, Areca dealbata, the fine golden Gymnogramma Laucheana, and, what was very remarkable, a fine plant of the Madagascar Ouvirandi-a fenestralis in flower, Messrs. Backhouse, of York, had a collection of rare Hy- menophyUums and Trichomanes, among which were included Trichomanes scaudens, Zollingeii, and membranaceum ; also HymenophyUum valvatum, Lindsfea stricta, and other tro- pical Ferns. Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son brought ImantophyUum cyrtanthaeflorum, with ornamental red flowers, not, however, nearly approaching those of miuiatum in size ; Mr. Watson, gardener to C. Leach, Esq., Clapham Pai-k, contributed Disa grandiflora superba, with flowers in which a bright scarlet was the prevailing coloiu- ; and the Sev. J. G. FusseU, of Frome, a fine seec'Qing Gymnogramma with the fr-onds densely covered with rich yellow dust. Mr. Standish had Asplenium elegantulum, a handsome Lycopod fr-om Japan, and two Oaks fr'om the same country, in one of which the foliage was very curious, appearing as "if it had been in great measure gnawed away by some insect, this characteristic, however, being natui'al to the variety. A large and very interesting collection of Euryas, Osman- thus, Eetinosporas, Aucubas, and other Japanese plants was likewise shown by the same exhibitor. Miscellaneous. — An exceedingly interesting exhibition was contributed in this class by Lady Dorothy NevHl, to whom we owe the introduction of the AHanthus silkworm into this covmtry. Her ladyship not only showed the insect in all its stages from the egg to the moth, as well as the sflk with wliich the cocoons are sm'rounded, but the worms themselves at work on the Ailanthxis tree. The importance of this ex- hibition was marked by the Gist prize being awarded to it. From Messrs. E. G. Henderson came a collection of vai-ie- gated Geraniums, including several of the new tricolor varieties, one of t'nem called Lucy Grieve having a fine crimson zone deeiDOning in the older leaves to a purpHsh- crimson ; variegated Chinese Primroses, the beautiftil silvery- leaved Centaurea argentea, and an extensive and very in- teresting collection of Ivies were also shown by the same exhibitors. Mr. Lavey and M". Higgs had some very fine pans of Lycopods ; Mr. La • also sent a collection of ninety-six kinds of wJd fioweri- .i.nd Messrs. Hooper & Co. had a sanilar exhibitioi is annuals 01 w!_icu tney exhibited fifty kinds, also Pink s and Pansies. Several good stands of t"ne last two flowers were shown by Mi-. Bragg, of JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Jil!}- 7, 1863. Slough, and Hooper, of Bath, both of whom hail also Sweet Williams : those from Mr. Brag-g boing Hunt's varieties, and exhibiting a great advance in roundness of outline. Mi\ Turner had also a fine stand of Pinks as well as of Verbenas, for both of which he received prizes. Geraniums and Petunias were shown by Mr. Bull ; a fine box of Iris las'.-igata by Mi-. Standish ; and Fuchsia PiUcir of Gold with yellow variegated leaves by Messrs. F. & A. Smith. ForWardian cases aiTangedlbr the cb-awing-room, Messrs. A. Henderson & Co. had first prize for a large cirrvUinear- roofed one opening at the ends ; and Messrs. BaiT & Sugden had a small neatly-filled case of a much less expensive character. Some tastefully-filled flower-baskets were slio^vn by Messre. Henderson ; and Mr. Macintosh, of Hammersmith, had tlii-oe ha-udsome window-boxes an-anged with excellent taste ; Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, Verbenas, and Stocks, with Mignonette and blue and white Camjjanulas in ii-ont, being the materials with which they were iilled. They v/eM deserved the first prize which they received. i£-. "rv.o- -<5^i^g^^ ^ An extremely ornamental jardiniere from Mr. March, of St. James's Street, of which the accompanying is a represen- tation, also excited great admiiution. It consists of crystal, the stems being a series of spheres, the play of li,ght through which has a most briUiant effect ; while the glass itself is protected from breakage by a light framework of white metal. These jardinieres are intended for the window- spaces in dra,wing-rooms or for placing on tables, theii- ornamental appearance being eulianced if elevated on blocks covered with maroon velvet. The display of Fruit was excellent, especially as regards Grapes, and Peaches and Nectarines ; but, as we have ab-eady remarked, its very existence appeared to be unknown to a great proportion of the visitors. In collections the first prize was awarded to Mr. Tui'uer, of Slough, who had fine Muscat and Black Hambirrgh Grapes, very fine Noblesse Peaches, Hunt's Tawny Nectai-ines, Black Tartai-ian Cherries. Marquis of Ailsa Melon, a Queen Pine, and President Strawben-y. Mr. Penny, of liegent's Park, was second ivith a good Eipley Queen, a Green-fleshed Melon, Muscat of Alexandi-ia, and Snow's Muscat Hambui-gh Grapes, Elruge Nectarine, Grosse Mignonne Peach, and Bigan-eau Chen-ies. Mr. Henderson, of Trentham, was thii'd; and an extra prize was given to Mr. Tm-nbull, of Blenheim. Pines. — These were not numerous, no more than tliii'ty Queens being shown, and only two Providences, both of which, though of large size, could not be considered as perfect ; the one which received the first prize, from Mr. Young, of Aberaman, being over-ripe, and the other from Mr. WaUis, gardener to J. Dixon, Esq., of Congleton, being almost green at the top. The iii-st-prize Queen came from Mr. Grant, of Finchley, and w.as a handsome fi'uit, weighing 4 lbs. 9 ozs. ; next came Mr. Smith, gai'dener to J. Walker, Esq., Calderstone, ■with one T,'eighing 5.v lbs., but not rijje enough ; and the third prize was given to Mr. Ward, of Headington, Oxford, for a well-ripened fruit of 4 lbs. 4S ozs. Extra prizes were awarded to Mr. Smith, of Norwood, and Mr. Can-, of Byfleet ; and good fruit were also exhibited by Messrs. Moore, Brown, Ha,nnan, and Hall, the latter exhibiting, but not for com- petition, a very fine one of 4 lbs. 11 ozs., and another of 5 lbs. Of other varieties, an Envdle of 8.V lbs. from Mi-. HaU received a first i^rize, and a Black Prince from Mr. Dwerri- houso, of Heckfield, the second ; a large fruit, but not ripe enough, coming from Mr. Young, of Aberaman. Gkapes afforded the most extensive display, and the ex- hibitions of the Hambiu'gh varieties by Mr. Meredith, and of the Black Prince fi-om Mr. Hill, of Keele HaU, could scarcely have been sni-passod. In collections Mr. HUl had first prize for a fine one, con- sisting of Black Prince, Bucklaud Sweetwater, West's St. Peter's, Lady Downe's, Frankenthal, Black Hamburgh, Early Savimur Prontignan, and Eoyal Muscadine. Mr. Hen- derson was second with West's St. Peter's, Pope's Ham- biu-gh. Mill Hill Hamburgh, Frankenthal, Black Hamburgh, Black Prince, Trentham Black, Victoria Hamburgh, Golden Hamburgh, Gromier du Cantal, Muscat of Alexandria, Mus- cat Hative de Saumiu-, Muscat Escholata, Muscat Hamburgh, and Buckland Sweetwater. Mr. Cross, gai-dener to Lord Ashbirrton, Ali-esford, was third. Of Black Hamburghs by far the finest were those from Mr. Meredith, the bunches being of gigantic size, compact, and perfect in colour and bloom ; they were accompanied by some leaves of enormous size. Mi-. WaUis, of Congleton, and Mr. AUen, gardener, to J. B. Glegg, Esq., of Withing- ton HaU, received the second and third prizes, having also exceUeut bunches ; but Mr. Meredith's threw ,aU the others completely into the shade. Mr. Hannan, gardener to E. Craw- shay, Esq., Mei-thyi- Tydvil, had also thi-ee fine bunches weighing 7J lbs. With Dutch Hamburgh Mr. Meredith was also successful in taking the first pi-ize -ndth large bunches and ben-ies, Mr. Widdowson being second, and Mr. Turner third ; those fi-om the latter were too red. For Frankenthal Mr. Meredith was again fii-st with s^jlen- did bunches both as regai-ds size, form, and colour; Mr. Jones, of Cheadle, being second, and Mr. Henderson, of Trentham, thii-d, both of the last two exliibitions being also good. with Black Prince Mr. HUl left aU other competitors fai- behind, showing the same magnificent bunches which he had at the Regent's Park, and the weight of which was 9 lbs. 5 ozs., and the length of the largest of the tlu-ee about 20 inches. Mr. Cross was second with the same kind. In Muscats of Alesanch-ia Mr. Embery had iu-st prize for fine bunches, the ripest shown, whUst Mr. Tm-ner was second and Mr. TurnbuU tliii-d, the bunches and bei-ries being large but not so weU ripened. In other kinds of Muscats Mr. McPherson, of Eadbourne HaU. Derby, took a fu-st prize for lai-ge and Snely-ripened bunches of the Canon HaU Muscat; Mr. Emberv was jHly 7, 1S63. JOITRNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. second for the same variety, and Mr. Turnbull third for fine bunches of Bowood Miiseat. . " In other white kinds Mr. Mould, Hartsbourne Manor, Watford, had the fii-st prize for Chasselas Musque, Mr. Hill second for three splendid bunches of Buckland Sweetwater weighing 6 lbs., and Mr. Henderson third for the same kind. Mr. Meredith had good bunches of Golden Hambui-gh ; and Ml-. Cramb, of Tortworth, some of the finest which we have seen of the same kind, but unfortunately they were rubbed. Peaches and Nectakines. — The exhibitions of these were numerous, and, with few exceptions, the fruit large and well ripened. The best two dishes came from Mr. Dawson, and consisted of Violette H;itive and Chancellor ; the next best were Violette Hative and Grosse Mignonne from Mr. Young, of Havant. A single dish of Royal George from Mr. Lawkins, gardener to G. Brassey, Esq., Brariifield, gained first prize, the fruit being of the largest size ; and a similar award was made to Mr. Wills, of Oulton Park, for the same variety equally fine, and it was also exhibited in great per- fection by Mr. Edward, of Eyewood, who gained the second prize. Mr. Gross, gai-dener to Lord Ashbui'ton, had Elruge and Pitmaston Orange Nectarines ripened to perfection, as evidenced by their depth of colouiing, and received the ni'st prize in the class for two dishes ; and the second was taken by Mi: Tegg, gardener to W. H. Goschen, Esq., Eoehampton, for very fine fruit of the same varieties. In single dishes Mr. Wills had the first prize for Elruge, large and finely ripened ; but the fruit being placed on the leaves of Cissus discolor we thought no improvement. Mr. Bannerman, gai'dener to Lord Bagot at Bhthfield, was second with the same kind ; Mr. Tillery third with Red Roman. Figs. — There were few exhibitions of these, tiie Brown Tiu'key being, so far as we remember, the only kind shown. Those from Mr. Smith, of Syon, and Mr. Pottle, were per- fectly ripe and excellent ; and good fruit also came from Mr. Robinson, gardener to R. Benyon, Esq.-, Engl.jfield, and Mr. Henderson, of Trentham. Cherkies and Pluics. — There was a great lack of com- petition ui these fruits. A fine dish of Circassian or Black Tartarian Cherries, fi-om Mr. Turner, had the fii-st prize ; Elton from Mr. Widdowson, and Black Eagle from Mr. Beck of Tetworth, having- the second and third. A good dish of Black Tartarian was also shown by Mr. Thomson, of Stan- stead Park. The only exhibition of Plums was Jefferson's, fr'om Mr. Ingi-am, of Reading. Straweeeeies. — The best four dishes came from Mr, Lydiard, of Batheaston ; it consisted of Victory of Bath. Gem of the West, and Sir Charles Napier, and Oscar, both very large. Mr. Turner was second with the two last- named varieties, President and Empress Eugenie. In col- lections of not less than six kinds, Mr. Widdowson had first prize for remarkably fine dishes of British Queen, Prince of Wales, Crimson Queen, Sir C. Napier, Admiral Dundas, Sir C. Campbell, Oscar, Sir Harry, Prince of Wales, Myatt's Surprise, and Empress Eugenie. Mr. Turner was second with a collection of twenty -eight sorts, comprising- most of the above. President, Rifleman, Carolina superba, and some others. Melons. — Mr. Pottle had first-prize in the Green-fleshed class. Mr. Turner second in the same for Marquis of Ailsa. Mr. Tegg, gardener to Baron Hambro', thh-d, for King' s Green- fleshed, and fii-st for a Hybrid Scarlet ; Scarlet Gem from Mr. Taiery ; and Mr. W. Tegg took the second and thh-d prizes. Melons at present are wholly judged by flavour-, and it is not uncommon to see the smallest and least at- tractive-looking fruit gain the highest prize ; but whilst we quite agi-ee that flavour should principally guide the decision of the Judges, we stUl think that appearance should receive some consideration, and that it would be desirable to in- stitute a class in which flavour and appearance combined might be the test of merit, flavour counting, say, for two points, and appearance for one point. Miscellaneous. — Some fine orchard-house trees in pots were shown by Messrs. Lane & Son, and Mr. Cattermole, of Tooting Common, both of whom received first prizes ; also, from the Society's Garden at Chis-wick, and Mr. KaUe, of East Horsley Towers, who had Plums and Peaches ; the other collections consisting of Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries, ' Figs, and Peaches. Some well-ripened Tomatoes were ex- hibited by Mr. Ten-y, the Hyde, St. Albans ; a seedling Melon called Monarch, and weighing 10 lbs. 11 ozs., by Mr. Henderson, of Trentham ; some excellent Strawberries by Mr. Marcham ; Laxton's Early Prolific Pea, wluch tm-ned out to be nothing but Dickson's Favourite ; and some seedlings, an account of which will be found in the proceedings of the Fruit Committee. THE NATIONAL EOSE SHOW. I COULD quite understand, when I saw the Exhibition to-day, why it was that the Rose Show had been tacked on to the thu-d great Exhibition. Retrenchment, I presume, was the order of the day. No prizes for Orchids, nor— as it has, I know, been suggested by one of the most active members — Zouale Geraniums : none either for show Gera- niums, which were shown so well at the Regent's Park last Wednesday ; and hence one mass of gi-een, very refreshing no doubt, filled the nave, fine-foliaged jjlants and Ferns forming the great bulk of the things sent. And had it not been for the Roses the Show would have been poor indeed ; while the Fruit, separated far from the others, lent neither its fragrance nor its beauty to the great body of the Exliibition. Why it could not have been an-anged in one of the contiguous courts I conld not understand. My business is, however, with the Roses, ever beautiml and chai-ming as they are. I feel compelled to say that, on the whole, Roses have not been shown in first-rate con- dition this season. Neither at the Ci-ystal Palace nor to-day had they that ft-eshness and contovu- which one likes to see them always possess, too many open eyes and battered faces suggesting ideas of late hom-s and an over-supply of mois- ture. Some exquisite blooms were, no doubt, exhibited; but I am speaking of them as a whole. As far as to-day's Show was concerned, the Amateurs were decidedly in the first rank, and Mr. Hedge, as usual, in the first rank of Amateurs. Some of his (lowers were very exquisite. He has an immense stock ; and, with his thorough knowledge and skdl, he has advantages which make it a difficult matter to vanquish him. The new Roses were as usual those most eagerly looked after ; and it is oidy another instance of the uncertainty that hangs about Rose-gi-owing that the same flower in different boxes bore a totally different character, and would hardly have been recognised as the same variety. After a care- ful scrutiny of the various stands, and the new Roses generally, I think that we may set down Mr. Standish's Andre Leroy, Mi-. Geo. Paul's Lord Canning, and Le Rhone (GuiUot fils), as the three best new Eoses. The fii-st is a seedling reared by TrouiUard of Angers, and named after his employer, M. Leroy. It was figured in the Florist and Pomo- logist ; its shape and contour were well given, but the coloui-- ing fell very far short of the reality. It is a thick, fine- petalled flower, Of excellent shape, and of a rich dark velvety crimson, and of good habit. Lord Canning is a flower some- what of the build of Comte de NanteuU— a bright pink -with large petal. Le Rhone is very much of the style of Senateui- Vaisse. with a dark shacling in it. ^Vhile on the subject of new Roses I may mention that I received a few days ago fi-om my friend, M. Margottin, of Bourg-la-Reine, a box containing blooms of two new flowers he purposes sending out this autumn: one is a splendid flower, a seedling of Louise Odier, crossed with a dark Hybrid Perpetual, having the exquisite shape of its parent, and retaining (in a Bom-bou, a gTCat object), a deKcious fragrance — one or two petals in a letter quite perfumed it. It is of excellent habit, as I saw when in the raiser's garden. The colour is a deep crimson. I feel persuaded that this will be a great acquisition. I now proceed to the stands of new Eoses. The fii-st prize was awarded to Mr. W. Paul for the foUowmg :— Maurice Bernhardin ; Robert Fortune, vei-y globular ; Pi-ince CamiUe de Rohan, very dark nnd fine; Charies Lefebvre, good; Professor Koch, dark and double ; Louise Darzms ; Lomse Mai-gottin (1S(33), pretty and good; Beauty of Waltham, good; Tm-enne; Gloire de Chatillon. Uke Madame Masson; Vicomte Vigier, good ; La BriUante, very fine ; Mademoiselle Em«in; Framjois Lacharme, exceUent ; John Hopper, good; Madame Ernest Dreol ; and Madame Charles Wocd. JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ July 7, 1863. Mr. B. E. Cant was second with Souvenir de Comte Cavour ; Baron Adolphe de Eothschild, good ; Olivier Del- homme ; Francjois Lacharme ; Vicomte Vigier : Vulcain ; Charles Lefebvi-e : Reynolds Hole, a good pink ; Monte Christo, dark ; Madame Charles Wood ; John Waterer ; La Brill ante ; excellent ; Madame Ernest Dreol : Gregoii'e Bour- dillon ; Souvenii' de Mous. Rousseau ; WUhehn Pfitzer, dark ; and Madame Boutin, fine. Messrs. Paul & Son were third with President Lincoln, a promising flower ; Le Baron EothschUd ; Prince Camille de Rohan, very fine bloom ; Lord Clyde, good ; Madame CaUlat ; Le Rhone, good, dark ; Lord Canning, a fine new English Rose of Messrs. Pauls' rearing; Monte Christo; Gloire de Bordeaux ; Olivier Delhomme, very good ; Belle de Printemps, curiously mottled, but bad shajie : Baron de Rothschild ; Wilhehn Pfitzer ; Louise Darzins ; Souvenir de Comte Cavour ; Paul Despard ; and Prineesse d' Orleans. Mr. Standish, of Bagshot, had Gregoire Bom-dillon, Souve- nir de Comte Cavoiu', Madame Standish, Charles Lefebwe, Madame Boutin, Vicomte Vigier, Madame Charles Wood, Mrs. Dombrain, Marguerite Appert, Marechal Vaillant, Andiv Desportes, John Standish (agood bloom), Andrt' Leroy (fine), Catherine GuOlot, J. F. Lombard, Reynolds Hole, Vulcain, and Alexaudi-e Dumas. In Mr. Keynes' stand were Souvenir de Comte Cavom-, Glou-e de Bordeaux. Fran<;ois Lacharme, Robert Fortune, Monte Chi-isto, An(b-e Desportes, Marguerite Appert, Paul Despard, Man'chal VaUlant, Charles Lefebvr-e, Tiu'enne, MdUe. Julie Daran, John Standish (very good), Le BriUante, Alphonse Damazin (good), Richard Smitli, Madame C. Wood, and Olivier DeUiomme. Ml-. Cranston had La BrUlante, Madame Caillat, Camille de Eohan, Comte Cavom-, Wilhelm Pfitzer. Miu-iUo, Le Rhone, Richard Smith, Alphonse Damazin, BeUe de Massifs, Alli-ed de Rougeraont, Archeveque de Paiis, L'Esmeralda, Ducde Bassano, Souvenii- de M. Rousseau, Comte de Com'cy, ! Vulcain, and Lecrosnier. Amongst the Roses there of last season, there ai-e evi- I dently some which are destined long to remain in our c-ata- j logues. Such flowers as Souvenir de Comte Cavom-, Prince CamUle de Eohan, Mareehal VaiUant, Madame Boutin, Madame Charles Wood. Alphonse Damazin, Adolphe Xoblet, Charles Lefebvre, and Frani,-ois Lacharme are iudrsjiensable : while WDhebn Pfitzer, Souvenii- de Lady EarcUey, and Vicomte Vigier stand well nigh equal to them if not" quite. I Thus a dozen good Roses may safely be set down as the production of ISf.l. If there is a defect, it is that as a rule they are not quite fijl enough, and thus apt at times to open too much. Madame Charles Wood is the most ex- traordinary flower for lasting that I know. I have had blooms of it cut for a week without fViUing, while La Brd- lante has just the opposite tendency ; the colour flies verj' soon. Of them all I should fi-om present appearances be inclined to fix on Fran<^ois Lacharme as the best of the lot. 1 had intended to have given this week the details of the prizes in the other classes, but must resei-ve it for the next issue.. — D., Deal. BHOTAN imODODENDEON AT EEDLEAF. YouK impression of the 2.3rd of June has only just come to hand, or I would sooner have replied to the coiu-teous re- quest of " A Devonian," to say that the Bhotan Rhododen- dron alluded to expanded the fii-st bloom on the 20th inst., and the last on the 28th, thus coming unfortimately be- tween two meetings of the Floral Committee, to whom I had intended to sixbmit it. I think it is likely to i>rove identical -with the one described by yom- coiTCspondent, as it is a large trumpet-shaped flower, pure white, with an orange throat, and a most agreeable and delicate fragrance. Each bud produced three blooms. With regard to its hardiness, I cannot speak with the ne- cessary certainty, our plant haring never been subjected to the open aii- in the -winter ; but at that season it had only the protection of a small lean-to, and was never covered. Judging from appeai-ance. I should say that it is quite as hai-dy as the Sikkim varieties I mentioned before. "Where it can be pm-chased I cannot say. This plant was presented to my employer by a lady in Scotland, and labelled "Rhode from Bhotan." Perhaps these notices may elicit some information on that subject. This has been a very fine season for the Sikkim Ehodo- dendrons out of doors, and they have made a remarkably clean and handsome growth, owing to the absence of those piercing morning frosts in April and May,— John Cox, Red- leaf. FiK. 1. PEOPAGATIO^' BY EYES. The facility with which certain plants are reproduced from buds or eyes induces me to give a short detaQ of my experience in this mode of propagation, laying no claim to onginality, but simply to aid those who may not have practised it. Vine Etes.— To propagate the Vine by the means of eyes, procure a sufficiency of the wood of last year's gi-o-wth— that which is removed by pruning, selecting the mediiun- sized well-ripened wood. Commence v^-ith the bottom eye : holding the shoot perpendicularly in its natm-al position, and having the eye tm-ned from you, place the blade of the knife some quarter of an inch beneath the eye, ch-awing the knife cleanly through in a slanting do-niiward dii-eetion. Next tiun the whole branch dh-ectly upside doivn, cutting the eye clean away fr-om the same by drawing the knife cleanly through the wood — in its present position closely beneath it — also in a partiaUv slanting direction. i'V\Tien finished the eye should in form somewhatresemble fig.l. Having the eyes thus properly pre- pared, proceed to pot or pan them. I am pai-tial to the latter, as when moderately shallow I can the more readily command an evenness of temperature, whether the heating materials be too hot or slightly the reverse, as, by simply plunging the pans in the latter ease, or placing them upon the siu-face of the material in the former, I can readily command the desired heat. B-at whether pots or pans be chosen take care to crock them well, as an excess of mois- ture around the eyes is most injurious to these. The soil I use is formed of two parts good yellow loam, one of peat, the same of leaf mould, with sand in quantity sufiicient to make it nicely porous. I sift it, because by doing so I am enabled better to di-vide the roots of the plants than if the soil were rough. Having the pots ftUed, press fii-mly each eye in the soil about 2 inches apart, taking care not to have the eye bui-ied beneath the soil, though no part of the wood should be visible. If the eye be not fully exposed, it is liable to damp or rot off, even after it has made a start to grow. Give gentle bottom heat, say 50°, increasing 5° weekly until the maximum of 70° is attained. Care shordd be taken to keep the heat, both above and below, at a moderate tempe- rature, for an excess of heat often causes the eyes to start prematiu-ely, and before the wounds have rooted, or even foi-med the callus. After the fii-st fortnight or so, when it may be supposed the callus is formed or that they have made good progi-ess, an advance of heat -n-ith a nice growing atmosphere will be beneficial to them, continuing thus unto they have made reasonable growth and you siumise they ai-e getting in size too large to remain advantageously together in the same pan, with a view to their being readily parted for the pui-pose of potting-off singly. Then small-sized pots having one substantial crock in the bottom, good yellow loam, and well- decomposed dung, &c., will suit them well, and into this they should be cai-eftiUy potted. The Orange, Citron, and Camellia may be thus pro- Ijagated, About the first week in March pick out a well- ripened shoot, the growth of the last or preceding yeai-. From this with a sharp knife simply cut out the leaf and eye, having at then- base a small portion of the wood, just sufiicient to give it the appearance of a cutting having a small heel to it. Procm-e good loam, peat, and decomposed cowdung in equal parts, with a fair proportion of silver Joly 7, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. sand, and into this they should be finaly planted, in pots or otherwise, to be placed upon a gentle hotbed, giving an advance of heat eventually, as I have already explained with reference to the Vine. The Hollyhock. — An essential point is procm-ing medium- sized well-ripened wood having little central pith. I mark a few stalks some days before requiring them, pinching the point off fi'om each, which causes the buds to become slightly active and prominent. I then — having the whole stalk divided into three or four pieces, to admit of its being more readily handled — cut out the eyes, commencing with the lowermost ones, cutting the entire bud, leaf, &c., away from the stem an inch or more above it, severing it clean across. Then finish off the base at the joint and base of the leaf precisely as all cuttings are made, taking care, however, not to cut too closely, or to loosen the leaf or otherwise injure it dm-ing the process of manipulation. Use a compost of one part of good yellow loam, one of leaf mould, and one of sand. Place six or eight eyes in a 48-pot, keeping the leaves up where necessary by a support. At first a gentle heat should be given, to be advanced eventually as explained above ; thovigh where no heat happens to be at command they often root well plunged in sawdust, packed in a frame or box placed in a shady situation and turned northward. They should when rooted be properly potted-off. &c. The Rose. — Toprojiagate the Eose by this means, procm-e shoots similar to those from which eyes would be taken in the process of budding. Simply cut the wood directly across about half an inch above and below the leaf, eye, &c. Plant in soil, and adopt the treatment recommended for the HoUyhock. The Dkac^na is easily propagated by cutting in pieces the leafless portion of the upright stalk, though I believe of our fellow labourers few would like to destroy a good plant in the process. My real object, however, in introducing this genus is to refer those who have a plant to the very base of its main stalk, where will be found small growths having an appearance not unlike the main eyes of a Jerusalem Artichoke. At times two or three of these are seen attached to each other. They should be cut apart, and placed in free sandy soil in a good brisk top and bottom heat, when they wdl be seen to shoot \xp readily, each forming a plant. Under this process the best variegated kinds appeal- to lose theii- chief merit, at first assuming the uniform colour of the original species, though they become beautifully variegated the second season. Alocasia metallica. — We give the mode, which is the simplest possible. Just supjjose the metaUic-looking Alo- casia to be a Richardia sthiopica. Eeduce this to a small plant and cut the bottom of the plant away, dividing it into as many little pieces as you can perceive eyes in the same, leaving where practicable the small roots or rootlets found attached to each, potting, plunging in heat, &c. But let those who are not quite so ventm-esome simply take the soil away carefully from the base of the main portion of the plant, cut a reasonable bit off and pot it, carefully repotting the plant, thus proceeding as the plant continues to grow, and soon a good stock will be thefr reward. — W. Earley, IHg^well. phlet, with a plan of the garden, and a short description, price 3s. The gentleman who has favoured us with the following list adds as a note: — "Those named ai-e all fii'st-class. Many others well worth visiting might have been included, but I have kept the list select." CHIEF GAEDENS OF GREAT BEITAIK. We have so repeatedly been asked for a list of gardens having attractions worthy of a visit at the cost of some expenditure of money and time, that we have determined to make a commencement, and to ask of our readers to furnish us with similar lists. The sooner they favour us with them the more useful will they prove, as the season for seeing such gardens in their gayest array is at hand. We have been asked also to state where and what fee should be paid for the pleasure thus afforded, and for the time of the gardener devoted to the visitor ; but upon this point we can give no information. The practice varies so much that no nde can be stated as generally applicable. A gardener visiting such establishments should pay nothing under any circumstances, and the feelings of all other parties we think ndght be considered, if at all such gardens a book was kept in which visitors must inscribe their names, and on the table by the side of that book were copies of a pam- PBINCIPAL GABDENS IN NORTHUMBERLAND. Name of Residence. Proprietor. Gardener, Nearest Railway Station. Alnwick Duke of Northumberland... Arcot H. Shum Storey, Esq Belsay Sir Charles Monck, Bart.,,. Beaulront \Vm. Cuthbert, Esq Creswell A. Creswell, Esq. Felton Park ... High Gosforth Holeyn Hall... Meldon Park... Mitford Newton Hall.. Sandhoe Wallington ... Wolsington ... Thos. Riddell. Esq... Eustace Smith, Esq. Edward James, P%q John Cookson, Esq. Mrs. Mit'ord Mr.-'. Widdiington .. Rowland Erriogton, Sir Walter Trevelyan Matthew Bell, Esq. Esq..., Bart. jNIr. Bailey.... Mr. Elswurth Mr. Jackson. (Unknown) . Mr. Forsyth (Flower Depart.) Mr. Robson (Fruit Depart.) Mr. Crosslev Mr. Jno. Hall ... Mr. Geo. Cook... Mr. C. Graham... Mr. Jas. Taylor. Mr. D.ivison Mr. Marf-hpU ... Mr. Hedley Mr. W. Lawson . Alnwick, Killing worth. Newcastle. Corbridge. I Longhirst. Acklington. Killingworth, Wyiam. Meldon. Morpeth. Alnwick. Corbridge. Meldon. Killing worth. A FEW OF THE BEST GAEDENS IN DURHAM. Lambton Earl of Darham Mr. Stephenson Fencehouses. Gibside Rt. Hon. Wm. Hutt Mr. Scutt Scotswood. Ravensworth.. Lord Ravensworth Mr. Moult Newcastle. Barnard Castle Raby , . Duke of Cleveland Mr. Short . or Winston. Southend Joseph Pease, Esq Mr. Richardson. Darlington, These gardens may be visited any day by applying to the gardener. EOYAL HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY.— July 1. Flokai. Cosimittee. — The entries of florists' flowers on this occasion were very limited, and of no particular interest. The new plants were numerous, and chiefly from Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea. The names and awards made to the new plants will be given in our next Number, our memoranda not being at this moment before us. Mr. Turner, of Slough, sent two seedling Piriks — one named Rev. George Jeans, a heavy-edged rosy crimson flower, with well-arranged petals, was awarded a first-class certificate. The other seedling was not considered any ad- vance on other varieties in cultivation. Mr. Francis, of Hertford, exhibited a very dwai'f-habited Scarlet Pelargonium with remai'kably small green foliage, the trusses of flowers not very bright nor of good form. The plant was commended as useful for decorative purposes. Messrs. E. G. Henderson exhibited their superb collection of Variegated Zonale Pelargoniums, which for richness and biilliancy of colouring ai-e unequaEed. Mi's. Pollock and Sunset, so well known to the floral world, received first- class certificates in 1861. Lucy Grieve and Italia Unita were on this occasion awaixled fii'st-class certificates. Lucy Grieve is after the style of Mrs. PoUock, but with variously- tinted zones of brighter colom-s, and the plant is of more robust habit. Italia TJnita is a very brilliant white-foliaged vaiiety. The shaded zones of dark crimson make it very conspicuous and distinct. Ml-. Bull sent several seedling Zonale Pelargoniums. One, named the Clipper, was a scarlet flower of excellent form, which was requested to be shown again, the specimens sent not being in condition. With the exception of a stand of seedling Pansies, which at this late season were out of character, and a seedling Eose which was very fai- behind the Roses of the present day, there were no other flowers worthy of notice. Fkuit Committee. — There were a few subjects before the Sub-Committee of the Fruit Committee at the last great Show, consisting principally of seedlings. Mr. Turner, of Slough, again sent his seedling Strawberry President. On this occasion it was much larger than it has ever been exhibited previously, and is certainly a fine-look- ing fi-uit. The flavoirr, however, did not come up to the standard of what the Committee thought first-rate; but they were, nevertheless, of opinion, that on account of its size and solid flesh it woidd be a good market variety. 10 JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ July 7, 1863. Mr. Lydiitrd, of Batbeaston, near Bath, also sent two seedling Strawbenies, both of wliich were fine-looking fi'uit. Gem of the West is a fine bright scarlet colour, with a good deal of the Pine flavour in it, but it lacks sugai-. This defi- ciency may, however, be attributable to the season. Victory of Bath is a large darker-coloiu*ed variety, and its flavour was not remarkable. Mr. Euffet, gardener to Lord Palmerston, Brocket Hall, sent a seedling Strawberry called The Premier, which, judg- ing fi-om the plant exhibited in a pot, bears immensely. The fi'uit is large, dark-coloiu'ed, and the flavoiu- is very good. Mr. TiUery, of Welbeck, sent a seedling Nectarine raised fi'om the Elnige. It is of medium size, and in colour closely resembles its parent, but the flesh is rather more stained next the stone than iu the old variety. It is a good sort, but scarcely sufficiently distinct. Mr. Archibald Fowler, gardener to Lord Dali'ymple, Castle Kennedy, Stranraer, N.B., sent fruit of a very large Pig, which weighed 6 ozs. It was received without a name, and the variety has been grown at Castle Kennedy for aboxit a century. It appears to be the Large White Genoa. It is of turbinate shape, pale gi-eenish-yellow coloiu', with a brownish tinge on the apex of the fruit ; the flesh brownish- red and of good flavour-, but not first-rate. Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury, exhibited bunches of a Grape introduced from Corfu. They were very large and shoul- dered, the benies of good size, well set, and of a somewhat ovate shape, gi-een, and vnth a transparent skin showing the textiu-e of the flesh through it. It was not sufficiently ripened for a correct judgment to be formed of its qualities. Mr. J. Fleming, gardener to Her Grace the Duchess of Sutherland, at Clevedeu, sent a seedling Grape raised from a cross between WMte Frontignan and Eoyal Muscadine. It combined the properties of both parents ; but as the plant is yet young and the bunch was hardly ripe, it was not in condition to form a correct opinion of its merits. Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, exhibited a seedling Early White Nectarine raised fi-om Victoria Peach ; the flavour of which was piquant and gave evidence of being improved by being more highly ripened. He also had an Eai-ly Orange Nectarine a fortnight earlier than Pitmaston Orange and with the same flavour: and a seedling Hautbois consider- ably larger than the ProUfic. It is called the Eoyal Haut- bois, bears abundantly, and is a great improvement on the old variety if its flavom- is produced eqtially good. Mr. Laxton. of Stamford, exhibited two ilishes of his seedling- Early Prolific Pea, which proved to be Dickson's Favourite. In another dish, Mr. Laxton exhibited a small frame variety as Dickison's Favom-ite, wliich he is evidently growing in error for the true sort. THE MELODY AND HAEMOXY OF COLOUES. AccoKDiNQ to the commonly-adopted doctrine, there are three primai-y colom-s, red, yellow, and blue. The com- bination of these in certaik proportions yields vvfliite. The absence of them all is black. These primai-ies. mixed to- gether two and two, produce what are called secondary colours — viz., orange, from the mixtm-e of red and yellow ; green, from the mixtui-e of yellow and blue; and purple, from the mixtm-e of red and blue. Prom the combination of the seeondai-ies arise three tertiary colours — citron, from the mixture of orange and green ; olive, fi-om the mixture of gi-eeu and pm-ple ; and russet, from the mixtm-e of orange and purple. The language of music has been applied to colom-s, and colom-ists talk of the melody of colours, and the harmony of colours. Colom-s are said to be in melody when two con- tiguous tints, or shades, or hues, run insensibly into each other — as when red sUdes into pink and white, and pm-ple deepens into dark pm-ple, or merges into red-purple and red. Two different colours are said to be in harmony when their association is felt to be pleasant to the eye. Two colom-s are said to be complementary when they to- gether niiike up the wliite beam. Thus green and red are complementary, as also purple and yeUow," orange and blue. The eye feels pleasure in seeing colours in melody, or melt- ing into each other. It also feels a pleasure in contem- plating certain associations of different colom-s. In parti- cular the eye is pleased when complementary colours are beside each other, or are under the view at the same time. Complementai-y colom-s contrast the one with the other, but are always in hai-mony. It is necessai-y to add that white associates pleasantly with evei-y other colour ; so does black. The following diagram is constructed with a view of showing what colours are couqjlemeiAary to each other. In the figure w6 have three primary colom-s — red, yellow, and blue -. and the three secondaries, orange, green, and piu-ple, with the hues of secondaries on either side. We iiave also the tertiaries, citron and russet. The diagram is so con- structed that the colours in corresponding segments of opposite cii-cles are complementary, and so in harmony. Thus — red and green, blue and orange, yellow and pui-ple, are complementary coloui-s. According to the hue of any particular secondary, so is also the hue of its complement. Thus a pure purple requu-es a yellow, but a red-pm-ple re- quires a yellow-green, and a blue-pm-j^le a yellow orange, as the complementary colour ; and so of all the other secon- daries. The tertiai-y citron is in harmony with a dark pm-ple, pui-ple requires a yellow, but an olive a dark orange, and russet a dark gi-een. These principles are taught now in every school of art, and aa-e attended to in the manufac- ture of all our finer fabrics in which colom- is an element of beauty, as in dresses, carpets, hangings, and furnishings of various descriptions. Green Harmonising with Red and Russet. — The soft hue which the Author of nature has been pleased to give the leaf oi the tree and herbage, is by far the most abundant colour iu the vegetable kingdom. Now, wherever the flower of a plant is red, it associates agreeably ■with the leaf. The flowers of the Eose, and manj' Pinks, Geraniums, Pelargo- niums, Mallows, Lychnises, and dozens of others, contrast strikingly with the foliage of the plants on which they grow. The eye delights to see the fniit of the Chen-y, the Eose, and the Thc^rn, and the berry of the Holly, the Mountain Ash, and other plants peeping forth fi-om the green leaves. Furple Harmonising with Yellotv and Citron. — This is the second most prevalent hai-mony iu the vegetable kingdom. So far as we have been enabled to observe, pm-ple of vaxious tints, shades and hues, such as red-pm-ple where there is a preponderance of red, and blue-iim-ple where there is a preponderance of blue, is the most frequent colour of the petals of plants. Iu beautii'ul contrast, we often find yellow in the centre of the flower. Thus in the gai-den Polyanthus, and many varieties of Am-icula, the outer rim of the corolla is pm-ple, and an inner cii-cle is yellow. Pm-ple and citron are also commonly associated ivith the flowers of Grasses. Orange Harmonising with Blue and Olive. — This harmony is less frequently met with in the vegetable kingdom. It is very common in the sky. A pure blue, however, is rai-ely to be met with in the flower in any of the organs of plants. Most of the flowers called blue have more or less a tinge of red. In the flower of the Forget-me-not, which ever greets the eye so cheerfully, there is a border of blue-purple, and a July 7, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTtTBE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 11 centre or throat of orange-yellow. In the Pansy, so rich and soft, that it has obtained the name of " Heai-t's-ease," we have yellow and purple of various hues and degrees of intensity, brightened by a mixtiu-e of white. In the Daisy, described as " crimson-tipped," by Burns, there is the yeUow disk, harmonising both with the white ray and piu'ple on its tips. These flowers are favourites with aU classes, peer and peasant, old man and young maiden, countrjonan and townsman. They pleased us in out childhood, when we seized them, and sought possession of them so eagerly, but found them fading, like all earthly enjoyments. The frequent juxt?-position of complementary colom-s must have a physical as well as a final cause. If it be asked, What this is ? we are inclined to answer by asking another question, the answer to which may possibly thi-ov/ a light upon the first. When a beam of light falls on a green leaf, the gi-een is said to be reflected and the red absorbed ; but we ask, What becomes of the red ? When the beam falls on a purple petal, the purple is said to be reflected and the yellow absorbed ; but what becomes of the yellow ? Are the red and yellow in these cases absolutely lost? If these con- stituents of the beam be lost, they are the only powers in natiu'e which are. In this world of ours, nothing which has existed is lost ; as nothing new absolutely comes into being. It is now a received doctrine, that the heat absorbed by plants, in the geological era of the coal measures, is laid up in fossil deposits, and may come forth iu our ejioch when the coal is ignited. May we not suppose, in like manner, that the red absorbed by the plant, when the green is re- flected by its leaves, will come forth, sooner or later, in some form — in young stem, flower, or fruit ; and that the yellow absorbed by the flower, when the purple is reflected, will come out in the yellow pollen, or in some other form ? We have thought, at times, that as the pm-e white beam, when it reaches the earth with its atmosphere, is divided into several rays, and that no one of these is lost, and as they wfll come forth sooner or later, we have thus a harmony of coloiu's in natui'e. — (Amerlean Gardener' t- Monthly.) TmOPEDKTM Li:yDENII. Ip this is not the most brilliant, it is at least the most | ered for the fii-st time in Europe, singular of terrestrial Orcliids. For gardens it is a rare curiosity, for botanists a perfect wonder, and an object of just pride for the enterprising cultivator who introduced it. The cuai-aeters of the type may be stated in a few words: — It is a Cypiipedium, the la- bellum of which, in- stead of being formed like a slipper, extends in that of a tongue, becoming nai-row and extending downwards, like the other divisions, in the form of a narrow band. The sepals are of a yellowish-white colour ; the two inferior lire joined together in one, about 2 inches long, and striated with greenish nerves. The petals (including the labeUum), extend to at least a foot in length: they axe pale, striated in face of their internal base, having a spot on the two posterior cor- ners or horns of the depressed caruncle or protuberance which sui'mounts the gyno- stem or column. This noble plant is a native of New Grenada, where Mr. Linden dis- covered it 1843, in the territory of Chiguara, in the small woods of the Savannah, which rise on the Cordilleras to an altitude of 1650 metres, or fully 5500 ft., and overlooking the vast forests of Mara- caybo. It has been de- scribed by Dr. Lind- ley from a dried speci- men : and was flrst flow- in the rich collection of M. Pescatore, at liis Chateau, CeUe, near St. Cloud. It is worth while to consider for a moment one of the most curious examples of that law which is justly called the law of balance in the organs (of plants). According to a funda- mental rule of symme- try in their flowers. Orchids shoiild have a verticil of three sta- mens, alternating with the interior parts of their perianth. Now, in consequence of a normal abortion with the generality of these plants, the posterior stamen exists only in a state of fertility; the two lateral ones having disappeaa-ed, or being only present in a state of sterile protuberance on the gynostem or column. In the Cy- pripediums on the con- trary ( Cypa-ipedium, Uropedium), the pos- terior anther is replaced by a fleshy caruncle, but to compensate for this, the two lateral anthers exist in a per- fect state. If we add the one-stamenedflower of an Orchid (Orchis), to the two-stamened flower of the Urope- dium, we obtain the three-stamened flower of the ideal and sym- metrical type of the Orchid faruily ; and thus, in botanical arith- metic, as in ordinary calculations, two added to one make three. — (Dk. Planchon, Flore des SSerres.) 12 JOUENAIi OF HOETICTJLTURE AI^D COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ July 7, 1863. MAKING A STKAWBEERY SOIL. The remarks made by my esteemed friend, Mr. Eobson, at page 432, in reference to the repeated faOures experienced by " A. Z.," induces me to bring to your notice a case in my own experience, where an apparently similar difficulty was suooessfiiUy overcome. It occurred in the garden of a gen- tleman in my neighboui'hood. He was one day lamenting that he could not grow his most favoiu'ite fi'uit, Sti'awbenues, in his gai'den, tiy what he would, and begged me to go over to advise him. I did so, and found the sod to be of the same light sandy nature as that described by your cori-esijondent ; and I liave found from experience that such soils when highly manured do produce very fine foliage indeed, but very little fruit — in fact, they "run to straw," as a farmer would term it. My advice was, to take off the top spit and supply its place with 9 inches of clay and strong loam, such as is used in making bricks, and incorporate it well with the subsoil. This was done, and nothing coidd be more gratifying than the success attending the operation, as the plants produced fine fi-uit in great abundance, and I was glad to hear that the example had been followed by several other jjersons in the immediate neighboui-hood. — John Cox, Redleaf. WEIGHT OF 3IUSA CAVENDISHII FEUIT— OIlIE]>rTAL OECHAED-HOUSE. HAvrNG seen in j'ovu' .Joiu'nal two notices lately of the weight of heads of ft-uit of the Musa Cavendishii or Banana, they have stin-ed up old recollections about a head of the fruit I grew when I was a joui'neyman some ten years ago, and of a singular incident that hapjjened concerning it, which fixed it upon my memory. The said head weighed, when freed fr-om all superfluous stem, 56 lbs., and numbered 220 or 222 pods of fruit. Know- ing that the Banana is still grown extensively in the same place, I wi-ote to the gardener, and the followmg is an extract from his reply : — " Coodham Gardens. "Eegarding the Banana, I think that I have a better fruit just now than either of those you mentioned. The number of swelled pods are 212, and which I think will weigh close on 50 lbs. I weighed a fruit last year which was 53 lbs. I expect tius fruit to be ready towards the latter end of .July, or the beginning of August. — E. A. Stewart." Writing the a))ove remmds me of an article \Ti'itten by me upon the cultivation of the Musa as a hothouse fruit for a certain gardening periodical, which was not inserted because, as the editor said, it was " not of general interest." Perhaps now that we have liad a good deal of tilting and fii-ing of blank cartridge upon the orchard-house question, mig-ht it not be worth while to prefix the word " oriental," and try how they would succeed ? A practical knowledge of the habits of such fruits would soon fomi an idea of what an ■■ oriental orchard-house," should be, and the skiU required in their cultivation would be about a minimum. — Alesandek Storrie. . P-S. — I have grown various varieties, but the Musa Caven- dishii is the best. M. sapieutum grows taller, and has not such large heads of fi'uit. DwAKF Sweet Pea. — I lately sent a query asking why it is that a dwai-f eatable Pea has been obtained, and that a dwarf Sweet Pea has not. Can botanists or florists assign a reason ? At present neither have replied to it. Mio-ht not hybridising the dwarfest eatable Pea with the Sw'eet Pea, produce some change ? — Matthew Fitt. Early Celery. — The working men of Dewsbuiy have long been celebrated for the production of early Celery. Twenty years since it was considered very early if' it w.as on the table at Dewsbury Feast (July 25), "now it is not con- sidered to be so ludess it is dug up in June. Last year the earliest was dug up the last week in June, this year the first was on the table June 21st. The length of the best stalk was 21 inches long, blanched 10 inches, and of a pro- portionate thickness. It was grown by a working man, - -S. THE GOOSEBEEEY CATEEPILLAE AND ITS HABITS. Noticing a remark made by youi' correspondent " E. F.," on the 2nd of June, in his " Doings of the Last "Week," respecting the non-appeai'ance of the gooseberry catei-pillar and his attributing the disappearance to the agency of birds, I am induced to offer a few facts that have come under my own obsei-vation. Like " E. P.," as soon as the trees were in frill leaf and the weather genial, I commenced examining the trees to see if the caterpOlars had made theii- appearance, and I found them in various stages of existence. Some appeared to be just issued from the egg, and had made many small holes through the leaf; in most instances each grub had eaten out a hole the size of a small shot. Other caterpillars were more advanced, some being half and others three-foui'ths gi'Own, and there were some that had apparently attained their full size. Amongst the latter there were a few of a l^ale gi-een colour ; and adhering to the leaf they were on, or close by, was the dark skin. I then began to look for the parent insect or fly, but could discover nothing but a black fly, which was very numerous ; and in most instances, upon the trees being touched or an attempt made to captiu'c them, they fell to the ground and were lost. At fii'st I began to tliink they might be the parents, and, if so, could see no means of saving the trees and crop but by catching and killing them. I consulted all the works I had on natural history, but could find no other information than that these caterpUlai's are the produce of a si^ecies of saw-fly, which deposits its egg on the leaf of the tree ; the egg in cour-se of time giving birth to a cater- pillar ; the caterpillar, after attaining its period of existence, falling down from the tree and bui-ying itself in the earth tOl the following spring, then bursting fr'om its crusty shell and seeking the young leaves to perform the like offices again. I therefore resolved to try some experiments upon them, and for that piu'pose I prociu-ed two fiill-gi'own caterpillars and placed them under a bell-glass on the 23rd of April. After the caterpiUai's had changed then' skins and fallen from the leaves on which they had been previously feeding, I began to examine the sand in the flower-pot to ascertain their whereabouts, and 1 found the one that changed first directly under the leaf from which it fell, buried about an inch fr-om the surface. The other I unfortunately damaged with the point of a knife used to discover them, probably owing to its not having attained sufficient strength of shell. I then placed them on the top of the soil in a smaller flower- pot, covering them with a bell-glass as before simply for convenience. On Satiu'day, May 16th, about eleven o'clock, I had the gi-atifioation of seeing a fly under the glass, which I was satisfied had come from one of the chrysalises. It was about one-third of an inch in length, the fore part of its body of a dii'ty yellow, and the tau of a bright yellow colour', with transparent wings very similar in appearance to the fly that is the cause of galls upon the Oak trees in many places. At one o'clock I collected some more cuttings ; and, after proceeding as in the former instance, I placed the fly under the bell-glass with them. The fly now seemed less restless than before, and began to walk about the leaves apparently with pleasui'e. After watcMng it for a few minutes I observed it walk to the under side of a leaf, and, after examining it for a short time, it walked to the top of the leaf and then commenced laying its eggs along the midrib in the direction from point to footstalk. The number of eggs deposited on the midrib was about twelve. Then the fly went to the fom' side-ribs of the leaf, and there deposited from eight to ten eggs on each rib, amounting in the aggregate to fifty-two. A number of eggs were Laid on other leaves, but they were not so regidarly placed. Their total numbers, I believe, were about 200. The eggs are of a transparent white colour', about one-sixteenth of an inch long, with a dark spot at one end, and they are deposited with great regularity about the same distance apart. July 7, 1863. ] JOUS.NAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENBE. 13 On Friday, May 22nd, I fancied there was a slight altera- tion in the colour of those eggs that were laid first, and about eleven o'clock on Saturday, 23rd, they were evidently producing caterpillars, for they coxild move about. After preparing a flower-pot by filling it with silver sand, &c., as if for choice cuttings, I selected three vigorous shoots from a healthy Goosebeny tree ; p.nd, after carefully inserting them, I introduced the two full-grown catei-pOlars, making them secure by putting a bell-glass over them and pressing the same into the sand to prevent tlieir escape from the side. They soon began to eat greedOy, and appeared quite at home, consuming at the rate of a fnll-gTOv.'n leaf in twelve hours. On the next day (the 24th) one began to appear torpid, and by the middle of the day had changed its skin, leaving it on the leaf it had been feeding from the previous day. Prom the size of the leaf that remained and the amount consumed by the other, I presume it had not eaten anything for the last twelve hours. By changing its skin it had assumed a pale green colour and remained in this state tlu-ee or four hours, taking no more food, and then fell from its position and birried itself in the soU — which it does veiy quickly — and in about sL^ or eight hour's it was covered with a crusty shell. The other caterpillar did not change its skin tOl the 28th, but the operations were the same ; but I found it took about twelve hours fi-om the time it changed its skin tOl it became a chrysalis. — J. Patet, Gardener, Loseley Park, Guildford. CULTURE OF ONCIDIUM PAPILIO. In answer to youi' correspiondent, " Okchidophilus," the above plant will thrive either on a block or in a pot, pro- vided the proper treatment is given. We have found it succeed well on a block plunged into a pot, so that the block is 3 or 4 inches above the pot's margin, filling the pot with drainage, and a little sphagnimi moss or rough peat on the top. It also succeeds well on a block of wood suspended from the roof, but not too near the glass in winter, as the cold is apt to affect it. If gi'own in this way a little live sphagnum moss should be placed on the block, and the plant fastened on with some copper wire and snrall nails. This Oncidium does not require a high temperature : from 55° to 60' in winter is sufficient heat ; and in spring and summer it may rise from 65' to 75°, and more by the heat of the Sim, from which the plant mirst be shaded. The plant requires a good supply of water in the growing season, and when at rest just enoirgh to keep the bulbs in a plump state, for if allowed to shrivel it will be a long time before return- ing into a healthy condition. — B. S. Williams, Paradise Nursery, HoUoway. EXCLUDING GAEDENERS IN IRELAND FROM AN EXHIBITION. It seems to be quite a common proceeding in Ireland not to allow gardeners to enter the place of exhibition on the same footing as you do in England. I exhibited some Strawberries and Auriculas in Dublin in April last ; and on asking the Secretary of the Society for a pass, I was told that there was no pass given, and that I would not be allowed to enter till six o'clock, p.m., unless I had a subscriber's ticket. I, of com-se, thought it very strange that an exhibitor should not be allowed to see the results ; but fortunately I had a fi-iend who gave me a ticket, otherwise I might have staid outside till the company were dispersed. I write this to let the Belfast and other gai-deners see that theirs is not the only society in Ireland that allows such offensive treatment.— t-James Clev?s, Gardener, Cloon Mohill, County Leitrim, Ireland. [The sooner the horticultiu'al societies in Ireland expunge such a supercUious rule the more creditable will it be for them. — Eds.] Birmingham Rose Show. — The prize list of this important Exhibition of cut Koses. garden ornaments, and horticultural implements is now ready, and, as will be seen on reference to the advertisement which appears in another column, may be had on application to the Secretary, Mr. Alexander For- rest, Queen Cliambers, Birmingham, irom whom also forms of entry may be had. The last day on wliich entries of implements and garden ornaments can be made is July 2nd, and of Eoses July 9. There is every reason to expect an unusually fine display of the " Queen of Flowers " at this interesting and important Exhibition. DESTROYING WORMS IN POTS— HEATING (FROM A KITCHEN FIRE. I HAVE several times read in your Joui-nal instructions for destroying worms, but do not remember whether they ap- plied to pot-plants or not. Will you inform me whether any or what application can be made to Vines in pots mth- out injuring the plants!'' I was repotting a young Vine this morning, and saw more worms amongst the soil than I Uked to see. There were a lot of young white ones feeding, I suppose, on some broken bones that were put amongst the soil in the first shift from the small pot the eye was put in. These as well as the larger ones I want dislodged if it can be done without much risk, though so far as mj' observations go, I do not expect the worms wiU harm the plants much. They, I think, live on the fat of the soU, and not on the plants. I beg to ask another question. My glass house or orchard- house is a lean-to, 24 feet by 12, south asj^ect, 5 feet 6 inches high in fi-ont, and 11 feet at back, all glass, ends and side, to 2 feet of the ground. In one corner at the east end, 8 feet by 4, I have erected a kind of stage, having three tiers or forms about 16 or 17 inches wide, and underneath this iron gas-pipes of two-inch bore run from the back of the kitchen fire along the west end of the stage, the front, and back ; the pipe and water enter near the bottom of an u'on cistern, close to where the pipe comes through the house wall. The same two-inch pipe forms the boiler, made to a bevel with the back of the fireplace, the bottom pai't connected with the cistern by a retiu'n-pipe of li-inch bore. I have no means ot keei^ing the fire off the pipe boiler ; so that as long as the kitchen fire is in, the water is hot, but never gets to the boUing-point, though it wiU simmer inside the cistern at the mouth of the flow-pipe, but never bubble. To counteract the heat I have to introduce the outside aii% and everything put on to this stage, with regular syringing, grows famously. A young Vine, last winter little thicker than a stocking-neecUe, is now 6 feet high and three-eighths of an inch thick nearly. The top form of this stage is about G feet from the apex of the roof, between wluch form and apex of the roof the wall is bare. Now, having given a description of the place, I wish you to tell me if a Muscat of Alexandria Grape will succeed in a wooden box 16 inches square, which, of course, holds more soil than a pot of that diameter, and if it will give an annual supply of fruit when placed on the top form or stage, and trained against the waU, allowing 7 feet for each branch, and a bunch at every foot of length — say about a dozen if needful. The house designed as an orchard-house, has now nearly assumed the form of a greenhouse, but all wood and glass, has cost me about X20. The labour and work, except the heating apparatus, is all my own ; and considering that I never handled a joiner's tool before, I do not think any amateur would despise it. This is information for a man of limited means as mine are. I have only night and morning to work.— W. M. [Put a couple of spadefuls of quicklime into a barrel of water, stir it well, and when clear water the pots with it. This will destroy the worms, and do good rather than other- wise to the roots. We not agree with you as to the innocence of woi-ms in pots. True, they do not often meddle with roots, but they disturb and unsettle the earth about them, and are apt to neutrahse and stop up the best drainage. See what was said on drainage in " Doings of the Last Week," lately, as to keeping out worms. But in using bones and rich manirre, the eggs of the worms are often taken into the pot in the compost, and lime water is the best remedy, and it will also act chemically with manure. It is not safe to use it strong for some fine hair-rooted plants, but Vines will not find fault with it. Your mode of heating the cistern by pipes at the back of 14 JOUHNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 7, 18^-3. the kitchen fii-e is ingenious, and, no doubt answers. Cover- ing the cistern and giving plenty of air will neutralise the effect of the heat, and by shiitting off that corner you might have a miniature hothouse there. If ever you find the heat too much, the simplest thing would be to shut off the pipes from the fire by a moveable iron back or damper, mth an inch or so of air between it and the pipes. We can easily fancy that in hot weather you may have too much heat at that part, and it so a wooden covering would be best for the cistern. We would lite the box for the Muscat Vine to be longer than 10 inches square, and so much deep. If 24 or 30 inches long by lO wide and Ifi deeji, it would be better. If a heavy crop is taken from a 16-incli pot, it is rarely of much use afterwards, and eight to ten bunches from a Miiscat Vine in a llJ-inch pot would exhaust it too much for cropping it so every year. Much, however, may be done by removing the surface soU every year, top-dressing with rich compost, and using manure-waterings. You deserve great credit for doing the work so weU, and we wiU be glad to hear how you succeed, and would merely hint, that if confined to IG-iuch boxes, we would have several — say two or thi'ee instead of one. If the cistern did not occupy all the sj^ace, you might also plant a Muscat or two, train them up the back wall and down the roof. The roots would not dislike a little heat from the cistern.] USE OF TAN AMONG STUAWBEEEIES. In No. 115 a wish is expressed that tan may be tried for keeping Strawberries clean. I have a friend that has used it extensively for some two or three years to my knowledge, but I would not write till I had ascertained the result of his experience ; yesterday he paid me an unexpected visit, and I at once made inquu-es about it, and he says it is the best thing for the purpose he ever made use of He has a Str.aw- beri-y garden which produces when in full bearing about sixty quarts per day. The walks are only wide enough for convenience, and he every year covers the whole, walks and iiU, with tan fresh from the pit and has done this for some years. He puts it on in AprU, or sooner if doing so accords better with his other garden operations, and long before the fruit begins to ripen the tan is washed by the rains till it is as clean as the dessert plate the Strawberries are to be eaten off. It acts as a stimirlant to the plants, saves aU trouble of weeding, and the runners strilce as freely into it as Ferns into cocoa-nut refuse ; beside my friend can go about his garden in any weather without soiling Ms shoes, and I may add he is an experienced gardener, and not a young one. — WOKCESTEE. GAEDENEES' EOYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. The annual dinner of this Institution took place on the evening of Friday last at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate .Street, when upwards of one hundred members and their friend.s were present. The chair was occupied by the Right Hon. the Earl of Ducie, supported by several members of the Coimcil of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, among whom were Mr. John Glutton, Mr. J. J. Blandy, Rev. Joshua Dix, Mr. James Vcitch, and Mr. John Lee. There were also present Mr. Robert Wrench (Treasurer to the Institution), Ke-\-. J. M. Bellew, Mr. Koch, and Mr. Henry Paull, M.P., &c. The room was profusely decorated with flowers and tino- foliaged plants. The whole end of the room behind the Chaii-- man was a perfect bank, from floor to ceiling, of Geraniums and other showy plants liberally eontriliuted, at no small trouble and expense, by Mr. Charles Turner, of the Royal Xursery, Slough. At the opposite end of the room, occupiing a gallei-y in front of the Chairman, was a brilliant display of female lieautv, even more attractive to the guests than the best exertions of Mr. Turner proved to be. A^Hiether it is for the sake of uniformity that the ladies are placed apart opposite to the flowers, so that both may reflect a borrowed beauty on the ruder mass below, we know not ; hut we strongly suspect if they abandoned the higher regions and mingled among frail mortals, their presence would not be less eft'ective nor their influence less beneficial. The noble Chairman proposed the healths of Her Majesty and of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, which were enthusiastically responded to. In proposing the health of the Army, Navy, and Volunteers, his Lordship said, " As gardeners we should all hope for the time when sworda shall be converted into pnming-hooks ; but so long as the evil passions of men continvied, that was an event which was not likely to happen as long as the world lasted. It behoved us, therefore, to look to our national defences, and to see that our military, naval, and volunteer services were preserved in a perfect state of efficiency." The toast was responded to in eloquent terms by Major Robinson, of the Hon. Artillery Company. The Chairman then proposed the toast of the evening, *' Pros- perity to the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution." His Lordship introduced the toast by remarking that it would be superfiuoua in him to say anything in favour of an Institution which had now been so long before the public, and which had been productive of so much good to a class of men to whom every member of the community was indebted. A vast number of the pleasures we enjoy are derived from the skill and labour of the gardener ; and if evidence were wanting, we have only ti> look around us, even in the present room, and see the magnificent flowers and fruit with which the walls and tables are decorated. But it is not alone pleasure to the senses that we obtain from the gardener's art. It is well known that some of the most direful epidemics that devastated Europe, and particularly the northern parts, in the middle ages, have totally disappeared by the extended cidti-v-r.tion and use of garden vegetables. Gardeners as a class are intelligent and provident ; but there are cu-cum- stances over which they have no control, by which they are not unfrequeutly reduced so as to be dependant on others for support. It was no disgrace for a man to be placed in these circumstances when he had striven hard tn maintain a respectable position in society, and he would simply instance two men well known to the greater number of the company present — Mr. Mearns, gardener to the Duke of Portland, and Mr. Sangster, long a member of one of the large seed-houses in Loudon. Both of these men had little expectation at one time that they woidd ever require to come to this charity for relief, but rather that in their later days they would not only be secure from penury, but were fairly entitled to enjoy some of the luxmies of life. It was for the relief of such cases that this Institution was founded, and he therefore had great pleasure in proposing " Success ami Prosperity to the Gardeners' Benevolent Institution." Rev. J. M. Bellew then proposed the health of the Chairman, remarking that one of the finest charact(;rs in the world was an English gentleman -with a handsome income, who spent his life on his ancestral estates, diffusing joy and happiness to all around him. Such an English gentleman was the noble Chairman. Who was there connected with agricultm-e and gardening to whom the name of Earl Ducie was not familiar } But it was not in these pursuits alone that the noble Ch;iirman had dis- tinguished himself In all the movements tending to benefit the country and society at large, his name and presence were to be f nmd. Even in the volunteer caiise he was eminently distin- guished, and had taken so decided a part in rifle practice that he might be pronounced to be a dcured good shot. The toast was received vrith great applause, and his Ijordsbip briefly returned thanlis. 'i'he Chairman then proposed the following toasts: — "Mr. Robert Wrench, the Treasurer of the Institution," "Mr. Cutler, Secretary." His Lordship retired at half-past 9, and the Chair was occupied by Mr. Bellew, who proposed " Success to the Royal Horticultural and Botanic Societies," which was responded to by Jlr. Blandy. Mr. Koch proposed the health of the Committee of Manage- ment, and Mr. Child returned thanks. The Chairman proposed the health of the Stewards and of the Ladies, which concluded the entertainment of the evening. The simi of about £400 was subscribed in the room for the benefit of the Charity. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Peksevese in the all-impoi'tant operation of stin-ing the surface of the soU at every favourable opportunity. There is no kind of soU wliich will not be benefited by this ope- ration ; but certainly on those having a tendency to run to- gether or bind, it is indispensably necessary. No one who has not followed out the system as the mai-ket-gardeners do, perseveringly, can truly estimate the great advantages resulting therefrom. It is very proper to apply stimulants in the shape of maniu-e trenched into and incoi-porated with July 7, 1S63. ] JOTIRNAX OF HOBTICTJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GAP.DENEE. 15 the staple soil, or in a Uquid state diiring the gro-ning season ; but the benefit of such applications is greatly in- creased by continual, and, as far as possible, deep sui-face- stirring ; for it is the external atmospheric influences acting upon, and combining with, the substances composing the food of plants, which reduces them to a state fit to be taken up thi-ough the roots, and assimilated by the plants. Arh- choies, as" the heads are cut, the stems to be cut close to the roots ; clear the stools from decayed leaves, and loosen the surface of the soil about them with a hoe. Asparag^is, the beds should now, in the midst of the growing season, and while the soil is moist, receive good soakings of manure water, with a good portion of salt added thereto, taking the precaution of applying in good time stakes and lines to the outside rows at least, to prevent heavy rains and high winds breaking down the plants, which is very injurious to the crowns." Carrots, if the aphides make their appearance c n this or the Parsnip crop, di'edge them well early in the moi-ning with dry wood ashes, chaiTed saw or wood dust, or soot, any of which is good, but the three raised together have a most beneficial eifect, not only in cleai-ing away the nuisance, but also in fertiUsing the soil, and producing healthy luxuriant crops. If any of the Brassica family are attacked by insects, dredge them in a similar manner, and if attacked" bv the root maggot, apply soot in a liquid state. CaulHioii-ers. earth-up those that were phinted iu the beginning of last month ; plant more for coming into use in the au- tumn. Celery, the main crops to be got out without delay, the plants to be well supplied with soft water, and to be shaded for a few days if necessai-y, the early crops to be UberaUy supplied with Uquid manure, and the soil about them to be frequently stiiTed with a fork, but by no means make any attempt at moulding them up until they have attained the desired growth. Garlic and Shallots, as soon as the tops begin to die, take up the roots ; after allowing them to remain on the ground a day or two to dry, tie them in bunches, and hang them in the root-cellar. Onions, make a small sovdng for dramng young. The TripoU answers weU for that puiijose ; the autumn-sown ones transplanted in the spring are very fine this season, and will now be attaining their "ftdl size. When this is perceived lay the tops down for a time previous to pulling. Sea-kale, this, like the Asparagus crop, is particularly fond of manure water and salt, which may now be applied to assist in forming strong crowns to insure good cuttings of luxui-iant, fine-flavom-ed Kale another year, the crowns to be duly thinned. Spinach, sow a few rows to keep up a succession ; thin the preceding crop, and keep it watered in diy weather. Tomatoes, keep them well thiuned-out and constantly nailed. Turnips, keep up good successional sowings, of which a good breadth may now be put in ; charred refuse or dry wood ashes spi-inkled over thein when they are wet is a good preventive against the fly. FLOWEK 6AKDEN. If the dry and hot weather continue, much wateiing will be necessary here. Even the ordinary herbaceous plants should have'a thorough soaking once or twice a-week. In- deed, it is more necessary with these than with mass flowers, which have now, of coui-se, become well established. Cut back the Dcrpetual -blooming Eoses as they go out of bloom, and well water with the richest manure water to encom-age a second growth and bloom. See that Hollyhocks, Dahlias, and the taller-growing herbaceous plants are properly secured to stakes, &c., as they grow. The budding of Eoses to be proceeded with in duU weather. Give plants infested with gi-een fly a liberal washing with the engine, or sp-inge them with tobacco water. jSTow is the best season for ob- serving the eifect of the arrangement of the colours, &c. ; and if any alteration is deemed necessary, it should be care- fully noted, which will greatly facilitate its execution at the proper season. As yet, we cannot say that the flower garden at the Eoyal Horticultural Gardens is as perfect in all its parts as could be wished. There is an undue prominence of some particular colour- — viz., scarlet and blue, while others of equal worth are " few and far between." But it matters not, though we have red, blue, and yellow colours iu abun- dance ; if there is an absence of compensatory hues, it would he like having the high notes in music without the low — neither harmony nor variety would be apparent. FEUIT GAKDEN. The principal operations here wiU consist in keeping the youno- wood of wall fruit trees constantly nailed-in, the laterSs from the young wood of Peaches and Nectarines to be spuiTcd down to the first joint. Some portion of the young wood of Gooseberries and Cmxants to be spurred-m 'at this season, as doing so both increases their productive- ness and the fineness of the fruit. STOVE. Encourage the progress of the young stock for winter blossomino-; and maintain a comparatively moist tem- perature. ° An increased circulation of air to be allowed amongst the Orchids dm-ing the bright weather that gene- rally succeeds a period of gloom, as the humidity constantly stagnant wiU otherwise have an injm-ious effect. PITS AND FRAMES. These structures should now be producing for the conser- vatory or mixed greenhouse, a sirtficient number of Cocks- combs, Balsams, Globe Amaranths, Thunbergias, Gloxuuas Achimenes, &e. The growth of specimen Fuchsias should be duly encoui-aged, also late-blooming Pelargomums. Ihe Japan Lilies, Chimney Campanulas, and Guernsey Lihes, should be ordered in due time, they are remarkably pretty and useful autumn-floweiing plants. See that Cmerarias and Calceolarias are standing in a cold, shady situation. A quantity of stocky plants of the Scarlet and Variegated Geraniums, Veronica Andersoni, Heliotropes, late-struck Fuchsias, &c., should be duly encouraged for late autumn- floweiino-. Encom-age the growth of Prknula smensis, they thrive will in Ught, open, fibrous, sandy loam. The perpetual- flowering Eoses should not be forgotten, they ai-e good and useful plants in the gloomy months of autumn. ^ W . E.EANE. DOI^'GS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEN. Sowed last Dwarf Kidney Beans in the open an-, will sow more m a fortnight, where we can protect from autumn fi-ost. Sowed Dickson's Favourite, Bishop's Longpod, and Early Washington Peas for the last crop unprotected. Staked-up advancing crops as we could get at them and could find sticks, of which we are scarce. In sowmg at this season, we make the cU-iU much v/ider and deeper than usual, sow the Peas wider, but not too thick ; soak the dxdls after sowing, cover with an inch of soil, water more shghtly again and then place half an inch of di-y soil on the surface, and strew with a Uttle soot and Ume. We also put hme m the water first used to start or kill slugs and worms. Drenched the rows of Peas bearing heavily, and those m lull bloom, to help them to set strongly. To keep in the moistui-e m sonie cases, where Spinach between the rows was gettmg old, out it down, and placed it on at the bottom of the Peas ; in other cases, brought short grass and litter, and where that could not be done, hoed the ground, so as to throw di-y soil over the watered place to keep the water in by lessening evaporation. Sowed succession of Turnips, Eadishes, Let- tuces, and the first of Endive, watering and snading as soon as sown. Eraser's Broad-leaved Endive is a most desn-able kind for ^dnter work. Sowed also a httle Parsley and Chervil, &c., for succession, and as we are, scarce put m cuttings of Taii-agon and other herbs. Topped late Broad Beans? A little Mazagan and Longpod may stiU oe sown for late crops ; but with us sowing after the middle of June seldom does much good. Eegidated Cucumbers, ta-ned out more Gherkins, and earthed the last piece of Mushrocm-bed in the shed. Those in the house ai-e almost dof -J^"^^ first piece in the shed, from the rubbishy matenals we could command, is coming in. In answer to several q"enes -^e would say, that s5 weeks from the spawmng is a good generalise to wait. If forced into growth ^-^^ .f^^H' they seldom bear so long. To all who wish to b^ve the best material, however, we still say nothing "f «^ ,,"? g°°^'''f di-oppings of horses fed on hard food, with about a tlmd of the shortest litter, and the material not aUowed to heat too violently before using it. BIEDS. A lady andgentleman who called ^ere the other day, were in raptures of deKght-and what with, think you? The 16 JOUEWAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE : GARDENER. [ July ; swai-ms of blackbirds, the clouds of tlu-ushes, the numbers of dishwashers or water-wagtails, and starlings (the last two we have taken under our peculiar protection), the swarms of linnets hopping fi'om bush to tree, and ever and anon emitting theii' sweet plaintive notes, and even the armies of the soot-balls of London — the tliieving span-ows. What cared they if the finest Strawberries were nibbled, and the best Peas purloined? "Why we would have a garden for the very pui-]i50se, and let the sweet fellows take all they liked, if we could only get such hopping beauties, such choirs of harmony." It reminded us of a conversation be- tween a lady and her gardener. Says Blue Apron, " I am sadly pestered with vermin. Madam ; will you allow me to take means to lessen the evil by destroying the vermin ? " " Certainly, why should you be thus annoyed 'i but what is or are the vermin ? " " The bii'ds, Madam, the bkds ; I must trap and shoot them." " O ! the birds, the beautifiU bii-ds ! call them vermin ! The sweet, lovely songsters ! No, indeed. You siu-ely would not have the heart to kill them, and you, too, a man of such kind feelhigs ! Why, my beautiful garden would be a lonely thing without my feathered friends." And Blue Apron was obliged to be content -with grumbUng. No doubt he netted and trapped on the sly ; but a report of a gun was never heard. Nets must be our great safe- guard in such cii'cixmstances, then there will be quite enough that will go to the birds' share, to repay them for what good these hard-billed gentry do us at other times, and we confess that to our own ears there is something sadly out of place in the noise of a gun, and the smell of gunpowder in a garden. It is amazing though, how the hard selfishness of our nature ^vill often ride roughshod oyer all our best feelings and kindest sympathies. The last time v/e saw one of our fiiend bird-admirers, who looked upon lis as worse than a Goth, for pej^pering some sparrows among a favourite riuarter of Peas, he was making the whole neighbourhood ring with the rapid discharges of a huge horseman's jjistol. "What, what, are you doing now? 1/OTt shooting the pretty birds ! " And he replied with crimsontd cheeks, " Bother them, they have cleared oif my Stravjben-ies, and now they wUl not leave a pod of this new delicious Pea." Aye, just so it is ; let the shoe pinch in the tender selfish part, and then, notwithstanding our ad- miration of our feathered fi-iends, there are times when we would wish they gave us less of their attentions, or that means shoiUd be used by which we might reckon on having the fu'st gatherings, so as to leave them oidy bountiful gleanings. Let bii-ds alone, "first served" will ever be their motto. FEtriT GAKDEN. Tied-up Raspberries that had drooped and broken ties with the weight of fruit. Some grumbled at t'ne frost in- juring the Gooseberries just when out of bloom, and many, no doubt, were cut ofl' ; but if with us 50 per cent, more had gone, it had been a good thing for the bushes, as they ai-e far too heavily loaded, notwithstanding the quantity taken for bottling. Even now it would be a charity to thin them if we could find the time. One advantage is, there will be little necessity for summer pinching of the young wood, though both GoosebeiTies and Currants, at all strong, are much more friritful and easily regulated in consequence. Some of the bushes ai'e rather thin of leaves, which we attribute more to a thunderstorm than to caterpillars, as after eaiiy spring we have seen little of the latter. Netted almost every piece of ripening Strawberries, and find that the individual fruit, thanks to the rains coming in time, are coming better in size than we expected at fu-st. Some of the later Keens' and the earliest Queens have been very good ; stOl the bulk, owing- to the dry weather, are rather smaller than usual. At one time it was aU the fashion to have Strawberry-banks, the beds divided by stones, flints, bricks, &c., and the Strawberries hanging temptingly over them. The fu-st necessity for theu- full success we should consider to be abundance of water near to them. One ei-ror, however, it is as well to dissipate, and that is the idea that beds so raised require such an amount of water iu addition to those plr.nted on the level quaa-ter. Young plants generally need moi-e at ih-st ; but when plants are established and the surface is either kept stirred or mulched, the plants on such banks need no more watering than those on the level. In fact, they are just as independent as the depth of good earth beneatii them is all the more, for the roots wiU go deeper and the moisture will rise by capOlai-y attraction so long as there is moisture to get. We have known such banks spoiled by merely keejiing the sui-faoe moist, v/hich kept the roots starved from two causes — the water at the surface did not get down to them, and the line of evaporation being broken there was no rising of moisture fi-om beneath to help the-m. Netted aU Cherries from which we expected to gather, otherwise we should expect to reap nothing but the stones and the stalks. Kept shortening the points and thinning the shoots of Pears, Apples, Plums, &c. Find ovu- double smoking has pretty weU done for the brown beetle among the trees in orchard-house. Peach-house, &c., but it has been a woiTy. Have heard wondi-ous tales about a new insect powder, and a sort of piston pepper-box for ejecting it on insects wherever settled or situated. The thing is, those missed are just the mischief and need the looking alter. We dislUce smoking for many reasons ; but still lor many pur- poses it is still the most efl'ectual plan. Painted the backs of frames and pits where Melons are gro-wing, to keep the red spider, &c., at a distance. Watered Peach trees. Fig trees, and Vine-border outside after strewing over it a little soot and superphosphate of Hme. Used water about lOCK, as it woiJd get cooled in toxiching the earth, and proceeded ■svith thinning Grapes as fast as we could, as they now re- quit-e being attended to. Young potted Pines should be slightly shaded and syringed in very bright days, and if shut up early in the afternoon should have a little ail- all night if the heat inside will permit. Prom 60° at night, to 85° and 90° during the day, -svith air and atmospheric moistm-e in proportion, -will suit them better than a liigh- steaming temperature at night, which renders them too languid to stand a great amount of sun heat -without flinch- ing. Bottom heat now should be from 85° to 90°. Removed Chen-y trees finished bearing and -with buds well formed to an earth-pit, partly phmged the pots, and gave in addition to necessary waterings, good syringings all over -with clear soot water, and at times a little sirlphiu- water to keep off red spider or other insects. Those who -wish fine- flavoured Oranges of their own growth, should keep their plants under glass and give them plenty of sun temperature. Guavas, where grown should also have plenty of sun and air as the fruit ripens, or it wul be insipid. Other matters much in routine. OKIJAMENTAL DEPAETMENT. Mowing Machines. — Out of doors the chief work has been mowing and machining the lawn and grass between flower- beds. In grass of usual strength the machine ought to be used every four- days or so in common weather. There is little economy iu using it so as to be forced to go over the grotmd t-wice. Some gentlemen have complained to us, that though they can manage with Budding's, Shanks', Wilkinson's, Green's, &c., when the grass is short and dry, and the gound firm and hard, they can do no good -with then- machines ivhen the grou'nd is at all mossy, as the knives get clogged up at once and refuse to cut except in seams, that not only tear the muscles of the man's arms, but leave the v/ork in ridges and fuiTows and as ugly as a bad- cropped head of hair. To remedy the latter e-nl the roller or rollers in front snould be sunk considerably, which just elevates the knives all that the more, and enables them to cut the grass -without plunging- do-wn into the moss. In fact, all such matters must be regulated by the roller in front. In going among small beds and going round circular beds, it is of importance that the roUer in front, as in Green's lU-inch machines, shovild be divided into four equal parts, as then you can go round a circular or a curved line as easHy as a straight one. With the roller in one piece you cannot do so, but must take several shorter strokes to get round the ch-cle or curved Kne. As to eiitting gTass when wet, though it can be done, we rai-ely attempt it, but find that the drier and shorter the grass the better the work wlU be done. For want of regulating- by the roller many a machine is left to enjoy itself alone in the tool repository and the old scythe depended on. We were lately consulted as to why a machine would not work. Its roUer has been removed as an im- provement, and to cut -with such a machine at all must have required a very gi-eat amount of physical exertion merely to July .TOITRNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. 17 keep the machine properly balanced.. There are nuts in aU macliines by which the front roller can be elevated for firm ground and short gi-ass, and depressed for longer grass or loose mossy ground, and the knowledge of this simple fact would cause many a machine to be employed that now is useless and unused. We are glad to say that we have had no ditBculty with grass-cutters, the men prefen-ing them much to the scythe. "We have no doubt that a little patience and gentle encouragement miist be given to secure their being used in some places where everything qow is objected to. A little of Sam Slick's soft sawder wUl, judiciously employed, soon be found to conquer all the objections of prejudice. In the flower garden we presume most of Tulips and spriag bulbs have now been taken up, unless it is resolved to leave them out all the season. Gladiolus will stand waterings with maniu-e-water, or may get a rich top-di'essing of old rotten dung or leaf mould. Dahlias have been looked over as to tying and watering ; ditto as to Phloxes and her- baceous plants in general. Set out a number of Hollyhocks in pots that had been struck ft-om the thinnings of good kinds some six weeks ago, and which were inserted under hand-lights over a very slight hotbed. There are now some hundreds of fine plants, wHoh vrill bloom tliis autumn. We may take off a lot more when thinning and tying ; but these will not do so well, as the young shoots slipped oil' early when too thick. We have, it is true, struck them from buds even of the thinnings ; but all such buds and all such shoots rooted now wiU require to wait next year for blooming, whilst slips taken off in spring wiU come nearly as soon into bloom as cuttings struck last autumn. Now is also a good time for sowing Hollyhocks to bloom next season, pricking them out on a border when up, and planting out in autumn and spring where wanted to bloom. Now is also a good time for striking under a hand-light, or a shady border, Pentstemons, Phloxes, perennial Silenes, Heartsease, and Pinks. In order not to disfigui-e the old plants of the latter, it is best not to cut over the cutting, but to pull it at once out of its socket, aaid thus the cutting is fit for insertion at once. This is done by holding the bottom of the shoot by the left hand, and pulling the top with the right hand, just at the second joint ; most of the pieces, cuttings or pipings, will come out clean from the joint, and with a sounder bottom than you could make with the sharpest knife. This method is not only the best, but saves a deal of time in stripping leaves and base cutting across. Boses have been mulched, as we could not water them, and some of the stronger shoots have been stopped and nipped. The fii'st massive show of fine sorts against a wall is nearly over. Rose cuttings wOl do now, but better a month or six weeks hence. Many of the Antirrhinums (Snapdi'agons) ai'e very beautiful, and now is a good time to increase the best kinds by cuttings. It may be as well to wait a few days longer if the cuttings are not quite ready. The best cuttings are those that come fi'om the stem below the flower- spikes. When these are about 3 inches long slii^ them off' close to the stem, and insert in sandy soil under a bell- glass in a shady border. If the shoots are thinned many of the side shoots left wiU bloom later, though the spikes will not be so fine at the fii-st. These Snapdragons make beautiful masses in rough or rock gardens ; but some people dislike the smell of them veiw much, whilst other people rather like it. Edged and hoed beds of bedding plants, and have had no end of labour in securing them. They are now filling fast. When the gi-ound is a little warmer we wfll slightly mulch them in the openings with old Mushi'oom- dung, &c. Changed plants in conservatory, and gave plenty of water to Camellias in conservatory and in hothouses, as if left dry now they are apt to drop the buds that are formed. Syringed Azaleas frequently. Potted young Geraniums, and many other hardwooded and softwooded plants, &c. — E. P. Elm Leaves Vakiegated. — Who can account for the leaves of Elm trees becoming variegated throughout the whole tree, so as to present an appearance of almost perfect whiteness ? The trees in question have assumed this aspect within the last few years, and stand amongst others which remain in theii' natural state. — W. H. Beadon, Devonshire. TO CORRESPONDENTS. *^* We request that no one wdl write privately to the de- partmental writers of the " Jom-nal of Horticulture, Cottage Gai-dener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- di-essed solehj to The Editors of the Journal of Borticul- ture, (Sfc, 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that con'espondents wiU not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but wi-ite them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or thi-ee questions at once. We cannot reply privately to any communication unless under very special circumstances. Calceolahias [H. J. S.).— The blooms were much -Klthered and much bruised. They seeni to have been handsome but small. Saving seed from the best would probably give you some good varieties. Sdndiai. I An OW «n6scri4cr).— Such a manufacture is quite out of our province, consult some Ki)cyclopfBdia. TwELVK CAMBtLiAS (/. R. I)'.). -So far as we know them, those in your list are all jfood. For twelve we would select from it— Augusta, Alesina, Chanulerii, Caryophylloides, Heniiersoui, Jubilee, Mathothma, tensjlvanica, ferlectiou, Kubiui, Verschaffeltiana, and Viscomie nova. Time foe Cotting-uown Geraniums [A Subscriber).— it is best to have successions of Ger.uiuius. We have cut ihem down at times varying between July and the en,i of Septe.uber, and louud ihey succeeded equally well; but, of course, ihose oat late were later next year than those out eurly, and hart small foliage until the spring. Mildew o.-< Cigumbeks (.iV.).-Ii i.'< just possible that the slate in both caries zeis too hot, but the chief cause of the mildew may be owing to deficient ventllatiou. We would u.se sulphur freely over the slate, and give air night and day. We should not like the roots getting through the slate. We would make it secure-jointed, place 6 iuchei of rubble over it, and have holes at the sides to make sure tnat llie waler poured through the pipes never stood higher than 1,J inch over the slai.-. In the oiher bed we would do the same; out as the sides seem comparatively open, to secure top heat we presume, you could not expect the .-amc Uuitom heat theie. With such an open chamber, the case of " Tanks versus Pipes" has not a fair chalice To insuie a fair comparison boih chambers should be equally shortened, and moisture presented equally lo both slate coverings. Mere dry heat will not rise .-o quickly anu reguhiily by itaelf ao when it is ac- companied with hot vapour. Hemino a Conseevatobt IB. Gibbous) —\oui: sketch gives no in- foruiaUon about the levels, ll the boder in ihu aviary is a foot or 18 inches below the base of the garden and the diawing-roon. doors there wdl be no ditticulty whatever. You could not well make a junction from the pipes in the aviary, unless the pioes were as high in the house to be heated. You miohtdo this by bnnsing the pipes ..s far as the doorway, and causmg ihem to return from ihence without passio,; the doorway. In fact, you mi-ht have all the heat yon want from a stack or pillar of pipes without the pipes noing round the house at all. A small brick Ainotfs stove would no doubt do the work well, but then you would require a chimney. Most likelv the hot water would be the best and le..st troublesome. It you gate u»a'sectionof aviarj, ooller. and house to be ueated, showing the level of boiler, doorways, *fec., we would be more sure. Vahioos ^Ezra J/i/esl.-The best time for moving Briar Koses for buddinS is any time irom the fading of the leaves until ihey begin lo grow in thi- spriiig, the sooner lu the winter the better. Taiie theBnari up cateluUy. prune the roots to 6 or S inches fiom the stem, prune ofl all shoots from the stem, and leave it at the desired height, plant m good rich soli so as to encourage ttbres near h,.mc, and as soon as growth appears, prune all oil along the stem except one or more shoots at top, and bud these close to the stem as soon as the oaik runs and you c.in get buds well developed, bee Mushroom culture in a late Number. Six weeks is a general lime alter spawning and eartliing-up ; but we have gathered in less than three weeks, and had them as long as ten or twelve weeks. In ordinary circumstances, «i.K weeks 13 what we calculate on, and it is ver.v rarely we have oeen uia- appointed lor thirty ye.us. We thmk that such things as Maurandyas and Lophosoermums In small pots will suit you, and so would such Nastur- tiums as Tiopmolum tiicolor and pentaphyllum. iPoMJiA HEDEayEFOLiA CutTUBE {Felixstowe].-^'e suspcct your plant is the Uuamoc.it hederteiolia of Paxton, a rather tender annual Irom Brazil, which will blow m a warm sheltered place In the oi en border, it turned out about the begi.ii.ing of June. If these conditions cannot be given, it will flower well tn a rough branch if kept under glass. There is "■"'»/'' much confusion with some of these plants. For iiistaiice . A small, scauet, very beautiful convolvulaceous plant is somcti.nes ca led ll''>™?'''/"""lta' Ipomoja quamocUt, and Quamocl.t coccinea. This, '°°' '"^'j'.'^fffi"';*' raised on a hotbed, hardened and turned out in June, will do well in a warm place, but north ol London in most seasons it will do be»tuii..er glass. Caiceolau.a violacea (G. A-.).-Weare notquite ^"""f'''"";^'';,^™ mean. If it has pinnate leaves and small lilacvlolel flowers, It would flower test in spring and early summer in the greenhouse, and would do best .1 kept in p'ots."lf put out of doors it will do best P'^n^ed in a p.. ■ '^^^'^-^'f^ out and then lilted, the wood is apt to be too "'"l'^' " ""' "J','';-J-;„" it is the sort we imagine it will not blow freely out of doors, unless in a warm sheUered place, and even then it would be better if kept m a pot plunged. Weiouts Useo rOE Fruit (Subscriber,. -The pound of =' j'«" °™7' is the weight employed at our London exhibitions and at Covent Garden m weighing Iruit. WORK 0.V Gaedemng {An A,„atcur).-Yo'x can have "The Garden Manual ■' free by post from our ofHce for twenty postage stamps. It will give the information you mention. 18 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTtJBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 7, 18G3. Florists' Flowers [Ohms, Ofdham^ fFrexham). — Wc do not think thiit the flowers sent are bupcriur to many in cultivation. U would be well if all raisers of seedlinus; hid a few of the best of those cultivated to coiuitart- with their own productions. Seedling Pansy (T. C. N., Little Wi/mondlcy^ Stccetiatje).'-'Vhe Tansy is certainly very black, *ju'- so are several of those now in growth ; ami in shape it was liiile betrer than th« wild one. It mif^ht ansuer for bediliui,^ purposes if free-floweriv;,'' enough. Seedling Pelargonivm (Christ iuc).— The seedling Pelarponinm is not, we should conpidei— uriiff*i*ithus some very peculiar properties in freedom of bloom, &c.— worth cuUivating. Seeolino CALCEOLAiaAs (M. Major, Knosthorpei. — The seedlifig C'lce- olarias are very fine ; the size of the flowers ^ud the brilli.uicy of the mark- ings being alike ci^nspiiuous We wonder much why the tluwer i^> nut more cultivated. It deserves to be generally grown. Strawberries. — We have received from R. Webb, Esq., Galoot, near Reading, a basket of immensely iaryi! Sirawburries which Mr. Weby calls '* Refresher." It is somewhat like Sir Harry or some member of that race. The flavour was exc-Ilen;, and one in the basket measures 9 inches in circumference ! Broad Beans Failin'g ( ). — The fleshy knobs or excrtscences on ihe rootsol tlie Btaus arc qt^ite natural, and have nothinc to do with ynur crop failing. You will find similar excrescenc-s on the roii;s of t,'rearer part ol the tiibo of the pod-iiearers which are cultivated for food— vi/„. Peas, Beans, Lentils, &c. We could not delect any luuiius nor aDyihin}i the matter with the root. We can, therefore, only guess at the causa ct your crop failm;:. Perhiips your laud is light, andihe crop lalletl in tlie iliy weather tor wane of moisture. Tlie plants may have been iufesieiJ wiiu the bean aphis, or the flowers poor with abortive poilen. Ghapes Diseased (71 Y. G).— The enclosed berries were badly spotted* The pavilion on ihe eastern side of the vinery would materially aid in '. bringing about the diseased condition oi the berries. The Canon Hall is I more liable to the spot than most others. It requires a dry hot atmo>iihcre to have it in perfection. The shadiittt Irom the pavilion would prevent the \ sap takeo up by the roots from becoming taoroughly elaborated in the ; leaves, and in that crude state it euter<;d tne berries no doubt. Wc kiiuw j of no remedy but keeping the berries dry during the ripening pvoces?, and keeping the roots, not too highly fed, ne.ir the surface, with the full t^olar ! rays over them continually without shade. { Namk of Fruit [Thomas Record). — Tour Grape is Cliasselas de Falloux, i descritied in Hogg's *' Fruit. Manual." I Names of Plants ( ZZ(77-rt>).— Ej'callonia macrantha. {P. II. G.).— 4, Campanula gaiganicu. The other three too shrivelled. Flowers ror recognition must oe Sfnt in m fresh state, or we cannot afford iiie time required to name them. {Avoca). — 1, I'ernettya luucronata ; 2, Fablaiia irabricata; 3, Heliantoemum tomentosum ; 6, probably Puil.idelphus mexi- canus. The otiiers were too sbrivelled for identification. (W. I^., JJerLs',. — 1, Cynoglo>Eum sylvaticuni ; 2, Hypericum anUiosa?mum; 3, Lyf^iniachia nemorum. {Celandine) — It is ^alsafy, Tragopogon porrifolius. Thcie must be some mistake. {T. .b".).— 1, rhalictrum flavum ; -, iMedicag'j hipu- lina; 3, insufficient ; 4, liallota nigra. iiTeg^arly spotted on a yellow ground with red shades, as in the common Pheasant. It is also less -wild than the pure lih'd, in which wildness seems a characteristic of the breed. The Indian begins laying from the 10th to the 30th of April, and finishes in June ; lays from thhty to forty eggs, coloui- diirk olive, nearly round, and much smaller than those of the common bu'ds. The hens lay many more the second than the first yeai*. The breeding -bu-ds should be tresh-ma,ted every five yeai-s. A jien 9 feet squai'C will servo for a ccok and five hens. " The Indian poults may be distinguished fi-om the first by two very dark black stripes they have on each side of the forehead. The black stripes they have on th.* body are idso much plainer than in the common poult. " In taking account of the qualities and defects of the Indian, it is hard to decide whether it is superior to the common breed. It is certainly handsomer, it lays more freely, the young hatch better and come our sironger, but it is subject to the same weakness. It is bos.des extremely wild, and often kills itself against the top of its pen or cage, unless this covering be common network, or the birds have one wing cur. When tumed into the woods there is no hope of ever catching it again, its suspicious characer drives it fi-om the tfap, although suffering, ir may be, f om hunger. It flies much better than the commcu bi d, but it; takes ad- van-age of this to change from one i^lace to anoiher, if disturbed often. We beheve it can only be kept on large domains." POULTRY, SEE. and HOUSEHOLD CHROI^ICLE. POULTRY SHOWS. July 20th to 24th. Wuf;ct.sTEnsiiiK.E. Sev.^ Mr. J. Holland, Chesnut W.tllc, Worcester. Entries close June 20th. JuLX 3uih and 31st, Eastern Coi;>ties (Slowmarket). Sees., Messrs. W. G. Itunsou, and A Simpson, Stowmiirket. Entries close July 2lst. August 2jth. 1'ocklinuton. Sec , Mr. T. Grant. Kntries close Aug. 17. August 29lh. Halifax and Cali'er Vale. ^Vc, Mr. W. Irvine, Uulilas. Sept£,mbkr 2nd. Cottisghaji. Hcc. Mr. J. Brittain. SEPTBMbEu 2nd. Wakefield and VVest Kidi.^ig. Aec, Mr. J. Crossland, jun , Wakefield. Entries close August 24th. CHI^"ESE PHEASANTS. In "La Maison de Campagne," a French periodical, is a notice of Pheasants, and among them a description cf the Chinese, which we have thought worthy of being ti'anslated. "We ai'e more especially moved to do so becaxise we have fi'equently said, we believe, that Plieasants may bo profitably kept as a hobby. " This bird has not been long known in Prance, and yet it has been so extensively crossed with the common that it is difficult to procui'e piu-e bhds. The cock should have a sharp head ; long thin neck, divided in the middle by a large white ring ; neck violet shaded ; the lower pai't of the back and the wings cloaa- green (query, light blue ?), the sides yellow; but eveiy feather forming the side-coverts should be marked at its extremity with a regular black point. The tail is short, pointed, brown, and transversely striped. The female is smaller and thinner in shape than the male, her plumage is of an ashen gi'ey with violet shades. " The Indian is at once tlistingiiished from the common Pheasant by liis smaller head, and the manner in vi'hich he carries it thi-own backward, and by the almost perpendicular carriage of the tail when the bird is walking. The half-bred Indian is a large bird, and recognised by the green on its back which has a red tint, by its wings which are grey instead of green, and, above all, by its sides which are ! SHEFFIELD POULTEY AND PIGEON EXHIBITION. The Poidtry Exldbitions hitherto held at Sheffield have always been carried out under the pressure of many diffi- culties : hence arose the numerous changes of management, and also the impression became general that such meetings would be no longer carried out, on accoi'.nt of the impossi- bility of finding a gentleman wUling to take the responsi- bility incuiTed. At length, however, success seems to have followed closely on the energetic means this year adopted to secui'e tills Show's annual perpetuity. By fai" the best of all the Sheffield shows of poultry has been the resiilt, and the Exhibition of Pigeons has certainly never been equalled out of the metropolis. We ai-e glad to add that the weather being" also favoui-able, a very higlily respectable and nu- merous company were drawn together on this occasion. As might be anticipated, the pens of Messrs. Turner, of Sheffield, than which none are more effective, were those used by the present Society. It is scarcely necessary to say, the Cremoi-ne Grardens at Sheffield afford every possible convenience for such a meeting, whilst the rural and extensive views in all dii'ections are not trifling adjuncts in calling together a numerous assemblage of visitors, from among those more particularly whose daUy avocations coniine them within the precincts of densely-popiilated neighbourhoods. It is only just to add, the bii-ds were well fed and attended. We will briefly remark on the principal classes. The old birds of Vorkiiujs were not shown in lai-ge numbers, nor was their condition that of birds just now fatted for an exhibition, the eaiiy moult of the present season precluding it altogether. Still, there were among them many pens that in a few weeks might be shown very advantageously. The Dorking Chickens, on the contraiy, were really fii'st-rate. Old Siiariish necessarily showed to the worst possible ad- vantage, for the I'cason just assigned tu the adidt Dorking class ; Spanish, perhaps, being the most affected during moult of any poultry. The first prize went to Mr. Gaa-lick's celebrated pen ; but the second and tliii'd were r.-itliheld. In this variety the Chickens were not numerous, but exceed- ingly good. The class for Spanish Hens was a perfect one, and one of the most closely-competed in the Show. The Cinnamon and Buff' Cochins also showed to very great advantage, whOst in the Brown and Partridge-coloured class the contest, though confined to two pens only, was unusually good. Certainly Captain Heaton, though suc- cessful, has never before been pressed so closely. The only representative of White Cochins was Mi\ Dawson, but they fully maintained the credit of that gentleman's yar-d. The Brahmas were better than at any prerious Sheffield Show. July 7, 1863. ] JOTJUNAL OF HORTICULTURE AJ^D COTTAOE GARDENER. 19 All the Gaine classes were well tilled, the birds being ex- cellent, and high eoutlition was almost the universal order of the day. sS-. Charles Challoner showed birds that would indeed be hard to beat in any show, the condition, plumage, and the chai-acter of the birds, being alike faultless. Mr. Helliwell's Duckwing cock was also a veiy worthy competi- tor in the Single Game Cock class, nor were his pen of thi'ee in the same variety less praiseworthy. The Malays at Sheffield were such as no previous meeting in this neighboui-hood ever possessed; the birds of Mr. Ballance, of Taunton, being the successful ones. The Hamhurgh classes, though so good, showed as all such varieties of fowls at this season must do, the disadvantages of moidting time ; nevertheless, the comj^etition was a re- markably close one. The rivalry in these classes dui-ing the coming winter season of 1S63 will most probably be beyond precedent. Never were Polands so scantily shown. Of Black White- crested, although two classes were specially appointed them, not one pen was even entered. The Sebright Bantam classes were equally void ; but the Game and "White Bantams were really above par. Mrs. Seamons, of Aylesbury, took aU the prices for Ayles- bury Duels, with such birds as that lady alone can exhibit, and it is as worthy of remark the Embden Geese fi-om the same breeder were equally unexceptionable. Mi*. Fowler's Rouen Ducks were really excellent. Three pens of extraor- dinarily good Buenos Ayrean Ducks were shown, but all in immature feather. In Pigeons, the Sheffield Show this year must rank among the highest ; and when we inform om- readers that the re- nowned stock of Mr. Feber Eden were shown in full force, regret must prevail among those Pigeon-fanciers who did not avail themselves of a sight of the Sheffield collection. That gentleman's triumph was necessarily complete, being- first in both the Canier classes, first and second in both the Powter classes, with such White ones as make all who see them covet ; iirst in Almond, and also other Tumblers ; fii-st and second in Barbs, besides other minor premiums. The class for "New, or any distinct variety" of Pigeons, was a perfect treat to any lover of those bu*ds ; in fact, we never before saw four pens of Runts together so good as were here shown, and we must not omit very favourable mention of both the Archangels and Icelanders. The Rabbit pens were weU filled with capital animals, but a keen wind prevailiug, they seemed as though inclined to whisper *' no place like home; " the open exhibition ground being a most extreme change from their customary hutches. DoRKH^G (Silver-Grey).— Prize, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. DoEiiiNG (Coloured, except Silver-Grej).— Prize, Rev. J. F. Newton, Kirby-in-Clevci.mJ, Smkesley. Dorking (Auy colour).— C/»icA;fin*. — First, Rev. J. F. Ke^^^ton, Kirby-in- Clevelami, aLOReelty. Seconu, F. Key, Sheffield. Third, liev. J. G. A. Baker, Big^ileswadc, Beds. Commended, tie v. J. F. Newton. Coc/{. — First, H. W. b. Berwick, Helmsley, Yoik;. Second, J. White, Warlaby, Northallerton. 'Ihud, 'J'. Tath;im, Kiugsthorpe. Highly Commended, Rev. J. G. A Baker, licjn, or Pallets —Vn-st, ana Third, H. \V. B. Berwick, becoud aim HigMy Ci)iiHi.eudcd, Kev. J. G. A. Baker. Spanish.— First, J. Garlick, Liverpool. Second and Third withheld. Chickens.— £,v^X, J. 11. Kodbard, Wrington, Bristol, becond, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Hiyhiy Coiuuiended, T. Greenwood, Ddwsbuiy. Co* A.— Fir^t, H. Beldon. Brauioin. Sceun.i, J. It. lUidburd. lliird, J. Smith. Hiphly Gommtinde'i, K. biuwn. SUtffield. Hen u or Pullets.— first, J. K. Eodb^rd. Second, H. Bt-Ulou. Third, Mazier H. Ciabe, Asiou. Hi{jhly Commended, S. Robaon, Biutaerton ; Airs. Bruwn, hlietheld. Cochi.n-China (Cinnamon and Buff). —Prize, T. Stretcli, Ormskirb, ChiLkens.-hn^t ana Iniid, J. H. Barker, Shetheld. Second, F. W. Karle, Edeuhurfat, Pre-cui. CocHiK-Cui.vA (Brown and Partridge).— Prize, Captain Heaton, Man- chefiier. Kinbly Conimecdcd, R. While, Sheffield. Chickcns.—Fiize, J. Stephens, Wulsali. CoCHi.N-CiiiNA (White or Black).— Prize, W. Dawson, Hopton Mirfield (Whitej. Chickens —ytizfi, AV. Dawson (White;. Cochin-China.— Cot/;,— First, T. Stretch, Orni^kirk. Second, J. Wright, Woodbridge. ihird, S. White, Tidesweli Fourth, H. W. B. Bcrvpiek, Helmsky. Coinmeiided, R. White, SheltieUi. Jlais or Pullets.— Pvizi^, H. W. B. Beiwick. BaAHMA- FooiiiA (Liftht or Daik).— First, J. Hinton, Ilinton, Eath. Second, Mis. M. Stumun.-j, Aylesbury. Chi kens.— Bict-i, J. K. Fowler, AyletUury. Second, J. Hinton. Third, Jlis. M. Seamons. Cut/c — Firs', J. liiuion. Second, .1. K. Fowler. Highly ComuiCi.ded, J. Pares, Chertsey, Gamk (White and Piles).- First, A. Guy, liuton. Commended, G. HelH- weh, slleiiiehl. CA/t/.c/zS. — Prize, A. Guy. Game [ Hlaek-br'-iiflted and other lleds), — First C. Challoner, Steelley. Highly Cuniinendeil, G. Helliwell, Slieffiel'i. Chickens. —ywit, C- CliuUoner. Second urd 'Ihiid, il. Snowden, Great llurion. Cummendea, C. W. Laxton, Nantttich ; W. Beiilcy, Scholes ; W. H. V/ordsuuitb, Chesteiheld. Gaue (Black and Brassy- winged, except Greys).- First, G. Helliwell, Sheffield. Secouil, W. W. Ba'.lurd, Leamington. Gamk (DucKwmgri and other Greys and Blue.-}.— First, G. Helliwell, Shetheld. Third, b. Slater, North Carlton. Second withheld. Game (Anv colour).— CerA:, — First, C. Challonei, Steelley. Second, G. HLlhwell, Sheffield. Third, G. Wostenholm, Sheffield. Fourth, .1. Wharin, jun., Rotherhum. Highly Commended, T. Bramhill, Sheffield; G. Wosten- iiolm. Commended, K. Aykroyd, P.radford; J. A. B. Grtaves, Fccle&field. Mens or Pullrfs.—^rize^ W. Beniley, Schules. Malay.— First and Second, Master C. A. Eallance, Taunton. Highly Commended, A. Sykes, Mile End, London. CocA.- Piize, Master C. A. Ballance. Haubdrgh (Golden-pencilled).— First, W. Froggatt, Walkley, Sheffield. Second, S. Smith, Nurthowram, Halita:x. Third, J. Piitchutt, Edgbaston. Chit kc7is.— lirnt, H. Pickles, jun., Early, Skiptun. Highly Commended, S. Smith. C'oiA.— Firat, H. Beldon, Brad ord. Second, W. Bulton, Sheffield, Thid, G. Hancock, Sheffield. Commended, T. Crookes, Shttiield. Hamburgh (.Golden-spungled). — First, G. Brooke, jun., Huddersfield. Second, H. W. tt. Berwick, Helmsley. Thud, J". Roe, Hadtield. Chiikens. — First, Mrs. A. Koe, Hadtield. HiC^hly Commended, G, Brook, Hudders- field. 6(A/..-Prize, H. Bt-ldon, Bradlord. Hamuukgh {iJilver-penciUed).— First, Miss F. Harrop, Walkley, Sheffield. Secoiid, C. Moore, Poulton-le-l-ylde. Third, H. Beldon, Bradford. Chickens. —Prize, Mrs. J. Harrop, Walkley, Sheffield. Highly Commended, A. Nicholson, Walkley, Sheffield. Cot A.- Prize, H. Beldon, PIaubl'hgh tSilver-spaugled).— Fir.'-t, H. Beldon, Bradford. Second, T, Daviea, Newport. Highly Commended, A. Newton, Silsden, Leeds, Chickens.— l-nsx, W. Bownes, Shtffield. Second, IL Bancrott, Stunnington Sheffield. Third, T. H. Turner, Sheffield. Coct.— Prize, H. Beldon. Hamburgh iGoldtU. or Silver-pencilled). — Be?is or Pullets. — Prize, G. HelliM-ell, W.ilkley, Sheifield. Highly Commended, J. E. Powers, Biggles- wade, Beds. Hamdokgh [Golden or Silver -spangled). —.Hens or PuUcts.— Fnzej Mrs. Birch, fcihe-Tield. PoLANos (Goli^en).— Prize, H. Beldon, Bradford. PoLAKUs (Silver). — Prize, W. Newsome, Bingley, Yorks. PoLAKjjs (Golden or Silver).— C/.zt^At^jx — Prize, J. Hinton, Hinton, Bath, Cock. — first, P. Hardy, Bradford. Second, H. Beldon, Bradtord. Com- mended, F. Hardy. Gami; Bamams (Black and othsr Reds).— Prize, Hon. W. T. Fitzwilliam, Eutherham. Commended, \V. lllingworth, Sturton, Retiorti. Game Bantams (Other vaiieties).— Prize, W. Silvester, Sheffield. Game Ba.ntams,— Coed-.— First, Mi.'-s Brown. Sheffield. Second, G. Helli- well, Walkley, Sheffield. Third, W. Wuod. Sheffield. Commended, W. L. Masun, Ciiesiei held ; A. Sykes, Mile End, London. Bantams (Black or White;.— First, J, Wade, Leeds. Second, Miss K, Charlton, Briidtbrd. Ba.-^tams (except Game).— Priie, J. Wade, Leeds. X)i;cK3 tWliite Aylesbury}. — tust, Second, and Commended, Mrs. M. Seamons, AyUabury. Ducks ;Roueu;.— Prize, H. Beldon, Bradford. Commended, J. K. Fowler Ayles;'Ury. Ducks (Black East Indian).— First and Second, C. A. Ballance, Taunton, Highly Commended, J. K. Jessop, Hull. Geese. — Prize, Mrs. M. Seamons. PIGEONS. Caheibes. — Cot/.*.— First and Third, P. Eden, Salford. Second, J. Smith, Sheffield. Highly Commended, S. Robson, Brotherton. Bens.—F'nst, P. Eden. Second, H. W. Edmonds, Westminster, London. Third, H. Beldou, Er-idford. Highly Commended, W. H. Edmonds. Commended, P. Eden. PowTKRs.— C(^c/l-.— First and Second, P. Eden, Salford. Third, H. Beldon, Bradloid. Highly Commended, W. Taylor, Sheltield; H. Brown. Walkley, Sheffield. Commended. M. E. Jubliug, Newcastle-on-Tyne. ifen.— First and Second, P. Edea. Third, \V. Taylor. Commended, G. Ure, Dundee. Tumblers (Almond).— first, P. Eo'en, Saliord. Second, F. E. Else, Bays- water, London. Third, H. Beldon, Bradford. Highly Commended, W. H. Ednicmos, We&tminster, London. TuMBLKiis (Any other variety).— First, P. Eden, Salford. Second, H. Beldor, Bradtord. Commendeo, F. E. Else, Bayswater, London. Fantails.— First, Miss Brown, Shtffield. Second, F. Key, Beverley. jAconi>s.— Fii-st, li. Yardley, Birmingham. Highly Commended, F. Key, Bidveiiey. Trumpeters.— First, S. Robson, Brotherton. Second, H. Yardley, Bir- mingham. Bares.— First and Second, P. Eden, Salford. Third, H. Yardley, Bir- mingham. Highly Commended. Mrs. Taylor, Sheffield. TuHiirrs,— First, J. R. Jessop, Hull. Second, H. Beldon, Bradford. Comiuended, J. Wade, Leeds. OwL.s.— First, F. E, Else. Bayswater, London. Second, H. Beldon, Bradford. Third, M. E. Jobhng, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Commended, H. Beldon. Bkakds.— Prize, F. E. Else, B;iyswater, London. AwY >EW OH DiSTi.NCT Variety.— Fir.-t, T. D. Green, Saffron Waldcn. Second, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Third, J. Smith, Sheffield. Highly Commended, T. D. Green ; J. Wade, Leeds. Rabuits. — J'or Le}if/th of Enrs. — Prize, W. "White, Sheffield. For Colour.— Virs^t, W. J. Pope, Biggleswade, Beds. Second, W. Chamberlain, Desluid, Leicester. Thiru, R. W. Freestone, Rotheram. Highly Com- mencltd, W. Hudson ; W. Littlewood, Chesterfield. For Weight.— Fiv&t, J. Warner, Chesterfield. Second, F. Jone^, Sheffield. Highly Com- mended, W. L. Mason, Chesiertleld. Mr. Edwai'd Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Spai-kbrook, offi- ciated as the Judge both of the Poidtry and Pigeons. Eastern Counties Poultry Show.— We are informed that great exertions are making to render this a first-class Esliihition, and we hope that it will be successful. The plan adopted at this Show ?nd elsewhere, of giving prizes pro- 20 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTimE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. July 7, 1S68. portionate to the number of entries we think very good. Thus, if there are only five entries in a class, the first prize will be only .£1, but if there are twenty entries that prize will be £S, the second and third prizes being increased at a similar rate. Cetstal Palace StnaMER Poultry Show.^ — A i-eport has been circulated that this Show is to be discontinued. Our readers will be pleased to hear that the Dii-ectors of the Crystal Palace have the subject under consideration, and it is most probable that next week we shall be able to announce the days on which the Show will be held. PRONE-BEEEDING QUEENS. In reference to the hive mentioned at page 4nri, in which drones appeared on the 24th of AprO, I may add that it had not been fed either last autumn or this spiing : therefore, might not be supposed to be in a more advanced state than other vigorous hives at the same season. As youi' corre- spondent " B. & W." had strong stocks in his apiary, it cannot but be supjiosed that there were drones in some of them earlier than he had obsei-ved, especially in such a mild climati as Somersetshire ; for even so i'ar north as Northumberland drones were down early in May. The hive A, with a pure Ligurian queen, he reports as very populous and active, and no doubt its drones were early : so that even if the queen of b should prove all that could be desired in point of the purity of her progeny, " B. & W." can scarcely have a plea in favour of drone-breeders in spring : rather, I imagine, the verdict of English bee-keepers will accord with that of their Geiinan brethren, recorded at page 2S5 of last volume, however painful its execution may be to the tender-heai-ted apiarian. As "' A Devonshire Bee-keepek ' ' proposed, at jsage 270 of last volume, to try the same experiment with the family of a di'one-breeding queen, and your readers have not been favoured with an aeeouut of its success in impregnating young queens before the natarral time for the appearance of the drones, I infer that it has .liso failed. In short, it appears as necessary that there should be a high temperature, as that there should be drones in existence. , Can " B. & W." say what had been the maximum tempe- rature about the end of May ? as it would be interesting to ascertain the lowest temperatm'e in the shade at which fecundation has been known to take place. The importance of having a i^rolific queen at the head of a family in autumn cannot be overrated ; but perhaps this did not occur to '• A. W. B." who writes under the heiwl of "Swarming DilSculties," at page 42.5 of last volume, as it appeai-s two families were united to Ms weak stock, while no mention is made of the removal of the queen. It is a good rule never to retam the queen of a hive which is weak in numbers in autumn ; but in forming unions to select that queen wliich has the largest population. I do not go so far as to say that weakness is invariably to be laid to the charge of the queen, as it is possible other contingencies may have been the cause ; still, if there are two or thi-ee queens to select from, the extra trouble of driving and re- moving that which may be under suspicion would be more than repaid by the futm-e prosperity of the hive. — Investi- gator. [Premising that I have ah-eady fuUy indorsed the con- clusion of Gei-man apiarians as to the general uselessness of drone-breeding queens, I have pleasure in stating the result of my own experiment. My virgin queen is stOl hving and stiU lays the eggs of drones only, but her fecundity is not nearly so great as I anticipated, whOst providing her with workers to perform the ordinary duties of the hive is no small tax on the resources of my apiary. On one occasion only can I imagine that she, or rather one of her drones, has done good service, and that is in the impregnation of a young queen hatched on the 14th of May, which commenced egg- laying on the 30th of the same month. In this case I had no di-ones but those of her breeding, with the exception of a very few in one of my other stocks, and these latter were destroyed during the wet weather we had in Jvme. Whilst agreeing with "Investigator," that a tolerably high tem- perature is necessai-y ia order to render the services of drones available, and that, therefore, it would probably be of little use to attempt queen-rearing much before the natru-al time — in reliance upon the progeny of a drone- breeder, I may yet point out that drones produced in this abnormal manner are by no means so liable as others to be destroyed on the occurrence of bad weather, and that this in bair inventions — there is never- theless a limit to its use as well as that of all other things. Other tools require attention also : and leaving the further prosecution of hand-tillage to other parties, a few notes on various implements in general use may be given in future articles. j. Kobson. PEAS, AND HOW TO G]10W THEM. (Conclud.ed from page 4fi7.) 2nd. In Modebatk-sizedGakdens.— In some places there is the convenience of a sorith wall. Under it, on the southern side, you can have Lettuces ohinted to come in after the Endive is done, ar.d a row of Peas about 4 feet from the wall in a parallel line to it, without iujuring the Apricot and Peach trees on the wall. Peas in this position idiould be so\ra on November cho 10th, and from this parallel Irae let fall in December some perpendicular drUls ;f feet apart, and sow in them Sangster's No. 1, Dillistone'a Early Prolific being sown in tha paraUel. A few spruce branches wdl save these from the nipping east winds if stuck on one Ride of them. In open weather another sowing may be made m^ February, and on the Ist of March a sowing of V»'arwick (Eoi'ly Frame, or whatever eUe the soetlsmen plea-^ic to ca.U if), and Early Green Blavrow. Whenever the first -rop of Marrows is sown it must be done at the same time that the last crop of earlies is sown. This is to provide for a succes- sion. For successional crops the annexed table may be referred to. After the first sowings are accommodate*! with warm sunny sites the main crops will do better in the opea quarters. Of late, planting Peas amongst other crops has been ad- vocated. I am persuaded this is erroneous. I cannot tell what space is saved, nor see any better crops accrue, nor yet any crop that likes smothering between Pea-rows. I object to making Beet, Potatoes, and other root crops subservient to Peas. Suppose we sow Peas in rows 12 feet instead of 6 feet apart, and take a crop of Beet between, the Peas will take up 3 feet of the space, and of the remaining 9 feet fully 6 feet will not have any sun until ten o'cjock, and none after three o'clock, so that there are but 3 feet'left fully exposed to the sun's rays, and instead of its being^ saving it is a loss of 6 feet. The Peas will be better for this extra apiu^e I a Feb. and —The beat of the earliest ; Maj . 10th ... Early Frauk (Double-bloasomed Frame, \ y^y [Q[_|j^ Charlton, Hotspur, ^Varwick).— Good J J^^j.',jj ^g^* cropper; stands severe weather well...... ; S'CTION II.— SECOND EARLY. Coining into use in June and July, Dickbon'p Favodriti: (Auvergne, Sickle). ) M^iroh Ist, — Extra lone pojs, containing nine to > loth, 21st, tenFeas. Fine flavour ; KAprillst... \ March 1st BisHOr's Dwarf.— Largepods, good crop- ( to April per and quality ( l^th. ; Junel5:h...l3toU . Paradise Maerow (Champion of Ptris, \ jj^^ ^fj ^nd Excelsior).— Good cropper and excellent > .ipiii. flavour / Climax (Napoleon).— Blue wrinkled Har- 1 i^ row; requires rich soil j April 15th ,, Burbriboe'b EcLirsE (Stubb's Blue Mar- ) March and row).— Itich-flavoured large Pea; long- .April. pods, dwarf, robust^growing ) June IJth .. Bkllamy's EARLYGBKiN Marhow (Prize- ) jj|i,.j), and taker).— Great bearer, pods good size, :■ ^^.j^ji Peas dark grten. Keeps long in season. ) ' Flack's Imierial Victory. — Branching, |^ April and fine flavour, and good cropper > -May. ...14 to 15, Chami'ion of Enqlakd. — Most delicious i )_ April and good bearer )' May. ... 14 Section III.— GENERAL CROP. Blue Prus,*ian (Prolific).— Round, pro-\ April and hfic; excellent Havour ) May. ... 15 Scimitar (similar to Bedmau's Impmal f ^^ jj ^^^^j and Klacli's Victory).— Round bluepods, - *\ij,y_ ^j long and curved ) Fairbeaeu's Blue Surprise, — Long well- 1 filled pods, containing seven to nine'- .\pril. .,,14 to 15. Peas; good quality ) Fairbeard's Konpareil, — White,wrink- (^ April and led J good bearer j May. ...14tol5. Lord Raglan.— Worthy of the veteran) j^^jji jnd Marshal. Green- wrinkled, fine flavour ; j '^^ jj keeps long in season ) Thurstone's Reliance (Dancer's Monas-) April and tery).— Large ana good | Mdy. ... 16 Veitchb Peeeectio.n.- Delicious flavour, i robust branching habi!, fine foliage, [ Aprillstto large n ell-filled pods. A better Pea ^ May 30th ,,, IG . cannot he } WooDioBO liREEs Marrow (Nonsuch),— 1 Anril and Rich flavour and productive ; liable to !■ 'jiar 15 mildew : ) -,-..- Sectios IV.— LATE CROP, i British Qoeen (Defiance, Carter's Vic-) , ., ...^ toria. Tall Mammoth),-Fine flavour, ! ^P"! uiu Height in feet. 1 to Li 12 13 14 14 13 14 14 4 to 5 to 16,,, 3 to 4 ., 3 to 4 toria. Tall iuamuiuiuj, — mn: ija*ua;,' , very large Peas and pods; bears till!' nf^v tlst killed by frost ) '"J' •^'-'- •• Ne Plus Ultra (Jeyes' and Payne's Con- J queror. Incomparable), — Deep green, f May 1st tn great bearer, very superior flavour ; best 1 June 1st. ,, for late crop. Will not bear cold and wet, ) Geni HAL Wyndham. — First-claES ; glossy, l_ April 15th dark green pods ) to June. ,. Victoria Marrow (Waterloo, Gibb's^ , ,.j j^^^q Defiance), — Fine flavour, large pods, '> ,! jq.jj abundant bearer.., ) ^ Mammoth Dwarf Green Marrow. — 1 Strong, dwarf habit, branching from - May. near the ground ; tine flavour ) Mammoth Tall Green Marroav (Mon- 1 April l.')th arch, Strathmore Hero.)— Fine flavour, |- to very prolific; large size ) May 00th , Mammoth Tall White Marrow (Cham- "i April l5th piun of Scotland). — Sp endid Pea; fine [■ to cropper ) June 1st. ...16 to 17,,, White Scimitae (Sugar Pea).— Eaiable) April and pods ; the best of Haricots ) May. .,, 15 Palates vary more than tlie quality of Peas. The best way to t-est Peas is to sow a small quantity of each, and so suit the appetite, and learn the kinds best adapted to the 17 17 17 16 16 6 tot 6 to 8 6 to 7 6 to 7 , 2J to 3 ..IG to 17... C to7 6 to 8 3 to 4 m JOURNAL OF HOBTICUIiTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ July I*. 1863. ■ioil and oiimate. It will prove an mteregting"experimeut> and the aote? aoeruing therefi'om wouJi-l be extremely useful- — G. A T^iK NATIONAL ROSE SHOW. SECOND NOTICE. Stt tar j,s the two Metropolitan Eose Shows are concerned tiiis j'ear, my own judgment upon them was that while Roses were not out of character, they were cei'tainly not in charay Mr. W. Earley, gardener to F. Pryor, Esq., of Digswell. Welwyn, was an excellent specimen of aa-t, and secui-ed the fu'st prize. Mi-s. Walker, of Stamford, obtained the second prize. This lady's design was exceedingly pretty, the top consisting of three cornu- copias combined, containing Chenies, Grapes, and Straw- ben'ies. Mrs. Jos. Phillips exhibited a vase of flowers which for elegance and taste displayed in the arrangement was unequalled. The pi-izes for the groups of flowers, itc, were awarded by a jiu-y of ladies. There was also exhibited in this tent a very atti'active bouquet of artificial flowers, con- structed by EUza Mary Hunt, of Burley-on-the-HiU, who has been an invalid from childliood."] For the same reasons we cannot pass any remarks upon hand-bouquets, &c., though each had classes and were well competed for. Pkuit. — There were some good samples of frait. Mr. Matheson, gardener to the Mai-chioness of Exeter, showed fine collections, as also two fine Black Hamburgh Vines in pots; the two when arched together counting at least twenty-foiu- good-sized bunches. Mi\ Bowman, gai'dener to John Hardy, Esq., Grantham, had exceedingly fine samples of the Golden Hamburgh Grape, good Black Hambiu'gh Grapes, and Green-fleshed Melon, with each of which he took the first prizes. In conclusion too inuch cannot be said in praise of the unifonn courtesy of the two Honorary Secretaries, Messrs. Laston and Hewitt. — W. Eakley, Digswell. STUDLEY ROYAL. . Studlet Eotal, near Eipon. Yortsliii-e, is the residence of Earl de Grey and Kipon. The pleasui'C grounds are cele- brated for theu- beauty and extent, and by many ai-e con- sidered the finest of their kind extant. John Aislabie, Esq., a good old countiy gentleman, assisted by his gifted gai-- dener. Mi-. Fisher, formed the grounds at Studley Royal about the year 1720 ; and his successor William Aislabie, Esq., spent a long life in beautilying and extending' what his father had founded. The pleasure grounds are situated in a nan-ow deep dell, called the Skell, with steep, m-egular, wood-covered sides, and traversed by a stream. The situation must have been very beautiful in its natural condition, and, consequently, requii'ed a tutored eye to bring it into its present improved pictm-esque state. The eye and uund must have been well acquainted with what forms a good landscape pictm-e, and not only that but with the combinations which produce one. The proprietor as well as the gardener had, judging from the results of their efforts, a sound knowledge of pictorial effect. They were not forming a picture for themselves only, but one that time would improve and which now may be said to have attained the height of its beauty. An adequate account of all that is worthy of note in these gi-ounds would almost form a lai-ge volume ; I must, there- fore content myself ivith noticing a few of the principal featui'es. AiTived at the pai-k lodge a noble avenue of Limes is entered, shutting out tlie view of the vroodlands on each side; but at times a glimpse is caught of the many fine Oais \vith which the park abounds, some of them gu-ting 30 feet a foot above the ground, and a view of the mansion to the right. Midway in the park, tm-ning to the left, along an avenue of Beech trees of stately growth, I presently came to the beautiful Uttle valley of the SkeU. To the left of the entrance to the grounds is a lake covering twelve acres, into which the water or stream from the gi'ounds empties itself by a fall of about 6 feet. The fall is accompanied by a low tiUTCt baleony-wall, and on the lake were iiquatic fowls, now and again uttering their peculiar cries, -iscending a steep bank from the lake, shaded by a canopy of Beech and Chestnut ti-ees, the gates aire reached. The entrance to the grounds is by an iron gate witli some inadequate lodges by its side, where each visitor pays Is. and enters his name in the visitors' book. Great and small do this ; and as this nominal charge is applied to keeping in order grounds which contribute largely to the enjoy- ment of the public, no one can ca\il at the sum, for very few people would like to keep at their own cost some hundreds of acres for the good of the manufacturing community. The kind and generous feeling of those who allow then- gTOunds to be seen by the pubhc, who for the most part are shut up week after week in the smoky, impure ah- of our lai-ge towns, cannot be too highly eulogised. These gTounds ai-e open every day except Sunday, ;uid guides are ready at the gates from seven o'clock in the morning until five in the evening, to conduct and point out interesting objects to the visitors. Passing along a broad and comfoi-table walk canopied by foliage and with a dense tall screen of Yew to the left, shutting out the view of the other side of the valley and the water in the hollow, yet with a few openings, embrasure- like, that reveal some of the beauties, a pleasing featui'e is reached. This is a steep bank planted wiih common Laurels pegged down so as to hide the whole of the ground, and kept about 2 feet high by cutting back the shoots once or twice during the summer. Beech trees of large dimensions overshadow the walk ; ajid as the eye catches a glinqjse of an octagon tower situated on the opposite side of the vijley a cast, said to be lead, of two contending gladiators ueai- the water below, is seen. There is stUl a dense wall of Yew to the left and its canopy overhead, but an opening is reached that has taken many by sui-prise, being a prospect of the valley in its widest part. A little to the right stands a building called the Temple of Piety, well backed by the foliage of the trees of a neighbour- ing slope. Beneath is a level piece of ground, where the water fr-om the upper part of the gi-ounds is exjianded into spaces of lake with accomp.anying statues of Neptune. Bacchus, and Galen. A lover of fine trees can hardly pass some to the left that stand near glades of lawn sloping fi'om the eye to the water edge. A Nonvay Spruce (Abies excelsa), near the walk, but somewhat entangled with the adjoining shi-ubs, is straight, without any apparent deviation to the top, and displays a luxiu-iance I have not seen elsewhere. It is 12(! feet high, and the stem more than 12 feet in circumference above the roots. Another, neai-er the stream and less enclosed by other trees, attracts readier attention : it is not, however, so lofty, and is but 11 feet in cfrcumference of stem. A North American Spruce on the other side of the grassy opening to the NoiTvay Spruce is 14 feet in cu'cumference of stem, and 13.5 feet high. Almost adjoining .stands a fine example of the Hemlock Spruce (Abies canadensis), 70 feet in height, with a stem neaily 8 feet in cu'camference. Supposing those trees to have been planted by Ma'. Aislabie about 1720, a usefid criterion of growth is fm-nished to subsequent planters of Conifers. Passing on you begin descending the declivity under the shade, and perhaps, may see as much beauty in a Sycamore tree 70 feet liigh without a branch, as in a gorgeous flower parten-e. Evergi-eens and groves adorn the declivity, and from a cavern a stream issues overshadowed by a dense mass of Beech foliage. The eye scai'cely loses sight of this before a view is gained across a bank of Yew and Laiu-el, overhung with nobler foliage, of the long canal as it is called, the moon and crescent ponds, with their grassy teiTaces, and of the lake in the park, backed up \vith wootUand scenery. The statues in the valley and an octag'on tower to the right rising from a clump of Firs ai-e iilso interesting objects. Continuing my joiu-ney, I have another peep thi'ough the La\u-els, and see the statues Hercules and Antseus in contention, in the narrowest pai-t of the dell. Diverging to the left instead of following the path through the woods, but stm overshadowed by old trees, I crossed to the other side of the valley by a rustic bridge, where the stream glides sUently along. On the bank of an irregvdar pool called Quebec ai-e several natiu'ally-iniu-ehed trees, none of them being more than 15 inches in cu-cumference of stem. On a smsiil island in this water stands a monument to the memory of the gallant General Wolfe, and beyond I soon found myself in a formal yet beautiful valley, in which is a build- July 14, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AiJD COTTAGE GARDENER. 29 ing called the Temple of Piety. Inside of this is a mural basso-relievo of the Roman female nomishing her captive father from her breast. The view here is confined to the valley yet possessed of much peculiai- beauty, but the scene suddenly changes. I passed up a steep path in the wood, but just stopped to make a note of an old Yew that is fast decaying and said to be 700 yeai-s old. It is only some 5 feet round, and how it came to be 700 yeai-s old withovit attaining the majestic pro- portions of its neighbours seems curious. Passing through a short subteiTanean passage partly hewn through rock the octagon tower is soon reached, and fi-om it we have a view of the objects so recently vLsited ; but seeing them again from another and distant point does not give the .-lameness one might expect. Studley HaU to the north is seen fi-om here ; and in the opposite du-ection How HiU, with a mimic tower begirt with shade, is a conspicuous and interesting object. Leaving the octagon tower I passed a long but purposeless avenue of Beech trees, in no way improved by the sombre hues of Firs, which give an air of solemnity not desirable in pleasure grounds. I always deprecate avenvies formed of deciduous trees and evergreens intermixed. Evergreens are formal, lack gracefulness, and though noble-looking, are seldom majestic ; and such mixed avenues are less harmonious than those composed exclusively of deciduous trees. Co- nifers contrast best with formal landscape work, as in gardens where oriental fashions predominate, and they are more adapted to back-uj) and relieve statuai-y and the dazzling Italian or geometrical flower parterres than to plant with deciduous trees in avenues or groups. Cedars are well enough for an avenue leading to a mausoleum, but in a richly wooded district they are too formal. They are more fitted for a hill top or a mountain side than to plant in right lines. Pursuing the ample path I was delighted with an aisle of Beech trees ; but an opening between Yew trees to the left showed an obelisk in the centre of the opening, whereas, to please me more, it ought to be at the end most distant from the eye. Through an opening towards the park a view is obtained of Monkenshaw Lodge, and the Roman Monument high alx)ve the SkeU. A little farther on. turning to the right, a pillared pavilion dedicated to Fame is reached, and on all sides but one entered with difSculty. I cannot forbear protesting against visitors defacing the pillars by writing theii' names in pencil, and I hope such offending parties will some day be exjjosed. I noticed as I walked along the Sabine Rose (Rosa Sabini) in flower, but whether indigenous or not I could not ascer- tain ; and among wild plants I did not see any rarities, nor, excepting Polystichum aculeatimi, any qviantity of the Fern tribe. Asplenium fontanum was formerly very plentifial. The path is next among noble Oaks, and, though very closely planted, occasional glimpses of the vaUey ei'eate a longing after that noted Fountains Vale. Arrived at Anne Boleyn's Seat, fatigue is forgotten as soon as the doors in front are thrown open. The prospect that then without warning bursts upon the eye of the spec- tator is beyond the powei-s of pen or pencil to convey. It must be seen to be appreciated, for it sm-passes everything I ever before looked upon, and is lovely beyond comparison. In front are the ruins of Fountains Abbey, desolate but beautifnl. The view is bounded on one side by limestone rocks and wood-covered hills, and on the other by a lofty wooded hiU, and a brook gliding gently from the ruins thi-ough a gTeen meadow to a lake that seems to wash the base of the peninsida on which the spectator stands. Near to the ruins, on a neighboiu'ing hill, are some Yew trees, under which the monks resided while the monastery was building. So says tradition. Their original number was seven, but theii' number is now reduced. Presuming the abbey to have been built in the twelfth century, these trees — taking into consideration the time that must elapse before they would be of sufficient size to afford shelter for the monks — cannot be less than a thousand years ago. After a stroU around and inside the abbey ruins, said originally to have covered twelve acres, I continued my route on to the Echo under the rocks, and re-entered the grounds by the rustic lodge. I cannot quit this sylvan paradise — coeval with the works of Kent and Brown, whose offers were often declined by W. Aislabie, Esq., who equally with his father had a good knowledge of landscape gardening — without expressing my regret at having so little time, and apologising for the desul- tory description given. Being my maiden description I ask for a little leniency fi'om the sledge-hammer critics, though I am about to propose a few alterations. I would suggest a copious thinning in some parts of the grounds, and planting in others. Some of the views require opening-out, and others are too wide fr'om the point of vision. A judicious planting of the newer kinds of deciduous and evergreen trees and shnibs would add much to the beauty of the place, for the monotony of the vegetation, principally such as is indigenous to the locality, gives a sameness to most of the views. I regret they are not there already, for, judging from the few there are, the soil and climate appear uncommonly well suited to their growth : but I feel sure alteration may safely be left to the present owner of the grounds. In journeying up the hill through the park I came to an obelisk, the view fi-om which along an avenue mostly of Limes is very effective. Ripon Minster, at a distance of two miles from the entrance to the park, appears to stand at the end of the avenue, and beyond its towers a fine Wew of the open country is affox-ded. The avenue is about a mile in length, and somewhat broken in places ; but still, whether looking towards the obelisk fi-om the entrance gates or fi-om it towards Ripon Minster, the effect is strikingly beautiful. The trees in the park are some of them of large propor- tions. The Oaks are magnificent ; one was 32 feet in circum- ference above the roots, and many were more than 30 feet round. — 6. A. {To he cmitinued,) CATEEPILLAE-EATING BIRDS. Having read with interest Mr. Robson's opinions on smaU birds, I venture to offer a few words on what I have noticed on the subject, as during the past season I have frequently watched the Black Cap (Cm-i-uca atricapiUa), the blue Tit- mouse (Pai-us coeraleus), and the Chaffiiich (FringiHa coelebs) ; and I saw the two former feed their young ones chiefly with caterpUlars, especially the Titmouse, 4£e old birds taking two and even three at once. I have not seen Chaffinches feed theh- young with catei-pillars, but I have seen them pick them off the trees by scores. I will not attempt to speak of the harm all kinds of birds do ; but I think there is not one that does not do some small amount of good at different seasons — for instance, the Blackbu-d and Song Thrush, inveterate enemies to nearly all kinds of iruit as they are ; and I am inclined to say a word in their favour. A nest with four young ones was taken from a ti'ee, put in a cage and replaced for the old ones to feed, which they did, with what I cannot say; but I have found in the cage caterpillars that were dropped in feeding the yoimg. What I have stated I have been eye-witness to, and I have no doubt that some of the craft that have had more experience and feel interested can give more light on the subject. — S. Rogers. HOW THEY LIVE AND LEAEF IN THE NOETH. Manchester Field Naturalist Society's Bxcubsion to Hardcastle Crags. — On the 27th ult. about sixty members of the Manchester Field Naturalist Society visited Hard- castle Crags. Having g-iven an invitation to the Tormorden Botanical Society, they were accompanied by about twenty- five of the members, and by an equal number from the Huddersfield Philosophical Society. The latter were mostly geologists and entomologists. The Manchestei- and Tod- morden parties arrived at Hebden Bridge at half-past 1 p.m., and went to the White Horse Hotel, where many took lunch. They then started for " the Crags." two-thirds of the com- pany consisting of ladies — among whom was Mrs. Hugh Stowell, who had the vascuhim strapped on her shoulders in true British style ; Canon Hanson (her brother) was also one of the party. While on their way up the vaHey, its 30 JOTTENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 1 July 14, 1863. Burpassing beauty, wood, hill, and stream combined— was the subject of universal remark ; the ladies especially were lavish in their commendations, and long before the day's ■rambles were ended, had exhausted their vocabiUary of terms in which to express admiration of the lovely and picturesque scenes in which they found themselves. _ Among the Ferns gathered were— Polypodium phegoptens. Poly- podium dryopteris, or Beech and Oak Ferns ; these were found in abundance all up the vaUey. Towards the top and near to High Greenwood, Schistostega pennata (Slunmg Moss) was found in limited quantity. Lower down the vaUey Hypnum ochraceum, Ac. and several fine forms of Athynum and Lastrea were noted, and the fine evergi-een fronds of Polystichum lobatum and aculeatum were conspicuous m very many places ; a soUtarj- plant of the Asplenium tri- chomanes"was also seen. Many of the Manchester and Huddersfield parties had to retm-n by the 7.30 train to take the 'busses, &e.. from those towns to their respective homes. Afterwards those who were able to stay later took tea at the White Horse Hotel. >Ii-. Grindon, Secretary of the Man- chester Field Naturalist .Societv. when tea was over, made a resume of the day's employments and enjoyjuents. and the remainder of the party left by the later trains. Perhaps a company of so elite a character, in such niimbers. never before visited the Hardcastle Valley ; the day was delight- fully fine. — Halifax Courier. MIiniLUS CUPKEUS AND AMARANTH US MELANCHOLICUS. I HA VI tried both of these this season. They were sown in strong heat in February. Mimulus cupreus grew very rapidly afterwards in a cold frame, always kept close, and covered with matting by night ; it is now in flower, but about lialf of the plants ai'e inferior in colour to the rest, one hali' being a rich orange scarlet, and the other a sort of washed-out orange. I have placed them in a ring round a bed of Heliotropes. The AjnaranthTis gi-ew readily, and promised well at first. I kept it longer in close heat. 1 hardened it off as gradually as I could, but the leaves turned yellow at the ba.se, and then •Irc.pped-ofi' in a truly melancholy way. Those plants only which have been kept in a close cold frame, and constantly supplied with liquid roamu-e, ai'e doing well. — S. L. J., Cornwall, STKAWBEERIES IN FRANCE. Woe to the man who ventui'es to express his opinion, if that opinion fixll not in with the notions of exhibitors ; and fortunate for him if, by a long coiu'se of no gentle applicatiou of abuse, his skin becomes rhinoceros-like, so that trifles do not woiTy him. The first jilace for experiencing the "pleasui-es of abxise" I give to the office of a. .judge, the second to the reporter of a flower show. If one happens to say that Mr. A's Grapes were superb, and Mr. B's magnificent, and Mr. C'e excellent, even then the superlatives are measured out earefiilly ; and if one be not as expressive as the other, but if Mr. D.'s are said to be wanting in flavour or colom% immediately aU the "quills of the fretful porcupine" ai'O protruded, and a great injuiy suiiposed to be done. Surely, the least thing one might expect is that credit would be given for fair intentions, even though one were set down as an ignoramus. And so M. Ferdinand Gloede attacks me for what I said about his Strawbemes ; and, if I vmderstand his charges, they are these : — 1. That I had some sinister motive in representing his StrawbeiTies as inferior. 2. That they were excellent, or they would not have obtained a first prize. 3. That the reason that they were not fii-st-rate was because the Exhibition took place at a bad time for his plants. 1. As to this charge, I am at a. loss to conceive what it means. I do not know anything of M. Gloede personally. I only know that he has written on the Strawben-y so strongly that I was led, when I saw his name, to expect much. He is the coiTespondent of a gentleman whom I esteem very highly, and therefore I could have no motive in misrepresenting what I saw. It could not be because he was a Frenchman, as I think your readers pretty well know by this time that 1 have ever desired to say what good I could of our neighbours , of whom, indeed, 1 am by descent one. 2. As to the second charge, I can oidy say that he had, if I recoUect rightly, no competitor, and that tiiere was not a bit of fruit at the Show that woiUd have gained a fifth prize at our metropolitan exliibitions. 3. As to my possessing no knowledge of pi'actieal garden- ing, I do not exactly see what is meant. I certainly do not go out for a day's work, nor do I often take the spade in my hand ; but I do claim to knowing a little about even Straw- berries, and perhaps if I had said M. Gloede's were admirable, my practical gardening would not have been called in ques- tion. I did not pretend to know all about " practical gar- dening" in France, nor the climate of Les Sablons. I spoke of the Strawberries as I saw them ; and that my judg- ment was tolerably i/on-ect is evident. I think, from M. Gloede's own showing, or else why endeavour to explain that the time was a ijad one for Mm ? I have thus disposed of M. Gloede's critique, and would strongly urge him not U:> look for bad motives where none are intended, and to believe that if criticism is adverse it may at the same time be impartial. — D., lieo'i. THE CULTIVATION OF ROSES IN POTS. SECOND SEASON. I PREFER potting in this way : — Having placed my com- post on the potting-board, I procui'e a quantity of turves as they are brought in fi'om the field, and veiy rough, pretty dry, well decomposed cowdung. The jjots being ch'ained, and on the potting-ljoard, I tear off one oi- two lai'ge pieces of the turf, and put it into the bottom of the pot on the drainage, top downwards. In general thi,< wUl be of suffi- cient height for the ball of the plant to rect upon ; if not quite high enough, I put in a little of the mixed material to raise it to the required height ; next, tear off pieces of turf, 6 or 7 inches long, and 2 or 3 inches wide, and as many thic?k ; about four such pieces should be crammed in between the ball and the side of the pots peiTjendicularly. Between tliis, place large pieces of rough cowdung, neiu'ly equivalent in bulk to the size of the Icjam, and fiU up all crevices and cavities with the mixed compost, finishing off with the same, and making the whole quite firm. Diuring the operations, care is requii-ed not to leave any ca\dties between the mould and pot, but to fill aU up compaijtly. Tliis is to be the treat- ment of the strong-growing vai'ieties. The Teas, Chinas, &c., may be potted in a similar w:iy, excejJt leaving out a portion of the rough cowdung, and using more of the mixed material in its plaroperly trained — those intended for climbers, such as the Hybrid Chinas, Hybrid Bom-bons, and strong-growing Noisettes, round neat stakes, 3 to 4 feet Idgh. If these had been thinned during the previous summer, they will now require little or no pruning, but merely to have theh' branches tied neatly and regularly round, shortening the extreme points. Any very strong-growing Perpetual or other summer Koses, may be trained iu a pyi'amidal form, by placing stakes round the side of the pots, and making them meet at from 2 to 21 feet liigh, passing a hoop round them at about li foot from the pot ; the branches must be tied down to the rim of the pot, and round the stakes up to the summit, liearing in mind to keep the branches well dov.'n, as there will no difficulty in filling u)) the top the foUowiiig spriug. These, like the others, do not requu'e much pruning ; thinning-out where crowded, shortening where too long, and regulating the branches, will be enough. This appUes also to the less robust Hybrid I'erpetuals, Bourbons, Chinas, Teas, &c. ; the plants J^ly M, ie(i3, ] JOUENAL OP HOETICULTUEE XSHD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 31 being all young, tie wood thinned out and stopped when necessary, during the previouH summer, they only require to be properly tra nod, with a little shortening. All the classes 1 am now speaking of, are best suited for bush Eoses, and in training, the branches must be tied well down to the rim of the p./t all round ; any branches in the centre of the plant can bo tied down to the lowest branches, but not in too close or crowded a manner. I am awaa'e some first-rate gi'owers recommend pruning many of these hard in, at this stage of growth ; in tiiis I can see no advantage. seen large branches and whole plants of Tea. Eotes die off : hence the great care necensarj' to protect them from frost and cold. At the same tiuie, no opportunity should be lost of removing the lights from tiitr whole collection every fine day, and for as long a time as possible, that the s'loots may not be weak or drawn ; they should )>e exposed to all the Ughr, and to soft rains, which are very beneficial, protecting them fi'om cold or heavy rains. By the middle of April alj danger from severe njght frosts being past, they should have au' all the night, by tilting up as the plants, under proper treatment, will be full of young i the lights at the back, and keeping the lights of as much. wood, and to prune then;\ hard would spoil the bloom. AU that I find necessary is to thin out where over-crowded, to thorten where toe. long, and to properly regulate and tie- out the branches. The plants will tiow reijuire to be placed in their winter habitation, and nothing is better than a cold pit facing the south, the lights being at a very acute angle, in order ti> catch every ra.y of light and sun. Let the plants be placed upon inverted pots, as close to the glass as possible, keeping the delicate varieties, as tJie Teas, Chinas, &e., at one end by themselves. Leave the lights off night and day during autumn, except in case of raius, from which they nmst be Bcnipulously prote'^ted. Duiing the winter the lights must, be oft' all day in settled weather, and tilted up by night to allow a, cu'cxilation of air am^.ng the plants, shutting close only in case of very severe frosts and wet; slight frosts are not injurious. Through the winter they reqoii'e little or no water. I have had them a montii or two without a drcp, and it should be given only when the mould is very diy ; the great point of winter treatment being to protect the plants from rain, to give veiy little water, and to allow the>n abundance of air. About the end of Febniary, many of the Pei-petaals, Bourbons, Chinas, Teas, &c., wdl commence growing, and the slight protection which they have will facilitate this. About this time they should receive a surfacing of rotten cowdung, fi'O'm 1 J to 2 inches in depth, tailing out a portion of the laould to make room for it, particularly by the riui of the pot. If it is desu'ed to have a portion of the plants in bloom early, the end of February is an ez- eellent time to remove them into a wajm greenhouse — a span-roofed house is the best _: and here the plants will progress rapidly, amd come early into bloom. But I will leave this strvTCtui'e and return to then- present quarters, and bloom them there. As the plants progress in growth they must be fr-equently looked over, tying- the lower branches of aU down to the rim of the pot, and the other branches of the dwarf Eoses neatly and regularly down to them, but not leaving the centre open or baa'e. The pyi'ani'-dal plants should be trained regularly from tlie rims round the sticks to the summit, and the climbers in a, similar way ; they shoidd also be turned round in the pit once or twice a-week, that they may not get one- Rose Coupe d'llr'bi as possible by day _; foUowiiig this up to the middle of May, when many will be coming into bloom. By the begioning of May the pots may be remtived from under the plants, and they set on the bottom of the pit, provided it is not too far from the glass — not more than 9 ruches. From the end of April to the end of May, and later, till the blooming of the last plants, the pits should be sprinkled every fine da,y, morning and evening, ai-ound the sides, on the ground, and over the foliage of the plants untU the blooms begin to open, when it should be discontinued. It should be performed with a very fine rose-pot, or a syringe. The fohage, under this treatment, will be remai'kably clean and healthy. In wet or cold weather this must not be performed, as mildew wotdd be the inevitable consequence. After my plants had been top-dressed in the spring, and when commencing gTowth, they received a watering of liquid manure. Such waterings are not necessai-y to be repeated before the end of three weeks ; and after that once a-fortnight will be often enough, irntU about the middle of May, sooner or later, according to the weather and the forwardness cf the plants. About that time WM may expect the bads to be t (Veiling, and the liquid manure may be given once a-week, and cuutinued through their blooming ; when given the plants siioidd have ;t good soaking, and at aU inter- vening times from the commence- ment of then- g-rowth in early spring to the end of then bloom- iiig, soft water must be used. .ill strong watery shoots as they make their appearance sliould have their extreme points pinched out when 6 inches long, and through the whole season of gi'owth con- tinual attention is uecessiuy to tying, training, and taking off the suckers of worked plants as soon as they appear. From the com- mencement of iheir growth to the end of the blooming time, as soon as the least sign of green fly is visible, they must be fumigated. CaterpUlars in the leaves and buds during growth shoidd also be looked closely after. If the weather is fine about the middle of May, a little shade may be given for a. few hours each day with thin gauze, as the buds by this time wUl be sweUing. On the opening of the blossoms the plants should be moved into a cold north house, and kept rather close and shaded, where they wiU bloom finely; a cold pit facing the north wiU answer the sided. Through the spring, while the jilants are gi-owing, 1 same purpose, but in this situation they cannot be seen to paa'ticularly in March and A]5ril, air must be regulated with advantage. caution ; the young shoots being extremely soft, the cold harsh winds of March would be very injurious to them, and from these they must be protected, giving an- at that side of the pit from which the wind cannot beat upon the plants. By night they should be shut close to avoid spring frosts — these slight frosts being more injuiious when the plants are so fai' advanced than 12° to 15° wordd be in the depth of winter. I have even found it necessary to weU mat the pit where the Teas and Chinas were, in March, when severe frosts were expected, and the plants appeared Uable to be frozen — a thing not vmfrequent at that season. Alternations of the weather in spring are very injurious to delicate Eoses ; and, from the effect of a little frost at that season, I have The Eoses having bloomed, aU dead flowers should be cut off, and the plants placed back in the pit from whence they were taken ; here they may have plenty of aii- and light, and may remain untd they have perfected their growth, dming which time they may have Uqtud manm-e about once a-fortuight. After completing their grovrth, let them be placed out-doors in an open any situation, any straggling Ijlooms or suckers that may be produced being cut off. The plants may remain out of doors untU the end of September, when they wdl requii-e fresh potting. This may be performed in the same way as the potting in the preceding season, except that the baUs may be reduced a Uttle more, and the plants being old will require a portion of the old wood to be :^ JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUBE AJ^fD COTTAGE GARDENER. July 14, 1863. cut out, and the young wood shortened, thinned, tied down and trained as before. — (J. Saul. DurdJuim Down Nivrsery B-i-istol. in Gar^/>V'^-s' Mofiazinc of Botany.) BLOOMSBUEY WOEKIKGMEN'S PLOWEK SHOW. This took plii^e on Wednesday last. There was a capacious tent between 60 and 70 feet long and about 40 feet broad, with the plants arranged on foiu- lines of tables, one on each side and a double line down the middle. Tliere were between 200 and 300 exhibitors, and between 400 and 500 plants entered for competition. Altogether there were more than 500 plants, as some were sent which could not compete. The laa'gest oLass was the one confined to the densest district in the pai-ish, where the first Show was held, and which has kept the lead ever since. There were sis classes in all — four for adults and two for the childi-en at the schools. In every class were oflFered prizes for Fuchsias, Geraniums, and Annuals, three prizes for each in each class, the highest being 10s. for adults and 5s. for children. At the last Show (1861) decidedly the best plants were shown by the servants. It is worth notice that the same sei-vant gained all three first prizes at this Show. .T,nd, in the classes for Geranijims and Fuchsias, v,Tith the very same phmts as those with which she gained prizes two years ago. This, at least, shows how well phints can be kept 'in an area for a long period. In the plants which competed with hers were much more recent introductions into the parish. There is one thing connected with the Show which should not occur, and that is that numbers of people who liave plants do not enter them for the prizes. If only half the plants in the parish were entered the Show would be twice as extensive. One man sent some veiy good specimens of Dahlias orown m one of the worst parts of the parish, to which was''ois Lacharme (fii-st-rate flower), John Hopper, Madame Clemence Joigneaux (a very siiperiorEose), Souvenir de Lady Eardley, Madame Julie Paran, Acheveque de Paris, Turenne, Souvenir' de Comte Cavour, Marechal VaiUant, and Monte Chiisto. Mr. Peny, Bu-mingham, sent a very excellent stand of twenty-four Verbenas, among which were some good seed- lings which received the special certificate. A seedling. Mauve Queen, a delicate lavender-coloured flower, was com- mended. Should this variety bear the sun' s scorching rays it will be a most useful bedding plant. Among other good seedlings were — Purity, deep bright rose, clear eye ; Eubens, good form, deep crimson, white eye ; Motley, deep rose; Monarch ; and Startler. In the collection of twenty-four vai-ietiee, we noticed — Black Prince, Lord Elgin, Eeine des Pleure, L'Avenir de Ballent, Foxhunter, Colossus, and Lord Leigh, the three brightest and largest-trussing scarlets. On this occasion Foxhunter was decidedly the best scarlet exhibited, and a variety which should be extensively cultivated. While noticing the Verbenas, we must here mention that the Committee this day withdrew the first-class certificate granted 1862, to a Verbena named Eugby Hero, it proving to be on careful examination identical with L'Avenii' de BaUent. Messrs. Veitch sent Selaginella involvens, and SelagineUa involvens variegata, both of which received first-class certifi- cates. P'rom the same nursery came three pots of Liliuni auratum, one plant with the flower-stems bearing three flowers each. Mr. Melville exhibited a seedling ISTemopMla auriculseflora, one of the dark chocolate varieties with a distinct whit* border — commended. A seedling Verbena, Princess of Wales, a s-sriped variety, was requested to be seen again, one imperfect truss only being sent. This was a promising flower. Fkuit Cosimittee, July 8th. — A meeting of the Com- mittee was held at the garden at Chiswick, Mi'. Edmonds in the chair. IVIr. Ai'chibald Fowler, gardener to Lord Dal- rymple. Castle Kennedy, N.B., sent fiiiit ol a large white Fig, which appeared to be Large White Genoa. Mr. Cook- son, Lenton Purs, Nottingham, sent a seedhng Strawberry of the Sir Harry class, which was of gocid fia.vour andlarge size ; but not sufficiently superior to those in cultivation to requii'e any special notice. The Committee then proceeded to examine the Vines in pots in the forcing-pits, and noted the following :— -Chasselas , de Florence, a form of Eoyal Muscadine, ■wlueh sometimeg 34 JOURNAL OF HORTICUXTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. July 14, 1863. produces berries with a tinge of red on them, but in other respects it does not differ materially from the old variety. Chasselas Imperialo Precoce proved to be Prolific- Sweetwater. A variety sent to the garden by Mr. Teitch. of Chelsea, and marked K, was found to be a remarkably fine early Grape, a fortnijjht eai-lier than the Koyal Muscadine, and of a rich sugai-y flavour. It was recommended for fm-ther trial. Chasselas de Montauban was proved to be the same as Prolific Sweetwater ; Minestra is the same as Frankenthal : Muscat de Clermont is Chasselas Violet ; La Bnixelloise is Frankenthal; Madeleine Royale is the same as Chasselas Royal. These being all the varieties at present ripe, there the laboxu's of the Committee ended. We would call the attention of our readers to tliis collection of Vines in pots, which is well worth seeing, and which reflects great credit on Mr. Eyles and his able aid, Mr. Barron. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN G.VRDEN. Ply the fork frequently amongst the growing crops, and continue to manm-e. Trench-up every piece of ground as it becomes vacant, and plant it with CauMower, Broccoli, and Winter Greens. Cabhuges, get ready a patch of ground for the sowings of this crop to stand the winter. The sod to be of a light sandy nature, and not too rich, as it encoiirages a luxuriant growth which is apt to make them more suscep- tible of injury from frost. In Coleworts raake a sowing for the mate spi-iug crop. Capsicmns, the plants to be kept watered diuing dry weather, and if mulched -n-ith a little litter they wdl not require it so often. Neglect of watei-ing or mulching them now is frequently the cause of their not truiting sidBciently early to ripen ; they receive but little attention, and, consequently, they do not begin to grow tUl the autumn rains set in. Celery, the earliest-planted will now require to be gone over, and stripped of their small lower leaves and side shoots ; the trenches to be then tho- roughly soaked with water previous to the plants being earthed-up. which should take place as soon as the plants are quite di-y. Prepare trenches for a late crop. C'm-roU, thin the late-sown crops, and loosen the earth between them where they have been sown in drills. Dv.-arf Kidney Beans. a last sowing to be made in a sheltered situation ; the di-ills to be watered if the soil is very cb-y. Endive, plant-out finally the strongest from the early sowings, and sow also more for late crops ; the small Green-cmied is best. Onions, puU-up the crop of autumn-sowing, lay them in rows with the roots turned to the sun, and frequently turn them until the stalks ai'e withered, when they will be fit for storing. As they are very liable to decay if bruised they should not be tlrrowu about roughly, but liantUed carefully, and spread cut thinly — not laid iu heaps. Lettuces, sow more, and keep up a good succession of Radishes and Salads. Spinach, a good breadth sown now in rich soil wUl afford many successive pickings in the autumn, and tend materially to save the winter beds from being picked before they become strong. Tomatoes, they requii'e frequent attention to cause them to ripen their fruit : the shoots to be thinned, and those left to be closely nailed to the wall ; to be well watered, and then mulched. When planting Celery, EmUve, or any other enlinary vegeta,l)le, it is unnecessary to deprive them of any portion of their leaves— indeed, the depriv.ation is injiu-ious. which may be proved by trying both methods. Allow no waste of spare or bursted Cabbages, Greens, Caidiflower leaves and stumps, Bean or Pea-haidm, or, indeed, any other garden article, but give them to the pigs, if any are kept : and if not, they should at all times be trenched at once into the soO as manure, to assist in producing the crops which they are well calculated for, as it is, to some extent' returning to the soil what has been taken from it, together -with what has been obtained from the atmosphere. This is a most bene- ficial and natiu-al iikkIc of applying assistance to succeeding crops. Continue to di-edge the young Turnips, Cabbage.s, and other seedling plants with dry charred dust or wood ashes while damp eai-ly in the morning. A so continue to keep a watchfid eye on the caterpUlars that infest the Goose- berry, as they often make gre;i,t havoc about the time the fruit is fully grown. FLOWER GARDEN. Attention will be well bestowed at this time upon bedded- out plants, deficiencies to be made up, decayed blossoms to l>e removed from Roses, and the young wood cleansed from insects. Continue to propagate Pinks, Pansies, and Picotees. Bud Eoses, mow and roll lawns, and follow up assiduously the extirpation of weeds. Cover the blooms of Cai'nations and Picotees as they expand, placing cardboard coUars beneath them. Layering may be commenced, beginning with the grass or shoots which are most forward. Look to Dahlias, thin-out v,'here required, stake, tie. midch, &o. FRUIT GARDEN. Espalier Apples and Pears to have their leaders tied-in, the superfluous spuri'ed. Attend also to choice Apples and Pears planted in the open quarters, but not trained. Remove superfluous shtfots, and tie downwards the points of some of the strongest shoots to counteract their Ivixuriant growth. Attend to the stopping and nailing of wall trees in general. Remove all runners from StrawVierries not required for making fresh plantations. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. Attend to the greenhouse plants now placed out of doors. See that worms do not effect an entry into the pots, and attend to the routine of tjing, stopping, and other details. The season has now arrived when those hardwooded speci- mens which require a second shift this season must have it without delay, at least before the end of the month, so that the pots become well stocked with roots before the autumn. Be giuded in shifting by the strength of the plants. If gi'owing robustly a liberal shift to be given : but if not, a smaller one must sirfficc. All plants which have done blooming to be cut-in, preparatory to stjirting for new gi'Oivth ; the decayed flowers and seed-pods to be removed before they exhaust the energies of the plants by perfecting theii- seeds. Many of the stove plants in some places will be now occupying these houses while the regular tenants are in the open ah- ; but as many greenhouse plants, such as Eriostemons, Borouias of various kinds, and other New Holland plants reqiui-e the assistance of a little heat to insiu-e their making a good growth, they may be kept in the house with the stove plants, regidating the temperature so as to be agreeable to all the inmates. Keep a moist atmosphere, especially towards the evening, and shut up for an liour or two about the time the sun leaves the house. STOVE. As many of the pilncipal plants of this house will now bo in the conservatory or greenhouse, advantage to be taken of their absence to encourage the others for winter-blooming, especially such as Justicias, Begonias, Aphelandras. Eran- themrmis, Clerodendrons, Rondeletia speoiosa, Luculia gra- tissima, Torenia asiatica, Pentas camea, &c. A batch of Achimenes picta and Gesnera zebrina to be started for the same pirrpose. Maintain a moist growing atmosphere with ]ilenty of air, and guard against insects. Where a house or pit cannot be devoted to the Azaleas this wUl be a suitable situation for them, but they are better bj* themselves. W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Much as last week. Made the most of the Httle water we coiUd command to keep Peas, Beans, Lettuces, Tm-nips, gi'owing and crisp, and shading a little to break the force of the sun's rays. Watered Cauliflowers, except what was nearly fit for use. Earthed-up the forwardest succession, leaving a hollow along the midcUe for future waterings, and earthed-up chiefly to keep the water we gave round the roots. Instead of taking the remains of the Cauliflowers to the rubbish-heap as usual, will most likely strip off all ths leaves, and lay them along the sides of the advancing crops, to shade the ground and keep the moLsture in. Never have we witnessed such glorious weather for se- curing the haycrops in first -rate condition ; and notwith- standing the drought. Turnips that are pretty forward in the field-s are looking well. All cereals that we have noticed, ■n-ith the exception perhaps of a little patchy Barley, are from theu- beautifid appearance enough to fill every heart >vith gratitude. It is only in gardens, where the water- July 14, 1863. ] JOTJBNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AKD COTTAaE GARDENER. 39 supply is a very serious consideration, that such glorious days and bright suns bring irith them any feeling of anxiety and alarm. This great water question has for a long time been like a coil of ropes round our legs, impeding freedom of action. If a bit of envy should ever enter and find a short resting-place in ou_r mind, it would be from seeing a garden where \vater in abundance was ever present, and where, by the mere placing a pipe on a tap, quarters of Strawberries and vegetables might be flooded at will. There can hardly be a comparison made between such a place and another in which water must be dribbled out as if it were wine. The practical deduction to di-aw would be the importance of securing such water-sixpply for the site of a garden, and the imprudence of fixing on the top of a hill for a garden, and especially if there was much done in the way of bedding plants, the water to be depended on being merely that which can be caught from the atmosphere. We are rather pleased than otherwise that the hint the other week about landlords building cottages and leaving the tenants to scoiu- the ditches and dirty pools by the highway for water has so far told. Entering into particulars is out of the question. Kindly intentioned improvement — not bitter acrimonious criticism or exposure — will ever be our motto and i^ractiee in such matters. We ai-e well aware of what one correspondent tells us, " that many landlords wordd be bonified at such a state of things, which exists solely from their ignorance of the matter, and from no want of kindly sympathy." Then would it not be good policy to try in a quiet way to dispel that ignorance ? PhUosophers may debate, and never settle, how far, if at all, human cha- racter is moulded by mere circumstajuces. Simple obser- vation tells us that there are men of such strength of deter- mination as to rise superior to all circumstances of position, however seemingly unfavoiu'able. With the mass of us common folks circumstances exert a most powernil influence. Look at that little girl, who, with the instinctive love of the beautiful so largely inherited by woman, is as much or more pleased with her pretty new frock than the beUe of the ball-room is with her satin and pearls. Would she be so likely to roU in the dust and the mud (though children may do much worse), as if clothed vrith a ragged garment, so •Jirty that it would require a microscope to speak of its colours ? We could instance the wonderfid transformations, even in outside appearances, eft'ected by moving a family from a tumble-down ricketty homestead, and settling them in a nice cottage, on the conditions that cottage and garden were to be kept clean, and the latter weU ciiltivated. Even in such a cottage, however, a woman's attempts at cleanli- ness and honest respectability of position, must be greatly neutralised if she must hunt the ditches to get even a little of muddy water. If a few more landlords woidd inquire into such matters for themselves, we would be delighted. StJEFACE-STIERINu. The general reader will, we trust, excuse the above di- gression as to pure water for cottages. The want of plenty of water in the garden has caused us to resort to many makeshifts. Surface-stirring is one of the most generally applicable. From several notes received there seem to be much doubt and darkness stdl existing on the subject. One lady tells us that her plants are dying, that the ground is very hard on the surface and is cracking in many places, and that she imagines that if she slightly forked over her ground she would be stUl worse off, as the heated air would pene- trate and dry up her soil more and more, until the roots could find no moisture to nourish them. The cli-y hard- baked surface of many a border and bed is sufficient evi- dence that such an idea is very general. It is, however, based on a thorough fallacy. Here, however, let us note that an excess of luxuriant growth and an excess of fruitful- ness are two very distinct tilings. To secure great fruit- fulness at the expense of diminished growth the soU. can scarcely be too firm, either at the surface or anywhere else. To secure rapid growth the soil should be more loose, and the surface open enough to receive the air and its oxygen. Thus, to secure a dwarf standard or pyramidal Apple tree, we must resort to means somewhat different from those we should adopt for securing a very large head of CaiUifJower, In the first case we should have what firmness we could, with as much mulching or more moving of the surface as would prevent cracking, and in the second we would have deeper than sui^face-stirrings of the sod in order that air should get to the roots, that the roots themselves might be multiplied, and thus the organs increased for sucking up the rich waterings presented to them. We have often seen a piece of ground in Cabbages that had become case-hardened in April or earlier wonderfully improved in its appearance in twenty-four hours merely fi-om deep surface-stirring, .'5ay 3 or 4 or more inches deep— a very different thing as respects roots and afr from mere surface-scratching with a Dutch hoe, &e., though that, too, has its uses and iidvantages. By such means the air is admitted, to effect mechanical and chemical combinations with the materials in the soil ; but the great effect iipon the Cabbages is not produced so much by letting heat in and moisture out as our correspondent, by her reasoning, liught suppose, as by quite contrary means — namely, the keeping the moisture in and the heat out. On this principle, when we wish to get a mass of soU as much heated as possible by the sun's rays, we would have the soil firm and the exposed surface smooth and level rather than rough. Hence, when we have wished to obtain very- early Cauliflower imder hand-glasses, we have kept the sur- face of the sod. rather smooth and firm ia early spring, that the great stimulus of heat should get down to the roots, and then as the leaves began to shade the ground and we could receive little help from dii-eet absorption and conduction of sun heat, we have then stirred the soU. for the purposes ali-eady stated. All this we should do on the simple prin- ciple that, as a general ride, bodies absorb, conduct, and radiate heat in proportion to their density. Thus, if we place a two-foot rod of seasoned wood in the fii-e, we may hold the end of the rod without feeling any inconvenience imtU the flame of the burning wood comes too near- to us ; but if we place a simUar bar of iron ia the fire, the end which we grasp w-ould soon be too hot for us. In such an experiment the wood should be old and seasoned. We reeoUect long ago, when burning a piece of green wet Ash and holding "it by the end, it got so hot that we thought we had discovered some unknown heat-conducting power in the Ash; but we had done nothing of the kind— the moistiure in the wood was heated by the fire, and was thus forced though the pores and vessels of the wood, just as steam or hot water rises from a boUer. We come, then, to two conclusions— first, that firm soU is by absorption and conduction sooner and more highly heated by the sun, and just so much sooner cooled by radiation of heat when the atmosphere is colder than the ground, than a loose open soU would be ; and, therefore, surface-stir- ring ai-rests extra heat from the sun during the day, and lessens the loss of heat by radiation at night ; and secondly, as the less of moistiire by evaporation is in proportion to the heat applied, then the looser the siu-face the less the amount of moisture raised by evaporation. Those who stUl doubt as to the first, may satisfy themselves by burying two ther- mometers that indicate alike— say U inch from the surface —the one in loose soU and the other in very firm soU, the soU in both cases being of the same consistence as to dry- ness, and examining both at 3 p.m. after a sunny day. We wUl be surprised if that under the firm soU do not show the higher temperatiu-e. After a diUl day and a clear night we shoiUd expect it to stand the lower of the two in the early morning. We satisfied ourselves as to the second in a very simple manner. We took two good-sized bell-glasses with rourded conical, not flat tops, because we wished the vapour raised during the day not to drop fi-om the top when condensed, but to nm down the sides. The bottom of each glass was then fitted into a lead gutter, formed of the material often used for the small squares of cottage windows, but which we ti-ust wiU be soon superseded for that purpose by che-ap glass. These two glasses with their troughs were set, one on firm ground and the other on moved ground, >>"t as much alike as possible in other circumstances, and both tuU in the sun, care being taken by earth and putty out^side that neither air nor vapour shoidd enter the glasses j-om without, so that whatever moisture was found withm in a morning must have been entu-ely oiving to the heat of the sun raising it as vapour from the ground enclosed. Ihe results were very varied ; but when the glasses were examined early before the next morning's sun had tune to vaporise 36 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE OARDSNEE. July 14, ISC'!. the condensed moisture trickling down the sides, the general &ct aa-rived at was, that the trough in which the g^lass stood over the solid ground had most water in it. The same results we believe would take place in every garden and field according to their relative eii'cumstances. True, on stin-ing soO with fork or share, the heat of the air would enter, and in proportion to the diyness of the air, would the soil be deprived of superabundant moistui'e, and other chemi- cal and mechanical advantages would follow ; but the heat admitted would almost entirely be the heat of the aii- near the surface of the ground, and not that accixmulated heat from the sun's rays striking repeatedly on the same solid spot. In the first casi, too, the conduction of heat down- wai'ds is arrested by the open surface ; in the second it is assisted. The siurface-stin-ing acts, therefore, in Ixith cases very much lilce the shade of a thick mat spread over the gi-ound. Flitting a cold hand successively on ii-on, stone, firm smooth earth, and loose earth exposed to the sun's action, would almost decide the matter by the mere sense of touch. The strongest alignment a fi-iend suggested against such conclusions was gained from the well-known fact, that tender iruit trees against houses and cottages often fared better than in gentlemen's gardens, even though they scarcely ever had any waterings, and the ground above the roots was either paved or pitched. How did the roots get moisture at all if the heat of the soil and the evaporation from the soil were so much in proportion to the firmness of the surface ? We think the ease on the other hand is quite in our favom-. The earth being close to the paved surface got more heated in spring than a common garden border would do, and thiis roots would be stimulated in unison with branches. So little is this the case in general with trees against walls at the back of cropped borders, that it is (juite common to shade the wall in parly spring, or to leave the twigs dangling from the wall, and thus keep them colder than they othei-wise would be until the earth would get a little heated. A vast deal has been written on concret- ing the bottom of borders ; but we believe mucli might also Ije done by concreting the sui-fece as soon as the trees were established. Then as to the moistm-e question, there need be little fear of that if the roots are not whoUy isolated from the surrounding earth. "We cannot say how fax a good healthy plant wOl draw moistui-e for itself in such eu-cumstances, but the gi'eater the evaporation, the greater the quantity attracted to supply it. We once had a Vine-border that could not receive from above a drop of water for five years, and yet on uncovering it, it was found to be just nicely" and healthily moist. The leaves were less, and the fruit more abundant every year : and on taking up the pavement over the roots of fruit trees trained against a cottage, we have generally found the soil nicely moist though not wet. This is, how- ever, another side of the question — frTiitivJness i\ luxu- liance. The piinciide fairly understood, we can easily vary it, just as we would bring such knowledge to bear veiy differently on two young Cabbage plants, one of which it was desired to bloom as soon as possible, and the other to become in the shortest time a great thumping head to fill the tray at the hall table. ORNAMENTAL GAKDENING. We skip other depaa-tments to continue the pra<,'tical iQusti-ation of the same piinciijle. In addition to much of what was stated last week we knived pai-t of the lawn where there were some Daisies, in preference to macliining or mowing, as it is not desii-able in such warm weather U> make the grass too short. The chief work, however, has been regulating beds and borders, hoeing or surface-stirring, watering what we could, and then almost immediately cover- ing with a slight layer of leaf mould and old Mushroom- dimg. Generally we used to pass all such material through a one-inch sieve, and then add to it a little soot and lime before strewing it over the bed, as these latter ingi'edients tend to keep the beautiful birds scratching it about over the lawn, and this they can hardly attempt when the beds are too thick for theii- bills and shoulders. Tlus year. being scarce, we have been obliged to use leaves of this season rather too rough for the back rows, and our old mirture for the fi'ont rows and all the smaller beds. Now, though we consider this covering from half an inch to an inch or more as a capital thing when rightly used, the right use depends much on the time and the season. Scarcity of water has made us refoi't to it sooner than we otherwise would have done, when a. KtUl wanaer soil would have done no harm, whilst the gi-eat heat would hp,ve prompted us to thus mulch some tilings sooner than we did. We shall now for some time be pretty independent of the water-paE as respects those beds thus managed. Rougher things, such as Dahlias, have had a di'cs.siug of short mowing^, and without any watering they are standing well. As examples ai'e best remembered we will single out tv.'O classes of favoiuite bedding plants, and show liow the same principle would apply to them somewhat dift'erently. First, there are the Scarlet Geraniums. We believe the summer can scarcely be too bright and warm to insure their doing first-rate out of doors. In a dull summer and wet autumn they are more prolific of leaves than flowers. So much is this the case, that in such eu-cumstances, and but tor the expense, planting in pots, woiUd be best — in fac-t, treating them like the tree with its roots und(n' pavement. So well convinced ai'e we that these plants like a warm soil, that we would stir the surface but little, and would not mulch at all but for the (fread of the plants being dried up. As our ground is poor, half an inch or so of the compost just helps to prolong enough of vigour for flowering, and keeps the moisture in. Then, secondly, there ai'e the Calceolarias, which are now so beautiful, and which, in cm- opinion, re- quire quite different treatment. These plants will often do well in a dull cold season, when Scai'let Geraniums only pretend to mass with bloom ; but we have never known the brightest and longest-continued sunny weather have any other efiect on them except to make them brighter, providepearance from the ordinaiy black queens. Kor is this variation con- fined to the females : it has already been stated in these columns that pure Ligurian drones are frequently very dark, but I have only recently become aware that drones of the ordinary species may simulate the appearance of Italians. This has, however, been the cage in a recent instance in which, whilst destroying the few drones which existed in a second swarm of common bees that I had purchased, I was astonished at finding some among them as distinctly marked as any of my Ijest Ligurians. What rendered this more remarkable was the faet that neither the queen-mother her- self nor any of her worker oii'spring participated in the slightest degree in the gay colc^urs which distinguished theh- male relatives. — A Devonskibs Bee-keep5.r. AGE OP QFEENS — BEE SEASO:^^ IN SOUTH DURHAM. I OBSERVE in No. 117 that "ALanabeshiee Bee-ksepek" states that he had a queen for '■ seven years." Would he kindly say if this is what he vfrote, or is it a misprint i- I am glad to say the weather in this part (South Durham) since the 9th of June has been very fine and good foi- bees, and shouM it continue, a few weeks more I do not think there wHl be any occasion to take them to the moors. I think there can be no douVjt that the Ligurians are much superior to the common ones. I had a swarm from one of mine in a common straw hive on the 21st of June, and this swarm swarmed again on the 1st July; a half-bred swarm, hived into one of Tegetmeier's obsen'atory-hives, filled it with comb, honey, and grub in twelve or fourteen days, and I have been obliged to put two glasses on, to give them air at top and bottom, and destroy the queen-cells to prevent them Bivarming in twenty-one days from the day of hiving. I cannot say from experience that the hybrids are equal to the pure Ligurians, but they appear to be superior to the common bees ; and this season I find both the hybrids and Ligurians as tame as I ever found the common bees. To preserve them pm-e you must keep them at a distance from one another, and I have, therefore, moved my hybrids foiur miles a^vay. — A. ?>'. APIARIAN NOTES FROM GLOUCESTERSHIRE. I CANNOT give a very favourable report of the bee-season from this county. The spring was too dry and too cold for honey-gathering. The first swarm I heard of in this neigh- bourhood was on the ISth May. The second was on the 28th from one of my own old stocks ; but breeding has gone on well with the help of occasional feeding. The honey- gatheiing has been delayed until this time (the 18th June), in consequence of the want of that fine electric weather which often takes place the last fourteen days in May. There are only now about fi-om fourteen to twenty days left for honey-gathering ; but the grass is later than usual, and we have no heath and little Dutch clover. In July and August the bees have a bad chance, excepting in heath ccamtries, and where the Dutch clover abounds in July and August, and even latter in some localities. Yesterday (the lyth June) and to-day, incessant rain from N.E. and North. As I do not admire artificial swarms, I cling to the old- fashioned natural, and, as Virgil describes it, that " Divine instinct " which teaches the bees to increase their number in their own way, which, to my mind, is one of the most wonderful, and bj' fai' the most exciting act which these extraor-linary insects perform. Your coiTespondent from Durham seems to make a shrewd guess that the cold easterly winds in May render the flowers and blossoms nearly useless to the bees. In 1848 we had twenty-nine days of easterly wind, and little or no honey was gathered in that month. The kite districts have cer- tainly a chance of faring better this summer, and I hava always been of opinion that July and August will be finer and (frier than in any of the three preceding seasons. The exhibition of bees and hives at the meeting of the Bath and West of England Agricultural Show amused me very much, and I was pleased to obsei-ve that Mr. Wood- bury's Mves were greatly admired at the Show, and that his '• live stock " made such a " buzz " in the newspapers. It was very agreeable news also to hear that his Ligiiiian bees had ai-rived safe, and had been so much admired in Australia. The latter I consider a great feat accomplished, as it is well known that in a voyage of probably more than ninety days, the gi-eatest care must have been taken of those bees to insure success. I omitted to mention that I hived a second swarm on the 12th, which had hung under a thick slirub aU night in the rain. They were very weak, and I gave them some honey -, they are now working most vigorously in one of Nutt's old- fashioned boxes. The last two days I have had a first swarm (from one of last year) swarm no less than four times ; and yesterday (the 17th), no less than t^vice on the same day, and each time the swarm returned to the parent hive, after half-settling Dwice on an artichoke plant, and twice on a young pear tree ; not the same tree each time. I fear they ■wiU not issue out again, as rain has set in. I can say, certainly, that for half a century I do no re- member four consecutive seasons so bad as the past three, icchuUng the i>resent, to be ranked almost as unpropitious as any one of the three, so many stocks having been ruined by the cold weather in the spring. ' The twelve days' rain from the 5th to ' the 17th of June caused gi-eat distress to m.any young swarms. In 1>ri9 (then living- at Thornbury Park), I lost thi'ee stocks 40 JOUENAIi OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAIiDENEE. [ July 14, 1863. of bees from sheer want, and, of course, inattention. It had been nearly incessant rain for twenty-six days. Many swarms perished, or became much reduced, by the rains this month (Jvine). I am glad that tlie little useful publication " Bee-keeping for the Many" is coming out with additions and improve- ments. It would be well, as I have oilen said, that such a book as ■' Hive-making for the Many " should issue also. It would be pleasing to see cheap baj--hives and Payne's im- proved cottage-hives with supers and glasses on sale at such piices as would suit the poor cottager. Take the country in general, how few of the farmers, leaving cottagers out of the category, have adopted any of the novelties in hives so often described in The Journal of Hoeticultuke ? In the town of Cheltenham with 40,000 inhabitants, none ex- cept the everlasting old-fasliioued straw liive is to be seen for sale at any of the hive-shops. M. Dzierzon's remarks on feeding bees seemed very prac- tical. The bees should only be fed when it is needed, and to those who are watchful over bees, it will soon be dis- covered when that happens. At the same tune, in feeding- weak stocks in the autumn against winter, it should be done plentifully, according to thefr wants and weight. June 22. — My thii-d swarm came off yesterday (after six times issuing foi-th), and was hived at one o'clock. Weather cloudy, drizzly, and vmsettled, but a warmer temperature, and brood rising. — H. W. Newman, Hillside, Cheltenham. LIGURIAN BEES IN AUSTRALIA. I AM indebted to Mi-. Edward Wilson, President of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, for the perusal of various reports from the Australian Apiaa-ian Society, and jom-nals kept by the gentlemen to whoso care the Ligurians were enta^usted upon then- an-ivaJ in Australia, from which I glean the following interesting particulars. Mr. Sayce, President of the Apiai-ian Society, v/i-iting uuder date of the 23rd Mai-ch says, " It may now be faii-ly stated that the Ligurian queen bee is a more prolific insect than that with which we have been so long familiaa- ; and I do not hesitate to say that the industry exhibited by these bees is unapproachable by that — great as it is — which cha- racterises the others ; or perhaps I should speak more correctly were I to say that the Liguiian bee is a more puissant insect, and that this, added to a most extraordinary gift of scent, which enables it to discover the existence of honey however remote or hidden its receptacle, gives it a superiority in the collection of food. I have also observed that its labom-s are less interfered mth by the weather ; for during the recent rains, except when very stormy, the bees went out and retiu-ned laden with their stores, apparently quite unconscious or indifferent to the existence of anything whidi could occasion them inconvenience or discomfort." Ml-. H. Templeton, of George Street, Fitzroy, gives most interesting details in his diary respecting the management of the Ligurian stock entrusted to his eai-e. The bees were shut up by me on the 22nd of September, and underwent a confinement of seventy-nine days, as appeai-s by Mr. Temple- ton's diaxy commencing on the 10th December, when he states he " received a hive of Ligurian bees, the propei-ty of the Acclimatisation Society, which upon examination proved to be in a most wretched contUtion, the inner sui-faee of the hive beaj-ing testimony to the great distress which the swarm had endm-ed on the voyage. Found about three quarts of dead bees in the empty box placed under the hive for the purpose of ventilation, which I at once removed. On exajnining the comb I discovered a few living bees — not more thaai a large tea-cup might contain, and many of these in a sickly dying state. Left these to gain a little sti-ength before fui-ther ta-oubling them." Two days afterwards Mr. Templeton says he " took out the frames containing the combs one by one in order more fuUy to ascertain their true state. Found on both sides of one comb and on one side of the combs adjoining on each side of it, a number of fine- looking bees, by this time much revived, each having an orange belt round the upper pai-t of the abdomen, and yellow rings distinctly marked back to the point. Disco- vered the queen — a fine lai-ge yellow one — actively running about on the centre comb occupied by the living bees, evi- dently enjoying excellent health." In two days more fresh- laid eggs were discovered in three of the combs. From this time all v,'ent well. Three stocks of common bees were at different times united to the Liguiia,ns, and with such skiU and good fortune were these junctions eilected that no fighting took place. Copious feeding was also resorted to, and under the influence of this stiiiuilus a number of drone eggs were laid. Queen-rearing and the foi-mation of artifi- cial swarms were next attempted with similai- success ; !ind under date of March 23rd Mr. Templeton says, " The young queens are come to maturity, and are out of the ceUs. 1 have supplied two common hives with Ligurians queens, and have, therefore, fom- hives, two of which I know to be all right, and the two others are hopeful." In a continua- tion of the journal it is remarked that '• the quantity of brood deposited by the two young queens is. most astonish- ing ;" and under the date of -ipril 3rd Mr. Templeton gays, " I examined a few frames, and fovmd the uld queen not only lively and well, but cai-i-ying on the breeding as vigor- ously as ever. Were I to state the number of eggs that that queen has laid since the 10th December last — viz, sixteen weeks, it wotdd appear- quite fabulous ; no bee- keeper will believe it until he sees them — it is more than double the number a common queen could produce in the same time." The diary ends on the 11th April, before which time the writer announces his possession of foui- royal cells, which being from the brood of a young queen would produce grand-daughters of the old queen that came from England. He also states that he has twelve stocks in frame-hives, of which fom- have yet to be supplied ivith Ligtuian queens. It may be remembered that the first venture was made with four stocks. All reached Australia alive, although with gi-eatly reduced numbers ; but one I believe afterwards deserted its liive. Of the remaining two, the one under the care of Mr. Sayce, the President, has wdl filled its hive with honey, and the other under the care of Mi-. M'MUlan has formed a strong stock. — A Devonshire Bbb-keepek. BEE SEASOiSr IN HAMPSHIRE. Thanks for your acknowledg-ment of my letter. I think if there was a Ligurian hive within reasonable distance of my abode I should have heaa-d of it. I will make more diligent inquu-y — it may sei-ve to measure the flight of bees. Wo have between us made a mistake as to the number of years I have been a bee-keeper. I began in 1838, a most unfortunate time as regarded the north. I do not remember that we had a good bee year tUl 1842, and as I ti-ied "no end " of experiments my disasters would fill a book. As I grew older I grew wiser ; and of late years few have had more honey than I have taken. Torkshu-e is a very good county for bees. They breed more, make a great deal more comb ; and of course when a season is propitious three or four stone is nothing to boast of; indeed, some of those from the moors will weigh on then- return '- well on " to six stone. The hives are so small in Hunts and the Isle of Axhohne that you could not work with them in Yorkshii-e. and vice versil. Having only been two seasons in Hampshire I judge more from the size of the hives I see in the cottagers' gaa-dens than from actual experience. This yeaa- the season is so good that few of my neighbours can reap the harvest they ought ; and in trying remedies by cutting the tops out of old hives to make " grafts " they are making many " mulls :" and tliis would seem to show that gr-.d'ts, or " ekes " as we called them in Yorkshire, are not much in use here. I have not seen my striped beauty since I wrote. Her subjects began drone-kiUing just then, and I expect her guards may have kept her out of hai-m's way. Now the back window is deserted. The bees aa-e very few in number, but they have Trilled all theii- drones, are carrying pollen, and are very pugnacious, fi-om which I gather that she is alive and well. — A Hampshire Bee-keep sb. OUR LETTER BOX. SnEFFiELO Pooi.TRT Snow.^lhe prizf birds single Ppanisli cock, Cariiei Pi^'ioii cork, and vaiiely ligfons belong, we said, lo Mr. Smith ol ShefBeld. but thut gmtU-nmn live- at VVJll^all. PjoEo^s {A Subscriber].— Write to Mr. Tegetmeier, Muswcll IliU, LoDd^D, K., tttid a&k his advice. July 21, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUHE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. il WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of of M'nth Weefc| 21 Tn 22 w 23 Tb 24 F 25 S 26 SfN 27 M JULY 21— 27, 1863. Sun's declin. 20° 32' u. Carrot fluwer>. Corn Parfley flowers. Virgin's Bower flowers. St. jAMts. De. CaMB. bom, 1797. 8 SUKDAT AFTER TkIMTT. Water Dropwcrt flowers. Average Temperature near London. Rain in iast 36 years. Day. 73.2 73.5 74.2 72.5 73.7 73.1 74.5 Night. 61.0 51.6 53.0 53.2 50.0 51.1 52.2 Mean. 62.1 62.7 63.6 62.3 61 .B 62.1 63.3 Days. 16 20 18 13 10 18 17 Sun Rises. m. b. 9 4 Sun Sets. m. h. 3af8 2 8 1 8 Til. 58 7 67 7 55 7 Moon Rises. m. h. 16al0 26 11 36 0 49 1 3 3 IS 4 17 5 Moon Sets. m. b. 41 af 9 0 10 27 10 57 10 37 11 morn. 2.5 0 A8«^- Sun. ^^'"■■ 6 7 ? 9 10 11 12 203 204 205 2oe, 207 208 From observations taken near London during the last Ihiny-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 73.5°, and its Light temperature 51.6°. The greatest heat was 92», on the 25'.h, 1S44 ; and the lowest cold, 34°, on the 25th, 1860. The greatest fail of ram was 1.37 inch. CENTAHREA EAGFSUSTA AND ITS PEOPAGATION. EVERAL years ago I ventured to bring this loTely plant under the special notice of all who were interested in flow- er-gardening, as a sub- ject which was every way likely to be of great value in combi- nation with the far-too- limited collection of plants which are gene- rally considered avail- able under the present fashionable style of flower-gardening. The high opinion which I formed of this Centaurea whenever I saw a well-grown plant of it has not been in the least altered, but, on the contrary, has been more than warranted by the beantifiil effects which have been produced by its extensive cultivation in several flower gardens, as well as by its general cultivation in pots for all the various methods of decoration which are popular at the present time ; but it unfortunately happens to be a plant with which the trade has not been very successful in getting up a stock equal to the demand which has arisen for it. I think it was Mr. Eobson who recently refei-red to it as a plant which was likely to be much more thought of and extensively used as soon as its adaptability became better known ; and the wonder is that it has not before now been brought more prominently before the public, and popularised bj' the great schools in such matters around London, where I was surprised to meet with so little of it last summer. It is considered, and has been found even by some of the shai'pest of the trade in such matters, a difficult subject to increase rapidly ; and in instances which have come under my own ken some nursery propagators have failed with great batches of cuttings ; and partly on this account I have heard it several times remarked, that any one who could have offered a large stock might have made "a good thing" of it. I have never found any difficulty in striking this plant under ordinary circumstances ; and I will briefly detail the mode adopted, and refer to the way in which it has been used in the flower garden here. Let it be supposed that a few plants in pots are all the stock in possession at this time. If strong stubby plants in six- inch pots, they are. shifted and placed in the open air in the fuU sun. By the time when plants are generally housed in autumn they will have formed fine, large, bushy plants ; and although this Centaurea is almost if not quite hardy, it should not be left out beyond the 1st of October, because, if subjected to drenching rains, its soft wooUy foliage is apt to damp-off at the centres of the plants. To keep it in the best possible condition to No. 121.— Vol. V., New Series. afford fine fresh cuttings in spring, it requires to be kept OH a dry airy shelf, and to be very sparingly supplied with water — just sufficient to keep it from drooping is quite enough, for it is a plant very apt to damp-off in winter if kept damp and crowded among other plants. In spring they are found with a quantity of cuttings studded all round the bottom part of the plants ; and if these cuttings are short and without a bit of clear stem about a couple of inches in length, the plants are put into heat, and there the cuttings soon elongate, and are cut off with a sharp knife almost close to the main stem of the plant. They are prepared in the usual manner and dibbed into eight -inch pots, which are very carefully di-ained and filled with silver sand. The pots are plunged to the rim in a pit where Verbenas and other bedding plants are struck. They are watered just sufficiently often to keep them from drooping, and the foliage kept as dry as possible. They root in about twenty days ; and as soon as they fonn roots about an inch in length they are potted-off into three-inch pots. 1 have always observed that they never thrive well if left any length of time in a strong beat and in pure sand before being potted-off. They are by no means particular as to soil : half loam half leaf mould does very well. As soon as they make roots to the bottom of the three-inch pots they are transferred into six-inch ones and placed in a cool frame or house, and by the end of April they are fine strong plants ready for planting out. The fii*t week in March is quite early enough to take the first batch of cuttings ; and soon after the first lot are taken from round the lower part of the parent plants, the second lot will be ready for striking. Those cuttings with the longest and most firm stems invariably strike the soonest, and a far less per-centage of them damp off in the cut- ting-frame than in the case of those that are short and softer in the stem. It is a very rapid-growing plant, and cuttings may be struck as late as the end of April for the purpose of being planted in the open ground. Later-struck cuttings form beautiful little plants in six-inch pots for dinner-table decoration, as weU as for vases and general decoration. There is another method which I have adopted with less success — namely, to put in cuttings in autumn, and place them in pans and boxes in a dry, cool, airy house : in this way a gi-eat many wUl callus through the winter, and with a gentle bottom heat in spring will root freely, This is just as is often practised with late-put-in cuttings of Scarlet Geraniums, and meets with very nearly the same success. I prefer spring propagation, it being more certain, and the trouble and care entailed are less than by adopting the other mode. I have never found autumn cuttings put into bottom heat immediately do much good, but on the cool system the majority of the cuttings do very well. To keep up a stock I think it much the best way to keep a few plants aU the summer in pots— they come in usefijl for many other purposes, and to take cuttings from the planted-out plants sadly mars their appearance, while, on the other hand, to lift the old plants is a laborious No. 773.— Vol. XXX., Old Seeies. 48 JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ July 21, 1863. affair, as they form such immense bushes ; and unless potted-up earher than they can be spared from the flower garden, they require much more room and care than can be afforded them in quantity, and except under very favoui-able circumstances they do not bear the lifting well. Three years ago I planted out upwards of four hundred plants ; and one of the most effective and novel combinations I ever saw was Centaurea and PeriUa plant for plant. The bed was a diamond bed, forming the centre of a cluster of beds on grass. It was raised to a cone 5 feet above the level of the turf. I well remember being severely found fault with by some fair critics when the bed was newly planted. The surface was paved over with blue bullet-like stones from the shore, and it certainly looked odd ; but by the time the stones were all hid, those who had most severely criticised the bed had begged a thousand pardons for their mistake. The PeriUa, of course, was the taller by a few inches, and, viewed from the distance, it was con- sidered the best imitation of rockwork. The same season another bed was planted with blue Lobelia, and then the Centaurea dotted aU over it, so as to leave a ground of blue running among the feathery foliage of the Centaurea. When Lobelia speciosa has been used for groundwork in panel-borders, a single plant of Centaurea has been used for the panels ; the blue and it form a very chaste and pleasing combination, and the two plants are thoroughly distinct in character. This year it is used for panels alter- nately with Christine Geranium where the groundwork is Lobelia speckled thinly with Gazania splendens. In another wide border it is planted in the centre of panels of Pui-ple King Verbena where the groundwork is a deep scarlet. The Centaurea is raised quite above the level of the panel of purple ; and even at this date the effect is very pleasing, and will be more so as the purple fills fully up and becomes more massive. Raised in the same manner it forms a beau- tifol centre to a cone of Scarlet Geraniums. In oue instance or two it has been surrounded with a circle of Clu'istine in the centre of Tom Thumb. As a vase plant edged with Lobelia it is most lovely. It also looks well in vases edged with dwarf Scarlet Geraniums. As a plant for placing in gold vases on the dinner table it is most acceptable, and stands such work well — in fact, this is one of the most useful plants of the day. It would be a great step in the right direction if it were possible to plant over flower gardens to a larger ertent with plants diverse from and more picturesque in character than the everlasting and monotonous masses and lines of Geraniums, Calceolarias, and Verbenas ; and this want is being more largely acknowledged every year, and the more so as taste becomes more refined and alive to the fact that beauty con- sists not alone in gaudy colour's, however strikingly in con- trast or nicely harmonised. David Thomson. TETRATHECA VEETICILLATA CULTURE. In answer to " J. M." we reply that the plant is rightly named. Full directions for culture were given in a previous volume. It requires when young to be grown chiefly in sandy peat, well drained, and never allowed to become very dry. It also requires a temperatui-e of from 45° to 4S° in winter, with a due proportion of air ; and in summer, if the top is fully exposed to the sun, the pot should be sheltered by plunging or shading, or placing in a double pot, as, il' the pot is fuUy exposed, the roots are apt to be iniured. It generally blooms most freely in early spring and summer; and that gives, as it were, the keynote to its culture. Left to itself, it soon becomes weak and rambling ; and therefore, to secure anything like compactness, rather free pruning must be resorted to when the plant has nearly finished blooming, taking care, however, not to cut farther back than the current year's wood, as it breaks badly from older wood. After pruning, keep the plant rather dry, cool, and quiet until there are signs of breaking ; then put in a coLl pit or other place ; and, with the excej^tion of giving more air, treat the plant as to syringings, &c., much the same as was recommended the other week for Epacris. As the young shoots grow mort au- must be given ; and if in fine days in September the pi;tut should be exposed to the sun fuUy, the more ripened and short-jointed will the wood be, and the more covered will it ultimately be with bloom. What potting the plant requires should be given when the young shoots are about 2 inches in length. After that repotting watermg should be done very carefully, so as not to saturate the new sod, sHght syringing and shading being resorted to in preference until the roots are working in the fresh soil. As the plant gets large, and an eight-inch or larger pot may be necessary, fibry sweet loam in the proportion of a third or so may be added to the peat, along with some pebbles, broken pots, and nodules of charcoal to keep the soil open. Cuttings of the points of the shoots wiU strike at any time, but the best cuttings are thinnings of the young shoots about 2 inches long formed after the regular pruning. For these a small pot— say a small 60, should be three- parts filled with drainage with a slight covering of rough peat and sand, and a surfacing of half an inch of pure silver sand. Place the cuttings round the sides of the pot, the heads of the cuttings pointing inwards. Water well, and then place the small pot inside of a five or six- inch pot, stuff' between with moss, cover with sand, and in the space between the two pots phice firmly a bell-glass with a conical head, and set anywhere so as to command a temperature of from 50° to 60°, and where shade can be given when necessary with a piece of paper over the glass. The cuttings, with the glass down, will stand a good deal of sun morning and evening. If kept too close and shaded they wiU draw very spindly and weak. To neutralise that, and also prevent the cuttings damping, move the glass a Uttle at night, and as soon as the cuttings callus freely taie it off' altogether at night, if there is no likelihood of the tender cuttings being dried from being placed near a heating medium. To prevent damping on the one hand and drying up on the other, it will be found preferable to keep the place round the cuttings moist, and even to water the space between the two pots instead of watering the little pot in which the cuttings are placed. We have not grown the plant lately ; but, by the above mode, we have found every cutting strike and grow freely. In potting-off we first placed four round the sides of a small 60-pot, using chiefly sandy peat with a little charcoal about the size of bird-shot, watered, kept close, and shaded from bright sun until they were growing freely and each plant was forming a nice little mass of roots, when each of the four plants received a single pot. The plants were frequently stojiped by jjinching-out the points, and brought under the general routine of manage- ment. In potting place the drainage as dii-ected the other week, so that wherever the plant is placed worms cannot get in from beneath, as the plant will not thrive with worms about the roots ; and, though they may be dislodged with clear Ume water, we always found the plant disliked such applications, or even hard weM water of any kind. If raia water cannot be had, and spring water must be apphed, it should stand in the sun twenty-four hours before being used.— R. P. GRAPES AND MELONS FAILING. The Grapes in my hothouse I perceive are drying-off; their appearance a few days ago was luxuriant. I have been speaking to a gardener about it, and he says my head man gives them no longer any water, contending that, the Grapes having swelled, the Vines should be di'ied-otf. Common sense, one would think, indicates a totally different plan ; for when the plant requh-es the greatest nourishment, then the gi-eatest moisture should be administered. This is my theory. Am I right ? From precisely the same cause, I think, my Melons are good for nothing, and not bigger than a cricket-ball. My man may be right : if he is, it strikes me as the greatest anomaly in nature. Another thing I should mention in regard to the Melons — the bines run all over the frames, and would get out if they could. Does not this exhaust the plant ?— E. B. [We feel that it is a very delicate matter to pronounce upon the fitness of a certain treatment, when it is a matter of dispute between a gentleman and his gardener, where the data given are necessarily so meagre. When Grapes are dead ripe it is often advisable to keep the borders rather Jaly 21, 186S. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTITRE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 43 dry, as a little excess of moisture is apt to cause the berries to crack. If the Grapes were merely swelled, not ripe, then extreme dryness would be apt to make them shrivel and dry up. As they seemed so luxuriant a few days ago, we could not be positive that this was the cause, unless assured that the roots were dry. In such weather they might soon be- come so, if the roots were shallow, and no mulching or watering given. If the roots were moderately deep, we should be inclined to judge that dryness at the roots was not the reason ; but to assign it to a very dry and hot at- mosphere inside. As a general rule, however, we should never think of "drying-otf " the Vines until the fruit was not only ripe but mostly cut. When fully ripe, we would not deluge the border, but we should rather wish it to be dry until the fruit was pretty well gone. A good theory may become a nuisance and a mischief when too hard driven. In such dry burning weather, even if Grapes are ripening, a little moisture in the house from syringing walls, stages, floors, &c., will prevent shrivelling and drying. In cold, dull weather, such treatment would help the berries to crack and rot. If the Grapes are merely swelled, not ripe, watering at the roots if diy will be all in their favour, and just a moist condition in opposition to dust dry should be the state of the roots until most of the fruit is cut. Even then some tender kinds are easily influenced by a moist or very di-y atmosphere. In moist, muggy weather, therefore, it may be advisable to put a little fire on and give plenty of air ; and in very dry weather it may be just as necessary slightly to damp the atmosphere of the house, by syringing floor, paths, &c. We fear that there may have been something of the same extreme as respects the Melons, only the extra luxuriance makes us doubt a little. If there was a good depth of soO, and that was well saturated after the Melons took hold, and the surface stirred afterwards, we have frequently had fine crops of Melons that never again were visited by water. These were cases in which the heat was more important than moisture, and when we knew there was plenty of moisture to swell and ripen the Melons. In general cases. Melons just require as much water as most other plants — quite as much as the Cucumber, until the ripening process ap- proaches. If there is an exception, it is the importance of having a dry atmosphere when the plants are in bloom. That is best secured by having the surface of the bed dry then. Of course, if the soU, as a whole, were dry, we should not expect the fruit to set, and if set, we should not expect them to swell. When the swelling commences we like the soil to be moist. If the weather is unfavourable, and a moist surface would cool the place too much, then we would moisten the bulk of the soU, and leave the surface dry. In fine sunny weather there will be no harm in watering the bed in the usual way. A dry surface is essential for flavour, if the fruit is ripened in dung-frames ; but the soU con- taining the balk of the roots should not then be dust dry, and neither should it be deluged. Except when it is setting and ripening its fruit, the Melon needs as much moisture as a Cucumber, and not a great deal less than a Cabbage. It is only as the fruit approaches maturity that the extreme of dryness is a matter of importance. When plants are grown in pots, or in narrow beds, and trained to a trellis, and the fruit suspended under the foliage, but con- siderably above and free from the bed, then even surface dryness of the soU is a matter of less importance for securing flavour. In all cases where the fruit is merely swelling, we should consider a very dry state of the soil unsuitable, and calculated to ripen the fruit prematurely before it had gained half its usual size. The sUght doubt as to this extreme of dryness we find in the " another thing," as to the bines being so luxuriant and trying to get outside, the frames being full of them. This is hardly compatible with extreme dryness of soU, unless, indeed, the roots have gone in search after moisture beyond the soil, and are revelling vinchecked in rich rotten dung, or something of that kind. In such a case the plant will not become exhausted — quite the reverse ; but it will most likely be a very successful instance of luxuriance versus fr-uitfalness. Such luxuriance of bine speaks of the plant thriving, but then it also speaks of want of concentration for a definite puipose — namely, fruit. Leave such luxuriance unchecked, and the plant in its eagerness to grow and expand may forget all about the fruit that needs elaborated sap to swell it and give it flavour. When a plant in a frame is thus a thicket of shoots, more than half the foliage is uninfluenced by the sun, and, therefore, hurtful rather than otherwise. If not curtailed, it would be a good thing for the plant if the frame were raised, ajid the Vines allowed to go outside. Melons dislike cutting and slashing. The best mode is to disbud at first, and pinch merely afterwards. In such a case as we presume the present to be, a severe cutting and thinning woidd do more harm than good. The check given to the mere growth would act on the fruit, and very likely arrest its swelling. Shorten all the shoots of the small fry at once by merely picking-out their points, which will thus give a gentle check to mere gl■o^rth of wood, so that the fruit may have the benefit of the nourishment which woxdd otherwise have been appropriated to the pro- duction of wood, and then take a little foliage away day by day, until at last there are few leaves that cannot be fully exposed to the light and air when you give it. If there is plenty of heat, leave a little air at the top of the frame all night, and give as needed during the day. If thus kept cool at night, the plant wiU rejoice rather than otherwise in a high temperature during the day. But for the enervating influence of a high close temperature a,t night, there would be less trouble with airing and shading during hot sunshine. Such are a few random ideas, the residts of some ex;- perience; but we by no means think they will clear up thoroughly the difference as to opinion between "E. B." and his gardener. If they help to do so, or to establish the principle that one system may be vei-y good, if thoroughly carried out, whilst two good separate systems if blended and mixed wiU often produce mischief and faUure, we wUl be more than satisfied. Without understanding the system on which a man works, it is not an easy matter to say that his practice is wrong. Nothing could seem more different than watering Melon plants only at planting time, and watering on an average, say, once or twice a-week, and yet precisely similar results may be obtained in both cases by a little diversity of detaU. Only this much we may say, that the man who strikes out a fresh path for himself whUst in the service of another, must make up his mind that he must also secure pretty fair success. Many a servant has lost a good master because, right or wrong, he would have his own way. Many a master has lost a good servant becaiise he would not exercise a little forbearance.] i STRAWBEEEY-GEOWING. I CAN from experience safely recommend " H. C. K.'s " mode of mulching Strawberry plants with a liberal quantity of horse-droppings ; but I cannot bear out his assertion that it is possible by this treatment to keep " one piece of ground under Strawberries for sixteen years without the slightest loss of either quality or quantity." As he speaks from ex- perience, wiU he kindly inform your readers more clearly if he means that he has had for sixteen years good crops from the same old crowns, without renewing the beds with fresh plants ? Surely he can hardly mean this, for it is against all recognised theory or practice. His system, if correct, wiU be a perfect blessing to the host of amateurs, who with their odd man or boy have to rack their wits how to renew their Strawberry-plots every three or four years. Whilst on this topic I venture to say that I have acci- dentally found that the waste fibre from the cocoa mat and brush factories is an exceUent protection for the ripening Strawberries instead of straw or grass. It keeps the fruit clean and dry, does not harbour vermin, and with care lasts many years. It was sent to me by mistake for the potting fibre ; but it is now the right thing in the right place. — W. X. W. Protecting Stbawbekries from Slugs — Cotoneasteb MicKOPHYLLA. ->- Some of youi- correspondents have been inquiring how to' protect Strawberries fi'om slugs. I am much tormented with them, and have found dry sawdust from my sawmUl a complete safeguard. In addition to the uses lately mentioned for the Cotoneaster mici-ophyUa you might suggest the grafting it on Thorn stocks about 4 feet 4^-- JOUENAL OF HORTICXTLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. July 21, 1863. Iri^h, and training it to a round head. It has a beautiful appearance in the autumn. It is the only plant I know miicU naturally ^ows towards the north, and, therefore, if planted against a wall with a south aspect will always keep close to it without nailing. — An Irish Subscriber. I^GTES ON NOVELTIES at SAWBEIDGEWOETH. Thanes to the orohai-d-house system, we have been en- abled to make the acquaintance of seTcral novelties tliis season which without the aid of such an appliance we might have lived aU our days in ignorance of. Whatever may be said for or against orchard-houses depends entirely upon the point of view that the advocates or opponents of those structures view them from. A gi'eat deal has been said in onr pages lately on both sides, and it cannot be denied but that much ability has been displayed by the writers by the way in which they severally supported their \'iew3 on this subject. It is not oiu' intention at present to supjjort the views of either party, but simply to record such facts as have come under our own observation, and to take advan- tage of the new information we have obtained — information we should have despaned of ever having got except for this mode of cultivation. For some seasons past Mr. Eivers has had in operation a glass sti'uoture which he calls a Chen-y-house. It is in every resjiect the same sort of thing as the ordinary orchard- house ; but being devoted exclusively to the cultivation of Chei-ries in pots, he has designated it by this name. Like ourselves (and, oh! how often have we felt it), Mr. Rivers had felt the disapjjointment arising from endea- vouring to prove new Cherries on trees gi-own in the open ground. It mattered not how much trouble was taken with them ; however skilfully pinched and pi-uned, or artfully feshioned, they may have been ; or however profusely they may have blossomed ; if a cruel May fi-ost did not devastate the promised crop, the bu'ds devoured it ere it was half ripe. Years passed on, and no progress in knowledge was made, tiU in pure desperation the trees were crammed into pots and taken for refuge to the Chen-y-house. And weU have they repaid the trouble taken with them. The trees ai-e beautiful pyramids 3 to 3 1 feet high, and literally studded with fr-uit of the greatest beautj' and finest flavour. We would strongly advise om- readers to see them. Among the new vaiieties we obsei-ved as possessing vei-y great merit, and which cannot fail to become permanent in our collec- tions, were the following : — Eaelt Red Bigarbeac {Bigarreau Range de Goube^i). — The fniit is large, about the size of the ordinary Bigan-eau, but of a decided heart-shape. The skin is bright red and transparent, like that of Belle de Choisy. The stalk is I J inch to an If long. Flesh fh-m, rich, sweet, and excellent. This is a very excellent early Chen-y, quite ripe before the old Bigan-eau begins to coloui-. The tree is like a Duke in its habit of growth, but the fruit is so decidedly heart- shaped, and the flesh so fu-m, that it must be classed among the BigaiTeaus. Early Black Bigarreau. — This is a fitting companion to the preceding, and ripens at the same time. The fruit is large, distinctly heart-shaped, as large as the Bohemian Black Bigarreau. Skin jet black. StalS 11 inch to If long. Flesh dark piu-ple, fii-m, riclily flavom-ed, sweet, and excel- lent. Mr. Rivers received this from the Continent under the name of Bigarreau a gros fruit couleiu- de chair, which is evidently a misnomer. LtTDWio's Bigarreau. — Fruit large and perfectly heart- shaped, terminating at the apex in a sharp point, with a slightly maj-ked suture on one side. Skin shining, of a fine bright red coloui-, which is evenly distributed over the whole surface, except that it is a little paler on the shaded side. Flesh pale yeUow, very tender and melting, much more so than Bigarreaus generally are. A delicious early Bigarreau. ripening just after the Early Red Bigai-reau. Bohemian Black Bigarreau. — Tliisis a fine large Cherry, of a roundish heart-shape, even and regular in its outline, and flattened a little on one side, where it is marked with a faint suture. Skin jet black and shining. Stalk dark green, remarkably short, being not more than li inch long, stout. and rather deeply depressed. Flesh quite black, firm, but not crackling, juicy, richly flavoured, and delicious. This is ten days corUer than the common Bigarreau. It is a splendid Cherry. Drogan's Bigarreau (Bigarreau Blanc de Drogan). — This is a very early form of the Bigarreau, being quite shrivelled when that variety is only just ripe. It is perfectly heart- shaped, rather pointed at the apex, and flattened on one side. .Skin yellow, mottled and flushed with red on the side that is much exposed. Stalk I5 inch long, stout. Flesh firm, sweet, and richly flavoured. A very desii-able variety. Transparent. — This is said to be the result of a cross between Eeine Hortense and May Duke, and it has preserved in the form of the fruit that of the latter parent. The fruit is above medium size and oblate, with a bold style-mark on the apex, and vrith a very faint suture on the side. The' skin is thiu and transp.arent, showing through it the netted texture of the flesh, and of a unifonn pale red colour all over. Flesh melting, tender, sweet, and delicious. This comes among the Red Dukes, and is aUied to Belle de Choisy. Dbchenaut is another of the Red Duke class. The fruit is large, roundish heart-shaped, broad at the stalk, rather flattened, and marked with a faint suture on one side. Skin bright coi-nelian red. and shining, becoming darker red when quite ripe. The stalk is li inch to If long, inserted in a wide and deep depression. Flesh tender and succulent, with the May Duke flavour. This is a fine large Cherry, well worth cultivating. These were among the most attractive of the new sorts of Cherries. There were many more, some really new and others old fi-iends with new faces, or, rather, with new masks ; for the new names under which Mr. Rivers imported them were merely masks to palm-off old sorts, and which but for the orchard-house might have continued undetected for years to come. We have heard a great deal lately about the diSiculty of fruiting Apricots in the orchard-house. There seems none about it at Sawbridgeworth, for in one of the large orchaid- houses there are some splendid large trees completely studded with fruit. The whole secret, if secret it is, consists in ramming the soU in the pot when the tree is planted as closely as it is possible to pack it. This soil should con- sist of tenacious loam and dung, and the surface should be mulched in summer with very rich soluble matters, such ae malt-dust and horse-di-oppings satm-ated with very strong' liquid manure. Among the novelties in this department we observed the two following, which will doubtless prove valu- able acquisitions : — Early Moorpark. — This came from the Continent undes" the erroneous name of Angoumois Hatif, which is a totally different thing. The fruit of the Early Moorpark is roundishy inclining to oval, with a very deep suture on one side ex- tending from the base to the apex. Skin yellow, mottled and dotted "with ci-imson on the exposed side. Flesh in all respects resembling that of the Moorpark. Stone oblong, with a covered channel along the back, which is pervious. Kernel bitter. This ripens three weeks before the Moorpark. Sardinian (De Sardaigne). — This is a small early Apricot, not much larger than the Red Masculine, but equally as early and much superior in flavour to it. The skin is white, but where exjjosed to the sun it is spotted with a few erimsott spots, and sometimes has a flush of red. The fiiiit has A deep sutm-e on one side. The flesh is vei-y juicy, with » sprightly sweet flavoiu-, which is very agreeable. The stonte'- is very small, not more than half an inch long, with a covered channel, which is pervious. Kernel bitt^. The tree is a great bearer, and ripens its fruit as early as the Masculine. This season it was ready for use in the orchard-house on the 28th of June. The pot-fiiiit-tree culture in this v-ast establishment is^ truly marvellous. We observed house after house literaUy crammed -with Peaches. Nectarines, Apricots, Plums, Figs, Cheixies, and Vines, all in prejiaration for the winter cam- paign. One mass of two thousand of the new Viotori* Nectai-ine, which is to be sent out this season, particularly sti-uck us by the health, vigour, and uniformity of their growth, and the neatness with wMch they had been worked so close to the soU. But there is a new idea Mr. Rivers is about to introduce, and to which he attracted our atten- July 21, 18C3. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICtTLTTTKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 43 tion. It is no other than what he calls " Japanese trees " — Apples, Pears, and Plums, or, in filet, any kind of frnit trees, grown in No. 24-pots. There was a lot of them not larger than a decent-sized Geranium laden with fruit, and their dimensions are limited "by a constant system of pinch- ing. Judging from what we saw on this occasion, the idea bids fair to become popiJarised, as they are grown, not under glass, but simply plunged in rows on a bed of dung, leaves, or other fermenting material fi-om which a steady, gentle, genial heat can be obtained. There is no covering whatever required ; and those who complain of the constant watering necessary in the houses will have an oppor- tunity under this system of indulging in the amusement of gi'owing pot-plants without so much labour in watering as there is in the house-system. EOSES. MESSRS. FBASBKS' NUESEKT, LEA EKIDGE EGAD. A VISIT to this extensive nursery is well repaid at this season of the year. Messrs. Frasers' Eoses are now in high condition, and among them are to be found the very best varieties in cultivation. The soU seems particularly adapted to the Kose ; and although the time of flowering may be a little later than in other nurseries, the size and eolom- of the individual flowers cannot be surpassed. Evei-y Kose-grower should visit this collection and make notes of the new and distinct varieties. There is much advantage in purchasing Eoses after seeing them in bloom — it prevents that frequent disappointment which attends the purchase made from description. Messrs. Fraser have also now in bloom a large and interesting collection of Fuchsias. Much is it to be desired that our Fuchsia-growers would pay them a visit at this season. They would leam that the new varieties can make good specimen plants ; and if they could only see Comet, Lord Warden, Elegantissima, Marginata, Signora, Hermiue, and the double variety True Blue, as grown in this esta- blishment, they would immediately introduce new and excellent kinds into their collections. The amateur who cultivates the Zonale Pelargoniums will find in this nursery some excellent new French varieties, novel in colour and perfect in form. Much is it to be desii-ed that this beautiful class of plants should receive more attention. Among other interesting plants the Messrs. Eraser have a very large collection of single and double Petunias. These are planted out in a bed, and seem well calculated to be very eifective for that purpose. Several of the double varieties are as large as the Eose Bai'onne Prevost when fully expanded, and some of the striped varieties ai'e exquisite. Should any person be induced to run down by the Eastern Counties line (making the journey in twenty minutes), let him be sure to ask to see the splendid coBection of German Stocks, and he will agree with me that they alone are well worthy of the journey. — X. HOT-WATEE PIPING EEQTIIEED foe HEATING A VINEEY. What quantity of pipe will be required to heat a vinery 70 feet long, 14 feet wide, 5 feet high in front, and 12 feet at back ? It wiU be in three divisions, one being for early forcing ? — Cumbeiensis. [Supposing the first house to be 23 feet, for that you will need 140 feet of four-inch piping for early forcing ; for the second about 100 feet ; and for the third or late house, and to be kept so, about 80 feet. If all the 70 feet were intended for Grapes from July or so, then about 250 feet would do. It is best, however, to err on the side of having enough, as then you might change your houses gradually at any time from late to early. Deficiency of piping just means waste of fuel, and, therefore, is seldom true economy.] cultivation of lovers of this interesting flower. Among edged flowers on white grounds I noted fine specimens of Kilgour's Queen, Liifey, and Herald. Edged on cream or buff grounds. Linden and Terpander. TSdged on yellow grounds, Eva, Su- W. Hoste, Delectus, and Festus. Mottled flowers, Melancthon and Coronation. Spotted flowers on yellow grounds, Pertinax. Self-colours, Apollo, Boviqiiet, Marquis of Hereford, Eliza, and Suranne. Two or ttu'ee edged varieties of seedlings were produced, but without names, so that there were no means of identification. I understand the promise of vigorous bloom was good in the early part of the season, but the frosts of April and May did much injury. — X. Show Eanttncttlttses. — It may be interesting to some of your readers to know the names of a few choice sorts of Eanunculnses that have appeared in successful stands at exhibitions this month. The foDowing notes were maide at Oxford and WaUingford of flowers, whach well deserve the STTJDLEY EOYAL. {Cotichided from page 29.) Now for the gardens. Introduced by a fi-iend to Mr. Clarke, the clever gardener, I was privileged with a view of his department, for the pleasure grounds form a department of themselves. The mansion is situated in the outskirts of the pai-k and near to a public road. Although much improved by its present owner, it is not sufficient either in size or architec- tirral beauty to harmonise with the surrounding scenery. The outline of another mansion close by, partly buDt some years ago, still remains, and is used for a variety of pui'poses. In front of the mansion a large new garden, or rather series of gardens, in the teiTaced style, with geometrical beds, some on grass, others on gravel — after the designs of Mr. Thomas, of London— was fast approaching completion. The plans are simple but very chaste, and harmonise well. The parts are not so intricate as in many of a like kind, nor so toy-Mke as the polyclu'ome figiu'es or parterres at the Eoyal Horticultiu'al Gardens. The finished part of the garden was very efiectively planted, and the plants being large, showed the various edgings, ribbons, ancl masses well considei-ing the earliness of the season (June 6th). In company with Mr. Clarke I made for the kitchen garden, and in the chat by the way 1 found he is one who looks on all the brotherhood of Flora as friends. Being a perfect stranger I had no idea of putting on paper what I saw ; but, what with the kind reception and the known celebrity of the place, I became bold enough to jot down a few things seen and heard. The kitchen garden is situated some distance from the mansion, and is separated fr'om the park by a low wall. It is divided into several compartments by walls, and appears to have been made at different periods. The principal garden, however, is a parallelogram, divided into quarters in the usual way, and the walks are bordered with fruit trees. It was well stocked with vegetables, and the beds of Asparagus, though very old, bear well. The north wall of this garden is covered with iine Peach trees loaded with fruit, testifying that there is no necessity for an orchard- house, even in the north, to seciu-e good Peaches. There is more ft-uit on one of these trees than in any orchard-house I have ever entered. The leaves of the trees, however, were somewhat scorched, as if some caustic solution had been applied to them ; and, what was most remarkable, no insect had, I was informed, infested them : consequently no solution likely to cause the leaves to bhster and wither had been used. In other respects the trees were vei^y fine. At one end of the garden is a double row of pits, formerly Pine-pits, heated by hot water and dung-linings, but now used for plants, fui-nishing cut flowers in winter and plants for decorative purposes, besides bedding plants, &c. Mr. Clarke speaks highly of Una and Beadsman Gei-aniums as famishing early blooms for cutting. Another pit, considerably below the level of the ground, is planted with Vines, which apparently are very old, feut they annually produce good crops. In an adjoining house were some very fine Cucumljers of a variety named Scott's Superb, and, whether a local or old variety, it certainly is not in general cvdtivation. It is not a very abundant bearer, but moderately handsome and large, hanging a long time without turning yellow, besides being a good winter-fi'uiting variety. The house in which it is growing is used for propagating and many other purposes. 46 JOUENAL OF HOETICXJLTTOE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 21, 1863. In another house-a narrow one-I noticed some well- grown Vines in pots. The pots containing the Vmes were placed along the front and the canes tramed up the root but 30 closely together as to cover tne whole of it. iiy t^^s plan double the quantity of fruit is obtained, and ear y L-apes ripen more surely than when the roots ^'^fout.ide m a colder medium than the canes. Each Vine m a pot i^ aUowsd to carry from six to nine and even twelve bunches and aner Muscats could not be wished for. T^e Muscat of Alexandria, White Muscat, Canon HaU, and Tottenham Park Muscat, all do weU -, and the last, although m every respect like the White Muscat, is yet a much treer setter than any of the Muscats and not so hable to spot as most ot them Mr. Clarke, who has had ample opportunities ot comparing the Vines in aU stages of theu- growth, says the Tottenham Park is as fi-ee a setter as a Hamburgh. Tne bunches are stiffer, and the footstalk of the berry is con- siderably stouter than that of the Muscat of Alexandria. InoSer^kind, under the name of Wlute Muscat is in no wav different, I think, from the Muscat of Alexandria ; but as I have seen it elsewhere under that name, I may be wrong In some pits were Peas in full bearing, a row eacn of Sangster's and Eclipse; the fii-st dish, however, had been trathered three weeks previously. \ The southern division of the garden is occupied by a pond with an island in the centre, and near to it is the approach from the park, and a neat Uttle flower garden mostly occu- pied by herbaceous plants ; but I understand a re-arrange- ment of this garden is contemplated. _ A barn-like budding in its external appearance is used tor th° growth of Mushi-ooms, and has in its mterior a bed m the centre on the floor, and two shelves, or beds 'iJi. round. These shelves, or beds, are formed in a very substantial way the sides being of iiou, and are about 15 inches deep and 5 or 6 feet widl, with iron-grated bottoms. Two beds weie iust coming into bearing, and promised a prodigious crop. I understand this house produces a succession m aoundanoe of very fine well-flavoirred Mushi-ooms. AUthe garden walls are covered with fruit trees in good order, and bearing weU. A Pear that Mr. Clarke speaks very highly of, the crops of which are enormous, ^ Hacon s Incomparable. It is a large melting Pear- m use for dessert fi-om November to January. A black Mulben-y on tne waU adioining a Fig-house has the branches tramed perpen- dicularly downwards, and annually produces good ci-ops. Besides thewalled-in portion of the garden mentioned there are other two compartments, in one of which was a Fig-house, with Vines on the rafters. The Fig trees are planted mside the house, in narrow borders at the back, about 1 foot wide and 2 feet deep, and the trees trained to the back wall. Ihe fi^t was large, plentiful, and ripening. The variety was. if I mistake not, the Brown Turkey, the best of Figs for any pui-pose whatever. The nai-rowneas of tne borders would cramp the roots, and unless this is the case Figs make too much wood to bear weU. The Vines were only newly planted, but Vines in pots were bearing splendidly thus making use of the house untd the young Vmes are of suth- cient size to bear. I incline to the opinion that Vines can be grown ecxually well in pots as planted out, and better wi,oT.o t-hp bovrlpr is outside on a cold wet subsod. ine l)e grown et|iutiiji .rcji iii 1,^,-- — r — — -- . , ■, rpi,, whlre the border is outside on a cold wet subsod. ine house can then be used for a variety of purposes m winter , but where the Vines can be planted in the house or the border heated it saves time and labour to have them planted out. In this house I noticed a vei-y fine plant of Coleus Verschaffelti in preparation for planting in the flower garden to form a centre bed. It was more than 6 feet across, and by planting Golden Chain Geranium round it, edged with Amaranthus melanchoUcus ruber, it was expected an ettec.ive bed would residt. Should Mr. Clarke carry out his idea and And it answer, I hope he wiU favoiu- this Journal with a notice. „, ^r. , Two vineries adjoin the Fig-house. The Vines however, had been cut down and grafted with newer and better kinds than the old ones, and beside each Vine was a Vme in a pot. The grafts were just beginning to break. Inarching, how- ever, I consider a better way of working the Vine than orafting. Inarching can be done at any time, and a much stronger cane can be had the fii-st season than from graftmg, however well done. Here, again, were more Vines in pots bearing profusely. The pots were only 9 inches m diameter; and by pUcmg them about 2 feet apart, and bringing the canes of both pots too-ether, they were tied in the shape ot a halt-circle. Some of the pots, or arches, had twelve bunches, and one beino- White Frontignan and the other Muscat Hamburgh, they were, indeed, very handsome. The Gnzzly Frontignan, so liable to shank when planted in an outside border, was here in pots colouring beautifully, the bright amber colour of the berries contrasting well with the jet black of the Hamburo-hs. In this and the next house I noticed good plants o1- Graptophyllum pictum; Crotons pictum, longi- foHumvariegatum,andvariegatum; Pothos argyroea; Cordy- Une indivisa ; Dracaena terminaUs, and a host ot other varie- gated and fine-foliagcd plants too numerous to mention Ot the crolden-veined Lonicera aureo-reticulata, Mr. Clarke possessed a good stock, and shoidd this stand oui- cb^te in summer only, it wiU make a very effective edgmg. Who will be the first to try it ? Mr. Clarke intends doing so this summer, and I hope he will communicate the result. In the centre of the gardens stands a large greenhouse, or rather vinery, used as a late house. The Vines were just : tJ^g anTprLised an abundant crop, tinder the Vmes on a high steep stage were a great many wmter-flowering plants, as Cyt&uses. Camellias, Azaleas &c makmg good wood, the Azileas being neatly tramed The house is heated by a combination of smoke-flues and hot water, just re- minding one how ineffectual flues are m large houses. Probfno- Mr. Clarke on the subject of flues versus hot- water hil reply was in favour of flues for small houses and Tseries of houses wide apart; but in favour of hot water for large houses or a series or range of houses requurmg a forcing temperatm-e. Notwithstandmg that the houses at Studlev are wide apart, most of them are heated by hot water and the oU fl'J.es done away with, for aU the houses are very old. Most of them, however, are kept at a high ^^CkTse^ by\ere ai-e the under-gardeners' rooms, not so bothy-like as some of the like kind in other places, nor half so inconvenient. A commodious frmt-room, or rooms, potting- sheds &o adioin. Another waUed compartment, called the orchak contains aU the best kinds of hardy fruit trees m foU bearing; and on the north wall (south aspect) were s2e very fine Apricot trees, Moorpai-k chiefly, .loaded w,th ^dt How many Apricot-houses have 700 fruit m them? Yorkshii-e is " a county where Green Gage Plums are never Jeen iTperfection," says the writer of a book reaching into tens of editions ; but so far is this from being tnie, that not only Green Gage Plum trees m Yorkshu-e bear weU as standards and yTeld bushels of fruit, but there are Apricots on many cottages the fruit of which annually pays their rent In a Cucumber-house heated by hot water, the old flues being done, we saw Reynolds's Winter Cucumber It is a free bearer ; but as for being ahaiidsome 6^*. ^^ f J^f *^« contrary. Nevertheless, it is said to be good for use, and it hani a^ on- time. Adioining is a Pine-pit with plants m a flo^irlMn- condition, and some young Vines preparing for for"amongst which were Chavoush,I)enbies Muscat, and other "select and new kinds. In a small compai-tment were MocasTa metaSica, A. macrorhiza variegata, and other choice ^'^In^'the way is another Cucumber-house planted with Carter's Champion (will any one teU me the difference between ChXpion and an' old kind that was formerly ^0^ under the name of Smither's Wmter Cucumber, or fco^^s winter?) and on Bome shelves at the^ck^ere Oscar Strawberries bearing profusely m pots. Thib variety promises to be a good forcer. ^ Time would not allow of my seemg i""* more ; but in a duno--frame I noticed an abundant crop of Melons, l^ge enouo-h for anything. The kinds were Onon, Golden Per- fection and a new kind. Princess Alexandra, evidently a Jood cropper, large, and of handsome shape^and if it be a. well flavoured as it looks it wdl merit its name. CrosTin" the pai-k I reached the old flower gardens, and these caU for a few remarks. They form one ot those old- tuese call lor a .j^nding paths, verdant lawn dis- fi^^-^d by S hire anHioth'erVere and ^^^V^^^ hau hazard An old greenhouse with high front-hghts or ta'^dts andan opaqu^ roof f o-^^JVaf^'^^h Tome course, of Uttle value for plants, but it was gay with some July 21, 1863. JOUENAL OP HOKTICTJLTTJRE AlfD COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 47 Geraniums, &c. A tea-house ornaments the centre of the garden, and some beds of various shapes in front, planted with bedding plants, looked pretty. On the lawn is a very large round bxish of the variegated Box (Buxus sempervirens variegata), about 15 feet high, and not less than 60 feet in circumference. Besides a tine Cedrus deodara and Picea cephalonica, I noticed Picea nobUis or an intermediate vax'iety between that and Picea Nordmacniana about 25 feet high. Roses in flower, Khododendi-ons, ornamental deci- duous trees, and evergreen shrubs viforthy of note, are also met with everywhere. Somehow I have omitted mentioning a Peach-house in its proper place ; and as I noticed not only some fine fruit on the trees planted out, but some trees in pots preparing for forcing, I took Mr. Clarke's opinion about trees in pots. For early forcing or affording a few fruits early he considered a doaen or two of great service, but for affording a supply he denied then- utility. With another look at the new flower garden, and thanking Mr. Clarke for his kindness, I departed. In conclusion let me add that every thing under Mr. Clarke's management denoted indomitable jjerseverance, intelligence, and skill. In the welfare of his assistants he also takes great interest. They are privileged to leave work at five o'clock on Saturdays ; and I trust that ere long every gardener and every man employed in gardens will have his houi-s of labour shortened, not ordy at Studley, but throughout the country, and instead of leaving work at five o'clock on Saturday, that they may hava Satm-day afternoon, like other trades, to themselves, to improve themselves by visiting other gardens, and collect- ing plants or studying nature in the field. Men who would •not work harder dming the remainder of the week to make up for Satm-day afternoons I would discard fi-om the garden- ing world ; but I feel sure they would, and that no employer woiild regret granting the advantage.— G. A. EOOTD^G STEA"V^BEEEY-RU:?fNEES. In rooting Strawben-y-i-unners into smaU pots, ought the pots to be put under the first joint of the runner (I mean the joint nearest the plant) when the roots are sprouting, or under the last bud 'i If put under the fii-st joint, ought the end of the runner to be cut off? — M. B. [The question is of more importance than would appear at first sight. When it is desirable to increase a favourite kind every runner made may be layered with propriety, and thus a great number of plants may be obtained ft-om one stool. In this case the lii-st layer is put in, and every one that comes after in succession, and none are cut from the mother plant untU all are rooted. In iLich case the first layers wUl generally be the strongest, and we would advise their being kept by themselves and planted by themselves. Where time and means exist, this plan of rooting the young plants is by far the best for making autumn-plantations, as the plants will be strong and established enough to produce a fair crop of very fine fruit the following summer. We lately stated that we approved of layering the plants in small pots when forcing plants were required ; but we said nothing as respects our correspondent's interesting inquiry as to what woidd be the best layer to adopt. Here, then, we must just tell what has been our practice of late, though somewhat opposed to the theory which experiments led us to consider as the soundest and best in the matter, if circumstances admitted of its being carried out. To clear our way we must here allude to another query about runners, sent by a coiTCspondent "Quiz," who has had a hot discussion with a friend as to whether runners were to be looked upon as feeders or robbers. We think that both are right and both are wrong, according to the stand-point of the argument. For instance: here is a Strawberry-stool that we wish to become as bulky and luxuriant as possible; and in such a case, were size and luxuriance the objects, we would look upon a number of Tunners, each rooting and catering not only for itself, but also by the connecting Unk for the old parent plant, as being much less robbers than feeders. It so happens, however, that we value the Strawberry-stool less for its mere luxuriance and large leaves than for its weU-ripened buds and conse- quent extreme fruitfulness. In such a case we think little of the young plants either as feeders or robbers. Our object is to concentrate as much strength in every parent stool as shall be compatible with the extreme of fruitfulness, and hence we shorten and remove all runners early. We even remove some of the weaker buds or shoots of the stool, not only that the strength may be concentrated, but that the sun and air may play freely round, and thus thoroughly ripen the buds for next season's produce. In gaining this result we prefer that the runners should grow a few weeks before they are nipped oft', as sometimes when we have kept them nipped close all along, some of the extra strength being thi'own into the buds, they were apt to burst or, as it is called, come bUnd, at the fruiting season. Though we generally keep our Strawberries about three years on the ground, we have often proved that if stools are so deprived of runners early, and the smallest shoots thinned out and rich top-dressings and manure-waterings given, the same plantation may be kept in good bearing order for many years, though no great advantage is thus gained — not enough, in our opinion, to make up for the advantages of a regular rotation of cropping. Owing to the cold springs and dry summers our practice of late has been to layer the first runner that came, and, then, unless in a case of scarcity, to nip oft' the running point, to concentrate aU the growing strength into the single runner. Thus, also, a few runners from a stool get more sun and air than if a greater number were layered. These first layers, in general, make as stated above, the finest and strongest plants, and if well managed afterwards, they will be found very fair for fi-uitfulness. If made too luxuriant, or kept growing too long in the autumn from rich surfacings and manure-waterings, the fine buds will be apt to split, and then it will be found that the extreme of luxuriance is not always attended with the extreme of fertility. Though for the above reason of lateness of runners, we chiefly depend on the first-formed, we would under other cir- cumstances be inclined to slip off the fitrst-formed one with- out hurting the string, and wait for the second yoimg plant on the runner to layer. Several years ago, we made experiments in this dii-ection, and although the results were not in aU. cases so conspicuous as to give grounds for forming an unalterable theory, stiU they were such, as, on the whole, fully to convince us that the second young phint formed on the runner, though generally less luxuriant, was also generally more compact and fruitfld. In this case two new runners were allowed to go beyond the layer on the pot. On account of the dryness of the ground, we have been obliged to take the first iimners, and these will be none too early for early forcing ; but we should be glad if others more favourably situated would make some experiments in this direction, as what may be of less moment when some thou- sands are grown, may be of considerable importance where only a score or two of pots can be managed. From whatever cause, some stools will often be found much, more inclined to sterOity than others in the plantation, and these should be either pulled up or marked, so that no runners be taken from them. This is the more necessary, as almost constantly such plants send out the earliest and strongest runners, and the sterile habit is almost sure to be continued. We recollect picking-out such stools of the Elton perfectly barren, when all around them had a dense crop, and on marking and trying layers from such plants for four years, we never gathered a fruit from them. A little trouble in selsction, therefore, is far from being labour lost in small gardens, where every foot of ground is an object. Take layers, then, if possible, from the best bearing plants.— R. F.] FBinTEBEBS' Company.— On the 8th instant, the Master of the Fruiterers' Company (WiUiam Brown, Esq.), with the Wardens (Josiah Walker, Esq., and HUary Nicholas Nissen, Esq.), and Mr. O. C. T. Eagleton, the Clerk of the Company, waited upon the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House by appointment, and presented his lordship with a choice se- lection of aU the fruits of the season. The Master and Wardens in addressing the Lord Mayor, refeiTed to the deviation the Company had made from the ancient custom of presenting sundry bushels of Apples in the winter, and expressed a hope that the present now made would be more acceptable. The Lord Mayor acknowledged the present in 48 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 21, 1863. a very pleasant and appropriate manner, while the Lady Mayoress and the ladies of her family inspected with much delight the splendid specimens of Pines, Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, &c., which were displayed in the saloon. — (Ciiy Press.) THE OLD KENTISH PLOUGH. It is seldom that the gardener calls in the assistance of expensive machinery to aid him in his manifold duties. True a water engine is a machine ; and of late years much improve- ment has been made in mowing machines, which, in fact, have become so common, that it is a question if more turf is not kept in trim by these appliances than by hand- mowing. Machines for fumigating and dusting plants with sulphur have been tried, but are often more novel than useful ; and there seems much difference of opinion about the relative values of the different tree-planting machines. The one containing the greatest compheation of parts, giving it the greatest claim to the character of a machine, is certainly not the best; it is, in fact, more a mechanical appai-atus than a horticultural one. Pre-existing machines of a simpler construction, which did their work with a less amount of screw and other com- plications of a mechanical kind, but with, perhaps, an in- creased amount of hand-labour, did it much better for the patient operated on ; simplicity in most things is best for the multitude, and unless a piece of mechanism perform its work much better and cheaper than the same can be done by liand it soon falls into disuse. Its strongest ad- vocates fail in maintaining its popularity, and the original implement it was intended to supersede is restored to favour again. Nevertheless, we now and then meet with decided improvements in something where it was thought perfection already existed. Tools have been much improved in the last few yeai-s, digging tools especially ; and the implements used in different localities have been brought into competition with each other, and the axlvantages and disadvantages of each made apparent to all not too deeply tinctured with prejudice. Every one connected with rural affairs knows a plough ; but there are plenty of ploughmen who are, no doubt, adepts at theii- calling that would be puzzled to understand the action of a Kentish plough ; and if they accidentally came upon one not at work, they would, in all probabOity, suppose it to be intended for some other pui-pose than tilling the soil. And yet this implement — heavy, cumbersome, and to all appearance the most antiquated ijn its class — has not been exceeded in the quality of its work by the best-con- structed implement that has been brought to contend against it from the manufactories which have a European reputation for the skilful adjustment of all the pai-ts of their implements. In the matter of ploughs, Kentish farmers have taught their brethren a lesson in other paits of the kingdom, while in return they have received some useful lunts in the same way themselves. Doubtless some amount of prejudice still exists in both cases, but that will in time vanish. Sound principle will in the end prevail; and when once the way is opened for the admission of an error, its removal is more easy. Returning, however, to the matter of ploughs, let us see in what way the Kentish plough differs from others in the way in which it does its work. In most parts of England where I have been the ploughing- up of a Clover-bed is regai-ded as a job in which ploughmen delight to show off then- skill ; and when working hours are over it is not unusual to see them all walking backwaj-d and forward along the headland, examining with the eyes of con- noisseurs each other's work, and commenting accordingly. The qualification for such work is to exhibit the fui-row sUce turned up with great exactness, so as to resemble the ridge of a house, or, in fact, a series of ridges and furrows, each side of the ridge presenting the angle of 45° ; and, assuming the sharp edge of the ridge and of every ridge to be straight, the work would be considered well done. This is, or until lately was, one of the criterions of good ploughing in the central and northern counties of England. We will now compare it with what is done in Kent. The Kentish ploughman turns over his furrow in quite a different manner. He has been to see the fashion of ploughing in the midland counties, and he tells them plainly they do not turn over the soil at all, they only tui-n it three- quai-ters over ; that their vaunted angle of 45° means that instead of having turned the ground over as much as 180°, as he does at home, they have only moved it 135° from its original position ; and that he could show them how to tui-n it upside down, which, in fact, he does completely — the criterion of good work with him being to do so, leaving the bottom of the fiirrow slice quite flat on the top and a clear crease or Hue of marking between each furrow as straight as possible. The advantages of this plan are that any weeds, rubbish, or dung that may be on the top is completely biuied, the weeds being less likely to grow than when hall' bmied in the three-quarter-tui'nover system of other places, and he consequently feels not a little proud of the old-fashioned wooden instrument which he sees others despise. Kentish ploughs have also another peculiarity — only one furrow is wanted, as they are so constructed, that by the movement of a mould-boai-d and another direction being given to the coulter when they come to the end of a fui'row, they retiu'n in the same ground, and turn the soil in the reverse way, the alteration not taking more than a minute I to make. Much stress has been laid on this point at meetings j where Kentish ploughs have competed with others, the latter requiring two furrows to be thrown against each other to staat with, forming a sort of ridge, cei-tainly not wanted for I any purpose ; whereas the Kentish plough, by beginning at the outside, and using only one furrow, leaves aU its work as level as where it begins. It is needless to say it could go round a piece the same as other ploughs do ; but it is seldom if ever done. Some little alterations have been made in it diuing the last few years, but compai-atively few to what its neighbour, the iron plough, has undergone in the hands of a Howard and a Ransome ; and it is not too much to say that these great makers have borrowed from the Kentish plough more than that implement has done fi-om them ; and at a challenge meeting some two years ago, between the advocates of the ploughs of one of these makers and the old Kent implement, much interest was evinced, and im- paitial judges were unable to determine which of them did the best work. Even scientific men, who assume to be oracles in then- way in deciding on the laws which ought to govern mechanics, have found their theories overthrown at times by the perfoianances of the Kentish plough. A gentleman well versed in engineering matters and mechanical constnictions, thought he had invented a much lighter implement, but when subjected to the test of the dynamometer, it was found to be the reverse in the draught wanted. One oi#two leading features in the Kent plough being good seem to atone for all that appears clumsy. The parts that penetrate the ground ai'e long, the sole of the plough being upwards of 4 feet in length, and the wing as long ; and it is pulled forward Uke a long, tliin wedge rather than a short thick one. There is less iron in it than in most ploughs. The tiirn-wrest or part moveable at each end is of wood, as also are the beam and most other paits ; but there being no cm-ved mould-boai-d as in other ploughs, strangers not acquainted with its uses would hai-dly suppose that it was intended for ploughing, and it seldom fails to excite the derision of such as inspect it for the first time, if not at work ; but when so employed, and the qiialities of the work done ai-e examined, there is generally a pause, and an inward question is asked. Can tliis be wrong ? Conviction is very unwilling to say No, and the idea is carried home that soils must assui-edly be better that are completely turned over than those which are only partly so, and the application of this problem may be earned into other quarters as well j but enough has been said for the present, and if agree- able, I will at a futiu'e time return to the subject. — J. R. Select Orchidaceous Plants. — The fifth Part of this beautifiil and trustworthy publication is j|Ust published, and is a worthy companion to its four predecessors. It contains Pleione lagenaria, Vanda coernlea, Dendi'obium Wardianum, and Lselia superbiens. The portraits by Mr. Fitch, the descriptions by Mr. Warner, and the cultural directions by Mr. Williams, are all excellent. July 21, 1863. JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAJEDENER. 49 POKTEAITS OF PLANTS, FLOWERS, AND FETJITS. Khododendkon Batemani (Mr. Bateman's Rhododen- dron).— Nat. ord., Ericaces. Linn., Deoandria Monogynia. Discovered by Mi-. Booti. in the Bhotan Himalaya. Very robust. Flowers crimson and large. Noble species. — {Bot. Magazine, t. 5387.) Oknithogalum CAPiTATim (Capitate Ornithogalum). — Nat. ord., Asphodelese. Linn., Hexandria Monogynia. Bulb- ous-rooted greenhouse plant from Cape of Good Hope. The whit^i and purple flowers open in February. — (Ihid., t. 5388.) Metenia Voqeliana (Vogel's Meyenia). — Nat. ord., Acan- thaceoe. Linn., Didynamia Angiospermia. A most lovely stove plant from Fernando Po. Flowers purple with orange throat, opening in May. — {Ibid., t. 5389.) Nephelaphyllum scapigebum (Scapigerous Nephela- phyllum). — Nat. ord., Orchidaceae. Linn., Gynandria Monan- dria. Imported from Borneo by Messrs. Low & Sons, Clap- ton. "A singular and beautiful little Orchid." Flowers yeUow and white with purple blotches. — (Ibid., t. 5390.) Ebia obesa (Thick -stemmed Eria). — Nat. ord., Orchid- aceae. Linn., Gynandria Monandria. Native of Martaban and Moulmeiu. Flowers white. Flowered in a warm stove in February." — (Ibid., t. 5391.) Japanese Clematises. — Clematis Fortimei, white ; and Clematis florida Standishii, violet blue. Both plants were found by Mr. Fortune ia Japan. Probably hardy, and have had fii-st-class certificates from the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultm-al Society. — (Floral Magazine, j>l. 153.) Peaece's Ohrisia (Ourisia Pearcii). — A dwarf hardy pe- rennial of great beauty. Introduced from Chili by Messrs. Veitch, Chelsea and Exeter Nurseries, through their collector, Mr. Pearee. Flowers crimson streaked with dai'ker crimson. It had a fii-st-class certificate from the Floral Committee. — (Ibid., pi loi.) Ehododendeon Pbince of Wales (RoUisson's). — A cross- bred between Rhododendrons javanicum and retusum. Flowers bright orange. — (Ibid., pi. 155.) Heebaoeous CALCEOLAELis. — Four varieties raised by Messi-s. Dobsou & Son, Isle worth. — (Ibid., pi. 156.) Camellia Caelotta Papudoff. — Introduced by Messrs. Veitch from Florence. "A first-class variety." White blotches on a gi-ound of carmine rose. — (Florist o,nd Pomolo- gist, ii., 89.) Winter Hawthoenden Apple. — ^Roundish-oblate, large, pale yellow, mottled red on the most sun-erpoaed side. "The' flesh ffrmer.than that of the old Hawthornden, with all its qualities." Fii-st-rate culinary Apple, in use from October to March.— (Ibid., 96.) CHIEF GAEDENS IN GEEAT BEITAIN. I feel confident that the readers of The Journal of Horticulture wOl feel obliged to you for giving a list of the chief gardens in Great Britain ; but permit me to suggest that your correspondents on the subject should be cai-eful in stating to you whether their lists comprise the principal or a few of the best gardens of a county, for it is very evident that the gentleman who furnished you with a list of the "principal gardens in Northiimberland " has never crossed the Aln, otherwise he would not have omitted Cbillingham Castle, where the finest flower garden in the county is to be seen, and where the greatest number of bedding-out plants are ; and it is quite patent that there is a very superior selection of French Pears cultivated succesafriUy in the fruit gardens ; and in the American gaa-den, quite distinct fr-om either of the above, there is as line a collection of Rhodo- dendrons as is to be found in the north. Mr. Bowey is gardener. And why should he omit LUburn Tower close by, the seat of — CoUingwood, Esq., where the gardens are almost overshadowed by the cloud-capped Cheviots ? Yet here in the earliest spring Nature bursts into such beauty, that I have frequently gone miles out of my way to see in bloom the splendid collection of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, and other spring-flowering shrubs which thrive so wbU under the treatment of Mr. Dees. Both fruit and flower garden are good. Here, also, about four or five years ago they could boast of an Araucaria imbricata only second to some of those fine specimens at Belsay. Mr. Dees is very successful with the WeUingtonia gigantea, but none of them are so tall as that very fine specimen near to the old castle at Belsay. It would be an easy matter for me to name at least seven or eight gardens in Northumberland equal to, and some superior to, those named in yom' Journal this week. Why are Howiok Gardens not named, the seat of the Right Hon. Earl Grey, Mr. Moore, gardener ? It is true there are better Orchids at Wallington and CressweU ; but Howick Gardens are of more general interest to the tourist and visitor than some you have named ; so, also, are those of the Home Secretai-y, and EsUngton Gardens, besides many others. — Ptekis. [We wish that oiu' correspondent had increased our obligation by giving a tabular list of all the gardens he knows worthy of a visit. No one can be acquainted with all such gardens in a county, and we wish every coiTespondent to particularise only those really known to him. We can- not have too many of such contributions, and we shall be obliged by any one sending us the names of any two or three gardens he knows are worth visiting. — Eds.] THE GEEAT BIED QUESTION. In No. 117 of The Journal of Horticulture, Mr. Rob- son asks for evidence that small bu-ds eat caterpillars. I can supply some on this point. A pair of the large titmouse this year made a nest in the potting-shed in the garden here, and reared a numerous famEy — six or seven, I believe. One day, being in the shed, I saw both the parent birds on an Apple tree within ai very few feet of me, and each with a caterpiUar, about tlrree-quarters of an inch long, in its beak ; whether these were the caterpillars which infest Gooseberry bushes or not I cannot pretend to say, but, Uke them, they were of a light colour. The destruction of caterpillars by this pafr alone was, in all probability, very great, as there was so numerous a family to feed. Since the young bii-ds have taken to the wing they are, however, often to be seen escaping fr'om the I'ows of Peas with a Pea in then- beaks ; and I apprehend that the same is the case with many small bu-ds, that thefr parents feed them with insects while in the nest, but that when they have to provide for themselves they indulge in a mixed, or, perhaps, sometimes an entu-ely vegetable diet. If this be so, the proper course seems to be to leave them undisturbed while nesting, and to diminish then- numbers, where neces- sary, at a later time. I have no hesitation in saying that in some places very little fiTiit would be left if the bu-ds were allowed to increase without check. It must be remembered that their natural enemies, hawks and owls, are actively pei-secuted by game- keepers, and very greatly diminished in numbers. — SussBX- ensis, E Pari;, Sussex. MAY FLO WEES. Flower gardens in most places are, during the month of May, very deficient in a fine display of bloom. The bulbs such as Crocuses di-op ; Hyacinths, &c., are all over; and the bedding-out plants are only just planted out, and not in bloom, even in the most favoui-ed places as to climate and shelter. Though many of oiu- aristocratic fami- lies are during that month in London, yet there are large numbers who have nice gardens that prefer the country — their home in fact, to the dust, heat and discomfort of town Ufe. Such families, no doubt, would be glad to have their flower-borders well-stocked with Flora's gifts, but they are not just up to the mark how to accomplish this point in May. The above reflections passed tlirough my mind on visiting a garden near Manchester that I have refeired to more than once, I mean the gai-den belonging to J. Shorrocks, Esq., the Lodge, Ashton-on-Mersey. I saw these gardens about the middle of May, and a more gorgeous display of flowers I never beheld at any time of the year at any place whether in England, Ireland, or Scotland. The garden was Uterally a blaze of flowers, old-fashioned indeed, but yet very gay and effective. For the most part they grew on borders in front of shrubs, and were in such masses that very little soil was visible. so JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTTJEE AOT) COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 21, 18C3. I was so much pleased with the display that I took notes of their names, and thought the list would be useful to many of the readers of The Journal of Eorticultuee. I was somewhat surprised at the small number of species, though that only shows how a good gardener like Mr. North may furnish his employer's flower-border at, comparatively speaking, little or no expense. In order to render this list as useful as possible I shall not only give their names but also their colours, height of growth, the soil they will thrive in, and lastly the mode of propagation. Altssum saxatile. — Bright yellow. Height 9 inches. Soil, light sandy loam on a dry bottom. A plant that spreads much ; miiny of the patches have measured 3 feet across. Propagated by slips put in in June under a bell- glass ; but the best way to procui'e a stock is to purchase a shilling packet of seed and sow in April or early in May on a warm border, and transplant the seedlings, as soon as large enough, where they are to bloom. In order to obtain a large patch quickly, plant five plants 6 inches apart toge- ther, and the second year they wiB make a dense mass and a good display. Anthericum liliastrum. — Clear satiny white. Height, 1 foot, light sandy loam well-drained. Propagated by dividing the plants in autumn. Axjbkietia deltoidea. — Blue. Height, 2 inches. Soil, light sandy peat and loam. Propagated either by slips put under a bell-glass in a shadj- place in June, or by dividing the plants just aJter the bloom is over, watering the divi- sions every evening if the weather is dry. A beautiful spread- ing plant. Bellis peeennis. — A dark red vaiiety. Height, 4 to C inches. SoO, any good gaiden. Propagated by divisions after flowering. Plant five together to form a good patch to be effective. Cheiranthus Maeshalli. — Deeporange. Height, 9 inches. Soil, common garden. Propagated by slips taken off in May, June, or July, and planted in a bed, shading and watering them till rooted. This beautiful plant is easy to propagate. I seldom lose a single cutting. To make more sure it is desirable to make each cutting with a portion of hai-d woody stem at the bottom. Such cuttings or slips are more certain to root. As soon as they are rooted Uft them up carefully, and transplant them where they are to flower. Here again, in order to make a good show of bloom at once, these young plants should be put in in patches of at least five together. Plant one in the centre and four around it, and you will have a goodly display the year after. Ieekis sempekvirens (Perennial Candytuft). — Height, 6 inches. Colour, clear white. SoU, any good loam not too rich, or it will spread too much and not flower freely. Pro- pagated by cuttings in June under a bell-glass, though I strike the cuttings freely enough when planted in shallow ! pane in ordinary loam and sand, with a layer of sand on the top, and placed in a shady part of a greenhouse. The best kind of cuttings are such as are a little hardened at the base. With such I generally manage to root nine cuttings out of ten. When rooted plant them out in patches of three only, because the plant naturally spreads very much. I find it necessary every year to cut the plants in severely as soon as the bloom is over, in order to keep the patches within modciate compass. This is one of the greatest ornaments to the flower-borders throughout May ; with me it is just going out of bloom in the first week in June. Paneies. — The dark varieties are most suitable for a mixed flower-border. I observed at this place that the yellow and white colours rather predominated : hence the dai-k varieties of Daisies and Pansies were most to be pre- ferred. Any common kinds answer the purpose, provided they ai-e pretty hardy and free bloomers. Veronica decussata. — Pale blue. Height, 1 foot. Soil, common. Propagated easily by division as soon as the bloom is over. To form a large patch, plant five or more plants together at 6 inches apart. I am not certain this is a correct specific name, especially as I cannot find it in the Cottage Gardener's Dictionary. It is, perhaps, V. gentianoidcs. At any rate, it is decussate, and is a handsome border peren- nial, pei-fectly hardy, and delicately beautiful. With these few species of hardy perennials planted at regular intervals, the borders here in May were truly splendid. No doubt the colltction might be more numerous, and Mr. North informed me he intended to add to it as sooa as he could. I ought to mention that the effect was enhanced by a good collection of hardy Azaleas of various cclours, which formed a pleasing background to the low- growing flowers. The pleasure ground was in high order, the lawn close-mown and of the finest kinds of grasses, the lines of the borders were well defined, and not a vestige of a weed was to be seen. In the parts where bedding-out plants are used, Mr. North had ventured to plant out early, and fortunately no late frosts have taken place in the neighbourhood. So it is to be hoped that this style of flower-gardening will be more effective than it was last year, when in many places in the north, owing to the wet summer, many beds totally failed, others gi-ew too much into leaf, and even those that did flower had their blooms dashed and BpoUt by the splashing rains. I was much pleased with a novel mode of forming a ribbon- border here. It is the gardener's invention, and looks well„ even as soon as it is planted. There are two straight lines and then two wavy lines that cross each other. These two lines are planted with Flower of the Day Geranium crossed with Calceoliuia Aui'ea floribunda. I send a rough sketch of the bed or bordei'. It is 72 feet long and 12 wide, and is planted thus : — -iO- -ao~ 1. "Walk in front of hothouse. 2. Edging of Box. 3. Lobelia ppeciosa. 4. Variegated Sweet Alyssum. 9. Grass bolder. The sketch is drawn to a scale of one-eighth of an inch to the foot. It is just half the length of the border. I have seen the latter since the above was written, and in my opinion it is much more pleasing and elegant than mere .'). Purple King Verbena, f. Firefly Scarlet Verbena. 10. Low hedge. 7. Tom Thumb Geranium. 8. Calceolaria Aurea floribunila. straight stiff, Unes. Next season' let some one that' has spice try the same plan, I am sure^he or they will be welJ pleased with it. ^^^^^^ T.^Applbet. July 21, 1863. ] JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTITRE ANB COTTAGE GAUDENEK. 51 ECONOMICAL AEEANGEMENT OP In these days of rigid economy, -when persons of ample means delight to deal in the cheapest mai-ket, perhaps the following plans and suggestions for the economical arrange- ment oi' plant-houses upon a small scale, may not be with- out interest to some of our amateur patrons ; and even young gardeners and nurserymen may study them possibly with profit to themselves. The plans have been prepared not only with strict regard to economy of space — a matter of considerable importance in small gardens — but also so as to tui-n the whole of the materials to the gi-eatest advan- tage, and that at, considering the permanence and durability of the erections, a very moderate cost. In the construction of horticultural as in aU other buildings, there is no economy in "make-shifts;" the best materials and the best work- manship will ulti- mately be found the most economical, and those who save a few pounds by what is technically called " scamping a job," in the first erection, wUl generally find that they have been penny wise and pound foolish before the end of the first seven years. A range of houses on this plan has lately been erected for a gentle- man. The forcing- house has yielded abundance of Roses and other forced flowers, with splen- did Cucumbers, and at the present time a vei^y fine crop of Melons is coming for- ward. These and the Cucumbers are grown in large pots plung- ed in leaf mould over the tani, and the roots ai'e allow- ed to grow in the plunging materials. Under the Melons, &c., which are train- ed within a foot of the glass, plants for flower garden pui'- poses aie propagat- ed, and a few stove plants, as Gloxinias, Achimenes, Garde- nias, &c., are grown underneath. For the above purposes, or for the cultivation of a select collection of stove plants or Or- chids, or even for the growth of the Pine Apple, perhaps no better arrangement could be made, the command of heat, both for the plunging-bed and the atmosphere, being of the most efficient description. If the forcing-house was devoted to the cultivation of Orchids, for which it is admirably adapted, we should build the inner walls on each side of the pathway in rookwork, and also place a mass of rookwork the whole width of the house against the end wall, leaving niches to be filled with suit- able material for the cultivation of some of the finer kinds of Ferns, Mosses, and such Orchids as are likely to succeed in such a situation. By merely opening a communication on each side from the tank and heating-apparatus, the rock- work might be supplied with any amount of moisture or bottom heat ; and by simply placing a cistern of water above the level of the rockwork and over the boder, silvery streams of warm water may be made to trickle over the tortuous REFERENCE TO PLAN. A, Pathway. E, Bed for plants to stand upon, or be planted in. c. Hot-water pipes three-inch diameter in house, two-inch in pits. 1), Hot-water tank for bottom heat, heated by two two-inch pipes, GHOUND PLAN OP HOUSr.R AND FITS. Cold Pit. Greenhouse. Cold Pit FORCING AND PLANT HOUSES, Ac. track of the rockwork, finally refreshing the feelings, and ministering to the picturesque character of the scene, by terminating in a miniature waterfall, the grateful rippling of which will do much to cheat visitors into the belief that the house is not so warm as the proper ciUtivation Of its occupants renders it necessary that it should be. '• Oh ! but," remarks some adept in the art and myst(iry of growing Orchids, "to do the various kinds justice, and produce them in perfection, two houses are required." Granted ; therefore, if you please, we wiU confine the Indian kinds to the house we have been speaking of, and by con- tinuing the same heating arrangements, we will convert the oreenhouse into a house for the growth of those kinds which are natives of Mexico and colder climates ; and thus, with one exception, we SECTION OF FOBciNQ-uonsE. havc arrangements I as complete as the most fastidious could desire, where light, heat, and moisture are at command, to do aU that is i-e- quired for the proper cultivation of this beautiful tribe of plants. Indeed, in the laconic language of one of the best gar- deners in the country, these are " nice snug houses," suitable for plants of aU kinds j and if Nature's jour- neyman, the gar- dener, only performs his part properly, success is certain. For the cultivation of Vines in pots, such houses would be perfect; and one of these houses, with the side-pits to bring on successional plants, would produce Grapes- ■ sufficient for a small ■ family, and that for several months in the year. In the construc- tion of this range of houses the position of the boiler is not indicated, but we pro- pose to fix it at the north end of the forc- ing - house, to heat the tanks, house and pits, independently of each other, hav- ing stop-cocks or valves to each set of pipes, so as to work the whole or a part at the same time, as may be ne- cessary. The greenhouse will be heated by continuing the pipes from the forcing-house, placing stop-cocks where the pipes enter the gi-eenhouse. The pipes for surface heat are placed in a trough lined with cement, so that in case of need, when a very moist heat is required, water may be placed around the lower pipe to create moisture. The pipe tor surface heat must be 3 inches in diameter, and those i-unning through the tank for bottom heat 2 inches. For the side pits two-inch pipes will be sufficient for ordinap' pur- I.oses ; but if a stixjng heat is required, why then, three or ibur-inch pipes will be required. The cold pits adjoining the gi-eenhouse wUl be found very useful for the growth of Sngnouette, Violets, and Stocks throu<^h the winter, and also for protectmg plants for the flower garden, and in the heated pits Eoses and other flowers may be forced.— (A., in Gardeners Magazine of Botany.) Warm Pit. S Hothouse. B Warm Pit. S2 JOUENAL OP HOETICULTTXKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ July 21, 1863. THE BIEMINGHAM EOSE SHOW. July IGth and 17th. When any gi-eat design is carried into eifect and proves to be a success, the word " patronage " is wliisjjered about as tiiough the rich man's purse were the only or chief motive power; but those who are in tlie habit of looking beneath the surface will surely acknowledge a motive power still more potent. In support of tliis view I woidd instance the late Birmingham Eose Show, which, as a Eose show, I believe was second to none in the kingdom, and, probably, in the world ; and it was held in the midst of a manufaetming town which, like manufacturing towns in general, is densely populated, very smoky, and inhabited by two classes of people — employers and employed, boasting of few if any of the upper ten thousand. The Town HaU in which the Show was held is a fine massive building of the Corinthian order of architecture. Interiorly it is both spacious and lofty, and the ceiling is finely deco- rated. At one end is an orchestra siu'mounted by one of the fijiest organs in the country ; and below the organ a crescent was formed by some of the stages or seats being arranged with CamelUas, Conifers, Ferns, and other plants, and within this crescent the baud performed. The Eoses, which certainly were the principal features of the Show, were arranged on stages in the body of the build- ing; and although a portion of them were to be found up-stairs, the most important collections were below. Each temporai-y stage contained two rows, and between these were Ferns, Begonias, Caladiums, &c., the whole looking exceedingly well and doing credit to those who had the arrangement of them. I took a few notes of the Show, which 1 send for the benefit of your readers ; and though my re- marks may not be in so masterly a style as those of a pro- fessional reporter, yet I will do what I can. In giving any opinion on the condition of the flowers I can only speak from impression, for, not having seen the preceding Shows, I cannot speak from comparison. There were Eoses that had not attained their best, and there were those that were past it. Some were not vdthout fault as to form and colom-; but, on the whole, I consider they were very good. Some would say that the flowers were too open, but every Eose-gi'ower knows what a difference a single day will make in the appearance of a flower in the bright sunny weather that has lately prevailed. Making allowance for this, I consider no one has a right to complain that the ex- hibitors had not done well. Certainly instances were not wanting in.which the same varieties woiild differ considerably on different stands ; but this is natural and may be the effect of locality, or it may be that individual flowers differ on the same plant. In Class A (Nurserymen), ninety-six varieties, single trusses, the first prize was awarded to Mr. B. E. Cant, Colchester. Among his lot were Lffilia (very fine), President, Madame Vidot, Fran9ois Lacharme, and G-loire de Dijon, all first-rate. The second prize went to Mr. John Keynes, of Salisbm-y. In this collection were some good blooms of Jean d'Arc, Jules Margottin, Marechal VaiUant, MdHe. Bonnaire, Comtesse Ouvaroff, Madame KnoiT, Beauty of Waltham, Alphonse Kan-, Celine Forestier, Lady Stuart, Madame Hector Jaequin, Madame Boll, Triomphe de Eennes, Gloire de Santenay, Olivier Delhomme, Souvenu- de Comte Cavoui', Biu-on Gonella, Comte de Nanteml, General Jac- queminot, Glou'e de Vitry, Senateur Vaisse, all good and fi:esh-looking — more so, in my opinion, than the preceding, and they were certainly better ai-ranged. Messrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, and Mi'. W. Faul, of Waltham Cross, were equal thii-d in this class. In the collection of the former were good flowers of Eugene Desgaches, Comtesse CecUe de Chabrdlant, Due de Eohan, Jaune of Smith, Madame Pier- son, Niphetos, &c., all good and neatly packed ; but many would say the flowers were too full blown. Mr. W. Paul's collection contained, in addition to fine fiowers of some of the above. Due de Gazes (very dark), General Jacqueminot in fine condition, and Louis XH'. In this class entries were also made by Messrs. Francis, of Hertford, who showed Louis Peyronney very large, and the following fii-st-rate : — Baron Gonella, Louise Magnan, Prince CamiUe de Eohan. From Mr. Tm-ner, of Slough, whose coUectiou looked really charming, there came amongst others good blooms of Triomphe de Caen, La Boule d'Or, Eugene Appert, Crloire de Santenay, Souvenir d'un Ami (good), Madame Bravy, Madame Charles Wood (very large). Mr. Cranston's collection included many good flowers, but they were loosely arranged compared to the last. Mr. E. Smith also entered in this class. In Class A (Nurserymen), forty-eight varieties, three trusses, the first prize was carried off by Mr. John Keynes, of Salisbury, with a most excellent stand, all fresh and beau- tiful. The second prize went to Messrs. Paul & Sons, Ches- hunt ; and the third to Mr. B. E. Cant, of Colchester. In this class were several other exhibitors, including Messrs. Francis, Keynes, W. Paul, Paid & Sons, Smith, and Turner. In Mr. Francis's collection I paiticularly noticed fine blooms of Anna de Diesbach, Mrs. Elvers, Catherine Guillot, Com- tesse de Chabrillant, Prince Imperial, Madame Schmidt, and what seemed to me Jules Margottin named Senatem- Vaisse. In Class A (Nxu-serymen), twenty-four varieties, three trusses, the fii'st prize was taken by Mr. Keynes ; the second by Mr. W. Draycott, Humberstone. near Leicester ; and the third by Mr. George Batley, of Eugby. Class A, No. 4, twenty-foxu- vaiieties, single trusses, was open only to niu'seiymen in the counties of Warwick, Wor- cester, and Staffordshh-e. The first prize was awarded to Messrs. S. Perkins & Sons, Coventry; the second to Mr. W. H. Treen, of Eugby ; and the third to Mr. George Batley. The other competitors in this division were Mr. J. Cole, of Birchfield, near Birmingham; Mr. E. Smith, Worcester; Mr. A. Wood, Worcester ; and Mi-. E. H. Vertegans, Chad Valley, Edgbaston. The ti-usses shown here were in no' way inferior to the others, proving that these counties are well adapted for the culture of this the queen of flowers. In Class B, No. 5 (Amateurs), forty-eight varieties, single truss, the first-prize cup was given to Mr. J. T. Hedge, Eeed Hall, Colchester. Here were splendid flowers of Eeine Vic- toria, Comtesse CecUe de Chabrfllant, Beauty of Waltham, Jaune of Smith, Alexandre Fontaine, Matlame Chai-les Wood, Louise Magnan, La Boule d'Or, Mrs. Elvers, Auguste Mie, ■ Triomphe de Caen, Louis XIV., and Solfaterre. The second prize was awarded to Mr. S. Evans, gai-dener to C. New- degate, Esq., M.P., Nuneaton, Warwickslui-e, who also had some good blooms ; and the thii'd prize to the Eev. S. Eeynolds Hole, Caunton Manor, Newark. Class B. No. 6 (Amateurs), twenty-four varieties, single trusses.— The fii-st prize went to Mi-. J. T. Hedge, Colches- ter; the second to Mr. S. Evans, gardener to C. N. Newde- gate, Esq.. M.P. ; and the thii-d to Mr. E. Sage, gardener to Earl Howe, Atherstone. These collections were all good, and some were really first-rate. Class B, No. 7 (Amateui-s), eighteen varieties, single trusses. — The first prize was awarded to Mr. C. J. Perry, Castle Bromwich ; the second to Mi-. J. T. Hedge ; and the thu-d to Mr. E. Hunt, whose collection included good blooms of Smith's Noisette and Prau-e de Ten-e Nou-e. Class B, No. 8 (Amateurs), twelve vai-ieties, single trusses. —The first prize was taken by Mi-. J. Stratton, Manning- ford, Wiltshire, with a collection including Cloth of Gold, Triomphe de Eennes, and others little if anything inferior. Mr. E. Sage, gardener to Earl Howe, had the second prize ; and the thh-d went to Mi-. E. Hunt, Leicester, who had Celine Forestier, Madame Hector Jaequin, and Madame C. Crapelet, very good. Class B, No. 9 (Amateiu-s), twelve varieties, single truss, open only to amateurs resident within fifteen miles of Ste- venson's Place, Birmingham.— The first prize was awarded to Mr. W. Brown, gardener to Mrs. Alston, Ehuden HaU, near Birmingham : and equal second pi-izes were given to the Eev. P. M. Smythe, the Kectory, Solihull, and Mi-. C. J. Perry, Castle Bromwich. Class B, No. 10 (Amateurs), sis varieties, single trass, open only to amatem-s resident within fifteen miles of Ste- venson's Place, Birmingham.- The first prize was taken by Mr. C. J. PeiTy, Castle Brom-wich : the second prize by Mr. W. Bro-wn, gardener to Mrs. Alston, Ebnden HaU; and equal thirds by Mi-. E. Gai-net. Sutton Coldfield, and Mr. B. Wright, the Quarry House. Great Boit, Staffordshire. Class B, No. 11 (Amateurs).— Six varieties, open only to amateurs resident -within three miles of Stevenson's Place, Birmingham. In this class there were no entries. Class C, No. 12 (Open).— CoUections not exceeding twenty- jHly 21, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 53 four new Koses of 1860-61-62, single trusses. The first prize went to Mr. John Keynes ; the second prize to Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, Herts ; and the third to Mr. C. Turner, Slough. Entries were also made by Messrs. Cant, Cranston, S. Evans, and W. Paul. The collections were very similar to those in other classes, and contained many of the same varieties. Class C, No. 13 (Open).— Best new Roses of 1860-61-62, six trusses. Here Mr. J. Keynes was first with Marechal VaiUant, Madame Furtado, Chai-les Lefebvre, and Olivier Delhomme. Mr. Wm. Paul was second. He had Madame Furtado and Beauty of Waltham. Messrs. Paul & Son were third with Madame Charles Wood. Mr. Cranston, also, had fine trusses of Louis XIV. ; Mr. Cant, Madame Furtado ; and Mr. Fraacis, General Washington. Class C, No. 14 (Open).— Best six varieties of Roses, single trusses, with stem and foliage as cut from the tree; each truss to be shown singly in a vase. The first prize was awarded to Mr. E. P. Francis, Hertford ; the second to Mr. G. Batley, Rugby; and the third prize to Mi-. Tm-ner. There were many other exhibitors in this class. Class C, No. 15 (Open). — Best design, basket or vase, of Roses and Rose foliage. Mr. R. H. Vertegans, Edgbaston, took the first prize ; second, Mr. R. T. Evans, Severn Lodge, Shrewsbury; and third, Mr. Turner, Slough. There were here some fine masses of bloom, and all deserved notice ; but I did not consider there was anything striking in the vases or the arrangement. Class C, No. 16 (Open). — Best bouquet for the hand made entirely of Roses and Rose foliage. First prize, Mr. J. Cole, Birchfield ; second, Messrs. F. & A. Dickson, Upton, Chester ; third, Mr. Vertegans, Edgbaston. Mr. Perry, of Castle Bromwich, exhibited a fine stand of Verbenas, consisting of forty-eight bunches of five trusses each. Many plants were also contributed by the surround- ing gentry. There were several good plants of Cissus dis- color; a fine Maranta zebrina; some very good Ferns, including a large Acrostic-hum alcicome, Pteris argyraea, and others ; Adiantum affine, brasiliense, and the ever-beautiful cuneatum. There were also varieties of Caladiums and Begonias, Coleus Verschaffelti, and the older Blumei, look- ing rather paJe, and a few Heaths, at sight of which many of our good growers would make an involuntary grimace. These and other plants weire contributed for the purpose of deco- ration and not for competition. They certainly did their part well, affording an agreeable change from the glowing masses of coloiir presented by the Roses. Under the head of Horticultural Implements and Gai-den Ornaments there were many objects exhibited of considerable interest to the gardener. Messrs. Lloyd & Summerfield, Park Glass Works, Birmingham, showed an aquarivmi with fountain. This was surrounded with Ferns and fronted by a plant of Cyperus alternifolius variegatus, a most interest- ing plant. Prom the same firm also came vases for flowers and fruit, some of them filled as if ready for the table, and looking very tempting. A somewhat similar exhibition was made by Mi'. Jackson, of Birmingham. There were also some vases and table ornaments from Messrs. Naylor and Dunn, of London. The silver plate of Messrs. Deny and Jones, Birmingham, comprised some very graceful dinner- table ornaments ; also those by Mr. Spurrier and by Messrs. Gouch & Sylvester, whose flower-vases were exceedingly pretty. Pottery from Mr. J. Jackson, glass of Mr. C. Bryan, and meteorological instruments from Mr. T. Rabone and Messrs. Field & Son, varied the character of the Exhibition as weU as added to its interest. Garden implements were shown by Messrs. Mapplebeok and Lowe ; and, in looking over them, I found many really useful and well-made instruments, and some also made more for show than use. Mr. R. Thomas and Messrs. Pajkes and Co. had also exhibitions of a similar character. Messrs. Mapplebeck and Lowe were also exhibitors in garden seats and ornaments, and wirework. A large wire rosery, ex- hibited by Messrs. G. Baker & Co., stood in the centre, being neatly decorated with plants for the occasion. Messrs. Gilbert Brothers had some very good garden cutlery. Messrs. Bentley & Stone, and also Messrs. Griffiths & Browlett, exhibited the hydropult, which I found easy enough to work, especially that exhibited by Messrs. Pumphrey, which, I think, is as good for conservatory work, and may be bought at a lower price. A number of wire garden-stands, filled with plants, were exhibited by Messrs. Mapplebeck and Lowe. Artificial flowers were there too, showing great skill and delicacy of touch on the part of those who fabricated them. A beautiful case was shown by Mrs. E. P. Howe, of Birmingham; and those of Mrs. James Stoddard were perfection, being modelled out of lice paper, and all looking exceedingly natural. There was also a case of fruit modelled from some that were shown last autumn. They were of immense size, and exact imitations of the natural finiit. Both artificial fruit and flowers were exceedingly weU done, and reflected great credit on those who made them. To do justice to such an Exhibition as that held at Birmingham a thorough inspection must be made, and it is weU worth the time. — F. Chittt. APHIDES AND TWO OF THEER. ENEMIES THIS SEASON. Having noticed in the public papers of last week an un- favourable account from the Hop-growers in consequence of the prevalence of the aphis or green fly, I beg to offer the following brief remarks for theu- encouragement especially, as well as of hortieidturists and agriculturists in general ; — Up to the present time, in this locality at least, the aphis has proved exceedingly injurious both to Gooseberiy and Currant bushes, and, indeed, to trees and shrubs generally ; but it is gratifying to be able to state that the larvae of ovsr old fi-iend the lady-bird (CoccineUa) and the larvae of the hovering fly (species of the Scteva genus) — and especially the latter — are busily engaged in devouring all the various species of aphis ; and I have no doubt, in a week or two, they wOl make such a clearance of these pests that there will afterwards be little or no cause of complaint. These little friends of ours, but enemies to the aphis, have made their appeai-ance much later than usual this season, in consequence, no doubt, of the cold spring we have had. For the information of those who may not be aware of the utility and importance of these little fellows, I will give a brief description of one of them. The lady-bird is generally well known. Its larvs will rai-ely be noticed except by close observers, for it is in that state generally amongst its prey, exceedingly ugly, rough, and of a dark brown colour. The perfect insect feeds very little in comparison to the lai-vae. The hovering fly, or perfect insect of the Scaeva genus, is two-winged, the most usual species being a little larger than the common house fly, thicker, and with longer wings and body. They are distinctly marked round the body with stripes of black and buff. They are mostly seen in fine warm weather steadily hovering amongst plants, then dart- ing right and left. There are several species, some very small, but they are all valuable. The larva; of those mostly seen are something like leaches in miniatui-e, very soft and flat, of a buff colour slightly variegated, and about the size of the maggot of the flesh fly. After feeding, the chrysalis is generally formed amongst the leaves and plants on which the insect feeds. — Joshua Major, Knosthorpe, near Leeds. ON COTTAGE GARDENS. The advantages of the allotment system, or division of land into gardens of the size required by cottagers, are now so generally recognised, that it is scarcely necessary to advo- cate its adoption. While, however, nearly all are agreed respecting the beneflts the system confers on the poorer classes of the community, its influence for good on the more affluent has, I think, been in a great measure overlooked. The farmers, for instance, who at one time were much opposed to its introduction in our country parishes, on the supposition that the possession of gardens would render the labourer too independent of his employer, have, for the most part, discovered that the independence it has created is of a kind with which they are not disposed to find fault — inde- pendence from relief obtained through the poor-rates. We have not indeed quite gone back to those happy times — if 54 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Jaly 21, 1863. ever they existed elsewhere than in the realms of poeti-y — when " every rood of ground maintained its man ;" but. if cottage gai'dens continue to multiply thi-oughout the land, we shall soon reivch a state of tilings where every rood of ground maintaining its pig will contribute greatly to the maintenance of the pig's oivner and family. But if the distribution of small portions of land among the labouring classes of agricultural districts proves a benefit to the large land-owners and the farmers, it is especially bene- ficial to one individual in eveiy parish, whose influence for good over those among whom he is placed it is most desirable to extend — I mean the incumbent or the minister appointed as his substitute. The experience of the writer of this ai-tlcle may perhaps be admitted as an illustration of the fact. _ About eleven years ago it was his lot to be appointed to the incumbency of a somewhat populous parish, situated in one of the most agricultural districts of the midland coun- ties. There are now, he most sincerely trusts, few parishes in England in so neglected a state as that in which he foimd the village of . There was no trace of any previous incumbent having resided there; and, indeed, it had no house for him to reside in. The land was almost entirely in the hands of large absentee proprietors; Dissent almost universally prevaUed; and the place was notorious throughout the country for dissipation and deeds of violence. To be instrumentid in eftecting a change in the moral aspect of the place was, of coiirse, the earnest wish .and endeavom- of the writer; and though, even at the present time, he is painfully conscious that much stUl remains to be done, he thankfully acknowledges that a large amount of good has been effected, and for this good he "is in a great measure indebted to the allotment system. It will perhaps conduce to clearness if, in detailing the means by which that system was can-ied out, and the general mode of its operations, he should now speak in the first person. The mr.st important thing to be done was naturally to build a parsonage, and thus to secure, both for the present time and the futiu-e, the residence of a clergyman in the parish ; the second was to devise some plans for the gradual improvement of the parisliioners. I have said that nearly all the land was in the hands of proprietors who lived at a distance from the source of then- income, and who contri- buted in nothing to the welfare of their numerous tenantry. Among these absentees had hitherto been the former incum- bents, who, as the tithes were commuted for land, were, for the period of then- incumbency, land-owners of some import- ance. The probably pei-manent residence of this land-owner was now at all events secured ; and it appeared to me that the possession of land might be turned to good account for the purpose of assisting in the amelioration of the position of the working classes. Land, even to the extent of a rood, or a quarter of an acre, was scarce among these, and in so great demand, that as much as ^£1 yearlv rent was gladly given for so small a quantity, the rates and other taxes upon it being paid liy the tenant. A suggestion which, shortly after entering the parish, I one day threw out to a labourer— that if a field was divided into cottage gardens, it might prove beneficial to himself and those in a similar sitiiation— was soon repeated; and the news of the possi- bility of sMch an occun-ence spread rapidly over the village, affording for the time a subject for gossip of a less hui-tfiil kmd than that which is too often the established means of entertainment in small communities. Two or three days after I received a petition signed by nearly all the labourers aad working men of the place, which as it may prove a curiosity to some of my readers, I KteraUy transcribe :— '1852. "To the Rev. . ■ Vicker. " We the undersigned poor of this parish do Eai-nestly Request your favour to allott a portion of Land to each of us The undersigned which we shall esteem it a great favour by so Doing at any Reasonable Rent you think will do us any Good By so doing we shall remain yom- obedient Ser- vants." [Here follow the signatures offoHy-nine laboureis a)ul aHi-sans.] The day after a supplement to this petition was sent me, with some ten or twenty morejnames appended to it. However ungrammatical this composition might be, its brief and simple earnestness spoke eloquently to my feelings, and a favourable reply could alone be given by one who was a weU-wisher to the petitioners. There was a field, or close, as it is locally denominated, containing somewhat more than twelve acres of excellent land, conveniently situated for the purpose required, and forming part of the glebe. This field I dirided into forty-seven allotments ; which were distributed by the drawing of lots among those whom I considered the most deserving and the most in want, of those who had signed the petition. My object in having recourse to the method of drawing lots for the distribution of the gardens was to prevent any discontent which might arise from some portions of the field being deemed better than others. The price of each allotment was fixed at 12s. Gd. — the landlord paying all rates and taxes due upon it, and the tenants keeping the hedges and ditches in a proper state of repair. A few short and simple rules were printed and given to each tenant. I do not transcribe the rules, as they are, for the most part, the same as those laid down in similar instances. One deviation, however, from that similarity may be mentioned : no condition is made that holders of gardens should be regular church-attendants — my motive in omitting that usual condition being that, as many of them had been brought up in the principles of dissent from the Church. I did not wish it to be supposed that a premium was held out to them for the performance of a duty, which by other and better means I hoped in time to make them fulfil. Experience has not caused me to regret the absence of such a regulation. Indeed, on the subject of rales in general in connexion with allotments, I would remark that it is my belief, that the less stringent and the less numerous they are, the more efficient as well as the more acceptable they will be found. For their own sakes the tenants will nearly always cultivate the gardens in a proper manner; and, after all, good crops are the best tests of good cultiva- tion. It may farther be stated that the allotments are at the present time occupied by thirty-four agricultural laboorers, four shoemakers, two blacksmiths, two carpenters, two brick- layers, two machinists (workers of steam threshing-machines), and one small shopkeeper. The result of ten years' experience of the working of the system may now briefly be detailed. I shall begin by ob- serving that though the payment of rent is required but once a-year — about three or four weeks after harvest (Sep- tember 2oth), a time when nearly ail the crops have been removed from the field — I have almost invariably received the whole rent on the day appointed, and in no case have I ever lost any portion of it. I have, indeed, frequently encouraged the deserving and assisted those in need by returning to them a smaU part of the payment; in one case only have I remitted the whole, and that was one of great necessity ; but every remission of rent has been granted of my own accord and without any solicitation from the tenants. Last year, with these deductions, the receipts for the forty- seven gardens were .£27 14s. 6d., instead of ,£29 7s. 6(J., the fuU amount. In the year 1857, a year in which there had been some tlistress among the agricultural labourers, it was X26 7s. 6(J., the smallest annual payment since the establish- ment of these g.arden3. But it must be added that the rent previously paid by the farmer who had occupied the field before its division into cottage gardens, was only .£15 ; or, taking into consideration that he paid the rates and taxes upon it, about d£17. The cidtivation of the garden has, on the whole, been very satisfactory ; it may even safely be asserted that the produce of the field is more than double what it was when it formed part of a somewhat large farm. The profit made upon each garden varies of course with the degree of culti- vation, and is in every case difficult of estimation ; but that a fair profit is made is evident from the circumstance that only two gardens have as yet been voluntarily given up, while there are ten or twelve applicants for the first vacancy which may occur. The best result of the system has apparently been the habits of economy which it has tended to create. Money, which too often before found its way to the ale-house, is now expended in the purchase of a pig or in seed and manure — more manure being generally required for each garden than can be produced in the pigsty. I may hero July 21, 1863. ] JOTJENAIi OF HOETICXJLTURE AND COTTAGK GAEDENEK. 55 mention one curious consequence of the cottagers m this vUlage having neai-ly all a garden— a consequence which certainly was not anticipated when the aUotment-scheme was introduced. Owing to the large quantity of cattle and horses kept by the fanners, hundreds of cartloads ot farm- yard manure are carted-out along the highways dunng the winter season. Traces of the passage of the carts used to be disagreeably manifest to the wayfayer, and much that mio-ht have contributed to the fertilisation of the sod was converted into a public nuisance. At present the value of the fertiliser is too well appreciated for even a few shovel- fuls to be left upon the road ; a pleasing sight may almost daily be witnessed of small children, with theii- mmute spades and wheelbaiTOws, gathering up the Htherto-wasted fragments for the increase of the muck-heaps in their gar- dens. Indeed, a more efficient band of little scavengers than that which the allotment-system has called into esist- ence could not easily be found. Enough has perhaps been said to show that m the parish of ."at least, garden allotments have proved a powerful auxiliary in ameUorating the condition of the agricultural poor ; and the temporal improvement of that class of the community is intimately connected v/ith their spintual ad- vancement. Indeed, whatever tends to raise the condition of the poor, places them in a favom-able position to be influenced by the teaching and example of those whom Providence has placed in a superior station of life, and who deshre to make use of the advantages that station gives them, to further the well-being, both temporal and spiritual, of their feUow-creatm-es in the lower gi-ades of society. _ The poor man must be persuaded that the rich man is a friend, before he will listen to him as a counsellor. For the pui'pose of showing that others have derived the same benefit as myself ft-om the allotment system, I quote the words of a writer who has evidently had much expe- rience on the subject, and who has published the results of that experience in an interesting little work, to which I would refer those who desu-e further infonnation respecting it It is entitled " Sketches of Country Life and Country Manners, by one of the Old School : London ; Eivingtons : 1840." " Should the labourer," he writes, " unfortunately be unable to obtain any employment from the farmer, he will, at aU events, have sufficient in the produce of his httle plot of ground to keep himself and family from absolute destitution, without applying to the parish for assista,nce until a new demand for his services occui-s. And, should a more favourable state of things take place, and the labourer be fully occupied mth work during the whole year, the little gains of his allotment wfll proi-ide him with a few comforts, or become a little store to which he may look in a season of distress or sickness." While cordially approving of these and many other remarks in the work fi.-om which I ha,ve borrowed these words, I would not be understood as coin- ciding with the author in all his opinions on the subject of country life and country manners. Let me also refer my readers to another short treatise, published likewise by Ei-vingtons, under the following title — " Some account of a system of Gai-den Labour-, acted upon in the parish of Springfield, Essex ; by the Eev. Arthur Pearson, Eector of Springfield." The reader will there find an estimate of the nett value or clear gains to the cultivator of one-eighth of an acre ; tliis the author puts down at £\ 183. 2d., or X2 16s. id. for a rood. Such an estimate, how- ever, I consider to be higher than the average clear gains in this part of the country, where— as it is one of the most favoured agricultural districts in England— the labourer, it 13 probable, is more constantly employed than in most others, and has less time to spend upon his own garden. The clear profit here, I have said, it is difficult exactly to estimate ; but I believe that it may be fairly stated as not under 3os. or ,£2 the rood. From an article in the QimHerly Review (vol Ixxiii., p. 477), we borrow the following statement, written in the year 1844. " Of all immediate remedies for pauperism, the allot- ment system offers the most cheering prospects ; the expe- rience of almost every one who has travelled in Great Britain will have afforded examples of the benefit resulting wherever land is appropriated to garden culture by the labourer in such small proportions as interfere not with his ordinary duties as a servant to the farmer. I have now briefly given the result of my personal expe- rience of the advantages arising from the mode, which is yearly becoming more prevalent in England, of distributing to the poorer classes of the community small portions of laud at a reasonable rent, and under regulations neither too numerous nor stringent, and have endeavoured to cor- roborate my testimony of its utility by the evidence of others, who have had a similar experience with myself. My motive in doing so has been chiefly to gratify a wish, often indulged in. to throw into the balance of public opinion the weight, trifling though it be, of a country clergyman's practical appreciation of the good resulting from the mea- sures I have endeavoured to describe. I would, in conclu- sion, most earnestly urge its adoption on all land-owners, and even on large tenant-farmers, who might, for such a purpose, doubtless readily obtain the sanction of their landlords. But most especially would I advocate a fair trial of it to the beneficed clergy in country parishes, most of whom have more or less land at their disposal. I am very far from asserting that it is the first or the most important improve- ment to be introduced by a new-comer in a rural district where the temporal and spiritual wants of the inhabitants have been hitherto neglected ; but it is my full conviction that it will be found a most valuable auxiliai-y to aU other means of improvement. Indeed, in one respect, it has a prominent advantage over most other modes of benefiting the poor ; an advantage which the minister of the parish — who has often a great portion of his income to spend in objects of charity— will duly appreciate. It will be found as profitable to himself as it is to others ; and, while obtaining a higher rent for his land, he will also, for the most part, have a more thankful and contented class of tenants than if he had let it out in larger quantities to two or three farmers. Like mercy — to use the well-known words of our oreat national poet— the allotment system proves itself ° t-svice blessed," for "it blesseth him that gives, and him that takes." * — {Macmillan' s Magaziiie.) WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEN. Eeadicate all seed-weeds before they shed then- seed; pull them up by hand, as cutting them up with the hoe, and allowing them to remain on the ground, is nearly as bad as letting them stand; for although the seed may not be ripe at the time, the sun will soon matui-e it. We allude particularly toGroundsel, Shepherd's Pui'se and Sow Thistle. Broccoli, finish planting-out these and Winter Greens as speedily as ground can be obtained; for unless the autumn should provl very favourable those planted after this oime will not attain much size. Cauliflowers, the mam crop for autumn to be planted on a rich piece of ground Itns vegetable, when planted at this season, becomes useM after the Peas are over. Celery, pay strict attention to the early crops; let them be gone over with the hand, and aU the oflsets taken off, and, if convenient, let them have a thorough drenching with d'ong water, after which, on the foUowmg day, give a slight covering of earth to prevent evaporation ; it should be remembered that this plant in a state of nature is an aquatic. Ca.hha.jes, make a sowing of Ea^t Ham for early spring use, and the last sowing of Coleworts. Endive plant it out on very rich soil. Lettuces thm and transplant a sufficient quantity for use. Keep them watered durmg the continuance of dry weather. _ Parsle;/, sow immediately. If any has been left for seed let it be gathered as it npens or the best of it will be lost. Peas, earth and stick the Evincing crops. Sadishes, t^e Black and Wiite Spamsh to be now sown for winter use ; also so^tl^e.Jf'T"^ ^ for successional crops. Spinach, a good breadth to be sowri For the northern counties the Flanders should ^e substituted fortheEound-leaved; but it is time e^o^^^^ 1°^*^* ™, more south. Strawien-ies, dig down exhausted plantations, and plant the oround with Winter Greens. Use all e firs vo . o^J^ear supplement of the rmiiy Encychpxiia. Also m i^iiammia Journal, New Series, vol iv., p. 101. 56 JOURNAL OP HOKTICTJLTTXRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ July 21, 1863, off soon should be mterlined for the purpose of establishing as large a breadth of these useful vegetables as can be done. FLOWEE GAKDEN. The progress of aU mass flowers to be attended to with unfailing care. In shortening-back shoots that incline to ertend beyond the edges of the beds, avoid the least ap- pearance of formality by thinning-out the under shoots, and keeping all parts of the beds of equal depth or thick- ness. Climbers on walls to be attended to as they advance in gi-owth, keeping the young shoots neatly tied-in, &c. The dimbing Roses wQl also requii-e to be gone over occasionally for the purpose of cutting off decayed blooms. Phloxes and other herbaceous plants to be neatly tied up, avoiding huddling the shoots together as is too frequently done to Bave time. Any of the Perpetual-blooming Eoses that have flowered very freely to be assisted by liberal waterings with maniire water from the stable or fai-myard tank. Indeed, too much of this can hai-dly be given to any of the autumn- blooming varieties. Dahlias will require abundance of water. Disbud and thin-out as the habit and constitiTtion of the plant require it. The Pink -pipings put in early as advised, will now be ready for transplanting, and if so, let it be done at once, as they wiU require time to establish themselves so as to prevent frosts from injuring them. If the situation ul- timately intended for them is vacant, they may be planted there at once ; but if occupied at present by something else, let the young Pinks be planted i inches apart on reserved beds in an open situation, the soO to consist chiefly of hght loam and weU-rotted dung, to which may be added some charcoal dust, or charred refuse. Finish the laying of Car- nations, Cloves, Mvde Pinks, &c., of which there is rai-ely an overstock. FKUIT GARDEN. A systematic application of the principles of pruning should be continued to fruit trees diuing the summer and autumn months. The tendency to excessive luxuriance renders the operations of disbuddiig, stopping, and shortening shoots more particiUarly essential. In the first place it is advisable to pinch-oif all young shoots not necessary for the frame- work of the tree ; secondly, to stop those shoots which threaten to overgi-ow then- neighbours ; and, finally, having commenced a system of repression, to contioue it with the lateral shoots which are developed by this system of stop- ping. If root-action become too powerful, root-pruning may, in the proper season, be practised with advantage. Strawberry-runners to be looked after either for pot-culture or for plantations. In conseqiience of the continued dry weather wall trees vnR require watering, or the fruit will drop prematurely. One thorough soaking will be siifBcient to prevent any ftirther mischief at present from drought if tiey are afterwards mulched. GKEENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. Camellias, whenever the yoimg wood appears to be ripening, may be removed to the open air. They tha-ive best in the shade, and a situation shaded from the midday sun and sheltered from high winds should be secured for them. Be careful to place them on a di-y bottom to prevent the pos- sibility of worms getting into the pots. Chinese Azaleas, which are equally foi-ward in theii- growth and have formed their next season's flower-buds, may likewise be turned out ; but, unlike Camellias, they requii'e full exposTu-e to the sun and air, and should be placed in an open situation that their wood may become thoroughly matiu'ed. It will be prudent, however, to place them for a week or two in a partially shaded situation, to haiden theu- foliage sufficiently to bear the full sun, or the sudden change from a house to bright sunshine might cause thefr leaves to turn brown and burn. Calceolarias and Cineraiias to be shifted as they require, and kept cool. Heaths and New Holland pilants to be freely exposed, especially at night, giiarding only against heavy rains. Water regularly and copiously. Shift, stop, and train as necessary. Expose succulents freely to the light. Eemove Cacti which have completed their growth to a dry airy place. Cut down Pelargoniums when the wood is ripe after blooming. When cut down to be placed in a shady situation until the most forward young shoots are an inch long, then to be shaken out and repotted into small pots, using sandj- loam and peat. Afterwards place in a cold frame until they begin to gi-ow again, when they may be fully exposed to the weather until the approach of frost renders it necessary to house them for the mnter. PITS AND FRAMES. Commence the propagation of stock for next season, to secui-e strong well-established plants before winter and withoiit the necessity of keeping tliem so close and warm as to induce weakly and watery growth. W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. kitchen garden. As we coxdd water very little, did what we could to pre- vent crops being burned up. Think we will manage for another eight days, will then be at our wits' end as to nice succulent Lettuces, Cauliflowers, and even Peas. The extreme brightness of the sun, and dryness, will also tend to break in on oiu- contemphited succession of crops ; but we must just do oxu- best. Shaded Lettuces, Cauliflower, Celery, &c., with branches that had previously been withered. These will do something to break the force of the sun's rays. Watered some young Lettuces intended to stand where sown. Planted-out Lettuces, and cut-in the side leaves considerably before doing so. " What a Goth ! " we hear some reader say ; " the more leaves the quicker would the plant be established." We gi-ant the fact, if you could protect and shade, and make an interesting patient of every Lettuce plant. The more leaves kept from flagging the sooner vrill a plant or cutting root and establish itself. But it is the flagging that is the drawback, and the more and larger the leaves, the greater the likeHliood of flagging and dying in such weather as the present. Not only so, but aU Lettuce ground where planting is resorted to must be pretty rich, and, therefore, worms and slugs may be expected ; and these will either pidl the flaccid leaves into then- holes, or feed on them as they lay withering on the surface of the ground. We, therefore, cut off a few of the largest of the leaves before planting, so that the plant may stand up boldly, and thug be so far fr-ee fi-om the attacks of worms and slugs, and ajso fi-om the reduced surface for evaporation there will be less necessity for repeated waterings. In all such weather, how- 1 ver, much laboiu- may be saved by sowing such crops Ihirily, thinning-out, and leaving the plants to perfect them- selves where sown. Such plants can cater for themselves in a way which transplanted ones cannot do for some time. Once get them fau-ly started, and di-y weather is of less im- portance to them. They need little or no watering, as, however di'y the surface, moisture will reach them from gi-eat depths. The mere damping of the surface would an'est the rising of moisture in the shape of vapoirr to be ca\ight by the roots as it passed them. A rough surface, though to a certain extent it would arrest rapid evaporation from the soO, would not impede the rising of moistiu-e by capillary attraction fi-om beneath, as a mere wetting of the surface would do. That mere drizzling never reaches the roots, and does more evil than good, as it arrests the rising of moistui-e from beneath until it is itself all eva- porated, and the usual course of evaporation is brought into exercise. From this great source of moistiu'e in the bowels of the earth, fi-esh-transplanted plants in summer receive little or no benefit whOst the surface is moist, and it must be pretty moist, unless we plant with great balls. Hence it will be seen that even the best rales as to planting may be broken at times with advixntage. Watered early Celery to prevent it bolting, and covered with half an inch of dry- earth. Must wait for a change of weather before we can plant out any more. A man with a stream at hand need not wait, for he has water ready. When plants -srith fine balls can be raised, we do not like to injure a leaf. When that ie not the case we would be inclined to dock them a little, to lessen the perspu-ing surface. Hoed and forked amongst growing crops ; cleared the ground of early Cauliflower and Pea,s, and prepared for digging for fresh crops. Watered beds of Endive and Lettuces, and sowed more, also Spinach, Turnips, Eadishes, and Dwarf Kidney Beans, where we shall be able to give a little protection in autumn. Other things much in routine. July 21, 1863. ] JOTTRNAIi OF HOETICULTUEE AJSTD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 57 TBTJIT GARDEN. Tiiinned late Grapes. Tied-in Peach-shoots. Watered and regiUated Figs, Chei-ries, &c. Layered Strawberry -runners. Thinned and stopped shoots of fruit trees, as previously stated. Planted-out late Melons. Cut-hack the first bed for a second crop. The second bed had been too much punished with bearing and rather dry to do much more good, so moved plants out, and part of soil to 2 or .3 inches deep. Cleaned the frame, painted with sitlphm- inside, and plajited with strong young plants. We have also put some where a little fii-e heat can be given in the autumn. Suc- cessions come iu well. Strawbenies ai-e suffering consider- ably from the di'ought. Even the blackbu-ds seem to care less for the fr-uit, as it has become more saccharine, and is less juicy. The crops on the whole have been good. We have noticed the trouble that some people have to obtain a crop ; but it is in general aU theu- own fault. A friend of oui's has a large bed, but he scarcely ever has any fruit. He had maniure water and Utter at command. No plants could have bloomed better, and the bloom was perfect ; but for want of the water and the litter the large crop shrivelled up. We have in- stanced several cases in which sterility was owing to extra and late encouragement to growth, by which fine plants were seoui'ed with soft flabby buds. We know it is often diflScult to procure good crops on light land, and we approve of the plan recommended by a coiTespondent of adding clay to such soil. We have, however, seen fine crops secured by a simpler process still. The ground was well maniured and well dug, and the plants put in in the usual way, after the ground was well roUed and trodden. As soon as the plants were faii-ly established the ground was beaten firmly about them with large beetles when it was in a rather wet state, and then the hard fii-m ground was slightly Uttered over with haU'-rotten dung, and a thicker coat was put on eai-ly in spring. We never saw plants do better; the leaves were lai'ge, on short footstalks, hanging close to the ground, instead of tail staring things. This just reminds us that no rule, however good, should be too hard diiven. One of oiu' rules as to Strawbei-ries is to em'ich the ground, dig it well, and after planting never to put a sjjade in it untU the plants are dug down. Another rule is never to cut away a StrawbeiTy leaf from a plant we vrish to remain and be fertile, except perhaps a few dead ones at the spring-di-essing. This answers weU with us here, and we should look on such an operation as mowing the tops of our Strawberry -beds early in the autumn as something barbarous — quite as bad as cutting over a quarter of Aspai'agus in the beginning of August. Biit holding that idea, we must say that we have seen the scythe used in a Strawberry-quarter with very good effect. In very Ught soil the foUage comes long and lanky, it is fre- quently aU spotted and brown before the fr-uit is all gathered, and therefore the wasted foUage cannot elaborate for the buds of the foUowiug year. When neatly cut over eaily a fresh batch of green leaves is produced ; and these so grow and floui-ish that ripened and far better buds are produced on compact fi'esli plants before the end of autumn than ever •could have been produced ft-om the old, spotted, half-dead leaves. Only in such cfrcunistances would we sanction the scythe or the knife ; but even on such soil we shaU be sur- prised if such a practice is much needed if the firming pro- cess is resorted to. Thus rules must bend at times to suit oases and cii'cumstances. ORNAMENTAL DEPAKTMENT. Potting hardwoodedand softwooded plants, training flowers in beds, keeping clean, and the general routine much as last week, which see. Our labour is greatly regulated by the scarcity of water, and moving oui- rough siu-face pre- sents a fresh point for the sun to act upon, and so far breaks the line of evaporation and conduction without doing much to prevent the fi-ee rising of moisture from beneath. We have been obUged to water some Calceolarias that were showing signs of distress, as they are heavily loaded with bloom. Geraniums are standing the drought nobly as yet.— R. F. ^^_ ExTKAOKDiNAEY Feost. — Ou the night of Saturday last the thermometer near London feU to 27°, or 5° below freezing, a temperature which we beUeve has never before been regis- tered in July. TO CORRESPONDENTS. *^* We request that no one will write privately to the de- partmental writers of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. AU communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- tur'e, (f-c, 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or tliree questions at once. Cherries Falling in aw ORCHARD-aouaE [Observer). — Your Cherry trees ate, from your description, of the Bigarreau race, and your house being " forced on early in the season," the blossoms drop from the pollen not acting. Bigarreau Cherries are raost impatient of heat wlien in bloom, and do not force well. You shuuld remove them and plant May Dukes, but with them much care is required when forced. They should have abundance of air when blossoming, GuAso LiauiD Manure {J. C, Muckross). — For plants in pots half an ounce of guano to a gallon of water ; for plants in the open ground one ounce of guano to the same quantity of water. Plums in Pots {Ah Irish Subscriber). — There is either a defect of action at the roots or you keep your orchard-house too close. What is said in answer to another correspondent to-day relative to his Cherries falling may be suggestive as to the cause of your Plums becoming yellow and falling. Spot in Grapes (G. M.).—ThQ berries of your Muscat Grapes are un- questionably affected with the " spot," a disease which we consider has no connection with exposure to the light. Try removing the soil down to the upper roots, replacing it with a mixture of light loam, limy rubbish, and thoroughly-decayed stable-dung, giving also copious waterings with tepid water. Berries of Cotoneaster a>d Pyuacantha [F. P.).— They are not tempting in flavour, but we should certainly say that they are not poisonous. The CraliBgus pyracantha belongs to a genus, the berries of which are really palatable. Formerly both Cotoneaster and Pyracantha were in- cluded with the Medlar in ihe genus Mespilus. White Cderants {Lex\ — The White Currants you sawin Covent Garden were the White Dutch. They are produced by being grown In a fine strong loam, and by the trees being pruned on the spur system. Names of Insects {T. Morgan). — The Black Pincher is a species of ground beetle (Harpalus ruficornis), and is no doubt beneficial in gardens and fields, by destroying and eating worms and other sott-bodied insects. — W. {Bees].—\t is the Sirex gigas. The appendage to its abdomen Is used for boring into Fir trees for ihe deposition of its eggs. HOESE.DUNG FOR MusHuooM-BEDS (C P., Wigau). — We would recom- mend horse-droppingg that have been collected four months and dried in the shade, without any litter amongst them, to be mixed with at least one- third of their quantity of fresh dung. Thrips and P.ED Spider on Geapes nearly Ripe [A Many-year» 5«65cri6sr).— Fumigate the house with the best shag tobacco to destroy the thrips; paint the walls at the top of the house with sulphur, and the hot- water pipes also if they are the source of heat, but not a flue. Put a sharp fire on at night, opening the windows early. If you dislike using fire, slack 2 or 3 lbs. of fresh lime in a pail, and when pretty well slacked, mix with it half a pound of sulphur. Were we in your case, we would go over all the worst leaves with a sponge just moistened with soap water, so that the insects would stick to it, and there would be no danger of any dropping on the bunches. A man might thus soon clean a house, especially with the help of the sulphur fumes. The sponge is the safest application. Climbers for Greenhouse {J. P.).— Presuming that you wish for climbers of short duration, as you have named Tropseolum canariense, the following, in addition, will give abundance of flowers ; — Thunbergia alata and T. alata alba, Tropffiolum Lobbianura Brilliant, Lophospermum Cliftoni, and Maurandya Barclayana. We should prefer some of the more-properly- speaking greenhouse climbers, for most of the above are hardly worth house- room, as Hibbertia grossulariaefolia, yellow ; Jaaminum gracile, white, and sweet-scented; Kennedya inophylla, and K. monophylla, blue ; Rhynco- spermum jasminoides, white, very sweet ; and Kennedya coccinea, red. All those will do well in nine-inch pets, with ordinary greenhouse tempe- rature. Evergreen Berberries (ff. if.).— Your border will just suit Berberries- Trench the ground if possible, snd then work in, as your soil is light and poor, a liberal dressing of well-rotted manure or leaf mould. You will hardly be able to have more than two rows in such a narrow border, 4 to 5 feet. In the back row plant Berberis canadensis, B. dealbata, B. FortunI, B. Leschenaulti, B. empetrifolia, B. heterophylla, andB.dulcis, all of which attain 4 to 6 .''eet, and that is the distance they should be planted from plant to plant in the row. In the front row B. Darwini, B. asiatica, B. Beali, B. japonica, B. nepalensls, B. sinensis, B. trifoliata, and Mahonia aquilolia should be planted alternately with the plants in the other row. The plants should not be less than 2 feet from the edge 01 the bed, and the same between the rows, so that your border should not be less than 6 feet wide. One row of plants is ample for a bed 4 feet wide ; but two rows look batter than one, and three are belter still, especially when the centre is planted with the taller, and the outside rows with the dwarfer kinds. Any time between October and March in mild weather is the proper time to plant them. AU the pruning Berberries require is to cut away m early summer a»y straggling shoots and such as are weak and old. They will need copious supplies of water the summer after planting in droughty weather. Salt for Mildewed Vines (/. A. /.).— We do not think the salt would injure the Grapes, but we would not run the risk, since it is estahlished beyond controversy that flowers of sulphur applied thoroughly is a speciSc for the Vine mildew. 58 JOURNAL OF HOEnCULTtTRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. ( July 21, 18fi3. Caosa-BRED Gejianium {C?tristine).— 'We can form no opinion from the parts yoQ enclose, nor sbould we conclude anything unless we could eeelhe plant, or, at least, on entire flower. Answ KEs TO CoRRi;6PosDEHT8 (J". Jf., Loftdondtrri/), — You are "dis- appointed" because you are unreafionable. Your question reached ua on Monduy, the vtry day we go to press, and it was not possible to insert an answei. No query can be sure of a reply in the next Number of our Journal unless we receive the query in the first hall oi the week. Names of Plants {A. B.).—!^ Blechnum spicant; 2, Lastrea dilatata; 3, Lahtrea Filix-mas ; 4, 5, 6, Alhyrium FiUx-fcE.iiina. [A Cockney).— 1, Hysfiop; 2, Savory; 3, Pennyroyal; 4. Balm. AnyKarJener or cooktould have told you tliests names, and we ought not to have our lime occupied thus needlessly. {Alpha).— h\\ the specimens imperfect; but we can just make out, 2, Stachys sylvatica and, 4, Sisymbrium officmale. {W. L.).— We have often said that we cannot underiake lo name many plants from one correspondent. So out of yours we name— 1, Taxodium distychum; 3, Ceunothus azureus; 4, Spirtea tilipendula ; 6, Kuscus raceraosus ; 12, Ornithogalum scilloides; and, 13, Acorus calamus. ( ]V. i,.).— No letter or any wntmg CKiiie with the epecimens. Three or four perfect specimens in a curd-bos with a little damp moss to keep ihem fre&h is what we dtsire. Numerous dry specimens we have no time to examine. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE, CHILLED EGGS. In reply to youi' remarks and "Evesham's" as to eggs chilled during hatching, I must with all deference and with much diffidence object to your idea that the hen being off' her nest several houi-s at so early a period in the sitting was sufficient to destroy the vitality of the eggs. I once sent in the evening some miles lor a promised sitting of eggs. They were laid by a Cochin hen running with a Minorca cock. When my messenger aiiived, he found they had that morning been placed under a hen. They were, however, removed, and he brought them to me, of eoui-se quite cold. I think I had ten chickens out of that batch. I look, however, on the general habits of broody hens as teUing more against your opinion than even my case above. It is a popular notion, with perhaps a good share of truth in it, that stolen nests are most productive; and those of us who have watched hens know, that for many days during the laying of the last three or four eggs, the hen is often several hours on the eggs and then off again for as many, thus placing these eggs frequently in the same position as "Evesham's," yet they hatch. At this early date there is no real vitality in the egg. Indeed, until the appearance of blood on the third day, comparatively Uttlc change takes place to the eye of a careless observer. So many authenticated cases of success after chilling having occurred, it is wise to persevere if eggs are of value. Can " Evesham " be certain that eggs from the same yard about the same time prove fertile ? Are eggs of Sebright Bantams of less vital power? I have this year hatched a great number of eggs that had been greased to keep them fresh; the lard, though keeping an egg beautifully ft-esh for months, is easOy wiped off, and does not then interfere with the admission of air into the egg.— Y. B. A. Z. In April, 1854, No. 291, Vol. XII., I gave you an account of a hen having left a sitting of eggs on the twenty -first day, and that on the twenty-second day part of the eggs were placed below another hen, after having been deserted for more than twenty-four houi-s and becoming quite cold, and that on the twenty-sixth day five birds were hatched, and on the twenty-seventh day three more were added to the stock. In the Number above referred to there are communications from six diff'erent individuals giving instances of eggs being chilled from six to twenty-fom- hours. — J. T. Seeing inquii-ies as to the time for which eggs might be left during sitting without vitality being destroyed, I beg to mention the following fact. Five eggs (SUver-spangled Hambm'gh's), were put under a Bantam hen, which deserted them after about a week. They remained certainly twelve, and so far as I remember, twenty-fom- hours, and were, of course, quite cold, when another Bantam hen took to the nest. I broke one egg, and, seeing some slight motion in the embryo chick within, I left the other ioiir eggs, of which three have just been hatched, twenty-two days after the fii'st hen commenced sitting. — W. R. J. SELBY POULTRY SHOW. A Poultry Show in connection with the tenth annual meeting of the Selby, Tadcaster, and Market Weighton Agricultural Society was held on the 10th inst. at Selby. Notwithstanding the excessive heat, the thermometer being at 8C° in the shade, to the great distress of the poultry, the ground was crowded with visitors from the opening to the close of the Show. The birds this year excelled both in. number and quality those exhibited at any previous meeting of the Society, so that, altogether, we may congi-atulate the Society upon the success of their Show at Selby. There is one point in which the Society has room for improvement — viz., the pens provided for the reception of the bfrds, many of which evidently want renewing, being in a very delapi- dated condition, so much so that they proved only insecure receptacles for the birds. The frequent escapes were a source- of great annoyance to exhibitors. Npanish were first on the hst. Miss Beldon taking first with an excellent pen. The prize for Spanish rhicl;ciis was with- held. Old Dorkings were a good class, though the one for chickens of this variety only produced two pens of average quality. The Cochins, mustering eleven pens, were better this yeai- than at any previous Show. Messrs. H. & G. New- ton had an easy walk over for the first prize in old birds ; there was, however, some good competition for the second, which these gentlemen also eventually secured, still continuing their success by taking both fia'st and second in chickens with very promising Buff' bii'ds. The Game classes were rather below the average, the great Game-breeder of the district, Mr. Adams, not being in competition. At this Show there are no classes for " pens " of Game (except chickens), but only for single Game cocks and for pau-s of hens. Miss Beldon well deserved her first position in both classes. In the Hamburghs, as will- be seen from the prize list, Mr. James Dixon maintained his reputation as amateur of these beautiful varieties, by taking the bulk of the prizes offered against verj' strong competi- tion. Good Black Hamburghs and Brahmas were the prize- takers in a large Variety class. In the chicken variety class, Dorkings were first (notwithstanding the class for Dorking- chickens !) and Black Hamburghs second. In Bantams, Laced took both prizes — Gold first, and Silver second. In the class for Any variety of single cocks (mustering twelve pens), the first-prize bird was a very fine Dorking ; the second, an equally fine Buif Cochin. In paii'S of hens, Spanish, followed by Polands, had the honours. The Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys-were strong both in number and quality. We cannot omit mentioning Mr. Young's first-prize Aylesburys, which would have done credit to any Show. Spanisb.— FirBt, Miss E. Beldon. Second, T. C. Trotter, Sutton Hall. Commendecl, T. Lcdilall. Halllax. DooKiNts.— First, R. M. Stark, Hull. Second, 0. A. Young. Chickens, —Prize, T. E. KeU, Wetherby. Cociii.i-Cbina.— First and Second, H. & G. Newton, Garforth. Com- mended, E. Witty, Cottiugliam. Chickens.— tiiil and Second, H. & G. Newton. Commended, O. A. Young. Malay.— First, Miss Beldon. Second, O. A. Young. Game. — CtocA. — Firbt, Miss Beldon. Second, H. M. Julian, Beverley. Commended, J- Baxter. Barlby. Een*. — Prize, Miss Beldon. Com- mended, H. M. Julian. Chickens.— Vr'ize., O. A. Young. Phfasant (Golden). — First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, G. Holmes, Driffield. Commanded, Mits BeldotL CAic-Aens.— first, J. Dixon. Second, 0. A. Young. Pheasant [SilverV— First, S. Campling, Nottingham. Second, J. Dixon,. Bradford. Commended, T. C. Trotter, Sutton Hall. ('AicAfW*.— First, J. Dixon. Second, T. 0. Trotter. Hamddhgh (Golden-pcnclUed).— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, Miss Beldon. HAUBtiRou (Silver-pencilled).- First, J. Di.\on, Brailford. Second, Miss- Beldon- Commended, G. Holmes, Driffield. Polands. — First and Second, Mies Beldon. Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford. Any Breed or Cross.— First, Miss Beldon. Second, H. Lacy, Hebden Bridge. Chickens.— V\x6\, C. Hutchinson, Selby. Second, H. Pickela, Earby, Skipton. Bantams (Any variety). — First, Lord Londesborough. Second, Miss Beldon. Coil.— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, H. & G. Newton, Garforth. Bens. — Fir-.'t, J. B. Hepworth, Uatheld. Second, J, Dixon. Geksi:.— First. J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, O. A. Young, Docks (Aylesburv).— First, O. A. Young. Second, T. C. Trotter, Sutton Hall. DccKs (Any otber variety).— First, J, Dixon, Bradford. Second, R, M. Stark, Hull. Turkeys.- Prize, R. M. Stark, Hull. Guinea Fowls. — Prize, J. Dixon, Bradford. Mr. Joseph Kiehardson, Thorne ; and Mr. J. O. JoUy, Acombe, York, officiated as Judges of the poultry. July 21, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 59 GAME AND A FEW OTHER BIKDS. In concluding my articles on birds as regards the good and injury they do, it now only remains for me to glance at those I have not previously noticed : they are the Doves, Oame, Waders, and Swimming Bii'ds. Of Doves or Pigeons we have five wild species— namely, the Kin" Dove or largest Wood Pigeon, the Stock Dove, the Turtle Dove, the Blue Kock Pigeon, and the Chequered Dove-house Pigeon. These are all seed-eating birds ; their office is that of weeders, and they do a great deal of good in eating the seeds of weeds — much more than is often supposed. That they eat corn and peas when they can get them is quite true ; but their feet are not made for scratching, nor are their bills fit for digging, so that they do not do so much injury as is generally laid to their charge. The grain they devour is mostly scattered or imperfectly covered, and, consequently, but a trifling loss. Under the head Game, I class QuaUs, Partridges, Grouse, Ptarmigans, and Pheasants. These are also very useful birds in the field, where they destroy an immense quantity of insects, which if left would do a great amount of damage. It is this kind of food that gives the peculiar richness of flavour to their flesh. Of corn they also eat a little, but except where they are kept in too large a number for their natural food, the evil arising from them is not noticeable, but in the neighbourhood of preserves Pheasants often do a considerable injury to the crops just before harvest. Waders are a numerous family, but rather sparingly spread over the country. I include under this head Peewits, Grey and Golden Plovers, Com Crakes, Moorhens, and many other bii-ds occasionally met with. Their food consists almost entirely of insects, and they are good friends to the farmer and agriculturist. It is a great pity they are so scarce; but as they are not strictly Game, and excellent eating, we need not bo surpi-ised at their scarcity. Some meadows in Kent that used to be much frequented by the common Plover, have much deteriorated in valu e since the destruction of the Plover's eggs, which are sold as a bonne houche at is. per dozen, for since the almost extermination of these birds the daddy longlegs or gadfly have increased to such an extent as to destroy the turf in many places. These bu-ds are the best I know of to keep in gardens for the destruction of many insect pests, but they are rather delicate, and require protection from cats and rats. The Crane and the Heron are also waders, but the Crane and Stork, Spoonbill, and Bittern, are now very rare in England, while the Heron is also becoming scarce. I do not think he does any good, and the injury he commits is only that of taking a few fish. The water fowls, as Teal, Widgeon, and wild Ducks, feed mostly on aquatic insects and seeds, and can scarcely do much harm. Wild Geese, like tame ones, are vegetarians ; they are not very numerous, and I am not acquainted with SbUj injury laid to their charge. Sea bu-ds, as Petrels, Turns, Gutes, Cormorants, &o., do not, I think, affect the gardener or farmer, unless it is in assisting to form deposits of guano. With this I close my brief notices of the good and evil done by British birds, and trust that these papers have not "been without some interest to a few of the readers of The JouKNAL OP Horticulture.— B. P. Brent. EEMOVING BEES TO THE MOOES. As the time has now arrived for removing bees to the heather, I wish to remind your readers of the very great advantage a hive taken to the heath has over one that cannot be taken there. It gives the bees at least six weeks longer honey-harvest, and I find my bees not taken to the moors always lose weight after July. The heather, I find, is fast coming into bloom, so that no time should be lost in sending the hives ; and if this beautiful bee-weather continue, the quantity of honey collected will be immense, so that the bees should have plenty of room given to them before they are sent. I wiU now give your readers a few directions for removing their bees to the heather. The first thing to be attended to is to give the bees plenty of room, as if the weather is favourable they collect from the heath a very great store of honey ; so the day before I remove them I place another hive on the top of the stock, when I want to join the bees on their return home to another stock and appropriate to myself the whole of their store of honey, or if I want to take the old hive from the bees and leave them in the new hive. If I want the bees to remain in their own hive I place the addition underneath, as the bees always fill the top hive first and afterwards the bottom one, and the honey in the new hive being deposited in new combs in which there has been no brood is very beautiful, and much more valu- able than the honey out of old combs. Where the two hives join I tie a piece of calico securely with two strings round each hive, so that they cannot separate or any bees escape when being removed. I then raise the hives about an inch fi-om the floor-board upon pieces of wood, and early next morning I find everj-bee has gone off the floor-board into the hive. I spread a piece of net or leno on a board and lift the hive upon it, and tie the net very secui-ely with two strings round the hive, and when so fastened I turn the latter gently upside down and place it on a cloth, and then tie the corners together, so that the hive is easily carried by suspending it by this cloth on a pole across the cart ; but it matters very Little if suspended or not, as the combs wiU not break down, the hive being turned bottom upwards. The bees by that means obtain plenty of air, do not melt the combs with their great heat (being excited), and I do not find the honey run out of those cells that are not sealed over, to do the bees any injury. I let the bees remain at the moors until about the middle of September, and when brought home I put them upon the scales, and the next day I deprive them of their surplus stock (leaving the bees, combs, and honey, 20 lbs. weight, which insi\res their preservation until the next summer) ; this I consider a proper return from these grateful creatures for my kind- ness in having given them a change of air in such luxuriant pastures, where many tons of honey are annually lost for the want of collectors. — W. Caer, Clayton Brid^je Apiary, near Manchester. P.S. — This month has so far been a splendid one for bees, the white clover being so very abundant. Many of my stocks have collected upwards of 2 lbs. of honey on several of the days. BEE-KEEPEN'G IN DEVON.— No. XVIII. A DWINDLING APIARY. Eather more than twelve months ago * Mr. Edward Fairbrother first made inquiry as to bees which had done well one year gradually dwindling away the following spiing, and ultimately, as he expressed it, "deserting their hives " entirely. In making this inquiry he stated that his was by no means a solitary instance, and was confirmed in this a fortnight afterwards by my friend "Bar-hive," who testified to his having experienced the same misfortune ; and whilst declaring it to be a subject of great importance to the bee- keeping community at large, appealed personally to me as being " the very person to unravel this mystery." In reply to these appeals I did my best in the way of suggestion as to the probable and possible causes of these puzzling failures, gave such advice as seemed likely to be beneficial, and, whilst confessing myself at fault, appealed to others to aid me in endeavouring to throw Ught on the subject ; but to this request no response was made. Here, then, the matter ended — unsatisfactorily enough, I confess. TJnprolific queens were blamed for the absence of prosperity in the hives over which they presided, and Mr. Fairbrother was told, in reply to his fui-ther inquiries as to the selection of queens, that tliis desuable end would most probably be brought about by his attaining sufficient apiarian skill to breed queens and select them tor himself. Now all this was, as I said before, sufficiently unsatisfactory, and 1 could not but confess that we had eluded the difficulty rather than fairly resolved it. Hundreds of people keep bees, and make them prosper, who never saw a queen in their Uvea, and are probably ignorant even of the very existence of this important member of the bee community ; or, if they have some dim inkling of the fact, they either confound her sex • ride Tbk Jocrn.1l or HoRTiciaiyRE, Vol. III., page 1S7. 60 JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE UABDENEK. [ July 21, 1S63. altogether and invest her with the title of " king," or they provide her with a pi-ince consort and gravely declare that " there is a king and a queen in every hive." Added to this I may state my conviction that, although there is un- doubtedly an immense variation in the breeding powers of queen bees, and that in this all-important point the Liguriaus possess a great and unquestionable superiority ; yet, as a rule, the fall breeding powers of even a common queen are seldom tested to the utmost, and under favoxu-able cir- cumstances nearly every queen I have met with has proved herself equal to the occasion and fuUy competent to sustain the population of a flourishing colony. I, therefore, take this opportunity of recording my belief that when stocks dwindle away it is seldom through a lack of reproductive power in the queen herself, but rather owing to this power lying dormant through being thwarted in some way by adverse circumstances. , WMl.st cudgelling my brains to little purpose in the vain .attempt to give a satisfactory i-eply to the query propounded to me, I little thought how soon Mr. Fan-brother's case would become my own, and that finding myself faii-ly con- fronted by the same difficulty, I must either solve the problem or bid atlieu to prosperous bee-keeping. Such has, however, been the case this season, which has been to me one of continued worry, vexation, and disappointment, both English and Italian bees having been equally at fault. Had I not already thoroughly tested the good qualities of my Ligiu-ians, I might probably have pronounced them worth- less, and had I met with such ill-success on their first in- .troduction, I would scarcely have troubled myself about natiu-aUsing them. Thus, then, the matter stands. Although all possessed of young queens, many of them sprung from a race proved to be far superior to the ordinary species, my hives have gone from bad to worse, untU some with the purest and most valuable queens have threatened to become altogether extinct, and none approached to anything like the prosperity which they have hitherto attained in far less favom-able seasons. All my endeavours to restore weak stocks by the hitherto-unfailing process — exchanging brood- combs with more populous ones, tui'ned out of no avail, whilst I continued to receive the most deplorable accounts of the few colonies I had been induced to part with. Eepeated examinations of the interior of my hives led only to the same conclusion, that the queens were in no case in fault, but that comparatively few of the eggs laid by them de- veloped into bees. Setting this down to the account of the cold nights we at that time experienced, it may readily be imagined how I longed for warm, nay, for very hot weather, when no low temperatiu-e could exist even in the most thinly-populated hive to interfere with the development of the young larvae. Thus passed the spring months, until at length in May • it became evident that the bees themselves were incompe- tent to remedy the mischief. Many of the combs had be- come mere masses of abortive brood, which the bees allowed to remain untouched, apparently overpowered and paralysed by the magnitude of the evil, and I was irresistibly impelled to the conclusion that something must indeed be done. By way of experiment I took one of the worst combs, opened every sealed cell, and by repeated and continued jerks over a sheet of paper succeeded in dislodging a vast quantity of a dark brown sbmy matter, from which arose a most unplea- sant smell. Having by this means and the use of a damp flannel removed as much as possible of the offensive sub- stance, I returned the comb to the hive, and awaited with anxiety the result of my experiment. Before very long the bees set to work, and having apparently piu-ified the comb, the queen next entered upon the scene, and soon filled it with eggs in the most methodical manner. This, then, thought I, is the right course to pxirsue. My little labourers are evidently appalled at the magnitude of the task, and if I only lend them a helping hand they will do the rest them- selves. I at once set to work : comb after comb was, at the cost of infinite labour, cleared and replaced ; and I looked forward with confidence to the time when the development of what I thought must now be healthy brood would replenish nay depopulated hives, and enable me once more to rejoice in the possession of a flom-ishing apiary. In this, however, I was grievously disappointed. It soon became evident that the bees hatched were even fewer than before, and that at the cost of so much time and trouble I had only given an impetus to and actually accelerated the downward progress of my apiary ! Diu-ing all this I had from time to time made a few spas- modic attempts at queen-rearing ; but such was the weak state of my colonies, that it was with difliculty any of them coidd spare a few bees to stock even a small nucleus ; and of the royal cells that were formed, so great a number turned out abortive that June was ended before I had raised more than a single queen. When June was neai-ly at a close, and I found myself in the same dilemma, I was faii-ly at my wits' end. I thought of Mr. Edward Faii'brother, and, like him, confessed myself fairly beaten. Never had I met with such a case, or even anything approaching to it ; neither could my apiarian friends assist me by suggesting a remedy for what was to them altogether unprecedented. AH their bees were in the most flourishing condition ; and one in particuliu' fairly told me that he believed he had more bees in one of his Liguriajl stocks than I had in my entire apiary. Can it, therefore, be wondered at that, in the bitterness of my heart at this humiliating contrast, I was almost tempted to wish that I had never become — A Devonshieb Bee-keepeb ? DRIVING BEES. I OESEKVE in youi- No. 118, that "A. B. C." has been un- successful in driving and transposing. I will, therefore, give him a little of the practice I have had. Last year I drove three hives. One proved successful, but the other two did not; and the next day I was rather astonished at seeing the three hives fraternise, the bees going from one to another. One of them, it tm-ned out, had no queen, and, consequently, it was robbed, and the bees joined the robbers. Driving does not always succeed, as sometimes the bees will not go out at all, and I find natural swarming is better than artificial ; but you may save time and trouble in watching by diiving. One of my last year's Ligurian queens not breeding good bees, I put on a drone-stopper, and it appears to have prevented her from swarming, as the bees have come out once or twice, and lately have been hanging out; but last Friday (July 10th), I observed many of them going to the next hive, and no fighting going on. I have, therefore, transferred this liive, and have added a large quantity of bees to a young Liguiian queen. I find bees join better, and with less fighting at the latter end of the season than now. The other day I had a very fine Ligm-ian queen come off, makiiig the third swarm ; and as there was not enough of bees for this time of the year, I tmni- g; ted one of the hives that I suspected to have no queen, as there were so few bees going in and out ; but I foimd the queen and destroyed her, as she was evidently no breeder, and then put the swai-m into the hive with comb, and joined the bees together. On the next morning I observed a small cluster of bees under the alighting-board, and on looking into them saw the queen, and got her into the hive. She very soon came out again, and I therefore put her with the few bees that followed her into an empty hive, and on going home the next evening was told I had another swarm, but on examination found the hive empty, and also the other hive, showing that the queen and the few bees had left the hive again. I did not find her that evening, but succeeded in doing so early the next morning in the place where she had alighted on the day before, and, therefore, I hived her again, but at night found she had gone, and have not been able to find her since. I fancy the bees would not have her because she would not be impregnated. Can any of yoxxr apiarian correspondents inform me how many days piping may be heard before swarming, as I have a swarm that has been piping for these four days ? The people here say it says "out," meaning the old queen has gone. — A. "W. OUR LETTEE BOX. Largest Brood op Dokkings (Jf. P.).— The most numerous we erer knew comprieed seventeen chickens. The hen had sat herself in the thatch of an outbuildint; covered dens-elj- with ivy. July 28, 1863. ] JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 61 WEEKLY CALENDAR- Day Day of of M'nth Week: 28 To 29 W 30: Tn 31 F 1 S 2 Sun 3 M JULy.28— AUGUST 3, 1S63. W. Forsyth, jun., died, 183: Fennel flowers. Sea Lavender flowers. Flax flowers. Lammas Day. 9 Sl-kuat after Tri.mty. Saffron Crocus flowers. Average Teraperatnve i'^'^'", '° near London. 'Myt^,,, Day. 76,0 75.6 74.8 74.9 75 9 75.8 74.5 Night. 52.2 50.8 51.3 51.1 51.2 52.5 51.4 Mean, 64.1 63.2 63.0 63.0 63.6 64.1 68.0 Days. 19 15 16 14 17 17 19 Sun Rises. h. 19af 4 Sun Sets. m. h, 54af7 52 7 Moon Kises, m. h. 12a 6 55 6 Moon Sets. m. h. 34af 1 49 3 13 4 39 5 2 7 23 8 43 9 Moon's Age. Clock before Sun. 13 14 O 16 17 18 19 m, s. 6 13 6 12 6 10 6 7 6 4 6 0 6 56 Dayof Year. 20» 2ie. 211, 212 213 214 21S From observations taken near London during the last thirty-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 75.4°, and its niglit temperature 51.5°. The greatest heat was 92", on the let, 1846, and 2nd, 1856 ; and the lowest cold, 34°, on the l»t, 1858. The greatest fall of raiu was 1.39 inch. BOILEKS. N constructing a hot- water apparatus, a good boiler is tlie first coasideration. In my opinion the merits of a boiler for horticultural pur- poses, should be measured in the following order: — 1st, It should present a large surface to the direct action of the fire. 2nd, It ought to need little water to fill it. 3rd, It should be made of a material not likely to wear out soon. 4th, The base or bottom should be .double the width of the top. 5th, It should be so con- structed that it will not be soon choked with soot, and should be easdy cleaned out. 6th, It should be of easy access for being repaii'ed. 7th, It should h«at quickly. 8th, It should be easy of management. 9tb, Its furnace should burn any description of fuel. 10th, It should require but little attention. 11th, It should be capable of being regulated so as to heat a little as well as a large amount of piping without any waste of fuel. 12th, Pro- vision should be made to clean the inside of th« boiler, to keep it clear of sediment. Some of the points named convey their own meaning, but a few remai'ks on each may not be out of place. On point 1st, I may observe that the parts immediately over the fire receive the greatest heat, and those parts ought to be stronger than the rest ; but whether the expected saving likely to accrue from thus providing against wear and tear, would more than balance the increased slowness of heating, has yet, to be proved. Water in a tin saucepan is sooner heated to a given point than in a copper one ; brass is some time longer in heating, and an iron pan longer still : therefore, it is only common sense to imagine a boiler side or bottom half an inch thick would heat the water in contact with it quicker, and a greater quantity, than one double that thickness. I dispute the claims of a boiler to preference because it exposes a large amount of surface to the action of the fire. It would be well to discriminate between direct and indirect action. The parts immediately over the fire I think may be considered direct, and those receiving the flame or heat after it has been in contact with another part of the boUer indirect. The one has double the heating power of the other. The fire in the first place would melt brass (1869°), whilst in the other it would not melt lead (594°). Water, however, cannot be heated to more than 212°, a few degrees more or less according to the pressure of the atmosphere ; yet it does not follow that a material capable of being heated by a common fire to a temperature of 1141° (DanieU), will not boil more water in a given time than the same material at half the temperature. A boiler, therefore, exposing 10 feet of direct, and 20 feet of indirect surface to the action of the No. 122— Vol. V., New Sekkis. fire, will not heat more water to a given temperature than one with 15 feet of surface directly exposed to the action of the fire. It does not follow that a saddle boiler with 12 feet of direct, and the same quantity of indirect surface, wiU heat as much surface as a tubular boiler with 12 feet of direct, and 48 feet of indirect. The tubular in this case would heat one-third more water than the saddle boiler ; but a saddle boiler with 30 feet of direct, and the same quantity of indirect surface, would heat more water to 212° than a tubular boUer with 10 feet immediately over the fire (directly exposed), and 50 feet of indirect surface. On the 2nd point I need not comment, for it will be evident that a boiler holding but twenty gallons of water will be sooner heated than one holding forty gallons. Large boilers holding a large quantity of water must be wide inside, from one side to the other, but a boiler holding but little water must have its parts narrow. On this point I need not further enlarge, beyond stating that the heating capabilities of a boiler are nearly as much dependant on the water it contains as on the isurface exposed to the action of the fire. A boiler hold- ing forty gallons of water cannot be so economically heated as a boiler liolding but twenty gallons, both having the same amount of heating surface. The former gives heat where it is not wanted, in the boOer, the othor in the pipes within the house required to be heated. I ma}' observe on the 3rd point, that the best metal adapted for boilers appears to me to be cast iron. Water prevents metals from being heated to their highest ex- tremes. For instance ; lead melts at a temperature of 594°, but a lead tube fiUed with water, hot or cold, will not melt, though exposed to a red heat (1077°) tempe- rature. To calculate, therefore, that because lead melfa at 594°, and iron (cast) at 2786°, the last must necessarily last longer than the other as a boiler is erroneous. A lead pipe filled with water will last longer than an iron one. I have an instance of this in a boiler for brewing purposes with a copper bottom and lead at the sides. The copper and the lead have been in use for near half a century, but an iron one not so frequently used as the other was corroded through in half the time. It was, however, a wrought-iron boiler. Still, as lead is so peculiarly liable to melt and get out of shajie, copper too dear, brass little less expensive, and -wrought iron soon worn or corroded through, the preference must be given to cast iron. When of good quality, and pains are taken to secure a good cast, this iron is undoubtedly the best and cheapest material that can be employed for making horticultural boilers. A cast-iron boiler properly cast is calculated to serve a young man his lifetime, providing he will give a good price for a good article. Cheapness is mostly obtained at the expense of quality, and boilers are no exception to the rule. The 4th point may seem ungainly. Why have a boiler larger at the bottom than at the top ? Because when a boUer is thus wider, a larger amount of surface is pre- sented to the immediate action of the fire than there No. 774.— Vol, XXX., Ouj Si;iuri. 62 JOURNAL OF HOETICUIiTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. July 2S, 1863. would be providing the boiler was of an equal width through- out. For instance : a cylinder with a base of 3 superficial feet exijosed to the direct action of the fire will not heat so soon as a conical boiler (supposing them both to hold the same quantity of water), with a base of 6 feet. Another reason why I would have the boilers wider at the bottom than at the top is this — When an upright passage is pre- pared for heat to pass through, it does so mthout parting with much of its temperature ; whereas if the surface were e!q)osed but inclined, the heat would run against it, as it were, in its never-failing passage upwards, and it would lose some of its temperature ivith ten times greater rapidity by contact than by radiation in a hiu'ried passage. Every- body knows that an upright chimney is never so hot as a horizontal flue, the reason being heat ascends ; in the chimney it is free, in the flue it is continually striving to ascend, and burrs, so to speak, against the flue top its entire length, consequently loses heat continually. In a boiler it is pretty nearly the same. A saddle boiler loses almost all the heat of the fire after its first contact with it, for when the flame goes along the side or over the boiler the top of the flue is heated more than the boiler. At the turns in the flue this is hotter, because the ciuTent of hot aii' is checked by an obstruction. Another reason why I prefer a boiler wider at the bottom than at the top is, the cii-culation is more rapid. After water is heated the sooner it passes into the pipes the better, and the smaller the opening to admit the water from the boiler into the pipes the more quickly will it pass into them. By having the boiler top narrower than the bottom, the water is compressed similarly to a swollen river pass- ing thi'ough a bridge, and eveiybody knows the current is stronger there than anj^wliere else. In a boiler, by heating a large body at the bottom of the boOer, and then causing it to pass through a naiTOw passage, we obtain double or treble the velocity. Let any one doubting this connect a piece of 1. J -inch pipe to the boiler-nozzle instead of a four- inch, and he will find the hot water rush through it at six times the speed that it does through a four-inch pipe. Water exposed to heat expands, becomes lighter, and ascends, and the quicker we get it out of the boUer after it is heated into the pipes the more heat we obtain . We do not want boiling water in the boiler and cold water in the pipes : therefore, the sooner hot water is replaced by cold water in the boiler the more economical is our heating apparatus. The water cannot come too freely into the boiler, it cannot go too soon out. I infer from this that the water should have double the space to come into the boiler as to get out. The 5th point resolves itself into this : A boiler covered with soot and dust will not heat well. Upright flues are not so liable to hold soot as horizontal flues, and where the draught is quick the necessity to clean is not so great as when the di-aught is sluggish. Boilers, the parts of wliich are naiTow and set horizontally, are very troublesome to keep clean, and when the flues have many bends more soot will lodge. Dirty flues reduce the heating power one-third, or, in other words, a clean flue will heat any surface one-third more quickly than a dirty flue with the same amount of fuel. On the 6th point I may observe that many boilers are expensive because they cannot be repaired. A cast-iron boiler cast solid in one piece cannot well be repaired when it is worn through or biu'st, but a wi'ought-iron one can. Cast-iron boilers that cost ^£20 very often have defective places in them, and when these give way there is no remedy but a new one. This very often causes a serious loss to the owner and more mortification than enough, for it is not pleasant to sec an expensive boiler worthless because it has a small worn place in it, or a crack that could, would the material allow it, be repaired for a twentieth part of the cost of a new boiler. It is quite possible to have a cast-iron bottom rivetted to a ■^^TOught-i^on top. The 7th point will be obvious to all. The sooner a boiler, or rather the water, becomes heated the better for meeting emergencies consequent on a fickle climate, for at times little heat may be requii-ed ; but on the sudden, without previous warning, severe weather sets in and more heat is wanted. The struetiu'e to be heated has been kept as cool a.s circumstances will pei-mit to save fuel and for the well- being of the subjects ; but there is a minimum temperature allotted to all plants, and to subject them to one below this is injurious if not fatal : therefore the heating apparatus should be capable of attaining a certain temperature before the external temperature has reduced the internal tempera- ture to a point when fire heat would be too late to secure the safety of the inmates of the structure, besides the anxiety of mind consequent on waiting whilst a boiler is heating, and the mortification attendant on obsei-ving the tempera- ture lower after the tire is started instead of heating sharply. A slowly -heating boiler is more costly than a quickly -heating boiler, but, of course, much depends on the draught. A boiler heating slowly through a bad draught, and another heating quickly with a strong di'aught, will be about equal in cost. A boUer, therefore, ought to heat quickly without wasting any heat or burning more fuel than a slowly-heating boiler. The 8th point conveys its own meaning. A boiler should be under control like a horse. It ought to keep the pipes either warm or hot, and consume only half the fuel for the former temperature than for the latter. Point the 9th is perhaps the most important. A boiler that bums coke will be more costly than worthy where coke is 21s. per ton, and other fuel can be had for 5s. per ton and afford the same result. Such a construction as a universal boiler never has been, and perhaps cannot be, manufactured. A boiler that will heat readOy by wood would suit in some places, by coal at another, and by coke at a third ; but a boUer that would heat with a combination of each is much wanted. The 10th and 11th points are solely relating to economy. Point 12th is well nigh impracticable. Neither is it necessary to provide for the cleaning of a boUer from the inside, for there is no steam in a boiler, therefore no incrustation of the iron. No one ever, or veiy rarely, saw any incrustation on a boUer or pan without a lid ; and in a boiler closed from the external air and full of water little or no incrustation takes place, providing the sediment re- sulting from corrosion is let out before the jjarticles are united to the boiler. BoOers are more liable to become choked from corrosion and the lodgment of sediment in the lower parts and the return-pipes than to become blocked- up by incrustation. In fa«t, any boiler (I am not writing about steam boilers) will be corroded through sooner than choked by the incrustation resulting from the use of the hardest water. Providing there is a hole drilled in a boiler at its lowest point with a pipe protruding from the brick- work and a tap, that is all that is required to clean a boiler. — G. A. (To he continued.) JOTTINGS FROM PAEIS, 1863. Ever since my return there has been one incessant round of flower shows, and to chronicle these I have been compelled to put on one side the few stray notes that I had made on some of the notabilia in the gardening way which struck me this year ; and as I have ever found that any informa- tion to be obtained on the subject of Eoses could be had from either the Verdiers or M. Margottin, I managed to make a little trip to Bourg-la-Eeine, and have a couple of hours' chat with as genuine a rosarian and as honest a man as there is on either side of the channel. Unfortunately I was nearly three weeks too soon to see anything in flower, and was somewhat disappointed ; but I then learned what perhaps I ought to have known before — that it is not in the early spring that they ai-e so much before us, but as the month of May advances ; and it brought to my mind what struck me at the time as curious — that a gentleman who kept a regular thermometric account of the temijerature at different places, once told me that it was astonishing how little difference there was between Paris, Lisbon, and his own place up to the end of April, but that after that it became very perceptible. Knowing that we have Eoses in bloom in June I expected to find some at least in flower, and was surprised to find that the buds were no farther advanced than some in my own garden when I left home. I was content then to have a view of one of the most beau- tifully even lot of Eoses (as standards) that I ever saw, and to have a good chat with my old friend and his amiable son. JbIj 28, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUKE XNV COTTAGE GAEDENEE. We were tolerably well agreed as to the merits and de- merits of the various Eoses which the previous year had produced, the unquestionable excellence of a large number of them having been recognised in France as well as here, there being, however, the predilection for dark Koses such as Vulcaiu — a taste we cannot as yet arrive at on our side of the water. He had already bloomed our fine EngUsh Eose John Hopper, and expressed himself greatly pleased with it. Madame Clemence Joigneux is said to be some- thing Uke it ; but I have not seen that variety, and so am unable to say whether it be so or not. M. Margottin spoke in high terms of rran<;ois Lacharme, which we have all learned on this side of the water to esteem highly. By-the-by, I should be glad if your rosarian subscribers would test this as to its perfume : a bloom that [ cut the other day had the most peculiar fragi'ance I ever recollect to have met with in a Eose, it having a most distinct flavour of lemon, almost like the Sweet-scented Verbena, so called, combined with attar of Eoses. It may have been owing to some peculiarity of soil, but it certainly was the most de- liciously scented Eose I ever smelt. Chai'les Lefebvre, Madame Boutin, and other flowers which have established themselves in our good graces were also highly spoken of. We had a long talk on the subject of seedling Eoses, and his treatment amply explains the fact that so few indifferent Eoses have been let out by him; in fact, if ever he does let out a Eose of second-rate merit, I believe it to arise from the capriciousness which attends the growth of this lovely flower in all seasons and places. A gi-eat deal has been said, for example, against JBoule d'Or. WeB, it is in some seasons difficult to open ; but I have cut this summer from a standai-d on the Briar, as fine and highly coloured flowers as I ever saw at Bourg-la-Eeine ; making one ex- claim. If only one had such blooms every three years it woiild be Uke running the blockade, one hit would amply repay two losses. The plan which M. Margottin adopts with regard to seedlings is, when he sees one of jiromise to bud it on two or three stocks for the first year. If it succeeds well on these, he next year increases thenumbei-, so as to have about twenty on trial. If it does not answer his exisectations he throws them away, keeping only one or two ; but if it maintains its chai-acter it is still fui'ther increased, so that four seasons elapse before it is let out; and it sometimes happens that even then it belies its promise, and he is obliged to thi'ow it away. We saw one vaiiety which he had grown for nine years, and which he intended to have discarded ; but last season it gave some beautiful blooms, and so he has tried it another season. Another, with very beautiful blooms, had wood of so " vUain " a character, so like the wild Briar, that he could not gi'ow it, for the point at which he aims is robust habit combined with excellence of bloom. He considers that no beauty -htU warrant his sending out a soi-t deficient in constitution. We know that Jules Margottin, Louise Odier, Louise Mai-gottin, &c. are excellent in tliis respect ; and I have no doubt we shall find the same character peiTading his new ones. What use is there in growing, for instance, such a sort as Madame Fvu*- tado ? You may obtain an excelleut flower, and it is a beauty when caught well ; but then nine out of ten of the plants are yellow and weakly, and disfigure the bed in which they are growing. M. Margottin had heard notliing of the new Eoses of other growers, but he has thi'ee of his own which he believed would be found to be acquisitions. Two of these he has since foi-war'ded blooms of to me, and one of them will be figur-ed in the September No. of the " Floral Maga- zine." It is quite a novelty among Bourbons ; a seedling of Louise Odier crossed with some dark Hybrid Perpetual, retaining the shape of its jjarent, of a dark crimson colour, and having what is very rare in this class — a most delicious fragrance. This he has named after myself, and will be let out this autiunn. Another was a large crimson- flowered Hybrid Perpetual, a seedling li-om Souvenir de I'Exposition, and, like the preceding one, is of very vigorous habit, and I believe will be found an acquisition. M. Margottin's garden is returning to its former weU- stocked state, having recovered from the severe winter of 1861 which killed so many of liis seedling plants. I never saw a finer lot of plants than those which he has now in it, and I deeply regretted I had not been there three weeks later to see them in bloom. I also paid a visit to M. Charles Verdier, and from him learned that it is his intention, if possible, to send over a collection of Gladioli somewhere towards the end of this month ; but I fear there will not be any shows at which he can exhibit them. He has gone largely into their growth, as may be gathered fi'om one fact — that he will have nearly a thousand bulbs of Eeine Victoria (the finest white grown) for sale this autumn, and that he wiU be able to reduce the price to about three francs a-bulb ; and as he is most careful in all connected with his business, Gladioli-growers would do well to bear his name in mind. His address is Eue Marche aux Chevaux, Paris. I could glean nothing about new Eoses from him. The pleasant task of reporting on them I must leave to some other more fortunate traveller than myself, and conclude with again acknowledging the great kindness and attention I received from all with whom I came in contact in the horticultural world.- — D., Deal. ^ KNOWLEDGE DESLRABLE FOR GAEDENEES. " I am a young gardener, and would like by-and-by to obtain a good situation. Meantime I should Uke so to im- prove my time as to fit me for such a situation, if I should happen to procure it. I want to know, therefore, what are the things that are most requisite for a gai-dener to acquaint himself with. Botany, I know, is necessary ; but I think there are other things to be studied even before botany. I do not think it would benefit a gardener if he were to study ever so long at botany if he coidd only read and write. " I know that gardeners, as well as other tradesmen, ai'e nothing the worse of knowing a Uttle of evei-ything ; but stUl there are some things that they should know most about, and these things are those on which I am particularly desirous of infoi-mation. " I leai'nt a Uttle of Latin at school, so that I can under- stand many of our botanical names better than a good number of gardeners. I have heard even head gaa'deners giving such absurd names to plants, that I often would have Uked to have con-ected them only for fear of giving offence. " If you do not think my letter vei-y fooUsh, perhaps you would be kind enough to reply to it in your answers to cor- respondents, and teU me what I had best study in the meantime. If you do think my letter too fooUsh you might teU me so, and that itself wUl be a lesson to me. — D. B," The having repUed in a short note as to the purport of your letter when we received it must, with having Uttle time on our hands lately, plead om- apology for not sooner entering upon the subject more in detail. We by no means imagine that the matter of inquh-y is at aU fooUsh, but con- sider, on the other hand, that scarcely anything could be more sensible. The difficulty in replying as to the branches of knowledge most important for a gardener to study, arises from the great difference in taste and mental constitution, ih unison with the weU-known fact that we wiU natm-aUy excel in those departments that are the most pleasing and interesting to us. You are quite right in coming to the conclusion that the more aj young man knows the more liJiely will he be to sui> cfeed as a gardener ; but then it should never be forgotten, that the success wiU be even less owing to the possession of knowledge, than to the power and generaUsing tendency Of bringing that knowledge to bear upon and regulate the operations of oiu- everyday life. Many a man possesses wondrous stores of knowledge, but for want of this simple adaptation quality they are of Uttle more use to himself or others than the hoarded riches of the miser. The fanner dearly values his huge piled-up heap of manm-e in the farm- yard, not for the good it wiU do there, but for the effects it win accompUsh when incorporated with the soil of his fields: ' We must try mth aU our gettings to avoid being a mere piled-up heap of good manure. "I know it is in him ! I know it is in him !" used to be the ejaculation of a loving father as to tlie abiUties of an only son,_ that others of our village community looked upon as anything but par- ticularly bright. " But what if it never comes out, Tom ?" was the reply of a messmate. Ah ! the coming-out was the grand proof, and the proof never came. Hence men of but ft? JOUENAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [July 28, 1863. limited acquirements, but possessed of ' this coming-out — • tliis adaptation-to-cii'cumstances principle — have been more valued for their sei"vices, and done more good in theii- day and generation, than some gi-eat jiliilosophers and encyclo- psedists of knowledge, whose minds seemed such a vast storehouse of ini'onnation that the bringing-out of that in- formation upon any one object of utility seemed to- be un- worthy of or beneath their serious consideration. Again : We slionld never forget — (though the posses- sion of great stores of knowledge is ever compatible with that knowledge being rendered subservient to the common operations of eveiyday life, and the understanding of the principles on which such operations are based will not only enable us to perfonn our work better, but give to work aMd toil an elevated pleasure) — that stUl an intimate and thorough acquaintance with a few branches of knowledge will be more useful and satisfactory than a mere general passing acquaintance with many departments of science ; and therefore, whilst despising no field of investigation, the yotmg gardener wiU act wisely who devotes his attention chiefly to those piu'suits for which he feels he has peculiar aptitude and taste, and which iviU be most useful to him in elucidating and exjjlaining the operations of his evei-yday life. ■ Before alluding to some of these we would clear away one or two misconceptions. The fh-st is, that a gardener cannot be a good scientific botanist without a good knowledge of Latin and Greek. No doubt such knowledge woidd be de- sirable, but not at all likely to be general until emjiloyers shoTT their ajjpreciation of such acquii-ements by a suitable remuneration. It is sufficient to disprove this misconception to state, that many good practical botanists never had the privilege of acquiring even the rudiments of a classical education. The second misconceiition is, that the knowledge of these classic languages is necessary to the right pro- nunciation of the botanical names of plants. The man who pronounces these according to the ndes given by Loudon and others, wiU often do so more con'ectly than the mere classical scholar, but imacquainted with botanical nomen- clature. It is not such an easy matter to decide upon the true pronunciation ; as in our young days, at least, the sound emitted of the same word was oft en very different in Edin- burgh from what it was in London, and in siich cases it is generally best not to ran counter to the stream, but to get into the habit of using the pronunciation that is most popular in your neighboiti-hood. In matters of no moment there is no advantage in mere singularity, though, no doubt, the advocates of the different systems could ai-gue lustily and learnedly on the matter. And. lastly, though we trust the oldest gardeners that know themselves wUl ever be humble enough to learn, stUl it is the nattiral position of the youth under such cu-cumstances to receive rather than to impart instvnction ; .and when young people venture on the delicate ground alluded to by our correspondent, it should ever be done, even as to the pronouncing of a name, with the humility and kindness of a disciple, and not with the assumed pe- dantry of the pedagogue. In the one case the young man will rarely fail to secm-e the warm respect of one who may have much in his power to advance his interests; in the other case he is too apt to arouse a feeling which thus finds muttered utterance, " He is far too knowing to learn fi'om me. Let him alone^why shoidd I bother ? " Some latitude, therefore, should be given as to the mere pronouncing of botanical names of plants, though the young gardener shoidd ever aim, not only at pronouncing them, but writing them coiTectly ; and though we should ever look on a knowledge of botany as a great advantage, and stOl more a great source of elevated pleasiu-e, still we do not consider such knowledge as the first essential necessai'y, because we weU know that among the employers of gar- deners there are very many who will excuse a comparative ip^orance of botany, who will not evtn find their ears tingle at the most uncouth pronouncing of the name of a plant, who will be slow to find any excuses for rickety plants, half- filled flower-beds, a want of crisp veget.ables, and a deficiency of ripened, perfect, weU-flavom-ed fruit. Though well aw.are of our inability to mark out a course of study that would be generally applicable as the best for all learners, we have no hesitation in propounding in the first place to the young gardener the importance of being a first-rate workman in aU gardening operations, • and the thorough comprehending of aU the details of these operations, not deeming even the simplest and the minutest of these beneath his careful attention. These matters were more attended to when the gardener had to go through his regidar coiu'se in different depaa-tments. The division-of- labour principle has so fai' interfered with it, that you will now more frequently meet with a first-rate budder, pro- pagator, planlJ-grower, &c., than with a man who is gene- raUj' conversant mth aU gai-dening operations. ThS all answers weU enough in commercial establishments ; in fact, they could scarcely be conducted without it ; but it ^\tU not answer in a gentleman's garden, where one man must superintend and take an active part in aU operations. It is no imcommon thing to meet with intelligent youths that have lived in large gardens, that would cut a sorry figiu-e with spade, hoe, scythe, knife, hammer, or mowing machine, when placed in juxtaposition with a common labom-er. Now the young gardener ought not to bo satisfied until he equals, naj', excels, the labourer in the quantity and the quality of his workmanship. It must be a galling thing for a man looking out for a master's place to see a labourer sent to finish the work which he left in a muddled unsatis- factoi-j' state. We knew an otherwise bright young feUow to whom the sight of a spade was like a nauseous dose of medicine in prospect. For the life of him he coiUd not turn over .a five-feet flower-bed \vithout leaving one side some 6 or S inches higher than the other — aye, and he would plant it too in that condition. He had passed his apprentice- ship and journeymanship in stokeholes, potting-sheds, and greenhouses, and knew as little about a scythe as the man who never saw one. Now, much of the neatness and the comfort of a gentleman's garden depends on the superin- tendent being practicaUy conversant with the best mode of doing everything, and the quaJity and the quantity of work that ought to be done in certain circumstances. I once Iieard a pretty quan'el between a mistress and her maid-senrant ; and the latter, stung into eastmg what she supposed withering repixiaches, declared, " I took you for a lady. If I had known that you had previously been a servant I woidd never have sei'ved you, that I wouldn't." Probably the mistress knew too much, and possibly expected too much. The gardener in a gentleman's place is merely a servant with helpers under him, and he wUl best discharge his duty to both by possessing, not merely a theoretical, but practical .acquaintance ^vith all gai-dening operations. Aim, therefore, at being .an expert and a reiidy workman, and you wfll never stand stUl for a tool. Do not be content whUst a laboiu-er can do work better than you can. In connection with the use of tools, we would advise ob- taining as soon as possible as much knowledge of mechanics as will enable you to do work weU at the least wear and tear of bodUy energy. Two men will each dig a piece of ground equally well ; but the one wUl not be tfred, and the other gi'eatly distressed, because in the mode of inserting the spade there was more resistance to be overcome, and less leverage power to ovei-eome it, and so with many other operations. A slight alteration wiU often cause a barrow to wheel lightly instead of heavily. One man wUl so set a scythe and regidate the haniUes that he will mow with his body merely slightly bent, another wUl not work uiJess his body is bent over the scythe as if he meant his nose to kiss the ground. The very postiu'e, independently of the working, is fatiguing, and coidd scarcely be endured but that people get used to anything. And so with many other tools. If work is done equaUy weU, the gi-eater case with which it ia done ought ever to be a recommendation. Again : As a secirrity against neglecting simple details, we would urge the imi)ortance of keeping a memorandum or diaj-y of aU operations, especially of sowing, planting, gathering, changes of temperature produced cither naturally or artifi(ially, &c. These wiU be of gi'eat ftiturc advantage, and will tend, fi-om showing what is requii-ed in an estabUsh- ment, to dispel the Ulusion that some young men seem to entertain — that the growing a few plants and flowers is all that is requii'ed in gardening. The man who thoroughly masters these Uttle matters may be a most successftd gar- dener though a sti-anger to aU the "ologies;" wliUst the man who neglects them, or considers them unworthy his notice, may be a veiy poor gai'dener, though a Latin and a 1 Greek scholar, and a learned philosopher besides. July ;8, 1863. ] JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUKE XNB COTTAGE GABDENEE. 63 Then, again, we would advise our young friends, in their working houi's and in their studying hours, to aim at being methodical. The man who has no method in Ms work will in general have no method in study, and will, most likely, not do great things in either. We feai- there is a growing tendency to want of method. Our boasted im- provements have lessened the necessity for close uninter- rupted attention, and hence there is frequently doing and undoing, undoing and doing, and never finished. The motto might well be inscribed on every garden tool-house — " In doing work, avoid making work." One man will go aijd do a job, and you iviU never see where he has been. Another wiU make such a mess that the first job was nothing to the jobs which he made. You wiU never lose sight of his track from the rubbish and the messes he leaves behind him. The thus making work is ever apt to keep people in a muddle. In most gardens there is quite enough of work for even method to reach. There is a man you tell to go and do what is necessary to a series of flower-beds that he knows all about as well as you do. He thinks a moment, for he is a man of method ; and away he goes, taking hoe, rake, tyes, stakes, broom, and basket or ban-ow with him. Tou tell another man to do a similar job, and off he stai'ts with his hoe. He has been chaffed for thoughtlessness, and, ere long, he sneaks to the tool-house for a rake chiefly for the edges of the beds. By-and-by the jom-ney is repeated for tyes and little sticks, and ultimately there is a double jom-ney for a broom and a ban'ow, to the no small wearing of shoe leather. Suppose that these men continue in these marked habits, would we not expect to witness a very- different result, when each had a sepai-ate charge \vith a similar amount of labour power under biin ? The want of method, more than the want of knowledge, is often the cause of want of success. And the same rule will hold true as to success in study. A dip at this, and an hour at that, will never enable a yovith to master any one subject. Change is pleasant ; but make it all change, and how is it possible to attain concentration of thought and of energy ? Some have recommended devoting the hours of the evening, or at least the different evenings of the week, to different branches of study. We know very little, but judging ft-om our own experience, we should imagine this plan to be all a mistake, so far as the common average of working men is considered. We woidd recom- mend, instead, to take only one chief subject of study in hand at one time, be it grammar, arithmetic, mathematics, systematic or phytological botany, geology, &c., or what- ever it was, and stick tenaciously to it waiil it was so far mastered that we could count and report om- progi-ess ; and in the meantime take up seriously with no other subject, except such as would give cheerful relaxation — as music, the newspaper, or even a little of light reading, as a good novel. The mind cannot always be at fuU stretch. It, as well as the body, demands change and relaxation. This relaxation will sooth and refresh, just as a stimulant acts on jaded physical energ-y. In both cases the stimulus must be under control, or it wiU become the master instead of the sei-vant. Taken in moderation, it will relieve and brace the mind for further energy. Taken in excess, the mind becomes unfitted for sustained and concentrated thought. We have known young men allowing themselves half an hour of relaxation, and devoting each evening of the week to a different pm-pose ; but by the time the regulai- night came round, they had pretty weU forgotten what they had acquii-ed, and on the whole made little progi-ess in com- pai-ison with those who devoted a month or two at a time chiefly to one subject. But for our correspondent being a Latin scholai-, we sliould say that, next to a good methodical workman, the young gardener shoidd be well up in reading, writing, and arith- metic. _ A good education is a great advantage. The want of it in these days need be no ban-ier to the youth of resolute determination. Some of our ablest, most intelli- gent gai-deners can look back to the time, when, as they handled the fii-e-shovel, they could scarcely speU then- way through a simple sentence. What they have done others may do. The educated yoiith wdl have the advantage if he do not think so much of his learning as to make hhn careless and inattentive. In a previous article we hinted that education, with a little capital or without it, might do better than learning to be a gentleman's gardener ; but the field offers something like a prize to the comparatively un- educated youth of humble means, who resolves to leai-n and triumph over all difficidties. With the ability to read, write, and keep accounts, he possesses the keys to unlock every avenue of knowledge. As to reading, it is next to im- possible to speak well, or with clearness and elegance, with- out being able to read well. Young men should, therefore, accustom themselves to read out with the voice, and not merely with the eye. This is apt to be forgotten in retired country places ; but if it cannot be done in lodgings it ought to be done out of doors. There is great benefit every way in thus giving free utterance to the voice. Just as in singing or reciting soul-stin-ing poetry, not only the matter but the manner and the idiom of the author whose sentences we read out become more impressed on the memory ; and thus reading well is not only a chief means for enabling as to speak well, but the best ijreparatoi-y study for enabling us to write oon-ectly. Eeading must ever be the chief means of increased infor- mation to the young gardener. Writing down what he knows is one of the best agents by which he can pliunb the depths or the shallowness of his information, and is often the only agent he can use for making his knowledge in- fluential upon others. That Avi-iting is the best that can be read as easUy as print. All fine flourishes of penmanship should, therefore, be generally avoided, unless for some particular word of importance. No capital letters should be used, except for the word beginning the sentence. The shorter the sentences are, the more pleasant and per- spicuous the reading. All conti-actions should be avoided, as " I've " for " I have," " sd" for " should," &c. Old fi-iends may do such things with each other; young gardeners should aim at ftdlness, plainness, and distinctness. Be anxious to state clearly what you have to say, and finish when you have done. I need not speak of the importance of spelling con-ectly ; the best aid to thLs will be reading good authors slowly, with an occasional tui-n-up of the dictionary. A pithy, well-written letter is a great recom- mendation whei-e a servant has to con-espond frequently with an employer. If he aims at elegance and correctness, and is at all young, he should study the grammars with their respective keys, of either Lenney, or Cobbett, and Lindley Murray, and then he can scarcely fall into the common en-ors of joining plm-al substantives with sin- gular verbs, &c. We know men that wi-ite very elegantly, that never got a lesson in grammar except what they gave themselves, and now they can smile at the crudeness of the composition of even a Queen's speech to her parliament. No man will write easily, however, who is ever thinking on gi-ammatical points. We are told that other men write very correctly who never learned a bit of grammar in their lives. They read the best authors carefully, and leai-ned to write with equal clearness and perspicuity, thefr chief guides being clear expression of ideas, natm-al sequence of these ideas, and a pleasing impression and clear comprehension by the ear when the matter was read aloud. A writer who cannot make his subject clear to himself must appear in cloudland to ever/body else. With nothing but the ear and common sense to guide him, along -ivith the helps above alluded to, an intelligent man will make few en-ors in com- position, though he knows little or nothing of the i-ules of gi-ammar. A careful study of the best authors wUl after all be the best teacher in this respect. In speaking of the best authors, I would not include some of the most popnlaa- authors of the day, who, by high- sounding rodomontade and abundance of low slang, have done so much to injure the fine terse old Saxon English, and led young people to believe that the uncouth, the high- sounding, the long words of many syllables boiTowed from foreign languages, and sentences ever so involved ajad lon^ ai-e some of the essentials of elegance. It would be well to recollect that as " brevity is the soul of wit," so strength and elegance may ever be joined with the simplest words and the shortest sentences. Instead of going to such un- couth slang for models, it would be wiser to consult, in this respect as to style, the Book of Books, the pages of the " Spectator," the volumes of the " Gardener's Magazine," especially after the great Loudon was united to Mrs. Lou- don, for seeing how massive strength and vigour may be GG JOURNAL OF HOETICTTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ July 28, 18G3. combined with the terse, simple, old Saxon, with its short words and short sentences. And once more on this sub- ject, it is wise not to be too demonstrative, not to be always imitating; the draper who hangs all his most valued goods in the windows. The humble student is not likely to do this. The educated scholar has a considerable temptation to transgi-ess, and therefore, when writing homely English, he will let us know his superiority by introducing Latin here. Greek there, and French and even Gennan ever and anon. Can anything be more stilted, unmannerly, un- gentlemanly ? We may feel our ignorance and oiu' inferiority enough, but wc may not choose to have them thus un- ceremoniously thrust upon us. If .a 'WTiter feels he cannot express his meaning except in Latin or French, let him write for those who understand such languages. If he condescends to write in homely English and for English readers, let him keep to the EngUsh tongue. We consider it sufficiently copious to express eveiy idea that is worth expressing. Such interlarding of other languages is a great disappoint- ment to the humble English scholar. Intelligent people pass it by with the rem;u-k — " Ah, poor fellow ! he must ring a beU to tell people how clever he is." He is only looked up to as something mai-veUous by that small and decreas- ing portion of our population who resemble the old woman, who viilued the abilities and the learning of a clergy- man in proportion as she thorouglily faQed to understand him. — E. Fish. (To le contmved.) STEAWBEERY-GEOWIIS'G. I HAVE been much interested bj- the article of your cor- respondent " H. C. K.,"' and I remember having seen his plan some yeai-s ago and then intended to try it, but owing to a change of residence and other circumstances it escaped my recollection. I am, however, somewhat at a loss to know whether I am to take his instructions literally or not. He says, " Place round each plant a heap of half-rotted -Stable-manui-e, so as to stand 8 or 0 inches high after being finnly pressed down with the hands ; and the ring thus pressed down should extend about 10 inches all round — ^plants 20 inches at least apaa-t." It occurs to me that the quantity of manure is excessive, and that the result would be that the plants woiUd be at the bottom of a hole 9 inches deep, and excluded from sun and ah- except from the top of the hole. If the plants are placed 20 inches apart every way, it follows that the entire ,j)lot will be covered with manure. Your con-espondent does not say whether he finds it needful to renew the mulching every year or not. I shall be obliged by his reply. I yesterday assisted in gathering some of the ft-uit from three rows of Crimson Queen StrawbeiTy grown about half a mile from Darlington by an amatem- gardener, and it may interest you to hear fourteen of them weighed 1 lb. (avoir- dupois weight) exactly. It is a magnificent fi-uit in size, colour, and iiavoui-. — A. Atkinson. OPEN-AIR rOECING OP EAELY CELEBY. The following method has been siiccessfully carried out by me when early Celery was reqxiired. I may add that I have had good blanched Celery fit for any table by the middle of June. I put fresh manure in the bottom of the trench, and made it pretty firm to the thickness of 10 inches, adding 4 inches more of good rotten manure on the top. I then left it untU the next morning, when I gave the manirre a good soaking of urine saved for the purpose. I left it for 'two more days ; and, it being wainn weather, it fermented as •I calculated it would, and produced a very genial heat. I then covered it over with about 4 inches of soil made quite fine, and left it untQ the next morning, when I gave it a thorough soaking of liquid made from rotten dung and urine, and left it all night. In the morning it was of a temperature suitable for giving anything a start, and kept on for about ten days, which was quite sufficient ff)r my purpose. I put in the plants the same night, and just sprinkled them overhead with water. The next morning I gave them a good drenching with tepid water. I planted them a foot apart every way, kept within 3 inches of the bed all round, so that it held three-score plants. I did not use a dibber, but made a hole with one hand, and w.os care- ful to spread the roots well. I may say the plants did not droop in the least, but started into growth at once at a most surprising speed. My worthy employer seeing the effect gave me gTe.at credit, for Celery had never succeeded in the garden before. I kept the plants in most vigorous growth for about five weeks before commencing to blanch. I have omitted to state that after planting I covered all the bed amongst the plants with fresh horse-droppings from the stable, which assisted in keeping the bed wanu and the dry air from the roots, and it acted as a stimulant when watering upon it. I kept a tub near to the bed filled with a mixture of fresh horse-droppings and a fair proportion of urine, and applied this every other evening not sparingly, but always watering overhead with clear tepid water, occasion- ally putting a little soda in the water, and having the water- tub fully exposed to the sun. I only blanch with 6 inches of soil, which I add to the plants at twice, finished-off with brown paper and other material ; frequently watering and keeping it moist about them. Chickweed or any vegetable rubbish of that substance does well to finish-off blanching. I should like it to be understood that the above practice is only applicable for procuring early Celery. — Wm. Ledger, Gardener. P.S. — The Celery I am now writing about measured in height 3 feet 6 inches, and appeared to be the thickness of a man's leg. When prejjai'ed for the table each head weighed 2 lbs. THE ALEXANDEA PARK FLOWER AND PEUIT SHOW. It says something for the taste of us good English folk, that we do not consider a grand ceremonial complete unless a flower show be either a portion of it or looms at no great distance of}'. What wovUd an Oxford Commemoration or a Cambridge commencement be without the flower show, where fair flowers and faii-er maidens enchant the eyes of soft undergraduates and old time-honoured dons ? what the Crystal Palace but for those wonderful gatherings of flori- cultural skm, to be present at which so many procure then- season tickets ? Would the Royal Horticultirral Society stand six months, with all its royal patronage, but for its flower shows ? And so, wisely did the projectors of this new people's park determine to inaugurate the opening of it with a gi-and flower and ft-uit show. The park itself is another proof of the taste for the beau- tifid in nature which exists amongst us. Situated at so short a distance fi-om London, it would hardly be believed by strangers to it what rare sylvan beauty, and exquisite undul-ating gi-ovmd and extensive prospects it affords. The .art of the landscape-gardener wiU have little need to be called into requisition, as the ground is so beautifully laid out ; and when the buildings shall have been erected, it win be to the inhabitants of the north side of London what the Crystal Palace is to those on the south. Nor do I think that it will interfere with the success of the older establishment. Tastes Uke these increase by being minis- tered to, and, like a new line of railway, open out fi-esh resources, while they increase the facilities of spending a pleasurable day in lieu of the stifling atmosphere of a public- house, or the questionable enjoyments of other places of resort. I believe, too, that many things manifest a desire to carry out this institution effectively. If I am rightly informed, no attempt will be made to open it on the Lord's day ; the whole management of tlie police an-angements will be entrusted to that well-tried body the corps of com- missionaires ; and amusements of a low character will not be admitted. The superintendence of the garden has been placed under the able management of Mr. Mackenzie, lately of Brighton ; and as it is the intention of the Company to erect a portion of the International building in the gi-ounds, some reminiscence of that famous place of resort wUl be perpetuated : and as the palace of Sydenham sprang like a phffinix from the ruins of the building of 1851, the Alexandra Park will owe its origin in a good measure to that of 1862. Thus the ironwork and glass wiU be utilised for a new Jttlr 28, 18G.1. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 67 Crystal Palace to be erected on the hiy^liost portion of the ;^;rounds, from whence a view rivaUin;:; in extent and beauty that from Sydenham is obtained — a view extending over the counties of Hertford and Essex, down the valley of the Thames, to Erith, Ac, and away into Kent, wliile London is hid from view by the hills of Highgate and Hampstead. The richly wooded and jiark-like character of the foreground re- minds one very much of that around Beckenham and Penge. Of the estate itself, which contains 480 acres, at least 250 will be retained for the piu-poses of the Company, and the re- mainder will be let off for villa residences. A large portion of it will be left in its present condition, as it is Mr. Mac- kenzie's opinion that landscape-gardening can add but little to the beauty of its sylvan glades, which will afford a fine scope for picnic parties to roam about at leisure as well as if they were a hundred uiUes from London. The trees ■ around the Grove House are very beautifid ; one walk, called Dr. Johnson's Walk, formed of large and wide-spread- ing Oaks, wiE, we venture to predict, be a favourite stroll, where •* Lovers' vows seem soft in eveiy whispered word." There are also a magnificent Chestnut tree, a fine Copper Beech, and other trees equally beautiful. I hope sincerely that the rutliless hand of the improver will leave these untouched. As I looked round on the capabilities of the place the thought came across me. To whom is Mr. Mac- kenzie likely to look for counsel in this matter ? and I could not but wish that Mr. Mamock had a voice in the matter. He made so much of the capabilities of the Botanic Gardens in the Park, and many of his other efforts at landscape- gardening in the more natural style have been so successful, that he woidd be quite at home here. Water is not want- ing ; and although there is but a small portion of it at present, I do not doubt that it will be greatly enlarged and made as attractive as possible. The Company, who only completed the purchase of the ground on the 24th of last month, determined to open it with all the t'clut possible, and so an-anged to have, if possible, a grand flower show and an archery fete. It was a bold ventm-e, for all depended on the state of the weather. Had the wretchedness of Tuesday and Wednesday continued, the whole atfaii' wovdd, both literally and metaphorically, have had a damper jmt upon it. As it was, with brdliant sunshine and fanned by a genial westerly breeze, it was a most decided success ; and when to this is added that the flower show was one of the best — some placed it as the best — that have been held tliis season, that most of our great exldbitors wore there, that a most liberal schedule induced competition which made it difBcult to determine often which were the best, and that not one bad collection of any kind was staged, your readers may form some notion of the treat that it was to those who visited the grounds. The amount of produce sent completely took Mr. Mackenzie by siu-prise, so that tent after tent had to be put up until four were more than filled. The large one contained as magnificent a collection of stove and greenhouse plants as have ever been massed together in July. The second con- ■ tained a fine coUeetion of fr-uit, the cut flowers, and table decorations. The third was filled with Roses and Fuchsias, and the fourth with ft-uit trees in pots ; and in most of the classes it has rarely been my lot to record such splendid collections. The Roses exliibited by Mr. Keynes have never been equalled, as far as my knowledge goes, his collection of 100 blooms being a most marvellous lot. It is something even in a box of 48's to say that there is not a bad bloom in it ; but when in a box of 100 one could not positively fix on an indifferent bloom, it may be weU conceived what a rich collection it was. His box of 48's was hardly inferior to this ; while the Messrs. Paul exhibited some very fine collections. Mr. Fraser's was also good. Amongst amateurs the contention was not sharp, there being "but three ex- hibitors. Mr. Turner exhibited some extraordinary blooms of Car- nations and Picotees, as fine as I ever recollect to have seen them ; but, as it wovdd be impossible for me at this late period of the week to do justice to the fiorists' flowers, I must reserve my fuller notes of them for next week. I can- not, however, omit noticing the beautifid dinner-table decorations exhibited by Mr. James Cutbush, of Highgate, in which evidently a lady's exquisite taste had been called into request — no little birds, bits of coral, shells, or fish disfigured the exquisite refinement of the arrangement of fruits and flowers. Some beautiful hanging-baskets were also contributed, and imparted great beauty and variety to the Exhibition. — D., Deal. Stove and Greenhouse Plants. — The total amount offered for these was large — no less than ^£148, and the dis- play made was proportionably good ; the principal contri- butors being Mr. Williams, of HoUoway, Messrs. A. Hen- derson ide border should always be higher than the outside border. If the border outside is new good loamy soil, and not exhausted, it may grow Vines well enough with the help of a little rotten dung, lime rubbish, and some eight or ten bushels of broken bones incorporated with it. As you have 2 feet of wall up to the wall-plale now, we would not take out much soil if we made a fresh border entirely ; but we would take off 1 foot, if we even used part of it again, ram and concrete the bottom, dig a drain in front 2 feet deeptr than the concreted bottom, put drains across the concrete, and place a foot of rubble over it, which woulu leave about 20 inches of soil up to the wall-plate. The best soil is brown mellow loam from the top spit of a pasture, mixed with brick rubbish and manured according to the richness or poverty of the soil. Bones are the most lasting manure. Part of the border next the house may only be made at first. The Vines will do as well if they have a fresh piece added every year. Grapes Diseased {J. J/. Miller). — The berries are " shanked "—that is, their stalks aie gangrened and dead. We believe that the best treatment you can adopt is that which we have recommended to another correspon- dent whose Grapes are shrivelled. Grapes Mildewed (jV., Ohiicester). —The Grapes are very severely mildewed, which is "the Vine disease.'* You have let it have its course too long unchecked. Dust the whole of the bunches and leaves with flowers of sulphur. Brush the stems and branches with a paint made of sulphur, clay, and water, and sprinkle flowers of sulphur also over the surface of the borders. When the suiphur has been on the Grapes for four or five days tyringe them freely; and when the berries have dried again repeat the sulphuring. Continue this routine until the while mildew (Oidium TuckenJ, is no longer discernible on any of the berries. Heating a Gee nhousk (T. P.).— There can bene question as to your securing more heat by running the flue along the back of your greenhouse. In fact, for such a small place as 22 feet by 9, we would be satisfied with a good flue. We have no fault to find, huwever, with the adjunct of the boiler ; but we would advise you to have three or four -inch pipes instead of two-inch pipes. As you purpose to divide the house, it would be as well if you could cause the water to circulate in the first division without going into the second, esctpt when you wanted, which could be easily done, and then with the flue, hottest next the furuace, and the hot water in addition, one division might be very hot, whilst the other was comparatively cool. If you did not do this you could regulate heat by air. Erytbrol^na, &c. ( Jl'. ir.).— Erythroltena conspicua, or ^lexican Thistle, still bears that name; but Renealmia nutans is now called Alpina nutans. The latter we know is in cultivation, but we have no information relative to the Mexican Thistle. Coci'MBjnt iC 5.)— The double Cucumber ynu sent is not usual, but we have seen it before. It is produced by two ovaries coming in very close contact when young and continuing their growth together. Maiden-hair Fern {J. I. C, Dublin).— li is not necessary to repot it every year. As it is in a IG-inch pot or pan and you do not wi.-h it to have a larger tenement, cut away a portion all round, remove a little of the sur- face soil, and fill up all the vacancy thus made with fresh soil. If you do this annually it may remain in the IG-inch pan for years. Culture OF BoRONiAS {A Subscriber).— Wc fear "watered occasionally" is the cause of your Boronias d>ing. They will not endure stagnant moisture, neither will they endure dryness, and more especially if the pot is pretty lull of roots and exposed to the fierce sun we have lately hud. The soil you used, peat and charcoal, is all right. The temperature in winter should be not below 45°, or from that to Su". Let good drainage be secured, und some broken pots might be mixed v/itb the churcoal in the soil. When forming buds and flowering a gooil supply of soft water would be needed. When done flowering, and the flowering-stems pruned off, keep the plants dryish but not dry f ^r a lortnight. just slightly -syringing over- head morning and evening. After that give a little more water, and place the plants in a mild foicmg-hous?, or in a close shady place in the greenhouse to encourage fre>h growth. As growth advances give more air and light by degrees, until by August the plants stand in the fall sun. Then, however, ths pot should cither be protected from the full force of the sun's rays, or be set in a larger pot with a little moss inserted in the openin,' at the top. We fear that dryness and sun together have killed you r plants. Orchids {An Orchid-lover].— You are right in your intention to visit the nurseries you name, as well as Kew. There are no Orchids at Chiswick, and you can only obtain admission to the Kensington Gore Garden by a Fellow's transferable ticket, or in company with a Fellow. When in Lon- don, if you furnish us with your address, we may be able to aid you. Grapes (Jom Srouji).~\om- Grapes are the Dutch Hamburgh, and there is no doubt but th^it they will become sweet and eatable ; but have you not too heavy a crop ? Possibly that is the cause of their not colouring and acquirir.g flavour more rapidly. House-sewage [Z. T., Godahriimg).-~Such a sized garden and so copped needs scarcely any manure. Some of the "slops'* might be given to the Rhubarb once a-week undiluted ; and some to the fruit trees that seem in want of vigour. You cannot employ all the sewage. Book on Vine-cultltre {P. .S.)— Hoare " On the Vine " is entirely con- fined to out-door culture. Names of Insects (J. E. Jessop).— The Lime-tree leaves had been infested with the plant louse, Aphis Tiliae, which had been devoured by the larvae of the two-spotted lady bird, Coccinella bipunctAta, of which the pups were aflSxed to the under sides of the leaves. These pupae, being attached by the end of the body to the leaf, un being disturbed lift themselves up like a lorge-hiimmer as you notice.— SV. W. Names of Fruit, Arc. iCon.sfant Sealer, DuhUn).—\, Your Plum is the Myrobalan or Cherry Plum, only fit (or tarts; 2, We bav£ never uied, or known any one else besides yuurielf who has tried, Dumont's powders. We should be ghid if some of our readers would give us their experience of them ; 3, You will find very good instructions for The culuvalion of Lapageria rosea in No. 33 of our New seiies; 4, llhododeiiOrons and Kttlmias that have done flowering in-doors should now be turn-, d out if they have completed their new growth, and placed in a moderately &haJy place. Namesof Plants '^Sarah).—\o\xx Oaks are— I, Q,uercus alba piunatifida ; 2, Q. albapinnatifida; 3, Q. coccinea ; 4, Q. albapinnatifida ; 5, Q. uquatica. [C. R. C.).— Fagus .sylvatica heterophylla. It is a variety of the common Beech, and Ihe branch at the top is a return to the normal form. {C. Bancell.) — Centrum aiirantiacum. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. WOECESTEESHIEE POULTRY SHOW. .July 21st— 24ih. The "fidelis dvitas," — and a " faithful city " it was to the Stewarts — has diu-ing the i^ast week been a town of banners and rejoicings. The usual accompaniments of dancing- booths, beer-houses, concerts, wild beasts, and rifie-galleries, followed the Eoyal Agricultm-al Society of England. Poultry is an elevating pursuit; aud although the Eoyal Agilcul- tural quarrelled with it, and gave it the cold shoulder some yeai-s ago, yet it took high gi'ound. It forgave; and on the princijjle of doing as it would be done by, it took its station on the thi-eshold, and added its attractions to the many others. It, doubtless, sent many to the showyard, and had to thank it for some visitors. The place was well chosen. On a slight acclivity immedi- ately facing the Agi-icultiu-al show-yard, the Committee had pitched a large square tent. Square commodious pens were fixed on every side ; and with the exception of Ducks, Geese, and Tui-keys, which were of necessity on the ground, all pens were in single tier. Fom- rows running from side to side filled the centre, making up the number of nearly three hundi-ed pens, exclusive of Pigeons, aud affording ample space for visitors between the rows. The spot was well chosen, and the efforts of the Committee met mth a rewai'd in the pleasing conp d'ceil afforded by the Show on entering. Game headed the list. It is not wonderful it should be so. Worcestershire has for many years been in the front July 28, 18G3. ] JOIJENAL OF HOKTICULT-DEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 77 witli this breed, and some of the birds shown were worthy of the old reputation, while none of them were inferior. The names of the successful would be a guaiuntee for the merits of the bu'ds. Among- others, the Brown Keds of Mr. Fletcher were very meritorious. We prefen'ed them to the first-prize Black Eeds belonging to the same gentleman. Mi-. Dyas and Captain Wetherall also deseiTe mention. The Duck- wings were excellent, especially the old birds ; and among the Open class for Game, it is worthy of note as a rare occurrence, that the Blacks took all the prizes. Dorkings, both oliickans and adults, left nothing to desii-e. They brought out some of our best exhibitors, among them Ml-. Wakefield, who took four- prizes. He was, however, beaten in chiclcens by the Rev. J. E. Newton. The Eevs. J. G. A. Baker, and Mai-tin AmpUett, with. Messrs. Dain and Tudman, made the prize-taking difficult. The Spanish were good. There was an excellent show of Cochins, of every age and colour, but we were sorry to see many of the chickens with vulture hocks. Captain Heaton's Grouse pen is a very good one, the cock a marvellous bird. It is needless to say Mr. Stretch's Buffs were capital, and Mr. Earle may think himself a meritorious exlubitor when he takes precedence of the Eev. G. Gilbert and Messrs. Bishop and Dawson. Mr. Tudman held a good position, as he always does, in Grouse Cochins, but was hard run in chickens by one of oui- " cosmo- politan" exhibitors, Mr. Wakefield, who was second. The Whites were far above the average, and we were pleased to notice the absence of green legs among- chickens, and white ' ones among- adults. Golden-pencOled HamftttrjTis were lamentably weak. Silvers made amends. A spur was given by the offer of a handsome porcelaiQ vase by Mr. Kerr. Mr. Walsh took fii-st in both classes. Of course, he gained the vase. He was also second for chickens. All the rest were taken by Mr. MarshaD. Golden-spangles were strong in adults, weaker in chickens. Silvers reversed — they were strong in chickens, weaker in adults ; but there were meritorious bh-ds in all. Mr. Hyde's birds were very good, also Messrs. Fielding's and Beldon's. Mr. Dixon ran them closely. We cannot forbear a remark here. In all Hambm-gh classes, the white deaf-ear is im- perative, but it should be dead white as fi-osted silver, and the size of a fourpenny-piece — sixpence should be the limit. It may then be understood that the deaf-ear in a Hamburgh as large and pendent as the ear-lobe of a Spanish cook must be a defect. We can speak in unqualified praise of the Polands. Gold, Silver, and Black were alike good ; Imt it is not necessary Poland fowls should follow human fashions. It is common in the present day for men to part (we believe that is the correct term) then- hail- down or across the head de gustibii.s, &e., but it is not desirable in a Poland hen ; a pen of Blacks with white tops was shown wherein the tops of the hens were fairly parted down the xuiddle. The top-knot of a Polish hen should resemble a cauliflower, not only in shape but in closeness. It should be as large as possible, but it should be close. Creve Co^irs were weak in numbers, but not in quality. The honoiu-s gained by Messrs. Pigeon and Wakefield would not have been diminished, in all probability, if the competi- tion had been greater. The Various class gave another proof of the gi-owth of the Black Hambiirgh class, and also of the estimation in which Brahma Pootras are held by the Judges. The first prize went to the latter breed shown by Mi-. Fowler, second to Mr. Dixon for Black Hamburgh, and thii-d to Mr. Leighton for Malays. For chickens, Mr. Fowler was again successful, Mi's. Wolferston second with White Dorking, and Mr. Dixon third. AU these bh-ds deserve separate mention. The Game Bantams were weak, and afforded an easy vietoiy to Mr. T. H. D. Bayley in adults, and to Mr. Turner in chickens. Golden and SUver-laced Bantams were vei7 weak — so much so that the first prize was withlield. An otherwise excellent pen was disqualified by a fiiulty comb in one hen. The shape was perfect, but, save the pike behind, it was pointless. The Blacks and Whites were good. Mrs. Guy showed a pen of excellent Turkeys. In Gccse Mrs. Seamons was fii-st, and Mr. Fowler second. Mrs. Seamons' Wliite Geese weighed 64 lbs., and Mr. Fowler's Grey 62 lbs. Ml-. Fowler took all the prizes for Aylesbury Ducks; the pens weighed ]9i lbs., 195 lbs., and 18 i lbs. Mr. Fowler gained fii-st for Eouens. Mi-. T. H. D. Bayley took fii-st vnth beautiful Brown Call Ducks, Mr. Jessop second with Buenos Ayrean. The Game Cock entries were better on paper than in the pens. Mr. Clements won easily. Mr. T. H. D. Bayley did the same in Game Bantamis. Mr. Holland was indefatigable as Secretary, and w-e believe the Show was deservedly successftil. Gamk (BUck-breasted Reds). — First, J. Fletcher, Stoneclough, near Manchester, Second, Capt. Wetherall, Loddington, near Ketterms, Northamptonshire. Third, H, Horlon, .Vort-esler. Commended, Mrs. Hay, Sudbury, Derby. Chickens.— thirst, A. B. Dyas, Madeley, Salop. Second, H. Bell, Burnley, Lancashire. Commended, Mrs. Hay. Gamk (Brown-breasted Eed.-i) — First, J. Fletcher, Stoneclough, near Manchester. Second, A. B. Dyas, Made.ey, Salop. Third, withheld. C'kukma. — Vhsl, J. Fletcher. Second, H. Parker, Wc.lington, Salop.. Gamk (Duekwings and other Greys and Blues).— First, J. B. Chune, Coalbrookdale. Second, J. Fletcher. Third, G. McCann, Malvern. Chickeiu. —First, J. Fletcher. Second, Messrs. Phillips i Winwood, Worcester. Gamk (Any other variety).— First, J. Fletcher. Second, H. Baker, Brid port, Worcester. Third, \V. Dawson, Selly Oak, near Birmingham. Com- mecded, J. B. Weeks, Bromyard. CTii.7tc«s— First and Second, H. Baker, Bridport, Worcester. DoEKiMOS (Coloured).— First anil Third, C. H. WakeSeld, Malvern Wells. Second, Kev. M. Amphlett, church Lench Rectory, near livesham. C'AifA'ens.- First, Rev. J. F. Newton, Kirby-iu-Cleveland, Stokesley, York- shire. Second and Third, C. H. VVakeheld. Commended, Rev. J. G. A. Baker, Old Warden, Biggleswade ; Mrs. J. Dain, Lea Brook, Wednesbury ; E. Tudman, Ash Grove, Whitchurch, Salop. Spanish. — First, J. E. Rodbard, Aldwlck Court, Wrington, near Bristol. Second, J. Smith, Walsall. Third, S. H. Hyde, Taunton HaU, Ashton- under-Lyne. CTiic*:en4.—First and Second, J. K. Kodbard. Highly Com- mended, J. K. Fowler, Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury. Cocins-CHiNA (Cinnamon and Buffi.— First, T. Stretch, Ormskirk. Second, H. Bates, Harbournc Heath Cottage, Edgb.iston. Third, H. Yardley, Maiket Hall, Birmingham. CTiicAf/ij. -First, W. F. Earle, tdeu- hurst, Frescot, Lancashire, second, C. T. Bishop, Lenton, near Notting- ham- Third, W. Dawson, Uopton Mirheld, Yorkshire. Commended, Rev. G. Gilbert ; H. Bates. Cochin-China (Partridge and Grouse;.— First, Capt. H. Heaton, Lower Bro-jghton, Manchester. Second, E. Tudman, Ash Grove, Whitchurch, Salop. Third, T. Stretch, Ormskirk. (7Aici-i;«s.— First, E. Tudman. Second, C. H. Wakefleld. CocHlN-Cei.NA (Any other variety). — First, G. C. Whitwell, Kendal. Second, W. D.wson, Hoptoa Mirfield, Yoikshlre. Highly Commended, R. Chase, Balsall Heath, Birmingham. Commended, J. Digger, Northamp- ton. CliK kens.— Sirsl, W. Dawaon, Uopton .Mulicld, Y'orkshire. Second, G. Lamb, Red Hill House, Compton, near Wolverhampton. Highly Com- mendeJ, Mrs. S. R. Herbert, Powiok, near Worcester. Hambukqhs (Gold-pencilled).— Prize, H. Beldon. Hambdhoh (Silver-pencilled).— First and Porcelain Vase, T. W. Walsh, Worcester. Second and Third, H. Marshall, Cotgrave, near Nottingham. Chickens.— f am Had Second, T. W. Walsh. Third, H. Marshall. Hamburgh (Gold-spangled).— First, S. H. Hyde, Taunton Hall, Afihton- under-Lyne. Second, N. Marlor, Denton, near Manchester. Third, J. Davies, Harborne, near Birmingham. Chickens.— Yirst, J. Roe, Arundel Arms, Wadfield, near Manchester. Second, N. Marlor. Highly Commended, J. Disan, Noith Park, Clayton, Bradford. Hamburgh (Silver-spangled). — First, H. Beldon, Bradford. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Chickens.— Fast, J. Fielding, Newchurch, near Manchester. Second, Mrs. H. Sharp, Bradford, York-hire. Highly Com- mended, Mrs. H. Sharp ; H. Beldon. Corainenaed, J. Dison. PoLAKDS (Gold or Silver).— First, H. Beldon. Second, G. C. Adkins, Lightwoods, near Birmingham. Highly Commended, J. Dison. Com- mended, J. Dison. C'/iicAcjis.- Prize, G. C. Adkins. PoLANDs (Black with Whi'.e Crests).— First, T. P. Edwards, Lyndbnrflt, Hants. Second, J. Dixon. CttEvK CoiORB. -First, E. Pigeon, Lympstone, near Exeter. Second, C. H. Wakeheld. Chickens.— Prize, C. H. Wakefield. Any Distinct Varikty not Incloded i,-< the Above Classes.- First, J K Fowler, Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury (Brahma Pootra). Second, J. Dixon Third, J. Leighton, Ash Tree Hou^e, Cheltenham (Malay). Highly Commended, J. Hinton, Hinton, near Bath ; G. Llngard, Snow Hill, Bir- mtaEhara (Black Uamburghs). CTnAens -First, J. K. Fowler (Brahma Pootra! Second, Mrs. Wolferston, Stattold Hall, 'I amworth (W bite Dork- ng). Third, J. Dixon. Commended, T. P. Edwards, Lyndhurst, Hants, White Dorking). Gamk Pantams (Black -breasted and other Reds).— Mrst, T.H. D. Bayley, Ickwell House, near Biggleswade, Beds. Second, Capt. Wetherall, Lod- dington, near Kettering, Northamptonshire. Third, withheld. Chickens. —First, J. H. Turner, Fu View, SheftieU. Second, T. H. D. Bayley. Game Bantams (Any other calour).-Prize, R. Brotherhood, Almonds- •"BANTlMsTGoW'or Silver.laced).-Second, R. Chase, Balsall Heath, Bir- "bI-n^ams (Black or White).-First, Capt. Wetherall. Second, G. S. Cruwys Cruwys Morchard Court, Tlvertrn, Devon. TUKKEVS.— Prize. Mrs. A. Guy, East Grantham. j , „■ Gkese -First Mr-^. M. Seamons, Hartwell, Aylesbury. Second, J. K. Fowler, Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury. Third, G.McCanu, Malvern Dicks (Aylesburyj.-First and Second, J. K. Fowler. Highly Com- "'DtxKs'''(RonenT.-First, J. K. Fowler. Second, G. Hanks, Quobwell Farm, Malmesbury, Wilts. 78 JOURNAX, OF HORTICtJLTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ Juir 28, 1863. Ducks (Any other variety).— First, T. H. D. Bajley. Second, J. R. Jeftsop, Beverley Koad, Hull. SWEEPSTAKK.S. Game Cock.— Firet, G. Clements, BiruiiDt-ham. Second, J. B. Chune, Coiilbrookdule. Came Bantam Cock.— Prize, T. U. D. Bajlcy, ItkwcU House, near Eiggleswade. PiGioNS.— Poii^rs (Anv Age or Colour),— Firrt, H. Yiirdley, Birming- ham. Second, F. Else, Baji.»«ter, London. Conimendeo. K. M, Pierce, the Castle, Taunton. tVii / le;.'..— First ;iiid Second, H. Yardley. Almond riimtilers.— Hlfl, F. El.se. Second, T. U. Walker, Holyake, Clle^hlro. Mottled or other Tumblers.— Vnt,e, H. Vardlc;. balds or Bcurds.— Prize, J. W. Edge. Oicls (Silver or blue).— Prize, M. E. JobbliiiK, Bairas Bridge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Owls (Any other Colour).— Prize, F. K. Else. £or*s (Any Colour).— First, F. G. Stevens, AxminBler, Devmuhire. Second, T. D. Walker, Holyake, Cheshire. Fanttuls (White).— Prize, H. Tardley. Fantiiils (Any other Colour).- Prize, J. W. Edge. JVi/iis (Ai.y Colour).— First, F. Else. Second, J. W. Edge. rri/myif more particularly 80 wlien they are only three TPeeks old. The most natural conclufiion, ■when death follows seizure within a few minutee, is that they pick up something: poisonous, which acts immediately. Polish chickens are sup- posed to be subject to attacks while the top knot is giowing. ^Ve know of no malady so rapid in its effects provided ihe chickens when seized are in health. We can only tell you the rt'gime ■we should udopt to keep them in heallh. They ehould be on a dry spot, and the hen should be under a rip ; they should have dust at hand to duet and bask in ; they should be fed on ground oats as their principal food, and be well supplied with stale bread soaU-d in strong ale. We do not think you would lose them if you follow this treatment. ]\loBTALiTT AMONG YouNO FouLTiiT (JE*. 50.— Both the Turkeys and the chickens are suflFering from roup. It is probable your Turkey hens have been allowed their liberty, and have dragged their poults about, as is their wont, till they have been half perit-hed from damp and ilew. Let the hen Turkey be confined— an empty china crate is a capital thing for the pur- pose. Give the poults t'timulating food, barley and oatmeal mixed with peppercorns and onion tops ; let them have plenty of bread and ale. Let the rip in which the hen is cnntined be moved every day that there be nO' collection of dirt. Give the Tuikeys Baily's pills. Asthe pullet.- are only just attacked they will recover if they are removed from the infected spot, and fed well on bread and ale. In both cases camphor in the water is an excellent thing. CoEjcs IN A Cock's Foot ( W. C. B. 3. i). J.).— Sometimes the apparent corn on the foot of a Dorking cock is the result of an injury, or a thorn, or a small gravel stone driven through the skin when the bird flies from the perch. If such be the case the cure ie easy, as the cause is plain; but if it is the result of age and the weight of the body it has to carry, it is, we fear, incuiable. The progress of the malady may be ai rested by keeiiing the bird as* much as possible on the grass, and by having very low peichea. If Ihe swelling arises from any tureign body in the foot an opening will, of course, relieve it ; but it it does hot, it will only make bad worse. Red Cap.s (71'. JT').— The Red Caps are a breed of fowls peculiar to Lancat-hire. They are akin to the Golden-spangltd Ilamburghs, but not tubject to the same rules. We do not know them sufticiently to ' e justified in giving their points, nor can we sptak of their laying properties, as we have never kept them. TitANs FEU RING Bees (C. 3f(7/or).—Full instiuctions for transferring stocks .into irame-hives were given in No. 75 of our third volume. The operation may be performed at once. We do not know any profepsional apiarijn from whom you could obtain the requii'ed assistance. LONDON MAEEETS.- POTJLTEY. -July 27. The poason tells its tole. The supplj increases, and the demand falls otT. Prices sijtfer in consequence. 8. 3 2 1 . ... 5 d. 8. 0 to 3 0 „ 2 6 „ 1 0 „ 6 0 „ 2 d 6 6 9 0 3 0 d. 8. 0 to 0 0 „ 0 i ., 1 » „ 0 8 „ 0^ 0 0 a Chiclicns Rabbits wad do. 1 0 5 0 Duelilinga 2 Pigeons 0 J> Augn.t4.i663.] JOIIRNAL OP HOETIOTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. & WEEKLY CALENDAR- Day Day of of. M'nth Week. * Td 5 W 6 Th T F S S 9 Sun 10 M AUGUST 4-10, 18B». Chironia puIchelUi flowers. Marsli Gentian flowers. Prikck .\lfrku uohs, 18H, Bumet Saxifrage flowers. Mea'low Saffron flowers. 10 SUKDAY AFTKH TrI.MTT. Waterwort fljwera. Average Temperature near London. Rain in I last |3(j years. Day. 75.0 7a.9 72.S 74.5 74 5 74.4 75,5 Night. 61.1 61.4 S1.9 50.6 49.7 50.4 52.9 Mean. 63.4 63.6 62.3 62.5 62.1 62.4 64.2 D.ivs. 16 17 16 12 15 14 17 Sun Rises. 29af -i 31 32 3i 35 37 38 Sfin Sets. m. h. 43af7 41 r 39 7 37 7 30 7 34 7 32 7 Jloon Rises. m. h. 30 a 9 5,7 9 29 10 6 11 51 11 morn. 43 0 Moon Sets. m. b. 58 a 10 iloon's Age. Clock before Sun. 20 21 c 23 24 25 26 U^^^Z^r-^^^^^ZJ^^f^^l^^ S=^,- ^a. .. ten^ratnre^.t. .e. is 74.4^ Day of Year. 216 217 218 219 220 221 222,' . and its night The greatest fall of rain AUTUMN PBOPAGATION of BEDDES^G PLAKTS. ' HIS is a topic wliick lias so often been ekboriitely treated of in tke pages of this Journal, and ope about M-liicli it may be con- sidered most difficult to say anything to better purpose than has already been advanced by men of long and large experience. He would be indeed a bold and pre- sumptuons individual who would suppose that by auj'thing like su- perior force or authority he could set aside all or anything that has been so well and fully said. There cannot be any who' believe less than I in a gardening Hercules who would presume to step into the '■/■ ^■j- ^^''^ "*' gardening affairs, and at- a^ SI ^enipl; to .Sii'idc all others into the /r ^mi course which he may think best. It^ may, however, be safely ad- mitted that the authoritative say- ing that "in the multitude of couu- ciLlors tliere is wisdom," is pecu- liarly applicable to every department of gardening. Depend upon it, men of spheres the most circumscribed may be as well able to teach and suggest on some par- ticidar topic, as are those who h.xve the direction of operations on the most gigantic scale ; and we have each so much to learn in all that is comprehended in that wide and ever-widening word— Gardening, that it ill becomes any to hold forth with tones of miperious dog- matism on whatever subject he mav think proper to treat. The diversity of ways and means with which different individuals accomplish results in many respects alike are almost as diiferent, in some parts of their de- tails at least, as are the individu.als themselves : hence the never-failing interest that is kept up on the subject of gardenmg, and the ceitainty that may be assumed that, however different the doctrines that may be ad- vanced and the method described, they cannot fail to prove of service to a few, at least, of the many who peruse these pages, even if from circumstances over which they may have no control they may not bo able to foUow out the ideas and practice which arc fiom time to time brought forward. I therefore cast m my mite into the miglitv treasury which has already been foniicd in the pages of this Joumal on the subject of bedding plants, and hope that as the season of propagation is close fit Jiaud, some tyro- may benefit by what sljaU be briefly advanced. If we could but fully understand the means by which the most important results are accomplished in the "reat laboratory of Nature,, it would invariably be luund that the means are m themselves simple, although, like all else in the abstract, marvellous. And so I think it is found to be in gardening : the simpler the means, in Ko. 123,— Vol. V., Ntw Sekiee. most cases the greater and more satisfaetoiy the results^.. For a good many years I have made it a point for attain- ment to produce a given quantity of flower-garden plants: by the simplest possible means consistent with the pro- duction of a first-rate article. I do not mean bv this the many resorts and makeshifts which might be called into, operation, and which, after a good deal of experience im that sort of tiling, I have come to regard as mosH; uustx- tisfactory and the most expensive by far in the end. Here as in everything else, depend upon it, what is worth doing at all is worth doing well ; and in flower-g.ardeuing as attempted in numerous instances at the present time^ it would be a wise and satisfactory procedure if the area of flower gardens were much reduced and the remainder better executed. This would be a great step towards rendering flower-gardening what it might be— one of the most delightful departments of a gardener's duties, in- stead of that which heaps upon him an untold amount of drudgery. It would, moreover, cover the present style of ffower-gardening from the many objections which some raise against it. That the season of fuU beaulv could be nearly doubled in duration by means of dillerently managing the plants now in use is a fact whicli lias been fi,illy proved; and this, too, without more hiljour— by simply reducing the area to be planted, and which is perfectly consistent with an enhanced degree of pleasure .lud enjoyment ; for it is a fact bevoud all disi>i!te that a few beds may be made far more exquisite and eiiective than ten times their number as we sometimes meet with them. And this is- only one of the many advantages that would be gained by a different mode of procedure. It would relieve hothouses which have been erecled ex- pressly for other purposes from being turned iuto Pan- dora's boxes. After having had a long spell at turning out thousands of plants from forcing-houses and harden- ing them off by almost every means that could be devised,;, and on the other hand, after the exjjerience of a better- ordered state of affairs, the fact has forced itself upon me most convincingly, that the makeshift system is by far the most expensive, fifty per cent, more laborious, and equally more unsatisfactory in results, than when erections are afforded for the purpose. In thij;. as in even-thing else, there is a vast amount of niirrnitful mental and bodily wear and tear, mishaps, and disap- pointments, and to a great extent abortive results, when that which is aimed at is altogether out of proportion to the means at command. And in ilower-gardeuiug, as now practised, gardeners themselves have plunged head- long without adequate means iuto an amount of labour, from which in many cases they would be glad te retreat ; and after all, the sjjlendour of the parterre is only of two or three months' duration, while it might be extended to nearly double that period, if tlie means and extent n ere niore in character and proportion. If ever flower- gardening is to be raised many stejis al)cive its jiresentr level some course of this .sort m-.ist l>c insisted on, as well' as some alteration of the general principles now (.ibservcd both in the eharact-er and arrangement of the plants. No. 775.— Vol. X.\X Oi,i> Sciii •. 82 JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August 4, 1863. In the autumn propagation of aU flower-garden plants, excepting Geraniums and Calceolarias, the object is simply to prepare enough of stock from which to projjagate in early spring sufficient numbers to meet the requirements of the place. Spring-stnick plants, as is well known, are much to be prefeiTed to those struck in autumn and winter; and the labour connected with such numbers is confined in the one case to weeks, while in the other it is spread over months. Looking at cvittings, let us say of Verbenas, Heliotropes, Alyssum, &c., before they ai-e taken from the parent plants, there we find them in all the health and vigour attainable in a rich soil and under the influence of full sun and au\ The end to be attained is not simply how to get these rooted and established as independent plants : this could be effected in many ways. But the question is how to efl'ect it in the easiest, soonest, and most convenient way, and with the least possible amount of debility entailed on the plants in the process ; and after they are thus rooted, how best to treat and dispose of them so that they can be wintered in the greatest health and robustness possible. After having tried a good many methods of preparing a stock that is at the same time healthy and numerous enough to enable short work to be made of the spring propagation, I have found something like the following order of things to be the most satisfactory of any course that I have yet tried, although others may arrive at precisely the same end by different routes. Early in August about a foot of last autumn's tree leaves ai'e put into the bottom of a cold frame, and beat firmly down. Over the leaves is put about 3 inches of soil, con- sisting of equal parts of loam, leaf mould, and sand well mixed together. This is beaten firmly down with the back of a spade, or any similar apjjliance, and in this state the frame is in readiness for the cuttings ; the required number of the different kinds is selected fi-om the margin of the beds, or from wherever they can be most readily had. There is not much ceremony about the selection and preparation of Verbena cuttings, only that they are short, stubby, fresh cuttings that have not yielded blooms, and that the leaves are removed fi-om the bottom joint to prevent damping. They are made, dibbed into the frame, and watered with as little delay as possible, so that they are not allowed to drooi> and get injured by being tlried up. When the necessai-y number is in they receive water through a very fine rose suffi- cient to moisten the 3 inches of soU. The frame is closely shut down, and rather thickly shaded during sunshine. In fact, everything is done to keep them as cool as possible. If the evenings are calm the lights may be entirely cb•a^vn off for a few hours, and when put on for the night air is left on. In the morning, if the day is Hkely to be hot, they are dewed over through a very fine rose or syringe. Under such treat- ment they root with little trouble and without making much growth at the top — at least, as compared with similar cut- tings struck later in tlie season in warmer quai-ters. The object is to get roots foi-med with as little heat and stagnant atmosphere about the cuttings as possible, and so prevent then- being drawn and weakly. When they have made roots about an inch long they are pricked-off into round earthenware pans, 14 inclies in dia- meter and 7 inches deep. The pans are prepared by placing a thin layer of rather finely-broken crocks over the bottom, then a layer of old muslu'oom-bed dung, which consists chiefly of horse-droppings, and they are filled up with a good substantial compost consisting of equal parts of a rather sandy loam and tlie same sort of dung already named, with a very slight addition of sand. About thiity plants of such as Verbenas and Alyssum are put into each pan, and as soon as possible after being pricked-off they are fully exposed to aU weathers except heavy rains. By housing time you might shear ai-mfuls of fine healthy cuttings from them. They are, of coiu-se, repe.itedly stopped, and kept free from bloom-buds as they grow, and carefully attended to with water. We make up about eighty or a hundred pans of Verbenas in this way ; and they are wintered in any cool, aiiy, dry place, and kept moderately moist at the root ; and even with such varieties as Purple King, which is largely grown, mildew rai-ely makes its appearance. In spring almost any amount of cuttings can be had from such a stock. Last spring we struck about twenty thousand Verbenas alone in a very short time, and three times the quantity could have been struck if needed. As compai'ed with plans that I have formerly adopted, and which used to be in vogue, this is found to be attended with far less laboiu: and much better results. In the case of Geraniums the middle of August is con- sidered a good time to make a commencement (except in the case of Golden Chain, which is always surest if in a fortnight earlier) ; and if all can be put in by the middle of September it is a great deal better than later attempts. After trying a good many ways in sti-iking all the different varieties of viiriegated Geraniums I prefer striking them and winteiing them in eight-inch pots. They are not very heavily but carefully crocked. Over the crocks is placed a layer of mushroom-dung ; and the pot is filled to within 3 inches of the brim with one part loam and one part leaf mould, and is then filled up with the same soil after mixing another part of coarse pit sand with it. The number of cuttings put into each pot varies fi-om eighteen to twenty- four according to the size of the sorts. Large cuttings are prefen-ed as those which root soonest, are least likely to damp-off, and make the finest plants in spring. These are tlibbed into the pots immediately they are made, watered, and placed in a position where the pots will stand on a dry bottom, and be fully exposed to the sun all day long, with no covering at any time, unless it be to tlu-ow off' heavy and continued rains. Most of the larger leaves are removed in making the cuttings, but in no case are they dried before being put into the cutting-pots, never being able to discover what was gained by such drying except mischief. In hot days, when water may not be needed in the soil, the cut- tings are slightly dewed over in the evening when the sun has left them. I have found that cuttings struck and wintered in pots of the size recommended keep much better, and are more conveniently managed, than when put into either smaller or larger sizes or into boxes. The advantage over boxes I conceive to be derived from the better drainage secured, and the more free play of air and light among the plants when in smaller and round detaclunents. The earthenware has also a little to do in the matter. The whole winter they ai'e kept very drj', and in spring when shaken out of the soO there is a gi'eat amount of uTitabUity about the whole plant, and their bunches of white roots are almost ready to take uj) the very sand itself The common scarlet varieties are strack and managed in the same way, except that the gi-eat bulk of them have been put into boxes to economise space. But from the conriction that they do so much better in pots fewer of them will be put into boxes in future, but will be managed the same as detailed in the case of the variegated sorts. There ai-e usually stmck more than 15,000 plants, and a little calculation will show that at the rate of eighteen to twenty in an eight- inch pot it ^vill not requu-e such a vast space to winter them in. I win not at present enter into the many methods which might be adopted under various circumstances, but have simply given what — after having tried various ways — I have found to be the most sure and satisfactoiy mode where such means as are necessary are at command. D. Thomson. ALEXAJifDEA PARK FLOWEE SHOW. florists' flowers. In commenting generally on the featui'es of tliis most excellent »Show I adverted amongst other things to the Roses, and to Mr. Keynes' especially. Nowhere this season have I seen such flowers, nor indeed do I ever recollect seeing such a, box as bis of 100 blooms was. I thought on looking at them that they must have been gi-own on the Manetti and were maiden blooms, a condition in which I know marvellous blooms are sometimes produced ; but on saying so to him I was assured it was not so — that they were all from standards, the more credit then is due to him. The water-pot must, I think, have been well used during this dry season to have produced such flowers. Where .all were good it seems needless to pai'ticularise ; but I may say that the following were superb : — Due de Rohan, and Maiu-ice Bernhardiu. These flowers aa-e, I am per- August 4, 1866. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICtrLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 83 suaded, not so extensively known as they ought to be. When I saw them at Messrs. Erasers' last year I noted them as amongst the best of the then new ones, and the magnificence of these two blooms fiilly justified my pre- ference. Then there were Gloire de Vitry ; Madame Boutin ; Jean Bart ; Pi-aire de Terre Noire, with more stutf in it than ever I have seen ; Louise de Savoie (Tea), very beautiful ; Louis XIV. ; Charles Lefebvre, grand ; Celine Porestier ; Duchesse d'Orleans ; Glou'e de Santenay, equal to Senateur Vaisse ; Madame Clemence Joigneux, I do not regard this flower as like John Hopper — it is more open, not so com- pact ; Madame Julie Daran ; La BrUlante ; Alphonse Da- mazin, very fine ; Mathuiin Regnier ; Pourpre d'Orleans ; General Castellane; Gloire de Bordeaux (Tea), this Rose has this year come very dark and disappointed growers — I fear it was too much of a Gascon, but sometimes I have seen it very beautiful ; Prince Leon ; Due de Cazes ; Robert Fortune, very curious ; Souvenir de Comte Cavour, most beautiful ; Catherine Guillot ; Olivier Delhomme, beautiful ; L'Eblouissante; Virginal, a lovely bloom, equalling Made- moiselle Bonnaire in her best days ; Triomphe de I'Expo- sition ; Monsiexu- Joigneux ; Vicomte Vigier ; Devoniensis ; Senateur Vaisse, a splendid bloom ; Lord Raglan ; Evcque de Nimes, as only Mr. Keynes can grow it; Franpois Pre- miere ; Mademoiselle Eugenie Verdier ; Madame Furtado, fine, pity 'tis she is so delicate ; Madame Charles Wood, very fine ; Francois Lacharme ; Reynolds Hole ; Professor Koch, beautiful shape ; and Madame Charles Crapelet. In Messrs. Paul & Sous' were Lord Clyde, very fine ; Madame Charles Wood; Loi-d Raglan, a beautiful scai-let; Madame Boutin ; Eveque de Nimes ; Triomphe de Caen ; Cardinal Patrizzi ; Gloire de Santenay ; Christian Puttner, very good ; La Boule d'Or, very fine ; La Reine ; Madame WUliani Paul ; Madame Charles Crapelet ; and Senateur Vaisse. Mr. W. Paul had in his collection, which obtained the thii-d prize. Beauty of Waltham ; Eugene Appert ; Louise Mag- nan ; Souvenir d'EUse (Tea), veiy fine; Bougere (Tea); Senateur Vaisse ; and Eniile Dulao. In the Class for 50, three trusses of each, Mr. Keynes was again first. The most noticeable of his blooms were Olivier Delhomme, Vicomte Vigier, Praii-e de Ten-e Noh-e, Celine Forestier, Virginal, Triomphe de Rennes, Clement Marot, L'Eblouissante, Senatem- Vaisse, Gloire de Bordeaux, Charles Lefebvre, Mademoiselle Eugenie Verdier, Beauty of Waltham, Madame Charles Wood, and Gloire de San- tenay. In Messrs. Paul & Sons' collection, which obtained second prize, there were fine blooms of Beauty of Waltham, Eugene Appert, Lord Clyde (which promises to be a most useful flower). Prince Leon, Baronne de Nou-mont, Pauline Lanzezeur, Louis XIV., Souvenir de Leveson Gower, Com- tesse CecUe de ChabriUant, and Madame Furtado. Mr. Francis was third, and had flne blooms of Duo de Cazes, Anna de Diesbach, General Jacqueminot, Madame Vidot, Souvenir de Leveson Gower, Lord Raglan, Duchesse d'Or- leans, Triomphe de Rennes, and Prince CamOle de Rohan, which promises to be one of the best dark Roses we have. As I have already intimated. Amateurs did not come out in very full force; Mr. Coi-p, of Milford, being first in both classes, and Mr. J. C. Periy, of Birmingham, second. Amongst the flowers of the former gentleman I noticed Senateur Vaisse, General Jacqueminot, Acidalie, and Souvenir de Comte Ca- vour; and amongst Mr. Perry's, Comtesse de ChabriUant, Senatem- Vaisse, General Jacqueminot, and Glou-e de Dijon ; but in truth, after looking at the splendid flowers in the Nurserymen's Class, one's eye became dissatisfied with, no demerit to them, the inferior blooms of the Amateurs. Mr. Charles Turner exhibited some fine Pelargoniums, taking into account especially the time at which they were exhibited. They were compact plants and of newer kinds than we see ordinarily at the earlier shows, comprising MuriUo, Regina Foi-mosa, Rosine Margottin, Lord Clyde, Tycoon, Lord Palmerston, and Conflagration. He had, also, two splendid stands of Carnations and Picotees, which justly excited the admiration of all the visitors, who might well wonder that no better encouragement has been given to such lovely flowers. Amongst Picotees I noticed especially a seedling purple. Flower of the Day, Maid of Clifton, Col. Clark, Northern Star, and Garibaldi ; while amongst Car- nations, Samuel Moreton, Duke of Wellington, Seedling 1282, Flora's Garland, Florence Nightingale, Fanny Gardener, Squire Meynell, Confederate, Splendour, and W. Chapman were conspicuously fine, although I may say that it was a matter of extreme difficulty to select where all were excellent. In Hollyhocks, Messrs. Downie, Lau-d, & Laing, of Stan- stead Park, sent some magnificent blooms. Amongst them were fine blooms of George Keith, Stanstead Rival, Excel- sior, In Memoriam, Lady Dacres, Pm-ple Prince, Walden Mastei-piece, Mi-s. F. Mackenzie, and Sambo. Messrs. Paul & Son had another collection, the best of which were Morning Star, Illuminator, and General Havelock. There were also some fine stands of Verbenas, Mr. PeiTy, of Bu-mingham, taking first prize with a fine coUectiou, amongst which were Nemesis, Geant des BataiUes, Mag- nificus, Foxhunter, and some promising seedlings. Dahlias, too, were exhibited by Mi-. Charles Turner ; and some stands of Pansies, although the season of the year was too far advanced for them, by Downie & Co. and other gi-owers ; but no one, I think, could fail to see how much of attraction had been added to the Exhibition by the many fine stands of florists' flowers, and the miscellaneous objects sent in. I have already alluded to Mr. Cutbush's table decorations. Messrs. A. Henderson's hanging-baskets were also excellent. Mr. Williams, of HoUoway, too, had some very pretty stands, an-anged with Caladiums and other plants beneath them growing in cocoa-nut fibre, and I have been surprised to see how well they thrive, and for how long a time too in such situations. Altogether there was enough to satisfy all comers ; and if the future of the Alexandra Park Company is to be measured by its opening, it has a long career of success before it. It is but fair to add, that notwithstanding the unlooked-for pressure laid upon him. Ml-. Mackenzie was enabled to evolve order out of the chaos, so that when the Show opened no one would have believed what it had been so short a time previously, and he, more- over, managed to do it all with extreme kindness and courtesy to all concerned. — D., Deal. BOILERS. (Concluded from page 62.) By the points advocated in my last communication I will test a few of the boilers now in use. Saddle Boilek.. — It exposes a large surface to the direct, but an inconsiderable amount to the indii-ect, action of the fire; holds alai-ge body of water; is not liable to get out of order, nor to be soon worn out; being wider at top than bottom, the circulation is sluggish ; and even the flues re- quu-e fi-equent cleaning out, or it heats more slowly than usual. It cannot be repaii-ed, but it seldom needs repair; it heats slowly ; is the easiest managed of all boilers ; burns coal well, and when the di-aught is good, coke also ; requii-es frequent attention ; is difficult to regulate, and for the most part incapable of being cleaned out, but that, of course, could soon be rectified. A saddle boiler costing d£20 exposes about 25 feet of sm-face to the direct action of the flre, and about the same quantity indirectly. Now this surfaee mea- sm-ed by an engineer's standard — a foot of exposed surface will heat to 212° 25 gallons of water — shows the heating powers to be 50 x 25 = 1250 gallons, or, with the water in boiler, 500 feet of fom--inch pipe ; but the boiler in practice wfll heat more than the calculated amount of piping. I would not adopt such a mode of calculating, for much depends on the heat of the fii-e and the material giving the heat. Coke when biu-ning is nearly as hot again as slack coal undergoing the same changes. I consider 20 feet of sm-face directly exposed will heat more water than 100 feet of surface indirectly exposed to the action of the fire, or, in other words, 1 foot of direct sm-face to heat 50 gallons of water, and 1 foot of indirect to heat 10 gallons only, and if we adopt that mode of calculation a ready estimate is afforded of the heating powers of a boiler. In my opinion the fire ought to heat the lowest part of a boiler first ; but if the fire strikes or heats the lowest parts, and the return-pipe comes pei-pendicularly (except a short bend), into the boUer, the heated water may nse up it instead of passing through the boUer to the flow-pipe, and should that take place the water cannot flow fi-eely. In a saddle boUer this is prevented, for the greatest heat is at the upper part of the saddle, so that if the water becomes 84 JOTTENAIi OP HOKTICULTXJKE AWD COTTAGE GAEDENXE. [ August 4, 1863. iheated at, all it must pass into the pipes soon, or before the water in the boiler attains any great heat. Saddle boilers consume as much fuel as most, and heat a comparatively sm;dl amount of piping ; and the chief merit they have appeiu's to bo that they -vvtU stand any amount of abvise, and iu-e not often out of order. There ai'e boUere that -will do double the work of a saddle boiler with the same quantity Of fuel, and the various modiiicationB of a .saddle lioiler are as ineffective as the original. To notice aU of them woidd take up more space than the boilers themselves, and that is not little, and yet yield no prac- tical matter. Of Horizontal Boilers, Thomson's retort is one of the best ; Monro's cannon being a modification of the retort principle. The former is not so comiDlicated as the latter, therefore not so liable to get out of order. The retort ex- iposes double the siu'face that a saddle boiler does to the ■action of the fire, holds little water, heats quickly, consvimes ■.any kind of fuel, and requii-es but little attention. The icannon boiler is equally good, only being more complicated it is more liable to get out of reptui' ; but then its compli- cation is an advantage, for it is much more economical to Teplace a part than the whole of a boUer. A leaky joint is Boon stopjied, but who can stop up a crack in a clumsy mons- trosity cast in one piece ? I consider complication so liu- an advantage rather than a drawback. With a boder of many pai-ts there may be defects. I admit there are, for it not iinfi'equently happens that one part is not in unison with its neighljoiuing parts — a flaw or a defect is there or results ; but how much easier is it to put in a new part than remove the whole. Another merit of a horizontal boiler is that it takes less room to set, and can be used in many places where an upright lioiler coidd not be fixed ; yet, what with the soot or dust, the heating powers ai'e considerably reduced and the draiight is usually sluggish. I win not criticise all boilers, for some of them have nothing to recommend them, and I have no doubt that any serviceable old boiler excelled its contemporaries at some time. A good thing to-day may be a very poor afiair to- morrow, and a good boiler now may be a very bad one in the next generation. Upright Tubular Boilers owe their origin to Mr. J. Weeks. I cannot see any great diflerence between the upright boUers of the various makers, and I would just as Boon have one as another. Ormson's is a deviation from that of Weeks, and is said to expose no joint to the direct action of the fii-e. There may be merit in that ; but ex- perience tells me that a joint will not leak an hoiu' sooner by being exposed to the action of the fire than when not exposed. One principle prevails in all tubiilaa- boUers, and the only difference I can see in them is more teohiiical than important. Weeks' improved tubular boiler is as good as any, though I am a little jiartial to Clarke's upright with the water- jacket at the bottom, which I consider a move in the right direction. Boiler farnaoes heat too much brickwork ; but if the water-jacket were made to enclose or confine the tire the entu-e length of the boiler, oidy allowing a flue-hole at the top, or two flue-holes if the boiler were large, and then bringing the flue round the water-jacket on tlie outside, I think very little heat indeed woidd be lost ; but, as it is, fully one-half the heat is lost in the brickwork and in the chimney. Everybody is acquainted with a tubular boiler, therefore I need not describe one ; but I wiU treat of Weeks' improved as being the one with which I ;un practically most acquainted. Having the size No. 4, costing £20, in use, I have experience of its working. Weeks' improved boiler has one four-inch flow and two foiu'-inch return pipes, or apertures for pipes. The return- pipes do not pass through any hot brickwork, therefore the water comes into the grate-bars, which are hollow, and placed, of coui'se, horizontally. At each end of the grate-bars is a box-like pipe to which the pipes of the grate are connected, and at the end opposite the furnace-door, where the retum- Jiipes enter the boiler, is a six-inch aperture tlrrough wlueh the heated water from the gi'ate-bars passes into the upper j)art of the boiler, where there ai-e two eirculai- ring-like ^lipes of a hexagon shape, against which the heat of the frre is mainly direoted. Into these circidar pipes round pipes are fixed, and connected at top with a circular basin, at the upper side of which the flow-pipe is situated. The boHer proper is 3 feet G inches high, and with the grate- bars about 5 feet high. It is about :i feet wide at bottom, and tapers to about 2 feet at top. The grate-bars with the end-junctions ai'e 3 feet 6 inches long, and they aie placed so that the side pipes are 6 inches higher than the centre pipes or grate-baa-s. There is not a part about this boiler on which the fire-does not play, and, as a necessary consequence, the fidl heating power of the fire is employed in heating tlie water it contains. Owing to tlie parts being nan'ow and eirculai-, the surface exposed is lai'ge ; for, unlike a saddle boder on which the fire can only act on one side at once, in a tubular one all the surface is simidtaneously exposed. Thus a .£20 saddle has only some 25 feet of directly exjiosed surface, and the same of indirect ; Ijut Weeks' improved ^20 tubidai- boiler has, when in full going oi'der, over 100 feet of directly exposed sui-faee, and no indii-eot of any moment ; but at times, when the gi'ate-bars are covered with ash, and the feeding cavity full, a certain amount of indirect surface presents it.self. On the other hand, we do not allow anything for the under side of the gTate-bars, though boiler-makers genernlly include them in their calcidation. I consider that a tubular boileir having 150 feet of exposed surface will have at all times on an average — making allowance for the accumulation of.aah on the grate and the coke in the feeding cavity-^70 feet of direct and 30 feet of indirect surface exposed to tlie action of the fii'e, and tliis gives 70 by 50 = 3500 gallons of boiling water, to which we add the 30 feet of indirect surface 30 by 10 = 300 -f 3500 = 3800 gallons of water as the heating capabilities of the boiler. But this is more by 50 gaUoms than Messrs. Weeks calculate their boiler to heat. Well, but one of my neighbours has a No. 3 boiler of Wedks' heating 800 feet of four-inch pipe, whereas it is ojdy calcu- lated to heat 600 feet. The boiler, however, in severe weather has to be jrashed, and tubiUai's never ought to be overworked. Mine, on the other hand, has only some 1200 feet of piping attached to it, one-tliii'd of which is Ij-rncli, and this enables me to fii-e easily and the boiler to play with its work. In the severest weather I can have boiUng water in the pipes in an hour after lighting the fii-e ; and now I can run water round a vinery or any house in ten minutes by merely turning a valve, whereas had I nothing but a saddle boiler the fire woidd be to stoker or light, and if boiling water were had in a couple of houi-s I shoidd think myself weU ofi'. All I have to do is to clean the boiler in the morning, or rather the fui-nace, and feed it. This takes np about half an hoiu-, for I like to leave all about a boder as tidy as a well-swept parlour, and not have ashes in a comer of the fire-hole, and coke thrown about everjTvhere. The draught is left open untd the houses are attended to, or say half an hoiu', and then closed entu-ely, and no one can find the flue more tlian warm after that; but the fire bums, keeps the pipes hot until six o'clock in the evening, when the fii-e is made up for the night, occupying about ten mhiutes, and I rarely see it again untd moruiug in mild weather. But in severe weather, when I have all the houses going, I give about half an iucli of draught in the moi-ning until 1 p.m., when the fire ia ralved, more coke added it' necessary, and the draught reduced to nothing. At 0 P.M. the fumace is again raked, rehlled with coke, the di-aught-door opened about a quaiter of an inch if the night is likely to be severe, or shut if Ukely to be mild. The boiler wants no fmther attendance until morning unless a sharp frost occurs, when a little more di-aught is given before going to bed, and then we can sleep with a conviction on our minds that om- charge is as comfortable as ourselves. Compare a saddle boder to" a tubular, and deal practically with both, and we shall find a vast disparity between them. One does as much more work as the other with the same quantity of fuel, and in other words saves the projirietor's ■pocket,' and contributes largely to the gardener's ease of mind and body. I hold that anything and evei-ything in a garden is or ought to be fixed on that principle ; and I consider that if a gardener can save Ids master's pocket by an increased outlay, that it is better than letting money lie dormant. Although a, tubular boiler conforms to evei-y Aligu«t 4, 1863. ] JOTJENAI, OP HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDEjSmi. 8S point but one, it has as regai-ds that one — ^viz., point 9th, a serious defect — it only burns coke "well. In respect to a boiler on a new principle, I have a notion that a series of cii'culax tubes would be better than upright tubes. Presuming the lower cii-clti of pipe to be i feet in diameter, the next would be 2 feet 9 inches, and connected to the other or lower pipe by four joints of the same diameter as the pipae. These circular and short uprights being six- inch, and an inch between would give a number of coils, and these coils would gi-adually be reduced in diameter so as to be 1 foot 6 inches at the top of the boiler. Ai-ound the whole I would have a water-jacket, and so formed as to suit the pipes ; for the fire, after sti-ibiug the circular pipe, would biunch out in two directions — one towards the jacket, and there I would have a concave cavity to receive it, and so arrest its hurried passage up-warde, and this being con- tinued the length of the boiler -would well nigh exhaust the heat of the fire. I would have the firegrate-bars hollow, and connected' to a circular six-inch pipe, into which the retui'n-pipes would enter ft'om two opposite points, on which the water-jacket would not only rest but be connected. The hot water from the jacket and that from the boiler would meet together at the top of the boiler in a circular basin, but flat at the bottom and top, and -nith a four-inch aperture in the upper surface for the flow-pipe. In a large boiler of such a form there would be a series of coils, and the fire would strike against the boiler from the bottom to the top, and that alone would double the rapidly heating power. Such a boiler would hold a large quantity of fuel under it, the whole or part of which fuel could be made to act by increas- ing or diminishing the draught. Lastly, it would present a lai'ger extent of siu'face to the action of the fire than any boiler at present made, and certainly would take less fuel to heat it. I have now only to add that every boiler should be under command like a horse ; and I cannot refrain from saying that dampers ai'e not the sort of contrivances for regulating a boiler. The regulator ought to be the ashpit door, and by opening or shutting it the draught should be increased or decreased at pleasure. — G-. A. years an assistant to Mr. Kemp, lie has so imbibed the ideas and principles of these masters as to leave no doubt but that if he is spared, and he receive that patronage that is his due, Ireland will not regret that he has chosen to number himself as one of her adopted sons. VINES BREAKING AGAIN SOON AFTEE BEAEING A EOECED CHOP. Feom my early Vines I cut the G-rapes at the end of April and close of May. The Vines were turned out and pruned early in June, and tied to states in front of the house. I thought they were at rest, but on examining them to-day (July 23rd) I see the buds are very plump, and swelling very fast. They seem to me as if they were aslcing to be taken again into the house. It now has succession Pines in it. The Vines were taken into the house on the 13th of November last year, to start them, and that was a month earlier than before. I should like to take them in now if you think I should be doing right. They are Black Ham- burghs and Sweetwaters. — A Totjng Oakdeneb. [We think you praned your Vines too early, a.nd if ex- posed to heat and moisture the roots wovdd cause the buds to swell. In such a ease, as there is no likelihood of frost to injure^ them, we would let the Vines remain outside until the buds were broken, and their shoots were fr-om 1 to 2 inches in length. They will break more regularly than if placed in the house, and then they wUl be early enough to enable you to have the Vines in bloom in bright weather.] SOME OF THE GAEDENS WOETH VISITING IN YOEKSHIEE. I AM svire the list you purpose giving of the chief gaa-dens in Great Britain -nill be a great boon to the touiist as well as the gardening community, and according to request I send you a list of a few places in Yorkshire that are well worth a visit ; also, the nearest town or railway station. liANDSCAPE-GAEDBNIIfG IN IbEHANB. — lu OXXT last We announced the death of Mr. Fraser, so many years the leading landscape-gardener of Dublin ; and it is witb pleasure that we see his place is about to be occupied by a gentleman so eminently worthy to follow in his foot- steps. By an announcement which appears in our adver- tising columns tlris day, we observe that Mr. Chapman, of Richmond, in Surrey, has determined upon opening an office in Dublin, and devoting himself to the interests of land- scape-gardening in Ireland. From our own knowledge of Mr. Chapman and of liia antecedents we augur for him a succesafiU career. A pupil of Sir Joseph Paxton's, and for several Flacr. Frovrietor. Gardener, Town or Railway Station, CasUe Howard... Eail of Carlble irr.Sutherland Castle Howard Sta. Uarewood House Earl of Hdrewood Mr. Fowler ... Leeds, .\rtliingtoii Stalinn. StudJey Royal ... Earl de Grey ARipon... Mr. Clarke ... Ripen Station. Upleathain Hall. Earl ol Zetland Mr. Grey Redcar. Marske Sation. Bishoptliorpe ... Archbighop of York.... Mr. Oulston... York. Duueombe Park. Lord Feversliain Mr. Gower ... Helmftlpy. GUling; Statioii. Escrick Hall Lord Wenlock Mr. Mitchell... York. Grinieton Park... Lord Londesborough... Mr. Richards . Tadeasicr. Stutton .Station. EveringhamPark LordHerries Mr. Links Market Wei^hton. Allorton Park ... Lord Stourton Mr. Saul York. Allerlon Sta. B-ildersby Park . Lady Downes Mr. Mailurie... Thirsk. Baldersby Station. Kilnwick Percy . Hon. AdmL Duncombe Mr. Campbell Pocklington. Sutton Hall „ Mr. Campbell York. ToUerton. Benningborougk Statbm. Hall Hon. Payan Uawne .... Mr. Foster ... York. Skipton Sta, Ripley Castle ... Sir Wm. Ingleby Mr. Fowler ... Ripley. Temple Newsam Heynell Ingram, Esci..,. Mr. Taylor ... Leeds. Thirsk Hall F. Bell, Esq Mr. Davidson Tliirsk. Heslington Hail. J. G. Yarborough, Esq. Mr. Davidson York. Should you at any time publish the above list separately, I shall be happy to be a subscriber to the work. I hope the Gardener's Benefit Society, which has been so ably advocated in yom- paper, will soon be established. I shall be happy to send you half a dozen gardeners' names, as members, as soon as the coniiitions or rules are published. — C. S. G. BEEBEEEIES AND THEER CULTUEE. The genus Berben-y yields to no other shrub in beauty, whether we regard the foliage, habit, or flowering properties. The foliage is peculiar in shape, of a bright glossy green ; the habit is compact, and the flowers produced in profusion, of a beautiful yellow colour, and are followed by berries which make the plants handsome for a long period. The common Berberry {Berberis vulgaris), is a native of this country, and is foiind in hedgerows and on wooded hills, where its fruit has refreshed many a rustic's palate. The flowers are produced in yellow racemes in April and May, are oil'ensive to the smell if closely approached, but at a short distance thefr ft-agi'ance is very grateftil. There is some- thing very singiilar about fertilisation in a Berberry flower. The stamens are bent back to each petal, the concave tips of the petals sheltering the anthers. "Watch a bee come and dart its proboscis into the flower, sipping the nectar fr-om the bottom of the cup where the filaments join the ovary; and immediately any filament is touched near the ovary, the stamen springs fr'om the petal and shakes the pollen on the stigma. A pin or hafr similarly brought into contact with the lower part of the filaments next the ovary produces the same result, but no shaking of the branch, nor any pinching or touching of any part of the flowers exteriorly, has any effect on this irritable flower. The fi-uit, about the size of a pea, succeeds the flowers, and when ripe makes an excellent preserve if one quart of fr-uit be boiled along with 1 lb. of loaf sugar. In its raw state the fi-uit is cooling and agree- ably acid, and its juice is used for flavoiuing sweets, and in a dry state for making sugar plums. The bark of the tree is used by many old women, even at this day, as a cure for jaundice and affections of the Mver. Berberis vulgaris and its several varieties — viz., violacea, alba, nigra, asperma, lutea, and purpurea, all named after tlie eolbur of their fruit, thi-ine in almost all soUs and 86 JOtlENAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ AuRUst 4, 18CJ. situations ; but deep, rich, sandy loam suits them best, and an open sunny site or aspect is necessary to secure fruit. In woods, however, wliere the shrubs receive a moderate amount of light without much sun, I have seen them plenti- fully producing fi-uit which seems to be well reUshed by some of the feathered tribe. As we begrudge a few Cherries and Strawberries for the songsters' invaluable nine-months picking of grubs out of our gai-dens, is it asking too much to request that a few BerbeiTy shi-ubs be planted in the woods ? They are an excellent cover for game. Nevertheless, then- fruit gi-own in shade is never so highly flavoiu-ed as when exposed to sun heat, light, and aii- : therefore, I by no means recommend planting BerbeiTies in woods in hopes of obtaining then- berries to increase the novelty of the dessert, and fill the preserve-jai-s in the store-room. StOl the fi-a- gx-ance of the flowers imparts a charm to the woodlands in spring, and may help to keep the songsters from the netted Cherries. As a hedge plant the Berberry has a few points to recom- mend it. It wiU bear any amount of cutting, grows rapidly and close, and is rather rough to face, its short prickles or spines not being pleasant. It, is not so good, however, as a Quickset (Thorn) hedge, and at the very best is but a second- rate hedge plant. Yet, whatever good properties it might have, I fear ignorance and prejudice are still too prevalent to acknowledge as eiToneous the popiilar idea that it com- municates the mildew fungus to the Wheat plant. Not long ago a certain M.D. drew my attention to a field of Wheat infested with a parasitical fungus, and in walking round the gai-den a few days aftei-wards he noticed a fungus on a Berberry apparently identical with one on the Wheat plant in the field adjoining. He was a good fungologist, therefore I was mute; but he told such an old-wife tale about the Berben-y communicating blight to Wheat in close proximity to it, even insinuating that it had the power to cause Wheat to be affected by the Berberry bbght at a dis- tance of 200 yaa-ds, that I very soon doubted his words, for I had seen abundance of blighted Berbei-ry shrubs in a plantation adjoining a Wheat field which did not prevent the Wheat plant yielding sixty bushels per acre. We had a dispute, when out came the microscope; and GrevUle's cryptogamical work decided the fungus on Berberis vulgaris to be jEcidium berberidis. Subjecting that on the Wheat plant to a power of 300 diameters the first glance was enough to show a difference ia the two fungi, identified at once as Pucoinia graminis 1jy my scientific friend, who never kept his microscope, nor books, nor accumulated information out of the reach of a poor man. Irrespective of its claims as a hedge plant, in which respect it about ranks with the Privet, it wOl be admitted on all hands that the BerbeiTy is a highly ornamental shrub, whether planted in lai-gc shi-ubberies or by the side of woodland walks. Besides its peculiarly ornamental character it is of easy cidtui-e, reqim-ing but little care after first planting. Berbemes may be best treated of in two classes — the deciduous and the evergi-een. Deciduous Species. — Of these Berberis vulgaris is the type.^ They are suitable for woods, where they form, as mentioned before, a capital cover for game, and for larwe shi-ubbery -borders ; but they are not suitable for planting in groups on lawns, for there plants should be as ornamental in winter, for the most part, as in slimmer, and this the deciduous character of these Berbenies in a great measm-e prevents. In planting them in shrubberies, it is necessary that the ground should be trenched dueidy without turning up too much of a clay subsoil ; and if that be wet, drains should be cut 4 feet deep and 21 feet apai-t, with a suitable fall and outlet. If the ground be poor, a liberal di-essing of manure or leaf mould wiU contribute much to the prosperity of the shrubs ; and a baiToivful of fine, but not very rich, soil put a little imder, around, and on the roots at the time of planting will materially assist the plants to form fibres and roots, and give them a start. Half the height which any slu-ub attains is the proper distance to plant fi'om a walk, and its fuU height the distance from plant to plant in the shrubbery. Most shrubberies, however, are faced with some of the under-shrubs, or lower- growing kinds : consequently the taller kinds may be planted at a greater distance from the walk, so as to allow of those of low giowth being planted in front of the border, so that, even when of full size, they will not need cutting back or clipping to prevent theii' encroacliing on the path or space beyond their limits. Everj- tree or shrub shoiild be planted at such a distance that it will never be made by crowding to assume an appear- ance contrary to its natural habits. Were I fonning a slirubbery I would have no duplicates in it, for no amount of beauty can be pleasing unless it be varied. Shiiibberics of the present time have no beauty beyond that seen at first sight, for such are mostly com- posed of the commonest shrubs piu-chasable, and have nothing to I'ecommend them beyond cheapness, which is not commensurate with the interest lost. Were no dupli- cates admitted the slirubbery would afford an interesting field for study at all seasons, and take hoiu's instead of minutes to inspect before all its beauties could be noticed. I would distribute shrubs in mixed shrubberies, so as to present a good face to the eye ; but, at the same time, with a variable yet hannonious aspect. But were the place large I would plant each natural order in groups, after the style of an arboretum ; and with a view to this I would place the Berberideae in the foremost rank. A gi-oup of Berberries on a lawn would be a beautiful object in May when our flower gardens are little better than fallow fields, and highly orna- mental in autiunn from the effect produced by their berries. Disposed of in that way, I shoidd plant the deciduous kinds in the centre of the group and the evergreens chiefly around them, always taking into consideration the height of each species and their character of growth. I should not plant a straggling grower in fi-ont, but put it behind a compact gTOwer. In planting, however, the ideas of individuals vary. Some would object to planting deciduous slinibs and evergreens together in gi-oups, and it certainly detracts much from the beauties of evergi-eens when they adjoin deciduous trees, especially when seen on the same level with them : therefore I would only employ evergreen Berbenies for gi'oups on lawns, unless I were forming an arboretum, when I might plant the deciduous and evergreen together. Propagation. — Seeds of the common kinds, deciduous and evergreen, may be sown in sandy loam, in the open gi'ound, on nui-sery-beds in March or April, coveiing them with fine soil about half an inch deep ; but seeds of the evergreen species, as Berberis Fortuni, nepalensis, &c., shoiild be protected in a cold frame until the seedlings ai-e fairly up, and when of sufficient size to handle transplanted into nursery-beds, and afterwards fui-ther transplanted annually or biennially, allowing more room each time be- tween the plants, until they are of sufficient size to plant out finally. Seedlings ai-e such a long time before they flower com- pared with plants raised from layers, division of the i-oot, or suckers, that it is not a very advisable method of j^ro- pagation. The deciduous species are best raised from layers, and the evergi'eens by suckers, with a portion of root attached to each when taken from the parent. Layering may be done any time whilst the plants are at rest ; but about this there are many opinions. Some will insist that it ought to be done when the sap is descending, for then a callosity is sui-e to be formed ; but others uphold that it is best done before the sap rises, for the plant emits fibres more rapidly then than at any other period, and a tongued branch is more likely to caUus at that time than when the plant is all but at rest. I find spring the best time for layering and getting plants of any kind to root quickly ; but in the case of the Berbeny it is immaterial what time they be layered, if tongued like a Carnation to facilitate the process, and pegged securely under the surface, leaving the slit open, and allowed to remain attached to the paa-ent plant for twelve months fi-om the date of the operation. The layers then may be detached from it, taken up with as much soil as wdl adhere to the fibres without fallijig off, and planted either in beds to gather strength, or at once into the places where they ai-e to remain. Division is simply taking up an old plant and slipping the side shoots off %vith as much root adhering to them as pos- sible ; or digging round an established plant, and so opening Aflgust 4, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICTJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 87 -.1 trench, and then taking off the suckers without disfigur- ing tlie parent or checking its growth so much as lifting would. These suckers are planted in lines, three in a four- feet bed, and the plants about a foot apart in the line, more or less according to their size, fi-om whence after a couple of years' growth they are transplanted to their final quarters. After i^lanting, deciduous Berberries require very little management. The shi-ubbei-y should have the weeds kept under, never allowing them to seed, and be slightly hoed and raked over at least twice during the summer, besides any weeding that may be required, and a general clearance of decayed wood and leaves after aU the latter are fallen. "When hard fi-ost prevails, a couple of inches of decayed leaves or other vegetable matter throi\Ti on the surface vrHl materially increase the health of the slu-ubs ; and however much the flower-beds may requii-e a little of this vegetable eiirth I would not forget to let the slu'ubs have the decayed remains of the leaves taken from them the year before. I object to digging amongst shrubs at any time, especially when the roots nearly occupy the whole of the ground, and are close to the sm-face. The sui-face roots of shrubs are of as much moment to their wellbeing as those of a Vine are to successful Grape-gTowing. Transplant a tree every year, and it becomes a dwarf; and slu'ubs in like manner, robbed of their roots annually by surface-digging, become stunted. Pruning must be limited to cutting-out in-egular growths and such as overlap each other, as weU as any dead wood that may be found. Should any shrub become unsightly it may be cut do^vn ; but if the plant be very old it would be Ijetter to stub it up and plant a young one, having fii-st renewed the soil. Evergreen Species. — These are svutable for beds and groups on lawns. In either case the ground should be dug deeply, and a liberal amount of leaf mould or weU-rotted stable-manure added, and if the turf has to be removed it should be tiu-ned in. Turf, however, makes such a nice compost for plants, pot Vines, Pines, &c., that few gardeners can resist the temptation to rob the intended occupant of the bed of its due share of decayed vegetable matter by taking the turf away to the compost-heap. Turf is so difficult to come at in most places, that we can hardly insist on its being dug into the new bed ; but stOl, every barrow- ful of turf taken away is equal to a barroivful of dung, or two of decayed leaves : therefore, for every ban-oivful of turf removed the same qvrantity of vegetable matter shovdd be returned to the bed. Where the ground is of a clayey nature the soil should be taken out 18 inches or 2 feet deep, and its place filled with a compost formed of two-thirds rich loam and the remainder leaf moxdd ivith a sprinkling of river sand. In digging-oirt tills hole or bed another point must be taken into considera- tion : .Can the water escape readily through the bottom of the bed so as to prevent stagnant water lodging ? If not, a drain must be cut to take away the water that ^viU filter to the bottom, and where, unless there be a drain to carry it off, it will very soon cause the shrubs to assume a sickly appearance. Without drains in clay soils, beds dug out a couple of feet deep are little short of a swamji dviring the greater part of the year, and the last plant to put in such \ beds is the Berben-y, for like the Sikkim and Bhotan Rho- dodendi'ons they are all natives of the hills, where the rain- fall is lai'ge, but the substratum of the soil of such a nature that no water can lodge so as to become stagnant. Evergreen Berberries are better planted in early spring, but any time from the middle of October until April wUl answer ; and even they may be removed in summer imme- diately after flowering, when it is possible to take up with a ball, and water freely for some time after planting. They may be planted in groups on lawns without any preparation of the soil, but then, xinless the soil suits them they will do anything but thrive. Whether in groups or in beds they need little pruning, which should be confined to cutting-in'straggling gro\vths, and such as are weak and old. The beds should be kept clear of weeds and leaves, and raked roughly occasionally to prevent moss foi-ming on the surface. A dressing of leaf mould will tend to increase their vigoirr, and if it be pointed- iu with a fork the bed will have a neat appearance during winter. The leaf mould may be put on any time in the autumn. Some of the evergreen varieties make handsome pot plants ; in fact, all the evergreens are useful grown in that way, either to ornament the conservatory in spiing, or to plunge in the flower-beds in winter, where their evergreen character is more beautiful than red brick, no matter how fine the tracery, and their rich yellow flowers impart a chann in spring to an otherwise anything but garden-like object. I by no means deprecate the present rage for flower gar- dens, but I wish to see them more like a garden in winter and spring than many are at present. Mr. Beaton (the loss of whose pen every amateur and gardener deplores whilst sympathising for his affliction), the father of the massing system, had shrubs of low gi-owth to succeed the gaudier summer occupants, with other spring-floweiing plants, to give at least an interesting character to the beds during winter and spring, if not a good display at the duU and reviving seasons. If a garden be worth having fine in simimer, it surely is worth making interesting in winter. The evergreen Berberries are so beautiful, compact, and low-growing, as to fit them for an honourable position in any °an-angement of plants required to be interesting in ^vinter and spiing. The following list includes some of the best species, most of which are of a higldy ornamental character. Those marked thus * bear fruit, which makes excellent preserves ; and evergreens are indicated thus t- The others are deciduous, or their foliage becomes so much browned La winter as to be not suited for beds. •Berberis vulgaris 8 feet ... England April and May. Tulgaris violacea 8 feet ... England April and May. • TulRaris alba 8 feet ... England April and May. • vulgaris nigra 7 feet ... Europe April and May. • vulgaris purpurea ... 6 feet... Europe April and May. • vulSarislutea 6 feet ... Europe Apnl and May. • vulgaris aspenna 6 feet ... Europe April and May. • + dulcis 8 feet ... Austria, Magellan. May. cauadensin 6 feet ... Canada April and May. sinensis 4 feet... China April and May. t aristata 6 feet ... Nepaul April and May. t (aacicularislMahonia) 8 feet ... California April and May. t ilicifolia 4 feet ... Terra del Fuego ... July T Wallichiaua 4 feet... Nepaul May and June. + heterophylla 4 feet ... Magellan May. T trifoliata 4 feet... Mexico April and May. 1- nepalensis 5 leet ... Nepaul May and June. t asiatica 4 feet .. Nepaul May and June. t empetrifolia 3 feet ... Magellan Apri and May. T dealbata 6 feet ... Mexico Apri and May. T Darwinii 5 feet ... Mexico Apri and May. t Fortuni 5 feet ... China.... ......... April and May. Lesckenauliii 5 feet... China.Neilghernes Apri and May. intermedia 4 feet ... China.Neilgherries Apri and May. t japonica 4 feet ... Japan Apri and May. t ilSmacea 4 feet ... Japan April and May. + Bealei 4 feet ... Japan April and May. crassifolii 4 feet ... Japan Apri "nd May. + diversifolia 4 feet ... Japan April and May. In addition to the above, there are B.tinctoria, Hookeriana, Jamiesoni, Neuberti, triftu-ca, umbeUata, and tenuifolia chiefly from Nepaul, aU well worth looking after, and several more in the gi-eat nui-series undergoing a period of probation, and I hope some correspondent wUl give us a brief de- scription of them, with hints as to their cultivation. The Mahonia aquifolia is so closely allied to the Berbeny, that I cannot refrain fi-om noticing it. It is second to the Laurel only in usefulness, and yields to no evergreen under- shrub in the beauty of the flowers in eariy summer, and its beautiful pui-ple beiiies in ^vinter ; these are produced m tar greater abundance than those of the common Berben-y. and make quite as good a preserve. Phinted in woods it affords one of the best, if not the very best, cover for game, un a, lawn it makes a good bed or gi-oup, and in shrubbenes and by woodland walks it is quite at home. The treatment re- commended for evergreen Berberries suits it. but it wm thrive in nearly all soUs and situations without any trouble beyond planting.— George Abbey. SLUGS ON STEAWBEREIES. In reply to your correspondents, who inquii-e the best means of protecting Strawberries from slugs, I would advise them to act in pursuance of the old adage, "Remove the cause," &c., by making one or two sowings of sifted air- slaked lime over the beds, and, indeed, over the whole o-ardeu; for I have never found it injure even the tenderest 88 JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August 4, 1863. seedlings when used in moderation early in spring. The best time for performing the operation is on a mild damp evening. Choice may be made of such following several di-y days when tlie sliniy race are sui-e to be depasturing in great force. By repeating this operation a garden may be eatirely cleared of them. — G. E. FEOST OF JITLY 19th— LAYING DOWIs" TLTEF. The frost of July 19th was very severe at this place (Desborough, Northamptonshire) ; all Potatoes not protected by fences were severely injured, quite as much so as on the night of May 1st. A crop of Buckwheat I had growing in an exposed situation was almost entirely destroyed. I should feel obliged for any infoiTuation as to the best way to lay down a moderate-sized lawn. — H. H. C. [If you can obtain tiu'f fi-om a nice pastui'e with a fine sward upon it, and li'ee of Daisies, ButtercuiJS, and Plan- tain, we should prefer tui'fing to inoculating, or sowing with a lawn-mixture of seeds. Should the turf at hand be good, having a sprinkling of Suckhng Clover in it, but not suffi- cient to turf the whole, you would do well to inoculate, tearing the turf into pieces about 3 inches in diameter, and placing them G inches apart, in quincunx arrangement, and then strewing over all a few pounds of lawn-seed mixtiu-e. Do this in showery weather in April, and you will have a finer lawn than from tui'fing, and one not half so liable to become brown in summer. But if the turf at hand is coai-se and full of weeds, seeds will serve your purpose better than turfing or inoculating, for notliing is so ugly as a rubbishy lawn, and no finer ornament exists in gardening than a lawn of fine grasses weE kept. Early in autumn, not in winter, and in Febi-uaiy and March, ai'e good times to tiu'f and inoculate, and the latter part of August and September, March and April, to sow lawn grass seeds.] PEEVENTION OF MILDEW ON VINES, PEACHES, &c., IN OECHARD-HOUSE. My vineries and orchard-house have been quite free from this disease this season, a very simple method of prevention having been adopted. Take the upper end of a worsted stocking, tie up in it some very di'y sulphur powder, and fasten it to the end of a long stick. About thi'ce times a-week, in the daytime, shake this bag of sulphiu'. The house win in a few minutes be filled with a fine dust, which settles in an almost imperceptible form on every leaf, and this is qixite suiScieut to act as an antidote to fungi. The health of all my vineries has been perfect ; the ii-uit of the largest size and the finest quality. This day my gardener has gathered thirty-one dozen of Peaches and Nectarines of the best quality from the large orchard-house, besides many dozen of inferior size, completing upwards of sixty dozen of Peaches and Nectarines within the last four days. The ventilation of my houses being perfect, as far as any- thing can be perfect, the flavour of the fruit is excellent. In my orchard-house I have gathered Peaches this season measuring fi.-om 0 to 10 i inches in gii-th. — A Constant Readeb. HAEDY DECIDUOUS TEEES. {Concluded from page 72. The Sweet Chestnut is certainly not so widely spread as the Elm, Oak, and Beech, and it is questionable whether it is really an indigenous tree or not. It is, however, one to which public attention has often been directed, some of its admirers giving it all the qualities of the Oak. Tliis is more than - questionable as a timber tree ; but as one for ornament it is scarcely, if at all, inferior. The dark glossy green of its foliage, with tlie numerous sjjikes of bloom by which the adult trees ai-e studded in August, give it quite aa interesting appearance. The single tree always shows a wide expanse of top, and as an avenue tree, it has few sft periors. It, however, only thrives on dry, stony, or sandy ground, and in such a place its growth is as rapid as the Beech. It attains nearly if not quite the saise dimen- sions— perhaps will exceed that tree when the specimen becomes old enough. Some noble trees in the pai*k at Preston Hall are upwards of 17 feet in circumference at 5 feet fi'om the ground, and they appear quite sound and healthy, and likely to increase in size ; but there are not many spots which suit them so well. In many places the tops begin to die, and decay sets in at the collar before they attain anything like the size above stated; while for cold or damp situations thej' ai-e totally unfit. Perhaps one of the best pm-poses they are put to is for coppice, the poles being the most durable that can be had for hop-poles ; and in suitable places the tree grows as ii-eely as ;mything that is planted. As a timlier it resembles Gale, but is too liable to split when cut up for use in carijentry. Longitu- diniiUy it is tough and strong, while ti-ansversely there is not sufficient adhesion between the layers of each yeax, and the consequence is that when it is saivn up pieces splinter off. Stcamokb is a hardy tree, growing freely ia most situ- ations, and very often where scarcely any other ^riU live. As a single tree it withstands the wind well ; and while we see most trees bending or leaning in one cUi-ection in accord- ance with the prevaluig high gales, the Sycamore rarely shows any difference. It also withstands the sea-breeze as well as most trees. It likes good ground, grows rapidly and to a lai'ge size, and rarely dies off. There is in Cobham Park a very fine tree of this kind which is connected with some historical event ; the girth near the bottom I believe to be nearly 22 feet. The soil it is growing in is dry, though not particularly so, and it is also tolei-ably deep. As a single tree the Sycamore aiibrds more shade, perhaps, than imy other, the large leaves thickly clustered together tomUng to make the Sycamore more dense than any other. Its leaves, however, become blotched diu'ing summer, and fall short of the clear daik green hue of the Sweet Chestnut. The Lime is, perhaps, the qviickest-growing tree we have on ordinary soils, and when young it will even excel the Elm. It makes an avenue quicker than anything else, and, being very hardy, rarely suffers a mishap. There are fewer branches blown off' the Lime than most other trees, and the number of avenues of it ai-e too well known to require com- ment. Its lower branches hanging on the ground give it a cool shady character, while the aspect of the ti'ee is any- thing but one of solemn gloominess. Of The Oeiental Plane I wish I could say something more favoui'able, as its appeai'ance at times is all that can be desired ; but some excelleut specimens we had of it here became much diseased some years ago, and several have died, wliile the others have dead tips and other appearances of ill health. It is also a tree of foreign groivth rather than indigenous, and less likely to become an aged hcinoui-able member of the sylvan community. When health}' it looks well. The foliage is more cleai' than the Sycamore, the latter being rarely \vithout black spots. The Ash is a sturdy native, presenting, perhaps, greater diversity of form than any other tree ; but for pai-k scenery it is certainly not held in such high esteem as many others. It is, however, not by may means in consequence of its lacking due proportions that it is less esteemed. The name, perhaps, has a something to do with it. Some little time ago I measiu'cd one in the park at East Sutton that was upwards of 22 feet in cu-ciunference at 4 feet fi'om the ground. Its top was also in proportion. Than The Walnut perhaps no tree, with the exception of the Oak and Yew, has a more venerable appearance when stricken with age. The hoary whiteness of the bai'k, with now and then the fracture not healed over where a limb has been blown off, gives the Walnut a fine appearance. They ai'C, however, better adapted for a group or for single trees than for an avenue.. The lUversity of their gi-owth renders them unsuitable for that purpose. They like a good soil, not wet and yet not very dry. One of the best fi-uit-bearing trees I ever knew was in Northumberland. Of the beauty of The Hokse Chestnut while in flower much has been said, and certainly it does then look weU. The growth and outline of the tree is also good, but the foliage is not the best. It is, however, a favoui'ite. witli August 4, I86S. ] JGXJENAX OF HOETICTJXTTrRE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. many people, is of rapid gi-owth, and not pai-ticular as to soil. It is, however, liable to have large limbs blown otf in stunmer — even young trees are sometimes almost split in two by ir-actures in this way. The Lojibardt Poplae forms an important featm'e in the landscape of many places ; but it is certainly not of quicker growth than the Black Italian, which seems to out- strip anything it comes in contact with. For planting occasionally in formal belts they help to break the outline, and as such ai-e very useful ; but they are hardly wanted in dressed ground, nor even as sing-le trees in a park, although some in Lord Tonington's park at IVIereworth, in Kent, look well, having attained an extraordinary height. The White Poplaa- has little to recommend it. There are many other deciduous trees of more or less merit. The Maples at times attain a good size ; Hornbeam seldom gi-ows so large as the Beech. An old Thorn is as noble a park ornament as anything that grows, and now and then a Willow attains to the gooclly proportions of a timber tree. Its downy white leaves, tiu'uing with the breeze, contrast strongly with the hues of the other trees by which it is surrounded. It is not fau' to enter the dressed ground for specimens fitted for outside work, or we might find large Tulip trees, Ailanthus, Liquidambars, and siTch like ; but these are not English trees, and must await a notice else- where. We must not, howevex-, omit to notice the Bu-ch, not for its size but for its singular' beauty and its adapta- bility for those wild elevated j)Ositions where mauy other tilings would hardly live. Widely differing from this is the Acacia, a tree not by any means unsuited for park scenery, and requii-ing dry ground. The timber of tliis is, perhaps, as hard as any home-gi-own wood we have, but I am not prepared to say that it is so dm-able as it was expected to he when it was fii-st inti'oduced. It is, however, questionable whether it will ever become a long-lived tree ; and, like the Horse Chestnut, high winds are liable to blow off large branches. Some other trees might also be mentioned here ; but the above are the most important and useful ones. In concluding the above hasty glance at our most im- portant hardy deciduous trees, I hope some of oui' readers who reside in districts where specimens of remarkable size exist wOl be kind enough to forward to the Editors the dimensions of those trees, for lai'ge trees are certainly deserving of as much attention as large animals or large fruits ; and the latter having had their due share of atten- tion of late, let us tiy and do justice to the most ancient, most noble, and certainly the grandest productions of the vegetable world. J. Eoeson. PEOPEE STOCKS FOE GEAPE TINES. This is a subject which, as it presents itself to my mind, has not received fi-om cultivators the amount of attention which it deserves ; and the object of this communication is not so much to relate my own experience in the matter, as to call the attention of others to it, and invite theu' co- operation with a view to discover by experiments the stocks on which the different vai-ieties succeed best. Eeasoning from analogy, there can be little doubt but that the Vine can be influenced both as to the quantity and quality of its produce by the stock it may be grafted on, as well as other fruit trees, and practically I have found tliis theory correct as far as I have been able to test it, as the following instances wiU show. When Snow's Muscat Hambiu-gh Vine made its appearance I procured a plant of it, which I planted in a house along with Black Hambirrgh Vines. The latter have succeeded perfectly well, but I never had any- thing like a fine bunch on the Muscat Hamburgh ; the berries were unequal in size, the bunches loose, and not in any case much over a pound weight. Unwilling to give up growing a Grrape wliich is, perhajas, the highest flavoui'ed of all Black Grapes, I inarched it on Black Hambm-gh stocks during the summer of last year, and at the present moment I Tiave six bunches on each of these inarches, the lightest of ■which wiU weigh 2 lbs., the heaviest 4 lbs., with firU-sized equally-swelled ben-ies. The next instance is of an un- ■favourable cha,racter. It is that of a Bowood Muscat inarched on a Black Barbarossa ; this retarded the ripening of the Grapes a month as compared -n-ith the same Vine on its own roots. I might mention several others, but those two are enough to show that the stock has an influ- ence on the produce of the Vine, and may induce all who have an opportmiity to make one or more experiments and relate their results, and in this way much valuable informa- tion on an important subject may be obtained. As far as my own experience cai-ries me I am disposed to think that the Black Hambm-gh is an excellent stock. I am also dis- posed to think that the Eaisin de Calabre wiU prove a good one, and probably the Syi-ian. On such stocks I would expect the Prontignans and other tender Grapes to gi-ow as freely as Hamburghs, but actual experiment alone can determine this. If some of om- nurserymen would import such hardy varieties as the American Catawba and Isabella Vines, I think it very probable that they would prove valuable stocks for parts of the country where the soil is cold and the climate wet. — Wm. Thomson, Dalkeith Park.— {Scottish Gar- dener.) THE CASTLE KENNEDY FIG. I HAVB read with some interest the notice of this Fig in the report of the Eoyal Horticultm-al Society's Fruit Com- mittee in yoiu- Journal of the 7th ult. I feel interested in this subject because I have had an opportunity of eating this Fig. I own, however, to some sm-jmse at seeing its flavour reported as not first-rate. Of course I have no judgment that can be opposed to professional opinions, but I have often eaten good Figs,, and do not remember tasting any of better fiavour. Perhaps the large fruit sent up for exhibition might not have been so highly fiavom-ed as those of an average size. It may, perhaps, be true that the original of this sort was a "Large White Genoa" some centm-y and a half ago ; but if so, the altered shape, size, and colour — and I venture to think flavour too — which it has acquired by so long a domicile in the " land of the mountain and the flood," shordd entitle it to a distinctive name ; and if I were a Scot my feelings of nationality would, perhaps, lead me to insist upon the right of this fi-uit, by the ordinary laws of domicile, to the specific name of " Castle Keimedy." Not being a Scot, I content myself with the hope that the know- ledge of this Fig win not any longer be confined north of the Tweed: and if its cultivator, Mr. Fowler, should read this letter I trust it wiU induce him to send a larger assortment to some future Exhibition, and thus show om- southern cul- tivators that if they want a really fii-st-class Fig they have but to cross the border for one, and induce them to give southern Fig-admirers an opportunity of forming then- own judgment. — A Constant Eeadek. GEOWDfG TOMATOES IJNDEE GLASS. In the absence of more full and definite information as to the exact conditions under which a coiTespondent, Mr. Fisher, has failed in getting a crop of Tomatoes in his Peach- house, I would suggest that the want of success may arise from either of two causes, or from both combined. In the flrst instance, if they are growing in a shaded part of the house the absence of the necessary amount of light may cause an imperfect development of the ' fruoti^nng organs. In the next place, it is possible from then- being so robust in growth the very same effect, to which reference has been made, may be produced by an imdesirable de- velopment of leaves and young shoots, which crowds the clusters of bloom, and prevents the necessary action of Ught and air. Either of these causes, or the two combined, are what may be suspected from the statement that the plants are much more vigorous and in better condition than plants which are fi'uitful in the open au\ Try what a closer imitation of the cu-crtmstances of the out-door plants will do to produce fruit in the strong plants. If they ai-e fuU of large sappy leaves and young shoots, let such a ijroportion of both be removed as will fully expose the bloom to the sun and air, and cause the energies of the plant to be more concentrated to the blooms. At the same time let the plants be kept rather diier at the rocrt. 90 JOTJENAIi OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Au^Bt 4, IS63. This mode of proceeding will be likely to remedy the evil if it arises from the causes named, and is very commonly resorted to when the plants show signs of running to leaves and young shoots instead of being as fruitful as is desired ; and as far as our own practice is concerned the pinching and disleafing has always proved successful when there was a disposition to ban-enness. The Tomato, as most gardeners are aware, can be most successfully cultivated under glass, and is generally resorted to in localities where the climate wiU not ripen the fruit when trained to a south wall. It is a good plan to let them attain a considerable size in pots before planting them out. Theii- being somewhat potbound for some time of course throws them into a fruiting condition, and there is little fear of their becoming too stunted after being planted out. Such is not theii- ten dency at aU, but the very reverse. For the production of Tomatoes early in the season there is perhaps no better way than that of growing and fi'uiting them in pots, unless, perhaps, where they can be planted out and kept warm all winter : then they become almost perpetual in bearing. When grown in pots seed should be. sown in autumn, and they can be wintered in a cool di-y stove, and shifted on in spring into 10 or 12-inch jjots. They ripen their crop early in summer ; but under all these ; circumstances it is necessary that they should be well, pinched back as they make growth, and that they be kept thin of leaf, so that the blooms be not smothered-ui). — I D. Thomson, Archerjield Ganlem. COLOCASIA ODOEATA. The fragi'ance of this species renders it a desu'able subject in aU collections of stove jjlants. The diffused odom', as it pervades the entii-e atmosphere of a hothouse in which the plant is blooming, resembles that of Mignonette ; but the more powerful and concentrated fragi-ance which is ex- perienced on nearer contact with the plant, is of the sweet aromatic natm-e of that of some Orchids. The Colocasia odorata is not a novel plant, but it is not common. It is one of the arborescent ai-oideous plants, which give such a tropical air to collections in which they occur. This species gi'Ows with a caudex of 3 to 6 feet high, and from 4 to 6 inches in diameter, and is then crowned at the top with a head of lai-ge, narrowly cordate leaves, supported on long stout footstalks, and traversed by prominent veins. The flowers grow from the axils of the leaves to- wards the centre of the plant, and stand erect among the fo- liage. The spathe is about a span long, contracted below the middle, and then ex- panding into a con- cave or boat-shaped membrane, which at first stands erect, en- cu'cling the spadix, but ultimately bends over it like a hood. The spathe is green at fii-st, but acquires a yellow- ish hue when at ma- turity. The spadix is club - shaped, and shorter than the spathe. The foliage of the Colocasia is the seat of a waxy secretion, which, though scanty in the plants cultivat- ed in our hothouses, is yet produced in con- siderable quantities when the plant is gi-owing in its natural climate. The secretion is formed exclusively on the lower face of the leaves, and is confined to the axils of the principal nerves, where the cellular tissue produces it, and from wliich points this waxy substance extends some- times over nearly the whole inferior surface of the foliage. In the cultivated plant it only exists in small scales, at the utmost not larger than the human nail. A curious property possessed by the plants of this family, is the evolution of heat at certain periods of their inflores- cence. This has been noticed by various observers, but ap- parently first by Lamarck, who, in 1777, made the discovery upon Arum italicuni. The most exact experiments, how- ever, are those of M. Adolphe Brogniart, made in 1834, upon a plant of the Colocasia odorata, which developed four flowers in the space of a month. " The fii'st flower began to expand on the 4th of March ; but it was not tUl the 6th that the escape of pollen from its anthers commenced, and the increase of temperature on the spadix was perceptible to the touch. A very smiiU ther- mometer, when apphed to the flower, indicated a tempera- ture in the ah' of 23° centigrade, while tiie spadix close to the fertile stamens, was 20°, and the club formed by the. abortive stamens was 30°, the difference being 7°. The heat of the flower gradually duuinished, and, in the evening, its temperatiu-e was the same as that of the stove. It is re- markable, however, that, while all the other Aroideoe that have been examined on this point, appear — when the heat has once ilisappeared, — never to regain it, the pl.ant under consideration exhibited the same increase of temperature at the same hour (2 p.m.) of the following day, and for four days it continued, althougli with gradually dimi- nishing intensity, to present a similar phe- nomenon, when the flower finally faded. " Another blossom having appeared shortly after, I adopt- ed many precautions which should enable me to watch its pro- gi'ess. I procured a very delicate thermo- meter, apjjlied it ac- curately to the most sensible parts of the flower; and protected the bulb by folds of flannel from the in- fluence of the circum- ambient atmosphere, and by a pui-ple shade &-om the rays of the sun. Another thermo- meter was susijended in the stove, not far from the plant, to give the temperature of the stove. For six days a striking increase of heat took place in the flower, attaining its maximum about 4 p.m., and totally ceasing during the night and early morning. The gi-eatest differ- ence between the temperature of the flower and the general atmosphere of the stove, was 11°; and, as in the first blossom examined, so the central portion of the club of abortive stamens was the part which exhibited the heat most powerftilly; next the base of that club, and then the stamens which were fertUe." The Colocasia odorata is a native of Pegu ; is a firee-grow- ing plant under cultivation, and requires plenty of room both for its roots and leaves ; the latter, indeed, it is which give to the plant its truly noble aspect.— (Gardeners' Mag. of Botany.) AngUBt 4, 1863. ] JOtTRNAL OP HOK.TICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 91 STEAWBEERIES FAILING ON A CLAYEY SOIL. I AM making a new Strawberry-bed, and shall be obliged for advice about the soU. The natural soil of my garden is stiff clay with yellow subsoil, and though I have tried many things, I have tailed in getting Strawberries to bear well in it. The aspect of the new bed is nearly due south, in front of a wall ; and if you advise it, I am ■naUing to dig out the natural soU to the depth of 1-1 or 2 feet, and put in any compost you recommend. — T. J. B. [As Strawben-ies generally succeed on a clayey soU we think there must be something radically wrong in your case. Does the soil want ch-aining ? If so, do it effectually at once. We confess to being unwilling to recommend extensive wheelbarrow-work in the way of removing and replacing any great quantity of subsoil ; but if it be absolutely unfit for vegetation, this may be done with advantage. If the subsoil is a retentive clay, biu'ning a large quantity of it on the spot win be attended with much good, and the mode we have adopted is this : Choose a suitable smooth place for the hearth, then cut two small di'ains to admit air, crossing each other in the centre, about 4 inches broad and the same in depth. On these lay some bricks, and, in the centre where they meet, a good heap of brickbats or stones. The fii'e is kindled then and may consist of any description of vegetable rubbish, over which la^ lumpy pieces of clay, adding more fuel and clay daily as the tire gains strength. The best material we have found for this fuel are the roots of shrubs or trees, not too large, but as much forked or gnarled as possible. These ugly articles are thus used out of the way, and at the same time tui-ned to good airNEE. [ Augnst 4, 1863. stouter in fi-uit-bearing, more slender in such trees as j^ro- duce principally male flowers, in very robust specimens 14 and rarely even l.\, usually about 1 inch long ; on sterile branches straight and horizontal, " f^ving the branches the appearance of so many bottle-brushes." The vaginte con- sist of 7 or 8 oblong scales with fi-inged margins, adpressed and fonning a sheath 3 or 4 lines long on the young leaf, soon spreading and squaiTose, falling off in the second or thu'd year. Many lanceolate acuminate scales, periUie, sheathe the lower part of the shoots ; shorter broader bracts, bearing in then- a.xils the male aments, follow next. The aments together form a very short spike, or rather head, 6 or 8 lines long ; often these heads persist on the axis for two or even thi'ce years with a few bunches of leaves above each, giving the appearance pf a leafy spike 1 or li inch long. Om- figiu-e does not represent this condition distinctly, but shows the numerous naked spaces, about ten in number, wluch in former yoai-s had been occupied by male flowers. We have seen branches with sixteen such naJced spaces, proving that leaves were persistent for sixteen yeai-s — a fact unheard of among Pines, where leaves are said to endure only thi-ee years. The stipitate oval ament 3 to 4 lines long, has a proper involucriim of four oblong scales or bracts of equal length. It seems that the involucrum of the male ament and the foi-m of the ament of the anthers, together with the fruit and seed, offer characters of importance for the distinc- tion and aiTangement of species, hitherto neglected probably because living nature has not been studied as diligently as the cbied mummies of the herbaria, and these contain so few good flowering specimens of Pines ; the number of leaves, so much relied on, is of secondary consideration, and is often calculated to mislead, separating the most natiu-al affinities, such as our Cembroid Nut-pines with one or five leaves, or the pineoid Pines (P. Pinea, P. Sabiniana, P. Ton-eyana), with two or five leaves. P. sylvestris has an oval ament 3 lines long, with an involucrum of three equal lance-Hnear acute scales in the axU of a lanceolate recui-ved bract, which is deciduous with the ament ; anther mth a short, ne;u-ly entire crista. P. austriaca has a cylindric curved ament li inch long, with an involucrum of about ten very un- equal and almost distichous oval scales, in the axU of a linear-lanceolate recurved persistent bract ; anther, with a semicirciiliu- entii-e crista, large enough to entirely hide the body of the anther in the yet-closed ament, and give the latter the appearance of a young cone. Crista of the anther scarcely indicated by a knob, smaller than in any Pine ex- ammed by us. Female aments single, or two together near the end of the young shoots, bristling with the lanceolate, aristate erect scales, of a purple black colour. Cones oval, obtuse, 2\ to 2; inches long, about half as much in diameter, often covered with resin as if varnished; their pui-plish- brown or blackish colom- is found also in a little group of alpine Pines of the Popocatepetl with three to five leaves, discovered by Eoezl. Bracts, as in all Pines, not obHterated ("evauidae") as is usually stated, but much altered, and ra,ther indistinct ; more or less thickened and partly connate with the base of the scale ; in oiu- species, only the upper obtuse mucronate part membranaceous and free ; scales 10 to 15 lines long, and 4 to G lines wide at their exposed part ; transverse ridge of the rhombic rather flat, protuberance of the scale very conspicuous ; the slender mucro or awn, from the small rhombic central knob, 2 to 3 lines long, cm-ved up- wards, at last tortuous and easily broken off, has suggested the name for the species. Seed neai-ly 3 Unes long, with the obovate wing G to 7 lines long ; embryo in all the seeds examined by me, with seven short cotyledons. — {American Gardener's Monthly.) WOBE POE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Should the present dry weather continue, the water- barrel will be in continual request among all newly-planted crops. Surface-stiiTing to be also fi-equontly resorted to ft>r the jiurpose of preventing a too rapid evaporation. Broccoli, where they have been planted between rows of Peas the latter should be removed as soon as they are done with, the ground to be then dug, and the intennediate spaces filled up. Cnhhoye, prick-out the plants intended for sjiring use in nursery-beds, that th^ may get stocky pi-evious to their final planting. Earth-xip all the Brassica tribe that ai'e sufficiently advanced, and make succession plantations of Brussels Sprouts, Buda Kale, Broccoli, Coleworts, and Savoys. Cauliflowers, the plants now coming into use to be liberally supplied with water to produce close heads. Chervil, make a sowing for autumn use. Endive, continue to transplant as oh-cumstances require. Another solving may also be made. Potatoes, the Ash-leaved Kidneys intended for seed may now be taken up and exposed to the sun until they are green. Ttrniijis, seize the opportunity of a shower to get in another breadth of Late Wliite. PLOWEE GAKDEN. The season of the year has now airived at which the flower garden has attained, or neai'ly attained, the zenith of its beauty, and the amateur or gardener may contemplate with satisfaction the result of his labour in that department ; but if there is anything in the present arrangement of colours to mar the effect, it shoidd be noted for correction another season. Much watering will be necessary here dui'ing the heat we now experience. Continue to remove dead flowers from Koses, and give plenty of manure water to the autumn-blooming varieties. Plant-out rooted cuttings of Pansies in nursery -beds in a shady situation. Propagate Pansies, keeping them well- watered ii the weather is diy untQ they get established, and save seed of dioice sorts. Plant-out Pinks in beds, water fi'eely in di'y wealher. Water layers of Carnations and Picotees in di'y weather. Keep choice Dahlias thin of shoots and buds. Trap earwigs. Water American and other choice shi-ubs in ih-y weather. Shrubs that were planted late in spring will requii-e liberal supplies of water and mulching to prevent evaporation. Train climb- ing plants neatly to trellises. The lawn during the present hot weather will sometimes requii'e to be gone over with the scythe in the middle of the day to cut off any straggling tuifts of grass. FEUIT GAEDEN. Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots to have frequent at- tention in keeping them well nailed to the walls, to guard against high winds. The fi'uit also to be exposed to the action of the sun as much as possible, without divesting them of leaves, to insure fine flavoui- and good colour. Continue to make fresh jjlantations of Strawbeiries ; the ground to be deeply trenched — they like a fresh, stiff loam. The wall ii-uit trees will demand a good supply of water at their roots, to be mulched with short litter. GREENHOUSE AND CONSEEVATOKT. Keep everything in the eonservatoiy in the neatest order, shifting to other quarters those plants that ai-e fading in bloom, and replacing them by others that have been pre- pared for the pui-pose. Keep the creepers neatly trained, and occasionally washed with the engine or sjTinge. New Holland plants and Heaths that h.ave been standing out of doors for some time to receive immetliate attention, if wet and windy weather prevail. Some of the best and most tender varieties to be secured by placing them in cold pits or other secure situations. Persevere in keeping all plants subject to the mildew clear of that pest by di-edging them with sulphur, as the season is now arrived when hardwooded plants are subject to it. Persevere in clearing-off all decayed blossoms, and pinching back luxuriant shoots. It will be much to the advantage of the inmates of plant-houses to reduce the shading after this time, to enable the plants to ripen theh- summer's growth, allowing more air to keep down the temperatm-e, and to check any tendency to a second growth which may show itself, and which can only take place at the expense of next season's bloom. Examine the stock of pot plants to see that none are suffering from want of jjot-room or other attention neccssaiy to assist tlicm in making young wood for blooming next season. Young, rigorous plant-^, however, sometimes require to be watered rather spaa-ingly at this period to prevent their making a second growth. Cinerarias for early blooming should now be growing li-eely, and shoidd be shifted when necessai-y, for if they are to form large specimens for bloom- ing in winter they must not be permitted to sustain any check. Eemore snckere whenever they can be obtained, and pot them for spring floweidng. The conservatory- borders will now require most liberal waterings, and care August 4, 1863. ] JOUBNAI, OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 93 must be taken to insuie a certain supply of water to any plants which have recently been turned out of pots. Passi- floras, and, indeed, the greater portion of consei-vatory climbers, -(rill be growing fast, and will require fi'equent training. Thin-out weak and overluxuriant shoots, and reserve only sufficient to produce the bloom desired, which wiU be finer, and the plants themselves more capable of producing well-matured wood when these little attentions are performed regularly. STOVE. Such of the inmates here as are intended for the decora- tion of the conservatory in autumn and early winter should be carefully looked over, shifting those which are Likely to want more pot-room, so as to get the pots well filled with roots before the blooming season. Maintain a moist growing atmosphere, and ply the syringe vigorously upon any plant at aH infested with red spider. Brugmansias, Clerodendrons, and other large soft-leaved plants should be frequently washed to keep down red spider, and to be well suppUed with liquid mamu-e to keep them in a vigorous state of health, wliieh adds so mvich to their beaiity. Various stove climbers, as QuisquaUs, AUamandas, Combrettmi, &c., wiU bloom for a considerable portion of the summer if the shoots on which the flowers are borne are slightly cut-in when the blooms decay ; as anything which prolongs the beauty of these favoiuites is valuable, the above instructions should be put in practice. As the growing season for Orchids is far advanced, therefore encom'age any backward plants vnth. plenty of heat and moistm'e while this can be safely done. See that plants growing on blocks and on baskets ai-e i^ro- perly supplied with moistm-e at the root. Syringe lightly morning and evening, and sprinkle the floors, &c., frequently so as to keep the atmosphere thoroughly moist. "W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN OABDEN. With a splendid harvest moon at night there has been glorious weather during the day for bringing to perfection the precious fruits of the earth ; but though we had a nice shower on Satui'day week, we are still feeling the effects of want of water, yet thankftil for the supply the rains gave us. Moved the ground among all advancing crops we could get at to let the air in, and keep the heat out. Cleared away the haulm of Peas that were past being useful in the kitchen ; turned part of the ground into Celery- beds, as the plants would spoil if kept longer m their tem- porary beds. Most of om- beds are 4 feet wide, and contain three rows. Watered the earliest-planted, soaking them as well as we coidd, and earthed-up a piece for early use. On the other plants watered merely threw half an inch of dry soil on the surface, to keep the moisture fr'om evaporating. We never think of acting on the old nde, " Give the Celery a little earthing-up." With the exception of a sprinkling of dry sou after watering, we seldom at this season eaith-up until three weeks or so before we want the plants for use, and we do this all at once, having tied the plants previously. We do this for reasons several times given, and based on the natural habits of the plant. Of com'se, as winter approaches we are obliged to earth-up all Celery, not so much to blanch as to prevent the heads being injured by frost. Prepared part of the ground occupied by Peas, by deep digging and manuring, for winter Spinach, preferruig the Flanders or Prickly-seeded, and winter Onions, part to be dra^vn for salads, and the other part to be transplanted for eajly spring and summer use. What are still left of such planting have had all the tops laid flat with a rake, which will help the swelling of the bulbs, and arrest mere top-growth. Our main summer crop wiU not need this attention for a week or two, as they are scarcely large enough yet. Ten days ago they looked as if mildew meant to attack them, but the timely rains settled that matter for us. Took-up Potatoes as we could get at them ; and Greens, Brussels Sprouts, &c., having been planted between the rows, watered the plants, and turned the earth over to the stems. Shaded Cauliflowers, Turnips, Lettuces, Radishes, &c., as we dread being out of water, and the sun is as bright as ever. Oh ! for a sweet prattling brook ! but then there would be something else we woidd want. There is less exercise of thought when there are no difficulties to sirrmount. Looked after Cucumbers as to stopping, tliinning, and watering ; shading, too, to save water. Sowed a bed of Dwarf Kidney Beans, to which we can give a little protec- tion. Have had them good in the same place iTp to the middle and end of November. Sowed also a row of Bishop's Lougpod Pea, to which we shall also be able to give a little protection, and if the season is fine we wiU get some nice late gatherings from them. This hot weather is bringing on succession of Peas before their time. A friend very fond of White and Scarlet Riinners, says he is quite in a fix for want of stakes this season, and that he will have no crop. Why and wherefore? We believe as many Beans may be had without stakes as with them ; and we have told our friend to nip the point out of his Runners, to cover the ground right up to the plants with short grass or clean litter to keep the pods clean, and there will be a prolonged gathering. We consider the cleanliness of the pods to be essential, as, in our opinion, aU such Runners and Kidney Beans ai-e anything but improved in flavour when washed or passed through water before being placed in boiliag water. In the strange fancies at the present day, such as introducing Carrots and Beetroot as rows in ribbon-borders, we are very much surprised that no one has tried a row of Scarlet Runners, treated on the nipping system, so as to keep them fr-om 12 to 18 inches high. We know of nothing more striking as a mass of scarlet flowers, and even we might say more appropriate if wecotdd keep at a distance all visions of the kitchen and the steiypan. If we aie not the creatm-es of circumstances, we are in many respects the slaves of associations. Cleared and watered Mushroom-beds, which in our open sheds are producing Muskrooms as fleshy and nice as they can generally be had in January. There is nothing Hke simplicity after all if minutias are looked after. If these little matters are too little to be cared for, the finest mate- rials may prove very unsatisfactoi-y. PEXJIT GABDEN. Gave copious waterings to Pig trees, which are yet far from being exhausted of fruit. Watered Vines also. Sul- phured the pipes in houses, as a little heat is put on on cold nights. Finished gathering out of the early Peach- house, and took the lights off by degrees for painting. The house has lasted two months, the last being that excellent Peach the Walburton Admirable, almost as fine as a Noblesse. Have had a few Nectarines, Peaches, and Plums from orchard- house. The birds thinned our Elton Strawberries before we could net them; but Keens' Seedling, planted out as soon as forced, are already producing some fine berries, with promise of more coming, and netted them, as the thrushes know all about their sweetness. Netted all the Currants we think of saving for tarts and dessert. For the latter pm-pose we have always noticed that they may merely make a show — no one seems ever to taste them. Netted Gooseberries by placing rails higher than the bushes at the sides and middle of a small quai-ter, and throwing a net over the whole, securely fastened at the sides. The birds dislike this much more than where a net is merely thrown over the bushes, and there is no difficulty in going inside and taking what you want. WiU dig down a piece of Sti-awberries, and wUl plant with winter vegetables that had been previously pricked out. Moved all the Strawberries laid in smaU pots, and began potting them as quickly as possible. We feel obliged to Mr. Gross for his note at page 70. The mode he recommends is a very good one ; but we rarely can command the room. We have mentioned the same plan in previous volumes, and also taking the runners from such early-forced plants, pricking- them out under glass, and lifting with balls and potting immediately, which is a veiy good plan if shading and syringing are attended to at once. We have also previously mentioned the plan of taking the runners, as soon as formed, out of doors, pricking them out 4 inches apart, on a sUght hotbed, mth glass over them, and lifting with balls. In cold northern places we believe that smaU hite runners of this summer, pricked out on a border, to stand the winter, and raised and potted next season, wUl do the best. For extraordinarj' crops we have found no plan better than resting the smaUer forced plants be- 94- JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Aupust 4, 1863. hind a north wall, shaking them out of their pots in July, and repotting firmly in rich loam, and treating as for younger plants ; but in such cases the fruit individually is not gene- rally so fine. In the short article alluded to so kindly by Mr. Gross, the chief subject of discussion was, whether it was better to laytr the runner at once in tlie fruiting-pot, or use a small pot, aud to that the remarks were chiefiy con- fined. Om- own experience enables us to say that there can be no doubt of Mr. Gross's plan being a good one. From a press of other matters we are a week or two behind in the potting, but there is every prospect of a fine autumn, and a week of such weather soon makes up. ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. This, for various reasons, has occupied our chief attention. Arranging conservatory, potting plants, Pnmulas, Cinerarias, taking cuttings, nipping oft'every wasted flower from flower- beds, Stirling where an inch or two of soil could be seen, clipping and cleaning edgings, rolling walks that were like adamant, so that no mark of the broom should be left at sides where the broom had to be used for clippings, giving a little water as if it were ^vine, where there were signs of flagging — the Amplexicaulis Calceolaria being our most troublesome customer in this respect, tying and fastening where necessary, and rolling the short-shaven lawn that it might be as smooth and easy for the feet as a Tui-key cai*pet. Even the pleasure derived fi-om seeing a fine flower- bed is very much diminished if you must reach it by a walk enough to make a com scream, or a lawn in hard lumj^s that the thin slipper of a lady is a poor protection against. — R. F. TO CORRESPONDENTS. *^* We request that no one will write privately to the de- partmental -wiiters of the " Journal of Horticultm-e, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to xmjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- di-essed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- ture, cj'c, 1G2, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that con'espondents will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poulti-y and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but \vrite them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or thi'ee questions at once. We cannot reply privately to any communication unless under very special cii-cumstances. Names of Plants. — Some of our correspondents are in the habit of sending small fi-agments of plants for us to name. This requii*es fi'om us such a great expenditui'e of time that we are compelled to say that we cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen is per- fect in leaves and flowers. Pear Leaves Spotted {Mnnk-eye).— The leaves are infested -with the *•* Slimy Grub "—the larva of the Pear Saw-fly, Selandria aethiops. Syringing with lime water, or dusting the grubs with lime powder, destroys these grubs.— W. W. GoosEBEfinY Catehpillaes (ff. ^.}.— There are two caterpillars which attack the leaves or the Gooseberry. One is the larva oi the Abr.ixas grossulariae, or Magpie Moth. This is figured iu "The Cotiase Gardener's Dictionary ;" but the caterpillar which is the greatest scourge of the Gooseberry is green, as you describe, and i'^ tbe larva of a Saw-tiy, Ten- thredo gro-ssularitc. It has been frequently described in this Journal, but was accidentally omitted in the " Diciionary." FuciJRiAS AND Pklaroonidms FOR A WiNDOW ( TF. Uaston). ~~ Oi dav^ Fuchsias have Uiadem, Globot^a, and VoUigeur ; of light ones. Duchess of Lancaster, Pearl of England, and Prince Arthur ; of Pelargoniums, Citrio- doruro, Floribunda, Gaines' Scarlet, Prince oi Orange, Rullisson's Purple, and Sidonia. ViNERv FOR Six Vines (^7! Old Snh$c7-iber). —yvith the exception of havinp good heat, we know noth.ng of your vinery or what you wish to do with it. At something like random, then, we would say, Plant one Dutch Sweetwater, one Blacii Hamburgh, one Lady Downes", one West's St. Peter's, one Muscat of Alexandria, one Bnwood Muscat. Any ot our large nurserymen will get the Trebbiano for you if they have it not in stock. You miiy inarch the Stockwood Vine now. To grait, you had better wait until the Vine has re&ted, and put the gruft on a fortnight beiore you start the Vine into growth. Or you may start the Vine early, and when in full leaf cut back and graft with a retarded scion. We would try the first. A white Grape, as a Muecat, Kaisin de Calabre, would be best. Eruatcm. — At page G5 there is no error in printing, but the period is placed wn^ng in one instance. " All fine flourishes of penmanship should, therefore, be generally avoided." *' Unless" should be the fir^t word of the next period ending in '' sentence," which alters the senae as to the use of capital letters considerably.— K. F, WiKEwoRMS Injuring Vink Koots (7". C). — We would try watering with Boot and weak umraoniacal yas w..ter. The securest remedy is to stick slices of Carrots, Turnips, and PDtmoes all over the border 6 int;hes below us surface, examining ihem every morning :md taking uut from them the wirewonn. A little perseverance will rid you of the enemy. If you had examined the compost well by turning it and mixing some soot and lime with it, you would most likely have et-Ciiped the pest altogether. ViNFs IN A Greenhouse {.4. A.).—\ similar inquiry was answered tha other day. Your hou.«e, 12 feet long, is large enough for two Vines, aii L we wouid recommend one iJiack Hamburgh and one Koyal Muscadine. H you plant inside, and the roots are to go outside through the front wail, be sure your inside border is higher than the outside' one. We do not know the position of the house ; but in gener.d the easiest plan, when the roots are to be outside chiefly, is to make a bole in the wall for the stem aud cover what is expo-ed outside with a box. If you want to keep plants in wiuler, and the thermometer is never above from 4i>^ to 4.0^, the Vines will not break until the end of March or the beginning ot Apiil, so that you will have no shdde of consequeuee to interfere with the plants from the end of October until midsummer. Pf-ntillic Castle Garden (Xew Forest). — The smaller walks are gravel and the scioll-beds are lilled with beading plants. We cannut give iin opinion as to ** the smallest scale" to which it is adapted. Plaiting PlAspberrt Canes [Joseph C], — It i* a good plan to be satis- fied Mith '• pretty well," rather than follow such an adviser's instructions, who knows nothing about Kaspbciries, or he would not advise you to at- tempt an impossioility— namely, to " cause the canes to fruit tu-o seasons." Plaiting three canes together is a good plan: it saves stakes. Training to an espalier rail is better, and staking them i3 an old plan not yet ceaten. Haspberries require rich soil, to be planted in rows 4 feet apart and 3 leet from plant to plant. Allow three to five canes to rise trom a stool and pull up all the others, thus throwing all the sap into the tuiure fruit-canes. As soon as the h"uit is all gathered cut away the old canes, and that will admit; the sun and air, ^vbich will ripen the young canea peitecily and give you abundance of fruit the year tollowinir. A dressing of manure, pointei-iu in autumn, is nece?sai-y ; and the canes, if strung, to be shoriened to 5 feet, or, if weak, to 3 or 4 teet, according to their strength. Moving a Lauok Hollv ( Tr. U. J".).— Some gardeners prefer moving the Hex (Holly) in Hpnng, during showery we-ither, not later than May 1st. The latter pan of September, ynd through October, is a good time to pl.int or move somewhat larye Hollies; but more depends on taniiig them up with a nice ball than on any parliculur season of transplanting, and being well supplied with water in dry weather until the tree gets firm hold ot the soil. Constructing a Fernert (Idem). — Autumn is the best time to make a new ternery, far the rockwork and soil become settled before the plant.-* are planted' in March. March is the best tune to reconstruct a fernery ; but any time will do, providing every care be taken not to disturb any plants iu growth, nur expose the roots of those at rest to sun and dry winds. Thinning Melons (A Constant Iteador).—k\iQUt eighteen Melons will be a fair crop lor your four plants. We have taken as many as tweuty and twenty-four. We would advi.-^e watering the bed moderately, giving air even at night, and letting the Melons become as big as pigeon's eggs before you thin them. You can then select the best formed and the most regularly placed fruit. When so aiuall ihey take little comparatively from the plant, and will not require it. LoNicERA AUREO-RETiciTLATA {A, B. C.).— You do not stdte wherc you reside; but, unless very far north, your plant against a south wall will not need protection. Book on Landscape-gardening (B.). — Loudon's edition of Reptou's " Landscape Gardening aad Landscape .architecture." Striking Geraniums in the Open Gaovi^D {Bl'indi/anum).— The kinds you mention— Christine, Flower of the Day, Mangles' Varieg-ned, and Cloth of Gold— may be all struck in the upen ground in August and the early part of September; but we have generally found it advantageous ta allow slow-growing varieties of the Golden section to grow the whole season, and take them up in autumn, keeping them rather warm in. winter and taking ofi" cuttings in the spring. Cuttings ot all the kinds may, however, be put in now, the only tiuestiun being. Can they be spared from the slow-growing kinds ! Cuttings ot Mangle.V Variegated ought to be put in early, as iliey are more difficult to keep than most othexo; buo none do belter than Christine. Pbopagatinr Hollyhocks by Cuttings [Idem). — As it is lato for this work, you must seleci the young shoots that are not more thau half grown, anu cut them into lengths ot two joints and insert them iu a pot or pan, which plunge in a slight heat for a short time. June im a better time tban August ; but they m.iy yet be propagated iu the way we have described. About one-half of the leaf may be left on the upper joint, and about I inch ol the leafstalk on the lower one. LiLiuM LANciFOLiuH TREATMENT {/. 5.). — The youHg roots recently formed, and which have had one year's growth, may oe treated exactly as the old one — namely, be npened grailnally, kept moderately dry till planting time, and then potted as before ; but it there were a Khododendron- bed on good peat, neither too dry nor too moist, we would plant them in it and let them reniaiii until the bulbs are large enough tor flowering. In many situations they flower better out of doors than they do in pots, and their appearance is certauily not less beautiful. Layering Lonickra flava [BlandyanHin). — Wihowgh we have had no experience in layering this plant, yei we believe the same rules will hold good with it as with many others, the giowing season being the best for the operation, and laying the young shoots into a sandy soil. In a day or two the lips will turn upwards, when the layer may be half cut through and secured by a hook so as to remain firm in thu toil. They will speedily become plants. Watering [A Suhs(riher).—\i\ two Numbers, June 16th and 23rd, under the title *' Using the Waiering-pot," tins subject was ^c y fully considered. Names of Plants.— {.If. £.)— We do not recognise the phmt said to have " sUte-coloured flowers," the scrap is too small to show much character. The so-called Virgin's Kod appears to be a Phlox, probably P. divaricata or :«ome near ally. It is a native of Virginia, and may be called Virginia Rod; but the specimen is a very bad one, and ha^ t-nly th'-- remains of flowers. Stnd a better specimen in flower. {J. D. iV. i'.).— Y'ours is Strophanthua- A^gast 4, 1863. ] J0TJENAL OF HOETICITLTTJKE AKD COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 95 dichotomui.. ^A. Z.).-the smaller of the two plants sent is the Pennyroyal. Mentha pulegium. The larger plant is the common Culamint, Calammlha officinalis or Babington. (C.H.).-I. AthyrmmV.hx-temina- 2 Poly- podium vulgare ; 3, Osraunda regalis ; 4, one of the double loim» of the common Feverfew, Pyrcthrum Parthenium plenum^ ^^^ POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. CHICKE^'S LAYIXG-LAMENESS. We do not know that we can answer many of oiu- eoiTe- spondents better than by entering at some length into the subjects to which their letters refer. Thus "K. O. T." says, "Will you inform me what is the age at which puBets generally lay ? I have now kept chickens and Ducks for nearly twelve years, and I have never remarked a pullet lay at so early an age as this year-. I had a brood the tii-st week in February fi-om a pullet hatched some time in March last year. She brought out nine chickens out of eleven eggs, five of which I sold when not ten weeks old for 12s., and kept two, one of which has laid an egg to-day, July 25th. The mother has sat a second time, and brought out eleven chickens from thirteen eggs, and has begun to lay again, having been taken from her second brood about a week ago. This, remember, was a last-year's chicken of the Pheasant- Dorking breed.— K. O. T." It is almost impossible to state any particular tune. It is a question of breed, weather, and management. Food also has to do with it. It is not the part of any particular breed to lay in winter, nor is it their nature. Pullets an-ive at maturity when they attain a certain age, whether that be in May or December ; and when they arrive at maturity they lay. No rule can be laid down ; we saw an egg laid by a Spanish pullet at Wor- cester, the youngest-looking bu-d we ever saw. We have always found Cochins and Brahmas the earliest layers; chickens of these breeds that have been well done, that have had no check, and that are in good health, should lay at from eighteen to twenty weeks old, provided the expiration of this term falls in April, May, or any month before October. If birds ai'e wanted to lay in the mnter, those that attain the proper age at the time when the eggs wiU be wanted should be chosen. We believe the supply may be made a certainty simply by arranging chickens in such wise that each month shall have its layers. Thus, for November supply, the Brahmas or Cochins should be hatched in May ; Dorkings in March, or Spanish in February. It is, however, a mistake to sup- pose that the fact of keeping a number of May chickens will instire eggs throughout the winter. They wiU begin in November, but it is more than probable, especially if the weather is severe, that they will not continue to lay more than six weeks, or, it may be, a month. Assuming, then, th^t they cease laying in the beginning of Deeeniber, a relay of pullets one month younger than those giving up should be ready. Attention to this wiU make a supply of eggs a certainty throughout the winter months. Extreme severity of weather must be encountered, and overcome by generous feeding, and all help must be in this way. The only care required in their roosting-houses, even in unusual cold, is security from draughts. It must be borne in mind hens do not lay ia the winter. After laying the first eggs and having been broody, the pullet is a hen, and fi-om that time she lays in the regular season, which begins about March. It will thus be seen, first, that all eggs laid in the winter must be the jjroduce of pullets ; next, that to have a succession, the ages of the birds must be arranged accordingly. We do not mean to say hens cannot be made to lay in the winter. A few eggs may be produced by meat-feeding and by stimulating diet ; but the penalty is paid, and the eggs are dearly purchased by the destruction of the hen. Disease begins from the moment forced laying is produced, and the price must be paid because the process can only be used successfully with a young hen. The food is thrown away on an old one. Our observations are principally prompted by the oft- repeated remark that, had people known in time, they would have had eggs all the winter. Few of the May chickens are kUled, and therefore, in the language of Friar Bacon's head, "Time is;" and if our readers wish for eggs at the breakfast table in the winter, we believe they can have them by following our instructions. They are based on the experience of many years, and have never failed. " Constant PiEADEb" says he has chickens two and three months old lame in the legs. He wishes to know the remedy, if there is one. No fowls are naturally lame when chickens— they may be lame in the legs from weakness. This wiU be remedied by good diet. They may be lame from very rough stones on the floor of theii- houses. This can be remedied by raking them off. The most seiious remains behind : they may be lame from chUl or damp from floors of wood, brick, or stone. The cure is removal and the substitution of gi-avel or eai-th, the former preferable. Where objectionable flooring is used, its efTect generally shows itself in enlarged knees; and the pain or discomfort arising from them causes the bu-d to sit down and rest on the leg fi-om the knee to the foot, all that part being on the ground— not with the body poised as it is when at roost, but resting a dead weight upon it, and nsmg with evident difficulty. MEETHYR TYDFYL SHOW. The seventh annual Meeting of the Merthyr Tydfyl Poultry Exhibition took place on the 30th ultimo, bemg held in the Market Hall, in conjunction with a show of fi-uits and flowers. E. T. Crawshay, Esq., of Cyfarthfa Castle, also offered a laro-e number of prizes for the best-gi-own veo-etables by cottagers, each district in this -tvidely spread nefo-hbourhood having its special prizes, and, consequently, producino- an amount of close competition that few of oui- readers could possibly credit who did not witness it. It is, though somewhat a digression from the poultry depart- ment, a pleasing feature to record, that the vegetables thus entered for competition, and gi-o^v-n under many local dis- advantages exclusively by working men, were quite equal to those exhibited in the classes ex-pressly appointed for amateurs, and such as would tend much to the credit ot any similar meeting even in the most favom-able districts. The Market Hall at Merthyr affords every necessai-y ad- vautao-e for the successful holding of a poultry show, bemg alike "spacious, airy, and well lighted. On the present occasion it presented the gayest appearance possible— flags, pennants, and banners meeting the eye m profiision on every side, and many waggon-loads of evergreens were used as decorations. The sei-vices of a brass band made the an-angements complete, and, as the weather was every way favoiu-able, success ensued. , , „ j. i. ^.i. Although entries were admissible from any part of the kincrdom, most of them came fi-om breeders not tar removed from Merthyr ; this fact caused the entries to be somewhat Hmited, still, as a whole, the Show could not be pronounced othenvise than a good one. Dorkings came first. I his neigh- bom-hood seems rather scanty of Dorkmg-breeders, only three pens being entered. They were, however, good This tune of year being just about moulting season, the Spanish showed to disadvantage, consequently need no particular mention. In the Game fowls several very good pens -were present. It should be remembered, howe-per, by exhibitors that adult Game fowls should always be shown dubbed, or then- chances of success are seriously dimmished. io Game whilst chickens this rule does not apply. Of Cochins. the Partridge-colom-ed ones were decidedly supenor to any of the others, besides being shown in exceOent feather In the Hamburghs the Merthyi- amatem-s seem to have paid but little regard to combs, imperfections in this respect bemg always a fatal objection, though ui these classes abounding. The Black Hamburghs on the contrary were ti-uly good The classes for Malays, Folands, and Sebright £a«ta«s were without a suigle entry. Some very good Bed Me Game Bantams were shown; also capital Silkies both Wlute and Brown ones. The entries in the Single Code classes were ""^Th^^L' and Ihicls were very creditable ; and fii the Variety class a splendid SheU Drake, "same as a Kobm, drew many admirers to its pen. , . , , „„,.i.:_„ „„„ The poultry prizes offered exclusively to working men were closely cUested ; a truly useful " cross J^etween the Malay and Cochin was here ^eU shown possessing extia- ordinary advantages as a table bird, combmed with a consti- tution remarkably hardy during chickenhood. 96 JOUBNiL OP HOETICULTUEE AIsOD COTTAGE GABDENER. [ August 4, 1863. It appears that for the last season or so the Merthyr Tidfyl Show was discontinued. Under its present management, it now appeal's certain to prove permanent and most success- ful— an issue it well desei-ves, neither labour nor expense being sjjared in its resuscitation. DoRRi.Ncs.— Second, Rev. E. Niclioil, Llandough Rectorv, Cowbridge. Third, J. Buckley, Tenj-fai House, Llunelly. Cooimended, R.' T. CrawEhay, Cyfarlhfa Castle. SriNi.'^H.— First, J. Carr, Hafod, Swansea. Second, E. T. Crawskay, Cyfcrthfa Castle. Game.— First, J. LlcwcllTn, Caerphilly. Second, G. Paddon, Swansea. Cochins {Black and White).— Priie, K. H. Nicholas, Malpaf, near Newport. Cochins (Partridge, Cinnamon, and Buff).— First, J. Carr, Hafod, Swansea. Second. J. Buckky, Penvfai Hou.^e, Llanelly. Hamhurgss (Gold and siiver-sp'angled).— First, T. Davies, Stow Hill, Newport. Second, W. Cuff, St. Pagans. HAMBinoBs (Gold aiul Silver-pencilled).— First, J. Llewellyn, St. Fagans. Second, E. Payne. Cardiff. HAMBOitGBs (Black).— FiiBt and Second, R, H. Nicholas, Malpas, near Newport. Bastamk {Any other fariety).- First, T. Davies, Stow Hill, Newport Second, K. Payne, Cardiff. Anv Distinct BniKu >ot BEroEE Mentioned. — First and Second, K. H. Mcholaa, Malpas, Newport SINGLE COCKS. CocHiKs.— First, J. Carr. Hafod, Swansea. Second, G. Padiloii, Swansea. HAMBritGBS (Gold and Sil- ev-spangled).— Piize, — Wrenn. Hamborohb (Gold and Silver-pencilled).— First, E. Payne, Cardiff. Second, J. T. Williams, Peniheol. DoiiKiNos.— Prize, R. T. Crawshav, Cyfarlhfa Castle. Spanish.— Prize, R. T. Crawshay, Cyfarthfa Castle. Game.- First, R. T. Crawshav, Cyfarlhfa Castle. Second, Withheld. Gausje (Cock and two Hens).— Prize, R. T. Crawshay, Cyfarthfa Castle. Gandek and two Obese.- Prize, R.T. Crawshav, Cyfarthfa Castle. DitAKE AND TWO DfCKs (AylesbuiT).— First, R.' H. Nicholas, Maipas, near Newport. Second, D. Williams, Penrheol. Drake and two Dicks (Black).— First, Withheld. Second, R. T. Crawshay, Cyfarthfa Castle. Drake and two Ducks (Muscovy).- Prize, R. T. Crawshav, Cyfarthfa Castle. TuBKET Cock and two Heks.— Fir^t, E. T. Crawshay, Cyfarthfa Castle. Second, J, Buckley, Penyfai House, Llanelly. PRIZES FOR WORKING MEN ONLY. Cock and two Hens (Any breed).- First, W. Keddart, Fenydan-en. Second, R. Recs, Breton Road. Drake and iwo Ducks.— Prize, W. Cuff, St.' Fagans. Highly Com- mended (Shell Duck), owner not known. DociLLiNos.- First, W. Cutf, St. Fagans. Second, W. Seal, Gwaleod-y- Garth. Chickens. — First, W. Nicholas, Caerphilly. Second, W. Keddart, Penydarren. Ml-. Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Spaxkbrook, Bu-- mingham, officiated as Judge. NEWMILLEEDAM POFLTET SHOW. On Tuesday the eleventh annual Exhibition at the above place was held in a field adjoining Chevet Park, and we think it proved a successful one so far as numbers attending and financial matters were concerned. The show of poultry was tolerably numerous, and some very fine birds were ex- hibited, each variety of breed having some manifestly supe- rior bird included in the number. Among the more notable fowls shown were the Game of Messrs. Brierley, Hellewell, and Viekerman; they were splendid birds and shown in good condition. The Cochins of Messrs. Dawson and Ne'wton were so good that the Judge had some difficulty in awarding the fii'st prizes. There were other good birds in these classes. Dorkinys were very good. The chickens were the best we have met witli this season. There were only five pens of Spanish, and not so good. Golden-spangled were very nice. The chickens shoivn by Mr. EUis, of Leeds, were first-rate, and a large figiu-e was offered for them, but they did not change hands. There was a poor entry of Silver- apangles, but the prize birds were good. The Vaiiety class was well filled, and the first prize went to a pen of Golden-pencilled, second to Silvers — both very good pens, beating Mr. Dawson's Sultans, Brahmas, Black Hamburgha. There was a very large show of Bantams ; there were two classes open for them. Ducks and Geese were not so well shown as we have seen at this Show ; and the Turkeys were very poor. This part of the Exhibition was under the supervision of Mr. John Crosland, jun., who gave all his attention to the fowls, and his arrangements were very good. Game (Black-breasted and other Beds).- First, Mr. Brierley, Rochdale. Second, Mr. Hellewell, Sheffield. Game (Any other variety).— First, Mr. Helle'Well, ShefBeld. Second, Mr. Charlton, Bradford. Chickeny.— Fint and Second, Mr. Viekerman, Chick- enley. Cochin (Cinnamon and Buffs). — First, Mr. Dawson, Mirfitlil. Second, Me?sra. H. & G. Newton, Leeds. Any other Varietv. — First, Mr. Dawson, Miifield. Second, Mr. Brierley Kochdale. Cochin [Chickens). — First, Mr. Dawson, Mirfield. Second, Messrs. H. & G. Newton, Leeds. Dorking. — First. Mr. PIckard, Wakefield. Second, Mr. Himswortb, Lnpset Hall. Chickens. — First and Second, Mr. Pickard. Spanish. — First, Mr. Viekerman, Chickenley. Second, Mr. Cooper, Bnrnsley. Pheasants (Golden). — First, Mr. Himsworth, Lupset Hall. Second, Mr* Ellis, Leeds. Chickens. — First, Mr. Ellis. Second, Mr. Himsworth. Pheasants (Silver).— Firsr, Mr. Viekerman, Chickenley. Second, Mr. Hellewell, Sheffield. Chickens. — First, Mr. Viekerman. Second, Mr. lUllewell. .\ny Distinct Breed not Named.— First, Bti'. Brierley, Kochdale. Second, Mr. Viekerman, Chickenley. Bantams (Black nr White). — First, Mr. Charlton, Bradford. Seoond, .■»Ir Harrison, vVakefleld. Bantams (Any other variety).— First, Mr. Hellewell, Sheffield. Second, Mr. Brierley, Rochdale. Turkkts.— First, Mr. Waterton, Walton Hall, Second, Mr. Fawcett, Wakefield. Geese.— First, Mr. Fawcett, Wakefield. Second, Mr. Totty. Ducks (Aylesbury). — First, Mr. Fawcett, Wakefield. Second, Mr. Johnson. Ducks (Rouen).— First, Mr. Bentley. Second, Mr. Athey. APL\JiIAN NOTES. The change of weather about the 21st of June brought some fine srtnny days, and after the first week in July there was a considerable honeydew for some time, which proved most favoiu'able to the bees, so as to make up in some de- gree for the loss sustained by nearly three weeks' rain in June, generally the best honey-gathering month in England. It was vexatious to read of the losses and failures of that enteii^rising apiarian, " A Devonshire Bee-keeper ;" but the question is. Has he not been too experimental? He was unlucky in having three successive bad summers as those of 1860-61-62, and I certainly must condole -nith him, after so much pains taken practically and scientifioaBy. That such a train of disasters should follow liis apparently well-directed plans and operations seems strange ; his motte should be " Jfil desperandum," and go on. CoRSAiE Bees. — For some weeks my hives have been infested thus early in the season (the 24th of July), and these plunderers have attacked a weak swarm in a box or wooden Wutt's hive. I have been forced to shut these weak bees in for some houi's early in the morning, and by these means have destroyed a good many of the marauders as they arrived. Bees generally are most troublesome in this their great faOing in spring and autumn. Breeding. — This is still going on amongst my bees, as numbei-s of bees are constantly going to the water-troughs. It seems likely, should the weather prove fine for a couple of months, that the late districts and heath countiies -nill certainly have the advantage. A swarm of a near neigh- bour''s, hived on the 1st of July, has increased in weight nearly 20 lbs. This I attribute to a weeFs honeydew wMch came between the 3rd and 16tli of July. Driving Bees. — Mr. Woodbm-y seems to excel in the manipulation of bees ; but I agree with ■' A. W." in No. 121, that diiving bees very often fails, and unless the greatest Ijatience and forbearance are used never succeeds. " A. W." also agrees with me about natural sw.onning ; I have no doubt that the spirits of bees and then' unusual acti'vity are diminished by the constant practice of encouraging artificial swarming. I call it fighting against Nature. Nevertheless I must own, as an old-fasliioned bee-keeper, that tlie order of the day is till for exjjerimental operations and ne'w dis- coveries, many of these latter still problematical. The Weather. — This month of July, as far as it hag gone (to the 25th), has been a most exti'aordinaiy month. I have seen frost in many years for a great pai't of the month of May, and snow once or twice in the fii-stweek in June ; but I have never seen such a variation in the temperature in July in the west of England as in the present month. We have had five or six white frosts ; on the 18th the thermo- meter, before sunrise, stood at 32° ! Previous to this, from the 9th to the 16th, the thermometer varied from 50° to 81", with honeydew for seven or eight days. In exposed situa- tions the kidney beans and other tender annnals were quite discoloured by the frost. — H. W. Newman, Hillside, Chel- ten.luini. !Angu»t 4, H63. JOITENAIj of HOETICtrLTXJEE AJSTD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 97 CHLOEOFOEII FOU BEES— THE SEASOJ^ IN LINCOLJfSHIEE. "A Constant Subsceibek" is refen-ed by you to "Payne's Bee-keeping " for directions to use chloroform for etvipifjang bees. Perliaps you will permit me, as one who has several times acted vipon those directions, to state what has been, with me, the invai-iable resiolt — that of total subseguent desertion of the hives. The quality of the honey is certainly not aiiected by it ; but if preservation of the bees is also a consideration, it is a total faUiU'C ; as, after tiying it six or seven times some years ago, I always found them desert within ii-om ten to fourteen days, and also carry with them every particle of honey the operator had spared. I would recommend your correspondent to endeavour to acquii'e confidence in the manipidation of his bees — and confidence is all that is required for any operation — and he will then find that no stupifying agent at all is necessary. I fiaid it practicable to get on without that universal re- source of apiarians — the tobacco-piije, which constitutional infirmity'' forbids me to use. It is pleasing to find that in .most parts of the kingdom the season has this yeai- been so good. I can state that in Ijincolnshire it is some time since it has been so good.; and in spite of "foul brood," that has been such a plague to cm- Devonshii'e friend, having been introduced into my ag)iary, I have been able to confine it to the loss of three Mves. The general result in swarms and honey is most satisfactory. — G. F. B., Spalding. BEE-KEEPING IS DEVON.— ]S"o. XX. CONVALESCENT. As I am relating my own experience for the benefit of others, and am therefore desirous that they should take warning by my failiu'es and follow me only in my successes, I may at once say that the disease has reappeared ,in the colony whose original queen was stated in my last to have been sent to St. Austell ; and I would record at the same time my conviction, founded on experience, that whenever fovil brood attacks a stock, partial excision or removal of infected combs is of no avail i nothing less than entire deprivation and transferring into a perfectly pure hive is likely to eifect a cure. In the case also of one of the last two operations described in page 79, I had the mortification a few days after my article was written of finding that the disease had broken out in the new combs, and I have therefore been compelled to resort to an operation of a different, and, I trust, of a more effectual character. The other colony treated in a pre- cisely similar manner, remains, however, perfectly iealthy, and was the strongest in my apiary. I say was the strong- est, for I have this day (July 30th), desj^atched it to Ken- frewshii-e, where, in the hands of the bee-keeper of that flk, I trust it may flourish to his heai-t's content, and that we shall leaa-n in due coiu-se that it has fully indemnified lum for a certain amount of "hope deferred" which he has suffered in the matter of Ligm-ians owing to the unfortunate state of my apiary. One point it will undoubtedly enable him to decide before long, and that is the longevity of worker bees at this season. On the 4th of this month all the combs were exchanged for those of a black stock con- taining, therefore, black brood, and as the queen regnant is a perfectly pure Italian, the period of the complete disappear- ance of the ordinary English species will, of course, mark the exact duration of the summer Ufe of the working bee. Thus far I had acted to some extent on the opinions of English authors, none of whom appear to liave been per- fectly cog-nisant of the extremely infectious character of foul brood. Nor coidd I myself at first realise the virulence of the contagion, being disposed to imagine that the removal of the polluted brood-combs would alone be quite sufficient to work a radical cure. In this idea I was confirmed by one of the ablest of the apiarian correspondents of The Jouenai. OF HoKTicULTUKE, who, hx VL letter with which he kindly favoured me on the subject, attributed the whole of the mischief to my exjiorimental opea-ations allowing the brood in the iirst instance to get chilled, and, therefore, requiring only the excision of the affected .parts to work a complete cure. Experience has, however, proved the eiToueousness of these opinions. Few hives of any kind escape the loss of some of their brood every spring from sudden changes of temperature, and the embryos being removed by the bees no fai'ther mischief ensues. In my own case I have often in foi-mer years accidentally reduced the population of hives to so low an ebb that more or less of then- brood has perished ; but this has always been the extent of the injm-y sustained. As it has been said, that when bees are left to themselves and ai-e allowed to follow uni-estrained the impulses and instincts of their natiu'e no such disorders arise, I may be pemiitted to state that foul brood was unquestionably in- troduced into my apiary by infected combs from common cottage-hives iu which the bees had been managed in the ordinaiy way. My next experiment was the mode of cure indicated by Dzierzon, who nevertheless advises, as the best coxrrse, to destroy immediately by means of sulphur every stock in which foul brood is found to exist. Having deprived the bees of all their combs and placed them in a clean hive, I confined them (fii-st insuring perfect ventOation by remov- ing the cro\vn-board and substituting perforated zinc), with- out food for twenty-four hours, in order to be certain of their consuming whatever of the infected honey they might have taken fi-om then- original domicile. To my astonishment a full thu-d of theu' munber perished during then- imprison- ment from some cause wldcli I found myself unable to dis- cover, but which appeared not to be accidental, as a similar loss occiuTed in both of the only two cases in which confine- ment was resorted to, and caused me on that account to abandon it. Having been allowed to work thi'ee days in theu' new habitation, they were once more unceremoniously ejected, and placed in a hive with a few clean combs, in which they w-ere suffered to remain ; all the beautifal combs which they had made during their sojom-n in the interme- diate habitation being at once consigned to the melting- pot. This plan appeared to work an effectual cure ; but as I have departed from it in the matter of imprisonment, I will give fidl particulars of my more recent mode of ope- rating, which thus far promises the best residts. Fii-st, however, let me indorse the opinions both of Dzierzon and Eothe, that except under very special ch'cunistauces it is unadvisable to attempt the cure of a foul-breeding stock ; better, far better, to consign its inhabitants to the brim- stone-pit, the hive itself, if a straw one, to the flames, the comb to the melting-pot, and appropriate the honey to any purpose except that of feeding bees. Before starting it was requisite to insui-e the transfer of the bees to vmpoUuted hives, and here I found that Dzierzon declares that every hive that has contained a foul-breeding colony should be exposed to the sun and an- for two years before being re-stocked. In my own case tliis was simply impossible, and I therefore adopted the practice of another German writer on the subject — viz., to scrape out the hive very careftiEy, wash it all over with a saturated solution of chloride of lime, keeping it closely shut up for twenty -four hours, and then, after thoroughly washing it in clean water, exposing it to the sun and ah- until the smell of the disin- fectant had passed off. This method has the advantage of enabbng one to use a wooden hive again after the lapse of a couple of days, and is, I believe, thoroughly effectual. Having in this manner obtained a supply of pure hives, my first step in each ease is to capture the queen and secure her in a cage. This is vei^y important, as insuring the safety of the royal person dui-ing subsequent operations as well as stopping breeding, and effectually preventing the bees fr-om deserting the unfurnished donucUe to which they are tem- porai'Uy consigned. One of my colonies did, in fact, attempt to do this, but knowing that I held so important a hostage I was enabled to view theu- proceedings with perfect equa- nimity, feeUug myself to be the real master of the situation, and was not a little amused to see the truants after filling the ail- for a long time with all the noise and bustle mcident to swai-ming, at last sink crest-fallen back to the unfui-nished mansion in which their sovereign was held a prisoner, and, confessing themselves beaten, commence comb-building therem, a thing which they had hitherto resolutely abstamed from doing. The queen being, therefore, confined and placed in a clean and empty hive, all her bees are brushed from then- combs into it as rapidly as possible iu order to prevent 98 JOXJRNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ August 4, U63. their canying mucli of theu- infected honey witli them, whilst the combs themselves ai'e set di'aiiiing out of the bees' reach and consigned as quickly as possible to the melting-pot. After the lapse of thi-ee or fom- days the queen (still im- prisoned), and bees are again transferred to another clean hive furnished, if possible, with a few pure combs, and in this they are suffered to remain, theu' queen being released in the coui-se of a day or two, or as soon as they appear con- tentedly settled. Let me again repeat, that all these operations, in which tainted combs must perforce be erposed to the attacks of robbers, should be perfonned as rapidly as possible, and either at a distance fi-om other bees, or at least late in the evening. Having now, as I hope, by these means restored my re- maining colonies if not to a thoroughly healthy, at least to a convalescent condition, I may be jiermitted to take a retrospective glance at the amount of mischief which this pestUeut disease has wi-ouglit in my apiary during the past season. I commenced the bee yeai- with either sixteen or seventeen stocks, to which must be added five received from various fiiends for the pm-pose of being Ligurianised. During the spring I sent out four Italian stocks with varying iU-fortune. All the others are now merged, by divers unions (with the particulars of which I have not deemed it neces- sai-y to encumber my narrative), necessitated from time to time by theu- dwincUing condition, into eight* stocks with pure Ligurian queens, nearly all of them reduced to the condition of recent swai'ms, and two queen-rearing colonies, the entire black and hybrid elements having been eliminated fi-om my apiary. It will thus be seen that by this visitation Ihave sustained an actual loss of about a dozen stocks, since I am, of course, accountable to my friends for those with which they have intnisted me, besides losing the entire honey haa-vest, and the whole of the natural or aa-ti- ficial increase which would have resulted under ordinary cu'cumstauces. StUl, if the narrative of my misfortunes should be the means of directing attention to a disease not, I fear, so very xmcommon among our little favourites, although almost entirely overlooked by English authors, and if, at the same time, it throw some light on the otherwise unaccountable laUures related by Mr. Fau-brothcr and '■ Bar-hive," I shall not remain altogether inconsolable under the losses which have befallen me in my capacity of — A Devonshire Bee-keepee. WEAK A^B imHEALTHY HIVES. I HAVE perused with feelings of sympathy — mingled, let me say, also ivith sui-prise — the lamentable plaint which ap- peai-ed in your Journal from its esteemed con-espondent ' " A Devonshiee Bee-keepee," regarding the weak and un- healthy condition of his apiary this season — sympathy on account of the worries and ilisappointments incident to such a state of matters: sm-prise, that one displaying hitherto such a heroic and imdaimted spirit under the many difficulties and perplexities with which he has often been smTOunded, and whose fluent pen has been ever ready to answer all the inquiiies, and to solve aU the doubts of the numerous parties who appealed to him for advice and in- formation, should write in such a desponding strain. This appears to me even a greater mystery than the one which has appai-ently for the present overwhelmed the spiiit and prostrated the energies of oui- friend. You will permit me, therefore, to trespass a little on your space whOe I consider a few of the causes which lead to the state of matters here complained of — weakness and un- healthiness in hives, and see whether the so-called mystery may not receive an easy solution, and the evils in question be satisfactorily accounted for. I have chosen the words " weak " and "unhealthy," which are tei-ms pretty well understood among apiarians as denot- ing a state or condition the reverse of prosperous, premising only that the latter word " unhealthy," does not necessaiily imply the presence of the disease, properly so-called, among the bees ; but is only meant to indicate the existence of some evil or defect in the hive which, as I have already said, is adverse to prosperity. * I Bhould now say seven stocks, one baring been despatched to Renfrew- 8bire. In the cases before us (for Mr. Woodbury refers to Mr. E. Fairbrother's case as one siniilar to his own), it is, of course, not easy in the absence of full particidars, and ol' a personal knowledge of all the circumstances, to speak decisively as to the cause of the deterioration and decadence of the luves in question ; but judging from the facts communicated, it does not appear to me that either of the cases mentioned is beyond the reach of a true solution. I may here premise, however, that Mr. E. Fairbrother's case and Mr. Woodbury's seem to me entirely dissimUai- in their origin and character. Mr. Fah-brother no doubt complained of his bees deserting and his hives gradually degenerating and d\vindling away without any apparent reason; but it does not follow that because the results were somewhat similar the evils them- selves were the same, or that these results were brought about by the same causes. Wlien I read Mr. E. Pair- brother's communication I was not the least sm-piised at it. I did not consider it a wonderful thing that hives in certain cii-cumstances and in certain localities should not sometimes prosper. Pray let me ask. What are the elements of prosperity? Mr. Fairbrother himself in a sub- sequent communication answered this question, and there- fore his own case, completely when he said — Fii-st, fertility in the queen ; second, good pasturage within reach ; third, lavom-able weather. The further question then arises. Were any of these elements wanting in his case so as to account for failure ? In the absence of a knowledge of ch-cumstances I cannot of course pronounce decidedly as to the reiU cause or causes ; but if there existed no radical defects in the hives themselves, no lui-king evils witliin — if the hives when put down in his apiary were strong, vigorous, and healthy, and if a gradual dn-indling away took place — and if on repeated trials with different stocks under like eu-cumstances the same results ensued, then I should have no doubt in ascribing the cause of faOure to locality alone. Let me tell Mr. Fairbrother, and aU whom it may concern, that there are certain localities in which bees do not and cannot thrive. Woolwich may be one of these : I should fancy it is. But independently of the smoke and other nuisances incident to a town like Woolwich, bees do not like a town life. They lose themselves and are trampled upon by hundi-eds amid the streets and lanes of a lai'ge tow^l. They have to travel far for food ; and even when the apiary is situated in the outskirts, the bees have only access to the fields on one side of them. Within the radius of a mUe they can only resort to a mere segment of a cu-cle for suppHes, while the re- mainder may be to them worse than barren. True, all towns are not alike, but as a general rule I shoidd pronounce a large town locality for an apiary to be most ineligible in every sense. Should the amateiu- cidtivator prosecute his stutUes in such locaUties, he must do so under gi-eat dis- lulvantages and be prepai-ed for considerable sacrifices while enjoying his pleasures. It is of little consequence for Mr-. Fairbrother to inquire " How far will bees fly for food ?" The real question is, " How far can bees profitably and with advantage afford to fly for food?" The nearer and more abundant the pastui-age, the better will they prosper ; the more distant and scarce, the reverse. I know weU experimeutaUy what it is to combat with the disadvantages and evils of a town locality. With every fostering care and attention, the poi^ulation of any of my hives is never nearly equal to such as are situated in the open country, nor do they ever approach theii- prosperity. If I were to choose a site for an apiary it would neither be in towns nor in the neighbom-hood of towns, but in some spot far removed from the busy haunts of busy men. Mr. Woodbury's case assumes to my mind a different aspect altogether. He has tested his locality with ilifferent results, and therefore, the same objections cannot apply here. The evils of which he complains I attribute to his own creating — they have in my opinion been brought about solely by himself. And here let me state the broad truth at once, which I challenge all to gainsay — namely, an ex- perimental apiary can never be a thoroughly prosperous one. Let me impress this truth upon the nunds of all the apiarian, readers of this Journal. I have operated more than most apiarians in my day, and know fuU well the general results and effects produced by the various operations in which I have engaged ; and I will make this remai-k as generally applicable to all these, that August 4, 18B3. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTirKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 99 unless performed in strict accordance with tlie natural in- stincts and habits of the bees and a due regard to time, cir- ■cumstances, and condition, the results will always be un- satisfactory and frequently productive of much evil. It was reported lately in this Journal, that at a meeting of German bee-keepers the question put into the hands of the celebrated Dzierzon to support, was the following : — " Why are artificial swarms to be preferred to natural swarms?" To the credit of that great apiarian he had the boldness to declare, as a preface to liis remai'ks, that " no man of sense wUl endeavoixr to attain by ai-tifice what Nature gives volun- tarOy." We can never accomplish by any artificial process whatever anything half so well as Nature herself. Artificial swarm-making, therefore, must be performed, I hold, only in certain circumstances, and according, as far as possible, to natural laws. The fui-ther we deviate from these laws the less successful shall we be and the more dii-eful the results. These remarks being made, let me come to the considera- tion of the evils of which Mr. Woodbury complains. Mr. Woodbury's apiai-y has been bteraUy an experimental apiai-y. For the pm-pose of multiplying Ligurian queens he has availed himself of the well-known power which bees possess (the discovery of Schirach), of creating queens at will; he has adopted every expedient to attain his end ; he has checked and disallowed the natural swarming propensities of his bees ; he has forced them into positions foreign to theii' natural habits and instincts ; he has shifted and re- shifted colonies and portions of colonies with the produce of their labours again and again ; he has transferred a few combs fi-om this hive into that liive, and again from that hive, it may be, to another, untU he has gone the whole round of his stocks. In the various manipulations consequent on all this work brood-combs will get sometimes, it may be, chilled by too long exposiu-e to the cold air, or are unat- tended to and neglected by the bees by reason of the disorders and disturbances created in the hire ; and once the evil is neglected, or chilled brood occurs in any hive, then fai'eweU prosperity — there is laid the foundation of future evUs, which it is scarcely possible to over-estimate. The unhatched lai-vae get corrupted in their cells, the bees do not seek to remove them if they can, the eggs laid in con- tiguous cells are affected by coming into contact vrith these cold putrid bodies, and remain also unhatched. The evils increase ; the bees become paralysed, their industry is materially damped, an inertness and apathy seize the whole community, the queen participates in the effects, her repro- ductive powers are slackened — in short, the whole hive is affected, and becomes, if I may use the term, completely demoralised. Its numbers decrease, and it speedily an-ives at that stage when it must be classed under the category of " weak and unhealthy ;" and eventually, if the evils are not timeously rectified, it will become a complete wreck. Is this the state in wliich Mr. Woodbury's hives are now situated ? If so, is it to be wondered at ? Is it a mystery which cannot be solved ? If I am right in my surmises — if I have succeeded in pointing out the causes of these evils, what shall I say as to the remedy ? I should advise a total clearance of all the affected combs in each liive — nay, of the whole comb together, and the bees to be introduced into fresh combs, the produce of healthy hives to be got elsewhere, containing l^lenty of brood and honey, and thus the evils in question will be obviated, and the sanatory condition of Ms stocks will be completely restored. It is vain to attempt a restora- ■tion now in any other way. The season is too far atlvanced for less decided measiu'cs. The case is urgent and requires immediate action. Leave the hives as they are, and not a bee will live to see the ensuing spring. Ml-. Woodbury refers to the successful bee-keeping of many who know little or nothing of the natural history of the bee. May not this be accounted for by such individuals allowing their bees to take their free, natvu-al, and uui-e- strained com-se in swarming, and by not tampering with their instincts and interfering with their habits, not forcing ■them into positions which are adverse to their well-being ? In regai'd to differences in the reproductive powers of queens, I at one time entertained the same views as Mr. Woodbury propounds — namely, that they are rai'ely at fault. A more enlarged experience, however, has convinced me that these differences exist to a large extent ; and though it is foreign to the present subject to enter into a consideration of the causes of these differences, involving, as that con- sideration necessarily would, a discussion on the whole question of queen-rearing and fecundation, suffice it for the present to state that these differences are considerable, both in regard to the power of oviposition and to its continuance or duration. Some queens become exhausted in one year — others hold on for several years, maintaining all along their superior prolific character. These points, I dare say, are new to most of your apiarian readers — at least they are never mooted in the pages of this Jovirnal — but they are facts nevertheless ; and if Mr. E. Pair- brother asks, as he did ask, how to choose a prolific queen, my answer to him is, that though I am myself guided in some measure by such considerations as I have here merely hinted at, yet the safest and best course for apiarians in general to follow is to be guided by actual facts : — To presei've such queens as really prove themselves to be very fruitful, and wliieh maintain the colonies over which they reign in a state of prosperity ; and to dispense, on the first fitting opportunity, with such as prove themselves the reverse. — J. Lowe. TEUE CAUSES OP FAILTTRE IN BEE- EEEPmG. The communication from "A Devonshibe Bee-keepek," in The Joubnal of Hobticultuee of July 21st is calculated to fill the minds of other bee-keepers with apprehension and dismay. If so great a bee-master finds his stocks dwindle away and die, in spite of the most earnest attention and the most approved plans of bringing out then- capabilities, what can mere novices like myself expect but sooner or later the like failure — less signal, perhaps, but none the less dis- appointing ? If the bee-keeper's great oracle is baffled, to whom shall we look for trustworthy guidance ? Most sin- cerely do I, in common with many others who take an in- terest in apiarian pur-suits, regret your able correspondent's disaiipointment ; and most heartily do I hope, that for his own sake, as well as for the sake of those who ai-e similarly cu-cumstanced, he may be able to discover the true reason. At the same time I beg to state that " A Devonshike Bee-keepee's " failure might have been expected to occur sooner or later. Bees must, as I take it, be treated on other principles than those which are merely scientific. Tou may laugh at the notions which country people have respecting- these strange creatures, and call them superstitious if you •o-iU, but to use the words of a great writer — •' There are moro things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt ol in your philosophy." In your Number for May 6th, 1862, an article appeared on "Bee-keeping and Customs inCheshu-e." It is there stated that unless the bees are expressly informed of the circum- stance of any member of the family djing, the bees, too, so it is believed, will dwindle away and die. Multitudes of ex- amples, it is said, can be alleged by the " old dames," in proof of this idea ; but is not the word of the " old dames," experienced as they are, deserving of being credited ? I think it is. But in reality not merely in cases of death, but in cases of family festivity, the bees should be duly made acquainted vrith what is going forward. If a friend is coming to stay in your house, you should inform them, and introduce him to them at the earliest opportunity. If any joyous event takes place, such as a marriage or a christening, and you entertain a party of friends on the occasion, you should by all means make your bees partakers in the good cheer provided. If you forget them, they will probably resent the atli-ont, and desert you. But if there is one thing more than another which is said to be "unlucky" in regard to bees, it is buying and seUing them. Has not our friend, the " Devonshire Bee-keepek," been rather a serious offender in this respect ? Can we wonder that liis bees have takeu it to heart and failed to cheer him with the wonted s'gns of their goodwill ? You may lay it down as an axiom that bees if atfi-onted wiE cease to prosper ; they wOl dwintUe away, and ultimately, in spite of every care, die. Of course, bees must, in all cases, be properly hived and attended to, but at the same time, if certain customs are not complied with in reo-ard to them, I believe that the greatest amount of 100 JOTJENAl OF HOETICULTTIRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ Augnst 4, 1863. attention, and tlie most approved hives, will not suffice to insure sxiecese. It is notorious that the bees of one proprietor will some- times prosper, while no care on the jjai-t of another, living possibly close by, will command an amount of success suffi- cient to repay him for liis pains : hence it is a very common idea among cottagers all over the country', that the pros- perity of bees depends as much on what they call " luck," as it does on anythijig. If, they would say, the " Devon- SHiBE Bee-keepee " is going to have a run of ill-luck vrith his bees — whatever may be the cause of it — do what he may, they will not prospei-. My own belief is, that he will find them dwindle to that extent that he will have scarcely a bee remaining, and, therefore, I should advise him, little as I am qualified to give advice on the scientific management of bees, at once to get rid of his entire stock, and stai't afresh. Let him bewai'e of offending the moral suscepti- bilities of his bees, English or Italian, in any way, and then, probably, he will succeed as in times past. Probably he wOl treat all that I have said as " bosh," but I could not help suggesting it for his reflection. At any rate, it is plain that he has a jiroblem to solve as difficult as any that has hitherto engaged his attention in regfu'd to bee- keeping.— Jonas Jackson. [Every apiarian must agi-ee with Jonas Jackson ; and to his suggestions we will add a few more similarly sanctioned by antiquity. As Mr. Woodbm-y will Hke to strengthen his hives by the joining to them fresh swarms, thei-efore let him kill a bullock as du-ected by Vu-gil in his fourth Georgic, and let him add the bees engendered by its bowels to his declining stocks. Let him hi frxture on the death of any relative tie a piece of black craj^e roxind each bee-hive, as they do, or used to do, in his own county, as well as in Gloucestershu-e and Cornwall. When his hives swarm in future, let hun by crying " Brownie ! Bro%vnie ! ! " summon the tutelary fauy to his aid to prevent then" going whither he would not. Never let him again part with a hive of bees for money, and when he barters one away never let him have it removed on any other day than Good Friday. — Eds.] FAILUEES m BEE-EJ:EPI]S'G. "Whilst condohng, as in duty bound, with oiu- brother of Devonshii-e, I would remind him of one of olden time (stead- fast in his integiity when brought level with the dust fr-om a lofty pinnacle of prosperity), of whom it is recorded that he had given to him " twice as much as he had before." So doubt your readers will all respond to the hope, and wish that the "Devonshire Bee-keepee" may soon be himself again, and his hives jirospering even beyond the success of yore. I should rejoice could I point out the reason why such failiu-es take jjlace in aijiaries as our leader is now in mom-ning for. I know such deaths and losses are most frequent ; witness the number of apiaiies on every plan, once flom-ishing, but now exhibiting only " a beggarly accovint of empty benches." But I cannot. I know that certain families of the human race die out, why and where- fore it is not possible to say, and strangers almost take the name, titles, and properties of those who have been as wishful to perpetuate their line and name as the " Devon- shire Bee-keepek " was or can be to keep up the stocks in which he prided. Equally pleased shoidd I be could I point out the reason of the potato failiu-e. But I cannot : I only know that worms wiU wither our gourds in a night. I beheve all these losses and mishaps, if you wiU, ai-e ordered and permitted by One who doeth all things well : therefore, I faint not when I have my shai-e of the mischances, and I tiy to follow the example set me by my favourites, which always endeavour to rectify their "break-downs" as long as there is any hope leit of building up again. When I brought my bees from the north of Lincolnshfre (three hives) in the whiter of 1S61 and 1S62, I thought they were all " good standai-ds." Two were swarms of 1S61, the third an old stock that had not swarmed that year. They all began the decidedly bad bee-season of 1862 vigorously enough ; but the third soon began to d^vindle away, leaving honey enough to have wintered two hives. Of the other two only one just " saved its bacon " by a trip to the moors. The other swarmed twice, and I kept it at home, giving it honey without measure all the time its j)artner was at the heather ; and now mark the result. The hive I kept at home followed suit exactly this spruig with the one which died in tlie previous one, and the other so nearly dwintUed away, that I was once on the point of " killing it to save its life." I did not do so, however, and, strange to say, it has recruited ; iUU-1 though it never has been fiiU of bees in any period of this summer it has made plenty of honey, and is now one of the heavy ones of my thriving stocks. I never observed one cU-one issue from it all this season. I never saw one within its windows ; but one nig'ht I found the front of it strewed mth di-C'ues, some dead, some dying, some in all stages of infantile hfe. I have my idea that this hive will do no more good, and it is now doomed to the fuming-pot. In Tork- shfre I had a siuulai- case exactly. The heaviest hive I had I deprived of a portion of its honey, and the next season it dwindled away. I could give instance after instance of the kind, both under the depriving system and on the cottage plan — first swarms, seconds, old stocks, all alike ; sometimes a hive or two in an apiary, sometimes the whole lot. The simple look on and wonder, the wise are ccinfounded, the super- stitious say it betokens death, or is the consequence of it ; but as I do not like to class myself with either of those denominations exactly, I say with him of my neighbouring county, we have not arrived at the solution of the mystery. I should have been almost cleaned out again last year, as I have been many a time before, had I not pui'chased two first swarms. Of these, one was, to all appearance, doing as well as bees could do last season, when one morning I saw that something was amiss — the bees were showing every symptom of having lost their queen, though fuU of brood- comb iu every stage. Whilst the hubbub was at its height, a neighboiu- had a " second cast." I was not long in looking out for a supernumerary queen. I caught one, took her home to my " distressed manufacturers," and in less than one minute after this young virgin stranger entered the hive they were working away as steadily and happily as I should wish those of Lancashu'e to be working, were the cotton famine at an end. One of yotu- correspondents asks respecting the length of - time piping is heard before the issue of a swarm. I have known them do it a day or two after the first trump of defiance. This year they have piped for seven days or more. More than a fortnight elapsed between the first and second swarms in my garden. In a neighboiu-"s, some of his hives swarmed for the third time on the seventh day. So much for rides. It would almost appear as if bees did not adhere very strictly to them. But here an ignorance of thefr habits m.iy put us at fault. — The Hahpshiee Bee-keepee. A White Ousel. — A very interesting variety of the Ousel (Blackbii-d) has been shot near here; it is evidently a male bii'd, and is a jjure white — so much so that I coidd not dis- cover a single feather varying in colour. Its yellow beak added to its singularity of appearance. — W.Eaeley, Uigsivcll. OUR LETTER BOX. Lame Chickens (.4 Constant Iieadcr).~~You T\-iU fiiid remarks oa this subject in anotlier eolumn. Stouino lloNET— Its Use {J. T., itockparf).—?itoTe your honey in closely-covered jars, not in tins, which ■would communicate to it an un^ pleasant flavour. Virgin honey in the comb is no mean adjunct to the breakfast table, nor is it to he despised when newly drained Iroru clean combs. KiLLiNo Drones [J. J'.l-— On no account kill them. The bees will effect the slaughter when the drones are no longer required. LONDON IMAKKETS.— ArcrsT 3. POULTKY. Loiidon is fast becoming empty. Demiind llags iind supply increasos. Prices sufl'er accordingly. Larf;e Fowls '.'.'.'.'. 2 1 5 d. s. 6 to 3 0 „ 2 6 „ 1 6 „ 6 0 „ 2 d 0 C 9 I) 3 s. .. .. 0 d. B. 0 to 0 0 „ 0 4 ,1 1 8 „ 0 8 „ 0 d. n S'naller ilo 0 « Rabbits 1 ft Wild do 0 s Ducklings 2 rigeoiis 0 u August U, 1663.3 ymyKJUAi. oiF hoetictjltuee and cottage gardeneij. 101 WEEKLY CALENDAR- Day Day of 1 of ITnth Week. AUGUST 11-17, 1863. Average Temperature near London. Rain in last 36 years. Sun Rises. Sun Sets. Moon Rises. Moon Sets. Moon's Age. Clock before Sun. Day of Teal". n 12 13 14 16 16 17 To W Th F S fiUN M W. Sherard died, 1728. E. Grouse shooting begins. Hoinweed flowers. Bpurces flower. MiDt flowers. 11 SCNDAY AFTER ThINITT. All-heal flowers. Day. 75.8 75.2 74.1 72.3 72.8 73.3 73.3 Night. 61.8 61.2 60.2 51.1 50.1 51.5 50.5 Mean 63.8 63.2 62.2 61.7 61.5 62.4 61.9 Days. 17 14 16 14 14 16 19 ra. h. 40af 4 42 4 43 4 46 4 46 4 48 4 49 4 m. h. 30af7 28 7 26 7 24 7 22 7 20 7 18 7 m. h. 39a 1 40 2 44 8 47 4 64 6 59 6 7 8 m. h. 33a 5 4 6 29 6 50 6 9 7 26 7 47 7 27 28 29 • 1 2 3 m. s. 5 1 4 52 4 42 4 31 4 20 4 8 3 66 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 F-rom observations taken near London during the last thirty-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 73.8°, and its temperature 60.9". The greatest heat was 92°, on the 11th and 15th, 1842 ; and the lowest cold, 32°, on the 13th, 1839. The greats of rain was 1.14 inch. night St fall AECHEEFIELD EAELY MUSCAT GEAPE. ^^ ITH regard to this I consider it riglit — more particularly towards the Fniit Commit- tee of the Eoyal Horticul- tural Society — to state that, after having tested this Vine under various circum- stances, the plants propa- gated from the original Vine do not maintaia the pecidiarly early character which it has exhibited for three successive years. It will, of course, be taken for granted that this wUl prove a disappointment to all concerned ; for the pros- pect of having acquired a Muscat Grape that would ripen as early as the Black Hamburgh, even in Muscat heat, was one of great importance. So far as the per- petuation of the very early character of the original Vine is concerned, I am sorry to say the matter is now hopeless, and, to my mind, settled to the contrary. I have already publicly stated the Vine was no seed- ling of mine, and I was in ignorance of its history. It was planted in 1860, and in 1861 was allowed to carry a few bunches ; and so early was it that I several times expressed my conviction that it could not be a Muscat at all. When it ripened aU doubt on this point was dispelled ; and from the attention tliat it attracted from all who saw it ripe while the others were green, I was induced to send it to the Fruit Committee to see if they knew what it was. In 1862 the eyes that were taken from it were put in along with Black Hamburghs, Eoyal Muscadine, Muscats of sorts, as well as other varieties ; and under precisely the same circumstances, the buds fi'om this mysterious Vine were ready to pot-ofF long before any of the other varieties. Last year and this the original Vine, as many could testify, exhibited its peculiarly early properties as strikingly as ever. There were the strongest temptations for its being dis- tributed this year, but from the mystery which existed about its origin I was determined that not a shadow of doubt should be leit as to its character before I could allow its distribution. To set the matter at rest there were a good many grafted on the old Muscat of Alex- andria in a house entirely apart from the parent Vine, and one was put on the Muscat that grew next the original Vine in the same house. There were plants of it planted at Dalkeith Park gardens in a house where several other varieties of Muscats were planted of a like age, and it was grafted on other Muscats there also, all with the view of proving whether under different circumstances the early character would be perpetuated. Under these circumstances it has not proved any earlier than the earliest of the other Muscats against which it has been tested. In a late Muscat-house here, where the various sorts are now changing colour, the fruit from I No. 124,— Vol. V., New SEEiee. the inarches of last year are no eai'lier than that which is borne by the other varieties planted in 1860. The original Vine never grew as strong as the others ; and probably something may be discovered that has affected it, and perhaps a lesson may be learned in the early ripening of Muscats. However, it is not my present object to theorise on the matter in relation to the results produced. Meantime I am satisfied with stating the facts of the case, and wdl notice with interest the Vine which has hitherto been so remarkably early in its pro- duce. I may state that it appears under the different circum- stances related above to be much more free in setting and stoning than the old Muscat of Alexandria, but not more so than the Bowood and Tynningham Muscats, •while in bunch and berry it resembles the former more than the two latter. D. Thomson, Archerfleld Gardens. BEDDING-OUT AT THE CEYSTAL PALACE IN 1863. I H.iVE paid two visits this season to the Crystal Palace for the express purpose of gaining as much information as I coidd from the bedding-out there. Mj' first visit was at the beginning of July, and my second in the last week of that month. Some of your readers may not be aware, or have forgotten, that Mr. Beaton stated last year in jSTo. 82 of your Journal that some of his new seedling Geraniums would be tested this summer both at the Eoyal Horticul- tural Society's gardens and at the Crystal Palace — such as Cybister or The Tumbler, Mrs. Whitty, Crimson Minimum, and others unnamed. As I had heard, also, that there were to be several new things, or, rather, old things revived, but which to me were new, on my first visit I was glad to have the aid of Mr. Page and Mr. Vyse, the superintendents of the Eose Mount and the upper terraces. I was afterwards fortunate in meeting Mr. Gordon, who was kind enough to verify some of my notes upon his bedding-out, and who also showed me a new Lobelia of his own raising, which for size of flower and colour beats our old Lobelia speciosa hollow. In order to enable you to foUow me to the different beds I must beg you particularly to notice that I begin with the fii'st round bed facing the entrance to the gar- dens from the railway station. Suppose you have given your entrance-fee, and are standing on the top step of the doorway directly facing the Eose Mount, your eye is caught immediately by a lovely coronet of pink, scarlet, white, yellow, and blue, which forms the decoration round the upper part of the Eose Mount. Bring your eye down to the base of the Mount to the walk which goes round ; directly facing you is a path leading up to the top of the Mount, and it is to a bed on the left-hand side of this path, but on the right of the walk going round the Mount, supposing in your course of inspection the Mount is on your right, that I wish first to direct your attention. It is a round No. 776.— Vol. XXX., Old Series. 102 JOUKNAIi OF HOETICtTLTUEE AJST) COTTAGE GAEDENEE. C Aagust 11, 1SC3. bed phxnted with Sidonia for centre, one lovely mass of pink ; then one circle of Harry Hieover, the outer circle being Lobelia Paxtoniana: this bed strikes me as one of the most perfect in the gardens. Some, perhaps, would prefer a rather broader circle of Harry Hieover, but you mu^t remember Harry is a new comer, and his progeny are not as yet very numerous. Sidonia is a Geranium which I am surprised is not more used. For bloom it far surpasses Christine; but it is rather difficult to get up a stock of, and must be planted very close ; old plants are also the best. There are several of the breed in the market, but this is the true one. Eemember, this Sidonia- bed is oiu' starting-point. Now if you will be kind enough to take your way as if going \ip to the Palace by the walk round the Mount (thus the Mount will be on your right), you will come to another round bed planted with Tro- pseolum elegans and Golden Chain round — a bold stroke, orange and yellow ! but forming a very good contrast to the first — viz., the Sidonia, and to the next. This is planted with another new Geranium — Baron Ricasoli, as a centre, a circle of two rows of Christine, a circle of one row of old Floiibunda Geranium, the outer circle or edging being Lobelia speciosa. The Baron is much the same colour as Harkaway, but brighter and with much larger petals and truss, and a far more abundant bloomer : it has a slight horseshoe on the leaf. The old Floribunda is a friend of my youth. I remember a ladder plant of it 2 or 3 feet high, which annuaUy decorated our nursery window. It pro- pagates easily, and, if the old blooms are picked off, flowers well during the whole summer ; but if you will take my advice, use it only as an inner circle or centre and not as an edging, as when the white petals drop oif they make a sad litter. We now come to another path leading up the Eose Mount. At the corner formed by this and the walk going round, is a heart-shaped bed, with a centre of Trentham Eose and Aurea floribunda Calceolaria as an edging. Turn now up the walk leading to the top of the Eose Mount ; and next the heart-shaped bed at the corner, on your right going up, is a veiy charming bed. I call this a salad-bed, for it has the same kind of fresh cool appearance. It would form a very good neutral tint to bring in between stronger combi- nations of colour. It is planted with alternate circles of Lobalia Gordoniana, and Alma Geranium. Up again two or three steps, and stOl looking to the right, you have a bed of dai-k maroon Calceolaria (seedlings of Mr. Gordon's, very beautiful at my first visit, but faUen off on my second, owing, no doubt, to the excessively hot sunny weather), with an edging of crimson Ivy, far too narrow, and not the right colour to put next to the Calceolaria. And now turn back .Tgain and go down the walk, and you come to another salad- bed on the right, opposite the other, planted with Julia variegated Geranium, and Lobelia Paxtoniana. This Julia was brought out by Turner or Kinghorn, and, as you wiU probably notice, is superior to Alma. At the corner oppo- site No. 1 heart-shaped bed, is a round bed, oenti-e Prince of Orange Calceolai-ia, with an edging of Harkaway. Now, you are again in the walk going round the Mount, and at the next bed you exclaim, " Oh, how dull-looking ! " It is an attempt to make the Fuchsia useful as a bedding plant, and is planted with Fuchsia Queen of Hanover for centre, two circles of Empress Eugenie Verbena, one circle Fuchsia Globosa, edging a white Lobelia. We now come to No. 2 heart-shaped bed. planted with Crys- tal Palace Scarlet Geranium, with an edging of Flower of the Day. Continuing yoiu- course you come to a large bed planted with Khododendi-ons, and next to No. .3 heart-shape, with a centre of Purple Nosegay, bordered with a hybrid Geranium called Lady Mary Fox and edged with Tropseolum Elegans. Close to this No. 3 is a tree with a seat imder, and a walk runs up the Eose Mount. Up this walk I shall not take you, as there is nothing particidar to notice, the beds on both sides being made up of mixtures of small variegated Gera- niums and Verbenas, which last have failed. Tou may, perhaps, notic-e the edging of the first round bed on the right of the walk. It is Golden Ivy -leaf Geranium. The round bed at the corner is filled with Tropa'olum Ball of Fire. Proceed nov* along the circumference-walk, always keep- ing the Mount on your right, and you come to a round bed filled with Gp.zania splendens, mixed with Cerastium Biebersteinii, edged with Cerastium tomentosum. The next is a very bright bed, centre BrilUant Geranium, edged with Agathsea ccelestis variegata. Then, there is another attempt with Fuchsias. We now come to No. 4 heart-shape bed, centre Punch four rows, encircled by two rows of Gaines' YeUow Calceolaria, two of Christine, the whole edged with Purple King Verbena — a very effective bed. Now, turn up the walk to the top of Eose Mount, and on your right you have a bed centred with one of the new Nosegays of much the same colour as Trentham Eose. a capital bloomer, edged with Blush Minimum Geranium. The next bed is variegated Geranium Bijou, mixed with Eyebright Verbena, edged with Lobelia Gordoniana. Turn do^\Ti again, and with your back to the Eose Mount, you have on your right a bright rosy-coloured Verbena, a new seedling edged with Shottesham Pet Geranium. Now you come to my pet bedding Geranium, Lord Palmerston, for centre, with an edging of Blush Minimum. Lord Pal- merston is equal in truss to Stella, but of a more crimson colour. I measured some of the petals, they were li inch in length, and you will find it difficult to count the buds on a truss. The next bed is filled with a dull-looking double TropjEolum, edged with Gnaphahiun lanatum. You are again in the circumference-walk ; continue along it passing two or three round beds, one of which Ls Eoscs, till you come to No. 5 heart-shape, centre Cottage Maid, surrounded by Christine, edged with GnaphaUum lanatum. Then comes another walk leading up the Mount, up which it is not worth while to go. Opposite to No. 5 Ls another bed of Mr. Gordon's dark Calceolarias, edged with variegated Crimson Minimiuu Geranium. Pass along the circumference- walk, and the first bed is Queen of Hanover Fuchsia, edged with Cuphea; next bed is Gazania splendens, edged with Arctotis reptans, a new edging plant ; next, a bed of Helio- trope mixed with Verbena venosa ; and next, RoUisson's Unique Geranium edged with a seedling white Verbena. We now come to ths sixth heart-shape bed, Trentham Eose as a centre, round which is Aurea floribunda Calceo- laria two rows, edged with Purple King Verbena. Now up the Eose Mount, and the first bed on youi- right is, centre Eyebright Verbena, edged with Lobelia Paxtoniana. The next is a very pretty bed made up of Lady Plymouth varie- gated Geranium, mixed with Melindres Verbena, and edged with Cloth of Gold Geranium. On the other side of the walk going down again, you have on your right a counter- part to the last in a bed filled with Dandy Geranium mixed with Verbena Hendersoni, and edged with Cloth of Gold ; then a bed with a rosy-crimson Verbena not named, edged with Lobelia Paxtoniana ; and the round bed at the comer is Tropieolum elegans, edged with Gnaphalium lanatum. And now along the circumference-walk and you have a splendid bed of Brilliant Geranium, edged with Golden Ivy • leaf. The next bed is of a dull-coloured Petunia, edged with Nierembergia. Then a bed of Calceolaria Prince of Orange, edged with Golden Chain ; and the last, Gaines' Yellow Cal- ceolaria, edged with Floribunda Geranium. Y'ou are now at No. 7 heart-shape bed, just opposite the entrance irom the railway station. It is planted with Cottage Maid for centre, suiTOunded by Crystal Palace Scarlet Geranium, edged with Flower of the Day. We have now completed our circuit of the Eose Mount, and you had better proceed up the walk next to No. 7. On your right is Trentham Eose for centre, a circle of Chris- tine, and an edging of Purple King. On your left going up is another of Mr. Beaton's seedling Geraniums of dwarf habit and an abundant bloomer. Sir. Page did not know the name, and only Mr. Gordon is in the secret as to the numbers. On the left again going up is a new Tropseolum of a dark maroon tint, a seedling of Mr. Gordon's. And now we are on the Eose Mount. It is planted in festoons. First, a centre of Christine, festooned with two rows of Crystal Palace Scarlet, one row of Gaines' Yellow Calceolaria, one row of Aurea floribunda Calceolaria as of dwarfer habit, then two rows of Flower of the Day ; the angles formed by the festoons being Lobelia Paxtoniana ; the whole edged with two rov/s of Lobelia speciosa. This is one of the most showy examples of bedding-out you will see anywhere. Unfortunately Chiistine seeds too freely this dry season ; but we sha.U have Helen Lindsay next year, which they say has not the same bo,d habit. Angust 11, 18C3. ] JOtTRNAi OP HOETICULTTIRE AJH) COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 103 The six sunk beds on the top of the Mount inside the Aj-oades are planted in opposite pairs. The first is, centre Cottage Maid, two rows of Christine round one row of Baron Hugel, edged with Gnaphalium lanatum. The second pair is, ceuti'e Eclipse Calceolaria, two rows of Trentham Rose round two rows of Crystal Palace Scarlet, edged with Alyssum. The third pair, Gaines' YeUow Calceolaria for centre, two rows of Cerise Unique Geranium round two rows of Brilliant Geranium, and edged with Cerastium tomentosum. The foiu' beds round the flagstaff are, centre Cottage Maid shaded off by a circle of Trentham Eose, again shaded off by a cu-cle of Christine, a circle of Alma Geranium, the whole edged with Lobeha speciosa. So much for tlie Eose Mount. It has taken some time to go round, and you have seen several beds which are not satisfactoi'y, especially where Verbenas or Fuchsias are used, but the general effect is very bright and gay. The next beds for you to notice are those on each side of the grand central walk to the Palace. These are very strik- ing, especially as you look down upon them from the terrace above. On the upper side of the steps leading up to this central walk the oblongs are planted with Gaines' YeBow Calceolaria for central stripe, two rows of Crystal Palace Scarlet on each side, two rows of Purple King Verbena, edged ail round with Mangles' Variegated Geranium. The round beds are — centre Trentham Eose, a circle of Prince of Orange CaJceolaiia, edged with Tropobolum elegans. On the lower side of the steps the oblongs have for central stripe Calceolaria amplexicaulis, two rows of Cerise Unique, a stripe of Purple King Verbena, and Mangles' Variegated Geranium aD round. The round beds are the same as those above. Mount now to the grand terrace. The main centra! walk leading to the Palace cuts the grand terrace in half. At each end of the terrace are the sunk panels. We will begin with that at the west end. This, as well as the other to the east, are planted aJike. The two circular ends of the foui' corner beds have for centre Amplexicaulis Calceolaria, with a circle of Trentham Eose, while the main pai-t of the bed between the circular ends is planted with Cottage Maid Geranium, and an edging of Flower of the Day goes all round. The long beds of the chain pattern have for centre Crystal Palace Scarlet ; the round have Christine for centre ; while Gaines' Yellow Calceolaria, edged with Alyssum, forms a continuous chain round both. And now supposing we are at the west end of the grand terrace, we will take om- course towards the east. On your left hand, therefore, you have a series of round and oblong beds. The oblong are filled with Ehodo- dendrons, edged with dwarf China Eoses. The round beds here, as well as in the con-esponding set at the east end, have several fresh introductions for trial and criticism. The first round bed should especially be noticed, as there ajre three new plants. The centre is the Amai-anthus me- lancholicus ruber, a native of Japan, introduced last year by Mr. Veitch, and now used for the first time here. It requires peculiar management, or you will fail with it. Sow in heat not later than the end of .January. Directly the plants are up place them in a cold frame, excluding frost. When the rough leaves appear pot singly into 4S-pots, keep in a cold frame, gradually hai-dening-off tdl planting-out time, and do not be in too gi-eat a hurry for that. TUl then beware of cold winds and hot sun, and when the pots are full of roots do not let them want for water. At the end of all your other bedding-out, plant your Amaranthus. It is one of the best of the new vajriegated plants for bedding, and in a mass with the sun shining beyond nothing can excel it. Bound the Amaranthus is St. Clair Gei-anium, and rovmd St. Clau- a new one of Beaton's, Black Dwai-f, very effective, and a decided acquisition ; the edging is Cloth of Gold. There was, and is stiU, a prejudice against Cloth of Gold. People said it looked unhealthy, but it is gradually gaining favour, and when its constitution has recovered its tone from forcing for propagation, it will supersede Golden Chain. It is vei-y easUy propagated from leaves. No. 2 round bed — centre, a seedling of Mr. Gordon's, Uke Christine, but hardly so good ; a cii'cle of Madame Vaucher growing dwarf and blooming well this di'y season; edging Lobeha Paxtoniana. No. 3 round bed — the centre is Beaton's Magenta No. 2, a gi-eat improvement on the fii-st of that name ; a circle of Amar- anthus, surrounded by Centaurea gymuocarpa ; edging Lobelia speciosa. No. 4, the centre is Centatirea gymno- carpa, Coleus Verschaffelti next, Quercifolium floribundum and Cloth of Gold for edging, the Coleus gradually becom- ing like a piece of dirty flannel. No. 5, the centre another of Beaton's new Nosegays, Amaranthus, Centaurea candi- dissima, and Lobelia speciosa edging. We come now to the oblong beds on the left-hand side looking east of the half-circle walk, which is intersected by the grand central walk up to the Palace. No. 1 is Countess of Ellesmere Petunia in a mass, edged with Golden Chain and Lobelia Paxtoniana. No. 2 is a seedling Tropseolum of Mr. Gordon's, of a yellow colour, but vrith blood-red spots, which may lead to our having some day a red Tropajolum ; edging Alma Geranium and Lobelia Paxtoniana. No. 3 is a central mass of Geranium Candidissimum, very much like Madame Vaucher, edged with Golden Chain and Lobelia Paxtoniana. This edging is repeated alternately ivith Alma for the remainder of this set of beds. No. 4, central mass, dark orange Calceolaria seedlings. No. 5, centre Tropaeolum elegans. No. G, Prince of Orange Calceolaria. No. 7, centre Comte de Momy Geranium, a new one of the horseshoe race, and very good. The circular beds sxurounding the pedestals of vases and statues are planted alternately. First, for central circle three rows of Trentham Eose, one row of Christine each side, and Flower of the Day for inner and outer edging. Second, for central circle three rows of Christine, one row of Crystal Palace Scarlet each side; edging same as the first. Mrs. Whitty, which some say is to supplant Christine as a pink bedder, is planted in the fitrst oblong bed after you have crossed the grand central approach to the Palace, supposing you are still going east and along the great half-circular walk. The diy season has had the same effect on it as on Christine — the floweiing of both is spoilt by their seeding. Then we have another mass of dark seedling Calceolarias, and then a bed of Lord Palmerston Geranium, which for size of truss and petal and glow of colour is not yet beaten. A bed of Verbena Great Eastern, and one or two others, and you are now on the grand terrace. Standing with your back to the Palace, on your right are a series of round and oblong beds ; the round with mop-headed Acacias, standard Ehododendrons, and two miserable-looking Cedars, which had much better be removed and planted in the middle. The oblongs have a stripe of Crystal Palace Scarlet for centre, on each side a double row of Christine, and Purple King all round. The round beds are a mass in beautiful bloom and health, notwithstanding the trees, of Aurea flori- bunda Calceolaria edged with Flower of the Day. Continuing your walk eastwards along the grand terrace you have a set of round beds alternately with Ehododen- drons, almost repetitions of those at the west, except the last of all, which is worth your inspection. It has for centre, Amaranthus, then a circle of St. Clair, surrounded by a new Geranium of Italian origin, I was told, called Lucien Tisserand — a perfect beauty ; the edging is Cloth of Gold. At the Crystal Palace, as at many other places, the season of 18(53 is looked upon as a bad one for bedding plants. Contrasting with the two previous, which were noted for continual wet, this has been the driest known for years. Bitter cold nights have also left their marks on our flower- beds. The new bedtling plants for the year which have proved themselves acquisitions are the various Nosegay Geraniums raised by Mi-. Beaton, among which, as named, ai-e Lord Palmerston, Black Dwarf, and Magenta No. 2, not forget- ting the Golden Ivy-leaf and Lucien Tisserand. The Amar- anthus, as Mr. Eobson predicted, is a great acquisition, and Centaurea candidissima, so far, is likewise a gain ; but Coleus Verschaffelti is sentenced to perpetual imprisonment in the greenhouse. F. W. Adet, Tlic Cell, Bunstahle. Disease in the Gladiolus. — In many of the largest collections of Gladiolus round London a disease has made its appearance, which is afl'ecting the plant very much in the same way as the Potato disease has attacked the Potato for some years past. The leaves gradually lose colour and die-off as if the growth were over and the roots matured, and all this without the flower-spike having ap- 104. JOUENAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August tl^ 1863. peared. We shall be glad to -hear how far the collections in the counti-y have been affected, and if any remedy has been discovered to aa-rest this threatened calamity to one of our most ornamental autumnal flowers. KEW GAEDENS.— August 1. " Hast thou e'er seen a garden clad In all the robes that Eden had ? Or vale o'erspread with streams and trees, A paradise of mvsteries '.' Plains, with gri'en hills adorning them Like jewels in a diadem ?" The entrance gates from Kew Green are worthy of notice. The piers are of Portland stone, with moulded and sunk panels. Those of the large piers contain elaborately carved falls of flowers and fi-uit. The frieze is also enriched with swags of flowers, &c., festooning on each of the four sides from rams' heads projecting boldly from the angles ; and the cornice is surmounted by a richly carved vase containing a bouquet of flowers. To the right upon entering is the Grecian conser\'atory ; but as my object is to describe the sununer tenants of the beds, I will hurry to the fii'st turning on the left, imd at once emerge upon the broad walk, on both sides of which aie ranged the beds on grass. The first pair, one at each side, is a circle planted with Brilliant Geranium, edged with Koniga maritima variegata, more commonly known as Sweet Alyssum. The opposite bed is jJanted with the same to match. 2nd, Oblong bed, Calceolaiia amplexieaulis, edged with Piuijle King ; the opposite to match. To obviate repe- tition it is to be vmderstood that every bed to be described has an opposite bed of the same to match. 3rd, A circle planted with the same as first. 4th, Oblong centre. Purple King Verbena, then Tropaeolum elegans, edged with Cerastium tomentosum. 5th, Circle, Koniga maritima variegata, edged with Lobelia speciosa. 6th, Oblong, Punch Geranium, edged with Gnaphalium lanatum. 7th, Circle, the same as 5th. 8th, Oblong, standard and dwarf Roses. 9th, Circle, Purple King Verbena, edged with Tropaeolum elegans. 10th, Oblong, centre Ageratum mexicanum, then Cerise Unique Geranium, edged with Piu-ple King Verbena. An incident occiu-red here : As a respectably-dressed party was passing, one of them stopi^ed to inquii-e of another companion the name of the Ageratum mexicanmn. The young lady, with the au- of the knowledge of a professor of botany, told liim, •without the least hesitation, that it was a Heliotrope ! The authorities at Kew and elsewhere give the public more credit for theu' knowledge of the names of plants than they deserre. and therefore it may be well to suggest here the ■advisableness of attaching the names to the bedded-out plants. 11th, Circle, the same as No. 9. 12th, Oblong, ■centre Calceolaria amplexicaulis, then Perflla nankinensis, edged 'nith Centaurea candidissima. 13th, Cu-cle, centre Koniga maiitima variegata, then Crazania splendens, edged with Lobelia speciosa. 14th, Oblong, Lord Raglan Verbena, edged with Cerastium tomentosum. 15th, Circle, the same as No. 13. 16th, Oblong, standard and dwarf Roses .and Mig- nonette. 17th, Circle, scarlet Geranitun, edged with Stachys lanata. A broad walk branches off with two pairs of beds at each side ; the first, an oblong, centre three rows of Flower of the Day Geranium, then three rows of Brilliant Geranium, edged with Purple King Verbena ; the second, a circle, Dp^hlia Pm-ple ZeKnda, edged with yellow Calceolaria. 20th, Circle on the main walk, the same as No. 17. 21st, Oblong, standard and dv.-arf Roses. 22nd, Circle, centre Koniga, then Gazania splendens, edged with Lobelia speciosa. 23rd, Oblong, Lord Raglan Verbena, edged with Cerastium tomentosum. 24th, Cu'cle, the same as No. 22. 25th, Oblong, centre three rows of Calceolaria amplexicaulis, then two rows of PeriUa nankinensis, edged with Gazania splen- dens. 26th, Cu'cle, Purple King Verbena, edged with Tropaeolum. 27th, Oblong, centre three rows of Ageratum mexicanum, then two rows of Cerise Unique Geranium, edged mth two rows of Flower of the D.ay. 2Sth, Circle, the same as 26. 29th, Oblong, standard and dwarf Roses. 30th, Chvle, centre Koniga maritima vaaiegata, then Gazania splendens, edged with Lobelia speciosa. 31st, Oblong, Pianch Geranium, old plants pegged down, edged with Gnaphaliimi lanatum. 32nd, Circle, the same as 30. 33rd, Oblong, centre: Purple King Verbena, then scarlet Tropajolum, edged with Cerastium. 34tih, Circle, Brilliant Geranium, edged with Koniga maritima. 35th, Oblong, Caloeolaria. Aurea floribujida and amplesdoaulis, edged mth Parple King Verbena. .'JSith, Cu-cle, the same as 34. In front is, a laxge circle. It is 36 feet in diauseter, has a» rich, massive, and moidd«d edging of terra cotta 15 or 18 inches high. The bed is raised up as a pyramid, and in th& centre is a very handsofije flower-\iase with pedestal and plinth. The planting of the bed reaches up to the very plinth. The centre is planted mth scarlet Geraoiiums inter- spersed with Perilla, Shen Centam-ea candidissima, then Purple King Verbena,, the whole edged witlv Tom Thumb Geranitmi. The vase in the cen-tre is filled; with scarlet Geraniums. Beside the walk to the left is, a bed of some length, to corresporid -with the sweep of the walk. Tha centre is filled with Flower of the Day G«raniiun diirided into compartments, being crossed with Perilla ; the sides are filled up with Tropaeolum, edged with Koniga and blue Lobelia. On the right to* the Palm-house the fijrst is a circle^ centre Pttrple King Verbena, then Prince of Orange Geranium, edged with Arabis lucida Tariegata. 2nd, Oblong, centre Calceolaria asnplexicaulis, then Brilliant Geranirmi, edged with Gnaphalium lanatum. 3rd, Circle, the same as No. 1. 4th, Circle, Ageratum, edged with TropiEoliuu. 5th, Half- circle, PeriUa, edged with scarlet Geranium. 6th, Cicefe, the same as No. 4. We now take up ottr position on the centre of the tenace in front of the Palm-house, overlooking the terrace garden. Two vases stand in front, and other vases at the head of the lake are all filled with scailet Geraniums. The two large circular beds in the middle compartment ai-e divided into eight parts by rows of Perilla, two being filled with Calceolaria amplexicaulis, four with Pvuple King Verbena, and two with scarlet Geraniums in opposite beds. On each side of the oblongs, in the centre, is a gorgeous pattern — the centre bed planted with Christine Geranium, then Koniga maiitima, then Dandy variegated Geranium, with Koniga edging. Then the fig-ure like a bishop's crosier is planted near the handle with Purple King Verbena, then Am-ea floribunda Calceolaria, finishing at the top with C. amplexicaulis, edged with blue Lobelia. Then a pentagon figure is planted with Lord Raglan Verbena, with the oppo- site bed of the same to match. The long beds north and south of the figm-e are composed of Brilliant Geranium, edged vrith Flower of the Day. The saddle-shaped beds east and west of the figure are pUmted with Nosegay Geranium and Perilla. The four corner beds at the angles are planted with Tom Thumb Geranium. The triangle beds in front of these are planted -ivith Koniga maritima vaiiegata ; and the cu-cle at each end with Golden Chain Geranium, edged with Lobelia speciosa. The other half of the terrace garden is a duplicate of the above. On the south front of the Palm-house is a broad walk with chaiD borders on grass. 1st, A Yew tree in a circle filled up with Tropreolum elegans. 2nd length. Purple King Verbena, edged with Koniga. 3rd, An oblong with Perilla in centre, then a row of Punch Geranium, and then a row of Tom Thumb Geraniiun, edged with Koniga ; and so with the other beds and cfrcles, each bed furnished with some one of the HoUy trees of different-coloured foUage. On the left is a high grass niotind, having in the centre an Araucaria imbricata encu-eled at some distance with two half-moon-shaped beds planted "ndth Calceolaria amplexi- caidis and C. Aurea floribunda, edged with Koniga and blue Lobelia, and on the inner or concave side with a row of BrOliant Geranium edged with Perilla. Beside the half- circular walks are oblong beds, some with Hollyhocks in the centre edged with Ribbon Grass, others mth Canna indica edged with Ribbon Grass ; some with Dalihas edged with Ciilceolaria Aiu-ea floribunda, others with Fuchsias edged with Perilla, &c. From the botanic department to the new eonsei-vatory is a broad grass ride, planted on one side with standard mop- headed Robinias — unsightly objects, liable to serious damage from high winds. On the right after entering the pleasuTe ground is the Pantheon built by Sir Jeffiry Wy.atville. Its base is elevated ; I the entablature is supported by fotu' columns, and beara the AugTlst 11, 1883. ] JOURNAL OF HOETIOULTUEE AJTO COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 106 initials "W. E. IV., 1837." To the south front is a Eose garden furnished with Aimc'p Vibert, General Jacqueminot, Souvenir de MaLinaison, La Eeine, MTiite Moss, some sport- ing with stripes of pink ; Gloii'e de Dijou, and Devoniensis. Tea Eoses in all parts look rather inditJ'erent, which should induce the authorities to adopt Mr. Beaton's oft-repeated suggestion of removing them altogether from the oblong beds in the main walk. Across to the new conservatory is only a few minutes' walk. It is a substantially built and splendid erection. The two wings have been added to it since Mr. Beaton's report of the place last year. The Arauearias excelsa and the other large specimens, for the protection of which this crystal palace was erected, are now finally planted out in a compost of loam, peat, and leaf mould. The ventilation is all that could be wished. The roof is so constructed with wheel-and-rack machinery, that one-half can slide down over the rest, so as to allow of the free admission of genial showers of rain. On the space from the great Palm-house to the Victoria-house we passed oblong beds on the gi'ass planted with Purple Zelinda Dahlias, edged with Eibbon Grass : circles with French Marigolds, edged with Pui-ple Orach, Mangles' Variegated Geranium, Verbenas, of various sorts, Cupheas, &c. Each circle was adorned with a stan- dard Eose in the centre. In fi-ont of the Cactus-house going eastward are two long beds each 53 yards long and 6 ividc, divided at one side by a fine tree (Negundo fraxinifolium), throwing its wide- spreading shade over a rustic seat. The beds are planted in panels, diamond-shape, with large dots of PeriUa in centre, next Calceolaria amplexicaulis and C. Aurea flori- bunda, then Tom Thumb Geranium, edged with Koniga. They are sj^lendid beds. Although it is usual for every one to suggest improve- ments according to his taste or fancy, I will waive my privilege on this occasion, well knowing the difficulty of getting up stock and arranging it with taste in every minute jjart of an extensive place lilve Kew, where the visitor may wander over scenes, where, but a few years since, a wild uncultivated waste held its sway, until the genius of the place " Stretch'd o'er the marehy Viile yi n willowy mound. Where f-hines the luke amid the tufted ground, liaised the youiiif -woodUtiri. smouth'd the wavy green. And gave to beauty all the quiet scene." — "W. Keane. KNOWLEDGE DESIRABLE FOE GAEDENEES. {Concluded from page 66.) In our last we finished with the importance of reading as a means of obtaining information, and of writing correctly as a gviide for testing our knowledge, and one of the channels by which we can make our knowledge available for the benefit of others. The third essential element is Arithmetic, or a knowledge of the science of numbers. It would be well if all lads, before they enter a garden, could be well grounded in this respect. It would save them much mental labour or much mortification afterwards. We have met with otherwise bright youths who could not count above a certain number, and whose calculations, even of sunple sums, had to be done by the fingers instead of by the pencil or the pen. We have also met with many who in reading, when they came to figm-es of any length, had to pass them over or read them just as they stood, without having the least idea of their value. The principles of notation and numeration should not, therefore, be omitted, as necessary preparations to the understanding of arithmetic. Almost every civilised nation had its respective mode of notation. Amongst us few systems are now seen, except the Eoman, which is used for dates, and by which all sums may be expressed by seven characters, as I, one ; V, five ; X, ten; L, fifty; C, a hundi-ed; D, five hundred; M, one thousand. There are many varieties of this mode, chiefly by reversing the q, but into this we need not enter, as such a clumsy mode of computation, even at its best, can bear no comparison with the unique simplicity of the Arabic nume- rals, going from 1 to 9, and the ciphers added, by which aU sums can be easily read and their value computed. The cipher of itself signifies nothing — it obtains a value by the figure that precedes it. Every other figure represents merely of itself, from 1 up to 0, the value or quantity of a certain thing. The value of figures or units iu a Hue wiU depend on theu- numbers, and their value is thus calculated : The first figm'e on the right-hand represents 0, or units up to nine, the second figiu-e so many tens, the tliird so many hundreds, the foiu'th so many thousands, the fifth so many tens of thousands, the sixth so many hundreds of thousands, the seventh so many millions, the eighth so many tons of millions, the ninth so many hundreds of mUlions, the tenth so many thousands of millions, and so on to billions and trillions, of which our finite miuds can form no clear con- ception. If iu long lines of figtures they mil be the more easily read if, beginning at the right-hand, every third figure is marked off' (,) as in the following ; — 1, 2 3 4, 5 (i 7, 8 9 0 The figures will read thus — one thousand two himdred and thirty-four mOlions, five hundred and sixty-seven thousand, eight hunth-od and ninety. Independently of the jileasvire of reading the sum of a line of figures as easily as print, and not boggling' at them, as many young people even in tliis enlightened age still do, the clear perception of their value, so as to place units under units, tens under tens, &c., is essential to the working-out the simplest problems in addition and subtraction, which may be considered the great rules of arithmetic, multipli- cation being just another form of addition, and division another form of subtraction. These matters are, however, better explained in the simplest elementary school-books than we could hope to do without taking up too much space ; and after a few lessons iu addition, subtraction, multiplica- tion, and division, simple and compound, those who have the taste may well go as far as they like by private study. We have known several fu-st-rate arithmeticians among our brother gardeners, who never got beyond the first fom' rules at school. They learned little more than that two and two make fom-, that take two from two and nothing remains, that twice two make foirr, and two divided by two leaves nothing over. Next to these four rules, the most essential for the young gardener to study are the rules of simple and double proportion, vulgai' and decimal fi'actions, and the extraction of the square and cube roots, so as to measure easily all sur- faces and solids. In connection mth this subject, it would be desirable' to study geometry and mathematics so far as to be able to make plans of gardens, and the structm-es generally con- tained in them ; and if the gardener has to suiserintend the erection of such, he should be able to estimate quan- tities requned, and to measure all kinds of work accord- ing to the rules that obtain in various trades. In most works on such subjects there are regular rules for com- puting bricklayers', painters', glaziers', carpenters' work, &c. ; but unless in moving earth, measm-ing trees, &C., which must be calcidated by the solid (the ividth, length, and thickness being miiltiplied together), the great pro- portion of meastu-ements wiU be merely the surface — that is, length and breadth, which if mtdtiphed together will give the area. For measuring heights and distances, and doing much in the way of land-svu-veying, an acquaintance with logarithms and trigonometry will be a very great ad- vantage ; but in these days of the division of labour, the gardener who makes himself fit to be a land-surveyor had better stick to that, and give up Cabbage-growing. Mere land-measuring, such as measui'ing the contents of a garden or a field, will be what most commonly will come in his way; and that wiU just be as simply the measm-ing of a surface as the measm-ing of the top of the table on which you take your breakfast. Of aU oblongs or squares, length and breadth multiplied together give the area. In triangles, right-angled, the base and half the perpendicidar multiplied together give the area. In irregular gardens or fields, with IOC JOUKNAL OP HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. [ AuRTist 11, 1801. no two sides and no two ends alike, and yet not a vast differ- ence between them, we take the average of the ends and of the sides, and multiply them together. Thus A, b, c, d, is an irregular field of four sides, A 10, B 16, c 18, D 20. Add A 8Jid B together, which would be 26, the half or average of which is 13. Then add c and d together, which makes 38. half of which is 19, multiply 19 and 13 together, and you have 247 for the area. A truer method, if there ia much difference in the opposite sides, and one which often involves less trouble, as it saves going round all the sides, is to take the diagonal line across, s, 26, and then the two perpendiculars, F and a, 11 and 8 respectively, which added together make 19, the half of which is 9i, which multiplied by 20 gives the same sum of 247 as the area or measurement of the surface enclosed by the four outside lines. Did the field or park have a boundary, as that marked by h h h h, it is most litely we would use one of the two modes referred to for measuring the liulk or centre, and we would throw the out- sides into triangles, squares, or oblongs, regular or irregular, and add their contents to the centre. Straight-lined gardens and fields wiU ever have an advantage as respects utility, though they be less pictm-esqvie in consequence. We have said nothing of the instruments, chains, flagstaffs, level-boards, theodolite, &c., necessary for work on a great scale ; we merely wish to indicate wh.at would be desirable, ajid what a man fond of figxu-es and practice will readily master. For the same reason we have said nothing of the mode of measui'ing balls, circles, and other figirres, because the student wUl find all this in the work he studies. We have introduced the above notice on land-measuring because lately we could scarcely convince a youth that an oblong garden must be measured exactly as he would the surface of a deal board — by its length and breadth. In the few times we have had the privilege to listen to the examination of even one of our good common national or British schools, nothing surprised us more than the readi- ness of the schola.rs in mental computation, and that in difficult sums too. In such matters the schools of the present day are immeasurably superior to those of our boyhood. We can well recollect, when in the rule of three, of a whole class of us being nonplussed by the problem, " A herring and a half for three-halfpence, how m.any wUl be got for eleven- pence ?" Long before any of us had slated it down, a little fellow, who that day had for the fii-st time emerged from petticoats, sung out the answer, " Eleven, sir ;" and though he did not shine with the slate or the pen with figures even afterwards, he was always distinguished by the almost in- stinctive quickness with which he could solve even a difiScult problem, merely by mental computation. The slate or the pen was quite a hindrance to him. Oiu- young friends will find it no loss to keep up such a habit if they h.ave obtained it, and an advantage to get it if they do not now possess it. There will be jjlenty of room for it in the work of every day. In addition to the ability of ta-king suuple plans of gar- dens, houses, &e., the ambitious young man will do well to cultivate and become famUiar with the principles of isometric and perspective drawing. We have known some men get easily to the top of theii' profession, because when their employers did not know what they meant as to proposed plans, they would render all clear in a few minutes by means of a pencil and a pocket notebook. We can well imagine such a man as Mr. Eobson drawing an excellent plan whOst we were writing a i^age. Those who have the slightest natural taste for di-awing in any style should cultivate it a.ssiduously. The late Mi'. Loudon used to say that nothing could be more pleasant or agi-eeable, or practically u-seful. Many were the advices he gave to young men to be always at it, whether it was a tool, a house, a plant, or a tree. For om'selves we never could draw a tree, we always made a. muddle of it. This, perhaps, makes us think more of the man or boy who does so nicely. We recollect the late Mr. Joseph Knight telling us that his first introduction to one of his favourite gardeners was in this wise : He called ,at the Exotic Nursery, where Mr. Veitch now is, and, like many more, had been knocked about a good deal, and was rather out at the elbows. Mr. Knight at that time was anxious to improve the mental training of gardeners, and drawing was one of the matters he deemed of importance. The stray waif was taken on, chiefly lecause there was nothing fi-om a tool, stool, a chair, or a vase which he could not pencU off directly. One thing we are quite certain of — that the youth who so passes his leisiu'e hours in improving himself, and, in the words of our correspondent, "fitting himself for a good situation," will, even before he enters the situation, be more than ten times repaid from the self-respect and elevated pleasure that ever attend such piu^uits when humbly but perseveringly followed — pleasure that can never be known by the young man who wastes his evenings in idle gossip, stupifies his brain in a cloudland of tobacco, or resorts to sources of amusement and pleasure that wiU not bear the calm reflection of the following morning. In all these cm'sory notes we have merely shown what a youth who has received a common education may well study with advantage, and which he must strive to grapple with, even if he knows little more than letters and figures, if he would aspire to be recognised either as an intelligent man or an inteUigent gardener. As, however, we are told on rather high authorit}' that " the pi-oper study of mankind is man," so without overlooking at all the importance of " knowing om-selves," perha.ps the next most important thing for a young gardener, after becoming a clever method- ical workman, is to be thoroughly conversant with the plants which he ciiltivates out of doors and in-doors. This will open up at once the whole field of vegetable investigation ; and in following our researches we will find that there is scarcely a science but wiU tend to elucidate our subject. We would encourage rather than otherwise all the legendary lore and the poetical allusions connected with plants, as in this hard utilitarian age we have need of all aids that will soften, refine, and elevate. There is something- so poetical in the very diversity of plants and flowers, that almost in- stinctively the young gardener becomes a botanist. He wants to know the name of a favourite flower, and he studies its distinguishing characteristics. A simple introduction to descriptive and systematic botany wOl therefore be desir- able ; and for British plants we have met with nothing better than Lindley's " School Botany." By the Linnaean system we collect the plants into large groups according to the arrangements of the sexual system : by the Natural system we collect them into orders according to their natural affinities. Few things can be more interesting than the pursuits of descriptive and systematic botany. To their honour be it said that there are many gardeners good bo- tanists ; and where the taste leads in this way we would not for a moment attempt to check such a pursuit. Still we must honestly state, that as a mere gardener, having mastered the first principles of systematic botany, it will be more profitable in general to study keenly what is styled phytological and physiological botany — embracing the diffe- rent structures of plants, tracing the whole movements that take place from the germinating of a seed or the striking- of a bud or cutting until the time comes when the plant dies from disease, age, or accident ; thus including the functions of the different parts of plants, especially roots, leaves, and stems, and how these are influenced by soils, mechanically and chemically, by air, by dryness and mois- ture, by heat and by cold, by sunlight and shade and dark- ness, by diversity of seasons, varieties and peculiarities of climate, not merely as to the highest and lowest tempera- tures, and medium temperatures, but as to how these are conjoined -with shade or bright sunshine, and altitude as well as latitude of the natm-aJ home of a plant. Without undervaluing in the least the keenest researches in system- atic botany, as all -will tell beneficially upon plants and gardening, we cannot conceal from ourselves that phyto- A«giist a, isCT. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICTJLTXTRE AIID COTTAGE GARDENER. 107 logical botany is that which is the most inipoi-tant to the mere gardener, allied and linked as it is with so many other sciences. Hail we time we co\ild descant for months on this subject, and yet not please ourselves in making the matter simple and attractive. The great bulk of the writings of this serial have, by the closeness of their practical details, just tended to throw more and more light on phytological botany. We are the less inclined U-> enlarge on tliis tempt- ing field, because so much has been well said for years ; and a very good handbook can be procured from the office, •' Science and Practice of Gardening," for 3s. We need not say that such a volume in our young days would have saved us borrowing and poring over expensive works, making many erperiments as often unsuccessful as successful, and giring the cranium many a scratch behind the ear, when we got fairly in the mist and could see no light out of a dense cloucUand. We have said that we cannot enter on this study of vege- tation without being drawn in to have some general know- ledge of many other sciences. Thus, for instance, as re- spects the soil : we will be all the better if, in addition to the mere mechanical composition, we know its geological formation, and thus avoid many errors in culture, draining, lie. Frequently lime and other earths are driven for long distances, when perhajjs a shaft of 30 feet or less would reveal near at hand the very thing wanted. There are many books on this charming theme, opening up worlds and worlds in the ages of the past ; and few can read the pages of Lyell and Buckland without deep attention, but for a beginner the simple treatise of Phillips may be as interesting. Then for the nature of soils, the character of manures as suitable to various crops, there is Chemistry revealing its wonders, and the strange transfonnations effected in plants — a science which no mere gardener can hope to master, but the principles of which, as applied to garden and field, we may fully comprehend from reading the jjages of Liebig, and Johnston on " Agricultural Chemistry." Again, independently of chemistry, there are many facts connected with water in its various states, with air as respects its weight, abundance of moisture, or comparative freedom from vapour, and the influence of heat as absorbed and radiated, that render a small treatise on hydrostatics, hydraulics, and pneumatics, the principles of caloric, and the still imperfect science of meteorology, extremely interest- ing ; and even a slight study of these sciences would prevent us making some palpable blunders. A visitor lately on admir- ing ovu' flower-beds, and compassionating the somewhat foxy appearance of the lawn, imagining no doubt it would please us with visions of abundance of water, concluded the con- dolence with — " But why not have an artesian well ? " and that on the highest ground for miles round, and where now we go down the best part of 300 feet to reach water, and just now have only about 6 feet of water ! We believe that now, dry as we have been, there is enough of rainfall here to meet all our requii-ements, could we only have means to keep the water xintO we wanted it. However, this season has taught us to leave less to chance for the future. A fi-iend of ours, with large ranges of houses, was much worse off than we ; but a small rivulet trilled along at a considerable distance, and by choosing a proper place, where the ground fell con- siderably, he seciu-ed a pei-pendicular fall of some S feet, and with that ■RTOught a water-ram, which gave him abundance of water. We lately told how Mi-. Pressley, of Knockmaroon Lodge, threw water from the river Lifiey to the top of the hiU by means of a wheel. Two fine places in this neigh- bourhood, situated on the top of small hiUs, are supplied by means of water-rams fr'om streams in the valley. A lady who has one of the finest, if not the very finest, out-door ferneries in England, a.nd who has as yet been supjjlied fr-om a large tank, seriously proxJOses having a ram iixed in a stream fr-om one to two miles oS, and the water taken in pipes all the way. But for science, no such schemes could ever have been thought of. The pressure of the air becomes in such cases oui- force-pump servant. Then, as to the imperfect science of Meteorology, how much better could we regulate our artificial atmosphere in glass houses, if we knew more of the condition of the ail- in almost every part of the world as respects weight, density, and the vapour contained in it. Our first lessons in this direction were derived from that fine old book, "Wells on Dew." Wo have read the far more elaborate work of DanieU, and would like to have the chance of reading it again ; but ever and anon we turn back to the close reason- ing and the clear demonstrations of Wells ; because, from his teaching we obtained a light as to the reason of many practices, and especially the whole of those having reference to the protection of tender plants, keeping heat in and cold out — in other words, preventing the radiation of heat. Kr. VA^eUs clearly demonstrated that, properly speaking, dew neither rose from the ground nor fell from the air — that it was merely vapour condensed into water — and that, there- fore, before dew could be deposited on any body, that body must first be cooled by frefr radiation below the temperature of the air holding the vapour in suspension ; and thence it followed, that as clouds by arresting radiation prevented the formation of dew, and a sheet or a pocket-handkerchief sus- pended above the ground on a clear night prevented the formation of dew on the grass beneath it, just because radiation of heat was arrested, so the understanding of this simple matter makes plain all the mysteries about our modes of protection. Again : Leaving such matters, we come back to vegetation and to the diseases and maladies to which it is subject from unsuitable climate, improper soils, and impui-e water, never forgetting, however, that plants, like men, live that they may die, and that deaths will take place when there is neither carelessness nor ignorance to be charged against the cultivator, other^Tise our doctors and physicians would have a pretty time of it amongst us. One of the fr-uitful soui-ces of the iU health and premature decay of plants arises from the attacks of the numberless insects to which they are subject: hence the importance of the study of ento- mology. The watching the changes and transformations of these insects is exceedingly interesting, and where there is a natiu-al taste in that direction there will be sure to be a combination of pleasure and profit. We have had Httle boys destroying thousands of the white butterfly. We know the myriads of caterpillars we otherwise should have on every Cabbage leaf. We regret to say that most of the pojjular works on natural historj' do not give particular.^ enough for the student. Kirby and Spenoe is stiU a good introduction. A good deal of information will be found in the "Cottage Gardener's Dictionary," in Loudon's works, a,nd also in the pages of this Journal ; but a good work on insects that axe injurious to garden and field, going into all the details of their transformations, and treating us aU as if we knew nothing at 3.11 about the subject, has yet to be written. If our Editors would only do for us in this respect, bringing aU present knovv-ledge to bear upon prac- tice, just as Mi-. Johnson has done in the " Science and Practice of Gardening," we of the blue apron ought to raise a monument to their honour. At present much of what we wish to know is scattered through expensive works, which the humble means of gardeners prevent them from possessing. And, lastly, though, as connected with the physiology of plants rather of the first than the last importance, is the study of Geography. Every department is extremely inter- esting, descriptive, social, political, and physical. The poor fellow who had Dr. Johnson's Dictionary put into his hands to amuse him, might well say, "' It is very good no doubt, but exceedingly dry." But there is no dryness even in general geography'. To most minds its facts possess all the charms of romance, because many of its stern traths are stranger than the wildest fiction. As a subject of study, therefore, our earth with its many diversities of climate, of inhabitants a,nd of vegetation, is well worthy of serious attention. If much time cannot be set apart to this subject, muchknow- ledge win be, as it were, incidentally gained, if in our general reading we endeavour to get a clear idea of the country or place that comes before us. We may thus become acquainted with geography just as we have hinted that many of us have done with spelling and gi-ammar. However tant.alising general geography may be to the gar- dener, that which is styled physical geography is the most interesting, connected as it is with the distribution of plants accordmg to climate, latitude, and altitude, the gi-eat diver- gence in this respect of the different hemispheres, the dif- ference between continents and islands, and how vegetation is regulated, not merely by medium, but the highest and 108 JOTJBNAL OF HORTICtJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEK. [ August u, leos. lowest temperatures, and these, again, by dry and wet periods, by bright light, and hazy misty light. Keeping this in view, among many introductions to geography we were much pleased with a rapid glance at one by the Kev. Mr. Heale ; and among cheap atlasses we were umch pleased by those issued by Mr. Dower, and others, chiefly because there were sectional lines, that gave one no bad idea of the physical outline of a country. There are, no doubt, more perfect and finished atlasses by Keith, and others, but at a high price. We have several times heard high opinions of Knight's "Cyclopaedia of Geography," and judging ii-om the general works of that publisher, we liave great faith in it, and mean to have it some day ; but a young gardener cannot easDy find a couple of guineas for a single work. So far as we are concerned, we should say that for gardeners there is a want of a " Physical Geography," which at ready reference would give us many of the particulars of plants in theii' native homes. Perhaps the most interesting facts that have come to our knowledge have appeared in the " Horticultural Transactions," under the auspices of Dr. Lindley, who in this respect, as well as the science of gardening generally, has laid gardeners under great obligations, l^erhaps the most practicaDy useful of all that has been yet published as bearing on tlie physical geography of plants, are a series of tables compiled by Mr. Thompson, in the "Jom-nal of the Horticidtm-al Society," Parts II. and III., for 1849, giving us the names of jilaces in almost every part of the world ; the latitude and longitude of these i^laces ; in many cases the elevation of these places above the level of the sea ; the mean temperature of these jJaces for every month in the year ; the mean temperatiu'e of the year ; tlie mean temperature of the seasons, winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the difierence between the hottest and coldest months ; the general diiference between summer and winter ; the number of years in which the observations have been taken, and the hours of observation. These tables give so much the infonnation of volumes, that we iii'mly believe that the great Hoi-ticultiu'al Society could exert its power in no more beneficial way than in i>ublishing the tables separately, with clean paper for observations between each leaf. We feel quite sui'C if the Society disliked doing this, though we do not see how, that if they gave leave to one of our enterprising pubbshers, the sale would be sm-e to remunerate the outlay, as at present we do not know where there is so much of physical geogi'aphy, so usefid in letting us know what plants fi'om such places require, to be found in anything like the same amount of space. We would urge this all the more for our own benefit, as well as that of others, as the continued illness of oiu' worthy co- adjutor, Mr. Beaton, prevents him helping us in this respect. With liis wondi-ous memory and vast geographic lore, which enable him to traverse the liills and dales of a country as if he had actually strode over them in a pedestrian tour, we had strong hopes that he woidd do for physical geography, as respects the cultiu'e of plants, quite as much, if not more, than he did for elucidating the mysteries of cross-breeding and hybridising. We do hope that he will yet be amongst us, ready to answer as well as to instruct, and then this peculiar branch will engage a share of his attention. Mean- while there is every inducement to the young gardener to take every opportunity of storing up facts connected with physical geography. In conclusion, we must apologise for the random nat\u-e of these remarks, indicating rather what is most worthy of attention than telling how such knowledge is to be gained. That would be to make a cyclopsedia rather than an article, and we have found time merely to write the above rapidly. In addition to all the simple things we have said, we would, as a parting legacy to our young fi-iends, say — " Be courteous, and sensitive as to the feelings of others." It is commonly repoi-ted that perliaps the most honoured gardener of the age owed the grand step of his advancement to his courtesy and good manners. A nobleman had asked bJTTi for a beautiful Rose-bud, and in cutting it he carefully removed all the prieldes with his knife before presenting it and the thoughtfnlness and gracefidness of the act was not forgotten. It may be all a myth, as many such tales are ; but the grace and attractiveness of kind courtesy win ever be facts to attract, let rough unmannerly people tliink and act as they may. — E. Fish. A AVORD IN FAVOUR OF THE SCARLET AND ZONALE PELARGONIUMS AS EESPECTINQ THEIK POSITION IN THE EXHIBITION SCHEDULES FOK IHtii. Now that the summer exhibitions liave taken place and passed away, there is a resting time for exliibitors, ;md aU who are interested in the display of plants and flowers, cabnly to consider what may be done while preparing the schedules of our great exhibitions for 1864 to render the exhibitions more attractive, and to suggest such improve- ments as will further the objects and interests of horti- cultiu'e. It is notorious that for the last few yeai-s bttle or nothing has been done to vary the routine of the schedules ; and it has been very frequently remarked diuing the past season that there was a great sameness in the plants exhi- bited ; that certain collections cany off the same prizes wherever they are sent. The same awards are annually offered ; and it is a well-known fact that plants, after re- ceiving awards at one exhibition, have been left under the care of the officials of one society till they were required for competition at another, where they have also obtained similar prizes. Now no reasonable person will say that this system can in any way promote or forward the interests of horticulture. The public begin to remonstrate at such pro- ceedings, and justly call for a reformation. There is, however, it must be admitted, some difficulty in obviating tliis objectionable state of things ; and it can only be overcome by ignoring all precedents, and entering, regardless of individual exhibitors, upon a new system. All selfishness must be abandoned, and a mutual desire to make our horticultural meetings more attractive must be the sole and true motive for action. These remarks apply to every society whose object it is to promote horticulture. It would be well to ask whether it is necessai-y that such large collections should be requii'ed and such high prizes offered, or at any rate be repeated, for the same class of plants during the season. We ai-e treading now upon tender gi-ound ; and it may be said ^vith much propriety that the cost of gi-owing these specimens is very consider- able, and that the remuneration in the shape of prizes is not at all adequate to the time and care devoted to their cultivation. But siu'ely this is not altogether a question of pounds, shillings, and pence : more noble and generous motives must be assigned to the professional exliibitors. There is a satisfactory pleasiu'e and an honoiu'able emu- lation among oui' principal professional exhibitors, which induces them to endeavour to take a high position in the hortieidtural world. By way of suggesting something new and desirable to be inserted in the schedules of 1864, let us take one class of plants alone, which have been hitherto overlooked and neglected. Here much interest would be excited, and an entii-ely new feature be introduced, by offeiing prizes for the various classes of the Scarlet and Zonale Pelargonium. It is easy to imagine what a brilliancy they would add to our later exhibitions when flowering plants have become scarce. Were they shown under the same restrictions as the ordinary Pelargonium they would be equally worthy of cidtivation. There is a gTeat vai-iety of foliage and colour, and if classified and exhibited as scai-lets, salmon (rose or pink), and white, the effect would be most beautiful. It is much to be desired that our principal Pelargonium- growere would give this suggestion theii' attention, and that they would commence at once, while they have much spare room in their houses, the necessary and preliminary training of specimens. It is impossible to oveiTate the beauty of well-grown specimens of this class of flowers, many of the best varieties of which ai-e at present unknown to the floral world. Let Messrs. Tiu-ner, Eraser, Henderson and Bull set the example, and it will be immecUately fol- lowed ; there are many admirers of the Scai-let Pelargonium who will be ready to contribute then- aid. If the councils or managers of our societies will offer liberal prizes for com- petition, a most interesting and at least one novel feature will be gained for the exMbitions of 1864. The Fkost on the 19th of JtJLT in this neighbourhood was severe, sufficiently so to cut-off the Kidney Beans and AuguEt 11, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICULTITEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 109 the Scarlet Eunners. Some Cucum'bers growing in the open ground, I find, axe too mucli injured ever to do any good. The Potatoes, also, were quite blackened; and one of my workmen informed me he saw some ice the thickness of an old sMUing. — W. D., North Essex. NOTES ON GAEDENS PUBLIC AND PEIVATE. No. 1. MESSKS. IVEET & SON'S, DOKKING. Tttr traveller by the South-Eastem Une from Eedhill to Beading must have noticed^unless he has been in that somnolent state one too often sees railway travellers in — the very beautiful character of the valley through which he passes between Eeigate and Guildford. Watered by the little liver Mole, its alluvial soil gives evidence of its fertility in the lujomance of the vegetation and the fine quality of the timber ; while the hiUs, rising high on either side, are surmounted by the residences of men of fortune, whose mansions are so numerous thi-oughout the county of Sun-ey. Midway in the valley Ues Dorking ; and to Dorking, on one of the bright and glorious days of this most sunny summer, my steps were bound. I had long thi-eatened, and now determined on fidfilling my threat, to visit the nm-sery of Messrs. Ivery & Son, known to me from my early days as identified especially with the Azalea ; and in these days of Fem-cultui-e remarkable for what our French neighbours call a spi!cialit4 of hardy Perns, more particularly those belonging to our native isle. Wherever Messrs. Ivery have exhibited their unique collection of British Ferns it has elicited un- qualified admiration, and I was anxious to see them in their home ; and so my visit was to the home nursery, situated close to the quaint old town, where everybody seems to have been determined to have a house unlike his ueighboui', and assert the independence of a tiTie Briton in doing as he liked with his own. The home nursery is a sort of epitome of the various grounds, and in it are situated the greenhouses, pits, &.C., where the Azaleas, Ferns, &c., are mainly grown. The dwelling-house is just such as one might expect in a nursery of so many years standing — quaint and substantial, with none of the pretentiousness of modem " stuckupishness " about it, and having in front a fine bed of Conifers. I was at once struck with the quality of the Araucarias. I do not know whether there axe two kinds of A. imbricata or not, %ut the thick massive character of the branches of those I saw here were very unlike that of many which I have seen in other places, where they exhibit a rather spindly appear- ance. Nothing could be finer than the character of these. Associated with them were various Conifers, of which there seems to be a nice stock. Thuja aurea in various sizes looked remarkably healthy, although the golden appear- ance, as it is well known, is not assumed untU winter. How- ever well coniferous plants may thrive in poor soil there oan be no question that, like most others, they rejoice in a rich, deep alluvial soil, such as they have here, where, pro- bably more hable to be cut off by fi'ost, they floui-ish with great vigour. Azaleas have not only found here a congenial home, as the many fine plants exhibited by the firm testify, but from hence have been sent out many of our most valuable varieties. When we mention such kinds as Barclayana, Criterion, Flower of the Day, Gem, Eosy Circle, Iveryana, Tricolor, and Variegata snperba, not only every Azalea-grower knows them to be amongst the best of their class, but every fre- quenter of our great horticultural exhibitions knows them to be amongst the most attractive to general lovers of flowers. In my way to the houses where they are now safely quartered I noticed against the greenhouse a splen- did plant of Erytlu-ina crista-gaUi thi-owing up some mag- nificent sj)ikes of bloom. It had evidently found a place well sxiited for it. The stem was of great thickness, and the flue passing behind it no doubt had contributed to this result. The stock of Azaleas is large and in excellent con- dition, entu'ely fr-ee from thrips and red spider, although it has required no little care to keep these imder this season, and wherever watchfulness has been omitted they are sure to have made headway. While writing on the subject of Azaleas I cannot forbear aUuding to what is called the gravel-pit -house, as it struck me that many persons might utilise some such place in their ground. It is really a large hole from whence gravel has been taken out, about 20 feet deep, and over it has been thrown a glass roof. The walls have been somewhat cut into shape ; a platform has been placed in it ; and here were several very fine large plants of Azaleas in full vigour. But its value consists in the fact that it is a complete pro- tection against frost, and that Azaleas are kept here without a fire all the winter. When very severe weather sets in, as about two years ago, then a thick covering of leaves is thrown over the glass, and mats on them, and here the plants remained unharmed all through the severe frost : moreover, it enables Mr. Ivery to retai'd his plants, so as to have them in bloom for the later shows. It struck me that such a place would be admu-able for growing some of the New Zealand Ferns in, and that a very pretty fernery might be thus made without much expense or trouble. In walking through the grounds, which contain a good general nursery stock, I noticed some fine standard jjlants of Althaea, of which there are seven sorts, and a lai'ge plantation of Dios- corea batatas. Thi-ee rows of these were planted about 3 feet apaa-t; a sort of arched treUiswork was made, and over it the foliage was running wild. The tubers are placed in ridges having a good depth of soil ; and very large tubers, Mr. Ivery informed me, were thus produced. It was from here, too, that the Buckland Sweetwater Grape was sent out, which has proved itself to be one of the very best White Grapes known, and is especially valu- able for ripening in a cool vinei-y. I believe that the fine Grape General Marmora is almost identical with it. Mr. Ivery has also a fine collection of the various Grapes grown. But after all the charm to me in this mu-sery was the fine collection of British Ferns which have been so often admired at our exhibitions. Here were to be seen the fine plants which have so often done duty in London ; and here also were myriads of young ones in various states of forward- ness. The seeds were all sown in heat, and in pans there were multitudes of various kinds in a state of preparation. Mr. Ivery informed me that, whatever seed they sow, they are sure first of all to get a crop of the common hardy Fern. This arises from the quantity of spores in the peat in which they are sown ; and even when the proper varieties come up they have to be proved for some time before they can be sent out. The healthy appearance of the yormg plants evidenced the great care and attention that had been paid to them, and I shall be very much surprised if the cultivation of British Ferns does not become very popular. The varieties are almost endless and veiy beautiful; and although we do not find the gigantic tree Ferns, yet we have some noble-looking varieties, and in many of the new ones most exquisite and delicate forms. I noticed as amongst the most beautiful the following : — Among the Aspleniums, adiantum nigrum and acutum, fon- tanum, and septentrionale. Of the many varieties of Lady- Fern (Athyrium FUix-fcemina), I noticed especially apuse- forme, a curious-looking variety, the pinnse being much in the shape of little fishes ; corymbiferum ; depauperatum, with tasselled-looking appendages ; Fieldise, very curious and beautiful; FrizeUSe, another remarkable and fine variety ; multifidum ; plumosum, very distinct ; and thyssanotum ; and a new variety, mucronatum, to be sent out this autumn. Hymenophyllum WUsoni is very beautiful; and extremely curious is the Uttle Cystopteris montana. Amongst the Male-Ferns (Lastrea Fdix-mas), I remai-ked ^ some fine sorts ; — BoUandiaj ; crispa, very handsome ; cristata, tas- seUed and very fine; Scholfieldii, and furcans. Amongst the PoljT^odiums were Eobertianum, cambricum, and hi- bernioum. Polystichmn afforded some fine foiTus, such as cristatum, plumosum, prolifenim, Wollastoni fmost lovely), and loncHtis, or Scotch Fern. The Scolopendiiums were very numerous : amongst them cUgitatum, endiviajfoUimi, macrosoi-um, marginatum, sculptiiratiim were excellent. Woodsia hyperborea is a pretty Kttle thing. But aU, or neaiiy all, had their peculiar beauties, and I could hardly determine which to select as most worthy of cultivation, but the above list contains some of the most desirable. To any one desirous of commencing the growth of these beautiful forms, I do not think I can give better advice than to go do^vn and see for themselves. The distance from London is sot great. They are sm-e to meet with 110 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August U, 1663, eyery attention from Mr. Ivery or his intelligent foreman, Mr. Appleby, and I venture to say they will return highly pleased with theii- visit; and should they have more time than I had, there are Deepdene, Mrs. Hope's, and also Mrs Cxibitt's, wliich are well worth seeing. If they cannot do this they may very safely commit themselves to the care of Mr. Ivery. I for one hope to meet him with increased vigour at the shows next year, if not before, when I hope British Ferns will receive a little more consideration than they have heretofore done. — D., Deal. STOPPING BLEEDING IN CONIFEROUS TEEES. A Cephalonian Pine, a fine young tree 2.5 feet in height, was severely wounded three years ago. The blov/ caused a deep indent, which we filled up with a mixture of cowdung and clay ; but this did not check the bleeding, and it still continues, so that the foliage is beginning to be att'ected. Can you teU me the right course to p-orsue for restoring the tree to health ?— N. Rycboft. [A very likely way of stopping the bleeding of your Pine would be to remove all diseased appearances from the wound with a sharj) knife. Then let it be seared with a hot ii-on, and apply a good coat of pitch while the place is di-y. It requires desperate means sometimes to stop the sap in such cases, and what we prescribe is frequently effective, and is most Hkely to be so if applied during a season when the ground is dry, or when the sap is flowing at its minimum.] GLADIOLUS EEINE VICTOEIA. I THINK it a pity that the pubhe should be misled by an erroneous statement made in No. 122, by your able corre- spondent, " D., Deal," with regard to the price of the Gla- diolus Reine Victoria. I am in receipt of MM. Verdier's price for this variety, and find they intend sending it out at 6f. per root. Few have hailed with gTeater pleasure the advent of thi« beautiful flower than myself, and I have most particularly observed, that where a blossom of such distinction as Reiuo Victoria has been introduced, the price invariably main- tains its ground ; and will you permit me to inform your con-espondent, " D., Deal," from personal observation wheu visiting M. Ch. Verdier some short time since, that a thousand roots of Reine Victoria would prove to him a.n exceedingly limited stock, ajid very inadequate to meet his extensive English orders ? — G. P. O. AMAEANTHUS MELANCHOLICUS EUBEE CULTUEE. Some time ago you requested that your readers -would give you their experience with regard to Amaranthus melancholicus. I do not think that any have done so, so perhaps my experience, though on a very limited scalo, may be acceptable. From my own observation and from the testimony of others, I conclude that its seeds germinate very freely. I had a very small packet, and every seed came up. In its after-growth it is very tedious. I fear that it is not suited for the damp cold climate of Ireland, for I have not seen a plant in any of my neighbom-s' gardens exceeding 3 inches in height. My best plants are 9 inches high and 1 foot acToss. I sowed them in a brisk heat, and when they came to their second leaf I pricked them out. I lost more than a fortnight by putting them into altogether wrong compost— a rather stiff retentive loam, with duU heavy sand through it. They did not grow at all in this. I then pricked them out into a very light compost composed of loam, leaf mould, burnt eai'th, and pounded fr'eestone, and jjlaced them in a Cucumber-frame. Here they grew rapidly till the fii'st week in June, when they were put out in their beds. Buring that month, which was wet and cold, they did not grow at all ; but during July, which was unusually diy and wai-m, they have for the most part gi-own well. I must confess, however, that there has been great uTegolaiity in their growth, some of them quite forcing ahead of others. I have them in beds with Bijou Geraniton. Planted in alternate rings, and with an edging of Loljelia speciosa, they are as beautifvd beds as I ever saw, when the sun is in a proper position. Hei-e let me add — and I wonder I have never seen it noticed in The Joufnai, «f Horticulture — that it is higlily important to choose a fitting position for this plant. Its whole beauty consists in being looked at between you and the sun ; and it should be a little elevated, so that the sun may play well through its leaves, which are of a most exquisite ruby colour when thus seen — quite unapproached by any other plant that I am acquainted with. Looked at from above, with the sun beating down on its leaves, it is simply a good dark leaf. I -nas not aware of this, and my beds are vei-y badly placed. They can onlj' be seen to advantage when the sim is setting ; but at that hour I often stand quite entranced with their beauty. I am sure it would be a beautiful object in a hanging-basket in a green- house.— Q. Q. MACLEANIA COEDAT-i (HKAi!T-snAPED-i.EAVED Maclean: a). Nat. onl., Vacciciaceee. lAnn., Decandi'ia Monogynia. Syn., Gaultheria cordata, of Belgian gardens. — A fine green- house evergreen sh-iib, gi'owing 3 to 4 feot high, with up- light smooth branches. The leaves are opposite, oblong- lanceolate, entire, about 3 inches long. The flowers grow in a seeund manner towai'ds the extremities of the branches, three or four from the axil of each leaf; the corolla consists of an anguliu- tube an inch long, bright red, with a yellow limb of five small, ovate, spreading segments, greenish before expansion. — From Chili : elevated regions in a calcareous stony soU ; inti-oduced to Belgium in IWa. Flowers in sum- mer.— (Gardeners' Maefore they come into flower. Finish the pot- ting of Chi-ysanthemuius, and stake them securely as they advance. PITS AND EKAJIES. Make all necessai-y preparations here for prooagating plants for next year's decoration of the flower' garden. Make a fuU sowing of Schizanthus Hookeri and S. pinnatus lOr flowermg next spring ; also sow Ten-week and Interme- diate Stocks for the same pui-pose. See that all structures are in good repaii- ; aU lights that require it to be glazed and painted, and the interior of the pits smartened-up by ap- plying the whitewash-brush. W. Keans. doi:ngs of the last week. KITCHEN GAKDEN. Dua down a qua.rter of Strawberries, trenching it two spits deep, stin-ing the bottom ^rith a pickaxe, and turning in all the StrawbeiTy plant.s, Utter, &c., into the bottom of the trench. Never before tm-ned up garden ground in such a dry hard state. The Strawberry plants had stood three years, and borne immensely, but so tky and hard had the ground become, even though the surface was well Httered to ^eep the fi-uit clean, that a pick had to be used to help the spade. The weather being didl and diizzlv, planted the ground as finished with Cauliflower, Broccoli, &c.. lifting with balls the plants that had previously been pricked out, a^d planting them in trenches with the spade, and watering them as we planted them, turning the dry earth on the surface. As our last resource, broke into a deep well of house sewage, which though too strong for many things, has just been the thing for Cauliflowers and Peas. Lost some scores of heads of CaidiSower, the heads coming too soon and loose for want of water. Some of our finest rows of Conqueror Peas gave up flowering and bearing pre- maturely fi-om the same cause. We were in a complete fix: if we obtained water for vegetables and flower-beds, there was the more than likelihood that cattle would die from thirst, and you may .judge of the pleasure experienced in the showers of Wednesday, windy though it was. Some splendid long rows of Calceolarias had been watered the day before from the sewage-weU, as they would have died if left longer without moistm-e, and one good thing is, we shall have a pump to this sewago-weU, and as we are so short of solid man-are we wiU make it the means of producing iine vege- tables. The scent is not suited for the flower garden, though we gave a good soaking to splendid Hollyhocks that were losing their large lower leaves from di-ought. The scent without any fixing soon goes off in a kitchen garden, and if people are squeamish, a little dry earth thrown over makes aU as sweet as a nut. With the exception of a small reserve of clear rain water in a tank for plants in pots, and sj-ringing, but for this old sewage-well that had not been looked at for twenty years we were entirely without liquid. What we had was drawn up in pails with ropes, but once we have the pump we shall feel more independent, having fr-equently proved the value of such watering for kitchen-garden purposes. In all vegetable matters proceeded much the same as previous weeks ; find that next to Cauliflower, Lettuces of a large size stood worst, but there are plenty of successions. Planted out more, and a nice stock of Endive of the first, and a little of the second sowing. Eai-thed-up Mushroom- bed, having previously cased it with some baiTowloads of sheep-dung picked ofiT the roads in the park. We believe that a shallow bed cased with dried sheep-dung would pro- duce abundance of Mushrooms without any spawning at all, though, of course, it is best to be sure. So far as our ex- perience goes, the best plan for making all right with the superintendent of the kitchen, is never to be without plenty of Mushrooms, Onions, and Parsley. As respects other vegetables, there is nothing like having plenty ibr an easy life ; but one great secret we will let out for the benefit of our young brethren — and that is. If you are scarce of any- thing, never let it be known. AVe do not mean to insinuate that irhere is anything of mere contra.rincss about it. We base our advice on the simple principle, that we generally value most and think most about what is scai'ce. When we are at all short of Caidiflower, Peas, Beans, &c., it is best every way to say nothing at all about it, if you can help it. If you do, you may depend upon it that that identical article wiU be most in demand. The work in general has been of a routine character. FKUIT GAKDEN. In cold nights put a little fire in the vineries, and fresh- surfaced the pipes with sulphur. Gave a little water also to the borders outside. Exposed the wood of the earliest small Tine-pit of three lights — the next five ai-e not quite finished. In very hot days sprinkled the shelves and floor of the vineries to prevent the air being too parching. Leave on air stUl at night at the top of the house. To avoid drying have given little front aii- this season, and we do not see that the Vines seem to care about it. In fact, in all lean-td houses we look on top air as the gi'eat source of safety. In hot days these houses were frequently above 90", at night they would generally fall to about 55° or G0°. Engined with water Peach-house fi-om which the lights had been removed to be painted, as red spider had made its appearance. Find some of the fruit of orchard-house marked by the brown beetle before we succeeded in getting rid of it; but on the whole we have some excellent fruit and plenty coming, tliough we must part with some very old trees that were in a bad stat* before the house was made over them. They produced very heavily last year, and the fly was difficult to dislodge this season, though even now they have a fair crop ; still we should hardly like to trust them, though making fair- wood. This black beetle seems to have less power to injure Necta- rines. These are now fine, wliilst some Peaches beside them seem to have little wai-ts, as if the epidermis had been bitten. However, they wiU come in well for tarts, cream, and iced dishes for dessert. Went over Peaches and Apricots on waUs, moving leaves that shaded the fruit, and giving the r'nal thinning to Nectarines, &c.. that were too thick. Watered Figs and netted Gooseberries, Morello Cherries, and late Strawberries, and as soon as possible wOl thin Pears on dwarfs, which are very thick — too tliick to ripen Aagiut U, 1863. 1 JOHENAL OF HOBTICITLTUKE AifD COTTAGE GAEDENEB. lit well and kindly. Planted out the last of our forced Straw- berries. Potted tlie most of oui- runners, dag dow-n as iilready stated a quarter of old plants, and as we can get at them will clear the i-unners from those we intend to remain. Some of these runners will be pricked-out on a rich border 4 inches apart, to be raised in spring for forcing if we need them. Others iviil be pricked-out for spring planting, and others laid in thickly by the heels to meet contingencies. Many will often ask for a few plants, and it is a pleasure to give what costs but little trouble to have. The first planted- out forced Strawberries have given us some fine gatherings, and would have done more could we have given them water. OENAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. Made cuttings, potted Cinerarias, Primulas, Geraniums, stove plants, greenhouse plants, &c. ; but our chief work has been in the flower garden. It is now as a whole in good condition, and we want it to look well next week, and every bed wOl have its look-over and training, especially in the most conspicuous places. Many turn out the plants and give them no more care, letting the sides grow higher than the middle, and the edging, which shoidd be distinct, rimning all manner of ways through the bed and into the centre. Now, though we have sadly too much of it, we thoroughly indorse the opimon of our old friend, Mr. D. Thomson, that it is better to have a few beds done well than a number left as it were in a state of nature. Dry as the season has been, we have had to prune as well as regulate many beds. As a whole. Calceolarias are, and have been, dense masses, though we fear from the dryness that the autumn display will not be so fine as usual; but below the huge bundles of flowers we notice the little shoots coming with buds on their points. We should like our amateur fi-iends to see thoroughly that half a dozen of beds done well will afl'ord them more pleasm-e than one hundi-ed beds in. a tawdry condition, where the plants are left to shift for themselves, part rolled into dense heaps and half of the bed with nothing but earth staring you in the face. Merely as a sample, we may mention that some thirty smaE beds cf about 4.1 feet square, well filled and looking nicely— each bed with two and some with three coloui-s— are just having a Uttle tying and pegging to keep all in their places ; and two first-rate workmen will require the best part of two days to make the very best of them. That group of simple beds alone, well regulated and full to overflowing, would give more satisfaction than acres in a tawdry, wUd, confused state. The dry weather has saved us mowing and machining. Many of our beds were machined— merely one cut round the verges. Cutting more would have done more harm than good. The late showers will give us greenness again. The scythe would have done more harm than the mowing machine ; and in such circumstances for knocking over^ all heads of plantains, long grass, a sweep ivith our daisy- knife made all neat and trim, and we must not say the ground a man will easily go over in an afternoon. — K. F. TO CORRESPONDENTS. *,* We request that no one will write privately to the de- partmental vn-iters of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- <;lressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- ture, 4'c., 162, Fleet Street, London, E.G. We cannot reply privately to any communication unless under very special circumstances. Names of Plants.— Some of our correspondents are in the habit of sending smaU fragments of plants for us to name. This requires from us such a great expenditui-e of time that we are compelled to say that we cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen is per- fect in leaves and flowers. EosE Lbavi s Spotted (/. Price).— If your friend mulches tbe surface of the earth over the roots of the Eoses 2 or 3 inches thicU with half-rotted stable-manure, and Iteeps each tree plentifully watered throughout the Browing season, he will probably prevent much of the apo'.ting, and render the Rose trees more vigorous. You may propagate the Gentianella by division of ihe plants. Detikg XERAhTnEiiUM FiowEBs. — JT. B. wishes to he informed as to the best mode of drying these Everlastings. Distinction Betweek the Carnation and Picotke (J. A.).—S. Car- nation lias all it« colour radiaiiiig up to the edge of eich petal in unequal stripes from its base. A Picoleo has all its col,«r as a border on Ihe edge of each petal. A fringed edge so far from being a characteristic ol a Picotee is a defect. Cabnatios a.vu Picotee Seed (S. D. S.).- Those vho ,ire raisers of choice viineties of tliese plants cross-breed, and would not for money part with any of the seed so rai.ed. All that you can do is to buy ol the beso floristf, and pay for seeds raised from the best flowers, and be satisfied with the chance of acquiring good seedlings. When jou have obtained any you must cross-breed with old varieties, or others which may impart desired qualities probably to the progeny. Celket &c. (A StiUcriber).—n\m\m urine wai used in out-door forcing of Celery, as mentioned in No. 122. Pelarsoniu,a cuttings may be strucli in the mode mentioned at page 82. Removino an Evkeqree» Oak ( Tf. R. 7.).-The answer we gave last week: relative to the Holly is equully applicable to the tvergieen Oak. We should incline to move it in October during moist weather, preserving a good ball of earth about the root^ securing it effectually troiu being wind- waved, giving abundance of water, aud mulchmg over the surlace above the roots. MiEDEWED GuAPEs (ff. N: S.).-They are indeed fearfully inildewed ; but we have seen Grapes quite as severely aliected cured by flowers of au.phur. The siilphui was in a bowl, and this was held up so that each bunch could be .smothered in the sulphur. It w;,s left on for a week or two, and then washed off with the syringe. You will see a eoi.,mun.cat.on i our pages to-day upon the use of sulphured water. Try that befuro using the flowers of sulphur. Vaeiol's [M ,4.).— We know of no method, except pickling Cucumbers less or more. We have used salting and keeping in close boltles, but Willi no happy result. The subject is ol considerable importance, i.l.iny vege- tables, " Beans, may be preserved in brine, and the flavour restored by soaking in water belore using them, and we have partaken ulvioney Beans at Christmas so treated in August; but, though very l-ir. Hej ,w°;^W f'" do lor epicures who wanted them Iresh gathered Ihe 1 call N'^'"r- tium is all right-it is a line creamy yellow. The Iropxolums are olten u. c"r ain The best time to repot them is just when a tiny shoot begins to emerge irom the tuber. They very often do so "'■ 'i'/ln 'wL^r Z' S then is the best time to repot them. They fc'to"' last m winter and will bloom early in spring and summer. Peat and loam and a Uttle old cow- dung suit them be,3t. . Training Peaches on Du Beeoil's Plan (C. S.) .-Your success in the proposed plan will consist entirely on close-stopping the top, and regu at.ng ihe loots so as to have each tree, (ro.ii top to ooitaui, a wreath or cluster of buds Unless you can give that aiteniion we would advise planting few trees, and in tne usual way. SowiNO Pleroma elegans Seed (c/'7/>!r>7.).-The best time would be the beghining of March, as then the seedungs would be esiabhshed before w nte? We would tise a middle-si.ed pot hall rilled wuh drainage the rest sandy peat flue at top, mixed with sand, boak well, allow- to dram, . sow cover s'ightly plunge the pot in a mild hotoed, cover with a glass, rnd'sCde befoTthe'Sngs Z-.. Then give more au: and lull light by degrees. Grapes Spotted IT. B. £.).— You should have sent a berry or two, as we are uncertamo the appearance. It may for aught we know bo the rppelrance left from syringing with water not qui.e clear and pure or which mav cuntain a little chalk in solution ; or it may be the edects ot scorching from deheient ventilation. In the hot days we have had lately, if vou cLnot give air at top, however little, by hve in the morning, you Slitid^^;^n , whL-ii itn;y nv.x7 be vanetiea ting the plant to make new shoots. ,r^rtvuri^\ — Cbrvsanthemcms and CAMEEEtAS to Eeoom in December (^.rf,„^^^ Let the Chrysanthemums stand out ol door» "» f ^ "» ' ,^„,(,er uule.-s the Them ; but the Camellias ought to ^^ housed early in hepteniber^^ ^^^ buds be very forward, as ""ything depends on tuelo.wa. a in. We have seen a Camellia m ttowcr in he ^^;t «'^^ '°^,^ IJ^ ^^^^, kept warm until that time ; »liile, on the f'"^f%\ ,„ May cannot, kept back until the May following ; but a plan Howeiig j^^^^^ ofcouise, flower iu July the same year. H..l)its ot eaiij uo are acauired by the usage of a year or two. , ■ ,v„ THE potted Tree in verse is not suited to our pages, and we advise the ^-'^^J°sZllu1^r^'.\j:T{.-V,-. have made a.rangements for stating ""naVTof Grass (£ T 4.).-It is not a Grass, but one of the Spergulas. W^eailot decide wSchspUies ,t is unless we see the flowers. 116 JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTTJBE AKD COTTAGE GABDENER. [ August 11, 1863. Figs Falling {£. S., West TricA:/(a//j)-— On your graveily Boil there is a deficiency of moisture, probably at ihe roots of the trees. Kaise a Kiw bank, at about 3 feet Irom the stem, round each tree, and pour into it a bucket of ■water. Then put on ^ome mulch and repeat the watering twice weekly, whilst dry weather continues. Variegated Ahabis Propagation (M. F.). — As rooted offsets are not furnished very abuinJantlv, we fjenerally put in a good batch of slips any time during showery weathtr in tiie summer. \Ve sometimes put tliem in as early ys March, and at others as late as Noveinbtr, the plant being so accommodating as to strike well at all times. Of course cuitinE> [lUt in late gentrally remain in their place until spring. We yearly rair-c a gouil qudn- tiiy fiom spring or early summer cuttings to plant in the beds that tiera- niump, &c., ht'.ve been removed irom in autumn. Any comu^on sandy soil will do to strike them in, shading them for a time in sunny we»lher. Peaches Nearly Ripk Falling (A. if.}.— The trees are probably de- ficient in moisture at the routs. Treat them as we have told another cur- reepondent to treat his Fig trees. What you lerm "rotting" in your Grapes is probably " the spot." The roots ot the V nes shonlti have some rich compost applied to them, and be liberally watered with tepid water. More air also should be given by day and night. Sirawbtrries becounng mouldy in the forv:ing-house intimates that the air was kept too moist and stagnant. It certainly was not caused by " too muck drainage." Goldex-lkaved Geranivm (Aji Amafeur).— Therein a marked difference in the flowers of Cloth of Gold and Golden Chain, the former being a good scarlet almost equal t> Geranium Tom Thumb, the latter a dull red, and not so good a shape; the loliage is much alike. We may, however, say that amongst the various kinds of this class that we grow, we like Golden Circle best, as it is a free-grower and is only a shade less yellow than the best of them. We have upwards of one hundred plants of each of the loUowing kinds: — Golden Chain, Golden Fleice, Golden Ivy-haf, Golden Circle, Goldtn Vaise, and Ctoth of Gold; and in smaller quantities Gold-leaf, Mis Pollock, and some others. Not any of them comes up to our notion of what 13 wanted of a gold-etlged Geranium ; but we may be fasiioious. In many insiances the summer growth is so esoeeciingly small that propagation is u slow affair, excepting under glass in the winter an i spring uionths. Fui ther articles on variegated Geraniums will be forthcoming shoitly, and perhaps other kinds noticed. Names of Plants ( TT. Jf^. WHsoti).—}, the Purple Vine Bower, Clematis viticella purpurea ; 2, Sophora japouica pendula, a free and fast-grjwing tree; 3, Gleditscbii tiicanthos, the Honey Locust Tree; 4, Catalpa syriu- gaefolia, common Catalpa, or sometimes cdled eignonia catalpa ; 5, Datura stramonium, common Thorn Apple. (An Old Subscriber).— the large leaf is from Cissus discolor; the jomted leaf is from Phyllarthron comorense (Bojer), a native of the Comoro Islands, from which it must have been intro- duced to Brazil, whence you ?ay you had it. probably either through Kew Gardens or by Mr. Dufcan, Director of the Mauritius Botanic Garden, who exchanges plants with a Brazilian correspondent. (6^. C). — It is a Lobelia, but not to be named Irom a small spray quite dry. (J?. J., Spring Bank]. — Hordeum jubatum, or Long-bearded Barley Grass. A hardy biennial ; Dative of North America. [G. A///(J.— Gnapliaiium lanatum, so much em- ployed now as an edging plant. {J. R. It, lioniton). — I, Drosera rolundi- folia; 2, Erica tetralix ; 3, Sphagnum, or the tii'^y Bog Moss, tht: peach- coloured variety of Sphagnum palustre of Withering. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE, SELECTING BERDS FOR EXHIBITION. It is important that those who intend to be competitors for the great events of the poultiy-yard, should now make selection of the bu-ds on which their success may dej^end. There is, perhaps, no tune of the year when tliis can be done as easOy as at present. The evidences of gi'owth and fi'ame are unmistakeable, and faults are equally developed. It has always been ova opinion that those intended for Birmingham should there make their debut. Admitting' that they are perfect in size, shape, and condition, they have nothing to spare — all is required for success in that great contest. If that be true, nothing that is faulty can hope: no bad comb, faidty claw, or deformity can be tolerated. It is particularly at this season of the year, when the weather is hot, when meat does not relish, and when vegetables ai-e good, young, and cooling, that poulti-y is most in request. It is now that the broods are scanned with an eye that threatens death to many an inhabitant of the yard. While a proper selection wiU certainly swell the profit column at the end of the year, so an improper one will assuredly put profit out of the question. When two large, wliite, succulent Dorkings appear on the table, they are not the less relished because the pullet was foui'-clawed on one foot, and the cock was decidedly weak on his legs. When two pretty Hamburgh chickens, round, short, and fuU-breasted are being admired, no one wiU know they were both single-combed. It is the same with all. Every ad- vantage of food and run should be given to those that ai'e intended for stock or exhibition ; and it is well, if it can be done, that all faulty chickens intended for the table should be withdrawn from the yard, and put in a place apart. Dorkings will, some of them, come with hideous legs, long thin claws going up all one side of the leg ; others sin in an opposite direction and fail in the number — they have four instead of five. Some appear of such colours that, al- though we are latetudinarians in that particular, we cannot advise them to be saved. Hamburghs will sometimes sport single combs and five claws. Spanish, instead of being long, thin, gi'eyhound-looking fowls, will oome dumpy, and squat- formed pullets. Indeed, every breed at times sends forth its defects. Where eggs only are required, it stands to reason faulty bu-ds will lay as well as perfect ones ; but care must be taken none such are put under hens to produce chickens, as experience proves defects ai-e more certain of transmission to offspring than virtues are. This is another reason why we advocate the separation of the table and faulty birds fi-om the perfect ones — there is no possibility of a mistake in the eggs of either. It may apipear of little import now, but it is possible, axrangemeuts may be making at this time that are to last thi-ough the ^vinter ; and it would be more than th-esome to find the eggs set to produce chickens in January, to be the unmistakeable produce of the pariahs. If it can be conveniently done, it is advisable in both in- stances to keep the sexes separate. Early maturity is desirable neither for the table nor for exhibition. In the first instance it hardens the flesh, in the second it stops growth. Chickens grow and ripen slowly in the winter ; and even if they are one month too old for the table of a gour- mand, yet at that time of the year, if they are kdled when quite empty of food and water, they may be kept tiU they are tender, and they will be full of flavour. As this is intended for those who eat poultry, we wUl endeavour to leave no- thing unsaid on that part of the subject. Although fowls that have arrived at " a certain age " may be kept tUl they are tolerably tender, it is not desirable to keep them till they attain that age. Care should, therefore, be taken to kiU-oft' the oldest brood fii-st, and not to take up the first two or tliree that come to hand. Often one is killed twelve weeks old and put with another that is sixteen. If the sixteen-weeks brood is killed first, there is a month before those at twelve in which they wiU improve daUy. The ob- servance of these trifling rules will make the poulti-y-yard of the cottage or the "ferine ornt'e " what it should be — a valuable adjunct to the table and larder, and a self-sup- porting and amusing hobby. SPAJS^ISH FOWLS FOE A SMALL ENCLOSURE. Will you tell me the number of fowls (Spanish) I can healthily keep in a yard 25 feet square ; also the best way of building at its end a fowl-house 25 feet by 6 ? — A Countet POULTBY-FANCIEK. [You can easily keep ten or twelve Spanish fowls in a yard 25 feet squai-e. They are not fowls that require much liberty, although, when they have it, they enjoy it to the full. That number would not want a house as large as you propose to make. If you erect a wooden building in one corner it need only be 12 feet long by 6 deep. The door should be at one end of it, and not wider than is necessary for a man to go through. It should be the height of the building, not less than 7 feet. The laying-boxes, three in number, should face the door, and the perches should be in the sheltered part, and not more than 2 feet from the ground. If the house has a window so much the better. The floor should be of gravel, and there shoidd be holes for ventilation all round the top.] Chickens Desteoxed by a Hedgehog.— Perhaps some of your readers may not be aware of the destructive qualities of the common hedgehog. It is one of those unhappy animals that are always killed, if not tortui-ed, by country lads. If you ask them why, they are immediately ready with a host of accusations, wliich I had hitherto considered as absui-d and incapable of proof as the supposed venomous natui'e of toads, sloivworms, and other innocent reptiles ; but this year I have had evidence to the conti'ary. It was obsei-ved night after night that a chicken was taken away fi-om a brood about a week old, which was placed under a coop in the rickyard. As the yard was known to be infested with rats, the loss was attributed to them ; so the hen and her chickens were removed and placed under a window where the Angatt 11, 186b. ] JOXJENAIi OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAJSDENEE. U7 man servant slept. In the com-se of the night he heard a great noise, the poor hen cackling loudly in her fui-y and terror, and appaa-ently making vain attempts to save her young. He accordingly went down, and on raising the coop, which was a large and heavy one, he discovered, to his great surprise, a hedgehog inside, in the act of committing depre- dations on the flock. The hedgehog must have raised the coop to get in, and thus displayed at once its strength and its predatory character. — S. L. J., Cornwall. BEEDLINGTON AGEICULTUEAIi SOCIETY'S POULTEY SHOW. Wednesday, July 29th, being beautifully fine, and Brid- lington having the extra attraction of the seaside, the twenty-eighth annual Exhibition was unusually well at- tended. Most of the classes had filled weU, and pretty good comjsetition was expected. The show of poulti-y was an average one, the Hamburghs, Dorkings, Cochins, and Game being the best represented, both in jjoiut of numbers and quality. Below is a complete list of awai'ds. Cochin-Cbi.-ja.— First, E. Smith, Mitidleton. Second, E. Witty, Cottiug- liam. C'ocA.— Prize, T. C. Trotter, Sutton. Dorking.— First, 0. A. Young, DrilHeld. Second, E. Smith. Cock.— Prize, It. M. Stark, Hull. Spanish. -First, K. M. Slark. Second, O.AToung. Cock.—T. C. Trotter. Game.— First. H. M, Julian, Beverley. Second, C. Webster, Oustwick. Cock.— Tiixe, F. Smith, Dnffield. PoLANDS — Firht, 11. Lolt, Woodoiansey, Beverley. Second, O. A. Young. Hauhikuhs (Golden-tpungled). — First, H. A. Hudson, Ouseiitle, Y'ork. Second, W. Homer, Dritheld. Hamburghs (Silvev-spangled).— First, C. Campling, Cottingham. Second, T. C. Tro.ter. Hahbueghs (Golden-pencilled). — Fn-st, W. Gofton, Dritiield. Second, H. Holmes, Driffield. Haububgus (Silver-pencilled).— First, J. Bilton, Cottingham. Second, T. C. Trotter. Baktams (Any VAriety). — First, R. M. Stark. Second, iliss E. CreyUe. ^ofA-.— First, R. M. Stark. -Second, W. Gofton. — C/iitA-e7iS(Distincf\'ariety). — First, J. Yates, Hunmauby. becond, H. Elvidge, Leven Carr, Beverley. Gkese. — Prize, O. A. Young. C?05/in^s.— Prize, T. Darreli, West Ayrton. Turkeys.— Firs!, T. Dawson, Poundsworth, Dtiffieid. Second, K. il. Stark. FouUs —Prize, T. Dawson. DucBB (AylesburyJ.— First and Second, O. A. Young. Ducklings.— Tiize, T. Darell. Ducks (Any variety}.— First, M. Appleby, Korth Burton. Second, 0. A. Young. DuckHnys. — Prize, M. Appleby. Guinea towL.— First, H. ilerkin, Driffield. Second, O. A. Young. Pigeons. — Tumblers. — Prize, B. Leason, Driffield. Fantails. — Prize, F. Key, Beverley. Carriers. — Prize, R. Baker, Hunmanby. Jacobins. — Prize, F. Key. Any distinct variety. — Prize, F. Key. Rabbits [Any breed). — First and Second, U. A. Young. Fancy Rabbit. — Prize, J. Season. Drilileld. YOEESHIEE AGEICULTTJEAL SOCIETY'S POULTEY SHOW. The Poultry Exhibition of this Society came off at South Stockton on the 5th, 6th and 7th ult. In point of numbers the entries were much the same as in previous years, and iu majiy of the classes there was a remarkably good compe- tition. The Spanish, Dorkings, and Hamburghs contained many pens of striking excellence. For Spanish, Mr. Beldon obtained the first in the class for old birds, and Mr. Eodbard second, the latter winning, also, the prize for chickens with a very fine pen. His old birds might, perhaps, have been more successful if the hens had been iu better condition, and the cock's forehead had not shown the injiu-ious eifeets which age generally produces in this breed. Taken altogether the Dorkings, perhaps, were the best part of the Exhibition. Mr. Whitwell was first for old birds ; and the prize for chickens was given to a very good pen belonging to the Eev. Mr. Newton. The entries for Game were hardly so numerous as is generally the case at the Yorkshire Shows, which may, probably, be attributed to the fact that at this season few birds are in the high condition so essential in this breed. In the Hamburgh classes there was a very keen competition, eepecially between the birds of Mr. Dixon and Mr. Beldon, and their merits were very equally balanced. In the class for Golden-spangled Hambui-gh chickens, Mr. Dixon was particularly unfortunate, as he exhibited a pen which would have won with ease, but the cock was dis- qualified, as he was suflJering severely from roup. There were some remarkably good Ducks, especially Mr. KeU's Aylesburys and Mr. Dixon's Eouens. Spanish.- First, H. Beldon. Second, J. R. Rodbard. Highly Com- mended, S. Burn. Commended, J. Sbortbose. Chickens. — Prize, J. R. Rodbard. Highly Commended, H. Beldon ; S. Kobson. Dorkings.— First, G. C. Wbitwell. Second, G. Smith. Highly Com- mended, H. Beldon ; J. F.Newton. (The whole class commended.) Chickens. — Prize, J. F. Newton. Highly Commended, H. W. B. Berwick CocHiN-OHiNA (White).— First and Second, G. C. Whitwea Commended, J. Dixon. Cochin-China (Any other colour).— First, G. Smith. Second, J. SUort- hose. Chickens.— tiisl and Second, T. H. Barker. Commended, F. R. Pease. Game.— First, H. M. Julian. Second, W. A. Wooler. Commended, F, K. Pease ; H. Beldon. CTiicicns.— Prize, H. M. Julian. Highly Com- mended, G. \V. Binns ; F. R. Pease. Hamedegus (Golden-spangled).- First, H. Beldon. Second, J. Dixon. Highly Commended, H. W. B. Berwick. CA icAens.— Prize, H. Pickles. Hamboeohs (Golden-ptncilled).— First, H. Beldon. Second, J. Dixon. Highly Commended, Mrs. Hemingway. CAicAerMs.— Prize, J. Diion. Hamburghs (Silver-spangled).— First, H. Beldon. Second, J. Dixon. Highly Commended, H. Beldon. Chickens.— tlize, H. Beldon. Highly Commended, J. Dijton; J. Crookes. Hamburghs (Silver-pencilled). —First and Second, H. Beldon. Highly Commended, J. Dixon. C'ncJ.rns. — Prize, H. Beldon. PoEANEs.— First. J. Dixou Second, H. Beldon. Chickeiis.-P cize, J. Dison. Highly Commended, H. Beldon ; W. Newsome. Ant other Distinct Beekk— First, J- Dixon. Second, F. Powell. Highly Commended, F. P.. well -, T, Appleton. CAicAens— Prize, J. Di»on. Bantams ( Blaek or White). -First, J. Uixon Second, J. Skipper. Bantams {Any other variety).— First, J. Dixon. Second, J. Standby. Highly Commended, E. Brown'; J. Shorthose ; H. beldon. SiNOLK Cocks.— /SiiemisA. —Prize, J. Shorthose. Highly Commended, J- Dixon. Dorkiny —Prize, F- R. Pease. Highly Commended, H. V, . K. Berwick. Cochin-China.— fi.ye, J. Bell, tiume.— Prize, G. Thompsis.-Prize, H. Elvidge, Leven Carr. Cuci— Prize, K. il. Stark, ^s'pAKisH.-First, H. Beldon, Leeds. Second, J. Hepworth, Hatfield. Coti.— Prize, H. Beldon, Gilstead. ,, , ,- u ,,„,„.- Game (Black-breasted and other Reds).-First, H. M. Julian. BeTerley. Second, H. Adams, Beverley. Chickens.-trize, R. Burgess, Lockington. '^t.uITun^'^^a other Greys>.-Prize, H. Adams. Chicken.- Prize. M. Burgess. CucA.— Prize, H. Aaams. ^i-i „. GA.iE (Any other va' iety).-First and Second, 11. Adams. Ch^kens.- First and Mecond, H. Adams. . „ rii .1- c ,,, CocilN-CHlNA. First, E. Smith, Mancbes'cr. Second, E. Clalk, South Dalton. CAicAens.-Prize, T. H. Barter, Hoviugham. CocA.-Prize, T. H. Barker. 118 JOUENAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August 11, 1863. PoLANDS. — First, B. Loft, Woodmansey. Second, H. Beldon, Gilstead. Hambukghs (Oolden-^pangled). —First, H. Beldon. Second, \V. Horner, Dritfield. t'/(i(7ic«5.— Prize, J. Murgatroyd, Biihop Burton. Cock.— a, A. Hudson. Onsohft'. Hamburgh (Silver-Rpangled).— First, H. Beldon. Second, S. Campling, Cottinchara. C'hirkens. —Prize, H. Beldon. Cock —Prize, H. Beldon. Baubueghs (Golden-pencilled)— First, H. Beldon. Second, W. Gofton, Dnifield. Chickens.— Pvize, H. beldon. Cock.— J. Ellerby, Helmslcy. Hamburghs I Silver-pencilled). — First, H. Beldon. Second. J. Falkner, Hunmanby. Cfiickens.— Prize, H. Beldon. Cock. — Prize, H. Beldon. Any other Distinct BREtn not Named.— Firtt, H. Beldon. Second, E.Adams. CTiicicHS —Prize, W. Gofton. Coc*;— Prize. R. Loft. Farmyard Cross. — First, II. Gowden. Bridlington. Second, J. Hilton, Cottingham. Toc^.- Prize, G. Robinson, Frodingbam. Bantams (Black and White).— First, R. M. Stark. Second, 0. Mosey, Skerne. Cock. — Prize. R. M. Stark. Bantams (Any other variety).- First, W. Gofton. Second, H. Beldon. CocA.— Prize, W. Gofton. Geese.— First, Mrs. Young, Driffield. Second, Mrs. Conyere, Elmewell. GosUttffs.— Prize, J. Biiiini-ter, Fridaythrop. TuBKKYs.— First, Mrs. Dawton, Driilield. Second, R M. Stark. PouHs. — Prize, T. D.iwson. Guinea Fowl?. — Prize, Mrs Robinson, Nafferton. Ducks (Aylesbui-y). — Prize, O. A. Young, Driffield. Ducks (Rouen).— First, J. Braim, Pickering. Second, T. Baker, Hoving- ham. Ducklings. — Prize, O. A. Young. Ducks (Any other variety).- First, J. R. Jessop, Hull. Second, 0. A. Young. Ducklings. — Prize, Mrs. Jordan, Eastbuni. PlOEONS. — Cro/);)crs.— Prize, W. Watson, Beverley. Carriers.- Prize, W. Watson. Trumpeters. — Prize, T. Rippon, Beverley. Jacobins. — Prize, "W. Watson. Fantails.— Prize, F. Key, Beverley. Tumblers. — Prize, T. Rippon. Barbs. — Prize. W. Watson. Jfuns. — Plize, F. Key. Other Varieties.— Prize, J. R. Trenam, Helinsley. Rabbits (Any breed). — Prize, G. R. Y'oung, Driffield. Messrs. ChaHoner and Smith were Judges. EGGS CHILLED DURING SITTING. I HAVE just received your No. US: and although 1 have done with poultry, so far as England is concerned, for some time, I think it but right to add my mite in reply to " Eggs Sat Upon, and then Chilled." Sebright Bantams aa'e proverbial for unfertile eggs. This was the cause of the addled eggs. A hen sitting on eggs from 10 P.M. to daylight would hardly be worse than a hen laying in a stolen nest, and would do no harm. I have had much worse tricks played than this, and hatched aU, and La one instance a hen was kept accidentally off her nest the day of hatching until the eggs were cold, and hatched half the next morning. This was a common hen and eggs. Of Cochins, I have had the eggs quite cold three times in the three weeks, and saved two-thirds ; and just prior to leav- ing Hilsea a Game Bantam hen let her eggs get cold twice in the first week of sitting. My man shut her in, and the eggs getting veiy dirty I took them out, and washed every one, put them under a Cochin hen five days before their time, and she brought seven out of nine out ; and I may also add I have had hens sit at night, and stand over and on the eggs in the day for two or three days, and had to shift them to other hens that hatched them. All these results have been with Cochin-China. As I shall not see your Journal for some time again, I shall not be able to reply to any inquii-ies. I should think from the tenth day the eggs would be more likely to be spoilt by getting cold than sooner; and the first two days could hardly be of much consequence. But chickens fi'om eggs that have been chilled are not so strong as those that have been properly sat upon. — H. Has- SAJiD, Major R.E., Quebec. I AM very glad to find others are interested in the reasons for eggs not hatciiing. I waited until to-day, wishing to know whether a hen sitting on Sebright eggs would produce any chicks, before answering the query of " T. B. A. Z." I purchased from Mr. Harvey Bayley a cock and three hens, Sebrights, first-class birds, and anticipated a good many chickens from them, having sat upwards of fifty eggs. They are in a large compartment of an aviary. I send a list of Bantam eggs, and time of hatching. May 31st. — Fifteen eggs, the whole addled. June 9th. — Five eggs under a Bantam, all addled. June 10th. — Five eggs under a Bantam, aU addled. June 29th. — Seven eggs under a Cochin, sis hatched. July 30th. — Nine eggs under a light common hen, all addled. August 3rd. — Fourteen eggs under a light common hen, all addled. From the above list you win see I have not .a Bantam chick this season,«a serious disappointment it is. The whole of the eggs except those whose time of hatching was the 29th of June, were quite addled : therefore, in my opinion had been good eggs. Than the six hatched I never saw stronger chickens, but the clumsy Cochin managed to trample the whole to death before a week. No hens could sit better or closer than all the above. I have now sat a hen (not on Bantam eggs) as an ex- periment, numbering the eggs 1 to 9. I placed the eggs under her at 10 o'clock at night, and on the following night at the same hour I toot No. 1 away and replaced it at 10 o'clock the following morning. At 10 o'clock at night I took No. 2 away, and returned it at 10 the following morning. No. 3 the same, and I purpose with the remainder to give three days between, and chilling each twelve hoiu's. The result of this experiment I shall be hapi^y to send you, if worth youi" notice. 1 have been thus particular in naming the time I purpose chilling the eggs, as probably out of yoiu' numerous correspondents you will have some who may feel inclined to try the same plan, and might change the hom-s of chilling, &c. — Evesham. [We shall be very much obliged by a report of the resvilt of your experiment, and wish some of our coiTCspondents would institute similar experiments, and furnish us with the results relative to other varieties and kinds of poultry, in- cluding Turkeys, Geese, and Ducks. — Eds.] FOUL BEOOD— DESTEUCTIVE EFFECTS OF CHLOROFOEM. I AM glad to hear the "Devonshire Bee-keeper" has found out the cause of his bees dwindling away ; and would he be good enough to say what is foul brood, and the cause of it, and how it would be known ? I observe you recommend chloroform for bees. I am afraid it will be found not to answer, as I tried it with two hives a few years since and it killed every bee ; besides, the honey- comb killed every bee that went on it, and the hives were not fit to use for a long time after, and the honey poisoned all the bees I gave it to. It is a very curious chemical and absorbs the moisture from the atmosphere, so that you can never get it twice alike, and, consequently, the quantity yoti recommend, if good, is too strong. I would advise your correspondent to use the fungus instead ; and if properly done, putting the bees up with a bee-cloth and keeping them in a warm place, if the weather is cold, they will soon come round, and you will hardly find one dead. — B. B. [Foul brood is, as its name implies, a disease which attacks the young lai-vse in their various stages of development. At first only a few die, but as these putrefy in their cells the infection spreads, xintil very few bees arrive at maturity, and the stock dwindles and ultimately perishes. The cause of its outbreak among my bees was, as I have before stated, my unwittingly making use of the combs from infected cottage-hives. German apiaa-ians attribute it generally to the use of American or West Indian honey for feeding ; and if they are con-ect in this, it probably ai-ises fiom the disease being prevalent in these countries, and much of the honey exported being, therefore, tainted with its fatal virus. The subject appears to me of such vital importance, being the probable exphanation of a great many hitherto-inexplicable failures in bee-keeping, that, with the permission of the Editors, I intend entering upon it at some length, and quot- ing the opinions of the most reliable German and American authorities. I can indorse all that is said as to the murderous effects of chloroform upon bees. I am of opinion that the late Mr. Payne never himself submitted it to the test of experi- ment, a,nd am satisfied that if he had survived to edit the enlarged edition of his very useful little work, he would have expunged the passage quoted fi'om page 27, and very pro- bably have substituted an emphatic condemnation. I have also reason to believe that fumigation by fungus shortens the lives of bees subjected to it, however perfectly they may appear to recover at the time, and is, therefore, but one degree less mischievous than chloroform. No humane bee- keeper should rest satisfied until he has mastered the art of Augnst 11, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICHLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 119 driving, described by Mr. Payne in page 59 of the enlarged edition, which is the only unobjectionable mode of imiting bees in common hives.— A Devonshire Bee-ke3?ee.] UNITING SWAEMS. ToTJ inserted my letter at page 483 of your last Volume. The mismanaged second swarm was made right by the union of another cast with it, which was accomplished by turning up the first tenanted box, and, after weU sprinkling with syrup and a whiff of smoke, dashing the new comers into their midst. The union was successful without any fighting, bvit the strengthened stock became very irritable. The strong stock, which was weakened by transposing, was strengthened again by the union of a good swarm. It was too heavy to handle readily, but the junction was effected by sprinkUng the swarm v.-ith syrup an hour or two before- hand, and at the time of union dashing out the bees and gently lifting the old stock over, having first given a whiff of smoke. The union was peaceable, and I have since obtained some fine lioney ; but for several days the bees clustered largely outside the hive. These unions were of bees in common close-top hives. Another union I made much more easily with a stock in a bar-box by moving the crown-board, and, after sprinkling both stock and swarm, dashing the bees on the top of the exposed bars. I have resolved to renew my apiiiry and substitute frame or bar straw hives for the old close-topped ones. Having purchased of Messrs. Neighbour a Woodbury straw frame-hive, I felt lm{i begins. Sun's dcclin. 12" 13' n. Bonpland born, 1773. Rot. 12 Sdkuat after TniMTT. St. BAarHOLOMEW. Average Temperature Rain In last 36 j-eara Son Sun near London. Rises. Sets. Day. NiKht. M ean . Davs. m. h. m. h. 73.6 52.1 62.8 13 51af 4 16af7 73.0 62.0 62.5 17 53 4 11 7 72.6 61.3 61.9 15 54 4 12 7 72.3 49.7 61.0 13 56 4 10 7 74,3 50 3 60 8 14 57 4 8 7 74.3 49 2 60.6 IS 69 4 6 7 71.5 48.2 69.8 16 V. 4 7 Jfoon Moon ) Kises Sets. m. h. m. h. 173 9 8a 8 27 10 31 S 37 11 1 9 48 0 35 9 59 1 22 10 2 3 18 11 58 3 morn. Moon's Age. Clock before Sun. 4 6 6 7 D 9 10 m. 8. e 44 Day of Year. 230 231 232 233 234 23S 236 From observations taken near London during the last thirtv-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 73.2°, and its nieht temperature 50.4". Tlie greilest keat was 9;", on the 18th- 1342; and the lowest cold, 32'', on the 2l3t, 1830. The greatest lall of rain was 0.95 inch. SEEDLING GLOXINIAS. i_>^/?B7V^,S the information asked for by a cor- TJv >»• ^ respondent regarding tlie treatment of seedling Gloxinias appears to in- clude the method of sowing the seed, as well as the after-manage- ment of the young plants, it may perhaps lie as well to begin at the beginning. About the middle of Febru- ary is a good time to sow Glox- inias. If deferred till further on in the season the chances are against their flowering, or forming bulbs sufficiently strong to keep well through the winter. A well-drained pot or seed-pan should be fiUed nearly to the brim with soQ consisting of two parts loam, one part peat, one part well-rotted leaf mould rather finely sifted, and one part sand. The top half- inch of soil should be passed through a sieve of quarter- inch mesh, and the surface made level and smooth for the reception of the small seeds. Thick sowing should be avoided, because the plants become crowded and drawn, as well as more likely to suffer from damping-ofF before they are large enough, for being transferred into pots or pricked-off into pans. For the same reason it is a great error to sow any similar seeds thickly, for when plants become drawn and spindly in the seed-pan it re- quires some trouble to get them stocky again, and in the case of some things it is a hopeless task. Gloxinias are very apt to fog-oft' in patches when they are thick in the seedling-pot. When the seed is sown, and just sufficiently covered to hide it, the surface of the soil should be nearly half an inch below the mouth of the pot. After being watered thi'ough a fine rose, plunge the pot or pan in a gentle bottom heat where such can be afi'orded. They wUl, however, germinate freely in a temperature of 70° without bottom heat. Either a beU-glass or a pane of glass should be placed over the pot to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture and help to maintain a uniform temperature. .Alternations from drought to moisture must be avoided, or the young plants may never make their appearance at all. A medium state of moisture, with as few applications of water as possible, should be the aim. With this view, in the rearing of seeds it is a good plan to place the seed-pan in a saucerful of water, when, by the action of capillary attraction, the soil is kept more uniformly moist than when water is applied at the surface in the usual way. However, the Gloxinia is by no means precarious in germinating, and with ordinary care is sure to vegetate if sown and treated as has been directed. When the young plants make their appearance the bell-glass should be tilted up at one side, and more air admitted by degrees, till the glass be entirely removed. Care must tlien be taken that the young plants are not exposed to the sun, and that the surface of the soil does not at any time become mealy dry ; and altliough shaded No. 125.— Vol. V., Net SKEiEe from direct sunshine they should be kept on a shelf neai- to the glass; and, if they have come up thickly, they should either be thinned out, or pricked-off into pans before they become drawn, or run the risk of damping-off. When they are large enough to be handled conveni- ently they should be potted into 24-inch pots ; and if it be an object to flower as many of them as possible, with the view of selecting the best varieties, two or three may be put into one pot : but if room can be afforded, it is preferable to pot them singly. The soil used for potting them may be exactly the same as that recom- mended for sowing the seed, only neither the loam nor the peat should have any of the fibre sifted out of it. When potted and well watered they may be placed in a pit, frame, or stove, where they can have a night tempe- rature of 65° to 70° ; and if they can be plunged in a bottom heat of 75° to 80° they will make more rapid progress than when simply placed on a shelf or the sur- face of a bed. If placed on a shelf in the stove some moss or sphagnum should be placed under and about the pots to prevent them from drying up too quickly. Wherever they are put they should not be placed in the shade of other plants, but near the glass, where they can be shaded from the sun, and have a kindly moist stove temperature. If treated thus they will soon make nice stubby-leaved plants, and will require being shifted into pots a size larger. Four or five-inch pots will be quite sufficient for the first year. A little old well-de- composed cowdung may be added to the compost already named with advantage. They should still be kept in a stove temperature, and be shaded from the direct rays of the sun in the middle of the day. Under such cir- cumstances they will grow rapidly and make nice flower- ing bulbs for next season, and some may throw up a few flowers the first season. When Gloxinias expand their first flower they should be gradually hardened-ofi' tiU removed to the greenhouse, where they will form a show in the height of summer and continue to flower a long time. They must, however, be placed in a position where they will not be exposed to di'ying currents of air, and they bloom best in a tem- perature a little warmer than is generally maintained in a greenhouse. When done flowering and the foliage shows symptoms of waning, water at the root must be gradually withheld, and the soil allowed to become drier and drier till tliey are entirely set at rest for the winter. The best winter quarters for the bulbs is that where tliey wUl be free from drip and not be exposed to a temperature that ranges much below 55°. In spring, the time to start them must be regidated by the time they are required to flower. If started m February they will bloom in June. Tliey should be entirely shaken out of the old dry sofl and put into four- inch pots, or they may be ])laccd at once in six-mch pots, in which they wiU make fine plants and yield a large crop of bloom. I have never found that much is gained by putting Gloxinias into large pots, except m the case of old and large bulbs, which, of course, must No. 777.— Vol. XXX., Old Series. 122 JOTJENAL OF HOKTICULITJEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ August 18, 1863. have pots proportioned to their size. Eight-inch pots will grow large bushes, that will flower profusely and in suc- cession. It is always preferable to allow the bulbs to show signs of starting in spring before they are either shaken out or started. When they have sprung about half an inch is a good time to shake out and repot them ; and when the soil in which they are put is moderately moist they should not be watered for a week or so alter being potted, but may have a gentle dewing with a tiue-rosed pot or syring3. Their treatment the second year may be pre- cisely that recommended for the young seedling plants. Gloxinias are among the easiest of plants to grow. A moist warm stove and slight shade from the sun while in a grow- ing state, and when in bloom a warm greenhouse of inter- mediate temperature, suit them best. Being of easy culture, and many of the varieties of exqui- site beauty, they are among the most useful plants an amateur can grow. They remain in bloom a long time in summer, and in winter they are easily stored away, giving no trouble tUl they show signs of motion in the spring. — D. T. GLADIOLUS EEINE VICTORIA. I SHOULD be very sorry to mislead any one, but it would appear from your correspondent " G. P. O.'s " letter that 1 must be doing so in respect of the above bulb ; and yet I can only say that when M. C. Verdier mentioned three francs as its price, I mentioned it afterwards as a question — " trois francs ? " It may be circumstances have led him to alter with regard to the number of bulbs. 1 stLU must beg leave to doubt whether he has more than a thousa,iid flowering bulbs of it for sale. I may take the opportunity of saying that John Waterer (Souchet) is a fine noble flower of the Linne type, very showy and good. Imperatrice Eugenie has gone ^n-ong with me, and is miserable ; but there is something the matter with the bidb, I think. — -D., Deal. CAULIFLOWERS. Second only to the Pea in point of excellence and utility, a regular supply of this vegetable is a desideratum. Although its culture is easy and for the most part well understood, yet there may be some who do not know how it happens that his neighbour has Cauliflowers from June 1st to January 1st when his own seldom head before July, and the first frost often prevents his having Cauliflowers in October. It is for the information of such persons that I shall make some remarks on the culture of the Caxdi- flower ; and if any know of processes either more speedy or affording better results an account of them will be gladly received, for it is only by the exchange of opinions and ex- perience, collected in a diversity of climate and soU, that we can hope to become enlightened in garden matters, and able to follow our calling under varied circumstances. Caidiflowers are in season, under ordinary circumstances, from midsummer until the iu'st severe frost cuts them off. Six degrees of frost will not destroy the heads if not exposed directly to the influence of hot autumn days followed by dew at night. Providing the leaves are tiirned over the heads to keep them white and close and to protect them from white fr-osts. Cauliflowers rarely suffer from October frosts — at least, not oftener than once out of five consecutive sea- sons. NotwithstanfHng that the Cauliflower can neither be had early nor late without artificial protection, I wiO treat of their cultivation both with and -ndthout protection. Without Pkotection. — For Caidiflowers the situation cannot be too open, nor the soil too rich and deep. The ground shoidd be dug deeply — trenching is better — and thrown into ridges early in autumn if it is in the least tena- cious. On heavy soil the manure, which must be liberally supplied, is best given in a raw or undecayed state, for it then helps to admit atmospheric afr and to keep the soil open. It is best applied in the autumn. Well-decomposed manure is best for light soils, and that of a cold natiu-e, as cow or pig manure, is to be prefeiTed. Fresh stable, hen, or pigeou manure stimulates the plants too much, causing a superabundance of leaves without giving a correspondingly large compact head. The ground having been ridged in autumn should be thrown level in February and manured, if that was not done in the autumn. Early in April prepare a bed of rich pulverised soil, level- ing it and making fine. On that sow thinly Frogmore Early at one end and Dwarf Erfurt Mammoth at the other, and cover lightly with fine soU. If the ground is tfry the bed must be watered in the morning. A few spruce branches that have cast their leaves laid over the bed will answer the twofold object of affording a little protection from sharp frosts and keeping linnets, chafiinches, &c., which are very partial to Brassica seeds, from pulling the seedlings up as fast as they appear. When the plants have two rough leaves prick them out to gain strength and to cause them to bear transplanting better ; and if they be properly supplied with water they will be ready to plant out in three weeks after pricking-out. In planting out stretch aUne along the plot to be planted, a foot from the outside, and with a hoe di'aw a doej) drill. Then with a trowel cut round each plant, by which means you wiU be enabled to lift them with a nice ball. Plant with the trowel, putting the plants in the drill quite up to the lowest leaves, and 2 feet apart and the same distance be- tween the rows. Water immediately after planting and the plants will never di'oop, whereas, if they are pulled up and planted with a dibble fully a fortnight is lost ; and ii dry weather ensue after planting they are sure to head prematurely, often occasioning the loss of the crop. The less the plants flag the better will they root : therefore, copious waterings should be given until they become estab- lished, and even afterwards they ought never to become dry at the root ; but in hot weather, after the plants are earthed, the drainage of the dunghill and slops of any kind may be given between the rows, which is far better than applying such manure close to the stems, the spongioles of the roots being actually at some distance off. A good soaking be- tween the rows, say twice a-week, is sure to reach the majority of the roots and prove very beneficial. Where other liquid manure cannot be had, two ounces of guano to a gallon of water makes a good substitute, and is very favourable to the development of most crops when luxu- riance is the object. Hoeing between the rows should be frequently practised, drawing a little soil towards the stem of the plants each time until the leaves nearly meet, when the final earthing- up must be given. The Cauliflower emits fibrous roots from the stem, and earthing-up materially aids in inducing the plants to do so, iu addition to keeping them from rocking in a gale. It is necessary to frequently stir the ground between growing crops to prevent the surface cracking in (fry weather, wliich it will do after heavy rains, and we all know that rain runs off instead of entering a di-y, baked surface. We must, therefore, have the soU in such condition that a shower will be made the most of, and be readily absorbed, instead of running off by the surface. Without surface-stirring and frequent watering, unless the weather be wet, Cauliflowers cannot be otherwise than open-headed and seedy, if half the crop does not head pre- matui'ely. Success in Cauliflower-culture depends on — 1st, Having the plants pricked-out before they become drawn in the seed-bod ; 2nd, Keeping them gi-owing freely, shading and watering well after pricking-out ; 3rd, Planting them with a ball, or injuring the roots as little as possible ; and 4th, Keeping them iu free growth at all stages, by copious waterings and surface-stiiTiug. Attention to these points and those already adverted to, as well as the hints to follow, cannot faU to result in large, firm, close, weU-flavoured Cauliflowers. When the head fah-ly shows itself, bring a few of the lowest leaves over it from opposite points ; and to cause them to remain in the position most likely to shut out th« rain and exclude sun, break the midi'ib ol the leaf at one- thh'd of its length from the bottom. This is done to make the head as white as snow and delicate in flavour, and unless the leaves are thus turned over the head is sure to b« yeUow, open, as strong as a Turnip in flavoui', and emitting a smell anything but agi'eeable. In unprotected gai'dens three sowings are enough — viz., in the beginning, and again in the end of April, and on or about the 24th of May. The first sowing will produce heads in August 18, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 123 Au^Bt, the second in September, and the last in October. The Stadtholder, Asiatic, and Walcheren, are best for the second and third sowings. With Protection. — Fermenting material or aa-tificial heat, frames, and hand-glasses, are the appliances. To produce early Cauliflowers the sowing is made in August, the second week being quite early enough ; and when the weather is mild a September sowing is often pre- ferable. It is well to provide for all emergencies : therefore I wiU give in close detail the particulars, and nothing can represent these better than a table showing time of sowing, pricking-out, and planting. The dates are the means of fifty years observations, as noted by an old gardener, and they have been verified and practised by myself, and foimd to answer. Sown. Prickcd-out. Planted. March 1st (on hotbed) March 29ib (on hotbe'l)... May lat. March 9th (under eoulh -wall). April 21.-t May 23rd. April 8th May 14th June 4 h. May 2nri June3rd June 20th. May 24lh June 2lBt July 1.5th. Jane 4th July 1st July 25ih. August 23rd (October Snd (under hand- j ^pril 15th. *' -^ filiis^es and frame) I ^ f October ISth (in frame. September 3rd.. April 20th, ^ part potted arid put in a V and I pit) ) May 9th. From the above table it will be seen that the obtaining of Cauliflowers early was well provided for. If those under hand-glasses failed, there was the second autumn-sowing to rely upon ; but had these also disappointed, there was the spring-sowing on a hotbed. If all did well, the hand-glass division gave heads early in June, the potted ones followed next, beating by ten days those transplanted from the frames, and those on hotbeds were little, if any, behind the transplanted ones. I have heard old gardeners talk of being able to have Cauliflowers all the year round, but have not been gratified by seeing it done, though I have no doubt it has been. I have cut Cauliflowers on New Year's-day, and in almost all seasons they may be had until Christmas. Snow's Winter Broccoli in mild seasons may be had in January and Fe- bruary, which, with Knight's Protecting, will see us into March, when Malta, a dwarf and somewhat tender kind, comes in, followed by DOcock's Bride, Elletson's Emperor, and Mammoth, winding up with Invisible White Broccoli in May, a few of which taken up when the heads are about the size of a small doubled hand, and laid-in under a north wall, wOl generally be retarded three weeks, or untU Cauli- flowers come in from hand-glasses. I have no doubt, there- fore, that some gardeners may have had Catiliflowers seven months, and Broccoli five, out of the twelve. Cauliflowers shotild be pricked out under hand-glasses in rather poor soil, for the main object is to have them well rooted before severe weather sets in, and they will produce more fibres and root more quickly in a rather poor than in a rich compost. A sheltered site should be chosen, and if the plants wUl stand sun without flagging they should not be watered from November until the close of March ; in fact, they seldom will need a watering after that given at pricking- out time to settle the earth about their roots. A dozen or more may be pricked out under each hand-glass on condition that they be reduced to three, four, or five in the April following. Square hand-glasses, 1 foot 6 inches on the side, 10 inches in depth to what may be termed the eaves of the hand-glass, and with a moveable top, are the description to be preferred ; for when the top is taken off the bottom is left to shelter the plants from cutting winds, though exposing them well to the air. With the other kind of hand-glasses the plants are often exposed to chilling draughts, and frequently do not form anything like a head afterwards. Plants are acted on by draughts similarly to animals. Sudden changes in temperature give colds to animals ; and so in plants — sudden changes are hurtful, and if long continued cause the death of the subject. Whenever the temperature is above 32° Cauliflowers shoiild have air, and when it is above 40° the lights of frames or the tops of hand-glasses should be taken off and not put on again until from frost or heavy rain the doing so becomes an imperative necessity. Cauliflowers cannot have too much air or too little water during winter, or too much of either when growth is wanted. During severe frosts the lights may remain closed, providing the sun does not melt the snow off the glasses or thaw the frosted leaves inside. Snow should never be swept off the lights, for it is the best of all protective coverings ; and when the lights are matted, which they should be in severe weather if no snow falls, the mats should not be removed uutU the plants are thoroughly thawed ; otherwise, the sun shining upon the frosted leaves will have the same effect upon them as warm water has upon frosted greens. Frosted plants of any kind cannot thaw too slowly, otherwise the tissues burst. The soil should be frequently stirred and every possible means taken to promote a healthy state, and then the plants wiU thrive. They cannot flourish in an impure atmosphere, nor form sturdy growth in a close frame. After March the lights should be taken off frames and the tops of hand-glasses removed every morning before break- fast, and put on again the last thing before ceasing work for the day. A little fresh soil should be added as the plants advance in growth, and by the beginning of April they will need thinning. Do this as much as possible without injuring the remaining plants, which must be well watered and eai-thed well up. Where there is a number of hand-glasses half of them may be reduced to five plants in each, and the other half to three. Hand-glasses with five plants beneath them will come into bearing sooner than those with three, for by limiting the supply of food at command we induce early flowering. After the 13th of May the hand-glasses may be removed altogether if they be wanted for other pui-poses, as ridge Cucumbers, &c. ; but a few should be left over the plants, by which means a succession is certain, and heads may be cut under them in May sometimes, but with certainty in June. As the plants advance in growth earth must be placed round the stems, leaving it something like a mound with a flat top dished to hold water. Water must be con- stantly given at night in dry weather, or the head will be small and as soft as a puff-ball. The treatment of Cauliflowers in frames is identical with that of plants under hand-glasses, except that they are planted out as from a pricked-out bed, and every cottager in the village may receive his score or two of plants. In sowing in pans or frames the seeds must be scattered thinly and abundance of air given, or blacklegging (the stems damping-otf near the soU), or drawn growths result. Too much water causes damping, and sudden changes of temperature induce prematm-e heading. It is scarcely pos- sible to have good-sized Cauliflowers from spring-sown plants before Ji3y, though I have heard many gardeners advocate spring-sowing in preference to autumn-sowing, even insinuating that they can obtain as good heads and as early from one as from the other. I have tried both plans, and never could gi-ow anything worth calling a head before the middle of July from a spring-sowing, though I certainly have had some small heads open enough for anything from similar sowings ; but they were only fit for stews. Spring- sown plants make a first-rate succession to autumn-sown, and for that reason a sowing in heat in spring is desirable. Passing over the treatment of after-crops, which has been given at an earlier stage, I wiU take October, when the plants from the June sowing will have nice heads forming. When these are about half the size they would attain if left growing, bring all the leaves together over the heart and tie them with matting as for blanching Lettuce, then with a spade cut round each plant at 9 inches from the stem, not leaving any imcut part. Sixty plants will be ample to serve in this way, and should no frost greater than 10° happen no injury wiU result to the heads, which wUl be retarded a iortnight or three weeks. At the same time select one hundred plants, more or less according to the size of the establishment, and with a spade cut down the depth of the spade on three sides of the plant, and with the last cut Uft up the plant and carry it just as it is to a north border, where a trench has previously been opened to receive it. In this place put the plant, leaning it with the head towards the wall, and cover the stem quite up to the leaves in addition to covering the roots. Tread the soil gently down, and put the plants as closely together as possible without literally being one upon the other. The plants, it should be borne in mind, must not have heads larger than one-quarter 124, JOttENAIi OF HOETICTJLTUEE A^^D COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Jingaat IB, 1883. of the sixe they would be when fuU-grown, nor less than a medium-sized Apple. If the ground is very dry water may be given, but not much, and no more ought to be allowed from the watering-pot. The leaves wiU iiag and cover the head, which is desired, and the head will enlarge though the leaves decay, aud these must be removed whenever they do so. When frosts occur cover with clean straw — litter wUl do — but take the covering olf in mild weather and increase or decrease its tliiekness aeeoniing to the mildness or severity of the weather. No ti'ost that occurs in our climate oftener than once in half a centivry will harm Caidiflowers with 6 inches of straw immediately over them, for we have earth heat aud one of the best of all non-conducting mediums — straw. By tliis plan v/e can cut Cauliflowers at Chiistmas. An open shed is a better place than a north border for protecting Cauliflowers. There they are not liable to rot and ai'e shielded from drenching rains. A few plants taken up on the approach of frost and hung in a cellar, roots up- wards, will keep a long time. Of diseases and insects there are three that attack Cauli- flowers— viz.. Shanking or Withering of the Stem in the seed- bed, Clubroot incidental to all the Cabbage tribe, and the Cabbage Caterpillar. The first is jn-omoted by sowing too thiclily in the seed-bed, which prevents air and sun reaching the neck of the plants. It is seldom that shanking occui-s in the open ground. Sowing more sparingly and giving abundance of light and air is a siu'e preventive of the disease. Clubroot is engendered by sowing Brassicas on the same ground too often without change, and rarely shows itself in the Cauliflower on newly-turned-up ground. Dipping the roots in a mixtui-e of soot and Hme at piicking-out time acts as a preventive. Any plant that looks sickly should be taken up, and if on examining the root an excrescence is found it should be opened, and a grub will be seen. If this be taken out, and the roots dipped in soot aud lime water and replaced in the sod, the plant wiU grow. Hand-picking is the best cure for the caterpUlar, and giving a small sum to childi'en for every buttei-fly talien the best of all preventive.s. Soot will keep snails and slugs at bay, and a liming now and then is a sm'e way to IVee the soil from insect pests, besides increasing its fertility. — Geokge Abbey. SoETs. — The following ai'e what I woidd recommend : — ■ Early London (Covent Garden, Improved Early London, London Particulai'), — A useful eai-ly kind; best for August and early sj)ring-sowings. Frogmore Early Forcing. — Of dwarf and compact growth, heads large and fine, flavour excellent. Best for frames and wintering in pots ; stands confhied air better than any other Cauliflower. Dwarf Erfurt Mammoth — Dwarf, about 1 foot in height, producing a large, close, compact head. White and delicate eating; best for spring-sowings. Asiatic (Leyden). — The largest summer Cauliflower in cultivation. Walchcren. — A good old sort, difficult to procm-e true ; .stands the winter well. Stadtholdcr. — A free-gi-owing variety; heads close, large, and firm. Best for autumn use, and a better vaaiety than the Walcheren. Le Normand. — Grows from 1 foot to 1 foot 6 inches high ; heads medium-sized, close, and firm. A very excellent rai'iety, standing di'ought well. — G. A. Your only remedy is to shade a little in the middle of the day now, so as to a%'oid sudden change. The Vine in general cannot have one ray of sunlight too much. See that the border is moist enough, and give plenty of air.] Vi:yE LEAFSTAXKS GANGEENI^^G. In February last I planted two houses of Vines, the roots being in an outside border composed of fresh tm-f from a pasture, with one cartload of stable-manure, and one barrow- liil of rough bones to eight loads of sod. I kept the houses moist and shaded until the miildle of July when the Vines had rep^ched the top of the house. I then stopped them, removed the shading, and gave more air. In a few days the leafstalks became soft neiu- the bud, the leaves h\mg down, t row, Lobelia specios.a, 2iid ,, llanRle-*' Variegated Gera- 3rd „ Piirtde Kins Verbena. '1th ,, Cumet hcar;eL Verbena. 5th row, Golden Chain Geranium. Gth „ Liidy SaleycarleCGerai^ium 7th „ CountessolCurk Variegated Geranium. Sth ,, PeriUa nankincnsis. 1st TOV Cerftstinm touientosum. Gth 2nd „ l-otjelia ppeeuis^. 3rd „ Mrtiiglft*' Vanegaied Ge- 71h ranium. Sth 4fh „ Purple King Verbena. 9th iOi „ Ceutaure.i argentea. loth 11th The sanie was repeated on the other side. The borders were in the very height of their beauty, and with the ex- ception of Comet, which was a little too dwarf to be between Purple King and Golden Chain, the whole was perfection. Immediately behind these ribbons are rows of pyramidal Pears and Apples, some of them trained en qnenowille, and now from 8 to 10 feet high. Most of them are covered with fruit, and although they were removed into tliis position only two years ago, they are now x>erfectly re-established, and form a pretty feature behind the ribbons. Having gone the whole length of this broad walk, and reached the opposite end, we turn to the right towards the range of houses. Here, again, om- eyes were dazzled, and our breath bated. Immediately in front of the houses is another broad walk, speaking from memory, about 10 feet wide ; and on one side of it another ribbon-border, if pos- sible even finer than the other in effect, and certainly more perfect in arrangement, for here there was not a fiaw to jar the harmony of the whole. It is also 153 yards long and 3 yards wide, and is arranged in the following order : — Gth row, Lady Sale Scarlet Gera- nium. Jane Variegated Geranium. Victoria Sc.irlet Ger.i)iium. Gliidiolus brenclileyensid. I'enlla nankinenst^. HoUyhooks. In this border the two most attractive lines are the Cen- taui'ea and the Gladiolus, the fiae broad and solid-silver effect of the former ftdly justifying the great expectations formed of it by Mr. Beaton when first he noticed it in these pages, and the graceful stateUness of the latter forming a fine transition between the dwarf Geraniums and the tail Hollyhocks. At this season the PeriUa cannot be said to make any striking effect, as it is in a measur-e hidden be- tween the Gladiolus and the Hollyhock, and is intended to come in when the Gladioluses are over. Never have we seen svich a stock of the Centaiu'ea as we did here, and from the way in which it has been used there is no doubt it will prove a permanent material for a third, fourth, or fifth-row plant of silvery character far sui-jiassing in efiect the old Cineraiia maritima. On the border next the houses there were beds of various forms filled in the usual way ; but there was a round one that especially attracted our attention filled with JNIi-s. Pol- lock, one of those beautiful chromophyll Geraniums. This was the first time we had ever seen it in a mass, and, judg- ing from this example at Fawsley, we do not doubt but that it will form a mew and telling feature both in beds and rib- bons. In the same bed there were a few plants of Sunset, also one of the chromophyUs, but the effect produced by it in coir.parison with Mrs. PoUoek was poor in the extreme. The range of houses occupies nearly the whole length of the gtifden. A considerable extent of them is devoted to Peach culture, that part on the west side of the centre being generally forced, while that at the eastern extreme has no artificial heat, although pipes are provided in the event of being called into requisition. And here we must again com- pliment Mr. Brown on his skilful cultivation. These trees on the walls are the very pictures of health, vigorous withotit being gross, and producing a luxuriant dark green foliage, some of the leaves being fiom S to 9 inches long, and pro- portionately broad. The climate of this part of Northamp- tonshire is such that Peaches and Nectarines cannot be grown with any degree of success against walls in the open air; but this deficiency is amply compensated for in the great success that Mr. Brown attains under gliiss. The sorts that are most grown are the Royal George and Noblesse Peaches, and the Violette Hative Nectarine. In the early vinery, now nearly over, there were still some good examples of Black Hamburgh. In one of the vineries there is a mixed collection, which we believe is intended only to be temporary. Among these are — Trebbiano, Lady Downes', Golden Hamburgh, &c., but as a late sort. Mi-. Brown intends for the future to rely on Lady Downes', and has accordingly planted a whole house with this valuable variety exclusively. The Vines in all of the houses have been but recently planted, and are in a state of healthy vigoui'. In the Fig-house, which, too, is a mass of luxuriance, therr was an excellent crop of Brown Tm-key, or, as it is sometimes called, Lee's Perpetual, and one plant of another variety called Datte, a strong, indeed too strong-gi-owing variety for house culture. It is, nevertheless, a good Fig, and is one of those varieties we find extensively in the markets of Auch, Toulouse, and Montpelier. As we get higher up into Provence, it is not so common. We doubt very much, however, if this sorti, on account of its strong and robust growth, is adapted for in-door cultivation. In the centre of the range, and standing out at right angles with the wall, are two span-roofed stoves, both of which were gay with flowering exotics, among which were large hanging-baskets of various sorts of Achimenes. At the end of each, and entirely covering the wall, were plants of that singular plant, Aristolochia ornithocephala, certainly one of the most remarkable plants in oultivfition, grotesque beyond all measm-e. Imagine the head of a vulture, size and shape included, with an enormous scythe-shaped bealc 9 inches long, with a great flapping bib or wattles under its elfin 6 inches wide and 3 deep. The head and bib axe of a steel grey colour, finelj' netted with a mahogany brown, and the beak is entirely of the latter colour. There is in these houses a fine collection of select Orchids, many of them very fine specimens, but, of coui-se, at this season out of flower. Our time being limited, we made but a hasty run through the Pine-pits, in which are very fine luxuriant plants ; and having looked into the Melon and Cucumber-franies. we bade adieu to Fawsley, regretting our visit was so hasty. t\nd resolving in our own minds when opportunity offers, to- repeat a pleasvire which afforded us so much gratification. THE SPANISH CHESTNUT. In reading Mr. Eobson's article respecting our ancient forest trees, I thought the following remarks might not be unacceptable to some of your readers. There are to be seen growing, or at least were four years since, at Shrubland Park — the seat then of the late Sir W. Middleton, now of Sir George Brooke Bart. — several much finer specimens of Sweet Chestnut than those alluded to by Mi-. Eobson. They were growing by the side of a tei-race-walk, and though some of them were decaying they were objects of interest to all who saw them. I am not prej^ared to state their exact size. One of them wMch I often measui-ed was about 36 feet in cu-cumference at the ground, and I should think that at 5 feet up it was about 21 feet in cu-cumference, as the bottom was very much enlarged. Some of the largest Oaks I ever saw are growing at Helmingham Hall, in Suffolk, the seat of— ToUemache, Esq.. — ^E. Welch, Palace Gardens, Armagh, Ireland. Laege Elm.— a fine old Ebn tree, 25 feet in girth at 10 feet from the ground, is stfll in vigorous health at tlia south-east corner of Tooting Common. — H. T. I SEE in your Journal of last week a paragraph about a large Ebn at Bromyard. We have in this garden one measuring 25 feet round at 1 foot 6 inches above the ground, and 20 feet at 5 feet above the ground. It is perfectly sound, and has stood whole in Umb against the heavy gales of 1858-9. — H. P. B., Hartlebury Rectory, Kidderminstei-^ 126 JOUBNAL OF HOBTICtTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ August 13, 1863. CULTUKE OF DISA GEANDIPLOEA. According to yom- request I send yon the following par- ticulara respecting the course of culture I have practised in growing and flowering Disa gi'andiflora. It is now in bloom here, and a most beautiful flower it is. It has been depicted in the pages of The Florist and Poniologist ah-eady ; but its beauty must be seen to be duly admh-ed. The soil I used was good sandy peat mixed with bits of charcoal, and the pot was well di-ained. Although the plant, it is said, does well standing in water, I found ours flourished the best when standing on a pot placed in a pan of water. The experiment had its advantages in two ways — first, the roots were not in stagnant water ; secondly, the pan being kept full of water, prevented snails and other vermin from reaching the plant, as it had two naiTow escapes from being destroyed previously to using the pan of water. It was watered every morning over the foHage with a rose watering-can, so as to keep the plant clean as well as moist at the roots, and shaded fi-om the hot sun, as it is evident that Disa cannot bear the bright sunliglit shining upon it witliout suffering injury. It was kept in the front of a late vinery with the front sashes open day and night, and only closed when there was any appearance of frost in winter or strong winds. Although I have not found it as easy to grow as a Calceo- laria, it may be grown, and successfully, with a little atten- tion bestowed upon it. — J. Eastwood, Ganlener to E. Nathan, Esq., DidsM'.ry Lodge, Manchester. DISEASED LIME TREES AT PEESTOIST. We insert the following letter from " A Lover of Trees," complaining of the diseased condition of a fine avenue at Preston ; and as the subject is one of public interest, we have put it into the hands of one of our regular correspondents, whose remarks we append below. At the same time we invite all others having experience in such matters to record it in oiir pages, as we conceive that trees in a town arc too valuable features to be lost without an effort, if bj' anj' exjjedient they can be preserved. " In Preston we have a beautiful public walk called Aven- ham Walk, and in it there are two rows of fine Lime trees about 160 years old. These trees are showing symptoms of decay in theii- upper branches. The walk up to the trunks of the trees is gravel which binds together like cement, and, therefore, prevents the rain from percolating through the soil to the roots. The walk and road round about are also di-ained, which wiU prevent the moistm-e from rising above these di-ains to the roots of the trees, and to these two causes many parties attribute then- premature decay. " It has been suggested to place six iron boxes round each tree about 6 or 8 feet from the trunk, and at equal distances from each other. These boxes to be 1 foot square, 2 feet deep, with perforated lids, and without bottoms. The gravel walk to incline towards the boxes, so that the rain would enter them and percolate tlirough the soil to the roots. The boxes to be also occasionally filled with liquid manure from the stable tanks. " The above remedy is suggested with the view of keeping the walk as at present gravelled up to the trunks. Now. will you be so kind as to inform us whether this remedy is worth adopting ? if not, what other means must we take to restore health and vigour to these old iiivourites ? By sxip- plying this information you wiU confer a favour for which thousands will be most grateful. — A Lover op Trees." [It is very difficult to form an opinion that is of much value on a subject like this, without being on the spot, and ascertaining more particulars than those given by the corre- spondent whose letter is inserted above. So many causes sometimes concur in producing disease, that we are not always right in attributing it to one in particular. The polluted atmosphere of most towns, especially manufactur- ing ones, is very unfavourable to the well-being of trees ; besides which, it not unfrequently happens that their roots are ruthlessly mutilated or destroyed by one or other of the many underground works every now and then executed in streets and public thorouglifares — such as making sewers, laying water and gas-pipes, and the many works which are thought necessary for the public good. We once knew a very fine tree that had been for many generations a favourite with the inhabitants of a town, and it was all but killed by a thoughtless excavation for some purpose or other ; the material, a good gravel, being carted away, and the hole after- wards filled up with some waste rubbish fi-om a manufactorj- of chemical substances, which, as the sequel proved, contained vei-y poisonous matter, and ruined the tree. This, however, is not likely to have been the case with those at Preston ; but it is not improbable that the long-continued endurance of on unhealthy smoky atmosphere, or some evil of a like n.ature, may h.ave been in some measure the cause of the I mischief. The most likely cause of all, however, is, that the trees are becoming diseased through old age. The Lime tree, though to all appearance naturalised with us at the present day, is thought not to be indigenous, and, conse- quently, not so long-lived as some trees that are natives. This opinion I merely put forth as one of the reasons that may be given for the decay of the trees in question. And although there are, no doubt, plenty of trees in more favoured situations older and stiU healthy, the disadvantages those at Preston suffer from are sufficient to account for theii' more early decay, on the same principle that the bills of mortality relating to manufacturing towns contrast strongly with those of a healthy rural district. Many other reasons for the declining health of the trees might be ad- vanced ; but as they all more or less relate to those given, and, probably, are unavoidable or incapable of remedy, it is needless to follow them out further. Let us, therefore, consider what can be done to prevent a disaster that every one wovild be glad to avoid. The ingenious suggestion of our correspondent for sup- plying moisture to the roots is well worthy of attention in other matters as well as in this, and may, perhaps, be attended with benefit when it is cai-ried out. But the Lime tree is one that flourishes better on dry gi-ound than wet, and in more instances than one we have known trees thrive remarkably well, though their roots seemed sealed up fi'om all access of air or water, by the hard-beaten path by which they were overlaid. On the other hand, an aged Lime tree occupying a moderately moist situation, not by auy means a stagnant wet one, is faUing fast into the condition you mention : all the upper limbs are dead, and the Uving portion of the tree has been yearly diminishing, until it now consists of only a few subordinate branches at the place where the main Umbs broke from the bole. This tree has been in a state of decay for many years, and most likely in two or three years it will succumb. Now, there are none of the evils spoken of above affecting this ti-ee ; — it is near enough water to obtain all the moisture it requh-es, and, the surface being grass, it receives all the rain that falls from the heavens. One agent alone, doubtless, operates in both cases : — Old age or infu-mity wiU alike teU in all. That some races are destined to outlive their neighbours is undeniable, but that a time is set for them as well as for the others is also apparent. To ward off the effects of old age requires more skiU than perhaps can be brought to bear on the Preston trees, as it is obvious that disease has set in ; and it is unlikely that the authorities of the town woidd like the walk broken up for the purpose of renovating the roots, by placing them in fi-esh SOU, so as to add some additional vigour to the pai-- tiaUy decayed trees. Individual specimens are occasion- ally benefited by as much of the old eai-th as can con- veniently be moved being taken from off the roots, and re- placed with fi-esh good sod. The stimulus thus afforded is useful for a time, and retards decay for a number of yeai-s. Now, what appears the easiest way of supplying additional food to the trees at Preston, woidd be to try and feed them at the extremity of their roots on the outsides of the two rows forming the avenue. This is on the supposition that the opening between the rows forms the walk or promenade, and the outer side is more accessible. If this shoidd be the case, the removal of part of the soil, and replacing it by fresh, will be attended with advantage. If on the other hand, hard roads bound the trees on all sides, extending as far as the roots are Kkely to travel, watering as suggested might be adopted, although we have not much faith in its efficacy ; but it can do no harm -with old trees, and might do good to young ones. If the gi-ound is very dry, and well drained naturally as well aa artificially, then I should say. August 18, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AiTD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 127 By all means adopt the plan suggested, and if possible add more wa,ter than merely faDs by rain for a few times ; but do not apply manure water too liberally, as when this fluid is not used up by the plant it is intended for, it soui-s the ground, rendering it unfit for healthy vegetation. A little with the water in the growing season wUl be of benefit. Trees in large towns suffer fi'om many causes, as well as from dryness at the roots, and in some instances they are sadly abused, becoming, as it were, receptacles for nuisances, which, though they endure for a time, they eTentuaUy suffer from. That Lime trees are of quick growth and very accom- modating as to position cannot be questioned ; but, at the same time, they are still liable to the diseases incident to all vegetable as well as animal life ; and we fear no treat- ment that is at aU expedient to adopt will prevent this entirely in the case of the trees in question. We are un- willing to believe the want of water to be the main cause, as the trees must receive on their foliage all that falls in a natural way. Is the gravel forming the walk of a pernicious kind — containing some virulent poison fatal alike to vegeta- tion as well as animal life, as we know some sands to be that are obtained in mining in the west of England ? In this case it would be difficult to suggest a remedy ; and as it is, we fear it is not an easy matter to effect one. The plan advised by " A Lovee of Teees " might, however, be tried on a few of the trees, and if found to answer might be extended, as it is not likely to do any harm, and may do good. Assuming the roots to be only accessible by such means, it is certainly worth trying ; or a more homely way may be adopted as a temporary trial, which is making a number of holes over the ground with a crowbar, sufficiently deep to reach the soil or nearly so. These holes might be frequently filled with water for a few days until the ground be pretty well wetted, and they might be fiUed-up with but little injury to the walk. If this were done twice during the growing season it would serve the whole year ; and if con- tinued from year to year a partial recovery might take place if the cause is want of moisture. I fear, however, that age and infirmity have something to do with the evil, and if so, all severe measures ought to be avoided. In the meantime see if one side of the tree is not available to work upon, and apply the remedies recommended above. If not, then try water; at the same time examine the various things sui'- rounding the trees, and provide, as far as possible, against nuisances, and the leakage of gas-pipes ; and perhaps the public promenade may be retained without being much further impaired for some year's. Let us know how it fares with these important ornaments to one of the fairest towns in Lancashire. — J. E.] THE CASTLE KENNEDY FIG. Under this heading in The Jouenal of Hokticultuee of the 4th inst. " A Constant Eeadee " makes some remarks about the Fig known in this locality as the Castle Kennedy Fig, which he says he has eaten, and does not remember tasting any of better flavour, and expresses surprise that the Fruit Committee of the Eoyal Horticultural Society did not report more favourably of it. " A Constant Eeadee " also suggests that I should show it on some future occasion in larger numbers. This I wUl be glad to do, the more so as I think it is a different Pig from the one the members of the Fruit Committee somewhat doubtingly suppose it to be. In their report they say, " It appears to be the Large White Genoa." I do not here wish to be understood as finding fault with the Fruit Committee's decision, for every one acquainted with fruit knows how Dlllike some varieties become when grown in different soils and widely varied circumstances. I purpose growing the Castle Kennedy Fig and the large White Genoa in the same house next year; and if I can obtain fruit ripe on both at the same time, I will show them together, when the Fruit Committee will have an oppor- tunity of testing their respective merits, if different, and proving whether they are the same or distinct varieties. Here we grow Figs pretty extensively, but no variety is so acceptable at table as this one; its fine flavour, large size, and showy appearance always arresting attention, and drawing forth favourable comments. This Fig averages from 5 to 6 ozs. when well grown. It has frequently occiirred to me that if this Fig were better known and more extensively cultivated it would become a general favourite, and find its way to the London Horticultural Exhibitions, and probably displace some of the comparatively humble specimens I have frequently seen taking prizes there. Of late years almost every other kind of fruit has caught the impulse of the age, and been rapidly improved ; but somehow this has not been the case with the Fig. Many think that instead of progressing it has been retrogressing. On account of Figs not being fashionable, some of the finer sorts formerly in cultivation have either altogether dis- appeared, or are only to be found in out-of-the-way places. As little has been done for the last half-century in raising new varieties from seed, siu-ely a fine field is now open for some one to devote attention to the improvement of Figs by hybridising. Owing to the formation of the fruit no doubt this is a dSicult process, much skUl and care being requisite on the part of the operator. A taste, by many considered a very refined one, for this most wholesome of fruits is now springing up in all directions, which is causing more atten- tion to be bestowed not only on its cultivation, but also on the selection of sorts, to be followed in due course by im- provements on existing varieties. — Aechibald Fowlee. NOTES ON GAEDENS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. No. 2. — Fabnham Castle. It is recorded of one of the former occupants of the lordly see of Winchester, that when he died his successor sued his executors for dilapidations on account of his having thrown down part of the old castle in order to fill up the moat. We are fallen, however, in different times now. Under the liberal generosity, refined taste, and admirable management of its present occupant the grounds of Farn- ham Castle are in so beautiful a state of preservation, that never in the proudest days of this great see, when belted knights and armed retainers fiHed its haUs, could it, to those who delight in tracing the softening effects of our holy religion, have ever appeared so well worthy of admira- tion as in these more peaceful times when, its moat filled in, planted and decorated, its very keep displaying the skill of modern horticulture, one can dream over its past history, and think how strangely different were the scenes in olden times enacted beneath its walls. The position of the Castle reminds one more of that of Arundel than of any other I at the present moment recol- lect. Situated like it on a gentle eminence commanding the town, which seems to lie nestled beneath its walls for protection, it is the very ideal of an old feudal castle. Sur- rounded by what was an extensive moat, and closed in by some noble Cedars, it wiU be seen that the amount of plea- sure ground cannot be very extensive : while immediately beyond the moat, and separated fi-om it by a goodly wall, is the noble park with its magnificent timber and lovely walks, by the liberality of the Bishop thrown open to the public ; but although not extensive, it has been made the most of. When the present Bishop came to the see this moat was partly choked up with rubbish, and partly a kitchen garden. All remnants of both have disappeared. The portic-n of the keep has been restored; the moat has been laid down with a lovely svrard ; greenhouses have been built in the upper portion of it, and everything is kept in the most perfect order. Taking, as is my wont," an early stroll before breakfast, I reached the top of the square keep. Imagine my surprise to find it all laid out in a beautiful geometric garden, sunk about 3 feet below the level of the wall. All around the sides Eoses clustered in rich profusion ; while in the centre most of our gay bedding plants were (notwithstanding the dryness of the season, which must teU upon such a situation especially), flomisliing admirably. In the centre was a high stand, around which was Saponaria calabnca ; and the remaining beds were arranged in circles round the centre, although of various shapes. Pmijle King Verbena (as yet unapproached for this purpose), LobeUas, Cupheas, purple Dahlias, Ageratum, Scarlet Geraniums, Christine and Trent- ham Eose Geraniums, Gazanias, yellow Calceolarias, and 128 JOnaNAL OF HOBTICULTTJEE Ai(D COTTAGE GABDENER. [ Aaeust 18, 1863. various other Ijeddiug plants were used and capitally com- bined ; but at the same time, from what I have seen of bedding-out this season, especially at Linton Pai'k under the able management of Mr. Robson, I am inclined to think that greater efl'ect can be produced by fewer things and with more decided colouring. But of this more at some other time. Thebeauty of this Castle parterre did not. however, prevent one from enjo.ying the splendid prospect that meets one's eye from the summit of the keep. In the foreground was the clean and well-ordered town of Farnham, and ai'ound it those beautiful Hop gToands ibr which it is especially famous ; while fai- away the eye rested on the hills of Surrey and the downs of Susse.\. aftbrding one of those rich and beautiful scenes for which the South of England is so famous : and in the stiU eaa-ly morning, -with the bright sunlight of this most lovely summer, the view was especially enchanting. Opposite the drawing-room window is a geometric grass garden, composed entirety of Pelargoniums, and it is remark- able how many tints from both foHage and flowers can be obtained in tliis class alone. The gi-ass itself is beautifuDy kept, and mown with the scythe. The Bishop's reply on its being remarked to him that he did not use a lawn-mower was eminently characteristic. "The men like the scythe better." It was no question of comparative merit, but theii- likings. Amongst the gold-leaved varieties, Mrs. Milford, wliich was raised here, is largely used. I do not know whether the present season is unfavom-able for the growth of such varieties, but I have noticed that not only it, but Golden Fleece, Cloth of Gold, &c., have done badly, the lower leaves scorching up, and the plants making but little progress. Christine, Bijou, Golden Chain, and other well- known varieties make up the various shades required. The greenhouse, stove. Pine-pits, &o., are situated at the upper end of the moat, somewhat in the rear of the Castle, and, as might well be imagined, fi-om the Bishop's well- known taste for and love of Orchids, ai-e fiLled with rare and choice species. One house, which was full of flowering j>lants of various kinds, might well be called the Fuchsia-house. The rafters were covei-ed with fine plants of this very gi-aceful flower, and instead of their being allowed to ramble over the whole of the roof, they wore confined to the rafters alone; thus forming a dense mass of foliage and bloom. Fuchsias of the bestand newest kinds.florists' varieties, white- coroUaed and double, were intermingled with well-gro\vn plants of Achimenes, Gloxinias, Gesneras, Amaranths, &e. Among the Gesneras I noticed one, sent out, I believe, by Mr. Bull — refulgens, very beautiful, better than cinnabarina, and an admh'able plant for table decoration, the play of light on the brilliant crimson h.aLrs, which so tliickly stud the plant, making it an object of gi-eat interest. I think that oftentimes a great mistake is made in selecting plants for this purpose ; the object ought to be to select such as form a striking contrast to the white tablecloth. Thus vai-iegated leaves or light-coloured flowers will not do. Such plants as this or Coleus Vershafl'elti, or the gi-aceful Adiantum cuneatum, are the most suitable. Nothing could be in finer health than the Orchids, and, of course, all the varieties and species worth growing were here. But I could evidently see that the greatest interest was felt, and naturally too, in some which had been sent to the Bishop by Mr. Tupper, of Albury, who received them from Eio Janeiro, and amongst them were apparently some hitherto unknown species. Can we wonder that in looking on the growing masses of Oncidiums, Zygopetalums, and Max- Olarias, something more than mere curiosity should be felt as to what they might prove to be ? Amongst other things I pai'ticiUarly noticed were Cxrobya Amherstite and the cmlous Fernandezia lunifera, and, for those who delight in hanging- baskets, what was to me quite a novelty — it may be well- known to others, although the intelligent gardener. Mi-. Lawrence, evidently thought not. It is c;illed Coccocypselum discolor, in growth not unlike a Tradescantia, but bearing a number of bright ultramarine blue berries which continue a long time upon the plant. The Globe Amaranth was also mentioned as a desirable basket flower. The Pines were in excellent order, both fi'uiting and suc- cession, the greater portion of them being, as I generally find. Queens, with occasionally a Cayenne. I had not an opportunity of visiting the kitchen gardes, which is about a mUe distant from the Castle, but I have n» doubt it coiTesponded with the excellent management of the flower garden. I wish very much that I could convey a more accurate notion of the very beautiliil and unique, character of this episcopal residence, whose well-tended gai'den and carefully ordered grounds are, I beUeve, a con-ect type of the care and order that reign over that more ex- tended and more important garden, over which for five and tliii-ty years Bishop Sumner has presided, a true chief pastor of the Church of Christ. — D., Deal. AMAE.-INTHUS MELANCHOLTCFS — MIMUXtTS CUPEEUS— GOLDEN-LEAVED GERANIUM. 1. Can Amaranthus melancholicus be preserved for next year by being taken up and kept over the winter in the gi-eenliouse ? If so, may the plants be put thickly in ths pots ? and should they be kept dry or moist ? 2. Mimulus cuprous, after making a brUliant bed for about three weeks, is now with me out of bloom. I understood thai it kept the whole season. If I were to cut oft' the seed-pods, and manure it with tank water, would it blow again 'f 3. I send leaves of two kinds of golden-leaved Geraniums, as you desired some little time ago. The kind marked No. 1 is what I received two years ago from Mr. Scott, of Crewkerne, as Golden Ch.ain, and some experienced gardeners in the neighbourhood say it is true to name, while others say it is not, and that the variety mai'ked No. 2 is the trua Golden Chain. Which are correct.' And if No. 1 is nok Golden Chain, what sort is it ? It is not Golden Fleeoe,- sui-ely, as that latter has a leaf very like Tom Thumb ia shape, and with only the least little speck of green in the centre of the leaf. Eeiue d'Or, which I obtained this yeai', is a most worthless vailety. It has only the narrowesV thread of yellow edging. I should add that No. 1 and No. 2 have exactly the same kind of flower, but quite distinct habits of growth. The accounts given by different nursery- men of Golden Fleece and Cloth of Gold are most conflicting. Many of them state that Cloth of Gold has a deeij crimson blossom. 'What I have as Cloth of Gold has a deeji scarlet blossom. Golden Fleece has not yet blown with me. — Q. Q. [1. "We do not think you will succeed in keeping plant* now in the ground of Amai'anthus melanchoUcus over th* vjinter by taking them up and keeping them in a common greenliouse. Though we have not tried it, we presume yon would require a house between a hot stove and a cool green- house— that is, a temperature averaging from 50° to 60°, and the plants to be kept aii-y and not too wet, to prevent damping-oft'. The trouble and risk, in oui' oj)inion, would be too gTeat to be advisable, more especially as by sowing seed in a hotbed in February or March the plants may ba grown to a good size before planting-out time. We h.ave not succeeded to our mind with it, but the coloiu- is much richer out of doors, and so soft and pleasing, that we mean to try it more largely next year ; but we will gi'ow the plants to a good size, and not turn-out until some time in J une when the gTOund is wanu. 2. Like most Mi'iniliisps, riipreus delights in moisture. If you had tliinned the beds and removed the seed-pods th« plants would have continued to flower. By youi- proposed plan we expect you will have a fine autumn display. 3. Though you had packed them nicely, yet, unfortu- nately, the leaves of Nos. 1 and 2 Geraniums were mixed, but they are easily separated. The two leaves with th* deep irregular yellow mai'gin are exactly the same as small leaves of our Golden Chain, which we have grown ever sine* it was brought into notice by Mr. Beaton. The other with the thin edging of yellow — but for your statement that the habits are difl'orent— we would also pronounce to be Golden Chain, as we could easil.y pick leaves from the true Golden Chain closely resembling it, though that with the deeper yellow is the better type of the two. We also grew a variety closely resembling the kind with the thin yellow edge, called Golden Edge, much more robust in habit than Golden Chain, and another sort called Golden Circle, of medium strength between Golden Edge and Golden Chain ; but none worth keeping, except for mere variety. But for the dit- ference of habit of which you speak, iiom the leaves alone August 18, 1863. ] JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTITRE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 129 we should say you had two varieties of Goldon Chain — that with the broad yellow edging being in our opinion the better. As to the yellow No. 3, we are not siire from a mere leaf what it is, but from a little bed of Golden Chain we picked three leaves as like No. 3 as possible, and from a small bed c>f Cloth of Gold we could have picked a dozen more like it still. We tliink the yellow tinge without relief is no ad- vantage, just as a pure white Geranium leaf throws a sickly «ast of thought over us. Your Cloth of Gold and Golden fleece ai-e both right. For oui-selves we prefer the Golden Ohain and Cloth of Gold to all others. We have not yet handled Mi's. Lennox — that is said to beat them all. It is hoped it will not be the miff'y thing that Sunset is said to ~he. We think the different accounts of the colour of the Bower of Cloth of Gold are quite reooncileable. People do not see these matters alike. We have heard ladies say re- specting it, "What a lovely rich crimson!" Like yourself, we consider it a dark scarlet. What would you think of the fact of one of the ablest men in our neighbourhood having no perception of colours whatever, only that by a great effort he can make a difference between jet black and brilliaait scarlet ; and yet he has a great pleasiu-e in visiting flower gardens, having, we are told, a fine eye for form, and Outline, though none for colour ? We must not, therefore, eipeot aU persons to see colour exactly alike. — E. P.] Sulphur and the ladtbied as agents in the cultivation of hops. As a communication in a late Number of this Journal, iialling attention to the use of sulphur as an antidote to mildew, may have led some parties to suppose that this useful article to the gai'deniug community may not yet have found its way into the Hop gardens, where uiUdew in one form or other is attended with such serious results, I am induced to make a few observations on the subject — cer- tainly not with a view to put forth any new doctrine on the matter, but simply to inform such as the worthy writer of the article in question what has really been done in the ^ay of counteracting the baneful effects of mildew in the Hop garden, and the various ideas generally entertained on the subject by those whose extensive practical knowledge ■wititles them to be regarded as authorities. Gardeners as well as Hop-growers are alike interested in the efficacy of sulphur when it is applied for the destruction of mildew : therefore they will not be the less interested on finding this useful article used in such an extensive way as they have but little idea of in their more hmited cultivation. One thing, however, will, I believe, be generally admitted — that to the gardening world we are indebted for the fu'st application of this remedy as a destroyer of insect life of a «ertain class, and of vegetable life of another ; and although the last few years have furnished us with various mix- tures, adapted, more or less successfully, for the purposes that sulphur and tobacco were put to before, as well as for destroying a class of insects for which these two useful garden helps were ineffectual, it is questionable whether the utility •of sulphur as an agent m assisting good cultivation ever stood higher in public estimation than at the present mo- ment. It is not unlikely that its consumption for that purpose during the present season will be greater than that of any preceding one ; and that it may be stQl more extensively used is not unlikely, from the still increasing •'ood opinion entertained of its utility — not that it is an infallible cure, but that it is an important help is very generally, if not universally, admitted. The precise time when sulphur was first used as an anti- •dote to " the mould " in Hops, as the mildew is locally termed, I have no means of ascertaining ; but it was in very general repute about twelve years ago for that purpose. Unfortunately, soon after that time a report reached the Hop-growers that, buyers of Hops objected to its use, and that Hops from which a warrant could not be had that no sulphur had been used in their cultivation could not be received in the market. This imperious edict restricted its use, excepting amongst those sufficiently wealthy to brave the effects ai-ising from it; while, jierhaps, some used it unknown to the great Hop-monopolists of the Borough, who sought to confine them to the old channels of working. At the same time scientific men came forward to prove the absurdity of believing that sulphur used in the early stages of a plant's existence injured it for the purposes for which it was wanted in a more advanced state ; but somehow, in their zeal to assist the Hop-grower these men of science went a step too far, and asserted the unfailing efficacy of sulphru- as a cure for the mildew in all cases. This having been fovmd not to be the case the remedy fell into some disrepute, until it has during the last few years again been brought forward, and its utility as a preventive in many, but not in all, cases may be now generally acknowledged. At the same time the mode of using sulphur has received due attention, and machinery suitable for applying it has been extensively sought after, and improvements effected to an extent which in the best-constructed appai-atus leave as little to be wished for as there is in the best-constructed mowing machine. The injurious effects of the sulphur on the leaf of the plant having been proved to be only a myth, and the edict forbidding its use either withdrawn or no longer acted upon, while the application of it at a late period of the Hop-grow- ing season is so easily detected, sulphuring now may be said to be confined to the months of June and July, and rarely the first week of August in very late places. It is not necessary to enter here into all the minutiEe of the Hop-sulphuring question ; suffice it to say that machinery for dusting the j^lants with powdered sulphur has under- gone many improvements. Some years ago it was admin- istered mixed with water; when a sort of syringe, which eventually grew into the i^roportions of a moderate-sized fire-engine, was used. More recently sidphui' has been ap- plied in a dry state by the aid of fan-blowers, something in the v/ay of a corn-winnowing machine. This contrivance is di-awn forward by a horse, the sulphur being blown upwards amongst the foliage of the jjlant as it passes along. That much of the sulphur falls on the ground cannot be avoided ; but its virtues in counteracting the evUs of " rnoidd," or mildew, are so generally acknowledged as to induce almost all who have the means to adopt the remedy if the disease makes its appearance. Some little cu-cumspection is required in the appUeation ; and this leads us to the consideration of the second remedy for a Hop complaint mentioned by Mr. Major, page S3 — the "ladybird" as he calls it, or what is more generally known here as the " fly golding," an insect encased in a sort of red jacket, which Nature has kindly sent to prey \rpon the aphis or "Hop fly," which, if unchecked, is an enemy not less fatal to the Hop crop than the mildew. Now, it not unfrequently hajipens that the mildew follows an attack of the aphis, and as salphui' has been proved to be hiirtfvd and often fatal to the fly golding or ladybird which preys on the aphis, its application requires considera- tion before it is made. That the fly golding is an insect-destroyer has been known, I believe, for nearly a century, and those who benefit by them are natm-aUy unwUling to assist in their destruction even when they invade the home premises, which they in- variably do in winter, taking up their quarters in the crevices of walls, or filling up the moulding of a window-frame or other places. Their after-utUity is so generally acknowledged as to shield them often from destruction in places where their presence is anything but agreeable. I believe I am right in sp.ying, that upwards of half a pint of these pretty little insects have been found lurking behind the moidded frame Oi an ordinary window-shutter. Now, as the fly or mildew as evils to the Hop-grower vary in magnitude according to circumstances, it remains for the grower to determine which is the worst One ; and if the aphis be increasing and following the young shoot as it is formed, it behoves him to encourage rather than destroy its natvu-al enemy. If, on the other hand, mildew predominate, a good dusting of sulphm- is the remedy and is generally apidied ; and as no crop is more jealously watched than that of the Hop, a practised hand can see at once what is the matter at the time he examines it, whilst the most far-seeing amongst the whole fraternity have nothing whatever on which to base their judgment as to what may be the ultimate result beyoud merely guessing. The close observation made enables them to tell at the 130 JOTJENAIi OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August IB, IMS. moment which of the two evils just alluded to is or has done most mischief. No plant that I am acquainted with varies so much in its general growth, and certainly none is so little under the control of the cultivator, his best-directed efforts some- times resulting in a complete failure, while at other times a good crop rewards very indifferent management. So exceed- ingly capricious are some of the results of Hop-growing, that the diversity of opinion on the matter is not to be wondered at. It is very fortunate for mankind that the more important cereal crops are more steady and to be depended upon, or serious consequences would follow ; and although when we arrive at the full extent of chemical knowledge bearing on cultivation, so as to be able to supply the plant with the material most wanted to insure its doing well, the atmosphere still remains an all-important agent which we have no prospect of ever having any control over. It is, therefore, our duty to protect and encourage aU Nature's cures or preventives bearing on the maladies of plants cul- tivated for our use : consequently, the &j gelding, being one, is protected by all those benefited by its presence. While on this subject I may as well state for the informa- tion of those who may be disposed to urge the claims of tobacco as a destroyer of the aphis on the Hop plant, that it has been applied for many years with more or less success, and an extensive grower near here (Linton), annually uses several hundred pounds of it for this jrarpose. A decoction or infusion nii^ed with soft soap has been found very beneficial in destroying the aphis ; but the fact of its de- stroying the fly gokling also has made some parties timid in tising it. One benefit, however, aiising from its use, instead of allowing the plant to become quite blighted for the season, is the much healthier condition the plant is in the following year. There is, however, a greater mystery hang- ing over the well-being of this plant^ — an attack by the aphis in the following year is an exceedingly rare occurrence. In fact, the oldest Hop-growers declare such has never occurred, while a succession of three or four seasons of mildew is not at all unlikely. Can any of our physiologists account for this ? It is, therefore, very satisfactory that a conviction of the ntUity of sulphur as a preventive of the mildew has been brought about ; and as it is a cheap and easily-applied remedy, hopes are entertained that one of the worst evils Hop-growers have had to contend against will be much mitigated, and to a certain extent placed under control. The subject, however, is one calling for further comment, and I will at a later period of the season again revert to it. In the meantime, for the information of those who read newspaper paragraphs recording the ravages of the ily, or the destruction by mildew, and who may, perhaps, thhik they are conferring a boon on the Hop-growing community by advising the old-fashioned remedies used in garden structures. I may state that Hop-growers are in no way behind their neighbours in enterprise, either in that way or in the application of manure of various kinds. J. Eobson. NECESSITY OF NAMING PLANTS IN PUBLIC GARDENS. Tour correspondent, Mr. Keane, shows that even in those splendidly-kept gardens at Kew, the authorities give the public more credit for knowledge of the names of plants and horticultural matters than they deserve. The truth of this I have myself confirmed in my strolls into Battersea, Ken- sington, and other public gardens this season. In Battersea Park I saw a gentleman taking much interest in the colours of the bedding plants, and the effects they produced. Being desirous of obtaining the name of a plant, in order, as he explained to me, to be able to plant his own garden, he went over the stout iron hurdles to read the name which was written upon a small garden label, such as we generally find in our pots of greenhouse jjlants, but before he could read it up came a man with a Crimean medal, hat-band, Ac, calling out, " Come out there ! " The gentleman told him he wanted to ascertain the name of the flower in the bed, and asked, " What is it ? " The answer was, " 1 don't know, and if you don't come out immediately I shall take you into custody. These are my orders, and I shall assuredly can-y thtm out." Next, in Kensington Gtardens, the same kind of park or garden keeper was asked the name of a tree that happened to be an English Yew, likewise the age of the tree. The in- formation I heard him give was, that the oldest Yew tree in this country was not over 150 years old, and that the Yew was first brought to England 150 years ago. The next question was. If Kensington Gardens in the long walk did not contain a good collection of hardy plants ? " Yes, the best collection in the world," was the answer. " But why do you not put the names to them, then, so that all persons can see what they are ? " " Don't know." At Kew, on the 8th, I heard several persons ask, " Wha* is the name of that plant? it is very beautiful;" also in the arboretum, " What is that plant ? " I thought all ths plants at Kew were correctly named. This confirms Mr. Keane's remarks, that the public do not know so much about botany and horticulture as they require to know.— Joseph Newton, 30, Eastbovme Ta'race. GAEDENEES' BENEFIT SOCIETY. I was greatly pleased to see a communication in yonr Journal from " St. A., Notts," respecting a proposed Gar- deners' Society. I merely wish to indorse his opinion of the Gardeners' Benevolent Institution, as I was lately solicit-ed to become a subscriber to it; but on taking the rules into consideration and consulting two or three brethren of the craft, I came to the same conclusion as yoiu- correspondent — namely, that it is a most uncertain mode of obtaining a very uncertain benefit (that is, relief in sickness and old ago). I shall, therefore, be pleased to hear of the speedy formation of a Society on the plan proposed in a former Number of your paper, and I shall have great pleasure in becoming a permanent subscriber. I will also give my mite towards the necessary expense of formation on being communicated with, and I will use my utmost endeavours to induce my friends to do Mkewise. — H. B. THE CULTIVATION OF HEATHS. BY THE LATE MK. JOSEPH FAIKBAIKN, NUESEKIES, CLAPHAK. I SHALL content myself, in this communication, with treat- ing on what may be termed the elementary parts of cultiva- tion, included imder the heads of Selection of Soil, Choic« of Plants, and Shifting or Potting the same, as it is my wish, in the general instructions I venture to offer, and which are the result of careful observations, arising from a rather ex- tensive experience, to be as definite as possible, confining myself to a plain, and I hope clear and explicit, demonstration of facts. First, as to selection of proper soU, — without which every effort, however well directed, and perseveringly followed up, will prove an abortion. The best criterion with which I am acquainted is to obtain the soil from a locality where th« wild Heath grows luxuriantly, taking care that it is not dug too deep ; the tm-f certainly not to exceed 4 inches, less rather than more, as, if deeper than that, it is more than probable that the good and nutritious upper soil wiU become deteriorated by an admixture of inert and mischievous sub- soil. The summer months ai'e the right season to procure and store up a heap, which may safely be used after having had a summer and winter's seasoning. The next matter of importance is the selection of healthy, dwarf-growing, robust plants, taking care to avoid anything like meagre, leggy, stunted plants, which may live for years (if life it may be called), but would only make a specimen calculated to disgust rather than delight the cultivator. As regards the operation of preparing the soil for potting or shifting, the soil should be cut down fi-om the heap, so as to disarrange it as little as jiossible, breaking the liunps well with the back of the spade, and afterwards rubbing the soil through the hands, which is far better than sifting, leaving much more of the fibrous decomposing vegetable matter in it ; add to this one-fifth of good pure white sand, and well incorporate the two materials together. Lastly, the operation of potting or shifting. Although not an advocate for what is called the " one-shift system," stUl, to convert a plant into handsome, well-grown specimen, in a moderately short space of time, recourse must be had August It, 1863. ] JOTIRNAIi OF HORTICtTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 131 to a liberal shift ; and, to avoid anything that may appear indefinite, I would instance what I mean by a liberal shift. I would say, that a young plant in a 60-sized or four-inch pot may prudently be shifted into a 24 or nine-inch pot, taking care that plenty of potsherds are used for drainage ; ajid in the case of larger-sized plants, pieces of sandstone and pebbles may be used. Care should be taken that the soil is well fixed by pressing with the fingers, in the fresh pot, all round the ball of the plant, so as to make it quite firm and close. After being set away in a cool frame or pit, let them be well watered ; all this is much facilitated by placing a convex potsherd over it, and watering with a spout, leaving the water to diffuse itself equally over the whole soil, which is a means of avoiding what frequently occurs from watering with a rose — namely, the surface only becoming moistened, while the ball remains imperviously di^y. specimen Erica vasceflora. Specimen Erica eleganc. I will proceed now to give a list of the best kinds to select for eprino^, summer, and autumnal flowering : — SPBING-FLOWEEING HEATHS. Aristata. major. Andromedaeflora. ArbuBcula. Floribnnda. Grandinoea. Hiemalis. Lambertiana rosea. Linnceana. LinnEeoides. Neiliii. Sindryana. Ku bra-calyx. San guinea. Sparsa. Templese. Tenella. Transparens nova. Vernix. coccinea, ■Westcotiii. Willmoreana. Smithiana. Ovaia. Persoluta rubra. Kegerminans. BUMMER-FLOWEBING (jTJNE TO ATJGUBT) HEATHS Aitoniana. turgida. AmpuUaceu major. rubra, elegane. Bandoneana. BeaumontisB. Bergiuna. CiTendisbiana. Cerintboidcs. stricta. ClowesianH. Denticulata moschata. Depressa. floribnnda. Elegans. EasBoniana. Eximia. Pastigiata lute.'^ccns. Ferniginea. Favoides elegans. Horida. cam pan u lata. Hartnclhi. Dana. Hunieana. Inflata. rubra. Infundibuliformis. Irbyana. JaBuiiiii^ora alba. Jdsmmoidee. Jiicb8onii. Lawrenceana. M'Nabiitna. Mussoni. Meinlajflora. bicolor. Mirabilis. Mundula. Mutabiiis. Marrayana, Obbata, Parmt-ntieri ru8?a. Per^^picua nana. Propendens. Retorta. ro jor. SbannoDtana. Splendene. Pprengelii. Torliliflora. Tricolor. Dunbariana. elefi^ans. Wilsoni. Wilboni puperba. ■\Vilsoni coronata. VaPffiHora. Yenlricosa. coccinea. minor. Bothwelliann. grandittora. splendens. hirsuta rosea. alba tincta. Vemoni superba. Yestita alba. alba grandiflora. coccinea. rosea. "Webbiuna. Westphalingia. Mammosa. Verticillat;t major. major. Vestita albi var. Nitida. Sebanaluleii. Picia, rubra. Princeps. GraciUft. carnea. cernua. Pyramidalis. Rubins. Sanguinea. Carniula. TaxiloUa. OUula. Vemix ovata. AUTUMN AND WINTER-FLOWEBINO HEATHS. Archeriana. Bankxiana purpurea. Colorane. euperba. blanda. £x&urg(;n9. coccinea. IncarnaTa. Bowieana. LongipedUDCulata. From the foregoing sections, whether for exhibition or for general culture, varieties may be selected, that will famish flowering plants for the whole year. -i Heaths like plenty of air ; it must be given fi-eely. but carefully ; as, from exposure to the dry, arid, cutting winds, plants that are growing freely are apt to get a rustiness that will so disfigure them, that months will elapse before they are free from it. If the plants are in pits or frames, it is well to open the lights on the contrary side to the wind, which win effectually prevent the rush of cutting wind, and thus shelter the plants ; at the same time that it is quite efficient for the pm^poses of ventilation. With respect tO' the plants grown in the heathery or other houses, it wiU be well, during the continuance of cold winds, to close the- doors to the eastward, and admit air but sparingly from the ft-ont sashes, taking care to let down the top lights so as to- insure a free circulation of air. When the plants are in full growth, and the weather is of a parching character, it will be necessary to look them over every day, and water freely, taking care that none may be allowed to suffer for want of it, which, at this stage, would prove destructive of the flowering of the plant, if not of its MSe.— {Gardeners' May. of Botany.) 132 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. [ Anguet 18, 1863. EOYAL HOliTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. AnGUST 11th. Floral Committee. — A meeting of this Committee was held in the Society's gardens at Chiswick. A large number of the members attended to inspect the various bedding-out .plants which, by the courtesy of several mu'serymen, were .sent for probation. A iirst-cUiss certificate was unanbnously awarded to a seedling scarlet Pelargonium brought by Mr. ^^ ™«i''' beauty, taste, fulness and variety an OUT flower gardens. — E. F. TO CORRESPONDENTS. *4,* We request that no one will write privately to the de- partmental writers of tlie " Joiu-nid of Horticulture, Cottage Gai-dener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- ture, Sfc, 162, Fleet Street, London, E.G. We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but WTite them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. We cannot reply privately to any communication unless under very special cu-cumstances. Names or Plants. — Some of our correspondents are in the habit of sending small fragments of plants for us to name. This requires from us such a great expenditure of time that we are compelled to say that we cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen is per- fect in leaves and fiowers. POLYSTICHUM AND DAVALLIA LoSINO THEIR FrONDS (£.£.).— We httVC esperienced Ibe loss of the fronds of Polysticnum cinaceum, Darallia cananensis, D. bullata, D. dissetta, Polypodium appendiculatuni, and were at a loss to account for it. We tried ail sorts of .-chcmes, but witbout any apparent remedy for tUe evil having been obtained. Our plants are in a cool greenliouse. planted out as in jour case, and by c imparinn 'be growths 01 the lipecies above named in a stove fernery adjoining, we came to these conclusious :— That tbey require less shading than most I'erns, that moistuie or Oew on the Ironds caused them to turn blacli and die-off, and that they would stand more drought without tl igging that any Fern we had, and we had between five and six hundred species. Wo removed the stagnant moist atmosphere by giving air in the place where the plants were growing, and kept the fronds less shaded than beiore, and our pliotssoon commenced to thrive. This year they were doing the same until we resorted to the means named above, and we are hippy to say they are now flourishing. Polystiehum cunaceum and DavaUia bullata, at the bes , seldom succeed in a cool greenhouse ; though they do well in a winter minimu.u of 45°, yet in one olten nearly at freezing tbey remain too long inactive, and have not time to make their growths during the ohort suniiuer of a cool greenhouse fernery. Tbey should be planted in tne w.uraest and driest part of the ferneiv, and every availaoie means taken to prevent stagnant air surround- ing the plants and dew lodging on the fronds. We have wondered too that Lygudlum scandens is not more generaUy cultivased ; but many have never had L. scandens true, which is a rapiu grower, and will soon cover a trellis. We have had it on a rafter nearly 20 feet long in one season. L. palmatum is often confounded with L. scandens, the lormer of which, although very handsome, is rarely seen above (i leet In helahL All the Lygodlums are as elegant as Gleichenias, and form beautilul objects oa pillars. Ac. In lacr, witbout Lygodlums c imoing up pilUrs, Stei.ochlaenaa running on walls, and Mosses growing; out ot cracks and crevices every- whei e, a fernery is robbed of some ot its finest ornaments.— G. A. Amaryllis BELLADO.-rNA Coltuhe (IK fT.).— Instead of plunging yonr plants out-doors under a south wall, we would place them under glass In the lull influence of the sun to complete their growth, and then gradually reduce the amount of water at the root, and let the-ii have a seasjn of rest by keeping them dry and cool. After that, by iutroduciug into a higher temperature, you Will be likely to matte ihem flower. Avoid any excess of water at the roots at any time ; and let them have the full blaze of the sun when making their fresh leaves. Under such treatment they should flower with certainty. Underground Grubs (fefd).— They are the larvoo of the daddy long- legs, Tlpula pratensis or T. quadtifaria. Tbey are called by many local names, such as " terry trumps" near CbeUenhaui, but gardeners usually name them "surface grubs" and " leathei-jackets." Nitrate of soda (cubic petre) is said to kill them, and lime certainty will ; but we examine the soil round the stem of a Cabbage or Lettuce the bark from the stem of which they have eaten, kill the grubs, and inseii another plant. Strawberries {E. jP.).— No variety of Strawberry will be either fine or productive on "a light gravelly soli," unhssvery great care is taken to mulch the surface throughout the spring and summer, and to have them well supplied with water. We should plant Keens' Seedling and Black Prince. Book abodt Motus (.4 Constajit 5wft*cre&crj.— Westwood & Humphrey's " British Moths." Book on Insects [O. CooAe).— Kirby & Spence's "Introduction to Entomology." An edition in one volume was puulishcd not long since. Various [A Subscriber). — 1, wo prefer tbiiintng Gtapeswhen they are about the size of a No. 4 shot ; but the tbtnning u.^ually requires repeating. 2, Give a Brugmansta required to flower in Juty a lar^e shift early, harden it off, plant in rich soil during the middle ol June, give plenty of water, and it will bloom until trust injures it. Of course, the same treatment in- doors will do. We have Bru^^mansias in hous. s dt use masses from May to November. Of course, out of doors it will cause Uss trouble. 3, .\zaleaa sliuuld seldom be pruned back to the old wood, though it la often done suc- cesslully. Grafting and inarching are best done with young plants. 4, In sytln>jing, chilled water is best so long as the plar.ts are in a hothouse. 6, such lists as you mention have been often published in tnese pages. When we repeat them often readers justly complain that they occupy space that might be flllcd with new information. Book on Vine-culture (R. ii.).— There Is one by Mr. Thomson besides that ot Mr. Sanders, and they are each ot the same price. Mills "On the Pine Apple" wo lid suit you, but we are not sure about the prioo; it u not more than 3^, AugQbt 13, 186a. ] JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 135 Ornamental Fencb {A Subscriber), — Peeled oak cmd-wood makes a lirBt-clabs rueiic leiice, UHd us ptculiar forms may be arruiiged lo suit almo-'t all tustes. An examinatiou of a rusiic chair will sugythi bometliing- of the appearance of oak cord-wood made into a fence ; but you cun have It placed to suit your own fancy, fur rustic work is orndnienial m pro- portion to ita rudeness. A fence of this kind covered witU Aytshiie Koses 18 one of the finest objects in a garden. The branches ot the Knglish Maple 1 Acer campettre), are tlie best ot all wood to form a rustic ornamental fence ; but they can rareiy be had. The thinnings ot L,an;h plaiitaliuns are most used, and may be made to asaume a variety of lormg, ihe coninioneat of all being upright posts drivin luto ilie grouna close enough to keep sheep out, with a half pole on top for capping. This is commonly known as tbe Scotch fence. Auy joiner would suggest to you several shapes and put them together m squaree, triangles, or diamonds to buIl your ta-te. We Ctmnot undertake to give sketches ;or projected undertaking?, though always happy to criticise those forwarded toUE^. We are persuaded that lew things equal a. neat low iron fence which is all but invisible, and still answers Ihe purposes of a hedge. It you wish tor something more apparent to the eye, we would recommend larcb poles 3 leet 6 inches high to be driven into the ground at 9 inches apart, and at every 12 feet to put in a pole 12 leet long, i-o as to leave 9 leet out of the grouud. from tbe top of one pule to the top of the next stretch a tarred rope, allo»ving it to f.ill in the middle 3 feet from the horizontal, and nail it to the ti.p of each post. We would then plant a clitHbmg Kose and a pillar Kose aL-o, as wtrll as a plant of Uoneyauckle at the foot ot each post i and put m 8weet Briars, Honeysuckles, climbing Koses, and Clematises along the fence. This would give the finest rustic fence imaginable.— G. A. Kew Gardkns {Jui'enis).~-Yo\i might ascertain from Mr. Smith, the curator, whether they have a vycancy. ViHr.s IN Pots (^/;j/ia). — If tbe wood of your Vines is becoming a little brown, give ail the air and as much eunlighc asjou can, and in a week place them in the front ot a south fence and fa=ien the rods to it, so as to brow^n them well, giving merely as much water us will prevent flagging. You will need lees water if you mulch the pots. DfiYiKG Tobacco Leaves (Idem).— Cut the flowers off the tobacco plants, except a few pods for seed, atrip off tbe large leaves, run a string through them ut the illicit end, and hang Uieni in a shed 1 in*:h apart leaf iri..m leaf. When dried, press them very tiiiuly into a box or basket. Wben heaLed a little, unpack tliem and dry them again ; then pack them agiiiu, and repeal this packing and unpacking until at last you paL:k and there i^ no smoking from tliem. Leaves thus treated and cut up will be capital lur tuuuyatiou and for cigars too. Gladiolus Disease— Cheeey Aphis {C. J?.)-— The disease in Gladioluses 13 Tery prevalent, and may have beeu brought on by the three last auverse reasons, which have nut been warm enough to ripen the bulbs properly. An eastern aspect is certainly not a good one fur anything, but quite good enough for Cuernes, which Qo ijetttr a,.-* dwari pyramids or stanuiirds tbun against a wall with any aspect. The bUck blight, however, is sufiicieiit to cause the bjireuiiess of your trees. It is the uuerry apliis, the woratof the kind to ett'ectually destroy. The best cure is to go over the trees on the brst appearance ot the pest, and tqueezi; ihe points of the shoots or leaves oetweeu the nngerp, and atter that syringing the trees strongly with water heated to 12U°. Very strong toba co water will kill the pe=t, but it injares the shooib and, tliereiore, cannot be applifd. We have louiia Page's blight Composition very serviceable m ridding ihe trees of this pest, though it is not halt fco good as the lingers anu thumb. It is astouishing how many leaves and branches can be cleared in an hour by the hnger-and>ihumQ system, which, if persisted in, never tails to eflect a cure. Lapageuia rosea Cultdke {subscriber),— The treatment of this plant has beeu given over ana over again in tbis Journal. In the first place it requires perfect arainuge — extra urainagK as tor an Orchid, and a compost of tibry loam and sanuy pL-at in equal proportions, with a little leaf uiould and silver sand added to and incorporated w ith the mass, bits of charcoal not arger than a wamut nor siuaiier than a hazel nut help to keep the soil open. Ill the second place it requires plenty of space for its roots, and does best planted our, lur it is impatient ui checks, such as are occaaioned by frequent pottings and rapid transitions of temperature. Thirdly, it likes plenty of light without much sun, and does better in a northern than a southern expocure. tounhlj , it requires watering abundantly, and cannot havetoo much when growing. Filihiy, it requires a stove heat trom Alaich until September, anu a cool greenhouse temperature for the remainuer of the year, iiixihly, it netU not be expected to flower much the flirt seven years, it a seedling, nor until it attLiins a good aiie and is proportionately strong let it be wnai it may. Lastly, it should not be potted until it gives signs ot growth, and then must be piaceu in a moist and increased tem- perature. Attention to these rules will cause It to flower. Books \0. J'.) —A new edition of " Paxtun's Boianical Dictionary " was published in is-i9. Gaeden Flan (A'eic Forei>t).—'\Ve purpose publishing an engraving of youv plan next week, with a .ew notes. Peach Trees in Pots unuee Vimes (5. V. C). — If you, as you state, have Grapes in he c-auie house with >our Peaches and Nectarines, we pre- sume tiained under Ihe rout as usual, you must not feel surprised at the latter failing, as the trees cannot have sun enough lo ripen their shoots. Your potted trees need not be repotted annually, but only top-dres.->ed in October. As jour climate is mild ana moist there is less ripening power lo harden the sbuots than under glass. In all climates near the sea coast, ■with the soft humid air ot your county— Cornwall, Ptach and Nectarine trees should have brisk fire heat while in bloom, and abundance of air night and d'ly. The same tre Female Parts of Plants {A. TT., fie//«s().— Neither the dictionary you name nor this Journal professes to teach boiaay ; and Ihe pointing out the different parts of plants is entirely a department of that science. For giving you this information buy '-Henfrey's Rudiments of Botany," or Macgillivray's edition of Sir J. E. Smith's "Introduction to Botany."' In answer to your three queries— most species have the male and temale parts of tructification in the same flower, but others have the male flowers and female flowers on di(f*^rent plants, and a third set have male flowers and female flowers on ihe same plant. Most plants are self- fertilised without the aid o( either insects or the gardener. W' hen the pollen of tbe male part of a flower is ripe, fertilidation is effected by placing It oa the female part if that is ripe also. Names of Plants {M. A. fl ).— Malva Creeana (Cree's Mallow), a com- mon greenhouse plant, growing about 2 or 2^^ teet high. It is not a creeper. {Ot:oca).— \, Billardiera heterophyll.i ; 2, L>~thrum alatuin ; 3, Andromeda poiitolia var. angustifolia; 4, Adiantum (unnosum ; o, a form of Poly- stnihum angulare; 6, Alstrcemeriu, some variety of. The poor specimen sent was shrivelled up. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE, KILLING FOWLS FOE TABLE USE. Last week we told our readers the bu-ds they should kill ; and we are now disposed to tell them how they should be killed, and how prepai-ed for that which a talented French writer on poultry calls " the sacrifice." There is certainly an indisposition to eat butcher's meat in hot weather. Fish is at a discount, unless it be in the shape of that most delicious of all unwholesome food, a lobster salad, or the most treacherous of plain boiled, a crab. Something must be eaten in families, and those who read The Journal or Hoeticblture of last week (their name is Legion), look wistfully at certain dwellers in the farm- yard which do not seem to promise excellence ; and they speak in favour of roasted fowl and lettuce. Little Sarah loves every living thing, and rather prefers the "natu- rals" and the "unfortunates," the chickens that persist in trying to look behind them, and have what the country people call the " gids ;" that one whose right foot turns the wrong way ; and the poor little hunchback that puts her in mind of " Master Walter." None of these may be killed. Pa has twelve that may not be killed. Ma has just eighteen pullets she must have for winter layers. One says the last were so hard and stringy he could not eat them, and the last but one was actually tainted, though it had been dead but forty-eight hours. "We think we said all we had to say of the unfortunates last week. The week before we wrote of securing eggs, and now will speak of killing. The ordinary method is to slip into the hen-house at night, to catch two chickens, to cut their throats, to tie their legs with a piece of Ust, and to hang them up feathers and all. When they are wanted forty-eight hours after- wards, cook says, "She never see such weather; they're green ali-eady ! " If the fowls ai-e to be eaten on Thursday, let them be caught on Monday evening, and then shut up in a basket, absolutely without food or water tUl the next mormng. Being quite empty, they must be killed, not by cuttmg the tlrroat, but by breaking their necks. Take hold of the tips of the end or flight-feathers of the wings, and the lower part of the thighs and knees with the left hand. Take hold of the head of the fowl in the right hand, turn it (the head) upwards in the hand, but simultaneously puU up with the left hand, and press down with the right. Izaak Walton said, " Impale the frog as if you loved hun ;" and TaUeyrand said, " No zeal in anything, it is always getting mto trouble. No zeal, no strength, and very little effort is requu-ed. i^eas downwards with the right hand till there is a tnfiing jerk- it is the dislocation of the neck. Death ensues in a few minutes. If there is any doubt it can be easily solved by feeling the back of the bird'b head, there will be found an " ugly gap " between the head and the neck. When a fowl is bled to death it is very white, but it is often dry; when I 186 JOTJENAIi OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ August 18, ISCI. it is killed by dislocation of tlie neck it is juicy. As soon as the bii'd is deiid, indeed I Bliould say directly it is dead, it should be picked. The lai-ge feathers, the wings and tail, should be piilled fii-st. The reason why they should be picked is that the fowl then gets cold ; it is lor the same cause essential that they should be killed early in the morn- ing or in the evening ; the latter is preferable. Even in hot weather the fowl is spoiled nine times out of ten by the fermentation of the food, or the decomposition of the water that was in the body at tlie time of death. The bh-d fasted and killed as we have described may be drawn and trussed for the spit some houi's before it is wanted, and spite of hot weather it wOl be sweet, tender, and jiucy. POITLTEY SHOW AT STOWMAKKET. On the 30th and 31st ult. the fu-st Exhibition of a Society just started at Stowmai'ket, the object of which is to hold a show of poultry every year, took jJace. It was announced as the " Eastern Counties Grand Poultry aiid Horticidtm-al Show," — a somewhat high-sounding title. The Exhibition was held on the grounds of Abbott's HaU, the i-esidenee of Wm. Prentice, Esq., by whom they were kindly offered to the Committee ; and they are admirably suited to the piu'- pose to which they were put. The time of year is very much against a good Show, the bii'ds being just nov? in full moult, .-ind this tended to keep down the number of entries. Never- theless the Show, even as regarded the number of entries, which was neai-ly ninety, or about 250 bu-ds, was good : and as to the quality of the bh-ds, better could not have been erpected. This fii-st meeting ma.y, therefore, be pronounced an unequivocal success. The arrangements of the Com- mittee and their Honorary Secretaries, Messrs. Eanson and A. h. Simpson, were excellent, the pens being an-anged in two rows, one above the other all round the tent, while the spaces between them were filled with evergreens, and flags were suspended from the top. There was no competition for the prizes offered for Spanish fowls. The show of Colom-ed Dorkings consisted of five peas, several of which were first-class birds ; this is evident, IVom the fact that the Judges aiter awarding the two prizes con- sidered a third pen worthy of high commendation, and also commended a fourth. The first-prize birds (Mr. Lingwood's) were beautiful specimens of the breed, and have taken prizes at the Crystal Palace, Birmingliam, and other places. The cock in the second-prize pen (Mr. H. Payne's), was well worthy of special distinction; the characteristics of the Dorking — short on the legs and broad in the breast — were fully developed. There was really no competition in the White Dorking class ; the only two pens shown belonged to Mr. H. Lingwood, of Needham Market, who is so celebrated in this breed. There were six pens of Cochiii-Chinas, on this occasion divided into two classes — Colom-ed and White, and Partridge. The first-prize cock in the former class, which, although termed Coloured and White, consisted entirely of Buif, looked a giant among fowls. The second prize was taken by a cockerel and two pullets under five months old, and very fine birds of then- age they were. The entries in Partridge Cochins were only two ; but the fii'st prize, belong- ing to the Eev. H. Curry, are a very celebrated lot. In the Dorking chicken class Mr. Jas. Frost, of Parham, took both prizes with some of his celebrated stock ; and Mr. H. Payne's, which are chickens of the birds which took the second pi-ize in Class 2, were highly commended. In Black-breasted Game there were nine exhibitoi's. Mi'. Matthew, of Chilton HaU, Stowmarket, whose Game stock is very celebrated, taking both fii'st and second prizes. An extra prize was awarded to Mr. James Goodwin, of Hollesley ; Mr. Eeason Goodwyn, of Woodbridge, re ceiving a high commendation. The whole class was worthy of commendation. Mr. Matthew's cocks were decidedly superior to the others in height, iji the clean- ness of their heads and squareness of their )jody. It must have been a difficult matter, however, to say which was the better of the two prize cocks. There were only three exhi- bitions of Duckwing Game, but the Judges thought them aU worthy of commendation. Mr. S. Matthew was the only exhibitor in the White and Pile Game. The Game chicken class had five entries, of which three were Mr. S. Matthew's, and with them he took first and second prizes. and Ms third pen was lughly commended. In the class for Any variety not included in other classes, thera were cij.''. t, pens, and both prizes were taken by Mr. Samuel Abaters. <■.' Ipswich, with French bu'ds of the Creve Cceur breed — black birds, wit'u crests. Mi's. S. Nunn, of Buxhall, showed some Africans in this class — white fctwls whose plumage moiv resembles hair than feathers ; these were highly commended. Mr. J. Oxer, of Shelland, had a couple of pens of ca')itaJ hali- bred Spanish fowls. The other fowls shown in this class were Gold and Silver-pencilled Hamburgh. The lii'st piize in Game Bantams was taken by Mr. J. Frost, they were of the Blaok-breasted sort. Mr-. E. Goodwyn took the second prize, and he also showed the cliickens of these bu'ds. The otlier sorts of Bantams were worthy of note : the first-j>rize pen belonging to Mr. Kdey, of Onehouse, were Gold-laoed; thu second, Mr. H. A. Oakes's, were Eumiiless or rloblets. The l>ucJ:s were good in all classes. The Wliite Aylesbury s shov/n by Mrs. Seamons, Hart well, Aylesbiuy, who took bot i; prizes, were really wonderful birds, and one would hav./ thought it scarcely possible that they could have arrived at such a size in lour and live months. The Geese, as a class, were very fine ; Sir. Sporlintj'.". which took the lu'st prize, were only twelve weeks old. Tb-- first prize Turlceys {Mi: J. Bird, of Great Finborough), weru beauties. The Pigeons were a very large and good class, the two prizes being taken by Mi'. D. H. Feltham, of Kentish To\st.. London, with Black Carriers. Mr. Feltham also exhibited ■■< beautiful pair of Dun CaiTiers not for competition. Thu following is the prize list : — DoEiKTNGS (Coloured). — First, H. Lingwood, Nerdham Market. Secont), n. Hrfyiie, Stowmarket. liigiily Commeinl(id, J. frost. Cojimeaded, J. Siiiiih. DoRKiNos (White). — First aud Second, H. Linfrwootl. Chickens. — Firs: and S«;t;ond, J. Frost, Parllaul. Iligllly Commciided, II. Payne; J. Smith. CuinMiendC'd. J. O. Fison. Cocuis-rniNA (Coloared and White).— First. Rev. G. Gilbert, Claxbamv near Norwich. Second, Mr. C. T. Bishop, Leiiton. Cocni.N-CaiNA (PdrlridgoJ.— First, Kev. II. Curry, Bosinere Halt Second, Rev. G. 'Tilbert. Game 'Bliicli-breasted and other Reds). — First and Second, S. Matthew, Stowmarket. Third, J. Gojdwin, HoUesley. Ilighly Comnacnded, l: . Goodwyn. Commended, J. K. Kersey. Game (Duckwings and other Greys and Blues).— First, S, Matthew. Second, K. Gnodwyn. Ct>mmended, J. Goodwin. G^ME (Wliite riles. Blanks and Brassy-winced).— Prize, S. Mattlw:*. Chickens.— i'ixii, Secoad, and Kighly Commended, S. ilaitlievr. Hambubghs (Goldeu-spangled;. -Prize, Mrs. A. P.ittisun, MaldoB. llAMBURGH (Silver-spingied). — Priae, T. Twose, Halsieai. Any orHEP. VAKiKrv. —first aud Second, M. Waters, Ipswich (Cri^'vc CoDLirs). Highly Commended, J. O.-cer ; Mrs S Xuun. Bant.iMs (Game) — First, .1. Frost. Second, 11. Goodwyn, WoodbTL-lpe. Baniams (Any variety).— First, J. Riley, Onehou-e. Second, 11. A. Uakes, Buxhall. Ducks (White Aylesbury).— First and Second. Mrs. M. Sear.ioaa, Hart- well, Aylesbury. Commended, C. Tyrell, H«uglile>. White Uicics (Any variety;. — Prize, II. A. -Jakes. Ducks iRoueii).— l''irst withheld. Second. J. It. Kersey. Ducks (Mixed breed).— First, H. Wicks, Badley Mills. Second, J. Oxer. GEhSu.— First, A. Sparling. Second, W. Greeu. Commended, W. .1;. Webb. Turkeys. — First and Second J. Bird, Finborough. PiGKoNS. — Fu'standSfjcond, D. H. Feltham, London. Highly Comute.nded, n. A. Oakes. Comtnencljd, K. Parish ; A. Sparlmg. ' Rahbits. — Prize, G. Gudgeon, StowmarI;ei. Mack. — Prize A. J. Alex- ander, Ipswich. SwEEPsrAKES — Corhin-China Cock — Prize, Rer. H. Curry. Dork'uin Cot/i. - Firrt, H. Linttwood. Second, Mrs. M. Scamoas. The Judges were the Rev. Thos. Lyon FeUowes, Beighton Eectory, Norfolk, and the Eev. Morton Shaw, of Eougham Eectory. — {Suffolk Chronicle.) Hedgehogs and Snakes Destkoting Chickens. — I ser- in your Joiu'nal of the 11th a confu-mation of the fact of hedgehogs destroying chickens ; and to me this is of im- portance, as I have just had turned loose in my yard threr young hedgehogs and an old one, and I shall now ordc them to be caught again. My object for turning them loo^c- was to drive away the mice and rats. I know that snakes and blindworms will kUl chickens. I had a very choice lot of these, which I sent to a splendid walk, as I tliought, it being in the midst of a large coppice ; but I received word that six out of thirteen were gone in one day. I set out determined to watch ; aud towards twelve o'clock, the sun being very hot, I went into the shade behind some trees. The hen and brood were near an old wood pde, when all at once the hen and chickens fled in aU directions. I jumped August 13, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 137 to my feet and saw two snakes, one of which I caught : it is about 12 inches long. They were making directly for the chickens with their heads about 4 inches from the ground. POULTEY-FANCIEK. GOSLINGS WASTING AWAY. A FEW weeks ago I purchased twenty -four Geese, fourteen of which have since died. These I found to be infested with insects (lice, I presume), as per enclosed specimens. Never having had any similarly alfected, I am at a loss to account for them, and am desirous to know how to get rid of them ; also, the after-treatment to strengthen tlie birds. They seem daily to grow y,reaker and less disposed to take either food or exercise ; in fact they become quite toi-jjid, and at last die fi-om apparent exhaustion, complete skeletons. — J. G. [All Geese are subject to lice. They are confined to no age, condition, or sex. They seem to have been made for them. Being ijerfectly flat, they bestow themselves cai-e- fully between two feathers and the water has no effect ; but if it should peneti-ate they take refuge in the down. If the down should get damp, instinct prompts the bird to leave the water directly if possible. If you were to go to Leaden- liall at Michaelmas and look at the best, largest, and fattest Geese, and if you were to examine them attentively you wotdd find, that although they were plucked some lice remained sheltered in the wings and those parts that were still fea- thered. There is no Goose without them. They do not, there- fore, cause the death of yoiu' goslings. If you bought in youi- immediate neighbourhood, either you have been imposed upon or your feeding has been bad. If you bought in Lon- don there is no knowing where they were bred. Goslings come in flocks from France, Holland, and Belgium. Of our own countrymen, Scotland and L-eland help us. The history of Geese is a history indeed. Stratford in Essex had formerly the mouoiioly of feeding. Thither all the floclts of Geese wended. From the begmning of Jidy till the end of August all the roads leading to Stratford were full of Geese, tended by one man who kept all in order and stayed any wander- ing propensities on the part of any of his charge by catching the offender by the leg, not with his hands, be it under- stood, but by means of his crook. A long, very long rod, had a stout wire at the end, twisted something like a crook, but more elaborately. It was widely open at the mouth, but nai'rower at the end, and held the leg so fast that the Goose gave in and laid down. " Nous avons change tout cela." Where there are no commons there will be few Geese bred, and commons are fast disappearing throughout England. The consumption of oats in Stratford during the months of August and September was incredible to a stranger, and the slaughter the same. These are, however, the records of past ages and have little to do with our present question. If the Geese were in good condition when you bought them, ascertain how they had been fed and feed the same. If in doubt, shut them in a pigstye, fill a trough with growing sods of grass half full; on them put some gravel, then a layer of oats, and then fill by pouring water gently in one corner till it is full. Tour Geese will feed and thrive.] FOUL BEOOD NOT AN AETIFICIAL DISEASE It is with regi-et that I perceive so high an authority among bee-keepers as my fiiend Mr. Taylor pronouncing the disease which has recently devastated my apiary to be " an entirely artificial one" — regTet, not on my own account (for to me personally it is of no importance), but for the sake of others, since, if such a mistaken notion obtain currency, farewell at once to all the benefits which I had hoped might have arisen from giving publicity to my misfortune, whilst the cause of progi-ess amongst English bee-keepers wiU receive a check which may long keep them immeasui-ably 'behind their continental and American contemporaries. With the view, thei-efore, of removing this false impres- sion, I will describe two instances which have come under luy observation in which foul brood has manifested itself in hives managed in the usual way. Last spring I received a lot of comb procured for me in the county of Wilts through the kindness of a brother apiarian. Among these were some which had died of fovil brood, that I now know oame from a colony, Ijut which there is no reason to believe had been in any way interfered with. The other case came more immediately under my own observation, and may be deemed perfectly conclusive on this point. Last autumn I turned up a common straw hiv« belonging to an " old dame " who resides at about three miles distance. There was some honey, but very few bees, and I confidently pronounced the queen to be defunct. In this, however, I was mistaken. When the bees were after- wards expelled by driving a living queen was found, but the colony was nearly extinct from the effects of foul brood. This I now know to have been the case, although at the time the affau- appeared perfectly inexplicable, and an in- spection of the combs did not then enhghten me — now I should recognise them at a glance as having belonged to a foul-breeding stock. — A Devonshibb Bee-keepee. FtTRTHER EEMAUKS ON EXPEEIMENTAL BEE-MANAGEMENT. I CANNOT help making a few remarks on the opinions and theories put forward by some of the writers in No. 123 of your Jom-nal. I fully admit that Mr. Lowe lays down the general principles of apiculture coiTectly and well ; but I cannot perceive that he has solved the mystery of the origin of Mr. Woodbirry's foul brood. I do not mean its intro- duction into his apiary — Mr. Woodbury himself has told us how that occurred — I mean its original cause. I have no theory of my own on the subject, and shall Ije ready to believe that it arises from too much experimenting, or fi-om anything else, when good evidence of the fact is forth- coming ; but I cannot think of leaping to such a conclusion. I know that experimenting may be carried too far ; what cannot? A merely experimental apiary can never be a thoroughly prosperous one ; but it does not, therefore, follow that it will become diseased. It wiU. become weak from tha constant interruption of breeding, and paucity of numbers wiU cause poverty of stores ; but are weak hives more Habto to disease, j^roperly so called, than strong ones ? I think not. I have had more or less of dulled brood under various ch-cumstances, but never knew it to become corrupted in the hive, nor do I think that it ever would, so long as there were bees enough to perform the usual routine duties. Even if it did, I do not "think that it would be so virulently contagious as this foul brood appears to be. Mr. Wood- bmys opinion — nay, assertion, that it was introduced to his apiary in purchased combs, no doubt gives the immediate cause in his case. I expect that he will conquer the enemy without departing fi-om his own line of tactics, and go on his way rejoicing ; but I fear that he will have to leave the abstract cause of foul brood as much a mysterj- as it now is. Mr. Lowe is right in maintaining that forced swarms should only be made in "accordance with the natural instincts and habits of bees, and with a due regard to time, cu-cumstances, and condition." When so made, the opera- tion is not, as Colonel Newman expresses it, "fighting against Nature ;" but the exercise of man's undoubted right to make Nature subservient to his wants and wishes. Dominion was given to him over the brute creation, in its entirety, bees being no exception. He cannot change the operations of nature ; biit he may and does modity and adapt them to his requirements. The sheep's wool woidd, no doubt, fall off naturally without the assistance of sheaj:s. but not in a convenient form for our cloth-makers. The cow would give spontaneously as much milk as was necessary for the sustenance of her calf; but the farmer finds it to his advantage to manage these mattere in his own way. Nor does it appear that the cow is in any way injm-ed by pro- longing her natm-al period of giving milk, or the sheep by the premature loss of its fleece ; though I dare say there were antique men who protested against both these modifi- cations of nature wlien first introduced, using much tho same arguments as tlieir representatives of the present day use against the rational management of bees. That "di-i\-ing" does not alw.iys succeed is scarcely a good argument against its general usefulness. No great 138 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ August la, ises. amioant of patience is required to keep tapping for fifteen or twenty minutes, and this period, though not always suffi- cient, will often be so. It is to be regi-etted that "Jonas Jackson" has not told us more in detail what steps are necessary to secure the co-operation of our bees. In what language are we to address them ? Their own ? I for one understand it not. Will plain English do ? May the German or Frenchman speak to them in his own idiom ? If so, bees are pretty good linguists. Suppose I want to make my Ligurians "a speech," who will translate it for me ? Their nationality has been disputed, and if it were settled I should be no better off, for I understand neither Swiss nor Italian. It is true that the horse and the dog understand certain words and phrases ; but much care is bestowed on their early training to make them know that certain sounds convey certain ideas ; and I do not clearly see that a simOar course is at all practicable with bees. Virgil and the rest of antiquity may be excused for their inaccuracy as naturalists, but just fancy a nineteenth-century man - heir of a]] the ages In the foreinosl runks of tiiui mounted on a stump in his garden, gravely haranguing the bees about his domestic felicities or calamities ! — John P. Edwards, Shirleywick, near Stafford. WOODEN HIVES. The materials of which hives are made, as well as their construction, have an imjjortant influence over the quantity and quaUty of honey, and in facilitating the working of ex- periments. Now, wood and straw are the most common hive-mate- rials in this country, and the only kinds I ever used for general purposes ; and I do not intend to raise an argu- ment for the one, nor objections to the other, but simply to state the experience 1 have had of both, but without speaking of their construction. When I first adopted wooden hives, it was from not being able to obtain a sufficient quantity of a peculiar make of straw hives which I had ordered. The first winter I had them I had an equal number — viz., five of each, and I met with every discoui'agement from my neighbouring bee-keepers. Every one had a diti'erent reason to demonstrate that I would not have bees long ; but not one of the objectors could explain to me the cause that would destroy the bees. So I was left alone in my undertaking. I was not ignorant about the natui-e of wood, and I took care that no external damp whatever, unless that of the atmosphere, could touch the hives. The alighting-board I made moveable, with a space be- tween the hive and it, so that the rain could not get near the hive. I set the hives all in one dii'ectiou and equally well protected, so that they would have a fair chance for proving which should do best. It is a singular fact that I have never had a single death of a swarm from disease or other cause in my wooden hives ; but it was very different with the straw hives — I lost every one of them in about eighteen months. The reason of this was abortive brood. The cause of the abortive brood I attribute to the straw hives being a little wai-mer than the wooden hives, and the very changeable weather here in spring : consequently, when a few warm days occur, where the queen is prolific, she spreads her brood more than the bees are able to attend to if the weather tiu:ns colder, as it often does. When this takes place the loss of the hive is certain, unless some of the combs are removed — not only those that are affected but also those adjoining, till no more are left than the bees are able to cover. This restricts them from breeding more than they are able to attend to, until the weather becomes warmer and encoui'ages their forward- ness, when they continue to do well. This removing of combs I have done often and have never failed. I also make it a rule once or twice a-week to smeU my hives to know whether they are free from foul brood, which is easily detected by the strong effluvia, but I have never been troubled with it in my wooden hives. Some people make it a rule to cut out only those portions that have foul brood in them ; but this will not be effectual, because there is always scattered brood which is not easily seen, so that the bees are kept scattered and are never able to keep up a uniform degree of heat. Nay, it is better to turn the bees out of the hive altogether, substituting a new and clean hive, because it is doubtful if ever they thrive in a hive that has been once tliseased. The infection seems to adhere to the hive, so that it may be termed the " bee plague." I wovdd recommend as better than an empty hive — seeing that it is mostly in spring that this malady rages — a hive with clean combs; but if this cannot be obtained, as bees will not thrive if deprived of combs in spring, I recom- mend as an excellent substitute the new wax sheets, which can be had at a trifling expense, and which would enable the bees to go to work at once, and by a little feeding they would soon do well. — A Lanabkshike Bee-keepeb. WEAK AND UNHEALTHY HIVES— FOUL BROOD. Since the date of my last commimieation, which appeared in the Number of the 4th August, and which took notico only of Mr. Woodbury's first ai-ticle on " A Dwindling Apiary " in the Number of July 21st, we have been favoured with two or three additional contributions by him on the same subject, explaining the nature of the evils by which his apiary has been well-nigh ruined, the means by which these evils were brought about, and the remedies employed to extirpate them. I shall make a few remarks on these three points. Mr. Woodbury, in reply to '• B. B." in last Number, describes foul brood to bo " a disease which attacks the young larvffi in their various stages of development. At first only a few die, but as these putrefy in their cells the infection spreads until very few bees arrive at maturity, and the stock dwindles and idtimately perishes." Now I have no desii'e to find faidt with Mr. Woodbury for so describing this evil. He is following in the footsteps of not a few apiarian writers in so doing, and besides, it is a subject of which, as he himself says, he has hitherto had little or no practical acquaintance. But in this, as in a. gi'eat many other matters, writers are apt to pei"petuate errors by accepting for truths the mere dicta of others without due reflection and consideration. If foul brood be a disease, I should like to know by what it is caused. Ai-o the ova as deposited by the queen tainted with the germ of some mahgnant epidemic, or is the malady induced by the niursing of infected adult bees ? How does it originate ? I know of no writer who has, in my estimation, satisfactorily accounted for the presence of foul brood in a hive on the supposition of its being a disease. Mere surmises and con- jectures we have in abundance, but nothing more ; and the so-called malady is in its origin and character left com- pletely in dwbio. Mr. Woodbury promises a digest of the views of some of the more reliable American and German authorities on the subject ; but while I shall always be glad to peruse any article from the pen of so accompUshed and able an apiarian writer as Mr. Woodbury, yet I know of no subject treated on, both by ancient and some modem writers, so full of errors as that of the diseases of bees. My general practice, indeed, in reading any work on the bee, is to pass over with a mere cursory glance the chapter so designated. The fact is, the ailments of bees are few and simple, and such as are induced by famine and filth, by confinement and spurious and insufficient food. I am not disposed, therefore, to view the presence of foul brood in a hive as a disease, properly so-called, at all. If I am right in accounting for its origin, it can no more bo called a disease than if we were to snatch the unhatehed eggs from a domestic fowl during the period of incubation, expose them to the chill of a frosty night, and then ascribe the death and consequent decay of the embryo chicks to a natural disease produced by some unaccountable cause. If it is to be termed a disease at all, lit it be described as Mr. H. Taylor described it in last Number — an entu-ely " artificial one." Abortive brood, however, properly speaking, can never be classed under the category of bee maladies. Let me here anticipate any objections which may be urged to the evils in question being produced only artificially. In AngiiBt 18, 1S63. ] JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 1 39 my communication, be it remembered, I adduced only a few of the causes which produce foul brood, and which I thought strictly applicable to the case before me ; but I have wit- nessed the same evils caused without the intervention of a single artificial process ; and while I could create or originate abortive brood in any hive at pleasiu'e by a few manipu- lations, I have also seen it produced in some instances from pui'ely natural causes and without any interference on my part at all. Weather influences alone may give rise to it. Let me illustrate this. Some few years ago I had a very vigorous colony domiciled in an observatory or unicomb- hive. The weather (it was iu autumn), was extremely warm. The queen had extended her laying down nearly to the floor- board. A sudden and violent transition of the temperature occurred, however: cold frosty nights forced the bees up- wards in the hive ; the brood in all stages were neglected, and thus the evil was generated in this hive simply by weather influences alone, rendering the part of the comb so affected permanently and entu-ely useless. The same state of matters may be produced likewise in straw hives, in cases where a populous swai'm may have a large surface of brood-comb with little honey, and be overtaken in such a condition by a long continuance of cold adverse weather. In such circumstances the bees diminish in numbers with as- tonishing rapidity ; the necessaiy warmth, attention, and nursing being withdrawn, the brood are neglected, and abor- tions to a large extent often occur. In early spring, too, in sparsely populated hives, through the operation of somewhat similar causes, I have witnessed these evils originated on a limited scale. Notwithstanding all tliis, however, foul brood is an excep- tional occurrence, ;md rai'ely met with in ordinary circxim- stances. It is only in the hands of the experimentalist that we find its presence generally manifested, and for this reason — that when bees are domiciled iu suitable hives, and when left, as I stated before to IVIr. Woodbm-y, to them- selves, and allowed to follow unrestrained the impulses and instincts of their natm-e, such disorders will seldom arise. Seldom do bees err in theii- instinctive powers of adopting suitable means for desired ends, of so regtdating and ad- justing their whole internal economy as to provide for the exigencies and conform to the requirements of the occasion, and thus prevent the bringing about a state of matters which is productive of such evil consequences as foul brood. I have often contemplated with the profoundest admiration the wonderful instinctive foresight of the bee in thus pro- viding for future contingencies and wants, and that no less wonderful sagacity which guides the queen in the interest- ing business of ovipositiou, accommodating herself, so to speak, to the particular state or condition iu which she may be placed, withholding or meting out from the almost in- exhaustible resources of her ovarium, both as to sex and numbers according to circumstances and season. In all this there is much to admire ; and the contemplative student will involuntarily turn liis thoughts beyond the blue serene which o'ercanopies this busy world of ours, and exclaim, " How manifold are Thy works, O Lord ! In wisdom hast Thou made them all." I have thus shoitly alluded to the nature and causes of the evils complained of — foul brood, and now let me make a few remai'ks as to the remedies employed by Mr. Wood- bury for ertu-pating them. In following Mr. Woodbury in the various processes re- sorted to for this pm-pose, I cannot help repeating my con- viction, notwithstanding the importation of polluted combs from other apiarians, that the real evils vrith which he has had to contend have been princij)aUy bi-ought about by his own doings and manipulations. When I took it upon me to tender my opinions to Mr. Woodbury, and to attribute the whole of the mischief complained of to experimental oj)era- tions allowing the brood to get cliillcd, I confess I was not then aware of the precise method adopted by him for the transference of bees and combs fi'om one hive to another; but as I perused the account of the several operations as detailed at jiage 78, with the prime swarms purchased in the country, can I fail to wonder — can any one tail in won- dering— that the consequences resulting therofi-om would be aught else than what we find subsequently described at page 97 — namely, the re-appearance of the evils in these fresh-imported combs ? Let me restate one of these pro- ceedings. A prime swarm is purchased in the country several miles distant from Exeter. The bees are then driven, say of an afternoon, and put into a hive furnished with empty combs. This is all well ; but what is done with the hive itself, full to overflowing, no doubt, with brood in all stages, from the newly-laid egg and hatched grub up to the full-grown pupa ? It is left empty and tenantless ! In this state it is brought home to Exeter, and stowed into a corner of the kitchen for the night ; and next morn- ing, stUl destitute of bees, the combs are cut out, fitted and fastened into frames, and then — only then — after a dozen houi-s interval, it may be, and aD the manipulating work besides, are the intended bees introduced to these combs full of chilled and neglected brood. Can it be wondered at that the tender little gi'ubs (not to speak of those more advanced and sealed), requiring so much attention, care, and warmth from the bees, should give way, and that in such circumstances foul and abortive brood would not as a consequence follow .' Mr. Woodbury may feel that I express myself too strongly ; but such a mode of proceeding is so contrary to my own practice, and what I beheved to be the general practice of apiai'ians in such circumstances, that I cannot help recording my utter surprise at the whole matter. It may be that there is some error in the narrative or that I have misinterpreted it ; for though I admit that the more advanced pupie can remain for a considerable time uninjured in such circumstances, I can never allow that the tender larvse wOl not sufler from such a lengthened and protracted exposure. — J. Lowe. WINDOWS IN FEAME-HIVES. In reply to the inquiry made by " A. B. C." in page 119, I may state that I find windows nearly useless in frame- hives. In the first place they are so blocked by the frames that little can be seen of the interior of the hive through them ; and in the next place the habit of examining every comb separately renders them altogether superfluous. These are my views respecting windows in frame-hives ; but if "A. B. C." should be of a different opinion, Messrs. Neighbour will readily supply the omission at a trifling addition to the first cost of each Woodbury -hive. — A Devon- shire Bee-keepee. BEES AND CHLOROEOEM. This spring found me with three wooden and one common cottage-hive, all particularly strong. I had a swarm from each of the mansions ; a swarm and cast from the cottage. August 5th I went round to collect rent : No. 1 mansion gave me a large and small box, containing IG lbs. — good ; No. 2, three small boxes, 16 lbs. — good again; No. 3, "it not being convenient," promised three small boxes in about a fortnight, weather permitting — good if true. The cottage tenants candidly told me, as they had but one room I must distrain if determined to have rent. Being old friends I let them alone, determined to have my revenge out of the five new cottages. No. 1, a large Yorkshire straw with a deep " eke," tenanted on the 2nd of June must go. My groom said sometliing about digging a hole and fetching brimstone matches ; on which I gave him a short extem- porary lecture " on the foUy of destz-oying these valuable insects," and told him he should see the wonderful effect of chloroform ; but just then I remembered I had none. I gave three teaspoonfuls on doubled rag. AH right, they are merry over the first taste ; and I believe I felt some pleasure in thinking how soon they would " stop that game," and amused myself in watching about half an inch thick of bees remaining on the floor-board, cooUy walk into their neighbours' house. Ten minutes— that is the time — up with the hive. Stop ! stop ! they are kicking-up a row. That is a bore. More rag and a double dose of chloroform. Still they talk. Gave them an ounce (cost Is. 6d.). They are done at last. The hive is shaken, and I, for the fii'st time, see what I take to be " all the bees in a hive,"— double the quantity I thought of. The queen must be found, because I wanted to see one, and also because " Bee-keeping for the Many " says she must be killed before her subjects are transported 140 JOTTRNAIi OF HOETICULTTJBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Anyust 18, ISBJ. to another colony ; but the bees becoming particularly liTely, and the evening rather dark, it must be given up, and they are placed on their own floor-board with their new friends over them. Now for the honey. I thought there woiild be three stories and hoped for four. There are a few bees walking about, but it is all right. " The book "' tells me a few will remain, which may be brushed out with a feather ; but the more they are brushed the more bees come. The " eke " must be taken off — a proceeding the bees did not agree to, for they were creeping all over the place. At 10 o'clock p.m., I gave it up for the night, and placed my fi-iends in a cool greenhoxisc until morning. At 10 o'clock next morning I found the house full of robber bees from all the hives. As a last hope I placed the hive in a wheelbaiTow, and had it wheeled about for an hour to deceive the robbers, which proved effectual, as I now have the honey in a sieve, and there it must remain two days, says my book ; but what in the world wiU " Jonas Jackson " say about my future luct after this ? I have now four hives of this year ; two I want to take, and two I want to keej^, all very strong indeed. Would you recommend another trial of chloroform, of course using a fresh sample ^ Would Mr. Woodbury kindly give me the distance between the glass of his nnicomb-hives 'i The frost of the 19th July cut several hundred acres of potatoes down to the gi'ound. They are now making new tops. — An Isle op Axholme Bee-keepek. LIGTIRIAN BEES IN SCOTLAND— FERTILE WOEKEES. I HAVD been favoured by Mi-. Alex. Shearer with a copy of r7te HadiUnglonsliire Courier, containing the following' in- teresting article from his pen, proving tliat the Liguriana ai'e asserting theh- wonted superiority. There can be little doubt that it was the existence of fertile workers which frustrated the attempts to rear a queen in the first of his artificial swarms, especially as I have tliis season found workers laying eggs in two instances in which royal cells hi(id turned out abortive. — A Devonshike Bee-keepeb. " CtTLTUKE OF LiouKiAN Bees. — It is Dearly twelve months since I communicated to the Courier my experience in the axtificial swanning of the Ligurian bees. Perhaps it may be interesting to your apiai'ian readers to give the results of that trial, and my further exjierience. It will be re- membered by those who take an interest in bee-manage- ment that I made two artificial swaa-ms. The first one turned out to be a faOirre, not owing to any defect in the system, but because of the wet weather diu-ing the time the (lueen required to make her 'matrimonial' fiights. It ended in there being nothing laid but drone-brood; and notwith- standing I supi:ilied her several times with bar-frames of brood-comlj, that they might rear another queen which was rea.Uy fit for her duties, she still reigned supreme, preventing any other queen coming forward to take her place ; or rather, if the doctrine of parthenogenesis be a fact— and there is in this case sti-ong evidence that it is so — that there are bees having all the appearance of workers, which have yet the power of laying di-one eggs only. In all our searches for a queen in this hive we never could find one (and it was frequently done with the utmost care), which iu other cir- cumstances we never failed in finding. But it appears those bees which have the power of laying drone eggs wiU never idlow any other queen to be reared. Such is the theory of those who hold by this doctrine. For my own part, I for- bear giving any conclusive opinion on the matter — I would require more experience on the subject. I merely state the fact as we found it in our case. No bees being bred, they gradually died-off, and her neighbours began and robbed her in Februai-y this year. The second one was more successful ; she has survived the winter, and given oft" a top swarm, and appears to be a hybrid between the Ligurian and common bee. " The old, or orig-iual Ligurian, began egg-laying in January. On the 1.5th of June I made the first artificial swarm. I made another on the 22nd, and one on the oOth of June, and on the 10th of July she gave off a natural swarm, larger than any two of the common ones, and on the 16th a second — the latter was a small one, and the person who had them in charge put it Ixick the same even- ing. I went the following day and found the queen had not been killed, and, on examining the hive, found a beautiful queen, and also eight queen-cells, all in difierent stages of progress. I divided them, leaving the queen already hatched in one, and put the other into another hive, along with half of the bees, that they might hatch another queen for them- selves, which they have done, at the same time cutting off a jjiece of comb having a queen cell sealed up, and gave it to a neighboiu-, who carried it nearly two miles in a box. When he turned up one of his hives, which had given off a top swai-m a few days before, he found the queen-cell still unhatched. This he cut out, and inserted the Ligurian one in its place, which was hatched by the 22nd, as on the 23rd and 24th the bees in the hive manifested all those symp- toms, so wen known to bee-keepers, of her majesty being on one of her excursions to find the future king. The top swarm (having of course the old queen) being in such a prosj^erous state — laying numbers of young brood, I mad« another ai'tificial one on the 22nd ; thus making foiu: arti- ficial swarms and two natural ones from one hive, besides taking upwards of 25 lbs. of honeycomb from the artificial swarms, to give them more room for breeding, that ther« might be abundance of young bees out to begin on th» heather when it is ready. I gave also a bar-frame of drone- brood to a friend, a bee-keeper in Edinburgh, whose Ligurian queen had,/ailed in laying drone eggs (another very puzzling circumstance in bee-keeping). Had I been disposed, and had J hives to put them in, I could have easily, from the same hive* I made almost any n\unber of swanns ; but I am satisfied with the six in the meantuue. If all the Ligiunan queens are like the one I have, then the common bee cannot b». compared with them as breeders. An acquaintance in Edin- burgh, who got one last year, informs me tliat his has thrown off four swarms since May, and all strong. Mine would have been much stronger had not a great number of bees died in the spring by dysentery, caused, I imagine, by the stock swarm being kept in a wooden box. The moisture arising fr'om the bees not being absorbed by the wood, it collected on the fioor-board in such quantities that in their cft'orts U> get rid of it they took the disease. During the winter and spring I shifted the comb four times into a dry wooden box, and each time they unproved partially. At last I had a. hive made on the same principle, in straw, by John Heriot, Longyester, which has completely cured them. I will never keep stock swarms again, during winter, in wood ; it may do in summer, but certainly not in winter. Another proof of the superior breeding powers of th« Ligurian bee : out of eight good hives of the common bee, only two gave off a second swarm with me, all getting the same treatment. In order to keep the Ligurians pure, 1 have all the six young swarms at Longyester, where then* are no common bees within ne'.irly two mUes of them. I will thus have a ftirther opportunity of testing their merits with the common bee, and also the hybrid." HOW TO DESTROY WASPS' NESTS. I HAVE for years been more or less annoyed with wasps about this season of the year — those, I mean, that majre their nests in some hole in the ground — and I have at times adopted various means to destroy theii' nests. I need not here enter into any detail how I have in former years pro- ceeded to take them; but latterly I have adopted the following mode : — I procure some eoal-tai', a handfiil of fine sha^dngs, or what is, perhaps, quite as good — a bit of an old mat, scale it well in the coal-tar, take a long stick — a broom-handle will do very well — and then in the evening about ten or eleven o'clock, when the wasps are nearly all gone home, I proceed to the nest and p'.ish the piece of old mat, now full of coal- tar, as far into the hole towards their nest as I can, and thus make them prisoners to die in their own castle. — G. Dawsox. [We h.ave found that an effectual mode is to put a little spirit of turpentine into a mne-bottlo ; to thrust its neck into the entrance of the nest ; place a little straw over, the bottle, and burn it, so as rapidly to fill the nest with tur- pentine vapom-. This is more prompt and less cruel, we think, th.an our correspondent's plan. — Eds.] August JM, 1863. ] JOUIUfAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDElvrEE. 141 WEEKLY CALENDAR- Day Day 1 of of 1 JTnthWeek.l .S6 Tn 26 W 27 Th 28 F 29 S 30 Sdn 31 M AUGUST 25-31,1863. Star Ttiiatle flowers. Pouthernwood flowei-s. Fleibane flowers. GoUlen-rod flowers. Chejpea Gardens founded, 1673. 13 Sunday after Tni>jTT, Meadow SaftVon flowers. Average Temperature Rain in last 36 jears. Son Sun near London. Riaes. Sets. Day. Night. Mean. Days. m. h*. m. h. 71.4 50.B 61.2 15 2a(5 2af7 72.7 48.7 60.7 11 4 6 0 7 •73.2 49.8 61.5 11 5 5 VI. 72;S' 49'8 61.3 IC 7 5 55 6 71i6 48.3 60.0 14 « 3 S3 6 71.8 48 1 00.0 8 lU 5 51 6 71.1 47.7 59.4 15 12 5 49 C Moon Rises m. h. 47 a 4 22 5 55 5 20 6 43 6 7 7 Moon Sets. m. h. 27a 0 45 1 Jloon's Age. Clock before Sun. m. Day »f Year. n 12 13 o 16 16 17 1| 1 45 I 1 28 1 11 0 53 6 35 237 238 239 210 241 242 243 From observations taken near London during the last thirtv-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 72.1°, anil it3 night temperature 49.0". The greatcHt heat was W, on the -26th. 1859 ; and the lowest cold, 32°, oa the 29th, 1850. The greatest tall of rain was 1.32 inch. JOTTINGS ABOUT SOME BEDBIN'G PL.4^*TS OF 1863. OBELIA Paxtoni sent out by Messrs. Carter is one of the nicst effective of the bedding novelties of the cur- rent season. Its habit is so pros- trate, the contrast of its light blue and white so perfect, its growth 60 free, and bloom so profuse, that it is a great acquisition. I was parti- cularly struck with its ex- cellence when contrasting it with a seedling raised here by a well-known nursery- man, Drummond. to whom I gave some of the plants I had from London. He thought his own good, but he will destroy them that his stock may not be mixed. The Tagetes pumOa is a very striking, spreading plant, not exceeding 12 ins. in height, and presents a mass of richyeUow blo.ssoms spangling its good foliage. The spring being so di-y, and the summer warm, the slugs have not attacked it, for they usually mercOessly desti'oy its ally, the French Marigold. It is much benefited by an occasional watering with liquid manure. The experience of all parties agrees as to the Ama- ranthus melancholicus ruber. In favourable seasons, and under proper management, it is a most valuable addition to the eolourcd-foliaged plants. Nothing equals it in brdliancy of colour when in a good light. Plants if small when put in do not thrive, the cold wind .so dries the leaves : they should be G inches high in pots before transplanting into the borders. The winds and cold of May and early June almost destroyed the first lot. The growth of plants under circumstances appa- rently the same is rather irregular. Some of mine are a foot high, and nearly that acros.s, while others close to them are at least one-third less. Those planted the first have never done well. This plant also enjoys weak liquid manure. Dm-ing July the improvement in the growth and beauty was more marked. The Perilla, though so much more hardy, is veiy dingy and coarse as compared with the Amaranth. There is a half-shrubby plant of loose growth with small silvery leaves (the name I forget), that I saw last week at Messrs. Garraway's nursery, at Bristol, used as an efiective background of a ribbon-border. It was mingled with Perilla, which formed an excellent contrast Ln colour and growth. This firm had planted rows of Amaranth, none of which were prospering, the wind having spoiled the leaves. I do not know -what may be the future height or No. 126— Vol. V., Ntw SESits. size of Oalandrinia umbellata. When 2 inches high it throws up its flower-stidk not exceeding 3 inches, carry- ing an lunbel of rich red-purple flowers, which appear if) be permanent and suitable for small nosegays. The foliage is so light and marked, that I expect it will formtt nice edging of low growth. Is it a perennial and hardy I" For singularity of growth, and strictly a creeping jilairfc, nothing cau exceed Arototis repens, wit'h its long silvery branches that literally stick to the ground. If it has a blossom that contrasts with its colour it is very suitable for filling corners of beds. I should presume by its growth that it will be found an excellent plant to haxig down over rockwork, when it would form a close suo-- stratum for flowers of a brilliant hue. It would contrast well with the dark blue LobeUa. There is another plant that in the early part of the day presents a blaze of liglit red blossoms — Mesenaits-y- anthemum tricolor. Why called tricolor I do not know. Many white-blooming plants came up with the red, nor can I distinguish the one from the other by any dilferenee of foliage. The period of blooming is but short, as it seeds so freely, and the plant lies so close to tlie grounft that these seeds cannot be cut off without more labour- than it is worth. Its roots are so very fine that I pre- sume its natural and most suitable site is on stones,, tO' which its silky roots adhere, that they may be nourished by the moisture always on rocks. For distant elTect an old-fashioned plant. Oenothera acaulis, with its showy white blossoms a few inches from the ground, is worthy of notice. I cannot conclude mj-comments on "these plants, selected solely from the catalogues of Messrs. Carter and of Messrs. Henderson & Son, without any previous know- ledge of them, and solely by their descriptions, without expressing my satisfaction at finding the descriptions of the catalogues quite correct. To amateurs with sraaU means and small gardens, who must judge and rear plants for themselves, it strengthens their confidence- ia their fellow men, and enables them for the future to trust firms to whom they personally are unknown. I am sorry- to say this is far from being the case in purchasing fruit trees of some of the provincial gardeners, several of whom are as likely to send you the wrong as the rigitt sort. So much is this the ease, that I have long ag«<, made it the rule with some firms never to buy a tree till I have seen the fruit on it. This is not, however, I believe the rule of the trade, who are so dependant on the care and honesty of theii' foremen.— B. J. S. BOILEES. The boiler question Ixas been alfly discussed of lat-e. Tlie admirable papers of " G. A." have thrown consider- able light on the matter, and will, doubtless, jtrore use- ful to many. He has, with rather more courage than is usually displayed on such occasions, put forth his own views of what a boiler ought to be, and given a plan which anybody may work out for his own profit. Judg- ing fFom Tvhat I know of the action of heat on boilers, the No. 778.— Vol. XXX., Old SsaiEf. 142 JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August 25, 186S. plan given at page 85 would be well worth trying, and I should like to hear of its having been cai-ried into effect in all its details. Meanwhile, I wish to offer a few further remarks on the subject, for although I believe it is one that more directly concerns employers, still it is also important that gardeners should make themselves thoroughly acquainted with it, and this most of them have opportunities of doing, both from their own practice and from the reports of the experience of others. In the first place, I would criticise what " G. A. " says in regard to the nature of heat, not in a spirit of opposition, but with the object of inquiring further into the matter. From what " G. A." observes, the natural tendency of heat is to dii'ect its course upwards. Now, in my view, it is to diffuse itself eqxiaUy on all sides from the point of com- bustion into the surrounding ail-. The ail' thus heated becomes lighter, and is quickly borne up by colder, and, consequently, heavier air; so that, heat being diffused, heated air has no motion in itself vnitil displaced by that which is heavier — in other words, that which has a greater specific gravity. It may not be possible to distinguish be- tween heat itself and heated au', and perhaps it is of little consequence whether we can or not ; but it is worth while ascertaining the truth while we are about it, and I will en- deavour to make my meaning more clear by illustration. If you light a candle and place it in the middle of a dark room, the light is diti'used equally on aU sides — that is, as nearly equally as we can judge ; and it is my belief that the heat would be equaDy diffused, but, that being less subtle than the light, it, in combination with the air into which it is diffused, is more readily acted on by the cooler air, and is quickly borne upwards. The fact that there is more heat at 2 inches above the light than at half an inch from the side of it does not alter the case, since the heat that would otherwise be equally diffused all round is concentrated at the top by the upward cun'ent of air. According to "G. A.," in speaking of the action of fire on boilers, the greatest heat is directed to that part which is directly over the lire. Now, I am not sure that this is correct. For instance : the blacksmith does not place the iron to be heated over the fti-e, where, according to " G. A.'s " theory, the greatest heat would be, but he thrusts it right into the fire — to the very spot where the blast of cold air, driven in by a powerful pair of bellows, comes in contact with the fuel ; or if you take a common pair of bellows and blow up your parlour fire, you wUl perceive that where the nozzle of the bellows is directed there wUl be the hottest part of the fire, and, further, if you look into a fiu-nace fii-e you wiU see that the greatest heat is about the bars, and although there may be more heat at 1 foot above the fire than at 3 inches below it, there will be more heat 1 inch below the fire than at 1 inch above it, for the greatest heat is where the air comes in contact with the burning fuel. Presuming this view to be correct, it shows the advantage of having hollow bars to the furnace, and that a great deal of heat is thus encoui-aged, but that is not enough. I have said the greatest heat is at the point of contact between the fire and the ib-aught of air, but the question is how to adapt this to the economisation of heat. Here I must confess myself at fault, for although, as I believe, the greatest heat is at the bottom of the fire, still the liottoms of the baxs where the ah- comes in contact with them on its way to the fire are comparatively cool, and the same effect would be produced if a current of air could be made to play on other points than the bottom of the furnace. Leaving this ground, then, as untenable, we come back to the question of how to utilise the heat in its upward course — upwar-d, not because of its tendency to fly off, but because it is pushed up by that which is to replace it. The most rea.ionable method of utilising this heat appears to be to intercept it, by breaking its direct progress, and throwing it into nu- merous directions instead of allowing it to pass off in a body, and this must be done in such a manner that sufficient draught is allowed for the fire to burn clear. This must not be overlooked, for it not unfi-equently happens that in di- recting our attention to one point we are apt to overlook others. It is on this account, that although improvements are made from time to time, a perfect boUer has not yet appeared, and it is possible never will; yet "G. A." has .suggested some changes, and I freely coincide with him that what he suggests would be a decided improvement. He provides horizontal cods of pipes for the heat to strike against in its upward course, and having passed there it is again to break against the water-jacket, which is grooved to receive it. Still, in my opinion, a great body of heat is aUowed to pass off unintercepted — for tliis reason : that al- though I believe the natural tendency of heat is to diffuse itself, stiU the pressure of the atmosphere tends to con- centrate it into a column in its upward progress, narrower as it mounts higher, as is seen in the foi-m the flame of a candle assumes. This, then, would allow the strongest heat even in such a boiler to pass into the flue. It appears, then, that what is wanted is the means of in- tercepting, breaking, turning, and appropriating this column of heat, so that it shall not pass away from the boiler until no more heat is allowed to escape than will carry the smoke up the flue. This, of coui-se, must be aUowed for, or the whole con- trivance will fail ; and tliis probably will be a point of some nicety, for the boiler itself may be as nearly perfect as it could possibly be, and yet the least fault in the setting might spoil it. It would, however, be possible to avoid this ; and I will follow the example of " G. A.," and give a few suggestions of my own, which, as a matter of course, are open to criticism, and so far from fearing to have defects pointed out, I shall be glad to be set right if I am proved to be wrong. I do not know whether it is generally known, that when a piece of wire gauze or fine wire netting is held in the flame of a candle that the flame becomes dispersed, takes a wider scope, but unites after passing through it. Tliis wire natu- rally intercepts a gi-eat deal of heat. Two or three such layers would absorb nearly all the heat, and allow the air to pass off comparatively cooled. Now, although I do not remember seeing anytlung of the sort, I do not think it would be impossible to cast hollow plates perforated with holes of about three-quarters of an inch in diameter, so that the plates would hold water and yet allow flame to pass through the perforations. By way of illustration I wiU suppose a metal dish such as is used to serve up large joints of meat, and which are made to hold hot water. Suppose this dish could be pierced with holes half an inch in dia- meter and about an inch apart, the holes to go through from top to bottom so that you could see through them, and yet the dish to hold hot water the same as before ; and ftirther, suppose three or four of such perforated water- plates to be cast of different sizes, of from 18 inches or 2 feet for the largest, and 1 foot or it may be less for the smallest ; then we should have a water-jacket or a boiler made somewhat similar in form to Weeks's boiler — that is, tapering towards the top, only pipes either upright or horizontal are unnecessary excepting for the furnace-bai's, which I would assuredly have hollow. The main part of the boiler would be a plain hollow water-jacket, and the perfo- rated hollow plates would be fitted within this ; the largest say a foot above the fire, the next about 9 inches above that, the next at an inch or so less distance above that, and, if another, a still less distance to be allowed between them — the hollow plates and water-jacket to be all connected, so that the water could pass freely through them all ; the flow, of course, to be fi-om the top of the water-jacket, and the return at the bottom of it in connection with the hollow furnace-bars. There should be openings through the water-jacket to allow of a wire brush being introduced for clearing the boiler of accumulated soot, for this would be a matter of necessity in such a boiler ; but with a ready means of intro- ducing a brush the cleaning would involve a very trifling amount of trouble on the part of the stoker. With regard to the circvdation of water, the boiler should bo made so that the water could pass freely from the bottom to the top. This is all that is necessary as regards the boiler in the circulation of the water, for that chiefly depends on the fall of water in the return-pipe. If we examine into the prin- ciples on which hot water circulates wo shall find that it does not depend on the nature of hot water to ascend, but on the power of colder water to push it up or displace it, and that the greater tlie weight of water in the return-pipe the more rapidly is the hot water made to ascend. If the retiu-n-pipes were twice as thick and lield twice as much water as the flow-pipes, the mere construction of the boUer could offer no obstruction to the circulation of the water. Angnet 2b, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTXJUE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 143 With regaa-d to the draught of the flue, as " G. A." justly remarks, a boiler fii-e ought to be perfectly under control, and a good draught ought to be secm-ed by sufficient height and breadth of chimney. But then there should also be the power to regulate that draught, for a gi'eat deal depends on that power, chiefly as regards economising fuel, but also for the safety of the plants. A boOer constructed on the pilnciples I have suggested may at fii-st sight appear complicated, but I do not think it can be more so than pipe-boilers generally, or that it can not be made as strong and dm-able ; nor is there any reason why it could not be adapted to heat buildings of various sizes, and be made larger or smaller as required. Cer- tainly I think it will present a surface of water to the action of the fire both direct and indii-ect, that will make it capable of doing a vast amount of work at a comparatively small consumption of fuel. I woidd rather give my experience of what has been done than merely endeavour to explain what might be done ; and so I will take this opportunity of stating what I know of a boiler, concei-ning which, as far as I have seen, others have had but little to say — that invented by Mr. Messenger of Loughborough. One that I have the management of is, I beliefve, about 4 feet long, 3 feet high, and 2 feet wide outside, the whole being enclosed in brickwork. This is the neai'est guess I can make, for I have no means of taking an accurate measurement. The boiler is composed of pipes which are three-sided and laid horizontally, thi'ee on each side of the fii'e, and a layer of seven over it, and another layer of six or seven over that. This arrangement presents the whole, or nearly the whole, surface of water in the boiler to the direct action of the fire; and this siu'face of water is necessarily very large in proportion to the size of the boiler, the furnace-bars also being hollow and forming part of the boiler. The fire plays about and between these pipes, and is vei-y much dispersed : consequently a large propor- tion of the heat is intercepted. The only fault I find with the aii-angement is the constant attention requii-ed in keeping clean, for the space allowed between the pipes is very nan'ow, and a small accumulation of soot will stop the di-aught ; but this cleaning is but the work of five minutes each day when the boiler is in full work. It wiH be seen that, supposing each triangular pipe is 4 feet long and 4 inches wide at the base, it follows that each pipe presents 4 feet of surface to the fire ; and there being twenty of these, there will be 80 feet of surface exclusive of the furnace-bars. The fire is also perfectly under control ; for with good fuel, a clear flue, and a rapid fall of water, it is possible to get up the heat in an incredibly short space of time ; and by shutting up the ashpit-door and closing the damper a shovel- fol of fuel will keep alight the whole day. As near as I can understand there are two thousand feet of pipe attached to this boiler, nearly all of which is foui-- inch. Although the whole of it is not required to be heated except in case of frost, still the boiler wiU heat the whole and that effectively, and, as near as I can judge, at no greater consumption of fuel than I have used to heat 120 feet of pipe by means of a saddle boUer. By turning a valve the flow of hot water is stopped, but the return is still avail- able, and the pressui'e of cold water is in no way diminished. This is no small matter for various reasons, but chiefly on account of economy in fuel and water. In conclusion, I would say a word with regard to fuel. While living in the neighbourhood of London, I seldom ever bm-ned coals either in a boOer furnace, or in a common flue : I have mostly been in the habit of bui-ning coke, and very often have burned nothing but cinders. The New- castle coals which are bui-ned in domestic grates turn to cinders, and these when sifted make an excellent fuel for the furnace. Those who bum coal in the furnace use what they call inland coals, and these burn to a white ash, which is unlike the ash of the sea coal. In Staffordshire people burn coal in the parlour grate, and slack in the furnace. This answers very well, but the soot and smoke it makes will soon clog up a flue, and render constant sweeping necessary. — F. Chitty. County of Kildajie Hoeticulturai, Exhibition. — Our readers will perceive by an advertisement in another column that a Horticultural Exhibition in connection with the Kil- dare Agricultural Society is to be held at Naas on Septem- ber 1st. Numerous prizes are offered for flowers, fruits, vegetables, &c., amounting to more than JEIOO. HEATING A SMALL PROPAGATING-HOUSE. I AM about to put up a small span-roofed propagating- house for early use, say in the middle of January. WiU you give me a Httle advice on the subject ? The house will be 20 feet long and 7i wide, inside measure. There will be a path through the middle, and on one side will be a bed of 2J feet in width for plunging pots of cuttings in, and on the other a stage for the cuttings when potted. Under the bed I purpose having a trough made, I suppose of cement, and having the pipes laid in it, so as to be covered with water. How am I to make the tank watertight ? I am told that a pipe passing through brickwork forming a tank will, when Ueated, expand and cause a leakage. How is this to be pre- vented ? What width and depth should the trough be, and what size the pipes — a flow and retm-n of course i" and then what size should the pipes be for toi> heat ? Added to this house wiU be a pit 40 feet long and about 4 wide, to which I purpose having a continuation of piping from the house. ShoiUd the piping be of the same size as that in the house, the object being merely to exclude frost from the beginning of March ? Perhaps you wUl be good enough to say what kind of boiler wiU be best adapted to my purpose. Some recom- mend a saddle, some a tubidar one, some one thing, and some another. Have you any knowledge of Eiddell's Patent Slow Combustion Boiler ? It seems to be simple in its con- struction, and it is said by the patentee to have several very desirable qualities, such as I'equiring little fuel and attention, no expense in setting, and that it can be so easily regulated as fauly to entitle it to the name given it. The patentee of this boiler has, to me, a novel plan of connecting hot-water pipes. At the ends of the pipes are flanges — made square. These are drawn together and secured with four screws and nuts. At the junction of the pipes there is a ring or collar of something like gutta-percha or some such material of an apparently elastic property, which renders the pipes per- fectly watertight, so it is said. Perhaps you have seen the plan and can speak of its mei-its or defects. A more simple mode than this of putting together and removing pipes cannot well be devised. If the plan is effectual it deserves to be made known ; and it would be well to make it known if it is not effectual, so that the public may not be deceived and disappointed. — C. S. E. [First, as inspects the tank, the fear of expansion is next to groundless. There is more danger of leakage from build- ing on an insecure foundation. The tank shovUd consist of brick well wetted, laid in cement, and a layer of cement all over. The tank for the place should be 2 feet wide and 5 inches deep. Were we disposed to be economical, we would dispense with pipes through it, and make the tank into a flow and return by a division down the middle and an opening at the end. We presume you mean covering with slate. We find no fault with the pipes through the tank except for economy. It is certain that with the pipes there you are sui-e of bottom heat, even if you have a leak- age, and that is not bkely if your foundation is good, and the cement good and used the instant it is made. For such a place we have recommended a small wooden tank, or box, elevated on piers or battens, so as to give room beneath for many things. The simplest plan we have met with was a wooden trough 22 feet wide and 6\ inches deep, divided down the middle. It had a space for water Sj inches deep, and was covered above with thin house slate, and thus about 3 inches were left for setting or plunging small pro- pagating-pots. For such a tank as youi's two three-inch pipes will be ample. If the brick sides of the tank are exposed, three thi-ee-inch pipes wiU do for top heat; I'ut if not exposed much, you ought to have three four-inch pipes for early work. It is bad economy to have pipes excessively hot. If the water in them is rai-ely above IGO' to 180° all the better. Of course, if all your pipes ai-e close, vrith afr-pipes at the highest point, the mere level, if all above the boiler, is of il44 JOURNAL or HORTIGULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAItDENEK. [ August 35, lass. less conseq^uence. These levels, however, must be kejjt in view, if you mean to heat the 40-feet pit from this house. Your simplest phm would be to place the border, if practi- cable, between the two places, and take heat as required for either place hy valves, or take the fiow-pipe into a cistern higher than any of the pipes to be heated, and fi-om thence take a flow for toj), another for tank in the propagating- house, and one for the pit, to bo regulated by plugs as dlesirabie. If your pit were 6 feet wide, two tlu-ee-inch pipes would do all you require, and you cannot well have less for a four-feet pit — ^that is, 80 or 90 feet in all. Any of the simplest boilers will do all you want. We believe EiddeU's to be very good, but we take all high re- commendations with a little reserve. We have worked in our time most of the kinds of boilei-s advertised in these columns, and we find them all good if well set and well managed. If we have a prejudice, it is for tubular or conical boilers ; but we do not forget, that in the largest estabUsh- ments and imder the greatest gardeners, there is a general tendency to a return to some modification of the old saddle- ■back. We decline, therefore, authoritatively to say what "boiler is best, and much prefer that om- readers would exercise then- own judgment. We have not seen the flange spoken of in use, but we have no doubt it -btU answer. We have repeatedly detailed how Mr. Lane and other proprietors of large establishments use Portland cement for fonuing the joints, which so far as first cost and iiltimate economy is concerned we consider far preferable to ii-on filings and sal-ammoniac. Where large fires are used we would prefer the joints close to the boiler to be iron.— E. F.] HINTS TO AMATEUES ON THE USE OF SOOT AS A LIQUID MANUEE, While the materials for liquid manures are often diffi- cult to procure by the amateur gardener, and ti-equently tedious ill their proparation, injurious in their application, or oft'eusive in theh' smeU, soot sufiicient for the pm-pose is almost everywhere at hand, and in a few hours can be pre- pared for use ; and if amateur gardeners were more geuera,lly aware that no manures can be taken up in a state of solidity by plants as food, and that they can only absorb them in a gaseous or liquid state, and to which state all solid mamu-es a.pplied to plants must be previously reduced before any benefit can be derived fi-om them by the plant, they would in many cases facilitate the process by using them' in a .liquid state. Sir Humphry Davy characterises soot as a powerful manure, possessing ammoniacal salt, empyi-eu- matic oil, and charcoal, which is capable of being rendered soluble by the action of oxygen: consequently, when soot is dissolved in water there is no waste, while if sown by hand in a dry state, a great portion of its ammonia, which is one of its active ingredients, is volatilised, and is tlissi- pated in the atmosphere. Soot when used as liquid manm'e gives vigour to the plant without grossness, and impai-ts a healthy gi'eeu to the foliage without the least chance of injury to the plant. In fact, watering a sickly plant with a weak solution of soot water is the surest and safest means of restoring it to health. In preparing soot water it is only necessary to tlu-ow a few handfuls of ft-esh soot into a pail of water, and aiter stin-ing it up to leave the mixture for a few houi-s to settle. and when the liquid has become clear, it is fit for use, and can be given once a-week in summer without the least risk of injm-y to the ijlants, whether in pots or in the open ground. — Geop-ge Otokdon, A.L.S. Gladiolus Disease. — I see in your Jom-nal of tlie 11th inst. you mention the disease in collections of GlatUoli near London. I find the same in many of mine here (Aberdeen), and have been puzzled what to apply as a ciu-e. The flower does not seem in the least afi'ccted by it ; but the leaves of several are entirely gone, while others are perfectly fresh and ga-een. — A Eeadeb. described by one of your recent coiTespondents. It is very curious that some roots of a patch planted at the i)roper time have never vegetated. They remain in the ground apparently fresh and fiwn, but without any further signs ol life. When Tulips or Hyacinths thus fail to gi-ow they speedily die and become rotten. Has the fii-mer tissue of the Gladiolus bulb greater power to resist decay ? or will these donnant roots awake into life next spriag ? Should they be taken up or left in the ground to take their chance ? — B. J. S. ■ The disease which so much resembles the Potato disease is universal among the Gladiolus tribe. It was correctly CLEE.EENWELL FLOWEE SHOW. This annual Show of plants and flowers belonging' to the working chisses and children of ClerkenweU was held on the 19th and 20tli inst. in the schoolroom of the Lamb and Flag Eagged School, ClerkenweU Gi-reen, and was in eveiy respect a most interesting and successful Bxliibi- tion. It differs somewhat from the other exhibitions of the sort which have been held in London, inasmuch as its pi-incipal aim seems to be to encourage the cidtivation of plants by cliOdren. Most liberal prizes are, however, offered for competition among adults, and pai'ticidarly among work- ing men ; but the fact of the prizes in the latter class being offered for coDections of six plants necessitates the number of exhibitors being very small indeed. We must, however, remark that the six Fuchsias which won the first prize in this class were exceedingly fine plants, and hatl evidently been gi'own by a man to whom the cultivation of plants was no novelty, and the same might be said of the winner of the second prize. The children's plants, however, formed the greater part of the Show, and were to us much the most interesting part of it. We veiy much doubt if it could be possible for better plants to be exhibited by children living in such a neighbourhood. What struck us most was the remarkable cleanliness of every single specimen exhibited. We did not see one dusty or du'ty leaf in the whole collec- tion, which clearly shows that some one has impressed upon the youthful exhibitors the gi-eat necessity of wasliing their plants in order to keep them in good health. Among the other plants exhibited were Apple, Plum, and Orange trees. Ferns, and one or two very nice plants of Coleus Verschaff'elti. Prizes were also offered for cut flowers grown by the exhibitors ; but, as might be expected, there was no very keen competition in this class. The first prize was won by a very tastily-aiTanged i^an fiiU of Fuchsia and Ageratum blossoms edged mth ViU'iegated Mint. Several kind patrons had sent bouquets of flowers, wliich were on sale for the benefit of the schools, and Mr. Cutbush, of Highgate, had sent some which were most beautiful and most tempting. In the evening of the second day Mr. Bodkin, who is another inhabitant of Highgate, attended and gave away the prizes. When we mention that these latter were awai-ded by Mr. Broome, Mr. Dale, and Mr. Gordon, eveiy one will be satisfied that there was no cause for grambling. And now we will take the opportunity of making one or two suggestions, which we are sure ^vill be taken in good part by the promoters of the ClerkenweU Flower Show, who evidently take such veiy great pains to seciu'e success. In the first place we would suggest that the plants which win prizes should be more prominently noticed. We found it quite impossible in most instances to ascertain which were the i>rize plants, as the card which ought to have been placed conspicuously in front of the pot was olten lying in the jiot on its face. We think these p-ize-cai-ds should be rather ornamental than otherwise, as they are much trea- sured by the successful exhibitoi-s. Looking at the number of plants exhibited, we think it would be beneficial to foi-m the different sorts of plants into different classes, and not to let plants which are so very dissimilar ixs the LobeUa and Fuchsia compete with one another. We oamiot help thinking that the good effects of the Flower Show would be much more widely extended if more prizes were offered for single specimens, and fewer for coUections. We iind fr-om experience that the poor do not keep " col- lections " of plants, and we must begin liy adapting our classes to the exhibitors. In other respects we think it would have been impossible Augan 25, 186;,. ] J0UE3SrAIi OP HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEBENEE. 145 for tlie Clei-tenweR Flower Show to have been more success- ful ; and we do not hesitate to say that the plants exhibited by the childi-en would have carried off the palm at most, if not all, of the exhibitions of the sort which have been held this year in the metropolis. In one most important respect the promoters of this Show set an excellent example to others, for they not only get up a Show and ofl'er prizes, but evidently take great pains to instruct the exhibitors how to grow their plants successfully. The chUdreus' plants could not otherwise have been so creditably grown and exhibited. THE EAELY-FLOWEEIJS^G JIOOE HEATH. Ebica oaknea, Linntcus. STNONTirES. — Erica herbacea, Wendlaiul. E. saxatilis, Salisbury. Gypsocallis caruea, D. Z*on. 'Nat. ord., Heathwoets. The Erica is one of the unfortunate genera among many others that has come perfected, as it were, from the hand of the great father of oiu' artiiicial system, to suffer ampu- tation and distribution in after ages ; for Professor Don, in his clever an-angement of the order Erieaceai, places oui- present plant in his new genus Gypsocallis — principally on account of its flow^ers being uroeolate, or bellying out towards theu' base, like an old-fashioned pitchei', and then' stamens being exserted, or projecting beyond the mouth of the coroUa. And although every one may not agree in the separation, still all must be ready to pay that tribute of praise due to the very eminent ability of the late Professor for his acute- ness of observation and depth of botanical research, but which nevertheless seem to have rendered him more nice in his generic divisions than plain botanists admit to be necessary, or indeed than is useful to the practical man ; for certain it is that the extension of our botanic vocabulary, ajid perplexing increase of synonymes, form considerable drawbacks to any advantages that may accrue from nicer distinctions. The name Erica is derived from the Greek ereiko, to break, from its supposed quality of breaking, or r.ither dissolving, the stone in the bladder, or, according to some writers, ii-om the brittleness of the plants ; that of Gypsocallis is fi'om gypsos, lime, and hallistos, most beautiful, the plants being vei'y elegant and inhabitants of calcareous soUs. The Early Moor Heath is a neat little bushy undershrub, ■which gi'ows about 0 inches high, clothed with evergreen, linear, glabrous leaves, arranged in whorls of four along the stems, and peudidous flowers, which are disposed in ter- minal racemes directed to one side ; small, pale red, or flesh- colom'ed, conical in shape, and produced abundantly fi'om Januai-y to April. The jilant, like those of other hardy kinds, gi'ows freely in any light sandy soil or peat eai-th, aad makes a most desirable subject for the front part of the flower-border or for edging round an Ajnerican-bed, as it bears cutting back without injury, and is perfectly hardy, braving our severest winters with impunity. It is a native of Austria, South Germany, and Switzerland, and is easily increased by cuttings ; but as its procumbent branches in- crease freely in any light sod, a more convenient mode of propagation is by layers, which will root sufficiently to admit of separation in eighteen months. The Erica carnea is an old inhabitant of our gardens, having been introduced ia the year 1763. — Gbobge Gobdon, A.L.S. AMAUAA^THUS MELAJSTCHOLICUS BITBEE AND LOjS'ICEEA AUEEO-EETICFLATA. I HAVE mot yet seen any remark on the injury wliich the leaves of the Amaranthus melancholious ruber sustain fr-om watering overhead. Drops of water falling on the leaves discolour them, and the spots seem to spread so as to injure the -whole leaf. With reference to planting-out Lonieera aureo-reticulata, I observe that the plant is no exception to the general i-ule that coloured leaves lose their brilliancy from want of heat. Two plants have thriven perfectly in the open air in a aotttheim.a^ect this summer, but the leaves have lost the bright gold-lacimg or reticidaJKon and have become dull and lilurred-looking, oiieriug a great contrast to a plant under glass.— A 06KSTA2IT EiEiDEE, Dublin. NOTES ON GAKDENS PUBLIC AND PEIVATE. No. 3.— Viscount Holmesdale's, M.P., Lintok Pabej ■ No reader of The Jouenal op Hokticultuee needs to be told, that amongst the most practical and accomplished of om- modern horticulturists none stand higher tham the able and kiteDigent gtirdener to whom the management ctf Linton Park is entrusted ; while of the place itself they have often heard so much that my few rough notes wiU lose much of then- interest. As, however, they are intended not to be descriptions of the places visited, but just what I have called these short papers, '■ Notes on Gardens," I do not profess to teU what ai'e all the trees grown, or the shrubs planted, or give minute plans and descriptions of the bed- ding-out. I shall, notwithstanding these disadvantages, give my recollection of one of the pleasantest mornings I have spent during the present summer. Linton Park, known formerly as the seat of the Laidy Julia CornwaUis, but since her marriage as that of Lord Hohnesdale, lies pleasantly situated upon the slightly-ele- vated ridge of chalk hills wliich run along the north- eastern portion of the county, ending at Folkestone; and, being halfway down the hill, it is quite sheltered from the northerly and easterly winds, lying fuUy open to the south and west. While thns enjoying an immunity from those piercing blasts, which in the spring months sweep like a sirocco along the coast, it nevertheless has a good deal to bear from the south-westerly gales which are so prevalent in this part of England ; and judicious care has evidently been exercised in foi-mer days to plant extensively for the protection of the house and gi-ounds fr-om those winds. The house itself is a plain building exteriorly, but is undergoing a thorough renovation iaside. The walls an-d ceilings of the reception-rooms ai-e all being painted by hand; and the suite will form one of the most beautijfid and exquisite specimens of feiste and art to be seen in England when they are completed. The plea.sure groimds are situated in the rear of the mansion, fr-om which a series of ten-aces lead down to the lower portion of the ground. The pinetnm lies to the left, containing, as I shall have to notice, some very fine trees ; while the conservatories, greenhouses, and kitchen garden are situated at the back of the house. A noble avenue of Bhns leads out to the jVIaidstone road in the front of the house, and another to the chm-ch at the right hand. Some magnificent Elms are to be iound, not only in these avenues, but in other parts of the grounds ; and to me, coming fr-om our treeless neighbom-hood, there is always great pleasure in the sight of such luxm-iant foliage as thia park aftbrds. Knowing but little of Mr. Eobson save as a coUaboratem- in the pages of The J ouknal of Hoeticultxjee, I yet felt assured from the hearty and genial character of his writing that I should meet with a cordial reception ; nor was I dis- appointed. The greatest kindness and hospitality was shown to me ; and after a \'ery pleasant morning I was enabled to go on to other avocations not far oft', which had especially called me from home. The readers of your pages know very well, I think, that I have been a somewhat strenuous opponent of the bedding- out system as it is carried to extremes now-a-days. Well, after visiting Linton one has only to say before we condemn it altogether. See what it is when can-ied out under the most favom-able ausi)ices, as it is there under the able ma- nagement of Mr. Robson. There were two things that struck me very forcibly as to the principles on which he managed to produce these admu-able effects. One was that he employed, comparatively speaking, very few varietieSj and that he was vei-y particular that notliing shoidd inter- fere with the oneness of colom- in each particidar flower. Thus, of com-se, all Verbenas with eyes woidd be excluded — in fact. Purple King, and another, a pink flower, were, I believe, the only kinds employed in the place ; but even the dark horseshoe tint in many of om- Geraniums was sufficient to exclude them from use. The plain green foliage or the simple vafliegated ones being those only employed, such 146 JOXJUNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ August 25, 186S, flowers as Herald of SpriBg, Mrs. Pollock, or Sunset would be thereby excluded. The grand central lied, an oval measuring (including the grass border of 3 feet), 90 feet by 68, was one of the most brilliant sights that could possibly be imagined. A large star formed the centre of it. This was filled with yeUow Calceolaria, the star itself being formed of Perilla nanki- nensis, and alongside of it the white Alyssum, forming thus a double line of dark pui-ple and white, wliich was very effective. At the distance of a few feet there was a scroll pattern, formed in the same way of the PerUla and Alyssum ; while what, I believe, ladies call a pinked or seoUoped- border formed in the same way ran round the outside of the bed, making a number of small triangles. All the space be- tween the border and the centre star was fiUed-in with Shot- tisham Pet variegated Geraniimi, which Mr. Eobson likes better than any for this pmpose, inasmuch as the foliage is very much cupped, and thus exhibits a good deal of the white variegation. The outside triangles were filled with Tom Thumb, which Mr. Kobson thinks stUl unsui-passed, unless it be by Perfection or Attraction ; while a border of Golden Chain finishes the bed. It -rtU thus be seen that this grand bed, so effective in its an-angements and so striking in its tout ensemble, is reaUy fonned with only six varieties of plants, and I question very much whether it wovdd be possible with a much larger variety to make it as beautiful. The side beds were in scrolls, and several diffei-ent varieties both of Scarlet and %'ariegated Geraniums had been tried here ; but with the exception of Attraction, I do not think that for these purposes Tom Thumb was beaten. Bijou Mr. Kobson considers too lanky in its gi-owth for his pur- pose, and Flower of Spi-ing is not so white in the foliage as some others. While thus only a few things a.re used here, others are tried in different parts of the ground; but it will be clear to any one, that in this central point of attrfiction experiments must not be tried, and only such things used as are certain in then- results. Amongst those things wliich have been experimented upon this year have been Coleus Verschaffelti and Amaranthus melancholicus raber, the former a complete failure, and the latter a great success ; but I gathered from Mr. Eobson's account of it, that it requires to be gi-own in the house until tolerably late in June before it is planted out, the earlier plants having been all injured, but the centre row of it in the rosery thus treated was one of the most effective lines that I have seen this season. The colour is more lively than Perilla, and yet affords as good a contrast to other bedding-out plants. It wiU, probably, too, like the Perilla, bear pinching-in, so as to make it more manageable as to height and breadth. Centaurea candidissima also promises to be vei-y useful as a white-foliaged plant, and will, I doubt not, be found largely employed here in a little while. Cineraria maritima is also a great favourite, and deservedly so, its foliage being very beautiful and distinct. In the pinetum there are several most interesting trees — fine specimens of Ai-aucaria imbricata, Pinus insignis, P. pinsapo, P. nobiUs, Cedrus deodara. Thuja Lobbi, and other well-known members of this tribe. With regard to the first of these I mentioned what I had noticed at Mi'. Iver/s, of Dorking, that there were two varieties. This Mr. Kobson confii-med, and said that when a plant throws out only four limbs it was siu-e to fonu an indifferent tree, but when five or six that the tree would be sturdy and weU- formed. With regard to the Deodar, the opinion has been started by some whose names stand liigh in the botanical world that the tliree species C. Ubani, C. africanus, and C. deodara are only varieties of one species ; and so far as the affinity of the Cedar of Lebanon and the Deodar is concerned it seems likely enough to be con-ect, judging from three trees of the latter here planted near to one another, in one of wliich the drooping character is ahnost entirely absent, and a limb taken off might very well pass for one of the Cedar of Lebanon. But the glory of the pinetum, though not itself a Pine, is a beautiful Cork tree, I believe as to size and beauty a unique specunen — in this part of England at any rate. It is fuUy 20 feet high, in most robust health, and forms a very pretty and striking object. There were also a fine Catalpa and a magnificent Copper Beech. Amongst other curiosities, too, was a fine plant of the old double white CameUia standing out in the open ground as a standard. It is supposed to be about thirty years old, and blooms admirably in its present position. • Time and space would fail me to recount all the interesting things I noticed here; but, as maybe supposed, order and good management pervade the whole of the establishment. Mr. Kobson's own residence displays not only his own excellent taste but the liberality of his employers, being suitable in every way for the requirements of one upon whom so much responsibility rests. Many were the subjects on which we had much pleasant chat together — Nesfield's barbarisms, which, by-the-by, Mr. Kobson to some extent patronises, as the lai-ge bed of which I have spoken is in winter levelled and laid out in scroll-pattern ; Spergula pilifera and its total failure ; and novelties of various kinds. We forgot, however, orchard-houses, in my opinion concern- ing wliich Mr. Eobson, I know, quite coincides ; oiu- only regret being that the time was too short for all we needed. But we had each to leave early — I to my work, he to his drill ; for om- friend handles the rifle as weU as the pruning- liook and the pen, and I am sure does it well too. It was inspection-day, and so Sergeant Kobson was to be at his post. Oiu- reads were in an opposite direction, but we parted with the hope that we shoidd meet again in these beautiful grounds, and have another opportunity of talking over our favourite subjects. — D., Deal. CUTTING-OFF MIMULUS SEEDS. A PERSON of long experience in an extensive garden is much surjirised at seeing an inquiry in last week's Journal, Whether cutting off Mimiilus seeds ivill cause the plants to blow in autumn ? It confirms a frecjuent observation that has occurred of how ignorant of or indifferent to the com- monest results cultivators are, and it is much doubted whether removing the seed when fuUy formed will produce the object desired. The removal of the seed-vessels before they fill sends back the nourishment to the plant, which they othei-wise absorb. Let any one try two plants of Sweet Peas ; by removing the seeds from one as soon as the flowers fall, he will find the plants not only continue blooming, but putting out fresh leaves, and they wiU do so as long as the temperature allows any flowers to remain out of doors. Let the other ripen its seeds, when they and the haulm wiU wither together very rapidly. The removal of Rhododendron seed greatly assists the forming strong buds. — A. P. SUCCESSFUL OECHAJRD-HOUSE MANAGEMENT. The successful management of orchard-houses appears to be pretty general this season. Gardeners are fast learning this new branch of culture, as they are sure to do if required. The class which has overcome so niiiny difficulties in culti- vation was hardly likely to find the growing a Peach in a pot a serious affair. I have never hesitated to recommend the orchard-house to any person keeping a regidar gardener, but have had doubts where such has not been the case. Glass houses of any sort, unless filled with Cacti only, require daily atten- tion, and where tliis cannot be insured persons had better think twice before building one, particulai-ly if heated. Who has not seen a greenhouse built, not because the owner of the gai'den loved flowers, but because it was the thing to have a greenhouse ? — a house containing plants which all thought it a trouble to attend to ; sometimes watered, some- times neglected ; at times almost burnt, at others frozen. Though the orchai-d-house is no trouble for six months of the year, it requu-es daily attention during summer, and can- not be neglected with impunity. It is a singular fact, how- ever, that amateurs in this neighbourhood have beaten regular gardeners, I believe because they have nothing to unlearn. Amongst the most successful I may mention M. Brown, Esq., of Lenton, ne.ar Nottingham ; his trees have been managed entirely by himself and family. I was told he had a very fine crop, and heard some of his friends tell him they would come and see him when his Peaches were ripe. August 23, 1863. 3 JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTURE AJfD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 147 He replied, " I shall be glad to see the whole of the Chess Club, and they shall eat what they like." The remark was made, " You need not expect many Peaches the next day, we shall eat them all." The answer to which was, " Will you ?" Well, the visit was paid, and a most pleasant one it was ; and though we all did oiu' duty. I question if a casual ob- server would have missed the fruit eaten if he had gone into the house next morning. I know, of course, what my own success has been, and I have seen what my friend Mr. Elvers has done, but I can tell him we are both beaten by Mr. Brown. The Peaches were not only numerous but magni- ficent. The house is 55 feet by 15, a lean-to. It contains seventy trees, twelve of which are planted against the back wall ; nine are standards planted-out in a bed in the centre of the house ; fifteen are dwarf trees planted in the front border, and thii-ty-foiu- are in pots. There were on the wall 500 Peaches; on the standards upwards of 1100, and 130 Nectarines ; on the small trees 900 more — in all 2700. What could a club do in such a house in one evening ? Let us have the ran for a week, and we might make an impres- sion.— J. E. Pearson, Chihvell. GKOWING PAESLEY UNDEE DIFFICULTIES. Amongst all the varied demands of a large establishment on the resom-ces of the garden, there is scarcely any more regularly made throughout the year than for Parsley. In the spring months, especially after there has been a con- tinuance of keen frosty weather, scarcely a handful of nice Parsley can be found, except what may have been under cover. In the neighbom-hood of London after a sharp winter, and esiieciaUy when keen easterly winds have pre- vailed throughout April, a small handful ,of Parsley is not to be had for less than sixpence, and sometimes more will be paid for it. Parsley, in the estimation of many persons, wUl gi-ow at any time and in any place, and I have frequently heard surprise expressed by such when told that from a com- bination of causes it has been a very scarce article. It is also well known to aU who have had to supply an establish- ment with garden productions how fidgetty the cook wiU be even about a little Parsley. I have had for a series of years splendid Parsley, so much so that part of it had sometimes to be cut down and wheeled away by barrowfuls; and again, for nearly three years in the same garden, I have been unable to grow a respectable row. Do what I could, it was always attacked at the roots by maggots, and what is very popularly known by the name of wireworm (snake millipedes). Just before sowing 1 have quite saturated the soil with very strong liquid manure from the stable yard, thinking that possibly they might thus be killed, and hoping that they might not come fr'om the adjoining ground ; but, in the course of a few months' time, they would be at their work of destruction again. Another jjlan which I have tried was to slack a quantity of lime in water, and, pouring off the water into common watering-pots, to give the rows of Parsley a thorough soaking with the liquid. Even after this 1 have at times scarcely been able to produce it in anything like a creditable con- dition. These root-destroyers of Parsley eat into the roots and very often work their way into the bottom of the leaves. They cut into the roots whex-e these are very small — it may be not much thicker than to hold the intruder — and whenever this is the case, the Parsley wUl soon assume a brown and foxy appearance, and yoix may give up aU hope of its ever proving useful. The soil of the garden where I was so annoyed with these underground destructives was a light, rich, fr'ee loam, which ■generally grew every kind of crop very well. Cauliflowers were liable to club. In another garden of very different soU, I endeavoiu-ed for some seasons to grow Parsley by sowing it in the usual way — that is, in the open ground ; but owing to the nature of the soil I very seldom succeeded. It was a strong brick earth, abnost inclining to clay, which, when dug up in winter, would remain just as it left the spade. If worked while in a wet state it would soon clog the instrument which was used ; and, on the other hand, if allowed to remain untouched till quite dry, a fork or spade woiild make little or no impression upon it, from its having become so very hard. When taken just between a wet and a dry condition, it would break away from the five-tined steel forks in beautiful order ; and if the crops only started well they would generally be first-rate. I experienced very great difficulty in gi-owtng Parsley in this soil, by sowing it in the gTound in the usual way. First, there was the un- certainty of being able to hit the proper time to sow it, when the soil was in a free and well-broken-down condition. Secondly, if fortimate enough to do that, there must be moisture enough in the soil to cause vegetation. Thirdly, fine weather must continue for some time after the seed has vegetated, otherwise it was quite certain that the slugs would carry off every plant, as they will quickly do whUe the Parsley is in the seed-leaf, and even much later. However annoying slugs are to the gi-ower of Parsley, I have found a means of preventing their attacks, and I can have good Parsley even in such soil as I have stated above. I filled a quantity of small pots in which the bedding plants had been, using any rough materials, even what fell under the potting-bench. The Parsley was sown, and the pots placed upon coal ashes in a cold pit, which was then shut up. I kept them regularly watered ; and as the young plants grew gave more aii'. The Parsley remained in these pots until the leaves were from 4 to 6 inches long ; and it was then planted out in a piece of ground while in the course of digging, and the result x>roved worthy of all this care and trouble. — G. Dawson. HISTOEY OF HEDGES. The earliest enclosm-es in England appear to have been in Kent and Essex, these being the fh-st fields of Eoman operations, and seem to have been formed of Hawthorn, Sloe, Crab, Hazel, Dogwood, &.C., taken from the woods where they naturally grew. The earliest published account we have of enclosures is by Sfr John Fortesque, who men- tions the progress that had been made in planting hedges and hedgerow trees before the end of the fourteenth century ; and towards the middle of the next we find the prelates and great barons enclosing land around their castles, which were called then- demesne lands, which they kept in their own hands, and cultivated for then- own use, much as our private parks are at the present time. In 1523 Sir A. Fitzherbert wrote " The Book of Husbau- di-ie," in which he points out the great advantage of en- closm-es, and recommends " quyck-settynge, dychynge, and hedgying," and gives special directions about the " settes," and the manner of training a hedge. Hawthorn hedges are distinctly stated to have existed in the gai-dens around Windsor Castle in the reign of Henry V., and are described by James I., of Scotland, in his poem, " The King's Quair," written by him while he was a prisoner there. Hedge plant- ing, however, made slow progress in England until after the introduction of the Flemish system of husbandry into Norfolk about the end of the seventeenth century ; and so rapidly did they increase, that by the end of the eighteenth centm-y they had entirely changed the face of the whole cotmtry. Although we now see many excellent examples of hedge management in many parts of the midland coimties of Eng- land, still, as a whole, such fences are inferior to most of those in the best enclosed districts of Scotland, where, how- ever, the use of fences of any kind is of far more recent date. Major, a native of Benvick, says in " Historica Bri- tanica," pubhshed in Paris in 152(), that the Scottish peasants "neither enclosed nor planted, nor endeavoured to amehorate the soil" in his day. Indeed, until the break- ing up of the feudal system about the middle of the last centm-y, and the swallowing up of numerous smaU pendicles into larger holdings, the use of fences to any great extent in Scotland was both useless and impracticable— at least so long as the "i-un-rig" system, as a united system ot protection, was in use. . j. o ii j The first introduction of the use of hedges into Scotland was, strange enough to say, by the soldiers of Cromwell, who also at the same time introduced the use of the close- headed Cabbages. The first of then- hedging was exempli- fied at Inch Buckling Brae, near Tranent, where so recently as 1804 the remains were to be seen m a line of aged Haw- 148 JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. [ August 25, 1863. thorn trees, long since removed ; and tlie next was at Tiu- larig Castle, neai' tlie head of Loch Tay, the " Domus tntunus " of the BreadiUbane family. The earliest account of the propagation of hedge plants and then- management even in England does not date prior to between three or four hundi'ed years, and the published directions then given refer to their uses as protection merely to plantations, gardens, and small ijaddocks near the house ; and that Holly plants were mixed with Thorns, both being prociu'ed ffom the woods, where they gi'ew spontaneously. The rearing of sueh plants from seed was not practised even around London till shortly before the time of Evelyn ; and in Scotland not tiU after the establishment of the nurseries of the Dickinsons at Hassenden Bum, near- Hawick ; the rearing of such plants is said to have laid the foundation of the gi-eat commercial houses of the Dicksons in Scotland. — (Scottish Farmer.) [The writer in our contemporary is wrong as to the time of hedges being introduced into England. " A gi'ove for making hedges is mentioned in Domesday Book (Middle- sex, fol. 127). Hedges and ditches also are mentioned as boundaries in many Anglo-Saxon grants of lands. Moreover they were protected by law. If a freeman broke through a hedge he was liable to a fine of Gs. A ceorl was to keep liis farm well enclosed lioth in winter and summer ; and if damage occuiTed to auy one ii'om a neglect of this law, or even fi'om leaving a gate open, the careless husbandman was Hable to pay for the damage. — (Wilkin's Leges Saxonici, % 21.)] ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S MEETING. The August meetmg of the Entomological Society was held on the 3rd instant, T. P. Pascoe, Esq., F.L.S., one of the Vice-Presidents, being in the chair. Numerous additions to the Society's library were announced, consisting chiefly of foreign irabhcations presented by the Natui-al Historj' and Entomological Societies of Moscow, Stettin, and Berhn, Messrs. Hagen, Brauer, Zeller, &c. An account was given of the entomological captiu-es made by Mr. F. G. Waterhouse durbig his recent journey of exjjloration across Australia. Upwards of 2000 specimens had been captured chiefly in the northern half of the continent, comprising a gi'eat nmnber of species (although apparently poor in the number of iudi- viduals), which evidently bore a greater general affinity to the insects of the islands of the Eastern Archipelago than to those of South Australia and Van Diemen's Land. The Kev. Hamlet Clark exhibited the si^ecies of Water Beetles captured dvuing this e?:pedition, consisting of seventeen species, of which no less than thirteen appeai'ed to be new to science. The Secretary stated that on cai-efuUy examining the silken tissue found upon a mass of Chicoi-y exhibited at the last meeting, some specimens, much rubbed, of Ephestia eluteUa, a minute Moth, had been found, the cateri^illars of which were doubtless the fabricators of the tissue. Mr. Stainton exhibited some Alder leaves containing lai-vie of the beaiitiful little Moth Tinagma resplendeUa, biuTowing within the midi'ib or leafstalk. When young they impart a slight curve to the leaf, by which then- jaresence may be detected. Subsequently they mine along one side of the midrib, retiu-iiing by the other side, and finish by forming a blotch upon the leaf. Mx. Stainton added, that not only were the characters of the mines of leaf-mining Lepidoptera of high importance for the discrimination of species, but he considered that the mines exhibited characters of generic value, to which regard ought to be had in the futm-e classi- fication of the family. Mr. Hayward exhibited the pupa and the perfect insect of Ocypus ater which he had succeeded in reai-ing from the pupa state, the lai'va having been found in a cavity in a piece of Eba wood. Entomologists had long been aware of the difEciilty r^f rearing the insects of the family Staphylinidse, to which the Ocj'pus belongs. Professor Westwood dnected attention to the ravages committed on WiUow trees in Essex by the Weeiil Cryi>to- rhynchus Lapathi, tlie larvae of which had attacked some of the rai-er species of Willow (making cylindrical bun'ows of considerable dip.meter and length in the stems), to such an extent that the gi-owers were in feax of the destruction of their plantations. Mr. Douglas Timmens gave an account of the sxiccessfol rearing of Papilio Machaou, Thais Cassandra, Polyommatus Tolas, and Clostera Anachoreta in winter, the chi'ysaUds having been kept in warm situations, whereby their develop- ment had been accelerated. He considered that by this means it might be possible to real- and perhaps naturalise some of the exotic species in this counti-y. The Chaii-man announced the pubhcation of the sixth volume of Lacordaire's Genera of Coleoptera, devoted to the tribes of Weevils (Ehynchophora). Mi: Wallace announced an intended expedition, for zoological pursuits, to New Britain, New Ireland, kc, by Messrs. Wilson, of Adelaide. The second volume of Mi-. Tiimen's work on the Butterflies of South Africa, with a number of plates illustrating new species, was also announced as nearly ready for publication. Memou-s by Dr. Baly, containing descriptions of new species of Chrysomelidffi, &c., by Dr. Stal, of Stockholm, containing descriptions of new genera and species of exotic Hemiptera, were read. PEOPOSED GAEDENEES' BENEFIT SOCIETY. It is very strange, after the propositions to organise a Gardeners' Friendly Society by some of the leading practical gai-deners of England, that they do not form a Committee at once, and cany it into operation. I am sui-e if they did so there are hundr-eds in this country who would be only too glad to embrace the opportunity of giving all the assistance in then- power to co-operate with their friends on the other side of the channel. I only hope it will be taken up at once ■with energy, for such a Society as the one proposed would be second to none in the United Kingdom if once established. I hope all members of the profession ^vill raise then- voice in its favom-, for it is a Society very much wanted — D. Phelan, Gardener, Rathndnes Castle, near Dublin. I HAVE been pleased to see that some of our craft are anxious to form us and om- employers into a Society for our mutual benefit, and I am as anxious as any one can be to set the " ball rolling." I can count over fifty gardeners in regular- places within three miles from here, and I think we could form a lodge or district for these, with Ashton as a centre, and other districts would be forming outside this. Manchester woidd form several districts ; for near that city ai-e some hundreds of gai-deners, and in Liverpool the same. Now I think we can set the Society going if some half- dozen men can be brought together to call a meeting — say- in the anteroom of the Free Trade Hall, and request all gardeners and their employers belonging to Manchester district to attend, and the same in London, Liverpool, aaid other large centres. I shall be most happy to meet at some convenient place any half-dozen or more gai-deners to organise, first for a large meeting as suggested ; and secondly, to prepiu-e reso- lutions for the meeting to ajiprove. Details would have to be settled by a general Committee. I have spoken to a goodly number of gardeners, and they aU seem anxious we should form a Society. There are some things I shall strenuously oppose — such as having lodges at public-houses (though I am not a teetotallei-) ; but these matters can be opjaosed if they appear. My concluding advice is at the present. Let us gardeners be up and doing in the matter, and not standing listlessly by waiting for somebody to do it for us, remembering the old adage that " God helps those who help themselves." — John Hague, Gardener, Groby Lodge, AsMan^under-Lyne. gjledening in japan. We have the pleasiu-e of laying before om- readers an interesting letter from Mi-. Hogg. His many fiiends wiU be glad to learn that he is in the enjoyment of excelleat health, and is industriously employed in exploring the country for rai-e and valuable jilants, of which he has already gathered a very interesting coUection. Some have August 25, 1808. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICtTLTUEE XSSD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 149 aiTived in this country, and others are on the way. We are in the way of realising- our expectations, that Mr. Hogg- would very materially enrich our collections of ornamental and useful plants. If in doing this he could at the same time succeed in learning the Japanese the use of improved horticidtui-al implements, and subdue some of their peciiliar prejudices, he would be benefiting two nations at one and the same time :— "Kalmgswa, Apiil 30lh, 1863. "Mr. Editok, — Although much has been wi-itten extol- ling the climate of this country, my experience of it in the past winter confirms all that has been said regarding it. The change from living in a climate of at times almost ai-ctic severity to one where the cold is just sufficient to bring about the delightful changes of the seasons, renders it a season of prolonged enjoyment, and really seems to add so many days to the span of life. In the northern and western parts of the country, where exposed to the cold blasts from Tartary, it is said to be much colder; but the ameliorating influences of the Pacific have a marked effect on the eastern coast. Since the heavy rains of October there has not been much wet weather until about a month past, and then not very continuous, and probably not more than necessary to sustain the growing ci-ops in the porous sou of the counti-y. The verdure of the growing crops gives a charming appeai-ance to the landscape. The entire absence of fences between the fields gives a naturalness to the prospect that is, in a certain sense, delightfid, but in another point of view does away with the idea of individual possession, so intimately associated in our minds with a homestead and personal prosperity. The yards sui-rounding the houses are usually enclosed with a rude hedge of Cryj)- tomeria, Eetinospora, Althaea, or some other strong-gi-owing shrub. Theii- mode of trimming a hedge is very rough, and it is only occasionally that you see one at all neat and pass- able as a real hedge. I have never yet seen one clipped pyramidal. r " It seldom happens that there is sufficient fi-ost to impede the working of the soil, and during the past winter not once ; and there is no doubt it is owing to the fact of the frost not penetrating the soil to any considerable depth that so many plants that are hardy here prove too tender to withstand our climate. Very rarely ice is formed of suffi- cient thickness for skating. The soil is a deep, black, light loam, mnch resembling the soil frequently used for growing Camellias found in the ledges and at the base of rocks. Much has been said of its productiveness ; but in this I think it is more owing to liquid-manuring continually applied than to any very great natural fertility. That this is the ease is occasionally very apparent, by observing patches of gi-ain in places where manuring has been neg- lected looking- very stunted and yellow. These remarks apply only to the soil on the high lands, that in the numerous intervening valleys where Eice is grown pro- ducing large crops by irrigation alone. In places along the vaUeys, where the surface is too elevated for the purposes of irrigation, and yet too wet for gro'iving cereals, a simple expedient is resorted to to bring it under culture for both, by laying it out in sections of the same width, about 30 feet, and convenient length, and then throwing the soil of every alternate section on the top of the ad'oining one until of sufiicient height. On the raised sections grain or vegetables are grown, and in the intermediate ones Eice. With you such lands are chiefly used as meadows for hay or gi-azing ; but here, where little or no meat is used for food, every effort is used in raising grain for the support of the population. " One di-awback in gardening here is the want of proper native Grasses, in this respect resembling the Southei-n States. A lawn is a thing ahiiost unknown, as I only know of one attempt in that direction witliin the limits of foreign residences. The Grrass used is a native perennial one, but in the winter season turns entii-ely brown and loses its beauty. It is a very close, dwarf-growing species, and would be admu-ably adapted to the pui-ijose were it to keep its coloiu- the whole season. A former resident, lately retm-ned, has brought with her a vai-ietj^ of om- Grasses for the purpose as an experiment, and it is to be hoped some of them \vill prove successful, although I do not think the Japanese, with their love for miniature gai-dening, wiU appreciate them for some time to come. " In common -with the Chinese, all then- notions of beauty seem to be in tortm-ing- into fantastic forms anything that ^rill answer the i^m-pose. making fish-ponds with miniature bridges a necessary accompaniment in every garden, rook- work, imitations of mountains, &c. In their way some of their designs are very pretty, and have a merit of then- own not entirely to be condemned as a branch of art, and a pleasing appendage where it can be properly introduced. Of landscape-gardening, as understood with us, they seem to have no idea. " At the present time the farmers are aU busy preparing then- Eice lands and sowing their seed-beds for transplant- ing. The labourers wade into the deep mud and bury the noxious weeds that have come up during the early spi-ing by tiu?ning over the soil with a pronged hoe like yoru- potato- hoe, when it is soon covered again by the water rising to the surface, rendering it level again. In one of my rambles I was witness of theii' mode of sowing the seed. The patches of land used for the purpose are prepared the same as the others, and the seed sown very thickly. After it is sovsTi a man follows with a long-handled broom, like a birch-broom, and beats the surface until it becomes almost a liquid mass on the top. I was sui-prised to find the grain had all been sprouted untd the roots had become an eighth of an inch long. " Vegetable-gardening is yet in its infancy here ; not that there is not quite a variety grown, but that they seem to have no appreciation of the advantages of prolonging the season of any particular kind by forcing, or cultivating earlier and later varieties, or successive sowings. Peas sown in the fail ai-e now becoming plentiful ; but when this crop is gone that is the end of tlieni for the season. The same also with Lettuce, now entirely gone. CaiTots have been very abundant and fine aU the winter. Another vege- table they grow, called the Dy-ku — a name appUed to aU the Eadish kind — is much used among themselves. Large ciuan- tities of it are di-ied or pickled for winter's provision. It is of the Eadish kind, only very large, averaging 18 inches, and as large in diameter as the top end of a large Parsnip, not, however, tapering, but terminating abruptly. It is pure white, having somewhat of a tm-nip flavoiu- also. Whether it has been inti-oduced since the country has been opened to foreigners I am unable to say, but it is haa-dly possible that its culture woiUd become so universal in so short a time, besides never having seen it previously, although it might have been introduced fi?om Eui-ope. The same might also be said of Tomatoes and Egg Plants, which I saw exten- sively cultivated in the neighbourhood of Yedo, both of very small size. Whether they are a portion of the seeds distri- buted at the time of Pen-y's expedition, or whether they have been cultivated for yeai-s past, is a question I am unable to determine. If they are, they have aUowed them to sacUy degenerate. The question might be asked ' What became of those seeds and others presented since ? Were they cUplomaticaUy received with bows and thanks and then quietly cast aside, or reaUy pirt to practical use ? ' " The implements of husbandry are of the most primitive and simple description and few in number. The principal one is a large heavy grub-hoe, in common use for aU imi-- poses. It is either made of wood shod with iron, or in the better kind, the blade is made entirely of iron. The blade is usuaUy about 15 inches long and 6 to 8 broad, having a short handle as in a common grub-hoe. It is an unwieldy implement, but answers pretty weU in their Ught soU. The difficulty attending- its use is, that the worker is continuaUy treading-down the newly-tiu-ned soU. UntU some bold inno- vator changes the custom of going bai-efoot, or at least wearing something more sirbstantial than straw sandals, the advantages of a spade cannot be turned to practica account. They have an implement somewhat resembling a spade, having a long blade without any shoulders for resting the foot. For what particiUar pm-poses it is used I do not know. These, together with the pronged hoe, the sickle, a fanning-miU (consisting of a sunple wheel in a box resembling the one in use with you), and an instrument like a small road-scraper, made of bamboo with an iron blade in fi-ont, and used for raising earth fi-om deep trenches, are about aU that are used. Gardeners have very neatly- made sieves either of bamboo or ^vu•e in addition to the above. — T. H." — (American Horticulturist). 150 JOUENAL OF HOETICTJLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. [ AuKust 25, 186). CYCLAMEN CULTURE. In reply to " A Country Cueate," we recommend seed- lings of Cyclamen persicum to be aUowed to grow as long as they will without receiving any extra stimulant in the shape of more heat. Give them water so long as they continue to grow, keeping them on the shelf of yom- greenhouse ; but when new leaves cease coming fi-oui the ciown, the plants assuming a standstill aspect, turn the pots on then- sides to make sure of their not being watered. Keep in the fuU sun until all the leaves are oft', when they may be placed close together on a shelf in a cool part of the greenhouse. We do not advocate shaking them oiit of the soil and storing the bulbs in sand, certain as we are that it has a tendency to weaken the bulbs. We should not be surprised if the seedlings continued to grow on thi-ough the winter until the beginning of May next year, when you must gi-adually with- hold water and liave the bulbs thoroughly ripe by the be- ginning of June, the pots then to be set aside in a cool place without water until the end of August. At that time pot the plants singly, choosing pots about twice the diameter of the bulbs. Drain well ; at least one- third of the depth of the pot should be filled with broken pots or sifted ashes, covered with a thin layer of sphagnum moss or cocoa-nut fibre. Use a com- post formed of equal parts of tiuiy sandy loam and leaf mould, with a sprinkling of silver sand. The bottom of the bulb shoulddo little more than rest on the soU, and not be buried beneath it; but the crown of the bulb ought to be level with the rim of the pot, its bot- tom just within the soU, which leaves room for watering. Water spaiingly until the growth com- mences, and as it increases give more water. Place JD a Hght and aii-y situation, for if kept in a close, damp, or dark place they will never flower. In after-seasous when the plants die down turn them into the open border of the garden, allowing them to remain until the nights begin to be chilly toward the end of Sep- tember, when leaves very often are appearing and flowers rising. Pot forthwith, place on a shelf in the greenhouse, and you will have Cyclamen persicum in bloom all winter. Tours, however, may be the evergi'een variety, by no means so rare as is represented, and if so, yon will pot in Angiist of each year and have flowers all the year round ; but if evergi'een they need a rest, and that is done by giving less water from June until September. U Having thus answered the inquhies of our correspondent, we will add a little information about various kinds of this favourite genus of " plants with the petals combed back," as a lady described them. " The origin of Cyclamen Atkinsi is thus explained to us : — " ' After many ineffectual attempts,' writes Mr. Atkins, ' to produce a good cross between Cyclamen coum or C. vern\im, and C. persicum, combining the neat habit of the two former with the colom- and larger petals of the latter, having at the same time the foliage dai-k, yet relieved with a lighter band, or marbled, I at length sue leeded in raising Cyclamen Atkinsi. the hybrid now figured, fi-om seeds produced by a variety of C. coum impregnated with C. persicum, and this, I have eveiy reason to believe, I shall be able to perpetuate, and thus introduce a new and most interesting feature into this beautiful family of plants. Amongst the seedlings, it was found that every plant deviating in the marking of the ioUage from the ssed-bearing parent, produced white or blush flowers, whilst those retaining its plain dark leaf have invai-iably bloomed with different shades of the colour of that species.' "This account of its origin perfectly explains its appeai- ance, it being, in fact, exactly intermediate between itsparents as to size and form, and to some extent even in coloui-. The specimen which oui- vignette represents was exhibited with about seventy fully-expanded flowers, and bears full evidence of the success of Mr. Atkins' mode of culture. " In Cyclamen Atkinsi the leaves are large (2i by 2 inches), ovate obtuse, cordate at the base, with a deep siuus, the sides of which overlap, dark glossy green, with an irregular pale zone within the margin; the under surface is livcr- coloured, or duU purple. The flowers are elevated on longish verrucose stalks, and arc of a French white, marked with a deep crimson ovate blotch at the base of each segment ; the ca- lyx consists of five acute lance- shaped pubescent segments ; the co- rolla has a short globose tube, and a limb of five broadly obovate segments neai'ly seven - eighths of an inch long ; the luoutli of the tube is nearly cii'cular, the angles being indistinct ; the stamens are in- cluded, but the style equals the tube. The flowers are scentless. " Cyclamen iliericum produces flat heart-shaped leaves, having an open sinus, and the margin very slightly sinuate- dentate or entu-e :. they are deep green, with an u-regulai' heart-shaped belt of p.-vle greyish- green some distance witliin the margin, the veins sunken on the upper face, i^rominent and gi-een beneath, on a didl reddish-purple ground. The flowers vary in colour ; in some, they are pale rosy or flesh-coloured, in other plants, deep rose-colour ; in some they are white ; but in all cases they are mai'ked with a broad ovate spot at the base of the segments, which spot is either puiple or crimson, and is ex- tended in the centre as fai' as the mouth, which, in the front view, thus shows five purple bai's or spots ; the bases of the segments are cui-ved outwai-ds at the miu-gin, the mouth thus becoming pentangular, with concave sides. The calyx lobes ai-e acutely lance-shaped; the tube of the corolla is ventricose, the segments of the Hmb either roundish obovate or oblong obovate. The stamens are quite enclosed, and are slightly exceeded by the blunt, simple stigma, which is somewhat exserted."^(M., in Garden Com-pirnion.) The Late Frosts. — -is I see the fr-ost has been so general in England, I give you a short account of what it has been in Irelan i. We had some very cold nights from the 18th to Angust 23, 1863. ] JOTJENAIi OP HOKTICULTTJRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 151 the 26th of July. On the last-mentioned date the Potatoes were severely injured in low grounds. I notice that there is always an interval of four or five days between England and Ireland, so that when we hear of bad weather in Eng- land we may prepare for it here in a short time. — E. Welch, Palace Garden, Armagh. AMAEANTHUS MELANCHOLICUS EUBER CULTUliE. Happening the other day to take up a copy of yoiu- valuable paper, dated August 11th, I came upon the follow- ing remark respecting the new plant named at the head of this letter : — " It requires pecuHar management, or you will fail >\-ith it. Sow in heat not later than the end of January," kc. The thought came into my mind that it is much to be regretted with that gardeners each believes that his own way of proceeding is the ordy correct one. They will not understand that there are several ways of doing the same thing. " But what has this to do with the Amai-anthus ? " perhaps you will be inclined to ask. Why, just this. I have been a very successful grower of it this year, and yet I never did anything that the writer of the above extract dechu-es to be necessary. I heard of the plant, and sent for a shilling's worth of seed from Messrs. Veitch. On its ai-rival I thought I had very little for my money, and so I set to work to count my seeds, and I found that I had 115, each about the size of a grain of gunpowder. This was at the beginning of April. Now, I do not possess a frame, and, therefore, sowing in heat is not in my line ; but I raised it in the same way that I do many other plants. On the 10th of AprU I sowed the seed in a shallow box, and put a j)iece of glass over it. This box I placed on my kitchen-window seat, and as my kitchen is a wanu one, the seeds soon germinated. At fii'st I had about ninety plants, but some beetles destroyed a few by finding their way beneath the glass. As soon as the plants were through the soil the box was placed in an orchard-house, wliich, being always open, is not so warm as a cold ft-ame. When the nights were cold I carried the box in-doors. In this way the plants soon began to gi'ow. I then pricked them out in small boxes, and placed them in the border in the beginning of June. They did not not make much progress at first, but towards the end of JiUy they grew rapidly, and the best of them are now 15 inches high. They have gi-own very evenly, and ai'e very effective in the garden. I have wiitten this just to show that a great deal may be done with very small means, and with a hope that I may encourage others to follow my example. — W. M. A. STEAWBEEEY CULTUEE. Vakied has been the information we have received bj' the late discussion in these pages upon the cultivation of the Strawberi-y ; but before the subject shall be again shelved for a season I wish to detail a little experiment I made lately, not wishing to attach to the same any vel-y gi'eat merit, though it would seem rather original. Having come to a determination about midwinter, some two years ago, to entirely renew a fruit-border we have here at the base of the north wall — in wliich, in fact, are the fruit trees and also four rows of Strawberries, which we depend upon for our latest out-door picking — I was at a loss how to proceed with the Strawberry plants, as we had not prepared any younger ones to place in their stead. At last I came to the conclusion to try the removal of the plants, each with a good ball, from the old to the fresh-made border as we pro- ceeded with each fi-esh trench. Fortunately the sod they were in was a tolerably good stiff loam ; this aided materially in the removal, for after having formed a very slight hollow upon the surface of the fresh-made soO, we removed each plant separately with the spade, taking cai'e to press it down firmly, and yet not to bury the crown too deeply. I am pleased to say that last year and especially this, though our crop of Strawberries was exceedingly good, yet none were better or fraited more abundantly than did those we removed, whilst the plants at the present time look exceedingly vigorous and healthy. Thus, may it not be possible that, with the view of secur- ing a gi-eater amount of fruit ft-om a certain piece of ground, it may at times be advantageous — (especially when, after thi-ee years' planting or so, the plants, though still looking luxuriant and well, may be supposed to have impoverished the ground below too much to render it probable that a good crop of fi-uit can be secured in the following season) — to keep the old plants with then- strong healthy crowns in preference to chopping them up and throwing them away to make room for young ones ? Where practicable, a continuous picking. of fruit may be thus insured fi-oni the same plant for five yeai-s at the very least ; and by adopting the system we would be independent of the trouble of procuring suckers and planting every thi-ee years. We always pick-off the first season's flowers, leaving but four years of real fi-uiting out of evei7 six. — W. Earley. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEN. Asparagus, see that the beds are kept free from weeds. Articliokcs, cut down the flower-stems, and remove the dead leaves from the old plantations ; those made last season will probably now produce a few heads. Cohhage, continue to plant-out for Coleworts at every favoui'able oppoi-tunity. Prick-out the young plants intended for the main spring crop. Sow, also, lai-gely of the most approved sorts, for standing over the vrinter in nm-sery-beds. CauUfloivers, sow the principal crop for keeping over the winter. Ihoarf Kidney Beaiis, give them an abundant supply of water if the weather continue diy and hot when they are in bloom, ov most of it win di'op off prematurely. Endive, tie-up, and also Lettuce, to blanch. Leeks, plant-out the thinnmgs of the seed-beds as soon as the weather is favovu-able. Onions, pay due attention to this crop, let them be removed from the soil as soon as they have ceased to grov/ ; if left longer than this they fi-equently get mouldy, and do not keep s& well. Let them be spread out in dry sheds till fit for tying in ropes. TiirnixJs, the last crop for this season should be sown as soon as the weather is favourable for that purpose. Thin the advancing crops. Vegetable Marrows, keep the plants well suppUed with water during di-y weather ; cover the gTound about them with short grass or litter of any kind. At the earliest opportunity eai-th-up the Broccoli, Savoys, and all other crops that require it. Remove Peas- that ai-e mildewed immediately they are done with. Destroy catei-pillars that infest the Brassica tribe before they do much mischief. FLOVfER GARBEN. Keep the herbaceous plants neatly tied up, and cut-off the flower-stems of any that are becoming unsightly. Decay of some of the earlier flowers will now begin to leave blanks which will not be easily filled up unless a stock of large things in pots has been provided. In mixed borders some of the late kinds of Phloxes, Asters, &c., may ocoasionaUy be un- tied, and made to occupy three or more sticks in order to fill the blanks. Petunias and other bedding plants of rambUng habits to have a pi-uning betimes to keep them within bounds. A few Crocuses, Snowdi'ops, &c., may be planted soon to obtain an early bloom. There is no grower who is in the least degree conversant with the cultivation of the Eose, but knows that an abundant supply of stimulating materials should be applied to the autumnal-flowering va- rieties to have them in perfection dm-ing the next two. months. Without applying manui-e water in large quan- tities there wdl be notlung but disappointment this season : we would, therefore, m-ge the necessity of stii-ring the soil about the roots of the Noisette, China, Tea-scented China, Boiu-bon, andPei-petual vai-ieties, and when this operation is finished giving the trees a good soaking with mamu-e water; an abundant, strong, and healthy bloom wiU be the reward, and the plants themselves iriU continue for a greater num- ber of yeai-s to throw up continually an abundant supply of bloom. If you have any spare ground sow some of the North American annuals— Clarkias, Nemophilas, and Col- linsias are amongst the number, the seeds of which never 152 JOURNAL OP HOKTICULTtTEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ AugTlst 25, 1863. vegetate so readily as when recently gathered. Candj-tiift will also do to be sown now. Continue to plant-ont Pinks as they strike root, bearing- in mind that those which are put out now in the place that they are to Hower in next season generally lace much better than those planted in the spring. Propagation of all the more important bedding plants should now be pushed on as quickly as possible ; late- struck cuttings, as has often been remarked, are difficult to keep tlu'ough the winter on account of not having a sufficient amount of roots and well-ripened wood. When the Scarlet and other Geraniums are struck in the open ground they should be taken up and potted as soon as they have made roots ; they will require a close frame for a week or two, when they should be placed on a dry bottom in a southern ex- posure to harden them for the winter. While propagation is proceeding attention must be turned to the amount of winter accommodation, which, whether in the shape of frames, jjits, or large sti-uotures, should be in readiness to receive the stock before bad weather sets in. Though more exijensivo in the fcst place, a series of brick pits fi-om 5 to 8 feet wide will be the cheapest in the end, and if heated by i-unning a four-inch pipe around them, mats may be dispensed with. Pits of this class would be also valuable diu-ing the summer for a vaiiety of pui-poses. FKTJIT GAKDEN. The earliest Apples and Peaxs are to be gathered as they ripen. Early fruit more especially is the better for being gathered a few days before it ripens on the tree, as in the latter case it usually turns mealy directly. As Peaches and Nectarines now begin to ripen, it will be advisable to frs nets or mats to catch the falling frait. A double row of stakes 3 feet long may be chiven into the ground about a foot deep at about 3 feet apart, one row close to the waU, the other about 2 feet from it, and the nets or mats tied to the top of the stakes so loosely as to form an open bag. In this may be laid loosely a little moss, di-y grass, or any other soft material ; for fruit is at all times beat gathered by hand, but after the strictest attention some ^vQl fall, and if some- thing is not provided to catch them they will be bruised and sjjoiled. STOVE. The principal object should be to ripen the shoots by exposure to sunlight before the approach of winter. It is a great error to keep plants that ai-e required to produce a proftision of bloom dui'ing the following spring and sum- mer actively at work late in the autumn ; summer is the season when rapid development should be promoted, and autumn the period when the young wood should be com- pletely hardened and ripened preparatory to the approach of winter. Gesnera zebrina to be looked after, and shifted into a compost of equal pai-ts of fibrous lo-am, heath soO, and leaf mould. Euphorbia jacquinifeflora should now meet with every encouragement. GREENHOTTSE AND CONSEBVATORT. Contimie to look over climbers, borders, &e. Largo speci- mens which have been placed out of doors to make room for other things will soon reqim-e housing ; this, however, will depend greatly on the weather. Look well after late-flower- ing things. Late HeUoti-opes, Scai-let Geraniums, Petunias, &c., wiU now l)e somewhat pot-boimd, and wiU in that state, with the application of weak liquid manm-e, produce abun- dance of blossom on a light shelf until the beginning of December. The usual quantity for a season's supply of the kinds of soil used in potting should be laid in" as soon as convenient, and before the gi'ound be sodden with the autiunn rains ; for even tmfy soil should not be cai-ted out and stacked up when saturated ivith water. The ma- nagement of the conservatory wiU be more uniform now than in summer, no syringing will be necessary unless for a plant liere and there which may require it for keeping down insects. Let all the watering be done in the mornino-, and give no more of it to any stove plants which ai-e brought into this house for their bloom than just enough to keep them from flagging. COLD PITS. Young stock, intended to flower next season, to lie ex- posed to the midday sun in order to ripen the wood, taking care not to do this so rashly as to iniure the foliage. It is advisable after this season to be anticipating the approach of winter, and to use every possible means to fonvard the growth of valuable hardwooded plants in order to have the wood firm and able to resist damp, &c., as soon as possible, and tliis is especially necessary where the plants have to be ivintered in these structures. W. Keane. DOINGS OP THE LAST WEEK. KITOHE?f GAKDE.V. We have had a few slight showers that just refreshed the foliage a little, but which were raised from the ground by evaporation in a few minutes, and did nothing to speak of for om- tanks and reservoh-s. Did what we could to pre- vent crops sufl'ering ; but, with the little liquid at our com- mand, could not keep Pea bloom from shrivelling and that of Scarlet Runners from dropping, though even these we hope to overtake in a day or two with sewage water. Sowed what we think will be about our last crop of Turnips, with Radishes between the rows, draining the drills and waiting for a shower slightly to damp them, or doing so with the rose of a watering-pot, so as to moisten the seeds. There is every appearance that there will be plenty of rain ere long. Planted-out Lettuces, Cauliflowers, and Endive, watering merely at the roots and shading. Sowed Lettuces, Cauliflowers, &c., for the first spring crop — merely a little of the latter. Thinned Turnips, Radishes, &c. Pretty well finished getting up Potatoes, which on the whole have been good, and noticed only one or two traces of disease. The kinds were all early ones and with small tops, so as to admit of close-cropping. Pulled up Pea-haiUm when pretty well done mth, and will have the ground dunged and rough- trenched for the last sowing of Onions and Spinach. Gathered most of the pickling Cucumbers, and will now care little about them. We did so badly with them ont of doors last year that we placed a frame over them this season. The lights were left down whenever there was a chance of a shower, and now we want the frames for other purposes, so that the Cucumbers may do as they like. Cticumber Disease. — We have been more or less troubled with the Cucumber disease for three years. This season it did not trouble us untU about the end of June. We find there are no means of mastering it like young plants and frequent planting. We have tried change of temperature, change as to quantity of afr, change of soil, fr'om common garden soil up to j^eat ; and now we find there is nothing that will keep it away after it has once made its appeai'anee, though plenty of air and light, and not too much heat, and comparative dryness rather than wetness, wiU always lessen its violence. Nothing coidd do better than om* Cucumbers in the early spring and early summer months. The resiUts of two seasons convince us that if the disease makes its appearance there is little security afterwards, except in frequent planting. We have a strong opinion that whilst plants in afry houses — span-roofed, &c., with plenty of light all round them — will thoroughly escape, those in fi'ames and low pits lu-e apt to be seized. The most wonderful thing is that, from oiu- own obsenration and experience, the disease wDl appeal- in one garden and it will not appear in a second where much the same mode of culture is adopted, even though there may be only a short distance between them, and then very likely the second garden -vviU have it the following season and the first will escape altogether. Whenever the brown spot appears on the leaf, we know of no means of thoroughly eradicating it. A fruit or two may be slightly gummed, and yet the main crop be all right ; but whenever such an appearance is observed, the fruit should either be taken away or else the gum rubbed off, and the place dusted with siUphur and charcoal dust. On the whole, then, when the disease manifests itself we have no remedies as to cui'e ; but as to avoiding its presence we have no pre- ventives equal to fresh afr, fresh soO, using suljihui' on the walls, a little clear soot or other manure water instead of maniu-e of any kind in the soil, jjlenty of light if that should be subdued in the middle of the d.ay, anil rather fr'equent planting. If ever a spot shows itself it is wise to sow in another place or take cuttings from a healthy plant, but sowing is the surest. Planted out strong plants in a pit for autumn supply, wluch, like the crop just beaiing, are doing well ; but there August 25, 1863. ] JOtTENAL OF HORTICTTLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 153 is seldom any difficulty witt the plants at fii-st. We have sometimes had fine crops from plants aijproachiug two yeai-s old, and we confess we are nonplussed to find how we cannot now can-y the spring plants right on into the autumn. We seldom gTOW Cucumbers aU through the winter now ; but those who contemplate doing so should take their seedlings up without delay, pot them separately, and when planted out keep them nipped-in pretty well, and allow no friiit to remain until the plants ai-e strong and well furnished with good healthy foliage. Such plants, if wanted to produce abundantly in December and January and onwards, should not be allowed to do much to distress themselves until December. For such purpose a sp.an-roofod house or a steep nan'ow lean-to, is far superior to a low pit, though the expense for fuel will be greater ; and with a bottom heat of about 80°, or fi'om that to 75^ the top heat may fall to 60° at night, and the plants vnR do better at that in the dark days than if the temperatiu'e were higher. MTJSHROOM-EEDS. Put the first little piece in the Muslu-oom-house. We were pleased to find that one of the )jest gardeners of the day, and who must have Mushi'ooms every day, adopts the plan we follow, of making little bits of beds constantly. By thus doing' merely a few yards at a time there is less chance of failure ; but when a large bed is made, and any casualty occurs, then, of course, the disappointment is pro- portionately large. For these small, shaEow beds in-doors, nothing excels horse-droppings moderately dried, mth a good propoi-tion of short litter in it, and some good turfy loam, or scrapings and parings from the highway. We ai-e always scarce of droppings, but we have just thrown a heap of materials together, which we are sui'e when slightly heated will make a first-rate article — such as two small loads of rather moist somewhat-spent dung, a good portion of which was horse-droppings, one load of fresh horse- droppings, one load of short dry litter, such as pigs wiU roll in under a shed, and from one to two loads of dry tm-f cut small, and road parings and scrapings. These were well mixed and thrown into a conical heap to ferment a little, and were covered with 4 inches of dry litter from the stable to hasten the fei-menting process, and to keep wet and wind out. In a few days that heap will be in a nice condition for making shallow beds of from 12 to IG inches deep. Of course, it would do eqiially well for larger beds, either in sheds or in the open ail' ; but out of doors, as a large bed must be made for winter use, the material^ need not be so nice. If the diing is prepared much as iiJ^our younger days we used to work it for Cucumbers and Melons, it will answer admfrably, if well wrought, nice and moist, and sweet throughout. Such beds out of doors are best made in the form of a ridge or span-roof; the base, say, 3i feet wide, rising to 3 feet at the point in the centre, the dung being laid on in layers, and firmly beat downwards and from the sides as the work proceeds. When the heat declines to about 80°, the sides should be spawned, and if the tem- perature continues all right then earth-up. Before perform- ing the latter process, we used to put a layer of fresh droppings aU over the bed, if even less than an inch thick, to feed the Mushi'Ooms as it were. The soil we like best is rather stifif loam, fi-om l\ to 2 inches thick, well kneaded, and then beaten to a smooth surface. Such beds need covering at once to protect them from the weather, and the cover- ing must be thick or thin according to the weather. The beds will do best when the heat in the dung will range about 70°, and the surface of the bed range from 55° to 60°. We have known beds suddenly exhaust themselves fi'om over- heating when the covering was not lessened in warm muggy weather in winter. If such a bed can be made in a shed, either as a lean-to or a ridge as above, it wiU be a great advantage in the way of covering, as rains and snows will be excluded. Such beds wiU often produce largely for many months, but for a continuous supply, where a little heat can be secured in winter, shallow beds ai'e the most sure. Now is the time to prepai'e materials for these large beds, and for shallow ones too, in the case of those who want Mushi-ooms chiefly in winter. SPAWN-MAKING. We have just commenced making a bit. A few barrow- loads of fresh horse-droppings are collected, and then as much cowdung, fresh, as when mixed and blended together vdR look like stiff mortar or gTafting-clay. This, then, is squeezed into a mould of four pieces of wood, the same as that used for making bricks, and each brick of dung is placed as turned out on a board to dry, two holes being made in each for inserting the spawn when di'y enough. Then it win be placed in a heap and covered with litter to cause the spawn to run. The gentleman referred to above suggests an improvement, which we tliink a very good one — namely, making the bricks of the length and width, but only about half the thickness of the common budding-bricks. We can easily see that the pieces will dry quicker, and then that the spawn will sooner permeate or leaven the mass. We axe just a little doubtful if these thin bricks will keep quite as long. Many use no mould whatever, spread the material on a hard bottom, beat it well, and then ciat it oxit in the sizes that please them, with a clean shai'p edging-iron. However managed, good spawn is an essential element of success, and the care that is exercised in this respect is fast causing the Mushrooms of our pastures to be tabooed for everything except ketchup. FBUIT GARDEN. Looked over late Melons to set the blooms. Gathered Peaches and Nectarines which come in orchard-house as fast as we need them. Have still a few Apricots out of doors not ripe, which shows how cold we are. Nipped the points of low standard Apple and Peai' trees — that is, the young growth after the fii'st stopping. Thinned Pears on such small trees, but still not nearly enough. Have been advised to try the pigs with them, but doubt if they will care for them now, though they woidd feast on them when ripe. Syringing in orchard-house because we are scarce of water. Plums are coming in from pots, but not evenly as respects the same kinds, as we observe that one Jefferson's has given us two dishes, with a great di'aught of afr on night and day, and a lot more ripening nicely, whilst the same kind in a warmer place is still hard as bullets. Gave manure water to Straw- berries in pots. The Victoria Plum in the latter place is also yet hard, though taking on its usual colour. Green Gages have lipened well. Have a little tree named so, but which, no doubt, from its lateness is Reine Claude de Bavay. Have not yet cleaned the StrawbeiTy-quarters, hut have picked out a number of the best rvmners we could find, and pricked them out on a rich border about 5 inches apart, the richness being confined to a few inches near the surface, and they most Ukely avQI be raised for forcing in March and April. At that time such plants with good large baUs and firmly potted wiU answer well ; but such a system would be of no use for obtaining Strawberries in February or March, or even the beginning of April. For such work the plants must be well established, and the buds ripened in the pots in which they are to fr'uit before the autumn. ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. Potted lots of Primulas, Cinerarias, &c., for mnter. Gave full light and ail- to Epacrises to ripen wood and buds, ditto as to early-flowering Heaths. Defen'ed potting Poinsettias, Euphorbias, &c. — one small shift — for want of suitable pots. Fresh regulated conservatory, supplying with Fuchsias and varieties of Geraniums, and made tidy flower-beds out of doors. Find to oiu' mortification that the di'yness is making havoc with the Grandiflora Double Feverfew in the ribbon- borders. It was so strong we were obliged to bend it a little ; but the flowers are turning dai-k, and not enough of fresh ones coming to keep up the mass. Believe it would have been all right if we could have watered, as it did well in other places last year up to the end of the season. However, we should be tempted not to trust it in the post of honour next season. A large single white Chi-ysanthemum, which we call a Chinese Daisy, would have defied all weathers unless there had been the di-yness of the desert. The Feverfew may in a fortnight be aU right again ; but, if not, we can make the neighbouring rows fill up the space, and bm-y it out of sight if we Uke. Evei-ything else has stood the di-yness better than we could have exi^ected. Have commenced i>ropagating for next season, and will now have a fortnight or three weeks of it. We wish we had a reserve-gTOund for plants for cuttings, we do so dislike breaking in on the flower-beds ; but we cannot help our- selves. In most essentials the plans described by Mr. 154 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. [ August 25, IS«S. Thomson are much the same as we adopt, with modifications according to circumstances. Oiu- chief requisites are fresh sandy loam fi-om the roadsides, or made so by tlie addition of road drift if we can obtain it, or otlier sand if not, and a sprinkling of Gil%-er sand for the surface. We make little difference whether %ve prick out the cuttings at once into frames, pits, small moveable boxes, or pots, large or small — we strike in aU ways. We have commenced with Verbenas, and these chiefly white, scarlet, and piu'ple. In taking them off we select nice stubbj- side shoots, and although there is more time taken at the bed, there is much less required at the potting-shed, and a lot of cuttings may be taken «-ithout at aU disfiguring the bed. We prefer taking Verbenas first, because in September, though it is time enough to strike them, they are often liable to be attacked with thrijjs, and it is difficult to destroy it. Even now, when the small cuttings are made, we puU as many as we can hold in the thumb and thi'ee fingers through tobacco or sulphur water, and let them lie a short time on the bench before inserting tliem. This season, 60-sized small pots being most handy, we have used them for the ni-st batch, placing a few crocks in the bottom of the pot, fLUing nearly up with the sandy soU, pressing down with a round board, and placing a little sand on the surface. These pots, a little more than 3 inches in diameter inside, hold about twenty cuttings. They vnH be placed on ashes or sand on the gi-ound mth a frame over them, as we dislike artificial heat if it can be avoided. One advantage of having them in such pots is, that if anything in the way of insects gets on them they can be laid on tlieh- broadsides and cleaned with the syringe. When we follow this plan we generally move the cuttings into a larger-sized pot in January or Februar}', and head them across for cuttings ever so often. We never find room to single pot any, and we like spring- sti-uck plants best. We wiU follow as fast as we can with Heliotropes, Auagallises, Ac, and then with Scarlet Gera- niums, and in October we will look out for Calceolarias, or perhaps a few in the end of September. EoUed the lawn and switched witii om- daisy-knife, as it is too bare for machine or scythe. — E. F. TRADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. W. Cutbush i Son, Highgate.— iJuto Catalogue for 1863. William Paul, Waltham Cross. — Select List of Hyacintlis, Early TiiUiJs, Glndioli, and other BuVjs. 18G3. B. S. WiUiams, Paradise .and Victoria Nurseries, HoUoway. —General Bvlb and FrvH Tree Catalogue. 1863. COVENT GARDEN MARKET. -August 24. There is an abundance of every kind of vegetables. Peas are now or very nearly over, but a few parcels are still to be had. There is no scarcity of Grapes and Pine Apples, and of .Melons there is an abundance. Hlberts are plentiful. Potatoes ure plentiful, llegenls, SUo. to lous. ; Shaws. 633. to SOg. per ton. d. ti to 2 Apples J sieve 1 Apricots doz. i) 0 I) 0 0 G 0 0 0 Wgs doz. Filberts .fc Nuts 100 lbs. 40 Grapes, Hamburghs. lb. 2 .Muscats lb. 3 Lemons lOO 12 Melons eacb 2 Mulberries quart 0 s. d (i 0 0 ti 0 0 0 :) 1) .5 0 li 0 4 0 0 0 Nectarines doz. Oranges 100 Peaches doz. Pears bush. dessert A sieve Pine Apples ."....lb. Plums.... ^ sievo Quinces bush. Walunts bush. p. (I. 3. d 3 0 to 6 0 5 0 10 0 VEGETABLES. Beans, Broad bush. Kidney sieve Beet, red do^:. Broccoli bundle Cabbasc do?,. Capsicums 100 Carrots biinoh Cauliflowe.r doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers each pickling doz. Endive score Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Gourds & Pumpk., each Herbs bunch Horseradish ... bundle s. d. s. d 1) 0 to 0 0 Leeks 1 6 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 o 3 0 1 li 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 s 0 0 0 3 1 U ti IJ e 1 0 0 0 8 I 4 0 ; 2 0 : bunch » Lettuce score 0 , Mushrooms pottle 0 Mu3td.& Cress, punnet Onions LiUnch pickling quart Parsley bunch Parsnips doii. Peas bush. 1 tj , Potatoes sack 3 0 I Radishes doz. bunches 2 0 I Rhubarb bundle 0 0 Savoys per doz. 0 0 Sea-kale basket 0 0 ■ Spinach sieve 0 0 I Tomatoes ^ sieve 4 0 I Turnips bunch d. 5. d OtoO 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 8 TO CORRESPONDENTS. Poplar Of Rapid Gitowxii, »S:c. { Jf. A, 5.}-~"We fear that your " greea fly " is tbe tbnps, but in titber case till the pit with tobacco smoke, cover- ing the lightH tij keep it in. Do this two nights iii succession, shading from bright inn. The leiives should be dry ar the time of smoking, but a sprink- ling of water over the loli.ige in the Hiorninjf a'ter the operation will help to destroy the pe^ts. The Black Italian Poplar is a rapid grower, and eo is the Bjlsam, but no Poplar grows so last as the Ontario. Uulesa your garden IS wet they vmH not thrive long. We live iu a smoky atmosphere, and are dreadfully pu.-*lered with wiaduws that, like eyes, are continually upon U8, and m order to shut-out these we made a plantation of Italian Balsam and Ontario Poplar**, wiih a sufficiency of Limts and Elms. The Pop- lars from 12 feet at the time of planting attained a height of 2j feet in tive years ; but they are now dying at the top, and will soon give place to the Limes and Kims, whicli are better able to stan 1 the t*moky air ol towna than Poplars, which hke moisture above as well as below. Lombardy, Abele, and Aspen stand smoke better than any Poplar we have tried. Wc would plant a row of Black Italian as large as we could procure them, and a row of Limes in front, so that by the time that the Poplars are dying the Limes will b^ ready to take their place. You will not be able to procure Poplars we lear 30 feet liigh in any nursery ; at lea'st, we do not know of any place wliere they may be had. Such extra-sized trees are best found by visiting some large nursery, or by inserting an advertisement in a ga:» dening journal. Cocoa-nut Fibrk Dust (D. S. C). — Light fresh loam should be mixed with the dust tor puttmg. Two measures of loam to oue measure of tho dust. DOUBLK-FLOWKRING pEACHES BECOMING SiNGLE [E. 0. B.).—X VCTy likely cause of yout Peich blossoms becoming single and bearing? fruit is, that the soil in which the tree is growing id loo poor and light, and the south exposure may have something to do witli it, a double flower being simply one in which stamens and pistils are exchanged for p>^tals; and, thercfL-re, if your Peach lacks nourishment at the root, and is exposed to a hot sun, the tendency to single flowers and truitfuluess is sure to De the result. Many of our douole-flowenng bulbs — such, for instance, as Narcissus— become single when grown for a length of time iu a poor dry soil. Try what partially lifting your Peach and substituting very rich soil will do for tha continuance ol aouble tluwers. Liquid M.^nure eou Roses {Idem). — The frequency and quantity of liquid manure applied to your Koses must be entirely guided oy circum- stances. It they are gi owing in a poor gravelly soil from which water soon drains away, you m.iy lor the next month, if the weather be dry, apply it every day m a weak state. It is, however, better to give a fiood ooakingat interval."^, and inulcli the surface of the soil to prevent evjporatiou. It your Roses are in a t-trong adhesive loam, the applications of l.quid manure will, of course, not be so much required. We always prefer frequent applications in a weak slate to stronger ones at longer intervals. Heading-back afteu Budding (Idem). — No doubt the bending of the shoots will to some extent check the flow of sap to the point of the shoot and throw it back upon the bud. We would, nuwever, prefer shortening the gi-owth in the usual way. The time and attention required to remove the Lateral shoots will be very tritiing. and will not be »o ^teni as would be required in bending the shoots at hiat. White Lilies— Bruoma-nsia arborea not Flowering (J/. J".).— The term " White Lilies " is so perplexing an ai)pcllativ^ that we are rather at a loss to know exactly to what plant our correspondent reftrs. It would save a deal of perplexity if in asking for such intormation more particulars were afforded, and if the proper botanic names were given to plants mstead of the popular ones of which, in many cases, this being one of them, the same name is applied to several. We, however, t'uspect from our cor- respondent's having basins of water formed round the Lilies that they arc Water Lilies. It is nut very easy to determine what may have been the cause of their flowering weakly. We have always observed tbat the com- mon Nymphtea alba and lutea have always thriven with the greatest luxuriance in clayey soils— i.e., in pieces of water where the bottom has been of clay, and if the Lilies ia this case are in a light material, we would recommend that soil of a heavy nature be subatiluted. They are not generally shy in flowering, and, perhaps, this may not be the c luse. Perhaps by bome means the foliage may liave been prematurely destroyed, and that would affect their flowering and cause them to be altogether in a weaker state. If the wood of your Brugaiansias U, as you state, good, perhaps a little more time may cause them to be productive of flowers as well as your neighbour's, who may, perhaps, ha.*e started his plants into growth earlier than yours, or may, perhaps, have kept them a little warmer. Generally they are very sure in blooming, and if yours do not flower this autumn it would be difficult to say what has been the cause. The on.y way that you are likely to cause thtm to flower is to ketp them healthy by a plenti- lul supply ot water when they require it, not to keep them in the shade of other plants— such as climbers or Vines, and to keep the foliage free from red spider, to which they are often subject. It they have made as good wood as usual, it is not too much to hope that they will flower this autumn yet. We have grown excellent flowering plants ot this Brugmansia from cuttings struck eai ly in spring and grown on quickly a.nd exposed to plenty cf light in stove heat. By September they make flue strong plants in ten-inch pots, in which if well supplied with water they form very handeome plant?, bearing plenty of flowers, and few plants die more pictuiesque and beautiful. ARCTOTIS ItEITANS AND DiANTRCS HTBRIDUS MULTIFLORUS— PROPAGAT- ING Alyssum SAXAiiLE varieoatcm (,jl/ri. ir.J.-The two former of these should prove hardy in your climate. The Aly^sum is usually one of the most easy plants to propagate. The quickest and probably the ^ure8t way of striking it at this season is to well drain a pot or seed-pan, or even a wooden box, then All up to within 2 inches of the rim with soil composed of half loam und half leat mould, and nil up with the same compost and sand in equal proportions, sifted fine lor the insertion of the cuttings. In selecting the cuttings take the stubby tide shoots that have not yielded blooms, and alter being piepared in the usual way insert them about half an inch apart in the pots or pans, and place them m a pit or irame in which there is not much artificial heat, where it kept close and shaded they will root, at least ihey iuvaiiably do so under our care. Seedling Thop.i;olum {Buijyard ^- Son). — Your seedling is not unusual. We have seen it iu several places this season, and we doubt very much if it possesses sufficient merit to warrant you In distinguishing it by any par- ticular name. Augnat 25, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICTJLTITRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 155 Seedling Carnations and Picotebs (J/r5. Leveft).— They are very bright-coloured and pretty, and will render a border gay, but they do not possess the characteristics required by florists. We have had several similar boxes of specimens raised from seed bought of Messrs. Carter. Calceolaria {C. D., M'eatineath).— As f&r as we can judge your plant is Calceolaria Aurea florihunda, but if you act wisely you will not depend on the mildness of the last winter as any security for the plant living out in the winter that U to come. You, had better take cuttings in the end of September. Scarlet Gfm Melon Cracking (JT'". A. Blake). — Your Slelons crack because you give them too much water when they ought to be ripening. After a Melon begins to net it needs no water beyond that necessary to keep the leaves from flagging. After so much bright wenther as we have had lately a great many Melons have cracked, for the simple reason that bright sun tends to early maturity ; under it the rind of the Melon becomes hard, and when cloudy weather sets in the Vines grow more freely, impelling more matter into the fruit, which being rendered hide or rind-bound by the influence of hot sun refuses to expand, and literally cracks to make way for the increased amount of nourishment driven into them. It is hopeless to expect such Melons to swell any more after a month of bright sunshine : therefore, the atmosphere should be kept dry, and less water by half given in dull than in sunny weather. The Melon requires as much water as a Cucumber from the time of setting until it begins to net, and after that it can hardly have too little. Our scarlet Gems this year are smaller than common, but exquisite in flavour. Keep the atmosphere of your frame dry by leaving a touch of air on all night, und give no more water at the root. IpoM.EA Leari {J. Knottley). — Both plants may be correct, for the leaves vary in form. There is a coloured portrait of the plant in Paxton's " Maga- zine of Botany," vl., 267 ; and in the description there given, it is eaid— "Leaves variable, most frequently cordate (like your small leaves), but often unequally, and sometimes distinctly three-lobed" (like jour large leaf). No. 51 I'iV. i).).—Thi^ Number is out of print. Our correspondent wishes to know the direction of Mr. Henderson, lately gardener at Dunkeld, aa in our correspondent's neighbourhood directions how to fill Jlr. Henderson's *' Patent Broom-head " are much desired. Walnut Tree Unhealthy (E. C. T.).— Had it been the blossom only of yotir Walnut tree that dropped at the end of May, we should have said that it was occasioned by the frosts we generally have in that month, und to which last May was not an exception. But when you tell us the leaves also fall and the shoots are decaying, there is no doubt but thut the roots have got into had soil. It is not the horizontal roots you must examine, but hose that go down vertically into the ground, and for this purpose you muat search right in under the trunk. Insects Attacking Lettuce and Beet {H. Benecle). — The insects at the root of the Lettuce are a species of aphides (E. Lactucas). Their ex- tirpation is attended with great difficulty from their underground habits. If the earth be carefully moved round the crown of the plants and then lime water introduced, it would, probably, be successful. The Beet leaves are infected with the raining larvse of the Anthomyia Betce, a two-winged fly very hke the common house fly. We can only recommend pinching the leaves in the infected parts when the grubs are at work, or if the leaves are badly infected they should be pulled off and burnt. This will prevent the subsequent brooda which succeed each other very rapidly. Indian Corn {Lex). — Y'ou would most likely obtain the kind you name by applying to any of our agricultural seedsmen. If they cannot supply you we do not know who can. It is not our practice to recommend one trader in preference to another. Bouquet {MiiiS Landoji). — We regret that we cannot deviate even in your case from our rule ot not replymg privately to questions that may be put to U3, uor do we suggest arrangements for adoption, though willing to give our opinion on those which are submitted to our inspection. Geranium Cloth op Gold.— wl North Briton having read in Mr. Adey's remarks on bedding-out at the Crystal Palace, that this variety is easily pro- pagated by leaves, will be obliged by Mr. Adey'e informing him how and when the leaves are put in. Names of Fruit {F. E. A.). — Your Apple is the Belledge. {R. J.j J/a«- fftei(er).— Tour Grape is Muscat of Alexandria. (IF. jr.). — Weregrecwe cannot name fruit in, such an immature state as those are that you have sent. Names op Plants.— Some of our correspondents are in the habit of sending small fragments of plnnts for us to name. This requires from us such a great expenditure of time that we are compelled tc say that we cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen is perfect in leaves and flowers. {A. B.). — Your Ferns are— 1, Cheilanthes Dick-ioniana; 2, Nothochlfpna distans ; 3 and 4 appear to be small bits from Lastrea cristata, the Crested Fern ; 5, Lastrea oilatata, broad priekly-toothed Fern ; 6, Polystichum angulare, the angular or soft Prickly-shleld Fern. [J. C). — Rhus continus, a deciduous hardy shrub about 6 feet high. {J. A.) — 1, Doodia media; 2, Doodia caudata ; 3, Pilca muscosa; 4, Nothochla^na lanuginosa ; 5, Centradenia rosea ; 6, Coleus Verschaffelti. ( C. P.).— Fteris heterophylla, or Various-leaved Fern. [F. C.).— Rulreuteria paniculata. {3. B.). — Asclepias curassavica. [W. H. M.). — 1, Cystopteris fragilis; 2, Asplenium fontanum ; 3, a luxuiiant specimen of the Ceterach otfici- nanim, xar. crenatura. {U. M., Sandy ifoujit). — It is not the Pansy you name. The other plants were smashed by the post-oflace punches. {3.}. — Tour plant is F.pipactis latifolia. Can you send us a living plant carefully dug up with a ball of the soil round it 1 If so, you will oblige. [Alctheai. —Not a Lichen, but a Hepatica — Marchantia polymorpha. [Mrs, Atkhi). — Narthecium osaifragum. Probably found wild near Dublin. and we thought that was enough. It seems not. "We have a very melancholy letter from " A Kecent Subscriber," who complains we deal only with her young poultry. She would like to know what she is to do with the old. We have told her hens do not lay in the vidnter. She has sent some to market twice, but either from the time of year or because they are in such bad plumage no one would buy them. Her letter ends with the question, " What am I to do with them ? How can they be made eatable ?" It is only in England a hen is considered almost useless (except in regrdar kitchens). In any other coimtry she is known to be the most valuable adjunct to that useful re- ceptacle, the stock-pot. Go into the meanest peasant's kitchen in France. On the hearth, in the braize, there stands the '* mai-mite," not boiling, but simmer, simmer, always. The coarse piece of beef, thanks to this long and gentle treatment, comes out the tender and relishing bouilli, and the good woman woidd be too happy to have the despised hen. She knows the flavour, strength, and brightness it gives to the " potage " of the aristocratic table, or the humble ** soupe " of the farm or cottage. That is not the only way of dressing yom- old hen or cock. When you have one, two, or three of these that must be made away with, stai-t for a razzia in youi* larder and pantry. The lean of that ham, the odd pieces that remain on the bones of beef and mutton, comers of fat bacon, any scraps or pieces, nothing comes amiss : therefore, if you have none, buy some scrag or flap of mutton, coarse pieces of beef, three-cornered remnants of any food. Cut your fowl or fowls into joints. Cut also your meat into moderate -sized pieces. Season to your mind. Get an earthen pot, or teiTine, with a lid to it, cut some thin slices of bread and cover the bottom and sides of the pan with them, then cut your bacon into as good slices as you can, and lay them on the bread. Then begin the artistic work. Take your pieces of meat and poultry and lay them as you will — make a mosaic. No skill is reqmred, all that ia necessary is to fill the vessel with meat. You are Hke Sydney Smith's cook and her pufi" paste, it cannot enter your head you are doing ^vi-ong. When the vessel is filled with meat, pour in water (gravy is better), until all the crevices are fiUed up with it. Put on the lid, tie it down, put it in a slack oven for eight or ten hours, and when it is cold eat it. You will like it, the water wiU be tiirned to jeUy, and the odd pieces of meat wUl look as if they were set in transparent gold. This is a better winter than siunmer dish, but it is always excellent on the break- fast-table. It will do good service on the sideboard when unexpected company drops in. It is good for a fishing party, a pic-nic, or a shooting luncheon. In fact, the old hens will be found good food. POULTRY. BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHEONICLE, COOKING OLD FOWLS. We have told you wMcli fowls to kill ; we have told you how to kill them ; we have endeavoui'ed so to advise that you shall have them tender, yet sweet, in the hottest weather. EXPEEIMENT ON CHILLING EGGS. I NOW give the result of the sitting of eggs named in a former communication to your Journal. Two chUlings of eggs extra have occurred, which I think further proves that eggs are not very easily spoilt by a hen leaving her nest, at least in wanu weather. The course pursued was as follows: — Hen sat on nine Cochin eggs at ten o'clock at night Tuesday, 28th July. Time of hatching, 18th August. 29, Wednesday..,.! taken away at 10 o'clock at niglit, replaced at 10 o'clock on following morning. ^ j i i^ 30, Thursday Hen on nest at 4 o'clock in the aftertioon, at 10 o clock on another nest. 31, Friday 2 taken aivay at 10 o'clock at night, replaced at 10 o clock on following morning. Aug. I.Saturday 3 „ 10 o'clock ,, .5, Wednesday. ...4 „ 10 ,, ,• 7, Friday 5 „ 10 „ 10, Jlonday 6 „ 10 „ .. 12, Wednesday.,,. 7 „ 10 „ .. 14, Friday 8 „ 10 „ .. 1(!, Sunday 9 „ 10 „ .. Wednesday morning, the 19th. Nog. 3, 4, 8 hatched. Wednesday night, at 10 o'clock, Nos. 1, 2, 6, 9 hatched. ^ Thursday morning broke the two remaining eggs, ^05. ■> and t liad full-grown chicks in them, dead. After the hen had been sitting twenty-four hours I took No. 1 away, and it was chiUed for twelve hours. I saw the 10 o'clock 10 „ 10 „ 10 ,, 10 „ 10 „ 10 „ Both 156 JOURNAL OF HOKTICTJLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAJtDENEE. [ August 26, 1863. hen on the nest the following day at four o'clock ; and at ten o'clock at night, intending to take egg No. :i away as I had done the preceding, I found her on another nest, the eggs quite cold. I placed her on the nest again. On the following night I took egg No. 2 and retm-ned it in the morning, and at the same hours as with No. 1. The hen sat well unto Friday, the 14th, when at night I found her sitting- so Ught on the eggs that all the outside ones were almost cold, the inner ones tolerably warm. On Saturday morning, the loth, the hen sat on the edge of the nest and all the eggs were quite cold. 1 again placed her on the nest, and she afterwards sat close. Her time of hatcliing would be Tuesday, the Ifsth, on wliich night I found one egg chilled. More might have been so, but I did not wish to disturb her. On Wednesday morning I found three hatched, and at ten at night I found four more hatched. Being so late in the season and not caring for the chickens, being only an exjjeri- ment, I broke Nos. 5 and 7, in wliich were flill-gi'own chicks, dead. No doubt these had been from under the hen, one of these eggs (No. 5) having Ijeen chilled on the 7th of August and No. 7 on the I'ith. Had that affected them they could not have been fidl-gi'own chickens. Than the seven chickens hatched I never saw stronger. In addition to the above, I had an oijportnnity of trying whether an egg not impregnated would addle as my Bantam eggs before-named had done. A hen with chickens in a oompai-tment of my aviary laid her fii'st egg, no male bird being with her. This I placed under the sitting hen on Monday, the 10th. On the 20th I broke it, and found the white and yolk perfectly sepai'ate, as in a fresh-laid egg, the only difference being a slight cloud in the centre of the yolk. — Evesham. DEIGHLINGTON AISTD ADWALTOJN' POULTEY SHOW. It is the ninth annual meeting of this Societj- that is just concluded, and it gives us pleasui-e to state that its excel- lence has been jirogressive. Although diuing the time of this Society's existence the Committee haTe frequently had serious drawbacks fi'om the most unfavourable weather at theii- annual meetings, nothing daunted the;/ have perse- vered, and certainly, though not a very extensive exhibition, this year's Show, in point of excellence, would beai' very favourable contrast with many of our local poxdtry meetings. There are, nevertheless, some of its rides that are quite open to improvement, none more so than the issue of cata- logues prior to the awards of the Judges. At Drighlington catalogues were pubhcly sold about the streets many hours before the arbitrations commenced. This error is always fraught with olijectious, and as invariably offers a plausible opportunity lor cavil to disappointed rivals, though no such instance met om' ears in this jiarticidar case. The remedy will be very easily effected on future occasions by refusing to issue any catalogue whatever until the awards are com- pleted. In Spanisli the only birds requii'mg particular' remark were the two winning pens, adults fu'st, chickens second. Both pens were exceedingly good and well shown. Strange to say only a single pen of Grey Dorkings were shown, but they were very good. In Cochins the result was even BtQl more unexpected, not a single entry taking place, which perhaps is the only instance recorded at any of oiu jjubUc meetings in this now almost universal breed. The Game fowls of aU varieties were well shown, and some of the Brown Eeds were unexceptionable. In the Bamlurghs we anticipated seeing a superior collection, nor were we dis- appointed. In these bh-ds, however. Miss Emily Beldon quite ruled the roast, taking with a single exception all the Hambui-gh jirizes ; indeed, all the fowls of whatever varie- ties showm by this exhibitor M'ere so unusually good that she monopolised about twenty prizes besides commenda- tions for her entries. The Polaniis were as good as we have seen for years past. The class for Aylesbui-y Dtu-ks was compai'atively a failiu'e, though the winning pens of Eouen were superior ones. The gi-eat feature of the Show was a competition for single cocks of any kind in one general class. A magnificent Golden Poland took frrst piize, a superior Siianish cock stood second, a Silver Poland realised third _ -jsition, the fom-th fell to a Brown Red Game cock, the fifth prize was avv-arded also to a Brown Eed Game cock, and the sixth to a Golden-pencilled Hambm-gh. This class caused much interest among spectators, and was decidedly the most meritorious part of the Drighhugton Show. The weather verj' unfortunately in the forep;u-t of the Show day was most unpromising, but towards the afternoon the'long- looked-for change took place, the rain ceased, and the dajr's proceedings concluded under a brightened sky. Sr.iNisH.—Fiistaud Second, Mi.-is E. Beldon, Gi'.Rtead, npar Bradford. DoEKlxos.— Prize, Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead. uear Bradfonl. Game ( Black -Vreasted or other Red).— First, .Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead, near Bradford. Second, H. Snowdon, Korton, Bradford. Highly Com- mended, Miss E. Beldon ; J. Mason, Drighlington. Game (Duckwinged or other Grey or Blue).— First, J. Pell & Sons, Adwalton. Second, H. Snowdon, Horlon, Bradford. Game (Black or BrassT-winged).— First, G, Hartley, GomersaL Second, G. Noble, Staincliflfe. BaUey. Game (White or Pile). -First, J. Mason. Second, H. C. M.ison. HAMBnKon (Golden-spangled).— fii-st and Second, Miss li. Beldon, Gil- stead, near Br.ulrord. Hambukgh (Silver-spangled) — First and Second, Miss E. Beldon, Gil- stead, near Brnd'ord. IlAMBiiROHs (Golden-pencilled).— First, Jliss E. Beldon, Gilstead, near Bradford. Second, F. Hardy, Quarry Gap. Bradford. Hambdrohb (Silver-pencilled).— First and Second, Miss F. Beldon, Gil- stead, near Bradford. Highly Commended. J. Walker, Drigtilinfrton. PoLANDS. — First, Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead, near Bradford. Second D. lUinKworth, Burley, Otley. Highly Commended, Miss E. Beldon. Com- mended, F. Hardy, Bradford. Any Distinct Bbeed Not Mentioned. — First and Second, Miss E. Bel- don, Gilstead, near Bradford. Game Bantam.— First, G. Noble, Staincllffe, Batley. Second, Miss E, Beldon, Gilstead, near Bradford. Highly Commended, Miss Bland, Drighlington. Bantaks (Any other variety).— First, S. Schofleld, Heckmondwike. Second, Jliss E Beldon, Highly Commended, K. Ferre.tt, Drighlington, Geese :Enghsh). -First, G. Tates, Westgate-Hill, Tong. Second, J. Hague, Crow .Nest, Dewsbury. Geese (Any other distinct breed).— Prize, G. Yates, Westgate-Kill, Tong. Di CKS (AylesbuiTj.— First, H. Helliwell, Adwalton. Second, C. Holmes, Tons. Ducks (Rouen).— First, J. Khodes, Tong. Second, J. Ward, Drigh- lington. Cock (Any breed).- Fir.'it, Second, and Sixth, Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead, near Bradford. Third, F. Hardy, Bradford. Fourih, H. Snowdon, Horton, Bradford. Fifth, H. C. Mason, Drighlingtcn. Highly Commended. H. Snowdon; W. Bentley, Scholes, Cleckheaton j J. Fell & sons. Adwalton. Commended, K. Faruhill, Carlinghow, Batley. The Judge was Mi-. Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, Birmingham. OEMSKIRK AJS^D SOUTHPOET POULTEY SHOW. The seventh annual Exhibition of the Society was held at Ormskirk on 'Wednesday last the 19th inst., and was well attended considering the capricious state of the weather. The poultry entries were more numerous, lOS pens being exhibited, and the quality better than at any previous meeting of the Society; in coniirmatiou of which, among the exhibitors figure the names of Captain Hornby, Mr, Teebay, i Mr. Stretch, Mr. Musgrove, Mr. Dixon, and other well-known. exhibitors. Owing to the time of the year the old biids showed indifi'erently, especially in tiie Cochin classes. The following is a list of the prizes awarded : — DoHKiNGS. — First, Capt. Hornby. Second, J. Blundell, Burscoogb. i ChukLiif:. — Second, J. liulme, Knowaley. Highly Commended, P. Jliley, 1 Scarisbricls. First withheld. SrANisH.— FiiBt and Second, R. Teebay, Fulwood. C/tic^en*.— First, Capt Hornby. Second withheld. Game (Black or Brown-breasted Red) Second, W. Howard, Knowfiley. First withheld. Chickens.— FivsX, Capt. Hornby. Second, J, B. Butter, I'oulton-le-Fylde. Highly Commended, J. Eaves, Knowsley. Commended, ! Capt. Hornby. Game (Any otiier colour). — Chickens. — First, J. Holme, Knowsley. Second, J. Eaves, Knowsley. Highly Commended, J. Eaves. IIambchghs (Golden-pencilleu).— Fiist, J. Di.\on, Bradford, Second, T. r.idgway, Burscough. ' Hamburohs (Silver-pencilled). — First, J. Dixon. Second, J. W. Smith, ' Rivington. Hambchghs (Golden-spangled). — First, J. Dixon, Second, T. Ridgeway IIambukghs (Silver-spaugledj. — First, R. Teebay, Fullwood. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Cochin-China (Buff). —First, E. Musgrove, .\ughton. Second, T. Stretch, Ormskirk. Commended, '1'. Stretch. C/ucAr/is.— First and Second, J. Stretch. Commended, E. Musgrove. Cochin-china (Partridge or Grouse).- Firat and Second, T. Stretch* Ormskirk. Ciiicketis — First and Second, T. Stretch. Highly Commended, J. E. Waltbew, Aughton. Poland (Any colour). — First and Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Game Bantams (Black or Brown-breasted Reds), — Prize, E. Mnagrove, Aughton. Game Bantams (Any other colour). — Second, J. B. Walthew, Aughton. First withheld. August 25, 1868. ] JOURNAL OF HOE.TICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 1&7 BAMTAM8 (Any other variety).— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, -with- held. Gasik Cock [Any colour).— First, W. Boyes, Eeverley. Second, J. S. Rutter, Poulton-le-Fylde. Highly Uommended, J. Eaves, Knowsley. Geese.— First, J. liryers, OnusKirk. Second, Ca.pt. Horaby. Commended, R. Wright, Wrightington. Dtctts (Aylesbury).— First, J. Dixon. Second, T. Stretch, Ormakirk. Highly Commended, T. Stretch. Duces (Kouen).— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, Capt. Hornby. Highly Commended, T, Stretch, Onnskirk. Ducks (Any other variety).— First, J. Dixon. Second, F. W. Eaile, Turkeys.- First, Capt. Hornby. Second, J. Dixon. ALDBOEOUGH AIS'D BOEOUGHBKIDGE POULTET SHOW. This Poultry Show was held on the Hth instant. Some of the poultry was remarkably good. In Spanish Miss Beldon showed an excellent pen. Dorkings were very good, espe- cially the chickens, which class was highly commended, the iii-st-ijrize cliickens heing remarkably good. Game was only average. Cochins were good, but the chicken class was better than tlie adults, and the first-prize chickens were a veiy fine pen. All the Hamburgh classes were above an average. The first-pi-ize pen of Polands were good. The Geese were not good ; but the Aylesbury Dmks made amends, Mr. KeU taking the first prize both for adults and ducklings mth birds that are hard to beat anywhere. The Pigeons were very good. DOKBiNOS.— First, Key. G. K. Holdsworth, Aldborough. Second, Miss Beldon, Gllstead, Bingley. C/ijcAejw.— First, — Kell, Wetherby. Second, Rev. G. K. HoUlsworth. (Class Uiglily Commended). Spanish.— First and Second. Miss Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley, Chickens. — First, MifiS Beldon. Second, F. Powell, Knaresborough. Game —First, Miss Beldon, Gilstead. riecond, J. Robshaw, Whixley. Chickens.— iiri^l^ J. Robsliaw. Second, Miss Beldon. Cochin-Cbina.— First, K. Gatenby, jun., Sbipton (Buff). Second, T. H. Barker (Butf). Chickenn. — First and Second, — Dewes, Knaresborough (Buft). Commended, T. H. Barker, Hovingbam (Butt'j ; — Dewes. Hamboruhs (Golden-spangled).— tirst, J. Waddington. Minskip. Second, Miss Beldon, Gilstead. Chickens. — First, J, Apew, Cowtborp. Second, Miss Beldon. HA3IBLUGHS (Golden-pencilled).— First, Miss Beldon, Gilstead. Second, — Ellerby, Helnisley. Commended, H. S. Hardcastle, Hunsingore. Chickens.— YirsU Miss Beldon. Second, J. Darbyshire, Whixley. Hambuughs (Silver-spangled).- First, Miss Beldon, Gilstead. Second, — Blenkhorn, Knaresborough. C/iicAe/ts.— First, Miss Beldon. Second, Mrs. Gray, Boroughbridge. HjMBi'KGHs (Silver-pencilled).— First, Miss Beldon, Gilstead. Second, — Hardcastle, Hunsingore. Highly Commended, — ScoUick, BicKerton, Chickens.— iu%l. Miss Beldon. Second, — Kendall. Polands — First, Mits Beldon, Gilstead. Second, C. Marwood, Aldbo- rough, C7u'cA>Jw.— First, Miss Beldou. Brahma Pootra.— First and Second, F. Powell, Knaresbrough. Chickens. — First, Kev. G. K. Holdsworth, Aldborough. Second, F, Portell, Knares- borough. Bantams (Game). — First, Miss Beldon, Gilstead. Second, — Lamb, Great Ouseburn. Chickens.— Piizfi, J. Spencer. Bamtams (Gold or Silver). — Prize, Miss Beldon, Gilstead. Bantams (Any other variety). — First, Miss Beldon, Gilstead. Second, J. Chapman, Great Ouseburn. Chickens. — Prize, Mrs. Stapylton, Myton Hall. Any Other Distinct Brekd Not Mentioned. — First, Miss Beldon, Gil- stead. Second, — lugteby, Knaresborough (Golden Pheasants). Farmtakd Cross. — First, Mrs. Burton, Minskip. Second, J. Spencer, Aldborough. Chickens. — prize, — Sudds, Aidborough. TuHffEYS. — First, Mis. Burton, Minskip Grange. Second, — Moorey, Mulwith. Faults. — First, — Moorey, Mulwith. Second, Captain Barnes, Thorp-Green Hall. Geese. — First, C. F. G. Clark, Heaton House. Second, — Moorey, Mul- with. Gos/in^a. — Fh'st, A. Low. Second, — Clark, Heaton House. DiiCKs (Aylesbury). — First, — Kell, Wetherby. Second, — Young, Driffield. Ducklings. — First, — Kell, Wetherby. Second, — Clark, Heaton House. Ducks (Rouen). — First, — Barker, Hovingham. Second, — Young, DriHield. Ducklings.— ¥h&t^ Mi^s Graham, Aidborough. Second, — Sudds, Aldborough. Ducks (Any other variety). — First, Rev, J. G. Milner, Bellerby. Second, Mrs. Uewison, Norton-le-Clay (Indian). Guinea Fowls.— Prize, — Webster, Moor Monkton. Pigeons. — Croppers. — Prize, — Trenam, Helmsley. C'arrtcrs.— Prize, G. Sadler, Boroughbridge. Trnwpeters.—Vnzef Miss beldon, Gilstead. Jacobins. — Prize, Mrs. Sedgwick, Aldborough. Fanlaits.—Pnze^ Miss Beldon. Tumblers.— Prize. Miss Beldon. Dragons. — Prize, G. Sadler. Barbs. — Prize, Miss Beldon. A'uns. — Prize, Miss Beldon. Ajiy other variety. — Prize, Miss Beldon. Rabbits (Fancy). — Prize, L Slade, Boroughbridge. Extra Stock. — Prize, Mrs. Hewiion, Norton-le-Clay (Indian Ducklings), The Judges were Mr. Hunter, Green Hamerton, and Mi-. Scott, Boroughbridge. ation : what will he now say when CEdipus liimseif confesses to being fairly posed ? WiU he come forward m his turn and with fliient pen solve the mystery at once ? Or will any other among the numerous accomplished apiarian con- ti-ibutors to The Journal op Horticulture expound the riddle which I am about to submit to their consideration? Time will show, but I will at once state what has surprised me, and then as the journalists say, " pause for a reply." The incident which has so much astonished and puzzled me is, this day (August 19th), finding two qiteens peaceably installed in one hive. The fii'st was evidently the mother of the colony moving slowly over one comb with all the state and dignity proper to her matrordy condition, and the second was "standing on another comb (separated by two others from the one on which the mother of the hive was pai-ading), and receiving apparently equal respect with the rightftd sovereign fi'om a cu-cle of coiu'tiers that surrounded and attentively regarded her. The colony itself is a pure Ligmian which has been treated for, and apparently cured of, foul brood in the manner de- taOed in page 97— that is, the bees were driven into an empty hive in which they were kept four days, and then again driven into another hive with a few clean combs, in which they were suffered to remain unmolested. This pro- cess was completed about a month ago, and now the hive is half fiUed with combs in which is some honey and a great deal of brood in aU stages. In fact, the colony is precisely in the condition of a recent swarm of moderate size, which has half filled its hive and has a fertile queen at its head. The old queen is large and evidently very prolific, whilst her junior is also of full size ; but judging from her con- tracted abdomen is probably still a virgin. Now, what under these cii-cumstances can have caused the bees to raise a second queen ? and what can have induced the queen regnant to brook so near a rival to the throne ? As I said before, " I pause for a reply." I should state that I removed the supernumerary queen as soon as I discovered her, and placed her at the head of a queenlesB colony. It is, of com-se, very doubtful whether she win remain there, as, if she has already taken wing, she wiU probably soon find her way back to her old quarters. The event will, however, be watched with some interest by — A Devonshibe Bee-keepek. TWO QUEENS IN ONE HIVE. Mr. Lowe talks of my fluent pen being ever ready to ajiswer all inqiuries and to solve all the doubts of the numerous parties who appeal to me for advice and inform- FOUL BEOOD NOT AN AETIFICIAL DISEASE. Let me assure Mr. Lowe that he is entirely mistaken in considering foul brood to be identical with chUled brood. There is really quite as much difterence between them as there is between smallpox and a common cold in the human subject ; and chilled brood, when free fi-om infected matter, appears as Httle likely to degenerate into ford brood, as a cold in the head to produce confluent smallpox m the absence of contao-ion. The simile of the unhatched eggs of a domestic fowl is also by no means oon-ectly put. If thoroughly chilled all may die, and so may that portion of the brood of a hive which is uncovered and neglected by the bees. But here the mischief ends : the next sitting of eggs hatches out all i-io-ht ; and so also with bees— chdled brood is removed, and the cells again tenanted on the return of wai-m weather, or an increase in the population. I know Utile of the ma- nagement of poultry, but I think I may safely assume, that if the eggs of at first a few hens, and ultimately those of every hen in the poultry-yard, were found perfectly mcapable of hatching, although the mothers sat fahrly, and every care was taken of them, the poultry-keeper would be right m attributing the circumstance to disease, and would be samy mistaken if he persisted in ascribing his misfortune to the momentary absence of the hens, which haxl constantly occurred in former years, but had never before been attended with such disastrous effects. ,,,.,. m-. Lowe says, "If foul brood be a disease, I should hie to know by what it is caused." So shoidd I And a ^eat many other people would like also to know the causes of the potato disease, pleuro-pneumonia in cattle, variola m sheep. strangles in horses, and distemper m dogs, but I never heard any one doubt the reahty of these diseases beoauBe theu- occult causes remain obscure. 158 JOtTENAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ August 25, 1863. It is true that mine is, to a very gi-eat extent, an experi- mental apiaa-y, and that when once the poison had been in- troduced by means of infected combs from common hives, I, in my ignorance, assisted its dissemination through all my colonies by the very endeavoiu-s wliicli I made to palliate it ; but Mr. Lowe is quite mistaken in stating that " it is only in the hands of the experimentalist that we find it generally manifested." I will give a case in point. Mr. Quinby, an American writer, and the cleverest and most sensible api- ai-ian of the old school that I have ever met with, has lost as many as a hundred stocks in a single year from tliis pes- tilence, although he kept bees in the ordinary manner in •simple boxes without bars or frames ; whilst Mi-. Langstroth, who claims to be the original inventor of fi-ame-hives, and is probably by far tlie most scientific and exijerimental api- ai-ian in America, declai-es that it has never made its appeai-- ance in his apiaries, and that he shoiJd regard its general dissemination in America as the greatest possible calamity to bee-keeping. I can also state that the process of di-iving healthy bees one day, stowing the deserted hive in a warm kitchen during the night, and fitting the combs into frames the next morn- ing,* is by no means deserving of the reprobation with which Mr. Lowe has visited it. Of com-se, when the liive is on the spot none of these delays should take place ; but the actual mischief is very trifling, being confined to the loss of a few of the larger worms which protrude from then- cells, and are siieedily removed by the bees. Neither the eggs, vei-y young brood, nor that which is sealed over, is at all in- jured, nor can foul brood be created in this manner, as I have proved reijeatedly in former years. The fact is, if foul brood were identical with chilled brood, I should have met with it long ago, nor would my friends, Mr. Fox, " B. & W.," "J. E. B.," Mr. John P. Edv.-ards, and hundieds of others, have entu'elj' escaped it. I do not expect to convince Mr. Lowe, nor am I by any means sm-e that a bystander would not deem me out-argued, since the firmness of Mr. Lowe's convictions is fully equalled by his ability in maintaining them ; but in this case I have had ample opportunities of judging, and I may confidently ask the apiarian readers of The Jouknal of Hokticul- TUKE, if I have ever misled them in a single instance which has fairly come under my obsei-vation as — A Devonshire Bee-keepek. P.S. — Since writing the foregoing I have pei-used Mr. Edwards' exceUeut article in page 137, for wliich, as well as that in page 120, I beg to tender him my best thanks. He has, I perceive, anticijjated some of my arguments in another form, and confirms much of my own experience in driving, artificial swarming, the eifects of chloroform, itc. THE FOUL BEOOD CONTEOVEESY. Apiakians have the chai'acter of being the most preju- diced class in the world; and su-relywe have had an instance of this characteristic lately, when we iind Mr. Taylor, Mi'. Lowe, and Col. Newman — men who have carefully studied the habits of bees — attacking " the experimental " apiai-y of Mr. Woodbury, and almost rejoicing over what they would call the failure of Ids "scientific" management; and by exaggerating or misintei-preting it, they seem to want to drive us back to nature, as they call the old-fashioned straw skeps and swaniiing system. I am afraid that we, who are anxious to learn from the experience and misfortunes so generally divulged by " A Devonshike Bee-keepek," can- not hope to benefit by a discussion of the question whether foul brood is a disease or not. Mr. Lowe, who acknowledges that he passes over om-sorily the experience of other writers on the diseases of bees, has found this disease, or complaint, or malady, or evU, or what- ever he may choose to call it, in his own Idves. But is he not taking for gr,inted the cause of it — namely, a sudden chill to all the brood affected ? It is quite as probable that this evil has a small beginning, and spreads rapidly through- out the hives, since experience teaches that a hive attacked by it rarely recovers, but that all the comb becomes affected. Jlr. Woodbury, by the great advantage his "experimental " system gives liim over Mr. Lowe, has discovered that it is * All this ie, of coui-tc, only perniiesible during warm summer weather. contagious, and probably infectious too. Mr. Lowe com- pares the evil to the chilling of eggs which are being hatched. Has he found that one chilled egg will communicate its rottenness to other sound eggs 'i The origin of the disease foul brood is stiU a mystery to us English bee-keepers, like that of typhus, or cholera, or the potato disease (does Mr. Lowe deny the name of "disease" to the lasts') and our object should be to collect as much information on the sub- ject as possible, and not to check the efforts of oui' pioneers by a sneer at their faUui'es. >Ir. Woodbiu-y has communicated promptly his bad suc- cess that all might learn fi-om him. The cause of it he was enabled to discover, because his system was a scientific one. How many old-fashioned apiaries have died out during the last thi'ee or four years, and the cause of their death left in obscurity because theu' owners would not be " fighting against nature ?" And yet this fatal visitation is denied to be a disease, or, at least, called " anenth-ely artificial one," in face of the acknowledged ignorance wliich prevails in England on the subject, and in face, too, of the larger expe- rience of bee-keepers in Germany and America. Our immu- nity must surely be the immunity of ignorance only. Our progress in knowledge on tliis interesting branch of natural history will be lamentably slow if our writers on the subject persist in "passing over with a cursory glance" the information afforded by others, even though they be foreign bee-keepers, and perhaps ignoring them altogether. One word more on those that oppose the scientific and exjierimental system. Are we to fall back on the cottager's usual reason for the dmndling of a hive — " There is some- thing the matter with the queen," when Mr. Woodbury has been able, by scientific management, to discover and cope with a disease in his apiai-y, which may have been the un- known cause of the destruction of many apiaries on the old system ? Mr. Edwai'ds has refen'ed to the artificial treat- ment of the cow and sheep as authority for the " rational management " of bees. I, too, would ask these " followers of natui'e " why we may not increase the breeding of our bees much in the same way as we increase the laying of our hens ? Mr. Woodbirry's estabUshinent is for the purpose of pro- pagating the Ligiu-ian breed, not for making honey : at least so I understand. His success is proved by the numbers of Ligurian colonies which he has spread over England. 1 have heard of diseases running through the stock of horse-breeders ; but I have not heard that then- misfortune was attributed to theu- assisting nature by keeping then- stock ill stables and boxes, and on good food, instead of letting them run wild. I must ajjologise for the length of my letter, but it is on a subject on which I, in common with so many other bee- keepers, feel strongly. We cannot hope for improvement in bee-keeping in England, if the efforts toward progress are so unceremoniously snubbed. And there is no English bee- keeper wlio ought not to feel, and be ready to express, his gratitude for the information which Mr. Woodbury has so li-eely placed within his reach ? — W. C. Ellis, Bothal. I HAPPEN to possess a copy of a book translated some years ago from the original of Jonas de Gelieu, entitled the "Bee Preserver," and which the author tells us is "the result of sixty-foiu' years experience." From this high authority we have the following passage — " Bees have no real disease. Dysentery, about which so much noise has been made, never attacks the bees of a well-stocked hive that is left open at all seasons, but only those that are too long and too closely confined. All their pretended diseases are the result of hunger, cold, or the infection produced by a too close and long confinement during the winter." Nothing is here said about a so-called malady — " foul brood." Foul, indeed, is the state of tilings, when in early spring the stock has been so much weakened, no matter how, that the labom-ers are insufficient to bring out the grubs that have perished prematm-ely for want of the warmth necessary to matui'e them, only to be insui-ed by adequate numbers. Is more requii-ed than thousands of rotting carcases (sensitive as bees are to the least offence), to fill the hive with unnatural stench and idtimate disease ? What would be the condition of a human family imder aualagous cu'cumstancea — viz., supposing a dead body in a house were to remain unburied Angust 25, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTTJRE AKD COTTAGE GARDENER. 159 and uncoffined week after week, till every room was charged with infectious effluvia ? I suppose, like the bees, the in- mates would be glad to beat a retreat. This appears to me a C5mmon-sense view of the matter, without racking the train to find out more causes than are needed to produce the effect. — A Subscriber. After reading the very able articles by the " Devon- shire Bee-keeper," and Mr. Lowe, on the important ques- tion of foul brood, which is so detrimental to all bee-keepers, I think that by putting the two letters together every one wiU come to the conclusion that foul brood is caused both by experimenting with the bees, and the late bad seasons. There is no doubt that if the comb with grub in it is left for one night without the bees it will perish, and the bees will not be able to hatch it out, just the same, as with eggs, only some of which will hatch if left to cool. Thus if only part of the grub is hatched, and the other left in, being incapable of being hatched-out, it will become foul, and so prevent the hive from flourishing. In the bad seasons we have had, innumerable hives have been lost both in the spring and winter from starvation, and the young lai-VEe being left in the cells unhatched become foul, and then fi-esh bees are put in the same hive where the foul brood is, with the idea that the bees, ha\'ing a house ready furnished, wUl go on and prosper well ; but it is the reverse, the bees being unable to clear the hive of the foul brood, a,nd the queen having no place to deposit the eggs in, the conse- quence is, the bees dwindle away, and so the infection spreads through the apiary. — L. C. I WAS glad to see the articles on bees in No. 125, and am sure all apiarians are much indebted to the " Devonshire Bee-keeper " for his numerous letters on these interesting insects, and bringing this foul-brood discussion forward. We shall now understand the cause of bees dwindling away, and, consequently, the remedy. From what " A Lanark- shire Bee-keeper " and Mr. Lowe say, any of your readers will know what foul brood is and its cause, and may, there- fore, find a remedy. I had a common straw hive which died out in the winter of 1861, and last autumn I pvit the bees out of a large hive into it, and at the same time mixed and transferred several others ; but tliis spring and summer I obsei-ved that the bees seemed to decrease, and, therefore, supposed there was no queen, or, if there was, that she was not a prolific one. On the 9th of July I fumigated it and found very few bees, and also a queen. I destroyed her and joined a third swarm to the hive, but the bees would not let the queen stay in the hive, and she and a few of her own bees came off as a swarm and were hived. The next day they came off again and flew away and were lost. The hive seemed to work better than before, and I thought this queen might have gone back ; but seeing lately the bees growing less and less, I made sure there was no queen, and, therefore, thought it best to fumigate and join them to one of my Ligurians ; but after looking nearly all the bees over discovered they had made a queen, and instead of retm-ning her and the bees to the same hive, I took a hybrid queen from the observatory-hive and joined her and the bees to it. On examining the comb I found some of the cells full of a kind of white matter, a few worms, and some grub that appeared to have been long sealed over. I had, therefore, Httle doubt that tliis hive was affected vrith foul brood, and I burnt all the combs. There can be no doubt a hive full of comb after dying-out is not fit to put bees in again. — A. W. ducted : it must be borne in mind that it is in great measure an experimental one. His object has not been to obtain honey, but to multiply and disperse abroad a new species of bee till recently unknown in England. If Mr. Woodbury would enter into details, I think he would astonish some old-fashioned bee-masters by his statement of the eminent success which has attended his labours. The misfortune under which he is now — let us hope only temporarily — suf- fering, is no more than such as may attend any old or new- fashioned system of management ; with this difference, how- ever— that whereas an old-fashioned apiary would probably have died out under such a visitation, our scientific friend, we may safely predict, wUl not faU to triumph over the enemy in the end. As a scientific apiarian myself, I may say without ego- tism, I have been most successful, as witness my experi- ence recorded in these pages during the last twelve years. Even in ordinarily bad seasons I seldom fail to get my fair quotum of honey ; and I wfll challenge any apiarian situated hke myself to a comparison of notes without much fear of the result, be he " An Old-fashioned Bee-master," or one of the " scientific " race. In this part of England I know of many old-fashioned apiaries that have utterly perished during the last three years, while 1 have heard of Uttle or no honey being obtained from any of them. The only successful apiaries about here are precisely those, and those only, which are scientifically managed. 2. I must beg entirely to differ from Col. Newman in his estimate of the effects of artificial swarming upon the spirits of bees and their activity. My own experience goes to prove that a judicious use of the power we have to compel bees to swarm is most beneficial, and that many a sluggish hive would be, and has been, quickened to "unusual acti- vity " by a resort to this expedient. The fact is that you cannot, do what you wUl, diminish the activity of bees, pro- vided they have a fertile queen, a considerable population, fair weather, and a suitable dwelling — it is altogether " against nature." An hour after the greatest disturbance they vrill be as busily occupied as if nothing had happened. 3. Again. Col. Newman hits hard at the indispensable practice of " driving " bees. But I need not comment upon his remarks, as Mr. J. P. Edwards has fuUy entered into the subject, and well explained the modus operandi. Occa- sionally a failure wiU occur, but in nineteen out of twenty cases success always rewards the persevering and scientific bee-master. Driving is now an established sine quij non in every scientifically conducted apiary, and has been so for a century and more. Of course it is sometimes a tedious operation, and it is rather warm work on a hot day ; but it is certainly one of the prettiest and most interesting among the labours of the bee-keeper, and is often very sunply and quickly done. — B. & W. EAjSfDOM APIAPvIAN IS'OTES. 1. The temptation is irresistible to ask "AnOld-fashioned .Bee-mastee " to furnish us with statistics of his " inexpen- sive row of straw hives," which give him " neither trouble in management nor anxiety about the harvest in due season." Let him say how much bond fide honey he has obtained from his apiary during each of the last five years, particularising the number of hives plundered and how plundered, the amount of pure honeycomb or raw honey yielded by each hive. He would oblige by also stating the experience of cottagers and others in his neighboiu'hood during the same period. Mr. Wood.bury'3 apiary is not merely scientifically con- DESTROYING DRONES. I HARDLY feel myself qualified to take part in the great debate which your pages maintain with so much spirit on the economy of bees ; but I should like to be informed what reason can be rendered for the unqualified opinion given in page 100, to the effect that drones should on no account be kUled. I recollect that in Taylor's bee book, to which many of us look up as to a great authority, a remarkable instance of artificial drone-killing is recorded, and the practice is re- commended to the bee-keeper's consideration. — J. Earle. [No one shall bow more wUlingly to an opinion of that Nestor of the apiary, Mr. Taylor, than ourselves ; yet " a man's a man for a' that," and we follow the example of no less an authority than Galileo, who when compeUod to recant, said aside, " But the earth goes round the sun for all that. ' However, we wished to hear what another authority would say, and sent your note to "A Devonshire Bee-keeper," who repUes— "My idea is, that killing drones oneself is usually too troublesome, but if it can be readily done as soon as their office is accomplished, it would be decidedly advantageous to get rid of the whole of them." That is oui- opinion also, but we are also of opinion tiiat the bees know when " OtheUo's occupation's gone," i-"*^"- *^«^ ^^° ^'''- keeper.] better than the bee- 160 JOtTRNAL OF HOETICULTTJRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August 2S, 1S63. ESPEETBIENTING OW BEES. We who commiserate the condition of the " Devonshike Bee-kekpek," with reference to the losses in his apiary, ought to be ciireful not to imitate the comforters of Job, who attributed all the miseries and misfortunes of the Patriarch to his own fault. Those who try experiments with bees will often, doubt- less, experience lamentable failures ; but it is scarcely fail- to attribute the complete and sudden break-do\vn of oui- master in bee-oraft to general mismanagement on his pail. I know that I have heretofore whilst experimentalising had many losses of valuable stocks, but I have at the same time, or diu-ing the same period, lost many a luve for whose decease I could attribute no satisfactory cause. One good will arise to bee-uiaeters from this loss to oui- respected friend, in that their eyes will now be opened to a fact to which many of them were formerly blind. I aRuded in my last (page 100) to a hive which I thought would do no more good, and which I doomed to the " fuming-ijot." This hive I have since taken, and I found "foul brood" therein and no mistake. Had I not read the account of such a disease in the letter of the " Devonshike Bee-keepeb," I should certainly have given some of the honey, and, perhaps, comb, to others of my hives, and my loss next year might have been as great as his ; as it is, I thank him for the opening of my eyes, and wherever I suspect the disease to lui-k for the future, there fire and brimstone shall do then- puriiying work at once. I had observed throughout the Bumnier that the hive in question gave foi-th a most un- savoury odoiu', and for the futiu'e this will be a hint not to be disregarded, and the suspected hive shall always be re- moved out of the way of infecting others. "With reference to the fuming of bees with fungus, may I add that I have tried it for yeai-s at all seasons of the year, strong doses and slight, and that I never could perceive that it injured those operated upon ? A few at times have been killed, particularly when two or more swarms have been joined, or when large portions of the comb containing brood and honey have been removed from the stock ; but this loss I have of late attributed, not to the effects of the fumigation, but to weapons of certain of the bees them- selves, which certainly kill oft' theu' brothers whenever they wish for their removal, or think there is no more work for them to do. If I take olf a super or middle-box, I do not now, as formerly, retiun the inmates, for if I do I iuvaiiably find slaughter to succeed. If, however, I "cruelly" slay them myself, I cannot discover that the remaining bees give any symptoms of a knowledge of the loss- of the good of which they have been deprived. I shoidd be obliged by the Devonshire or Lanarkshire Bee- keeper giving me a reason for the supposed longevity of a queen bee. I am led to suppose that she does not see two winters, or, if she does, that the hive in which she is regnant will not be prosperous, and will shortly be destitute of subjects. — The Hampshike Bee-keeper. AN APPEAL ON BEHALF OF THE IjSTFEEIOE ANIMyiJLS. We have received the following from an esteemed cor- respondent, and have great pleasiu'e in giving it every pubUoity : — " It is a common observation that cases of brutality to horses, asses, and other large quadrupeds, are much less frequently witnessed now than they were some time ago. This is no doubt owing to the general increase of humanity, and to these animals being now under the protec- tion of the law. " An EngUsh gentleman would not himself give a moment's unnecessai-y pain to siny living creature, and would instinct- ively exert himself to put an end to any suffering before his eyes : yet it is a fact that every game-preserver in this country sanctions a system which consigns thousands of animals to acute agony, probably of eight or tea hours duration, before it is ended by death. I allude to the setting of steel traps for catching vermin. " The iron teeth shut together with so strong a spring that a pencil which I inserted was cracked and deeply indented by the violence of the blow. The grip must be close enough not to allow of the escape of a small animal, such as a stoat or a magpie ; and therelbre when a cat or a rabbit is caught, the hmb is cut to the bone and crushed. A humane game- keeper said to me, " I know what they must feel, as I have had my finger caught." The smaller animals are often ,so fortunate as to be killed at once. If we attempt to realise the sufferings of a cat or other animal when caught, we must fancy what it would be to have a limb crushed during a whole long night between the ii-on teeth of a trap, and with the agony increased by constant attempts to escape. Few men could endui'e to watch for five minutes an animal struggling in a trap with a crushed and torn Umb, yet on all the well-preserved estates throughout the kingdom, animals thus hnger every night; and where gamekeepers ai'e not humane, or have gT0%vn callous to the suffering constantly passing under theii' eyes, they have been known by an eye- witness to leave tiie traps unvisited for twenty-four or even thirty-six hours. Such neglect as this is, no doubt, rare ; but traps ai-e often forgotten, and there are few gamekeepers who will leave then- beds on a cold winter's morning one hour earlier to put an end to the pain of an animal wliich is safely in then- power. " I subjoin the account of the appearance of a rabbit caught in a trap given by a gentleman who, last summer, witnessed the painful sight many times : — ' I know of no sight more sorrowful than that of these unoffending animals as they are seen in the tortui-e-grip of these traps. They sit di'awn up into a little heap as if collecting ;dl their force of endurance to suppoi't the agony ; some sit in a half-torpid state induced by intense suffering. Most young ones are found dead after some houi's of it, but others as you approach start up, struggle violently to escape, and shriek pitiably from teiTor and the pangs occasioned by theii' struggles." We natiu'ally feel more compassion for a timid and harmless animal, such as a rabbit, than for vermin, but the actual agony must be the same in all cases. It is scai'cely possible to exaggerate the suffering thus endui-ed from fear, Irom acute pain, maddened by thirst, and by vain attempts to escape. " Bull-biiiting and cock-fighting have rightly been put down by law. I hope it may never be said that the members of the British Parliament Avill not make laws to jn'oteet animals if such laws should in any way interfere with their own sports. " Some who reflect upon this subject for the fii'st time will wonder how such cruelty can have been permitted to con- tinue in these days of civilisation ; and no doubt, if men of education saw with then' own eyes what takes place under their sanction, the system would have been put an end to long ago. " We shall be told that setting steel traps is the only way to preserve game ; but we cannot believe that Englishmen, when their attention is once dra^vn to the case, will let even this motive weigh against so fearful an amount of cruelty." OUE LETTEE BOX. Poultry Book {T. D. S.) — Perhaps '* Dixon's Ornamental and Domestic Poultry," wiU answer your requirements. Loss OF Plumage {H. C). — Shabby plumage and comparative nakedness are uaturjil to (owls at tins time of yeur. The leathers are worn out. The siuart winter clothing of last October and November lus become seedy. Nature i)eing busy preparing the new suit has nothing to spare lor the old. It is become shabby and brittle. As they are in a cunflned sp.»ce, separate the cock Irom the hens. Feed well, bat on cooling iO'»d, and it you will hnve patience you will find t!ie plumage of your birds renewed to your satist.iciion. Cochin-China Chickens {A Young £cginner)—yi\\iii sort of place do your chickens roost in ? If it is at all damp that v>'\\\ account for their being weak on their legs. The mere fact of chickens having to pet up four ^tep8 into the garden in which they are allowL-d to run could never affect them m iliio way. The Devizes Poultry Show was held un the 10th and lUh of I'Vbruary last. We do not know if the lime i^ settled when the next is to take place. The Secretaries are Mi. Long and Mr. Mulliusa. Pkesehving Eggs {A Constant Subscriber). — We have known epgs beep pood Iruiii May to Christmas by dipping ihera in melted fat and storing iheni in u dry cold place. Rabbits (i^rf^j/O.—Yuur Rabbits have what is called ear-gum, and it is causeu by bf ing kept in a damp and close place where there is not a free cnculaiiun of air. As soon as you discover it procure Irom a cbimist a little lead tan:ment, with which dress the inside of the ear an low down as you can reacu with a feather. Examine them every iiay and clean off with a piece ot blunt stick all scab and secretion as it becomes loostned, and by careiul aii^ntion you will soon overcome the disease. Unr(imu-hivks (An Isle of Axholmt- Bcf-kefpetj.—Thi; distance between the two gia-8 surfaces in my unicomb-hive is an inch and two-thirds, as recoinmeuded by Dr. Bcvan.— A Devonshire Bee-kekpkb. September 1, 186S. ] JOITENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 161 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of of M'nth Week.| 1 Td 2 W 3 Th 4 F 5 S 6 Sun 7 M SEPIEIIBER 1-7, 1S63. Partridgo »hooting: beg'ns. Chamoniile flower^. St. Bdiniibv's Thistle flowers. Field M:irit:uld flowers. Anirelitii tiow;;rs, U SUKDAV AFIER TrIMTV. A. Heiilriy died, 1859. Bot. Average Temperature near London. Day. 70.5 70.6 70.4 70.3 70 0 70.0 69 5 Night. 47.3 47.6 47.9 46.8 47.6 45 8 47.5 Mean. 58.9 69.1 69.2 58.6 68 8 67 9 58.5 Rain in last 36 years. DaTS. 18 11 14 15 15 IS 17 Sun Kises. m. h. 13af 6 Stin Sets. m. h. 4aaf6 Moon liises. 32 11 morn. Moon Sets. m. b. 60 a 9 Moon's Age. Clock after Sun. 18 19 20 21 c 23 24 Oaf 2 0 21 0 40 0 59 Day of Year. 214 24ti 217 248 249 250 From obserTotiuns taken near London during tlie last thirty-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 70.2°, anil it.s nlcht teinper.uure47.2''. Xlio greatest heat was So', on the 1st, 1813; and the lowest cold, 28°, on tUe 7th, 1855. The greatest fall of rain was 1.60 inch. CAN THE PERIOD OF FULL BLOOM BE LENGTHENED IN OUE. FLOWEE GAEDENS.? HE transitoiy nature of the display produced by the pre- sent style of tlower-gardening is not imfrequently one of ^^ ^ ^^ -WrC? L the most powerful arguments 't-l ^.,1^ i. -n-hich are urged against it. It is not proposed in the remarks that shaU. here be offered to re- fute the charge : on the contrary, it is frankly admitted that the stirring appeal to our sense of that which is beautiful, as pre- ^.. .-. . sented by the pleasing combina- '^y'*V-, /}-!W^ nations of the gay host of flowers P* _ ,t T*^ "^ which form so conspicuous a part of our flower gardens, is even much shorter than is to be de- sired. A frostj^ morning or a ruthless blast towards the eud of September disturbs our equani- mity to no small extent ; and the chances of such occurrences are often discussed with a foreboding bordering on the me- lancholy. And who is there that cannot sympathise with the spirit that heares a sigh of regret at the prospect of so much grace and beauty becoming a decaying putri- fying mass in less thau twenty-four hours ? We did by chance meet a few days ago with a heart so benumbed to the influence of flowers, that it was frankly avowed that flowers of any kind or to any extent had no charm for him. We earnestly pitied so singular a subject. More particularly is the shortness of the effect pro- duced to be regretted on account of the months of fore- thought and hard labour which its production calls into play and necessitates. One could almost wish that a ■writer in " Once A Week," who has imbibed very senti- mental ideas about the ease, and interminable and un- disturbed pleasures and abimdant remuneration, that are attached to a head gardener's situation, could be placed in the shoes of many a gardener who has one of our large flower gardens to manage novv-a-days. Leaving all other departments out of the question, he would find out l)e- fore very long that in this one department alone there is enough to make a head gardener's office not one of " unalloyed pleasure," and that there is something more both behind the scenes and on the boards too than "going about givmg orders," and that, worst of all, it is not remunerated with splendid sums ranging from £200 to £1000 a-year with other et-ceteras. He would also, perhaps, make the Important discoveiy that to spend so much of his time in artificially heated and confined air, and to pace a soU gorged with decaying vegetable matter, and surrounded with high walls and n-oods, was not the " most healthy " position in the ^^■orld either. When a man writes about a thing that he docs not know about, such, generally, are his lucubrations. No. 127.— Vol. V., Nkw Sebiks. It is, however, admitted on all hands, that sucli a dis- play as is now produced in our flower gardens has never been equalled by an}' system of arrangement that has preceded the present. The materials are more brilliant, and the ])rinciple of arrangement more imposing, than anything that has previously exi.^ted ; and the objections are raised, not against the beauty and effect produced, but on account of the evanescent character of the bloom. What is wanted is either to be alile to prolong the season of blooming in autumn or secure it earlier in summer. Our climate renders the former impossible unless by a covering of glass. The latter, then, is what our hopes must rest upon in a popular point of view. If tills be tjie case, it becomes a matter of no small importance to Inquire whether it be possible, by any principle of ma- nagement and arrangement, to have our flower-beds gay with flowers early in June that shall also last till frost puts an end to it in autumn. It is considered that this is attainable, and that, too, without adding much if any- thing to the labour or expense at present incurred ul this department of our gardens. In most establishments the means and the end are sadly out of proportion in the flower garden as compared with other departments. If a gardener is expected to have crops of fruit he Invariably expects to be supplied with proper means ; but he does not hesitate to undertake the rearing of thousands of plants for the flower garden by any makeshift his brains can devise, and at planting-out time the plants are more an apology for plants than anything else. That by different management flower-garden plants could be made to pro- duce the desli'od display of flowers at least a month earlier is a point on which I have no doubt whatever. Let us take, for Instance, the Geranium brigade of the great army of flower-garden plants, and see the great clifference as to earliness of blooming that can be secured by different management to that makeshift system which. is farced upon gardeners in so many instances at present. In some instances they have forced it upon themselves by an ardent desire to cope with more favoured neigh- bours, and from a mere love of the effect produced even for a short time. How often are Geraniums potted-oii' m spring when vineries and peach-houses are started, and from the high temperature of 70° and the shade of the Vines, are of necessity removed to sheltered shady corners under mats, wooden shutters, and even to trenches cut in the open quarters of the kitchen garden. Here they are hardened-ofl' with a vengeance, and with an amount of anxiety and labour whicli the writer m " Once A Week " never dreamed of All these methods I have myself adopted, and have besides shaken the plants out of cutting-pots and boxes, and planted them in the beds to be exposed to the drying breezes and hot suns of early summer, by which the green sappy leaves are turned brown in a day, and for the first mouth they get " small by degrees and beautifully less." As to bloom- buds or blooms there arc none at planting time woi-ili the name, and what few there may be (more by chanca than good gardening), are soon done for; the tender foot- ,stalks"are blackened and share the same fate as the foliage Ku. 779 — Voi . XXX., Old Seuies 163 JOTJENAL OF HORTICULTURE AJSTD COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 1, 1863. To produce early bloom and rapid growth, it is not so mucli a large as a properly prepared plant that is reqiiii'ed. If both can be had of course so much the better, but the preparation is of most importance. If instead of this mode of treatment the plants are potted into three and four-inch pots in February, and sub- jected to just suiEcient heat to start them, and then placed in houses or pits under clear sheet glass, and exposed on all favoiu-able occasions to a free cu-culation of air and all the simshine that can be had in a south exposure, how different is the result ! We have short, stubby plants clothed with thick hardy foliage, and bristling mth bloom, that make comparatively gay beds the day they ai-e planted. This is no mere theory, but a fact, which, no doubt, can be strilc- ingly illustrated by many cases. One particular instance of the great diil'erence produced on the side of rapid gi'owth and early flowering came within my own exjjerience this season, in the case of a border wherein some seven hundi'ed plants of variegated Geranium Bijou foi-m part of the com- bination. It was desired that two of the lines should be planted with the largest plants of this Geranium that could be selected, and they were found in a house with an east exposure where they only had the sun for a short i^eriod of the day. In other respects they were here treated exactly the same as another lot of the same plant, which had a place in another house with au aspect due south, which, consequently, had all the sunshine that it was possible to enjoy. The jjlants from the east aspect were fine hand- some plants, larger in all respects than those in the other house, and they had always been so, and were accord- ingly planted in the two back rows. The short, stilf, rust- ling plants fi-om the influence of the fuU sun filled up the rest of the bed. Most of them were much less than the other set ; but the result has been, that the small plants out- distanced the others in a very short time, and closed up, and were ia full flower a month before the others. Now, the big plants were by no means tender when planted, and they lost no leaves, and apparently received no check, but they made neither wood nor flowers half so quickly in the early part of the season as the others. Besides this, I might notice .as coiToborative of the above, the case of a large number — between eight and nine thousand — of the dif- ferent varieties of the Zonale and plain-leaved Geraniums, which were potted-oif in Pebruai-y, and placed in one large house, where they had no fire heat whatever. They stood not far from the glass, and were constantly exposed to all the sun and ah' which an eificientlj' ventilated and clear' sheet- glass house could afford. When planting time came they were compact, sturdy plants, bristling with exijanded and unexpanded blooms, and made gay beds the day they were planted. And I speak within the bounds of truth when it is stated that they were in their prime at least three weeks earlier than ever I could liave them when put into vineries, and afterwards hardened-o£f on the makeshilt system in sheltered corners under mats, shutters, &c. The labour and anxiety incurred were also wonderfully decreased, as compared with any temporary means which ever I coidd hit upon. There can be no doubt whatever, that in the case of one of our most prominent sections of plants, and in others, too, the blooming season is much longer when they ai-e grown as related above. It is also considered a point of considerable importance, as a means to this end, to select in autumn good, large, stifi' cuttings instead of the mere points of the shoots, and to strilie them early. Before the middle of September the last cutting should be piit in. Besides this, there is a great dif- ference in favour of the cutting that is struck out-doors in the fuU blaze of the sun, as compared to a later cutting under glass. In the case of Verbenas again, several weeks covild be gained by making a selection of the vai-ieties found to flower the earliest. In this respect there is a difference of several weeks in favour of some of the varieties. GeneraHy speaking, the stiff compact-growing sorts, such as Charl- woodii liu.ong the dai'ks, and Victoria Scott among the scarlets and crimsons, ai-e much earlier bloomers than the strongrambling sorts. White beds could be much earlier in fiLt condition by using the Cerastiums in place of white Verliifciins, which are generally late, and wh.en in bloom c nnot be compared to Cerastiums for a sheet of white. In autumn, too, the white Verbenas give way, while the white-i'oliagcd plants are in their glory. There are several varieties of Arabis (particidarly A. lucida varie- gata), which are really beautiful for edgings ; and in con- sequence of their standing the whiter, and being fine when many other things are only being planted, aie deserving of more extensive cidtivation. I liave no doubt that in the ooiu'se of year's, and bv judi- ciously agitating the subject, that the season of the flower garden will be greatly lengthened, independently entirely of the things now used in many places for spring decoration. And, oh ! that we could hope for the time when in our giant establishments we shall see an acre or two covered with glass, if it were for nothing else than to bring out the real splendours of the fine varieties of Geraniums which we now possess. Very little conception can be formed of the effects which could be produced under glass with the great Nose- gay and Globe vai-ieties of Geraniums. A glass-covered garden for these alone would be an era in pleasure-garden- ing that would .astonish us, if anv judgment is to be formed fi'oni the effect which they produce in a small way long weeks after they are cut down with fi'ost out-doors. In this dii'ection an extension of the blooming season on a lai'ge scale can scarcely be looked for ; and it is, therefore, all the more desirable that early blooming in the system now so much adopted should be aimed at. as well as the selection of those varieties which have theu' full effect early in the season, and which at the same time maintain it to the last. More particularly is this to be desired when such plants have innidiciously been made the chief or only featiu-es of the parterre. The sooner the masses of om' tender flowers which vanish with the fu'st fi'ost cease to be the alpha and omega of our flower gardens, the better in many respects ; and if any- thing is wanted more than another, it is the genius which will so blend and intermingle them with beautiful vai'ieties of evergreen trees and shrubs that they will prove important features in summer and autumn, and yet not be much missed when not there in muter. There is always a foreboding of di'eariness which comes over the mind when looking at a mass of flower-beds in a sunk panel, or on a terrace, where there is nothing left when they are gone but bai'e beds of earth, or even broken bricks or bottles. They shovdd be so placed and blended with something of a more pei-manent character, that their removal would be no more missed than the bracelets and jewels which ornament the natiu'ally elegant and beautiful person when they are laid aside. D. Thoji-son. THE AGKICULTUEAL HALL FLOWEE AND FEUIT SHOW. The Agi'icultirral Hall, Islington, though only completed last year, is familiar to the public as the place where the Smitlifield Club Cattle Show is held. There ai-e few persons interested in ruriil affa-ii'S who do not make a point of being Ijresent at least once in two or three year's at these gi'eat annual gatherings, where the townsman and the country- man meet each other to the amusement, instruction, and profit of both. The Show had outgrown the old inconvenient building at Baker Street, and, to meet its requirements, a new structm'e was erected in the Liverpool Road, enclosing a space of SSI feet by 217 feet, and sm-rounded by galleries 36 feet wide, affording in all an area for exhibition purposes of neai-ly 3 acres. The roof has a span of 125 feet, and a height of 7-5 feet, and being of glass alibrds an abundance of light. It wlU thus be seen that the buUtling is well adapted for a horticultm'al exhibition on a gTand scale ; and as this was a w.ant in that wide and popiilous district, the north of Loudon, it was determined to hold one. This determination, however, was arrived at too Late in the season ; the last of the summer shows was over, and exhibitors, expecting nothing more, took their measures accordingly. Had a list of the prizes offered been issued in sufficient time, doubtless a greater competi- tion would have resulted; added to which the Exhibition v.'as singidarly unfortunate in the weather, for the flowers of many of the intending exhibitors were irretrievably damaged by the thunderstorm which visited the southern part of England on the Tuesday preceding. There were also some iiiuits in the schedule of prizes offered, which undoubtedly September 1, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAE.DENEE. 163 tended to keep away exhibitors. There was also the stUl greater di-awback that the Show was a new one, that it was not sufficiently known ; and what probably acted stUl more to its disad%'autage, it was to last three days — a period too long for gardeners to expose then- most valuable plants to the unfavoiu-able influences of a public exhibition. It was, then, probably, to all those causes combined, as well as to the size of the building itself, that the tables were somewhat scantily furnished, and that chiefly with fine-foliaged plants and florists' flowers, of which last, it need hardly be observed, an immense number will fill a small space. However, the Ex- hibition was but a first attempt, and any want of success in a horticultural point of view was amply compensated by the poultry department, of which a separate report will be given in another column. The weather, too, on the first day was very unfavourable, close heavy rain continuing to fall with but brief intermission thi'oughout the time the Show was open, and this, doubtless, was the cause of a scanty at- tendance of visitors. Stove and Gkeenhouse Plants. — The show of these was very inconsiderable, only three competitors coming for- ward— namely, Mr. Rhodes, of Sydenham Park ; Messrs. A. Henderson & Co. ; and Mr. Young, gardener to K. Barclay, Esq., Highgate, who stood in the prize list in the order in which they are here named. Mr. Ehodes had Tinea alba, Allamanda cathartica, Crowea saligna, and three Heaths. Vinca oceUata in good bloom, Allamanda cathartica, a large pot of LUium lancifolium rubrum, Ixora coccinea, Brug- mansia Candida, BUbergia splendida, Hedychium Gard- nerianum, and Pancratium maritimum were among the other plants shown. FiNE-roLiAGED PLANTS. — These together with exotic Ferns constituted the principal portion of the plant exhi- bition, and among them were some excellent specimens. Mr. Williams, of Holloway, took two fii'st prizes. Among the plants wliich he exhibited were a large Calocasia Lowii, Dicksonia antarctica, Gleichenia sijeluncte, Livingstonia borbonica, and Dion edule ; and in another collection Cibo- tium princeps, the glaucous-leaved Encephalartos Lehmarmi, and DracEBua indivisa were noticeable. Messrs. A. Hender- son & Co., were second both in twenties and twelves, having among others a fi'esh healthy-looking plant of Cycas re voluta, a large Draca-na ferrea, Dracaena canna^folia, and Alocasia metaUica. Mr. Young, of Highgate, who was thu-d, had Sansevierajavanica, and three good Caladiums. Other col- lections from the some exhibitor contained some large speci- men Caladiums, Pandanus elegantissimus, and Sphcero- stemma mai-moratum. Large plants of Encephalartos caifer and latifrons, and Cycas revoluta, also came from Mr. Taylor, of Highgate, who had third prize for twenty plants. Mixed Collections were shown by Mr. Williams and Messrs. Henderson. That of the former contained two vei-y large specimens of Dicksonia antarctica. Agave filifera, An- thurium acaule, a good flowering plant of Allamanda Schotti, and Achimenes Mauve Queen ; and Messrs. Hender- son had a smaU plant of Alocasia nietaUica, the young leaves of which shone with a beautiful metallic lustre ; a good specimen of Cibotium Schiedei, Cissus porphyrophyllus, a fine specimen of Jacarandra filicifolia which had been ex- hibited several times during the summer, an Allamanda, some Ixoras, and Vincas. Exotic Ferns. — The best came from Mr. WOliams, who had magnificent examjjles of Cibotium Schiedei and princeps, Gleichenias dichotoma, flabeUata, spelunoE, and semivestita, the latter forming a beautiful mass ; also, good plants of AlsopWla radens and Todea africana. An excellent col- lection also came from Mr. Taylor, Mr. Young, and Messrs. Henderson, the first two taking the second and third prizes. Dahlias were shown in splendid condition; those fi-om Mj:. Turner, which took the first prize in the Nurserj'man's Class of 48, could not have been siu-passed for size, form, and effective an-angement. There was not an indifferent flower among them. They consisted of Midnight, General Jackson, Mauve Queen (very fine). Flower of the Day, Lord Derby (rosy crimson), Hugh Miller, Chieftain, Lord Elcho, Imperial, Caractacus (yeUow tipped with bright red), Pau- line, Lord Palnierston, a Ulac-mauve-tipped seedling, Chau-- man (yellowish-buff), Mrs. Busk, Cygnet, Triomphe de Pecq, Mr. BosheU, Charlotte Dorling (white tipped with rosy crimson, very fine), Andrew Dodds, Leopai-d, Dinorah, Lilac Queen, Umpire, Beauty of Hilpei-ton, DisraeH, Model, Pioneer, Mi-s. Henshaw, Una, Mrs. EUiott, Sidney Herbert, Golden Drop, Garibaldi, Norfolk Hero, Bob Pvitlley (bright red). Lady Popham, Commander, Perfection, Marion, Mrs. Vyse, Countess of Shelbm-ne, Charles Waters, Earl of Shaftesbxu-y, Lord Clyde, Mrs. Piggott, and Criterion, the last a magnificent bloom 41 inches across. Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury, was second in the same class with excellent blooms, but not equal in size to Blr. Turners. Among the best were Lady Douglas Pennant, Andi-ew Dodds, John Wyatt, Charlotte Dorling, Eai-1 of Shaftesbury, LordEusseU, and Earl of Pembroke. Mr. CatteU, of Westerham, was thu-d with some excellent blooms, and Mr. Legge, of Ed- monton, had an extra prize. In the Class for 24 blooms Mr. Keynes was fii-st, and Mr. Turner second, the difference between the two collections being almost inappreciable. Bai-on Taunton, Lord Derby, Beauty of Hilperton, John Wyatt, LUac Queen, Charles Turner, Hugh Miller, WilUe Austin, and Lord EusseU, were a few of the finest ; and in Mr. Turners stand. Mauve Queen, Criterion, Bob Eidley, and Charlotte Dorling, were very fine. Mr. CatteU was thii-d, and Mr. Legge had an extra prize. In the Amateurs' Class the best twelve came from Mr. Moffat, gardener to Viscount Maynard, Dunmow. They were Model, Joy, Lord Palnierston, Andrew Dodds, Umpire, Peri, Colonel Wyndliam, Village Gem, Chau'man, Lady Poijham, mac Queen, and Mrs. Charles Waters, all of which were fine. Mr. Wakeman was second; Mr. Peny, Castle Bromwich, thii'd. In Fancies Mr. Turner was first in the Nursei-ymen's Class. Pauline, Nora Creina, Pluto, Zebra, Queen Mab, and Starlight were some of the most striking ; and Mr. Keynes was second. In the Ainatem-s' Class Mr. Perry was fii-st ; Mr. Barnard, gardener to Col. Eyre, second. Several new kinds were shown by Mr. Keynes, as Eegu- larity. Earl of Pembroke, Surety, and Anna Keynes, all of which have received certificates fi-om the Floral Committee. Sam Bartlett, Queen of Roses, and Willie Austin also ap- peared very desirable sorts. Dr. Johnson, a lai-ge light scarlet, came fi-om Mr. Han-is. HoLL-JHOCKS. — From the greatly improved character of the newer varieties, both as regards colour and substance, this flower cannot faQ to take a much higher position at our autumn shows than it has hitherto done ; and it may safely be affirmed that it is steadily advancing- in favour ; and how worthy it is of more extended cultivation aU who have seen the splendid blooms exhibited by Messrs. Downie, Paul, and Chater must readily acknowledge. On the pre- sent occasion Messrs. Downie had the iii-st pi-ize for Pre- eminent, crimson lake ; Golden Fleece, yellow ; Auroi-a ; Mrs. Chater, rosy carmine ; Joshua Clarke, briglit chei-ry ; Countess of Craven; Porter's Lord ClLfden; The Queen ; Mrs. F. Mackenzie, scarlet ; Mi-s. Balfour, crimson shaded with salmon ; Mi-s. B. Cockrane, rosy crimson ; and Invincible, rosy salmon. Mr. W. Chafer's had also sjolendid blooms, some of them being even larger than Messrs. DoT\iiie's, but they did not exhibit so great a variety in colour. Among them, in addition to some ah-eady named, were included Princeps, Beauty of MUford, Acme, Ai-iadne, Eosea Pallida, Queen Victoria, Ai-gus, and Paragon. Messrs. Paul & Son, who had the thii-d jirize, and Mr. Smail of Norwood, who received an extra prize, had also remarkably fine blooms. Asters. — In the QuOled kinds a stand of very fine blooms fi-om Mr. C. Sandford, gardener to T. Thomasset, Esq., took fii-st prize ; the second and third going to Mr. Grimhly, Stoke Newington, and Mr. Ward, Tottenham. In TasseUed kinds Mr. C. Sandford was also first, all his blooms being large and exceedingly good — some measm-ing 3.V inches across. Mr. W. Sandford. Woodford Bridge, and Mr. Ward, were second and third, both then- exhibitions being Ukewise excellent. Messrs. Cutbush contributed in addition some weU-gTown plants, about 18 inches high, in pots. Gladiolus. — A box containing good blooms of Brench- leyensis, Madame E. Verdier (Very fine), Goliath, Fanny Rouget, and Osiris, came fi-om Mi-. CatteU and received a fii-st prize. Phloxes. — Mr. Tiu-ner was first for these, showing some immense trusses, and the flowers being individually large. Oi-phee, Oriana, Mrs. Standish, Comte de Chambord, JuUe 16i, JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. September 1, 18CS. Eonssel, and Madame Vilmorin, were some of the finest. Mr. Cattell was awarded the second prize. Miscellaneous. — Messrs. Perkins & Sons, of Coventry, and Mr. Perry, liad some excellent trusses of Verbenas, for which both received prizes ; and Messrs. Paul & Son eight fine boxes of Roses, some of which, as Senatem- Vaisse, ComtcsEC dc ChabriUant, Catherine GuiUot, General Jac- qneminot, and Madame C. Crapelet were very fine. Prizes were offered for table decorations, and the highest award was taken by Mrs.Cutbush, of Highgate, with Mai-ch's stands elegantly iilled with flowers and ti-uit. The two out- side stands had Peaches, Nectarines, Apples, and Pears at the base, resting on fi'onds of Lastrea Filis-mas, and in- terspersed with the lively green of Adiantum cuneatnm. Lycopodium CKsium was twined graceftilly round the upright gfcss stem, and the top dish had Fuchsias and Capsicums depending fi-om the edge ; wliilst the central poi-tion of the dish itselt' was filled with white Roses, scarlet Verbenas, white Jasmine, and Heliotrope, with some Adiantums inter- spersed. The centre stand had flowers at the base and frait at the top ; the former consisting of Scarlet Geraniums, Heliotropes, Verbenas, and Lisianthus; the latter of Black and White Grapes, Apples and Plums, sm-mountod by a Pine, whilst Lycopod twined up the column. The design balanced well from all points of a view, and did credit to the taste of the lady by whom it was executed; and she further contributed some bouquets, one which, consisting wholly of white flowers and Adiantum, was extremely modest and gi-aceful. Mi-. Robson, of Linton Park, also exliibited a design for table decoration, for which he received the second prize. This was also in glass stands ; the central one, instead of having an upright cohmm, had a stem which branched at a httle distance from the base into two semicircular arms, which reunited bcneidh the dish at top; and within the circle thus formed the base portion of the stem was con- tinued upwards a short distance to support another small dish. In this a white Magnolia was placed, a Pine Apple at top, and Rose-buds, Japan Lilies, golden variegated Gera- nium leaves and Perns at the base; whilst the tv.o end stands, on the contrary, had friut at the base and flowers at top. FKUIT. Prizes being ofl'ered for out-door fruit only, the "king of fi^ts," Melons, and the splendid examples of Black Ham- burgh and other Grapes, which we look for at a horticultural exhibition, were excluded, and their absence spoilt the effect of the display, more especially as it was too early in the season to expect much in the way of out-door fruit. Mr. Mon-is, gardener to A. Bosanquet, Esq., Southgate, had the first inize for a collection of Apples, Peaches, Wash- ington, Victoria, and Green Gage Plums. Messrs. Cutbush and Son, second, for Kerry Pippin, Jargonelle Pears, Pe.aches, Nectarines, Green Gage Plums, and Sweetwater Grapes. Mr. Turner also received a prize for a coUeotion consisting of Peaches. Apricots, Plums, a Melon, White and Black Grapes, and a Pine. Peaches.— Mr. Turner had W;Ubm-tou Admii-able, Belle- garde, Noblesse, and Padley's Royal, for which he received a first prize ; and he had a similar award for a dish of AVal- burton Admii-able. Nectarines.— air. Rutland, Gai'nstone Castle, was first in four dishes, with Ehnige, Roman, Due du TeUiers, and Brug- non. Ml-. Tm-ner was second; and in the Class for single dishes he had fii-st prize for some fine fruit of the Pitmaston Orange very highly coloured. Newington from Mi-. Heppar, Dulwich, had equal first. Figs.— In thi-ee dishes Mi-. Tm-ner had fu-st prize for good dishes of Eiown Turkey, Brunswick, and White Genoa ; and Mr. Moffat was fii-st in single dishes with Brown Turkey. Chekries. — Excellent MoreUos were shown by Messrs. Turner, Lane, and Ear-ley, to all of whom prizes were awar-ded. Plums. — In four dishes, Messrs. Lane were fu-st with Magnum Bouum, Washington, Goliath, and Green Gage. Ml-. Turner second, with Washington and Jefferson (fine), Victoria, and Goliath. In single dishes Mr. Turner was first with Green Gage; Mr. Beasley, Twyford Abbey, second, with the same kind ; Mr. Newton, gardener to G. j; Graham, Esq., Enfield Chase, thii-d. Apples.— In dessert kinds Mr. Turner was fii-st with Nonsuch, Cos's Orange Pippin, and SmaU's Golden Pippin. Mr. Moffat second, with Cox's Orange Pippin, Ken-y Pippin, and Golden Russet. Some good dishes were also exliibited by Mr. Newton and Mr. Earley. In kitchen kinds, Mr. Wright, Twickenham, had iirst prize for Golden Noble, HoUaudbury, and Hawthornden (fine). Mr. Lane, St. Mary's Cray, was second. Peaks. — Mr. Turner was first with Williams' Bon Chi-e- tien, Jaa-gonelle, and Fondante d'Automne. Messrs. Lane second, with Beurre d'Amanlis, Charnock, and Jargonelle. Mr. Earley was third; and Mr. Newton had also good dishes of Windsor and Marie Louise. Miscellaneous. — Messrs. Lane had numerous friiit trees in pots loaded with fiaiit, and consisting of I'igs, Plums, Cherries, Apples, and Pears. They also exhibited dishes of Apples, excellent White and Red Grajfe Omrants, and Plums, of which the Washington was very tine. Mr. Tiu-ner had a beautifully-netted Golden Perfection Melon. We cannot conclude without paying a just tribute to the uniform courtesy which Mr. Douglas brought to the task of carrying out the arrangements of the Show — a task all the more onerous that the Show was a new one, and that, there- fore, there was not the experience of previous year-s to guide the judgment. The experiment of holding a horticultural show for North London coidd not be considered a success as regarded the number of visitors it attracted ; but if re- peated at another period of the year-, and when its existence shall be better known, it will, probably, be attended with greater success. LOBELIA KEEMESLNTA AS A BEDDING PLANT. This charming bedding plant has harcUy received the attention it deserves. We have few bedding plants of the same colour, and none that are less spoiled by rain. It is propagated with even more faeDity than L. speciosa, but is more delicate than this latter. Plants of both were 131-icked out early in April in a sunk bed, and covered with boards at night, and L. kermesina suffered much more than did the other from exposure, &c. The cuttings should be put in as early as possible, as it is rather late iu coming into bloom, and in planting out it will be found advantageous to stick little twiggy branches about 3 inches high all over the bed, because it grows in such a tight little clump that without some such support it is apt to topple over when there is a high wind. I may mention the planting of one bed in which I have it, as most people who have seen it have Hked it. It is a star of eight points. In the centre there is a clump of tall Lord Cottenham Geranium ; round tliis a circle of Zehnda Dahlia ; next two rows of Flower of the Day Geranium, which reach down to the edge of the spikes of the star. Each alternate spike is planted with L. speciosa and L. kermesina, and the ajjex of each has a good plant of Golden Chain Geranium, The effect is very good. — Q. Q. AREANGEMENT OF INTEEIOE OP A GEEENHOUSE. I HAVE just had a greenhouse erected, 16 feet by 12, span-roofecl, and I wish to have a railed shelf all round it, instead of the old-fashioned stages. The height of the brick- work .and wall-plate is just 2 feet. Is not this too low for the railed shelf? What height would you advise it to be made, and is 3 feet sufficient in breadth for such a sized house ? I suppose the breadth and height are according to taste, but I should be very much obliged if you would tell me what height you think would show the flowers to most advantage.— G. F. W. [If you had given us the height of your house in the centre, we should have been better able to advise you. We must presume that that is from tii to 9 feet, and if so, the roof will be steep, if the side walls are only 2 feet. So far as the plants are concerned, however, that will make little dif- ference. If there is 3 feet from the ground to the waU- plate, and you propose to have a shelf all round, at least on the sides, that would give you more room for storage beneath the shelf than in the case of a two-foot wall. We ai-e sup- posing that the lights on each side rest on that wall. In September 1, 1863. ] JOUENAIi OF HOETICTJLTUEE ABD COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 16S that case, we would have the shelf 8 inches or so below the level of the wall-plate, which will allow plenty of light for the plants, and yet screen the pots from the direct action of the sun's rays. The lower your sheH the better will you see the plants, and the less wUl you see of their pots. Did yoix want to make the most of the shelves, and have only a path in the middle, you might make each of them 4A feet wide, and that would leave you 3 feet for walk in the centre. Then over that, if the roof was high enough — say 8 or 9 feet, you might either have a shelf or baskets, &c., suspended. The only drawback against this plan would be, that in a platform i formed either of wood, or a border of brick and earth, and ashes for the bed, the width is too gTeat to enable you to see and handle all the plants conveniently fi'om the passage. StOl, as a mere repository for growing plants, the arrange- ment would be a good one. For mere show, the proposed width of 25 to 3 feet for your shelves would answer better, and the height of these may be regulated so as to be below the wall-plate just 6 or 8 inches, and then you would require to keep low plants in fi'oiit. In fact, were your house only GJ feet or so at the ridge, you would need no shelves at all. The pots might all be on the ground level. In this case, -svith such narrow plat- forms, you would have fi'om 6 to 7 feet of pathway ; but in that you could set tall plants on the floor, and so arranged as to prevent monotony. But for youi' objection to a centre stage or platform, we would have the side walls at least 4i feet high, the ridge 9 feet, a shelf all round 2 feet wide, and a table or platform in the centre 4 feet wide, with a two-feet walk all round. In such a case we would make the fx-ont platform and the centre 15 to IS inches below the ridge-board. Did we want not merely to grow but to show the plants off in such a house to the greatest advantage, then we woiild make a different arrangement. Suppose yoiu' walls at the sides were 2; or 3 feet to the sQl, then we would put 2 a or 3 feet of upright glass between that and the wall-plate ; height at ridge 9 or 9i feet. Then suppose this house was at the end of a drawing-room, or the door of a dining-room or parlour, as soon as the door in the centre of the end was open, you might see the plants at once to the best advantage. We would not have a shelf or a level platform, but a sloping stage on each side 4i feet wide, the highest shelf of which would be next the waU- plate, and the lowest shelf close to, if not formed of the floor next the pathway. Only a few of the taller plants at the sides next the upright glass would be above the eye. The great proportion would be under the eye, and as you looked down on the banks of flowers and foliage on each side, little of the pots could be seen. The great amount of light in low span-roofed houses wUl prevent the shortest plants near the pathway in the centre being di'awn. Although we have spoken of banks of flowers, there is no necessity for having them uniform, as they may be thrown every week into iiesh combinations. In looking at such plants from a slight elevation, or merely from the level floor, the effect is much more striking than when you must look up to them on a level platform, or a merely raised stage, as the more the stage is raised just so much the better are the pots seen. This plan can scarcely be followed successfully unless there is side glass, as well as the top lights. We would advise our correspondent to try the effect of such an arrangement before fixing her shelves. High plants at the sides, and low plants close to the path in the centre, would show the effect at once. — E. F.] COMBINATIOiSr OF GREENHOUSE, STOVE, AND PITS. In yoiu- Number of July 21st is a very neat forcing-house which I think could be turned to great account, but it is not delineated sufficiently for me. I want to have a lean-to house, and I could make an outside border for Vines if I choose. Fu-st, I want a border aU round to be heated as you describe ; but what width could I make it to be heated sufficiently, and what is the leaf mould to rest upon, and what depth of water would requii-e to be in the tank ? Would the tank require to be often supplied with water ? If so, I think this would be most troublesome. Wordd not Caithness sawn pavement cemented make an excellent tank for the water for top moisture, also for sides next walk? Then I could have the centre of the house for plants standing on either a cold bed or stage, and no earth. What would be the most substantial material for the house, wood or iron ? I want it 30 feet long. I would require it to be from 12 to 14 feet in width within. What height should I requii-e to make the back wall above ground level for such a house ? My aspect would be south-east. "WTiat width would the paths be ? Woidd a single pipe running tlu'ough the tank be sufficient to heat it? What size of pipe would it be necessary to run thi-ough it? Would the path require to be elevated to let the pipe run through it to the border ? What would be the cost of heating such a house ? What woidd be the cost of a lean-to house made of Memel Pine, the wood part, of course, aU plain — no or- namental work ? — J. O. G. [The plan at page 51 of this Volume is very good for a combination of greenhouse, plant-stove, and pits outside, heated ; but unless oui- employer allowed us and wished us to dip deep into his pocket, we should not think of such an aiTangement for a vinery, thoixgh no doubt it would answer well enough. We have the other week given some instruc- tions on tank-making. It matters not what they are made of— stone, slate, or wood — if made watertight. We have seen wood 1^ inch thick last more than twenty years. The wood was well beat at the corners, as for a brewer's cooler, and placed fii-mly together with red or white lead ; and water being always in it there was no chance for leakage. We think the pipes through the tank a good precaution, though not absolutely necessary. If yoiir tank is securely covered, you get no more top moisture fi'om a tank than from a thick metal pipe. If you msh vapour from the tank or steam, you had better leave places to open for the pm-pose, and, of course, these must be shut when you wish for a di-y heat. But now, if you merely wished a vineiy 30 feet by 14, and the border outside to be heated, we should simplify the whole affair and have nothing to do with tanks. Allow us, however, to say that heating your border outside will be of little use unless you can cover it with glass or tarpaulin,. &c., with litter below it. Now, for such a lean-to house, 14 feet wide, we would have the back wall 12 or 13 feet in height, and the height in front, with wall and glass, 6 feet, — half wall and half glass. In such a place we would build the back wall of fourteeu-inch work, hollow. Then, if we must gi-ow the Vines in such a house, without an outside border, and early Grapes were a chief consideration, we would take out the earth to the depth of 3 feet ; concrete the bottom ; jjlaee three four-inch iron pipes, about 00 feet, for bottom heat; leave them in a chamber 1 foot deep, cover with slate or stone, and then the soil above; or cover over the pipes with a foot of loose rubble and brick- work, then finer gravel, and afterwards the soil. Openings from that chamber into the house would be desu-able. Then for the top heat, for early forcing, you woidd need about 120 feet of foiu--inch pipe. If Vines are i^lanted at the back wall of such a house and then trained down the roof, you will be thoroughly independent of aE outside borders, and, to a gi-eat extent, of all outside weather. Had we the chance of bmlding an early vinery, we should follow some- thing like the above mode. Exactly the same mode may be followed even with the help of an outside border, and that may be made in the same way. In your cUmate we would decidedly recommend inside planting, even though you plant yom- Vines in front in the usual way. In that case youi- front wall should be on piers or on arches ; and then suppose that your inside border is 5 feet wide or so, you might make the outside one 6 or 7 feet wide, and to be heated in the same way. Mind that below the concrete there should be means taken for thorough di'ainage. For late Grapes coming in in autumn there will be no necessity for heating the border at all. For bringing them in in May it will be a great advantage, and the good substantial foui'-inch pipe is the best material for doing it with, such as may be had fi-om 9d. to Is. per foot. The great point to make sui-e of in such an an-angement is to see that the inside border is an inch or two higher than the outside one. On such a plan the border outside will make a capital pit to be covered with glass, and it will be 166 JOUENAL OP HORTICULTtTRE AST) COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ September 1, 18G3. verj- useful for salads and other things in winter. In spring pot jilants should be "watered carefully in such a pit, so as not to soak or jjuddle the siu'face of the border ; and in summer and early autumn it would be well to have notliing in the pit tft all, in order that the sun may beat unobstruct- edly on the soil. If you prefer a tank, and it is all sound and kept close at the top, it will want replenishing with water very seldom. If out of sight, the best jilan is to have a gauge-stick in it standing in an open pipe, and that supplied with bung, and the appearance of the stick will always show the depth of water, and through that tube or pipe water may be supplied at pleasm-e. If you leave oi>en spaces in the tank, of com-se the water wiU go otf by evaporation, and a fi-esh supply must be given. The same holds true as to pipes. The fresh supply will chiefly depend on what is lost by evaporation. Of coiu-se, jf the water is forced out by expansion by heat, fresh water will be needed, as that in the heating medium has cooled. You are more hkely to know what Memel timber will cost in your neighljoui-hood than we can tell you. Fre- quently in our advertising columns the price of lights for houses is given. The more jointed the wood and the smaller the glass, the more the expense for wood. Tlie cheapest way for such a house would be to have a fixed roof — no sashes, but strong rafter sash-bars. If the place U much exposed, perhaps it woidd be advisable not to have glass above 10 or 12 inches wide ; but even with a fixed roof, and the rafter sash-bars 10 inches apart, you wmUd want double the wood that Mr. Elvers uses with glass 20 inches in width. The cost of timber, therefore, depends entirely on matters of detail. — E. P.] THE GEAPEEIES OF ME,. MEEEDITH AT GAESTON. The fashionable suburbs of a large town often present many featm-es of interest to the tourist. Dwellings more or less commodious, and all more or less ornamented ex- ternally, give tokens of the wealth and comfort that reign within ; whUe the diversity of taste by which one villa "or residence contrasts with its neighbour-, affords many a lesson which it would be well to study. That occasional deviations fi-om good taste meet the eye cannot be doubted ; but these cases are so few that they raay be taken as the exceptions of rare occurrence. And contemporary with the ar'ehitectural display evinced in the dwelling-house and its appendages, as the fences, gates, itc, the plot of ground facing the public highway has often claims to notice which call for something more than a careless approval; and, perhaps, no branch of cultural art has made greater ad- vance than the one which has worked so much improvement in the limited plots of ground that many occupiers only possess. It is certainly creditable to all concerned, that the small plots alluded to present so many features of in- terest, and, though often differing widely from each other, they are all, nevertheless, beautiful, and 'many of the most important featm-es of ornamental gardening are represented here— as the bedding system, rockwork, shrubbery, and very often a glass structiu-e, and all carefully and studiously managed. That such houses are som-ces of unalloyed pleasm-e to the man of business after the mental toil of "the day is over cannot be doubted ; and their external appearance leaves little doubt that the interiors are equally well fur- nished with every requisite for comfort. The moral beai-ing of these vUla. homos might be dilated on to some length ; but it is needless to pm-sue the subject fm-ther than to say that such dweUings abound on the fashionable outskirts of most, if not all, of our large com- mercial and manufactm-ing towns, of which Lancasliu-e pre- sents as many as, perhaps, any other eo-anty, not even ex- empting the metropolitan one. And as most towns have their " west end," or fashionable side, in like manner has Liverpool, although in its ease it is the east and not the west side. TheiM-etty village, or rather town, of G.arston forms one of those beautifiil subm-bs to the great sliipping city of the west coast by which it is connected by a long chain of villas, foi-miug, as it were, a continuous street of some foui or five miles. Many of them are hidden amidst healthy and vigoroiis-growing trees and shi-ubs, showing, that although they are but a very short distance from the Irish Sea, the soU, climate, and other conditions favomable to their growth are tolerably abundant ; and I confess being agreeably sur- prised to find this the case, as the highway from Liverpool to Garstou rises about parallel with and but a very short distance fi-om the noble estuary of the Mersey, which at G.irston seems two mUes wide or more. That much of the verdure found here is in a measure due to the shelter from the south-westerly gales which the Cheshire hills on the opposite coast afford I have no doubt ; but it is not my place to enter into the question, but to point out one of the features of a neighbourhood where one of the most suc- cessful Grape-growers of the day has located himself. As the gardening world must be familiar with the name of Meredith, of Gar-ston, and his Grapes, a few notes on the situation and the other features of his extensive and inter- esting glass structures and grounds will, no doubt, be ac- ceptable to the general reader. On the outskirts of the village of Garston, and about half a mUe or more from the northern shore of the river or rather bay of the Mersey, Mr. Meredith has fixed liis vine- yard. The situation is one of those slight elevations which merely afford sufficient fall for what drainage might be wanted from stokeholes and such places, the ground of the district generally being of that slightly undulating character which distinguishes it fi-om the flat rich jiasture lands which border the river Mersey in the upper part of its course. Tlie soil, too, at Garston is much paler in colour, though in its component pai-ts it seems to contain as much sand as is found in the rich market-gai-dening districts to the north of Altrincham and else-.vhere. The subsoil seemed a ib-y com- pound, of which sand rather than gravel formed the most important part. It certainly was not of that hungry per- nicious character which some sandy or gravelly subsoils often are. On the contrary, I should say the subsoil was, perhaps, as agreeable to vegetation as any which I ever met with that did not contain stone ; for, be it obsei-ved, that many stony subsoils are the favourite abode of tree roots, even when the surface soil is a good one ; but in the case of those at Garston, from what little I could hear, I shoidd think that stone was but very sparingly met with. At the same time I believe the subsoil contained within itself all the elements necessary for effective di-ainage ; but whether additional modes of carrying off the superabundant moisture fi-om the various borders existed or not, I am not prej^ared to say. I may here observe that the whole of the glass houses were, with very few exceptions, devoted entirely to the cul- tivation of the Grape Vine ; and when I say that there were upwards of twenty such houses, and many of them of lar-ge size, besides pits and smaller structures, it will be easOy supposed that Grape-gi-owing on an extensive scale was being pm-sued. Most of the glass houses were new, the oldest, perhaps, not being more than six or eight years old, while some were of more recent date ; and two new ones of the i:ire3ent year, each 144 feet long by 28 feet wide, were not quite finished, although nearly so. These fine houses, of which some notice wlU be taken hereafter, were, nevertheless, occupied, as were all the others, with the favourite I'hmt which seemed to thrive so marvellously under Mr. Meredith's care. There is nothing remai-kable in the structure of the houses, the most of them being span-roofed, the site not affording a high garden wall to lean them against, as is often the case in private places. The gTouud was in a great measm-e covered with span-roofed houses, placed in some cases parallel to each other, and at a convenient dis- tance apart to allow sufficient room for the borders. The glass used was in some cases rough plate, and in others sheet, the squares generally large, though not remarkably so ; whilst the pitch of roof, mode of ventilation, and other features differed but little from those to be met with else- where. Some mechanical ingenuity certainly was shown in the movement of the ventilation by a crank-rod that was not so much paraded in \'iew as some similar contrivances are ; but with the exception of the workmanship being good, useful, and plain, there was nothing in the outwai-d character of the houses that differed fi-om the generality of glass September 1, 1SG3. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AJSTD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 167 houses of modern build. I may also add, that I believe the boilers used iu heating them were mostly modifications of the saddle ; and the pipes, bends, and other appurtenances such as are gcneraUj' met with elsewhere. Most of the span-roofed houses had a pathway down the centre, and the hot-water pijjes were but very little elevated above the floor. Having given the above rough outline of the situation and character of the houses, it is now necessary to say some- thing of their contents. Unfortunately, through an inad- vertance on my part, I did not take such particular notes as I would have done had I thought of afterwards committing them to paper; biit the character of Mr. Meredith's Grapes is so well known at the great shows in the kingdom, that it is needless to say more than merely advert to them. Sufiice it to say, that those Vines which had attained something- like a three or four-years' gi-owth were loaded with the finest possible fi'uit. In fact, many gTOwers for private use only, and not for exhibition, would regard the crop as im- prudently heavy. Other houses a year or more younger had also good crops, and even some Vines recently planted had been allowed to bear a bunch or so ; the vigorous health of the plants, Mr. Meredith seemed to say, making vip for all the work they were at this early age called upon to perform. Certainly, now and then a young Vine was exempted fi-om such hai'd working, but nothing like an exemption of the present year's work for the sake of another one was observ- able anywhere — every cane capable of bearing having its quota of fruit, and all in the most excellent condition, the youngest Vines, of course, being exempt, a vigorous rather than a rampant health pervading all. Earely any of those long-jointed canes were to be seen which are so often met with elsewhere in newly-planted Vines, when enriching rather than good solid and suitable food is supplied them ; for, be it remembered, although all the fohage presented the most luxm-iant health, I do not remember noticing any of it approaching the dimensions I have heard some growers boastingly assert they have grown Vine leaves to. I men- tion this as a significant fact that extreme luxiuiance of foliage is not wanted, neither is it always a token that the Vine is in the condition to produce the best fi-uit. This view of the matter was never more forcibly illustrated than in the Vines I saw at Garston, for although it woidd be im- possible to point out finer fruit any^vhere, the foliage did not in any case approach so near that of the Ehubarb as I have heard the leaves of some Vines compared to, when in point of finiitfidness they were second to those here mentioned. As above stated, the Grape-houses presented every aspect, and it might be supposed that there might be a favourite one where the fruit attained gi-eater exceDence than in the others, but I failed to detect this — in fact, there did not appear to be any difference; and to those who may be curious in such matters, I may say that one of the few lean- to houses was placed against the east side of Mr. Meredith's dwelling-house, and, consequently, soon after midday it received no sun whatever, and yet the Grapes in this house were beautifidly grown and coloured. A bunch of Black Hamburghs, which I hope to hear of figui-ing w-eU at some of the shows, coidd not be much short of 4 lbs. in weight and weU coloured, and this with a forenoon sun only. A similai- house on the west side was later, but promised to be quite as good, the fruit being equally promising, as, in fact, were all the graperies. Some of the houses were devoted to one variety only, some mixed, and some to kinds requii'- ing a greater amount of heat, or a different treatment fi-om their neighbom-s, all showing the best possible result. Of the kinds grown I regi-et not taking more pai-ticnlar notice, but I believe all the popular kinds of the day are well represented at Garston, several varieties of Black Hambm-gh :und Muscats being found there ; while sejiarate houses were ilevoted to the late kinds, as Lady Downes' and Alicante, both of which seemed to be favourites with Mr. Meredith, but by no means to the extent of depriving other kinds of their due meed of attention, for all were fau-ly and success- iidly grown. But to give every Grape a more fan- and equal chance, Mr. Meredith has recently added the two large span- roofed houses above aUuded to, the one being for aR the varieties of "White Grapes, the other for Black ones; and our readers may easily conceive the noble appearance these liouses wiU present in a year or two, when they reflect that each house would make half a dozen good-sized Grape-houses, for the length of both of these two houses at Garston was Hi feet, and the breadth 28 feet. A spacious pathway went down the middle, the roof being partly sujaported by a row of pillars on each side of the path. The roots of the Vines had access both inside and out, but were planted inside. The gi-eater part of one of the houses was planted, and the Vines were doing remarkably well ; the other was not so far advanced. Many new kinds were poiated out to us as on probation, and older well-known names were also included, and we should say that when these houses ;u'e once in a bear- ing condition, no better lesson in Vine-cultiu-e could be found in the kingdom than they alone wdl present, and the student in gardening wUl do well to make a journey there on pvir- pose to inspect them. Even at the present time the various stages of growth at which the Vines are seen, coupled with the magnificent fruit and the gi-eat extent to which they are grown, render this remarkable place more interesting than all the glitter of the largest bedding-out jjlace ; for be it remembered, that most, if not all of the kinds known to modern cultivators are grown here on an extensive scale, and some new kinds of promise are on trial which may figiu'e in a high position hereafter. Amongst others of this class we noticed a seedling pre- senting a very large bunch, somewhat in the way of the White Nice, but Mr. Meredith says of much higher merit. This seedling had all the appearance of a good keeper, a good bearer, and the property of ripening earlier than some of the kinds of its class, which have little to recom- mend them but then- size of bunch. We shall be anxious to learn further of this seedling, as it evidently is an im- jirovement in a du'ection that wanted amendment, and we have no doubt but Mr. Meredith wiU offer it to the world in due time, and if it receive his approval we need have no hesitation in accepting it as good. Some other seedlings and new kinds were on trial, and I need hardly add that aU the old and popular varieties were extensively grown, as the Trentham Black, Frankenthal, Morocco, Black Prince, and the many synonymes by which some of the well-known varieties are called elsewhere. Even those difficult to gi'ow, as JosUng's St. Alban's, and others, had a place assigned them, and were doing well, shovving that with judicious care and the necessary means much may be accomplished. "Vines in Pots. — It wUl afford no surprise to be told that the Viaes grown and kept in pots at this remarkable place are quite on a par with the extensive houses at command, for that purpose, and some hundreds of canes were pointed out that were quite fit for forcing next season that had been raised from the eye the past spring. Others still more robust were, I believe, last year's plants cut down in spring, while others for that pxu-pose were coming on. Most of the newly-erected houses contained Vines in pots, mostly in the most robust health, either for forcing in pots or planting- out when wanted. Our readers will understand that Mr. Meredith is a builder of hothouses, and occasionally superintends the building of others when done by private hands : consequently, when he has to furnish a house with Grape Vines, it is needless to say he is in a position to do it in the best possible manner ; and it would almost astonish the ordinary observer where all the Grape Vines so prepared at this establishment coidd be wanted. Mr. Meredith, however, we are infomied, is in extensive practice ; and the old adage of a good thing needing no re- commendation being applied to his Grape Vines, we expect a visit later in the winter wUl find his stock thinned to a considerable extent. To those, however, about building new Grape-houses, and furnishing the same with plants best suited to their wants, as well as to give the best advice on the all-important subject of making the borders. Mi-. Mere- dith, living in such a central situation as Liverpool, cannot fail to be of the greatest value. The condition of certain Grape-houses, altered and renewed by him in places else- where, attest his skill and ability that way; while the ex- ceeding simplicity of construction of the houses, and ap- parent homeHness of the substances used ia the border- making, give every reason to believe that Mr. Meredith is in no way extravagant in his mixtm-es or compounds. I here mention this so as not to deter any one fi-om consulting one so eminently successful under the idea that they were 168 JOURNAL OF HOE.TICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 1, 1S63. likely to incur a serious expenditure in carting materials fi-om some very distant place; for few, if any, have ever yet brought a chemical knowledge of the component parts of soils and the requirements of individual plants to bear so well on theii* cultivation as has Mr. Meredith ; and his knowledge wUl enable Mm to pronounce whether such a soil will suit the Grape Vine or not, apart from all those outward appearances which are the only guide to a less practised hand. The uniform com'tesy with which he re- ceives and communicates his ideas to others in the craft cannot be too highly extoUed. As to my friend (a noble- man's gardener) and myself, no information of any kind was withheld, and the visit to Gai'ston will long remain as one of the red-letter days not to be forgotteu.— J. Eobson. SOME OF THE GAEDENS WOETH SEEING IN ABEEDEENSHIEE AND BANFFSHIEE. Willing to assist in directing those who have a pleasure in seeing gardens, I fonvard a Hst of gardens worth seeing in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire. Some of the j^laces have natiu'al scenery far surpassing anything of the kind I have ever witnessed : — ABEKDEENSHIRE. Place. Proprietor, Gardener. Town. Slains Castle Earl of Errol Unknown .....Peterhead. Pitfour Admiral Ferpusson Mr. Smith Mintlaw. Ellon Castle A. Gordon, Esq Mr. Howltt Ellon. Strichen House G. Baird, Esq Mr. Hoss.ick Brucklaw. Dunecht Earl of Biilcarras Mr. Farquhar Aberdeen. Fyvie Castle Captain Gordon Mr. Farquhar Fyvie. Keith Hall Earl of Kintore Mr. Donaldson.. .Inverury, Troup House F. Campbell, Esq Mr. Dallachy Fraserburgh. Huntley Lodge Duchess of Gordon Mr. Aitchlson Huntly. Balmoral Castle Her Majesty Mr. Paterson Aborne. Aboyne Castle Marquis of Huntly Mr. Slurry Aboyne. BANFFSHIEE. Place, Projirietor. Gardener. Tmrn. DnfT House Earl of File ; Mr. Maclde BantT. Cullen House Earl of Seafield Mr. Petrle Portsoy. Gordon Castle Duke of Richmond Mr. Webster Fochabers. The best tune to see gardens in this part of the country is the months of August and September. The places named are all within easy distance of their respective railway stations. — J. H. [We wish every reader of our Jotu-nal -Would send iis a list of the gardens worth visiting in any' vtounty, with the names of proprietors and gardeners *hen known.— Eds. J. OF H.] GLADIOLUS DISEASE AND NAME. An inquiry was made in The Journal of Hokticultuee of August 11th regarding the disease which lias attacked the Gladioli so much this season. It has been most pre- valent in this neighbourhood, iiarticiilarly in the cby sandy soils ; we, therefore, may conclude the tlisease does not arise from damp or excess of moisture, as is sometimes sujiposed. On the other hand, I am iucUned to believe that the un- usually diy spring has in a measure aggravated, although it cannot have caused, the disease, it ha\Tiig' appeared to some extent both in wet and dry seasons. It is certainly a gi'eat drawback to the general cultivation of so showy a flower, for nothing can be more disappointing and nothing more -unsightly than the diseased plants, the leaves of wliich, and in most cases the whole plants, have to be cut away to preserve the neat appearance of the bed. As " D.," of Deal, has had some information lately about the bulb fi-om M. Verdier, and visited the chief growers on the continent, he may, perhaps, be txble to prescribe a remedy. Mrs. Loudon speaks of the bulbs being left in the ground from year to year, " and that at SpoSbrth in Yorkshire, where the soil is a rich yellow loam, there are clumps of Gladioli which have been left in the ground undisturbed for more than twenty years and which bloom magnificently. Simil.ar treatment is given to the beds of scarlet GiadioU in the garden at Blair Adam, in Scotland, which are very splendid." I am not aware whether all the varieties are equally hardy ; but twenty years ago there were few in comparison with what we have now. Whether the experiment of leaving them in the gi-ound would be worth trying we should be glad to know. I should also be glad to know, now we are on the sub- ject, the proper pronunciation of the word "Gladiolus." I have heard so many conflicting opinions that it would be r.ather a relief to have the matter settled. The accent is often put on three different syllables thus : — Gladiolus, Gladiolus, and Gladiolus ; the fii'st is most common and the most incoiTect ; the second is the pronunciation generally supposed to be coiTect, and the way we believe Mrs. Loudon accents it. I have, however, been corrected in that ; and I find from various Latin dictionaries, Ainsworth, Riddle, Andrews, and others, that the accent should be on the fii-st syllable, thus — Gladiolus, or rather that there should be no particular stress on either, if it were possible to pronounce the word without ; but the little accent used should be placed upon the first syllable. Glad. We have more authoiity for this than any other way ; therefore, conclude it most correct, but I should feel obliged for a little information on each of the above queries. — R. T. E., Shrewshii-y. [There is no doubt as to the proper pronunciation of the name. It is GladUus, as if there were no o iu the spelling, and the accent on the i. — Eds. J. of H.] BATTEESEA PAEK. Having heard of the rare plants that were bedded-out here I was induced to pay it a visit on the U3rd ult., and was agreeably sui-prised to see how well the materials of landscape-gardening were worked out by Mr. Gibson, the superintendent. All who i-ecoUect the diff'erence between the present diversified and the former flat surface must be delighted with the pleasing variety produced by the mounds formed of the di-edgings from the river Thames, by which depth is given to the river, and mounds and slopes of artificial beauty to the Park. The effect has also been heightened by the introduction of large trees which had been planted indi- vidually .and in masses in the autumn, and are now looking well. The lake is also an interesting featm-e, which has lately been improved by more iiTegularity in parts of its outline to produce variety. After entering the Ptu'k from the Chelsea New Bridge I turned to the left, and proceeded westward along shmb- beries and borders edged with Lobelia speciosa ; then Nie- rembergia gracilis, which does not fill up the space allotted to it well ; then Scarlet Geraniums, backed by Dahlias. The broad mass of the light green foliage of Pinks, edged with Lobelia speciosa, looked well on the left side of the walk. The next scene on the walk leading to the right presents a row of Dahlias to the back ; then Calceolaria Aurea flori- bunda, edged with Nejjeta a.methystina, and further on four rows of Crystal Palace Tropajolum, edged with Cerastium tomentosum, with an opposite of double white Feverfew and Tropffiolum. Then .around the shrubberies to the right and to the lelt are D.alilias, double white Feverfew, .and Nosegay Geranium, edged witli Cerastium tomentosum. Opposite the steam-boat landing is a broad road leading south to the fountain, and north of the lake. On one side are Dahlias, edged with a broad Viand of Tropa>olum elegans. After crossing an open piece of lawn, on the right are rows of Dahlias, then Scarlet Geraniums, edged with yellow Cal- ceolarias ; and on the left are Dahlias, then Commander-in- Chief Geranium, edged with crimson-bro^vn Calceolarias. Continue on the main road, leaving the fountain on yovu- right, beside the walk diverging to the left ; on one side is an edging of Lobelia speciosa, tlien Calceolaria Am'ca flori- bunda, then Punch Geranium, backed by a broad and full band of Chrysanthemum frutescens albuui. On the other side is an edging of Koniga maritima variegata, then brown Calceolarias, then Nosegaj' Cxeranium, backed by double white Feverfew, which is not sufficiently high for the position in which it is placed. Across the road to the fountain, and a few steps more take you to the north side of the lake. The outline of the lake is vaiied by the contrasted position of bays, inlets, and smaller indentations with islands, and acts to heighten the diversity September 1, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICTJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 169 of appearance without destroying breadth of effect. An engine-house is visible in the distance, which supplies the lake with fii-esh water. We are told that on proceeding east- ward and sovith of the lake the Itose-ground and other in- teresting scenes of floral beauty present themselves. From the fountain a long broad walk runs westward, planted with a row of young Elm trees at each side. Turning from the end of the broad walk to the right we pass north- ward to a most interesting scene. On the south of Biucchi's refreshment-tent are two crescent-shaped beds. At the back, near the shi'ubs, are Hollyhocks, then Phloxes of vai'ious colours, then Chrysanthemum fi-utescens album, then Victor Emanuel Scarlet Geranium, then Minnie Geranium, then yellow Calceolaria, edged with Lady Plymouth and Lobelia sijeciosa alternately and diagonally. In front of each crescent are seven beds : the 1st, an oblong, with brown Calceolaria, edged with Geranium peltatum variegatum. 2nd, A circle, Anthony Lamotte Geranium, edged with Lobelia Paxtoniana. 3rd, An oblong, Stella Geranium, edged with Little David Geranium. 4th, A circle, filled with Cal- ceolaria Canariensis, a splendid bed. 5th, An oblong. Miss Nightingale Heliotrope, edged with Bijou Geranium. 6th, A circle, CentaureacandidiBsima, edged withLobeliaPaxtoniana. 7th, An oblong, SteDa Geranium, edged with Anthony La- motte Geranium. The opposite is a duplicate of the above, with the exceijtion of a circle centered with Madame Vaucher, a variety with large trusses of well-formed piu-e white blos- soms. Going round fi'om each end of the ten'ace, at the back are Dahlias ; then Gaines's yeUow Calceolaria, edged with Nierembergia gracilis. Then, proceeding westward on the broad walk, the next scene is an opening into the Park between high mounds pictui-esqiiely disposed, but the effect is man'ed by two beds planted with Hollyhocks. A few yai'ds fiu-ther on a fine lawn opens up, displaying a varied landscaxje to the wooded hills beyond, with chiu'ch-spu'es, villages, and the Crystal Palace glittering in the sun. The varied and serpentine plantations on the left beside the walk are in part edged with Gaines's yellow Calceolarias, Pentstemons, Catmint (Nepeta amethystina), backed with Dahlias. The next bit of flower garden comprises an oblong with two circvdar beds ; the fh'st cii'cle contains Geranium Hendersoni, edged with Cloth of Gold Geranium ; the ob- long, two rows of Amaranthus melancholicus ruber in the centre, then one row of Centam-ea candidissima, edged with another row of Amaranthus ; the other ch-cle. Scarlet Gera- nium, edged with Bijou Geranium. Still farther on the right are to be seen thi'ee large circles. The first contains Punch Geranium, edged with Geranium peltatum vai'iegatum ; the second. Crimson Unique Geranium, then a white Pelargonium like Pau-est of the Fair, then Punch Geranium, then Pink Geranium, edged with Baron Hugel Geranium; the third, Trentham Eose Gera- nium, then Punch Geranium, edged with Geranium jjeltatum variegatum. On the left are several beds : — A cu-cle filled with Canna indica, the fine foliage waving in the breeze ; another circle of Tritoma uvaria, edged with Nepeta ame- thystina ; an oblong. Geranium Hendersoni, then Chi-istine Geranium, edged with Stella Geranium ; two circles. Bijou Geranium, edged with LobeUa speciosa ; another bed with a lot of Geranium Hendersoni in the centre, then Trentham Eose, then Geranium peltatum vai-iegatum, edged with LobeHa speciosa; an oblong, Stella Geranium, then Com- mander-in-Chief Geranium, edged with Pink Geranium ; two small circles, Madame Vaucher Geranium, edged vrith Little David Geranium. On the right are three circles ; the fii'st, Minnie Geranium, if I recollect rightly, edged with Tx-entham Eose Scarlet Geranium. A large circle filled with Coleus Verschafielti — one of the most ornamental and pictui'esque-leaved plants yet introduced, amongst which it almost stands unrivalled for rich and gorgeous colouring — ■ edged with Centam-ea candidissima, is one of the most mag- nificent beds in the place: the secret of success here is having retained them in pots. The tluid is a circle of Tritoma uvaria, edged with Minnie Geranium. We have now ai-rived at the lodge gate on the west side. A short tm-n and you are on a walk leading east by south through a shrubbery vrith a ribbon-border on each side, then across a portion of the lawn, and you enter what we were told is called the Italian garden. On turning to the right, the fii-st bed which presents itself is fUled with Musa Caven- dishii, Dracaena purpurea, and D. terminalis, and carpeted with Arctotis repens mth its long silvery branches that lite- rally stick to the ground. The bird's-eye view of the fiowery vista beyond is most attractive. The next bed is an oblong filled with Humea elegans plunged in pots. Beds of Canna indica edged with Statice succeed. The Cannas are highly ornamental, producing a very rich and oriental effect by then- large, broad, massive foliage terminated by racemes of crimson or scarlet variously-lobed fiowers. The other beds consist of Variegated Periwinkle plants (Vinca ele- gantissima) and Yuccas. The circular beds opposite eon- tain Vesta Geranium, edged with Minnie Geranium ; Punch Geranium, edged with Geranium peltatum variegatum; Minnie Gerauiiun, edged with Baron Hugel Geranium. There are in addition beds of Caladiiim giganteum and Ficus elastica. A long serpentine bed gay with yellow Calceo- larias and Cxeraniums ; and beds of Vinca rosea alba and V. rosea oceUata. The Cloth of Gold Geranium is very conspicuous as an edging to some of the beds. On the circuit as you approach a portion of the lake the large fi-osted foliage of the Salvia argentea as an edging is also a conspicuous object. Then come acii-cle of Vesta Gera- nium, edged with Mountain of Light Geranium ; two oblongs with Bijou Geranium and edgings of Lobelia speciosa ; then a ch-cle of Golden Chain Geranium, edged -nith Lobelia speciosa ; another circle of Coleus Verschaft'elti, edged with Centaurea candidissima. A crescent-shaped bed on the higher ground in front of the shrabbery filled with Wigandia caracasana is singular for its very lai-ge foliage. An edging of Farfugium graude is also worthy of notice. From what has been faintly described it may, perhaps, be inferred that the rare collection of plants bedded out at Battersea Park is not surpassed, if it is equalled, in any other liai-k, pleasiu-e gi-ounds, or flower garden in the kingdom. The broad space between the road and the river Thames from Chelsea New Bridge to near Battersea Bridge is partly mai-ked out for improvements ; and to judge from what has been done by Mr. Gibson, we may confidently esiject that such a fine site wiU be converted into a magnificent land- scape scene. W. Keane. MASSING OF COLOUES AT LINTOK PARK. I AM tempted to add a few words to the praises given in your last Number to the splendid residts of Mr. Eobson's grouping single colours in masses. It cannot have escaj^ed the notice of those who have seen Eubens" masterpieces that that great master of colour pro- duced the main tone and effect of his paintings by the very same com-se now taken by Mr. Eobson — a judicious use of his deep blue and deep red. The same effect may be seen, arising from the juxtaposition of two, or at most three, brilliant colom-s without any attempt at shading, in the illuminations with which old missals, &c., are filled, pro- duced by the busy idleness of those comical mediasval verte- brates, the monks. So that the grouping in question arises from the purest taste, as well as being productive of the most artistic results. — H. DEYI^T4 E VEELASTING-FLO WEES — GLADIOLUS DISEASE, &c. In No. 124 of The Journal op Hobticultuke is an in- quiry how to dry Everlasting-Flowers — apparently a very simple thing, but in fact not so. I have been in the habit of hanging Xerauthemum and Acrocliuium up by the flower- stalk, the flowers downwards ; but find that in doing so the flower when dry is very apt to break off the stalk, being then very brittle. I now cut them off with a sharp knife just before the flowers expand, and then lay them flat on a shelf in the gi-eenhouse, full in the light. This causes them to expand and di-y with the flower in the proper position. When tliey are wanted for use I procui-e some wheat straw, 4 or 5 inches long, as may be requii-ed, and insert the flower-stems in them, and then make bouquets in any fasliion desu-able. I will add that to do this I collect in the fields and woods handsome Grasses just before they tm-n white or ripe ; these intermixed a little tastily make very handsome ornaments 170 JOURNAIi OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. r September 1, 18C3. for chimneypieces, &c. I have some now under glass that look as fresh as when cut two years ago. Ehodanthe maculata is best hung up by the stem, flower dovmwards. I have seen in a window one of the Campanulas. It seems like a trailing plant, and covered with light blue stars, and is very pretty for a window. Can you inform me which of the CamiJO.nulas it is ? A few of my Gladiolus have faOed as you described, but think it proceeds from the di-y hot weather, as the bidbs do not aj)pear diseased. I may remark that it is only those that have been in the ground all the winter that are thus affected ; those I potted and afterwards put out are not so. Can any of your coiTespondents give a few recipes for cheaply dyeing gi-asses — say green and ciimson Y Is there any other Everlasting-Flower you could name requii-ing the same culture, &c., as Xeranthemum, Acrocli- nium, and Khodanthe ■' — T. H. C, WalsaM. FLOWEE-GAJIDEIS' PLAN. I AM recommended to make a garden (as by plan), de- I coloured gravel scribed as " an embroidered garden with Box-edgings and | tended for ; but haviui I think it would suit the place it is in- had no experience of such gardens. I should be glad if you would inform me whether they ai-e kept in order without any very great amount_of skill and labour. — New Forest. . — - — [We think your embroidered garden wiU look very weU, and more especially so if you can look down upon it— that is, if the beds are from 15 to 30 inches below the ground surrounding it. But for such a garden there are t«o many shaa-p points. and though they look rather weU with Box or stone edgings, they woiiid be annoying on gi-ass. We should deceive you were we to say such a garden would be easily kept. The Box must be regulai-ly and often clipped, and tlie cliiipings must chiefly bejnckedup by hand. We presume the centre is to be grass : if of a briglit colour it would kill the other beds.] September 1, 1863. ] JOITRNAL OF HOETICULTXJRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 171 VEGETABLE TEEATOLOGY. A VARIETY OP PAPAVEK WITH ANTHERS TRANSFORMED TO CARPELS. De Candolle, in his " OrganograpHe Vegetal," figured a head of Papaver ai'ound which two or three of the stamens had changed into capsules. Subsequently, in 1832, I pre- sented to the Congress of Natui-alists at Vienna a more complete sijecinien of a similar monstrosity, the greater number of the stamens being in this case transformed into capsules more or less large. Dui-ing the summer of 1839 I learned, that at some miles from Breslau there was a whole field of Papavers metamorphosed in the manner indicated The metamoiijhosis begins ostensibly by the appearance of a substance which, produced with the toms, is interposed and developed between the bases of the filaments of the stamens, with which it effects a junction in the form of a ring. Subsequently this substance surrounds the principal capsule, either in part (in which case the metamorjihosis only affects a small number of stamens), or entirely (when the most of the stamens are transformed). But in every case it is only the interior ranks of the stamens which be- ■^5^ I I obtained a considerable quantity of them, in all degrees of come monstrous ; the exterior ones preserving their normal transformation, each central capsule having round it from one to sixty small supplementary capsules, and, what is very important, ripe seeds existed, not only in the principal cap- sules, but also in many of the accessory ones. The following year (1850), I sowed a good number of these seeds, piu-- posely selecting the contents of the large capsules round which were an-anged the small- est ones; I sowed these seeds in two different places — viz., one packet in a compartment well exposed to the sun ; the second ia a small sheltered garden. The residt proved cleai-ly that the metamor- phosis in question was in- duced by ch-cumstances the most favourable to the luxu- riant gi'owth of this species — namely, good soU, full expo- siu-e to the sun, and the sun gi-eatest possible space for each plant. In the compartment fii'st named, the foremost pai-t alone was unshaded; the other pai-t, forming a partial slope, was shaded from right to left by some small bushes. At this latter point, the seed which sprung up in abund- ance was not at all thinned, so that the plants, more crowded, coidd not attain the same height as those of the other portion, where there was more space for theii- de- velopment. Nevertheless, of eighty of the fii-st plants (of the portion not shatled), ten only did not present any trace of metamorphosis ; all the others showed it in the most varied manner, though certainly it only attained its maxi- mum of energy in ten cases. In the portion of the ground much shaded, where the second lot of seeds had sprung up, most of the heads showed metamoi-phosed stamens ; but the number of these latter was, in general, very limited — one, two, ten, for each central capsule, and, among sixty of these capsules, two, at the most, had from forty to fifty small supplementary ones. Moreover, w-hen even these smaU capsides were very numerous, and formed a cii'ole round the central one, there remained a tolerable number of untrausfoi-med stamens on each head. Formerly I had sup- IJOsed the metamorphosis to have absorbed all the male organs of the same flower ; it was owing to my not having followed the phases of this transformation, my observations having been confined to the capsules which were ah-eady mature. form. As soon as the junction of the basis of the stamens attains the length of from 2 to 3 lines, the transformation of the anther to a cai-pel commences. At fii'st the connective is swelled and becomes convex on the back, opening in a split in fi'ont. The exterior valves of the cells of the anther project, and become reflexed behind, in the form of wings. It is these which form the large and non-pa- piUous border of the stigms. At the same time the exter- nal border of the partition of the anther becomes more prominent, and covered with papillae. It is this which forms the true stigmatic line which answers to the pa- pOlous rays of the stigma- tiferous disk of the normal capsule. The analogy be- tween the two is evident. The stigma is already formed when the ovules have not yet appeared. Theu- formation begins by the dilating of the connective : this organ opens more and more in front, and its cavity, which seems bor- dered by stigmatic ijapillK, soon shows the rudiments of the ovules. In proportion as this cavity becomes more pro- found (deeper) the upper part of the metamoi-phosed sta- mens takes the form of a hollow club, in which are de- veloped by degi'ees the longi- tudinal ranks of the ovules. Here my observations close. When the number of monsti-ous stamens is consider- able, and, consequently, .lose on one another, they fre- quently split in two, three, foui-, together from the base to the summit, forming thus small capsules, with two, three, or four stigmatic rays, which come much nearer the normal capsule. It often happens, also, that ordinai-y stamens are joined to those which are metamoiijhosed. The above experiments are susceptible of being repeated with new modifications, and the subject, so far- from being exhausted, promises interesting discoveries in science. A fact well established, is that the monstrosity in question is pei-petuated from seeds dm-ing two generations, and ought, perhaps, to receive as a distinctive title, the name of Papaver officinale, var. monstrosum. The jiresei-vation of a plant so singular and interesting is worthy of aU the care of horticultm-ists.— Professor Gceppekt. — i^lore de Serres.) HAJIDY AQUATICS. Will you state the names of a few water plants capable of bearing the fuB hght and heat of the sun? In the grounds of a house to which I am moving, the lawn is separated from a field by a long piece of ornamental water. the greater part of it entirely without shade. The late residents have for years kept swans on it ; the consequence of which is, that the water and its banks are as completely unclothed as if it were a mere tank. My gardener says 172 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. [ September 1, 1863. Ferns will not bear the lieat of the sun on the higher part of the hanlis, and that they would object to then' roots being under water dm-ing the winter and rainy season, as the water is then much higher. — L. E. [Instead of being troubled we should be delighted with the piece of ornamental water. We would clothe it with Willows and Alders. Of AVillows, common Weeping, American and Kiimai-uock ditto, and Silver-striped. Alders, Cut-leaved, Heart-leaved, and Hoary-leaved, which, with some shrubs, as Dogwood, iSic, wmdd very soon clothe it. The Giant Cow Pai-suip is a veiy effective plant for the margin of pools, and once i^lanted takes care of itself. For the water, if it be large, the following may be planted in the deejiest parts : — Nupliai' lutea, Iris pseud-acorus, Typha latifolia, Alisma plantago, Villarsi.a nymphoides, Nympha-a alba, Alisma lanceolata, and Eumex hydrolapa- thum. For the margin, or a few feet within the water : — Caltha palustris, C. palustris flore-pleno, C. parnassifolia, natans, and minor ; Butomus umbeUatus ; CaUa palustris ; Alisma ranunculoides. natans, repens, trivialis, and pai- viflora ; Cardamine pratensis, C. pratensis flore pleno, C. amara latifolia, granidosa, prorepens, and dentata; Typha angustifoHa, minima, and minor ; Thalia dealljata ; Swertia pereunis; Ranunculus tripartitus, obtusiflorus, and aqua- tiUs ; Nuphar piuuila and advena ; Nymphaa odorata, pygmtea, nitida, and minor : Carex panicidata ; DegTapliis arundinacea; Glyceria fluitans; Catabrosa aquatica, and C. vii'idula ; Phragmites communis ; Hydroehloa aquatica (an annual) ; Alopecm-us geniculatus. Hottonia jialustris and Richai'dia tethiopica require j^rotection in winter unless planted a foot or more below the surface. There are several more, but these strike us at the moment. The Pampas Grass grows well in wet places, and would no doubt luxm-iate on the margin of water. We do not know the name of any person that sells aquatics, which is much to be regretted, as there are thousands of ponds and lakes quite baiTen, cliiefly because people do not know of anything to plant in them, and if they do, nobody can tell them where they are sold. Any enterprising nm-seiyman might open up a good ti-ade with aquatics. We wiU publish a few notes on their cultivation.] HOYAL H0ETICITLTIT3?AL SOCIETY'S COMMITTEES.— August 25, 18(33. Flokal Committee. — Rev. J. Dix in the ehah-. SeetUing Dahlias formed the principal feature of this Meeting, ,and many very good flowers were exhibited ; but the standard of perfection is now raised so high, and so many excellent varieties are in cidtivation, that it requires something very superior to enable a seedling of the jiresent day to merit a high awai'd. Mr. Keynes, of Salisbm-y, entered sixteen seedlings of the present year, all of them of considerable merit, or Mi-. Keynes' name would not have been attached to them : — Fanny Pm-- chase, a beautifully-formed, medium-sized, bright yellow, very first-rate in quality — first-class certificate ; Surety, a dark-shaded buff, the backs of the petals tinged with rosy- r-ed or cinnamon, perhaps a little too co,arse a flower — second- class certificate ; Anna Keynes, a very fine and delicate flower, white ground, petals tipped with pale lilac — second- class certificate ; Earl of Pembroke, a magrdficent and showy flower, deep claret, in form resembling and equalling Lord Derby — first-class certificate ; Regularity, white ground, spotted and striijed with maroon or pm-ple — second-class certificate. Mr. Legge, Edmonton, exhibited Crimson Perfection, a fine promising flower — commended ; Formidable, a Fancy vai-iety, white ground tipped with rosy crimson — second- class certificate ; The Bride, a very pretty flower, good form, creamy white ground, shaded with pm-ple — second-class certificate ; Nonsuch, tawny or deep orange buff, good form — commended. Mr. Wheeler, Warminster, exhibited Symmetry, fine dark crimson maroou — commended ; Cornet, a dark claret with a lively bright glow on the surface of the petals, a vei-y promising and useful medium flower — second-class oer- tificate. In Hollyhocks, the Rev. E. Hawke exhibited a fine spike of his seedling Willingham Defiance, bright pink, full cir- cular flowers, a very nice flower — second-class certificate. Ml-. Bu-d Porter, Volunteer, dark rubr, very fine and fiiU flowers ; a spike of this plant would have probaljly gained for it a higher award — second-class certificate. Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing, Queen, creamy white, fine iuU flower — second-class certificate. Mr. Chater, Acme, a pale delicate bright rose of excellent form and distinct — first- class certificate. Mr. Chater sent also a coUeotion of twenty- foiu- fine flowers. Messrs. Veitch, Chelsea, exhibited LOium Neilgheriense, a beautifully- foiined cream-coloiu-ed flower, resembling Bro-wnii and longifiurum — second-class certificate ; also two plants of Lilium lancifolium album. These Lilies were pur- chased at Mr. Stevens' sale in February last in a collection of Japanese bulbs. Messrs. E. G. Henderson exhibited eighteen plants of a new bedding Pelargonium Mrs. Benyon, of dwarf habit, fine scarlet trusses, foliage very similar and quite equal to Mrs. Pollock — first-class certificate ; Pelargonium Rosette, white variegated foliage, with pale rose flowers. Also a collection of twelve seedling vai-iegated-foliaged Pelargoniums of great interest. Nos. 82, 53, 44, 5, appeared to be promising kinds. Mr. Bull, Chelsea, exliibited Vallota pui-piu-ea eximia, ex- cpusite in the foi-ni of its comi:)act head of eu-cular flowers, rather lighter in colour than V. purpm-ea; and although not a new vai-iety, a scarce one — fii-st-class certificate. Mr. G. Smith, Hornsey Eoad, brought cut blooms of his sujierb Scarlet Pelargonium Lord of the Isles, which was awarded a tu-st-class Certificate at Chiswick on the 11th ult. It was much admired by those who had not seen it before. Mr. Aniey sent a seedling Ageratum of no pai-ticular merit, little differing fi-om the one in genei-iil cidtivation. Mr. Melville, Dalmeny Park, sent cut flowers of Calen- dula officinalis, but they were too much injui-ed to be examined. Mr. Backhouse, York, sent Cyi-tanthus (Ciastronema) sanguineus, a vei-y pretty amaryllidaceous plant of vai-ioiis shades of rose and yiuk, said to be as hai-dy as Gladiolus gandavensis. Shoidd tlus prove to be the case it wUl be a very useful and ornamental plant — first-class certificate. Mr. Batem,an exhibited a very fine plant of Epidendrum vitelliiium with four spikes of flowers. Although not equal to Epidendi-um vitelliuum major, it was a specimen of good cidtivation, and a sjiecial certificate was awarded. Mr. Bateman sent with this Orchid a very interesting paper, which was read before the Committee, on the cultivation of this interesting family; and although it contained no in- formation which had not been previously given on the subject, it will certainly afford a fi-esh impetus and give encouragement to the admii-ers of Orchids. Mr. Bateman particularly dii-ects the attention of all cultivators of Or- chids to considering the different climates fi-om which they receive them. He has found as well as others (J. Day, Esq., and Messrs. Veitch), that many kinds which have been in- judiciously treated by being grown in a house of an un- natural temperature to them, have perished or imperfectly developed themselves : hence the necessity of attending to the climate of the country of which they are natives. It will be found that an ordinary gi-eenhouse is aU the pro- tection that many of these lovely flowers reqim-e. Indeed, Lycaste Skinneri has kindly accommodated itself to the temperatui-e of a lady's drawing-room, where it has not only reproduced its flowers, but formed fresh bulbs. Plants of Scarlet Pelargoniums Waltliam Pet and Mrs. Cowper were brought for comparison, but this object was defeated, the plants of each kind not being of the same age and not grown under the same circumstances ; the majority of the Committee, however, were inclined to prefer Waltham Pet. These dwai-f Scarlet Pelai-goniums wiU be found most useful for decorative purposes, especially for baskets and vases. Fkuit Committee. — Mr. H. J. Veitch in the chjiu-. A seedling Black Gri-ape was received fi-om Mr. John Matheson, gai-dener, Coddington, near Winslow, which bore consider- able resemblance to the Black Hamburgh ; but still distinct, both in textm-e of the flesh and in flavour. Having been grown in a jaot the fi-uit was evidently not sufficiently deve- loped, and the Comnuttee recommended that Mi-. Matheson September 1, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICTJLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 17& plant the Vine out, and give it a good chance of showing its true characteristics. It may prove a good tMug. Mr. Wm. Melville sent two fine bunches of his new Grape Muscat Champion, which has been before the Committee two or three times before ; but on this occasion the bunches exhibited far outdid those previously shown. The berries were as large as those of MiU Hill Hambiu'gh, and the bunches were short, wide-shouldered, and like a bunch of grape shot. The flavom- was delicious, and had just enough of the Muscat flavour to be satisiying. The colour, how- ever, stUl remains brownish-red, but we are of opinion that by management it may become as black as a Black Ham- burgh. Mr. Gayland Hadwen, of Fairfield, Manchester, sent a bunch of Grapes under the name of Muscat Lunel, which was not that variety, but evidently what is called the White Tokay or White Nice. Mr. Andi-ew Dick, of Sudbury Hall Gardens, near Derby, sent two sorts to be named, one of which was the old Black Prince, and the other a variety that could not be identified. Mr. Edward Pierce, nvu-seryman, Yeovil, sent a dish of a seedling called the Cricket Peach. The friut has the dai'k appearance of Violette HAtive, and is of large size ; but it is very difl'erent fi'om that variety, and has large flowers instead of small ones as the Violette Hative has. The flavour was very rich and excellent ; but the great recom- mendation of the variety is its hardiness, Mr. Pierce having stated that for the last two years, while all the other Peach- buds in his uursei-y have been kdled by frost, these remained uninjvrred. A Peach was sent by Mr. C. Griifith, gardener to A. F. Paxton, Esq., Cholderton House, near Salisbuiy, which proved to be Yellow Admirable. Mr. Edward Cooling, niu'seryman, of Mile Ash, near Derby, sent a Scarlet-fleshed seedling Melon, which was of oval shape, ribbed, and netted. The flesh was tender and melting for a Scarlet-fleshed Melon, and of tolerably good flavour', but not sufiiciently i-ich to recommend it as a new and desu-able variety. A seedling Apple sent by John Gidley, Esq., Bedford Circus, Exeter, was raised from Cornish Gilliflower. It was a nice-looking Apple not unlike the Early Harvest in ap- pearance, but far inferior to it in flavour. It was not con- sidered to possess sufiicient merit. Mr. Chater, of Saffron Walden, sent specimens of a seed- ling Apple called Elizabeth Pine that were gathered in October, 1863 : they, of course, were much shrivelled, and the flavour was gone. It is a pity Mr. Chater did not ex- hibit them two months ago. WOEK FOE THE WEEE. KITCHEN GARDEN. A GKEAT change has taken place in the weather since last week. Frequent showers have greatly refi'eshed vege- tation. Now is the time to be busy with the hoe in earthing- up the various crops that require it, and also for planting- out those that, from the dry state of the weather, could not be put out before. Broccoli, where there has not been suf- ficient planted, large plants may yet be put out with success. They should be laid-in with a spade in a slanting direction. Earth-up the advancing crops. Cardoons, earth- up for blanching in favourable weather. Celeiij, proceed with the earthing-up in proportion to the demand. Some of the very latest crop may also be planted in rows to stand through the winter. The haulm of Peas laid by now in a dry place is a good material for covering Celery during severe frost. Cabbage, the seedUng plants intended to stand through the winter to be pricked out in nm-sery-beds of light soil at 5 inches apart. This will be found of great advantage by inducing a stocky hardy growth. Endive, continue to make successional plantations. Some of the fli-st-planted-out will now be in good condition for tying-up for blanching. A few only at a time to be done, and these tied loosely to aUow the heads to swell out large. Lettuce, a small patch of Bath Cos sown now wiU, if "the autumn prove mild, be more valuable than those sown earlier. Mush- rooms, beds may now be made either in sheds or in the open air. Onions, no time should be lost in getting the crops stored when fiiUy dry, as the ground from which they are taken is generally used for Cabbage. It should be imme- diately trenched-up. If manure is necessary, let it be laid on the top of the trenched soil and fork it in. If, however, the ground was well manured for the Onions, it ought to carry the Cabbage through, and that will always come the better, because, if too much manure comes in contact with the roots in the autumn, it induces a succulent luxuriant growth, which renders them very liable to injury from alternations of frost and thaw in the winter. Parsley, thin the summer sowing while in a young state, the plants wUl then gain strength to stand the winter. A portion of the spring sowing to be out down. Tomatoes, gather the fruit as it ripens, x-emove all the shoots that shade it, also some of the leaves. FLOWER GARDEN. Unless some precautions are taken to keep the taller plants in the beds of geometric flower gardens within proper limits, they will be likely in a short time to grow too high, and wDl disturb the uniform appearance essential to this style of gardening. A constant watch should, therefore, be kept on plants likely to exceed the standard height, and by fi'equently pinching back or pegging down endeavour to keep the same-pattern beds at an equal height. At this season, with beds of flowering plants, freqtient cutting- back and trimming will be required to prevent straggling in free-growing plants, and this the late rains will encourage. At the same time, allow no dead flowers or seed-pods to remain on the plants. By careftrl attention to these little matters the season of blooming may be prolonged tUl the plants are destroyed by ft-ost. Although the present month is a favotu'able time for transplanting evergreen trees and shrubs, it generally happens that a large amount of this kind of work is put off until so late that the jjlants have no time for pushing a few fi-esh roots to enable them to resist the cold cli-ying winds of March. It will also be found that plants lifted during this month will require but little attention in the way of watering next sioring and summer compared with others transplanted in winter and spi-ing. The removal of deciduous trees and shrubs to be postponed uutU they have shed their leaves. FRUIT GARDEN. The gathering and preservation of fruit is the principal work here. Peaches and Nectarines should not be allowed to remain on the tree until what is technically called dead ripe. A little degree of ijractice wUl enable a person to determine the degi-ee of ripeness at which it should be gathered without resorting to the common and barbarous way of pinching. Plums should be allowed to remain until perfectly ripe ; and although something may be lost in bulk by being aUowed to remain on the ti-ee, the flavour will not be deteriorated. Such as the Impcratrice and Golden Drop, if protected from wasps, may be kept until a very late jjeriod in the season. Apples and Pears generally fall as soon as they an-ive at an early degree of ripeness. That period must be anticipated, and their removal effected as soon as it is ascertained. After gathering, the fi-uit intended for keeping should be laid out in the fruit-room for a week or ten days, and exposed to a fr-ee cu-culation of aii-. The fruit will be found clammy from perspu-ation. It should then be careftilly wiped and laid out thinly in the store-room, which should be kept, as soon as the fi-uit is introduced, secm-ely closed and protected from any very material alternations of temperature. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. Climbers wdl always requii-e attention to keep the shoots in their proper places. Take care in training that the pai-t of the treUis or stakes near the bottom is not bare of flower- ing shoots, as the beauty of the plants depends upon theu' being clothed with foliage and flowers fi'om the rim of the pot uijwards. The potting of Hyacinths, Narcissi, Tulips, &c., for forcing must soon occupy attention. About equal por- tions of loam and leaf mould, with a sprinkling of sand, will be suitable soil for them. After isotting, place them on a di'y bottom, and cover the pots 2 or 3 inches deep with ashes, preserving them at the same time, as much as pos- sible, from hea"\'y rains. Under this treatment they will fill then' pots with roots, and will be in readiness for forcing when wanted. Most of the class of bulbs known as Cape bulbs, if obtained now, might, by the aid of a little extra 174 JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Seplember 1, 18S3. heat, he liad in flower at various periods throughout the winter and early spring. Any of the free-growing species of Ixia, such as flexuosa, viridiflora, conica, &c., would be suitable, as also would be the varieties of Sparaxis tricolor, and AmaryUis vittata Johnsoni, wMcli are splendid, and may be bloomed by gentle forcing. Lachenalia pendula and tricolor, with many sjiecies of Oxalis, would sei've to increase the variety, and ai'e all handsome. Ornithogalum aureum is a fine orange-flowered si^ecies. Cyclamen coum, vernum, and persicum ought not to be omitted. PITS AND FRAMES. Let scarlet and other Geraniums struck in the open ground be taken up and potted immediately they have made roots. They will require a close frame for a week or two, when they should lie placed on a dry bottom in a southern exposure to harden them for the winter. For the same purpose Ver- benas, Petunias, Sec, struck in pans, and intended to be kept in them through the winter, should be placed in a similar situation, at the same time stopping the points of the shoots. The principal object should be to keep them as hardy as possible by fuUy exposing them until they are placed in their winter quai'ters. W. Keake. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEN. The glorious rains have come at last, and refreshed the thirsty eai'th, and cheered up the countenance of many a resident in cottage homes. It will also be a gTeat boon to the fai-mer ; delaying his carrying, it is true, but making liis Wheat tell better in the bushel, and scattering insects and mildew from his fields of Turnips. For ourselves, we only had a few gallons of clear water left, and many things out of doors were fading and shi-iveUing without the chance in our power of greatly benefiting them. Now we may expect Peas, and Beans, and Lettuces, and Turnips, to be all light again — at least it wUl be some time before we can plead the excuse of dryness again, if anything should not be right or not be obtainable at all. Alter the first shower, feeling confident that more was coming, we gave a good soaking to Cauliflowers, Peas, Celery, &c., with sewage water, which would have been rather strong without the rains that were to follow. There can be no mistake as to the usefulness of much of the water that runs to waste fi-om a gentleman's house. All the soap, greasy water, &c., that th,..s is often lost is most valuable when rightly applied and at the light time ; and that time we hold to be when vege- tables are growing freely. In hot summers nothing can be more suitable for Asparagus, Sea-kale, and all the rougher vegetables, on\y it must not be given too strong. '• But why apply any at all when you saw that rain was coming?" A gentleman told us tlie other day, half derisively — '• Why, F , I am sure it wUl be rain, since you are watering." Well, the truth is we did not expect so much rain as we have had; and, again, we v.alued the sewage for root-water- ing even more than the rain ; and, again, we find that all waterings are most effective that are given just before a good shower, or dming the dull weather that generally pre- cedes and follows a fan- amount of downpouring. When plants in the ground, be they residents of the kitchen or the flower garden, are evidently suffering fi-om want of water, it is right and projier to water them at any time; but the efi'ects are very different when water is given in the forenoon of a sunny day, and in the afternoon when the atmosphere is quiet and clouded. In the one case, the moisture is evaporated ahnost as soon as given ; in the other it is absorbed by and has time to pass through the whole of the plant. A siuumer shower very often merely re- freshes the fohage and gives notliing to the root-absorbents. It is a capital thing that sunny shower after a hot day : it refreshes and invigorates ; but the moistm-e is soon dis- pelled, and the roots are as dry if not drier than before, on account of the temporary obstruction to the moist vapour rising from beneath. We know it is good for tender invalids to be placed in a medicinal bath, and thus to be fed through the pores of the skin ; but we would have greater faith in a perfect recovery to health could the patient at the same time masticate some of the "roast beef of old Eng- land." Instead of being sneered or laughed at, then, the man who waters the roots of a plant before a shower or in dull hazy weather, provided the plant wants it, is just exer- cising all the good common sense of jjractical philosophy. Whilst on the subject of watering, allow us to say that the time of doing so is even more important in the case of flower gardens : hence, where practicable, as a general rule, from Juno to September it is best to water in the afternoon and evening. We have watered often in the morning, merely because we could manage to obtain water then and at no other time. In hot weather, however, we liked to keep it in the ground either by covering or loose-stuTing the sur- face. But the chief reason for watering di'y flower-beds before a shower is simply this : that if the roots are at all active, a heavy shower will fall on a gorgeous parterre and leave it in a few hours still more splendid ; but if the roots ai'e excessively di'y, and the jilants and flowers in a suffering state, there is every chance that the flowers wfll lie knocked off' and the beauty of the group be departed untU fresh flowers are formed. The man who gives a little water at the roots, therefore, in such cu-cumstances, when he sees something like a deluge coming, or even a good shower, is not so deficient in thought after all. Put out more greens. The rains just suited seedling Lettuces, Cauliflowers, Tui'nips, &c., and were just suitable for planting out lots of Endives, Lettuces, &c., which it was no use attemjiting before. Gave the final earthing-ui^ to some Celery. Scarlet Eunners that had a good th-enching are now all right and as crisp as possible. In the dryness the flowers refused to set, and the same as respects late Peas. Put out a few Leeks, as large ones are not desired ; but to our taste they should be white as mUlc, as thick as our wrist, and then, well boiled and used with a httle butter, pepper and salt, even an epicui-e might smack liis lips over them. The rains have also helped to cleai'-ofl' lots of cater- pillars fi'om Tui'nips and Greens ; and we should have been much worse but for the thousands of butterflies that were struck down by the boj's. Now also the Tomtits and other bhds that annoy us not a little in the spring are doing good service. It is amusing to see the little fellows ex.amine a trench from end to end. As soon as the ground is dryish on the surface will run the hoe through all openings to cut down the incipient weeds and keep moisture in the ground. FRUIT GARDEN. Kept thinning the fi'uit of dwarf Peai- trees, and find that the pig is very fond of them, even in the hard state. Owing to the dryness everything in the shajje of Greens, Lettuce stalks. Cauliflower stalks, &c., has been more than ordinarily agreeable to the pig. Went over the trees, finally shortening, disbudding, and thinning fruit where too numerous. The rains will help the fi-uit now as to swelling, and plenty of sun wUl be sure then to give flavour. The rains gave also just what was needed for Vine and Peach- house borders. In the case of the latter, where the fruit is wished to stand all the winter, the borders shoiUd be pro- tected ft-om heavy rains by the middle of next month. In the case of the early vinery where the wood is ripe it wovdd be weU to prune and remove the Ughts for a time. We think it a good plan for settling all insects. The same m.ay be done to early Peach-houses, though they do well enough with roofs that cannot be removed. Still if they were well di-enched with the rains of October, and had a Uttle of the fi-ost of November before being shut-up, a good nuiny insects are likely to be punished. Without this help there must be more care in washing and cleaning. Thinned-out Currant shoots, as we needed them in the flower g.aixlen for our patent pegs, and wUl thhi Easpberry shoots as we can find time. CHpped the Box-edgings in the kitchen and frait gardens, not because it is the very best tuue, but because done now they wUl look well for a twelvemonth, whereas if done early in the season it wordd have required to be done twice. .When strong and long established we have done it fii-st-rate with the scythe, mth or without a line down the middle ; but oiu- isresent edgings ;ire better clipped with the shears. Vineries, Melon-pits, &c., much the same as pre- ceding weeks. ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. Changed plants in, and freshened-up the conservatoiy. Cut down a lot of Pelargoniums. Shifted many plants that they may be rooted before winter ; but the great work has September 1. 1863. ] JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 17 5 been propagating for the flower garden, and, after other tilings, going on witli Variegated Geraniums, placing them thickly in portable boxes to avoid moving them until spring. These cuttings are about an inch long and wUl bo ijlaced in an au-y place under glass. We wUl foUow with the common Scarlets, and will merely take a batch of each kind and come over them again, as we do not wish to inj ure the out- line of the bods for two months to come. These boxes average 3 feet in length, 9 inches wide, and 3i inches deep, made of any boards we can lay our hands on. The boards are not planed, but are whitened, and the openings give sufficient di-ainage. About an inch of rough stuff goes over the bottom, then fresh sandy soil, and a spiinkling of sand on the surface. We must not speak of the future ; but we shall be vexed if one per cent, of the cuttings made should bid us good-bye. After the trouble of putting them in, it is very annoying to see, first one, and then another, go off. Cai-e must be taken to prevent this. A gardener told us the other day that he was once advised to cany home his cuttings, throv/ them out in the sun for a day, and then make and plant them. This may do with Scarlet Geraniums, though even with them we see little advantage in ever al- lowing them to shrivel ; at least, it would not do any good with such Httle bits as we use. With respect to most plants the advice was equivalent to telling a man to take the cuttings home carefully, and then throw them on the rub- bish-heap.— R. F. TRADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. R. Parker, Exotic Nursery, Tooting. — Catalogue of Stove, &i-eenhouse, and Hardy Plants, Hyacinths, and Bulbous Roots, ^c. 1863. Charles Turner, Slough. — Catalogue of Bulbous Flower PMOts and TuUiys, 4'-c. 1S63-64. COVENT GAEDEZ^r MAEKET.— August 29. The market continues very well stocked both with fruit and vegetables. Wa;l-fruit m particular is cuuiing in in very great abundance. The sup- ply of Grapes and Pine Apples is quite sufficient for the demand. Melons are plentiiul. lilbens are bringing rather better prices in consequence of the supply falling olT. Potatoes are still hravy. Flowers chii-fly consist of Orchids, Pelargoniums, Verbenas, Asters, Calceolarias, and Mignonette. FEUIT. p. d. 3. d Apples .. J sieve 1 G to 3 0 Nectarines .... doz. 1 0 to 4 0 Apricots doz. 0 6 0 0 Oranges 100 10 0 14 0 2 ■iO 6 0 3 .55 0 Peaches Pears doz. .... bush. 3 0 0 0 0 0 Filberts* Nu ts too lbs. 0 Grapes, Hamb urghs. lb. 2 0 0 0 dessert... ...:^ sieve 3 6 6 0 Muscats.. lb. :! 0 « u Pine Apples... lb. 3 0 6 0 100 each 12 1 0 16 3 0 6 Plums ..n sieve ...r.bush. 3 0 K 0 4 0 0 Melons Quinces 0 0 6 0 8 VEGET Waluuts bush. 7 d 0 0 ABLES. .s. d. .s. d B. d. 3. d Beans, Broad, .... bush. 0 0 too 0 Leeks ... bunch 0 OtoO 0 Kidney .. Beet, red ...^ sieve doz. I 1 6 0 3 1 0 6 1 1 0 0 1 3 li iviuahrooms .. ... pottle 6 Broccoli .. bundle 0 0 fl 0 Mustd. & Cres ^, punntt 0 ■> 0 3 Cabbage doz. 1 3 1 (i Onions ... 1 uiich 0 4 0 0 Capsicums .... 100 0 0 U 0 pickling . .... quart 0 li 0 0 Carrots ... bunch 0 S 0 ,s Parsley ... bunch 0 3 0 4 Cauliflower .. doz. 3 n 4 0 Parsnips doz. 0 0 0 II Celery .. bundle 1 B 2 0 Peas .... bush. 0 0 0 0 2 0 6 3 0 1 0 0 Potaiocs Itadishes doz. .. .. sack bunches 6 1 0 6 10 2 II pickling.. d02S. 0 Endive 1 0 6 0 0 6 0 P.hubarb Savoys ,. bundle .per doz. 0 0 0 0 0 0 II Fennel ... bunch 0 Garlic and Sli Ulots, lb. 0 8 0 0 Sea-kale ,. .. basket 0 0 0 0 Gourds & Pun pk., each ... bunch 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 Spinach sieve 1 0 B 0 2 0 n Herbs Tomatoes ..h sieve 0 Horseradish .. bundle 1 6 4 0 Turnips ....bunch 0 1 0 6 TO CORRESPONDENTS. We request that no one wiU wi-ite privately to the de- partmental writers of the " Jom-nal of Horticultm-e, Cottage Gardener, and Country (jcntleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustitiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- iure, S(c., 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that con-espondents will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but wi-ite them oil separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. We cannot reply privately to any communication unless under very special ch-cumstances. Use of Moss FOB Deaisaoe (B. F. J/.).-iMos8 is probably not necessary to be placed over the potsherds in the course of i.otting i.lants. Anything ■will CIO for the purpose that will prevent the hue soil hlling-up all the inter.vtices between the crocks. Much depends upon what plants are being potte.l. whether the plant has to remain in the same pot a short time or a long time. If a long lime we like a little moss ; if a short time and growing quickly, as in pottins-off Balsams in spring, or young Cucumbers, sc., it is no matter what is used. We cannot tell the name of the enclosed 1 em. It is a seedling from some of the Laslrea laniUy. Trkmakdc.4 vEETiciLLATA CoLTUKE (.E. )r.).-It IS dcscribcd in most botanical and horticultural works as Tetratheca verticillata. It was disco- vered by Mr. Drumii>ondat the Swan Uiver, and was first flowered in this country by Me^5rs. Low, of the Clapton Nnrsery, in 1346. It is a charming greenlionse [ilant and easily grown. It requires plenty ol root-room, and a soil composed of equal parts sandy fibrous loam .,ud leal moukl well drained. It is propagated by cuttings of the young side shoots in sand under a bell-gla-s, air being adii.itlcd constantly to prevent dampmg. Be c.rcful not to give too much watrr, or to pour it over the leaves. Vines in Boxes (jVoifijiji/iamJ.-If we had a choice we shoulo prefer boxes to pots, but Vmes may be grown equally well in either. Ki.h turfy loam three p..rts, and one part tboroughly-decayea stable-manure will lorm a good compost. The Purple Cuusumia is as easy to cultivate in a warm vinery as any other variety. ruop..oATlON BY Begcma i.e.ves (?. B.).- It is wcll kuowu that Begonia leaves will emit roots and lorm plants; therefore it is not sui- prisi-ig ihat young plants have arisen irom the bases ot the leaves ol your specimens of Begonias Hex, Vicloiia, and Marsiialli. LoMOEaA rnAoaANTissiMA NOT F,,owK.EiNG (£. iJ.).-We caH Only ac- count for your plant not flowering by supposing it to be on the shady side „f a wall or to be shaded by some other object, or perhaps its routs weie too wet to cniDle it to ripen its wood well enough the preceding autu.iin. Try™ plant in a dry sunny place, and we expect it will flower it the other conditions be right. CoTONE.,sTER NUMSiCLARiA NOT Fl.owEBlNG (/ eui-t iia ""- liv <• ^1 ^ —■- t _, , _, son, and not, like those of Uydraugeas and some o her plants ed and prepared hud of a preceding autumn. A free gr.iwlt ire to sinshine will in a general way insure liowers on plr-- under glass; and those planted outside will also flower we t"«""^ds - • ■ mnv summer, but they will not always do so in dull se.is We do not anv advantage or situations deficient of .-unshiiie. :„ ,„ hw«i i l con. pendulous-flowering plant like the Brugmansia blooming in » Jvvait a con- dilion, as the flowers will be too low to be exammtd or looktd at with comfort. _ ArfLVING GUANO AND SurERPnOSPBAIE OF LUIE TO Gj;"^™" ^^^^^ (?■. A i<.).-For hard-cropped g.^rdcn ground half a ton P."„»j;'„^';. "j^.J'.l^ given of each during the year ; but it ought to oe times-say 3 cwt. at the time ol digging, and ihe iven at three or four II uigso'B. "■■" ■■- .emaindor by surface- stirnng during the summer. Most 'likely a »f';™'\.'-™i\;;„f/L"'t"lf'a and of course an additional dressing will be wanted there again, but Mt a ion per acre per aenum will be sutticient. Ammigst the ciops in summer these manures are best applied just prior to ram. Latest Time at which it is Safe to P'-f -^ Strawbe «,« ,He,i.) -j By taking oft the runners m good time '":'l.,I''»"'T,.rth-;^lsindi anted gi^uiid, they may be taken up in October ^i'*' S°,!^f-f,'f,f „''„^/,'^|'"2 the^^ Sut in their final quarters ■, and i f,';;;"^,.'^f '"^^,f "e s^ e d over them plallting-out, let some rough pea-baiilm oi '/ ".'■;"",„'„„ j jjy taking K'u;;'^iri^i^£rv^rha;i;^2«s'tt^^L?;is,ti.iya/vaiiou? times during the wmtcr. « ,. roi jR ij\ T nrd RaMaii. Nemesis, DesdcmoHa, L J j-Sgi^^r;.^ ^:n:«^^Sr ---"-. --'- tarn, liuby, Admiral Millord, Faust, and Faiiest of the lair. 176 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTtTEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 1, 1863. Earl\-ripening Muscat Ghapes (G. II.).—A detailed answer to your note will be in next Tuesdaj 's Journal. Phesphving Late Grates (G". JV.)-— The bent treatment you can ndiipt with the Vines tlit- drapes ol which are now colouring, and which you wish to preserve tlirough the winter, is to give them a little extra heat with air on, 6o as to h;ive them ripe in September. They will h.^vg better atter- wardp. Then keep escessive wet from the roots-, as well as cold or fiost. Keep the house airy day and night, aiid in dull cold weather put on gentle fires to enable you to do so, giving most fire during the day, and more CBpecially if the weather is at all dull and foggy. In a very foggy day pive little air. Be sure you keep out frost— verj' little will injure the Grapes and cause ihera to rot. Even without that it injures the flavour. Iveei' the floor, wall?, &c., as dry as possible after the end of Augu.«t. We thinli yonr early Giapes have kept very fairly. Very probabl> the shrivelling may be owingio excessive heat and'drynoss. Very likely if in these hot sunny days you had ju^t damped the floors and paths a little, the Grapes would have been niore plump. As it is, the moisture has been evaporattd, and you have something like a first-rate liaisin— no bad tiling in its way. lu Euch hot weather we lessened air during the day, to prevent such excessive drying. List of Agricc7-ti;ral Shows (A Tear's Subscribe?-). — In Mr. Cuthbert Johnson's "Farmer's Almanack" is a list of all the Societies and their Secretaries, Six Hyacinths for Exhibition (A iVo7-tfc).— Dark red, Robert Steiger ; light ditto, l.a Dame du Luc ; dark blue, Prince Albert; light ditto, Grande Vidette; white, Grandeur 5 Mcrveille ; yellow, Soleil d'Or. CuTT:^G-II0WN Cyanophyllum MACNincDM (C. S. N.). — You may cut down this noble plant if jou Wiiut it to come away with two or three stems from near the surface of the 5-oil ; but, in order to induce it to break kindly, you will require to plunge it in a bottom heat of 80''. AVe would much rather allow a plant about 2 teet hijih to grow on ihan cut it down or stop it, as, according to our ideas of the hcautilul in this plant, it never looks so well as \\hen brough away with a single stem and allowed to branch right and left, which it will generally d(t when about 3J feet in height. With a leader and a few lateral growths it is much more handsome than when breught away with more stems. The loss of the buttom leavts arises from some check We have bad them drop when the plaut has been exposed to a current of dry cold rar, and when it has been left too long without a shift, or has been neglected in the matter of watering. It is a plant which thrives amazingly if watered with guano water. We i have two spler.did plants of it just now which have been grown on from i last autuniu's cuttings, and they are now bf-ginning to branch without any stopping or ])inching. We always prefer r;ipidly-grown plants of one year's t;rowth to laiger plants. There is a treshness and vigour about them which is not generally found in older plnnts which have stood a long time in the same pot. FcuGus IN Tan-pit {Dorsetshire) .—The fungus in your tan can readily be removed by rubbing It sharply with the hand on its tirst appearance ; but a better plan is to take the parts infected away, there being no neccssitv to burn if, as it is perfectly hL.rniless, though unsightlj'. We use cocoa- nut fibre, but have not been troubled with any fungus, though we have had Ferns in peat literally one mass of yellow froth or loam, which succumbed to a washing with water, care being taken to leave none of the yellow froth on the soil. By frequently rubbing and removing the froth—or, us botanists call it, "mycelium" — you need not fear any harm from this fungus ; but if left to spread and remain until it becomes brown, the spores will fly about in all directions and vegetate whenever they find a substance in a state ot decomposition to adhere to, accompanied by a close stagnant air. PROPAGATiKG Hardy IIeaths (P. .5.1 •— Hardy Hcaths whcn youug may be propagated by divii'ion, taking the parts away without shaking off any soil that may adhere to the routs. It should be done immediately after each species flowers. All Heaths ai e best piopagated from cuttings, putting in the tips ot the young shoots when the wood is about half ripe. The cut- tings need not be more than Irom 1 to 3 inches in length. Put; in as for any other description of cuttings in fine peat and silver sand in equal parts, scattering a little of the last between the cuttings ; place in a cold frame, after which they must be gently watered and shut up quite close. Keep the sun ofl', but admit all the ligbt possible, and give neither air nor water the nest thiiiy days unless the soil is bccuming dry, when it must be given even beloie it becomes dry. All that is required is to keep the soil moint, not wet, and the atmofpbeie dote, hut not stagnant. You may strike hardy Heaths under a bell-^lass in a shady place, but free from drip ; only put in cuttings of the half-ripened shoots^. The plants themselves will tell you when this kind of work ought to be done, lor Heaths flower at difturent periods, ihere'orc we cannot give any particular time for taking cuttings. Heaths detest the knife, though un&ightly growths may be removed ; yet if hardy Heaths have room, they seldom need any pruning. Paul'd *' Rose Garden " will puit you. Lifting Vine Roots {A Constant Subscriber),— yXe prefer lifting the roots of Vines early in March; but, if the Vines have been forced, we should prefer lifting the roots in the autumn immediately after the leaves fall off. American Blight (Idem).— lake equal quantities of nnslacked lime and Boot, and foim them into the consistence oi thick paint by a sufficiency of urine, and iipply this hot (180°) to the trunks of your trees with a scrubbing- brush, rubbing it into every crevice. Scrubbing the trunks alone will rid them of muss, and brushing ammoniacal liquor from the gas-works into the parlb iniected with blight will free the trees of it. Dakdelio.n on a Lawn {Jt/C7ii).—Anj time and all times are suitable for destroying Dandelions on lawns. It is a good plan to go over the lawn periodically and take up ail the Dandelions with a long-bladed knife, cut- ting them off as much below the surface as possittle. Persist in this, but for one season remove them as fast as they reappear, and towards autumn in wet weather drop a little salt into each hole after removing the Dandelion, and you will rarely see any more of them the season following. But bear in mind, if Dandelions are allowed to seed anywhere near your lawn, it will never be free from them, (or the wind scatters the seed far and near. SIuD FOR Fruit Trees {7'/em.).— The leafy mud of your ditch, exposed to Irost and mixed with nnslacked lime, would not injure the soil of any garden ; but as to its suitmg your Pe;!ch trees we cannot say, as wo do not know whether ycur soil is heavy or light. If it is strong or clayey it will Buit Peaches ; or, if it is light, the soil out of the ditch will do it g'ood. BoLLVHOCK Cuttings {A Constant Keafhr).— 1{ _,pn refer to page 94 of our present Volume {No. 123) you ^sill find the directions tou require. Names of Plants.— Some of our correspondents are in the habit of sending small fragments of plants lor us to name. This requires from us such a great expenditure of time that we are compelled to say that we cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen i- perfect in leaves and flowers. [B. JE.]. — It is a i-hrub-Khus cotinus, or Venetian Sumach. (A FirC'i/nirs Subscriber). — 1, Not a Spirie.i, but Astilbe rivularis; 2,Galega utHcinalis alba, the while Gulingale ; 3, Geranium striatum, Slrtraked Crane'sbvll; 4, Achillea rosea gardeners call Ic, but it is nsplenifolia ol books; 5, Achillea eupatcrinm, the Caspian Milfoil ; (i. Linaria pelona, the regular-lloweicd variety of Linaiia vulgaris— a curious and very rare plant. (J£. B.].~-l, Adianium "hisptduium ; 2, A^plcniuIn flaccidum(?)I too small a bit to be quite certain; 3, Gymnogramma calomelanos, sometimes called G. peru\iana; 4, Diosma encoides. (J. Bryan).— \, Lastrea'.'dilatata ; 2 and 3, Polysiichum, forms of acuieatuin ; 4, Laslrca oreopteris; 5. Las- trea Filix-nuiB ; 6. Athyrium Filix-temina, var. incisum. [C- i^.t—1, Salvia horminiim, var. viotacea, or the Furple-tojiped Clary, 2, Nepet.i viulacea, , violet-culnured Catniiut. \ POULTRY, BEE. and HOUSEHOLD CHEONICLE. CEYSTAL PALACE POULTIIY SHOW. There have lieen many mquii-ics why there has been no^ Show at the Crystal Palace, and when there would he one.' We have given no answer for the best of reasons — we could not. We are, however, happy to say we have authority to announce that one wlU take place in October, about the middle of the month, we believe to begin on the 19th. This will be instead of the two Shows, and ^^'iIl doubtless prove an unusually large and good one. Many who can hardly make up their minds to show theii' chickens in August will wiUingly do so in October ; buxls are then in hai-d and good condition. We think Mi-. Houghton has shown a wise discretion in choosing the midway between the two. The Chicken Show in August was too early for most classes, except Game and Dorkings, and yet it was too late to hope for much company from London. It took place when London was positively emptj'. The Winter Show clashed with Bu'mingham, and it suffered in consequence. It also took place when the Palace was a cai'penter's shop preparing for Christmas revels. Spite of aU these di-awbacks, and the fact that only those who, like Bombastes, are " stout of heart and Umb " dare face the dejilorable railway arrangements, yet the Shows have been a success thi-oughout. May we not then fairly expect numerous entries from mrr best yards in October.? Lovely autumn weather, dayhght, and the Palace in a fit state to receive company wiU helj"), wo hope, to make the Show a real holiday to amateur's and a profit to the share- holders. We think it deserves support as the London Show, and it has strong claims on exhibitors fi'om the punctuality which has always been one of its chief characteristics in every particular. THE ISLINGTON AGEICULTUEAL HALL POtTLTEY SHOW. This Show of poultry has proved itself one of the most successful ever yet held in the griat metropolis. It was appointed exclusively for yoimg poultry of the present year, and consequently, the prize list being a most liberal one, a competition ensued veiy rarely known so early in the season. To poultiy amatem-s such a meeting had especial mterests, as foreboding the probable strength of the yards of most of our reputed breeders. As being chickens novelty was uni- versal, and few, if any, of the company assembled left without the spontaneous expression of approbation so good a collection i-ichly deserved. It is almost useless to malce any remark whatever as to the eligibility of the Islington Agricultm-al Hall for the purpose of a poultry show — certainly it is not sm-passed by any we have yet visited. On this occasion all the poultry was exlubited in the extensive gallery that suiTounds the whole building. They were ranged entu-ely in single tier ; not a dark pen could be i^ointed out anywhere, and aU were ahko conveniently placed breast-high. In Spanish Mi-. Eodbard took his customai-y position with a splendid jien; but in cockerels Mr. Lane obtained the mastery. In the class for Grey Dorldmj chickens Vicoimtess Holmes- dale exhibited a collection of which any amateur would indeed be proud. It must be boi-ne in mind, that as being September 1, 1863 JOTJENAI. OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 177 exclnsively a chicken show, not any of these excellent fowls had been before exhibited. The result was that their fair proprietor secm-ed the first prize for single cockerels, first prize for pan- of pullets, and a similar prize for the best cockerel and two piillets, besides minor premiums ; this latter pen also obtaining the Silver Cup for the best pen of fowls of any breed in the Show. They were a most promising pen of chickens, possessing a great amount of bone, well- conditioned and well grown, the plumage being of the dark hue so well known among Dorking-ianciers as "' Captain Hornby's colom-." They w«re some of the most remarkably close-feathered Dorkings that have ever been shown, and from theii- youth wiU no doubt improve considerably ere they cease growing. The Eev. G. P. Hodson's White Dorkings were such as are only met with at long intei-vals. In the Buff Oochins Mr. KeUeway entered a pen of the most unquestionably good chickens that have been shown for yeai-s past. These bu-ds, being bred in so favourable a climate as the Isle of Wight, obtained an advantage that may not hold good at the Cluistmas shows. Be that as it may, they proved the much-coveted ones at the Islington Meeting. Mi-. Stretch's pen of Partridge-coloured Cochins were of scarcely less merit ; and the same remark applies with equal force to Mi-. Dawson's pen of White ones. It is a rare occurrence that Mr. Chase has to play second to any one in this last-named variety, but in this instance he was completely distanced. In Brahmas, BIrs. Ferg'usson Blair exhibited such a lovely pen that they ran in very closely for the Society's silver cup. When it is considered that this lady's birds travelled from Scotland to achieve theii" triumph, their suc- cess proves only the more meritorious. The pullets in the first-prize pen were of the most exquisite plumage imagin- able. The third-pi-ize pen shown by the same lady were, on the contrary, light-colom-ed ones, but of amazing growth. Mr. Fowler's second prize pen, in such a competition, it will be readily supposed was a very first-rate one to hold even that position. Of Game fowls, undoubtedly the Black-breasted Reds were pre-eminent, Mr. Stubbs' pen being as perfect as any one can hope for; nor shall we be surprised to hear of their obtaining a long run of success this season if shown in the splendid condition and feather they just now possess. Mr. Fletcher, of Manchester, and Mi-. Julian, of Beverley, were comijeUed to take subordinate positions on the prize list. In Duckwings, the pen of Mr. Fletcher was unapproachable, although the Hon. W. W. Vernon's second and thii-d prize pens were most excellent. Mr. Dawson's Black Game chickens foretell this well-known exhibitor has had a success- ful breeding season. The HatyTburgh classes, contrary to general expectation, were decidedly the weakest classes of the Show, the Gold- spangled being the only exception. In Polands, the Show was excellent ; they were such as only Messrs. Edwai-ds, Dixon, and Adkins can exhibit, each variety being perfect. In Malays, also, three such pens were scarcely ever before brought into competition. In the Extra variety class were first, the best pen of Silkies seen for many years, some perfect gems of the White-booted Bantams, capital Andalusians, and a most unique pen of Polands, absolutely " PUes," — a colour never before exhibited. Mi-. Bayley, of Biggleswade, appropriated nearly the whole of the Bantam prizes, taking both the fii-st and second for each variety of Sebi-ights, also first and second for White ones, again first in Game Bantams, and the Uke for single Game Bantam cocks. This gentleman's yards of Bantams have evidently not been idle during the present summer. Of Ducks, the Aylesbury were the best shown of amy. The Geese and Turkeys were triumphs of careful breeding, and do the gi-eatest credit to then- respective proprietors. Strange to say, that although very liberal piremiums were offered for ornamental water fowl, only a single pen of Spanish Geese were entered. This, among general visitors, was the subject of much astonishment, it apparently being but little known that almost every description of oui- most beautiful fancy water fowls are at this season entirely out •of feather. The greatest care and attention was paid to the poultry. and the Meeting was well supported throughout its con- tinuance. Silver Cup fob the Besi- Pes of Fowls in the Show.— Viscountess Holme^dule. Spanish. —First, J. R. Rodbard. Second, J. Clews. Third, S. Robson. Highlv Commended, J. K. I'.odbard. Cutis.— First, H. Lane. Second, J. K. Rodbard. Higblv Commended, — Wriglit. Doi;KiKGS (Coloure'd).— Fir.-t and Seconl, Viscountess Holmesdale, Third, W. Doli.y. Fouith, E. Surton. High )y Commended, H. Lingwood ; H. lilvidge. Commended, Viscountess llolmesdale; Key. J. G.A.Baker; Mrs. F. lilair. DouKi.No Pt'LLF.TS.— Fiibt, ViscoUHtess Holmesdale. Second, 0. H. Waliefleld. Highlj Commended, ilisa J. Milwood; J.Jardine; W.Dolby; Mrs. F. Blair. ^ , . DoEKi.No (Whitei.— First, Rev. G. F. Hodson. Second, H. Lingwood. Commended, Lady M. Legge; Mrs. M. A. lieaidmore. DORKiNo Cocks (Coloured and White).— First, Viscountess Holmesdale. Second, C. Freest Third, Mrs. F. Blair. Commeoded, J. Smith. CoCHi.N-Cm.-.-A (Cinnamon and Buff).— First, J. W. KeUeway. Second, Rev. C. Spencer. Third, G. Fell. Highly Commended, Mrs. T. Stretch. Commended, J. W. Kellewuy ; Kev. C. Spencer ; Rev. C. Gilbert. Cochik-China (lirown and Partridge-leatheied. —First, 1. S.retch. Second and Third, F. B. Walker. Highly Commended, C. H. Wakefield. CoCHis-Cui.v-A (White).— First, W. Dawson. Second, R. Chase. Highly Commended, K. M. Lord ; W. Dawson. „ ^ „ Cochi.v-Chi.va Cocks (Coloured and White).— First, J. W. KeUeway. Second, C. Wakefield. , , „ „ , Brahma Pootra.— First and Third, Mrs. F. Blair. Second, J. i.. Fowler. Commended, (J. Freest. CocAs.— First, C. Freest. Second, W. L. Barclay. Commended, J. Hinton. Ga.\ie (White and Piles).— First, H. Baker. Second, W. Burgess. Third, G. Crofts. Commended, H. Baker. Game (Black-breasted Kedsj.— First, J. Stubbs. Second, J. Fletcher. Third, H. M. Julian. Highly Commended, H. Adney ; S. Mathews; H. Snowden. .. j, t?- ♦ Game (Brown-breasted and other Reds, except Black-breasted).— First, H. Snowden. Second, J. Fletcher. Third, withheld. Game (Duckwiiig and olhir Greys and Blues).— First, J. Fletcher. Second and Third, Hon. W. W. Vernon. Game (Blacks and any other Variety).— Fust, W. Dawson. Second, Hon. W. vv. Vernon. , „, . , , „^ v^ Game Cocks.— First, S. Mathews. Second, J. Fletcher. Third, J. Stubbs. Highly Commended, A. Heath. Hamburgh (Gold-pencilled).— First and Second, Mrs. A. Nuttall. Third, ' Hambor'oh (Silver-pencilled).— First, H. Menshall. Second, C. Moore. Third, J. E. Powers. ,. ,j „ HAMBnEGH Cocks (Gold and Silver-penciUed).— First, withheld. Second, Rev. T. S. Fellows; J. E. Powers. Hamburgh (Gold-spangled).— First, J. Roe. Second, G. Brook. Third, — May. Highly Commended, G. Brook. Hamburgh (SUver-spangled).— First and Second, J. Fielding. Third, C. Ham'burqk Cocks (Gold or SUver-s,)angled).— First, withheld. Second, Mrs. H. Sharpe. , „ „j . Polish (Black, with White Crest).— First and Second, T. Edwards. Polish (Gold).— First, J. Dixon. Second, W. Newsome. Polish (Silver).- First and Second, G. C. Adkins. Highly Commended, J. Hinton. , ^ ^ „ . Polish Cocks.— First, T. Edwards. Second, G. Adkins. Malay.— First and Second, A. Sykes. Highly Commended, J. J. Fox. \.NY Other Distinct Breed.— First, W. Bowly. Second, Rev. P. W. Storry. Third, C. Coles. Fourth, Mrs. F. Blair. Highly Commended, bIntam's (Gold-laced).— First and Second, T. H. D. Bayley. Highly Commended, .M. Leno, jun. „ „ , „■ , , Bantams (Silver-laced).-First and Second, T. H. D Bayley. Highly Commended, E. Jones. Commended, M, Leno, jun. Bantams (White— Clean Legs).— First and Second, T. H. D. Bayley. Bashms (Black— Clean Legs).— First, R. Brotherhood. Second, i. b"ntam3 (Game). -First, T. H. D. Bayley. Second, J. Vf. KeUeway. Highly Commended, T. H. D. Bayley ; J. Anderson ; E. Browne. Com- mended, J. W. KeUeway ; J. Anderson. Bantams.— First, D. Causer. Second, T. WUliams. Bantam CocKS.-First, T. U. D. Bayley. Second, J. W. KeUeway. Highly Commended, T. H. D. Bayley. „. , , ^ Ducks ' Aylesburv).-First and Second, J. K. Fowler. Highly Com- mended, P. A. Eagk-s. Commended, P. A. Eagles; Miss Whally. Docks (Rouen).— First, T. R. Hulbert. Second, Mrs. F. Blair. Highly Commended, T. K. Hulbert ; Mrs. F. Blair. ,,,,,„„ Ducks (black).— First, Mrs. M. A. Beardmore. Second, J. ^\ . Prize. Geese (White).— First and Second, J. K. Fowler. i-t,,,,-. Geese (Grey and Mottled). -Fiist, W. Dolby. Second, Mrs. F. Blair. Highly Commended, Mrs. F. Blair. TuimEls.-Fir.-t, J. Smith. Second, Rev. P. W. Storry. Ounamektal Water Fowl.— Prize, Rev. P. W. Storry. PIGEONS. „ , „ PowTEEs OR Croppers (Any Colour). -First, R. ^Mon Second t. Evans. Third, F. G. Stevens. Very Highly Commended T. E'ans . «• FuUon. I?««.-First, T.Evans. Second, R. Fulton, ■^^if'^-^-^''^'^': Highly Commended, T. Evans; R. Fulton. Commended, F. G. Stevens, "^CARRiERs'Blaek and Dun).-First and Second F G. SJevens^, TWrd F Else. ffens.-First and Second, F. EL-e. '1 bird, F. G. Stevens, uigniy Commended, W. H. Edmonds. Commended, F. G. Stevens. CARRIERS (Any other eolour).-Fn>t, W H. hdmonds Second J L. Old. IIn,'hly Commended, W. H. Edmonds. Bens.-tlist, J. S. Old. Second, W. H. Edmunds. ^L^ioNrT-^nS^E'R^-^St Jnd^S^ct'V. Else. Third, H. Tard.ey. M0T?LES (sSort^faced).-First, F. White. Second, F. Else. Commended, H. Bunce. JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 1, 1363. Baldheads (Short-faced). — First, T. EaquUant. Second, J. Edge. Coiu- mended, F. a. Stevens. Beards (Sli irt-fuce i).— First, T. Esqullant. Second. J. Percivall. Ti'MBLEKs (Short-faced— Self CoiOui).— First, W. H. C. Gates. Second, J. Morris. KiTKS. Agaits. Dpss, and Grizzles.— Prize, J. Ford. Jacobines.— First, J. Morris. Second, F. G. Stevens. Commended, F. Else. Owls.— Prize, F. Kl.ce. Owls [Yellow, or any other Colour). — Prize, F. Else. Highly Com- mended, H. Yardley: J. Morris. Nuns. — First, C, Bulpid. Second, F. Else. Commended, Her. A. G. Broolie. Ti'KBiTS.— First and Third, F. Else. Second, F. G. Stevens. FANTAtLs.— Prize, J. W. Edge. Fantails (Wliite).- Prize, H. Yardley. Highly Commended, F. Else. Commended, F. Key ; J. Morris. Fantails (Blue).— Prize, J. \V. Edge. Barbs. — Prize, F. G. Stevens. Barbs (Yellow, or any other Colour) —Prize, F. G. Stevens. Maopiks.— First, J. Percivall. Second and Third, F. Else. Trl-mpkters — Prize, F. Else. Trumteters (White, or any other Colour).— Prize, F. G. Stevens. HiKlily Commended, F. Key; H. Yardley. Commended, Rev. A. G. Broolie; F. Else. Spanish and Leghorn Rijnts. —First, F. G. Stevens. Second, T. D. Green. Highly Commenfed, T. D. Green. For any .New or Deserving Variety not Before JIestionkti. — First, U. Yardley. Second, J. Percivall. Third, J. Ovens. Fourth, with- held. RABBITS. Longest Ears.— First. .T. Cranch. Second, W. Griffin. Black and White. — First, J. Ilaile. Second, R. Cook. Y'ellow and White.— First, Messrs. H .11 i Co. Second, SV. Griffin. TOKTOISESHELL. — First, J. Haile. Second, A. Stcdtnan. Commended, }. Haile. Blue and AVhite.— Fir^t, C. SiUen. Second, .T. r. Miller. Commended, C. Sillen. Grey and White.— First and Second, R. Cook. Commended, J. Ilaile. Sei p CoLoeR.— First, C. Sillen, Second. G. Jones. Commended, J. G. Quick. Weight.— First, Mrs F. Blair. Second, J. K. Fowler. Foreign. ^First, E. Terry. Second, F. S. Angel. Judges. — Povltry. — Mr. Hewitt, Eden Cottage, Spark- brook, Birminghaiu ; Mr. James Monsey, Norwich. Pujeons. — Mr. Bellamy, London ; Mr. D. Wolstenholme, London ; Mr. W. E. Tegetmeier. Muswell Hill, London. Rabbits. — Mr. Terry, Lambeth; Mr. Lock, Walworth. ADDLED EGGS— SEBEIGHT BANTAMS. On perusing my communication to your Jom-nal as to chilling of eggs, I find an error which may lead yoiu' corre- spondents into the idea that the hen had been chilling hen- eggs with a vengeance. In page 15li, line 13, instead of " I found one egg chilled," &c., read '■ I found one egg chipped," &c. My last sitting of eggs for this season were due to-day (Sebright Bantams), all addled. AVOl any of your corre- spondents who keep this lireed be kind enough to state if they have been alike unfortunate ? I cannot help thinking there must be something peculiar in Sebright Bantams. Out of aboitt sixty eggs I htxve only had, I think, six chickens ; whereas the eggs fi-om my other breeds have been this year most fertile. The Bantam eggs were all from a cock and three hens (bu-ds of lst)2|, and no other fowls kcjit with them. — Evesham. LEICESTEESHIBE AND WALTHAJI POULTEY EXHIBITION. This Show is held conjointly with a show of cattle, horses, cheese, and roots. The flowers exhibited this year also were of great merit, all which combined drew together an unusual attendance. The Leicester and Waltham Poirltry Show, however, this year labotu'ed under extraordinary dis- advantages, for not only were the Pocklington, the Halifax and Calder Vale, and one or two minor Shows held simul- taneously with it ; but a still more unfavoiu-able drawback was the fact, that the great Poultry Show at the London Agricultural Hall was also earned out at the same date. This latter Society offering the most liberal premiums, of course enticed many an exhibitor to try his luck at IsUng- tou who othenvise might have been found competing at the Leicester and Waltham Poultry Show. Besides ijecuniary benefit, it is but an almost universal trait of human nattu'e to prefer the honour of success at the larger Exliibition, and to value a prize proijortionately to the absolute diflieiilties that stand in the way of its tittain- ment. Peelings of this ch.aracter no doubt prevented many an entry for Leicester that under other circtimstanees would not have been wanting. In fact, we know some classes were very materially lessened from tliis sole reason. The Sj)a7iish class of old birds was a wetik one, every pen being somewhat faulty, and condition was wanting j tlu'oughout. One exhibitor most strangely (if expectant of success), absolutely penned a rosy-combed hen in this com- petition. The class for young Spanish fowls consisted of but two pens, but both of these deserve very favourable mention. The class for old Gvey Dorldngs was indifferent, none taking even a commendation, save the two winning pens. The Grey Dorking chicken class proved one of the most ex- traordinary "mixed medlies" that ever was placed before any arbitrator. Perfectly bright yellow legs that would have given a positive blaze of success attached to a jjen of Malays or Cochins, here glittered unavailingly ; whOst the additional Dorking-toe was evidently eschewed altogether by another competitor as " quite unnecessary, as he said the develop- ment only encumbered the fowl and hindered it when walk- ing." The Silver Grey Dorkings were so very faulty in colour in both the classes, that half the prizes were withheld. One pen contiiined a very unusual specimen — viz., a cock so well booted and leg-feathered, that it would have caused even a Brahma Pootra for the futiu'e to foreswear oM leg-coverings. Tlie White Dorkings were really good, although the chicken class was very select as to the number of entries. The adult Cochins were inferior, but the fii'st-prize chickens (Partridge-coloured ones), were particularly good. lu this class an " old hen " was attempted to be palmed oft' for a cMcken — of course, leatling to immediate disqualification by the Judges. The Wliite Cochins should never be shown with green-tinged legs, the objection to which is always fatal to success. This wo mention, as evidently many otherwise good pens were thrown out completely tlu-ough want of care on this point alone. The Duckwings were the best shown of the Game fowls, though the first-prize Black Reds would have been thought much of if shown in condition. The Hambnriihs were few in numbers. In Golden-sijangled a well-deserved first prize was allotted ; but, strange to say, some half-bred Malays, and again a pen of actually "laced" (not "spangled" at all) birds, were entered. In the Pencilled ones matters were far better. In the com- mended pen of Gold-pencilled cliickens were exhibited the best cockerel and pullet, by far, we have seen this year, but mated to a second pullet so imliflerent, that the spit would be the most suitable position of any for her futtu'e appearance. Some good SUver-spangled were shown. In both the SUver-pencUled Hamburgh classes the prizes were withheld, save one second. They were the two worst classes we ever saw of this breed. Although not a Sebright Botitam was present, the Black and the Game Bantams were well shown. Many of the Aylesbiuy IhKks were faulty in the biUs — a shortcoming cjuite incapable of compromise. As good Rouen Ducks were shown as could be desired; in fact they would have added to the credit of our most popular meetings. In Geese, the competition was strong ; but we much fear a disregard to the sexes shown pervaded at the least one pen. In Tiirlceys, the Cambridge breed took highest place, and capital Norfolks second. Golden and Silver Chinese Pheasants, for which sjiecial prizes were given, mustered in numbers, and they were exceedingly well shown. The Pigeon classes, as a whole, were very meritorious ; and among the Rabbits was one of the best Greys we have seen for j'ears past. The accommodation of the poultry was most amply liro-i-ided for by the Committee, the tent being spacious and aii-y. Spanish. — First, U, Brown, Ab Kettleby. Second, J. \V. Argyle, Leicester. <7Aic/i:e«s. — First and Second. M. lirown. Dorkings (Coloured). — First, J Smith. Second, A. Guy. Eaton. CJiickeiis. — Fir^t, B. Everard, Bardon Hill House. Second, J. Sheffield, Geddington Grange. Dorkings (Silver-Grey). — Second, Sir \, G. Hazlerigg, Noseley Hall. September 1, 1893. ] JOUKN'AL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 179 First, Withheld. Chickens.— 'eiret, R. Button Miles, Kcyham. Second, Withheld. DoiiKE.NGs (White).— First, E, D. Miles, Keyham. Second, Capt. Buckley, Desford. C/tirkcns— Prize, K. D. Miles, Keyham. Cochin-Chima (Coloured I.— Urst and Second, H. C. Woodcock, Rearsby. CAi(7icp!S.— First, A. Guv, Eaton. Second, H. C. Wooccoclt, Uearsby. CocHlN-CulNA (Wliite'l.— Second, H. E. Einberlin, Uuniberstone. First, Withheld. C/i(<4™.s.— First and Second, T. Shcppard, Humberstone. Game (White Piles and Light Colours).— Fu-t, H. W. White. Leicester. Second, G. Cooper, Seagrave. Chickois,— First, B. Everard, liardon Hill House. Second, A. Guy, Eaton. Game (Red and other dark colours).— Second, B. Everard, Bardon Hill House. First and Third, Withheld. CTifirns.— First, B. Everard. Second, !?ir W. De Capel Brooke. Hamdurghs iGolde.n-spanffled).— First, K. E- Eniberlin, Humberstone. Second, Withheld, vkkkau.— first, H. E. Emberlin. Second, Captain Buckley. Desford. Hamburghs (Golden-pencilled).— First, Captain Buckley, Desford. Second, J. Jacques, Birstall Hill Ilou^e. CAiiiCTis.— First, A. Uouijhton, Asfordby. Second, T. H. P.ires, Kirby Frith. Highly Commended, Captain Buckley. Commended, T. H. I'ares. Ii*MBrRGHs (Silver-spangled).— First, W. Exton. Narborough. Second, R. D. Miles, Keyham. C/in/.e«s.— Prize, Captain liuckley, Desford. Hamburghs (Silver-penci. led). — Frizes withheld. Chickens. — Vriv.e, T. Charlesworth, Leicester. Bantams (Game).— First and Second, H. C. Woodcock, Rearsby. Bantams I Bl,.ck).—Fir.st, J. Goodyear, Cawlhorpe. Second, Withheld. Dorking Cuci£ (.\ny colour). — Prize, J. Smith. Ducks (White Aylesbury).— First, H. E. Emherlio, Humberstone. Second, W. Carver, Ingursby. Higiily Commended, W. Carver. Commended, H. K. Emberlin. Ducks (Any other variety). — First, T. Burnaby, Pipewell (Rouen). Second, S. Pool, Thorpe Arnold Lodge, near Melton (Albridge). Highly Commended, T. Buimby (Rouen). Commended, H. Wilson, Broughtou Astley ; H. L. Powvs-Keck, Stoughton Grange. Geese —First, \V. Kiik, Wymondhaiu (Toalouse). Second, W. Wiuterton, Wolvey Villa. Turrets.— First, A. Guy, Eaton (Cambridge). Second, H. L. Powys- Keck, Stoughton Grange. Phe.vsanis iGolden)- Prize, S. Lennard, Leicester. Highly Com- mended, R. D. Miles, Kevham. Pheasinis (Silver).— First, R. D. Miles, Keyham. Highly Commended, S. Lennard, Leicester. Commended, J. Buck, Leicester. TlQEotn^.—Fowttrs (White).— Prize, J. Laugham, Bclgrave. Fotctcrs (Any other colour!. -Prize, Rev. 11. \Y. Fisher, Alton Clieadle. Loin- meuded. Rev. R. W. Fisher. Curriers (White).- Prize, H. E. Emberlin, Humberstone. Highly Commended, H. E. Emberlin. CVirrie- a (Any oihcr colour). — Prize, J. Laugham, Belgrave. ConimemleO, H. E. Emberlin ; J. Langham. Tumi. Ifrs.— Prize, Rev. R. W. Fisher. Coniuiended, J. W. Argyle. Leicester. Fautaiis. — Prize, U. E. Emoerlin. Commended, J. Lun's^am. Tut bits.— Pry/.e, J. Langham. Turbits tiled;.- Prize, H.. E. Emberlin. Rabbits.— Sen' t>sl Weight.— Prize, 5. N. Dixnn, Leicester. Greaieat Length of Ear.— Prize, J. k, Pti^QU, Any other Icind, — Prize, W. Cham- berlain, Desford. The Judges appointed were Mr. W. Dolby, of Horse Grove, Rotlierfield, Tonbridge Wells; and Mr. Edwai-d He\vitt, of Sparkbrook, near Birmingham. FOWLS AT NIGHT. Fowls that have been allowed to roost out may continue to do so ; and the first alteration in the weather, the feeling of freshness consequent on rainfall and on the diminishing hours of sunshine, need not lead to any change of manage- ment. With the head tucked under the wing, the body drawn into its smallest compass, the feathers so compact and close that nothing can penetrate, perching on one bough of a tree and under another, we believe a healthy fowl can bear any amount of rain, not only without injury, but almost without feeling it — certainly without any other than the outer feathers being wetted. Out-door roosting has many advantages : during summer and autumn it is certainly healthier for them ; they are less subject to vermin ; they grow faster, and are stronger than those that are more cared for. Yet it is now well, so far as it can be done, to draw them by degrees nearer and nearer to the place where they will roost during the winter. When nights are long and cold, and foxes are dispersed about the country, it is desirable they should be sheltered at night. We cannot forget the scene that met us one fine winter's morning. iVll the best fowls of one yard were slaughtered and laid about, and the road to the fox's kennel was marked by here a White Cochin, there a Buff, and then a Spanish, next a Bantam. WhUe on the subject of depredators, we can corroborate that which is said by one of oiu- correspondents about hedgehogs. We put a few early chickens in a sheltered orchard. There were four hens with good broods. One or two chickens disiippeared every night mthout our being able to tell how. I'here was a scream and a commotion, yetj before we got there, all was still, save that the hens were muttering. We determined to watch ; .after a time the chickens iiished out, the hen fought for a moment, and then, screaming, tried to escape. We ran to the coop and tiu'ned a strong light upon it. The whole affair had lasted but a minute, but there lay two chickens dying, both bitten through the neck, and the assassin, in the shape of a hedge- hog, Ij'ing roUed up. We kUled him and lost no more chickens. He had taken nine. POCELIISrGTON POULTRY SHOW. This Show was held on Tuesda}-, August 25th. The following is the list of the awards : — Spanish. — First and Second, Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley. Chickpns. — First, H. A. Hudson. Second, J. Reynolds, South Chrte. (Very good class). Dorkings.- First, E. Smith, Middleton, Manchester. Second, Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley. Chiikrns. — Pirst, O. A. Young. Second, — Eldridge, Bishop Wilton. {Poor excep'i the hrst-prize pen). Cochin-China (Buff, Lemon, or Cinnamon).— First, II. & G. Newton, Gar- forth, Leeds. Second. E. Smith. Commended, C. T. Bishop, Leuton, Not- tingham ; H. it G. Newton ; R. Clark, South Dalton. Cochin-Chin.v (Any other variety). — Prize, R. White, Bromball Park. Chitkens.— Pir^t, H. & G. .Newton. Second, J. Appleton, Pocklington. (This clas5 was one of the best in the Show). Game (Black-breasted and other Reds).— First, H. Adams, Beverley. Second, .Miss E. Beldon. Highly Commended, H. Adams. Ga.mk (Duckwing and other Greys). — First, H. Adams. Second, A. Cattley, York. Game (Any other variety). — First and Second, H. .Adams. Chickens. — First, H. .\dams (Piles). Second, J. Renni..on. Hamburghs (Silver-spangled). — First, S. Campling, Cottingham. Second, Miss E. Bel''on. Hambiirghs (Golden-spangled). — First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, G. Holnies, Diiftield. Hamburghs (Silver-pencilied).— First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, 0. A. Young. Hameueohs (Golden-pencilled).— First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, 0. A. Y'oung. CVi(c/.-e;is.— First, H. A. HuiKson. Second, O. .\. Young. PoLASDS.— First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, U. A. Young. Bantams (Game). -First, G. Holmes. Second, R. M. Stark, Hull. Bantams (.Any other variety). — First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, R. M. Stark. Geese.— First, O. A. Y'oung. Second, Mrs. Croft, Plujkhara. Dicks {Ayltstiury). — First, R. :^L Stjrk. Second. O. A. Young. Ducks (Any other variety).— First, R. M. btark. Second, J. Braim, Pickering. Highly Commended, .). R. Jessop. Turkeys. — First and Second, Mrs. W. Rickell, Warter Wold. Guinea Fowls.— First, 0. A. Young. Secand, W. Dorsey, Warter. SINGLE COCKS. Game. — First, H. Adams. Second, J. R. Rennison. Spanish. — First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, S. Hobson. Dorking. — First, R. M. Stark. Si'Cond. 0. A. Young. CocHlN'ClllNA.— First, R. White, Broomhall Park. Second, O. -A. Young. Hamblrgh— First, Miss E. Beldon. Second. O. A. Y'oung. Bantam. — First, Miss E. Beldon. Second. W. Goltoii. Pigeons. — Powters or Croppers. — First S. Robson. Second, Miss E. Beldon. jumhiers.— First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, J. W. Edge, Bir- mingham. Highly Commended, H. Yardley. Barbs.— First, .Miss E. Beldon. Second. H. Y'ardley. Highly Commended, T. Ellringtou, VVood- mansey. Jacobins.— Prr/e, G. Spink. Ffintai>s —First, -Miss E. Beldon. Second, .1. W. Edge. Highly Commended, W. C.rlon, llowden ; T. Elliington. Trumpeters. — First, S. Robson. Second, Mi*s E. Beldon. Commended, W. Carlton. Owls.— First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, J. W. Edge. Turbits.— First, H. Yardley. Second, J. R. Jessop. Carriers.— First, ^. Robson. Second, H. Yardley. Aug other variett/.-First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, J. W. Edge. Cage Biki^s.— Belgian Canarg.—Firf^t, Miss Small, Hnwden. Second, J, Moore. J/arAvtZ Oi/inri/.- First, — Blacker. Second, G. Harrison. I'air of Canarics.— First, .Miss Small. Second, G. Harrison. Canary (Any other \ariety).— First, I. Baines. Second, W. Carlton J/ii.'e —First. G. Harrison. Second. R, Hariison. Eeilrap.—F,r-.t and Stcond, \V. Carlton. kxTRA Stock.— Mrs. W. Rickell (White Geese). — S.i allow, Nuuburn- liolme (White Robins). The Judges were Mr. John Crossland, Jun., Wakefield, and Mr. George Jackson, York. AGE OF QUEENS— EFFECTS of FUMIGATION. I EEGKET that I am unable to furnish "A Hampshiee Bee-keeper " with any positive information regarding the longevity of the queen bee. Although a tolerably close observer of apiarian facts since 1840, when I first kept bees, my career as a strictly scientific apiarian dates only fi-om the introduction of the Ligurians in 1859. Since that time I have been, so to speak, on visiting terms with every queen in my apiary, know the age, and ctin describe every peculiarity in the personal appetirance of each; but, unfortunately, accidents to queens in leading otf swarms, and regicides committed by their subjects, have thus far fi-ustrated all my endeavours to obtain accurate information on the point in question. The senior queen in my apiary is now two years 180 JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 1, 1863. old, and certainly shows no signs of decrepitude, but I have a strong impression that " A Lanarkshike Bee-keeper " has been deceived by an accidental resemblance between two successive monarchs, and that he is, therefore, mistaken in believing that a queen has survived and remained fertile during seven years. Woidd Mi-. Lowe be kind enough to favour us with the desu'ed information ? In the autumn of last year he for- warded to me a couple of living queens for microscopic examination. One of these he informed me had ceased laying altogether, whDst the other, having retiu'ued to the drone-laying condition of a virgin, afibi'ded the strongest possible confhanation of the truth of parthenogenesis.* If Ml'. Lowe will oblige us by stating the age of these queens it will at once decide the question. My suspicions as to the injiurious effects upon bees of stupefaction by means of fungus were first aroused by finding that a reiietitiou of the operation a few days after- wards was always fatal, proving that the bees must have been in some way weakened by the fii-st fumigation, al- though they appeared at the time to have perfectly re- covered fi-om it. When I afterwards fmind that colonies of bees expelled fi-om their hives in this mannor. and furnished with combs and plenty of food, invariably dwindled away, my impression became confirmed, and I spared no pains until I had mastered the art of driving, which renders fumi- gation unnecessary, and is free from all objection. I have never found bees slaughtered on their return fi'om a removed super, and should suspect some eiTor in manage- ment were such an occuiTence to take place. I have to thank " A Hampshire Bee-keeper " for his kind sympathy. The good of others was the sole object I had in view when I made my misfortune public, and " A Hampshire Bee-keeper'' administers the best consolation when he declai-es that he has already benefited by the warn- ing given by — A Devonshire Bee-keeper. HONEYDEWS-FOUL BEOOD. Colonel Newman in his last communication spoke of honeydews being abundant this year, leading us to infer that his bees, or the bees generally in the neighbourhood of Cheltenham, had profited by them to the fiUing of then' honeycombs. May I ask the gallant Colonel if he actually saw the bees collecting those dews in such numbers as to wan'ant him in believing that any considerable quantity of this exudation or excretion was actually stored up as honey by the bees ? Also I should be glad to know what trees the bees frequented in search of it. Only once in my Hfe have I had ocular demonstration to the fact of bees sipping this honeydew ; nor have I met with any apiarian or natm-alist who had more experience than myself. Some ten or eleven years ago I put the question in the pages of The Cottage Gardener, aud, so far as I can remember, I myself was the only person who had seen bees apijarently coUectiug the honeydew, although more than one wi'iter stoutly asserted the fact that they do collect it. I must profess myself to be still incredulous with regard to these dews, so far at least that bees make any use of them in ordinai-y years. In bad seasons, when bees are stai-ving, they will feed upon any- thing sweet which is not offensive to them; but I doubt whether they will touch honeydew when anything else in the shajje of food is to be had by them, and it remains a question if they store it in their hives. If this be correct, bee-wi-iters generally have copied from each other a mere tradition, when they speak so bravely about the extraordi- nary activity of bees during the ijrevalence of honeydew. As to the other question of fold brood now being discussed in your pages, I feel strongly persuaded that Mr. Wood- bury has fully made out his case as to this being a disease of a distinct type. Here ;a'e no " mere siu-mises or conjectures " — no mere " accepting for truths the dicta of others," but facts very patent, and proofs, as they appeal- to me, very satisfactory. Like Mi-. Edwards (who by the way %vi-ites like a man who is thoroughly up to the scientific and pro- fitable management of bees), " I have had more or less of chilled brood under various cii-cumstauces," aud no check to * The result of my examination is related in page 54^, of the illiidTol. of The Jolr.nal or Houticl-ltcee. the bees has resulted fi-om it, the bees quietly clearing out theu- cells, but generally I have had also such brood become coiTupted in the hive, and the bees nevertheless, if sufficiently populous, have tliiiveu in spite of it ; but nothing like the disastrous experience of Mr. Woodbury has come under my notice liitherto. Here is a case of hive after hive in various conditions catcliing the infection till an entire apiary is hastening to destruction. Not only so, new liives, fresh and well peopled, are brought li-om a distance, and they, too, ai-e attacked. The vii-idence of the disease is also remark- able, and the rapidity with which the evO spreads. Mr. Lowe seems to forget that Mr. Woodbui-y has been for several, I may say for many, years an exijerimental apiarian (all thanks to him for it), and repeating again and again the very ingenious and admirable process to which B'Ir. Lowe so strongly excepts ; but notliiug hke this disease has ever come across him before. I must add tliat in the interests of our favouiite pursuit, the tone and style of Mr. Lowe's recent communication are in my poor opinion much to be regretted. I asked myself directly I read it. What personal disagreement can have arisen between the two gentlemen to account for this philippic ? — B. & W. EEMOA'IXG BEES TO THE HEATHEE. Since you published my directions for removing bees to the moors in The Journal of Horticulture of JiUy 21st, I have had several letters, showing how carefully my in- structions should be caiTied out to prevent the combs in swarms breakmg down and di-owning the bees in their own honey. And as my object is to preserve the lives of these useful interesting little creatm-es, as well as to encoui-age bee-keepers by showing them how to make a good profit out of then bees, I think I cannot do better than give them the correspondence I have had with a Lincolnshire bee- keeper, which clearly shows how easy it is to remove swarms even with combs only partly made, if my instructions are strictly carried out. " Mr. Carr, *- Liucolnsliire, July 29tli. " Dear Sir, — Previous to seeing your instructions in the paper, how to remove bees to the heather, I had removed thu-tecn swarms to the moors, and the combs broke down in several of them, and the bees were all di-owned in then- own sweets, and were totally destroyed. The plan I pursued was, to take the hives gently off the stands, and tie them up in a thin piece of calico, and they were conveyed very steadily to the moors. But you appear to prefer can-ying them turned upside down. My bees are in flat-topped straw liives. I should esteem it a gi-eat favour if you will drop me a hne with some further instructions, as I want to take about twenty more liives to the heather. " Yours, &Cv" In reply I said — " I am sorry you have had the misfortune to lose some of your hives of bees, as it is very diseo< .raging. The new combs, especiaUy in late swarms, are as brittle as glass, and break down with the least shake when heated, and even faU with theii' own vreight if they have any honey in them, as the bees when made up with the finest calico grow excited, a,nd the heat ascending to the top of the hive soon heats the conilj and the}' give way. " But I think if you will follow my directions, you -will meet with no fui-ther accidents, as I have taken my bees to the moors for many years, part of the way by the railwaj', and then six miles over a very rough country, mi and suspended under a ciui-iage, and I took them again last Satm-day with- out any accident. " Fasten your bees, esi)eeially your swarms, in a cover of very open net (strong cap-net \vill do), with holes in it just small enough to prevent the bees escaping, and when tied secm-ety tm-n the hive gently up, but mind that the edges of the combs ;u-e at the bottom part as you turn the hive over, othei-wise the combs will probably either bend or break with their own weight and that of the bees upon them. When turned bottom upwards, the combs all rest upon theii- own foundation, and the heat always ascends, and so escapes tlu-ough the net, and the inside of the hive is kept cool. Swarms always lide the best suspended. With old hives the same amount of care is not necessary, as the bees varnish their combs with a sort of glue, and when they have had brood September 1, 1863, ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE aAEDENEE. 181 in the combs, tlie cocoon left in the cells again strengthens them, so that they become nearly as tough as leather, and you can knock them about as you like, provided you give them plenty of air. " It win be a gratification to me to hear that I have been the means of saving you your propei-ty, and the lives of the poor bees, and am, &c. — Wm. Cakk, Clayton Bridge Apiary, near Manchester." " Mr. Carh. " Lincolnsliire, August 13th. " Dear Sir, — It is impossible for me to return you suffi- cient thanks for your information about taking my bees to the heather. I purchased some strong cap-net and con- veyed my bees as you directed, and I had not a single accident, and they all arrived safely at the moors. I had some of them svispended, and others jjut on some straw in a light cart, and the pony trotted very quickly for about five miles over a very rough road, and as you said, the hives were kept cool, and there was not a single comb damag-ed in any of the swarms whatever. If you should at any time be so unfortunate as to lose your bees, I shall have great pleasure in presenting you with a new stock, and am, &c." FOUL BEOOD— WOODEX HIVES. Beins a victim of this greatest of all plagues to the apiarian, and consequently desii'ous of knowing as much as possible respecting it, I have been subjecting portions of the infected combs to microscopic examination, and the residt is that I am led to believe that whatever may be the anterior cause, the disease itself is the result of the action and presence of fungi. I have found in the bottoms and sometimes on the walls of the cells minute whitish spots, iiTegularly distributed and of various sizes, the largest not more than 2 lines in diameter, and wliich on being viewed under various magniij'ing powers of from 200 to GOO diameters, present the appearance of waxy circles composed of globular pai-ticles, and reminding one in appearance of the white cloud cumuli, sometimes visible in bright but stormy weather. In the most highly developed specimens these rings of globules seem to leave the interior space quite vacant, while in those of smaller size the masses appear more or less solid. This I take to be a fungus ; and both its ap- pearance and eflects seem to me in unison with those of fungi generally, and I should be very glad to know the ideas of more experienced apiarians on the matter, believing that a correct apprehension of the natiu'e of the disease will go very far towards suggesting remedial and curative mea- sures. The subtle nature of the spores of fungi is well known, and the globulai' development is also very common in many classes of these pseudo-vegetables. The cu-cular distribution is a feature conspicuous in some fungi, and their absoi-ption of oxygen and distribution of carbon may well be supposed to be highly detrimental to animal life, especially in so confined an atmosphere as the interior of a hive. It may be that this is not sufficient to destroy the vital powers of fully-developed bees perpetually passing into fi'esh air ; but when it is at work in so confined a space as the sealed cell of the bee-crysalis, it may be sufficient to prevent fm-ther growth, and thereby produce " abortive brood." Fungi are thought by some physiologists to be capable of being evolved from animal or vegetable decomposition. Is it not possible, therefore, that cliilled brood in the process of putrefaction may some time or other have produced the fungus !" Once jjroduced, its dissemination on my hypothesis of its nature is but a matter of course. That the disease is infectious no one v/ho has been unfortunate enough to have any experience of it can doubt, and this may easily ai-ise from the diffusion of the spores by means of the bodies of bees in passing from liive to hive. I think Mr. Woodbui-y has been unjustly suspected by Mr. Lowe and others of having prodiieed the disease by over-expeiimenting. It has occuri'ed with me in two swarms of black bees that came off naturally, and neither parent hives nor progeny had ever been the subjects of the mildest inspection or process. I attribute their failm-e to their proximity to the Ligurian hive received from Exeter in the spring, whose diminished numbers and activity rendered it an easy x^rey to marauders of any description, and some of which pirates, doubtless, were denizens of the two swarms that subsequently became victims. I should like to corroborate the opinion of " A Lanaek- SHiBE Bee-keepek " as to the superiority of wooden hives. Like him, I have for some years had both kinds in use. The wooden ones, being home-made, are quite innocent of any ™'tues commonly deemed necessai-y, excepting strength, and I never yet had a casualty with them, though exposed to all weathers, which is moi'e than I can say of some of my straw hives, whether protected or exposed. It seems to me that success in bee-keeping depends on something not affected either by shape or material of hives. — G. F. B., Spalding. BEE-EEEPEES OF THE OLD SCHOOL- FOUL BEOOD. While I do not doubt the sincerity of the sympathy manifested by yom' correspondents towards Mr. Woodbiu-y in his difficulties with foul brood in his apiary, stOl I cannot help thinking that some of the old-school ajjiarians — those who are averse to all changes — are like many of those who, witnessing the first ship propelled by steam, declared, with a knowing shake of the head, that it would " never do," was "contraiy to custom," and "against nature." Why, it went in spite of adverse winds; and notwithstanding the ships did make voyages to other countries and back, they would fail some day. And how these people would chuckle over the fii'st disaster which occurred to the said ship ! son-owing, I have no doubt, for the sufferers, but pleased at the same time that their pet notions had been verified by the (to them) apparent failm-e. It was the same with Harvey when he announced his theory of the circulation of the blood; the same with Dr. Jenner when he declared vaccination to be a remedy for smallpox, because it was " against nature." And it was not the ignorant, but the learned as well, who joined in the cry against all improvements. Whether based on sound principles or not, it was all the same to them — it interfered with their preconceived notions of what was " against nature." And it appears to be the same now to all those who attempt to go beyond the beaten track, as in the case of Mr. Wood- bury— one who has always been willing to lend a helping hand or give advice to any who asked for it concerning their apiaries ; bvit as soon as he has a failure in his own apiai-y, and asks for advice, he has a host of critics about his ears, telling liim it is all owing to his own management — he is all against "nature" — he uses too much science to accom- plish his ends — he will not let well-doing alone. He may well exclaim, " Save me from my friends ! " When he asks for intelligent assistance, he is told by Jonas Jackson that he ought not to overlook what the people do in Cheshire, " not to neglect telling his bees that a relation or friend has ceased to live," and such nonsense. But sm-ely Jonas Jackson is joking when he asks him to perform such absurdities. I pity the dai-kness of mind which must possess the people of Cheshire if they believe in such mummeries ; and I would rather believe that Jonas Jackson has drawn the pictm'e a little too strong, that he may enjoy the pleasm-e of the idea that non-interference with the bees is stiU the best plan. Anil even my friend Mr. Lowe cannot resist giving Mr. Woodbm-y a poke in the side, attributing all his faUiu-es to excessive meddling with the natm-al habits of his bees, and doubts that it is really a disease with which Mr. Woodbury is troubled in his apiary. I wdl now relate a few cases of foul brood — not in my own apiary, as I am happy to say I never had it, but in that of a neighbour who lives about a quarter of a mUe from this, and whose troubles with foul brood I have been a witness to for eight years back ; and dm-iug all that time, imtD I saw Mi-. Woodbury's first ai-ticle on the subject, hke Mi-. Lowe I believed it to be caused by a chOl to the young brood. My neighbour, however, would never admit it, having tried plan after plan to get clear of it, and all had failed. He has kept bees upwards of thirty years, has paid great attention to them, has read few works (if any) on the subject, and is, per- haps, the best manipulator of bees to be found. All bees seem to know him— at least, they do not sting him as they do others ; and we have dubbed him Professor on account of 182 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 1, 1863. his tnowledge of bees and their habits, and he would rather take a lot of bees than a hen in his hands. I am com- pelled, therefore, to give his experience on foul brood, as it bears much against Mr. Lowe and his theory, and may be useful to bee-keeijers. 1st. It is now eighteen years since he had a fresh stock- swarm from me, and ten years ago since he saw the first gymijtoms of foul brood. Eight years ago he had a stock swarm from me in the spiing, which gave off a top swarm in June, and put it into a hive of his own which had died that sirring, but jjreviously cutting cut every part of the comb affected, leaving nothing but honeycomb in the top. The swarm did well enough, to all appearance, till the autumn. On examining it he found all the young combs affected like the old stock. Having lost his young queen, and having another of his own which had foul brood, with a super on it partly filled with honey, but no brood, he drove all the bees and queen into the sujjer, and put it on the top of the old and clean stock which he had from me, and the result was again foul Ijrood in tlie autumn. 2nd. In the fjllowing spring he bought a stock-hive fi-om a neighbour who hved half a mUe from him. It. likewise, was affected with the disease. Since then he has bought other tlu-ee hives fi-om two neighbours about two miles apart, and each of them had foul brood. One of them gave off a fine swarm, which filled a super of honey ; but it, too, was afl'ected in the autumn. This was the fii-st young swarm which became affected during the summer — all the others were afl'ected in the following spring. 3rd. Last autumn he had three old stocks very much affected. He cut out all the foul comb from one hive, leaving only the honey in the top, and drove the bees out of the otlier two, killing the two queens, and put all the bees into the hive which had been cleared of foul comb, and fed it this spring. lu July he examined it and found all the new comb and old comb diseased from top to bottom, and was compelled to molt it all dov.-n. 4th. Two years ago he and I exchanged hives with each other. The one I had from him died in the winter, which prevented us from carrying out the plan of trying if chang- ing the situation would have any effect in removing the disease ; and perhaps it was as well for me that it did die, as aU my others might have been injured by it. At that time I had no fear whatever, but I worJd not do such a thing again on any account. The one he had from me did not give off a swarm, and in the autumn this, too, was affected as much as the other. Tiie only reason he could assign for it was, that during the month of May the bees fi-om his own stocks began robbing — for one day only, but ceased the following, he having prevented them. These are some of his trials which have been going on for ten yeai-3, and his is not the only case. We are aware of eight neighbours within a circuit of thi-ee mUes from this 1 whose stocks are all affected less or more ; and we know of j others who have had stocks of forty in number and who have not one at this time. And let me add for the inform- ation of Jonas Jackson and Mr. Lowe, that these individuals do not interfere with the natural habits of their bees, but merely put them into a hive when tiiey swarm, and take the honey when they can get it, and some of them did not know they had foul brood until it was pointed out to them. I will now state the 5th and last case at present. Three years ago he bought a stock swarm fi-om a neighbour who was parting with his whole stock, and which had been long famed for being good honey-gatherers, .and it was perfectly clean. The produce of that hive is still clean with the ex- ception of one swarm, a second, T\'hich he united with one of his own from the foul stock, having killed its queen, retaining the queen from the pui-e stock ; and it likewise has foul brood, but not so bad as the others. It was fed also with honey from his diseased liives. If these five cases, which are undoubted facts, along with Mr. Woodbury's experience, do not prove tliat it is a disease, tlien what is it ? If it is caused bj' chiUs of the brood in the first instance, why is it not among mine ? There cannot be a degi-ee of difference of temperature between my neighbour's situation and mine. He has tried the covering of some, first mth sheets of haii- felt 2 inches thick, and then a covering of straw over all, and the whole in a house open to the south. He has tried them also without any covering wliatever, but with no appai-ent difference. If it is by chilling the brood we should find it most on the outside of the combs, and the centre and top of the hive fi-ee, as the bees will go there as they retire fi-om the cold ; but in his case it is always as bad in the centre and top as on the outer edges. There is another remarkable point in his case, and which I do not tliink Mr. Woodbury has noticed — that no drone- brood has ever been affected : if by cold, then tlie drone must be more hai-dy than working brood. In ray neigh- boiu-'s case it cannot be said that he exposes them to any chUls whatever, as he is very cautious in this respect. I expose mine much more than he has ever done ivithout any bad eff'ects, and I am disposed to flunk that the brood is more hai-dy than we imagine. I had a bar-comb of brood Lately, in all stages, which fell out whUe handling it. I might have fixed it again ; but my neighljour, being with me at the tune, urged me not to do so, as the brood might get cliiUed, and so jn-opagate the disease among mine. I jiut the comb into a vinery on a shelf, where the temperature would be as low as 50° at night, with full air on night an-d day. I used to amuse myself feeding the young grub with a little honey and bee-bread mixed, jnitting it into the ceDs on the i^oint of a piece of straw. These gi-ub lived for two weeks, and at last came out of the cells altogether, crawling about on the shelf tiQ they died; and numbers of the young bees, which were newly sealed-up when put into the -vinery, eighteen days afterwards ate themselves out of the cells, i many just able to get the head out, and many of the young i eggs remained a ^veek without any apparent change on them. When there are bees to attend — even a few — they will still be able to keep the brood alive unless in very severe cold. I may state also that he never used any foreign honey for feeding — only sugar mixed -with then- ovm honey, and his treatment of bees has been the same as mine thi-oughout in every respect. Perhaps I was more paiticidar in giving ■ mine always a new hive when they swaa-med ; while he I sometimes put them into a hive which had been used, al- though never in a bad state. I have endeavoured to give the history of my neighbom-'s troubles with foul brood, in the hope that it may induce others to look out for it in then- own apiaries, and if possible discover the cause of the disease. He has no hopes that Mr. Woodbury will get his own apiar-y clean again until he clears out the whole and begins again with a clean stock, but wDl be glad, lUce us all, to heai- that he has been able to make a ciu-e. — Alex. Sheaeer, Tester Gardens. Vaknish fok Rustic Garden Seats. — Fii-st wash the woodwork with soap and water, and v.-hen dry do it over, oa a hot sunny day, witii common Ijoiled linseed oil ; leave that to dry for a day or two, and then varnish it once or twice with what is commonly termed " hard vai-nish." If well done it will last for years, and wiU jirevent any annoy- ance fi-om insects. OUR LETTEE BOX. Areicultural H*i.i, PouLTnv Snow. — Owin. join this I hope I shall never want anything from it. I shall only be too pleased to contribute my mite to help others, and I hope all who join it will do so in the same spirit. — James Clews, Gardenei; Cloone, Mohill, Co. Leitmn, Ireland. [We are able to state that stops are taken towards establisliing the proposed Society; but it is stUl very desirable to have criticisms and communications upon the subject. — Ed.?. J. of H.] NOTES ON FEUITS RECEIVED. We have received several specimens of fruits of so unusual a character, and of varieties that are so little known in this country, that we take this opportunity of bringing them before the notice of our readers. The first we received were from the Eev. Thomas Brchaut, of Guernsey, well known as the author of an excellent prac- tical treatise on the cordon system of training. Through the kindness of this gentleman we have been introduced to an acquaintance with two Peaches of American origin, of which we had previously heard, but of which we had not seen the fi-uit in this country. They are both varieties peculiar to the Southern States, and are, we believe, natives of Georgia. Stump the World is of lai'ge size. The speciaieu re- ceived was 9^ inches in cu-cumference. The shape is round- ish, rather inclining to roundish-oval, flattened and rather pitted at the apex : the sutm-e shallow and passing a little beyond the apex. Skin pale yelloivish-white, finely dotted with red, and with a good deal of colour- next the sun. The flesh is wlute, very melting and juicy, rich, and deUciously flavoured. This is a fine Peach. Exquisite belongs to the class of yellow or Ajiricot Peaches, and is also of very large size, as large as the jjre- ceding, but is terminated at the apex by a rather prominent and sharp nipple. The flesh is yellow, and in the specimen received it was rich and highly flavom-ed — quite equal in conilition to what we once, and only once, tasted in Craw- ford's Early, to which this variety is nearly related. These two varieties were grown in an orchard-house with- out heat, and on very small trees, which produced seven and four fruit each. This is, doubtless, the fij-st occasion on which these varieties have fruited in England. From George F. Wilson, Esq., of Gishurst Cottage, Wey- bridge Heath, we have also received some very fiiie speci- mens of successful orchard-house cultivation. We can hardly say we were astonished to see the specimens that gentleman forwai-ded, because we have on former occasions seen ami remarked upon the i>roduce of the Gishurst orchard-houses. and it has invai-iably been of a kind that excelled anything we have seen produced from any other quarter. The fruit we now .aUude to is a dish of Louise Bonne of Jersey Pears, and one of Transpar-ent Gage Plums. The former are de- cidedly the finest specimens of the kind we have seen. Beautiful as that variety usually is, these ai'e unusually so. The largest was 4.V inches long, and 3 in diameter ; the skin highly coloiu-ed, and speckled like a trout. The Transpai-ent Gage Plums were of a flue opaline appeai-ance, and dotted with crimson just enough to suggest the similitude to the opal's fiery bistre. The skin aud flesh were quite trans- jjarent, and the latter delicious in flavour. Mr. Edward Pierce, of Yeovil, sent a basket of very hand- some Nectarines called the CEici;ETTNEcTAEiNz,from having been raised at Crickett Park, near Crewkerne. The fi-uit is large, and in appeai-ance like a large '\''iolette Hative, but it differs from that variety in having large flowers ; and the tree is so hardy, that Mr. Pierce informs us that for the last two seasons, when all the Nectai-ine-buds ia his nurseries have been killed, those of the Crickett Nectarine have with- stood the fi'ost. The flesh of the Crickett Nectarine is rich, and of a very fine flavour. Like the Violette Hative, it is quite red at the stone. From Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, we have received several new varieties, some of which never produced fi-uit before this season. They were all grown in the orchai-d- houses in Mr. Eivers' nurseries. SEEDLiNa Noblesse Peach. — The remarkable character of tliis vai-iety is that it has round glands on the leaves. The fi-uit is medium-sized, roundish, and marked with a shallow suture. Skin covered with a fine doT\ii and perfectly pale, except with a very faint trace of colour on the side next the sun, amounting to only clusters of a few dots. The flesh is wlute, quite pale at the stone, with sometimes the faintest streak of red, but not a tinge, and sepai-ating freely from the stone. It is quite white or greenish-white, very tender and juicy. Juice abundant, very richly and dehciously flavoured. A fu-st-rate Peach. Golden Earekipe Peace. — This is one of the yeUow- fleshed Peaches. It is of very large size, roundish shape, and marked with a deep suture. Tlie skin is pale orange on the shaded side, with a considerable blush of red on the side next the sun. The flesh is deep yeUow, and consider- ably tinged with red at the stone, from which it separates fi-eely. It is very tender and juicy, but with rather too brisk a flavour to be considered desirable. It is a large handsome- looking Peach. The leaves have kidney-shaped glands. Seedling Peach 5, from White Nectarine. — A laa-ge and handsome Peach, round, and with a deep suture. The skin is perfectly wlute, and has not the least trace of colom- upon it. The flesh is also perfectly white even to the stone, fi-om which it separates very freely, not vei-y juicy, and the juice cold, acid, and rather bitter. Glands reniform. Canary Peach. — A fine, large, pale straw-coloured Peach, 21- inches in diameter, and tei-miuated at the apex with a shai-jj-pointed nipple. The sutm-e is distinct. The skin is uniformly of a very pale warm yellow or orange, and without any trace of red — indeed it may well be called Canary. The stiJk-hole is deep and -wide. Flesh sepai-ating from the stone ; pale orange, very tender and melting. Juice very abundant, sweet and rich, with a delicious, fine, and racy flavom-. Leaves without glands. A large, handsome, and most delicious Peach. A first-rate variety. Monstrueuse de Douii. — A noble fruit, 9.V inches in dia- meter, round, and with a suture that passes round the whole surface of the fruit. Skin pale green, mottled all over with thick dottings of red, and with a red cheek where fully exposed to the sun. Flesh green, very deep red round the stone, fi-om which it separates. It is rather firm, soUd, and heavy. Juice very abundant, very sprightly, piquant, and racy. A splendid Peach. As a fine market vai-iety this will be invaluable. Honey Peach /rom China. — A curious ovate-shaped Peach of medium size, terminating at the apex in a shai-p long nipple, and marked with a faint sutiu-e. The skin, wMch is covered with a very fine down, is perfectly white, and has no trace of colour on it. The flesh is perfectly white, with just a faint trace of red round the stone, from wliich it separates freely. It is very tender, melting, and juicy. Juice abundant, quite sweet and delicious, almost like a syrup. A very rich and delicious Peach, quite novel m character, both in appearance and in flavour. The leaves are without glands, and remarkable as being widely dentate. This is a very distinct variety. Tukenne Amklioree. — Agood-sized'Peaoh, about 2J inches in diameter, roundish, and a good deal hammered and irre- gular in its outline. Skin deeply mottled and clouded with dark crimson almost over two-thirds of the suri'ace, and pale yellow on the shaded side. The suture is merely a faint Une, and not deeply marked. Flesh yellow, deep red at the stone, ooai-se, acid, and bitter. Separates with diffi- cidty, and is not at all a desirable variety. Leaves without glands. Crimson Mignonne. — Fi-uit about medium size, roundish, and rather uneven in its outhne, marked with a very faint suture, and pitted at the apex. Skin almost entirely covered with veiy dark crmison, almost black, as much so as the BeUegarde. The little on the shaded side that is not coloured is a pale yellow. Flesh vei-y tender and melting, vei-j' much and very deejily stained with blood red at the stone, fi-om which it separates freely. Juice very abundant, rich, sjirightly, and deUciously flavoured. This is a very distinct and very excellent Peach. Glands round. Ctanophyllum magnificum. — I have the Cy;uiophyllum magnificum with leaves 25| inches in length, and 143 inches in breadth. — Staekie Baldwin, Gardener to John Moore, Esq., Palace House, near Burnley. September 8, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICTILTTJEE AJST) COTTAaE GAEDENEE. 189 GLADIOLUS DISEASE. In your Number of August 11th you mention a disease similar to the Potato disease having attacked the Gladiolus near London, and request information as to those gro-n-B in the country. Having grown Gladioli for the last twelve or fourteen years from bulbs, not seed, I can fairly answer your question, and state that this year is decidedly the worst I have known. Perhaps owing to last year's rain our bulbs were not har- vested in the best condition, and they were not so robust as usual; but the bulbs this yeai- seem to siiffer from two diseases. In one case the old bulb hardly makes any roots, i-emains very dry, and consequently only forms a small and weakly new bulb, which throws up its head until the flower- spike is on the point of blossoming. It then tiu-ns yellow, withers, and dies. In the other case the old bulb rots away entirely, leaving only a weakly new bulb, or perhaps none at all. I planted my Gladioli this year m three large beds, one manured \vith rotten dung, one -with weU-rotted hops, and the other had no manure at all. That manured with hops turned out the best, and I have to thank Mr. Touell for the liint. The other two beds were very bad — perhaps the one not manured was the worst. The disease is not confined to Gladioli in beds, as I have about twelve lots of seedlings in pots and boxes. Some of these have also gone off; others, last year's seedlings, have blossomed. I should be inclined to ^-ow Gladioli in peat mould if I coiUd procure it more easily, and to manure only with rotted hops, as some Brenchleyensis we have in a peat border are very healthy ; but, from having been planted there three years running, have sported their colours. Can anybodj' recommend me a good ycEow Gladiolus ? I have raised many from Opliii- ; but they are not pure yellow, generally yeUow with lilac. — Pbed. B. Hanket, Capt., R.N., Fetcham Park, Leatherhead. EAELY EIPENIJfG OP MUSCAT GEAPES. I KEAD with very great pleasure the account Mr. Thomson gave of his Muscat, and hoped it would have opened a dis- cussion ; but as it has not done so, I venture to ask. Has any one found that when the Muscat of Alexandria is grown in bottom heat it sets as v/ell and is not a week behind the Hamburghs ? The time requii-ed to mature a crop depends on the heat used, and, with Vines planted outside, on the time of the year. If, then, we place our Muscats in a situation unsuited to them, shovdd we call them late ? I think we should say simply, that they are more tender, and that if they have a warm soil with the saiue top heat as is used for Ham- burghs, they may be ripened in twenty weeks. If some one who has had more experience would give a little information on this subject, I, for one, shoixld be very much obliged. — G. H. [Whatever may have been the cause of the unusual earli- ness of the Muscat, which has ripened so long before the other varieties here (Archerfield) for the last three years, it cannot, so far as I can trace the matter, be attributed to any extra bottom heat which has not been enjoyed by the •other Muscats in the same house. And in testing it against the Black Hambiu-gh this season it laboui'ed at a consider- able disadvantage on the score of bottom heat, in so far as its roots were in a cold, open house, while it was being forced in another vinery along with the Hamburghs, to which bottom heat was applied by fermenting material on the surface of the border. It is not necessary to detail tliis trial of the Muscat against the HambiU'ghs, as it can be re- ferred to in the Number of the Journal in which I minutely detailed the whole cii-cumstances. There are other two matters that strengthen my con- viction that the earUness of the Vine was not caused by extra bottom heat. The one was the fact that the Vine was always a weakly gTower, which is a result, as far as my experience goes, exactly the reverse of that which is pro- duced by bottom heat. I have found that Vines always grew more quickly and stronger with bottom heat than without it. The other is, that a Tynningham Muscat, which ripens earlier than the old Muscat, is planted within less than 2 feet of this early Vine, and I cannot well conceive how the roots of the one could have more heat than the other. The border is so far heated from beneath that I have taken the advantage of a pipe which passes thi'ough the middle of the border to another vinery, and have confined the heat from that pipe, and given it every means of disse- minating among the ojjen rubble with which the border is amply drained. The whole of the Muscats in this vinery ripen earlier than any that I have ever pre's'lously seen, and this I attribute to the bottom heat in conjunction with a lighter soil than Grapes are generally grown in; and I quite agTee with your correspondent, " G. H.," that with the aid of bottom heat and the use of a light soU, Muscats can be ripened much earlier than is general, for I have proved the fact — and, more than this, that they can be brought to a pitch of ripeness that is scarcely attainable when they are grown in cold borders and in heavier soils. But this does not account for the disparity between a particular Vine in the same boi'der with others. Our early Muscat-house, which is the one now refeiTcd to, having bottom heat in the border, was stai-ted with fire heat on the 20th of January, and the Grapes were quite fit for table the iirst week in June, which is under twenty weeks, and those weeks by no means the warmest weeks of the year. Now, the difficulty of ripening Muscats thoroughly at a much more advanced season of the year has been yearly demonstrated at the various shows where this Grape has been competed for, and even up to September the complaint of reporters has been that Muscats have been um-ipe, how- ever large and fine may have been the bunches and berries. In fact, the larger the bunch and the berries, the greater the difficulty of producing at an early season that degree of ripeness with that pitch of amber colour which is both the certain sign of high flavour, and the most essential con- dition to hanging long in a sound, unshriveUed condition. There is no doubt whatever that Muscats can be grown into much stronger Vines, that will yield larger bunches, and swell much larger berries when planted in borders composed of a heavy, somewhat tenacious loam, as compared with the prodxice of lighter soOs. In the one case there are produced stronger wood, larger leaves, with fruit and everything on a more gigantic scale, and very pleasing to look at. But just as these conditions are produced, in the same degree is the season of ripening the crop lengthened out, more parti- cidarly if the bed of soil in which they are growing is deep, and not very particularly drained. On the other hand, a light, sandy loam not over liberally enriched with vegetable matter, such as dung or leaf mould, produces a Vine of less strength, having smaller foliage and bunches, and berries smalTin proportion; but the fruit will ripen on such a soil long before that produced under the reverse circumstances which have been described. The fruit wiU also attain that transparent amber colour tinged with those russety spots which characterise the highest pitch of ripeness, and which is accompanied with that rich Muscat flavoui- which is present only to a very faint extent in indifferently-ripened fruit. A light son, in conjunction with bottom heat, always ripens Grapes earlier than a heavier cold soil ; and what might- be expected to produce the best Muscats in all respects is a somewhat tenacious loam thorougldy well drained, and efficiently heated fr-om beneath with hot-water pipes. Under the latter conditions there would be little difficulty in ripen- ing them thoroughly ia a shorter time than when no bottom heat is applied. But for quick work in secm-ing a weU- coloured crop of Muscats, a lighter soil is preferable, al- though the fruit will not be so large as that produced on the stronger soU. From recent observations, I am convinced that the border should become something like what might be termed very dry as the ripening process goes on, and that not a drop of mois- tm-e should be allowed to fall on the border after the fruit begins to change colour. One of the changes which go on in fruits during the ripening process is the dissipation or decomposition of the water which they attract ; and the less of this element there is present to decompose, the more is the ripening process accelerated, and the greater are the 190 JOTTENAIi OF HOETICTJLTUEE ASJ) COTTAGE GABDENEK. [ September S, 1863. chances of a more perfect state of ripeness ; so, obviously, an excess of moistiu'e will retard and prevent ripening, in consequence of the longer time required for its decomposition. To gorge the system of a plant which has its roots in a soil with a low temijeratui'e, must, more particularly under so dull a sky as we frequently experience in these latitiides, retard and prevent the ripening of so tender a fi-uit as the Muscat Grape. The most carefal di-ainage, with the aid of bottom heat, is the foundation for wt-U carrying out the ripening of this GrajDe, and the precaution of covering the border with glass should be taken, if possible, immediately the ripening process commences. Not the least important agent in the production of early ripeness is a circulation of dry warm air about both fruit and foliage : consequently neither the wood nor foliage should be allowed to become crowded. It is, however, very important to have a large proportion of foliage, but it is by far the best way of balancing this matter to leave a good few joints beyond the bunch instead of sto23ping at the first or second joint, and allowing the laterals to make two or three leaves, by which means a crowding of foKage is produced, the house darkened, and the chances of high coloiuing and speedy ripening are lessened. The foliage should just be snfiBciently thick to prevent the direct rays of the sun from acting on the fruit. These remarks, hastily thi-own together, in answer to your correspondent, ^ill, I hope, be the means of provoking some discussion on the early ripening of Muscats, the noblest of all our Grapes. — D. Thomson.] MANURE FOR FLOWER-BEDS. "A Suesckiber" having asked "Which is the best manure for a, flower-bed on a cb-y sandy soil on a gravelly bottom ? " this article is given, as the question is one deserving more attention than a mere short reply, .and as it is not unlikely there may be many to whom the subject may be interesting, especially in seasons like that just passed, when a long period of dry weather sets in during the time of the growth of many of the plants that form the gayest features of the flower gai'den. As a vei-y di'y season and a very dry shallow soil resting on a hungi-y sand or gravel are at variance with the wehare of most classes of vegetation, it need not be ■wondered at if some one asks. In what way can such a situation be improved ? Fortunately, the case is not withoiit its remedies, neither are the means beyond the reach of those who are anxious to try to gi'ow bedding plants of most of the best kinds now in fashion. At the same time, be it remembered, there are other plants wiiose well-being cannot be looked upon as certain in a soil of this kind, as, for instance. Phlox Drummondi, the Alonsoa, Calceol.oi'ia perhaps, and some others ; while it is not unlikely that some pLants will do better in a soil of this natui-e than in one of a more promis- ing description, and with some judicious alteration many of our flower-gardening materi.'Js will do well. A few plain rules to guide the inexperienced in the management of such a place wiU be here pointed out. In the fii'st place, it wiU be neeessaiy to consider the character of the (.listrict the gai'den is situated in. In the west of England, .and in some other sitiiations in hilly localities, the amount of rainfall is about double that of similar places on the east coast. Now, as vegetation while in an active state exists, in a great measui-e, on moistiu-e, warmed more or less into a proper growing medium, the light shallow soil of the rainy district will sviffice to support vegetation there, when the same description of soO is unable to do so in the long di-oughts more common in the di-yer districts. Witness, for instance, the character of the gi-ass lands that a traveller wiU often meet with on leaving London by any of the great lines of rail passing fi-om its northern or western sides, and supposing such journey to be in August in a, dry season, the parched character of the grass lands for the first fifty miles or so will be very apparent, whQe after that a gi-adual approach to freshness will be visible, so that when one hundred miles are reached the aspect is quite changed, and in fifty miles more there seems almost a s\jperabundance of herbage. Now, all this may be on lands of a like character, the difference being due to two causes — one, the less one, being the increased heat of the more southerly situation, and the other and more important one being the less amoxint of rain by which the earth is refreshed. Taking, therefore, these two examples, let us see in what way the di-y place can bo made to suffer less from the drying natm-e of its climate, and possibly a better state of things may be brought about. Assuming the situation to be a di-y one, and the soil of the flower-beds to be shallow, the fii-st work to be done is to see if the soil can in any way be deepened. Trenching and removing a part of the unkind subsoU wiU be the most; effectual way of doing this, adding, of course, the required quantity of better material to make up the necessaiy depth. Generally speaking, from 18 to 2i inches is not too much for a flower-bed that is expected to support a heavy crop of flowers aU the summer. It is better to deepen the beds rather than raise them above the natural surface. It is also p.dvisable to make the required addition with a stiffer soil than the one found on tlie smfaee, in order to retain the moisture somewhat better ; for it must be remembered, that a dry gravelly bottom natm-aUy sucks out what moisture the beds placed above it contain. It is, therefore, better as fai- as possible to prevent this, by adding some clay or other sub- stance unwilling to part with its v.-ater ; but a regularly puddled-hole, like one intended for a pond to hold water without leakage, is not by any means to be advised, a certain amount of drainage being necessary even for dry substances. Another mode of benefiting a flower-bed on a dry soil is to ;iud enriching maniu-e, so as to feed the plant by stimu- lants instead of supporting it by a more steady and regular food. On this principle all plants in pots are maintained, and some do better in that way than when allowed more freedom ; but they are the exception, and for the general pui-poses of cultivation it is a sort of hand-to-mouth system of cultivation, any neglect of supplying the plant iiith its required food at the right time being attended with bad consequences. However, maniuing a plot of dry, sandy, or gravelly ground, is a more durable improvement than merely pouring water upon a potted plant, and it is often done with much advantage to the plant cultiviited ; and certainly is so with flowers of most of the favourite kinds culti;7atecl in the beds of the fashionable parteiTe, some of them only requiring a sufficiency of nourishment to cany on the grovrth lor a short period, and they flower all the better by a check being given to their luxmiance. Such, in fact, are most of the kinds of Geraniums of the Scarlet and similar breeds. But as a certain amount of growth is wanted in these as well as others, some stimirlating substance is wanted when the ground is dry, and the depth of soil limited ; and as the inquu'er above alluded to asks what kind of manure is most wanted in such a soil, we may at once address ourselves to this part of the question. Taking it for granted that the flower-beds formed on a shallow sandy so2 on a gravelly bottom were planted at the proper time, and that the showers which followed in June not only kept the plants alive but encouraged a healthy vigorous gi-owth v.-hich has continued until the setting-in of dry weather, a check has been given, .and, no fiuther growth taking place, the flowering of some such as Calceolarias threatens soon to be at an end. Now the only way to aiTest such a premature decay is to supply the ground with liquid manure, not too rich at fii'st, but increasing as the require- ments of the plants seem to demand. Observe, I by no means advise a too liberal sui^iily of the rich substance of the farmyard t.ank or a too strong infusion of guano ; but, as the plant seems to occupy the space allotted to it so com- pletely, some additional enriching substance maj' be given to maintain it in health. Of the kinds of manure water there is much difference of opinion : but the one most dis- agreeable to deal with is certainly the best in many cases. It must, however, be properly diluted, and its effects wiU be the more .apparent ; but all kinds may be used in moderation. The frequent use of clean soft water is .also beneficial ; and, in fact, whenever manure water is given let this all- important liquid in its pure state succeed it for several times ere the other is repeated. Dahlias, Roses, and the like may be treated to a few doses of this kind and be found the better of them. With regard to solid manures applied to flower-beds much, may be said. Generally speaking, these substances can only September 8, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTITRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 191 be given in winter when the beds are empty, when farmyard maniu-e may be applied tolerably freely ; and we have found this the best kind we have ever tried for Geraniiun Golden Chain. In places, however, where this rather bulky manm-e cannot always be applied, a dressing of guano may be of service, or an application of bone manui-e, wood ashes, or soot ; and we have seen much good done by an application of salt to a ch-y soU of the kind in question. In fact, those manui-es which in reality are composed of the necessary ingredients that will support the healthy existence of the jilauts to be cultivated are the kinds to be made use of; and as some of these contain the necessary quantities in a concentrated form, it follows that they may be used with less trouble than the others ; but their use in a highly concentrated condition is not to be recommended, for the like reason that the strongest ovei-proof spiiits ai-e unfit to be drunk. It is, therefore, advisable in most cases where convenient to give the preference to quantity. Maniu-es, however, in less quantities must not be despised; and, though we have not tried all the kiuds now in the market, we may say that guano of one or two kinds is good, as likewise is a sort of blood maniu-e, bone dust, or rather crushed bones, wood ashes, and the charred bui'nt stuff of the rubbish-heap which contains as much burnt earth as burnt wood. ^Ul these and many other manures are good in theu- way, and so is Ume when the soil is stiff and requu-os it, and for once it is useful on a dry soil; and, as all or most of the above can be given to the plants when in a growing state, by scattering them over the ground and slightly working them in, there is no difficulty in their application. Perhaps the most convenient of all for the above piu'pose are wood ashes, soot, and guano. It may be here mentioned that a very useful way of pre- serving flower-beds from the effects of drought, and also of benefiting them, is to cover them with short dung — such, for instance, as is often gathered up by childi-en on the public roads. This substance, short and not unsightly, may be spread on the bed between the plants, and it will to a certain extent jirevent the evaporation of moisture from it, while the first rain washes its fertilising properties iato the sou. Irlr. Fish uses the old dung from his Mushroom-beds for a Uke purpose, and I have no doubt with a like beneficial result. The object aimed at is not to prevent the proper warming of the ground by the sun's rays, but to an'est excessive evaporation, which robs the ground of that moistiu'e the crops so much re,quire, and which it is the interest of all good cultivators to retain in time of drought. At another time it may be parted with advantageously ; but when the sou available to the roots of plants becomes fully occupied, which it is when closely cropped, it then becomes necessaa'y to husband all its resources, and nothing conduces more to this than jireserving its moisture, and, at the same time, giving it more when its wants are so ui'gent as to call for artificial help. — J. Eobson. GAEDENS m GEEAT BRITAIN. I AM glad you have commenced giving a list of the best gardens in the kingdom, and hope your pm-pose will be ably seconded by those of your con-espondeuts who r aside in the uch; Mrs. P. Wollerstan, Slatfold Hall, Tamworth ; W. T. Everard. DOKKiNo ! White).— First, Mrs. WnU'erstan, Statfold Hall, Tamworth. Second, W. T. Everard, Bardon Hill House, Leicester. CocHiN-CuiK.v.— First, VIscountesss Holmesdale, Linton Park, Staple- hurst, Kent. Second H. E. Emberlin, Humberstoiie, Leicester. Gamr (White, Piles, and light colours). — First, C. B. Lowe. Second, W. T. Everard, Barcon Hill House, Leicester. Game ( Red, and other dark colours). — First, G. Bott, Sheepy, .\therstone. Second, C. Lea, Uowden. Hinckley. Highly Commended, J. .M. Baker, Hall End, Tamworth ; Mrs. Miihouse ; T. Horley, Jun., The Fosse. Leamington ; C. B. Lowe, Sheepy Hall, Atherstone; 11. Warner, Tiie r;!ias. Lou^'h- borough ; Dr. Hitchman, Micklcover, Derby. Commended, W. Bancrult, Clifton ; G. Bott. Hamburghs (Gold-spangledl. — First and Second, H. E. Emberlin, Hum- bersrone, Leicester. Hij^hly Cooimendecl, Captain Bucl;ley, Desford. HAsiliuncH (Gold-pencilled).— First, Captain Buckley, Desford. Second, J. Holt, Nuneaton. Highly Commended. G. Jones, Birmingham. Com- mended, J. Choyce, Harris Bridge. Atherstone. Hasidvrgh (Silver-spanglcd).— First and Second. J. Holt, Nuneaton. I Higlily Commended, Mrs. Wolferstan, Statfold Hall, Tamworth; Captain Buckley, Desford. Hamburgu (Silver-pencilled). — First, Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park, StapUhurst, Kent, Second, J. Holt, Kuneaton. Commended, T. Charlesworth, Leicester. Ant OTiiEr. Distinct Br^ed —First, C. B. Lowe, Sheepy Hall. Second, J. Meredith, Merevale, Atherstone. Highly Commended, J. Meredith ; J. Cho5ce, Harris Bridge, Atherstone. Pheasants (Golden).— Prize, S. Lennard. Leicester. Pheasants (Silver).— Prize, S. Lennard, Leicester. Dl'cks (While Aylesbury). — First and Second, H. E. Emberlin, Hura- berstone, Leicester. Ducks (.-Iny other variety).— First, C. B. Lowe, Sheepy Hall, .\therstone. Secouo, J. C'Uoyce, Harris Bridge, Atherstone. Highly Commended, A, Smith, Baxterly Hall, Atherstone ; J. Choyce. Commeuded, \V. Trussell, Jloira, Ashby-de.la-Zouch ; Captain Buckley, Ucsford ; J. Cnovce. Geese. — first, G. Cowper, Seagrave, Loughborough. Sectmd, Baroness de Clifford, Kirby Malloiy. Hinckley. Highly Commended, S. H. True- love. Hoppesfi-rd. Coventry; Biiioness de Clifford. Commended, J. M. Grundv, Dravton, Nurteaton. TuBKEVs.-^First. J. Coxon, Fieeford, Lichfield. Second, S. H. Trne- love, Hoppesford, Coventry. Highly Commended, \V. ^Vinterton, Hinckley ; Mrs. A. Guy. Eaton, Grantham ; J. Taylor, Wcddington, Nuneaton. Guinea Fowls. — Prize, J. Johnson, Braunstone, Leicester. BANTAMS.- First, W. T. Everard, Bardon Hill Hou=e, Leicester. Second, H. Warner, The Elms, Loughborough, Pigeons. — Powters or Croppers. — First, Rev. R. W. Fisher, Alton, Cheadle. Second, J. Langham, Belgrave, Leicester. Hishly Commended, H. E. Eniberlin, Humberstone, Leicester; Rev. R. NV. Fisher. Com- 'nended, J. Langham. Cairiei-s. — First, Rev. B. "W. Fisher. Second, H. Yardley, Market Hall, Birmingham. Highly Commended, H. E. Emberlin. Tumblers — First. W. Choyce, Sioson, .\therstone. Secoi.d, H. Yardley. Commended. J. Langham. Fdnt'tits. — First, W. Choyce. .Second, H. E. Emberlin. Highly commended, W. Choyce; H. Yardley. Commended, H. Y'aldlcy; J. Langham; K. Xason. Any other o'istinft variety. — First, W. Choyce. Second. H. Y'ardley. Highly Commended, J. Smith (Jacobins). Commended, W. Choyce (Nuns) ; J. Smith, Walsall (Arch- anL-els) ; H. Yardley. Rabbits. — For Wen/ht. — Prize, G. Jones, Birmingbarn. For Length of Z«r,— First, G. Jones. Second, W. Chan.berlain, Desford, Leicester. Any etliet kind —First, W. C'liamberlain. Second, Master J. ,\. Geary, Dadling- on. Hijihly Commended, G. Jones. Commended, W. Choyce. Mr. Edwai-d Hewitt, of Sparkbrook, near Birmingham, officiated as the arbitrator of the poidtry, Figeon, and Eabbit department. DEWSBUET POIJLTEY SHOYf . The field in which the annual Show was held on Wednesday, August 2Gth, is situated in Savill Town, in Thornliill, and p.bout 250 yaoi'ds as the crow flies from Savill Bridge. It was admhably suited for the purpose for which it was used, and being well dr.ained the herbage was quite ch-y, despite the rain of the day before. In Cochins some fine birds were shown, the first prize in the adult class and both the chicken prizes being won by white bii'ds. In Spanish there was close competition. The chicken prizes were easily wen by local exbibitoi-s, and we think these would be more successfid m the adult class were they not so easily tempted to part with their best birds to other exhibitors. The Hainhiirghs as usual were good, as were the Polands^ the prizes with few exceptions going to Miss Beldon and Mr. Dixon. In Game fowls there were good bh'ds shown; the prize bu'ds with few exceptions would have been successful at the principal shows. Bantams were not so numerous as formerly. We missed some of our old exhibitors in these classes. In the classes for II\:cks there was but one pen of Ayles- bm-y. The Eouen were first-rate. There were about sixty pens of Pigeons, most of which were good birds and formed a. very attractive featui-e ci the Show. At one time it was next to impossible to obtain even a ciu'sory view of some of the pens. The Rabbits were good and much admired. CocniN-CHiNA.— Fiist, W. Dawson, Hopton, Jlirfield. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Chiekcns. — First and Second, W. Dawson. SrANisH.— First. Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley. Second, J. Dixon. ! CViifA-e«s.— First, T. Greenwood, Easttleld House. Second, J. S. Senior, i BatleyCarr. September 8, 1863. ] JOURNAIi OF HOUTICULTUEE A2n) COTTAGE GARDENER, 199. DoEKiXG.— Firat» Miss E Beldon. Second, J. Dixon. C/nc/cens.— Prize, E. Leib, Greave House, liochdale. Hambukgh (Golden-spaiigied). — First, J. Dixon. Second, Miss E. Beldon. C/(?VAths.— First, J. Dixon. Second. H. Himsworth, Lupsit. Hamburgh (Si'ver-spanfjied). — First, J. Dixmi. Second, Miss E. Beldon. Chickens.— V'lVi^X, Miss E. Be'don. Second, J. Dixon. Hamburgh {Golden-pcr.ciUedj.— Fir&t, J. Dixon. Second, Miss E. Beldon. Cfiirkens.— Prize, J. Dixon. H^MBDRcit (Silvfr-pencilled).— First, J. Dixnn. Second, Miss E. Beldon. C/(;cteHS.— First, MisaE. Beldon. Second, J. Dixon. Poi,\NDs fGolden or Silver-s'^anglcd). — First, Miss E. Beldon (Silver). Second, .1. Dixon (Golden)- Chickens.— Vin^t, J. Dixon (Gulden). Second, W. Newsome, Binijley (Silveri. PoLANDS (Any cither variety). — First, Mips E. Beldon. Siicond, J. Dixon. Chickens —First, J. r>ixon. Second, VV. Ntw^ornt-. Game (Black-breasted and other Keiis). — First, H. & C. Mason, Drigh- linjiton. Second, Misd E. Beldon. Chicken 'i.—Virhl, H. & O. Mason, Second, B. Naylor, Heckmondwike. Highly Commended, J. Brook, Gomersal. Game ( DnckwingR).— First, J. P.iler, Chickenley. Second, J, H. Meson, HeckmotiUwike. Chicke7is,—Vitst, T. Vickermtn, Chickenly. Second, S. Schofield. Game {Wliite and Piles).— First and Second, K. & C. Mason. Chickens. — Fir>c and Second, H. & C. Mason. GAMt; (Bliiok and Brassy-winced, except Greys). — First, G. Noble, Stain- Cliffe. Second, J. Brook. C/d'cA-ws.— First J. Brook. Second, G. Noble. Game Cock— First, J. Hill & Sons, Drighlington. Second, Miis E. Beldon. Bantams (Black). — First, .T. Dixon. Second, S. Schofield, Heckmondwike. Bantams ( White).— Firsf, J. Dixun. Second, •^. Schufietd. ' Bantams (Gold and Silver-laced). —First, J. Dixon. Second, E. Beldon. Bantams (Game). — First, G. Nobie. Second, T. Vickernian. BtST CuCK AKD TWO HkMS NOT MtNTIONED IN THE AUOVE CLASSES. — Slack Rambnriihs. — First, J. Dixon. Second, I\Iisa J£. Beldon. Chickens, — First, E. heecb, Greave House, Rochdale. Second, S. Schofield. SwEEPsiAKES.- (?o;/je. — First, H. & C. Mason. Second, T. Vickerman. Bantam.— Vns^U T. Vickernian. Second, V/alKice A Oldroyd, Dewsbury. Ducks (.\ylesljnry).— frize, £. Leech. J2out?n.— First, J. Dixon. Second, E. Leech. PiGEOXS.—Poiyff7'5.— Prize, Mi-^^s E. Beldon. CVzrr;>rs.— First, J. Firth, Dewsbury. Second, — Hufihes, Leeds. 'J'umblers (Almond).— First, iliss E. B^ldun. Second — Huglies. Ttwibicrs (Any other variety).— Kir-it, Miss E. Betdon. Second. — Hughes. 'j"n7-bits.— First, Miss E. Beidnn. Second, — Hughes. Jacobins.— t'iv^l, — Hughes. Second, G. J. Breaiy; M. Sptdding. Trumpeters, — First, Miss E. Beldon. Spcond, S, Jlobson, Brothcrton. On- fj.— First, Mi^s E. Beldon. Second, J. Firth. Highly Couinieii'ied, — Huches. Barbs. — Prize, Misa E. Beldon. FantaUs. — L'irst, 5IiR< E. Beldon. Second, J. Futh. Nuns.— Fira^, Mis'* E. Beldon. Second, — Hughes. Common Pigeons. — First, G. S- Breary, M. Speddiiig. Second, J. Knowles, Dewsbury. A7iy other variety. — First, Mios E. Beldon, tjecond, J Wade. Hwii^ns— Lop-E(tred —First, C. A. Ridgeway, Dewsbury. Second, G. Haggard, DewsDury- For Co/oi/r. — Firat and Second, L. Brook, Goinersai. For M'enjhl.—Piv/.Qy C. A. Kidgeway. PEESENT YALUE OF COCHII-iT FOWLS. If anything were wanting in proof that good Cochin fowls are still very higlily valued by poultry-breeders, and, if carefidly bred, are a most productive soru'ce of profit, the following list of the sum produced ali-eady in this single season, from one gentleman's stud, wovild give conclusive evidence that the so-called "Cochin mania" is not to be altogether considered as a bygone, nor to be regarded as an unproductive folly. The facts, as handed to us by the ovmer himself, he has verified by the ofi'er of reference to the pm-chasers of each lot if requii-ed. In short, he solicits investigation : — LI.ST. 'Buffs, *' Partridor-coloured. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1 cock and 2 hens 13 13 0 1 cock 21 0 0 ! ditto 12 12 0 1 cocli ami 2 hens 21 0 0 1 cock 6 6 0 1 cock and 3 liens 20 0 0 I hen 5 5 0 1 cock and 2 hens 10 10 0 Panridee chickens (1863). 12 12 0 11 chickens (liiree months, 1S63) 11 11 0 Total 50 8 0 4 pullels (Birmingham "White. Show, IS62 10 10 0 1 pen, cock and 2 hens 8 8 0 2 pullers, iBt Jiirmingham, 1 ditto 5 5 0 claimedat 4 4 0 1 ditto 4 4 0 Total . , 98 15 0 2 hens 4 0 0 Total 21 17 0 " The above bu-ds have been sold for the bonCi, fide prices quoted, besides upwards of d£40 worth at lower prices, from my own yards alone at and since the Birmingham Show, 18G2. — Chas. Felton, Erdington." CHILLED EGGS. I MUST apologise for again troubling you ; but as some of your readers may still doubt my statements about eggs hatching after being cold, I have another example to offer. On the 27th July, 1863, nine Cochin-China eggs were put under a hen, which my man placed in a secure spot to sit, although not exactly suited to my views, but I let him have his way. However, the hen after a few days objected to sit by compulsion, and he came with a long face to inform me on the Gth of August, that she would not sit, and the eggs were cold. I found them quite cold and very dirty, having been trampled on. I took them and washed them, and put them under a Cochin hen. Some of the eggs (three), being addled, I threw them away, and to-day three chickens were hatched from the other eggs ; one chicken in another evi- dently dead a long time, and the other eggs clear. I had no hopes of hatching any, and had it not been for the ex- periment would have tlu-own them away. They must have been cold twenty-four hours, and they hatched one day late only. They were wetted by myself several times and hatched strong chickens ; the weather being about the same as an English Slimmer, and the hen sitting in a ban-el on its side %Tith the end open. I think this proves, as I have done before, that it is worth while to continue sitting eggs that have been chilled even when cold. — F. C. HajoSAkd. HALIFAX AjS'D CALDEE VALE AGEICULTLTEAL SHOW. The twenty-fifth annual Exhibition of the Halifax and Calder Vale Agricultural Association took place on Saturday the 29th ultimo (by the kind permission of Joshua Apple- yard, Esq.), in Clare Hall Park, Halifax. The reputation that this annual gathering has had of being one of the most attractive in the noi-th of England, was fidly borne out this year by the chai'acter of the Show. The weather being most propitious, no less than 12,000 visitors, who paid ^£310 for admission, were present. The Show comprised Cattle, Horses, Dogs, Pigs, Poultry, Pigeons, Crops, Butter, Eggs, and Implements, each department having its admirers. The arrangements of Mr. Irvine, the Secretary, were most com- plete, and admirably carried out. Poultry numbered 370 pens, and Pigeons 123. Spanish headed the list, and were more numerous than usual in this neighbourhood. In adults the competition was not so close as in chickens. We were, however, com- pletely at a loss to discover the superiority of the first over the second-prize pen. Some promising chickens were shown, but several of them were much trimmed. DorlaTigs were well represented. In chickens, the Eev. J. P. Newton was first and second with good pens. Cochins were numerous. In adults, Mr. Stretch and Mr. Dixon obtained fii-st and second positions with Buffs, while Captain Heaton's Partridge were third ; and although not in good condition, we thought the latter should have taken one step higher. In the chicken class Captain Heaton was first with a nice pen of Buffs, the cockerel rather leggy. The second prize was awarded to the same colour. Whites were third. Brahmas were shown rather strongly, and contained many good specimens. For Single Game Cocks there was an entry of eighteen, and, as might have been expected at this season, scarcely a bird in feather. The silver cup was awarded to Mr. Boyes, of Beverley, for a Black Eed of superior quality, though rather faulty in head. Mr. Fu-th took second and third with a Brown Red and Black Red respectively, the latter appearing most unhappy at the close proximity of his neigh- bours. Three pens received high commendations, to which they were unquestionably entitled. A well-known success- ful exhibitor was represented by a single specimen, which, however, was unnoticed, except by inquirers who were at a loss to make out what colour the bird was intended to be. In single cockerels especial remark is unnecessary. In the class for adult Game, good Black Beds were first and second, and Brown Keds third. Chickens were nu- merous, and of average quality. The prize adult Duckwings were good, and not equalled by the chickens. In " Any other Game," Mr. Adams's capital pen of Piles had to give phice to indifferent Blacks ; and in chickens splendid Piles belonging to the same exhibitor well deserved their first honours. In Polands most of the best birds were completely out of feather. Silvers took first in both adults and chickens, and White-crested Blacks second. 200 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September S, lS6b. GoM-penciHed Hamburghs formed fair classes, including some promising chickens. In Silver-pencUlod Haraburghs some of the exhibitors were rather perplexed to find the fcst prize awarded to a pen v/ithout any pretension to " get up," with respect to colour and white ear-lobe, more par- ticularly in the cock. In chickens. Mi'. Dixon exhibited the best cockerel we have seen this year. Golden-spangled Hamburghs were much out of feather, and we fancied the prizes might have been reversed without being much from the mark. The chickens were good. In adult SUver-spaugled Hamburghs Miss Beldon stood aloof of all competition. The chickens were a fan- lot. Black Hambui-ghs formed nice classes. In " Any other distinct breed " in adults, Mr. Dawson once more put in an appearance with his wonderi'ul Sultans, taking first; Malays obtaining the other prizes. In chickens, Chinese Silkies were fii'st, and Creve Cceurs second. Game Bantams were exhibited in greater numbers than quality. A smart pen of white-legged Black Reds were first; Brown Reds second. Sebrights were an average class ; Silver-laeed fii'st and second; and Gold-laced third. "Any other variety " Bantams were a poor lot. Whites ni'st; Blacks second ; and a combination of both colours third. Aylesbury Ihicks were capital, Mr. Fowler only receiving second and thii-d awards. In Rouens, Mr. S. Shaw's yard maintained its superiority in a very good class ; and in "Any other variety" of Ducks, the first and thu-d prizes were taken by the same exhibitor for splendid CarolLnas and Pintails ; Mandarins being second. Geese and Turkeys were well represented. The show of PUjcons formed not the least attractive fea- ture of the Exhibition, which can be easily understood when the names of Messrs. Eden, Shaw, and Beldon, a host in themselves, were included in the list of exhibitors. The Powter classes v/ere well filled. In that for single cocks, Mr. Eden was first with a splendid White ; and Mr. Smith second, with a very superior Blue. For hens, Mr. Eden carried oii' both prizes with Whites of groat length and ad- mirable shape. In Carriers, Mr. Eden obtained three out of the foirr prizes ; Miss Beldon taking fii-st with her weU- known Dun hen. The same exlubitors maintained their respective positions in Almonds. The Mottled Tumblers were excellent, more especially the first-prize pen ; while in Balds or Beards, Mr. Shaw was first and second with Blue Beards and Silver Balds. The Owl prizes were awarded to fair Whites well shown. In Tm-bits, the fii-st prise feU to Blues in good condition, rather co.'.rse and uneven in crest ; capital Reds taking second. Mr. Shaw had it all his own way in Jacobins with his famed Reds. FantaHs were good, the prize birds being in excellent condition. The Barbs were unusually meritorious. Mr. Eden's magnificent YeUows were first; while liis Blacks received high com- mendations. Mr. Shaw was second with the latter colour. Dragons were an excellent class : very fine Blues won, and changed ownership at the price of three guineas. The Ti-umijeter class was scarcely so good as might have been expected, Mr. Shaw's wonderful Mottles not having been sent. Miss Beldon was fii-st with gaod Mottles ; Blacks being second. In " Any other breed," F.lack Spots were first and excellent ; Black-head Nuns second. The Society's silver cup for the largest number of Pigeon prizes, or rather points, a first prize counting two, and a second one point, fell to the lot of Mr. Eden. Spanish.— First, J. Siddall, Halif.xs. Second, Miss E. Btldon, Gdstead' Bingley. Third, R .M. Stark, Hull. Comraended, .1. Dixnn. Bradford ; T. Greenwood, Eastlield Houhc, D<.-nbury. Chickens. — First, T. Greenwood. Second, J. SiJdall. Third, Miss E. licluon. Dorkings.— First, E. Smitli, Middleton. Second, Miss E. Beldon, Binpley, Tllird, E. M. Stark, Hull. Cunimendcd, Kev. J. F. Newton, Kirbv-in-Clevt- land. Chkkens. — First and Second, Kev. J. F. Newton. Third," H. Crosf- ley, Broomftuld. Commended, S. Tickard, Wakefield; J. Hargreaves Skipt. E. Cochin-Cbin*.— Urst, T. Stretch, Ormsldrk (Buff). Second, J. Dixon. Bradford fBulf). Third, Capt. Hcaton. Manchester (Partridge). Com- mended. .). Firth, Hiilifax. C/jutwis.— Fiiit, Cipt. )Ieaton, Manchcste'' (Buff/. Second, \V. Dawson, Slirficld (Buff,. Third, M. Mahoney, Bingley (White). Commended, Capt. Heaton. Brahma Pootra. — First and Third, H. Lacy. Hebden Bridge. Second, J. Pares, Chensey. CAii-Aens.— First, S. W. Tinker, Hudderflii-ld. Second, C. Lister, Mirfield. Third, \l. Lacy. Highly Commended, S. W. Tinker. Game.— Coct (Any age or colour).— Cup, W. Boycs. Bever,ey (Black Red). Second and Third, J. Firth, Ellens Grove (Brown and Black Red). Highly Commended, II. Snowden, Great Horton ; H. Adams, Beverley ; A. B. Dyas, Madely. CockereL—Ymt, J. Firth (Black Red). Second, T. Dyson, Halifax (not clear breast). Third, D, Jackson, Liversedge (Duck- ! wing). Highly Commended, I. Wright, Ovenden. Commended, \V. Bentley, Cleckbeaton. Game ( Llaek-breasted and other Red). — First, R. Adams, Beverley. Second, Miss E. Beldon, Bingley. Third, H. C. Mason, Leeds. Highly Com- mended, H. Crossley, Broomfield. Commended, J. Firtb, Ellens Giove. CViittciis.- First, I. Wright, Ovenden (Black Red). Secimd, J. Riley, Dewsbnry. Third. J. Hodgson, Bradford. Highly Commended, J. Firth ; It- Hemingway, Shelf; A. Hodgson, Illingwoith. Commended, J. Spencer, Howarth. Game (Duckwing, Grey, and Blue).— First, H. Adams, Beverley. Second, Miss F. Beldon, Bingley. Third, H. Snowden, Great Horton. Chickens. — First, T. Dyson, Halifax. Second and Third, J. Firtb, Ellens Grove. Game (Any other variety). — First, T. Hartley, Leeds (Black). Second and Third H. Adams, Beverley (Piles). Highly Commended, H. C. Mason, Leeds. C7iicAt7is.— First, H. Adams. Beveiley (Pile). Second, J. Hanson, Shelf (Pile). Third, G. Noble, Batley (Black). Highly Commended, W. Sulcliffe, MytliolmroTd. PoLAKL'S. — First and "Third, J. Dixon, Bradford (Golden and Silver). Second, J. Smith, Keighley (Black). Highly Commended, Miss E. Beldon, Bingley (Silver). C'/ucfte/i's.- First, W. .Newsome, Bingley (Silver). Second, J. Smith (Black). ThirJ, J. Dixon (Black). Highly Commended, J. Dixon. HamuL'KGHs (Golden-liL'ncilled). —First, S. Smith, Northowram. Second, A. M. Higgm, Burnley. Third, Mrs. M. Hemingway, Shelf. Highly Com- mended, Miss E. Beldon, Bingley. chickens. — First and Third, S. Briggs, Holywell Green. Second, J. Firth, Halifax. Highly Commended, S. Smith. HAMnuRGHS (Silver-peiiCiiled). — First, S. Briggs, Holywell Green. Second, Miss E. Beldon, Bingley. Third, S. Fielding, Middleton. Highly Com- mended, J. Liixon, Bradford. Chiikcns. — First, J. Dixon. Second, JIiss E. Beldon. Third, S. Fielding. Highly Commended, E. Gill, Bingley. Hamburghs (Golden-spangled).- First, J. Newton, Silsden. Second, Miss E. Beldon, Bingley. Third, N. Marlor, Manchester. Highly Commended, J. Ellis, Leeds. Chickens.—F.Tsl, N. Marlur. Second, J. Ellis. Third, J. Dison, Bradford. Highly Commended, Miss E. BelUun. Hambcrghs (Silver-spangled). — lust and second. Miss E. Beldon, BLngley. Third, J. Dixon, Bradforii. Highly Commended, F. W. Earle, Prescot; A. Newton, Sllsdell. Chickens,— Vivst^ Mrs. H. Sharp, Brad- lord. Second, S. Briggs, Holywell Green. Third, W. Sagar, Shipley, llAMBi'KGUs (Black, White, or any other variety).— Fiisl, H. Adams, Beverley. Second, R. H. Nicholas, Newport, Monmouthshire. Third, S. Briggs, Holywell Green. Chickens.— Firet and Second, J. Dixon, Brad- lord. Third, j'. Spencer, Howarth. Highly Commended, S. Briggs. Com- mended, S. Briggs. Any OiiiER Distinct Breed (except Bantams), — First, W. Dawson, Mirfield (Sultans). Second, Mkss E. Beldon, Bingley (Malay). Third, J. Dixon, Bradlord (Malay). Chickens. — First, G. H. Greenwood, Lower Salstonstall (Sultan). Second, W. Dawson, .Miificld (Creve Caurs). Third, Rev. W, Story, Daventrv (.\ntwerp). Bantams (Game).— Fi'rst, Mrs. Noble, Stainclltfe, Botley (Black Red). Second, I. Thornton, Heekmondwike. Third, E. Brown, Sheffield, Bantams (Sebright, Gold or Silver-lacedJ.— First, Miss E. Beldon, Bingley (Silver). Second, W. H, Itawson, Jan., Mill House (Silver). Third, J. Dixon, Bradford (Gold). Bantams fAnv other variety). ~ First, S. Schofield, Heekmondwike (White). Second, J. Gorner, Bradford (Black). Third, C. Walker, Halifax. Ducks (Aylesbury). — First, E Leech, Kochdale. Second and Third, .1. K. Fowler, Ayle'ssmy. Highly Commended. T. E. Kell, Wetherby. Commended, R. M. Stark, Hull. Ducks (Kouen). — First, s. Briggs, Holywell Green. Second and Third, J. Dixon, Bradlord. Highly Commended, S. Pickard, Wakefield. Ducks (Any other variety). — tirst and Third, S. Briggs, Holywell Green (Carolina and Pintail), becond, J. Dixon, Bradford (Mandarins). Highly Commended, F. \V. Earle. Prescot (Black East-Indian). Commended, J. R. JesBop, Hull (Black East-Indian) ; J. Dixon (Grey Call). Geese.— First, J. Dixon, Bradford (Toulouse). Second, W. Sugden, Brighouse (Emden). Third, U. Edwards, M.P., Pye Nest (Chinese). TOHKETs.— First and Second. J. Dixon, Bradlord (.American). Third, E. C. C. Walker, Crow Nest. Commended. J.- E. Norris, Brearley Hall. E.XTKA Stock.— Highly Commended, H. Edwards, M.P., Pye Nest (Black Swans) ; W. Irvine, Clveuden (Buff Cochin-China puilets). Pigeons.— Poie^ers or Cr^jppers. —h'irst, P. Eden, Salford (White). Second, VV. Smith, Beech Hill (Blue). Highly Commended, P. Eden; W. Smith. Commended, W. Smith. J«i.— First and Second. P. Eden, Salford (White), Commended, Miss E. Beldon, Bingley; E. Brown, St. Philip's Koud, ShefBcW. fdrr/eis.— First and Second, P. Eden, Salford (Dun). Commended, Miss E. Beldon, Bingley; C. J. Samuels, Manchester, ifwj.— First, Miss E. Beldon, Bingley (Dun). Second, P. Eden, Salford (Black). Commended, P. Eden, Salford ; J. Firth, Dewsbury. Ahnond Ttunul'-rs. — First, P. F.den. Second, MissE. Beldon. Commended, P. Eden. Mottled Tumblers.— 'eirs.l, P. Eden, Sallold. Second, S. Shaw, Stainland. Batds or Jieards.— First and Second, S. Shaw, Stainland [Blue Beards and Silver Barbs). (Vie/,*.— First, Miss E. Beldon (White). Second, H. Tardley, Birmingham (White). Commended, J. Firth, Dewsbury. Twriirs. —First, H. Yardley (Blue). Second, S. Shaw (Red). Commended. S. Shaw. Jrieobins. —h'irt^l and Second, S. Shaw (Red). J"cn(r/i/s.— First, T. C. Taylor, Middlesborough. Second, Miss E. Beldon. Barbs. — First, P. Eden (Yellow). Second, S. Shdw (Black). Highly Commended, P. Eden. Com- mended, S. ^haw. Brntfons.—t'utit, Miss K. Beldon (Blue). Second, J. Nelson, Ovenden. Highly Commended, A. Wliitaker, Ovenden. Trnnipe- tily Commended, .7. Hodgson. Any other vaeiety. — First, G. Hartley, Gomersal, Second, G. Noble, Heckmondwike. Spanish.— Fir5^. Jliss E. Beldon. Second, T. Bureh, SheSeld. Highly Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford. Chickens.— First, S. Robson. Second, T. Greenwood. Highly Commended, J. Siddal, Halifax; S. Senior, Dews- bury ; W. Newsoaie, Binglev. Cochis-Cbina.- First, H."i G. Newton, Garforth, Leeds. Second, W. Dawson, Hopton, Mirfield. Highly Commended. E. Smith, Manchester: R. WTiite, Sheffield. Cuickens. -First, E. Smith. Second, \V. Dawson. Highly Commended, R. While. Dorking. — First, — Himsworth, Wakefield. Second, J. Dixon, Brad- ford. Highly Commended, Miss E. Beldon. Chickens.— First, T. K. Kell, Wetherby. Second, Rev. J. F. Newton, Kirby-in-Cleveland. Highly Com- mended, J. Hirst, WakeBeld ; W. Xew.some. Hameurghs (Golden-spangled).— First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, C. W. Brierley, Rochdale. Highly Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford ; T. Burch. Chickens.— First, Miss £. Beldon. Second, T. Burch. Highly Com- memded, J. Dixon. Hamblt.ghs (Silver-spangled).- First, Miss E. Beldon. Second. J. Dixon. Highly Commended, H. Carter. Chickens.— First, J. Dixon. Second, N, Nicholas, Manchester. Highly Commended, Miss E. Beldon. Hamburghs (Golden-ptncitted). — Fiist, S. Smith, Nor. howram. Second, Miss E. Beldon. Highly Commended, J. Dixon. Chickens. — First, J. Dixon. Second, Miss E. Beldon, Highly Commended, S. Smith. Hambuhghs (Silver-pencilled). — I-'irsr, Miss E. Beldon. Second, J. Dixon. Highly Commended, T. Yickeiinan. Chickens.— First, D, Illing- worth. Second, H. Pickles, Jun. Highly Commended, J. Dixon. PoLAjiDS (Any variety). — First; Miss E. Beldon, White-crested Black. Second, J. Dixon, Silver. Highly Commended, H. Carter ; W. Newsome. Chickens. — Fust and Second, J, Dixon. Ant Breed not before named. — First, W. Dawson. Second, J. Dixon. Highly Commended, U. & G. Newton, Chickens, — First, Miss E. Beldon, Second, R. Thompson, Kendal, Bantams, Black-breasted and other Reds, — Silver Medal and First, T. Vickerman. Second, G. Noble. Highly Commended, J, G. Pearson, Whit- church, Salop ; — Harrison, Wakefleld. Bantam.s, Duckwing.— First, W. Lawrenson, AUestree, Derby. Second, Master C. Cropland. Bantams, White.— First, — Harrison, Wakefield. Second, J. Dixon. Hichly Commended, T. Vickerman. Ban'tami, Black.— First, J. Dixon. Second, S. SchoSeld. Bantams, Golden or Silver-Laced. — First. J. Dixon. Second, Miss E. Beldon. Highly Commended, G. Malpas, Jun., Wavertree, Liverpool; E. Yeardley. Bantam Cocks, Game.— First and Second, Master C. Crosland. Docks.— Prize, J. Hirst. Pigeons.— Cnrricrs. -First, H. Yardley. Second, J. Firth, Webster Hill, Halifax. Puivfers. — First, S. Robson. Second, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Highly Commended, .Miss E. Beldon. Tumblers, Almond. — First, H. Yar.lley. Second, Miss E. Beldon. Tumblers, Any other variety.— First, W. Carlton. Second, Miss E. Beldon. Bo)-6s.— First, T. D. Walker, Magenta eye. Second, H. Yardley. Jacobi7]S.—?T\7.e, F. Key, Beverley. Trumpeters.— Vint, S. Robson. Second, Miss E. Beldon. Highly Com- meded, K. Key. Oiuis.— First, H. Yardley. Second, Miss E. Beldon. r«rJi7s.— First, M. E. Jobling, Plain-headed. Seconil, Miss E. Beldon. J'antoi/s— First, H. Yardley. Second, J. W. Edge, Crested. Nuns.— First, Miss E. Beldon. Second, J. W. Edge. Any variety not mentioned. — First, H. Yardley. Second, J. W. Edge. Highly Commended, T. D. Walker ; Miss E. Beldon. The Judges were— for FotiUry, Mr. Nathan Marlor, Denton, Manchester; and Mr. Jackson, York. For Pigeons, Mr. G. Robson, Hull. COTTINGHAM POULTRY SHOW. The annual Exhibition of poultry in connection with the Floral and Horticultural Society's Show, was held at Cot- tingham on Wednesday, September 2nd, in a field kindly lent for the occasion by Mrs. Gee. Rain feU rather copiously during the previous night, and throughout the morning heavy threatening clouds often obscm-ed the sky ; but thanks to the high winds which prevailed during the day, they were driven onwards to some less-favoured locality, and the pleasure-seekers in connection with this Show had fair weather with occasional outbreaks of sunshine, which enabled them to enjoy the goodly sight. Bands of music gave forth their melody, and a large concom-se of visitors enlivened the scene. Some very excellent birds were shown in the Various classes, and in some there was strong competition, about 250 pens being entered ; the fanciers of the district being well represented in both poultry and Pigeons. Subjoined is a list of the awards : — Spanish.— First, G. Pashley, Hull. Second, K. .M. Stark, Hull. Highly Commended, O. A. Young, Driffield. CTicA-cns.- First, R. M. Stark. Second, J. Holmes, North Cave. Highly Commended, Mrs. Ward, North Dorkings.— First, R. M. Stark. Second, O. A. Y'oung. Highlv Com- mended, R. M. Stark. CTi'rfcirs. —First, H. Elvidge, Leven Carr. Second, W. Watson, Bishop Burton. Highly Commended, O. A. Young. Cochin-China (Black or White). — First, D. Bromley, Cottinghara. Second, R. Loft, Woodmansey. C/i/cftoHS.— First and Second, W. May- nard, Ganton. ,. ^ , Cochin-China (Any other variety).- First, K. Clark, South Dalton. Second, T. C. Trotter, Sutton. C/ucfojis.- First, H. Taylor, Newland. Second, T. C. Trotter. „ , „ , „ .^ Game (Black-breasted).— First, J. Hodgkinson, Hull. Second. H. Adams, Beverley. Highly Commended, H. Adams. C'Mciens.-FuBt, W. Burgess. Second, H. Adams. Highly Commended, H. Adams. Game (Any other variety)— First and Second, H. Adams. Chickens.— First and Second, H. Adams. (Whole class Highly Commended.) PoLANOs. —First, J. Stephenson, Preston. Second, R. Lolt. Chickens.— First and Second, R. Loft. „ .„ , , „ Hambdeghs (Golden-spangled).— First, J. Blanshard, Driffield. Second, G. Holmes, Driffield. C/i!eAi?n.s.— Fust and Second, J. Murgatroyd, Bishop Burton. Hambobghs (Silver-spangled;.— First and Second, S. Campling, Cotting- hara. CTticiois.-First and Second, S. Campling. Hameorghs (Golden-pencilled).— First, W. Gofton, Driffieid. Second, O Pa^hley. Chickens.— Y'lnt, J. Bilton, Cottingham. Second, W. Gofton. Hambukghs (Silver-pencilled).— First, T. C. Trotter. Second, J. Bilton. Chickens.— First and Second, S. A. and J. Faulkner, Hunmanby. B4NTAMS (Gold-laced).— First, O. A. Young. Second, R. M. Stark. Cliickens.—TiTst W. Gofton. Second, R. Green, Brantingham. Bantams (Game).— First, R. M. Stark. Second, J. K. Jessop, HulL Highly Commended, J. Cranidge. C'Aictens.— First, G. Holme. Second, W. Gofton. ,„,,,.., ,r,-, Bantams (Any other variety).— First and Second, R. M. Stark (Silver- laced and Black). CViifilciis.- First, G. Pashley (White). Second, E, Carlmg, Cottingham. „ ,_ l , c ., Any Distinct VARiETV.-First, H. Adams (Black Hamhurghs). Second, O A. Young (Malays). Highly Commended, J. Pares, Chertsey ; E. Proctor. C7ii>/,-ins.— First, J. Pares (Brahmas). Second, O. A . lonng. Farmyard Cross.— First, Mrs. White, Theame. Second, R. Goulden, Bridlington. Chickens.— First, G. Lo'.t. Second, G. Bromley. Highly Commended, G. Bromley. j n aj~ tv-j Game Cock (Any age or colour).— First and Second, H. Adams. Third, J. Cranidge, Louth. „ ^ t t^ t Guinea Fowls.— First, H. Merkin, Driffield. Second, J. R. Jessop. TORKEYS.— First, R. M. Stark. Second, O. A.I oung. Geese.— First, O. A. Y'oung. Second, K. \ oakes, Driffield. Highly Commended, O. A. Younjr. , ^ . .t- DccKS (Aylesbury).— First, R. M. Stark. Second, 0. A. Young. 202 JOURNAL OP HOKTICTJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GASDENEE. [ September 8, 1863. DccKs (Ronen).— First, T. C. Trotter. Second, R. M. Stark. Highly Commended, R. M. Stark. DrcKS (Any other variety).— First, .T. R. Jessop (EaBt-Indian). Second, R. M. Stark (F.ast-lndian). Highly Commended, R. Gowden, Bridlinpton. PiGEO.NS.— 6Vo/j/>ers. — First, W. Watson, Beverley. Second, W. Witty, jun., Coltingham. Ciirrlers. — First, W, Watson. Second, T. Ellringti'n, Woodmansey. Trumpeters. — First, F. They, Beverley. Second, H. Yardley, Birminj^ham. Jacvlins.—Ywi^t, J. K. jessop. Second, T. FUrington. Highly ComiHended, T. lUlringtOD. Tniitaih.—VlTi^r ,1: . lillrjngton. Second, "W. Watson. Highly Commended, J. 11. Jessop. Tfr/i'^/fr^. —First, F. They, Second", J. R. Jessop. Hit^hly Commended, G. J.:rratt, Hull. Barbs.— First. 'P. Ellrington. Second, W. Witty, jun. J\'b«.'!.— First, F. They. Second, J. R. Jessop. Atrizes awarded. If, on the other hand, as you say, the Secretai-y, now a bankrupt, " under- took everything," and the exhibitors accepted his sole re- sponsibility, we agi-ee with you that the prizes ai-e " not likely to be paid ; " but those entitled to thern might prove as creditors against the bankrupt's estate. — Eds. J. of H.] BEE-KEEPING IN DEVOIST.— No. XXI. A TRIP TO THE SEASIDE. I 'VE been to the seaside — "Oyes; I know," mentally interpolates the reader. "Bath- ing machines, Bath chairs, perambulators, importunate donkey-boys, circulating library, lots of children at the diggings, used-up dantlies, ultra-fashionable young ladies in balloon skirts, pilfering landlady, bad cooking, and worse attendance." Not a bit of it, my deai- Sir or Madam. I 've been to a little hamlet in the wilds of North Devon, nine miles from a market town, four miles ii'om the butcher's, a couple of miles from a letter-box, and the same distance from church, per- fectly free from the abominations you have recited, where we could do as we liked, and enjoy to the uttemiost a fine open sea (Lundy Island in the distance, but beyond that the broad Atlantic with no land in a straight line nearer than America), and an excellent beach. Oh ! the delights of that happy time, when we lodged in the quaintest of farm-houses, with doorways and cross-beams in the ceilings that barely cleared one's head ; Ix'droom doors made in the ijrimitive fashion of three rough phrnks nailed to cross pieces at the top and bottom, and seciu'ed by a wooden latch, over wliich I stuck my penknife to guaixi against accidental intrusion. What shouts of laughter arose the fj-st morning, v.lien the children found themselves imprisoned by the misbehaviour of the only iron latch that our dormitories boasted, and were ultimately released by a vigorous apjiHcation of the shoulder to the outside. \Vh:;t fun it was when, neglected by the butcher, and with no poultry immediately available, we were reduced to dine upon eggs and bacon fried to a tiuTi by that excellent farmer's wife whose cookeiy was always perfection, and brought in hot and crisp by her buxom daughter, at once the most obliging and efficient of attendants. What joUy rides we had in the spring cai-t driven by the good-natured farmer himself, and drawn by his stalwart horse sixteen hands high and rising five years old, that would walk more than four miles an hoiu-. and trot something like fourteen without a touch of the whip, which in fact his driver never carried. Not a little proud was he of this really fine animal, which had been bred by himself; nor was he ever tired of expatiating on his courage, fine temper, and manifold good qualities. Did we not ride in this way over Vt'^ooUacombe Sands, three miles long, and listen with moistening eyes and bated breath whilst our conductor related how, two winters ago, nine stout ships failed to weather the Morte {ancjlice, death) Eock at the entrance of the Bristol Channel, and all came ashore hero and went to pieces in one fatal night, when eight out of their nine crev/s were drowned, mth the exception of two men who alone siu'vived to tell the tale ? With what interest did we look at that gorse covert where, in almost the last stage of exhaustion, the master and sole siu'vivor of his ship's crew dragged himself one dark night, and with nails torn ofl' and fingers lacerated by clinging for deai- life to those rugged rocks against v/hich he had been hurled by the pitiless breakers, laid himself dov.Ti in utter ignorance of his posi- tion until the gxey light of dawn enabled him to crawl to a habitation some two or three miles inland. How surjjrised were we when on aixiving at the little village of Morthoe we suddenly found ourselves in the midst of donkeys and oi^nli- sation in the shape of visitors from Ilfracombe. Need I say that the children were rather impatient of the time we de- voted to the examination of the ancient chiu'ch recently restored by the munificence of the incumbent, and contain- ing the remains and a monument to the memory of Tracey, one of the murderers of Thomas a Becket, by whom it was founded seven hundred yeai's a,go, or describe with what delight they scrambled on donkeyback, and set ofi' down the hiU to enjoy a gallop on the sands, and pick up shells at Barrycane ? Then came a plunge into the sea and a battle with the breakers, resulting in a glorious swim outside, alternately lifted on the toiD of a watery hill and then sinking into a dark green valley extending on either band as fai- as the eye could reach, as we rose and fell with the Icng swell of the Atlantic. " Not;, Mr. Bee-keeper, this is all very well ; but don't you know that Kingsley has described North Devon scenes and characters far better than you can ever hope to do ? and that when you last went to the seaside you dwelt in stylish lodgings at a fashionable watering-place, where you visited and were visited by your bee-keeping friend who assumes the convivial initials, and that you declared you were vei-y comfortable, and enjoyed it immensely ? and don't you know what somebody says in that nasty Latin wliich I never could understand, something about a Ttncc and a. siiiior*, which I thought was very interesting to ladies, but which I am told means only that a cobbler should stick to his last ? and so, of course, a bee-keeper should stick to Ids bees, for you know a parson should " Yes, yes, my dear Madam, I do know, and fully admit the justice of all that you would urge, but I am coming to the bees presently ; and in the meantime you may aUov.- me to tell in my own way how much we enjoyed ourselves, for I have a couple of keen Editors over my head with two pairs of sharp scissors in their hands, by one or the other of wliich * Nc sutor ultra crepidam — Let not the cobbler go beyond his last. September 8, 18G3. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 203 the thread of my discourse will be cut short the moment they think it deg-enerating into twaddle. You will not, I am sure, object to my telling how the daughter of the rector was married during the nrst week of our sojoui-n, and that two of the young ladies of our party, whose curiosity led them to witness the ceremony, returned hot and tired from theii- walk, which turned out longer than they anti- cipated, but declared that the bride was beautiful, the "brides- maids charming, and the bridegroom a gentleman. On o-oino- to chm-ch the following Sunday, the aforesaid youno- ladies acted as pioneers, being supposed perfectly acquainted v/ith the road; but as they outwalked then- elders, we had to inquire the way, which resulted in our reacliing the church before them ; and it was not until the clioii' had done prac- tising, and " Home, Sweet Home," had been j^layed as a voluntary on the appeaa-anee of the clergyman, and the service was pretty well advanced, that they made their ap- pearance, haring lost much time in seeking us on the road they had taken, which had also the disadvantage of jiro- longing theii- walk to four miles instead of two. And so the first week passed. The Jozjenal or Hoeti- CULTUEE, of course, duly arrived (could I have existed with- out it ?), but I was in no humour for writing on bee matters. Even the expression of ilr. Lowe's " sm-prise " (will he ever forgive my treating his admonitions so in-everently ? ) at my "lamentable ijlaint," only moved me to laughter, and I fully enjoyed the joke of seeing his grave rebuke side by side by the article which pronounced my apiary to be " con- valescent," and contained within itself, as I thought, suffi- cient evidence that my "undaunted spirit" had by no means deserted me. During the second week the ruling spirit awoke within me, and I made the acquaintance of Mrs. S., wife of farmer S., who possessed three old stocks, fi'om which had issued five swarms, making eight in aU, which stood in a small garden in front of the house. At her request I " hefted " them one by one, and was astonished at then- weight. With the exception of a very late swarm (and even this was nearly 20 lbs.), not one weighed so little as 40 lbs., and some were certainly above 50 lbs. After a little conversation I obtained permission to drive a swarm — a second swarm of this yeai- — which, nevertheless, weighed above 501bs., and v/as so fuU of bees that large masses were clustered outside. Having to writeto Exeter for bee-apparatus, the following Saturtlay morning was fixed for the operation, and in the meantime I raised the hive from its floor-board (certainly a misnomer for a slab of slate) on three stones, in the hope that the current of air thus produced would compel the out-lying bees to seek shelter within. On presenting myself at the appointed time I was intro- duced to the worthy bee-master, who testified no small interest in my proceedings ; but I was also rather discon- certed at finding nearly the whole adult population of the village assembled to witness an exploit of which they had never before heard, and as to the accomplishment of which they were evidently incredulous. Having inducted myself into a bee-dress, and placed a couple of spare ones at the service of the timid among the spectators, but of which none would avail themselves, I proceeded to business by exerting my utmost sti-ength in steadily inverting the ponderous hive on a paU ; but in doing this I became aware that the precaution I had taken of previously raising it had been of little avaU, since the back and sides were stUl covered with clustering bees. Placing an empty hive oyer the fuU one, it became necessary to dislodge the out- siders before seoiiring the two hives together with a cloth. This was quickly done by sweeping them off with a feather ; but what an outcry arose among the spectators ! shouts and screams were overborne by roars of laughter, and the fun became fast and fm-ious as one by one rashed frantically into the house, followed by the shouts and laughter of then- companions. Foremost and loudest ia the enjoyment of the joke was Mr. S.'s father, who valorously kept the field after his descendant had beaten an ignominious retreat. His triumph was, however, of short duration, as I was soon made aware by the appearance of his son at the front door, gesticulating with delight, and exclaiming, "Feyther's a-sting'd ! feyther's a-sting'd ! He'th a got et at last ! " But when the confined bees had been conveyed into the back garden, and had been sufficiently subdued by con-. tinuous rapping to admit of my removing the cloth and raising one side of the empty hive— and when, uncovering my own face to encourage them, I invited the spectators to witness the ascent of the remaining bees, their astonish- ment was unbounded ; and I beUeve one spoke the senti- ments of the majority when he expressed his conviction that I had "a-charm'd 'em." The anger of the out-lying bees in the front garden at being so unceremoniously dislodged was, however, by no means appeased. Steady cart-horses shook their heads as they approached the house, snorted wildly, and turning short round set off on a return trip at vastly accelorated^speed, despite the loud and oft-repeated "Whoa's" of their dis- tracted drivers. Whilst restoring the bees to their original position, but in an unfurnished dweUing, I saw a frantic shoemakercharge wildly down the hfll fighting desperately with hat in hand in the vain endeavom- to° distance or keep at bay a score of winged assailants which plied their weapons without mercy. When cutting out the combs afterwards, Mrs. S. came in with the information that a sack of flour had been left at the door. " What d'ye main ?" said her husband. "I don't want no zack o' vloiu-." The expla- nation was that the miller was passing on horseback with a sack of flour, when his horse took fright and incontinently deposited his load on the spot. Altogether the driving of fai-mer S.'s bees was nothing less than a nine days' wonder, and it was declared on all hands that the inhabitants of the village of C ■ would long remember the visit and the exploits of— -A Devonshiee Eee-keepee. UNITIXa BEES. I AM a beginner in bee-keeping. I bave five liives, four of them swarms that I mean to keep, one an old hive, dome- shaped, that I mean to rob. WUl you tell me the best way of adding the bees of this hive to one of my others ? In looking over your back Numbers I see one of yoiu- correspondents recommends us by a smart blow to shake them out into the other hive. Not knowing the exact amount of smartness required, I am afraid of sending out combs and honey with one. Is it a safe operation .' or is the tedious work of driving better ? and which is the best time for it ? — Wteside. [The best mode of uniting bees in common hives is by driving in the middle of a fine day, as directed in "Bee- keeping for the Many " (page 59, new edition). You must have mistaken oxa correspondent's meaning, who doubtless referred to bees clustered in an unfurnished hive. A blow smart enough to dislodge the bees of an old stock with weU- filled combs must, as you surmise, send combs and honey with them.] EXPEEIMEiS'TES^G ON BEES AST) FOOT. BEOOD. I THINK there is not a reader of yom- valuable paper, that keeps bees, who is not very much indebted to " A Devon- shiee Bee-keepee " for the information he is so ready to give. Had it not have been for his letters many bee-keepers would have lost their bees. The dwindling away of his apiary has nothing whatever to do with its being an experi- mental one, but has arisen from his introducing the disease to it. I think if his brother apiarians had lent their assist- ance in endeavouring to find out the caiise, it would have been more like brother fanciers than to dilate on his mis- fortimes. His coming so freely forward and stating his loss will be the saving of many a hive of bees to other apiarians, for had it not been for Ms letters I should have lost the hive as stated in your paper of the 25th ult., and have also introduced the disease into my apiary. — A. W. WAX MOTHS. Last September one of my strongest stocks of bees was observed to be in great commotion. The bees made almost as much noise as when they swarm, and multitudes of them came in at the open windows of the house to the great dis- titrbance of the family. 204 JOUBNAIi OF HOE.TICULTUE.E AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ September 8, 18C3, About a montli ago I lifted up the hive and found the entire comh reduced to a mass of decay, appearing almost like yellow moss. In the centre there was a large cone attached to the roof, of which I have broken off a piece, and forward it to you by this post. The top of the hive was also covered with single cocoons like those in the enclosed mass. Each appears to contain a grub, and the moth which I enclose was adhering dead to the side of the hive. It appears to me (who have vei-y little knowledge of these things), to be one that has come forth from the chrysalis, but that never has flo\vn. — S. E. [This inqiiii-y reached us in Mai-ch last, but none of the moths came to perfection until the 30th July. They tiu-n out to be GaUeria melloneUa (Linnceus), probably the worst kind of wax moth, and appear, as far as we can judge by the illustrations in Mr. Langstroth's work, to be identical with the species which is so much di'eaded by American apiarians. The male is the G. cereana of Linnaeus, G. cerella of Guenee, and is smaller than the females, which also it outnumbers by about twenty to one. Fortunately it is scarce in this country, and the mass of cocoons you sent have proved quite a boon to all the entomologists in oiu' neighboiu-hood.] A NEW AND SUPEEIOR MATEEIAL FOE HIVE-MAEING. One consequence of my trip to north Devon, the incidents of which have been already described, is the discovery of a new material for hive-making, which promises the best resiilts. It is Elymus arenarius, or Upright Sea Lyme Grass, which grows plentifully on the sand-hills in many pai'ts of oiu- coasts, and the principal use of which is to bind sand- banks so as to prevent encroachments of the sea, and keep the sand itself from drifting during high winds. The dwellers on the north coast of Devon have also applied it to the nianufactiu'e of a cheap kind of broom, as well as a sub- stitute for straw in liive-making. Being informed that hives fabricated of this material were much neater than, and lasted thrice as long as, those made of straw, I pur- chased and brought away with me a sufficient quantity for a Woodbury ii'ame-hive. This I liave placed in the hands of Messrs. Neighbour & Sons' hive-maker, who eulogises it most highly ; and if it at all equals his expectations, the apiarian world may hereafter rejoice in the fact that the cottager's of north Devon, although much behind the rest of us in many respects, were yet able to aiford a valuable hint to — A Devonshire Bee-keepee. FOUL BEOOD PEODUCED BY FEEDING BEES WITH FOEEIGN HONEY. I WAS Sony to see the report in The Journal of Horti- culture, of July 21st and 28th, of "A Devonshire Bee- keepek's" apiary suffering from foul brood, and am afi-aid he has not yet found out the right cause. I have been a bee-keeper now some thu-ty years, and have only known one case of foul brood from English honey. It was a hive which had been sent to the moors and came back about 60 lbs. weight, when the owner set it up for winter stock. The foUowiug spring the bees did not ajipeai- to increase, but gi-adually dwindled away, and when the bee-keeper came to examine his hive he found the combs and honey cankered, and disagreeable in smell. I win give my own experience. About twelve years ago I bought a quantity of foreign honey for myself and friend. I gave to one of my stocks a quantity of the honey just as it was, and the following spring the bees commenced working as usual ; but still they never increased, and, besides, I per- ceived some of the bees crept out and died. So I tm-ned up the stock and examined it. The combs were partly covered with a brown substance, and the smell from it was most offensive. Besides this, the combs were nearly rotten, and the few bees left were crawling about, poisoned with the honey and foul smell. T'le honey I sold to my friend he boiled along with lump sugar, and the following spring part of his bees died, but towards the latter end of AprO they partially recovered theii- strength, but were not as good hives as they ought to have been at that season. Both my friend and myself laid the blame at the time to the foreign honey, as my hives, which had aO honey given them, dwindled completely away, whilst his which had only part honey mixed with sugaj-, recovered after losing part of their- bees. If "A Devonshire Bee-keeper" has fed his bees with foreign honey, I should say that is the cause of the disease. I merely suggest this from my own experience, and I have never used loreign honey since. — C. B. H. [This nan-ative confii-ms the correctness of German apiarians, who state that foul brood is usually produced by feeding bees \vith imported honey. In my own case, how- ever, I have no reason to believe that it had anything to do with the misfortune, since, although I used a portion of foreign honey, I pai'ted witli some of it to my friends, Messrs. S. B. and George Fox, in neither of whose apiaries were any evil effects produced by its use. — A Devonshire Bee- keeper.] BEES IN CUMBEELAND. Perhaps a short account of apiarian doings in Cumberland may be interesting, and I will, therefore, write a few lines upon the subject if you think them worthy of publication. In the first place, I may say that it has been generally considered a very favourable season, although swamis were not so early this year as last. The fii'st that I heard of was on the 30th of May. and during the first week in June they were frequent; and for numbers a very old bee-keeper assm'ed me he never knew such a season, he having a top swarm wliich swarmed four times, two of which swarms he lost. Another individual has a hive which has swarmed seven times since the 19th of June last, all of which swarms he seciu'ed ; and another person has a hive wMch swarmed twice in one day. So much for swarming. I have watched with interest the progi-ess of the Ligurian species, and rejoice to hear that they have acquited them- selves so well; but I think they must not be allowed to carry off aU the honoui- and gloi-y. An old friend of mine who has been a successful bee-keeper with the cottage straw hive, although knowing little about bees scientifically (calling the queen " the Maister Bee "), took from a hive a top swai-m lately, which weighed 8 stone 2 lbs., and a top he took off the same hive before weighed 8 lbs. That, I think, the Ligmians will find it difficult to exceed. I have often thought that the elevation of the bee-stand has a considerable influence upon their successftd swaiiuing. If too high they are apt to fly away, and if on the level they are very slow in swai-ming. A gentle elevation I think answers best. A few hives under my own care stand low, and the swarming was so tedious that I have practised arti- ficial swarming for the last ten years by driving, and always with success. I only once failed in diiving the queen at the first operation — five minutes I find sufficient time to drive. A bee-dress or gloves I never think of. A few puffs of smoke fi'om a puff-ball keep them quiet. With regard to famOy affaii-s, I have kept them quite dark ; but, if it be true that Huber heai-d them speaking the French language, some of yoiu' readers that spe;ij; French might inquire if they ai'e at all sensitive upon th.- subject. — A Friend of the Bee. OUE LETTEE BOX. Sheffield Poulit-y Show.— In reply to "ExHiBiTon," r. H. Nicholas and T. Davies, of Newport, Monmouthsihire, be? to state that they have not received their prize money from the ]:ue Show. liAEBiTs KILLING THEiit YouNG [F. M. J*a/Aci), — The ohIj cure is to Ititl the infanticide. Taking Honey — Hliibt-z Bees (A. G.).— Honey mar be taken as soon as the honey-harvest is over, but this varies rery much in different localities. In some districts all increase ceases in July, whilst in others it continues till October. The bees you have purchased belong to the only species of hive bee indigenous to Britain. The large, heavy, black-velvety bees yon describe are a species of wild humble bee, the females of which alone sur- vive the winter. They do not store honey like the hive bee, and their natural history precludes their being dnniestieaced in the same manner. Work on Bees (Hot aii Old Subscriber).— \o\i will find ;iU hives worth notice described, and many depicted, in the fifth edition of "Bee-keeping for the Many," just published at our orSce. You can have it free by jiosr. for sis penny posta^'e stimps. All cominuaications to our departmental writers must be in the pages of our Journal, Squirrels (— ).— You will find an article on the subject in our nesr Number. September 15, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICTJLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 205. WEEKLY CALENDAR. D4T Day of of M'ntllWeek.| 15 Td . IC W 17 Th 18. F 19 S 20 Son 21 M SEPTEMBER 15—21, 1863. A. L. Jnssiea died, 1836, Bot. Ember Week. Silere itiaritima fiower^. Prof.' J. F. Jolinston died. 18-55. .4renariii eiUatj, iinwers. 16 Sunday afiee Tei-itv. St. Matthew. Average Temperature near London. Day. 67.0 68.1 68.8 66.5 66 6 6C.8 64.9 Night. 46.5 48.1 4C.4 44.5 46.2 44 0 46,0 Mean. 56.7 68.1 67.6 66.4 65.9 65.4 85.0 Rain in last 36 years. Days. 18 15 14 17 18 16 19 San Kises. m. h. 36af 5 37 5 39 6 40 5 42 5 44 5 45 5 Sun Sets. m. li. 15af6 13 6 10 6 8 6 6 6 3 6 1 6 Aroon Rises. m. h. 17a 8 27 9 39 10 49 11 54 0 52 1 40 2 Moon Sets. m, h. S8a 6 5 7 38 7 20 8 13 9 15 10 28 11 Moon's Age. Clocls after Sun. m. s. 4a44 5 5 6 26 6 47 Day of Year. 258 269 260 261 262 263 264 From observations taken near London during tlie last thirty-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 66.9°, and ita night temprratnre 45.7'. The greate.'-t heal;: was 84', on the 17lh, 1843 ; and the lowest cold, 20", on the 17th, 1840. The greatest fall of ram W.1S 0.90 inch. AMAEANTHUS MELANCHOLICUS EUBEE AIN'D COLEUS A^EESCHAFFELTI. APIDtliougli the increase of plants has been which the enter- iirise of eollectoi-s sent to distant lands ha-s placed within our reach, and not- withstanding the- many im- provements which the hy- bridisers of the present day have effected in bedding plants, it is questionable whether the plants culti- vated in the most fashionable flower gardens of the present time pre- sent so large an arra}' of names as similar lists did fifteen years ago ; for the yeai'ly additions are coun- terbalanced by corresponding weed- ings-out. Probably in many in- stances the latter work has exceed- ed the former, so as to leave fewer names on the flower-garden list than existed before variegated plants be- came such an important feature ; or before the Cuphea and more re- cent introductions found their way into general use. That successive wcedings-out are wanted there can be no doubt ; and some go to great extremes in this respect ; while others, anxious as much to retain a collection as to produce an efiect, preserve a longer list of names. There are, how- ever, plants which have gone out of fashion through the current of public opinion having set in against them, and this latter class is everj' year receiving fresh accessions, often from plants that have scarcely had a fair trial. So fastidious have our flower-gardening connoisseurs become of late, that it is not an easy matter to please them now. The properties possessed by a plant arc far more carefully examined than years ago. To be a favourite in the flower garden now it is requisite that a plant be ornamental from June until November, no lack of servitude during that period being permitted. A freedom but not rankncss in growth is also required, as well as sulKcient hardiness to withstand cold winds, and many other points of merit. This strict and almost unreasonable service on the part of a plant has of ne- cessity in some cases driven flowers from the stage, and substituted foliage instead, the latter being more constant and lasting ; and the increasing use of foliage instead of flowers in our flower gardens threatens to drive the latter from the field ; but a change in public opinion may take place, and flowers be again in the ascendant. Now and then, however, useful additions in the way of coloured foliage have been tried with good effect. The Perilla is gi-own in many places to a large e.xtent ; and not long ago, in a popular flower garden in Yorkshire, I noticed Ko. 129— Vol. V., New Series. that Eed Beet had been introduced into the flower-beds with tolerably good effect. Purple Orach had been tried many years before, but its use is now on the decline ; the more accommodating habit of Perilla fitting it better^ for the various duties a plant of extraordinary-coloured ibliage is called on to fulfil, and in its pecidiar tintr perhaps no more suitable plant could be had. There are, however, other plants to which it would be desirable- to give a trial for out-door work of this kind, and pro- bably with a little coaxing at starting they might do good service. The AiiAKANTHUs .\iELANcnoLiOTJS suBEE, which I ac- knowledge to having recommended to the notice of all flower-gardeners last year, has, in a very great many cases, failed this season in giving that satisfaction which it was expected to afford ; and at several gardens which I lately had an opportunity of seeing in Lancashire, Yorkshii-e, and adjoining counties, it was pronounced a complete failm'e. I confess to having my own misgivings as to its utility in the early part of the season. Since then, however, or rather since the last week in July, it has made rapid progress in the garden here, and at the present time (September 1), it is second to no plant in the garden for general effect ; and a plant with a better habit could not well be conceived. I have two rows of it forming lines of colouring in two striped or ribbon-borders, consisting of four rows each, which are respectively Lobelia speciosa, yellow Calceolaria, this Amaranthus,- and Cloth of Gold Geranium. The three plants which form its companions are well known, and the Calceolaria and Lobelia are generally regarded as free growers. The Geranium Cloth of Gold is not so free ; but the Amaranthus at the present time far out- strips them all. The foliage from the spreading branches having touched the ground on all sides it has been necessary to stop, otherwise it would have spread over the adjoining Calceolarias and Geraniums. The colour, I may observe, is of that rich purple-crimson which con- trasts so well with everything around it ; and looking at it either in the direction of the sun or the reverse way it is equally beautiful, although it must be observed that there is a difference in the tints it presents when viewed in opposite directions. Its utility is, however, so well established, that I feel disposed to give it. a more ex- tended trial next year, but wUl treat it in a somewhat different manner, having learned from experience that the usual treatment given to ordinary bedding plants is not alike suitable for all. Taking a view of the treatment which the four varieties of plants forming the ribbon-border above mentioned received. I would observe that the Calceolaria A.urea floribunda was planted out some time about the middle of April. Some in another place were planted out earlier than that and did well; but the Geranium, Lobelia, and Amaranthus were all planted at one time, the second week in May — too soon for the Amaranthus, as the sequel proved ; for a great many of the plants dwindled away, forming a sort of abortive seed-stem. The places of those which failed were filled up about the bcgiuulug Ko. 781.— Vol. XXX., Old Sebies. 206 JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AJ^fD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ September 15, 1863. of June, and up to the end of that month plants were occa- sionally put in, but it was not until the middle of July that any show was made, the Calceolaria and Lobelia having done good service in the flowerintj way for some time. It was now the time for the Amaranthus to show its good qualities, for the di-y warm weather wliich set in with July was just the weather that suited it, and just what the Cal- ceolaria and Lobelia did not like. The Calceolaria, after an unusual display of bloom in July and August, is now almost done for; the dry weather not having favoured its growth a succession of flowers has not been formed, and it is too late to expect them now. The Lobelia has done better, and is still gay and likely to be so ; the Geranium has made little progress ; and now, as before stated, the Amaranthus requires rather severe amputations to keep it in its due proportion of height and width. Nov.', taking the merits of this Amaranthus in competition with the Perilla, I have no hesitation whatever in giving the preference to the latter for early and general work in all but the most favoiu-ed places, as the Perilla may be planted early in May and succeed well. Even seedling plants taken from the hotbed with scarcely any hardening- off, and planted out of doors, have done tolerably well, but, of course, better when they were hardened-off a little. The Amaranthus most certainly will never endure this. But it has its merits : when it does grow and prosiJer it far excels the Perilla in appeai'ance ; the rich hue it presents contrast- ing strongly with the bronze tone of the Perilla, while the habit of the plant is equally good — indeed better in many respects, being more disposed to spread than the Perilla, and as an individual plant much its superior. That it may be so treated as to become a more useful member of the flower-gardening family I have no doubt ; but I fear it re- quires a greater amount of warmth or sunshine than it can receive in the north of England, excepting in unusually fine summers. It is, however, well worth trying ; and the experience of the present year points out that it is not prudent, even in favoured places, to plant it out before June, and by so doing it is likely it may be made a useful adjunct to the flower garden. CoLEtrs Vekschaffelti. — While speaking of the Amar- anthus it is but right to mention this plant also, which was announced as likely to answer as a bedding plant. In my case, I am son-y to say it has fallen short of what the Amar- anthus has become, but I did not plant so much of it. A bed in a geometric garden was, however, jjlanted with this Coleus, and as it was well sheltered fiom the north and east I expected it would have done well ; but the j^lants, which were, like most others, all planted before the middle of May, made little or no progress untU the middle of August ; and since then they have grown a little, but the colom- is not that rich hue which the plant has while in the hothouse. I will, however, speak of this plant later in the season, or perhaj^s some one else will do so. My experience of it goes to lu-ove that it is less promising than the Amaranthus, but I believe this is not the universal opinion. Certainly the only plants of it that I have seen doing well had not been long out of the hothouse, so that they could not be said to have grown out of doors. In hqt dry summers like 1858 ,and 1859 I have no doubt that it wUl succeed ; but summers suitable for growing stove plants out of doors are not of yearly occurrence, so we must wait for one to try those delicate ornaments outside with sometliing like a prospect of success. It is many years since I tried Torenia asiatica as a bedding plant with Pentas carnea and some others with a fair share of success in a hot year, but I met with a complete fadm-e in a dull damp one. Since then I believe Begonias have been tried with like success. That it is desirable to make such exjjerimeuts cannot be denied, but it is better to hold fast to such tried friends as never deceive us for doing service in important places, and to let those on probation have a berth to themselves which wUl afford them every advantage for doing well ; .and if they do so let their cidtiu-e be extended another year, ta.king care, however, not to be deceived by the well-doing of a plant in a, season well adajited for it, so as to be led to expect that it will do equiUly well in one of a contrary description. Having extended the above remai-ks to a gi-eater length than I intended, I must defer until another opportunity the somewhat ungi'acious task of " weeding " the flower garden of its useless or superfluous occupants. I would also be glad to have the opinion of others on this head, and would suggest that each writer shoidd class his favourites under different heads — as Class 1, which might include only the vei'y best ; Class 2, a secondary section ; and Class 3, those which might be used occasionally ; but any other aiTange- ment that woidd convey the idea intended to be expressed woidd do. The introduction of a new jjlant is not more serviceable to the gardening community than the removal of existing iiseless ones, and a good and tearless weeding- out will be of much service. — J. Eobson. THE EOYAL HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.— SEi'TKJiiiEu 9th. On this occasion the Exhibition was held in the deserted saloons of the French refreshment department of the Ex- lubition building, and the attendance of visitors was such as to render the propriety of holding exhibitions in September very questionable indeed. Those who have country seats have now retired to them ; those who ai-e sportsmen are thinking of sport ; the larger class of tradesmen with their families are either off for their hohday to the seaside, to the north, or to the continent, or have just returned and have no time to spai-e ; and there only remain those who are chained to the wheel of business, and who, therefore, are amongst the least likely to cozne in force to flower shows. So numerous, too, have these been this summer, occiu'iing week after week, and too often presenting the same general features, that the jjublic have tu'cd of them, and would now gladly rest for a season. Eain in the morning, continued in some parts round London till noon, combined with a lowering sky, warning drops of rain, and every indication of an ap- proaclung thunder-storm, no doubt served, in addition to the above causes, to deter many from visiting the Exhibition ; but fortunately, however, during the time this lasted the weather remained fair, though not fine, and it was not tfll ten o'clock at night that a sharp thunderstorm came on, accompanied by such a downpoiuing of I'ain as would have ruined the hopes of many an exliibitor had it occurred on the previous day. The productions which were exhibited were an-anged in four divisions, no one of which could be seen fi-om the other — an an'angement which from the internal natiu-e of the building was inevitable, but which had the effect of spoiling the Exhibition as a whole. It ju-esented no long vista, as at the Crystal Palace, of flowers and fi-uit — no long array of earnest gazers — and, consequently, being taken in detail, no grand impression could be produced. The rapid demolition going on in the Exhibition building, and visible in all its nakedness through several glass doors, was also little in harmony v/ith what should have been a scene of beauty, al- though it seemed to be viewed by the visitors with a feeling of complacency rather than otlierwise. We now come to the particulars of the Show itself, which, with the exception of some things in the Miscellaneous Class and those submitted to the Floral Committee, con- sisted principally of Daldias, Hollyhocks, Asters, and Gla- dioh, all of which, and particularly the first and last, were shown in gi'cat perfection. Dahlias were even finer than they were at the Crystal Palace, and Mr. Turner and Mr. Keynes again took off the principal prizes in the Nurserymen's Classes. In 48' s no stand coidd have been finer than that of Mr. Turner ; his blooms appeared at the Ciystal Palace as if they could not have been surpassed, but on this occasion they were still larger, still more perfect. It would have been im- possible to have picked out an inferior bloom among the whole, and it would be tedious to merely give the list of their names, bat the following are some of the most striking — viz., Norfolk Hero, Warrior, Sidney Herbert, Mr. Stocken, Criterion, Goldfinder, Pre-eminent, Mrs. Henshaw, Lord Palmerston, ChauTnan, Bob Kidlcy, Charlotte Dorhng, Earl of Shaftesbury, Beauty of HUperton, Princess of Pi-ussia (a beautiful canary yellow), Lord "Derby, Juno, and Hugh Miller. In the second-prize stand fi-om Mr. Keynes, the blooms were not generally so large, nor were some of them so perfect as Mr. Turner's. Criterion, Lord Derby. Eegu- larity, Fanny Purchase (a fine yellow). Sir J. Douglas, and September 15, 1863, ] JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 207 Bob Ridley, were some of the most remarkable. Mr. Cattell, of Westerham, was third witli an excellent stand, in which we noticed Criterion, Lord Derby, George Elliott, Cygnet, and Chai'lotte Dorling. In 24's Mr. Turner was also fii-st with Criterion, George Elliott, Umpire, Mauve Queen, Midnight, Bob Ridley, Juno, Goldfinder, Lord Palmerston, Norfolk Hero, Mr. Stocken, Lord Derby, Andi-ew Dodds, Delicata, and others. Mr. Keynes was second — Baron Taunton, Anna Keynes, King of Sweden, Leopard, Fanny Purchase, and John Wyatt, being some of the best ; and Mr. Perkins, of Northampton, was third, his blooms being also good. Mr. Legge, of Edmonton, Ml-. Cattell, and Messrs. Garraway, of Durdham Down, were also competitors. In the Amateurs' Class of eighteen, Mr. Thornycroft, of Floore, near Weedon, was fii-st, with some very fine blooms of Norfolk Hero, John Dory, Cygnet, Mrs. Piggott, Hugh MOler, Juno, Lord Derby. Mrs. Henshaw, Volunteer, Mr. Critchett, Andrew Dodds, Admii-al Dundas, Baron Taunton, Lilac Queen, Model, Lady Popham, Lord Palmerston, and British Triumph. T. Charlton, Esq., of Kebworth, was second with a capital stand, in which there were many of the kinds already named. Mr. Coi-p, of Milford, was third ; and the Rev. Mr. FeUowes, of Shottesham Rectory, was fourth with a stand in which a yellow seedling. Mauve Queen, Lord Dundreai-y, and Hugh Miller, were noticeable. Mr. Hopkins, of Brentford ; Mr. Sladden, of Ash ; Mr. Perry, of Castle Bromwich, and several others also competed creditably. In eighteen Fancies (Nm-sei^men), Mi'. Keynes was iirst, with Bai-on Alderson, Garibaldi, Patent, Triomphe de Roubais, PoUy Pawcett, Cai-nation, Pauline, Mrs. Crisp, Reliance, Lady Paxton, Oliver Twist, Mrs. Wickham, Nora Creina, Regulai-ity, Leopard, Harlequin, Queen Mab, and Sam Bartlett. In the stand of Mr. Turner, who was second, were fine blooms of The Phi't, Zebra, Summertide, Stafford's Gem (a veiy pretty crimson tipped with gold), Gai'ibaldi, Harlequin, and Lady Paxton. Mr. Legge was third ; Messrs. Cattell, Gai-raway, and Perkins also competing. In the Amateurs' Class of twelve, the Rev. C. FeUowes was fii-st with excelleut blooms of Pauline, Lady Paxton, Fancy Queen, Oliver Twist, Hai-lequin, Queen Mab, Flii-t, Summertide, and some seedlings. Mr. Corp was second, Mr. Slade third, and Mr. Pen-y fom-th. Hollyhocks were not remarkable. Mr. W. Chater received first prize; Acme, Wan-ior, Princess of Wales, Invincible, George Young, and Rev. Joshua Dix were the best. Messrs. Minchin & Sons, of Hook Norton, were second; Messrs. Paul & Son thii'd. Asters. — Both German quilled, and French varieties were first-rate, Mr. Betteridge taking off the iii-st prizes in both classes. Mi-. Wyatt, of Epsom, was second, and Mr. C. Sandford third in each class. Gladiolus. — With this flower a gi-and display was made by Messrs. Youell and Mr. Standish, of Ascot, who were respectively fii-st and second ; but it must have been a diffi- cult matter for the Judges to have decided on their respec- tive merits. Owing to the late heavy rains, however, many of the flowers had suffered somewhat, more especially those shown in the Amateui-s' Class. Of Messrs. YoueU's collection Madame Vihnoi-in, Ophir, Princesse Clothilde, Napoleon III, Madame Rabourdin, Mazeppa, and Pline were fine. Mr. Standish had Etna (a fine red), Impi'ratrice Eugenie, Mrs. Dix, George Stephenson, Brian Boi-u, Charles Davis (a beautiful scai-let with white markings in the throat), and others of which an account will be found in the report of the Floral Committee. There were also extensive collections from both the above exhibitors, which, though not for com- petition, were vei-y interesting. Mr. Prince, of Oxford, had third prize. La Quintinye, Reine Victoria, Ambroise Ver- schaffelt, Le Poussin, Rembrandt, Madame BasseviDe, and Fanny Rouget were those shon-n best. Mr. Cattell had also good splices. Among Amateurs Mr. Sladden, Mr. Perry, and the Rev. H. Dombrain were the successful competitors, ranking m the prize list in the order in which they are named. In their stands were good spikes of Prospero, Calypso, Le Poussin, Sappho, Jeanne d'Arc, Victor Verdier (small, but fine in coloui-), Endymion, and Bridesmaid. Miscellaneous. — Verbenas were shown in excellent con- dition by Messrs. Perkins & Son, and Mr. Pen-y, of Castle Bromwich, who received first and second prizes ; fine large trusses of Phloxes by Mr. Turner, of Slough ; several boxes of Roses in good condition by Messrs. Paul & Son, and some excellent Asters in pots by Messrs. Cutbush. Prom Messrs. Veitch came the beautiful sweet-scented Liliuni auratum, the curious scarlet Anthiu-ium Scherzerianum, the fine crinison-foliaged Draoaina ferrea variegata, Odonto- glossum grande, the large white-flowered Pancratium zey- lanicum, and other plants, which were submitted to the Floral Committee. Mr. BuU had likewise an extensive group of new and rare plants, among which were Gesnera Radiancy, with highly ornamental foHage, some new arbo- rescent Begonias, Adiantum radiatum, and the beautiful Marattia elegans, Drosera dichotoma, and several new Cala- diums. Messrs. A. Henderson had the Cotton-plant in pod ; Mr. Salter, variegated plants for ribbon-borders ; and Messrs. E. G. Henderson, a selection of Ivies and variegated Gera- niums ; whilst Messrs. Carter & Co. had excellent double Zinnias, French Marigolds, Asters, and Everlastings. The following remarks on the Gladioli and Roses ex- hibited, are from our valued contributor, " D., Deal : " — [Notwithstanding the prevalence of disease amongst Gla- diolus, the stands exhibited were of surpassing excellence, and it w.as evident that it could not have affected those growers whose magnificent spikes of bloom and luxuriant loUage displayed the very perfection of vigour and growth. The positions of the two great combatants in the Nursery- men's Class were the reverse of that at the Crystal Palace Show, Messrs. Youell being fii-st, and Mr. Standish second. The spikes of bloom exhibited by the former were longer and fuller ; but in variety and quality Mr. Standish's were unquestionably the best. He had besides several boxes of blooms, which made a grand display. Amongst the most conspicuous of his flowers were — Ganymede, a flne flower in the style of Poussin ; Mrs. Dix, white, of good substance ; Lord Clyde, a large and very fine flower ; Etna, glowing red ; Charles Davis, beautiful crimson with white feathers ; George Stephenson, claret, a novel shade of colour ; Princess Alexandra, a vei-y novel flower, creamy buff, crimson feather, almost of the colour of a Dendi-obium ; Randle Jackson, light pink splashed with carmine, deep crimson feather ; Boadicea, dark crimson splashed with deeper crimson ; Brian Boru, vei-y large, crimson, violet feather; Edith Dombrain, soft salmon, splashed with deeper shade; Demosthenes, fine shape ; Euterpe, white, with violet feathers ; Roscius, red, with violet Up ; PoUux, cream, with dark red blotch ; Mi-. Marnock, oheiTy red ; Aui-elian, vei-y bright crimson ; Mar- garet, fine white ; La Belle, beautiful soft pink ; Mrs. Peach, peach, with deep crimson markings; and IL-s. Dombrain, a beautiful flower, something like Impt-ratrice Eugenie, but better. In Messrs. YoueU's were some fine blooms of AchiUe, Madame VOmorin, Ophir, Oracle, Napoleon III., Poussin, Linnc, Marie, PHnc, Ophir, and other well-known French kinds admirably bloomed. The same may be said of Mr. Prince's flowers, and of Mr. CatteU's, who had some promising seedlings. In the Amateurs' Class, Mr. Sladden, of Ash-next-Sand- wich, was first with seedlings Cleopatra, Hector, Volunteer, Prospero, Philip Van Artevelde, Sappho, Lord Clyde, Poussin, Adonis, Fanny Rouget, Madame Breol, Conranti fulgens. His stand was very effective and exceUently bloomed. Mi-. Perry, of Castle Bromwich, was second with Jeanne d'Arc, Sulphureus, Calypso, Le Poussin, Madame de Vati-y, Mazeppa, Raphael, Mai-ie, AchiUe, Janii-e, and Pre- mier de Montrouge. The Rev. H. H. Dombrain was third with Standish's Mi-s. R. Hole, Earl of CarUsle, Mi-s. Dombrain (fine), Viola, Lucifer, Mi-s. Livingstone, and Lemonade; seedlings Lord Warden, Orange Boven, and Bridesmaid, and Victor Verdier and Endymion. Roses were exhibited in goodly number by Mr. Turner, Messrs. Paul & Son, and Mr. Chirke, of Biixton ; they were good for the season of the year, and the prizes were awarded as named. Senateur Vaisse, Madame Falcot, Mai-eehal VaiUant, Catherine GuiUot, Victor Verdier, Celine Forestier, Triomphe d'Angers, Souvenu- de Leveson Gower, Madame Furtado, Comtesse de ChabriUant, and other weU-known kinds were on most of the stands ; but it was surely quite a mistake not to offer prizes at this season for them.] The effect of this portion of the Show was much better 20S JOITRNAX OF HORTICULTITRE AND COTTAGE GAEDEN^E. [ September 15, 186S. than that produced by the floral depai-tment, and there was an aspect of order about it, combined with variety, which was Tery pleasing. Still, as an Exhibition of fi-uit, it -was far from complete, and no exhibition can be considered so where such important articles of the dessert as Pines, Grapes, and Melons are escluded fi-om competition. There is certainly less merit in producing these fine now than at an earlier period of the season; still we think it was a mistake to entirely exclude the above fruits from competition, and to restrict the prizes to out-door fi-uit only, and that at a time when Ajiples and Pears are for the most part tinripe. Grapes in particular, had they been invited, would have afforded a useful field of observation as regards their comparative earliness and lateness. It would have been desii-able, for mstance, to have seen whether we could not have really ripe Muscat Grapes in September ; for, with the exception of those shown by Mr. Dronmond at the Crystal Palace, none have been seen this year at the metropolitan shows exhibiting that beautiful russeted amber colom- which is indicative of perfect ripeness. The ripening, too, of the Grapes in the conservatory at Chiswick would also have afforded an ex- cellent opportunity of comparing different varieties, with which view prises might have been offered for collections of these. The collections of eight dishes, notwithstanding that good fruit was shown, looked meagi'e when confined to out-door productions only, and none of them could be considered as furnishing a good dessert. Mr. Turner had first prize for Peaches, Nectarines, "Williams' Bon Chretien Pears, MoreQo Cherries, Washington Plums, Brown Tirrfcey Figs, and Bed Currants. Mr. Henderson, of Treutham, was second, with Teton de Venus and Barrington Peaches, Pitmaston Orange, and Ebnige Nectarines, Moorpai-k Apricots, Brown Tiu'key Figs, Morello Chen-ies, and Eeine Claude de Bavay Plnms. Mr. Kaile was third ; and collections also came from Mr. Bousie, gardener to Lord Taunton. Mr. Brush, and Mr. Sandford. PEACRES.^There were Classes for four dishes, and for single ones, forty-five dishes in all being shown. Grosse Mignonne, Violette Bative, BaiTington, BeUegarde, and Walburton Admirable, were the chief kinds. In tbur dishes. Ml-. Dawson, gardener to Eai-1 Cowper, was fii-st with Vio- lette Hative and Bamngton (large and fine). Champion, and Teton de Venus -. and Mr. A. Henderson was second with BeUegarde, Madeleine de Corn-son, Bairrington, and Late Admirable, in single dishes, equal first prizes were awarded to Mr. Eust and Mr. KaOe ; to the one for Wal- burton Admirable, to the other for immense fruit of what was stated to be Ban-ington, but more like the Shanghae. Ml-. Dawson was second with good well-coloured fruit of Violette Hative ; and Mr. S. SnoV third with BeUegarde. Nbctaeinss, for the most part, consisted of'violette Hative, Eh-uge, and Pitmaston Orange, and were very ordinary in appearance. Mr. Dawson was first in four dishes with Pitmaston Orange, Violette Hative, Elruge, and Balgowan; Mr. Henderson second. In single dishes G. Wilson, Esq., Weybridge, had the first prize for the Stanwicfc grown in pots in an orchard-house ; and third prizes were awarded to Mr. BaUey. of Shardeloes, for Eh-nge, and to Mr. Snow for Violette Hative. Fios. — Only twelve dishes were shown. Brown Turkey being almost the only kind. In three dishes Mr. Bousie had fii'st prize for Broivn Tm-key, Brunswick, and Wliite Genoa ; and in single dishes Mr. BaUey had Brown Turkey (exceUent), and Mi-. Savers and Mr. Snow were second and tliii-d with the same kind. Cherries. — Only fifteen dishes were shown, and. with the exception of Kentish from BIr. Earley, and Florence, they were aU MoreUos and generaUy very fine. Mr. Snow was first; Mr. Tiu-ner second; JIi-. Bndd, gardener to Lord Damley, third. Plums were both numerous and good. Some very fine Jef- ferson and Washington were shown, also Victoria, GoUath, Goe's Golden Drop, Green Gage, Ku-ke's, White Magnum Bonum, Diamond, and some others. In four dishes Mr. Snow was fii-st, Mr Cox, Sedleaf, second, and Mr. BaUey thii-d ; and from Mr. Wilson came some exceUent fi-uit from an orchard-house. Mi-. Sayer had Pond's Seedling, fine ; Mr. Budd, Jefferson and Washington, very good. Extra prizes were awarded to both of the last-named exhibitors. In single dishss Mr. Snow was first with Jefferson, large and ■finely ripened ; Mr. Knight, Twickenham, second -with Coe's Golden Drop; and Mr. Alves, Bromley, third with White Magnum Bcnum, very large. Apples. — More than a hundred dishes were brought for- ward. Neai-ly aU were um-ipe, and therefore could not be said fairly to represent the varieties to which they belonged. There were some weU-coloured examples of Feam's and Cox's Orange Pippins, Ken-y Pippin, and Bed Quarrenden. We noticed that some of the exhibitors had evidently been poUshing up their Apples with the hand or othei-wise, the efi'ect of which proceeding was to remove the bloom ; and we -would recommend to then- consideration how their Black Hamburgh Grapes would look if subjected to the same process. In dessert kinds the first prize was awarded to Mr. Bousie for Feai-n's, Cox's Orange and Eibston Pippins, aU of which were very good ; the second to Mr. Mortimore, who had Cox's Orange, Old NonpareU, and Eibston Pippin. Mr. Wren, of WaUington, was thii-d with Kerry and Eibston Pippins and Nonsuch. Mr. Grover, of Hammersmith, had Kii'ke's Incomparable beautifuUy coloured. Of kitchen Apples large fruit of Eeinette du Canada, Alfriston, HoUandbury. Alexander, Dutch Codlin, Dumelow's SeedUng, Hawthomden, Torkshfre Greening, and some others were brought for competition. Mr. Snow was first with Alfriston (vei-y large). Golden Noble, and Cumberlean ; Mr. Anstiss, Chiswick, second with Blenheim Pippin, Holland- bury, and Lord Nelson ; Mr. Lane, St. Mai-y's Cray, was third with Alfi-iston, Blenheim, and ChanceUor (a large showy yeUow and red kind). Gi-enadier and Cox's Orange Pippin from Mr. Bousie ; Lord Derby, Lord Sufheld, and Eoyal EuBset fi-om other exhibitors, were also large. Pears. — Williams' Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne, Gansel's Bergamot, Chaumontel, and BeiuTe Bosc were the princi- pal. A first prize was taken by G. WUson, Esq., with fruit grown in pots in an orchard-house, and which were certainly large and verj- fine. The varieties were Louise Bonne (the best in the Show), Beurre d'Anjou, and ConseUler de la Cour. First pi-ize was also awarded to Mr. Wren for Mai-ie Louise, Crasanne, and Chaumontel, also remarkably fine. Mr. Beasley, Twyford Abbey, was second with BeUe et Bonne, Williams' Bon Chi-etien, and Beui-re Diel. Some very good fruit of Gansel's Bergamot and Marie Louise were aJao sho-n-n. Miscellaneous. — A coUection of about forty kinds of Grapes from the Society's Chiswick gai-dens atti-acted great interest. It contained most of the varieties exhibited in a simUar coUection at the great October Show last year. There were some fine bunches of Muscat of Alexandria ; Golden Hamburgh, very fine ; Frankenthal ; Dutch Ham- burgh : Saisin de Calabre, which by-the-by, though not first- rate, is exceUent for late keeping ; Ahbee, vei-y beautiful ; De CandoUe, and Chasselas Eose de FaUoux, also very pretty kinds ; Bai-barossa ; and many others which may be seen growing at Chiswick, where the conservatoi-y hanging with bunches of aU kinds and colours is a sight weU worth going to see. Messrs. Lane & Son had some Vines in pots bearing splendid bunches for that mode of oiUture, also good Pears, Cherries, and other fruit in pots. Mr. Hender- son had a fine box of Moorpark Apricots, for which he received a first prize ; and Mr. Ten-y, the Hyde, St. Albans, had second for six kinds of Currants, of which Eaby Castle were very fine. Mr. HaU, gai-dener to Lord Scarborough, sent a Queen Pine of SJ lbs., but over-ripe. Some good Melons, consisting of Golden Perfection, Egyptian Green- fleshed, Beechwood, and Scarlet Gem were also shown. Melon Apple, an American kind, from G. Wilson, Esq., was of large size and had been grown in a pot ; and some very fine Eidge Cucumbers came from Mr. LesUe. Plovtering of the American Aloe. — I have just read ,an article from the Chcford Jonriml about the American Aloe. I thought long since that English gardeners had given up the idea of the Aloe only blooming once in a hundred years. I saw the Aloe in bloom at New Orleans in the garden attached to the Mint, and ten years before that it had bloomed. I also was in Mexico for two years, from 1845 to 1847, and had the opportunity of seeing many young plants September 15, 1863. ] JOUKNAL OF HOETICITLTXmB AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 209 bloom ; by the appearance of the plants I should say they were not more than from four to five years old. I have no doubt but it is quite a century-plant if grown in the way gardeners are used to grow it in England. The Mexicans take from the Aloe a juice, which, when put through a pro- cess, makes a strong di'ink, so strong that an Englishman would not like a second dose. The natives drink it to in- tosicatiou. — E. B. Peince, Darlington. CHEMISTEY OF SOILS IN RELATION TO GEAPE VINES— SH/mKING. I AM very much interested in the statement made by Mr. Eobson in his account of the graperies of Mr. Meredith (vide p. 166), where we find it stated that Mr. Meredith's knowledge wOl enable him to pronounce whether a certain soil will suit the Grape Vine apart fr-om all those outward appearances which are the only guide to a less practised hand. Until I read this statement it had been my im- pression that, notwithstanding the present advanced state of chemical science, it was not in the power of any man by a chemical knowledge of soils, combined with a practical knowledge of horticulture, thi'ough analysis to determine the due proportion of ingredients requisite to famish proper aliment, both in quantity and quality, to the roots of any plant — in other words, to be able to take a handful of soil and by analysis to say there is so much of one component in excess or so much of another deficient. Tet it has been my idea ever since I have been able to think for myself that the horticulturist must be continually at fault until chemical knowledge can be thus applied. It is beyond the power of any one by mere inspection to determine without risk of mistake the adaptation or otherwise of a given soil for a given plant : hence the failures which so frequently result from following rules which are in fact incomplete, although they have been proved by a practical man, in his experience, to be sound and good. My meaning may be made clear by example : A recom- mends for the cidture of a particiilar fruit a particular kind of loam, say turfy, having been sis months cut from a pas- ture, moderately sandy, and also moderately rich. Well, any gardener has a pretty clear idea of the meaning of these terms, and if a dozen intelligent horticulturists were required to iiu-nish a wheelbaiTow-load each for comparison by ordi- nary inspection, the samples would not be found to differ very materially. Now, if the bulk from which these samples were taken was us3d in a like proportion, aU other points at the same time being equal — say in the composition for a Vine-border — we shoidd expect to see like resiJts ; but I affirm that although by mere chance the results may be nearly alike, the probability is that they woiUd vary very much in the different cases. I shoold like to have a word upon that pei-plexing matter, the shanking of Grapes, not by way of attempting to eluci- date the mystery which so many cleverer heads than mine have failed to clear up, but rather to elicit opinion, for the more I have studied and observed hitherto the more inex- plicable has the matter become. I wUl, therefore, if you will allow me, for the sake of caUing forth opinion and advice, state some of the observations I have made. In the place where I sei'ved my apprenticeship we iiad a vinery filled entirely with Hamburghs. Throughout the whole of this house during my first three years, and likewise for some years before I saw them, they shanked more or less every season. It became desirable to divide this house into two compartments, one of which was subsequently started about January 1st in order to cut from it about the first week in June. The other division was made to ripen its fruit about two or three months later. Now, for the four or five years over which my observations extended, after the division was made, there never appeared, so far as my remembrance serves me, a shanked berry in the earlier forced end, whilst in the later division three-fourths of the bunches were spoQt, as to form and size, through the berries shanking. I must state here that the conditions under which the Vines grew were in no way altered at the time of the division of the house, only that one end was forced and the other not at all, or but very little. The whole of the border was covered with about 9 inches of stable-dung during winter, as there were no means of bottom heat provided. In two succeeding situations it fell to my lot to have the care of several vineries both early and late, the borders of some of them underlaid with hot-water pipes, others having none ; but in neither of these places do I remember at any time the berries shanking so as to injure the appeai'ance of a bunch of Grapes. At the place where I am at present I found, five years ago, a late house filled with comparatively young Vines, and here again the Grapes had the old complaint, but not so as to matei-ially injure the crop. Each year since the mischief increased, until in 1862 we had not a good bunch of Grapes in the house, after which I succeeded in persuading my employer to allow me to lift the Vines and make the border entirely anew. This we did in December, when I found the border very compact, being composed of a rich loam which had apparently received a large admixture of rotten dung, there being no grit or rubble in the mass. Large roots were in abundance, but the formation of fibres seemed gradually to have ceased, for scarcely one such calculated to feed a plant could be found. I, of course, thought the cause of complaint evident enough, and the remedy, therefore, easy and sure ; so, after having gathered all the information I could fr-om writers on. the Grape Vine, I decided to follow Mr. Thomson's direc- tions, only not using any stable maniue in the compost. Good turty loam fr'om a pasture had been provided, mortar rubbish, half-inch bone, and chaxooal in the prescribed pro- portions being well intennixed with it. The Vines were j planted in nuld damp weather, their roots being sx^read j regidarly over the border and covered to the depth of i 6 inches. The border was made 2.V feet deep and covered [ at once with long stable-dung to protect it from the weather. ] Furthermore, the drainage and aspect are thorouglily good. The Vines broke in March, strongly but rather more slowly than usual; but after a while they, of course, showed the effects of removal. They renewed their growth healthily but not vigorously after the sun had warmed the border to the temperatiure of 58° or 60' at 1 foot deep. Tliis was towai'ds the end of May. Most of them carried a few bunches of Grapes, which I allowed to remain. Ou their beginning to colour- in August shanking took place as bad as before. This I at first thought might be attributed to the natiu-al inability of the Vines to ripen fr-uit whUst their energies were so taxed for the formation of young wood. On examining the boi-der I find that the young roots have permeated the whole mass at least to the depth of 12 or 15 inches, but that they are all in a state of decay ! The temperature of the border has remained throughout the summer about 6° higher at 1 foot deep than the temperatui-e of the eai-th as registered at Chiswick. The roots have never at any time been allowed to become dry, although they have not received much watering, as I prefer in hot weather covering slightly to prevent evaporation. As this vinery is in two compartments I intend, aU being- well, to force the one division rather early next season, in order to see if the residt will be tlie same as it was in the case of the first ho-ase of Grapes which I ever had to do with. If any of yom- correspondents can throw light upon this matter they will greatly oblige. — Epsilon. LIFTING AND PEESEEVING GEEANIUMS THEOUGH THE WINTEE. "Agnes " says — " I am promised by a friend some of this year's plants of variegated Geraniums — Bijou, Alma, Flower of the Day, &o., also. Golden Chain and Christine, but cannot receive them till the season is nearly over. What is the best method for preserving them during the mnter ? Shoidd roots or heads be pruned-in or left? Should the pots be large or small ? I should like them to look weU in the greenhouse diu-ing spring and winter if I could, and to be bedded-out in the summer. Does Mr. Thomson mean, in No. 123, that the Geraniums are to be left in the eight- inch pots till bedded-out ? and what does he allude to when he says they will be managed the same as detailed in the ease of the variegated sorts ? " [When you receive the Geraniums let them be stripped of- 210 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September IS, 1863. all the leav(?3 that chote up the centres of the plants, leav-in^ only these which are fi-esh and healthy-looking about the points of the shoots. If allowed to remain in the bed tUl the usual time of lifting such plants, the majority of the leaves of the v.arlegated sorts named \vill have assumed a somewhat sickly appearance, and these, and all that would be likely to di-oop and decay about the plants, shoidd be re- moved at once before beginning to pot. It is not advisable to cut or jjrune back the stems, because they are apt to die back and cause decay at the main stem of the plants. When we want to pnme such plants they are allowed to make roots, and show indications of active life first, and this is not generally the case tUl after the turn of the year. They may then be cut Ijack, if dwarf plants be the object, and they will sooa break at the eyes left, and the tops may be made into cuttings, which strike fi-eely in heat in February. They may either be put singly into five and si^-inch pots accord- ing to the size of the plants, or several plants may be put into larger j)ots. The roots should not be pruned beyond cutting back any strong, straggling ones. The soil with which to pot them should be of equal parts loam and well decayed leaf mould, with about a sixth part of sand, all well mixed together and passed through a tlu-ee-quarter meshed sieve. Drain tlie pots well, and in potting see that the roots are well distributed amongst the soil, not bundled into the pot and some soil pressed on the top of them as we have often seen. The soU should be pressed ftrmly about the roots. When potted give the plants a watering through a fine rose sufficient to wet the whole soil, and place them in a light airy part of your- greenhouse. The system of crowding them together in any close fi-ame or house, and keejiing them close and shaded, should be avoided as much as possible : it is attended with damping and decaying, and is entirely opposed to the natiu-e and constitution of Geraniums. Through the winter they should just have water enough to keep them fi.-om shi-iveUing, and very little indeed wiU be sufficient for this. It is a good plan to cover the surface of the pot with di-y materi.al, such as charred refuse or very dry fine mould, immediately they are watered at potting time. This prevents evaporation and the necessity for fi-e- quent watering, which is undesh-able. All damp leaves and shoots should be removed, as soon as they appear, through- out the winter. If you can introduce them into a gentle heat about the middle of February, they wiU soon grow and make nice bushy plants that wOl look well in tlie greenhouse for a wlule before planting-out tmie. But unless potted early, and put into a house with fire heat for a whUe in autumn, you must not expect them to look very well in your green- house in winter, the variegated sorts in particular. But Christine being a very hardy Geranium wiU sooner recover the shock, and by careful lifting and a slight degree of fire heat after being potted wiU soon look fi-esh and nice. The Geranium cuttings are not left in eight-inch pots tUl bedded-out, but are potted singly in three and four-inch pots, according to the size of the young plants. This is done in February, and when a little heat can be afforded them after potting, they will the sooner make fine plants, but they^are left no longer in heat than just to give them a start. It was simply the "autumn propagation" and winter management that were treated of in the article you refer to, and after they are rooted the common Scarlets are treated the same as the variegated sorts. They are all potted-off into single pots in spring, although I have fre- quently planted them from the pots they were rooted in ; but this course has never been followed except from neces- sity, either for want of room or pots — disadvantages which I am not called to cope with now. Geraniums will do very well shaken out of the cutting-pots and planted in the beds in the end of Llay, but they never bloom so freely as nice rustling plants that have been a mouth or two in single pots, and not crowded together; and shaken-out plants are much later in making a display of bloom. — D. T.] nut refuse on the beds, and last week the beds, to my as- tonishment, began to produce Mushrooms among the Cucumbers. — Lex. MusHEooMS. — I do not think any one need despair of ultimately obtaining Mushrooms because his bed does not bear in the customary six or eight weeks ; for I made up two beds in frames last Januaiy, and they never produced a Mushroom. I then grew Cucumbers in loam and cocoa- THE GLADIOLUS AND ITS DISEASE. I KNOW of a certain Horticultural Society, whose members, not contented with dry formal •ommittee meetings, used to have occasionally a more social gathering ; and it is said that whenever there was a flagging in the conversation some one woidd begin to talk about this flower, and immediately controversy sharp and strong would spring up as to the proper quantity of its syllables. I do not believe to this day that it is settled — indeed I know but very lately it was proposed to refer it to Dr. Todd, one of the Fellows of Trinity College. Whether The Journal of Horticultuke wiU be more successful with its readers I do not know ; but I hope its Editors will forgive me if I call in question their ex cathedra dictum on the point, for of the three methods of pronunciation that which they have fathered seems to me the most untenable. Gladiolus is unquestionablj' a dimi- nutive form o( ijladbi.s, a sword, and as a rule all derivatives ai'e short — e.g., fides makes fidicfda; nutrix, nutriciila ; and, more to the point, filius, a son, makes filiolus. Then, again, one vowel before another is short, so that Gladiolus woidd be even more correct ; but I think all analogy is in favour of the pronunciation being Gladiolus. As to the first syllable, that, too, should be pronounced, I fancy, shortly — glud, not gliide ; but I do hope the Editors wiU withdraw their sanction to such a barbarism as GladUus. As to the more serious matter of the disease which has manifested itself in the bulb in various places, I wish I could give positive information or suggest a certain remedy. My own experience on the point is, I am happy to say, " nil ;" for my small collection of some two or three hundred bulbs is almost, if not altogether, free from it. The question seems to me much in the same condition as the Potato disease, to which it bears a striking similarity, when every- thing from electricity down to Smee's Aphis vastator was considered to be the cause of it. Let us look at the data which we have — 1. This is not the first season of its appearance. Some collections sufi'ered largely last year ; so that we must not, I think, in seeking for causes lay too much stress on the exceptional character of the present season. 2. It is prevalent on the continent as well as in England, though I do not know whether to the same extent : there- fore om- cUmate must not be charged with it, as is too often the case. 3. It seems to be more prevalent on heavy than on light soils. Mr. Standish is fi'ee from it in the light peaty soil of Ascot ; and so is Mr. YoueU, whose soil approaches closely, I believe, to that of Holland. In my own Light, friable, but rich soil I have hardly seen a trace of it, while fi-om heavy lands and on the London clay it seems to be very severe.* 4. The plan of leaving the roots in the ground advocated by some, and suggested by yom- correspondent " R. T. E., Shrev)shury,^^ as a probable remedy, does not seem to answer, as your correspondent " T. H. C., Walsall," says that it was only those left in the gTound that exhibited this ten- dency. 5. Potting the bulbs and then jilanting them out is no jirotection ag.ainst it, as my friend Mr. Andrew Henderson told me that that was the system adopted by Iris fii'm this year, and that their beds had totally failed. Such are a few of the facts which have been brought forward, and although by no means sufficient to form an accirrate judgment from, they ai'e enough to make a pro- bable one; but as this fiower is now become so much in vogue, and is so great an addition to oui' autumn flowers, it woidd be most desirable that those gi-owers of it who are readers of The Journai. of Horticulture should send in a statement of their own experience, where they obtained their bulbs fi'om, the nature of the soU, situation, mode of treat- ment, and results. I happened to meet my friend, M. Charles Verdier, at the Crystal Palace Autumn Show the other day (where the paucity of exhibitors in this flower told the tale * I know this is contrary to "H.'s" experience in tlie "Florist and Poniologist,'" piige 123 j but he gives no instances, and it is not so in the cases I know. September 15, 1863. ] JOXJENAL OF HOETICULTUEE ANB COTTAGE GARDENER. 211 of disease), and had witli Mm some little conversation on the point. His opinion (which rather coincides with my own notions and ia opposed to that of Mr. Standish), is that it is the result of the excessive moisture of last summer, -and, indeed, I may say of the last two years — at least the autumn of IHGl, when bvdbs were maturintj, was so ; and that hence the bulbs were not sufficiently dried-off. I am the more confirmed in this from my own slight experience. My stock consisted of a quantity of my own harvesting, some that my friend Mr. Standish was gooil enough to send me, a few of the new sorts obtained from MM. Thibaut and Keteleer of Paris, and a few from Messrs. Barr & Sugden, also French roots. In only the two latter, and that in not more than five or six instances, have I had failures ; and «ven they were not in the manner described by your cor- respondents, but simplj' the rotting-away of the roots. My own plan of drying is very rigid, and I know Mr. ■Standish is equally particular, although, from having an immense stock and larger means of harvesting at his dis- posal, he adopts more effective plans. But I watch carefiiUy the beds ; and as some sorts are earlier than others, I take them up as they ripen-off, and put them into a smail flower- pot with their label, and bring them into the house. In the back kitchen there is a copper close to a patent kitchener, where there is considerable heat, and here I place them. They remain for a couple of weeks until they are quite dry, when I put them into paper bags and lay them bj'. That they wiU bear some considerable drying-off I have proved, for a small box of mixtures was forgotten for some weeks, and when taken out I did not think they were good for much. I, however, planted them out in an out-of-the-way ■place under the shade of trees, and there they have grown and bloomed most vigorously. I have not watered this summer — at least one of my beds, and that the most vigor- ous, has not had a drop, so that I do not think M. Loise's notion is likely to be correct ; however, as I have said, we hardly have data enough to go upon as yet. Those of your correspondents who fancy that the bulb formed will be all right, %vill be, I fear, mistaken ; but at the same time I would not have gTowers discoui-.aged. It would seem almost hopeless at present to grow them on heavy sods, unless very materiallj' lightened by a good admiiitnre of leaf mould and sand ; but I shovild say that in aU light or hghtish soils they may be again attempted. The disease seems in some way to be connected with climatic influences, and results, probably from exceptional causes. These may be removed, and the bidb itself acquire more hardiness. Hollyhock-growers mil remembei', as I was reminded by Mr. Laing, that some years ago the same thing took place in that plant. Collections were cut up, and the attempt to grow the flowers pronounced hopeless. It, however, alter some years of much heart-birrning to growers, wore itself out, and the plant is now seldom at- tacked with it. So with the Gdadiolus, I believe. We may hope to see it tide over its present dilEoulties ; and no one, I think, who has seen a collection of them as cut blooms Ijut vrill desu-e to see them extensively grown. As orna- mental plants for gai-dens I question if they will ever be very effective, but as cut flowers they have few rivals. They bloom so well in water, dady expanding their flowers, and are so vivid and varied in their colour, that they must be great favourites. My ideas on their cultivation would be. Dry the roots well, keej) them in a cool place to prevent their growing too eai-ly, mamu-e highly in the autumn, and again give a slight coating in spring, and do not plant too early. — D., Deal. most beautiful rich crimson that could be wished for, each leaf shining in the sun ; and many would have pronounced this at first sight to have the best-coloured root. But on examination it was found not to be so. The best one of the three kinds grown was the one with the large coarse-looking top, thereby affording another illustration of the proverb, that we are not to be led away by outward appearance only, and as this is not the first time I have observed the same thing in Eed Beet, I thought it would be well to record it. Eed Beet of good quality has always been an article anxiously looked for, and as the best kind is apt to dege- nerate, new varieties, or rather the maintaining of a good quality in its colour and character is an important aft'air, as, like most other objects of merit, seed from the very best is much less plentifully produced than from a common sort. Soil and situation have also some influence on its colom-, not that a really good variety would come bad on an unsuitable soil, but simply it would be a shade less beautiful than the same on a, soil better adapted to it. The dark sandy soOs border- ing some rivers produce the best Beet that I have seen- while on the other hand the best varieties degenerate in two or three years if confined to a chalky district, and, conse- Cjuently, require to be renewed by importation of seed from a more favoru-ed locality. Beet, therefore, like everything else, requires renewing ; and although it may, under favour- able circumstances, have reproduced itself in good condition for a great number of years, such success is chiefly due to the care evinced in removing all defective roots, and each year cultivating it on fresh ground. But the question has yet to be asked, Ai'e not a great number of the roots reared yearly from seed saved on the same spot deflcient in some point necessary to entitle them to be regarded good, which might not be the case if a change or cross took place ? It is needless here entering into the details of cultiu-e which have been given elsewhere, but I may state that a too rich soil is by no means wanted for Beet, as the amount of watery juice it there imbibes drains away after the root is cooked and sliced, and the root assumes a withered ap- pearance. As my object was more particularly to direct attention to the deceptive character of the foliage as in- dicative of what the roots are, I must leave to other hands the task of explaining the necessary points in the culti- vation of this vegetable. — H. T. STEAY NOTES O^ RED BEET. Happening lately to be in a nobleman's garden in the north of England, in passing along the kitchen garden a plot of Red Beet attracted the attention of my fi-iends, and it was determined by the head gardener, a shrewd, weU- informed member of his profession, to examine a root of each of the three kinds there grown. One of the varieties pre- sented a rather coarse-looking leaf, much veined with green ; another was somewhat like it, but ivith less top ; whde the third would have been a great acquisition to the flower garden, its foliage being small and firmly set on, and of the PEOPAGATING CLOTH OF GOLD PELARGONIUM. In answer to an inquii'er signing himself " North Bkiton" in No. 126, I am a&'aid that by the time this is in print it win be too late to do much hi propagating the Cloth of Gold Pelargonium from leaves. Succeed he may to a certain extent, but he wOl perceive presently that the season is too far advanced to cai'ry out the principles on which this mode of propagating is best conducted. But I hope that "North Briton " and others who may read this wiU remember that I am only an amateur, and that, while I describe my own process, others may be able to give a far better ; and no doubt exj^erienced propagators at nurseries would laugh at a poor parson daiing to leave his pidpit to occupy their bench and lecture on jiropagating Pelargoniums. But as I believe numbers of your readers are, like myself, amateurs, who would be glad to give others the benefit of their own limited experience, or any discoveries they may make ; and as I also know it to be a fact that many first-rate profes- sionals in gardening are unacquainted with a very simple but rapid mode of propagating Pelargoniums, I venture, very humbly, to lay my own little secret before them. In order to convince you, ladies and gentlemen, that my process is a really good one, I beg to inform you that when Pelargonium Christine first came out a small spring-struck cutting, with only some four or five leaves on it, was given me in a certain month of May, and, believe me, the May following was a very men-y one to me whenever I looked at the children, gi-andchildren, and great-grandchildren of my spring-struck mother Christine ; tor there they were, eighty of them, as blooming, hearty, and strong as if I had gone to Messrs. Henderson or Kinghorn and paid 24s. per dozen for them, which was about their price that season. With reference to Pelargoniums, the phrase " Propagating 213 JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ September 15, 1863. by leaves "' is not suitable. Begonias, Cacti, and several other succulent-leaved plants may be said strictly to iirojja- gate by leaves, but not Pelargoniums. Together with the leaf you must have a joint, and at the union of the leaf to the joints there must be a bud visible. Pelai-goniums, there- fore, may strictly be said to pi-opagate fi-om eyes or from single joints, and yet it is not every joint that will make a plant. For instance : those joints which have a leaf on one side and a fiower-stalb on the other, though they may succeed in rooting, will seldom grow into a plant. But take a good strong cutting of your Cloth of Gold Pelargo- nium— say it is 4 or 5 inches long, with four- well-developed leaves growing on opposite sides at each alternate joint, besides two toi) joints, the lowest with the bud just bmsting into leaf, and the topmost with two or thr-ee young leaves on it. These two last had better be put aside tOl you have two or thi'ee more of a similar gi'owth to pot with them. Take now your four lower leaf-joints, cut them in the usual way about the eighth of an inch below and rather more above each joint, .and you have four leaf-joints with buds ia the axil of the stalks, besides the two top ones — six in all. Have a pot i-eady with j^lenty of di'ainage, and filled to within half an inch of the rim with soil made up of light loam and leaf mould, and a good quarter share of sUver sand in it. Press the soil firm, and add a little more if after pressing the surface is more than half an inch from the rim. Prepare now four- httle sticks about 9 inches long, take one and push it fii-mly iato the soil. Close to the stick make a small hole half an inch deep, and in the hole just press one of your joint-cuttings so that the leaf stands at right angles to the rim of the pot ; tie the leaf to the stick. Proceed in the same way with the thi'ee other joint-cuttings, and you have a pot mth four masts and four lug sails set to catch every breeze and ray of sun to convey the cargo below on to the next potting season. Give the pot a shake, and sprinkle over the surface of the soil about the eighth of an inch of silver sand. The two little top joints may be treated in much the same way when you have others of a simdar growth suiEcient to Sll a pot. Yom- cuttings so prepared will require to be dewed only with a syringe, and shaded from hot sun for three or four days. After that the hotter the sun the better, being careful only to give a syringing three or four times in the course of the day ; keep, however, from di-enching rain. In three or foiu' weeks the buds wUl be pushing out tiny leaves ; and if you began propagating in July, by September each bud will be a plant from which you may take some half donen more leaf-cuttings. There is, however, a mode of preparing the mother plants from which to propagfute, by a system of alternate forcing and hardening, which I shaJl be happy to lay before your readers on a futm-e occasion. Tlie season is now too late for it. It is not too late, iiowever, for leaf-cuttings, and I shall probably be making some hundi-eds this week ; but when they have formed a caUus I shall give them a little bottom heat to start them and strengthen them for the winter, in hopes of getting more stuff oft' them in the spring. I am son'y that my absence from home prevented me from sending you this before ; but " Nokth Bkiton " can try his hand, nevei-theless, if he begins at once. What a magnificent season this has been for crossing ' Pelargoniums ! I hear there ai-e lots and lots of fine things coming out next year ; but what wonders shall we see the season after! By-the-by, these names "Pelargonium" and " Geranium " are a great nuisance. I know " Pelargonium " is right botanicajly ; but is it not possible to come to some general understanding that " Geranium " means all the bed- ding classes, while '" Pelargonium " means the exhibition varieties, blotched, spotted, and foreign and fancy ? Let the heatls of the trade meet before thefr next catalogues are out, and give the public some decided signification to the two words " Pelargonium " and " Geranium." — F. W. Adet, The Cell, Ihmstahle. ExTKAOECiN-aB7 BROCCOLI. — A Specimen of the " South- ampton Broccoh," grown in the parish of Mortimer in this county, was recently exhibited for a week in the window of Messrs. Sutton & Sous, of Heading. The weight in cooking order was 17 lbs. G ozs., and the measm-e round 4 leet C inches. — J. S. B., Hurst, Twyford, Berks. AVELL HEAD G.IEDENS, HALIFAX, YOEXSHIEE. (Continued j'roM page 194.) The next house is a stove, 62 feet by 18, with a centre bed, under which run several hot-water pipes, and there is a shelf aU round on a level with the glass. At one end of the pit a tanlc containing aquatics is charming. The Sacred Bean (Nelumbium splendens), was in flower, and Nymjihsea Devoniana, dentata, and cosrulea occupied the remainder of the tank. Of plants Lasiandi'a Fontainesiana, G feet high by 3, Ixora coccinea superba, 4 feet by 3, and I. javanica, alba, &c. ; Clerodendrou faUax and C. Thomsoni, Centradenia grandifolia (very fine), and the ciuious Aristolochia triloba. All the varieties of this genus are grotesque enough for anything, and form fitting companions to Nepenthes, or Pitcher-plants. Aristolochia ornithocephala is the most singular plant I ever saw. It has the head of a hawk and the beak of a heron, mth the wattles of the Spanish fowl, which, however, are grey netted with brown ; the head the same colour veined, whilst the beak is grey — the gorgeoxis flowers of JEchmea fulgens contrast well with the foliage, thereby fitting it for a good place on the dinner table. Musa Cavendishii is well ciUtivated. Fruit weighing 42 lbs. was lately cut, a notice of which appeared in this Joui-niJ, but it was stated to have been weighed with 14 ozs. to the pound instead of 16 ozs. However, there is no suclx local weight as 14 ozs. to the pound, though there is IG lbs. to the stone ; therefore the weight of the fr-viit was 42 lbs. avoir- dupois. Here are also large specimens of Allamanda Schotti, grandiflora, and scores of fine-foliaged and variegated plants, as Croton variegatum and pictum, 4 feet by 5, Dieffenbachia maculata, DracKnas, Pavetta borbonica, Colocasia macro- rhiza variegata, Pandanus javanicus foliis variegatis, 8 feet thi-ough, itc. Descending by a few steps we enter, from the stove, the show-house, 30 feet by 18, now gay with Petunias, Fuchsias, and Geraniums. Here I fell in with that good old free- flowering plant, Campyha elegans, a plant of which, 3 feet across, is no despicable object. Plants of the old tuberous GeraniaceEe are as cmious as Oi-chids, but no one seems to cai'e about them. At one end of the house was a fine specimen Cyathea australis, wlulst the other was ornamented by a magnificent specimen of Dicksonia antarctica, Cattleya Lemoniana in flower, and in baskets suspended fi-om the roof were Stanhopea insignis and oculata, both in flower. Proceeding a couple of yai-ds further on we enter the Orchid-house, 30 feet by 20, heated by hot-water pipes in u'on troughs. These troughs, which can be filled with water when moisture is wanted, are about 2 feet w ide and 10 inches or 1 foot deep, and at the bottom a couple of four-inch pipes are placed, of com-se longitudinally. Now, by this system — which, in my humble opinion, is superior to all others — the atmosphere of the house can be made moist, even satu- rated, without syringing much, or di-y as cu-cumstances requu-e. Its other advantages are, the amount of evaporating surface is large, therefore the plants imbibe the moisture at a temperature never exceeding that of the house ; and that there is none of the stew-pan tendency of hot-water gutters fixed on hot-water pipes, for the troughs are on the floor under the shelves, so that the heat and moisture must be thoroughly difiused through the house before it reachesthe- plants." In short, the troughs give the genial and beneficial effects of a tank without any of its di-awbaoks, as moisture in winter when it is not wanted. The Orchid-house is divided by a partition of glass, a,nd is a double span. Amongst a choice but not large coUectiou I noticed good plants of Anasctochilus Lobbi, Lowi, setaceus, ai-genteus pictus, striatus, and xanthophyUus, growing in fibry peat, sphagnum, and silver sand. The surface of the pot being covered with the last, the compost is kept moist. A bell-glass encloses the plants, and is tilted a little on one side, for these gems above all other plants detest a stagnant atmosphere, though it must be close, wa,ter on the leaves, and a sovu- soU. Of plants in bloom were Calanthe masuca, vestita rubra (crimson eye), vestita aurea (yellow eye) ; Peristeria elata; MUtonia Candida, Clowesiana, and specta- bUis ; Oncidium sphacelatum and papiho major, and Tricho- pilia suavis. Out of flower, but not less interesting, were Phalsnopsis SchUleriana with fine leaves, P. amabilis, and September 16, 1863. ] JOTJSNAL OF HOKTICULTITEE AJ«) COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 213 grandiflora ; VandaE iaaignis, tricolor, Eoxburghi, and coerulea ; brides oriapum, odoratum majus, quinquevul- nenim, vixens, major, and Warneri ; Oncidium Laneeanum, pulchelluin, &c. ; Saccolabium Blumei, and verj- many more varieties of these now -popular plants. In the other division I noticed the shelves or tables were covered with sea gravel about the size of a horse bean, which does not choke the drain-Iioles of a pot like sand, and it imparts a clean aspect to the whole. Here were two examples of that very odd-looking plant, Aioeasia metallica, with more than a score of leaves on each, forming, mth Musa vittata, the best set-off for a dinner table that I can imagine. Put the Musa in the centre and relieve it \\-itli Adiantimis around it. and set the Alocasias one at each end of the table, and they will cause a sensation. The Alooasia, though a slow grower at the best, grows here like a Colts- foot, and sends up suckers like WiUows. The Musa in question is the noblest-looking plant I have yet seen. It has the habit of M. Cavendishii, but with a somewhat longer and naiTower leaf, taring stripes of silvery whiteness cross- wise on the upper surface of the leaf. The plant here is 6 feet high with six leaves about a yard long. Here, too, is a plant for the curious, the Lattice-plant from the pools of Madagascar, growing in the water of an inverted bell-glass, and Sarracenia purpurea, variolaris, rubra, and Drummondi, flourishing in sijhagnum, fibiy peat, and cocoa dust. How happens it that these hardy plants requii-e a high tempera- ture y Not less interesting for the beauty of theu- foliage were Pandanus elegantissimus, with red-edged leaves, charming for dinner-table decoration ; Campylobotrys reful- gens, with bronzy red-coloured leaves, having a satiny lustre ; Saccharum violaceum (Violet Sugar-cane), with the habit of a grass, having rosy-violet stems and young spray of the same colour drooping gi-acefully when mature, and excellent for the dinner table ; Cyperus alternifolius varie- gatus, which requires a poor soil, and is sure to come in character if grown in pure sand only — green or variegated, no plant excels this for ornamental purposes — nice plants of Gomphia theophrasta, rightly named, as it much resembles a Theophrasta ; Eriocnema marmorea, with a smooth Glox- inia leaf beautifully dotted with silver; Quassia amara {Bitter Quassia) ; Maranta vittata ; micans, a pretty -leaved kind witli a red midrib, &c. ; Caladium regale and others, not excepting C. Lowii ; and Cissus porphyrophyUus, just contrary to C. discolor, which loses the beauty of its leaves in proportion to their age ; but this gains in coloirr with age ; the leaves have more substance, and are round instead of ovate. I may add Sphcerogyne latifolia ; Hibiscus Cooperi ; PhyUagathis rotundifoUa ; Cypripedium vUlosum, Lowii, Hookeri, and hirsutissimum, and many more new and rare plants too numerous to mention. I must not omit noticing a pan of seedling Alocasias just peeping from beneath the soil. There were about a dozen of them, but what they wUl be when developed is another ques- tion. The seeds were a cross between Aioeasia metidlica and Caladium marmoratum, the former being the female parent or seed-producer. — G. A. (To be continued.) NOTES ON THE BEDDING-OUT AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE, BY AN AMATETJE. Mb. Adet has already given your readers the benefit of his opinions on the l)edding-out at the Crystal Palace, but, perhaps, you will not object to insert a few further notes on the same subject by an amateur. Like Mr. Adey, I took my first look at the garden from the ■doorway directly facing the Sose Mount, and the first thought which entered my mind was, " Oh ! how different to last year ! " accompanied by a feeling of disappointment, which, perhaps, prejudiced me throughout my visit. How- ever, I took out my note-book and proceeded to take down the planting of the festoon-bed round the Eose Mount and the beds inside, and then hurried off to examine the beds round it on the outside. Here my feeling of disappoint- ment was increased ; for where I last year spent a long time taking notes, this year I scai'cely found a single bed which attracted me or invited inspection. One bed, which was planted with a light pink Verbena edged with a white Verbena, was very tame from the entire absence of contrast or shading. Another, the arrangement of which consisted of alternate circles of Cerastium and Gazania splendens, seemed to depend for effect more on the contrast of the foliage than anything else, and the blossom of the Gazania rather spoilt it than otherwise. There was a something which offended the eye when this part of the garden was \-iewed from the Eose Mount, but what it was I did not discover until I had seen the effect of the garden on the terrace from the Palace. Judging from my experience of last year, I still felt sure that I had a treat in store in the chain-border. But, alas ! here again I was doomed to disappointment. That which last year was the most beautiful and effective thing in the way of planting that I have seen, was this year not a chain at all, properly so called. Whatever can have induced the designer of those beds to sever ail the links of the chain by connecting them ivith Lobelia Paxtouiana, instead of making the chain continuous as it was last year, by cari-ying the edging of Alyssum all round, and thereby entitling it to be called •' chain " ? This struck me as being the greatest mis- take made in the planting in the whole garden ; for not only is the beautiful effect of the continuous chain, over which last year the eye never ceased to wander with delight, com- pletely broken, but two lines, one of white and the other of blue, running at right angles to each other, are by no means caloidated to contrast well. When I had mounted to the Palace and viewed the terrace-beds from that commanding position, I discovered what it was that had offended my eye from the Eose Mount. That which struck me as being the great difference between the planting this year and last, is, that last year the prevail- ing idea seemed to be co7itrast, whereas this year it appears to be shadi'/ir). In consequence of the plan pm-sued in carry- ing out this latter idea, the eye is attracted by large and almost unvarying masses of scarlet shaded with pink, al- most unrelieved, and the effect is very wearying to the eye. This it was which sti-uofc me in some of the beds near the Eose Mount, and much more strongly in the grand view of the terrace garden from the Palace. The beds which interested me most, and the effect of which I was most careful to observe, were those in which appeared Amaranthus raelancholious ruber, Coleus Ver- schaffelti, Centaurea oandidissima, and Centaurea gymno- carpa, the first and two last of which I do not remember to have seen befoi-e. I was some little time making up my mind which had the best effect fi-om a distance : Centaurea gymnocarpa edged with Coleus Verschaffelti, or Amai-anthus melanchohcus raber edged with Centaiu-ea oandidissima ; but I finally de- cided in favour of the latter, the Amaranthus having very much the effect of an extremely handsome blossom. There were other plants in the same beds, but those which were not hidden by the plants I have named by no means con- tributed to improve the effect. The unpleasant impression left on my mind by the rest of the garden was quite effaced by an inspection of these " coming favourites," though it is said that the Coleus is to be aboUshed as a bedding-out plant. I cannot conclude without expressing my opinion that there is one great improvement which might be made, and which would be of great assistance to those who, like myself, go to the Crystal Palace to take notes of the bedding-out, in order to assist then- friends in making then- plans for laying-out their gardens the following year — it is to give the names of the plants used. It cannot be expected that an amateur who spends most of his time in work- ing at a profession can know the names of all the different Geraniums, Calceolarias, &c., which are used in the bed- ding-out at the Crystal Palace and other large public gardens, and at the same time it is of little use for him to note down "Scarlet Geranium," or "yellow Calceo- laria," when the former may be " Crystal Palace Scarlet," " Cottage Maid," or " one of Mr. Beaton's new Geraniums," and the latter may be " Aurea floribunda," or "Gaines' Yellow." Surely it would not cause much extra trouble if small tallies were placed in each bed showing the names of the sorts used. They need not be too conspicuous, and they would be a great convenience, and would add much to the very great interest which all who care to have their gardens 214 JOURNAL OF HOBTICTJLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 13, :SC3. gay and planted according to the fashion must take in the system of bedcUng-out pursued at the Crystal Palace and other places which professedly set the fashion. A single mistake made in taking down the name of a plant may spoil a whole garden next yeai-. — W. H. B. .U^OCASIA METALLICA. This ranks among the most distinct and peculiar, as wcU as the most beautiful of the fine-foHaged plants which have been introduced from Borneo of late years. It sti-ikes the eye at first sight as one of the most curious-looking objects of the vegetable kingdom, and those who have not seen it can scarcely form a con-ect impression of its polished bronzy appearance. Its leaves have all the solid and lustrous look which belongs to a shield of polished bronze ; and then- ovate-oblong, peltate shape presents an outline somewhat Hke a tortoise's back. Their stalks being short and stifi', the outline of the plant is compact and massive. Few sub- jects are more conspicuous in a collection of omamental- foliaged plants, and where only a dozen kinds are grown it ought to be one of the number, more particularly as it is evergreen, retaining its leaves in beairty all winter, .and is, moreover-, a plant very easy of cultivation. Any person who ca.n command a high moist stove temperatui-e can have few difficulties to overcome in the culture of A. metaUica. These remai-ks are intended for any readers who have not yet seen this plant, whUe the follomng brief directions as to its culture are at the request of a con'espondent. Very turfy peat and loam, broken up with the hand and mixed in equal proportions, with the addition of about a sixth paa-t of the vi-hole of weU-rotted leaf moidd, and a sprinkling of silver sand and charcoal broken up fine, is a compost that suits this Alocasia weU. Supposing that you have a healthy young plant well established in a six-inch pot and in need of a shift, it may safely be transfen-ed into a nine-inch pot. The drainage should be carefully secured, and the crocks thinly covered with a layer of the most fibi-y part of the soil. The operation of shifting need not have anything peculiai- about it difi"erent from any other free- growing plant. In placing the fresh soil round the ball be careful to preserve the strong fleshy roots, and keep the bulbous-looking base of the plant rather high than other- wise. As already mentioned, it requires a high stove tem- perature to grow it freely, and a moist atmosphere is indis- pensable to a healthy development of the foliage. It should be placed near the glass, and carefidly shaded fi-om the direct rays of the sun for the greater part of the day fi-om the 1st of Api-il till the middle of October. To gi-ow it with ail the compactness and strength which it is capable of acquii-ing it should have plenty of room, and be kept quite close to the glass. When crowded among other plants, and far from the glass, it becomes drawn, and loses that massive and imposing appearance peculiar to it when well grown. With a high temperature — say 75° at night — and potted in open well- drained soil, it delights in a good supply of water, and under these conditions will in one season form a large handsome plant — an object weU worthy of any extra cai-e and trouble which may be bestowed upon it. I recently had the pleasm-e of visiting the garden of an amateur who does all his own gai'dening so far as the care of his plants is concerned ; and among the many operations which he performs with more than usual success I was par- ticularly well pleased with the appearance of his Orchids and fine-foliaged plants, and struck the moment I entered the stove with the peculiar sweet and balmy atmosphere of the house. There was a high temperature, and a more than usually pleasant feeling on entering from a vinery in which Grapes were ripening. It was not difficult to discover the means from which so desirable an atmosphere and so healthy a growth arose. The amount of hot-water pipes fi-om which the heat was imparted was qiiite double that usually met with, and they just felt a little more than miLkwarm. Over the pipes there was a strong spaiTcd trellis, and on the trellis were placed sheets of lead tiu-ned up at the edge, so as to form shallow trays, which were filled with water. Common garden saucers were turned upside down in the ■water, and on the saucers were the fine-fohaged plants ; while most of the Orchids were suspended overhead. The atmo- sphere thus produced was cei-tainly the most pleasant for a. stove that could possibly be conceived, and the plants gave ample testimony as to its healthful influence on vegetation. The water used in the trays was rain water, and could be drawn off at any time when it became necessary or de- su'able by means of a few taps in the bottom of the shallow trays. The heat derived from so large a surface of pipes in pro- portion to the amount of atmosphere to be heated can never have that scorching effect that exists when it is derived from a smaller amount of heating surface violently heated ; and the water in the leaden trays over the pipes gave that sup- ply of moisture necessai-y to the development of healthy growth in such plants in a much more natural way and to a better-proportioned extent than is attainable either by syringings over the foliage or by evaporation from a strongly- heated surface. Besides this it is a well- known fact that with such a supply of piping as was used in this case the consumption of ftiel is less. In any case it is a great mistake to so limit the heating surface as to render r- violent heat necessary to keep up a given temperature. — D. Thomson. BORONIA HUTOSMA (Eue-sceuted Boeoxia). Nat. ord., Rutace«. Linn., Octandria Monogynia. — Glau- cous, much-branched ; leaves oblong-ovate or obovate, ses- sile, fleshy, apiculate, one-nerved; flowers in trichotomous, corymbose, many-flowered cymes, pedicels thickened beneath the flowers ; calyx -lobes ovate acute ; filaments ciliate in the lower half. This very pretty Boronia is known in ciJtivation as B. spathulata, but does not appear to be the species so named by Dr. Lindley, differing ob-siously in its much- branched habit and its mauy-fiowered corymbose inflores- cence. The wliole plant has a tendency to trichotomous branching, and thus forms a dense bush, with terete branches scattered with glandular- dots, and be.ai-iug opposite, fleshy, glaucous, oblong-ovate, or obovate apiculate leaves, furnished with numerous transpai-ent dots, and one-nerved. The flowers terminate the branches, forming a kind of corymbose cyme trichotomously divided ; the pedicels are about an inch long, thickened at top; the calyx-lobes are ovate acute, brownish-gi-een, dotted, and traversed by forked nerves. The petals are ovate, apiculate, patent, twice as long as the calyx, pink, becoming deep rose when dry. The eight sta- mens are as long as the calyx, ciliate in the lower half, covered externally above with round glands, the anthers September 15, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 21S attached below the apex. The ovary is seated on a broad hypopfynous disk twice its own width, and is dotted, four- celled, terminated by a simple style, with an obscurely foui-- lobed stigma. The cells of the ovary are two-ovulate, but only one seed seems to be perfected. The plant, both fresh and dry, has a strong odour of Kue. — {Garden Companion.) MAEKI^'G TREES. EvEKY one has felt the want of some effective plan of marking fi-uit trees in the orchard. All sorts of labels have been tned ; and most persons depend for strict accuracy on having a manuscript list made of the trees as they are numerically aiTanged on the ground. This is very weU; but as one must have the list always about, or sometimes likes to gi-aft several kinds on one tree, the plan is so far objectionable. Now it is a well-known fact that the scratch of a pin on the bai'k leaves a scar that endures almost with the life of the tree. We were shown a Beech tree recently in Dela- ware county by a middle-aged man with the initials of his father stiU plainly traceable, which were scratched on the bark when his father was a boy. The same can be done with fi-uit trees, as we believe we saw suggested some years ago in an agricultural jom-nal, but which, like a good many good ideas that yeai-ly float over the great sea of the agricul- tural press, has nearly been forgotten. We saw some trees a few days ago that had been marked in this way, and it reminded us that the idea was worth resuscitating. The annexed cut will ex- plain the idea clearly : The letters of the name are scratched on the under side of the branch, and the letters one above the other. In the case we saw there were two kinds on the two arms of the tree — Baldwin and Northern Spy; the main or central stem being of another kind, the name of which we do not now remember. — {American Gardened s Monthly.) ,,-3^ttii^|:fe%,,^ RAPID DECAY OF ZINC TANKS. About two years since I built a small gi-eenhouse and propagating-house, which I heated by a tank of zinc covered with galvanised sheet iron, as being stronger to support the plunging material for propagating in than zinc. I ibund on opening the tank a few days since that a white deposit had formed on the under side of the sheets of galvanised ii-on, some of which I have scraped off and sent with this, and shall be much obUged if you could ascertain for me the nature of it. This deposit has fallen in places into the zinc tank and coiToded it nearly through. The zinc is, in fact, worn into small holes, which are so nearly through that a pin penetrates them as easily as it would through brown paper. My object in writing is twofold : first to be of use to any persons who may be about to make tanks of zinc in caution- ing them not on any account to cover the tank with " gal- vanised u'on ; " and next, to ascertain what will be the most efl'ectual and economical means to remedy this disaster. Would you recommend a wood tank or another zinc tank covered with slate ? The tank worked so satisfactorily untU it began to leak fi'om the cause above stated, that I much prefer this plan of heating to that by pipes. If I put a zinc tank the present framework of wood would do ; but if a wood one, it must be new altogether. I conclude that in the course of the circulation of the water some of this deposit must have gone into the boiler, and I suppose that if I have a new zinc tank it wiU probably be again discharged to some extent by the same means out of the boiler into the tank, and wiU, probably, again coiTode the new zinc unless its effect has become neutralised by remaining some weeks in the boder. Of course, I could have the boiler cleaned out, but I do net want to have to do this if possible. as it will involve considerable trouble and some e-jrpemseiQ removing the boiler and replacing it. — A Countst CusaTB- [We cannot spare the time nor incur the expense of chemical analyses. The v^liite deposit is such as will be generated in zinc tanks wherever the water is not very pure, and even then, in time, the metal wiU be corroded by the carbonic acid in the water and the oxygen in the air. In your case the coiTOsion would be accelerated by the galvanic action induced by the ii-on and zinc being in contact. _ A wooden tank covered with slate would be far more lasting and useful. We have seen galvanised iron used ; but when- ever an opening in the galvanic covering is made, the iron inside coiTodes very quickly. We have had zinc tanks in addition to pipes to give more heat, and, strange to say, the Uds corroded much sooner than the sides or the bottom. For cheapness and lastingness combined, we would recom- mend a wooden tank. If you still resort to zinc, you had better have a zinc covering likewise. In your case there. would be several chemical combinations.], EOYAL HORTICULTUEAL SOCIErr'S COMMITTEES.-Sept. 9, 18G3, Floral Committee. — The autumnal Exhibition of the Royal Horticultural Society was held on this day, and, as far as flowers and fruit were concerned, nothing more could be desired. The Floral Committee had much to occupy their attention. The entries for seedling Dahlias alone were very numerous, besides a Ions table well covered with other speciiEens for inspection. Not more than one-fifth of the seedling Dahlias exhibited received any notice beyond general approval ; and out of the twenty certificates awarded this day, four only were first- class. The Committee have not awarded more than sis first-- class certificates to Dahlias of 18G3. This most contlnsively proves that this favourite florists' flower h;ra iirrivcd at its climax, and the innumerable good sorts now in cidtivatio» cannot easily be smpassed by new ones, (-)ur report must necessarily be a lengthy one; we shall therefore omit the description of the seedlings which received awards. They will doubtless be criticised by other writers in the Journal. Dahlias — Sir. Wheeler, Warminster: Coronet, first-class j Watty, second-class ; Symmetry, eemmcndod at the previous meeting. Mr. Kimberley : >Iessengcr, second-class. Mr. Kaw- Ungs: Tom Thumb dwarf bedding variety, cnmmended. Mr. Bragg, Slough : Useful, second-class ; Garibaldi, second-class. Mr. Keynes, Salisbury : Anna Keynes, first-class ; Samuet Bartlett, second-class; Magpie, second-class; Kegularitj-, second- class. Jlr. Burgess, Chelsea : Chelsea Hero; second-class. Mr. Turner: Prince of Wales, second-class. Mr. Legge, Edmonton: Roundhead, second-class ; Enchantress, second-class ; White' Perfection, first-class ; The Bride, first-class. Mr. Collier : Annie, second-class. 3Ir. Hopkins ; Brunette, second-class- Mr. Perry, Birmingham : Sjdph, second-class. Messrs. E. G. Henderson," AVellington Koad, exhibited a lai^ and bcautifid collection of the Pompone Dahlias, some of them.. but a little larger than a P.anunculus, and as perfect in form. Beautiful and delicate in theu- colour and markings, they were much and deservedly admired. A special certificate -was awarded' them. Messrs. Henderson exhibited also a very extonsive and in- teresting coDection of their far-famed variegatcd-folLiged Pelar- goniums. Of this collection it is impossible to speak too highly. It was a great privilege for those who are now giring their attention to this interesting section of Pelargoniums (which we hope to see duly represented inourexhibitinn schedules for 1864), to have an ojjportimity of seeing so many and such good and distinct varieties brought together. We shall give their names for the benefit of those who did not see them, hut who may feel' anxious to lose no time in adding some of tlis best kinds to their collection:— Silver Chain, Lucy Grieve, Goldfinch, Miss Emily Dunelle, Rosette, Golden Harkaway, Snowflake, Mrs. Benyon, Golden Chain, Oriana Improved, Mrs. Pollock, Italia llnita, and a group of seedlings not yet named. A special cerJificate was awarded this most beautiful collection. Some blossoms of Fuchsias from the collection of E. Bantsy Esq., were sent by the same firm ; they were extremely beautiful, and decidedly in advance of the Fuchsias of the present d-ay. It would have been more satisfactory to have seen the plants; but the flowers, numbered 21, 46, 17, were all first-eJassj andii' of good habit double-firsts— 20, -10, 24 not being far fcebiEd thenu 216 JOURNAL OF HOETIGULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 15, ia«3. Phytolacca decandra foliis variegatis, also from Messrs. Hen- derson, received a label of commendation ; Centaurca argentea, a very finely-cut foliaged plant of dwarf habit, suitable for the edging of beds, and superior for the purpose to Centauiea gymnocarpa and Contaurea candidissima, first-class certificate. Mr. Salter exhibited a collection of bedding plants, which •were arranged to form a tlower-bed, the background consisting of summer-flowering Pompone Chrysanthemums. The plants used were Centaurea candidissima .and gymnocarpa, Veronica incana, Oxalis rubra, Tisssilago farfara foliis variegatis, and Amaranthus melancholicus. Mr. Salter sent also a plant of Gazania splendens foliis variegatis, adding one more to his extensive and interesting collection of variegated-foliaged plants. Mr. Saltmarsh, Chelmsford, sent scarlet Pelargonium Princess Alexandria, deep rose, flowers in a large truss, but not of sufficient quality. Pelargonium Luna, a promising ■\'aTiety, with golden foliage and marked with dark reddish-brown zones. Plants from cuttings will better decide its merits ; it too much resembles Mrs. Jlilford. Pelargoniuni Little Treasure, small zonate foliage, bright scarlet flowers — the specimen exhibited was too old to enable any decision to be arrived at, some portion of the old plant producing very small foliage, while the younger shoots displayed a much more vigorous habit. It should be sent again, and will probably form one of the family of Mr. Cowper and Waltham Pet. Ml'. Banks, Sholden Lodge, sent a seedling Verbena Lady Palmerston ; but no advance upon better varieties. Messrs. Smith, Dulwich, sent seedling Pelargoniums Ex- cellent, a usefid kind for bedding purposes, a pale rosy salmon ; Silver Chain, a fine white-bordered foliage variety ; Pelargoniimi Favourite, white deep-bordered foliage variety — younger plants of these two promising plants will more fully display their merits ; Pelargonium Peacock, a variegated-foliaged plant. Ane- mone japoniea Honorinc Jobert, a useful hardy border plant, the flowers resembling A. vitifolia — commended. Messrs. Carter sent a collection of annuals, consisting of Asters, Marigolds, in all sizes and colours, flelichrysums, and some very fine double Zinnias. Messrs. Vcitch sent a beautiful collection of plants, among them three seedling hybrid Orchids, raised by their persevering foreman Mr. Dominy ; Cattleya exoniensis, a very beautiful late- flowering variety with pale bluBh flowers, the lower lip being marked with a deep rosy purple band, which terminates midway on the surface of the lip in a straight line, producing a very singvdar eS'ect— second-class certificate. The other hybrids, picta and hybrida, have been described before. Among the other plants was a fine specimen of Odontoglossum grande •covered with its peculiarly-tinted flowers, two specimens of Lilium auratum, Lilium neilgheriense, Alocasia zebrina, Scia- dopitys verticillata, Bambusa variegata, Dracasna ferrea, &c. Mr. Bull, Chelsea, also sent a large collection of interesting plants: — .\diantum cardiochlajna, not a new plant, first-class certificate j Pteris pellucida, a very handsome Fern, first-class •certificate ; three varieties of Caladium ; Schizocasia Portei, a form of Alocasia with a widely jagged cut leaf, which when in better condition will certainly prove a useful and ornamental plant ; Gesnera velutina, with dark refulgent foliage ; Cupressus Barkcri ; Adiantum (Cheilanthes r) radiatum ; Drosera dicho- toma ; Areca species, a verj- handsome Palm -with deeply ribbed foliage, and many others. Mr. BuU sent also six cut specimens of Pentstemons. From Messrs. A. Henderson & Co., Pine Apple Place, came a fine specimen of the Cotton-plant with its seed-vessels in all their stages, and when expanded displaying the growth of the valuable article of commerce. Mr. Dean, Shipley, sent a fine plant of Cionidium Moorii, a very beautiful Fern — first-class certificate. Mr. Standish, Ascot, sent six seedling Gladiolus, four of which received certificates ; Randle Jackson, bright carmine, commended ; Charles Davis, a rosy-tinted scarlet, second-class certificate ; Mrs. Dix, a beautifid white with pale pink blotches on the upper petals, lower petals feathered with bright crimson purple— this wiU prove a first-rate flower^coromended ; Etna, very bright light scarlet, commended. These flowers were exhibited in Mr. Standish's stand of twenty-four varieties. They would have made a better appearance had they been shown singly as seedliugs. We noticed one very fine seedling, Pros- pero in Mr. Sladden's stand of twelve Gladiolus. The Gladioli are not so fine as they were in 1861. Mr. Youell's fine collection was inferior to what we have seen — the individual flowers had not attained their usual size. There were no seedling Hollyhocks. The miserable appear- ance of stands of single flowers gave everybody the horrors. Wliat is the beauty of the Hollyhock r Its magnificent and graceful spikes of flowers. Wh}-, 'then, deprive this splendid garden ornament of its honours by exhibiting single flowers, which reminded us of the three pips of Auriculas at the Spring Exhibition in the Botanic Gardens, Jlegent's Park, 1862, which brought down such ridicule on the exhibitors r We trust the Hollyhock will be shown in 1884 in all its primitive splendour and grandeur. Fruit Committee. — Only a Sub-Committee met on this occasion, consequently no certificates were awarded. The most important object brought forward was a new Grape from Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, & Co., of Exeter, called Mrs. Pince Blaok Muscat GT,ape. The Committee were unanimous in considering it a Grape of great promise ; but, failing in detecting a sufficient muscat flavour, wished to see it again when it could be examined in full Committee. From Mr. TElery. Welbeck, came a seedling White Grape raised from the Trobbiano, and said to be earlier than the Blaftk Hamburgh ; also a bunch of Welbeck Black Tripoli, which always coloiu's and is of very fine flavour. It was considered to be the true Black Hamburgh. Mr. Bust, gardener to the Right Hon. Lawrence SuUivan, Fulham, had a seedling Peach raised from Late Admirable. The fruit was large, yeUow tinged with orange, but had not an'ived at perfection. Mr. Bailey, of Shardeloes, sent a seedling Nectarine called the Shardeloes Nectarine. In shape it resembled the Violette Hative, and in colour was darker than the Elruge. The Com- mittee were of opinion that it was not better than the first- named kind. A very good early White Grape of the Sweetwater breed came from Mr. Brown, gardener to Sir C. Knightley, Fawsley Park ; and Mr. Melville, Dahneny Park, sent a new Grape, which was large-berried, grizzly or amber-coloured, very sugary, and rich, but its colour was objected to. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITOHSN GAEDEN. The season has been very favourable for operations under this head. Weeds could %vith half the usual trouble have been quite eradicated. Potatoes and other crops are coming ofi' early, so that the process of manuring and trenching may be prosecuted at every favourable opportunity. As a general rule, it is recommended to mark the trenches 4 feet wide to throw up good-sized steep ridges. It is not advis- able, if it can possibly be avoided, to dig the ground in- tended for general cropping one spit deep, even if the soil be shallow and the subsoil ungenial. It is much better to remove the top and to weU break up the bottom of the trenches ; depend upon it these operations pay for a little extra trouble, and now is the time to commence them. Artichokes (Globe), cut ofi' the stems as fast as the heads are used. Broccoli, earth-up the plants as they advance, it greatly promotes their growth ; also, eaith-up other plants that requii-e it. Keep a watchful eye for the caterpillars. As soon as they are observed have them g.athered ofi' by hand, this being the only sure means of eradication. Re- move all dead and decaying leaves from the Brassica tribe in general, to some ground under the process of trenching. Carrots, sow a few Eai-ly Horn in a sheltered place to stand the winter. Celery, the fii'st earthing -up of the crop should not take place until it has made consider-able progi'ess. By commencing too early it is drawn up weakly, the earth to be closed round the stalks -with the hand. Endive, tie-up for blancliing when the plants are quite diy. Another plant- ation may also be made. Onions, a few Welsh sown now may come in useful where such things are in constant request. Potatoes, when the haulm is ripe to be taken up, as they are likely to grow again if showery weather continue, which will greatly deteriorate theii' flavour. FLOWEE GARDEN. The favourable change in the weather will now enable those to proceed vigorously in their operations who intend making alterations or new arrangements in this depart- ment. " As regards the formation of new plantations or the removal of large specimens, see that the ground has been prepared for the reception of the plants by trenching, and draining if the soil be moist and damp ; for want of attention September IS, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 217 to this, and espeeiaUy to trenching the soil, the labour has in many instances been completely lost. Omit the barbarous mode too frequently practised of cutting oif large portions of the roots. Whether the plants be large or small, be sure that the hole in which each is to be placed is large enough in its circumference to aEow sufficient room for laying out the roots regularly and at foU length in a horizontal position previous to covering them with soil. Deep planting too must also be avoided: rather have recoui'se to slakes to keep the plants steady, than that they should be sunk in the ground to such a depth as to insure slow but ultimately certain death. The fom- conditions necessary for success ai-e — the trenching of the soO, the preservation and the regular dis- tribution of the roots, and shallow planting. Sow the following annuals now on rather poor soil, and give them a top-dressing of manure in February, they will then flower freely in May and June. NemophUa insignis, CoUinsia bicolor and grandiflora, Godetia Lindleyana, rubicunda, and tenuifolia, Clai-kia pulcheUa and alba, Eucharidium grandi- florum, Lupinus nanus, Gilia tricolor', Leptosiphon andro- saceus and densiflorus, and Viscaria ocuJata. All other hardy annuals may be sown about the middle of March. FKUIT GARDEN. Apples and Pears will now require constant watching to catch the favourable time for gathering, which must be as soon as they are detached from the shoot easOy without using force. The plan of laying them in heaps to sweat, as it is called, will not answer for such as are rec^uired to be kept long, as it hastens the ripening process too much, and as a consequence decay will soon follow. Old Strawben-y-beds intended to be left another season should have the runners and rabbish cleared out from them, and be well dressed with rich decomposed maniu-e, but do not mow off the leaves. Strawberry plants in pots must not be allowed to be very dry, nor ought they to be drenched with too much water. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. One of the first operations claiming attention at the pre- sent time is that of potting the bulbs, as much of the success of early forcing depends upon early potting. We never saw bulbs in finer condition than they are this season ; they are not only large biit sound and perfectly matured. Pinks and Violets must also be looked to ; the latter, both for planting and blooming, to be planted out in a frame or pit. Remove those Azaleas which have set their blooms to the greenhouse, but the later kinds to remaio in heat until the growth is matured and the bloom set. The greenhouse, if not already done, should be prepared immediately to receive the plants, as if we should have a return of the late frosty mornings, it will be advisable to house them without delay. In preparing the house let every part of the brickwork be lime-whited and the woodwork well scrubbed with soap and water and afterwards syringed with boiling water, to dis- lodge spiders and destroy the eggs of insects which have been deposited in the crevices of the wood, and look to the flues or hot-water apparatus, and see that eveiything is ready should severe frost come unexpectedly upon us. Have all the pots washed clean, and tie siich plants as require it, so that there may be no delay in housing the plants should a change of weather render it necessary. Keep the structures open night and day after the plants are placed in them, only reducing the ventilation when anfavoui-able changes in the weather take place, and even then -with particular modera- tion and caution, if sturdiness and blooming ia mature per- fection at the proper season are aimed at. STOVE. A certain and gi-adual reduction of temperature corre- sponding to the decline of external heat should be com- menced. The plants will thus be prepared to withstand the prolonged gloom of the winter season. In the treatment of stove plants it is sxirely an error to act independently of exterior cii-cumstances. The season and, in fact, variations of temperature, should be allowed in a certain and reason- able degree to exert their legitimate influence. Top-di-ess any plants that may require it, and see well to the drainage of aU, especially established plants that have not been repotted for a considerable time. PITS AND FRAMES. Plants which have made their season's growth should be freely exposed to sun and air on every favourable opportunity in order that the wood may be well ripened ; but such as are still in free growth should be encouraged by every possible means wh3e fine weather continues, keeping them rather close, guarding them carefidly from cold winds, and giving a liberal supply of heated water at the roots. If any- thing requires pot room let such be shifted as eaily as con- venient, keeping the atmosphere rather close, and watering veiy cautiously for some time afterwards until the roots take hold of the fresh soU. W. Keanb. DOi:^GS OF THE LAST WEEE. KITCHEN GARDEN. Run the hoe thi'ough all advancing crops. Laid down some rather leggy Broccoli, so as to have the earth close up to the stem. Hoed young Lettuces, Spinach, and Onions. Took oif the late Onion crop, not individually so lai'ge as usual owing to the di-y season ; and yet we have scarcely enough of those sowed for buttons, for our ground is too strong for growing them small, Srm, and round as a marble, as we like to see pickled Onions, though we dai-e not eat them, for if we did our coat would have the odom- of them for a month. The main crops of Onions wiU be strung on a wet day ; and for this purpose, instead of depending on the stems plaited together alone, we generally have two or three stout straws of wheat plaited along \vith the stems. Onions so plaited in strings are very haudy for taking into the kitchen, more especially if the bulbs ai-e arranged in strings of the large, larger, and lai-gest. If these are { strung up dry, and kept dry, it matters but little where they are housed. We have seen fine close rooms made for ' Onions, and the chief advantage of such a place is that I they grow and push out too early in spring. No place is ' better for them than an open shed, if thatched all the i better. We have never known any amount of cold injure an Onion, provided it was kept dry. At least we have seen strings hanging against the v.'all of an open shed with the thermometer close on zero, and the Onions not injui-ed in the least. A fuU-grown specimen is easily injui'ed by ex- tremes of temperatui'e when subjected to alternations of ' wetness and dryness. i Housed all our early Potatoes in good condition; not a i vestige of the disease to be seen, but we are not safe yet, as two years ago we harvested a beautiful lot without a speck, : and in two months the sound ones had to be picked out. Cleared off decayed haulm of Peas as it became useless. Watered Cauliflower, the rain not having penetrated to the roots. Earthed-np a little more Celery just to have enough to go^ on with, and have reason to be more and more satisfied with the Incomparable White Dwarf sent out, we think, first by Mr. Turner, of Slough. We have had immense Celery in September, and yet it did not please us half so much as this little kind. It is true we had a few gorgeous heads of the former to mate people stare, but unless we covered it from autumn rains the very size of the plants kept the rains in then- hearts, and caused the water to puti-ify and discolour the centre, if not to rot it outright. Here there is no such chance with our Incomparable friend. We can grow two or three plants for one of our old Giants ; and if we grow the single plant as thick as our arm and 15 inches high, we can send a foot of beautifal, sweet, crisp Celery to table ; and so long as people keep saying, " Never tasted such beautiful crisp Celery," we mean to keep to the Dwarf, and save the immense banks of earthing-up for all the Giants. Seriously, to all amateurs with little room we would say. Have your own Celery fresh for your cheese by growing the Incom- parable. We find that some of om- great gardeners in the north use it for the spring crops, because it is so hardy and dwarf; we should be inclined to give it the post of honour at all seasons. In general we must own we have been annoyed with Giant Celery. It passes thi-ough so many hands, from the gardener to the employer of the gai-dener, that it becomes reduced to a very little bit, and is so pared, and pared again that a lover of Celery scaa'cely knows what is before him. Mind, we do not blame any one. Those who send up a tiny piece fit for a sparrow out of a bold stick of Celery do so from iise and wont, and, as they think, for 3IS JOURNAX OF HOSTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAE.DENEE. [ September 15, I8sj. Siebest. It often tells, however, against the prowers. We insfif of one case where there was no end of grumbling afeoa'i the Celery for cheese, hut the employer and his friends hs3)jj<.'ii(?cmt it from that day to thi^-. A similar bother took ■piaae in another garden as to Sea-tale. Of course when blsmdied and about 6 inches high we expect the whole head as -eat to form part of the dish that is sent to table ; but the artiste of the kitchen was far too etherial for such mundane treaiuient, and cleared all away but the little knob in the centre. Tie garden being little more than an acre in extent, no wonder that there were everlasting grumblings in the ■wicter as to the deficiency of Sea-kale. What would have made six or eight good dishes cooked in the ordinary way for a. good party, would not have made one in this reclicrche parlsca5ar way ; and so the grumbling went on until a great g-ioiSener was called in to give his opinion on the matter, and he candidly stated that thus treated, the whole garden put wnder Sea-kale could not yield a supply above six •ft-esks. With such a mode of dressing and cooking it would hardly be possible for any gardener, except he had acres of Sea^kale, to be able to act on our favom-ite i-ule, which is to keep fi-iends with the cook by always having plenty, and if at a21 scarce of anything, keep the knowledge ot'that scarcity to ourselves. To our young friends we would say that all this, to fee done well, must be done in such a way that courtesy and a desii-e to oblige must ever appear paramount to firm- nesB, and quite as transparent as integi'ity of character. We should feel we had not lived in vain could we impress our brethren mth the vast diiierence conveyed with the words, " Yon nmst do," and "You will oblige by doing." A little courtesy does much to render pleasant the pathway of existence. Other matters as to Mushrooms, Cucumbers, and other wgetiibles, much as before stated. The Mushi-ooms in our little beds have been so good that we have had no occasion to iunt the meadows. We are not much given to such dainties, but as the question is often asked as to the supe- riority of one kind of Mushroom over another, we must say that for oirr own eating we would much prefer those grown under our own care to any gathered from a pastiu-e. We find that the cakes of spawn, especially the thin ones that ISi-. Foreyth recommended to us as better than the tliick ones, will soon do for spawning. We wUl make these cakes or fericks after this. This, though a small case, just illus- trates the advantage not only of gardeners meeting each other, but the advantage that the employers of gardeners derive fi-om their gai-deners having an opportunity of com- jjaring cotes with theii- fellow gardeners. We are quite delighted to find that &-om various remai-ks on this subject in the Journal many gentlemen have not only given their gardeners the necessary time to make a tour and see what they could, but have also defrayed paj.-t or whole of the expenses. One most worthy man that called here had two five ixmnds put into his hands on leaving, and was told wieie to apply in London when that ran out. We feel sure that the money so spent will be seen in improvements inasiy years hence. FRUIT SAEDEK. Much the same as previous weeks. Find that since the miss Peai-s and Apples are increasing in size wonderfully, tSiongi some even now would be better of a little water at t5ie roots to the extent of half a dozen of water-pails to a smaJi standard tree. Figs are bearing well outside. Some m pots ^•^il be taken to a warmer place. Melons have had fresh linings given to those in frames, and others in pits bave had the fruit elevated to keep them from cracking with the damp. More air and fii-c heat have been given to Grape;!, not only to ripen late Grapes, but to keep them satmd und fi-ee from damp. In some very warm days, with a powerliil sun, the i3oors, stages, &c., were slightly syringed ■with pure water to prevent the house becoming too dry, as that has a tendency to make Grapes quite ripe to slightly shriveL Attended to Strawberry -pots ' for forcing. Went on clcso-ing those in the open an-. Gathered fruit as it ripened. Find that Peaches and Nectarines in the open ah- ■»ill be over before their usual time this season. The Apples chiefly in use for table are the Red QuaiTenden, the Kerry Pippin, and the Strawberry Pippin. The Pears are chiefly Jargonelle and WUhams' Bon Chretien. The latter, with Irequent gatherings of the largest, we manage to have in use at least six weeks or two months. OP.NAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. Fresh arranged conservatory. Rolled walks and lawn. Picked over flower-beds, still beautilid. Tied-up tall plants. Picked oif the flowers of Dahlias that had fcuffered from the ch-ought. Put in cuttings of Geraniums as fast as we could get at them, so as not to injure the outline of the beds. Picked faded flowers fi-om vases. Watered with maniire water lai-ge Chrysauthemvuns in pots. Those who wish early Hyacinth.s and Tulips, should pot them as soon as possible in good loam, a little very rotten leaf mould, and a little silver sand. We prefer, instead of using much manure for such things in the soil, to use rich top-ch'essings and manure waterings. Those who wish an early display of bulbs for the flower garden should buy them as soon as possible. Place them on a north border, 3 or 4 inches apart, for Hyacinths, Narcissus, Tulips, and cover with 4 inches of loam and leaf mould. When the flower-beds are all cleared of then- summer residents, well dug, and pulverised, these bidbs may be lifted in balls and planted, and never feel the moving. Moved a lot of Cassia corymbosa into a deeper pit to give more room. These were struck this spring. This is a splendid orange colour, either for out-door adorn- ment in summer or conservatory-flowering at any time. Repotted Chinese Primidas into 32-sizcd or six-inch pots, ditto with Cinerarias for early blooming. Pricked ofl' younger seedlings of Primulas and Cinerarias for succession, also herbaceous Calceolarias. Gathered seed of shi'ubby Calceo- laria fi-om beds, which seems more matm-e than usual. Syringed Violets in pots and beds with sidphiu' water, to disperse all trace of the red spider. Find that there was a mistake last week as to Geranium cuttings being an inch in size, as, though small, they ai-e mostly above that size. They are planted about 1 inch apart. The tenderest of these ai'e placed under glass, and to iirevent shading they have a skifl' from the syringe in the heat of a sunny day. The same as respects Verbena cuttings. A little damping of the foliage in the middle of the day is often much better than much shading. There would be fewer mischances did we always recollect that shading, if necessary, is a necessary evU. The good propagator will give it only when necessai-y, and remove it as soon as the cuttings or the plants can do without it. Took Camellias into the house ; and Heaths, Epacrises, and the better greenhouse plants! shoidd no longer be exposed to the lashing rains of autumn. — K. F. TRADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. V/miam Paul, Waltham Cross. — Desc-iptive List of Straw- lierrles and Grape Vines. BaiT & Sugden, 12, King Street, Covent Garden. — Floral Gnide to Winter and S}yring Gardenintj, ISfiS. F. & A. Dickson & Sons, 106, Eastgate Street and Upton Nurseries, Chester. — Catalogue of Ihiteh Flower Boots. Sep- tember, 1863. B. J. Edwards, 222, Strand, London. — Autumn Catalogue of Hyacinths and other Bulbs. COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— Sept 12. Fru^t and vecetables of all kinds conlinue plentiTul, and in all respects the supply o: tlie different kinda, as well as their pricef, dift'er little from lu^t week, (rrape^. Pine Apples, and Melr-ns ate in at>a!idance. Some Marie Louise and Louise Bonne of Jersey Pears are making their appear- ance; also liibston Pippins, which promise well. Of other dessert Apples the supply is rather short. Filberts and Cobs hive somewhat declined in pi ice; the latter uiaj" be obtained inexcellent condition at from 45s. to JOs. per 100 lbs. The Potalo market is still heavy. Flowers the same as last week. s. d, 1 Glo4 0 0 0 Apples J sieve Apricots doz. F'ijjs do2. 2 6 3 Filberts* Nuts 100 lbs. 5.5 0 65 Grapes, Hamburghs. lb. 16 6 Muscats lb. 3 0 6 Lemons 100 8 0 12 Melons each 16 4 Mulberries quart 0 6 0 FRUIT, d 0 0 e 0 0 0 0 0 d. s. 0to5 Nectarines doz. Oranges 100 10 0 14 Peaches doz. 2 6 12 Pears bush. 0 0 0 dessert ^sleve 2 6 5 Pine Apples lb. 3 0 6 Plums Jsievo 3 0 6 Quinces bush. 0 0 0 Walnuts bush. 14 6 20 September 15, 1863. ] JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AIJD COTTAGE GAEDENER. 219 Beans, Broad bush. Kidney 1 sieve Beet, red doz. Broccoli bundle CabbdBe doz. Capsicums 100 Carrots buucb Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Cucurabeis doz. pickling doz. Endive score Fennel bunch Oarlio and Shallots, lb. Gourds & Punipk., each Herbs bunch Horseradish ... bundle V-ESETABLES. u'to 0 0 I Leeks bunch 6 4 0 ! Lettuce score 0 1 t> I Mushrooms pottle 0 0 0 I Musld.S Cress, punnet 0 1 3 j Onions Imuch 3 2 0 1 pickling quart 6 0 8 > Parsley bunch 0 5 0 Parsnips doz. 6 2 0 I Peas bush. 6 10 0 Potatoes sack y 10 Radishes doz. bunches 3 2 6, Rhubarb bundle 0 () (I j Savoys per do/.. 8 0 0 ' Sea-kale basket 0 0 0 1 Spinach sieve 3 0 0 Tomatoes 2 sieve G 4 0 1 Xurnipa hunch ft. d. s. d 0 0 toO 0 1 0 2 (1 1 1) 2 6 0 2 U 3 fl 4 0 U 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 0 0 0 U 0 0 0 0 .■) 0 S 0 1 li 2 0 (1 0 0 u 0 0 0 0 n n 0 0 1 B 2 0 ^_ R 5 0 u 3 0 b TO CORRESPONDENTS. *»* We request that no one will \mtc x:ii'iva,tely to the de- partmental wi-iters of the " Journal of Hortioultui-e, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. AH communications should therefore be ad- di-essed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticid- ture, ^-c, 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that correspondents will not mU up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but wTite them on sepai-ate communications. Also never to send more than two or tlo-ee questions at once. N.B.— Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Tbitoma vtaku Colture (J. i.).— Tritoma uvaria requires nothing that we know of beyond a deep, rich and moist soil to induce it to Uower. It flowers freely with us in the early part of October. We sliould say your fine healthy plant will yet flower, the latter part of August being quite early enough, even for East Cornwall, to look for the flowcr-spike ol this plant. We should think it is quite hardy with you; but a few inches of cocoa-nut flbre put over the crown on the approach of severe weather wU. make all safe. Remove the offsets m the spring immediately on lU-i p.aiit com- mencing new growth. Gladiolus Disease {An Old Subscriber). -Your flower was smashed. Our correspondent says, •' Campanula garganica is a good tianer. Compost foe Geeanilks-Cuttings of Beduino Plants {Au Amitfur). —We think your compost well aired and turned might do very we.l tor Geraniums, &c., in small pots ; but for larger plants we should be doubtful unless we saw it. Much will depend on the ainng and the sweetness We would not be liberal with dung or soot until tairly tried. We suspect your cuttings have been kept too close and too moist. W e can hardly advise you how to succeed with them and the O-rapes too, as too much damp will also injure the Grapes ; but instead of planting we would advise you to put the cuttings in pots, and then you can more easily move them. Seedling Peijiulas (Jrfem).-The Primula sinensis if potted now, four in a small pot round the sides, and in a month or sii weeks potted singly, will flower nicely next spring. Peeventino Ekcbostation in Boilers (./. KeaTns).—\\e know of no better remedy than sal ammoniac, an ounce to sixty gallons ol water, but the oftener the boiler is emptied the better. We thmk if potash or soda were mixed with the water and allowed to stand several days before being put into the boiler, that the evil would be lessened ; but then it might not suit the purposes for which the boiler is used. All boilers will become encrusted with such water. CocoA-KUT Refuse eoi Potting (J. X.). -Cocoa-nut dust is a good material for plants of any kind, from a Pine down to a Strawberry, and from an Orchid to a Calceolaria. All plants thrive well in it. Heating a Small House ani. Cucumbei-.-bed (0. 7/.).— The pipes in the bed had better be covered with 0 inches or so of rough rubble, clinkers, ic, and then an inch or two of fine washed gravel-leaving only the hue little stones. Au inch of cement might go over this so as to give you a smooth firm bottom, then about 13 inches of soil. If you go deeper with the pipes they will be less effectual, lor such a house and to have truit so early we would like three four-inch pipes on each side lor top heal and on the same level. Rhus puccedasea (Sii:.';ac;i).— Unless under very favourable circum- stances we fear this effective plant w ill not prove quite hardy with you. It is, however, well worthy of a trial in some of the lovely sheltered corners in the upper part of your unique grounds, or on a conservatory wall. A hot position with a light dry soil are the most likely conditions to that proper ripening of the wood, which with slight piolection, may enable it to stand the -winters ot Bucks. But you are too well informed on all these matters to require any instructions lor your guidance. W'e shall be happy to bear Low it succeeds with you. Diseased Vines (B. A. S.).— You have a fungous rust on the Vines, the result of over-moisture at the roots, or an over-close moist atmosphere lu the bouse. The first remedy is more air and heat in the house, a little sulphur on the walls or the heating medium, and if that does not answer, lifting the Vines or more drainage. Hardiness or Copueas (/. i.).-Cuphea eminens and the Crystal Palace crimson are probably hardy in East Cornwall. Try them. Cupbeas lu pots require about as muck water as a Fuchsia— just enough to keep tucm growing in winter, but abundance when growing and flowering m summer. Unhealthy Oeanoe Teee-Hova bixla [C. C/.t/rc/M/O.-^} e think the excessive flowering of the Orange and the bad health afterwards are owing to div less at the Toots. Soak ihe whole ball in a tub, allow it to drain afterlrds and un?ilg owing freely u,-e nothing but clvar soft water. In soring give aU the heat you can, so as to promote free growth. Keep rather dry in win'e r. S rong manure now is like presenting beef-steaks to a p'or invX who can tmly sip a little liquid. You n.ay allow the Ho, a M bloom but take it to tlie warmest ena of the greenhouse and keep it rathe"d"yaU the winter, keepin,- the stems succulent by syringing them frequently, rather than by giving much water at the roots. T1.MP0RAEV Heating a Small Gbeenhouse (P. V. J/. f.).-The parafBn lamps win be better than the eindles; but two would be of litt e use in a eX night and nJ protection used. ' We would recommend f3 'he simplest and best, a small iron stove with a wrought iron tube through the roof, and a flat ton so that you may place a vessel or vessels of water over it. We fhink the nUnts will be safer in pots or boxes set on the border, instead 01 being pla&ouT in such circumstances. You can more easily examine mo"? and do what is wanted to them. A stove about 3Vs. complee oughts "o do all you want. If the flre-box is free of the sides so much the better. Shflf foe Geeenhouse lllrs. West).-ron cannot do well with les] than 2 feetclea. round the fount .in. The end shelves or platforms may r^nee from 'T to 3 and 4 feet in width. You would see the whole matter refef red to the other week. The plants will not suSer from the air being an at d as proposed, but it must'^be done moderately at the sides in cold weather. The air at the top would then be the pnuc.pal thing. Heating a Span-eoofed Fof.cing-pit I Yorkshire Suhscrtber).--ne K you wish tw°hotbrfs, one on each side, the best plan would be to have two pipes on each side for bottom heat, and two for top heat. be^ ^r ^^[tt;^ wirw^S Jw i^Sei^S^t t^cS un?3 a good many buds are opening. Poke for Heating ildemJ.-There will be no difficulty as to the coke ; if STACKYS PAEUSTEIS AS A SUBSTITUTE FOE ASFAEAGDS i^'O^ ]«'''" ''"'"^^ ^n^^oduci^g^c^oumrler of Northern Europe ^^^^^^ l^''^^, ground stems are of the size of small Asparagus and ^^« '^f ^°'^;^ shoots of not >pen the steins of this p ant used so extensively as the young snoots ui ?he Wild Hop (Humulus lupulns], as Greens by country people, though we have know"Tonie do so. and they pronounce then, to be 1«1":""'\ .V//.^;^ Sa;s^?t^eng^:sS?t;£:Si=;^-^^"^.^^ term tliein alwavs are. The plant in question grows naturally >■; mo^t Sri-i™ if::tzfd^^ii«zrSHS:^^ ki ^-^\:^^C^^^^ -;^if iiiSt^^f et^dUo^^ r^bo??r Ji^v^^'^s: pifit^J^n^^^^ %SFSSs - ;;?s^fei^ngi:;;s^'s d^ fr S^S^sfe the thickness of well-grown Asparagus »''°°"L'>y '^f''lS'"ere used shoots which might become finer and larger by c"'"^*'"'"' '''■'l^'^v.""; nferor'n tenderness and flavour to any vegetable we ^-^^- ^^^^^^^% way to obtain plants would be to apply to some ' ■'^nd in ^he ^^^f\^^ a dealer in herbs would probably obtain "«™ '"^ >™j ^ve n"d hem the same tale about Chestnut leave, being ^''■"'■'"^^•^"i/b.sUear mould, without any deleterious results. Oak, Beech &c, make tlu best le , but there is not so much difference after all between the •'^fj' °^ j^ j,.„,„ and that of another genus after they b»<;ome decomposed L.arnouia.^^ Chestnut leaves contains more .P°<»«'_""'';'">^, °'„ „„„ure poisons respects it does not differ materially. Some peo le »''y '"^ " chlstnut- coniferous trees ; and, probably, the same V«°Pl«^'''';''^;rVa, plied We tree leaves ate poisonous to any plant to which they are appiico. ^'^:l^T^V^. K. S.i^You shouhl ^-e -nt th^lea^sa. well as the fruit of your Peaches and Nectannes as 'b^^^a^cter 0, t g^^^ very important in determining the names^ 1 ''''''■',„,„,,.,„. ,j Ncwington ; 2 wL too muchbruised ;/:- Clingstone ^ecnalmappa,e.ly^^^e^^ 4, hard and unripe ; 5 and < , Bellegarde , 0- ^•"f "1"'^j;,j' j^ „„„ bad condi- 9. Eiruge. ( W. '^"/"'"rl-T Y"^^ ^;'':_We c in ""t "ndertakj to name so tion, is the Diamond. iOld iub>cr"'> )--J"'^™j,„j, „,„st be reasonable many as thirty sorts of unripe App es. Cor'-'-spo..a jmscadine. in their demands upon our time m this respect. 01, a , j 220 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. September 15, 1863. Heating a Vineby {T. H. i).— Your plan will answer admirably for pot Vines; but unless you make your Hue wide enough, eu as to borrow top heat for the houfie from it, you will not be gi-eatly better-off lor your early ripening of the general crop. We think you may do eo. No plan could be worse than having a tier of flues against the back wall only. You have also a fine opportunity of renewing your vinery by planting in that border out- aide, and then making openings in your outside wall. If the house is wide you might shui-in a part longitudually, so as to forward the Vines in pots before forciug the others. Glazed earthenware pipes are capital far heating where you can place them on the level, and where they are not likely to be injured by clumsy labourers. Mr. Niven, of Dramcondra, and others us^e them largely. Madame Vavcher Geranium l,I}eionie7isis). ~lf you supply Madame Vaucber Geranium liberally with water at tile root it wiil prevent it from turning pink whtn planted out. When turned out of pots such plants are apt to suffer irom dryneiss at the root till they take hold of the ground, and we know that when exposed to drought this Geranium assumes a pink shade ; but so soon as the ground is well watered it regiiins its usual colour. Destroting Woobuce {A. B, C.).—1i you can pour boiling w.iltr into crevices between the brickwork and wooden framework, it will certainly destroy your troublesome pesis If It is not possible to introduce boiling ■water into the haunts of the woodlice, the most effectual way will be to raise the framework and destroy all of them that you possibly Cdn ; and then hcrape away all the Ioo^e mortar, and bed the "woodwork firmly down on to a layer of Porthmd or Rom",n cement, so that every crevice may be filled up and defy their making u?e of such a retreat. To destroy the stragglers that may have taken up their quarters inside the frtime, boiling water may be applied to the inside of the walls, on which they are generally found creeping, after dark. Poisoned fruit, such as Pears or Peaches, laid in the frame ..t night will also destroy them, as they are fond of (easting on fruit. Toads are great enemies to then\ and one or two ?-uch lodgers will make short work of great numbers of them. Any or all of these remedies will enable you to overcome ycur marauders. Frdit Trees eor Pot-cvlture [A. B. C.).— The following varieties of fruit trees for pots will answer your purpose:— ^prtco?5.—Moorpark, Royal, Large Red. J'eathes.—Ediily York, Royal George, Viulette Hative, No- blesse, Walburton Admirable- JVe atari ties. ~\io\etie Hative, Pitmaston Orange, Elruge. P/«;/i5.— Green Gage. Kirke's Seedling, Jefferson, Coe's Golden Drop. 6'roj:>cs.— Royal Muscadine, Black Hamburgh, Chaptal, Although you do not a&k for advice regarding the arrant-ement you propoae in the cultivation of these fruits in pots, having at the same time Vines trained over them near the glass, it may be remarked tliat in order to suc- ceed with the fruit in pots the Vines over them must be trained much wider apart than is usual when a house is devoted to the growth of Grapes entirely, otherwise the fruit trees :n pots will not receive that amount of light and air necessary to their well-doing. If possible it would be much more satisfac- tory if the trees in pots could have a division entirely to themselves. It will not be easy to succeed with them ; and, at the same time, secure a crop of early Grapes over them. GNAFHALirM LANATt'M (jV. W. 5.).— Gnaphalium lanatum is a hardy herbaceous plant, therefore likely to stand the winters of >orfolk. RussELiA JDNCEA CuLTCEE {Ide7n 1.— RusseUa juncea is a stove plant from Meiico. and one of the mo>t graceful plants in cultivatiun. It le^uires a compost of equal parts turfy loam and fibry peat, chopped with a spade, but not sifted unlets through a liddle with inch meshes, and a liberal ad- mixture of silver sand. We presume yours is a small plant; if so, pot it and keep it in a moist atiriosphere to induce free but not luxuriant growth. Shift into a pot a size larger immediately the roots reach the sides of the pot. Repeat the same until the plant attains the si/e you wish, when yon ■will give the last ?hift. double the sized pot of any of the former being employed. When this pot becomes full of roots the plantwiil show flowe:s^; but much will depend on pinching the strong shoots back when they are a foot in length. The branches may be tied to a stick, from which the laterals droop gracefully. It flowers more abundantly on moderate than luxuriant growths. "Vou will, therefore, stop all sirung and rampant growths, encouraging the weaker until growth begins to slacken, when stopping wi 1 be discontinued and syringing too, the plant being kept drier at the ruot and less moisture given above. Any straggling blooms to be removed if they appear whilst it is growing Sudden changes of temperature are inimical to its well-being ; and it rarely does well after flowering once, consequently young plants must be ready to grow on to supply a worn-out specimen. It is easily propagated, either by single joints ot the shoots or cuttings in a little bottom heat, or from suckers and divibion. Tuberous Trop^oldms (£. X. C.).— The seeds of tuberous-rooted Tro- paeolums are best sown immediately after they are ripe in sandy peat and loam in a Cucumber-frame, or where a bottom heat of about 7o° prevails— top heat about the same. The seeds are best placed separately in thumb pots, for they can then be shifted into larger pots as they advance in growth without disturbing the root.*^. When the plants are 'fairly up remove them to a wann greenhouse and near the glass, placing a sm'all stick for the plant to climb up in the pot. The seedlings will need but one shift the first year, say into a 48-sized pot. When they have grown as much as they will and the leaves begin to turn yelluw, lessen the supply of water, gradually dry them off, and give them a real of three months by keeping tiie tubers dry in a cool place. Pot early in September in after-years, and grow in a warm greenhouse, giving abundance of air and all the light practicable. Tro- pffiolum tricolor usually commences growing in September, growing on through the winter and flowering in April in the greenhout^e ; dying down immediately after flowering, when the pot may be laid aside until Sep- tember in a dry cool place. It is then to be potted and trained on a fan- shaped or some other trellis. The seed may be sown now in a little heat not more than 73'^, nor less than Go", or early in February on a gentle hat- bed ; but it is best to bow them immediately they are ripe. Garden-plan.— (-45(cr).— We are sorry that we can only reply to you, as ■we have replied to others— we never arrange the planting, or recommend the plants to be employed. We only criticise what our correspondents propose doing, and point out their errors, if any. Alocasia WETALEfCA ( C. S. JV.).— You wUl find an articlc ou this plant in another column. Portraits of Flowfrs. — expect us to name more than three or four at a time. 1, Cyrtomium falcatum ; 2, Lastrea aristata ; 3, Anemidictyon phyllitidis; 4, Ptens ger;5Biitolia; 5, Adiantum cupiUus- Veneris ; G, Blech- uum brasiliense. [F. 6" j.— Your plant is the Vtratrum nigrum, a noble plant lor the shrub ,ery border. The Passiun-Fiower you mean is the Passiflora taTulea,the most hardy, if not the very handsomest, of the genus, iG. E.\.— \, Common FItabtine, Inula dysentenea ; 2, Common Centaury, Erythraea tentaurium ; 3, Eyebright, Euphrasia otiicrnalis. {£aton Cliff ). — We do not undertake to uame a plant from a leaf only. We believe yours to be from thv ■ 'nmon Hydrangea; and the Geranium was too fallen to pieces to be ju-^-a. (Old Subscriber, J. Cj. — Hedychinum Gardaerianum. POITLTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE, FEESH GROUJS'D FOE (HTOKKXS. We cannot help thinking much good might result and great information Le derived if amateurs would be more eonamunicative one to another through the columns of periodicals devoted to the objects in which they are interested. Many of the queries sent to us are evidently from competent and observing people, and afford ample evidence of the abiUty of the writers. Such, while they want information on one point, could evidently afford it on twenty. One has written to us on " Tainted Ground." Although he has four or five acres at his disposal, yet, for security's sake, he has reared his chickens for years in a small enclosed space. They did well for two or three years ; but afterwards, although supplied vi-ith all they could, require, the chickens languished, many died, and the survivors were sickly. He was not a man who would accept such a position without iaquiring the cause, and was soon told by a gamekeeper the ground was tainted, consequently unfit for rearing chickens. The assertion was to be tested by the removal of a brood that was daily becoming less to the open space. They recovered directly. A change of ground is good for old birds ; but it is uecessaiy for chickens that are artificially kept. There is not on a lawn or small paddock the constant change of surface there is in a farmyard, nur is there the same process of natural chemistry in operation. Where Pheasants are bred in large numbers, it is a common thing to be obliged to relinquiSi ground possessing every advantage, because it is tainted. Birds will not grow up — they cannot be reared upon it. The old birds are not affected hy it; but even in them, as in the human being, change of air and scene ai'e beneficial. It is impossible to say in what this taint consists. Analysis has failed, so has dissection. Wherever it can be done, prudence would, therefore, dictate that the spot where chickens will be put with the hens under the rips should be as much as possible kept quite free from poultn- tUl it is required for the purpose. We have no doubt many of the complaints we receive of inexplicable deaths from no apparent cause, and spite of every precaution, prevision, and provision, may be attributed to this cause. Mooting the subject may, perhaps, tmTi the attention of competent people to it. MAJfCHESTEE AND LR^EPOOL POULTET EXHIBITION. The Manchester and Liverpool Agricultm-al Society held its tirst meeting in the year 1847. It was then constituted by the amalgamation of the Manchester Society, whose first meeting dates hack so far as 17G7, with the Liverpool Society, formed in 1S30. With, therefore, an undivided interest, and embracing so populous a district as that in which its annual meetings now take place, the natural result has been progressive improvement ; and it is patent to every one that any feature that might by its utility and popularity add to its advancement in pubUe favour, has invariably received the ready and earnest attention of its controllers. This Society enjoys also the untiring help of one of the most indefatigable of secretaries, Mr. Kyder, September 15, 1803. JOTJENAL OP HOETICtJLTITRE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 221 ■whose energies are thus annually severely taxed in. con- nection ivith this Meeting. Courteous to every one, and with ready advice to any exhibitor requiring it, it is only fail- thus to admit the Manchester and Liverpool Meeting is in no slight degree indebted to this gentleman's personal exertions for its present high position. To give a slight idea of the gigantic proportions of this year's meeting we at once consult the printed catalogue. In it we fmd registered no less than 3141 entries, entailing ■an amount of labour in its management none others than the actually experienced could imagine. This total of entries, of course, included homed cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, imple- ments and machinery, grain, roots, cheese, butter, fruits, flowers, and last, though not least, dogs and poultry. So vast a display as that of this year, and one so well calculated to amuse and instruct the public eye, has rarely been exhi- bited at a single meeting. The caiTying-out of the general arrangements was en- trusted to the Messrs. Jennison, of Belle Vue Gardens, •near Manchester ; and although compelled to do battle with most unpropitious weather, these gentlemen eventually brought all to a favourable conclusion. The day and night also previoiis to the Show being opened was one continuous heavy rain, nor at the break of day was there any symptom whatever of abatement. About seven or eight o'clock, how- ever, and this only just as the Arbitrators were about to commence their duties, the sky suddenly cleared, the sun broke brightly, and every face beamed with congratulation at a residt all had deemed, tiU now, an utterly hopeless one. But expressly to the poultry. This department contained considerably beyond 200 pens, and as a whole, the collection was unquestionably a good one. It is true many classes were damaged in appearance (particularly to the inexperienced eye), by the bulk: of the specimens being then in fixU moult ; but as at this season it is useless to expect anything different (because naturally so), the few remarks we purpose offering our readers will not bear particularly on this shortcoming. The Black Spanish class was a strong one, the well-known .breeder Mr. Eodbai-d, of Aldwick Com-t taking both first and second positions. The quality of the faces of this gentleman's chickens was quite beyond exception ; but we cannot help noticing that these bii-ds were of a vei-y diminu- tive size when compared with many shown from the same yards dui'ing past years. The same amount of character, combined with a larger size, would be a decided improve- ment. In Grey Dorrkings Captain Hornby was pre-eminent, all his specimens being quite above the remaining competi- tion— in short, they were all exceedingly well-built large early chickens, and matched most effectively. The moult of the Game fowls told seriously against them, but hei-e again Captain Hornby stood well. Mi-. Julian, of Beverley showed also some very worthy birds of these varieties. In Cochins the muster represented many of the first things of this year from oui- most noted amateurs. Our attention was pai-ticu- larly directed to a feature, that though somewhat general in the Buff Cochin class, by no means justifies the practice — ■viz., the exhibition of Silver Cinnamon pullets -with a Buff cockerel. Another very fatal objection ruled rather heavily against the interests of several exhibitors. It arose from dropping and waved combs in one or more pullets, though otherwise unexceptionable. From these shortcomings the Cochin classes, though " very taking at first sight," would in bear to be closely scrutinised. The Hamburghs were a very strong feature of the Show ; and the Polands though few in numbers were decidedly good. Harvey Dutton Bayly, Esq., stood far above competition in the Bantam classes. It was as complete a "walk over" as we could imagine. In Aylesbury Ihiclcs, Mrs. Seamons stood as completely beyond the reach of rivals, even a single glance of the Judges determining all the three prizes in her favour. In Eouen Ducks faulty bills were sadly prevalent, though the class was most extensive. It is well worthy of remark that a faulty Duck of this breed as to her biU, nearly without exception, perpetuates the faOing in every duckUng. To breed from such is the certain forerunner of disappointment ; and as a selection may be made at a very early age, to hand over to the cook at once such ducklings as are evidently not fit for exhibition would prevent much unnecessary outlay, besides providing for the table at a time when their appearance thereon would be decidedly far the most accept- able. The Tun-keys and Geese were as good as we have seen this season. The rage for exhibiting two, or even three ganders together instead of a male and two females seems, however, to extend itself Decision on the part of om- poulti-y Judges must be here called into action, or sales of these really useful birds will fall sadly below what has been the usual demand. We know several agi-iculturists whose hopes have been thus frustrated, and their tempers not a little soured into the bargain, by having eventually to roast a large proportion, and perhaps all of a pen of so-caUed Geese thus " claimed " at high prices. DoKKiNQs. — First aad Second, Capt. W. Homby, Prescot. Third, J. Robinson, Garstang, Spanish.— First and Second, J. E. Rodbard, Wrington. Third, -W. Wooliey, t^unbury. Game Cock.— First, H. M. Julian, Beverley. Second, J. Fodden, New Ferry. Third, C. -VV. Brierley, Eochdale. Game (Blacli-breasted Red).— First, H. M. Julian, Beverley. Second, Capt. vv. Hornby, Prescot. Third, W. Gamon, Cheater. Game (Brown-breasted Ked).— First, Capt. W. Hornby, Prescot. Second and Third, J. Wood, Wigan. Game (Any variety).- First and Second, J. Holme (Duckwin^), Third, C. P. Aclters, Wigan (Duckwing). Cocuin-China (Buff or Cinnamon).— First and Third, T. Stretch, OnnB- kirk. Second, 0. Fell, Warrington. Highly Commended, G. Fell. Com- mended, E. Mupgrove, Ormskirk. CocHiN-CeiNA (Grouse and Partiidge).— First, T. Stretch, Ormskirk. Second, E. Tudman, Salop. Third, Capt. Heaton, Manchester. Commended, T. Stretch. HiMBnEOHS (Golden-pencilled).— First, Messrs. Carter & Valiant, Ponlton- le-Fylcie. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Third prize withheld. Hambdkghs (Silver-pencUled).— First, H. Pickles, jun. Skipton. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Third, J. Piatt, Bolton. Highly Commended, S. Field- ing, Middleton. HAMBnBGHS (Golden-spangled).— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, S. H. Hyde, Ashton-under-Lvne. Third, J. Roe, Manchester. Hambi'egbs (Silver-spangled).— First, J. Robinson, Garstang. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Third, T. Rigby, VVinsford. PoLANus.— First and Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Third, P. TJnsworth, Warrington. Bantams (Game).— First, T. H. D. Bayley, Biggleswade. .Second, J. W. Morris, Rochdale. Third, J. Dixon, Bradford. Commended, W.Lawrenson, Poulton-le-Fylde. BAMTAM3 (Any other variety).— First and Second, T. H. D. Bayley, Big- gleswade. ( By some mistake both this gentleman's pens of Sebrights were exhibited in one pen. The Silver-laced stood first, and the Gold-laced second.) Third, J. Dixon, Bradford. Ant othee Breed.— First, J. Dixon, Bradford (Black Hamburghs). Second, W. Dawson, Hoptou (White Cochin-China). Third, Mrs. M. Seamons, Aylesbury (Brahma Poocra). Highly Conimended, H. B. Lee, Bewdley (Brahma Pootra) ; J. Robinson, Garstang (White Dorkings). Goslings.- First and Second, D. E. Davies. Knutsfotd (White and Grey). Third, T. Burgess, Whitchurch (White). Ducklings (Aylesbnry).— First, Second, and Third, Mrs. M. Seamons, Aylesbury. Ducklings (Rouen). -First, J. Holme, Knowsley. Second and Third, W. Gamon, Chester. Ducks (Any other breed).- First, F. W. Earle, Prescot (Black East-In- dian). Second, J. Dixon, Bradford (Grey Call). Third, C. P. Ackers, Wigan (Wild). Highly Commended, J. K. Jessop, Hull (Black East Indian). Tdekeys.- First, Capt. W. Hornby, Prescot. Second, J. Dixon, Brad- ford. Third, J Ellis, Hale Bank. ExTEA Stock.— Commended, Mrs. G. H. Cook, Hartford Hall, Cheshire. Mr. John Douglas, of The Cottage, EUenhaU, near Eccles- hall; and Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Spark- brook, near Birmingham, were the Judges. KEIGHLEY POULTEY EXHIBITION. TwENTY-ON-E years have now passed away since the first agricultural Show was held at Keighley, and for about the half of that period the addition of poultry has led to a great increase of its attractions. It is a gratifying result for us to announce that the meeting of last week not only showed a large increase in the number of entries over those of pre- vious years, but a stiU more important feature was that the ponltry competing was as good as can be met with at the largest of such exhibitions. Although the weather for the last few days proved most precarious and unpromising, most luckily the day on which the Show was actually held proved quite a fine one, and by this happy coincidence a company far beyond precedent assembled at Keighley. That the Committee reaUy work hard to insure success must be obvious, even at first glance, among those who attended last week, and this has always been so. Then- just reward is pretty well expressed by the somewhat quaint inscription that met the eye among some of the first on 222 JOtJENAL OF HOETICITLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ September 15, 18GS. leaving the railway station, " Perseverance wins the day." Similai' banners, expressive of a vai'ied host of sentiment, evidently the first impulses of their respective owners, we had almost said, filled irp the streets from the station to the show-yard, combined with such quantities of evergreens and paper flowers as to be really astounding, neai'ly every spare yaa-d of space being thus temporaiTly dressed out. A volun- teer rifle band proved a really good help to caiTy out the festivities of the day. As the clock struck the hour of six the church bells rang meny peals, and vei-y quickly the din of transit to the show-yard, the morning sun brightly shining on the passers-by, proved there would certainly be no lack of either cattle, implements, or poultry, and that the much-desired fine day appeai-ed certain. Things pro- gi'essed in this orderly and general manner until between ten and eleven, when, the bajid being summoned, the Com- mittee and Judges walked down to the Exhibition, the band playing right lustily all the distance. This jjlan di-ew together a multitude of visitors, and on their arrival aU who chose to give the higher rate of entry were at once admitted. Open judging, as it is sometimes called, was therefore the only eoui'se tliat could be pursued in the immediate presence of owners, the most anxious as being the most interested. Our own opinion, that Judges should in all cases conclude their arbitrations before the public are present, is well known ; and very little extra trouble is by this plan entaUed. It is quite worthy the attention of those societies which have not as yet adopted it. The poulti-y were arranged, as on all previous Shows, in one single tier in the open field ; and, on fii'st entering, so capital a collection proved very imposing. Cochin-China fowls of any feather fonned the tv/o fii'st classes. In the adults Captain Heaton's well-known Part- ridge-coloured pen, and in the chickens their capital Buff ones readily walked away from all competition ; in fact, the Captain secm'ed both at first glance. For the second prizes in these classes a good struggle ensued. It must be well remembered Cochin fowls must never be shown with irre- gular combs, a general defect throughout the whole of these classes at Keighley save the winners of the two highest premiums. The Spanish were good, but not exhibited in good feather. We now come to the best classes we have seen for many years past, the five varieties of Hamburghs, for of Blaclc ones, for which prizes were duly allotted, no less a number than seventeen pens were entered. These latter were all so good that truly it appears the Black Hamburghs now well deserve a class to themselves. These fowls are really a useful description of poultry, they are very far hardier than most breeds, lay large-sized eggs and that frequently, and are unquestiona,bly in good place as table fowls. In Silver-pencilled and Silver-spangled Hambiu'ghs the classes ■were pre-eminently good. All the best known breeders of Hamburghs having entered the lists, it ceases to be a wonder that the greatest amount of anxiety was manifested as to the results, and a reference to the annexed prize list will prove that none of these prizes were of easy attainment. The Grey DorHngs were, withoiit doubt, the superior class through; but we much regi'etted to find a well-known exhibitor showing a cock so roupy that it was equally offen- sive to the eye as the nostinls, even at some yards distance from the pen. This bird should by all means have been returned to its owner without any delay whatever, but some •circumstance or other prevented it. It was the worst case of roup that has been seen at any show for yeai-s past. To send birds thus afflicted is absolutely an injustice to others, as this complaint is most infectious. The Game were not equal to expectations, and feU fai- short of holding their pai'ticidai' classes with the credit due to the Show generally. In Geese, Ducks, and Pigeons Keighley Show stood most creditably. The extra class for new varieties of fowls was also weU filled. In this chrss a sad ill-luck attended the exhibition of one pen of first-rate White Poltnids, which, of late, are be- coming a far greater rarity than in yeai-s back. The cock- erel, as soon as it was penned, flew up against the top, and fell so prostrate as never to be able to stand afterwards from -concussion of the brain. Although so materially injured, the quality of this pen was so good as to elicit a high com- mendation. Though not probable, we trust its recovery is not impossible. The Poland exhibitors, with Mr. Dixon, of Bradford, at theh' head, showed the most creditable collection seen for a long time back of every known variety. These added very much to the credit of the Keighley Show, for, when good, they invariably gain the best attention of the public eye from theh' combined beauty and singularity. Cochin-China. — First, Capt. Henton, Lower BrouRhton. Second. J. Firth, Huliitt-v. Hitrhly CotnmenUed. J. G. Saijden, Eastwood House. Cfiitketia. — First, Capt. Hcaton. Second, E. Smith, Mtddleton. Highly Commended, S. Shiw, S^tainland ; M. Mahoney, Goit Stock, Biogley. SvANlsH.— First, E. Btldon,'Gil;»tead- Second. J. Dixon, Br.xdford. f?/j((7Vf.'iS.— First, S. Robson, Brothertun. Second, J. siddle, Halifax. Commended, E. Beldon. Chitteprat.— First and Second, E. Beldon, Gilstead. Commended, J. DiXon, Briidford ; .A. Houghton, Micklethwaite. Cfiitkcns. — First and SeccTid, J Di.Kon. Highly Commended, T. C. .Midgley; E. Mutton, Pudsey. Commended, W. Eairstovv, Bingley ; S. Shaw, .Stainland. Phe*sant (Golden).— t-irst, E. Beldon, Gilsteiid. Second, J. Newton, Silsden. Highly Commended. J. Dixon, Bradford. Chukeus. — First, J. El'is, Kirkgutp, Leeds. Second, J. G. Sugden, Eastwood House. Highly Commended, J. Dixon; R. Naylor, Braithwaite; A. Brag, Huluiflrth. Com- mended. E. Beldon. Hamuvrgh (Golden-nencilled).— First, S. Smiih, Koithowram. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Highly Commended, E. Beldon. Chickens.— YiT^l, E. Beldon. Second, S. Smith. Highly Commended, S. Shaw, Stainland ; 11. Hemingway, Shelf. Commended, J. Di,\on ; J. Binns, Keighley ; F. Taylor, Laycock. rnmsANT (Silver).— First. E. Beldon, Gilgtead. Second, J. Dixon, Brad- ford. Highly Commended, E. Beldon; J. Thompson. Sil-ilen. Chickens.— First, A. Brag, Holmtirrb. Second, J. Fielding, New Church. Highly Commended, \V. Smith, Kiliwick ; E. Beldon: J. Dixon; s. Shaw, Stair> land. Commended, T. Hanson, Thwaites ; W. Bastow, Bingley ; J. Hich- mcnd, Bingley ; W. Sag?.r, Saltaire. Pnri.sANT 'Black).— First, E. Beldon, Gilstead. Second, ,1. Dixon, Bradford. WuViUns. — First, J. Dixon. Second, s. Shaw, Stainland. Higlily Cominendeii, E. Button, Fudsey. Commended, J. Dixon; J. Temiiest, Haworth; E. Beldon ; J. Smith." PoLANii Phe.sant iGoldor Silver).— First and Second. .L Dixon, Brad- ford. Highly Commended, E. Beldon, Gilstead. Cliickini. — Urst, W. .Newsholioe, Bingley. Second, J. Dixon. Highly.'Commended, J. Dison. Dos KING.— First, E. Smith, Middleton. Stcond, J. Dixon, Bradford. r;i,,;;r?/,i. — First, T. E. Kell, V.'etherby. Second, F. Key, Beverley. Highly Commended, E. I.eacb, Rochdale ;" W. Mewsholme, Bingley. Com- mended, G. Greaves, Pool. Game (Red).— First, .1. Firth, Hali'ax. Second, W. Bentley, Scholes, Cleckhe.itnn. C mmended, J. Sunderli'nd, jnn., Coley Hall. Chickens. — First, H. Snowden. Great Horton. Second, E. Beldon. Gilstead. Highly Commended, It. Heniingwav, Shelf. Commended, T. Dyson, Halifax; T. Spencer, Haworth ; J. Firth, Halifax. Ga:\ie (Any oiher v.iriety;.— First, E. Bel..Ion, Gilstead. Second, J. Sun- d»rl..iid, jun., Coley Hail. Chickens.— ¥ns,t, J. Firih, Halifax. Second, J. Hanson, Shelf. Gami: Bantam (Black or White).— First, J. G. Siigden, Eastwood House. Second, E. Beldon, Gilslcnd. Commended, .1. Dixon, Bradford: S. Scho- field, Ileckiiiondwike. Chickens.— FiTf^t, S. Schofield. Second, J. Dison. Highly Commended, E. Hutton, Pudsey. Commended, E. Hutton. Aky Distinct Breed.— First. J. Smith, Keighley (Black Polands). Second, J. Dixon, Bradford (Malays). Highly Commended, E. Beldon, Gilstead (Black Polands). Commended. .1. Dixon (BUack Polands). Chickens.— Fn-st, J. Smith (Black Polands). Second, E. Leach, Rochdale IDark Brahmasl. Highly Commended, J. Shackleton, Laycock (White Polands); J. Dixon (Blaik Polands). Commended, J. Pares, Childown Hall (P.nihroas). DECK-i I Rouen).— First, S. Shaw, Stainland. Second, J. Dison, Bradford. Commended, S. Shaw ; E- Leach, Uochdale. DvcKB (Aylesbnry).— First, E. Leach, Rochdale. Second. F. M. Hindlc. Ducks (Black Indian).— First and Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Highly Commended, S. Shaw, Stiinland. Zhtcklinijs.— First, S. Shaw. Second, T. E. Kell, Wetherby. Commended, J. g'. Sugden, Eastwood House ; J. Dixon ; T. Spencer, Haworth. Geese.— First, J. Dixon. Bradford. Second, T Brige-, Guard House. TORKETS.— Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. First. Withheld, Mr. .Manoah Rhohe's Prize.— Silver Cup, J. Dixon, Bradford. Highly Ct mmended, J. Fielding, Manchester; S. Shaw, Stainland. PicEONS.— Poie^ers or Croppers.— First, S. Robson, Brotherton. Second, E. Beldon, Gilstead. Hen.— First, S. Kobson. Second, S. Shaw, Stainland. Oini.ri.— First, W. Smith, Sklpton. Second. S. Shaw. Highly Com- mended, E. Beldon ; S. liobson. .Feii.— First, E. Beldon. Second, J. Thompson, Bingley. Highly Commended. S, Shaw. Alnrnnd Titmhhrs. — First, E. Beldon. Second, S. Shaw. Baltis, Bcitrds, or Motllcil Tiitnblers. —First and Second, S. Shaw. 0it7s.— First and Second, E. Heldon. Highly Commended, H. shuttleworth, Skipton. Turhits.— First .and Second. S. Shaw. .Tncohins.-Flrst and Second, S. Shaw. Fnntnils.— First and Second, E. Beldon. Barhs.— First, S. Shaw. Second, E. Beldon. Highly Commended, W. Smith, Skipton. Lrarions.— First and Second, J. Wads- worth, Halifax. Highly Commended, J. Laycock, Keighley ; J. Thompson. Trumpeters.— First, F. Beldon. Second, S. Robson. Commerided, S. Shaw. Meifipi-s.— First and Second, S. Shaw. Commended, J. Wade, Leeds. Arrheinijelv.-First, S. Shaw. Second, .i. Tbomp.son. Hiphly Commended, J. Thomp-son. Any other breed.— First, E. Beldon (Nuns). Second, S. Sh.iw (Spots). Highly Commended, J. Thompson (Swallows) ; S. Shaw (Sw.illows) ; .1. Wade (Silver Runts). IlAiiBiTS.—ic'«(;-J?fl>-crf.— Prize, J, Sunderland, jun., Coley Hall. Any ether kind.— Firtt, C. Hodgton, Keighley. Second, J. Iteeday, Keighley. The Arbitrators for poultry were Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Spiu-kbrook, near Bh-mingham; and Mr. Thompson, of Bradford, Yorkshire. Crystal Palace Poultry Show. — By the time this paper is in the h,ands of otrr readers it will want but one month to the September 15, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE XHD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 223 Crystal Palace Show. It is time the entries were made. We hope amateurs from all parts of England will support this our Loudon Show, and that the Exhibition will be worthy of the locality. It must be borne in mind this is instead of the winter Show. The time is altered to insure iiner weather and longer days than in December ; also to allow birds to he shown both at Birmingham and this place without injury to themselves or iiitonvenience to their owners. THE SQUmEEL. This pretty little animal is classed by natm-alists among the Eodentia, or gnawing- animals, on account of its teeth ; the front ones being formed, like those of the rabbit or rat, for cutting or gnawing, while the liinder ones are adapted for grinding. In a wild state SquiiTels feed on nuts, acorns, beechmast, and the seeds of coniferous and other trees. Thus autumn and early winter are their times of plenty, and it is a question on what they feed when theii- favourite food becomes scarce, as it must do in spring. Probably they eke out their scanty store with bark, buds, and tender shoots until the bii'ds begin to lay, when a plentiful repast is offered to them in the form of eggs and young birds, of. which, no doubt, they destroy a gi-eat many. The Squirrel's nest, or more correctly the ch-ay, is a rather large structure composed of moss, &c., and not unfrequently having for its foundation the old nest of a Wood Pigeon or some other bh-d : it is domed over and has two openings. I believe they usually have two young at a birth, which, when tolerably gi-own, may be taken and reared by hand, when they become very tame and amusing pets. The best phin I know of is to suckle them on new milk by means of a phial, with a duck or other small quiU put tlirough the cork for them to suck through. The phial of milk may stand in a basin of hot water till the milk is blood warm. Great care must be taken that they have no sour milk, and that they are kept warm, pai-ticularly at night, or they will not thrive. The best cages I know of are those usuaUy made with the centre Mke a large wheel that revolves, and having a compartment at each end, the one to be fiUed with moss or soft hay for the dormitory ; the other provided with a pan for bread and milk, and to be used as a feeding-room and for other necessary pm-poses. It should be provided -vvith a sliding bottom, to be sanded or covered with some absorbent substance so as to be easily cleaned. Some persons^ object to these revolving cages as suggestive of the treadmill ; but in reality they afford the confined Squirrel an unbounded field for exercise, which to such a naturally active animal must be very conducive to health. I know of no other form of cage that could give the same amount of exercise in one continued and unintei-rupted burst. The only objection I can see to the revolving-wheel cage is where two Squin-els are kept together, that one attempting to pass whale the other is spinning the wheel it is liable to be hurt ; but for one Squirrel I consider this the best form. Such cages are •commonly to be piu-chased at most of the London cage- makers or in almost aU large towns ; the price I do not •know. The food I would advise for a Squirrel in confinement should be a little sopped bread and mUk, corn, and nuts ; Tjut if any one having gi-eater experience in keeping SquiiTels ■can advise a more wholesome diet I hope he will do so. I find pet Squirrels are very tender, and usually come to an untimely end — I mean such as are brought up tame, and consequently are often indulged with a run about the rooms. Their active habits prompt them to climb almost everything and everywhere, while smooth-planed doors, polished fui-ui- ture, and curtain-poles do not offer the seeiu-e footing which the rough bark of trees does, and consequently the pet .Squirrel in his gambols often meets with a fatal fall, to the •great grief of an admiring circle of friends. — B. P. Beent. FEAME-HIVES. I SHOULD like to trespass on youi' space and ask your esteemed correspondent, " B. & W.," a-question or two. I intend to adopt in my apiary either Mr. Woodbury's frame -hives, or his thirteeu-iuch bar-boxes; I can hardly make up my mind which. I want a frame-hive, but my bee-house and hive-covers are too small for the 14i-inch hive, and I want to retain them, as otherwise they answer very well. " B. & W." says the single advantage of frames is the facility they afford for moving the combs without crushing a single bee, and the ease with which operations can be per- formed. I would ask him what he thinks about a jjlan I am almost determined to adopt to suit my case, and that is to fasten pieces of perforated zinc three-quarters of an inch wide, and long enough to reach to the bottom of the hive, to the ends of my bars, and so adjust them as to hang a quarter of an inch from the sides of the hive, affording the bees space to pass between them and the hive. This would prevent the combs being attached to the hive itself, and would give me, unless I misjudge, the " single advantage " of frames, with the advantage of a hive taking less room than trhen a full frame is used. With this half-fi-ame, if I may call it, I would use thii-teen-inch square hives, which happens to be the extreme size I can conveniently adopt. Or would " B. & W." object to the adoption of thirteen- inch square hives 10 inches deep as an alternative with the above, with full frames ? Win Mr. Woodbury, or "B. & W.," say if they would ever resort to driving bar or ii-ame-liives ? If they would drive them, could it be effected by removing the crown-board and driving upwards? — A. B. C. [I cannot imagine any circumstances under which it would become necessary to drive bees in a frame-hive ; but I doubt not that they could be driven upwards. " A. B. C." had better enlarge his thirteen-inch boxes by deepening them to 11 inches inside, and use complete frames rather than resort to the contrivance he has described. — A Devonshire Bee-keepee.] IIVTPvODIrCI^'G SEALED COMB INTO A STRAKGE HI^'E— COMB FALLING. Can j'ou tell me where to procure a Liguriau queen bee ? We are told in books after di-iving a hive, if brood is in the combs and you give them immediately to another hive, they will hatch it out and thereby strengthen a hive. My first experiment in driving a hive succeeded in less than ten minutes. I found the driven hive with beautiful new clean comb partly filled with sealed brood, which I instantly placed on the top of a box -hive under a bell-glass, which I covered with a straw hive. Next morning, instead of hatching, the bees were working busily at removing all the brood. I left the comb for several hours, and then, thinking the bees were only wasting then- time, I removed it and examined the brood, and it appeared perfectly healthy in different stages, but only one bee hatched whilst I was looking at it after placing it under the beU-glass. Can you also remove another difficulty ? Last year I bought a Woodbury bar-liive, and wishing to take out two bars of honey in the beginning of this month, I found I had fii-st to cut av.'ay the comb from each side of the hive where it was attached and then the weight of the honey broke it away from the bar, so the only way was to lift the hive and let the comb drop through on to a dish. I have had frames made to put in instead of merely the bars, and how am I to proceed with the remainder of the bars ;■" as next year I am looking forward to experinients in making some artificial swarms, having mastered driving and uniting ; but if the combs aU break off the bars what am I to do ? — A Lady Bee-keepee. [Mr. Woodbury having ceased to send out queens and confined his attention to the multiplication of Ligurian stocks, we do not know where the former are to be procured. Bees wm usuallv hatch out sealed brood under the circum- stances you describe. If you had attached the combs to bars and placed them in an inhabited hive, they would certainly iiave done so. The accident of a heavy side-comb falling from its bar might have happened to any one, but a novice would be especially liable to it. By carefully severing the side attachments, and a little more skiU in manipulation, you may avoid it in futm-e. A Woodbury baj--liive is too small for the reception of frames. It should have been en- larged to 14.i inches inside from front to back, and would theli take nine frames of the usual size.] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 15, 1863. PARTHENOGENESIS— BEE SUPEESTITIONS. Thanks to oiu- chief for his reply respecting the age of a queen. Let all writers on the subject of bees and bee-keep- ing refrain from giving " pokes in the side," and, doubtless, amongst us we shall an-ive the sooner at the true history and nature of the honey bee. If the history of the honey bee, as given by one of the Hunters (sui-geons), in his medical works were published piecemeal during the winter months it might prove acceptable to the fr-aternity. I think his accoxint of theii' habits is as near tlie truth as any I ever read. I do not myself quite acceijt pai-thenogenesis as a fact, neither do I believe in the great longevity of the queen. If " I am slow to believe,'" I trust aU the brethi-en will forgive me that wi-ong, and honour liiiu the more who in convincing me proves the truth we ra-e all aiming to know. I was not surprised at the announcement of the two queens at one time at large in a hive, I had long suspected it might be so. When a hive is in a flourishing condition, the inmates work, I have little doubt, by certain rules. Adverse seasons, acci- dents by flood and field disarrange the system, and hence bee-masters are ledto jnmp at false conclusions. [ imagine queen bees are turned off fr'om the hive when they are use- less, just as drones and neuters are. What becomes of them I have not the least idea. Sometimes you may find a young queen bee dead before a hive, sometimes a few drones and workers, but not always. I had a hive this year fuller of drones than usual (owing to my having given them too much drone-comb), not one of the many thousands in it ai-e now to be accounted of. If they di-op in their flight away from the luves, why do we not meet mth them in their travels, falling on our aristocratic noses as we tm-n them up to the skies ? My parish is full of hives fr-om one end to the other, and I never stumble upon a dead bee of any sex, unless it be a few vrithin a few yards of an apiary. Still confessedly they vanish, and that speedily too. For a short time, therefore, I think it probable an old worn-out queen and the princess regent may exist and be found in a hive ; but experience says not for long. The old queen will go where her subjects, and " the good niggers in due time go." Perhaps to fah-y land, or Jonas Jackson may tell us where. By-the-way, it is a shame to laugh and joke too much, even at the surmises of Jonas Jackson. I can tell him for his comfort, that I once lived in a village where every hei- master was more or less imbued udtli the superstition anent the death to bees when their owners have died. Need I say I combated the opinion on every occasion as in duty bound ? Nay, I even accepted a hive in the winter (heavy and full of bees), belonging to a lord just dead in order to prove the fallacy of the superstition. I made it known aU round my parish and asked all the bee-masters to witness the result, and my mouth was shut for ever after — for, alas ! the hive did no more good and died in the spring. I am not super- stitious, believe me, but I have known other instances and been told of many more where similai- results have followed. With reference to honeydew or falls, I once had a hive in Yorkshire whose inhabitants gathered and stored honey on or about the 10th August, when my other hives had gone to the moors. I lived in Yorkshii-e as a bee-master upwai-ds of fifteen years, and I never knew of honey gathered, except on the moors, after the second week in Jidy. That honey was daa-k, and I found bees working on the oak leaves at the time. The gathering lasted about three days. I was told that previous to my living in the village a similar case had happened, when a hive left at home did more good than others sent to the moors. If the '■ Devonshire Bee-keeper " wiU observe for the future, he will find the truth of my surmise, that it is no use (at least late in the summer), to retm-n bees from a removed super. They would have no place in the hive, no work to do, their occupation T.-ould be gone, and the cry would speedily arise, " Away with them ! " They would not be killed like robbers from another hive, but they would be driven off as useless. — A Hampshire Bee-keeper. [If " A Hampshire Bee-keeper " will refer to my articles in Nos. 25 and 30 of The Journal of Horticulture, he will see the evidence upon which parthenogenesis rests. It reaBy amounts to absolute demonstration, and it appeal's to me perfectly impossible to produce stronger evidence of any fact whatever. The practice of turning hives completely round when a corpse is carried out of the house is even now by no means, obsolete in this county. I know< an instance in which it was resoi-ted to no longer ago than last winter ; but, to the astonishment of the natives, even this opera- tion did not prevent the bees dying of starvation in the absence of more substantial assistance after a veiy bad honey season. A fi-iend of mine relates a laughable story of a heai'se and mourning-coaches starting oft' at a terrific pace and leaving the astonished bearers with a heavy coffin on their shoulders and no hearse to deposit it in, owing to the 'oees not comprehending the necessity of this forced revolution, and resenting it by an attack on the unoffending horses. — A Devonshire Bee-keepes.1 OUE LETTER BOX. Cross-ekid Fowl (2i^ovice).—Tiie birds you mention a-; cro>s-bred can be shown in the cUss for " Any other new or distinct variety." It is erpecially intended for those th^it have no other place— i. c, that belong to none of thoBe breeds lor which separate prizes are offered. You cun cull them by any name yoa please ; or you can describe the process by which they were produced. DuEBiNG A Bantam Game Cock {Idem).— It should not be dubbed hefwre it is sis months old, and if it is older so much the better. If duboed -when younger the comb grow^ again, aud necessitates a second operation. It should not be done while the bird is changing plumage, and it must not be done in frosty weather. Pullets Laying (Iflem).— The pullets began to lay because they were teven months old. The breed may hive sjmething ti> do with their now titt'.ng. They will lay as well without a cock as with one, aLd they will become broody. But, of course, the eggs are clear. Distinguishing the Ses in Young Geese Ci^flr/ocr's Jr//i') — It is very difficult to disiinguii'h between Gooae and Gander, especially when they are young. Among many other meihuds, it is said that it the birds be pnt in a pen or any enclosed space and a dog be tlirown in, the Geeae will all with- draw, while the Gander extends his neck and pipes. Another :s. that ihe sack (>Y bag that hangs down between the leps of both seses is double in the male, und single in the female. Again it is said the neck of a Gander is shorter and thicker than that of the Goose. If that be all put together a proper judgment may be sometimes ;irrived at, bat not always. Close obscrv;itions and examination are the o!i!y certain guides. Chickens Dtikg Suddenly {Lex). — By some means or other your chickens get at something that is poisonous. One or iwo might do it, and it might be attributed to giddines?; but as that is not contagious, and as the disease seems to be the rme with ^-our clucken<, jou must seek the cause in their diet. Floor op Hen-hovse {Toung Beginner). — Cover the floor of your house ■with gravel, as well as your yard. Ashes are sharp and prickly to the feet of chitkene, especially of heavy ones, and they can miy w.ilk on thera with piiin and often injury. This would make them disinclined lor e.\eition, and tlie comphiint you make might arise from the constant use of one or the other of the legs while the other rested. Prizes at the Sheffield Poultuy Suow. — I have been informed thc.t some of the local exhibiiois at the late Sheffield Show have had the prize money paid Ihem. Can any of your readers s.iy if this be true .'— C. S. Pigeons at Pocklington.— (-Ej/ii6(7«y).— We cannot insert such a com- munication. General charges, and unsigned by the complainant's leal name and address, are inadmissible. Points in Partridge Cochin-China Puilets and Cockerels.— (J. C, . Light bressle and bodies are grcH.: laults in Grouse or Paitridgu Cochins, and fatal faults in cumpetition. In these, as la all others, the combs shoul 1 be straight. The cock should have a pL-rfectly b;ack breast; hackle an i saddle, deep orange, with black stripe dovn each feaiher ; black thighs a;: 1 red wings. The hens should be grouse-coloured nil over, with as liil.c yellow tinge a& possible. Both should have yellow legs, well feathered. Easivets for. Gkese and Turkeys.— {J. 6".}.— Open baskets a-e t!;-j lightest; but they are liable to the very serious objection that the ttnJiiis are then subject to the attacks of any one. Many a bird has arrived at a show tailless, because he was sent in an open bai^kct. Our belief is that, for a short journey of from two to four days, a round stouL wicker-basket, covered with s;icking or strong cloth, is all that Is required. It should be fastened ro-ind, with the exception of about one foot, which should have temporary ties that may be undone for the purpose of feeding on the road. They should be high enough to allow the birds to stand up. Beginning Bee-keeping {A JVovice). — You may remove your hive at once, but it ^hould be done carefully so as to avoid injury to the combs, which ought to be heavy at this season. Tie it up in a coarse cloth of opea texture (cheese-cloth), and have it carried steadily by hand. You may cover the old straw hive with a neat case, bat do not attempt to iransltv the bees to another hive. Buy " Bee-keeping for the Many," which will give you the information you require. LONDON MAEEETS.— September 14. POULTRY. We have little change to note. There is a goad but not a hirpre supply of Piinridges. Grouse remains scarce. Tbeie is little or no demand lur t'oultry. 8. d. u. d. s. d. s. (I. Largs Fowls 2 0 to 2 6 | Parlridges 1 (i to 1 !i Sm.iller do 1 9 „ 2 0 | Grouse, 2 0 „ J Ij Chickens 1 3 „ 1 6 i Kabbus 1 ^ ,, 1 5 Gee^e C 0 „6 6 Wild do » « ,, I'.'.l Ducklings 2. 0 „ '2 0 I Pigeoni 0 » „ U 9 Septembei- 22, 1863. ; JOTJENAL OF HOKTICITLTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 225 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of of irntfaWeeki 22 1 Td 23 W 24 Th 25 F 26 S 27 Sdn 28 M SEPTEMBER 22-28, 1863. Sun's declin. 0° 25' n. Eoerhaavc died, 1728. Bot. Genista pilOHa fiowe^-s. Gra.=s of Parnassua flowers. Bnpleurum tenuissimura flowers. 17 Sunday aftfr iRr^iTT. Rodbeck (sen.) died, 1702. Bot. Average Temperature near London. Rain to last 36 years. Day. 66.9 66.4 65.8 63.6 65.2 6o.2 64.5 Night. 46.1 46.4 45.0 44.0 44.3 41.1 44.5 Mean. 56.5 56.4 55.4 54.8 54.3 55,1 54.5 Day.9. IS 17 16 17 18 22 19 San Kises. m. h. 47af 5 49 5 50 5 52 5 53 S 55 5 Sun Sets. h. 58af5 Jloon Rises. m. h. 19a 3 51 Moon Sets. m. b. morn. Moon's Age. Clock after Sun. 9 10 11 12 13 O 15 7all 7 32 7 53 8 14 8 34 Day of Year. 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 From obserraticns taken near London during the last thirty-sLi. years, the average day temperature of the week is 65.7°, and its nieht wil^Tes^ich ■ K"'<""«»' •le"' wa.' 82°, on the 25th, 1832; and the lowest cold, 20°, on the 20th, 1855. The greatest fall of rain HAEDY AQUATICS. ATEE, when well displayed, is al- way.s acceptable in seenei-y of any kind, but more especially in or- namentalgarden- ing, and rock- work is generally considered to be- long to it. Eock- work, however, in my estimation is . no ornament to water, for m nature rocks do not generally accompany inland waters. Though they often do so in mountain tor- rents, yet m lakes near them the ground partakes more of the character of a bog than of high ground where we generally look for rock's, and it cannot be denied that Nature is the best teacher, yet the aim of the gardener is mostly directed to bringing as large an amount of in- terest and beauty into as small a compass as possible. He cannot produce a natural effect in the compass of a few yards, but he may so diversify his subject as to bring a large amount of beauty into a limited compass, and if the area were extended, a natui-al effect, or an effective picture would be produced. Now, my aim being to deal practicaUy with the question. I will endeavour to treat of water under the forms in which it presents itself in gardens, and in giving a few hints, hope to benefit those in possession of streams, lakes, or pools of water, already in, or passing throuo-h their grounds. " But I have no water in my ground,"^! hear some one say, " and I like aquatics." For your benefit I will introduce a chapter on making and fitting up a basm or pool for the growth of aquatics. The selection of a suitable position is the first step to- wards forming an aquarium, and that depends on the supply 01 water quite as much as on sui'roundino- objects Economy must govern us in selecting and carryins out the plan when the water is conveyed in pipes. Any place not shaded from the sun wiU do for aquatics though It is better if situated in a hollow, for then the expense of digging is less, and the designer may be en- abled to throw up some roclrwork over which the water can trickle m feeding the reservoir, or if the fall is (rreat he may mdulge m a fountain. Of course, any person can have a basm with a fountain in it. a pond accompanied by rockwork, or simply a pool accordmg to his taste. It is not necessary even to have shade where there is rock- work, for there are numerous shrubs and alpine plants that are aclapted for sunny situations ; but when such plants as Ferns are desired, a certain amount of shade is required, which if placed so as to obscure the water will be detrimental to the growth of the aquatics. Aquatics require an unclouded sky, therefore shade is a disad- vantage. The plants may grow in shade, but it is need- No. 130— VOi. V. NhW Sr.aiFS. less planting them under the shade of trees, and expecting them to flower. The situation, therefore, should be open ; and as surrounding objects -ivill in a great measure deter- niine the manner in which that situation should be fur- nished or finished, I cannot do better than proceed with directions for forming an aquarium for the growti; of plants. If the aquarium is to be situated in the centre of a flower garden it should have a formal outline, and be large or small in proportion to the design. Little rockwork should be inti'oduced in such a place, and if at all it should be low, and not wider than one-quarter the widrtJi of the water, extending all round ; or if openings are left they should harmonise with the design of tJie beds, and: be planted with plants of trailing habit that iiower at the same time as those in the beds, witli which their colours should harmonise. If a fountain be introduced, it should be ornamental in design, and low, so as not to^ break the arrangement of the design, I consider a. border of stone more ornamental than rockwork round an aquarium in such a situation, for then the plants can be better attended, and their peculiarities examined. la either ease a walk of gravel one-fourth the width of the water should be made round it, unless the design be ©n grass, when a walk would be superfluous. If the water is to be accompanied by rockwork the latter should be placed on the north side, the earth that comes out of the hole in forming the aquarium bei'ag- raised into a mound there ; or if it be desired to have a walk to the water on that side the earth may be piled up- in two heaps, placing stones by the side of the proposed path to keep the soil up, and makuig the path narrow where it abuts on the water, and from tliat point abruptly widen- ing outwards. If the walls of the path be (J feet high adjoining the water, and the trunks of trees remarkable ibr their peculiar shapes be thrown across it, it would- appear as if the aquarium were approached by a ru.'stie arch or subterraneous passage. In this passage Ferns would revel ; and on the soutliern side, presuming it to be formed into a rockery, alpines would be charming, whilst the top of the rockery miglit be planted with Juniperus procumbens, Cotoneaster microphylla, &c., which would answer the twofold purpose of clothing the rockery as' well as shielding the Fei-ns on the northern side from the burning rays of the sun. Massive lumps of stone are more effective than small ones, and more lasting than trunks of trees in forming the arch. Where any attempt is made to combine rockwork with water, liotli should be of an irregular shape, or if the water he regular in outline the rockwork should be equally so. If the outline of the rockwork were regular it would be bad taste to hasre water trickling down or over it, but highly ornamental if it were irregular. Fountains in like manner belong to the polished or regular outline, and should not be em- ployed where irregularity predominates. Probably the most simple form of aquarium is the pond with grass down to the water's edge, and in such plants grow, quite as well as m more costlj' because ela- borate sheets of water. But still water wherever it is in- No. 7S2.— Vor. SXX , OtD SF.TLms. JOtTENAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 22, 18C3. troduced should b'? made in conformity with the surrounding scenery. I have seen a fountain rise from a cii-cular basin and throw water 80 feet into the air in the rustic part of a well-kept garden, and seen in the same place the front of the house disfigTzr^d, certainly not ornamented, by rockwork before it. Now, had the fountain changed places with the rockwork it would have been more in accordance with good taste. Forjitains belong to polished scenery, and rockwork to the natural or rustic. A basin of water is not improved by anything rustic about it in ornamented ground, but a fountain improves the latter just because throwing water into the ail- is the result of art, and, consequently, does not appear in nature : therefore it would be unnatural to introduce a fountain in natural scenery. With these preliriiraiy remarks I wiU proceed to the construction of th? a.auarium, polished or natural, for aU the difference between one and the other is in the outUne and ornamentation. As a general rule, pools of water should be deepest in the middle., and gradually be made shallower as the side or edge 13 approached. It is not necessary to adhere strictly to this rule, though it is essential to have the water deeper or shallower in one place than another in order to afford facilities for growing as gi-eat a variety of plants as possible ; yet in basins having a regular outline it is as well to have the basin deepest in the middle, or from 3 to 4 feet deep, and to let that depth prevail over half the width of the basin, and then tC' form the bottom into terraces as we ap- proach the edge, rising fi-om 3 to 2 feet, then to 1 foot, which should be the depth of the highest step or ten-ace. The steps should not be les5 than a foot wide, but as much -wider as the -width of the basin will allow. In digging out the basin it should be considered how the water is to be kept in. Lead is the most objectimable material, zinc is worse, and cement almost, if not quite as expensive, though the last is not so detrimental to th^ weU-being of the plants as either of the former. I am persuaded nothing is so good as clay pud- dling, and to make it leak -proof it should not be less than 1 foot in thickness over the bottom, and to the height the water is expected to rise, which should be but a few inches below the level of the surrounding ground. The basin or pool should, therefore, be dug out 1 foot deeper and wider than the depth and size it is exjaected to have when com- pleted. Very stiff clay is best for this purpose, and it should not be very wet, though it should be moist. Spread a thin layer of clay over the bottom, and ram this down with wooden rammers n :.t more than 6 inches in diameter, rounded a little at the bottom, .and made small at top so as to handle nicely, occasionally moistening the clay so as to make it work better, and having a bucket of water near in which the rammer is frequently to be dipped to prevent the clay sticking to it. It is scarcely possible to ram the clay too hard, for unless the interstices be completely closed the w.ater wiU find its way thi-ough. Add ruore clay and ram this down like the first, continuing to add more clay and to ram untU the bottom is completely covered with weU-wrought clay to the thick- ness of 1 foot. A gutter or pipe should be provided at the top to take awr.y the superfluous water, and if a fountain is to be introduced the pipe shoidd be brought into the basin below the surface of the water, but it should be so situated as to be handy for repairs, and not so that the basin would have to be pulled to pieces in order to repair the supply-pipe. It is not unusual to have a statue on a short or low pedestal ivith the water pouring from the mouth of a snake that ha^ entwined its cold body round tlie breast and neck of the statue. In others, a basin supported by a column is provided for the water to fall into after it escapes ti-om the jet, which, of course, is situated in the centre of the basin, which las: has a fui-rowed edge, thereby causing the water to faU or drip from it in pearly drops into the pool beneath. I do not think water is at all improved in ap- pearance because it issues fi-om the mouth of a statue, nor consider it more crnamental fi-om an elevated basin than when it proceeds from a jet on a level with tlie water. I rather incline to the opinion that it is more ornamental by the latter plan thai-, by either of the former. In any case it is simply a matter of taste, for in ornaments of this kind taste varies quite as much as the designs. Still, I cannot forbear remarking that water issuing from the mouth of a serpent, the nostrils of a statiisj, or mouth of an animal, arc an out- rage on good taste, and not in keeping -with the quietude of the suiTOunding objects. If the jet be on a level -with the surface of the water it wUl be necessary to fix the pipe fii-mly to something, or it wUl be liable to become displaced, besides trembling, owing to the pressure of the water, which hinders the water from being delivered steadily in one un- broken column. A j)iece of masonry will best serve to secure the supply- pipe in a proper position, for it is easy to let or run lead into it to which the pipe may be soldered. The masonry should rest on the clay, more being put in to prevent its sinking deep into the clay, and so making a way for the water to escape. The clay should not be worked round the masonry, for the water would find its way down by the side of it, and so escape — that is. presuming the masom-y to be fixed prior to the puddling. After the puddling has become dry, and it should be left a day or two to do so, and no cracks appearing, as there wUl be if it has not been rammed sufficiently, throw in as much soil as will cover the bottom 6 inches deep, lessening the quantity so that it wUl not be covered more than a couple of inches at the edge. The soil may consist of bog earth, or where that cannot be had, peat one-fourth, rich and rather strong loam one- half, and one-fom'th gravel. If, however, the clay has cracked, the rammers must be brought into requisition again, and the clay rammed still firmer, which being done quickly, as it ought to be, allow it to remain a day, and if it shows no disposition to crack put in the soil, and let in the water, taking care that it does not wash the soil down into the deepest part of the basin. Having filled it allow it to stand to see that it does not leak, trying the fountain if there be one. With regard to the size of the jet, M. Frani;ois says the diameter should be one-fourth that of the supjjly-pipe, and he estimates the height of the column of water thrown into the afr to be '• 1 foot below the level of the source for every hundred yards distance." These calculations, how- ever, must be taken with considerable reserve, for the bulk of water at the soiu-ce has qidte as much to do with the height the water is expected to rise. For small fountains where the pressure is not known it is an easy process to .ascertain by means of a lead nozzle, the orifice or opening of which can readily be increased or diminished, the width of the opening best adapted to throw the highest and ftiUest jet of w.ater the pressure is capable of throwing. The width of the basin is quite high enough for any water to be thrown. This being done and working satisfactorily, the basin will require an edging of stone or some such material of an ornamental character ; or an edging of green glass edging-tiles will answer as well as anything, and form an agreeable contrast with the wliiteness of the water and grey of the sui-rounding gravel path. In case there is no foun- tain the pipe that supplies the basin should be carried in unseen, for no beauty is gained by sho-wing how the water is supplied. Beyond the above a basin needs no other orna- ments except the plants, unless the bottom of the jet be considered improved by the raising of some rockwork round it. The idea, however, of water rising from a pUed cone of stones is preposterous. Eemember, I am writing of water in the midst of an artistic flower gai-den, where everything is art-siippUed, and from which everything natirral is excluded. For that reason a flower g.ai-den, where the corners of nature are rounded-off, should not contain anything of an uregular outUne, or that, whatever it may be, wUl fail to harmonise. I may observe that if the pressure be too great it can be lessened by the agency of a stop-tap let into the supply-pipe, so that it may be regiilated to throw the water any height ; and wlnlst ijroviding for the conveyance of the water to the aciuatic basin, see if a tiip cannot be conveniently placed to which the gardener can fasten some india-rubber tubing, and so water the beds in as many minutes as it takes him hoiu'3 to do with the watering-pot. The beauty of a garden is in proportion to the amount of sunshine in it, and it really is astonishing to see how fast 'vry faces disappear when these little conveniences are given to the gardener. — G. Abbet. (^To he continned.) Muscat Hambukoh Gsape Losing its Flavoue. — I have the Muscat Hambui-gh Grape worked on the Black Ham- September 2», 1863. ] JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 227 burgh and Canon Hall Muscat, both of which were full Muscat-flavom-ed when first ripe; but have now, through hanging, lost every pai'ticle of that flavour. I should be glad to hear through the pages of The Jouknal OF HoETicuLTiiRE if any one else has observed the same result ? and if such is its habit I will certainly discard it, as it is already subject to shanking very much ; and if it also loses its Muscat flavour it is compai-atively valueless. — S. Tatlok, Terrace Villa, Barbourne, Worcester. CULTIVATION OF HEATHS. When I saw the name of Mr. J. Pairbairn at the head of an article on the cultivation of the Heath, I knew from his success as a cultivator of that genus that none could be better qualified to give information upon the subject. Mi'. FairbauTi was a man who endeared liimself to all who knew him, and members of our craft will always entertain a kindly recollection of him. As it is well known, he was a successful ''ultivator of Ericas, and knowing so well how to grow them he was not one likely to mislead others in describing the treatment of them. But there are growers of this beautiful genus who differ materially on minor points of culture, although in the main there must be a certain similai-ity of treatment. For in- stance : good sandy peat or heath soU is necessary, and no one that I am aware of has succeeded in gi'owing them without it. The difference is in the mode of preparing it, and some of the best growers have peculiar methods of their own in this respect. My object, however, is not to describe the practices of others, but to give my own, and if my remarks are found in any way useful that is all I desire. A short time ago a correspondent drew a comparison between the cultivation of the Heath and the Fancy Gera- nium, and in the main appeai-ed to conclude that there is more art in growing the latter well than the foi-mer. To a certain extent I perfectly agree with him, and believe that to grow a collection of Fancy Geraniums to perfection re- quires a degree of skOl and nicety that is not easily acquired. But, then, a Fancy Geranium is a plant that can be easily grown if no particiUar point of excellence is desired ; and supposing a gardener who knew very little of the treatment of either, were to undertake to grow a collection of, say, twenty good sorts of Fancy Geraniums, and as many good sorts of Heaths, I wiU answer for it, that while he might be able to keep the Geraniums alive for a long time, perhaps for years, it is more than probable that the Heaths would soon sicken and die. It is a fact, that while it is the work of a skilful cultivator to produce really good specimen Gera- niums, yet Geraniums are grown in nearly every cottage window ; biit Heaths are rarely seen there at all ; and if they do decorate windows, they are merely put there to serve the time while they are in flower, and afterwai'ds are given into the hands of some one who knows how to manage them, and, in instances that I have known, merely to die, or at least to be so far injured that it would be no loss to throw them away at once. This may not prove that the Heath is more difficult to cultivate than the Geranium, but it shows that the Heath requii-es a mode of treatment peculiar to itself; and even if the rudiments of that treatment are known, some further knowledge is required, and also a peculiar handling, sug- gested by the habit of the plant, and acquired only by practice. This, however, is necessary in the cultivation of all plants, and should offer no discouragement in the attempt. Happily, in this class of plants, as in others, there are species much more easy to cultivate, and which will stand a greater amount of rough treatment than others, and it is always advisable for beginners to ascertain which they are, and commence operations with them. Erica gracilis is a very useful sort for flowering in the autumn, winter, and spring; there being two sorts or varieties, one called autumnalis, the other vernaUs. I have had the first in flower from October till February, and the latter from Febru- ary till April. The flowers are small but come in abun- dance, and are of a bright pink colour, and highly oma^ mental at a time of the year when flowers are somewhat scarce. This sort I have found to be of the easiest cul- ture, and also readily propagated, as it strikes very easily from cuttings, which cannot be said of some sorts. But more of propagation presently. E. hien'.alis is another sort that I consider easy to grow, and a very pretty kind, but it does not last in bloom so long a time as gracilis. I have had it regulaily in bloom from November until February, so that I may consider it truly a winter-flowering sort. S. colorans I have usually in bloom about the same time. It lasts in bloom rather longer than hiemalis, is more erect in habit, and not quite so free in growth. The flowers are nearly white at flrst, but change to a reddish-pink when past their best. E. mam- mosa pallida I have generally had in flower late in the autumn. E. cerinthoides has often flowered with me in the winter. E. WillmoreatM is a spring-flowering sort, and a very strong grower. These are what I have found to be free growers, and such as I believe are suitable to begin with, supposing any one wished to begin cultivating Heaths. The treat- ment I have usually given them is very simple — merely cutting them down after flowering, and standing them out of doors in May, foUy exposed to sun, wind, and rain, housing them in September, and giving them ordinary greenhouse treatment from that time until the beginning of May. But this sort of treatment wiU not do for most kinds of Heaths. E. caffra, for instance, is a winter-flowering sort, at least so I have found it ; but it is of a more delicate con- stitution, and will not stajid the rough treatment described. E. mutabilis I have in bloom the whole year round ; but this also requires careful management, but :;he treatment of these is the same as what is necessary for what I call the choice varieties ; and as I intend to give the details of my own method of treating them, I will here merely remark that the time of flowering with certain vai-ieties varies much, and that variation depends considerably on the treatment, but sometimes on the season. E. fasiigiata, E. lutescens, and E. Vernoni, have flowered with me this season in March and April. The latter is now in ful! bloom, being the second flowering this season. E. vestiia coccinea I have usually known to flower in the spring, but this season I have seen it flowering in August. This variation in the time of flowering frequently happens, but a good grower can gene- rally keep them to the proper season. What I consider to be the better sorts of Heaths are mostly summer-flowering, and are often grown for exhibition ; but at present I wUl merely name such as are my own favourites, and what I have had to deal with. E. ampiUlacea major. — A compact-growing sort, flowers in July and August ; the flowers of a light colour, changing to a reddish hue as they pass their best. This is a charac- teristic of several others, if not most light-coloured ones. E. Cavendishii. — A close compact grower of fine habit and foliage, with deep yellow flowers which open in May and June. This sort is a general favourite. E. cidrfoia. — One of the very best ; a close compact grower, £i-st-rate habit, and exquisite in the form and colour of its flowers, and usually lasts in bloom a long time. Flowers in June and July. E. Hartnelli. — Flowers about the same time as the last; flowers fine and full, but not quite so full and free in habit as the above-named, but good for exhibition, E. jasminiflora alba. — Eather free in habit ; one of the best white ones. Flowers same time as last. E. Massoni. — This sort I like as well as any Heath grown, both from its habit of growth— the shoots always putting me in mind of the ascent of a rocket — and also on account of its fine flowers, which it produces in June and July. E. metulcBflora Ucolor. — Another favourite, which, when well grown and flowered, is second to none for beauty ; but it is not quite so profuse a bloomer as some— at least, so I have fo\ind it. Flowers in June and July. E. retorta major. — A most profuse bloomer, of excellent habit, compact, and free, hanging over the sides of the pot, and flowering at every point. June and July. E. tricolor rttbra. — A good sort, as it shows up the flowers well ; but rather spare than otherwise in habit. E. tricolar Wilsoni. — Good both in flowers and habit. These flower in June, July, and August, consequently are good sorts to grow for exhibition. The above are known to Heath-growers as good sorts, and there are others equally good; but what I have named would be a good selection, though a small one ; and it is always advisable to begin with a few, as before said. Those who have had httle to do with this genus had better use a JOITRNAL OF HOETICTTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. [ September 22, 1863. •Kttle caution and begin with the strong-growing sorts, for, | after a little practice with such, they will acquii-e a certain amount of confidence that may soon enahle them to handle , choicer tinds, it being a consideration that while a small j plant of gi-aeilis may be bought at a nursery for one shilling, a plant the same size of Massoni would most litely cost five shillings, perhaps more. Most growers differ on several minor points of detail. Almost every Heath-grower has his own peculiar ways and opinions, and I wiU confess that I have mine; but then nothing suits me better than to learn the exact methods of (Either growers, so that, if I find theii- ways better than mine, I gladly adopt them. My object in penning these notes is simply Tvith the idea that others may like to learn from ^my practice as much as I should like to learn fi-om theirs. I will, therefore, give my expei-ionce in detail, and begin first with — Soil. — When in the neighbom-hood of London I have used a ;peculiar kind of peat or heath soU such as I have not seen elsewhere. From what I can understand this came from a place in Kent, called, I believe, Shirley, but 1 am not sure. This peat, with the addition of a little more silver sand than it natiually contained, made a most perfect soil for Eea.tlis, and they were sure to thrive in it; but then this peat may not be obtainable evei-ywhere, so that we must do what we can with the best within reach. Peat eai'th of some kind it must be, but the more fibry the better — just the mere tuif pared off, if possible — the tougher it is and the harder to chop up the better. But even fibiy peat anay not be at hand, and then, when it is for growing the choicer sorts of Heaths, great care is necessarj' ; and I will just explain how I bring it into a condition that I can trust the roots of Heaths in it. I first chop it up with a spade, .and then nib it through a sieve. This latter operation is not necessary, but I prefer doing it for the sake of the rougOier fibre, which I consider an important ingredient in the drainage ; but if white moss can be obtained that wiD answer the pui-pcse, and the jjeat need not be sifted. "Whether sifted or not sand must be added — I add about a third of silver sand. If silver sand is not to be had, drift sand or any other sand may be used ; but it should be well .washed of all earthy matter. The way 1 have done this is to nearly fill a pail or bucket with sand, fill up with water, stir well, pour off the water, add more, repeat the process until the water runs off clear, then dry the sand, and it is ready to "be well incorporated with the peat. Peat itself without sand, or v.-ith very little, is a very unsuitable soil for putting any plant in. When wet it soon turns som-, and if it once "becomes thoroughly dry, it is difficidt to make it jnopcrly moist again. Plenty of sand mixed with it makes it both porous and absorbent. Any kind of well-washed sand iviU accomplish this object, and will do provided there is no per- nicious quality in it. Silver sand, however, is best: and ■even if another kind of sand is used it is stfll advisable to Tnjy some of this with the soU, since it is said that the Heath derives its silica fi-om it : it, therefore, supplies an article of food. But, in addition to sand, I invai-iably mix with the peat a large quantity of broken pots. This I consider most useful, for it makes the soil still more porous and absorbent, and there is little chance of the soil becoming sour. The soU when ready for j)otting is about one-half i^eat, the other half equal portions of sand and broken pots. PoTTiKG requh-es a little cai-e and skUl, for much of the success depends on it ; indeed, so much so that I can scarcely consider a plant under control unless I know how it has "been potted. In the fh'st place the pot should be thoroughly dean, and just dry enough to show no moisture on it. If too dry it is apt to absorb the moistiu'e fi'om the soil. The plant about to be potted should be just nicely moist, neither more nor less so than the soil to be used in potting. The pots shoiJd be neatly drained, and this does not depend on the quantity of drainage, but on its an-angement. I gene- rally first put a crock over the hole, convex side upwards. I quite agree that it is a good plan to place it convex side downwards in order to keep worms out of the pot, but I never like placing Heaths where worms have a chance of getting in. Eound this I place pieces rather smaller, and cover with creeks l^roken smaller still, but not fine, over this a thin layer of peat fibre, then a little soH. It is then ready for the plant, which should be x'laced at the proper height, simply taking care not to bury the collar and to leave room for water. I generally use a blunted stick to press the soU together, but take care tliat it is merely ren- dered solid and not hard. — F. Chitty. [To he conti/iiued,) TREATMENT OF CYANOPHYLLUM MAGKIFICUM. If I cut down a Cyanophyllum magnificum would it shoot again ? or if I partially cut it down would it shoot out from the side, and become again a good plant ? At present it is a magnificent plant, but too large for my stove. Although only bought aboiit a year ago, and then about 1 foot high, it is now 3 feet 7 inches high ; the large leaves are 13 inches wide and 291 long. I should be glad also to be told how to propagate it, and at the same time to have a list of six new stove plants, and six ornament al-foliaged stove plants. — M. G. [You have grown that Cyanoijhyllum magnificum with leaves 291 inches long and 13 wide very well indeed. We should be loath to cut down so fine a plant, but as it is a necessity, could not you exchange for a young plant with some neighbour ? It is a pity to cut it down, for this plant, although it stands cutting down, seldom makes a fine speci- men afterwai-ds. You can cut it down at yom- convenience, it wUl shoot again fi-om the dormant eyes on the stem. It maj' be cut down to the lowest pair- of eyes, or, to make sure, to the second pair or joint. It strilces pretty freely from cuttings. The tops of the shoots are best for striking — say with three joints. Take off the lowest pah- of leaves, and cut the bottom transversely immediately below the lowest joint. Insert the cuttings singly in a No. 48-pot in sandy peat, leaf mould, and loam, with an equal quantity of silver sand intermixed. Plunge the pot, after gently watering, in a bottom heat of 80°, and cover with a bell-glass if the atmosphere be in the least dry. Keep the soU and' the at- mosphere moist for about six weeks, when the cuttings wlU be well rooted. This plant may also be propagated from eyes of the young and old wood like a Vine, inserting them half an inch below the sui-face, and placing in bottom heat and covering with a bell-glass as for cuttings. Of new plants let out, choose Ixora crocata superba, Steno- gaster concinna, Calliandi-a haematocephala, Gesnera pjra- midaHs, G. refulgens, and HebecHnium atro-rubens ; of fine foHage, Alocasia zebrina and Lowii, Pandanus elegant- issimus. Hibiscus Cooperi, Theophrastra imperialis, and Campylobotrys refulgens. If you wish for newer consult the reports of the various shows published in our pages, or visit some large nursery where you can choose for youi-self.] MELONS NOT COMING TO PERFECTION. I HAVE for the last two years been very much troubled at my Melons not coming to perfection. I atti-ibute this to the strong growth they make. I attemjjt to grow them in close bride pits, without the aid of hot-water pipes, by fiULng the pits with hot dung and leaves mixed together. I shake these materials well to pieces in order that the mass may heat regularly. After it has sunk I place some old tiu-f, with the sward downwards, about 2 inches thick, .all over the dung. On this I place about two bushels of a compost of fibry loam and old turf, &c., for the reception of the plants," which I plant out three in each hUl. There is a hUl to each light, each of which measm-es 24 square feet. After planting I water them with a little water with the chin off, and syringe them evei-y afternoon with water of the same temperature as the aii- of the pits. I give as much air as is consistent with the culture of the Melon. They grow very fast, and a g-reat deal too strong to do much good. They set their fi-uit very freely and swell until they attain the "size of a ericket-ball or a trifie larger. By this time the vine or the stem just above the surface begins to show symptoms of decay. The plants then hegin to die a-way by degrees, and ultimately the whole of the vine is mthered up, leaving the fi-uit destitute of nourishment. I have grown the Melon with gTeot success in some of the largest places in England and Scotland in pits heated by hot water. September 22, 1863. ] JOTTENAi OF HOSTTCULITIRB AND COTTAG-E Gi!LB©BNEI and likewise on dung-beds ; but what I want to know is if any one has been visited by the same evil ? If so, I should hke to know if he can suggest any preventive ? — J. B. C. P. [Your case is by no moans a singular one, and from what you say it is evident that your Melons have been destroyed by canker at the root, or rather at the main stem of the plants just at the surface of the soU. Tliis disease is easily detected by the enlarged corky-like appearance at the neck of the plants, and is most frequently attendant on a strong plethoric growth such as you describe your plants to have made. When the disease appears the best means of coun- teracting it is to thickly dust the affected part with quick- lime ; but this does not always prevent it. From what you say it sti-ikes us that you grow your Melons in rather too light and tui-fy a soil, and that you water too frequently ; and if you were to use a heavy rather clayey loam with no manm-e mixed with it, putting a good depth of soil in yovu- frame, and treading it firmly together, and to apply water seldomer but in greater quantity at a time, you would find that your Melons woidd not grow so rankly, and be less subject to go off as you describe. We have always found two or three good waterings sufficient to bring a crop of Melons to maturity when a good depth of heavy soil has been used, and under such cfrcumstances they are less liable to canker.] WELL HEAD. (Concluded from page 21.3.) In stepping out of the Orchid-house a fine plant of the Australian Pitoher-plant, Cephalotus foUicixlaris, in the shovy- house again attracted my attention ; and as Mr. Baynes is very fortunate in his treatment of this and many more rare and curious plants, and very liberal in imparting his know- ledge, I will give the treatment he pursues so advantage- ously. Cephalotus foUicularis delights in a humid atmo- sphere, and what may be termed a warm gi-eenhouse tempe- rature suits it exactly. It does best when in a small pot enclosed in a larger one, the interval filled up with sphag- num. The compost in which it is potted consists of sphag- num and fibi-y peat in equal parts, the main point being to provide good and perfect drainage. It is necessary to place the pot in a feeder of water, and to cover the plant vdth a glass fitting the inside of the outer pot if the house in which it is placed is at all dry, but not where the atmo- sphere is humid or very moist. The glass should be taken off and wiped occasionally, which prevents the plant being surrounded by stagnant afr. Without much time after leaving the Orchid-house to enjoy the pm-e air, we enter a vinery 30 feet by 18, with a half-span roof The border is inside entirely, about 20 laches deep, and composed of the top spit of a pastui'e incorpo- rated with about one-tenth charcoal and uncrnshed bones. The house is well heated by four pipes along the front and two at the back, which permit of keeping up the tempera- ture to the proper pitch without making the pipes very hot, and, what is better, au- is admitted below them in front, whilst at the back the pipes are enclosed in a drain. In both cases no cold afr can under any cfrcumstances pass into the house without becoming heated. Ample provision is also made to let ovxt the heated afr at the top of the house. The Vines are carrying half a dozen bunches each, this being the second season fr'om planting. The sorts are Bowood Muscat, a very fine Grape, in my opinion the best of all Muscats ; Black Hamburgh, like sloes in colour ; White and Charlesworth Tokay ; Koyal Muscadine; Cham- pion Hamburgh, a very fine even-berried bxincher ; and Muscat Hamburgh, a very fine flavoured Grape, rich and vinous, with the peculiar fiavour of the Muscat, but shanked ; but I do not think outside planting has anytliing to do with that. The Frontignans shank quite as much planted inside as when planted outside, and so do many others. I am per- suaded Frontignans shank through a deficiency in the com- ponent pai'ts of the compost. Grizzly Frontignans v/ere here the coloiu- of badly-ripened Hambui'ghs, and were very fine indeed. In some pots were layers fed from the pajent as well as the pot, carrying large bunches in propor- tion to the size of the pots, and although inadmissible for exhibiting, they nevertheless form useftd subjects for thq dinner-table, where lai-ge fruit is preferable to that generajly yielded fr-om pots ; the size and weight of the pot being a matter of some import also in matters of this kind. In this house, too, were several Amaryllises and a great quantity of Vallota purpurea. Adjoining is a late viuei'y, rather in front of the other, which is identical with the other in every respect except the varieties, among which v/as Lady Downes', not only the best of all long-keeping Grapes; but as good as a Hamburgh when ripe, and not like the Barbai-ossa and some others, which reqmre to be turned into raisins before they are fit to eat. Golden Hamburgh is not worth g-rowing in my estimation, though Mr. Baynes has some very fine frmt upon his Vines. There were also Mill HiU Hamburgh, Muscat Hamburgh, and Trentham Black, well worthy of the name, as it is a very fine Grape though small in ben-y. The crops on these Vines are excellent and do great credit to the manager. In pots were some strong caues ripening their wood well. The next house is approached by descending some steps, and is a Cncumber-liouse 27 feet by 15, which is heated by hot water for both top and bottom heat. In it I noticed some good fruit of Eji-klee's Defiance, a free winter-fr'uiting variety; Champion; and a sort of local repute, Robin Hood, which judging from appearance is a desfrable variety. Here, too, were several seedling Stephanotises from floribunda with the midrib of the leaves red. I only remember having once seen the Stephanotis in fruit, but I never saw seed- lings raised from it before. The seedlings are very promis- ing. Let us hope they may give scarlet and blue flowers with the perfume of the parent. Close to the last house is the Azalea-house, 27 feet by 15, in which are good plants of all the leading kinds and studded with bloom-buds. The plants are not large, but neatly trained in the shape of pyramids and bushes. For my part I prefer a moderate-sized specimen to one that takes iiji the space occupied by a dozen smaller plants. I can see more beauty in variety than sameness, and, con- sequently derive more pleasure from examining a dozen re- presentatives of a genus than a huge plant whose beauties are seen at first sight. In this house were three new Eho- dodendi'ons — Princess Eoyal Veitchi, and PrEeeox super- bum ; also Ceutaurea ragusina, more shining in colour lijJii C. argentea. A little fm-ther on are some of those iisefiil appendages to every garden — cold pits ; and in them were some things from which Mi-. Beaton would have drawn some instructive conclusions, but I must be content to note them — viz., boxes containing seedling Ehododendrons, Dalhousise crossed with Broughtoni, Broughtoni crossed with Dalhousise, Bdgworthi crossed with Broughtoni, and vice versd; Dalhousise with Princess Victoria, and Dalhousise with Edgworthi. The pits also contained some softwooded stuff — as Cinerarias, Pi'imulas, &c. Mr. Baynes showed me his boiler, which is Ormson's No. 5, heating ten compai'tments satisfactorily. It consumes about two tons of coke per week, does the work of ten saddle boilers, or twenty flues, presuming that mode of heating were adopted, and gives every satisfaction. Mr. Baynes is opposed to flues, and reckons them amongst the tilings of the past. In journeying towards the other houses we meet with a large TuUp Tree, which is very fine, and appears to stand smoke well. The Yews, alas ! are fast succumbing to the smoky atmosphere, which outs off Conifers as frost does early blossoms. A bed of hardy Statices on the lawn is very pretty, and one often wonders that such plants are not more generally cultivated ; and why everybody should pass over that fine old herbaceous plant, Onosma taurieum, the flowei-s of which rival any yeRow Calceolaria, is, indeed, marvellous. Its projjagation was said by a contemporary to be diffioidt, but Mr. Baynes strikes it by layers as freely as a Carnation. But of the very many charms to be seen at this interesting place, none are more worth seeing than a plant of Lapa- geria rosea, which had fifty fiowers expanded when I saw it (August 18th), and several green ones coming on. It occupies the northern h;ilf of the Heath-house, a small spam- roofed structure 22 feet by 18, and is trained near to the glass. It is planted in what I will term a bed 4 feat long. 230 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTITEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ September 22, 1863. and 18 inches wide by 20 inches deep, with 20 inches of drainage below that. The soil is rough peat, with a liberal admixture of pieces of charcoal. It receives about four gallons of water daily, and is never subjected to any heat beyond that given to the Heaths and Epacrises in winter, or about 45" on an average. The Heaths and Epacrises are now outside, but the house contained a good collection of Geraniums of the best sorts in flower, and amongst them I noticed a seedling of Mr. Baynes's much in the way of Wonderful, with large trusses and bold flowers, some trusses consisting of a dozen blooms. Although, perhaps, of no merit when under the eye of a florist, yet it is a very useful variety for conservatory de- coration. The greenhouse, a very old structure, is undergoing repairs, and the last vestige of flues in it is being swept away, buried where rubbish always was. It really is astonishing to see how good the woodwork of this house is, and the glass so clear, considering that it is about forty years old. The house is 24 feet by 15, and a lean-to. Against the north waU a glass lean-to has been erected recently, which is to be devoted to the growth of Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums of the choicest kinds that can be had. The length of this house is 300 feet. The roof has a rapid fall or high pitch, short lights in front which open, and about 1 foot of the top opens also the entire length, these lights being shut or opened easily by levers and cranks. It has two four-inch pipes along the front, and the glass is put in in large squares. I understand the cost of a house of this description is about .£1 per foot, exclusive of the pipes. In the centre of the garden stands Mr. Waterhouse's ob- servatory. He was formerly very partial to astronomical studies. He has kept a rain-gauge for nearly forty years, and is one of those who delight in seeing and enjoying an interesting garden, and whilst doing so is not backward in permitting others to view his, in proof of which I may state that his groimds were open to the visitors of the recent flower show at Halifax. In conclusion, allow me to say that all I saw was very praiseworthy, and highly creditable to Mr. Baynes and his assistants, to whom I tender my hearty thanks for his cor- diality, and not less his hospitality ; and with a shake of the hand I bade farewell to him and left one of the most inter- esting gardens in the county of York. — G. A. TEAJN'SATLANTIC EITCHEN-GARDENING. Not the least part of a true gardener's professional enjoy- ment is the pleasure (albeit plentifully seasoned with a due mixture of mental anxiety), of getting in his spring crops as safely and speedily as possible ; and here where we are of necessity almost entirely confined to in-door operations from November till March, the change is all the more agree- able and exhilarating when we can put a spade in the ground, and have the earlier crops fairly under weigh. Spring, strictly speaking, is of very short diu-ation here, as we are launched from the rigour of winter almost right into the heat of summer with very Httle intervening preparation. As an instance of the rapiiity of the change, I find on re- ference to notes taken at the time, that on the 10th of April last year we had a heavy fall of snow with a corresponding temperature, and on the 18t.h of the same month (Good Friday), the thermometer indicated 88° in the shade, with a cloudless azure sky. This rapid change has, of course, a corresponding effect on vegetation, necessitates an energetic concentration both of head and hand work, and very speedily rubs off any rust that may have accumulated about the mental faculties diuring the long winter months. I was much strack with the truthfulness of a motto I can well remember reading in the rooms of the late Albert Smith, Piccadilly — viz., '■ Rubs make men and gems Ijright," from whence the inference may very readily be drawn, that as gar- deners in piursuit of their legitimate caUing meet occasionally with some pretty hard rubs, this may account in a great measure for the honourable position horticulture at present occupies, and for the superior intelligence that is to be found ajnongst those who devote their best energies to the eleva- tion of the science of gardening ; but at the same time it must be borne in mind, that there must be something of the gem in the man to begin with, else no amount of rubbing will brighten up general opacity. The gardeners of America exhibit a most praiseworthy per- severance and practical ingenuity in contending against and overcoming difhculties incidental to climatic extremes, with rapid and very often violent atmospheric changes ; but most of those holding good situations here have learnt the mdi- ments at least of then' profession, in some part of the British Isles. The old and oft-quoted adage, " That it never rains but it pours," though generally applied allegorically, is literally true here, for without any preparatory Scotch mist, down the water comes in torrents, often doing sad mischief, and leaving the ground when diied like well-baked pie-crust. In consequence of this feature, besides being the better practice under any circumstances, cropping is almost in- variably done in rows, so as to admit of a liberal application of the Dutch hoe to break the crust. As the ground is often frozen to the depth of 18 and 20 inches, very little kitchen-garden work can be done before the last week in March, and in late seasons not before the first week in AprU, when the first crop of Peas is sown. Of these, successions are sown up to the first week in June ; after that time it is of little use to sow them, as they are almost sure to be destroyed by mildew ; ft'oni the succession sown on the 7tli of June last yeai', from this cause I could not pick a dish fit for table. Cauliflowers, with the excei^tion of an eai-ly crop on a hotbed, are a very precarious vegetable, the hot weather generally coming in too soon for them, and if com- bined with a spell of dry weather causing a general inclination to " button," a most provoking consummation to a sanguine gardener's hopes. Young Beets are highly relished as a dish, and by a little management may be supplied from the 1st of May tiU November, when they are lifted and stowed away for winter use in the regular orthodox manner. The Bassano, Blood Tiu-nip, and Henderson's Pine Apple Beet are the most useful varieties for summer) and the Long Blood Red for winter use. But the most indispensable vegetable in an American kitchen gai'den is the Tomato ; and whether it is owing to the climate adapting the system to relish it, or the juices of the fruit being more highly per- fected by a tropical temperature, I can testify from personal experience, that there is no more desirable addition to a rei^ast during the continuance of the hot weather than the Tomato, and previous to coming to America I could not endure even the smell of them. They are highly relished both by rich and poor, are sent to table both raw and cooked, besides making excellent preserves and ketchup. The seed is soivn in heat in Februai-y, and by the middle of May there are fine strong plants for planting out, which is done in rows 4 feet apart each way. They require very little more attention except keeping the ground clean, and a little judicious thinning if the plants grow too rank. We have an improved substitute for the Windsor in the Lima Bean (substitutes are at a premium just now), and an excellent vegetable it is. Hills are prepared 4 feet apart each way, with a pole fr-om 10 to 15 feet high in the centre of each, five or six Beans are then planted round the bottom of the pole about the middle of May, and in a shoi-t time this part of the garden looks like a miniature Hop field, for the Lima is a gTeat runner — indeed, a gardening friend averred that were they supplied with a pole 50 feet high he believed they would reach the top of it by the end of the season ; but this I cannot vouch for, nor is it desir- able they should reach such an altitude, else the task of gathering a dish woiild be no sinecure. Should a cold rain occiu" just after planting, the Bean is .almost sure to burst and rot in the ground, and as only one planting can be made, considerable judgment is required to get them evenly above ground. Kidney or string Beans are also grown extensively, and in September and October last yeai', I had a fine crop grown from seed saved from the spring sowing — an instance of ad- vantages sometimes to be derived from climate. Sweet Corn mxist also be supplied daily fi'om July to October, and forms a most agreeable addition to the dinner- table. This is an improved variety of the Indian Com, and it is surprising how quickly it degenerates if a field of corn be in close proximity to that pai-t of the garden where it is planted. Sweet Corn is generally planted in hills 3 feet apart, successional crops being put in from May to July, September 22, 1S33. ] JOtTENAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 231 thinning out to three plants in each hill, and earthing-up as the plants grow strong enough ; and it is better to strip oif aU superfluous side shoots, as ii promotes the growth of the plant and the size and quality of the Corn. After a warm shower in June or July the Corn grows very rapidly, and when fully developed attains the height of 5 and 6 feet. A large purple variety of the Egg-plant is another culinary curiosity. The seed is sown on a hotbed, or in an early grapery if that is available, in February, grown on in pots, then transplanted to the open ground by the end of May, in rows 3 feet apart, and by the end of August the fruit are ready for cooking. Celery is sown in a favourable situation in rows in April, and then planted out in July, on the two-fold system of single rows, and a bed planted in rows ; for this two-fold reason — the single rows are lifted by the end of October, carefully and tightly packed upright in trenches 3 feet deep, then covered over with leaves or straw for daily use through- out the winter, the bed being earthed over to the depth of 2 or 3 feet, and opened in eai-ly spring when that in the trenches has given out. The bed becomes, of course, one frozen mass, and the task of unearthing is, therefore, no easy one. Pumpkins and Squashes are also grown in great variety ; but the really useful sorts for a garden are limited to a few. Amongst Squashes, the Early White Bush for summer, and the Boston MaiTOw for fall use are the best. This can be planted with economical advantage betwist the rows of Sweet Corn, and soon covers the ground when the Corn is cleared away. The Cheese Pumpkin, so called from its shape, is the most useful variety in its class, and can be used in various ways. From it is made the Pumpkin-pie so much and justly prized in every American household, like- wise a first-class preserve, and last year I tasted an excellent jelly as clear as the finest White Currant, extracted from it by a neighbouring gardener's "wife, so that British house- wives may see that their American sisters are in noways behindhand in this very useful department of domestic economy. The Mammoth Pumpkin is often grown to a great size, but is only fit to look at. There was one ex- hibited last year weighing 264 lbs., at the oiKce of the "American Agi'iculturist," New York, where throughout the year there is generally some curiosity or monstrosity of the vegetable kingdom to be seen. Melons are most admirably adapted to this climate, and do not require a tithe of the trouble requisite to their suc- cessfiil cultivation at liome ; but instead of one or two being sent in occasionally, they must be supplied in quantity every day during their season. They are divided into two distinct classes. Musk and Water Melons, each class having again its varieties more or less excellent. The Musk Melon has an entire cordate leaf, the well-netted fruit resembling the finer varieties of the Trentham Hybrids. The Water Melon has a more divided leaf, the fruit oblong-shaped, sometimes attaining the weight of 40 lbs. ; size an indication of ex- cellence ; skin smooth and dark green, the edible part when fully ripe resembling frosted work of a deep pinkish colour, and most deliciously cool when the thermometer is over 90", as it has been every day for the last three weeks, and seldom below 85° at night. Melons are sometimes sown in pots to forward them a little, but I question if anything is gained by this. The most generally adopted system is, to plant them in hills 7 feet apart in weU-prepared ground, the lulls being covered with small hand-lights until two or three rough leaves are formed, when the plants will thrive better by being uncovered. After this they only require a little thinning and stopping. From forty to fifty hills with — say, four plants in each, afford a good supply to a moderate- sized family. Okra is sown in rows 4 feet apart, and is used when in a young state for making a peculiar kind of soup called " gombo." Citrons are treated the same as Melons, and are extensively used as a presei've. The Sweet Potato is sometimes gi-own here, but more for experiment than profit, as the cool evenings in the early fall are apt to prevent it firom properly maturing; but it is a most delicious vegetable when properly cooked. An Ameri- can Potato, the Peach-blossom, received very favourable notice at Kensington Gore last year, which it well merited ; besides other good qualities it is an excellent keeper through the winter. A gardener here has many insidious and destructive enemies in the insect world to contend against, most vege- tables and fruit having an insect peculiar to that variety, and some are favoured by the attentions of two or three. One of the most destructive is the Asparagus bug, which at one time threatened the total extu-pation of that most useful vegetable ; but a gentleman who deserves great credit for the ingenuity and simplicity of his device, has found out that by quartering a few hencoops on the Asparagus-beds and then letting the chickens run about at wUl they eagerly devour the insect and speedily clear the beds. I have not yet seen the least indication on the Apple trees of what we used to term " American blight," and Long Island has long been famous for its orchards of Newtown Pippins, of which there are abundant existing evidences, many of the trees being of a great age and yet in a good bearing condition. — David Foulis, New York, August 17. [Mr. Foulis is now in partnership with Mr. Beattie, a nephew of Mr. Forbes, of Wobm-n, the firm being Beattie and Foulis, Seedsmen and Florists, 925, Broadway. — Eds. J. OF H.] BAEE HALL, The Seat of Sik Francis Scott. A 3AK0NIAL mansion situated on an elevated spot bears a commanding aspect, and may be seen afar off, but viewed from a distance the exposed appearance gives not the most pleasant ideas of comfort within. This cannot be said of Barr Hall and park, in Staffordshire, about six or seven mUes from Birmingham, belonging to Sir Francis Scott. The HaU, neither elevated nor commanding, is scarcely seen until you are within a few hundred yards of it, yet when approached it appears to be aU that a gentleman's country seat should be. It is certainly a beautiful building of square form, with a neat chapel on one side of it, the offices, &c., being at the rear. The grounds and park surrounding it are the most beautiful I ever saw, due both to the nature of the place, which is hiUy and wooded, and the way in which it has been improved by art. At the back of the house you ascend by winding paths into a thickly wooded region, beyond which you look over the country, which is in a high state of cultivation, being varied with corn fields and meadows, with here and there a wooded spot. From the front of the building the ground is beau- tifully undulating, and rather thickly wooded, and almost facing it, about a mile distant, is a church half hidden by the trees. The approach to the house after passing the lodge is by a carriage drive of more than half a rmle in length, apparently cut through a thick coppice, with a dense undergrowth of Brakes and Brambles. After a long drive you come to an ornamental piece of water of several hundred yards in length. This is crossed first by a rustic bridge of wood for foot pas- sengers, and further on by a more massive bridge for vehicles. FoUoRing the caniage drive past the house, you arrive at the kitchen garden, which is walled-in, and another enclosed space containing the gardeners' residences, also the gi'een- houses, vineries, &c., and beyond these is the orchard, and beyond that again the farms. But I did not inspect any of these very closely. . The pleasure grounds, properly so called, are situated m the space between the house and the ornamental water. From the front of the house a broad walk descends to the water's edge, across which on the opposite side is a boat-house, which you can see into, and at right angles with the house is another broad path and terrace lawn. Below these is another terrace, and below that again is another lawn reaching some distance on either side of the mansion. This is orna- mented with beds of flowers in the modem style of beddmg- out. The bedding-out here has been done with a view to the best effect. Looking at it fi-om either side it is one Oi the most pleasing arrangements I have seen this season, there being sufficient space to take off that crowded and elaborate appearance often observable in the bedding system. Thinking that a description of the bedding-out might prove interesting to some of your readers, I took down the arrangement, and give it as clearly as I can. On each side 232 JOtrRNAIi OF HOBTICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ September 22, 1863. of tlie troad walk leading down to the water is a bed in the form of the clover leaf These were planted alike, the centre being a mass of Cineraria maritima, with Piui^le King Ver- bena round it, then Lord Eaglan Verbena, with a broad edging of Variegated Alyssum or Koniga vaiiegata. Lower down is another pair of large circular beds, these were planted with a centi-e and four arms, reaching to the edges, of Alma variegated Geranium. The angles formed by these arms were iiUed fh'st with Lord Eaglan Verbena, next Purple King, and the hoUow cones thus formed were filled with Variegated Mint kept very dwai-f. Next, to the left, were four cones, with the hooked points meeting at the centi-e, which is a small cii-cular bed of Ageratiim and Ceras- tium. The fii'st of these beds consisted of Calceolaria Anrea floribunda, with an edging composed of alternate plants of Lobelia speciosa, and Koniga variegata, with which the whole four were edged, only No. 2 was planted with Lord Eaglan Verbena ; No. 3 with Calceolai-ia amplexicardis ; and No. 4 with Defiance Verbena ; each cone being about 12 feet by 6. A little away from these was a group of eight triangular and two small circulaa- beds. These were ar- ranged in the form of two squares, thei-e being fom- triangles and a smaU cii'Cular bed in the middle of each square. They were balanced evenly, two beds being of Mangles' Variegated Geranium, edged with blue Lobelia ; two of Brilliant Gera- nium, with a like edging ; two of Tom Thumb ; and two of Trentham Eose Geranium, aU edged with Variegated Mint. The two circles were Ageratum mexicanum and Variegated Alyssum. Prom these you pass to a squai-e group of four acutely-pointed, triangular beds, like the others centered with a small cii'Ciilar bed, this being filled with a kind of single-flowered Tropajolum of a deep orange colotir, edged with Cerastium tomentosum. The triangles were masses of Lord Eaglan and General Simpson Verbena filling two beds. The other two were Calceolaria amplexicaulis. This kind retains a freshness which other Calceolarias seem to lose at times. Passing on a little further you come to a large stai- planted in the centre with Flower of the Day and Alma Geranium. The eight radii ua-e planted thus — ^the opposite ones being balanced — viz., two with BriUiant Variegated Geranium, two with Tom Thumb, two with Trentham Eose, and two with Christine Geranium. Still further on were a series of scroll beds, all planted alike — ^that is, along the centre of each bed were alternate plants of Calceolaria amplexicaulis, Ageratum, and PeriUa, and on each side of these a row of Tom Thiunb Geranium bounded by a broad edging of blue Lobelia, and Variegated Alyssum, planted alternately, which style of mixing the plants has been freely adopted here, and as regards the eft'ect pro- duced with success, and certainly the scroll pattern and the arrangement of the colours elicited many remarks of ap- probation. About this scroU pattern were scattered several small circular beds, filled with Geraniums of various coloiu-s, and all edged with Cerastium. Beyond these were a chimp of Ehododendrons ; and some shi-ubs and trees of dwarf habit, which tenaiaated the flower garden in that direction, ex- cepting that over the water were some vases filled with Scarlet Geraniums, fixed as it were on an unfinished bridge. Going back to the broad walk leading down to the water, and passing from the beds that matched those afready de- scribed, we come to a scries of beds formed similar to the pine pattern of ladies' shawls. These are foiu: in number, and raised above the level of the grass about 2 feet. The first is Gazania splendens, in opposition to one of Calceo- laria Aiu'ea floribunda, and one of a deep yellow Tropffiolum, opposed to one of Calceolaria Prince of Orange. These fom- beds are centered with a circle filled with Ageratum, edged with Variegated Mint. To the left is a raised circular bed of Brilliant Geranium, edged with three rows of Cerastium, and to the right a cross, in the centre of which is a mass of Sultan Calceolaria, the four parts being Pink Nosegay Gera- nium, Purple King Verbena, and Golden Chain Geranium. A little way from this is a long border about 5 feet wide, planted in patches consisting of Golden Chain, Flower of the Day, and Alma Geraniums, alternating with Blue Bonnet and Lord Eaglan Verbena, Variegated Alyssum, and Lobelia spceiosa; the whole making up a display which if not gi'and excited a feeling of gratification, and left little to be wished for. It vrill be seen that the materials were few, and the colours far from being numerous ; but I doubt if the eft'ect would have been so good had a greater variety of subjects been used in the planting. On each side of the upper ten-ace is a row of vases filled with Scarlet Greraniums, which, as any one may be sure, make a gi'eat improvement. Looking at tliis garden across the water, with tlie mansion, the adjoining chapel, and the rising ground on each side of it surmounted by thick woods for a background, it presented about as good a, scene as could well be desired, and certainly the best that could be foi-med of the jjlace. On the right is a jjinetum, beyond this a park, and where the absence of trees allows the view to extend some distance, is a village spfre peeping thi-ough the trees, and cattle browsing on the hills to the left. — F. Chittt. EDINBUEGH HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. The autumn Exhibition of flowers and fruit in connection with this Society was held on September 10th in the Music Hall, George Street. Taken as a whole, it was the most successful autumn meeting which has ever taken place under the axispices of the Edinburgh Horticultural Society; while there can be no doubt whatever as to its great supe- riority in fruit over any exhibition which has ever taken place in Edinburgh before. The quantity of fruit was far greater than the most sanguine could have expected; and the quality of the greater part of it, more particulaily the Grapes, was vei-y superior — so much so, that many who had seen the London shows were agreed that the Grapes brought toi-ward on this occasion were in all respects better than those which have appeared at the shows of the southern capital. While every dish of Grapes was excellent, the first-prize Muscats from Mr. Denholm, gardener to the Diike of Eoxburghe, were wonderful examples cf good culture. The size of both bunch and berry was enormous, and they were ripened and coloiu-ed to the very highest pitch of amber coloiu' slightly mottled with russety spots — a degree of perfection most diflicult to work up to. Those from Mr. McDonald, Cupar, Fife, wliich took the second prize, though not so lai-ge as the former and others in the Hall, were also beautihiUy ripened. Not less remarkable as examples of skilful Grape-gTOwing were the Black Hamburghs with which Ml'. Fowler, gardener to the Earl of Staii-, Castle Kennedy, took the fii-st prize. One of the bunches weighed 5 lbs. Mr. McDonald was second in this Class also with smaller but very well-finished bunches. For the best bunches of two sorts Mr. Fowler was deservedly placed fii-st with a bivnch of Snow's Muscat Hambiu'gh weighing 3 lbs. 10 ozs., and a bunch of Trebbiano 4 lbs. 12 ozs. Mr. Laing, Pit- cairlie, Fife, made an excellent second in this class. A most interesting collection of Grapes were sent for exhibition by Mr. Fowler, Castle Kennedy, consisting of mag- nificent bunches of Snow's Muscat Hamburgh, one bunch of which was nearly 4 lbs., beautifully coloured, and large and equal in berry ; Barbarossa, 5 lbs. 13 ozs. : Golden Hambiu-gh, 3 lbs. 9 ozs. ; Muscat, 4 lbs. 2 ozs. ; White Nice, 4 lbs. 12 ozs. ; and one or two more varieties equally fine. One variety, named Black Gibraltar, excited a deal of interest on account of the compactness of the bunch and the im- mense oval-shaped bei-ries of a brownish-black colour. Mr. Fowler stated that this is a most valuable sort for long- keeping, and that it acquires a very fine flavour throughout the winter months. Even at the present time the flavour is vei-y good, with a finn crackling flesh. There can be no doubt at all that this is a Grape weU worthy of more exten- sive cidtivation. The bunch exhibited weighed 3 lbs. 12 ozs. Wilde these are referred to as the most striking examples of good management, there was scarcely an indiii'erent bunch of Grapes placed upon the tables, and the Judges had con- siderable difficulty in arriving at some of their decisions. There is one point in wliich the Edinburgh exliibitors are sadly deficient as compared ■with those of London, and that is in the matter of conveying their Grapes to the shows, and in many instances the bloom of the Grapes is almost entu-ely rubbed ofi' in the carriage. The prize offered by the proprietors of this Jom-nal for the best collection of fruit was contested for with great septeffiber 22, i86s. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICUIiTUBE AND COTTAGE GASDENEE. 233 vigoiu-, and while ail the collections were a credit to any grower the prize ones were most superb ; and this is but another instance of the amount of energy that liberal prizes call into play. Mr. Thomson, Dalkeith Park Gardens, Vi^as placed first with a most superb collection, consisting of an Enville Pine, Regent's Park Melon, and another named Dalkeith Netted Hybrid : Lady DowTies' Grape, lai'ge, and as black as sloes ; Muscats ; Yiolette Hitive and Bellegarde Peaches ; Violette Hative Nectarines ; Musa Cavendishii ; Doyenne Boussoch, Beui-n' d"Ai-emberg, Eeine des Poires, and Jargonelle Peai-s, all except the latter being fi-om trees in pots and very fine : Moorpaj'k Apricots ; GoHath, Jeffer- son, and Magnam Bonum Plums : Apples, Cherries, Cur- rants, and Gooseberries. Mr. Melville, Dalmeny Park, was second with Black and White Grapes, Pears, Apricots, four sorts of Plams, Peaches, Nectai-ines, Cherries, Figs, Melons, &c. This was also a very handsome collection of fruit. The third prize was awarded to ilr. Gordon, Niddry. Be- sides these there were other five competitors for this prize, and their coUections were all very good. Pine Apples were not numerous but well represented, pai-tieulai-ly by I/h: Fonlis, Fordel Gardens, who took the highest honours with an excellent Queen and Eipley Queen. Melons were plentiful and good; Mi-. Weir, of Eerse House, and Mr. Denholm, Broxmouth, being the successful competitors in the order in which they are named. Peaches, Nectarines, Pears, Plums, Apples, &.O., were in great abundance, and in more than usually fine condition. In the cut flower department HoUyhock-spikes presented a very imposing array ; and Dahbas, Verbenas, Asters, Marigolds, and Gladioli were exceedingly plentiful. Pot plants were the weakest point of the Exhibition, and there was nothing amongst them calling for special notice. Tables of plants were brought forward by the various nvu-serymen of Edinburgh, and several veiy tastefidly-fiUed baskets of plants such as are suitable for sitting-room decoration. SOME OF THE GAEDENS WORTH SEEING. VVOECESTEESHIKE. Name. Troprietor. Gfiril/^ner. Station. Whitley Court Earl Dudley and Ward. Mr. Laue obtained should be sown very thinly, either in shallow drills or broadcast, and slightly covered with fine soU. This operation should be begun in May or early in June, and if the weather continue dry, frequent waterings will be necessary. The young plants will have sprung up in six or seven weeks, and when large enough they must be thinned-out to 4 or 5 inches apart. They -mil have become large and vigorous by the end of autumn, when a number of stakes should be driven into the gi-ound along each side of the bed. These stakes should be of a thickness to permit of their being bent across and tied together so as to form a series of arches, and strong enough to suppoi-t a covering of mats, which should be laid over them as soon as the weather becomes frosty and wet. Diu-ing intense fi-ost, especially at night, it may be neces- sary to increase this protection by doubling the mats ; but these should be removed enth-ely while the weather is mUd. The soil should be kept as dry as may be, and all decaying matter carefully removed from the plants. A bed ij feet wide by 10 long wiU contain as many plants as may be sufficient for an ordinai-y supply during the winter. Parsley might also be grown on a sort of rockwork with great certainty and convenience, for on such a structure the roots and stems could be kept in that dry state which is so indispensable to their health and freshness in drdl cold weather. For gTowing it in this way, it is recommended to sow a quantity of seed early in May in a bed of light i-ioh soil on a south border. When the young j)lants are a little abo\'e the ground they should be thinned-out to 6 or 8 inches apart, kept clear of weeds and watered as occasion requires. At the end of August, or early in September, collect a few baiTowloads of moderately large stones, selecting such as are best suited for forming a rockwork. They should be longer than broad, somewhat flat or even at the sides, so that thej' may lie fii-mlj' in theit- places when buUt up. Any kind of stones which the district may afford wiU do ; but those of a sandy or porous composition should be pre- feiTed when a choice is offered. Bricks may also be used, but they are, perhaps, too fiat, and do not present those holes and crevices -n-hich are desii-able in the formation of rockwork, and which may generally be secm-ed by the use of stones. The site being chosen in some sheltered open part of the garden, the stones and a quantity of good friable sandy loam, mth some brick rubbish or rubble, should be collected together. The rockwork must be determined according to taste and requirements, in respect to form and size, but there is no use in having it too large. Perhaps the oval form is the most convenient for building such a structure, and if the base is 5 feet long, a pile may be raised with a surface extensive enough to gi-ow a sufficient supply for an ordinary family. The stones used in forming the first tier or layer may be about 8 inches high and kept close together. A quantity of soil should be worked-in at the back and sides so as to keep them together, while the centre may be fiUed with ordinary brick or sandstone rubbish. When the lii-st layer is comjjleted a portion of the soil should be laid over the stones at the side, and a number of plants of Parsley, tal:en carefully up fi-om the bed in which they have been growing, should be planted as regularly as jjossible in all the holes and crevices, their roots being spread out in Xiie soil, and their stems and leaves kept inclined outwards at the margin. Having fixed the plants properly, proceed to erect a second tier in the same way, and so on -with the others, tiU the pile is raised to the height desii-ed ; but with the subsequent tiers keeji the stones 4 or 5 inches nearer the centre all round, and about an inch or so apart. Every stone should be placed directly 234 JOTTRNAIj of HORTICDLTITRE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. [ September 22, 18«3. over the point which forms the junction of those imme- diately below it ; and every additional tier which is raised must be kept 3 or 4 inches nearer the centre than the one preceding it, so that when the whole stinictm-e is completed an imaginary section of it would appear thus. In this "ft£^^ an-angement of the several tiers the plants will not come dia-ectly over another, and the soil will not be washed down irom the interstices by rain. If at the time of building the rockwork the weather is dry, the soil about the plants must be well soaked with water ; but tliis must be done by limited supplies repeated several times, for if much water is poiu'ed on at once, a portion of the soil will run down. To prevent the action of di'encHng rains fi-om having the same effect, it will be necessary to provide the winter covering at once. A number of stout ash sticks must be driven into the ground about 12 inches fi-om the bottom of the rockwork, and attached by a good strong cord, so near one another that they may form an open arching figure at the top, and so placed that at any point they may be 12 or 18 inches clear of the plants. A covering of oilcloth or common canvas should be provided and kept in readiness to protect the mound from heavy falls of rain until the soil has become consolidated round the sides. This covering wiU also be available diu-ing intense frost, when it must be carefully laid over the whole frame of sticks and removed whenever the weather is mUd and open. In eight or nine weeks the pile will have become covered with strong health.y plants, which, besides affording a continual supply, will form an agreeable object both in summer and winter. It maj- be urged that by this plan of growing Parsley the roots are liable to become di-y in summer ; but in admitting the pro- bability of such a cu-cumstance, we must bear in mind that if the plants could be kept fr-om grooving too vigorously diuing the summer months, they would be in the best con- dition for preservation dming I'rost. Now the di-ought of a hot summer would have the effect of retarding them, and conserving their energy until the time when their growth was most desirable. Besides, any extreme dj-yness coiUd be very easily prevented by timely applications of water. A Dutch method of growing Parsley during winter is to sow the seed in March, so that the plants may be vigorous enough for removal by the end of September, when they are planted in large pots, somewhat similar in form to what is used in England for blanching Sea-kale, or, per- haps, rather like the annexed figui-e. The vase is open wards. This vase may be made to any size, and as orna- mental as taste may determine. — (P. F. Keie, Gurdencrs' Ma^asinc of Botany.) KEELE HALL. at the top and perforated with lai-ge holes all round. In September it is filled with soil, and the plants are inserted in it at the holes, their stems and leaves being kept out- This delightful residence of Ralph Sneyd, Esq., is beauti- fully situated on the brow of a hill, three mOes from Stoke and five miles from Trentham. The whole neighboiu-hood might be searched before finding a more suitable position or one commanding richer and more varied views of the STUTOunding landscape. And yet, notwithstanding its ele- vation, so well is it sheltered and backed by timber, that though so near to Stoke and its potteries, and witliin two miles of Silverton and its mines, but for an occasional streaky cloud in the cleai- atmosphere, interesting and pleas- ing rather than othenvise (though giving some little idea of huge chimnies which you cannot see), you might imagine- yourself to be riiralising amid the wild grandeur of a rich Ai'cadia. Of what may be denominated the principal ap- proaches I cannot sjjeak, as I had the privilege of going from Trentham : and after passing a rustic gate could not help admiring what some years hence will be a splendid avenue of Spanish Chestnuts, the gi-ound rising all the way to the stables with a noble ai'chway for an entrance, and passing through the square on to the mansion through a deep cut in the red sandstone, of a superior sort of which sandstone- the fine stables and the still superior mansion are chiefly constructed. There is always a little difSoulty in settling on the best mode of describing a place, so as to make it interesting to the reader : but as the fame of Keele Hall consist s chiefly in its horticultural productions so far as gardeners are con- cerned, and as Mr. HiU's compact and very commodious house abuts on the west side of the stables, the gardens of utility being immediately in fi-ont of it, and as to these our attention was fii'st du'eeted, we v/ill just take our readers along the pathways we traversed. We may observe that the front of the house showed the presiding genius of Mrs. Hill in a few beautiful flower-beds, in one or two of which, as in a post of honour, was planted a pretty seedling Ver- bena of a rich crimson magenta colour, which, we think, fi-om its dense habit deserves to be better known ; and this- again was flanked on a higher level by masses of Picotees, Carnations, and Cloves, some wliite seedlings of the latter being very fine. However enthusiastic a gardener may be, it is a sad di-awback to Mm if there is no sympathy as to his favourite pm-suits between him and his partner at home. You may always reckon surely on that sympathy where you see good plants or boxes in the windows and elegant flower- beds near the dooi-way. From what little I saw of the midland counties, owing to the incessant rains, I covdd onlji come to the conclusion that the gardeners in that district are highly favoured in this respect, and to it no doubt owe no little part of theh- great success. The soil of the kitchen gardens, lower and upper, is com- posed of a rich stiffish red loam resting on the red sand- stone. From the slope of the gardens we could scarcely suppose it possible to suffer from wet in a moist dripping season ; whilst the depth of the soO and the cool sandstone beneath prevented anything suffering fr-om such dry seasons as the present, as was amply evidenced in the liea\'j' crops of Onions, Carrots, Cauliflower, and some of the finest late Peas I ever witnessed in the end of August. This lower garden is surrounded by a -n-aU 12 feet in height. On the south aspect is a Peach-w.all looking well ; but Mr. HiU complained tiiat unless in fine seasons they did noil ripen kindly. There were iron rods fi-om the top of the wall to 3 feet or so on the border, and they stand through the season for supporting the canvas used for protection ; but Mr. HiU well said that a covering of glass for a quarter of the space would secure on an average more good fruit for the table. The south-west wall is occupied by Pear trees in a state of great fertUity and lururiance, and by grafting several sorts on some trees a good supply is afforded fi-om August to April, beginning with Citron des Carmes and Jargonelle, and ending with Easter BeuiTc and Beum- Ranee. In May, 1858, Ml-. HUl had a certificate fi-om the London Hortionl- tui-al Society for fine fruit of the latter. In general the September 22, 18C3. ] JOURNAL OF HOETI CULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 235 Z-. Fig. 1. Peai's on this wall are of large size, the Beurre Kance being frequently fully 1 lb. in weight. On the opposite side of the walk that bounds the borders of these fruit-walls is a naiTOW cir- cular trellis {see fig. 1), chiefly de- voted to Apple trees in good con- dition, and which trellis looks very neat. It is 2^ feet wide at the base, and 5 feet in height to the blunt circular apex. The crops were de- ficient this season, owing to the severe frost on the 20th and 21st of May. But passing these, general cropping, lots of hotbeds, and Asparagus-pits v/here the plants grow where they are to be forced, we come to the ranges of hothouses which have made Keele HaU gar-den and its superintendent so illus- ti-ious ; Ml-. Hill, in the course of nine or ten years, having taken about sixty first prizes for fi-uit at the metropolitan exhibitions. The very best of the fimit had been cut from the earher houses ; but sufficient remained in later ones and others ripening to show very superior management, and also to prove conclusively that the success was no haphazard affair — no happy result occiUTing from merely sticking a Vine into the ground and letting it take its chance of suc- ceeding or failing, but the consequence of much thought and study as to the best modes of management and a con- stant unwearied attention to the smallest minutice of prac- tical details. Owing also to the combined liberality and the mechanical and ai-tistic taste of the worthy proprietor, all the structures about the garden were in iirst-rate con- dition, and furnished -with the best modern improvements as to ventilation, &c. The fii'st range of houses we entered consists of four vineries, each 31 feet long, 16 feet wide, 10\ feet in height at back, and 3 feet in height at fi-ont. These heights refer to that above the surface level. The fi-ont 3 feet above the wall-plate is of glass sashes, opening outwards all at once by a rod, &c. The border inside is neai-ly up to the glass A (see fig. 2, made merely from memoi-y). B Is the back A o o B A ^ I> INSIDE BORDER E '^ ~~~— -, F 1 H ^ rig. 2. path i feet wide, bounded by a neat curb, from which a pillar c goes to the roof at every 4.J feet. On these pillars in some instances Vines are also trained, and an arch goes from pillar to pUlar. The two middle vineries are for the earliest Grapes ; and the borders for these at least, if not for the whole of the range, ai-e chambered or arched underneath. The outside borders E are 9 feet vride, and ai-e arched underneath at f, communicating with linings G, covered with boai-d flaps, so that dung may be placed under the arches and the heat kept in. h Is the pathway in the fi-ont, and the ground gently falls from the pathway. Now let us glance at some of the peculiarities of these first-rate vineries. First, fi-om the elevation of the borders, the chambering, and means used for di-ainage, it is utterly impossible that the Vines can suffer fi-om stagnant moisture, and therefore noiuishment can be freely given to them. Secondly, the Vines are all planted inside, about 18 inches from the front glass, and in every case the inside border is higher than the outside one, but with free communication between them. Thirdly, all the heating-pipes are 4 inches in diameter, and are placed pretty regularly and level across the floor of the ieuse — a plan which we consider far prefer- able to placing pipes in tiers above pipes, as we have them, because we found them so. These pipes in all the houses at work were well coated with sulphur. There was an ex- ception to this placing the pipes on the level, and we con- sider a valuable one, in the shape of two small two-inch pipes, placed over each other some 18 inches fi-om the base of the back wall. These, so placed behind the pathway, prevented any stagnation of ail- there, made the circulation of the internal atmosphere more complete, and alike enabled and required top ventilation to be more freely given. Then, fourthly, instead of sinking a huge pit for a Vine-border, it will be perceived that the whole, inside and out, is above the gi-ound level ; and then, again, there is the opportunity of heating these borders fi-om beneath. The arches are formed of brick and good mortar, so that little or none of the enriching gases fi-om the dung can reach the roots, nor is it desired they shoidd do so. A root now and then may find its way thi-ough the mortar into the chamber, but it is soon destroyed by the heat or removed, as Mi-. Hfll has no idea of ha-ving a forest of spongioles whitening the top of his ai-ches : he wishes these aU to be confined to the good material above which he gives them so liberally. This mode of heating the borders fi-om beneath with dung involves a great amount of labour and constant supervision, as the heating material is subject fi-oni mere changes of weather to great and sudden fluctuations of temperature. On this account it is proposed to dispense with the dung and use hot water as being much more under com- mand. With this heating fi-om beneath, a slight covering — say from 9 inches to a foot — of di-y leaves or litter is sufficient to keep up the desirable tempei-atiue in the borders, more especially as that covering is kept di-y by moveable wooden covers 4 feet -wide, and in lengths so that one or two lengths go over the border. These covers are made of rough boards fastened to cross pieces, and then a slip 2 inches -wide tacked along each joint — a capital plan where green unseasoned wood is used, and even for an}' wood exposed to great alternations of wet and di-yness. These well tarred will last a great many years, and will come in for many purposes of protection in the spring and autumn. Mr. Hill uses them largely in temporai-y pits, for protecting his bedding plants in spring. And, lastly, the borders were made simply of the very best materials. Some new ones that we examined seemed to consist chiefly of about half-inch slices of the fibi-y top part of some old pasture ■with a very liberal allowance of boiled bones. I would rather that such men as Mr. HOI and Mr. Henderson wordd tell us the quantity in proportion to soil rather than make a rough guess at it. These bones are boiled at the potteries for obtaining the gelatine, &c., and after this boiling the fermenting and rank pro- pei-ties ai-e so gi-eatly removed that they may be used to a much greater extent than fresher bones could be with propriety. Though equally well chambered or drained the two end houses were for late Grapes, and would require no heating fi-om beneath whilst so used. One of these had been planted in November, chiefly with Lady Downes' and Alicante, Kempsey and Meredith's, as tar as we recollect, and they were now strong canes rising to and along the back of the house. In this house Vines were also trained to the rods by the sides of the path, where, no doubt, they would remain until the finest ones monopolised aH the space. The laterals near the top were merely stumped in ; but they had been removed fully half way up the stems, and would be removed gi-adually all the way to expedite the hardening and ripening of the wood. Some fine Azaleas stood in open spaces between the pillars. In the other end -vinei-y, among other good fruit, were some huge bunches of the Trebbiano Grape approaching matm-ity. From one of the middle vineries the glass was removed and the Vines closely pruned-in preparatory to cleaning them and the house thoroughly. In the other, though the fi-uit was aU gone, the wood was in fine condition. Here I noticed that a number of small shoots near the base of the Vine had been grafted -with new or more desirable kinds, and after the graft had taken the shoot was laid or taken through a box filled -with good rich material, and, rooting in the 23G JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. t September 22, 1868. box, derived estra strength before tie roots of the Rafted paa-t established themselves in the border beneath the box. The second range in the same garden consists of two vineries and one early Peach-house, each 52 feet long, 17 feet wide, 15 feet high at the back, and IJ foot in front, air being given there by a moveable louvi-e-board. One vinei-y had been cleared, but contained fine short-jointed wood. The second had some excellent Lady Downes' and Hamburgh Grapes : and the Peach-house was cleared, but the wood in excellent bearing condition. The rafters, I think, were about 4i feet apart, and there was a Vine up the rafter and also one in the centi-e between. Here the same attention had been paid to drainage without chambering. The Peach trees were ti'ained under the roof on two treUises, fi-om two sets of trees, dwai-fs in fi-ont and standai-ds behind, against the columns, which 3Mr. HUl considers much pre- ferable to having st&ndards against the back wall, to be so far shaded by a treUis in front. In fig. 3 1 is the lower treUis, and 2 the upper trellis. Fig. 3. In the upper kitchen gai-den is a splendid range of glass, with a lofty conservatorj- in the centre. Taking them as they come, we first notice a Peach-wall fronted with glass, on which were many fine fruit, and the trees are almost sure to produce a heavy crop with far less care than on the open wall. This house is 116 feet long, 12 feet high at back, scarcely 1 foot in fr-ont, with louvi-e -boards made to open upwards, and the sloping part of the roof is also made to open upwards; the width at base is 41 feet. The front is very neatly supported on ii-on bars, which gives it a very light elegant appearance. Our recollection of this house is something as shown in fig. 4. The sloping shut roof at A is glazed. The trees looked remarkably well. In fi'ont on the border were four masses at equal dis- tances of the Tritoma uvai-ia, which were very magnificent, averaging fr-om foui- to five dozen heads of flowers°to each! We forget now how long they had been planted, but Mi-, ffill kindly told us what he considered the two points essential to their successful culture. The first was, to dio- out a good hole for them, and to fiU it with good turfy loam We next came to a very fine Muscat-house 52 feet long, 20 feet wide, lOi feet high at back, and 5 feet high in front; length of rafter 21 feet, -vvidth of path about 4 feet : but a smaU border is placed close to the back wall, against which were growing Shaddocks, Lemons, &c. The Vines here are all planted inside, and are about thirteen years old. The whole crop was good, but some bunches at the east end were very fine. The house is roofed, small ridge-and-ftuTOw fashion, the ridges being 2A feet at the base, and 11 foot at sides. The Vines are trained up the fiuTows of the ridges, and are, therefore, ij feet apart. The borders inside and outside are made as respects their bottom also in the ridge-and-furrow style, whicli renders the drainage more perfect. The front of the outside border as at c, fig. 5, is supported by a low wall, sci-eened by a similar close hedge of Yew, and through these there are drain-pipes conrmvmicating with the siuface of the walk b, besides the other di-ainage at the bottom. ^ In the case of this fine house, too, the most of the border is above the surrounding level. In ventilating in front, the lai-ge upright sashes open outwards by means of a lever, and the back ventilation is eifected in a very superior I'^ay by double louvre-boards of fron, communicating with a hollow chamber in the top of the wall, which has a connec- tion above the glass with the external atmosphere. The ad- vantage of this plan is, that in the coldest weather the fresh air at top vrSi. be amehorated and softened, and warmed before it passes in among the tender fiiiit and foliage. The house had previously been used as a pit for Pines and plants requiring stove heat, and a portion of these pipes had been srmk for bottom heat. On removing the pits to give the Vines the benefit of the whole house, these pipes were raised, and now there are seven four-inch pipes all on a level placed along the floor of the house. Mr. Hill is a great advocate for plenty of piping, and never over-heating the pipes, con- tending, as we have often done, that the exti-a heating of a small amount of piping is only a waste in whatever way it is looked at. A small amount of piping- is often, as respects fael, the exemplification of the old adage, " Penny wise and pound foolish." Mr. HiU assured us that even in very cold weather, and when the house was kept to 70°, these pipes were never so hot but that a person might sit down on them comfortably. On clearing out the pits the inside borders were not all made at once, ftrUy half the space yet remains to be filled up, and thus the Vines can have a little more feeding-ground for a number of years to come. We here noticed several nice bunches of Foster's White Seed- ling, very interesting not only on its own accoitnt, but also fr-om being said to have come fi-om the same ben-y as that which produced the celebrated black Lady Downes' Grape. The conservatory being in the centre, there is at the opposite end a Black Hambirrgh-house of the same dimen- sions as the Muscat-house, wliilst the outside and inside ar- rangements are similar. Here, too, t'ne inside border is as yet only pai-tiaUy fiUed. Mr. HiU imagining that these Vines planted twelve years ago v/ere deteriorating a little, lifted the roots last November, replanted them careftilly in fresh Fig. 4. and rotten manure, and the second was, never to remove a leaf, be it broken, be it green, or withered and several years On examining their bottoms we found masses of old old. withered lep.ves, but concealed by the green ones, and these formed the best of all protection for the plants. fibry loam, with some rotten dung, and broken boiled bones, covei-ed the soil with about a foot of tree leaves, above which the wooden covers spoken of were placed, and did not at all hun-y the Vines, and now there ai-e about 250 bunches of what promise to be exceUeiit Graj)es. A Fig-case of 40 feet. September 22, 1863. ] JOUEFAIi OF HOETICTJLTXJRE iND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 237 and in the same style as the Peach-case, terminates the range in this direction. — R. Fish. {To be continued.) COLEUS VEESCHAPFELTI AS A BEDDING PLANT. In reference to the communications in the August Niun- bers of The Jouenai- of HoKTicxn-roEE, by Mi'. Adey and "D.," of Deal, pages 103 and liG, respecting- the Coleus Verschaifelti, wherein Mr. Adey states, " It is sentenced to perpetual impiisonment in the greenhouse;" and "D.," of Deal, that " it is a complete failure," I beg to make the following observations : — In the first week of June I planted a small bed, sheltei-ed fi»m the north and east winds, with the Coleus VerschafFelti, the plants being only aboiit 6 inches in height, having been struck late in the spring. They were planted 10 inches apart. In the first part of the season they made very slow progress, but since then they have grown remai'kably well, filled lip the bed, and are now sufficiently large to enable me to take between twenty and thirty cuttings from each plant. The colour is very rich, much more so than that of the Amaa-anthus melancholicus i-uber, and particularly so when the sun is shining upon the bed. My motive for writing these few remarks is, to suggest that before we discard, as a bedding plant, the Coleus Ver- schafFelti, wliich is so beautiful in foUage and easy of culture, I hope our friends will give it a further trial, and that we may hear the results of such trials in the pages of The JoTTENAL OF HoKTiCTJlTUEE. — Wm. Potten, Gardener to Mr. Wilson, Camden Lodge, Sissinghurst. I CAN fully bear out what Mr. Eaiiey says respecting this plant for bedding. I had one plant last spring, and having made a small flower garden where we wanted ajl the vaiiety we could obtain, I thought I would try it. I took off every cutting as soon as the young plants made three or four eyes, till the first week in April. They were gi'own as fast as we could with- out their being diuwn tiU the first week in May. They were then put in a cooler pit for a week, and afterwards removed to a cool Peach-house till the 9th of June, when they were planted out. They were covered for about a week with mats at night, and they have been admii'ed the season through by all who have seen them, and they are looking well now. — J. GouGH, Lea Castle Gardens, Kidderminster. FLOWEE-BEDS ON A TEIANGULAE PIECE OF LAWN. In the garden at the back of ovi house we have a trian- gular piece of grass. There are three beds of evergi-eens, one at each corner, and on the grass are four round beds, each 10 feet 4 inches in diameter, and we find a gi-eat diffi- culty in endeavouring to fill these with flowers of heights and colours corresponding. This year we had two filled with a'scarlet Verbena, and dotted with the Oak -leaved Geranium, and the other two were filled with Gazania splendens, dotted with Cineraria maritima, but they were not satisfactory, and we ars anxious to fix how they are to be filled next summer, in order that our gardener may know what to pi'o- pagate now. A bed neai' those I speak of was filled with Lobelia speciosa, dotted with Cloth of Gold Geranium, and three other and larger beds on another piece of grass were fQled, one with Phlox Drummoudi, one with Calceolaria Aurea floribunda, and the other with Tropaeolum elegans. — An Old Suesceieee. [From your description of the plot of ground with the evergreens at the corners, we presume that the four beds for flowers consist of three beds altemating.^th the evergreens, and the fourth a centre one. If this should be the case, the three ought to resemble each other in the height and habit of the plants grown, but the centre one may be different.. And in many similar cases we would have said. Make the three outside beds Verbenas of different colours, but alike in gTOwth, and the foiu'th Geranium ; but as you say Verbenas have not been satisfactory, something else might be tried. In a general way, dotted or mixed beds look best in isolated positions, and but rarely look well as forming featm'es in a series of beds ; and as youi' beds are small, we would plant the centre all with one kind, and edge it with another. If your beds would allow of a small dot in the centre, you might make three very effective beds, by planting a small centre piece — say 18 inches in diameter, with Alyssum varie- gatum, then a ring of something more than a foot wide with Lobelia speciosa, and an outer edging of Cerastium tomen- tosum. These three beds would by tlus means be all blue and white, the latter being foliage wiU be more durable than any flower; but the Lobelia is, perhaps, the most lasting of any floweiing plant oiu' gardens possess. Now, supposing these three beds form the outer sexies, and, as above advised, to be all blue and white alike, we must have something else for the centre — say Tom Thumb Geranium, with an edging of Mangles', or it may be Golden Chain. If this bed be only 3 feet in diameter, there is only room for one kind of plant for the centre and main portion of the bed, and one for the edge. As foliage is always of longer duration than flowers, the appearance of Golden Chain and Cerastium as edgings to beds wOl always be good fi-om the time of planting up to the latest period in the season. If your beds had been larger, more vai-iety might have been obtained, but in small beds only low-growing plants, in a general way, ought to be grown ; and as you possess other beds where Tropasolums, Calceolai'ias, and other things may be grown, the mere fact of limiting those beds in question to so small a collection of plants need not be found fault with. The prettiest designs in flower-garden i n g contain but few colours, and a repetition of the same fonn is met with in all objects of art. If your garden possessed only the four beds alluded to, we might have advised more variety ; but as it is, we should in our own case be content, for one season at least, with planting the beds in the manner advised.] PEONUNCIATION OF GLADIOLUS. It is very amusing to read in your No. 127, " that there is no doubt" as to the proper pronunciation of Gladiolus, and that it is to be pronounced Gladilus. In the first place there is very gi-eat uncertainty, until the dictionary has been consulted, as to how it ought to be pronounced ; and after that has been done I will engage that there is not a Latin scholar in the kingdom who would pronounce the word as if there were no o in it — Gladius, a sword ; Gladiolus, a little sword. So far fi'om omitting the o, the modern Italian lays the accent on the o, Gladiola or Gladola, omitting the i. So that not only is there great doubt about it, inasmuch as the modern and ancient tongues of Italy differ about the word; but that Tinder no supposition whatever can your dictatorial correspondent be light in his assertion. If he is one of your staff, pray fine him a week's pay. — F. Cook. [We are exceedingly obliged by the note of " D.," of Deal, which we published in our last Number, and by the above communication, and we assent to most that they advance ; and if Pliny, Columella, Palladius, and Apuleius, the only ancients who employ the word, we believe, had written in verse, they would have sustained, probably, by its metrical employment, all the short syBables claimed for the word by our friendly critics. But that is not the question. The question to be an- swered in our pages is. What is the pronunciation accepted among gardeners ? We rei)lied, and we adhere to our reply, GladUus. If we are asked for evidence to sustain our statement, we replace in the witness-box Mr. Beaton, who wrote as follows in our earliest volume ; — " It may be as well to put you on yoiu- guai-d against a common provincial way some people have of pronouncing the word Gladiolus, by putting the accent, or stress, on the letter o ; whereas the true way of uttering the same is as if written Glad-eye- lus, putting the accent on the {."—{Cottage Gardener, i., 100.) Mr. Beaton was the right-hand man of Dr. Herbert, and others, who devoted great attention to this genus of bulbs, and, therefore, he knows how they pronounced the word, and, as we have already observed, the pronunciation gene- rally accepted by gardeners is the pronunciation we accept. 338 JOUENAl OF HOKTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ September 22. 1863. The grammatically correct pronunciation of floral names cannot be insisted on ; and lie would be derided as pedantic who attempted to pronounce Anemone, Fuchsia, and many others in accordance with their derivation. — Eds. J. of H.] POETI^AITS OF PLANTS, FLOWERS, AND FRUITS. BowENiA SPECTABILLS (Showy (Australian) Bowenia).— Nat. ord., Cycadaceaj. Li-.iv.., Dioecia Polyandi-ia. Native of the banks of Endeavour Eiver and Eockingham Bay. — (Bot. Mag., t. 5398.) Catasetum CEENUU2I (Drooping Catasetum).— ifaJ. ord., Orchidea;. Linn., Gynandria Monandria. Native of Eio Janeiro. Flowers green spotted with piu^Ie.— (Jiid., t. 5399.) SiLENE Elizabeth^e (Elizabethan Catchfly).— .ffai. ord., Cai-yophylla;. Linn., Decandria Trigynia. Native of Italy. "A very handsome and rare hardy perennial." Flowers IV inch diameter, bright rose colour.— (//jid., t. 5400.) HOMOIANTHUS viscosCT.s (Clammy Homoianthus).— Naf. ord., Composita;. Unn., Syngenesia squalls. Native of Chili. Sent by Mr. Pearce, collector for Messrs. Veitch & Son. Most probably hardy, a.nd good for summer bedding. Flowers in June, bright purplish-blue.— (Jtid., t. 5401.) MusA SAPiENTUM imr. viTTATA (Striped-leaved Common Plantain).— Native of the Island of St. Thomas, in the Bight of Benin. Leaves striped transversely with dark green.— (Ibid., t. 5402.) IxiAS. — Varieties raised by Messrs. Hooper, Covent Gar- den. Crateroides, crimson ; ViridlAora, green ; and Phxutus, yeUo-w.— (Floral Maija-.ino. pi. 161.') Ehododendron. Counters of Devon, raised by Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, & Co., Ereter. White upper petals spotted with purpUsh-crimson. — (Ibia., pi. 162.) Bourbon Eose, Bev. R. Dovihrain, raised by M. Margottin, Bourg-la-Eeine, near Paris. Genuine carmine and very fragrant, foi-m of Louise Odier.— (7iid., pi. 163.) ^ Ptkethrums.— Varieties raised by Mr. Salter, Versailles Nursery, Hammersmith. Eoseum alhum, bright rose with white centre ; Lysias, crimson ; and Prini:ess Alexandra, pure white.— (/6id., jji. 1G4.) Hybrid Perpetual E,o,=2, Mrs. William Paul, raised by M. Verdier, Eue du Marche au.x Chevaux, Paris. Dark crimsoned-puiple.— (F;o) is; avjl Pomologist, ii., 121.) Peaks, Be Maraisc, very beautiad and very first-rate. Eipe through November and December. Belle Julie, a delicious Pear, ripe at the close of October.— (JW.d-., p. 128.) WORK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN' GARDEN. "While the dry weather continues hoe every part of the garden thoroughly, as those seeds that were ripened in summer (where weeds were allowed to perfect seeds and to shed them), have now vegetated and may be destroyed effectually, which is bettar than allowing them to stand over till spring amongst otiier crops. When a kitchen garden is, at this season, well stocked with autumn, winter, and spring crops, all neatly an-anged and weU cultivated, and the walks, &c., in good order, we think this not at all the least interesting period of the year in this useful depart- ment of gardening. As the summer crops are removed manure and dig, or trench the ground, before the autumnal rains set in. In stiff soils this is of the greatest import- ance. Cabbages, plant out immediately the main crop for spring, and after planting take the first opportunity of a dry day to fork aU over l)etween the plants. If this is oc- casionally done there will be no necessity for earthing-up, as the plants if not put too near together wUl gi-ow short and stocky. CapsicHDis, the green pods of the large sorts should be gathered if there is any indication of fi.-ost. Cauliflowers, prepare ground in a south border or other favourable aspect tor planting Cauliflower plants under hand-lights. A quantity may be pricked out in cold firanies to receive pro- tection from severe frost in winter. Celery, when attending to it on no account let it be earthed-iip so as in any way to bury the heart of the plant. Endive, continue to tie it up for blanching. It may abo be blanched with slates or tOes laid on the plants ; this saves time, but at present tying is to be preferred. Lettuce, prepare ground for plantations of Brown Cos and Hardy Green. A double row of them or any other good hardy sort may be planted at the foot of the south, east, and west walls, the plants to stand 4 inches apart in the row, and if they should stand over the winter, which is sometimes the case with a little protection in severe weather, every alternate one can be removed to form other plantati'jns. Onions, transplant the autumn sowing when they are a few inches high on a w.ann border. Let them be put in rather thickly to allow for pulling out in the spring. Of course, a portion may be left in the seed-bed, but it is preferable to transplant the whole. FLOW'EP. GARDEN. Hollyhocks and Dalilias will stiU require occasional looking after to seciu'e them against the effects of high winds which may now be expected. Herbaceous plants wiU likewise require the stalks of decayed flowers to be removed, and such as are still in l)loom to be carefully tied up. Asters, Phloxes, &c., will now be making a fine show, and should have correspond- ing care bestowed upon them. Let the borders be cleaned, filling up vacant places with spare Chrj-santhemums, spring- struck Pansies, or spring-flowering bulbs. Carnation and Picotee-layers which are sufliciently rooted, to be taken off and planted or potted. If potted, it is not advisable to use soil of too rich a nature to winter them in, and a couple of layers in a 4S- sized pot wiU be sufficient. See that faded blossoms and seeds are removed from flower-beds and borders, other blossoms will be thus encouraged. Much of the vital energy of a plant is expended in the perfecting of its seeds. FRUIT GARDEN. Look over fruit remaining out of doors and gather it as it becomes fit, as if it become over-ripe it will be liable to be blown down and bruised ; also, examine that in the store- room fi-equently, as there wiU occasionally be a few decaying fruit found for a few weeks after housing, and these should be removed as soon as they are perceived. Keep the fruit- room cool and airy in order to allow of the escape of the moisture given off by the fruit, which is considerable for a few weeks at first. Examine Plums or any other fruit protected occasionally by covering to see that they are not spoiling. Where it is intended to make any fresh plantation of fr-uit trees this season, the gi'ound should be prepared at the earliest convenience, and any fresh soil to be used for plant- ing should be thoroughly exposed to the action of the weather, so as to have it in a mellow state when wanted for use. Filberts are now ripe in most situations and should be gathered. They generally keep in good condition in a moderate-sized hamper. Packed firm, in this way they do not suffer from excess of moistm-e, and the kernels keep plump and sweet till May or June. GREENHOUSE AND CONSEKVATORT. The most desirable object in the management of the majority of plants in these stmctures, and one which must be constantly kept in view, is that of procuring a robust and hardy growth, and of lessening their vital energy that they may gi-adually accommodate themselves to the changing circumstances of the season. The influence of the autumn weather should be permitted to exert in a degi-ee its legiti- mate influence. Ventilation judiciously managed wiU assist in accomplishing the result recommended. Water will be re- quired in less quantity both for the roots and foliage. As all the more delicate greenhouse plants are by this time housed, the few remaining out may be allowed a short time longer out, provided the weather continue dry. Ca- mellias, Ciiinese Azaleas, and some Acacias will not be hurt for a week or two if circumstances do not permit of their being housed immediately. Give all the air possible to Heaths and other hardwooded plants, and bring Chrysanthe- mums, Cinerarias, &c., under cover as soon as you can find room for them. Thin-out the bloom-buds of Chrysanthe- mums, and water with liquid manure. The climbing plants to have frequent regulation, shortening back the shoots going out of bloom, and training the remainder in a suit- able manner, to effect a free natural habit. STOVE. The twiners on the roof here should also now be more than ever kept within bounds, cutting back aU ahoots that have September 22, 18G3. ] JOUENAIi OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 239 done flowering, and tying tlie others so as to obstruct light as little as possible. Place specimens ripening their wood in the coolest part of the house, and water sparingly at the root. Achimenes, Gloxinias, and Gesneras that are pro- perly ripened-off may be stored away in any dry place where they will be secure from frost ; but take care to place them where they will be free from damp, and they should not be exposed to a lower temperature than 45° or 50°. To effect this a spare house or pit is best for the purpose, when they can be placed near the glass ; to be supplied with water only to keep them from flagging. This will allow the foliage to ripen gradually, and, as a matter of course, the tubers. Amai-yllis and the different vaiieties of Japan Lilies require the same treatment ; the latter, however, being more hardy, may be ripened-off at the base of a south wall or cold pit. PITS AND FRAMES. Mio-nonette, Stocks, &c., should now be placed in their permanent situation for wintering. The Lily of the Valley intended for forcing should now be potted and plunged over- head. The Neapolitan Violets may also be potted, and plunged in a cold frame in a simny situation. Continue to pot-otf cuttings immediately they have made roots. See to securing as many cuttings as possible of any scarce plants which it may be desirable to increase while there is a fafr chance of rooting them, and also be prepared to protect Scarlet Ger.iniums and other things which it may be in- tended to take up and winter, for we may expect frost at any time at this season. W. Keane. DOEN^GS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEN. We hope our friends in the north wiU have a share of the splendid weather we have lately had, instead of the floods which have visited them almost without intermission. Trenched over our Onion-ground, placing some short ma- nure from lawn-mowings, &c., at the bottom ; and planted out with the main crop of Matchless Cabbage. Find afready we will have two enemies in this somewhat exposed quarter. The first morning we saw some twenty plants hanging their heads, and found they were cut over beneath the surface by huge grubs, there being one at each plant so cut down. We tried the gentlemen by placing them on quicklime and covering them with it, and also with soot, &c. ; but we might as well have regaled them with tea and toast, for after a couple of hours they were as ready for a nibble as ever. We know no effectual remedy for this enemy except catching the fellows after they have done the mischief, and treating them as the law is obliged to treat the most incorrigible wrong- doers. All sorts of baits, and traps, and enticements we have found to be of very partial efficacy. Our nest enemies are either hares or rabbits, and we are as yet afr-aid to hunt much for them, especially with dogs, in case they should chase them into oiu- flower-beds, from which these Cabbages are merely separated by a dense Ivy hedge ; for now, with the exception of two or three beds of Calceolarias, from which the flowers have been dashed without succession enough to cover them, the flower garden is as good, or better, than it was in July and August. Watered Celery weU ; earthed-up a little bit more, so as to have plenty for table, stewing, &c. On clearing some Peas, planted-out several beds, placing the plants about 9 inches apart, as we do not expect them to be very strong, but they wiU be useftU in the spring months. In planting such beds we do not take out much soil — little more than the manure fully fills up, or rather more, as in stiff soil late Celery suffers more from damp than from cold and dryness. Early Celery, on the other hand, when it bolts and runs, and is oidy flt for soups, if even for that with particular people, generally does so from dryness, and this dryness is fre- quently, if not generally, the result of earthing-up Celery bit by bit, an inch or two at a time. The reasons were given in this Journal some years ago. When treated as there stated we have seldom had a single head of early Celery run or bolted. Some amateurs and the holders of small gardens can scarcely credit the economical question involved in the Dwarf Incomparable Celery. Well, all we can say is that we speak of it as we find it ; and merely on the score of economy we think a foot of earthing-up, or even less than that, a very different affair from the huge mounds and trenches generally given to Giant Celery. If our adviser "A. Z.," with his few rods of ground, stiU prefers the Giants and the mounds, why, of course, we have no fault to find, as we always advocate that evei-y man has a right to his own individual fancy or whim so long as he indulges it at his own expense. Took up our last row of Potatoes, the Dalmahoy, and found an extraordinary crop — some thirty good-sized tubers, and some, too, large at a single root. The tops, however, were gigantic, and in our close cropping we would have had more than two rows of Early Frame or Ashleaved Kidney in the same space. Here, too, we found a few cases of slight disease ; whilst aU that were taken up before the drenching rains were sound. Filled aU the spaces vacant with Brussels Sprouts and Cottagers' Kale, lifting those that had been previously pricked-out ; and, notwithstanding our killing many butter- flies, found a good many caterpillars on them, and, there- fore, dusted them well with Ume and soot, and scattered it well below the leaves with a small birch broom before plant- ing them out. Went over young plantations of Cauliflower, BroocoU, and other Greens in the same way ; as, unUke the grub, very little of the caustic lime does for the catei-pillars. Planted-out more Endive, and covered some of the forwardest with pots, tUes, and slates— anything just to keep the light from it. Short boards, 9 to 12 inches wide, laid along the rows answer admfrably. Sowed a few more Lettuces, and watered the young Cauliflower plants not yet large enough to prick-out. Prepared a slight hotbed for om- Mushi-oom spawn, making it about 6 feet square and some 15 inches deep, so as just to throw in a mild bottom heat. Placed a piece of old latticed fence over the bed to keep the spawn- bricks from the hotbed, and having inserted a small piece of good spawn in the two holes of each brick, and covered over with stiff cowdung to keep the spawn in its place, com- menced building the bricks in an obtuse cone, leaving about an inch fi-om brick to brick, so that the heat should cfrculate freely between them ; then covered all with a little clean straw, and placed a foot of litteiy manure that would yield scarcely any heat over all. This heap will require examin- ing frequently, as the heat should not be more than fr-om 70° to 75°. If some bricks be thoroughly permeated before the rest they must at once be taken out. Even when the spawn is running freely much overheating wiU render nuga- tory aU the previous labour. FRUIT GARDEN. Much the same as last week. Will take means for keeping heavy rains from early Vine-borders and those in which Vines are now ripening their fruit. Have been obliged to fill our late house with plants, owing to the necessity of repau-mg and altering the house in which they were kept. Gave more heat and afr in consequence. Gathered fruit as it ripened. Pears are now sv/elling fr-eely, though the roots are scarcely moist enough. ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. Much the same as hist week. Pricked-out annuals, perennials, &c. Tree Carnations planted out for wmter- flowering should be lifted before the end of the month with balls, and placed in pots that ivill just admit the baUs. Flakes and Pinks to be forced cannot be too well established in the pots before placing them in gentle heat. Anne Boleyn Pinks and most Cloves and Carnations wUl bloom naturally in the autumn and winter months under glass without any heat worthy of the name of forcing, if they ai-e prevented blooming in summer, by taking off the flower- stems as they appear. When we used to have huge masses of the Perpetual Carnations in winter, in a low-temperatured greenhouse, we never allowed a flower-stem to show until towards the end of August. The most splendid beds of Perpetual Carnations we ever saw we used to have m August, September, and October; but, of course, they were not stopped, and they were useless for spring and winter work. We regret now that other plants becoming favourites we let these fine flowers slip through our fingers, which must often be the case in places with limited room and where there is a constant contest going on between old and new combinations. When Salvia fiilgens, splendens, and gesneraiflora are planted out for winter and spnng-flowermg, they should now be lifted, potted, and placed m a shady 240 JOTXRNAIi OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 22, 1863. place, watered but not deluged afterwards, and syringed in sunny days to prevent excessive evaporation from the leaves, until the roots aa-e working freely into the little new stuff round the sides of the pots. When Chrysanthemums are planted out in a similar way, it is best to defer the lifting and repotting until the flower-buds are formed, and treated as advised above they will hardly lose a leaf. This is, on the whole, the easiest way for obtaining good specimens with strong healthy foliage doivn to the sides of the pots. Eolled the lawns, as the dry weather now after the late soakings has brought the worms and then' heaps in masses to the surface, making, from the roughness, a lawn dis- agreeable. We fancy the worms do not relish the rolling, as it seems to make them descend instead of ascend. The safest mode of keeping them at bay is deluging with lime water two or thr-ee mornings after rolling, for then the fresh holes wDl be aU open — a plan very suitable for small grass plots, but hardly practicable on acres of grass. Though they have not yet appeared, we may erpect heaps to be raised by the worms at the sides of fin^; walks, thus disfiguring the regularity of their outline, and for their preveution we know nothing better than strewing the sides with fine- pounded salt. KecoUect we say the sides — say for 6 inches wide, for we v^ould never salt a walk at all smooth at this season without expecting to find it damp and uncomfort- able all the winter through. When a walk is very rough on the surface the salting will be less injui-ious. Walks in general — that is, moderately smooth ones, in our opinion should never have salt after midstimmer ; and as to applying it, we have found no plan preferable to strewing it on the gravel in a hot sunny day, and when several of such days may be expected. Of course, by this plan the wallcs do not look so nice for several days as when the salt is applied with hot or cold water at once. Went over the flower-beds once more, regulating, picking decayed blooms, &c. ; and were it not for a few leaves flying about from trees, and which begin to drop early from the great drought, the flower garden as a whole shows no signs of autumn. Some two or three masses of Aurea floribunda Calceolaria that were excessively thick with bloom have suffered most from the rains, as the roots were very di'y at the time, and though plenty of blooms ai-e showing it would require fine weather to render the masses equally fine again. Such kinds as amplexicauhs and Aurantia multiflora have suffered but Uttle and ai-e stUl gay with seemingly abund- aoice of succession flowers. One light brown kind called Robert Biu-ns, a good deal like the brown Prince of Orange, and that was scarcely so good as the latter in the first part of the summer, is now much better. Such small dai-k kinds as Victory suffered greatly from drought, and we fear the rains came too late to give us an equally dense amount of flowering. Such kinds as Crimson King have suffered less. On the whole the Calceolarias have suffered less than we could have expected from such dry weather as we had, and no water to help them with. No season could have been better for Scarlet G eraniums of all kinds, and we do not think we recollect ever seeing them better. With ground pretty woU stirred at fii'st they scarcely require any water after being once established. The only regulai- failure we had owing tS the dry weather and scarcity of water, was with the Grandi- flora wliite Feverfew, which was first-rate with us last year up to the end of October. This, placed in a position of honowr in a ribbon-border, between Trentham Kose Geranium and PeriOa, became too shabby for its position, and a few weeks ago we cut or covered it up by drawing the PeriUas and Geraniums close together, and so completely filling the space that no visitor woiUd think otherwise than that the border was planted exactly as it looks now ; and some who did know think that it is much better as it is, though we do not think so ourselves, as the white seemed to us to relieve both masses of colour better than when placed as now in juxtaposition. Went on putting in a fresh batch of Verbenas in 48-Bized pots, only a few being put in at fii-st into 60-sized pots ; these are now rooting freely. They stood on the ground with a frame over them, and during the heavy rains were deluged by the rain passing through the frame. A bed of litter was made, and ashes put on the top for the pots to' stand on, and di'ain-tiles were placed between the litter, so that in future downpourings the rain will pass thi'ough beneath the bed, instead of soaking into it. Had they re- mained long in their first position, and the rains had con- tinued, no amount of air would have prevented damping. Our attention is still given to cuttiags of Geraniums : even taken with the greatest care, the beds are apt to be dis- figured more or less, showing the necessity of reserve- grounds for this purpose. We wiU prepare a cold pit for Calceolaria cuttings as soon as possible, but the middle of October, if there is no frost, is quite time enough for the general crop. A few rai-e kinds may be propagated sooner, and topped to make plants, but much of the success in sum- mer, we think, depends in not striking the cuttings too early, and never allowing them the least artificial heat. Other departments much as previous weeks. — R. F. Death of Me. Hugh Low. — We regret liaving to record the decease of this distinguished florist and nurseryman. He died on the 15th inst., at the Clapton Nursery, in his 70th year. ^ COVENT GAEDEIT MAKKET.— .Sept 19. Of Tegetables and fruit of all kinds the supply continues abundant, both from home and abroad. Pears and i'lums are very plentiful, the Jormep consistinij prijicipally of Williams' Bon ChrOtien, and Louise Bonne o( Jersey, and some Marie Louise. Filberts are in good condition ; and Cobs are bring- ing from 555. to 70s. per 100 lbs. Oranges and Lemons are scarce, and prices have risen. Potatoes are very abundant, and als^o very good, prices having a downward tendency. Cut flowers consist of Orchids, Roses. Asters, Pelargoniums, Marigolds, Mignonette, and .■Igeratum. FEUIT. s. d. s. d ». d. 3. d Apples . i. sieve 1 (i to4 0 Nectarines .... doz. a 0 to 3 0 Apricots doz. 0 0 n n 100 l.'i n 20 (1 Figs 1 fi ?, 6 •?. fl 12. 0 Filberts & .XutslOOlbs. l.i n 7S 0 Pears ... bush. 5 n 10 0 Grapes, Hamb irghs. lb. 1 ti .■) 0 dessert.... ...i sieve 2 6 .5 0 Muscats.. lb. 3 0 6 0 Pine Apples... ...:....ib. 3 u u 0 lU 1 0 6 2(3 4 0 0 Plums Quinces .A siev»3 .."bush. 3 0 0 0 li 0 Melons .... each 0 Mulberries... qnart 0 COS VEGET Walnuts .. U 6 20 0 AELES. P_ d. s d s- d. s. Cucumbers ... doz. 2 6 10 0 Potatoes .. .. sack .') 0 8 0 pickling... ......doz. 0 S 1 0 Kadishes doz. bunches 1 (i 2 (J 1 0 3 0 0 c 0 Rhubarb Savoys .. bundle .per doz. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fennel .. bnnch 0 Garlic and Shallots, lb. 0 « 0 0 Sea-kale . basbet 0 0 0 0 Gourds ia Pum pk., each 0 0 0 0 Spinach sieve 1 6 2 u Herbs ... bunch 0 '1 0 (1 Tomatoes ..^ sieve 2 B D 0 Horseradish . .. bundle 1 6 4 0 Turnips ...bunch 0 3 0 i; TO CORRESPONDENTS. *^* We request that no one will write privately to the de- partmental writers of the " Jonmal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they ai*e subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. -AH communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of HorticuX- ture, c5"c., 162, Fleet Street, London, EX'. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Fern Leaves Fading (R. 5.).— The change of colour is a consequence of growth-completed. It is natural change, not from disease. Hare's-foot or DsEn's-Foor Fern {A Constant Reader, Dublin).— Iti^ not iiidigenoua in England, nor is it found anywhere in a wild state that we know, except in the South of Europe, North Africa, and the Canary Islands. Cottage Gaiiben Exbibitions {S. D. S,).~Jf you will send ns an envelope directed to yourself, and witli a 2d. postage. stamp, we will lertfi you a pamphlet on the subject. T^VELVE Harbv Heaths ( W. C).— You will find the following very good for a border: — Erica australis, herbacea, herbacea carnea, cinerea alba, cinerea rubra, mediterranea, mediterram,'iihibernic;i, stricta, tetralis rubra, vagana carnea, vulgaris alba, vulgaris coccinea. To the above you luight add Menziesia globularis. There are other varieties also, all good in their way, but enough has been given to foroi the nucleus of acoUcttion. Perhaps the most uselul of all are E. herbacea cornea and E. mediterranea, but all are beiiutiful. Hrfeptemiier 22, 186S. ] JOURWAIi OF HOKTICULTTTEE Ai^TD COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 341 House for "Winteeing Bohdee Plants {J. F. -S.}-~Your spau-roofed house 30 feet long: would answer admirably for presei-ving border and bedding plants. You can make it economicaUy by putting up a plain and simple structure, employing but little woodwork, and havuig large panes of glass. Provision mu&t be made to admit abundance of fresh air. Alter bedding plants aie cleared out you could either have ornamental Cucur- bitacea; or useful by throwing Cucumbers or Melons, or if you could make a border convenient! v» jou might have a crop ot Grapes in t-eptember. Excellent Melons could be grown in such a house by merely making a bed and training the plants to wires fixed about 1 foot from the glass. Success would be more certain with a pipe under the bed. One four-inch pipe would not be sufficient for top heat to keep out an ordinary winter frost unless the house were very narrow indeed. Two four-inch pipes acrosir one end and along the front would be necessary for a house 10 leet wide, and two four-inch pipes all round if it exceeded 15 feet in width. We should prefer pipes for bottom heat mstetid of a flue, and as you think of having a boiler we do not see the necessity for a Hue at all, except it were to economise heat, when you might have a flue in addition to the pipes for top heat, and so make use of the heat that uecessurily tsciipes from boilers, and which would, were there no flue, pass into the chimney and be lost. It is not unusual to carry pipes under a path; but this is best done after the pipes have risen from the boiler some distance, when by an elbow they may ce carried under any path not lower than the opening in the boiler for the return-pipe. Pipes are commonly brought under paths by setting the boiler so that the flow-pipe will rise a little, but still be lower than the pathway. The flow-pipe should rise from the boiler about 1 foot in a 30-feet house to the extremity, when it may fall in the return to suit the opening in the boiler for the return. You may carry the flow-pipe any height above the boder, but it will work as well with a rise of 1 foot in 10 yards as with a rise of 12 yards in that distance. It is not usual nor necetisary to carry the pipes up and down and up again, though they may be done in that way so long as this up-and-down work is not permitted to interfere with the circulation. It will not do to take the flow-pipe up and tlien down below the top of the boiler, and up again : the water will not circulate in that way ; but, after it^nce falls btlow the top of the boiler, the pipes must be carried from that point to the bottom of the boiler. "We should recommend you to have a saddle boiler, and if you send a plan of your hou.se to the dealers m hot-water apparatus who advertise in our columns, they will send you a small boiler capable of heating your house well at a small sum. The smallest saddle boiler made will be sufficient to heat the 80 leet of piping you will need for top heat, and for the 30 feet of pipe for bottom heat. PciACH-HousE (0. M.), — For a Peach-house we should continue the vinery range at b, making it any length, bat the same width and elevation as the vinery. If your boiler is powerful enough a branch might be con- nected with the flow-pipe healing the vinery to heat the Peach-house, con- necting the return with that of ibe vinery. For a Peach-house the trees do best planted out. The border can be both inside and outside, or either separately. We do not think there is much difference between growing Peaches in pots or planted out in a border; but the amount of trouble required in watering trees in pots is double that for those planted out. If you desire variety, have an orchard-hou:?e ; if but a supply, we should advise you to have a Peach-house. A span is best for an orchard-hou&e, and it would be 'most sheltered, we should say, at b. It might be at a; but that, of course, would receive the lull violence of a south-west gale. We are much obhged for your notes on Centaurea caudidisaima. Sowing Seeds fbosi India and China [M. H,). — We presume you had the seeds without names. Had you the names with them it would have better enabled us to answer youi queries had you sent them, for there are so many plants from those countries that require a diversity of treatment to meet their wants. Some mLiy be annuals, others trees or shrubs; one may need peat soil, another ioanj, whilst a third would do better in a mix- ture of both. Had we such a packet of seeds we should make a kind of universal compost composed of one-fourth fibry peat, a like quantity of leaf mould, :'nd one-half mellow loam from rotted turves, with a liberal sprinkling of white sand. This, well incorporated and sifted, will grow almost any description of plant. Ton will well drain the pots in which the seed is to be sown, and fill them with the riddled compost to within an inch of the pot-top or rim fur seeds the size of a pea, lessening or increasing the depth according to the size ol the seeds; pUice these so that they may be double their diameter Irom seed to seed, and cover them with soil to the same depth that the st-eds are respectively in diameter. The seeds larger than peas had best be sown in single pots — that is. one seed in each. You will do this sowing business in March of nest yeai ; and all being flown, place those from India in a little bottom heat, if you have it, in your stove, and those from China in bottom heat in the greenhouse, or place them all in a hotbed with the bottom heat at Td** or 80°, but not exceeding 85«. When they are fairly up and begin showing their rough leaves remove the Chinese to the greenbouse and the Indians to the stove, placing them in the warmest part of each respectively for a few days, gradually hardening them. Water sutiiciently to keep the soil moist, and when they have made a pair of rough leaves pot them singly if strong growers, or put three, five, or more round a small pot if moderate growers, and repot them again so soon as the roots reach the sides of the pot. Continue to do this until the plants be'^ome established, when we should advise you to call in some friend who has a good knowledge of plants, who in all probability would be able to assist in naming them for you ; and if you look in our Journal you will be sure to lind information how to proceed with them if they be plants worth cultivating. We are very cautious, however, about .sowing seeds that we know nothing about, for it is very mortifying to fill our houses with what otten is rubbish. Grapes Shanking (ff. J. jET.).— We have little doubt that the Vine-rootj, robbed of nourishment in "the very shallow surface soil by the roots of the shrubs, iS:c., grown in the border," have been driven down for a supply of food into " the stiff' heavy marl which is the subsoil." If you cannot cle.u- away the shrubs, fiic, and lift the roots of the Vines to near the surface, your next best plan v/iil be to enrich the surface foil, and keep it mulched and well watered during dry weather in summer. The exclusion ct the son's rays from the soil in which are the Vine roots is very piL-judiciiil, because during the growing season they must be too cold to keep pace with the demands for growth in the brunches. Pine-Apple Cultube . [John Forrester). — Giendinning's " Practical Hints on the Culture of the Pme Apple, ' will suit you. It was published by Messrs. Longman & Co. Flue IIeatijtg a Greenhouse IClericiis). — We think the way in which you propose to heat your greenhouse would do. It would be an improve- ment to bring the fiae from the furnace at a under the path, so that the door would open to the front of the house, and then along the front, then across the other end to b, where it would make its exit in the chimney. For so narrow a house it does nit matter much where the Hue is situated, only the heating surface as a Tule should be placed where the roof is lowest. The furnace need not be larger than 1 toot 6 inches long, 10 inclies wide, and ".he same in dt-pih. 'Ihe flue should not be more than half the furnace diuifusions. Six-inch pot-pipes with the joints ntortured will suit you. The tii'e should rise irom the lurnace the height of the furnace into the flue. It may then run nearly level to the chimney. Flowers to Bloom Simultaneously {Mrs. C, Sidmottth).— The four large beds now oi:cupied with Scarlet Geraniums and to be planted with Tuiban Kanunculus will be charming next May; but those filled with Crocuses and TuUps alter purpl.e Verbenas and yellow Calceolarias would no doubt look well individually, but we should only deceive yt.u it we were to say they would flower simultaneously with the Konunculuses. We should advise you to plant the scarlet Turoan Ranunculus early in Novem- ber, and edge tliem with striped Crocuses, as La Jlajesteuse, Pride of Albion, and air Walter Scott. In the yellow beds we would plant Yellow Kose double Tulips, and edge them with yellow Crocuses. The purple beds may be planted with Aubrietia purpurea grandifiora, a hardy perennial, edged with purple crocuses. The Crocuses would make the beda gay in March and April, and the other occupants might be expected to flower pretty nearly together. We do not know of a purple or any other descrip- tion of Crocus that flowers simultaneously with the Kanunculus. Yoa will plant the bulbs as early in November as convenient. Ferns for Glass Case {R. F. L. K).—Oi Ferns suitable for a Fern- case m a room never below 45' in winter— Adiautum a^siinile, A. curvatum, A. cuneatum, A. reniforme, A. pubescens, and A. st^tulosum. Suitable for a small hanging-basket— Asplenium appendiculatum, A. Belangerl (Veitch- ianum), A. bifidum (foeniculaceum). A, decussatum, A. formosum, A. ebe- neum, A. monauthemum and A. monauihemum prohferum ; Blechnum gracile, B. australe, B. Utifolium, B. occidentale, and B. lanceola; Campyloneuron angustifolium. C. rigiaum, and C. Fortunii ; Davallia dissecta, U. canari- ensis, and D. tenuifolia; Doodia (Woodwardia) aspera, D. caudata, D. lunulata, and D. media; Doryopteris palmataandD. sagitttefoUai Lastrea acummata, L. glabella, and L. decomposita; Loroaria alpina, L. nuda, L. Patersoni, and L. L'Herminieri ; Acrophorus {ilicrolepiaj novae-zea- laudice ; Nephrodium molie corymbiferum ; Nephrolepis pectiuata and N . tuberosa : Nothochlcena lendigera ; Pellxa flexuosa, P. geranulolia, and P. teriiifoUa ; Pleopeltis percuesa, P. stigmatica, and P. puatulata (the two last are the sogt of Fern to plant in the ha f of a cocoa-nutshell and suspend from the roof) ; Platycerium alcicorae (this is extremely beautiful treated in the same way as the two last); Platytoma talcata and P. rotuudltolia; Polystichum trianguluui (mucronatum) and P. veatitum, rare ; Pteris cretica albo-lmeata, P. serrulata, P. creuata (chinensis), P. scaberula, and r. tricolor; Scolopendiium Krebsii ; Stenosemla aurita ; Tseniopsis (Vittaria) lineata ; and Xiphopteris (Grammitis) serrulata. All the above are hand- some, distinct, small or moderate-growing species; but the handsomest of all for a f eiu-case are the Filiny-Ferns, as Todea pellucida, Hymenophyllum demissum, H. abruptum, H.'flabeliatum, H. flexuosum, &c. ; Tnchomanes elongatum, T. reniforme, T. venosum, T. crispum, and T. radicans or T. speciosum, the Killaruey Fern. These require a humid atmosphere. Neaily all Mosses are suitable for Fern-cases; of them we may instance Seluginella uncinata, S. africana, S. densa, S. apoda, S. jamaicensis, S. obtusa (helvetica), S. denticulata, S. erythropus, S. viticulosa, S. Wildenovii, and several others. The seven preceding the last are beautiful for suspending in small baskets or cocoa-nut shells in the Fern-case. All except the Filmy- Ferns require peat one-half, leaf mould and light loam in equal parts, with a liberal admixture oi silver sand. Good drainage must be provided if they are expected to thrive long. They require to be kept moist in winter and wet in csummer, and are planted like any other plant. Coc'.>a-nut dust, with a little loam added to it, is the be>t of all composts tor Ferns. Our "Fern Manual " contains full particulars of their cultivation. Leak-to House for Fehns {An Irish Subscriber].— We should prefer an angle of 45** for the roof, which, with a waU 6 feet high to the north and a 15-Ieet rafter, with one end of it fixed on the north wall and fastened at top to the greenhouse wall near the top, would give an angle of 45" nearly, and make the house some 12 feet in width. You can have it wider by having the roof flatter or less steep. There is no necessity ;or any lights in the back wall, and you can ventilate it by having slide lights at top or to Utt up, having about half the number you would employ lor an ordinary ■ greenhouse. We think your other arrangements would do very well, 'except the mode of heating, which we fear would not answer unless yon grew hardy Ferns, which you, no doubt, do not intend to grow in-doors. The openings in the back wall will not admit sufficient warmth in winter to keep the frosts at bay ; therefore, you must have at least a couple of four- inch pipes along the lowest part ol your fernery. Shelves formed of peat are quite a novelty, and no doubt answer well ; but we should think that if a lockery were formed and the Ferns planted out you would like it better. You can have tlie house any width— the wider the more it will cost ; but, irrespective of that, we would have it 12 teet. Such a house will require shading with canvas, or some material, from April until October in bright weather. Foul Asparagus-beds (Idem). — Fork out the couch grass at once, but do so without injuring the crowns of the Asparagus. By no means must it be lett a day longer, but fork it out whenever it appears and pull up all weeds torthwith, and in after years never let a weed stand an hour after it is visible or large enough to pull up. It would be a pity to take up the Asparagus, for it would not thrive well if planted again, and unless you have many beds your supply would be cut orf for three years at the least, m addition to incurring unnecessary expanse in making new beds, &c. Cuttings of Veebena triphylla (if. J".). — This Verbena may be planted outside in June, and taken up on the approach of frost. Cuttings strike freely in loam and leaf mould, with the addition of a free admixture of silver sand, selecting cuttings of the half-ripened shoots and placing the cuttmg-pots m a little bottom heat. They root more tardily, but without many lailures, in the greenhouse ; and we have struck them in the open border under a hand-glass. . . BiucK Stove foe a Greenhouse ( jr. S. i/-).— Fire-bricks are 9 mcnes long, -1 inches wide, 2^ inches thicli. Fire-lumps are 9 inches long, 9 incheB wide, 4 iuches thicH. ihe latter are the most durable, as the mortar burns 242 JOURNAIj of HORTICULTTJKE A:NI> cottage gardener. [ September 22, 1868. out of the joints of tbe bncks. In your small house an 18-ineh btove would give heat enough, but the Arnott principle in the fire-box must be departed fiotn. This will not be of tonuequence in ho smjll a house. The feeding- door may be on hingea ; the draught-door should slide. Naming F>:rnp (G. P. if.).— To name forty species would take a large portion of a day, and we cannot spare the time. You are not far from Foot's Cray if you live at the Kent Stroud ; and, if so, go to Mr. Sims, nurseryman there, and ask him to let you compare jour specimens with hia. Names op Fhuit [W. JT.).— 2, Williams' Bon Chrt-tien ; 3, rotten. Names op Plants.— Some of our correspondents are in the habit of sending small fragments of plants for us to name. This requires from us such a great expenditure of time that we are compelled to say that we cannot attempt to mime any plant unless the specimen is perfect in leaves and flowers. (Jr. W. M.). — 1, Athyrium Filis-famina ; 2, Polypodium phegopteris : 3, Athyrium Filix-ftrminn depauperatura ; 4, Poiysticbum aculeutum ; 5, Lastrea ipmula. {C. M. M.). — Fteris aquilina in the seedhng state. {E. S., Hampton).— \t ia a Canna, but there are now so many con- tinental ■varieties grown th;it we cannot, without means of compaiison a: band, attempt to say which. POULTEY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. BEAHMA rOOTEA MSEITS. In your paper of September 8th, I was very glad to notice an article ii'om " Y. B. A. Z.," on the relative merits ol' Brahma Pootra fowls at the vai-ious poultry shows, as com- pared with other breeds. In this pai't of England — viz., the north, they have never been classed separately at any shov/ this season, except the Halifax and Caider Vale ; and as proof that they ov\g-ht to ttdre theii- station on an equality amongst other breeds I submit yoit an abstract from the catalogue : — Brccrh. jVo. of Amount offered Amount ohtained entries. in prizes. b'/ ent/ics. £ s. d. £ B. d. Spanish 17 3 iO 0 2 11 0 Dorkings 10 3 10 0 ...„ 2 17 0 Cochins 34 3 10 0 ...M .t 2 0, Brahmas 21 3 10 0 3 3 0 Game (Black-breasted) 29 3 10 0 4 7 0 Game (Ducliwing) 19 3 10 0 2 17 0 Game (Any variety) 18 3 10 0 2 14 0 Polands ) ■; 3 10 0 2 5 0 Gold-pencilleii Hamburghs. 17 3 10 0 2 11 0 Silver-pencilled Hanibui t,'hs 13 Gold-spangled Ilnnibuivhs 12 Silver-spangled Hamburghs 14 Any other distinct breed 0 You see by the above that the excluded Brahmae stand third on the list as being- profitable to agricultural and poulti-y societies. They have not previously had the chance to come forward, and yet when the inducement is oS'ered how fieely they respond. This, I am sure, ought to in- fluence compilers of schedules. I have kept Brahmas ibr the last ten years both in England and America, and I have come to the conclusion that they are the most profitable fowl any amateiu- can keep ; and for the table I consider there are none to equal them, and yet they must be excluded from pJmost all poultry shows as a class. Have they not been sufficiently long before the public to merit better treatment ? and have they not stood their ground, yea, and worked themselves up steadOy but surely against all difficulties thrown in their way ? But I antici- pate for Brahmas a brighter prospect for the future. They wiU eventually stand at the head of all breeds ; at least that is my opinion. — A Yorkshire PouiiTRY-FANCiER. 3 10 0 ... ... 1 19 0 3 10 0 ... .. 1 16 0 3 10 0 ... .. 2 2 0 3 10 0 ... .. 0 18 0 EASINGWOLD AGEICULTUBAL SOCIETY'S POULTEY SHOW. The thii'd annual Shov? of this Society was held at Easingwold on Tuesday, September loth, and considering it is a young Society and the district it is in, there was a fair show of poultry. The following is .a list of the awards ; — Spanish.— First withheld. Second, J. H. Dee, Easingwold. Dorking.— Prize, F. Wailes, tasingwold. Cocbin-China. — First, J. Jackson, Crayke. Second, — Naylor, Oswald- kirk. Game (Any vaiietyl. — First, Lady Julia Wombwell, Newburgh Park (Brown Reds). Second, J. Wilson, Upperly, Easingwold [Black Redsl. Chickens. — First, J. Bell, Thornton-le-Moors. .Second, K. Midgley, Slierifl- huttOD. PoLANDR.— First, S. Flint, Primrose Hill. Easingwold. Hamburghs (Golden-spangled;.— First, L. Mankfield, Thirkleby. Second, R. Windsor, Alnplelorth. Hambdrghs (Silver-spangled).- First, Mrs. Tarbotton, Cawton, Gelling. Second, L. Manfleld, Thnkleby. Highly Commended, G. Hodgson, Kas- kelfe. Ani other vAun:TT. — First, H. Thompson, Sheritfhutton. Second, J. P. Wardman, Easingwold. Chickens. — Fust, W. J. Ware, Skirpenbeck, Second, J. Bell, Thoralon-le-Moors. Highly Commended, F. Wailes, Beacon Banks, Easingwold. GtKSK.— First, F. Wailes. Second, J. Jackson. Commended, W. Temple, Kaskelfe. Goslings. — First, J. Jackson. Second, W, Temple. Highly Commended, K. Wood, Yearsley. Ducks.— First, E. Brown, Easingwold. Second, T. Dinsdale, Easingwold. Highly Commended, Miss Kirby, Osgodby. Ducklings. — First, J. T. Uob- inson, Thormanby Hill. Second', K. Batty, Tollerton. Turkeys.— First and Second, J. Batty, ^tillington Lane, i*t)»/^s.— First, I. Daston, Crankley. Second, W. J. Ware, Sliirpenbeck. Highly Com- mended, W. Milner, Thornton Hill. Commended, J. Jackson, Crayke. The Judges were Mi'. Alexander Cattley, York ; and Mr. George Barker, Scarborough. DOUBLE-SIDED WOODEN HIVE. AVouLD a bee-hive of the follo^"ing description be likely to answer in this variable ebmate for an out-door apiary ? — viz., an inner hive made of wood 1 inch in thickness, eight-sided of course (the size of the hive may be made according to taste), ■with an outer hive made also of wood three-quarters of an inch in thickness, but large enough to admit of a space inside 1 5 inch wide all round after the inner hive is placed in it. The two hives to be fastened together by means of pieces of wood screwed to the bottom, and also to the top of the edges of each hive ; the space between of 1 .J inch to be filled with sawdust, the bees of com-se occupying the inner hive only. I have devised this kind of hive, not being satisfied with the straw hives we buy in this part of the country (Hants). Where can I obtain a prime swarm of Ligurian bees in the spring r — An Old Subscriber. [There can be no doubt of a liive of this descrii)tion being an efficient nonconductor, but if made with such thick wood it would be exceedingly hea\'y and clumsy. We think that on tliis account it would be best made of half-inch wood thi'oughout. For information respecting Ligirrians write to T. AVoodbury, Esq., Mount Kadford, Exeter.] LONGEVITY OF A QUEEN BEE— FOUL BEOOD. In rejjly to " A Hampshire Bee-keepek," as to the age of a queen bee, I beg to say that there was no supposition in the case, and to answer him in the aifirmative, it is beyond my skill, but, perhaps, I might answer liim in the negative. He says that he uses the fungus at all seasons of the year. Need we then wonder at his short-lived queens ? Although they appear to recover from the stupifying, I fear it is onl.y a partial recoveiy, and that untU he uses a more humane mode of managing his bees he may expect very little success. No scientific bee-master that I know ever kills or fumes his bees. The best hives I have this season are three, in which the queens' ages are three years and foiu' years old. In the middle of June these hives weighed only 25 lbs. ; but the weather setting in fine, on the 17th of July I took from each 20 lbs. of honeycomb, and again on the 2Cth of August I took on an average from each 38 lbs. of heather honeycomb, besides leaving two of them 33 lbs. each, and the other 52 lbs. I would veiy gladly bargain with " A Hampshire Bei- keeper" for one of those queens I have mentioned, for the pm-pose c^f experimenting upon, and I shall expect and be glad to hear of his having queens proving themselves fertile at more than two years old. I have ah-eady stated that foul brood arises from the queen producing more than the bees are able to attend to when a change of the weather takes place ; but although this I consider the most general cause, there are other causes producing the same effect. For example : In August, 1857, I saw several instances of foul brood, which arose from the extreme heat and the want of ventilation or extra room : consequently, almost the whole of the bees evacuated their hives, and clustered on the outside, thereby leaving their young unattended. The result was a polluted hive. Again : I have seen the same disaster occnr when bees had been induced by feeding to breed earlier than they were September 22, 1863. ] JOUENAi OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 243 •wont to do, and then the feeding was discontinued, the bees not having store enough of their own to carry through the breeding process ; so that the larrse are not supported by proper food, and are constitutionally in a consumptive state. — A Lanaukshibe Bee-kebpee. TWO QUEENS IN ONE HIVE-FOUL BROOD. Mr. Woodbury's mystery of a supernumerary queen I con- aider no uncommon incident in a hive, and had he allowed her to remain he would have seen the rightful sovereign expelled to a certainty. I may just give an instance which occurred recently here in the apiary of a Mr. B. This gen- tleman had a queen expelled from a hive in the middle of the honey season, and she being to all appearance perfect, he was determined to lose no opportunity of watching the fiitirre proceedings of tliis hive, when, to his astonishment, on the same day he had the pleasiu-e of seeing a young queen take wing, and she afterwards turned out exceedingly prolific. I heartily agree with Mr. Woodbm-y's opinion on foul brood, and look on Mr. Lowe as being quite at sea when treating it as an artificial disease. I have seen it in the most virulent form in the cottager's apiary, as well as in the apiary of the scientific bee-keeper. — Stewarton Apiarian. [I am pei-fectly aware that a supernumerary queen in a hive is no unprecedented occiu-rence during the swarming season, and quite agree with the " Stewarton Apiarian" as to the probable dethronement of the rightful monarch if the interloper had been suffered to remain. Two similar cases have in point of fact already come under my observa- tion, but both these, like that instanced by my Ayrshire ooiTespondent, occurred in the middle of the honey season. As stated in my former communication, what excited my astonishment was finding a second queen so late in the season with no drones existing in any of my hives, and in a colony reduced to the condition of a recent swarm. With regard to foul brood, it is very satisfactory to have a verdict in my favoui- emanating fi-om so high an authority in what our Eenfi'ewshu'e friend designates as " the great centre of bee-knowledge ;" and I should be greatly obliged to my Stewai-ton correspondent if he would favour us by relating his experience of this disease which has enabled him so decisively to confiiin the testimony of — A Devon- SHIF.E BeE-KEEPEE.] RANDOM APIARIAN NOTES. The Honey of 186.3. — The honey taken this season is not so delicate and nice in flavour as that even of the unpro- pitious year, 1861. There was some honeydew one whole week, at the commencement of -July this year. Probably, this might have been the cause, or was it the three weeks wet weather in the main honey-gathering month of June ? The quantity is fai- above what was expected. Mk. Woodbury. — I have been found fault with for some observations on Mr. Woodbury's bee-management. I am not aware of saying more than that I was sorry for his failures. Indeed, I admire him for Ms honesty in confess- ing them. If the writers on bees had been as faithftd as Mr. Woodbm-y, we should not have been inundated with those theoretical treatises which have talked of the most tedious and difficult experiments as perfectly easy ; and in particular that of depriving a stock of bees of the whole of theii- combs, forcing them into a nev/ and empty hive and making them begin de novo ! How often has this succeeded ? I never saw it done where desertion did not take place soon afterwards with ruin and loss of the bees. A too great depri- vation of the combs will also bring on the same misfortune. I can assui'e your correspondent " B. it W.," that fifty years ago I was fond of trying experiments with bees, and was only now and then successful j but of late my patience has been exhausted, and I am quite content with bee-keeping in the old-fashioned style ; at the same time I may add that " B. & W." has said nothing but what is strictly true of Mr. Woodbury. The latter I hope to see rise like a Phoenix and shine in a prosperous cycle of fine summers, and con- tinue after a long life at the top of the list of the " scientific apiarians " in England ; and to " B. & W." and the other experimental bee-keepers, I only say. Go on in the pursuit of that interesting study. By the way, I strongly recommend to " B. & W." a perusal of the seventh and eighth Volumes of The Cottage Gaedenek, where may be read some excellent letters signed " A Country Curate," now, I believe, a beneficed clergyman. The "Country Curate" was then an experimental bee-keeper and would not allow of many failures. " B. & W." will also find iu those Volumes a good many letters fr-om another bee-keeper of the " old school," who continues still to send a few communications to The Journal of Horticulture. Breeding. — The breeding has been continued in some of my hives up to the 24th of August. On the whole the bee season has certainly been an eccentric one. A swarm of this year of the 28th of May hatched their drones about the 28th June ; these were all killed. In the last week in July the hive became so crowded that the bees hung out- side. Thinking it too late to put on a super, I allowed them to take their natural coiu-se, when one fine gleamy after- noon (29th July), about 2 p.m., they suddenly threw off a swarm ; but it was a very small one and being so late not worth liiving ; they went into an old weak stock. EoBBER Bees. — My weakest swarm, hived on the 12th June; a second swarm or "cast," have been attacked by robbers from a distance, as I named in a former communi- cation, but on Monday, August 24th, they were attacked in my absence by several thousands of these marauders and regularly overpowered. On my arrival at thi-ee o'clock, the young sv/arm commenced leaving the hive in a body, the robbers remaining in possession. I destroyed several hun- dreds of the latter, but the whole of the honey was carried off; and the wasps, which are now numerous, finding that a scramble was going on, assisted the robbers. Wasp-glasses. — I have found these very effective. They are advertised in The Journal of Horticulture by Messrs. MUlington. I put simply brown sugar and water into these glasses, and they are now a quarter full of dead wasps. Not a single bee has been trapped ; but if a tyro apiarian put honey or any other luscious liquid into these glasses the bees wiU be enticed directly. Two Queens in One Hive. — We have heard of two "Kings of Brentford," but it is a rare thing to hear of two queens living quietly in the same hive, as described by my worthy friend Mr. Woodbury. Probably the young one described by Mr. Woodbui-y might have been diseased or barren, at least for a time, and the bees have certainly a quick intuitive discernment of any defect. Place a really disabled bee on the alighting-board of a hive — one of the same bees I mean, of course, and the unfortunate wight is immediately destroyed ; but place a poor benumbed one in the same place, although unable to crawl, but sound wind and limb, this bee is allowed to remain and enter the hive as soon as recovered. All real bodily defects are instantly discovered. Of course, all apiarians know that for many days, and even weeks, two and even three queens are fre- quently allowed during the swarming season in May and June ; but in my two unicomb-hives, made purposely for observation, I never discovered but one queen laying eggs, and fi-om seeing the queens so frequently could easily per- ceive that it was the same bee. This holds good generally from July to April inclusive, as to one queen only. Foul Brood. — This is a disease among bees I have never noticed. It has been so ably discussed by the different writers, that I do not venture to enter the lists in the argu- ment. AH I have to say is, that if bees be well looked after, kept clean, not over-ventQated, nor kept too warm, nor con- fined in cellars, or shut up aU the winter, disease wiU seldom or never attack them. Too much ventilation will prevent breeding and destroy the embryo brood in any weak hive of bees, and hence the hive gets in an unwholesome state. A very smaU swarm in a large hive seldom prospers. Age of the Queen Bee. — Your correspondent the " Hamp- SHIEE Bee-keeper," should be referred to former Numbers of The Journal of Horticulture. It has been clearly proved that queens sometimes live three years, but I have always considered an old queen detrimental to a hive. Nothing like young blood for breeding and activity. An old queen often attempts an excursion and fails : hence at an unseasonable period of the year ruin comes on the stock. Killing Drones.— I had a hive (a swarm of 1862), which 2m JOTTBWAIi OP horticulture: AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ September 22, 1863. seemed to be oveiiam witli (li-ones. Whenever the bees are seen issuing out of their hives, collaring the drones or riding on their backs, there is no harm in assisting the bees. This being the case in the hive of mine aDiided to in Jnly last, I killed more than thi-ee hnndi-ed with my own hand, the bees destroyed about one hundi'ed more. A drone-breeding queen is a disadvantage to a hive, particularly in a late season like the jwesent, as I have before mentioned. HoNETDEW. — Your correspondent " B. & W." seems to doubt the existence of honeydew during the month of July last. It commenced about the -ith and lasted until the 14th. It may be right to mention that the trees affording this exudation were mostly the oak, the beech, and the Hme, besides varioiis shrubs, particularly laurels and cun-ant trees. It seldom takes place except in di-y hot weather, and not only ai-e the hive bees busy on this sweet exudation, for the Bombyx ten-estris and B. lucoiiim, and one other species of these wild bees are very busy on it too ; and during the tune it lasts, which is generally a very short period, the finest flowers are deserted and intense activity exists. There was honeydew in 1850, duiing the intense heat in July of that year, for a few days. The honeydew generally happens once in evei-y four or five yeai-s, but sometimes not for seven years. Prom the yeaa- 1837 until 1842 I observed no honey- dew ; but in the splendid summer of 1842 I was then attracted iu the middle of June by the louder humming of the wild bees among the young oaks and beech trees where no flowers or blossoms existed, and on examination I found the leaves of these trees covered with moisture quite sweet to the taste. Stttpefaction of Bees by Pungus. — I never heard of any good being done by this process, as in general one-third of the bees ai-e rendered incapable of working again, and the remainder lose their esprit dn corps. If all apiarians had the perseverance of Mi\ Woodbiuy. driving would be the best mode of operating when wanted. Mr. Cotton, whose pretty little book I have, stands up for the puff-ball fungus in most of his experiments, and denounces the inhumanity of killing bees, when, strange to say, a little farther on, talking of very weak swai-ms in the autiimn and what to domth them, he says emphatically, " Feed them with a brimstone-match." The " Hampshire Bee-keepee " seems to have been more fortunate in his experiments than many of his "congeners" in fumigation. The county of Hants, take it altogether, is one of the best bee counties in England, and his bees ought to prosper well, p.ai-ticularly if he is within half a mile of heather. Since writing the above observations I have read the remarks of the "Hampshike Bee-keepee" on honeydew, and they agree with mine, except that it is only in very peculiar seasons that honeydew appears so late as the month of August — once in fifteen or perhaps twenty years — and I have never noted much honey-gathering after the second week in July, except in 1848 and 1863 — both rare exceptions. Indeed, in the present year there was more honey gathered in the first three weeks of July than I ever observed in this locality before at the same late period. I shall conclude my remai-ks by observing that the sum- mer of 1863 has been better tlian I ever expected, and I have never observed the honey-gathering and breeding con- tinue so late in tliis locality as in the present season. — H. W. Newman, Hillside, Cheltenham. APIAEIAN NOTES. My Apiakv. — A long time has elapsed since I had the pleasure of sending any communication on the subject of "bees" for insertion in the pages of this Jom-nal. To continued ill health during the spring and early part of the summer my silence must be chiefly attributed ; but I must confess, that seeing from week to week that tliere was no lack of correspondence, or of useful and interesting papers on this subject, has made me feel le.ss solicitous on the score of my own deficiency. But while my pen has been idle the bees have not, and their master has had plenty of work to do in managing and du-ecting their labours to advantage. Having .successfully carried every one of my stocks through tbe winter, I foimd myself the possessor of nineteen stocks in Mai-ch. In consequence of my Ligurianising efforts of last summer, and the great drain upon the population and resources of the various colonies necessai-y in artificial queen-rearing, and substitution of Ligurian for common queens, together with the wretched season we experienced, the majority of my hives were remarkable for weakness rather than strength. Thanks to liberal supplies of artificial food in the previous autumn I found on inspection of the interiors of all my stocks in March, more or less sealed comb in everj- one. Some were very damp from internal moisture, but seemed httle or nothing the worse for it ; and these, on the whole, have proved to be my best and most prosperous colonies. From the ten-frame-hives I had in autumn removed a frame on either side, which I think is attended with much advantage both to the combs and the bees. These were wrapped in paper and replaced in the spring. Among the worst colonies in my whole apiary were the only two in straw hives, and these have done little for me the whole summer. These are old stocks, and probably have seen their best days. Two of the weaker lots in frame-boxes were united together, and with mani- fest advantage. In some the population was very scanty ; hut owing to the enormous breeding puwers of their queens — pos- sessing more or less of piure Ligurian blood — they ultimately became immensely strong, though not able to take full advan- tage of our first honey harvest in May. Notwithstanding that supers were supplied suificiently early, several of my hives in- sisted on swarming ; and what is more unfortunate, many swarms fi-om some of my best hives were entirely lost. This is one of the consequences of keeping apiaries away from under the imme- diate personal care and supervision of the owner. Not a swarm was lost from the one consisting of seven hives attached to my own residence ; but the bees in the two detached apiaries could not be always watched, and the loss of many fine swarms was the consequence. What renders this the more vexing is, that at the head of one of these fly-away swarms was a queen which bred the best-coloured Ligruians I had, and from which I fondly hoped to have raised some first-rate Ligmian mothers. On looking over my note-hook I find a few entries which may interest my apiarian ft-iends. It will be best to give an epitome of my various stocks and what they have done. As a rule I have endeavoured to prevent all natural swarming, in spite of which I have hiid and have lost more swarms from hives se treated than has ever been my experience before. No. 1. Frame-hive. — Artificial Ligiman swarm made on the 1st of June by removing one broodcomh with the queen, bees, and brood. ,Tune 15th strengthened by four frames of comb with honey and brood from No. 20. At this time a very pro- mising stock. No honey has been taken. No. 2. Octagon Stewai-ton, — Has not thriven all the siunmer, althoi!gh a fine second swarm from No. 17 was added. I have feared that it is the ^^ctim of foul brood, but have not had time to exiimine it, being kept at a distance. Shall break it up at once if my suspicions prove correct. No. 3. Fcame-hh-e, — A fine Ligurian stock in the spring, but has not come up to anticipations. No swarm. About 22 lbs. of lioney iu supers taken. No. i. — Old stock in flat-topped straw hive, very weak and light in the spring. Uncei'tain as to whether a swarm flew away from it or not. Gave a nice glass of honey, 20 lbs. weight. No. ■'). Frame-hive. — ^A nice stock (common) in spring— a super put on in proper time — woiUd not work therein, but chose to swarm. Pirst swarm very good and saved. Second, believed to have been lost. No honey taken. No. 6. Frame-hive. — Ligmian. Excessively wet internally when examined in March, populous, and great quantities of brood. Further strengthened by all the bees and some of the brood of adjoining hive No. 24 being united to it. A super put on and partially filled. An enormous swarm, which was saved, issued on .July 11th. Honey taken, about 10 lbs. No. 7. Adjv.ster-hive. — Common bees. In March extremely light, very dirty and wet. Hai-dly expected to save it ; hut it worked vigorously. Adjusting-super put on early ; a very long time before the bees woiild construct combs, but have done well since the middle of June. About 35 lbs. of exquisite honey taken. The stock is heavy at the present time. — S. Bev.\n Fox, Exeter. ( To be continued.) OITE LETTEE BOX. CARuirit PicBONs AT Wakefield POULTRY Sbow.— Mr. J. Frith "Who was awarded the second prize, lives at *' Dewsbnrj," and aot at Halifax, Rj:d MiTrs ON Canaries {W. Adilerhii).— Fi\\ evejy crack thoroughly with linseed oil, and dust fiowers of .•sulphur among the feathers of the birdi*' Frequently and thotcughiy cleaning out the cage i^ the best preventive of the pest. September 29, 1863. ] JOXTENAL OF HOETICTJLTTJEE XtiD COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 245 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of of irnthWeetl 29 Tn 30 ■w 1 Th 2 F 3 S 4 Sum 5 M SEPT. 20-OCT. 5, 1863. MlCHAELlTAS DaT, Ivy flowers. Pheasant shooting begins, ■W. Speechly died, 1819. G. Marvel of Peru flowere. 18 Sdnday AFTER Trinity. [1848. Cottage Gardener commenced, Average Temperature Rain in last 363-eara Snn Sun Moon Moon iloon's Clock after Sun. Day cf neur Loudon. P.ises. Sets. Rises. Seta. Age. Year. Day. Night. JW ean. Days. m. h. m. h. m. h. in. h. m. s. 65.2 44.7 54.9 23 58af 5 43af5 28a 6 41 8 16 9a35 272 64.7 43.7 64.2 21 59 5 40 5 1 7 51 'J 17 9 54 273 63.5 45.0 54.3 18 1 6 38 5 42 7 59 10 18 10 14 274 64.t 43.7 54.1 17 3 6 36 5 30 8 67 11 19 10 33 27.5 63.7 44.2 64.0 IG 5 6 34 6 23 9 48 0 20 10 52 276 64.2 43.7 539 18 7 6 31 5 20 10 30 1 t 11 10 277 63. 2 41.4 52.3 . 8 6 29 5 22 11 5 2 U 2S 278 From observations taken near London during the last thirty-six years, the average day temperature of the -week is 64.1°, aud its nicht temperature 43.8*. The greatest beat was 80^, on the 4lh, 18j9 ; and the lowest cold, V, on the 2nd, 1853, The greatest fall of rain WHS 1.06 inch. PLANTING AND SELECTING GEAPE VINES. S tlie questions asked by " A Young Garden- er " are of veiT' general interest, it lias been con- sidered desirable to reply to them in a somewhat de- tailed form ; for certainly there never was a time in the history of gardening when so many of limit- ed knowledge and experience were so very com- mendably invest- ing their funds and their time in the cultivation of the Grape Vine. There are excellent works now in print on the subject, and much information has appeared in a periodical form ; yet there will always be special cases where sound in- formation connected with Vines and Vine-borders cannot fail to be interesting and useful, as in the case of our young correspondent. Taking the questions which he has presented in their most natural order, the site on which the border is to rest comes first. The slope, or fall, of 13 inches and the concrete make an excellent beginning, and are indispens- able if the subsoil is cold and ungenial to prevent the descent of the roots into a medium, in consequence of which the Vines would soon suffer in one way or the other. But besides the precaution of makin:' an im- penetrable bottom, a drain should run parallel with the extreme front of the concreted site and about a foot below its level, and communicating with this main-drain there should be cross ones up to the very back of the vinery if the border extends inside the house. These cross drains may be laid at 5 or G feet apart. Then broken bricks or stones should be laid aU over the concrete and drains to the depth of, say, 9 inches, finishing ofl" with a stratum of finer material, .such as coarse gravel with the sand sifted out of it, so that the soil can never be mixed up with the rubble in the bottom; and if over all' a thin turf •with the grassy side downwards be laid, so much the better. With these cross drains and open stonework, and a good outlet to the main drain in front, there will never be any fear of stagnant water, against which the simply concreting and sloping the border would not be sufficient precaution. There is a decided objection to laying a border on a hard concreted surface without any intervening stratum of open material to quickly and thoroughly drain it from all the water which passes through it from the surface. ^o. 131.— Vi I. v., Xkw Secies. However turfy and excellent in all respects the soil may be when placed on an impervious surface, the portion of it which rests immediately on the concrete becomes soured and unhealthy in the course of time. ^Vhen the fibiy organic matter has decayed, and the border is reduced to a more solid condition, the water which passes through it to the bottom can never drain away from the latter sufficiently not to be mischievous, even if the slope or fall is much more than that which has been named. In consequence of this the bottom stratum of the border, into which a great portion of the roots will find their way, becomes a soured paste, in which all the young roots wiU as surely perish as if they were cut off' altogether ; and by such an accumulation of water the temperatiu'e of the border is kept low. Sufficient, we trust, has been said on this point to warn our correspondent from placing his soil on a hard surface through which water cannot find its way with ease. The amount of draining material which has been recommended will have the additional beneficial result of raising the border more above the surrounding level, which, if the natural soil be cold and clayey, is a matter of considerable importance. It is a great mistake to dig out deep pits for borders, especially if the ground is naturadly wet, and much better is it to keep the body of the l}order well up above the level ; and where, from the construction of the vinery, this cannot be done, no pains should be spared in completely cutting off" from the border all the water which falls into the ground around it. A good way of doing this is to cut a deep drain all round the border and fill it up to the surface of the ground with open rubble such as brickbats or stones. Unless some such means as this be resorted to, the opener material of which Vine-borders are generally constructed acts as a drain to the ground which .surrounds it, and, consequently, it becomes a receiving place for the water that falls around it. If our correspondent has his border fiepared and filled- in during the course of the winter, care should bo taken in doing so never to move or interfere with the soil and other ingredients which are to be -lixed with it while they are in a wet condition. The moving and mixing of soil, however o^jen and free it may be, while in a wet condition is sure to make it sour and unhealthy : there- fore, unless it can be done in a dry and comfortable con- dition, it is best to defer the operation till spring whcn^ there are more chances of dry weather. Of course, if the soU can be laid and mixed under cover of a shed, mixing it c.in be proceeded with at any time. Altljough "A YouKG Gardener " does not ask for in- formation as to the sort of material of which his border should consist, it may be well to make a few remarks on this point. What we consider to be most :n harmony with the constitution of the Wnc is an open, fibry, calcareous loam taken from a park or common which has not been under cidtivation for a length of time, the older and fresher the better. It should be talicn about o or 6 inches in depth, including the turf or grass which grcvs on it. No. 783. — Vol. liXX., Old Series. 246 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ September 29. 185S. Tliis should be chopped up with the spade and about a cart- load of old mortar rubbish added to every eight loads of loam, and to this about 4 cwt. of inch unboiled bones, and a load of thoroughly well-rotted hotbed or horse manure, and it will form what may be termed a first-rate border. Should the loam be more inclined to clay than sand, the amount of lime rubbish should be increased in proportion as the soU is heavj-. We have in such a case used charcoal dust, and have also charred a portion of the soU in order to counteract the ten- dency that clayey loams have to become consolidated, no matter how turfy they are when used. The number of varieties of Grapes which " A TouNO Gar- dener " proposes to plant in a house only 30 feet long is six. This is certainly quite variety enough, and unless some special object were in view, it would be advisable to have fewer sorts. We should prefer at the most three or four varieties of standard reputation. This is more particu- larly desii'able fi'om the fact that the vinery having an east exposure and not a southern one, and also fi'om the fact that the vinery is to be used for keeping bedding plants for a good many months in the year. Under such circumstances it coixld scarcely be hoped that Muscats would be ripened, because with all the advantages of a southern aspect, and a high temperature, this fine Grape is in some seasons difficult to ripen. Cue of the very best sorts is, therefore, excluded. We will, however, name six sorts, as such is desu'ed. Black Hamburgh, Royal Muscadine, Snow's Muscat Ham- bui'gh. Lady Downes', Raisin de Calabre, and Black Prince. Making a selection of four sorts, we would plant one Royal Muscadine, two Black Hamburghs, two Muscat Hamburghs, and one Lady Downes'. It is now proved beyond all doubt that Snow's Muscat Hambui'gh is one of the finest Grapes ever introduced ; and, therefore, even for so limited a collection, two Vines of it are recommended. It is, however, when grafted on the Black Hambiu'gh that it conies up to its highest pitch ; and so treated it can be grown into bunches little short of the Barbarossa in size, even in berry, and under any cu'cum- stance its flavour is second to no Grape grown. It has also the great recommendation of ripening perfectly along >\-ith such sorts as Black Hamburgh and Lady Downes' ; and, therefore, we in this case recommend it in preference to the Muscat of Alexandi-ia in any of its forms for an east aspect ; and for a mixed assortment Hamburghs should be planted for stocks to it, and after the stocks have commenced to grow, the Muscat Hanibiu'ghs should be inarched on to them, green wood to green, and they will take in a few days comparatively. As the vinery is to be used for bedding plants, it may be an advantage to delay the planting of the Vines till May instead of March. By so doing, more particularly if they are to be planted inside the house, it may be more fi'eely used for the object of doing the best possible for the plants next spring without being required to study the Vines. In- dependent of this consideration, we esteem May the best season for planting young Vines. The soU is then higher in temperatiu'e and less artificial heat is requii'ed, and &om the natni"al impulse of the plants they will make a much stronger and more desirable character of growth than if planted early and stimulated with more artificial heat. Vines are fi-equently planted much earlier than the time here re- commended ; but there are special objects in view — such, for instance, as the bringing round of Vines into an early-forcing condition, which it is inferred is not what is intended in the present case. To plant early and allow the roots to remain inactive in a cold wet snU outside, alUTnang the Vines to come away without much fii-e heat till they have made a few leaves, is also frequently practised ; but there is nothing gained by such a practice, and tlie Vines will break more strongly in their pots in a cool house, or pit, through the course of the spring, and wUl be ready to plant by the time the vinery can be emptied of the bedding plants, about the middle of May. D. Thomson. RussELiA .lUNCEA. — I read with interest your treatment of Eusselia juncea. It was one of the prettiest pjlants I saw in Mexico. It may be important to its cultivators to know that the plant succeeds best when grown something like an alpine plant. The best specimen I ever saw was on a river bank, the roots being washed bare by the r.ains. To look at it there you would think it was impossible that it could obtain any nourishment from the rock and old dead wood that was around it. — E. B. Spence, Nurseryman, Darlington. THE AURICULA. It is sometimes an easier matter to answer the questions of correspondents by simply writing down one's thoughts than to refer them to past numbers and volumes, where the information they desire may be obtained ; and hence, as letters both as regards the culture, and names, and descrip- tions of this pet flower of mine have lately reached me, and as experience somewhat modifies one's own cultivation, I have thought it better to write this short paper than to refer my coiTespondents to past notices on the subject ; and as many things combine to lead me to suppose that it wUl be a very popular flower, the observations which I am about to make may be of use to others than those from whom I have heai'd. As to growth, then. A friend rather pointedly said the other day, " One doesn't grow Am-iculas, they gi-ow them- selves ;" meaning that you cannot drive them as you do some flowers, or even coax them as you may do some others. They grow weU, look weU, and then all at once they tm-n then- head on one side — a fatal sign. You examine them: there is a species of black rot at the base of the crown " between wind and water," and away goes the plant. Or you have a sort you woiUd like very much to increase. There is no taking off the top shoots, putting them into heat, or any of those nice contrivances whereby Verbenas and the like are multiplied by the thousand. No : you must wait theu- time. "I have at last had an offset ofi' my wonderful white-edge," -m-ites one of the best gi-owers in the kingdom. One offset ! and that a matter of eongi-a- tulation ! Hence, if AuriciUa-growing has its delights it also has its drawbacks ; and one must make up his mind for some of those mishaps wliich occixr in the best regulated families (of AuriciUas). After a fair experiment on the subject I have finally determined not to grow them in any larger pots than those which are ordinarUy termed 32's. This is eontr.ary, I am aware, to the exjjerience of Dr. Plant ; but then we do not expect to grow them as he does, and we cannot afford to lose them as he can with his immense stock of plants. You may probably sometimes obtain finer blooms, but there is a great risk of soddening the soU and rotting the roots by ovei-potting. In the matter of compost I have also been led to believe that the better plan is to give it tolerably rich both when potting and top-di-essing, and thus save the administration of liquid manure save in a very diluted form. An over-stimulation of the plants is, I believe, likely to detract from the quality of the fiower and the healthiness of the plant, and is, I am sui'e, a fre- quent cause of the black rot. Some years ago I warmly disputed with a friend, whose well-known signature I'hi used always to gladden Auricula- growers, as to the advisability of shaking off the whole of the soU at the time of repotting, I believing in the old orthodox plan of so doing, he, on the other hand, advocating that a good portion should be left on. I believe his prac- tice, the same as that of Mr. Lightliody, to be the con-ect one ; and I have this year repotted my whole collection in that way. You do not thus keep the same soU fi-om year to year on them ; because, as you take away all around the crown of the plant at the time of top-dressing, that which remains when you repot will be replaced the foUowing spring by a fresh siipph- of the same material. In another point, too, I shaU alter my method of growth ; but that is more owing to the early period at which the flower shows are held than for any other reason — I moan the place for wintering. I have generally done this in a sheltered portion at the back of a waU facing the north. The conse- quence was that this spring I had very few of my plants in bloom by the 9th of April. Notwithstanding the exceed- ingly mild winter with which we were favoured, we are not so much eai'lier here as I supposed ; and hence, although in principle I prefer the plan of not exposing them to much sun, I must this year adopt it, and winter them facing the soutli, removing them as they come into bloom into the northern aspect, where my blooming-stage is. September 29, ISM. ] JOUENAIi OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 247 Thus, then, the method of growth will be as follows :— Let us suppose the plants are now in your possession ; and if not, the sooner persons desirous of growing them do pos- sess them the better. They may now be kept in a frame, to which abundance of air is admitted, in some sheltered place facing the north, throwing the lights up on every favoui'able occasion, but closing them at night, and taking great care that not a drop of rain reaches the plants. Water carefully and frequently, according to the state of the weather, with either rain water or water that has been exposed to the action of the atmosphere. The Auricula is a particulai- flower, resenting ill ti'eatment, and therefore in these little matters requiring care and thoughtfulness. Early in October they should be removed into their winter quarters, which should be in fi-ames facing to the south or south-west, and water should be more sparingly supplied ; as the days become shorter, the sun has less power, and the nights are conse- quently colder. It is well between that time and Chi-istmas to look over the whole collection occasionally, to remove dead leaves, to brush off any aphides that may be on the plants, and to stir the sui-face soil a little. During aU favom-able weather air should be freely given ; and at night, no matter what the weather may be, they should be careiully covered vip. Frigi domo makes about the best covering : it is warm, very dm-able, and easily managed. The condition of the pots must determine the amount of watering. Some will dry much quicker than others, owing to the pots being fuller of roots, and consequently capable of absorbing more moisture ; but in no case allow the soil to become soddened, which is most injm-ious to the well-being of the plant. In the first week of February the time for top-dressing wiU have arrived; and on looking at yom- plants you will per- haps wonder how you are ever to obtain a bloom from them. Leaf after leaf has been plucked off, and the aspect of the plants has been gradually becoming worse ; but if a good heart be there you may look hopefally on. For top-di-essing I use simply well-rotted cow-manure two or three years old, and silver sand. Shake off as much of the sui'face sod as can be done without disturbing the roots : this will be about to the depth of 2 or 3 inches. Replace with the top-dress- ing, which should have been passed through a sieve, and then gently water with a syringe, taking as much care as possible not to wet the heart of the plants. They will soon begin — after a few waterings, which shoiUd be done carefully — to exhibit their sense of the change of diet and treatment. No convalescent from a hospital will do so more than they ; and in a mouth the change is quite wonderful. The trusses win now begin to appear*, and the plants may be removed to their blooming-quarters. Where it is practicable a bloom- iag-stage should by all means be erected ; and where there is a good collection there ought to be enough to have the blooming-stage well sxipplied with effective plants. It is well, where the trusses are over-large, to thin out the pips with a sharp-pointed pair of scissors. Not less than seven pips ought ever to be shown in my opinion, and as many more as wiU consist -with the elegance of the truss. As they go out of bloom, if you do not wish to save seed, pinch off the heads. Be careful about green fly, and leave them in a north aspect until the end of Jiily or beginning of August, then repot. My compost consists of about one- third each of rotted cowdung, loam, and leaf mould, with some silver sand. I do not, as I have said, shake out all the earth, but examine carefully the root. If the tap root is too long I cut it, and rub the cut with charcoal powder. AU offsets should be taken off, and if large put singly into pots ; if small, round the edge of a pot, three or fom- as the case may be. Water with a syringe or fine rose, and then retui'n them to their summer quarters to make theii' second growth. If they show symptoms of blooming pinch off the flower-stem carefully, water sparingly until the roots ai-e beginning to start again, and then proceed as before. With this attention a stock may be kept in good health, saving those occasional mishaps which will occur, and much enjoy- ment be had in the culture of this exquisitely neat and peculiar flower. — D., Deal, and one after another of the old suburban nurseries are compelled to retire before the genius of the hod and the trowel. I have just seen the announcement of another of these disheartening instances. The Homerton Nurseries (Mr. J. Fry) are to be disposed of unreservedly on the 30th inst., the gi-ound being required for building pm-poses. A few score of fresh chimneys wUl, therefore, add then- smoke to the difficiilties, ah-eady more than enough, of floricultxire in those parts. I am induced to call the attention of the readers of the Journal to this sale, fi-om the opportunity seldom to be met with, of acquiring plants of unusual size, and of favourite kinds, in specimenFuchsias, especially stand- ards, large Azaleas, and Camellias, all for bond, fide disposal. There is also a collection of seedling Fuchsias, never let out, some of them double and novel, well worthy the attention of connoisseurs in such matters.— W. D. Price, Homerton. Specimen Fuchsias, Azaleas, &c., at the Homekton Nursery. — The building mania appears to be as destructive to floriculture in the neighbourhood of London as ta Paris, HAEDY AQUATICS. (Contimied from page 226.) With regard to the plants that are to occupy the aqua- rium, it rests entu-ely with taste to say whether it shall be planted with those that have white or yellow flowers only, or Avith such as afford a variety of colour'. It may be white with Nympha3a alba, or yellow with Nuphar lutea, or many colour's by selecting from the list of aquatics to follow. In any way an aquarium cannot be other than an oddity as a centre, but by no means a despicable one ; yet it should be planted in accordance with the laws of harmony and contrast. The white Water Lily is second to no aquatic for forming a good centre of white ; but the plants in the beds around should have flowers of a different colour, so with yeUow, and so on. If the basin be planted with one species only it is not necess.ary to form it into tei-races ; but it should be pretty nearly of a regular depth throughout, as much as circumstances wOl allow. Three feet is deep enough for either of the aforesaid Lilies, and 1 foot 6 inches quite shallow enough. Neither of them appear above water, but their leaves float on the surface, still ha\dng one of the florists' highest recommendations — " the flower is borne well up above the foliage." I certainly should plant but one species only, or, if many, such only as would attain their gi'catest beauty when the remainder of the design was arrayed in splendour'. But we have arranged for plants of different heights, and must find them. Well, here they are in flower-garden order : centre, Nymphaa alba, Hydropeltis pm-piu-ea around it on the first step— the flowers are of a reddish-purple coloiu- — and Nuphar pumila at the outside or edge, which wOl be improved by having Myosotis caespitosa planted on the margin of the water all round. It is not necessary to adhere to this arrangement, for there is ample variety of habit and diversity of colour in aquatics, so that by having but one of a species a large number may be grown in a limited space. However, where anything like effect is desired, the basin had best be planted with^Nymphsas in collection, Nuphars, Alismas, &c., for it is difficult to get aquatics to gTOW as even in height and outline as bedding plants. As far as regards fish in small aquaria, a few gold fish are an embellishment, but fowls have no business in such a place. A stone basin is a good substitute for a olay-puddled aquarium but by no means equal to it, for the plants derive noui'ishment from the clay which they can never do fi'om stone ; besides, the stone basin is much more expensive than a puddled one. The basin may be formed of cement, which may be done by firmly ramming the bottom after it has been dug to the required width and depth, and it cannot be rammed too hard, and then placing a layer of lime-riddlings on the bottom and ramming it .as hard as the soil; 'on this is spread with a trowel a layer of mortar an inch thick, formed of equal pai'ts lime and finely-sifted ashes— the dust that passes through the riddle. This is allowed to dry, and if it has been well-wrought and put on quickly it will not crack. On this again a coat of Roman cement is laid an inch thick, which is formed of cement one half, plaster of Paris a quarter, hme finely sifted a quarter, with sufficient water to make it of the consistency of mortar. Blood instead of the water will render the concrete harder. A cheaper way is to use equal parts of flnely-powdered lime and calcined marl, or 348 JOTJENAL OP HOETICTJLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ September 29, 1863. Portland cement, with a little sand added, either of which will set as hard as a stone, and be impervious to water ; but they should be laid on quickly or they are apt to crack at the joinings. SoU G inches thick will be necessary at the bottom of stone or cemented basins for the aquatics to grow in. Ifow all ponds or lakes are formed in the manner before named, the only difference being in the size. A lake is simply nothing more than a basin on an extensive scale : but I will pass over the improvement of streams, lakes, and irregular pools of water for the present, and confine myself tc the culture of aquatics. Probably there is nothing so simple in the whole range of ornamental flower-gardening as the cultivation of water plants, there being but two main jioints to attend to, which are providing a portion of soil for the roots to grow in, and to plant or place them at such a depth below the sui-faee of the water as theu- size and habit require. Their peculiar natui-al habits should also be imitated. Those with floating leaves, as Nymphasae, Nuphars, and Villai'sias grow naturally in the deepest parts, whilst such jjlants as Caltha grow on the mai-gin or in shaUov,' water. The smaller kinds require to be but just within the water ; whilst some do best when planted on the edge, but stiU with the roots in close prox- imity to water, of which Myosotis affords examples. Some, nay, the gi'eater part, of the taller-gi'owing kinds require to be planted neai- the edge in shallow water, as, for instance, the upright-growing grasses and reeds. In planting it is better to distribute them in groups than as single plants at regular distances. Even gronpis should not be regularly distributed, but disposed with iiTCgulajity in threes, or a dozen together, according to the extent of the water. They vrill thus look all the better. It wiU not look better to have all the taU-gi'owing in one pai't, and the small in another ; but the eontrai-y. The smaller kinds will looi better where the bank is broken by shrubs ; and the taller kinds may be made to serve to distinguish between the shrubs on land and the water plants by placing them where the bank is un- clothed. As a rule tall-gi'owing kinds ought not to be planted where the bank is a dense mass of foliage, or the outline of the water will be destroyed ; nor the smaller kinds where they cannot be seen and examined. Whei-e, however, the bank projects and is clothed with trees or shrubs, advan- tage should be taken to plant a gi'oup of the taller kinds in as great a number and as much variety of foUage as may be consistent with the plants on land. The inlets should be planted with the lesser kinds, those that appear much above water being excluded, except one here and there to fix or attract the eye, or the smaller ones might remain un- noticed. Plants with floating leaves as a rule ought to occupy the deepest parts of the water; and as they are much less nume- rous than those gi'owing in shallow water, groups of one species where the waiter is extensive, or of one genus when it is small, should be planted in one place. Even then they should not occupy the whole of the midwater, but with a broad channel between and distant fi-om group to group they would appear as verdant floating islands, v/hich, when aiTayed in their summer dress, with their gorgeous white and golden flowers peeping from the watery surfaq Mr. Jenkins Warrington Bank Hall Col. Wilson Paiten, M.P. Mr. Green Bank Quay Thelwall Hall.... J. --ioholoon. Esq Mr. Browael! .... Thelwall Bold Hall Unknown Unknown Warrington Oriord Hull J. Lytton, Esq Mr. lleddish Warrini.'ton Bewfay Hall Lord Lilfovd Mr. Bishop Warrington New Hall Sir Robert Gerard Unknown Newton iiridce Haydock Grange. J. Evans. Esq. Mr. Bailey Newton Bridge Kenyon Hall li. Dewhurst, Esq Unknown Culcheth Hall ... T. E. Wiihington, Esq.... Unknown Grapenhall Heys T. Parr, Esi Unknown Newton Priory... G. McCorquodale, Esq.... Unknown Newton Bridge I will coUeet the names of some other estabUshments and give you them shortly. — E. Smith. CALCEOLAEIi CUTTINGS. A MONTH since I took a lot of cuttings three joints long, put them round seven-inch pots in some loam from rotted turves, with a good lot of sand added. The cuttings are all aUve at present, but none rooted, although they look well. Where am I wrong ? The pots are in a Cucumber-frame. — A. A. [We do not think you are wrong at all, except in placing the pots in a Cucumber-fraine, if there is any or much heat in it. A cold frame would have been better. Do not attempt to lim-ry them. Let them ha,ve their six weeks or ten weeks to root if they like, the longer the better, provided the cut- tings keep fi-esh. Keep yom- eye on " Doings of the Week." Mr. Pish is quite satisfied if his cuttings stroke by Christ- mas. Just keep them gi-een and all is right.] CocKCHArEKS. — More than 12,000,000 cockchafers have been destroyed this year in the canton of Bale, in Switzer- land. The amount paid by the authorities as premiums for their destruction has exceeded lOOOf. — (Tlie Building News.) KENSINGTON PALACE GAEDENS AND HYDE PAEK. Kensington Palace is an irregular brick edifice of no architectural pretensions, btrdly placed in relation to the surrounding gardens, being lower than the gi-eater part of their surface. The fr-ont of the Palace is to the east, with wings stretching westwai-d, and then north and south. On the south is the lawn with flower-beds. Being bounded on the north and west by the Palace, the beds furnish thi-ee sides of the square ; but a broad walk rans along the eastern side of the square to the windows of the Palace, which is an anomaly in architecture, without a hall or fr-ont door. The broad walk on the east side is fiirnished with flower-beds at each side ; altogether it is a most incongruous piece of flower garden. It will require a clever artist to reconcile that pai-t of the garden with the architecture of the Palace and its two side ranges of buildings. Tlie gardens are three miles and a half in circumference, and contain a circular basin, near the Palace, with three straight avenues diverging to three different points east- ward. Two main gi-avel walks, each half a mile long and 21 yaids wide, intersect these beautiful pleasure grounds from north-west to south-east with a broad, cu-cumferential walk, and other gravel walks of communication to different parts of these thickly-wooded and extensive landscape scenes. One of the broad walks is very improperly terminated in fr-ont of the boundary i-afling on the Kensington road. The trees in some parts of the grounds have been planted in masses of a sort, in other parts they are gathered into thick groves of mixed kinds, and intersected by long straight avenues from different points. During the reign of George II. Queen Caroline formed what is called the Serpentine river by uniting several ponds. This was the first bold attempt to deviate from the straight line, and to give that beautiful variety of outUne now so generally admired in the winding's of a river. We were rather dis- posed to find fault with the meagre manner in which the long walk on the south-east side of the garden is planted. It affords length and breadth for a splendid ribbon-border on each side ; but when we reached Sta'nhope Gate and saw the long vistas of flowering-beds and borders parallel with Park Lane, we became more reconciled to the state of things in Kensington Gardens. Proceeding from Stanhope Gate to the Marble Arch, the first bed, an oblong, is Cerise Unique Geranium, edged ivith Lobelia speciosa andvai-iegated Mint altei-nately ; the oppo- site bed. Imperial Crimson Nosegay Gei-anium, then Purple King Verbena, edged with Cerastirmi tomentosum. Second bed, three rows of Chi-istine Geranium, then white Ivy -leaved Geranium, edged with Cerastiura ; the opposite bed Boule de Feu Geranium, then Pm-ple King- Verbena, edged with Cerastium. Third bed, Trentham Eose Geranium, then Mangles' Var-iegated Geranium, witli an edging of Ceras- tium ; the opposite bed. Punch Geranium, then Purple King Verbena, edged with Cerastium. Foui-th bed, Anthony Lamotte Geranium, then Bijou, edged with Cerastium ; the opposite, Stella Nosegay Geranium, then Purple King- Verbena, edged with Cerastium. Fifth bed. Imperial Crim- son Nosegay Geranium, then Madame Vauoher Geranium, edged with Cerastium ; the opposite. Prince of Orange Cal- ceolaria, then Purple King Verbena, edged with Cerastium. Sixth bed, Anthony Lamotte Geranium, edged with Bijou 250 JOITKNAL OP HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ September 29, 1803. Geranium, edged with C'erastium : opposite bed. Calceolaria Aurea floribunda, then Pm-ple King Verbena, edged with Cerastium. Seventh bed. Imperial Crimson Geranium, then Madame Vaucher Geranium, edged with Cerastium ; oppo- site. Imperial Crimson Geranium, then Purple King Verbena, edged with Cerastium. Eighth bed, Trentham Kose Gera- nium, then Bijou Geranium, edged with Cerastium ; oppo- site. General Pelissier Geranium, then Purple King Verbena, edged with Cerastium. Ninth bed, Christine Geranium, then white Ivy-leaved Geranium, edged with Cerastium; oppo- site. Cerise Unique Geranium, then Pm-ple King Verbena, edged with Cerastium. Tenth bed. Cerise Unique Geranium, then Piu-ple King Verbena, edged with Cerastium and varie- gated Mint alternately; opposite. Imperial Crimson Gera- nium, then Pui'ple King Verbena, edged v.-ith Cerastium. The next scene is a border at each side, with a HoUy hedge in the centre ; the north side backed by shrubs. The back row at each side is PerUla nankinensis, then Calceolaria rugosa, then two rows of Punch Geranium, then Purple King Verbena, edged \vith variegated Mint. The next is a row of double white Feverfew at back, then two rows of Punch Geranium, then a row of Heliotrope Miss Nightingale, edged with Scarlet Nasturtium. The centre of the next compartment is planted withDahlias, with Aucuba japonica in front at one side, and on the other side backed by shi-ubs ; the back row at each side is Purple Orach, wiiieh is now faded, then two rows of Ageratum mexicanum, then two rows of Lord Eaglan Verbena, edged with dark-flowered Nastm-tium. The foui-th compartment is fm-nished with PerUla nan- kinensis at back, then two rows of Bijou Cxoranium, then two rows of Verbenas Ariosto and Mrs. Holford, edged with a broad band of Gazania splendens in full bloom. The fifth compartment is backed by a row of PeriUa, then two rows of Prince of Orange Calceolaria, then two rows of SteUa Nosegay Geranium, edged with two rows of Lobelia speciosa and variegated MintI plant for plant alternately, and a very dressy appearance the edging has. On the west side of the compartment facing the Park is a magnificent riljbon-border 400 yards long by 5 yards wide. At the back is a row of Privet, then a row of Dahlias over- topping a row of handsome Aucuba japonica, then a row of PoriUa nankinensis, then a row of yellow Calceolaria rugosa, then two splendid rows of Punch Geranium, then Purple King Verbena, edged mth variegated Mint. Having passed the Park Lodge the next scene which presents itself is a strip of pleasm-e ground extending to the Marble Arch. The first bed is a cu-cle planted with Coleus Verschaffelti, which looks shabby in comparison with the plants at Battersea Park. Another circle is planted with Verbena Lady Pabuerston, edged with Cerastium; then an oblong bed of Minnie Geranium, edged -with. Lobelia speciosa ; then a cu-cle bed of Trentham Eose Geranium ; then an oblong filled with Cannas and Eicinus communis (Castor-oU-plaut or Palma Christi), conspicuous for their fine foliage ; and an olilong bed of Prince Albert Petunia, edged with Cerastium. In the next dej)artment are two circular beds of Tropasolum elegans ; an oblong bed of Punch Geranium, edged with Bijou Geranium ; and the opposite bed. Punch Geranium, edged vrith Heliotrope Miss Nightin- gale ; then two circles of Lord Eaglan Verbena, edged with Cerastium, and two oblong beds of Canna indica. In the next scene are two cu-cles of Lord Eaglan Verbena, edged ■Kith Cerastium ; an oblong of Punch Geranium, edged with Heliotrope Miss Nightingale ; and the opposite. Punch Gera- nium, edged -nith Bijou Geranium ; then two circles of Tro- pseolum elegans. In the last department are six cii-cles furnished -with Nastm-tiums, which were dignified with the names of Tropajolum Pet, T. Eyebright, and T. Aurora at the Eoyal Horticidtural Show on the 9th inst. The leaves may be useful in salads as a substitute for Cress, Init to approach anything like an ornamental efl'ect frequent atten- tion must be given to the removal of the leaves. The four circles planted with Heliotrope Miss Nightingale are in full feather. A bed of Wigaudia oaracasana is conspicuous beside the ride near Hyde Park Corner. In the height of the London season portions of the Park bounding the ride are furnished ■with chairs. It is amusing to see the movements of our country cousins : they sit themselves leisurely down on the chairs until they see a gentleman at a short distance stretch- ing out his leg and thrusting his hand into his breeches- pocket, who deposits something in the hand of the young man standing before him. The hint is suiBcient, the seats are sUently vacated, and it is then that the following notices, nailed to the young trees in the immediate neighbourhood, are visible. " The charge for the hire of chairs is not to exceed 2d. for each arm-chah-, and Id. for each common chair. The collector on receiving payment for the hu-e of a chair to deliver a ticket, which -will be available for the day on which it is issued for any chair of the same description. The charge for season tickets is not to exceed 7s. for an arm- chaii- and os. for a common chau-. Office, H.M. Works," &c. William Keane. HOT-WATER T.ySTKS. I THINK if "A Country Curate" would procure a slate tank he woidd find it the most serviceable kind he could have, and the cheapest in the end. I have -worn out two wooden tanks, and am convinced if I had only had one of slate in the first instance I should not have needed another at all. The slate is about an inch in thickness ; the sides and ends ai-e grooved into the bottom, and it is fastened together with screw-bolts and nuts. I make a loose wooden frame all roimd the inside, and a strip of wood on edge the height of the frame nms do«-u the middle nearly to the end, so that the water can pass freely round. This is to support some slate of the ortlinary thickness on which the phmging ma- terial (I use sand) is placed. The tank is then complete. A little strip of wood across the most convenient corner of the wooden frame is requii-ed to provide for the supply of water to the tank, and the opening can be closed with a small lid or plug. A slater who is accustomed to make baths v,'Ould have all the materials ready to hand, and would make the tank either for so much per gallon, or, if the size were stated, he would charge so much for the material and the labour. There is not much difference in the cost of a small tank : )>'at I think a large one would be cheapest if prociu-ed after the latter mode. — J. E. Jessop. GLADIOLUS DISEASE AND NAME. A LIGHT soil does not confer immunity fi-om disease, as Mr. Cattell, of Westerham, could tell " D.," of Deal. I imagine that Gladiolus is pronounced Gladee'iJlus or Glady'olus according to accent, and not to quantity. Nu- tricula is surely nutric'ula. Puteoli is pute'oh. Does " D." wish the accent to fall on the last syllable "lus ?" The following rule is given in the jjreface to Edwards's " Latin Grammar :" — " If the penult or last syllable but one be long, the accent is on it ; but if the penult be short, the accent is on the antepenult, or last syllable." The ante- penult is the third syllable fr-om the end. — S. D. S. Large Sale of Chinese and Japanese Plants. — A large and important sale of plants fi-om China and Japan is an- nounced for sale by auction by Mr. J. C. Stevens, at his gi-eat rooms, 38, King Street, Covent Garden. They have been introduced to this country by the weU-knovm traveller and author, Mr. Eobert Fortune, and have been cultivated and propagated by Mr. Standish, in his nm-sery .at Bagshot. Amongst those from China are the Abies Kfempferi, or Golden Pine of the Chinese, a noble timber tree of great beauty ; a fine evergreen Yew named Torreya grandis ; a hai-dy Palm which may be seen growing in the open afr in Kew Gardens, and finer stUl, we believe, in Her Majesty's garden at Osborne. There are also some strange-looking Pine trees brought fi-om the country about Peking. Many of these plants have been discovered in districts far inland wliich ai-e not visited by foreigners, and such plants are not likely to be again sent to Europe. The trees and shi-ubs from Japan are also of great interest. The curtain which has been drawn round the capital of that country for so many centuries was lifted for a brief space, and enabled us to see a high state of cultivation in so far as gardening is con- cerned. Here Mr. Fortune found nurseries on a very ex- tensive scale, filled with new shrubs and trees of great September 29, 1863. ] JOUBNAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 251 interest, both in an ornamental and useful point of view. Amongst those introduced to Em-ope we may instance the curious Umbrella Pine and various trees allied to the com- mon Arbor Vitae, but quite distinct from it. There are also a variegated Honeysuckle, some shrabs resembling our HoDy, but in reality nearer to the Olive, new Clu-ysanthemums, and a host of other things. Curious enough, the Japanese seem to have had a taste for variegated plants long before that taste gained gi'ound amongst ourselves. The Yedo gardens were found full of such plants. There was a variegated variety of Palni, of the Camellia, and even the Tea plant was met with in this condition. Many of these things have been exhibited at the horticultiu-al exhibition, and are no doubt famihar to our readers. Mr. Fortune seems to have visited Japan at the right time, for now the gardens at Yedo which supplied aU these interesting novel- ties are closed to foreigners, and are likely to be so for some time to come. MUSCAT GRAPES. I AM much obliged to Mr. Thomson for his answer to my letter. By the last sentence I see he is of my oiiinion — that the question is deserving of more attention than it has re- ceived ; and by the kind manner in wliich you have noticed my communication, I am encouraged to send you what I know of the subject, hoping I may assist in eliciting some- thing useful. I have before me a French catalogue, in which the Vines are classed as tres jirecoce, precoce, ordinaire, tardif, and tres tardif, in wliich latter class I find the Muscat of Alexandria. I asked this firm if I might place confidence iu these qualifications, and was assured I might. " Then, how were they obtained ?" " From the latitude of Paris, and from the open wall." "But this Muscat of Alexandria is marked tres gi-os ? " " That was from a hothouse." " Do you think these other Muscats and Chasselas marked " moyen," when grown on the open wall, will improve in size if planted in a hothouse ? " " No doubt some of them were capable of great amelioration, they had no information which of them." So for my amusement I bought some to ti-y if they were capable of amelioration, but I never doubted their earliness. I planted them in fi-ont of the penuanent Vines in a house where there was bottom heat, and gi-ew them a year before fr-uiting them. I found they were not much im- proved in size, at least, they were too smaU to be worth growing after I ascertained they were not more than two weeks earlier than the latest Vine in the house. In the front row I had Muscats Blanc Hitif, Noir de Jui'a, de Meurthe, Ingi'am's, Troveren, Buckland Sweetwater; Chasselas Musque ; Chasselas Blanc, Supcrieur ; Negi-e- pont, and Rose or Royal : for the permanent ones, Alex- andria, Canon Hall, and Bowood Muscats. I have pvdled them all out but Muscat Blanc Hatif. that did not fruit, and is in front of a weak Vine which I intend to cut down again. I was sony I could not try them another year, but the permanent ones reqtdred the room. If, then, with Vines, we choose the finest, and make them early, will doing so have the same effect on Peach ti-ees ? I trust there are among those who with so much ability supply the tables of the great with all that is out of season, that can either confirm Mr. Thomson and myself, or else explain where our error is. — G. H. CONTEAST TEEsrs SHADING— AMAEANTHUS BICOLOE AND TEICOLOE. We agree with "An Amateuk" whilst criticising the bedding-oiit at the Crystal Palace this season, that contrast is the real giver of effect and not shading. This latter certainly has its distinct merits, as also ad- mirers— indeed it may be that the best-instructed eye would favour shading ; that an artist who had made the har- mony of colom-s — these in all their variations, even to the most neutral ones — his chief study, would find gi'eater plea- sure therein than when looking at the best and most taste- fully laid-out gardens where contrast is the main feature in its arrangement. "We admit, also, that it is far easier to give striking effect by the use of the most distinct colours as applied by contrast than it is to attempt to cope with the numberless neutral colours within our reach by shading and the felicitous admixture of one colour with another of the same hue, yet differently tinted. What gives us so great pleasure when one of Flora's most favoured band is placed before us, we need scarcely say is the eveidy-balanced markings ; we cannot err in oui' attempt to copy these types of real beauty from the hands of so imerring a master. Then let us not reject an attempt so seemingly legitimate, without a fair and well-studied attempt at its furtherance. As we have already intimated, the mode of shading as practised at some of our leading places, ill agrees with our ideas as regards the same ; as with some of our most gorgeous flowers we would place the quietest neutral where it could the more readily give effect to the warmer colour. An instance we give below, which has an excellent effect. Shades of scarlet. Verbenas planted, plant for plant — Fii'e Fly, Robinson's Defiance, Admii-al Dnndas, and Lord Raglan ; oi% again, Trop^olums Elegans, Ball of Fire, Garibaldi, and it may be Eclipse. In the same way with Geraniums, a good effect may be attained by planting alternately, Christine, and Variegated Flower of the Day, which may be edged with Fau-y. Or to have an effective Ulac bed with shadings, plant alternately Variegated Mint (Mentha rotundifoHa variegata), and distinct pink, approach- ing crimson at the eye. These we might continue to a further length, but we have in view two plants which, as we have ali-eady suggested in these pages, shoidd be brought more prominently forward in the variegated-foliage class, and which in theu- markings may read a lesson to any one upon both the subject of shading and harmony of colours. They are not by any means new, though little used. We allude to the Amaranthus bicolor and tricolor, which when well grown are exceedingly pretty. In theu- first stage of growth they are not unlike indistinctly-coloui-ed Amaranthus melancholicus ruber. Like them also they have a great tendency to run straight up with but one stem. They look, l^erhaps, best so when not requu-ed more dwai'fed in form. When the plants have attained their growth, and pre- vious to flowering, a number of very beautiful lateral leaves shoot out from the main stems aU round, in form and size not unlike the bracts upon the Poinsettia. These are upon bicolor a light pleasing- scarlet ; those upon tricolor being a glowing variation of bright scarlet and yellow, not unlike in their markings the gayest Parrot Tulip. The larger leaves, which hang sixfEciently away to admit of their being readily seen, enhance their appearance, by their dark coloui-, especially when in sunshine they are moved by a slight wind, peeping forth alternately ft-om deep shade to sunshine. An excellent effect may be attained by forming a centre (a tail upright one being chosen for the middle) in a well- planted bed of Coleus Verschaffelti, especially if a large one, and where the centre could be planted in size sufficient to give it as a central object distinct prominence. It is also of a height rather in requisition for a back row, where ribbon- bordering is done well, or for pots for summer and early winter decoration. But, to retvu-n to the Coleus Verschaffelti. We have taken up and potted recently some fine plants, unsiu-passed by any in coloiu-. the same were planted out as mere cuttings previous to the frost of about the 20th of May last. ^ We are ftdly aware that the success has been very variable, taking the country through, but we ask yet another trial based upon the experience gained by the past season. — William Earlet. HAEDY AQUATICS. Mentanthes nympha3oides, Stratiotes aloides, Hydrocharis morsus-rans, Sagittaria sagittaifolia, Menyanthes trifoliata, Acoi-us calamus, *Epilobium angustifolium, *E. hii-sutum, *Lythrum saliearia, *Eupatorium cannabiniim, *Osmunda regalis, and *Valeriana officinalis. A combination of the Typhas and Rumex hydi-olapathum (a handsome oriental-looking plant), with some of the mi- nor-growing "borderers," is very effective. The Osmunda • These as " borderer?." 252 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDEN'EK. [ September 29, 1663. will grow fine if it can have peat or spongy soO, and is not planted actually in the water. If it wlU avail " L. K." to know where any of the ahove are to be found in Cheshire, I shall be happy to tell him, but I do not know any nui-seryman who keeps such plants. — K. CULTIVATION OP HEATHS. (Concluded from page 228.) Wateking at the right time and in a proper manner I consider essential to the successful cultiu-e of Heaths ; but then if the plants are potted -viith. the soil and in tlie manner I have described, there is less clianoe of giving them too much or too little. The soil absorbs a certain amount of water, the rest drains away, and what the soil retains will never stagnate, for a healthy plant will gradually appropriate it ; and if by chance water should be -ivithheld until the soil becomes di-y, its fi-ee open nature will soon allow it to per- colate through. A Heath seldom requires water imme- diately after pottiug, and sometimes it may remain a week or two, supposing it to be in the winter, for I follow no rule as regards the time of the year in potting ; but when a plant is watered for the first time after potting, it should be done thoroughly, so as to wet the mass of soil through, and this cannot very well be done without filling up the pot three or foui- times. This is invariably my practice, for I find that if the soU is not properly moistened at the first watering after potting, it never becomes so afterwards, and plants have often died in consequence. After this, when the plants want water, filling up once wiU be sufficient. A practised eye can tell at once when a plant wants water; but few good growers ever trust their eyes only, but generally ring the pot and feel the soil in addition. At the first watering- after potting, I generally use a fine rose, but afterwards merely pom- the water on the soil fi-om the spout of the ■watering-pot. Dm-ing the summer, and while in flower. Heaths require a gTeat deal of water ; but in the winter, and while at rest, they may be allowed to become all bat dust di-y, for a Heath may appear very di-y, and even flag, when a watering wUl cause it to expand and pick up again ; but when a plant shows signs of distress from over-watering, it is mostly in a dying stale, and will be hard to recover, even if that be possible ; but there is little fear of over-watering provided the soil is free and open, and the drainage perfect. Summer Treatment. — About the beginning of May, the more hardy sorts, as gracilis and WiUmorei, may be set en- tirely out of doors, if the soil is free, and the drainage good, and they are placed on a good bed of ashes, on boards, or bricks, or in any way so that woims cannot get into the pots, and they wiU take no hurt untU about Michaelmas if they are merely watered as required. But for choicer sorts no place can be better than a brick-built pit, having a good slope or pitch to prevent the possibility of di-ip from the glass. Pull the lights entirely off on all favourable occasions, putting them on in wet weather, and on bright sunny days, and adding a slight shade, but tdt the lights at the side, and keep neither lights nor sh-ides on longer than is necessary to protect from rain or too bright sunshine. They are sometimes stood in a shady place without covering. In this case they must be tiu-ned on theii- sides, should heavy ' rains occur; but if left too long in that position they are apt to turn the points of the shoots upwards, which puts them out of shape. In my younger days I have been called up in the middle of the night to tm-n down a lot of specimen Heaths, and other plants. This is no joke ; and although I would rather do it nov/ than allow favourite plants to be- come injm-ed or killed, stiU I would rather evade the neces- sity of doing so, or of giving others the trouble by putting the plants in a place where they would be safe fr-om injury from cli-enching rains. In places where there are plenty of hands to run and shut up pits, frames, &o., or turn down plants, there is less chance of accident ; but in '.most places tliis is not the case, and it becomes neces- sai-y to avoid such running about, which breaks into the day's work more than lookers-on would suppose. And if plants are to be kept under cover, it must be where they can have fresh air night and day, and not be overhung by other plants. Winter Treatment. — When housed about Michaelmas, supposing the plants to have been freely exposed, care should be taken to give them all the fresh air that can be admitted to them, for under no cu-cumstances wiU they thrive and do well in a close or confined atmosphere. Keep them cool, and rather dry than othei-wise, and never attempt to hurry them into gi-owth. I should have said that after about the middle of August, the more sun the plants have the better, as this win harden the wood, and induce them to flower better. In the autumn and winter mildew sometimes attacks the Heath, but rarely have I had plants troubled with it, as good drainage, a free open soil, and plenty of exposure to the air, will prevent it, and if it has made its appearance a dusting of sulphur will cure it. Heaths are also sometimes infested with scale, but this is only when they become potbound, or are crowded too much in the wood, or are placed too closely together. This pest is difficult to eradicate if it happen to get ahead, Ijut strong soapy water i-ubbed on with a sponge or soft brush will destroy the insects. Some of the softer-wooded kinds are sometimes troubled with green fly, which is easily destroyed by fumigation. But, generally speaking. Heaths are very clean in then- gi-owth, and if kept in good condition will give the cultivator vei-y little trouble as regards pests of any kind. This I consider a great recommendation to their cultivation. The Training of Heaths not only requires both skill and judgment, but it is an art acquired only by practice. A well- grown and well-trained Heath is one of the most beautiful productions of the plant depai-tment that can well be con- ceived. To grow and train one as it should be requires no mean display of skilfiil handling. There should be few sticks, and those thin and tapering, and painted green to match the foHage. The bast matting should be good, and used very thin. I greatly dislike using thread, as some make a practice of doing. The shoots should be trained-in at regidar distances, at the same time giving the whole plant a natui-al and easy appearance. Ent those who know how to train a Heath will not want teUing, and those who do not, win learn more by practice than from description. Men who have to use heavy tools can seldom tram these plants well, and this is often exemplified in the specimens produced in many places, and which exhibit a countless host of sticks, and an appeai-ance the opijosite of easy or graceful. A Heath to look well should have the pot proportioned to the size of the plant, and be trained in such a manner that the eye is not attracted by the sticks. The Propagation of Heaths is not generally a part of the duties of the gardener, very few gardeners can spare the time necessai-y, or have a suitable place in which to strike Heaths. Propagators of Heaths and other hai'dwooded plants must undergo a certain training in order to qualify them for the work, and when thej- become competent they generally com- mand good wages. Propagating such plants is an art, and, according to the di\-ision of labour it should be left to those who have studied the art, and certainly those who are un- acquainted with it must not suppose it is equivalent to sti'iking cuttings of Geraniums and bedding-out plants. Some kinds of Heaths will take fi-om six to nine months from the time of putting in the cuttings tUl these become rooted, and some hardwooded plants will take twelve months, and all this time they reqim-e daily attention in wiping the glasses, shading, &c. I simply mention this, SO that those who may be unacquainted with the process may be prepared for what they have to do should they make the attempt. I have struck various kinds of Heaths more for amusement than anything else, and in five years' time have had plants which I consider repaid all the time and atten- tion they required. "This is a long time to wait," many will say. Ti-ue, but then the time comes at last, and it must be remembered that there are propagators now engaged in putting in cuttings of Heaths that in three or four years* time wiU make small flowering plants. The process I have followed is to fill two or three pots of a suitable size about three parts fuU of drainage broken rather small, then a layer of pe.at fibre, then a mixture of peat and silver sand, then half an inch of well-washed silver sand, the whole well watered. The cuttings are small shoots about an inch long, taken as near the collar of the plant as possible and the lower leaves stripped oft'. They ai-e dibbed into the sand with a very small (fibber, and a little water is allowed to drip on them to settle the sand about them. A bell-glass is then September 29, 1863. JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AKD COTTAGE GAUDENEK. 253 put over them, and they are set in a shady part of a warm greenhouse ; no suji is allowed to shine on them, and the inside of the glass is wiped evei-y day. F. Chittt. THE GEAPEEIES OF ME. MEEEDITH. I AM far from finding fault with yom- intelligent corre- spondent " Epsilon " (see p. 209), for calling me to account for what I said about the Grape-houses of Mr. Meredith at Garston. All vague and undefined assertions ought to be called in question, and not accepted as valid until some feasible proof, or at least explanation of them, can be given. Certainly now and then a loose erpression may be allowed to pass uncriticised if the meaning be understood ; but as the quotation your correspondent makes from my former article may leave an impression that I may have said too much, I deem it right to explain the matter more fully, and thint I can do so without withdra-ning in the least from the statement I first made. The remark quoted by "Epsilon" fr'om my article on the Garston graperies is that " I believed Mr. Meredith's knowledge will enable him to pronounce whether a certain soil will suit the Grape Vine or not, apart from those out- ward appearances which are the only guide to a less prac- tised hand." Now, on reading this short paragi-aph once, and calling to memory what I saw and heard as well fr-oni others as from Mr. Meredith himself, I do not think there is anything to retract. Perhaps if the two words " upon examination " had been added after the word " pronounce," the sentence might have been more explicit, but I do not see in which way it would have altered the sense, the more especially when the general reader is informed that the opinion I gave was not formed alone upon the Grape Vines I saw at Mr. Meredith's, but what I saw had been done by him at another place many miles distant from his own establishment. I was told other places fonued by him pre- sented like features of good Grape-growing. But I will content myself with describing what I actually saw, and the reader will excuse my mentioning names for reasons which it is needless to explain ; but I may say that the Grape Vines in a garden of high repute falling into a bad condition, the Grapes not coloujriug weU, otherwise shanking, while the bunches and berries were below second-class size, and yearly becoming worse, it became necessary to restore them, and Mr. Meredith was caEed in. What alterations he ad- vised in the houses I need not enter iipon, as that is a mere mechanical affair. The evil lay in the border, and its re- constniotion was put into Mr. Meredith's hands, and I understand he had the privilege of selecting the soil best suited for the purpose that the estate, and that a large one, possessed. Now, though my visit to the place was a short one, I could easily see by the character of the agricultural and other crops that there was plenty of what is usually called good land; some in the park might be pronounced excellent, from the vigour of the herbage and the appearance of the trees, and many parties with a caHe blanche, as I believe Mi-. Meredith had, would have been for skinning a large portion of the best of it ; but no, Mr. Meredith went further a-field, and I believe the bulk, if not all, of the material he recom- mended the border to be composed of was brought fr'om an unpromising waste. I am not certain whether a mere glance at the various soils or a more careful examination of them enabled Mr. Meredith to select the one he did for the formation of the Vine-border, neither does it matter to the general reader. Certain it is that the one he did select, with the other treat- ment the Vines received, produced as good Grapes as I ever saw in my life, equalliug those at Mi-. Meredith's ovm. place, and if anything heavier crops. My informant of what was done by Mr. Meredith was the gardener on the spot, a worthy and weU-informed man ; the Grapes I saw myself, and I never saw finer. The alteration in the border taking place some three or four years ago, I was told the crop of the present year, heavy as it was, was not more so than that of last year, the gardener naively saying that an unusually heavy crop seemed necessary to ciu-b the luxuriance of the Vines. I must here again repeat what I before afSrmed of Mr. Meredith's Vines — the leaves were not so large as I have seen some elsewhere, nor the wood so long in the joints. I believe this to be owing to the absence of those emic'ning substances which so many are apt to put in such abundance into their borders. Although it is quite excusable, nay, highly reoommend- able, for an inquirer like our worthy correspondent " Ep- silon " to question Blr. Meredith's ability to give a just opinion at once of the merits of a soil suited to the wants of the Vine, -with no further proof than was given at the para- graph quoted, I think the above case fully confirms all that was stated, and I know other examples could be cited. It matters little to the general public whether Mr. Meredith in giving his opinion on the merits of a soil does so at once or takes time to do it, the judgment eventually is a correct one, as the sequel pi-oved. And as Mi-. Meredith is pro- fessionally employed in the building and ftimishing of Grape and other houses, it is only fair that those who want to have foi-ther particulars should communicate with him direct. Those who require further confirmation of what I have ad- vanced might go and see for themselves. — J. Eobson. EOTAIi HOETICULTIIRAL SOCIETY'S COMMITTEES.— Sept. 23, 1863. Floeal Committee. — On this occasion special certificates were awarded to Messrs. Veitch, and to Messrs. Downie and Co. ; to the former for the beautiful v/hite-flowered Lapa- geria rosea albiflora, a plant the white beUs of which con- trast well with those of the better known rose-coloured kind, and which will unquestionably prove a most important acquisition for the decoration of our greenhouses and con- servatories, as well as for exhibition purposes. What a brilliant effect a paii" of Lapagerias, the one with rose- coloured the other with white flowers, would have in a mixed collection, especially if they were as large and handsome as the specimen which Mr. TJzzeU exhibited at the Crystal Palace. In the same collection with the Lapageria were shown the new LUium auratum, a fine variety of speciosum rubrum, and two Eranthemums. Both of these received second-class certificates. That named tuberculatum, fi-om New Caledonia, formed a compact bushy little plant and had a profusion of pure white flowers ; the other, which was of taller growth, had white flowers dotted on the under seg-ments with purple. Messrs. Downie's award was for a collection of thu-ty-six Hollyhocks, of which Neatness, a deep ciimson, had a first- class certificate ; and Lord Clifden, a crimson shaded with carmine, a second-class one. Among Dahlias WiUie Austin, fi'om Ml-. Keynes, of Salisbury, a rich golden yellow shaded ivith red, had a first-class certificate ; and Miss Herbert, a variety somewhat resembling the preceding- in its colours, a second-class one. Mr. Legge, of Edmonton, had like- wise first-class certificates for Nonsuch and Enchantress, the latter a yellowish-white, heavily tipped with cerise. Fairy Queen, a rosy-lilac on a creamy-yellow ground came from Ml-. Alexander, of Leyton, and had a similar distinction coufen-ed upon it. Mr. Turner, of Slough, had second-class oei-tificates for Favourite and Countess (FeUowes), the former a good purple, the latter a large white variety. Erebus, nearly black, was shown by Mr. KawUngs, and was commended. Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son sent Anemone vitifoha and Honorine Jobei-t, which was commended at the pi-evious Meeting ; also Pelargonium Beauty, for which a first-class certificate was awarded. This was one of the Zonale class, having white flowers, the base of the petals edged -with sabnon pink, and was altogether a very attractive kind. Cheiranthus MarshaUi variegatus from the same firm was commended, and three semi-double varieties of Dianthus hybridus, white, crimson, and striped, had second-class cer- tHicates. Mr. Gordon, of the Crystal Palace, sent several bedding Lobelias ; and Mr. WiUs, of Oidton Park, Tai-porley, two Pelargoniums — Princess of Wales, a horseshoe with pint flowers, deep salmon at the centre ;» and Volcano, bright scarlet. The former received a second-class certificate, the latter a commendation. Fruit Committee. — Mi-. Edmonds in the chair. Mr. Carr, gardener to P. L. Hinds, Esq., Byfleet Lodge, Cob- ham, sent a Queen Pine weighing 7 lbs. 3 ozs., which was 254 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AKD COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 29. ma. awarded a certificate of commendation as an example of meritorious gardening. A seedling Peach was sent by Mr. Rust, of Broom House, Fulliam, called Thames Bank. It is alai-geyeUow-fleshed Peach as large as Late Admirable, and with the broad broken stripes of that variety. It was found to be a good Peach and received a certificate of com- mendation. Fine dishes of Selway and Late Admirable Peaches were received from 'Mi: Thompson, gardener to Mrs. Dixon, Stanstead Park, Sussex, which were much admired for then- handsome appearance, but the flavom- of both was inferior. Mr. Veitch, of Chelsea, exliibited three varieties of Syrian Peaches, one of which had a bitter kernel. Neither of them was named, but they were distinguished by numbers. No. 1 was a good-sized oval Peach with a dark red cheek ; the flesh tender but not remarkable for flavom-. The kernel is bitter. No. 2 was also a good-sized fruit with a green skin like BaiTington, and very dai'k red at the stone ; but the flesh was coarse and the flavom- inferior, whUe the stone was xmusually lai-ge. No. 3 was of larger size than the others, but the flesh of tliis also was coarse and not remarkable for flavour. Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing, of Sydenham, sent a bunch of a Grape which proved to be Black Morocco. Mr. Turner, of Slough, sent a dish of Belle de Fontenay Rasp- ben-ies, which were of large size and very handsome, pos- sessing a good deal of flavour considering the late period of the season, and they received a certificate of commendation. Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, brought fruit of a Peach called Clemens Isam-e, a large yeUow-fleshed fruit deeply stained with red at the stone ; but it was acid, and without much flavour-. Ooe's Large Yellow is also a yellow Peach, and it, too, had a cold acid flavour. Columbia, a dusty- coloured and very downy Peach, was remarkable as having the flesh deep red for some depth under the skin and thence quite pale to the stone ; Imt it was very acid, and without flavoiu-. A seedling Plum, raised from Coe's Late Red, was richly flavoured. It is yeUow and oval like a Small Coe's Golden Drop, and promises to be an excellent variety. The Nectarine Peach, a seedling raised by Mr. Rivers, partake s of the ehfu-acter of the Peach and Nectarine both in shape and flavom-. Round the stalk the fruit is quite smooth, and over the remaining sm-faee it is covered with a fine down. The flesh is vei-y tender, juicy, and richly flavom-ed. THE GLADIOLUS QUESTION. I HAVE been much intei-ested in the Gladiolus controversy which has appeai-od in your pages of late, the result of which I trust will enable your subscribers and others not only to grow the bullj properly, but to know what to call it when they have grown it. The proper pronunciation of the word " Gladiolus " has certainly been a matter of dispute for some time, and, as "D.," of Deal, observes, is continually a subject for argument, and to this day is not settled. I do not see, however, why it should not be settled after the very satisfactory explana- tion given by the above writer in yom- Number for the 15th inst., which fm-ther agrees with the statement given by " R. T. E., Shrewsbury," who quotes Ainsworth, Riddle, and other lexicographers as authorities. As regards adoijting the gardeners' pronunciation of the word, I think that could scarcely be a rule to be relied upon, although we have many instances, no doubt, that if the strictly classical pronunciation of plants was adopted it would appear affected and pedantic ; custom having given a pro- nunciation which in time becomes accepted as correct. If, however, Mr. Beaton has a better avxthority for his pronun- ciation of the word than the one above refen-ed to, let us adopt it ; if not, I think we cannot do better than settle the matter at once by bowing to Ainsworth and Riddle as set forth in your Niunber of the 1st inst.— R. Ticheoukne, Soutlunnpton. HOYA IMPEEIALIS. " E. M." asks us " Which is the handsomest plant to cultivate and train in a trellised pot?" Tliis is a wide question, and we can only reply that the plant so cultivated and trained which we have never seen surpassed was a Hoya imperialis, and of that plant we here publish a por- trait. It was exhibited by Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, & Co., of Exeter. This beautiful flowering climber was thus noticed by Dr. Lindley at the time of its fii-st introduction in 1846 : — " Imagine a true Hoya, with woolly stems, leaves 6 inches long, and clusters of the most magnificent flowers, forming a diadem of ten rays ; each flower fully 3 inches in iliameter, and with the delicate texture of the common Hoya carnosa, and you wOl have some notion of this superb species. In Mr. Lowe's letter from Sar.awak, dated Januai-y 12th, 1S46, we have the foUowiug accoimt of its discovery : — ' On the next day, when in the territory of tlie Gumbang Dyaks, I found another cm-ious plant, belonging to Asclepiads ; it is an epiphytal climber ; there was but one individual, growing from the decayed pai-t of a tree, also overhanging the river. The flowers are large and in umbels ; the leaves are leathery ; and the stem abounds in a white, perhaps acrid, juice. The contrast between the purple of the petals and the ivory white of the parts of fructification renders it highly beau- tiful.' " It requires a strong rich soU to sustain fidly its nu- merous large flower-trusses, which are produced throughout the lengths of its twining stem. At Kew they used a com- post of equal jiarts loam, decayed leaves, and peat, \vith some flakes of di-y, half-decayed dung intermixed, -with sand and broken crocks mixed UberaUy throughout. Each flower lasts a long time without fading, and is highly fi-agrant throughout the evening and night. — [Botanical Register — Botanical Ma<;azine.) PLANTS IN BALCONY-BOXES. Last year I had plants in window-boxes. Geraniums, Cal- ceolarias, &c., and with yom- assistance and advice succeeded pretty weU. This yeaa- I had evcrgi-eens in pots in the balcony, and these shaded the window-stools so completely that nothing did well. The evergreens are, however, so pleasant that I am unwilling to give them up, and propose having next year boxes with small rockery and alpine plants. Will they do shaded? and if so, will you mention a few names of those which have flowers with decided colours, and when I ought to begin operations? The boxes might bo September 29, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 255 4 feet long by 2 feet wide. Is cocoa-nut fibre refuse useful for such plants ? Is it the case that Kalmia latifolia will not blow two suc- cessive yeai-s in pots ? Mine have made their fresh wood, &c., very well. Can plants of Verbenas, Calceolarias, &c., be kept in a room with a north aspect during winter V I have great diffi- culty in to^vn. I have no garden where I can put out any- thing even to stand. There is such a rush of wind in a small yard that nothing can be left in it. House faces south, but there is no spare room in ii-ont. — A Constant Eeadek, Dublin. [We fear that with the shade you will not do much good with alpines, so as to secure anything like continuous bloom of distinct colom-s. For spring work you could have nothing better than distinct colours of double Primroses, Polyanthus, &c., and these would then be at home in your yard dni-ing the summer. For anything else in summer, a stout net stretched over the yard would greatly break the force of the wind, and keep away those torments of gardening, the cats. You might then have a fine display of Tulips and Hyacinths, bringing them on in the yard or a cold room, and then transferring them to the boxes. To keep them green all the year round with little trouble, you might plant them with succulents, such as the House Leek, Sempervivum teotoiTim, which would yield piuiilish flower-spikes in July ; montanum, which is dwarfer and gives reddish flowers ; globifenmi ; Hen-and-Chickens Semperviviun, yellowish flowers ; and other kinds as ai-achnoideum and flageilifonne, aU blooming about midsummer. These planted in sandy loam would scai'cely require even watering unless when showing bloom, and in hot weather in summer. For a neat carpet of green nothing can excel the Stonecrop, Sedum acre, and its varieties ; for in May, June, and part of July it is a carpet of yellow, and needs little attention except pruning oft' the decayed flower-stems, and giving a little firesh surfacing of sandy loam. There is also a vai'iety of this with golden foliage, so that yeUow would ever be present. Sedum roseum is a rich rose colom-, generally in bloom from May to August, and there are twenty or thirty species equally low-growing and pretty that would require little attention. Then among the Saxifrages there is um- brosa or London Pride, beautiful in bloom and out of it ; hypnoides or Cushion Saxifrage, always a beautifid gi-een, and covered ■n-ith white flowers in spring ; and the pretty Cerastiums tomentosum and Biebersteini would make pretty cheerful lines round the boxes, if they did not fill the latter themselves. If the boxes were 9 or 12 inches deep, we would plant Cerastiimi in one, fully 4 inches from the surface of the box, for it would be sm'e to grow high enough, and then you might gem the whole by plaeiug out of sight small pots of flowei-ing jilants with only the heads seen over the Ceras- tium. As your Calceolarias and Geraniums did well when there was not the shade of the evergi-eens, would it not be well to grow some for their foliage alone — such as a box of Bijou Geranium edged with Golden Chain, and all flowers removed, or the dark small horseshoe of Bai-on Hugel round a box of Cloth of Gold, or Cloth of Gold or the Baron edged with Cerastium ? With such shade as you speak of, the foliage woidd be finer in the summer than when fuUy exposed to the sun. Cocoa-nut fibre mixed with the soil will do well for such plants, and so will the commonest sandy loam from the roadside. If you value your evergreens in pots, or tubs, you will act prudently in defending them from severe frost in winter, so far as the roots are concerned. They will suifer more if exijosed in pots than in wooden boxes. The Kalmia latifolia will bloom year after year in pots if well treated — that is, receives no check, has plenty of water, and the suitable soil. Nevertheless, in forcing this plant many turn it out and give it a season's growth, and take it up again the second yeai'. If yom* shoots are so poor, there is less chance of the plant blooming ; but if well ripened and hardened it may do so. Calceolarias, Verbenas, Geraniums, and aU such plants for summer decoration may be kept well in a room with a north aspect all the winter, provided they have plenty of light, plenty of ah-, when the outside temperature is 40°, and the plants suffer neither from frost, too much wet, nor too much dryness. The Calceolarias will need the most moistm-e. Such plants before being taken to the south balcony in the middle of May, should be hardened-off in the yard for a fortnight or three weeks previously, covering them with a piece of calico or anything of that sort at night and during stormy days. We have known cases in wMeh plants kept in a north aspect all the winter did very badly when at once transfen-ed to a south atmosphere outside; but they did well when they had a few weeks in the outside yard beforehand. If we can render further assistance we will do so, and, perhaps, some fi-iends wiU also be disposed to help in the matter. — E. F.] ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S MEETING. The September Meeting of the Entomological Society was held on the 7th inst., the chair Leing occupied by Mr. F. Smith, the President. The donations to the Librai-y received since the last Meet- ing were numerous and valuable, comprising the publications of the Geological and Entomological Societies of Philadel- phia, Boston, Bavaria, Dublin, the Smithsonian Institute of Washington, the Royal Society, Society of Ai-ts, Messrs. La- oordau'e, Caudeza, Le Conte, Hagen, Jloiawitz, &c. The Secretary exhibited portion of a bin which had been filled with Chicory, which, together with the woodwork of the bin was enveloped in a closely-spun white-silken web, covering the wood with a fine polished surface. It was suggested that this web had been spun by Tinea graneUa. Ml-. S. Stevens exhibited a small collection of insects captiu-ed dm-ing the recent expedition across the interior of New Holland by Mi-. P. ATaterhouse. Amongst the many new species which it comprised was a very brilliant species of Tetracha, belonging to the family of Tiger Beetles. Mr. F. Bond exhibited a number of very beautifully pre- served caterpillars of different kinds of Butterflies and Moths prepai-ed by Mi-. Baker, of CamVa-idge ; and Professor Westwood described the plan adopted in Germany for the preparation of such specimens, the skin of the caterpillars being inflated by a blow-pipe and enclosed in a glass tube over a spii-it-lamp, the glass being defended by resting on a semi-tube of thin tinware. Minute caterpDlars were also preserved entire by putting them into a bottle held over a spu-it-lamp for a short time. Ml-. Sharp exhibited a rare species of CoccineUa, C. Cabilis, taken at Heme Bay. Mr. Waring exhibited specimens of two rare Moths, Litho- stega nivearia, fi-om Suffolk ; and Stirrha sacraria, from Ban- stead Downs. Mr. Stainton exhibited a large tabulated plan illustrating at a glance and in considerable detail, the vai-ious leading peculiarities in the transformations and habits of the British genera of Tineidje. A paper by Mr. Walker containing- descriptions of a number of new species of Moths belonging to the families Castniidae, Agaristidae, Hylancopidaj was read ; also, a descriptive cata- log-ue of the family of the Stag Beetles, by Major F. Parry, containing descriptions of a great number of new species ; the collection of the author far exceeding in the number of species of these insects that of any other entomologist. WOEK FOE THE WEEE. KITCHEN GAKDEN. Fkesh plantations of Cabbages and Lettuces should be fi-equently examined. Any that droop without an apparent cause should be examined at the roots, where, probably, a grub will be found, which if not destroyed will continue its ravages. Broccoli, eai-th-up the plantations, as they wUl now be growing rapidly. Caidifiowers, continue to prick out the young plants under hand-glasses and in &-ames. A few may be potted in small pots and placed in a fi-ame where they can have abimdance of air and light, and be protected fi-om excessive wet. Endive, plant out this and Lettuces for spring use. If planted on the sloping sides of wide ridges they win stajid better, damp being quite as destructive as fi-ost. Take the precaution of securing a quantity of both in pits or frames. Mushrooitis, keep out-door beds protected from heavy rains by a good covering of litter. Maintain a 256 JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GAJRDENEK. [ September 29, 1863. regular degree of heat in beds in houses, and guard against aridity. Potatoes, continue to take up the crops as they attain maturity. Sort them before they are housed or pitted, as it will save much futiu'e trouble and waste. Sea- kale, remove the leaves from this and Rhubarb if you intend forcing veiy eai-ly, and keep a look-out for slugs and weeds. We would advise to have two separate receptacles for garden rubbish attached to everj- kitchen gai-deu (and we allude to this matter at present, because the accumulation of weeds and decayed vegetable matter is considerable at this season of the year), one to receive the matter convertible by gi-adual decomposition into manure, the other to contain every sub- stance that can conveniently be burnt. A good reserve of burnt eai'th and v/ood ashes should belong to every garden, the last substance may be substituted for manure of a stronger character in rich soils which it is desirable to relieve. Spinach, thin the ^vinter crop, leaving the plants about 9 inches from each other. Keep it free from weeds. FLOWEK GARDEN. A sufficient quantity of good tiu-fy loam for next year's operations should now be procured, stacked-up, and thatched with straw, or fern, to throw off rain, likewise peat and sand — both valuable adjuncts in propagating. Soils wliich have been used in the forcing departments should be brought here and mixed up with decayed vegetable heaps. This forms an excellent and useful manure for flower-beds. Pre- pare compost for Eoses by frequent tui-nings, at the same time adding rich materials. The trimmings of hedges and other refuse from the shi-ubberies made into a heap and chaa-red, will form a valuable article for stiff clayey soils. The variegated and other scarcer varieties of Geraniirms should not be risked too long in beds, they had better be taken up and potted as soon as the weather appears threaten- ing for frost ; after potting to be placed, if possible, in a gentle bottom heat in a pit or house where the atmosphere caji be kept sufficiently di-y to prevent the foliage being injui'ed. By such treatment they will soon become esta- blished, when they may be stored awaj' for the winter in a cool drj- house where they will be out of the reach of frost. The present is the most eligible time in the whole year for alterations, and whether planting or general groundwork, they should, if possible, be carried forward with vigom- as soon as possible. Such operations should not be allowed to press on the ordinary business of the garden; extra work re- quires extra labour, and if such is not supplied a correspond- ing amount of ir.jury must oociu- in some other department, which is the fruriuent cause of disagi-eements. Earth-up Dahlias well above the crowii that a sudden frost may not destroy them. The spare beds, if any, should now be put in readiness for the reception cf Hyacinths and Tulips. Crown Imperials, hardy Lilies, bulbous Irises, Nai-cissi, and other bulbs should now be planted in the borders. These have a pleasmg and interesting effect in spring. FEtriT GARDEN. The principal operations in this department are the gathering-in of the frait as it becomes in proper condition, making preparations for filling up blank spaces, and trench- ing new ground for orchards and fruit -plajitations. Prepare for planting all kinds of fruit trees, by getting the ground in good order for the different kinds. On cold stiff soils it is advisable to plant on hillocks 1 foot or IS inches hig'her than the siuTounding surface. The trees wOl not gTow so fast in consequence, and will require more attention in sum- mer in the way of mulching, but they will form short-jointed, well-ripened, fruitful wood, which is the best preventive of canker, gum, &c., and will save the labour of resorting much to root-pruning. Continue to keep the runners re- moved from the Strawberries, and those that have been some time jjotted for forcing should now be placed in a comfortable situation to insiu-e their not being too much soddened with wet. Strong ijricked-out plants may stiU be potted with good success if placed on a kindly bottom heat. Use every possible means to get the wood of Peach and Nectai-ine trees well ripened. If the ti'ees are too thick of young wood, every shoot that will not be wanted at nailing- time should be cut out so as to expose those left to all the light possible. Keep the fruit-room cool and airy, examine the fruit frequently, and pick out any that are found to be decaying. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. No time should be lost in housing the plants which have been placed dming the summer out of doors ; but before placing them in their winter quarters every pot should be examined. If any of the plants are water-bound, or the soil in which they are growing is too heavy and wet, they nmst bo turned out and the di-ainage examined, and if neces- sary made new. The drainage in winter is highly important. Hyacinths and other Dutch bulbs should be procm-ed and potted without delay. Look carefully after the watering of large specimen hardwooded plants in jjots, especially Heaths, which are soon injm-ed by being over or under-watered. Let Azaleas be tied into form as soon as can be done in order to give them a neat appeai'ance. Keep Cinerarias as cool and moist as is consistent with safety, and attend to repot- ting such as requfre it. Primulas must also be carefrdly attended to, in order to encourage them to make rapid growth, especially double varieties. Keep tree Violets clear of their gi-eat enemy, red spider, by a liberal use of the syringe. PITS AND FRAMES. Presuming that all the tender stock of plants is safely housed, and anxiety with regard to thefr safety in a great measure diminished, proceed with the aiTanging and remov- ing into spare cold pits the stocks of Pentstemons, Antfr- rhinuins, Linums, Phloxes, Brompton, Intermediate, and other Stocks, and all herbaceous plants in pots that requfre a Httle protection. The pots to be plunged in sand or coal ashes, which is not only a protection but saves much labour in watering during the spring months. When all the plants are arranged this department should undergo a thorough, cleaning, all litter and rubbish to be removed. If the foot- paths between the ranges of pits be in bad tiim, a layer of gravel or coal ashes will add much to the neatness of this department. Pot-off cuttings. Establish a good stock of Verbenas in pots, as duplicates of the choice sorts ; harden- off cuttings for bedding out next season, that they may resist the gloom of the approaching winter. W. Keane. DOmGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Kan the Dutch hoe thi-ough many gi-owing crops, where the rains had brought up a mass of weeds iast approaching half an inch in height. An hour's sun would soon settle them. Most of these were the never-ceasing annuals, as Chickweed :md Groundsel. 'Where they all come ft-om is perfectly marvellous. No wonder that would-be philosophers speat of spontaneous generation. For yeai-s we have hardly ever seen a Groundsel in seed, and yet every piece of trenched- up ground yields its myi'iads upon myriads. Cow Thistles, and other Thistles, too, have made thefr appearance, brought to us, no doubt, by the wind, from the fields and hedge- rows of slovenly fai-ming. One day in August, we were pretty well covered with 'JThistle-down — a hedgerow next the highway, with a fine field of Wheat inside, was as crammed full of Thistles, sending thefr downy seeds streaming for miles, as if some great prize had been offered for the best specimens of Thistle-culture. The only redeeming points in the scene were some beautiful goldfinches, that no doubt were deeply grateful to the waywai'dens and the fanners for securing them such a bountiful supply of thefr favourite food. With increased premiums for the best products of gai'dening and fai'ming skiU, it would be no bad move to inflict a fine for all specimens of winged seeds allowed to reach maturity. Once scattered over the soil, generations to come will not see the last of them. Though we managed to lay hold of a rabbit or two, yet feai-ing for our plantation of young Cabbages, we run a single \vidth of net all round the piece, supporting it on stakes, and we have not since been disturbed by their ravages in that du'ection. Examined the Mushroom-spawn bricks, not too wet nor too hot; put straw covers over the heap to keep the wet from them. On Tuesday afternoon had a hiuTicance of wind iuid hail ; but it has been rather warmer since, and the barometer, very low, is slightly on the rise. Cleai-ed a piece of Cauliflower-stalks, and put more plants in thickly. Put old lights over a nice piece of Dwarf Kidney Beans to encourage them. Peas are doing better than we expected. Well watered a row of dwarf September 29, 1863. ] JOXJENAIi OF HORTICTJLTTIRE ANB COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 257 ones under glass, just coming strongly intoljloom. Earthed- up second piece of bed in the Musliroom-house. Nipped-in Cucumbers. Pricked-out more Lettuce and Endive. Thinned Parsley. Cut over a good part to make it stubby before winter. Eegulated herb-beds. Watered Globe Artichokes, the watering with sewage water has given us a fine yield of Scarlet Eunners, though previously from the drought the flowers were dropping oil' without setting. Took up pai-t of Carrots, stringed Onions, &c. PEUIT GAKDEN. "Was obliged to fill the late vineiy with plants from a house, which, in connection with a Fig-house at one end, we are repaii-ing and elevating, in order to make a fresh aiTange- ment within. The house was so low that, though 11 feet wide, we could only have a platfoi-m on each side and a walk in the middle ; but by raising the roof 18 or 20 inches we shall be able to walk aU round and have a platform in the middle, as well as smaU ones at the sides. In raising the wall opportunity has been taken of leaving spaces there for ventilation back and fi-ont, so as to avoid all necessity for moving the sashes. The wall plate in front was previously about 1 foot above the ground outside, the house, originally a Pine-pit, being sunk inside ; and it would have been better to have had the fi-esh-raised part of glass, but this would have entailed more expense for sills and sashes, and we think we shall have enovigh of light for what we want. The roof has a short hip, and the rafters and plate having been repaired the roof was tied together and raised in a piece. The walls are 9 inches, and the openings admit a wooden box without top or bottom, so as to give a cleai- opening of 13 inches by 9. In the middle of this space a board of the above size, just so much less as to move easily, is hung by two screws as pivots, and about 3i inches from the top of the box, so that the weight of the wider portion below mil always keep it shut, uiless when kept open, which it can easily be from a quarter of an inch to the whole space, when, of course, the ventilator will stand hori- zontally in the opening, and neither inside nor outside will It ever appeal- beyond the face of the wall. We have long found that aH sorts of hinging are a continual annoy- ance, from rusting, breaking, and all the rest of it. Another fact we have found out is that, provided air is given eaiiy or left on all night, there is no necessity for so much air being given during the day. We think, on the other hand, that it is economical policy to make the sun do the work, which used to be done to a great extent by the coal heap. Of course, there must be as much moderation in this as not to scorch or biuoi what is under glass. That, how- ever, is chiefly done not so much by the mere heat as by a confined, close, moist atmosphere, and that is reduced to a minimum by the early au--giving. Gave more air and heat to the late vinery to suit the plants and to prevent the Grapes damping. What are left of the Figs in the Fig- house, wiU now do little more from being exposed, but those out of doors have come in well. Gathered fr'uit as it ripened when dry. Went over Apricots and Peaches out of doors, nipping oif laterals and shortening a few strong shoots to hasten the thorough ripening of the wood. Cleared Straw- berry-beds of runners and litter, and slightly forked the surface to let the rains pass and prevent the frosts entering. Now is a good time to make arrangements for fr-esh planting fruit trees, and in stiff or clay soils it is a good plan to plant on raised mounds, even though it be neces- sajry to mulch the surface in dry seasons, which if done in time will prevent the necessity of much watering. After a regular trenching, fresh soil would be desirable for the mounds, if it can be obtained, and these may be 18 inches above the common level. When the ground is not well di'ained, a cartload of rough stones might be placed under each tree, and in as loose a position as possible, the smallest at the top. This, however, will not make up for the presence of stagnant water amongst the stones, the result of deficient drainage. In light soils they cannot be packed or beaten too firmly round the roots of fr-uit trees. Now, also, is a good time to cut the roots of trees becom- ing too luxuriant, or if young to take them up and replant them as soon as the frniit is gathered. With this proviso as to the fruit, if it is intended to lift Vines, the sooner it is done after this the better, as the ground is still warm, and if a few leaves keep green even for a short time, the roots will im- mediately begin to work, and will keep on less or more all the winter, if cold and excessive wet is excluded. As we may also now expect heavy rains, the outside borders of early vineries should be protected from wet to keep them at rest, and those of late vineries to keep the roots moderately dry and warm. There are many modes of doing this, perhaps none better than wooden covers or shutters, as these keep all below them diy. However, we cannot all have such nice materials to work with. Many employers are quick enough in speaking of some extraordinary resiilt, but they turn their heads when some of the means come to be referred to. We have just done something, as in former years, to prevent oui- borders being soaked. A little cowdung is spread thinly over them, and then a very tlun layer of tar over the cowdimg, some eighteenpence worth at a penny a-gallon covering a large border, and on that is thrown a lot of road drift or sawdust, so as to make a crust and keep down the odour of the tar. Now this is all very well as respects mere dryness, but then it does little to retain wai-mth, as even if we put litter on, if we cannot keep it dry, v.'e do little in the way of securing warmth, except v/e rough-thaioh or do something of that kind. Now, we have proved that a border rather di'y, covered in the end of September with a foot of dry litter, and then covered with tai-red wooden shutters, would be pretty well warm enough for moderately early forcing, without any artificial heat being given. OKNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. It is now time to take all greenhouse plants under cover. Excessive wet and a very cold or frosty night, vrill spoil the blooming of Camellias and Azaleas for the following year. Tied-up large plants of Chi-ysanthemums, Salvias, &c. Thinned creepers and climbers in conservatory. Kept stove plants di-ier to ripen the wood. Placed Gloxirlias, Achi- menes, &c., done flowering in a di'y place beneath the stage in a vinery to ripen thefr tubers ; ditto with Gesneras past their best. Gave moistiu-e and heat to those gi-owing and flowering. Lessened water to large plants of good-foliaged Begonias to get them gradually in a state of rest, when thej' may be kept in a small space, in a low temperature, and be potted and gi-own on next sirring for the conservatory. Looked after mildew and red spider on Violets. Smoked some Cinerarias that seemed to have a little fly. Potted Chinese Primulas into 40 and 32-sized pots, using fresh loam and a little leaf mould. Put in lots of cuttings, that wiU go under frames, of almost everything for beds, as we want them just to throw out their first rootlets about November, so as to be small aU the winter. It is very well to talk of pottiug cuttings off. If we did so we should have no place for them all the winter. We like them better the smaller they are until January, and then we let a few of them grow larger. WiU prepare a pit for Calceolarias by the end of the week, so as to begin with a few of the scarcest next week. We win select side pieces for cuttings from 2 to 2i inches in length, leave about thi'ee joints altogether, cut across at the lowest, and insert in sandy fr'esh loam, with a quarter of an inch of sand on the surface, and the cuttings li inch in the row, IJ inch fr-om row to row, and about 15 or 18 inches fr-om the glass. These, put in in the end of October, we will not expect to be much rooted until January; and the latest put in, if they have not been fr-osted, we wiU expect to be the best. Skimmed a part of lawn with the scythe, in order that we might pull up plantains, &c., before sweeping and rolling. The dry summer did not give us the chance before of weeding lawns. .Switched the sides of the walks to remove tiny heaps collected by the rains, and roUed them. Just looked over Dahlias, Phloxes, &c., which may be good for some time if the weather hold fine. One piece of Dahlias was so dried that the flowers aj-e not worth looking at even now. — E. F. COVENT GAUDEN MAEKET.— Sept. 26. The supply of fruit and vegetables continues ample : there is an increase of importations from abroacl, and a fair average amount of business is done. The importation of Oranges is fur the present suspended, and Lemons have fallen in price in consequence of a further supply having been received. Pines and Grapes are quite sutScient for the demand. In Pears Marie Louise, Louise Bonne of Jersey, and Williams' Eon Chretien afiord the principal supply. Brown Beurre and Gansel'a Bergamot are also coming in very good. In Apples Kibston Pippins are the most in reqaest at this season. Cobnuts are bringing liom 55s. to 705. per 100 lbs. Of Potatoes 258 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTXIRE AKD COTTAGE GABDENER. [ September 29, 1863. the supply still continues very plentiful ; disease, however, is making its appearance to a much more serious extent than was anticipated. Of other vegetables the supply is also ample; a few Peas are still to be had, and some Savoys are coming in, but as yet arelnot in request. Cut flowers for the most part consist of Orchids, lloses, Pelargoniums, Asters and Mig- nonette. FRUIT. s. d. Apples ^ sieve 1 6t Apricots doz. 0 0 it'igs doz. 1 6 Filberts & Nuts 100 lbs. 55 0 Grapes, Hamburghs. lb. 1 6 Muscats lb. 3 0 liCmons 100 8 0 Melons each 1 6 Mulberries quart 0 6 s. d 04 0 II n 2 B 76 0 S 0 n n 16 0 4 0 0 9 Nectarines doz. 0 0 to 0 t* Oranges 100 Peaches doz. Pears bush. dessert 5 sieve Pine Apples lb. Plums ^ sievtt Quincea bush. 0 Walnuts bush. 14 6 20 0 0 0 0 0 ^ 6 K 0 .'» 0 7 0 2 (i s (1 3 0 li 11 3 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 VEGETABLES. s. d. S. Beans, Broad bush. 0 0 to 0 Kidney i sieve 16 4 Beet, red doz. 10 1 Broccoli bundle 0 0 0 Cabbage doz. 0 9 1 Capsicums 100 1 3 2 Carrots bunch 0 6 0 Cauliflower doz. 3 0 5 Celery bundle 16 2 Cucumbers doz. 2 6 10 pickling doz. 0 8 1 Endive score 13 2 Fennel bunch 0 3 0 Garlic and Shallots, lb. 0 8 0 Gourds &Pumpk., each 0 0 0 Herbs bunch 0 3 0 Horseradish ... bundle 16 4 0 1 Leeks baoch 0 I Lettuce score 6 j Mushrooms pottle 0 I Mu3td.&Crea8, punnet 3 Onions bunch 0 pickling quart 8 Parsley bunch 0 Parsnips doz. 0 Peas bush. 0 Potatoes sack 0 Radishes doz. bunches C Rhubarb bundle 0 j S^ivoys per doz. 0 Sea-kale basket 0 I Spinach sieve 0 I Tomatoes ^ sieve 0 I Turnips bunch 0 3 too 0 1 (i 0 6 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 n fi 0 fi 0 s 0 3 0 4 0 () 0 <) 0 0 I) 5 0 8 0 1 6 2 0 0 II 0 0 0 (1 0 0 0 1 (J 0 2 6 5 0 3 0 f. TO CORRESPONDENTS. *^* "We request that no cue will m-ite privately to the de- pai-tmental wi-iters of the " Journal of Horticultme, Cottage Gai-dener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- di-eesed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- ture, cl'c, 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that correspondents will not mis up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. K.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered untU next week. Seedling Trop.eoldm ( TT. F. S.).-The varieties are numerous and teautiful, but it is quite possible to excel them. Whether your seedling does 80 we cannot tell, not being claiiToyants. Nectaki.ve roR North Yorkshire (J. F. y.) .—The Violette Hative is the vaiiety most likely to ripen ajiaiuet your south wall. Glass tor a Fernery (T. L. r.).— We consider 21 oz. glass painted on the outside quite equal to Hartley's Patent for the roof of a fernery, and it only costs about half the money. The elass must be quite dry when the pauit IS put on, and the coat vpi-y thin, if it coyer that is enoufrh. Whilst the pamt IS wet dasli a painter's dust-brush perpendicularly on the painting, and that will give it the appearance of frosted glass. The only objection we have to pamtmg glass is that it makes the house gloomy 'in winter. Ground glass we have not tried, and fear it would not prevent the sun s rays from scorching tha plants. We have a house glazed with Hartley 6 patent rough plate glass a quarter of an inch in thickness, and thougu we cannot see through, it doe>. not render shading unnecessary • in fact. It has to be shaded with tiffany No. 3 from March to October, and we think the same would apply to ground glass. We have a painted fernery root little the worse at the end of four summers, and we never had a aeorched leaf nor a pale-coloured frond, though the house is gloomy ia vvi2it^er« Camellia Leaves Scorched (5. TF. C.).— The Camellia leaves are scorched by the sun shininp: powerfully upon them whilst wet. The leaves ol the Camellia should always be dry when the sun shines powerfully on them. The cellular tissue ol' the leaves of No. 1 appears to us to have become decomposed by keepinjc them almost constantly drippiuff-wet. Byringe it very little after the leaves attain their tull size in future, and shade them from very bright sun. or plant some creepers that will afford a little shade in summer and obstruct the lifiht but little in winier. No. 2 is spotted by allowing water to drip from the roof upon the leaves, or drops ol water standmg on them when the sun shines fiercely will produce the same result. The glass of the roof may be of a bad quality, and that would account for the leaves being in the pitiable condition of No. 1 ■ but No. 2 we are quite certain is spotted by allowing water in drops to stnnd on the biayes. There is no disease that we can see but what will be easily removed by keepmg the leaves dry in ihe early part of the day, and syringing only latheevenmg; and then only when the plants are making new growths. A syringing once a-week after the growth is made and buds formed is enough to free the leaves of dust, and a thorough washing with a sponge of both sides of the leaves is better than all the ayringings put together. See that the soil about their roots is not sodden, and that stagnant water is not lodging there, and admit abundance of fresh air. Shallot Culture {S.W.C). — The Shallot likes a rich friable loamy soil, and if not rich it should be well manured previously to planting, and well rotted and incorporated with the soil before planting time. Plant in beds 4 feet wide, and draw drills with a hoe about 3 inches deep, and 9 inches from drill to drill, in which place the roots 6 inches apart, and fill in the drills with fine mould level with the surface of the bed. The beginning of February is the proper time to plant them, and if the ground be frozen at that lime, plant as soon afterwards as circumstances will allow. Remove all weeds, and when ihe tops of the Shallots turn yellow pull up the roots ana let them lie on the surface a few days to dry, when they are to be housed like Onious. Plants for Rockeey iF, TT.).— Creepers or otherwise small shrubs and herbaceous plants for rockeries — Berberis buxilolia, and B. empetrifolia ; Genista decumbens, G. procumbens, G. tetragona, G. tinctoria, and G. tinc- toria plena; Cistus purpureus, C. crispus, C. salvifolius, C. Ledon, and C. lu&itanicus; Cotoneaster microphylla, and C. rotundifolia; Genista tri- quetra ; Daphne cneorum, and D. cneorum varie£;ata ; L'lex europaea, U. europrea plena, and U. nana; Helianthenmm vulgare, H. vulgare flore pleno, plenum album, H. roseum, H. macranthum, H. algarven^e, and H. alpestre ; Gaultheria procumbens ; Kalmia glauca, K. angustifolia, K. angustifolia variegata, rubra, nana, and ovata; Juniperus prostrata; Ledum buxifolium, L. latifolium ; Vinca minor, V. minor argenteo-varie- gata, aureo variegata, flore pleno, and V. herbacea ; Wiccinium buxifolium, V. vitis-idsea, and the variety major; Yucca filamentosa, and variegata, Y. angustifolia, Y. recurva, and Y, gloriosa. Hardy Heaths— over thirty species or varieties, and the sweetest of trailing plants Epiga'a repens. The small-leaved Ivy, and, in fact, mo^t of Hederus are picturesque in rock- work. Of herbaceous plants — Alchemilla alpina, montana, conjuncta, hybrida, &c. ; Ajuga reptuns variegata, and A. reptans alba; Alyasum alpinum variegatuin, and A. maritimum varicgatum; Anteunaria hyper- borea, A. triplinervis, and A. margaritacea ; Ar^ibis albida, beliidifolia, ccerulea, sasatilis, variegata and stenopctala; Arctostaphylos alpina; Arctotis breviscapa ; Aristolochia clematltis ; Armeria maritima, ditto formosa and rosea, A. vulgaris alba; Artemisia marilima ; Aster alpi- nus ; Aubrietia Mooreana, purpurea, and its variety grandiflora; Cam- panula garganica and puUa; Cephalaria alpina and tatarica ; Cerastium repens and tomentosum; Chelidoniuin majus, and the double variety thereof; Circa'i alpina; Cochloaria danica, grcenlaiidica, and officinalis; Convolvulus fruticosus ; Cornnilla minima; Dianthus alpinus, deltoides, floribundus, hybridus; Dryas Drummondi and octopetala ; Fragaria mono- phylla; Heucherea suffrulicosa; Iberis carnosa and eempervirens ; Lotus eorniculatus, ditto flore pleno and L. cytisoides ; Phlox Nelsoni and rosea; Saxifraga, over a hundred varieties, and more than sixty Sedums, all charming for rockeries; and not less so are the Sepervivums, of which there are more than a dozen species; and very many more plants suitable for rocks may be had at any nursery of note. Roses for Border (/rffm).— Cabbage or Provence— Madame Laffay, Baronne Prevoet, Duchess of Sutherland, La Keine, William Jesse, and Gt'^ant des Batailles, and one and all of the Hybrid Pt-rpeiuals are excellent border Roses on their own roots. They require no more care, and are every way better than a lot of old-tasbioned Ruses formerly grown in gardens which were infinitely inferior to a Dog Rose. ViNK CuLTDRE ( TT. B. J.I.— To givc all the information you require would fill an entire Number of our Journal. Y'ou must purchase a work on Vine culture. That by Sanders or by Thomson will suit you. As you do not require Grapes early you need not begin forcing before December, The air require-* to be kept moist by watering the paths, syrmging the branches, &c. The border.-", if properly made, require no manure. As the roots of the Vines are outside, the surface should be mulched in winter to exclude frost and excessive wet, and in dry weather during summer to keep in the moisture. The flavour of any variety of Grape depends on its good culture and the amount of sunshine. List of Fruit Tr.EEs ( TT. M. C). — Dessert Apples. —lTi?ii Peach, Kerry Pippin. Cox's Orange Pippin, Cockle Pippin, Old Nonpareil, Margil. Kitc.hm ^;>;j/e4.— Keswick Codlin, Bedfordshire Foundling, Dumelow's Seedling, Y'orkshire Greening, Striped Beefin' ^^j^^'^^^^^V^f fronds that are in contact with it. As the pots as well as the tan are lull ot worms you must drive them out of the whole. Take a hogshead, say holding sixty ?anons, and in this put 28 lbs. of fiesh-l.urned lime, P'^ur sixty ga Ions of watir upoA it, and let it stand forty-eight hours. Having stopped UD the holes in the pots deluge them with the clear lime water for a couple otCurf The worms will couie to the surface-we need not say "Catch 'era and kill 'em." Water the tan with the lime water, and clear the worms awav s tb"; appear. Then sprinkle some ammoniacal liquor from the gas-works on the tan, or a thick sprinkling of salt will answer the same Durpose You may then cover the surface with ashes, and if you put n"u pebMes 3 inches thick over the ashes the appearance will be improved and the drainage kept open. Gleichenlas need no syrmgiug if the atmo- sphere be kept moist ; but a gentle sprinkling retresbes them in hot dry weather. , ^ Tank-heating Cucumber-pits (J. HHl).-Vfe have not a word to say aga^sl tanks of any kind provided they are secure; but you had better hive all tanks or all pipes fur bottom heat, or both pipes and tanks-that is the nines passing thiough the tanks. But now as to the tanks one the e'nethoftbe^house:and2! ieetwide and If, inches deep, would be ample fo? bottom heat If you have two three-inch pipes for top heat-better two four inch Pipes hough. These should be heated independen ly ot each S3feis^t£n -^irc£^s!;?:o;i:jSi:i^x^5 S^vJ^z^™r^.^s-pi^f^?b"tr^^npr« top for sending moisture among the rubble when desuable. Vine-border (An Old Sulscribcr].--L<,t there be a thorough drainage, and then form itU a mixture of one half turfy loam ('"P-P't of^^P,^'^i^^|'- one quarter charred rubbish and crushed bones, and one quarter limey rubbish and bricks broken small. Naiif of Grape (— ).-The specimen sent is not the Muscat Hamburgh, bu^the \?hite Toka). We have mislaid your letter, and therefore cannot eive your nom dc plume. . Name op Sea Animal U Devonshire Eector;.-1he marine animal fonndinvLt numbers on the sands at Northam Buriws near^^def^rd ■3 an Acaleph belonging to the genus ^ eletta, eilhei ^. lunbosa or V. cyanea.— W. . , vt «■ Names of PLANTS.-Some of our correspondents are « 'he habjt of S'-g^J^S^S^^Km^^S^ve'r^oni^ll-rs yS£ ^^tifius,^^nativ.oft,,eCapeofGooaHope^a^^ Marvel of Peru. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHROMICLE. SMALL BIEDS EYED BY A POULTEY KEEPEE. for -which they -were sent. 260 JOITRNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. i September 29, 18C3. As we look out of the window where we are now sitting, ■we can see a man going round with a pail of meal from pen to pen. The flocks of sparrows, chaffinches, &c., follow him, by flying from tree to tree, and dropping into each pen as fast as he leaves it. Now, we are sure these birds do no good. There is no occasion for them to seek food. They are privateers, or rather priates, and take all that comes in theii- way. They thrive ixpon it. We swai-m with every de- scription of them, and we like to see them about; but it is often a great annoyance to us. When we have occasion to remark on the consumption of food, we are always reminded we have forbidden the destruc- tion of small bh-ds. We do not much approve of Indian corn for poultry, but in hard weather, and, indeed, partially all the year round, we are compelled, as a measiu'e of economy, to feed with it, to the consternation of our small pests. We follow the controversy in the Times with great in- terest, and the opinions of the amiable and talented men who have wi-itteu on the subject are entitled to the respect and admiration of aU. But it seems to us we want to hear more from practical people who deal with nature and with facts as they bear on pounds, shilUngs, and pence, divested of everything like poetry or sentiment. The time of year is rightly chosen, as any one who undertakes to diminish the numbers of his smaU bu-ds must do so in the approaching winter. It cannot be done at any other time. Nature has endowed them with the property of self-preservation. The gun, if one bii-d at a time be shot at, is too slow to accomplish destruction. A man kills a dozen, and seeing only few about the place, fancies he has "pretty much thinned them," but the truth is they ai-e crafty. After they liave been shot at a few times, they " skedaddle "' the moment they see any one ; but they are always on the look-out. Few people have any idea of the difficulty of extir23ating small birds by means of the gun. A gentleman complaining at a dinner-table of the bad sport he had when shooting, said he wished "black- birds and thrushes were game ; the swedes were full of them, and he could have killed thousands." His friend made a bet with him that he could not kill a hundred in the day, shoot one at a time. It was accepted, and he was allowed the whole day, but he killed only between forty and fifty. We knew an instance where a sick person wanted larks, and three men went out with gims to kill as many as they could. Notwithstanding it was in the winter, and they had hymdreds of acres of cultivated land to go over, the thi-ee did not bring in four dozen. We have seen a positive and literal bushel fuU of small birds killed in one day in a pen during a hard frost, when the ground was covered with snow. We believe smaU birds every year consume large quantities of food, for which they make no return. We have tried to side with those who preserve them, but we caimot. Our experience is, that when there is no fruit, they fly to the poultry-pens ; but that under all cii-cumstances they are at peace with grubs, catei-piUars, et hoc genus omne. MIDDLETON AGEICITLTUEAL SOCIETY'S POULTEY SHOW. This Show was held at Middleton on the 17th inst. The poultry classes were confined to bu-ds of the present year, with the exception of Tiu-keys and Bantams. For aU varie- ties, excepting Ducks, Geese, and Tui-keys, there were thi-ee classes — viz., cockerel and pidlets, single cockerels, and pairs of pullets. Considering the period of the year when this Show is held, the Committee were certainly justified in excluding old birds fr-om competition. At a Lancashire show it might have been anticipated that the Game and Hamburgh classes would have been most conspicuous for merit, but they did not contain so many pens of really good birds as the classes aUotte ,,j , c „j Hamborohs (Goldi)n-pencilled).-First, C. VI. Brierley, Rochdale Second, T. Wakedeld, Golborne. Chickens. — First and Second, J Hazelden Tyldesley. Highly Commended, iUiss H. Leigh, Bedford; S. Fielding, * HAMn^ROHs (SilTer-pencilled).-Second, J. Platf, Deane. First, -ffith- held. CTi:ctio.v of Poci.trv the Peopeett of one Exuibitos, hot XESS THAN FotE Lots.— Silver Jledal, W. Joyce. [This ought to he called "Joyce's Exhihition" we think.] ■WHITCHUKCH AND MALPAS POULTEY SHOW. This very successful Meeting took place on the 23rd iiist., and some veiy good specimens of every class were exhibited. Spanish.— First and Second, W. Woolley, Bunbury. Dorkings.— First, E. Tudman, Ash Grove, Whitchurch. Second, T. Bur- gess, Burlevdam. Game.— First and Second, T. BursesE, Burleydam. Highly Commended, Miss Sadler, Heath Cotlaire, Whitchurch ; J. Plate, Newton. Ducks (White Aylesbury).— first, J. Ravenshaw, Ash, Whitchurch. Second, J. Groucott, Haughion. Highlv Commended, T. Eavenshaw. Di'CKS (Rouen).- First, J. Thui>tield, Lighlwood Green. Second, T. Burgess, Burlevdam. Highly Commended, T. Burgess. Geese.— First, T. Burgess, Burlcyd.im. Second, G. Richards, Ash, Whit- church. Turkeys.— First, J. Lowe, Stockton Hall. Second, T. Burgess, Burley- dam. The Judge was Mr. Heath, of Nantwioh. PEEFOEATED ZINC FEAMES— DEIVING BEES IN BAE-HIVES. In reply to " A. B. C." I may state that I cannot see much difference between his perforated zinc frames and Mi-. Wood- biu-y's wooden ones. They would not facilitate his seeing the work a whit better — from the side window I mean. With regard to driving bai--boxes, I must say that I often resort to this practice as involving much less trouble than any other mode of expelling bees from such hives — that is to say, where the bees are in force. But then my hives ai-e chiefly located in bee-houses, and not in the open ail-, as Mr. Woodbm-y's are. This makes all the difference as to the ease or difficulty of removing bai'-combs. It is most troublesome work in a bee-house. For this reason I carry my hives out and drive them, which I find the quickest method. WUl JIi-. Woodbm-y pardon my questioning his opinion as to bees been ■' driven upwtrds " by simply remov- ing the top board of a bar-hive ? Certainly they will not be ■easily driven thus. — B. & Vf. PAETHENOGENESIS— EECtICIDAL ATTACKS ON QUEENS. Though familial- with the works of Bonner, Huish, Huber, Bevan, and Dr. Dunbar-. &c., it is only a few weeks since I knew anytliing respecting the doctrine propounded by Dzierzon of unmated queens being able to lay fertile or rather di-one eggs. I am anxious to possess Mr. Woodbui-y's •evidence, being somewhat incredulous respecting the state- ment. After hearing of parthenogenesis, I took the queen from a hive in order to get a few artificial ones. I got several just as they were about to leave their cells. Of two in particular, one was hatched on August 21st, and the other on the 23rd, two days after. The one born on the 21st was allowed free egress, and on the 1st of this month was jjut into a newly- made glass uuicomb ■with a goodly number of bees. They were fed liberally, and on the 7th I found her laying in the nevf-made comb. She proved very fertile, and at this mo- ment eggs (workei-s'), and sealed-np brood are abundant. But more of her immediately. The other queen, born on 23rd, was put into a box -with a little coml) and honey, and ■with nearly the same quantity of bees, and in a place where the temperature was about equal with the place where I had stationed the glass unicomb. Neither queen nor bees were allowed egress beyond the bounds of a room in which they could take an airing. Yesterday (September 21st), the queen being now twenty -nine days old, I dislodged her and the bees from the box ; but although a little comb was made, and some food stored up, there was not a vestige of life in the form of brood. If Huber be right, she is now destined to be the mother of drones only. I have not learned how long a time must elapse before she begins to lay in her un- impregnated state. But -with the queen bom on the 21st, in the glass imicomb, though so fertile, the bees acted strangely yesterday. Their becoming unsettled, and buzzing a good deal, led me to open the shutter, when I found a queen treated as a strange queen, and zUsely matted over by a cluster of bees. I thought, as there was no other queen in the hive, that a stranger had by some strange mistake entered, and dis- possessed the rightful sovereign. But, no: all my other hives had theu- respective queens, and it was their own rightful sovereign they were strangling. For several hours I laboured to relieve her, but the persecution never abated, and this morning she was lying almost suffocated on the bottom of the hive, firmly enclosed in a cluster of bees. I took her from them, fed and re-vived her, and after a lapse of six hours have again presented her. But she has again been seized and imprisoned as a stranger. I am confident they will kill her. During the time I removed her the bees were quite tranquil, andbusy emptying then- feeding-ti-ough. Queens evidently leave a scent behind them in their course, which the bees can detect several hom-s afterwards. Her track or trail, I apprehend, is the medium of making her presence in the hive most generally known. Can her scent or odour, then, have undergone some change in its character, offensive or otherwise, that the bees no longer recognise then- own mistress ? Or, when from any cause it is necessai-y to have a new queen, does the instinct of the bees lead them to dispatch the old whilst material for making the new is to be had ? — R. S. P.S. — September 23rd, after ten hours' confinement the queen has now in some measure regained her liberty. [Dzierzon's works have not been translated, but the evi- dence in support of parthenogenesis is detailed in Siebold's " True Parthenogenesis in Moths and Bees," translated by Dallas, and published by Van Voorst. In Nos. 25 and 30 of The Jottknai. of Hoeticultttbe are articles from my pen on the subject. The first recapitulates the facts and reason- ing in support of the doctrine, wliUst the second details my own repetition and verification of Siebold's microscopic in- vestigations, which reaUy place it beyond cavil. Huber was mistaken in limiting impregnation to a period of twenty-one days. I have known a delay of thirty days without any iU result. Your virgin queen reared and kept from the drones so late in the season may not — nay, most probably -niU not — lay eggs until the spring ; but lay fertile eggs she most assuredly -will, if you can keep her alive long enough — di-one eggs, if she remain a virgin — worker eggs, if by any chance impregnation should have taken place. Let no one fancy that I speak thus positively with- out sufficient wan-ant. I have repeatedly reared queens too late in the autumn for impregnation to be effected, and these have invariably turned out drone-breeders the follow- ing spring, after which a post mortem examination has de- monstrated the fact of their vu-ginity. Regicidal attacks by workers on their o-mi queens are much more fi-equent than is generally imagined. Many instances of this kind have already been related by me in the pages of The Jouknal of KoKTictrLTUEE, but I have not yet been able to fr-ame any theory by which they may be satisfactorily accounted for. There is no doubt that queens leave a track or trail behind them which is noticed by bees some time after- ■n-ai-ds ; but although bees recognise thefr own queen when brought into contact with her, it is by no means certain that they can identify the track or trail of any particular queen after she has passed. Besides, what ground have we for presuming a sudden change in the scent or odour of a yonng and fertile queen that is apparently almost wor- shipped by her subjects one hour, only to be rigorously imprisoned the next, and ultimately put to death without mercy by these same subjects, literally the children of her 264 JOUENAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDElfEE. [ September 29, isos. own body? Virgin queens appear especially liable to these assaults, but in their case they seldom terminate fatally. The period of then- retiu-n from a successful wedding flight seems also to be fi-equently selected for tJiese attacks, since more than once on releasing a young queen from im- prisonment I have plainly distinguished the undoubted sign of fecundation described by Huber. A matiu-e and prolific queen may survive the first few attacks ; but, when once commenced, they are generally repeated at uncertain in- tervals until they terminate fatally. This sometimes takes place with perfectly capable queens in the prime of life, and even occasionally at a season when their loss entails the certain desti-uction of the whole coramxtnity. As I said before, I can fi-ame no theory which will account satisfactorily for these apparently inexplicable facts. — A Devonshire Bee- KEEPEB.] HONEYDEW, &c. Colonel Newman has quite mistaken my meaning in supposing that I doubted the existence of honeydew, so- called ; I have never doubted it, having almost every summer seen something of it in di-y hot weather. I have also had ocular proof, once only, however, that bees will freqiient the oak when covered with honeydew. What I doubt is if bees often coBect it. Colonel Newman, I perceive, does not say that he has seen hive bees collect it, or how often he has seen them. My notion is that they collect it very rai-ely, and only in bad seasons, just as they frequented our rasp- berry bushes last summei-, when honey proper was scarce. Can no one else of your numerous apiarian readers thi-ow light upon the subject ? WTiat will Colonel Newman say if " B. & "W." with the convivial «<»i!. de -plume be the same individual as "A Country Curate " of former days — now in tru&h " a beneficed clergy- man?" To help him to recover the shock I will at once put in a disclaimer to the reading which attributes my assump- tion of the initials "B. & W." to my presumed aclmii-ation for or indulgence in that vulgar beverage, "brandy and ■water." I can assure him that I neither smoke nor tipple, and I hope he will believe me. lu a more charitable spirit the excellent Editor-in-chief of this periodical interpreted "B. &W." to mean "Back & Welcome," thus exjiressing his own kindly feeling at hetu-ing of my safe retm-n home from the antipodes. My own explanation remains to be COTTAGE GAKBENEE. ^5 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of of M'nth Week. 1 S Iff! ' 7 W 8 Th 9- F 10 3 11 Son 12. M ocTosER e.—ia, laes,, W. "Withering died, 1739. Gomphrenas flower. Autumri Crocus flowers. Cyciamena (some) flower. Lonicer born, 1528. Bot. 19 Sunday after, Te-ENitt. China Pinks flower. Average Temperature neur Louaon. Day. Night. Mean 61.7 44.2 ! 53.0 62.7 14.3. 53.5 61.2 41.8 51.5 60.2' 42.7 ' S1.4 61.2 43.8 1 62.5 61.7, 42.7 W2 60.3 42.2 51.3 Raia iD> laist 36 years. DayB, 30 L8 19 20 31 19, 20 Sun Rises. Iflaf a 12 6 13 6 15 6 17 6 18 6. 20 6 Sun Sets. h. 27 at 5 Moon Rises. m. k. morn. 2.5 0 30 I 3ft 3 ■43 3 52. 4 0 6 J^oon. Sets. ra. h. 33 2 Moon's Age. 21 24 25 36i 27 28 9 Clock aflisi: Sun. m. s.- Ila46. 13 3 12- 20 13 36 12 52 13 8 13 23 Day of YeaA 279 280 381 283 283, 281 2»5- From observations taken near London during the last tbirty-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 61.3°,, and its nigUt temperature 43.1°. The greatest, heat was 79^ on the 6th, 1834; and the lowest cold, 25°, on the 11th, 1360. The greatest fall of rain was l.OO inch. KING CEOQUET AND FLOWEK-BEDS. KEW inonarcli lias entered our sarden.s — -an innovator, a tyrant. Perhaps — for there is hope even in the worst cases — lie may be- come an improver, or rather he may cause improvement. His name is " Xing Croquet." Hun- dreds,perhaps thousands, of ladies are his devoted servants, and diu'- iag the last spring and summer have been, each iveck extending his. do- minions ; and, of course, where ladies take the lead gentlemen follow— bound thereto by duty— doubly bound by incli- nation. Your poetic readers will remember Cowper's lines descriptive of the wonders wrought by Brown, the rural designer of the last ceBtary— - '* Lo! he comes! Th' omnipotent magician. Brown, appears. He speaks— the lake in Irout becomes a lawn." Now, thia present tyrant, King Croquet, does not turn lakes into lawns, but at am' rate he is fast turning flower- beds into lawns. For instance : There is my neighbour the Vicar of Blankton, a rigid old bachelor, yet having many nieces. He therefore must make room for Croquet on his lawn ; and lo and behold ! his pretty flower-beds are nearly all gone. Is not Croquet a king f Then there is my new neighbour, the recently appointed Hector of Dashborough, in laying out his gai'deii (new rectors have new tastes, or, as the Scotch say, " New lairds mak new laws"), has just squeezed in two or three beds under his drawing-room windows, but King Croquet has all the rest of the lawn to himself. Is not Croquet a tyrant ? Then there is the dear old Incumbent of Thorp-Sleepy, with an austere wife, and six daughters exceedingly like mamma. Dear old man ! he told me in strict confidence and with a woeful smile, that " he was not only hen- pecked but chicken-pecked." Well, of course, his hobby — some nice low-standard Bose-bcds, are clean swept out of the way to make room for Croquet. But worst of all — for there is yet a worst — there is tlie Squire of Cham- paign, who has two little square flat fields of lawn on two sides of his house ; he, having given up one entirely to Croquet, has covered up the beds on the other side for uniformity's sake. Is not King Croquet a des]]otic monarch indeed? Wherever I look, on whatever side of of me I glance, I find that during this year's spring and summer Croquet has reigned supreme ; and, rely upon it, reign on he will for many a year, for C'roquet is a famous game, it amuses aU, and mammas of ku-ge broods of marriageable pullets tell me it is decidedly conducive to matrimony. But is there no hope ? Is all dark — no light in the picture ? Must Flora vanish ? I trust not. A tyrant has come indeed, but another is gone. For the last ten years we proprietors of small gardens have had the Gera- No. 132.— ToL. v., New Series. nium fever {usually of a, very Scarlet type) — forgive the pun, dear reader. Why, on my little lawn I had eighteen l3eds'. Happily I was not so deeply guilty as some of my neighbours, for I did not destroy my dear old mixed borders. But it has been Geraniums everywhere ; for Calceolarias, Petunias, and Verbenas have not borne their fit proportion, being more difficult to keep alive and healthy during the winter. My house has for seven months of each year been Geranium-i'idden — laundi-y fuU, study windows full, dressing-room ditto ; and if I go down into my cellar I knock my head against Tom Thumbs hung up (not for their sins as they ought to have been), from the ceiling, but to be planted out next year. Now I foresee that this Geranium rage wUl — must-— decline before King Croquet ; and is there much cause for regret if it does so decline ? I think not. Have w,e not been guilty of a kiud of floral elephantiasis, nurturing one kind of plants, " bedding plants," to the great injury of others' — one large swollen red Hmb or feature, say red nose, whUe the other features have dwindled and shriveUedl to- nothing ? At the same time let no reader think that I am inseni- sible to the great beauty of a bed of Geraniums. Far from it : but there are other flowers of equal beauty. Then, too, the bedding plants have become border plants, turning out the riglltml inhabitants — the fine, grand, time-honoured, herbaceous, shrubby, sub-shrubby, and bidbous plants. Also, let it be remembered I speak only of smail gardens^ not of the gardens belonging to our great, country houses, where there is room for everything in large portions. But as an example of what I think a garden owght to be, let me speak of one belonging to a near neighbour of mine. This gentleman would not allow his garden to be dressed ouit like a "nigger girl," "all red and flaring, but would preserve his borders at least from the intrusive bedding plants. I paid him a visit last April. His garden, though smaR', was a marvel of beauty. At every five paces of his long border there rose the stately stem and glorious foliage of the yellow Fritillaria ; at other distances other colours of the same kind of plants. Then there was evei-y sort of Anemone, from the wild white to the most richly-hued double ; " Polyanthus of un- numbered dyes " everywhere ; Auriculas ; patches of Arabis, and yellow Alyssuon, and many other fiowers whose names I know not. Indeed, my friend's border was exquisitely beautiful, and not the beauty of flower alone but of leaf. Now had my worthy neighbour yielded to the fashion of the day, this marvel of beauty which I beheld would at that time of the year have been merely a marvel of mould ; for say what one will, you cannot grow even bulbs with bedding plants, for if left they are in the way, and if removed they are unripe and so injured. This I found to be specially true of the scarlet Turban Kannnculus, though scarcely a bulb. I must add that I again saw my friend's garden in June, then in July, then lastly in August ; and at all times, owing to his cul- tivating the herbaceous and shrubby flowers, his borders looked pleasing to the eye. No. 784.— Vol. XXX., Old Sekies. 266 JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ October C, 1863. Now, I fondly hope that this despotism of King Croquet may result in good, by bringing us back to the dear old borders with a sufficiency of beds boasting the richest hues which beddera can afford, but not a whole lawn full of beds. King Croquet is fast driving, by force of his cannon- balls, bedding plants, if too numerous, to the right-about. The revolution has begun. " There must be room for Croquet," cry all the girls ; so there cannot be room for so many beds. King Croquet forces his way with his Arm- strong guns, for he is a warrior as well as a monarch up to the times. Let us guide the revolution, and it will become a reformation. Let the peer or the millionaire have various kinds of gardens — they have room, and give whole acres to bedding plants. Be it so : but we little people must make the best use we can of our Uttle means. So let us have various flowers, especially plenty of spring flowers and lots of Eoses, bedding plants, and border plants — no prominence given to one kind, but some of aU. " I'U take the showers as they fall, I will not ves my bosom ; Enough, if at the end of all A little garden blossom." But let it blossom, say I, with some of many kinds of flowers. — Wiltshire Ekctoe. MR. DONALD BEATON. Scarcely a week passes but we have inquiries from some of ovu- nvimerous readers respecting the health of Mr. D. Beaton. So frequent have these inquiries become, and so general does the interest in our good ft-iend seem to be diffused, that we feel it is necessary we should say a few words by way of satisfying tliis feeling of solicitude. We are happy to be able to say that Mr. Beaton is physically in the enjoyment of the most perfect health ; or, as he remarked the other day when we had the pleasure of visiting him, that he was " better now in health than he has been for the last forty years." The aflliction from which Mr. Beaton has been suffering is the rupture of one of the small blood-vessels of the brain. The elfusion of blood on the brain caused a slight disturb- ance of that organ, and affected liis memory in an unusual and very extraordinary way. While his memory was per- fectly retentive of the leading events of his life, although he could recognise every friend he had ever known, and was as familiar with the distinctions of plants as he ever had been, stUl he had lost the faculty of naming both his friends and his plants. He knew aU perfectly — he conversed freely on any and every topic, but when he came to the proper name of a person, place, or thing, his memory entirely failed him. StUl, however, he never withdrew even for one day from the active duties of his gai-den, and there, in his closely-packed little " experimental," ie might be seen from day to day and all day long tending anaeven talking to his garden favourites. In such a state it was necessary that Mr. Beaton should desist from literary work untO, by the absorption of the ex- travasated blood, the cause of the aflliction should be re- moved, and until sufficient time had elapsed to permit a healthy restoration of the functions of the parts. It is with much pleasure that we are enabled to assure our readers that this jjrocess has proceeded so far that Mr. Beaton is now enabled to name almost all his friends, and particularly those with whom he comes in frequent contact ; that he talks fluently about his plants, and that he is now rapidly progressing towards a state which warrants us in hoping that we shall again have his hearty and genial communications in these pages. Although Mr. Beaton cannot contribute to our instruction and amusement as was his wont, by those communications which of themselves have created and diffused the taste for the modern style of flower-gardening in this country, he is labouring stiU in another field. Who can tell what stores of beauty are yet to issue from that "experimental ?" We have ah'eady been charmed with those lovely "Nosegay" Geraniums which owe their origin to Mr. Beaton's skUl, amd, above all, are we indebted to him for that glorious " Stella," of which we heard one of our most eminent horti- culturibts say, " If he never raised anything else, that is enough to immortalise him." On a visit we recently paid we found Mr. Beaton " over head and ears " amongst crowds of seedling Geraniums of aU sizes, shapes, and colours such as we never saw before. Among these there were manj that attracted our notice by the immense size of the flowers, some of which were as large as a crown piece, and by the novelty and extreme richness and Ijeauty of their colours. One called Ossian has already been sent out. The colour is of the richest velvety deep scarlet, with an azure hue at the base of the petals resembling that hue seen in Cactus speciosissimus, but of course not so brilliant ; another called Helen Lindsay, a rose far excelling Kose Queen and Princess Alexandra both in size and colour ; and there were numerous others not yet let out ; Eebeoca, a charming rosy-lilac of great brilliancy and richness of colour ; Amy Hogg, a lovely magenta, quite novel in colour ; and Indian Yellow, a large rich-coloured flower of the colour of the yellow in Indian shawls. These are all novelties, perfectly unique, and unlike anything else that has hitherto appeared. In this way does Mr. Beaton spend his happy hours ; and there is but one regret mingled with all this pleasure, and that is that he is debarred from keeping up that weekly intercourse with liis friends, which has now lasted for so many years ; but he desires us on his part to state that to the many readers of The Journal op Horticcltuke who have listened to him so long and so patiently, he desires to be very kindly remembered. ENCOURAGEMENT TO LOCAL EXHIBITIONS. DEAL AND WALMER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. In asking you to depart from yoiu- usual rule of not in- serting notices of provincial exhibitions by giving place to a short notice of this Show held at the end of last month, I do so, not because I am personally connected with it, or because of the superior excellence of the articles produced, or because it was favoured by the presence of otir noble Premier and Lady Palmerston, but because there are a few points of encouragement connected with it which might lead others to attempt what we have done, and thus extend the advantages which flower shows do unquestionably confer on floriculture — advantages of which no stronger proof could, I think, be given than the progress our little Society exhibits. About five years ago it occurred to a few persons, most of them either small tradesmen or gardeners, to attempt a horticultural exhibition. They had great causes of dis- couragement in their undertaking. In the whole eastern division of the county of Kent there was not a single flower show ; while they had on either side of them, at Wingham and Eamsgate, instances of societies which had floiu-ished for a little while and then died out. However, they were not deterred, and, despite of difficulties, they prepared to launch their little boat. Knowing that I was interested in gardening, I was asked to give it a gentle push by deHver- ing a lecture on " The Pleasiu-es and Advantages of Gar- dening ;" but with that exception, and that was not much, the whole work of setting it on foot was theirs. As usual there were some little hitches — a shoal here and a rook there ; one with a crotchet of one kind and another with something else. However, they got faii-ly afloat, and their first show was held ; then in the following year another with increasing interest. They then began to be somewhat alarmed at their success — they had created their Franken- stein, but they were sadly afraid he would gobble them up. Their expenditure had increased, and they felt that if a wet day came they would be seriously affected by it. They therefore proposed to alter their constitution — to make two Committees, one a financial, to be composed of gentlemen, on whom would rest the responsibility of the money part of the concern, and the other a working Committee. These were after a time merged into one, out of the larger Committee a smaller one for managing the Show, &c., being formed. All have worked amicably together, and the Show has each year increased in interest ; and with the good feeling at present existing I have little doubt of its continuance. It is wonderful how great has been the stimulus given to horticulture in our neighbourhood by means of this little effort. There are now between forty and fifty exhi- bitors in fr-uits, flowers, and vegetables. Greenhouses and hothouses have been built in many instances in consequence. Persons who hardly knew one flower from another are now October 6, 1863. ] JOTIENAL OF HOKTICtTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAJIDENEE. 267 enthusiastic in their pursuit ; and the best varieties of the different flowers are to he seen in many a little garden and window where formerly nothing but the very commonest things were grown. This success is to be attributable to several causes. In the first place there has been a loyal working together of both the working man and the gentle- man. The latter have not assumed that patronising air which too often mars the very best intentions. They have felt, I believe, that as the real working-out of the details rests on the former, they should in their arrangements be considered as in a position of equality. Secondly, We have been contented with offering very small prizes : thus, our highest award is 10s., the lowest Is. This has not made any very heavy demand on the liberality of our neighbours, while it has been sufficient to induce the best growers in our neighbourhood (not for their own sakes but for then- gai-deners), to exhibit. "Where large prizes are offered it runs into a large sum, and often considerably tends, under nnfavoiu'able circumstances of weather, &o., to drag the Society down. If we were to go on and prosper we might possibly increase them, but at present we feel that we are safest by keeping in shallow waters. The time of year at which we hold our Show is not a favourable one ; but then we are obliged to wait for the advent of visitors who frequent our neighbourhood as a watering-place, and also for the time when out-of-door fruits, &c., can be obtained, without which many of our exhibitors would not be able to come forward; and the main object being the encouragement of gardening in its various branches, we are obliged to study in these little matters what may be most to the interest of aU. There are two classes of exhibitors. In the first are com- prised nurserymen, market-gardeners, and gentlemen who employ a gardener in whole or in part ; in the second those who cultivate their own gardens. This allows for the ad- mission of amateurs and cottagers, who contend in friendly rivalry together. Our Exhibition this year was much in advance of all its predecessors. Plants were well grown and novelties were exhibited; while in vegetables I think it would have been very difficult in any part of the kingdom to have beaten those brought forward. Our market gardeners are somewhat famous, and the soil is so excellent that they are enabled to produce most creditable specimens of their skfll ; while the interest manifested in the Show by all classes of the com- munity shows how much good it has done. These few facts are brought forward simply to encourage those who are anxious to do anything of a similar cha- racter, and who have been deterred by seeming difficiilties. As a clergyman I can bear witness to the good effects of such societies in a moral point of view ; and anything that tends to improve the taste and refine the minds of our middle classes, as well as to keep the poor man at home, ought to be hailed as a good. We are too much in the habit of considering merely the poor in our arrangements ; but I am inclined to think that the small tradesman and persons in a similar class of life ought equally to be the objects of our consideration ; and this is one of those agencies which unobtrusively, yet surely, have the effect of drawing away the mind, partially at any rate, from the grosser desires and feelings to those which are more matters of taste and refinement, besides giving an ever-fruitfol source of pleasureable enjoyment. — D., Deal. THE STYEIAN PEAK. We have long known the Styrian Pear, and we have all the time believed it to be one not possessing any particular merit. Our experience, it is true, has been obtained in the southern counties, and there this variety comes far short of what is required in a first-rate Pear. It happens, how- ever, that sou, situation, and climate affect in no ordinary degree some sorts of fruits ; and we were not surprised when our excellent and practised correspondent, Mr. HiU, of Keele Hall, so frequently extolled to us the merits of the Styrian Pear. We must confess to have had soijie mis- givings, notwithstanding the opinion of so good an authority, thinking that he spoke by comparison with some of the finer sorts of Peais in that cold Staffordshire climate with which he so successfully combats. Determined,' however, that his own opinion should not be the only argument brought to bear on the subject, Mr. Hill has sent us a box containing a few of these Pears ; and we must confess that, for beauty of appearance, there is no Pear we know to sur- pass them. The annexed figure is a correct representation of one of the small fruits. The colour next the sun is a brilliant vermilion gradually shading off to a bright citron yellow. The cheek is as if varnished. The flesh is yellow- ish, very fine-grained, tender, buttery, melting, and unusu- ally juicy. The juice is sweet, piquant, and with a beautiful vanilla perfume. This is a most delicious Pear, and unsurpassed by any other variety of its season, which is the last week of Sep- tember and the beginning of October. Had this Pear been grown in the south, where at this season there are so many of first-rate excellence to compete with it in point of flavour, it is a question whether we should have selected it as a variety of unusual excellence ; but coming as it does from a part of the country where it is with difficulty that the finer kinds of Pears can be grown, and where Peaches and Nectarines cannot be grown on the open wall, we hail the Styrian Pear as a valuable acquisition to our collections of fruits, for those hite and exposed localities. But to enable our readers to judge of this in all its bear- ings, we extract from Mr. HiU's letter the following valuable observations : — " I send you specimens of the Styrian Pear from a graft on the Citron des Caxmes. You will observe how beauti- fully coloured it is. We find it one of the best flavoured Pears we have in its season, and by grafting on several difi'erent stocks we have it much longer in succession. Grafted on Buchanan's Spring Beurre, it is fully a month later than on the Citron des Cannes. We have also Marie Louise and Althorp Crasanne grafted on the latter. They are always a few weeks earlier, and of excellent flavour. 266 JOtTENAl OP HOETICULTTTRE AOT> COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ OctoTier 6, 1863. "Che Styiian is not so much grown as it deserves to Tie. It ', is one of oiu' best Pears for a standard in this part. Strange ', to say, there is not one gardener in twenty that knows it. I feel curious to know what you think of it, as it is a Pear not generally met with. "We have BeiuTc' Eance and Easter Beun'e grafted on the Aston Toim. These "both come in much earlier and are better-flavoiu'od when worked on the Pear stock. They run smaller, and are always lietter coloured and of better flavour'. I have no doubt that many of our Pears would be improved in flavour by beiug gi'afted on the eai-ly kinds on a south wall. The same remai-k applies to Grapes. I find the Frankenthal makes the best ^teck for grafting, and the Barbarossa the worst." We should in conclusion remark that the lai'gest Pear sent was 9.1 inches in cu'cumference round the bulge, and 4^ inches long ; and we would advise all fruit-gi'owers north of the Trent who are possessed of a Citron des Carmes Pear, to cut it down and graft it with the Styiian. EESULTS OF POTATO-CULTUEE BY THE BEOMBOEOUGH POOL WOEKS HOETICtTLTUKAL SOCIETY. OuK little Society has now passed its ninth season with apparently undiminished vigour, and with equal interest on the part of individual members. The table below exhibits its progressive growth year by year. As it is purely a village Society, the members being almost exclusivgly of the working classes, it may be interesting to show side by side with the number of articles exhibited the value of the prizes disti-ibuted : — 1855 Total Number of Exhibits at the Two Shoics. lig Total Value of the Prizes Distributed. £ s. <1. 8 18 0 1866 294 9 14 0 1867 290 13 3 0 1858 618 22 14 3 1859 548 19 19 6 1860 453 19 16 0 1861 685 22 9 9 1862 G24 22 11 6 1863 559 22 8 6 The dry spring caused a great dimination of exhibitions at our first Show this year. Owing to oui- favourable position under Price's Patent Candle Company, the expenses of the Society are undoubt- edly less than they wordd be if we had to jiay tradesmen for aU services that we could not provide within our own body. But it should be understood that ours is a practical working Society, the Company not supporting it solely by their money, but very judiciously giving yearly a sub- scription equal to the amount raised by the members them- selves. The Society has Ijeen, undoubtedly, a means of much gratification, and of no little good in our village. It was, therefore, with much pleasure that we saw a similar Society commence operations in a village near us (Higher Bebing- ton), under the auspices of the worthy minister, the Eev. G. Troughton, and the leading parishioners ; and we hope to hail another Society still nearer to us before another season shall have passed. The Higher Bebington Society has just completed its third season with every prospect of future success and of increasing usefulness. Peeling as we do that the encouragement of horticulture has done so much for us, it is natural that we should ear- nestly desire to see similar societies established in every village in the kingdom. It is certain that the genti-y of our counti-y parishes have it in then- power to eflect much good by giving their patronage and a moderate amount of money aid to such societies, and by laying a foundation for ope- rations, where cottage gardens do not exist, by the appro- priation of ground for village allotments. But we believe that the work of such local societies might be made still more useftd by a system of communication between them — that is, by the ai-rangement of prizes to be competed for by the members of several societies. While the Eev. Professor Henslow, of Hitchin, was living we had the advantage of entei-ing the lists annually with his allot- ment-holders, for " the largest and best prodiice from sur- faces of gi'oimd of 36 square feet each, in Potatoes, Onions, and Carrots." We miist confess that the experience of his allottees enabled them generally to beat us, but the spirit of emulation and generous rivalry which this yearly contest excited, has done very much to raise om- horticrdtiu-al work and to promote its success. It Tvas from the results of the examination of pieces of ground entered for such prizes, that the tables published in The Cottage Gardener, No. 629 j and The Jouenai, op HoETictTLTTXRE, No. 32, Were compiled. We are vei-y anxious to renew for our own Society some such competition ; and should the perusal of this article bring us into communi- cation with some other Society like our own, we shall feel that we are indebted in no small degree to the good offices of the Editors. We ought to premise that the regulations as to the pieces of ground to be entered, in order to render the results as far as possible representative of fail' practical cultivation, are as foUows : — " Por this prize the Potatoes must be dug fi'om the ordinai-y plots. Potatoes planted in six-feet-square beds will not be admissible. The sui-face will be measured, in the case of Potatoes planted in rows, by taking such a length of one, two, or more rows as will with the distajice from row to row make up 36 square feet. In the case of Potatoes planted in ' butts,' the -width of the alley on one side will be added to the -width of the ' butt ' in calculating the space occupied by the plants." Oui' Potato-results were this year most satisfactory, not only as to "total produce," but also as regards the proportion of good tubers, as the following table mQ show : — AYKBAaE RESULTS CALCULATED FROM ALL THE PIECES TRIED. Number of Calculated Total Per Centage Pieces Prod tee in Tons per of Tear. EjramiTied. Slt^ tute Acre. Good Jubera, 18S8 Record lost. 12-1 85i 1859 Ditto 10 83 1860 20 10< Hi 12 67J 1861 61 V*: 1862 36 62 1S63 41 m 87 The next table exhibits the results of our ti'ials of the various kinds of Potato here, yeai' by yeai-, averages being taken from all the yields of each kind, except only when a solitary sample of any vai'iety was entered. Any such solitary results have been generally omitted, or else have been classed together under the head of " All other kinds." Kind of Potatoes. 1358. 1859. 1860. 1861. 1862. 1863. A-VERAOE. 1 Total Tons per Acre. Per Cent. of Good. Total Tons per Acre. Per Cent of Good Total Tons per Acre. Per Cent. or Good. Total Tons per Acre. Per Cent. of Good. Total Tons per Acre. Per Cent. of Good. Total Tons per Acre. Per Cent. of Good. Total Tons per Acre. Per ' Cent, of Good. York Repent 18 12 "n n 11 80 87 •98 82 86.§ 121 10 10 101 US 9 7 8SJ 754 «7 86 ■82 87 65 12i "n "6 9 10 ... : 4, 32 i's 113 lOi ll| 78 79 47 82 86 69} 86 12J 12} 12J 72 S8,( 82f se 813 ... lis} i'44 16 16 90 84 SO 83 14.33 11.66 1195 10,83 10.08 11.37 11.40 10.25 14.83 14.75 70 80 73i , 77 , 83} 83 69 87 82 Lincoln Red Keni',3 (various) Fluke Scotch Downs All other Icinds October 6, 1863. ] JOUEITAIi OP HORTICULTTJBE AKD COTTAGE GAEDEKEE. 26* TV) respect, therefore, both of total yield and- proportion of good, the " Scotch Downs " has at present the highest place with us. The second place would be closely contested by the "York Eegent," "Fluke," and " Arrowsmith's Seed- ling," the first having slightly the advantage. This^ kind has, however, ceased to be grown here, owing, probably, in part to its bad yield in 1860, and in part to the high opinion geneiully entertained of the Fluke in tliis neighbourhood. The largest yield this year was from a kind of Potato, new to us, called "Daintree's SeedUng." One piece was planted with it and gave a total yield equal to 22 tons per acre, with 90 per cent, of good. This variety bids iair to become a favourite notwithstanding its being rather deep- eyed. It was noticed this season both here and at Higher Bebing- ton, that very many lots of Potatoes were much " soabbedl" AVhen, our sis-feet pieces were tried there could not have been on an average one diseased tuber per piece. Since that time, however, we have had much rain, and the peculiar odour of the disease is now plainly perceptible in our allot- ments in the evenings, and many diseased tubers have been found in plots recently dug. TEAJN'SPLANTING LAUGE SHEUBS. Fkom time to time we have heard much upon this subject from different persons, and the residts of their experience have varied as much, if not more, than the different loca- lities from which they have written ; added to which, soils and subsoils have a material effect upon all transplanting opeiations. I have met with parties who strongly advocated that there can be no better period of the year for carrying out improvements and alterations about the grounds of any residence than early in the autumn. They base their argu- ment principally upon the fact, that during the summer months the eai-th becomes heated to a, much gi-eater depth than it is in the other months of the year, and assert that moving a certain portion of earth cannot be done without folly exposing it all to the action of the air, even if the time which the operation takes up is but very limited ; that in many instances shrubs will, under these conditions, begin to emit iresh roots in the course of ten days or a fortnight after their being removed ; and that they will often, after being so removed, start in the following spring quite as fresh and vigorous as those which have not been removed. This is one side of the question, and I imagine those who advocate this mode of proceeding reside upon gi-aveUy soils or chalky formations, where the drainage is naturally good, and where the soil never becomes satm-ated with stagnant moisture, which is sure to cause young and tender roots to become ruptured and ultimately rot away. Sti-ong soils never answer well for transplanting large shrubs or trees, and I consider it by far the best policy in all such to put in quite young plants. They may look very diminutive for a time, but it is fai' better to bear with this than to endeavour to give effect at once with much larger specimens. I have seen these have all the care and attend- ance for a season which could be bestowed upon them, by mulching the ground above their roots, and likewise every now and then giving them copious supplies of water ; but after all, many of them would soon become little better than sticks, not half clothed with leaves. After a. season or two, notwithstanding every precaution, it would be found necessary to replant with healthy young plants. These may, and often will, for a season or two, almost stand still, not growing more than a few inches. Nevertheless, they will generally retain aU their freshness ; though a few of them may lose most of their leaves, still they never present that unsightly and skeleton-Uke appear- ance-which is sometimes seen as the result of planting much larger specimens in strong soils. From having had to operate ia very different soils in various parts of the country; I may sately state that it is very difficult to transplant large specimens in strong soils ; hut in those which are Ught and open, especially when, the subsoil is of a simUar character, I have repeatedly trans- plaaited large shrubs in the middle of. summer, and when the weather was a little showery for a week or two they merer lost a leaf by tliG operation. In a soil of this chaiacter I a few years ago assisted at the removal of many Oaks from 30 to 45 feet high, and the operation was generaHy very; successful. The trees were cut round at some distance from the stem eighteen months before removal ; all the roots wliich were put forth where they were cut were carefully preserved, aa well as the ball of earth ; but no practical man. would recommend this being done in strong adhesive soUs, however desirable it might be to produce an immediate effect. I consider it safest to use young and healthy plants, and these, in the long mn, wiU give the greatest satisfac- tion.— G. Dawson. FLGEA IN THE COTSWOLDS ; OR, "WHAT MAY BE DONE AT THE WOKKHOTJSE. I HAVE perused with much pleasm-e, since becoming a reader of your periodical, the descriptions and accounts of various gardens, public and private, which have from time to time appeared in its pages ; and having been invited by a friend to view the garden of the workhouse of the town in' wliioh he resides, I left this queen of watering-places (Chel- tenham) to spend a day or two mth him in the quiet town of Northleach, distant thirteen miles, and lying high up in the heart of the Cotswold HiUs. Hundreds of your readers woidd, I thiak, be encouraged to take heart and persevere in thefr favoxuite pursuit, if they could see what I saw there accomplished by taste, energy, and patience devoted to a charming hobby. Although now a very quiet town, fr-om the railways having driven all the coaches from the road without coming near enough to atone for the change, Northleach was, when wool and not cotton was the great manufactiu'e of this country, a place of considerable impoi'tance, as is still testified by its endowed Grammar School, still forward in a career of useful- ness, its fine chm'ch, with its beautiful porch, and brasses of the wealthy woolstaplers, standing in an attitude of prayer on the wool-bags, with the emblems of the lamb and the< shears, to denote the trade of which these departed worthies' were not ashamed. Nor is the town quite likely to be for- gotten, by the agricultm-al world so long as the Cotswold'' breed of sheep maintains its character, and young rams of fifteen or sixteen months old sometimes fetch JEIOO at the annual ram sales, at which open house is kept for all comers; whilst to sporting readers will occur the names of some of' the horses sent out of the training stables of Mr. Isaac DajL- and Mr. Golby. But it is to as humble a place as the workhouse I am. desirous of calling your readers' attention. At the farther end of the town, on the Oxford Eoad, stands this edifice, the^ scene of the gardening labours of the worthy master, Mr. Oughtou. To compare small things with great, I may say this building is situated somewhat like the National GaUeryi- (but is minus its pillars, porticoes, and pejiper-boxes), being- raised up from the road, and entered by a flight of steps ini the centre. The terrace whence idlers and men with cats'- logues look down upon the passers-by, forms here the garden, on reaching which 1 was ready to acknowledge it was worthy.- of all the encomiums of my friend who had brought me to' see it, and who, having just retiimed fi'om a holiday trip ofc about two thoiisand miles, declares he has seen nothing* approaching it. For a comparatively small space there is; certainly such a display of colour from plants in beautiful' condition, an-anged with great taste and judgment, as I have never seen surpassed even at Sydenliam. The garden, is laid, down in grass, and to the right a«. border runs down each side — one laid out ribbon fashionj with Cerastium, Lobelia, Calceolaria, and Heliotrope, and the other with the same and Geraniums, i>lanted on thai cross ; whilst the centre consists of five oval beds, placed) alternately lengthwise and across. To the left on entering;, the garden is laid down with turf, but instead of the oval' beds we have a large central bed 60 feet long and 10 feet, wide, edged/ with Cerastium, followed by Lobelia, Calceolaria, Geranium Brilliant, and a central row of Trentham Bose; The effect of this bed viewed from the end, where some steps- going down to the little chapel admit of a view being gained! of the whole length, with the foi-m of its transverse section^ is something superb, whilst the old grey wall over v,-luclu it. iS: thus viewed is resplendent with ^the blossoms of tlie- 270 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTITEE A^T> COTTAGE GAEDENEE. t October 6, 1863. Tropaeolum Eclipse. The borders in this half of the gai-den are again j^lanted with Geraniums, Verbenas, Calceolarias, and Heliotropes on the cross. The beauty of the garden is fiu'ther enhanced by a rastic fountain (home-made), summer- house (ditto), and a neat little greenhouse, 24 feet by 11, chiefly the work of the same industrious pair of hands. Wherever there is a spare space or an unoccupied corner, up goes a rustic bed in stages, or some little device, to be ren- dered brilliant when the bedding season comes by its ap- propriate plants. A space around the little chapel, rather lower than the rest of the garden, had Spergula planted on it, to form a tiny lawn; but Spergida has gone to the rubbish- heaj), and " Requiascat in pace," says Mr. Oughtou, and so say I, and welcome the bi-illiant flowers in its place. Looking with ever so critical an eye on this display, including the cai-pentering, glacing, fountain, and gardening, with the little forcing-place and large fruit and kitchen gardens at the back, the visitor must be astonished at what an enthu- siastic amateiu' can, almost unaided, accomplish. And when I say to my brother readers of The JoaaNAi, of Hof.ticul- TUKE, many of the suggestions from whose pages I here saw admirably can-ied out, "Go and (try to) do Ukewise," I must add, for thefr encouragement, that ten years ago the worthy workhouse-master hardly knew one end of the spade from the other.— J. P. K. EECOLLECTIONS OF A VISIT TO NOETH EODE HALL, THE RESIDENCE OP MBS. DAINTRY. This beautiful place lies about fom- mUes from Congleton. five or six from Macclesfield, and is easy of access by the North Stafibrdshire EaEway, as there is a station at North Eode, about one mile from the mansion. Having frequently heard of the high-keeping of the gardens at North Eode, and only residing some half dozen miles from the place, I resolved to make a personal inspection of them. I, there- fore, journeyed into the neighbourhood in the early part of the month of May, and can testify that the reports were so far from being Ul-founded, that the gardens much exceeded my expectations, and I promised myself another visit further on in the summer. I paid my second visit towards the end of August, and, notwithstanding the previous wet week, I found every part of the grounds in the best possible con- dition. I entered the pai-k near to the village church, a beautiful edifice, with everything surrounding it indicating wealth well expended. The park is well studded vrith trees, many of them young in years, and some few bearing the marks of a venerable old age. On entering the gardens I met with Mr. Chaplin, the re- spected head gardener, near to a number of span-roofed houses. The first we entered was the stove. In this house there are some fine specimen plants of Croton angustifoUum, Croton variegatum,CaladiumBelleymeu, Caladium argyrites, Caladium bicolor splendens, &c. I also noticed some well- grown Ferns down one side of the stove, which was devoted to their growth, and the warm end was set apart for Orchids, all of which were in the highest luxuriance. There were also a few pets of Anoectochilus growing under bell -glasses, and which were doing well. Cyanophyllum magnificum would soon be too lai-ge for the house, and Alooasia metaUica was growing into a beautiful specimen. Some of the flowering plants were going out of bloom, and many others were being gi'own on to supply the conservatory which adjoins the mansion. We next entered a low span-roofed house, which was ofi- gfinally built for a pinery, but that idea having been aban- doned, it has been converted into a house for the growth of greenhouse plants to supply the conservatory above named. This house is plain in its constriiction, yet admirably adapted for the purpose to which it is devoted. Of the kinds of plants grown, I may mention Fuchsias, Geraniums, exhibition and Zonale varieties ; shrubby and herbaceous Calceolarias, Chorozemas, Epaorises, Boronias, Con'eas, Hibbertias, Leschenaultias, Tremandras, &c. Near to tliia house were also cold pits, in which were gi'owing large quan- tities of Primulas and Cinerarias of the best named sorts. We next entered a small Melon-house, in which were grow- ing the second crop of Melons on the same plants that pro- duced the first crop. Judging from the appearance of the second crop wliich was fast approaching maturity, the first must have been extraordinai-y. In the Peach-house the fruit was nearly all gathered, but the crop had been excellent. From the Peach-house we entered the vineries ; and here a scene presented itself which I must confess my humble pen is unable to pourti'ay : the crops of Grapes, especially the Muscats, were such as any gardener in the kingdom might be proud of. A more regular and even crop I never saw, the rafters were filled from top to bottom, and with as great regularity as if the bunches had been placed on by the hand of an artist. The benies were extremely fine, and well coloiu-ed, and the bvmches of large dimensions. In close proximity to the vineries is a large span-roofed house, and, as Mi'. Chaplin informed me, he puts it to innu- merable purjjoses. In the centre was a trellis running the whole length of the house from the bottom to the top ; to this trellis were trained two large Apricot trees, planted in the open border, and loaded with beautifiU finiit. In autumn large quantities of late Cauliflowers and eaily BroecoUs are lifted in the kitchen garden, and brought into this house, which may be termed a winter kitchen garden. The Broccolis are succeeded, I believe, by a crop of Potatoes that come in early, herbs, salads, &c. After the vegetables are over, it is used for Azaleas, CameUias, &c., that have bloomed in the conservatory, as these plants will not do very well out of doors in this neighboui-hood. On leaving this house we walked thi-ough the kitchen garden, and here I noticed that the crops of vegetables and the smaller fruits were excellent : in fact, they were as good in proportion as the more choice fruits were under glass. Mr. Chaplin is not one of those who in striving to grow good crops of Grapes, or fine specimen plants yet neglect their kitchen gardens, in which you can scarcely see the vegetables for rank luxuriant weeds. On the coutrai-y, every part of the kitchen garden was scrupulously clean and neat, with scarcely a weed to be seen. The varieties of Strawberries grown were Oscai', Elvers' EHza, Wonderful, La Constante, Sir HaiTy, and a few others that escape my memoiy at the present moment, the latter invariably bear- ing a heavy crop. I also noticed a niunber of young Apple trees, of the variety Lord Suffield, trained as espaliers, which were doing well, some of them bearing nice crops of fruit. Mr. CliapUn told me that he considered this Apple invaluable at this season of the year, and more particularly in a season like the present, when the Plum crop may be considered a faUiu'e. As soon as the smaller fruits are over this Apple comes into use, and keeps up a supply till nearly Christmas. From the kitchen garden we passed on to a winding walk by the bi-ink of a beautiful lake leading to the pleasure grounds. On this walk there are many objects of interest to the visitor. The fii-st was a nice boat-house by the water's edge containing three good-sized boats, each capable of conveying large parties on the lake. A little distance beyond the boat-house to the right was the ice-house. On this alone an article might be written. It is simply con- structed, and yet effective. I suppose it then contained upwards of fifty tons of ice. A little further on was the hai-dy fernery and rockery, where the water was trickling down the stones, and where a lover of these beautiful plants would wish to linger. Leaving this lovely dell we came on to a raised terrace walk, where the undulating scenery is stretched before the eye like a charming panorama. Far away in the western horizon might be seen the lofty heads of the shire hills ; in the north a hazy glimpse of the Derbyshire hills might be seen in the neighbovirhood of Buxton, while to the right in an easterly direction might be seen a MU called The Cloud — so called, I shoidd imagine, from its immense altitude — and which I suppose is the highest hiU in the county. From this walk we entered the flower garden, and here a blaze of beauty meets the eye of the spectator, every bed was full to overflowing. Mr. Chaplin has a happy method of blending coloirrs, and I do not remember two beds being planted alike. Mr Chaplin had tried the Coleus Verschaffelti as a bed- ding plant, but it would not answer, and it had been suc- ceeded by the Amaranthus melancholicus ruber, and that October c, 1863. ] JOUKNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AJSID COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 271 was scarcely giving satisfaction, it being too dingy in its appearance. I noticed a bed edged with Geranium Mrs. Poilock ; and it may be satisfactory to know that this chai-m- ing variety retains its robustness of habit and its beautiful and delicate hues even in this northern district. I also noticed another bed edged with Centaurea candidissima, which looked well, and another edged with TussUago far- fara fol. variegatis ; but the Hon of the flower garden was Tropffiolum Eclipse. Mi'. C'hapUn intends, as soon as the summer-bedding plants are over, to fill the beds with early- flowering bulbs and spiing-flowering plants. In the reserve garden for this purpose I noticed large quantities of English and German Wallflowers, Arabis alpina, Arabis alpina va- riegata. Forget-me-not, &c. On the neatly-kept la^vn ad- joining the flower garden was a fine specimen of the noble "Wellingtonia gigantea, its height was 15 feet 6 inches, and the circumference 30 feet. The last, but not the least, place we entered was the con- servatory, and here another sumptuoixs treat was in store, all the plants were well grown and in good health. I coidd neither see a plant deficient in vigour nor an obnoxious insect. I may say in conclusion, that Mr. Chaplin was extremely kind and obliging, and spared no pains to point out every object of interest. — Quintin Eead, Biddulph. THE GAEDENEES' BENEFIT SOCIETY. The Gardeners' Society is fast becoming the topic of the day amongst us. Even in this locality, remote as it is, there are some who are willing to become supporters of it mth all its rules, and wish for its being speedily in operation. There are others who say that it will never be accomplished, because in many of our good places there are men acting as head gardeners who never served a regular apprenticeship, and who cannot stand before some of the Society's rules t conse- quently their support is lost to the Society, which accounts in a measure for the supineness shown by gardeners in not coming forward to promote the proposed Society, so much needed. A third party will say, " Bah ! are we going to be wheedled out of our hard earnings to swell the corporation of our beef-eating neighbours, or to Une the pockets of our canny N.B.'s by having them placed over us in this Society ? " This is the substance of several gardeners' discourses, which, to my knowledge, have taken place in this neighbour- hood. They invariably have come to the conclusion that if fair play is given in this respect by placing Irishmen in office in the Irish branch of the Society they wiU cordially give their support to it. — B. Cabboll, Gardener to J. S. Kinoan, Esq. SOME OF THE GAEDENS WORTH SEEING. BEDFOEDSHIES. ^'ame. Proprietor. Gardener. Town. ■Wobarn Abbej .... Duke of Bedford Unknown Wobura Wrest Park LordCowper Mr. Snow Sileoe StockwoodPark.... J. Crawley, Esq Unknown Luton ESSEX. Easton Lodge Viscount Maynard Mr. Moffat Dunmow ThorndonHall Lord Fetre Mr. Crawford. Brentwood CranbrookePark... J. Davies, Esq Mr. Reckell ... llford HEP.TFORDSHIKE. Kimpton Hoo Lord Dacre Mr. Coi Hitcbin Hyde Lionel Amea.Esq Mr. Terry St. Albans Bigh. Leigh W. Jay, Esq Mr, Beesley ... Hoddesdoa SUFFOLK. Hardwick Lady Cnllum Mr. Fish Bary St. Edmunds Ickworth Park .... Marquis of Bristol Unknown Bury St. Edmunds RendleshamHaU... Lord Rendlesham Mr. Allan Woodbridge The Vital Powek of the Wheat Plant. — At the Lewes Flower Show in August was shown a bundle of com contain- ing 1551 ears, the produce of a single grain sown in June, 1862, by Mr. Spary, of Chailey. The object was accomplished by what is termed " propagation," or division and redivision of the root. The plant raised from the single grain was divided three times, and replanted. In a month or so these plants were redivided and again planted, and in the follow- ing spring a third division of all the plants was made. The result is a good armful of com, containing 1551 ears ; and as each ear may contain from twenty to eighty grains, the yield of a single grain so treated becomes something in- credible.— (Brighton Cruardian.) [In connection with this we may remark that Mr. Spary has sent us four specimens of Wheat fairly ranking among the finest we have ever examined. Of these Spary" s Prolific takes the lead as a Eed ■V\Tieat, quite equal to the lead taken by HaUett's Pedigree among White Wheats.] NEW BOOK. A Handbook of Vine and Fndt-Tree Cultivation, as Adapted to Sir Joseph Paxton's Patent Hothov.ses. By Samuel Heeeman. London : Bradbui-y & Evans. This is a pamphlet of a little over fifty pages, the main featui-e of which is a treatise on the patent hothouses in- troduced by Sir Joseph Paxton, and furnishing instructions for then- management and the ci-dtivation of the crops they may be employed in growing. The book is illustrated with some excellent woodcuts, representing residences in con- nection with which these hothouses have been erected ; and we must own, that if the buildings produce effects as elegant as they do in the engravings, and we see no reasons why they should not, we should advise our readers who have not seen them to make inquiry about these new houses. The instructions given for the cultivation of the Vine and other crops are essentially practical, and are evidently written by one who has himself performed all the operations before he attempted to instruct others. TODMOEDEN BOTANICAL SOCIETY. A meeting of this Society was held on September 7th, at which Dr. Eigby, of Chorley, Lancashire, was elected a member, and Dr. O'Brien, of Eimis, Co. Clare, Ireland, an honorary member. Among specimens of flowering plants lying on the table were the lovely Eucharis amazonica, Eondeletia speciosa major, Meyenia erecta, a species of Cypripedium, LiKum lancifoUum rubrum (fine), several good varieties of Petunia, Caladium, Maranta, &c.. Aster tripoUum, Chrysanthemum arcticimi, and PotentiUa dubia. Among Cryptogams were the beautiful new crested variety of the Eoyal Fem, Os- mvmda regalis cristata, Platyloma Brownii, Pteris tricolor, P. argyrsa, and P. cretica albo-lineata (three of the hand- somest variegated Ferns), Asplenium trichomanes incisum, and a new and most beautiful variety of the same species, provisionally named serratum. It is a much-improved sub- a;quale. Both varieties form part of the botanical " spoil " resulting from the Society's recent Irish excursion, and are, we believe, the special pickings of Messrs. NoweU and Stansfield. Mr. A. Stansfield, jun., brought fine examples of the Holly Fem, called often the "Scotch Fern," from its being almost peculiar to the Scottish mountains, lately gathered on CraigcaUeach, one of the heights of the great Breadalbane chain ; also fronds of a quite peculiar form of Asplenium viride, gathered in the same locality ; together with a beautiful variety of Athyrium Filix-fcemina, with the pinna; uniformly and most elegantly tasselled, from the neighbourhood of Aberfeldy. After the transaction of business, conversation turned on the late excursions. Of these there have been three since the last meeting of the Society— the first on the 14th ult., to the highlands of Scotland, the party comprising Mr. J. Fielden (York), and Mr. A. Stansfield, jun. ; the second, on the 22nd ult., to Coimty Clare, Ireland, the party comprising Mr.* Stansfield, the President, Mr. NoweU, the Vice-Pre- sident, and Mr. Patman, the annalist of the Society, T. Aitkeu, Esq., of Bacup, and Mr. Greaves, of Hebden Bridge ; the third was a minor excursion. The highland explorers had the disadvantage of bad weather. They managed, however, spite of almost incessant rain and storm, to rob the " old hills " of not a few of their botanical secrets. Pity that one cannot find a means of propitiating the meteorological powers before starting on a botanical tour!— above all, a botanical tour in the highlands, where the clouds, attracted by the giant hills, distU almost constant floods. Not that any true botanist need to, or 272 JOtJRN'AIi OF HOKTICULTTTKE A^TD COTTAGE GARDENER. [ October 6, 1863. indeed does, take to his heels at the sight of a hand-big- cloud — what are cloud and storm to him, seated in the crevice of a I'ock, mentally engrossed with some beautiful and rare mountain flower ? Notliing ! — only there is the small matter of the body, which is friiil. Walking ankle- deep in wet bog, or scrambling over slippeiy rocks, one slip from which would bring you to " where adieus and farewells ai-e a sound unknown," may be pleasant for ten hours running, but for ten days — hardly. Our neophytes did not retm'u fi'oni the Scottish alps with- out bringing with them that loveliest of aU jiurely alpine British jjlants, and which is as rare as it is lovely, occm-ring only in one locality in Britain, the Breadalbane mountains, the Myosotis alpestris. It is described as grooving in greatest abundance on almost inaccessible cliifs from 300 to 400 feet in pei-pendicular height on the western side of Ben Lawers, and here it was that our young botanists gathered it, though under circiuustanoes of extreme difficulty and peril, the natural difficulties being heightened by the inclement weather. Ben Lawers yielded them also the rare Ceras- tium latifolium, C. alpinum, Saxifi'aga nivalis, S. stellaris, S. hypnoides, S. 023positifolia, S. aizoides, Arenaria rubella, Salix reticulata, S. herbacea, Gnaphalium hyperboreum, Thalictrum alpinum. Arbutus Uva-ursi, Sedum angliciun, S. telephium, Sibbaldia procumbens, Helianthemum canum. Campanula rotuudifoUa flore albo, Epilobinm alpinum, E. alsinefolium, Polystichiun lonohitis, Polji^odium alpestre, Lastrea alpina, L. cristata spinulosa, Cystopteris iragilis fm-cans, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum angustatum, A. adi- antiim-nigiiim variegatum, Lycopodium selago (nearly a foot high ), L. selaginoides, L. alpinum, and a host of others. The Irish excursionists, with not more enthusiasm animat- ing them than the Scotch, were more favoured in the im- portant matter of weather. As a consequence, they returned from Erin with vasciilums filled to overiiowing — overflowing, too, with botanical treasiu'es of the rarest kmd, such as would repay the young enthusiast a jom-ney round the globe. Among the discoveries of the party were not wanting, as we before intimated, plants of that exquisite and rare British Tern, Asplenium trichomanes ineisum, the fortunate finders being the President and Vice-Pi'esident. "We can imagine the loud and jiibilant shouts that arose on these occasions. Oru- excursionists trod over acres of the rare Dryas octo- petala, beautifully in bloom ; found in quantity the rare Gentiana verna (than which, what British plant, occiuTing at a moderate elevation, is more beautifid ?) ; saw tlie ex- quisite Maidenhair Fern in all its gloi-y and pride, its ineffably delicate fronds being measured by the foot ; saw the crenate Scale Fern 1 to lA not inch, but foot; the beautifvrl Marine Spleenwort weU nigh 3 feet, &c. Ajnong plants found in plenty, in addition to the above, we may mention PotentUla iiiiticosa, whose myriad golden- yellow blossoms coloured the landscape, Ai-butus Uva-ursi, Kubia peregrina, and Asperula cynanchica. Rarer pha?no- gams, too, were found, such as Trifolium medium album, Saxifraga decipiens. Prunella vulgaris alba, Cochlearia an- glica, Ifeottia autumnalis, Epipactis rubra, and Euonymus europajus foliis variegatis. In regard to eiyptogams, "no end of good things" were the rich reward of the searchers. We enumerate a few : Polypodium vidgare semilacerum, Lastrea Filix-mas stenophyUa, Polystichum aculeatum new and beautifiil crested variety not yet named, Lastrea «mula in quantity, Scolopendrium v. Malcomsoui, S. v. fissUe (?) S. V. sagittato-projectum, S. v. Martiniana (new), with a score of other varieties of Scolojiendrium, scalpturate, multifid, crenate, sublineate, supralineate, mm-icate, lobate and un- dulate, too numerous to give in detail : they comprise many wholly new to the British pteridologist. Mr. Nowell, algp, had fiilly average success in his sp^cialite, bringing away with him lai'ge numbers of rare Musci and Hepaticae. The Irish excursion was not wanting, either, in amusing incident and adventure, as the Vice-president's account of it, given in his usual naive manner, attested. In the wilds of Clai-e, be it known, every botanist is taken for — a doctor ! Great is the gathering of the ailing of both sexes on the appearance of the mystical spud and vaseulum. GEOuirD ViNBRrES. — These very useful and interesting Etiiictures are coming largely into use. This season Black Hamburgh Grapes have ripened in them as far north'as Manchester. An amateur at Stretford, near- Manchester, has within the last fortnight cut from two canes only, each 7 feet long, fifteen liunches of weU-ripened Black Hamburghe weighing about three-quarters of a pound each. — Vitis. LAPAGERIA EOSEA OUT OF BOOKS. About three years ago a friend kdncUy presented me with a very strong and fine plant of Lapageria rosea, because, as he said, he had not heat enough to grow it well. I treated it to plenty of heat, and it veiy shortly died, probably ft'om very Ijad management on my part. Not liking to be beaten I purchased another plant of Messrs. Veitch in the spring of 1862. It was very small, and I placed it in a wai-m green- house till about the middle of June, when I stood it out of doors in a sheltered jDosition all througli that summer, during which time it made two long and strong shoots from the base. About this time last year it was put back in the same greenhouse ; and this year, in June, it was again set out. About a fortnight since I found several bloom -buds on it, and one just expanding, and I can now show what few have seen — viz., a plant of Lapageria rosea in bloom out of doors. I trouble you with this to convince those who, like myself, may not have all the conveniences they might wish for tc enable them to follow their favourite pm-suit, that it is possible to have this beautiful plant in perfection when very small, and with no more trouble than is requisite to grow an Azalea or a Camellia.' — An Ajiateuk, GmUlford. SMALL BIEDS. We extract the following interesting letter from the Times. " In a retired corner of the French department of the Inter- national E.xhibition there lay a long row of mysterious and rather dingy specimens, which in spite of their unattractive appearance, well deserved a study, even in the midst of the bright and beautiful objects by which they were surrounded. " They consisted of a very numerous collection of the stomachs of birds with their contents spread out on sheets of paper, with a written description of their contents, the time of the year in which the bird was taken, Kni other particulars. They were the work of M, Florent-Prevost, the celebrated French naturaUst, who for thirty years has been prosecuting his inquiries of this Icind, and endeavouiing to convince his countrymen of the suicidal folly of which they are guilty in the persistent and in- discriminate slaughter of these beautiful little creatures. " In taking steps to impress particularly iipon our younger people in Australia the mistake they commit in destroj-ing these birds which we arc taking such frouble to introduce among them, I have put myself in communication with this kind-hearted and enlightened philosopher, and by his aid I have prepared a tole- rably complete list of what is eaten during each month of the year by the more common of our birds. And I think, that this list is worth study at home ; when the destruction of small birds by poison and other means is attracting Parliamentary notice, and the uudenied facts are brought before the public of whole tracts of forest land laid waste, and whole eoimtries reduced to famine, by the thoughtless removal of the only effective check upon the ravages of the insect tribe, we really ought to dwell upon that point. The little bird is our only safeguard against a pest, which but for it would soon become overwhelming. As Michelet very well says, — ' The bird can live without the man, but the man cannot live without the bird.' Were we all to resolve ovu'sclvcs into one great span'ow club we shoidd all in a few years perish from famine. " I trust, then, that this list will be found useful ; and I woidd suggest to parents, and teachers particukarly, that it might advantageously be cut out and preserved for future use, that the minds of young people might be properly impressed with ideas of the usefulness as well as beauty of the pretty little things that enliven our hedgerows and hop across our paths. " Lontj-eared Old. — Januarj", February, and March, mice. April, cockchafers. May, rats, squirrels, and cockchafers. June, mealworms, beetles, and shrew mice. July, mice, ground and other beetles. August, shrew and other mice. September, October, and November, mice. " Short-eared Owl. — January, mice. Febniary, harvest mice. March, mice. April, crickets and harvest mice. May, shrew mice and cockchafers. June, beetles. July, field mice and October 6, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 273 birds. August, field and shrew mice. September and October, field mice and beetles. November, common and field mice. December, mice, spiders, and woodlice. " Barn Owl. — January and February, mice. March, April, May, and June, field mice. July and Aug^t, mice. September and October, field and shrew mice. November, mice and the black rat. December, mice. " iJoofc.— January, field mice and larvcc or gi-ub of cockchafer. February, field mice, grub of cockchafer, and red worm. March, grubs and chrj'saUds. April, slugs, worms, and chi-ysalids. May, beetles, grubs, prawns, and wireworms. June, cock- chafers, eggs of birds, and wood-boring beetles. July, young birds, beetles, &c. August, birds, field mice, weevils, crickets, and grasshoppers. September, grubs and worms. October, grasshoppers, ground beetles, and young animals. November, young rabbits and dift'eront insects and grubs. December, dif- ferent animals and decaying substances. " Magpie. — January, grub of cockchafers, young beetles, and com and seeds. February, the same and berries. March, the same. AprU, crickets, water rats, and mice. May, cockchafers, glow-worms, and fruits. June, the same and weevils. July, beetles and field mice. August, birds' eggs and weevils. Sep- tember, beetles, worms, bailey, and grasshoppers. October, grass- hoppers, carrion beetles, and green locust. November, grass- hoppers, and kernels of fruits. December, grubs of cockchafers, yoimg rabbits, and berries. " Jay. — January, grubs of cockchafers, acorns and berries. Februaiy, chrysalids, and different grains and seeds. March, grubs, insects, wheat, and barley. April, grub of beetles, and snails. May, cockchafers and locusts. June, eggs of birds, cockchafers, and beetles. July, young birds, tiies, and beetles, August, the same, acorns, grubs and dragon-flies. September, the same and fruits. October and November, beetles, slugs, snails, and grain. December, the siune, haws, hips, &c. "Starling. — January, worms, grubs of coclcchafers, and the dung of animals. February, grubs, snails, and slugs. March, and Api'il, grubs of cockchafers, and snails. May, the same, and grasshoppers and fruits. June, flies, aind grubs of various flies and fruits. July, grubs, freshwater shell fish, and fruits. August^ flies, glow-worms, and various beetles, and liuit. fSep- tember, gi-een locusts, grubs of carrion, beetles, and worms. October, worms and beetles. November, snaiU, slugs, and grubs. December, 'hips, haws, and buds of trees. "Golden Oriole. — January, various chrysaiKds. February, chrysalids and worms. March, grubs and beetles. April, ground beetles and weevils. May, beetles, moths, butterflies, and grubs. June, grubs, grasshoppers, bees, and chen-ies. July, cherries and beetles. August, weevils, chrysalids, fruit, and worms. September, beetles, grubs, worms, and fruit. October, grubs, herbs, chrj'salids, berries, and barley. November, ants and worms. " Crested ifooyoe. — January, worms, grubs, and snaUs. Feb- ruary, March, and April, the same and birds. May, ilies, dragon- flies, and gi-ubs of May-flies. Jime, water and land snails, flies. &c. July, August, September, the same and woodlice. Octo- ber and November, snails, fiiea, and spidei-s. December, the same and worms. "Green Woodpecker, — JTa/nuary, ants. February, worms and grubs of ants. March, slugs, beetles, and grubs of ants. AprU, ants and worms. May, red ants and grubs of wasps. June, bees and ants. July, red ants. August, red ants and worms. September, ants and worms. October, grub of ants. Novem- ber, grub of ants and bees. December, ants. "Reed., Thrush. — March, grubs and insects. April, aquatic grubs. May, grubs of house and dragon flies. June, worms, grubs, flies, and May-flies. July, beetles and dragon-flies. August, worms, eggs of insects, and beetles. September, aquatic insects. "Great Titmouse.— January, beetles and eggs of insects. February, grubs. March, winter snails, beetles, and grubs. AprU, cockchafers, beetles, and bees. June, cockchafers, flies, and other insects. July, the same. August, insects and fruits. September, seeds, grasshoppers, and crickets. October, berries. November, seeds. " Blackbird. — January and February, seed, spiders, and chry- salids. March, worms, grubs, and buds of trees. AprU, insects, worms, and grubs. May, the same and cockchafers. June, the same and fruit. July, August, and September, all sorts of worms and fruit. October, grubs of butterflies and worms. November and December, seeds and chrysalids. " Shylark. — January, seeds of wild plants. February, seeds .and com. March, various insects, worms, seeds, and corn. Atptil, insects, beetles, and corn. May, flies and various insects. June, grasshoppers, worms, and com. July, crickets and grass- hoppers. August, insects, corn, and seeds of weeds. September, seeds, worms, and barley. October, November, seeds, com, and berries. December, seeds of wild plants. " Redbreast. — January, insects, worms, and chrysalids. Feb- ruary, insects, worms, and woodlice. March, chrysaUds and worms. April, moths, eggs of insects, and cockchafers. May, grubs and beetles. June, flies, moths, spiders, and worms. July, moths, butterflies and woodlice. August and September, the same and worms. October, eggs of insects and aquatic in- sects. November, worms and chrysaUds. December, chrysaUds, grubs, and eggs of moths. ' ' Nightingale. — February, grubs and worms. March, the same, and chrysaUds and ground beetles. April, flies, meal- worms, beetles, and red worms. May, butterflies, cockchafers, weevUs, and grubs. June, spiders, wood-boring beetles, and worms. July, worms, grubs, eggs of locusts, grasshoppers, moths, and flies. August, locusts, glow-worms, weevils, and grubs. September, locusts, beetles, worms, and dragon-flies. October, grubs, worms, and beetles. November, flies and worms. " Linnet. — January, Tebruary, March, and AprU, seeds and berries. May, June, JiJy, August, and September, the same and insects. October, November, and December, berries, seeds, buds of trees, and fruit. " Chaffinch. — January, seeds, berries, and kernels of fruit. February, the same and com. March, the same and insects. AprU, moths, flies, and insects of various Idnds. May, cock- chafers, grubs, and eggs of insects. June, the same and wUd fruit. July, the same and grubs of beetles. August, moths and butterflies. September, eggs of insects, worms and seeds. October, wood-boring beetles and insects. November, seeds. December, seeds and buds. '• Greenfinch. — January, Februarj-, and March, seeds, berries, wUd fruit, worms, &c. AprU, May, June, July, and August, the same and insects. September, October, November, and December, seeds, berries, worms, and wUd fruit. " The Sparrow only lives near the habitations of man. It varies its food according to circumstances. In a wood it lives OB insects asad seeds ; in a vUlage it feeds on seeds, grain, and larvje of butterflies, &c. ; in a city it lives on all kinds of dibris. But it prefers cockchafers and some other insects to aU other food. "In looking over this list criticaUy our sparrow-kUlers will probably thiok that M. Florent-Prevost has here ;ind there allowed the advocate rather to interfere with the philosopher, and they may miss some articles of food which it is notorious that birds consume ; and in his zeal to show the amazing quantity of insects destroyed by his little protiges the proportion of fruit, grains, &c., also consumed perhaps scarcely accords with our less accurate observation. StUl these results are obtained by actual inspection, and we may be sure that everything enumerated has been f >uud. And we mu.st remember that these e.xpwimeQts were made in France, and that the food of hii'ds wiU always t)e largely influenced by local peculiarities. " It is worth mentioning that a study of M. Florent- Pre vest's specimens showed another important fact ranging beyond the above Usts — that many birds, namely, living a good dea'l tipon grain, feed their yoimg entUely on insects, so that they are serving us admirably in this way at a season when insects are most rife, even when the examination of their own stomachs would lead us to denounce them as little better than mere plunderers. " And here I woiUd draw attention to the value of another 8$t of experiments recently reported in the papers, as suggestive of the incredible quantity of insects destroyed by such agencies. A gentleman took some yoimg Eobins and fed them himself, weighing them and their food accurately day by day, to discover what quantity a young bird required to keep it in a growing and healthy condition. As he went on he became more and more astounded at the results ; and he found that, taking the common earthworm as a representative of the food, the daUy supply required to keep a young Robin in its highest health, laid end to end would reach the almost incredible length of 14 feet. This seems amazing, but those will not hesitate to believe it who have watched the incessant activity during the long hours of a sum- mer's day of a pair of birds with a nest of yoimg. But let U3 put this and that together when we wish properly to estimate the services of this invaluable Uttle thief-catcher, and with a true conception of the part he has to play among us, let us do what we can to save him from the wanton shot and cowardly poison. " I am, Sii', your obedient servant, " Bejcn-m Club. " EDWAED WILSON." 274 JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTTIEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. [ October 6, 18CS. KEELE HALL. (Continued from page 237.) The centre-house or consei'vatory is 50 feet long, 25 feet wide, and 15i feet in height, deeper ridge-and-furrow roof, and glass all round except against the back wall. The house was well stored with fine plants of Camellias, Aza- leas, Oranges, &c., and the roof was rich with streamers of Passion-Flowers, Tacsonias, and Bignonias, so as to give to the whole great ease and naturalness of expression. The entrance front of the eonsei-vatory was guarded by two very large variegated American Aloes in dark tubs ; and just behind them on two pedestals to the steps, stood two Humea elegans, one on each side. These were in pots and were, therefore, so far out of character, for nothing less than an elegant vase ought to have stood in such a position. A walk from this front leads to the park and its nice timber. Looking back at the conservatory (fig. 1), the two Agaves, the feathery Humeas behind them, and the flaunting streamers and other vegetation inside, made it a pleasing picture. The vineries and the consei'vatory in this range were slightly shaded during the summer by what Mr. HiU prefers to all other modes — as much patent driers is mixed with linseed oil as to give the necessary shade, trying several pieces of glass untE satisfied. It stops on all the summer. A Uttle potash and soft soap in water wiU take it olf : liut care must be taken not to touch the paint, or that will be taken off likewise. As a lean-to at the back of this conservatory range is the general show-house for flowers. It is 100 feet long, 11 J- wide, 11 J high at back, and 8 high in front. The back air is given through a chamber in the wall, and passes out through the south Bide above the glass as already described. The stages are formed of slate, supported by columns as elegant as they are economical, being eai-thenware socket-pipes 1 foot in diameter, the socket forming the base of the column. This house was very gay with Fuchsias, LilieB, Geraniums, &c., and we can fancy its appearance in winter with Camellias, bulbs, &c. ; and in spi-ing when the fine col- lection of Azaleas is in bloom. Opposite the east end of this house is a walk with a ribbon-border on each side lead- Fig. 1. ing up to a fine Peach-wall, which here forma the northern boundary of the garden, over which some fine Chestnuts and some beautifid Scotch Firs break the sky outUne. Proceeding stOl onwards in the same direction, we come to the orchard and niu-sery gai-den, being at present a regular repository for fruit, shrubs, Eoses, and flowers of all kinds ; but which by the removal of the niu-sery part is to be devoted chiefly to fruit, Eoses, and beds of flowers mostly for cutting from, with massive beds of such useful under- skrubs as Lavender, &e., of which large quantities are wanted. The quantity of Cloves and Carnations, &c., here grown would surprise even some regular dealers in these things, and all for cut flowers. This garden is divided near the centre by a grass walk 8 feet vdie and 200 yaj-ds long, with a ribbon-border on each side, and planted the same, beginning at the gi-ass with Scarlet Geranium, then Caie's yellow Calceolaria, which does well here, and brought all the associations of om- old friend Mr. Caie and the grouping in the flower gai-den at Bedford Lodge, Camden Hill, vividly before us. We think this Calceolaria is named Kayi, but that is a difierent thing, and was sent out by the late Mr. Kay, of Finchley. The Calceolai-ia is backed by the Purple Zelinda Dahlia, and that by Gladiolus, bac-ked again by a good row of HoUyhocks. The Gladioli'were not then in October C, 1863. ] JOtTENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 275 bloom, which rather made a blank. This pleasant walk is again crossed by a noble avenue of beautiful Deodars, each plant being as like and as massive as its neighboxirs, looking almost as if a mould had been made to fashion them. These were planted twenty yeai-s ago, and were raised and re- planted in their present regular position twelve years ago. They now stand from bole to bole across the avenue 33 feet apart, and from bole to bole in line 25 feet apart. Not one was injured at Keele in 1861, though hundreds were de- stroyed in the more sheltered valleys, as at Trentham and other places. As already noted, the frosts of May had rendered the fruit more scarce than usual; but the appearance of the standai-d and goblet-trained Apple trees, the pyramidal Pear trees, &c., denoted that in a fine season there would be no lack of fruit. Though we only passed a few hours at Keele HaU, we could have spent a day cheerfully in this general repository alone, there was such a thorough blending of the useful with the beautiful. For instance : In one place in front of these trained trees were fine collections of Eoses, half standard and dwarf, grown in beds 4 feet wide, and surrounded with Cotoneaster microphyUa edgings, cut 6 inches high and 6 inches across; and then in another place were numbers of beds surrounded with Box similarly managed, and containing collections of herbaceous, and the best bedding plants. In one place, we think here, was a fine piece of Calceolaria canariensis, dwarfer in habit and a more soft yellow than Aurea floribunda. The west side of this garden is bounded by a fine HoUy hedge, and a broad grass avenue separates it from a row of Limes which are to be cut and trained to a definite form. At the north- west comer is a beautiful gate, and a broad gravel walk goes from it along the north side of this garden, backed by perhaps the finest Holly hedge in England. This gate was glazed with strong glass, the first gate I had ever seen so treated. I have omitted to state that from the entrance to the stables a fine view is obtained of the conical-headed Wrekin mountain. From this gate a fine panorama of landscape opens up, terminating with the Welsh mountains ; but the currents of wind were frequently so strong that the pleasure of walking was here greatly diminished, and hence, to keep the wind out, and enjoy the views too, the gate Fig. 2. has been glazed. This fine hedge (fig. 2) is 200 yards long, 24 feet in height, slopes back out of the perpendicular to the top fully 6 feet, is about 6 feet wide at the top, and we pre- sume is about 20 feet wide at the bottom. After passing the eastern boundary an evergreen arch across the walk from the hedge forms a very pleasing view. Returning eastward still, we come to the bowling-green flower garden, bounded on the west side with a good Yew hedge, and on most other sides with huge masses of noble plants of the crimson and scarlet Rhododendrons, which here escaped the frost of 1861, though destroyed in many lower places. In this garden the beds are in a panel below the walks ; and though aU were fall and good, the magenta Verbena alluded to already and the Gazania splendens and Golden Chain Geranium were much above the average. From this garden we wind through masses of Rhododendrons, Hollies, and other evergreens untU we reach a broad terrace walk above the level of the first kitchen garden waU,%nd from which the whole can be seen at a glance ; but if we wish for something more retiring, we have only to step backwards a little to reach the centre of a fine avenue of floiirishing Spanish Chestnuts, though not come to their best, the avenue being 400 yards long, and many of the trees girthing from 13 to 14 feet at 2 feet from the ground. Passing onwards through a rockwork and fernery on a lower level, we reach the mansion ; and if a shade of regret has JOXJENAIi OF HOETICULTtTEB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ October «, 1863. oome over us, it is that the fine Deodars, noble Chestnuts, ancient-looking Scotch Fii-s (girthing from 9 to 11 feet), and Sycamores (girthing 14 feet), do not come in as pi'ominent objects li-om tlie principal windows. Here we had the privilege of meeting tiie worthy pro- prietor and being shown by ln'm over the principal rooms of the fine new mansion, most of wliich ai-e yet not quite fui-- nished. The ceiling of the drawing-room is gorgeous in the extreme, and the wood-cai'ving thi'oughont must be second to few or none. We were almost sorry to find that some of the most elaborate gilding in the rooms was placed over the most beautiful carving in wood, thus almost putting the latter at fii-st sight in competition with gilding over plaster, &c. The gikUng seems to hide at fu-st sight not only the rare taste of the ai-tist, but the libei-ality of the proprietor in securing it. There did not seem to be any- thing of a maie-beheve, but everything to be real in the elegant adorning of these line suites of rooms. Mi-. Sneyd told us that at lus advanced age he had no idea of bviildiug a fresh mansion on the site of the old one, but merely wished to renew a part, but that when that was about to be done the architect sm-prised him by stating what he deemed then to be an impossible fact — that the foundations of the old house were giving way, though it was based on the sandstone rock. It was, however, true. The rock in places had been thin, with a bed of sand beneath, and there the weight of the house had cracked the rock and caused it to subside. The whole mansion is a beautiful piece of workmanship, built chiefly with a hard pink sandstone found on the estate, reUeved with the white Hollington stone found near Alton Towers, and the joints are so fine as to be just discernible. At the south front there is a nice flower gaa'den in a sunk panel with a graceful fountain in the centre. The beds in the panel were massive and weU filled, and sun'ounded with coloured gravels, which told well. A series of composition- beds were placed on each siile on the higher level, and what was planted was equaUy good ; but we were prejudiced against any mere masses of colom-ed gravels instead of flowers where these form part of the same composition. Besides the general timber, this garden is backed by fine specimens of different-coloured Hollies, Hemlock Sipruce, &e. Prom the teiTaces and lawn on the soulfh-east^ Kide fine views are obtained of the woods of Trentham and Hendhiu-eh. On the bold swelling gi-ound to Hhe eastward the belts formed by Brown have been broken up and now ai'e graced with masses of timber. In the bottom vale beneath yon a nice lake has been formed out of sevei'al disconnected fish-ponds, and the fine contrast of foliage around that lake afforded by Oak, Holly, Willow, and Hemlock Spruce, Deodai-s, Scotch Pine, and Pinus pinastei- is s-uoh as a painter would love to study. On an out-jutting comei- prominent fi'oin the lawn, and on the ojjposite side of Hhe lake, is a small jriece of rockwork made of the red sandstone. Tliis has been done so closely to resemble nature as to deceive one of the most accomplished geologiBts of the age. Kesiding at iShs haU, he came hurriedly liram his bed-room one morning aaid thus accosted his worthy host : — " AHow me to congratulate you. Ml'. Sneyd, on having coal on your property." " Indeed !" "O yes, there is no mistake about it. Whenevei- the red sandstone dips in a certain way there is always coal." " Always ?" "Yes, it is a sui'e infallible sign." ""Wlint if the blocks have been placed in that particular position ?" With this anecdote we take oiu- leave of Keele Hall, and that reluctantly, as, besides being gi-atified by the superior gardening we went to see, there seemed to be over the whole place such an atmosphere of repose, of comfort, and of happiness. This is not to be wondered at, as, from aU we saw and heard of new farm buildings, new or greatly im- pi'oved cottages, new post-office, new schools, good reading- rooitis, good libraries in connection with Mudie's for new publications, to which the working people have access, and the liberal support of a Keele fai-mers' club, where encourage- ment is given to every kind of rural and agricultural im- provement, it required no great penetration to perceive that there was a practical every -day exemplification of the in- scription on the new mansion, " Suis quam sibi," and of that stiU more homely family motto over the doorway, " Thank God for all."— E. Fish. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. The decline of the late crops of Peas, Beans, Cauliflowers, &c., should be followed by then immediate removal, and no decaying or useless vegetable matter at this moment should be allowed to cumber the ground. If the vacancies be not directly required they had better be trenched, rough-dug, or ridged for exposure ; the distribution of manure to be governed by a due consideration of the late and futm-e crops. For instance : the Onion-quai'ter has probably received ma- nure sufficient to carry a crop of Cabbage without fiu-tiier assistance. Strong-growing Peas and Beans impoverish the land; quarters which have been thus occupied might be appropriated to early Potatoes in due season. Cauliflowers, to prevent the destructive attacks of slugs on the young plants of these and of Lettuces mix soot and lime together in equal portions, and dust them over with it once or twice weekly. The Lettuces that are just coming into use should be lifted with balls and placed in frames. Cabbages, make good the blanks that may have occurred in the plantations of these and of Coleworts, and keep • a lai'ge reserve to niaike plantations in spring, as weB as to make good the blanks caused by the winter. Onions, look over the bulbs that have been stored, and remove any that are beginning to d«cay. Potatoes, see that the disease is not making its appearance amongst them, but if it has let them be picked over without loss of time. Turnijys, thin the late sowing ; but it is not necessai-y to leave them at so great a distance apart as the spring and early summer sowings. FLOWER GARDEN. As we have lately experienced a few cold frosty mornings the more tender kinds of plants, which are to be saved, should be taken up at once. Vai'iegated Geraniums wQl not bear much frost; and where the plants have to be wintered in situations which are not veiy suitable for them, they should be taken up before they ai-e injvu-ed, as they will be much more liable to damp off and die back in winter if the wood fee injm-ed by frost ; to be kept over the winter just as they ai'e lifted from the beds, and to be cut back early in spring after stai-ting them into growth, when the cuttings will root freely in heat, and will make useful-sized plants by jilainting-out time. Proceed, therefore, with pot- ting such plants with as much dispatch as possible, and if practicable a little ai'tificial heat should be ajjplied to help them to root before winter. The earliest opportunity may now be takrai of removing all such plants as Auriculas, Cai'- nations, Fansies, &e., that ai'e gi'owing in pots, and that have been temporai'Oy protected from the rains, to their winter quarters ; a cold di'y fi'ame, where provision is made for a ch'cvilatiion of afr beneath and amongst the plants, is one of the vei-y best situations for the jjm-pose. But very little water to be given to these plants dm'ing the winter, as they only requii'e just sufficient to prevent their tissues from drying up and shrivelliog-, and the di'ier they can be kept without this taking place the safer will they be fi'om injury by frost, and the more healthy and vigorous to produce good blooms in the proper season. They should have ah' admitted to the frame daaly, unless the weathea- is very severe and boisterous. Th^ will requu-e a moderate degree of protection in the most severe part of the winter; but otherwise the protection of the frame and sashes wiU te sufficient. Unless when alterations are in hand the pi-incipal work in this depai'tment for the present wUl be mowing and clearing, and if anything like neatness is to be maintained, sweeping up of loaves will soon requu-e daily attention ; also see to getting the gi-avel walks thoroughly cleared of weeds and moss ; roll them frequently when wet to keep the sur- face hard and smooth. PKtriT GARDEN. The principal routine here will consist in gathering and storing all the late varieties of Apples and Peai's. The present is by fai- the best time for lifting and transplant- ing very vigorous unfruitftil trees on the walls. Apricots, Peaches, and Nectai'ines may be so treated witli gi'eat ad- vantage, and after the operation is completed they should be well mulehed-up for the winter. Fill up all vacancies on the walls with young trees. Never let tliis be left until the spring if it can jiossibly be avoided. Where root-prun- ing is considered neoeseai'y, now is the time to see to it. October 0, 1663. ] JOURNAL OP HOETICUXTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 277 GKEENHOUSE AND CONSEEVATOET. Begin gradually to diminish tlie quantity of water, and water the plants in the morning so as to have the houses dry dm-ing the day. Do not, however, suppose that growing plants require to be dried-oii' during the donuant season : what they want is sufficient to prevent their drooping, saturation, of coui'se, being avoided. Conservatoiy and stove creepers trained under the roof will require an additional ciitting-in to allow mox'e light to pass to the plants underneath. Such as have done blooming may be well thinned-out at once, and the remaining shoots tied somewhat closer together. Hardenbergias, Kennedyas, and other eai-ly spring-flowering climbers should, however, not be distm-bed at this season, or it wiE materially aifect their beauty in spring. The present is a good time to procure from the niu-series or from the reserve gai-den a supply of Rhododendrons, Belgian Azaleas, and Kalmias for forcing ; select plants well set with bloom and of the desh-ed size. A portion of the stock of Roses, Lilacs, Honeysuckles, &c., in pots, may soon be placed in a pit to have a slight advance of temperatiu-e. The Chinese Primroses to be removed to a shelf in the greenhouse as near the glass as possible, with plenty of aii- at all favom-- able opportunities. Herbaceous Calceolarias to be treated in the same manner and duly attended to -svith water. Cine- rai'ias to be protected from the ravages of green fly by fumi- gations of tobacco or by syi-inging with tobacco water. PITS A^'D FEAJTES. Regulate the general bedding stock, and get the majority established in small pots. Give as much air as possible, and resti'ict the supplies of water to matiu-e the growth as far as possible. All temporary pits for then- accommodation should be completed by this time, glazing and other repaii-s must be forthwith finished. Common mats aflbrd scarcely sufficient protection to the half-hardy plants in store-pits. For such pui'poses a stock of straw or reed mats should be made in wet weather. W. Keane. Domes OF THE LAST WEEE. KITCHEN GAKDEN. Kept moving the surface of the ground amongst all grovring crops. Find that most of the gi-ubs have done then- worst amongst Cabbage plants ; made sure to kfll evei-y one before he had a chance to reach a second plant. Just moved the ground among such young plants with the point of a fine-tined fork. No vermin in the ground like to have it disturbed about them. Threw some lime and soot over and amongst the foliage of Celeiy, as gi-nbs, slugs, and worms had begun to mark the leafstalks, which interferes with the look of the vegetable, at least when partly dressed, even if the heart is all sound and iintouched. In stiff soils a layer of ashes round the stalks in earthing-up is a good thing, as none of these interlopers care much to pass through it. Fresh sawdust we have also used, but we cannot say we like that for two reasons : it is not good when undecomposed, or uncharred, for mixing with the soil, and if obtained at all from resinous wood it is apt to taint the Celery. Much the same may be said of tan. Next to ashes, the produce of a chaiTed heap, burnt clay, &c., ai'e very good for keeping the stems of the Celery clean. 3Ien used to it put in the earth loosely fii'st, then the ashes, &c., round the stem, and squeeze the earth to the ashes, so that no great quantity of ashes is wanted. For those not used to the work two pieces of sheet iron or zinc 1 foot or 15 inches long, 6 inches wide, and rounded so as to resemble half-cu-eiilar drain-tiles, answer very well. The pieces are placed loosely on each side of the Celery plant, the inside filled with ashes, and the earth applied outside in the usual way, when the iron sheaths are drawn up and taken to another plant, the soil being firmed-up to the ashes. Six of these semicircular pieces, it matters not what they are made of, will do for a row of three plants across a bed. Piled up into a long heap lots of prunings, thinnings, &c, collected during the summer, covered with weeds, earth, and sawdust, and set fire to it to char part, and bum up the other into ashes, clay being the outside coveiing. Took the opportunity to do this when our employer was from home a couple of days, as, if the wind set towards the mansion, it would carry with it something different from the spices of Araby. Such heaps, however firmly you may tread them, emit a great smoke at first, but as the heat di-aws the contents into little compass, and they are more securely covered, the smoke and the fiimes afterwards given off are of less consequence. In opening such heaps when, the charring is about done, the men should cover their nose and mouth with a thin handkerchief, and keep their head away from the opening as much as possible. A little care- lessness is quite sufficient to make the workers iU. Turned over also a rubbish heap in which waste vegetables, &c., had been placed, adding short grass, brushings of leaves, and sunUar materials, chiefly at the bottom so as to cause the whole heap to ferment considerably, which has a ten- dency to destroy vermin and seeds of weeds, whilst the top being covered with earth prevents most of what is valuable in gases from escaping. Proceeded with routine much as last week, pricking out, j)lanting out, and commenced third piece of bed in the Mushroom-house. FKUIT gakden. Much the same as last week. Gathering, storing, and preparing for alterations, &c. OKNAMENTAL GARDEN. Here, also, the work was much the same, in housing, cleaning, taking cuttings off, and gathering seeds, marking Dahlias, placing a Uttle earth round stems, cutting down the forwardest Hollyhocks, the stems to be charred, &c. the chief work is, what we alluded to last week — preparing for the Calceolaria cuttings. We have just prepared ten Uo-hts of a cold pit, which though very shallow has the bottom below the ground level. To g\iard against too much damp -we placed about 9 inches of dry litter over the bottom, such as that fr-om which all the droppings and shorter straw had been shaken clean for Mushroom-beds. This long dry litter, therefore, was used more as a security against the damp rising than for any little heat it would yield. A little shorter and older litter was placed over the long stuff and firmly trodden. Upon that was placed about 3 inches of half-decayed leaf mould, or three-parts decayed leaf mould, mixed with the ridcUings of the soil used, with a baiTOwload of lime previously added, and all well mixed together so as to settle any worms or slugs there might be in the leaf mould, &e. This was also fli-mly trodden. On this was placed 3 inches of sandy soil also well trodden again, being made of scrapings from the roadside a year old, rather loamy soil from the roadside, with about one-fifth of road-drift — mostly sand fr-om flints ground by wheels of vehicles. This when levelled was covered -n-ith about one-quarter of an inch of that sandy road-drift, beaten all over with the back of the spade. The soil being dampish we give no water until the cuttings are inserted, and the one watering will serve them a long tune. On Thursday we commenced putting-in the out- tings — say. It inch apart, and in rows less than 2 inches apart. We wiU not be so successful as usual if we lose 1 per cent. Here the cuttings will remain protected fr-om severe frost iiTitil they are given more i-oom in temporary beds in the beginning of March. Some of our Calceolarias are still as fine as they were in the middle of July or the beginning of August, and striking late and keeping cool we consider the main causes of success. Will make arrangements for taking- Ln some of the tenderer subjects fi-om the flower garden. As for Scarlet Geraniums in general, cuttings struck before the middle of October generally do as well if not better than old plants taken up unless good treatment can be given to- them.— R. F. TRADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. John Cranston, King's Acre, Hereford.— Besm^tiw Cata-: logve of Roses. 1 SGS-lSe*. Fafrhead & Son, 7, Borough Mai-ket, hondon.— Catalogue of Dutch Bulbs and Flovjer Soots. William Paul, Waltham Cross. — Rose Catalcgne. 1863-64_ Sutton & Sons, Reading.— 4uteiim CatajA)gue of Bulbous Floiuer Roots, Geraniums, Fruit Trees, S^c. Smith & Simons, Argyle Arcade, Glasgow. — List of Gladioli. 1863-186'1. JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAilDENER. [ October 6, 1S63. COVENT GAEDEiSr MAEKET.-Oct. 3. The market continues well supplied with all kinds of fruit and vegetables, and tbe demand is pood for the season. Grapes, Pines, and all hothouse fruit are quite sufficient for the demand. Pears are abundant, and Ribston Pippins are now brouRlit in larger quantities. Madeira Oranges are comins in, and Lemons are falling in price. The best Cobs are bringing 659. per 100 lbs. Capo Broccoli Is now making its appearance. Of Potatoes the supply is slill ample for all demands, and prices have undergone no altera- tion. Apples I sieve 1 Apricots doz. 0 Figs doi. 1 Filberts ifc Nuts 100 lbs. 55 Grapes, Hamburghs. lb. 1 Muscats lb. 3 Lemons 100 8 Melons each 1 Mulberries quart 0 FRUIT. 3. d (> to 4 0 0 6 0 75 6 5 0 e 0 0 2 14 0 4 0 0 9 Nectarines doz. Orangea 100 Peaches doz. Pears bush. dessert i sieve Pine Apples lb. Plums ^ sieve Quinces doz. d. s. d OtoO 0 0 12 0 14 Walunts bush. 14 VEGETABLES. Beans, Broad bush. Kidney ^ sieve Beet, red doz. Broccoli bundle Cabbage doz. Capsicums 100 Carrots bunch Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers doz. pickling doz. Endive score Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Gourds & Pnmpk., each Herbs buncli Horseradish ... bundle 0 too 6 4 Leeks bunch 0 Lettuce score 2 Mushrooms pottle 1 M ustd. & Cress, punnet 0 1 3 Onions ... bunch 0 2 0 pickling quart 0 Parsley bunch 0 0 Parsnips doz. 0 3 0 Peas bush. 0 10 0 Potatoes sack 5 1 0 Radishes doz. bunches 1 2 6 Rhubarb bundle 0 0 0 Savoys per doz. 0 0 0 Sea-kale basket 0 0 0 Spinach sieve I 0 0 Tomatoes ^ sieve 2 4 0 ; Turnips bunch 0 d. 5. d 3 too 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 9 0 0 S 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 TO CORRESPONDENTS. *4,* We request that no one will -Hrite privately to the de- partmental ^vriters of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- ture, S(c., 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that correspondents will not mis up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on sepai-ate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. Beebeeey Hedge (ir. 2). P^i„e).-The Common Berberry (Berbcris vul- gariB), IS the best and only one of the genus suitable for a boundary hedge. «,T?^f,1',''°7T'''{-^: ■''■'•-"'' not common to train the Vines down tbe rafters of a Ican-to vmery, though it is common enough in span-roofed houses to tram them up one side and down the other. They do vfry well in that way, but the experience we have of training them down the roof of a WWh.^T."'t' sucn practice The Vines may be trained down from the S«r r,o''?v"'^?"8'' ll ""= ^of " 25° ; but if it is a high pitch or even one ?^f. tf' ""^ ^"'%' ""J ■"°' '''' ^^"- ^^« •'"■'' ^™^ " ""d been disappointed, mav h» .^!;iv?/K ". ^'"^ '" tf"* oPW^r-is, and although overluxuriance ™^L^H '''%''«'' ^y trammg, yet this mode of training is not to be recom- Se hni ^f " '° ^r""'- ^^= "'■""''l P'""' ">™ '■! a border in front of nnti^ a 1^'omh ZV 'r"°,'" ^'"' P'""™' '" November, but apply no heat until a month before forcing is commenced. As yon object to the naked a^ThJ. ^nin'}°^'f^^" '\'''- =" 1"^'™'= "' introducingthim into the hotse at the point of their entering the house with the kinds vou wish still rel beTr"^hen t°he o d" V" '° "'" fV'i' ""'" '"' ^'^"^ """' °f a-^fflcLnt ze to Dear, when the old \me8 wouJd be removed. n.^'.T'' ^^l'^ ^ "' -^•'— ^t U one of the richest of all manures ; and there ITJifTf}^^ ^"'^ E"""^'" '" y^^'" ""'• i'" y^"*- gardener is correct in JflLfnl L^ "^Ir "'^- ^"^^'^ ''^ ''"y '*^^t ^*' if dug in it is very fer- £^nS^M?f« TJ^ 30 on tenacious loama. Buy our " Manures for the Sr flL **^t "^^,^'*'^'o« of which you can have free by post from our office for ave postage etamps. Pigeon dung makes an excellent Uquid manure. RrlJiSn'^'n" ^''S^'l° ^"'"''''^ <^- ^yo^O.-^Wild Flowers of Great fli^ '^ A P"V•'^'"^/i ^"'^ ''^''^ ^n «*»*"'nff monthly Numbers, con- tarns coloured portraits of the species and full desjriptions. h»^tnh[r-i Entomology IN a. i).).-Mr. Van Vooret, Paternoster Row, haspubhahed a work on the Insects of Madeira, and if you write to hini ZtS!!^- "° **o"*'t;?e will give you satisfactory information. Jhe naturalist of Madeira IB the Rev. Mr. Lowe. ruamiBiui, ni^«J^'l^''° GERANii-sis ( Tf'. T. E. B.).-YouT boscs are right for planting Geranmm^ m for wintering. They will do very weU in a cellar. W« ^hn.rfi' u ?^ t" ^t ''"^".*^ P^"^^'^ ^^''' moulding and decaying We should think the landing on the top of the stairs would keep them ve^ weU providing you give them no water unless the leaves dag, and there is no current of air rushing at them. We need not say frost must be excluded, but It 18 an easy matter to move them to a warmer place in severe weather and, whatever yon do, do not place them in a warm room to indace growth motaT^^ coo' and dry, and so prolong the plants' existence without pro- CoLTURE OP CUANTHD3 Dampieei [Letghton B.).—\t requires a compoat of sandy peat half, and turfy loam, with "a free admixture of silver sand, free drainage, abundant pot-room — it ought never to become pot-bound ; It should have sufficient water to induce free growth, but not a drop more than is necessary, by which we mean that the soil should not be soddened with water nor become dust dry, so dry as to check growth. A warm (greenhouse temperature with abundance of air and light suits it exactly. It does better planted out in the border of a greenhouse than in a pjt, and lurely does any good after flowering once profusely. Preserving the Roots of Collectrd Plants (FMra).— The best way to keep the roots of the plants you collect during your conrinental tours is covered with damp sand in a botanist's tin collecting-box. Tank-heating {T. M.y Cheshire).— The water will flow in the tank without a division, but much better with one. Though it may be done, we do not approve of heating a large greenhouse with pipes from such a tank, as the circulation will be languid. We would advise heating the tank by taking the pipes through it. with a valve or a turncock where it joins the greenhouse, but with the circulation complete in the tank, ar.d only put on the greenhouse when desirable. This will ultimately be the most economical plan, more especially if you cover your tank with wire. We should, however, prefer slate, and if you u^e cocoa-nut fibre it will let some vapour into it. That fibre is a bad conductor of heat, unless when wet, and then it does well enough. A thick layer of it, and dry, will not let the heat from your tank up. KiTCHEN-GAEDEsr Edgino (A iV'oricc).— Biicks laid so as to have one of their angles upwards make an excellent edging. Thus A Heating two Houses from one Boiler {J. C, Cred iton). —Thert will be no diflSculty in heating both houses from the same boiler ; but the boiler must be sunk so deep that the top may be a foot below the level of the return-pipe in the orchard-house. Then a T-P'pe with valves would serve for the flow and return to both houses: or you may have a X return-pipe, and take a single flow into a cistern higher than the flow-pipes in vinery, and from thence take a flow to orchard-housa and vinery, to be used or not as you desire. We see nothing to prevent your growing late Muscats as you propose ; but we would decidedly alter the slupe if we should have an upright wiill at the south side and an open drain there. As it is now, all the water that falls on the border will tend or fall to the front of the house, aod sooner than that we would have no outside border, but a close- cemented wall and depend entirely on the inside border. If you contem- plated early Grapes it would be easy with the position of your border to take a pipe through the bottom of it. Pears on Quince Stocks (TT. J7i/rf^r;.— Beurr^ Superfin. Fondante d'Automne, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Beurrc Hardy, Josephine de Malines, Baronne de Mello, Doyenne Gris, Winter Nelis, Beurr6 d'Anjou, Beurr^ Sterckmaus. Arrangemrkt op Cl'ttings op Bedding Plants {J. B. C. 5.).— We think it would be taking much trouble without producing any satisfactory results. Self-registering Thermometer {J. 5ryrt«).— Certainly do not throw it away. Write to Messrs. Negretti & Zambra, they will tell you what to do. Seedling TropjEOlum {W. F. 5.).— The bloom is brillant scarlet, but there are many such, and too much depends upon the habit of the plant for us to give an opinion upon its merits from a single flower. Apricot Trees in Pots {/. G.). — We are glad you have succeeded so well with the Cherries. If you plant your Apricots out you will have less trouble in watering; but you will have more trouble in root-pruning than if you kept them in pots. On the whole, well nipped, and root-pruned when neceesary, we think they do best planted out. Everoeeens for a North Aspect {A Subscriber].— Berhens aquifoliam, B. empetrifolia, B. Darwinii ; Box, Blotched-leaved, Cnrled-striped, Gold- edged, and Narrow-leaved; Euonymus japonicus; Holly, Gold-blotched Hedgehog, Silver-striped, and Minorca. Hut what shrub will thrive ** 18 inches from the foot of a Yew hedge ? *' Periwinkles might be used for surfacing, of which there are numerous varieties. The roots of the Yew will rob the other plants unless those roots are kept away by a wall or boarding. Garden Infested by Insects (Jlf, S.).—lt you could burn the surface soil conveniently that would be a certain cure, for it would nou only kill the mature insects, but their eggs. The soil should be burnt fully 1 foot deep ; but if that cannot be done, throw gas-lime over the surface, like salt to kill weeds on walks. Allow this to remain on the surface a fortnight; then dig it in, and keep forking the soil over through the winter. Be cautious about using gas-lime where there are fruit trees, and do not sow or plant anything until six months after the gas-lime is applied. We fear salt would do little good, but liming would do the land no barm. Soot is liked by few insects ; a thorough dressing with it helps to clear the soil of insect pests. Guano sprinkled on ant-hills wUl mostly expel them; but arsenic mixed with honey, or sugar and water, is greedily devoured by them, and it, of course, destroys them. It must be kept out of the way of other animals. Pansy-culture [Leighton B.). — We presume your Good-Gracious Pansy is planted out, and that no cuttings have been taken. Aithongh it is late take cuttings at once, preparing first of all a frame to put them in. Put 6 inches of coarse gravel at the bottom, then a layer of cocoa-nut fibre or some such material, so aa to prevent stagnant water lodging. On that place 4 inches of moderately rich loam and about one-fourih of leaf mouldy cover the surface with silver sand 1 inch thick, and in this insert the cut- tings taken from the tips of the young shoots at such a distance that they stand clear of each other. Give a little water to settle the soil round the cntt ngs, and shut up close. They will strike in about six weeks, when they must have abundance of air and light, takins; off the lights in mild weather* Another plan is to take up the old plants and winter them in a cold frame, from which any quantity of cuttings can be taken in the spring ; but they neither make such good plants nor flower so early. Pansies for early flowering should be struck in July, planted in beds or borders in September 9 inches to 1 foot apart. Cuttings struck late do well enough for summer display, and spring-struck cuttings make fine autumn-blooming planta* We prefer potting Pansiea into small pots early in autumn and wintering them in a frame, and we shall follow that plan with our Double Pansies and take HO end of cuttings from them next spring, and have a fine bloom right through the summer and autumn. Name op Pink {A. Z.).— It is a good double hybrid Pink; but we do not know that it has any special name. October G, 1863. ] JOTJRNAIi OF HORTICITLTURE AJ^D COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 279 Poisoning Mice {An Old Su&afWfier).— Wheat boiled gently without buroting the Krains, in a strong decoction of nux vomica will kill them. This is really the " poisoned wheat" formerly eold, except that strychnine was used, which is the active principle of nux vomica. It poisons fowls as well as mice. Phosphorus pills also poison mice and rats. WiNTKRiNO Bedding Plants (T. D. G., Warren Souse).— The plants will do very well in the pits ; but if the greenhouse is empty, and you can also there keep out frost, they will there do better still, as there will be more air and light. Your Pear is the Beurr^ de Capiaumont. Names of Fruit and Plant (F. E., Pilkington), ~Th.Q fruit is that of one or the Granadillas, probably either Passiflora quadrangularts or P. alata ; but the materials are not decisive ; \Vliat are the stipules? Its merit as a dessert fruit is a matter of taste. It is much used in the tropics. The plant is Celsia sublanata. {G. TT.).— 1, Margil; 2» Golden Harvey; 3, Old NoQpariel; 4, Scarlet Nonpariel ; 5, Gravenstein ; 6, Adams' Pearrauin. (K. R., Ley ton).— Swan's Egg. (G, X, Sevenoaks},—\^o. 1 is certainly not Williams' Boa ChrC'tien, but Louise Bonne of Jersey; 2, Lewis's Incom- parable; 3, we cannot make out— it appears to be Winter Nelis ; 4, Wad- hurst Pippin. Names of Plants.— Some of our correspondents are in the habit of sending small fragments of plants for us to name. This requires from us such a great expenditure of time that we are compelled to say that we cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen is perfect in leaves and flowers. (C. S.). — l, Polypodium vulgare ; 2, Lastrea FUix-mas cris- tata; 3, Polypodium vulgare cambricum ; 4, Asplenium trichomanes. (Mrs. F. Tyler). — It is the Chlora perfoliata, or Yellow-wort, one of our prettiest English annuals. It is also sometimes called Yellow Centaury, It ia not a rare plant. ( W. 0,).— Your plants are— i, Sedum Sieboldii ; 2, Campanula fragilis ; 3, Abutilon striatum ; 4, Litobrochia vespertilionis ; 5, Lycopo- dium Schottii ; 6, Torenia asiatica. {Tyro).— Of yowx Ferns No. 1 is Cys- topteris fragilis, var. angustata; 2, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum. POTJLTEY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICIE, SMALL BIEDS AND THE POULTRY-KEEPEE. We suppose it is because the small bird controversy has appeared in the " leading journal," that it has assumed so much importance with the public. Yet, if we reflect, aU persons are more or less interested in it. Some like the birds and cultivate them ; some like their finiit and hate the birds that eat it ; some dislike the birds and kUl them, not for damage, but because they dislike them. A correspondent writes to say she has been obliged to cover the tops of all her pens with small wii'e at a considerable cost. She is con- vinced, after a short time she has more than saved the amount in food — the sparrows and small birds can no longer get it. We have lately constructed a large pen about 20 feet square. We used the smallest wire netting on purpose, but there was one strip about 3 feet by 3 inches, where we were compelled to put some larger-meshed wire. We put it in the most out-of-the-way place, and where we thought it would be most inconvenient for the birds. We went to look at the pen last week, and found it full of sparrows, chaffinches, &c. We were armed with a small net, and thought we could capture some while they were seeking an outlet. Nothing was farther from their minds. They flew through the larger mesh, spite of all our provisions, with as much ease as if there were no wire at all. Since then we have watched closely. We like all sorts of birds, and do not wish to see them destroyed; but we are sure few people are aware of the quantity of food consumed by them. The blackbirds and thrushes never come into the pens, nor do they feed with the fowls. We do not accuse them of any mischief, so £ir as poultry food. They must fight their own battles with the gardeners. Twice or three times per week we feed entirely on Indian com, not because we approve it much as food, but because it makes "banyan day" for the small birds. We have been trying to come to something like a scale for feeding poultry, to be able to answer any one who wishes to know the quantity of food a fowl should consume. We are for the present beaten by the small birds. Their victory is only temporary, and within a few days we shall be able to resume our experiments. We agree with our poultryman, "The sparrow is the greediest and impudentest bird there ia." They fly up when we go into the pen and get out of reach ; they are down the moment we turn our backs. The point, however, on which we would insist is, that they con- sume a considerable quantity of food which is put down to the fowls, and which forms an item in the expenditure where everything has to be bought. So long as these visitors can get good com and meal they will not look for grubs. Ama- teurs who keep birds in conflnement will, therefore, not only lessen their expenses, but they will confer a benefit, either by excluding them from their aviaries, or by adopting Indian corn three days per week during the winter. THE CAYUGA BLACK DUCK. ITS HISTOBT, osrGI^', &e. This bii-d derives its name from the lake on which it is supposed to have been first discovered. But of its origin, like that of the domestic fowl, little is now known. It is very natural, therefore, to inquire whence so remarkable and valuable a bird was originally obtained ; but the con- clusion seems to be that it results from the intermixture of the Wild Black Duck (Anas obsoura), not uncommon in our lakes and rivers. This appears to be the popular opinion at the present time ; and if we are limited to any one of the wild breeds of this genus now known to us in our inquiries for the probable ancestor, it is to the Wild Black Duck, in our humble opinion, the honour should be assigned. This species, as we are informed, has been domesticated in several places, and was quite common some fifty years ago in the barn-yards in the vicinity of Boston, &c. " In the year 1812," says Dr. Bachman, in a note addi-essed to Mr. Audubon, " I saw in Duchess county in the State of New York, at the house of a miller, a fine flock of Ducks, to the number of at least thirty, which from their peculiar appear- ance struck me as different from any I had before seen among the different varieties of the tame Duck. On inquiry, I was informed that three years before a pair of these Ducks had been captured in the mill-pond. They were kept in the poultry-yard, and, it was said, were very easily tamed. One joint of the wing was taken off to prevent their flying away. In the following spring they were suffered to go into the pond, and they returned daily to the house to be fed. They built their nests on the edge of the pond, and reared large broods. The family of the miller used them occasionally as food. They considered them equal in flavour to the common Duck, and were easily reared. The old males were more beautiful than any I have examined since, and as yet do- mestication has produced no variety in their plumage." "The young of this species" (theWEd Black Duck), says Audubon, "grow with remarkable rapidity, and, like the Mallard, of which they seem to be only a variety, acquire the full beauty of their spring plumage before the season of reproduction commences In the early part of autumn the young afford delicious eating, in our opinion very much superior to the famous and more celebrated Canvass-back Duck." " It is admitted," says a writer, " that our Cayuga Ducks originally sprung from the Wild Black Duck. However altered they may now appear in bulk, colour, or habits, the essential habits remain the same ; no disinclination to breed with each other is evinced between them, and the offspring are as prolific as their mutual parents. The general tone of their plumage is closely repeated in all specimens." For the following interesting account, and the very spirited portraits of the Cayuga Black Ducks figured at the JOITEITAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ October C, 1S63. head of this article, we are indebted to the politeness of Mr. J. R. Page, of Sennet, Cayuga County, who is a suc- cessful breeder of them : — " Of the origin of the Cayuga Duck," says Mr. Page, " I cannot give anything reliable. This Duck has been bred in the county so long, that aU positive trace of the origin, so far as I can leam, is lost. Tradition says they aie descended from a sort of wild Ducks that stop in Cayuga Lal;e and Seneca Eiver, on then- passage north and south, faU and spi-ing ; yet irom hunters I have never been able to obtain or hear of any closely resembling them, either in weight or feathers. Yet they are called the ' Big Black Duck,' 'Cay- uga,' or ' Lake Duck.' The feat I ever heajxl of them was ■between twenty and thirty years ago. A farmer uear Mbn- tezuma, on Seneca Eiver, had a. Sock of Ducks bred from wild Ducks that he had caught,, and- they were very large and fine. Another tradition is, that- they are a atotlc brought from one of the Hudson Eiver counties " (probably those mentioned. by Dr. Bachman), "but the general belief is as above, that they originateifr'oiu a wild stock. " The Black Cayuga Duet in perfection, is black- ivith a white collai- or neck, or white flecks on: neck and liroast — rarely black mthout white, and as the white seems incUned to increase, we usually select them nearly or quite black for breeding. The Duck has a faint green tint on head, neck, and wings. The drakes usually show more white markings than Ducks, and the green tiiit on- head and neek ia more strongly marked. They differ from, the East Indian and Buenos Ayrean Ducks very materially, are much lai-ger, longer in body, and shorter in leg, better feeders, but are not so intense in coloiu-; indeed, beside the East Indian (and I have the latter), the Cayitga looks brown." " The jdumage of the Cayuga Duck," says another writer, " is of great richness, much resembles the Wild Duck ; the drake's especially is magnificent, its head and neck being a rich lustrous green, with a white ring at the base of the neck, breast of a reddish-brown, the remainder of the body and wings partaking very greatly of the Wild Mallard." Chaeaotebistics. — " When well fed," continues Mi-. Pago, "the Duck begins to lay about the 1st of April, and usually gives an egg every day imtU she has laid eighty or ninety, when she wQl make her nest and sit if allowed ; if not, win generally lay a litter in September. " The Cayuga Duck is hardy, good size, and for the table is superior to all other Ducks or poultry of any sort ; flesh quite dark and high-flavom-ed. If well fed they become very fat; they can be readily made so fat that they cannot step over a broomstick ; they cannot raise themselves from the ground by their wings, a foot-wide board keeping my Ducks from my little trmit-pond. My flock last year weighed — Ducks, one to thi-eeyeai's old, 7 lbs. to 74 lbs. each ; Drakes, Slbs.; Ducks, 81bs., orlTlbs. the pair; yet these are extreme weights, and only reached by careful feeding, and in very small flocks ; 12 lbs. to 14 lbs. the pair would be a good average in lai-ge flocks. I once had a small flockthat averaged at sis months 16 lbs. the pan-, but they had been forced to their utmost, and never gained weight after six months." Another -nTiter says — "the Cayuga Duck is very quiet in its habits, cannot fly, rarely able to rise from the ground ; a fence 1 foot high will turn them ; not disposed to wander from home ; commence laying about the last of March ; lay fifty to ninety eggs, when they wish to sit if everything is convenient; sit well; careless mothers; cross readily with other Ducks, and produce is certain." " One of my Ducks," continues Mr. Page, "showed a dis- position to nest early this yeai-; sat on fourteen eggs; hatched tlm-teen young, and bids fair- to raise all of them, as they are now (July) several weeks old, yet the Duck and young ones are more often seen apart than together."^ — C N. Bement.- — {Alhany Country Gentletiian.) LOST FOWLS AT WAXEFIELD SHOW. In- reply to Mi\ William La-wrenson's letter respecting his pen of Bantams at Wakefield, I at once ad-vised biin of the loss, and also advertised them in your JoiuTia), and wished him to charge a reasonable price for them. He at once replied that he would have the ftiU amount, or he would sue the Committee, and write a letter to your Joiunal, if his claim were not paid. I thought we had a right to pay him, and having but £i in my office at the time I received his letter, I sent it to him on account, and said I would bring his ease before the next Committee-meeting. I did so, .and -was ad-vised by one of the Committee to ask him to take the claiming price, less 10 per cent., as per rule of the Society, and allow us for the hamper I retiuned. He refused to comply, but \vrote to Mr. Wainwright, and he brought the letter before the Committee, and they thought Mr. Law- renson was too hard with them not to take the claiming jwice. Mi\ Wainwright was requested by the Committee to infomi Mr. La-m-enson that Mr. Crosland had met his case in a very manly way, and they trusted he would be satisfied with the £i. I am yet out of pocket the money I paid, as several of the Committee think we had no right to pay. Ml'. William Lawrenson ought to have the management of an out-door show. It woidd put him about to keep an eye on all. I engaged three men to feed and water the fowls, and the bu-ds were aU right at four o'clock, and then a very heavy storm of wind and rain came on. I quite expected all the Pigeons to be flying into the aii', and they woidd have done so had I not placed boards on the top of the pens to keep them dry ; but I am glad to say I got them all hamp- ered. Several Bantam and other pens were blo\vn partly off the platform, and were penned -wrong. This took place at the time I was penning, the Pigeons. The men engaged in- formed me that one of the Duckwing Bantams had been out. It was only the end pens, and they were Black Reds. I wonder if Mr. La-wreuson could have made the -wind and rain obey his commands ; if he could he would have been worth iSSO to us on that day. As soon as the rain came on all the exhibitors commenced to pen their o-wn birds, and tho only fowls left for us to jien were those that came by rail. Mr. La-svrenson ought to attend a few Yorkshu'e shows, then he would form an idea what the Committee has to do with out-door shows. It is impossible to prevent parties penning their own birds. If Mr. Lawrenson was Seoretaay, as I was, to take down the amounts and pay all the prizetakers on the ground, as I had to do, he would have plenty of time to look after penning the buds. After all we had but two mistakes, and we wish to do as neai'ly right as we can. I have had no other complaints. I sent all the birds off from the ATakefield Station the same night, and all the prizes were paid within three days of the Show, and I doubt if any one coidd act in a more straightforward manner than 1 have done. After hearing my reply I think your readers will not find much fault -with the Wakefield Committee, and I can safely say we are out of pocket above ^6100. Mr. Lawrenson can have my post nest year, as I intend to give it up. — John Ceosland, Jun. [With tMs reply fr-om Mr. Crosland the conti-oversy must cease from oui- jjages. It is very evident that the Wakefieltl Committee left all the labour' for Mi'. Crosland, and so fer did not do their duty. It is quite equitable that 10 per cent, should be deducted from the price affixed to the pen by Mr. La-wi'ensou ; and under the cu'cumstance of the Show causing- a heavy loss to the Committee, we think Mr. La-wrenson would only do as he woiild -wish to be done by, if he accepted the £-i in full of all demands. — Eds.] OSWESTEY POULTEY EXHIBITION. Altho-cgh the just-closed Meeting is the first ever held by this Society, in the hope of directing poidtry-keepers to the most remiuierative breeds for market purposes, and to also bring into local notice other kinds of the more sti'ictly fancy-feathered varieties, it must not for a moment be con- ceived that the district around Oswestry is not deseiwedly renowned for its market fowls. On the contrary, for a long succession of years, even prior to the institution at alii of poultry shows elsewhere, Oswestry market has supplied, an amount of live poultry to various districts in quautitiBB weekly that if here stated would to many of our readers appear altogether fabulous. On the We'lnesday, which is the market day, consequently are num-jrous dealers to be regulai-ly seen plying earnestly their avocation; and on -visiting the railway station at the conclusion of the market; few strangers would be prepared to see the many r.Tilway truckloads exclusively of poultry thus being fbi-wardcd tp October 6, 1863. ] JOtTENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AJS^D COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 281 Birmingham, Birfceahflad, Chester, LiTei-pool, Slanchester, Wolverhampton, and other places. When it is called to mind that tiiis supply seems but little shortened week after week the year throiog'h, all reflective persons will admit that to guide snch wholesale producers to the most remunera- tive breeds is a step in the riglit du-ection, and such as will make ample returns for the amovmt of outlay and personal trouble that may attend it at the outset. A few years to come wfll, doubtless, find many agricul- turists around Oswestiy who now consider " a fowl only a fowl whatever it may be," as having an-ived at the more just conclusion, that each head of poultry they rear is of precisely the marketable value it will realise when sold ; and that some " old stagei's " who kept the " same fowls their fathers did before them, as doing well enough for anything," will find to again return to the principle just laid down would curtail their revenue by at least two-thirds of what, with care and management, may be then insured. It is at once candidly admitted that some few of om- best breeds of poulti-y may not suit the neighbourhood, although, perha^js, as yet, never faii-ly tested. For instance : not a single Black Spanish fowl was exhibited at OsweSti-y — an incident that we cannot call to recollection as ever taking place at any poultry show before; but on inquiries on the gi-oimd, we find that the local breeders seem never to have seen them, although con- versant with them by naone. Now, for egg-production (and the sale of eggs never fails — at good prices too), it is well proved that Spanish fowls if not too highly bred are equal, if not sujierior, to most varieties. As attention has at length Ijeen an-ested to improved poultry-cultui'e in this neighbourhood, a few years to come will bear conclusive evidence that the institution of a poultry show at Oswestry was a public good. One or two hints to the Committee of Management may not here be ill-placed. It ■would be wisdom on futui'e occasions not to " restrict entries to sixteen miles round." This prevents local breeders fi'om seeing what can be done elsewhei'e, and acts somewhat as a prohibition to tbeir own individual advancement. Even, by way of argument, if the prizes for one year should go almost wholly elsewhere than locally, this fact is cai-tain to produce am amount of emulation to hold their own that will in- fallibly bring improvements homeward on futiu'e occasions, and do eveiything necessary to remove their present apathy in local poultry-management. The trial will not only insure this success, which is a most important one, but it will also as undoubtedly triple the interest and numbers of visitors to fntiu'e shows at Oswestry. The pens on this occasion were placed some 12 inches too high for easy inspection — a fault that will in time to come be easily rectified. Again, the time specified for the bu-ds to be at the Show shoxild be strictly enfoi'ced ; to do so is only justice to those parties who send at the hom- stated in the prize-schedule. If this mle is at all broken, one step only leads to increased delays, and it must be remembered punctuality is the very essence of tire contract, and empty pens the gi'eatest bane of any poultry exhibition. On the late occasion, by far the best Game fowls, and Geese also, came "too late for competition." As a first Show, these little contingencies must ever be expected, and as the Meeting was only in contemplation about a fortnight before being held, it was quite as well kept as could be fairly expected. We regi'et to say that unfavour- able and heavy showers prevailed almost houi'ly. The Dorkings were good, the entries of Greys being nu- merous ; and the White ones were sc perfect as to appear on the prize list, though the competition was undivided. Mr. Peploe Oartwriglit's Partridge Cochins were very excellent. Many capital Game fowls were pi-esent, but non-attention to matching the colour of legs was an almost genei-al fault, and in some instances very good bh'ds of quite different varieties were also penned together ! Practice will prevent these mistakes in future. Another rather extraordinary ffeature of this Show was inattention to the number of bii'ds sent together — in several pens one being short of the three bii'ds required by rules ; in others as many as even six were forwarded to a single entry. This rule of numbers can never be broken without loss of position in prizetaking. A goodly number of Banto.ms were shown of no particular value, save a pen of the almost extinct Booted Bantams. These wei'e small, nioely speokled 'ones, such as would re- mind any amateur of long staaiding of his bojhood-daye. when such varieties were in high esteem, both for their extreme hardihood and good laying properties. Some peculiarly good White Call Ducks were exhibited. Turkeys and Geese were quite in force and of good quality. DuRKiNo (Any colour). — First and Second, Lady F. Lloyd. Third, Hon. Mrs. Kenyon. Highly Commended, Hon. Mis. Kenyon ; E. Shaw, Oswestry. Commended, E. Shaw. Cochin-china (Any colour).— First and Second, P. Cartwrifjht, Os- westry. Third, Lady F. Lloyd. Commended, G. Williams, Oswestry; P. Ciirtwright. Gajif (Any colour).— First, T. Jones. Second, H. Crutchloe, Oswestry. Third, E. Evans, Hengoed. Bantamh (Any colour). — First, Mrs. DaTies, Oswestry. Second, Mrs, Lloyd, Aston Haii. Third, G. "Williams, Lloran House. HAMJiDnons (Gold and Silver-pencilled or Spangled).— First, C. Cooke, Bradcnhealh (Silver-spangled). Second, T. Jones (Golden-pencilled). Third, G. Williams, Lloran House. Commended, A. E. Evans, Llanrhaiadr. Farmyard Cross.— First, Cap. Mansfield, Criggion (Brahmas). Second, E. Hughes, Oswestry (Grey Dorkings and Cochins). Third, J. Groom, Hisland (Crossed Dorkinj^;. Turrets (Any Colour).— First, "NY. Mrnnett, Trefarclawdd. Second, R. Legli, Foxhall. Third, 8. Lawrence, Llj-ncljs. Commeuded, Mrs. Lloyd, Aston Uill. Geese (Any colour).— First, G. D. Brittain, Sutton. Second, J. Hamer, Glanrafon. Third, K. Peate, Pentreclawdd. Highly Commended, Mrs. Lloyd, "Wynnstay Arms ; J. Thomas, The Newnes. DccKs (Aylesbury). — First, E. Shaw, Plaswilmot. Second, W. Jlinnett, Trefarclawdd. Third, Mrs. Lloyd, Wyunstay Arms. Decks (Any cither Breed).- First and Third, G. Williams, Lloran House. Second, W. Hughes, Pentreshannel. Highly Commended, R. Morris, Knockin. Commended, H. Jones, Trefoneu Hall, Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, offici- ated as the Judge. DAY'S GAI^IE PASTE. FoK the last five or six years I have been keeping poultry, and for the first and second yeai's had no disease. Since tlien every year I have lost at least half of my chickens by the " Gapes." I tried various things which I was told were certain cures, but all to no avail ; for want of space I could not change my yard. This year I had a brood of Black Spanish chickens which I prized much, being of Mr. Eodbard's strain. Like all the others, when about six weeks old they commenced coughing and gaping slightly. About this time I noticed advertised in your columns " John Day's Celebrated Game Paste;" I procured a canister, and followed the directions carefiilly, and to my gi'eat pleasure, in a week to ten days my chickens were quite recovered. A friend of mine who was losing nearly aU his chickens, has since tried it with the same good success. I certainly will never be without some, it being in my opinion invaluable to poultry-breeders who cannot change their fowl-houses and yards every other yeai-. — Thomas Ace, Ystalyfera Iron Works, Swansea. APIAI?IAN NOTES. {Concluded from page 244.) No. 8. Pmrne-fti-ue.— Ligurian queen. Bees the best as to colour I had. In March populous. Large quantity of brood and very drj-. Bees refused to work in super, though clustered thickly in it. A swarm went off and was lost ; with it, of course, the valuable queen raised last year. Side frames of sealed honey of about 8 lbs. taken since. No. 9. FlaUiopped Stravj Bive.—OU stock of common heea. Enormously heavy in March, though not fed at all through the wmter. Moderately strong in bees. Supered seasonably, bid; bees refused to work. If no swarm went off and was lost it shows a DOor state of affairs within, as the bees are not numerous. A Uttle Work was made towards the close of the honey-harvest, and honey taken of about S lbs. weight. No. 10. l'ra?ne-?iiue.— Ligurian. My original queen. A mag- nificent colony. In March very populous ; great quantity of brood; a Uttle food, and very wet. A thirteen-mch-square, shallow super made to hold the bars belonging to the frames in the stock-boxes was fii'St put on. This was at different tunes raised by three other boxes, and the result was oi lbs. of super- excellent honeycomb. The hive w as inspected on AugMt lOth, and two frames of sealed honeycomb and brood removed lor an artificial swarm. Seven out of ten of the frames contained brood. I like these shallow supers, putting on one first ; than as soon as the combs begin to approximate the glass window, drawing a wire below, raise the first and sUp a second between, generally without bars or top. Thus the combs are extended downwards. This may be lepeated as the boxes become pretly 282 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAIiDENER. [ October 0, 1863, full ; but discretion must be used so as not to give too much space, or empty comb -will be the only result. No. 11. A Stewarton Octagon. — Common bees. A swarm from No. 5 on July 4th. Had nearly filled its box (14 inches by 10 deep) with comb and sealed honey by the 17th of the montb. Is quite heavy. No. 12. Common Straw Hive. — A swarm from No. 6 on July I Ith. Very large, more than filling the butt. A hole cut in the top, and a small super with a little comb put on. In six days the hive had reached a considerable weight. The super has been removed with a few pounds of honey, mostly unsealed. No. 13. Frame-hive. — Ligurian-hybridieed queen. Early in the summer some broodcombs were removed. The remainder with bees were shifted into a bar-hive and given away to a friend. Present state unknown. No. 14. Frame-hive. — Ligurian. Artificial swarm of last year. In March was found to be rather weak, with little food, a smaU number of eggs, but no brood ; quite dry, but suffering from dysentery. Some combs of brood with the bees clustering therein were given from Nos. 13 and 20. Bees imited without the least fighting, and from that time this hive went ahead. On the 23rd of April it was carried out to my country apiary three miles oflF by my man under his arm. On the 30th of May the hive appeared full of honey wherever the comb was visible. An octagon super was given, and on the 25th of June a second was slipped under the first, which appeared nearly full. On the 6th of July a third super was put on the top of the whole tier of boxes, this last being partially filled with empty combs. Nett weight of honey taken was over .50 lbs. No. 16. Frame-hive. — Common bees. An artificial stock made on the 29th of August. Having driven out the bees from two stocks belonging to Mr. Veitch, the well-known horticulturist of the Exeter Nurseries, I fitted up a ten-frame-box with combs, of which strong stocks had already been deprived. The bees were knocked out on the top of the bars and quickly descended. A little fighting ensued ; but their differences were very soon con- cluded, and this bids fair to be as good a stock as any in my possession. No. 16. Frame-hive. — Hybridised Ligurian. Bees of poor colour. In March was moderately strong with brood and food ; quite dry. Destroyed the queen and added the bees and brood to No. 22. No. 17. Frame-hive. — Common bees. Though not fed during the previous v^retched summer, this hive in March was fotmd to be nearly full of sealed honey, except where breeding was going on ; and it soon became the strongest hive in my whole apiary. Great things were expected from it, and supers were early supplied. The bees utterly refused to work, and a magnificent swarm was lost. A second swarm was secured and united to No. 2 as before mentioned. About 15 lbs. of honey have been removed in surplus side frames. No. 19. Framj:-hive. — Ligiuian. Artificial swarm of last year. In March not very strong ; a little brood and food ; dry. This hive gradually increased in strength. An artificial swarm (No. 1 as before mentioned) was made on June 1st. The prosperity of this hive was, in consequence, checked ; and it has afforded nothing except broodcomb for another artificial swarm. No. 20. Frame-hive. — Ligurian, hybridised. In March very populous, with plenty of brood and honey. A large super was put on in which the bees worked well. On examination on the 15th of June a great deal of brood was found in the super. This was removed and given to artificial swarm No. 1 . A stop was put to all work in the super, and eventuaUy a fine swarm issued and was lost. About 15 lbs. of honey taken in the super and from side frames. No. 21. Frame-hiee. — Artificially raised Ligtirian queen from best brood of last year. Breeder of quite dark bees. In March was very strong, with large quantity of brood ; very damp. May 24th, super put on, to which the bees did not take very weU, only making a little comb. On the 20th of June the super was removed, and the frames with the bees transferred into a mammoth-box capable of holding eighteen frames. The bees worked and bred through the greater part of this immense hive, and have been excessively populous. About 25 lbs. of honey have been removed in surplus side frames. It is evident that hives of such dimensions are unprofitable. Notwithstanding its large size a stock in the same box last summer, after working sixteen combs, nearly all of which were more or less bred in, threw out a large swarm. No. 22. — Originally in a frame-hive. Ligurian hybridised, artificially raised last year. In March was weak with but little brood or honey. The bees and brood of No. C were added. On the 10th of May the bars were removed from the frames and the combs fitted into a set of octagonal boxes, which were hung suspended to a "Salter's" scale, the weights being registered from day to day. I will not now give the results of the register, but defer for a future opportunity. Honey taken, 10 lbs. No. 23. Frame-hive. — Ligurian. Artificial swarm late ia 1862. In March not strong, but having a large quantity of brood with pretty much sealed honey, or rather artificial food. Quite dry. This was shifted into an experimental hive, and has not turned out very satisfactory. Only a very small quantity of honey taken. The bees and combs have lately been shifted into a proper-sized frame-hive, and with manifest advantage. A fine artificial swarm was made on the 29th of July, forming No. 25. No. 24. Frame-hive. — Hybridised Ligurian. A splendid yellow queen — breeder of dark bees. In March very poptilous, immense quantity of brood, and a great deal of honey sealed. Not par- ticularly damp ; but a dreadful mortaUty from dysentery, which continued many weeks. The great breeding powers of the queen seemed to keep up the population, notwithstanding the ground being daily covered with dead bees. There was also constant fighting goiug on. On the 24th of May I resolved to break up this fine stock. Bees and some brood given to No. 6. Rest of brood to other hives. The queen was sent away to a gentleman who reqtiired one for a queenless stock. No. 25. Fram£-hive. — Ligurian. Artificial swarm commenced on the 27th of July. An unimpregnated Ligurian queen, rather dark, having been given to me by Mr. Woodbury, I proceeded to raise a nucleus by removing a broodcomb, having only young bees about emerging from their cells. The queen was secured in a perforated zinc box, and the nucleus brought within doors and kept tied up for two days. On the 29th No. 23 was removed from its place, and a very fine swarm of bees entered the nucleus. The queen was liberated on the 31st, and was all right two days afterwards. Inspected again on the 10th of August. No queen nor eggs to be found. Gave a suitable broodcomb from No. 10, original Ligurian queen, and three royal cells were in due time made and sealed. On the 20th Mr. Woodbury having made the singular discovery of two queens being at liberty at once within the same hive, presented me with the young one. She was a very fine queen as to size, and seemed by no means despicable as to colour, and I prized her accordingly. As the nucleus had been for a long time without a queen, I resolved to rim the risk of introducing her at once among the bees. Having daubed her wings with a little honey in accordance with Mr. Woodbury's suggestions, she was let out among the bees on the broodcomb, and was at once densely surrounded by them. Being now called away I was obliged to leave her, though fearing an unfortu- nate result to the experiment, as the bees appeared to be hostile towards her. The next day I had the satisfaction of finding her alive and very active — so much so, that she took flight from the comb in my hand, and made her way back among the other combs. She had already torn out the occupants of the royal cells. To-day (September the 7th) I have again inspected the hive. A large space of one of the combs is fiUed with brood and eggs. The queen is a superb one, both as to colour and size — by far the best in my possession. It still remains to be seen whether her progeny be true, an event devoutly wished for by — S. Bevan Fox, Exeter. INTEENAL MOISTUKE— CONSUMPTION OP FOOD IN UNITED HIVES. I AM feeding all my hives, and wish to know how it is that those which contain comb and honey accumulate scarcely any moisture on the glass of the feeder ; whereas the hives which contain only bees from cottagers' driven hives (several joined together), and such comb as they have made in three weeks gather so much moisture on the glass of the feeder that it requires constantly drying. If this moisture run into the food will it injure the bees ? and shotild I keep a glass on these hives during the winter ? Some are wood, some straw, all are doing well ; but I cannot persuade the cottagers to save their bees and add them to their other hives. They thiiik they will eat so much more honey during the winter. — A. B. [The deprived bees either are or have been building combs, which raises the temperature of the interior of their hives very much, and this increase of temperature, in obedience to a well-known law, causes the condensation of an unusual amount of moisture on the glass. Its presence in their food October 6, 1863. ] JOTIRNAL OF HOETICTJLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GABDEN"EE. 283 will do the bees no injury ; but a moderate degree of ven- tilation will probably be advantageous. It is a well-esta- blished fact that the bees of three or four stocks when united in one hive consume very little, if any, more food during winter than each one would have done if left separate.] TWO QUEENS in a HIVE— QUEEN'S DUEATION OF LIFE. I FEAR I must apologise to Mr. Woodbury for my seeming inattention in not sooner answering the queries he proposed to me some weeks ago. The fact is, that like him I have been pleasure-seeking, though not to the sea-side to en- counter any such discomforts as he alludes to ; but away among the everlasting cloud-capped hills — the placid lakes and wooded vales of one of the sweetest spots in Britain's isle. To the hills, too, my bees betook themselves — they after their pleasures, I after mine — they to collect, as best they could, in this our fickle climate, the nectared treasures of the purpled heath ; and I to inhale its babny perfumes, climb the alpine steeps, and amidst the quietudes and soli- tary grandeur of nature, to enjoy for a short season the calm delights of country Hfe. Having now returned, there- fore, to home and to duty, I take up The Jotjenal op Hor- TicuLTtTRE and re-read some of the more recent communica- tions on apiarian matters. And first with respect to the queries already referred to. The first problem I am asked to solve is the fact of two queens being found in a hive at the same time. Before giving an opinion of this case I could have wished to be in possession of the particulars before promised by Mr. Wood- bury. It is always dilEcult, in the absence of knowledge of full particulars and circumstances, to do more than merely g^ess a solution. I believe I may safely enunciate this truth without fear of contradiction, that only one prolific queen will be tolerated at a time in any hive ; and that, as a general rule, more than one unprolific queen, or a prolific and an improlific queen, can remain but for a short period in the same hive. These are axioms which experience and observation will homologate and confirm. The question then is. Under what circumstances are two queens found in a hive ? for it wiU be seen that I have assented to this as a fact. My experience is to the following effect : — 1st. More than one unprolific queen may be found in a hive in certain contingencies, such as during unfavourable weather, prior to after-swarming. 2nd. A reigning prolific queen and a virgin queen may eo-exist for a short time under similar circumstances before first swarming. 3rd. A superannuated queen may exist sunultaneously with her successor for a brief period ; but I must guard my belief by the confession, that in such cirovmistances my expe- rience does not wai-rant me in asserting this as a fact ; as in such a case I have found the reigning queen disappear from the stage before her successor entered. I may here refer to an ai-tiole by me inserted in No. 77, New Series, of this Journal, showing the wonderful instinctive foresight mani- fested by the bees imder such circumstances in thus provid- ing against the impending loss of their infirm sovereign. The second query refers to the longevity of the queen bee. The queens which I had the pleasure of transmitting to Mr. Woodbury were somewhat above two years and three years old respectively ; but this, as wiU be at once perceived, can by no means settle the question as to the longevity of the queen bee. On this subject I have much curious infor- mation ; but it would require more space than I intend occupying at present to enlarge upon it. The natural life and the real life of the queen bee have, if I may so express myself, no congruity the one with the other; for my experience shows that her existence may extend sometimes, though rarely, to nearly five years, or it may be cut short in less than as many months. Her condi- tion, circumstances, and the ever-varying contingencies to which she is exposed, often determine her fate long before what may be termed her natural life. I never had a queen imder the most favourable circumstances that lived much beyond fovu: yeai-s, except one whose age was four years and ten mouths. The queen of a peculiarly-coloured grey colony of bees, to which I have had occasion more than once to refer in the columns of this Journal, and whose brUliant golden appearance enabled me easily to follow her through- out her whole career, lived, or I should rather say reigned, for three years and four months ; at the end of which period, being stricken with many infirmities, her subjects rose up in revolt against her, and she was accordingly dethroned. In regard to the foul-brood question I may have to say something by-and-by. Meantime I must cordially concur with Mr. Woodbury in not being contented with the mere "ipse dixit" of anyone on the subject, even though that proceeds from what he calls " the great centre of bee know- ledge." A verdict without assigning reasons in such a case I look upon as valueless. We have all heard of the old sayings, " Least said is soonest mended," " Vir sapit qui pauca loquifur." " A Stewaeton Apiarian " must be told, however, that it is he that is " quite at sea " in supposing that I treated the subject of foul brood at aU upon the principles he asserts. I think my language is so plain, that " he who runs may read." I shall, perhaps, have a few words on " an experi- mental apiary " in the next or following Number. — J. Lowe. TWO QUEENS IN ONE HIVE— MISHAPS IN UNITING ENGLISH AND ITALIAN BEES. I regret to have to announce the death of the junior of the two queens whose inexplicable presence in one hive during autumn was described by me in page 157. I pre- sented her at the time to my friend Mr. S. Bevan Fox, by whom she was placed at the head of a small colony, in which she commenced egg-laying, and proved herself amazingly prolific, thus completely negativing Colonel Newman's hypo- thesis as to her being either diseased or barren. Unfortu- nately Mr. Fox found it necessary to add to the number of her subjects, and although the operation was performed with the utmost precaution, a terrible fight was the consequence, which also resulted in the death of the poor queen herself. Being a pure Ligurian her demise is much to be regretted ; and, curiously enough, I met with a similar misfortune brought about in exactly the same manner almost on the same day. These fatal occurrences prove the danger of uniting bees of different species even when the operation is attended with every precaution that has been suggested by the experience of others as well as by that of — A Devon- shire Bee-keeper. VLRGIN QUEENS. I SHALL feel obliged by having the opinions of the writers on bee-keeping in The Journal of Horticultube on the following cases which have occurred in my apiary. I made an artificial Ligurian-hive on the 23rd of July by taking two bar-frames of brood out of my Ligurian-hive, and putting in a swarm of common bees with the combs, depriving them of their own queen. I examined it on the 28th of July, and found seven queen-cells in process of con- struction ; looked again on the 7th of August, and saw only two queen-cells sealed up ; and again on the 12th of August, and saw a beautifuUy-marked Ligurian queen. On the 25th of August she was laying eggs in worker-ceUs, also in drone- cells. I examined her again on the 8th of September, and found what I partly expected from the former examination. — that they were all drones ; and on the 14th the first-laid drones were just coming out of the cells, and drone-brood was stiU in all stages. Can any one inform me if there is any chance of this queen laying worker eggs ? Another case is the following. When the old Ligurian lost its second swarm on July 16th I took out two combs of brood having five queen-cells sealed up, and gave it a swarm of common bees to hatch the queen. This hive was taken to the heather on the 7th of August ; and we examined it on the 29th of August, and found there were only di-one eggs but no queen. It wiU be remembered by those who take an interest in bees that I noticed a similar case last year in one of my artificial swai-ms ; but I would not assert positively that there was no queen present, as the hive was always strong in bees, having supplied it fre- quently with combs of young brood, and therefore might not have seen the queen in my examination. But in this JOURNAL OP HORTICtrLTUEE ANI> COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ October 6, 1SC3. case there is no doubt whatever. There are not more than 1 merous in. the autiuna tlian the orddnaiT-sized wasps • aad five hundred boas in the hive. We removed every bar and comb into another hive. We did this thi-ee times, and there were other two persons along with me at the time without any covering on their faces, so that we ai-e perfectly certain tha,t there was no bee in the hive which had the slightest difi'erenee from a worker bee, as we examined every one carefiiUy. Had we seen one I would have retained it and sent it to Mr. Woodbury for microscopic investigation. In some of the cells there were four and five eggs, apparently just laid that day. I have here, then, a case of a queen which can lay di-one eggs only — has she had any matrimonial engagement ? and another case of bees with no apparent difference from workers, laying drone eggs also— have they had any " ma- trimonial engagement?" I am informed that natm-alists maintain that to be impossible. If that be true, and worker bees can lay drone eggs, what is to prevent an xmmated queen fi-om doing the same ? I cannot say that I believe in the doctrine of pai-theno- genesis. If it be true it must lead us to believe in many strange cii-cumstances ; but to me these two cases whicli I have attempted to describe go far to prove the truth oi' parthenogenesis; and I would like vei-y well to heai- the opinions of those who are opposed to and those who hold that theory.— Alex. Sheaeer, Yester Garden. [Parthenogenesis is a subject more suited to a physio- logical periodical than to our columns, and when touched upon must be handled circumspectly, for oui- Journal is read in the drawing-room as weU as the study. — Eds.] PAHTHEIfOGENESIS— AGE OF QTJEEjN^S— HONEY SEASON. 1 scAscELT know whether it is worth while to prolong a discussion respecting parthenogenesis ; but I have read the letters in Nos. 25 and 30 as dii-eeted, and still think it possible that there may be yet found out some other way of accounting for a live drone proceeding from a virgin queen than has been dreamt of iu om- philosophy. It may be my want of scientific knowledge that keeps me sceptical. I agree, however, that parthenogenesis is nearly proved. I believe that a virgin queen may lay eggs, and that somehow or other those eggs may produce drones ; but I doubt if you were to place her in fi-esh-made comb, or rather in a liive without any, and with young workers, whether a sino-le co- she lays would vivify. °° Alas ! I am not so near a convert to the opinion of "A Lanabkshike Bee-keeper" as to the age of a queen. Surely there ai-e many reasons why my opinion may be the right one, and I have the chance in my favom- that "A Lanakkshike Bee-keeper " may have mistaken one queen _particulaa-ly if it can be proved that young this year again, though there are so few wasps, the lai-g« ones ai-e beginning to appeal- in greater numbers than the smaller ones. — B. P. [Drone or male wasps are both large and small, th« laitter bemg probably bred in ceUs usuaUy appropriated to neuters. I hey ai-e ai-med with stiugs ; and the large males, being bred in similar cells to those in which queens are reared, are much about the same size, but may be distinguished by the greater length of their antenna. Unlike di-one bees they take part m the labovu-s of the nest from which they are not erpeUed, but survive imtil the autumnal frosts destroy the whole community with the exception of the queens (of which many exist m each nest), wliich alone survive the winter to found fresli colonies in the spring. Including hornets, there are seven varieties of wasps indigenous to this country. The different species vary much in size.] for another. moors. I sent mine to a moor near Parnborough ; but they have not done so well as last year. I have no heather to speak of within many miles of my present abode. In reply to Col. Neivman. I may state that in 1857 one of the best honey-gatheiings I ever knew took place in the latter days of August or fii-st in September when I was hvino- in the Isle of Axhohne. There were a few patches of heather two mOes off, and heather honey was stored inasmuch as you could "nose it" iu front of the hives; but the bulk of the honey then gathered must have been fi-om other som-ces as the moor the heather grew on was small in extent and only pai-tiaUy covered -n-ith heath. Trees were not plentiful m my part of the Isle, and the only flowers I knew of ex- cepting on weeds, were those of the second crop of' red clover. We all know, as a rale, bees do not like working on red clover. They will at times, however, and did on that occasion. — A Hampshire Bee-keepeb. WASPS. Are there drone wasps ? Are they veiy large, and driven out oi the nests m the same way as drone bees? Last yeai- what were supposed to be queen wasps were more nu- OTTR LETTEE BOX. Bill of Eobkn Dkakz Ut.M. S.).—The bill of a Rouen dnike should be yellow with ;i creen shade on it. Any other colour is a disqualiflcation It should be exactly the colour of the Wild Mallard's bill, and that is never black. JIiDDLEWicH PouLTBT Show.— Mr. Jessop, we are informed, had the second prize for Black Ducks, and Mr. Dixon had the first prize Destroti.ng VrriLiT-.- in Eggs {/. 7r.).— The eggs of your prize fowls which you wish to send to maikct, can be prevented hatching hv havine a needle thrust through the shell at either end. You ought to explain that they are so treated to prevent a purchaser being disappointed. Aphhian Mismanagement (4. A. Kl.-Your bees will not long survive stupelaction by tobacco smoke and the plunder of theii- storc=. "The best and most merciful plan will now be to kill them outright by means of brimstone, and appropriate any honey that may remain. Those combs which are of a dark brown colour have been used for rearing voung bees and their cells are empty owing to the breeding and honey-gathering season being over. Had you intended to adopt the depriving system you should have placed a small super ou the hive soon after it was stocked, winch might possibly have been filled by the autumn and removed withont injury to the bees. On the ordinary swarming system the colony should have remamed undisturbed to swavm next year, in the autumn of which yen might probably have been able to have appropriated the contents of one or more hives without destroying your stock. Before again commencing bee- keeping get some cottager to teach you the rudiments of ordinary manage- ment. Buy "Bee-keeping for the Many," which will tell you how to convert empty combs into wax, and give ail the information you are likely to require. When you have in some degree mastered the subject yoa will yourself be able to instruct your unlettered subordinate, whose brains, as you very justly surmise, are only likely to become more addled by loD- articles being read to liim on the abstruse branches of apiarian science'. He was, however, quite right in giving the stock a waterproof covering. Bees in ordinary straw-hives require no ventilation beyond the eatrance Glass of Honey iA'., iVcuarA).— Write to jMessrs. Neighbour & Son 127, High Holborn, and ask what they will give for it. DiscoLODEED Bees (J/oorsirff).— We believe the discoloured bees are simply covered with white pollen, which is no inconvenience or injury to them ; but, on the contrary, a sign of the prosperity of the stock whose Ligurian queen is probably •' multiplying the species " with the wonderful ra.,:dity peculiar to her race. If you still entertain the idea that the dis- 10. oration may arise from a fungoid growth, and will forward to us a few of the bees thus affected, we will endeavour to decide the point by the aid of the microscope. Gket Linnet (C. B^.).— Bathe the bird's eyes and feet with warm water and give it milk and bread. It should also be kept very warm ; but we fear that it is past recovery. Dog with SWOLEE.N Ears (A Subscriber nf Loiio Standing). — \om Labrador dug has cankered ears. The following is the treatment recom- menaed by Mr. Meyriek ;— •' Feed the dog on a vegetable diet only, give a dose of castor oil, and three times a-day use a lotion composed of one pait goulard water and four parts water. Two persons are rf quired to apply the lotion properly; one to hold the ear and keep the dog steady, and the other to pour in the lotion, which should be allowed to sink well into the passage of the ear. After this let a cap be placed ou the dog's head, which may be made thus : Take a piece of thin calico of an oblong square shape and large enough to cover the whole of both ears ; along each of the two longest sides sew a piece of tape, having ends about 4 inches in length, with which the cap can be securely tied on below the dog's head. The object of this cap is to prevent the flapping of the ears. If made of sufficieutiv thin m,aterial, and if it does not press on the ears, it will not increase the in'fiain- mation, as it has been said to do. Abscesses must be lanced, and care ta'icn that no matter is lelt in them. After the operation, lint snaked in the lotion may be put for a day or two iu the seat of the abscess, and the ear may then be left to heal of itself." ' LONDON MAEKETS.— OcTOBEE 5. POULTEY. Little or no demand for poultry, and a Trade is still lamentably bad. large supply. s. d, 8. Large Fowls 2 0 to 3 Sinaller do 2 0 „ 2 Chickens 1 6 ,, 1 Geese 6 0 ,, 7 Ducks 2 0 „ 2 Pheasants 0 0 „ 0 d. s. 0 I Partridges 1 3 I Grouse ,. 2 "J I Hares 2 0 I Rabbits 1 3 Wild do 0 0 t Pigeons 0 d. s. d. 6 to 1 fl 6 „ 0 0 6 „ 3 0 4 ,. 5 ."> S ,, (1 fl 8 „ 0 f) October 13, 1S03. JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. WEEKLY CALE(\fDAR- Dpointment and complaint you so fi'equently hear of and publish ? — T. SPEIKG GAEDEIS'ING. AiioNdST the most ordinary objections made to the pre- sent fashionable system of bedding-out, there is not one more frequently brought forward than that it leaves the gardens bai-e for a large portion of the year, and that persons sacri- flce the appearance for nine months in the year for the brilliant display of barely three ; and many persons, it is to be lamented, seem to resign themselves to this condition as if it were hopeless to attempt a remedy. Assuredly such a state of things need not be the case, and this conviction arises both from personal exjjerience and from observation of the manner in which the difficulty is met on the continent — for " they manage these things better in France." A few hints as to the best method of meeting the diflBculty may not be unacceptable. There are two classes of plants by which this object>-can be effected — bulbs and annuals, the main dependance being placed on the former ; and considering the extensive ai'ea over which, owing to modern horticultiu'e and skill, we ai-e enabled to travel, there is really no difficulty in ha\-ing one's garden gay from the earliest spring months, at a comparatively trifling exjiense. We do not, of course, mean that the garden will present at any one time such a blaze as when Verbenas, Geraniums, A:c., ai-e all in fidl force together ; but a very nice display may be made by having a succession in which the various species of bulbs will play an important part. There is, it is to be remembered, one great advantage in this tribe of plants — ^that their bloom is almost certain. The Tulip, Crocus, Hyacinth, &c., have their flowers ali-eady formed in the bulb, and it will only requii'e the most ordinaiy care to develope them in full perfectitin ; whilst in other things the seed has to be so\vn, or the cuttings made, and " many a slip between the cup and the lip " may take place before the bed is thoroughly in bloom. And, again, they have the advantage that as soon as the bloom is over they may be taken up, removed to a spare jilace in the kitchen garden, and there allowed to matiu-e themselves, and be ready for the following spring, while the vacant spaces may be immediately filled in with the bedding plants. So much has been said on the suljject of pot-cultiu'e and window-gardening, and such copious dii'ections are given with the various articles in the catalogues published by the leading tinns, that I shall confine myself to the flowei" gai'den, and endeavour to show how the space occupied by bedding plants in summer maj' be managed in spring. I woidd, then, advise that where beds are bordered with either the white Alyssum or Cerastium that this be done in the autumn, the plants be taken up, divided, and replanted. By this means a neat border will be given to the beds ; for as these plants are perfectly hai'dy they wiU not sufler from. the severity of the winter. In some of the beds the Crocus may be used for the earliest bloom, a good broad border of it being, I think, the most eflectivc way in which it can Vie employed; for if the bed is made to depend upon Crocuses entii'ely, theii' long foUage, when they have done blooming, is apt to make it look untidy. Many fine varieties of Crocus may be had for this purpose, while biilliant yellow, blue, and white will really be the most desirable for contrast. No one coidd think of dispensing with the little Snowdrop ; and when to these we add the beautiful brilliant blue ScUla sibiiica, we have named the most beautiful and useful of the eaiiy-floweiing spiing bulbs. To these succeed the Hyacinth, Tulip, Ranunculus, Anemone, Nai'cissus, &c. The Hyacinth, it will be remem- bered, as well as the Ranunculus and Anemone, are dwarf, and should occupy places con-esponding. No one need be told of the gTeat beauty and fi-agi-ance of this lovely spring flower, and 1 would, therefore, advise that it be extensively used. Here named selections would be out of place ; excel- lent bulbs in distinct colours can l>e procured of all the seedsmen, and they can be used according to taste. But October 13, 186S. ] JOIIENAL OF HOSTICtrLTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 289 the btJb in wliicli most reliance may be placed is the eaxly Tulip, and -we greatly wonder that it has not received more attention. The beautiful dwarf Van Thols, the gorgeous Duchesse de Parma, Vermilion Brilliant, Gai-ibaldi, &c., make an appearance which when once seen will be ever afterwards appreciated. And let it not be thought that this involves a vast erpenditure ; an assortment of both expensive and cheap varieties is always to be found, so that according to the wishes of the amateurs they can be supplied. The centre of the parten-e should be devoted to the taller- growing vai-ieties of Tulips, shaded-off according to their colour', and arranged as to theii' height, the Van Thols being the lowest-growing. The aiTangement must so much depend on the form of the beds, the extent of the groiind, and the taste of the owner, that no detailed directions can well be given. Where there is a shrubbery in the backgi'ound I would suggest a row of Dielytra spectabilis as forming a most beautiful finish ; while, in order to give a more length- ened period of bloom to the beds, plants of the common Forget-me-not and SUene may be planted in them ; and when the bulb-bloom is over, as of Hyacinths and Van Thol Tulips, the stems may be cut down neai-ly to the ground, and all may be cleared away together in the middle of June. In fact, the combinations are endless, and the hints that I have thrown out will, I hope, be sufficient to induce amateui's to be no longer contented with empty beds in spring. In the gardens of the Champs Elysees and Pare de Monceaux, where, let it be remembered, the winters are as cold as ours, if not colder, I saw in May many beds of annuals in full bloom. The attempt at the same effect in the Eoyal Horticultural Society's Gardens was not a very happy one ; but when once put into the right track I have no doubt that the good taste and zeal of our gi-eat army of amateur horti- cnltui'ists will mate the spring garden as much a point of interest as the siimmer one. — D., Deal. "WHAT CONSTITUTES HIGH CULTUEE IN EPIPHYTAL OECHIDS:-'' [To the above somewhat vague query sent by a corre- spondent signing his letter " Okchidophilus," Mr. Appleby has sent us the following reply.] To describe the dimensions of any plant or tree so as to give the reader a coiTect idea of its size, is not an easy task withovit drawings. An instance occurs to my mind : We are told that the Wellingtonia gigantea, a tree found in Cali- fornia, grows to the enormous height of 300 feet, and is 27 feet in diameter. Now, to any one unaccustomed to mea- suring timber, siTch numbers give no definite idea of the immense magnitude of such a truly magnificent tree ; but by comparison or some other mode we can give to the most ignorant person a tolerable idea of its gi-eat size. I will try one way of doing this. The diameter is 27 feet. — Now, sup- pose there are four men 6 feet high each ; place one on the ground and another on the top of the first, a thii-d on the second, and a fourth on the third, the four wQl then reach to an altitude of 24 feet. Then place a boy 3 feet high on the head of the last, and then the diameter of the tree would be eqiialled. Next measure a hundred yards in a straight line, and set vcp a state at each end — that would show the length the tree would reach if it were felled. Fiu-ther : Sup- posing it were necessaiy to cover such a felled tree, it would require a building 100 yards in length and d yai-ds in height to contain it. " Orchidophilits " desires to know the dimensions of the largest pseudo-biilbs of Calanthe vestita gi'own by my fi-iend Mr. A. North, at the Lodge, Ashton-upon-Mersey. In order to be able to give the correct size, I was at the pains to go there to measure them. It happened to be at the time when they were at rest, consequently they could be more easily measured. I took a piece of tape and passed it round one of the bulbs. It measured exactly 14 inches. That was lengthwise. I then piit the tape around the bulb in the thickest part, and found that to be 9 inches. Now, let " Or- CHiDOPHiLtrs " or any other grower take one of their pseudo- biilbs of this fine Orchid, and compare by measurement the ■size of that bidb and note the diJfference. They were at least one-third larger than those "OBCHiDOPHiLtrs " alludes to which I mentioned in my " Manual of Orchid Culture," a book which I am glad that he has found useful, and I trust he will eventually succeed in obtaining pseudo-bulbs quite as lai'ge as described above. His next inquiry is, "What constitutes high cultni-e in epiphj-tal OrchideEe ? " As example is better than precept, I woiJd advise him and other young growers of these singular and most in- teresting plants, to visit the most celebrated collections at several seasons of the year, and observe the state and per- fection to which, by high culture they have been brought. I would particidarly recommend .in inspection and stndy in a cidtural point of view of the large coUeotion at Messrs. Veitch's Eoyal Exotic Nursery, at Chelsea. There may be seen plants of Orchids grown as they shoxild be, and in such numbers of even the rarest species as would astonish a small grower, though at such places it is hardly fair to expect to see the finest specimens or examples, because Messrs. Veitch and other nui'serymen grow their plants for sale, and whoever will give the price for the finest speci- mens can have them ; but one thing is certain, that every grower for sale exerts his utmost skill to bring them to the highest state of cultural perfection. Useful lessons in culture may be obtained at other nurseries, such, for in- stance, as Mr. Williams's, at Holloway ; Messrs. EoUisson's, at Tooting; Mr. Maule's, at Bristol; Mr. WooUey's, at Cheshunt; and others. It is, however, in private collections that eramples of what constitutes high culture may be best observed. I am glad to notice that these examples are increasing, and I hope " Orchidophilus " himself will be one of the number. I will mention only the following — namely, Mr. Eucker, at Wandsworth ; the Bishop of Winchester, at Farnham ; Mr. AspiuwaU Turner, near Manchestei'; the Duke of Devon- shire, at Chatsworth; Mr. Horatio NichoUs, near Bowden, Cheshu-e ; and Mr. Eeed, near Bridgwater. At these and, no doubt, many other places, fine examples of the high cultiu'e of Orchideffi may be studied with great advantage by new beginners of Orchid-gTowing. I may, however, mention, that weU-gi-own plants of tliis tribe should be per- fectly healthy, and every succeeding pseudo-bulb should be annually larger, with leaves of increased size, tiU the maxi- mum is reached. The Indian species, such as .Srides, Sac- colabium, and Vandas, should be strong and robust in health, with leaves of a full green colour -without spot or blemish ; and each plant, where it is the habit to be so, should have many shoots all equally strong and healthy. Plants so grown would be in a state of high culture. Oui' correspondent next states that he has seen a col- lection of Orcliids that had been neglected, shovring a regular degeneration, and he wishes to know the cause and the remedy. As to the cause, it must necessarily be in a great measure guess work. Plants in such a state as he describes must either have been grossly neglected or managed by a person almost totally unacquainted with then- cultui-e, or, perhaps, possessing in- adeqviate means to grow them — with such, for instance, as insufficient heat and moistm-e in the air, improper soils, or an indifferent house to grow them in ; or, lastly, his time may have been taken up with other departments of garden- ing, so that he covild not devote sufficient attention "^o this class of plants. To bring such plants back to a state of normal luxu- riance would require the reverse of the treatment they have been subjected to. The first point to attend to would be to improve or rebuild the house or houses they are to grow in. See that there are plenty of pipes to heat the atmosphere, and means devised to give out moistiu-e during the growing season. Air must be given when needed, and that aii' should pass over the pipes, so as to be heated before it reaches the plants. Then procure the necessary requisites of nbi-y peat, sphagnum moss, charcoal, cocoa-nut fibre, fibry loam, leaf mould, and caky dung. All these are necessai-y where a tolerable coUeetion is to be gi-own or brought into renewed health. Also have clean pots, good sound logs and baskets, and plenty of broken pots of at least three sizes. jUI these being obtained, take the deteriorated plants, shake them out of the old soil, wash them thoroughly in tepid water so as not to leave one insect, and then cut away all dead or decayed roots and dead pseudo-bulbs. Do this at a time I when the plants are not ga-owing. Then repot, rebaskflt, 290 JOXJKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AKD COTTAGE GARDENER. [ October 13, 1863. and relog the whole, and place them in the sweet clean house, giving no water tUl shoots and roots appeal- ; only give moisture in the air pretty freely, to keep them plump, and encourage them to grow both at the top and the roots. The cultivator must not expect such a neglected collection to improve even with the highest culture in a short time — it vnl\ take three or four yeai's to bring them into normal luxuriance. If he has not had much experience, let me advise kim to procure some work on their cultm-e : even the humble one our coiTespondent alludes to will be useful. — T. Appleby. OENTAUEEA CAJNTDIDISSIMA AS A BEDDEE. As there seems to be some difference of opinion about the merits of , this plant for bedding purpo.ses, it would be of great service to the gardening world it' those who have had much experience of it would report upon the subject. My own has not been sufficiently extensive to enable me to give an opinion without some reservation ; but others, perhaps, can write more decidedly. What little experience I have had is greatly in its favour, and the condition of my plants during the gTeater part of the summer left no'thing to wish for. Some growers, however, say that it becomes too rank, and when so its foliage assumes a dirty grey instead of the beautiful white which it in general presents. Ai-e its detractors right or not ? I fancy myself that the majority of those who grow it will affirm the contrary, but if otherwise let them by aU means be heard. — H. T. V. [We shall be obliged by reports on this subject, whether success or non-success attended the attempt to bed this plant, with details of the cultui-e adopted, and the nature of the soil.] HEEBACEOUS CALCEOLAEIAS. "An Admip.ee op Calceolaeias " wishing for hints on their cultivation, will, it is to be hoped, find something in the toUowing suitable to his case. These charming plants aie natives of the mountain ranges of Chili and adjacent countries, and delight in the rich vegetable mould found on the margin of forests, the same as the Foxglove, to which they are closely aUied, does in oiu- own country. Calceolarias may be had in bloom at different periods by periodical sowings of the seed, but three sowings wiU be ample for most places. For a spring display, the seed is so?Fn in the middle of July ; for summer flowering, in the last week in August ; and a sowing in spring gives fine autumn- flowering plants. The two first sowings require no artificial heat, but the last is placed in heat. Seed of first-class exceUeuce should be procured, avoid low-priced seed, and by all means let it be new. The start- ing into flower prematurely is greatly to be attributed to old seed, whilst vigorous growth is promoted by sowing new. The soil for the sowing should consist of turfy loam and leaf mould in equal parts, with an admixtm-e of one-sixth silver sand. The seed-pan or pot should be half fiUed with di-ainage, and on this place the riddlings of the compost, for it should pass through a half-inch riddle. Providing the drainage and riddlings occupy three parts of the depth of the pot, fill with the compost, and level the siu-face. Water, so as to thorouglily moisten the soil, tlu-ough a fine-rosed watering-pot ; sow the seed thinly upon the sm-face, and scatter a little silver sand over it so as to make the surface of the soU white all over. Place the pot in a shady place out-doors, and cover with a hand or bell-glass, or a close cold frame will answer as weU. Guard against exposing the pot to sun and currents of ah-, and keep the soU just moist, but not very wet. Look out every now and then for snails, for these pests wiU clear a pot of seedlings in a single night and leave nothing behind them but their sUme and the roots beneath the surface. A little soot sprinkled round the pot will make all safe in that respect, and may save the raiser the trouble of complaining about the b.adnes's of the seed. All watering should be made through a fine rose, and shade must be given if the place is exposed. When the plants are fau-ly up admit a little air, but avoid draughts. Gently bedewing the plants in the morning will keep them cool and moist diuing the day. When the plants have a pair of rough leaves the size of the thumb- nail, pot them singly into 60-sized pots in the same compost as before, and place in a close cold frame in a shady spot. Keep close and shaded for a few days until growth commences; then admit a Uttle fi-esh air, and give enough water to keep them growing freely. When the plants become established admit air freely by taking the lights off at night, and in cloudy weather, and thus give them the full benefit of dews, gentle rains, and a damp but not stagnant atmosphere. Dryness is the greatest bane to contend against in Calceo- laria-cidture, for if the plants ar-e kept dry green fly is diifi- cidt to keep down, and they flower prematui-ely. For that reason the lights had better be kept over the plants during the day and the frame tUted or stood on bi-icks placed flat- wise at each corner, so as to prevent stagnant air lodging, or the frame becoming hot inside. A gentle sprinkUng of water overhead morning and evening in di-oughty weather will much invigorate the plants ; but they should be shielded from heavy rains by putting on the lights, and shaded from bright sun. The plants must be potted immediately on the pots becoming filled with roots, for cramping them in small pots tends to cause flowering before the plants are half formed. Shift them into 48-sized pots, using the same compost as before, placing in the fr-ame, &c., as at the fii-st potting. When the roots reach the sides of the pots, pot into 32's, using a compost of loam from rotted tui-ves one year old and leaf mould in equal parts, with half the bulk of cow- dung two years old, and add about quarter of the whole of pieces of charcoal the size of a hazel nut, and silver sand. Water freely in addition to lightly syringing morning and evening, admit abimdance of air, and give all the light practicable without bright sun. In October (I am dealing with the seeds sown in July for blooming in May) the plants will need shifting into 24-pot3 ; but as there will be some very strong whilst others lag behind, discriminate between a strong plant and a weak, potting the fii'st, but merely examining the last to see that the drainage is all right ; then place in a cold fi'ame with a southern aspect, for we now want light and warmth. Any plants that are very sickly ought to be shaken out of the pots, removing all the eai-th without injuring the roots, and potted in the compost recommended for seedlings in a size very little larger than just sufficient to hold the roots without cramping them. If the cultivator's stock be large he may discard the sickly plants ; but it is only right to caution the uninitiated against throwing away that which may prove superior in colour, spotting and Ijlotching, form and substance, to any in the patch. I have known the sickly- looking considered so ; but really weak growers afford the most novelty, and the finest-formed and colcured flowers in patches of seedlings. These weak growers, whether weak by nature or accident, will form capital succession plants, and first-class specimens of small size for filling up gaps on front stages in tlie conservatory. When the nights ai'e becoming ft'osty in October or November remove the plants to a pit, placing them near the glass, and as far from the heating appai-atus and ciurents of dry air as possible without sub- jecting them to frost or allowing stagnant aii' to lodge near them. The plants cannot have too much light and aii- ; but care should be taken that the air does not become dry, nor that they flag fi'om want of water at the roots or a deficiency of moisture in the atmosphere. Damp or stagnant air should be studiously avoided, and drip prevented falling on the leaves, or moistiure of any kind lodging between the leaves or on them for any length of time. The shelves of a green- house are a good place for wintering Calceolarias, but not equal to a pit, though I have had them in 12-inch pots with a head of bloom between 2 and 3 feet in diameter with over a thousand flowers upon them at one time. The main points to attend to during winter are to keep the plants gently gi-owing without giving waimth to make them grow quickly, and, if dai'k and close, to become drawn and tissue-like in the leaf. Any shoots that grow straggling should be stopped ; but it is" a bad practice to stop one shoot and not another on the same plant, for it tends to promote a succession of flowers ; whereas the beauty of the plant consists in aU the blooming-stems appearing simultaneously. If ail go on well the plants will have leaves the size of a lady's hand by Christmas, when they may be potted into October 13, 1863. JOURNAL OF HOSTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 291 18-sized pots and gently bedewed with tepid water in the morning, care being taken to have the leaves dry before the sun goes down, for water left standing on the foliage i3 apt to cause that part of the leaf where it rests to darap or decay. Water must be given more liberally as the days lengthen, but it is well to let the plants need it before affording a supply. A little now and then does no good, but an occasional thorough application, enough to run through the pot and so wet the soil quite through, is worth all the Kiu-faoe-watei'ings put together. No watering is necessary before the soil becomes dry, but not so much so as to make the leaves flag. Water should be given before that takes place. By the latter part of February or beginning of March the pots wiU be full of roots, when the plants must be shifted into pots a size larger or into 13's, using the soil a little rougher, chopping instead of sifting it. The plants will now requii'e syi'inging morning and evening ; in about three weeks from this time the pots will be again full of roots, when the cultivator should consider whether he would like the plants to bloom in the pots they are already in, or if he would like them a little larger and finer. The strongest wiU be chosen and jiotted into G-sized pots, giving extra drainage, and using the soil rough. The pots will soon be fuU of roots, and when these begin matting round the sides of the pot the flower-stems appear. At this stage keep a good circula- tion of air and the atmosphere of the house moderately cool, without shading, and so induce the flower-stems to rise strong and dwarf, and if so, no sticks wiU be needed to support the massive heads. I never attend an exhibition without being puzzled to know whether it is the number of sticks and ties that win theh owner the prize, or the dis- torted blooms on their lanky stems. The plants are to be lightly syringed morning and evening until the flowers biurst the calyx, when moisture must be given by sprinkling the paths and shelves occasionally. When the blooms have attained half their full size, they should be shaded from very bright sun, and when fuHj' developed, then- beauty is much prolonged by being shaded fi'om ten to four o'clock. It is not necessary to repot so often, to give more than one shift in the spring, nor to attend to one-half the minutiae here laid down, but I have given the essential particulai-s of their cultivation, the nearer to which the growli- adheres the more likely is success to attend his efforts. The drainage in all cases of repotting should be perfect, and this is secured by placing a large crock on the hole in the pot, an inch of rough crocks, half an inch of finer, and a layer of live sphagnum, or cocoa-nut fibre half an inch thick upon that. It is not a bad practice to pot rather low, especially if few shifts are given, for then the pots can be top-dressed, for the Calceolaria emits roots from the stem, and these are preserved and extended by the top- dressing, which promotes healthfulness and vigour. Plants that are not shifted repeatedly until the flower-stems appear, will be much benefited by the application of weak liquid manure twice a-week. Plants done blooming are to be plunged in coal ashes in a shady place, but exposed to the air. AH the flower -stems having been removed, fill in the openings between the plants with leaf mould, putting it close to the stems. Into this the young shoots will root, and when they are sufficiently advanced slip them off the parent, and insert them in -iS-sized pots in the compost recommended for seedlings. Place in a cold frame, and keep shaded until well rooted, when they may be treated as seedlings of the same season, or like July seedhngs. The established or old plants are to be potted in the last week in August in pots sufficiently large to contain them, without cramping them, after the removal of all the old soil that comes freely away without injuring the roots ; then place in a cold frame that they may recover the disrooting, when they require the same shifting and treatment as seedling plants. The seedlings sown in the autumn must be potted when large enough, and they may be wintered in 48-sized pots on shelves near the glass in the greenhouse. They will require potting in March, and shifting into their blooming-pots in the end of April or beginning of May. Spring-sown plants are raised in heat, care being taken to keep the atmosphere moist and healthy, yet free ft-om draughts. When of sufficient size they are potted-off, and gradually hardened-off, as with half-hardy annuals, by the middle of May. The seed, to do this, should be sown in the first week in March : the plants are then placed in a cool frame, and shaded fr'om scorcliing sun, which is apt to cause the flower-stems to come wlulst the plants are small. Shade and moisture, with repotting as often as the pots become filled with roots, will keep the plants growing vigorously until the last week in July, when they must be potted into their blooming-pots, giving them the fall benefit of the sun's rays, and sprinkling them lightly morning and evening with water untU the flowers appear, when they may be removed to a drier atmosphere to bloom. Such plants, however, are seldom half so fine as those kept over the winter ; but if not allowed to produce many flowers in autumn, and kept over the winter, and fr-equently repotted, they make very fine early -flowering plants, and afford in the April and May following a display which no occupant of the gi-eenhouse, not excepting the Azalea and Cineraria, can rival. Green fly is very troublesome in attacking the Calceolaria, and is mostly brought on by keeping the plants in a close confined atmosphere, and by imperfect drainage. A sour soil also induces the attacks of this pest and of mildew ; whilst a too dry atmosphere is instrumental in bringing on thrips. The plants should be smoked with tobacco on the first appearance of green fly and thrips, but the leaves should be dry ; and it is better to smoke slightly two nights con- secutively than give a strong dose on one night that not only kUls these pests but injures the leaves as weU. MUdew may be removed by dusting the infested parts with flowers of sulphur; and damp may be prevented by removing the causes — stagnant atmospheric moisture, and water lodging on the stems and leaves. Shrubby Calceolarias must form the subject of another communication. — George Abbey. BILLBEEGIAS AND THEIR CULTIVATION— ^CHMEAS. It but too often happens that this valuable genus, though represented in almost every stove we visit, receives but secondary consideration and treatment. This is undeserved considering its known merits, its singular foliage, and the brightness and uses of its flowers. Such treatment may often arise from the simple supposition that the plants gx-ow and seem to flourish well under the roughest system of treatment. That these ideas are wrong I scarcely need state, or that such treatment does very poor justice to this or, indeed, any other class of plants, for by cultivation they may be induced to form much finer foliage and to flower much more fr-eely than they usually do. The general system of treatment I would follow would be to pot them each year, in May, in a compost of peat, sand, and charcoal, adding a few well-broken potsherds ; to afford them but a slight shift each time, taking care to pot them firmly ; and to give them up to September a general stove temperature and treatment. It is also necessary to bear in mind that where good drainage is afforded they are fond of an abundant supply of water dui-ing their growing season. At the first oppox-tunity after September they shoidd be placed in a higher temperature and receive the general ti-eat- ment of a Pine plant when the object is to induce it to fruit. I have omitted to state that all grovrths remaioing upon the plants which may have previously flowered, or may be older than those of the last year, should be carefully , removed with a keen-edged knife, for by permitting these to remain upon the plants they appropriate to themselves a part of the sap, aU of which should go towards the perfecting of a large strong growth, with a view to efficient flowering. In some of the varieties the flower-spikes push out rather too far to sustain their weight, and in such case they may be properly secured by being tied. Others which are not so long and are stronger in the stem will requure no support. The sorts generally known are BUlbergia Leopoldi, amoena, fasciata, and Duo de Croy. I have known some very lively- flowered sorts under the names of MoreUiana and Liboniana, though, in consequence of greater notice not having been taken of them, the collection is not so complete in some popular catalogues as it might otherwise be. Noumea is another very pleasing genus, and very closely 292 JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. [ October 13, 1863. allied to the preceding in its form, habits, and mode of flowering. The remai-ks given above will serve generaUy for the successful cultivation of these also, though perhaps our ikvourite, J5chmea fulgens, wiU by a distinct ti-eatment submit to our wishes more readily than any of the others. The way this is now generally treated is the following : — Take off with a sharp knife any young shoots about three parts gi-own, place them upon the tan in a Pine-pit, or on the soil in a Cucumber-house, or in any other place where a high moist temperature is kept up, where thoy will eventually root. "Wlien rooted the cuttings should be cai-efully potted into 48-pots in a composition similar to that detailed for BiUbergias, but with rather more sand, potsherds, and drainage. Continue to keep them in a w.oi'm moist atmo- sphere until you suppose they ai'e well established or are showing for flower. They come quickly into flower when permitted to remain in heat ; yet when we wish to retard theii- period of flowering, it does not injxu-e them to remove them into a lower temjjeratm'e for a time. Besides this, other modes of obtaining a succession of flowering plants might be practised, such as taking oft' the cuttings at twice, the strongest first, or by remo\-ing half or so fi-om the higher temperature when the young plants have become established, and when they show any signs of flowering to return them into heat as requii-ed. Grown thus they are exceedingly useful for di-a-\ving-room or other decorations, lasting a long period in flower. They ai'e very effective when tastefully lUTanged in a stpjid with some of oui- more graceful Ferns. Of the kinds J like fulgens best, though the beautiful and evenly balanced mai-kiugs upon discolor constitute it a veiy pleasing object. Besides these there are Milinoni, spectabilis, and miniata. They should have .ill the sun and light possible. — William Eap.let. THE AEEANGEMENT OP COLOUES I^s" THE FLOWEE GAEDENS AT APLEY TOWEES, HYDE. "Where flower-gaa-dening is can-ied on to any extent and carried on with spirit I think it adds vei-y gi'eatly to the gener.il effect, and gives a varied charm and interest to the whole when the system of .aiTanging the coloiu's is varied as much as possible in the different gardens or divisions into which the pleasure grounds and flower gardens may be divided. By way of illustrating more plainly what I mean, I will as briefly as possible give a short outhie how I have had them arranged here this season. I think it gives additional interest to the pleasure grounds to have the flower borders and beds altered in their an'angements each succeeding season as much as can be done, so that the family and visitors may not have the same arrangement often repeated in the same place, however pleasing and attractive it may be in the general effect. The mansion here stands upon the top cf a piece of ground gently rising fi'oni the west, north, and north-east, and these tlu'ee sides ai'e open — that is, free from trees, while the rest is pretty well closed in with lai-ge trees and shrubs. On the east, north, and west axe the flower gardens, and nearly all are seen from the windows. On the thi-ee sides of the mansion, as stated above, grass extends for several yaa'ds ; then comes the terrace walk, and beyond it there is grass to the top of the ten'ace bank, which gently slopes for 9 feet. On the east side, and level with the teiTace walk, is a flower garden in grass having the beds all of one colour, excepting a small edging of a different coloui' to contrast with the bed as much as the means at command will allow. Forming part of this garden is a set of smaller beds, all filled ■with Verbenas of one colour, and each bed diffeiing from the one adjoining to it. This composes the flower garden on the east side of the house. The flower gai'den on the north side lies beyond the slope of the terrace bank — it is a polychi'ome garden having a walk running round it, and joining the terrace walk by a flight of steps. Here each bed has been confined to two colours — that is, the bed is filled with one colour, excepting an edging of another contrasting colour. This garden is flanked on three sides with vases filled with gay flowering plants. The first garden on the west front is on the same level below the terrace as the one just described as being on the north side. It forms half a circle, havhig its base towai'ds the house and terrace bank. It is likewise a polychrome, but quite ilifl'erent in design and execution ; its principaJ featm-e being a centre of gi-ass, on which is a pedestal sur- moimted with the figures of two boys contending for some fi-uit. .and from this centre radiate the principal walks. This garden like the north one is surrounded with a walk, and the base is connected ^^•ith the ten-ace walk by a flight of steps. On the top of the balustrades are two boys iu bronze, apparently requiiing all their strength to hold and restrain a struggling fish. The bottom of the balustrades is ornamented with vases full of Geraniums, and the sides of the flight of steps to the north flower gai'den are also oi-namented with vases filled in a similar manner. The colom's in the beds iu this, the west, polychrome garden are more in the ribbon style — that is, there .ore thi'ee colours, the centre being a good contrasting colour, each side of another coloui', and the margin of a different hue. These beds fall from the centre east and west. They ai'e flanked with foiu' small round beds, each of one colour, two on each side. Each pair of these round beds is divided by a longer irregular bed filled with one colour', the same as the corre- sponding bed on the opposite side. Bej'oud this flower gai'den the ground falls again. Another flight of steps, right opposite to and in a line with the flight of steps which connects this garden with the terrace walk, descends to this portion of the grounds, which is by far the largest. As stated already, the west side of the garden just de- scribed forms half a cii-cle, this flight of steps being in its centre. At the bottom of the wall, which is completely covered and hid ^vith Lam'ustinus and Fuchsia Ricoai'toni, which flowers more or less all the siuumer and autiunn, is a flower-border about 13 feet ■wide and 300 long. This border is planted in the panel style, every 11-feet long form- ing a scmare, differing in colour fr-om the one adjoining it ; and limning along the entire length at the back is a row of the blue Ageratum, and next is a row of yellow Calceolaria. Each square is di^\"ided by three rows of Calceolarias, the centre one being Eugosa, the two others Prince o^ Orange. Next the grass is a row of Alyssum variegatum, next to this is a scarlet Verbena, and then Eugosa Calceolaria ; so that each squai-e has three rows between it and the gi'ass, three rows between each other, and t'wo rows at the back. In the centre of each squai'e stands a plant of Humea elegans. This border forms the fourth style of arranging the colours. Eunning at nearly right angles from the north end of this border, and passing under large Oalc trees, is a serpentine border 76 yards long. It is not everything that wiU answer well under the shade of trees. This border is well seen from the corner of the terrace walk : hence it is desu'able to have it look gay and as trun as possible under the circumstances. It is Ijacked with low shrubs, and -we have this season a ribbon of four colours in it. The back row is the blue Ageratiun staked up ; then Calceolai'ia latifolia Ukewise tied up ; next, French Mai-igold with then- varied colours, and the row next the grass is the white variegated Balm. Fifth arrangement. At about 12 yards in fr'ont of this border, but not quite pai'aUel to it. is oiu' principal ribbon- border. This has a gentle curve, backed -with shi'ubs, and is weU seen from the terrace walk, which may be from 13 to 16 feet liigher. It is 12 feet wide, .and is composed of nine colours, the back row being Sweet Peas neatly staked up, then foUow the blue Ageratum, Perilla nankinensis. Calceo- laria I'ugosp., Geraniums Flower of the Day and Tom Thumb, Purjile King Verbena, Cerastium tomentosum, and next to the grass is the bright low-gi'owing Verbena An'ay. The out- sideof this curved ribbon-border being seen by the prome- naders en the terrace walk, the effect is better than were it straight, ha-i-ing one end to the ten'ace. Sixth arrangement. A little to the south of this border are a number of lai-ge beds fUled in theu- middle with Ehodo- dendrons, &c., which, of coui'se, flower eaily iu the season. Each of these beds has amongst the Ehododendi'ons a few HoUyhccks and some D.ahlias, LUies and Tritoma uvaria giving variety and extending the season of bloom as long as can well be done; all round each of these beds are two and October 13, 186.3. ] JOUEIs'AL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 293 in some instances thi'ee rows of flower-garden plants. Some liave tlie back row yellow Caleeolaiia, with Scai-let Gera- niums in front ; others have the back row Petunias ; as they ^■ow they are held back against the Ehododendrons by small stakes, so that by August the plants are growing away amongst and upon the Ehododendrons, and present at a little distance slightly the appearance of a bank of flowers, backed up with Dahlias, &.c. This forms the last style here of aiTanging the plants and colours in the flower gardens, besides mised borders, which to some minds are a great and a pleasing relief from the more formal styles. — Geokge Dawson. SOME OF THE GAEDE^^S WORTH SEEING. BromhamHalL. "Woburn Abbey.. Puteiidge Bury . Ampthiil Park.. EEDFOKDSHIKE. Proprietor. Gnrdeyier. Lord Dyuevor Mr. Thompson. Duke of Bedford Mr. Mackey .... Col. Sowerby Mr. R. Fish Lord AVensleydale Unknown FUtwick Manor . Mrs. Brooks Mr. Nutt Tingrith House . Miss Trevor Unknown GLAMORGANSHIRE. Penrice Castle ... C. R.M.Talbot, Esq., M.P... Mr. J. Crook .... Margam Park ... C. R. M. Talbot, Esq., M.P... Mr. G. Crook ... Singleton Mrs. Vivian Mr. Westcott.. t5toutHall R. '>Vood, Esq Mr. Owen Penllergare J. D. Llewellyn, Esq Mr. Nuns LEICESTERSHIRE. Frith House Miss Mackey Mr. Bolton NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. Cottesbrook Hall H. Lnn^ham, Esq Mr. Todd Lamport Hall.... Sir Char leslsham, Bart Mr.Todd Station. Llaiidilo Luton Arapthill Ampthiil Woburn , Swansea . Port Talbot Swansea Swansea . Swansea EOYAL HOETICI^LTFEAL SOCIETY'S COMMITTEES.— Oct. 6, 1863. Floral Committee. — A meeting of the above Committee was held this day. A very few entries were made either of plants or flowers, and nothing of any great interest was exhibited. Messrs. Low sent some new Orchids — Cattleya iiTorata elegans ; Sophronitis grandiflora, a fine vai-iety of this species ; and Dendrobiimi ebumeum, a promising flower, but not in condition, although sufficiently developed to show its qualities. Tliis, being a new variety, was awarded a first-class certificate, and when seen again will doubtless realise aU that is expected of it. BIr. Bull sent four small plants of varieties 'of scarlet Pelargoniums, the plants were merely cuttings, Is^ovelty, a bright cerise weU-formed flower being the best ; Petimia Edith, no improvement on better kinds ; and Pandanus candelabrum. Messrs. Smith, Dulwich, sent again fom- specimens of their hardy herbaceous Anemone Honorine Jobert, a very good and useful autumn plant, producing an abiindance of white flowers. This plant was commended at a previous meeting, and now received a second-class certificate. A few setLlling Dahlias were sent by Messrs. Bragg, Slough, and Mr. Bm-gess, but out of condition. A iew Pansies were also sent : these were out of season and very imperfect. Fruit Cohhittee. — J. B. Haig, Esq., in the chaii-. At this Meeting there were several prizes offered. In Class A, for the best collection of Grapes, there were two entries, the first from JIi-. Meredith, of Vine Cottage, Garstcfn, near Liverpool, was a very fine collection, consisting of twenty- one varieties, and gTown as Mi'. Meredith always gi'ows them. In such a collection we can have only space to notice a few particularly, and of these we could not but admire the bunch of Muscat Hambiu'gh, which was large and well set, and the flavour most delicious. Every season seems to add fi-esh honour to this most delicious of Grapes. Alicante was lai'ge and well set, the bloom on the berries thick and solid-looking. Trentham Black was also fine both in ap- pearance and in flavoiu-. Mr. Meredith showed in this col- lection a seedling caEedGarston Seedling. It is an immense bunch, as might have been expected from the cross between Syi'ian and Muscat of Alexandria. The berries are lai-ge, "white, and with a fine rich flavoiU', which in the bunch ex- hibited was not fuUy developed, fi-om being as yet rather umipe ; but when this Grape is fully ripened we have no doubt biit that it will prove to be the best-flavoured late White Grape yet in cultivation. It surpasses both Treb- biano and Calabrian Eaisin in this respect. Mr. Meredith was requested to send it again later in the season. For this collection of Grapes Mr. Meredith received the first prize. The second prize was taken by Messrs. Lane & Son, of Berk- hampstead, who also exlubited fine bunches of twenty-three so-called distmct varieties ; but as Frankenthal, Black Ham- burgh, Esjjerione, and Pope Hambm-gh were all the same, and BliU HUl and Champion Hamburgh were also synony- mous, that reduced the number to nineteen. These had all been grown in an orchard-house, and though fine in appearance were infinitely inferior in flavour- to those of Mr. Meredith. In Class B, for the best dish of Cox's Orange Pippin, the successful competitor was Mr. Charles Turner, of Slough. Mr. Elvers, of Sawbiidgeworth, also sent specimens of this variety not for competition but comparison, and though they were larger and of a finer colour than Mr. Turner's, they could not approach them in flavour. In Class C, there were no entries with the exception of Mr. Spivey, whose specimens were not the Golden Eeinette. In Class D, Mi-. Spivey, gardener to J. A. Houblon, Esq., of HaUingbury Place, Essex, took first prize with Pine Apple Eusset, fine specimens of that variety. A seedling Gi-ape was sent by Mr. Eoss, gardener to C. Eyre, Esq., Welford Park, near Newbury, but it was not sufficiently distinct from Black Hamburgh to be considered a different variety. Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, & Co., of Exeter, exhibited a bunch of Mi's. Pince's Muscat, a Black Grape producing a large, long, well-shouldered bunch with oval berries, the fiavour of w-hioh is very rich and excellent, and with a distinct Frontignan flavom-. This was considered a Grape of first-rate excellence and received a first-class certificate. Mr. B. S. WiUiams, of Paradise Nui-sery, HoUoway, sent a splendid bunch of the Eoyal Vineyard Grape, which re- ceived a first-class certificate at the November meeting in 1S62. The bunch exhibited on this occasion was much finer than that shown last year, and was about 15 inches long, tapering like that of the Black Prince. The berries were lai'ge, quite round, and of a pearly look ; the skin is so thin, and the fiesh so hard and crackley, that it is eaten Uke a Bigarreau Chen-y, skin and all. This is said to be a late- hanging Grape, and if so it wUl be a valuable one. A specimen of the fi.-uit of Hurst House Pine Apple was sent by Mr. Page, gai'dener to Wm. Leaf, Esq., of Streatham, which weighed 7 lbs., and which was considered a very good specimen. Mr. Alves, gardener to A. Hamilton, Esq., of Southborough, Kent, sent a Persian Scarlet-fleshed Melon of large size, ribbed and of a very dark bottle-green colom-. The flesh was, unlike Scarlet-fleshed Melons, very tender and melting, remarkably juicy, and rich; this is by far the riohest-fla- voui-ed and best of aU the Scaiiet-fleshed Melons we ever tasted. It was very justly awarded a first-class certificate. Mr. Standish, of Ascot, sent fi-uit of a nev/ Fig which came fi-om the south of Europe, of most delicious flavour. The fi-uit is said to grow as large as the Brunswick, and the tree is a great bearer. This received a first-class certificate. Mr. Terry, gardener to Lionel Ames, Esq., the Hyde, St. Albans, sent four- dishes of Currants which were in beautiful condition, and which reflected great credit on Mr. Terry's management. They were as bright and fi-esh as we are used to see them in J-uly. These received an extra prize. George WUson, Esq., of Gishurst Cottage, TVeybridge Heath, sent magnificent specimens of the Melon Apple, Koi-thern Spy Apple, and Chaumontel Pears. These were gTOwn in an orchard-ho-ase, and both in size and appearance looted like tritons among minnows. They were remarkably fine and were awarded an extra prize. Messrs. Paul & Son, of Cheshunt, sent a Seedling Apple called Cheshunt Pippin, which is said to be a long-keeping and excellent culinai-y Apple. It has much the appearance of Cellini, but not the flavoui-. Mr. Paul was asked to send it again, and in the meantime the Secretai-y was requested to have its culinary properties tested. Mr. E. Holliday, gardener to J. Alleson, Esq., Friar's Place, Acton, sent very fine specimens of Cluster Golden Pippin and Blenheim Pippin. 294 JOURNAL OF HORTICITLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. [ October 13, 18C3. TELLING BEDS OR FLOWEE GAEDENS. This of all seasons of the year is the most important to the gaj'dener in matters of flower-gardening, as now is the time he should be closing propagation for the coming year, and it also becomes necessary that he should strictly examine his beds to detect any fault of axi'angement, as well as to decide by what change of planting, and by the introduction of what novelties he may keep alive the interest of his employer, and of visitors in them. No matter how perfect the ai'rangement may be in colouring, nor how faultless the design, it is requisite that each year shovdd show a change, otherwise the eye wearies, and one half of the interest and pleasure is lest. Thiniing that it might be desirable that correspondents should forward sketches of the flower gardens under their charge, together with a plain description, I forward a draw- ing of mine. It does not contain much that is new ; for, from the sitviatjon lying ojjen to cutting north-east winds, the hardiness of all novelties requii-es to be severely tested previous to theu' adoption, and to be grown to procure stock where the gardener's kuife can be used more fi-eely than is generally agi-eeable to the lady portion of our employers in the early pai-t of the season. I am always obliged for advice, ever willing to leai-n. Should you see anything objectionable in the arrangement, to point it out will oblige. — O. Barton. 1, Centre bssbet, 2 feet hish. Flower of the Day, edged with Lobelia peciosa; bed Tom Thumb Geraniam, edged with Flower of the Day. 2, 3, 4, 5, Verbenas. 6, 7, Tom Thumb Geranium, edge Alyseum. 8, 9, Trentham Koec Geranium, edge AlysEum. K), 11, Calceolaria Golden Fleece, edfe Ferilla nankinen&ia. li:, 13, Trtntham Rose Ger.iniuin,, edge Cerastium. U, 16, Eoule de >'eige Geranium. 10, 17, Flower of the Day. [We like the plan of your gai-den quite as well as the planting. 1st. There seems to be no gradation as to height. There is Tom Thumb Geranium for centre ; two Tom Thumb and two Trentham Eose beds for wings, and then Trentham Rose for ends. The ends, 12 and 13, being the smallest figures, tall plants would be out of place there. Now, though the garden would look best if the beds were nearly on a level, stUl as the centre bed is to have an elevated centre, in the shape of a basket, we would have a tall instead of a dwarf scarlet there, and, therefore, would use Punch Scai-let, or better stiU, Beaton's Stella for 1 ; and the sides for variety we would have Cineraria maritima, or Centaurea candidissima. Then you might make 6, 7, 8, 9, Trentham Eose, with iUys- stim, or two of Trentham Eose and two of Eubens crossed, and the outsides, 12, 13, might then be Tom Thumb, with Cerastium for an edging. 2nd. The four quarter-moons round the centre, 2, 3, 4, 5, would be passable with mixed Verbenas of strong growth ; but if three colours are to be distinct in each, they will be drowned by the masses in 1, 6, 7, 8, 9. Then, besides, we do not like the arrangement of having three bands in these beds — red, white, and purplish-blue. It is just the old story of having a white-bodied phteton with one wheel red and the other piu-ple. I have seen lots of such beds this season, and the owners have a perfect right to plant them as they will. This style of ornament is also getting popular. We would just advise you to try a similar style with some pretty female friend of yotu'S, who had a rather pale complexion, by sticking a long wreath of Violets on one side of her face, and an equally long wreath of pink Eoses on the other side. Or try what the effect would be with a long purple pendant in one ear, and an equally long golden one in the other. If you are satisfied we have no argument to offer against your decision, even should you resolve that your fair lady should appear in company with one boot of the loveliest red, and the other of the most beautiful purple. If these four beds are to be ringed, then we would prefer the centre to be white, and the outsides purple all round. 3rd. Though not in the list, you give an edging of blue to 14, 15, 16, 17. That, in connection with the purple round the quarter-moons, woidd lead i:s to change the planting of 10 and 11, by placing PerOla in the centre, and a broad band of the Calceolaria round it. We think that heights and colours would then be better regulated, but do not be led by our opinion. — E. F.] October 18, 1863. ] JOHKNAi OF HOETICITLTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 295 TEUPFLES AJiTD TKUFFLE-BEDS. In the south of France Oak coppices are not gi-own for the sake of the wood, but because the black Truffle, which is so highly prized by the lovers of good eating, is chiefly to be found among the roots of that tree ; and it there acquires an aroma which is wholly absent from Truffles growing among the roots of the Elm, Beech, Walnut, Chestnut, LOac, and other trees. M. Tulasne has carefully investigated the history of this underground fungus and produced a magnificent work on the subject. He divides the genus Tuber (Truffle), into twenty-one species, of which four are confounded under the name of the common or black Truffle. Two, the black Truffle proper, and the winter Truffle, ripen in autumn and are taken up during the beginning of winter. The former is the most highly perfumed, and that held in the highest estimation. Its surface is warty, and the interior is of a uniform black with a reddish tinge, and marbled with white veins, which become reddish when the fangus attains a greater age. This species is common in Italy, Provence, and Poitou, and is also occasionally found near Paris, and in England. Black Truffle. The winter Truffle is inferior in quality to that just de- scribed and always accompanies it. The flesh, is white when young, and afterwards blackish and marbled with white veins. Two other species come to maturity at the beginning of summer. One, called the Summer Truffle, common in Ger- many and the central districts of France, is covered with large warts, whilst its flesh is whitish at first, afterwards turning to a brownish colour marbled with white veins. The other, which is common in Italy, is of a greyish-brown, and the veins are extremely tortuous. Both of the above are also met with near Paris. At Apt in the department of Vaucluse the Truffles are cixt in thin slices and dried. In this way about 197 tons are annually exported. To the four species abeady referred to must be added the white Truffle of Piedmont, which Napoleon preferred to the black kind. The others which M. Tulasne names are not edible. Truffles are generally found in chalky or clayey chalk soils. Just as many aerial fungi oiily grow on dead wood, and that of a particular' kind, so the black Truffle is only met with among the roots of trees, and more especially the common and Evergreen Oak, and Qi^.erci'.s coccifera. It is among the roots of these trees that the Truffles are most abundant and acquire a perfume that makes them esteemed all over the world. If the trees are too large and shade the ground too much the crop falls off, but it increases as the coppice grows. Truffles increase like other fungi ; when ripe they contain minvite spores not exceeding o'oth of an inch in diameter, and when the TiTiffle decays in the ground these produce white threads, or mycelium, like Mushroom spawn when running, and a fresh crop results. Many prejudices exist, however, among Truffle-hunters. Some imagine that the Truffle is a natural excrescence from the roots of the Oak ; others that it is the consequence of a punctui-e fi-om a fly or some insect ; and most believe that there are Oaks at the roots of which Tniffles are met with, and other Oak trees which do not produce them. Such, opinions are whoUy wrong, for the Truffle is an underground fungus reproduced like others of its race, but only succeeding in calcai'eous soils and amidst the roots of trees, and among the roots of the Oak in particular. The rains of July and Aiigust encourage its gi-owth and increase the crop. Truffle-hunters had long observed that vineyards and arable land surrounded by stunted Evergreen Oaks were very pro- ductive of Tiaiffles : hence M. Auguste Eousseau, of Car- pentras, conceived the idea of attempting their cultivation. He sowed in a piece of sandy calcareous gi-ound, about five acres in extent, a quantity of the acorns of the common and Evergreen Oak at the roots of which Truffles had been found. The sowing succeeded ; at the expii'y of eight years, in 1856, the late M. de Gasparin foimd that there was a yield of about 7 lbs. per acre, worth ^61 ISs. 4d. ; but since then both the produce and the price of Truffles have advanced. At the present time M. A. Eousseau obtains an average produce of 46J lbs. per acre, which at cun-ent prices is worth igl2 12s. 6(J. Deducting laboiu', rent, &c., we have .£11 19s. 6d. as the nett produce of an acre of bad ground wliich has been fifteen years in Oak coppice. Few crops produce such a return with the investment of so little capital and labour. Two interesting facts have been observed in M. Rousseau's Truffle-grounds ; one is that the Truffles are more plentiful, more equal in size, and have a higher perfume when they grow at the roots of the Evergreen Oak than when found among those of the common one; the second fact is that the Truffles are always met with at the foot of those trees- where they had been found in previous years. Such trees are always mai-ked with a white cross, and the sow em- ployed to find the Truffles immediately seeks them out and routs up the ground. The Truffle being foimd, she receives a tap on the snout, and some acorns or a Potato are thrown to her as a reward. Swine smell the Truffle through the ground ; and some dogs can likewise be trained to hunt for it, but they confine themselves to pointing out the place where the Ti-uffie exists, whilst the sow does all the work — discovers and routs it up. The person in charge must, however, be watchful, otherwise the prize iv^ll be im- mediately crushed between the sow's strong jaws, to open which by means of a stick a vain attempt is often made. On an average from the 1st of December to the end of February .£80,000 worth of Truffles are sold at Carpentras, from which they are sent to all parts of Eiu'ope. The com- munes of Bedoin, Blauvac, Monieux, and Metrennes contain 6672 acres of Ti-uffle woods let at dfioSO a-year. The coppices continue productive for twenty or thii-ty years, after which the gi-ound from having been shaded and kept too dry is no longer favourable to the growth of the Truffle, but then the wood can be sold for firewood. — (Alfred Lejoukdan in Remie des Jardins et ilc Champs.) THE GLADIOLUS QUESTION. I HOPE we may look upon the question of pronunciation as now settled ; for although I have great respect for Mr. Beaton, I do not think I should sit at his feet for the pro- nunciation of Latin. Nor am I inclined to agree with the notion that we must pronounce as gardeners have done. The flower is as a florist's flower comparatively new, and now that the baim is fairly launched into the world, let it have its right name. A contemporary, I see, has, since this controversy beg^m, also given its opinion in favour of Gladiolus ; so if the two gi-eat gardening papers will only hold to it, it may be considered as determined. Your ccrre- spocdent, " S. D. S.," asks where I would put the accent. 296 JOHRKAL OF HOETICULTTIRE AKD COTTAGE GAUDENEE. [ October 13, 1863. . On the first syllable, for as it is from gla'dius the stress would be there. I do not think that light soils give an immunity from the disease, but I have been more strengthened in my opinion since I wrote. They have done well in Messrs. Carter's light soil at St. Osyth, and badly in one or two other places where the soil is heavy. Mr. Cattell sntfered, I know, but not severely, and I am aware that his intelligent foreman, Mr. Heale, dili'ei's from my view of the ease ; still I am inclined to hold by my own opinion, and look forvrai-d to further eonfiimatioii of my views. — D., Deal. POETEAITS OP PLA>rTS, FLOTTEES, AXD FEUITS. MicROSTTLis DiscoLOP, (Crisp-purple-leaved Microstvlis). — Nat. ord., Orchidaces. Linn., Gynancfria Monandi-ia. Cue of " the most lovely of terrestrial Orchideous plants." Flowers yellow, but changing to orange ; leaves purple, usually green-edged. Native of Ceylon.— (Boi. Mag., t. 5403.) Sph^kalcea aceeifolia (Maple-leaved Sphteralcea). — Nat. ord., Malvacete. Linn., Monadelphia Polyaudi-ia. Native of rivulet banks in North-western Australia. Flowered in a greenhouse at Kew, in June, but believed to be hai-dy. Flowers pale purplish-pink.— (/tu?., t. 5404.) Ebanthemtm TUBEKCULATU3I (TVai'ted Eranthemum). — Nat. oi-d., Acanthaces. Linn., Diandi-ia Monogynia. A most abundant bloomer. Flowers white. Probablv a native of the South-Sea Islands.— (7iu!., t. 5405.) Hibiscus Hueijelii var. qxjinqcetulneea (Five-wounded Hugel's Hibiscus).— A crimson spot at the base of each of the five petals suggested the name. It is a native of Swan Eiver. This and H. Wrayro and some others are only varieties of H. gi'ossulariffifoiius. — (Ibid., t. 5406.) Ceeopegia Boweebi (Bowker's Ceropiegia). — Nat. ord., Asolepiadacea?. Linn., Pentandria Monogynia. Native of Cafiraria, South Afi-ica. Petals gi-eenish-yeUow, and reiiexed like those of the Cyclamen. — (Ihid., t. 5407.) Saecopodium psittacoglossum (Parrot-tongued Sarco- podium). — Nat. ord., Orchidaceffi. Zinn., Gynandi-ia Mono- gynia. Native of Moubnein. Flowers yellow, tinged with green and striped with red.— {Ibid., t. 5408.) Fuchsia, Pillar of Gold, raised by Messrs. Smith, florists, Dulwich. Flowers crimson-sepaled and purple-coroUaed. Leaves abundantly stained with yellow.— (floral Magazine, pi. 165.) Pinks, raised by Mr. C. Turner, Slough. Rev. George Jeans, white and crimson. Lord Herbert, white and lUac. — (lUd., pi. 166.) Pelaegoniums, raised by Mr. Hoyle, Reading. Achilles, "perhaps the most briUiantly coloured Pelargonium ever raised." Upper petals intensely dark vrith fiery margin, lower petals deep carmine ; throat white. Artist, dai-k upper petals with rosy edge, and lower petals also of the hitter <3olour. — {Ibid., pi. 167.) Geeeuovia aueea (Golden Greenovia).— Native of Ma- deira. Allied to the Houseleek. Flowers veUow.- (liid., pi. 168.) ' ^ Ehododendeon, Statulish's Perfection, trusses of bloom fine, each blossom of great substance; colour lilac-rose softening into white.— (florist and Pomologist, ii., 137.) Plutsi, Belle de Septembre, " one of our handsomest late Plums." Fruit oval ; skin bright red, with a delicate violet bloom. ^ Flesh yeUowish-white, juicy, sweet, and somewhat aromatic. The tree is an abundant 'bearer. — {Ibid., 144.) we had to wait a short time, expecting to be iavoured with a shower, to get them planted out. There came a shower towards the close of June ; we planted all out. The plants were strong, having been planted out singly from the seed- beds into newly-dug ground as soon as they could bear this operation. The gi-ound in the field being well worked was nice and loose, and warm so far as it had been moved. We planted them in as deep as they would allow. They remained stationai-y for two months, or rather they went back for a time, as they became less. Upon the 19th of August a change came over the weather, rain fell for some days to a large amount, tind for nearly three weeks we had more or less rain nearly every day. For some time the duU and cloudy weather accompanied by the rain was quite a relief to all vegetation. In a few days after the rain on the 19th of August our Broccoli, &c., began to have a much greener appearance, and fr-om the 24th of August for three weeks following, the leaves of the Broccoli grew at the rate of fuUy 1 inch in twenty-fom- hoiu-s. Many of the leaves are now over 2 feet in length. Three weeks ago they were not more than a hand-breadth, and with anything like a fine autumn we shall yet see splendid Broccoli. We had a number of Broccoli last spring 3 feet in cu-cumferenoe.— G. Dawson. EAPID GEOWTH OF BEOCCOLI. kc. Heee (Isle of Wight), we grow most of our Winter Greens, Broccoli, lie, in a small field adjacent to the premises. We do not plant these things out so eai-ly in 'the season as many do, and especially those in the northern counties who are obliged to do it at a much earlier period in summer. However, what I more particulaily wish to notice at present is, the very quick growth which these vegetables have made within a month. We generally have the ground worked and wcU dunged early in June. The weather this summer being quite an exception, after we had the ground all ready ! WOEK FOE THE WEEK. kitchen gakden. Now is a good time for draining any part of the garden in want of it ; to replant the Box and other edgings, or to mend gaps where it is not necessary to remove the whole ; to dig gravel for new walks, or for repafring the old ones ; to trench and drain ground newly taken-in, and every spare piece in the gai'den, choosing suitable weather for these operations. Asparagtis, it is recommended to those who in- tend making new beds in the spring to prepare the ground immediately by digging-in and well mixing a large quantity of dung and lea;' mould with the soil, the ground to be slightly forked-up in the spring, and the beds to be foi-med and i^lanted. Broccoli, the plants that are now getting too luxuriant may be checked by laying. Cabbage, secui'e the supply of the best Eed for pickling while they are sound and good after they have had sufficient of frost to stay theii- natural coloru'. Cardoons, tie up for blanching when the leaves are quite dry. Twist haybands round so that the earth may not come in contact with the leaves when eai-thed-up. Caulifiou-ers, some of the plants of suitable size and age to be jjotted and placed in Melon-pits, frames, tui'f-pits, or temporary pits made with a few stakes, and interwoven with evergreen boughs, furze, heath, fern or straw ; they may then be covered when fr'ost is likely to occur, with pea-haiibn, evergi-een boughs, mats, or anything that is convenient laid on cross-i^oles or sticks. A quantity may also be placed in warm sheltered corners or borders ; and if taken up with balls of earth and temporarily sheltered as advised, both Cauliflowers and Cape Broccoli can be secured in succession thi'ough the winter. Onions, the small ones should also be thought of for pickling while they remain good. Peoj, warm di-y borders and banks shoiUd be pre- pared for an eai-ly crop, and also for Broad Beans, so that time may be allowed for exposure to the influence of the at- mosphere. See that the Pea and Scarlet-Eunner sticks are snugly tied in bundles and stacked away tidily in a tfry place. Savoys, if any strong plants of these or of the varieties of Kale should be left in the seed-beds, by all means put them out thickly, and those who have spai'e ground should still continue to jjut out Coleworts and Cabbage plants. Turnips, those who are fond of Turnip-greens at an early season, if they have any overgrown bulbs left in thefr beds should at once collect them, and plant them a foot apart in a wai-m quai-ter or sloping bank. Hoe and stfr amongst aU growing crops in suitable weather, and collect all dead and decaying leaves. FLO"WEE GAKDEN. In some localities the cold fi-osty nights we have lately experienced must have greatly damaged the appeai'ance of the more tender kinds of plants, and such as are to be saved should be removed at once. Proceed, therefore, with potting such plants with as much despatch as possible, and 5' practicable a little artificial heat should be applied to help October 13, 1663. ] JOmRNAL OF HOETICTJLTtrRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE,. 297 them to root before winter. Lawns, to present anything like neatness, will now require daOy sweeping. Well clean gravel walks for the winter, and afterwards let them be well rolled in order that the water may pass freely off the surface. As soon as the bloom is well off the Dahlias they shoxild be cut down, the roots taken up and dried, and put away per- fectly secm-e from frost. Auriculas to be cleaned and put into winter quarters. Take care there is no drip upon them. Prepare the ground for and plant Tulips, Hyacinths, Cro- cus, &c. Hyacinths for forcing to be potted; also, double Tulips, Nai'cissus, Jonquils, Iris, &c. Cuttings of China and other Roses to be potted and put into a cold frame. Chry- santhemums in pots to be removed into the greenhouse. Give abundance of air to keep them from drawing. Tigridia pavonia growing in borders to be taken up. All operations of planting, relaying turf, and border-making to be actively proceeded with. FRUIT GAKDEN. Peach and Nectaiine trees will now begin to cast their leaves, and it will be an advantage slightly to brash them upwai'ds with a small birch or long whisk to clear the leaves from the branches. Keep them closely nailed to the walls, or they will be liable to be broken by the wind. Gooseberry and CvuTant trees may be pruned when the leaves have fallen. Keep the centre of the trees open for the free ad- mission of sun and air. Fruit trees of aU descriptions to be planted as early as is convenient, to establish them in their new situations before severe weather come. Be careful in collecting the late varieties of Peai-s and Apples, to have them wiped and regulated after sweating. The Medlars and Quinces to be collected in good condition. To select perfect Walnuts for storing it is advisable to immerse them in water after the husks are taken off, and all that are quite perfect at once sink to the bottom, while the imperfect fruit float on the top : even those that have the least deficiency in the kernel wiH float. Those that have sweated should be well cleansed by being placed in a dry sack and shaken from end to end by two persons, the friction will clean them perfectly. STOVE. Finish repotting ; every plant that requires it should now be shifted. Always use clean pots and plenty of di'ainage. Prune-in all climbing plants. Ferns to be sepai'ated and repotted. Cacti, Euphorbias, and other succulents require less water now. Air to be given in fine weather. A Mttle fire heat wUl be necessary occasionally to expel damps. GREENHOUSE AKD CONSEKVATORT. Here, also, the potting must be finished as early as possible. Let Azaleas be tied into form as soon as can be done. It may be useful to state that everything in the nature of charcoal, whether wood, weeds, or the clipping of hedges, &.C., vrhich is susceptible of being charred or converted into charcoal, wiU be found of gi-eat benefit in its ai^plication to the soO. It is a substance that has the power of absorbing both moisture and ammonia from the rain and the air, and by that means is enabled to impart amazing vigour to the plants when it is used as drainage or mixed in small quan- tities in the soil. PITS AND FRAMES. All plants in this department to be put in order for the winter as quickly as possible. Those that are weU established to be placed in their winter quarters at once, giving the most valuable ones the best places ; but those that are not well rooted to be kept close for a few weeks longer. The plants of Neapolitan Violets to be shifted into pots or planted in a weU-raised bed of light sandy soil sheltered from rain. They require plenty of afr, to be kept moderately dry, and just secured fi-om frost. The bed may be made with faggots, and lined round with loose litter, or with half- spent hot dung when the weather gets frosty. W. Keane. DOmGS OF THE LAST WEEE:. KITCHEN GARDEN. Earthed-up Celery in the mode detailed, so as to keep a good supply well blanched. As there is now little danger of much dryness, gave the later crops a little earthing-up, with a fair allowance of ashes to keep slugs, &c., at a dis- tance. Noticed some half a score of plants with the leaves rather blanched and withered. Were afi-aid it was the gi'ub, so difficult to get rid of when once it takes possession, but found it was the result of using some sewage water rather strong over the leaves. This was entirely owing to the carelessness of the waterers. It is, therefore, a good plan when watering with maniu'e water at the roots, to foUow with clean water overhead. Eoots will stand an amount of strong waterings after racking them through earth, which no foUage could receive for any time and live. Made up a few more blanks in the Cabbage-quarter, and planted-out a few Savoys, which even in a shady place will come on stronger than those planted-out ft-om spring sowings in the best position. Cleared away some more Peas and Bean haulm. Find there are some still very good out of doors. Gathered some of the best Parsley seed, and cleared aU the tops away, being undecided whether to leave a portion of the old roots or not, as the spring-sown is strong enough, and a piece is sown so as to be sheltered fi-om snow and frost. We have had to gather this indispensable from under 2 feet of snow, bvit it is as well to avoid the necessity. Hoed amongst winter Onions. If there is a frame or pit at liberty, it is a good time to lift half-grown Lettuces with balls, and plant them about 10 or 12 inches apart, and being watered now, and the surface soil kept dry aftenvards, the Lettuces will keep and grow aU the winter. These are far before Endive for salads. Covered up more of the latter. Took up part of Can-ots, Salsafy, Beet, &c., as huge roots of the latter, however dark red, are generally objected to. Gathered most of the ripe ChOies and Capsicums, chiefly for Cayenne pepper. The gi-eener ones wiU do for pickling. Will leave some more to ripen. We may learn something fresh every day. We used to think that if the large Capsicums were as hot as the Chilies, they ought, bulk for bulk, to make as good Cayenne pepper, and so they may in the pepper of the shops, where, no doubt, aU is ground down together, and some red colouring matter used. In most gentlemen's houses we find, however, that the outside of the seed-vessels only is used, and that after being much dried : hence the superiority of the Chilies for this purpose. We should think, however, that the seeds wovdd, but for the colour, make as fine pepper as the rind. Gathered the last of the Tomatoes for sauce, and regulated Cucumbers most likely for the last time, as we have given over keeping up a regular winter supply. fruit garden. Proceeded with fruit-gathei-ing as the weather would per- mit, and as the nights are frosty i:)ulled those Apples and Pears most exposed first, as the less they are fi'osted the better. Will cut the roots of some trees as soon as the fruit is gathered, and wOl mulch others that were so cut last year and are as yet rather weak in the buds. Trans- pls,nting and moving cannot take place too soon now, and ft'esh plantations will thrive all the better the sooner they are made. The different modes of planting fruit trees have recently been referred to. The materials sliould also be considered. Pure fresh loam about the roots will ui general answer better than any amount of maniu-ing. Light sandy soil and a little leaf mould close to the roots will encourage fr-esli root-action ; but care should be taken that the leaf mould is well decomposed and has no spawn of fungi imbedded in it, or the advantages may be more than counterbalanced by the disadvantages. In cases where haJf-rotten leaves have been used we have known the roots suffer greatly, in fact to be next to killed, by the spawn of fungi of many kinds. If taken in time fresh lime is a good remedy. We have hardly met any kind of fungus that lUves quicklime. We have known Mushi'oom-beds ruined with a watering of lime water to kill the slugs that attacked the Mushrooms. It would have been better to have trapped them with buttered Cabbage leaves, brewers' grains, or hunted for them at night with a lanthorn. There is no method like the last for catching hxige snails that make nothing of clearing off several large Mushrooms. A dark night and a lanthorn are almost the only means by which these large fellows can be caught. At times they find their way into fruit-rooms, and the same mode of finding them must be resorted to or they wiH do great mischief, and if there is one favoui'ite fr'uit in the- room, that they will seize on as their favourite morsel. 29S JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ October 13, 1S63. Gava fire to late houses of Vines to prevent dampin. d. 8. d Apples J sieve 1 6 to 4 0 N'ectarincs doz. 0 0 to 0 0 Apricots doz. 0 0 0 Figs doi. 16 2 Filberts it Nuts 100 lbs. 55 0 73 Grapes, Hambnrghs. lb. 16 5 Muscats lb. 3 0 6 Lemons 100 8 0 14 Melons each 16 4 Oranges 100 Peaches doz. Pears bush. dessert ^ sieve Pine Apples lb. Plums ^ sieve 0 I Quinces doz. 12 0 Hulberries quar; 0 6 0 9 | Walnuts buah. 14 6 20 0 ■VEGETABLES. Beans, Broad bush. Kidney ......^ sieve Beet, led doz. Broccoli bundle Cabbage doz. Capsicums 100 Carrots bunch Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers doz. pickling doz. Endive score Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Gourds & Pumpk., each Herbs bunch Horseradish ... bundle d. a. 0 to 0 6 4 0 6 4 0 Leeks bunch Lettuce score Mushrooms pottle Mustd. & Cress, punnet Onions bunch pickling quart 0 8 Parsley bunch 8 0 ' Parsnips doz. 2 0 ' Peas busb. 10 0 Potatoes sack 1 0 , Radishes doz. bunches 2 6 Rbubaib bundle 0 0 I Savoys per doz. 0 0 , Sea-kale basket 0 0 Spinach sieve 0 0 ' Tomatoes ^ sieve 4 0 I Turnips bunch d. s. d 3 too 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 6 COYENT GAEDEN 5IAEKET.-0ct. KX The market continue<> well stocked with all kindi' of fruit and vegetables, and heavy supplies of the former are coming in from abroad. There i^ scircely any alteration from last week's quotation?. The supply of Eneliah Melons is falling off. Late Plum8 are plentiful, and so are Pears. These consist of Louise Bonne of Jersey, Marie Louise, Gaascl'j Bergamot, Brown TO CORRESPONDENTS, *^* We request that no one will write privately to the de- partmental writers of the *' Journal of Horticultui'e, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they ai*e subjected to unjustifiable trouble and e^ense. All communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of HorticuU ture, ^c, 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that correspondents will not mis up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but wiite them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. N.E.— Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Stsam Pipes (A Subscriher).—'We fear that common drain-pipes with open, joints will not answer to convey steam as you propose. We should employ four-ioch hot-water pipe^, for we are certain that they would coat no more than making a flue to put the drain-pipes in, which is quite unnecessary for top heat. Pot draio-pipea 4 iHches m diameter, with the joints cemented, will answer better than dram-pipea. Your other arrange- meots are unique ; but aa you say nothing about ventilation, we are obliged to give you a hmt that Cucumbers will need an airing daily in mild weather, and be none the worse for a little fresh air at all times if you have heat enough. You should have at least two four-inch pipes for top heat, but one is ample for bottom heat. We need not tell one more conversant with steam than ourselves that the pipes must be laid so that water can drain froui them. We are much pleaed to see me ins adopted to uUlise the waste steam of manufictories, for it is evident that many garden stmctures might be economically heated in the way you propose. We know of some that are heated by the steam from an engine, and they answer perfectly. WiwTEttiNO Emperor and Beobipton Stocks {Liverpno']. — We would advise you to pot sufficient of the Emperor and Brompton Stocks and winter them in a cold frame, or some place where protection can be given in severe weather, for, though your plants stood last winter in an exposed situation, it is just probable the fonhcoming winter may be as severe as the last was mild. The beginning of March is quite early enough to plant them in the beds ; but will not their flowering interfere with the planting of the summer occupants of the beds ? Aphelandba, Leopoldi CuLTtiHE (Jfrj. W.). — It is a very ornamental stove plant, but by no means rare. Cuttings of the young half-ripened shoota strike freely in a compist of peat and loam hair", silver sand half, placed in small pots and plunge 1 in bottom heat ranging from 75'^ to 8tJ^. The cuttings need potting when struck, a compost of one half peat and the other half turfy loam, with a liberal admi-xture of silver sand, suiting them. In future seasons it will require potting in early spring and occasioaally stupping or cutting back the shoots to keep it dwarf, as it is apt to become straggling if not stopped. An ordinary stove temperattire suits it, or any place with abundance of light where the temperature does not fall below 55^ in winter. EvEROfiEENR FOE A ScEEEH (L. J. i? ).— We koow of no evergTecD trees except Yews, Fira, and other coniferous trees lliat attain any size quickly, and even these grow n > faster than Evergreen Oike. We should plant a row of Lime trees and face them with evergreen shrubs, or have a mixed bnrdiT of deciduous and evergreen treej and shrubs, employing Lime, Plane, and Elms, and Arbor Vitiei, Laurels Portugal and common, Rhodo- dendrons, Holliesj &c. ' Octooer 13, 1SG3. ] JOITENAL OF HOETICTJLTHRE AJID COTTAGE GAEDENES. 299 Sowing Pvnsy Seed ^Lci(iUon B.).-Tbe middle of September 13 late enough to row Pansy seed, the beginning of thatmontb being the best time , "^"7 °f N'>"_U Amer-ca 2, is the Honey Locust Tree, Oleditschia tricanthos. (^- ^;^£;'- ,^ r u^t called. The colour is most likely affected by exposure The Fems^^^e ^^s^ z'l^^r.. 't i!:^^^^zj^^ rthrvo^n. shoots inserted in sand under a bell-glaes. 300 JOTJENAL OF HOETICtnLTUEE AKD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ October 13, 18C3. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. TO POULTEY EXHIBITOES. We -view the Crystal Pala<;e Show as one of the great events in the poultiy world ; and as " X. T. Z." says that some few instructions will be as useful for Birmingham as for Sydenham, and as we aj-e, moreover, ass\u-ed by many contributors that they benefit by such, we will endeavour to supply the want. Send the poultry in round baskets, and covered with canvass. Feed them before they start on sopped bread; let them eat as much as they will immediately before stai-ting. Send them early that there may be no doubt of their being delivered in good time. We have seen many good bu-ds delivered only "just too late" for competition, and others hun-iedly thrust into a pen, and although very good, yet showing to a fatal disadvantage against birds that had been comfortably resting for hours. Let yoiu- Spanish have clean faces. Choose biids in good feather. There must be no red face, nor must the cock have a falling or a twisted comb, nor should it be too large. The combs of the hens must fall. We would rather see a little, very little, fall at the back of the comb than any red on the face. Choose your Dorkings large and square; the cock with good massive head and face, upright comb, sti-aight breast, good straight legs, and well-formed five claws, the spur in its proper place, and not outside the leg. Let the hens or pullets match. Wash all theu- legs and teet clean, and wipe them day. A faUing comb is a disadvantage but not a dis- qualification. The same may be said of a crooked breast. A deiicient claw is a positive disquaUfieation. Game exhi- bitors have nothing to learn. Tom' Cochin-Chinas must have straight combs and yellow well-feathered legs. They should not be vultur-e-hocked, but we would rather see a slight vulture hock than a small twist in a comb. In the Grouse classes the cocks must have black breasts, and the less yellow there is about the hens the better. Brahmas may be light or pencilled, pea or single-combed, but they must be aD. one or the other. The Light should be white, save a black-pencUled hackle, flight and tail. A shade of cream on the white is not objected to. The Pen- cilled should be pencilled all over. The cock should have straw hackle and saddle striped with black, black thighs, and black and white spotted breast. PencDled hens with white breasts, and light ones with dark spotted backs are to be avoided. Mixture of comb is a disqualification. In yoiu- Pencilled Hambm-ghs look for a straight, fii-m, weU-piked and well-pointed comb. Nothing \riU compen- sate for a faulty comb ; you must next look for a roimd, small, but perfectly white deaf ear, a pencilled body and tail, the pencilling distinct, not mossy or run into blotches of colom- ; the hackle as clear fi-om spots as possible. If we ai-e to speak comparatively, we should say we would show a bird with a faulty deaf-eai- rather than one ivith a faulty comb. The cock's tail should be black, edged with gold or silver as it may be. Spangled Hamburghs should have striped hackles, and well-spangled bodies and breasts ; wings well baiTcd; perfectly white and round deaf-ears ; niU double comb, but very firm and straight. The SUver should have white tails tipped with black. The cocks of both breeds must have spangled breasts. Here for a choice of evils accept any one rather than a bad comb ; that disqualifies. The possession of a comb disqualifies PcHsh fowls ; it is, therefore, the thing of aE others to be avoided. In the Spangled breeds look for spangled breasts, laced and ban-ed wings, topknots as fi'ee &-om white as possible. Select youi- Game Bautiuns for close feathers and wings, small Game fowls, and not " pretty Uttle Bantams" with saucy carriage and drooping wings. You want these latter qualities in yoiu- Sebrights. In the Black and White choose small birds with long tails. The Black shoiild have white deaf-eaa-s. When your birds come home wash their faces and nostrils with some warm water, give to each a table-spoonful of castor oil, and feed them on sopped bi-ead, or meal, or ground oats mixed with water, and slack enough to be almost fiuid. If youi- birds are beaten go and study the class in which they are shown, you will probably see why they were un- successful. LONGEIDGE (PEESTON) AGEICULTUEAL AKD POULTEY SHOW. The fii'st Show of this Society was held at Longridge on the 23rd Tilt. ; and, notwithstanding the unfavom-able weather, there was a very numerous attendance. The prizes, with one exception, were confined to old birds. There was a good entry and many really good birds were exhibited in the different classes ; but some of them were deep in the moult and did not show to advantage. The following are the awards : — DoEKiNGS.— First, J. Robinson, Garstang. Highly Commended. D. Par- sons, Cuerden, Pieston. Spanish.— First, T. Eastham. Highly Commended, T. Wareing. Game.- FirM, D. Parsons. Highly Commended, T. Eastliam. Cochin-China.— First, J. Robinson. Hambukcus (Golden-pencilled).— First, J. Robinson. (Silver-penciUed). — rirst, E. Gardner. (Golden-spangled).— First, J. P.obinson. (Silver- epangltd).— First, J. Robineon. Bantams fAny variety). -First, T. Eastham. Ducks (Aylesbury).— First, T. Philips, (liouen).- First, T. Philips. Chickk.vs (Any variety).-First, D. Paisuns (Spanish). Highly Com- mended, T. Pomlret, J. Chapman, and J. Robinson (White Dorkings). The Judges were Messrs. H. P. Watson and James Tate, Preston ; and Mi-. Thomas Burnett, Hutton. STJEFOLE POULTEY SHOW. The second gi-and annual poulti-y Exhibition was held in the Abbey grounds, Woodbridge, on the 24th and 25th of September, and the manner in which everything passed off must be a subject of gi-eat congi-atulation to the Com- mittee ; and the excellence of the arrangements made for the comfoi-t of the visitors and safety of the bu-ds, reflects the highest credit on the management. In addition to money prizes, there was a silver cup for the best pen of Game fowls, which on a good competition was can-ied off by a very handsome pen of Black Eeds, the property of Mi-. Fletcher. Tliis gentleman also exhibited some good pens of Duckwings, with which he was fii-st in their class. The Spanish classes were weak both in muubers and quality. Amongst the Dcn-kings were some good bii-ds, but the best pen unfortunately came in too late for competition. In the Cochins, BIi-. Fowler's Buffs and Mr. Wright's Partridge well deserved theu- honoiu-s. Hamlurglis were very badly re- presented, one prize only being awarded in the two classes. The " Variety class " of chickens was one of the best in the Show, Mr. Wright's Brahmas being, especially the cockerel, remai-kably fine. The second prize was awai-ded to a pen of Silver Polands, also belonging to the same gentleman. The Game Cock Sweepstakes brought but two birds into com- petition, the prize going to a good pen from Mi-. Dyas. The Bantams were not numerous, if we except the Game Bantam chickens. Mr. Fowler was as usual invincible in Aylesbury Ducl:s. taking both piizes with beautiful pens. Eouens were well represented, being both lai-ge and good. Mr. Fowler was fii-st in Geese with a remarkably fine pen, such, indeed, as Aylesbm-y alone can produce. There were a few dogs exhibited, but no prizes were offered in this department. Before closing oui- remarks we must again congi-atuUite the Committee on their success and wish them a continuance of it, and that in future years we may have to announce, as we have now, that then- accoimts for the season have been closed with a good balance in hand. Spanish.— Fij-st and Third, J. Wright, Woodbridge. .Second. Mrs. G. Craigie, Woodlands, Essex. Chirkem.— First, Mrs. Pattison, Maldon. Second, W. btubbs, Woodbridge. Dop.ii.NGS (Coloured or White).— Cup, H. Lingwood, Needhani Market. Second, J. Frost, Parbam (Coloured). Third, J. K. Fowler, .Aylesbury. Chickens.— First, H. P. P.evett, Patham. Second, J. Smith, Parham (Coloured). Highly Commended, J. Frost (Coloured). CocBI.N-CHI^A (Coloured or White).— Prize, J. B. Wallhew, Ormskirk (Paitridge). Cliitkciis.— First, J. K. Fowler, Arlesbury (Buff Cochins). Second, J. Wright, v. oodbridge. Highly Commended. Ktv. G. Gilbert, Cl,i.xton (Buff;. Commended, Rev. H. Currv. Needham Market (Partridge). Game (Black-breasted and other Red*).— First, A. B. Dvas, Madeley. Second, S. Matthews, Ston-market. Thud, J. R. Kersey. Wiiislon (Brown Reds). Chukeiis.— First, J. Fletcher, Manchester (Black Rcda). Second, A. B. Dyas. Highly Commended, S. Matthews (Elack Reds). Commended, S. Matthews. October 13, 1863. ] JOUKXAL OF HOETICTJLTUBE AMD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 301 Game (Duckwings and other Greva and Blues).— Prize, J. Goodwin' Holleslej- (Duckwingil. C7iic*en5.— First, J. Fletcher, Manchester (Duck- wings;. Second, S. Matthews, Stowmarket. Highly Commended, A. B. Dvas, Mndeley. Commended, G. Barrel! (Piles). 'Hamdvrohb (Golden-spangled;.— Second, C. Wood, Woodbndge. First prize withheld. „ . ,„,,.,, Hajiecrghs (SilTer-spanglcd).-C7i!cieiis.— Prize, J. Cullingford. Any Variety not Uompeised in the Befobe-mf.ntioneu Classes.— First, J. Wright, Woodbrid^e (Brahma Pootra!. Second. S. Waters, Wood- bridge Road, Ipswich Cic.e Cojar). CAicAfiis. — First and Second, J. Wright (Brahma Pootra and Silver Polanda). Highly Commended, C. Wood, Woodbridge (Gold Polands; ; J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury (Brahma Pootra); S. Waters. Commended, F. Whisstock, Woodbridge (Brahma Pootra). Game Cock.— Prize, A. B. Dyas, Madeley. Commended, J. Goodwm, Holleslev (Black Red,. Game Bantams.- First and Second, W. Dowsing, Woodbridge (Black- breasted Keds). CT icAf ns.— First. J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Second, F. Wigg, Woudbridge (Black-breasted;. Baktaji! (Any variety).— First, C. Wood, Woodbridge. C/h'cScts.— First and Second. T. Newson, Tunatall. Di-cKs (White Aylesbury).- First and Second, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Highly Commended, J H. Read, Hasketon ; Mrs. Pattison, Maldon. DccKs 1 Rouen).— First, N. G. Barthropp, Hacheston. Second, J. Cooke, Colchester. Commended, J. P.. Kersey, Winston ; J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Geese.— First, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury (Toulouse!. Second, T. Crack- aell, Fraralingham. Highly Commended, T. Cracknell. TooKEvs —First and Second, T. Cracknell (White and Black). The Judge was Mr. Geo. Saunders Sainsbury, of Devizes. aeeegave^jst aCtEicfltueal and poultet show. The following prizes were awarded in the poultry depart- ment of the aboTe Show. Game.— Prize, G. Pritchard, Llanvihangel. Cliickens.—Pme, G. Pritcbard HiKBUEoH (Gold-spangled;.— Prize, J. Pye, Abergwenny. Chickens.— Prize, J. Pye. Hambi;bqh (Silver-pencilled).— Prize, D. Davies, Clydach. DoEKi.vGS.— Prize, W. Saunders, Abergavenny. Commended, R. Rees. Chickens— Fvize, J. Logan. Highly Commended, Rev. W. Cotfleld- Com- mended, W. Saunders, Abergavenny. Spanish. —Prize, Mrs. Lewis, Crickhowell. Chickens, — Prize, Mrs. Lewis. BANTA.MS.— Prize, D. Jennins, Llauvihangel. Gekse. — Prize. R. Rees, .\bergavenny. Commended, P. Morgan. GoS' lings.— Prize, R. Rees. (CUiss Highly Commended.) Ducks (Aylesbury..— Prize, J. Logan. Highly Commended, J. Pyc, Abergavenny. Cornmended, R. Rees, Abergavenny. Ducklings. — Prize, J. Logan. Highly Commended, G. Pritchard ; J. Pye. ToRKETS.— Prize, Mrs. Holford, Buckland. Foulfs.— Prize, Mrs. Holford. The Judge was BIr. Eowland Henry Nicholas, Malpas, near Newport. WOODSTOUE AGEICULTFEAL SOCIETY'S POULTEY SHOW. The following prizes were awarded at this Exhibition on the 29th ultimo :— Spanish.- Prize, Rev. J. Dodd, Hampton Poyle. Chickens.— Prize, Rev. J. Dodd. Dorking (Coloured).— Prize, Sir H. W. Dashwood. CTjcieiis.- Prize, iiir H. W. Dashwood. Bbahmas.— Prize, the Duchess of Marlborough. Cgchi.v-Chisa.— Prize, Colonel North, M.P. Chickens.— Prize, Eev. J. Dodd. Hameueoh (Spangled).- Prize, F. Hillersden, Kirtlington. Highly Com- mended, — Shuffrey. Chickens.— Prize, F. Hillersden. Hambl'kgh (Pencilled). — Prize, J. Jimes, Woodstock. Commended, — Innes. Chickens. — Prize, J. James. Game.— Prize, — Gomra, Shipton. DvcKS (Coloured;.— Prize, Colonel North, M.P., Wroxton. Highly Com- mended, — Innes ; — Pratt. Ducklings.— Prize, Hon. Miss DtUon. Highly Commended, T. Smith. Ducks (Aylesburj-). —Prize, — Pratt, Woodstock. Commended, Eev. J. Dodd ; Col. Bowyer. Geese (White).— Prize, Hon. Mi;s Dillon. Goslings.— Prize, Hon. Miss Dillon. Gees- (Grey).— Prize, Col. North, M.P. ffo5.'ini7S.— Prize, The Duchess of Marlborough. TvRKETs (Black).— Prize, H. L. Gaskell. Poults.— Prize, H. L. Gaskell. Turkeys (Grey).- Prize, Col. Bowyer. Champion Prizes for Grey Geese.— Prize, Col. North, M.P. Goslings. — Prize, The Duchess of Marlborough. Mr. G. Botham, of Wetham Court, was Judge. Game.— First, J. Robinson- CTicAens— First, T. Waremg. Game Cock.— First, C. R. Jackson, Preston. Cochin-China.— First, J. Robinson. Chickens. — Fiist, J. Eobiil=on. Hakburshs (Golden-pencilled, Silvcr-peuciUed, Golden-spangled, Silver- spangled). -Prize, J. Robinson. CTicfo'7ii. — (Golden-pencilled, Silver- penciled, Golaen-spangled, Silver-spangled).- Prize, J- Robinson. Bantams.— First, P. Catterall, juu. Hen.-First, P. Catterall, jun. Brahma Pootra.— First, — Wilson. Chickens.— First, C. R. Jackson. Decks (Aylesbury).— First, J. Robinson. Dncklings.—Fint, J. Rigby. (Rouen;.— First, J. Robinson. Game Chickens.— First, J. Harrison, jun. Pigeons.— F.rst, J. Stones, Preston. Extra prize, T. Waremg. The Judges were Messrs. Higson and Blackburn, Preston. BEOFGHTON AND GOOSNAEGH (PEESTON) AGEICFLTFEAL AJN'D POFLTEY SHOW. This poultry Show was held at Broughton on the 23rd ult. The following are the awards ; — Dorkings (White, Grey, or Speckled).— First, J. Robinson, Garstang. Chickens.— Pirei, J . Robinson. Spakish.— First, J. Robinson. Ch ickens.—Firat, J. Kobinson. BIEMINGHAM POFLTEY SHOW. A FEW changes ha«-e been made in the poultry prize list, the most important of which is the withdrawal of the classes for Silver Grey Dorkings. The Council, some years ago, at the request of several exhibitors gave separate classes to the Greys, but the result has been by no means satisfactory, the entries not being equal to what was anticipated; and instead of any improvement being witnessed from year to year in the size and quality of the birds shown, there has been a marked deterioration. It became obvious, therefore, that it was a mistake to encourage attempts at breeding Dorkings of a pai-tioulai- feather, and, consequently, the change we have mentioned was determined upon. At the same time the prizes for coloured Dorkings have very properly been increased, there now being five in the class for old bu-ds, and the same nimiber in that for chickens — £o,£i, £3, £2, and £1, three for hens and pullets— iS3, £2, and ^1, and four for single Dorking cocks— ^5, £S, £2, and .£1. Separate classes are now given to Creve Cceui- and Black Hambm-gh fowls, the excelfent specimens of the two varieties shown last year having well won for them this distinction. The special pre- miums in the poultiy depai-tment this year ai-e as foUows :— By a few amatem-s, two silver cups, value seven guineas each, for the best pens of Cinnamon or Buff Cochins in classes 11 and 12 ; by Mi-. G. F. GreensiU, a cup, value five guineas, for the best pen of Game fowl in the Exhibition ; and by 5Ii-. M. Billing, a cup of the like value for the best Game cock competing in the three classes for single birds — 72, 73, and 74. The prize list for Pigeons has been re-ai-ranged, and single bii-ds wiU now be exhibited in some of the classes, the° colours being also sepai-ated— changes which vna, we have no doubt, be generaUy acceptable to those who lend theii- co-operation in making up a very interestmg and beautifid division of the Show. The entries this year wiU close on Saturday, the 31st inst., and those of our readers who requii-e certificates and any infoiination regarding the aiTangements should at once apply to 31r. LythaU, the Seoretai-y.- (ffidiaiKi Count%es Herald.) CEOWING A NFISANCE. At the Weston-super-Mare PoUce-offioe the follo-sving rather remarkable petition was recently laid before the " To'the Magistrates of Weston-super-Mai-e.- The foUow- ino- petition for the abatement of a nuisance is respecttiUly addressed by the inhabitants of Sydenham Terrace, Should- ham Street, &c. . , „ „ ,. i j.i \ „„„ " Gentlemen— Whereas since the middle of July the above- mentioned neighbourhood has been distui-bed mghtly by the crowing of a Remarkably fine Spanish cock, fi-om twelve o'clock at night until late in the morning, so^ as to banish sleep from the inhabitants of the back rooms in the houses mentioned above ; yoiu- petitioners pray that Mi-. Williams, the shoemaker (to whom the cock belongs) may be compelled either to keep the cock where it cannot be heai-d beyond his own premises until a reasonable hour in t^^f ™°i™^' °^*° part inth it. This petition has been delayed for the pm^ose of trying remonstrances with the proprietor of the cock, but they have been disregai-ded, and treated with ridicule and contempt. Invalids suffer so much from want of rest that they will be compeUed to remove, and even healthy persons will not remain where their rest is incessantly broken, so that your petitioners will be much injured if the nuisance is 302 JOURNAL OF HORTICTJLTTJRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t October is, iscs. not speedily abated. They therefore pray your Worships' powerful decision npon the subject." Mr. Kiuglake, after reading the petition, said it was rather a difficult subject on which to give advice. He sup- posed that the rights and privileges of the lord of the poultry-yard had been interfered with, and his domestic happiness blighted, or he would not have crowed out of his grief at so early a period (laughter). It might seem to the Court a laughing matter, but in truth the loud crowing of a cock in the ears of p-a invalid was as great a nuisance as the howling of a dog at night. He remembered the judgment of the County Court Judge at Exeter, where the owner of a Bantam cock was made to pay the expenses of a neighbour changing his lodgings, as the cock had been known to have crowed 500 times in less than five hours. The judgment was appealed against, but the Superior Court confirmed the County Court Judge's opinion, and laid down a wise and humane principle that no one had a right to injure the health or peace of his neighbour. Mr. Williams was a respectable tradesman, and would, no doubt, confine the cock in a box, where his crowing could not be heard. APIAKIAJST NOTES. (Continued from page 282.) Mt Apiakt. — To sum up the proceeds of my bees this season I give the following table, some little modification in the results having occurred. I have found since writing the paper which appeared on the 22nd of September, that the super taken from No. 7 weighed 30 ibs. instead of 35 lbs., the mistake having arisen fi-ora miscalculating the tare of the box. In one or two cases an increase is to be noted. No. of Hnnry hive. Pemaiks. taken. 14 ... L:gu:ian 601bs 15 ... Aiiifi'^ial !,lock u 17 ... ^ent cff two swarms 15 19 ... Ueprived of bees& bruotl 0 20 ... Larce Ewarm lost 15 21 ... Ejgbtetn-framehive...... a5 22 ... Suspended hive 10 23 ... Artificial Bwarm made... 8 24 ... Broken up 0 25 ... Artificial Ewarm 0 Totil.. ..331 No. of Honey hive. Remarks. t^ken. 1 ... Artificial swarm, 18C3 .... Olbs 2 ... Old stock 0 3 ... Artificial swirin, 1862 ... 22 4 ... Five-3'ear-old stoik 20 5 ... Threw off fine pwann ... 0 fi . . Gave an immense swjrm. 10 V ... Old stock 30 ■rf ... Gave swarm and 8 9 ... Old stock broken up 48 10 .. Ligurian 54 11 ... New Bwarm 0 12 ... New Bwarm G Having in the spring united two stocks to others and given away a third, there remain sixteen available stocks from which the harvest has been obtained ; the residue being composed of natiural and artificial swarms, or stocks lately fabricated with driven bees supplied with fi'ames of comb removed fi'om my strongest colonies. This will show an average of 20 lbs. 11 ozs. of honey afforded by each hive, together with swarms from some of them ; certainly not a bad average considering the circumstances under which I am compelled to follow the pursuit of my favoiu'ite hobby. I could very well have taken 100 lbs. more from these stocks, the hives being very large and generally more than suffi- ciently stored with honey. The readiness with which the frames can be removed renders this an easy and a safe operation, as the exact condition of the hive can be so readily ascertained. Three only of the whole number have done very well, the remainder but moderately bo. This may in great pai-t be attributed to my having taxed the powers of the majority of my hives to a very gi-eat extent last season in rearing Ligu- rian queens, and in making ai-{ificial swarms. In conse- quence of this, combined with the miserable summer we had in 1862, necessitating an extraordinary amount of feeding, my hives were not as a rule in a position to make the most of a good honey-harvest, with the exception of Nos. 10, 14, and 21, which acquitted themselves very well -. and of Nos. 6, 17, and 20, which would sw.arm rather than work in their supers. Tee Hev. R. Kikvpan's Apiakt has, I believe, proved tolerably prosperous. From one of three artificial swarms made last year from his original Ligui-ian stock he obtained a very beautiful bos of honey of 42 lbs. weight. The super was a large mahogany-framed glass box capable of holding twelve bars of a Woodbury-hive. A less number was in reality used, sothat some of the combs attained a consider- able thickness. I also observed a very nice bell-glass, but do not remember the weight of its contents. Mr. George Fox's Apiary. — -The most astonishing re- sults of scientific bee-keeping have been manifested in the apiary of this gentleman, who resides at King^bridge, in this county of Devon. 1st. From a cottager's common straw hive, an old stock, he took off a glass box super, the nett contents of which were 1092 lbs. ! This super was worked on the plan of his adjust- ing principle, the combs being raised gradually wiihin the glass. The combs ai'e about 19 inches in depth, and some of them would weigh about 20 lbs. each. 2nd. From a box-hive, which was entirely colonised by two lots of di'iven bees last autumn, he obtained a glass box super of 112 lbs. nett contents. This also was on the ad- justing principle, only in this instance the glass box fitted down outside the stock-box, and was itself gi-aduaUy raised as the bees constructed combs. 3rd. An octagonal glass stock -box peopled by a swarm in the fi'st week in June of this summer, fr-oni which the bees were driven out and united to another stock, holds the hardly less astonishing quantity of 82 Iba. 14 ozs. of pure honeycomb. The honey in all three boxes is of the most beautiful quality and delicate colour, and I should doubt if supers at aH approaching to these in weight and quality have ever been seen in this country. I have been informed that the owner was offered for the lot of three boxes the large stun of i40, which he declined, preferring to retain possession of them as wonderfal specimens of the industry of the bees. The produce of his apiary may be summed up as follows : — Honey. No. of hive. Remarks. lbs. oz. 6 A driven swarm 10 6 7 Glass ^ox super 109 8 8 Octapon stocK-bos, a swarin of this summer... 82 14 10 Glass bos super 112 0 11 Three glasses 20 0 j2 Driven bees, a super 15 0 Total.. ... 349 12 Thus it appears that 350 lbs. have been deprived, without injury to the bees, from six stocks in one garden, an average of 58 lbs. each. The remainder of his hives. No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, and 9, arc principally either swai'ms, or stocks from which swai'ms have issued, and no honey has been taken. With one ex- ception, a Ligurian colony, they are in good condition for next year. Certainly, I did rather plume myself upon my supers of 54 lbs. and 50 lbs. weight resjiectively, but now is my pride laid low. What are they to those in the xjossession of this truly practical and scientific bee-keeper ? Nor must it be at all left open to any doubt as to the con-ectness of the weights stated. They are in each case the exact weight of the contents exclusive of the boxes. The total gross weight of one super is 126 lbs., and of the others 123.V lbs. As this successful apiarian would not accept of any assistance in their removal, it is not difficult to imagine by those who have lifted off heavy supers, the gi'cat labour it must have been to him. In fact, his expression in a letter to me announcing the occuri'ence, was, that he was stiff, sore, and weary, with the amount of exertion necessary in removing these ponderous supers from the hives into the house. I have had in my possession for the last twelve yeai'S a beautifuUy-filled glass globe wliich also came from the apiary of the same gentleman. This was worked in 1857, en the top of a common straw hive, and I have long fondly imagined it to have been most probably the largest and handsomest glass of honey in the kingdom. Its nett weight was 48 lbs. G ozs. It still stands as an ornament in my drawing-room, but I must confess to its now being of less value in my eyes than before these much lai-ger glass supers were heai-d of. But there is anot'ner confession to be made. These are all the produce of our common English black bees, and o. 1 8 „ 0 8 ,, 0 October 20, 1863. JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 305 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of of M'Eth Week. 20 Td 21 W 22 Th 2S F 24 s 25 Sun 26 M OCTOBEK 20-26, 1863. Wood Pigeon airivee. Sun's-declin. 10° 38' s. R. CunniDgham died, 1835. Bot. Short-eared owl comes. J. Sowerby died, 1822. Bot. 21 Sunday aftkb Tkinity. Whitethorn leaves tail. Averaire Temperature near London. Day. Night. Mean 59.3 40.1 49.2, 58.3 39.5 48.4 58.8 43.1 50.4 58.0 40.6 49J 56.1 39.9 43. 5 55.9 38.6 47.2 55.3 3«.6 45.9. Rain in last 36 years. Days. 15 15 20 20 IS 17 14 Sna Rises. ni. h. 34af 0 35 6 Sun Sets. m. h. 56af4 .Moon Rises. Moon Sets. m. h. 52 11 morn. 11 1 28 2 44 3 2 5 17 6 Moon's Age. Clock after Sun. 9 10 11 12 13 o 15 a 3 15 13 15 22 15 31 15 39 15 46 Day ci Year. 294 295 296 297 From observations taken near London during the last thirty-six years the average day temperatme of tlie week is 57 4S and it» night temperature 39.8°. The greatest heat i,as 73', on the 21st, 1831 ; aJld the lowest cold, 17°. on the 2.3rd, 1859. The gieatesl tall of ram was 0.96 inch. HOW TO GEOW STKAWBEEEIES SUCCESSFULLY. HOUGH I take up my pen witli the intention of writing; a brief article on the above subject, it is not in the hope of communicating anything new, nor yet of pre- senting an old subject in a new dress ; but having been success- ful in producing fine fruit and heavy crops, I think my mode of practice may be interesting to some of the readers of The Jouenal of Hokticultuee. In order to grow superior Strawberries it is necessary to lay a good foundation, or the after-management will prove a faQure. The first point which I consider demands attention is the preparation of the soil. This should be done in the winter. Many Strawberry-growers put off this important operation ■until July or August, when they are about to form their new plantations, which I consider a mistake. I prefer selecting the piece of ground on which it is intended to grow Strawberries in the early part of the winter. When the weather is tolerably dry, or, what is better still, rather frosty, it should be trenched to the depth of from 24 to 30 inches. The Strawberry delights in a deep, loamy, or rather adhesive soil, and where light and sandy it may be trenched to the depth of 3 feet with advantage. I need not enter into details respecting the operation of trenching. SufBce it to say that, during the opera- tion, dung should be supplied with an unsparing hand. I invariably place plenty of coarse manure at the bottom of the trench and part of the way up, and some which is more decomposed nearer the surface : the coarse manure becomes decayed before the roots get down to it. Having finished the trenching and left the surface rough, it may lie fallow and exposed to the fertilising influences of frost and snow until the following spring. It may then be planted with a crop of early Potatoes or early Cauliflowers, which can be cleared away before the ground is wanted for the Strawberries. The Potatoes or Cauliflowers being all removed, the ground must receive another surface-dressing of good rotten stable-dung and be carefully dug over, well in- corporating the dung in the upper portion of the soil during the digging. The ground being ready, next comes under consider- ation the propagation of the plants. Care should be taken in the selection of runners, those only being em- ployed that are stout and healthy, with a round plump bud in the centre, and they must be from vigorous- fruiting plants. This is better than taking plants at random, for I believe that barren plants produce a barren progeny. The runners must be layered in large 48-pot8, well drained, and filled with a rich loamy soil mixed with No. 134— Vol. V,, New Series. rotten dung, and they must not be allowed to suffer for want of water. They will make rapid progress in this rich compost ; and as soon as they are fairly rooted they may be severed from the parent plants and placed' in a shady situation until the pots are tolerably full of roots, when they must be planted immediately. My practice is to plant them in beds, two rows in a bed, with an alley between each bed. The beds are made 3| feet wide, and the alleys '2i feet. Each plant is placed 3 feet apart in the rows in half-quincunx order —thus . ■ . and the rows on the bed are 2| feet a,sunder. This leaves the rows at each side of the bed 3i feet from each other. By so planting a little more space is left be- tween each bed to walk on without treading on the fruit. But whether the ground is formed into beds or not, which is simply a matter of choice, the plants must have plenty of space. If they are in rows, the ground- not being formed into beds, each row must be 3 feet apart, and the plants at the least 3 feet asunder in the rows. Strawberries highly cultivated want plenty of room to develops themselves, and they will well repay the cultivator for his liberal treatment. They must be freely supplied with water during dry weather to en- courage a free and vigorous growth. The plants must also be kept free from runners, and the ground clear of weeds. Now, if attention has been paid to every particular, we may look for a very respectable crop of fruit in the following year. The crop will be the heaviest the second year, but we have the largest berries the first season. The British Queen produced with us this last summer fruit averaging about twenty to the pound. We had single berries weighing about 1 oz. each, and which were from .5 to 7 inches in circumference. One very impor- tant point I noticed last summer in the propagation of the plants : those runners placed in the largest pots made by far the largest plants, and bore double the quantity of fruit that those placed in small pots did. Hence I recommend the runners to be placed in large 48-pots filled with rich compost, in preference to layering them in pots of smaller dimensions. I will now advert to the management of Strawberries during their growing and resting season. Early in the spring they must receive a thorough good cleaning ; every dead and decaying leaf must be removed, every runner carefully cut away, and the ground well hoed and cleared of all weeds. This operation must not only be attended to once, but as the runners appear they must be cut off unless required for propagation. It has been a question with some people whether runners do not support the parent plant. 'J his I consider is a mis- take. There can be no doubt that every runner abstracts until it has become rooted much support from its parent ; and the production of runners, like that of seeds of any kind, is an effort of nature to reproduce its own species. As soon as the plants are in bloom some protecting material should be placed beneath the trusses of bloom to prevent the fruit from being injured by heavy rain. Some gardeners use clean straw, othcr.^ apply litter from No. 780.— Vol. XXX., Olb Sehies. 306 JOXJKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ October 20, 1863. the stable; and some who cannot procure either of the above use grass momngs from the pleasure grounds, but where it can be obtained stubble from a coitx field is to be prefen-ed. The plants should never suffer from want of water from the time the fii-st bloom expands xintil the last fruit is gathered. Many gai'deners, as soon as the tniit was gathered, used to cut or mow off all the leaves ; but this barbarous practice has happily passed away. But the question ai'ises. What is to be done with the foliage ? No doubt by the end of October it has performed the functions of keeping the plant in health and vigour, but it has other work to do. The plant or cro\vns requu'e iJi'otection in winter, and what is more suitable than theu- own foliage ? Therefore it is in- judicious to remove the leaves in the autumn, and they should remain till spring. There is one other question which remains to be discussed — Is it right to dig between the plants ? My practice is to dig deep and manure heavily previous to planting. I then sm-face-dxess the beds in the autumn, and fork the middle of the alleys a few inches deep, tm-ning in a quantity of manui'e at the same time. The manure on the beds acts as a protection to the surface-roots, and forking the alleys loosens the soil made sad by being frequently walked itpon. Where they are planted in rows, not in beds, the middle of the row may be forked down one fork wide with advantage. The foregoing is the substance of my practice, and I can say it has been successfvd : indeed I have thought it satis- factory when I have seen the admh-ation of my employers, and basket after basket fiill of fine, large, luscious fruit has been gathered. With regard to sorts I can say but little. I do not grow many, nor can I give the result of my experience with many new kinds. I may just say that for the early crops I use the Black Prince ; for the main general ci'op to Supply all culinary piu'poses. Keens' Seedling — this is succeeded by British Queen and a few others ; and for a very late crop I grow the Elton. The last-named supplied us with splendid fruit till after the middle of August. I am told that the Frogmore Late Pine is later and of superior quality to the Elton. This variety, with a few others of high repute, I hope to prove next summer. — Qtjintin Eead, Biddulj^ih. NEW EOSES. " Here they are again ! " List after list comes tumbling in, of beauties of sm-passing excellence. " Oh ! she's lovely, she's divine!" cries out each enthusiastic gi'ower, as one after another marshal themselves before our admiring eyes ; but, alas ! opinions differ about beauty. " Byes blue and black " have their various champions. Some, if we may believe the pre-Eaphaelite schools, admire red locks and a tawny visage ; others are contented with a " nut brown maid;" and as our neighbours across the water have theii' notions about beauty, and somewhat different from ours, the petit nez retro^issc being an especial favovu'ite with them, I often think that they do not consider what we call a good Eose a proper standard of beauty. Year after year dames of high-sounding pretensions, gallant cavaliers, and belted knights come across the water to take us by storm. The fi'eshness of their appearance and the charm that novelty ever has give them a favourable reception ; but they gradually clrop off, become few by degrees and beautifidly less, unto at last some half-dozen or so remain with us. There is one fault, too, to be found with our French fr-iends — viz., that they do not artificially fertilise, they trust to insects ; and if they had been more pai-ticulai- on this head I do believe, grand as are the flowers they have sent us, we should have had finer still. And when one desires to know somewhat of the parentage of theu- chUda-en, alas ! they can tell us nothing. The pips are gathered, in some instances the names of the mother plants are preserved, but no more, while in England a better plan is being pursued, Mr. Ward, especially, the raiser of John Hopper, being very cai-eful both to artificially fertilise and to preserve the names of both pa- rents. He is now, I beheve, very busily endeavouring to infuse some of the Tea blood into the Hybrid Pei-petual Koses, and if he succeed he will open up a new era in our Eose gardens. Out of the lists which have been sent to me I have gathered that there are sixty-five new Eoses coming over this autumn. Of this number three are Tea-scented, six are Bom-bon, and the remainder Hybrid Pei-petuals. Other lists may add more even to this number, but I have culled these from those sent me by two of the best growers, Margottin and Charles Verdier, who, however, neither of them undertake to say anything save of their own seedlings, for these Eoses are raised in different paa'ts of France, are seldom seen in Paris, and, therefore, they are as little likely to know anything of them as we are. We ai'e, then, perforce obliged to recui- to this — What have these raisers or senders- out done before ? what faith can we put in thefr recommen- dations ? are they good judges ? and is theu- taste similar to oiu-s ? I believe this to be the only way in wliich we can arrive at anything Hke a proximate estimate of what the new Eoses wUl be. It is the plan we very much act upon in England -with regard to other flowers. New lists of Verbenas or Geraniums come out ; growers may not have seen them, but they (b-aw their conclusions much in the same way. " Oh ! Mr. A. always sends out such a lot of rubbish, one cannot depend on there being anything good amongst them;" "Mr. B. had some good things last year, and I dare say we shall find some novelties amongst them ; " " Ml'. C, who is he ? Quite a new raiser : we must be cautious;" and so on. And so with Eoses. Who raised or sent out Senateur Vaisse, or Comtesse de Chabrillant, or Fran(;ois Lachai-me, or Charles Lefebvre, or Due de Eohan, or Eugene Appert ? Who sent out, amongst Boiu-bons, Louise Odier, or Catherine Guillot, or Louise Margottin ? And I think we shall find that by attending to such a method we shall be more likely to come to a right decision for the future than by listening to all the high-sounding praises that the raisers or senders-out themselves give of them. Then there is another rule I think we may lay down, that when a French Eose-grower describes a flower as " nearly full" or "moderately full," it wiU not do for us. And yet once more : when we see a flower sent out at 15f. or lOf., we may not uncharitably conclude that as they ordinarily charge 25f. or 20f., that there is something wrong about it. Taking these "canons," then, to guide us, let us examine the lists : — BOTJKBONS. 1. Celine Gonod (Gonod). 2. Madame de Stella (Guillot pere). 3. Madame Josephine Guget (Touvais). 4. Eeine de CastiDe (Fernet). 5. Madame Clotilde Perraidt (Vigneron). 6. Eevorend H. Dombrain (Margottin). Of these No. 1 is described as only moderately full, so I would not augur much concerning it. 2 Comes from a good source, and but for its price (lof ), I should have con- cluded it to be a desii-able variety. 3 Is said to be small ; and as Touvais has never given us anything worth mvioh, much is not to be expected from it. Of 4 the same may be said. 5 And 6 ai-e seedlings of Louise Odier, and we may therefore hope are good. Of 6 I can speak fi-om per- sonal knowledge. I saw it growing in Mons. Margottin's garden, and afterwards had blooms sent to me. It is without doubt a fine Eose, and possesses the unusual property amongst Bourbon Eoses of being very fragrant. \Vlien to this is added that the raiser of it has never sent out a bad Eose yet, and that he has a very high opinion of this variety, we may safely conclude that it wiU be a great addition. It is of a bright lively cai-mine, very i-igorous and hardy. And now for the Hybrid Perpetuals. We will take them according to the raisers. CHARLES VERDIER. 1. Alpaide de Eotalier (Campy), transparent satin rose. 2. Alphonse Belin (Gautreau), clear brilliant red. 3. Joseph Diu-and (Ledechaux), slaty, shaded red. 4. Triomphe de Villecresnes (Ledechaux), clear vivid red. 5. Leopold Eoi des Beiges, clear velvety red. Of these, none of which were raised by Mons. Verdier, 1 obtained a prize at the Floral Committee (Comite de Floricultm-e) of the Societe Impi'riale et Centrale, at Paris in July, 1862 ; and 5, a prize at Brussels in the same month. 3 Is not ftdl enough. 2 Has the under side of the petals Octoter 20, 1863. ] JOURNAL OP HOETICULTITEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 307 a different colovu- — a decided blemisli to my mind; while 4 seems from description to be good, a seedling of Triomphe de I'Exposition. Of 1, i, and 5, then, we may entertain reasonable hopes. MAEGOTTIN. 6. Bernard PaJissy, vivid carmine red. 7. Marechal Forey, velvety crimson. The first of these is a seedling from Jules Margottin ; the second from Triomphe de I'Erposition. This I saw, and a fine noble-looking flower it is. I hope well of both of these. EUGENE VEKDIEE, PILS AINE. 9. Claude Mellon, beautiful scarlet. 10. George Paul, beautiful lively red. 11. George Prince, dazzling red ; reverse of petals whitish. 12. H. Laiu'entius, beautiful crimson red, cupped. 13. John Nasmith, lively crimson red, veined with purple and violet. 14. Joseph Fiola, lively velvety red. 15. La Duchesse de Morny, beautiful tender rose ; reverse of petals silvery rose. 16. Madame Victor Verdier, brilliant cherry rose. Too many, Mons. Verdier, too many ; yet he has given us some good Roses — Prince CamOle de Rohan, Professor Koch, and others. 9 Looks well on paper ; so does 10. 11 Has the fault of two colours. 12 Ought to be good. 13 Not fuU enough. 14, Good. 15, Same fault as 11. 16, Good — that is, so far as description goes. GUILLOT PERE. 17. La Reine de la Pape. (What is the meaning of this ?) This variety is said to be a beautiful violet rose. 18. Mademoiselle Lobay, blush. 19. Pavilion de Pregny, half white and half rosy purple. Of these 17 sounds well, and 19 looks Uke a novelty. Of 18 I do not think much expectation can be formed ; but the raiser of Senateur Vaisse and Madame WiUiam Paul deserves the highest consideration. GUILLOT FILS. 20. Abbe Reynaud, dark slaty violet. 21. Amii'al La Peyrouse, dazzling superb red. 22. Eugene Verdier, superb dark violet. 23. Marechal Suchet, beautiful crimson red, shaded with maroon. 24. Paul de la MeiUeray, purplish cherry rose. Of these I should say that 20 and 22 are not colours that are smtable for us. 21 And 23 I should hope will be desir- able varieties ; while 24 with its large petals promises to be an acquisition. I must for this week close here, for I shall be occupying too much space, and must only repeat that they are con- jectural notes save in a very few instances; but were I a grower for sale I should not be at all afraid to take them as I have noted. Time alone can prove whether one's views are right or not. — D., Deal. Amalgamated Chetsanthemum Society. — Our readers will have observed an announcement in our advertising columns that this Society intend holding theii- first Show in the Agricultural Hall, Islington, on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of next month, and we are happy to state that there is every prospect of its being the most extensive Exhibi- tion of the kind which has ever been held. The prizes offered are both numerous and liberal, amounting to £260 in all ; and we ai-e informed that, vast as the area is which the HaU affords, there is every likelihood of its being fully occupied. Arrangements are also to be made for gi-atilying the ear as well as the eye by an ample provision of musical skiU. A General Meeting of the Society was held on the 12th inst., Shirley Hibberd, Esq., in the chau-, when, after the election of several new members, the following gentlemen were chosen as censors at the forthcoming Show : — For Specimen Plants: Mr. G. Smith, Hornsey; Mi-. R. WeatheriU, and Mr. Walker, Upper Clapton. For Cut Blooms : Mr. Shields; BIr. Croxford, West Ham; and Mr. Taylor, Stoke Newington. For Miscellaneous Exhibitions : Mr. Monk ; Mr. Wilkinson, Bow ; and Mr. Boff, Ball's Pond. Mr. Cole, of St. John's Wood, and Mr. Burton, of Mr. Williams's nursery, were chosen to sxiperintend the an'angement of the specimens and blooms to be exhibited. THE A^IAEYLLIS. It would not be easy to calculate how very much the great improvement which has been effected in several sections of oui' decorative plants within the last quarter of a centvu-y, has been stimulated and du-ected by the various florioultural societies which have been in operation throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom. There is scarcely a class of plants which are capable of improvement by cross-breeding or otherwise, and for which prizes have been offered, that has not been brought up to a stand-point in the way of im- provement in size, shape, substance, and colour, so far that any further advance is now almost beyond conception. Taie for example the Azalea, Cineraria, Pelai-goniiun, Pansy, Hollyhock, Rose, Verbena, &c., and call to remem- brance what they were at the time that has been named, and compare them with what they are now, so far advanced on their way toward the ideal of perfection, and it must be admitted that great things have been accomplished. And the improvement that has been attained is not more marked in the superior varieties that now exist than it is in the superior cultivation which has been simultaneously going on. Indeed, it could scarcely have been expected fr-om the varieties and the cultivation that existed at the time re- feiTcd to that such a high position could have been gained. Few will question that the censorship and prizes offered by the various societies have been among the chief stimulatants of the action and entei-jirise which has accomplished so much. Gardening, therefore, owes a good deal to such societies in conjunction with individual enterprise and public emulation, not only in the way of improved flowers and culture, but also — and largely through such improvement — the promo- tion of correct taste and a general diffusion of the love and beneficial effects of gardening as one of the most wholesome recreations, both morally and physically, which lie within the reach of a large portion of our population. Of late years it is pleasing to see the enlarged encourage- ment which several of our leading societies, both in Eng- land and Scotland, have afforded to the Hyacinth and other spring-flowering bulbs, which truly may be said to possess a charm peculiarly their own. And on this field of com- petition combatants have contested the honours with praise- worthy determination, and several of them have covered themselves, shall we say ? -with a glory, if not so exalted, yet much more innocent and becoming than that of battle- fields. Bulb catalogues are now as thick as leaves in autumn, and in some cases wonderfully elaborate. One important addition has of late yeaa-s been made to these catalogues, and it threatens to swell to yet greater dimensions^so much so, that already the Gladiolus, to which we refer, is thought worthy of a separate issue for itself. No fault can be found for giving such prominence to so valuable and lovely an autimin flower. The last few years have wi-oiight a wonder- ful improvement in the Gladiolus, and every village society offers prises for its production, and it forms no mean feature in our autumn exhibitions. If the same rate of im- provement goes on for the next dozen years, who can predict the gorgeousness of this flower at that period ? Since the days — not very long ago — when Psittacinus reigned supreme, how great and striking is the advance which has been made ! While almost every society, however obscvure and unpre- tending, offers prizes for the plants to which reference has been made, it is stu-prising — almost unaccountable — that the Amaryllis, which has existed so long among us, should have been next to entu-ely overlooked by almost all our societies. True, of late yeai-s a few nui-sei-y firms both in England and Scotland have staged for exhibition some ex- quisite varieties of this bulboias plant, and many are now talking of the beauty and usefulness of the Amaryllis ; but stiU little or no encouragement has come fr-om any of the societies. Without under-estimating either the beauty or general usefulness of any other tribe which meets with a Su'ge share of encom-agement, it is well known that the Amaryllis is not only one of the most beautiful but most JOTJKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. T October 20, mi. useful and accommodating plants for decorative pm-poses ; and there can be no doubt as to its capability of great im- provement. l!y proper and very simple management it can be had in bloom every month in tlie year, and wherever placed it never fails to attract attention and to be admired. It has a large share of distinct and striking character to distinguish it; and in spring, when bulbous plants form so large a proportion of the gaiety of the di'awing-room and the consei'vatory, the Amarj-Uis would contrast and vie with any or all of them, and as a flower at the dreary dead of winter it outstrips tliem all. It is, moreover, a plant ■which requii'os but a comparatively small amount of cai'e in the way of potting, &c. ; and any one in possession of a pit or waim greenhouse can command it, although it is when expanded in stove heat that the colours come out in •tjieii' highest pitch of purity. Seeing that it is a plant possessing many good qualities to recommend it, we hope some of oui' groat societies, now that they are busy framing their schedidcs for another year-, will set the example and give libei-al encoui'agement to the Amaryllis ; and it may be prophesied that it will vei-y soon become a plant of wide- spread popularity and great usefulness, while, no doubt, its improvement will not be the least noticeable feature in its character. We would be the last to attempt to throw any discouragement in the way of keeping any class of plants before the public ; but, as it is evident that all cannot have that amount of patronage bestowed upon them which might perhaps be desirable, would it not, thei'efore, be wise to lessen the amount of notice which has been taken of and the prizes offered to some given plants, and direct the funds of societies to other objects which have been so long neglected Y . Say, for instance, that the Cineraria, or whatever may be deemed most advisable, should meet with less encoiu'age- ment now, after the long patronage and the firm hold which it has of the public for certain purposes ; and that others, for example, the Amai-yUis — for which we mean these lines as a good word spoken — should be more libei-aUy and frequently rewai'ded. D. Thomson. TOEST HILL. On the northern slope of the elevated ridge of liills which divides the valley watered by the river Len and the creeic which separates the Isle of Shepway fi-om the main land stands the pleasant mansion of Torry HiU, the seai, of Lord Kingsdown. The position of the house is sufficiently ele- vated to command a very extensive view without at the same time being bleak and exposed : on the contrary, the abundance of healthy and vigorous trees gives the gi'ovmds and park, as well as the neighboiu'hood in general, a clothed appearance not usually met with in situations so elevated ; while the riclily cultivated district over which the view intends is perhaps second to none for general fertility and the good quality of its produce. The gentle and easy slojie terminates in the creek or inlet above refeiTed to, and the whole of the Isle of Sheppey, with its verdant fields and waving crops, is entirely brought under view; and beyond, the waters of the Nore with the numerous craft which enter the Port of London may be distinctly seen fi-om the more elevated portions of the mansion. I am also told that the more distant Essex coast may be made out on a fine day. A situation possessing so many natiu-al advantages may justly be regarded as a tine one ; and it is only proper to say that in caiTyiug out the arrangement of the mansion and ^•ounds genorsdly these advantages have been duly made use of. The present spuited nobleman having made it his principal residence, he has remodelled, or, he may be said to have rebuilt, the whole of the mansion during the last few yeai'S ; ,aud the many qualifications of beauty, utdity, and the other matters which form a weU-arranged mansion of the fii'st class have been all didy considered. The piincipal fi-onts are to the north and east ; the latter Iseing the can-iage-front, while the former looks over a terraee gai-den of considerable dimensions, which at the time I saw it was gay with flowers. On the west side and connect-ed with the iiiansion is a lofty conservatory upwards of (iO feet long by 42 feet wide, while at the north-east angle of the mansion a chcular tower is cai'ried up to a considerable height; in this a spiral stair- case of more ample dimensions than is usually met with in such places leads up to the summit, fi-om whaice a very extensive prospect of the adjacent country may be obtained. The shipping at Sheemess and the winding serpentine course of the Medway may be traced with tolerable clearness ; while the pleasant town of Sittingboume seems almost within rifle-shot of the place. The offices are connected with the south-western angle of the main building ; and the dressed grounds, which are extensive, are mostly on the north, east, and south sides. Some plant and forcing-houses occupy a walled-in garden on the south side of the mansion, but other glass struc- tures are detached, and differ much in the aspect they present ; but as many of the plant-houses are span-roofed, their position with regard to the back wall against which they ai-e placed is of little moment. Suffice it to say that they are aU new, or such as have been buUt in the last sis or eight years, and many of them since that time. The large conservatory has not been long finished, and, of course, the pei-manent creepers, &c., have not yet occupied aU the space allotted them ; but a plant-stove of considerable size, having a projecting bay in front with a semicircular roof, and facing the east, was well furnished with plants, aU of which did well. We noticed that the southern side, which was a blank wall, was wisely taken advantage of to introduce a few Ferns ; while the body of the house was well filled with the most popidar plants of the day, amongst which were some very fine specimens of Croton pictum in excellent health, equally good specimens of Marantas, Alocasias, Caladiums, Draca?nas ; and the many other plants which form indispen- sable features in a plant-stove had excellent representatives here. In another house were several dozens of that beautiful jilant for winter decoration — Poinsettia pulchenima, from 1 to 2 or 3 feet high, the whole, including the shortest, giving promise of flowering well. In another place were Chinese Primulas in robust health and knotted for flower; and the other popular plants necessary to furnish a large conservatory were in their various stages of preparation in other houses devoted to that piu-ijose. The great featm-e of attraction, however, was the finiits, more especially the Peaches and Kectarines, which, even afc the late period I saw them, were magnificent, and those that had ripened earlier in the season had been stUl better. They were partly gi-own under- glass and partly on open walls ; but the latter had the advantage of being flued — a plan well worthy of more general adoption, and the success which has attended it here entitles it to every consideration. The wall appeared to be about 13 feet high ; and the face against which the trees were planted, though plain, was nevertheless separated from the back pai-t of the wall by a cavity which formed the flue, the heat from the fii-e travelling three times the length of the wall, there being partitions to direct it that way. Flued walls are common in the north of Eng- land, and the expense in making one is trifling compared with covering a wall with glass ; but as I may retm-n to this subject another time, it is needless saying more on that head now than that such walls produced excellent fruit, the trees occupying them fi'om the bottom to the top. Most excellent fi-uit was also furnished by the Peach-houses or glazed walls, of which there was also a considerable length adjoining those not so covered ; and I was told that Peaches weighing 12 ozs. had been gathered in the past season. There were also a few trees in pots, and a house had been accorded to them ; but I understood thou- produce was not so satisfactory, and they were being done away with. The Grapes in the various houses were also excellent, particularly some Muscats of Alexandria, whUe the Canon llaU Muscat was not so satisfactory ; but the Black Ham- burghs, of which there was a gi-eat quantity, were excellent in berry and well colom-ed. I may here obsei-ve that a mode of heating the borders of one or more of the Grape- houses intended for early forcing, and which is well worth general adoption, was pointed out to me. I have seen a modi- fication of the plan before, but not exactly the same as is here carried out. The Vines in the houses in question are planted outside ; and, the borders being liigher outside than the tier of hot-water pipes wliich run along the front, inside near the breast wall, holes are made in the fi-ont wall at distances about 5 feet apart ; communicating with these holes are drains laid through the border, which is about 12 feet wide, the ends of the drains turning upwards, and October 20, 1863. JOXTENAL OF HORTICULTURE AlfD COTTAGE GARDENER. 309- each is ftirmslied with a plug to shut or open at pleasure. These drains ai-e all at right angles mth the front waU, and I believe, but am not certain, that they ai'e not con- nected with each other. The ends entering the house ai-e on a level with the hot-water pipes, and are, consequently, likely to receive the heat imparted by these pipes ; while the house can be refreshed with ah- fr-om the outside, which travels readily enough inwai'ds thi'ough the drains when the outside plugs ai-e open. I believe this ingenious contrivance was introduced by Mi-. Fox, a former gardener at this place, and it is certainly the simplest method of applying fii'e heat to a border that has yet been adopted. I am not certain whether the drains thi'ough the border are of brlekworli or of earthenware piping, but there is no doubt but tlie latter would do well. Certainly the good quality of the Grapes indicated that their general treatment was good ; and I have no doubt that the warmth imparted to a border by means of pipes or drains traversing it as above is much better than when the border is completely cellared underneath. The latter plan, having failed in more jjlaces than one, is of questionable utility. This subject, however, is deserving of being fui'ther inquired into, and it would be well if some who have been successful in heating their borders, so as to secur-e eai'ly Grapes for a number of seasons in succession, would report the mode by which the object was effected. At Torry Hill, I believe, it has not been usual to commence forcing so eai-ly as has been done in some places, but the condition of some of the Vines when I saw them showed tliat they had been tolerably eai-ly. The Pines grown here were mostly Black Jamaica, a kind much less grown in the south of England than in the north. It is, unquestionably, the best winter fruit, but opinion is much divided as to it or the Queen for summer use, the more compact growth, and, perhaps, hardihood of the latter commending it to more general use. At the table the Black Jamaica is as gi-eat a favourite with those who pai-take of it, though not, perhaps, with those that do the decorating, as the crown is often small. This, however, is foreign to the object now in hand, and I have no doubt but the Black Jamaicas are gi-own at Tony Hill for then* good table quali- fications. Good Melons were also gi'own in pits heated by stable-dung, and some Cucumbers in excellent health and beaj-ing well in one of these pits were pointed out as having borne fruit for ten months and as being- likely to keep on doing so for some time longer. In the flower garden I noticed a fine batch of Centaurea candidissnua doing remarkably well ; and Mr. Newman, the intelligent gardener, had a quantity of cuttings of it put in ■with evei-y appearance of their rooting and doing well. Too much has not been said of this handsome plant, which far exceeds anything in its v/ay that has yet appeared. There were also some compai-tments in a large bed fUled with Amaranthus melancholicns, which at the time I saw it left nothing to wish for. In fact, the only drawback to the general well-doing of everything in the flower garden was the Lobelia, which had not done so well, and with the ex- ception of Verbena Pui-ple King, the other kinds were here, as elsewhere, in most places that I have seen this season, only sparingly planted. Geraniums of the Scarlet, Pink, and Variegated sections were in most repute ; and as they ■withstand periods of di-y weather, siich as we are often liable to have in Kent, -without impairing their beauty, it is likely they ■will maintain then- reputation. It is only necessary to add, that the whole was in excellent order, including the turf, ■walks, flower-beds, and other compartments, and reflected great credit on the worthy gai-dener and his assistants. To those interested in the construction and heating of new hothouses, I may state that those at Ton-y Hill, and they were i^retty numerous, were all built of wood, except that some iron was used in the curved roof whei-e wanted. The glass was partly sheet and partly rough plate, some of the latter much thicker than is generally used. The whole were heated with hot water, the cannon and tubular boilers being mostly used. Some useful mechanical contrivances in the way of gi-ving air were introduced, and the workmanship of the whole seemed well done. The lofty conservatory adjoin- ing the mansion and communicating with the di-awing-room ■was constructed so as in some measui-e to resemble the mansion in the exterior; but this had not in the least m- teirfered with the liberal supply of light, and the admission of air, as well as the heating, Ac, and the plants turned out for permanent purposes showed they were quite at home. The house, I believe, was only finished in the eai-ly part of the present summer. The grounds presented the usual feature of Pinuses of the most approved sorts, including some very good "WeUing- tonias, an excellent specimen of Picea cephalonica, and other favourite species, and certainly not the least import- ant thing was a number of Rhododendrons fi-oni seed that had been sent home from Thibet. The plants, I understand, had been kept in pots for several years, but had eventually been turned out in despair of their flowering, which they have not done yet, althougli it would be difBcult to conceive healthier and more likely plants to do so. Even as ever- greens they are handsome, the foliage of some of them being as large as that of the common Laurel but more blunted and the growth slower and more compact, wlule the buds that are formed. Mr. Newman said, only produced wood in former years, although as stout and plump as the flower- buds of other Rhododendi'ons. Perhaps if grafts were taken of them and worked on stocks of other kinds better adapted to the climate they might be induced to flower. In habit and appearance when not in flower they equal the best varieties oiur gardens possess, though, as above stated, they differ much from them. Perhaps some one having gi-o-wn these or similar kinds wiU be able to throw some light on the subject. The neai-est railway station to Torry HiU is Sittingboume, which is also, I believe, the postal address ; and lovers of ancient fruit lore are told that it was in the neighbourhood of Sittingbourne that the Cherry was first cultivated as an orchard fruit, and some old orchards are stiU visible in places. Neither is the district destitute of remarkable trees, for at the village of Borden are some fine old Yews, and at no great distance from the same place one of the largest common Junipers that I ever saw was pointed out to me. Its position was not in the di-essed ground of a nobleman's garden, but simply in the corner of a field where, however, some lover of old trees had supplied it with a prop to arrest its evident inclination to assume a pi-ostrate condition. The stem, which was quite naked for some 8 or 10 feet, had the proportions of a small timber tree, being- about 30 inches in gu'th at the smallest part, and the top showed those signs of good health that iadicated that it was not unlikely to out- live several generations of the human family. The soil was flinty, but I believe chalk was not near the surface. J. ROBSON. DAHLIA FLOWERS BECOME WHITE. Will you tell me how it happens that about fifty Dahlias, which bloomed well, of various and glowing colom-s last year, are this season uniforn-Jy white to om- great disappoint- ment and vexation — for the monotonous repetition of gi'een and white, and white and green in borders on either side of a broad gravel walk is tu-esome and melancholy ? The gardener protests no change has been made, and that they are the veritable roots which he took up and preserved; and I honestly confess we doubted his word, until, regretting the cold white look to a lady one day this week, I heaird' that her own took the same sportive turn last season. My friend labelled her roots herself, and knew that the same were planted the follo-wing season. But alas ! how changed — aU cold white ! Pray, sii-, may we hope that any of the former rich colour- can be restored by any treatment, or, in the common course of events, will they appear in brilliant costume as at first ? The Dahlias are all vigorous and healthy-looking ; the fohage of a rich dark green colour ; the flowers well-shaped and perfect, swarming with earwigs, as they always are, and blooming fi-eely. — An Old Lady. [We cannot possibly believe anything else in your case than that you have been deceived in some way with your Dahlia roots. That fifty Dahlias of diflerent glowing colours should one an-d aU be changed by any process of nature or art is perfectly inconceivable to us. At all events, if suek be the ease we must confess being perfectly ignorant of wnat has been the cause or what can restore them from white. Just examine the flowers and foliage, and see if in shape and build the flowers are not all identical, which could not be the case even granting that the supposed change ia 310 JOtJKNAL OF HOETICULTITRE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ October 20, 18G3. colovu' were possible, which we do not believe. We fear you are the subject of either mistake or deception. Could we believe that Nature would sport or be influenced into such lawless irregularity there is no sayinjj what might be expected. It strikes us that you will find all your Dahlia flowers of the same shape as well as of the same colour, and different vai-ieties of Dahlias ai-e vcrj differently shaped; and sui-ely you cannot believe in change of shape as well as of colom-.] PLA^'TI^TT. It sometimes happens that for the pm-pose of finishing as he goes along a gardener is obliged to move plants in winter or eaa-ly spring which would be better if they could re- main unmoved till the end of April. I was so circumstanced myself once, and had to move a goodly number of lai-o-e evergi-eens — Spruce, HoUy, and Lam-ustinus, &c., when'l would rather have waited tni April. It was done, however, in winter and with perfect success — not as much as one death taking place out of about two hundi'ed moved, and all growing in a strong clayey soil with a blue clay subsoil. Ml-. Dawson seems to think that large plants cannot be successfully transplanted in strong soils. Now the above plants could not be less than thirty years old, having occu- pied the jjlace I moved them fi-om for about twenty-six years. As a general rule Mi'. Dawson prefers small plants, and no doubt where large plantations are to be made no other are available ; but where the planting is not too large and large plants obtainable, I confess to a strong leaning in their favour, not only because the desired effect is almost at once produced, but because I have experienced no failures ; and, like Mr. Dawson, I have had to do with different soils both in this country and beneath the burning sun of North America. _ In the winter of 1855-56 I was engaged planting out the view of a village and a pubUo road which were too conspicu- ous from a part of one of the approach roads. It took about five huudi-ed i^lants to accomplish the object: most of these were Oak, Ehu, and Sycamore, averaging 15 feet in height, with some large shi-ubs fi-onting them. The object was at once effected, and when I saw that plantation fom- years afterwai-ds it was as dense and as flourishing as if it had been there foiu-teen years ; but if small plants, such as Mi-. Dawson recommends had been used, the noble proprietor would no doubt have had to wait that length of time for the desii-ed effect. I may mention, that though highly approv- ing of mulching and the general necessity of watering, none of those trees or shi-ubs was so favoured, and, worse than aU, some of the planting was done dui-ing a sharp frost. If I mistake not there is a general impression in favour- of moving the Pine tribe in autumn. I have always practised late-spring planting, and have never had a failure with this tribe. When I could select my own season I have taken them just as they commence gi-owth or are showing symp- toms of it. In the spring of 1857 I had to move about fourteen large Spruce ; they were at least twenty-six years old, and had to be moved about a mile across the demesne. The work was not commenced tUl the last week in AprU, when some of the plants had begun gi-owth. These were all moved with perfect success, aU of them making a growth of fi-om 6 to 9 inches the first season. They had a good watering before aU the soil was put in about them, but no mulching was given, the spreading branches well securing the roots from the sun. — J. K., Ireland. Celekt.— I fully agree -with Mr. Fish as to the superiority of Turner's Incomparable Dwarf White Celery both for autumn and spring use. I had five or six varieties this season, but this kind is the favourite; moreover it is not apt to spindle like some other sorts, and, being white, is useful for cooking as well as for table. For the last three years the Celery did not do well here, it being subject to disease. This season the sm-face of the ground about the plants had a di-essing of superphosphate of lime before earthing-up, which I consider has prevented the disease to a considerable extent. — D. Phelan, Gardener, Rathmines Castle, near Duhlin, HYBEID PEEPETUAL EOSES FOE A BED. A LADY, " Marie," writing fi-om a central county, asks for infoi-mation on the above subject. She wants to have dwarf plants on their own roots, and to have them trained in pyi-amidal form so as never to be more than 3 feet 6 inches or 4 feet high. It is easy enough to have dwarf Perpetual Eoses on their own roots, but to be able to train them so as to be nice- looking pyi-amids is a more difficult matter ; for in spite of all the attention that can be given to Eoses, they have a waywardness of their own at flowering time which we fear will prevent their submitting to the close restraint necessary to insui-e a tidy uniform shape of the kind wanted at all seasons. Perhaps our con-espondent is anxious for a bed of Eoses to resemble such masses of plants as are to be seen in pots at the London shows. This, no doubt, could be done, but such plants only conform to the pyi-amid or balloon shape shortly before the blooming period ; their gi-owth the preceding summer is UTegular and stragghng enough, and cannot well be made otherwise if flowers are wanted. We would, therefore, advise the lady to abandon the idea of exact training during the gi-owing season, merely cutting away any gross shoots, and, at the proper time, to prune as ordinai-y dwai-f m-egular-gro\ving plants, for the Eose looks best so done. There is a difference in Hybrid Perpetuals for doing well on their own roots. Those we have found succeed best are Bai-onne Hallez, Baronne Prevost, Caroline de Sansal, Jules Margottin, Geant des Batadles, Souvenir de Eeine de I'Angleten-e, Wniiam Jesse, and others ; while Oriflamme de St. Louis, Senateur Vaisse, and some others have not done well. In another place, however, this may not be the case ; but whatever kinds our correspondent selects we certainly do not by any means advise them to be trimmed like clipped Yew trees in summer. — J. E. THE WALNUT TEEE. A cOERESPONDENT complains that a Walnut tree of his growing in a meadow on a gravelly soil overlying chalk has never produced Walnuts until this year, and now they are poor in quality, and far from numerous. The neigh- bourhood, he observes, is one certainly not unfavourable to the Walnut ; and the tree, which is about 30 feet high, was rather severely root-pruned last year. This season most of the fruit fell at an early period of their growth, and the remainder were only very poor. He asks for information on the subject, advice as to the future treatment of the tree, and other particulars, remarking that the culture of the Walnut has not been adverted to of late in The Jouenal OF HOKTICULTTJKE. I may in the fii-st place observe, that the Walnut is seldom considered as in the list of cultivated fi-uits, its growth and bearing being generally left to chance. There is an old distich coupling the Walnut with a spaniel and a wife, to the effect that they are aU better of being well beaten. Now, this advice is, I confess, all that I have read about rendering- the Walnut tree fr-uitful ; and vidgar though it be, and often regarded as an unmeaning couplet put forth by some sai-castic individual, I am far fi-om denying it some merit, for the beating of the tree with long poles to knock down the fruit in autumn, is never accomplished without breaking off a number of small shoots, thereby effecting a sort of rude pruning, and so rendering the tree more fi-uitfid the follow- ing season ; and as the rougher the usage the more shoots are broken off, it is not unlikely that a greater proportion of fii-uit may follow the year after. This, however, is not always the case, for other influences also operate on the crop. An unfavourable spring is fatal to the setting of the young fi-uit, or it may be an ungenial autumn refuses to prepare the embryo buds, or other causes may tend to pro- duce a failure similar to that which all other fruit-bearing trees are liable to. Now, although but little can be said about the proper treatment of the Walnut tree, I fear the severe root- pruning given by our con-espondent last year is the cause of much of the fruit falling at an early stage, and of the re- mainder being poor and imperfect, as most likely the tree woidd have borne a fair crop of useful fruit but for that pruning which deprived it of its most important food. It is October 20, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 311 possible, however, that next season, or the one after that, the tree may be benefited by the operation, especially if it is young and vigorous ; but in general we would not advise root-pruning Walnut trees unless they are in that con- dition, for Nature usually jjoints out when a tree ought to commence bearing, and if it begins to do so when very young, and is allowed to cari'y heavy crops, it seldom an'ives at a great size. To begin bearing early is, in a certain sense, a token of disease or a too early maturity. Pinuses which commence beai-ing cones early rarely become large trees, and the same may be said of Walnuts. Patience, therefore, must be observed, and the best results will xisuaUy follow when the tree has been allowed to have its own way in everything save in the site chosen for it, which ought to be di-y, hard, and stony, avoiding the deep, rich, cultivated soils of old gardens, and the damp situations to be met with elsewhere. The most fruitful Walnut trees ai'e very often those occupying a public place on some hard road or thoroughfare, or some di'y meadow, the tree receiving no further attention than a good beating when it produces fruit. At all other times letting alone is, perhaps, the best treat- ment the tree can have. It may here be remarked, that although there is only one recognised species of fruit-bearing Walnut in general cul- tivation, the kind called French being only a sort of enlai-ged English, stQl, like every other hardy fruit, it diifers to a certain extent on being raised from seed ; the variation takes place in the quality of the fi-uit, so that certain trees produce better nuts than others similarly placed. This fact is weU known amongst the rustics, who have for many years made it a point of duty to taste the produce of aU. A similar sport or variation is observable in the Sweet Chestnut, and other trees also raised from seed. Some ai'e known to ijroduce excellent nuts, others indifferent, and some cast them before they arrive at perfection. Other instances might be given, but in your own case I would advise the Walnut tree to be left alone, and when Nature has done her part by expanding the tree to something like the proportion of a timber tree, she wOl aftervvards become less anxious for enlai'gement, and direct her energies to the production of fruit.— J. Eobson. A PLEA FOE FLOEISTS' FLOWEES. In the columns of a contemporary I find a paper bearing the honoui-ed signature of Eobert Fortune, in which, fi'esh from feasting his eyes with Japanese beauties and gar-dens of ten thousand Cherry trees, he runs a tilt at florists as having to some extent injured floricultvu:e. This is an old charge, but one hardly expected it from this quarter ; for when Mr. F. looks at the beautiful collection of Pompone Chrysanthemums, and remembers that they were the pro- geny of the little Chusan Daisy which he imported into England, he will acknowledge, surely, that in this instance florists have done a good service. But indeed it is hai-dly fair to put the case thus, for he allows that they have fi-e- quently benefited floriculture, but thinks that, in some in- stances, they have ean-ied theu- principles too far. We ■wiil not contend about that, as it is, after all, a matter of taste ; but I think he has hardly made out his case with regai-d to Fuchsias, the new kinds of which he characterises as "being a new race of sickly -looking things with large gorged flowers and unhealthy-looking leaves." As I met 1V&. Foi-tune at the last Eoyal Horticultural Society's Exhibition in September, he may have possibly formed this conclusion from the few which he saw there ; but these were simply plants of Messrs. Smith's new decorative Fuchsia Pillar of Gold, about which there are certainly different opinions, although I beUeve myself that it will make a very desirable plant for table use, and also an addition to ornamental plants. But no one ever intended to set that forward as a florists' flower, and I do not think that the charge of sickly-looking foliage can be brought against the new kinds of Fuchsias generally. The blood of some of the more vigorous species has been infused into them, and I have seen many of the named kinds, not merely in pots but out of doors, with as fine foliage, large, glossy, and gi-een, as any of the older kinds which he enumerates. I am an admirer of many of them, gracilis, globosa, and some others being very pretty ornaments for the flower garden ; but these " artificial monstrosities" make quite as good bushes when any ordinary amount of care is bestowed on them, while, in point of freeness of flowering, there can be no comparison, many of the new kinds absolutely weighing down the branches with the weight and number of theii' blossoms. — D., Deal. MILDEW ON VE^ES IN A CONSEEVATOEr TINEEY. Adjoining our drawing-room is a good-sized greenhouse, and when we took possession last June twelvemonth, there was a magnificent crop of Grapes coming on. Very soon, however, mildew appeai-ed to a considerable extent, and we were advised to try sulphur, which we did with such success that the next morning evei-y leaf was dead, and every bunch of Grapes (above six hundj-ed) was shrivelled to nothing. In despair we cut off all the leaves and bunches, and in three weeks' time a fresh crop of leaves came out, but no more Grapes. All through the winter we followed the in- structions given in The Journal of Hokticultube, gave plenty of air, and thoroughly washed the house and the Vines with soap. In the spring the Vines broke weU, and soon had an abundant crop of Grapes ; but, alas ! when they became the size of currants, the mildew again appeared, covering them with a thick white powder, and each berry cracked and withered up, so we have again lost our crop. But the provoking part is, that the mQdew seems to affect evei-ything in the gi-eenhouse. The Geraniums lose their leaves, and will not blossom; the Fuchsias are perfectly bai-e, and nothing prospers. The smell of the mildew is quite overpowering. I should add that the Vine had always been noted in the neighbour-hood for bearing well, and that the previous tenant, who is also the landlord, had a remarkably fine crop of Grapes the year before last fi-om the same Vine. We have been advised to do away with the old roots, and plant new ones, but as we have only a seven years' lease it woidd scarcely be worth while to go to such expense, if in any other way we could prevent the evU. The Vine has been in bearing for more than twenty- years. — Sigma. [There are two points we should have liked to have known more about — fu-st, the mode of applying the sulphur; and, secondly, the mode of heating the greenhouse. As to the first, we can only imagine fr-om the results that you must have burned the sulphirr, whilst, to apply it coiTectly, it should only be dusted on the fruit and leaves affected. From what you state, we think it would be -wi-ong to destroy the Vines ; but you might dig a deep trench for a drain in front of the border. We would care less about the flowering plants now, but do everything by dryness and extra heat to hai-den the wood of the Vines. When this is done, and the wood is bro-wn and hai-d (but not if at all soft and spongy), and the leaves are turning brown, we would shut up every cranny that connects the house -with the dra-wing- room, using damp moss, clay, or putty, for the purpose. Then, we would burn in the house fr-om a pound to half a poimd of sulphur mixed -with sawdust. This wUl settle all fungus matter, as weU as all insects; but, of course, the fumes must be kept out of the drawing-room. It not sure of the wood being hard and ripe, do not try this cure, but whether you do or not, proceed as follows : — When Vines are pruned, wash the glass and wood with hot soap and water, not soft soap ; then wash the Viaes, scrubbing them well -with the same, removing all loose bark, &c. Paint them all over then -mth clay and sulphur- paint ; wash all the walls ; paint -with lime and sulphur, and as the Vines break go over the walls again with sulphur, especially where the sun strikes on the wall. To make it stick use a little fresh lime with it, or make a paint with the sulphur, by using some oU. Scrape off the sui-face soil of the floor, and replace with fi-esh. Now, these are all first-rate pre- cautions, but alone they will not save you fr-om the enemy. We incline to think that the reason why you have suffered so terribly is, that you have kept your house too close in the growing season in summer, and the atmosphere too moist. If youi- house is heated by hot-water pipes, we would also smother them with sulphur as soon as the Vines broke. From the beginning of June we would leave a little air on 312 JOURNAL OF HOETICXJLTXJEE AKD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ October 20, ISGS. night and day at the back of the house at top, and if this cooled the house too much, we would use foe to keep up the temperature. We wo\ild xise as little watei-ing in the house as possible, and by July we would remove aU except a few favourite specimens out of doors. With a di-ier atmosphere and more air, we think you mil see no more of your enemy ; but if a berry or a shoot be affected, dust it with flowers of sulphur at once before the disease has a chance to spread. With a drier atmosphere and a greater cii'culation of air in summer, we do not think you will be troubled after these precautions.] CULTITEE OF THE GENUS IMPATIENS. The species of this genus ai-e as iisefid as they ai'e singidar. Some flower fi'eely at most seasons of the year, and are good ornaments for oui- stoves in ■\\inter, especially the two small species — latifolia, bright pvu'plish-rose coloiu' ; and latifolia alba, white. They are also verj' serviceable as cut flowers in a bouquet or in a vase for in-door decoration. They are very readily grown by a simple stove treatment. We have been very successful with them by placing cuttings of the smaller varieties in the eai-ly spring, three into a large 60-pot, in a mixture of sandy peat, keeping them close for a day or two. They readily root, and should receive mode- rate shiifts into a mixtui'e of four parts good fibrous peat, one of sand, and one of loam, with a good spiinkling of well-broken potsherds. The cuttings should be kept con- stantly stopped where a tendency is shown to become too lankj', to which they ar-e rather liable, or when good roimd plants are desired and not immediate flowering. These small varieties will, if kej^t well in the light and not too liberally and loosely shifted, flower at almost every joint. The larger varieties, such as Hookeri and the beauti- ful Jerdoniae especially, wiU at aU times flower better when, as young plants, they have been constantly kept jjinched back, thus making them as short-jointed as possible. Take pains, however, to give them all the sun and light com- patible with a general stove routine. Do not stop them after midsummer, and whilst yon encom-age a robust growth take care not to supply them with too much water, and they win in then- beautUid blossoms amply repay all pains taken. There are numerous sorts. Impatieus flaccida, Jerdoniae, Hookeri, latifolia, latifolia alba, biflora, coccinea.andtrieornis; and a once-acknowledged very pretty variety, Impatiens scapiflora, having a rather large, light flower, tinted with rose colour, and with leaves more ornamental than most of the others. Besides these there is our own hai-dy Impatiens NoU-me-tangere, the Touch-me-not of Britain. — William Eaeley. HAEDY AQUATICS. {Continued frmn pa(]e 249.) ACTINOCAEPUS DAMASONiuii is a pretty little perennial, growing in British ditches ; has white flowers from June to August. EuMEX HTBEOLAPATHUM (Water Dock) is a noxious weed in many places, but highly ornamental, nevertheless, in others ; gi'ows 6 feet high, having- a long spathe of green inflorescence in Jidy and Aug-ust. E. acutus (Sharp-leaved), gi'owing 2 feet high, and E. aquations, attaining a height of 5 feet, are native plants found in ditches and sluggish streams. The flower-spike or spathe of these plants should be cut before the seeds become rijje, or it is apt to be borne along by the floods, and may cause serious mischief to the meadow lands adjoining rivers. BuTOMUs (Flowering Eush). — B. umbeUatus to my think- ing, and I may say by general consent, is the handsomest of British plants. It grows 2 feet high, erect ; leaves long and sharp-edged ; flowers pink, but assuming different shades of red, produced in umbels upon a long stalk. A perennial, flowering in June and July. Found in ditches. B. lati- folius has broad leaves, and white flowei-s in June and July. A perennial from Nepaul, growing a foot in height. AcoRus CALAMUS (Sweet Flag). — A native reedy plant inhabiting pools, growing 2 feet high. The leaves are highly aromatic, a quality which they lose in drying. The flowers are apetalous, appeimng in June and July. SciKPUs (Club Eush). — S. lacustris (TaU) is a reedy-like plant, growing 6 feet high. England ; rivers. S. mfus is a curious little grass-like perennial, growing 6 inches high ; found in Scotch waters. There are several more, but of no interest except to the botanist. IsoLEPis FLUiTANS is a curious perennial floating Grass, flowering in July and August, but apetalous. Britain; ditches. Ikis pseud-acorus. — Flowers yellow, produced abundantly m June and July. Grows 3 to 4 feet high, having a stately reed-Uko appearance. This is a perennial, gi'owing equally well in the water as in moist places. Britain. I. fcetid- issima, the leaves of this species rubbed between the fingers emit a fetid odour ; the flowers are lead-coloured, produced in June ; grows IS foot high. I. fcetidissima vai-iegata is a highly-ornamental perennial. The last two require to be planted at the margin of the water. There is a pale-yeUow variety of the Bastard Acorus — viz., I. pseud-acorus pallida flava, similar to the species. Eanunculus (Crowfoot). — E. hederaceus (Ivy-leaved), E. obtusifoHus (Blunt-leaved), E. tripartitus, E. pautothrix, E. pantothi-ix fluviatUis, E. pantothrix CEespitosus, E. aqua- ticus (Water), E. aquaticus peltatus (Peltate-leaved), are all Ijretty plants. Some have the leaves submerged, variously divided, some multifid, others three-paited. All grow about a foot high, haring white flowers, produced abun- dantly in the early part of summer. Natives of Britain and Eui'ope generally. E. lingua (Tongue-leaved), is a curious yellow-flowering deciduous herbaceous plant, growing 2 feet high, inhabiting muddy ditches, and flowering from June to Arigust. E. alpestris (Alpine), a Scotch species, is a pretty little plant growing about (j inches high, having white flowers fi-om June to August. E. polyjihyUus (Many-leaved), is a curious yellow-flowering annual aquatic, growing 9 inches liigh ; flowers in May and June. From Hungary. SwERTiA PEEENNis, an upriglit-growing perennial, grows a foot high, and has purple flowers in July and August. Is a native plant, found in marehes. Caltha (Marsh Marigold) C. palustris (Common Marsh), and C. palustris flore pleno (Double-flowered), grow about a foot high, and have yellow flowers in May and June. C. radicans (Eooting), is an evergTcen creeping aquatic, growing 6 inches high in Scotch marshes, and has yellow flowers in May. C. ruinor, C. parnassifolia (Parnassia-leaved), C. asarifolia, and C. biflora (Two-flowered), ai-e all of low gi'owth, with yellow flowers in eai-ly summer, except C. biflora, which has white flowers from May to Jidy ; the first is a native plant, the second and last are North Americans. C. flabeUifolia has yeUow flowers in May, gi-ows a foot Mgh, and is fi-om North America. 0. leptosepala, from the same continent, has white flowei-s in June, and grows a foot high. C. natans (Floating), has white flowers in May and June, and is a princely refugee from the Siberian waters. Teucbiuji scordium (Water Germander), is a pretty little l^lant, growing 3 inches high, with rosy jjui-ple blooms in Jidy and August, and is a native plant found in mai-shes. Hydropeltis PURPUREA is a floating-leaved perennial, with reddish-pm-ple blooms in July and August ; has peltate leaves, and is fi-om North America. Callitriche (Water Starwoi-t). — C. verna, C. vema af^ua- tica, and C, autumnalis are annuals, growing in ditches, about 3 inches high, mth wliite flowers, but Uttle less than weeds, though pretty. Menyanthes (Buck Bean). — M. trifoliata (Thi-ee-leaved), a highly ornamental native species, grows a foot high, and has white flowers in July. M. americana, with trifoliate leaves, grows a foot high, having white flowers in July, much resembling oiu- native species. It is from North Aiierica. Ltsimachia (Loosestrife).- — L. thyi-siflora, gi-ows li foot high, and in-oduces yellow flowers from May to July. Britain ; lakes. L. nemoiiim vai-iegatum is a pretty trailing plant growing in wet places, and has yellow flowers from May to JiUy. L. \ndgaris, -with yellow flowei-s fi-om June to Septem- ber, grows 3 feet high, and is found in wet places. Hottonia palustris (Water Violet), has finely-cut leaves all produced imder water ; the upright floweiing-spikes ap- pealing above the water, with their whorls of flesh-coloured- flowers, have a very beautiful appearance. It is a perennial, gi-owing in ditches, is about a foot high, and flowers in Jnly and August. Thalia dealeata, a half-hardy- plant with mealy stems, October 20, 1863. ] JOUENAIi OF HOETICULTUKE AJSTD COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 313 growing 4 feet high ; has blue flowers in July and August ; from South CarolLia. Pi-obably quite hardy. HiPPUEis vuLGABis (Mare's-tail) is an interesting native perennial plant with apetalous flowers, appearing in May- ami June ; gi'ows in ditches. Veronica (Speedwell). — V. beccabunga (Brooklime), is a pretty native plant, producing an abundance of bright blue Sowers throughout the summer months. V. caroliniana, from Carolina, has blue flowers in June and July; grows a foot high. V. anagaUis (Pimpernel-like), a,nd V. scutel- lata (Saucer-leaved), grow from 1 to 2 feet high, having blue flowers in July and August. They are native plants, found in marshes. V. parmularia, from the South of Eui-ope, grows a foot high, and has red flowers in July and August. Utricularia. — U. vulgaris, TJ. minor, andU.intei'media are curious little plants growing 6 inches high, producing yellow flowers in June and July. All are natives. Alopectjkus geniculatus is a rather pretty Grass, growing a foot high. A native plant. Phalakis aquatica (Water Canary Grass), grows 11 foot high, and is an annual. From Egypt. Degraphis aeundinacea is a fine reedy-looking perennial Grass, gi'owing 3 to 4 feet high. D. anmdinacea vai'iegata has leaves striped with white, and is highly ornamental; grows luxiu'iantly on the margin of rivulets. Cataeeosa aquatica and C. vii-idula are curious Grasses growing 1 foot to 1 i foot high ; the former is a native plant, growing in rivulets. Aeundo donax (Water Eeed), is a stately plant, growing 10 feet high, from the South of Eiu-ope ; and A. donar versi- color has striped leaves, and grows 3 feet high. They ai-e highly ornamental near water. Pheagmiteb coioiDNiB (Commou Eeed).— A very fine ■Grass, growing 6 feet high. Britain; ditches, and river- banks. Gltceeia fltjitans is a floating Grass, growing li foot high. Britain; ponds. Htdkochloa aquatica and H. amndinacea are also reed- like Grasses, growing 6 feet high. The former is a native plant, the other is from the Canoasus. Eeiocaulon septangtjlaee is a curious little plant, with white flowers in September. Found in the bogs of Scotland. Peosekpinaca palusteis grows 1 foot high, and is from Canada; P. peotinata grows about 6 inches high, and is from North America. Both are annuals, and have white flowers in July. Teapa (Water Caltrops). — T. natans, an annual, has white and pin-ple flowers in August. It is of floating habit. Europe. T. bicornis, a half-hardy perennial from China, has white flowers in June and August. Potamogeton (Pond Weed). — AU are floating plants; fonnd in the rivers, ditches, and lakes of Britain. They are curious rather than ornamental. There aa-e nearly a score of species, some irith green, others with red, and some with pnrple and olive-colonred flowers in July and August. Till.s;a aquatica is a diminutive annual, with purple and red flowers from June to August. From northern Eva'ope. Mtosotis. — M. palustris is a very pretty native plant, growing a foot high, with blue and yellow-eyed flowers during summer, well known as "Forget-me-not." M. cses- pitosa, also a British jjlant, is of less growth, with pretty blue flowers in June and July. M. cEespitosa maerocalyx is a long-calyxed variety of the species, mth blue flowers in .June and July. They are found on the margin of water. Lobelia. — L. Dortmanna gi'ows erect, ani is a perennial with long loose spikes of blue flowers in July and August. It is a native plant, growing li foot high. L. inundata is a pretty half-hai-dy aquatic, growing half a foot high, producing a profusion of blue flowers in June and July. It is from New Holland. L. tupa is a splendid herbaceous perennial, growing frequently 8 feet high. It has scarlet flowers in September and October. From Juan Fernandez in the South Pacific Ocean. It requii-es protection in winter. L. paludosa, from North America, has blue flowers in July and August. It is a marsh plant, and a perennial, growing a foot high. There are several more that are semi-aquatic, as L. cardi- nalis. In fact, most of the deciduous herbaceous species are best ti-eated as half-aquatics. Paenassia. — P. palustris is a pretty little plant 6 inches iiigh ; it has white flowers in July and August. Britain ; bogs. P. parviflora, P. caroUniana, and P. asarifolia are very pretty plants, attaining the same height and having white flowers during the summer months. AU are from North America, and gi'ow in stiU water or bogs. Deoseea (Simdew). — D. rotundifoUa has white flowers, and is one of the prettiest of native plants. D. longifoUa and D. anglioa have white flowers with delicate rays of red interspersed. They ai-e found in turfy bogs, and grow but a few inches high. D. americana, with white flowers, and D. linearis, with purple blooms from June to August, are re- markably pretty plants, as difficult to grow as they are hand- some. D. filiformis is a somewhat taller species from New- Jersey, having i^urple flowers in May and June. Aldeovanda vesiculosa, a curious Drosera-like plant, grows but 2 or 3 inches high, and has white flowers from June to August. It is from Italy. Pontederia cobdata and P. angustifolia grow 2 feet high, having blue flowers from June "to August. They are North Americans. Okontium. — O. aquaticum is a curious Utfcle plant with apetalous flowers in June. Noi-th America. O. japonicum grows 2 feet high, having apetalous flowers from January to Ai^ril. From Japan. — -Geoege Abbey.] {To he conUnued.) ' SOME OF THE GAEDENS WORTH SEEmG. Name. Withington HjiU. Astle hark Alderley Park ... Capeslliorne Hall High Legh Hull... Belmont Marbury Hall ... ValeEoyal Liecarcl Hall OaUon Park Arley HaU CHESHIRE. Proprietor. J. B. Glegg, Esq J. Disou, Esq Lord Stanley of Alderley... — Davenport, Esq G. C. Legh, Esq., M.P. ... Mrs. Leigh Mis. Smith Barry Lord Delumere H. Littledale, Esq Sir P. Giey Egerton, Bart. P. Warburton, Esq Gardener. Mr. C.Allen Mr. J. Wallis Mr. Uoyle ... Unknown ... Mr. Harley . Mr.McIntire Mr. White... Unknown ... Mr. Smith ... Mr. J. Wills Unknown ... Statioji. Chelford. Cheltord, M;iccle?field. Macclesfield. Knuisford. Northwich. Northwich. Northwich. Birkenhead.; Tarporley. Northwich. DURHAM. Brancepeth Castle Lord Boyne Mr. Dale ... Durham. Auckland Castle. Bishop of Durham Mr. Miller... Auckland Cstl, Windlesrone Hall SirW. Eden, Bart Unknown ... Durham. WhitworthHall.. Unknown Mr. Modres.. Durham. Silkworth Co!. Buckworth Mr. MiUev... Sunderland. High Barns — Pemberton, Esq Unknown ... Sunderland. GLOUCESTERSHIKE. Piercefield Hall... — Clay, Esq Unknown ... Chepsto-w. The Haigh Dr. Carr Mr. Arnold. Newnham. Berkeley Caatle... Lord I'itzhardinge Unknown... Berkeley. Lydney Park Kev. W. H. BathUESt Mr. J. Witter Lydney. I think there is a pretty place in DERBvyniRE which ought not to be omitted, and quite a public one too, as it is thrown open every summer by the worthy proprietor, and is admired by thousands visiting Matlock. I W o > —J. AV. WiUersIey Castle. P. Arkwright, Esq. Mr. Thornton Matlock. Eastnor Castle , HEREFORDSHIRE. Earl Somera Mr. W. Cole- man Ledbury. NORTHUMBERLAND. Capheaton Sir J. E. Swinburne, Bart.. Unknown Blagdon HiUl SirM. W. Kidley,Bart , M.P Mr. Elliot Little Herb Tower T. Anderton, Esq Unknown CbillinghamUastle Earl of Tankerville Unknovrn Dissington Hall... — Collingwood, Esq Mr. Cook Newcastle. Newcastle. Morpeih. Wooler. Newcastle. TO PEEVENT POISOI^IKG BY LEAD PIPES. Lead is soluble in pure water. A solution of lead is highly poisonous. There are cases in which pure water, di-awu through leaden pipes or from leaden cisterns, has cai-ried a sufficiency of lead in solution to poison a whole family. But a plea of exemption may arise from those who have not pure water. To such we would reply — Impm-e water coats the lead, in process of time, with the white film of a carbonate of the metal, which is insoluble, with exceptions ; one being the presence of water containing carbonic acid. Such water, in passing through the cai-bonate of lead, takes up an equi- valent of the same, which equivalent may be sufficient to cause distinguishable colic, or set up a non-traceable source of indisposition through a whole family. We now approach the termination of oiu' simimary by answering a query that may be put by some sceptics : How is that, after all, some lead pipes do not poison water ? It arises from the fact that 314 JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENER.- [ October 20, 186S. old age lias wrought a change for the better in their dis- position; for -when water impregnated with sulphur salts has for a long time passed through leaden pipes, or has long acted on leaden cisterns, the lead becomes coated with a sulphate or a sulphide ; and sulphide of lead, being perfectly- insoluble in pure water, and equally so in water not too ex- cessively charged with foreign matters to be potable, renders the leaden vehicle perfectly hai-mless, and thus perfects it for the duties which in all other respects it performs in such a utilitarian manner. But we have a moral to append to om- subject. Are we to wait content to be poisoned until our pipes become transmuted, or what are we to do ? The remedy is said now to be easily attainable without waiting. Dr. Schwarz, a chemist of Breslau, has made a discovery that cannot be too highly esteemed in a sanitary point of view ; which is, that by passing a hot solution of the sulphide of potassium through leaden pipes, the interior face is trans- muted from the metallic state to that of a sulphide in a few minutes, at a cost too insignificant to mention. If, then, the need of some change in our water-conduit be satisfactorily shown (and we have endeavoured to do this for yeai's), and the change proposed is based on equally well-known scien- tific tniths, if water in the mines of galena, the sulphide of the noxious metal, be di-unk with impunity, let us by all means see that for the futm-e, at any rate, our pipes and cisterns be no longer silent poisoners, but made to support the character they have hitherto not fuUy deserved, of useful auxOiai'ies to the requii-ements of daily fife. — (Builder.) CONSTEUCTION OF GLAZED HOUSES FOE GAEDEN PITEPOSES. A GENTLEMAN wishing to enlarge his garden establish- ment employed a well-known horticultural buDder to con- struct a vinery and Pine-house. About the construction of the house I have nothing to say, but what I wish to solicit yom- advice upon is the gai'dener's part of the business — namely, the airangement of the houses for theii- respective occupants. I herewith send cross sections of both hoiises. The soil on which the houses axe built is a vei-y stiff, wet, yellow clay. '' Fig. 1 is the vinei-y. To make the border, 1, the old soil was taken off to the depth of 4 feet, the bottom was con- creted, a wall biult all round to keep the roots in, and drains laid to take away all superfluous wet. 2 Is a stage for plants, which runs across both ends and along the middle. 3 Are walks. 4, Upright slabs of slate let into iron posts 24 feet deep at the highest part of the ground, but getting deeper as the ground falls, to keep the houses on the level. There was about 6 or 8 inches of brick rubbish put upon the concrete for di-ainage. The soil for the border consisted of about one-third vei-y light fibry loam, one-thii-d yellow loam without any fibre, and one-third of about equal pai-ts of mortax rubbish and very rotten dung almost reduced to black mould. The soil, after being turned over and mixed, was wheeled and shot upon the di-ainage without any turfy or other loose stuff being put in to keep it fi-om washing among the drainage, and the whole of it was put in at once. Now, my idea is that in a few years the soil will wash in among the drainage and choke up the di-ains, so as to cause the Grapes to shank. There is an old vinery near, where the Grapes are much given to shanking ; and the border being sun-ounded by wet, heavy, cold clay, will be colder and damper than it ought to be if the Grapes are required to hang any length of time or if early forcing is intended. Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is the house devoted to the culture of Pines. 1 Is the pit where the Pines are plunged, the dots across show where is the bottom of the tan ; 2 are three hot-water pipes which are covered with brick rubbish, 'S, up to the dots. 4 Is a stage originally intended for Orchids, but as the house is raised so high above the grovmd level, 7, it is im- possible to keep the atmosjihere moist enough for them, none of the hot-water pipes being cast with a trough to hold water. The gardener has had some zinc troughs made to fit on the top of one of the pipes, but on account of the rims that encircle the pipes the troughs do not touch, conse- quently the water is scarcely ever wai-med ; 5 is the walk which goes aci-oss both ends and along the i'ront of the pit ; 6 are the upright slates, which are here upwards of 5 feet deep. In the present arrangement of the Pine-house the tan is fidly 5 feet deep, and that body of tan put together new would get so hot that the roots of any plants plunged therein would be quite burnt up, unless it were allowed a month to cool, and that would be a great waste of time. Besides, in a yeai' or two the tan wovdd become rotten, and the best conceivable place for worms ; they would reproduce themselves by thousands. Also, as it is a usual practice to repot Pines as early in spring as the weather and circum- stances wUl permit, by the time the sun gained power the plants would be nearly burned up, a.nd the house being so veiy di'y and not shaded at all, they woiUd soon be worthless. Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is the same house asfg. 1, but I propose making it the Pine-house. My method is to supply bottom heat with hot water. 1 Is tanner's bark used for plunging, which I October 20, 1863. ] JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTUEE ANT* COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 315 would have 2 feet thick ; not more. The bottom heat to be kept up by the pipes underneath, 3; and as screw valves are used the heat could be regulated to the greatest nicety. I propose having a tank, 4, to hold water for the pipes to run through, and to be filled or emptied at pleasure. The tank and pipes to be covered with rough slates, 2, resting on brickwork, and chinks left to be covered with old matting or some such material, and here and there a tin chimney to let the steam out into the body of the house when required. The pit to be 9 feet ■n-ide instead of 8 feet, a.s in fig. 2. Some might say that the pit would be too wide to render watering convenient, but that may be managed by leaving a little more room between the back row and back wall for laying a boai-d on the bark to walk on ; and by having a long rod to draw the foliage forward, the two back rows might be easily reached. Fig. 4. Fig. 4 I propose making a vinery ; the advantage it has over fig. 1 for that pui-pose is very great. In fig. 1 about 75 yards of clay were wheeled away. Here there is no occa- sion to wheel away any. The concrete may be laid upon the surface of the gi-oiind, and a da-ain, laid along the front of the house into a drain that runs near, would take all the superfluous water away. I propose that the border be made only inside the house at present. The slates not reaching quite to the gi'ound, some narrow ones were screwed on to make them wide enough : consequently the narrow ones can be taken off at any time, and 4 or 5 feet added to the border along the fi-ont whenever the Vines requii-e it. It appears to me that there has been such a waste of labour and such ignorance displayed in the an-angement of these houses that I am induced to write to you to ask your opinion. — W. H. [We are always ready to admit gentlemanly criticism, but we must also guard against our pages being made the vehicle of one-sided statements, and that by a second party, especially when the charges of "waste of labour" and "ignorance" are so broadly stated. On this account we suppress all names. We could not join in the charge of " ignorance " without being made acquainted with all the circumstances, as neither hothouse-builders nor gardeners can do at aU times as they like. For instance : We have long advocated the planting of Vines inside of a house. Almost aU of ours ai-e planted outside, and we know full well that the making such internal arrangements as would permit of planting the front Vines inside is not to be thought about. We believe we could as easily have a new house as alter the old one. Again : We have recommended borders above the ground level, as advocated by our coi-respondent, in all such cii'cumstances as he describes, but gentlemen cannot always be made to see as the gaidener does. Not long ago we were consulted on this very subject, and in the long run the decision come to was this — " You may go as deep as you like, I wiU give aU the labour necessary for moving earth, but I must not have a bank or border a bit higher than the rest of the ground. I could not endui-e it." And so at extra labour and expense the work was done much as oiu- correspondent describes, only after draining and concreting there were 16 inches of rubble instead of 8, placed over the bottom, and the finest on the top — a matter of more im- portance than a layer of open tm-f, as that soon rots. The drains are not shown by om- correspondent, but at that depth there is little chance of theu- being choked up. With secure drainage and walled-in all round, there would be little danger from the damp cold clay. Even in his own case he will have clay beneath his concrete, and the damp will rise, at least we have found out no means of preventing this. We once had a Vine-border made waterproof on the svu-face for four years, and yet when broken into it was moist enough. Thoiigh agreeing, therefore, that No. 4 is a better mode than No. 1, we could not come to the conclusion about ignorance, unless we knew aU the facts of the case. With such proofs of go-aheadism we are sui-prised that the position of the six pipes has been left undistiu-bed, even if the stages were to remain as proposed. Neither are we sure where the Vine-stems are to be. If in front, such a stack of pipes is rather near for them. We approve of the inside border being made fii'st ; but though this seems very reasonable, borders will no doubt continue to be made all at once, not so much fi'om " ignorance " as fi'om the fact that if not made then they will not be likely to be made at all. There are vast numbers of good employers who hate everything like changes, and who when they agree to a thing being done will insist on having it done at once, but " There must be no more bother about it ; mind that, let it be done with." Now, we confess that without further knowledge we are imable to discern the reasons why, in the Pine-pit (fig. 2), the bottom of the pit should be on the gi-ound level (but that should not be the case, — a few inches below the pipes, thi-ee, would be deep enough), and the path and the pipes so far above it ; nor yet why in the original design, or in that proposed by oui- coiTCspondent, there should be a slate in front instead of a waU to keep heat in and cold out, and which is better than a slate of ordinary dimensions whose very coloiu', unless painted whitish, renders it such a good radiator. But, though we ai-e ignorant of the reasons why such an elevation of the floor should have been made, we do not see, now that it is done, what gi-eat improvement is given to us in the section No. 3, which could not be obtained by taking 18 inches or 2 feet off the front of the wall of the pit behind the pathway, as in such pits close to a pathway the plants will be more out of the way if the i^ots are at least C inches below the front cui-b of the pit. It is true the bed in No. 3 -nlll be a foot wider than in No. 2, but that will be no advantage ; and there wUl be six pipes instead of three for bottom heat, and these wiU be placed in a tank to be filled or emptied at pleasure, involving not " ignorance," but a considerable extra " outlay of labour and expense." If the Pine-house, fig. 2, were supplied with bottom-heat by tan alone, then we would wish it to be 4 feet deep, but when heated by hot-water pipes we would prefer a concrete basin beneath them, 6 inches of rubble above them, and not more than 18 inches of tan above that. We agi-ee, then, with our con-espondent, in the shallowness of the plunging material, and also in the mode of securing from the tank a moist atmosphere when desii-able. We could also do the same without a tank, though not so easily. As to his other ob- jections they are more fanciful than real. For instance : A thin layer of tan as it gets old, is as apt to be infested with worms as a deep one. Again : Persons acquainted with tan would never think of putting it new 5 feet deep in a bed at once, without previously sweating it in a heap, and then with care in ph^nging, there is not so much likelihood of burning the roots as there would be by a strong heat in these six pipes in the tank. The burning could in either case only take place fi'om carelessness, but though the turn of a valve will regulat-e aU to a nicety, that valve may not be touched, and then there is a steamer and no mistake. Neither do we agree in the impossibility of keeping a moist atmosphere in house No. 2, because it is elevated so high above the ground level. The floor in either case may be kept equally damp. If stage No. 4 is slate, a ledge might be placed all round, and water kept on it as in a shallow cistern, and the bottom of the pots, &c., could stand above the water. We see no reason why the lower pipes should not pass through an open gutter, and be more under command than when placed under a bed. And the impossibility of 316 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AJfD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Ootober 20, 1863. getting the zinc troughs to act seems the strangest complaint of all. Because there are rims or beads encircling the pipes at certain distances, is that any reason for putting the zinc troughs on these rims, instead of ha-v-ing them of suitable sizes to be placed between them ? If so done, and if in addition they are fixed on with some thin white lead, so as to exclude air Vjetween them and the ii-on pipes, we wdl guai-- antee that when the u'on pipes are hot, and the zinc pipes supplied with water, they will give off aJ^undance of vapour. Though, thei-efore, we agree to a certain extent with our con-espondent, yet we should require to know much more before we came to the conclusion that the builder or the gardener acted in "ignorance." It is not seldom that we have seen a house built for «ne jjurpose turned to another purpose for which it was never designed. It is rather siu'prisiug that our clever correspondent has kept so closely to the track marked out in No. 2. In that and No. 3, the alteration, the bed is most unworkable. Our idea woidd simply be in such a 16-feet house, to have a 9 or 10-feet bed in the middle, 3\ feet behind for path, and the same in front ; the pipes close to the gi-ound, in front and ends fom-, two behind as returns, and to get moistm-e at command, and fom' in the centre beneath the bed, and 20 inches of tan above the rubble, with shelf at fi-ont and back. Above the pipes in fi'ont have a shelf of 14 or 15 inches, and several against the back wall above the height of the Pines ; and with such an arrangement it wovdd trovible us little whether the floor was raised as in No. 2, level witli the ground as in No. 3, or sunk below it as many Pine-houses are. Shading is pui'ely a gai'dening matter, and needed at times in one case as much as in the other, especially ii' the plants are used to it. It is most required in changeable weather. — E. P.] WOEK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. The late fine weather has, we trust, been taken advantage of for carrying ovit aU operations previously directed. Per- severance must stOl be continued in the way of hoeing, forking, and surface-stining amongst progressing crops, particularly Coleworts, Cabbages, late Savoys, and Cm-led Kale, as considerable demand for articles of this description may be expected tliroughout the season, and more especially Ln the spring. Spinach, too, must have the same attention, and the imder or decayed leaves should l>e cleai-ed away in due time. Aspararins, the haulm to be cut on a fine day when sufficiently decayed, tied in bundles, and used for thatching jjurposes. When cleaa-ing the refuse from -Aspa- ragus-beds, and the decaying leaves from the Broccoli, Kale, Savoys, &c., observe jiarticularly if there are -any fresh-used mouse-holes ; if any should be discovered, get some water at once and begin pom-ing it hastily into the hole, which wiU be the cause of starting the inmates, otherwise when the Pea-sowing season an-ives these vermin will eat and rout part out of the soU. It is necessary to have a flat brushy bough in the hand to destroy them. Ai-tichokes, cut down any remaining flower-stalks, remove a few of the laa-ge outer leaves, and cover the roots with dry litter or old tan. Beet, take up the roots careftiUy, and having cleared them of leaves preserve them in sand in the same manner as CaiTots. Cauliflowers, look well to these and Lettuces ; take off de- cayed leaves, and dress with lime; give aii- to those in frames at every favourable opportunity. The Cabbage Lettuces intended for -ivinter use will not need it so freely. ELOWER GARDEN. There should be no more delay in carrying out the neces- sary preparations for severe weather. The angry storms of autumn ai-e gathering power ; the limitation of solai- light, the brooding mist, and above all, the fall of the leaf, "are significant wai-nings of the apjjroach of winter to all whose interest extends to a garden. Whenever out-door oper- ations are interrupted, the preparation of all sorts of pro- tective materials can be actively promoted. The stock of Eussian mats should be tied, and others of reeds, straw, &c., should be made. Hardy creepers should be examined at this season, all unnecossai-y spray removed, and their secm-ity from the blasts of winter insiu-ed. The Dahlias to fie marked or numbered forthwith, if not ah-eady done. The beds to be now looked cai'efully over to see if there be any choice plants which cannot be suffered to become frosted, such to be taken up, potted, and removed to the frames. Wherever alterations are in progress lose no time in com- pleting the transplanting of evergreens, the present mild damp weather being favourable for their removal. Such parts of the lawn as are contiguous to the mansion to be swept daily to remove leaves and worm-casts, and the gravel walks to be frequently rolled to preserve a smooth surface. The present is a good time for re-an-anging the hei'baeeous gi'ound ; this is rendered necessary every two or three years by many of the free-groiving plants growing too large. Continue to clear off decayed matter from the flower-beds, and continue the planting of Tulips, Hyacinths, Crocusus, Anemones, &c. Spring-flowering plants, such as Primroses, Cowslips, Polyanthus, Iberis, Ai-abis, Alyssum, WaUflowers, Canterbiu-y Bells, Sweet WiUiams, Foxgloves, &c., to be planted in masses in the beds and borders, thus imparting a cheerful appearance diuing the winter months, and pi'O- ducing a gay effect in the spring. FRUIT GARDEN. Bush fruit may now be pruned. Let no two branches in the Black Currant and Gooseberry touch. When finally thinned these seldom recjiiu'e shortening. Follow with Chen-ies, Plums, and Apples. In pruning Apples the thin- ning of the branches or old wood should be the fii-st step. Avoid cutting out large bmbs, unless a severe necessity requires it. In thinning the young wood of espaliers, the principal points ai-e to secure a continuance of leading shoots to form a compact tree and the free admission of sun and ah- to all parts of the tree. Towards Christmas lay by the knife untU the early part of February, when the FUberts win be blossoming ; then a slight thinning of the crowded and inside spray to be given to them. The Apricots will also at that time give indications by which to know the blossom-buds, when they may be pruned. The Peach and Nectarine wiU succeed the Aprioot, and these may be followed by the Pear, and lastly by the Fig. Easpberries may now be planted and primed. Pay every attention to getting the wood of Peaches and Apricots well ripened by exposure to sun and afr. Prepare for planting all kinds of fruit trees by putting the ground in good order for the dilierent kinds. On cold stiff soils it is advisable to plant on liiUocks 1 foot or 18 inches higher than the suiTounding siu'face. The trees will not grow so fast in consequence, and will require more attention in summer in the way of mulching ; but they will form short-jointed, well-ripened, fruitful wood, which is the best preventive of canker, gum, &G., and will save the labour of resorting much to root-pruning. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. Hyacinths and other Dutch bidbs, if not afready bought, shoidd be procm-ed and potted without delay. The old Salvia splendens is a very g.iy plant, and useful for mixing among Chrysanthemums in the show-houses. Let Azaleas be tied into form as soon as can be done. Eepot strong- growing Pelargoniums. There is sometimes occasion to em- ploy fii-es at this period in the year, as much to promote an active ventilation and remove all superabundant moisture as to make nji for the deficiency of heat Irom external sources. However, assistance of this kind must be used with great circumspection, and no actual interruption given to the system previously advised, of gradually reducing the tempe- ratm-e to con-espond with the natural decline of the season and consequent Bmitation of solar light and heat. Con- siderable mischief is sui-e to ensue from an injudicious appli- cation of fire heat, particulai-ly if used at night, and this should be kept in view throughout the season. This inile of treatment applies more particularly to conservatory and greenhouse stock, which it is desirable to maintain in a state more or less quiescent. A contrary system must be put in force with gi'owing Begonias and other stove plants for early fiowering. The excitement of bottom heat is of the utmost advantage, and that, of course, can be best secra-ed to the plants by plunging them in bark or leaf-beds. PITS AND FRAMES. Abundance of aii- and light must be admitted to these structures. If any of the lights afford a pai'tial shade to the i:)lants, from the accumulation of dirt thereon, take them off and wash them thoroughly without delay. Be careful October 20, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTHRE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 317 dviring the operation of watering to apply it only to plants that require it. Remove all mouldy and decaying leaves, and keep the interior as dry as possible during dull foggy weather. W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEE. KITCHEN GAKDEN. Weathek generally stormy and wet, and work regulated accordingly. In fine days hoed, cleaned, and stirred; in wet days made bores, tallies, washed pots, mended and made straw covers or hurdles. Tying and roping Onions iu bundles formed also part of our work. Covered a bed of Dwarf Kidney Beans with old sashes, &c., but find they do not swell so fast as we should like. With a few sunny days they would be all right, and would last some time after frost came. Trapi^ed and caught slugs, mice, &c., and pricked-out a few more Cauliflowers and Lettuces. Gathered the rest of the Capsicums, and learned from a chief of the Htchen what we siu-mised last week — that the seeds of the Chilies are as good for Cayenne pepper as the outside of the seed-vessel, but the colour is so wanting in red that gentlemen would not believe it to be Cayenne. We recollect something of the badinage with which a nobleman was assailed for recommending a little cmry powder to the hard-working laboui-er before he went to bed at night, and we have no doubt it was a very good advice. A bit of Capsicum or a little Cayenne in hot water might keep off many an ailment fr'om men who go home wet, and sit in their wet clothes. We trust that the much that has been said for the last month on working men's homes wiU not end in mere bene- volent talk. Cottages often, bad as they are, are palaces to the accommodation which many lads put up with at famihoxises. Need we wonder that many of them become old men at thirty, when as horse-boys they frequently wear their wet clothes fr'om one end of the week to the other, and are not permitted a fire either to dry their garments or cook theii' victuals ? There is miich need for such matters being looked into. Only lately we heai-d of a farm under- going alterations and improvements, and the mechanics and labourers were denied the use of a fire and debarred the privilege of hot water. Is it natural to suppose that men would work with energy who, in addition to walking a number of mUes in the morning, must carry with them their tea and coffee in a liquid state in a close vessel, and if they wished it warmed must resort to a heap of lime, intended for mortal-, for the pm-pose ? To their honour be it stated, that proprietors generally have had such matters changed when it came to their knowledge. It is owing to this knowledge, and a detennination that those who work for them shall be comfortable, that gentlemen have swept away many of those filthy holes of bothies in which young gardeners were forced to reside. That there are stUl some remaining that, in point of comfort and healthiness, are far inferior to the pigsties and corn-byres in the home farms is almost entfrely owing to want of inquiry about the subject, and to a want of the matter being courteously placed before them. Head gardeners' houses have partaken of the im- provement. Nothing can be more cheering than the nice commodious homes rising in eveiy direction ; but there are many still needing gi'eat improvement and enlai'gement. Not long ago we saw a miserable back shed in which a large family had been reared that was scarcely large enough for a single man to live in. Gardeners who are privileged them- selves with healthy homes should leave no means untried to obtain a healthy residence for the yoimg men that live on the premises. The rain falling heavily, and the mud- covered rain-draggled state of many young laboiu-ers going home to miserable quarters, must form our apology for the above. We would also observe that all such selfishness as we have refen-ed to will be sure to fail in its aim. To get the most from a man when energy is most needed he must be nsed considerately in unfavourable weather. The days of setting men to nail in keen frosty weather with the falling snow bUnding them, or mowing long after the rain streaming down their backs has gurgled out of their boots and shoes, will be remembered, we trust, as belonging to a rude and barbarous period. We have seen the latter done when four-fifths of those employed, from being in lodgings, had no chance of di'ying their clothes unless what could be done by the chance sun of the following day. Capsicums and even a good Onion would be no bad thing under such cir- cumstances. FBUIT GARDEN. Gathered most of the Apples and Pears, except a few late ones of the latter against walls, as Easter Beurre and BeiuTe Eance. Forked among Strawbemes as the gi-ound was becoming hard on the surface ft-om the rains. Pricked out runners thickly in case they should be needed. Pruned and thiimed Easpben-y plants, which ought to have been done earlier. Swept the leaves gently off Peaches and Apricots that the wood may be more indurated. Did the same with Figs, and wOl slightly protect the latter out of doors. Eough-pmned Currants and GoosebeiTies so as to let more light into what was left, and will do the same with Apples and Pears as soon as we can get at them. Kept a little fire in \Tneries to dispel damp, leaving afr on as yet night and day at the back of the house ; but unless in a very fine sunny day gave no front air — in fact, have given little front air all the season, and find, that as a general rule, early afr-giving renders a great amount of air needless, especially when yoiu- fuel is a matter of consideration. The heat in the pipes and flues during the day in some places, would lead one to imagine that the gardener was running a race of heat against the sun, and was determined to beat liim. Our Melons are aboiit over, as they would require more heat than we can well give them to impart flavour, and most people are aft-aid of such fruit so late in the season. 'Where Vines are started early they should have a low temperature at first — from 50° to G0°, and plenty of moistui'e in the air until all the buds ai-e broken. Pines intended to show fruit from Chiistmas to March should now be kept moderately dry at the roots and in a drier atmosphere, but not much reduced in temperature — say fr-om 60° to 65°. Those ripen- ing should also be kept drier, and those sweUing should have a damper atmosphere, especially in sunny days. Plants grown in dung-pits should have the linings well raised about the pits, so that heat may be thrown into the walls without moisture from the dung. The diier the atmosphere in dung- pits in winter the better, as there will be siire to be enough of moisture if dung alone is used as a heating medium. No doubt hot-water pipes are the most economical and cleanliest mode of heating, merely as regards heating, but many of us find that when we give up clung for heating, we have a diffi- culty of getting dung at all; and these beds and linings were grand heaps to go to for all the general crops of the OKNAMENTAi GABDENING. Much the same as last week. Stove climbers should now be cut pai-tly back to give more light. We must except such as Bignonia venusta and Combretum pui-pureum now in bloom, but all other Bignonias, Passifloras, &c., may be pretty freely dealt with. It is safest to do this work at twice and thrice, and the roots get more used to it, and are not checked so much as if it is done at once. Did the same with conservatory climbers, and will do more by the end of the month. We have, as yet, taken up no more plants from the flower garden, as it is stiU passable ; but whenever there is a sign of fr'ost will lift what we want, place them in sheds, and treat as we wish afterwards. Gave plenty of air to all bedding-plant cuttings. The Calceolarias after being in- serted in a cold pit and watered, have had nothing done to them since, but afr is given at night, and shut out next day at 9 A.M., if sunny, and left on if shady. Swept and roUed lawns, as worai-heaps are now becoming unsightly, and will continue until we have a frost. Dahlias still good. — E. F. Method of Killing Slugs. — Some time ago M. Comman- deur. of Paris, accidentally left in his garden a pot, in which he had been making experiments with starch and iodine, which pot, imperfectly covered with a piece of board, re- mained exposed to the heat and i-ain for three weeks, wh in on looking one morning into it, he was surprised to find it tenanted by scores of snails and slugs that had congregated in it fr'om every part of the garden. He repeated the experi- ment several times, and ascertained that the emanations from iodine will attract these creatures from a considerable distance, when they may be killed by hundi-eds. 318 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. Ottober 20, 1863. TRADE CATALOGUES KECEIVED. W. H. Davis, Newbiu-y, Berks. — Desciiptive Catalogue of Selected Roses. A. Verschaffelt, 50, Eue du Chaunie, Ghent. — Catalogue of New Plants. COA^ENT GAEDEN MAEKET.-Oct. 17. The supply both of fruit and vf getablps is amply fufficient for the demand. Late Peaches may still be obtained, and a lew Melons. Of foreign Gr«pes Here is an abundance. The Potato market is still heavy, and some diseased samples are makins their appearance. Cut flowers mainly consist of Orchids, P.oses, Pelargoniums, Asters, MariRO'.ds, Violets, Mignonette, and Wallflowers. FKUIT. s. d. s. d I Apples J sieve 1 6 to 4 0 Mulberries quart Apricots doz. 0 0 0 0 Oranptes. 100 Mgs doz. 16 2 6 Filberts i Nuts 100 lbs. 55 0 75 0 Grapes, Hamburchs. lb. 16 5 0 Hambro's, Foreign 0 9 16 Unseats 3 0 6 0 Lemons 100 8 0 14 0 Melons each 16 4 0 Beans.Broad hush. Kidney i sieve Beet, red doz. Broccoli bundle Cabbage doz. Capsicums 100 Carrots bunch Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers doz. pickling doz. Endive score Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Gourds & Pumpk., each Herbs bunch Horseradish ... bundle Peaches doz. Pears bush. dessert i sieve Pine Apples lb. Plums J sieve Quinces doz. 6 too 0 12 Walnuts bush. 14 1 0 20 0 VEGETABLES. s. d. 8. d R. d. d 0 0 too 0 Leeks .. bunch 0 3 too 0 u 0 0 0 1 0 6 T 0 0 3 2 1 Mushrooms .. ...puttie 0 0 'J •J 0 Mustd. &Cres , punnet 0 2 0 0 9 1 3 Onions .. bunch 0 4 0 B 1 3 a 0 pickling .. ....quart n 6 n s 0 6 0 8 Parsley ... bunch 0 3 0 4 4 0 a 0 Parsnips doz. 0 6 0 9 1 6 0 12 0 0 Peas 0 ,1 0 n 0 8 6 Potatoes .. .. sack 0 0 8 1 0 Radi&hes doz. bunches 1 6 ?. 0 1 3 2 6 Rhubarb .. bundle 0 0 0 0 0 3 V 0 Savoys .per doz. 0 l» 1 6 8 U 0 Sea-kale . basket 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Spinach sieve 1 fi 2 0 3 6 0 4 0 0 Tomatoes 2 0 6 3 4 0 0 1 Turnips ...bunch 6 TO CORRESPONDENTS. *** We request that no one will wiite privately to the de- partmental wiiters of the " Joiu-nal of Horticiiltui'e Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of HorticiiU ture, ij-c, 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. Jelly-like Sub.->tance (H. A. J.l.-It had become entirely liquid, but JIL if • n 11™^'" """ " " Tremellanostoc, acryptogamicplantiAihe f,^= li', .^l' " "'I?"' """i frequently found on gravel walks. It is some- times called Stat-slough, it being popularly considered as an emanation from fJ^^r.^"^ OCT ViNF,s [J. r., Su'ansea).~\Ve would advise you not to turn out your Vines at any eeason. Turning out Vines is only necessary and advisable when the vinery has to be turned to some account during the ?!^n [^^ ^?^V'\^} rest-such as for forcing anything else requiring a temperature too high for Vines. If this be desired in your case, {he Vines I^!n r^ ^?7* * ^"^' ^°^ '^ '' °°' ""^o^ ^o e^PO'^*^ them unprotected to more fS ^r^f. 1 n ' ^^^ ''°™*' covering of mats or straw should be put over them ^Wh fh f > ■^'''n ''''^" weather. The best management for Vines from which the fruit IS all cut early in October, is to keep them as cool and airy as possible all the winter. The temperature f^hould not exceed 40" In the case of ^ nies that have not well ripened their wood a little nre heat and a circulntion of warm dry air should be applied immediately the fruit is cut, and continued till the young wood becomes quite brown and tirm. As soon Sim f^""^^ f ^ ^^^^ ^^-^^ ^^''''^^ b« pruned. All other particulars you w 11 learn from the treatise sent according to your wish. Sanders - On the \ ne, is pubhshed at our office. If you eend sixty-two postage stamps with your add less you can have it free by post. ^ »- fc t- Gbapb ViNts Weak (An Old Sub.sniher).-'To make your Vines stronger iS^^r'^ -J-f-"'^, ^ ^"'^'Jredweight of superphosphate of lime to the eight-feet border. This, however, would not prevent shanking. If you h;ive given air enough the cause of the shanking is deep roots or undrained roots-that ^MV^'r rV"^^ ^i""'^ ^^^ *'^*'''>" ^ ""^P- If '■'■'^"i stagnant water, a deep dram in front ol your flower-border would do mucli, as most likelv the roots are already beneath the flower-beds. We should be inclined to tr*y that and the enriching the eight-feet border for this year, m;iking the superphosphate go all over in three times or so, a month apait, choosing dry weather and watering directly. To make perfectly sure against shunking, if from Bt.ignant moisture and deep roots, lifting would be the great remedy; and in your case 11 you lifted we would advise planting inside, taking the roots out^^ide as well through openings in the wall, and confining them outside to the eight- leet space. We would secure drainage at the same time, and use fresh soil, especially in part. See account of Keele HaU as to future management. LiNCM FLAVDM CuiTiNos (M. ^.).- You had better keep the cuttings under tne glass during the winter, taking it off in mild periods, but replacing it over them in severe and very wet weather. This will protect them a little, ror the plant is only hardy in some situations. Plant them out in the beginning of April, moving each with a good ball. Asphalt Walks (^s/rr).— Asphalt, Bitumen, or Jew's Pitch, is found floating on the Dead Sea and elsewhere. It becomes very hard by exposure to the air, and its name has been appropriated to various artificial prepara- tions, all of which owe their properties to the boiled gas-tar which enters into their composition. Thus the asphalt felt is rendered waterproof 'or shed-roofing, &c., by being soaked in that tar ; and asphalt walks are most drj- and excellent when miide as follows:— Take two parts of very dry lime- rubbish, and one part co^iI-at.hes, also very dry, and both sifted tine. In a dry place on a dry day mix them, and leave a hole in the middle of the heap as bricklayers do when making mortar. Into this pour boiliog-hot coal-tar ; mix, and when as stiff as mortar, put it 3 inches thick where the walk is to be. The ground should bs dry and beaten smooth. Sprinkle over it coarse aand ; when cold pass a light ndler over it, and in a few days the walk will be solid and waterproof. Y<'Ur bark-bed must be 4 feet deep ; but will be an uncertain souice of heat unless enclosed and capable of being partially stirred and mi.xed in the event of the heat declining. The price of the "Cottage Gardeners' Dictionary " is 85. Stone Peach {L\ 5., Eampstend).^\\e never heard of this Florentine Peach "something between a Peach and an Apricot, both in taste and appearance." Probably it is one of those yellow-fleshed Peaches common in the south of Europe. You may sow the stones now and put the pots in your greenhouse. The plants will appear next spring ; but they will not be exactly like their parent, probably in any respect. To obtain the exact variety you must procure some buds. Vines for a Cold Vinery (Lex).— As you only look to the profit of their culture, there are no better Vines for your purpose than the Black Hamburgh and Black Champion. Calckolarias after Flowering (J. F. ff.).— Take the plants up with a moderate-sized ball, and place in pots very little larger than the ball, just sufficient to contain the roots without thrusting them in. Leave all the top on the plant for about a fortnight, when all the old wood may be removed, being careful to retain the young wood. They will do very well in the pit, but you must give no more tire heat than enough to dry up damp and exclude frost. Such plants afford numerous cuttings in early spring, which strike readily in a little bottom heat, whilst the plants lliemaelves bloom finely in May in the greenhouse, or in April if few cuttings are taken. When spring-struck cuttings are rooted and hardened-oflf they may be planted in nursery-beds in some sheltered situation, adding some leaf mould to the ordinary soil, putting in the cuttings 6 inches apart each way, and pressing the soil firmly round them. Water copiously, shade from !jun, and protect at night from frost with mats. Such cuttings make nice busby plants by the beginning of June, when they may be transferred to the beds, taking them up with a ball They grow more freely than plants that have had their roots cramped in small pots during the winter. VouNG Peach Trkes Unfruitful {J. F. £".).— Try what less pruning will do towards rendering your trees more fruitful. If the trees are very vigorous cut the leading shoots back but one-fourth their length, and the bearing shoots to 9 inches, and leave them that distance between each. If the wood ripens well and gross growths are not made late, we do not see what is to hinder them fruiting another year. However, should they make rampant growths which do not ripen, and are not well studded with bloom- buds, take them up, plant on the surface, and cover the roots with 3 or 4 inches of soil ; tread it tii-ra if light, and mulch the surface where the roots are to preserve them from frost and the drought and heat of summer. If the border is rich and deep it should be made shallower, 20 inches of tenacious loam on a concreted bottom with perfect drainage being the essential elements of a Peach-border. If your border is all right and the roots not deep, be content with a few fruit, as your trees will be all the better and the crops much finer in future years than when thf?y are allowed to bear heavy crops before the tree is half formed. For propagation direc- tions buy our " Garden Manual," which you can have free by post for twenty postage stamps from the office of this Journal. llooT-pRUNiNG Old Fkdit Trees [.<1 iVoyjVe). — Root-pruning will only be beneficial to trees which are over-luxuriant, and that is not likely to be the state of your old fruit trees. They probably are weakly and mosa- covered. If so, paint them over with a creamy mixtuie of quicklitne, manure the soil, and keep it mulched throughout the dry weather in summer. Quantity of Tobacco Required for Fdmioatino {R. T, S.). — Two ounces of shag, if the pit 12 feet by 8, is 2 feet in depth, and four ounces if it is double that depth. The smoke to remain in until it vanishes. It will do so in about an hour ; but sooner in a dry than damp atmosphere. The plants must be diy when smoked. Ppopaoatino Centadrea candidissima and C. aroentea {R. T, B.).— To obtain a stock keep the plants in a dry airy place until spring, when cuttings may be taken when the plants have young shoots about 2 inches long. They strike freely in silver sand if placed in a little bottom heat. Seeds sown in spring make good plants by that time twelve months. Mig(*o.settb for Conservatory (./. J. J.).— li is too late now to sow seed for the decoration of the conservatory in winter and spring. However, if you have any plants in the garden, nice bushy young plants that have not flowered, take them up with good balls and pot them in 24-5ized pots in a compost of light turfy loam and leaf mould with a free admixture of silver sand. Water sparingly and keep in the shade for a few d.iys; then pinch off the flowers. Give just enough water to keep them growing during the winter, and place them near the glass in a well-ventilated part of the greenhouse or conservatory. Snch plants bloom freely througiiout the winter and spring, hut are not so fine as plants raised and grown for the purpose. We will be in time with an article telling you how to obtain fine plants for another winter. Sanvitalia procumbcns is worth little as an edging. It would not last through the summer in good condition. Myrtle Leaves Diseased {A iSuhscriber, Ma}ichestci-}.~They are very severely infested by the scale insecL Wash the leaves and all the branches with a creamy mixture of soft soap, flowers of sulphur, and tobacco water. Boil halt a pound of tobacco in two gallons of water, dissolve in it 1 lb. of soft soap, with which 1 lb. of flowers of sulphur has been made into a paste. Leave the plant for two days after being thus washed, and then wash it in water at the temperature of 120**. Give your plants more and moister air. Six Dauk Hybrid Perpetual "Rosks {Inquirer's name lost). — Empereur He Maroc, Eugi^ne Appert, Alezandie Dumas, Caidinal Pairizzi, Madame William Paul, and Princess Mathilde. October 20, 1863. ] JOUENAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 319 Walnvt Teeb not Bearing (Zei).-You will find an article in anotlisr page replying to the inquiries you have made. Heating a Small Geeenhouse iOyni,,g).--\V='»— ■" — 65% and not lower than 60^ by night, in winter, with a rise of 10° or 15 by day is about the proper winter temperature, during which it shouia oe kept moderately dry at the root. It will need shifting again as growth commences in spring, a more frequent appUcation of water, and an in- crease of temperature ; 70' by night is not too high, whilst in so™™" it will not harm this plant if the temperature range to lo'hy night, with an increase of 10" in clondy weather, and from 15" to 25" with sun by day. It should be kept nesr the glass, or it is apt to become drawn, and must have abundant atmospheric moisture and water at the root when growing. AKOMATHECA CKrENTA SlED SOWING {M. B.).-SowiB spring in a gentle heat Keep there until the plants appear, then gradually hardeu;off and grow on in the greenhouse. Another way is to sow the seed outside, and thus save the trouble of raising in heat. The former plan, however, make.^ a plant in half the time u{ the latter. It is quite hardy, as you no doubt know, and we can say with you, '■ It is a great favourite heic," and only . needs seeing, though it is as old as the hills, to win a place in every garden. A Peaches for 'Wall in the Noetu of Ireland {Belfast).— \on will flnd Early York, Barrington, Bellcgarde, and Noblesse, do very well with you. FiiRNs Infested with Theips (Wcm)-- You cannot smoke too soon ; but do it gently, yet filling the house with smoke. Do this two nights in succession, syringing the plams the morning after each smoking ; but you must have the foliage diy before smoking, though you may and ought o sprinkle every available ^urface with tepid water twice daily, akingcae not to wet the fronds. This will surcharge the atmosphere with biimidity or moisture, and that is what Ferns require. You must not expect the first nor even the second smoking to thoroughly eradicate t'lethrips, though it will destroy all the perfect insects, yet there are eggs wh ch will hatch in r/ew days: therefore the moment you see thrips smoke at night, and continue to do this until a thrips cannot be found. Our " lem Manual would save vou much of the trouble you complain of. GNAPHALn lanatu,! Peopaoatino (Jlf. i).).-Cnttings of the young shoots strike readily in loam, leaf mould, and silver sand in equal parts, plcing hem i^ a bottom belt of T5°. They also strike freely in a green- Sous" w th a bell-glass over them, but are longer about it. Cuttings are best out in in \UEU5t which are potted-ofT when struck, wmtered along with ?he o?he"r bSg plants, and'every way having '^^'«f "^"^ "'.f ",^A°he It is rather imDatient of damp, but not more so than \erbenas. 11 the n ants are placed in a wa™ greenhouse, say .W by night, in the beginning of Februarrthey wUl grow freely and each give many cuttings in J arch ; andlf they be taken off with four joints, cut immediately below the lowest ?eaf transversely; the two low-est leaves removed, and inserted round pots n silver sand wi^h a little loam and leaf mould m it gently watered through a flnp rose and then Blunged in a brisk bottom heat of . j» to 80 , the cut- tinls wm root in a few days. Then they must be hardened-ofl' gradually, potfed into 48-sized po°s in a compost of loam and leaf mould m equal Sarts wUh a little silver sand intermixed. Such make flrst-cass edgmg f.lAiits second to no silver-edging plant in cultivation. Salvia ?ATDLA NOT FlowSrino (J/. Z).).-It is a biennial from Portugal and "hardy ^n most locaUties. You have coddled it, and n.a.ly ki ed it with kindnels Plant it in the garden border next summer m the full sun Tnd rive i?some n ce soil as a Utile leaf mould, but not strong manure, and ?hus induce f"ee growth. Its existence is only prolonged by strikmg it thus inauce "^^ ^rowi" j jjj^,. biennials and even from ,'^""'"BS,X*^\;Ve process, and the/could be had stronger and ?r«?'^owenng ?rom seedl Cuiuvatois will find nature's laws cannot be on J brokeS with Sipunity, of which your plant affords an example. If y"u'su eed^irobtaZng se'ed sow the spring Jollowing -JheoPen garden iinless vou live in an exposed situition, when the plant hatt best oe ireaieu arfhaHhaldv annual, only that it lives over the winter and flowers the iSE=lBSrr^=rssK^/->j?a! sen^f g^^srall'^^^l^sofplantafor^ to name^ T^^^^^^^ peastrum equestre. ^^^^.^^__^^_^.^.^^^-^— ^— ^— ^-^— ^— POULTRY^ BEErandTHOPSEHOLDTHRONICLE. POULTRY EXHIBITIO^^S. When this is in our readers' hands the Crystal Palace alteration in time that has done away ^^^VsWs T^Bir- this Show with the respected ^°tl\«%f ,f^,^^r^te for mino-ham was a vei? wise one, and we hope it win oe lor ^'^^e^re m^f ™unications from ^^^^J^^^^ the lack of shows in the south and south-west ol J!-ngiana •' -Tis true, 'tis pity ; 'tis pity 'tis 'tis true ; but we cannot help it. Exhibitoi. must go f^^^- fr°- home in search of foemen worthy of ^^jr steei ^-^^ the facilities of the present day, BirimnS^arn ^^l^<^'^l London now than Eeigate was a ^^H^'^J^'^^ ^^ advise our friends to enter at Burmmgham, ana we w^u them the entees close on the 30th of.this month. It is well worth while to ti-j- conclusions at «^^t ^^f^^°^^ There are giants there if you are gi-eedy of/°'J°"^jf''to buyers are thick as leaves in J^'^^'^'^^JJ'li^^^. dis'pose of your extra stof. ^ ^^t,^:^,^:: ^^ ^ctoSes It Linear' shl:\.rpe:tfd here on a lai-ger scale. 320' JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTTJRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ October 20, 1SG3. or if defeated, you gain that knowledge by compaiison which will make success easier, if not certain, thereafter. Oiir correspondence goes far to prove to us that the munber of exhibitors increases, but with many there is a shyness to encounter large shows, while they are almost careless of success at smaller ones. There is no real foun- dation for this. The pen of Dorkings, Hambiu-ghs, or Game, as the case may be, wliich has been successful over three or foui- others at the local or agiicultui'al show, may possess eveiy qualification for the silver cup at Bingley HaU. Neither should exhibitors be deten-ed from showing because there is a defect in one of the three birds forming the pen. We endeavoured last week to give a scale of defects in some breetls, marking those that were disqualifications, and those that were not. Much of the importance to be attached to such a division springs from the fact that there will not probably be, among the two thousand pens of poulti-y shown at the Ci-ystal Palace and Bingley HaU, one so perfect that it could challenge the Judges to find a defect or to suggest an improvement. Some shows sell half the birds sent to them, othei-s very few. Among the former, the Ci-ystal Palace and Bingley Hall are pre-eminent. The Palace sells some hundreds of pounds worth ; Bingley Hall makes sure of selling between seven and eight hundred pounds worth ; and these sums are scattered broadcast among poidtry amateurs. This is by far the most profitable manner of disposing of extra stock. AVe do not for a moment mean to say there is a sale for bad bii-ds, or that it is a place to get rid of decidedly inferior ones, but average fowls in good condition put in at moderate prices meet a ready sale. Sometimes pens sent for this piu-- pose find themselves first-prizetakers, and we shall be indeed glad if such should happen to any of our readers who may be induced to send by what we have written. CRYSTAL PALACE POULTEY SHOW. This Show commenced on the 19th and wiU continue tOl the 22nd. Beneath we give a list of the prizetakers in the various classes, and will give in oiu' next issue the names of the owners of commended pens, as well as a detailed report. Spanish Ciiicke.ns (Cockerel and two FuUets). — First, D. Parsley. Second, J. BigRar. Tliira, E. T. Holder. Spanish (Cockerel ynd one Pullet).— First, D. Parsley. Second, H. C. Mobbe. Spanish Cocks.— First and Second, D. Parsley. Third, C. Cayford. DoEKrNGS (Coloured, Cockerel and two Pullets). — First, H. R, Seymour. Second, Capt. W. W. Hornby. Third, Viscountess Holmesdale. Fourth, Mrs. F. Blair. DoHKiNo (two Pullets).— First, W. Dolby. Second, Mrs. F. Blair. Dorking (White, Cockerel and two Pullets).— First, Kev. G. F. Hodson. Second, Lady l\Iary Lcgge. Dorking Cocks' (Coloured and White).— First, C. Priest. SecOHd, Miss Wilcos. Third, Mrs. F. Blair. CoHiN-CiiiNA [Cinnamon and Buif, Cockerel and two Pullets).— First, Vis- countess Holmesdale. Second, T. Boucher Third, C. T. Bishop. Cochin-Chika (Brown and Partridge). — First, T. Stretch. Second, Rev. G. F. Hodson. Third, R. Adams. Cochin-China (White). — First, Viscountess Holmesdale. Second, G. Chase. Cock (Coloured and White).— First, J. Wright. Second, C. H. ■Wakefield. Brahma Pootra. — First, W. L. Barclay. Second, Mrs. Blair. Cock, — First and Second, C. Priest. Game (White and Piles).— First, W. Burgess. Second, Miss Crawford. Third, A. Ewen. Game (Black-breasted Reds).— First, J. Stubbs. Second, Rev. G. S. Crnwys. Third, S. JIattliew. Game (Brown-breasted a-id other Reds, except Black-breasted}.- First, J. Wood. Second, T. .Moss. Third, A. B. Dyas. Game (Duckwing and other Gieys and Blues). — First, W. Pares. Second, W. T. Everard. Third, T. Dyson. Game (Any variety).— First, W. Dawson. Second, J. Fletcher. Game Cocks.— First, J. Stubbs. Second. S. Matthew. Third, J. Cock. Hamudhohs (Gol(?en-peucilled). — First, N. Barter. Second, W. H. Dyson. Third, Captain Pares. Hamboeohs (Silver-pencilled). — First and Third, Viscountess Holmesdale. Second, J. Robinson. Cock (Gold or Silver-pencilled).— First, Capt. Pares. Second, H. Beldon. Hamburghs (Golden-spangled). —First, J. Ellis. Second and Third, G. Brook. (A remarkable class.) Hamburghs (Silver-spangled).— First, E. Collinge. Second, T. Craven. Third, J. Fielding. Cock (Gold or Silver-epangled).— First, H. Beldon. Second, J. Dison. PoLANDS (Black, with White Crests).- First, J. Smith. Second, H. Carter. Poi.ANDS (Gold).— Prize, J. Dixon. POEANBS (Silver).— First and Second, G. G. Adkins. Poland Cocks.— First, J. P. Edwards. Second, J. Dison. Malavs.— First and Second, N. Sykes, jun^ Ant OTHER Distinct Br-eed. — First, J. Hope (Black Hamburghs). Second, Mrs. F. Blair (La Fleche). Third, C. H. Wakefield (Cl«ve CtEur). Fourth, the Countess de Flahault (Chamois Rolands). Bantams (Gold-laced).— First, T. H. D. Bayley. Second, M. Leno, jnn. Bantams (Silver-laced j.— First, Rev, G. S. Cruwys. Second, M. Leno, jon . BANTA3IS (White, Clean Legs). — First, Miss C. H. Ballance. Second, T. H. U. Bayley. Bantams (Black, Clean Legs).— First, H. Beldon. Second, P.. Brother- hood, jun. Game Bantams (Black or Brown-breasted Reds). — First and Second, J. Muiin. Third, Mrs. Crawford. Bantams (Duckwings, or any other variety of Bantams). — First, Mrs. Crawford. Second, E. Kerrich. Third, W. S. Forrest. BANTAuCocKS{Any variety).— First, G. Biiddon. Second, J. W. Kelleway. Ddcks (Aylesbuiy).— First, J. K. Fowler. Second, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. Ducks (Rouen).— First, Sir Si. G. Gore, Bart. Second, J. K. Fowler. Decks (Black). — First, Mrs. Wolferstone. Second. Master C. A. Ballance. Ducks (Any other variety).- First, A. S. Yates. Second, Mrs. C. Baker. Geese (White). — First and Second, J. K. Fowler. Geese (Grey and Mottled).— First, W. Dolby. Second, Mrs. Seamona. Turkeys.- Fiist, W. Wright. Second, Rev. T. L. Fellowes. Orna-mektal Watebfowl.— First and Second, C. Baiter. Third, Mrs. Baker. Pheasants (Gold and Silver).— First, A. S. Tates. Second, Master K. C. Welch. Pheasants (.\ny other variety).— First, M. Leno, jun. Secund, C. Baker. PIGEONS. PowTERS OR Croppers (Cocis. any Colour). — First and Third, W. A. Bacchus. Second, R. Fulton. (Exceedingly good class.) Jifews.— First, R. Fulton. Second, W. A. Bacchus. Third, F. G. Stevens. Carriers (Cuc^a, Black and Dun).— First and Second, J. C. Ord. Third, F. G. Stevens. JSr«s.— First, E. L. Corker. Second, F. E. Else. Third, Witliheld. (Coc/is, any other Colour). — First, F. E. Else. Second, E. L. Corker. Jcris.— First, Withheld. Second, F. E. Else. Dragons (Blue).— Prize. F. E. Else. Any other Cy/owr.- Prize, — Esquilant. Almo.nd Tumblers.— First, E. L. Corkjer. Second, — Esquilant, Third, F. E. Else. Short-faced Mottles,— First, E. L. Corker. Second, C. J. W. Kudd. Short-paced Baldheads. — First, W. W. Woodliouse. Second, — Esquilant. Short-faced Beards. — First, J. Percivall. Secon?, J. W. Edge. Short-faced Tumblers (Selt-colour).— First, Mrs. Gates. Second, H. Morris. Kites, Ag.ates, Duns, and Grizzles. — Prize, F. E. Else. Jacobins. — First and Second, H, Morris. Owis (Blue or Silver).- Prize, F. E. Else. I'etloir or any other Colour, — Prize, F. E. Else. Nuns.— First, F. Else. Second, H. Beldon. TuRBiTs-First, J. W. Edge. Second, F. E. Else. Third, J. Ovens. Fantails (Whitel.— Prize, R. F. Jarvjs. y*/»e.— Prize, J. W. Edge. Bares (Black).— Prize, F. G. Stevens. Fellow or any other colour.-,' Prize, F. G. Stevens. Magpies.— First and Second, F. E. Else. Third, F. G. Stevens. Trumpeters (Black Mottled).- Piize, F. E. Else. White or any other Colour.- Prize, F. E. Else. Hunts (Spanish and Leghorn).— First, T. D. Green. Second, F. G. Stevens. Any New and Deserving Variety not before mentioned. — First, Rev. C. Spencer. Second, H. Yardley. Third and Fourth, J. Ovens. RABBITS. Longest Ears. — First, W. Griffin. Second, J. Cranch. Black and White —First. C. Burge. Second, J. Morris, jun. Yellow and White.— First, Messrs. Hail ^ Co. Second, T. Soles. Toktoiseshell.— First, G. F. GreeusiU. Second, Miss Hawksley. Blue and White.— First, C. Sellen. Second, C. South, jun. Grey and White.— First, U. Handford. Second, J. Hailes. Seli- Colour. — First, G. Booth. Second, G. Jones. For Weight.— First, J. Warner. Second, Messrs. Hall & Co. Foreign. — First, J. Langham. Second, G. Buch.uian. Judges. — Poultry ; Mi-. J. Baily, Mount Sti'eet, London, and Mr. E. Hewitt, Sparkbrook, near Birmingham. Pigeons: Mr. S. J. Cottle and Mr. F. BeUamv- PuilMts : Ma-. A. Bancks, Mr. T. H. Fox, and JIi-. S. Webster. EAST HANTS POULTEY SHOW. The Show was an uncommonly good one of its class. There were about a hundi-ed entries ; but o'wing to the unfavour- able state of the weather on both days it was rather poorly attended. In Spanish the first and second prizes went to two very good pens of yoving birds, the highly commended pen being pretty fair. In Dorkings the fii-st prize went to a pen of Whites, young birds of AntUl's old str;un, and which wei-e extremely fine. The second prize w.as awai-ded to a mag- nificent pen of Greys belonging to Mi-s. Eothery. In the Cochins there were some good bu-ds ; but the noted Mr. Kellaway's bu-ds eclipsed everything. They were in capital condition for the time of year, but hai-dly over their moult. The commended pen was not over-good. The Game birds were exceedingly good. The names of the exhibitors speak for themselves ; but the iirst prize was withheld, as they were not sufficiently good to merit it. The Hamburghs were very poorly shown, there being only two entries, both of cliickens, but exceedingly good. The Polish were also poorly shown. Mr. T. P. Edwards was the oaly exhibitor. The October 20, 1863. ] JOTIENAL OF HOETICXTLTITRE AOT) COTTAGE &AEDENEE. 321 Any other variety class was well represented by two splendid pens of Brahmas, to which first and second were awarded. iMr. C. Coles sent some very fine Andalusian chickens, but they were too late for competition. Some very good Bantams were shown, the Black Bed Game of Mr. Kellaway taking first pi-ize, and the cup for the best pen in the Show. The cock is a perfect Game in miniature in every respect, and does the o^vner credit. Mr. Nicholson's Dnckwings were very good, the cock (an old bird) having a splendid wing, in fact, a perfect Game Ductwing. Mr. Sandford showed a good pen of Brown Beds, but they anived too late. The Single Cock class was the best in the Show. The fii'st- prize birds were splendid. It was the same as that which took fii-st at IsUngtou this year. The second was also a beautiful bird. The third was likewise good. Had not the Crame been so good the piizes would have been richly desen'ed by Mr. Edwards for Polish, and Mr. Priest for his Dorking cock, both of which were above the ordinary class. All the Ducks were very fine ; and the Geese were above the ordinary standard. The Pheasants were well represented by three good pens ; and the Ornamental Waterfowl con- sisted of a good pen of White Call Ducks. The Pigeons to which the prizes were awarded were good, but the rest were very inferior. The Babbits were good. Spanish.— First and Second, Rev. T. R'. Brownrigg, Southsea. Highly Commended, J. Eyles, Southsea. DOKKiKGs.— First, H. JI. Ford, Portsmonth. Second, Mrs. Sothery, Haslemere, San-ey. Cochin-china.— Prize, J. W. Kellaway, Isle of Wight. Highly Com- mended, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Game.— Second, M. Billing, Jun., Gravelley Hill, Birmingham. First withheld. Highly Commended, H. Adney, Lympstone, Devon. Hamburghs. — First and Second, G. \V. Ranwell, Portsea. Polish.— Prize, T. P. Edwards, Lyndhurst, Hants. Highly Commended, T. P. Edwards. Any otheb vabiett.— First and Second, C. Priest, 'Worthing. Bantams. — First and Cup, J. W. Kellaway, Isle of Wight. Second, O. Nicholson, Fareham. Highly Commended, A. S. Yates, Alresford, Hants ; J. K Fowler, Aylesbury; M. Billing, Jun., Gravelley Hill, Birmingham. Single Cocks. — First and Cup, G. W. Kanwell, Portsea (Black Red Game). Second, 31. Billing, Jnn., Gravelley Hill, Birmingham (Black Red Game;. Third, W. P. V. Wallis, Portsmouth (Brown-breabted Red Game). Highly Commended, T. P. Edwards, Lyndhurst, Hant-s (White-crested Black Poland) ; C. Priest, Worthing (Coloured Dorking) ; Bev. J. de la S. Simmonds, Winchester (Spanish) ; H. Adney, Lympstone, Devon (Game). DccKs (.\ylesbury).— First and Second, Mrs. M. Seamons, Hartwell, AyJesbury. Highly (jommended, W. Wildey, Ccsham, Hants. Ducks (Any other variety) — First, J. Adams, Fareham. Second, C. Priest, Worthing. Highly Commended, Rev. D. Binney, Southampton ; E. Pigeon, Lympstone, Exeter. Geese. — Prize, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Gold and Silver Pheasants, Ornamental Watehfowl, &c, — First, — Bond, Bishop's Waltham. Second, A. S. Yates, Alresfoid, Hants. Highly Commended, W. Clark, Bishop's Waltham ; A. S. Yates. Pigeons. — First, H. Bunce, Camberwell {Short-face Black Mottles). Second, A. S. Yates, Alresford, Hants (Dun Caniers). Third, R. Sutton, Deptford (Blue Pied Povvtere). Highly Commended, E. Pigeon, Lympstone, Exeter (Runts) ; E. Body, Portsmouth (Red Pied Powtersl. Rabbits.— First, G. Jones, Birmingham (Fawn Doe). Second, J. Haile, Milibank (Grey and White Doe). Highly Commended, G. Jones (Fawn Doe) ; J. Haile (Black and White Doe, Tortoiseshell Doe). Judges. — Poultry. — Messi-s. E. and J. Smith, of Portsea. Pigeons. — Mr. Newman. Babbits. — Mr. E. Smith. SMALL BIEDS AND THE POULTET-KEEPEE. I AM vei'y glad some one has taken ixp the subject of small birds on behalf of poidtry-keepers ; for I am convinced from my own knowledge and observation that where one keeps poultry he may catch his own caterpUlai's and grubs himself, the birds — I aDude to the sparrows — never touching either caterpillar or grub while they can pick up corn, meal, &o. Having been considerably annoyed and plundered by these Utrtle pilferers, which fly completely through the wii-es of my fowl establishment, I have manufactured the foregoing pre- ventive, a sketch of -which I enclose, as it may bo of as much use to some of your correspondents as it has been to me. Four posts, or as many as may be requii-ed, are firmly fixed in the ground. A coU of spaiTOw-proof wire is then wound all round, except at one end, outside these, and pegged down to the ground. A piece of wire is then placed over the top, and con- nected with the sides and end by twisting. The door is composed of the same wire fastened on a strong piece of wire bent into a square form, and of such a size that it shall swing easily in the aperture left for it. Two pieces of wire bent into an s a^e hooked to the top, and these hang on a piece of strong wire stretched tightly (for it must not bend) across the doorposts. The fowls push open the swing door to feed, and this span-ows have not strength to do; and the desideratum of feeding one's fowls and not tha sparrows is also accomplished. After a little practice tha fowls become used to it, but it must be left open at first to encourage them. It is quite amusing to watch the sparr()wa during this feeding; they perch round and on the wire, apparently loudly exclaiming against the contrivance and their swindle, and they adjourn afterwards in despair to the toeakfast Nature has provided them with, and which, when corn-fed, they are too lazy to seek. — Lex. AAA Are the posts, s The door. c A fowl entering, D A disgusted and hungry sparrow EANDOM APIAEIAJSr NOTES. " B. & W." — I hail with pleasm-e the re-appearance of your excellent correspondent under this title, and shovild like him to give an account of the native bees of Australia. Having a near neighbour who has resided at Adelaide for thirty years and upwards, he informs me that the only draw- back to the English bees which have been introduced there is, that the bees are tormented constantly by the ants, which are more numerous and of a laa-ger size than those in England. The Hampshiee Bee-keepee. — This gentleman is quite correct in describing the admirable bee season of 1857. It was one of a famous cycle of good years (also 1858 and 1859) which preceded the three untoward seasons of 1860, 1861, and 1862 ; and even amongst the mountains in North Wales, bees collected sufiicient honey to maintain themselves during their long winters, after the three magnificent summers of 1857, 1858, and 1859. Parthenosenesis. — The Editors (the "head hitters, as the countryman caUed them), of The Jotjknal of Hoeti- cuLTtjEE, have given a very proper hint in a late Number to the writers, to be very chary of their remarks on this mysterious subject, not at all fitted for discussion, and I fully intend to reserve my opinion altogether. Two Queens at a Time in Hives. — Mi-. Lowe seems to coincide with me, that at certain seasons an old and young queen may frequently be seen in one hive dm-ing the whole of the swarming season. I myself have frequently seen two queens, and once three, on the outside of nearly half a peck of bees which had lain out in most unsettled weather in June, when swarming had been retarded. Me. Woodbtjkt.— I am glad that Mr. Woodbuiy parted with the extra queen mentioned, as her death would cer- tainly have followed soon. At the same time, although his case seems an exceptional one, I am of opinion where large hives are separated by "supers" or other divisions, like Nutt's old boxes, it is quite possible an impenmn %n %mpeno might hist foi- a couple of months after swarming tune, or even much longer. Again, Mr. Woodbm-y shows his can- dour in describing the fight which took place on his sendmg one of the queens to Mr. Fox. HoNETXiEW.— This sweet exudation rarely comes on the trees in August except in extremely hot dry seasons, when nearly aU the best honey flowers have been prematurely hastened to seed. In 1846, it appeared to be very abundant between the 10th and 30th of June ; in 1859, it appeared plentiful in parts of June and July ; and in the last summer in July, as mentioned by me before. But I must own that 322 JOURNAL OF HOE.TICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENER. [ October 20, 18G3. I have noticed in several seasons the wild bees (the Bombi), of various sorts have been much more eager after honeydew than the hive bees, particiolai-ly that on the young oak and beech trees. — H. W. Newman, Hillside. LIGHT-COLOURED POLLEiS". FoK the past fortnight and more I have been surprised at the great activity amongst all my stocks. Every day when the temperature of the air permitted them to leave tlie hives, they have, especially in the early morning, worked on something, but what I am not able to guess. They retui-n to their hives literally covered with a very fine white powder, just as if they had been roUed in dark flour. They can-y in at the same time pellets of farina of a dii-ty white. At first I thought they visited some flour-mill or baker's shop. I opened several, and was sm-prised to find the honey-bag contained a bright transparent fluid of a very high flavour. I know of no flower of any sort in bloom within a mile of my house, except some poor beds of Mignonette, which they now pass by ; besides, the pollen of Mignonette is of a bright red colour. They fly in the du-ection of some chalk pits more than a mile away, where I have fi-om a dis- tance observed some yellow flowers in bloom. I shall be exceedingly glad to be infonned &om what this honey and farina is collected. — E. Fairbrotheb. [Our own bees likewise return dusted with white powder, and carrying loads of light-coloured pollen. We believe that this is the result of their labours among the great numbers of fuchsias now in bloom, from which also some honey is collected.] AN EXPEEIMEKTAL APIAEY. In a former ai-ticle I said that " an experimental apiary can never be a thoroughly prosperous one." In enunciating this truism, I fear that some of your correspondents have misunderstood the object I had in view in making this statement, as weU as misapprehended and misapplied its meaning. I had no wish to condemn legitimate experiment, far less to put a stumbling-block in the way of science. Ex- periment, I know, is often the torch which lights up the dark recesses of the unexplored world, discovers and reveals to us its liidden arcana, and dissipates and dispels the mist and gloom of a thousand years. Experiment is at once the discoverer and the test of truth; it is the key which unlocks to us many a treasure in the vast storehouse of creation, and opens up to us a solution of many a qu St. Jdde. Hare huntinp; beRins. Wuoclcoclv arrives. Evelyn born. 1620. Gard, 22 SoK. AFT. Trinity. All Saiktp. Kfompfcr died, 1716. Bot. Average Temperature Rain in lust 36 years. Sun Snn Moon Moon Moon's Clock after Sun. Day cf near London. Rises. Sets. Rises. Sets. Age. Year. Day. Night. Mean. Days. m. h. m. h m. h. m. h. m. s. 55.1 38.8 40.9 22 46af 0 42ar4 58 4 SO 7 15 16 59 300 54.G 3C.6- 45.6 21 48 6 40 4 35 5 40 8 16 16 4 301 53.8 3.').! 44.5 16 SO 6 33 4 20 G 43 9 17 10 8 302 55.2 3S,2 4C.7 17 51 6 36 4 11 7 39 10 IS 10 12 303 54.9 38.3 40. 6 19 53 G 35 4 8 8 24 11 19 16 15 304 54.4 38.0 46.2 211 55 6 32 4 LO 9 2 0 20 16 17 305 54.3 37.8 46.0 16 67 6 31 4 13 10 32 0 21 16 18 306 From observntinns taken near London during the last thirty-six years, the aver.-jge (lav temperature of the "week is 54.6°, and its nitrht temperature 37.6°. The greatest heat was 67^, on the 29th and 30th, 1833, and 31st, 1854 ; and the lowest cold, 22°, on the 2nd, 18C0. The greatest fall of rain was 1.06 inch. -X.* THE GLADIOLUS AND ITS FAILUEES. rCH it is to be liopcd that the in- quiry now going on in the columns of The Jodenal ofHokticultuee regarding the dis- ease or causes ot failure in this popular flower, may lead to some practical remedy or preventive ; and if every one whose bulbs have become diseased during the past season would re- port the particu- lars of his case, we might then be able to ascertain if the failure has arisen from causes that are preventible, or from some constitutional debility or cause over which we have little control. The supposition of a correspondent, " T.," at page 288, is certainly not an unlikely one ; indeed it is utterly hopeless to expect a good bloom — or, in fact, any bloom at all — from a bulb which has been deprived of half its juices before planting time, and the best growing period gone ere it was planted. An old Potato planted in .July or August does not produce so good a crop as one put in the ground in April ; and in like manner the Gladiolus, though it will flower in the same season that it is planted if the ripening of the bulb has been well perfected the year before, yet, if the planting be delayed until there is no longer time for flowering as well as perfecting the bulb, the latter cannot take place, and a flowerless growth will be the result in the following season. On the other hand, are there not cases in which well- ripened bulbs have failed, after commencing their growth apparently under favourable circumstances, and all has gone on well until a certain period, when they dwindle and die ofl' ? If this be verified, we must look to some- thing else as the cause of failure, and perhaps we may discover its origin and some means of prevention. My own experience with the Gladiolus has not been such as to enable me to give a confident opinion on the causes of failure, as I have less reason to complain of it than most people ; and these cases might in some measure be attributsd to the unfavourable position the plants were in. I will, however, give the cases which probably will interest those who, like myself, are anxious to know why perfect success cannot always be depended upon. In the first example, in the spring of 1861 I bought a quantity of Gladiolus gandavensis, and planted the Jsulbs No. 136.— Vol. V., New 81111E8. in a bed that had been prepared for the hardiest varieties of Indian Azaleas. It was mostly leaf mould. The situation was a dry one, and they received no artificial watering. They were jjlanted in patches of three bulbs together amongst the olher plants, some Japan Liliums being in the same bed ; but these Lilies evidently wanted more moisture, although they flowered not amiss. The Gladiolus, however, flowered well, and I did not disturb the bulbs that autimin, but they remained as they were and flowered well in 1862 also. Circumstances also pre- vented the bulbs being meddled with last autumn, one of the principal being a carelessness whether they did well or not, as the brighter colour of G. Brenchleyensis ob- tained for it a decided preference, so they were left to flower the third time where they were first planted, which they did tolerably well, thoiigh evidently recpiiring to be taken up and replanted on other gi'ound, as the flowers were smaller. I may observe that some of the same kind of Gladiolus had been grown elsewhere before the above were planted, but being taken up annually their case does not ret|uii'e to be noticed. I find, however, that G. gandavensis is much hardier than G. Brenchleyensis, as some of the latter which were left out last winter in the same manner as those already spoken of either fell a prey to insects in the ground or did not posses.s suffi- cient vital power to resist the decaying influence of the long winter's damp. More than three-fourths of those left in the ground during winter fafled to make their appearance in the past season. The ground, I must observe, was a deep loamy fresh soil fai- from being so diy as the other, at the same time not wet ; in fact it was what might be called good land. The bulbs flowered well last year, and what remained flowered well again the past summer; but I imagined the bright scarlet of the original was in a measure impaii'cd or lessened so as to be, in many of the spikes, no better than G. ganda- vensis. Might I ask if this has been the case elsewhere ? Some other bulbs planted in another part of the garden turned out variously, some of them well, and others grew away until about the period when the flower-spike ought to have made its appearance, when they withered away. This was sometimes the case with a whole patch, or sometimes one or two bulbs would so succumb and the third flower tolerably well, which circumstance leads me to think that the disease, if it is one, is not infectious. I beUeve, however, that we have had fewer failures than have been met with elsewhere, but I cannot yet give a decided opinion on their cause, and have only recorded them for the benefit of others making comparisons, and whose experience I hope will duly appear in the pages of this periodical. Although I have had some opportunities of seeing this plant at other places, I confess that I am unable to give any opinion on the subject of soils as affecting it. In the Manchester Botanic Garden I saw two excellent beds of it in the best possible health and promising to bloom well, as the spikes were well formed and some of the flowers ready to open when I saw them in August. These, I have no doubt, flowered well, I did not perceive any failures No, 787.— Vol. XXX., Old Sekiet," 326 JOUBNAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAKDEI^B. [ Octeber 27. 1S6S. bevond one or two which might be accidental, the general Ke still beino- green, and Mr. Findlay. the mtell.gent feor there, jn'stly expected they woidd be very gay in a frw days aftenvardl The soU was the da.-k sandy one «.mmon in the district; the situation was unfortunately tornear the city for the welfare of most trees and shi-ubs c^ltivlted there: and they were evidently suffermg much and yearly becoming worse as the amount of coal smoke kent "increasing on all sides. ,■ ^ ■ ,. i „,i :„ The proverbiaUy rainy character of the district lad in the eai?y part of the past season been m some degi-ee reversed ami May, Juni, and July, were said to have been much di-er than usual, but the situation of the Gladiolus- beds in the garden was not one where the plants were likely to suffer much from that cause. As I have stated they looked weU thou-h they fell short of the vigour and robustness Tf o-rowth^of another l,ed I saw JB the same neighbourhood, but^farthcr removed fi-om the smoke. ,, ^ , At Foo- Lane in the suburbs of Manchester, Mr. Cole, one of the most successful exhibitors of plants at the London and other shows, has established a nui-sery, and amongst other things was a bed of G. Brenchleyensis in the most piWsing condition I ever «^^. «>%f°lf g^^'^'^S ^^eeP Sreen to the very tips, and the knotted spikes of bloom momised to be Very stm-dy and thickly set. Mr Cole attributed his success in a great measure to the ap- plication of liquid manui-e, which he had given at various times during the season, and there could be no doubt what- ever of the beneficial effects it produced, as an adjoining bed of the same kind which had not been so treated, was much less promising although at the same time looking weU. The sod was much the same as that m the Botanic Garden, a black soil containing more sand than is usually met with elsewhere, and I believe of sufficient depth to meet aU the requirements of vegetation. It was certamly richer m unctuous matter than the peaty sods of some districts famed for Bhododencb-on-growing, although the latter seem not unfitted to the growth of Gladiob, but I had not an opportunity of witnessing both at the same time. More recently, however, I saw m one of the Bagshot nurseries a bed "of Gladioli, which of course had done flowei- ino- some time and were ripening down, but they appeared to have flowered pretty well. I must confess having heard great complaints about the plant in some places, and it would be weU if all the facts bearing on the cases where fadures have occurred could be laid before us, and if the evd be found to arise fi-om bulbs imperfectly ripened in the proce^bng season, some means may perhaps be adopted of avoidmg it for, to use an old trite saying, a knowledge of a disease is halt its cure, and this case need be no exception to that rule. ' J. EOBSON. sphere of our close hothouses is yet a field where there is much to be done. It should always be borne m mind, how- ever that it can only be after many experiments and long practice that any of our highly concentrated salts, such, for instance, as muriate of ammonia and hartshor n, can be applied properly and with benefit. — D. T. AMMONIA IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF HOTHOUSES. The following is Mr. Thomson's reply to several inquii-ies upon the suliject. , -, -i, No doubt the atmosphere could be charged with ammonia in many ways besides that of applying guano water to the pipes, or sprinkUng the sm-faee of the soil or floors ol hot- houses with the same. The solution formed by pom-ing water on o-uano holds in suspension the ammonia and a very small proportion of the phosphates. The organic matter sinks to the bottom : hence the application of guano water need not be a du-ty operation, there being no necessity for applying the sediment to pipes or flues, whde at the same time there need be no waste, as the orgamc matter may be appUed elsewhere as a manm-e. No doubt sulphate of ammonia, which is readily soluble in water, might pro- duce the same result ; so would ammoniacal water ti-om the •rasworks, fi'om which ammonia in the very concentrated form of hartshorn is now obtained. I am incbned to thmk that the application of guano water is safe and wholesome as well as the least troublesome way of producing ammonia in the atmosphere of a hothouse where tender plants ai-e grown. We apply it regidarly here in om- Pme-pits m a very diluted form, yet sufficiently strong to be discovered whenever the atmosphere of the pits reaches the olfactory nerves. I fully believe that the composition of the atmo- NEW EOSES— No. 2. In resuming this subject, so fertile in grumblings and complaints as all gi-owers for siile can bear witness, I may observe that another commentator, while viewing the subject from a different stand-point, amved at very much the same conclusion. My object in refen-ing to it is only to show that the same sort of feeling is pervading the minds of a great many rosarians at the present day, and that it would be a gi-eat boon if a stop could be put to this wholesale French invasion to which England is sub- jected every year; but the temptation is one which even om- own raisers cannot resist. To have two or thi-ee Eoses. by which, perhaps, the owner makes ^200, is for any one. but especially a French nurseryman — who, whatever his Emperor may do in war, certainly does not grow Koses for an idea, but for a pretty good consideration— a thing which it requires uncommon vutue to resist The day may come when a change may ai-ise, but tdl then we must, I suppose, •■ bear those ills we have." And now to resiune the revision of the lists. GRANGEK. 25. Baronne PeUetan de Kinkelin ! beautifully shaped and imbricated ; red, shaded with piu-ple. 2G. Kate Hausburg, cup-shaped ; lively rose. "7 Leopold Hausburg, red, shaded with brown and pui-ple. 28 Louis Van Houtte, globular ; carmine rose. 29. Sffiui- Oppenheim, carmine red, shaded with purple '^°M^Grano-er is the raiser of that fine Rose Maui-ice Bern- hanlin, and I shoidd think, therefore, knows what a good flower is • if so, then 25, albeit its outrageous name, is likely to be an acquisition. So is 20. 27 I shoidd doubt the colour of 28 Sounds well. 29 I should not consider much, it is hardly likely that flve good Koses should come from the same raiser in one season. LACHAKIIE. All honour to the raiser of Charies Lefebvi-e well does he deserve to have that flue Rose Fran^'ois Lacharme called after him ; and as a modest man, as no doubt he is, he sends out but one Rose this year. ■, i. j , -n, -„i„f ot 30. Gabriel de Peyronney, fiery red, shaded with violet at the centre; full, and of fine form. «- „v-„^ I think tliis may be regarded as Ukely to be an effective Hose. TOirVAIS. 31. Centifolia Rosea, rose colour. 32 Jean Touvais, pm-ple rose, shaded with crimson. I do not think that either of these promises much, and we never have had much from M. Touvais, so I should decidedly mtu-k these out of the list. PEKNET. 33 Gloire de Sacr^ Cojiir (what a name! who but a Fienchman would ever have thought of it?), flesh rose, shaded with red and pui-ple. •„„„ii„ ^^,^a^a 34. Marechal Canrobert, Uvely rose, occasionally shaded "^ m' PeSl't's name is unknown on this side of the Channel, I think, and I should, therefore, have mucn hesitation m trusting his description. OGEB. 35. Charlemagne, Hvely cheiTy red. 30. George Senior, brilliant reddish-crimson. 37 Madame Malherbe, blooming in clusters ; lively rose. 38 Marquise de Bi-ug.~-3, crimson velvety red. 39. Michael Ange, lively reddish-purple. ,=? f^.. M. Oger has the singular modesty to chai-ge only ISf- for his Roses ; but as we have not had any Roses that I recoUect oms tha are worth much, I can hai-dly giv^ him the credit of believing that it is aU modesty, and his Eoses, therefore, would be put in my discarded lot. October 27, 1868. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 327 DUCHER. 40. Benoit Comet, lively red, lighter in the centre. 41. Le Mont d'Or, shaxied carmine red. M. Ducher is the raiser of Robert Fortune, Deuil de Prince Albert, &o., but none of his Roses have taken a hijifh place amongst us, and I therefore feel inclined to doubt their excellence. DAMAISIN. 42. Louise Damaisin, not very full, white; blooming in clusters. 43. Madame Maeker, whit«, slightly tinged with blush. A seedling of Mere de St. Louis. 44. Marechal Suchet, rosy carmine ; lai-ge aijd fuU. 45. Senateur Reveil, brilliant crimson red, shaded with dark purple. M. Damaisin has given us some good Roses, and we may, therefore, hope that one or two of the above may be good. 42 Seems too thin. 43, Mamma is no very great lady, and I should, therefore, look rather to 44 and 45 as the best of these ; the latter especially, if description is worth anything, seems as if it would be worth grooving. LEVEQUE ET FILS. 46. Madame Derreak DouvUle, tender rose, edge of petals white. This is the only Rose that the raiser of that fine Rose, Due de Rohan, has his name attached to this autumn ; but I believe he sends out some others also. This hardly seems as if it would add to his reputation much. LIABAUD. 47. Ai-lt's Dufour, large and fuU, piuTple, shaded at the centre with violet. 48. Madame de Cairrobert, large and full ; white, slightly tinged mth lilac. Neither of these have colours that are likely to take with us, and I should not, therefore, consider them as likely to be acquisitions. PORTEMEK FILS. 49. Madame Soupert, very full, imbricated ; white, slightly shaded with blush, passing to pure white. 50. Pierre Netting, very full and globvdar; very dark blackish-red, slightly shaded with violet. Portemer is so honest a man, and so good a judge, that I should hope one if not both of these Roses would turn out to be good. 50 I fear is of too dull a colour to suit us, unless the description be intended to signify a different sort of flower to what I imagine it to be. BOYAU. 51. M.ademoiseUe Adele Lauuay, beautifvil rose ; blooming freely in autumn. This sounds well, and as new flowers of a rose colour are scarce, I sliould hope this may be au acquisition. GONOD. 52. Vicomtesse Douglas, cupped ; beautiful rose, reverse of petals silvery. This is another of those two-coloured Roses which I do not think will ever be favourites with us. Since I wrote my notes on Duchesse de Morny, I have received a plate of it fi-om M. Eugene Verdier, and it does not certainly give one very enticing notions of what it is likely to prove, or alter my opinion that there ought to be no contrast between the upper and under side of a Rose. FONTAINE PEEE. 53. Souvenir de Marechal Serrurier, beautiful vivid red, back of petals wliitish. The same remark applies to this as to 52. I have now waded through these long lists, and given my opinions such as they are, as I have gone along. Which, then, are likely to be the best, the crCme de la crvme ? I notice that M. Margottin admits besides his own into his select list, only twenty Hybrid Pei^petuals. These are Abbe Reynaud, Alpaide de Rotalier, Alphonse Belin, Amiral La Peyrouse, Baronne PeUetan de Kinkolin, Eugene Verdier, George Paul, George Prince, La Duchesse de Morny, Leopold I. Eoi des Beiges, Louis Van Houtte, Louise Da- maisin, Madame Soupert, Madame Victor Verdier, Madame Gabriel de Peyronney, Marechal Suchet, Pavilion de Pregny, Paul dpose the teaching of the learned dictator in my humble way. The communication I need not say never saw the light of day, Ijut from that time to this I have seen nothing to remove but a great deal to confii-m my opinion that the spongioles are renewed annually, or the roots themselves die back for the most part between the fall of the leaf and the flow of the sap in spring. Nine out of every ten deciduous trees and shrubs with which I am ac- quainted, and I have seen them by tens of thousands in a nursery, have no spongiole ready to collect nutriment from the soil on the return of warmth und increased light. There ai-e exceptions to this rule, of wliich the Apricot is one ; and I may say that the failure of Apricot trees in orchard-houses is more attributable to a too late top-di-essing in autumn than any other cause. The Apricot emits fleshy roots in autumn, which run a long distance without sending out side br.anches or fibres. They remain active throughout the winter, and a quantity of small fibres are protriided simultaneously with the opening of the Apricot blossom. The Vine is another exception. It, like the Apricot, emits fleshy roots in autumn, which appear to sci-ve no purpose beyond that of extension. Neither is their destiaiction of any extraordinary moment to the next year's development. Whether the Vine emits those fleshy protrusions to repair the waste that is continually going on by the stems being kejit in a dry atmosphere, or for affording the means from which many minor protrusions or fibres can radiate in the succeeding summer is not for me to say, but if they ai-e left alone they often traverse a great distance without sending ©ctober 27, 1863. ] JOiniNAIi OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 333 out any i-amifications duiing winter; but simultaneously with the expanding of the foliage, all along their length at every inch and even less, a quantity of small fibres appear, and these, unlike the fleshy root itself, do not travel far before they become forked or branched, and then quickly branch again, penetrating throvigh the soil like a piece of fibry net- work, the end of each fibre absorbing nutriment fi'om the soil with great force. These fibres do not arrest the pro- gress of the fleshy root, but it continues to lengthen, and it takes a dii-ect course imless it comes in contact with a hard substance which it is impossible to penetrate, when it runs along the svuface of the obstacle, and when clear of it again continues its journey outwards from the stem and traverses a gi-eat distance. I have found them 60 feet from the stem of a Vine. The fleshy roots, then, are the prolongation of the main roots, and are distinct from the fibres. They do not die annually, nor even at any time unless injured or destroyed by a bad soil. From them secondary roots having the same properties as those from which they take then- rise, branch at long or short intervals, and from these fibres ai-e like- wise emitted. These fleshy roots are more abundant in rich soil than in poor ground, whilst fibres ai'e more abundant in the latter. In very rich Vine-borders the root-stems seldom emit anything beyond the thick fleshy roots, and the fibres that are sent out by them in tui-n are of short diu-ation ; but they rai-ely emit any. — G. Abbey. (To be continued.) SOME GAEDENS WORTH SEEIISTG-. DERETSHIKB. Name, Proprietor. Gardener. StcUi07i, Sudbury Hull ... Lord Vernon Mr. A. Dick Sudbury. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. Finedon Hall V,'. M. Dolbcn., Esq. ... Mr. Archer Iligbam Ferrers Woulton Grange. I. Nethcrcote, Esq. ... Mr. Wells Konhampton. Bulwick Hall ... T. Trjon, Esq Jlr. Kidd Wanslord. — C. M. Martin, Noythanvpton. [We have omitted ovx coiTespondent's remai-ks because he had entii'ely lost sight of what we stated when we com- menced publishing these lists — viz., that they are only the gai-dens which those who favour us with the lists consider will gratify if visited. Such lists may be added to by others, but are not open to criticism. — Eds. J. of H.] YORKSHIRE. Newton House... Mrs. E. Russell Mr. Naylor LeemingLane Thorpe Perrow.. Mark Milbanke. Esq... Mr.W.Culverwell Bedale, Swinton Park ... Admiral U;ircourt Unknown Bedale. Brough Hull Sir \V. Lawion, Bart.,.. Mr. Burrows Catterick. Aske Hall Earl of Zetland Mr. Miller Richmond. Kiplin Hall Countess of Tyrconnell. Unknown Scortun. ■Wood End Earl Ca'bcart Mr. Law Thirsk. Sedbury Pirk..., G. B. Gilpin, Esq Mr. Duncan Itichuiond. Bolton Hall Lord Eolton Mr. Denuiwg Leyburn. GAEDE]N'EES' BENEFIT SOCIETY. Much lias been said about a Gardeners' Benefit Society being established in various parts of the country. I think that it is an institution very much wanted, but I should like to know if it is to be a society for gardeners alone, or if a man who is both gardener and groom, and gardener and cowman, and he who has a small garden to look after, and clean knives and forks, and make himself generally useful as well, would be admitted into the Society as gardeners, or not admitted at aU ? I think that this ought to be thought over. It was stated in your Journal the other week that some gardeners say that they cannot be admitted into the Society without breaking some of the rules, because they have not served a regular apprenticeship. If such is the case it would be a protection society, as well as a benefit society. Why not admit all who get their living by gardening, no matter whether they have been ai^prenticed or not, so long as they bear a good character, and are in a nobleman's or gentleman's garden as gardeners i — J. F. Dawson. [We know of no valid reason why any the classes men- tioned by om- correspondent should be excluded from pai-tici- pating in the Society's benefits. Certainly we never heard of any intention to confine its membership to gardeners who have served an apprenticeship. A gentleman is now em- ployed arranging for the formation of the Society, and we hope soon to see it announced publicly. — Eds. J. or U.] CALCEOLAEIA CANAEIENSIS. Will some of your correspondents be kind enough to impart then- experience respecting the above-named plant ? I was in hopes that Mr. Beaton's verdict would have made its appearance before this, but am afraid that his long illness hiis prevented him from going on with the trial as he otherwise would have done, and of which he wi-ote during last season. I am Sony to say that the plant was anything but satis- factory here, and, so far from being an improvement on Aurea floribunda, it was quite the reverse. Perhaps it may be as well to state that we never knew what a failure was with Aurea, and during last winter a great many plants stood the weather without any protection whatevei-, and nothing could possibly look better or bloom more freely than the whole stock up to this present time; whereas canariensis, after much attention in watering and cutting off the flower-stalks for some time after they were planted out, has failed to produce anything like a good show of bloom, and the foliage looks almost as yellow as the flowers. But the worst is that, one after another, the plants died off, so that now we have large vacant spots instead of weU- filled beds. I do not think it free enough in growth, or capable of standing the different changes of weather suffi- ciently to become a good general bedder. Nevertheless, I should like to hear from others who have tried it how it turned out with them before I discard it altogether. — James Harris, Gardener to Eev. A. Morgan, Machen Rectory, near Newport, Mon. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S MEETING. The October Meeting of the Entomological Society was held on the 5th inst., the chair being occupied by Francis Pascoe, Esq., V.P., P.L.S., &c. Mr. W. W. Saunders, P.E.S., gave an account of the ravages committed by the caterpillars of the Dart Moth, Agrotis segetum, on his crops of Turnips near Eeigate; the insects at fii-st attacking the plant just below the sur- face of the earth, so that it is impossible to discover the enemy without removing the soil, and the mischief not being manifest by the leaves flaggiug and tm-ning yeUow until considei-able damage has been effected. He had not been able to apply any satisfactory remedy, nor cUd he think those proposed by Mr. Curtis in his work on " Fai-m Insects " either practicable or available. Mr. Stainton gave an account of the rare Moth Anesychia bipunctella and its transfoi-mations. He also exhibited specimens of a gigantic species of Tortricidae (T. grandse- vana), the caterpiUars of which, when about to undergo their change to the chrysahs state, form tubular cases of silk with an outer coating of sand on the shores of the. Baltic, and after strong gales of wind are left standing upright to the height of 2 or 3 inches. Professor Westwood gave some fiu-ther details as to the mode of i>reparing dried caterpillars by the German ento- mologists. He also exhibited specimens and drawings of the small stingless honey bee of Australia, fii'st communi- cated by Major Sabine and more recently by Mr. Woodburj", together with portions of its waxen nest, and hving speci- mens of the larviB and perfect insects of a new species of Nitidulidaj which feed upon the wax of the nest. He also exhibited some of the ciu-ious cases formed by the cater- pillars of the Psycho heHcina of Siebold. These cases are small and spiral, being composed of sUk with a fine external coating of particles of earth, so that they resemble minute sph-al shells, or stiU more nearly the excrement of small bii'ds. He also exhibited the cases formed by SUo paUipes, a small species of Caddice Fly, being a tube of silk with muiute pieces of stone fastened on the outside so as to exactly resemble the finest mosaic work. From one of these tubes he had succeeded in extricating a parasitic Ichneumon, which proved to be the rare and singular Agriotypus ar- matus, which must possess the instinct of descending into the water in order to deposit its eggs in the tube of the 334 JOXJENAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ October 27, 18««. Caddice Fly, on the laxvae of which the Ichneumon larvse subsist. Blr. Bates and Mr. Cutter gave an account of the destruc- tion of large quantities of the seeds of different species of Palms collected in Brazil, and sent to this country as articles of horticultural commerce, especially the nuts of Maximiliana regia, by the larvie of several kinds of Bruchidte of large size, belonging to the genus Caryoborus. In some instances the destruction had been so great that nearly the whole cargo had been destroyed, as many as five larvse being found in a single nut. Mr. J. Young sent a notice of the annoying habits of the House Ant, which had been found infesting a house in Guildford Street in great numbers. Some years ago the same insect had been brought under the notice of the So- ciety, when it had been found that the most practicable manner of getting rid of the pest was to lay down smaU pieces of meat in its burrows. These were very soon covered with the ants, which might be easily destroyed by dipping the meat for a few moments in boiling water. Dr. Baly read a memoir containing descriptions of a con- siderable number of new species of phytophagous Beetles of different genera, natives of India, Australia, and the islands of the Eastern Archipelago. Mr. Stainton gave a condensed account of the entomo- logical portion of the proceedings at the recent meeting of German naturalists held at Stettin, under the presidency of HeiT Dohm ; when Dr. Loew read a memoir on the European Trypetidae, illustrated by figures of large size taken by pho- tography. Herr Kraatz communicated a memou- on the European species of Melolontha, with the view of proving that many species found in different countries of Europe, hitherto considered as distinct, were only geograpliical mo- difications of the well-known Cockchafer Melolontha vul- garis. Dr. Suffrian read a notice of fungi parasitic upon insects ; Dr. Hartig on a new genus of Aphidce found at the I roots of Fir trees, having the tibia' and tarsi united. An account was also given of the satisfactory results of the Prussian expedition to Japan, with the view to acclimatise the Japanese variety of Bombyx luori, the common Silk- worm, which was found to be much hardier than the Chinese variety. ONCIDIUM SAECODES (Flesh-like Oncid). Nat. ord., Orchidacese. Linn., Gynandiia Monandria. Syn., Oncidium Rigbyanum. Specific character. — Plant an epiphyte. Pseudo-bidbs some- thing cylindrical, 3 inches long. Leaves 2 or 3 inches on the summit of each pseudo-bulb, erect, lanceolate. Flowers paniculate. Scape 1 foot long. Sepals and petals bright lemon-yellow, varied in the centre of each, with numerous dark crimson spots. Labellum large, spreading, two-lobed, somewhat ciu-led at the edges, bright yeUow, spotted with dark crimson. This Oncid was purchased by Mr. Henderson, of Pine Apple Place, London, at a sale of the nursery stock of the late Mr. Rigby, a plant-grower at Brompton. It was sent through a friend of Mr. Eigby's to Brompton in 1842, and is a native of BrJizU, but by whom it was first discovered, we regret to say is iinkno'svn. It il(iwers freely in March and April in .a jjot filled with peat, wfU drained, and placed in a cool part of the house, and requires the same treament as other Orchids.Jl , 4 October 27, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTtTRE ANB COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 335 WOEK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GABDEN. In this department proceed with such operations as drain- ing where required, laying Box edgings, gravelling walks, and the trenching and surface-stirring of all spai-e ground. Broccoli, the laying down of this useful vegetable should be attended to at tlus season, and to be eftectually done, no part of the stem below the leaves should be left exposed, because the green part of the stem close to the leaves is much more likely to be destroyed than any other pai-t of the plant. Besides this, there aa-e many other things to put in a state of security ; a full supply of Endive, Cardoons, Lettuce, Cauliflowers, &c., for winter use, must have protection, and what has been ah-eady stored, whether roots or fruits, should be defended from frosty air. Young plants in frames, such as CauKflowers, Lettuce, &o., require protection, but only against frost and too much humidity : if the tempera- ture be never less than 32°, they should not be shut up at aU by day. Celery, earth-up while the weather is favour- able, if severe frost should set in some long litter should be laid over the most forward crops. Where Carrots, Parsnips, Salsafy, and Scorzonera, are hable to injiu-y ti-om grubs, or from a low, damp situation, the sooner they are taken up and stored away the better. The Beetroot to be taken up without being bruised, the tops carefully twisted ofl' above the crown, and to be stored away in any di-y i^lace, free from frost, in sand. Onions, the autumn-sowing to be hand- weeded, and the ground slightly stii'red about them. Shalluts and Garlic may now be planted in light and di'y soUs, other- wise they had better not be put in tiU February. ELOWEE GARDEN. The approach of winter calls for much precaution, as well in defending tender things against its rigour, as in planting bulbs and tubers, and dividing herbaceous plants before hai-d ft-ost suspends aU out-of-door operations. The display of next spring and summer depends greatly on what is already done, or doing, at this season. The present is a most appropriate season for observing the ditferent colours, shades and tints, that the foliage of trees and shrubs assumes. A pleasing picture could be produced, when planting, by disposing them singly or in groups, either to harmonise or contrast mth each other. Chrysanthemums against walls, fences, &c., to have their shoots closely tacked in, and mats to be in readiness to protect them from the first sharp fr'ost, which generally lasts only for a few nights. Tree leaves to be collected at every favourable opportunity, and pitted in some convenient place to rot. Leaf mould is an excellent substitute where peat soil is not easily procm'ed, and of great service when mixed with the soU in the flower-beds, and for the culture of »^ij^ats in pots. Proceed with new an-angements activoiy, particularly if they involve the re- moval and planting of trees. Now is the time for plant- ing-out a good stock of spring flowers, especially, if a gay spring gai'den is required, abundance of early Tulips, and Crocus in variety. Do not forget hardy Cyclamens, those planted near the edges of borders will have a fine effect. Hepaticas, too, should be remembered ; the colours, red, white, and blue, form a pleasing variety, and when they are well established they flower most abundantly. Snow- di-ops. Winter Aconites, and Dog's-tooth Violets, play im- portant parts in early spring, the bloom of these comes some- times through the snow, reminding us that the spring is re- tm-ning. Standard Roses to be gone ovei-, and all the long shoots to be shortened, reserving the general pruning to the spring. The roots of Dahlias to be allowed to re- main in the ground as long as they are free from danger. Polyanthuses to be examined, and soil put to the roots which are emitted from the collar ; seedlings to be gone over and fastened, for when small the large earthworm often pulls them up. Pansies to be divided and planted out for next season's bloom in richly-prepared ground. The beds for Kammculuses to bo ridged up. The sooner the Tulips are planted the better, for it planting is deferred till the bulb begins to elongate the leaf- spike the roots are injm-ed. FEUIT GARDEN. The planting of fruit trees, either in the open quarters or against walls, may be commenced at once. In preparing new BoU for planting fruit trees, endeavour to keep it as dry as possible, and choose a dry day for planting that the soil may be in a favourable state to facilitate the growth of fresh roots during the autumn. The present is also the most favourable time for rebitiag and root-pruning such trees as are too luxuriant and requfre checking to induce a fruitful habit. It is preferable to lift the trees entirely, unless they are very large, to cutting off the roots as they stand. Most wall trees would be more fr-uitful were their roots confined to borders of very limited extent, compared with what is generally the case, and by which the balance between the roots and branches would be admsted without the trouble and expense of lifting and root-pi-uning. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. The period has now arrived in which the increasing scarcity of flowers in the beds and borders should be compensated for by those consei-vatory flowei-s peculiar to winter, and by retarded summer things — such as Euphorbia jacquiniaiflora, Gesnera zebrina, Achimenes picta, Gesnera oblongata, Linum trigynum, Plumbago rosea. Begonias, ic, all of which should have a temperature of 60" by day, rising to 80° in sunshine, and sinking to 50' at night. The Chrysanthe- mums and Veronicas, with Scai-let Geraniums, Heliotropes, Salvias, &c., are now interesting and useful flowers. A little gentle forcing wiU bring the different varieties of Epiphyl- lum truncatum in bloom ; and with the addition of late Fuchsias, Pancratiums, AmaryUis, Mignonette, Neapolitan Violets, &c., a tolerably gay appearance may be maintained until the time when forced plants will be more generally available. Some of the most useful ijlants dm-ing winter and spring when subjected to gentle forcing are the different kinds of Khododendi-ons, Belgian Azaleas, Kahnias, Ac. As these have now perfected their buds, plants well furnished with buds can easily be selected for the piuiwse. When selected, to be potted in peat in as small pots as the roots can be put into ; to be then watered, and placed in a pit or vinery, to be brought forward as requfred, beginning with a gentle moist heat, and increasing it as they progress towards blooming. W. Keane. DOmGS OF THE LAST WEEK. kitchen garden. Laid down Broccoli, taking out a spit or two of soil on the north side of the stems, pressing the stem down and covering with spits of earth fr-om the south side, so as merely to leave the head of the plant exposed and that facing the north, which will prevent the flower-head within being acted upon by a bright sun immediately after a sharp fr-ost. The keeping the head all the neai-er to the ground affords an opportunity for placing a little clean Utter over it, if the fr-ost should be severe. Did much the same with a lot of Cauliflowers, but will most likely put some under protection, as after all there is scarcely any Broccoli that eats so sweet in winter as Cauliflower. We have sometimes kept it very well by taking up the stems of the plants when the heads were a little more than half-grown— that is, we cut the jJants over just above the roots, removed all the leaves except a few small ones round the head, made the stems firm in damp soU, as thick as the heads would let them stand, in a dark shed, then put 3 or 4- inches of cfry sand over the moist eai-th, and gave air except when frosty. The last-used stems would often have roots protruding from the sand and ground. When they had been in such a position some months, the heads that were at aU advanced would be apt to open and sprea<;l a little ; but this could be neutraUsed by placing them in cold water for a few hours before takmg them to the kitchen. Even if a Uttle open they make a nice dish when cut into bits, so as to resemble Sproutmg White BroccoU ; and if used before much frost has partly acted on the latter, and made it sweeter and more tender, the Cauliflower wUl generaUy be the better of the two. Planted out some Cauliflowers under glasses. Potted a few to be kept under protection. Pricked out more m readmess ; also pricked out Lettuces for spring use, and wUl lift some to put in a frame for winter use. Took up most ot the Carrots, the weather being fine and mUd, and the sun very strong for the season. Cleared out most of the Cucumber-beds, as we do not cai-e about them now. Now is a tickUsh tuue for those plants that are to bear aU the winter. In such weather as 336 JOUENAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDEKEK. [ Octoiar 27, ims. this they will bear very freely and show freely ; but pradence wo\ild say. Allow hai-dly any fruit to sweU as yet, for the more that do so the more exhausted will the plants be about the new yeai-, when most probably they wdll be most re- quired. A country and a metropolitan demand are also very different things. Amongst fashionable people Cucum- bers may be often more in demand in the country in the winter than at any other time ; and if wanted for home supply at that time they must be had, whatever the expense for fuel or heating material. It would be next to folly to grow at that season for the London niai'ket, as Cucumbers only come to be valuable when the parties are given in town after the assembling of Parliament — at least that used to be the case when we lived in London ; and that is the answer to a correspondent who wished to supply the London martet with Cucumbers in wduter and lived 15U miles distant. We have no data by which to judge of the consumption of Cucumbers in winter in the metropolis : but judging from the price at which they then sell, and the high price in February, March, and April, we come to the conclusion that there must be only a limited demand in winter. The fine sunny days that have taken place have swelled our late Dwarf Kidney Beans wonderfully, and there is now abundance under the protection of some old sashes and frigi domo, fr-om seeds sown in the open ground. Cleai-ed away a portion of the leaves from Sea-kale, to get it to rest more quickly, and mowed do-rni part of Asparagus that was get- ting broivu. Artichokes (Globe) in over-stiff soil are stai bearing fr-eely, and before much frost comes we wiU. put litter round the stems to make .-dl safe. Several times during the season we have tasted these rough-looking cus- tomers and cooked in dift'erent ways, and the decision to which we came was that, though very nice, they were a good deal like flint soup that was none" the worse for a little meat, rich gravies, and the best of spices. However, the Artichoke is more than ever becoming a fashionable dish, cooked in various ways ; and if the gardener wishes to be sm-e, he had better protect his plants if not with litter, which we tliink advisable, at least by moving the sm-face of the sou and throwing some spadefuls of eai-th, in a crumbly state, round the stems. If the gi'ound in which a planta- tion is to be made (and now is a good tune, and the very moving wiU deprive the frost of its power), is well trenched and stagnant water prevented, the yield in summer will be greatly increased by giving abundance of manure water. When so treated the fruiting stems branch out with young fruit amazingly. We have seen recommendations to cut down the stems when the fii-st heads are removed; but this .we consider wasteftil practice, as, with due nourish- ment, plenty of heads wiU come fi-om every joint on the stems. Jerusalem Ai-tichokes may either be taken up or_ left in the gi-ound. We never yet knew them to be injm-ed by frost. Now would be a good time to make fresh plantations in rows 1 yard apart, and 1 foot apart in the rows. We look upon them as most valuable as covers for pheasants. The heads make good cover, and the roots are dug up by the birds and relished in winter. The Mushroom spawn out of doors, covered with litter, is doing well, and wai want moving in order to take out what is done and leave what is imperfectly done a little longer. Full details of making, Ac, were lately given. The crops in the open shed are still good, and the spawn is running nicely in the first piece in the Mushi-oom-house, showing little bits like pin-heads. As we have put a lot of manure in the house for successions in winter, and the weather is so warm, the house at present is left open day and night. Our house is a very simple one. A bed on each side ou the ground floor, or below the ground level, and a shallow bed on each side above. These make altogether some seven or eight suc- cessions. The upper shelves are generally filled first, and then the beds below them assist them vriOi warmth before they are spawned. In the second and tliird succession there was about one quarter of lumpy fibry loam incorporated with the cb-oppings and rough litter, and when well beaten and spawned a thin casing of sheep-di-oppings was placed on the surface. The thu-d piece is not yet soiled, but will be done in a few days. We find the small-bit system the best when maniu-e is so scarce as with us. FRUIT GAKDEN. Here the work has chiefly been confined to sweeping the leaves from Cherries, Apricots, Figs, and Peaches, pruning roughly all trees on walls and bushes, as Pcai-s, Apples, Ciu:i-ants, &c., finishing clearing Strawberry-beds, making preparations for planting as previously reported, giving plenty of ail- in fine days to late Grapes and a little at all times. Gathering the last of the fruit and looking after that in the fruit-room, and we ai-e sorry to say that Pears are ripening too fast, and not keeping so weU as we expected. Vines commenced forcing must go on slowly. Now is the best time to replant or lift the roots of fr'uit trees that are too luxm-iant to be fruitful. Early Vines that had shanked fruit fi'om deep borders should now have theu- roots raised nearer the surface into fresh soil and drainage be attended to. Figs outside will soon want a little protection. Eoutine much the same as previous weeks. OKNAMENTAL GAEDENINO. The flower garden would yet be beautiful but for the leaves, which no cleaning will prevent being spread over the lawn. There ai'e beds of Excellence Geraniums as fine as ever a bed could be in August ; huge rows of scarlet Salvia fulgens, some 31 feet in height, and rather more across — dense masses of scarlet, than which scai'cely anything can. be more showy after August, but the tree leaves, yeUow and all coloui-s that strew the ground eai'lier this season than usual, spoil aU the chai'm by theu- reminders of desolation and decay. We have as yet only tiiken up a few things, but will take up a few of the best variegated Geraniums, &.C., without much delay. A few particular ones we will cram singly into GO-sized pots ; but the great majority we save wUl be taken up, all the leaves removed that are larger than a threepenny -bit, and then we wiU stuff them as thickly as they can stand, like faggots, either in boxes or large pots. We rather prefer young plants to these, unless when the pyramiding of beds is resorted to. The only thing we have cleared off are several large groups of Hollyhocks. We have cut them down about G inches from the gi'ound, and if we find time we mil daub the cut parts with a little tar, to pre- vent the water entering and resting there, and so injuring the roots. Of stems we had several cartloads, and we used to char them, but as at present we are scarce of fermenting material (and what there was of it was chiefly short grass, a few leaves from sweepings of the pleasure grounds, and a little litter from whence the horse-droppings had been removed, for Mushi-ooms, which altogether would have heated too violently like a puff, and then cooled as rapidly), these Hollyhock-stems were cut with a bill over a block into lengths of about 9 inches, and well mixed with the short grass, &c., and the whole will make an excellent heap of fermenting matter, wliich wiU retain heat for a long time. Many things taken up will be the better of a Uttlo ferment- ing matter, to set the roots going. Some Scarlet and other Geraniums taken up are thus helped. All the earth is shaken fi-om the roots, the roots trimmed a Uttle if long and sti-ag- gling, and then squeezed into a small pot, aU the leaves bigger than a sixpence being picked off. The soU must be neither wet nor dry, but dampish, no water given, but the tops dewed with water in a sunny day, the pots plunged into a little heat, and air left on, except when frost comes. Such plants will generally be well rooted in a fortnight, and then may have even more air. Even those placed in the faggot style in bundles woidd be all the better of a little heat at the roots to encourage the making of new roots liefore ivinter. Unless very scarce and valued kinds of Calceolarias, it is of little use taking up the plants, we woidd far prefer taking cuttings of every little bit, and placing them in a cold pit or frame. Such old plants, however, are useful for cuttings in spring ; but w-hy not make them now, when the cuttings take up no more room than the plants, if so much, and hardly one will fail if time is given them ? This last is the whole secret. A Calceolaria cutting wiU need as many weeks to strike now in a cold place, as it would need days in spring with a little bottom heat. A little bottom heat is all weU enough in spring, but if much or any is given now, its ten- dency will be to enervate the constitution of the futiu-e plant, and those plants struck cool in autumn wUl be hardier, and bear more cold, and bloom earher than those struck in spring, because they may be planted-out much earlier. Spring-struck Calceolarias ai-e best for autumn blooming. As a proof of the mOdness of the autumn, the Calceolaria amplexicaulis is the finest in Ijloom, as fine nearly as in October 27, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 337 summer, wliilst the rains have injured the others very much. This is the tenderest bedding Calceolaria we have met with. In some sunny days we just dusted the Calceolaria cuttings with a slight skii^ from the syringe, making a quart of water, in the form more of mist than syringing, go a great way. In one very simny forenoon, as Thiu'sday, we gave a slight shade for a few hours. One rule is, to give no shade, if a cutting will stand light without flincMng ; but it is a good plan to prevent the leaves flagging, whatever plan be used. The error generally committed, is to leave shading longer on than it is roquii-ed, and that tends to di-aw the cuttings upwards, and make them weak instead of encourag- ing them to root downwai'ds. Repotted a lot of Pelargoniums that were cut dovm late, and had broken nicely, shaking away the most of the earth, trimming the roots a little, and repotting in fresh soU, and into the same-sized, or smaller pots. Proceeded with potting other things as we could get at them, as Cinerarias, Primulas, &c., and gave the latter more room, as they were so thick as to lose a few of the lower leaves. Would pot some stove plants, but have not as yet a place for them. We may here remark how circmustances frequently alter cases and the treatment to be adopted. A fnend of ours generally beats us in beds of Scarlet Geraniimis early in the season. We as regularly beat him later in the summer and autumn ; in fact in the late autumn he will teU you he has no beds. The reasons ai-e quite on the surface. We can as yet keep no reserve ground for stock, and until late in autumn we are chary in taking even cuttings from our beds so as to mar the outUne, and this we wish to keep until the leaves wUl spoil the lawn do what we will. October then is pretty well ended before we take up any of the finer plants we wish to keep, and frequently in iiue autumns it is November. Now our friend's employers leave him in August. A ton or two of pots is no object ; and no sooner are they gone than smack goes the knife in the beds for large cuttings, and ere long lots of Scarlet Geraniums are taken up, potted, and put in the open air to gi'ow, root, and be hardened before the end of autumn, and to be wintered so as to be tiu'ned out large plants by the 20th of May. We could not house enough of these large plants if we had them, and we could not get them at present if we wished it, without injm-ing the appearance of the grounds when visitors are the most numerous. Those situated like our friend may plant their beds early with bulbs after giving them every necessai'y prepai'ation. Those wlio wish bulbs to follow after such late-kept flower-beds should plant the bulbs, as previously directed, as soon as possible in a temporary border in plenty of rough leaf mould, and lift with balls and plant when the beds are ready. — R. F. Rose Reine db la Pape. — M. Eugene Verdier gives me the following reason of this name. There is in the neigh- bourhood of Lyons a little hamlet named La Pape. In this village M. le Mareohal Canrobert possesses a beautiful pro- perty, and M. GuiUot desired to dedicate his Rose to Madame Canrobert ; but perceiving that he had been forestalled, and that another Rose of M. Liabaud's bore this name, he decided to give it the name of "Reine de la Pape" in honom- of M. Caui-obert, but this fact imfortunately no one knows. VEGETABLES. COVENT GAEDEN MAEEET.-Oct. 24. But little change has taken place in the supplies both from home and abroad, which still continue amply sufficient; for the demand, and the prices quoted are nearly the pame as tho>e of the two previous weeks. Fruit of all kinds, bnth hothouse and ont-doors, is plentiful. Of Apples there is an abundance from the continent and the Channel Islands. Filberts are rather more scarce, but the prices remain the sanic. The vegetable market is well stocked, and 5ome Kidney B&ins are still to be had. Cut flowers mainly consist of Orchids, Koses, Pelargoniums, some Camellias, Verbenas, Stocks, Dahlias, Ageratums, Violets, and Mignonette. FRIHT. Apples i sieve Apricots doz. Figs . doz. B. 1 0 0 55 1 0 3 d. 61 0 0 0 6 9 0 0 B s. o4 0 0 75 5 I 6 14 4 d 0 0 0 0 0 e a 0 0 Mulben-ies... Oranges Peaches Pears .... quar^ ICO doz. .... busli. p. 0 S 0 5 2 3 4 1 14 d. 8. 0 to II 0 12 0 0 0 7 6 5 0 6 0 7 0 2 6 20 A 0 0 0 n Filberts i. Nuts 100 lbs. Grapes, Hambarehs. lb. Hambi-u's, Foreign Muscdts Lemons 100 dessert ... Pine Apples.. Plums ...i sieve lb. ...J sievo 0 0 0 fl Melons each Walnuts bush. 0 Beans, Broad bosh. Kidney ^ sieve Beet, red doz. Broccoli bundle Cabbage doz. Capsicums 100 Carrots bunch Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers doz. picklinf^ doz. Endive score Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Gourds i: Pumpk., each Herbs bunch Horseradish ... bundle 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 1 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 a. 8. 0 to 0 0 1 2 I 2 0 8 8 0 2 0 12 0 1 0 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 Leeks bunch Lettuee score Mushrooms pottle Mustd. & Cress, punnet Onions Imnch pickling quart Parsley bunch Parsnips doz. Peas bush. Potatoes sack Radishes doz. bunches Rhubarb bundle Savoys per doz. Sea-kale basket Spinach sieve Tomatoes ^ sieve Turnips bunch 0 3 too 0 1 0 0 2 0 4 0 6 0 3 0 6 0 0 5 0 1 6 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 8 TO CORRESPONDENTS. *^* "We request that no cne will write privately to the de- partmental wi-iters of the " Journal of Horticultm-e, Cottage Gai'dener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and erpense. AH communications should therefore be ad- di-essed solely to The Editors of the Jouriud of Horticul- ture, 4'<;., 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. Ripening Gr»pfs im Gree.nhouse (A. S.)— No periodical makes greater efforts or mcuis more expense than we do to give full and accurate answers to questions ; but, it we remember right, though you forget, yrm wrote to us under the signatuie" W. K. J.," and we replied at page 258, giving soine general suggesliims, but adding that to answer ail your questions would till an entire Number ot our Journal. If you will ask two or three questions on points in which jou are still in doubt we shall readily return the best inloriuation we can obtain. Gloxinias— Tempekaturr .^nd Ven'tilatton of Plant otove (A Svffolk Subscriber). —If you wish the Gloxinias to flower next summer or early in autumn, the sooner their growing season is brought to a close now the better by drying them off gradually. If yon do not mind their being late next season again you may keep those yet to flower in a dry stove heat and they will probably flower yet. As the bulbs become stronger you may expect larner blooms, all olher things being equal. Keep the temperature ot your little stove for tender Ferns, Begonias, ic, :it 60° al night, a:id give air by day as soon as the heat rises to liSJ^ or 70^ ; but do not open the ven- tilator and window in front lioth at the same time, es|iecially on windy dijys, or you will create a . old drannht, which such plants do not like. Sixty degrees with fire heat is heat suificient, and during severe frosts 53® is preferable to a high temperature from an over-heated flue. Protecting Camellia Blooms from Wet— Grapes Damping or Mil- dewing (6'. /r. C).— You may erect a temporary tramework over your Camellias and cover it with calico steeped in oil. This will protect from wet anil admit a good deal of light at the same time. It will be impossible for you to keep Grapes free from damping and mildew alter this season in your vinery without any means for artificial heat. The fire in the adjoining house and leaving the door open v. ill not be sufficient. Ittakesgood manage- ment to keep Hamburgh Grapes in winter, even with a flue or hot-water pipes. Why not heat your house? You will then obuiiii better Grapes and be able to keep them. The sooner Hyacinths are potted now the better, espe- cially if to be forced into flower early in spring. But you may leave them nnpotted for two months yet and still get tbem to flower ; but it is much belter to pot at the earliest opportunity after r his date. Pdkple King Verbena Cuttings (S. .B.).— From the appearance of the leaves you have sent there is no doubt you have a severe attack ot mildew. With the management ordinarily pursued in the autumn jiropagation of Verbenas, this variety is almost invariably attacked wiih mildew more or less. Try what the eft'eets of keeping them rather dry at the root and dusting them over with flowers ot sulphur will be. This is your beet remedy. It is now too late to strike cuttings of this sort to have any pros- pect of their being of much use to you. It is not too late, however, to lift some ot your stubby plants and pot them in well-drained pots, using light rich soil and placing them in a cold but not damp frame. If you can lilt with little balls of earth all the better. In striking it another year try it in a cold frame and begin early in .August, and after the cuitings are rooted prick them oft into light bnt rich soil in well-drained pans or eight-inch pots, and you will And mildew will not be so tronblesome aa when they aie struck in hotbeds. Roses for Pegging-down in a Bed (.1/. 4- Z.).— Most, if not all, the Hybrid Perpeluals do well this way, and ilie Moss and Gallicas particularly well, while the China and Tea do not answer when pegged-down, as the shoot often ceases growing after being thus laid down, and the plant sup- plies its place by pushing up fresh shoots from the collar. It is needless to mention varieties, as all the Hybrid Perpetuals, excepting those which strongly partake of the Tea or China origin, do well so treated. Moss ON A Lawn (Jf., CTr:/f.ffoi/se).— During the monthsof February or March scr.tch as much ot the n.oas off the lawn as you can with agarden rake or light close-toothed harrow, carrying the rahings away. Then silt .'Oaje good dry mould through a three-quarier-mcli sieve, and noxug same Grass and White Clover seeds with the mould so sifted, give the ground a good sprinkling with it, not so much ^is 10 kill the Grass plants left on the lawn, but enough to partly destroy the moss and lava foundation lor a fresh growth of Grasses. The addition of a little soot to the mixture will, per- haps, prevent the small birds destroving the Grass seeds. When the growing season sets in your lawn will appear liKe a closel.-sown corn field, andjwlU wait frequent rollings to get a good bottom. In general a little moss on a lawn is advantageous, and in winter is prefer.able to the multitude ot worm casts a turf on richer ground is often infested with. 338 JOUENAIi OF HOKTICXJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. [ October 27, 1S53. Stoking Awat ArHlMENEs (A Country Curate).— KWoyi them to remnin in the pots they have been grown in, which may be placed in any dry place free from frost until the time for startinK them again. Tin.-* is better than keeping the bulba in a drawer after shnklng the earth from them. Kitchen Gakden Infkst»i> with Swos (/rfcm).— As yon say you have need lime and soot very freely with little benelit, a slight dressing of salt may be used, or an application of gas water niav he of service, or, better still, burninn or charring the surface will destroy'the depredators. A very sharp winter is, however, a partial remedy, and if the ground were once or twice turned over during the prevalence of frost, it would tend to thin these pests. At the same time search out for them in all theit haunls, as Box-edgings and all other permanent plants afford them shelter. ■Weed on Gravel Walks (IK. X).-Most likely the -weed you complain ol is Saglna procumbens, which is very like Spergula pllilera. Shadv walks are sometimes troubled with it, but as you say your edgings are of Box, it is Dot prudent to use salt freely. A careful application of hot water might be of service, as that would kill the surface -weed and would he s'l much cooled ere it reached the roots of the Bo.x as not to be likely to do them much harm. If the walk is becoming discoloured and dirty, breskine it up and turnmg it will be of great service, and a fresh surface will be exposed which will lie less likely to be intealed with weeds lor a time. Of course, a good rolling will be necessary at the time of tuining the walk. AnNOTT SrovL BoiLEii (J. n. S,).-Your letter was not prepaid. Upon toe receipt ol two postage stamps your queries will be answered. Naming Plants {Alumniis).~1he best work to aid you is Loudon's " Jincyc!opn?dia of Plants." Alocasia Loivh [J. O. Sim).— Your question was answered last week, We cannot understand your question about Cerastium tomentosum. Bkitisii Fdngi (Ooerdessel).~T>T. I'.adham's book is a go(^d authority, and Illustrated with coloured plates. We are making arrangements for publishing a series of cuts with descriptions in this Journal. TRANSPLANTING Co.M.MON FvRZE (7rn//-;)o v)-— This is far from being a good plant to transplant, as we hare known more than one case like yours when the plants all died or only a small fraction of them grew. The best way IS to dig the ground and sow the seed where it is to be grown, or if you did try a lew plants let them be very young, sowing some seeds beside thsm as well. Fast GiiowiNO Hedge (Jrfem).— Nothing grows faster than Privet, and if mixed with Quickset, which in.aintains a greater amount of rigidity, it makes a tolerable good fence, and will grow in any situation. Hakuv Peaches and Nectarines for a South Wall f/i/i'm). — The Barrington, Royal George, and Noblesse arc good Peaches. »nd the Late Admirable a useful one in the autumn. The Elruge, Newington, and Ked Koman are good Neclarines.and will generally succeed against a smiih ^S -. V" ■• '"'"«'•''■>", find more infonmilion on fruit-growing in the Fruit Garuening for the Many- published at our oltice, which would be forwarded io you lor six postage stamps. Glass f"R I'lis (/iniWo,,).— Hartley's rough ph.te is the best of all gla^ss for hmticultural purposes. It prevents scorching, does not obstruct J'^^L"?' , , '• } '"'' ."'•'•'"afy fc'a'den purposes we prefer twenty-one- ™lit ,',,.l? '"'"^ "l"" ,"^' '" "">" °"'"- ''''»'<■■> S'^«' 's o'ten so bad in 2^^H L t f„ L """■';<='' •'" 1'™''""' it. but when the quality is good it is as fhe pr?ce of the oTlier?" '»'^°'J-<'"^-">^'=«= ^heet glass, though one is double n,o*f^,nrp'n*. ^„","" ^""^"^o Off (A. B.).-Sometimes from excessive Hme f.f,' r„f ;■"' »*'"^f "' ""^ "o" '" "hich they grow; at other ^^?en i, i „" ^'!*™n'' ^<^»^ and "gbt. Sour soil Occasioned by im- hall ^P^p/f^ '"" '"■'"'"" ""^ '""" "^'»"- ^'-^ ■"'ter imagine you hudstn?o^P .t V *"'", ^.'""' P"""" '" »"""»", which would cause the then, fhr 1 ,^ 1 '?' °' "'S'' »""'' ""'' "°^ "'■'' '^e sap is impelled into H»T, P ni ,?,';.;",'-' ""","," °^' '""■'>""' 'heir structure cannot adnlit the sap. kentfrelwin, „l^ " July supplied with water the buds would have been ,hrh rtf Jifi? "^ ',"''' "'"' "'" i'' *''"' i^ *'"""1. Too much water goiges flower hnlh , ," f =''/'?'' """ "*" •^"'""^ ">™ <" >"> 'l'""" "« : '>"= elabo ^tedbv I i^l, v»""t ^°"""} ^^' ""= "^'^ending sap after it has been S„ ^^If.l''. ,! ,:" ''i'T^-"- 1 "o ""X-'h water and a too dry soil are studiously to be avoided in Camellia culture the soil at all times beio!^ kept neither very wet nor ilr^- K,., K i.i,r ., ' " *'" i^'oes ueiug Kept neuiier ve sudden checlLu-"""^.""''"'- ^"'^'""- "'•ainage and the avoiding of at one time n'n "'""^ ""^ ""■ ^"y dfy or very moisl, much ventilation ?old a few dav , ',!' at ancher, watering wiih tepid water one day and CamdlWs e^oami ■; • "'"' "^'"^""'^ "^ heat and cold, are all banelul to the camellia s expanding or retaining its buds. sMndents w.f.fif*'*! ':f'';'")-- You do not say which scale it is. Corre- c™munie.trn ,""""'"">' ''™' "» '""• «<■' ^ "'"'<' ''Pecitic reply to their 3wn Hc ,1 '''' ^''\'"" '"" P='t»'>la™ on the question asked. If it be and. hp,?l»i, ■"'"*'' ""= ph.ntswith water heated to I40«, laying the pot the nhn im "" "" ""E '" "'^ ""= «»'"• ^ofs not reach the roots. Turn rub them »i,PI','"''''? ""^ ''''"=' 0" "" ^i'^'*'- Then whilst the stems are wet water as hltop,."^'''''' """^ "''en that is done syringe them with the Jtemsar! nf,, • ,''''^'1' ""= ''™ '' 'h^ «'■>!' is not sultlcient, and if the 8 of>f m .^ ,',"^""'""'"h "'em with Oishurst compound at the rate of eouallv eJh ^"^ '™ Ol water heated to 140-. Solt soap at the same r.te is sS on n. """"C, "," is the white fc:de brush the parts infested with a D?nt »„.,„, ''™''^°'' '°™' ™""'"' sPi'itinf turpentine one gill (hslf a floweVro 1,1 K " I""*' S^t'^h snuff a quarter of a pound, and half a round is not s^L ? '"■; V"" •"!" i*'!! I't^^lJ- bug as well as white scale, but it ihose in.. . , T''''', " '" ""^ '''*^"- """'5' "'o "inch infested, pick off nlams Tn , ' "J ''" ""' '■°''""' P'""'" °"-°° '"'»"y leaves, and place the 5.3 .h!,t ,1 ''•"'e-f''™'; P"!"- to its being earthed for Cucumbers, taking .owp ,.'.■'"" 'snot too rank. It the steam does not cause the eyes .a I dnn ". ""'■ '°° '■'"'''■ '" ""'"' °' >•"">■ h-'vingno such convenience ar»hi^ ?'■■' """■ f"'"'" '" '^"^^ ""<■• Hpe d'Hob^'. Duchess of Sutherland, Eugene Appert, G»>aiit de.s Battailea, Gi5ndral J:icqueminot, Jules Margottin, La Reine, Ldon dc^ Combats, Madame Kivers, Prince Leon, SenutLur Vaiase, Souvenir de la Heine de I'Angkterro. and William Grirtiiha. The same class will answer very well also aa standards, artdinfj a few more perliaps with, a jrreater mixture of the Tea and CInnu breeds in their strain, as Gloire de Dijon, Eniaiit de Lyon, Comte tie Paris, and several others, omitting, however, many of this class if the situation be an unfavourable one. Fabfugium cnANDE Le.af Decayinu {H. li.).~\Ve see nothing wrong with the leaf, further than that it seems to be discoloured by water dripping or standing continually upon it. Geraniim CiniiNGS in Smali, Pots (Ca*).— For the sake of economising room we slujuld keep the plants in the pots until tho bt-sinninf,' of March UQzt year, when we would pot them Mnt^ly into 48-sizud pots. If you could spare the hpace they would occupy, they would raako better plants by bemg potted into small pots now, and shifted into larger in the Ppritig. They will keep quite an well in small puts aw if you potted them into larger. Alt thitt 13 wanted is to keep them safely through tne winter, giving aothing in the shape of heat beyond that necessary to secure their eafeiy during the winter, or increased pot-room, until growth commences in the spring. Wintering Calceolaiiias and Gkramums fjdcm). — Geraniums in a cellar must have tlie leavea revnoved, oiherwise they damp the stems and cauBe their deiay. Calceolarias need all the old growths to be removed, those that come from the neck of the p'anis only being preserved. They require light, but Geraaiums do quite as >\ell in the dark. Kaspekrries on a Light Soil (-4, Constant Jieader). —Vt'hAt you have done ought to have made your Raspberries very vigorous but not fruitful, for what you have lione this year will not be apparent in the fruit until nest. Weshould manure heavily, uoing nothing but merely jointing it in, for oigging would only injure the roots, and make the soil lighter and more open, the last causing too quick evaporation of the moisture from the soil. Whfii they liower water fieely, and wiicn that is past, give a drenchmg twice a-week with weak liquid manure. This, we think, with not allowing the canes to grow too near to>rether, nor too many from, a stool, will ;^ive you a fair aninunt ol Raspberries another year. The kind of Raspberry may have something to do with their unproductiveness. The lied Antwerp does well on light soils. HoKSEHAoisn Culture {/^/c^O-— Horseradish should make first-class roots in three years after planting. It is a good plan to make a bed every year, no matter how small, and tlius secure a bed three years old for one ye;ir*s supply, so that four beds would be wanted. Alter three years it becomes woody and loses its pungency. Ants Invaoiko "Wall Fruit (!(Itm).~D\p some slater's laths in gas- tar .ind place these close to ihe wall at its bottom. Ants cannot cross this. The ^ul■e^t plan, however, is to kilt iliem ere tlie fruit is ripe. L'pC arsenic and sugar in equal parts with sufhcient water to make them ol the consistency of cream when niixtd. 'J'his will destroy them, but care must be taken to prevent other animals from partaking of it. Lime water will make them shift their quarters if it be poured into the nests, and so will guiino. Boiling water poured into the nest kills all it touches, and ammoniacal liquor fiom tlie gasworks, diluted witli four times its volume of water, will expel ants from their haunts if it does not kill them. Mildew on Vines [Siffma).—'We thought the destruction brought upon your Vines was by burning the fulpbur. Putting a p.m of water near the burning sulphur would not have saved the Vines. Sulphur must never be burned where there is a plant with a leaf or unripened shoot upon it. If you treat the Vines as we directed in our last Journal, we think you will get rid of the pest. Any ol the adveitisers of hot-water pipes in our Journal would serve you well. Write aud ask them about what you require. Hedge Umder Large Yew Tree [Dorset). — There could scnrcely be a more ditficult position in which to get u hedge to grow and last lor a length of time than that which you describe. Both the roots anil the shade and drip of such old Yews are most formidable enemies to anything that you could plant, while the trenching that would be neces'-ary within 5 or 6 feet ot the trunk of the tree could not faii to be injuiioua to it. Your only chance is to plant something already a good size, such as Holly or tree Box, which will remove well at the height of 4 to 5 feet. We have lately been teased with a hedge under a lot of large Yew^s dying out, and the only w:iy we have been able to establisli a li\ing fence is by iiecting a paiiing and then covering it with Ivy. which thrives better in the shade and drip and among the roots ot other trees than anything else we know. If such a contrivance be considered too expensive, you might try Hollies of a good size ; but we do not think they will do much good. Iodii:e a.m) Starch {W. jr.).— In what part of England can that chemist live wlio does not know what iodine is? He ccriainly cannot have read any book on chemistry published later than when acetate of lead was called baccliarum Saturni. You can obtain iodine of any London chemist. It is a greyish-black substance obtained from the a-^he> of marine plants, and when combined with starch gives to it a fine blue colour. Its compounds are exten^iYeIy used in medicine. We lannot tell you ;:ny more about the proceedings of M. Cominandeur, for we publiKhtd' all the information we have. We should mix half a pound of starch into a pa^le with water, and add half a drachm of iodine in powder, mix the whnle thorounhly, and put the mi.'iture in pots under a cover in places where the slugs frequent. Hyurid Peupetual and BounnoN Rosrs not Fiowering {A Header). — We suspect Ihe bed of Koses to which you refer must have stagnant water about it. The plethoric mildewed growth which you describe is indicative of such a state of things. If jou find on txamination that the soil is wet and soured, your beet way will be to lift the Roaes, renovate the soil, drain the bed iborout;hly, and plant them again. Koses like a stiff soil, but will not thrive in any soil where there is sta&nant water about their roots. PsorAGATiNO Clematises (7(ffm).— The greater number of the hardy Clematises ripen their teed in England, and are easily propagated by them. They should he sown as soon as gathered, and some will come up the following spring, and some will lie L-i the ground twelve months before they germinate. They arc easily propagated from layers. They like a dry caleareous toil. October 27, 1863. ] JOTJKNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 339 OsMU.NDA KEOALis. — This magnificent Fern, once rery abundant in Chevington Wood, is now extinct in Northumberland, from destroying this natural forest and drainins. A poor amateur would feel obliged by any of your readers, who may find this plant in their locality, sending a frond bearing seed. Addre^s, " Mr. Froud, Post OfBoe, Morpeth." Wintering Gkraniims in a Cellar l,De Foix).— Strip erery leaf off from the Geraniums, and then tie them together in bunches by the roots, three or four plants in a bunch, and bang them up m your cellar. Keep the cellar as free from damp as posi-ible by occasional Tentilation. The temperature in which Geraniums keep best in such situations is about 40'. Yott may also try some of tiiem with their roots put into dry earth in boxes. But in either ca-e strip them of all their leaves and let ihera be housed before their points are touched with frost. Looli over them at in- tervals through the winter, and remove all signs of damping or decaying shoots, and dust the wounds over with hut lime. Names op Fruit (ff. M. C, IIatJielil}.—Yom Apple is the French Crab. {W. Armstrmiri]. — \, Autumn Colmar ; 2, Bcurvi5 d'Ateraberg; 3, Mane Louise; 4, Maiie Louise; 5, not linown; 6, Napoleon; 7, Winter Nelis; 8, Beurrc^ Bosc. (O ■ F. cj- i". iT.).— Your Fear is Figue de Naples. (T.G.K.). — 1, Old English Codlin, of which we shimld like to have a few gratis; 2, Golden Noble; 3. not known. {E. C. M'.).— Pears.-1, Beurre de Uance ; 2, not known; 3, Passe Colmar ; 4, not known ; 5. Downton; 6, Tnomphe de Jodoigne; 7, Ducliesse d'AngouIeine ; S, Beurre Diel; 9, White Doyenne ; 10, Thompson's; 11, Swan's Ejjg. apples.— 1, Blenheim Pippin ; 2, La Fameuse ; 3, Scarlet Nonpareil. Names of Plants. — Some of our correspondents are in the habit of sending small Iragments of plants for us to name. This requires from us such a great expenditure of time that we are compelled to say that we cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen is perfect in leaves and flowers. ( ir. TV.).— I, Escallonia nibia ; '2. Lonicera flexuosa ; 3, some Hakea or Isopogon apparently. Brown's " Forester," last edition, will give you full instructions for managing woods and plantations. ( (K. H.). — \our Passion-Flower seems to be Hassitiota liguLiria. Your seedling Geranium, as a flower, is Inferior to many ; of couiso we cannot say anything about its merits for bedding, as that depends upon its habit. (J/. i>.).— A Solidago. and apparently S. procera. (.B. 2'.).— Cystopteris alpina. {A Four-years *i(isc;i6«-).— Isolepia gracilis. {JJ. P. A., Wi/fifiiiiiri/).— Thunbergia or Hexacentriscoccinea. The Kern isl'olvstichumaculeatumlobatum. (X. X). —1, Adiantum lonnosum ; 2, Cyrtommm falcatum ; 3, Asplenium Veitch- ianum; 4, Pteris liastala ; 5, Pteria orelica albo-lineata. [Rusticiis). — Your Orchid is one of the Odontoglos&ums, but we do not recognise which. (.E. Ske]>stoii).—\\h-^l is ca'led in gardens Pteris crispa, a plant of con- tinental origin. ( n'. jV.).— Itudbcckia Neumanni. (i\'ur/o/A;).—Y'our plant is Euphorbia lathyiis. The fruits you want are Late Admirable Peach, Ked Kom.iu Nectaiine,! Coe' Golden Drop or Rsine Claude de Eavay Plum, and Florence or Belle Agathe Cherry, POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHEOKICLE, EELATI^'E E^^TEIES AT POULTEY SHOWS. YouE correspondent from Yorksliire completely bears out my letter to you after the Islington Show, as regards Brahmas in the north. Indeed, there can be no question that many of om- "established'' breeds do not enter nearly as weU as the " cross-bred mongrels," as the Brahmas have been frequently styled. When I entered on my calculations as regards the Islington Show, I did not fancy I covdd have made out so good a case for them, and I am now going to test the patience, perhaps, of a few of yom- readers, whilst I analyse the entries of the late Sydenham Show. At the close of the mnter show last year I wrote to the Secretai-y, urging them, in future, to give greater encourage- ment to Brahmas, aUuding then only to the addition of a third prize. Meantime, the Agricultural HaU Company issue their liberal prize list, in which Brahmas were most liberally treated, and it cannot be denied that they responded weU to the invitation. The Sydenham authorities, however, have determined to remain " as they were ; " no third prize, no fi'esh classes. Let me, however, first prove my case by figiu-es, which, in this place, prove only the truth. I alter the order in which the various breeds are arranged in the Crystal Palace Sehedide, and place them in the order that they have proved most profitable to the Crystal Palace Company. able to the exchequer, and evidently does not get its due allowance of prize money. The Brahmas, the only other breed that nearly approaches a repayment of the prize money, have, however, only ^8 offered them in two classes, whilst the former breed has nearly three times the amount, and has four classes. There are breeds long established, weU encouraged, the Polish and Malay for instance, which very miserably repay the exchequer. The latter deserve, and must expect, unless then- admit-ers come forward more thoroughly, to be sent back to the cold shades of the "Any other variety" class, from which Umbo the Black Hambiu-gh ought as certainly to be rescued. At Sydenham five competitors showed five pens, a greater number of entries, than in classes 18, 26, 27, and 30, and equal to Class 32, in all which classes £3 was offered, and in some a larger amount as prizes. Birming- ham has this year set aside a class for them, but though apparently alive to the demands of this breed, it offers no greater inducements to Brahma-breeders than heretofore — no ti-esh class, no third prize, whilst the opening regulation in a spu-it of self-laudation, considers " any departure from the extended prize list unnecessary." It is impossible to say how the entries may tell there, but it is certain that as far as the Sydenham Show is concerned, justice is not meted to the Brahma, and I feel convinced that any impartial observer will bear out my judgment, if he study the catalogue. I have not taken the single cock classes separately, but there Brahmas follow the Dorking, although in the case of Cochins and Game, the prizes offered are larger. In my remarks I do not desu-e to detract from the merits of other breeds. Indeed, I am very interested, and showed in classes which I have here shown to be weai, numerically, both at Islington and the Palace. To see them docked of some of their offered prizes would be rather a tender spot with me, yet it would be but justice to the breeds that enter numerically stronger. Our two large metropolitan Shows distinctly prove that the Brahmas are No. 2 as payers, whilst the experience of most who have kept them is, that in utility they are Al, being hardy, easily restrained by fences, rapid-flesh pro- ducer;, early layers, and, to my eyes, but I may be partial, very handsome. In conclusion, may I venture to say, that m your hmts about selecting birds for show, you have urged points of feather, which I was sorry to see ? Making large birds as the Dorking and Cochin, budsof feather, has in past years, done much injury to those breeds, and I would willingly save my pets from such a fate. I consider shape, size, and colour, to be the order of merit. — ^Y. B. A. Z. Breed in Order of Value. No. of Entries. No. of Ex- hibitors. Amount offered in Prizes. Amount realised by Entries. No. of Classes. 1C6 24 65 39 H 35 69 36 4 17 19 47 U 41 26 34 25 36 28 2 10 12 £ s. 1). 22 10 0 8 0 0 22 0 0 15 0 0 21 0 0 15 0 0 30 10 0 17 10 0 3 0 0 15 0 0 5 0 0 £ s. D. 31 16 0 7 4 0 19 10 e 11 14 0 16 4 0 10 10 0 20 14 0 10 16 0 1 4 0 5 12 0 5 14 0 4 2 7 Pencilled Hamburgh... 4 Spangled Hamburgh ... 3 6 3 1 Polish 4 Other breeds Here, the Dorking is undoubtedly much the most profit- JUDGES SHOULD BE ALOIS'E. I WAS given to understand that the public, and particularly exhibitors, are not admitted at poultry shows while the Judges are making their awards. Yet I noticed at the Poultry Show held at Crewe in connection nith the Cheshire Agricultural Society on the 30th of September last, that whilst the Judge was making the awards an exhibitor entered the tent with catalogue in hand and went round the different pens with the Judge. When the public were admitted that exhibitor met the owner of a prize pen, and the following conversation took place : — " Well Mr. has got the first prize, and we have given you the second, and all the rest have got 'highly com- mended ' or ' commended,' so you must consider it an honour." Now I think if he had omitted the word honour and substituted iavour he would be nearer the mark. I do not doubt the Judge, but I do not think that he can penorm his duty with satisfaction to aU pai-ties durmg the presence of any exhibitor.— A Lovee, of Fair Plat. MANCHESTEE POULTEY SHOW. "I have received a very good list of prizes to be given at Manchester, but there is one very gi-eat drtxwbaek, the Show is exactly at Christmas, and the fowls wiU have to be there dru-ing Christmas-day-a very objectionable arrange- ment, which! I should fancy, would deter many from sendmg MO JOTJKNAl OF HOETICTJLTtTRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Octolier 27, 18C3. their poiiltry. I do not intend to do so vmless'it is altered, but it struck nie when you noticed the prize list, which you generally do in The Journal of Hokticultitre, if yovi con- curred with my opinion, you might make some remark upon the unsuitableuess of the time. I should have thought the week after would have done as well, as there does not seem to be any great show advertised then. My apology for troubling you must be, that it seems a great pity for such a good Show, that the Committee have chosen sxich a time for holding it." [We have not seen the Manchester prize list, but we publish the foregoing extract from a letter written to us by one of the most successful, and most extensive exhibitors, and add oui' opinion that any arrangement whereby poultry, and, consequently, their attendants are kejit away fi-om home at Christmas, is most objectionable. We hope that other exhibitors will coincide with our correspondent. — Eds. J. OF H.] CETSTAL PALACE POULTEY SHOW. Our anticipations were fuUy realised, and amateiu's sup- ported this Exliibition in every way. We know not that we ever went to any show where all things were as comfortable as they were here. The two gi-eat elements of light and ah- abound, and with a double row of pens on each side, the whole space of the centre was open to spectators. In our opinion this is preferable wherever possible, to a row in the centre dividing the promenade, as it enables spectators to see the bu-ds without efl'ort or inconvenience, and also allows them the aii- they need. Experience is not thrown away on so good a general as Mr. Houghton, and accordinglj' rather than interfere with the conxi cVwil of the whole, or the comfort of the visitors, he placed the Ducks out of doors, and he did wisely. Eouen Ducks, and still more Buenos Ayrean, requii-e a strong light, and were never shown more favourably than last week at Sydenham. It was a clean and pleasant Show, and as our friend the Bloomer says iu " Sponge' s " celebrated tour, " May we have to record many such in our imperishable columns." The notice of the classes will, by theii' length, prevent any further remai-ks by way of introduction. We must speak iu terms of commendation of the Spa»is7i, and here we shall have to notice that which will occiu- again — the success of a new name. Mr. Parsley was first-prize- taier in every class of Sjianish. It need not be infeiTed from this fact that his victory was an easy one — he was well run up by the second and third prizetakers. " They conqnered all but Parsley ; Parsley, them." It is unnecessary to say that Dorkings were strong. They live on the thi'eshold of the Show. They may be at home at five in the morning, and judged in the Show before nine ; add to it that those most acquainted with Dorkings in the Dorking country, have made this theu- show and tilting ground ; yet, on this occasion they were beaten, and a gentleman from Berkshire beat one pen which took first prize. Good names followed. Capt. Hornby was second ; Lady Hobuesdale tliii-d ; and Mrs. Fergusson Blair fourth. This says as much as a page of writing. The Eev. Mr. Hodsou, LadyLegge, and Messrs. Priest and Wilcox showed excellent birds. Lady Hobnesdale showed some beautiful Buff chickens, which deservedlj' took fii'st prize. Many most excellent bii-ds were disqualified by bad combs. There are cuiiosities in these things. The combs of the Wliite Cochin pullets were perfect throughout the class. Those of the Grouse were very good ; those of the Buff ■very faultj'. Mi\ Stretch was strong iu Grouse; and Lady Holmesdale showed beaiitiful White, beating Mr. Chase. In the Single Cock class both prizes were taken by Grouse bii'ds. It is worthy of remai-k that the Buif was the weakest in point of merit of all the Cochin classes. The Bralwias were very beautiful, and formed a strong and attractive class. We had here another new name — Mr. Barclay — who took first prize, but very hard run by Mrs. Fergussou Blaii-. Mi-. Priest's cocks were very good. We never recollect seeing better Brahma classes. The Black-breasted Keds were the best among the Game. The Piles came next, the Brown Keds were not as good as we have seen them, and Duckwings do not show as well as chickens as they do as adults. The prize birds belonging to Messrs. Stubbs', Eev. G. S. Crawys, and Mr. Matthew were perfect. Messrs. Wood, Pares, and Dawson also deserve especial mention, as do all the prizetakers in these classes. The Single Cock class brought the same names to the fore as the others — Messrs. Stubbs, Matthew, and Cock. It is another of the curiosities of poultry and poultry- showing that the Hamburghs are never good alike. Some- times the Golden, sometimes the Silver are the best. We had on this occasion a show of Silver-pencilled equal to the best days of the class ; but the Golden, that have for some time been the perfection of pencUling, were many of them inclined to mossy plumage. Lady Hobnesdale took two out of thi-ee prizes in Silvers, and is likely, we think, to repeat her victory. Mr. Robinson will also be hard to beat. The Golden-spangled were quite as good as the SUver-penciBed. They formed a tr\Jy remai-kable class full of good birds, and the comijetition was a hard one. Messrs. Ellis and Brook may be proud of theu- birds. In the SUver-spangled, although they were not withoiit merit as a class, yet there were important points that remained desiderata. The hackles of the hens were too light, and some of tlie cocks were almost white. Even Mr. CoUinge's first-prize hen, which had many good points about it, was not fi-ee from ; these defects. ! With the exception of the Golden, all the Polands are looking up. The Black and the Silver were perfect. In the former well-known names were obliged to be passed over, and in the latter Mr. Adkins showed matchless birds, easily taking Ijoth prizes. The Sinylc Cocks also called forth the strongest commendations. The Malays v,-ere not as numerous r.s usual. This should not be at the Crystal P;\lace. These birds are associated for many yeai-s with Wapping, EatclilTe Highway, and the river's side, yet they only sent four pens. Mr. Sykes took both prizes. We always think the Various class a sort of thermometer, giving the height or otherwise of the poultry pursuit. It may safely be said it is at blood heat, if varieties are to tell I for anything — Black Hamburghs, La Flcche, Houdans, Creve Ca5urs, SOkies, Chamois, Polands, Poule du Mans, Jaijanese, and many ofners. It is fan- to notice the increase, numerically and in merit, of the Crtve Coeiu-s and the Black Hamburghs. The Golden and SHver Sebright Bantams were not so good as we have seen. Many of them had the Cochin fault of indifierent or faulty combs. The Whites were excellent, the Blacks good, the Game beautiful. Mr. Munn was very deservedly successful, being fii-st and second with excellent birds ; Mr. Crawford third. We here venture to repeat that which we wrote so recently : A Game Bantam should not I droop its wing like a Sebright. There was a tune when any Bantam that had the plumage of a Game fowl was a mai-vel, but that is no longer the case. When twenty good pens compete. Judges look for an approach to perfection. The DuckT.'iiigs and varieties formed a vei-y interesting class ; seven pens figured deservedly in the prize list, Mr. For- ' rest's Duckwings and most excellent feather-legged White ones called for notice. But the most em-ious and, ^e must add, meritorious aad attractive pen was one of Bufl' Cochin Bantams — Cochins in every resjject but size. Mi-. Herrick may be proud of his success. The cocks were also vei'y good, Mr. Fowler was first with Aylesbury Vvcks, tlu-ee birds weighing 22?. lbs. The second prize went to a new amateur, Sh- St. George Gore. Bart., the weight 20.1 lbs. The Eouen class was a perfect one, and here Sir St. G. Gore performed no mean exploit — he beat all competitors, even Mr. Fowler ; his birds weighed 18i lbs., half a pound more than Mr. Fowler's. The highlj' commended bu-ds weighed nearly 17 lbs. per pen. A beautiful class of Buenos Ayrean brought honours to Mi-s. Wolferstau and Mr. Ballance. It is im- jDOSsible to imagine anything richer than, the plumage of these prize birds. They were out of doors, and with the sun shining on them they were the perfection of the breed. Mr. Fowler took both the prizes for "White Geese, but they did not weigh so well as they have sometimes done, the heaviest pen 46i lbs. The same may be said of the Grey, Mr. Dolby's fii-st-prize pen was 54 lbs., Mrs. Seauions' 50 lbs. Oototer ily 1863. JOXJENAL OF HOKTICXTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 341 Mr. Wriglit's Turkeys weiglied 41^- lbs., Mr. Fellowes 39| lbs. The Omamenial Water Foivl all belonged to Mr. Baker — Black Swans, Berwick Geese, and Bahama Teal. There was the largest show we have yet had of Golden and Silver Pheixsants. Mr. Yates and Master Welsh took the prizes. Among the Various Pheasants were Chinese, and some good Kaluges. It would be unfair not to notice, among the Extra Stock, some Jungle Fowls belonging to Mr. Baker, very beautiiul and perfect bii'ds. AU went off well, and we congratulate Mr. Houghton on his deserved success. Nothing can exceed his painstaking and his anxiety to do his duty strictly. The number of entries and the quality of the bu-ds shown prove that amateurs appreciate the Exhibition, and have entire conhdence in the management. The following is the list of commendations : — Spanish Ciiickeks (Cockerel anil two Pullets). —Hi(:hly Commended, W. K. Ball, Newport Pasnel, JSuclis ; J. Clews, \Valsa\l, Staffordshire. Spanish (Cockerel and one Pullet). -Commended, J. \V. omith, Oundle ; J. Burrv, Wandsworth Road. Spanish Cocks. — Higlily Commended, 11. Wright, Archway Road, Highgate. DohKiNGS (ColouFpd, Cockerel and two Pullets).— TTiglily Commended, C. H. Wakefield, Malvern Wells; J. Smith, Parham. Commended, A. Stanford, Eatons, Stevning, Sussex; Kev. 51. Amphlett, Church Lcnch Kectory, near Eveshani ; K. P. Kivett, Parhani ; JIr.i. !•'. Blair, lialthayock, Inchmaitme, Inchture, N.B. ; J. Ashby, Capel, near Dorking. DoEKiNO (two Pullels).— Highly Commeuded, C. U. WakeReld ; Ri.ght Hon. Visoouutsss Uolmesdale, Lmton Park, Staplehucst, Idnt. CommeDdcd, Right Hon. Yi>eountess Holmesdale; J. .ishby. DoEKiNG (White, Cockcrel and two Pullets).— Highly Commended, H. Lingwood, Suffolk. Commended, Lady Mary Legge, Holmcwood Lodge, Dorking; Mr.s. Beardmore, Uplands, near Fareham, Hants. DoEKi.NG Cocks (Coloured and White).— Highly Cummended, Rct. J. G. A. Baker, Old Warden, near Biggleswade; Right Hon. Viscountess Holmesdale. Commtnded, Sir J. Paxton, M.P., Rockhill, Sydenham ; C. Smith, Salisbury ; Rev, J. G. A. Baker. Cochis-China iCinuamon and Buff, Cockerel ;and two Pullets).- Highly Commended, Rev. C. Spencer, College House, Atlleborough, Norfolk ; L. Musgrove, Ormskirk. Commended, J. W. Kelleway, Isle of Wight; S. Statham, Forest Kow, Sussex. Cochi.n-China (Brown and Partridge).— Highly Commended, E.Tudman, Whitchurch, SaU'p. Commended, C. H. Wakefield. CocBrN-CHiNA (White).— Highly Commended, F. V,'. Zurhorst, Dublin; Mrs. K. St John, Oakley, Basingstoke. Commended, J. bi^gar, Koithamp- ton ; W. Dawson, Hopton, Miriield, Yorkshire. Braiim.v Pootra (Cockerel and two Pullets). — Highly Commended, J. K. FowL-r, prebendal Farm, Aylesbury ; J. Pares, Chcrtsey ; J. Wright, Woodbridge ; C. Priest, iVluntham Court, Wortham. Cot^s.— Commended, Mrs. F. Blair ; J. Clark, Chiswick Mall. Game (White and Piles).- Highly Coamended, Rev. G. S. Cruwys, Tiverton, Devon. Game (Black-breaatel Reds).— Highly Commended, J. Stubbs, Stafford. Commended, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart., DerbyshiiC; J. Fletcher, Stoneclough, near Manchester; A. B. Dyas, Madeley, Shropshire. Game (Brown-breasted and other Reds, except Bl.tck-breasted).— Highly Commended, W. Pares, Ookbrook, near Derby; J. Wood, Haigh, near Wigan. Game (Duckwings and other Greys and Blues). — Highly Commended). — A. B. Dyas, .Madeley, Shropshire. Game Cocks.— Coinuiinded, G. W. Eanwell, Portsea, Hampshire; J. Fletcher, Stoneclough, near Manchester. Hamdurgh (Silver-peueilled).— Highly Commended, J. Holland, Chest- nut Walk, Worcester; C.Moore, Poulton-le-Fylde. Hamdi^roh iGold-spangled).— Highly Commtnded, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. ; H. E. Kmberlin, Leicester; U. Carter, Holmhith. Commended, T. May, Wolverhampton. Hamudkgh (Silver-apangled).— Highly Commended, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. Oommenoed, J. Leech, Newcastle, Staffordshire. HAiiuuEGH Cock (Gold or Silver-spangled).- Highly Commended, C. Pi iest, Muntham Court, Worthing. PoLANns (Black with White Crests).— Commended, T. P. Edwards, Lynd- hurst, Hants. PoLAKDS (Silver).- Highly Commended, J.Wright, Woodbiidge; Countess de Flahault, TuUiallan Uastle, Kincardine-on-Forth. Poland Cocks.— Highly Commended, G. C. Adkins, Birmingham; H. Carter, Holmhrth. Malay.— Highly Commended, Master C. A. Ballance, Taunton. A.MY orBER Distinct Breeo. — Highly Commended, Mrs. D. Haig, Lich- field (Magpie Tarifans) ; W. Bowly, Cirencester, Gloucestershire (Silkies or Japanese;. Commended, G. Coles, Fareliara (Andalusian). Bantams (White, Clean Legs).— Commended, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart.; Ilev. G. s. Cruw J s. Bantams (Black, Clean Logs).— Commended, Mrs. E. Freke, Highworth, Wilts; F. Pittis, Jan., Newport, Isle of Wight ; Rev. G. F. Hodson, North Petherton, near Bridgwater. Game Bantams (Black or Brown-breasted Reds).- Highly Commended, Sir St. G. Uore, Bart. ; J. K. Fowler, Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury; T. H.D. Bayly, Biggleswade, Beds. Commenaed, K. Musgrove, West Tower, near Ormskirk. Bantams (Duckwings, or any other variety of Bantams). — Highly Com- mended, T. Walton. Daventry ; W. Liwrenson, Allestree, Derby ; 0. Nicholson ; Rev. P. W. Story, Daventry. Bantam Cocks (Any variety). — Highly Commended, T. H. D. Bayly. Commeuded, J. W. Kelleway, Isle of Wight; M. Leno, jun., Dunstable, Beds. Docks (Aylesbury).- Highly Commended, J. K. Fowler. Ducks Koueii).— Highly Commended, W. H. Denison, Wobnrn, Beds; Mrs. F. Blair. Commended, W. J. Verner, Rjde, Isle of Wight; T. Shaw. Decks (Black).— Highly Commended, Rev. P. W. Story; G. Botham, Slough ; Mrs. Beardmore, Uplands, near Fareham, Hants. Ducks ( 4ny other variety).- Commended, T. Walton, Daventry (Wdd Ducks). Geese (White).— Commended, A. S. Yates, Bishop's Sutton, Alresford, Hants (Chinese). Geese (Grev and Mottled).— Commended, Mrs. F. Blair. TuEKEYs.— Highly Commended, Mrs. A. Guy, Grantham (Cambridge- shire) ; T. Hollis, Reading (Cambridgeshire). Commended, Right Hon. Lady Uawke, Womersley Park, Pontciract. Pheasants (Gold and Silver).— Highly Comihended, C. Baker, King 8 Road, Chelsea (Gold). Pheasanis (Any other variety).— Commended, C.Baker (Chinese Rmg- neck). PIGEONS. PoWTEKS OR Croppers ( Cochs, any colour).— Very Highly Commended, E L Corker. Hi-hly Commended, R. Mackley. Commended, E. Body, Portsmouth. Mens.— Vary Highly Commended, R. Fulton, DepWord. Highly Commended, T. H. Evans, Lambeth Walk. Draqons (Blue).— Highly Commended, J. Ovens, Walworth Common. Am/ other colour.— UighU Commended, W. A. Bacchus, Stockwell. .iLM0;.D Tumblers.- Highly Commended, F. E. Else, Westbouine Grove, Bayswater. . . r Short-faced Beards.— Commended, G. R. Eilenden, Greenwich; J. Ovens; W. H. C. Gates. Newaik, Notts. ^ ., ,. Jacoeibs.- Cominended,M. E. Jobling, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; — Esquilant, Oxford Street, London. Owis (Blue or Silver).— Highly Commended, Rev. G. F. Hodson; F. G. Stevens, Barnstaple, Devon. Commended, C. Bulpin. Xellovi or any other (7ofc«;-.-Highly Commended, H. Yardlcy, Birmmgham ; H. Morris, Forest TuEBiTS.— Commended, H. Yardley ; J. Percivall, Rye Lane, Peckham. Fahtails (Blackj.— Highly Commended, F. E. E. Else; J. Ovens. Com- mended, R. F. Jarvis, Holmesdale, near Dartford, Kent; H. Yardley; H. BARui "Yellow or any other Colour) .—Highly Commended, Mrs. Craigie Woodlands, Chigwell, Esses. ,, o. Trumpeters (Black Mottled). — Highly Commended, F. G. Stevens. IVhite or any other Colour.— Highly Commended, W. H. Denison ; F. G. Runt's (Spanish and Leghorn).— Commended, C. Baker, King's Road, Chelsea. ,, ^ Any New or Deserving Variety not before Mentioned. -;- Com- mended, C. Baker, (Wonza-wonga, Bronzewing, and Californian (Juail). RABBITS. Black and White -Highly Commended, G. Booth, Nottingham (Back). Commended, Miss Hawksley, Edgware Road, London (Buck) ; H. Hindes, Norwich (Buck and Doe). ,, , „ .^. ^ Yello-w and White.- Highlv Commended, H. Handford, Nottingham (Doe) ; ri. .A. Silvester, Springhead. Gravescnd (Buck) ; Messrs. Hall and Co p'lumstead, Kent (Buck). Commended, H. A. Silvester (Doe); J. Uineks, jun. (Buck and Doe); G. Joucs, Birmingham (Buck); W. C. Boorer, Woolwich, Kent (Doe). ,„ , , „ ToRTOisKSHELL. — Highlv Commended, W. C. Boorer (Buck). Com- mended, G. F. Greensill, BlVmingbam (Buck) ; C. SoUen (Doe) ; H. Hmdes, jun. (Buck and Doe). ,, . . ,„ , , Blue and White— Highly Commended, J. Morris, ]un. (Buck). Grey and White.- Highly Commended, J. Harris, Brighton (Buck). Commended, A. Stedman, Oxted, Surrey (Buck). „ , , ,, Self Coloue.— Highly Commended, Messrs. Hall & Co. (Buck). Com- mended, C. F. Pentecost, Kensington, London (Buck) ; C. ScUen (Doe). Foe Weight.— Hishly Commended, G. Briddon, Chesterfield (Doe). Commended, J. Harris, BrighLOU (Doe). Foreign.— Highlv Commended, Master J. de la S. Simmonds Chilcomb Rectory. Winchester (Buff Silver Giey Doe). Commended, G. Buchanan, Port Vale, Hertford (Angora Buck) ; Master G. de la Simmonds (Silver Grev or Chinchilla Buck) ; Master J. Archer, St. Ives, Huntingdonshire (Silver Grey Buck) ; C. Young, Gipsy Hid; J. Baily.jun., Mount Street, Grosvenor Square, London (Belgian Doe). MONMOUTH FARMERS' CLUB POULTRY SHOW. This was held on the 14th iiist. The following is the list of awards : — Geese.— First, Mrs. A. Jones, Priory Farm. Second, Miss Price, Trewan- Goslings.— Viiy.e, Miss Price, Whitfield. w t ~ DccKS.-First, Mrs. Elliott, Trelire. Second, J. Pearce, Wyesham. Dncklings.-'Prvie, R. H. Nicholas, Malpas. , r, „„ Spanish.— Prize, J. Heckley, Wjesham. CAjciens.-Pnze, J. Peaice, Dokkis'gs.— First, Mrs. A. Jones, Priory. Second, R. H. Nicholas, Malpas. Chickens.— V-cSzn, W. Hall, Rockflcld. . (DocHtN-CHiNA.- First and Second, R. H. Nicholas, Malpas. Chickens.— Prize, R. H. Nicholas. . » „ -, t^ r> T!„t]or Hambukghs (Gold or Silvcr-pencilled).-First, Hon. J. F. C. Butler, Llanlilio. Second, R. H. Nicholas, Malpas. rAifA-«is.— Prize, Hon. J. F. t. ^pi^ANDS (Gold or Silver-pencUled).-rirst, R. H. Nicholas, Malpas. Second, I. Theyer, Walford Court. Game.— Prize, G. Pritchard, Llanvihangel. Chickens.-Vnze, J. Jones, BANTAWS.'-First, G. Aldridge, Monmouth. Second, J. Jones, Eedstreak. C/iictfiiS.— Prize, W. Hall, Rockfield. „„„.,., „ , . ,oi,„„, ANY other variety.— First and Second, R. H. Nicholas, Malpas (SUver- spangled Hamhurghs, Chinese Silkies). GoiNEi. FowLS.-Prize, Mrs. A. Jones, Priory Farm. loimg birds.— Prize. Mrs. A. Jones. „ ,, „ ■ t> rr PiGEONs.-Can-icrs. -Prize, E. H. Nicholas. JunMers.-Vrae, E. H. Nicholas. Fnntails.-Vmi:, U. H. Nicholas. ^ ^ „ ^ „^ ,,, . RuBBiT.— Himalayan or Ermine. -Commended, G. E. Bond, St. Weonaros. JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ October 27, 1863. TWO QUEENS AT LIBERTY IN THE SAME HIVE— LOSS OF THE QUEEN. Mb. "Woodbury has mentioned the death of the young queen which he discovered at liberty in a stock possessing a fertile queen. A few words on the history of the affair may not be unacceptable to apiai'ians. Mr. Woodbm-y having kindly presented this young queen to me, she was added to an artificial swaa-m on the 20th of August. September 7th. — A considerable quantity of brood on one comb. Sept. 16th. — Ditto on three combs. Queen is of a beautiful colour. Sept. 18th.— Drove the bees of one of my stcis, kiUed the queen, and united the bees to the artificial stock. With the exception of seciu-ing the Ligiu-ian queen, every cai-e was taken. No fighting whatever took place the first day, but on the following one there was considerable, and the queen was destroyed. Sept. 21st. — Eoyal cells making. The young Ligurians out in large numbers, proving of fh-st-rate colour. Sept. 23rd. — Eoyal cells sealed. Added a common queen, but the bees destroyed her dii-ectly. As it is so late in the season the young Ligurian queen is probably by this time at liberty, but cannot be of any service, and as I do not want to have any except drone- breeding queens, she must be destroyed, and the bees united to an adjoining hive. This disaster is the more vexing, as I have been in the habit of uniting bees with impunity, having never before experienced such a catastrophe as the loss of the reigning queen, where the precaution was taken of removing the stranger. Probably there is an antipathy between the two varieties, which makes the operation more dangerous. The swarm was populous enough to go through the winter, and I ought to have been satisfied in leaving well alone. It will be a lesson to me never to risk such an operation where a valuable queen's life must be placed in jeopardy. — S. Bevan Fox, Exeter. FOUL BEOOD— AN EXPEEIMENTAL APIAHY. I REALLY must unite with "B. & W.," the Hon. and Eev. W. C. EUis, and many others who have protested against the tone and style of Mx. Lowe's recent communi- cations. It may, as he says, amuse old-fashioned as well as modern apiai'ians to peruse his account of what we may of course imagine to be his own doings, in the character of " the Enigmatical and the Experimentalist," and it may certainly throw some light on the nature of the so-called experiments — save the mark ! — which have misled him in the matter of foul brood. Although I have never done so, I wiU not deny that it may be possible by means of mismanagement, so to paralyse a colony of bees by an ovei-whelming quantity of chilled brood, as to simulate some of the evils and not a little of the appeai-ance of actual foul brood. And this is what Mr. Lowe has evidently done. He first crushes the energies of his iinfortunate bees by an overpowering mass of chilled brood, and when they sink despau-ingly under the incubus, he declai-es authoritatively that " decayed and abortive brood in all stages are not removed by the bees, and consequently must remain a jiermanent evil in whichever hive they are unfortunately found." Having arrived at this satisfactory conclusion, our experimentalist proceeds to relieve Iris mis- erable bees fi'om the intolerable evil he has himself inflicted on them; and when with the indomitable sjiirit of theii- race they set to work to repair the ravages he has made, and possibly even ultimately prosper in spite of liis iU-treatment, he triumphantly announces that foul brood " is an evil with which I have long been familiar," and " I have found that excision of the affected parts is sufficient." That he is mis- taken with regard to tlie general indisposition of bees to remove chilled and therefore abortive brood I shall pre- sently show ; that he is equally in error with regard to foul brood being amenable to any such half-measiu'cs as he describes has ah-eady been abundantly proved ; he wiU also in due time find this out for himself, whenever it may be his misfortune to meet with the true disease in his apiary. On the 19th of August, I perused Mr. Lowe's reprobation of my proceedings in allowing brood to remain a dozen hours in a warm kitchen, coupled with the assertion that under such cu-cumstances foul and abortive brood would foUow as a necessary consequence. There is something almost provokiogly absurd in gravely expei-imenting for the purpose of establishing a fact already so well known, and one which in a few months' time the merest tyro in apiarian matters may verify for himself by a cursoi-y examination of the ground in front of a good stock after a sharp spring frost ; but it so happened that I had by me a large piece of comb crammed with brood in all stages (principally sealed), which I had cut out of a hive in the North of Devon, four- days previously, and which I had brought home and left uncared-for in a fireless apartment. Here, then, was an opportunity for an experiment — not certainly in Mr. Lowe's slashing style, but quite sufficient for the purpose — and I accordingly placed this comb — this mass of chilled and abortive brood in all stages — in one of my colonies which had only recently been cured of foul brood by the means described by me in pages 97 and 98, and sneered at accord- ingly by Mr. Lowe. What was the consequence ? The re- appearance of foul brood ? No. Was the comb suil'ered to hang a putrefying and con-upt body in the midst of an inert and despau-ing population ? Not a bit of it. The bees at once set to work and dragged out evei-y defunct embi-yo; a few of the younger ones ones were, I believe, even hatched after all this neglect. The queen deposited an egg in every cell as soon as it was emptied, and all hatched out in due coiu-se ; and the comb now worthily maintains its place as part and parcel of the fm-nitm-e of a thorougldy healthy stock. So much for Mr. Lowe's dictum so authoritatively laid down. Having, therefore, refuted Mr. Lowe's singularly erroneous assertions, the question of cui boiw? must necessarily arise; and I would ask him in all seriousness, whether he believes such proceedings as he has pourtrayed are likely to advance the cause of apiarian science 's' I cai-e not whether it be, as I have shown good reason for believing, a more or less accurate description of his own manoeuvres, or whether he intended it as a cai-icatui-e of what he imagines to be the proceedings of others ; but I would ask if such an epistle as his last is at aU likely to aid in developing the true principles of apicultiu'e ? It is also to be regretted that Mr. Lowe has not responded to his own appeal and been " candid for once." In page 304, I took leave to correct one of his misstatements of my words and meanmg. These are again so numerous in his last article, that it would be tedious to particularise them. I wiU, therefore, merely notice a couple of specimens. Fii-st, then, I stated in page 97, that "Dzierzon declai-es that every hive that has contained a foul-breeding colony should be exposed to the suu and air for two years before being re- stocked." This period Mr. Lowe has eularged to "four years," appai-ently for no other purpose than that of enabling him to ask u-onicaUy " Woidd not three years and a h;Uf do ? " A few lines further on, he quotes, or rather misquotes a sentence in inverted commas. Need I say that a great part of that sentence was never written by me, and, that as misquoted, it distorts and exaggerates my meaning? I have, I believe, conducted my share in this discussion with fairness and moderation, and if Mr. Lowe will follow my example, I shall be at all times ready and willing to exchange with him, in the pages of The Journal or Horticulture, the results of our mutual observations and experience. If on tlie other hand he prefers endeavouring either to snatch a questionable advantage, or to conceal a defeat by resorting to misrepresentation and sarcasm, he TviU neither be imitated nor again replied to by — A Devon- shire Bee-keepek. Acclimatisation of Honey Bees. — Dr. A. Gertsacker, in concluding a very extensive memoir on the distribution of the honey bee, obseri^es that the most valuable form for Europe would be the Egyptian, paa-tly on account of their beauty and partly because of their unwillingness to use their stings, wliich appears to be common to all Afi-ican bees. October 27, 1SS3. ] JOUKNAL OF HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 343 and is also one of the recommendations of the Italian bee. The Syrian bee agrees so closely with the Egyptian that it may prove equally valuable ; and next to these in value are the bees of the coasts of Asia Minor. — [Annah of Natural History.) LIGHT-COLOTJEED POLLEN. My bees, like Mr. E. Fairbrother's, are busy collecting large quantities of light-coloured pollen, no part of which can possibly be drawn fi'om fuchsias, as these ai-e now totally bereft of leaves as well as flowers, having, along with the dahlias, been cut down by the sharp frost ot the 5th inst. Being curious to ascertain from whence the bees obtained the supply, I traced them to the yellow weeds called " Skillochs " (specimen herewith), by the country people in this quarter, and blooming abundantly at this season on some soils, and very possibly the yellow flowers to which your correspondent refers. — A Eenfkewshiee Bee-keepee. [The " Skillochs " sent by oiu' con-espondent is the char- lock, Sinapis arvensis. — Eds. J. op H.] BEES IN FEAME-HIVES. We are obliged to the writer of " Apiai-ian Notes." WUl he kindly say if his bees attach his frames to the sides of the boxes, and what he considers the best distance between a frame and the box — top, bottom, and sides, so that they may not be joined together by the bees ? Mine have done better this summer, I only lost my stock in the way referred to in my former communication. I do not think this was from foul brood ; nevertheless, I have always found some few decayed and stinking larvce, but I can hardly yet believe this was the cause of then- leaving their hive. I have always been of opinion that the bees leaving was the cause of the Ibul brood. The subject deserves very close attention, and I for one am deeply interested in the lively manner in which it has been discussed, and the gentlemen engaged in it deserve our best thanks. I have taken great pains this summer to weigh one stock and its swarms day after day when practicable, but I feai- it would not be found of sufficient interest to your readers. — Edward Faikbeother. [1st. I have never found my bees attach their combs to the back and front of the boxes in a Une with the frames, and in only a very few instances have they united the outer combs to the sides of the boxes. Where this has been done it has almost invariably occurred to fi'ames of comb too wide for the sjiace in which I have inserted them. In shift- ing frames from one hive to another, the combs will often come in contact with each other and the sides of the box. AH that is requisite is, mthin a day or two to remove each fi'ame and jjare away the parts of the combs which have been united by the bees. This plan is constantly followed by those apiarians who desire, for scientific and practical purposes, to have complete control over the frames throughout their apiaries. Without this facility frame-hives possess little if any advantages over ordinary boxes ; but with it the plea- sure and interest in the observation and management of bees are incalculably increased. It may appear strange that the bees do not bring the combs outside the ends of tiie frames so as to attach them to the box, and at first I sup- posed that they would frequently do so, but the bee-master pi-escribes the form and shape of the comb he wishes them to construct; and I have found that, like some human in- dividuals, they are content, to use a well-known phrase, " to accept the situation." 3nd. The distance I allow between the frames and the box in every part, top, bottom, and sides, is exactly thi'ee-eighths of an inch. This will Ije found near enough to prevent elongation of the ends of the combs, and distant enough to allow of easy removal of the frames without crushing bees between them and the box. The only place where bees will construct their combs outside the fr-ames is on the top, and here they are rather fond, in a good honey season, of filling up the space between the cover, or adapter, and the tops of the fr-ames. When the cover, or adapter, is thvis fastened down, a little force in a twisting dfreotion is necessary. The broken comb attached to the cover must be always scraped away. My fii-st frames were not sunk in separate notches, but rested on a rabbet three-quarters of an inch in depth, which extended the whole length of the back and fr-ont. Although this plan possesses some advantages in the re- moval of full frames, yet I found the force occasionally necessary to remove the top would shift the frames from their places, and have, therefore, latterly adopted the plan of sunk notches below a three-eighth-inch rabbet. The dimensions I have adopted for my boxes are larger than those recommended by my fi-iend Mr. Woodbury, but I con- sider his hive to be of the size likely to be most generally useful. The Woodbui-y-hive, as sold by Messrs. Neighbour, of 149, Eegent Street, is a first-rate article, and is made either of straw or wood. The excellence of the work in the square straw hives must be seen to be appreciated. 3rd. I will not now enlarge upon the subject of "foul brood," as I hope before long to fulfil my intention of making this the theme of a separate paper. 4th. I should be very glad ii" Mr. Fairbrother would favour us with the table of the daily weights registered by his hive and its swarms, giving the hours of the day or night when the observations were taken. Having had a suspended hive in operation diu-ing several months of this summer, I should like to compare the results in the two localities. — S. Bevan Fox.] FEETILE WOEEEES. Having brought om- bees home from the heather on the 2Gth of September, I looked at the hive whose bees were laying di-one eggs, which I noticed in a communication ap- pearing in your Number of Oct. 6, and found eggs just laid, and certainly no queen. There were only 220 bees altogether, as we counted them; so that there is not the least doubt whatever that bees with no apparent difference to the eye are still capable of laying di-oue eggs. I introduced a queen to the bees, thinking they might fight when the rival egg- layer came in; but instead of this they would have taken the queen to reign over them. If it wovdd be of any use I would very gladly send the bees to Mr. Woodbury that he might make a microscopic investigation of them, and find out the bee or bees which were laying. — Alex. Shearer. [I am much obliged by Mr. Shearer's kind offer, but the detection of the actual egg-layers is far beyond my skiU as a mioroscopist. Although I have had several such cases (two dimug the present year), I never could succeed in distinguishing fertile fr-om ordinary workers. In reply to a private inqvury I may add that I esteem breeding an ad- vantage at any season whether late or early. — A Devon- SHiEE Bee-keepee.] FOUL BEOOD. In answer to Mr. Woodbury's remarks in No. 133, Oct. 13, I have to state that the isolated sentence he quotes should have been given in extenso, in its entirety, and considered in connection with the context. The language I did use was this : — " If it is to be termed a disease at all, let it be described, as Mr. Taylor described it in last Niimber, an entirely ' artificial one.' " The words, " an entirely arti- ficial one," are Mi-. Taylor's, and all those in italics Mr. Woodbury has thought proper to leave out. The sentence is put hypothetically, "if it is to be termed a disease," if writers persist in calling it so, if they will have it so, if, because the evil is produced frequently, and principally, by ill-timed and wrong-dfrected artificial processes, then " let it be described as Mr. Taylor described it, &c." But to show what my own views really were, and that I did not choose so to designate it, I immediately added "abortive brood, however, can never be classed under the category of bee maladies." I illustrated my views. The embryo chick in the chilled egg dies, but in common parlance we do not say of disease ; and so of a great number of accidental and other kindi-ed deaths among the old and young of all crea- tures, we do not designate these as produced by disease, properly so called, and so, also, of foul or abortive brood. In other parts of the same article I say, " If fotd brood be a disease, I should like to know by what it is caused ? " 344 JOTJENAL 01' HOETICULTURE AWD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Oaober 27, lSG3. Again, " I know of no writer who has, in my estimation, satisfactoiHy accounted for the presence of foul 'brood in a hire on the supposition of its being a disease." And, again, " I am not disposed, therefore, to view the presence of foul brood in a hive as a disease, properly so called, at all." And, lastly, to prevent any misconceptiou of my views, I said, " Let me here anticipate any objections which may be urged to the evils in question being produced only artificially," and went on to show that foul brood may be frequently produced " from purely natural causes," and without any interference or meddling whatever. These quotations wiU show that I repudiated the doctrine of foul brood being considered as a disease at all. Indeed, I was scrupulously careful not to designate it as such in any of my papers, and, consequently, I must repeat that I did not treat the subject on those principles. I can assiu'e Mr. Woodbury that I have no intention of " withdi'awing from the discussion." — J. Lovte. BEE-KEEPING IN STAFFOEDSHIEE. I RECEIVED the following letter some time ago from a gentleman in StafFordshii-e, to whom I am personally an entii'e stranger, and upon my acceptance of his CKtremcly liberal offer, it was followed by a truly magnificent stock of bees. I, of coui'se, lost no time in returning my warmest thanks ; and as my esteemed correspondent is pleased to express himself indeljted to me for information on bee management, I solicited and obtained permission to publish his letter, which shows that although he has adopted my hives and experimental system, he has entirely escaped the evils which have been so erroneously described as the natui'al consequence tif the experiments of — A Devoushike Bee- keeper. "Dear Sir, — If a stock from a prosperous apiary is likely to assist in stemming the downward toiTent, I shall have great pleasure in presenting you with one of my swai'ms containing a young queen which has proved herself very prolific. " My own bees have done wonders, as the following state- ment will show : — " May 9. — I made my first swarm. In ten-frame hive nadired and bell-glass. " May 20. — Ditto second. In nadired ten-frame straw Woodbury-hive. " May 23. — Thii-d swarm came off naturally. (This I will send you.) Is nadh-ed in thii-teen-inch bai--hive. "May 26. — Fourth swarm came off naturally (my best queen). Nadired and bell-gl^ss in Eevan-box, eight bars. " These are all from one hive, but the first swarm was peopled by placing it on the stand of another hive. " June 24. — Swai-m of May 9th, sent out a strong swarm, although it had beeu transposed on the 16th with swaa-m No. 2, in laxge straw hive. " Jxily 3. — No. 1, of May 9th, sent out a large second swaa-m. This I retiu'ned but had to nadir their hive to prevent clustering, although they were in a ten-frame hive and sxu-mounted with a large bell-glass. " July 10. — Maiden swarm of June 24th, sent off a good swarm which was unfortunately lost, having taken refuge in a chm-ch roof three-quarters of a m£e off. I had transposed on or about the 7th this swarm with one from a storified-hive of June 23rd, which began to cluster out- side, and this made them swarm. By this transposal the two swarms changed theu' working population almost en- tirely, as they were hived within a day of each other, and brood had matured in both hives. Notwithstanding this misfortune both these hives are very populous, and I have had to nadir the swarm of June 23rd containing the popu- lation of the maiden swarm to prevent hanging-out. The other hive, the maiden swarm, is weU filled with bees, and if we have a few more honey days will stand the winter with- out feeding. " I have thus unfortunately lost my two best queens from last year. The one was cast out of her hive dead, and the other, the mother of these numerous colonies, went off with the maiden-maiden swarm. " I made a hole in the roof of the church and arrived close to 'the cluster of bees, and having cut down the combs which they had constructed aft^r an occupancy of only three days, BO as to fall on a shallow paper tray, drew them forth in hopes of obtaining the queen, but she and the bulk of the bees crawled higher up under the roof and liaffled my attempts. I have made several unions this year in the method recommended in The Joitenal of Horticulture with the most perfect success and without the least fighting. The smell of the peppei-mint effectuaDy prevents the bees from recognising each other, or diseiimiuating between friend and foe. — J. E. B." AGE OF QUEENS. I AM afraid that "A Devonshire Bee-keeper" has beeu rather too precipitate when he says that the one ease decides the question as to the age of queens. For example, a number of years ago, while examining my hives in autumn to ascertain then- state for stocks, my attention was jiarticidarly drawn to two of them from the immense quantity of brood they possessed, and which was ajjparently in good condition and promising well for a futui'e year, and. as a matter of course, carefully covered up for the winter. Having passed inspection I looked no more after them till spring, when I noticed a dwindling-away. My suspicion was at once ai'oused that there was something wi'ong. An examination of No. 1 took place, and thinking- there was no queen from the fact of there being no brood in the hive, I turned out the bees to satisfy myself; and to my astonishment I foviud the very same queen that had already proved herself so prolific the autumn before, actually pro- ducing no eggs whatever though scarcely two years old, and the worker bees paid no attention to her any more than if she were an ordinai-y worker bee. No. 2 had also ceased to produce bees. The only tilings in the shape of brood or young in this hive were one di'one and one working bee, and thinking there was some chance of their doing well, I allowed them to remain; but ere many days they left the hive, leaving nothing but the queen bee and drone in the hive. This queen was three years old. Although this appears to corroborate "A Hampship-e Bee-keepee's " opinion, I am sure it is only an exception. — A Lanarkshire Bee-eeepek. [This is almost the only case in which I cannot support my opinions by my own experience. It does appear to me, however, that Mr. Lowe's evidence, as well as that of " A Lanarkshire Bee-keepek" himself, to say nothing of all other authorities on the subject, prove most conclusively that seven years is a very exceptional age for a queen bee to attain — so exceptional indeed, that I am stUl inclined to fancy it, in the language of om- police courts, " a remark- able case of mistaken identity." — A Devonshire Bee- keepee.] QUE, LETTER BOX. SrASlsH CocKEBEl, Moi'LTiNG {Subscriber).— The cause of the arpfar- ance you name is a little we.iktiess at the time of moulting. The cure is p:aieiice. If you leniove the false quill, or case, that covers any of the leathers, you will fiml it peifectly formed "within. Accki.e:rati:jg Movlting WMcieJis).— Let the bird roost and he housed as usual. Feed him well, hut not on stimulating food. Let him have Krouiid oats mixed v.ith milk. Jf he has no grass run give Mm lettuce. Avoid meat and hemiisted. DOKKiNos FOR Dir.JliKGHAM Suow ( ff. P.).— Ltt your Dorkings run about. Feed them ^vell on soft food, bread sopped in milk, oatmeal, or, failine tliat, harleymcal mixed with milk. Be sure they ate fed .it day- break. If thcv have far to travel give them some thread and ale before they Ko. Wash iht'ir legs ai:d feet before they go, and let them have some clean straw at the bottom of their basket. Kourv TuKKETS (.1/. i?. i).;.— The disease your Turkeys are suflerinj: from is roup, and the remedy you have adopted is for gapes. Give the paticuts bread and ale freely. Let their faces be washed wiih vinegar and cold water, and let ihau be kept in a dry place. Change their ground if you can, and separate the unsound from the sound. Use Baily's pills.^ Spanish Cock's Cowb Piioopixg (Ji. A. (?.).— If the cock's comb was quite erect before moulting, you may fairly hope it will be so again. We cannot say as much for the chickens. It is useless ever to keep a Spanish cockerel with a falling comb. He is useless fur exhibition, and worthless tor sale. Fallin;^ combs have been remedied by being tied in an erect position with silver wire, but few birds are worththe trouble and expense, as no one would breed f'-om Bucli. Silkworm's Eggs [S. L. i.).— You can purchase them inCovent Garden Market. They only require to be put into a box strong enough to avoid being crushed during the voyage. Noveirbei- 3, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 34S WEEKLY CALENDAR- Day Day of of M'nth Week. | 3 Tn 4 W 5 Th 6 F 7 s 8 Son 9 M NOVEMBER 3-9, ]8 Lilac leafleRs. Laburnum leafless. Gimpowder Flo(, 1C0.5. C imerarius born, 1534. Eot. Cherry leafless. 23 SOKDAY AFTER TkINITT. Prince of Wales Eors, 1841. Average Temperature i "^a" t '° near Loiidon. 36 years. Day. .53.2 51. S 63.1 63.1 52.6 51.1 6D.C Kight. S6.S 3G.6 SR.4 3S.4 37.5 34.8 34.7 Mean. 44.8 44.0 45.7 45.8 46.0 43.0 42.7 Davs. 18 19 17 !S 17 16 14 Sun Rises. m. h. 58af 6 VII. Sun Sets. h, 29af4 .Moon Rises. m. h. 16 11 morn. Moon Sets. m „-.. Clock «"°M after ^S^- , Sun. ( 23 24 25 26 27 28 m. s. * 16 18 16 18 16 16 Day of Year. 16 14 16 11 16 1 16 307 3CS 309 310 311 31^ 31.3 From observations taken near London during the last thirtv-six years, tbe average day temperatnre of the week is 62.1°, and its nicht temperature Se.l". The. greatest heat was 63^ on the 5th and 6th, 1834 ; and the lowest cold, 18°, on the 9th, 184S. The greatest fall of rain was 1.02 inch. GAEDENEES' BENEFIT SOCIETY. J LLOW me to tliank the Editors for the interest taken, and the labour bestowed, in perfecting some part of the scheme which I so san- guinely propounded in the spring of the year. Permit mo also to congratulate my brother gar- deners on the fact, that the Editors were placed in a position to announce " that steps were taken to form the Society." I would also thank those that haTe already given their support to the measure, more especially Mr. F. Chitty, for it was he only that had any critical remarks to oifer upon it. Whilst doing so I cannot forbear noticing the reserve with which the members of the profession have treated the question, nor can I help expressing my astonishment at the little interest we gardeners take in all measures proposed or estabhshed to further our advancement. We seem as if wo had no Saxon blood within us, nor any of that brotherly sentiment which strives to mitigate those infii'mities and calamities that befall humanity in one shape or other. Other members of special occupations have had their unions, and other working men (I would like gardeners to feel that they are dependant on theii' own endeavours), have been banded together as one man to mitigate and relieve each other's infirmities, and to bear each other's burdens. This is, indeed, charity, a brotherly feeling, and something more. They have periodical meetings, when all meet together, congratulating each other on their general well-being, or sympathising with their sick brethren, to whom they administer relief according to their regulations. What a gap is there between us and them ! We have long had a society for our disabled men and disconsolate widows, but what support have we given it ? Some have given a mite ; others, and by far the greater number, could not spare a yearly contribution of £1 to provide against those infirmities that disable them or their bre- thren. They woidd do nothing to benefit others, nor have anything in store for themselves against the day when it is needed, nor feel the pleasure of giving others what they are blessed in not neecbng. The gi-eatest drawback, however, to gardeners sub- scribing to the Gardeners' Benevolent Society, is the cir- siimstance of non-subscribers beingplaced on the pension list in preference to the subscribers to its funds. That this admirable institution has done much good m.ust be patent to all, and that it is worthy of every gardener's support few will deny ; but that it contains anything in the way of gardeners supporting their own sick, or even the majority of the " worn-out," is not presumed : there- fore, the Society newly proposed is not framed out of antagonism to it, but to supply a want it docs not deal with_. I think it prudent to state this, for after the new Society was proposed, it was said in my hearing, that the No. 136.— Vol. v., New Series. new one was got up in opposition to the " Gardeners'" Eoyal Benevolent Society." Since that the scheme 1 pro- posed has been framed on, what I may term, an amended and morepopular basis. Instead of bein^ an improvement, annuity, and benefit society, it is to be a benefit orfticncEIy society only ; and as in matters of this kind when a bill is brought in by a private member, and the government offer a' counter proposition, or take the question into their hands, the member gives up aU care of it. So with the question now before us. When the Editors took the matter in hand, I fell into my private position. I was glad to do tliis, for it must be evident to aU that the matter could not have fallen into better hands. Although thankful for the small slice of the reform, they (the Editors) think we are at present entitled to, I am not the less convinced that the whole scheme as pro- • pounded by me wiU ultimately be carried out, nor the less certain that what I then said will hereafter be said' with the unanimous voice of the gardening community. Men have been more sanguine than I am over many greater things, and I could name in proof at least a thou- sand. It would appear pretty certain, from what I learn, that we are to have a Friendly Society : therefore, the foHow- ing information relating to such societies may not be un- interesting to the general reader, whilst acting as a sort of preliminaiy to the discussion of the proposed Society. Daniel Defoe, author of "Eobinson Crusoe," in & " Book of Projects," published in 16'JG, was tbe first to propound the scheme which has resulted in the formatioB- of friendly societies. Some writers, however, were of the opinion that the ancient guilds of our Sason and jSTonnan ancestors were identical with our friendly so- cieties. This, nevertheless, could not be the case, for it was only after the extinction of serfdom that working- men became dependant upon their own eflorts. There certainly was no such society in Defoe's time, for in Ms '■ Book of Projects ; or things desirable to be done," was a scheme for tbe formation of societies, the contributions from the members of which would provide for relief in sickness and old age, and not only for the members but their widows and orphans. He stated that " if such societies were formed, it would do away with pauperism,- shut up poor-houses, and close the jails." Nine years after, or in 1705, the first society was formed. Two years prior to this, or in 1703, the first bill was in- troduced into the House of Commons. It passed the Commons, but was thrown out in the House of Lord's. Another bUl was introduced afterwards : and the re-' nowned Mr. Pitt, with his customary forethought, cOuJd ; so far see the benefits likely to accrue to the country by the formation of friendly societies, that he gave his support to a bill brought in by Mr. George Eose. The bdl passed both Houses of Parliament, and became law in 1793. After the passing of the bUl, friendly societies became general ; but owing to the careless manner in which the early societies were conducted, and there being no sound data to found them upon, some of them collapsed at th« ■ No. 788.— Vol. XXX., Old Series. . . 346 JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ Kovember 3, 1863. very time when the benefits promised were required. Decla- mation upon declamation has been poured forth against working men on the score of ignorance and imprudence in this respect. Their faOirres were more due to the want of sufficient experience on which to found such societies. Most of the greatest blunders were made by the actuaries, who were really incapable of framing tables for the safe guidance of these societies ; but after long experience sufficient data have now been obtained, showing the exact basis on which such Societies should be founded. The data furnished by long experience seem to point to four laws, which it would appear ought to be borne in mind and acted upon, if the Society formed be expected to meet all demands upon it, and remain prosperous : — 1st. The rate of contribution should be graduated accord- ing to age. The young, because less liable to sickness and death, should pay smaller contributions, as they are likely to contribute much longer than the old. Others, because more liable to sickness and death, therefore not likely to con- tribute so long, must pay larger contributions. 2nd. The contributions should be such as to leave an annual surplus, which, being invested on good security, wovdd act as a guarantee fund in times when disease and death are unusually prevalent. 3rd. Such societies ought not to consist of few members in a lodge, for the expense connected with a small lodge would be equal to that where the lodge was four times its numbers. The strictest economy ought to be rigidly en- forced in regard to the management of these societies. 4th. The invested capital should be laid out at a reason- able rate of interest, for when the rate of interest is liigh we may be sure the security is bad. High rates of interest on questionable security (of which they are indicative), are to be avoided. When societies are framed on the conditions named, with an efficient staff of members as officers, wholly or mostly unpaid, a suitable meeting place, and the whole governed by rules made or confirmed by the whole of the members at a general meeting, there is no fear of the society not working satisfactorily. Friendly societies, to take a retrospective view, have greatly assisted in raising the social and moral condition of working men. Since their formation the working classes have made great progress in the arts and sciences. They have also promoted habits of sobriety and industry, and better than all, frugality, and been a direct means of dimin- ishing the poor rates. Mr. Tidd Pratt, I think, calcidated that no less a sum than .£2,000,000 sterling is annually saved to ratepayers by the formation of friendly societies. This sum is, no doubt, somewhat in excess of the real amount saved ; but when we consider that three millions of working men belong to these societies, that their contributions amount to .£5,000,000 sterling annually, and that they have invested capitiil to the extent of illl.OOO.OOO, we cannot but be pretty weU sure that a very large sum is annually saved to rate- payers, for many fcmilies that are now relieved by friendly societies would otherwise be obliged to claim parish relief when the head of the family was prostrated by sickness. Lord Brougham has calculated that working men have in these societies a reserved capital of not far from .£20,000,000 sterling, .and in the savings-bank ^£40,000,000, or between X50,000,«)0 and ^£60.000,000 in all, which is demonstra- tive of the saving habits and self-reliance of British work- men. The men who contribute to those societies are just the men that seek to render poor rates unnecessary. They strive to keep away from the last reftige of the prodigal and unproviding. But aU these benefits are nothing when comp;u-ed witli the moral influence exerted on society by these saving habits, which not only benefit the members indivi- dually, but the community generally, by teaching the young self-reliance or dependance upon theh- own endeavours, ail being taught the value of law and order. They also fit men for more important positions in society, and ftirthei' man's moral and intellectual advancement. Thus much good they do, but they might do much more. ■They might make a special provision for the widow and the fatherless children of a deceased member, not so much to render permanent assistance, but temporary relief in special cases. I allude to those members cut off in early manhood, leaving, perhaps, h:vlf a dozen chUdi-en totally unprovided for. It is very productive of misery when it ooctirs, and the removal of a widow with half a dozen helpless children to the workhouse is a sight that has few equals in amount of sorrow. Now, supposing a fund raised by entrance fees and private donations were specially set apart for this purpose, would not the interest resulting therefrom afibrd relief to these especial cases, and the capital itself form a guarantee fund in addition? I think it would, and I should like to see a fund, in connection with the Gardeners' Benefit Society, specially set apart for the relief, temporary or otherwise, of fatherless children and distressed widows of deceased mem- bers. If members under twenty gave 10s., above that but under thirty years of age £1, and so on, with the dona- tions likely to flow into the exchequer from the many amateur lovers of gardening, I am persuaded that we could raise a fund that would do even more towards the object in view than the most sanguine amongst us could credit. I do not see the propriety of adding invested capital to invested. I had rather see the interest devoted to a good puipose, than derive any pleasure from the thought " we are becoming rich." What is the use of money hoarded up to meet the wants of the next generation ! Secure yom: solvency by a guarantee fund at the commencement, and nothing short of the grossest and most wanton negligence in the administra- tion of affairs can affect your solvency thereafter. Allow me now to go into committee on the Gardeners' Benefit Society, it being my object to sift it, and to debate the whole question as if I were able to attend the prelimi- nary meetings of the Society. I think the rate of contribution is too high for the benefits promised. The Foresters, Odd Fellows, &c., give the same pay in times of sickness as the Society proposed for the same contribution ; and also ilO at the death of a member, and £5 at the death of a member's wife, and yet these Societies have an invested capital to the extent of several thousands sterling each ; the Foresters being the richest, and the Odd Fellows the strongest numerically of all societies of the kind in this country. The examination-board, I think, is objectionable. Being connected with gardening gives men no claim to act as ex- aminers unless otherwise fitted for the ofiice ; and if they are to be gardeners, I would just as soon stand before a Chinese interpreter and be examined in that peculiar language. Ex- aminers should have certificates of a high order themselves, or I certainly could not expect anything like justice to be done. On Eule 3 I beg to propose that " Benefit members shall be those who contribute for themselves," omitting the words, "or others." Sir John , or her Ladyship, might contribute for her gardener ; he might leave, another come, and they both be ill during the time they lived under Sir John, and derive in that way more benefit from the Society than those members who were not so niggar'dly as to let their masters do what they ought to do with pride them- selves. Employers' contributions ought to be given for the general benefit of the Society. On Rule 18 I move to insert after the words, " Any person wishing to become a benefit member of the Society, shall satisfy the Directors as to his chai'acter," these words, " Give proof of his having been a gardener for the last seven years, if above twenty -five year's of age, &c." A conservative or protective scheme this ! Decidedly. We want something to distinguish who are and who are not gardeners. We must draw a line somewhere. If all men that work in gardens are gardeners, we must be strong numerically, and ought to have had at least 10,000 names by this time. On Rule 19, I should like to see a clause inserted for gardeners when out of emplojonent, relieving them from contributing at such times, providing always that their non- employment is not caused by carelessness, idleness, or cul- pable negligence. I have known many gardeners out of employment for two years, twelve montlis, and between that and six months very commonly, through no faidt of their own — I have myself been unemployed for nearly six months. This, when a man has a family, and the low wages we receive when in employment, prevent our laying by much against rainy days ; and such small savings will hardly enable a man to keep his family from starving, much less to contri- NoTemlwr 3, 1863. ] JOITRNAIi OF HOETICULTtTEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 347 bute to a benefit society, when out of employment. A member thus exempted from payment when unemployed would have his contribution carried to his account, which he would be re- quii-ed to pay — i.e., the arreajs as well as his regular contribu- tion— on his obtaining full employment. It would be highly mortifying to members to be discarded the Society because misfortune hindered their being able to meet the contribu- tion required by the Society. The Odd Fellows are acting upon this principle during the prevalence of the cotton famine, and are now relying on the accumulated funds of the Society. I have only to add that I am one of those most likely to derive great benefit from the establishment of such a Society. There are some that have no apparent necessity to join societies of this kind; but I would ask such, Are you prepared to avow that you are not inclined to strive to alleviate the suffering of yoitr fellow men ? "We rely on your aid, your counsel, and good wishes for the fui-therance of the general well-being of the infant Society, not only on account of the great benefits to be derived from it by our unfortunate and afflicted brethren, but to uphold the character of the craft, and to bring out the philanthropic qualities which other men abound in, and for which we have been too long undis- tinguished. Also, remember, we want those most unlikely to need rehef to become benefit members ; but at the same time honorary members will give such donations and sub- scriptions as will place us on a sure foundation, and be the means of our occupying the position we ought long ago to have held. It cannot be expected that the Society to be estab- lished wOl suit all ; but whatever it be, so long as it is the decision of the majority, I pledge myself to act and abide by that decision. — G. Abbey. WINTEEESTG GEEA^S'IUMS LM A SPAEE EOOM. The successftd wintering of Geraniums in a sitting-room depends so much on the previous treatment to which they have been subjected in propagating and managing them up to the time that inclement weather renders it necessary to house them, that we think it necessary, in answer to "An Old Subsceibee," to enter somewhat into details on these points, as well as on the treatment most likely to insure success after they are placed in the room for the winter. It is taken for granted that the " Pelargoniums," from the number of young plants which "Ajj Old Subsceibee" is anxious to preserve, are not what are commonly called Pelai'goniums, but the varieties of Geraniums now so much used for planting-out in summer; but should we be mis- taken in this matter, the treatment that is best for the one section is very applicable to the other, as far as their suc- cessful preservation in winter is concerned. Keeping in view the object in which our correspondent is more immediately interested — namely, success in keeping her plants robust and healthy through the winter, we wUl first speak of the propagation of the plants, and in doing so we would point out several errojs into which amateurs of limited experience very generally fall. In the first place, the operation of propagating is delayed till much too late in the season, and then the cuttings selected are far too small ; the tips of the shoots, about 3 or 4 inches long, being chosen. Now the successful wintering depends to a very great extent both on the size of the cuttings and on the time they are put in. Under all circumstances, and more particularly when they have to be wintered in spare rooms or any similar place, the cuttings should be put in before the middle of August ; and instead of taking the mere soft sappy points of the shoots for cuttings, these should be taken sufficiently large from the plants to have that portion of them, at least, which is to be inserted in the soil of well-consolidated wood, and altogether they should be from 6 to 9 inches in length, according to the size of the respective sorts, instead of three and four-inch cuttings, as commonly used. These strong well-organised cuttings root more speedily and with scarcely any failures, they give far less trouble in winter, and in spring make Guei plants. So much for the nature of the cuttings and the time of putting them in. To preserve them, after they are struck, with the greatest possible success we recommend pots instead of wooden boxes. Although we have wintered hundreds of thousands of cut- tings in boxes with great success, yet it has always been most evident that those in pots were always in the best condition in spring ; and for convenience in wintering them in sitting-rooms pots are most desirable, and those known as 24's or eight-inch pots are the most serviceable. But in whatever vessels they are propagated these should be well drained to begin with, and then filled up with a compost consisting of equal proportions of loam, leaf mould, and sand, and when these three constituents cannot be conve- niently had, as not unfrequently happens, the nest best to use are equal proportions of common light garden soil and road drift, two elements which are easily obtained by most people who attempt gardening. The cuttings should not ■ be inserted thicker together than at the rate of twenty to the square foot, and strong-growing sorts not so thickly. There is nothing gained by the crowding system, especially in the case of such as our correspondent, who wishes to winter her plants successfully in a spare room, and who has no glass house in which to push on in spring plants that have been injured by being crowded in winter. Aft^er the cuttings are all in, the best place to set them to root in is the hottest possible spot out-doors — that is, where they can get most sunshine, and be freely exposed to air. We never find Geraniums struck under glass or anywhere else thrive so well as those rooted out of doors — they axe so hardy and stubby when hoixsed as compared to those struck under glass or in room-windows. When the cuttings are made, all the big leaves should be removed except a few at the top of the cutting, and ever afterwards they should not be allowed to become crowded vrith superabundant foliage. The air should play freely through them, so that the young plants may become soUdified and hardy. They should be left out- doors tDl danger from frost or the heavy rains of autumn render it necessary to protect them : and if this can be done in some temporary way, so as to shield them from both rain and frost, and at the same time expose them freely to all sunshine and dry weather tiU near the end of October, it wiU be preferable to putting them into a sitting-room, unless the trouble be taken to put them out-doors every fine day, which is better still if the labour would not be too much. By carrying out the treatment indicated by the foregoing directions the plants will be stiff rustling " stuff" that will be much more proof against damping and mildew, the great enemies of soft, flabby, coddled cuttings that are put in late, and struck in some confined shaded position. A.fter housing them for the winter, no more water should be given than is necessary to keep them from flagging, and that will be very little indeed. We often look with something akin to pity on Geraniums which are struck late, and placed in sitting-room windows with barely a root to them, to be gorged with too much water — treatment which ends in a lai-ge per-centage of death and a miserable remnant of wretched-looking plants. On the shelves of our vineries we winter thousands of Geraniums, and from the beginning of November tUl February we seldom give them a single drop of water, and if this is considered good treatment on the shelf of a dry vinery fuUy exposed to all the sun and light that such a position can afford, it will readily be inferred that we recommend them to be kept very dry at the root, more particularly when they are to be wintered in a sitting- room, always a dark place as compared with the shelf of a vinery. It is much preferable to allow them to flag a little than to aim at making them grow in such a position; and by being kept dry at the root they multiply their feeders and acquire an amount of irritability which insures rapid progress when repotted in spring. We, therefore, recommend " An Old Stjbsceibee " to give just water enough to prevent much flagging, and that wxU be very little indeed. They should be looked over frequently, and all decaying leaves removed, and when the weather is mild and not foggy air should be admitted to the room. Unless they become very dusty it will be best not to moisten the foliage at all, as moisture is just one of the evils to be contended against. The best way of cleaning the leaves is to take a moderately moist sponge and wipe them with it.^ Gera- niums in this hardy and dry condition will stand 2° or 3° of frost without injury, but it is not advisable to subject them to a lower temperature than 32°. At the same time they will be all the better in spring if never warmer than 40° S48 JOtTEXAI. OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GASDENEE. [ November 3, 1663. througli the winter. As all cannot be set close to the ■window, the best way is to keep ttose which show the palest hue next the glass, or treat all alike in this point, letting them have time about in the best position. With regard to the use of guano, in the case of Geraniums in a sittiug-room there is no necessity for any artificial apph- oatiou of tie sort. The power of plants to decompose am- monia depends on the amount of light to which they ai"e exposed ; and to apjjly any such stimulant to jjlants resting, as your Geraniums ought to be for the next three months, would be a&in to the feasting of an individual, whose liver was clogged up and congested, with roast beef and brown stout. If you keep your young Geraniums cool, dry, and .exposed to as much light as possible, these are the matters on tAicIi tlieir hue and health depend. All the fire that should be ajiijlied is just enough to pre- vent the temperature from faUing below the freezing-point ; and instead of vessels of water to keep the air moist, it should be kept as dry as possible, and when any of the leaves show signs of damp a fire might be kindled occasionally during damp weather. — D. Thomson. HAEDY FEEjSTS. Ah certain diseases become epidemic, and many persons who had net hitherto suspected that they were in any way predisposed to them find out that such is the case, and oftentimes to their great trouble and danger ; so in horti- cultural matters, diseases become eindemio there. Horti- eultura!. constitutions, which seemed at one time impene- trable to anything of this kind, are suddenly attacked. The eruption assumes a most violent form. ' The patient becomes restless, dissatisfied, evinces strong acquisitive tendencies, and is altogether a somewhat troublesome neighbour. His friends are sure to thiuk Mm "daft." He talks either bad Latin, or declares his acquaintance with the liighcst aris- tocracy in the land — yea, even with royalty itself, and talks about tile "Prince of Wales" and the "Princess " as if he were their confidential fdend : indeed he, somewhat rude and persona! in his remarks, has no hesitation in saying that the Prince is goggle-eyed or that the Princess " is weedy." I never believed, for instance, that I had the least tendency to Pilicomania. I had cut many a peg, for layering Carnations, from Ferns, had waded thi-ough them in earlier days, when shooting had more charms ior me than floriculture, but never, beyond admii-ing then- feathery looks, gave them more than a passing glance; but when I had seen them petted f-.nd admu-ed X felt that there was, there must have been, some predisposition in me towards them. The disease was increased by the kindness of some friends who gave nie some to grow ; and was materially aggravated by my friend Mr. Ivery, of Dorking, consigning to my care and protection some of the British varieties : and now ivith his and Mr. Sim's catalogue lying before me, I wish to say a few words to encourage the growth of our native species and varieties, of whioli we may say the name is now " Legion," Mr. Sim's catalogue comprising 315 species and varieties ; Mr. Ivery's being tuore select, but still containing a goodly number. As to the mania itself, I think that it is uncommonly sen- sible, mainly because the charm of Ferns arises from form entirely independent of gaudy colouring. So much do I think of tius, that few in my opinion can reaUy study (I don't mea-n botauicaUy), their vaiied and beautiful forms without having their taste improved, ior corj-ect taste has its foundation far more in the form than in colour. It is not the colouring of the old Etruscan vases or the Pompeian lamps that makes them so invaluable, but their correct and beautiful shapes : and when masses of colovu's, distingviish- able at a great distance from their briUiancy, have become so much in vogue, I think it is weU that colour shoixld be toned down now and then by resting amidst the beautiful forms and lovely verdancy of the fernery. And, novif a word or two as to the fernery itself. I am not speaking of Fern-houses but of the hardy fernery. Of the two requisites for a perfect one I am, alas ! unable to comiu;i,nd one — viz., freedom fi-om wind. Shade I can com- mand to a certain extent, but the wind baffles me. It whisks into n.y narrow garden, twists the lionds all about, scorches the edge:- of the leave?, and destroys their beauty to a con- siderable extent ; so my best varieties must be grown in pots kept in a ijit during winter, and under the friendly shade, not of a "wide-spreading Beech," but of a titfany house : but stOl, withal, I try to keep up the semblance of a hardy fernery. This structure must be a matter of taste ; and there is one rule that I think is worth while remem- bering— viz.. Avoid everything that partakes of what is commonly caUed "cockneyism" — all shells, whitewashed flints, and such like abominations. Use good honest stones, or, what I think as suitable as anything, "bmTs" from a brick-kiln. I suppose that all do not think so ; for a good old friend and neighbour of mine, seeing my fernery in process of formation, asked •' What I was doing with all that brick rubbish i" Was I going to make a di-ain r" These materials should be piled up according to taste, making them have as i-uinous an appeai'ance as possible, and exposing the rough portions of the bricks to the outside, while convenient spaces should )je left for the introduction of the Ferns. Some per- sons use roots of trees ; but they breed such a quantity of fungi that they aa-e, I think-, very objectionable, though theii- appearance is verj' much in their favoui'. Any one who has seen the positions in which Ferns most deliglit to luxmiate will at ouca see that a light sandy soil is the most natural one for growing them in, and this must be compassed if pos- sible in the fernery. I have tested the cocoa-nut refuse, and find it answer admirably. Mixed with an equal portion of peat and some silver sand, it forms to my mind the very best material lor them. Where peat cannot be readily ob- tained leaf mould mixed with it would be an excellent sub- stitute. The refuse retains a considerable amount of mois- ture without soddening, and the roots of the Ferns positively luxuriate in it. It is equally useful in the pot-culture of Ferns. Some excellent remarks are made by Mi-. Sim in his pre- face relating to the planting of the Ferns in the fernery, and I cannot do better than quote his own words : — " In ai-ranging the plants generally, the evergreen and deciduous kinds should be so planted that when the foUage of the latter dies oil for the winter, there may still be abundant objects of interest throughout the whole. To this end, pre- eminently valuable is the winter verdure of Scolopendiium vulgare, Blechnum spicant, Polystichum aculeatum and P. angulare, Polypodium vulgare, Lastrea semula and L. di- latata, Lastrea Filbc-mas, and the very numerous, beauti^, and distinct varieties of most of these species." And now what kinds would be most suitable for the pui'- pose ;■* Of this part I can only speak fi'om my own limited experience ; but having gi'own some of the species and varieties through Mr. Ivery's kindness, I v/ill mention what seem to me most desk'able; and, fii-st, I would say, give place to royalty, and plant Osmunda regaUs in a suitable and commanding position. In my own little spot I have a pipe which is supplied with water ii'om the waterworks, and to this a fine rose, so that I can, whenever I like, have a miniature fountain at work. Close to this I have placed the Osmunda, which delights in a moist soil, and by sUghtly turning the tap there is, whenever the water is on, a con- tinuous moisture, so that I hope my plant of it will floiuish well if the cruel winds allow it to do so. Then we must have the Lady Fem (Athyriuui FUix-foemina), and some of its many beautiful varieties. Let me name a few out of the fifty-seven, which JIi'. Sim places in his list. apuffiforme, a curious and small-growing variety. comnbiferum, handsome lai-gish vai-iety, with fronds from li to '2 feet. depauperatum, cui-ious and distinct. Fieldise, a very remarkable and beautiful variety. Fri^eUise, a very elegant and curious sport. laciniatum, remarkable lance-shaped fronds. A vei-y pretty variety. multifidum, the fronds are curiously and beautifully tasselled. plumosum, a veiy graceful and beautiful Fem. thyssanotum, very neat and pretty. Of the Male Fern (Lastrea Fiiix-mas), itself very beautiful, there ought to be added the i'oUowing : — BoUandi*, a distinct and beautiful sort. eristata, one of the very noblest and best of our British Ferns. It makes a fine head, and ought to be in every coUeotion. NoYembcr «. 18B3. ] JOTJENAIi OP HORTICtTLTUEH AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 349 Of the common Polypody (Polypodium vvTlgarc), there are also many varieties. Of these select cambricnm, the Welsh Polypody. crenatum, a fine and stately variety. marginatnm, a cnrious and not by any means commonF ern. Of Polystichum angulare there are also a large number of vaiieties — upwards of forty — and of these some must be had. cristatum, a beautiful crested variety. depauperatum, very small and curious. proliferum Woollastoni, a most beaii.tiful, slenderly-cut, and distinct Fern. Others may be selected ; and it mxist be borne in mind that the evergreen character of this Fern makes it a most desirable addition to the hai'dy fernery, and when used with the varieties of Scolopendriuni it will impart a fresh appear- ance to it even diuring the depth of winter. The Bleclmum spicant, or common Hard Fem, is also indispensable. Of the numerous varieties of it perhaps the most desirable ai-e imbricatum, a strikingly handsome and distinct variety. ramosum, somewhat crested, and very beautiful. Scolopendi-ium vulgare is another evergreen species, of •which thei-e are no less than seventy varieties, and of these several might be selected. crispum, edged like a frill. digitatum, a very beautiful crested variety. marginatum, curious and handsome vaa-iety. ramosum, exceedingly handsome. Then there are other Ferns which may be added, such as Woodsia ilvensis and Cystopteris fragilis ; nor would I be without the Pteris aquilina, the common Brake, from whence I have flushed in former days many a partridge, for its fine noble habit well entitles it to a place amongst its congeners ; and others might be added as the fancy or pocket of the cultivator may suggest. I have not recommended rare species, or varieties merely curious in a botanical point of view, but such as I think would make a good beginning for a hardy fernery. I would, however, repeat what I have formerly said, that fi-om what I know of our principal Fem- gi-owers, any one may safely put himself into the hands of such men as Mr. Ivery and Mr. Sim, and if weU inoculated I have no doubt that the virus will be suiiiciently strong to spread, so that he wOl, by-and-by, be looking to add to Ms present small collection ; or it may set him off at once upon the pm-suit ; and I am qviite sure that the ladies of the famOy, if not altogether wedded to " King Croquet," will rejoice in the cool and fresh-looking appearance of the hardy fernery. — D., Deal. P.S.— May I here correct an absurd sentence in my paper of last week on new Eoses, arising from my wretched habit of fast writing? After enumerating the Tea Eoses, I am made to say these aU " succeed" well; it should have been " sound " well. There are other trifling little inaccuracies of grammar, to which not I but my bad writing must plead guilty. The note, too, on Eose Eeine de la Pape ought to have been as a note to the paper, and not have been sepa- rated to another part of the Journal. DEATH OF MR. DONALD BEATON. It is very painful to us having to announce the death of Mb. Donald Beaton, which toot place at his residence at Surbiton, Kingston-on-Thames, at seven o'clock on the evening of Saturday last, at the age of 62. For a considerable time past, since his last iUness, Mr. Beaton had been in an unusually good state of health, and had become as active and vivacious as ever he was in his best days. He was constantly engaged in attending to his'plants and in reading up the l.iteat horticultural infor- mation ; but on Thursday evening last he was suddenly seized with an attack of paralysis, which entirely deprived him of the use of his left side, and fi-om sis o'clock on the morning of Friday till the time of his death he was perfectly insensible. There ai'e none who knew Mr. Beaton personally, and few who knew him only by his writings, who will not regret to hear of this event. For upwards of thirty years he was in the van of English horticulture, and for many years the leader of that branch of it which more immediately concerns the flower garden. To Mr. Beaton we aje mainly indebted for the direction that has been given to the modern style of English flower gardening, saving that part of it which is distingiiished as "the polychrome style," and it is generally allowed that through his articles, as published periodically in the pages of this Journal, his fine taste and skill in the hai-monising of colours have exercised an influ- ence which has operated in aU the best garden establish- ments in the country. It was not in the pra,ctice of gardening alone that Mr. Beaton excelled. Although he has not taken a position among botanists, he was no mean proficient in that science, and there is, perhaps, not another example on record in the history of oiu' British gardening of one who applied that science more skilfully and beneficially to the practice of horticulture. His knowledge of botany was not of that common order which consists in running over the names of plants ; but whether on questions affecting the alliances, the structure, or the physiology of plants, he was equally acquainted with them all, and he possessed an originality of thought, a keen perception, and a sti-ength of intellect that enabled him to step aside from many of the received opinions, and to pro- mulgate views which some of the most eminent physiologists of the day were not slow to accept. Even as a botanist, however, his name will always bo on record, the late Hon. and Eev. Dean Herbert, himself an accomplished botanist and one who could well appreciate the talents and worth of such a man as Mr. Beaton, having founded the genus Beatonia in honoiu' of him. As a fiiend Mr. Beaton was sincere, cordial, and constant; as a neighbom-, generous, benevolent, and kind ; and as a man, he exemplified, in aU his relations in life, the strictest integrity, a scrupiHous sense of honour, a forgiving dispo- sition, and a charitable feeUng to all with whom he was brought in contact. His playful humour, with which aU our readers are so familiar, was perhaps the most prominent featiu-e of his character, because it was that which he had the most frequent opportunity of exercising ; but no other of the characteristics we have mentioned were less developed, although there were not the same opportunities for exhibiting them. The Editors of this Journal feel acutely the final loss of then- esteemed friend and fellow labourer. Fourteen year's of daily intercom-se knitted them and him closely together, and enabled them thoroughly to appreciate his sterling worth and to know full well the benefits they derived from his aid. In him they had an able coadjutor. And what though at times he was hasty in his assertions ? — he was always hearty ; if he chafed occasionally at opposition, in good time he made amends by proofs of his correctness or acknowledgment of his error; and he never depreciated the merits or under valued the attainments of those who were .students or laboui'ers with him in the same field. To the last he devoted himself to his favourite pursuits ; he literally died in the midst of them, for it was when in the act of providing protection for his favourite flowers for the winter that he was seized by the disease which so soon proved fatal. As soon as intelligence of Mr. Beaton's attack reached us. Dr. Hogg, whom he has left as his executor, and to whom he had previously entrusted the entire management of all his affairs, hastened to his house, but too late to receive from him a word of parting. The fatal symptoms had ah-eady set in; and, after two days of much appareiit suffering and entii'e unconsciousness, our lamented friend breathed his last. Mr. Beaton was a native of Urray in Eoss-shire, where he was born on the 8th of Mai-ch, 1802. For his portrait and a more detaited account of his career we must refer oux readers to our Vol. 13, page 153. GEOUND VLNEKIES. No more successful or interesting mode of growing Grapes in small gardens was ever invented than this. Black Ham- burgh Grapes have ripened well in them as far north ae Manchester ; and Trentham Black and Black Hamburgh at Sawbridgeworth in Mr. Eivers's ground vineries. It is a most remarkable fact that Vines trained on slaites . 350 JOITEjSrAL OF HOKTICTJLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ N'ovember 3, 1803. under glass ridges, to which the above name is now applied, although never syringed or watered, never have red spider or oidium. For their immunity from the former the constant radiation of moisture from theii- " mother earth " sufficiently accounts ; but why oidium does not visit them I cannot quite make out. These most simple of aU vineries are now very common in the south of England, more particularly in Berkshire. A clergymen stated to me last season the almost- incredible fact that he had sold Grapes fi'om his ground vineries to the amount of ^620, which he had devoted to charitable purposes. — Vms. CONSEEYATOEY A:SJ) PALM-HOUSE CONNECTED WITH THE EESIDENCE. I ENCLOSE a sketch of a conservatory and Paku-house I propose erecting, attached to a house I am now building. The drawing-room wiU open into the conservatory, 30 feet by 19, and 18 feet high, by two French windows, and the billiard-room into the Palm-house, 19 feet in the square. I have arranged the boiler-house so that the pipes pass under the bilUard-room floor, so as to prevent injury to the table in cold weather. I wish to ask your opinion on the plan, and shoTild be fm-ther obliged by your advice how to arrange the interior for the best. Also, what plants you would recommend, more especially for the Palm-house, which can, if necessary, have a height of from 30 to 35 feet.— Persevere. [1. We believe that any of the builders who advertise in our columns would give you rough plans and specifications, and it is always best to have a clear understanding on these matters before commencing operations. 2. We see nothing objectionable in the position of the contemplated houses. We presume they will be span- roofed, or ridge-and-furrow-roofed, which will divide the rays of light more equally, as the main front of the houses will be to the west. 3. The position of the boiler is all right enough, provided you go deep enough down with it. The idea of taking the pipes beneath the billiard-room floor is good, but we notice that from the steps from the biUiard-room into the proposed Palm-house, and the steps from the drawing-room into the conservatory, the floor of these places respectively will be from 18 to 24 inches below the level of the billiard-room floor, and, therefore, if the heating-pipes are merely to be on the surface of these houses, the flow and return must be sunk aU that deeper under the floor of the biUiard-room. 4. The simplest plan of heating such houses would be to take a flow and return jjipe right beneath the biUiard-room floor on to near the west end of the Palm-house, and along to the north end of the conservatory, joining the flow and retm-n there. If the pipes should be sunk enough below the bOliai-d-room floor — say 3i to 4 feet, then these main flow and retm-ns could also be sunk beneath a path, out of sight, only by this arrangement there would always be a Uttle heat in the conservatory when heat was not wanted in the Palm-house, and this with plenty of air would never do any harm. If deemed advisable, however, to keep all artificial hejit from thence except when wanted, the pipes may go on as proposed, but a connecting bend should join the flow and return at the division between the houses, and a valve shut in the conservatory part would prevent the flow in that part when not needed. Keep in mind that this main flow-pipe should never fall from the time it leaves the boiler until it takes the bend to retm'n thither. If that pipe at the north end of the conservatory is 3 inches higher than where it started from the boiler it will be better than if on a dead level ; and at that highest point a small gas-pipe should be left open to prevent air accumulating, the open end of that pipe standing higher by a couple of feet than any other pipe in the house. From these two pipes other pipes can be taken to heat the houses, the one in the conservatory to be shut or opened with a valve. 5. The position of the pipes would much depend on the plan of an-angement. Such houses could not be kept at their best without other prepai-atory houses. Suppose, for instance, in the case of the conservatory, that you have some IS or 24 inches next the di'awing-room for steps, and then 3 feet of walk ; the same in front of fruit-wall, some IS inches in height, and a three-feet walk there, and two walks across opposite the two French windows ; you would have a bed in the middle, and a bed at each end, and a bed or border in front and back. The common plan would be to take the pipes on the sides and ends, place a stage over them, a stage also in the middle, and supply with plants in pots in the usual manner. Now, if we wanted to make that conservatory an elegant affau-, we would not have a pot seen, nor yet a pipe either. We would take two four-inch pipes right round the house (or three in front and north end, and two at back and south end wovdd be better), and we would place them in a shallow trench beneath the pathway — the sides of pathway of stone, the centre over the pipes of iron gi-ating to walk on. We would fix on as many places as we wanted for creepers — say, two at the back of the house, and six in fi-ont, prepai'ing brick pits well drained for them, about 2 feet square, and as much in depth. We would have no stages at all, but would surround all the beds with kerbs of stone or slate 6 inches deep, and instead of planting- out the plants in the beds, we would plunge the pots in fine sandy soil, and cover with moss. All the inconsistency of glowing red pots and Ol-assorted stages so near a drawing- room would thus be avoided, and the majority of the plants in the beds might be so managed as never to be much above the eye, but rather below it, whilst flaunting creepers and suspended baskets would amply fill up what space could be spared above head, so as to let plenty of light come in. What could be more beautiful in winter than a bed of Camellias fronted with Daphnes of kinds, and these with edgings of Hyacinths, Narcissus, Tuhps, &c., and yet not a pot of them all seen to disfigure the chaste efl'ect, with Acacias, and Habrothamnus, Passifloras, &c,, depending from the roof? These creepers with a little rich mulching or manure-watering would gi-ow strong enough, and the con- tracting of the roots in the small brick pit will cause them to bloom more freely than when the creepers are planted out in the house. 6. The same principle will apply to the Palm-house. A walk may go all round, and the pipes may here also be beneath the pathway ; but if the same nicety need not be observed, the principal pipes might go under a wide shelf on the south side and west front. These shelves could then be supplied with stove flowering plants in pots, whilst the centre bed might be partly planted out, if such a plan were deemed advisable. If much were to be done in that way, as the bed in the centre would be about 10 feet square, it would much assist such plants as Musa Cavendishii, and others, if there were three four-inch pipes beneath the bed in which they were grown. Few Palms could be grown satisfactorily November 3, 1S63. ] JOUKNAL OB' HOETICtTLTHEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 351 in such a hoiisa. Four pipes connected with the flow would be needed for top heat round the south and west ends, and .jne or two as returns, and .joining the main return, could go round the division between the houses. To make the most as to appeai-anco, the beds should be arranged as iu the conservatory, a pipe taken round beneath the warm borders, three beneath the central bed, and the plants planted-out, or seeming to be so from plunging the pots. That such attention to elegance is not often met with is just a reas'in why a man of taste should set the example. Then, likewise, the pipes for du-ect top heat would go beneath the pathway. One advantage this mode would have is, that no shelves or stages would be wanted. As in the conservatoiy, basket Orchids, trailing stove plants, and the climbers, would do all the work above head. Who will break in on the dismal monotony of shelves, and all the rest ofity— R. F.] VINES IN POTS. A FKiEND sent me packed three weH-ripened Black Hanr- burgh Vines, seemingly only a year or two old (judging from the size of the wood), but as I have not much room, I would prefer them in pots. A line from you will meet my difficulties, which are — 1st, Size of pot they will fruit in ; lind. Soil ; 3rd, When to prune. — A. G. 3. [If our con-espondent had infoi-med us whether he has re- ceived the Vines in the pots in which they have been grown and established themselves, or whether they are Vines that have been planted-out in a border for a time and then lifted, we would have had no difficulty in giving directions which would have met his case precisely. But as the Vines may have been received in either of the two conditions named, it will, therefore, be necessary to give directions bearing on both cases, in order that what shall be said in answer to the first question will meet the case. It would save a deal of perplexity and waste of words, if in such special cases more minute and explicit information were given as to the state of various plants and fruits about which information is required. 1st. If the Vines are in the pots in which they have been grown, it wiU not be necessary to repot them into pots of lai-ger size, if those they are in are not less than 16's, or 10-inch pots. In the size named they wiU ripen a heavy orop of fruit, all other things being equal, with proper attention to watering and feeding with manui-e water. Pre- suming that they are now in pots not larger than the size named, they should not be shifted into larger pots at all, unless the Vines are wanted to fruit for several years in pots. In that case it will best to shift them into pots a size or two larger. And were it not from the danger of breaking their tender shoots, we woiUd not shift them till they had developed a good many leaves, and had begun to make fresh roots, which, unless plunged in an unnaturally and injuriously strong bottom heat, they never do till they have made con- siderable growth. In the hands of a novice it wUl, therefore, be safer to shift them just as the buds are beginning to swell in spring. The pots shoixld be well drained ; the soil used shovdd consist of three parts turfy loam, and one part well-rotted manure, with a sprinkling of bone dust. The balls should be mode- rately damp when shifted, and the fresh soil should be rammed firmly round the ball in potting. A 12-inch or 14-inch pot will keejj a Vine 6 or 8 feet long in a fiTiiting state for a good many years with proper feeding and rich top-dressings. 2nd. If the Vines have been received without pots or ball, as is just possible, the size of pot must be regulated by the object in view. If it be intended to keep them in pots for years, and the Vines are strong and well rooted, then put them into 14-inch pots at once. Drain the pots well, and use the same sod as already named. Distribute the roots nicely among the sod, and pot firmly. In this case there must not be so sanguine a hope of a crop next summer, unless the Vines are thoroughly well ripened, and a little bottom heat can be supplied when they begin to move in the spring. But even in this case, and with the best management, lifted Vines are apt to do what gardeners call "run," or "wire" — i.e., they show fruit well enough at first, but when the stored-up sap is exhausted the bunches run away into claspers instead of being developed into bloom. They should be pruned immediately, and kept in the coolest part of your gi-eenhouse for the next three months at least The want of room is that which appears to have led to the determination of keeping the Vines in pots. But we would suggest and recommend, if the position of the green- house will admit of it, to make a border and plant one or two of the Vines out. They can be pruned and trained to occupy any desired amount of room, and will give far less trouble, and be much more likely to give better fruit, and more of it, than in pots. — D. T.J STYLES OF GARDENING. It is but natural that opinions should vary on almost every subject, and it is well that it is so, since without difference of opimon there would be no controversy ; and as it is by controversy that usefid facts are often elicited, I see no reason to fear a' provocation of it, if the question at issue is likely to be of interest to those engaged in gardening pursuits. We have been favoured occasionally with various opinions as to the comparative merits of the old and new style of gardening, as regards the planting of flower-borders ; but mere opinions, unsupported by statistics, do vei-y little towards settling the question either way. What we want is a few old hands to give their experience and thefr views in a plain practical manner, divested of anything Ufce pre- judice, or even sentiment; for it is unquestionable that there is a great deal of the latter quality exhibited in the lucubrations of those who pursue gardening merely as a source of gi-atification and pleasure. The only correct es- timate, I should think, is arrived at by the thoroughly experienced and practised gardener, who has served his time from his youth upwards, passed through every gi-ade of his profession, and performed his fuU share of hard work both of hand and head, so that when a piece of work- manship is set before him, he is able to weigh both cause and consequence, and give an opinion at once both correct and impartial. Whether he would say that the old style is better than the new, or the new better than the old, is doubtftxl; but most probably he would take into consider- ation the progress of the times, and assert that as nothing in na,ture or art is stationai-y, it is little to be regretted that the old style of gardening has followed the natural course of things in general, and has passed, or is passing away ; and if the new style does not possess such varied or agreeable features, it would be better to modify the old style, arid adapt it to the times in which we live, than to indulge in vain regrets that what has passed away apparently possessed greater charms than what we have opportunities of more closely inspecting. Having from my earliest boyhood been familiar with some of the old-fashioned border plants, and learned very early to distinguish such ones as the Spiderwort, the Catehfly the Soapwort, the Speedwell, the Livelong, the Bee Lark- spur, the Bachelors Buttons, the Golden Rod, the Starwort, the pretty Sun Rose, the Snapdi-agon, the Willow Herb, and many similar plants with their true English names, it is but natural that I shoidd preserve some little regard for them. Still, viewing them in their true light as subjects for border planting, it is impossible to be blind to the fact, that among all the old border plants there is not one that I could name that gives the brilliancy of colouiing, com- bined with the dwarfr compact habft, and continuous Wood- ing of the ordinary bedding Geranium— that it would be impossible to find among them plants to supersede the common bedding plants of the day, and obtain from them such brilliant masses of colouring for four or five months continuously. It is all very well for your sentimentalist to dream ot tne old-fashioned mixed border, where he might cull his Dafi'o- dils in March, his Wallflowers and Cowslips m April and May, his Pinks in June, his Cloves in July, Phloxes m August, perennial Asters in September, and Clirysanthe- mums in October and November. Certainly there is variety, every object has its peculiar interest. Each month also brings its own peculiar flora, and this to some persons 352 JOUENAX, OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ November 3, 1863. possesses gi-eat atti-action ; but there is not, and cannot be, that striking display of beauty which the bedding-out system presents. In this latter system tlie effect is sudden ; it breaks full on the eye from the first, but if weU managed the eye does not weary, for every bed, or part of a bed, will bear a sepai-ate inspection. There is much more in it than the mere gratification of the organs of sight, for the taste of the designer ui handling the materials, the quality of the -workmanship, &c., may all be discussed, and form as much a subject for comment as a painting or a piece of sculijture. Now one of the chief objections to the bedding-out system put forward by its opponents is the sense of di'eariness that is produced at the close of the yeai', when the shortening days show their natm-al eft'ects on the masses of plants, or when an autumn frost changes- the whole scene in a single night and necessitates then- hasty removal, suddenly converting what were rich beds of flowering plants into a bai'ren waste. I, for one, do not agree that this natural process, which has many analogies, ought to produce any such feeUng. No sense of dreai'iness is produced at the approach of night after enjoying the hght of the sun during the allotted time, Neitlier do we di-ead the approach of the time of rest after a day of toU. Nor do I see why the falling of the leaf should be suggestive of melancholy thouglits. AVhen the trees have been clothed with verdiu'e their allotted time winter itself cones and changes the whole aspect of natui'e, and by the contrast we are enabled to see tenfold the beauties that the summer brings forth — not that the Avinter leaves the garden entir-ely devoid of attractions. If it has been laid out and furnished v/ith a view to winter as well as summer decor.ition, the change of seasons merely produces a relief, and leaves no cause for depression. If we cannot have the gay flower-beds in winter, what can be more really beautiful than the habit and style of growth of many of the Coniferous trees ? A judicious jilanting of these alone will give an interest to any garden. Evergreens of any descrij)tion wUl make a garden look lively during the winter — that is, when they are well arranged ; and the aiTaugement is, perhaps, the main point, for this alone wiU make all the difi'erence between a mere mass or collection of shi-ubs and a scene calculated to excite interest. Again : I consider that, supposing the flower-beds to form the principal featm-e of the garden, and that they are duly proportioned and neatly made either on grass or on gravel, if kept neat and tidy when otherwise bai'e, there is nothing about them sug- gestive of barrenness, for they must always be associated with then- summer occupants. In fact, an old gardener once told me that it was his decided opinion that at no time of the year did the garden look so well as when put in order for the winter. With the edges trimmed, the beds and borders turned up, the grass and gravel in the best possible order, not even the gaieties of summer made it more attractive. Without going quite so far as that, we may satisfy our minds that each season brings its own peculiar aspects, none of which need be dreary or unattractive, unless we are determined that one or the other shall be so. In this case the faidt does not rest with the gai-den or the season. Then, again, there arc ways and means of clothing the flower-beds with verdure during the winter, and of having spring flowers on the same gi'ound that we expect to have summer and autumn gaiety. The method I have myself adopted has been eff'ec'ual in secm-ing this object. The process, I believe, is well known among gardeners, and has been objected to on account of the extra time and labour requu-ed, and the fact of few being able to appro- priate a piece of reserve ground sufEcient for the purpose. But as regards the time and labour, these are much less than ai-e required by the bedding plants themselves ; and as to the reserve ground, no garden ought to be laid out without some provision of the kind. It is as necessary to the garden as the scuBery is to the dwelling-house, and quite as useful in the small garden as the large one. Besides, I happen to think that in gardening, as in other things, for every efTect there must be an adequate cause. I would have oiu- flower-beds as attractive in winter and spring as in summer and autumn. The labour and neces- sary appurtenances must be proportionate. There is tlus much to be said, however, that plants used for winter and spring decoration must be hardy, consequently they do not require to be protected in. expensive structures. But to the method referred to. Some spring-floweriag evergreen herbaceous plants — as the white and yellow Alyssum, Cheiranthus SlarshaUi, Evergreen Candytuft, and above all Primroses and Polyanthuses — are divided or pro- pagated in Aug:ust. They establish themselves before whiter, and would flower the following spring, but are pre- vented. They are planted in the reserve ground a foot apart each way ; and having one clear season and plenty of room to gi'ow, they make tine large tults for planting in the following October or November, having been in nursery quarters about fifteen months. When the bedding plants come off, the gx'ound is dug and manured, and these herb- aceous plants put in. Being lai-ge a few make a good show, and they may be placed 2 feet apart, so that a few dozen plants wOl crop a large space. Gardeners who understand these matters wDl see that this is very different to putting in little plants that must bo set 0 inches apart to jiroduce any efl'ect. Plants raised in this way wUl often flower all the winter and most abundantly, even closing together with the quantity of bloom in April and May ; after which they may be taken up and kept for stock, the ground being again manured for the summer bedders. It will be necessary to have two stocks of these plants — one for the current year's planting, and one to follow in its place. Cheiranthus Mar- shalli and Candytuft should )je struck fiom cuttings early in the summer, to be ready to plant out in August. The others may be divided at that time, and planted for good until fit for bedding-out. By this process, which I will not deny takes up much time, the flower-borders and beds may be kept gay winter and summer ; and those who- are in a position to try it, need no longer complain of the dreariness brought on by the loss of the summer flov/ers. — P. Chittt. REVIEW. i The Srarclty of Homc-groivn Fruits in Great Britain. Charles Eoach Smith, Hon. Mem. E.S.L., &c. By We do not know whether this suggestive pamphlet has been published; but it was read liefore the Historic Society of Lancashu'e and Chesliii'e, and the author has obliged us with a copy. Tliere ai-e no two truths more certain than that " Nature intended that fruit and vegetables should constitute the chief support of man," and that in the British Islands " There is a great scai'city of fruit, and consequently it is high-priced." That man was intended to be cliiefly a vegetarian is demonstrated not only by his physical construction, but by the results to him of long deprivation fioui vegetable food. Scui-vy among long-voyaging sailors is well known to be only preventible by a liberal supply of vegetable substances, either li'esh or preserved, and Mr. Smith thus records another evidence : — '■ Some yeai's since the boys in Christ's Hospital were so infected with cutaneous diseases that they were compelled to be sent home ; and so general and bad was the malady that a medical inquu-y was instituted. The evil was proved to have resulted from the want of fi-uit and vegetable diet. Now, if a school such as this, richly endowed and watched over, is liable to be infected with loathsome disease from the absence of natural food, can we be surprised that millions of our fellow creatures, steejjed in poverty and ignorance, and of impro\'ident ha'uits, ar'e the victims of a neglect or misunderstanding of one of Natm-e's primary laws ;■'" That fi-uit and vegetables are scarce in our islands needs no further proof than a visit to and noting of the prices in the mai'kets of London and other large towns. But go to the pettiest huckster and purchase the commonest of garden produce, and you will have to jjay 2ri. per lb. for Apples, and 8d. per dozen for Cabbages. This is a price which places them among luxuries seldom to be indulged in by the labouring classes, and these high prices are main- tained despite the very large importations from France, Spain, and elsewhere by increased steam na-idgation. It is difficult, now that fruit is imported fi-ee of duty, to ascertain the quantities brought from abroad ; but we ui'e qmte sui-e that those quantities are quadrupled since 1844 ; . Novemljer 3, 1SC3. JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 353 yet from a return now before us we see that in that year duty was paid upon 182,580 bushels of Apples, 28,624 bushels of Chestnuts, 101,801 bushels of Nuts, 33,298 bushels of Walnuts, and on Grajies valued at £25,278. That the deficiency and costliness of fruits and vege- tables might be reduced admits of no doubt, and Mi-. Smith thus points ovit some of the modes by wliich this most desii'able result might be attained. " If weU-meaniug noblemen and gentlemen, who take so much pains in constructing what are called ' model cot- tages ' for labourers, would see that these labom-ers are industrious and provident, a well-stocked gai-den would be insisted on ; bvit at present tliis grand accessory to the cottage, this vital source of half the year's subsistence, is left out of consideration, or it is made a matter of little consequence. " There ai'e enormous ti-acts of ground tenanted by thou- sands of persons less blessed than the class I have just alluded to, which, with just as much trouble as would be an amusement, might be cultivated, and would be cultivated if the masters of these men did thefr duty. The better- regulated French, even when encamped for a short tune upon waste ground, will soon convert the waste into gardens, which occupy their leisure time, find them wholesome food, and keep them sober, cheerful, and contented. But in the districts of England to which I allude (take for example those of the brick-makers), squalor and wretchedness, drunkenness and liigh wages, go together. Neglected by their masters, who only look to the work to be done, their gardenless hovels are the picture of misery. Gaining wages enough to keep them mth provident care through the winter, their* only solace is the beer-shop; and for most of the winter months they subsist by begging or stealing, or live in the workhouse. I make no doubt that gai-dens would be books of instruction to them, and induce habits of fore- sight, industry, and sobriety, to which they are at present sliangei's. " But how are we to provide Apples on an extensive scale to make them of general utility ? Nothing is more easy. Be ever planting trees. I will give you a notion of what might have been done, and could yet be done, by the du-eetors of our railways. Wlio will calculate the exact number of the thousands of miles of unoccxipied laud by the sides of our various lines ? It is an easy task, and I here supply an estimate of what may be produced in a single mile. One inile would requii'e about 250 trees, the cost of which, and the labour of planting, would be about £15. As good strong trees should be selected, in tlu'ee years they would pay their expenses, and in a few years more we may calculate that out of the 250 about 200 would produce five bushels each, which, at 3s. per bushel woul'.l be .£150; and, of course, if both sides of the niile of railway were planted the returns woidd be i;300, and for one hundred mdes we may calculate ^£30,000. But make yet a deduction for contingencies and the profit would be enormous. There is no reason, moi'e- over, why oiu" highways and byways should not be planted with fruit trees (especially the Apple), and also the vast tracts of land which svu'round hospitals, fortifications, and other public buildings.* One of the most absiird objections that has been opposed to my suggestion is that the fruit might be stolen. A highly intelligent friend of mine who keeps a large and respectable school, has, or had, a consider- able space of unoccupied ivall, the advantage of which for fruit trees I pointed out to him. He met my persuasion with the common objection — a fear of stealing. I observed, ' Yoiu- boys must eat something. Let them steal, or con- sider the fruit their own ; and if you want any get up in the morning early and steal from them.' But where such large quantities of fruit as I contemplate would be gi'own, stealing to any extent need not be apprehended. How is it that in France we see the road-sides for rmles lined with Apple trees ? Is it that the French are more honest than we ? If 30, let us endeavo'or to rise to their standard of honesty." Orcharding is now too much neglected, yet might most profitably be pm-sued, especially in the south of England * since -writing tbe abovt; I ht;ve hud an opportunity of laying: my view's on tiiis subject before tlie Chairman of the London, chuthiim, unci Dover Railway, and I have hopes that, in con.'-equence, :ny suj-^fjestions will be, at least, partially adopted. If so, it is probable we may suun Fee the waste ground of our lines of ra-lways yielding tbe shareholders a good prolit from an unlouked-for source. and Ireland ; and we go further, now that glass and timber and other building materials are so cheap, tor we know that they enable any one who vrill devote the money and time to the pursuit to grow the rarer ft'uits very profitably. We are acquainted with several persons who have erected very extensive orchard-houses, and sell the Black Hamburgh Grapes from them very remuneratively. We would go even further, and observe that in hundreds — nay, in thousands of instances, similar extensive glass struetiu'es might be erected against parts of some of our manufactories and heated by their waste steam or waste hot water. Such structures by ripening stiU earlier the Grapes and other fruits grown within them, would be projiortionately more highly renumerative. DEESSING- FRUIT TEEES WITH GISHTJEST COMPOUND. As the season approaches when gardeners begin to think of winter-dressing their fruit trees, and as Sir. Sivers and other authorities have recommended the use of Gishurst compound for this purpose, I now ask permission to give the result of some trials with Gishurst on mj trees last winter and spring. For several years past all the orchard-house trees when fully at rest — say in December, have been drenched with a solution of Gishurst, eight ounces (8) to the gaUon of soft water, without any after-washing v,-ith water. This oc- casionally caused a few buds from v/eakly trees to fall, but left more tlian sufficient for any crop, and made the trees look very healthy. However, last year I heard several ac- counts from thoroughly good authorities, of many buds having been destroyed, in some cases owing to too strong- applications of Gishurst. I wished to test whether this had been caused by the dressing having been applied too late, when the trees were no longer at rest, so, when giving most of my trees their usual eight-ounce solution, I left a few for exjjeriment later, when the buds should have begun to swell. Some of these were washed with eight-ounces strength of solution, and a few minutes afterwards the trees washed with water ; others with four-ounces strength with no after- water-washing. The residts were, that some buds were injured by the strong solution, notwithstanding t'ne after- washing, which was not the ease (except in the case of some half-dozen buds), with the weaker solution mthout water- washing. The conclusions I have come to are, that eight-ounces solution to fairly strong trees thoroughly at rest is the best strength and safe for buds except, possibly, those of early Pears. That if this strength be apijlied after the wood begins to grow, some buds may be injured. That 4 ozs. to the gallon is safe even when buds have begun to swell, and is, perhaps, the best strength for not strong trees and Pears, especially early ones. These remarks apply enly to pot trees in orchard-houses, of which only I have any considerable experience. For friut trees on walls I believe a pound to the gallon, drenched over the tree and waU by means of a plasterer's brush, to be the best strength. Last year I was allowed to experiment on some trees on an old wall, which year after year had been so eaten up with blight that their fruit came to nothing. 1 operated on three of the trees. Plums, with strong solutions of Gishurst, with the result that the trees so treated were much improved in appearance, and bore some fine fruit. The good summer may have helped, but they looked healthier than their unwashed neighbours, and now the whole wall has been abandoned to me to have a strong Gishm-st treat- ment, the result of which I will communicate on a future occasion. — GsoKaE Wilson, Gishurst Cottage, Weybridge. Ammonia in Aib op Plant-eouses. — I qnite agree with Mr. D. Thomson as to the beneficial effects produced by the introduction of ammonia into om- forcing-houses. I have for several years been in the habit of using in the evapwat- ing-troughs a small quantity of liquid manure from the farmyard. I have used it dvu-ing the past season for Pines, Vines, Peaches, and Figs, and I consider it one of the best preventives against red spider. — J. Ckoss, Gardener to Lord Ashburton, the Grange, Alresford. 354 JOTJBNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. November 3, 18C3. The gai-den-house, in the Elizabethan style, is, for size, conveniences, and arrangements, what it ought to be for Buch a place. It is so situated that some windows will receive the full rays of the sun dming the day — a great matter so far as health and cheerfulness ai'e concerned. The sight of such a home ought to lead to the thorough relinquishing of aU back sheds as residences, either for gar- deners or their assistants. No rooms can be cheerful into TKENTHAM. (Continued from ^a3c_328.) which the rays of the sun never penetrate. The walls 'ai-e chiefly clothed with the Virginian Creeper. As already in- timated, a wide piece of gravel with I\'y-beds separates the house from the range of houses to the west with its back buildings, the nearest of wliich to the house is the business ofBce, followed by fruit-rooms, root-rooms, assistant gar- deners' rooms, washing and bath-room, furnished with hot and cold water, &c. Almost in a line with an eastern window of the dwelling- house is the back range of the upright Trentham-case, and fax-ther southward is the front range. The space between these ranges on the west side, next the garden-house, is filled-in with a colonnade of three elegant stone or com- position arches, and on a square block of stone is inscribed the name of Mr. Fleming, with the date of 1841, placed there by order of the late Duke, as a majk of respect and acknow- ledgment of the services of him, who for so long a period had been the presiding genius that devised and conducted 80 many improvements to such a successful termination. Between this colonnade of arches and the line of the garden- house, is a raised oblong bed filled chiefly with the white and purple Zelinda and the YeUow Titian Dahlias, all in bands and in full and massive bloom, and on a bank close at hand was a dazzling mass of the Saponaria calabrica, which is never more at home than when clambering over or dangling from a knoll. Here, too, was a cluster of raised Ivy-beds, the largest and highest in the centre, and surrounded with less ones, and all filled with Geraniums and centered with fine Humeas. Some of these beds appear in the engraving of the garden-house, close to which, after looking for each other in the early morning, we fixethad the pleasureof shaking hands with our new friend Mr. Henderson, and receiving from him such an amount of courtesy and kindness as we could only barely expect from one, with whom in our boyish days " we had run about the braes," paidled in the same burn, knew all the same wondi'ous secrets about bu-d"s nests, and quarrelled and fought only the more to cement our friend- ship as we caiTied our satchels to the same school. Between that bank and beds on tlie east, and the end of the forcing-houses on the west, the main walk, from north to south, crosses the garden in a lino with the garden- house porch ; that walk extending beyond the south wall into what is called the nursery grounds, but which is the position for the famed ribbon-borders, &c., of which more anon. The sides of this walk are bordered with Ivy, about a foot in height, and rather more in width, which looked extremely well, especially as it was not close -trimmed. The sides beyond the Ivy were margined with Musk, Forget-me- not, Asters, &c., but the size of the fruit trees woiild prevent, if there were not other reason.'?, the close ribboning which they at one time received. Even now the quantity of bed- ding plants used must be most enormous. The sides of these walks are plant<>d with Pear and Apple trees, trained \imbrella or bell-shaped, and pyramidal or cylindrical-shaped November 3, 1863. ] JOURNAIi OP HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 355 alternately, and all the trees seemed to be in the finest order and full of bloom-buds, from a regular system of stopping, though, from the frosts in May, the crop was much thinner than usual. All the lean-to houses, and some of the upright ones, are on the west side of this walk. Another walk nearly divides the garden from east to west, and has an ai-ch thrown over it 10 feet in height, with a width at base of fr-om 6 to 7 feet. This arched walk, now weU filled with Pear and other fruit trees, must be a pleasant promenade in a hot summer's day, and the fruit can also be easily seen and examined. By the side of other walks we found narrow arched trellises 2i feet at base, and 5 feet in height, as we noticed at Keele the other week, and whole quarters filled with various devices as to training Apple and Pear trees, &c., with beautiful standard and pyramidal Currant and Goose- berry trees, that produce fine fruit, whilst the ground can be worked comfortably about them. Close to the Pine- ground vinery we noticed also two rows of upright Pear trees, that might be called rope-of-onion trees, being from 8 to 10 feet in height, and the branches or spui-s not more than a foot through, and regular in width all the way. The ap- pearance of the spurs indicated that by such training and good management a great quantity of good fruit could be obtained in little room. With this glance at the kitchen garden we will accompany our readers thi-ough its ranges of glass houses, taking the east side fii-st, and beginning with the upright Trentham- houses, in the back range, in line with Mr. Henderson's re- sidence. This range consists of four houses, each 66 feet in length. As the gi-ound rises to the eastern boundary, there are ramps with proportionate steps fr-om one house to another, these ramps averaging 24 inches in depth, some being less, and some more. The whole of the upright houses are similar in size, and all are placed against walls. There can be no doubt as to the elegance of their appearance, and as little question that in the hands of Mr. Fleming, and now under the management of Mr. Henderson, they thoroughly answer the purpose, so far as plenty of good fruit is con- cerned. At first I believe they were chiefly intended for protection, as orchard-houses now are, but now they are mostly heated by hot water. They are all furnished with neat, narrow slate paths in the centre, are 6 feet in width, 10 feet high at back wall and front glass, the span-roof being about 15 inches higher at the apex, and one side of the span opens with lever rod. The upright front sashes are wide, with large squares of glass, and move easOy behind each other by wheels running in a groove, so that abundance as well as little aii' in front may be given. In several of the houses there ai-e also louvre boards beneath the plate on which the sashes rest. The back wall is covered with fiTiit trees trained either to a treUis, or oft«ner to nails as studs driven regularly into the wall. Trees are also planted in front, and trained to a trellis from 15 to 18 inches from the glass, and 4.i feet in height. At that height it is found there is abundance of light to colour the fruit at the base of the back wall ; in fa°t. Grapes in very shady places were exceedingly well coloured. Besides this upright treUis in front, aa arch a foot in width is taken across trom it to the back wall at every 12 feet, which gives these houses an elegant appearance as you look along them. It is also almost uniformly the case, that whatever the tree. Cherry, Plum, Peach, or Vine, these arches produce the very best fruit. The dotted line in the section wUl give some idea of these arches as we re- coUeet them. Mr. Henderson has tried them nearer than 12 feet, but then he considered the back wall suffered. Having proved conclusively that the front trellis and these arches at 12 feet apart do no injury to the back wall, I would be glad if Mr. Henderson would set apart one house entirely to the front trellis, and arched all the way along to the back wall, which would then be useless for fruit, and report the result, not merely as to appearance, but as to the question of profit and loss, a matter which in all its bearings is nowhere more rigidly studied than in these gardens. The outside borders of these houses, besides being drained, slope considerably to the walk. The fii-st house is filled back and front with Plum trees, from which the fruit was aD gathered in June ; the short-jointed wood, the promi- nent well-sweUed buds, and the leaves now turning yellow, being everything that could be desired. The second house was tilled with Peach trees, the crop all gathered, this being the fourth house, and the wood getting in excellent order. The third house was a vinery. One rod is taken along the front at 44 feet from the floor, and the bunches hang down from it, but the side shoots fr-om the Vines help to fill up the space, and there is the arch across at 12 feet apart. At one end the fr-ont was thinly covered, and yet there were some huge bunches of the Marchioness of Hastings against the back wall. Against the wall were fine bunches of Lady Downes' as blat-k as black could be, and there was also a fine crop of the White Tokay, which Mr. Henderson prefers much to the Trebbiano and Raisin de Calabre for late keeping, having fr-equentiy had it fine from late houses in Api-U and the Lady Downes' in March. In this house the wood was strong, short -jointed, with large round prominent buds. The fourth house was devoted to Cherries, the leaves browning, the wood hard, and the buds strong and promi- nent ; this house bore a heavy crop in April. On examining the short stubby shoots we found that nipping and stopping had vei-j' seldom been resorted to, the heavy crop having rendered such care and attention unnecessai-y. In these houses no part of the gi-ound is ever seen all the winter, the bottom being filled with bedding plants; and there, until the houses are regulated for then- respective crops, abundance of an- fan be given in mild -n-eather, and a little heat in the pipes keeps them all right in winter. Even in this splendid place the most is made of every bit of glass at all times. In the front range, beginning again at the west end, next to the garden residence, we come first to a Peach-house, the thii-d in succession, from which all the fi-uit had been gathered. The next was an eai-ly vinery, also in a state of rest. The heating being insufficient, pipes were iJlaced along the back as well as in front. The Vines at the west end of the house not doing so well as Mr. Henderson wished, owing chiefly, as he believed, to a great accumulation of moisture, the front ones were raised and planted in fresh material against the back wall. The outside border was removed, and well drained, and we saw the process going on for raising the border much higher than before. For this purpose the front pipes were elevated fully 20 inches higher. A slate was put down to separate the inside from the out- side border, and prevent the roots in the meantime mingling together. Fresh Vines will be planted in the outside border, and when these are well established the inside border and the back pipes and floor wUl also be raised ; and thus, whilst securing the best treatment for each, both back and front, the house -will never be destitute of a crop. The third house was a Cherry-house ; and here much the same method will be followed, as it is to be made into a hite house for Lady Downes' Grape. The new border for the Vines is making in front in much the same way. The Vines -will be left pretty much to themselves until established, so as not to have more heat than will suit the Cherries, so that a 350 JOUKNAL OF HOKTICULTTJEE ASD COTTAGE GASDENEE. [ November 3, 1863. crop may be Lad from the latter for a couple of yeare or so, when the Cherry trees will be removed either to another house or a wall, and the Vines be allowed to occupy the whole house. One great lesson to be le;u-ned at Trentham is, that nothing is done and no change etfected without the matter having previously been looked at in all its bearings, and especially those having reference to economical and pi-udential considerations. The fourth house was a Peach- house, also empty, and having only this peculiarity — that the back wall was studded instead of treUised; and the trees at the back, instead of going merely to the top of the wall, were bent over at the top, so as to form a curve of 2 feet or so under the span roof We now step out, and find the west side of the east wall covered with Pears, and fi-onted also with these upright ■cases, but without any heat as far as we recollect. Here the crop was exceUeut, and the collection of Pears very fine, there being frequently many sorts on one tree and beai-ing profusely, as shoots with fruit-buds had been used fi-equently for grafting, and the scions were chiefly inserted on the sides of the main branches — a good plan, too, for rendering unfertile trees fertile. The only difficulty was in keeping the sorts distinct in the gathering. The fruit was much larger than usual, and some of thern attain an extraordinary size vmder glass ; but as a rule Mr. Henderson does not consider them qvrite equal in flavour- to those grown on the open wall. The north aspect of the south wall is appropriated to Cherries, Plums, &c., and the south side is covered with these upright cases from end to end, the length being from 630 to 640 feet. These are devoted to Peaches and Kec- taiines, and I think in part to Apricots, and at the end of August contained a great mimber of most excellent fruit, among which the Barrington and Walburton Admii-able Peaches, and the Eh-uge and Pitmaston Orange Nectai-ine, were the most conspicuous for their size. Many splendid ones had been gathered for the Crystal Palace Show, on the 1st of September, where they stood in the first ranis of ' honour-. Many fi-uit trees in pots are gi-own in fr-ont of these houses, where there is not a treUis. In front of this fine wall is a large space of ground, even now called the " long nursery," but having nothing of the nursery about it, except the tact that thousands upon thou- sands of nursery bedding plants are turned out here every year- to contend with the weather, and, if possible, thrive and show off all then- perfections to the very best. The post of honom- amongst these is assigned to two ribbon- borders about the same length as the wall — the one next the houses, and the other on the opposite side of a fine gravel walk between them. Beginning at the Box edging the back border, is thus filled— 3 inches from the Box is kept clear-, then a foot -wide of Cerastium, followed by Golden Chain, Scarlet Geranium, Feverfev,', Trentham Rose Geranium, tall brown Calceolai-ias and Pentstemons, mixed ; Glatliolus, in full bloom at the crest, the plants having been forwarded in pots; and then mixed Stocks, Cineraria, and an edging of Thr-ift. The opposite bed was in span-roofed shape, "and thus the rows run fi-om the Box :--Cerastium, LobeUa speciosa, Manglesii and BriUiant Geranium, mixed ; Prince of Orange Calceolaria, and Purple Nosegay Geraniums, mised, or alternate plants of each ; tail brown Calceolaria, a,nd Shnibland Kose Petunia, mixed, which made the centre row ; the other side, sku-ted by giass, being just a counter- part of the above. The rains had lashed these borders very much, and the Calceolarias had been greatly injured ; in- deed, Mr. Hendej-son said they had not been quite up to the mark this autumn, but, nevertheless, the borders looked well, greatly enhanced by the beautifid walk, and the artistic manner in which the Cerastium was managed, regular and flat throughout, and yet nothing stiff about it, and greatly reHeved by the three-inch space of dark e;u-th between it and the gi-een Box edging. If we had not seen these borders we might have left the Cerastium to come to the Box edging, but now we are convinced that the open space of 3 inches left, gives to the whole an ai-tistic charm. Beyond, to the south of this front border, is a grass avenue, on which are placed oblong beds filled with flowering plants, the beds lieiug edged alternately with Holly, Yew, Berberis aqui- folium, and Cotoneaster microphylla. These beds are ii.acked with groups of HoUyhooks, and these again by massive shrubberies, through openings in which peeps are obtained of the pleasure gi-ound scenery. — K. F. (To be continued.) GLADIOLUS. I HAD not intended to add another word to this contro- versy, but as your correspondent somewhat appeals to me I must perforce answer. I. I did not say that derivatives followed the rule of the words from whence derived, but that diminutives did. II. I did not intend to say in one place that the first syllable was glad and in another glade ; but that as it was derived from, gladius, I should throw the accent, whatever there was, on the first syllable. III. I did not say it was a, barbarism to say Gladiolus, but to make it Gladilus, as if no " o " was in the woi-d, which is Mr. Beaton's pronunciation. — D., Deal. PEOPAGATING VINES FKOM EYES. Having a wish to propagate Vines from eyes in the spring, would you favour me with your advice as to the best method of doing so ^ I have a vinery which I intend to start at the end of January, and a circular flue of fireclay runs up through the house. Would a pit made on the top of the iurnace with 0 or 8 inches of sand or rubble stones at the bottom, with about 2 or 2i feet of tan above the stones be a suitable place for the purpose ? — D. P. B. [The plan which you propose for striking your Vine-eyes would answer very well. There are, however, two or thi-ee evils which are likely to reqim-e being guai-ded against in. forming a pit immediately over yoiu- furnace, by which it is presumed that the pit is proposed to be made over the part of the liue next the fu-eplace where the gi-eatest heat is in- vai-iably to be found. In the fir-st place, you must guard against too great an amount of heat, which woidd cause the buds to break weakly. The bottom heat, should not exceed 80". A thermometer plunged in the tan will, therefore, be necessary. It is also to be feared that the jjositiou of the pit which you propose forming will be too far fr-om the glass, which in conjimction with a high bottom heat would be the very worst position possible for Vine-eyes after they had broken into growth. But if you can raise your pit so as to be within a couple of feet or so of the glass and not under the shade of other Vines, your- plan with ordinary attention wUl do very well. We do not, however, consider bottom heat an indispens- able requisite in raising young Vines fi-om eyes, and never practise it ourselves unless when very early ripened Vines are the object, and which, of cour-se, requh-es that they be pushed on rapidly early in the season. In ordinai-y cases the method we adopt with success is, to put the eyes to the number of about thirty into an eight-inch jjot well di-ained and filled with equal parts of loam, leaf mould, and sand. The pots are then placed on a shelf near the glass in a vinery, which is to be started in February. Here they just get the temperatm-e which is usual in starting established Vines, and they always break strongly and do well. As soon as they have made roots about 2 inches in length they are 130tted-of}' into four-inch pots, using a compost composed of half loam and half leaf moidd. We prefer jjotting them off thus early, as there is less danger of then- receiving a check by the roots being broken in potting-ofT _; and they are put into eight-inch pots at first to save trouble in watering, crocking pots, &c., which when they are put singly into small pots is requu-ed to a greater extent. If convenient we put them into a little bottom heat after potting them off, but are not very pai-ticulai- on this point if ■ne can place them near the glass iu any light structiu-e where the night temperature ranges fi-om 65° to 70°. In a bottom heat of 80° they will, however, come into gi-owth sooner than otherwise; but Vines should not under any ch-cum- stances be left longer in strong bottom heat than is just necessary to give them a start after being potted-ofi'. From this it wiU be inferred that the pit proposed is not necessary, and if far from the glass, would, therefore, be objectionable, and that, if a shelf in the warm end of the vinery near the Norembec 3, 1863. ] JOUENAI; OP HOETICTJLTURE A^D COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 357 glass is avaOable, or can be put up, bottom heat is not considered necessary unless when it is desirable to push on Vines early in the season, with the view of ripening them early for the purpose of early forcing in the following season. To grow yoxrr Vines well after they are well rooted in four- inch pots, shift them into eight-inch pots, and keep them in a light place with a night temperature, after the middle of May, of 70°, with a moderately moist atmosphere. If re- quired for planting purposes as permanent Vines, eight-inch pots are quite large enough, a well-ripened cane with plenty of fibry healthy roots being what is required, and not thick- ness of growth. For fi-uiting in pots they should be shifted into 12-inch pots, in which with feeding by liquid manm-e they will make splendid canes. — D. T.] SOME GAEDENS WOETH SEEING. Grin don Hall ... Ashbum Undercliffe Eden House Creswell Humbelton Hill aeadou Hall ... Ashridge The Hall Gaddesden Paik Beechwood Westbrook Shenditcb DTTBHAM. Proprietor. John T. Alcocti, Esq.... Mr. E. Backhouse, Esq. ... Mr. James Allison, Esq Mr. George S. Rimsom, Esq. Mr. John Hay, Esq Hr. Water Company Mr. C, T. Potts, E«q Mr. Oardener. Station, J. Archer ... Sunderland. Hardey Sunderland. J. Cain Sunderland. Burn Sunderland. J. Taylor ... Sunderland. J. Lamb...... Sunderland. Bimpiiins ... Sunderland. HEKTFOKDSHIKE. Earl Brownlow Mr. Sage Berkhampstead T.Curtis, Esq Mr. Dibbins Berkhampstead J. F. Moore Halsey, Esq Mr. Dunbar Boxnioor. Sir T. Sebright, Bart... Mr. Speary Boxmoor. T. Rider, Esq Mr. Tranton Boxmoor. C. Longman, Esq Mr. WaUam Boxmoor. Sale op Chinese Plants. — The following prices were realised at the sale at Mr. Stevens's on Tuesday and Wednes- day last. Abies Kaempferi from 10s. to £,\ 10s. each ; Wood- wardia orientalis, 15s. Lots of six Pinus Bungeana brought fijom lis. to 17s. per lot, of Bambusa variegata 19s. and £1, of Torreya grandis 5s. to 19s. ; of twenty-five Chamaerops rortuni 9s. to £i ; of twelve Lastrea opaca and atrata 10s. and lis. ; of ten Deutzia crenata flore pleno 6s. to 9s. ; similar lots of Iris laevigata 5s. to 9s. ; of five Woodwardia japonica lis. ; and of twelve Lonicera aureo-reticulata 5s. to 7s. per lot. Altogether the proceeds of the two days' sale amounted to upwards of i£3.50. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEN. Keep the heaps of compost well turned over, as the time is approaching when every advantage must be taken of frosty mornings to wheel it over the land. As a general rule, ground that is very deeply trenched shoirld be ma- nured after the trenching, and the manure forked in, except in the case of tap-rooted plants, which ■ndll requii'e the manui-e to be trenched in a,t the bottom, and not incorporated with the surface soil. Cabbage, earth-up those planted for Coleworts, for winter and early spring use. Look over the principal plantations frequently to see if slugs attack the plants J it they are numerous lay a quantity of Cabbage leaves on the ground, and examine them daily ; a pail of hot water or some lime may be taken I'ound at the time they are examined, and slugs shaken into it ; thus many thousands may be desti'oyed at this season. Celery, earth- up that intended for winter use a good height. As soon as the sou becomes a little dry it will be necessary to attend to this as early as an opportunity offers, as the frost may set in shortly and do much mischief. Endive, continue to blanch it by tying up. Potatoes, the whole of the main crop should now be talcen up and carefully stowed away. Peas, a few of these, and also Broad Beans, may be sown in a warm, dry part of the garden. If any esculent roots, such as Beet, Carrots, Scorzonera, SaJsafy, &c., remain in the ground they shoidd be taken up immediately. Dress Aspai-agus-beds ; manure, trench, or ridge all vacant ground, bearing in mind the spring crops, for which each portion of the ground is to be prepared. FLOWBB GAKDEN. During the present month more than common attention is required to preserve this department from the desolating eifects of the weather, when the sweeping-up and cleaning of one day may be effaced by the storms of the next. Badly- di-ained or Ul-constructed walks will suffer from depositions of mud, which should be corrected as soon as possible to allow of what may be called the enjoyment of fresh air and exercise in favourable weather. The weather is stUl favour- able for executing alterations, and where these are in hand they shotild be prosecuted with the greatest possible dispatch. Planting and the removal of large evergreens cannot be finished too soon, for it is of the utmost impor- tance that the plants should be afforded some chance of making fresh roots before the trying winds of Mai'ch. See to small plants as well as large being seciu-ed against wind, for these are often greatly injured by being blown about after planting, which a small stake and a few minutes' work would prevent. Those who ptu-pose making additions to their collection of Eoses shoiHd do so at once, as there will be a better chance of obtaining good plants now than after the nursery stock has been repeatedly picked over. The present season is also very favourable for planting all but tender sorts, which had better be kept under glass until next May. In preparing ground for Eoses, let it be trenched at least 2 feet deep, and let a heavy dressing of manure be well incorporated with the soil to the fviU depth. It is. hardly possible to make the soil too rich for any kind of Eose, particularly the autumn-blooming kinds. Look over the herbaceous borders, and make any alterations that may be intended there, taking up and dividing any of the coarse- growing plants that may be inclined to encroach too much upon their neighbours. The modern system of gardening is fast driving this class of plants out of cultivation, but many of them are really beautijful, and if they were more largely grown many gai'dens would not have that naked appearance in spring which is too often seen. Sweep and roU grass, frequently, and keep gravel walks hard and smooth by fre- quent rollings. FKUIT GARDEN. Let there be no lack of attention in the fruit-room at present, and during the first few weeks after gathering more is required than all the season afterwards. Give jiist sufficient air to carry off the damp, but nothing more, as allowing dry winds to blow over the fruit would only cause shrivelling. Strawberries for early forcing to be placed where they can be protected fi'om drenching rains. Proceed with former dii'ections as regards planting-out fruit trees of all sorts. Cast an eye over the trees in the orchard, and see if there is a necessity for the judicious thinning-out of the branches. GREENHOUSE AND CONSEKVATOET. Chrysanthemums will now require abundance of air, with a liberal supply of maniu-e water. Great care to be taken never to allow them to flag for want of water. Look over the plants frequently, such as Leschenaultias, Boronias, &c., that are liable to suffer fr-om damp and mildew. Keep Cinerarias, and other softwooded stock clear of green fly, and endeavour to secure stocky plants, by affording them sufficient pot-room, and admitting fresh air freely whenever the weather permits. If such things as Geraniums, Cinerarias, and herbaceous Calceolarias must be wintered in the same house as the Heaths and other hardwooded plants, they should be kept as much as possible by themselves, as they will require a somewhat closer temperature than hardwooded plants ; but where circumstances admit of it, these should occupy a house or pit by themselves. Cinerarias and Gera- niums intended for late blooming wiU do very well in a cold pit, if the weather should not prove very severe, but those intehded for blooming early shoidd bo placed at once where fire heat can be used at iviU, so as to be able to preserve the foliage from damp. Eoses for early forcing should be pruned by this time, and placed where they will at least be free from heavy rains. Where American and other shrubs, are used for forcing, these should be taken up and potted without delay, placing them in a cold pit until they are wanted for forcing, or in a turf-pit, where they can be pro- tected from severe weather by straw mats or other coverings,- PITS AND FRAMES. All flower-garden plants, such as Petunias, Verbenas, Calceolarias, &c., intended to be wintered in cold fr-ames or pits should now have strict attention. Let the supply of 358 JOCTENAIi OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t NoTember s, 1863. water be limited to that quantity only which is requisite to keep tliem from flagging, and let them be ft-equeutly gone over, and aU dead leaves removed. Give theui all the au' possible dm-ing the day, if dry. and shut up tolerably early in the afternoon. Finish pottinsf Dutcli bulbs if not already 'l«ie. W. Keane. DOIiS'GS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEH GAEDEN. For general details in all departments we would refer to last and previous weeks, as the work has chiefly been of a routine chai-acter. One object of importance now is to secure .SALADING FOR THE WINTER. For this purpose half or three-parts-gi-own Cabbage Let- tuce should be taken up with good baUs and planted about 10 inches apart, so that the air can pass freely between them, in cold pits or frauies. Tliere they should have ah- given UberaUy every day, and the glasses left off in fine days and air given at night, except in frosty weather. The hardier they are kept and the drier the atmosphere in the mu-^o-y weather of winter the better wiQ the plants do. and the mTre free will they be from everything like mildew. For this purpose, m transplanting them place them in trenches water pretty well at the root, and cover up so as to have di^ earth on the sui-face. To help this still more, burnt cla.y or dry chaiTed refuse may with much advantage be strewn between the plants after planting. Last season we noticed a clever youno- man di-enc)iing such a planted bed. by sending a stream over it from the rose of a watering-pot, held at least a yard above the plants. We were not sai-prised to learn th'at most of the plants rotted or mildewed, and, of coui-se, it was a mis- fortune, but no one was to be blamed. Endive wiU stand weU in ordinaiy winters on slopin" banks. In fact, the best for standing we ever had wal planted on ridges 2i feet apai-t, the plants inserted on the top of the ridge. A few leaves or a Httle rough hay not only blanches them, but keeps out the frost. On the top of these ridges and on sloping banks with the surface stirred. Endive m general winters will stand green untU spiing, ready then to be blanched. To make sure, how- ever, a lot ot plants not quite full gi-own sliould be taken up with balls and planted thickly under protection. -Wliere glass cannot be had, straw, cloth, canvass, and wooden covers, such as those used at Keele Hall and Trentham for borders, ic, answer remarkably weU, as they can be moved off in fine weather ; and the covers especiaUy, even when the weather IS unsettled, may be elevated in front, or even back and front, and allow air and bght too to pass freely beneath them. For "^v^^^^" * J'"'^'"^''''^ '"'^ "°"^'^ ?'■*'''«"' «'Ooden covers if we could obtain them. It is now getting on for twenty years since we recommended them to a gentleman of very refined taste, who abominated the fitter from mats and even straw covers, and we lately saw them very little the worse for the wear and teai- they had imdergone. They were made of thi-ee- quarter-mch best deal, with three cross-pieces beneath, and a ledge 1 inch deep all round, to rest on tlie lack and the i-alters between liglit^, as they were previously used for cover- ing pits and frames, but they came in for all kinds of pro- tection. As far as we recoUect, they were 6.'. feet by i, well painted and neatly finished, and cost altogether about 7s each-a good outlay at first; but they were neat, and to secure the same protection fi-om mats would have cost about as much m ten years, and nothing to look at but tatters, in- stead oi a nice cover as good as ever. Chicory also makes an exceUeut salad, and when left in the gi;ound should have some branches laid over it, to be covered with straw in severe weather, in case there should be a difli- cuity m takmg it up, or the roots may be taken up and packed closely m eai-th until they are wanted. A good plan to o-et It quickly IS to fill a 12-inch pot with good roots— say eight or ten, water well, set the pot in a wai-m dark place, or in any warm place provided you place an empty similar-sized pot over it, daub round at the junction with clay putty, and daub up all the holes secm-ely to exclude light, and cut when the yellow leaves are not more than 6 or 7 inches Ion"- For a regular supply no plan is neater or better than Ssing a narrow barrel or upright box, with holes three-quarters of an inch in diameter in layers 4 inches apart aU round. PUce the plants in layers in the barrel or bos, packing with earth and giving a little water as you go on, merely leaving the crowns of the plants or roots outside the holes, and then place the box in a dark cellar, and, just as in the above case, cut before the leaves grow too long. Six inches is a good size, if longer they become drawn and insipid. When hard driven we have taken up Dandelion roots, where we knew they grew strong, by the sides of a highway, and but for size think them quite as good as the Chicory. Our own im- pression is, that the Chicory is a shade the better of the two, that Endive is better than either, and a good Lettuce best of all. Where Rampion is much esteemed, a parcel of roots should be taken up and packed in sand ready for use. Took means to protect Radishes, and will sow a bed under glass with a slight bottom heat, as about the new year these will be more tender than those sown in autumn, however protected. Nothing is better than Wood's Early Frame, though every district has its own pecuhai' favourite kind. The smaller the tops, other requisites being equal, the better the variety, as thus gi-eat quantities can be obtained in little space. After the seedlings appear, the plants cannot have too much ah' in favourable weather. If kept close the3' will come with long unsightly necks. In most families Beetroot is relished when of a middling instead of a large size. It will grow to little more advantage now, and therefore should be taken up before frosted. In taking up, use strong forks, so as not to break a fibre if possible, and merely twist off the long leaves from the crown. It must also be boiled in that state, as the smallest incision is fatal to eveiything Uke quality. A great object in most establishments during winter is a good supply of small salading, but for what reason we know not. We have not been required to do much in tliis way for some time, but it is one of those matters in which it is easy to commence and have a good supply in a short time, as nothing but the seed-leaves and the smaller finer leaves alone are used, such as Mustard Cress, American Cress, Rape, &e. These may aU be grown freely where there is protection from frost ; but, on the whole, small naiTOW boxes — say 2 feet in length, 4 inches deep, and 4 inches wide — are as good as any. Small four- inch pots are also veiy good. These should be half filled with roughish leaf mould and loam, and filled up to within an eighth of an inch of the top with sandy loam and leaf mould pressed level, the seeds sown thieily, pressed level on the mould, watered, and set in a dark place, or covered with a cloth or paper. We have dusted the seed with a Uttle sand, but it makes the seedlings bad to wash. When the seeds are merely pressed level on the surface, and not pressed into the soil, the seedlings rise clear and free from grit, and in most cases water would injure rather than help them. We think, too, that when served separately, the salading will look best with the leaves all one way, instead of the head and heel way, in which it is generally presented. We suppose we must finish with Celery. We have not, since the end of August, taken up a single head but what has been in first-rate order for the table for cheese or salad- ing. Not one head has been ran or hurt in any way. From what we said formerly, we have had several private letters complaining of the Celery bolting and running, and being diseased, &.C., and one or two, in badinage we presume, ask how much it would cost to buy the secret of preventing early Celery from bolting. WeU, as to secrets, nobody that wants a secret kept about gaidening should tell us about it, for, if it is worth being made known, we are sure to tell everything about it. Tears ago, and more recently, we have stated everything we knew about the matter, and may repeat all again in time for next season, as the reasons would not apply now. Took the opportunity of dry days to add a little more earth to the plants in beds. We have no objection to bit-by-bit earthing-up now, but we would none of it in August and September. In stiff soils, instead of earthing-up very high, it is better to have some stubble or tree leaves placed lightly between the plants, as that lets the air in and keeps the light out. The leaves shoidd have a little litter over them. Put a few Potatoes in small pots to forward them. FRUTT GARDEN. As already referred to in late Numbers, no time should be lost in lifting, transplanting, root-pruning, or making fresh November 3, 1863. ] JOUKNAL OF HOKTICTJLTUEE AKD COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 359 plantations of fruit trees. The modes have frequently been alluded to. Forked over some rows of Strawberries that were not previously done, not going deep, however, but merely loosening the surface for 2 or 3 inches. Prefer the steel forks for this purpose far before any hoeing. Pruned fi'uit trees as we could get at them, opening up the centre and cutting back some large branches that had become bare of buds below. Painted and tied out of the way Vines in pit that had been pruned some time. The paint was chiefly sulphur, clay, and cowdung. The sooner such work is done the better, as the longer the stems are thus covered the more likely are all eggs, &c., to be smothered. As already intimated, those starting Vines now must use heat mode- rately and moisture abundantly. Pruned and washed with hot water and soap trees in early Peach-house, now exposed. Washed aU the walls and wood- work with hot soap-water, and painted the trees with a paint made of tobacco-water, soft soap, sulphiu', soot, lime, ajid cowdung. The tobacco, half a pound, with half a pound of soft soap, a quarter of a pound of glue well boiled in two gallons of water, equal portions of sulphur, soot, and lime, were made into a paste, and about double portions of clay and cowdung added. These quantities made in all about foiu- gallons of mixtiu'e, which from experience we find will stick well. We would have preferred the trees being frosted before painting them, and for that pvu-pose we sUghtly syringed them before dark on nights when we expected frost, but we did not get enough to ice or freeze the mois- ture outside of the trees. We think that this freezing is capital for destroying insects ; but we must wait no longer, as we want the floor of the Peach-house for storing lots of Geranium cuttings just struck, and we want the places in which they are for other things. Before placing these on the floor in boxes we will remove a couple of inches or so of the sui-face soU, fork-up, water with hot watei-, and then give a layer of cowdung, covered over with fresh mould. All the woodwork of trelUs, &c., will be done with quicklime. Into such a place Ageratums, AmplexicauUs Calceolarias, and Heliotropes should be put, as they wOl not stand much irost, and are better if not below 35°. We at one time used to commence our first Peach-house early in November; but now we let it come on in the spring natm-aUy, and, as the trees are used to it, they generally break early enough withovit any heat except excluding fi'ost, to bring the iiruit in in June or the end of May. With sharp eyes and glasses to help them, we could discover no insect on the trees, scale or anything else ; but there were many little scaly pieces on the back wall where the whitewashing, &c., had peeled off, and underneath these we found traces of insects and eggs too : hence the import- ance of scraping off all these scaly pieces and giving a good washing with hot lime considerably darkened, as the Ume Itself would be too white and reflect the heat and Hght too much. A little lampblack, pounded and made into a paste, will go a great way in this direction. Painted also the hot- water pipes we could get at, using for this purpose lamp- black, oil, and some whitelead to give body. In aU houses where much heat is wanted, this painting of the pipes should be given in time, that they may be well dried and sweet before there is much heat in the pipes. Nothing is more un- pleasant than to go into a house and be next to knocked down by such an effluvium, and plants like it as badly as ladies do. This painting is more required for preserving the pipes when sulphur is much used in forcing or duiing growth. Picked-out a few berries from Grapes that were damping, and these should be looked to every day, as if one affected ben-y is left there will soon be three, and ere long half a dozen, so quickly does the damp spread. Have a brisk fire now once every day, and air on to keep the atmosphere dry, and if the house is shut up at night let the fire out. As yet we have never been without air at night in these late houses : that air has chiefly been at the top of the back wall. Many experiments tend to show that there are a great many mis- conceptions as to the circulation of air. No doubt it is good to have it all over the house, heated before it enters by passing over pipes ; but we are satisfied that outlets at the highest points in lean-to-houses wUl soon cause a circiUation in all the confined space. OENAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. We meant to say something about greenhouse stoves, but would willingly request our readers to study what Mr. Keaue says at page 335. When we used to force hardy shrubs we liked to pot them in spring, plunge them, mulch them, and properly water them all the summer. We have, how- ever, done Lilacs, Ehododendrons, Roses, &c. in good style by now selecting plants standing thin with good buds. We took them up carefully, with balls if possible, and squeezed them into as small pots as they could be put into, using suitable soil and firming it well, and then plunged them out of doors into a slight hotbed of litter and leaves, covering the surface of the pots too, where the roots would have a temperature of from 60° to 75° and 80°. In a month or six weeks they might be taken into a house with a little bottom heat, and the extra fillip to the roots caused the flowers to come strong and vigorous. Our out-door work much as last week. We have spoiled some of our best flower-beds by taking away the centres of pyramids, as we were afraid of frost. Among the best of these were fine plants of Cassia corymbosa, a dense mass of orange from bottom to top. We once tried them turned out in pots, but they gave no such massive corymbs of flowers as when planted out. We have also taken up a lot of Geraniums, and as we could not pot them or give them any fire heat, we pruned them well back to the hard wood, cutting off all the soft part, dipped the head in Hme, and now we are packing them as thick as possible in a cold pit. We give a little water at the roots as we go along and firm the earth about them, and when done win throw a lot of charred and burned earth over them, say 2 inches. We shall be satisfied if these do not show a green leaf until the beginning of March. — E. F. COVENT GAEDEN MAEKET.— Oct. 31. The supply this morning was fair, but not so heavy as we have lately had to report ; i-ttll it was quite sufficieut to meet ah requirements. Crasanne Pears are now coming in ; and in Apples lox's Oranse Pippin, King of the Pippins, Kibston Pippin, and Golden Pippin afford the beat samples. Kentish Cobs are bringing 65s. per 100 lbs., the very finest 708. Apples A sieve 1 Apricots doz. 0 Figs do3. 0 0 Filberts i Nuts 100 lbs. 65 0 Grapes, Hamburghs. lb. 1 t> Hambro's, Foreign 0 9 Muscats 3 0 Lemons 100 8 0 Melons each 2 ti d. s. d 6 to 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 75 0 6 0 1 0 C 0 12 0 4 0 Mulberries quart Oranges 100 Peaches...; doz. Pears bush. dessert g sieve Pine Apples lb. Plums i sieve Quinces doz. Walnuts bush. 14 e. d. s. d 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 VEGETABLES. Beans, Broad bush. Kidney ^ sieve Beet, red doz. Broccoli bundle Cabbage doz. Capsicums 100 Carrots bunch Caulifluwer doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers doz. pickling doz. Endive score Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Gourds & Pumpk., each Herbs bunch Horseradish ... bundle d. 8. 0 too Leeks bunch Lettuce score Mushrooms pottle Mustd. & Cress, punnet Onions imnch pickling quart Parsley bunch 0 Parsnips doz. 0 Peas bush. 0 Potatoes sack 0 0 Radishes doz. bunches 2 6 { Rhubarb bundle 0 0 Savoys per doz. 0 0 Sea-kale basket 0 0 Spinach sieve 0 0 ' Tomatoes g sieve i 0 \ Turnips ouuch St d. s. d 0 3 too 0 0 3 TRADE CATALOGUES EECEB^ED. Charles Turner, Eoyal Nurseries, Slough.— Catalogite of Roses, Fruit Trees, Coniferw, Trees, Shrubs, ^c. 1863-64. B. S. Williams, Paradise and Victoria Nurseries, HoUoway. — Catalogue of New and Choice Pelargoniums— Select List of Gladioli. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Azalea indic* [Stihsoiber, LmrpooD.-^on will find such directions as you require in the " Cottage Gardener's Dictionary ;" and a good article by Mr. Fish in No. 613 of our First Series. Leadkn Pipes (A. Z.).— Our correspondent wishes to know where he can obtain leaden pipes coated inside and outside with sulphate of potassium. Books {A. B. C.).-Glendinning's "Practical Hints on Culture of the Pine Apple " (Longman & Co.), Uonfrey'a " Rudiments of Botany. (,tmstant SeadcT, Brw(o().— Sanders on the Vine. 360 JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ November 3, 1863. DlElTTBA cucDLLARiA {A. if.).— ThU plant was introduced so far back as 1731 under Ihe name ol Kumuria cucullari.i. It is figared in Curtis's "Botanical Magazine," l. 1127. It was in cultivation in ISIO as Fumaria cncullaria, and wajs commonly grown ui.der that name when old-fashioned herbaceous border planls were in vogue. Tou are quite right in stating that it is scarce, but you will see Irum the above tliat it is no novelty, though the flowers are very singular. In the United State."^ of America it is vulgarly known as "The Dutchman's Breeches," on account of the two horns at the bate of the flower. In the open border it usually grows about 9 inches to 1 foot high, but, in poor soils it does not exceed 6 inches in height. When growing in very poor soil the flowers are nearly white, in stronger soil they are of a yellowisli-pink, and when grown in loam and peatihe flowers are of a delicate pink. Webiveseon it rtowering beautifully in June jilanted in an ordinary heibaceoua border, the soil being light, and rather sandy loam. We think your plant will prove to be Dieljtra eximia (Corydalis eximiu and Fuuiaria eximia of some), which is a very pretty plant with flesh-coloured flowers in June or July, growing I^ ft. high. The clo«e atmosphere ot a cold fiame will induce growth, but that Iree ex- posnre to sun and air will be lucking, which is necessary to the ripening of the underground parte, on the thoiough ripening ot which depends the flowering stems appearing the following spring. If you turn jour plant out in a sunny boi der, in poor rather than rich soil, we think you will be satisfied with ihe result. It on tin- other hand you desire to keep it in a pot, drain ivel', and use a compost of sandy peat half, light loam a quarter, and silver sand the remainder, placing the bulbs or roots a couple of inches below the surfate. Water freely whilst the plant is growing, but afier growth is completed gradually diminish the supply, and place the pot in the full sun, plunging it, however, to prevent the roots being dried up. Give no water alter August, and keep ory rather than wet during the Tvinter. With this treatment we think you will have no difflculty in blooming It, and If you succeed, we will thank jou for a flower, for we are particu- larly fond of rare and curious plants. HiitDY AauATics ( ir. Itobifison).—! regret to sav the aquatics named by nim are only to be had at some botanic garden. They were and probably are in some of the botanic gardens, Kew bemg the most likely placo at which to obtain them.— Gkorgk Abbky. CoNsEBVATonT Fioou Geef.n (Jiorfl).— Dissolve 1 lb. of soda in 3 gallons of boiling water and pour it boiling upon the white stone floor. Sciub it thoroughly whilst vet with a scrubbing-brush, and then wash clean. If any green remains, wet the floor with soda water as before, and rub with pumice-stone until thoroughly clean. Rancncolds CuLiuiir. (/. 5.).— Leave them in the soil, for it is too late to take them up now that they have made shoots an inch in length. Cover the beds with an inch of frejh soil, and jour beds will take no harm. In future years take up imniediattly the foliaKe turns vellow, and store away in boxes in a cool dry place. Your other query shall have a reply as soon as we obtain some information promised to us. Waltonian Cask lAmateur).—'\Ve do not know where this can now be seen except at its inventor's, J. Walton, Esq., a solicitor residing at Kings- ton-ou-Thames. Of course uo one would intrude upon him without permis- sion. EvEKonEENs (£ C.).— There is no book devoted to the cultivation of Evergreens. The " Cottage Gardener's Dictionary " gives such direct! ons, but it includes other gardening subjects. Your soil or subsoil must be very clayey or otherwise unfertile to kill "all your evergreens." Heating a Meion-hocse {A Reader).— lo have early Melons, and early Melons in a house 15 feet by U, you may, as you propose, havt two beds on each side, which, alter allowing 4 inches for the walls at tlie pathway, will each be 3 leet S inches in width— ample width enough for anything. Beneath each of these beds you should have two three-inch pipes to heat separately; ur, to save expense, they may go right round and thus heat both beds at once. Then you had better have two three-inch pipes on each side lor top heat, anil these should be supplied wiih evaporatin{»-p,.ns. The bottom pipes should be so placed that alter surrounding them with 6 or 8 inches ol rubble there would be room lor 15 to Is inches of soil. We do not know the elevation of Ihe house or we might counsel more. In such a short length we think you are right in having Cucumbera at back and Melons at front, and we presume both are to be trained to a tiellis. But if the house had been 20 lo 30 feet in length we would have proposed devoting one-hall ot the house to Melons and the other hall to Cucumbers for reasons frequently given. We do not think you would do any good with Figs in such a house along with the Cucumbers, &c. ; but if there is room enough above you might grow the ligs in both beds either in tubs or pots, or, Tfhatwewoulo much prefer, imh plenty of cliainage and a foot or 15 inches of soil, and the plants turned out in the beds. You would need then no pipes. lor bottom heat, and to have Figs moderately early two four-mch pipes -wonla be enough for top beat. To have them early, say in May, you would Deed three, or better say lour of such pipes. Then you would get Figs from May to Kovembei. If you give more particulars we may be able to give further help. Lilt or the Valley DwinnLiNO (Zl.).— Either now or in spring just as the buds begin to move, take up the plants, divide them carefully into lumps about the size of your hand and plant carefully m well-moved soil, and with some rotten leaf mould in it. Tliat will give size to the leaves and flower-stems. If the soil is light, firrn it as much as possible among the fresh plants, and top-dress with rotten dunt:. It would be as well, however, to leave a piece not taken up, but remove the leaves, and cover with 6 inches ol rotten dung, through which the rains of winter will penetrate. In March rake this ofl', leaving only 2 inches of the most rotten. If yon wished a few early flowers, you coulu select the most promising buds and fill a few pots with them as thick as you could cram them. Were the plants curs we would preler moving them now. We would prefer the piece plant- ing, but you might try a bit by teaiing all the roots asunder and planting them separately, but this will require much more time and labour. We alwajs find thai the plants do best in rather firm soil; in light rich soil they grow rather too much to leaf, SpiEjiA vENi'STA KOT Floweeihg (idem).— Most likely it needs a little nourishment in the way of rotten dang, and a mukhing all the winter. Most likely the plants suflered Irom dryness last summer. Names of Insects {A Kcader). —yonr "great grandfather thrips" proves to be one ot the small rove beetles, most probably oxy telus carinatus, but it was smashed m the post. It keeps company with the tlurips, moot probably lo devour it.— W. Lamp-heating a Plant-.-ase (ff. p. S.).-We will endeavour to tell you why the spirit amp will not act in your little tank. First, the tank is too deep, hall the depth would be better ; your arch above the lamp should be depressed, so as to let more water rest there, and then the lamp should be lower. At present theflameof the lamp strikes merely against the top of your tank, and if the water is a little heated there, the heat will not descend to heat your G inches of cold water. You apply heat at top, when it ought to be communicated at the bottom; we can see that you will only h ive a chance by your present arrangement, by placing the flame a little lower than you now have the bottom of the lamp, ilepressinR the semicircular top o: the tank so as to have 2 inches of water there, and 3 inches eleivhere, and putting a cover round the lamp to prevent the heat escaping, whilst air for combustion isadmitted. Without altering the depth of your tank you might also then do much by taking open lubes through the water, Irom your sadole-back rout, in middle. All nur observation with such spirit lamps tends to show that they act most powerlully when Ihe water is placed above them, lor instance, with a hollowed-out tea kittle oO as to have 2 inches ot water between the concave inside and the rounded outside, and flow and return pipes o 1 inch in diameter, and a good spirit lamp beneath it, we believe we could heat several of these cases, the pipes either going in the sand °l '" '^A. ■' '"':'i«* beneath the sand. Try what flattening the top of the saddle-back will do, and lowering the lamp and lessening the water ; and It you do not succeed to your wish, boil some water elsewhere, reduce the depth of tank to 3 inches, and fill with hot water when necessary. You may succeed by this means, but you will never obtain heat enough by the J present mode, because heated water will not easily descend into cold water. I We have seen tanks 15 inches deep that were quite cool at the bottom, , and yet very hot lor a couple of inches at the top. If the case were ours we woukl not use water at all, but have openings to insert three or four Child s Night Lights, and other holes cut in one side of the lank to secure a circulation of hot air and susuin combustion. Nothing is gained by having water to heat by your lamp. We think that very likely your Camellia plant has had a check from want of watering. Philadelphus coronaeU's (i>.).— We have seen the Philadelphus coro- nanusin luxuriant health in all parts of the country, north, south, and midland. Drving Eveelasting-Flowebs (7(/em).— Everlasting-Flowers should be gathered betore they are more than half blown, and dried in anv place in the shade. We do not know what will prevent Xeranlhemum flower-stems shrivelling a little, but the flowers are generally supported with a stick or a wire inside a small handlnl of stems. Probably some friends may give a better account of the mode of drying these flowers. Some of our Iriends by means of these, a few grasses, and a few evergreens, contrive to make their rooms very gay in winter. Flowee-eeds {Jdemj.—YouT cross planting of the flower-bed? will di. especiallyas respects the first group, if jour bed 3, oi Golden Chain consist of strong plants. In the second group, we would nit-ke 7 Y'ellow Calceolar;.. instead of variegated Alyssum ; you miglit use the Alyssum strong as ti centre to 0 ; then lor 8, a Geranium, as Stella, would do better than Calceo- laria lor an edging of Cineraria maritima. AciciA GP.ANDis .NOT Flowebing (./. M.j.—Your plant has evidently grown very fast— loo fast to coine into a blooming state. Keep it artolLer year in the same pot, and in other respects treat it as you have dune this year; and when its pot is well flil-il with roots and the growths less luxuriant, it will doubtless flower. The cuttings having been lemoved from their source of luxuriant growth have, in consequence, been thrown into a blooming condkion, and when your parent plant becomes less luxuriant it will bloom. We know of no other reason why it has not bloomed, while the cuttings from it have. Heating an Outside Plant Case (.-1 Regvlar Subscriber).— It is a great drawback being unable lo cover the case. If the case were inside there would be no difficulty. Could a spiral tube from a gas-burner be taken through it? Perhaps the simplest plan would be lo put two or three common bottles in it, when wanted, filled with water at about 160^ or nO°. A gallon bottle of strong earthenware ought to keep such a place comfort- able lor ihe night. We would not use the water boiling in case it should break the bottle. A second might be used on a very cold night. We have described how a close vessel like a drawer might go under such a case and be supplied as needed with hot water. But we presume you could not get at it easily, and in a very severe night it might be frozen. Bottles of hot water will be the simplest mode. Sea Sand {Ome/ja). — This is no substitute for silver sand ; white river, or even pit sand being better than it. Any Dublin nurseryman would supply you witli any quantity of silver sand. Peae-s foe Wall {Idem). — Jargonelle, Beurr6 Superfln, Beurre Bosc, Marie Louise, Hacon's Incomparable, and Bon Chretien. The Pears yon allude to are early and late autumn Pears. Heating Vinery [Idem).— A flue will heat a house 30 feet by 12, but you must not expect to lorce early. We do not know where Mr. Rendle's treatise can be had. Apply to a bookseller. Vabious (If. W,), — If you will send five postage stamps wdth your address you can have "F'ruit Gardening for the Many " free by post. It con- tains full directions for all the pruiiiug you nientum. Fruit trees do not require such a supply of liquid manure as you seem to allow them. It makes them over-luxuriant. We caiiiiot give an opinion about your Pear tree, as we do not know its state of growth. Fermenting dung or leaves are put over Sea-kale pots to force Ihe plants ; but there must be an abundance of the fermenting material. If this is done during the first week of November you niay cut by Christmas. Neither ashes nor sand are needed inside Sea-kale pots. If you do not force, a little long litter over them will be desirable. NA.MES OF fnoiT (TTood/orr/).— 1, HoUandbury ; 2, Emperor Alexander ^ 3, Parry's I'earmain; 4, Marmalade Pippin; 5, Benrr^ de Kance; d, Beurr<^ LefOvre ; 7, Autumn Colmar ; 8, Winter Nells. {£. .S.). — Your Fear is cer- tainly delicious, but you do not say the name you have it under. It appears to us like Doyenne Defais ; but that variety ought not to rot .it the core as this does, and which is a great defect. November 8, 18«3. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 361 Names op Pl*nis.— Some of our correspondents are in the habit of sending small fragments of plants fcr us to name. 'I'his requires from us such a great expeuditure ni time that we are comptUed to say that we cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen is perfect iii leaves and flowers. ( I/'. K. Ji".).— 1, Athyrium Filix-foemina, var., perhaps laxum or pyramidale, but not in condition ; 2, 4, Lastrea dilalata, var. ; 3, Lastrea te'mula ; .5, Scoloper.drium vu'grare. POULTEY, bee, and HOUSEHOLD, CHEONICLE. PENS AT BIBMES'GHAM POULTEY SHOW. I SHOULD esteem it a great favoiu- if yourself or any of your readers could state on autliority, whether it is the inteiltion of the Managers of the forthcoming Exhibition of poultry at Bu-mingham to enlarge the pens devoted to the principal varieties of ibwls that ■svill then enter into compe- tition. Even to the most casual observer it must have been -evident at first sight that the show-pens latterly appointed at Bii-mingham for the reception of Cochins, Dorkings, Brahmas, Malays — in short, for every variety of the large breeds of fowls, have been decidedly too cramped in their dimensions, and without doubt a sotu-ce of irrecoverable injury to the unfortunate birds, that for six or seven days and nights have barely room even to alter their respective positions without difficulty and great inconvenience to each otner. It is cun-ently reported among poultry-fanciers that the Committee are resolved to confine the poulti-y exclusively to the " poultry bay," regardless of the amount of entries that may be obtained for next show within a few days of the time I am now writing. UntU very recently such was aot the regxilation pm-sued — as Turkeys, Geese, Ducks, and some other classes enjoyed ample space in close contiguity to their (at that time) weU-provided-for neighbours. It is admitted that the pens were actually taken so much smaller than they were originally designed, to give greater space for the display of agricultui-al implements, and, I am sorry to add with perfect truth, to the exhibition and sale of a Tarietj- of shop goods also, not at aU connected with agri- cultural pursuits. The poUoy of so doing is open to the gravest doiibts. None but those personally interested can surely deny it was the poultry, and that alone, that has always been the object of most interest to the visitors at the Birmingham meetings, from the vei-y commencement even to this day. To " see the poultry " and to meet fi-iends has always brought together a number of lady visitors im- parallelled ia most of such meetings ; and if this depart- ment of the Show is to be crippled and rendered less inter- esting simply to " make room " for the sale of goods, the legitimate position of which unquestiona)>ly is the shop of the salesman, it is not an idle conjectm-e to state that the very keystone to the success in future yeai's of the Birming- ham Show is thus worse than jeopardised. It seems strange to pooh-pooh the poxiltry at Birmingham and UteraUj' thus show the cold shoulder to the Society's best supporters, but so it is ; and in the hope that the remonstrances of others who exhibit large-sized varieties of fowls may be heard through the expressed opinions of such parties, and thus, conjoined with my own, bring about simply a retirrn to the first-sized allotments given to the more weighty fowls at oui- mother Show, has caused these aptly-timed remarks li-om a very repeatedly exhibited — Old Cochin. [We can endorse what oirr correspondent says relative to the too-limited size of the pens for the lar'ger varieties of poultry. They are not only injurious to the birds, but diminish the pleasure of inspecting them. — Eds.] Spakkows and Poultst Food.— I thinlc if your corre- spondent, who coirsplains of the sparrows eating the poultry food, were to adopt the plan so often recommended in The JouKXAL OF HoRTicrLTUEE — that is, feeding by hand, and only giving the fowls just as much as they will eagerly clear up, there would be none left for the bu-ds. To leave any lying about is wasteful; nor is such feeding so good for the health of the fowls. I have never suliered from birds myself, and always feed them in hard frosts or snowy weather on account of the good they do in summer. — B. P. Beent. WEIGHT OF POULTRY. In your remarks on the Crystal Palace Poultry Show in yom- last Number, you quote the weight of Mr. Fowler's Aylesbury Ducks, 22-2- lbs. ; and Sir St. G. Gore's Eouens, 181 !bs. per pen. Will you please say whether these weights are for one drake and two Ducks ? I presume I am correct in this ; but stOl my impression was, that first-prize bu-ds would weigh more than the above. What do you consider a first-rate weight for drakes and Ducks of both breeds ? I have bred a good number of Kouens this year, and have this week weighed six drakes and twelve Ducks. The whole eighteen birds weighed 108 lbs. — an average of 6 lbs. for each bird. These were taken du-ect from our pond without any extra feeding of any kind ; in fact, they are on the water night and day, and have only had the rim of the farmyard with a large number of other poultry. What I wish to know is, whether you would consider such birds first-class as to weight, and what is the usual heaviest weight of both breeds at om- principal exhibitions ? I may add, that last season I bred one lot of Aylesburys (nine in the brood), which weighed just 45 lbs. for the nine birds when fifty-eight days old. One drake weighed 5J lbs., and another 54 lbs. — Eybukne. [You are correct. Each pen at the Crystal Palace con- sisted of a drake and two Ducks. The weights are al^o con-ect. We call 6 lbs. a capital weight for a Eouen drake, and 5i lbs. for a Duck. Aylesbm-ys should weigh 1 lb. more per head than Eouens. We once had the Aylesbui-ys at Bfrmingham Si lbs. each, and we once saw a Piouen di-ake belonging to ili: H. WorraU, of Liverpool, weighing 10 lbs. The weight you mention is unusual at such an eaily age. Aylesburys weigh from fat, Eouens from frame ; and when we speak of capital weights, we do not speak of the first- in-ize birds of great competitors, but those that are good creditable inhabitants oi a yard where their growth is not checked by want of food.] SALE OF POULTEY AT EXHIBITIONS. In your last Number you state with reference to the Crystal Palace Poultry Show, that average birds at a mo- derate price are sure to meet with a sale. I am afraid my experience goes quite the other way, and I am much more disposed to look upon keeping poultry for exhibition as a very expensive and unsatisfactory amusement. From what I have read in yotn- columns from time to time, I should have been led to a different conclusion had not my own ex- perience contradicted it ; and 1 am inclined to think, that while poulti-y-exhibiting and breeding is a very profitable business for a few well-known names, and does very well for others who can afi"ord to buy stock regardless of price, for the general run of smaller exhibitors it is not only unremime- rative, but absolutely entails a loss. I shall be glad if any of yotir readers can prove that I am wrong, or teach me how to set about the business in a profitable way, for I certainly have not found it hitherto. I sent some bu-ds to the late Crystal Pahice Show, certainly of average merit, and mode- rate price compai-ed -with the general run of prices there. They were returned unsold. I have had birds at other shows that took prizes and commendations, and only on one occasion effected a sale. This is not encoxuraging, to say the least, as the cost of sending bii-ds to a show cannot be estimated at much less than 9s. a-pen. I am always at a loss how to dispose of my surplus stock. I have now several good cockerels which I am annous to part with. I cannot find buyers in my own neighbourhood, and they are too good to kill. If I send them up to Mr. Stevens for sale the chances are that they would not realise enough to make it worth the expense. What am I to do ? If I want birds myself, I must give a good price for them, but when I come to sell my own, it is quite a difierent thmg. In fact, it is all outgoing and no incommg. I think it would not be a bad plan if you were to set apai-t a column ot your paper, in which your subscribers could for a smaU fee msert theii- wants, whether in the way of buying, selling, or ez- chano-ing, without the formality of an advertisement. Perhaps you may have had similar- complaints before, but 362 JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. [ Korember 3, 1863. I am sure that the facts which I have mentioned must deter many from exhibiting poultry at all, and induce others who have entered on the pursuit with enthusiasm to give it up in disgust. — An Exhibitor in a Small Wat. [The amount of money given fur pens will at once prove that there is a good sale for birds at shows. It ia known beforehand that at Bingley HaU from i;700 to i«00 will be laid out in the purchase of birds that are sent for sale. Many prices are prohibitory, but before two o'clock on Monday hardly a pen of average merit in the useful classes is for sale, if the price be moderate yet remunerative. Fancy and feather birds ai-e subject to other rules, and are not of certain sale. Are you sxu-e that your birds are of average merit ?] COLLINGHAM POULTRY SHOW. The eighth exhibition of this Show was held on Oct. 27th. The number of entries was in advance of those of last year. Many classes of poultry were especially good. The Game and Game Bantams were of first-rate excellence. The single Game Bantam cock of Miss E. Crawford was one of the most perfect little fowls exhibited for a long time. SUver-spangled Hamburglis were also a very superior class. Cochins, though not numerous, were very good. The Pigeons, as is always the case at this Show, were of extraordinary excellence. Mr. Taylor's Blue Powters were remarkable for length of limb and feather. In Short-faced Tumblers Mr. Gates took tliree prizes with 'nis well-known pens that have won at Bu-mingham and elsewhere. The Owls constituted one of the finest classes ever seen. The petite African variety was shown in all colours — White (of which there were three exquisite pairs). Black, Blue, and White (with black and blue tails). So good a collection was never before exhibited. The Trumpeters were very superior. Whites taking all the prizes. Turbits were good, but many exhibitors seemed to have bred them with Owl heads, losing altogether the proper distinctive frog-like character of the Turbit's skull. The Variety class was well represented, first prizes going to the Black-tailed Owls before mentioned, and an extra fifth prize being awarded owing to the goodness of the class. SrAKiSH.— First, E. Brown, ShetlicUl. Second, T. T. Sneap, South Col- lintrbam. Third, T. Whitaker, Melton Mowbray. Highly Uommended, T. Hngera, Walsiill ; Binh ami Boiler, Sh.ttield. DoKKiNO (Any colour). — First, K. Swilt, Southwell. Second and Third, W. Dolby. CocniN-CHiNA {Cinnamon and Buff). — First, — Staley, Collinghara. Second, C. T, Bishop, Lenton, Nottingham. Highly Cotumended, C. T. Bishop. CocniN.CinxA (Any colour), — First, D. Causer, Erdington, Birmingham. Second, Mr. Staley. Game (Bluck-breasted and other Reds).— First, M. Billing, jun., Birming- ham. Second, \V. H. Swann, Farnsfleld. Third, P.. S^wilt. Highly Com- Hiended, VV. Boyes, Beverley. Commended, J. Doncaster, Hykeham, Lincoln ; R. Swift. Game (Duckwings and other Greys and Blues). — First, J. Doncaster, Lincoln. Second, T. Carlees. Notts. Third, J. Bradwell, Southwell. Game (While and File, or .\ny other variety).— First and Third, Miss E. Crawford, Farnsfield. Second, C. Spencer, Thurlston. HA.MBtiitoHs (Golden-spangled). — First, Messi s. Birth and Bolter. Sheffield. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Highly Commended, W. Cannan, Bradford ; H. Beldon, bingley. Bambcrghs (Silver-spangled). — First, W. Cannae. Second, J. Dixon. Highly Commended, T. Kodgers ; J. Key, Farnsfleld ; H. Beldon, Bingley. HAUaUEGHS (Golden-pencilled). — First, \V. Canuan. Second, Messrs. Wrigley and Fielding, Manchester. Highly Commended, W. Cannan ; J. R. Jessop, Hull; J. Dixon. Uaubvrohs iSilver-ptnciUed). — First, H. Beldon. Second, Messrs. Birth and Bolter. Highly Commended, V^. Cannan i J. Dixon ; W. Wood, Sheffield. Bantams (Gold and Silver-laced).— F'irst, T. H. D. Bayly, Biggleswade. Second, J. Staley (Gold). Highly Commended, R. Swift. 'e Bantams (Game).— First, Miss E. Ciawford. Second, R. Hawksley, Southwell. Highly Commended, G. Maples; Miss E. Oawford; K. Eawk'ley; J. Newton, Cheateriitld. Bantams (Black, White, or Any other variety). — First, J. P. Gardner, Rugeley. Second, Rev. 8. R. Hole. Highly Commended, T. H. D. Bayly ; J. C. Brierley (Japanese Bantams). Decks (Aylesbury).— First, J. Smith, Grantham. Second, R. M. Stark. Commended, J. Smith. Ducks (Kouen).— First, Mies E. Crawford. Second, R. M. Stark. Highly Commended, H. Beldon. Ducks (Any oiher variety).— First, T. H. D. Bayly. Second, J. Dixon. Highly Commended, J. T. I'ountain (Muscovy). Ba&ndoor Fowls. — First, Mrs. Cooper, Collingham. 8econd,lW. Wright, Collingham. Third, Mi86 L. Mantle. Game Bantams.— First, MissE. Ciawford. Second, T. H. D. Bayly. Highly Commended, R. Hawksley ; E. Brown ; C. Aukland, Chesterfield. PiQtoNE.— 6Virner».— First, E. Brown. Second, W. Boyes. Highly Commended, W. Massey; H. Yardley, Birmingham. Fowten. — First, W. Taylor. Second, £. Brown, Highly Commended, W. Taylor, Sheffield ; H. Simpson, Newark. Almond 7timblers.— First, H. Yardley, Second, H. Beldon. Short-faced Mottles. — First, W. H. C. Gates, Beslborpe. Second, G. H. Sanday, Nottingham. Highly Commended, G. H. Sanday ; J. W. Edge, Birmingham. Baldn or Beards, — First, W. H. C. Gate-. Second, J. W. Edge. Short-faced ruuiifi-rs.— First, Mrs. Gates. Second, H. Beldon. i^aris.— First, H. Yardley. Second, G. H. Sanday. Commended, W. .Massey. Jacobins. — First. T. Ellrington. Second, E. Brown. Ouh. — First, G, H. Sanday. Second, W. H. C. Oatcs. Highly Commended, H. Y'ardley ; H. Beldon. Commended, W. H. C. Oates. Trumpeters. — First, Second, and Highly Commended, W. H. C. Oates. Turbits. — VixtA, J W. Edge. Second, J. It. JesHOj) Commended, H. Y'ardley. Fantails. — First, G. H. Sanday. Second, J. Ellrington. J\'t/7j«.— First, 11. Yardley. Second, F. Else. Am/ other runV/i/.— First, G. H. Sanday (Black-tailed Owls). Second, H. Yardley (Priests). Thud, i. Percival (Archangels). Fourth, J. W. Edge (Swallows). Fifth, H. Y'ardley (Satinettess SECRr.TARY's Prize.— jTHriiV*.— Pr ize, H. Y'ardley. The Judges were Messrs. Tegetmeier and Challoner. JUDGES SHOULD BE ALONE. My attention has been called to a paragraph which ap- pears in your October Journal, headed " Judges Should be Alone," which I cannot allow to pass unnoticed, as it reflects (discredit on me as Judge of the Poultry Show held at Crewe on the 30th September last. " A Lover of Fair Plat," as he signs himself, would have had a better claim to such a title, had he in the first place written to me on the suljject of his remarks, instead of giving such false information to the public through the medium of your valuable Journal. Had " A Lover of Fair Plat " sjioken the truth, I should have let the matter have passed, but as to his statement — viz., that whUst the Judge was making the awards an ex- hibitor entered the tent, catalogue in hand, and went round the pens with the Judge, and that when the public were ad- mitted, that exhibitor met the owner of a prize and a certain conversation took place. I can only say that that statement by "A Lover of Fair Plat," is untrue from beginning to end. I trust to your kindness in insert.ing this in your next publication; and as I am not afraid, like " A Lover of Fair Plat," to give my name, I beg to subscribe myself — John Heath, Judge of the Poultry Slioic lield at Creirc. POLLEN -VND HONEY OP THE IVY— THE ADJUSTING-HIVE— FOUL BEOOD. Eegularlt in the early part of October when the ivy blooms, I have observed that an unwonted activity prevails throughout my apiary, the bees confining themselves not solely to poUen-gathering, but conveying also a considerable quantity of honey to their hives ; at least 3 or 4 ozs. having been daily indicated by a hive suspended from a steel balance, and which has also afforded a very interesting register of work during the present season. This honey possesses in a great degree the strong flavour of the leaf and berry of the ivy, its presence in the hive being exceedingly disagreeable, and communicating its peculiar smell to much of the pre- viously stored unsealed honey. It possesses little more con- sistency than water, and will splash from unsealed combs, leaving an odour on the hands difficult to remove. The ivy largely abounds in the immediate vicinity of my apiary, and during the autumn of last year tliis honey was collected in unusual quantities, much more so than during the present season. Pollen also is gathered to a large amount from the same sources, the bees returning to their hives not only dusted with it, but with long, in-egular, stringy filaments of the whitish pollen adhering to their legs, very little being kneaded into regular balls. Cannot the activity observed in the apiary of your coi-respondent, Mr. Fairbrother, and the return of his bees dusted with dirty white powder, be attri- buted to the vicinity of ivy now in bloom ? the high-flavom-ed transparent fluid which he found in their honey-bags also being of a very similar nature to the honey of the ivy. I have this season had a further opportunity of testing the " adjusting " principle of working hives, which I first carried out satisfactorily in 1851, upon which occasion I re- moved a box-super of upwards of 68 lbs. nett weight of pure honey, and in the present season the superb glass supers, the weight of which were lately communicated to the Journal by my relative, Mr. S. B. Fox, in his article on " Bee-keeping in Devon," these glass supers being in all probability the NoTember 3, 1863. ] JOTJKNAL OF HORTICULTITRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 3G3 finest upon record. As an account of the " adjusting " hive has already appeared in The Journal of Horticulture, I need not again allude to the principle of its working, unless it should be desirable to bring it more prominently- forward in a future comnranication. I believe it to be the best mode of obtaining large quantities of pure honey, but at the same time requiring that constant attention which none but the scientific apiarian would devote to it. A very mai-ked instance of " foul brood " has occurred in my apiary, the mischief existing unsuspected in the hive throughout the autiunn and winter of last year, and it is only within the last two or throe weeks that the true state of the case has been ascertained. The hive is a Ligurian stock possessing a dark but pure Ligurian queen, obtained from Mr. Woodbury last spring. She appeared to be a most fertile queen, having filled all eight oombs throughout the box with brood in a very short space of time. From this period, how- ever, a visible decrease rather than increase in the number of bees took place, the hive struggling on in a most un- satisfaotoiy state up to the present time. No sooner had the " foul brood " controversy arisen, when, thanks to oiu' fiiend Mr. Woodbury, the subject was brought so promi- nently forwai-d, I saw the necessity of a thorough examina- tion of the hive, and then discovered the nature and extent of the mischief, each comb being one mass of foul brood. The combs have been buried, the box burnt, and the few re- maining bees now occupy a new and wholesome hive, and I anxiously await the issue, hoping they may recover lost ground and again prosper when another genial spring comes round. — Geo. Fox, Kingsbridge. DEONES IN OCTOBER. Mat I ask what inference I am to draw from the presence of drones in a hive now ? I have kept bees for some years, and this is the first time such a thing has occun-ed. Out of four hives — viz., two old stocks and two new stocks — only the bees of the two new stocks, swarms of the middle of May, attempted to fill glass supers. I suppose the reason of this is that the two old stocks were exhausted of their numerical strength by a swarm and two casts from each. — Inquirer. [When drones survive so late in the season the probability is that the stock is queenless, and, therefore, its remaining inhabitants had better be united to another. Stocks that have been weakened by swarming very rarely work supers.] BEE-KEEPING IN SOUTH LANCASHIEE. As I read in your Journal each week the exultations of bee-keepers on the splendid season we have had, I am almost ashamed to writ* to you in another tone. It is well, however, that the capabilities of different districts and the experience of different apiarians should be compared, and, therefore, I am induced to write and tell of our misfortunes in South Lancashire. First of aU, I should say that we have special difficidties to encounter. In the district, at least from which I write, we have on all sides of us manu- facturing towns, and even a few smoky chimneys in our own vUlage, all which are not favoiuuble to the gi-owth of flowers. But the great hindrance of all is the dreadfully rainy climate. I began the year with two stocks, one of English bees in one of Neighbour's improved cottage-hives, and the other of Ligurians in a wcKxlen bar-hive. The former stock swarmed on the 26th of May quite unexpectedly. Unfortu- nately I was away, and no one knew how to manage them, and the swarm was lost. I was able to collect a few of the bees from the centre of a thick hedge when I returned late at night, but the queen was not with them, and they returned to the old hive. Of the rest I am afraid most were kiUed by being shaken on the cold and damp ground. My second swarm was hived easily, and apparently very nicely, but this returned next morning to the old stock. The Ligurian stock did not swarm at all. Thus I was left with my two old stocks, both seemingly in good condition. The si mmir was on the whole favour- able. We liad a good deal of rain in June, but there was a very warm fortnight in July in which they did so well that I thought I might venture to take some honey from the Ligurian-hive before sending it to the moors. I took only about 5 lbs. of comb, leaving the weight (exclusive of the hive) about 13 lbs. This woTild have been quite enough if we had had even one fine fortnight in the autumn, as there was a great deal of blossom on the heather. Unfor- tunately there was hardly one fine day. On bringing the hives back about a fortnight ago, I found each had lost about 3 lbs. For each of them, therefore, it was a case of feeding- up for the winter, but especially for the Ligurian-hive. The English bees have taken their food very quickly and greedily, and are now quite safe ; but the Ligurians decline the sugar and water I offer them, or only take it very slowly. Can you tell me what I am to do ? I wish to keep the stock if I can, as I think I could not get another Ligurian-hive in this neighbourhood. I have been feeding them at the top with one of Neighbour's feeders. The opening in the hive is not wide enough for the neck of a bottle, or I would have tried bottle-feeding. I am now having something made in zinc with a neck narrow enough to insert, but as the frosts have begun I am afraid I am too late. Is there any way by which I may keep them alive till next spring ? If you, or the great bee-master of Uevon- shfre, or any other of your correspondents can advise me, you will much oblige — A South Lancashire Bee-keeper. P.S. — I may add that all my neighbours here seem to have been little more fortunate than myself, and, instead of taking any honey, have been obliged to feed-up their stocks liberally for the winter. [Try the bottle for your Ligurians applied in this fashion, through a block of wood with a bit of perforated zinc ^^-^^ — ' interposed. The neck of the bottle need not enter the hole in the top of the hive. SOUECES OF POLLEN. I ACKNOWLEDGE vidth thanks the kind and lucid reply of " A Devonshire Bee-keeper," to my suppositions and remarks in page 323. I am forced to believe where I can- not understand; but as I willingly do this, and press it upon others to act likewise in spiritual matters, I can the easier submit to do so myself with a good grace in earthly ones. The particulars mentioned from Maraldi, Debraw. and Co., were unknown to me. I think I once read some remarks of Huber, which led me to suggest the supposition I advanced. I do not regret my last letter, neither will any of your readers, since it has drawn forth so interesting, so instructive a reply as follows it ; and still less reason for regi-et shall I have if my house and apiary are honoured in consequence with a visit from the head of our clan. Bees have been working much lately on the ivy. The colour of the pollen is yellow. Some weeks ago mine appeared like dusty millers, and they were then working on some flowers in my garden, called, as I have been told, malope — I suspect of the mallow trilie. I have for many years been puzzled to know whence a pollen is collected of the colour of the young larch cones when they first appeal-, and about the same time ; yet I never 364 JOTJENAL OF HOKTICULTURE AOT) COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ November 3, 1863. saw bees work on larch cones. It is not the rule either, that the colour of the flower is the colour of the pollen. I never had my attention called to the fact that bees will not remove chiUed brood till in the last Number. Thej certainly wiU remove dead bees in the p-apa state, and lug them out fast enough too. They will destroy large pieces of comb if it does not suit theui. I once saw a piece de- stroyed iroia the middle of the hive as large as the palm of my hand in a single afternoon, and the place was in due time filled up with new comb. I dare say more was renewed, but I can only speak to what I saw. — A Hampshif-e Eee- aEEPER. AN EXPEEIMENTAL APIAEY. Me. Lowe's lengthy exposition of his views with regard to " an experimental apiary," which, he maintains, '• can never be a thoroughly prosperous one," might very well have been spared. It is to be presumed that he means a purely experimental one, by which I understand an api.ory estabhshed for the sole purpose of experiment. If so, what then ? Who ever doubted, or could doubt, that the sort of experimental apiarian whom he attempts facetiously to describe, and hold up to scorn, would fail — fail, that is, to obtain honey, which, according to Mr. Lowe, is the sole end and object of bee-keeping ? No doubt, however, even the peculiar bee-keeper whom Mr. Lowe has in his eye, would defend his management by pm-e experiment, and maintain that his object was quite as legitimate and interesting as Mr. Lowe's, and possibly as useful to others in the long iim. But, after all, where is the man in our small bee world who answers to Mr. Lowe's description ? He has raised up a man of straw to provide himself with the exquisite pleasure of knocking him down. Let him enjoy his postprandial recreation. I for one have no sort of mclination to grudge him the felicity of his crow. If, however. Mi'. Lowe is not speaking of a purely experi- mental apiaiy, then he has simply condescended to mis- represent and misunderstand from motives best known to himself the experiments prosecuted, and the objects aimed at in those experiments, by your esteemed correspondent. Mr. Woodbury. As to his "motives," Mr. Lowe himself lifts up the veil, .and permits us to see them. The occasion of his sarcasm, the secret of his bitterness, hithei-to un- accountable, is now revealed in one short sentence of his recent communication. " My tone and style," he says, " are ah-eady thought by some to be too severe ; and it appeai-s, though I must receive contradiction, I must not be given to philippic." This gentleman has " received contradiction," so at least he imagines, in regard to some matter of apiarian research. Unable to brook opposition, even at the hands of so kindly an opponent as Mr. Woodbury, forthwith he dips his pen in gall, and we have the residt in the "philippic" of caustic sarcasm and mu-epresentation which appeared recently in your columns. Eeally this is too bad, and it is time that a strong protest should be advanced against a style and spirit so adverse to all friendly criticism. " PA- dentem dicere vcrum, quid vetat ? " But this sort of writing can only prevaU at the cost of all profitable and hai-monious co-operation for the advancement of our favoui-ite pursuit. Till Mr. Lowe took up the cudgels, or rather (to use his own mataphor), commenced traversing the bee field with hob-nailed boots, regardless of his neighbour's coi-ns, we were at peace. Let us hope that we shfil now be suifered to retm-n to peace. , In the meanwhile let me suggest to him to reflect upon the possibility that " others see as well as you." A notable instance wQl be found in this veiy question of foul brood. Veiy positively he asserts that "decayed and abortive brood in all stages are not removed by the bees." As positively I assert from my own experience that they are removed by bees. Not, of course, thoroughly in weak hives, in which, consequently, I fuUy agree with him, " they must remain a permanent evil," if not removed by the bee- master's hand. But in strong hives the bees are fuUy up to the requu-ements of the case, and remove all impurities as they occur. With regard to artificial swarming as compared with natural swarming, Mr. Lowe has not faii-ly put the case. To the " lover of nature," the natural swarm is, no dox^bt. one of the most delightful of rural sights and sounds, even should the said swarm speed away, agmine facto, beyond the ken of the distressed owner. Even so to the artist's eye, the dilapidated cottage, discoloured with dirt and ten.anted by a ragged peasantry, is more charming than the trim and cleanly dwelling of the thrifty aa-tisan. But how many a disappointed bee-keeper would gladly, and does gladly, learn the art by which he may secure his swarms? and warmly will he thank the much-abused experimentalist who puts him in the way of scientifically managing his bees, especially at the awnrmiug time. — E. & "W. OITE LETTER BOX. Dorking Cock Unabl-:: to St.\nd (G. D.).—.M\ the fjniptom? and his slow recovery iniimate that a small bluod-respe} is niplurttlin the head. The hot, sunshine and the inflammatory action inci'ieut to moulticg were the probable cunscs. White Feathkrs is "Wing of a B-ufp Cochin (J. Can-).— The white "■Gathers would constitute what is called a mealy wirg-. It is not a disq-jali- fication, nor is it a. serious disadvantage. Nevertheless, il competition were very close a clear buff wing would be preferycd lo a mealy one. Cochin-Chikas Losing the Use of their Lege [C. (7.1.— The disease you mention is probably cramp, and is caused by the i.amp floor. If you have gravel in your ncl^libmirhood cover tlie fluoring of the house some inches deep with it. When the cramp is comiog on give the fowls bread steeped in strong ale directly. Keepivg Bantams and Spani&b Fowls Togbther (J?. ^.).— It is a dis- puted point. Our opinion is that they may be kept with lEupunity. Rourr Poultry (S. i?.i. — Tou need not clear off all your poultry. 11 you did so, and intended to rest the place, it shouM be empty for months. Clear off tho sickly birds such as are hopelessly ill. Limewhite all their roosting-pliices. Feed them well on bread and ale. Put some camphor in their water, and let all their roostintr-place flier). — You can obtain sulphide of potassium of any practical cbemit-t, but we do not know the cost. It cannot be dear, and a small quantity would suffice for a great length of pipe. We should use a hot solution nearly saturated. LONDON MARKETS.— NoTEMBEE 2. POULTRY. The supply is. if anything, rather less ; but the dullness of trade prevents any rise in prices. p. Large Fowls 2 Smaller do 2 Chickens 1 Gce.=e fi Ducks 2 I Pheasants 2 d. s. d. 8. d. s. d. 6 to 3 0 Partridges 1 B to 1 0 0 „2 G I Grouse 1 9 „2 0 G „ 1 9 I Hares 1 9 „ 2 0 0 „6 6 I Rabbits 1 3 „3 4 0 „2 3 Wild do 0 8 ., 0 9 6„3 0 I Pigeons 0 8 ,, 0 9 November 10, 186S. ] JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTTIRE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 365 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day 1 Day of ' of ITntli Week. NOVEMBER 10—16, 1863. Average Temperature near London. Rain In last 36 years. Sun Rises; Sun Sets. Moon Rises. Moon Sets. «r\ after ^Sf:- ; San. Day of Year. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Tn W Th F 8 Sun M LombardT Poplar leafless. Martinmas Day. Beech leafless. Teal arrives. Widgeon arrives. 24 SOKDAT AFTER TKINITT. Mentzel died, 1701. Bot. Day. eo.6 51.0 50.5 49.8 48.0 48.5 48.4 Night. 35.4 35.5 34.5 35,8 34.0 34. 3 32.7 Mean. 43.0 43.2 42.6 42.8 41.0 41.4 40.6 Days. 21 15 IG 20 19 16 13 m. h. Ilaf7 13 7 14 7 16 7 18 7 20 7 21 7 m. h. 17 af4 16 4 14 4 13 4 11 4 10 4 8 4 m. h. 7 6 22 7 33 8 37 9 31 10 19 11 55 11 m. h. 37 3 14 4 1 5 1 6 9 7 24 8 41 9 ! m. s. 29 15 57 0 K SO 1 15 43 2 15 35 3 15 26 4 15 16 5 15 0 314 316 316 317 318 319 320 WftB 1.24 inch. '' LIFTING THE ROOTS OF VINES, AND HEMAEING THE BOEDEE. IFTING tlae roots of Vines and re- making tlie border is an operation in wliich several correspondents are interested at the present time, and as they appear to be entire strangers to the details which are neces- sary to insure success it has been resolved to devote a paper to the subject, more particu- larly because I feel certain that there are plenty who will agree with me when I say that there are hundi-eds of Vines in the country in an unsatisfactory and unfruitful condition from no other cause than that their roots are deep down in an ad- hesive, wet, and consequently cold and ungenial soil. It would be easy to enumerate a dozen cases within my own knowledge, and partly in my own practice, where the most marked benefit has resulted from lifting the roots of Vines, and replanting them in better-constructed borders. True there are other ways in which the roots of Vines can be brought to the surface of the border, but if the soil is adhfisive and not well drained, there is no other way that I am aware of by which the evil can be so efficiently remedied. The first question which very naturally arises in the minds of our correspondents is as to the best season to lift Vines with the greatest possible chances of a crop of Grapes the following summer. To this I have no hesita- tion in replying that, waiving all contingent circum- stances, the best time is early autumn, before the leaves and roots have ceased their active functions, and while there is still a high degree of natural warmth in the soU. The simple fact — would that it were thoroughly explained \o every child — that the action of roots and leaves are reciprocal, and depend one upon the other, is sufficient reason, apart from experience, for concluding that autumn is the best time. So far as the operation of Lifting is concerned, the great matters on which a crop the follow- ing season depends are, that there should be root-action to repair as much as possible, before the resting season, that shock unavoidably consequent on the breakage of roots in disentangling them from an adhesive soil ; and that there should be time to regain, by a good hold of fresh sod, a position similar in kind, if not in extent, to that enjoyed by a Vine established in suitable soU. By delay- ing the operation till winter all chance of accomplishing this important object is lost. The roots must then lie a long time with all their wounds exposed to a cold soil, No. 137.— Vol.. v., New Series. and without having that natural hold of it peculiar to roots which have been active in it in autumn. Another disadvantage arising from winter-Kfting is that in spring the gi'owing Vine has exhausted its stored-up sap, and the mutUated roots do not come bounding into action, to carry on unchecked the progress of the vine, with tha* energy and readiness as when the fresh rootlets have established themselves in autumn before the leaves of the Vine have ceased to act. True, this weak point may be assisted by placing warm beds of leaves on the border a little before the Vines start into growth, and by this means young roots may be formed much sooner than otherwise ; but, in the case of Vines at least, this is not the order of nature, although it may be the best thing to do under such circumstances. There can be no difficulty in deciding on autumn-lifting with the leaves on the Vines and the soU warm, in pre- ference to delaying it till winter ; but there are several considerations which, when autumn-lifting is not con- venient or practicable, make me prefer deferring it till the spring just as the buds are swelling. Apart from the fact that there are less chances of suitable weather in winter than in spring for performing such work in a proper way, there are objections already named to the broken rootlets of Vines being allowed to lie all winter in a cold border from which those which ought to bo of most service in spring are sure to suiFer more or less. It would certainly be very questionable gardening to shake out and repot a Fuchsia at the dead of winter or immediately after it had shed its last leaf, and then to stand it in a cold shed or under the greenhouse-stage tiU spring. It would certainly be better to repot in autnnm and subject it to such treatment as would insure fresh root-action before it shed its leaves, or to leave it till spring when it was just bursting into growth ; and I know of nothing pecuhar to the Vine which warrants the appK- cation of any other principle. There are several causes which in some cases make it undesirable to disturb the roots of Vines in early autumn— such, for instance, as that of our correspondent, to whom a reply was given last month, who had his crop still on the Vines, and wished to let it hang through the winter. To Kft the roots of such Vines would have been detrimental to the fruit, and, besides, with Grapes on Vines, such management as is most likely to insm-e suc- cess could not be carried out. It may also be incon- venient on account of other matters, such as lack of time and the necessary material. In such instances experience warrants me in advising the delay of the operation tiU spring, just as the Vines begin to swell their buds, and in the meantime to get ready the soil, and, if possible, to protect it from wet till it be required. The precaution of protecting the old border from wet by wooden shutters, which has been taken by our corre- spondent " C. v.," is strongly to be reconmiended, in order as much as possible to preserve the roots made last season. It would be weU at the same time to open a drain all round the front and end of the border suffi- ciently deep to prevent water from standing about the No. 789.— Vol. XXX., Old Series. 3G6 JOTTENAL OF HOETICULTTTRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Noveiober 10, 1863. roots ; for success depends in no small degree on the care- ful iireservatjon of as many of the young roots as possible, and in deep damp borders they are, alas ! scarce enough. I have ripened a crop of Grapes in the end of June where the Vines had been entirely lifted the previous autumn, and I have removed Vines after they had shed all their leaves fi-om one vinei-y to another in which forcing had just commenced, and cut a fair crop from them as early as May. And plenty of gardeners there are who have done the same, and who would also recommend the lifting of Vines to be done either early in autumn or to leave them till forcing or gi'owth was about to commence. On the other hand, some have ruthlessly sawn the roots entirely, or nearly so, from theii- Vines, and matm-ed a crop fi-om them the same year ; others have Hfted them in June with Grapes ready to thin on them, and yet brought the crop to maturity. But except in special cases such high-skilled and daring strokes are not to be recommended. In fact, where the Vine roots have the run of borders, both inside and outside the vineries, the safest practice is to lift the inside roots one year, and those outside another. When this can be done there need be no fear, all other things being favoiurable, of obtaining Grapes in the following season. When speaking thus of a crop in the following season it must be borne in mind by the inexperienced that the foundation for a crop lies in the proper maturation or ripening of the wood in the previous year ; and this is just what is so fi-equently wanting in Vines that require lifting, and what should be aimed at as much as possible the autumn in which they are to be lifted. It has been remarked that there is another way of bring- ing or enticing Vine roots to the surface besides that of lift- ing the roots and entii-ely removing the border ; and which is more commendable under certain circumstances than par- tially or entirely lifting the roots — in the case, for instance, of borders which lie comparatively dry on a subsoil of gravel or sand, to which no great objections can be m-ged, and when the roots have got down and established themselves in the bottom pai't of the border, leaving a mass of inert soil on the surface without a single root. This is a very common occurrence, and in the successful cultivation of the Vine it is considered of great moment that this state should be just reversed, and that a mass of active roots should be brought to the surface and encouraged to establish them- selves there. Those who h.ave only one vinery, with all the roots in an outside border, and who, consequently, cannot lift one h;Uf the roots one year and the other half the next, and who at the same time do not care to incur the least risk of losing a year's crop by cai-rying out the radical means recommended for Vines that have their roots in thoroughly wet sod, can do much towards accomplishing the end in view by removing all the soil from the surface of the border down to the roots. 1'hen dig out a drain 18 inches wide and sufficiently deep to be below the principal roots and made-border, and till it up with what is called a " rumbling di-ain " of brickbats or stones. If a tUe drain be placed at the bottom aU the better — not, however, on the top of the stones, as one of our tenants here told me he found, to his gi'cat amusement, an Essex notable doing in what he called imitation of the Scotch system of diaining. Then cover the roots with a six-incli clnssing of well-pulverised lime cK-bi-is, thoroughly-rotted niauure, and tm-fy loam in equal propor- tions, and well mixi ■! together in a dry state. Just as the Vines are to be start . d. a bed of leaves, sufficient to generate heat enough to waim .;t least the six inches of top-di-essing, should be placed on ilie border, and over all something, such as a thatching of wl.i;i t straw, to throw off rains ; the whole to remain till mi('sui'im(;r. The stone drain in ft-ont cuts off aU suiTounding t. ■■{. ajid in itself that is no small benefit to a Vine-border win I'e the roots are deep and wet. When the border is uucovi^red it will soon be discovered that the open rich soil on tlu' top, with its temperatui-e raised above the lower strata of ti)i; border, is sufficient to entice upwards a lot of roots of a vii y difi'erent order to those found at the bottoms of bort' i>'. iiy midsummer I have sometimes found young roots u; ,h, .:^_r\\ the top-dressing into the leaves themselves. Ke.xt ;Mison let the same process of adding a few inches of rich tiip-dressing and the bed of leaves be repeated, and in the course of two or three years it wiU be seen that the surface of the border has the lion's shai-e of active well-ripened roots, and that the Vines will be corre- sjjondingly improved. Not having time at present to detail the process of lifting the roots and forming new borders, &c., I will conclude by advising our correspondents to delay the process now tiU spring, and in the meantime to keep their borders as dry as possible, and next week I wiU return to the subject. D. Thomson. THE PAMPAS GEASS— TUEKEY MILL GARDENS. Since the remai-kable winter of 1860-61, which kUled so many fine plants of the Pampas Grass in various parts of the country, we have not heard so much of it as before ; and though now and then reports are made of some favoured plant flowering with an extraordinary number of sjjikes, the cultivation of the plant in stations suited to its flowering has been much circumscribed. In fact, so much so, that it is a question at the present time if there be as many plants in cultivation as there were three years ago, the more especially since its flowering in cold and late situations is a hopeless affair, excepting in vei-y dry and hot seasons, which only occur once or twice in a dozen yeai's or so. However, when a fine plant does flower, it is a noble object. No other herbaceous plant that I am acquainted with can equal it, and flowering, too, at a time when the gaiety of sum- mer-flowering plants is on the wane, it is highly acceptable. The present season has not passed over without affording a due proportion of blooms on this highly graceful plant. I noticed some very good blooms on plants in a nm-sery at Bagshot, about the middle of October, the soil being of that black peaty kind so favom'able to the growth of the Ehododendi-on, and such-like shrubs. Amongst a number of plants all flowering at the time, three or four forms of gi'owth or characters of flower might be made out amongst them, and aU beautiful. Some of the plants evidently had a great many spikes of bloom on them, and the foliage exhibited a more than usual tmt of bright green. Some other places I have seen this autumn also possess flne ex- amples of this highly ornamental Grass ; but by far the noblest jjlant of the kind I have seen in bloom is in the garden of the Messrs. HoUingworth, of Tiu-key Mill, near Maidstone, where a plant had 130 spikes of bloom on it, being, in fact, literally covered with it. The numerous stems supporting the fine feather-looking plumes rose in regular order, so as to form a most symmetrical head, which the most expert plant-dresser for a flower show could not have improved, even in his own idea of forming a sort of balloot- shaped plant. The dense forest of flower-spikes rising so regidarly on all sides, as well as in the centre of the plant, left nothing to be wished for on the score of symmetry, and certainly stdl less on that of profuseness, for the whole of the upper su.rface was covered with gi\aceful feathery plume? . The situation of this fine jdaut was on the sloping banks of a piece of ornamental water, and about a dozen yards or so from it ; but I do not think the spot was at aU a moist one, but the plant might benefit by the vapour from the water. Some other plants growing closer to the edge, and with their di-ooping- foUage lapping in the water, were equally healthy, although none of them possessed so attrac- tive a head of bloom as the specimen previously described ; but they seemed younger plants, and in due time I have no doubt but that they vnH be equally profuse in blooming. Besides the plants of Pampas Grass jvist described, the grounds contained some excellent specimens of Conifers. A WeUingtonia gigantea, some 14 or 15 feet high, was a perfect model. Some specimens of Thujopsis dolabrata, gigantea, and Lobbi, were also good and promising, and that really distinct but somehow neglected Cupressus, C. Uhdeana, with its silvery foHage, promised to become a fine specimen. This Cupressus is not so much planted as it ought to be, con- sidering- how mdely it differs from the kinds often met with. C. Lambertiana, and C. macrocarpa were, I believe, also both well represented at this place, as well as some other favoiu-ite shr-ubs and trees. But the principal feature of the place to the frequenter of flower shows was the exten- sive collection of Eoses, numbering upwards of five hvmdi-ed varieties, I was told, which were here giown in excellent condition, as the fact of Mr. HoUingworth and his gardener. November 10, 1863. ] JOTJENAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 367 Mr. Holder, winning so many prizes at the metropoKtan and other shows in the past and previous seasons has testified. The situations in which the Roses were planted were varied considerably, the nature of the ground affording facilities for this being carried out. The garden or dressed ground may be roughly described a;s an irregular plot surrounding a piece of ornamental water of some two acres or more in extent, the bank in some places gently shelving to the water's edge, in others rising abruptly in masses of natural rock (Kentish rag) ; and it presented many natural features of interest, which had been duly taken advantage of, as affording sites for climbers. Ferns, shrubs, and trees of various kinds; and ever and anon Roses were found in all available places. It is not, however, my purpose here to describe the management of these, as the fact of so many prizes finding their way into the bands of the spirited owner shows that they are well grown. No doubt, the good natural soil of the place is con- ducive to success, and the proximity of water may, perhaps, be advantageous also, for certainly the latter has much to do with a good stand of Dahlias during a dry period in summer, and these flowers are also grown here to great perfection. The whole place presents many features of interest, reflecting great credit on the spirited occupiers and their intelligent gardener. I cannot close this notice of the Pampas Grass without mentioning a singular fact connected with a plant we have at Linton Park. This specimen was planted out, I believe, in 1855, and flowered pretty well in 1857, and I am not certain if it did not do so in 1856. It also flowered well in 1858 and 1859. I have forgotten whether there were any blossoms on it in 1860 or not, but there were a few in 18G1, which was a rather barren year in flowers of this kind, so many plants being irrecoverably injured ; but the autumn of 1861 being favourable and the plant healthy, I made sure of an extraordinary bloom in the following season, when to my surprise there was none, and none this year either. I confess being at a loss how to account for this, for the plant has every appearance of health and vigour and has grown to a large size. The site is a rather moist one for this place, and the plant remaining unmoved for so many years would certainly favour the production of flowering-spikes rather than otherwise, but such is not the case. From its not having flowered last year I expected a greater profusion of bloom this season, but this not being the case, I am at a loss to account for the circumstance. We have other and younger plants flowering very well, one not many yards from that here alluded to, but on drier ground; but generally the best flowering plants I have seen have been growing in rather damp places, or at all events near to water. An open space is, I be'Ueve, better suited to them than a place surrounded by shrubs, and certainly they look best when seen on all sides, the graoeful drooping blades contrast so well with all around them, and differ so mdely from all other or ordinary forms of vegetable life. The plant is much admired even when not in flower, but when it is surmounted with its feathery plumes, presenting various tints of white, drab, grey, and purple, the picture is com- plete. Sometimes the character of the adjoining scenery adds to the effect. A plant we have here with a tolerably good head of bloom on it, has for its background a mass of foliage of the Sumach, the handsome pinnated leaves of which, flanked as they axe by ordinary evergreens, afford a very interesting variety. Certainly the Pampas Grass as an ornament to lawns ought to be more extensively grown than it often is, and, perhaps, a stiU better site may be found for it in some of the open spaces beyond the bounds of the close-shaved turf, where the dressed ground gradually merges into the natural. In such a place, and in a suitable situation, the Pampas Grass is not one of those miffy tender things requiring to be looked at every week ; but after it has had a fair start it is capable of taking care of itself, and though it would not be fair to allow it to suffer from shrub or tree, I do not think it would fail to contend successfully against all ordinary herbage, however wild and rank. J. Roeson. Andeosace lanuginosa op Wallich. — It is odd to see such prominence given to this by a contemporary as a new and rare plant, when it is to be found in every botanic garden and in the London nurseries. It is a very pretty plant, and does very well planted out in summer. — Pbimtjla. liSrsuEAJsrcE of glass feom hailstorms. As it is not, perhaps, generally or sufficiently known that glass can be insured from the damage done by hailstorms, I am tempted to tell your readers how it may be effected, premising that I have no shares in any insurance ofBce. The only office that offers to insure glass houses is the Royal Farmers' Insurance Company, Strand, London, and they require the following rules to be adhered to : — Each house to be numbered, and the kind of glass used in building it to be described in the proposal as follows : — On house No. 1—1000 sqiiare feet of British sheet glass at Sri. per foot. On house No. 2—1500 ditto ditto at id. per foot. On house No. 5—1200 ditto ditto at bd. per foot, and bo on. The glass should be valued according to its quality, but allowing at least a halfpenny per foot over its value to cover the charge of reglazing : thus glass costing Z^d. per foot should be insured at 3d. per foot. Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridge- worth insures the greater portion of his glass, 33,000 feet, at 3d. per foot, including 21 ozs., 16 ozs., and crown glass, for which he pays an annual premium of Mi is. 9(J., not quite 3s. per 1000 feet. This seems not too high a price for a little peace of mind during every summer, when a black cloud and a clap of thunder makes the owner of glass houses quake for fear of hailstones.— Constant Reader. HOW TO CULTIVATE VI^ES IX POTS. This branch of horticulture has been frequently written upon, and these notes are not jotted down with the view of imparting instruction to my older brethren, but to afford encouragement to those who with limited means wish to be successful in this most interesting mode of fruit-culture. It is now a little more than three years since my pre- sent employer put up several vineries and an orchard- house (the orchard-house and its tenants must form the subject of future notes), and when the houses were finished, and the hot-water apparatus completed, he very naturally wished to obtain an early produce fr-om his outlay. He therefore purchased a number of pot Vines, of varieties re- commended by nurserymen as having special qualities for pot-culture, to supply fruit until those planted in the borders attained a ftTuting condition. What their treatment was the first year I do not know, as I only took charge of the Vines two years ago. This I know, that these bought Vines produced no fruit the first year, and when I first saw them they were in a most de- plorable condition, with the wood unripe, and the buds im- perfectly formed. They had, during the month of Octobei', received a surface-dressing of good turfy soil, mixed with a tolerable amount of rotten dung and bone dust. I primed them in due cotirse, and about the middle of January they were started into growth. As soon as the buds began to break they were supplied with weak liquid manure two or three times per week, and as the shoots developed them- selves the liquid manure was increased in strength, and applied more frequently. Most of the bought Tines yielded tolerable crops — more than could be well expected, consider- ing the state of the wood, for they produced fr-om four to seven bunches each. Now, in addition to these bought Vines, were a large number which had been raised from eyes the previous spring, the eyes taken, without being named, no doubt, from the Vines permanently planted in the borders, and cut down in the usual way. Most of these Vines had been grown in rather small pots, and, as a matter of course, their growth was small in proportion. These, with the exception of one or two of the strongest, were cut down to two eyes, and along with the others were started into growth. They broke well, the best shoots only being encouraged, and during their early growth were assisted by frequent applications of manure water. Some of the strongest were shifted into their fruiting-pots in the early pai-t of the summer, and the others remained until autumn. They each soon reached the top of the respective houses in which they were growing. 36& JOtJENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AlfD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ November 10, 1863. and made canes something resembling a gentleman's slender wallcing-stick. Duiing the autumn the remaining Vines were moved into pots of about 12 inches in diameter, and 12 inches deep. This size I consider quite adequate for all ordinary pm-poses, and Vines grown in 12-inch pots with ordiaai-y caie may be expected to produce from 5 lbs. to 8 lbs. of tt'uit each. The compost in which they were potted consisted of two-thirds good hazel loam chopped up and left in lumps about the size of an egg, with some rotten dung and pounded bones to form the other part. The pots were well draiHed with broken crocks, and over the crooks was placed a layer of boiled bones about the size of a walnut. The soil was well thumped into the pots, and a sufficient space left to hold water. They were pruned to 0 or 7 feet in length, according to their strength, and being placed in the position they had to occupy, about Christmas the eai'ly house was again started. I prefer bending down the Vines to a horizontal or recum- bent position until they begin growing ; this causes an equal circulation of sap, and makes the buds break more regularly. By this means I succeeded in breaking every eye in the pot Vines, with the exception of one or two nearest the pot, and almost every branch showed fruit — some shoots two, three, four, and even five bunches each. The usual routine of disbudding, stopping the laterals as they advanced, thinning the bunches, also the thinning of the berries, and the syringing, were duly attended to. One very important point requiiing special attention is the watering. This must be varied to insure success. Plants, like human beings, prefer a change of diet. I obtain my supplies of liquid manure from a well which receives the drainage fi'om adjacent stables. This, when weak through heavy falls of rain, I strengthen with guano at the rate of about two ounces to the gallon. I also employ the soap- suds from the laundi-y, mixed with cowdung and guano as a change. Those Vines started in the earliest house ripened a few ■bunches in the eai-ly part of May, while those started in the orchard-house, and brought into the late vinei'y as accommo- dation could be found thorn, are stiU in fruit, and may be np to Chi'istmas. Thus with pot Vines alone, independent of what has been taken fi-om the rafters, we may have a supply from May tOl December. Now, let us look at the produce of these pot Vines. Lady I>ownes' appeal's to be a shy bearer in a pot ; at least with us, the produce was but small, and it was the only one that could be considered a failure. It was not forced much, being only stai'ted in a late house towards the end of Februai-y. Trentham Black appears to be not very fi'ee in a pot, but the fruit was lai-ge and exquisite. Perhaps some of your readers may have succeeded better with it in a pot. Muscat St. Laurent and Chasselas Eose Eoyale I consider useless ; the latter produced eight or nine bunches to a pot, but the bei-ries were small, and the flavour indifferent. Chasselas Musque may be considered good for pot-culture, and also for forcing, as it is a free bearer and an early variety. Black Frontignans produced fi'om nine to eleven bimches on a Vine ; White Frontignans, from ten to seventeen bunches; and Grizzly Frontignans carried seventeen bunches ; and one Grizzly showed upwards of thirty bunches on a rod about 6 feet long. Many of the bunches were sis good as may be ordinai-ily seen on rafters. Black Ham- burghs produced three, four, and up to foui-teen bunches. One Black Hamburgh I only allowed to can-y foui- bunches, and weighed the produce. The th-st bunch weighed 2J lbs., the second and thu-d were 15 lb. each, and the fourth 1 lb. Thus one Vine with only four bunches produced Gi lbs. of ii'uit fit for any table. 1 should like to kuovr what variety of Hambm-gh the latter is. The bunch is large and he.avdy shouldered, and tapering at the point ; the skin deep black piu-ple ; beiTies roundish, and of good flavoiu- ; and the foliage when changing colour assumes a beautiful pink tinge very different from any other variety I know. [Probably Black Champion. — Eds. J. or H.] I am certain any one possessing only a small pit, with artificial heat at command, may succeed in growing fine Grapes from pot Vines. The minutia; of propagation and the after-management of pot Vines have been so frequently detailed by Mi-. Fish, that I might refrain ti-om saying any- thing on the subject. But, as we seem almost in the height of a Grape-growing mania, and having given the cultivation of Vines in pots special attention, I may be excused in saying a little for the benefit of beginners. The plants are, without doubt, the best raised from single eyes obtained from strong, healthy Vines, and should be procured as early afterChiistmas as possible. There are many difterent ways of making the cuttings ; perhaps as simple as any is to make them about 1 J inch in length, and to place them horizontallj' mth the bud uppermost in small GO-sized pots, fiUed with light, rich soil, and well drained. These pots should, if ijossible, be placed in a bottom heat of from 70° to 75". As soon as the small pots are filled with roots they must be transplanted into larger pots — say large 48's. The compost used for this shilt, and for every successive potting, shoidd consist of two parts turfy loam, and one part very rotten dung ; to this add, if the loam is inclined to be stiff, a little shai-p river sand. A good sprinkling of sifted bones, with a little chai'coal and a little lime rubbish, will do no harm. Let these be well mixed and incorporated together. The soil should be well warmed in a stove before using it, or the plants will sustain a serious check, and when water is applied it must be in a tepid state. They will soon require another shift, which should be into eight-inch pots, and filially into 12-iuch pots. Some people recommend larger pots, but then they are much more inconvenient to move about. I invariably allow the canes to become about 8 feet long before stopping them, and then pinch off the laterals above the first leaf, when they have made five or six leaves. When they have perfected their growth they may be i^laced out of doors during then- season of rest. In the autumn they will require some of the old soil to be removed from the surface of the pots, and about one-thii'd down the sides between the pot and tjie ball, and replaced with rich compost as above. When they are pruned they must be reduced in length according to the size of the house in which they are to be fruited, but ought not to exceed 7 feet in length. If they have been well grown they will beai' a respectable crop of fruit the following yea.!' ; but Vines one year old, cut down to one bud, and grown a second year, may be expected to do much better. As regai'ds varieties suited for pot-culture, none can surpass the Black Hamburgh. The Frontignans also succeed well, and so does Chasselas Musque, though it requires a dry atmosphere when rii^ening, or else it is liable to crack. I have also seen the Muscat of Alexandria do well, but I have not grown it myself. I would avoid the Golden Ham- burgh, as under the best treatment I have never seen it succeed in a pot. Any one with but a very small amount of glass, when they can command attention, may grow good Grapes from pot Vines, and derive much enjoyment fr'om theu- cultivation. — Quintin Read, Biddulph. A WOED ABOFT STKAWBEEEIES. In reference to the communication in The Joubnal op Horticulture respecting the successful mode of growing Strawberries, by " Quintin Eead," Biddulph, I beg to make the following observations. Although I fuUy agree with him in many points, I differ widely in others. We gi'ow a great many Strawberries here with great success. We devote about tlu-ee-quarters of an acre to Strawben-y plantations. Our kinds are as follow : — Keens' Seedling, Sir Harry, Sfr Charles Napier, British Queen, Oscar, and the Elton. I plant and manage them exactly in the same way that your correspondent states, with the exception of planting in the three-and-a-half-feet beds, and allowing their foliage to remain tUl spring. I have, for instance, a quarter of an acre of Keens' Seedling in one bed. These were planted three yeai-s ago 3 feet from plant to plant in the row, and the rows 2 J feet asunder. Last year this bed produced some very fine fruit, averaging about twenty-two to the pound. After they had done fruiting the scythe was introduced to perform that barbai-ous practice that your coiTOspondent says has happily passed a-nay. After the scythe the knife came into operation, in trimming and cutting every runner and decayed leaf away, leaving only the young leaves that were just bursting forth. The next November 10, 1863. ] JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 369 ■ performance was to cleai away the straw that was laid down to presei've the fruit from grit, &c. This was taken to the rubbish-heap and, with some pea-hanlm and all the Straw- berry trimmings, was set on fire, and all consumed together. The next work was to clear away every weed and runner that was to be seen ; and from that time untU the bed was littered down again for the protection of the fruit not a weed or runner was allowed to exist. By the end of October the plants were well stocked with fine healthy luxui-iant foliage, and never as yet have they required any more pro- tection than the garden walls surrounding them afford. Now this practice has been in force for the last eight or ten years in this place, therefore I do not feel inclined to give it up so long as I meet with great success. For instance, the bed above mentioned yielded an extraor- dinary crop of friiit this season. On one occasion we picked two bushels at one time, and for three weeks little short of half a bushel was picked daOy, and aU of very fine quality. The other kinds do equally as well in proportion. The scythe took its course again this season as usual. Now (the 2nd of November), the plants are nearly touching each other in the rows, many of them measuring 2 feet in diameter, while the crowns are fii-m, plump, and well matured. — J. B. C. P. CAICEOLAEIA CAJSTAEIENSIS. That the character which many plants earn for themselves is as largely dependant upon cireumstanees as is the forma- tion of the human character itself, becomes yeai-ly more evident to those who keep an eye on the career of the various new varieties of plants which are dismissed fi-om the careful scrutiny of the highest tribunals with first and second-class certificates. In responding to the suggestion of your correspondent Mr. James Harris, page 33i?, regarding this Calceolaria, it could be amply demonstrated, if necessary, that " cu-cum- stamees greatly alter cases ;" ancl the sentence with which Mr. Harris concludes bears evidence that he is well aware of the fact. This knowledge any gardener who has practised in widely separated localities, differing vastly in soil and climate, must possess ; and notwithstanding the slashing eastigations which are so very commonly administered to floral committees and nursery firms for giving the weight of their authority to certain plants as being suitable for any given purpose, but which under some circumstances beUe their character, it is productive in some minds of a charit- able feeling towards the parties concerned. My experience of Calceolaria canariensis would justify me in recommending it to all who wish to have a unique bed of yellow Calceolarias. Two beds of it here have this year been the admiration of all who have seen them. Not a single plant gave way during the intense heat and drought which we experienced throughout July and August; and when the heavy rains set in it stood the dashing much better than any of the others, and was gay a good while after they were all but flowerless in October. The opinion formed of it has led to every cutting being put in that could be had. The beds in which it has done so well are well elevated above the surrounding level, and the soil is a rich open loam. Last season some plants of it that were planted in a damp place where the sun left it early in the afternoon, proved very similar to what is recorded of it by Mi-. Harris. From this I conclude it likes a well exposed and not over- damp position. In pots it is one of the finest things I have seen, and yields an enormous crop of bloom ; and for small beds it is likely, if it maintain its style of this year, to be most useful. Edged with blue Lobelia it is very telling, and being so dwarf the two suit well together. It is exceedingly desirable when giving an opinion on our experience of plants similar to this, that the soil and position ' in which they have been proved should be named. I have ' learned to deal rather tenderly in giving an opinion on new bedding plants, having tried a vast number of some of the sections at least, and am well satisfied if one in a dozen jH-oves worth growing. Yet, from former experience, I can easily believe that some which I have found next to useless ■here may be first class in soUs and climates the reverse of 'that in which I have proved them. As an illustration of this, it may be stated that on the cold clay soil of Hertford- shfre I always found Geranium Improved Progmore far superior to Tom Thumb ; while here, nearly on a level with the Firth of Forth, in a light deep loam and dry bracing air, Tom Thumb is far superior to Improved Frogmore. So, again, with some Verbenas which did exceedingly well on the cool clayey soil, but do no good here, and vice versi-. It is no doubt with a knowledge of such facts that Mr. Harris pronounces so judiciously and cautiously on this Calceolaria ; and I should wish to do the same. Were it necessary to illustrate any fm-ther, I might say that C. Aurea flori- bunda is quite second-rate here, while with Mr. H. it is first-rate ; and so I believe it is in the west of Scotland, where the soil is heavier and they get more of the " Scottish mists " from the Atlantic. Hence it becomes very undesu- able to pronounce sweeping condemnations with regard to bedding plants in particular, because pit plants are gene- rally subject to cu'oumstances more alilce aU over the country. One gardener looking at the merits of a plant thi-ougb the influence of a certain description of soil and climate, might insist against the evidence of another who views it under ou'cumstanees the very reverse ; and the two might battle about it just as reasonably as if they were to pronounce on its size while they looked at it through the different ends of a telescope. On this account our opinion, to be reaUy in- structive, should be accompanied with the nature of the soil and climate in which flower-garden plants are proved. Another point to be taken into account is that any given plant may, from causes which it would be difficult to name, succeed one year and not the next, so that we should not be in haste to judge it not suitable or otherwise even to our own cfroumstances. — D. Thomson. NOTES ON GLADIOLUS CULTUEE BY AN AMATEUR. I HAVE read with considerable interest the remarks in many of yonr recent Numbers on the cultivation and diseases of this attractive and favourite plant. As I have had the good fortune to have grown it successfully for many years, I venture to lay the simple process of my success before my brother amateurs, assuring them that there is less difficulty in cultivating the Gladiolus than there is in gi'owing Dahlias or even choice Kidney Potatoes. I am the more emboldened to do this, because by a simple apphcation I saved my plants this year and secured a good display ot bloom. I ought to tell you first that my locality is a cold wet part of Lanca- shire. Well, when I first saw the complaints this year in your pages that Gladiolus-beds were showing unhealthy symptoms of decay, leaves turning prematurely dry, &c., I looked at my beds and found many of the plants slightly affected at the tips of the leaves, and the leaves themselves of an unhealthy colour. I at once gave the surface of the beds a good mulching of old rich manure, and during droughty weather gave the plants lots of water, which, of course, percolated through the top-dressing ; and I assure you the change in the colour and the substance of the leaves soon expressed the grateful thanks of the bulbs below, and in due course an ample display of bloom followed. However, to describe my annual course of treatment I ought to begin, as they say, at the beginning. I was induced to invest in a dozen bulbs by a London seedsman when the price was a much greater matter of consideration than at present. I took them with di-ead, for I feared the management would be beyond my abUity. Well, I had a splendid show of bloom, which was greatly admfred by my envious neighbours, accompanied by the usual sage nod of the head and remai'k, " Oh, yes, they are all very weU, but you'U see you can't keep them through the winter." After the blooming was over my plants remained verdant without the sKghest signs of going to rest. Cold weather and frost began to appear, and yet no signs of the plants ripening-off naturally, as I knew they ought to do ; and equally well I knew that if they did not I might say good-bye to them. So without more ado I lifted each clump and deposited the lump of sod, bulbs, and stems, unbroken, into the dry soil of an exhausted Melon or Cucumber frame, and had the gratification to see the stems 370 JOURNAL OF HOETICXTLTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ November lo, 1863. ripen and drop off in a week or two, and the stUl greater gratification to find myself the possessor of an abundant brood of young offsets from each root ; and I had the yet greater gratification of dislodging and consigning to a proper place a number of wireworms which appeared to have selected for their wnnter abode, or rather for bed and board, the snuggest parts of each clump. My bulbs being perfectly dry and ripe were safely stored in bags until they showed signs of starting into growth again, upon which they were immediately potted, and in the spring turned out into beds again — beds I say, for the increase was three-fold of strong flowei-ing bidbs. For the sake of erijeriment, the following season I tried the effect of an immediate repotting and also replanting after the ripening-off in the frame ; but the result satisfied me that the bulbs are the better for a short airing untO they show signs of growth. Some show it sooner than others ; but when they do show it then is the time to pot the bulbs and keep them gently gi-owing untU your beds are ready for them in spring. This plan has been with me so successful that I can confidently recommend it to my brother amateurs. If I may venture to make a remark among so many learned doctors, who are now so sapiently giving theii' opimon on what they call the Gladiolus disease, I woidd say that in my humble opinion the Gladiolus is suffering from the overstimulating character of the feeding it has had for the purpose of counteracting the weakening effects of overbreeding. I would recommend a more plain, substan- tial, and healthy diet as the best means of seciu-ing a more healthy progeny, even if we amateurs should be called upon tc pay the doctor's fees in the shape of an extra price for healthy bulbs.— W. W. P.S.— I have been surprised to find how few ladies know the valuable property which the Gladiolus has of opening its bloom in water. I have seen more than one fair dame throw the stem away as soon as the first bloom faded, little thinking that a day's patience would have been rewarded with another glorious flower higher up the stem, and so on day by day for weeks of pleasure. WINTEEOG BEDDI^"G-OUT PLANTS. Among the seasonable operations of the present time, is one that more or less engages the attention of every gar- dener— that is the disposal of the bedding stock. Every gardener who has much to do in the way of bedding, is at this time of the year put to various shifts fi-om want of space, evei-y inch of which is required, both for plants that are to continue under glass, and for those that are to be turned out shortly. Every one who reads the weekly notes of Mr. Fish will see, not only the difficulties under which he labours for the bestowal of an immense bedding stock, but the ingenuity with which he meets those difficulties. What- ever opinions may be formed by the ordinary reader of the contrivances he makes use of to clear the houses and hai'den- ofr the stuff, it is only the practised gardener who can tho- roughly appreciate them, and of these only such as are in the habit of contriving for themselves. It is very well to remind the possessor of fi-ames and shallow pits, that he should get his plants into them so that he can harden them ofi" by pulling the lights right off every day ; but what is the use of such advice to those who have no such appliances, or, who, having them, find them already full to repletion ? It then becomes necessary to look about for some other contrivance ; and one of the most ingenious is that described by Mr. Fish, and of which I intend to avail myself, thanking him for the hint — that is, to dig a trench as if for Celery, and to lay sticks across it on which may be placed mats or any other covering. The plants may be packed closely toge'ther in the trench, and as bedding stuff seldom exceeds a foot in height, it is easily accommodated in this way ; and while it is in a great measure protected from cutting winds, a slight covering will protect it from such frosts as we are likely to have at this time of the year. But what I would recommend as most useful where such shifts have to be made, is coarse felt stretched on light wooden frames of a convenient portable size. These I have found excellent, both for keeping frost out of pits and frames, and protecting plants when not under glass. With- out wishing in any way to disparage the ordinai-y gai-den mat, which is indispensable, and useful for many piu-poses, yet I must say that felt is equally so, and for some purposes superior, as the frames covered with it are not so easily dis- placed by wind. — F. Chittt. EOOTS AND LEAVES. (_Continued from page 333.) Where Vines grow in carrion-borders, which are one mass of putridity, little beyond fleshy -root-extension takes place. Very few fibres indeed appear at any time ; the stems re- quii-e less heat to cause the buds to swell and break ; the growth appears small, but gross and long-jointed ; and the leaves, though small at first, become something like a Rhubarb leaf. At this stage, if we examine the roots, we shall find little or no fibres, active or inactive ; but the plant ajjpears as if it depended on the humus absorbed by the root-stems for its nourishment, or is indebted for its nutri- ment to the atmosphere by which it is surrounded. Whether the plant owes its development to the nutriment collected by the roots without fibres, or to that collected by the leaves from the atmosphere, the leaves will flag when the moisture in the atmosphere is dissipated by the sun's influence render- ing the parts about the leaves drier, and causing the leaves to perspire, or the water in them to be evaporated more freely than in cloudy weather. If the leaves flag under bright sun, it is an evidence of deficient root-action or a want of moistm-e in the atmosphere ; but fiagging is chiefly caused by the leaves evaporating more water than the roots afford them. If there be a quantity of fibres the case will be different. Instead of the plant having one mouth, it will have fifty ; and it is only reasonable to conclude that a plant with fifty mouths would absorb more nutriment, and supply the wants of the leaves better in a case of emer- gency when extra food is needed, than a jjlant having only one. Fibres, then, are necessary to a Vine's healthy develop- ment, and the extension of the main roots essential to the fonnation of fibres. There cannot be healthy development in a Vine, or any plant with a fibrous root, without fibres : hence the immense importance of theii' preservation, and the necessity of promoting their production. Kich soils hinder the production of fibres ; poor sods increase thefr number. Plants grown in rich soil have more foliage and less fruit than the same species in poorer soil. I am led to infer fr-om this that fibres are the cliief agents in the production of fruit-buds ; and although I am but par- tially prepared to prove it, I am persuaded that they are the sole agent employed by the roots in their production. But we were considering the annual reproduction of fibres. I contend that all plants do partially lose the old fibres annually, some plants oftener. Superficial evidence alone is forthcoming in abundance to prove the fact, without calling to our aid any internal evidence at all. We give warmth or bottom heat to plants at the commencement of forcing, keeping the atmosphere comparatively cool to in- duce root-action before leaf-development commences. What necessity is there for this extra stimidant to the roots if their extremities are prepared to absorb niitriment on the expansion of the buds ? Nature gives no such stimulant. It is a point, in fact, that proves the roots have not the requisite elements, lying dormant and only needing the expansion of the foliage, to call them into activity. In all cases of repotting the cultivator finds a quantity of dead fibres in addition to the growing, and attributes the presence of the dead fibres to an unhealthy root-action ; whereas such is not the case, for, if there is a quantity of live fibres in addition to the dead, it is erident that what suits them would suit others. Sour soil very often causes the destruc- tion of all the fibres of a plant ; but that has nothing to do with the periodical decay of the fibres, being simply a medium in which the fibres cannot extend themselves. Although the fibres are of so much importance to vege- tation, there are cases in which their removal, instead of being hurtful is highly beneficial. Mr. Kivers actually de- stroys fully half of the fibres of his orchard-house trees every autumn in the process of top-dressing. At page 30 of his November 10, 18C3. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTXTIIE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 371 "Orchard-House" lie tlius describes his practice: — "Take out a portion of ths soil, 5 or 6 inches in depth, and about 4 inches in mdth, all round the side of the pot, leaving the central mass of roots undisturbed. A portion of the mould may, however, be picked out from among the mass of iibres with advantage, as fresh food can do them no harm," &c. Now, would so practical a cultivator destroy annually the poults of the fibres if he knew that Nature demanded their preservation? He must have known the contrary, and so anticipated Nature by helping her to do at once what she would have done herself from the fall of the leaf to the com- mencement of growth in the ensuing spring. But Mr. Rivers is careful to preserve the woody portion of the fibres : it is from these, which may not improperly be termed ripened roots, that the fibres are emitted in the spring. Neither does he destroy the fleshy roots, from which the fibres on their first formation are emitted, but he leaves them entbe or undistui'bed at the bottom of the pots, and he rams the fresh soU, so that no root can run easily in it without emitting fibres. The same is done with Strawberries in pots for forcing, the olyect in both cases being to prevent the fleshy roots from extending, and thus to favour the production of fibres. Unless the soil in a Strawberry-pot is pressed very fii-m, the fleshy roots that strike from the root pass through the soil and out at the pot-bottom without emitting so much as a single fibre on the way. If, however, the roots are arrested in their journey by coming into con- tact with the sides of the pot, fibres are emitted, but only there; whereas the object is to GU the whole of the soil with fibres, and thus give the plant as many mouths in a six-inch pot as it would have when planted out and having roots penetrating to 2 feet deep. The same appears again with any plant under pot-culture. An annual potting and a few after-shifts are aU that is necessary to supply the wants of a plant. The annual pot- ting is accompanied l)y a disrooting and an addition of fi'esh uu may prune tStem in the latter part of that month or beginning of December; but we have found such early pruning result in the death of many of the shootp, particularly when severe weather follows close upon the pruning. Tidiness, always desirable in flower gardens, should never be sought at the expense of the future wellbeing of the plant. Flowkr-qardkn Plans (Hf. i?.).— There are several in "Gardening' for the Many." November 10, 1863. ] JOUI^AL OF HOETICTJLTUEE Ai«D COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 379 Heat.!.o a Pit (A S,.6»criScr).-We are very sorry, b"t we a<, not thmk we can add anything more to that which we published at page 319 about your iron tank. We fail now to comprehend your description of the tank >aiscd abore the flue, with chambers beneath, &c. A section would hav e made all clear. We would bave preferred the tank being set on he flue, not 3 inches above it, and we think you complicated the affair with your turf and sand above it, and all the rest of it The simp est wj^y J™ "" manage the tank is to pour hot water into o inches at t^» ''»"°'"' °"* ihin slate over that, and then sand or tan to plunge in, and then co^er the top with moveable squaies of rUss. With such means you may strike any sort of cuttings. Why jou failed we cannot clearly see, because we do not know the processes you a.lopted. For all the minulia! of cuttlng.makln(,^ and much besides, see "Window Gardenmg." By such a moce you may use your present cool greenhouse for the purpose, and your little propjgat- ing place will be much handier than any bed or pit out of doors. _\\ e ha>e read over carefully your proposal to have a flue through a two-light fran,e with this iron tank at side and top, and a chamber for steam formed by a slate covering. &c., and the result in our opinion is, that when you lie.it hy such a flue you had better make u^e of your tanks for something else, as holding clean or manure water, and depend on the flue alone for the heat you require. For instance : you want a good heat for propagating in two lights lit matters not whether frame or pit, though we should Pref" "je latter), and a more moderate heat in six lights. Well, It would be best to heat the first two lights separately by taking the flue round-say 2 feet or 18 inches from the sides, and shut off from the pit by means of a damper Move ihe damper, and the heat would at once pa.-s along the centre of the pit to a second chimney at the fariher end, or, but for the expense, it could return and join the back flue in Ihe two lights. With such a contrivance the cheapest plan would be to fill up all round the flues with bnckbats stones, flints, &c., so as to be as open as possible, cover the top of the Hue and all across with pebbles, and then gravel and sand. Ihe next oesr would be to make a chamber across with rough slabs of wood, leaving openings between them to be filled with clinkers, stones, &c., and sand or tan above. The next and more expensive mode would be to cover all aeioss with flagstones, slate, or iron ; and whichever mode was adopted, there couia be no want of heat or moisture by any of the modes frequently alluded to. A pipe communicating with the stones round the flue would always give moist heat enough. Eerata.— Page 350, second col., seventb line from top, "heat was not wanted," leave out not. Next paragraph, " fruit wall," should be tront wall" Page 351, first col , sevenlh line from top, " warm borders should be "side and end borders." Page 358, first col., sixteenth line from bottom, instead of " ten years," read " two years." To give the same amount of protection from two to three mats would be needed eveiy year, and then the protection would not be equal. — R. F. BortEBs {Subscriber).— Both your gardener and builder are, to a certain extent, right ; but as far as the burning, if " anything," is concerned, we prefer the saddle to the tubular form, while for efficient heating and atten- tion in stoking we very much prefer the tubular. At the same time the saddle is also a good boiler in these two latter respects. We would advise yon to let your gardener have the saddle if he prefers it, and more par- ticularly if the firing to be used is not of the best description. He will then be more likely to meet vour wishes. If your house is for late Orapes —that is, autumn Grapes-ohd bedding plants iu winter, a flow and return four-inch pipe will be enough, Thdneeegia (Hexacentris) coccinea Culture (C. (?.). — Keep your plant dry and cool through the winter, and when in spring it begins to grow freely, shift into rich turfy soil and grow on luUy exposed to light, and if it does not flower under such circumstances, you may consider you have a shy-flowering plant not worth expending labour on for another year. Eemovinq TccciS (J^. Newnwii;.—1he end of April is a good time for removing Yuccas. Take out a trench round them, and move them with as much soil to their roots as will adhere to them. Water well when planted, and shade from bright sun for a time. They are as easily and as success- fully moved as a laurel. It will be beat to pot the suckers of the Aloe singly into small pots, Scpeephosphate of Lime to Vine-eokdees — Pines Planted-oct IF. TF.). — You may apply the superphosphate of lime at the rate of 2J bushels to a rood. The best time to apply it is when the\ines are starting. You should not start your two-year-old Vines, particularly if they are weak, till February. You will succeed very well with your rines by putting 2 or 3 feet of firmly-trodden Oak or Beech leaves below the soil. They will yield heat more or less for twelve months. We do not like such a mixture as you describe for planting Pines in, and prefer moderately rough loam, with about an eight-inch potful of bone dust, to a barrowload of soil, and alterwards to water with liquid manure. Eoeage {Nemo).— It is an annual. You would gain nothing by solving before March. You may plant Lilium lancifolium now. The bulbs should not be disturbed oftener'than once in four years. Mr. Fortune's Plants (inimio).— If you write to Mr. SUndish, Nur- series, Ascot, he will give you the mformalion you seek. Plikts for an Eastern Balcony (S. J.).— We know of nothing better than masses of Chrysanthemums, or Aucubas, Lauruotinus, and Cypresses in tubs, with borders of Snowdrops and Crocuses, with a few Hellebores. Where is your balcony, in town or country ! Roses and Clematis Montana not Flowering [Lcighton S).— If you had stated more particulars as to the soil and situation in which your Roses grow, and what sort ol Roses they are, we would be more likely to hit on the cause of their not flowering. Roses when grown in shady situations, and not sufficiently thinned out with the pruning-knife do not flower freely nor produce fine flowers. When in a good exposure and kept properly thinned of wood Roses seldom fail in flowering if healthy. The same remarks are applicable to the Clematis, it being a remarkably free-flo«erirg plant when grown in an open situation, and particularly on a wall. If •t:icy are thick of wood thin well out, and let sun and air to them, and ifhoth Koses and Clematis ate healthy they will flower. The planting of CUauthus had better be deferred till sprmg. Plums and Cbeeries foe Noeth Wall {Mrs. Burroics, Cavan).— Plums : Early Orleans, Drap d'Or, Reine Claude Violette. Cherries : Morello, May Duke. We cannot detect your plant from such a specimen. Send a sprig and some of the fallen flowers in a card-box and a little damp moss. 2J Vines in Pots {A. Beal).—Yon can»ot do better than keep your Vines in vour cold greenhouse all winter, if the temperature does not exceed JO'with fire heat. They will do under the stage in any cool corner ul the hou>e. As soon as ever they show signs of swelling their buds in spriBg train them up under the rafters of vour greenhouse, keeping tliem at least 16 inclies from the glass. The pots cin stand on the front shelf with whicn your house is, no doubt, furnished. The sorts are not well adapted lor fruiting in a cold greenhouse. Few Vines require so much heat iis Alicante, and both Lady Downes' and Black Muicat require more heat than tlain- buighs. If you could exchange them with any one for Ham lurghs tne latter would be more satisfactory in a cool house. Of course, i; T°" "^^^ keep your greenhouse warm from May till September they will do very well. Altering the Time of Flowering in Camellias {Soulh Devon).— The time that Camellias flower depends so entirely on the time that they inake their young wood and set their bur:s, that you must let this process take place later in the season than has been the case with yours. To gain your object as quickly as possible, keep your plants as cool a» possible all winter and early spring ; and, instead of putting them in heat to make tneir growth and set their buds, keep thcni in a cool, dry. and somewhat sliaaea position. This followed out for a le.ir or two will cause your plants to do later in making their growthaiid setting flower-buds, and as a consequence they will flower later. Teebizond Ndt Tree ^Leaminglon).— This is mentioned in the "Gar- deners' Year Book for 1863," and our correspondent wishes to know where a plant of it can be purchased. Patent Stoves [3. C.),— No such stoves, for they have no chimneys, should be admitted among plants. These are alway= injured by the lumes from the fuel. Making Aspar»oU3-bed3 — Planting Sea-kalf. (S". Botvell). —Tbe ground should be well drained to the depth of 4 feet, and 21 feet from drain to drain. The ground should then be trenched to the depth of 3 feet, ana 6 inches of manure worked in. If the soil be deficient in sand or clay a like quantity of sharp aand or ashes should be added to it and wolfed in. Divide the ground into beds 5 feet wide, pointing north and south, with two-feet alleys between the beds, and drivins a "takedown at each corner ot the beds. Cover the latter with a layer of well-decomposed dung 3 inches thick, and throw out ths alleys equally over the beds to the depth of 1 toot. F'ork the beds over and leave them rather rough for the winter. 1 he Decis should be prepared this month, taking advantage of dry we.ither. You win plant three rows of two-year-old plants along the beds, the outer rows 1 foot from the edge of the beds, and the same distance from plant to plant in the rows. We consider Giant or Karly Battersea the best variety to plant. Prepare the ground for the Sea-kale iu the same way as tor Aspa- ragus, but do not form the ground into beds. Plant in lines 2 feet 6 inches ajiart, running north and south ; tliree plants together, 1 foot 3 inches asunder in the line, so that they will represent the points of an equilateral tiianglethus ' and 6 inches from crown to crown. (JS. --I. i').— see tne above reply to" H. Howell as to how to make the beds. We do not recoin- mend planting full-grown plants, .as they rarely do any good. Two-year -out plants, and even one-year plants from the seed are better. 'Ihey should be planted in the beginning of April. Four years is about the time neces- sary to obtain Asparagus fit for cutting. If the grass be strong, at three years a few heads maybe cut; but the stiength and time of coming into bearing depends on the hberality of the treatment given, as liquid manure twice weekly in summer. The Use op Dampees (.1 Constant Subscriber).— A little crumbling now and then is vastly superior to continual flattery. We do not like dampers because they confine the smoke and its direful gases in the flue, whilst ex- posing the fire to a full current of cold air. This confining of the smoke materially aids in bursting flues from the collection of gases in them. whit_h, becoming ignited, explode, because the damper prevents their escape by the chimney. Confining smoke in a flue by means of a damper is just the same as woiking a steam boiler to the highest pressure its parts are capable of resisting and then shutting the sifety valve. If jou stop a racehorse at full speed the collision is fiercer than when the animal is walking. So with dampers. The damper checks the draught, but not until the air has attained its full velocity -, and do you think that it is not better to prevent the draught by shutting the ash-pit door than to allow it to rush in there, and then by me,ius of a damper to hinder its pissing along the flue ! Dampers fill flues with smoke, prevent its free jiassage to the cbiuiney, and if there are any cracks in the flue the smoke thus confined is sure to find them out. Dampers cause an unnecessary strain on all the parts, aud this sooner or later ends in a smoky flue. Dampers flU flues with soot, and are always out ol repair. If ho air can reach the fire-under, through, or over it at the furnace— the Are cannot burn at all. The draught is given at the furnace, and where the cause begins that is the place, and that only, to check or increase it. The furnace-door should be as air-tiglit as it is possible to make it, for we want no air to enter there to cool the air that rises from the fire ; but the admission uf the air that gives the draught should be by the ash-pit dour, so that the air will pass through the tire and become heated before it passes into the flue. Providing the ..sh-pit door fits closely and the furnace-door the same, the fire will burn very slowly indeecl in a wind ; and it they fit quite closely, admitting no air, a strong fare wiU gradually die out. Let us examine any of the slow-combustion stoves used for warming halls, and what principle are they on ? The ;i3h-pit door rculates the draught ; the stove is made hotter or colder by shutting or opening it, and not by having a damper to hold back tne heated air and mi the room or place with gases and smoke. The pans above the hre should be open at all times to .iflord a free passage lor the smoke to escape by, and the opening below the fire admitting the air can be regulaied at wiU by shutting or opening. We have no difficulty in regulatrig the draught of our fires, and we never have used a damper; but we have had to work many fiues and boilers where they were, yet never did, and never will, use them. We have worked flues that burn a ton of coals per week individually, without any ash-pit door or even a damper, and could have any heat ol nue by raning the fire according to the weather. If your ash-pit door is made to fit quite close, aud does not then prevent thai roasiing heat you complain of, wc can only say your furnace is loo large f -r its work, and must bum fuel that would be economised by having a less furnace.-G. A. AiE Pipe (O. Child).— We have it inside the house. No steam ought to escape from it. Glass vington, were respec- tively first and second throughout. In that for six plants, the former had Aregina, Defiance, Christine, Alma, Annie Salter, and Eifleman ; and in threes. Prince Albert, ciimson, very fine ; Golden Christine, and Insigne. In six Pompones, Mr. Forsyth contributed General Can- November 17, 1863. JOITRNAL OF HOETICTJLTtlRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 387 robert, Dumflet, Cedo NuUi, Helene, Eose TreTenna, and La Sultana, all of wMcli were very evenly grown, neatly trained, and covered with bloom. Mr. Oubridge had Trophee, mottled rose ; and others already named. In thi-ees, Mr. Forsyth had fine specimens of Helene, General Canrobert, and Lilac Cedo N>illi. Both of the above exhibitors also brought large groups of well-grown plants, which contributed much to the effect of the Show. In the Amateurs' Classes, Mr. Howe, of Shacklewell, was very successful, gaining fii-st prizes both in the Class for six plants, and in that for tlu-ee, with excellent plants of Lord Eauelagh, Draco, Golden Christine, Chevalier Domage, Annie Salter (very fine), and Alma. In Pompones, Mr. Parker, of Stratford, had remai-kably fine plants, upwards of 3 feet across, of General Canrobert, Cedo Nulli, Golden Cedo Nulli, Dm-uflet, Lilac Cedo NnUi, and Andi'omeda. He received the first prize in the Class for sixes, Mr. Bolton being second, and Mr. Howe third ; and in the Class for three, Mr. Bolton took the first prize, and Mr. Parker the second. Mr. Howe also contributed a fine gi-oup of pyramid Pom- pones, some of which were perfect models, and in beautiful blooro, and lai-ge-flowering kinds, both on tall stems and trained in bush form. In Specimen Plants, Mr. Monk had a first prize for a very large and fine plant of Golden Chiistine, Mr. Howe being second with Lady Harding, also fine. In the Pompone Class, Mr. Forsyth and Mr. Bolton took the two highest prizes for Saint Thais, and Golden Cedo Nulli, both of which were good specimens. Some very good pyraraid Pompone Anemones were also shown by Mr. Ward, and Mr. George, among which were included Mr. Astie, Eeine des Anemones, Marguerite de WUdemar, and Antonius. Mr. Ward had a first prize for these, and Mr. George a second. Of Cut Blooms, which were exhibited ia the galleries, there was a most extensive display, though, owing to the great length of the tables, the stands were not so close together as desirable for producing effect. In twenty-fours, Mr. Monk had the first prize for a fine stand, among which we remarked Queen of England, Cherub, Themis, Jardin des Plantes, Alfred Salter, Mrs. W. Holborn, Lysias, Cassandi-a, White Globe, Nil Desperandum, Novelty, and Goliath. Ills. Wai-d was thh-d, and Mr. George fourth, in the same Class. In twelves, Mr. Monk was again first with beautiful blooms of Queen of England, Jardin des Plantes, Cherub, Themis, Goliath, Lady Harding, Novelty, Lysias, White Globe, and A Ifred Salter. Mr. George was second, Mr. Ward thh-d, and Mr. Wyness, Buckingham Palace Gardens, and Ml-. Salmon, equal fourth. In sixes, Mr. Monk was also first; Mr. Eowe, Stamford Hill, being second. Large-flowering Anemone vaa-ieties were well shown by Mr. Wai-d and Mr. Monk, who were awarded the first and second prizes for that Class. Among the sorts they ex- hibited were George Sand, Gluck, Marguerite d'Anjou, Louis Bonamy, and King of Anemones. In the Class for Anemone Pompones, the positions of the above exhibitors were reversed, both, however, showing very creditably. Collections of Cut Blooms were contributed by Messrs. Monk, Eowe, George, and others ; and in the Nurserymen's Classes, by Mr. CatteU, of Westerham, who had fine examples of Queen of England, Jardin des Plantes, Beauty, Aimee Fei-riere, Chinese Orange Incurved, &c. ; also, by Messrs. WUkinson, Forsyth, Men-ey, and others. Large Anemone-flowered kinds were also well repre- sented, especially by Mi-. CatteU, who had some immense blooms of Lady Margaret, each about 5 inches across ; Handel, a fine dark rose; and Louis Bonamy, remarkably fine. In Anemone Pompones, Mr. Forsyth took the lead. In the Amateui's' Classes for twenty-four and twelve blooms, Mr. James and Mr. Slade were respectively fii-st and second in both, Mr. Eobinson, Islington, taking an equal first in the Class for twelve. JIi-. Cakebread, who was first for sis blooms, had a remarkably fine White Globe, Aregina, and Jardin des Plantes being also fine. In the Islington Classes, Mr. Jeffries, the Secretary of the Society, and Mr. Robinson, were the principal prizetakers. Anemone-flowered varieties of both kinds were also very successfully shown by Messrs. Pryer, James, Butt, and HiHeary. In New Varieties, Mr. Forsyth was awarded the fii-st prize, for Duchess of Buckingham, white ; Beverley, a fine white ; Her Majesty, a very pretty blush ; Prince Louis of Hesse, and Cleopatra, rosy blush; AntoneUi, brownish-salmon. Golden Eagle, dull red tinged with gold, came from Mr. Moxham. Several pretty bouquets of cut blooms, interspersed with Perns, &c., were shown by Messrs. CatteU, Glover, and others. MisceUaneous articles were shown by Messrs. Butler and McCuUooh, and Hooper & Co., of Covent Garden, consisting of Hyacinth-glasses, baskets of Everlastings, ornamental Grasses, &c. ; and Messrs. Sutton & Sons, of Reading, had a very extensive collection of Gourds, Grasses both ornamental and useful. Potatoes, and seeds. Messrs. Cutbush, WUliams, E. G. Henderson, Videon, and Grimbley, contributed large numbers of fine-foliaged plants and evergreens for the decoration of the sides of the HaU. A group of standard Pompones, with pyramidal heads, from Mr. Whitbread, and which were covered with blooms, formed beautiful objects, which we omitted to mention at the proper place. FLOWEES OF THE PAST SEASON. VEEBENAS. " I WISH you would come up and have a hanging-day." Such was the salutation wherewith a friend and neighbour greeted me, who is known aU the world over as the first Fuchsia^raiser of his day, and of some Verbenas which still hold their own in the midst of novelties over and over again announced to drive them out of the field ; and as his garden contains neai-ly all Verbenas worth growing, and I have generaUy a pretty fair coUection of the novelties of the season, I think we can manage to form a pretty good opinion of the worth or worthlessness of the claimants to public favour : and so a hanging-day was named. It so happened that when we met for the purpose another friend came also, who, though now the rector of a London parish, had once been our neighbour, and he is an exceUent florist and an especially good judge of Verbenas. Thus, with Mr. Banks's intelligent gardener, we formed a quartet, no way influenced, I think, by partiality — with no flowers of our own to decide upon, but simply to say what we thought about Verbenas in genei-al. Previous to entering on our task we had a passage of arms on a few points. One was the failures of the Verbe- nas we were met to decide upon. For the past thi-ee years this faUure has taken place. Formerly nothing could be more luxuriant than these Verbenas ; but duiing the past three or four years the failures have been lamentable : the plants become rapidly mUdewed — they are infested with thrips, and with another kind of insect, which seems to eat the cuticle of the leaf and completely disfigures the plant. Under a combination of such circumstances the plants in many instances pine away, spaces are made in the beds, and the appearance of the garden spoUed. Can any of yom- correspondents suggest a reason for all this ? The plants put out are perfect models, have been carefuUy struck in the spring, are not planted out early (the end of May or beginning of June being about the time selected), and yet they wQl die. The ground is carefully prepared, and every attention is paid to them. Then, again, we were each to name a dozen of the best Verbenas for general purposes, bedding, and exhibition ; and, as showing how much alike our tastes were, and how superexcellent some sorts are, I may mention that eight Verbenas in each of the four Usts were identical. The judgment given in the foUowing notes may therefore, I thmk, in general be relied upon; al- though, doubtless, like all other judgments, there are mis- takes, but at any rate there are no wUfuI ones. Another point we had also to decide was what Verbenas out of the vast number grown we should propagate and what discard. Here again opinions may clash with our judgments, but I give up all idea of getting people to be of one mind on the merits of a flower. Look at Eoses, for example. I saw the other day somewhere a list of good Eoses of 1861, and 388 JOTJKNAL OF HOBTICTTLTTJKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ November 17, 1863. amongst them was Jean Baptiste Guillot, a flower with a bud as hard as a cricket-ball, which one can never get to open. And so it will always be : we must only give our own judgment, and let others modify it according to their own tastes. In giving the following notes I hare tried to distinguish by B and e those which ai'e suited for bedding and exhibition purposes. A bedding Verbena, I think, ought to be short- jointed and fi'ee-floweriug, the colours distinct and not diverse, eyed flowers bieing objectionable ; the size of the pip and shape being of less imjjortance, although where all the points of excellence are combined so much the better. For exhibition the shape and size of the pip and truss are of the fii-st importance. Edged flowers are here desii-able, although they requii'e self-coloured flowers to relieve them in a stand. I will take them as I did the Eoses. PEF.KINS & CO. iMrd Leigh, E. ^Brilliant scarlet, with square yellow eye. This I regard us the finest flower of the year. It is, indeed, in colour very like Colossus and Foxhunter, but is distinct from them. Several times it has been, I fancy, exhibited as such, and in more than one instance has been detected. In the garden it is easily distinguished from either of them by its robust habit : for tliis reason it ■will, I think, make a good bedding plant also. DOWKIE, LAIRD, & LAING. Lord Oi-aven, z. — Beautiful in colour — viz., a blight purple, but I fear it does not bear a sufficiently good truss ever to make a good exhibition flower. It may, I think, fahly have another year's trial. TEEEN. Ritgly Hero, e. — Light rose with cai-mine eye. Some strange mysteiy hung over this flower, for it was eleai-ly none other than L'Avenir de Ballent, which is unquestion- ably one of the very best exhibition flowers we have, and for those who do not dislike eyed flowers in their bedding- out plans it is excellent also. The foliage is good, the flowers abundantly produced, and the individual truss large. E. G. HENDERSON & SON. Admiral Mitford, E. — Eich scarlet crimson flower with yel- lowish eye, a most refined flower. The growth is also short and good, but too flat for bedding purposes. It will be indispensable for the exhibitor, and may well be grown in the most select eoUeotion. White Lady. — Good for neither exhibition nor bedding. Nothing can better show the impossibility of determining the future career of a flower than this. I know that Mr. Henderson thought very highly of it, and that the some- what glowing description in his catalogue was a reflex of his OTVTi judgment. The flowers are very small as well as the pip. Blue King, b. — Sojnewhat in the style of Purple King, but lighter.iu colour. Likely to be an acquisition. Eulalie. — Paint and washy in colours. Condemned. Ejgie Deans. — Scarlet crimson with white eye. At one time I thought tl.is would prove a good flower, but I fear not. Glendower. — .Dull purple. Of no use. Nora. — Reddish-purple. Of this the same must, I fear, be said. Peep o' Bay. — Sosy salmon, with dark eye. After much consultation we came to the conclusion that tliis, too, must go into the black list. Stella. — Biu^s at the edge, at least with us here it did. Priixress. — Violet crimson. This also we condemned. St. Clair. — Plum-coloured, somewhat in the style of Purple Kilig, but I fear not likely to be kept in our lists. LOW & SON. Flmra. — Pink, with white centre. Poor. ifuiy, B. — Deep ruby colour ; of excellent habit, very fi'ee- flowering, and liiely to be useful for bedding. It will, too, if I mistake not, often be fcaind in the stands of exhibitors. Sosalie, E., — Deep saln;on rose. A good flower, which will merit another trial. Purple Emperor. — Good in colour, but I fear its growth is too small and delicate ever to make it a good bedding plant. Ama,rantk. — Another Lnditferent grower. The colour is good, but itj habit wUl condemn it. Chieftain, e. — Scai-let, white centre. A veiy good and effective flower, bright in colour, and with large pips. ArJ:anso,s. — Somewhat dull in colour, and therefore con- demned. The Bride. — Light rose ; somewhat like Ida, but not so good. TUBNER. Miss Lahouchere. — Not novel in colour, and therefore con- demned. G-rande Bonle de Neige, B. — This promises to be a very fine flower. The coloiu- is pui'e and the habit good ; not nearly so straggling as Mi's. Holford, and much more abundant in blooming. Ruby King, B. — A good-habited flower of a bright i-uby coloiu'. The flowers are very freely produced, and I have little doubt that it will be a very desirable Viu-iety. Fa.b-y. — Too faint and dull. BULL. The Clipper, B. — A good flower, intermediate in colour between Lord Eaglan and Genei-al Simpson. It is also of good habit, and ivill, I think, be a useful flower. Such were the results of oui- notes. It will be seen, then, that the only flowers of the past season that we really con- sidered Srst-rate were Lord Leigh, Admii-al Mitford, Ruby, Chieftain, Grande Boule de Neige, and Euby King ; that of second-rate flowers there were Lord Craven, Blue King, Eosahe, and The Clipper ; and that the rest were considered to be out of the field altogether. There were, I know, other Verbenas advertised, but we have not seen them, and I am inclined to think tiiat they are not iu any way acquisitions. They have not appeared as such at the metropolitan exhi- bitions, nor have I heard of any one who so considers them. I have not named L'Avenii- de Ballent, as it was a flower of the pi'evious yeai'. It may, perhaps, serve as a guide to others if I add to this the list of those which we deter- mined to retain : — Foxhunter, Lord Eaglan, Brfllante de Vaisse, Nemesis, Geant des Batailles, Admiral Dundaa, General .Simpson, Miss Hughes, Madame Mahar, alias Ma- dame Hermann Stenger, Mrs. Haii'ison, Striata Perfecta, Eeine des Amazones, Fairest of the Fah-, Mrs. Holford, Snowfiake, Le Bon Nicholas, Bladame Jensow, Faust (this splendid flower I do not see in any of the catalogues, it is one of the vei-y best we have). Miss Elphinstone, Zampa, Topsy, Thormauby, Mad.ame Zoudier, Gi-and Eastern, Paul Tircas, Madame de hi NaUine, and Victory. — D., Deal. STOKE iS'EWINGTON CHEYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. The seventeenth annual Exhibition of this Society took place on the 9th and 10th inst., and the display as usual was excellent both as regards jjlants and cut blooms. Fine blooming plants were ranged all roimd the room, whilst the central portion was occupied by the cut blooms and a row of pyi-amid Pompones, which in the denseness of their growth offered a marked advance on those seen at last year's Show. For six plants the prize was awarded to Itfr. Forsyth, nurseryman, Stoke Newington, who had Prince Albert, Defiance, Alma, Annie Salter, Aregina, and Lady St. Claii-. Ml-. Howe, exhibiting in an extra class, was fu'st with ex- cellent plants of Lord Eanelagh (orange red). Lady Harding, Orange Perfection, Draco, Helene, and White Cluistine. In Six Pompones, Mr. Forsyth was first with capital plants of Cedo NuUi, Duruflet, Golden Cedo NuUi, General Cau- robert, Helene, and Rose Trevenna. Mr. Howe was second. Excellent single specimens of Mr. Astie and Annie Salter were also shown. The three pyramid Pompones, Genei-al Canrobert, Cedo NulU, and Helene, from Mr. Howe, were beantifid examples of that style of training ; and those from Mr. George, gar- dener to Miss Nicholson, Stamford HiU, who. was second, were also good. Of cut blooms there were several very good stands. In twenty -fours. Mi-. Heals, of Westerham, had the first prize, having amongst yellows Plutus and Jardia des Plantes ; Cassy, orange; Beauty; Queen of England; Mrs. W. Hol- born, and Lucidum ; Her Majesty, a new silvery blush ; Alfred Salter, Eifleman, Eaynaoad, Hermioae, and Fabius. November 17, 1863. ] JOUKNAL OP HOBTICULTTIRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 389. Ml'. Slade was second, having Beverley, a cream white ; and Aimee Perriere, a charming variety, white delicately tipped with pink. In twelves, Mr. Heals was first, and Mr. Moxham was second; in sixes. Mi'. Cornwall, Kingsland, had very fine blooms of White Globe and Jardin des Plantes. Of Anemone-flowered varieties there were good stands of both lai'ge-flowering and Pompone varieties. In the former, George Hock, Gluck, Lady Margaret, and Louis Bonamy were well shown. In the latter some fine examples of Ma- dame Seutu', Madame Montels, Antonius, and Marguerite de Wildemar. As on previous occasions, the getting-upof the Exhibition was entrusted to Mi'. Howe, the Secretary of the Society, and he deserves every credit for the pains which he has taken and the courtesy which he exhibits in conducting this, one of the most pleasing local shows near London. AEE OECHAED-HOUSES POECING-HOUSES ? Would you inform me whether you would consider fruit grown in orchard-houses forced ? I heard a discussion at a provincial show whether it should be called forced or not. It was eventually decided that it is forced, but for my own part I cannot see that it is. I should like, however, some higher authority to decide the question before I conform to the same opinion ; for forced fruit I consider to be that which has had ai'tificial heat applied in some form or other, and not that which has had merely protection, as I take orchard-houses give.— A. P. Z. [We consider the provincial society's decision wi'ong. All fruits grown against a wall with canvass stretched before them would as justly be called forced as the fruits grown in an orchard-house, where, of course, no artificial heat is ap- plied. In both cases means are adopted for retaining the heat aiforded by the sun. The fruits ai'e protected, not forced.] EOYAL HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY'S COMMITTEES.— Nov. 10th. Plokal Committee. — This Committee held their meeting on this occasion in the council-room, much to the satisfaction of its members, and to the advantage of the specimens exhibited. Mr. Veitoh sent six specimens of Lycaste Skinneri, plants imported this year — they were distinct vai'ieties, and were much admired, although but slightly differing from other varieties now in cultivation ; Polypodinm album punctatum, a new and very beautiful distinctly-spotted Fern, had a first-class certificate ; DavaUia diversifoUa Hillii, which had received a iirst-class certificate on a former occasion ; Eran- themum tuberculatum, a valuable plant from its flowering a^ this season of the year ; its white Jasmine-like flowers and compact foliage gave it a very pretty character — a second-class certificate had been awarded at a pre^aous meeting. Mr. Earley sent cut specimens of a seedling Begonia, with bright deep rosy flowers, strongly resembling Begonia Sandersi semperflorens. Mr. BuU exhibited Ancectoehilus zebrinxis, a very young and weakly specimen : a species of Trichomanes, from Trinidad, not sufficiently grown to prove its character ; Lindsaea species from Trinidad, a very beautiful pla'at, which was awarded a first-class certificate ; two varieties of Caladium Lowii, one of which was named reticulatum. Mr. Cattell, of Westerham, had Picea pectinata pendula, one of the drooping varieties, a form which is not uncom- monly found among other plants of this family. Cut speci- mens of an Ipomsea, from Natal, with dull pink flowers, came fix)m the Society's garden at Ghiswick. The seed of this plant ■was sent home by Mr. Cooper. It has flowered in one of the stoves ; unless it -nTll bear a cooler temperature it wUl be of no value. A Chrysanthemum, called Late Dragon, one of Mr. Sta^dish's Japan varieties, was commended. Although not a florists' flower, it is very showy, and its bright yellow flawers, with their dragon-mouthed or laciuiated florets, t^ether wiOi. its deep green broad foliage, make it a useful decorative plant. These Japan varieties have the jjroperty of lasting longer in flower than our English Chrysanthe- mums. The plants, only late cuttings, each jiroduoed one very fine flower. We noticed two superb specimens of Chrysanthemum Queen of England, the white and yellow varieties. These were brought out of the conservatory from a coUeotion which had been grown at the Chiswick Gardens, the plants being grown for the exijeriment of pro- ducing one large flower, which has admhably succeeded. A visit to the conservatoiy wiU be well rewarded, for finer flowers of the Chrysanthemum have never been seen in cultivation. They would doubtless have made a conspicuous featui'e at any of the meetings at which this flower is specially patronised. Pkuit Committee. — John Kelk, Esq., in the chair. There was a fine display of fr'uit at this meeting, one of the best that has been seen at the Committee for a considerable time past ; and the pleasure of the meeting was greatly enhanced by its being held again in the council-room, whence it never ought to have been removed. It may not be gene- rally known that for the last twelvemonth the Committee has been poked about in aU sorts of out-of-the-way nooks and coi'uers. In the cold spring months they might have been seen in one of the cold di'aughty corridors of the Great Exhibition building, wi'apped in great coats, and huddling toget'ner to keep e.ich other warm ; while in the Ijurning heat of summer they were elevated into the upper gallery of the conservatory, there to be broiled, while two and sometimes three elderly gentlemen were in undisturbed possession of the councQ-room, devouring as much of the morning papers and the monthlies as they could get for nothing. There were various pmes offered at this Meeting, Class A being for the best three dishes of dessert Apples, any variety. In this class there were eight entries, some of which contained several fine specimens of the vai'ieties ex- hibited. Mr. Spivey, of Hallingbury Place, Essex, sent fine specimens of Eibston Pippin, Pearn's, Pippin, and MargU, but, unfortunately, they had been in contact with hay or some other material that destroyed theii' flavour. Mr. HaU, gardener to Capt. Tyrrell, Fordhook, Baliug, had very ex- cellent specimens of Eibston Pippin, Blenheim Pippin, and- Autumn Pearmain ; but they all yielded to the Eldon Pippin^ Cox's Orange Pippin, and Mickleham Pearmain shown by Mr.. Whiting, of the Deepdene, and to which the first prize was awarded. The second prize was obtained by a coUeotion which was unaccompanied by any letter or address. It con~ sisted of Feam's Pippin, Cockle Pippin, and an unnamed variety. In Class B there were nine entries, and many of them contained remarkably fine specimens. The Chaumontels of Ml-. Hall, of Fordhook, were so large and handsome that they wi^re awarded a certificate of commendation. Mi". Spive-y- had fine specimens of Glou Morceau and Passe Colmar ; and Mr. Curd, of Sulhampsted House, exhibited very fine Beurre Diel, Passe Colmar, and Ne Plus Meuxis. The first prize, however, was awai'ded to Mr. Cox, of Eedleaf. for Glou Morceau, Chaumontel, and Winter NeUs, all three of which were richly flavoui'ed, as were also the Beurre Superfiji, Winter Nelis, and Marie Louise of Mr. Whiting, of the Deepdene, which received the second prize. Class C was for the best dish of Grapes having a Muscat fiavour, and the first prize was taken by Messrs. Lane and Son, of Berkhampstead, with Muscat Hambui'gh, and such a bimch! Some good judges considered it weighed over 4 lbs. It was very closely set, too jlosely in fact, for the berries were squeezed together tUl some of them were in all sorts of shapes. The Vine is gi'owing in an orchard-house, and the fr-uit was produced without artificial heat. Class D was for Grapes without M-.iscat flavour ; and the first prize was also taken by Messrs. Lane with Black Prince. They were fine, long, black bunches, and of excellent flavour. They, too, were produced in an orcliard-house. A Grape was received from Mr. Denliam, gardener to the Duke of Roxburgh at Broxmo'ath Park, near Dunbar, N.B., for the opinion of the Committee as to whether or not it was the Muscat of Alexandria. It appeared from Mr. Den- ham's letter that this had been eiihibited for several years past at the Edinburgh Shows as Muscat of Alexandria, and that now an exception had been taken to it — that, it 'WSis 390 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTXTEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ November 17, iscs. not Muscat of Alexandria. The buncli and berry certainly have the appearance of Muscat of Alexandria ; but the Com- mittee unanimously decided that it was not that variety nor any other form of Muscat — in fact that it was not a Muscat at all. Mr. B. S. Williams, of Paradise Nursery, Holloway, again sliowed a bunch of Royal Vineyard Grape, which appears to hang well, being perfectly firm and plump. Mi'. McDonald, of Woodstock Park, Inistioge, sent a bunch of true White Tokay, which he anticipated would be the same as the bunch sent by Mr. Denham, but they were not at all similar to each other. A fine fruit of the true Smooth-leaved Cayenne Pine Apple was sent by Mr. David Thomson, Archerfield, N.B. It was remarkably handsome and fii-m, and, having been cut for a month, refuted the opinion that is held by many — that it will not keep. George Wilson, Esq., of Gishiu-st Cottage, sent some magnificent specimens of his orchard-house-grown Apples and Pears. The Melon Apple, Northern Spy, and Yellow Newtown Pippin were very beautiful ; and the Pears, which consisted of Beurre Defais, Triomphe de Jodoigne, Chau- montel, Josephine de Malines, and Doyenne Goubault were really wonderful. The fruit grown by Mr. Wilson are cer- tainly the most successful examples of orchard-house culture we have ever seen. Mr. Lidgard, of Hammersmith, exhibited immense stalks ■of Celery of the following varieties: — Kimberley's Hero, Williams' Red, Wall's Invincible White, Manchester Red, Coles' Red, and Coles' 'WMte. The latter were bj far the best flavom'ed. WINTEEING PLA>^TS in a COLD GREENHOUSE —VINE MILDEW. I HAVE a small glass house fitted into a nook of the house where it gets all the east and south sun, and I am very anxious to keep my plants there all the winter without fire. One end and half the length are against the house, painted white. The front has a division and makes two windows which open. The door opposite one is to the west. There are two shelves in fi-ont, two shelves against the house, 3 feet apart, on two sides, and a table one-third of the length. It is built on an arch turned over a dry area which goes partly round the house, which may make it cold but not damp. My jjlants are chieily young Geraniums of last autumn and this summer, some fine Fuchsias, all raised by myself, and three small Orange trees. Would frigi domo along the sides keep out the frost? Must I have it over the roof? Must I have a lamp biu-ning at night when frosty ? Would any possible contrivance do instead of fire ? I should be much obliged for any practical directions. I could by a piece of iron pipe make it communicate with a glazed verandah into which a di-awing-room window opens, and to which a small greenhouse is attached, where there is a fii-e and a brick flue. We have a small Grape-house with a border, in which we have Peach and Nectarine trees in pots : they bore very well this year, but one hundred bunches of Grapes were lost from mildew, or whatever the disease is called. What can I do to the Vine to avoid a repetition of the misfortune? and how can I keep out the frost without letting my new little house out of my own hands, as I do all the work of it myself, and it gives me great pleasm-e and interest ? — E. M. W. [We really wish we could help you effectually, but fear we must merely condole with you. the fingi domo on the sides would be help, but would not hinder a severe ft-ost killing aU your plants. That, too, would involve some trouble in taking off and putting it on. We would prefer calico or something of that kind for the roof; and if your front windows are high the calico might be put up in pieces inside, and re- main there the most of the winter. Unless the glass-covered verandah were very warm, we do not see what benefit you would derive by bringing an iron pipe from the verandah. We do not know where the position of the ftirnace for the greenhouse is, but if at all handy you might have a small flat boiler placed over it, and pipes taken from it to your little house, with a tap, a valve, or a plug to turn on heat when you like. The same thing might be done if the fire- place in the room adjoining is suitable, or if ttiere is a room with a fireplace beneath the arch that forms the floor. That, hovrever, would make you, as respects the fii-e, depen- dant on others perh.aps, but still leave the giving of heat enth-ely in your own hands. If the place is at all lofty, a single lamp would not be suificient unless of a good size, even with the assistance of the frigi domo. A spirit lamp would be best, as if the wick were kept short there would be no smoke. We think that one or two paraffin lamps would be the cheapest and might suit your purjjose ; but we are not sure whether the products of combustion might not injure your plants — we rather think they would unless there were funnel-shaped vessels of tin suspended over the lamps a few inches above them, and a small pipe from that ftmnel communicating with the external atmosphere. We would advise you to try one or two of these lamps without any covering of a funnel at first, and notice how much it will raise the temperature. The funnel over the lamp would take off the deleterious matter, and if the pipe were three- quarters of an inch in diameter that would give out the heat that rose through it. We are now writing with the help of a composite candle that needs no snuffing, with a wii-e-frame fixed on the candle supporting a shade of paper, green outside and white inside, with a hole of about 2 inches in diameter at the top. The other night we boiled a small saucepan very shortly suspended over that hole. In our bachelor days we have with a similar simple contrivance boiled a small tin tea- kettle, when we wished for a cheering cup and could not be bothered lighting a fire. With a good-sized lamp we believe we could heat a small tin 'ooiler like a teakettle, and heat the house with two-inch tin pipes taken all round it. Try the lamp first. From experiments with stoves we are well con- vinced that for small places there is no mode of heating so economical as having the whole of the heating material inside the place to be heated, but then the products of combustion must be allowed to escape. We may state here for the benefit of young gardeners that myriads of such wii-e-guards are sold in London for 2ci. each and the shades for Id. each, and may be used until the caudle is nearly done. Candles that need no snuffing are a great luxury, and composites about llcJ. or Is. per pound are cheaper and give far more light than tallow candles, but they do not stand candying. We found, also, recently a valuable hint for getting all the light possible at night from a candle — viz., to use a white or light -coloured cover for the table. We never thought of such a thing before, though we ought to have done so ; but just try and see t'ae difference either for reading or writing, and especially if the candle or lamp is shaded. The reflection of light from the light colour of the table, even if the cover be a newspaper, is like the addition of another candle when contrasted with the dark colom-. The light colour of the walls will be no particular point in the favour of our corre- spondent, as it will reflect heat during the day, and in a hot day wiU be apt to make the place too hot, and in cold nights from not being much heated during the day it will not have so much to radiate back again at night as a dai'ker-ooloured wall woidd have ; but then in using a lamp at night little of the heat wo'ild be absorbed by the white wall from the atmosphere of the "house. As said above we would simply try a paraffin lamp or two first and note how much they raise the temperatui-e. As to the mildew on the Grapes, very particular directions were given in a late Number, and we can only say. Wash the house thoroughly. Vines and all, and then wash the latter with a paint made of clay, lime, and sulphur; and next season, even if you should use a little fire heat, give plenty of air, leaving even a little on at night from the time the Vines break until the 6-uit is gathered, and apply flowers of sulphur to the first spot of mildew. — R. F.] GAEDENEES' NAMES FOE ELOWEES. "G." has misunderstood my meaning, and taken my words in a sense in which I never intended them to be taken. When I said, " I feel sure that well-educated gar- denei-s will say Amen to my remarks," it was not the anec- dotes I alluded to, but the position I took on these words. Movember 17, ]8G3. ] JOUKNAL OF HOETICOLTUEE AJSiD COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 391 ■' I humbly think it would be a retrograde day in horticul- ture if gardeners' pronunciation of the names of flowers was received by the classically educated as correct;" and, again, more especially on these words, " Surely it is right in tills, as in aU instances, to endeavour to raise men to the correct standai-d, rather than sink the standard for the sate of the men." I honoured " D.," of Deal, much for re- fusing to accept as the right pronunciation of a flower one which, as -las been proved, was classioaUy wrong, although the name jf Mi-. Beaton (now, alas ! the late) was brought as an argument in its defence. " G." wiU also do me the favour to notice, that I spoke of the four cases of very bad pronunciation as being " extreme cases," and, therefore, great exceptions to the regular rule. Thej' had amused me, and I thought would amuse and not offend any reader of The Journal of Horticultuee. They axe perfectly true, and, of course, I did not ask any one to endorse my anecdotes, only my arguments. I can also assure " G." I was not quizzed by my " Johnny Bottle " friend. He was an old man, and once in my own employ ; in better days he had been gardener to a near relative of a Peer. He was a vei-y good gardener, though in book matters nfrie\'Ously ignorant. He seemed amused with the name, but spoke it, I am sure, in utter ignorance. As an instance in an opposite direetion, let me give " G," another bit of my experience. I was a few years ago looking over a very good garden with the gardener. It was his own creation o-it of a piece of flat pastiu-e land. I was delighted to hear his most coiTect pronunciation of all names. In one instance he, of his own accord, gave me the Greek word correctly pronounced, from which our English name, he said, was derived. On remarking upon this man's wonderfully correct pronunciation to one of his fellow gardeners, he assured me that he was in this respect the en\'y of all his gardener friends. Let me add as a word of encouragement to young, very young gardeners, that this man I speak of began life as a servant boy in a village. In conclusion, let me assure "G." that there lives no man fonder of gai-deners than myself. Many an hour's chat do I get with them when I can, and I wish them well, and never more truly was I their friend than when urging them to a correct pronunciation, to which many attain, to which some never attain. " G." will oblige me by noticing my words, " I am writing nothing the least degree oifensive to the gardener class " — words by which I meant that my object was to do good. — Wiltshibe Kector. POETRAITS OP PLAIS^TS, FLOWERS, AND FEUIT. Staueanthera gkandifolia (Large-leaved Stauranthera). — Nat. ord., Cyrtandraceae. Linn., Didynamia Angiospermia. Herbaceous stove plant. Native of limestone rocks 2000 feet high," at Moulmein. Flowers white, tinged with purple. Blooms in August. Promises to increase readily from cut- tings.— (Botanical Magaiine, t. 5409.) Gap.denza octomera (Eight-parted Gardenia). — Nat. ord., Eubiaceff. Linn., Pentandria Monogynia. Shrubby plant. Native of Fernando Po. Flowers wMte, tinged with green ; lip eight-segmented; tube eight-sided. — (Ibid., t. 5410.) MicoNiA pulverulenta (Ploccose Miconia). — Nat. oi-d., Melastomaoese. Linn., Decandria Monogynia. Introduced by Messrs. Veitch & Son. Native of Pera. Leaves beau- tiftd, dark green, tinged with blue, and finely reticulated. — (Und.. t. 5411.) Webbia pinifolia (Pine-leaved Webbia). — Nat. ord., Com- positoe (Vernoniaceae). Linn., Syngenesia aequalis. Cool gxeenhouse plant. Native of country between Cape Town and Natal. Flowers purple, blooming in August. " Pro- bably wiU bear the open an- in summer, and be grown in clumps, or even as a bedding-out plant." — (Ibid., t. 5412.) FtTGOsiA cuNEiFOEMis (Wedge-leaved Fugosia). — Nat. ord.. Malvaceae. Linn., Monadelphia Polyandria. Native of seashore in Du-k Hartog's Island, West Australia. Flowers white, with dark crimson blotch at base. — (Ibid., t. 5413.) Bo3e, Madame Falcot. — A yellow Tea variety, deep- coloured and beautiful. — (floral Magazine, pi. 169.) Petunia, Mes. Smith. — Baised by Messrs. Smith, Dul- wich. Magenta -ooloiu-ed, white -margined, and white- centred; very striking. — (Ibid., pi. 170.) Gladiolus, Chakles Davis. — Raised by Mr. Standish, of Ascot and Bagshot. Eeceived a certificate from the Eoyal Horticultural Society. Scarlet, picked out with pm-ple and white.— (IHd., pi. 171.) AsTELMA (Gnaphalium) ezimium. — A very brilliant Everlasting from the Cape of Good Hope. Introduced by Messrs. Henderson, Pine Apple Place. Crimson calyx, and orange anthers. — (Ibid., pi. 172.) Deutzia ceenata floes pleno. — This double -flowered Deutzia was introduced by Mr. Fortune fi-om Japan. A dwarf hardy shr-ub. Flowers white, tinged with pink. — (Florist and Po7>iologist, ii., 153.) Nectarine, Victoria. — Eaised by Mr. Elvers, by ferti- lising the Violette Kative with pollen from the Stanwick. As we said in September, the fruit " has aU the merits of the Stanwick, with none of its defects." It is a delicious fruit, in perfection during the middle of September. — [Ibid., 160.) LABOTJR AND LABOUEEES IN IRELAND. In answer to several inquiries, I would say that circum- stances have led me to keep back in the meantime, as some- thing good in the backgi-ound, the account of some more places in Ireland I saw on my hurried visit. The maimer in which these sketches hare been received has been to me a source of pleasure not unmixed with sorrow, the sorrow being owing to something Uke an undercurrent of belief, that the pictm-es of improvement and comfort were too rose-tinted to be real. Some friends tell me I should have gone to this and to that place, and then I should not have faUed to have seen misery, idleness, starvation, wretchedness, and hovels not fit for pigs to live in. Well, this may be aU too true, but I hope it will have disappeared before I have the chance of having another tour in Ireland. Perhaps I was fortunate in seeing so much of industry and comfort, and I spoke as I saw — not but that I witnessed some miserable dwellings, and a few shiver- ing workmen who were vainly " asking for leave to toil ; " but, unfortunately, I had seen more than enough of such misery in Scotland and England too, and too often unac- companied with that sympathy and willingness to help each other which has long been a prominent feature among the poorest in Ireland. That labourers in Ireland could be as intelligently active as their brethren in England, when any- thing like similar inducements were presented to them, was, however, the greatest of aU anomalies. One fi-iend in- sinuated that what was said of the working man at Strafifan must have been all a myth borrowed from Cloudland — in fact, said as much that the place could only have an " any habi- tation " in my own imagination ! Strange, indeed, that the industrious Irishman in England could be nothing but a tattered, lazy, misworker in his own land, with children crowding around him demanding his every energy ! True, I never should imagine that the man who squatted in a chimneyless hut, and worked his long dreary hours for from 6od speci- mens of evergreens, and a lieautiftil Pinus cemlra near the cottage. This one opening takes the eye over part of these houses in this background, and brings into view the nice rooms, Ii-s. Smith's lay appa- rently dying after a serious iHness, and no hopes were given of his recovery. On seeing Mrs. Smith thus distressed I 396 JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ November 17, 18G3. immediately thought her brother was dead (I never thought of the fungus), and after telling her I was certainly dying too, I began to say a word or two expressive of my sorrow for her losB; but before I could say many words she let me know that she had been worse than I had been ; that the little child was dowustaii's in the arms of a neighboui-, ajj- parently in the last stage of existence (as Mrs. Smith was too prostrated to hold her own child), while the servant was sent out for the doctor. When I saw how matters stood my illness to a certain extent seemed to pass away, and on the emergency of the occasion, ill as I was, I left home to get immediate medical assistance, which I was fortunate enough to in-oenre pretty readily. It appeared, directly I left home Mrs. Smith took our little •jhild out for a short wait, and bought a slate and pencil ; but the mother had no sooner left the shop (about twenty minutes or half an hour after luncheon), than the same swimming of the head came over her that attacked me ; and what with headache and sickness she could hai-dly reach home with her child in her anus. Dh-ectly she got into the house the little girl suddenly feE sick, and the sickness speedily became so violent that by the time I returned she was perfectly prostrated. On the first day Mrs. Smith and the little girl were much the worst of the three ; but after the fii-st and second days I was worse than all. The effect on my wife was utter pros- tration by the vomiting and nausea, and a feeling of loath- ing evei-ything eatable that was brought to her notice. Her vital powers ^-ere so greatly reduced at the end of the &st day that she had no strength to be sick, and brandy had to be freely administered. The little child was certainly the most affected, and if the medical attendance had been delayed I am sm-e she could not have sun'ived more than one or two hom's. She was in a deep stupor or sleep, with her eyes mde open and fixed, her fingers occasionally clutching convulsively, and mouth twitching. At iuter^'als of about five or ten minutes a fit of sickness appeared to come over her, by the heaving of her chest and stomach ; but after the first hour she had not strength enough left to be sick. The doctor administered two emetics and other medicine to her, and found it necessary to attend her three times a-day for the fh'st two days, and remained in attendance ueai-ly a week. The little child remained in the stupor for twenty houi's, and after this time gTadually recovered and regained strength. This ends the notice of the child. Mrs. Smith, after two or thi-ee days' meilical attendance, gradually got all right again; but this was not the case with me. I shall now give a few detaUs of the latter part of my own illness, and conclude the paper. I certainly ate the lion's share of the fungus — say a quarter of an oimce. The feeling of sickness and nausea did not leave me for a fortnight, and for thi-ee or four days I ate comparatively nothing and di-ank nothing but coffee and milk. In my case, on the fu-st day it caused swimming of the brain to an alarming degi-ee, the most distressing head- ache,^ and vomiting, and excessive pm-ging. I note the pm-ging particularly, as I was the only one of the three 30 affected ; this lasted for fom- or five days, accompanied by a feeling of loathing, sickness, and lassitude. At nine iu the evening of the first day a heavy ili-owsiness came over me, and I fell into a deep sleep for twelve hom-s. Racked and harrassed by dreams, in which fungi, and particularly poisonous fungi, always played a prominent part, advancing and retreating, increasing in size and diminishing in an endless maze; but always fungi — poisoned by fungi ; dead poisoned cluldren — dead fathers and mothers, ic. This sleepiness was shai-ed by my taimly, but not to such an extreme .legi-ee ; for, after my twelve hours' sleep of the first night, I came down stah's and thought I could do a little work ; but I fell into an uneasy but deeji sleep in my chaii- at ten o'clock, and did not wake till two, making four hours more sleep. I took hai-dly anything to eat the rest of the day. and at five o'clock fell asleep again, and slept till nine the next morning, and had a better night. I noticed on the second night that all the joints of my legs and feet were quite stifi', and I could not move them without inconvenience and jiain ; but in the course of a day or two this gradually passed off. For three or fom- nights I also noticed that when the drowsiness came on, a swim- ming of the head and sick feelings accompamed it ; but it all gradually passed away during ten days or a fortnight. I certainly received a most severe lesson with my expe- rience, and shall be careful in the future when I gather a species new to me to determine the species with certainty liefore I cook them. In my short paper on the gi'owth of " Phallus impudicus " I stated that my rabbits ate the porous stem quite readily ; so when I knew the effects of Agricns fertUis on the himian system I thought I would try it on rabbit economy. I recovered the stem I had previously thrown away, and placed it before the rabbits for theii- approval, but they refused it with disgust, although the taste was not unplea- sant. I think, therefore, we may say that should the choice in future lay between Agai-icus fertUis and Phallus impudicus, the latter shoiUd be prefen-ed for culinary purposes. — W. G. Smith. woes: for the week. KITCHEN GARDEN. The heavy autumn rains probably retarded the progress of trenching and other ground operations ; the present weather offers abundant opportunity for continuing such work. The garden by this time should be freed fi-om aB unnecessary and exhausted vegetable matter, and put gene- rally in a clean and orderly state. Asparagus, the beds if not already attended to, should be manured and di-essed for the winter, and a portion taken up for forcing purposes. Endive, cover the plants with a slate or tUe laid on each, and close the whole over with ch-y leaves, finishing with some stable-litter ; in this manner they wUl blanch well, and be fit for use tlu-oughout the winter. A very considerable store of leaves should also be collected for lining hotbeds. Sea-kale covering, &c. Herb-beds, if they are not yet cleaned and done up for the winter, they should be attended to without delay. A slight coat of very rotten dung should be laid on them, for the double piu-pose of protecting the roots from severe frost, and to enrich the soil. Lettuce, the Cabbage varieties planted in frames and intended for winter use, wiU not requii-e much air if the sod is light and dry ; shoidd they need a little wiiter, give it to each plant sei>arately from a watering-pot without a rose. Never expose the plants to heavy rains. Peas, a sowing of these and also Broad Beans should be made at once, choosing the most sheltered jjiece of ground at command, and which should also be of a light dry nature. Use an early hardy sort, such as the Daniel O'Eoui'ke Pea, and Mazagan Beans. Elmharb, the foi-cing of this and also Sea-kale, must now be attended to, and pro- vided there is a good stock of strong roots, a supjjly of these will be easOy kept up. Where there is room to spare in the Mushroom-house, this forms a very suitable and convenient place for forcing them. The roots to be placed on a slight bed of warm dung, filling up the spaces between them with old tan, or the soU and manm-e, mixed, from an old Mush- room-bed, giving a good watering to wash it in amongst the roots. The bottom heat shoidd not be allowed to exceed 70°, as too much heat is not favourable to securing strong growth, and, except for the first crop, it may be dispensed with altogether. Clear up all decayiug leaves, and stir the surface of the soU on dry days among growing crops, as Cabbages, Spinach, &c.; also, get all vacant ground maum-ed and ridged-up as quickly as possible, in order that it may be exposed to the influence of the winter. FLOWER GAEDEN. A fortnight's fine weather in November, while it seems to prolong the autumn by permitting us the enjoyment of the fading glories of vegetation, also affords us the opportunity of proceeding witli the various important operations con- nected with the garden ; finer weather could not be desired for planting evergreens, &c., than we have had lately. This sort of work should be in active progress. The clearance of all decaying matters fi'om the beds and borders should be iHU'emittingly followed up, the remaining leaves will soon be down, when a fin.ol dealing may be made throughout the shrubberies for the season. A little care may preserve Chrysanthemums for some time, especially those trained against a wall. The simple protection of a mat will turn aside the excess of ft'ost likely to injure them. Take up November 17, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTHEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 397 and store Dahlias, Maa'vel of Peru, Salvia jjatens, if not already done, and finish planting b\ilbs. The best place to keep Dahlias is under the stage in the greenhouse. Where this convenience is not to be had, perhaps the next best ■way to preserve the tubers is in a cool cellar ; at all events they must be kept from damp. Beds intended for Eanun- culuses in February, to be turned over, and any fresh com- post or soil will be better added now. Choice plants in the borders, intended to be protected for the ivinter by slightly covering the roots, &c., should be seen to at once. Eoses of the tender kinds, especially standards, to have a bunch of diy moss, or a wisp of hay or straw, or some dried Fern bound round the head, and the whole well fastened to a stake. FEUIT GARDEN. Fig trees must now have some di-y fern or spruce boughs' nailed over them to prevent injury from severe frost. Some prefer gathering the shoots into several bundles after being unnaUed, and then wrapping mats round them. Prune and nail Vines, and other fruit trees as before recommended. Brush the leaves off the Peach and Nectaa-ine trees mth a new bii-ch broom, and unnail the small shoots. The plant- ing of young fruit trees, and transplanting or raising those of larger growth, to be vigorously prosecuted : the season is very favourable, and the earUer these operations are per- formed, the greater is the chance of success. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. Sunshine and clear skies are not the traditional enjoy- ments of November in England. The inmates of these structures usually suffer from the diminished light and the fogs and mists of this duU, di'eary month. The frosty nights will render a recourse to fii-e absolutely necessary, while the succeeding bright days will allow the advantage of a free circulation of fresh and wholesome air. Eegnlarly remove all dead leaves, and prevent the spread of moss in aU situations. Creepers to be closely tied that they may in- terfere as little as possible with the action of light on the plants. The bulbs of the Japan Lilies to be shaken out of their pots, and to be repotted in half good fibrous loam, and half peat sod, or decomposed leaf mould, as a substitute for peat, with a small portion of silver sand. As the bulbs, when making their spring growth, emit roots for 2 or 3 inches np the stem, they wiU now require to be planted that depth from the surface of the pot, and to be earthed- up with the compost in the spring. All plants in these structures to be kept rather dry, giving whatever water may be necessary on the mornings of fine days, so that the superfluous moisture may be removed before the evening. Pelai'goniums, herbaceous Calceolarias, Cinerarias, hi ots ura ample to cover or fill the centre, cut two to sis eyes, and the centre shoot to four. The season following the bhoots on the old wood are to be cut to two eyes, and the leaders of all the branches to half thei: length, except those in the centre, which are to be piuned to two-ihirds the length of each. Proceed in this way until the allotted space is covered, when closer pruning is requisite for the whole. You will attend to the cuttmg out of an old branch in after years, and supplying a young one in its pUce, taking such shoots from the base of the plant. Out of those you named you will prune Brennus and Gloire de Dijon less than the Hybrid Perpetuals. Transplanti.vg Rose Tkeks (/(/e/?i).— You may move the budded Roses now, the sooner the better; but do not cut otF the part above the bud until the beginning of March. Pampas Grass not Flowkrino (/(/cm).— The Pampas Grass ia evidently suffering from want of moisture at the root. You will do well to add some strong clayey loam to the soil about the plant, and water copiously with weak liquid manure twice weekly in droughty weather. We think your plant would then not only (lower but be very tine, amply rewarding you in due time for the labour bestowed. Rivera's Kose Catalogue wiil meet your wishes. Protecting Yucca filamentosa {A Cottager in the We5t).~U you leave the plant out the best thing would be a hood of mat or eaiico, or canvass made waterproof, to set over the plant every night, and to keep it on if the weather ehould be frosty during the day. The plant is hardy, but the frost will injure the flowers if severe. If you are very anxious the plant could be raisea carefully with a b.iil and placed in a tub or pot, and set in- doors until the blooming was over. We presume the dry summer has caused it to bloom so late. The same crown will not flower again, but fresh crowns will bloom when strong enough. Heating Pit for Bedding Plants [A, ^4.).— You would see an aaswer to a correspondent last week how that could be done by taking a flue under- neath with a chamber over, and openings to let the heat up. A. small flue at the side would answer the same purpose. All could be saved without artificial heat, if covering up from fros^t is attended to, in frames set on raised ground, banked up all round, the outsides coated with tar and sand, and for a yard or 4 fe>it all round to send otf the water. For single frames, say of one or two lights each, earthenware gallon bottles filled with hot water would be serviceable. For a number oi them the cheapest thing would be a small furnace, a yard or 2 yards ot brick flue, and then common drain tiles about 7 or 8 inches in diameter, and to be used only in damp or froaty weather. Plants but no Grkenhodsk (.K'conom!/).— Your best plan would be to try a spare room for your plants. Such a tontrivance as you speak of, covered with oiled paper, would do from the middle of April to the middle of October, but you must keep the wind out even then. Calico glazed or painted with dried oil and a little beea-was melted in it would be better, and if well tacked to the wood would last some time. You are just the sort of person lo have a amall greenhouse, fixed roof, wooden ventilators at the top and front, and glazed with glass at 2d. per foot, warmed by a brick Arnott stove to keep out the trost. Rafter nash-bars 3 inches deep would do (or 16oz8, glass if the house were not more than G or 7 teet wide, and that in a few years would be cheaper than your temporary paper frames, though with thete many good plants have been grown. Command us if we can do anything for you. Fungus on Tanners* Bark [A Novice).-— It is not injurious to plants; but is unsightly, and may be destroyed by frequently stirring the surface. Gardens worth Visiting {R, JJ.).— All those omitted frum your list had been publibhed by us previously, as you will see if you refer to some of our back Numbers. Nastdrtidm [TROPiiOLUM] (A Lady Subscriber). ~lt ia impossible to judge of the value of a XHSturtiura from a single crushed bloom. Kvery- thlng depends on habit and on the colour of the (resh flower. Arukdo donax Culture (R. Po%vles).—'We should prefer the south-east border. It requires nothing beyond common soil to grow ia, and does beet jxianted near 'water, so that its roots may feel the benefit of it. Surface o? Piping RKautaEu [T. H. ,/.).— Your first letter was destroyed long ago. If we kept MSS. we should require no end of warehouse-raom, so we cannot 3ay anything about the Arnott's boiler. You had better repeat the question. Your two fuur-incti pipes for a vinery 30 feet by !) will not be sufficient for early Grapes nor yet early Cucumbers, You would need, at least, one pipe more all lound the ends and front. If you took the two pipes all round the backa? well as front and ends that would be suffi- cient. You say nothing how you propose arranging. Long Shoot of Banksian Rose [E. O. Jf.)-— Cut it back half its length and bend the upper part of the remaining half down, to induce the eyes to break from the bottom and all along the branch, if nailed-in now it will only break a few eyes at the top. After the shoots are a few inches in length it should be nailed to the wall. Varnishing Calico {Idem).— To render this a substitute for glass, u e linseed oil one quart, acetate of lead one ounce, white let-in three ounces. Grind the lead with a little of the oil on a atone slab ; add the rem;iinder of the oil and the resin, and incorporate thoroughly in a large iron pot ov^r a slow fire. Apply whilst hoc lo the calico stretched loosely, by rnean-^ of racks upon the frame. When cold it is fit for use, and may be tacked on the frame tightly, putting a piece of tape between the tacks' heads and the calico. The composition should be applied with a brush. Wintering CALADitMS (George 117(71).— When the roots are kept dust dry ihey are apt to become farinaceous, and though hard and apparently plump and sound when potted m the spring, they not unfrequently rut on water being applied or on placing them in moifit soil. We should place ibem on the floor under the stage, and if it is rather moist the pots will absorb moisture enough to keep '.he roots at rest still fresh. Do not water now, but place them on a moist floor under the stage of the stove, being careful that water does not drip from the pots above and make the soil in the pots sodden. Azaleas Infested wita Thrips (/t/em).— We told you before how to kiltthripgon Ferna. and wecanonly repeat :— Smoke strongly two nights in succession, and syringe the plants the morning following each operation. Gisburst compound at the rate of 4 ozs. to the gallon ot sott water, is an effectual remedy for thrips, but it should be washed oif with the syringe twelve hours after it is applied. Seedling RHODODE^^)R.)^;s Decaying (5. B. 0.).— Your seedling Rhodo- dendrons are, we fear, standing too close together, and in a soil the reverse of sweet, or in that which is rendered sour by stagnant water. Perhaps you are using the old suit in which seedlings hare been grown before. Any of these causes wiU produce the disease known to gardeners as " damp." Irrespective of these causes there are changes continually going on in the atmosphere which produce those diseases of fungoid origin which puzzle even the most experienced. The diee^ise is brought on by a deiicienuy of one or more of the elements, aerial or ttlTe^trial, necessary to the proper constructing of the plant's several parts, but what that deficiency 18 remains, and we fear will for some time be one of the problems that science fails to solve. We know of no remedy but exposing the plants Co the full influence of air by taking off the lights, and stirring the surface soil, and thus making all sweet about them. Self-sown plants, we may add, never go off in the way yours are doing, and this we think is owing to their receiving thorough exposure to the air, which secures the opposite of drawa, iroperfect-atructured plants, such aa too often result from artificial rearing. Conservatory Roses not Blooming (/././.).— You do not say what kind of Koses yours are. There is, however, but one mode of treatment, ao far as potting is concenied, necessary for them. They should be potted in September, and plunged in ashes in a cold Iratne. Air is to be given by taking off the lights in mild weather, letting the plants have the becefat of gentle rains; tut putting on the lights during drenching rains, and to shield them from frost. In November the plants should be pruned, Teas and Chinas require but little pruning, merely taking out the wood that baa produced flowers, and shortening the bhoots retained. Perpetuals require pruning to two or at the most to four eyes ; Bourbon, Moss, and Provence must be pruned moderately. The beginning of February is early enough to introduce them into the conservatory, where they should oe placed in the coolest part for a fortnight, sprinkled morning and evenmg with tep:d wa'.er, and copiously supphed with water at the root. They may then be placed in the warmest part, if not above 50°, where, with abundant venti- lation and light, thev will flowerin due season. Keturn ihem to the garden in summer, plunging tliem in a^hes until September . when you will pot them and place in the cold frame as before. As your plants are now in the conser- vatory prune them at once, and keep them as cool as possible, and rather dry at the root, until Chnatmaa. After that water more Ireely, and bedew the plants overhead morning and evening with the syringe. Give all the air and light practicable, and be careful not to let them want for water at the root. Double Petunias Cai,TrRS (/(/«n).— Take out greater part of the old wood, cutting this year's blooming-shoots cltan out, leaving nothing but young wood to grow and bloom another season. They require to be kept moderately dry during the winter, and in a cool and dry atmosphere with a temperature of from 35'* to 40**. Use op a Spare Room Tank-heated {M. B. T.).— You might force Asparagus, Rhubarb, and Sea-kale in your spare room ; or, if you could obtain some horse-droppings, suflicient to make a bed 6 inches thick, you could have a crop of Mushrooms. In January you could hOW Cucumbers, and have some nice fvuit in April ; and in March you might sow some Melon seed, grow on in pots, and plant out in May, and theae^ would give you some tine Melons in August. Or you might have some Vines in pots plunged in Uin soil, and tram the canes to the roof, about 1 foot from the glass; keep them there until the fruit change colour, when they will be none the worse by being removed to a drier atmosphere to r'pen. Last, but not least, it is just the trort of place wherein to place any sickly plant, and, if you could lower the temperature, to bring forward such things as bulbs, Koses, Dielytras, Deutzias, Rhododendrons, and Azalea-s. These are a few of the uses to which the space might advantageously be employed, and to them we think you might add many more. Priced Catalogues of Fruit Trees (if. ffciwATns).— We have no such publication. You had better write for them to soma of the chief nurserymen . Supplement to Cottage Gardeners' Dictionary {Ixora).- No supple- ment has hitherto been published, but one is now ready and will soon go to press. 400 JOURNAL 0F HORTICULTITKE AND COTTAaE G-AKDENEE. [ November 17, 1863. CONVEKTINO A GREENEOUfiE INTO A ViNERY f£/j/). — OUF fricndfl wllO ■wish for an answer to questions in next weeit's impression shuuld lei us have their questions in the beginning of the week. Y'lu very modestly propoee two questions, but these involve ever so many, and a fall anewer to them would iietd a whole Number of this Journal. Most of them ha\e recently been dit-eussed in detail, so we must be brief. "We should have fully comprehended your span-roofed greenhouse, facing east and west, 30 feet by 17, it you had given us the height at sides and the height of the ridge-board. Tlie height at the eidee, wall and glass, would have given uc the key-note for the forming of your borders for Vines. Glass in square?, twenty-nnc ounce, and in such large squares as 20 by 16 inches, shuuld have brads at their lower ends at any rate, besides the putty to keep them from slipping. A brad in the middle of tlie square in such a case, with a slice of india-rubber beneath it , would make all more safe, especially if the rebates are verj shallow. If at all deep, they will not be needed. There are plenty of offices which insure glass houses against injury from hail- storms, &c. ; but we cannot take upon us to recommend any oflBce in pre- ference to anottier. A gr.ivcHy and sandy soil, if the two first are in excess, will not grow Vines successfully ; but it deep and open it may be enriched with manure and loam, and some chalk or lime rubbish and a few bones. If the grivcl jind sand are unhealthy to vegetation, some of the cleanest gravel and snnd thouUi be lued with lime, in the proportion of six parts of the former to one of the latter, to make a concrete bottom of 3 inches, and on that place good fresh loam for the Vines. If other things grow well in your sandy gravelly soil, the Vines will also do well with the addition of a little loam and nuinuie, ihe latter chiefly as top-dressing. For making borders, see notee. on Keile Hall, and notice of Trentham at page 374 ; but if you merely wish for late Grapes, and the )?oil is at all favourable and no chance of stagnant water, you may add a little fresh soil merely on the top of the old, mixed nr not mixed with it, as you will shortly see was done by Mr. Lane at Berkhamp>te;ui. In general cases the preparatory mode will he found the best in the end. We prefer the Vines to be planted inside, and "would have the loots to run there as well as outside. The outside border might be from 8 to 10 feet wide. You might have eight Vines on each side if jou chiefly wished tor Vines ; and if you wished these to be forced early, or to Imve little forcing at all, but to be ripe and cleared ofl in the autumn- say by the middle ot October— then nothing would be better than Euckhind Sweetwater, Royal Muscadine, and different varieties of BUek Hamburgh. You might also add a plant of Hamburgh Muscat and Muttjat of Alexui;dria. If you wished the Grapes to come in late and hang during part of the winter on to the spring, then to the above add the Tieb- biano, Charle^woith Tokwy, and Lady Downes' Blick. If you propose growing fruit trees in such a house, there will be no difficulty ; but the five Vines on each side would be enough, and you make your houre a fruithouse and not a greenhouse A good arrangement for such a house would be a bed in the midillo 7 feet wide, the path round 2^ feet, side borders 2^ feet. Any small ."-addlf-back or conical boiler would do for such a house, increasing the si/e according to what you want from it. It would be place'. bert at the end of the houi^e, nest the range ol pits to be heated. We have frequently desci ibed how different places may be easily heated from the same boiler. The quantity ot piping would depend on the time Grapes were wanted, ami two four- inch pipes all round would be ample for general purposes, and these could be place'J side by side on the side and end borders, avoiding the doorwajs. For very early lercing a third pipe would be neces- sary, or a couple of pipes might go under the central bed, with clinkers or stones round, and then eaith or other matter to set the pots in. The top spit from a pai^ture— or rather 3 inches of it piled in a heap for a few months, with layers of branches in it to let the air through it— would be in capital order to be chopped roughly down in sis months. Any fresh soil beneath tur', or froui a roadside, may be used at once if you deem such fresh soil necessary, and certainly it is safest The great thing is to avoid stagnant water and the roots getting too deep- The time of planting is immaieriyl. If planted now and well mulched the roots will begin to make fresh fibres at once. If planted in March and a little heated soil is used and warmed wiittr also, they will soon start away. If you can grow the Vines inside until June, you can plant out then and shade u little to prevent a check. In every case the roots should be carefully spread out r^rhais the best plan of all, if it could be done, for quicli work, would be to tuin out the roots in spring carefully into shallow baskets some 2.^ to 3 feet in diameter. Grow them inside a warm house and then plant out in fine aired soil in June, planting basket and all together. Plnntir.g inside, howevei,you may doit anytime when the ground Ifl ready. With Vines tliiuly on the roof, the plants in pots will do very well. Transplantiko Pr.AcnFs, Apricots, &c. (/rfcw).— There need be no hesi- tation in moving these trees, eight or ten years old, from one garden wall tu another, and the sooner it in done before the ground is cooled the better. Prepare the ground where the trees are to be planted, unfasten the trees and fasten the branches in bundles so as not to be broken. Then dig down a deep trench near to where you may expect the extremities of the roots to be, and pick down and throw out the soil in the face of the trench, saving every root that comts in your way, and thus go on until you get up to the tr«e, wrapping the roots, il the weather is at all dryer sunny, in damp mats. Carry the tree with all its ruots thus secured to the new place, and pack the roots nicely in the fre:^h soil, and the bulk of them to be 6 or 8 inches from the surface. Light sandy soil will be the best to pack them in, and then place the other soil over and fasten down moderately, and place a good layer ot litter over the »oil to keep the frost out. Must likely if thus managed the trees will be improved by the moving. But in order to give them a first-rate chance, whilst these means are used to encourage loot-action, keep the shoots from the wall as long as possible that they may be kept from swelling their buds too soon. AspABAGDs-BED-MAKiNG (A Reader, Bingley). — If the soil is light, rich, and deep, 0 inches of well-rotted manure, worked-in in trchching the ground 3 feet deep, is a good preparation, the beds being made 5 feet wide, with two-feet alleys between. In very cold heavy soils it is advisable to take out the soil to the depth of 3 teet, and fill in 6 inches thick of charred turf at the bottom, then 0 inches of manure, 3 inches of river sand next, then more turf, or moderately light, good-bodied soil, manure, and tand, until the whole is raised level with the surface. Having an opening at one end, turn the whole over, mixing it well together ; and when that is done, throw ont the alleys I foot deep and 2 feet wide over the beds on each side, which should be 5 feet wide. The ground being well drained previously, and proper care taken of the beds alterwareing fully borne out by my own experience, I have described foul brood as a highly contagious disease, the radical cure of which is extremely difficult and uncertain, since infection may be communicated by the combs, the honey, and the hive which has coutaiced a diseased colony, and even by the bees themselves so long as they retain any of the honey which they have taken with them. On the other hand, Mj'. Lowe maintains, as I understand, that foul brood is no disease whatever, being merely another name for chilled brood, which he asserts is never removed by bees and con- sequently must remain a permanent evil in whatever hive it is unfortunately found. He therefore follows the old writers in assuring us that complete excision of the affected parts is sufficient to work an effectual cure, and condemns as unnecessary the various precautions which have been more recently advocated with the view of eradicating an infectious virus which he does not believe to exist. I imagine that my experiment described in page 342, may have induced Mr. Lowe somewhat to modify his views with regard to chilled brood and its assumed immobility by bees ; but as he seems to object to the comb being new, I may remark that the combs were also new in the case of the dozen hours' delay in a warm kitchen, which at the time he so severely reprobated, and, that I have never found bees more reluctant to expel chilled brood from old combs than from new ones. That foul brood when fully developed is really an extremely vii'ulent disease and by no means amenable to the old- fashioned process of simple excision, is sufficiently proved by Mr. Shearer's narrative in page 182. If, however, it be objected that in this case the excision might not have been complete, I must fall back on my own experience during the past summer, in which, I found that even driving the bees into a clean hive, furnished only with a few empty and pure combs, was insufficient of itself to effect a thorough cure, unless supplemented by three or fom- days of what has been caUed penal discipline and inanition in an intermediate-hive. Here, also, let me reply to the query with which "Inquikee" concludes his letter in page 383. Foul brood has been sub- mitted to microscopic investigation, and apparently with very remarkable results. I am reluctant to forestall, even in the slightest degi-ee, the report of the gentleman who has so kindly undertaken the task, and am equally unwUling to theorise in advance of facts which ai-e still awaiting veri- fication ; but this much I may say, that the revelations of the microscope appear to afford a clue to the means by which this pestilential disease becomes epidemic, and explain at the same time why simple excision may frequently work an apparent and occasionally even a radical cure in recent cases, whilst, where the disease is of long standing it becomes so virulent as ftiUy to warrant the doubt expressed by Dzier- zon, as to the possibility of curing it by any process that can be devised. An instance has recently been brought under my notice by a valued correspondent in the North, which countenances the suspicion that an overwhelming quantity of chilled brood may, under exceptional circumstances, degenerate into actual foul brood, just as an ordinary cold in the human subject may occasionally, although rarely, be developed into malig- nant fever. This may of course be, as I am inclined to fancy it is, a mere coincidence, and the bees may have im- ported the infection from some unsuspected source ; stai I deem it right to mention it, and it may be taken for what it is worth. My own experience undoubtedly tends, as I have before stated, to negative the hypothesis that foul brood and chiQed brood are in any wise identical, nor is it counte- nanced by the best authorities to which I have access. UnUke Mr. Lowe, I do not dismiss with a ciu-sory glance, but on the contrary am disposed to give due weight to what authors whom I find reliable in other respects have written as the results of their ovm observations on the diseases of bees. Dzierzon, who stands pre-eminent as the first scientific and practical apiarian in the world, must have had the most ex- tensive experience of a disease which he estimates to ^ave cost him in one season the loss of five hundred colonies, and, I for one, should be slow to doubt, much less to ridicule, the conclusions of so competent and reliable an observer. On the other side of the Atlantic we have Mr. Quinby, one of the ablest of the old school of apiarians. Few can rise from a perusal of his work without the conviction that he is an honest and painstaking observer, aud, speaking for niysel , I cannot but deem him a competent authoritj' upon a disease by which he has lost as many as a hundi'cd stocks m a single year. Let me, then, recite the conclusion at which he arrives after a careful consideration of the suggestion which reach; d 404 JOUENAIi OS' HORTICULTtTRE AND COTTAGE GAKDENES. [ NoTcn.ber 17, 1863. him from various quarters that foul brood was entirely the result of chill : — " To me, the cause assigned appears inad- equate to produce all the results with the lai-vae. After close patient observation of fifteen years, I have never yet been wholly satisfied that any one instance among my bees has been thus produced." — A Devonshike Bee-keepbb. POLLEN-GATHEEDSTG. All the bees about here (Spalding) have been unusually active with pollen lately. I trace it to blossom of coleseed, of which there is some at no great distance. They even forsake Michaelmas Daisy, which I have observed hitherto as their most favourite plant at this season for it. The idea in the Jouknal of Hoeticulture that it may be from fuchsias I consider quite eiTOneous : I have as many of them as most persons in my garden, but never saw a honey bee at them yet. Some of the wild bees attack them, and some bore holes in the tube below the calj'x for tlie pvu-pose, but the structiu'e of the honey bee's organs renders this impos- sible, and it is not possible to i-each the honey without so doing. I notice another thing regarding ixoney-bearing flowers : many v?hich are fruitful in honey in one locality secrete next to none in some other places, to say nothing of the influence of weather. — G. F. B. — Oct. 30. [My bees were then incessant in thefr attention to the fuchsias, from wiiich they collect abundance of light-coloured pollen, and erti-act honey from the punctiu-es, made, I believe, by hiunble bees, at the base of every flower. — ^A Devonshtee Bee-keepee.] FOUL BEOOD AND LIGtTEIA^T BEES. I THINK I shall have little difiiculty in proving to "Inquibbb's" satisfaction that he is as much mistaken in attributing foul brood to the introduction of the Ligu- rians, as he is in anticipating any outpouiings of wrath on his head on account of the suggestion, which is after all scaa'cely so wliimsical as that of the American who connected it with the potato disease, and declared that, " Since the potato rot commenced I have lost one-foxu-th of my stocks annually by this disease." In the fii-st place, I may repeat what I have before stated — that I have no doubt of foul brood having been fli'st intro- duced into my apiary by the use of infected combs taken from deftinct hives of common bees, and that it has been quite as prevalent and fatal among my black Iiees as among the Ligurians. Mr. George Pox's Italian stock came from my apiaa-y, and doubtless can-ied the seeds of the disease with it, although of coiirse, perfectly unknown to me at the time. " Inqtjieee" is also mistaken in believing tliat Dr. Bevan is silent on the subject, which is in point of fact referred to by him, although under another name. He will also find that it is noticed by Schfrach, Bonner, Dunbaa-, and Huish, all of whom probably lived and died before the introduction of exotic bees was ever di-eamt of. In America Mr. Quinby lost as many as a hundred stocks in one year from foul brood, long before the Ligurians were known on that con- tinent ; whilst in Silesia Dzierzon's apiai-y was reduced to ten stocks, and he estimates his loss fr-om this malady at over five hundred colonies during 1848, just five years before he made the acquaintance of the Italian race of honey bees which he has since done so much to render populai'. In conclusion, I commend to " Inquikek's " perusal the following appeal recently made on behalf of some unfortu- nates dwelling in a part of Germany, to which the Ligurians do not appeal- to have penetrated. It proves at any rate, that the evils of foul brood have been by no means exagge- rated by — ^A Devonshire Bee-keepee. "foul brood. " We — I speak of most bee-keepers of the Guten Society — had in spite of the miserable simimer of 18G2 and the winter 1862-63, likewise most nnfavoui-able to them, brought our bees tolerably well through the winter. Stocks had greatly decreased in autumn, owing to the loss from rain, cold, &.C., but especially from leaving off breeding too early. We were looking forward to the new year with apprehension ; but to om- great delight the blossoms of trees and rapeseed gave so much honey, that in spite of cold nights the stocks strengthened themselves visibly. In the middle of May most hives (we use Dzierzon-hives, straw hives, and wooden boxes), were filled with brood and bees. Suddenly the stocks relax in thefr accustomed activity — notwithstanding the rich pasture they fiy but little. What is the matter ? The hives ai-e opened, and behold, we find foul brood, of which until then we knew only the name. Of one hundred maggots, three, five, ten, twenty, sometimes even ninety, had grown rotten. Most of the stocks were therefore shifted into other hives at the beginning of July. With some the fasting cure was employed, others were brought into new hives without employing it, and of others the combs" were cut as far as the pure sealed honey. And what is the result up to this time ? Most stocks are again diseased. There is, however, this differ- ence, that it is no longer the maggots but the nymphs that die. With other stocks neither dead maggots nor dead nymphs are found. The brood, however, is very iiTegular ; regularly sealed combs are scai'cely to be found. It must also be remarked that most of the stocks, which were shifted into other hives swai-med out in the beginning of August. These are our sad experiences. Without advice we now stand by our stocks and see them perish, unable to help them. And what will most of our bee-keepers do when the last bee hums to them the farewell-song ? They will '• thiow the gun into the corn."* " In bee-books much is indeed written on foul brood, and as to what is to be done to remedy this evil ; but the end of the song is abnost always, " Destroy the stocks and procure new ones ! " But who likes to adopt this means ? Many of om- bee-keeijers have deprived themselves to get together the little sum required to procure their stocks ; and now, destroy them !— horrible thought ! "And now, gentlemen, has no siu-e means been recently discovered of remedying this evil ? It is the duty of man to assist his fellow man at least with advice. Do not allow so many bee-keepers any longer to pass sleepless nights and days of giief. Many a poor man loses by this disease twenty, fifty, a hundred and even two hundred thalers.t and that is much for him. Dzierzon, Von Berlepsch, Kleine and- other honoured gentlemen, give us some advice if there be yet a means of clearing foul-breeding stocks. — N." MALE WASPS. In one of youi' late Numbers you mentioned that some of the male wasps had stings : I must beg to differ in toto fr_m this. For the last few yeai's I have examined scores — n ly, hundi-eds, and never yet found a male with a sting. I have often nests brought to me with scores of both males and queens in them, and have frequently caused much amusement by taking up the wasps (males of course) in my hand \vith the most perfect impunity, pretending they never stung me. They are so readily distinguished from the ordi- nai-y wasps by thefr long horns and long bodies that I have' never any fear of laying hold of the " enemy," or else "woe betide me." I think, therefore, you are cjuite mistaken in supposing that the male wasp has any sting whatever. We all know that the drone bee has not. — Etbuene. ' Tbis meane that they will give up bee-lieepinfr altogether, t The Prussian thaler is nearly equal to 3s. sterling. OFE LETTEE BOX. Book on Poi.'LTRT(J/. CJ.— No book ■will teach you ■' every particular, so as to make poultry profilable." You can have " The Poultry Boob for the Many " free by post from our office for eight postage stamps. That will pive you all the general infnrraation. Management, economy in feeding, and the use of your OTvn good sense tt:!] be the other chief aids to success. When any difficulty occurs you can have further information through this Journal. Dyeing Moss Grekn (0. TV. i).%— We have be?n told that this is done by soaking perfectly dead mo?s in a -warm solution of Terdigiis in distilled vinegar. Perhaps some ol our readers ■will oblige us by decisive information on this subject. Heron's Pldme [L. .ff.).— "The feathers -which constituted * The Heron's Plume, ' " were the finr.- long depending feathers o( the bird, especially i those above the wings. November 24, 1863. j JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 405 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of of M'nth\Veek.i 24 Tn 25 W 26 Th 27 F 2R S 29 Sun 30 M NOVEMBER 24—30, 1863. GreenfincheB flock. Song Thrush sings again. Common Flat-body Moth. Clematis boetica floTrers. Ambrosinus died, 1657. Bot. Advent Sx'NDay, St. Andrett, Average Temperature Rain in last 36 years. Sun Sun Moon Moon near London. Kises. Sets. Rises. Sets. Day. Night. Mean. Days. m. h. m. h. m. h. m. h. 47.2 32.1 39.4 11 36 af 7 59af3 31 3 24 6 46.0 33.5 39.8 19 36 7 58 3 13 4 30 7 47.1 33.2 40.1 19 38 7 57 3 2 5 27 8 46.7 34.5 40.6 17 40 7 56 3 56 5 17 9 47.9 35.2 41.6 18 41 7 55 3 55 6 0 10 47.8 34.9 41.4 19 42 7 54 3 59 7 33 10 48.0 35.1 41.6 19 44 7 53 3 2 9 0 11 w^ „,„ Clock *I°™» after -*S^- > Sun. 13 o 15 16 17 18 19 m. s. 13 11 12 54 12 35 12 16 11 56 11 35 11 14 Day of Year. 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 From observations taken near London during the last thirty-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 47.2°, and its night temperature 34.1". The greatest heat was 60', on the 28th, 1828 ; and the lowest cold, 14°, on the 30th, 1856. The greatest fall of ram was 1.21 inch. OECHAHD-HOUSES AJSB PEACH-HOUSES. HAVE . occasionally observed in articles written by your con- tributors, describing tbeir visits to great gardens and good gardeners, that the latter have spoken disparagingly of orchard-houses as compared with Peach-houses, and it naay not generally be known that they are to a cer- tain extent quite correct in their opinion. 'The truth is that where the produce of a fruit garden is alone thought of, and not the pleasure of cul- tivating fruit, the orchajd-house is out of place unless it be in situations where such fruits as Cherries, Pears, and Plums do not succeed on walls. In such places houses for them erected in the kitchen garden would be found, of great use. In a first-class well-appointed garden, with Peach-houses and fine walls, the owner of which is either an absentee or fully engaged in political or mer- cantile life, knowing nothing and caring nothing for fruit- cultnre if his table is well supplied, an orchard-house 5s not wanted, and a gardener would not act with judg- ment in recommending one. But if a nobleman or gen- tleman interested in fruit-culture, and wishing for one "of these most agreeable structures for a promenade, as well as the pleasure of seeing fruit in all its stages of growth, asked his gardener's advice as to the propriety of building one, he would, even if he had numerous Peach-houses, act weU to promote it. The late (but one) Lord Braybrooke was the only nobleman in my experi- ence who felt much interest in orchard-house culture. He had a large house built at Audley End somewhere about the year 18.52-3, and I remember hearing from his own lips the great pleasure he had derived from it in his old age and declining health, for he seldom passed a day without a promenade in his orchard-house. I can fully understand this, for during the stormy weather we have had lately I have found my daily walk in a house 100 feet long, the thermometer at 60°, always most agreeable ; for the fniit-buds of Peaches and Apricots are already commencing to swell, and one seems to picture the trees covered with their gay flowers. With respect to the produce given by a Peach-house, the trees trained to trellises in the usual way, and an orchard-house with full-grown trees in 15 and 18-inch pots, I have the past season had a good opportunity of making some calculation. It may possibly interest some of your readers. From one of my large houses 100 feet long and about 24 feet wide, I gathered in the past season as nearly as I could calculate about twenty bushels of Peaches, Nec- tarines, and Apricots from two hundred trees, some planted in the ground, but the majority in pots (some in 15 and 18-inch pots). I found on measuring the fruit Ne. 139.— VcL. v., New 8KR»Be. of fair-siaed Peaches that twenty-five would fill a haJf- peck measure heaped in the usual way of measuring fruit ; and that the large trees, now from ten to twelve years old and upwards, produced from four to five dozen — in round numbers a peck each. This would have given, if all the trees had been of the same age and growth, the large aggregate of fifty bushels ; but many of the trees are young, and some gave only from one to two dozen each. To amuse myself, I imagined my span-roofed house divided and formed into a lean-to house 200 feet long, carrying a trellis under the glass 10 feet wide, allowing a little space at bottom and top which the trees would not probably cover. This would give 2000 square feet of trellis. It has, I think, been stated somewhere tha;t a square foot of wall to which a Peach tree is trained should carry twelve full-sized Peaches. This is a mis- take : six full-sized Peaches are as many as can be grown on a square foot either of trellis or wall. To ascertain this without any calculation, a square foot should be formed with four pieces of deal nailed together, and then placed on a Peach tree full of fruit nailed to a wall. Six fuU-sized Peaches will be found to occupy the square foot, leaving only a sufiicient space between each for full exposure to sun and air. We can thus easily cal- culate the number of Peaches (when the crop is good and regular), that a lean-to Peach-house 20Ct feet long, with the trees trained to a trellis should give — viz., 12,000 Peaches, amounting, when measured 50 to a peck, to 60 bushels. We must now take a span-roofed orchard-house 100 feet long and 24 feet wide and calculate its produce. In a house of these dimensions 180 full-sized Peach trees may be cultivated, and in a large house like this trees on stems from 2 to 3 feet in height are the most eligible. If well cultivated they may, in the course of two or three years, be transferred to their permanent large-sized pots, 18 inches in diameter. They soon form fruitful round- headed trees, and bear large crops. When in full bear- ing each tree should give from four to five dozen of full-sized Peaches — for the sake of round numbers we wiU say fifty. One hundred and eighty trees will thtts give forty-five btishels, or fifteen bushels less than -a trellised house with the same quantity of glass. I have purposely made this low calculation. The advantages of this treUised house are the regular exposure of every fruit to the sun, and consequently a greater increase in colour, making the fruit better adapted for market ; so that where they are grown for profit, or merely to supply large establishments, the trellised house is the most advantageous : therefore a good gardener who well un- derstands the training and management of Peach trees is quite right in adhering to the system. Much labour and much skill are required in the management of a Peach-house, and there is but little pleasure in it for the amateur — a promenade under a thickly covered trellis, with the fruit only to be seen imperfectly from below^ is not agreeable. . ' We must now consider the advantages of the orchaj-d- No. 791.— Vol. XXX., Old Sedibs' 406 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ November 24, isos. house as a mode of Peach-culture. I repeat that it is a structure eminently adapted to give much pleasure to those who love gardening, and who enter into the spirit of fruit- culture ; for the trees, growing to a certain extent in their natural state without the formality of ti'aining, remind one of more favoured climates. I have, however, a strong opinion that with many persons the Peach tree trained against a wall is its natural state, so much is it associated with our gardening ideas. We walk in an orchard of Peach trees, we enjoy the blossoming season, we see every fruit, and if we have time and skill we assist our gardener by taking a few trees under our especial charge, pruning and pinching them in friendly competition with him. This is the sort of intercourse that should take place between the gardener and his employer, leading to a very happy state of things, and widely different from the old-fashioned reserve which with too many used to make a gardener fear to make his employer too wise. As I have stated in the commencement of this article, orchard-houses are not required in first-class gardens that are favoured with a good soil and climate, and which are cultivated merely for their produce — such as the Royal Gardens, Frogmore, for instance; but in first-class gardens not so highly favoured by climate, and where Apricots, Pears, Plums, and Cherries trained to walls too often faQ from the effects of spring frosts, they may be made most useful adjuncts to the kitchen garden. Mr. Thomson, of the Dalkeith Gardens, cultivates Pears in pots with great success. He has now upwards of a hundr&d trees in pots, and finds their fruit always excellent. So that in gardens in cool climates, where there are Peach and Nectarine houses heated in the usual manner, but where the above varieties of fruits not requiring artificial heat are wanted, strongly built but cheap houses might be erected in the kitchen garden for their culture. The finer kinds of Cherries amply repay the cultivator of them in such houses, as do Plums, and above all Apricots, for of all wall trees Apricots (the finer varieties), are the most tiresome to the gardener. It is very rare to find a wall planted with Apricot trees in a well-furnished state ; for after a few years liirge branches die, and those left are too rigid to be bent so as to fill the vacancies : consequently the good gardener feels constant annoyance at seeing what he cannot remedy. All this may be avoided by having a span-roofed Apricot- hous • : it shovdd not be small, but 20 or 2i feet wide and 12 feet high. But few gardeners as yet know what can be done in the culture of Apricots in pots in well-ventilated houses. Pot-culture is by far the preferable mode. When planted in the borders under glass they will grow ram- pantly and make long shoots without blossom-buds ; whereas in pots they make short-jointed shoots, which are generally fuU of blossom-buds. The soil they requu-e is a tenacious loam made vei-y firm by ramming it down when partially dry, at the time the trees are top-dressed in autumn. It is but recently that I have been fully impressed with the agreeabUity and perfect success of pot-culture for Apricots. Some of my trees in 18-inch pots are ten or more years old; and those on stems from 2 to 3 feet in height are models of perfection in culture. Their heads, from their shoots having been pinched-in during the summer, are round and sturdy as a pollard Oak, every shoot of last summer's growth being a mass of blossom-buds. If Apricots are cul- tivated in houses of the height I have mentioned entirely appropriated to their culture, I should recommend them all to be grown as low half-standards, with two to three-feet stems ; they will then in the course of a f«w years form round heads full of health and fertility. So averse are they to having then- roots disturbed, that I have known all the blossoms from a large number of trees drop off without setting their fiTiit, only because they were top-dressed after Christmas. For this reason I have my trees operated upon in October, and but a small quantity of the old soil — not more than 2 inches in depth — taken out. They seem to succeed so well in a soil that is firm — I may say hard — that in places where only a sandy loam can be had, it must be rammed down most firmly ; and I am not yet quite certain that the best method of treating Apricot trees in pots gr(3wing in such a soil is, not to take out the soil and top-dress in autumn, but to allow the trees to remain in the hard and dry soil all the winter, giving them some water about the middle of February if mild ; and after they have blossomed and set their fruit, and when it is about the size of a small horse bean, to scrape off the surface soU an inch in depth, so as not to disturb the young fibrous roots, and give them a rich surface-dressing, to be repeated during the summer as soon as it has subsided by the water- ing. This method was fully carried out here the past season, and nothing could be more satisfactory. My Apricots were abundant and most delicious. Writing of watering reminds me that it has been made to a certain extent the bugbear of the pot-culture of friiit trees. If every cultivator would take a lesson in watering from the Crystal Palace, and have a cistern a little elevated, and gutta-percha tubing, watering potted trees would cease to be a formidable ope- ration. As far as I can see into the future, it appears highly pro- bable that the attempt to grow choice fruit in the north otherwise than in orchard-houses will be abandoned, and the neighbourhood of such rich and populous towns as New- castle, for instance, will abound in houses appropriated to the culture of fruit trees; and I repeat, that even in the more favoured parts of our island as regard climate, in gardens with vineries and Peach-houses in abundance, the Apricot-house and the Cherry-house will be found most useful, and give a gardener much comfort. I must not, however, omit the Apple. Only those who have seen speci- mens of the fine American Apples, grown on small trees in pots in an orchard-house, can have an idea of their value as dessert fruit ; their size and beauty, as well as the nature of their flesh, always tender, juicy, and rich, render them almost unique. I have at this moment specimens of the Melon Apple, part of the produce (eighteen in number) of a little tree grafted on the Paradise stock, growing in an 11-inch pot, measuring upwards of 12 inches in circum- ference, and perfectly beautiful. The Northern Spy often exceeds this in size, and the Newtown Pippin grown under glass is a superior fruit to those imported. It is only the increased temperature and dryness of the chmate under glass that gives those Apples their remarkable beauty and excellence; but little care is required in their cultivation, and the roughest glass-roofed shed will serve for an Apple- tree house. Innovations in Horticulture, and its sister science A^nri- culture, are always resisted, and however sound and bene- ficial, make but slow progress. In this respect how unliko any good mechanical invention, which is at once seized upon and spread over the face of the world ! The orchard- house idea was first promulgated in 1851 ; and although it made its way among amateurs, many of whom having skill and perseverance had great success, yet many failed from thinking that fruit trees could be cultivated in common greenhouses ventilated in the usual inefficient manner. Its great opponents were, however, a class of men who set them selves up as oracles in gardening — men with more words than wisdom. I used formerly to hear persons of this class say, " Oh, this is all wretched nonsense, no tree can be kept in health in a pot more than two years." After twelve years of close observation I am thoroughly convinced that everything appertaining to orchard-house culture is sound, and that those who wish to find pleasure in the cultivation of fruit cannot find any gardening pursuit more agreeable than its culture under glass. — T. R. ANOTHER WOED ON STRAWBERRIES. I FANCY your correspondent who signs himself "J.B.C. P.," in the Journal of November 10th, in his strictures on the mode of growing Strawberries as practised here, appears annoyed at an expression used by me in an article con- tributed to your Journal of October the 20th, in which the word " barbarous " is applied to the indiscriminate removal of the leaves from the Strawberry plants previous to the winter setting in. Youi- correspondent, in refiitation of my practice of allowing a great portion of the leaves to remain on the plants until spring, adopts a rough and ready way of manipulation, by the introduction of a novel instrument for that purpose in lieu of a knife, in the shape of a scythe. If, therefore, he considers this instrument so very effective, why not apply it in mowing off all the decayed or spent November 24, 1863. ] JOTJENAL OP HOETICTJLTURE AI^D COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 407 leaves and stems from the perennial plants, in his garden in the autumn in like manner, and let his newly-introduced kitchen-garden implement at once supply the place, wherever practicable, of the knife ? Your contributor is at perfect liberty to follow his own course, and he will say the same to me, as regards that with which I am perfectly satisfied. However, for the benefit of your general readers I wiU endeavour to explain my reason for allowing a great portion of the old leaves to remain during the cold winter months. If, in the early autumn, or when the fruit is all gathered, I were to demide my plants, wisely provided with their coming winter clothing, one of these consequences would arise — either the plants would be in- securely protected against cutting winds and frosts, or Nature must make an unusual effort to reproduce leaves at a period when the plant should be partially at rest, at the manifest expenditure of energy and to the impoverishment of the soil. It appears similar to me to the shearing-off the wool from a sheep in autumn to compel Natm-e to supply it with fresh covering from the wintery blast. Unquestionably fresh leaves would make their appearance and attain some little growth ; but does your correspondent believe that these newly-formed ones would be so likely to contend against the storms and frosts of our ordinary winters as the old and well-ripened ones ? With regard to his gathering nearly half a bushel at a time from a quarter of an acre of land, for nearly three weeks, planted with Keens' Seedling, I do not consider that so very extraordinai-y a produce, being by no means equal to what I gathered pro- portionably from beds of the same variety, and the fruit equally fine. The plants to-day (November 19th), are many of them 2| feet in diameter. — Qtjintin Eead, Biddulph. EXHiBITlM EOSES. HAvtNQ lately been thrown much amongst Bose-growers a,nd Eose-exhibitors, and had a good deal of conversation on the subject of Roses and Eose- showing, I think it may sei-ve the caxise we ' have ' so much desire to advance if an opening is made for the ventilation of some matters which have in bne way or' another been brought under the notice of the Eose-loving public during the past few weeks. I do not expect that we shall ever arrive at agreement, either as to the character of ' Roses or the method of exhibiting ; but ■ there are some common-sense points of view, at least so they seem to me, that ought not to be overlooked, and,, if possible, agreement come to as to the course to be adopted. Having had some experience also in Eose-judging for some yeai's, I may, perhaps, be considered as having some little claim to obtain a hearing, while the fact of my not being an exhibitor may clear me "from the notion of any partiality or one-sidedness in the matter ; my sole desire, as far as I know mysell, being to advance the culture of a flower which all aKke have crowned a queen. 1. What is a Tboss ? — It may seem somewhat strange that so simple a question should, even now, after so many years of Rose exhibitions stOl remain a disputed point ; but so it is. A Rose throws up, according to its character and habit, shoots that bear sometimes one, at others two, three, four, or five buds as the case may be. Now the question J take to be this — Is the shoot to be shown as it grows, with its full-blown flowers and buds ? or is it lawful to disbud-^ that is, to remove some of these buds for the purpose of throvring vigour into the remaining one or not ? and is a shoot so disbudded to be considered as a truss ? Now the object for which this is done is, 'I suppose, to obtain greater size, and this mania for size is likely to spoil our Eose taste. A Eose which is naturally of a medium size can never be exhibited as large, unless by the loss of refinement ; and coarseness, I think, is fatal to a Rose. What is the use of a flower as large as a breakfast-saucer if there be no quality about it ? A truss, then, I should consider the natural pro- duction of the shoot, and that disbudding ought not to be allowed. If, however, this do not meet the views and. wishes of the Eose-growing fraternity, I would then say, " Make niles as to what a truss is, and adhere to them," for the present system is manifestly unfair — viz., that some should exhibit them au naturel, while others have by copious disbudding obtained size, which I know with some judges supersedes quality. It is said that if you do this you must examine each Rose, and pull it out of its tube, &c., in order to see whether it is fairly exhibited. Not so. It might be and would be desirable to examine one or two in each stand ; but of this I am persuaded, if a man wishes to be dishonest as au exhibitor no rules wUl stop him. Even during the past season I saw flowers, not Roses, exhibited, of which I am morally certain not one was grown by the person in whose name they were put up. There was no proof to the contrary, and so the matter was passed by. II. How MANT Trusses SHonLD be Shown ? — This opens out the question of trebles, and number of blooms also. If the rule with regai'd to disbudding were maintained I would discard trebles in toto ; it entails so much labour on the Judges that, unless they adopt the French plan of allowing one whole day for the adjudication, I do not see how it is to be done. The place of exhibition is rarely cleared before half-past ten o'clock, and at twelve, both at the Crystal Palace and Kensington, the public are to be admitted. — yet in that hour and a half some Judges have to decide ou.the merits of perhaps eighteen hundred Eoses ! Moreover, too frequently one good flower is obliged to carry two indiffereiit ones on its back, or to hide them, rather, in its ample folds ; to obtain nearly three hundred good Roses taxing even the ingenuity of our largest growers. Then I would do away with the 96 Class altogether, and make fifty the higher, giving more prizes for smaller numbers. Eose-growing is now so extensive that there need be no fear of not having the stages filled — nay, I think they would be better fiU'ed if so many flowers were not requii'cd. Who would not rather see forty-eight really good flowers tlian twice the number of indifferent ones ? ' • . .....i ill. In what Manner ought Thet to be Ssowh ?-^"Ofi ! with moss, of course," exclaims every looker-on. SoftlV, gentlemen, if you please. Why so? What reason, eSC'ept some sentimental , one, can be given for it ? If moss be fit for Eoses, why. not for Dahlias ? What is the bbjeot.tft be gained by a Rose show? Surely the seeing of the best Efi^fe's. Now,. I verily believe this moss hides a multitude of sins ; and a bed of f];esh,,bright-looking, green moss is quite a foil to many a piece, of blackened and spotted foliage, while it is a manifest iujustioe to many a Eose-grower. Often, I aiin convinced, the.excellenee and smoothness of the moss* Catches the eye of a jvjdge, and first imjlressiohs very Ofteil" d"6' a great deal, so ihat a person who lives in the neighboiirhBod of Windsor or •Epping, or in any wooded county, liad a ihost appreciable, advantage over those who do not. Why, if I were to run the risk of breaking my neck for a week in' tljis neighbourhood^ I could never find a bit of moss that'wiis worth looking at, and, consequently, could never hope to put up a stand satisfactorily ; and then there is ajiother most serious drawback — viz., the expense of transit ' that it entails. Boxes must be carried already prepared for' e?iii- bition ; and with the moss in a damp state, which it must be, the weight is considerably increased ; so that all idea^ of gaining anything by the prizes is taken away. Mr. Hedg'e's gardener told me the other day, that when he toot his Eoses to the Birmingham Show it cost ^£12, and, although he took all the first prizes, he only obtained £14 ; whereas,' if thfey were exhibited as Dahlias are, the boxes coiild be easily car- ried, and the tender mercies of the guards and porters could be dispensed with. There would then be no need 'for the gardener .to sit in the break-van to mount guard over his treasures, as I know to have been done, and the break- neck work of setting them up at the Palace would he avoided. Moreover, we should be much more likely to see that all was fair in the exhibiting, and the quality and character of the foliage would be more conspicuous. If " good wine needs no bush," I am quite sure the Eose needs no mere- tricious ornament to set her off. The addition of foliagd is fatal, and so would I make the addition of moss. Nothing but the Eose pur et simple. IV. Ought the Classes to be Separated ? — A 'good deal has been said lately about the necessity of doing this. With both hands I protest against it. Have the advocates of it ever really seen a box of Moss Roses worth looking at ? I never have, and a box of Teas is almost as poor ; and although we have great brilliancy of colour in the Hybrid Perpetuals, yet I am sure it would be ruin to them to show 408- JOURNAL OF HORTICULTITEE ANB COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Norember 24, 13G3. tiiem by themselves. Let it be remembered, that they, various and beautiful as they ai-e, are after all only shades of red, fi'om very faiut blush up to brilliant and dark crimson ; for Madame Rivers, and Cai'oline de Sansal, and even Mademoiselle Bonnaire, are not white Roses, and Louise Dai'zins is more of a Noisette, and will never make an exhibition Rose. And then to exclude the buffs and yellows amongst the Teas and Noisettes would, I am sm-e, be a most linmse step^they help so to relieve the boxes, that I Cftiinot conceive a stand would look weU without Gloire de Dijon, CeUne Forestier, or Triomphe de Eennes. At the same time, I do not think undue preference should be given hy judges to those stands where these appear. It is not in the south of England much more difficult to grow a Tea Rose than a Hybrid Perpetual, and yet often I fancy there is ain impression that of five or six Roses from amongst the Teas and Noisettes, the stand which is so fui'nished ought, whatever be the merit of the flowers, to have the preference. It strikes me that this is wrong, and that the judgment ought to be in-espective of the classes, simjily on the merits, individual merits, of the flowers shown. V. Abe Fancy Classes Desieable ? — Let me explain my meaning- : — such a prize, for instance, as one for a single truss. To take off a £2 prize for one Jules Margottin, is, no doubt, a very nice thing ; but is it not calculated to mis- lead ? and might not the funds be better employed ? These bouquets of Roses, unless some definite notion of the terms of adjudication be given, must continue to be what they have proved — a soui'ce of peii^lexity to judges, and of annoyance to exhibitors. At the Crystal Palace the Judges were told that the vase in which it was exhibited had nothing to do with the merit of the bouquet ; the quality of the flowers and the taste of the aiTangement were the points to be con- sidered : hence the prize was given to a very fine bouquet of very fine Roses. At Kensington, on the other hand, the quality of the Roses seems never to have been con- sidered. The fii'st prize was awarded to one of Mr. Mai-eh's stands, which contained corals, &e., and a few very poor specimens of Roses, and was avowedly given because of the taste displayed in the stand, which taste I considered very questionable, my notions on that point tending towards severe simplicity, and abhon-Lng all cockneyism. I have thus gone over the vai-ious points connected with Rose-exhibiting that have suggested themselves to me. The opinions aie my own, although in most of them I am strengthened by the opinion of some of the most successful exhibitors we have, both amongst niu-serymen and amateurs, and I shall be only too glad if they are the means of opening up a discussion on the points. The more such subjects are discussed, if done in a friendly spirit, the moi-e I am per- suaded wiU good be effected ; and let us hope that Rose- showing may be in fashion even more than it has hitherto been. Not a grower in the kingdom but has to tell of very large quantities being sold this autumn, and this we must hope is suggestive of an increased interest in the loveliest and most generally loved of all flowers. — D., Deal. DO LEAVES ABSOEB MOISTURE FROM THE ATMOSPHERE ? YouE correspondent "S. L. G., Cornwall," asks for more information on this subject. The question, as will be seen on referring to the works of physiologists, is a disputed one ; some contending that leaves do, and others that they do not, absorb atmospheric moistru'e. Bonnet, who paid much attention to this subject, found that some plants absorb moistiu'e either by the upper or under surface of the leaf indifferently, but that some absorb more powerfully bj- one surface than the other. He fovmd that the leaves of the Kidney Bean and Cabbage, with some other vegetables, retained their verdure equally long whichever side was deprived of the power of absorption, wliilst the Marvel of Peru and others lost their hfe soonest when the upper surface was prevented from absorbing ; and, on the other hand, that, of many trees and shrubs, the leaves soon died when absorption by the under surface was prevented. These experiments, however, cannot be considered conclusive that leaves absorb moisture, for by preventing absorption he would hinder evaporation in some cases, and respiration in others. Dr. Lindley agrees with Bonnet, but many eminent men advance in proof of the non-absorbing power of leaves that if they be made to float on coloui'ed infusions no colour- ing matter whatever enters them. I wiU give proof suffi- cient, I think, to convince even the most sceptical that leaves in a healthy condition do possess an absorbent power ; and I hope to show, when roots are disposed of, that it is by no means uncommon for leaves to absorb nutriment from the atmosphere iiTespective of that collected by the spongioles. If a plant be allowed to become d:'y at the root the leaves will flag fr'om want of moistui'e. They emit more water than the roots afford them. Syringe the plant whilst under the same amount of light, and the leaves regain their original freshness. I am aware, if the plant were placed in a moister atmosphere and shaded fr'om light so as to prevent too hasty evaporation, that the leaves would become fresh. But how could the leaves repair the waste consequent on eva- poration if they did not absorb moisture ? That they obtain moisture from some source is manifest, but whether fr-om the atmosphere by absoi-ption or from the diy soU tlu-ough the spongioles is a matter of doubt. If they obtain ■ the moisture through the spongioles it is evident that syring- ing the plant whUst under the influence of light hinders • evaporation. De CandoUe assigns light alone as the cause • of evaporation, but di-yness has quite as much to do with the evaporation of water by leaves, as in the ease of plants in rooms dark but di'y. If light be the cause of eva- poration it is evident we do not cause darkness by syringing the plant's leaves, therefore evaporation goes on t the roots do not pump up more moisture, and yet the leaves become fi-esh. We, however, will not syringe a drooping plant, nor place it in a moister atmosphere, nor shade it from Ught, but let Natui-e take her course. There shall be no syi-inging of the house, the temperatm-e shall not be altered, and the degree of humidity, as indicated by a dry and wet bulb thermometer, shall remain the same during the night as during the presence of light. Examining the plant at mid- night the leaves stiU droop. There is no moisture in the atmosphere, and the darkness does not prevent evaporation. Morning finds it no better. We wiB then syringe it, prevent water reaching the roots, and keep it fr-om Ught, sprinkling every available siu-faoe with water, shutting up the house, and syringing the plant again before dark, also allowing the temperature to fall considerably during the night so as to favour' condensation. The result will be that the leaves will be fr'esli in the morning. Fm-ther : during hot dry weather in summer when the ground is little short of dry dust, what gives the flagging leaves by day theii' freshness in the morning? Not because they inhaled oxygen and liberated carbonic acid ; but because they absorb moisture along with the oxygen, in sufficient quantity to repair- the waste of the previous day, again to be exhaled during the day, miless the weather prove cloudy. If, however, the day be sunny the oxygen inlialed during the night is exhaled diu-ing the day. This I have on the authority of Saussure. If plants derived no benefit fr-om dews the non-absorbing powers of leaves would be determined; but as all foliage is refi-eshed by moisture or dew falling on it during the night, the absorb- ing power of leaves seems to be established. Further : every operation in the cultivation of plants by artificial appliances acts on the principle of moisture being absorbed by leaves at night. The cultivator bedews his plants with water, makes all moist about them, and seeks to rest them by keeping the temperature 15° to 25° less by night than dming the day. Again : let a Gloxinia leaf be detached fr-om the root, it cannot, therefore, obtain any moisture in that way, and expose it to the influence of the sun or light so as to cause evaporation from it until one-fourth its weight is lost fr-om evaporation ; then place the footstalk of the leaf (petiole) in a quUl filled with oil, so as to prevent absorption through it ; next moisten the upper and lower surface of the leaf, and, sticking the quiU in moistened silver sand, place a bell-glass over it, and put it in the dark. The leaf regams its fresh- ness, and if we examine the under surface we find it dry, the moisture having been absorbed more quickly by it than by the upper surface, which remains moist or wet. Absorption is, therefore, more rapid by the under than the upper sur- face of a Gloxinia leaf. A Gloxinia leaf is covered with a quantity of hairs on both sides, every one of which performs no mean office in the vegetable economy, and that office, I November 24, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTTJEB AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 4fl9. believe, is the absorption of moisture. The pores, or stomata, also absorb moisture, and thus a rootless leaf is enabled to retain its verdure until a callosity is formed and roots are emitted. A leaf of the Cineraria, Begonia, or Vine, taken in a flagging state and placed in a close, moist, and shaded at- mosphere, regains the fulness of its pai-ts through its sto- mata while its leafstalk is deprived of the power of absorption. Moreover, we have a Calceolaria cutting and we will allow it to flag. If in that state the bottom of the stem is placed in a vessel containing oD, the leaves being moistened, and if it is then placed on moist sand with a bell-glass over it in a shaded place, the leaves not only absorb moisture suffi- cient to fill their empty cells, but that of the stem as well. — G. Abbey. WINTEEING BEDDING PLANTS. The following is the plan I prefer to many : — For instance, the Geraniums : I put three cvittings into a 60-sized pot, in a compost of leaf mould, loam, and a sprinkling of silver sand, the pots being previously well di-ained. They are then placed in brick pits with lights over them. After they are struck they are folly exposed to all the light and aii' jjossible ; but in case of heavy rains the lights ai-e then replaced. I may add that they occupy the same pots through the winter, and are stored away in the gi'eenhouse as closely as wiU permit a current of air pass- ing freely between them. The supply of water required is very limited indeed until the days lengthen, when they wlQ require a somewhat larger supply. About the middle of March I dig out aU the Celery-ta'enches that are requii-ed for the season, and, these being 4 feet wide, in the bottom I place about 4 inches of leaf mould and road sand mixed together. I then fork it in lightly with a little of the com- mon garden soO for the reception of the stock of Gei-aniimis, which are planted about 9 inches fi-om plant to plant in the rows, the rows being about the same distance asimder. Prior to dividing them I give them a thorough good soaking of water, after which we can perform the operation with- out the least injury or check to either of the plants. They are sheltered with straw covers, such as are used at I^ut- teridge Bury, and so often described by Mi-. Fish. After they are all turned out there are about two thousand pots at command, which are then all washed clean prepara- tory to the potting of such as Verbenas, Lobelias, and a great variety of the more tender kinds of plants. The Calceolarias are never troubled with either pots or artificial heat : they are treated precisely the same as we have done them before at Putteridge Bury under the directions of Mr. Fish, and we shall be greatly sui'prised if we lose a dozen out of two thousand plants. The Calceolarias are planted out in the ti-enches as above mentioned for Geraniums. They both do equally well, and by the time you want to plant them out they ai'e fine stocky plants. With the aid of a trowel or small fork we can lift them with as much ball as we lite ; and after plant- ing them in their respective quarters, the soil being pre- viously well stirred, and finally a good watering, not a leaf of either would be seen to flag. — J. B. C. P. Grapes Smkivklling when in Bloom. — Having seen an article in your Journal of March 24th about Grapes shrivel- ling up when in bloom, I wish to state that I witnessed the same in a large late vinery, of which I had charge at a some- what later date, although in certain parts of the house they set weU. Thus, one cane at the end of the house, which was brought down at the top to nearly a level posi- tion, sets its bunches well throughout its length. Also, in other parts of the house where the shoots happened to grow up raider rafters shaded from the sun, the bunches set and did well ; but in this case it was near the top of the house that they did so. In my opinion the weU-doing of the Grapes depends upon the position of the canes at their blooming season, or even before it, and after the Grapes are set. The Vines above-mentioned were planted in the usual way in a border in front of the vineries, the border being rich and moist. — D. Pbatt, Gardener to the Hon. D. Phmkei. HOLLYHOCK FLOWEES BECOME BLACK. YouB correspondent, "An Old Lady's," DaUiag would have looked well with my black Hollyhocks. You do not believe that her DaliUas became white, and you may be equally incredulous that we have about fifty Hollyhocks, fine double flowers of all colours, which last yeai- turned black. I let them remain, as I thought they might return to then' true colours this year, but again they were all black. Every one that has seen them remai-ks that the like was never known before. — A StrsscEiBEK feoji the Commencb- MENT. [We never before heard of such a wholesale change of colour. Certainly we have heard that clayey loam, blue vitriol, and iron filings have sometimes changed Hydrangeas blue ; and also that Norwood loam, on account of its large amount of ii-on, had the same effect. Granting that you have not been deceived, the complete change from many colours to one must depend on something in the soil. It would save a deal of uncertain speculation in many oases if oui- coirespondents would state particulai'ly the nature of their soil and subsoil when advice about plants is asked for. Pray teU us the nature of the soil in which your Holly- hocks have played such fantastic tricks.] GARDEN BOILEES. If I had not had the experience of above ten years' ex- periments amongst the various modes of heating garden stmctures, I should not now venture to pen a few words upon a subject so important to my brother amateurs. I have tried various kinds of boOers and various modes of heating them; and as I am also the proprietor of a large estab- lishment where I have steam boUers and hot-water-heating apparatus employed in my business, I may venture to give the result of my experience, and, if needful, warn your readers against some useless outlay. My principal reasotl for writing at present is that I see a disposition to employ a metihod of heating water wliich has the tempting attraction of being apparently the most efficacious. I say apparently, because I know that it is deceirtive, not intentionally so, but nevertheless both deceptive and exjiensive. I allude to what are called tubular boilers. There is no novelty in the idea of heating water in tubes, and it is equally certain that when quite newly erected it is the most economical method of conveying heat to water, but the apparent eco- nomy soon vanishes unless extraordinary mechanical ar- rangements ai-e provided for perpetually keeping the tubes free from soot which is well known to be a most perfect nonconductor of heat. Many, very many years ago, various ingenious methods of heating the water which is used in. large steam boilers were tried, such as passing the pipes through the furnace itself (a fallacy, for it was robbing Peter to pay Paul) — another plan was to use the waste heat between the boiler and the chimney, to heat the water in a pipe or pipes fixed in the flue, which is exactly the principle of the present fashionable tubular boilers. This method was found to act admu'ably for a short period, but as soon as the pipes became coated with soot, the water a<;tually became cooler instead of hotter, though it passed in the pipes down 40 or 50 feet of a fiery flue: consequently this system was abandoned, until a clever Mr. Green dis- covered and patented a method of working by mechanical agency a set of sweeping-brushes or scrapers, which are perpetually traversing up and down a set of tubes placed in a flue perpendiculai-ly, exactly like the tubular boUers, and by this means keeping them free fi-om soot. It is only by the perpetual cleaning that these pipes can be kept hot ; if the sweeping machine stops, the pipes soon become cold. Tour readers will see that the same result must inevitably take place with their tubular boilers. At the outset the new boiler does wonders. It is watched at flrst by both master and man, but after a while both wUl have cause to express their disappointment because they cannot make the fire heat the pipes as it did at first, or at any rate without an enormous consumption of fuel, which only succeeds because it manages to touch some small part fi-ee of sooty deposit. Now, remember that I do not dispute that tubes are the most economical mode of imparting heat to water, but to do so they require to be kept perfectly clean; and how 410 JOUEXAL OF HOETTCTJLTTTRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ NoTember 2i, lg63. can that be done except by mechanical means, kept in motion by machinery? and how few, how very few of us, could or would incur such an expense ? From the above remai-ks you wiU agree with me that amateurs must look elsewhere for the great desiderata in a garden boUer — namely, "simplicity and efficiency," or should I say efficiency and simplicity ? for it is difficult to decide which should be put first, both being of such import- ance. I have reason to believe that the boQer the most simple in construction wiU in the long run prove the most efficient and decidedly the most economical ; such at least has been the result of my own experience and the result of my observations on the successes and failm-es of my neigh- bours. Now I -n-iU only ventui-e to describe two kinds of boilers which appear to me to be exactly what we aU require exceedino-ly simple in construction, efficient in action, and economicarin working. The first being the oldest shall be described first : it consists simply of two flat oblong cast iron boilers, 2 feet t> inches long, 2 feet wide, and only 3 inches outside depth, with a flange pipe on each end by which they are connected with each other. Now the manner in which these are placed secured for them the greatest possible heat, and the plainness of their construction afforded the best chance of theii- being kept free from soot. 5 C . No. 1, fire-box. No. 2, the lower boiler connected with No. 3 by a pipe wMch is not shown, the flange pipe at one end of No. 2 being the feed, and the upper flange pipe of No. 3 being the flow. The two boilers are set with their edges resting on fire- brick walls, and the ends placed as shown in the engraving. The heat from the fire passes by the flue 5, 5, 5, 5, under and over both boilers imd round one end of each ; it also passes tinder No. 4, which is a separate and independent pan or tank having a sand-bed under it for propagating purposes. No. 6 is the ash-pit, and No. 7 is a framed iron door, which enables the man to rake out any soot which may accumulate ; a damper at the top of the flue regulates the draught. Now this has been working for years, and probably wUl outlast many of the present generation of boilers. It certainly hag not yet been beaten in efficiency, and has the merit of not being particular about the quality of the fuel. The next is equally simple, but to my mind more efficient, because it economises all the heat by surrounding it with a jacket of water. It is constructed of two plain cylinders, one inside the other with a space of about an inch wide for the water between them. The feed-door is at the top; on the side and at the bottom is a small door to withdraw the ashes. The part above the feed-door may be made to form part of the boiler, or it may be made available to heat a propagating tank as before described. Now a boUer of this description prefers coke, or coke and small coal mixed, but it has this advantage that it does not require feeding so frequently, and it is wonderful to see what a quantity of piping one of these little boilers will keep hot. In appearance it is not unlike a cannon boiler set on end. I have seen one of these boilers, 3 feet long and 1 foot diameter inside the cylinder, heating 900 feet of piping. The especial advantage of this boiler is, that as long as the flre is burning in any part of the upright cylinder, it heats and causes the water to circu- late, so that whether the fire is burning at the bottom or has eaten its way towards the top of the fuel the boiler is in action, and the intensity can be regulated by a damper which is attached to its outlet-flue. These boOers also do not require any brick -setting to fit them up, but I recommend them to be enclosed in some rough covering to economise heat. I have no intention to recommend any particular boiler- maker, in fact I shall decline to do so, because the proper medium of such communications is through your advertising colimins. — W. W. BLANCHING CELEEY. Seeing lately in your Journal some remarks on different modes of blanching Celei-y, I am reminded of a plan I saw in Oxfordshire in August last. It was simply placing a common drain-pipe upright, and allowing the plant to grow up through it. Sly friend, in whose garden I saw it, assured me that he not only had his Celery blanched much better, but also that it was ready for the table much earlier. That the latter is the case I can aifirm from my own observation ; for the plants I saw gi-owing in the pipes had already grown above the tops of the pipes, while those treated in the ordinary way were not half so high. — A Poor Man. A PLEA FOE THE AEBOEETUM. Of late years the importation of trees of foreign gi-owth into this country has certainly been all in one channel — ConifeKe. Assuredly the countries whence our many really useful members of this family have been drawn possess other species of forest trees new to this country ; and much as I admire the class of plants now so popular, it is certainly a pity that it should usurp the whole attention of planters. I am old enough to remember when the term " Arboretum" came prominently before us, and it was strongly urged on gentlemen possessing the means, or where in public gardens the situations were suitable, that planting all the newly- introduced trees that foreign parts afforded should be com- menced forthwith. Now, public attention seems to be con- fined to the consideration of the Pinus tribe alone, and the additions made in other respects to the arboretum during the last twenty years or more have been very unimportant. Assm-edly the case ought to have been different. Do the hilly regions of the western coasts of the American Continent, both north and south, possess no other than coniferous trees ? The vegetation of the accessible portions of China, Japan, and Northern India is certainly not con- fined to the evergreen species we have had from thence. I am far fi-om finding fault with the introductions that have reached us, but what I wovild like to see is more variety, and a wider depai'ture from the confined fashionable path of the present day. Could not a move be made so as to lead to a fresh influx of such fine ornamental trees as some of our Evergreen Oaks, and our Magnolias, both evergreen and deciduous ? Perhaps some other Acacia might be found hai'dy. In fact, once draw public attention in that direction and beautiful objects will be forthcoming. — H. L. T. STEPHANOTIS FLOEIBUNDA FEUITING. It would be interesting to know what culture is most conducive to the fruiting of the above most fragrant stove climber. The plant referred to by your correspondent, Mr. Morris, of which he had charge when foreman here, failed to fruit this season, although a much larger plaoat and in more robust health. When living as gardener at Winch House, in Cheshire, the roofs of two Orchid-houses were entirely covered with a plant of this species, and, of course, it was subject to a great November 24, 18G3. ] JOHENAL OP HOETICULTUEE AJ^D COTTAGE GAEDENER. 411 amount of heat all the season through ; but during the seven years I had charge of it I never once saw a single fruit. This plant produced annually bushels of bloom, and was, indeed, a most glorious sight when in flower. At more than one place in the neighbourhood the Stephanotis has fruited, but under what circumstances I cannot say. Does it fruit better in a pot than planted out ? Or baa heat or impregnation anything to do with the result ? Perhaps some of your correspondents can enlighten us. — John Edlington, Crom Castle. CHBYSAJS^THEMUMS AT ME. NUESEEY. SALTEE'S Mr. Salter's name is inseparably associated with the Chrysanthemum. Not only is he a most successful cul- tivator of that flower, but also the raiser and introducer of many of the finest varieties which we at present possess. Nor has he ceased to advance in that path of improvement in which bis name has become celebrated, as his collection, which comprises every variety of known worth and many beautiful novelties besides, will amply prove. In the open gi'ound, two borders, each more than 120 yards in length, are filled with fine blooming specimens with flowers of every shade of coloxrr, affording an opportunity of judging of the merits of different kinds for border purposes and of theii' compai-ative hardiness. For the latter purpose the late frosts, preceded by heavy rains, have unfortunately afforded too good a test. But it is in the winter garden, a T-shaped house, 95 feet long by 18 wide, that the gems of the collection are to be found. On entering this the eye wanders over a mass of the large-flowering kinds, fronted by pretty Pompones, and beautifully aiTanged for effect ; whilst on the other side of the winding walk which runs up the centre of the house ■are pretty groups of less height, and small circular beds of Pompones. To give relief from so much colour. Orange trees in fruit, Araucarias and other plants remarkable for the beauty of their foliage, and here and there plumes of the Pampas Grass, are introduced ; and Ferns, such as Adian- tums and Scolopendriums, are liberally used as edgings. One small clump near the entrance of the house contained variegated Ivy of the sort called latifolia maculata, the leaves of which are beautifully diversified with white, and .contrasted well with those of a very dark kind, covering the ground at the base. Among the new varieties already sent out were — Her Majesty, not very large but beautiful in colour, which is a silvery blush ; Lord Palmerston, a rosy amaranth, peculiai-ly tipped with white; Dido, white; Abbe Passaglia, brassy amber ; Antonelli, a fine salmon orange ; Beverley, a remark- ably fine large cream white ; and Queen Margaret, a large rose Anemone, with a blush centre. Of varieties less recent were fine examples of Lady Harding, Progne, Versailles Defiance, Prince Albert, Mulberry (a fine colour though rather small), Triomphe du Nord, "White Queen of England, Lady Margaret (large white Anemone), and host of others. Of seedlings, Mr. Salter has several of the highest merit, and many more of great promise. Conspicuous among these are Prince Alfred, a beautifully incurved rose amaranth, which even in its present state is 5 inches across, and when grown for size will, doubtless, attain yet greater dimen- sions. Princess of Wales is another magnificent flower, an ivory blush, and it will probably grow as large as Prince Alfi-ed. Both of the above will, doubtless, take a very high position when sent out. General Bainbrigge is a beautiful bright cinnamon ; Jupiter, a deep chestnut tipped with gold ; Lord Clyde, a blood crimson, fine in colour, though rather flat. Mrs. Haliburton is another finely incurved, full-sized flower of a rose pink ; Venus, delicate peach, with a high centre, is also large and finely incurved. Pelagia, yeUowish- ivory ; Bernard Palissy, orange scarlet ; Hypatia, marbled rose ; Florence Maiy, bright red ; Lord Brougham, dark cliestnut ; St. Patrick, deep rose and blush ; and St. Mar- garet, large orange Anemone, are all sorts of great promise, and to these might be added several others which have not yet been named. In a small house adjoining that in which the principal display is, are some very dwarf specimens, not exceeding 18 inches in height from the base of the pot, the plants being in some instances not more than half that height above the rim. They were formed by allowing the shoots to take their natural growth, and then bending them round the pots, which, in some cases, are completely hidden. Among them were besftitiftd specimens of Prince Albert, Her Majesty, Julie Lagravere, Julia Grisi, Progne, and some of the seedlings above referred to. In the same house were a pretty orange-and-yellow-mottled Pompone, another rosy lilac, both, however, being as yet unnamed; also, a variegated Gazania splendens, the leaves having a golden margin, and which is likely to prove a good edging plant. Mr. Salter has, besides a large collection of hai-dy varie- gated plants, a very pretty variety of the Pampas Grass, with the leaves broadly edged with pure white ; but the plant is not yet for public inspection, and being very yoimg it would be premature to say much about it, but if it main- tain the purity of its white when of older growth it mil be a decided acquisition. AMMOIS'IA FOE GEASS LAJfD. I WANT to apply ammonia to some grass land. I find sulphate of ammonia advertised at ^£17 per ton. I can pro- cure soot (25 lbs. to the bushel) at £2 4s. per ton. Soot is said to contain two-fifths of its weight of salts of ammonia. If this be so, I can procure two-fifths of a ton of salts of ammonia — i. e., 8 cwt. for 44s., whereas 8 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia would cost 136s. Without valuing the other in- gredients of the soot, is it not better to apply soot than sulphate of ammonia ? or does the latter possess any special advantage over the salts in the soot ? — K. I. I. [Independently of the economy, we should prefer applying the soot. It will afford quite as much ammonia as the grass needs, and its other ingredients are beneficial to grass. We should apply it early in the spring and during showery weather.] FLOWEES IN A WOEKHOUSE. When recently inspecting, court by court and room by room, the large new workhouse in my neighbourhood, as a member of its visiting committee, besides being struck with the beauty and admirable arrangements of this building, the perfect ventilation, the separation of the hospital far away from the body of the edifice, the excellent cooking apparatus, the water supply, the chapel, and the all-prevail- ing cleanliness, there was one thing which very much sur- prised and pleased me in addition to everything else, it was this — the presence of Flowers in the Workhouse. Now, some years ago it happened that, during the illness of the chaplain, I officiated as clergyman in a union poor- house in another county. But I own I found it to be very weary heart-saddening work, and I would not have_ been its permanent chaplain on any account. I felt that it was so different to meeting the poor in their own cottages, however humble they may be ; there were the bare walls, the prison- like aspect, the absence of any decoration, even the simplest, nothing to break the cold look of the large windows and the blank stretch of the walls. Enteiing each room without the tap which true courtesy gives at cottage door of the poorest, brought a consciousness of my having before me, some of my own countrymen it is true, but they degraded in the social scale below the cottager, and this for very usually no sin, and aU this oppressed me. Now, in visiting this present workhouse I experienced far less of this painful feeling, and this set me thinking why it was so— what was the reason ? I soon discovered that it was partly owing to the presence of flowers inside as well as outside the building. The worthy master is both a lover of flowers, and, what always accom- panies it, a man of taste. Thus, under the walls of the little square com-ts, miniature quadrangles, he has managed little borders, not more perhaps than 2 feet wide, but gay with common flowers, and with some flowering plants trained to the walls. In the centre of some of the larger courts my eye was greeted with that very effective flower-basket, if not too large, a portion of a trunk of a tree, rich with knots and fantastic in shape. In these were Scarlet Geramums and other suitable plants. At the sunny end of the long wide passage 412 JOITRNAL OP HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ November 24, 1863. which mns the whole length of the house on the second floor, I found ahnost a greenhouse, with here and there in suitable places a -flower-stand. In the large room occupied diuing the day by the old women, the long south window was actually fall of flower-pots, and boxes with cuttings. Here was the cottage window most pleasantly brought to mind. I noticed some disturbance of the gravel in the centre of the old women's coui-t (and to the old of both sexes the warmest side of the building is most properly given). I asked the reason of the earth being thus distm-bed, and received for answer, "Oh ! master's going to make us aflower garden." So, therefore, during the long summer days the poor old bodies could sit on the benches in the sun, and blink and dose and enjoy theii- flower garden. Here, then, was a' source of great pleasure to the poor worn-out working people (for it was the same also in the old men's court), here was some- thing of a home feeling brought bp.ck to them, I would fain hope, by the presence of flowers. This it was too, which took away fi-om my mind, to a great degree, that oppressive jail-feeling which I have described above. I should also add that this workhouse is built upon a piece of ground quite in the country and commanding a fine view. Now, all lionoui-, say I, to the kind and tasteful master of the workhouse for his pains and care in making his poor inmates happier, as I really believe they are made happier, by the presence of flowers ; for, remember, it was not only in his own apart- ments, but in all other parts of the house that flowers abounded. I would also say, that while Guardians duly and most properly provide the in-door paxipers with the Book of Eevelation as a main source of comfort, yet the book of nature is well calculated to soften and comfort sad, and, humanly speaking, hopeless hearts. I send this little account to The Jocknai. of Horticul- TXTEE, that, as thank God, in this world, bad though it be, good is contagious as well as evil, some other master of some other workhouse, himself a lover of flowers, may make his house as attractive as the one of which I have spoken. Let me in conclusion remark, that the excellent chaplain and visiting ladies of my workhouse have not only taken care that in the different wards "admonitory and consolatory texts should inscribe theu- waJls," but they have given for decoration many of the gay pictures fi-om the " Illustrated London News," " British Workman," and other periodicals, and even in the school-room there were pictures as weU as maps : so that what with flowers in the courts, passages, and windows, and pictiu-es on the walls, the cold cheerless criminal-look was quite gone. I felt, and fondly hope that some of the better class among the inmates felt too, that this workhouse was not only a dwelling, but almost a home. — "Wiltshire Eectob. CHETSANTHEMTTMS IN THE TEMPLE GAitDENS. Heavy rains succeeded by sharp frosts are not conducive to out-door displays of Chrysanthemums, and, hardy as that flower is, it could not fail to suffer under such circumstances ; still the general effect of the beds in the Temple Gardens is very good, though some have been touched with the frost. In the Inner Temple Mr. Broome's principal border, about 70 yai'ds in length, is as usual covered vnth canvass, except in one part where glass sashes have been used. This is a great improvement, for in November days in London there is no light to spare, and the transmission of what little light there is is soon in a great measui'e prevented by the canvass being covered by " blacks." It would be desirable if the whole of the back of this main border were temporarily covered with glass ; the cost would not be great, and in the long run glass would, probably, be more economical than canvass. In this main border an extensive collection of the large- flowering vai-ieties is ranged, diminishing in height towards the ii-ont row, which consists of Pompones. Among Whites — Vesta; Snowball; Beverley, a new and fine cream white ; and White Formosum, seem the best. Of Yellows, the most worthy of remark are EtoOe Polaire ; Astrolobe, a bright early kind ; ChevaUer Domage, vei-y use- ful for borders ; Plutus ; Golden Queen ; Yellow Perfection ; Formosum ; Golden Hermine ; Cherub, a fine golden amber ; and JarcUn des Planter, one of the finest of its colour, golden yellow. In Orange and Buff we find General Slade ; Cassy, veiy fine ; Orlando ; Mi'. Jay, a new reddish-orange ; Dupont de rEm-e ; Antonelli, salmon orange ; and Lord Eanelagh. In Eeds — Eifleman, Madame Poggi, Prince Albert (crim- son). Dr. Eozas, Progne, and Pio Nono are the best. In Lilac and Blush, &c., we have Queen of England, almost white ; Alfred Salter, very large, delicate pink ; Ariadne ; Hermine ; and Aimee Ferriere, white tipped with rosy pink, and very beautiful. Of Pompones, the most striking are — Salamon, rosy car- mine ; Mr. Astie, yeUow Anemone-flowered ; Diu'uflet ; Cedo Nulli ; LUac and Golden Cedo Nulli, the former a sport of Mr. Broome's own which answers admirably for bedding; Aurore Boreale ; Argentine, silveiy white ; Helene ; Berrol, a vei-y early golden yellow ; Mustapha ; St. Thais ; Bob; and President Decaisne. Besides the main border referred to above, there ai'e two others equally well filled, stretching north and south, one 70, the other about 96 yards in length ; and there ai-e in ad- dition some two dozen small cu-cular beds fiUed with Pom- pones neatly trained by means of a stake in the centre, which is highest, whilst the surrounding plants are tied down. This is the fourth crop which these beds have borne, the first being bulbs, the second early annuals, the third bedding plants of various kinds, and the present one Chrysanthe- mums put out in the end of September. Thus a succession of bloom has been secured throughout the season, and if gai'deners took a lesson fi-om the example which Mr. Broome has given, oirr flower gardens would not be gay for merely some three or four months out of the year, but from the time that the eai-ly bulbs peep above the snow till winter comes again. In the Middle Temple Mi-. Dale has also a good display, including remarkably fine blooms of Queen of England, Lord Palmerston, Campestroni, Cherub, Little Harry, Novelty, Favourite (a pleasing rosy pink), Oliver Cromwell (a new i-uby of fine form and very smooth outline). Golden Hermine, Plutus, and Yellow Perfection. There are several fine blooms of Fleur de Marie, a large white Anemone. Vesta appears to be one of the best of the Whites for lasting. Golden Christine is very free in borders. The beds on the grass are filled with masses of Pompones in full bloom ; the two circles near the river ai'e each composed of ten varieties radiating fi-om the centi-e, and present a gay appearance. GOLDEN-VAHIEGATED AliABIS AND CENTAUEEAS. Mr. Eobbon will be pleased to heai- that the variegated Golden Arabis lucida exists in all the golden beauty that has been said of it. It is a very dwai-f compact-growing plant with lanceolate leaves about 4 inches long, with a broad margin of gold of the same hue as Geranium Golden Chain. It is an entii-ely distinct species fi-om A. albida, having had its origin from A. lucida, fi-om which it is a sport, and occa- sionally it goes back to the original. A. albida variegata is gro-wn here also, and is considered a very pretty and useful plant -with a cream-coloured variegation, but it is altogether a coarser plant than A. lucida variegata, -which latter I con- sider a perfect gem for edgings, and more especially for long straight lines — so much so that it is considered no longer necessary to grow such gi-eat quantities of Golden Chain. A. albida is a most useful spring-flowering plant on account of the enormous quantity of pure white blooms which it yields at that season. Ceutaurea argentea, as far as my experience goes, is not nearly so fine a plant as C. ragusina, and the same may be said of C. gymnocarpa. They ai-e graceful plants, but not more so than C. ragusina, and are not nearly so white. I consider C. ragusina and C. candidissima to be the same. We have at present specimens of this variety that were planted out in May, and that are now nearly a yard across, and it woidd be diflicult to imagine more beautiful objects, raised as they are on knol'ls formed by blue bullets fi-om the sea-beach. It is really a wonder this fine old plant has not been more popular long ago. I take some pride in November 24, 1863. JOXJENAL OP HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAE.DENEE. 413 it, as I believe I have the credit of making it popular in Scotland, where it is now grown in quantities that surprise the southerners when they cross the border. — D. Thomson. SOME GAEDENS WORTH SEEING. COENWALL. Name. Proprietor. Gardener. Station. Cardew Sir C Lemon, Bart Mf. Johns Triro. TrebartllaHall,.. T. Rcid, Esq Mr. Dawe Liskeard. DEVONSHIEB. Werrington Park Duke of Northumberland... Mr.Snowden... Tavistock. MountTavy J. Curpenler, Esq Mr. Ag.tr Tavistock. Sydenham House J. Treniayne, Esq Mr. Diirdan ... Tavistocli. Kelly Hall A. Kelly, Esq Mr. Bloomfleld Tavistock. Lifton Park H. Bcadahaw, Esq.... Mr. Blomi:*end Tavistock. There ia a railway being made ii-om Tavistock to Laun- ceston, so that some of the gardens will have stations nearer than Tavistock. — K. J. B. DENBIGHSHIRE. Chirk CasUe Col.R.Myddleton-Biddulph, M:.P Mr. Bridden... Ohirk. Brynklnatilt Late Viscount Dunganon... Unknown Chirk. Wynnstay SirW.W.Wynn, Bait.,M.P. Mr. Cope Kaabon. SHROPSHIRE. Weston Hall Earl of Bradford Mr. Davidson.. Shiffnal. Hardwick Park . Sir J. Kynaston, Bart Mr. Shaw EUesmere. Porkington Hall Mrs. Ormsby Gore Mr. Brown ... Oswestry. Oatley Park Mrs. Mainwairin^ Mr. Pritchard.. EUesmere. STAFFORDSHIRE. Manley Hall A. Mardey, Esq Mr. Sharp Lichfield. Cauwell Hall ... Viscount Newport, M. P. ... Unknown SuttonColdfield Beaudesert , Marquis of Anglesey Mr. Thompson Rugeley. Drayton Manor . Sir Robert Peel, Bart, M.P. Unknown Tamworth. — H. T. S. H. STJTTOLK. BraHdeston Hall C. Austin, Esq Mr. Cooper ... Framliagham arton Hall Sir C. ttunbury, Bart. ...... Unknown Bury St. Eds. Culford Hall Rev. — Benyon Mr. Giieve ... Bury St. Eds. HengraveHall... Sir J. R. Gage. Bart Mr. Skinner... Bury St. Eds. Drinkst.-ne Park Captain Powell Mr. Fenton ... Elmswelt. Finborough Hall H. J. Pettiward, Esq Mr. Soulhgate Stowmarket. Foruh.im'HaU ... — Gilstrap, Esq Mr. Henty Bury St. Eds. — T. H. B. TEENTHAM. {Contimied from page 395.) We have already indicated the chief mode of communi- cation for pedestrians, by the iron bridge over the rivei-, between the kitchen garden and the terraced gardens and mansion. From this cottage garden, so concealed by shrubs and trees, there is by means of a boat and rope a nearer access to the ofB.ces and the rooms, &c., on the east side of the house. Prom that ferry across the river lined with beautiful aquatics, you observe a little to the northward the arches of an ancient bridge, over which the road that passes the carriage entrance to the kitchen and forcing gardens we have already alluded to is continued past the commo- dious Trentham Hotel, which must be a boon to the many visitors, and through more of the village, until, entering the park on the left, you shortly arrive at the beautiful entrance gates, with a chaste Italian lodge on each side of them, and only a short distance from the mansion, which is in the same style of architecture, only richly adorned with lofty balustrading, urns, vases, &c. The architectural beauty of the mansion, however, we must leave to others to describe. The entrance is on the west side, and is thus singular, that instead of being ushered into a hall or lobby, you at once pass into a lofty conservatory chiefly ornamented with creepers and Perns, and having broad stone pathways, that to the north leading to the public rooms, and that to the south to the more private apartments of the family. In connection with this is a court with flower-beds, and beau- tiful stone plinth edgings, the Geraniums having a brighter hue than ever they have out of doors, unless in a contin- uance of dry, sunny weather. The nearest approach to these Scarlet Geraniums in briUianoy were grown out of doors in large boxes by the side of the conservatory, and, from receiving leas rain, and much less feeding room for the roots, they far excelled those that had been exposed to the drenchings of that watery place. Not but that the beds out of doors were beautiful, but the bright blaze of these protected Geraniums coniii'meJ what we lately advanced — that a glass-covered flower garden, with plenty of air, and moisture as needed, would give a greater brilliancy to most of our bedding plants ; and even an acre, or half an acre so laid out, would yield more satisfaction than dozens of acres in the usual bed style out of doors. And then just think of the nightmare visions, the proprietor, if at all enthusiastic, and the sleepless nights of the gardener, if at aU anxious, that might be prevented, but wMch must now be endured, when several select parties are coming to see " your beau- tiful place," and the barometer tells you as well as the aches in your own body, if the rheums have got hold of you, that you will either have a hurricane of wind, or a drenching, desolating rain. From, this inner-court flower garden you enter the private conservatory, which forms the west wing of the mansion, on the south front. This, especially when the family is at home, is always kept a picture of floral loveliness. The engraving from a photograph will only give a slight idea of the beauty of the massing and foliage and creepers. It gives no idea of the artistic effect produced by marble statuary, vases, &c., for if not moved these alone would have occupied the fore- gTound, and broken and concealed the foliage. This view, as well as that of Mr. Henderson's residence, and the temple to follow, were taken by a self-taught artist or amateur, Mr. Kirkby, of Trentham, and if the engraving is as good as the photograph, there wiU be little to find fault with. The con- servatory is 50 feet by 35 feet. Between this conservatory and a protruding wing on the east side is placed the slate terrace. The east wing, the same size, as the oonservatoiy, on the principles of balancing and uniformity, ought also to have been in the conservatory style ; but tHs somewhat plain end that flanks the slate terrace, is relieved by the consideration that beyond the windows facing the south is the principal dining-room, for however much we love the beautiftil, we must pay our regards to the more material and substantial. We fear that these dining-rooras often make sad wrecks of our ideas of the etherial as respects persons and things, and bring us, however unwillingly, into the regions of stern reality. This somewhat tame end is also relieved by fine statuary, most of the statuary being of a colour as black as ebony. Similar statues are also placed at the west end next the conser- vatory, and also in places along this tei'race ; and each of these is in such a distinct and artistic attitude as they fr-ont each other, as to lead us to conclude that they must repre- sent some athletic contest or game of skiU, but what, our limited acquaintance with general or mythological lore pre- vented us from knowing. Before proceeding farther, we must here allude to some little matters that gave us great pleasure, and also because showing the refined taste that is brought to bear on the simplest details. The mansion itself is painted or coloured of a deep creamy stone colour. Close to the base ai-e semi- eu'oles cut out of the slate terrace, and these were filled with blue masses of Lobelia speoiosa, and we can conceive of no colour more sti-iking in the position close to the walls. Then the whole of the sills of the lower windows of this centre front were filled each with a China-box just to fit it. Plants are grown in other boxes just made to slip in, so that the China-bores look as full and overflowing as if the plants had never been anywhere else. These China-boxes are kept filled all the year round with plants suitable to the season. When we saw them each box was a dense mass of Golden Chain Geranium. What, and so close to such a coloured waU ? Yes, it is true, and most beautiful they looked. But that you may take our word for it, we must also tell you that the pretty Wedgwood ware was chiefly white and green ; but the upright bars and a rim at the top were of the richest blue, and the glass of the windows behind the boxes was of a light mauve colour. We thought at flrst that the blinds were so coloured, but found out it was the glass. Under such circumstances the Golden Chain was " peculiarly at home. The sombre colour of the slate-paved terrace contrasts also well with the colom- of the mansion. From the con- servatory to end wall of dining-i-oom, it is 141 feet in length, and is 49 or 50 feet in breadth. There is an open space in the centre opposite the noble fountain in the flower garden. 414 JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ NoTcmber 24, On each side of this centre is a large oblong bed, and a smaller one on each side of it. The large bed is 27 feet in length, and 13 J feet in breadth, but the ends instead of being square are protruded and rounded artistically. The sides of these beds are of fine moulded stone 13 inches in height. The large beds were thus fiUed — two dense rows of purple Verbena next the stone moulding ; then two fine rows of Flower of the Day Geranium, grown only for the foliace, all the flowers being removed; and the centre was filfed with Trentham Scarlet Geranium, except what was taken up with a sarcophagus-formed vessel, and that was filled with Agapanthus umbellatus. The Trentham Scarlet does better than any other scarlet here, though seemingly of the lorn Thumb breed. The smaller beds stood across the Jarger ones, and were we to describe them the same wav, it would be by saying that they also were 13 J feet in width, and 6j feet m length. These were each centered with a ^tI' ^^'^ ^^^^ ^*^ P"^ Geraniums, with a broad border 01 Jjobeba speciosa. We have several times expressed perhaps only our pre- judices against concealing the base of statuai-y even by flowers ; but the same objection would not apply to these sarcophagi. There is something not only instructive but pleasing and poetical, in associating the" ideas of our last sleep with beautiful flowers. Few would be inclined to go so far back as to recollect that the name conjured up ideas November 24, 1863. ] JOUENAIi OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 41& of a caustic limestone, that ate up in a very short time all dead animal matter committed to its care. Even then we might moralise on the wonders of this world of change and progress, where life now must be sustained by life that was. The fine rich umbels of the Agapanthus seem to tell \is that even beauty must be sustained by a due portion of decom- position. Be that as it may, we must state that these beds in their beauty evinced the most careful and skilful manage- ment. E. Fish. {To be continued.) Many of our subscribers not having our first series, we are induced to republish the very excellent portrait of our deceased friend, which is in the thirteenth volume of that series, and we accompany it with a very interesting relique. THE LATE ME. DONALD BEATON. the last contribution he had the power of ^vriting for this Journal. It was written in answer to a note we forwarded to him. Paralysis seized him before he had returned it to us, and it has just been found among his papers. CHANGING THE COLOUE OF THE PEA BY CEOSSING. " I NEVER cross-bred a plant intentionally in my life, so I am not about mounting a pOlar like Simon StyUtes, and proclaiming myself an authority, but I have been a cross- breeder of poultry, and have observed facts there which make me hesitate from agreeing that it is " absurd " to think that the skins of Peas may be altered in colour by the poUen which fertilised them. For instance : Cochin-China hens lay buff-coloured eggs, but if they are associated with a Dorking or Spanish cock the shells of their eggs frequently, after a time, are laid nearly white. Again, another fact we all have observed, a white woman has white chUdreo, but if her husband is a black man her offspring becomes dai-k- skinned. — FebriMry Srd, 1863." [The above is a most interesting fact, bearing directly on the question of changing the colour of the garden Pea by the influence of the poUen ; and the two cases, as far as I know, stand isolated, the one in the vegetable and the other in the animal kingdom. The other fact adduced goes directly against the inference he draws from it, for to bring it within the analogy it is not the offspring of the white woman that would or should be the dark-skinned, but the white woman's own skin. It is not the offspring of the crossed Pea or second generation which the believers in Gartner" s cross ac- 416 JOUKNAL OF HORTICTJLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. t November H. 1608. knowledge, but the Pea itself. The Pea was crossed, and the cross changed that Pea, not the offspring of the Pea, al- though we may infer the offspring to be of the same colour as the parent. By that analogy it would be necessary to adopt the notion that the male influence in the animal king- dom changed the colour of the skin or coat of the female, not the skin or coat of their offspring, or second generation. Now, if we analyse the more plausible side of the question which is thus raised — the egg changed by the influence of the male, we shall be able, without any stretch of idea, to dispose of it as easily as of the other. The egg in the feathered race represents by analogy the pea-pod, not the body of the Pea ; and to have a bearing on the question in hand, Gartner's experiment would need to change the colour of the pod, not of the Pea. But the fact is, we can trace no dii'ect analogy between the modes of fecundation in the two kingdoms ; all we know is, the effect of the mode is the dii'ect opposite in the two. Repeated approaches of consanguinity is a well-known cause of degeneracy in the animal kingdom, and the surest way of improving races in the vegetable kingdom — that is, improving flowers and fruits ; and yet when we push the inqim-y or the mode of improving to its rdtimate, we find, or, at least, we have already found, that these improvements have been acquii-ed at the expense of the health of that sti'ain or race ere we readied the limits of the ultimatum or final stage of improvement, as florists could tell us from then- records of their different " worts," every one of which has been getting less and more less healthy, and by consequence more difficirlt to preserve, from the first cross by in-and-in breeding. This seems the best plaee for me to make a suitable apology to Mr. Darwin, and to ask a thousand pardons for my seem- ing contradiction ; but I had not the slightest idea even of contradicting him, mrich less of discourtesy. I wrote lujjaedly and very eai'uestly for a particular reason — well finowing that every word Mr. Darwin says carries great in- fluence with it to the ends of the earth. I knew Giii-tner was the least reliable of all the old authors ; that he published the greatest absurdities about it, above all who wrote before him ; that his first edition was the text- book of all who wrote upon crossing without experience in it themselves ; and that it would be a thousand pities if Mr. Darwin lent the power o£ his authority to Gartner's speculations, which have not advanced the art one single degree. It cannot possibly be an attack on an author for another to expose errors he might have faUen into. I have no idea, or any wish, but to speak the truth only about this author, when I afih-m that nine- tenths of his nine thousand recorded experiments ai-e nothing better than idle speculations. I am satisfied there are not nine of them out of nine hundred which would come exactly aUke next year or next trial the same season, and such might be recorded a thousand-fold without helping the art of crossing to advance one single step. As the work of an amiable naturalist, and as pleasant reading, I have no doubt but Gartner will be read as long as Sir Walter Scott. I only wish I could read him in the original, or that he had a good practical English reviewer instead of a highly scientific one. — D. Beaton.] HEATING A GEEENHOUSE FEOM A DINING- EOOM FIEE. In reply to " A Devonshire Vicak," in your Journal of the 10th inst., page 372, I beg to suggest the following :— Some thii'ty years ago I recollect being in a room that was heated by means of the siu-plus hot air from the kitchen grate. It was, I believe, thus ; — An ii-on tube about li inch ki diameter' commenced its course at the lower end, and on one side of the kitchen fii-eplace ; it passed thence to the back of the fire, where it doubled upon itself, up and down, each fold touching the former one to the frill width of the grate, the whole forming the back of the gi'ate. It was then carried through the partition-waU and made its exit by the side of the dining-room fireplaioe, the outlet of which was guarded by a slide, as also was the inlet on the kitchen side. Thus when the slides were open and a fire was in the kitchen grate, there was always a plentiful supply of hot air in the dining-room, which could be regulated by the slide in the dining-room. — J. B. WOEE FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. E'VEKT opportunity of favom-able weather shordd be promptly employed in carrying out whatever digging, trenching, and draining have been marked out for com- pletion dui-ing the winter months ; if defen'ed until a later period severe weather may set in, and thus the operations may be retarded to the manifest loss of many advantages. Brussels Sprouts, when the head is cut the dead leaves should be removed, but none of the gi-een ones, as they protect the young side shoots. The same may be said of Scotch Kale and other winter greens. Cabbage, take advantage of a favourable day to earth-up the autumn plantations. It not only invigorates but prevents them fi'om being loosened by the winds. Cauliflo^aers, never neglect giving ail' daily to those under hand-glasses and in fi'ames, unless dui'ing severe frost. If the plants are now elongated by an insufficiency of air they will be very liable to button-off. Endive, any that have been planted in ft-ames should have air fr-eely ad- mitted to them to prevent rotting. Mushromns, the beds out of doors should have a thick covering of straw, over which should be placed mats to protect them fr-om wet and frost. When the straw is wet it should be replaced with dry. Radishes, on a di'y wai'm border a few beds of Early Frame or Short-topped should be sown either alone or with the Short Horn CaiTot. Cover the beds with straw or litter till the seeds germinate, when they should be uncovered every day when not frosty. A frame should likewise be pilaced on a gentle bottom heat for a sowing of the above to draw_ early. Strawbei-ries, we do not approve of the practice of cutting off the leaves indiscriminately at the winter dressing, conceiv- ing them to be designed by Nature for the protection of the buds which ai'e to produce the futm'e blossoms. On the score of neatness, the removal of such as are decayed wiU be sufficient, and to this, if done eareftdly, there can be no objection. Dig in these trimmings now with a portion of old hotbed manure between the rows, digging down only in the centre so as not to disturb the roots too much. The slight root-pruning caused by this process will be rather beneficial than othei'wise, and the di'essing will be placed just where the new fibres produced in spring will be able to profit by it. FLOWER UAEDEN. If not already done, get aE borders neatly trimmed-up for the winter. Valuable plants, as variegated HoUies, Ehododendi'ons, &c., if not growing as fr'eely as it is desir- able that they should do, would be benefited by a Uberal allowance of rotten manure or well-decayed leaf soU apphed as a top-dressing, covering it with a little fine soil, and working it into the gi'ound towards the extremities of the roots. "But Rhododendrons and what are generally termed American plants beai- removal so well, that these, where not oTowing satisfactoi-ily shoidd be taken up, the ground well prepared by a Uberal addition of peat or leaf mould, and re- planted. While the -winter continues mild the plantmg of deciduous trees may be proceeded with, pro-viding the state of the land will permit of the operation being profitably per- formed. Deciduous shrubs may be pi-uned whenever there is time, except dm-ing severe fr-ost. Many of the larger- oTOwing plants will only require going over once m two or three years. Smaller-growing shrubs, as some kinds of Cytisus, Spirajas, Deutzias, &c., should, however, be pruned annually if a good show of flowers and uniformly-shaped bushes are desired. Secm-e shi'ubs and yoimg ti'ees from the effects of boisterous winds by stakes. Plant climbers, as Ivies, Clematises, &c., and train and support creepers agamst walls generally. Where walks ai'e in good condition but have weeds stm making theii' appeai'ance on the surface, recourse shoidd b.B h.id to har4-picking, and the use of the rake and hoe sb.ir.ll '..e avcide.-l at this season as much as possible. These i>istrM;,.t'r.t.- .w more harm than good by breaking-up the sui-faoe, -while Ue desti-uction of the weeds is not secured. FRUIT GABiDEN. When orchard trees have been fcr some years left un- pruned some of the branches will require thinnmg out; keep the middle of the trees open to admit air and to pro- mote the formation of fruit-buds on the interior branches. Peai's should not be allowed to become over-ripe before being November 24, 1863. JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTITEE AND COTTAGE aABDENEE. 417 used ; also look over the whole stock as often as time can be spai'ed. Any of the choice varieties that do not ripen properly in the fruit-room should be removed to a warm dry room for a few days, which will be found to improve them greatly. POECINS-PIT. Particular care should now be exercised as to the applica- tion of water, atmospheric humidity, aii% and heat, the latter should be generally applied a little extra by day with air, and very sparingly at night for some time to come. Gentle fumigations with tobacco should be occasionally given, and a little sulphur applied, in a liquid state to the heating appa- ratus when moderately cold, but by no means when hot. GKEENHOUSE AKD CONSEKVATORT. The supposed necessity of resorting to fires in greenhouses may often be obviated with great advantage to plants by the use of night coverings. Double mats, or whatever may be devised for the purpose, wiLL, except in extreme cases, main- tain a night temperature of from 35° to 40°, which is an amount of night heat suiScient for the ordinary occupants of mixed greenhouses during the winter months. Stop the leader of every shoot of the large plants of Pelargoniums which are wanted to be in bloom in June, and also of the young plants struck the past sximmer, to cause them to push side shoots. Tropasolum tricolorum and the other tuberous roots must now be potted if to bloom next season. Encou- rage Tropajolum Lobbianum, it wiU bloom through the winter; also Salvia splendens, fiilgens, gesnerseflora, they are fine for autumn and winter bloom. PITS AND FRAMES. As a change from the present to severe weather may come on suddenly, be provided with ample means for covering these structiu'es should it occur. Mignonette and Neapolitan Violets will require abundance of light and air to keep them from damping. Pot Ixias, and place them in a cool frame, or plant out of doors in a warm place. Cinerarias may be kept for some time longer in a frame, but must be protected from frost. W. Keanb. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. The fine dry days were chiefly vised in clearing away the old stalks of Cauliflowers, old Pea-haulm, and Pea-stakes, as we could not get on the ground before on account of the wetness. Took up a piece of Sea^kale and Ehubai'b, and placed in the Mushroom-house in pretty-well-spent manui-e that would give a bottom heat of about 75°, the atmosphere of the house being about 55" ; bxit most Kkely we will raise it to some 5° more for a few days, as we shall want an extra supply of Mushrooms next week. If the Sea-kale, &c., do not come as soon as we wish, we wiU cover it over with straw, or place some hoops over it and a mat covered ^vith hay, so that the air in the enclosed place shall be warmer than the general air of the Mushroom-house ; for though that may be raised in temperature now and then for definite purposes, we always imagine that if the temperatiu-e is long above from 55° to 60°, the present gain will become a ftitui'e loss, as the beds will sooner be exhausted. In re- moving our heap of Mushroom-spawn to a di-y shed there were a few bricks not sufficiently spawned, and to avoid the oovering-up from rains, &c., out of doors, we placed them in the Mushi'oom-house, and covered over with a little hay, having no doubt but that in a fortnight they, too, will be fit for placing in their dry quarters. Nothing tends to make the spawn exhaust itself more than being allowed to remain long in a damp place. Good spawn is best known by its pleasant Mushroom-like smell, and by the whole of the pieces being permeated by a whitish substance in hair-like fashion as to size, for if the filaments are as large as sewing- thread, these individually are too far gone for running in a bed. Even such may produce Mushi-ooms in a favourable position, but they seem to have lost the power of generating and filling the mass of a bed with productive spawn. Gar- deners have rendered the cvilture of the Mushroom by means of its spawn a matter pretty well as certain as the obtaining a good Caidifiower. Who, by means of spawn or plants, will help them to attain the same proficiency in the culture of the Truffle and the Morel, which, for all the higher branches of cookery, are as much used as the Mushroom ? One ad- vantage they would have over the Mushroom is that when obtained at the right time they keep good for a long period. Had we more time we certainly should like to try their cultivation in different ways. " It cannot be done, sir," shoxild seldom be resorted to unless in a demonstrated im- possibility. Owing to the fugacious character of the Mush- room it often happens that you may have a bushel of them when they are of little use, when there is nobody of conse- qijence to eat them ; and then when a large party suddenly comes, there may be none or only a few to get, though they might have been had by the extra fillip spoken of above if the gai-dener had only known. We expect that ladies and gentlemen would find that much of the solid-resistance- points which they present to their staying fr-iends would give but imperfect satisfaction, unless the ai-tiste of the kitchen knew some time beforehand, so as to have the meat, the poultry, and the game in the best possible order. When it is not considered worth while to let the gardener know anything of these great events beforehand, it is just a matter of chance if the products of the garden come in when most needed. A little more of a cleai" understanding in such matters wovdd be to the benefit of all concerned. The heap of chopped Hollyhocks, chopped Asparagus, and flower-stalks, mixed with leaves and dung, has come in most useful for slight hotbeds, and for placing a covering over the border of an early vinery, the surface of which had been covered with a thin coat of tar and sawdust. The mild hotbeds will do for placing some fresh hotbed bedding plants in, and just setting in movement the roots of some Vines in pots. We have been so taken up with cleaning, that with the exception of stirring the ground amongst young Cabbages, Cauliflowers, &c., and giving a little more di'y earth to Celery, with a little ashes or burnt earth and rubbish next the stems, we have done but little in moving the ground, though there could be no better weather for doing so. In many gardens, however, what ought to be done must wait until there is time. We always prefer moving ground, if possible, in fine, bright weather. Trenching and ridging cannot be better done than now. In light ground, trenching with a rough surface we consider to be better than ridging. Eidging is always best in stiffish soils, whether the ground be tui'ned up one, two, or three spits deep. Those who have large places, and like us begin to be a little deficient in memory, should keep a digging and trenching book. In trenching, every second or third year it is advisable to break the subsoil, and bring a little of it to the surface. A great deal would do mischief; a little will always do good, and, exposed during the winter, it will mix well with the older soU in spring. This plan is especially suitable for all long- rooted plants, as Carrots, Pai'snips, Beets, Salsafy, &o. In old gardens the soil is apt to become too rich for them, which encourages them to spread into finger-and-thiunb- Hke roots, instead of one fine large one, and as straight as an arrow. ' The digging down, rather trenching down, such ground three spits in depth, or two spits if the soUis shallow (in either case bringing up an inch or two of the subsoil to mix with the soil that was lowermost, but now placed on the top, in the ridge state), would, if the surface were moved once or twice during the winter, render the soil nice and fr-iable before spring, and the richest soil being at the bottom, the roots would be inclined to go straight down towards it. Such old soil would also be greatly benefited by a thin surfacing of quicklime, or burnt clay ; but the most surprising efi'ects wiU often be produced on such old, rich ground by a dressing of peat earth, so far as Carrots are concerned, using a dressing of lime with the peat. If even for this crop alone the ground were so prepared, the deep stirring and bringing a Uttle fresh imdersoil to the surface would, in course of time, take all the garden in regular course. It may here be worth mentioning, that in trenching and ridging now, the work shoidd be done differently from the way it should be done in spring. At the latter period it would be necessary to break the different spits as they were turned over. At this season it is best to take rather thin slices on the spade, and turn them over in a rough state, so that the air and the frost of winter may freely penetrate. From the crumbling-down it will be solid enough before the 418 JOURNAL OF HOKTICtTLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENER. [ November 24, 1863. spring comes. It is next to useless to describe such a simple operation as trenching or ridging two or three spits deep. An opening should be taken out of the necessary depth, and 2 feet in width. The bottom of the trench should be loosened with a pick if necessary, then turn over the top spit of the next 2 feet into the bottom, follow with another or a double spit as deemed advisable, and make the surface roughly level, or, in all grounds at all stiff, lay the last spit carefully up in a ridge as steep as possible, as the shai-per the angle at the top the more will the air and the frost pene- trate, not only the ridge, but the furrows between down to the bottom of the trench. If a sharp frost should penetrate 2 or 3 inches, it is a capital plan to turn these ridges over, and thus the whole surface soil is frosted, and no better employment could be found for a keen frosty day. It must be done before the frost is so hard as to prevent a good sharp spade penetrating when there is a sturdy arm and a fii-m foot behind it. Talking of frost, however, seems somewhat out of place in such fine pleasant weather as we now have, but a little of it in moderation will soon be very acceptable. The well of our old-fashioned ice-house, without the assistance of a bit of straw or any other covering has lasted us now two years, but has failed at last. A little mud has collected in the bottom, but as it has become dry that shows there is no stagnant water ; and, therefore, instead of making the well any deeper we wUl merely place a few faggots in the bottom before filling again, when we have the chance. We might have had a little in November last year, but it was supposed it would disturb the game before a shooting party. For a similar reason our tree leaves will be pretty well gone before we can take them. Ice is, no doubt, a great lusiiry, especially in summer, and is most valuable as one of the chief curatives in some of the worst afflictions to which humanity is subject, but it becomes a troublesome and an expensive affair when it has to be brought from long distances. Is it impossible to bring more into common use those chemical freezing nurtures of which we read so much, and which we believe some of our greatest confectioners use largely? Perhaps this may catch the eye of some one able to give particular information, as often when new modes are discovered it may be years and ages before these are brought into everyday practice. FEUIT GAP.DEN. Very much the same as last week, only we put a little more litter, and we would have given more if we could over the border of the late vinery, and put the old sashes and straw covers over that again, our object being to keep the leaves green as long as possible. At one end the leaves are becoming yellow, and there we have mostly cut the fruit. If we could have kept the roots a little warmer the ripening of the leaves might have been a little more delayed, and, con- sequently, the fruit would have hung longer in a fresh plump state. As soon as the leaves turn yellow they must be re- moved, and after they are removed more care must be taken on frosty nights, as the bunches are more easily fi-ozen when there are no leaves to shelter them. We trust the bulk of our leaves will be greenish for some time in this late house. Of course, all laterals to speak of have been removed some time ago, except some little twigs which furnish a few small leaves for garnishing on particular occasions. We have already stated that we put about a foot of our mixed fermenting-heap on a Vine-border, to which we wUl apply heat a month hence inside. We want the roots to precede the tops a little. We would also have placed wooden covers on the top of the litter if we could have commanded such a convenience, but satisfied ourselves with a little long litter, as we coiUd not do better. OKNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. Much the same as last week. Never had so much labour in clearing the wrecks of the flower gai-den, the beds were so excessively thick and strong, notwithstanding the dry summer we had. However, there will be more for the fer- menting-heap ; but there has been so much that the men seem much more tired of it than they were of the planting time. A stray remark about old hotbeds and frames for bedding plants his brought us several inquiries ; and we will meet these inquiries, first by saying if you have a good frame, or a number of them, have nothing to do with the old hotbed if you can help it, but set the frame on a piece of high, dry ground in preference. If this had been the month of July, this is the plan we would have recommended : Choose your position for the frames, raise the ground 6 inches above the level, for a space wider by 2 feet, and longer, too, than the frame, firm it well, let it slope from back to front 6 inches. After firming it well run it over with tar about the thick- ness of a new halfpenny, throw some gravel and sand over it, and it will be as hard as adamant before you want it in the end of autumn for your plants. Place your frames on them, and for a lasting job it would be best to surround them with a bank of earth or soil 15 inches wide at bottom, and 9 inches at top, beat it firm, make it smooth, paint it with tar, and for 2 feet beyond, and cover with sand, road drift, or fine gravel. This will throw all rain away from the frame, and no moisture will rise from the bottom inside. EecoUect that moisture and damp are the worst evils in winter. You cannot do the ground inside with tar now, it would kUl everything, but the outsides may be so done, if care is used in air-giving; the inside may be elevated with dry earth, chalk, &c., or it might be done with earth smoothed and coated over with pitch, which would soon dry, and emit no disagreeable effluvia, and in either case dry gravel or diy ashes rough would do inside. In such a case the watering should be so done as not to spill a drop ; in fact, the pots should be taken out to be watered, and be then replaced when di-ained. In severe frost a little litter might be thrown over the earth banks, and, of course, the glass must be duly protected. In very damp weather a piece of lime might be put inside, or a bottle or two with warm water, which, with air on, woiUd cause a more rapid circulation inside, and make the atmosphere drier. If earth is not used, the next best would be straw neatly tied against the wood, and the sashes long enough to throw the water past the straw. The best covei-ing for the glass of such pits would be wooden covers made to fit to each other ; the next best would be asphalt fixed to frames ; the next best tarred cloth or frigi domo fixed to poles, which two people can easily manage. Good waterproof covers 6 feet by 4 are also advertised. We have supposed the above frame to be about 6 feet in width.— E. F. COVENT GARDEN MAEKET.— Nov. 21. The supply both of fruit and vegetables, ia consequence of the mildness of the weuther, continues to be ample, much more so than is usually the case at this senson. Pines are in gre;it abundance, and prices have a ten- dency to decline. Of Grapes the supply is quite sufficient for the demand. Melons from abroad, which are the only ones now in the market, are plentiful. Apples and Pears conisist of the same sorts as mentioned in last week's report. The Potato market is stiU heavy. Of Asparagus a few bundles may now be had. Cut flowers priocipally consiRt of Koses, Violets, Chrysanthe'uiums, Mignonette, Geraniums, and Chinese Primulas. FRUIT. Apples ^ sieve 1 Apricots doz. 0 Figs doz. 0 Filberts & Nuts 11)0 lbs. 55 Griipes, Uamburghs. lb. 1 Hanibro'ti, Foreign 0 Muacdts 3 Lemons 100 6 Melons each 1 s. Asparagus bundle 6 Beans, Broad bush. 0 Kidney J sieve 0 Beet, red doz. 1 Brocculi bundle 0 Cabbage doK. 0 Capsicums 100 1 Carrots bunch 0 Caulitiower doz. 2 Celery bundle 1 Cucumbers doz. 6 Endive score 1 Fennel bunch 0 Garlic and Shallots, lb. 0 Gourds Jk Pumpk., each 0 Herbs bunch 0 Horseradish ... bundle 1 d. s. 6 to 4 0 0 Mulberries quart Oranges 100 Peaches doz. Pea-s bush. dessert ^ sieve Pine Apples lb. Plums .^ sieve Qmnce-s doz. Walnuts bush, 14 VEGETABLES, d. 8. d, 0 to 10 0 0 0 Leeks bunch Lettuce score Mushrooms pottle Musid. tSi Cress, punnet Onions Ijushel pickling quart I Parsley bunch I Parsnips doz. ! Peas bush. ' Potatoes sack ' Kadishes doz. bunches , Rhubarb bundle I Sivoys per doz. Sea-kale basket Spinach sieve ; Tomatoes J sieve [ Turnips bunch e. d. 3. d 0 OtoO 0 4 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 10 0 2 6 9 0 3 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 I 0 2 0 14 6 20 0 s. d. 8. d 0 3 too 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 4 0 0 6 0 8 0 3 0 4 0 6 0 9 0 0 0 0 5 0 8 0 1 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1 6 2 0 3 0 1 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 November 24, 1863. JOtTRNAL OF HOKTICULTTJBE A^D COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 419 TEADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. William Bull, King's Eoad, Chelsea. — List of New, Beau- tiful, aiid Rare Plants. ' B. Whitham, Eeddish Eoad Kurseries, Stockport. — Cata- logue of Forest, Fruit, arid OmoAnental Trees. Chivas & Weaver, Chester. — Priced List of Forest, Orna- mental, and Fruit Trees, Evergreens, Roses, Sfc. TO CORRESPONDENTS. ***^ We request that no one will write privately to the de- partmental writers of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- ture, 4'c., 162, Fleet Street, London, B.C. We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultiy and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Dew (S. p. 5.),— Dew does not rise from the earth. It is a deposition of atmospheric moisture, Vou will find an explanation of that and other phenomena interesting to gardeners in '* The Science and Practice of Gar- dening," which you can have free by post from our office for Ss. -id. Dissolving Bones (A Subscriber, Cheshire). — The cheapest mode of buying sulphuric acid is by the carboy. It is very cheap, and any chemist could supply you. The following proportions and directions will be a suffi- cient guide :— On a small scale, 6 lbs. bone dust, 3 lbs. oil of vitriol, I^ lb. water. Sprinkle the water on the bones first, and then add the vitriol. Be careful, for it is very corrosive. Use a cask large enough to hold twice the quantity. As much ashes or water may be mixed with the dissolved bones as will enable you to sprinkle it over the plot of ground regularly. The above quantity of bones and vitriol would be enough for lOP equare yards. Screen Before a Road [Sesperis). — Laurels will do very well if you do not wish for a tall screen. Arbor Vitae grows somewhat taller than Laurels. We would plant Laurels, Portugal and common, and Hollies if we wanted a low screen, and add Firs at the back if these were too low. From now until April, in mild weather, is the proper time to plant them. You are rightly informed. Laurels grow fast and soon attain a moderate height. To shelter the house the various Coniferae are well adapted for the purpose; but, instead of planting Firs exclusively, we would plant but one or, at least, only two of a species. They would be rather more es- penaive, but that would be amply compensated for by the additional interest they would afford you. You would have many and varied forms, which, we think, would please you more than monotony. Firs, Pines, Cedars, Cupressus, Taxus, Araucaria, Cryptomeria, Picea, andWellingtonia gigantea, can be had at any nursery for a small sum. The beginning of March is a good time to plant them, but we prefer moving them from September and October to the middle of November. The Laurels move best when about 2 feet high, and Firs at any size providing they have been duly transplanted. Three feet is a good size, but tUoae which are less are cheaper and are transplanted with greater satety. Bone Dust Foa a Vine-bohdkr [A Constant Subscriber, Yorkshire), — The bone dust should be applied in March, and the guano at the same time. The bone dust should be neatly worked into the border without going so deep as to injure the roots. The guano had better be spread on the surface at twice — in AI arch and May. Rains would wash its fertilising properties down to the roots; but should you dig it In there is a probability of its reaching the roots in its pure state and destroying them. We think it would do tbem good, unless the roots are deep, when lifting would be better. Mistletoe oh a Peach Trek (Idem).— We never heard of Mistletoe growing on the Peach, either in Yorkshire or in any other locality. It is usually found in Yorkshire on the Crab Apple, Thorn, Poplar, and Lime trees. We have not seen it on the Oak, Ash, Elm, nor any other common tree. We should be obliged by correspondents stating whether they have found it on any of the Conifers, as there is a prevalent opinion thut it will not grow on trees affording resin. Though it grows freely on the common Thorn (Cralipgus oxycantha), we failed to make it grow on any of the North American species. We should also be obliged by any inform- ation relating to Mistletoe found on any description of tree other than those specified. StZPHAKOTIS FLORIBONDA AND IPOM^A HORSPALLI^ PrUNINO (An Old Sjlh- scrtber).— The Stephanotis may be pruned at once. The pruning is simply thinning-out the shoots and catting out the w eak, old, and useless parts. You might probably obtain a second bloom, but we would advise you to be content with one rich display, as too much esciteraent has a tendency to weaken plants so subjected. The Iporoaea may be cut back to some prominent eyes, the nearer the root the better. You may do it now, but you nmst allow the plant a period of rest. Three months are not too long, yet it does moderately well after a rest of six weeks. The longer the roots rest the stronger growth and finer bloom may be expected from them. Hot-water Pipes and Roots {Old Subscriber, Nottingham).^The pipes should be at least 1 loot from the stems of your Peach trees. Three inches is too near the stems to place hot-water pipes. From 9 inches to 1 foot is the distance we recommend in your case. Vine roots are situated at about 1 foot from the surface, some deeper and some shallower ; but, as a rule, in well-made borders they do not run deeper than 20 inches, whilst in some cases they penetrate to a depth of 4 feet. Buoxmouth Grape {J. F.).~-A.a the Fruit Conwuittee were not requested to do more than say whether or not they considered Mr. Denham's Grape the Muscat of Alexandria, they did not express any opinion upon its identi- fication. It would, indeed, have been impolitic to have done so in the absence of further information, and of seeing the Iruit growing on the Vine. There is reason, however, to believe that it is tlie true White Tokay; but upon this point it would be useless to assert anything without having had an oppor- tunity of examining it thoroughly. ALOCAStA MACEOaHIZA VARIEOATA PrOPAGATTNO AND MaNAOINO (One of the Try Company).— It is propagated from suckers. These rise near the stem of the old plant. The soil is removed down to where the sucker rises from the root, and the latter is there cut off with a sharp knife, taking the least touch of the old root along with it. This operation Is best done in the process of repotting tbe old plant. Use very turfy peat and loum from rotted turves half, leaf mould a quarter, and bits of charcoal (broken fine for cuttings, and not larger than a hazel nut for established plants), and silver sand the remainder. In this the cuttings are placed, if very small, in 60-sized pots, and the others in a larger size, just sufficient to hold them without cramping. A gentle watering is given, and the pots being plunged in a mild bottom heat of 75^ to 80°, place a bell-glass over them. Keep close and shaded for a few days, and the suckers will soon become estab- lished. Gradually harden-off and grow on in the stove, potting as often as the plants fill the pots with roots. Perfect drainage is essential, and a moist close atmosphere must be maintained to have the plant in perfection. It is hardly possible to give it too much encouragement ; therefore the shifts should be frequent, the watering copious, no dribbling but a thorough wetting. It must be shaded from strong sun, and kept as near the glass as its size will permit. In future pottings the charcoal should be more plentiful, using leas sand— in other respects the compost recommended for raising the plants is suitable. A winter temperature of 60^ to G6° at night, with a rise of lo° to 15° by day, and one in summer of 70'' to 7o° by night, and 85^ to 90'^ by day, will grow this plant something like a monstrous Victoria Khubarb plant with leaves nearly a yard across. Plenty of moisture, a sweet atmosphere, and a high temperature, with plenty of pot room, are the main points in its cultivation. Sph^rogtne latifolia Pbopagatino and Manaoino [Idem).— This is propagated from cuttings of the hall-ripened shoots. If the cutting has tbree joints, one below, inserted in the soil, and another above, with the apex or growing point, they are just the sort. These, Inserted singly in small pots in a compost of peat and silver sand, root rather freely in a bottom heat of 75" to 30° with a bell-glass over them. They will be well rooted in about six weeks, when they should be hardened a little prior to their bemg placed in the stove. The heat of an ordmary stove suits it. The plant requires a moist atmosphere, and shade from very bright sun. A compost of turfy peat half, light turfy loam and leaf mould in equal parts of the remainder, wifh a liberal admixture of silver sand is the most suitable soil. Perfect drainage must be provided, and the plants require potting when the pots become full of roots. Vineries, Peach-houses, &c. [G. PooI).~ln articles by Mr. Thomson, Mr. Fish, and others you would see much ou the arrangement of houses, and there is also much particular matter at page 400 in answer to corre- spondents. With such a carte blanche as you give, and no particulars, we might rewrite a volume and then not meet your individual cise. See description of houses at Keele and Trentham. We think your first house will do very well. We presume the roof has a steep slope. A steep roof is also best for late Grapes. Your late house should be allowed to break naturally, or rather be kept back from breaking. It will need tire heat chiefly when the Vines are in bloom, and then in the autumn and winter to keep the Grapes from damping. These are tbe cheapest Grapes, and, perhaps, the most useful, as they come in when other fruits are scarce. Fine plants are grown in lean-to houses, but span-roofed houses are best— unless in cold northern districts, when a wall on the north side, or part of tbe north hide so as to make a hipped roof, is an advantage merely on the score of warmth. Where fuel ia plentiful the span roof is the best and most convenient. Climbers foe Wall (TT. 5.).— Lonicera aureo-reticulata ; Pynis japo- nica, ditto white; Passitiora coerulea, and P. Neumanni ; Wistaria sinensis and alba ; Magnolia grundiflora; Lonicera brachypoda, fl.exuosa. and fra- granti^ima; Jasminum nuditlorum, officinale, revolutura, and Wuliichianum ; Aristolochia sipho ; Bignonia grandiflora, B. radicans major ; Clematis azurea grandiflora, C. flammula, lanuginosa, odorata ccerulea, and Sieboldi ; Atragene austriaca. In addition to these there are numerous cUmtjing Rcaes. Flowekinq Shrubs op Low Growth (/(fern).— Andromeda floribunda, and formosa ; Beroeris of sorts ; AhhEea frutex ; Tree Peeony, many kinds ; Buddlea globosa; Potentilla floribunda, and fruticosa ; CUtus, several varieties; Cytisus in variety; Deutzia gracilis grandiflora, and scabra ; Daphnes; Furze (double); Leycesterla formosa; Ribes aureum, san- guineum, var. album, and var. atropurpureum ; and Spiraeas in great variety. EvEBGRRE-'f FOE CENTRE OP Beps (/rf^m). — Cupressus Lawsoniana, Juniperus stricta, and Thuja aurea. The last we think would answer your purpose better than Bay trees, which are not hardy everywhero. Soil for Vines in Pots (Jf. G. if.). — We do not recommend pressing the soil very hard in making a Vine-border. The soil shoald be packed rather firmly together with the fork, but no treading or ramming must be allowed. The soil will become quite firm enough in time without any ramming or pressing. The author of the book you name is not the same person of the name that writes for this Journal. The book, however, is a good one. Repotting Calceolaeias, &c.— Lobelia Paxtoniana (iVe«f(o).— In your circumstances it would be as well to defer repotting until the change of the day— say the 1st of January, then give a small shift— say into seven or seven-and-a-half-inch pots. You cannot well strike the Lobelia now with- out more help than a cold frame. Encourage growth and take off cuttings as soon as vou can get a little heat in spring. You might easily make a little propagating-box inside of your living-room. We cannot say where you can get Chrysanthemum seeds. The raisers are not likely to part with their best seed. They are raised easily from seed, WiNTBaiNo Geraniums in a Cellar {Xovice).—V{e prefer taking off the soft parts of Geranium-shoots, removing all the leaves, dipping the tops left in quicklime, and packing the roots in dryish earth, or moss neither dry nor wet, for keeping in a cellar. The great thing is to preserve vitality but to prevent growth. 420 jbUKNAL OF HORTICULTITRE AOT) COTTAGE OAJRBENER. [ November 24, I8fi3. Cyathea dsaleata Pinnules Tcbnikg Bsown [C. S. iV.).— The tips of yoTir Fern fronds may be brown from moieture lodging on them during the night, which is evaporated rapidly on the presence of light in the morning. Too little \Nater at the root, a current of cold air, and too dry an atmo- sphei-e will also produce the same reeult. Your plant is kept at least 20"^ too warm. A temperature of from 40'' to 50° is quite warm enough for this Fern in winter. We keep outs in a cool houee from which frost is only just excluded, and it is little short of 6 leet high, and a very young plant. Try a cooler temperature and a more regularly moist atmosphere. Back Wall of a Vineky ( W. jy.).— Never think of withholding from giving us trouble. Such letters inform us of what our subscribers want, and thus enable us to please them as we would like to do. But, ot course, in order ic be able to give general eatisfaction our correspondents should make definite inquiries as you do, and even then send only few inquiries at a time, which we are sure ihey would do if they would recollect that there may be hundreds if not thousands in a similar position to themselves. We think you exaggerate in speaking of the " hardness tf our knocks " even in Buch cases, for we never intend to do more than ask for moderation. We fully appreciate your object in desiring to keep your back wall a** low as 6 feet, as few advantages arc worth having that could be construed into a source of annoyance by a neighbour. We presume the whole of the border for the Vines is to be inside, and that for such a small house will be an advantage. We have no doubt at all as to the plan answering with your hipped roof at back. That hip could be hinged to open, or you could have a double ridge and a space of 9 inches or so bttween them, with a cap to move as desired, or a ventilator could be suspended underneath the cap, and openings left on the side. The moving of the hipped roof would be the simplest. If you mean to move your sashes, the having three or even four bars would be ranch the best. If the house is on your own property ■why not have a fixed roof! Sash bars 1^ by 2^ or 3 inches would be quite sufficient. We forget already about the point in the book you refer to ; and here we suppobc we must give :i knock in the shape of a hint, that our friends must not suppose that we have long memories^, so as to know where to turn for references without any figures of page or volume. We presume, however, that you mean to folluw the plan ot houses for the million. In such a case you will need little air at back ; but 3 or 4 inches must be left between each sash, and the place covered by a ventilator, to be moved less or more at pleasure. If we can htlp more we shall be glad. Vines Undee Sheet-glass Burning [E. P.).— Give plenty of air to the Vines, especially at the top, and a little the first thing in the morning. Then look over the glass cai efully, and on every scar or nodule of any size, daub a little paint or hquid putty. In most cases the air will remedy the evil ; but the knots, if at all large, will burn the leaves. They concentrate the rays ol the tun to one point. FoEciNo A Kow OF Sea-kale {D. T. ^.).— Clear away all the old leavesi place a cone of a^hea over the heads of the Kale, cover with pots, boxes, ; or merely sticks and strawbands, dig out a slight trench on each side of the row, and fill the trench with hot fermenting dung. Cover all overgwith leaves or li tter so hot that the enclosed space will have a temperature of about 60*, and not more. The heat at the roots may he a little more. We are supposing that you mean to force the row where it stands. If taken up a dark place anywhere, with an average heat of 60'=, would do. For instance, make a slight hotbed, take up the plants and put them in it, and cover with an old box or chest turned topsy-turvy, or make a box of old slabs and cover all over. By this plan a barrowload of fermenting manure will do a^ much as a good cartload out of doors over the row. The Strawberry pots will do well in a cold frame ; they will do so plunged in the border protected from severe frost, or built up as described in " Doings of the Week" last week. There is no book on the questions you note equal to the lucid articles in tills Journal. Mr. Fish commenced a series of such articles, but other matters have kept them in abeyance. You will find full particulars of all such matters in " Doings of the Last Week." Greenhouse foe Winteeing Geeanivms, <&c. {O. S.). — We could have advised better as to internal arrangements bad you given us the height of the ;ipex of the roof and height in front or sides altogether. Rough plate glass will be best for the roof at all times, and especially in summer. The aides may be done with common plate. If expense is an object, common plate about 2d. per foot will do well enough, and the light might be dulled in summer. See " Doings of the Last "Week " the other week and description of Keele HalL The fine taken right through the middle of the house, and its top forming the pathway, would be the cheapest plan of heating. A small "boiler and two pipes all round would be the best. If the roof is low a path- way down the middle— say 3 feet wide, and a bed on each side 4^ feet wide —would be the simplest mode of arrangement; but the plants at the sides could not be so well attended to or examined as if they were nearer to the hand and eye. To make the most of such a house— that is, to yield the greatest amount of gratification— we would have a shelf on each side, Ifi inches wide, with the heating-pipes below as fir as the doorway, the shelf also going round the farther end, then a wjilk all round of 2| feet, and a table or platform in the centre of 4 feet. This might be flat, or you might make it into a stage with a raised shelf m the centre, and two or three on each side. It would have been better if the house had stood north and south, but it will do very well as it is. The raised stage would, perhaps, be best If the apex of the roof were as much as 10 or 12 feet in height. A vast number of things could be housed under such a stage in winter. Names of Fruits (iS/ar).— The Pear is Wormsley Grange, and the Apple Colonel Vaughan. {A Reader, Bavfftshire).—2, betuT6 de Ranee; 3, Ne plus Meuris ; 5, Figue de Naples, will not do so far north ; 6, Chaumontel. Others not known. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. THE BIRMINGHAM TEN-SHELLING DAY. The foUowing paragraph in your paper of last week, quoted from The Midland Counties Herald, cannot fail to excite aston- ishment and suspicion : — " This year the pubhe will be ad- mitted on Saturday the 28th inst., the day on which the Judges make their awards. The reason for this innovation is, that some exhibitors have expressed dissatisfaction that the judging should be conducted in private, and the Council have, therefore, determined to give the privilege on payment of an admission-fee of 10s. It was deemed necessai'y to fix the admission-fee tlms high in order that the Judges might not be impeded by a throng in the performance of their ai'duous duties, and also not to interfere with Monday, the day of the private view. The poultry, however, will not be exhibited until Monday." The necessity for public judging presupposes dishonesty on the part of the Judges, but it is a question whether under any cu-cumstances the remedy is not worse than the disease. Under the circumstances above quoted it is a positive dishonesty. Either the judging should be public and all exhibitors admitted by special tickets, or it should be private and all exhibitors excluded. The admission of a few for a fee of 10s. implies either weakness or unfairness on the part of the Coimcil. They are either overawed by the wishes of "some exhibitors" who have expressed dissatis- faction, or else, for some reason best known to themselves, they wish to give an unfair' advantage to "some exhibitors" who are disposed td pay for it. It is in effect the golden key to be used without secresy. The reason given, that it is to avoid inconvenience to the Judges is simply a sham. There is as much inconvenience to a Judge fi'om fifty excited and privileged exhibitors as from a hiindred. Let me ask the Council if they will permit me to make any alterations in my entries. They certainly vrill not. Why, then, should they make any change in the regulations under which those entries were made ? I certainly would not have entered anything at Bu-mingham had I known of this 10s. privilege, and I protest against such a breach of faith as to subject me either to a tax of 10s. or to the loss of a privilege which may be used very materially against me. The mean- ingless remai'k that "the poiiltry will not, however, be exhibited until Monday," neither tlu'ows poultry exhibitors out of coiu-t nor guarantees theh- safety. It does not even say that the same principle will not be applied to that department. Perhaps it is intended to delude the imwary into such a supposition; but if the principle be admitted into one part of the Show, what is to prevent the Council by a stroke of the pen gi-anting the ali'eady privileged "upper ten shillings" another privilege? This decision of the Birmingham CoiinoO amounts to an admission that the Judges are dishonest, whilst it toadies to the wishes and interests of " some exhibitors." I am inclined to say, despite this Birmingham admission to the contrary, that the Judges at the great shows are men of strict honour, and I do not know why this mead of praise should not be awarded to those of smaller exhibitions. I am quite willing to admit that there .are Judges who sail under false colours, who are swayed by influence and self- interest, and care Uttle for the results. I do not believe that public judging will prevent this. There is as much to fear from the excited interference or impeding (as the Mid- land Counties Herald calls it) of exhibitors, as the deliberate unfairness of Judges. How an honest Judge can fairly and exactly decide the merits of a multitude of pens or exhibits of nearly equal merit in a crowd of exhibitors of every variety, I cannot tell. I do not beheve that an u-on-nerved man cordd do it well ; a nervous and very conscientious man would inevitably be fliu-ried, and peculiarly liable to mistake. If the Birmingham principle is tolerated for a moment it may, and probably will, spread to other shows, and then the groans of your con'espondent, " An Exhibitor in a Small Wat," may have some foundation. Those who oaimot be present, and those who do not choose to pay, will grumble that their interests should have been watched by the "upper ten shillings." I am determined to have something for my money, and anticipate a treat, which I may communicate to you. — EOOMET. EEEEDING EAELY CHICKENS. Those who breed early chickens — and whether for exhibi- tion or the table, we think they are wise who do so — will now begin to prepare their pens, and to select their breed- ing-stock. It is not too early to do away with the pro- miscuous^running that prevails in most yards during the November 24, 1863. JOURNAL OF HORTICTTLTTIRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 421 autumn. The period of separation has not been certainly defined, nor the time that must elapse after the running together of all breeds before the produce of a pen can be depended upon. In our opinion, lif eggs are to be set in Januai-y, the bii-ds should now be all separate. It is un- pleasant to find when the hen comes off that the Spanish have an indisputable relationship tt) Doi-king ; and that there is more than suspicion there has been a miisalliMnce between Hambiu-ghs and Cochins. This early sepai'ation may involve, perhaps, a little more d;--ly laboiu-, as birds in confinement must give more trouble, if they are properly tended, than those that are at liberty. Where, however, they are judiciously treated, and the supply of food, &c., is assimilated as nearly as possible to that they would get in a state of natui'e, we are not sure that fowls, with the excep- tion of one or two breeds as Dorkings, are not as well in good roomy pens open to the sun as they are at liberty during the midwinter months, when the ground is barren of food, and the night occupies two-thu-ds of the twenty- four houi-s. Om- motive for treating this question is the number of queries we have at this season of the year, asking how long fowls of different breeds that have been running together should be separated before their eggs may be depended upon. It is a vexed and undecided question; but seeing that faUure is irremediable during the cm'rent season, and that January or Febriiary chickens can only be hatched in those months, we advise immediate separation. The pens sliould be made afresh. All the holes and dusting-places the fowls have made during the summer and autumn should be filled up, and the surface levelled in such a way that the water shall run off during the winter. A good mound of sand should be made in a sheltered spot. If road-grit can be had, so much the better. It is always dry, and the fowls like it much. It is the best material we know for pens. HULL EXHIBITION OF POULTEY. It required a considerable display of resolution to can-y out a Povdtry Show at Hull, with a probable amount of success, at a date just preceding the Shows now so nearly approaching at Birmingham, Brighton, Leeds, Darlington, Manchester, and a host of minor meetings of Uke character. Yet none who visited the Hull Meeting on the 18th inst. could express a contrary opinion, than that as a whole it was a good one. It was evident, even at first sight, that chickens just at this time of year have great advantages over the old birds for exhibition purposes, and will do so for the nest month to come. This was apparent in every class where such entries competed together. In Game fowls this superiority was necessarily even more developed than in some of the other breeds. Old Game cocks are not, as yet, sufficiently recovered from then- moult to handle with the firmness of feather required ; the young plumage being stiU in most cases only partially matui-ed, and the pen feathers so fuU of sap, as to tend greatly to encoui-age the can- nibaJ-Uke propensity, to which Game fowls especially are most prone, of actually eating each other piecemeal. We noticed several birds that were suffering from this morbid habit, and that, though evidently enduring intense pain, offered but little opposition to theu' mates, even though the flesh was actually being torn atom by atom from the bone. It is well just to remind amateurs, that fowls having once contracted this vitiated taste for flesh and pen-ieat^er are rarely so far broken of the destructive habit as to be ti-ustod again in close confinement, also that the injured bnds in very few instances ever recover their plumage in perfection. It is, therefore, a rule that may be considered as universal with all kinds of fowls — they should never be closely confined tiU the feather is hardened, as well as replaced, or the bad policy of sending them to shows in that condition can only entail both loss and disappointment. At the HuU Meeting the whole of tie labour part cf the affair lay on sadly too few hands, for, as at too many shows, the Committee seemed to dwindle into the smallest limits, when work, absolute " putting the shoulder to the wheel," most required it. This is a faUing very generally com- plained of on all sides, and we think the promise " to help," ought to be scrupulously observed (or withheld) at the time of the first formation of any poultry committee meeting. Another hint to exhibitors may here be usefully enforced — viz., strict compliance with the rules of the prize schedule issued solely for their direction by each Society. The intending exhibitor should in every case give this an attentive perusal, as different rules are enjoined by different Societies. Want of attention to this point alone caused several pens to be at once " disqualified " at Hull, among which was most deci- dedly the best pen of Grey Dorkings in the whole Exhibition. It must be borne in mind, that exhibiting a hen too many is equally fatal to success as one too few. We shall confine oiu- remarks to a few of the best specimens at the Hull Meeting. The cock (a Brown Eed) in the Game class for a cock and one hen, was, perhaps, one of the most perfect birds in the Exhibition, and shown in condition, such as we generally find fi-om the yard of Mi-. Harry Adams, of Beverley. Being " a stag," no doubt his triumphs will be extended to other shows. The single Game cod; class was not equal to antici- pation; indeed, it was difficult to find birds worthy of prizes, even the first prize bu'd (otherwise a model of per- fection) was s uffering li-om an old injury to an eye ; and the second-prize cock, a Black Eed, that last yeai- gained so many premiums for its weU-known owner, Mr. Julian, has this year moulted so radically untrue to feather, that his continued success is impossible where anything at all approaching competition arises. In Hamburghs, it is only a rare exception that we meet with classes so good as were both the varieties of Spangled. These were one of the most striking features of the Show. An exquisite pen of Brown Eed Game Bantams, the property of Mrs. Sharp, well de- served the most favom-able mention. Some remarkably good Polaiids were shown. In Geese, Turkeys, and all classes of Duels, the HuU Show stood high. The Buenos Ayrean Duck chiss was not only well filled, but the competition was throughout of the highest order. Mi-. Jessop, of the Beverley Eoad, here held his own against all comers. The classes for Pigeons were not only numerously filled, but also -n-ith the choicest specimens. This feature of the Show was, however, robbed of much of its public interest, by all the bii-ds being jilaced decidedly too high for in- spection ; but we hear another season this cause of complaint wOl be remedied. The introduction into the prize schedule of " seUiug classes," with prizes, as in other cases, at HuU, proved quite a success. No kind of restriction of age or breed -svas enforced, the only proviso being a limit as to the seUing price — in the fowls to 30s. the pen, and in the Pigeon class to 15s. the pen. A capital competition ensued, with choice the most abundant as to varieties, whilst the limited sums at which they were entered insui-ed change of ownership to not a few pens. Again, the commission on sales to the Society was the same as on all others. The HuU Committee having thus inti-oduced this new feature, no doubt other shows wUl also can-y it into practice successfuUy. Dorkings. —First, W. H. Robson, Louth. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. HiEbly Commended, J. Dixon. Spanish.— First, S. Robson, South Milford, Second, T. Greenwood, Dewsbury. Commended, H. Beldon, Bingley ; E. Bro-wn, Sheffield; w. Bowly, Cirencester. ,, ,j, . Cochin-China (Cinnamon and Buff). — First, E. Smith, Middleton. Second, T. H. Barker, York. Highly Commended, W. Bradley. Worcester ; C. R. D'Ewes, Knaresborough. „ » • ,. Cochin-Chika (Any other variety). -First, G. -Williamson, Nantwioh. Second E. Smith. Highly Commenaed, W. Dawson, Hopton MirHeld. Game (Black-breasted and other Beds). -First, H. Adams, Bover ey. Second, Kev. F. Watson, Norfolk. Highly Coniraended, n . Adams, Bererley. Commended, W. J. Cope, Barnsley ; J. Hodgkiusoii, SiiUliouse Lane, Hull ; M. Mantle, Newark. j ttt t n Game (Any other variety).- First, F. Sales, Crowle. Second, W. J. Cope, Barnsley (Duckwing). o jc j «„,™.i Hambv-rohs (Golden-pencilled). -First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, S. Smith, Halifax. Highly Commended, H. Pickles, jun., Skipton; Mrs. Jessop, Hull. v.- , c J T Hambdeghs (Sllver-pencmed).-First, H. Be'don, Bingley Second, J. Piatt, Dean. Highly Commended, A. Nicholson, Walkley, Sheffield ; W. Cannan, Bradford. , „ . » j o a t Hamburghs (Golden-spangled).— First, J. Newton, Leeds. Second. J. Roe, Manchester. Highly Commended, H. Beldon ; H. W. B. BerwicK, York; W. Caiman, Bradford; G. Holmes, Driffield. „ ., Hambceghs (Silver-spangled). -First, H. Beldon, Bmgley, Second, H. Pickles, jun. Highly Commended, W. Cannan; J. Dixon, Bradford; J. Newton, Leeds. Commended, H. Bancroft, Stannmgton. PousH (Any variety).— First and Second, J. Dixon, Brailford. Highly Commended, B. M. Stark, Hull. CommendeJ, H. Beldon. Bmgley; D. Hollingwortli, OUey. 422 JOURNAL OP HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. [ November 24, 1864. Ant other Distinct oe Cross Breed.— First, H. Beldon, Bingley. Second, W. Dawson, Hoptun Mirfield (Cieve Ca?urB). Highly Commended, E. Greenwood, Burnley (BrabmasJ. Commended, J. Dison, Bradford (Black Hamburghs'. Bantams (Game).— First, Mrs. Sharp, Bradford. Second, E. Brown, Sheffield. Highly Commended, W. Lawren&on, Derby; Mrs. Perren, Hull ; C. W. Brierley, Manchester ; J. W. Morris, Rochdale. Commended, R. Smith, riuU; J. Dixon, Bradford, Bantams (Gold or bilver-laced).— First, H. Beldon Bingley. Second, J. Dison, Bradford. Highly Commended. R. M. Stark, HuU (Silver) ; C. W. Brierley, Manchester. Bantams (Any other variety).— First, W. J. Cope, Barnsley (Pekin). Second, H. Beldon (Black). Commended. R, Gledhill, Bradford (Black). Gandeh. and Goose (Any variety).— First, J. Dison, Bradford. Second, O. A. Young, Drifiield. Highly Commended, O. A. Youne- TdrK-Eys (Any variety).— First, K M. Stark, Hull. Second, J. Dison, Bradford. Highly Commended, E- Leech, Rochdale. Ducks (Aylecbury).— Fiist, E. Leech, Rochdale. Second, R. M. Stark, Hull. Highly Commended, 0. A. Young, Driffield i E. Leech; J. Dixon, Bradford; J. Middlehurft, jun., St. Helens. Ducks (Rouen).— Fir&t, H. Beldon, Bmgley. Second, E. Leech, Roch- dale. Highly Commended, E. Leech. Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford. Ducks (Black East Indian).— FirE-t and Second, J. R. Jessop. Highly Commended, f . AV. Earle, Prescot ; Master F. Sugden ; R. M. Stark, Hull ; J. Dixon. Ducks (Any other variety!.— First, J. Dixon, Bradford (Grey Call). Second, Mrs. Jessop, Hull (Wild). Highly Commended, \V. H. Young, Driffield (Muscovy). Guinea Fowl lAny variety).— First, O. A. Young, DrlfQeld. Second, K. Voakes, Driffield. Game Cock (Any age or colour).— First, H. M. Julian, Beverley. Second, W. Boyes, Beverley. Third, H. Adams, Beverley. Game Bantam Cock (Anv age or colour}.— First, E- M. Stark, Hull. Second and Third. R. Smith." Hull. Cock of Ant other Distinct Breed. — First and Third, E. Leech, Rochdale (Brahma, and Malay). Second, R. R. Tulip, Monkwearmouth (Spanish). Selling Class (Any age or variety).— First. 0. A. Young, Drifl5eld (Polish). SecoAd, J. Crookes, t^hefUeld (Silver-spangled Hamburghs). Third, C. Verity, Beverley. Highly Commended, H. M. Julian, Beverley fGamei. Commended, H. Beldon. PIGFIONS. '. Carriers.— First, J. Firth, Dewsbury. Second, S. Robson, South Milford. '^Highly Commended, Mrs. Stattets, Hull; \V. Watson, Beverley; H. Tardley, Birmingham; J. W. Edge, Birmingham; C. J. Samuels, Man- chester. Almond Tumblers.— Fir^t, H. Beldon, Bingley. Second, C. N. Lythe, 'Cottinghum. Highly CoOnucnded, H. Yardley, Birmingham ; J, E. Frist, Hull .'*..'■ TuMBf.EB8 (Any oth.er:variety).— First, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Second, W. Taylor, Sheffield. Highly Commended, J. R. Jees^op, Hull (Splashed); J. Bell, Newcastle-ch-Tyne (Kiies). Commended, B. Leason, Driffield; W. Carlton, HowdSn. PowiEHs.— First, S. Robson. South Milford. Second, W. Taylor, Sheffield, ..Highly Commended, H. Beldon, Biiigley; H. Yardley, Birmingham.; >V. Taylor. Commended, H. Bro*n, Sheffield; J. W. Edge, Birmingham. Jacobins.^ First, H. Yardley, Biroiingham. Second, W. Veitcb, jtin., , JedbuTgh, N".B. , Highly Commended, T. EUringlon, Woodmansey. Com- mended. J. Perciv.ill, Ptckham ; H. Brown, Sheffield; C. W. Brierley, Manchester; J. W. Edge, Birmingham. Fantails.— First,' T. C. Taylor, Middlesborough. Second, J. R. Jessop, Hull. Highly Coijipiended, H. Yaidley. Birmingham. Commended, H. Brown, Sheffitld ; J. \V. Edee, Birmingham. Trumpeters.— First, H. Yard.ev, lUrmingham. Second, J. R, Jessop, Hull. Highly Cobimended, S. Robson, South Milford; W. Veitch, juu., Jedburgh, N.B. ; K. Cai rJck, Preston, Commended, W. Carlton, Howden ; J. W. Edge; C.J. Samuels. Barbs.— Prize, H. Yardkv, Birmingham, Highly Commended, J. J. Stott, Rochdale; J. Jt. Jessop", Hull; S. Robson, South Miltord ; H. Yardley ; C. J. Samuels, MaJiohester. TcRBUs.- Firbti, T. C. Taylor, Middlesborough. Second, \V. Massoy, Wisbeacb. Highly Cotamended, M. E, Jobling, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; H, Beldon ; J. W, Edge. Owls. — First, H. geWon, Bingley. Second, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Highly Commended. F. Else, Barswaler ; H. Y.irdley. Nuns,— Firbt, B. Leason, Dri^eld. Second, J. W. Edge, Birmingham. Ant other Variety.— Firsts J. R. Trenan, York (Spots). Second, H. Yardley (Satonettes). Highly Coiaii.ended, T. D. Green, Saffron Walden (Runts); M. E. Jobling, Newcastle-on-Tyne (Swallows) ; J. U. Somner, Jedburgh, N.B. (Yictorias) ; J. Wade, Leeds (Uunt.s); C. J. Samuels. Selling Ci^es (Any vajiiety). —First, J. W. Edge, Birmingham (Swallows). Second, F. iLey, BeVerley (Trumpeters). Third, W. F. Watson. Highly Commended, \Y..Ma3sey, "VVisbedch; J. Pertivall, Peckham ; J. Bilton, Cottingham. Commphded, J. Statters, Hull. Mr., Edward, Hewitt, of Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, was tlie Judge,' basket, in which even the cock can stand up. Let them have clean straw at the bottom, and feed them before start- ing with soft food, meal mixed slack, or bread and water or milk. A THEICE-TOLD TALE. This is our last Number previous to the great assize at Birmingham. We repeat that which we have so often said to exhibitors. Send your fowls in good time that they may be unpacked and fed by daylight; those who send late, and their name is Legion, throw away one chance of suc- cess, and double the labour of the Committee. Accustom the birds that are to be shown together to close contact. See that they agree ; it is one thing to run together in a yard, and another to be shut up in a small pen. Wash their legs and faces if necessary. Put them in a roomy ^^OEFOLE AND NORWICH OENITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. The second Exhibition of Canaries, British and foreign birds, poultry. Pigeons, &c., in connection with the above Society, was held at the New Corn Hall, Norwich, on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th inst. The following are the awards : — CANAElEa Nor.wlcH (Clear Yellow). — First and Second, S. 'Wjiters, Ipswich, NoRwica (Clear Bulf). — First, S. Wulers. Stcond, T. Mansfield, Norwich. Norwich (Marked or Variegated Yellow). — First, S. Waters. Second, J. Webster. Norwich. Norwich (Marked or Variegated Bufl). —First, D. Grice, Norwich. Second, G. Reeve, Norwich. Norwich (Clear Yellow or Marked Cresicd).— First, II. Sexton, Norwich. Second. W. Adkin, Norwich. Norwich (Clear Mealy Crested).— First, H. Sexton. Second, J. Hajdon, Norwich. Ci.NNAMOs (Yellow).— Prize, G. Collinson, Yarmouth. CiN.NAMos (.Mealy).— First, T. Irons, Northampton. Second, C. Belts, Norwich. YaRMouTH (Clear Yellow).— First, G. ColUnsor- Second, S. Stafford, I Great Yarmouth. YiRMOciH (Clear Bnff).—First, S. Rtifford. Second, G. Collinson. Yarmodth (Marked Yellow).— First, S. Stafford. Second, G. Collinson. Yabmoutu (Marked or Variegated Buff).— First and Second, J. Cox, Great Yarmouth. Brigian (Clear Yellow). — First, G. Harding, Ashton-under-Lyne. Second, G. Goodwin. Derby. Belgian (Clear Buff ).— First and Second, G. Hardy. Beloia.v (Marked or Variegated Yellow).— first, O. Nicholson, Fareham. Second, G. Goodwin. Bklgia.v iMarked or Variccated Buff).— First and Second, G. Goodwin. Clear Yellow or Mar:;ed Crkstkd. — Prize, G. Harding. Clear Mealy or Marked CREsaEU.— First and Second, G. Harding. Lizard (Silver-spangled). — First, — Phillips, Nottingham. Second, — Waller. Lizard (Golden-sp.ingled).— First, —Waller. Second, G. Goodwin. Cages op Six (OpenJ.— First, T. Madge, Norwich. Second, T. Mansfield, Norwich. ' Third, J. Webster. Goldfinch Mcle (Mealy).— First, S. Waters. Second, W. Lincoln, Norwich. Goldfinch IV^dlk (Jonque). — First and Second, S. VVaters. Linnet Mule (Mealy). — Prize, J. Lin.tjard, Ashton-nnder-Lyne. • Ajiv OTHER VAEIETY OF MuLES. — Prize, Dr. Gtiy, NOtwich. British Birds.— £u(/^;;t/it's.— Prize, J. Knibb, Noxthampton. C!iaf- finchcs.— Prize, J. Sayer, Norwich. Oolrl,fitiches.— rt\7.e, U. Howlett, Norwich. Linncrs. — Prize, S. Green, Norwich. jSkijlnrKs. — Prize, S. Waters.. iJfflfAA/rr?5.— Prize, J. Sayer, Norwich. Song Thritshea.-rPiize, J. Sayer. StarUntjs.— 'FzizG, J. Saytr. Magpies. — Prize, J. Sayer. Ani/ other vaiMi/. — Prize, J. Sayer. Black Choffinchcs.—fme, J. Sayer. IfightiiigMes.— Tnze, J. Eose, Norwich. Shldn or Aberdevine.— Frize, S. Waters, Ipswich. Foreign Birds.— Parrois (Grev).— Prize, J. Sayer. Parrots (Green).— Prize, J. r.ose. Paroquets (Auslralian Grass).— Prize. J. Rose. Paroquets (Ring-necked).— Prize, Capt. Wanies, Marsham. Any other rariety.— Prize, J. r.ose, Norwich (Quaker). Moselrill Paroquets. — Vrize, Capt. Warnes, M.irsham. Pennant' sPnroqitcls.—Vnv.Q, Capt. Warnes. Cockatoos (Sulphur or Lemon-crested),- Prize, J. Calvcr, Norwicli. Cockatoos (Black or Any other variety). — Prize, R. Mackler, Norwich. Java Sporrows. — Prize, C. Bctts, Norwich. Zelira War iiiis.- Prize, .1. Rose. Ifax Bills (Any other variety), — Prize, S. Waters. Any other variety of Foreign Birds. — Prize, Mrs. Steward, Great Yarmouth. POULTRY. Spanish (Black).— Prize, T. Loome, Norwich. (Not so good a class as might have been.) DoEEiNG.— First, J. MonseT, Norwich. Second, J. Frost, Norwich. Highly Commended, J. Lingard', Ashton-under-Lyne ; J. Smith. (Capital class ; superior birds.) Dorking (White).- First, Rev. F. Hodson, Bridgcwater. Second, J. Lingard. Cochj.s-Chisa (Cinnamon or Buff). — First, Pev. C. Spencer, Attle- borongh. Second, Rev. C. Gilbert, Yarmouth. Highly Commended, Mrs. Dawson, Norwich ; Rev. C. Spencer. (Good class.) Cochin-China (Brown or Partridge-feathered).— Fii'st, Rev. F. Hodson, Second, J. Wright, Woodbridge. (Hood class,) Cochin-China (White).— First. H. B.igge, Stoke Ferry. Second, CoL Cockburn. Norwich. Highly Commended, Co'. CocUburn. Gams (White and Piles).— First, J. Monsey, Norwich. Second, S. Matthews, Norwich. Highly Commended, T. Fares; T. Rix. (Good class. ) Game (Black-breasted Reds).— First, J. R. Kersey, Winston. Second, T. Ris. Highly Commended, Capt, Bignold. Norwich ; W. Dowsing, Suffolk ; J. Monsev, Norwich. (Some superior birds among them.) Game '(Duckwings and other Greys and Blues).— First, S. .Matthews, Norwich. Second, J. Monsey, Norwich. Highly Commended, W. Pares, Derby. Hamecrgh (Golden-pencilled).— Prize, Rev. T. L. FeUowcs, Eeighton Rectory Hamecrgh (Silver-pencilled). — First, J. Monsey, Norwich. Second, Rev. T. L. Fellowes, Beighton Rectory. Poland (Black, wilh White Crests).- Prize, R. Stark, Hull. Poland (Gold).— First, Withheld. Second, J. Wright, Woodbridge. Poland (Silver).— Prize, J. Wright, Woodbridge. November 24, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTXIRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 423 Ant other Distinct Breed.— First, J. Monsey, Norwich (Malay). Second, J. Wright, Woodbritlge (Brahma Pootra). Highly Commended, H. Bagne, Stoke Ferry (Andalusian) ; S. Waters, Ipswich (Creve Ca;ur). Commended, Rev. T. L. Fellowes; W. Pare?, Derby. (Some very superior birds shown in this cla^s]. Bantams (Gold-laced).— First, Rev. F. Hodson, Bridgewater. Second, J. Monsey, Norwich. Highly Commended, R. Stark, Hull. (Very good 'Clafls.) Baktaus (White, with Clean Legs).- First, J. Monsey, Norwich. Second, R. stark, Hull. Bantams (Black, with Clean Legs).- First, J. Monsey, Norwich. Second, Bev. F. Hodson, Bridgewater. Commended, Rev. F. Hodson. (Very good class.) Game Bantams (Black or Brown-breasted Reds).- First, J. Monsey, Norwich. Second, J. Wigg. Woodbridge. Highly Commended, J. Wigg ; S. Waters. (Some extraordinarily good birds; Mr. Monsey's the best we ever saw.) Bantams (Duckwinp).— First, G. Collinson, Yarmouth. -Second, 8. Waters, Ipswich, Highly Commended, J. Monsey, Norwich. Commended, G. Collinson, Yarmouth. (Good class.) Bantams (Any variety).- First, O. Nicholson. Fareham, Hants. Second A. G. Cane, Southwell, Notts. Highly Commended, J. Whaites, Norwich. PIGEONS. CttOprEES.— First, }. Whaite, Norwich. Second, B, Mackley, Norwich- Highly Commended, W. Reynolds, Yarmouth. Hkns of Any Colouk.— First, W. Raby, Norwich. Second, J. Whaite, Norwich, Carrters (Black and Dun).— Prize, J. Whaite, Norwich. Almond Tumblers.— First, 6. H. Meachen, Norwich. Second, — Sum- mers. Highly Commended, S. H. Mearhtn ; W. Simn.ons, Yarmouth. Ant Variety not BEFORK mkntioned.— First, Mrs. Craigie, Chigwell (White Barbs). Second, J. Munsey, Norwich (Isabels). Highly Com- mended, Mrs. Craigie (Runts) ; J. Chase, Yarmouth (Black Priests). (Pigeons Rot so good as might have been). Judges. — Canaries : Messrs. W. Copeman, J. Nichols, and Breeze. British and Foreign Birds : Mr. Eobert Thorns. PouUn/ and Pigeons : Mr. J. Martin^, Linton Park, Staple- hiirst, Kent ; and Mr. N. Sykes, jun.. Globe Koad, London. MICEOSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF FOUL BEOOD. N.°3 W.°l. The above rough sketches are the resiilt of an investigation into a disease named by apiarians " foul brood," which foul brood is the dying of some of the larvsB or young bees in the cells before the covering of the cells is ruptured or broken by the young bees. The decomposed young brood forms a brown sticky or treacly mass, and this when care- fully examined with a drop of distilled water under a very high power, a one-eighth or one-sixteenth, gives the above, the size of which is about one-twenty-four-thousandth or one-twenty-five-thousandth of an inch in the transverse diameter. No. 1 are sketches of the animals as seen alive. The dark triangular centre of the larger figures appear to me to be shades thrown by the singularity of their bodies ; but being so minute and their gradually shifting their position makes it very difficult to determine with certainty. The nest of the animals is semi-transparent, their movements a slight undulatory lateral motion. In Nos. 2 and 3 the animals were dead. They were found in honey kindly furnished by Mr. Woodbury for examination. The honey he informed me had been heated, which in aU probability destroyed the life of the animals. They seem here to have shrunk up, and most of them had lost their tails and appeared like the upper figure and opaque, or nearly so, except the two wing-like processes on the side. The No. 2 are very cm-ious, and suggest the idea of an ■outline figure of the Hose-in-hose Polyanthus, or some of the Serttilaridae amongst the Corallines. Can this be its mode of propagation ? It certainly appears very like it, and if so is apparently carrying out the great mode of propaga- tion by fission like most, if not all, of the lower forms of animal Ufe. The affinity of these animals to others, or their place in nature, I must leave for future study ; for, being creatures so minute, it is very difficult to assign to them their position amongst the multitudinous forms of microscopic animal life. — Edwaed Pabfitt, Devon and Exeter Institution. DEIVING BEES. So many inquiries reach me from correspondents who have failed in driving and uniting bees, that I deem it worth while to enter upon the subject at some length, and fully to describe what I have found the best mode of effecting the desired object. Let no successful operator deride or underrate the diffi- culties which often beset the novice in his first attempts at driving bees. I say often, but not always — in some few instances success is attained at once, as it were by a for- tunate inspiration, and one successful operation generally begets so much confidence that all subsequent difficulties are readily overcome. Such was, I believe, the case with that accomplished apiarian " B. & W." when under the noTn de plume of " A Country Cueate " he first delighted myself, in common with the other readers of the earlier volumes of the then Cottaoe Gardener, by the interesting and graphic details of his earlier experiences contained in the " History of an Apiary." With myself, however, the case was fer different, and it was only after many ineffectual attempts that I at length succeeded so recently as the summer of 1859 in first driving a stock of bees. Since that time my practice in this way has been very extensive, and as expe- rience has led me slightly to modify my original proceedings, I am not without hope that by giving full details I may succeed in smoothing the path of some who m^ be desirous of mastering the art of driving, whilst they have no apiarian friend who is competent to instruct them by his example, which in this case especially is better, far better, than precept. Driving bees should always be performed in the daytime, and the beginner had better wear a bee-dress and stout gloves;* but the only absolutely essential implements are a couple of empty hives (one of which should be of the same diameter as the hive to be operated on), an empty bucket, a long piece of stout linen (a roller-towel with the seam ripped answers admirably), a sufficient length of large twine, and a lighted fumigator or cigar, or some smouldering Uneu rags. The bucket having been so placed as to stand firmly on the ground about a yard fi-om the stock to be operated upon, a little smoke should be blown into the entrance. As soon as the bees retire the hive must be slightly raised from its floor-board and a few whiffs of smoke blown under it. Then raise the hive altogether from its place and steadily invert it on the bucket, covering it immediately with an empty hive of the same size, and closing the junction of the two by first winding the cloth round them, and then securing it by four turns of string, taking two turns round the upper and two round the lower hive. The bees within being thus safely ensconced, the second empty hive may be placed on the floor-board to amuse those returning from the fields, and the united hives with the bucket conveyed to a shady spot at a little distance. Here it will be found very convenient to have a couple of kitchen chairs, upon one of which the hives and bucket may be placed, whilst the operator seats himself on the other, and then a smart and regular rapping of the fuU hive with the palms of the hands should take place. In about ten minutes the great majority of the bees will generally be so alarmed as to quit their own hive and take refuge in the empty one — a fact which may be ascer- tained by listening to the noise made by them in ascending. At the expiration of the above-named period the cloth may be removed, and the hives sufficiently separated by raising one side of the upper one to admit of inspecting the interior. Few bees will be disposed to escape, and very rarely wUl they commence an attack. If nearly all have ascended into the hitherto empty hive, it may at once take the place of the decoy hive on the floor-board, and the full one may be • a wide-mouthed bag of coarse black net, sufficiently large and long to envelope the head with a hat on, and reaching well be'ow the neck, where it is secured by the coat buttoned over it, forms a very simple and efficient bee-dress- The best protection for the hands is a pair ot Indian rubber gloves, such as are used by photographers. 424 JOTIENAL OF HOE.TICULTUEE AJSTD COTTAGE GAKDENEK. [ November 24, 1863. conveyed in-doors, where the combs should be cut out, and the few remaining bees brushed off with a feather and re- turned to the apiary. If, on the other hand, many bees still adhere to their original domicile, or if, as is sometimes the case, only a few stragglers are found to have quitted it, the one side of the upper hive should be upraised a few inches and kept steadily in that position with the left hand so as to permit an unobstructed view of the interior, whilst the lower hive is rapped smartly with the right. Believing, as I do, that the jaiTing of the comb is the principal cause which impels the bees to ascend, I disregard the dictum of authority, and always rap on one side of the hive which is opposite to the sides of the combs, endeavoui-ing so to regu- late the force of my blows that whilst the vibration of the combs is so great that a bee can scarcely keep its footing on them, the concussion shall not be sufficient to detach them from then' foundations. Such energetic measures admit of little delay on the part of the poor bees, a cry analogous to that of " Sauve q^ie pent ! " speedily arises among them, as with vibrating wings and uplifted tails they " skedaddle " into the cheerless and ungenial shelter of an empty hive. During this rash upwards, it is well to moderate the violent rapping into gentle tapping, just suiEcient to keep the bees moving. If, as wiU probably be the case, the first exodus should not be sufficiently general, recourse must again be had to vehement rapping, and in this way a suc- cession of panics may be produced until scarcely a bee remains in the hive. Should it be desii'ed to catch and remove the queen, she may usually be found and secured by watching for her dm-ing the ascent. If she escape this scrutiny the congregated bees may afterwards be dashed out of the hive on a linen cloth spread on the gi-ound, and compelled to run a short distance over the cloth to the empty hive, one side of which should be raised on a block an inch thick to allow them to enter freely. During this operation the queen may usually be found and secured ; if not, it must be repeated until the desired end be attained. As bees wiU frequently refuse to remain in an empty hive when deprived of their queen, it is advisable to coirfine her in a small box made of perforated zinc, which may be firmly fastened to the top of the hive inside by means of a packing- needle and twine. This is my mode of proceeding with ordinary straw hives, and it is on these that I should advise the novice to make his lii'st experiments, selecting only strong stocks and weU- filled hives. When he has been completely successful, and has attained sufficient confidence in liis own powers, he may try his hand with wooden hives. In operating on these the cloth, string, and bucket may generally be dispensed with, but owing to the solidity of theu- material the vibration is so much less that bees do not so readily ascend, and a little more skiU and patience are required. In a future paper I hope to comply with the request of such of my coiTespondents as have desired information as to what modes of uniting bees have been proved the safest and most effectual by — A Devonshibe Bee-keeper. FOUL BEOOD AND LIGUEIAN BEES. . In reply to " Inqbiber," I beg to state that foul brood has nothing whatever to do with the introduction of Ligui-ian bees. No foreign bees have ever been located within fifty miles of my apiary, which is composed of the common black bees, and yet one of my hives has this season fallen a victim to the disease. From whatever cause it ai-ises, whether from a chill or something unknown which occasions an epidemic, every practical bee-keeper must feel deeply indebted to Mr. Woodbury for biinging foul brood under the notice of the public. , It exists in many localities where it was never suspected, and but for attention having been directed to the subject the writer can prove demonstrably that he would have lost a straw hive containing enough of honey to carry a medium swarm over two winters. Bees, in the case of foul brood, do not remove abortive brood in all stages. They remove chiUed brood, but not invaiiably. Look into any old hive, and you wiU scarcely miss see- ing some cells — to use a little colouring — that have been sealed up for ages. But let the cause be philosophically and candidly inquired into. I for one am grateful to Mr. Woodbury for the timely warning, which may probably lead to the preservation of a hive that would otherwise have in- evitably perished. — An On-Lookeb. MELILOTUS LEUCANTHA AND BEE FLO WEES. Having for several seasons sowed some rows of Melilotus leucantha alongside my accustomed supply of boi-age, I am in a position to reply to the inquii-y of Mr. W. C. EUis, at page 384. I found the bees showed such a decided preference to the borage, to the almost total neglect of the meUlotus, that for some years I have discontinued sowing it. It is a rank-growing plant, and its value as a bee-flower I quite agree with yoiu' cori'espondent is much over-estimated in some works. Borage, on the contrary, is eagerly sought after by the bees, and fed on even on wet days, shoiUd it be in close proximity to the apiai-y, the pendiilous umbrella- shaped flowers afibrding shelter. Borage, a succession, mig- nonette, and a few beds of nemophila, are all the garden provision I am accustomed to make, besides, of course, an abundant supply of spiing flowers — crocuses, hepaticas (single), and arabis. Bee-keepei-s would reap a much greater benefit by presenting the fanners in their neighbourhood with a few pounds of white clover per aci'e to sow as they lay down their pastures (should the land be at all favourable for its growth and they so neglectfiil of theii- interests as to omit doing so), than occupy much space with what are usually styled bee-flowers. — A Eenfeewshike Bee-keepeb. OUE LETTEE BOX. Spanish Cock*s Come Falling Ovk.s,{R. L. W.). — The comb may begin to fall from several causes. If the bird is from a strain with large fleshy, thick combp, they are carried over at the end by their own weight as aoon U3 the birds attain a certain age and growth. In some cases the chamge from, hard to luxurious living will cause undue development and a falling- over. In others it is part of the breed, and such combs are distinguishable by an indentation or hollow in front known as the thumb mark. Such never breed prize birds. As you say the comb was perfectly straight when you bought him it is probable it may return, if the change arises from the first cause ; it is almost certain it will if it springs from the second. There is no hope from the third. Your Cochins inherit a crooked back ; their ancestors were so before them. Nothing is so certainly transmitted us a crooked back. Either the cock or the hen requires to be changed. Perhaps both require to be got rid of. Cochin-China Blind {Regular Subscriber).— \ye are disposed to think, as you eay the eye is perfectly clear, the blindness is only partial or tem- porary. We should advise purging with castor oil, a tablespoonful every other day. If that failed we would bleed at the back of the comb. ToFKNOT OF Black Polanbs {G. W. F. P.).— It is a disadvantage, almost a ai.-qDalifieation, if a white topknot have black feathers intevnused with it. > o topknot is free from some black in front, at least we never saw one, and it is bad policy to cut or trim it. But there should be no coloured feathers save in the front. Beak of Red Game Cock (/dem).— A yellow beak is not the necessary coirpanion to yellow legs, although uniformity is always pleasing. Points in Cochin-China Fowls {Regular Subscriber).— Onr space will not permit us to give all the points, or a detailed account of Cochin cocks and hens. We will give the principal points, but for detail consult one of the many books on the subject. Round, sharp, intelligent heads; perfectly upright and straight combs with many serratures; as little mixture of colour in the plumage as possible ; well-feathered legs ; small tail in the cock of curly feathers, in the hen of round teathers ; large pluff ; yellow legs. Any fault in the comb a disqualification. Squirrel ( U'. WiUiamso7i).-~Squirre\s are in confinement mostly fed on any kind of nuts, sopped bread and milk, and most kinds of corn. To tame it let -he cage be placed low where persons are constantly moving about, and tempt it by kindness and feeding from the hand. We know 9f no manual on Squirrel-keeping. — B. P. B, Rabbits for Exhieition [R. J".).— We have known prizes for weight awarded to Rabbits ten months old, weighmg from Dibs, to 12ilb6. A Rabbit at three months old having ears 17^ inches long we consider very likely to be a prizetaker, for they ought to be 21 inches long by the tim^ the Rabbit is ten months old. LONDON MARKETS.— Nov^MBEE 23. POULTRY. We have still a good supply of all poultry, and a very moderate trade. Grouse and Partridges are ecarce. Pheasants and Hares plentiful. Large Fowls p. 8 2 1 ... 5 d. s. 0 to 3 ?:;? 6 „ 6 0 „ 2 0 „ 2 d 6 3 9 0 3 C Partridges 6. 1 2 d. s. 9 to 2 6 „ 3 0 „ 2 4 .. 1 8 „ 0 8 „ 0 d 0 n 2 3 Geese Rabbits 1 ,■> o Wild do 0 9 rheasants 3 Pigeone 0 9 December 1, 186S. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 4,25 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day 1 of • of H-nth Week. 1 Tn 2 W 3 Th 4 F 5 S 6 Sdh 7 M DECEMBER 1—7, 1863. December moth. Winter Tortrix moth. Pin-tailed Duck comes. Furze flowers. Caspar Bauhin died, 1624. Bot 2 Sunday in Advent. Polyanthus flowers again. Average Temperature near London. Day. Night. Mean. 48.4 35.2 41.8 47.3 34.0 40.7 46.9 36.1 41.0 47.5 35.G 41.fi 48.2 34.2 41.2 47.4 35.9 41.6 47.8 35.9 41.9 Rain in last 36 years. Davs. 17 16 19 111 21 21 19 Sun Rises. m. b. 45af 7 47 Sun Sets. Sloon Rises. m. h. 6 10 11 U morn. 16 0 22 1 31 2 42 3 Moon Sets. m. b. 26 11 45 11 5 0 Moon's Age. 20 21 < 23 24 25 26 .Clock after Son. 10 52 10 29 Day of Year. 333 336 337 338 339 340 341 From observations taken near London during the last tbirtv-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 47.6°, and its night temperature 35.1°. The greatest heat was 62', on the 1st, 1857 ; and the lowest cold, 14°, on the 5th and 6th, 1844. The greatest fall ot ram was 0.52 Inch. GAI{DEN" GHOSTS. JLKN I was in London some weeks ago everybody was talking about tbe Ghost, and "Tlio Ghost" was upon every bare wall, scaifokling- board, and omnibus. As you went out of Euston Station, at both windows of your cab appeared a Ghost. Your paper was full of Ghosts ; and a great head- ing, "Visit of the Ghosts to the Lord Chancellor," was followed by an account of their visit, and how they behaved, and what his learned Lordship said ; but to none of them would he grant the patent — in fact they were only scientific Ghosts, or would-be patent Ghosts. Now I possess a real Ghost. This is the Ghost of a lady — a very wicked lady, who used to do very wicked things. The front terrace-walk of our house is some- times called " The Ghost's Walk." I have seen her twice — once while seated at luncheon at one o'clock in the day, and once at night, when I took her for one of the maid servants, and desired her to take some hot water to my room. Several people have also seen her ; but I am very an.xious to see her again, to ask her a question or two regarding some treasures she knows all about. •* Near the Cell there is a well. Near the well there is a tree. Under the tree the treasure be." So it is said in old verses referring to this house and my Ghost. One peculiarity about my Ghost is that she is only seen about once in four or five years, and then only by those who have eyes capable of seeing more than other people, or who from disposition, temperament, or inclination are on the look-out for something uncommon and novel. My Ghost's name when she was in the flesh was Lady FeiTers, and out of compliment to her I have named a white variegated Geranium of mine " The White Lady." My " White Lady " has scarlet flowers ; but I have hox^es among my seedlings of finding a good strong- growing variegated one with Madame Vauoher flowers, which I shall call " The Ghost." But setting aside patent Ghosts, do you not agree with me that this capacity which some people have and some have not, or which they have not at all times, of seeing Ghosts, explains in some degree the sentimental opinions, the theoretical fancies, or, as the owners call them, prac- tical opinions concerning ancient and modern gardening — may not these diverse notions about ancient and modern flower-gardening, herbaceous versus bedding plants, be explained by the fact that some of us see Ghosts under certain conditions or circumstances — at all events are on flie look-out for them ? JS"o doubt my reverend brother in Wiltshire was looking out for a Ghost when he raised "with outstretched walking-cane some little border flower No. 140.— Vol, V,, New Seeies. nestling in its leafy bed." That was keeping the Ghost at a distance at all events. Fancy our florists at a Hor- ticultural Committee meeting turning up a flower with an outstretched walking-cane ! We all of us at times have a Ghost-seeing humour, and that, no doubt, accounts for the change of opinion which comes over us near the beginning of autumn about some of the new bedding plants. There is, for instance, the Coleus Verschaff'elti. When I saw it in July at the Crystal Palace Mr. Gordon and myself both set it down as a failure, but in September it was cpiite a different thing. The Ghost had been at it, or I was in a Ghost- seeing humour, for I liked it amazingly, and made up mj' mind to follow Mr. Earley's advice about it next season. Perhaps after a few years' acclimatising it may become as easy to manage as a variegated Geranium. The same may be said of the Aniaranthus melanchohcus CTiber. When I recommended, in the description of the bedding-out at the Crystal Palace, a certain careful treat- ment of it, I had seen so many failures even by first-rate gardeners, that I was induced to mention Mr. Veiteh's mode of managing it. But "W.M. A.'s" account, at page 151, of his easy success makes it at once everybody's plant. Mine, though tolerable in the first part of the summer, became very shabby latterly, the slugs making terrible havoc among its loaves. In certain quarters there has been as much sensation created by a plant as by the Ghosts. A contemporary gardening periodical recommended the Golden Balm as an edging, in such glowing language, that it was to beat even the Golden Chain, and remain as a permanent orna- ment ; but the writer forgot that plants, like departed ladies and gentlemen, have sometimes a Ghost-like ten- dency. A certain purchaser, on the sti'cngth of the sug- gestion, bought some plants of a London florist, and golden and beautiful they were when ho bought them. But one rather wet day lie went to look for his golden beauties — vanished. "Why, they are aU green now!" Off he started for the vendor's, and, as I was informed, used by no means Ghost-like language there. Now that Ghost-caught customer of the said florist leads me to express surprise that no one as yet has seconded your editorial proposal to have an exhibition of bedding plants in 1864. From what I have witnessed this year, the variety of opinions on the merits of plants and the changes of opinion which experience brings about (the Coleus ^'erschaflelti is a case in point, as weU as the Golden Balm), an exhibition of bedding plants is as desirable for the nurserymen as for the public. For myself, I hereby record my conviction as an amateur, that such firms as Messrs. Carter, Henderson, Wilhams, Lee, Veitch, &c., never have and never will recommend anything which they do not believe to be what they describe it ; and if I knew nothing about bedding plants, I could go with the utmost confidence to any one of those firms, and I am quite sure they woidd supply con- scientiously what they considered best adapted to my wants : and therefore for any one to suspect our first- class nurserj-men of uufaii- or dishonest attempts to No. 792.— Vol. XXX., Old Seeies, 426 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ December 1, 1683. delude purchasers, is acting like silly timid people, who are afraid of going out after dark for fear of the Ghosts. StOl there remains the simple fact that there are siUy people in the world, that they constantly suspect the Ghost is near, and that some unknown evU is working against them — in other words, peojjle will suspect nurserymen are too anxious to make money of their plants to care whether their cus- tomers are taken in or not ; and this iact alone is sufficient proof that an exhibition of bedding plants is most desirable. We do not want more than one or two exhibitions in the course of the season ; and these, necessarily, to make them satisfactory, cannot be held till quite the end of June or beginning of July, when the plants to be exhibited have been fully exposed to the air for at least one month, so that then- qualifications for bedding-out may be thorougldy tested by open-ail- exposure. They may be planted in boxes or pots ; but the grand test will consist in the constant exposure to all the vicissitudes of the open au- for at least foiu- weeks — longer if possible. I allude to this now, and bring forward the Golden Balm customer as a strong case in point to prove the advantage and protection which an exliibition of bedding jjlants would be, though I have heard quite as unghostlike language used against other firms, in the hope that dm-ing the next few months something may be done to arrange satisfactorily the mode, conditions, and time, for a grand exhibition of bedding plants. "We have lost our leading authority on almost all subjects of opeu-air gardening, and deejily grieved am I for one. Though personally unknomi to me, the late Mr. Beaton's writings have been of the greatest use in diffusing real practical knowledge, provoking inquiry and experiment, and in promoting a higher and purer taste in all that relates to the flower garden. It is impossible, also, to read his articles without being struck with the hearty spirit in which they are wi-itten, as if he was in love with the subject, and was only anxious that you should likewise understand and enjoy it just as much as himself. Among nurserymen I believe there is but one universal feeling of regret for his loss, and of grateful remembrance of the benefits he confeiTed upon gardening. For myself I shall be very glad to con- tribute towards a moniament to be erected as a memorial of him. But to resume. Tour pages are open to judicious sug- gestions on all subjects connected with horticulture, and 1 look forward to reading many pleasant articles on open-air flower-gardening even dui-ing the fi-ost and snow. May I be allowed, therefore, to express a hope that such firms as I have already alluded to may be induced to oiler any sug- gestions they may think advantageous to make an exhi- bition of bedding plants really useful to the public as well as the trade ? A few attempts have been made even this year. Mr. Holland showed some new colours in Gei-aniums, and Messrs. Henderson tlieir lovely variegated seedlings ; hut no encoiu'agement has been given in the form of prizes, still less were the ch-cumstances under which they were o-rown mentioned — and without the open-au- test the public cannot expect to be satisfied of their suitableness for open- aii' flower-beds. The only real exhibition, looking at it as a test of suit- ableness, has been afforded by the various public gardens, such as the Eoyal Horticultiu-al Society's at Kensington, but more especially the Crystal Palace, Victoria Park, and perhaps Kew. The Horticultm-al Gai'dens are too neai- the London smoke to be of use as an experimental garden for flowers ; but at the Crystal Palace they generally make use of the round beds between the Ehododench-on-beds at each end of the grand ten'ace for that purpose. These beds make capital exhibition tables, for there the plants are right before the eyes of all the public, and, whether the pubHc has Ghost-seeing eyes or not, there are the plants. Well, well ! we have heard all about the Coleus and the Amaranthus, but what about the two Centaureas ? As a bedding plant I do not care for the gynmocarpa, but the can- didissima is a love ; the Coleus being next to it, and the Cloth of Gold round all. This candidissima strdces with me just as easily as the Cineraria maritima. Do not coddle it too much, and do not be in too great a hurry to get it to root. It makes a magnificent dinner-table plant, or for a flower- stand in front of wiuiow-curtains by candlelight it shines like silver. And then the Cloth of Gold. Difficult to get up a stock of it 'i It does not grow fast, certainly — all the better for an edging ; but it will grow fast enough if you give it plenty of rich food. If you want a variegated Gera- nium as a low edging, give it only plain soil ; but if you want it to gi-ow rampant and strong it can feed and fatten on the richest ; but do not give rich food to plain-leaved Geraniums, or you will find them run all to leaf. Then there was, if you remember. Magenta No. 2 (Beaton's), the flower twice the size of No. 1, and such a colour ! But there is another coming out to beat even No. 2. My choice, however, of the new beauties exhibited at the Crystal Palace this last season falls on Mrs. Whitty (Beaton's), and Lucien Tisserand. Mi's. Whitty is a lovely pink, and as exhibited at Sydenham in that soil decidedly superior to Christine. The ibhage is something like the Hybrid Per- petual Geranium Sidonia; the flower the same colour as Christine, but more stellate ; and seed-pods tlid not appear to disfigure it, as is the case with Christine. The Geranium wluch took my fancy the most was Lucien Tisserand. It was exhibited in the first round bed at the cast end of the grand terrace, and formed an edging to it. It is of the Horse- shoe race, a lovely orange scarlet, the flower round enough to satisfy a florist, and in the Sydenham soil, very dwarf and an abundant bloomer. It woidd be a good move on the part of the authorities at the Palace, if they were to offer to place a portion of theii' groimd at the service of the public as an Experimental Garden. Say 1 want to test a seedling Geranium ; as soon as I have stock enough for a bed, let it be in my power to bespeak that bed, leaving it when planted to be managed by the gardeners there. This would be an open-air test at once sufficient to satisfy the trade and the public too. This is, in fact, what the late Mr. Beaton did. Nearly aU his seedlings were tested at the Crystal Palace or at Kensington. His seedlings. Crimson Minimum, a charming dwarf Nose- gay, of rich deep rose colour', not half enough known ; Loi'd Palmerston, Magenta No. 2, and Mrs. Whitty were all brought out in that way, and not served out to the public tUl thus tested. And, now, if any of your readers happen to be in London, with nothing particular to do for an hoxu- or two, and it is a dull foggy day, let them pay a visit to Messrs. Henderson's nui-sery at the WeDington Eoad, and ask to be shown the two span-roofed houses containing the variegated Geraniums, and they will see such a sight as will make them forget November, and frost, and snow, and fog. Talk about flowers and florists, why the leaves and leafists wUl run a neck-and- neck race with them before long. We leafists can produce gold, silver, scarlet, crimson, pink, and magenta aU shaded off into each other, or drawn in distinct lines in such lovely combinations as would make poor old Miller beside himself if he appeared again, either under my auspices or Mr. Pepper's, as a Ghost. — F. W. Adet, The Cell. TEITOMAS. While the great majority of herbaceous plants, that at one time were extensively grown, have gradually disappeared to make room for the plants considered more suitable for the system of flower gardening which now exists, there are, on the other hand, a very few which the massing and lining of colours have increased in use a thousandfold. Whether this be good or bad taste it is no part of my present purpose to tliscuss. It will, however, be a happy day for many a hard-driven gardener when a much greater proportion of bedding plants shall consist of such as wUl be quite hardy or nearly so. AU'eady a gentle tide has set in in this direction, and it is to be hoped that it will swell and gather both strength and beauty tUl many more really beautiful additions have been made to the present limited show of hardy plants that are available for the parterre. Among the many variegated and other plants recently introduced from Japan there may, perhaps, be a few which some day may be pressed into our service for this purpose. Tritomas — some of the varieties at least— are among fie few hardy plants of this description which have been, and are still, extending into almost every gai'den with great rapidity. Like aU plants which become general favourites. December 1, 18G3. JOUENAL OP HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 427 they are being called and popularised by such names as " Red-hot-pokers," " Volunteers," &c., by those who do not care nor try to remember the frightful names by which gardeners know them. With what sort of a name the " Johnny Bottle " style of man, I will not say gardener, may dignify them it would be hard to divine ; although I should not be surprised t« hear that it is " Tree-Tuoamers." It seems, however, possible to be " a, very good gardener," and at the same time be " grievously ignorant " of I's and my's. There is about Tritomas, particularly to a person who sees them for the first time, something very striking and beau- tiful when densely marshalled in long straight lines. In this manner they are somewhat extensively grown here as back lines to flower-borders, more especially Tritoma uvaria glaucescens and T. Rooperi. On a line of the former variety, 140 feet long, I counted one day last autumn 857 blooms ; and if anything in the form of a line of flowering plants deserves to be described as gorgeous this certainly did, and this variety cannot be too strongly recommended for the purpose. T. Rooperi is a variety not so well known as it deserves to be, it being of no less merit than T. uvaria fi-om the fact that it is equally beautiful, and has the great merit of commenomg to bloom when T. uvaria is past. It continues in flower here nearly the whole winter. While I write (November 18th) it is sjjlendid, and last winter it flowered through frost and snow. It is a much stronger grower than any of the others, and throws up its enormous spikes of flower to the height of 6 and sometimes 7 feet, and some- times there are smaller heads of bloom lower down from the same main stems. By planting these two varieties alter- nately in the rows a display of Tritomas can be had for five months in succession. I should like much to see a long line of T. Rooperi and Gyneriuni argenteum planted time about, and think the effect would be very striking at this dull season, when out- door flowers are so scarce. The somewhat stiff and marshal- looking style of the Tritoma with its orange and scarlet flowers would help to heighten the effect of the beautiful plumes of white, drab, grey, and purple of the Gynerium. They would both thrive well in the same soil, as they like good feeding and a good exposure. It has been aflirmed that T. uvaria perpetuates itself true from seed, but such has not been my experience of it. A few years ago I sowed a quantity of seed, and have flowered a great many plants in two long back lines, each IGO feet long, and there are scarcely two plants alike. They differ in habit, and more especially in colour, there being all shades from a pale yellow to a bright scarlet ; but very few of them are of equal merit with the original, while only one is considered an improvement on it from its coming into bloom a fortnight earlier, remaining longer in bloom, and having a larger spike of a brighter colour. Propagation is easily effected by division of the roots, and where numbers are more the object than a few plants that will bloom the following autumn, every eye on the roots will make a plant ; but when the object is to obtain a, more limited number of plants that will flower in a short time, the plan is to lift the old stools and divide them with as much root to each plant as possible. Where room can be afforded them the best way is to divide in autumn as soon as done flowering, and pot each plant singly into six- inch pots and winter them in a cold pit or frame. In the following April they wiU have rooted nicely, and should then be planted out in rich deeply-trenched soU, and in autumn each plant will yield one or more blooms according to its strength, and they will form fine flowering stools for the following season. When this cannot be done it is a good way to divide in April and plant where they are to bloom. They are very fond of leaf mould well decayed, and the ground should be well enriched with it. They bloom best if allowed to remain undisturbed for some years, and when they become too thick in the rows they can be thinned out. Of coiu-se in time they become immense stools, and unless a border can be devoted to them as immense speci- mens, lifting and replanting or reducing becomes a matter of necessity to keep them within bounds. In most localities it is necessary to protect them from severe frosts by putting a little moidd or a few half-decayed leaves round their collars the same as is practised with Globe Artichokes. In our light soil here we draw some of the soil round them with a spade or hoe, and they stand our severest winter with such protection. When grown for back lines the tangled foliage can be trained to grow all to the back simply by being drawn or pushed back in that direction occasionally, and then there is no difficulty in having a row of dwarfer plants close to them where such is required. Can any one give information as to the merits of T. media and T. pumila ? I have not seen them. They are much less, I believe, than the two I have spoken of T. BurcheUii has been discai-ded as worthless. — D. Thomson. POTATOES. In watching the sailing for some past of the good ship. The Jouenal of Horticulture, a certain instinct as to its handling has caused me to think that any volunteering of mine would be superfluoiis. So many new and better sailors have appeared on board, that an old hand like myself had better remain ashore making practice. Corporal Trim fashion. But in a letter which I received from the Admiral lately, he there says, " You are not dead, &c. I never saw such a superior show of Potatoes as at a little local show at Daventry. How are they in Oxon ? " Now, of course, a hail from the quarter-deck found me wilUng to push off and pidl a rope ; and as I have not been idle, I trust that my muscles and tactics may be found up to the mark, and allow me to appear creditably amongst the rigging. At the Agricultural Show here, a few weeks ago, I over- heard this remark — " You shoidd tell your people about you (Santon Harcourt and neighbourhood), to come to the Wood- stock Show, and they would meet with competitors worthy of their steel. I do not know where a better assortment of Potatoes can be met with than there." I really think the observation was a just one, and I never saw, with the ex- ception of the Great International Show at South Kensing- ton last year, a better assortment of Potatoes than what we had here this year. I take a little credit to myself for the result, for during a sixteeu-years residence I have annually introduced some of the newest and best varieties from all pai-ts of the realm ; and although for certain reasons I do not now appear amongst them as an exhibitor, I stiU con- tinue to introduce new and approved kinds on trial, both for the benefit of ourselves and our neighbom-s. The following are the results of my practice and observations as regards Potato-culture this year : — On March the 18th, I planted Daintree's Seedling, Shut- ford Seedling, Mitchell's Early Albion Kidney, Dalmahoy, Lapstone Kidney. The Daintree's Seedling were well foliaged above ground by April the 26th, and the Mitchell's were peeping up. On the 29th, from the feel of the air and the look of the sky as I was walking down Piccadilly in the evening, my worst fears about them were fuUy realised. On my return to Woodstock on the 6th of May, they were black. The Shutfords at the latter date were just taking the lead of the Dalmahoys, the Lapstones having by their tardi- ness escaped the frosts ; but the Daintree's, not to be con- quered, sprang forth again, and soon became equally forward to look at with the best of them. I did not attempt to dig the Daintree's this year as a first early, my practice last season having taught me that it was injudicious to do so. I allowed them to remain tiU after the earliest sorts, and then had, what all must acknowledge to be, an early Potato, which is a good cropper, of good size, and of the very best quality. . On June 2nd, we were using some of the last year's Dam- tree's, and if I had chosen I could then have begun and con- tinued to dig new Daintree's. On July 23rd, I dug up a root o{ the latter, which gave twenty-four Potatoes, all of good size except two. They weighed 2J lbs., and fi-om then tUl the middle of Januarv, when I anticipate the exhaustion of its store, they have, and wiU, constitute our preferable sort for cooking. August 12th, lifted the crop. They were a beautiful sample, not one of them diseased, and they averaged from several careful admeasurements, 28 lbs. per four square yards, which gives within a fi-aetion of 15J tons per acre. Jidy 24th, dug a root of Dalmahoys, which gave twenty- 42S JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ December 1, 1863. five Potatoes, and out of them were seven not of fit size for cooking. Tliey weighed 2 lbs. 2 ozs. August 12th, lifted the crop. A clean, bright sample, and no disease. They averaged 27J lbs. per four square yai'ds, very nearly the weight of the Daintree's, which they very much resembled, both in toj) and tuber, but I do not con- sider them so good a Potato, because when the Daintree's are half cooked, and tlie water poured away from them, they will finish cooking — viz., steam themselves, and remain firm thi'oughout though mealy. The Dalmahoys under this treatment retain a " bone in them." They must be boiled tiU done, which will take ten minutes longer than the former, and then, though an excellent flowery Potato, they are not so good-looking, or of so fine a flavour as Dain- tree's Seedling. I shall expunge the Dalmahoys from our garden, otherwise, unless under very careful management, it woidd become almost an impossibility to recognise them apart, and to keep them distinct. This is how I came by them : Last autumn a late worthy curate paid the rector a visit on his way from Marlborough into Stafl'ordshire. I heard him apologise for the weight of his portmanteau, on account of a good sort of Potato presented to him, and brought in it from the above-named town in Wiltshii-e. Of coiu-se, I was thus placed at once on the alert, and the result was that part of them were exchanged for some Daintree's Seedling, as well as some Shutfords, and Mitchell's, into the bargain, tho portmanteau leaving the rectory still heavier than it arrived there. July 25th, dug up a root of Lapstone Kidney — thii-ty Po- tatoes, twenty -two sizeable, and eight too small for cooking. Weighed 3 lbs. August 12th, lifted the Lapstone, and they averaged 26i lbs. per foiu' square yards. A clear, beautiful-looking sample, and no disease. I ought to mention that the Shutford Seedling came in before the Mitchell's Early Albion Kidney this year. I began digging them on June 2nd, and the Mitchell's followed. SECOND PLANTING. March. 19th, planted the Eacehorse, Mitchell's Early Albion, Wabiut-leaf Kidney, Ash-leaf Kidney, Early (or Cracked) Shaw, Early Prolific, and one new seedling Fluke- shaped Potato (a cross between the "White-blossomed Kidneys and Wright's Kidneys," sent to me by post espe- cially to try against the Ash-leaf Kidney). The Eacehorse and Mitchell's Early Albion I consider synonymous, and the Walnut-leaf Kidney to be its cousin German, coming in a little later and a little larger along with the Ash-leaf Kidney. I shall give up these varieties for the lidge. In fact, I shall only for the fiiture coddle vip a patch or two of the Mitchell's Albion, and the Shutford Seedling, as very early sorts, for the Daintree's Seedling are ready so soon, and are so much more profitable as a crop. The Early Shaws gave a vei-y good yield, which I used in its entirety as a second early from the ground. It is too yeDow for my liking. The tops of the Early Prolifics were monstrous this year, and kept green and gromng to the last. I lifted them on September 2Sth, when they averaged 23 lbs. per four square yards. I consider this Potato to be a very good and profitable sort. It is white and good-flavoured, having eyes very deeply set ; but the prefix " early " is a misnomer. They all appeared above ground about the same time. Now for the Seedling, and thereby hangs a tale. It was a perfect-shaped, smooth-eyed, large Potato, and, as I just mentioned, was sent to me by post. In the process of stamping the tuber was split, and four of the most promi- nent eyes were reduced to a pulp. What Nasmythian powers our post-oifice friends appear to be possessed of when they become aware of aught destructible in a letter ! Owing to this circumstance I am not enabled to report so favourably on the produce of the Seedling as I otherwise should have done. I cut the tuber into four sets, as only four weakly eyes remained to it. This caused me to scrutinise for their appearance many days after the others were above ground, and then they came up unequally. The haulm was distinct, and the foliage something like a dwarf Lapstone. It gave no blossom. It was a month after I dug the others planted at the same time ere I thought it desii-able to harvest the seed- lings, so I can give no just criterion as to their earliness. The i^roduce was forty-four tubers counted Ijefore my friend MoiTis at the lifting. He is a judge of the esculent, and he said "it would do." I prophesy that it -vrill become a favom-ite Potato for a field, and one with which I hope next year to become better acquainted. — Upwards and Onwards. (To be continued.) HEATING- HOUSES ON DIFFERENT LEVELS FROM ONE BOILER. I HAVE a greenhouse and a viuei-y, both heated by flues. There is a difference of 5 or 6 feet in the level of the two houses, owing to the steep declivity of the ground, and I want to know if one boiler will heat the two houses without any luidue presstu-e upon it. The most convenient place for the boiler would be at the lower level, and without understanding anything of fixing the hot-water pipes, it appears to me that there will always be a pressirre upon the boiler of a column of water of say 6 or 7 feet — i. e., the dif- ference between the highest pipe and the bottom of the boOer. If a tubular boiler be used, wovdd this be too great for the boiler or the cemented joints of the pipe ? — A Sur- FOLK Man. [We could advise better if you told us more about the position of the boiler. It would be most conveniently placed on the lower ground just where the ground rises to the higher level. If the boiler there is sunk enough for the top to )je lower than the lowest heating-pipe in the low house, and T-flows and returns are used, you can heat the two houses separately, or at the same time, by means of valves. This would be the simplest mode. There will be no danger as respects pressure if the pipes in the upper house were made even higher; but it will be necessary that in the lower-level house there should be an open air-pipe 2 or 3 feet higher than the highest point of the upper-level pipes. If you do not like T-pipes at the boiler you might have a flow and return on each side of the boder.] WINTERING BEDDING-OUT PLANTS. At page 370 appeared a few remarks under the above heading, and bearing my signature. I beg to observe that they were written in March, and formed part of a paper which I intended to send at that time, but somehow or other I failed to do so, and they must have been sent with a later communication. I trust, however, it is not too late to ofl'er a word or two on the above subject, as the notes referred to were not on wintering, biit on disposing of bed- ding plants in the spring, when every available place is filled to overflowing, and the weather is stUl too cold and uncertain to trust them out of doors without some means of protecting them. In wintering plants, although it may probably be done in the way described, that plan would involve such an amount of extra work that many would be inclined to give up the attempt before the winter had passed. I have known many instances where quantities of plants have been stored away comfortably, as was supposed, in October, in such make- shift places as stables, summer-houses, spai-e rooms, closets, cellars, &c., where it was expected that they would sleep away the winter, and prepare themselves for a fi'esh staii; in sjiring ; but when spring came a very small remnant, often not more than five per cent, of them, were found to be alive, and those in a blanched and sickly condition. It seems strange, but it is nevertheless true, that there are people who entertain the notion that plants may be stored away for the winter like garden-seats, and such things, that have performed their office for the season. If such were the case it would be a poor speculation for the hundreds of small nurserymen and jobbing gardeners, around large towns, who l)ut up glass structures for the pui-pose of wintering bedding plants, that they may gain a few shillings by them in the spi-ing. Those who have small gardens and ivish to preserve a few plants, not having a pit or greenhouse or any such structure, should not forget that living plants cannot be stored away like pieces of furniture, to be taken down again and used when required. If the plants can neither see, feel, nor speak, stUl they wUl not fail to show the residt of neglect ; and although a very trifling amount of attention December 1, 18G3. ] JOTIENAIj OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 429 may suffice to keep them alive, to give them none at all will most surely result in their death. Mr. Fish speaks of taking up Geraniums out of the borders, picking-off the leaves, and packing them together in boxes, pots, &c., or ia a cold pit, expecting to keeji them for use another season ; but these will have such attention as is necessary, and by planting-out time next year they will doubtless be healthy plants. This, however, is recommended as a resoiu'ce when the supply of plants from cuttings is too limited. Those who have opportunities of taking sufficient cuttings in July or August will have no occasion to preserve the old plants, and though a pang of regret may be felt at the idea of consigning a lot of plants to the rubbish-heap, still it is in most instances merely doing now what will have to be done in the course of the winter. I have kept large quantities of plants in various make- shift ways, and with an amount of trouble and labour that nothing but a decided interest in the matter could induce one to undertake voluntarily. Sometimes my efforts have been followed with the much-wished-for success, and not unfi-equently with grievous disappointment after taking and striking cuttings by the thousand in July and August, fill- ing cold pits and frames with them in November, and then having to throw great numbers of them away in March. I have tried the practice of taking up Geraniums out of the beds, and storing them away in a cellar ; but I cannot say that the result has been at all satisfactory. Others, how- ever, may have been more successful, and I by no means dispute tie possibility of doing so successfully. Those who can winter their bedding stock in suitable glass structui-es will have no difficulty to contend with greater than the want of space. But where it has to be done in unheated structures the difficulty, as is well known to those who have made the attempt, will be very much increased, not only on account of more time being required, but because there will be two great enemies to contend with, where, in a heated structure, there will be only one. Frost must be kept out by shutting and covering up, but doing so at the same time encourages damp and mildew, which are only dissipated by opening and uncovering, so that two forces are exerted in opposite directions. It will be seen, then, what constant attention is necessaiy. I have come to the conclusion that the best of all unheated structiu-es for wintering plants are common wooden ft-ames, such as are used round London. These are about 20 inches high at back, 12 in fi-ont, 6 feet from back to front, and the lights about 3 feet 6 inches wide. These frames ai-e made of one, two, or three lights each, the lights being easily managed. In these I would place 6 inches thick of sifted coal ashes, this material, in my opinion, making the best flooring to stand the pots upon ; and round the outside I would bank- up at least a foot of rotten dung, earth of any sort that will hold together, or any kind of stuff that will make a good thick barrier to keep out frost. This, I consider, aftbrds greater resistance to severe frosts than a nine-inch brick wall; four-inch or four-and-a-half-inch walls will want in- creasing in thickness in the same manner, and if built shallow, probably answer as well as frames, only they have not the portability of the latter. I have generally used manure to bank round the frames, as it is a good plan of helping to rot and air the manure for potting purposes, while it is usefully applied. In frames prepared in this manner bedding stock can be wintered mth as little trouble as can be expected in unheated structures, and there is no fear of excitmg the plants into growth before that may be done with safety, which is seldom earlier than April. I have often found that where gardeners have practised wintering their bedding stock in frames, they keep the covering on the glass so long as fi'ost continues ; then when the covering is removed the plants are found in a half- rotting condition. Now, this practice is the most difficult to understand, and yet it is the one most likely to concern the safety of the plants. I have wintered Geraniums, Ver- benas, and such bedding stock in wooden frames and bi'ick pits without any auxiliary heat, and always made a practice of pulling the litter off daily, even in the midst of frost and snow, and found that the advantage of doing so more than counterbalanced the danger of the plants being fr-osted : in fact, it is well known that a few degrees of frost will not hurt such plants if they are dry, when the same amount of frost will injure them considerably when they are damp. If the fi'ost reaches the plants when they have been closely covered for any length of time, the chances are that it will make sad havoc amongst them. This, of course, then, is the real gist of the matter. It is aU very well to tell any person inexperienced in such matters that if he only possesses a garden-fr.ime he can certainly winter a few plants in it ; but this is only telling part of the story ; a constant and daily attention is necessai-y, and more depends on the care and tact of the manager than on the frames. If these notes are found viseful it will be chiefly among the owners of small suburban gardens, to whom it yearly becomes a serious consideration as to how they are to pre- vent the apparent waste and loss of then- bedding plants. I fancy it would amuse some of our gardening friends to hear of some of the shifts which I have seen adopted in such cases, and almost always with a like result — that is, the loss of the plants some time or other during the winter, and this, in neai-ly every case, because the jJans adopted were based simply on the wishes or convenience of the owner without regard to the nature or wants of the plants. The term " wintering plants " convej's something more than merely keeping them beyond the reach of frost. What I have said with regard to doing so in pits and fr'ames applies to struck cuttings, to plants established in pots, and to plants taken uji out of the ground and potted in Septem- ber or early in October. But it will be seen that Mr. Fish talks of taking up plants even as late as November, picking off the leaves, and packing them together in pots or boxes, or on the bottom of a cold pit ; but the experienced gardener, whose daily and yearly practice it is to attend to such matters, is in a very different position with regard to the treatment of plants as compared with the amateur', who handles only a few dozen plants in the coiu'se of the year, and those only during an horn- of relaxation from more serious and im- portant business. In the latter case the constant and daily attention to frames and pits is scarcely desirable, to say nothing of the work attached to them being none of the cleanest. It follows, then, that a better and cleaner method of wintering plants is greatly to be desired ; and happily it is within the reach of everybody, and is pretty well known ; it is to keep them in windows. I should be very sorry to deceive people by simply repeating the various ways and means of keeping plants that have found their way into print, and which are eagerly caught at by small growers, and pvit into practice as far as is possible with a certainty of failiu-e. Common sense must tell any one that living plants are not to be buried in the earth or hung up in the air by their roots for seven months of the year, and then to be put in the ground to grow and floiuish to the great delight of the cultivator. There must be forethought and a little work ; those, however, who really have a partiality for flowers wOl accept these conditions as a matter of course ; but then there are many who profess to have a partiality for flowers whose true motive in having them is merely because it is customary, who complain of the trouble they give, and eagerly seize any makeshift plan of disposing of them, which promises to preserve them and dispense with the trouble of constant v.'atching, which the more rational com-se entails. After all that has been said, those who do not possess a greenhouse or other heated structure wOl find the best and cleanest method of keeping a few plants is to keep them in their windows. Follow the advice of Mr. D. Thomson : Take some six or eight-inch pots, drain them, and fill with good porous SOU ; take good strong cuttings in July, remove the lower leaves, and insert as thickly as convenient round the pot; place them in the full sun if Geraniums; if Verbenas, Cupheas, Tropseolums, or other such bedding plants, place in the shade, and cover with a hand or bell-glass ; if Calceo- larias, wait tm Octobe*' and act in the same manner. Leave aU out in the open air as late as can be done with safety ; then remove them to the wiodow where they can be placed on shelves, which can be supported by placing strong hooks in the window-frame, and slinging the shelves on wire or blind-cord. There the young plants should be watched, and kept as nearly cb'y all the winter as can be done with- out allowing them to slirivel up. Earlier in the season Mr. Thomson gave some du-ections for striking cuttings which it is scarcely necessary to repeat, but, as he truly says, six 430 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ December 1, 1863. or eight-inch pots are better than smaller ones, as the plants do not so quickly dry up, and preserve a more reffular moistui'e, and I believe more plants may be kept in a given space than by using smaller pots. Even those who possess a frame or small unheated pit will find tlie advantage of keeping tlieir plants in windows, since, besides having them drier and more under the eye, they may sow a crop of Radishes in the fi'ame or pit, and when these are used-up they can pot-off the bedding plants and place them in the frame. It will be found that the contents of a few of these store-pots when potted-otf will fill a two-light frame, and if properly attended to in water- ing, &o., sturdy plants will be secui'cd for planting out after the middle of May. — F. Chitty. CLOSE-PEITNING VINES— DAMPERS. In your Jom-nal for the 18th of November, 1SG2, you kindly answered my question on the close-pruning of my Vines. I will now give you the result, and have further to trespass on your kindness for an answer to my present inquiry. I started my Vines as recommended, or rather I should say tliey went away without me in the end of February, the weather being very mild. The Sweetwater had three old rods. Two of these broke so very irregularly, that I had to bring a young cane from the bottom and cut these away. The third rod liad a few bunches of Grapes, so was allowed to remain, though very scant of shoots. The Black Hamburghs had five rods, two of them, only, two or three years old. The three older rods had to be treated in the same way as the Sweetwater, for they broke in patches and bore no fruit. So these rods were cut away, and a very vigorous young cane brought up from the bottom with leaves at least 1 foot in diameter. The other two rods gave me fourteen or sixteen bunches between them. The Muscadine, which had for two years been very shy, broke at every joint, and had two or three bunches ahnost on every shoot. The foliage and fruit were very small to what they formerly had been. The Golden Hamburgh broke pretty well ; but did not fruit nearly so well, nor were the bunches so fine as in the year before. The Black Champion next to it, first time of fruiting, had eight enormous bunches, which were the admiration and envy of all my gardening friends. After reading your answer last November, liaving plenty of room between the Vines, I iJanted a Bowood Muscat at the warmest end of the house, a Lady Downes', and two Black HamViurghs, in order to gain a year should these old Vines have to come away. I shall, however, have to cut away one Black Hamburgh ni«t the Muscadine, seeing it did somewhat better than usual ; but will you tell me if I am to close-prune these Vines again this season or leave a short spur 1 inch long with two buds as I used to do ? The wood seeins wcU ripened. — T. T. T. P.S. — In your last week's Number you gave some impor- tant information respecting the iise of dampers to flues. Do these remarks apply to the use of a damper with a saddle boiler or only to flues ? [There is no doubt that you have carried the close-pruning or spuiTing system to an extreme, and have cut away every bud from -.vhich fi-uit could be expected, leaving nothing but latent or imperfectly developed buds, and hence the u-regular crop which your Vines have borne. The Royal Muscadine, which is a very fi-ee fruiter under any system of pruning, and generally makes a more numerous cluster of eyes at the base of the s]nu's, has, therefore, stood tlie severity to which you have carried this system of pruning in this case. From the success of the young rod of the Champion, and what you say of the Vines generally in former years, we cannot suggest any other cause of your failure. The close system of pruning, like every other, can be carried to excess, and had you followed a course between that which lias caused your faUure and your previous system yon would have no doubc secured a crop. We always leave the bud at the base of last season's growth, and in very few cases do we ever prune closer, and such is generally termed the close system. When the Vines are well ripened there is no fear of a failure, and the bunches, though shorter than when an eye or two more are left, are generally much more compact and serviceable, and the ben-ies are larger. In pruning this season you cannot en; if your Vines are well ripened, in pruning liack to the bud at the bottom of the growth, and from which a leaf has been formed. There is no teaclier so thorough as experience ; and if you are afraid to cut back to one bud leave two, as you used to do, on every other spui', and you will have the thing exemplified before your own eyes, and there will then be no anxiety about a crop if all else is right. Whatever an-angement you carry out about leaving your .young and old Vines, do not overcrowd your Vines. They should not be closer than 21 feet at least. A damper is a very necessary appendage to a boiler. By it the heat can be confined about the boiler, where alone it is wanted. In the case of a flue, if a damper is used at all it should be at tlie furthest point fi'om the furnace, whereas with a boiler and no flue it should be immediately above the boiler, in order in both cases to retain the heat where its foi-ce is wanted. — D. Thomson.] CULTUBE OF SPECIMEN MIGNONETTE. Reseda odobata or Mignonette is an evergi-een under- shrub, perishing anuuallj', as far as its bloom-stems are con- cerned, in its native country, Egypt. It was introduced into France in 1740, and was brought from the Royal Garden at Paiis to Windsor by Lord Bateman, in 1742. Don, however, and Loudon give 1752 as the date of its in- troduction. There is a prevalent opinion that there are two varieties, the one an annual, and the other a shrubby variety known as the tree Mignonette. In the " Botanical Maga- zine," t. 29, Reseda odorata is described as an annual, and in the "Botanical Register," t. 227, mention is made of a Reseda odorata fi-utescens, or fi'utescent Mignonette, which is said to grovv 2 feet high. I mention this circumstance in order to show that it is possible that there may have been an annual variety in addition to the one we now possess. Mig- nonette, or "Little Darling" of the French, is much cul- tivated on account of its fragrance, and it is rather remark- able that such a "fragi-ant weed" (for its beauty is to me unseen), should remain so long unimproved. Beyond a solitary variety it remains in the same unimproved condition as when first introduced ; and although it may not be pos- sible to make it more ornamental, it certainly is worth an etfort to strive to obtain a hardy variety. There are more than two dozen species, some of which would, no doubt, readily yield to the hybridiser's pencil. Of those most likely to afl'ord the best results seem to bo Reseda fruticulosa, a small slu-ubby species from Spain, and a rather taller variety from the same country, R. bipinnata. I have made several unsuccessful attempts to get the pollen of il. odorata to take on the British species, R. lutea and some others, but only in one instance did the pollen take effect, and the plants raised were more tender than the parent, R. myriophylla. Who will be the fu'st to obtain a hardy sweet-scented perennial Mig- nonette? Growing plants of Mignonette for in-door de- coration is somewhat difficult of attainment, though by no means so difiicvdt as is generally imagined. There are several methods of growing tree Mignonette, but I shall only describe one, and that is as simple as it is satisfactoiy in its residts. Early in June select as many plants from the out-door sowing as are wanted, making choice of those that are stiff, strong, and promise a vigorous growth. Take them up with balls, and place singly in 4S-pots. The plants should not be less than 2 and not more than 3 inches in height. The compost best suited for potting at the early stages of the plant's development, is Ught loam and leaf mould in equal parts, with a free admixture of silver sand. The plants, or rather the pots containing them, should be plunged in coal ashes in a Ught and well-ventilated situa- tion, but shaded from the sun from 10 o'clock in the morn- ing until 4 in the afternoon, and this is the position they should occupy untU the beginning of October. After potting the plants must be gently watered and shaded with mats for a few days until they become established. Water must be given in dry weather, and once or twice a- week they should be watered with liquid manure much diluted with rain water. December 1, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDEXEB. 431 By the middle of July the plants will be growing vigor- ously, when, if the pots are full of roots, they must be potted into 32-sized pots in the same compost as before. A gentle bedewing of the plants overhead after hot dry days will much refresh the foliage, and watering being duly at- tended to they will make rapid progress. When the leader shows for bloom put in a stick in the centre, which should be about 2 feet long, a trifle less than the thickness of the little finger, and painted green. Pinch off the bloom on the leader on its fii'st appearance, which will cause the side shoots to grow strongly, the blooms on them being pinched out as they appear. This pinching is to be continued through- out the summer until further notice. Take care that the plants do not root through the pot, it being a good practice to Uft them frequently to see that they do not. Tie the leader to the stake, and peg down the side shoots so as to feather the plants to the pot. In August pot them into 24 sized pots, using a compost of light turfy loam half, the remainder leaf mould or peat and cowdung two years old in equal parts, adding a liberal sprinkMng of silver sand. The drainage should occupy about one-thii-d the depth of the pot, and must be made perfect. A little sphagnum or cocoa-nut fibre placed over the crocks will prevent the di-ainage becoming choked. They will Tequu-e but little water, but they must not be allowed to suffer from the want of it. When they reaBy need watering- give them enough to reach the drainage. Early in October they should be potted into their blooming pots, 9 inches in diameter, which are large enough for ordi- nary pm-poses. The drainage must be well attended to, and the neck of the plant kept somewhat high. After potting they should be i^laced in a cool, dry, light, well-ventilated greenhouse, and as near the glass as possible. They will Tequire but little water, and yet the foliage must not be allowed to turn yellow from the want of it. Provided the plants have been duly pinched — i.e., the flowers nipped off — and the shoots regulated so as to form an even-shaped plant feathered to the pot, and tapering "upwards, they will be fully 20 inches in diameter, and fi-om 18 inches to 2 feet in height by the middle of December, after which time the flowers should not be pinched oft", but allowed to bloom. No water must be given so long as the soil contains enough moisture to maintain the plant without flagging, and then water must be given freely ; for a little to-day and a di'op to-moiTow is slow poison. Very weak liquid manure may be given at every alternate watering, but it should be heated to a few degrees over rather than a few below the temperature of the house in which the plant is growing. The plants will bloom finely through the winter, and are the delight of the ladies. Care must be taken to cut out all spikes done blooming, as they weaken the plant, and ai-e unsightly. The plants will continue in good bloom until June, when they may be cut back a little, some soil "being taken out of the pots, and its place supplied with fresh compost. The plants will grow freely and bloom continu- ously through the summer in a cold, light, weU-aii-ed gi-een- house or conservatory, and on through the autumn and ■winter ; but the blooms they afford are not equal to those from younger plants either in fi-agrance or size. It is advisable to raise fresh plants annually, retaining the old until such time as the young commence flowering. By this plan Mignonette can he had every day in the year. In conclusion, I would make a few general remarks. Mignonette, when subjected to artificial treatment is impa- tient of damp, particularly in its early stages, but this is obviated by keeping the plants outside, for it is not un- common not to sow the seed until the beginning of August, which inures the young plants to the fatal moisture of the autumn months. Watering overhead is a dangerous but indispensable process, and should only be practised on bright sunny mornings, and then it should be given through a fine syringe. The shoots are so easily parted from the stem that syringing should not be so copious as to cover the foliage with water and render it unable to carry the weight, or the shoots are sure to slit or become detached from the stem. Better not to syringe at all as do this, for nothing makes a specimen look uglier. The plant is also extremely susceptible of vaxiations of temperature, extremes of heat and cold being positively iniurious to its well-being. The temperature should, therefore, be kept steady, and ranging near 45°, never lower than 40° or higher than 50° except on rare occasions. Too much air and light cannot be given nor too much sun during winter. Another essential is that the plants be kept near the glass, so as to prevent cfrawing, and to give them all the strength possible. These points at- tended to, the plants wOl grow with a vigour equal to the wishes of the most sanguine cultivator or admirer. Lastly, allow me to protest against the practice of tying every shoot to a stake. Some people imagine or have a fancy that every shoot requires a stake, and one it must have. Nothing, however, looks so unnatural. Symmetry can be had without stakes ; and if a plant cannot stand on its own legs it is grossly maltreated by being tied and made to assume a figm-e at once unnatural, extremely disagreeable to refined taste, and altogether unlike assisting Nature. It is deforming her, and generally meets with the disap- pointment that violations of Nature's laws so justly merit. — Geoeok Abbey. [The above is written to meet the wishes of " J. J. J." her query at the time being replied to briefly.] BTIEYIiS'G DEEPLY THE EOOTS OF EOSES. Having made a Moss Eose-bed last spring, and being now desirous of raising it i) or 10 inches, I wish to know if put- ting earth up the stems of the Eoses to that height will injure them. I do not wish to take up the Eoses again, fearing it might spoil their flowering. — A. M. A. [To earth-xip the stems of your Eoses to such a height would be decidedly injurious. If the Eoses are in good condition they wOl bloom next year if carefully lifted and replanted, which is the only way that will admit of the soil being raised so high without being injurious. If the roots are carefully disentangled from the soil, and as few of them broken as possible, at the same time preserving a ball of earth at the stem if it can be done, and if planted imme- diately, there is no fear of thefr not flowering.] GAUDENEES' li^AMES EOE FLOWEES. My only reason for taking up this subject was simply to condemn those who, having themselves secured the advan- tage of a liberal education, are inclined to sneer at the short- comings of others, who, without any fault of their own, have in this respect been less fortunate. Gardeners are themselves very freqviently the sons of gardeners, and the employers of gardeners must know full well that their gardeners are, generally speaking, seldom in a position to give tlieir sons an expensive education, how- ever anxious they may be to do so : consequently classically educated gardeners arc not to be expected. StiU, by dint of patience and perseverance, assisted by the numerous works on horticultural subjects wliich are almost daily issuing from the press, including accentuated catalogues of plants, &.C., many gai-deners do and nearly aU may attain to something approaching a coiTcet pronunciation of the names of flowers. I admit that, on hastily perusing the first letter of your reverend correspondent, the " Wiltshire Eector," on this subject, I felt inclined to say with young Norval — " That there are men Who borrow friendship's tongue to speak Their ecorn," &c. But I am now quite ready to admit that I have judged yom- correspondent wrongfully ; and if my former commu- nication to you on the subject contained anything offensive to him I sincerely regret it, and from the conciliatory and kind tone of his last letter I feel quite sui-e that he has freely forgiven it. I have no hesitation in fully agreeing with him that it is much better to endeavoiu- to raise the men to the correct standard than to sink the standard to the men. And I sincerely trust that the kindly advice of your reverend coi-respondent may be instrumental in stimu- lating young gardeners, at least to endeavour to attain a correct pronunciation of the names of the plants which many of them succeed in cultivating so well. — G. Mistletoe on the Goosebbeey. — I saw in a garden near Maidstone, Kent, Mistletoe growing on the Gooseberry 432 JOXTKNAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. t Decemier 1, 1863. bushes, which were very old, and of large size. The Mis- tletoe was very strong. I did not notice it on any other tree or bush except the Apple. — Kate. VAEIEGATED AEABIS. A PLANT of this miniature gem came into my possession last spring with the name of A. lueida variegata. Whether this is the original kind or not I am not in a position to say ; but for the satisfaction of your correspondents I have no hesitation in asserting that this identical kind is deeply margined with pure yellow — not a du-ty white — and is, with- out doubt, a most valuable addition to the class of dwarf variegated edging plants. It wiU prove a great acquisition to the amateur, for it is quite hardy, is readily increased from side-shoots or offsets, and grows fi-eely in any good garden soil. Slugs are its greatest enemy, and it requires careful watching in winter to prevent these pests from riddling its delicate leaves. Grown as a dwarf miniature pot-plant, it looks exceedingly pretty for a flower-stand or small vase. — John Edlinoton, Crow Castle. TODMOEDEN BOTANICAL SOCIETY. A MEETING was held on the 2nd ult. Many specimens lay on the table : among the more notable were monster examples of the curious Polyporus betuhnus, gathered ii-om Birch trees in the neighbourhood. This may be regarded as a semi-commercial fimgus, being employed, at times, in the manufacture of razor-strops. It is highly interesting, as, indeed, ai-e most of the fungi. The fungus famUy, more- over, is a useful one, vei-y many species, although not re- garded here as edible, being the prized esculents of other countries. A communication was read from Mr. J. Holt, the Secretary of the Prestwich and Pilkington Botanical Society, announc- ing for sale the renowned " Shepherd Herbarium," com- prising 100 vols, (folio) of dried specimens of plants. The Secretary was instnicted at once to communicate with Mr. Holt, with a view to ascertain whether the herbarium can be forwarded to Todmorden for inspection by the members, and, in case of a difficulty in this, a number of gentlemen were appointed a committee or deputation to go and inspect on the Society's behalf. Mr. J. Lord, Bridge-end, Todmorden, presented to the Society one hundi'ed and fifty sheets and thirty packets of dried specimens of British mosses by name, being the whole of the bryological collection of the late Mr. Edmund Holt, senior. Edmund Holt died some twenty years ago. He was well inown throughout the Todmorden and neighbouring valleys as an enthusiastic botanist and n.atui'alist, and a man of strong individuality withal. His shrewdness and sagacity were uncommon, and his " sayings " are still quoted in the neighbom-hood as oracular, and that not seldom. " As old Ned Holt used to say," is the phrase. Who hasn't heard it a hundred times? Whilst alive, "old Ned Holt" must have been a power, influencing by no means a narrow circle, and BOW that he has been twenty years dead, his words (or "sayings") are a power still. He was commonly pronounced an "oddity" — a "curiosity." But why was he odd F — why was he singirlar? Because at every step he took over tliis earth Holt found " the Beautiful," " the Wonderful," and admu-ed and wondered accordingly (perhaps somewhat de- monstratively), whilst the purblind people about him saw "little or nothing to admii-e or wonder at." The glorious sun shining in the heavens and casting its wealth of colours over the clouds and over the earth, was no miserable " farthing candle" to this man. "The Primrose by the river's brim " was more than a yellow Primrose to him, and therefore did the Peter Bells amid whom he lived and moved regard him as a "curiosity" — an "oddity." Such men — men whose hearts and minds are opened to the beauty of the universe — are too much of " ciu'iosities " and "oddities" even now. "Heaven lies aboiit us," if we did but know it — Holt knew it. If we do but open our eyes we walk in Paradise — Holt opened Ms eyes, and therefore he was "odd." Holt's heart was tender in the extreme, as is the heart of every true lover of Nature and of God. He was not uufi-equently overheard apostrophising in (supposed) solitude his favourite flowers as he botauised along oiu- hill-sides through the changing seasons in all weathers. The beautiful flowers were friends of his, and then- blue eyes were as dear to him, and almost as sentient, as the blue eyes of his human friends. However much hoUowness or falsity there might be in the world's blandishments, with the flowers, at least, he could hold pure converse. It wiis a holy fountain this, at which he could refi'csh and fortify his soul when wearied by the narrow cares and crosses of life. Each of us can do the like ! Thousands of miles did this man wander whilst searching for the humble Mosses and Lichens, which to common unobservant eyes are invisible, oi% if seen, are passed carelessly by. " oil, many are the poeta that are sown liy Nature— men endowed with highest gifts — The vision and the faculty divine. Yet wanting the acconipliahment of verse." CHICOEY : ITS USES AND CULTUEE. Othee readers of your Jotrrnal besides " J. S." ynO. pro- bably be interested by an account of the plant which now constitutes one-half of what is termed " coft'ee." I therefore submit the following : — Chicory or Succory (Cichorium intibus), is an indigenous fusiform or taprooted perennial, abounding in some parts of the country, but of local rather than general distribution. The leaves are strap-shaped, about 3 inches wide and a foot in length, not unlike Dandelion (Leontodon taraxacum), to which it is closely allied. The flowers are produced on long spikes, branching and tapering upwards, wliich give the plant a pyramidal habit and elegant appearance. They are of a bright and lovely blue colour, each the size of a crown- piece, and are produced profusely from June to September. In a wild state, the flower-stems do not attain more than from 2 to 3 feet in height, but under cultivation they grow to 6 or 8 feet ; and in the herbaceous border not one of the vaunted beauties of the flower garden is more ornamental in its season. The roots are large, succulent, and elongated, not unlike white Carrots, but having a multiplicity of fibres adhering to them like Salsafy. The leaves when blanched are an excellent substitute for Endive, and are, therefore, used as a salad. In addition to their use as a salad, they afl'ord a great bulk of herbage, which is considered good food for cattle. The roots form the Chicory of commerce. 1st, As a Salad. — For this purpose the seed is sown about the middle of May, in diills a foot apart. The ground is frequently hoed between the driUs, and the plants are thinned out to 6 inches apart. Beyond hoeing between the rows and keeping clear of weeds, the plants need no further attention untU November, when the roots are taken up and stored away in a cool place, so that they may be at hand for forcing. The tops are cut o2' about an inch above the crown ; for these roots, unlike those iutended for roast- ing, are w.inted to grow. If a dark and rather warm cellai' is at command, the roots may be placed there in moist soil with the crown above the surface. A temperature of 50° is quite high enough ; for if brought on too fast the leaves are very naiTow, or little better than the midribs of white Beet — in fact, they cannot be forced too slowly ; but still the quicker they are forced the less bitter is the salad. It looks better when the leaves are broad, and these should be cut when about 6 inches in length, in which state they make an excellent substitute for Endive, but, like substitutes in general, not half so good as the genuine article. When a cellar is not at hand I have put about a dozen roots in a 12-inch pot, and after thoroughly moistening the soil placed it imder the shelves or tables of any house with a tempe- rature above 50°, but not exceeding G5°, and then inverted a similar-sized pot over it, closing the holes and other openings with clay. One of these pots will afibrd a good-sized daily salad, and sufficient pots should be introduced at weekly intervals to meet the demands of a family. Pots, however, not being always at hand, I have hunted up a narrow box, and knocked one end off, nailing on the loose side, and then bored holes all round about an inch in diameter, and about the same distance apart. Commencing at the bottom, lay about an inch of well-moistened soil just level with the first tier of holes, and then place the roots with their crowns just December 1, 1863. ] JOUENAL OP HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 433 peeping through the holes ; add soil, pressing it iiiin, then more roots, and so on to the top, when we have a hundred roots which will aft'ord twelve good salads. The box may then have the end nailed on, and be placed on end in a Mushroom-house, or some such dark and warm place. Three such boxes are enough for a good-sized family, introducing one ten days after the other, and refilling or otherwise as cir- cumstances may requu-e. 2nd, As Herbage fob Cattle. — My opinion of this is that cattle ai-e not so fond of it as to " devoiu- it greedily," which is what some say they do. I, however, have seen many acres of Chicory, and find that cattle eat evei-ything in the field in preference to it. They leave it the last because they do not savour it. Let new-fangled farmers say what they will, nothing is better than grass and some firm sweet Mangolds and Swede Turnips for feeding cattle. The seed for this pui'pose is sown in the beginning of April in drills about 9 inches apart, and is hoed and thinned to 6 inches apart in the rows. By July the plants are strong, and as this happens to be the time when pastures are be- coming bare, the cattle are turned into it. Some of the plants will run to seed, and to these the cattle are more partial than the leaves. Chicory affords a supply of herbage until late in the season. 3bd, Its Eoots as Coffee. — The soil shoiild be rich, firiable, sandy, and deep. It should be dug or ploughed deeply in the previous autumn, and laid up rather rough, so that the frost may pulverise it. If the soil is poor it should be heavily manured in autumn, prior to its being turned up for the winter. The land is better when in good heart to begin with, for newly-manured land is apt to cause the plants to run too much to top without giving a coitb- sponding amount of root. The ground should be cross- ploughed in the spring, dragged or heavy-harrowed, doing it in dry weather. Couch and other noxious weeds should be thoroughly eradicated before an attempt is made at growing this crop ; and the ground should be naturally, or be made, something like flour by the second week in May. The soU cannot be too fine nor too rich for Chicory, as long, thick, straight roots are the object aimed at. The field having a fine powdery surface by the second week in May, the seed ia then sown on the level with an implement known as the •"Chicory-drill," which deposits the seed in rows 12 inches apart, about half an inch deep, and a like distance from seed to seed. A wooden roller is mostly attached to the drill, behind the coulters, which closes the da-iUs after the seed is distri- buted. In case of there being no roUer attached to the drOl, a light wooden roller is passed over the sown part before the drills become dry, so that there may be no seed lying dormant until rain falls. The seed should be new, for plants from old seed are more apt to run to seed than new. Five pounds of seed are usually sown per acre. Chicory land is mostly very prolific in annual weeds — as Chiokweed, Groundsel, &c. : therefore the hoe should be plied between the rows immediately the plants indicate where the rows are. When the plants are fairly in rough leaf they should be thinned to a distance of 6 inches apart, taking away the weakest and leaving only the strongest. In thinning it is a good plan to strike the drills crosswise ■with a hoe 5 inches wide (also termed a Chicory-hoe, for this plant, being a special crop, has tools especially set apart for its cultivation from beginning to end), taking two rows at once, a boy or woman following the striker to single out the plants. In a short time after the singling-out the whole Tsill require hoeing again, and the rows to be run over to make sure of the plants standing singly or at the proper distance apart. After this the hoes are plied to keep down weeds and benefit the plant by frequently stirring the surface. Weeds must not under any cfrcumstances be allowed to get ahead, nor the sm-face to become baked and hard, for this would render the jiroduce inferior in size and quality. This crop cannot be too highly cultivated, nor can the soU be hoed too often until the plants attain the size when hoeing would injure the crop by breaking the leaves. After discontinuing hoeing, the plants need no further attention until November, when the roots have to be taken up. This operation is effected by means of a Chicory-spade which is handled Ulce another spade, so far as the shaft and hilt are concerned ; but the diggiug part is only about 2 inches wide and 1 inch in thickness, and is thinner towards the bottom. This implement * is about 1 foot 6 inches ia length of blade, and a shoulder is put on the shaft on which the foot is placed in thrusting it into the soU. This instrument is thrust down by the side of the Chicory plant as near to it and as perpendicularly as possible. The operator then com- mences " prising," or weighing down with the right or left hand, whichever he happens to have on the hilt of the spade, and thus cuts or breaks the root a good depth below the surface, and having the top in his other hand the root is di'awn up and laid on the surface. He does this in half a minute. After him follow women or boys, who cut the tops off quite close, and throwing the roots into rows they are put into carts and taken to be washed. A running stream is best for this purpose. A sort of crate made of laths is used. It is 6 feet long and 3 feet wide, the laths being nailed so that half-inch interstices or openings are between them. The crate is open at the top. It is fixed with four stakes so as to be clear of the bottom of the stream, that du-t may pass away, and into it the Chicory is put. With a short- headed wooden rake with very long teeth the Chicoiy is moved to and fro until white and clean, when it is put into carts as clean as the Chicory itself, and conveyed to the kUn to be prepared for the grocer. Care must be taken to well wash the Chicory, and to cut the tops quite close, or the Chicory -drier will cavil about it, probably reject it owing to its not being delivered according to bargain, or take so much per ton off for the dfrt on the roots and the waste of the top, which must be done before it is dried, for Chicory is gritty enough without dirt. The roots are then cut transversely into slices and dried in a kUn ; but I omit the process, as no written du-ections would avail "J. S." without plans and details which I am not provided with. Personal inspec- tion and practice are necessary to the proper drying of Chicory, and a kUn is hardly necessary for one grower. The iisual i^lan is to sell the raw produce to the owner of a kiln, as a kiln wiU dry the produce of several gi-owers. After Chicoi-y is dried it is sold to the Cliicory-roaster, by whom it is submitted to the action of heat in closed fron cylinders similar to coffee, and after roasting the slices are broken into what are called " nibs." The roaster not un- frequently uses a small portion of fatty matter, as lard, in the course of the process, and, finally, though not always, dusts the " nibs " over %vith some red colouring matter, as Vene- tian red, to impart brilliancy of colour. The produce of an acre of Chicory is from four to five and even six tons, and the roots were formerly worth from ^£8 10s. to .£10 10s. per ton; but now I am informed by Chicoiy- growers, that it is not worth growing, as it impoverishes the land, and does not pay so well as other agricultural produce. For these reasons they have given up growing it. Where once there were an hundred acres of Chicory in a township, now there are none but the roots that have escaped fr-om cultivation. Analysis shows that Chicory contains none of the active principles of the three non-alcoholio beverages — tea, coffee, and cocoa. It contains none of thefr refreshing and invi- gorating properties, having neither thein, nor caffein, the respective active principles of tea and coffee : therefore, it is very questionable indeed whether an infusion of Chicory roots is of any value as a beverage. It certainly is no sub- stitute for coffee, but it is said to be an aperient, and at other times acts as a diuretic. Taken along with coffee in the proportion of 35 per cent., it is said to produce a sense of weight at the stomach, causes langoiu- and headache, and has been assigned as one of the exciting causes of amam'osis. It contains no essential oil, therefore, has not the fragrance of coffee. Dandelion roots make as good coffee as Chicory, and are a better medicine, though neither of them ought to be taken as an article of diet, yet popular taste seems as if it ran after the most nauseating draughts. — George Abbey. GEKANitm Leaves foe Cuts. — The leaves of Geraniums are an excellent application for cuts, where the skin is rubbed off, and other wounds of that kind. One or two leaves must be bruised, and applied on linen to the part, and the wound will become cicatrised in a vei'y short time. — Miss Fet_ • It is the best of all implements for eradicating Docks in meadows or pastures. 434 JOUENAL OF HORTICULTTTRE AND COTTAGE GAUDEKEK. [ ^ecenber i. 1863. TEE^'THAM. (Concluded from page 415.) Passing a neat balustrade and two or three steps we stand on the upper-terrace flower garden, centered with a heautifixl fountain with a group of elevated statuary. But for the fountain when standing: at the entrance-door of this front, the eye would pass along the centre of the slate terrace, centre walk of flower garden, and centre walk of Italian gardens, right up to the bronze statuary of Perseus and Medusa close to the lake, a distance of 940 feet. Section 1 on the opposite page will give an idea of that line up to the water. The upper flower garden is a square, 210 feet each way, the same in width as the conservatory 35 feet, the main front of mansion 140 feet, and width of dining-room 35 feet, making in all 210 feet. The two end balustrades and that -frsn 43LI CnAVEL LVALK 1. Are circlfB with huge plants of Humea eleganp, frontel with brown Calceolaria mixed with Pentstemon gentianoides and Lobelia spcciosa close to thf^ kerh-stone, which is 4 inches broad. The Humeas look beautifnl throneh the wat^r-spraj*. and come in nicely with tl^e central statuary. 2. Circles surrounded with similar kerb-stone?, separaiinp them from the oblong bpds of grass on which they are placed. The circles are tilled ■withLobelia and Variegated Alyssum mixed. 3. This narrow circle is tilled with mixed Verbenas of five distinct colours. The inner side is separated from the gravel by Box-edging 4 inches hijrh, and from the broad walk on the outfide by a stone kerb 4 inches high and 4 inches broad. A fitone kerb goes all round the oat- side uf panels. The lines of beds insiide arc Box. 4. C'llceolaria .\urea floribunda. 5. Irish Yew, spiral, 8 feel high, and Forget-me-ni)r. (), Verbena Puri^ile King and dwarf white Campanula. 7. Geranium Trentham Scarlet. 8. Golden Chr^in. 0. Brilliant and Mangles' mixed. These, and especially the scrolls, were extra good. 10. Uieh Yew sn4 Musk, 11. Variegated 'Alyssnm and For- get-me-not 12. Geranium Golden Chain. 13. Purple Nosegay. 14. Verbena Mrs. Holford. 15. Saponaria cjlabrica. Hi. Verbena Mrs. Holford. 17. Geranium Purple Nosegay. IS. Vcrben.i Mort"nii. I'J. Alys.'um and Forget-me-not. 20. Verbena Brillant de Vaise. 21. Uumea elegans and Brillant de Vaise. 22. Lobelia specioFa. 23. Irish Yaw and Musk. 24. Geranium I'lincees Alice. 24/1 Golden Ctiain. 216. Verbena Mortonu, 25. Phlox Drjramondii. 26. Chiua Rn^e Fabviev. 27. Alyssum and Korget-rae-not* 28. Geranium Baron Hugel. 29. Hutnea elegans. 30. Lobelia speciosa. 31. Gazanla splendens. 32. 42. Trentham Scarlet Geraniam,. 3y. 41. Mrs. Lennox ditto. 34,40. IverT'sMafiterpiece ditto. 35, 39. Golden Chain ditto. 36, 38. Kingsbury Pet ditto, 37, Countess of Warwick ditto. 43, is placed opposite to some of the plinths and pillars round the balustroding, all of which aresun- plied with vases and hlled with, different shades of Geraniums. December 1, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICTJLTUBE AND COTTAGE 6AEDENEE. 435 in front are richly ornamented by vases on plinths and pedestals, about 17 feet apart. Of the beauty of this upper flower garden, its artistic tracery, masses of flowers, beautiful statuary, and handsome urns and vases on the balustrading, with a small temple at the south-east and south-west corners, we should not be able to say anything to please ourselves, and, therefore, feel much pleasure in being able, through Mr. Henderson's CI Section 1. StATF TERR/ICE -j <5 'j-. FLOVJER CARDEM ZIOF' «/r«s «5i F' LEKCTH OF VJULX FRIIH STEPS 7 G 1. Slate terrace 40 feet in Tvidth. 2. Balustrade witti three steps to flower garden. 3. Broken line, allowing 210 feet, the width of flower garden. 4. Fine balustrade, and in centre in line with walk in the upper tlower garden and the central walk in Italian gsrden, m.\ wide seraicirtular steps down to Italian garden. 5. Broken line along centre of central waHc of Italian garden, repreeenting 65i feet from balus- trade to lake. 6. Position of statuary of Perseus, &c. kindness, to present our readers with a plan of the fourth part of this garden, that they may see at once what we shovdd fail to describe. The other three quarters are the same as that given, so that our young friends who feel dis- posed may make a fuU pltin for themselves. The centre is the noble fountain with its elevated statuary of Naiads, water nymphs, &c. The fountain has a broad kerb of stone. Though each of the foin- panels is a counterpart of the rest, it will be observed that each panel is planted on the principle of insiu-ing a great amount of variety. The Yews and Humeas also formed a nice connecting link with the Humeas round the fountain, and did away with all im- pressions of monotonous flatness. The chain pattern at the side was a gem of beauty. The rains had slightly injured the circles of Geraniums, but the Lobelia and the Gazania were in their glory. We now pass down the wide platform semicircular stone steps, six in number, and enter upon the central walk of the Italian panelled-garden. This walk is 40 feet in width. The distance from balustrade to lake is rather more than 240 yards. The width across of this Italian garden is al- together three times that of the upper flower garden, or 210 yards, the ground extending equally to the east and west. On each side of the steps in front of a wall that supports the south balustrade of the flower garden is a border of flowers, among which that old favourite Salvia patens was conspicuously beautiful. Besides this wide walk in the centre of 40 feet, there are also wide walks at the north end next the flower gardens, and across the lower end behind the balustrade that separates the garden from the lakfe. On the same level as the central walk there are also two longitudinal walks, one on each side, 25 feet in width ; and besides those at the ends, there are two more cross walks which divide the space into six divisions, not equal, but the two middle ones so much larger than the four end ones as to be something in the same pro- portion as five is to two. The beds in these panels are in two compartments, nearly on the general level of the gravel walks, but with sloping banks and lower levels all round and between them. All these beds have a raised edging or ridge, a foot in height and as much in breadth, of various things — as Oak, Box, Yew, Berbeiis, Cotoneaster, Ivy, &c. Each of these six panels or gardens has a fountain in the centre, the largest two in the two middle ones — that is, six in all, three on each side. The centre of these fountains is 105 feet from the centre of the middle walk of 40 feet, which makes 210 feet from fountain to fountain crosswise, and thus the three fountains on each side are in direct line with the east and west-end balustrading and vases of the upper flower garden. Both sides of this garden are bounded by a sloping bank and raised terrace, with walk, &c., some 4 feet above the i level of the panelled garden. On the west side this is separated from the park by a shrubbery of ornamental trees and evergreens. On the east side it is separated from lawns and shrubberies by an arched walk covered with creepers, &c. This as well as the position of the panels, or beds, will be seen by section 2, which takes in half the width across fr-om the arched walk to the broad middle walk. Take the lower line of figures as references, the upper giving the distance in feet. 1, covered pathway 8 feet wide, arch about 13 feet in height, covered with Eoses, Honeysuckles, Clematis, &c., affording a fine shade in a hot sunny day; 2, is a ribbon- border 10 feet wide, bordered with 3 feet of grass ; 3, is a gravel walk 12 feet wide ; 4, is level grass, 6 feet ; 5, sloping bank, 9-1 feet ; G, lower level of grass, 17i feet ; 7, side gravel walk, 25 feet; 8, other 171 feet of grass; 9, sloping bank, 5i feet ; 10 level gi-ass of 11 feet in width, a foot lower than the fountains, and which goes all round the panel; 11. slopes and level up to panel level ; 12, the front hedge that sur- rounds the beds. The same figuring might be continued unto we reach the middle walk. The west side is ai-rauged exactly the same, only the raised ten-ace is bounded by shrub- bery instead of an arched walk, as 1 on the east side. The position of the beds may also be still better seen by looking at a part of .in end section (Sec. 3), as seen from a cross walk. Section 3. CRUSS WALK This will likewise show the level of the beds, with slopes, and the low level of 1 1 feet in widtli all round each compartment. Besides the plants of Yew and upright Cypresses, the most of the beds in these compartments were of large size. and notwithstanding the masses of plants required else- where, these too were grouped with the gayest colours. This, also, was done to a certain extent this season, and a number of large beds were brilliant with annuals in the end of August, and others had been quite as beautiful when the family were there to see them. Circumstances to which we need not here allude render it desirable to lessen the vast masses of bedding plants ; and though, no doubt, a little may be borrowed from showy annuals, more than a beginning has been made to fiU the beds with permanent plants — that is, that will require less looking-after. Many beds have, therefore, been filled with China and free late-blooming Roses ; others with Berberry and various dwarf shrubs of striking foliage; and we are convinced that when all, or mostly all, the beds are done in this way, it will present a much better contrast to the present rich flower garden — will yield on the whole much more of the pleasures of variety — will call for even more plant-knowledge and cultural skill — and, if not so bi-illiant in summer, will present from the windows of the mansion a far more efi'eotive picture in winter and spring. In one striking feature of this garden we noticed a change since our previous visit many yeai's ago. Then there were the finest-headed specimens of standard Portugal Laurels 436 JOITRNAL OF HOETICtrLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDEISrEE. [ Decemlier 1, 1863, \^e had ever seen, grown in large boxes to resemble Orange trees, and vieing in si2e with the largest Orange trees im- ported at times firom Italy and the south of France — such as may be seen at Wrest Park, Bedfordshire, and Holland House, Kensington. Set at regular intervals of from 70 to 80 feet apart by the sides of the walk, the deception, as to Orange trees, when looked at from a distance was complete, and they were even more beautiful in winter than in summer. The teiTible frost of 1860 and 18G1, however, settled their beauty, the elevation of the roots in the boxes no doubt rendering theii- destruction more easy. Nearly two years ago very nice plants were obtained from Messrs. Lane, of Berkhampstead, which now average (and the plants ai-e very much aUke), 5 feet in height of clear stem, and 4^ feet in diameter of head, and all look healthy and vigorous. The mode of planting by Mr. Henderson, as likely to guard against severe frost, is worthy of especial notice. To keep up the idea of Orange trees, boxes are stiU used. These are very neat, 3 feet 8 inches on the square, and 1 foot 10 inches deep, with 10 inches of stone below that, on wliich the bottomless boxes rest. The plants, then, were carefully planted in the ground, the soil rising as high only as the top of the stonework and not at all into the box. At present, to keep up the deception the box is filled with fern, so that a visitor that did not know otherwise would think it was merely used as mulching. A false bottom of slate is to be put across near the top of the box, and that covered with soil will give the idea that the planting has t.aken place in the usual way. Security and appeai-anees, and, perhaps, giving in to a prejudice, hai-mless, however, will be combined. The boxes are jJaced on the lawn by the sides of the walks. There are thi-ee dozen in aU, nine on each side of the wide central walk, and nine along each of the two longitudinal walks on the side next the panel gardens. They are so regulated that a box stands near the corner of each of the cross walks. The raised side terraces of these gardens are embellished and enhvened with massive seats, statuary, and vases ; but the most conspicuous of such objects, in an artistic point of view, is a colossal group of bronze statuary at the end of the middle walk, close to the lake, representing the triumph of Perseus over Medusa, the only sister among the di-ead Gorgons that was subject to mortality, and whose very look tamed aU who beheld it into stone. And no wonder, for the severed head held in the hand of Perseus has not only serpents entwined in the hair, but every drop of blood as it oozes out becomes a serjjent, and thus enough of them are the whole, with their progeny, to keep in countenance the fable, and enable them to spread over the whole of Africa. We iH-esume there will be little difference of opinion as to this statuary when looked at by the eye of the anatomist, the sculptor, or the painter, and yet from the jar it gave our oiSTi susceptibilities we might question its fitness for the position in which it is placed. We seemed instinctively to long for a gi-oup of the Graces ; something like the statue on the bin, to commemorate family honoiu-s; something oir anything calculated to arouse thoughts of peace, hope, goodness, and happiness, as more in accordance than "Gorgons dire," with the elegant refinement and beauty of these gardens, and the charms of the clear, placid lake, with its side background of ancient Oaks, not only speaking of the past, but in their health and luxuriance inviting us to look forward to the " good times coming," which no doubt they wiU be privileged to witness. The waters of this fine lake consisted originally of the stream of the Trent, an-ested by means of an embankment thrown across the lower end, but in floods so much mud was canied in, that silting-up seemed merely a question of time. To remedy this, Mr. Fleming undertook the onerous task of changing the course of the river, and supplying the lake from a clear rivulet, and this also enabled him to drain a mias- matic marsh of many acres, and turn it into part of the extensive pleasure gi-ounds. Neither he nor Mr. Henderson, however, with all their care, have been able to eradicate the dread American Waterweed, which is threatening to take possession of oiu- best sheets of water, and become a nuisance ajid a hindi-ance in all water-communications by canal or river. It is, however, pretty well kept under at Trentham; but we fear there is little chance of completely eradicating it, unless the bottom and sides were thoroughly macadanused and concreted, as at Carton, and no mud allowed to accu- mulate. With two or three unconnected remarks we wiU for the present bid good-bye to Trentham. Ffrst, as respects visitors to gardens. Through Mr. Henderson's great kindness we were enabled to take a leisurely survey, and obtained fr-om him all the information we asked for. The suggestiveness of much as to valuable practical details wiU be our apology for this Ul-aiTanged lengthened outline of the place. The being treated as a privileged person, and not as a mere casual visitor, rendered it possible for us to do so. Aa far as we know, there is no objection to visitors ; but then when they are so numerous as at Trentham, the time allowed for parties in general must be very bniited — little more than a quiet walk tlu-ough. In places far less than Trentham we have heard of endless complaints on tliis score, especially from people who had come from long distances. In the latter case it would always be advisable to make a distinct ai'rance- ment beforehand. Even in rather small places there is also often something like a giievance because jjarties are not attended by the gardener. Come when they will, they expect he wiU be in readiness to receive them. If the gar- dener were to intrude upon them when particidarly engaged that would be quite a different thing. No class of men have done so much as gardeners to oblige and serve the public, and often with scant courtesy for then- trouble. The public should never get so much attention as to interfere with duty to the employer, who Jiays the gardener for his services. If general visitors are attended by any one de- puted for that office, they should be content and thankful. No attempts should be made to interfere with the time oi* the engagements of the gardener in such ch-cumstances. Oa this account, too, none but private friends should intrude as garden visitors after working hoiu-s. We candidly state- that for next to perfect strangers we have lost many even- ings from this practice, because we could not pleasantly say No, and have had to make up by want of sleep in conse- quence. In all jjopular gardens in densely-jjeopled neigh- bourhoods, it is a good jjlau for gardenei-s and for visitors to have a few days or afternoons in summer set apart in which visitors are admitted without attendance. In such cases visitors should rigidly confine themselves to the de- partments thus free of access to them, aud scrupulously refrain from aU that is forbidden. The regulation-breakers are only confined to a few of the "fast" order, who think it makes them big and Uke gentlemen — save the mark ! — to show off their airs and woidd-be independence, for which the best reward would be a good ducking in a horse-pond, to take their starched bad manners out of them. Mind, we know nothing of the conduct of visitors at Trentham, except what is right ; but the numbers that resort there have brought these ideas to our mind and our pen. It is always a mis- fortune when the misdeeds of a unit or two tend to deprive thousands of worthy people of a privilege and a pleasure. Secondly. Though in many places we have seen finer trees and plantations, and bolder and more striking scenery than at Trentham, it would be difficult or next to impossible to find any jjlace at aU comparable in size, or, indeed, of any size, where a gi-eater attention is evinced to order, neat- ness, and superior culture in every department. That attention is seen in everything, from a Pine Apple down to an annual Candytuft. This is aU done with the greatest attention to economy, the £ s. d. matter is kept steadily in the foreground. No doubt Mr. Henderson has advantages in, having his own work -horses, &c., and being thus far indepen- dent of beseeching for help in this way ; but stUl there can be no question that many in small places would here gain valuable lessons on economics, and the undesu-ableness of having even one corner which they woidd be ashamed for other people to see. The pecuUar- mode of management .adopted, there being no foreman properly speaking, must requii-e from the superintendent an amount of energy, bodily and mental, constant thought, and never-ceasing cai'e, of wliich none can form a correct idea, except they who have been placed in similar circumstances and under such weighty responsibiUties. And once more. But for exercising too much liberty, we might direct the attention of oui' younger bretliren to the superintendent of these gardens, as another evidence of what can be aceompUshed in surmounting difficulties by December 1, 1863. JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 437 patience, activity, attention, self-dependence, and self-cul- ture. True, there are but few Trentliams to reward the aspirant for fame and distinction ; but the smallest garden will be made the most of in proportion to the activity com- bined with intelligence brought to bear upon it, and just in the same proportion will the gardener be happy and com- fortable in his work. We would ever advocate self-culture in intelligenoe, not so much to fit a man for a great place — not so much to enable him to keep it when he gets it — not merely to insure him any social distinction and elevation — but chiefly and above all, when united with self-control and moral pi-inciple, as the means for insuring happiness and elevated enjoyment. His house may not be large, nor the most comfortable, and the locality may be so secluded that he can have little social converse ; but the mental wealth of palaces, and mansions, and noble halls, and institutes of learning, are all waiting for his use ; whilst in books, the best of friends, he can hold intimate converse with the great and the good of every age and cUme. Thus the delver may not only have the self-respect of a gentleman, but be treated like one, in all intercourse with those superior in station. "We are happy to know numbers of such men who, from their self-acquired and right-directed intelligence, realise in the capacity of servant a seemingly greater delight in the pro- ductions of the garden than the employers who pay for it all. So true is it, that the greatest activity in toU may ever be associated with the greatest pleasure and elevated en- joyment. E. Fish. SOME GAEDENS WOETH SEEIKG. SUFFOLK. Name. Proprietor, Gardener. Station. ShrublandPark..... Sir G. N. Broke, Bart Mr. BUir Claydon. ThOTDham Hah Lord Henniker, M.P Mr. Perkins..., MelUe, Brome Hall Sir E. C. Kerrison, M.P. ... Mr. Peacock... Dins. Oakley Park Sir IC. C. Kerrison, M.P Mr. Robens..... Diss. Havengliam Hall .. Lord Huntingfield Mr. Keep Yoxford. RedKr.ive Hall Lord Clilden Mr. Boutell MelUs. — James Cubitt. woee: foe the week. KITCHEN GAKDEN. As it is now a good time to start the first crop of Aspara- gus, Rhubai'b, and Sea-kale, we trust that a few remarks on the forcing of these things may not be unacceptable to persons of small experience. The old plan of forcing Sea- kale is a most expensive and unsatisfactoi'y mode ; expensive on account of the breakage of pots and the loss of labom-, and unsatisfactory on account of the want of a more perfect control over the whole proceeding. The best as well as the most economical plan is to take up the roots and force them in a body together after the manner of Asparagus. To accomplish this, it is, of course, necessary to grow strong roots in the kitchen garden for this special pui-pose. We say strong, for no mode of forcing can produce good Sea-kale unless the roots be strong to begin with. Such roots being available, they may be forced in any structure which wiU exclude light and the severity of the weather. They can be forced in frames with a double mat nailed down over the glass. They can also be grown under a mere wooden box, but the general practice is to force them in the Mushi-oom- house. A sunken pit is also useful, and this should be 2^ feet in depth, 18 inches for the fermenting matter, and 1 foot or nearly so for the crowns to rise and for any opaque covering considered necessary. The strongest fermenting matter to be placed 18 inches below the crowns, and the roots upon it, merely covering the hot manure with old leaves. The crowns to be set thereon as thickly as they can stand and filled up between with light soil, leaf mould, or old tan. In a couple of days, if the heat is found to be too strong, it can easily be reduced by the application of a little cold water. Ehubarb is forced successfully in a similar way. The roots, however, may be placed in large pots and set on flues or other warm surfaces. Asparagus requires the same treat- ment as to bottom heat as Sea-kale, with this difference in top management, that whereas Sea-kale cannot be kept too dark. Asparagus shoidd have all the light this dull season affords, and abundance of air when the weather is mild in order to produce colour, without which there can be but little flavour. Asparagus to have 4 inches in depth of soil over the crowns. The occupation of the ground by crops suitable as food for a vai'iety of insects in the course of a series of years, brings a numerous collection of such depre- dators into a garden. The application of methods for their extirpation often taxes the ingenuity of a gardener to a co»- siderable extent. The analogy existing between insect and vegetable life restricts the choice of means, for the substance which may be provided for the destruction of one may in- juriously affect the health of the other, hence the necessity of caution in the use of materials. There is, however, one substance not open to any objection which may now be used with advantage on land from which the crops have been removed — ^viz., lime. Ground cropped the preceding season with Carrots, JParsnips, and Potatoes, and found, as is fre- quently the case at this time, infested with grubs, &c., should have a good dressing of lime dug in, or, if that cannot be afforded, the soil should be turned up in ridges for the winter. Artichokes (Globe), to be thought of for protection. Lettuces, examine the young plants frequently, and dust vrith lime or soot to check the devastation of slugs. FLOWEB GARDEN. Now, as the leaves have all fallen from the deciduous trees, there should be a general dearing-up. The leaves and sweepings of the walks to be laid about the shrubs in the shrubbery, and to prevent them from blowing about they should be slightly covered with soil. This mode of proceed- ing wUl be much better for the shrubs than digging amongst them and destroying their roots. FEUIT GARDEN. Proceed with the planting of fruit trees in open weather, and if the sod is old let each tree have a good portion of new soil about its roots. Pruning and nailing all sorts of wall trees except Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots, should now be vigorously prosecuted. Leave nothing for the spring which can be done now, every day gained now wdl give greater Uberty for spring operations. STOVE. A cautious application of fire heat must still be observed here. Keep the temjierature rather lower than otherwise for fear of exciting a premature growth. Cleanliness and a judicious use of the watering-pot should be strictly attended to. A small portion of air may be advantageously admitted on fine days, and wiU greatly assist in pm-ifying the atmo- sphere of the house. Many stove plants with large fleshy roots, such as the different varieties of Ipomieas, should now be allowed to become nearly or quite di-y. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. Attend to the removal of Chrysanthemums and all othei' plants as they turn shabby. Some of the early Camellias wiU soon be ready to take their places. Occasional fires will be useful during dull, damp, or rainy weather, taking care not to raise the thermometer unnecessarily high. Every endeavour should now be made to keep the conservatoi-y as gay as possible. In mixed greenhouses see that the young stock of Heliotropes, Geraniums, Cyclamens, Chinese Prim- roses, and other flowers grown especially for winter have nice light situations and regular attention as regards water- ing. In addition to keeping the conservatory gay with blooming plants, let the p.iTangement of the house be oc- casionally changed by grouping the plants somewhat dif- ferently, and adding a few striking ones, such as Orange trees, Araucarias, and any other plants of beautiful fohage, with here and there plumes of the Pampas Grass, &c., for effect. FOBCING-FIT. This structure to be kept fully occupied with all the dif- ferent plants usually employed in forcing for the decoration of the conservatory or drawing-room. In successfully forcing many plants the application of bottom heat will be found indispensable ; a well-constructed tank is, therefore, a neces- sary adjunct in this department. PITS AND FRAMES. Keep the stock in these structures well ventUated, and the surface soil of the pots frequently stii-red. Dust witk sulphur Verbenas and other plants atta,cked with mUdsw. Be particular in keeping the interior as dry as circumstances w-iU permit. Prevent drip as soon as perceived. W. KlEANE. 438 JOUENAL OF HORTICTILTtJEE ANDJ^COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ December 1, 1863. DOOGS OP THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GAKDEN. In all departments might say, "Another of the same, much the same as last week." Obtained a Httle stubble for packing up the tops of Celery. We noticed the mode of blanching by means of allowing the plants to grow through dram-pipes set upright, at page 410. It so happens that we practised a similar mode many veai-s ago, and it does well for early Celery when the receptacle is well iiUed ; but then the mischief is in proportion to the porousness of the drain-tiles ; they were liable to let the Celery freeze in fi-osty weather. So far as mere blanching is concerned, we have had large early heads pretty well blanched by merely tying the plants close together ; but in that case, too, if nothing else is done, the Celei-y when blanched is apt to suffer from frost. Packed a little litter round the stools of Globe Artichokes, after placing a mound round them of di-y leaf mould, and burnt clay and rubbish. Went over some vegetable quarters, and puUed off the yellow leaves from Brussels Sprouts. We attribute more than ordinary of these yeUow leaves to the heat and (h-ought of the summer. Gave plenty of aii- to our Asparagus m a frame, as with mild heat it has come in sooner than we expected, but it is also good and very useful. Put in some more Sea-kale and Ehubarb, to give a good supply about Christmas time. Find that some Cauliflowers that were put into a thatched shed have been much improved in appearance, the heads being particularly white. Earthed- up a little bit more of a Mushroom-bed, and kept the house a little warmer, about 65°, or a degree or two more for a few days, as we wanted a good many large and small for some days ; wdl then let the atmospheric temperature faU to oo as the average. Had most of the rubbish from flower- beds. Pea haulm. Scarlet Eunner liaulm, thrown up into a heap along with some leaves and litter, and it wiU be most valuable for forcing, and helping on many things. When we do not use such materials in this way,' we use them for a bottom, and for throwing heat into rubbish-heaps— those mixtures of everything in a garden, soU from pots, refuse trom vegetab es, weeds, &c. This heating is a capital thing lor setting all seeds germinating, and tlien getting killed tor want oi au: to breathe in. Took also a little more turf Irom the roadside, and it is stacked up like heaps of misers gold. W hen we can follow our choice we like these heaps to stand for a twelvemonth, and to be pretty well aired, and then cut down and used without any of the frequent choppmgs and turnings which many people recommend, as the more chopping and turning the greater the waste of tibre. VV e have made these heaps of turf of different sizes, but we now make them as foUows :— Set off a yard in width at bottom, build that widening so that at 3', feet in height the heap wdl be 3 J feet wide, then take in and finish with a span-roof IN inches to the apex. In building, when about lo inches from the bottom, place small cu-cular di-ain-tUes from end to end in two rows, with a little space between them to let au- cu-culate freely. Do the same about 3 feet in heio-ht, and one row in the ridge. These mellow and sweeten the'soil without greatly injuring or wasting the fibre. The top is then thatched with turf, gi-ass side upwards, and a few wooden pms di-iven lq to keep the turves in theii- place. As soon as the tui-f takes hold no rain wiU penetrate; and so dry are these heaps kept, that when using them a little water is often wanted to make them meUow enough for potting. The drier the turf is put up the sooner will the soil be sweet and fit for use. FRUIT GARDEN. Much the same as in preceding weeks. Made up two sUc^lit botbeds with leaves, Ac, and filled the two frames of two lights each with Strawben-y plants, havino- previously removed aU the yeUow and a few of the larger leaves; ancl, haying picked off with a pointed stick a Httle of the sm-face soil and made sure there were no worms in the pots, top- surlaced wth rich compost pressed firm, and set the pots on the bed, allowing them to sink in the leaves au inch or two. Ihis wiU just move them graduaUy, and render them fit to go into places where we apply to them a little more heat than merely keeping frost out. We do not plunge these pots, for sometimes at this season even no great depth ot tree leaves wiU heat violently, and nothing injures Straw- oecry plants more than too much heat at the root*. Even as left standing on the top of the leaves the heat must be watched, and then if very mild, only from 60° to 65°, the pots may be partly plunged. In this respect, also, care is necessary so far as these early plants are concerned ; and if the pots are plunged at all, or even partially so, it is a good plan to have the bottom of the pots resting on a hard substance — as a deal board, for whatever at this early period has a tendency to make the roots run through the bottom of the pots, has also a tendency to give you a fine crop of foUage with but little fruit. The allowing the roots to extend after the fruit is set is quite a different affair. Jleanwhile we would say to all who cannot undertake the trouble of watching these mild hotbeds, that they will do better if they put their plants into a cold frame or pit, or upon any shelves in their houses that may be vacant. Suitably attended to there, they will move gradually as the heat is increased. Looked over frnit-room, and find that Peai-s are not keeping so well as Aj^ples. Many boys and labourers are fond of a mellow Pear, when they would be too mealy for the parlour table. OKNAMENTAL DEPAETMENT. Proceeded with cleaning up pleasm-e gi-ounds, roUing walks, l^otting and fresh-regulating plants in the houses, and finished a little stove-house, the repairing of which has been in hand for some time. Our Fig-house and this little stove- house are in the same little low range, having previously been Pine-pits. The walls and floor were sunk below the ground level 3 feet. The fruit wall outside was 1 foot higher, and the back wall 4 feet. The house was 14 feet wide inside measure. There was a short hijj at the back, of glass, which made the highest point of the roof 85 feet fi-om the floor. The house was heated by hot water, two pipes a yard from back wall, and thi-ee pipes 1 foot from fr-ont wall. Over these pipes we had a platform of slabs and a path in the middle. The bods were rather wide to be nicely managed, and when a few people went in they could not well get out again. The wall-plates, &c. being decayed, we were allowed to make a little alteration provided it did not cost much. On that account we were afi-aid to meddle with the old heating- pipes in case they should want a good deal of tinkering at our hands. We, therefore, after clearing and painting, left them as they were. Afr was previously given by moving the sashes of the roof. In putting fresh wall-plates we raised all the w.alls round from IH to 24 inches, raising the roof, after the glass was off, as we did so. This gave headway enough to have a pathway all round and a table in the centre, with a platform at back, and a shelf at the ends and front. The walk is about 28 inches wide, the front and end plat- forms 18 inches wide, the back platform S\ feet wide, and the central platform 4 feet wide. The front shelf, end shelves, and back platform are supported by a wall .all round 15 inches in height, and then by little pdlars in front of the pipes. That ivill leave room all the way for a little bed near the pipes for small Ferns and Lycopods, which ^vilI be allowed to hang over this dwarf wall as they grow. Wires extended on the sides from pillar to pillar will also be a good support for creepers to run along that like both heat and shade, and that have fine foliage, as the Cissus discolor. The centre platform is supported on stout oak posts stand- ing on a raised row of bricks laid in cement, to keep the posts from the damp of the floor. The space underneath has been drained, and, after a lot of brickbats, has been covered with heath soil and loam, and that too wQl be planted, or rather is planted, with Lycopods and Perns. The oak posts vnU not be painted until next summer, and then we wiU sand them to resemble stone, and will do the same with skh-ting-boards, brickwork, &c. The part of the posts out of sight was well coated with pitch. The plat- forms are laid across oak bearers similarly pitched. The platforms themselves are stout boards of the necessai'y width well pitched on both sides, just put close together, and then aU covered with clean little stones, or shingle procm-ed by washing road drift, and keeping all these of one uniform size or nearly so. On this the plants will stand. We forgot to say that in raising the wall we left openings for ventila- tion back and front, which can be easUy opened and regulated without any great mechanical contrivance. The ventilators are small boards hung on screws to act as a pivot-joint. We can now go round the little place and see and examine every plant in it. It has cost us a Uttle labour, but the pleasure Decemter 1. 1863. ] JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 439 well repays it. We might not have thought of doing so but for the necessity of repairs. We have also left an opening, so that we can drUl a hole for hot-water pipes in the centre if ever they shoidd be necessary. Baskets will be suspended over the pathways, and if not, we could have a broad shelf there. From floor to glass aU may thus be occupied. This may be interesting to some correspondents who are making inquiries as to arrangements. If one good turn deserves another, then we should like to propose a few questions as to the pitch. The sort we used was in lumps, such as is employed by vmdertakers ; but there is such a collection of materials very much alike under the name of bitumen, asphalt, pitch, &c., that we really do not know which is the particular sort, or what would be best for the purpose of keeping out water and yet drying at once and oivino- out no scent a few minutes afterwards. When used very hot and, of course, melted, we found it would not part freely fi'om the brush unless there were a Uttle grease mixed with it ; but if we happened to put in too much it did not dry quickly on the boards. And, once more. Does any one know experimentally how such pitch-piainting would stand on wood out of doors under the variations of our climate — beats and colds, &c., and what would be the cost of good pitch at wholesale prices ? We cannot say that we fancy painting even rough fences with tai-, and we rather think it sometimes helps to rot the wood it is intended to preserve. But if such mixtures are to be ground up and sold for white lead, it is high time something more durable could be had. We know that some of the very best paint, at least paid for as such, is apt to rub off like chalk in less than a twelve- month.— E. I'. COVE'S^T GAEDEN MAEKET.-Nov. 28. The iiiiirket continues well supplied wilh produce of all kinds, and imotdtions are unaltered. UI toieigii Urapea and Melons there is a plen- tiful supply. Home-grown Apples and Peais consist of the same kinds os named in previous reports. From France there are some magniiicent examples of Reiactte du Canada, Ho.iime d'Api, and Calville Blanche or While Calville; and in Pears of Uvedale's St. Germain of immense tize, GIou Jlori'eau, Easter Bearro, and others. Sea-kale is coming in in greater qu.mtity j but the demand having increased, former prices are loainlained. FKUIT. .Apples I sieve I Apricots doz. 0 i'lgs doz. 0 Filberts & Nuts loQ lbs. 6j Grapes, Hamburffhs. lb. 1 Hambro's, Foreign 0 Muscats 3 Lemons 100 6 Melons each 1 d. s. Gto4 0 0 Mulben-ies quart Oranges 100 Feais bush. dessert ^ sieve Pine Apples lb. Plums ....5 sieve Pomegranates eacli Quinces doz. Walnuts bush. 14 6 20 0 s. d. 3. d n 1) to 0 0 4 0 10 0 7 0 10 0 2 0 S 0 3 U C 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 0 I 0 2 0 VEGETABLES. .\sparagus bundle 6 Beans, Kroad bush. 0 Kidney J sieve 0 Beet, red doz. 1 Broccoli bundle 0 Cabbage doz. 0 Capsicums 100 1 Carrots bunch 0 Cauliflower doz. 2 Celery bundle 1 Cucumbers doz. 6 Endive score 1 3 F"ennel bunch 0 3 Garlic and Shallots, lb. 0 8 fiourds & Pumpk., each 0 0 Herbs bunch 0 3 Horseradish ... bundle 1 6 d. s. d 0 to 10 0 0 0 0 a 6 6 0 12 0 3 2 6 3 U 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 Leeks bunch Lettuce score iUuahrooms puttie Mustd. ic Cress, punnet Unions bushel pickling quart Parsley bunch Parsnips doi. Peas bush. Potatoes sack Kadishes doz. bunches Khabarb bundle Savoys per doz. Sea-kale basket Spinach sieve Tomatoes ^ sieve Turnips bunch 8. d. 0 3 t 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 0 3 0 6 0 U 5 0 1 (i U 0 4 0 0 8 0 4 0 9 0 0 8 0 2 0 0 0 TO CORRESPONDENTS. * * We request that no one will write privately to the de- partmental writers of the " Journal of Horticultm-e, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustiiiable trouble and erpense. All communications shovdd therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the JourTUxl of Horticul- ture, ifc, 162, Fleet Street, London, B.C. N.B. — Many qtiestions must remain ituanswered until next week. Hkatiso (X -l/iissefO-— S'Jch a notice is merely an advertisement, and if we inserted it we could not refuse insertion to many others. Sr.WLVO CINEEAHIA MAEITIMA {R D. G. C.).-SOW in ihC fttSt WCCk Of FebiuaiT in a temperature of 65^ One part loam, one part leaf mould, and as much sund as w,ll make the whole sparkle will suit it very well. It is a plant easily raised Irom seed. It, however, docs not acquire its silvery hue the first year from seed, and we always sow in July or August and preserve it over the winter. We are puzzled to know how you managed to get a temperature so low as 44' last August. The cuttings conld not succeed wel. in such a temperature. We find damp the areaicst obstacle in striking autumn cuttings, and that the weak wiry side shoots always strike the most readily. CoVEEi.-io FOR Pipes is Cccujiber-hoose (J. A'.).— The oak boards will answer, but slate will be better, inasmuch as it lasts so long, allows the heat to pass more freely, and there is no risk of breeding fungi in the soi , as is the case when the wood begins to decay. Heart of oak, however, wiU last a long time, but slate we consider the best, and we have used it with great success. Pine Apples Decaving (7rfcm).-A3 soon as your Pines showi the least signs of colouring at the base of the fruit, keep the soi; dry and also the atmosphere of the house or pit. The Antigua is not a good keeper under any circumstances, and therefore it should be cut before it is deiid ripe and be used immedialely. Were you to grow Smooth Cayennes and Black Jamaicas for late autumn and winter work, you would have no difficulty of the son with them. They are the two best winter Pines. Lobelia Paxionii (L. ii.),-The merit of Lobelia Paxtonii must be determined by each individual's taste. We do not like it so well as we do Lobelia speciosa, but we consider it a valuable acqui.-ition It is very like an old variety named bicolor. In a mixed border it will look well, and so wou'd a row of speciosa in Iront and a row ol Pa.-itonii behind it. It is 0! a different habit and colour from gracilis— gracilis is light blue, Paxtonu is lightish blue and white, the while rather preponderating. W e decidedly recommend vou to propagate it, and yet not to discard the speciosa. Ihey ate both good for dtUnite purposes. Spruce Firs for Lioht Loamy Soil ((?. if.j.-Abies excelsa (Norway Spruce), Abies Douglasii, and Picea balsamea (Balm of Qilead bir) we thini would answer your purpose. Finns austriaca and the hcotch Fir would also suit you. Natural Height of Copressos Lawsoxiana (Ir/em). -It is a native of California, where it attains a height of 100 feet ; but we canriot say to what height it will grow in this country. It is one of the handsomest of the Conileree. Turning Sbeep amongst Yews and other Trees (/rf«n). — Yewa poison horses and cows, and it is highly probable that, if the sheep could ge ° t the branches and leaves, they would be poisoned also. We advise vou to have them fenoed off, or to put some temporary netting or permanent iron-wire fencing round the trees and shrubs. AuELASTEii ALDIVE.NIS CuLToEE {George Sim).-T:hls is not half such a "milfv" plant as is represeuted. It grows freely in sandy peat one hall li^nt turfy loam and kaf mould the other half, with a liberal admixture ot srSall pieces of charcoal and silver sand. A rather moist atmosphere without saturation, is requisite, and moisture standing on the leaves must be avoided. Shade from very bright sun, but give air and light the same as to any other descripliou of stove plant with hne foliage Ihe heat of an ordinary stove suits it well. Of the plants you name Alocasia zebnna and A. albo-violacea are the newest; the next is A. Lowii. Show the bast grown-the Judges will not pass over good cultivation for the sake cf novelty ; at least, cultivation should be the test of merit. Unfruitful Plums (ir, ir.).-The best plan for you to adopt is to dig out a trench round the extremity of the roots and carefully remove all the old soil, preserving every root that can possibly be re ained. Pare off with a kuie every appearance of a sucker, and replarit the roots in Iresh strong loam wilh a little rotten dung mixed with :t. Plums do not do well in a lieht gravelly soil, and if vours i. of that quality try and procure some of a more Strong and adhesive character. The roots had better not be taken up any nearer to the stems of the trees than up to the p .vement, as the trees are old. You may take up the pavement and remove the soil down to the roots nnderneath it. and close up to the wall, and lay in a top-dressing ot the soil we have already recommended ; but do not on any account cut ba« the roots within the limits of the small space between the pavement and the wall. There is a list of the other garden manuals sold at our office on the cover of •' Fruit Gardening for the Many." Grapes Decaying (A Six-years 5u6s«»e disease Toon affects the other berries, and the bunch is rotten in an incredibly short time. Your border would be better if it were covered with wooden shutters to keep the roots dry. CELERY DISEASED ( W<.».).-The Celery is att.ckcd by the fly so common now. Sprinkling the leaves with soot prior to the '^""^/'''"S ''.'\'±"^^ with the pest is a never-failing preventivj. Strev>- '»°;°''!^- 'eaves now continuing to pick off those most affected and burn them as you are doing Be fn time with the soot next year, for prevention is always better than cure. Planting FLOWEE-BEns I.New Forest). - We consider the P a° ™1 adapted for planting on the balancing pnn^P'f : bu' ^^/"""^ jf ^"^^ from our fixed rule. Send us your proposed planting, and we will say i. any en or is apparent to us. Greenhouse Ferns (i«-.).-We would add the following to thofe you have already ■.-Aoiantum eapillus-Veneris, A. pedatum, A. pubeseens, An- tigramma urophylla, Wechnim triungulare, Cbe.anthes roicromera^ Cy^ opteris tenuis, Dtynaria pustulata, Hymcnophyllum '"'■"alum Lomam capen»is, Nothochlmna vcstitum, Platyloma atrop.n-pureaPolyst.chum capense, Pteris serrulata, Trichomanes radicans, m a moist shady place. Hollyhock and Dahlia Flowers Changing Colour Mn OWi^dy).- We shall be much obliged by your informing us of the result from changing the soil; but recommend you to grow some ■". '^"Sf.f for a series ^f grow in-this will be a test. We ih.nk grow.ng Dabl.as for a senes ot years in th. same soil might render them less Vigorous, but would not change all the colours to -white, >"'■■ •»*""- '--j. t- 440 JOmiNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ December 1, 18G3. Select Felarooniums (C. J, M.).— TMenty-f(nn- fne- flower i?iff Pelar- ffiniums : Colossus, Koyal Albert, Rosy Bloomer, Censor, Impruveratnt, Ariel, Celeste. Empress Eugi?nie, Fairest of the Fair, Lady Taunton, Lord Clyde, Mrs. Hovle, Norma, Princetta, Koseum, S:r Colin Campbell, The Belle, Sunset, Bacchus, Lady Canning, Ajrauiemnon, MeiTirajic, Viola, Leviathan. Sir Spotted : Landseer, Monitor, Conspicuum, Sansp.ireil. Mr. Hoyle, Peacock. Six Fancies: Ellen lieck. Acme, Arabella Goddard, Cloth of Silver, Madame Sainton Dolby, Modestum. Beans — W. H. wislies to have any approximation to a statistical account oj the acreage planted with Beans in England each year, or in the United Kingdom ; also^rhich are the principal Dean-producing districts, and whether they are grown to any extent in loreign countries, and, if so, what coun- tries 7 We fchall be obliged by a reply to these queries. Select Chrtsanthemums [P. A.).—Ticeh-r best Chn/sant7icmums, largc- iiowered : Her Majesty, Duchess of Buckingham, Jardin des Flanief, Beverley, Lord Palmerston, Talbot, Queen of England, Dr. Rosap, Plutus, General Slade, Antonelli, and Cleopatra. Six Pomjwips : Mrs. Dis, Danae, Julie Engelbach, Lucinda, Duruflet, and Julie Lagravere. Erectio.v of a Greenhouse {i:conomy).~The cost always varies too much with locality and circumstanci s for us to give an estimate without almost a certainty of misleading. For seven postage starapa you may have from our office " Greenhouses for the Many," which gives full particulars and illustrations. New Zkalakd Flax Culttjke (JV.).— This plant (Phormium tenax) has been found hardy as far north as Inverness-shire. It bears the climate of the southern counties of England, and gro^vs freely in the moist climate of Ireland. It will, therefore, no doubt prove hardy with you in the south- ■west in a sheltered situation. The plant is easily'propagated by division of the root. The divisions may be taken off in April and planted at once in loamy soil in their final quarters. The seeds should be sown in March in rather strong loam, scattering them thinly over the surface, and covering with a thickness of soil equal to that of the seed. Place the pot or pan in a Cucumber- tram e or any place with a nice gentle heat. Keep duly supplied with water, and when fairly up gradually harden-off and place in a cold frame. Prick them out in a cold frame when eufiiciently large to handle, making the toil moderately rich by adding some leaf mould or well-rotted manure to it. Keep rather close until the plants become established, then admit all the air and light possible, and give copious supplies of water. The plants should have the lights put over them in severe weather, some toracken or straw being placed on the lights in long-continued frosts. Plant out in the April following. They require a moist soil and climate, and will no doubt do well on the margin of your lake We should advise you to try an established planter two fiist, and see what effect the climate and soil have upon them before you risk a number of plvints. Applenium viviPARUM CULTURE ( B. 5.).— We gTow this in a moist stove fernery, and have no necessity to employ a bell-glass. It dr.cs well in a tempeiature of 55° by night and 65" by day in winLer, and one of C5~ by night and 75^ to 85° by day in summer. It has fronds much resembling Fennel, and bears a quantity of little plants on its fronds as they become mature. It usually grows about 1 foot high, and does well in 'a six-inch pot if a moder.ite-sized plant, a ninc-iuch one being suflBeient for the largest plant. Cocoa dust is a good material for growing it in, and it requires the same amount of moisture as any other stove Fern, the Filmy-Ferns excepted. Tynningham Muscat Guate (Old Subscriber^ J^^otiitit/hn m).~Ti\is is a very fine variety of the Muscat of Alexandria, and you can procure it tbroDph any respectable nuiseryman ; but should you have any difficulty, "Write to Mr. R. Parker, nurseryman, Tooting, near London, and you will be sure to obtain it. Dracaena heliconifolia and D. siamensis (W. T. r.).— These cannot be successluUy cultivated in a greenhouse where the temperature falls Ijelow 50* at night in winter. They do moderately well in a warm green- house in which the temperature rarely falls to 45° at night; but a stove ■with a temperature in winter of 55° at night and C5° by day, and in summer of from 60'' to 85* is more suited to their requirements. We should be only deceiving you were we to say that they would thrive in a cool greenhouse. Ton may keep them dry during the winter, when they will bear a lower temperature, and probably they might be wintered safely in your cool greenhouse. Anthurium acaule is not worth growing by those whose space is limited. It is well enough for botanical collections ; hut, as a tine- foliaged plant or ornamental-leaved— which are all the charms it possesses, or even are claimed for it— we think it is one of many that could well be spared. We know of no other attractions beyond those already seen by you. Cloth of Gold Rose not Flowering (5. P. i^raAc).— This Rose, at the very best, is a shy bloomer. A southern aspect is more suiuble for it than an eastern one. as the sun will not be long enouRh upon it to suffl- ciently ripen the buds; therefore they come blind or make wood only. We should advise you to thin out the shoots and admit sun, light, and air to them by not nailing-in the shoots nearer than 1 foot apart. If you could conveniently dig out a trench about 4 feet from the stem and down to the lowest roots, which you would cut and then fill in the trench wiih rather poor soil, we think it would not then grow so rampantly as it does, and this probably njjght be the means of causing the wood lo ripen better and afford more flowers the season after next. We thoroughly understand what you mean by blind shoots. Names of Fruit ( W. U C).— Your Pears are— 1, Beurrt' Diel ; 2, Chau- montel; 3, Vicar of Winkfleld; 4. Passe Colmar ; 5, Bcurre de Ranee; 6, quite rotten; 7, unknown. ( Tf^ 6'(7/)._It is not Doyenne d'Ete, but Benrr6 Bcnnert. {A Subscriber from JlVz/rs).— Your Pear is Red Doyenne. You may have in addition Jos<^phme de Malines, M'inter >'elis, Jean de Witte, and Bcrgamolte Esperen. Kames of Plants.— Some of our correspondents are in the habit of sending small fragments ot plants for us to name. This requires from us such a great expenditure of lime that we are compelled to say that we cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen is perfect in leaves and flowers. (Jarmatt)-^li is not a Fern, but Pitea muscosa, the Pistol or Artillery Plant, belonging to the natural order Urticea?. (If. //. JA). — 1, Hymcnophytlum tunbridgense; 2. H. unilaterale. (M, A, &).— Cys- topteris fragilis. ( Tf'. H. J/oi/ne).— Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Trichomanes radicans in diflferent conditions; 4, Adiantum cuneatuoi, certainly. (.4. T.). — 1, Litohriichiii uurita; 2, Fteris arguta; 3, crushed, apparently Tetralheca ericEBfolia; 4, Monocheetum ensifcrum. (T. P.).— Your Ferns are— 1. Pteris longifolia; 2, Pteris cretica albo-lineata; 3, Pteris hastala macrophylla; 4, Pteris cretica; 3, Pteris hastata ; Ij, Pteris serrulata. (B. H. W.)'~ 1, Pteris serrulata; 2, Ptens iremula ; 3, Selaginclla pubesctns; 4, Pte^^ hastata macrophylla; 5, Aihyrium Filix-focmina; G, lortnia asiatica. We do not go beyond this limit. (S. 6. Tf'ood/onrfj).— Pteris serrulata. \,A Scolvhinun). — Uhyncospermum jasminoides. (7". C. S. Tyrinn). — Hyme- nnphyllum tunbridfiense. (A Subscriber to the JI. X).— Your bulb is Sternbergia lutea, one of the Amaryllidacex. It is a native of the South of Europe, but we do not know whether it is found in Paltsime. It has been cultivated in our gardens for muie than two centuries. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. commo:n sense applied to exhibiting and selling. At page 401, "Eqomet" touches on various matters in answer to "An Exhibitor in a Small Wat." In answer to the same exhibitor, I would reply that " Egomet's " obser- vations are well worthy of attention. I, too, am an exhibitor in a small way, and understand how difficult it is for owners, especially when not present at the shows, to conceive that birds, which by constant scanning they have considered the " pinks of perfection," remain unnoticed. The fact is, that Judges, as a rule, see more impartially than we do, and as generally they judge ignorant of ownership, we ought to give credit for honesty in carrying out the very difficult task of trying to please everybody. It is imijossible perhaps, that such practised eyes as Mr. Hewitt's or Mr. Baily's can ire- quently examine closely the same pen and not occasionally recognise the projirietor ; but because the well-known pen obtains the blue ribbon, we have no right to blame the Judges. Occasional mistakes there must be : sometimes we may get the benefit, as a poultry friend lately told me I had ; sometimes we may get the loss, as I have also done : — these are matters that the greatest care, the most precise rules, the strictest judging by points, can never wholly avert. Though less fortunate than I had hoped to be at the Crystal Palace, I might ijerhaps have been tempted to Birmingham, but for the peculiai' method of entering and the hints about the small size of the pens. I know 1 have seen many valuable birds considerably damaged by this, and it seems a pity that "the mother of shows" should act so unwisely in this particular. As regards Manchester, I think a gi'eater point against the Show than the days on which it is held is the chai'acter of the prize list ; but on this point, aiter Bir- mingham and Manchester, I may with your permission say more, as I hojie to analyse those Shows as to entries, as I have done the London Shows. My only experience of a Show on the same principle was Sheffield ; there the classes filled very badly, and to many, myself included, bare honour was all that was gained, as the prizes have never appeared. Let "Exhibitor in a Small Wat" take the Crystal Palace catalogue and jjrize list ; he wOl see many exhibitors of pens from one to six in number, amongst the prizetakers, whilst he will also see many entering largely, yet not achiev- ing success in proportion. " One who does not Mind the FoRMALiTT OF AN ADVERTISEMENT," also gives him adviCB with which my experience quite agrees. Get a name for a breed, and even without an advertisement he will seU bmls- — at least I have done so largely this yeaa', purely, as I presume, on the strength of my success in exhibiting, for I have never advertised. I think it is time now, especially as some little time ago I saw an advertisement of bii'ds as from my stock by a former purchaser. This leads me on to "Constant Keader;" and, I may say that in each case of application I have sent prices of bh-ds, but requested post- office order first. All except one did so, and several exjiressed then- satisfaction, nor have I ever had a complaint. Aftei- you have supplied a few to theu- satisfaction, you have them as persons to whom you may refer others. " Constant Keadeb" may, perhaps, in future, send his post-office order not to be payable for ten days. I have trespassed so lai'gely on your space that I must leave my remarks on " Brahma Pootra" till after the two great Shows to which I have alluded.— Y. B. A. Z. CEEVE CCETTR FOWLS. I HAVE just reas.- First, J. Fletcher. Second, T. Carless, Hovcringham. Third, -I. Holme, Prescot. Fourth, W. Pares. 442 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ DecemWer 1, 1863. Game (Blacks and Bniesy-winced, except Greys).— First. J. Fletcher, Stoneclouph, near Manchester. Second, G. W. Dawson, Hockley, BirmiLg- bani. Third, Uev. G. S. Criiwyn, Cruwys Morchard, Tiverton. Chickens.— First, J. Fletcher. Second and Third, G. W. UawPOD. Game (White and Piles).— First, J. Fletcher, Stoneclough (Pile). Second, H. Adams, Beverley, Yorkshire. Third. A. Guy. Eaton, Grantham. Chickens.— FiTsi, H. AdaniiS. Second, T. Whittaker, Melton Mowbray (Pile). Third, T. Fletclier, Great Malvern (White). Game Hkns (except Black-hreasted and other Itedfi).— First, .T. Goodwin, jun., Everion, Liverpool lUnckwinK). Second, K. Lythull, Spittall Farm, near Banbury (White). PtiUet-s.—Virf^t Miss K. Charlion, Maniungl.am, Bradford, Yorkbhire (Duckwingj. Second, A. Guy, Eaton, Oraniham (Pjlej. CLASSES FOR SINGLE COCKS. DoRZiKG.— First, Viscountess Ho'.mesdale. Lintnn Park. Second, H. Lingwood, Suffolk. Third, Mre. Arkwright, Derby. Fourth, W. W. Bartlam, Henly-in-Ardeu. Spanish.— First, Visi^ountess Holraesdale, Linton Park. Second, H.Lane, Bristol. Third, R. Tcebay, Preston. CocHiN-CiiiNA (Cinnamon and Buff ).— First, R. White, Broorahall Park, Sheffield. Second, G- Fell, Warrington. Third, Mrs. WoIferi*tan Coch!n-China (Except Cinnamon and ButT;.— First, R. Wliite, Sheffield (Panridge). Second, T. Stretch, Ormi-kirk. Third, J. Shorthoee. Brahma Pootra.— First and Second. Mrs. Fercucson Blair. Hamuuroii (Golden-pencilled).- First, W. Kershaw, Heywood, Man- chester. Second. J. Munn. M&nche-^ter. Hamdcrgh (Silver-pencilled).— First, J. Robinson, Garstang. Second, C. M. Koyds, Rochdale. HA>n3UKGii (Golden-spangled), — First, N. Marlow. Denton, near Man- chcsttr. Second, W. Kershaw, Heywood, near Manchester. HABiBfRGir (Silver-spanchd). — First, Right Hun. Viscountess Holmesdalc, Linlon Park. Kent. Second, J. Fieldme. Newchurch. near Manchester. Polish.— Firpt. J. Smith, Webt Lane, Kei^bley. Second, J. Dixon, North Park, Clayton, Bradford. Gamk (White and PilcH, Duckwings and other varieties, except Redsl. — First, H. AdamF, Beverley. Second, J. H. Williams. Spring Bank, Welsh- pool (Duckling Grey), tiiird, C. B. Lowe, Shetpy Hall, Atherstune (Silver Duckwing) Fourth, S. Matthew, Chilton Karm, Stowraarket (Duckwing). Game (Black-breabted Reds).— First, J. Stubbs, Weston Hall, Stafford. Second, J. H. "Williams, Spring Bank, near Wel-shpool. Third, E. C. Gilbert, Fenkridge. Fourth, J. J. Cranidge, Crowle, Lincolnshire. (Remarkably good class.) Game (Brown and other Reds, except Black-breasted).— First, T. Stattcr, Stand Hall, Pilkington, Manchester. Second, M. Billing, jun., Gravelly Hill, near Birmingham. Third and Fourth, J. Fletcher, Sioiieclough. Bant\ms (Gold-laced).— First and Th'rd, M. Leno, jun., the Phenaantry, Markyate Street, near Dunstable. Second, T. H. D. Bayly, Ickwell House. Bantams (Silver-laced).— First and Second, T. H. D. Bayly, Ickwell House , near Biggleswade. Third, M. Leno, jun , the Pheasanlry, Marky.ite Street, near DuQftti.ble, Bantams (White, clean-legged).— Firt-t, H. E Emberlin, Leicester. Second, J. Dixon, North Fark, Clayton, Bradford. Third, Mies K. Charlton, Manningham. Bradford, Yorkshire. Bantams {Black, clean-legged).— First, J. Ludlow, Silihull, near Bir- mingham. Second, Miss K. Charlton, Bradford, Yorkshi.-e. Third, Rev. G. 8. Cruwys, Tiverton. Banta:ms (Any other variety, except Game). — Firsf, J. D. Newsome, Batley, Yorkshire (Cochin-Chinu, Buff and Cinnamon). Second, Mrs. H. Fookes, Blandford (Japanese). Third, -Master R W. Cliase, Birmingham (Japanese). Game Bantams [Black-breasted and other Reds).— First, T. H. D. Bayly, Ickwell House, near BiggicBwade. Second, Sir St. G. Gore. Hopion Hull, Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Third, Capt. Wetherall, Loddmgton Game Bantams (Any other variety).— First, R. H.twktley, jun., South- ■well. Second, W. Silvester, Hampden View, Sheffield (Duckwmg). Third, Mi^s E. Crawford, FarnsBeld, Soutbwell (Duckwiogj. Game Bantam Cocks.- First, J. W. Kelleway, Isle of Wight. Second, MissE. Crawford, Southwell. Third, R. Hawksley, juu, Soutuwell. Ducks (White Aylesbury).— First. J. Smith, Lincolnshire. Second, Mrs- Searaona, Aylesbury. Third. J. K. Fuwler, Aylesbary. Dl'cks (Koufn).— First, H. Worrall, West Derby, Second, T. Statter, Manchester. Third, S. Shaw, Halifus. Ducks (Black East ludiin).— First, J. R. Jessop, Hull. Second, J. Beasley, Noithamplon. Ducks (Any other variety).— First, T. H. D. Bayly, Biggleswade (Brown Call). Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Ornamkntal Water Fowl.— First and Second, C. Baker, Chelsea. Geese (White). — First, Mis.SeamonB, Uartwell, Aylesbury, Buckingham- shire. Second, W. Kershaw, Heywood, near Manchester. Third. J. K. Fowler, Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury, Goslings. — Firnt, J. K. Fowler. Second, D. R. Davies, Mere Uld Hall, near Knulsford, Cheshire. Geese (Grey and Mottled'.- Firti and Third, Mrs. F. BUir, Balthayock, Inchmartme, Inchture, N.B. Second, J. K. Fowler, Aylesburv. O'otUnys. Firet, W. Dolby, Horse Grove, Roiherfleld, Tunbridije Well's (Toulouse). Second, Mrs. F. Blair. Third, R. W. Boyle, Uosemount, Dundrum, cuunty Dublin (Toulouse). TuKKEYs.- First. Mrs. A. Guy, Eaton, near Grantham (Cambridgeshire). Second, Mrs. F. BLiir, Balthayock, Inchmartine, Inchture, N.B. (Cam- bridgeshire). Third, Jilrs. Guy (Cambriiigeshire). i*o(i//5,— First, J. Smith, Breeder Hille, near Granth^ni, i-iucolushtre (Cambiiilgeahire). Second, Mrs. A. Guy (Cainbridgeshire). Third, J. W. Smith, Uundle (Cambridge- shire). PIGEONS. Almond Tumdlers.— First, F. Else, Bayswaler, London. Second, P. Eden, Salford. Tbird, M. Stuart, Glasgow. Carrier Cock (Black).— First and Second, P. Eden, Salford. (A good class.) Carrier Cock CAnv other colour).— First, P. Eden, Salford (Dun). Second, T. CoUey. Sheffield (Dun). Carrier Hen (Mlack). — First, Messrs. W. Slddons & Sons, Aston, near Birmingham. Second, F. Else, Baynwater, London. Carrikr Hen (Any other colour).— first, P. Eden, Salford (Dun). Second, T. Colley, Shetfield (Dun). Powter Cock (Red or BUie).-Firdt atid Second, R, Fallon, Deptford. PowTFR Cock (Any other colour).— First, P. Eden, Salford. Second, R. Fulton, Deptford. PowTKR Urn (Red or Blue).— First, P. Eden, Salford. Second, G. R. Potis, Sunderland. PnwTKR Hes (Any other colour).— First, R. Fulton, Deptford. Second, P. Eden, SaUord, Bali»s.— First, F. EsquiUnt, Oxford Street, London (Blue). Second, J. W. Edge, Birininghain. Bkards.— First. W. H. C. Gates, Newark, Notts. Second, F. Else, Bays- water, London (Blue). MoTTLEii Tumblers.— First, P. Eden, Salford. Second, W. H. C. Gates, Newark, Notts. Tumhi.ers f Any other colonr).— First, J. Fielding jun.. Yorkphira Street, Rochdale (Short-faced Yellow Agate).— Second, H. Morris, Forest Hill, Kent (Self). Runts.— Fir-st and Second, D. T. Green, Saffron Walden, Essex (Spanish) Jacorins (Red or Yellow).— Fir^t, J. T. Lawrence, Everton, Liverpool. Second, F. Esquilant, Oxfttrd Street. London. (Very good cla.ss.) Jacobins (Any othtr colour).— First, J. T. Lawrence, Everton, Liverpool, Second, F. Else. Bayswater, London. Fantails (While).- First and Second, H. Yardlcy, Market Hall, Birming- ham. (Good class.) Fantails (Any other colour).— First, F. H. Paget. Birstall, Leicester- shire. Second, J. W. Edge, A.ston New Town. Birmingham. Trump KTi^Bs (Mottled).- Fii.st. S. Shaw. StalnL.nd. Halifax. Second, F. Else. Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, London. (Good claas.t Thuhphters (Any other colour).- First, W. H, C. Gates Bestborpe, Newark. Nottinghamfhire (Wliite). Second, S. Shaw, StainUnd, Ualiiax (Bliitk). (Kxcellent class.) Owls (Blue or Silver).- First, J. Fielding, jun , Yorkshire Street, Roch- dale. Second, F. Else. Westbourne Grove, Bayswater. London. OwJ.s (Awy other colour).— Fiisi, W. Sanday. Holme Pieirepont, Notting- h.uii (White). Second, J. Baily, jun.. Mount Street, London, W. (Im- poitedi. NcNs.— Fi''st, F. Else, Westbourne Grove, Bayswater, London. Second, J. Chovce, jun.. Harris Bridge, Atherstone. TuRBiis (Red or Blue).— First, S. Sliaw, Stainland, Halifax. Second. J. W. Edge, Aston New Town, Birmingham. TuRBiis (Any other colour i.— First, S. Shaw, Stainland. Halifax (Yel- lowj. Second, J. Percivall, Montpellier Row, Kye Lane, Peckliam, London. Barbs (B.aek). — First, P. Eden, Cross Lane, Saliord. Second, W. Sanday, Holme Picrrepont, Not'ingham. Barks (any other colour). — First, P. Eden, Cross Lane, Salford (Yellow), Stcond, M. Stuart, Waterloo Street. Glasgow. DuAouoNs. — First, J. Ptrciv;»ll, Montpellier Road, Rye Lano, Peckham, London. Second and Third, F. fisquilant. Oxford Street, London. Magpies.— First, F. Else, Wtstbourne Grove, Bayswater, London. Second, J. Percivall, Montpellier lioad, Rye Lane, Peckham, London. Antwerps.— Firr*t and Second, H. Yardley, Market Hall, Birmingham. An\ other Nkw or Distinct Variety.- First. H. Yardley, Market Hall, Birmingham (Satinettes). Second, Rev. C. Spencer. College House, Attle- borough, Norfolk (Swids). Third, G. H. Sanday, Holme Pierrepont, Nol- tinghatu (black-tailed Owls). "EGOMET," ADVEETISEMENTS. &c. "Egomet" (see Journal of Hokticulture, November 17th, page 401), expressed my own opinions and feelings so very exactly, that I felt inclined to construe this compound pronoun as 1 did at school, " I myself." I have always found poultry-fanciers a veiy genial brother- hood— aye, and sisterhood, too, for we must not forget that amon<; the latter are many of the most successful exhibitors, and what, perhaps, is of more importance, the best under- standers of the domestic feathered tribes : so that I think a plan might be possible and feasible among them, which would be neither possible nor feasible among fanciers of some other things, horses for example, for the touch of horseflesh seems to interfere sadly with common honesty. Hence to my notion "An Exhibitor in a Small Wat" jjropounds a good scheme, which " Egomet " endorses, but which the Editors of this Journal could alone decisively tell us whether or not it could be successfully earned out ; the said scheme being " to set apart a column of this paper in which subscribers could notify their wants as to buying, selling, and exchanging, without the formality of an adver- tisement." Of course, this must be for amateurs only. Next, I will give my reasons. Advertisements are by many persons greatly distrusted. Incumbents advertise for curates: '"Ah!" exclaim some people, "can't get on with the poor young men, always changing, jealous, &c." Curates advertising: "Ah! lazy fellows, been eveiywhere, and liked nowhere." Horses advertised for sale. "Ah! screws." Well, without doubt, although good tilings are to be had through advertisements, yet there is a great prejudice against them, and purchasers do sometimes get woefully deceived. Then, again, suppose we ftmeiers apjjly to biixl-dealers, what then? I, an old Pigeon-fancier, have had veiy mature Dragons sent me for Carriers, and have just missed having had sent me — missed by taking a journey to see them — Uame Bantams with feathered legs, or rather with a plentiful crop of feathers on their legs. Quite recently a friend of mine December 1, 1S63. ] JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 443 in passing a bird shop in a laige town, saw a pair of good Barbs in a cage outside; being in want of such Pigeons, he stopped and inquh-ed the price — that was not out ot tlie way — "but are they a pair?" "Yes, Sir." "Well, I am an old Pigeon-fancier, and I live in the neighbourhood, and I think they are two cocks." " Well, Sir, as you are an old Pigeon-fancier, and as you live in the neighboiu'hood (hope of future custom arising), I confess they are two cocks." But I may have it said in reply to my advocacy of this plan, which has already found favour with two wi-iters in yoiu- Journal, there are honourable dealers : Mr. Baily, for instance, would never deceive you. Granted at once in Mr. Baily's case, but the price ! and I own I dare not have dealings with men in business, unless I can see my birds. As a further reason, I will give my own case, a simOar one to that of many. Of recent years I have been a breeder of black Bantams, and had (for death, alas ! has thinned them), some as good pullets as I have ever seen; then, lo! my best cock dies, and where am I to get another ? Or, I have birds to spare, and no fancier living near me ; I take | them into Bath, and have a magnanimous offer at a dealer's of eighteenpence a-head ! Of coui'se, at such a price I will not sell them, so with regret I kill them, whereas another poultry-fancier might just want what I have too many of, and be wondering where on earth he could buy them. Such a special column as suggested by your correspon- dent, " An Exhibitor in a Small Way," and approved by " EeoMET," would meet the difficulty ; open solely, re- member, to your subscribers, and to no dealer on any pretence whatsoever. As to being an unfair act in regard to trades- men, I would reply. We amateurs are driven to it in self- defence, for either prices are absurdly high, or there is a pleasant prospect of deception before us. All that "Eqomet" says about fairness at exhibitions I readily endorse. Mistakes there may and must be occasionally. If there be known un- faii-ness, the press is open. As to Judges, procure known good ones, and trust to their judgment. I may difl'er here and there fi'om them, "many men many minds," but when acting as Judges I abide by their decision. Well said, " Egomet," about Cmustmas-day. Let nothing break the circles gathered round the hearth on that day, replete with kindness and good wOl to and among men. I also agree with " Egomet " as to a list of the pens sold, their prices, &c., being printed at the end of the prize lists. This could easUy be done. The great point is to increase and make easier the means of mutual assistance among the poultry brotherhood ; and, rely upon it, this will also increase the love of poultry — in fact, add to the brotherhood. When people see others reap pleasure from a pursuit, and the many difficulties as to procuring birds, &c., done away with, they will wish to try their hands. Prejudice ai'ises from ignorance, pleasure comes with knowledge. I have throughout this paper gone upon this supposition, that aU lovers of poultry are faii- and honest, as upon this being the case the success of the plan would whoBy depend. — Wiltshire Eectoe. TuiucKYS.— First, W. Hewer, Sevenhampton. Socoad, Miss J. Milward, Newlon St. Loe. Gkkse —First, G. Hanks, Quobwcll. Second, R. P. Rich, Cllippenham. Hifflily Cimimended, Mrs. A. P. Smitli, Beversbrook ; — Coleman, Bevel sbrook. DccKs (Aylesbury). — First, G. Hanks, Quobwell. Second, Mrs. A. P. Smith, Beverwbroolt. Ducks (Rouen).— First, J. W. Brown, Uifcott. Second, Mrs. Kent, Newton. Dlcks (Any other variety).— First, Miss J. Milward, Newton St. Loe. Second, — Colpraan, Beversbrook. SwEEPSTAKKS (Game Cock).— Prize, A. Ecatii, Cjine, Higlily Com- mended, F. Bailey, Calne. Judge. — Mr. J. E. Eodbard, Wrington, near Bristol. CHIPPENHAM POULTEY SHOW. The following is a list of the awards at the Show recently held:— DoEKisos.— First, E. Hedges, Chilton. Second, F, Bailey, Calne. Highly Commended, T. R. Hulbert, Cirencester. Spanish.— Prize, A. Heath, Calne. Gamk ( Black-breasted and other Reds).- First, H. Waller, Calne. Second, H, Stevenson, Landsend, Chippenham. Highly Commeuded, J. Orlidge, Chippenliara. Commended, T. R. Hulbert, Cirencester. Gami; (Any other variety).— First, J. Mu.'pratt, Heytesbury. Second, J. Coulter, Acton Turnville. CncHiN-Cm.vA (Any variety).— First, Miss J. Milward, Newton St. Loe. Second, H. Witchell, Xetbury. Hamburgiis (Golden-pencilled).— First, n. Witchell, Tetbury. Second, J. S. Maggs, Tetbury. Hamburghs (Silver-pencilled).— First, J. W. W. Hulbert, Chippenham. Second, G. S. Sainsbuty, Devizes. Hambcughs (Giilden.spangled) — First, J. S. Maggs, Tetbury. Second, Mrs. Murlon, Bishopstrow. PoLASns (Any vanoty).— First, J. Phillips, Cbippenham. Second, J. Hinton, Hinton. Aky other Distinct or Cboss Bbeed. — First, J, Hinton, Hiatou. Second, J. J. Vox, Devizes. Bantams (Game).— First, F. Bailey, Calne. Second, F. H. Phillips, Cbippenham. Bantams (Any other yariety).— First, J. J. Fox, Devues. Second, E. Cam. bridge, Bristol. NEW TAEIETIES OF PIGEONS. I HAVE to oifer my thanks to Mr. Alfi-ed Heath, for his kindness in replying to my request for a description of that variety of tame Pigeons that has recently been exhibited as Isabel Pigeons. From his writing I recognise them as Dutch Powters. Gottlob Neumeister, in his German work on Pigeons, says they are of various colours, as black, blue, red, yellow, isabelleufarbig (buff-colom-ed), and white; fre- quently with white wing-bars on the isabellen, blue, and red, but he has never seen white wing-bars on the black. I remember seeing a pair at the Crystal Palace which most likely were Mr. Heath's, and they exactly resembled Herr Gottlob Neumeister's plate of the Isabellenfarbigen Hol- liindische Kropftatibe. They should, therefore, be called Isabel Powters, and not Isabel Pigeons, as the word Isabel refers only to their colour, and not to the breed. I should also be obliged by a description of those Pigeons shown as Satinettes and Neapolitans, as both these names have appeared in catalogues of recent Pigeon shows ; and as I am not acquainted with the breeds, at least by those names, I ask some breeder of them for full pai'ticulars of then' origin, peculiar points, colour, &c. May I beg of any Pigeon-fancier, or reader of The Journal of Horticulture, who is acquainted with the Lowtau or Ground Tumblers of Intlia, to send a description of them ? Also, if any one can tell what variety of Pigeons it is that the natives of India train for high flying. Are they like any of our high-flying breeds of Tumblers ? I have myself a wonderful Tumbling breed of Pigeons, many of which while flying throw from fifteen to thirty summersaults in a minute ; some of them roU tiU they touch the ground, and a few can hardly fly from excessive tumbling. Thus taking an interest in Tumbler Pigeons, I should be greatly obliged for any account of the Indian, or any other new variety. As to the reason of a Pigeon's turning over while flying, I may refer to that at some futui-e time. — B. P. Bkent. SINGULAE DEPOSIT ON A HFV'E FLOOE. A jSTEW MATEBIAL foe hives — FOUL BEOOD. Well acquainted as I have long been with the very large accumulation of filth of all kinds too frequently to be seen on the slates of the cottager's hives, yet I certainly was not prepared for what lately met my view upon lifting a hive from its stand, revealing as it did a most extraordinary accumulation of a jelly-like substance, covering the whole of the slate, to the dejitli of three-eighths of an inch, and which when removed would have filled a large breakfast-cup. It was not merely a cursory glance I had of this singular sub- stance, for, having transferred the hive to a clean slate, I was enabled to examine it at my leism-e. What makes it the more remarkable is, that the hive was a new one, tenanted by a swarm of the present season, the combs clean, and the bees healthy, the slate, also, being a new one from a quarry close by. The owners of the hive thinking I might be an intending piu'chaser, expressed no surprise when I called their attention to the state of the slate, remarking, they always found lots of dirt, but upon close examination they also expressed gTeat surprise, never having seen anything like it before. It struck me at first there must have been a quantity of moist sugar introduced into the hive ; but I found it had not been lifted since it was tenanted by the swarm. I can compare it to nothing but calves' -foot jelly, having the same motion when shaken, and resisting the touch with the same degree of elasticity. A few bees only were clogged and help- 444 JOURNAL OP HOETICULTtJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ December 1, 18 less on the surface ; there being no other dirt, and veiy little odoxir proceeding from it. I can only suggest that it may have been the spawn of some creature, but the estraorcUnary quantity makes it more surprising and difficult to account for. One portion somewhat more fluid than the rest con- tained a dozen or more fiattish white maggots slowly moving about, qmte different from any I remember to have pre- viously observed. I should much wish to know whether any one else has met with this appearance, for I have lifted so many hives without observing even the slightest trace of a similar substance, that it strikes me as being something very remarkable. I have been experimenting upon a new material for the construction of hives, which I think Ukely to prove most excellent, so that I am sanguine as to great results accruing from its use. This material is tan, in the compressed state in which it is used for fuel in our neighboxu'hood. It is free from smell, and will form a hive in which the interior tem- perature will be very equable. I compress the moist tan into moulds, thus forming the walls of the hive, and the top and bottom slabs, the latter about 3 inches, and the former 5 inches in tiiickness. Ledges in the fi-ont and back take bars as in the ordinary boxes. This material is capable of being moidded into any shape — square, octagon, or cu'cular, with tops flat or dome-shaped like the common straw hive. It takes long drying, but does not absorb moisture or damp subsequently. The material for an eight-bar hive costs little more than a shilling. The cheapness of the material is, therefore, one recommendation. It wiU have a very pretty effect in the gai-den. A slate on the top will keex) off all wet. My Ligurian stock, prooui-ed from Mr. Woodbury in the spring of 1862, has succumbed to that fearful scourge, " fold brood." Although I gave the bees a new hive of wholesome combs, they dwindled away to some few scores in numbers, and within the last few days an unsuccessful attempt to unite their queen (which, moreover, was a poor, dark little thing) to another hive, which I had rendered queenless, and with every precaution as to her welfare, has now left me in a condition to trust entirely to my common ))ees ; and whether I may renew my aequaintanee with the Italians is doubtfi.il, as from what I have seen of the honey-gathering jjowers of the Ligui-ians, I fancy they are little, if at all, superior to the little black fellows. — Geo. Fox, Kingsbridge, Devon. FOUL BEOOD. *' My thoughts, I must confess, are tamed on peace." So spoke a Roman senator in olden times, and so in sub- stance spake recently in the columns of this Journal " A Hampshire Bee-keepek," who, raising the standaixl of peace in this apiarian controversy, has invited all to follow him. As for myself, my voice must be for peace; but before quitting this proiitless interlude in our discussion, it behoves me to add a word or two. In the first place, I shall be spared the disagreeable ne- cessity of replying to " B. & W.'s " warlike article in No. 136, in which he appears to have completely exhausted his fii'e and fm-y on my imfortunate " enigmatical," which having belaboured to his heart's content, lie exclaims, " Let us hope that we shall now be suffered to return to peace." Mr. Edwards I shall keep in remembrance when I come to discuss some facts in which he is interested. Meantime let him not vex himself in fruitless efforts to make "the cap fit." If it be actually too tight why not thi'ow it aside at once? To Mr. Woodbury, what shall I say ? I could wish to say less than I must. I cannot, of course, pretend to control his beliefs, to alter his views, or smooth down the asperity of words which I have before refuted; but when these beliefs are assumed as facts to which I am by implication called on to assent, and embodied in his last article in the formula of my confession, I must, in honoui-, interpose my non-acquies- cence, and claim the privilege of abiding by facts as they have already been explained by me, and not as interpreted by others. With these remarks I have done ; but as my warfare was directed against principles rather than persons, I can see no barrier whatever to my joining cordially in the general "hum" of harmony set in motion by "A Hamp- shire Bee-keeper," whose vocation I Irave always regarded as the noblest on eai'th. In regard to the general question of foul brood and the sub- sidiary but very important question raised, as to "Whether bees do remove chilled and abortive brood in all stages from the hive," it is my purpose to devote a paper exclusively to its consideration. It will l>e seen that my views are dia- metrically opposed to those of Mr. Woodbury, " B. & W.," and Mr. Edwards on this question, and I think it is but due to the interests of apieultiu'e and truth that this sub- sidiary question shoidd be thoroughly examined into and cleared up. If I shall be able to demonstrate satisfactorily tie negative of this proposition — namely, that " bees do not remove chiUod and abortive brood in all stages from a hive," which I think I can, then I shall pave the way, I hope, for a general acquiescence in the doctrines which — in opposition to the most skilled apiarians of the day, both home and foreign, in reference to the natiu'e and origin of foul brood — I have had the temerity to propound in these pages. This at present is a promise. Tlie fulfilment anon. Meantime I had as a good omen (for " coming events," it is said, " cast their shadows before"), some faint indications in Mr. Woodbury's last paper of a little wavering, I imagine, in liis views on this very point. Some revelations fr-om " the north " have apparently wi'ought this change. But be this as it may, we must all, as true students of Nature, search after truth in the love of it ; and while probing Nature herself to give forth " her answers," may we, as the Editors reminded us in a recent Number, accept these as fr-om an unfading oracle. " Great is truth and it will prevail." Magna est Veritas, et prevalebit. — J. Lowe. OUE LETTEE BOX. Poultry Chronicle [Pottltry-Keeper). — There is no separate publi- cation now with that title. It was amalgamated ■with this Journal some years ago. Diseased Poultry— C a. '^e of Gapes (X. li ).— We fancy it is tlie gapes, but we have never seen birds die fat when they are thus affected. The "stretching of necks and gaping'' describe the symptoms exactly. Of all the remedies we have tried, and their name is Legion, we know but one effectual. We have tried h only this ye;ir, and with great success. It is easy to administer either by putting a piece as large as a pea down the throat, or by keeping a lump always in the water. It is camphor. Pood for Podltry (J. M. C.), — Barley is unquestiooably a better food for poultry than Indiun com, and, as a rule, it is the cheapest. But the small birds eat so much of it that recourse must be had to Indian corn — two-thirds barley, one-third Indian corn. In very cold weather we shall feed on the latter entirely, to avoid nourishing ilie myriads of sparrows, £; re en finches, chaffinches, yellow-hammers, and all the other finches and hammers. POLANDS AT THE NORFOLK Show {F. S. P.).— We have not the pro- spectus of the Society's Show, but it probubly contained the usual rule, that the Judges may withhold prizes if they deem the birds undeserving of an award. The Judnes maybe wrong in their decision, but no Committee would reverse their decision unless a case was made out showing improper intluences. It was not courteous on the part of the Secretary to refrain from answering jour letter. Sebastopol Geese, &c. ( Wear Valley).— Y^x\\ Information has been given in our back Numbers on all these subjects. We know no book devoted to them. They will all bear our winter as well as any of our own birds. We have Carolinas and Califurniun Quails exposed to all weathers, now and for more than a year, with no other shelter than a pent roof 5 feet from the ground at the" lowest part. We had Sebastopol Geese out of doors all last winter. A swimming place is not necessary for the Geese, but it is for the Ducks. It need not be large at this season of the year. In the early spring, indeed soon after Christmas, a swimming place is absolutely neces- sary for tlie Geese as well as Ducks. They will not breed without it. The diet of the Geese will be barley ; of the Carolinas, barley varied at times with a little hempseed; of the Californians, oats, barley, and bread. All require a plentiful supply of grass or other green meat, aud the Quails will not live without it. Illustrated Poultry Book (J?er6er(fl).— The "Poultry Book" is the best illustrated book we know. Bantams and Cocliin-Chinas may be kept together, but no other small fowls. There is all the difference in life between a Bantam and a small fowl. Cochin-Chinas will do well in such a place as you describe ; but they will not perch on trees : it is not their nature. A very small and low house will answer every purpose for their roosting place.' It will not be unsightly, and the fowls will breed prize stock if they are good enough. Feeding Bees {2". ^. D.).— Six pounds of lump sugar to one pint of water is about four times the proper quantity. We put three pounds of sugar to two pounds of water, and boil the syrup a minute or two. Water in Lbad Cistern {Oxide of Zcoc?). — Water so kept is always injurious, more or less, to those who drink it. The intensity of the injury depends upon the purity of the water— the purer it is the more rapidly it acts on the lead. The usual symptoms are costiveness, tenderness over the stomach when pressed upon, nausea, and vomiting. Rearing Calves {F. S. Allen).— You can have No. 62 of this series of our Journal if you enclose four postage stamps, with your address. In that is a long extract giving good directions, and too long to reprint. December 8, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 4A6 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day of M'nth Day ot Week. 9 10 11 12 13 14 Td W Th F 8 Son M DECE.VBEU 8— H, 1863. D. Donn died, 1841. Bot. Rrvinu3 born, 1652. Bot. [ends. Grouse and Blackcock shootiag Micheljua bom, 1697. Bot. Dr. Darwin born, 1732. Bot. 3 SUNOAT IN Adve.nt. 3. C. Loudon died, 1643. Gar. Avera ?e Temperature Rain in la&t 38 jears. Sou Sun near London. Rises. Sets. Day. Night. Mean. Days. m. h. m. h. 46.5 34.0 40.2 21 55af 7 49af3 46.3 35.7 41.0 15 66 7 49 3 46.4 33.S 30,9 12 67 7 49 3 45.4 32.6 1 38.9 9 58 7 49 3 45 G 33.8 39.7 l(i 59 7 49 3 46.4 32.7 39.6 12 0 8 49 3 45.7 84.0 39.8 13 1 8 49 3 Moon liises. Moon Seta. 50 9 19 22 14 54 28 10 Moon's Age. Clock after Sun. Day of Year. 27 28 • 1 2 3 4 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 From obserrations taken near London during the last thirty-six years, the average day temperature of the week is 46.0°, and its night temperature 33.7°. The greatest heat was 61', on the 13th, 1842: and the lowest cold, 11°, on the 13lh, 1846. The greatest fall of rain was 0.62 inch. POT-CULTUEE OF PEACHES AND OTHEE FEUITS, VEEstjs THE PLAJSfTING-OUT SYSTEM. LTHOUGH the culti- vation of Peackes and other fruits in pots is not by any means an idea of recent origin, it is only n ithin the last I ,, twelve orfourteen ' "f years that it has been extensively practised ; and to some extentit has become popular by the erection of houses on a some- what extensive scale for the ex- press purpose of growing such fruits in pots. To Mr. Elvers, the iatel- ligent nurseryman of Sawbridgeworth, more than to any other man, the public are indebted for whatever amount of pleasure or profit that has arisen from the system. All who have watched, for the last eight or ten years, Mr. Elvers' almost incessant and rational advocacy of the system, and the dexterous energy with which he has appeared on almost every field to shield it from attack, must have been deeply impressed with the idea that the culture of fruit trees in pots is a system the desirability of which he most earnestly believes, while his own suc- cess has been proof sufficient that good fniits can be so produced in abundance. This may be accepted as a fact not to be controverted. I have never had the pleasure of an ocular demonstra- tion of Mr. Elvers' great success ia this particular depart- ment, but I have met with gentlemen who have been to the nurseries at Sawbridgeworth, and who have corrobo- rated Mr. Elvers' own statements of Ills successes. That such fruit can be so produced is a fact which requires neither demonstration nor proof. It is only necessary' to go to Sawbridgeworth and several other places where the inspection of the system is kindly permitted to all who are interested in the matter. This is, Iiowever, a very different thing from recommending the pot-system in preference to any other. This has generally been careftdly avoided, as far as I am aware of, by its most ardent advocates, no doubt because they are convinced that such a one-sided view of the matter woidd only have provoked the ridicule of all who understand by what means the production of the greatest quantity of first-rate fruit with the least possible outlay of time and expense can be obtaiued. The controversial skirmishes on this subject which have come off in the various periodicals have no doubt been productive of much good. They have at the same No. 141.— Vol. v., New Sekies. time thrown the inexperienced on the horns of a dilemma as to which of the two systems is to be prefered, be- cause no rebable comparisons have been drawn by per- sons well conversant with both sides of the question. I have sometimes had to advise in this matter, and always in favour of planting out and training to a flat surface in the usual way. There is, however, no particular fault to find with any one who chooses to recommend the pot- system, for I would like to see the plant or fruit that an English gardener could not make productive and interest- ing in a pot ; and those who gi'ow their own fruit, and are not responsible for the best possible supply, may gi-ow it as they choose. But the strenuous advocacy of the pot-system as the ideal of perfection by those wh© probably date their gai'dening experience from some time between this and the period when orchard-houses have been inaugurated, and who probably have never tried any other system, is amusing enough. Let every system have its full share of merit allowed it, and however desirable the pot-cuUui-e of fruit may be considered, the great majority of good gardeners who have to supply the fruit market or tlieir employers' tables with the very best fruit and on the most economical principles, are thoroughly satisfied that their task must be performed with trees planted out in borders and not grown in pots, however well managed the latter may be. A very interesting article in this -Journal, November 24th, from the pen of " T. E.," sets this matter completely at rest, if any doubt ever existed. He balances care- fully the comparative merits of the two systems ; and the .sum total of his deductions is that a fourth more ia quantity, and fruit of superior quality, can be produced from trees planted out and trained to treUises. Surely this is a most powerful argument in favoui' of any system, especially as it will be suspected that it comes from the most powerful advocate of a rival system. The principal argument in favour of trees in pots is that it affords more pleasure than when grown and trained otherwise. Many wdl venture to suppose that this argument wiU weigh only with a very small niunber of growers. JSTo doubt a houseful of trees in pots must be interesting and pretty, yea, lovely ; but in most cases the proof of the pudding will be considered to lie in something else. It would be veiy interesting to make a comparison of the expense of furnishing an orchard-house in the two different ways, and of the time and labour that are re- quired to bring a crop to maturity, the chances of success or failure, as well as the different other purposes for which, under the two methods, such structures are available. If the expense of furnishing be first taken into con- sideration I wiU refer, for the sake of illustration, to a long lean-to orchard-house which was erected here last year. It is 135 feet long, 11 feet wide, 12 feet high at the back, with a two-feet" front light. There were a few very fair Peach trees on the wall before the house was built. The rest of the space has been furnished with dwarf-trained and rider Peaches and Nectarines. But suppose the whole had to be newly furnished with trees, No. 793.— Vol. XXX., Old t-hKitt 446 JOUENAL OF HORTICTJLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ December 8, 1863, sixteen trees would be sufficient for the back wall — eight riders and eight dwarfs. Trees can be trained about 7 feet up from the front close to the glass without shading the back wall, and here twelve Peaches and Plums, dwarf-trained trees, in equal proportions, have been planted. Here are eight riders at 10s. 6d. each, and twenty dwarfs at 73. 6d. each, which amount to a few shillings under X12 for fiirnish- ing the house ou the planting-out and trellis-training system. First-class trees can be bought at the prices quoted, and I always find that they beai- a few fruits the same year they are planted ; and some of the riders which I planted last December are now covering more than 50 square feet of surface, so that with them and the dwarfs the wall is almost completely covered. Suppose that, instead of this lean-to, it were an orchard- house 67 J by 22 feet, it would require about 120 trees in pots to furnish it, which at 5s. amount to ^630 — a sum sufficient to furnish and heat the house with hot water on the rival system. Perhaps trees in pots could be purchased for less than 5s. ; so could the trained trees in the other case, but in both cases they would be less or inferior. In the lean-to house referred to there is a training surface of more than 2000 square feet fully exposed to the sun, which, the advocates of the pot-system being judges, is the best possible position for producing fine fruit. True, it may be termed an unnatural mode of training the branches, but not more so than that to which the roots are subject in the other case, to say nothing of the incessant pinching to which they are, no doubt, very properly subjected. The house in question is so ventilated that a ft-ee cm-rent of air can be made to play on every leaf, and when desirable a shower of rain in summer can be allowed to fall on the whole of the back wall. The most extraordinary house of Peaches on this principle which I have ever seen is at Dalkeith Park. The Pears in pots at the same place are, no doubt, fine in theu- way, but I never heard that any one was astonished with them, while plenty have so expressed themselves with regard to the Peaches, which have been transformed in a few years from a waU of indifferent trees into the style with which plenty are now familiar, and all by a mere covering of glass. With regard to the labour and attention rendered neces- sary by these two modes of producing fi-uit, I would simply appeal to all gardeners who have had any experience in the matter, or who are, from thefr intimate knowledge of ma- naging any other plants in pots, capable of drawing a pretty correct estimate, and I feel certain they wiU have no diffi- culty in deciding in favour of the planting-out system. I would not for a moment detract from the correct impressions which have been conveyed of the pleasiu'cs attending the management of fruit trees in pots : far from it. It would, indeed, be difficult to overestimate i:ileasing hours which miglit be enjoyed by any who had a fancy for so spending their time and money. But, then, taste is so varied that while one may derive pleasing recreation from watching and tending a Peach tree in a pot, another might reap the same enjoyment from a fruit tree managed in any other way. On the other hand, there is no necessity why a Peach- house, or a house of mixed fruits trained fan-fashion, should be the stale monotonous thing that it is sometimes repre- sented. There is the back wall a sheet of blossom or fi-uit, the front trellis is the same. Underneath on the floor there may be all sorts of plants that delight in a cool airy house and partial shade. In our own house here, for instance, there were in spring eight thousand Geraniums in pots a perfect sheet of various shades of blossom, from white to crimson ; and elevated above these, on pots turned upside down, there were specimen plants to take off the even surface. AU summer, and particulaa-ly autumn up tiU the end of No- vember, it was the favourite resort of the family and their visitors. There was a bed of Geraniums 8 feet wide along the whole length, with a specimen Statice profusa in every other light, and on each side of the Statice was a specimen of Centaurea ragusina. The edging next the path was of Centam-ea, Lobelia speciosa, and Coleus Verschafl'elti mixed, and the efl'ect was reaUy splendid. Now, for an amateur or any one fond of display of this sort, a house managed thus is surely calculated to give a greater amount of pleasure, and I fancy both the flowers ;uid fruit could be produced with about the same labour required for a house fuU of fruit in pots. At present there are fifteen thousand Geraniums in the house, which are more or less in flower, and a more delightful promenade is scarcely conceivable in a house from which a full crop of excellent fruit can be obtained. With regard to the diffi- culties which lie in the way of a beginner, as to learning the different points belonging to the two systems, I would have no fear in finding gardeners who would teach a novice how to manage planted-out and fan-trained trees as soon as any one could reveal to him all the outs and ins of the pot- system. The labour and skill required in the former case is certainly not more than that which is indispensable in the latter. It may be asserted that fruit trees, when planted in borders under glass, make rampant and unfruitful wood, and no doubt under improper management such wiU be the case. But this is an evil which can be prevented and remedied in cases where it may occur ; and however much can be said in favour of pot-culture, it is not right to single out cases of mis- management as disparagements to the planting-out system. By all means let both methods have fair play and no favour, and their faults should be as faithfully written on theu- faces " as their merits. To use an old Scotch proverb, " Our sins and debts on this score are often mair than we think." The old method of roots in borders and heads on trelUses may yield less pleasure and labour, but it has the merit which nine out of every ten will fii-st consider — namely, that of yielding more and finer fruit. D. Thomson. VISITS TO GAUDENS PUBLIC AND PEIVATE. MK. ward's, the ROSERY, IPSWICH. " A PROPHET hath no honom- in his own country," thought I, as on a very muggy morning this last November, after four and twenty hours soaking rain, I set out to inquire my way to find the world-known raiser of John Hopper. " You bees looking for parson Ward," says one, " he as lives next the hospital." "No, I be'ant!" in as broad Suffolk as I could muster ; " it 's Mister Ward, a nurseryman." " Doan't know." After many fruitless attempts I lighted on one somewhat more knowing than his predecessors. " Ah ! it 's he as lives at California." Well. I hadn't seven-leagued boots or Nadar's Geant, and so I couldn't veutui-e on the diggings. Then it was explained to me that this was a suburb of Ijiswich, and that in that direction I should find my man. Well, despite of dirt and mud, of which Ipswich seems to have a very fair proportion, I set off for Calii'ornia, which I found was on a tolerably good eminence ; and after sundry inquiries and bafflings I came at last in front of a very modest unpretending-looking house, with a green- house close to it, which a board announced to me wjis Mr. AVard's Rosei-y. It was, I am bound to say, as unlikely a place to find anything of rosarian interest as any that I know of, and yet a most notable instance of how little we are to judge by appearances ; for here in this wild blustering hill, with its poor stony soU, there is going on a series of operations which will, I hope, if its owner is spared, yet produce some- thing worth looking at, as they have ali-eady produced one of the very best (next to Devouiensis the best) of English- raised Roses. To grow Roses is one thing ; to raise Roses is another — not to raise them at haphazard, as om- worthy French neigh- bours do, but to raise them on scientific principles, to care- fully select such sorts as are likely to hybridise well, and to produce desu-able results. Now this, Mr. Wai-d has ah-eady done ; and it is no slight encouragement to raisers of reaUy good Roses to know what he has done with John Hopper-. In the twelve mouths from October 1st, 1802, when he tii'st sent it out, to October, ls03, he has sold GOOO plants and upwards. He kindly showed me his book, in which every order was entered, and, more than this, order upon order which he had not been able to execute owing to his stock being completely run out. When we recollect that this involves a receipt of some four or five hundi-ed poimds, it shows what may be done by a judicious hybridiser, for this is no chance work. Mi-. Ward knows thoroughly well what he is about, for Roses have not been his first love. He lived formerlv with Mr. Chater. of Saffron Walden ; and it was when Mr. Ward wa.g his foreman, and, I believe, the December 8, 1863. ] JOURNAL OP HOETIOULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 447 manipulator in the matter, that Mr. Chater by the raising of Comet iirst took that foremost rank amongst Hollyhock- raisers which he has ever since maintained. After some years spent with Mr. Chater Mr. Ward migrated to Mr. Bircham, at Hedenham, in Suffolk, then an extensive Eose- grower, and there he conceived the idea of carrying out the same principles of hybridisation that he had so successfully adopted in the case of the HoUyhock. Many shook their heads, and called him, as they will ever do, an enthusiast — a term which must be borne by every man who is really in earnest either for the things of time or eternity. Even his old master thought him visionary. However, he felt that he was right, and John Hopper has been the result of his enthusiasm. But he is not contented with the past, his motto is " Onward ;" and I firmly believe that he wiU yet add further lam-els to those he has already won. It is curious with what different eyes we look at the same thing. A small tree of Gloire de Dijon was nailed to the front of his house. Most people would have passed it by, and thought it hardly worth notice ; but to Mr. Ward and the Eose-lover there was much on it to look at and speculate about — viz., two well-sweUed hips hybridised with one of our best daik Hybrid Perpetuals. Imagine what a sensation a deep-colom-ed crimson Tea Eose would make, or a yeUow Hybrid Perpetual. And why not ? It is this determination to strike out of the old beaten paths and to take up original notions that is a proof of genius, when common sense is also allowed to have its weight. Then Mr. Ward has some very promising seedlings. Of com'se, in November it was too late to see them in bloom : several of them he spoke most highly of, while others, which he pronounced equal to the ruck of French Eoses sent over every year, he had dis- carded. He will not send out a Eose until he has found by careful watching that it is likely to do him credit. Mr. Ward's ground, as I have said, is poor — just one of those grounds where the great value of the Manetti stock is seen ; but imtil the present year he has also had a very large stock of fine Eoses on their own roots. The dry and hot summer of this year has, however, somewhat baulked him, his plants being much smaller than usual. I wish I could convey an accurate notion of his method of propagating these. I fear I shall make but a mess of it — however, I can only do my best. In one of his greenhouses he piits about five hundi'ed plants, from which his cuttings are to be made. His first crop of cuttings from these consists of about 1500. I should say the plants are put in 16-pots, foiu: in a pot. His next batch is about 4500, and his next some- what lai'ger, so that fi'om these he has obtained in the course of three or four months from ten to twelve thousand cuttings. His propagating place is quite a model. In a greenhouse he has glass cases over a tank of hot water, in fact a double case, but differing in this respect from other similar structures, that the fronts slide down, and conse- quently the drip occasioned by lifting up and down the sashes is not experienced. By this tank a heat cf 100° to 120° is maintained, and great cai-e is exercised that damp does not settle about the young leaves, and this he effects by fi-equent and gentle syringings. In a few days a callus is formed, and when rooted the young plants ai-e potted-off and put into single pots, gradually inured to a colder atmosphere, and then planted oiit, when they make fine plants by the autumn — plants 18 inches to 2 feet in height. The beds used for this purpose are sunk somewhat below the level of the surface, as the soil in Mr. Ward's garden is so very light that to keep them watered is in dry seasons a matter of some diiSculty. By this process, he assured me, his losses were not 2 per cent. During the progress of his experiments in hybridising some curious facts have come under Mr. Ward's notice. Thus he hybridised Noisette Lamarque with Prince Leon, H.P. Of the produce of the cross one came perfectly single, of the colour of JLamarque, most vigorous in habit, but, of eoui'se, useless. Then, again, he had planted against a waU E. bracteata. Fortune's Yellow, and other varieties of Eoses, but he has never succeeded in his crossing yrith them. His hope was to obtain an evergreen Eose about the size and colova- of the Hybrid Perpetuals. Again, he has found that it is never of any use hybridising semidouble flowers, for these wiU not produce thoroughly double flowers. There can be but little doubt that a vast number of the Hybrid Pei-petuals which have come to us from France are seedlings of General Jacqueminot, by far the freest seeder that we have. Due de Gazes, Vulcain, Princesse Mathilde, Praire de Terre Noii'e, &c. — Eoses which cannot have a permanent place in oiu- lists, however they may please for a year or two, betray their military origin. Mr. Ward avoids this by only using double vaiieties, and by saving only impregnated hips. These latter he has found, he fancies, to be much finer and larger than those which are naturally impregnated. Amongst the results of his labours I may mention that he has a fine seedling which he intends to let out next year, and which I hope to see and report upon in due time. He has called it Mrs. Berners, and I trust it may be a worthy successor of John Hopper. He feels that he has a character to sustain, and he wUl not lightly forfeit it. Then he has another under trial, which he pronounces to be the most perfectly double Eose he ever saw, and a bud which he showed me seemed to confirm this opinion; but as to its merits we must wait some time before we decide. Such, then, are a few imperfect notes concerning the whereabouts of John Hopper and its raiser ; and now a word as to the Eose itself. It has, I believe, this season disap- pointed a good many. This I can well understand: it is one of those peculiai-ly tinted Eoses that reqmre a cool summer to develope their beauties, and the past summer has been not a cool but a very hot one. To this cause, and this alone, is to be attributed any disappointment that may have been felt concerning it, and I feel convinced that it will yet fully maintain the high character given to it ; and if its raiser will only give us a few more in different styles as good as this, or, stiU better, give us a crimson Tea or yeUow Hybrid Perpetual Eose, he wiU be gi-atefuUy remem- bered as one of the greatest benefactors of the Eose-growing race, and then- name is Legion. — D., Deal. LEAJST-TO GEOUND CUEATES' VINEEIES. In the " Cm-ates' Vineries," which from time to time have been noticed in yom- columns, what is the object in having the glass framework ridge-shaped, thus — ^V? Woidd there be any objection to putting another row or two of bricks and having the fr-amework flat ? With the framework flat there would be a considerable saving in cost. Of course, one end, say the north, must be a little higher than the other in order to throw off the rain ; but there would be no difficulty in this, especially in situations where the ground lay on the incline. — B. [The ridge-shaped roof is to throw off the water, and also to offer two favourable angles to the sun. Another or even two more rows of bricks may be added if height is required ; but they must be placed so as to leave pigeon-holes for ven- tilation. A lean-to ground vinery with a one-inch board for the back would do very well, but it should be placed on bricks so as to be properly" ventilated, and the sloping glass roof should be facing the south or south-west — in fact, such a sti-ucture would be very cheap, more easily made, and quite as efScient as the ridge-shaped roof. The back wall or board of such a vinery should be 18 or 20 inches high, its fi-ont from 6 to 8 inches. Grapes would ripen well in such structm-es, and for ground on the incline they would be more convenient than ridge ground vineries.] GEAFTING VINES. As an answer to " T. E. 0.," and other inquii-ers, we reply that if old Vines are in a good border and strong it woidd not be advisable to root them out, inasmuch as you will get the sorts you want to introduce into a full bearing state sooner on established stocks than if planted in the usual way. If your established Vines are not in good condition then root them out by all means, and introduce yoxir new varieties by making a good border and planting young healthy Vines in the usual way. The Bai-barossa is, in some cases, a rather shy fruiter ; and it is more than likely that its being put on to a less vigorous-gi-owing sort, like the Black Frontignan, might have a beneficial effect on it in this respect. If you mean the Canon Hall Muscat and Muscat 448 JOURNAL OF HOETICITLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ December 8, 1863. of Alexandria for eai-ly forcing, you will not find them well adapted for that purpose unless with tjie best means of bottom heat, and even then they are not to be depended upon for early work. They may both be termed shy setters, and they take a long time to ripen. The White Frontignan, on which you propose to graft them, would answer this purjjose better than either of the two ; but if you do not mean to begin forcing before the end of January or early in Pebn;ai-y, the Muscats succeed very well, but will not be ready for table neai-ly so soon as Chasselas Musque, Royal Muscadine, and Buckland Sweetwater, all of which will ripen a month before the Muscats, and are good early white Grapes. If the state of your old Vines is in all respects satisfactory, the inarching of green wood to gi-een is by far the quickest and best way, and is performed by taking a deep slice off the sides of both the stock and the Vine you desire to intro- duce, and tying the two together with a piece of soft mat. The union takes place sooner and better thus than when a scion of last year's growth is grafted on in the usual way. — D. T. ' EXHIBITING EOSES. " D." BELfiNS by asking. What is a truss ? as if there wei'e BO question upon the subject of exhibiting single blooms or I trusses. I think he should hare first asked. Must Eoses be \ shown in trusses ? He says he thinks they should — 1st, because a Eose naturally of a medium size can never be exhibited lai'ge (I suppose he means large through dis- budding), unless by the loss of refinement ; and, 2ndly, that a truss is the natiu'al production of the shoot, and that therefore disbudding ought not to be allowed. These seem to be his only objections to disbudding. As to liis first reason, I entirely difier li'om him in thinking it a sufficient one. The practice would probably only obtain with medium and under-sized Eoses, and I believe, if pro- perly carried out, would tend only to increase the size of such Eoses and bring them more on a level in that respect with those natiu'ally of a larger size, and thus add uniformity ; to a pan of flowers. ! That increase in size is, as a rule, obtained at the cost of refinement I emphatically deny. I speak from experience, having SUO to 1000 plants. Of coiu-se, I am assuming that moderately high cultivation is employed, and that the roots axe moderately thinned. I know quite well that excessively high cultivation and immoderate thinning will produce "coarse" Eoses (if any Eose can be coarse); but the abuse of a thing is no argument against its moderate use. Then as to his second objection, I confess I do not see any logic in it. What is the natural production of a shoot ; in a Carnation, a Pink, or a Hollyhock ? What the natural ' state of a bunch of Grapes, of many a Peach and other , fruit tree? Why should the natural production of the shoot of the Eose be more i-egarded than the natural shoots of other flowers and of fruits? "D." seems to forget that Eoses siiown as cut flowers are florists' flowers, should come | as nearly as possible up to the florists' standard, and be judged ijy such standard. Effectiveness produced by trusses \ should not be aimed at, but perfection in each individual - bloom. ] It that can be more nearly reached by means of disbudding, why should not the rosarian disbud as weU as the grower of the Carnation, the Pink, or the Hollyhock ? I take it that form, substance, colour, and size are the points to be regarded in a cut Rose, and in the order named. The first two, and perhaps the thud, depend much on the j vaa-iety, irrespective of cultivation; but the last in the I smaller kinds of Roses can only be attained by high cul- j tivation and liberal disbudding. j " II. How many trusses (blooms ?) shoidd be shown ? " II am happy to say I entii-ely agi-ee with " D." in his remarks under tins head and on No. III. " IV. Ought the classes to be separated ? " I was, I think, one of the first — if not the first — to advocate separation. I do not know that I have any more to say upon the question, except to observe that, in my opinion, if any variety of Rose should be shown in a sepai-ate class, that variety is the Moss. There is scarcely one of this variety — I do not know one — which would pass muster as a florists' flower. Moss Eoses are truly beautiful as Moss Eoses, and should be shown with their lovely buds on the trusses — in fact, should be shown in trusses — but they are altogether out of place in a pan of Eoses shown for form, substance, and colour — i. e,, shown as florists' flowers. V. As to Fancy classes. I think that the money expended on these woidd be better laid out if given for the best English-raised seecUing. The prize might accumulate until a Eose worthy of it was produced. Giving prizes to huge bunches of Roses is, in my opinion, a great mistake. — P. FRUIT ON STEPHANOTIS FLOEIBUNDA. I HAVE now, on one of the plants here, a fruit measuring 51 inches in length and 8 inches in circumference. The plant is gi-owing in a No. 3-sized pot, and has fruited two years in succession. From 70° to SO' of moist heat is given from April to the time of flowering, when the plant is re- moved to the conservatory, where it remains until September. It is then taken back to the stove, and is kept in a tempe- rature of from 50° to .55° diu-ing winter, with a rise from sunshine in spi-tng ; little water is given from October to February, only just sufficient to keep the leaves from flagging. No attention is paid to impregnating the blooms, although I find several formed in August continuing in a small state until April. These I thin to one, and the fruit rapidly swells and is ripe about December. A mixture of equal paa-ts of peat, loam, and leaf mould, with occasional waterings of clear liquid manure, suits this Stephanotis well. — W. Lanfeae, Gardener to T. Parry, Esq., Sleaford. CUTTING OFF LEATES FROM STRAWBERRIES. It was not my intention to enter upon this subject again ; but youi- correspondent, Quintin Read, appears to think I am annoyed at an expression used by htm in an ai'ticle contri- buted to your Journal of October 20th, in which the word " barbarous " was applied to the indisciiminate removal of the leaves from the StrawbeiTy plants previously to the winter setting in. But I assure him that I by no means feel annoyed at anything that he has contributed to your Journal. Yom- correspondent also states that I adopt a rough-and- ready way of manii^ulation by the introduction of a novel instrument for that purpose in lieu of a knife, in the shape of a scythe ; yet he states that many gardeners, as soon as the fruit was gathered, used to cut or mow off all the leaves. And when the term " mow " is used, I take it for granted that a scythe was used to perform the operation. If so, in what shape or way can the scythe be pronounced a novel instrument for that pui-pose ? I by no means consider it a newly-introduced kitchen-garden implement, for I have seen it used for many purposes there besides mowing-off StrawbeiTy leaves. For instance : I have seen it used for mowing off Asparagus stems when ripe, and also Potato haulms ; I will not go so far as to say weeds, because I never did see these mown down ; but I have frequently heard of this being done ; and I do not think the scythe would be at all out of character if used to mow off all the spent or decayed stems from the perennial plants in autumn, providing we had a large bulk, and stood free of everything else in order that we might get a good swing. A practical man, and such as the one that has mown off the Strawberry leaves and Asparagus stems for the last ten years in this place, I am quite sure would mow them off quite as well as he could cut them off with an ordinary pocket-knife, and with one-fourth the time and trouble. I have seen the scythe used in more than one large place to mow the Box edgings to the gravel walks in a kitchen garden. Although this may appear strange to your correspondent, nevertheless it is done, and in such a way that it does credit both to the man and his dii-ector. In reference to produce of fruit fr-om the quarter of an acre of Keens' Seedling, I was j)ei-fectly satisfied when I stated that we picked two bushels at one time, and little short of half-a-bushel daily for three weeks. I may add that I mowed the leaves off the Keens' Seed- December 8, 1863. ] JOTJKNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE A^D COTTAGE GABDENEE,. 449 lings this season in the second week in July, after I had selected all the strongest mnners for forcing in pots : therefore they had the same time to make and ripen then- growth as those in pots, this being a considerable time before the setting-in of winter, as your correspondent wiU perceive. The plants are now 2 feet in diameter, with fine luxuriant foliage, and every particle of them well matured. Nothing is left to present an unsightly appeai'ance or for the wind to blow away into any other part of the garden through the winter months. Tour contributor remarks that his plants are 2.\ feet in diameter. I presume that includes the old spent or decayed foliage. Unquestionably his plants will make some growth ; but I cannot see in what way they are ripened when almost entirely concealed by their old spent leaves ; and if we should have any such cutting winds during severe weather, I fear it wiU deprive his plants of their clothing that he allows to remain throvigh these mild autumn months. That appears to me like heating a house full of tender plants during mild weather, and allowing the fire to go out when severe weather sets in.— J. B. C. P. RIPENmG GEAPES IN A GEEENHOUSE WHERE FLOWERING PLANTS AEE GEOWN. Mt Grapes do not ripen well, and many bunches have been both soft and sour, though having as much fii'e as the gardener wished for. I am told that the reason is, that I have Geraniums in the house ; and I have been told, also, that "Grapes never do well in a greenhouse." I shall be much obliged by your telling me whether this is the case, and whether Grapes cannot be successfully cultivated in a greenhouse where they are not required to be ripe before August or September, and from whence the flowers (with a few chance exceptions), are removed in May to a cool con- servatory to bloom there ? The Grapes are chiefly the Black Hamburgh. — Agnes. [Tours is just one of those cases where we would like to have more minute information regarding the particular con- ditions under which your Grapes have failed to ripen pro- perly. There is no reason arising from the atmosphere of your greenhouse why they should not ripen if the plants are removed in May and the house then managed as for Grapes ; but if the gardener has not fall liberty to study the Grapes independently of any paa-ticidar consideration for the plants, then you must not blame your gardener if yoiu- Grapes are not good. Grapes may be thoroughly ripened and be ex- cellent in a greenhouse in the one case, but there are many chances against their being so in the other. If yoiu' Grapes have ripened under similar cu-cumstances in former years, then the cause of failure this year must be looked for in something else. Generally speaking. Vines that are left to take their chance in a greenhouse till early summer require a good deal of fire heat during the latter part of the season to insure their ripening properly, particularly in cold localities. We cannot give any more definite answer to your questions as to the correctness of yom' gardener's statement in the absence of other details.] ROSES IN THE SUBURBS. As the season for transplanting has now commenced, perhaps a continuation of my last paper on the above sub- ject may be considered not without interest and utility by those readers of The Jouknal of Hortictjltuee who are dwellers in the vicinity of large towns, particularly as space compelled me to close my former communication with the Eioses of 1862. Before proceeding further, however, I would impress upon aU who are about to procure fresh stock the absolute necessity of careful planting if they wish to attain success. When plants on the briar are received from the nurseries it will usually be found that they have been planted mxxch deeper than they ought to be, especially when placed in their final positions. There ai-e many reasons for this system of deep planting at the nursery which it is needless to enlarge upon here ; bixt they do not apply to private grounds, in which it ought never to be practised. No briar stock ought ever to be deeper in the ground than the collar ; and if plants have ah-eady been planted so, upon removal the error should be rectified, and a few handfuls of soil placed round that portion of the stock which has pre- viously been buried too deeply, in order to protect it for a time from exposiu-e to the atmosphere, to which it has not been accustomed: this soil may be removed gradually at a favourable season. It is also a good plan to place a handful or two of light earth round the bud of plants worked upon the Manetti before finally covering-in. It encoiu'ages root-action from the bud itself as well as from the foster- stock ; so that eventually a double set of roots exists, and the stock, if preferred, may be. entirely cut away, leaving a Rose upon its own bottom. But to return to the discussion of suburban Roses. Tea Gloire de Dijon, hardy in constitution, free in growth, in bloom the fii-st and last, is the best of all Roses for unfavour- able localities, and indeed for anywhere else. Even an inferior flower of this variety is striking and better in quality than the best of some kinds, while a perfect bloom is unsur- passed. I can scarcely believe this shoxdd be considered a Tea Rose except in scent, but rather a hybrid from some of the strong-growing Bourbons, possibly fr'om Souvenir de Malmaison, which it much resembles, though stronger ia growth and different in hue. Jacqueminot it is scarcely necessary to comment upon, except to remark that it is the parent of almost aU the high-coloured varieties introduced dm-ing the last few years. If a cross could be obtained between this and Gloire de Dijon (and I do not see why it should not succeed), we should acquh'e a new strain of Roses of most valuable pro- perties and of novel lines of colour, much superior to the loose high-coloiu-ed Hybrid Perpetuals, almost aU alike, and the flimsy Teas that are now season after season foisted upon the Rose-growing' pubKc. Jules Margottin, Mesdames Knorr, de Cambaceres, Do- mage, Rivers, Laffay ; Anna Alexieff, Comtesse de Chabidl- lant. Lord Raglan, and Triomphe des Beaux Arts, are so well known that to describe them in detail would be useless repetition. The following, however, are less common. Hy- brid Perpetuals : Mdlle. Therese Appert, a sort of pale peach or blush, vei-y free and late bloomer; full, flatfish flower; of moderate growth. Madame Bruny (this I am disposed to set down as really a Bourbon), peach ; full flower ; strong grower. Pisonia, bright crimson ; large, full flower ; free and late bloomer, good habit. Prince Imperial, rose colour; one of the largest and fullest flowers grown; not popular at the nui-series, as it is one of those kinds that send up one or two leading shoots only, and consequently take two or three seasons to make a saleable head— never- theless, it is a good flower in the rosery. Large Roses that open well generally make the best for unfavourable situ- ations. Marechal Pelissier, hght rose, globular, succeeds where Auguste Mie wiU not, and is somewhat in that line of colour. Nai-cisse (query. Tea or Noisette ? — is entered as both in the lists), though small is always in bloom; the flower is beautifully formed, and the colour exquisitely puie, light yellow, canary centre; the growth is slender, yet it does well near town. Bourbon ApoUine, light pink, pretty; rampant, straggling grower. The above-named I have found or seen to do veiy well, and ai-e worth the attention of subui-ban rosaxians. There are a few old favourites, such as General Brea, Madame Guinoisseau, Mathurin Reguier, and Glofre de Vitry, stm under trial. To such enterprising spii-its as are inclined to venture out of the beaten track, and experimentalise a little on their own account, I would point out the following vaiieties of 1863 as likely to repay investment. I have seen them myself, and have received accounts of them from sources which I have every ground for believing to be entirely trustworthy. HTBKID PERPETUALS. Alfred de Rougemont. — Crimson purple; fine shaped and full flower ; vigorous habit. Baron Adolphe de Rothschild. — Fiery red; laxge, full, and vigorous. I am assured that this is likely to be a first-rate vai'iety. The raiser is to be depended on. Baron de Rothschild. — A fine Rose, more lilac than the above, and scarcely so large and vigorous. Jean Goujon (Mai-gottin). — BriUiant red; a large saucer- 430 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Deceraber 8, 1303. profiled, flat-faced, full flower, with regular petals ; vigorous and decidedly good. Le Rhone. — Vermilion it is described as, but certainly not the vermilion of artists, which I have never seen in any Rose ; free bloomer, tolerably free grower, and a good garden sort. Mrs. Wm. Paul. — Purplish-red or crimson ; full generally and well shaped; habit &-ee. 1 saw this in bloom in the forcing-house in spring, and in the grounds three weeks ago, so it may be considered a true Pei-petual, which too many so-called are not ; Madame Boll, for instance. Henry IV. — Another Rose somewhat the colour of the last, but scarcely so large and double. It is, however, a late bloomer. Vainqueur de Goliath. — Brilliant red or crimson, shaded deeper. I am told thatthis is afh-st-rateRose. Messrs. Wood describe it as the best flower of the season. The habit is vigorous and good. Madame Alfred de Rougemont. — White, tinted, incon-ectly described as the " shape of the Cabbage Rose." It appears to me to be really a Hybrid Noisette. It is worth a trial for its colour ; good whites are scarce. BOUP.BON. Louise Margottin. — Lighter than Louise Odier, and every way excellent. Those cultivators who have not yet given theu- orders had better not defer any longer. Tlie finest plants are being lifted every day in large numbers, and the run upon certain favourite kinds wUl speedily exliaust nurserymen's stocks. There is one encouragement, too, for the doubting to become growers at once — viz., a considerable reduction has tal;ea place in the price of plants tliis season. — W. D. Pkior, Ho7nerton. EESTIJN'G ORCHIDS A5D PITCHEE-PLANTS I SHALL be much obliged for some information about the resting of Orchids that flower in autumn and winter. The i rule given is, that as soon as the bulb is fuUy made, or the ' growth of the season completed, water must be gi-aduaUy withheld until the growing season returns. Is this rule | applicable to winter bloomers ? For example : Dendro- bium nobUe formed its bulbs by the fh-st week in August, and has been kept dry till now, when it begins to push the bloom-buds. Must it still be kept absolutely di-y ? D. den- siflorum has rested nearly us long, till the fluting of the bulbs shows the effect of the long tli-ought. It wQl bloom in February. Must it still starve tiU then ? Oncidium flex- uosum, at rest for these three months, has been forming its bloom-panicle nearly as long. lonopsis paniculata (on a block) has been in flower for some six weeks, and I think would long ago have withered, if I had not frequently wetted it. This makes me doubt the propriety of a dry treatment for other species, either blooming or about to bloom. Phajus Tankei-vdliae, and P. Wallichii, again, should these be now quite dry ? Would Sir. Appleby, to whose courtesy I am akeady much indebted for a solution of some queries, be so good as to give i;s a little article on the season, duration, and degree of rest-drought in winter-blooming Orchids, and the rela- tion of the rest to the formation and matiu-ation of flowers ? I wish, also, to be told, how those plants should be wintered which in summer delight in ha%-ing then- roots bathed in water ? For example : Nepenthes Rafflesiana, which with other species, Mr. Dominy keeps standing, the pot nearly submerged, in a tank of water in the growing season ; and Philesia buxifolia, which I was directed to keep in a saucer of water. I did not ask how long in either case, but I conjecture that both the stove and the o'reen- house bog plant require rest, and ought not now to be standing in water. Please to tell me if I am right in my conjecture, and if so, what condition their roots should be in for the next two months as to moisture. — Okchido- PHILUS. [Your remarks upon the different varieties conclusively show that you not only love the peculiar and lovely flowers which this great natural order produces, but are bent upon making yoiu-self acquainted with the bes^- modes in practice for bringing about a satisfactory floral display. That you may have the fiill benefit of our practical experience, we shall reply to your remarks in a way which we trust will be gene- rally applicable to the many other amateur growers who are beginning to found collections. As a general rule, all growers must bear in mind that this tribe of plants, like all others, must have a season of growth and a season of rest. Unlike, however, almost all the other families of plants under cultivation, this one may be subjected to very severe drought without the systems of many of the plants being materially injured. A corresponding degree of excess in moisture, if aggravated by cold, woidd be fatal in most cases. What all Orchid- growers have to study, is the maintenance of the proper balance of moisture and drought at the dift'erent seasons of growth and rest. It is very easy growing a collection of this kind of plants, many people say. So it is ; but it is one thing keeping plants in life, and another thing cultivating them to a liigh state of excellence. Now, I maintain that next to keeping the houses at a temperature suitable for the well-being of the class of plants growing therein, are the comparative degrees of drought and moistui'e, both for root and " branch," for encoui'aging successful gi'owth, and floral development. There has always been, and always will be, some little difficulty in explaining the precise treatment necessary for any given species or variety of plant, because in the first place no two men grow them in exactly the same ingredients. Some adopt ordinai'y drainage in the make up of their compost, and ply the watering-pan more cautiously ; others, again, give amjjle drainage, so that water may be poured ujx)n the plants almost at any time; and both may be very successful cultivators. One remark may, however, be made in passing, that whenever the compost becomes a sodden mass where aii' cannot freely cii'culate, the plant will lose every day afterwai'ds, however cautiously treated. There can be no two opinions about this. A &ee circulation of air amongst the roots is at all times highly nrecessaiy to attain success. All Dendrobiums, fi'om nobile upwards, reqviire a season of rest varying from four to two months. But for all this it is not to be supposed that they must during that time be kept di'y at the root. Certainly not. A season of rest, as I would have it understood, is a gradual diminution of tem- perature, and a proportionate restraint in the supply of water. D. nobile will live in a greenhouse temperature, even supposing it should occasionally fall to 36° in severe weather, with impunity. Little or no water during such a period may be given, and flower-clusters will show them- selves on the well-ripened wood at every eye. Densiflorum, on the contrary, if subjected to such treatment for any length of time, would die ; but it again will winter well in a temperature that never falls below 40°. Some of the more rare ones — such as Farmeri and onosmum, must not even be reduced so low, but all wUl flower much better if set in a house with a minimum temperature of 50°, and the atmo- sphere kept comparatively dry. Thus, " Orchidophiltjs," and others will see that some Orchids will live and bloom to advantage in 36°, and all the race of Dendrobes in houses from 50° downwards. Whenever there is too much appear- ance of shrivelling in the pseudo-bitlbs, then want of water is the cause. The pai'ty in charge must learn to have his eyes open to administer a remedy when .any flaw occurs. As to Oncidium flexuosum, with pseudo-bulbs matured, and showing bloom-panicles, it should now be in a temperatui'e ranging from 50° to 60° in the night, according to relative temperature out of doors, and moistened whenever it appears dry. lonopsis paniculata has been correctly treated. All block plants must be watered when dry, at whatever period of their growth. If they are allowed to shrivel it will take months to make up the loss. Phaius Taukervilliae, and P. Wallichii, are both ten-estrial Orchids, and should be dry at no season. Now they are showing their flower-spikes, and may be either grown in a temperatui-e of 50° or 60° to suit gi'owers, but it is not wisdom, even in those wishing to retard them for show, to subject them to a temperature lower than 45°. Phaltenopses, Vandas, and iErides, again, coming from such a warm region, are better never to be in a temperature lower than 60°, although in very severe weather it might fall to 55° without doing the plants any harm. Moisture here must also be regulated according as the systems of the December 8, 1863. JOUKNAL OF HOETICTJLTTJRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 451 plants absorb it, and neither more nor less ought to be given, or withheld. From these remarks it wiU be observed that I have men- tioned two great fundamental points in culture — a proper and relative degree of heat, and a proper and relative degree of moistui'e. There is yet one other which is of the utmost importance to be observed, and that is the keeping aU plants as near the glass as possible. Let these three points be intelligently observed and acted vipon, and the rest will follow. The roots of all Pitcher-plants, and other bog plants that usually stand either in saucers or tanks of water during the season of rest, shoidd only be supplied when the saucers and other receptacles become di-y, and then only moderately. We have a plant of Eafflesiana just now with immense pitchers, and leaves about 20 inches long — not a naked- stemmed plant, but clothed to the pot-iim with leaves — which is treated as above recommended. Little weakly plants of Sarracenias, Philesias, &c., are all the better of being plunged into pots two sizes larger than the one they are growing in, and the interval filled up with moss, finnly put together, which is kept constantly moistened. This is better for this style of plant than placing them in saucers of water. — G. A.] PEOPAGATING EOSES BY CUTTINGS. I HAVE a good collection of standard Roses. Could I rear some dwarfs from them the same as Gooseberries and Currants are reared in the open garden ? I have an old Cucxxraber-frame — where the Cucumber bines died off about three weeks back — would a few cuttings grow in that ? J. Chotce. [The great majority of Roses strike freely enough in the way to which you refer. The best time to put the cuttings in is about the middle of October. Good strong firm cuttings should be selected from 9 inches to 1 foot long, with just a heel of the previous year's growth. The leaves should be removed from the bottom half of the cuttings, but aU the rest left on. They should then be put in up to the first leaf left, and made fii-ni in the soil with the foot, the same as is usually done with Currant cuttings. They will callus before winter, and root in the following season, and make nice little plants. The best place to put them is in any light, dry, common garden soil where they will escape the midday sun. It is not, however, yet too late to make a successful attempt, choosing strong well-ripened growths and preparing the cuttings as described above. The shelter of yoiu- Cucumber-fi-ame will be a great advantage to them ; and if the winter be mild they will so far callus, and if lifted and put into a little bottom heat in spring they will root. There is not, however, that certainty as regards the results of the operation when delayed tUl now as would have attended it earlier in the season. We wish more of our fine Roses were so propagated, and grown as dwarfs instead of being hoisted on to the top of an unsightly stem to look like a mop.] A NEW CONSTELTCTION OF SMOKE-FLUES. In The Jottknal of Horticultitke I see there hag been much discussion as to the two systems of heating plant- houses — by hot water, and the old way by smoke flues. On a large scale no doubt the hot-water mode is the better, although more expensive in the erection, and afterwards in fuel and renewing boDei-s, &c. For small houses heating by smoke-flues is the best. They are sometimes "rickety," and give out smoke ; this is often the effect of bad materials, and their not being properly seen to. Now, I think it is possible to improve them by making the sides of the flues of long pieces of clay (call them clay planks), 20, 24, and 30 inches long, 9 inches broad, and 3 inches thick ; in one end of these planks let there be a groove li inch wide and I'r inch deep. In the other end make a feather or tenon 1 inch long and 1 inch broad. This is what a joiner calls groove-and-feather. The sides when set up to be bedded in mortar, and before they are put into each other, the tenon to he coated with mortar, and after they are joined, the half- inch not occupied by the tenon to be filled up with mortar from bottom to top. The sides for the corners of the flues to be right-angled or square, 14 to 20 inches long to suit the length of the flue, and that is the reason for giving the difterent lengths mentioned before. As this flue is not so deep as those in common use, it shoidd be wider — say 18 or 20 inches broad ; the covers to be IS or 20 inches long, 12 inches broad, and 2 inches thick, check-lapped in the common way. For sinking the flue opposite doors, common brick will require to be used, with flagstones for covers. Upon the side of the house where the flue is far from the furnace, the flue might be blackwashed, which will give a greater radiation of heat ; and large flower-pot flats, set on the flue here and there, and filled with water, will make the air of the house more humid. — W. T., Aberdeenshire. . GAEDEN BOILEES. It would be a gi-eat advantage to gardeners in general if the sensible article written by "W. W." page 409, had been rendered a little plainer by showing the connecting- pipe of the two boilers, and also the position of the flow and return pipes at theii' connection with the boiler. If this should meet the eye of any boiler-maker who has manufactured the simple and excellent boilers described by " W. W." I am sure it would answer his piurpose, as well as benefit the public, if he would advertise both the con- struction and price of such boilers ; and with a view to pro- moting such a desirable object, I am sure " W. W." would receive the thanks of many if he would communicate with some known manufacturer to that effect. — T. L. [I am sorry that I did not show the exact position of the feed, the junction, and the flow-pipes in my first sketch ; but for the information of " T. L." and others I will now endea^ vour to furnish the requisite explanation. There is a flange at the fi-ont end of 2 (page 410), to which is fixed the feed-pipe, and at the other end is the outlet, but on the opposite side of the boiler, and forming the junction to the upper boiler. At the fi-ont end of 3 is a flange in connection with the flow-pipe : consequently the flanges at the two front ends are on one side, and occupy respectively the coolest and the hottest position, and the other two flanges are on the other side of the boiler to them. I am told that these boilers are what are called " steam chests " at calico-printing and bleaching works, and cost a very small sum — in fact, so little that I do not like to name it. I wish that some maker would advertise them in your pages. — W. W.] EOSES IN POTS FOE GEEENHOUSE-STEAW COVEES FOE PLANTS. In answer to a coiTCspondent, " L. R." Teas.—Safrano, Devoniensis, Comte de Paris, Niphetos, Vicomte de Cazes, and Gloire de Dijon. Noisette.— Aimee Vibert and Solfaterre. China.— Mrs. Bosanquet and Fa,bvier. Bourbons. — Armosa and Souvenir de Malmaison. ^ Hybrid PerpetuaU. — Auguste Mie, Baronne Prevost, Gcant des Batailles, General Jacqueminot, Loms Peyronny, Caroline de Sansal, Madame Vidot, and William Jesse. If you are to order these plants, you will be wise to leave a little lati- tude to the Rose-grower after telling him what you want. As to straw covers. If you can manage wood at first, such as those mentioned as in use at Keele Hall and Trentham, they would be more economical in the end. Mr. Fish uses straw because he cannot obtain wood conveniently. He makes most of these covers neatly, that they may be used for gomg over glass sashes, as well as over earth pits where there is no glass ; but for the latter pui-pose some of the nicety may be dispensed with. As to the wood, pretty well anything is used, but new covers are chiefly made out of elm boards fresh from the saw, an inch thick and half an inch thick re- spectively. Of com-se, deal, larch, or Scotch fii- would be better. We shall suppose that the covers are 6 feet by 4, and for this size we will require thi-ee pieces of one-inch-thick wood, 6 feet long, and from 3i to 4 inches wide, and eight pieces of the half-inch wood, 4 feet long and 2 inches wide. The men rip up these in a wet day. Then on stools or tressles place two of these long pieces square, at a distance 452 JOUBNAIi OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ December 8, 1663. to take in 4 feet, and a third piece in the middle. These three pieces bear all the weight of the cover. Then across these at each end tack or naU down a foui--feet piece across, divide the space from the ends into four equal divisions, and give a cross piece to each. Fasten all these down, and you have a skeleton of three longitudinal iind six transverse pieces. Tui'n this skeleton frame upside down and you have what may be called the bed for the straw to be laid on. Wheat straw drawn .and the heads cut off before thrashing is best. Lay the straw on regularly so that the ends shall not pro- tmde between the cross pieces, and rather more than 1 inch thick, to permit of squeezing tight to the thickness of the side and centr;il pieces. Then a cross piece of 4 feet in length is put across at each end, over the straw, opposite to the cross pieces beneath, and a nail is passed through hold- ing the upper and lower cross pieces and the longitudinal pieces firmly together. Opposite the other four transverse pieces a tar string goes ft-oni side to side, and is made very tight so as to keep the straw fii-m and with a smooth surface. A very good way is to have fine tacks for each string. Fix the string on a side piece with a tack, let it be held by one on a cross piece halfway to the middle piece, one on the middle longitudinal piece, one again between, .ind the last at the farther side piece. This is one of the best ways of making all secure, but there are other simpler modes. The great object is to hold the ni<;e clean straw as firm as in a blacksmith's vice. There might be six. cross pieces on the upper side as well as the lower side ; but then the weight is increased, and the cross pieces keep the damp against the straw and rot it sooner. Well made as above, if the covers have much of a slope, the water runs off them beautifully, and it would requii-e a strong frost to go through them. These straw covers have sometimes been tarred with a brush on the upper side, which rendered them still better conductors of water; but it was thought that the straw did not last so long, as when exposed to much sun it became more brittle. One of these covers when fresh or a yeai- or two old is considered as good a protection as two or three mats. The cross pieces beneath keep the straw from the glass sashes when so used. For commoner pm-poses, such as temporary protection to cold pits where there is no glass, straw is often used, when merely fastened to old hurdles without so much nicety. If to be made of fresh wood, they ai-e worthy of the above trouble. There can be no question that wood altogether would be more economical in the end. There is no gTeater mistake than to suppose that gardeners can always act up to then- convictions and belief as to what is best. — E. F.] with this view I took down the names of the most showy varieties, which I give as near as I can fi'om a rapid glance. CHEYSANTHEMUMS IN THE CEYSTAL PALACE. As all oxu- local shows are now over, and out-door border- flowers are looking very shabby, I took a stroll to the Crystal Palace on Friday, to see what remained there ; and to my astonishment, I found the centre avenue a perfect blaze of beautiful fresh blooms in beds, round, oval, and diamond- shaped. The flowers were tastefully ai-ranged and inter- mixed, displaying a great variety of showy colom-s. They vaxied from the size of a button to that of the largest Dahlia, and were beautifully incui-ved, especially the gem of all the Chrysanthemums the Jardin des Plantes, which stood tower- ing above all the rest, four or five pots in a bed bearing five or six blooms. Mr. Williams, the superintendent, informed me that he grew all the blooms on the second bud, which he commenced selecting from the end of August, that he watered with weak guano water, and that he housed them in the begioning of October. The Pompones ai'e all well bloomed, and Mi-. Williams's system of training is very good. Many of them are grown on one stem of from afoot to 18 inches high ; they then branch out pyramidally, and, nc sticks being used, then- appearance is exceedingly pretty. Look at the plant fi-om whichever side you please it is all well bloomed. I like 3Ir. Williams's mode of training very much. My object in sending you this notice, is for the information of some of your readers that may wish to have a coUectiou to Tsloom in conservatories from November to Chi-istmas, and Yellow, Little Harry Jardin des Plantes Che.valier Domagc Annie Salter Cherub (g:olden amber) PlUtUB Golden Trilby Golden Queen. Jied and Orange. Sparkler Mr. Jay .\bb('' Paasaglia Dupont de i'Eure Fabius. Jied. Julie Lagravere Madame Poggi Yellow. GC'nresent only judge of their peculiarities thus : — Four of the little tubers flowered with light pink blossoms ; one mth a dark pink blossom ; three with white blossoms ; and six gave no blos- soms at all. Nine produced round Potatoes, two Kidneys, and three are Fluke-shaped. All are white but one kind, which has a pink crown and eyes, and which is also covered with the robin's-eye protuberances similar to the early Walnut-leaf. In form this is like its Fluke parent. I have them in careful keeping. Another promising seedling I also retain for next year's pi'oving. Having an hour's time or so to kill ere the Woodstock train arrived at the Eeading station, I went to Sutton and Sons', and spent the time very pleasantly in viewing their col- lection of seeds, and in overhauling their Potatoes. I found them well up in the varieties both old and new. I wanted particularly to see the Early King in the mass, and I must say it runs out too much for my liking, being a mass of all shapes ; it will require a careful selection of its handsomest seed annually to rectify this undesirable feature. Hamper after hamper was goodnaturedly hauled out and opened for my inspection, tUl I faiily apologised for the trouble I was giving, and then a rough-skinned white Potato came to view, a very magnet for me. It was labelled "Newest Eegent Seedling," a first-rate-looking Potato, round, and not nearly so deep in the eye as the generality of the Eegents, and the roughest-jacketed fellow I ever saw. Half-a-gaUon of them are now reposing amongst my stores. Two sufficiently large for cooking were measured in ; they boiled firmly mealy, having if anything a rather yellower tinge than then- name- sakes. Although too early for a true judgment to be formed they have the Eegent smack, and I thought it to be of a finer farewell flavour. They wiU prove a late store variety, and for the cockneys, whose palates chiefly prefer ithe Eegents, these wiU come in admirably. Some of the finest Eegents I ever saw, were grown this autumn at Eushbrooke Hall Gardens, near Bury St. Edmunds, by Mr. Wigg ; and the crops of Peaches and Nectarines on the open walls, and the Pears and Apples both on the walls and on espaliers there, were a sight to behold. I believe Mr. Wigg had had a Koyal George Peach tree with its crop photographed a few days before my visit. The largest of Flukes were being dug from the old dark sandy loam, (exactly similar to the soil in Eushbroke Hall Gardens), in the garden within the walls of Cari'isbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight, some six weeks ago ; but the careful scratiny and the contemptuous jerking aside which many of them under- went told a tale of disease, as I watched the operation from the ruins. — Upwards and Onwajjds. VuLGAP-iTY IN Cucumbers. — We never dreamt until re- cently of the existence of an aristocracy of appetite. We overheard in a market the foUowiug brief dialogue between an old woman and a little giil, while they were standing in fi-ont of a vegetable stand: — " Grandmother," said the little girl, " buy some of those Cucumbers." " No, my child," replied the lady. " IVhy not ?" asked the little gfrl. " Be- cause I should hate to be seen carrying them home, when everybody knows they ai-e only a penny a-pieoe ! " The little girl did not appear to appreciate the excuse. 454 JOUENAIi OP HOKTICULTUKE AKD COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ Derembfr 6, 18C3. CEPHAIiOTAXUS FOETUNEI AJSJ) CEPHALOTAXUS DKUPACEA. Fig. 1. Female plant of CephalotaxuB Fortunei I with its fleshy drupes. I Fig. 2. Section of fruit. Fit;. 4. Male catkin magoifiei. Fig. 3. Male plant with its infloreEcence in the aKils uf the leaves. Ajbong the very many beautiful plants, for the intro- duction of which into this country we ai-e indebted to the skill, enterprise, and good taste of Mr. Fortune, there are none which have more interested me, as an ardent admirer and extensive cultivator of haa-dy evergreen trees and shrubs, than the two species of Cephalotaxus, of which I now have the pleasure of sending you fi-uit-bearing specimens. One of these is very appropriately named after its talented intro- ducer, " Cephalotajois Fortunei," and the other " Cephalo- taxus drupacea." Some confusion existed on the first appearance of these remarkable plants, the former having been rather hastily December 8, 1863. ] JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTITEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 435 pronounced to be the male, and the latter the female form of the same species ; but as you wiU see by the specimens now sent, the impression originally entertained was eiTO- neous. That they are distinct species, having their male and female inflorescence on separate plants, and are, in fact, dioecious, has been allowed. You will perceive that I have sent you two specimens of each species— the female with its fully developed fleshy drupes, and the male with its incipient inflorescence in clusters at the axils of the leaves, which developes itself in the spring and scatters its pollen around. Both C. Portunei and C. dnipacea are thoroughly hardy and highly ornamental. They will grow in almost any soil, being amply furnished with lai-ge fleshy roots, which lay hold of the ground and extract abundant nutriment. One very valuable quality which these fine plants possess is theii- thriving under the dense shade of other trees, thereby forming an undergi'owth of glossy luxuriant foliage, and giving a rich di-essy effect to places which otherwise would look bare and meagre. The landscape gardener in- deed possesses in these oriental Yews materials which, ju- diciously handled, cannot fail to produce a change of no ordinary character in our ornamental grounds. Mr. Fortune found them both io the northern districts of Fig. 1. Cephalotaxus drnpacea. Female plant with its drupes. | Fig. 2. Male plant -with its inflorescence. China, C. Fortunei attaining the height of 60 feet, and C. drupacea, which is of much more compact and dwarfer habit, that of 30 feet. I believe I am correct in saying that they are both indigenous to China and Japan. The specimen plant in our nursery of C. Fortunei, from which I cut the branch, is now covered with purplish plum- shaped fruit or drupes, of which there cannot be less than thi'ee thousand at the present time, and is altogether a most attractive object, as its gracefully pendant slender branches ai-e actually weighed down with the enormous clusters of purplish berries, contrasting well with the long, linear, lance- shaped leaves, which are of a peculiarly rich lively green. — — Egbert Pince, Exeter Nurseries, Exeter. [Excellent as our figiu-es are, they necessarily convey a very inadequate idea of the fine effect produced by the great profusion of beautiful drupes with which the branches are literally studded, and we can quite conceive what the ap- pearance of a tree described by Mr. Pince must be. — Eds. J. OF H.] CENTAUREA AEGEiSTTEA AND At page 372 of The Jouenal of Horticultuee, Mr. J. Eobson seems to suppose that there are more sorts of the Silvery-leaved Centaureas in cultivation as bedding-out plants than the two mentioned above. No doubt there are some beautiful sorts not yet brought out as bedding plants. I can look back through forty years and recollect several CENTAUEEA CANDIDISSIMA. such, but the above two sorts ai-e aU that I know at present to be used as bedding-out plants, or as conservatory orna- ments. "What Mr. Eobson quotes as gynmocarpa is only argentea, and the ragusina is only candidissima. As to the rival merits of the two plants both are exquisite 456 JOUENAX OF BOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GASDENEE. [ December 8, 18G3. gems, but any one who may have cultivated both plants to a large size as conservatory ornaments, cannot, I think, hesi- tate in preferring argentea to candidissima ; and I am not sure, or very decided, which of them ^^^ll ultimately become the greater favourite as a bedder. The two plants must both be seen of a large size before their merits can be pro- perly appreciated. I cultivate both sorts extensively, and they are both so beautiful, yet so different in their habits, that it is difficult to say which one likes best when planted out. The only rival they have is Cineraria maritima, which has merits quite equal to either of them. We had a i-ibbon-bed here this season which was highly admii'ed. It bad a central row of the two Centaureas and the Cinerai'ia, with a row all round of Pm-ple Orache, and outside that a row all round of Stachys lanata (another hardy wliite-leaved gem), then next the grass a row round of trae Lobelia speciosa from cuttings, the only way that can be relied upon for obtaining it true. A better edging would have been the Ai-abis albida variegata, about which another coiTespondent in the same page makes similar mistakes as does Mr. J. Eobson about the Centaureas. My expei-ience of the Arabis is, that the one called albida variegata is wliitish- sulphm- in the spring and yellowish -sulphur- in autumn, just as Bellis aucuba?folia becomes gTeen in summer and beauti- fully variegated in autumn and winter. We cultivate two sorts of the variegated Arabis here, the above and the lucida variegata. This is more yellow than albida variegata, and is easily known fi-om albida, which is covered with pubescent hairs, whilst lucida has a smooth, bright, shining foliage. I trust the above will set bedding-plant-cultivators right about these valuable and most useful plants. — John Scott, Merriott Nurseries. SOME GAEDENS WORTH SEEING. Name, Iluwkstone Acton Rejnald. Lealon Knolls... yundorneCastle Apley Castle.... Acqualate L-illeshal! Abbey Condover Park. Walcot Park.... HalstOQ — J. E. SHBOPSHIEE. Proprietor. Viscount Hill Mr. Sir Vincent K.Corbet, Bt.. Mi. A. Lloyd, Esq Mr. Lady Krincktiian Mr. St. JolinB. Charlton, Esq... Mr. Sir Tlios. Boughey, Bart... Mr. Duke of Sutherland .Mr. T. c. Owen, Esq Mr. Earl of Powis Mr. Mrs. Wright , Mr. Gardener, Station. Nieraan Preece J. Anderson. Yorton J. Wilson.... Leaton King Shrewsbury Warrender . . Wellington J. Lascelles.. Newport W.Elliot Newport Middletou... Condover G. Bond Mi aster ley Galloway . Whittington WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GAKDEN. Trench, dig, and ridge-over every spare inch of ground whenever the weather will permit these operations to be advantageously performed. This is particularly to be ob- served in gardens the soil of which is of a clayey nature. Cmdiflower, give air freely to these, and also to Lettuce plants under glass. Indeed, the sashes should merely be used to exclude frost, and to throw off rains, for the plants will do all the better in spring if kept hardy and stocky over the winter. Celery, take advantage of the first dry day to eartli-up closely any that may have outgrown the previous earthing-up, and be prepared to protect the ridges in Case of severe frost. Dry stable litter answers very well for the purpose ; but where they can be procured, straw or reed shutters are preferable, as being more easily applied, and causing less litter, and they are also useful in excluding wet. Peas, those sown on a warm border, and also the Broad Beans sown at the same time, as advised, will now be peeping up, and should have the surface soil stirred about them, and a covering of decomposed leaf mould laid over the rows, and also, in the event of cutting winds prevailing, some branches of spruce fir or bh-cb stuck in on the windward side win be useful. Gravel walks shoiild come in for a share of attention in sweeping and rolling. Coal ashes are an excellent material for the back walks, as they bear the winter traffic well, and are always pleasant to walk upon. If frosts set in let the maniu'e necessary for the whole of the spring cropping be wheeled out, laying it in heaps either on the spot where it is to be used, or as near as possible to it. What is not required for immediate digging should be piled in small mounds, and soiled over to prevent evaporation. Take the opportunity of bad weather to forward the making of labels for the various crops, tying mats, cleaning naUs, preparing shreds, and looking over stores. FLOWEE GABDEN. Flower-borders should now receive a good top-dressing with some well-prepared compost. This should be forked in, and the surface of the borders left as rough as possible, which will give them a fresh appearance, and be of great sei-vice in pulverising stiff' soils by the action of the frosts of winter. Thus the soil will be reduced to a more mellow state for spring operations. The weather is still favourable for executing alterations, and where these are in hand they should be prosecuted with the greatest possible dispatch. Planting or the removal of large trees or shrubs cannot be finished too soon, for it is of the utmost importance that the plants should be afforded some chance of making fresh roots before the cutting winds of Mai-ch arrive. See to even small plants being secured against the wind, for these are often greatly injured by being blown about after planting, which a small stake and a few minutes' work would prevent. Standard Eoses, which by the weakness of theu- shoots and the paucity of their blooms this season, ai'c showing evident symptoms of decay, should have all the surface soil taken off down to the i-oots, and all the suckers removed, after which, a thick coat of well-rotted dung should be laid round them, and covered with a portion of the soil. Tea-scented, China, and other tender Eoses that will not stand the severity of our winters, should now be protected by strewing a good thickness of fern, or any other dry material amongst the stems of the plants ; this, with the addition of some spruce fir boughs stuck all over the beds will afford them aU the protection they require. Those varieties which are budded on the standards may be easily protected by tying on a few furze branches round the head, securing the whole with a strong stake to protect it from the boisterous winds of winter. FBt;iT GARDEN. Prune, stake, and tie Easpberries, and mulch with some light manure, which may be lightly forked-in in the spring, as it is imprudent to dig deeply about them. If any trans- planting or root -pruning of fruit trees has yet to be done, let it be attended to without fiu-ther delay, and see that those exposed to the wind are securely staked before leaving them. Also, let the ground be prepared for fresh plantations, and the trees planted as soon as possible. Fruit trees are injured by the accumulation of moss and lichen on their branches. Where the hand cannot reach it, a dashing of lime wiU effect its destruction. geeenhouse ajjd conservatory. We have already alluded to the ill-effects of humidity and stagnant air in plant-houses, as evUs at this season to be guarded against most particularly ; but these are of minor importance compared with one of our own creation, evidence of the existence of which we not unfi-equently see in the drawn and unhealthy occupants of gi-eenhouses. We allude to heat, which, judiciously applied, is of coiu'se of the first consequence, but, employed without judgment, becomes a fertile cause of the evils above described. It must be borne in mind, that a sjiring or summer temperatui-e without the sunlight of one or the other, is altogether an anomalous state of things, and one which cannot be consistently pur- sued with objects so susceptible of such influences as plants. Above aU, high night temperatiu-es should be avoided. We are convinced by experience of the value of the practice of employing night-coverings, and of thus dispensing in a great measure with the use of fires. The leaves of Camellias, Oranges, &c., are liable to a dark scum. This should be cleared away by a sponge at this period, especially as a portion of the interest in pot plants depends on cleanliness both with regard to the leaves and the pots. WhUe the pi-incipal collection of Cluysanthemums is in bloom, a se- lection should be made of the best and most useful for dis- tinctness, and succession of sorts. STOVE. Do not encourage any fr-esh growth among the plants at this season ; rather aim at that kind of routine management which will serve to consolidate the growths already made, and to develop the blossoms of the late-flowering plants in a proper way. December 8, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF H0ETICT3LTTJEB AND COTTAGE GAKDENBH; 457 >'ORCING-PIT. This is a good period at which to introduce a good quan- tity of shrubs and bulbs for forcing piu-poses. Azaleas, Daphnes, Persian Lilacs, Moss and Provence Eoses, Sweet- briars, Honeysuckles, Ehododendi-ons, Kalmias, Ledums, Ehodoras, the more advanced Hyacinths, Narcissus, and Tulips, may now be fairly started. A sweet bottom heat of 80° maximum, and a top heat of 65°, will be necessary, whatever the structure. PITS AND FRAMES. Look well to those containing stores for next summer, and have efiBcient protecting material always in readiness, with which to cover them whenever the weather is un- favourable. W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEN. Tkemendous gales and rain, with skiffs of snow, have nrach lessened out-door work. We have taken up some more Sea- kale and Ehubarb for the Mushroom house. Eai-thed a piece of a Mushroom-bed, ;md spawned another piece ; raked leaves when the wind and wet would permit ; trenched or began to trench ground; attended to all the vegetables coming on as mentioned in previous weeks, giving plenty of air to Cauliflowers, Asparagus, Lettuces, Endive growing, cS:c. ; and when too stormy for the men to work usefully or com- fortably out of doors, set them to break up wood, make straw covers, point sticks, and wash pots, as we never like to see pots standing out of doors in winter. Even in sheds they are best washed clean, so as to be ready for use. We once had a system of fines, but gave up when no one could be fined but ourselves ; but we dai-esay we shall have to start again. Amongst fines none could be more legitimate than those making people remember who put a plant into a dirty pot, left pots standing about everywhere, laid pots down in a heap of all sizes, or when moving small pots took too many at one time as a rope between the hands, to the danger of cracking or bi'eaking several in the centre of the rope. As to pointing small sticks, it is amusing to see men detected making as many scrapes and cuts to form a point as if they were polishing an ivory bodkin. We recollect the late Mr. Joseph Knight insisted on such pointing being done with two strokes of the knife. FKUIT GAKDBN. Much the same as in previous weeks. It has been too wet for planting out of doors. Tied Peach trees in house, and planted some Vines inside at back of a vinery to help to give those in fi-ont a little rest. OBNAJIENTAL DEPABTMENT. Attended to plants in house, removing those which were fading, and supplying with fresh. Placed leaf mould and loam under cover for use. Cleared all the rvibbigh from the pleasure grounds. Eemoved Dahlias that had stood in a di^y house for a fortnight with then- stems down and tubers up, and plunged them in dry eai-th in a close shed behind the conservatory. So treated vi^e have scarcely ever lost a tuber. We do not like placing them in earth at once, but like all moisture to be drained from the roots and stems. We generally leave the latter about 6 inches long, unless much frosted, and if damp has lodged and remains there the centre is apt to rot, and thus the buds uiay perish. If once thoroughly dried a little moisture afterwards would not hui-t them. The bed of earth is generally covered with a rough stage crammed with Fuchsias, &.C., for the winter. We once met with a fatal instance of overdi'ying Dahlia roots. An amateur had obtained a fresh supply of novelties, a shai-p frost came on in an early autumn night. He and his man Friday went out late, cut over all the Dahlias, took up the roots with the large tally attached, and placed them close to a back flue in the greenhouse. When examined in spring the tubers had nothing but skins, and scai-cely one grew. If the roots had been earthed-up a little in the ground, or merely treated as above, we do not believe that any such misfortune would have happened. Took up the greater portion of Gladiolus, and put them in by the heels in a diy place to mature the tubers. Some of the tops are yet too green for that purpose. The weather wOl have proved pretty well whether we were right as to keeping, bedding plants in old hotbeds instead of dry pits and frames. In the old hotbed we have suffered a little fr'om damp, but from reasons several times given om- plants are small, as we cannot take cuttings early without injuring the outline of the beds. A spare room with plenty of light is better for keeping such plants than a frame over an old hotbed, and, the place being dry, a little sprinkling of dry hay would keep out a gTeat amount of frost. Some of our friends who have small orchard-houses without artificial heat, would find it much easier to protect then bedding plants there in winter than in damp old hot- beds, as the afr might always be dry and pure, and in severe weather it would be easy to cover them, and far less covering would do, and in continued frost and duU weather it might remain on for a good while. The great secret in keeping such plants when in darkness is to iusure as much dryness and coolness as wUl be safe, and yet arrest growth. These conditions secured, we have had Calceolarias and Scarlet Geraniums that never saw light for six weeks, looking as well as if they had been covered up only for a night. The inside temperature was little above 33°. If the tem- perature had been from 40° to 45°, we may judge what the result would have been. Many try to keep old Geraniums in their cellars, and fail because the cellars are too damp and too hot. They would succeed better with them in a garret, where there was some light, and where a little pro- tection could be given to them in cold weather. Everything growing must have light. We have some Scarlet Geraniums which in beds averaged 2 feet in height, and 2./ to 3^ feet in diameter of head, so pruned back that fi-om a dozen to twenty of them, with their roots, after being dipped in lime, were squeezed like a faggot into a nine-inch pot, and if we could keep these docked plants in spring, they would be larger next summer than they were last summer. Now, to keep these in the easiest way, the stems must not break before spring, but owing to the continued mUd weather these faggots of plants are beginning to push little green leaves, hardly discernible as yet, but seen from thefr greenness, and after that the plants to be healthy will requfre more light than they would otherwise have needed. They would do exceedingly well on the floor of a spare room mode- rately lighted, whilst all the young plants from cuttings stood near the window. Growing plants must have light, it is of less importance for those at rest. The faggots of Geraniums before they break may be treated very much as we would treat a Dahlia root, or a Gladiolus. — E. P. COVENT GARDEN MAEKET.-Dec. 5. The supply at this morning's market was unusually good, especially as regards vegetables, and the demand being also good, former prices were fully maintained. Fruit of all kinds is also plentiful, particularly Pines, which are more than sufficient to meet all requirements, and Apples and Pears. Foreif^n Hamburgh Grapes are now over ; but importations of White Grapes have come iu from Portugal. Cobs have risen in price, the finest samples now bringing lOOo. per luo lbs. The only addition to the varieties uf Pears previously reported is Bejrr(i Kance, of which and of Newrowa Pippin Apples, there are some very good samples. FRUIT. Apples ^ sieve 1 6 lo 4 0 Apricots doz. 0 0 0 0 Figs duz. 0 0 0 0 Filberts .).— We have reason for be- lieving that this is not liable to ignite. Whether the pills will inflame by friction any one niay prove by rubbingone of them againstahard substance. We have seen a note from Capt. N. Marder, commander o! the ship Agamemnon,- stating that thi" poison is a most etfectuHl destroyer of cock- roaches, mice, and rtts, " end it may be pluced in all parts of a ship with perfect safety.'* December 15, 1863. ] JOIItENAJL OF HOETICULTUKE AND ^COTTAGE GAKDENEE. WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of ' of Mtaiib Week. 15 16 17 18 19 20 .21 To W Th F 8 Bim M DECEMBER 15-21, 1863. Stinking Hellebore fl. Ember Week. Bauer died, 184-3. Haller died, 1777. Bot. P. Miller died, 1771. Gur. C. M Fischer died, 1S3G. Gar. 4 SVUDAI IN AllTENT. St. Thomas. Sboitest Day. Average Temperature near London. Rain In I last j36 years. Day. 46 3 45.7 45.8 44.S 44.5 ■44.0 43.5 Nifht. 34:7 84..2 33.8 32.7 33 5 33 7 33.8 Mean. 40.5 39.9 39.8 3S.7 39 0 38-9 411 I Days. I 21 ! 10 17 19 17 ! II Sun RieeB. m. h. J!af8 3 8 3 8 4 8 5 8 5 8 C 8 Sun Sets. m. h 49af3 49 3 M^on Rises. m. h. 56 10 20 11 43 11 Moon Seta. m. h. 4 10 22 U morn. 39 0 52 I 4 3 14 4 Moon's Age. Clock after Sun. 9 10 11 m. 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 Dacy of Year. 849 350 351 352 358 .354 355 From obsemati.me taken near London nuring the last ihirtv-six years, the average day teiiiperature of the week is 44.9°, and its nieht temper°mre 33"° Tbe greatest heat was K\ on the 16th, 1849; and the lowest cold, 7°. on the 16th, 1853, and 191h, 1859. The greatest fall of rain was 0.76 inch. open wails. PEACHES UNDER GLASS AND ON THE OPEN "WALL. UCH interesting discussion has recently taken place, from both scientific and practical points ofview,concern- mg tlie relative merit of Peaches as to colour aaid ilavour when grown under glass, and on If the eoloui- and flavour were the only points to be taken into consideration in the erection of orchard-houses or glass screens, the advocates of such erections would certainly not lose such a great deal after all by following the course preferred by those who object tcglass, and contend that fruit from the open wall is the best. No doubt, in some localities, and with favourable autumns. Peaches from the open wall may be produced liigher in both colour and flavour than others to which the protection of glass has been applied. Nevertheless, a question may be i-aised as to the propriety of a certain class of favourably-situated cultivators laying such a result down as a rule to be followed by another, and, I suspect, a large class, very differently situated, and who are rather inclined to question the wisdom of saying that it is all moonshine to think that regular and fine crops cannot be counted on for years in succession without the protection of glass. To single out the results of a few favoured localities, and lay them down as a iiile to be relied upon by all, is not the most conclusive way of establishing any theory or argument however favourable the premises may be granted to be. What say those who are cultivating the Peach both under glass and on the open walls, or those who have abandoned the latter in favour of the former, in by far the majority of localities in Scotland and Ireland, and in many districts in England as well ? Under which of the two systems have they produced the most abundant crops with regularity year after year, and with least anxiety and trouble i* By which of the two systems have the best-flavoured fruit been produced .'' It would be very interesting and instructive if all the gardeners in the kingdom could be induced to hand in statistics bearing upon this matter, and it would be very much more decisive than any amount of argument that can be advanced, favourable or unfavourable, by a few isolated iudivi duals. Taking a survey of this district, which is one of the most highly favoured to be met with in Scotland, while the more immediate locality from which I write is con- sidered to have a less rainfall than any other in the kingdom, and it has a fine loamy sod, yet there is not a No. Ifl.— ■V«i, ▼., New Simes. garden La it with which I am acquainted, where uad«r the best management crops of Peaches can at all fee counted on from the open wall. A fuU crop once in four or five years is as much, if not more, than can be looked for, judging from past experience. Under glass crops- are plentifirl and good. In fact, the open-wall cultivation, of the Peach is one of the most disheartening and un- satisfactory departments of manj' good gardens which are famed for other fine fruit on the open walls. If we travel a little further west, and enter Mid- lothian, I could there point to hundreds of feet of Peach walls, upon which the trees had to struggle for an ex- istence, to say nothing of the quantity and quality of the uncertain crops, but which after being covered with glass- have luxuriated and borne crops of fruit which for quam- tity, size, and quality, could never have been hoped for ; and this, too, without any change whatever except their being covered with a light glass screen, the soil, the aspect, and the management being the very same in every respect as before they were protected with glass. There formerly was more of mildew, bUster, and red spider, than anything else, and -now seasons pass over -without the appearance of these enemies, and a fuU crop of very superior fiiiit can annually be counted upon. If such be the results in more favoured localities, -what must it be wliere there is less sunshine, and a greater rainfall, witk late spring and earher autumn frosts, and winter frosts^. much more severe ? Under such circumstances it becomes not a question of a degree or two in flavour and colour, it is the chance of a crop at all ; nay, in some cases, the very existence in a state to be tolerable of the Peaoh tree, not taking into the account the immunity from danger that occurs in severe winters, such as are occa- sionally experienced, and which cause serious damage to the young wood of the trees. In the winter of 1860-61, the whole of the previous summer's growth on Peaches was here cut back to the old wood, while in places where the frost was some 8' or 10° more intense. Peaches under the protection of glass screens escaped untouched. Such exemptions from injury were probably as much owing to the better- ripened state of the wood, as to the difiercnce, if there were any difference, of temperature effected by a glass case. Last year being one. of the wettest seasons which have occurred here for a good number of years. Peaches on the open walls had the most lamentable struggle which it is possible to conceive. The frfli^ -w^re small and flavourless, the wood was mildewed and wpak, and when pruned in December it was more like op^ai^ipg on Laurels than anything else, for the trees were weU clad with green leaves. Under glass cases in less favoured gardens, as to soil and climate, tlie crop was plentiful aad fine, and the wood in fine condition ; and this season, al- though our Peach wall was covered with glass last winter when it was too late to be of any benefit to the trees, there was nothing like a fuU crop, but the fruit produced were vastly superior in size, colour, and flavour to any obtained from the open walls here during the last five , seasons. The trees have such wood and bloom-buds as -could never have been produced without glass, while No. 794.— Vol.. XXX., Oli Seed*. 466 JOURNAL OP HOETICULTXJBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ Decembar 16, 1863. mildew and curl, formerly in abundance, never appeared, OKcept on a young tree of the Eoyal Charlotte. It is all very well to say that fine Peaches can be produced regularly on the open wall, by taking the precaution of covering when in bloom in spring. This may be applicable enough to some localities. We are bound to believe that it is from the advocates of the system, and the facts they adduce, and there is, perhaps, not much harm in their playing a tune on their own fiddle, as long as they do not insist on every person dancing to it. Assuredly it would not be the best mode in the great majority of districts in Scotland, nor in a good many in England, where I have known good gardeners give up the open-air culture of the Peach in despau-. and succeed well with glass coverings. I have myself had Peaches and Apricots frosted when they were about the size of pigeon's eggs. I cannot help thinking that where Peaches under glass in September and October are found so deficient in colour and flavour, as compared with those from the walls, there must be some disadvantage in the construction of the Peach screens, or some deficiency in their management. There are very few, if any, localities, one would suppose, where the Peach is found more healthy on the walls than under glass. This granted, we have one great fandamental condition for the production of good fruits. The want of colour and flavour has been the objection raised against glass protection. Upon what conditions do these important qualities depend ? In order to answer this question satisfactorily, it is not neces- sary to enter into physiological arguments which have led to the conclusion which practice has attested — namely, that the flavour and colour of fruit in general, and, perhaps. Peaches in particiJar, depend on fuU exposure to light, a free circulation of dry air, with a lessened amount of moisture in the soil, and, in consequence, a higher ground tempe- rature. These, too, are the means which produce the best ripened wood and fruit-buds — results which are unquestion- ably more generaUy obtained under glass than on the open walls. It is, therefore, somewhat singular if the same result in the ripening of the fruit, depending on the same agencies, should be wanting under glass. My own ex- perience of the two systems has been unmistakeably in favour of glass coverings. I have seen under glass Royal George and Barrington Peaches, of the darkest red, and far larger and better-flavoured than any that could be pro- duced in the same garden without glass. These were ripened in houses constructed of large panes of the clearest sheet glass, where the whole front and top Ughts can be thrown so completely open as to keep every leaf and fruit in the house under a constant circulation of air. Probably the fruit loses to an injurious extent the rays of the sun by the intervention of glass ; but this loss, it may be allowed, is more than counterbalanced by protection from night dews, heavy rains, wet and cooled borders, all of which must be prejudicial to high flavour. Therefore, I cannot help think- ing that in by far the majority of localities there must be something amiss in the construction of the glass protection, or in the management of it, if in-door Peaches in September and October are not superior to the same varieties on the open walls at that season, when they are subject to the chilling and drenching influences of the heavy dews and riins wliich so often prevail. If it can be maintained that from the obsti-uction of the rays of light by the clearest glass. Peaches on a back wall, or on a trellis a couple of feet i'rom the glass, are inferior to those grown without any such obstruction, what is to be said of those grown as dwarf bushes, set in rows along the floor of a flat-roofed orchard-house? Reasoning from the same premises surely they must be very inferior. Yet we are led to believe that they of the bush are often fine in flavour ; that Apples and Plums, &c., are even better than those of foreign growth. If this be so, the flavour in their case must depend upon other circumstances, which cannot be secured without glass, as well as upon light. TUl lately I had an idea that Apricots grown under glass were always inferior in flavour to those on the open wall, but under the influence of properly-constnicted and ventilated houses I am now convinced that such is not the case ; and I know of an employer who this year told his gardener who had sent Apricots to table from a covered wall, that he might say he never knew what a properly-flavoured Apricot was before. But gi-anting, as I am quite willing to do, that when Peaches can be ripened on the open wall under the influences of a bright and dry autumn, they ai'e a degree or two more highly coloured and flavoured than under glass, I am not at the same time wOling to forego the advantages which glass affords in wet and ungeniaJ seasons, which are as much the rule as the exception. Were light the only agent which affected the flavour of fruits and the health of plants, the case would be widely different ; but all who have expe- rience in this matter are perfectly well aware that a soil drenched and cooled with rain is inimical to the acquisition of the proper flavour in all fruits, to say nothing of the fruit and foliage being bathed for days and nights vrith cold dews and rains. To be able to prevent such a state of things must be allowed by the opponents of glass to very nearly, if not quite, make up for the rays of light that are held back. In fact, taking our fickle climate into consider- ation, there are so many advantages to be enumerated which are secured by protection, that its very slight disad- vantages may safely be put up with ; and those who contend that ah its advantages and none of its disadvantages are secured by simply covering with fiigi domo in spring, must surely have a very one-sided view of the climate of the United Kingdom. In all considerations of this sort the expense is always considered by all concerned; but even in this important point, if the expenses of the respective systems were to be carefully calculated, I feel persuaded that when extended over a period of years there would not be much to show in favour of covering with frigi domo or strong canvass. The erection and heating of glass can now be done so cheaply that it is astonishing how large an amount of such work can be done for moderate sums, and I am labouring under very wrong impressions, if nine out of every ten gardeners would not prefer the glass to any other mode of protection. D. Thomson. GEOWING CHEYSAI^THEMUMS WITH A SINGLE FLOWER ON EACH STEM. In replying to the query of " T." respecting the culture of the Chrysanthemums exhibited at the Floral Committee, South Kensington, November 10th, it will be necessary to state that those plants were grown for a special object — viz., that of producing one flower of large dimensions. The method employed was a decided success, but one we should not recommend to be so strictly pursued again, and for this reason ; each plant might have been grown to produce three or four large flowers, whereas one only was allowed to be perfected ; the consequence was that the plants, not having a suflicient number of buds to noiu-ish, formed unusually stout woody stems. There was nothing uncommon in the treatment beyond the severity of disbudding and thinning out. To secure fine flowers is easy enough, by taking either cuttings or rooted suckers from an old plant at the latter end of March or beginning of April ; these should be potted into 48-sized pots in a mixture of equal parts of mellow loam and well-decayed leaf mould, suihcient silver sand being added to make the compost porous. In a short time the young plants will be well established, and by the end of May should be repotted either singly or in pairs into pots of 10 or 12 inches in diameter, in a mixture of equal parts of loam, weU-decayed frame manure, and leaf mould, adding silver sand to keep them porous. Be careful in weD draining the pots ; crushed oyster-shells will be found very beneficial for this purpose — the roots of the Chi-ysanthemums seem to rejoice in these fragments. When potted the plants should be placed in an open and airy part of the garden, and never be allowed to flag from want of water ; as the side shoots are produced they should be liinched out, and evei-y sucker that is thrown up from the roots removed. About the middle of July three or four leaders should be encoiu'aged, and from these the flowers are to be produced. Early in August the flower-buds wUl begin to show themselves, and now some judgment vnil be required in selecting the bud which is to remain. Generally a single bud presents itself, to which a kind of strap-leaf is attached; this is the bud that produces the finest flower. When that is well defined and has a green and healthy ap- December 16, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 467 pearance, at once remove all other buds which are formed above it on the extreme points of the plant ; these buds are usually formed in threes. Should the single bud alluded to be unhealthy, then select one of the three terminal buds in its place. The residt will be success, however unnatural this process may appear. The plants should be frequently syringed in the evenings in warm weather. This much encourages the vigour of the foliage. Never use liquid manure tUl the flower-buds are formed, and as they increase in size so you may increase the strength of the liquid used. That produced from sheep's dung is, perhaps, the best ; and should the roots show them- selves on the surface of the pot, let them be covered over with rotten manm-e kept well moistened. At the end of October, or as soon as the buds begin to expand their petals, remove the plants under cover to protect them from sudden frost or violent rain and wind. If removed to a greenhouse admit a free current of air day and night. It is protection from weather, not heat, that the plants now require. About the fii-st week in November you may expect your reward, your plants having perfected fine, large, and splendid flowers, by no means in the opinion of florists resembling mops with straight handles, so facetiously suggested by a writer in a contemporary respecting the specimens in the conservatory at South Kensington. VERBENAS. A SELECTION of the best soi-ts, as we have found them in this locality (Somerset), may be interesting, especially when taken in connection with "D " of Deal's jury on the same subject (see Journal of Horticulttjke, page 387). Having cultivated upwards of a thousand sorts since 1856, and having a great liking for the flower, as I consider it amongst the best ornaments we have for the flower garden, I have taken great pains with it, and am happy to find that the Deal jui-y have put down a seedling of my own, Miss Hughes, as Al. I was much pleased with "D," of Deal's "hanging" bout; it is a process that requires to be carried out upon some other families as well as the Verbena. I bought eighty sorts of the new Verbenas of 18G3, but was sadly disappointed with a great many of them, and I think " D," of Deal, and his friends, have served them quite as they deserved ; I may say that I never knew a worse lot sent out than those of 1862-3, nine-tenths of them were mere rubbish. The following list contains what I consider the best of what have appeared during the last ten years. I have arranged them in sections of colour, and made a few obser- vations about each section, hoping that it wOl enable your readers to choose those sorts ordy which are most effective and likely to give them the most satisfaction. Sect. 1, Dakk Ckimson. — Negro Boy and The Moor are two very dark and effective sorts for dark beds, and there is also Lord Elgin, the darkest sort yet produced. Sect. 2, Crimsons. — Admiral Dundas, Chauvieri, Geant des BataiUes, Glou-e d'Automne, Little Pet, Master Corbet, Rainbow, Rougieri (same as Fanny Stracey). This beautiful section contains coloiu's of dazzling brightness ; Chauvieri is yet unmatched in colour, and Rougieri in both colour and form has no equal. The well known Geant des BataiUes is one of the best bedders yet out. Master Corbet is new, and very fine for a bed ; Little Pet is a dwarf and compact free- flowering gem. Sect. 3, Bright or Scarlet Crimsons. — Evening Star, La Gloire, Morning Star, Nemesis, Sir J. Paxton, and Star. All these are fine and beautiful flowers with large and con- spicuous eyes, excepting Nemesis, which is a lovely and finely formed flower. Mrs. Scott, a new flower coming out next spring, is an improvement upon it, being much brighter in colour, equally well formed, and a very fi'ee flowerer. Sect. 4, Scarlets. — Comet, Electra, Fireball, Firefly, Foxhunter, King of Scarlets, Lord Raglan, Magnet, Melin- dres, Mrs. Woodroofe, and Old Defiance. This may be called the most brilliant and most telling section of Verbenas ; Firefly, Foxhunter, Magnet, and Melindres are dazzling in their brightness. Melindres is the olde.st of all the creeping kinds, and stUl one of the best for small beds ; Firefly is, perhaps, the best scarlet bedder we have ; and Lord Raglan, a difi"erent and lighter shade, is unsurpassed for the profusion of its flowers ; Foxhunter is a great acquisition ; Magnet and King of Scarlets are two lovely sorts, with flne yellow eyes, and are excellent bedders ; Mrs. Woodroofe is a large and fine, hardy late-flowering sort. We have a bed here now, Nov. 30th, in fine flower. Sect. 5, Magenta or Shaded Crimson. — BriUant de Vaise, General Simpson, La Gloire, Miss Hughes, and St. Margaret. These are all splendid flowers. The fij-st is a fine sort for large beds, or for a hanging-basket and vase ; General Simpson is a fine and profuse bloomer; Miss Hughes is one of the finest formed and flnest trussing Verbenas out, and was a seedUng of my own, it is good both for bedding and for pot cultui-e ; St. Margaret is one that has stood the test of yeai-s, it is a lovely and profuse flowerer, it has kept its place against all comers for nearly thirty years, I think Melindres and this are the oldest of our best bedders. Sect. 6, Rose (of various shades).— Mrs. Spencer, L'Avenir de Ballent, Great Eastern, Lizzy, and Great Western. These are all flne, and very free-flowering sorts, and give a pleasing variety to the flower garden. Sect. 7, Bluish Violet. — Garibaldi, Lady Palmerston, and Mrs. Moore, are all charming kinds, but the first two are rather shy growers ; Mrs. Moore is the best of aU the blue- sorts with white eyes; although not one of the largest, it is a free grower and profuse flowerer. Sect. 8, Purples (of various shades).— Ariosto, Ariosto Improved, Claudia, Desdemona, Eyebright, King of Verbenas, Purple King, and Rival Andre. These are all flne bedders ; the first might be dispensed with, as the second is so much finer. King of Verbenas is a splendid bedder, with a fine eye ; and Purple King is so well known, and so good, that it has not yet been equalled in habit or profusion of flowers. Sect. 9, Pure White.— Boule de Neige, Mrs. Holford, Mrs. Hosier WUliams, and Snowflake, are all very flne, the last as yet unequalled, the first has not yet come up to it ; Mrs. Holford, when well grown, is a charming variety; and Mrs. Hosier WUliams is a dwarf, free-flowering, and upright- growing sort, excellent for small beds, and is of pearly whiteness. Sect. 10, French Whites with Fine Eyes. — Admiral Lyons, Madonna, and Venus. These are all charming bedders. Madonna is an old sort, but is stiU one of, if not the best ot this tribe ; Venus is as she should be, lovely and charming. Sect. 11, Striped Flowers.— Carolina Cavagnini, Comte Bernardo Leechi, Madame Zoudier, Madame Lemonier, Nobile Carolina Franzieur, Sai-ha, and Striped Perfection. These are all charming flowers, beautifully striped with a sort of Maltese cross in each floret. Sect. 12, Small Striped Sorts of Maonetti, purple, scarlet, and white striped, fine for rockwork, vases, and small beds in sunny places. — John Scott, Merriott. Hogg's British Pomology. — It wiU be seen from our advertising columns that this work, of which the first divi- sion oidy has been published, is to be continued in the pages of The Florist and Pomologist, of which a new volume will be commenced on the 1st of January next. The subject wUl be " The Pear," and will contain a fuU description of every known variety, with woodcut illustrations of all that are most deserving of publication. Such a work as this has been much wanted. PEOTECTING PLANTS. So much has been said of late about protecting bedding plants from frost, that I think it may not be amiss to inform amateurs of a plan which was recommended a few years back in The Journal of Horticulture, which plan I adopted, and found it to answer all the purposes required. It is this — A frame, or frames, made of boards 1 or li inch thick, whatever size suits best (mine are 6 feet by 4) ; this frame to be cased all round with boards half an inch thick, leaving a space of about 3 or 4 inches, which is to be packed well with di-y sawdust. To protect the top a frame is made of half-inch board about 2 inches wide, on which is tacked roofing-felt. This frame-cover is made to fit tightly all round, and to rest on a ledge tacked immediately under the glass 4m JOUBNAL OF HORTICtJLTXJBE AM) COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ December IS, 186^ or sash. The plants being thus protected from frost, that hoaiy-headed general mth all his force may storm the gar- rison -vvitiiout being able to effect an entrance. The only tiling then to be dreaded is the damp in February. The outer frame should rf ceive one or two coats of gas tar every year. — S. T. A., Castlemew. IjTKE USE OF PBEE OXYGEN m PLANTS. DuEiNG the formation of the hydro-oarbons by plants, nia.y not the fr'ee oxygen, separated fr'om cai'bonic acid iind wilier, be made use of in some other way than that of dissi- pation tc> supijly the portion that has been fixed to carbon and hydrogen in the bodies of animals and other forms of comibustion ? Is it not possible that a mucli larger projior- tion of the oxygen separated fi-om cai'bou and hydrogen by the plant, may have an important oiEce to fulfil in the pliuit itself? May it not descend dissolved in the juices of the plant and exude from the roots, exerting an influence on tlie constituents of the soU, combining with its carbon to form carbonic acid, and its minerals for the osseous structure, and thus convert substances incapable of being absorbed into a pabulum suited for the nourishment and structure of plants? At the same time this radical exudation, if it had this solvent proijerty, although imperceptibly acid (gastric juice is also an example of a bland and alinost tasteless fluid, having, the property of dissolving and rendering organised substances, however hard, capable of being absorbed by tUe minutest pores of the body), would breat down and conivert into a soft pabulum hard, di-y substances, ena^ bling the thread-like rootlets to push on and suck, up food more suited for the plant, much after the manner that a fly feeds on hard sugar, first moistening it and then. sucking it up. This seems rather an interesting question ; for, if tmie, it would exjilain how plants grow in climates where there is no rain, and, consequently, the soil di'y, and where dfiws alone can furnish moisture for absorption by the leaves, the roots being useless as fai' as nutriment is con- cerned, unless the moistui-e descend in some such fashion as I have alluded to. I am aware there is a class of plants in which the surfaces which are exposed to the air are covered with a waterproof film to prevent the exudation of moisture ; also, that these grow in countries not watered by rain. In then- case the roots must grow near the surface to enable the plant to obtain the requisite amount of moisture. StUl plants rooting deeper and not covered with this film must live entirely upon the moisture absorbed by their roots. Could the Editors of The Journal of Hokticul- TTjRE enlighten me on the subject ? —A Constant Eeadee. [This is a subject far too intricate to be decided by mere reasoning and analogy. Sometimes plants do not emit so much oxygen as they ought if they emitted all the osygen fr'om the carbonic acid they are known to hava absorbed. But at other times they emit more than the due amount of oxygen. Experiments have proved that oxygen applied to the roots of plants invigorates them, but we have no re- seaiiehes on the point here suggested, that plants may supply tito oxygen to their own roots.] CROCUS IMPEEATONIUS. Can you or any of your correspondents inform me where bulbs of the Crocus Imperatonius or Imperati can be pro- cured in England, as I have never succeeded in obtaining it from any nursery garden ? I once brought a few bulbs fi-om hedgebanks in South Italy (Amalfi). which I keep in pots in a cold frame, and they generally flower every year about Christmas, but have not increased. As January is the natural time for them to flower, there is no chance of their ' ever succeeding in the open border ; but as no Crocus is more beautiful it is well worth some C' e, and the result of the experience of a sviccessful gi-ower ■ ould be valuable to those who may wish to cultivate the sor ' (if they can obtain it), as well as — A Constant Eeadee. Cbntaurea gtmnocaepa and C. aegentea.' — I think your correspondent, Mr. Scott, page 455, makes a mistake in stating that these two plants are synonymous. At least. I have the two from the London ti-ade entirely distinct. I am happy to hear fi-om Mr. Scott, that ai-gentea when planted out is a rival to ragusina in beauty. It must then be good indeed. I have not yet tried argentea planted out, iMit in pots ragusina is the favourite here, but that is no argument against Mi-. Scott's statement of it when planted out.— D. T. GAEDENING AT CANNES. I WAS much interested the other day, in looking over the report of Trentham Gardens in your columns, to see a nimiber of plants mentioned as doing well in the conserva- tory there, which I find most usefiU and ornamental in our gardens at Cannes. It gave me great satisfaction for this reason — ^that I had so often remarked to some of our n-ume- rous English visitors that if the Cannes climate were imi- tated in the English conservatories a similar effect might be produced in the winter months. To obtain this all watering must be suspended, and as much air given as pos- sible, but excluding rain, for six months until about the end of September, when water might be given freely, and everything would then push with great vigour and new life, as is the case here after a bui-ning hot summer. I say water freely, meaning that a good soaking should be given to the soU, which should then be left for the winter, as the gi-eat danger in the English climate is dampness, and the object to be attained is a perfectly dry atmosphere. I am consider- ing, of course, that everything is planted out in these conservatories. I see mentioned as doing well in the Trentham conserva- tory the Tacsonia mollissima ; to me it seems a thousand pities that the ignea is not there in its stead, which is far more handsome and quite as free a gi-ower and bloomer as moUissima. The three most remarkable and attractive plants in our gardens now are Tacsonia ignea, the ChromateUa Eose, and the Salvia erioealyx. The first is literally covered with open flowers and buds of a bright scarlet, contrasting admirably with the thickly-carpeted green wall. The second, queen of all the Tea and Noisette Eoses, is at this moment a per- fect pictm-e. We have several of them trained in a pyramid form to the height of 15 feet, and covered with blooms measuring fi-om 5 to 6 and even 7 inches in diameter, and as double as a Camellia. The thfrd. Salvia erioealyx, is, without doubt, the best of the whole famUy, enlivening our gardens, as it does now, with the great contrast between its calyx and flowers, the former being of a lovely mauve colour and thickly studded upon long branchy spikes like balls of silky wool : and the flowers, of a pure white, peering out from the centre of each one, give a liveliness to the gardens that non-e but eye-witnesses could conceive. This would be well worth a trial in a conservatory, and I have no doubt would do well if planted out. Now none of these tlu-ee is noticed in the report of Trentham, though possibly they may be there : but if not I should say. By all means try them, and I feel siu-e the result would be satisfactoi-y. The Abutilons, again, such as venosum, giganteum. Due de Malakoff, and the white one, which are charming winter-flowering plants, are now in great beauty. ,Wby not give these a trial? Most of the other plants we have now in bloom are about' the same as those noticed at Trentham ; so striking was the resemblance that nothing seemed left but this great difference — that at Ti-entham they were under glass, and here in the open air. I will hurriedly run over the list as I see them- in our garden. Cestrum aurantiaeum, so highly spoken of by Mr: Pish, deserves even more than can be said of it, and we have plants of it 8 feet high and as much through covered with ita golden racemes of flowers; and the Habrothamnus fascicu- latus, a beautiful contrast to the Cestrum, although not gro-w^ ing quite so strong, is now loaded with bloom, and wUl last much longer. Nor is the blue one (Habrothanmus cyaneus), to be despised, for although a straggling grower, it is very dis- tinct in all points fi-om any of the others. The rest of the list consists of Acacia mii-iobotryum (?), invaluable for bouquet- making ; Capraria laneeolata. Cassia tomentosa, Eriobotrya japonica (Japanese Medlar), Polygalas, Veronicas, Lantanaa, Coi-reas, Bignonias, Salvias in vai-iety, and Eoses in profu- sion; the beautiful Ipomsea Learii covering a great length' Pecember 15, 1663. ]; JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUBE AKD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 469 of wall ; and in the immediate neia;hbourhood of our garden fine plants of Eusselia juneea covered with its scai'let flowers. I had long been intending to have a private communica- tion with one of your able writers, Mr. D. Beaton, my old apprentice master at Shi-ubland, and was in the act of doing so when, to my great sorrow, I heai'd that he was no more. I feel sure, fi-oni the pains which he took in teaching me, that he would have been much interested with my simple description of this beautiful climate. I feel his death is to me as a foundation stone of a house removed. Although, fortunately, I never had occasion to apply to him, I always looked upon hiui as a sure support to fall back upon if necessary ; but my loss is a simple one compared with that of the horticultiu-al world, for which he spared no time or pains. In conclusion, I cannot omit giving one remai-kable in- stance of the rapidity of vegetation at Cannes. In March, 1862, I sowed seeds of different kinds of Eucalyptus, and planted them out less than 3 feet high in May, 1863 ; they have now attained the height of 16 feet, and are fine, large, graceful trees. I recollect the interesting account in the reports of the last great exhibition given as to the various produce of these trees, and I think that they ^vill soon be- come timber trees of this country. — John Taylor, Gardetwr to T. B. Wooljield, Esq., Villa Victoria, Cannes. FEUITIjSTG stephanotis floeibunda. TouE cori-espondent, Mx. John Edlington, Crom Castle, asks for information on fruiting the above. I will explain how a plant of it was treated when under my care at Eipley Castle. The plant in question was in a border resting on an old brick flue. The soil in which it grew was composed of light loam, peat soil, and sand. The border was 1 foot 6 inches in width, and the same in depth. This was at the back of a succession Pine stove. During the season of rest the soil was kept dust dry. Early in the spring the plant was supplied with plenty of water at the roots and a bottom heat of 7S° ; and a moist humid atmosphere ranging from 70° to 84° was preserved during the day, and a night temperature of 68°. The same plant produced eight or ten fruit two years in succession. — W. Claek, Chesterford Park. EXHIBITION OF BEDDING PLANTS. I WAS very glad to see, by the very interesting communica- tion of your correspondent, Mr. E. W. Adey, in The Joitenal OF HoETicuLTUKE of the 1st inst., that this subject is not entirely forgotten. I tViinlr that it was first alluded to by the late lamented "Mr. Beaton, and the matter is, I think, well worthy of the consideration of nurserymen, and in fact of all interested in the growing of bedding plants ; a,nd this, no doubt, com- prises a large portion of the readers of The Journal of HOBTICULTUEE. It must be evident to all in any way conversant with the subject, that but a very imperfect estimation of the adapta- bility of any variety of plant for bedding purposes can be formed from seeing a specimen or two exhibited growing in pots, and produced under glass. The question which next presents itself is. How should they be grown and exhibited ? I cannot at present turn to the remarks of Mr. Beaton in The Jottenal of Hoeticul- TUEE, but I think he recommended them to be gi'own and shown in boxes. When I read his remarks on the subject I thought the idea was very good, and I cannot now see any objection to it. It would, of course, be very desii'able that a uniformity of "size and shape of the boxes or pans in which the plants are ■grown should be adhered to ; so with your permission and with the greatest deference, I woidd beg to suggest that they be 2 feet 6 inches long, by 1 foot wide, and about 6 or 7 inches deep. This depth, I think, would be quite sufficient. They ought to be fiUed with plants struck fr-om cuttings in the preceding autumn or spring, and plunged to the rim in the open border, fully exposed to all sorts of weather, not •-i}ater than the 1st of June. Supposing the exhibition to be ■iield in Jidy, the plants would by that time iave sufficiently developed themselves to cover the entire siu-face of the boxes or pans, and these might be placed upon the exhibition- table in all respects miniatui-e and portable flower-beds. Prom having been treated in every way the same as the ordinary occupants of the parteiTC, the appearance of the plants on the exhibition-table would convey a tolerably correct idea of their merits as bedding plants. All plants used as bedders might, I think, be grown and shown in this manner, including Verbenas, Petunias, Lo- belias, variegated Geraniums, &c. Also, the new golden Tricolor Geraniums, of which the variety called Mrs. Pollock may be taken as the type. With regard to these an im- pression appears to prevail that they require something like protection or shelter ; but that such is not the case I have no doubt many of your readers have discovered during the last summer, and have found that the more they are ex- posed to light and air the more intense become the ooloui's of then- b^mtiful foliage, and in most soils they grow as freely as the common Seailet varieties. I am rather pleased to think that I am not alone in my endeavours to raise a Ghost in the form of a variegated Geranium with Madame Vaiicher, i. e., pui'e white, flowers. I trust that your correspondent, Mr. Adey, may succeed in doing so ; but I have heard that a silver variegated Grera- nium with white flowers does afready exist, and is to be seen in the establishment of the Messrs. Lee, at Hammsrsmith. But my ambition soars still higher than this, and I have not yet despaired of raising a Geranium with golden Tricolor foliage, and producing pure white flowers. This wiU con- tinue in one individual plant four distinct coloiirs — viz., green, scarlet, yeUow, and white. If I succeed in doing this before your correspondent, Mr. Adey, or any other person, I will with his permission (not without it, as he has already bespoken the name), call it The Ghost. — G. EOYAX HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY'S COMMITTEES.— December 8, 1863. Ploeal CoMiiiTTEE. — This was the last meeting of the present year, and, as might be expected, at this late season there were very few plants for inspection. Mr. Veitch sent four very interesting varieties of a seed- ling hybrid Orchid, the result of Mr. Dominy's persever- ing skill. Th« plants are the produce of a cross between Calanthe vestita and Limatodes rosea. One seedling, which is named Calanthe superba, was particularly beau- tifid, with a long spike of deep bright rose flowers, the centre marked with a dark spot. This was awarded a first- class certificate. The three other plants were of a lighter shade, and two of them with white centres. These had been before the Committee before, and received certificates. Messrs. Smith, Dulwieh, sent plants of double and single- flowering Primulas. The rosy purple double variety, and the double white, were fine flowers, but not superior to others previously exhibited by the same fimi. The single variety, a fi'inged deep rose, appeared to be fi'Om the strain of Str. Benares' Primulas. The plants were very young, and not in condition for it to be decided whether this deep colour will remain as the plants a Jvance in growth. Mr. W. K. Brown, Great Marlow, sent cut specimens of an Anemone-flowered Pompone Chrysanthemum, with a deep, full centre of pale lemon ; the white back petals were irregular, and too reflexed to make it a perfect flower. It received a second-class certificate. Mr. Macintosh, Hammersmith, also sent cut flowers of Chrysamthemum Magenta. Flower small, coloui' not new. Mr. McMorland, Haverstock Hdl, sent Odontogiossum phaJsenopsis, an old and well-known Orchid, but not very often exhibited. It is one of those which require a cool- house treatment, and like many of its family has sufliered much from the high-temperatm-e treatment. The plant though small produced a spike of four or five very beautiful moth-ldke flowers, white gi-ound, marked on the lower lobes with pale lilac spots and blotches. Not being a new variety a special certiflcate was awarded to denote its value. When the cool treatment of Orchids which will not endure high pressure becomes more generally adopted, we may expect t© see again many excellent old varieties, which for a time 470 JOTJENAL OF HOETICtJLTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ December 15, 1S«3. have been lost through mistaken treatment in their cul- tivation. Mr. BuU, Chelsea, sent plants of a beautiful Saxifi-aga, japonioa tricolor, one of the many interesting plants intro- duced by Mr. Standish from Japan, specimens of which we saw two years ago at Bagshot. This Saxifrage has most remarkable vaiiegated foliage, the dark green being re- lieved l)y bright rose and creamy white variegations. This will prove a valuable plant for suspended baskets. The runners carefully trained would make a very pretty specimen. As a decorative plant adapted for this special pm-pose, a first-class certificate was awarded to it. From Mr. Bull also came Burlingtonia decora (picta. Hooker), from Brazil, a well-known Orchid ; Dracfena ter- minalis latifolia pendula, resembling a species ah-eady well known ; Eranthemum rubrovenium, a variegated-foliaged plant not dissimilar from another variety ; Kennedya Pred- woodii, not equal to K. Mairyattae or prosti-ata. Three plants were placed on the table by Mr. Eyles, from the Society's gai'den at Ohiswick, presented by n, gentleman whose name we did not hear — a Sonchus fiUfolia with very thread-like foliage, an AraUa, and Hottonia. They ap- peared to be plants unknown, and were too young for any opinion to be formed on their merits. Feuit Committee. — Mr. Nash in the chair. At this meeting there was one of the largest exhibitions of fruit that have been seen during the season. The prizes offered were — Class A, For the best three dishes of dessert Apples, distinct kinds. There were no less than seventeen entries, and all sufficiently meritorious. As is usual in such cases, it was not the largest and the best-looking that proved the best in flavour, and consequently many collections that looked as if they ought to have taken a prize were numbered among the unsuccessful competitors. The first prize was awarded to Mr. Euffett, gardener to Viscount Palmerston, Brockett Hall, for very deliciously-flavoured fi'uit of Cox's Orange Pippin, Eibston Pippin, and Cockle Pippin, and all of which were beautiful specimens as well. 'The second prize was taken by Mi-. Simpson, gardener to Lady Moly- neux. Stoke Farm, Slough. He exhibited three collections, all of which were vei-y fine specimens of the sorts. That which obtained the pri^e consisted of Cox's Orange Pippin, Cornish GiUiflower, and Ribston Pippin. The others were Rosemary Eusset, Cornish Ai-omatic, Claygate Pearmain, Golden Hai-vey, Keddleston Pippin, and Scarlet Eusset. Mr. Cox, gardener to W. Wells, Esq., of Eedleaf, exhibited no less than five collections, all of which were different, and consequently contained fifteen varieties of dessert Apples. Among these Sam Young was particidarly noticeable as being the finest-fiavoured Apple in the whole collection. Cox's Orange Pippin was also very richly flavoured. For this collection the Committee awarded Mr. Cox a certificate of commendation. Mr. Curd, gardener to M. J. Thoytts, Esq., of Sulhampstead, also exhibited a large number of varieties of dessert and kitchen Apples amounting to twenty- five sorts. Many of these were also excellent specimens. In Mr. Whiting's collection the Elford Pippin deserves especial notice. It is a small flat Apple, and seems to be a great favourite with that gentleman, for he has shown it on several occasions lately, .and it has been invariably of very fine flavour. Tliis is doubtless one of the best of our dessert Apjjles. Mr. Beasley, gardener to T. Wood, Esq., Acton, had fine specimens, both in appearance and flavour, of Blenheim Pippin, and also of Wyken Pippin, but his King of the Pippins were inferior. Mr. Earley, of Digswell. who was second at last meeting, had very nice specimens of the true Golden Winter Pearmain. Mr. Dungey, of the Gardens, Oakham Park, Eipley, Surrey, had fine specimens of the Eibston. Mr. Spivey, of HaUingbury Place, sent unusually fine specimens, both in flavour and appearance, of Margil; and Mr. Curd, of Sulhampstead, contributed beau- tiful examples of the trae Cockle Pippin. Class B was for the best dish of Huyshe's Bergamot Pear, and for this new introduction there were three entries, Mr. Huyshe himself having one; Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, and Co. the other. The specimens of Messrs. Lucombe were, however, the best in every respect, and consequently came in first, while the originator of the variety was himself obliged to take a second place. This remarkably fine Pear is now, with the consent of Mr. Huyshe himself, to be called henceforth the Prince of Wales. The former name was com- pletely a misnomer, as the fruit possesses neither the shape nor any other feature of a Bergamot. It is, in fact, a long pyramidal Pear. Class C was for the best dish of Huyshe's Victoria, also a splendid Pear raised by Mr. Huyshe. In this class there were four competitors. Dr. Scott, of Exeter, being first with splendid specimens covered over with fine warm cinnamon- coloured russet, and delicious in flavour ; Mr. Huyshe was again second, also with fine specimens, but not so richly fiavoured as those of Dr. Scott. Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, and Co., had also excellent specimens, and unfortunately those of Mr. Gray, of Exeter, were rotten at the core. In Class C, For the best dish of Josephine de Malines Pear, Mr. Spivey, of HaUingbury Place, near Bishop Stort- ford, " .3 first with fine fruit, the flavour of which was equal to anything ever met with in that excellent variety. Mr. Cox, of Eedleaf, was second, also with well-flavoured fruit, but not so rich in flavour. George F. Wilson, Esq., of Gishurst Cottage, Weybridge Heath, sent very large and handsome specimens from a tree grown in a pot in an orchard-house, but the flavour did not come up to either of the former. The other exhibitors were Dr. Scott, of Exeter ; Mr. Samuel Ealphs, Walton-on-Thames ; and Mr. Adlam, of Walton-on- Thames, but neither of these was at all possessed of any flavour. A seedling Grape was received fr-om Mr. Meredith of Gar- ston, called iJ"hild of Hale. It produces an enormous bunch, with a stout woody stalk and a profusion of large round amber-coloured berries on very short and stout berry-stalks. The skin is thin, and the flesh firm and crackling, of the consistency of the Muscat of Alexandria, but without the flavour. li; is very juicy and sweet, with a considerable amount of richness, but unfortunately the skin had a little astringency in it, which has prevented the Committee form- ing a favourable opinion upon its merits. It is evidently a vai-iety that wUl hang in good condition to a late period, and when that astringency is absent it wiU be an invaluable variety, both for size of bunch and berry, for flavour-, and for long keeping. Messrs. Lane, of Berkhampstead, sent bunches of Bar- barossa, Black Prince, Charlesworth Tokay, and Golden Hamburgh from an orchard-house. They were all beauti- fully coloured and well grown, but the flavour was not developed except in the last, which was in beautiful condi- tion. Mr. Forsyth, gardener to Baron Lionel de EothschUd, Gunnersbury Park, exhibited two splendid Pine Apples, one the Smooth-leaved Cayenne, and the other Carlotta Eothschild. Mr. Haywood, nurseryman, Worcester, sent stalks of a white Celery, which could not be distinguished fi-om well- grown specimens of the Incomparable. Mr. Melville, of Dalmeney Park, sent a hybrid Turnip between the Swede and the Yellow Stone, which, however, was not regarded as anything superior to what is ah-eady in cultivation ; also a sprouting form of the Ulm Savoy, which is not equal to the Brussels Sprouts ; and a seedling Bi-ussels Sprouts, which is much too large ever to become a thing of any importance, seeing the desideratum in that vegetable is to procure it as small as possible. SOME GARDENS WOETH SEEING. WARWICKSHIRE. !fame Proprietor. Gardener. Station. Combe Abbey Earl of Craven Mr. Miller Brandon. StoneleiRh.^bbej- Lord Leigh Mr. EUwonhy... KenUworth. NewnhamPadox Lord Denbigh Mr. West Rugby. The beautiful ruins of Kenilworth Castle are close to the KenUworth station, and well deserve a visit from the tourist. — P. M., Pulham. MisTLETOi.— In your Journal of 24th November, page 419, you ask for any information of Mistletoe growing on other trees than the Apple, Thorn, Poplar, and Lime. There is in the churchyard here a fine large bunch of it growing on the Acacia, and a quantity on a Thorn on the lawn adjoining. December 15. 1863. ] JOtTENAL OF HOETICTJLTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 471 the only specimens I have seen in the southern part of Devonshire. The Apple-orchards are tree from it. — West Ogv.^ellj near Newton Abbot. WHAT ANIMALS ARE POISONED BY THE YEW? "A. J. G." all last summer turned two cows into a small field with a large Yew tree in it, being informed by the man who had charge of them that it was a " bearing Yew tree," and not poisonous. It produces no berries. These cows take delight in eating anything they are not intended to have. So "A. J. G." has little doubt that they ate many small branches of the Yew, and certainly they were none the worse. An old horse spends most of his time in the same field. How does this agree with the advice given in The Journal or HoKTicuLTURE for the 1st of December, in which a corre- spondent, "G. B.," is advised to fence ofFY'ews from sheep ? On Mickleham downs there are quantities of Yew trees, and " A. J. G." has seen flocks of sheep grazing among them safely. On the other hand, " A. J. G." sent a cart drawn by a donkey to fetch some turf from neighbouring downs. The donkey ate Yew branches and leaves, and died the next day, evidently poisoned. The country people persist in saying that the Yews which have no berries are not poisonous, and " A. J. G." will be much obUged if the Editors of The Journal of Hokti- ctTLTUBE will say whether this is truth or foUy, for " A. J. G." is anxious to let poultry run on a piece of ground where there are several Irish Yews, but is afraid to do so on account of the berries. "A. J. G." also begs to have two kinds of good late Straw- berries recommended for planting under a north waU, and would prefer one kind to be a respectable old-fashioned sort, which can be relied on, being rather out of conceit with novelties at present, in consequence of a failure in growing Spergula, pilifera. [You cannot have two better late varieties of the Straw- berry than the Elton and Frogmore Late Pine. With reference to the Yew being poisonous, no fact is more certain than that some animals, and under some circum- stances, have died from eating either the berries or the leaves and twigs ; and this being so, though similar animals and apparently under similar circumstances, have not been so killed, yet he is unwisely venturous who subjects them to the risk. We will quote a few testimonies. WTiite, of Selborne, states an instance where barrow hogs and young sows were tHiinjured by eating Yew berries ; but sows suckling their young often died after devoiiring the berries. Gilpin re- lates instances of horses tied to a Y'ew hedge being kUled ; and in the Isle of Ely he had nine of his own young bullocks tUled by browsing on a Yew hedge ; and knew of a whole dairy of cows killed by eating Y'ew clippicgs. Yet, he adds, sheep and turkeys, and, as park-keepers say, deer will crop this tree with impunity. ChOdren eat the berries without inconvenience, and so do fiellfares ; yet Withering tells of three children having been kUled by a spoonful of the green leaves, and sheep, he adds, have been killed by eating the bark ; and many instances ai-e recorded of persons killed by drinking a decoction of the leaves. We shall be glad to receive information upon the subject ; but after the above testimony we should avoid turning any agricultural animal into a field where it could partake of any part of the Yew. We should not fear turning poultry into such a field.] POETEAITS OF PLANTS, FLOWEES, AND FEUITS. DiPTEBACANTHTJS ATFiOTs (Splendid Dipteracanthus). — Nat. or:^ps4 ^^ry"i2 :^Stitnrt,^ij°sr?^s si- «wa''ter'a?aThile Tariet' '"t^" """'"f"- »' ^ siack "and"Bu"c°kl'a™ t„ grow Pine= vSes and p5 „ ^' m"""" ""^V'^ '•'"' "> "^"^ '"e attempt 1) i,row rines, lines, and Peaches in the same house. Vines and Pines irp ?eTthfvn''efr."aten''„TS%r^'=.'.''^^ iBi. lue vines be laKen out for the winter to rest. Vines and Pparhes »rp f\°nTu7e cfr'al'te7o7th"=" "l ""'V"^ ""^ Peaches on' Ve^baSwa" a^d leach the Peich tree," h?t '"?'• '" '" ''P"' "' "> '^' ^ '^" ^"are of light io?es vou cannot V,„''"'p'!'""''' T™ .«"' '"™ both Vines and Peaches out c°uW doThis Z pf»rh T' ^'v,'" ?' ''""* ''™«<^! and even if you t„, M , ' Peaches do not like the heat necessary for Pines We The^rowth Of I^Zs bi^thl ""= ^T"""' ''"1^"'^' 'ogether.^nd nit attemp ine growm ot rines m the same house. The V nes being vour chief ron- f™, „fT' l'^ "? "'if ' '"'"'8 ^'"' '"« P'^a'l'es. and nfecf not be turned out of the house at all. You will And this arrangement satisfactorv hut not the one you propose. There are few things that mi"' 'te so mnel plan?lrfa:frifg''differ''e^nt''" '"' ""^""'^ '5^' "' ">^'^' " S '°- - ^^- F,„ ,f ?T # ""ferent management in the same house. ULLING-up BLiKKs IN * ViHEEY (4 Seginner).-lf your sole obiect is li^^tVwfp'J^sumT ?r„'°' "YT ■" "■' r,' ■" ^"^ vrerywLre'fherl b^st and^uickest Tn; ■ . '''''^' ''1" "''''' "'"^•'y established Vines, your nest and quickest way 15 to run up the renu red number of vonni- ernwths from the bottom of the established Vines. This is a ver^ si.i7p°e matter It train°TuD the hlinrni "^ T^'"' ""'5' ''""' """ growth next season and top ?f the house The ?,?,;r' ",?.?'"'' " """" *' S"' "'"'''' 3 feet of the raSst of cou SP d.n»L "^r "v, '^™^ ''™°« Sf""""' ""»' yo" ""tist allow Shid'th.t 9" I;, i P 1^ °" the blanks yon are desirous to till up, bearing in your obiect' be to in?^/"""^'' ^V^' ""° ""^'- 'f- o" '^e other hand, up Tour blanks vn ,r h "," '"''' .f'"^''"*- ™'ieties as well as to make vSung shoots thaf ?„."'' r^y^i" be '» '"'"■'h the varieties on to the the ?oung green s.IlJ'T ^'"'"'/ 'P",''™^ °'- ^'"''^ '" t*^^' '" no' stated why you should do i? t„ it., f '' "' """S"^ "P y"" ''''""''• then the best thing you can do 18 to introduce as much fresh turfy soil with about a fourth plrt rotten manure as you can without disturbingthe roots of the old Vines and ton ant Jinen/d";;"^ ^'T, '" '"'^ '"'^ «»''• The Vines should Se 'strong weS tSasy"ou?l?ttll''«n'"'-""\^i;°"'"'' "H"^ « '^'' " "> of ^ood nelrTyas }.rlll. f .7'°"r little hnger. When you plant them, shake them entirely out Of the soil ,n which they have been grown, and unravel all he root, and ^^v fingTr^wo^Mt iX wereV''"," V,'- T' '""^'' '° "" ''"e ,,osS a's y u'r ^nge^^ wo id be in were you to thrust your arm out throueh the brick wall ™ M h^ T"; "'^ri^^^ "'^ ^^' P«"" °^ yo""- hand in the To"fwbere the roots are to be la.d. Cover them over to the depth of 8 or 9 inches The end of Vines wm*fi?fnn°r^^ '' P'""'»i but the^ods broughraway from the^?d 0 neady.o whir^h u T'' T^ ''^°*^ '^^^ "'" ^^^' *« »•»« ^^P «f ^^e house, .,r.^l^u •■ ""^" '^ "'^^'^ ^*^^" 5-0" can expect by plantinc vounff Vines ca'e'Vh'afan'L'T'''"''^ J' ''''^' "^ '^« ^*°^ ^"^ ^« mferaU^specia cases tbat arise they would be ponderous volumes. »ill flnJ M^" t NORTH-KAST AND EaST WaLL {J. W. D. S ) — YoU ^F uU MaSua?i'''Yn' f "*? " "' .^'^ '"^ ^^ the descriptive liU la tSe where tw.riv. >, "' ^? 5°^ '?^ where you Uve. nor the soil and situation Where they are to be planted. What suits one place will not do in another. Bonk Manurk foe Potted Vine3 (G. IT., aCojistantReader).—'We would recommend you to use bone dust or half-inch boiled bones in pre- ference to unboiled bones. Boiled bones are not richer than tho'^e that are not boiled, but they are more rapid in their manunal action, and, therefore, though less lastinc in their effects, are best for pot Vines, in as far as more nourisbraent will be av.iilable from them in a couple of years ; but the pre- ference is given to unboiled bones for lastint; effects in a Vine-border, for the fat makes the de omposition of the gelatine, and the solubility of the phos- phate of lime less rapid. An eight-inch pot mil of bones, one banowload of calcareous— that is, rather tenacious— loam . and half a barrowload of rotten horsedung, make a first-rate compost for pot Vines, Firm potting for the last shift is advisable for more reasons thin one. M'ith such materials and 18-inch pots you should be able, all other thincs being equal, to grow very strong Vines. They should be grown in a lieht place trained near the glass, and if a little bottom heat can be given them all the better. These con- ditions with a temperature fully higher than for Grape-forcing, should enable you to give your neighbour a run for the championship, and keep him from laughing at vou.— 13. T Trbep, &c.. for a Smokv Situation {A Lady t?arrfc?ier).— The follow- ing trees, shrubs, and Roses do moderately well in and around our large towns, and would, no doubt, suit you :— Acer campestris, A. pseudo- platanus, ditto loliis variegatis; .^Esculus hippocaatanum ; Fagus svlvatica, ditto aspleniifolia, cristata, fol. argcnteis varitgatis, pendula, and purpurea ; Fraxinus excelsior aurea, ditto var. pendula, F- excelsior pendula, and F. juglandifolia ; Liriodendron tulipiferum ; Platanus acenfolia, occidentalis, ditto pyramidalis, and P. orientalis ; Populus abele and P. acerifolia; Quercus nigra and Q. rubra; Robinia hispida; Salix araericana pendula, S. caprea pendula; Tilia alba and T. alba penduLi.T. euiop^a, ditto laciniata, and parvifolia aurea; Ulmus americana, campestris, fulva, macrophylla, montana, pendula, and urticifolia crispa; Ailanthus glundulosa ; Hawlhoru, all the species ; Sambucus heterophylla, S. nigra fol. argenteis, S. nigra fol . aureis, S. nigra laciniata, and S. nigra purpurea ; Sorbus aria, S. aucuparia, S. aucuparia pendula, and 8. aucuparia pendula variegata ; Salisburia adiantifolia ; Betula nigra, populifolta, B. populifolia laciniata, and pendula, and B. urticifolia. The above are mostly trees. Of shrubs Andromeda floribunda; Aralia japonica; Aucuba japonica, A. japonica lati-maculata ; Azaleas, most varieties ; Berberis arciica, Bealii, Darwini, and vulgaris ; Buxus species ; Cerasus carolinlana, vulgaris aspleniifolius, C. vulgaris flore pleno, and the double French variety ; Cornus mascula variegata; Cydonia japonica; Cytisus alpinus, laburnum, nigrican?, and secundus ; Daphne cneorura, collina, and mezereum vars ; Deutzia gracilis and D, scabra ; Erica, australis, mediterranea, stricta, cinerea, vars. alba, coccinea, and pallidas vagans, vagans alba and rubra, and vulgaris alba, Alporti, Hammondi, tenella; Forsythia viridissima ; Kalmii angustifolla, glauca, and latifolia; Ligustrum japonicum and vulgare ; Preonia Moutan, varieties ; Philadelphus coronarius and P. coronarius flore pleno; Pyrusprunifolia rosea, and spectabilis; Prunus triloba; Rbododendrons, the Laurels of towns; Kibes aureum, Gordon- ianum, sanguineum, vars; Spiri"Ba callosa, Douglaaii, sorbifolia, and ariae- folia ; Syringa Emodi, persica, rothomagcnsis, vulgaris, vulgaris alba and vulgaris Philemon ; Vaccinium buxifoliura and froudosum ; Viburnum opulns, roseura, plicatum, and lucidum ; Vincu major, vars. fol. variegatis, reticul ita, V. minor fol. argenteis variegatis, and minor fol. aureis varie- gatis; Ilex aquifolium, ditto foliis variegatis, vars. Roazs.— Provence : Cabbage. Moss : Common, Rouge du Luxembourg. French : Boula de Nanteuil, *Kean, Ohl, Transon Goubault, Pierre Jaussens, Napoleon. Hybrid China : Blairii, Brennus, Ch^nt-dole, General Jacqueminot, and Madame Planner. Hybrid Bourbon: Charles Lawson, Coupe d'H^be, Paul Perras, Paul Riciut, President Mole, and Charles Ouval. Climbing Roses. —Alice Grey, Ayrshire. Bonraaulta : Amadis and Gracilis; The Garland, Madame d'.^rblay. ot Hybrids ; and Felicit*^ Perpf-tuelle, Adelaide d'Orleans, Rampant, Princesse Marie, and Princesse Louise aic the best of the climbers. Hybrid Perpctuals : Beauty of Waltham, Baronne Prevost, Caroline de Sansal, Colonel de Kougemont, Cornet, Anna Alesieff, Comte de Nanteuil, Duchess of Norfolk, Duchess of Sutherland, Gt^nt'ral Jacque- minot, G^ant des Batailles, General Washington, Leon des Combats, Marquis of Ailsa. Madame Vidot, Lord Raglan, Madame Dumage, Prince L^on, Senateur Vaisse, Souvenir de la Reine d'Angleterre, William Jesse, and Souvenir de Leveson Gower. Of Tea-scented : Melanie Oger, Som- breuil, Souvenir d*un Ami, and Gloire de Dijon. Brennus, we think, would most likely suit you to plant by the house ; Vivid is also suitable for such a situation. Why not water the Peach tree, and syringe it on the evenings of hot days, and thus obviate the dryness of the situation ? We think most of the trees and shrubs would do moderately we.l with you ; but you must not expect them to do as well near a town ns they do in the country. Laurels do not thrive in smoke, and the Laurustinua will not suit your ex- posed situation. Twelve Good Hardy Rhododendrons {Donegal Subscriber).— T)xq following are good hardy, not high-priced, late-flowering sorts; but we would advise you to tell what you want and the money you witih to spend to the tradesman, and he will do better for you than abiding by any list of names. Say that the plants averaged from 35. 6rf. to bs. or more, if you wish them rare and fine : — Abd-el-Kader, Alaric, Brayanum, Cannaletto, Due de Brabant, Erectura, Maculatum, Marshaliii, Ne Plus Ultra, Sir I&aac Newton, The Grand Arab, Vandyke. These are all good hybrids. You could obtain a dozen very good varieties of the hardy Catawbiense section for less money ; but we advise you to leave a good deal to the nurserj'man. Aphelandra Leopoldi Culturr {J. F. Datvson). — We experience no difficulty in growing this plant. It requires perfect drainage and a moist atmosphere, without wetting the leaves much by syringing them, in addition to all the light practicable. Dribbling waterings are to be avoided, aa they cause the leaves of this and many otlier plants to turn yellow and (all pre- maturely. The soil should consist of light loam from rotted turf half, and fibry sandy peat (not bog soil} the rest, with a free admixture of silver sand. A moderate stove temperature suits it. We do not see why your plants should not do well. Something must be radically wrong with the roots. Are the pots well drained, and is the soil about them sweet? Cauellia Buds Falling {Idem). — We think either that the Camellia roots got too much soaked in the border in which they were plunged, or that the ball got too dry; either cause would produce the effect. We do not know the Lastrea sufficiently to say. Various (C. i3.J.— The manual you mention is not in print, and Hogg's " Fruit Manual" is far superior. You can have it free by post from our office for 35. lOf^. Spirit of turpentine thoroughly brushed into the places where the American blight appears will destroy it. The insects go down to the roots in winter. For what purpose do you wish to *' wash "—we suppose you mean to paint— your fruit-tree walls ? December 15, 1363. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 479 Paintino Consertatokt (W. TT.).— It will not injure tha plants. Names op Plants (if. B. if.).— The Fern is Asplenium flabellifoUum, and the othera are— 2, Tortula muralis ; 3, Evernia prunaatri; 4, Parmelia parietaria; 6, Kamglina fraiinea ; 6, Parmelia aaxatilis. (J. L. C.).— 1, appears to be top of frond of Aaplenium Belan^eri ; 2, Adiantum pu- bescens; 3, Celsia sublanata. {Ignoramus).— \, Erica hyemalia ; 2, Erica persolata; 3, Erica pubescens ; 4, Epacris impreasa. {A Constant. Sub- scriber).—Uypnwm fluitans. (J. B. B.).—l, Abutilon venosum; 2, One of the AloDsoas, but too much perished to say which— probably urticifolia. POULTRY, BEE. and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. BUYEE AND SELLEE. Having observed lately in your Journal many complaints and disappointments recorded by purchasers of poultry from private individuals, such purchases in no way answering their expectations, I think I can propound a scheme of the simplest character by which the interests of both purchasers and sellers would be entirely sewired — that is, every one pai'ting from their valuable birds may be sure of either re- ceiving them back, or their money value when sent on approval, and need have no uneasy visions of the " Long Firm " while the negociation is pending. As an old poultry and pigeon fancier, I have been com- pelled at di8Ferent times to purchase birds without seeing them, a plan I would recommend no one to adopt, and I cannot say that I have had reason to be satisfied with that mode. In more than one instance I have not received any- thing at all for money sent in prepayment, and I certainly think in most cases the pviTchasers may be considered quite as honest as the sellers — this is said in reference to the now general practice of demanding prepayment. I do not think with the " Wiltshire Rector " that the public generally distrust advertisements, witness the daily supplement to the Times; nor do I think that any good could come from " a column set apai't, &c., &c." (at a reduced price of course), vigilantly excluding all dealers, as sug- gested by the " Exhibitor (and no doubt dealer) in a Small Wat." Who, indeed, shall decide who is a dealer when every one deals more or less if he can ? Why, what are the people who would fill that half-priced column but persons anxious to buy or dispose of their surplus stock ? No, what the public require is some guai-antee or security, where prepayment is required, that they will not be deceived by misrepresentations, and that they may be sure of receiving a fair value for their outlay. This could be very easily carried out by establishing in London, as most central, a "poultry protective agent," to act for both buyer and seller, and to whom all payments, as a sort of stakeholder, could be made. Then, when a buyer required a lot of birds to be sent on approval, he would forward to the agent the amount of their value ; the agent would then acknowledge the receipt of the money, and re- quest the owner to forward the birds direct to the purchaser (this would save trouble to the agent). If the birds were approved the purchaser would inform the agent, who would pay over the money to the seller, making such deductions for carriage, &c., as might be previously agreed on. If the birds were not approved of the same form would be gone thi-ough, only that the birds would be sent back to the owner, and, after their safe arrival, the agent would return the money to the proposed buyer, deducting such fees as might be agreed on. This would terminate the transaction, and no one would have to complaiu that he had been deceived in the quality or defrauded of his property. It may appear on paper a troublesome process, but in reality could be carried out very easily ; and I think when the amount is considerable, few would object to take this trouble, any more than they do to the "formality of an advertisement " to obtain anything of choice quality. I think if the subject were fairly gone into, others might offer their opinions on this much-vexed question, and some arrangement speedily come to. The only person I know of in London, who would be suitable for such an agency, is Mr. Stevens, the poultry auctioneer, who probably would be wOling to undertake it if suitably remunerated for the trouble, &o. This would not entail more than writing two Or three notes with postage, and which a fee of 3s. with 5 per cent, on the purchase money, whether sold or not, would cover. — Once Bit Twice Shy. [Another correspondent, " A. N. B.," makes a similar sug- gestion, but proposes that the Editors of this Journal shall be the protective agents. It would involve more writing and occupation of time than the Editors could sacrifice.] CAPTAIN HEATON'S COCHIN-CHINA FOWLS AT THE BIEMINCtHAM SHOW. Allow me to correct an error made by your correspondent, " Small Fry." He asks :— " How the astounding fact arose that Captain Heaton, to whom both the Silver Buff Cochin cups were awarded on the Saturday, and his friend, Mr. Kelleway, the breeder of the greater portion of the Cochin fowls the Captain then exhibited, were permitted to view the Poultry Show on the Saturday, in flagrant violation of such arrangements ?" Your correspondent would evidently deprive me of a great part of the honour of my victory. I beg to state, for his especial benefit, that out of the fifty Cochins exhibited by me at Birmingham, only thirteen were from Mr. Kellewa/s yard, the remainder from my own. As to his charge against the Birmingham Committee, I will leave the matter in better hands than mine ; I can only say, that I am not aware that any favour was granted to me or Mr. KeUeway, we merely followed many others who entered the poultry department before we did.— Henrt Heaton. EAILWAY AEEANGEMENTS AND POULTEY EXHIBITIONS. Amongst the many suggestions lately made by "Egomet " and others as to poultry shows and poultry, the following, inter alia, will not be out of place :— I think one of the largest items connected with the expenses of exhibiting is cairiage of poultry to and from shows. Some Secretaries have, with commendable foresight, obtained fr-om the respective railway companies connected with their exhibition a free transit for the poultry to and fro, and, I think, they have added by doing so a great attraction to their prize schedules — in fact, at once lessening distance between north and south, east and west, and giving opportunities to those who otherwise could not show. I feel sure that did Secretaries of shows secure this privilege, even of returning poultry from exMbi- tions free, they would find the number of entries increased ; and through the medium of your Journal I beg to offer this suggestion to them, which I hope will be received, approved, and acted upon. — Meipsum. DARLINGTON EXHIBITION OF POULTEY. We can with the most perfect confidence assure our readers, that the Darlington Show just closed has not only very far exceeded all others hitherto held under the auspices of this Society, but also proved itself quite able to hold equal rank with the most noted of our poultry meetmgs elsewhere. The earnest determination of the managers "to do every- thing' they possibly can for the benefit of each exhibitor, but to show no partiality to any of them above their fellows has doubtlessly contributed very materially to produce the amount of public confidence now so freely given to this great Exhibition. Scarcely a county exists that did not this season send admfrable specimens of poulti-y to Darlington, iirst- prize birds from all oui- most noted shows stood here side by side. Such pens having previously secm-edtheu- local honours, the owners, now wishing to determine their actual pertections, brought them together as antagonists, in many instances tor the first time ; a whole host of silver cups of the actual value represented being the coveted objects of their ambition. From these especial causes not only were the classes heavy as to the numbers exliibited, but abnost without exception ot so perfect a character, that the Judges had a duty to tuJUl the very opposite of a sinecure. This year the poultry were exhibited in the recently erected Market Hall, at Daa-bng- ton, which proved itself a most suitable building and con- sequently far in advance of the temporary erections that hitherto have been the only ones available to the Darbngton Committee. Mr. Turner, of SheflSeld, provided the Society with his weU-known eidiibition pens, so that a better oppor- 480 JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ December 15, 1863. timity of displaying to advantage every pen could scarcely be wished for. " A fail- field and no favour " being thus made the order of the day, we proceed to note down a few of the leading features of this Exhibition. Black Spanish fowls were the first variety that met the eye of visitors on entering. To sum up facts with brevity, both the classes, whether for old birds or chickens, were beyond question the most praise- worthy that ever yet have been seen at any poultry exhibi- tion. They were indeed marvellous classes, and long, very long, we heai-, were the Judges in an-iving at their conclu- sions of relative perfection. In no case was this more apparent than in the awai-ding of the silver cup to the best pen irrespective altogether of age. Certainly a sad length of time was absolutely wasted in this selection. In vain did the Judges endeavoiu- to pick faults either way, the adults and chicks of 18G3 being so perfect that complaint of either was undoubtedly to find fault without occasion. The con- dition also of either pen was unexceptionable. It was most probably the severest "tie" that ever occurred at any poulti'y meeting ; and, as was justly observed, " to give the cup to either in preference was an absolute injustice to the defeated; but as the cup could not be divided, a selection however undesh'able must be made." Simply on account of the difficvdty of finding chickens able to hold theii- own in perfect Spanish classes against old birds, the result was finally determined in their favour-. Our readers may form theii- own opinions of the annoyance to the Judges at this vexatious delay, when it was afterwards ascertained both of those closely matched pens actually belonged to the same exhibitor — the Eight Hon. Viscountess Holmesdale. Of course the Committee are quite exonerated fi-om all blame ; their duty was sci-upulously to prevent any knowledge of facts as to proprietorship coming either directly or indi- rectly to the Judges, and honestly and to the letter did they can-y out this duty. No doubt they regi-etted the evident downright '■ fix " of the Judges as much as the gentlemen who were ofSciating. To say not a single pen of Sjpanisli fowls was shown without great merit is simply stating a most indisputable fact ; nor is it less true that those lovers of Spanish fowls who unfortunately missed seeing these classes this year at Dai-lington wUl most probably live long before such an opportunity again occms. Eefendng to the prize list, aanateurs wUl find scarcely a pen of Spanish fowls exhi- bited unnoticed. The Grey Dorkings were excellent through- out, but many of the best pens were evidently overtaxed by frequent exhibition. Mi's. Fergusson Blair here took the cup with a grand pen well shown of adult birds. The chicken Dorkings were especially good throughout. The Show at Dai-lington gave incontestible proof of the injury done to bii'ds by frequent exhibition, even as applied to that extra- ordinarily hardy race of fowls, the Cochins. If they are to be always on travel they nnist always have attention lavished .on them in proportion. In Buffs Mr. Bates, of Birming- ham, "justly ruled the roast " with birds of not only very superior character, but also in perfect condition ; Mr. C. T. Bishop, of Nottingham, being a very close-treading second prize, the Birmingham cup pen only attaining a commen- dation. In Bufi' chickens Mr. C. T. Bishop took precedence of all comers. Captain Ueaton being the winner of the second prize. In Cochin-Chma fowls, any variety, there was a capital muster. Here, somewhat unexpectedly, a pen of remark- ably good White ones, exhibited by Mrs. Blau-, took not only first prize, but tlie cup for Cochins also. In this class Mr. Stretch showed a particirlarly good pen of Partridge- coloured ones, which took the second premium. Captain Heaton's first-prize pen of a pair of Cochin pullets are worthy of especial mention, as also his excellent single cock that was equally suceesstul. In the class for Single Cochin Cocks it has never fallen to our lot to notice so evidently wrong statements as to age as was then apparent ; but per- chance this was from some mistake in packing. In these days it will hardly pass muster to sho%v as chickens cer- tainly birds of full two and perchance three years old. The BrahttMs were good throughout. The Game classes were of such regular, capital, first-rate character as we only rarely meet with, and this condition was no mean feature in se- curing the Darlingfton premiums. Messrs. Fletcher, Adams, Billing, Sunderland, Fei'kins, and Binns sent poultry in these classes that were jiard as wiiaJebone in featier, .and evidently fresh from master-walks. Mi-. Fletcher, of Man- chester, added considerably to his jjlate-winnings at Dai-- lingtou ; and each winner of even a commendation in such competition has much to be proud oi. So good were a pen of Black -breasted Red Game pullets, that they took a silver cup against their male rivals. Hamburghs were decidedly better than customary, this district being proverbially their home. The Spangled varieties showed to most advantage, the Silver-pencilled being the next approach to perfection. The Bantavts were mostly good. In the Variety class a splendid pen of La Fleche fowls sent by Mrs. Blair deserv- edly outshone all rivals, the Cnve Coiurs being the only near competition. The Selling class, limited to a prohibitory price of 30s., was well filled, contained capital pens, and many changed ownership. In Aylesbury Ducks, as usual, Mrs. Seamons, of Aylesbury, left all in the rear. It seems as though, in spite of rivalry, this lady possessed some mode of management unknown to others. In Geese Mrs. Fergusson Blah- took first prize and silver cup with a pen of perfect Greys weighing 52 lbs. ; her mixed medley lot of all coloui-s that won first at Bir- minghrun so recently, however, were passed over entirely. The Turkeys were equal to any we have seen for some years past — a glorious lot, bringing to recollection the close approach of Christmastide, when family reunions bring happiness to all around, and smiles and blessings reign supreme. If, however, some of our forefathers, who pre- sided at the festal board a century gone by, could behold a more than thii-ty-pound-weight Tui-key poult smoking ready for the carving-knife on the 2oth instant, perhaps theii- appreciation ot the improvements of modei-n times in poultry would be as bewildering to their ideas as would be the re- cognition of our advance in locomotion. After all other reasonings, sudi facts tend more than all others to the populai-ity of poultry shows. SrAsiFH (BlackV — First. Right Hob. Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park, Staplehurst. Kent. Second, S. Robson, Brolherton, Burton Salmon, Yorkshire. Highly Commended, R. Teeb..y, Fulwood, Preston ; J. Short- hose, Kewc;istle-on-Tyne ; J. W. Smith, '_>uiidle, Xurlhaniplonshire ; E. Brown, Sheffield. ChjtkC7is.— First and Cup, Rit:ht Hon. Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park, Staplehurst. Second, Master A. Uulpath, Edin- burgh. Third, J. P.. Kodbard, Wrington, Bristol. Highly Commended, 8. Corner, Fulwell, Monkwearmouih ; J. Clews, WalsiiU; J. K. Fowler, Aylesbui-y; S. Robson; R. Teeba^ ; H. Beldon, Bingley. Commended, J. Mills, Stockton ; E. Brown, Sheffield. DoRKtNos (Coloured).— First and Cup, Mrs. F. Blai-;, Balttiayock, Ineh- II. rtine, Inchtare. Second, F. Benson, Boroughbridge. Highly Cora- III. nded. Rev. J. F. Newton, Kirby, Stokesley ; Mrs. F. Blair ; J. Kobiasot), Garstan^^ ; Right Hon. Viscountess Holmesd'ale, Linton Park, St:ipieburst. Commended, Mrs. M. Seamons. Hartwell, AyJesbui-y; G. C. Whitwel!, Kendal. Chickena First, T. E. Kell, Welherby. Second, Right Hon. Viscountess Holmesdale. Third, Rev. J. F. Newton. Highly Commended, J. Bell, Thornton-le-Moor, Northallerion ; D. Parsons, Guerdon, Preston ; Mrs. F Blair ; W. Dolby, Tunbridge Wella Commended, F. Key, Bererley ; F. Benson ; Rev. J. F. Newton. Dorking Pcllels {Any variety).— First, Mrs. F. Blair, Balthayock. Seconl. W. Dolby, Tunbridge Wells. Highly Commended, C. Peue, Southrnd, Darlington ; Mrs. F Blair. Commended, Mrs.Craigie, Chigwell ; E. Whitwell, Darlington ; J. Bell, Thornton-le Moor. DoiiKiNOs (rthite). — First, Rev. G. Boynton. Lowthorpe, Hull. Second, C. Pease. Southend. Cbickeiis. — First and Cup, J. Robinson, Garstaug. Second, C. Pease. Highly Commended, C. Pease; E. Whitwell, Darhngton; D. Parsons, Guerdon. Cochin-China {Cinnamon and Btlff).— First, H. Bates, Birmingham. Second, C. I. Bishop, Lemon, Noltingham. Highly Commended, T. Stretch. Ormskirk. Commended, Captain Heaton, Lower Brougliton, Manchester. Chickens.- First, C. T. Bishop. Second, Captain Heaton. Commended, T. Stretch, Ormskirk. Cocbi!*-Cbina (Any ether variety). — First and Cup, Mrs. F, Blair, luoh- ture. Second, T. Stretch, Ormskirk. Highly Commended. R. White, Sheffield. Commended, E. Tudman, Whitchurch, Salop. C/iJc^fns.- First, H. S. Stobart, Witton Tower. Second, J. Shorthose, Newcastle-oB-Tyne. Highly Commended, T. Stretch ; E. Tudman. Cochin-China Pullets (An^ variety).— First, Captain Heaton, Lower Broughton. Second, Rev, G. Gilbert, Claxtou, Norwich. BRAifMA PoOTRAS.— First and Cup, R. Teebay, Preston. Second, J. Hinton, Hinton. Bath. Highly Commended, K, Teebay; Mrs. F. Blair, Inehture, CViitAejis. — First, K, Teebay. Second, Mrs, F. Blair. Highly Commended, K. Teebay; F. Powell, Knaresborough. Commended, W. L. Barclay. Leyton, London. Gamf, (Black-breasted and other Reds).— First and Cup, J. Fletcher, Stoneclough. Second, M. Billing, jun., Birmingham, Highly Commended, J, Fletcher ; G, C. Whitwell, Kendal ; O. W. Binns. Darlington ; M, Billigg, jun. Chickens.— YiT^U J- Fletcher. Second, W. H. Wordsworth, Chester- lield. Third, H. Adams, Beverley, Highly Commended, G. C. Whitwell ; M. Billing, jun. Commended, W. lientiey, Schotes, Clcckhealon ; D. Parsons, Cuerdou. Game (Any other vaiiety). — First, H, Adams, Beverley. Second, J, Fletcher, Stoneclough. Highly Commended. W. A. Wooler, Sadberge Hall; H. ..^datns. Chickens. — First, J, Sunderland, jun., Coloy Hall. Secoad, H. Adams, G*.MK PuLLBTS (Aoy Variety).— First »nd Cup, G. W. Binns, Darlington. Second, W. J. Cope, Barnsley. Highly Commended, W.A. Wooler, Said- December 15, 18G3. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICXILTXTEE AND COTTAGE GAEDEIfEI!.. 4m berffo Hall; C. Pease, Southend; H. Adams, Beverley; Miss J. A. Alifcroyd, Bradford. Commended, W. A. Wooler ; Miss E. Graham. HAMBUitGHs (Golden or Silver-pencilled).— First, RiRht Hon. Viscountess Holraesdale, Linton Park, Stapleharst. Second, H. Beldon, Gilstead. Highly Comraended, b. Smitt, Notlhowram, Halifax; J. Dixon, Clayton, Bradford. Hamburobs (Golden or Silver-spangled).— First and Cup, G. Brooks, Huddersfield. Second, H. Beldon, Bineley. Highly Commended, T. D«vies, Newport, Monmouthshire; J. Dixon, Bradford; S. U. Hyde, Ashton-under-Lyne. Commended, H. \V. B. Berwick, Helmsley. Hamburgh Chicxens (Golden-pencilled). — First, S. Smith, North- owram. Second, J. Powers, Biggleswade, Beds. Highly Commended, Hon. \y. T. W. Fitzwilliam, Wentworth. Hauburoh Chicken-s (Golden-spangled).— First, S. H. Hyde, Ashton- under-Lyne. Second, B. Boynes. Keighley, Yorkshire. Commended, T. Borch, Sheffield; H. W. B- Berwick, Helmsley. Hauburoh Chickens (Silver-pencilled).- First, Right Hon. Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park, Stapleharst. Second, C. M. Koyas, Rochdale. Highly Commended, C. Moore, Poulton-le-Fylde, Preston; A. Nicholson, Walfcley, Sheffield. Commended, H. Pickles, jun. Hamburgh Chickens (Silver-spangled). — First, H. Beldon, Bingley. Second, J. Rohinson, Garst^ing. IXighly Commended, W. Cunnan, Brad- ford. PoLANDs {Any variety).— First, H. Snowden, Great Horton (Golden Polands). Second, J. Dixon. Bradford (Silver Polands). Highly Com- mended, H.Carter, Holmfirth (Black Polands) ; J. Dixon (Golden Polandsj. Bantams (Golden or Sllver-laced).- First. H. Beldon, Gilstead. Second, i. Dixon, Bradford. Highly Commendid. E. Yardley, Wiaewood. Com- mended, G- Maples, j,uni, Wavertree, Liverpool. Bantams (White or Black .—First, .1. Dixon, Bradford. Second, Miss K. Charlton, Manningham. Highly Commended, W. T. Addison, Sunderland. Commended, J. Crossland, jun., Wakefield. Game Bantams (Any variety). — First and Second, J. Crossland, j'ln., Wakefield. Highly Commended, J. Cragg, Kendal; J. W. Morris, Roch- dale; J. Barlow, Dcptford, Sunderland; R. Hawksley, jun, Southwell, Notts; Miss E. Crawford, Sonthwell ; D. Parsons, Cuerdon; M. Billing, un., Birmingham. Commended, H. Taylor, Chcster&eld. SINGLE COCKS. DoRKiNfi (Any variety).- First, F. Benson, Aldbrough. Second, Mna. F. Blair, Balthayock. Highly Commended, C. Pease, Southend; Hon. J. M. 0. Powlett. Bedale; J. White. Warlaby. Commended, C. Pease. Cochin-china (Any variety).— Fii,«t, C.iptain Heaton, Lovvei Broughton. Second, J. Shorthose, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Highly Commended, H. W. B. Berwick, Helmsley. Game (Any variety).— First, J. Fletcher, Stoneclough. Second, A. Per- kins, Darlington. Highly Commended, J. Fletcher ; G. "W. Binns, Dar- lington; H. M.Julian, Beverley; R. Swift, Southwell; H. Adams.Beverley ; M. Billing, jun ., Gravelly Hill ; Miss J. A. Aykroyd, Bradford ; H. Adams, Beverley. Game Cockerel (Any variety) .—First. G. W. Binns, DarliRgfon. Se- cond, M. Billing, jun.. Gravelly Hill. Highly Commended, G Jackson, Gain&rd; I. Wright, Ovenden, Halifax; C. Pease, Southend; D. Parsons, Cuerdon ; A. Perkins, Darlington. Bantams (Any variety).— First and Cup, C. Aukland, Chesterfield. Se- cond, W, Lawreneon. Allistree, Derby. Extra, R. M. Stark, Hull. Highly Commended, J. W. Morris, Rochdale; R. Swift, Southwell; J. Crossland, jun., Wakefield. Ducks (.\ylesbary).— First, Mrs. M. Seamons, Aylesbury. Second, J. Smith, Breeder Hills, Grantham. Commended, Rev. J. G. Milner, Bellerby. BuckUngs. —Fivst, Mrs. M. Seamons. Second, R. M. Stark, Hull, Highly Commended, Mrs. M. Seamons. Commended, Hon. J. M. O. Powlett, Bolton Hall. Docks (Kouen).— First, M. Redhead, Strickland Gate, Kendal. Second, C. Peas3, Sou»hend. Highly Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford. Dufklings. — First, J. R. Rodbard, Wrington. Second, C. Pease. Highly Commended, C. Pease. Ducks (Any other variety).— First, D. Parsons, Cuerdon (Grey Call). Se- cond, J. R. Jessop, Hull (Buenos Ayrean). Highly Co-nmended, S. Bum, Whitby (Buenos Ayrean). Gek&e.— First, Mrs. F. Blair, Balthayock, Inchmartine. Second, Mrs. M. Seamons, Aylesbury. Highly Commended, Mrs. M. Seamons; C. Pease, Sonthend ; T. Jolly, Wariaby ; Mrs. F. Blair. (Jos/infrs, —First, Mrs. A. Wooler, Yarm. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. TuEKETS— First, J. Smith, Breeder Hills. Second, Mrs. F. Blair, Bal- thayock. Highly Commended, Mrs. A. Guy, Eaton, Grantham. Com- mended, C. Pease, Southend. Ptntlts .—Yirstt J. Smith. Second, C. Pease. Highly Commended, Mrs. Boiland, Bedale ; Mrs. A. Guy, Single Tohket Cock. — First, C. Pease, Southend. Second, Mrs. A. Guy, £aton. Highly Commended, Mrs. F. Blair, Balthayock. Any other Distinct Breed.— First and Second, Mrs. F. Blair (La Fleche and Crt^ve Coeur). Highly Commended, W. W. NichoUs, Sale, near Manchester (Black Hamburgh) ; J. Dixon, Bradford (Japanese Bantams) ; H. Beldon, Gilstead (Black Hamburgh). Selling Class.- First, E. Whitwell, Darlington (Grey Dorkings). Se- cond, J. Dixon, Bradford (Golden Polands). Highly Commended, E. Whit- well (Grey Dorkings); J. White (Grey Dorkings). Commended, W. L. Mason, Chesterfield (Grey Game Bantams); J. Dixon (Black Polands); J. White, Wariaby (Silver Grey Dorkings and Grey Dorkings . Extra Stock. — Highly Commended, C. Pease, Southend (Golden Phea- sants). Commended, C. Pease (Swans). The Judges of potUtry were George Andrews, Esq., of Dorchester, and Edward Hewitt, Esq., of Sparkbrook, Bir- minerham. THE LEEDS POULTRY EXHIBITION. This Society has now been established for foiu- years, in connection with an Agricultural Show for fat cattle. Each year, we are happy to say, its success has proved regularly progressive, but certainly its progress this year has been still more apparent than ever. The Show took place in a temporary erection, as heretofore, but it now appears to be likely before another season a contemplated permanent and suitable building will offer still greater advantages to this Society. • Of the Grey DorHngs, with the exception of the winning pens, we can say but little, as the condition in which the generality of the birds in this class were shown was inferior, but Mr. Benson's first and second prize birdS would have been a very creditable addition to any poultry exhibition ; they were the same in colour as Captain Hornby's weU^ known strain. The like observation holds good also with the Black Spanish fowls — viz., condition was wanting throughout. In Cochins, all colours competing together. Partridge-feathered ones exhibited by Elijah Smith, of Man- chester, took the precedence. So good was this pen, that the well-known Captain Heaton's stock had to take second place, and this Partridge pen were the only birds that com- peted closely with the trio of Black Polands, to which the Society's Silver Cup for the best pen of Any variety of poultry exhibited was awarded. Captain Heaton's Buifs were well shown, but appeared to suffer from being too fre- quently exhibited. In the Game fowls, Black or Brown Reds, there was considerable competition, the Brown Beds being as a whole the most perfect variety. A splendid Brown Red pen took first position. In this class as good a pen of the- same colour as any one could wish to see, and decidedly not inferior in chaa-acter to even the winners, was compulsorUy disqualified by the arbitrators, one of the hens being suffering severely from "roup." The cock in this pen was naturally a very perfect one, but by some accident or other had lost a spur." Class 37 was for Any variety of Game except Beds, and the result was an exhibition of many pens of the best Duckwings we have seen for years past; in fact, as close- feathered well-built birds as ever even a "cocker" could desire. This perfection of feather is but seldom attained by this breed of Game fowls., In the Single Game Cock class, a noble Black Red headed the prize list, the third prize was also of this coloiu-, the second prize being' givem to a Brown Red. It is well known to connoisseurs of poultry that the neighbourhood of Leeds has for a long term of years been famous for its Hamburghs, and certainly the coUeotion now sent folly maintained its high repute. The Spangled varieties were, perhaps, equal to any classes that have been shown at any poidtry show this year. Not only were the winning pens of the highest merit, but it wol^ld have been difitcult" to point out even a single indifferent pen in the whole of the classes. The great feature of the Leeds Show, however, strangely enough, proved to be the Poland class ; and it was the unanimous opinion of the Judges that so good a number and variety of Polands in any one show they never before met with. It was the first-prize birds in this class (Black Polands -with white crests), that secured the Society's silver cup for the best pen of poultry shown. The class for "Any variety or cross" was almost exclusively made up of Black Hamburghs, as no less than twelve pens of this useful, breed put in an appearance. Nearly every pen was good.. The Black Bantams were not equal to our expectations. In the White Bantams the competition was better; in this class a somewhat singular and laughable incident occixrred, as decidedly the best pen was disqualified for an attempted imposition, that shows at least the ingenuity of poultry amateurs in the northern counties. The exhibitor, finding his birds the worse for moulting, actually attempted to supply nature's temporary deficiency by refixing, very artis- tically too, the tail-feathers with cobbler's wax! To the practical eye of one of the Judges, Mi-. Hewitt, of Birming- ham, this cunning device was instantly apparent, and a close inspection, when the fowls at his desu-e were taken out of the pen, removed all doubts on the subject. Having again and again proved that simply the disqualification of a pen for such unjust pi-actices does but Uttle, if anything, to prevent their owners from again attempting the like frauds on honest competition, it appears most probable an exposure of names as weU as trickster habits, may do better- to remedy the evil in future than the mere loss of a prize only, and, therefore, we pubUsh the name of the exhibitor— Mr. Frederick Hardy, of QuaiTy Gap, Bradford. The Game Bantams were not nearly so good as we hoped for ; and singularly enough, the 482 JOURNAL OF HOKTICUXTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ December 15, 1863. best Game Bantams in the Show consisted of several pens entered in the wrong class. The Geese, Turkeys, and Bucks were decidedly good — in fact, not a single variety was unrepresented, and that, too, by the best of birds. The Pigeons at Leeds were a very interesting and excellent portion of the Exliibition. We particularly noticed some especially good White Powters, Dims, Carriers (which, by- the-by, were qnickly snapped up at not a half of their value dii'ectly the Show opened), and many varieties of beautiful Tiimblers, though, strange to say, the Almonds were not good. The White Owls were perfect gems ; and the Black, as also the White, Trumpeters were scarcely less worthy of notice. The prize Fantails were particulai-ly good, but shown in the dirtiest feather we ever yet saw Pigeons. The Tm-bits were of many colom-s, and proved a capital class. The Jacobins were also superior. The class for " Any other variety of Pigeons " was so well filled as to induce the Judges to award an extra equal first prize. Among the odtlities of the Show, in the class for any other variety of poidtry a pau- of the common Barn Owls were shown. The novelty of their appearance interested the visitors, but the poor Owls evidently considered themselves in the wi-ong class, as much so as did the Ai-bitrators who officiated. The weather, though windy in the extreme, was fine, and, consequently, there was not any lack of visitors. The Club gave a Silver Cup for the best pen of poultry in the Show ground, in addition to the money prizes. Dorkings.— First and Second, F. Benson, Aldbo'.oueh, Eoroughbiidge. Third, S. Pickaid, Wakefield. Commended, G. Taylor, Hunslet. Spanish.— First, D. lllingworth, Burley, Otley. Second, T. Greenwood, Dewsbury. Third, J. Siddal, Halifax. Cochin-China. —First and Third, E. Smith, Middlelon. Second, Captain Heaton, Lower Broughton. Commended, C.iptain Heaton; F. M. Hindle, Haslingdon; T. Wrigley, Tonge, Middleton. Game (Black-breasted and other Reds).— First, H. Adams, Beverley. Stcond, E. Beldon, Bingley. Third, W. Boyee, Beverley. Game (Any other variety). — First, H. Adams, Beverley. Second, H' Snowden, Bradford. Third, J. Hodgson, Bradford. Commended, J" Harrison, Leeds ; J. Anderton, Bingley ; J. Kinder, Sheepscar; T. Hartlej' Gomersal. Game Cock (Any variety).- First, G. Pounder, Kirby Moorside, York. Second, H. Adams, Beverley. lliird, M. Billing, jun., Birmingham. Highly Commended, R. Hemingway, Phelf, Halifax; H. Adams. Com- mended, T. SuddicU, Dudley Hill ; W. G^rforth, Drighlington. Hambukgh (Gold-pencilled).— Fi^^t., J. Lancashire, Chadderton, Lanca- shire. Second, W. Cannan, Bradford. Third, R, Hemingway, Halifax. Highly Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford. Commended, T. Wrigley, jun., Middleton. Hambdrgh (Silver-pencilled). — First. J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, H. Pickles, jun.. Earby, Skipton. Third, R. Hemingway, Halitax. Com- mended, E. Beldon. Bindley ; J. Plult, Bolton, Lancashire. Hamburgh (Gold-Spangled).— First, J. Newton, Silsder. Second, T. Birdsall, Woodhouse Carr. Third, J. Hope, Weruath, Oldham, Highly Commended, J. H. Hei^per, Upper Wort ley. Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford ; J. H. Hepper ; W. Cannan, Bradford. Hamburgh (Silver-spangled).— First, J. Lancashire, Chadderton. Second, J. Newton, Silsden. Tliird, E. Stephenson, Bowler, Middleton. Com- mended, J. Dixon, Bradford; J. Jowett, Murley, Leeds; E. Beldon, Bingley. PoLANDs (Any variety).— The Society's Silver Cup, value sis guineas, for best pen of poultry of any breed exhibited and First, H. Carter, Upper- thong, Holmfirth. Second, W. Newsome, Bingley. Third, J. Dixon, Bradford. Highly Commended, J. Dixon ; W. Newsome. Commended, D. lllingwortb, Burley, Otley. Any Variety not Prkviously Classed.— First, J. Hope. Oldham (Black HambnrgbB;, Second, E. Beldon, Bingley (Ptarmignns}. Third, E. Leech, Rochdale (Brahma Pootras). Highly Commended, J. Hind, Bingley (Black Hamburgh?). Commended, W. Harker, Cottingley, Bingley (black Ham- burghs). Bantams (Black). — First, E. Beldon, Bingley. Second, H. Gornal, Farnley. Bantams (White).— First, J. Harrison, Wakefield. Second, A. & B. Farrar, B ram ley. Bantams (Game).— First, R. Smith, Hull. Second, C. Templar, Ack- worth. Commended, T. Carr, Btntham ; H & G. Newton. Garforth. Bantams (Any variety).— First, W. J. Cope, Barnsley (Pekin Bantams). Second, K. M. Stark, Huil (Gold-laced Bantams). Guinea lowt,.— First, O. A. Young, Drittitid. Second, Ladj Hawke, Pontefiact. Third, J. Dixon, Bradford. Turkeys.— First, R. M. Hlark, Hull. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Third, T. Richardson, Barnsley. Geese.— First, Mrs. Appleyard, Thorp Arch. Second, O. A. Young, Dnffield. Third, J. Dixon, Bradlord. Commended, G. Yates, Bradford. Ducks (Aylesbury).— First, T. E. Kelt. Wetherby. Second, E. Leech, Rochdale. Third, F. M. Hindle, Heslingden. Highly Commended, F. M. Hindle; E. Leech. Ducks (Rouen).— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, E. Leech, Rochdale. Third, J. Ward, Drighlington. Ducks (Any varietv)— First, J. R. Jessop, Hull (East India Ducks). Second, K. M. Stark, Hull (Wild Ducks). Third, J. Dixon. Bradford. Extra Poultry.— First, J. Dixon, Bradford {Mandarin Ducks i. Second, E. Leech, Rochdale (Malays). Third, F. Hardy, Bradford .Chinese Silver Pheasants). PIGEONS. Carriers.— First, W. Watson, Beverley. Second. J. Firth, Dewsbury. PowTERs.— First, E. Horner, Harewood. Second, F. A. & W. J. Stead, L^eds Tumblers (Almond).- Second, H. Yardley. Birmineham. Fir«t withheld. TuMBLKRs (Any variety).— First, J. R. .fessop, Hull. Second, C. Hodg- kiuson, Burluy, Otley. Highlr Commended, F. Else, Bays water ; H. Yardley, Birmingham ; A. Wilkiflson, New Leeds. Commended, T. Birdsal!, W'oodhonse Carr ; F. A. A; W. J. Stead. Leeds ; A. Wilkinson. Owls— First. H. Yardley, Birmingham. Second, F. Else. Bayswater. Higlilv Commended, F. A. & W. J. Siead, Leeds Fantails— First, F. Elce, Bajswater. Second, F. A. & W. J. Stead, Le«ds. Commended, T. Birdsall, Woodh' u^e Carr. Barbs.— First, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Second, J. D. Danby, Leede, Commended. J. U. Jt-ssop, Hull. TuRBiTs -First, J. W. Edge, Birmingham. Second, U. Yardley. Bir- mingham. Highly Commended, T. A. & W. J. Stead, Leeds; F. Else, Bayswater. Jacobins.— First and Second, T. EUrington, Woodraansey, Beverley. Highly Commended, T. Bird«ali, Woodhouse Carr. Thumpeters.— First, F. Key, Beverley. Second. P. Robson, Brotherton. Nuns.— First, F. Key, Beverley. Second, F. Else, Bayswater. Highly Commended, J. W. Edge, Birmingham. Any other variety. — Equal First, H. Yardley, Binningham. Second, J. W. Edge, Birmingham. Highly Commended, J. PolUird, Leeds; J. Wade, Bank, Leeds. Commended, T. Birdsull, Woodhouse Ca-r. The Judges officiating at Leeds were — Mr. Edward Bond, of Leeds ; Mr. Thomas Challoner, of Whitwell, Chesterfield ; and Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Sparkbrook, Birmingham. YOEKSHIEE FAT STOCK AND POULTEY SOCIETY. The seventh annual Exhibition of the above Society was held at York on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th inst., and went off very satisfactorily. There was a large increase in the poultry over those shown in former years ; and it promises now to become one of the principal poultry shows in Eng- land. The following is the list of prizes awarded : — Dorking (Any colour).- First and Second, F. Benson, Aldborough. Third J. White, Warlaby. Highly Commended, R. M. Staik, Hull. Commendedi R. Gill, Grimston. Spanish.— First, G. Jackson, Penley Grove Street, York. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. Third, C.Powell, Knaresborough. Highly Commended, G. F. Jones, Bootham, York. Cocuin-China (Cmnamon or Buff).- First, T. H. Barker, Hovingham. Second, H. W. B. Berwick, Helmsley. Cochin-china {Anv othervarietv).- First and Second, J. Bell, Thirsk. Game (Black-brea/tcd or other Reds). — First, Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley. Second, J. Firth, Halifax. Third, T.Dyson, Pellon Lane, Halifax. (All the class commended). Gamk (Any other variety).— First, T. Hartlev, Field Head, Gomershall» Leeds. Second, J. Firth, Lily Lane Mills, Halifax. Third, H. Whiteley. Womei^ley, Pontefract. Highly Commended. J. Rmder, Sheepscar, Leeds. Commended, Miss A. Hodgson, lUingworth, Halifax. Hambdrgh (Golden-pencilled).- First, Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley. Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. (All the cluss comraendsd). Hamburgh (Silver-pencilled).— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, D. Illingworth, Burlev, Otley. (All commended). Hambirgb (Guiden-spangled). — First, T. and J. Dobson, Pickering. Second, W. Cannan, Adolphus Works, Bradford. (All the class com- mended) Hamburgh (Silver-spangled).- First, Miss E. Beldon, Gilt»tead, Bingley. Second, W. CuHnan, Adolphus Work*", Bradford. (All the class com- mended). Poland (Any varietyl.— First, Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley. Second, R. M. Stark, Claiemoiit Terrace, Hull. Highly Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford. Ant Farmyard Crops, or other Variety not Previously Classed. — First, F. E. Powell, Knaresborough. Second, W. Cannan, Adolphus Works, Bradford. Third, J. Cjrey. Ht-slington, York. (All the class commended). Gdinea Fowl.— Prize, Lady Hawke, Womersley Park, Pontefract. Bantams.— First, J. Braddock. York. Second, H. & G. Newton. Bantams (Black or White).— First, W. Cannan, Bradford. Second, W. Baynee, Middleton, Pickering. Bantams (Any other variety).— First, Miss E. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley. Second, J. Dixon, Bradlord. TDRKEYS.-Fir8t, Mrs. A. Guy, Eaton, Grantham. Second, R. M. Stark, Hull. Highly Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford. Gkeee.— First. 0. S. Young, Driffield. Second, C. Pease, Southend, Darlington. Highly Commended, J. Dixon, Bradford. Ducks (Aylesbury).- First, T. E. Kell, Wetherby. Second, R. M. Stark, Hull. Highly Commended, O. S. Y'oung, Driffield. (All the class com- mended). Dlcks (Rouen, or any other variety).— First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second Miss E. Beloon, Gilstead, Bingley. [All the class commended). Judges. — Messrs. J. O. JoUy, Acomb, York ; M. Hunter, Green Hammerton, York ; G. Jackson, Penley Grove Street, York ; and Alexander Cattley, Tower Street, York. THE CHIPPENHAM POULTRY SHOW. The town of Chippenham, Wilts, possesses many advan- tages as a place for the exhibition of poultry, for the Great Western Railway passes through it, connecting it December 15, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTXJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 4S3 with a very large portion of the whole of England ; then for some years past, a railway has been opened to Salisbury, and by it the extreme south has been joined to Chippenham ; and only the other day a railway from Calne commenced muning into the Chippenham Station. As another advan- tage let me add, that the station is very large, and, however many pens of poultry might arrive, at any rate there would be abundance of room for them all. Then, too, the place for exhibition is not very far from the station ; and as I heard an exhibitor remai'k, " Mi'. H. Gale, who has the care of the poultry, is among the most civil and careful of men." Yet, strange to say, that with all these things in its favour, the Show at Chippenham (which is a very stirring striving town, by no means " a grass- grown place of the ancients"), is as yet among the smaller shows, perhaps this arises from its not being advertised. For some years past poultry has been regularly exhibited at the annual meeting of the Agricultural Association, held in the spacious covered cheesemarket, behind the new hall. About the origin of this Show there is a little tale to tell. A gentleman in advance of his neighbours in poultry matters, suggested at a meeting of the Agricultural Society that prizes should be awarded for good specimens of the domes- ticated fowls. "What!" said another gentleman, "would you give a prize for a goose hiss-hiss ? " Tliis was uttered in perfect good humour, though with a feeling of real sur- prise. But the gentleman stood his ground and said man- fully, " Yes, for a good goose, certainly." Hence arose the Chippenham Poultry Show. " All honour to those who try." This year there were ninety-nine pens in all. Those of the fowls were arranged in the Market House; those of the Turkeys, Geese, and Ducks, at the sides of the wide space at its entrance, in which, by the way, there would be abun- dance of room for a middle row should the Show become larger. As usual at Chippenham, the Game was the predominant class, there being twenty-two pens and seven single cocks. I was glad to see this tnily English breed, and by far the most beautiful of all fowls, in such high favour. For- merly, when cock-fighting was customary, it was impos- sible to sever the idea of cruelty from the sight of a Game cock ; now, happily, our admiration has no such drawback. Almost all the pens contained good birds, so that this prize was the blue ribbon of the Show. The first prize was obtained by Mr. H. Waller, of Calne ; the second went to a Chippenham breeder, Mr. H. Stevenson. Mr. A. Heath's prize bu'd among the single cocks was almost perfection, so neat, so close-feathered, and in head so snake- Uke. The Dorkings mustered strongly ; but I was sorry to see only two pens of Spanish, two of Goldeu-pencUled Hamlurghs, and two of SiLver-pencUled ; and worse still, no entry whatsoever of SUver-spangled. Let me recommend these classes to fowl-lovers in and near Chippenham. Why should not some one at least adopt as his fancy those strik- ing-looking birds, and excellent layers into the bargain, the SUver-spangled Hamburghs ? he wovild have a great chance of success, and gratify the eyes of the many visitors at the Show. Mr. Jacob Phillips showed a good pen of Polands; there being four pens in this class it was represented better than we had hoped, as Polands seem at most shows on the decline. Among the Cochins, Miss J. Milward took first prize ; and among " Any other distinct or cross breed " Dr. Colborne, of Chippenham, exhibited a pair of Creve Caiurs, a new sort at Chippenham, the cock a very " Diabolus " in appearance but not in disposition, as his owner tells me. Neai- Diabolus was a brother fiend, in looks at least, Mr. J. J. Fox's Malay Cock, but stiU all praise to Mr. Fox for keeping up an old and once highly esteemed breed. The Malay Cock might aptly possess the soul which once inha- bited the body of a Eomish Inquisitor. " Gratify me, please, with another sight of the rack ! " seems to say Mr. Malay. And, now, for the pretty pretty Bantams, which mustered stronger than ever before — there were ten pens. Doubtless Mr. "R. Brotherhood's great success with his now famous Blacks, which began their career of conquest at Chippenham, has acted as an incentive to his neighbours. The prize Black Reds, Mr. F. Bailey's, of Calne, were good; while Mr. F. Phillips' Duckwings were as to the hens very excellent, but the cock was scarcely their equal. As to the Turkeys, Geese, and Ihicks, the first were good, the second very good, the last not so very good ; the Blacks (Miss MUward's) and the Rouens being better than the Aylesbm-ys. As I walked round and round enjoying the sight of the beautiful birds, thus brought so pleasantly before me — for a poultry show must be allowed on all hands to be a pretty sight — I could not but wish that prizes were offered at Chippenham for Pigeons ; they are always attractive, and ladies especially gather round their pens. At one show I could not get my fill of enjoyment out of the Pigeons, for alas ! crinoline barred my vision. Indeed, I would venture to prophesy, that commercially the Association would be no loser by offering fair prizes for these beautiful bh-ds, as they would be sure to " draw." Let me just add, in conclusion, that I had the pleasure at this Show of making Mr. Eodbard's acquaintance, who, after the prizes had been awarded (please to mark the after, good exhibitors), most kindly walked round with me, and we discussed the merits of various pens, and as poultry-lovers are wont to be, we were friendly at once. Wiltshire Hector. WASPS AS PAPEE-MAKEES— MALES OP INSECTS HAVE NO STINGS. I AM inde'oted for the following very interesting particu- lars regarding wasps to my friend Mr. F. Smith, President of the Entomological Society. It is completely decisive on the question recently mooted in The Journal of Horti- culture with regard to the non-possession of stings by male wasps. — A Devonshire Bee-keeper. " I think I see in the ceUs of bees a mode of construction quite different to that of the wasps, and should expect to do so when we consider the fact that bees use a material soft and ductile at all times ; wasps very different materials in different genera. All are paper-makers, but some manu- facture tissue, others I must call note-paper-makers, then we have brown-paper-makers, and we have pasteboard- makers; the latter construct beU-shaped nests that often swing on the biancli bell-wise. These wasps complete the bell and also the floors, upon which they subsequently build cells, before a single cell is formed, as above, or, probably, in most cases when four or five floors are laid down.they begin at the top to erect a few cells whUe the lower chambers are being finished. " No male wasp has a sting, neither has the male of any known species of insect." FOUL BEOOD. I MUST fling my experience into the scale of those who think and assert that foul brood is a disease, and not pecu- liar to the Ligurian race of bees. Without doubt I had it in one of my hives this year, and I entertain as little that the disease once was the cause of destroying a hive of mine 484 JOURNAL OF HOitTlCULTURE AND COTTAGE GA^DENEE. [ December 15. 1863, in Yorkshire. My diseased iiive of this year was not ex- perimented upon. I do not see how its "brood could have become chilled. The bees were in a small hive of thick wood, placed in a bee-house well protected with asphalte, and packed round in the interior with hay not removed till the swai-ming season. My bees are all of the English sort. I say, therefore, to "Inquirer/' and others, that I range on the side with those who imagine that a foul disease exists and rages at times amongst oui* favom-ites, and that our thanks are due to those who have opened our eyes to its existence. There can be no question either, but that most of the pollen lately gathered has been from the ivy. Such a profusion of bloom on that " rai-e old plant, the ivy green," as exists this year, has never before been remarked upon by — A Hampshire Bee-keeper. If Mr. Lowe in his late escapade awkwai-dly trod upon sensitive corns, I am sure, from the kicks received on every side by himself, he has fuUy atoned for the tone of his articles. I cannot believe that 3Ir. Lowe meant to offend ; and no one from his remarks, which were more empiric than logical, and more facetious than hurtful, will think one whit less highly of Mr. Woodbuiy and his scientific apiary. But when truth is to be investigated, statements must be met by coimter- statements supported by evidence. And now that Mr. Lowe has amused us with a fling at experimentalists, I should like him to measure his strength with Mr. Woodbiu-y in facts and arguments on the ** foul brood " affection, which has a very disagreeable odour to all lovers of bees, and carries along with it a most irritating virus. Mr. Lowe has a good case, let him apply himself to it; a vast mass of evidence may be adduced in support of his views. On a less important subject than " foul brood," I would not object to a little kind abuse j but where extermination is threatened, by all means let our energies be applied to the cause, extent, and cui-e of the evil. — A Looeer-on. HOW TO REMEDY CEOOKED COMBS IN A FEAME-HIVE. Will the "Devonshire Bee-keeper," or any of yova* correspondents inform me which is the best way to secure straight combs in Woodbury-bar fi-ame-hives, when guide- combs are not obtainable ? I have run melted wax along my ribbed bars, and I thought this would cause the bees to build straight combs, but to my great disappointment the bees have built crooked combs, as though there had been no bai-s, which makes it difficult to extract the bars from the hive. — S. H. [You have afready adopted the best means of insuring the formation of straight combs when guide-combs are not ob- tainable— means that would probably be successful in nine cases out of ten. As, however, they appear to have failed in the present instance, you had better leave matters as they are till next year. Dm-ing the middle of a fine day in April the bees should be driven into an empty hive, when such combs as requii-e it may be cut out, straightened, and arranged symmetrically in the frames and replaced in the hive, to which the bees should then be rettu-ned. Full direc- tions for pei-forming this operation were given in No. 75 of The Journal of Horticulture. — ^A iSevonshike Bee- keeper.] OUR lettek box. BoASDED Floors for rouLXRY-iiousKs {21. R. i*.),— They arc objection- able, ibecause all hard flooring upon which fowls have to descend from the perches is liable to cause corns and other injuries to their feet. Our charge for advertisements is 6d. per line. VuLTiRE llocKs (An //ijuiVpr),— Vulture-hocked fowls have feathers projecting f[nm below the knee joint, and sticking out behind, as the vulture and some other birds of prey. It is considered a fault in Brahm.i PootrHB when much developed. In many good specimtns it exifte in a trifling degrcf and is not then much noticed. Early Chickens 'i:xcc!sior).~U you intend your fowls for the London market, you must contine yourself to the Dorking, and must have vour chickens ready for sale ironi the middle of April till the middle of June, or the beginning of July. They should he from eighteen to twenty weeks old, and pr .vided they are not older, the larger they are the better. Cochins ■will not do, because they have yellow legs, nor will any do that have hiack, bue, or gteen legs. They should he fasted, killed and picked clean, sent up very fresh, and packed in a butket or crate with stiff wheal straw. Colour of Rouen Duck's Bill {A Constant Reader).— The Sonen Ductals bill should be the fac-slmile of the wild Duck's. It should be yellow at the tip aufi round the edges, brown in the centre — in colour, but not in shape, like the Bean Goo?e, and it is said that bird gained its name from the bill bting coloured like a horse bean. Birchen Grey Game Fowls {Duhitator) .—When Judges look at Biichen Greys they do not ask themselves how they are bred. They are birds of colour, and unless correct they are passed over. We have seldom seen more than two or three pent; of such at birmingham, and the compeittion is too hard for them. Th'^ Birchen Grey may be bred between the Bla:k Red and the Silver Duekwing. Dorking's Feathers Changed in Colour \A. N. ff.).— Fowls will eport in moulting. We have had Spanish moult partly white, and re-moult blaok There is no reason why your Dorking hen should not do the same. When a fowl is becoming white from age there is no hope of any return to dark plumage ; but at any other period it may be looked lur. Bantams with Dorkings [Idem). — We keep B.mtanis \wth large breeds without any difficulty. We believe you may do the same, but not with the smaller, as Game, Hamburghs, &c. Pullets (G. Whittingioji].~'Vh<^y are probably of no value. Put thtm up for sale at one of Mr. Stevens's auctions, and then yon will asceitain what fanciers think of them. White-booted Bantams [F. H. i*.).— They may be double or single- combed. The former are preferred always. They isbould not be vultuie- hocked. The latter appendage belongs to what are called Booted Bantams. They are feathered to the toes and very vnlture-hocked. Scotch Bakies (J. W.). — The "Poultry Book" is to be hid at our office. Bakies are now very scarce. The best we have seen or know of, beloiig to the Hon-IGeorginade Flahault, Tally jll;m, Kincardine-oa-Fonti. 'that lady may have eome to spare. They aie good layers, and excellent sitters and mothers. Black Bantams.— -4n OTfordshirc Rector presents his complimeute to " \ Wiltshire Rector," and th;niks him for his letter. He wou'd not like to make such a proposal to the Editors as that referred to, as in carrying out the arrangement an unwarranted confidence might be induced. Pen of Gaaie Fowls ( n'. J.).— 7wo pullets must match in every par- ticular. A Black-breasted Red cock must not have one red feather in the breast. Dorking Featherless under the Beak [JF. J* P.).— Rub the bare place with compound sulphur ointment. We do not think it comes irom insects. It it does, and the bird has not access to dust, piovidehim with it. It will kill vermin. Ducks and Geese at Birmingham ^Quack).—^\e do not know who judged the Ducks at Birmingham. We thought tbera a very fine cla^^s, and well judged. The Rouen according to our idea, should be in colour the counterpart of wild Ducks. At this treason of the jear it is easy to get wild Ducks and compare them. We believe ihe prizes are given for Grey and Mottled and in these pens the gander is almost always white. Weight is an essential point in Geese, and but a lew years ago any approach to white w.ts held superior to grey. The iiitroduction ot the Toulouse has altered this, but in any market where Geese are sold for the table, a Grey is less valuable than a White or Pied bird. Geese are table, liot feather birds. High condition is impressed on the Judges as desirable, and so far as we could judge, the first-prize peu enjoyed it. Black Hamburghs and Dvcks at Birmingham (A Suhscriber),—yic saw the classes in question, and were perfectly satisfied with them. It ;s very possible that sometimes Ducks are mixed with ducklings, and old fowls with chickens. Subicribe?- would hianself be deceived sometimes. Norfolk Ornithological Societv.— I should feel greatly obligeo if you would correct an error which appears in your Number ot November 2Uh —viz., in the undermentioned awards -. — Canaries, ^c— Norwich (Clear Yellows). —First and Second. Norwich (Clear Bulf,.— First. Norwich (Marked and Variegated Yellows).— First. Goldfinch (Mules, Mealy).— First. Goldfinch (Jonque).— First, and Second. British Birds —Skyliuk and Goldfinch, Siskin or Aberdevine. Dirdgn Birds,— 'Wd\ Bill. FouUi if (Class 123). — Game Bantams iDuckwinss).— Second. All •.he!=e are pUutU to the creditor Mr. S. Waters, of Ipswich, instead of myself.- W. Walikh, Hyde Street, Winchester. Parrot and Dog [An Old Subscriber).- With reference to the Australi-in Parrot we fear not much can be done except keeping it w:.rm, and most probably it will regain its feathers. The djg should be kept shoit of food in order to reduce its fat. Instead of meal give it bread and milk, and a little broth in turn, and occasionally a toivpoontut . T.] ORCHAED-HOUSES AND PEACH-HOUSES. In a communication by "T. R." on " Orchard-houses and Peach-houses," the writer says, " Six full-sized Peaches are as many as can be grown on a square foot, either of trellis or wall." Now, if that is not a mistake either of the writer or printer, I think six are far too many to grow on a square foot, and that calculation might mislead some ; for even practical gardeners sometimea err on the score of over- cropping. Mr. Mc'Ewen sa,ys in his " Cultui-e of the Peach and Nectarine," page 10, "Tou will see what I mean by a heavy crop, when I state that on 430 superficial feet covered with wood, I gathered forty-nine dozen of Peaches, many of which weighed over 8 ozs., and very few under G| ozs. This was good work ; and I feel convinced that the trees could not have done it without very liberal help." This calcula- tion is not much more than one Peach to the square foot; and the question is. Will a Peach tree support more than that of full-sized, weU-flavoured &-uit for a number of years in succession ? — T. L. [Sometime the last autumn I observed in a contemporary that twelve Peaches might be aUoweame way as the large Chrysanthemums were, which this season so astonished the halituds of the South Kensington Con- servatory. AU the side shoots were jjiinched off as they appeared, and the plant trained to a single stem, which was terminated in consequence of this treatment with a spike of unusually large flowei's, 6 inches long, like that of a Hyacinth. After strolling about tiU we had seen aU the gardening- matters, and just as we were about to leave, the gardener asked us if we would like to see Lady Pearson's wilderness. After such a gardening treat we thought we did not care much about a wilderness, and so thanking him we declined, determining to return with all speed to Daventry. " It's well worth seeing, sii'," said the gardener. " Her ladyship takes a great interest in it, she has half a dozen men always doing something to it." At this intelligence we were some- what interested, and wondered what sort of a wilderness it could be that had half a dozen men always doing something to it ; and so- we recanting, agi'eed just to have a look. Entering by a small wicket near the north-east comer of the mansion, we were led along a naiTow winding path, not more than 5 or 6 feet wide, which, if we recoBect rightly, becomes narrower still as we jiroceed. After travelling some distance we turned shai-jjly to the left, and entered what aj)pears to be a rustic summei'-house, and there "the wilder- ness," as represented in our engraving, bursts upon the eye. " Do you call this a wilderness ? " Yes, sir ; that's what her 494 JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GASDESTEE. [ December 28, 1S63. ladyship calls it." ■' And is it natui-al or artificial ? " we in- quired. " It's all her ladyship's own work, sh- ; she did it all herself." At this moment Lady Peai-son, who is Mrs. Clarke's mother, and who resides at Welton, entered "the wilder- ness," and received us with every mark of kindness and welcome. We were now in a fau- way of knowing more about the wOdemess, the history of wliieh is as follows ; — Some years ago, when Lady Pearson came to reside with Major Clarke^ she requested that she might have a piece of ground in any waste corner where ehe might do just what I she liked, and with no one to interfere with hei-. Beino- * lady of great taste, with a correct eye for the beautiful, and withal of great mental as well as physical activity. Lady Pearson set about creating — not adapting, nor altering, but — Uterally creating this -wilderness," which now abounds with so many fine landscape effects. The spot v/hich is now occupied with the subject of oiu- engraving was formerly a sort of rubbish-corner in the i>axk adjoining the higii road and the vUlage ; and the building, which everybody would take for a rustic cottage, was, and we believe is still, the end of a stable or sooie such structure. How the scene hae beea changed our readers can imagine from our artist's representation of it. But this is only one corner of " the wilderness." Following the path which leads past the cottage and xmder the rustic bridge we followed the stream, and bearing round to the right we encountered a scene of far greater extent and of a bolder character. In the foreground is a Swiss cottage with its rxistic gallerj- and overhanging roof; and here her ladyship has an aviary of rare and in- teresting birds, a museiim, and picture gallery. The scenery aU round this cottage is varied and beautiful in the ertreme; the water is skilfully tlisposed ; here as a miniature lake with a sinuous and now and then rotu-ing outline, and there running ofi' in a lively babbling stream, making music as it flows. Still continuing our course beyond the Swiss cottage we enter a bold rocky region rising precipitouslv all round, the monotony being broken by the advancing and reth-ing outline, the shady nooks, and the tasteftl style :n which it is planted. All natural effects are here represented. En- I trances to caverns, by the fidelity of theii- representation, seem as if they penetrated far into the hill, and attract the curioxis merely to find that they are not a yard in depth. December 22, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE aAEDENEE. 495 Large fissures gape as if in agony from some great internal convulsion. Shelving rooks jut out in tbreitening aspects, and every part of the iUusion is so well sustained as to call forth aU one's admii-ation. The planting also is faithfully and tastefully managed ; and we can conscientiously say that we never saw a piece of artificial landscape that ail'orded us gi'eater gratification, or which reflected greater credit on the designer. GREENHOUSE BLINDS. As the time is now approaching when winter blinds and mats will he put in requisition, the following hint may not come amiss to some of your coiTespondents. In "Greenhouses for the Many," page 11, is a description of a roller blind for a greenhouse roof, and the author re- marks, " There is some little accommodation [observation ?] required to learn how best to get the far end of the pole to reach its destination at the same time as the near end," &c. But he does not tell us how to do it, and the natural tendency of the blind to wind up " slantindicular," as Ame- ricans say, is very annoying, besides the risk run of the i^ole smashing the glass unless there are several bearers (see %. I.)- Fig. 1. — My fo;m3r Style. Having, within the last few days hit upon a very simple mode of overcoming this difficulty, I beg to offer it to your Journal, as it may be of sei-vice to others. I do not think the author of the above could have been aware of it, or he would certainly have mentioned such a simple contrivance. The improvement consists merely in fixing on the " far end " of the roller a disk of wood, as shown in the sketch (h- 2, E). Fig. 2.— My present Styh It will at once be seen that, as the roller blind revolves, any tendency of the pole to get out of the right line is im- mediately checked by the wheel pressing against the- bearer (a), and the pole is forced to ascend properly — Voila tout. " Simple com/me bonjour," as Balzac says. — Lex. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Broccoli, the weather, up to the present time, having been so favourable to its growth, it is advisable to dig it up, and lay it in trenches in nearly a horizontal position, covering the roots and stem up to the leaves : this has the effect of checking its luxuriant growth, and of protecting the hearts of the plants in severe weather. Cabhagc, eai'th-ui?, if not done, the weather now being favoui'able for that purpose. Carrots, if young ones are wanted very early, seed should now be sown on a slight hotbed. Endive, taie advantage of the present fine weather to tie-up and house a quantity. Radishes, every fine mild day draw off the lights entirely this will give them strength to form bottoms. FLOWER GARDEN. This is a season of the year which may be turned to good account by taking a retrospective glance of the labours of the year that is passing away. To jsrofit by such an exami- nation it ought to be done most faithfully and most strictly. Where you find that anything which would have added to the attractions of this department has been omitted during the past season note it, and resolve that it shall be attempted in due time ; recollect v/hat has been improperly performed, and make up your mind that it shall not be so when another opportunity shall present itself. You may have been prose- cuting a plan which has proved unsuccessful ; consider if it is worth trying again ; if' so, persevere during the ensuing season, and your efforts may be crowned with success. Where the tenderer varieties of Eoses are found to require protection, this should be applied at once, if not already done, otherwise it may soon be too late to save them. The leaves being all thoroughly cleared and removed, the next thing to be thought of is to take advantage of frosty weather (when other operations are temporarily closed) in running the saw, chisel, and knife through the overgrown shrubs, not with the idea of destroying the picturesque character of shrubs and evergreens wliich have reached their full expressions, but in order to protect the more delicate from the tyranny of their stronger neighbours ; to remove dead branches, and to preserve a due right of pas- sage through the plantation walk. The very mild season has ah-eady caused early or shaDow-planted Tulips to show above ground ; it is advisable as soon as obseiwed to put a small quantity of heath or any other light mould over them, to protect them from frost and cutting winds. Tliis may not be applied regularly over the bed, but in small cones over each plant as it shows itself. Carnations and Picotees being now in a luxui-iant state should be carefully examined, the foliage in some situations is apt to get spotted. As soon as this is observed remove the diseased leaf with a pair of sharp-pointed scissors, or the disease will spread through the stock most readily. Examine the axils of the foliage, dust and dirt are apt to lodge therein, this should be carefully removed. Polyanthuses are showing flower, the trusses to be removed as they appear, and the plants in pots to be placed in a northern exposure. FRUIT GARDEN. Some wall trees, as Peai-s, Plums, Cherries, sieve Turnips bunch 2 0 1 6. 0 0 4 0 0 fr TKADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. Dmmmond & Sons, Stirling, and 58, Dawson Street, Dublin. — Catalogue of Forest, Ornamenial, and Frtiit Trees^ Soses, Shrubs, Coniferoe, S(c. Edward, George, Clarence Nurseries, and 1, King Street, Castlegate, York. — Catalogue of Fruit Trees, Roses, Pelar- goniums, Carnations, S^'c. Sutton & Sons, Reading. — Spring Catalogue, and Amateur^ Chdde for 1S64, containing lists of Vegetable, Flower and Agricultural Seeds, Grasses, and Plants, with cultural in- structions. TO CORRESPONDENTS. *^* We request that no one -wiU -write privately to the de- partmental -writers of the " Jom-nal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By sa doing they ai-e subjected to unjustifiable trouble and erpense. All communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Hoi-ticul- iure, S^e., 162, Fleet Street, London, B.C. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Pe.ntstemons {B. E.).—Puriile : Violet, Goliath, Mon Caprice, Orientale, Mrs. Lees, Kellermauii, John Fopgo, Monsieur de Porpart, Jaifrayanum, Azurea Verticil'.ata, Clio, and Blue Beauty. The above vary in colour, from light blue to lilac and crimson purple. Scarlet : Vivid, Nobile, Rose of EiiRland, Kubrum Magniflcuni, Meteora, Illuminator, Mrs. Steains, Robert Higher, Amabilis, Cocciiieum Magnificum, Brilliant, and Comte dc Lam- bertye. We are not acquainted with any white, beyond .iilba. Mrs. Hope, a ligljt peach, -with a while throat, pencilled -with light crimson, is a good light-coloured flower. Many of the above have the throat white. The Arbutus is chitfly raised from seed ; it may, however, be increased by layer?. Evergreen Oaks are increased by sowing the acorns in March or April, and by grafting. Evergreen shrubs are propagated by cnttings made hke any other description of cuttmg, and generally inserted early in autumn. Pears for an East and North-east -Wall {J. W. L. S.).— These -will do well at Teddington— Gloa Jlorceau, Knight's Monarch, -Winter Nells, Josephine de Malines, Henriette Boavier, Z.'phirin Gregoire, Jean de Witte, Bezi Vaet, Bergamotto Esperen, Nc plus Jleuris, Huyshe's Prince of -\Vales (or Huyshe's Bergamot), llujshe's Victoria. 498 JOUENAi OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEB. [ December 2J, 1863. RlKOTiNo Sbckrhs prom HvAclNTBa (X S, Rampton).--We ma.)!.e \t a practice to take off the ofTwta when we pot the bulbs. If any appear afterwards we take them off with a knife clo.se to the bulb, taking care not to injure the latter nor its roots. Offsets do nothing but rob the parent, and are best remuved. Tou will apply this to your bulbs. Chkysantkemoms Done Bloomino («fm).-Take away all the wood of the current year and turn the plants out of the pots, and plant in the open border. You may select the strongest of the suckers and pot them sing.y DOW. They should be headed or topped when 6 inches hi|>h-that is, if vou wish to grow them oi; finele stems ; if you do not care about that, s'top them now to obtam dwarfs or bushy plants. These will make earlier- blooming and larger plants than if you defeiTed parting the plants till March or April If you part them now, the young plants « ill require to be wintered in a cold frame. Those divided in spring will do without that protection. EsTABiisHiNG Grass Wai^s (R. il.).-We advise yon to sod the inter- yeniiig spaces between the beds, and think yourself well off that vou have turves at command. Tou may sow lawn grass seeds in March as "you pro- ■""i!' i"" . ^°" ""?' ""^ '^P"^' '° ?»<"' an tff^t iis if the spaces were sodded at once. Jn neither way would the grass be injured by treading m the ordinary course of proceeding, and in both it will be improved by rolling twice a-week. ^ ■' Plants FOE Enolobeo N.W. Window (.1. O. IT.).-1he plants best wo?lH d„ L^Ti'i^h"'""' ■■""■ *■""'• •»" "^ X"""' °f n» '^''"'"ers that would do well in their company except varieties of Ivy, some of which have highly ornamental loliage. Lygodium scandens and L. palmatum are climbing Ferns, and would, no doubt, do well In such a place. The roof ^r. l„;n''h r't ' "■' H.TV'""^ " '''" "■=' •""'" " i' be 81"" if Ferns th^ wiMrtl ^, ?,, h' 'T'? 5" '■'i'"- !'■ yo" "^e not paiticular as to Ferns i^H „ h„r. '^ K? '''''"""' V'^ Hyacinths, Cyclamens, Tuhps, Narcissus, and other spring-blooming plants, which would be char,, iug in eari; spring; and m summer the bed might be tilled with Geraniums and strflTf.'.l'.'^^^T''''"?'' ''""^■"di"'. and Lopho.permums running up strings fastened to the roof, and about 6 inches from the window. Licar Chalky.soh,ed Flowrr-border [TorriiluD.-A dressing of salt tV:;hiS'„°^r',*'" '" f™' ""'""" '^''^ '"e evaporation of raoisfure and ZT^l.^ I T"' P'"','" '" '"'""■" ; ''"' J-O" "qoi'-e a more permanent ^t^hT * rT'^^- ^"^ y™ n"' ""'"in e^"ll '■''"n the paring, of ditchts, &c., so as to deeiien the soil to 18 inches and improve its staple at the same time? -iour "very shallow chalky soil ■• ,s worse ev,n than a very clayey one tor garden purposes. We should increase the depth and staple as we have said, and n,ulch the surface at least an inch thick in summer with cocoa-nut fibre refuse. r.f^^f'xZ". f ;•',';,'"■ ',f «-;-We have used Gishurst compound at the f.^,?h^ K,t; I "'?|""°n "< '^"'e,-, and find it kills this pest. We apply herted to IG^P • Tr.J"-^!' "J""""'^ " '"'" ""l^^ ^°'e». or crevices, and ^JlJ L ™,.= ' ^h ^'.'"V "PP'y "■ " a»es not injure the buds unless the scales are rubbed off them, when the rubbing ki.ls the buds Tl isuhih^?' "-^^"^1""^- ."■' "^"^ ""o f"""'^ ">e rollowmi: answer ^se;7vM'hfnnw's"^'K '"."^ '" ''''™' l-'llitics formed into the con- Z ,n,Ll I, h^l, f the alditlon of boiling urine, and this we apply to uno ThpT,! -h w'h- '■",'"""« " "e» into the crevices when cooled to thL should he „.?h''vI'""'" "™ """"t "■" nn»'n ■■'"«^. and, if infested, these should be painted like the stems. or^^'cole IL^bTZ'^^'^T '^- ■'^- "'•)-P™"ding the fumes of the charcoal rj .^Lp f.^t,T^ '" P^'ll'nio the tin pipe, we see no danger but what ThLiZjmZntTl"- T'"^ '^^ assistance of the blinds your stove fp vrnr sf^^ ,„ ° ^^^P- '™''' °"t. We advise you if you can burn coke Zke ,„ »?pr , ^ '•'l"^ 'b "■"' " " eniits a sulphurous smell you must !^ .„»„! ,i ^ ' "' "■"'" "'"' ''e evident that the fumes which ought dest w !e«ta'b''le"l^fe'""ri''"' 'V ^'""'' ^"^ """' sulphurous fumes soon no rffLIfv!. f J It . '^^'"•"^' on the other hand, when burning emits m^,«M P A.?,i '^1"'^ "7 appreciable to the senses, and therefore you rnL"a' eer™ „^^" iM"' '!'.''"''' '^ gases escape from thegreenhoL, . ir la .. „ a ; " "' 'aieiy oe given to plants in a growing ^■saWy b? ^^aiiiateu,. "'''"'"'"• '" '"""''' """"' ■""* "" "^ "PP""" and"vfn.^"s,?iL1 '//«'-i""'').-We fear you will not be able to grow Ferns Aodl n vnur ip „"■ '"Selher. Tou might bring the Vines on until vfnes reniovfnl to ''V'"'™ '\° '"""'^ ^'"n'* "1""' ^l^ading and .he th?.^ ,s r, Ph'!„P ,'"'"'* ?'"' ""'■e light and heat. We do not think but^f vou -h ,vp ofh"' '■'""' *"■'"» ^"^ to grow Vines and Ferns together. favUrfhe removal orth™"-"-— ''"'""'^tne Fern-house, which would I thp r„^ Top-dress, but do not repot, and grow on in the fernery 1 ine urapts change for ripening, and then remove to a drier house to from „,,r ni; ""''"*!'' work than "Sanders on the Vine." It can he iiom our oince. frpp hv nnei f^,- t;» o^ have the ViZJr "hT ^"''' " "■<= '™'= abo>e named, we advise vou to then seal the I'^T'* "' """' '"" '" ''"■■ the cuts wiih a red-hot iron and Placed ^n the Z," "' ™? """ sealing-wax. The Vine, should then be cainot L.P ,„ '''■ Pa/t of the 1 em-house until the buds break, when they mTh 101 them T.l''."«''t , nor would the heat of your le.nery be too until ripen had from our office, free'by post, for S*. 24. Ge^Tnmlm u-hfV''''''"' ^^ Subscriber)- Ader this we -n^ould not stop Uter bEin^ H """■' '^r'''* '^^ ^^""'"^ early-say in April and May. For leaves le?tp-M''''''^P''^ ^ ^^"""^ ^'" ^"^"'^ f^'™ ^^^ ^'^'l «f ^ost of the means fnr B^.n V °u^ pruning in autumn and this stopping are the btst be more fnllv .^ ^h'*'^ ^^^ ^'- ^^^' '"*"^''- ^^^^^ dwelt upon, may again dozin^.hnT«„^ 'n^T'^^-r l**' ^"«tance: suppose a good-sized plant has a theothPr n n* m"* ^^.■:^l«'^ ^l^ese have more than double the strength of or thrPP .h ; '"?'■ '^^^ ^^""^^ ^'^ pinched, they will each throw out two strenifhr- ;■'''!'''' "^'^ *°"" ^^ ^^ ^"^""^ ^^ the nine, and thus the atiengtn la equalised. Compost OF Lime AND Mot-LO to Grass Lakd {Catawhiense). — Yon itVf*^^^,Vr ^u ^°°",i^ ^^e autumn as the gras^ ceases growing and there pfi 1 J^ ^^ '^^ ^^^^^^ ^0 ^^'^^ o"« ^8 it would be wasted by the dressing. *ilty loads would certainly be a good dressing for a Scots acre, but if laid on now we do not thitik it would kill any part of the grass. If laid on early ^ tuk""*- ^^^ ^^^t ^^"^^^ exposed to frost to mellow them, it will all brush n wun a ring or ihorn-bush harrow by February C.*LCKOLARi\ vioLACEA {J. ff., TT'AjVt'/e/rf).— We think the plants are all that can be wi-hed. They will be quite warm enough in a greenlum-t-^ that is seHom below 40^ and from which trust is excluded. Keep the plants in an airy position all the winter. Do n-.t allow them to flag from dryness; but so long as the leaves keep fresh and firm, let the soil be dry rather than wet until the flower-trusses begin to show, and then water more liberally. We shnil be much surprised if your strong plants will not be a sheet of bloom in April, May, and onwards. When done flowering the plants may be freely cut in, and when pushing freely be repotted in smaller pots by getting rid of a ponionof the old soil. Cuttings taken otf in autumn or spring make, however, the best, planrs. Those rooted early in spring will bloom freely the following year. Ferh^ips your plants hive been kept rather vigorous. Let us know if your plants are not ftrst-rate in April and May. Syringing Trees Oot-dooks aftkr Dressing Them (N.).~l( you have dressed the trees with a mixture of Gi>hurst compound and water in the proportion of 1 lb. to the gallon, we hhould nut by any means advise the syringe to be used until some growth takes place-say in the end of April or May. The object of dressing at this teaBon with so strong a mixture is to kill all insects or ttieir tarvse that maybe lurking in the bark or about the tree, and to follow this up with a syringing of clear water would be simplv to remove so much of the former as to render it less likely to perform the duties expected oi it. Iron Dahlia-stake Rusting in the GR0t;ND iCatatcbiense). — 'We should advise the lower part of your stake to he held in the fire a short time to burn off the rust, after which coat that part, especially that which is at the surface of the ground, with creosote or coal tar to which a Uttle grease or oil has been added, and the whole made warm. The rem--indcr of the stake we t-hould advise to be painted a lead colour, which is both durable and, in our opinion, looks better than green, the last-named colour being, perhaps, the veiy worst for lasting. We are not in general advocates for iron Dahlia-stakes. Wooden stakes, to our mind, look better; but where the former exist painting munt be resorted to, and in doing fo our aim has been to obtain a quiet unusauralng colour and to avoid both vrhite and green in the attempt. L'onstkuction of a Green house- VisERT (.4 Six-yetirs Subscriber, Haiti mer smith). — Wedo not clearly understand your description, especially ; s to the heitiht of the proposed yUss case and the height of the floor of the said case above the It'vt-i of the outside ground, or the mode of coiiimuui- Cdting with the pruposed house erc^pt the window of the dining-room is made into a door, or h'W to aet to the garden in front except by another door, :ind steps leading down to it. Uesides, you seem resolve^l to make such a very superior thing of it, that vou would require to think the matter over carefully and have an estimate from a builder m your neighbourhood as to the expense. 1st, It is such a complicated affair; and as without threat trouble you must have some fasieninga to the wallsand posCM in the ground, and yet you 'Ai.-h the whole to be portable, we would say advisealy, Do noth ng whatever without a dear understanding with your landlord, and al-o a simple written agreement— there are so many quirks in ihe law in these matters. A farmer has lately put tip a large glass house at the end of his farm-house, ibinking he could move it when he liked ; but there cm be no doubt, from the way it is built, that the landlord can eliim it if he chooses. A curate put up a small house at the back ot his residence, and that lie can move, as it is built in pieces and has merely blocks of wood tor afoun ation ; but being a lean-to, a ridge-board was screwed to the wall just under the upper-floor windows. To this the rafters were screwed by one end, and lastened to the plate in front. By unscrewing Irom this plate, which could be left, the whole house could be moved easily, without even leaving a hole in the ground to fill up. A little nice sand did for the paths ouiside, and the whole being wood and glass there was no dififlculty. To do much the Siime, you would require a strong framework to support the floor of the hou^e, as well as the hou^e itsell. 2nd, This secured, there would be no diflSculty in planting the Vines on the lower level, growing them as long as possible; and as soon as they arc long enough to get up to the house, disbud all the stems, and cover them with a narrow wooden box packed with sawdust. 'Ihey would do admirably in the wide part of the house, and might be trained longitudinully in the narrow part and thus give a nice shade there. The best sorts of Vines would be one Buckland Sweetwater, two Black Hamburghs, and one Muscat Hamburgh. 3rd, The^e would do well even without the stove, but would do better with it; :ind were there no opposition you could heat the place easily from the kitcnen boiler. The artificial heat would be all the more nectss^iry from the very warmth of the place, a^ things will be apt to be excited by the heat, and will theiefore suffer more easily and readily from cold. 4th, The Hartley's patent will be the best, but it will be more expensive, and fur 21 oz. the sash-bars must be strong. The front glass might be common plate, and that you could easily shade. The shelves, if lined with zinc as you propose, will be all the better; and if the floor is made of well-seasoned timber, well rabbeted, it will be snfllcient. The syringing will do it little harm as it will soon dry, and a little dust and wa-hing will fill the seams. 5th, With so many things to consider, it would be impossible to give such an estimate of expense as would come anything so near as you might obtain from a glass-house builder in your own neighbourhood, or at Chelsea. We have frequently stated what sucii buildings have cost; but with every desire to oblige our readers, the giving estimates for supposed circumstances would be as thorougkly impossible as planting 'he numerous flower gardens submitted to us. We may assist, give opinions, and criticise ; but we cannot do more* Books [H. B. Z.).— There is no such periodical as an illustrated Florist published weekly, nor any other so published on gardening, except this Journal, which has illustrations. Mr. Hereman's book relates chiefly to the culture of fruits under Sir J. Paxton's form of glass houses. It is to be had at Mr. Herenian's office in Pall Mall. Pelargonivms, Camellias, and Azaleas {J, P,). — The following are the names of twelve Felargoiiituns, cheap and good :— Ciirlos, Lord Clyde, Lady Taunton. Patroness, The Belle, Conspicuum, Mrs. Hoyle, Roseun, Lady Canning, Celeste, Norma, and Leviathan. Camellias : Old Double White, Fimbriata, Imbricata, Candidissima, Duchess of Orleans. Azaleas Sir C. Napier, Stanleyana, Gledstaiiesii, Vuriegata, Iveryana, Indica alba. Optima. We never recommend tradesmen. Look into our advertising columns. Zonale, or Horseshoe Geraniums (S. O. U.), — Geraniums having a bliick hand on the upper surlace of their leaves are so called. Tom Thumb, Commander-in-Chief, and Bithopstowe Scarlet are examples, but not Punch. December 22, 1863. ] JOTIRNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE OAEDBNER. 499 The Shall Gabdem at Trentham (F. E Jf.l.— To lay down the figure, of wbich we gave a representation at page 394, the space enclosed between the Privet hedge should be a blunt oval, the diameters of which would be 80 feet and 74. Then the central oval would be 18 feet by 14, alt ihe rest of the figures round it may be curved lines nest iheoval as in the heait- sbaped figures 3. and the paths between them and the oval 5 feet all round — the same width being allowed for the path on the outcideof these figures. The pathways between these beds, as between 3 and 6, 6, would be about 3 feet wide ; "the four heart-shaped figures would be 14 feet by 10 at greatest width; the fuur circles would be 7 feet in diameter. If your Rroand were only half the size— 40 feet by 37— the figures and walks would just be half the size, the centre 9 by 7, and the hearts 7 by 5. The two circular walks ■would be 2^ feet and the inner ones I4 foot wide. A piece of ground, 54 feet by 50, would be two-thiida of the size first ppoken or, and would look very well. It would be more easily laid down if the centre weie a circle instead of an oval. Thus, fix on the centre, describe the circle, and run a line round for the outside of the eight figures. Place two lines across the centre at right angles with each other, so that the four ends shall come in the centre of the four path openings into the garden, and this will give you the four points of the heart-t^haped figures. Place other two striags d.agonally at equal distances from these right-angled lines, and on these fix the centre for the smaller circles. The figure will then make itself. We have great pleasure in answering this because there hia been so much trouble taken in giving the references. Let us add th it if the plan is followed strictly— Privet hedge round ihe outside and all— that hedge should be proportioned in height and width to the size of the figure. At half the size first spoken of the height should not be more than 3 inches. Chrtsakthkmums fob Exhibition (Ga/Zier).— "We hardly understand what you want, and you seem to be in the best way to get rid of your difficulties ; but, if you want our opinion, we say decidedly that Chrysan- themums ought clearly to be shown on one stem. We think, too, that the more naturally they are giown the better. Some staking must be used, but it ought to be as little as possible and to be concealed as much as can be. Plast-case Heating (Si^nja).— Heatf d by hot water, the only mode of raising: the temperature of ttie interior above 60° is by having some part of the floor uncovered by eanh, so as to allow the heal to rise more freely. "We employ a plant-case heated beneath the soil by Child's night liuhts, or rather kept from getting too cold ; and at Bi^ht we put a woollen cover over the glass. We know nothing about the book you na:Me. VioLKTs NOT Plooming [J. L.).—A ficc and rich soil, with shade or a deficiency of light and air, will produce the superabundance of leaves you complain of. Too moiac and warm an atmosphere produces the same result. At this season no more water should be given than just sufficient to prevent flagging ; and if they have abundance ot air, and be placed on a shelf near the glass — for wt; presume they are in pots or in a frame —we should thir.k they would flower. A moderately rich and rather light loamy soil, with perfect drainage, suits the Violet well. In the absence of par- ticulars, we are unable to reply fully to your query. Inquirers would be doing themselves a kindness by giving more details. Stove Plants Blooming in Each Month {A. S. S.).— January : Aphe- landra cristata. Epiphyllum truncatum (vara), Eranthemum puichellum, Gardenia citriodora, Hebeclinium atrorubens, and EuphoTbiajacquiniaeflora. Februari/ : Franciscea confer tiflora, Vriesia eplendens, Thy rsacan thus rutilane. Euphorbia splendens majcr. Stenogaster concinna. Pycnostachys urticifolia. hJarch : Imantophyllum miniiitum, Franciscea eximia, F. angusta, Gardenia radicans major, G. floridd, and Cyitanihera magnittca. April: Centradenia floribanda, Ardisia crenulata, Gesnera macrantha purpurea, Thunbergia Ilarrisii, Hibiscus rcseus grandifiorup, and Hoya carnosa. Hoy : ^ichynanthus pulcher, JE. splendidua. Gloxinia (vars.), Stephanotia floribunda, Medinilla magniflca, and Strelitzia Keginae. Ju7ie : Mejenia erecta, M. erecta alba, Ixora coccinea, Jasminum dianthifiorum, Boya bella, and Combretum purpureum. J^lly : Cyrtoceras reflesum, Rondeletia ppeciosa major, Achimenes (vars.), Allamanda cathartica, A. Aublelii, Ixora aurantiaca. and Dipladenia ciassinoda. August : Clero- dendion fallax, C. Thomsona;, Echites splendens, Allamanda neriifolia, A. grandiflora, and A. Schotti. September: Ixora Rollinsoni, I. crocata. Torenia a.»iatica. Yinca rosea, V. ccellata, and Plumbago capensis. October: Impatiens Jerdonice, Gesnera zebrina splendens, Beloperone violacea, Begonia fuchsiodes acuminata, B. incamata, and Poinsettia pulcherrima. November : Billbergia thyrsoidea, Torenia puicherrima, Begonia splendens, MonochjEtum ensifevum, Ruellia macrophylla, and Begoniu Prestoniensis. December : Geenera cinnabarina ignea, G. relulgens, Stephanophysum Baikiei, Koeleria lanata, Aphelandra aurantiaca, and .^chmea Milmoni. We thiiik "Flower Gdidenmg for the Many" and " Florists* Flowers lor the ilany" would suit you. You can have them free by post from our office for ten postage stamps. pELAEOONitMS FOR EXHIBITION IK JuNE {Constant Reader). — If, as you say, your plants are growing too fast, you should pinch out the points :.t once, tie out the shoots well, remove ail superfluous foliage from their centres, and place in a light position close to the glacs. Keep them cool- not higher than 40^ at night — when it is necessary from frost to apply fire heat, and be very sparing with water at the root. Just give them enough to keep them from flagging. These conditions are the most likely to prevent a weak elongation of the tissues of the plants. If they get drawn up, know you will never make exhibition plants of them. As to the lime of >hifting them, that must depend on their being healthy and well rooted ; and for showing in June they ought to be in that condition in the middle or end of January, and should then be shifted, but not into large pots. Eight-inch will be large enough. We prefer giving the last shut early in October. There is then far less chance of too gross a growth, if properly managed through the winter, than when shifted in spring. A rather strong loam, wi:h a third well-rotted cowdung, and a little sand, will grow first-class Geraniums and weak guano water should be applied when the bloom-buda exhibit themselves, and left off when they begin to open. Names ok Plants {Alfred).—! and 2, not known; 3, Justicia speciosa; 4, Thyrsacuntbua rutilans; 5, Salvia involucrata; 6, Pteria cretica. (if. Smith), — It is impossible to name such specimens with any degree of con- fidence. 1, is some Primula allied to P. auricula; 2, miy perhaps be a Solidago ; iJ, Stachys lanata ; 4, Pulmonaria officinalis. (./. JI. Bayly).— Af-plenium lanceolatum. [J. Jtf.).— Phyaianlhus albens. [W. H.}. — Your Moi*ses are— 1, Riccia fluitans; 4, Hypnum undu'atum; 2, Dicranum majus; 3, Hypnum proliferura. {Nome7iclature). — Your plant is unrecog- nised by any of the auihorities to whom we have shown it. It may be a Gnaphalium or U may be an Antennaria, but we cannot determine unless we see some of its flowers. We think your plantis grown in gardens under the name of Gnaphalium Unatum. [J. McBey).-!, Lastrea tenericiiule ; 2. Pieoptltis Blllardieri; 3, Adiantum pubescens. (A Constant Reader^ Dublin).— Yo^r trailing plant is Disandra prostrata. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHEONICLE. MR. HINDSONS GAME FOWLS AT THE BIRMINGHAM SHOW. A3 a matter of common justice I must call upon you to correct a statement which appeared in your paper of the 8th, impugning my character as Judge at the Birmingham Show. For some years I have had Game fowls on a walk in the neighbourhood of Welshpool ; and a short time since the person in charge desired permission to lend some of my bii'ds to a Mr. "Williams, a resident in or near Welshpool, a request with which I promptly and peremptorily declined to comply. Imagine, then, my astonishment when, in my capacity of Judge at Birmingham, I discovered irom peculiar marks (but not until after the prizes had been awarded) that the birds in question, exhibited by Mr. Williams, were my own property. I at once communicated the circumstance to my colleagues, and insisted that the birds be disqualified. This fact can be vouched for bv the members of the Council. I am too well aware of the responsibility attached to my position, and place too high a value on my good name, to countenance any such imposition as that attempted ; and if I can find means of punishing the principal in this dis- graceful act, rely upon it he shall not escape scatheless. His situation in life should have made him above such a scandalous action. By inserting the above in your next you will oblige.— Joseph Hindson, Barton House, Everton, near lAvei'pool. Owing to absence from home, I have only just seen your Journal of December the 8th, in which are some remarks on certain Game prizes awarded at Birmingham to a Mr. Williams, of Welshpool, and which were subsequently can- celled. From infoimation I possess, as Mr. Hindson's col- league, I am convinced that the imputation cast upon him in reference to these prizes is entii-ely unfounded, and had the real cii-cumstances of the case been known to you, I believe the remarks which induce me to address you would not have appeared in your columns. It is perfectly true that some of the Game fowls to which prizes were awarded belong to Mr. Hindson, but it is not true to assert or insinuate that they were sent to Birming- ham with his knowledge or connivance. Of this no better proof is needed than the conduct of Mr. Hindson himself, for it was entirely upon information spontaneously furnished by him, and on his express demand, that the prizes were CI n r* p 1 1 #-^ fi It wiU,' perhaps, be asked. Why, then, were these prizes awarded ? The answer is, that the facts which induced the Judges to disqualify the pens were not ascertained with sufficient certainty untU a catalogue was referred to after the awards were closed, and the discovery made that the exhibitor was a person Uving at Welshpool, where Mr. Hindson's fowls are kept. Apart from the reasons which induced us to disqualify the pens, I think there can be no question that they were entitled to the position in which they were placed ; at any rate, on this point I willingly assume the entire responsi- What explanation Mr. Williams, the exhibitor, may be able to offer I have no means of knowing; but the conduct of Mr. Hindson convinced me that he was clear of all com- plicity in the matter, and that the presence of these iowls at Birmingham was an extreme annoyance to him. No one under the circumstances could have acted in a more open, fi-ank, and honourable manner than he did, and this I am confident would be the testimony of every one with whom he communicated on the subject at Birmingham. I regret the necessity of asking you to publish this letter ; but as Mr. Hindson's colleague, it would be ungenerous m me to 500 JOTJBNAL OF HOKTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ December 22, I8«a pass unnoticed an imputation on his chai'acter which I believe to be unmerited.— J. H. Smith. [Most readily do we insert the preceding coniiaunica.tion8, and hope they will prove satisfactory to oiu- readers. We have no other object in vituperating apparent delinquencies than to secure a fair field to all competitors, nor do we censure before we have obtained what we consider reliable information. It is unfortunate that Mr. Hindson did not announce his discovery that the birds were his own until after one of the public had detected the fact ; and there is one point on which neither Mr. Hindson nor Mr. Smith has afibrded any information, and on which it is certainly desii-- able. It would be an answer to this question now before us:— "Who is Mr. Williams, of Spring Bank, near Welsh- pool ? is he really an Esquii-e ^ I ask this because it was said to be the namo of a man under Mr. Hindeon's control." — Eds. J. OP H.] CAPTAIK HEATON JlNT) THE BIEMINGHA]\£ SHOW. I HAVE read with some interest the remarks of your cor- respondents lately on " Poultry Shows and Judges," I am sorry that two or three cases have occurred recently, which show that those communications are not uncalled for. I allude to the recent occurrences at Birmingham and Leeds, which you have most judiciously treated, as I think, by making public the names of the offenders. AVith such cases as Mr. Hindson's and Mr. Frederick Hardy's, there cannot be any diversity of opinion. In the matter of Captain Heaton there is not any sus- picion of dishonesty ; but there is a breach of rule and a want of fairness, of which he must aUow me to say he has not in your last paper given a satisfactory account. His letter to " Small Fry" is most unsatisfactory. I have nothing to do with the question whether the birds v/ero bred by himseh" or Mr. KeUeway; so that they were honA nJa his own property (and of this I have not heard that there is any question), it matters Uttle. Captain Heaton's answer to this is satisfactory enough. The question with which I wish to deal is, that of his unlawful and uufiiir admission to the Poidtry Show at Birmingham, on Satvu-day, the 2ath of November last. I have before me the regulations and the programme of the Meeting, from which I quote the following : — "17. No members of the Society, or of the Council, or other person will be admitted to Bingley HaU before the opening of the Exhibition, on Monday, November 30th, with the exception of those who are actually engaged in the aiTangements within the building. Special cai-ds of ad- mission will be forwarded to the Judges to be used on Satur- day, November 28th." " The exhibitors and the public will be admitted to Bingley HaU to witness the judging of the cattle, sheep, pigs, roots, and com (but not the poidtry), on Satm-day, November 2Sth, at 9 o'clock A.M., upon payment of 10s. each." Now, these statements either mean what they put forth or they ai-e worthless. If the former. Captain Heaton must know this meaning as well as I do, and, therefore, with knowledge he broke one of the regulations of the Show. If the latter, the sooner the Birmingham Show comes to an end the better for the unwary. Who were the many others followed by Captain Heaton and Mr. KeUeway ? If they were persons who, as in the case of these exhibitors, had not any business there, why did not Captain Heaton at once inform the Secretary or other chief in authority, and cause those persons to be le- moved ? Captain Heaton must have known very weU that the persons he foUovv-ed were improperly admitted,''and, there- fore, he cannot escape the charge that he unfau-ly took ad- vantage of an opportunity, a charge which in his case becomes serious as the winner of the two sUver cups. I do Dot wish it to be imderstood for a moment that I question the justness of the award, or the worth of Captain Heaton's birds ; but a man must accept the consequences of the situations in which he may place himself. The only way in "which shows and exhibitors can thrive is by strict observance of rules. There cannot be any doubt but that Captain Heaton on his own showing broke a rule and took an unfair advantage cvei- more scrupnlons exhibitors, which was most reprehensible, even though he did not use it for his own gain. Captain Heaton wisely leaves the defence of the Birming- ham Committee in their own hands ; brrt it will want very ready hands indeed to aiford the Committee a defence at aU. The acts of their servants are their own. They arc bound to ofier some explanation, as what is miscaUtd " dignified silence " may be misconstrued. Eulcs must be rigidly kept by Committees and by exhibitors. It wUl not do to plead mistakes of this kind on the one haad, or following the ex- ample of many en the other. I hope that in aU future shows any tH-each of rule by an exhibitor will be made a disqualifi- cation. In this I shaU be supported by aU honest men. Captain Heaton wiU, I am sure, see with myself the im- portance of the subject, and the necessity of foUowing it up closely by speaking strongly and to the point. He has made a mistake, and I have told him of it. Nevertheless, I much regret any annoyance which I may thereby have caused him. As I am answering a communication which beai's the name of Captain Heaton, I am bound to give my own, which may be found in the Bu-mingham catalogue. — Geoege Mamninq. In reply to Captain Heaton's statement in last week's JoUKNAL OF HoETicuLTDKE, permit me first to thank that gentleman ibr the great anxiety he displays for my especial benefit, but at the same time to remind the Captain he has evaded the question at issue altogether — viz., by what means he and his friend gained admission on the Saturday to the poidtry department of the Birmingham Exhibition, in direct defiance of printed regulations ? Certainly your numerous readers would be iU-prepared to receive the excuse, now urged by Capt. Heaton, that he was not aware that " any favour was granted to himself or Mr. KeUeway, we merely foUowed many others who entered before we did." It is beyond doubt that Capt. Heaton weU knew he was thus breaking the Birmingham rules, and the excuse that he did only as others did before him is hardly xvhat might be faiiiy anticipated from a government officer, and one so well acquainted mth military discipline as is .Capt. Heaton. It nevertheless reveals a recognition that "lame excuses are better than none," whilst it does. not even attempt either to explain how the admission was obtained, or give a,ny reason why the rules were then so flagrantly violated in favour of those exhibitors who chose to pay the high admission fee often shUlings. There are those individuals who curiously enough suppose that all such admission money was not thrown away ; but certainly the provisos of the printed rule expresslj' debarred even those who actually paid the ten shUlings fi-om viewing the poultry on the Saturday ; yet it is now openly admitted that Capt. Heaton, Mi-. KeUeway and many others, enjoyed this imvUege unmolested by any one. Should such things be ? It is only by strict equaUty of privileges to every exhibitor, that even the Birmingham Show can" hope to maintain its past position for integrity of purpose. No rule can be honest if not sound to the core — in short, that does not admit, or exclude, aU competitors alike, without favour or affection. As a conclusion Capt. Heaton hands over all fm-ther inquiry into this now unquestionable dereliction of rules to the better hands of the Birmingham Committee. Do let us hope that clean hands, therefore, are the order of the day. StUl exhibitors have but Uttle reason for hope in the direction now named, for rumour is everywhere rife that " the matter is to be best met by allowing it to sleep ; and then aU recollection of it wiU be blown over before the time arrives for another year's meeting." If this rumour is correct, and really present eu'Cumstances look very much like it, pray let the bed be made up for two — viz., the admis- sion of rich exhibitors without right, to the prejudice of the less pecuniarily fortunate; and the unprecedented eccen- tricities of the Game-judging at Birmingham, in 1863; and then let both (if they can) sleep comfortably together, for they are fitting bedfellows ; and possibly theirs wUl be- roseate dreams, for Be it SHid, without shockinsj them. They lie sunring asleep, whilst tile Council arc rcokiog Ibcm. — Small Fry. December 22, 1863. JOURNAL OP HORTICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 501 THE NEWPOET, MONMOUTH, POULTRY SHOW. It really appears as though the mxiltiplicity of poultry shows just now taking place, so far from detracting, only added to the i^ublic interest of poultry-culture. Good as have been the previous meetings at Nevrport, it is unques- tionable, even at the most furtive glance, that the poultry this year exhibited far suri:>asses all former attempts of the kind in South Wales. A perusal of the prize list wiU prove that scarcely a single breeder of well-known celebrity was unrepresented at New- port. True it is, the Viscountess Holmesdale took a full " lion's share " of the distinctions — to wit, three fii'st prizes, four second, a third, and three high commendations; still, after so complete a sweep, there wiU be found on consult- ing the awards that this lady's triumph was by no means achieved without the most severe competition. The whole classes of Grey Dorkings and Spanish, as left after the selec- tion of the prize pens, would have been considered beyond an average amount of merit at most poultry shows. This fact speaks volumes in favour' of the Newport Show, when it is borne in mind that fifteen jjens obtained honourable distinction in these two classes only. The Garae classes were in no wise inferior ; and with such an amount of entries as took place this year, the Managers of this Show will most probably increase the number of Game classes to meet the future necessities of the Newport Exhibition, two classes only beiag a great restriction to varieties so diversified as the Game breeds. The Polands and Bamhvi-ghs were better by far than we anticipated ; and the Cochins and Brdhmas were also deserving of especial mention. The Geese and Turkeys were first-rate, indeed we rarely see better ; and the lyiick classes were well filled with the best of bh-ds. The collection of Pigeons was limited to only forty-three pens, but contained capital specimens, and among them many new varieties. The Committee were most assiduous in adding all in their power to the comforts of both the poultry and the visitors, and as the weather was good, all things went off pros- perously. The whole Show consisted of .371 pens. Spanish.— First and Second, Viscountess Holmesdale, Lin^ou Park, Kent. Third, C. Clayford, Sunnyside, Northampton. Highly Commended, H.Lane, Bristol; J. Stevens, WalsiU. Commended, J. Stevens, Walsall ; Mrs. Bluy, Worcester; J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. DoKKiNGS (Coloured].— First and Second, Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park. Third, Mrs. Peltat, Basingstoke. Highly Commended, J. Logan, Newport. Commended, Capt. F. T. Parker, Monmouth ; J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury; Miss J. Milward, Newton St. Loe, Bristol. Game (Any variety except White or Piles).— First, H. Adams. Beverley, Yorkshire. Second, M. Eilling, jun., Birmingham. Third, J. H. Braiken- ridge, Bristol. Highly Commended, J. Heath, Nantwicli, Cheshire; J. B. Cbune, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire ; C. Bulpin, River Side, Bndffewater ; J. Llewellyn, CafrrpbiUy. Glamorgan. Commended, A. B. Dyas, Madeley, Shropshire; M. Bjliin^r, jun., Birniinghara. Game (White or Piles). —First, M. iiilling, jun., Birmingham. Second, H. .^dams, Beverley, Yorkshire. Third, J. Llewellyn, Caerphilly, Glamorgan. Cochin-China (Coloured).— First, W. Bradley, Diglis Locks, Worcester. Secoud, J. K. F'owler, Aylesbury. Third, Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park. Highly Commended, Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park; R. H. Nicholas, M.ilpas, Newport. Commended, J. Stevens, Walsall ; R. H. Nicholas, Malpas, Newport; H. Caldicotl, Great Malvern; J. Carr, Hafod, Swansea. Bkahma Pootea.— First and Second, J. Hinton, H'mton, Bath. iHighly Commended, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. HAwner.GHS (Gold or Silver-pencilled).— First, Viscountess Ilolmesdale, Linton Pnrk. Second, J. Holland, Worcester. Third, Miss C. Purnell, Pon'- Canoa, Cardiff. Highly Commended, Miss C. Purnell, Pont-Caima, Cardiff; K. H. Meholas, Malpas, Newport; Viscountess Holmesdale, Linlon Park. Commended, J. B. Cbune, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire; T. Flelcber, Great Malvern ; C. H. Wakeiield, Malvern Wells. Hambueghs (Gold or Silver-spangled).— First, Viscountess Holmesdale, LintoQ Park. Second, T. Davies, Newport. Third, G. Biook. Huddersfield. Highly Commended, M. Billing, jun., Birmingham; .Mrs. Petrut, Basing- stoke. Commended, W'. Lewis, PiUgvvenily, Newport; T. Davies, Newport; J. B. Cbune, Coalbroobiiale. PoLAKDS (Black with White Crests).— Prize, K. H. Nicholas, Malpas, Newport. PoLANUs (Golden or Silver). — F'irst, J. Heath, Nautwich, Cheshire. Second, R. H. Nieholas, Malpas, Newport. Hichly Commended, Mrs. Blay, Worcester. Commended, T. Fletcher, Great Malvtrn; Mrs. Pettat, Basing- stoke. Bastams (Game).— First and Second, T. Davies, Newport. Commended, M. Billing, jun., Birmingham; J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Bantams (.Iny other variety).— First, R. H. Nicholas, Malpas, Newport. Second, Viscountess Holmesdale. Third, E. Cambridge. Highly Com- mended, W. Bowly, Ciiencester; F.H.Phillips, Chippenham, Wilts ; G. Williamson, Nantwich, Chesljire; Miss G. Everett, Gibraltar Cottage, Monmouth ; J. Mauud Dutfryn Mawr, Abergavenny. Commended, E. Jones. Any other Distinct Beeed. — First, K. H. Nicholas, II dpas, Newport (B!ack Hamburghs). Second, Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park(White Cochins). Third, T. Ashton, Tarawotth (White Dorkings). Highly Com- mended, K. H. Nicholas, Malpas, Newport (Chinese Silkies, Cuckoo Minorcas, and Blact Hamburghs) ; P. P. Cother, Salisbury (Pheasant Malays); J. J. Fox, Devizes, Wilts (Malays); J. Carr, Hafod, Swansea (Whi'te Cochins); G. Williamson, Nantwich (White Cochins); W. Bowly, Cirenceater(Silkies) ; Master C. A. Ballance, Taunton (Malays). Commended, W. Powell, The Gaer, Newport (White Dorkings) ; Capt. F. T. Parker, P.oekfleld, Monmouth (White Cochins). Guinea Fowls.— Prize, Sir G. F. R. Walker, Bart., Castletown, Cardiff. Commended, K. H. Nicliola.s, Malpas, Newport. Ducks (Aylesbury).— First, Second, and Third, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Highly Commended, J. Logan, Newport. Commended, E. Shaw, Oswestry, Salop ; A. Culhbertson, LI: ngibby, Newport. Docks (Rouen).— First, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Second, H. J. Evans, Cardiir. Third, C. Lyne, Brynhyfrid, Newport. Highly Commended, W. Powell, The Gaer, Newpoit; J. H. Brackenridge, Chew Magna, Bristol. Commended, A. Cuthbertson, Monmouth. Geese.— First and Second, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Third, A. Cuth- bertson, Monmouth. Highly Commended, J. Logan, Newport. Commended, R. Rees. Abergavenny. TuEKEYs.— First, iliss J. Milward, Newton St. Loe, Bristol. Second, Mrs. Horlock, East Vaga, Chepstow. Third, Mrs. Lewis, Dennel Hill, Chepstow. Highly Co-nniended, H. J. Evans, Cardiff. Commended, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury; Mrs. Uorlock, East Vaga, Chepstow. SWEEPSTAKES FOR COCKS. Spanish.— First, H. I.ane, Bristol. Second, Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park. Highly Commended, Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park. Commended, T. Davies, Newpoit; E. Newman, Newport. Dokki.ng.— First, Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton park. Second, E. Shaw, Oswestry, Salop. Highly Commended, Captain F. T. Parker, Rocklleld, Monmouth ; W. Bowly, Cirencester. Commended, Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park. Game. — First, J. B. Chune, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire. Second, R. H. Nicholas, Malpas, Newport. Highly Commended, A. B. Dyas, Madeley, Shropshire. CocHiK-CuiNA.— Prize, Viscountess Holmesdale, Lmton Park. Highly Commended, J. Carr, Hafod, Swansea. Game Bantam.— Prize, Miss C. Purnell, Pont-Canna, Cardiff. Highly Commended, T. Davies, Newport. Any OTHtn variety.— First, W. Lewis, Pillgwenlly. Second, J. Carr, Hafbi!, Swansea. Highly Commended, Miss C. Purnell, Pont-Cana, Cardiff; T. Davies, Newport; Viscountess Holmesdale, Linton Park. COTTAGER'S PPIZES. Fowls.— First, Second, and Third, W. Jenkins, Malpas, Newport. Fourth, Mrs. E. Ford, .Malpas, Newport. Highly Commended, G. F. Winmill, Newport. Ducks— First, E. Hill, Malpas, Newport. Second, D. Hickey, Llanwern, Newport. Third, W. pillinger, Malpas, Newport. Fouith, G. Koundy, Malpas, Newport. Pigeons.— Corrters.-First, J. W. Edge, Aston, Birmingham. Second, C. Bulpin, River Side, Bridgewater. Commended, C. D. Phillips, Newport. i>ou(rrs.— First, C. Bulpin, Biidgewater. Seuoud, M. E. Jobling, Barras Bridge, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Commended, M. E. Jobling, Neweastle-on- Tyiie. 2'«m4/£-rs.— First, U. Yardley, Birmingham. Second, J. W. Edge, Aston, Birmingham. Fantails.—YuBt, J. W. Edge, Aston, Birmingham. Second, T. Koe, Newport. Highly Commended, A. Heath, Calne, Wilts. Commended, Miss J. Milward, Nemon Su Loe, Bristol. Any other rariet!/.—¥u3t, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Second, M. E. Jobling, New- castle-on-Tyne. Third, A. Heath, Calne. Highly Commended, C. Bulpin, Bridgewater. Edward Hewitt, Esq., of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, judged the poultry ; and Dr. Cottle, of Cheltenham, awarded the Pigeon prizes ; both these gentlemen expressing themselves gratified at the high quality of the birds exhibited. EOYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY'S POULTEY SHOW. December 15th. The following were the awards : — Bkahma Pootka.— Prize, Mrs. F. Blair, Balthayock Castle, Inchmaitine, laciiture. ChUkeiis, — First and Second, Mrs. F'. Blair. DoEKiNG.— Hist and Second, Mrs. F. Blair, Balthayock Castle. Highly Commended, R. P. Williams, HoUybrook ; A. Warburton, Kill, Naas. Commended, Mrs. F. Blair. Chickens. — First, G. Langtry, Malahide. Second, K P. Williams. Highly Commended, Lord J. Butler, Drumcondra Castle ; J. J. Lafarelle, Stillorgan ; J. Hutchinson, Christ-Church Place. Commended, K. P. Williams; R. W. Boyle, Dundrum. Spanish —First, R. W. Boyle, Dundrum. Second, Jliss E. de C. Drevar, Rose Hill, Blackrock. Commended, R. P. Williams, HoUybrook, Clontarf. C'/ii(/.e)i».— First, Second, and Commended, K. W. Bojle. Cochin-China.— First and Second, Mrs. F. Blair, Balthayock Castle. Highly Commended, E. W. Bovle, Dundrum. Chickens.— fnut, R. P. Williams, HoUybrook. Second, Mrs. F. Blair. Highly Commended, G. Langtry, Malahide; R. P. Williams; F. W. Zurhorst, BelviUc, Donny- " AME —First, G. Langtry, Malahide. Second, T. H. Howland, Chester. Commended, R. W. Boyle, Dundrum. Chiekens.—?nze, C. H. Peacocke, Carrag-na-greine, Dalkey. ,. „ ,, ,. , Hambl-kgbs (Spangled) .-First and Second, R. P. WiUiams, HoUybrook, Whh f-Ceested Black Fowl.— First and Second, Miss E. dc C. Drevar, Rose Hill, Blackrock. Chickens.— fixsl and Second, Mi-s E. deC. Drevar. Any other Distinct BREED.-First and Second, Mrs. F. Blair, Balthayock Castle (Creve Coour and La Fli-cbe). j .^ , • /> TuRKETs —First, Mrs. F. Blair, Balthayock Castle. Second, Captain C. HamUton, Kildare. Commended, G. Langtry, Malahide. Po«//s.--First, r. \V Bovle Dundrum. Second, Mrs. F. Blair. Commended, Captain C. 502 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAItDENER. [ Decer.-.bor ri, :S63. Hamilton. Teii PoxtUs.— Tw&t, Capt. C. Hamilton. Second, J. Lentaigne, Tallaght. Commended, J. Hylanrt, Dublin. Geese— First, K W. Boyle. Duniirum. Soconfl, Mrs. F. Blair, Bai- thdvack Cistle. Hij^hlj' Cumim-nded. C. H Poticockc Canig--na-Kreine, Dalkey ; G. Lan^tiT, MMlahide. Quislings.— P'ws^t, Mi£. Tiiinne, Suckaden, JJavan. Second, Mrs. F. Bl.ur. Ducks.— Fir^t, II. P. Wil.idms, nollybrook (K^uen). Second, R. W. Boyle, Diindnim (Aylef-buvy ). Hijihlv Com mended, C. H I'eacocke, Canig-na-i?]-eine, Dalkey (East Indian)." Diiik!in/;s.— -Prize, Mrs. F. Bluir, Balthiiyock Castle (Kouen). Best Lor of Poultry Exhibitf.d by a Public Institution.— First, and Second, Mrs. M'Donnell (for tbe CommieBioners ot National Education), Glasnevin, Dublin. EESULTS OP THE BIRMINGHAM POULTEY SHOW. This important Exhibition was brought to a successful termination on the 3rd instant, and it will be seen on reference to the subjoined comparative statement that the admissions were more numerous than on any former occasion ; and although, owing doubtless to the unfavourable weather, the money paid at the doors was smaller in amount than in 1862, the deficiency is more than compensated by subscrip- tions, &c., and the sale of four thousand additional tickets, at Gd. each, for tlie working classes. 1860. £ s. A. Monaay 184 10 0 Tuesday 3(0 18 0 Wednesday 338 7 0 Thursday 337 10 0 Total I,a41 5 0 1,341 6 4 1,207 5 (', 1,210 17 3 The amount received for the workiag-class tickets is not included in these figures. RECEIPTS. 1861. 1862 1863. £ B. (1. £ s. a. £ 8. d. . 221 6 0 . . 197 2 e . 264 10 0 . 375 5 9 . . 310 2 0 . . S03 0 0 . 400 6 7 . . 385 10 0 . . 827 6 0 , 314 9 0 . . 364 11 0 . . 322 1 3 Fir&t day ; SabFcribers Paid ADMISSIONS. 18C0. 1661. 4,.'i4S S35 1,C37 7 6C7 4(1C H,0(;2 60S 6,935 29 800 1862. 4,679 820 841 7,780 811 7,868 941 7,491 29,500 18f3. Second day: Subecnbeis Paid Third day: Sabscribers' Paid TicliCts 832 c.eis TiokGU 877 e.567 843 6,01,0 690 0,546 1,000 6.44! 33,50o Fourtli day : Subschbera Paid Worliing classes Tickets -ilS G.75U 20,nou Total 47,:!78 59,799 60,061 lil,530 The trajisfers of poultry made through the office set apart for the purpose were more numerous than hast .year, as the following statistics will show : — 1862 Monday Tuesdav -Pens. ....109.... .... 48,.., .... 27.... . .. 26.... £ 8. d. ....41U 14 6 ....148 18 6 ...105 4 1 .... 77 0 6 1883— Pens. 163 . £ s. d- 53 189 7 0 Wednesday.... Tb-jisday 25 40 Total. ..280 1863 1862 70 2 6 133 13 6 ....210.... Total 1863. . ....741 17 7 Pens. 230 .. 1,054 15 6 ■ £ f. a. 1 004 15 6 1862 210 1862. 70 Proceeds over 1862 ,. Pens over .. £312 17 11 The sums paid in various instances show that the interest in poultry is not diminishing ; and to the foregoing parti- culars we may add that Captain Heaton's two silver cup pens of Cochins sold for £25 each : that the same exhibitor's second-prize adult Cochins sold for ii20; Mr. Hemy Lane's first-prize Spanish pullet,^ for ,£20 ; Mr. Chase's fii-st-prize adult White Cochins for iilo 15s. ; Mr. Fowler's third-prize Aylesbury Ducks for d£12 12s. ; and the following pens for jEIO 10s. each : — Captain Hornby's Dorking chickens. No. 89; Mr. Dolby's Dorking pullets. No. 164; Mi-s. Fergus- son Blaii-'s first-prize Brahma Pootra chickens ; Mi-. Wood's silver cup Game chickens ; Mr. Garlick's first-prize Game ; Ml'. Eiehard White's single Cochin cock ; Messrs. Siddons and Sons' first-prize Black Carrier Pigeon hen. Mr. Bishop's first-prize Cochin pullets went for iJlO; and Mr. Stubbs's second-prize Game chickens for .£10. Immediately upon the close of the Exhibition preiiarations were commenced for the transmission of the poultry to their respective owners, and the laborious work was admirably caiTied out under the energetic superintendence of Mr. Mapplebeok. Those birds which had to travel the greatest distance were forwarded by early railway passenger trains on Friday morning, so as to reach their destination in the course of tbe day, and those belonging to local exhibitors were ready for delivery to applicants by twelve o'clock. The general oversight and feeding of the poultry was entrusted to Mr. Fowke, for many years steward and joailili to the late Hon. W. Vernon, of Hagley Hall, near Eugele.v ; and the fidelity with which his functions were performed may be inferred from the fact that not a single bird of any kind died from disease oi- accident in Bingley Hall. DARLINGTON EXHIBITION OF POULTRY. The following are t"ue awards made in the Pigeon classes at the above Show : — Carbieu (Any cnlouv). Ctoci. — First and Cup. J. Fiith, noivsbury. Secnnd, E. V.iu.k. Sunderland. C.inr.nended, J. W. Wooler, Sdilicr^c Hiili ; F. Else, Bavswuter. Hen.—Vkst, F. Else. S.-cond, G. U. Polls, Si:nJe:- land. Coniniendcd, J. Firtli. ., PowTER (Any ciiiur). CVa-J;.— First, R. Fulton, Dep'ford. Second, W. Ta\lor, Shetlield. Cominen led, C J. Samuels, Lungsight. //fu.— Hr^t, R. Fulton. Second, K. Brown, Sheffield. TuMBLKRs (Almond).— First, F. lilsc, Bayswater. Second, G. U. Potts, Sunderland. Tdmbleks (Any other v.iriety) —First, J. W. Edge, Aston, Birmingham. Seecnil, H. Fa^vdon, Gutehhead. Fantaii.s.— First, H. Yardley, Birininghaiu. Second, T. C. Taylor Middleshorougb. Tr.uMPEiER-. —First, J. J. Wilson, Darlington. Second, Master J. Cbarlton, Ma>ininghatn. Barbs. — First, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Second, Master J. Charlton, Manningham. jAcoBiue, -First, H. Yard'.ey, Birmingham. Secfmd, Master .T. Charlton, Manningham. Coinmended, J. W. Edge, I'irmingliain. TuRBiTS. — First, J. Taylor, Eaton. Second, K. Tho^tpson, Morcsdale Hall. Owls.— First, M. E. Jobling, Bxrras Biidge. Second, .7. Bell, Newcastle- on-Tyne. ANY OTERR N'Ew OR DisTi.NCT VARIETY.- Fifst, C. .1. Saoiufls, Lonc- t-iffht (Dragoons). Second, H. Yardley, Birmingham (Satiuettes). Third, M. E. Jobling, Bairas Bridge (Blue Brunswicksj. BEES DYING OF DYSENTERY. Will Mr. Woodbm-y kindly come to the help of a sufferer, and direct him as to the cause and cure of a disease, which, though not so extensive in its operations, is as deadly in its results as foul brood 'f Towai'ds the end of July a swarm was lodged in an empty hive ; and as it was impossible for it so late in the season to obtain out of doors a suificiency of food for winter, it was liberally supplied, at intervals, with sugar till about the end of September, when, from the number of bees iu the hive, and the quantity of food stored up, I hoped with a little care to have rendered them secui'e against frost and famine. But I am doomed to disappointment. During October and November the bees have died oil at the rate of one or two hundred per day ; and now tvhat was a goodly swarm two months ago can 'oe contained in a breakfast -cup. The bees lie strewed on the floor-board and around the hive. Their flaccid abdomens are somewhat swollen, and when torn up a darkish fetid fluid is emitted. Besides, there are in the hive a very few cells containing either chilled or fold brood. How is the malady to be aiTCsted ? Will it infest the neighbouring hives, and should the sugar- filled combs be at once -consigned to the melting-pot? " — One in Pekplexity. [Of late years I have unfortunately been but too familiar with the kind of dysentery described by my esteemed corre- spondent. Although not able to speak positively as to the cause of the disease, I have a very strong impression that it is often due to the use of artificial food, and also that it fre- quently arises from the presence of internal moisture. On this account bees in wooden boxes appear more Uablc to its attacks than those domiciled iu straw hives, and it is for this reason that I have recently been led to prefer straw to wood in the construction of bee-hives. When a colony is attacked at tliis season, I believe there is little chance of cure. After trying every remedy I could hear or think of, I have found the best palliatives to be the immediate removal of the 'oees and combs* into a clean and dry straw hive, with ample ventilation on the top, and re- moving all dead bees promptly, by giving them a clean floor-board daUy. All attempts at feeding should be aban- doned, and the bees disturbed as little as possible. When spring is sufficiently advanced, I have, with the aid of frame- * This can only be done when either bar or frarae-hivea are used. Deceml)er 22, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICTJLTUKE A_ND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 503 hives, effected a radical cure in this manne-v: — Dui-ing the middle of a fine, warm day look over the combs one by one until the queen is found, and then imprison her in a queen- cage. Next carry the hive to a short distance, and stand it on the ground, putting an empty hive in its place. This done, spread a cloth close to the removed hive, and, lifting out one of the combs, brush every bee from it on to the cloth, and then put the comb into the hitherto empty hive. Repeat this process with the other combs until the hive be empty, when stragglers should be brushed out and the hive itself removed, not to be agai-n used until it has been thoroughly washed and purified. Finish the operation by putting the crown-board on the new hive, and introducing the queen at the top. Any very young and immature bees may be picked up and conveyed to their new domicile, but no adult bee should be suffered to enter it that cannot rise from the ground and reach the alighting-board by the use of its wings alone. As I have found this process effectual when every other means have failed, it would appear that the disease is in- fectious within the limits of the same habitation, although I have never found it spread like foul brood from one stock to another. By shifting the colony into a pure hive into which healthy bees alone — i.e., those able to fly — are suffered to enter, they are at once removed from their diseased brethren, and the plague is stayed. This disease would seem to be wholly distinct from foul brood, although I have seen both co-exist in the same hive. As, therefore, there are a few cells containing either chilled or foul brood, it certainly would be the safest plan to con- sign the whole of the combs to the melting-pot. — A Dkvon- SHiEE Bee-keeper.] FOTJL BEOOD. When I sent my last communication on this subject (page 181), I had not the slightest intention or desire to give any offence to those who held opposite opinions to my own ; neither could I see any good reason for the style adopted by some towards Mr. Woodbury, more especially when he so honourably came forward, and publicly announced his failures as well as his success. I also thought it a pity that those who had adopted the " tilting " style of argu- ment should be allowed to have it all their own way, and that they ought to be able to take a little of the " poking " themselves. If I have given offence to any one in the re- marks I then or now make, I am truly sorry for it; all I desu-ed and desire is to ai-rive at the truth, so as to enable us to get rid of foul brood from whatever cause it originate; and if each would merely detail his own experience and observations the trutli wiU be elicited, and good will follow. Without saying more on that " foul " subject, I will state what has taken place in my neighbour's apiary as well as my own since our bees came home from the heather. When my neighbour's bees came home he found all the old stocks diseased, and out of five swarms of this year one was diseased. The swarm had been put into an old hive, which at one time had diseased brood, but the combs had all been removed. In the month of June he cut out all the foul comb fi-om one of his own hives and also from one belonging to a neighbour, but without any good effect, as both were diseased again in September. Since they came home lie has put down all the old stocks as incurable, and has kept the bees, uniting three stocks into one, and put them into a hive full of empty comb which I gave him, and which had been robbed by its neighbours at the hills, but was free of diseased brood. Previous to putting the bees into the clean hive he put them into an eke with some clean comb, and fed them there for ten days with Australian honey and sugar that they might cleanse them- selves, and take none of the disease with them. The feeding caused the queen to commence egg-laying in six days, although she had ceased doing so seven weeks before. He then put them into the hive which I gave him, and supplied them with 23 lbs. of honey and sugar in ten days. 'I'he result is that the hive has increased 7 lbs. more than the weight of honey and sugar he gave them, owing to the young brood which she is now rearing. From the late- ness of the season he does not expect success in this experi- ment, stiU something wUl be learned from it I expect. He is careful in keeping this hive well covered, and win use every possible means to protect from cold. I gave him a swarm of driven bees from one which I had to destroy, where there had been no disease. He is feeding them with honey entirely from diseased hives, which will enable him to see if it has any effect in inducing the disease. He has failed entirely in effecting a cure by cutting out all the deseased comb, as Mr. Woodbury has done, although he has done it with every care. When I stated in my last communication that I never had seen the disease among any of my hives, I did not expect that I should have it so soon ; as, I am sorry to say it has come into one of mine, in a neighbour's hive, and I destroyed it at once, and the disease does not exist in any of the others. We find in this part of the country that there is more foul brood than many are aware of. A person not far from this told me that he had never seen it in his hives, but when he took a piece of the diseased comb home to his wife, she soon told him that she had seen it often ; and when he ex- amined them he found one of them very badly affected. This is a person who, I expected, would have observed it at once, as he has had great experience in bees, and treats them just in the usual way. I may just state that the queen I had from Mr. Wood- bury, and noticed in page 303, is still laying eggs. On November 3rd I inserted a thermometer through the straw at the top of a Woodbury straw hive, between the bars, and was astonished to find that it stood at 85°, and has done so night and day ever since, falling only 2" when we had 10° of frost. It is surprising to me how they can keep up such a heat, as I am not feeding at aU. I have other two queens egg-laying at present (October 18th), but would rather that they would stop ; but it wUl enable us to see if it is reaUy the cold that causes the disease. Whatever may occur- I will not fail in letting it be known to the apiarian readers of this Journal. The above was written more than six weeks ago, but seeing the spirit which some of the writers on foul brood were manil'esting on that subject, I delayed sending it week after week, thinking that, as the cold weather came on, like the bees they would become quiet. But I regret, as many others do, that hands have not been shaken over this controversy before now, and I for one will not add another word on it, unless to detail what takes place here, either in my neigh- bour's or my own apiary. I have no motive whatever but to ascertain the truth, and it matters not to me who is right or who is wrong. If foul brood is caused by cold so much the better, we shall be able to prevent it. If a disease, then let us try and find out the cause, that we may the more readily find a remedy. On the 23rd of November, I found all the young bees were hatched, not one remained in the cells, and no new-laid eggs, which I was pleased to see. Temperature in the hive 85°, and on December 6th it was 65°, while the out-door temperature was in both cases the same. — Alex. Sheaeee. BEES AT THE MOOBS AND IN SOUTH LANCASHIRE. Bees have done very badly on the moors in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire. The hives that I sent to the moors lost on an average 42 ozs. per hive, and only one hive gained 17 ozs. Although the weather was so very bad, the bees did much better than those left at home, as they consumed on an average nearly double the weight during the same time. It rained in August on twenty-two days, the amount being 3-77 inches, and in September it rained on twenty-two days, the amount being 5-02 inches. The total amount of rain that fell in February, March, April, May, and July was only 5-79 inches, so that in September alone there fell within about three-quarters of an inch as much rain as in the five months mentioned. It is astonish- ing that the bees did so well with this enormous amount of rain, and I can only account for it by the very large quantity of bloom on the heather. I think I never saw so . much before, and if the weather had been favourable the f amount of honey collected would have been unprecedented. 504. JOUENAL OP HOETICTJLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ December 22, 1863. Dui'ing the summer I took from, four of my strong stocks nearly 100 lbs. of very beautiful honeycomb ; so that on the whole I am very well satisfied and thankful for the bountiful season of 1863. I have now one of the finest apiaries in this country, or, perhajis, in England, as my stocks are in my improved bar-fi'ame hives, strong and with plenty of honey. Tour correspondent, " A South Lancashire Bee-keepek," in his letter, which appeared iu The Journal of Horti- ctJLTtTKE of the .3rd iilt., seems to have been very unfortunate with his bees this year, as it appears that he has only taken about 5 lbs. of honeycomb, and has finished the season with only two stocks, the same with which he commenced the year, and is in the unenviable position of having his Ligiu'ian stock requu-ing food to carry it over the winter, and it refuses to carry liquid food into the hive. You advise him to try the bottle-feeder, but I beUeve he will find that during the cold weather the bees wOl scai'cely touch it ; and as he neglected feeding them up to the re- quired weight in the beginning of October, his only chance now will be to remove the cover of the hive on one side, and put between each of the combs some sticks of barley- sugar. A stock of bees that I purchased on October 12th carried into the hive 8 lbs. of loaf-sugar made into 12 lbs. of liquid food in thirty-six hoiu'S. If •' A South Lancashieb Bke-kebpek" will write to me I will try to assist him to make his bees more profitable another year. — Wm. Cakb, Clayton Bridge, Newton Eeath, near Manchester. DRIVING BEES. When a person becomes master of any branch of science, it appears so easy that he is very apt to laugh at the novice on seeing him fail in accomplishing some experiment in that branch. This is unjust, but it is quite excusable when we know that the novice is self-conceited and wedded to his own preconceived notions, and wiU not take advice. Now, I see plainly that it is the case with a great number of your correspondents to whom advice has been given. They are so prejudiced for their own way that they seldom succeed in an operation, even after great pains have been taken to exijlain that which has baffled them so much. Now, it appears that a great nvunber of bee-keepers fail in driving their bees, although it is a very simple process ; and even after the very able and well-advised letter of "A Devonshire Bee-keeper," we yet hear of failm-es, all arising from the want of a little perseverance in following his dii'ections. Although he has given those directions so plainly, yet there i.s a point or two which, perhaps, he hag thought too simple to mention, and yet they are of great importance to enable the novice to succeed in driving. The fii-st point is to take care not to enrage a single bee till the hive has been inverted, because it is only at the lifting of the hive that the bees get enraged, and they seldom use their stings after the hive has had a smart rap or two if dealt rightly with at first. The second point is to dislodge the bees when they appear to remain firm to their hive. This is the trying jioint to the novice, and hence so many failures ; yet the jilan to dis- lodge easUy is to remove the empty hive, and in the greatest cluster of the bees to give them a smai-t whiff or two with the breath or with a pair of kitchen bellows, which will at once set them running. — A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. Bees and Honey of Greece. — The honeys of Hybla and Hymettus are at this day almost as celebrated as they were in the time of the classical Greek poets ; the honeys of Cerigo, of Zaute, and many other places, continental and in- sular, are aU fine, and each lias it admirers. The honey of Leucadia is, perhaps, almost as good as any, and the descend- ants of the bees that fed Ulysses deserve some consideration. I was interested, then, in the little bee gai-den on the site of the old city of Leucas. It was a rocky, barren-looking spot, and did not at fii'st sight seem very promising, for the whole gronn.? for a great distance ai-ouud looks naked and without vegetation. But it is not really so. Every little crevice or interval between two stones, whether large or small, and not a few holes made by vegetation in the solid rock itself, contain some little flowering plant especially patronised by the honey bee. Eosemary and sage abound. I was not much surprised, therefore, to see the bees, but the- hives rather puzzled ine at first. They consist of small oblong boxes ijlaced on end on a low stone, each l.'ox being covered by two or three tiles, evidently to keep oil' the heat of the sun in summer. Two round holes, each about half an inch in diameter, sufficed for the bees to enter and emerge, and it did not seem to matter much where these holes were pierced. The boxes were constructed in the roughest manner, and seemed to have two orthi-ee cross sticks within them. They were placed not 2 feet apart, and each box was about 20 inches high, and 9 inches square in secticn. The bees were exceedingly busy and perfectly good-tempered. — [Au- sted's Ionian Islands in 1863.) Pollen-gathering. — I was greatly surprised yesterday (December 13th), to see my bees taking in pollen, obtained, I presume, either fi'om some late-blooming ivy or laurus- tinus, which is in full bloom here (East Cornwall). The- 26th of November, the same day on which your correspon- dent at Crom Castle observed pollen going into his hives, was the day which I had noted down as the last of the poUen- gathering ones for this season. — J. L. Mrs. Garnham's "Ladt's Assista-nt" is testified by many to be a most useful addition to the work-table. One lady says, " It is a great acquisition to those whose failm-e of sight prevents their effecting all they desire in finer sorts of needlework, taking up stitches in knitting, &c." Those who do not wear glasses while sewing, yet cannot thread their needles, will find the " Lady's Assistant " invaluable. It concentrates the light most efficiently. Mis. Gai-nham is the daughter of the late Mr. Payne, who was our apiarian authority formerly, and she is now residing in Churchgate Street, Bury St. Edmunds, and sells this useful Assistant. OUR LETTER BOX. Substitute for Holly Berbiks {J. M). — Wc krow of nc mode of dyeing peas so as to make up for a deficiency of boliy berries in winter decorations ; but we ebould melt some red sealing-wax and dip the peas in that, Dteing Moss {M'oss).~To dye it green, dissolve as mnch verdigris in the distilled vinegar as possible. To dye it blue, dissolve in a glass tumbler one drachm of powdered indigo in one ounce, of sulphuric acid, stir it witli the stalk of a clean tobacco-pipe or a glass rod, and, after standing twelve hours, add as much water as will reduce it to the desired tint. Improving Dorkings (P. B.). — Vc think ycuv purpose will be more easily answered with eggs than with a hen, us the change will be effected in less time and more completely. Eggs travel by railway without injury. Fattening Ducks for Exhibition {E. X. Z }.— All poultry ;:hould be- shut up when fattening. Exercise is not favourable to the formation of fat. They should not only be shut up, but should have only room sufficient to turn and move. Egg-eating Heks {A T%ciini\.—\t is believed thattens first eat their eggs for the sake of their shells, in order to form the shells of those that have to he laid. This jnay be remedied by laying bricklayers' rtibbisb about iheir haunts. There are two ways of preventing and perhaps of curing them tit the c^mn.bal habit. One is to watch thein wlien tht-y are on ihtf nt-st, and to drive ihem from it the moment they have laid. The other is to put very hard composition eggs in the nests. The hens peck at these with no other resuU than to make their beaks sore, and they get tired of the practice. BnEEniNo Dorkings foe Exhieition {Sfiwx Galltis\— It is conpidered alniost impcssible to breed a pri/.e pen :'rom parents taken from the same yard. Tho^e who exhibit the best birds generally choose a cock from one >ard and the pullets from another. This is the case in ne;irly all breeds. Large birds are bred fioin very large hens put to middiing-t-iZLd cocks. Your stock bird is heavy enough at T.-, Ib^. Ten and a half pounds would be a bad stuck-gctter. We telieve the Judges do nut weigh Dorkings as a rule. They do poraetimes, but prizes are mostly awarde'l by h.audling. We do not know the weight of the prize birds at Birmingham. LONDON MAEKETS.— Decembeb 21. POULTRY. It is iiFnal for prices to improve a little on the approach of ChristmaB, ant! the present ye«r i.s not an exception. At tlie time of our guiiij: to prees the 25th was not near enough tor us to say Mhjt the market vas, but tlie cus- tomary rise Vis taliiDg pluce. p. d. s. (1. PErlridges 1 0 to 2 0 Grouse 0 0 „ 0 () Hares 2 C „ 3 " Kahbits 1 4 „ I 5 Wild do I) 8 ., (I 9 Pigeons 0 t) „ 0 i) p. 8 d. s. Oto35 0 „ 4 0 „ 3 9 „ 2 0 „ 6 0 „ 3 d n 4 Sm.lller do Chickens Uee^r 3 1 6 (> Pheasants 3 (i December 29, 1863. ] JOHKNAL OF HOETICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 505 WEEKLY CALENDAR. D.y Day of of irnth Week. 29 To 3U W 31 Tn 1 F 2 S 3 Sun 4 M DEC. 29-JAN. 4, ]8Ci. David Don dieil, 1S41. Bot. Wauner died. 1695. Bot. Boerhaave born, ICGS. Bot. Laurustinu<> flowers. ClBCUMClSION. 2 Sunday after Cueistmas. Bear&foot flowei s. Average Temperature near London. 36 3 ears. Day. 42.8 44.5 44.1 43.7 42 ^ 42.9 42.4 Nieht. 33.8 32.8 33..^ 31.3 3(1.8 31.2 31.4 Mean. S8.0 38.0 38.8 37.5 3fi r, 37.0 36.0 Davs. 10 14 11 12 14 IS IG Sun Rises. m. h. Oaf 8 9 8 0 S 9 8 9 8 S 8 Sun Sels. m. h. 56af3 57 3 58 3 59 3 Oaf 4 1 4 2 4 Moon Rises. Moon ttets. m. h. is 8 1 10 7 U mom. 12 0 21 1 C2 2 m. b. 51 9 U 10 SO 10 SO 10 12 11 35 n 2 0 ,, . I Clock "?°" » before -*««• I Sun. 19 20 21 22 c 24 25 Day of Year. 363 364 365 1 2 3 4 From ohsprratinns taken near LonOon (Inline tlie last thirtT-si.'i years, the average day temperature of llie week is 43.3", anil its nieht temperature 32!J- The greatest hLttas 57'. on the 3rd. ISOO ; ani the l.west cold, 4», on the 2nd, 1854. The greatest fall ol rain was O Cfi It,..!. 0.86 inch EENEWES'G VIj^ES WITHOUT LOSING A CROP OF GKAPES. EOM the nature of /. '^t^ ^ , tlie manv in- have recently teen made by amateurs and oticrs wLo Lave not liad much experi- ence in renewing Vines andA'ine-borders, a few re- marks on the subject may at present be of service. In the case of those whose supply of Grapes de- pends on one or at most two vineries this operation, even when in a high degree necessary, is delayed in many cases from one season to another, because the owners cannot mate up their minds to the dreaded loss of a year's crop, scanty and inferior though that crop might be. Apart from this consideration I would be the last to recommend the destruc- tion of a set of "\'ines however old, if all that is needed to restore them to vigorous fruitfuluess be to lift the roots, and give them a new and pro- per border, as recently described in these pages. But there are many cases where, through a wrong start and after-mismanagement. Vines are reduced to such a state that no hope could possibly be entertained of its being more desirable to go on with them than to plant afresh. To say the least of it, a crop the season after lifting and replanting them could not be reasonably expiected ; for I have seen Vines in wet pasty borders with nothing in the way of healthy fibres but a lot of bare black roots, and when in that condition it would reciuire dexterous management indeed to make the Vines bear fruit the same season. True, the loss of one season's crop under such conditions may not be worthy of consideration when weighed against the good results which might eventually follow, yet, in many cases, the fear of this loss is found sufficient to prevent the Vines being meddled with at all. The tjuestion which at once presents itself in such cases is, Can the loss of a crop, even for one season, not be avoided by any other method or scheming that can be adopted .-^ There are many who are perfectly able from their own experience to answer that any such loss is not at all unavoidable, and who would be able to describe how the improvements necessary can be well carried out, not only without causing the loss of a crop, >'o. 144.— Vol. V,, New Series. but, on the contrary, so as to be productive of a positive gai» the first year. Let us first take the case of what — with the class for whom these remarks are intended — is considered an early vinery, one from which all the fruit is cut by the end of Junej and suppose that it has been considered advisable to renew the A'ines and border to the very foundation. Let tlie forcing commence this year on the 1st of January, so that with ordinary forcing the crop can be all used before the 1st of July. In the meantime the soil and ch-aining material should be all in reachness, or sufficient at least to make half the border immediately the Grapes are all cut, when the old border is to be replaced with a new one, and young Vines substituted for the old. Two Vines for every light, presuming the lights are 4 feet wide, should be prepared in the following way :— Select the required number at once from Vines that have been raised from eyes in the spring of 1S63, and cut them far enough down, so that, after they are planted in the new border, hist year's wood will extend up the front light to the bottom of the rafters. Set them aside in the coolest available place where they will not be exposed to severe frost, such as a shed open to the north. To prevent them from getting too drj- at the root, and from requiring much attention in this respect, plunge the pots in mode- rately damp soil or rotten tan. In spring, when they have burst their buds and given signs of growth, they should be totally shaken out of their old soU, and planted in shallow boxes formed of pieces of double lath or hazel rods in the same manner as Orchid-baskets are often made. These receptacles may be about 18 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 6 inches deep. Into these the" Vines should be carefuUj- planted, and they must then be removed to a cool, light, airy house or pit, where with but ■ver}' little attention they will progress slowly, making comparatively short but strong, vigorous, young growths bjr the end of June, when it is supposed all will be ready for them in the vinery for which they are intended. In planting them, the strong wickerwork with which their roots are encased can be easily removed, piece by piece, without injuring the young roots. One of them should lie planted at each rafter, and one at the middle of each light. As soon as they are planted give a goqd watering of tepid water to settle the new soil about their roots. All is now in readiness for a rapid march to the top of the house ; a smart temperature and an ordinary amount of moisture should be steadily kept up till the Vines reach the top of the rafter ; then the moisture should be decreased gradually, and a free circulation of warm air kept up by opening ventilators at top and bottom, by whicli means a well-ripened strong growth may be secured by the end of October. One-half of the Vines should be stopped as soon as they reach within 3 feet of the top of the house, with the object of obtaining well-fiUed-up fruit-buds to fruit in the following season. The other half of the "\'ines may be allowed to ramble after reach- ing the top of the house, but not to such an extent as wUl crowd the other Vines or even themselves with fohage. As soon as the leaves drop off cut down the Ko. 796.— Vol. XXX., Old Series. 506 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTITKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ December 29, 1863. Vines which have been allowed to grow very much as they pleased, with the view of making roots, to within 3 feet of the front sash, and shorten those which are intended to fruit next season to about 4 feet from the top of the house. Thus there is a vinery furnished with Vines in a condition to yield, if not quite so many bunches as the original occu- pants did, still finer Grajies by far. In the year 1S59 I cut a crop of Grapes from a house, and planted it in the end of June with Vines struck from eyes that same spring, and had a good crop in the house in 1860. The Vines were planted outside, and introduced through ojienings in the front wall. I would in that case have much preferred a set of plants prepared and jjlanted as above dii'ected ; but when to be planted inside I would just as soon have Vines struck ft-om eyes, although in all cases one-year-old Vines ai'e safest in the hands of the inexperienced. Perhaps some are rea to be trained down, at the same time planting the permanent Vines, and as soon as the fruit is cut from the pots, to remove them out of the way. This is the best method in the case of late-ripening vineries from which the crop cannot be cleared soon enough in the season to let the young Vines establish themselves and ripen before winter. By adopting the system of fruiting in pots the jjermanent Vines can, of course, be planted at the Ijroper time, and have all the season before them to make finer canes. It entails, however, more labour, and in the case of many who have not means to prepare beforehand the required number of pot fruiting Vines, it might be con- sidered expensive to purchase them. There is another way which is adopted with success wliere there is a border both outside and inside the vinery. A tem- porary border of light, rich soil is made on the surface of the old outside border, very much in the same way as Mr. Lane, according to Mr. Fish's description, has formed his Vino- border on the surface of the natural level. A few of the most worthless of the rods are cut out of the vinery, ami those left are trained wider apart, so as to admit of the young ones planted in the temporary-border manner being trained up between them. Should these young stop-gaps not make strong growths in the fii-st season, they must be cut down, and they will do so the next. Young Vines never run up so vigorously among old plants as when a wholly new lot are planted together. In the second year the old A''ines are cut out, and the young are in thefr place to give Grapes. In the same season in which the old Vines ai-e done away with, the inside border is cleared out, the arches built up, and a set of permanent Vines planted inside. The arches are built up to keep the roots iirom running out into the bad border, which they are ever prone to do, for Vines always send three-fourths of thefr roots outside when they are planted inside. As soon as fruit can be had from the permanent Vines the stop-gaps are done away with, the outside border made, and the arches opened, and so in the course of three years there is a new and good foundation to go on with. This is a tediovxs way of accomplishing the object, but probably some may prefer it to the entire want of Grapes for even one year. It is in contemplation to rebuild two very old vineries here next autumn after the crop has been all cut, and as the reconstruction of both from the very foundation is necessary, the Vines will have to be done away with. The Grapes in the eai-lier of the two will be cut in May ; and with the view of having Grapes in these in 1865, the plan proposed is to bring on a lot of young Vines to be ready to shift into 16-inch pots as soon as the Grapes are all cut, and to grow enough of 10 or 12-feet rods to give a Vine for each rafter in both houses, and, as soon as the fruit is cut from them, to remove the pot Vines out of the way. Thus different cir- cumstances requfre different modes of procedure to meet the end in view. In the latter case the lights will be 55 feet wide, so that there is plenty of room to plant the two per- manent Vines, and fiaiit the Vines in \mts in the same light without injury from crowding to either. I am not, however, an advocate for planting or fruiting any Vines besides those that are to be permanent in the renewal of vineries, and the practice is not to be recom- mended unless in such cases as are being dealt with, where the entire loss of a crojj for one year is an inconvenience. Where there is anything besides the permanent Vines, it cannot be said that they get every justice the first two years when any of the ari'angements proposed are carried out. But, on the other hand, there is no permanent injury arising from any of the modes referred to, and it is mucli more easy to become reconciled to any little disadvantage to which the permanent Vines are subjected for a couple of years than to the entire want of Grapes for the season. There is another matter which often frightens owners of small gardens from renewing their Vine-borders, whether they retain their old Vines or not — namely, the idea that good Grapes are not to be produced except in such soils as are described as fine, calcareous, fibry loam, &c. No doubt such a staple is the best for Grapes, but it is not by any means indispensable, and no one need be deteiTed from culti- vating the Vine with success who can command any common garden soil that is not very clayey in its nature. Common loamy soil from a garden quarter, with old mortar rubbish, bones, and a little well-rotted maniu-e, will, with attention to other points of good management, produce excellent Grapes — fixr better than will the sloughs of despond which were not long ago compounded by certain growers, and by some very jjroperly termed " witches' caldrons," composed of tm-f and loads of muck, with carrion, and every other gross item that could be thought of. Such masses of corruption might give stronger growths, but not fruitful ones, for a year or two ; and the ultimate decline of the Vines is certain in such borders, entirely opposite as they are to the nature and requirements of the Vine. The natui'al soil laid on a dry bottom would, in many cases, be much more satisfactory than a good deal of the border-making that is carried out ; and it may safely be said to any one who is desirous either to im- prove his old Vines or to plant new ones, that turfy loam is not indispensable to very healthy Vines and good crops of Grapes. D. Thomson. EXHIBITING EOSES. I AM glad to find that one Eose-grower at any rate has expressed his opinion on tliis subject, and that on some points he seems to agree with me ; and I hope that many more may be induced to give their views on the points mooted, as we may thereby benefit the whole Kose-growing community. As I write this away fi'om home, and have not my former paper to refer to, I must trust to a not-very- retentive memory in replying to your correspondent, " P.," who talks about logic, but whose opening pai'agraph exhibits a sad deficiency of that sometimes-useful article ; for he fu-st finds fault with me for not entering into the question whether Eoses ought to be exhibited as single blooms or trusses, and then declares that I said they ought to be shown in trusses. If I wore guilty of the fu'st charge I could not clearly be of the second ; but in truth I did not enter into the question of single blooms, but into the definition of a truss. Many Eoses, such as Louise Peyronny, rai'ely have anything but single blooms, yet I should call that a truss. No : the question in my mind, and which I thought I had December 29, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTtJRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 507 made intelligible was, whether that could be called a truss from which some blooms had been taken, but that at any rate some rule ought to be trained with regard to the dis- budding as there is one with regard to additions ; and I did express my opinion that a truss should be shown as it grew, because I believed the practice of disbudding tended to give us coarse Koses, and I say so still notwithstanding " P.'s " disclaimer. I cannot agree with the sentimental notion that a Eose cannot be coarse. I have seen a stand (" pan " I cannot apply to the Eose), of Anna de Diesbaeh, natm-ally a large flower, so thoroughly out of character by excessive cultivation that it might very well have been mistaken for one of Peonies. I have seen, too, even General Jacqueminot so large that all the colour was washed out of it, and the character of the flower entirely gone. I have, too, in my mind's eye other stands, where all the beautiful variety of tint had vanished because of the very high cul- tivation. And then as to "P.'s" desire of getting medium-sized Eoses up to the size of the larger ones for the sake of pi-oduciug uniformity in a stand, I would say that I hate uniformity. I think a stand where the size of the bloom is graduated infinitely preferable to one where the Vjlooms ai'e all alike in size. We know that the same holds good in Dalilias. and many a flower is described as a " noble back -tier flower," and others as " good for a front row." So again vifitt Tulips. I do not, therefore, think there is anything in "P.'s" statements here to make me alter my opinion. Then, again, there is the same confusion, I fear, in "P.'s" mind with regard to my observation about the "natural production of the shoot." I did not use that to show that Eoses should be shown as trusses, but why a shoot disbudded to one bloom could not be called a truss. He triumphantly asks. What is the natural production of a shoot in a Carnation, or Pink, or Hollyhock, or bunch of Grapes ? I will only reply these are not called trusses. Would — for this is the point — " P." call that a spike of Hollyhocks from which every flower but two or three had been taken ? Would he designate a dozen monstrous-sized berries as a bunch of Grapes ? The Pink or the Carnation have nothing to do with the question, as they are invariably shown as single blooms ; and into the respective merits of single blooms and trusses I beg again to remind " P." I did not enter. I must own to preferring trusses to single blooms ; but I think that the various tastes on that subject might be met by giving some prizes for the one and some for the other, which might easily be done if some of these Fancy classes were discarded, which only tend to confirm and give wrong notions to those who are merely lookers-on. I find again that "P." diifers from me as to the separation of the classes ; but as he does not adduce anything ur oppo- sition to what I have stated, it will not be necessary for me to say much on this point. There is an old saying, " The proof of the pudding is the eating." We have never yet, I am glad to say, seen stands of Hybrid Pei-petuals only. We have seen them of Moss Eoses and Teas, and I am per- fectly satisfied that they have never met with approval from those who have seen them. A Moss Eose is very beautiful as a bud, but in no other way ; and a stand of buds does not sound very lively at any rate, while half or fully- opened blooms look unusually poor alongside the brflliant and beautifully-shaped Hybrid Perpetuals and Bourbons ; and Teas are miserably washy by themselves, although most lovely as a contrast or as a single bloom for a vase. I hope there is nothing in these observations which " P." will consider discourteous, and that he and others will frankly state their views. These are matters which always are the better for being ventilated ; and if we could only induce Eose-growers to give their opinions on them before another season, some of the shows niight perhaps be regu- lated as the wishes and views of exhibitors may tend. Another paper on Eoses in the same Number has set me thinking on another point that I should like to have information upon — viz., as to the sorts which best suit the various localities, for there can be no doubt that there is a great dtfi'orence on this point ; for whUe there are sorts which are good everywhere, and will grow everywhere, there are some also which are better in one place than another. As a rule, I should think the fuller Roses would do better in the south, and those less so in the no-'th ; but a certain amount of fulness is indispensable. When Eoses show the eye their beauty is to a great extent gone. Since I wrote on the Gladiolus I have lifted my bulbs, and have been surprised at the wonderful growth of some of them. I may mention that a small-sized bulb of Helen, one of Mr. Standish's seedlings, produoeJ, besides a number of offsets, two bulbs, each of which measured 11. i inches in cii'cumferenee ; and I have seen nothing in the bidbs in general to induce me to imagine that I shall have any disease amongst them. I am now carefully dijing them. — D., Deal. A PLEA FOR ORCHAED-HOUSES, WITH REMARKS ON THEIR MANAGEMENT. Theke is no system in gardening which has been intro- duced during the last quarter of a century, that has had to contend with so much opposition as orchard-houses. They have had to battle against ignorance and prejudice to a serious extent. Some of our most eminent men in horticul- ture, as we thought them, have come forth marshalled against it, with a determination to crush the system if possible and send it into oblivion. But, notwithstanding this, orchard- houses stQl exist, and are on the increase ; and during the last ten or a dozen years, they have sprung up to a great extent all over the country. There can be no doubt but a well-managed orchard-house is one of the very best modern improvements in horticulture for the growth of our choice and tender fruits in this our precarious climate. I am aware that many people have failed in the production of large crops of fruits from trees in pots. I remember about five years ago when a resident in Kent, visiting a gentleman's place of large extent, a few miles from Maidstone ; and in going through the forcing-houses, the gardener pointed out to me and a friend who was with me, a number of Apricot trees in pots, destitute of fruit, a cir- cumstance not to be wondered at. Now he, not being able to succeed with the gi-owing of -Ipricot trees in a forcing-house, condemned the system in toto of growing fruit trees in pots. When we remember that the Apricot is a native of the snow- clad moimtains of Armenia, the slopes of Caucasus and Ararat, it is no matter of surprise that it shoidd refuse to flourish and produce its luscious fruit in the confined ah- of a hothouse. This is not the only instance in which I have seen the Apricot fail, and judging fi-om my own experience, I consider the Apricot the most precarious of any of our orchard-house fruit. I have known others who stand high on the pinnacle of fame, who have attempted to grow pot fruit trees, but through some cause or other that I am not acquainted with, have failed in their endeavours, and there- fore given up the system in disgust. Now it does not foUow that because a few have failed all should do the same. I presume that orchard-houses are at present only in their infixncy ; we have much to learn with regard to their man- agement, and past successes only indicate how much more may be accomplished by diligence and attention. Having the charge of a small orchard-house, I can testify to their adaptability to places of limited extent. The house is a lean-to on the principle patented by Sir Joseph Paxton, is about 40 feet long, 10 feet or 101 feet high at the back, 4 feet high in front, and about 10 feet wide. There are two Peach and two Nectarine trees planted on the back waU. There is a border 18 inches wide in front of them, and then a trellis 18 inches wide to walk on ; this leaves about 7 feet between the trellis and the front waU, which space is devoted principally to Peach and Nectarine trees in pots. When I took charge of this house and others two years since, there was a greater variety of trees occupying this space — includ- ing Peaches, Nectarines, Cherries, Plums, Apricots, and Pears. Dm-ing 1863 the trees made such rapid progress, that in the past summer we could only accommodate about six Peaches and six Nectarines, with two or three Pears. Now let us look at the produce of these twelve potted trees. The trees on the back wall have been planted three years, and my greatest diificulty v itli them is to check overluxuriance, notwithstanding the severe root-pruning they underwent last winter. But to return to trees in pots. When the blos- som-buds began to expand, about the beginning of March, we gave them the advantage of a little artificial heat, as 508 JOURNAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ necember 29, 1863. the house is supplied with a three-inch flow and return pipe. I believe that ten out of every twelve Peaeh and Nectarine trees set ninety-nine o\it of every hundred blossoms ; two trees out of the twelve did not set so well, which I attriliuted afterwai'ds to a defect in the drainage. The first ii-uit from Hunt's Tawny Nectarine was ripe on the 10th of August, and the tree kept in bearing until August 31st. when the last fruit was gathered. It produced about four dozen, and most of theui were qiute equal to wliat are gener.illy seen on walls. On referring to uij- memorandum-book, I find the first time I saw tliis beautiful Nectarine was at the Iloyal Botanic Society's Exhibition, Eegenfs Park, in July, 1861, when I considered it the prettiest Nectarine I had ever seen. Next comes Acton Scot Peach, a variety so well known that it requires no comment. The first fruit was ripe August 11th, and the tree was in bearing until September 1st: we gathered about four and a half dozen from this tree. Early York Peach was ripe August 12th, and the hist fruit was gathered on August 21st. It is a fine early Peach, but growing by the side of Acton Scot it was one day later than th.at variety. The first ft-uit of Eoyal George was gathered on August 15th, and the last on August 31 st. It was a small tree, but bore a hea\'y crop, twoand three Peaches on one small shoot where only one onglit to have been left. The fruit weighed about 5 ounces each. The next in succession was a small Elruge Nectarine with only a medium crop, it supplied fruit lor eleven days. Duchess of Oldenburg Nectarine ripened its fii-st fruit August 21st, and the last was gathered Sep- tember -ith. Many of the i'ruit were extremely fine, and tlie tree carried about two and a half dozen. A larger tree of Eh'uge Nectarine, but only in a 13-inch pot, was allowed by way of experiment to carry six dozen, which it ripened and coloured satisfactorily. It was in bearing three weeks ; thus one pot tree alone supplied two dozen of fruit each week for tliree weeks. Violette Hiitive Nectarine kept up a supply for ten days, the crop was medium, but the fi-uit good. 'The same remarks apply to Pitmaston Orange Neet;u-ine, only the fruit was still finer ; no collection should be witliout it. The Angers Late Purple Peach is a later variety, it is a beau- tiful laige Peach, and was the admiration of every one who saw it, Ijut the fruit is liable to fall before it is perfectly ripe. My employer speaks of it as being fine for tarts, as some of the unripe fruit were used for that purpose. I have no doubt they would make excellent computes as described l\y Mr. Elvers in his book on orchard-houses. It was in use from August 20th uutU September 15th. Two other Peaches, Noblesse and Vineuse de Fromentin, did not set very freely for the reasons aliove stated, and not looking equal to the rest I pulled the fruit off. Having made the defective drainage good, the trees are in equal liealth with their neigh- liours, and judging from tlie round plump buds with which aU the trees are covered "from stem to stern," there is the promise of a better crop of fiuit next year. With regard to growing Pears in orchard-houses, some people seem to sneer at the idea. It is all very well for those who are situated in the southern and western counties of England : but here in this cold and cloudy district, where we only have, i:ierhaps, two tolerably good Pear seasons out of seven, orchard-house Peiu-s are invaluable. I had this season a Louise Bonne of Jersey Pear in a 12-inch pot in the orchard-house, which bore fine fruit, while one of the same variety planted outside, with space for the roots to ramble at large, was not one-cpiarter so tine. There was, in fact, as much difference between tliem as there is between the best Grapes I have ever seen at the metropolitan exhi- bitions and tlie rubbishy little bunches on the cottage walls near London. The same may be said with regard to other Peai's. Last year I grew Soldat Esperen Pear in a 12-ineh pot in the orchard-house ; but not being able to find it accommodation tliis season it was planted outside, and has produced a nice sprinkling of fruit. I believe that one Pear of last year, when grown in a pot under glass, would weigh as heavy as six produced this season out of doors. I might multiply instances, but forbear to trespass on your valuable space. I will now briefly advert to the management of orchard- house trees, confining my remarks chiefiy to Peaches and Nectarines, and I shall state what I have practised myself. We will suppose that the trees are in 13-inch pots, and that it is autumn. The trees, if in a healthy condition, wdl now be losing their leaves, and the wood -will be fully ripe. The principal point now to be attended to is the top-dressing. I top-dressed my trees about the end of October ; the com- post for the purpose, consisting of about two-thirds decayed turf, anliances, and where they are covered with litter from the time they are top-cb'essed. I would by no means satiu-ate the balls in winter ; but I believe one very important step to success is to avoid extreme dryness. About tlie beginning of February, or should the weather prove mild and sunny even by the end of January, the buds will begin to swell, so that the uninitiated may be able to distinguish without much difficulty the fruit-buds from the wood-buds. The young shoots sliould be shortened to within eight or ten buds of their base for bush trees, always cutting to a wood-bud, and keeping in mind the symmetrical shape of the tree designed to be formed. When some of the side shoots ore allowed to grow 15 or 18 inches long without stopping in the summer, I have frequently observed that they will be set with single fruit-buds nearly from their base to tlieir terminal point without any wood-buds. In such cases I would not shorten the shoot, as aU the buds would ultimately fall off; but to prevent the tree from acquiring a straggling habit by encouraging such lanky branches, I would allow the shoot to break at its point, keep it pinched-in during the succeeding summer, and encourage a fresh shoot from its base, as tlieni will often be two or three leaf-buds at the base of such shoots, pjid then at the following winter's pruning the old shoot must be removed close to the base of the newh'-made shoot, and the new one .allowed to take its place. When the pruning is finished, the trees should be painlied all over witli sulphur and solt soap, about a quai'ter of a pound of soft soap to two or three quarts of water, with as much sulphur as will give it the consistenej' of paint, and a little clay must be .added to cause it to adhere to the trees. This mixtiu-e must be well applied to every pai't of the tree December 20, 1863. JOURNAL OF HORTICULTtTRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 509 with a painter's brush, taking eare to work it in underneath the buds. During the resting period the trees should bo exposed on all favoura,ble occasions to a free circulation of air, for if the house is kept too close in eai'ly spring and tlie weather is either mild or sunny, it wUl cause the blossom- buds to expand prematurely. When the buds begin to swell the trees may be sj'riuged daily when the weather is line, until the flowers commence to open, and when in bloom a dry atmosphere must be maintained with a good brisk cur- rent of fresh air continually rushing through the house. If, while the trees are in bloom, the weather should be dull and cloudy, a little fire heat during the day with plenty of air will be found useful, and artideial means of fertilisation must be had recourse to, by simply passing a camel' s-hair pencil over the anthers and stigmas, to distribute the pollen which adheres to the anthers without being properly dis- persed. A light hand and nimble fingei's will soon pass over a large number of trees. When the air is dry my employer will occasionally give the trees a rap with his walking-stick as he is walking through the house. The temperatm-e of the house while the trees are in bloom should never range liigher than oo° by day unless by sun heat, nor more than 45° or 48° by night. As soon as the fruit is fairly set, syringing may be again commenced and caivied on until the fruit is changing colour, when it must be discontinued. The end of the syringe should be pointed underneath the leaves, as there tlie red spider will take up its quarters, and it is well known that it is no advo- cate of the hydropathic system. The fi-uit being pretty secure may be thinned, leaving a few more than the tree is intended to carry, as diu'ing the stoning period some are certain to fall. The trees will now be smothered with a host of young shoots, which must be considerably thinned, re- serving those shoots nearest the base of the previous year's wood. As the trees advance in growth they will require the points of the shoots to be pinched out. Much of the mode of pinching will depend on tlie shape which the tree is de- sired to take ; when it is intended to form it into a, close conical-shaped tree, the shoots must be pinched very closely, to within three or four buds of their base, and as they keep putting forth fresh shoots these must be pinched again and again. When tlie tree is intended to be formed into a bush the shoots may be allowed to grow rather longer before they are pinched, the laterals or side shoots should be pinched to within one bud of the base, and the leading shoot at every five or six buds. Weak manure water will be found useful twice a- week after tlie fruit is set, aud the temperature may be raised from 10° to 1.5°. The trees may also receive a sur- facing of rotten dung with advantage, and the dung not washed away by watering will be found in the autumn one mass of roots. They must receive no stimulants during the time of stoning or the fruit will fall. The trees are then enjoying a partial rest, and therefore must not be excited either root or branch. When the fruit is stoned it must be finally thinned, not leaving too man}' on a tree. As they approach matiu'ity the atmosphere of the house must be kept di'y with plenty of air, or the fruit will be liable to crack. Daring the whole of the growing season they will requu'e copious supplies of water; but when the fruit is gathered water must be given more sparingly. I have endeavoured to touch as briefly as possible on some of the leading points in the cultivation of these beautiful trees. I might considerably enlarge on the subject, but fear lest I should encroach on your space. I am certain that to any one with only a small orchard-house and only a limited number of trees, if tliose trees are treated properly they cannot faU. to afford an endless source of pleasure. The cultivator watches wit'i feelings of intense pleasure the ex- pansion of the first blossom-bud, the unfolding of the leaves, the development of the fiuit ; aud as it approaches maturity and he breathes the fragrant odour which it exhales, he can- not fail to feel thankful to the Giver of all gooi things who so bountifully supplies His creatures with these charming fruits. — QuiNTiN Read, Gardeaer to the Rev. W. H. Holt, Bidcl/idphf neay CoTUjleton, 1859, 1 find that during that year it was gi-owing on the Lime, Apple, Thorn, Oak, and Maple, all in this neighbourhood, but chiefly on the fh-st three trees. There is plenty growing in this part, but up to this time I have not traced it on any other tree. — W. Divers, Gardener to Wm. Moore, Esq., Wierion House, near t^tapleliurst, Kent. Having read an account in The Journal of Horticul- ture of Nov. 24, respecting the Mistletoe growing on various trees ; I beg to inform you that there is a very fine bush of the Mistletoe growing luxuriantly on the Acacia — viz., Robiuia viscosa, in the Priory Gardens, Great Malvern, the residence of Dr. Gulley. — James Watkins, Gardener to C. Lawrence, Esq., Cirencester. SMALL OR LARGE BRUSSELS SPROUTS, WHICH AKE MOST WOETIIT OF GENERAL CULTIVATION? I SENT three dwarf heads of what I consider extra samples of Brussels Sprouts for the opinion of the Friut Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society at Kensington. They were about 11' or 15 inches high, aud closely studded with most compact firm sproutings. The opinion of the Com- mittee was that they are too large ever to become a variety of any importance, seeing that the desideratum in that vege- table is to procare it as small as possible. I consider, then, that it would be a matter of no small ijublic importance to know the criterion of a perfect specimen of a profitable kind of Brussels Sprouts, combining every property worthy of caltivation. The Committee think that to have the in- dividual sproutings as small as possible is the "hief object. Will that be the size of a round button or the size of a boy's play-marble ? The great desideratum I consider in every vegetable is to have a variety that will produce the largest quantity in. a given space of ground, but in a perfect condition for table use. The samples sent, no doubt, had every individual sprouting the size of three marbles. Now the jiroduce of the latter will be more than double, aud still bo in a condition perfectly fit for the table of any gentleman, not to speak of the million to whom it is invaluable as a winter dish. — Wm. Melville. [We have made inquu-ies, and find from members of the Fruit Committee well acquainted with the subject, that the Brusaels Sprouts preferred for first-class dinner-tables are those which, being the size of a boy's jjlay-marble, are at the same time very compact and firm. By " the million," with whom quantity is a prime consideration, your new variety may be highly estimated. For appearance at table, as well as delicacy of flavour, we agree with the Committee that the smaller sprouts are pre- ferable. In addition, we will add, that if the smaller sprouts are produced as densely clustered round the stem as we have seen them, we think there would be little difference between the weight of produce of them and of the larger sprouts.] Mistletoe. — I observe, among the answers to correspon- dents, in your Journal for Nov. 24, that you ask for informa- tion respecting the Mistletoe. On referring to my journal of MATERIALS USED I^T FORMING COMPOSTS. (Continued from page 487.) Sand. — Most soils contain a certain portion of this ; in fact, it may be truly said that sand exists in greater or less quantity in all soils supporting a vigorous vegetation, al- though the character of the sand, or rather the substances it is incorporated with, may differ very much in the individual compounds. A mountain peat contains a large proportion of sand, which, however, differs widely I'lom that found in the dry upland tillage fields of certain districts. The grit itself may be the same in both cases, but the chemical substances with which it is incorporated make a wide difference in the action it has on vegetation. It is, however, an essential ingredient in all the artificial compounds in which choice plants are grown, and some circumspection ought to be used as to the kind of sand mixed with the other materials forming the compost. I have already stated that sand exists in most soils, and most likely in those to which it is added on the potting- bench; so, before going into the merits of the difl'erent kinds 510 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. [ December 29, 1863, it would be well to still further investigate the matter, and ascertain what are the various conditions in which vegetation is found when in contact with sand in greater or less abund- ance. In the first place we may examine the sandy beech subject to the heavy spray of salt water ; a certain description of vegetation exists ihere, more or less vigorous as it is ali'orded shelter ; but the sand having been so repeatedly saturated with salt water is unfit to gi-ow anything in but what deliglits in abundance of salt. Certain plants seem to relish large quantities of salt, and to such the sand of the seashore is at all times acceptable. Asparagus and Sea-kale both delight in a salted medium, and they, of com-se, cannot well have too much ; while with many of the hardwooded plants inhabiting stations more inland, sand strongly im- pregnated with saline matter is almost fatal to them. Sand from the seashore has, therefore, been in a gi-eat measure banished from the pottiug-shed, and is, perhaps, only re- eommeudable as a substance in which to pack Can-ots, Beet, and other roots which require to be kept from withering, and also from the action of worms. Celery taken up on the approach of severe weather, may also be safely stowed away in such sand, and the same may be said of Horseradish. It is also very convenient, when in a frame or pit, to receive the balls of EniUve plants that may have been transported thither prior to hard weather setting in. I am not certain but that a due proportion of sea sand might also be added to the Peach-border if the latter be dry ; but there, except in a few other cases, its utility as a gardening agent may be said to end, and another kind of sand must be used for the other purposes for which sand is required. Perhaps the next abundant supply of sand which a district contains will be what is usually called pit sand, such as is met with in layers, oitcn of great thickness, under the surface. Sand-beds, or pits, exist in most districts. Even the great breadth of clayey lands we hear of existing for several mUes at a stretch have, nevertheless, now and then a break in their strata, and sand in one Ibrm or other is found. Of the various kinds of sand thus met with, colour is, perhaps, the least important point of merit, although it is much looked at, and if it should be white its presence is the more consjjicuous ; but yellow, brown, and grey sands are, nevertheless, equally good in theii- way, and may each be used when they possess the necessary qualities fitting them for the purposes for wliich they wanted. White pit sand is a favourite with the propagator of hard- wooded plants, wiien it is free from all pernicious chemical substances, and has been sufficiently exposed to the action of the atmosphere to sweeten and prepare it for the roots of delicate plants first forming rootlets in it. Pit sand, how- ever, is sometimes anything but favourable to the plants growing in it, some chemical substance entering into the mixture at once fatal, or, if not, certainly hiirtful to vege- table life. Generally speaking, the merits of a sand ibr the purpose of mixing with other substances, maybe guessed at by the condition of such herbage as exists upon it where it is found. The most pernicious substances, it is true, acquire a certain amount of fertility by exposure to the atmosphere, but the long period which must elapse before tliey attain this condition must be taken into account. If a few spade- fuls of sand ai-e taken from a considerable depth below the surface and spread thinly on the gi-ound, it will more speedily part wdth its noxious qualities, and acquire those necessary to make it a fit agent to support vegetation, than if a larger quantity were brought to the surface and then piled up in a heap. Some pit sands contain salts of various kinds, others iron, and some — for instance, those found in certain places in the south-west of England — a large amount of copper, and tliese last are, perhaps, the most pernicious of all, killing vege- tation when they come in contact with it. Thus, unless the amateur has some knowledge of the component jiarts of pit sand, or has the means of judging of its effects on vegetation at the jjlacos where it is to be had, he had better refrain from using it and adopt the next kind that will be described, which is Rivci- or Drift Sand. — By this I mean not sand from a tidal river, and containing more or less salt in proportion to its proximity to the ocean, but sand washed by some clear fi-esh-water stream, not poisoned by any chemical agent that unfits it for the purpose for which it is wanted. Gene- rally speaking, most fresh-water streams throw up beds of sand at places along their course, and these, having received repeated washings, have parted with all deleterious matter, and are fit to apply to the roots of anything requiring an open, coarse, gi'itty sand. This kind of sand may, there- fore, be used without fear. Perhaps, however, a sand con- taining more fine matter may be wanted, especially for the finer work of striking cuttings of such hardwooded plants as are slow and difficult to propagate. In this ease another kind of sand may be advisable, but for general pui'poses of mixing the sharp gritty sand wUl be found the best. Drift sand, however, is not confined to that found by the sides of rivers and streams, but in many instances the sides of public roads present it in quantities more or less abundant as the character of the material the road is formed of differs, but the beneficial effects of the rains which fall, coupled \vitli its exposure, purify it to a certain degi'ee of most of its hurtful constituents. Eoad sand may, therefore, in most cases be safely used. Perhaps, however, it ought to be only sparingly applied to Heaths and similar plants when it is taken from a road composed of flinty or chalky matter ; but such roads afford much less sand than those made of stones of a contrary description, and in both cases it is materially improved by the action of the atmosphere and the rains that wash out much of the foreign matter. Sand, also, abounds in some soils to such an extent as to make them appear all sand, and the surface sand of such places may be used with advantage for plants re- sembling in character, or rather in theu- wants, those found wild there. We have seen a sandy hill covered with Rhodo- dendrons in the most luxuriant health, and, of course, such a sand might bo safely transported elsewhere for their use ; but, generally speaking, these jjlaces do not exist in suffi- cient abundance to supply the wants of those who may require a few baiTowloads of sand ; and such as have no other means of ascertaining the quality of the article found in their neighbourhood cannot well do better than procure some from the edges of a stream, or, in the absence of that, let them try the road sand. The weeds which the latter will produce from its contact with hedge plants, &.C., is one Ijroof of its fertility. Having described charcoal, burnt clay, peat, and sand as substances used in the formation of artificial compounds suited to the wauts of plants for which a soil exactly to theu- liking did not previously exist in the same proportions, I shall now take a step in another direction, and point out some substances which, perhaps, ought properly to be re- garded as manures, and, consequently, as stimulants. These substances are in themselves so numerous that any attempt at fully describing them would occupy more space than could he afforded, and l)esides. most of them are so well known that a repetition of their jiroperties is needless here. There is, however, one point which is not, in gene- ral, sufficiently thought of when manures are applied to a plant, and which it would be well to point out here. It is. Whether such manure when applied is intended merely as a stimulant to benefit the plant for a short time only, or is wanted to supply that plant with a store of food on which it may rely for a considerable period. Attention to the latter requirement has only recently been acknow- ledged as of imjjortance, and is yet far from being so general in prepai'ing compounds in which plants are to be grown, that I cannot but advert to the matter ; in fact, it is this esjiecial subject that has induced me to conceive this article. Quickly decaying substances are, no doubt, of great ser- vice to plants of rapid growth requfring strong stimulating assistants when yoving, but their nourishing properties ai-e all expended by the time the plant has attained matiu-ity, or, perhaps, before, and the residuum is incorporated with the soil whether there is any chemical affinity between the two or not Now, some plants, such, for inst.ance, as the Vine and aU fruit trees, and even plants of a more herbaceous character, have a prolonged growth, and, consequently, re- quii-e long-continued and well-sustained feeding during that time. They consequently require a soU or substance open enough to receive such foreign matters as may be supplied : hence the large quantities of inert matter which enter so largely into the composition of so many of the best Vine- borders of the country ; Vjut as many of tliese substances are indestructible, or nearly so, we wiU pass them by, and December 29, 1863. ] JOTJENAL OF HORTICULTUEE A2^D COTTAGE GARDENEE. 5H go on to specify such as aie in themselves good manures, but which, nevertheless, do not too quickly fall into the condition of complete decay. The list of such things is a Iflxger one than I can give, and I wUl coniine myself to calling attention to one or two ; tliose which I recommend being vegetable matters, not by any means of quick growth, but which are of a tough iibry nature, have taken years to attain their present condition, and during that time have been exposed to all weathers. Moss. — Beginning with this, I must observe that the kind I mean is that found on moist waste places where the land is poor, and where other and more useful herbage has given place in a great measure to this low but persistent plant. Moss, such as is used in nurseries for packing, might very often be applied to other purposes with great advantage, especially to such plants as have long rambUng roots and delight in sending them forth in search of that food which does not exist close to their collar. Moss has long been used as an important adjunct to the compost in which Pines are grown, and the proportion so used is often a large one. When covering the broken crocks at the bottom of a pot it is often the receptacle of as many roots as can find space there ; and if it should happen that plants of various kinds have been plunged in a bed of Moss, the rapidity with wliich the roots find theii- way into it, and occupy it, proves how much they like it. Moss, also, has a quality of its own not possessed by many things in which plants live and tlu-ive. A Hyaciuth ^vill root and flower well in a handftil of damp Moss, and that Moss can be handled and moved about with- out employing a flower-pot or other vessel to hold it together. Eeturning to the subject of Pines, I do not know of any way of managing suckers, or, it may be, crowns that are wanted for ftituj-e plants better than tying a handful of Moss about their base with a piece of matting, and planting them either in pots or in the bed. They root very freely through the Moss and quickly become good plants. One of the especial purposes we apply Moss to here is, in the spring when the number of bedding plants alike requhe everything in the shape of a pot, and also every inch of . glass. At that time we mate up a sUght hotbed often of short [ grass and old loam mixed, and cover it with light leafy soil. , We then sepai'ate the store-pots or boxes of Geraniums and ! similar plants, and tie a piece of Moss around the root of each with a small portion of soU inside the Moss, the whole being about the size of an ordinary lemon. The plants are bedded closely together over the slight hotbed, and pro- tected in dae course for a short time, and nothing can be more satisfactory than the way in which they root into the Moss, interlacing it in all directions with their fibres, and by degrees entering into the soil of the bed. By the time they are usually removed to their final quarters for the sum- mer, the shallow bed on which they obtained a slight warmth to start with having subsided into the ordinary temperature of the ground, they do not receive the check which they would if removed from a hotbed to the open ground. Without Moss I do not know how this mode of managing bedding plants could be caiTied out, as on one or two occasions when we were accidentally obliged to use short straw and grass in- stead of Moss, the difi'erence was so perceptible as to render it easy to pick out every plant not grown in the Moss ; the green short grass, especially, being obnoxious to the roots of the plants, although, as it is needless to say, its decay was quick, and its manurial properties are by some held in repute. I must, however, place it many degi'ees below Moss in point of merit for the purposes mentioned above, and also for all others connected with vegetation with which I am ac- quainted. Moss has long been employed as one of the principal in- gredients in which Orchids are grown ; and though other substances arc used, by {nv the greatest proportion of cul- tivators employ it in large quantities as their principal medium, and some who have tried more recently-introduced substances have returned to Moss again, admitting its superiority. I, therefore, have no hesitation in strongly re- commending Moss as one of the most useful articles on the potting-bench, or, in fact, anywhere. For out-door plants where the chances are that they wiU not receive at all times artificial waterings when wanted, the open texture of Moss admits more an* amongst the roots than is sometimes consistent with their well-being in very dry weather ; but for plants immediately under the eye of the cultivator. Moss suits itself so well to the many conditions in which they are grown, and is in general so much liked by them, that I have no hesitation in pronouncing it one of the most useful sixb- stances we have, and in urging its adoption in places where an open texture of compost is wanted. Few plants will be found but what wUl assimilate to themselves such food^ as can be supplied in the Moss, for be it remembered, nothing presents a better medium for conveyiag liquid nourishment to a plant than Moss, and I have no doubt that it will be yet more extensively used than at present. — J. Eobson. (To be contimied.) WEIGELA KOSEA FOE A NOETH WALL. As we are so often compelled, from w.ant of an evergreen creeper suitable for back walls, or other more or less shady situations, to use deciduous and other kinds of jjants not very prepossessing in winter, I think many would make use of the Weigela rosea did they know that it will grow, flower, and do well in such situations. It has the advantage also, of growing tolerably fast, so that it does not take so long as is generally supposed to cover a wall of moderate size. I have before stated how very readily it will strike from cuttings. Shoots of last year put ia in any form, strike as easily as Willows. It should, when first planted, have some good compost — say turfy loam and leaf moidd, and, if at hand, a little peat, otherwise giving more leaf mould. Cover the wall as soon as possible with the main shoots. This done, take a spade and chop the whole of the roots clean in two, at about 2 feet from the stem, or even less, if well furnished with fibrous roots. This is the main secret for the success of this beautiful plant. I used to suppose the Weigela to be a very shy bloomer, but in reality it is quite the reverse, and so manageable is it that no plant can be forced to flower more readily or freely. Cutting away the roots will induce the stronger stems to break freely, and with the spray the intervening spaces can be readily covered. Digging well round the roots will always prevent over-lunuiance, and at the same time induce the plant to bloom rather later than other specimens more fuUy exposed to the influences of the sun.— W. Eaklet, Digsii-ell. KEW booe:. Cultural Directions for the Rose, by John Ceanstox, King's Acre, near Hereford. London : Houlston & Wright, Pater- noster Eow. So wide-spread is the love for the Eose, and so many are they who seek for and need instruction concerning its cul- ture, that anything on the subject is sure to have an exten- sive sale and to be eagerly welcomed. Mr. llivers' "Eose Guide " has passed into a ninth edition ; Mr. W. Pavil's "Eose Garden " has appeared in a new form ; and now Mr. Cranston, with a less pretentious but most useful book, reappears with a second edition, improved and enlarged, making a full and clean breast of it— telling all he knows, and makiug every one of his readers his confidants. The book is divided into two pans. In the fii'st part all the necessary directions for planting, pruning, and growing are given, and at quite sufScient length ; v.-hile in the second inost useful and descriptive lists of varieties suitable for all situations are added, together with those best suited ior exhibition, bedding, climbing, greenhouse cultm-e, and forcing, and all this for the small sum of Is. Gd. AU Mr. Cranston's directions are characterised by plain common sense. Witness, for instance, what he says with regard to the selection of varieties : " The first thing the amateur generally does is to fix upon the varieties he wishes to grow; and for this purpose the catalogue is taken in hand, and those varieties described as being tlie most beau- tiful and perfect in form are chosen, without any regard to the habit or the hai-diness of the breed, or the nature of the soil in which they are to be grown." The result, as he states, is too often faUure, which is often laid upon the nurseryman who supplies theui, whereas a little more care or reliance on the vendor would have prevented this. With regard to soU, Mr. Cranston regai-ds the dark black soil of toT/n gardens as the worst, and a rich unctuous loam as 512 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Decembor 29, 1863. the most suitable. In this he agrees with most Rose- growers, as he does ylso on the vahie of the Manetti stock. His observ.ations on pruning are especially valuable. We know so well what is too olten done. " I should like my Roses pruned !" In comes frardener with his great pnming- knife ; never asks what the Koses are — like quack medicines, the same treatment does for all, and the consequence is failure in too many cases. Now Mr. Cranston takes the various sections, shows how and when they are to be pruned, and the best form to be given to the plant. The diseases of the Rose .lud the insects injui-ious to it are also described, although the most destructive of the pests, the lai-va of the Tortrix — the " worm i' the bud" — is omitted. It would be impossible for us to give anything like an idea of the amount of inform.ation contained in this valuable manual ; and we have, therefore, only to recommend all who are desu-ous of successfully cidtivating the Rose to seek for the knowledge fi'om one so well capable of giving it as Mr. Cranston. OBTAmiNG BLUE-FLO WEEED HYDEANGEAS. In yoiu" answer to a correspondent, " J. W. L.," page 458, on obtaining blue-flowering Hydrangeas, yoix quote from an article on that subject l.ij' the late Mr. Beaton, which shows the wonderful sagacity of that person on that as on all sub- jects upon which he i\Tote; and though from his writings I coiild never make out that he had .any great practical know- ledge of chemistry, still, whenever required he did not fail to indicate that he did possess a certain amount of knovif- Icdge on that as on most other subjects connected with gar- dening, and it will be long ere we see his like again, or one to assume the pen v.iiich he has for ever laid down. I only take up mine to state what experience I have had on the subject of blue-flowering Hydrangeas, hoping it may be of use to some young aspirant to a knowledge of the chemistry of the subject. Upwards of twenty years ago this question was much agitated in the various horticultural publications, and various were the methods proposed to cause the HycU-angea flowers to become blue. At that time I was always ready to try any suggestion which took my attention or excited my curiosity, and the production of blue-flowered Hydi-au- geas was one of them. I have tried iron filings, iiisted iron, and soils of all mixtiu'es and coloiu-s, and was only successful with one, and that was Norwood loam. It was brought to the place for other potting purposes, and I used some of it for the Hy- drangeas, and certainly the flowers became blue ; but on using again the loam from the same heap the following year not one became blue, neither by that loam uor any other which I used. A longer study and greater interest in the science of chemistry has often brought back to my recollection the circumstance of the Norwood loam making the Hydi'angea flowers blue one year and failing the next, and I have often intended to investigate the subject, but otlier avocations have hitherto prevented me from making further experi- ments. I shall, however, state, what I understand to be the cause of the change, and perhaps your correspondent may jjut it to the test of experiment, and let us know the result. The loam had been newly dug out of a deep pit, and used by myself at once. Although I never tried whether the loam contained iron or not in its composition, I think there can be no doubt but that it did. irom its colour and consistency, and I am disposed to think that the iron in it, before ex- posure to the air, v.-as in the state of a protoxide, and soluble in water, and in that state entering into the plant, might cause it to turn blue, while after exposure to the aii" the protoxide, Fe O, would bo converted into the i^eroxide, Fe» O3, bj' combining with other two atoms or equivalents of oxygen, and being insoluble in water would prevent the iron from entering into the juices of the plant in sufficient quantity to cause the blue. It is also remarkal^le that Mr. Beaton says, " that cuttings struck in August failed to change colour though grown in iron filings," just, I think, because the ii'on Vv'as only iu the state of a i^eroxide, and insoluble. He also says, " that by growing them in strong yellow loam with a sixth of iron filings, nine out of ten wiU produce blue flowers." Now, I apprehend the reason of that is, that the yellow loam might have contained the iron in the state of the protoxide, even in smaller proportion, and hence the blue. It is well known that the colour of nearly all yellow SOU.? is caused by the presence of iron in their composition ; and the change which takes place in those soils when turned up to the atmosphere from the pale yellow to the reddish-brown, is caused by the conversion of the protoxide of iron iato the peroxide. If the former is present in any great quantity there .are few plants that will grow in it. It acts as a poison, but when turned up and exposed to the influence of the atmosphere, it shortly becomes food to the plant. If those soils which naturally produce the blue Hy di'angeas were subjected to analysis it might set the matter at rest ; and should any one see this who has Hydi-angeas which produce blue liowers naturally, and forwai'd by post, in a close tin box, about a fourth of an ounce of the soil in which. the pliints grow to my addi-ess, I will be able to ascertain in what state the iron is present in it. The soil must be taken from where the points of the roots are. Or, if any one living at Norwood would forward to me the same quantity dug from the solid, 2 i'eet deep, I would like very well to ascertain if I .am right ia my conjecture, and I will not fail to let the result be known in this Journal. There is abundance of the sod here having the iron in the state of a protoxide. All the subsoil is so, and so poor that I do not think that were I to try I coiUd make a Hy- drangea flower in it. If "J. W. L." tries the iron filings I hope he will let us know the result. Although I was not successful with the rust, others may be so. I am strongly of opinion that plants possess a great power themselves, when their roots come m. contact with the inorganic matters in the sod, of decomposing- the sod, and taking up what they requh'e, and not so much by the chemical changes which we know arc ever going on in the soil. Professor Way's celebrated exi)eriments prove that water is not the carrier of food to the plants, only the medium, like the soil, in this important function. Both are necessary, but they must be in their proper proportions ; and tliough the iron in the sod is not iu a soluble state, neither is it soluble by adding rust, still the plant may obtain it iu thiat state from the soil when m abundance, and so cause the Ijlue colom- of the Hydrangea. All chemists are awai-e that when the ferrocyanide of potassium is added to a solution of iron it makes a beautiful blue colour v.ith a considerable precipitate : therefore I do not see that it is difficult to conceive that a plant may have the power of making similar changes from the elements of the soil in which it grows, and so change its colour.. — Alex. Sheakek, Yester Gardens. HOLLAND HOUSE. The Seat of Lady Holland. This is entered on the rigUt through a splendid pair of gates from the high road between Kensington and Hammer- smith, and the beautiful old mansion is seen through the trees seated high in the park, and it is apiproached by an avenue of Elm trees. The chief parts of this structure were raised by Sir Walter Cope in the year 1607. To the south is the large scjuare bowling-green terrace bounded by balus- trades, lately adorned with flowers iu vases of Malta stone, and four large Orange trees ai'e in li'ont with a large basin- fountain iu the centre. To the east frout is the flower g;U'deu, a rich parterre, and of a beautiful pattern. The diamond-shaped beds and circles of tiie chain-beds were chiefly planted with different varieties of Verbenas aiT.anged according to then- colours and shades to give a harmonious effect. Although the experimental inquiries of Sir Isaac Ncivton, Sir David Brewster, and other eminent philosophers have proved that the j^henonema of colours are regiilated in theh' combination by irrefragable lnws of harmony, yet the error of considering the arranging of coloui-s as a matter of fancy merely is very prevalent. Many have likings for, and antipathies to, particular hues — all have their partialities to particular styles of colouring, some delighting in the gay December 29, 1863. ] JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 513 and lively, some in the rich and powerful, and others in the deep ami grave ; the latter may he said to he the prevail- ing style here. Although the rich and brdliant colours of a Turkey carpet and the gaudy dress of the rustic belle may be agreeable to some, less glaring colours are selected by the upholsterer in furnishing the different apartments of a mansion, and by a lady in the selections for her toilet. The two larger and two smaller diamond-sh.aped beds, with a small triangular bed at each end, would require dia- grams to illustrate the planting. Suffice it to say that the first group was planted with Tom Thumb and Flower of the Day Geraniums at each side, and there was a brown Calceo- laria at one end and Aiirea floribunda Calceolaria at the other. The second group consisted of Tom Thumb Geranium and Verbenas Mrs. Maclean, Field Marshal, Eeine des Amazones, and Novelty. The other gi-oups contained Terbenas Beauty of Hornsey (lilac). General Simpson (brUliant scarlet), Brillant de Vaise, Purple King, Mrs. Kaley, Robinson's Defiance, Mdlle. de Nodit, Queen of the Roses, Reine des Amazones, and Lady Middleton (mauve, very fragrant, an excellent beddei-, and stands the weather well). In front are eight plantations of some of the best sorts of Roses, edged with broad bands of Tropajolum elegaus, Gazania splendeus, CEnothera macrooarpa, and Verbenas of different sorts. The chain-borders on each side of the main walk contained on one side twenty, and on the other seventeen circular beds planted in succession with Verbenas Mrs. Trotter, Purple King, Mrs. Kaley, Gazania splendens, PerUla nankinensis ; Verbenas Jane, Admiral Duudas, Lady Middleton, Mrs. HoUbrd, Defiance, Andi-e, Mdlle. de Nodit, Fiilox Drum- niondi ; Verbenas BIi-s. Kaley, Piu-ple King, Fu-efly, Mrs. Holford, Purple King, Mdlle. de Nodit, and Admiral Duudas. On the other side the beds were planted with Verbenas Admiral Duudas, Mrs. Kaley, Etonia (violet with white eye), Mdlle. de Nodit, Admii-al Dundas, Mrs. Kaley, Purple King, Ajax (fine scarlet), Jane, General Simpson, Purple King, Madame de Nord, Mrs. Holford, Lord Raglan, Mrs. Kaley, Purple King, and Evening Star. The long-pointed triangular beds with scrollwork in Bos were edged with Verbenas of different sorts. At the south-west corner of this parallelogram-shaped flower garden are several beds which were planted with Ageratum mexicanum, Geraniums Tom Thumb and Bijou, and Verbenas Purple King, Lord Raglan, General Simpson, Mrs. Kaley, and Firefly. The next scene is flower-beds on gi-ass. Some were planted with Purple Zelinda Dahlias in the centre, then yellow Calceolarias, edged with Tom Thumb Geraniums; others with Baron Hugel Geranium, edged with Mangles' Variegated Geranium, a splendid edging; Flower of the Day Geranium, edged with Lobelia spcciosa ; and Miss Nightingale Heliotrope, edged with Sveet Alyssum. From this, looking south through the arches of the colon- nade diversified with festoons of Virginian creepers and of Periploca gvsucs.. Honeysuckles, Roses, &o., dangling from the top, the fine old Orange trees in rich luxuriance of foliage give an Italian aspect to the scene. These Orange trees may be called the lions of the x^lace, and have been under the superintendence of Mr. Scobie for the last fourteen years, and with what skill they have been treated their fine healthy condition %vill attest to all who have the opportunity of seeing them. The vase terrace was furnished with twenty-four vases an-anged on the balustrades and on ■ pedestals springing from flower-beds, it was gay with flowers and formeil a most pleasing featui-e. The conservatory is 60 feet long finished with some fine specimens of Camellias, and in the winter with the largo Orange trees that lately adorned the square at the south fi-ont. They are magnificent specimens, twenty- four of them being each fi-om 10 to IS feet in height, and many others were not so large. Attached to the con- servatory on the north side is a banqueting-room of hand- some proportions, which is finished and furnished in the best style of art and ornamentation. Close to it on the east side is a tower which is approached by a flight of steps, and from the south side of the conservatory is a colonnade about 100 yards long running east, which is continued to the south front of Holland House. By this means a communi- cation, under cover, is opened from the house to the con- servatory, then to the banqueting-room, then to the loggia, then to the tower, and home either by the flower garden or the pleasure grounds, or by a terrace-walk along the whole length on the top of the colonnade. The flower gai-dens are seen to advantage when overlooked from the terrace, sur- rounded by balustrades, on the top of the banqueting- room. The ground rises on all sides to a beautiful knoU in the park. This knoll is crowned with a most pictui-esque group of Cedars of Lebanon. Other trees creep up the slopes and form groves around the base and along the vaUey, not thick groves of gloom, but groves in which the forms of the trees are fully developed, and the trees being planted at vari- ous distances apart produce glades of jjleasing landscape scenery. The house is surrounded by pleasure grounds so nicely connected with the park, that a beautiful and varied land- scape is produced, bounded by deep shady groves that form the framework of this delightful picture. — W. Keane. EITTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S MEETING. The December meeting was held on the 6th inst., P. Smith, Esq., the President, being in the chair. Amongst the dona- tions to the library since the November meeting were the publications of the Royal and Linnajan Societies, the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh, the Moscow and Stettin Society, the continuation of Lepp's great woi-k on Em'Oi>eau Lepidoptera by SueUeu Van VoUenhoven, a remarkable memoir by ill-. Edwin Brown on the genus Acentropus now proved to be a Lepidopterous insect, articles on farm and garden insects by Mr. Wilson, of Adelaide, &c. Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a box of Coleopterous insects collected in the Zulu Country, South Africa, by the Rev. M. Girard, including many very rare and interesting species ; also, a curious variety of one of the British blue Butterflies, apparently intermediate between Polyommatns alexis and P. adonis, taken in the Isle of Wight. General Su- J. B. Hearsey exhibited a case of nocturnal Lepidoptera collected by himself in India, containing many very fine and large species of Geometridae and Noctuids, several of which appeared to be iindescribed. Professor Westwood stated that the Rev. Henry Rowley, one of the clergymen attached to the Oxford and Cambridge Missions to South Africa, had forwarded a small coUeotion of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera from the Zambesi to the Museum at Oxford, containing many rare species, which appeared to be very similar to, if not identical with the insects of Mozambique, collected by Peters, and described by Klug, Schaum, Hagen, &c., in the voyage of that traveller. He also exhibited a remai'ka'de manuscript entomological calendar or jom-nal kept during a long series of years by the late Mr. J. Curtis, containing about two thousand notes and observations on the habits, times of appearance, &c., of insects chiefly injurious to the farm and garden, man, domestic animals, orchard and forest trees, &c. ; also, a manuscript report of one of the meetiugs of the Norfolk and Norwich Entomological Society, held in the year 1S12, con- taining among other entries the admission of the Rev. SL. Kirby into the Society on Iris own request. He also ex- hibited and described two very curious small Beetles cap- tured in the Canai'y Islands by Mr. Vernon Wollaston, re- markable for the large size of the heads of the males in both species, and forming the types of two new genera. Mr. W. Wilson Saunders exhibited specimens of a new and very pretty species of Bryocoris, a genus of Plant Bugs, which had attacked the leaves of some of his Orchids (espe- cially jjlants of the genus Catasetum) in the same manner as tlie Thrips; but being provided with wings and very active they made their escape on the slightest alarm, and flew off to other parts of the hothouse, returning, however, to then- food plant after a short time. Captain Cox sent for exhibition a series of veiy beautiful representations of Moths and Butterflies, which he had executed by photography, and which represented the most delicate markings of these insects in a very exquisite manner. Another illustration of the use of photography in the delineation of insects was shown by Mr. W. F. Kirby, in the recently pubhsheJ memoir on tlie Trypetidae by Dr. 6U JOUKNAL OF HORTICtrLTTJKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. [ December 29, 186S. Loew, in which the elaborate and intricate markings of the wings of these insects were represented of a gigantic size. The President gave an account of an examination made since the last meeting of the nest of the small Honey Bee of New Holland, obtained from Queensland by Mr. Wood- bui-y, and now belonging to the British Museum. On re- moving the side of the box in which the nest was built, not fewer than four or five hundred dead working Bees were found. The cells were of an hexagonal form, built into regular combs, and, like those of the common Wasp, with the mouths of the cells downwards. This peculiai-ity of position, unlike that of the colls of our common hive Bee, was connected with the facts that the cells served only as cradles for the brood, and that the honey was stored in oval cups, or honey-pots, of which there were as many as two hundred and fifty at the foot of the nest, as in our British Humble Bees. Some account was given of the nests of other species of Melipona; and Trigona?, from the writings of Guerin-Mt'neville, and Gosse. The material of which the cells and combs were constructed did not appear to be wax, but rather a resinous kind of gum, which, according to Mr. Woodbury, ignites instead of melts, as is the ease with com- mon wax. Mr. Wilson, of Adelaide, South Australia, sent some spe- cimens, accompanied with notes on the habits, of the larva ajid perfect state of Calosoma C'urtisii, one of the most beautiful species of the genus, which, unlike our northern species, which are found in Oak trees, was generally met with under cowdung. Mr. McLachlan read some notes of the type specimens of the species of Phrygneidas, described by Fabricius, contained in the collection of Sir Josejih Banks, now forming jjart of the British Museum. WHICH IS THE BEST WAY OF HEATING BEDS BY HOT-WATEE PIPES? I THINK this subject wiU be the better of a little ventilation ; and, therefore, by your permission, I will place it before yoiu- readers, in the hope that some of your practical friends will answer the above question, and give the result of their experience in your pages. We ai-e all aware that the use of hot-water pipes is intended to dispense -with that of maniu-e or other de- composing suljstances, the object being to raise the tem- perature of the soil sirffieiently to induce seeds to germinate, and to encourage the growth of plants at unnatural seasons. Now what is the best position for the pipes to be placed in connection with the bed which they are intended to heat ? How should they be placed so that they may impai't the greatest, and at the same time the most equable tem- perature to the soil of the beds ? Tlie following are the modes generally used by gardeners : Fu'st A. This appears the most general. 0 ® 1 and 1 arc walls, between which is constructed a chamber 2, having two hot-water pipes 3. 3, which pass through it without touching top, bottom, or sides; but are intended to heat the cliamber sufficiently to impart warmth to the bed 4, which rests upon the flag or slate flooring above the pipes. This method has always appeared to me objection- able because tliere is a great waste of power. A great amount of heat must be expended on the side walls and vacant space in the chamber. The idea is, that as heat will rise it must pass through the bed. I grant that ; but I fancy that but little remains to rise after the work it has first to do below. The next method is b, in which 1 1 are the walls, and it may be considered better than A, inasuuich as the action is more du-ect, but yet liable to a certain consumption of heat by the surrounding ail-. c is a nearer approach to direct communication betweea the pipes and the soil ; but a medium in the shape of a bed of broken stones or bricks still stands Ijetween them ; and it appears to me that they will absorb a considerable pvo- portion of the heat before they will jjermit any to pass without paying a heavy toU. It may be said that the broken bricks or stones act as drainage for the bed above them ; but if this is so, I question whether they would not be more properly placed Ijelow the pipes, for in that posi- tion they would have a tendeuC3- to draw the roots of the plants above to that jjart of the bed, wliich, being nearest the pipes, would be the warmest. I, therefore, raise the question whether the best and proper place for the pipes is not through the soil of the bed itself as shown in D. r^ Here in d we have direct action. Nothing but the soil can absorb the warmth from the pipes. Nothing can retain the imparted heat for so long a period as the heated soil, and we dispense with the an'eney fee of any intervening medium. Tliis appears to me to be the surest way of making a hotbed : no one would ever think of heating a tank or cistern by running the pipes through a chamber below it instead of through it ; I may be told that it might injiu-e the tender roots if they came in contact with the pipes. This I venture to doubt, because in clearing out a bed recently, I noticed that the roots of some plants had struggled to find then- way to the warm pipes through a superincumbent mass of rubbish. I have sufficient faith in nature to believe that the roots wiU not willingly go into danger, and that like the burnt child which ch-ea.ds tiie fii'e, they, if their feelers find December 29, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICTILTtJRE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 515 the place too hot to be pleasant, will strike out in another direction ; indeed, if they did get singed or burnt by ventur- ing too near to theii- warm friend, might I not, in these days when root-pruning is the fashionable treatment, be right in assuming that the process by cautery is superior to cut- ting ?— W.'^W. Royal Hokticultural Society. — In the conservatory at Kensington there is now suspended a bunch of Bananas of extraordinary size. It was grown by Mr. J. CaiT, gardener to P. L. Hinds, Esq., of BySeet, Surrey, and was produced by a small plant imported fi'om the West Indies in Septem- ber, 1862. The i^lant was grown in a tub, and was only 4i feet high when it bore the bunch, which is itself about 3 feet long, with a stem as thick as a man's wrist, the whole weighing Sfi lbs. As yet only the fruits at the base of the bunch are ripe, those at the opposite extremity or further from the plant v.-hen gi'owing, are as yet green. We believe it is intended for presentation to Her Majesty. WOEK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. The various operations of draining, trenching, and digging, to be can-ied on with vigour-, and the ground if naturally heavy to be laid in ridges. When frosts occur the ground that has been ridged would be benefited by turning over the i-idges with a fork, and if deeply frozen, with a mattock, the more fidly to admit pidverising and vermin-destroying action to all parts of it. The planting of vegetable crops should now be merely confined to a few sorts of Cabbages, Coleworts, and late Celery for soups. The hoe may be used occasionally in di'y weather with advantage, to destroy weeds between the rows of vegetables, and to draw earth to the stems of Cabbages, &c. The Potato Onion is a most productive crop. The small offsets to be planted in beds 4 feet wide, four lines (not di-ills) to be drawn 10 inches apart on the beds, the offsets to be placed upright, slightly pressed into the soil, and covered with an inch or two of leaf mould, or any light soil ; when they appear above ground, to be earthed-up on a fine day. They will be ready to take up in the latter end of June to succeed the August-sown ones for use. A dressing of fresh loam is, in many case.'*, preferable to manure for land that has been long cropped with vegetables, and where it is wanted and can be obtained, it should be made ready in order that advantage may be taken of fi-osty weather for hea^^y wheeling. AVhere ii-esh soil cannot be obtained, charred vegetable refuse, such as prunings of shrubberies, edgings of tiu-f, and many other things that may be collected for the purpose, will form an excellent substitute, and there are but few gardens that would not be improved by a di'essing of charred vegetable matter. FLOWEK GARDEN. The work of the flower garden and of the pleasure ground win now consist in finishing, if mild weather continue, the planting of shrubs, trees, bulbous roots, and hardy peren- nials and biennials. Complete the planting of Roses, if not done already, and if there is not sufficient time for trenching the ground 2 teet deep, a large hole of that depth to be made and filled up with some good loam and well-rotted horsedung. Be careful when planting that the stem is not buried too deeply, as a trifle lower than the depth it was planted before will be sufficient ; the roots to be spread out regularly, and when covering them the soil to be pressed around them gently with the foot, then stake to prevent the wind from loosening the plants at the neck. If the budding of Roses is intended in Jvily, the stocks should be procured and jilanted while mild weather lasts, the brown- backed to be selected in preference to the green-backed; plants of the China or other tender varieties to have a little moss tied round them for protection from frosts. If there is any other tree, shrub, or plant that the experience of past seasons has proved to be susceptible of injury fi-om fi'osts or the inclemency of the winter weather it should be pro- tected in good time. Hoeing and raking the borders amongst shrubs wiU be sufficient to give them a clean and neat appearance without the use of the spade, to which we have a great objection, as it cuts the fibrous roots and weakens the growth of shrubs that were planted to be orna- mental for pleasure-ground scenery. FKUIT GARDEN. Although we consider November the best month for plant- ing fi-uit ti-ees, if through any of the many causes of delay such operations were not carried into execution, we would strongly advise aU to set about such work as soon as possible, and to finish it while open weather lasts. If only an im- provement in the soil is thought necessary, loam and leaf mould are the best for the purpose, and as a makeshift for drainage to raise it as much as possible where the trees are to be planted. When transplanting, the trees to be taken up with care, any broken, bruised, or long straggling roots to be pruned with a clean cut, and when planting to comb them with the fingers to spread them regularly in the holes, which are to be of moderate depth, and of more than suffi- cient width for the extent of the roots. The fi-esh soil to be shaken over them carefully, and gently pressed down (not stamping with the feet) all round, the trees to be then watered and mulched, tr.ained to the wall or espaliers, or if standards, to be fii-mly staked. Make a point of examining every week all choice fi-uits that are approaching ripeness, or are found not to be keeping well, so that everything may be used at the proper time, for some of our best Pears are worthless enough if allowed to get over-ripe before using, and the same is the case with many varieties of Apples. Also, look over the whole stock when time can be spared, remcving any that exhibit symptoms of decay, and putting them aside for im- mediate use. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. Give ail- freely, but not in currents, when the weather permits; use water very sparingly, always tepid; apply fii-e heat occasionally in the day, with free air to di-y up damp. Chinese Azaleas and Camellias to be kept cool, the forward plants to be pushed on with a little heat to expand their flowers properly. Shift on Calceolarias and Cinerarias. Suijply water to the Heaths and New Holland plants that are coming into flower more liberally than to the others. Assist the early Pelargoniums with a little heat, but keep the summer plants cool and au-y. Keep Chinese Primroses near the light and air, and water cautiously. Orange trees or any other plants that have not been recently potted to be fresh surfaced, by removing a little of the top soil and supplying its jilace with fresh. When the Chi-ysan- themums begin to fade they may be removed to the north side of a wall, the pots plunged in old tan, leaves, or saw- dust, to protect them from the severity of winter. PITS AND FRAMES. Plants in these structm-es to be kept as dormant as possible, with the admission of air at aU favoiu-able oppor- tunities, and a little quicklime carefully sprinkled round the pots to absorb moisture, and in some measure thereby to prevent them from fogging-off. If a severe frost sets in, when it will be necessary to cover them up to the exclusion of light and an- for some days, when a change in the weather take's place, the precaution of shading them for a few days should be taken to inure them gradually to the glare of sun- light. Means of protection should now be ready, for if post- poned until a sharp frost sets in, all will be hun-y and con- fusion, and the labour of months and the hopes of a rich display next season may be destroyed in one night. ^V. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. One of the great difBculties connected with gardening in England is to be foimd in the extreme changeableness of the weather. Many a man who attends to these changes will prove himself a good gardener, though knowmg but Uttle of science. Many a man with the knowledge of a philosopher will fall into trouble because such little matters are beneath his attention. We shall never forget a gardener coming into a lodge of young gardeners, with buU's-eye lantern in hand, and asking a clever fellow, absorbed in the pages of a thrilling romance, " Why is it there is no fire in the conservatory ':"' " Is there any fi-ost, sfr ?" " Well, I did imagine you hatl something in the way of eyes, hands. 516 JOTTENAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ December 29, 1868. and feet !" Just fancy, a mild day, and now a little before ten at night a very sharp frost, the watcibiitts covered with an inch of ice, and the poor foUow tearing about and up half the night to make the conservatory safe, and no thanks, but the reverse, for all his trouble. "The use of his eyes early in the evening might have saved iiini all the night work, allowed him to dream pleasa.ntly of the charming heroine of the novel, and enabled him to have escaped a scolding, which was a mere trifle to the want of conhdence thus engendered. These sudden changes involve not only the exercise of attention, but also a considerable amount of extra labour to secure the means of safety. "We have lately had some beau- tifid dry weather, with a barometer too high to expect much frost or snow. On Tuesday morning the glass fell a little, and we had a smart rain, too much for out'door labour, and we had just made preparations for having a vinery washed and cleaned when down came a heavy shower of snow, and shortly aftenvards the glass moved up a little, the sky be- came clear, the sun shoue brightly, and out of the sun the ground was frozen the whole of the af!:ernoon. From the vagaries of the thermometer we had no idea of a continued frost, but still there was a chance of a sharp frost for that night, and, therefore, everything tender v/as protected. We were convinced by the time the sun was set that the frost would not continue, from the yellowish cast of the sky, and later, from a halo round the moon and the veering of the wind to the west — circumstances which, if they had taken place sooner, might have induced us to have used less pro- tection, and more especially as the moon being aboxit the full there was more chance of the au- being clearer in the evening than in the morning. We were not surprised that there was a considerable change in the morning, permitting of everything being uncovered early. But suppose we had covered none, there are many things that with mere glass protection would have given us no more trouble, except moving them to the rubbish-heap. The only benefit we derived from noting the changes w.a3 using only a little fire heat, instead of a strong fire, wiiich might have been given if these changes had not been noted; and being con- vinced more still if that were necessary, tliat for merely keeping out frost from smaD places nothing is so economical as a small stove inside the house. The v.-eather has been first-rate for wheeling, and, therefore, the kitchen g.arden has had a fair dressing of burnt earth, and what manxire and materials could be spared from the rubbish-heap. In dry weather at this season it is better to v.heel then than on mornings which are frosty, as the wheel moves much more easily and gets no incrustation, and even on lawns there is less of marking left. We have noticed that grass wheeled over when very frosty afterw.ards looks as if it had been charred, and the marks remain a long time. We have found ovir compost-heap consisting chiefly of the clearings li-om the flower garden, a few tree leaves, and a little horse-litter most useful. They were tlii-own up, well mixed, and the decayed flowers of Calceolarias, Verbenas, &c., gave enough of moisture to cause the whole to heat nicely, and yet to keep bulk well, and tliat without any turning. The whole has been used for making up a bed for a frame in wlueh E.arly Ash-lcaved Potatoes have been planted, also, for another bed for early Carrots ; and a deep earth pit has been filled and planted with Potatoes, as we can lay old sashes across it. The soil emi^loyed is that v.'hich has been used for Melons and Cucumbers, a little slaked lime and leaf mould being added. About 5 inches of soil is idaced on the bed, the started Potatoes placed in rows, and 5 or G inches of sod placed over them. Sometimes this is left in ridge form, but, as in the frames, more generally flat, in order that Radishes may bo sown between the rows. In planting, unless the Potatoes have been forwarded in small pots, which is a capital plan to make them tuber eax-ly, it is as well for the shoots of the sets not to be sprung more than 1 inch, as when larger and the roots are freely growing they are apt to receive a check. Planted out also some in pots, two sets in 16-sized pots, about S inches in diameter, and placed them in a pit where a little di-y heat could be given as well as a mild bottom heat. We have had them good at Christmas by this mode, and one advantage of having them in pots is, that they can be moved and placed under a little protection as soon as the tubers are fidl grown. Placed, also, a number of sets in -IS-sized pots. When the stems attam some size the pots and part of the stems will be plunged in a slight hotbed or leaf mould. The confinement of the roots causes tubers to form more quickly than where more room is given. We find that aU these things do better after the shortest day has passed than before ; and, there- fore, a week or two at this season is not of so much con- sequence. To have nice new Potatoes at Christmas, the sets of early Potatoes should be kept, well greened in a sunny spot in summer, and planted in the end of Sep- tember. Then the young Potatoes will be good. Those who are fond of young waxy Potatoes may have them easily all the winter with much less trouble. For instance : save a lot of the crop of 1803 over 1S64, pick them of all sprouts in spring, and keei> the tubers as dry and cool as possible over the summer. In September and onwards place these old tubers iu rather dry soil, leaf mould, &.C., in a dry place, put them in layers, covering all over with some G inches of soil, and during the winter, though a single stem never appears, very fau'-sized waxy tubers may be obtained. We have frequently passed them off as early Potatoes, and they have been approved of because they were new Potatoes, though possessing but lew of the best qualities of early Pota- toes grown in a frame or a pit, with the foUage exposed to sun and air in the usual way. Sowed Radishes also over the Carrot-box. We know of nothing jnore economical than a two-light early Carrot-bed, the Carrots are so nice, and the Radishes are all gone before the Carrots have grown to any size. The Radishes should not be thick, and if the Carrots are thinned chiefly by pidling the largest for use, there seems to be no end of gathering. Gave plenty of au- in favourable weather to early Radishes, Lettuces, and also to old Lettuces, Endive, &e. Sowed a iew more Kidney Beans, and among ihum a few of the Newington to be cooked whole if it is so desired. Packed- up Artichokes, Celery, and rim a layer of burnt earth and charred rubbish along the sides of Cabbages and autumn- planted Savoys. Placed, also, a little of the same, and some rotten dung over Asparagus for the winter rains to wash through, and proceeded with digging, trenching, &c., as the work could bo done. For Mushrooms, Sea-kale, &c., see last and pre«ous weeks. FEUIX GAEDEH-. Looked over bunches of Grapes, as one beiTy going will soon give you three or foui', and they will soon make a wreck of the bunch. To prevent damp put a little fire heat on every morning with air, a,nd in mild weather allowed it to go out in the afternoon. Generally leave a little air at back unless when frosty. Prepared for clearing and washing middle vinery on a wot morning, but left it as the weather became fine. Some of the Vines from excessive cropping for many years have become a little weak, and we have idaced lour young Vines by the side of the old ones, after removing earefnlly a portion of the old sod and furnishing with fresh for the young plants. This is a sort of make- shift, but when the old jjlants can be better spared (and the young ones, it not quite to our mind), they can be raised and a fresh border given to them. These Vines are aU planted outside and brought through holes in the front wall, and we cannot help it without changing the whole interior arrangements. Partly from the twist that must thus be given" to the stems, there has been a tendency in the latter to throw out lumps of cellular matter, and that we think has encouraged the nibbUug of mice, and these as weU as the excessive crops liave lessened the usual vigour of the Vines. The pieces of fresh soil wUl also encourage the old Vines, and by rearing some strong Mnes in pots, we wOl make sure of doing all fresh next season if not fully satisfied with the makeshift. We Watered the roots of these Vines, as soon as laid out and covered, with warm vrater. Used soil in a nice, friable, mellow state, and covered the gi'ound with a foot of hot leaves, and a covering to keep dry over all, so that the roots will be a little excited before the tops x'cceive any heat, some six weeks hence. Turned over the btter on the border of a first vinery, placing about 6 inches of leaves, a little warm, next the soil, and the old on the top, making in all about 15 inches. The heat in the border a few inches from the top was about 60", and these few leaves will raise it we think to nearly 70°. At a foot beneath the Dectmher 29, 1863. ] JOTJENAi OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 517 sm-faoe it will be from 55° to G0°, and in a week or so we will start with a little fire heat. Figs in the house we are keeping cool and rather dry, and will not prune until growth commences. Every avail- able inch beneatli them is covered with bedding plants. We will move some Fig trees in pots, and most likely a few Peach trees in pots into the first vinery ; and if there should be any vacancy from planting young Vines, the place can be filled vip with Vines in pots. A number of these that have been plunged for some time in a mEd heat in an earth pit have been plunged again after the bed was turned, a bank of horse-droppmgs placed inside in Iront of the pit, and glass sashes laid across, and but little ah- given. Tlie insects mnst have a wonderful constitution if they escape the steams from the horse-droppings. As these Vines come forwai'd a bit we will remove them to where they can have a dry heat. Kept moistening the Vines in pit, which seem to be beginning to move, the j^lace beneath being supplied with Dwarf Kidney Beans in bloom and swelling. Another pit which is G feet in width, with a smaller pit in front for Cucumbers, Melons, &c., stands well for the sun ; and there is a shelf at the back on which Black Prince Strawberries are jjlaced. Between the back wall and the narrow pit in fi-ont is a narrow pathway. We wanted to have three or foul' rows of S tro.wberries in front of those on the shelf over the pathway and the bed. And now, to manage it in the easiest way. Some old larch poles were found. These were cut so as to go across from wall to wall on the same slope as the glass, and about 16 inches from it, the end of tlie poles being sloped likewise, so that as they pressed against the wall the more weight placed on them the fn'mer they would be. These poles formed the rafters for temporai'y shelves laid longitudinally across them, and a small wedge of wood placed ou the pole in ii-ont of the shelf would keep it level. These poles, the shelves being removed, may be taken away in a few minutes to form the groundwork for a stage in any other pit of a similar size ; and tlius Stra,w- berries and anything else rnaj' be brought as near the glass as it is desirable. In the present case, as we will only use three or four shelves at present, the pit will continue to be filled with other things. We do not think of any more simple plan at present; and we allude to it more promi- nently, as an inquu-y has been made whether such a pit might not be filled with leaves to the requisite height and slope, and the Strawberry-pots set or plunged in the leaves. We say Ko, for tv.'o reasons. Fh'st, by our plan, the pit being heated, there will be a greater circulation and a gi'eater body of au' about the plants ; and secondly, because when Strawberry-pots are kept plunged at this season tliey grow too much to foliage. Even in such a professed bed ' of leaves we would prefer the pots to stand on boards. Those we have set on shelves (temporary ones), have been brought from a frame in which they have stood a few weeks, as noticed last v^eek; and there is nothing betv/een the bottom of the pots and the board but a little moss. It is not likely they will fruit there ; but if they did, the pots would be thinned, and a little leaf mould placed over the moss, or most likely a thin piece of turf with the earthy side upwards, would be used instead of either. Preceded with pruning, nailing, &c., as opportunity offered. Put in cuttings of Cucumbers, and sowed a few seeds ; as several times stated, the leaves of those bearing now cannot have too much light. The temperature at night should be moderate, not to excite them too much — say about 60^ ; and it is important where length of fruitfulness is desirable that the plants should be allowed to ii-uit sparingly; one fruit now will be more exhausting than foiu' after the middle of March. V/here Melons are wanted early, seeds should now be sown. ORNAMENTAL DEPASTMENT. See last and previous weeks, and Mr. Keane's specific directions as to stove, forcing-pit, &c. Where you have plenty of room lai-ge lumps of Lily of the Valley may be placed on the floor of a forcing-house ; but if you want very fine pots yon must disentangle the roots, and use only plants having nice, firm, plumij buds, and cram these closely together. These will do in any forcing-house; but they will do better if you can give them a little bottom heat for a few weeks, whilst the buds are kept rather cool. With bedding plants, where there is no fire heat, the groat enemy will be damp, and the Verbenas and the finer Geraniums wUl be the first to show it. Calceolarias will stand a good portion, and seem to like it ; nevertheless, after the frost of Tuesday, we had all the lights off on Wednesday, in order that plants and surface soil might be weU dried, as, in such changeable weather, it behoves us to be prepared for a con- tinued fi-ost, whether it come or not. All plants in windows sliould be watered sparingly ; and our friends will be pleased to recollect that every bulb they use for window or room decoration will bloom better by having made abundance of roots before the leaves or the flower-stems appear. No jjlace is better for stai-ting Hyacinths, &c., for glasses or pots than a dark cool closet. The more the vessels are filled with roots before the stem appears the better will the bloom be. — R. P. COVENT GARDEN MAEKET.— Dec. 26. Tlie tieat murket of tlie week was on ChrUtnias eve. when a brisk trade wiS (loiic, but ihe sujjply beuiK- tq'iul to ihe retjuiremtnts ot the season, pdce.x were not alfecteii. Tu-dHy, tliounh there i.s plenty o( everything, but Utile is (lone in the way or bu-iint-ss. Ii..thouae Grapes are rather more scarce, and in Apples and Peiira nu fresh varieties have niude their apijeariJiicu ; indeed, owin:.,' to the ea-riy riiieiiinK of the iate liindH, t-uch as BeuitO Kancr, Ne I'lu^ Meuils, und Easter beuriL-, these are now fit for use, tind alter they f exammmg the trees with a candle alter dark.— VV. ^ All«makda NEniipoLiA TaEAT.MExT tA South-Jinsteni Suimibcr).- Keep the plant dry :■' •'■" =- - - - to! .,,,■, ... ... . "■•- r-.'"- ..... o^^ull«c^^ ijaea.aoout. n their length il u is a young plant, but if it is large and the wood well ripened the .shoots may safely bo cut back to the second joint. Absut a furiniclit n? i'he ,'^ "'■ I ' '"■e"'""'K "' ""'^l'. '-'PM ">■; plant, t,,l„:,g away as much of the old SOI as can coi.veuicntly be done without injuring tha roots. Drain w;ell and use a compost of turfy lo.im half, leaf sou onc-fourth, and well-rotted manure oni-foui th, with a liberal admixture of sharp san.i if the plant is young omit ihe manure, supplying its place with turfy loam. When Ihe plant mow, .signs of growing cut it in as mentioned before, and be rather sparing ot water until growtli fairly commences, when liberal waterings are required. Abumlance of light and air, with copious syring- '■'«.^„|'''= "a^'S't"- Alter lebiuary the temperature should range from 5.}" to (0 Ihi.s p.ant is the hardiest of the Allamandas, and deserves more extended cultivation on nccoant of its giving a colour much wanted for enect in conservatory decoration in summer and autumn. Cisscs mscoioR (/,frral.- You arc quite right in keeping dry at the root. Continue to do so until .March, but do notallow the stems to ^hlivel through excessive dryness. Water must be given to prevent this, and it is wonderlul how little IS necessary to do it. Pot in March, and place in gentle bottom aeat it you have it, and you will be surprised bow kindly the buds break in comparison to thtise not so stimulated. It requires a temperature of 53° to 65° in winter, and from C.:° to 80^ when growing. CINBRAKIA Leaves Cuki.ing {A Unburiljer, JorSj.-The leaves curl through a contraction of their tissues, which is mostly caused bv insects sucking out the juices of the leaves; but keeping the atmosphere too dry induces hasty ev.iporation from the leaves, and this causes tbem to curl up. 100 high a temperature at this season is also thecau.«e of the leaves curling lor it induces growth at a time when there is not sufficient li.'ht to perfect the growths made. Give abund.TOce of air, keep near the gla.-s, and discon- tinue the regular watering, giving water only when tlie plants need it • but do not let the leaves fl..g Irom want of it. Do not water, however, until they need it, then give enough to run through the pots. .See that the drainage js all right, and w.ilcli narrowly for the appearance of the green fly. We think the curled leaves would then improve after the dav lensthens Arrangement and Planting or Vineries (.1 Dtimbartonsliire YotUh). — Your arrangements are very good. You will have plenty of heat in the late house, and so you will in the early one, if you do not commence until January, es|iecially if you take two pipes round the end next the boiler. If you think of beginning earlier, yon had better have two pipes at the other end likewise. We would plant as follows, according to your own selection : —Earlij .ffofrsc — Prolific Sweetwater, Black Hamburgh, Bowood Muscat, Mill Hill Hamburgh, Canon Hail Muscat, Muscat cd' Alexandria and Damas Violet. For Late //o»se.— Victoria Hamburgh, Mucat Hamburgh, Koyal Muscadine, Lady Downes', Chasselas Musque. and Black Prince. Names of Plants (I'lo/eO.— No. 1, is one of the Holly-leaved pinnate Berberries, probably B. repens; 2, is some Passiftora, it is impossible to say which from a single starved leaf. ('/'. P.).— 1, fipacris purpiirascena. The others are garden varieties which you can much better name at the nearest nursery than we can without a collection of the plants at hand for comparison. 2 has the features of E. grandiflora; 3 and 4, of E. impressa. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. RELATIVE EJN^TEIES— BIRMINGHAM SHOW. The various reports of the great congress of poultry seem to prove that this Show has been eminently successful. True, there has been a very unexpected exhibition on the part of one of the Judges — one, which possibly wiU yet form the stibject of further steps. Our "old mother" would .nppe.ar to fancy herself "perfection." She, certainly, has been most successful ; butj as certainly, I v/ould take ex- ception to the opening paragraph of the " Eegulations," " No additional prizes or medals will be awarded, the ex- tended classification now adopted rendering any departure ffom the prize list in this respect unnecessary." The italics are mine. Now, in the analysis of the relative entries at this mon- ster Show, a difficulty arises at the outset. The method of entering is peculiar, but for practical purposes I have asstimed each entry to be 7s. Gd. ; and with this assumption as being equally fair to all breeds, I think I shall bo able to prove that a "departure from the 2m~.e list," if " unne- cessary" would be fairer thiin at present. The Show has proved that Black Hamburghs richly deserve ■and thoroughly sitpport a class of their own ; but it has shown almost as itnmistake.ably that the " degenerate Poles," or, in other words, " Creve Ccettrs," do not deserve a class, and this experience tallies with the entries at Worcester, where also they enjoyed a class to themselves. I do not fancy they will ever become great favottrites on this side of the water. I 2)lace the v.arious breeds according to then' value as returners of money to the coifers of the Show, and will then add a few remarks. r, J f A-., . V T>.- .- Amount rtceived Or fern/ ^^_,^^ ^n. of Pnz^s /or Entries at 1 ... Dorking 260 ... £C3 ... £100 7 G 2 ... Cochins 205 ... 62 ... 76 17 8 a Il.imburglis (Spanglctl and Pencilled) 199 ... 72 ... 74 12 B 4 ... Game 330 ... 129 ... I:?l 7 G :i ... llrahmas 34 ... 13 ... 12 15 0 0 ... Bantams Il.i ... 4S ... 4i 2 G 7 ... Black Hamburghs 23 ... HI ... 8 12 G » ... Spanish 71 ... 31 ... 2(1 12 C :i ... Pulands 47 ... 3a ... 17 12 (i 111 ... Malays 10 ... 10 ... 3 LI U U ... Cti5veCceuis 7 ... 10 ... 2 12 6 It is evident from these figures that if the Judges had hiid power to award additional prizes, the Dorkings most richly deserved it. I have never shown, and probably never shall show this breed. I, therefore, cannot be accused of partiality here ; but every unprejudiced eye must see at a glance that this breed deserves stiU'greater eneour.agement at Birmingham. This might be done either by interme- diate prizes of £i 10s., £'i 10s., &c., or by imiking a number of prizes of the same amount, the honour of being third or foiu'th being all the difl'eronce. If the Committee simply acknowletlge the justice of these remarks, they may work the remedy in any way they think best. No. 2 and No. 4 I will consider together. They have this in common that private individuals added cups of value, and thus increased, we may sujjpose, the comi^etition. These amounts I have not added to the prizes ottered. Were I to add it, Hamburghs would then become second, and Brahmas fourth, in order of payers. Both Game and Cochins are well encouraged at Bii-mingham, and they have responded Decsmber 29, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 519 fairly. The Brahmas scai-cely return their amount. They are not treated as they should be, and accordingly the cata- logue does not contain the names of several successful breeders — Messrs. Priest, Wrif;ht, Hinton, and Pigeon, for instance, are absent. Possibly they feel as I do, that the Brahmas do not receive sufficient encouragement. Taking 1863 as my guide, they pay Birmingham vastly better than Spanish, yet they have only two prizes in each class. The two varieties compete together, so that the light bh-ds are almost excluded from the prize list. They might be allowed a "two hens or pullets" class, or a "cock and one hen," and the Committee, I firmly believe, would be the gainers. The amount offered to Polands is greatly beyond their retui'us. One of the prizes in each class might be saved. What shall I say of Malays ? The returns are pitiful, and yet who would wish them excluded ? Would the Show be perfect without them ? I would suggest dividing the amount into three prizes instead of two; the fact being, that theso prizes are gained chiefly either by Mr. Ballance or Mr. Sykes, whose birds are most decidedly of very different strains, and their relative positions dependant on the Judges selected. Possibly, then, others might also notice this noble breed. The Creve Coeur makes a still more piteous appearance than the Malays. My slight experience of them is not in their favoui-, and one breeder who had been tolerably suc- cessful with them has parted with his, or was anxious to do so. I repeat that they do not appear to me likely to take much hold on English breeders. Time will show. Mean- while, then- entries at Worcester and Birmingham prove they do not at present merit a class to themselves. I hope to forward you my analysis of Darlington in the course of a few days. — ^Y. B. A. Z. P.S. — I thought experience had proved that it was un- wise to show two "Game ladies" together. Heuce shows adopted "cock and one hen" classes. Then why classes for two hens or pullets ? CAPTAIN" HEATON, ME. HINDSO:^, AND THE BIEMINGHAM SHOW. With reference to certain letters which have appeared in The Jouenal of Hoeticultube, stating that Captain Heaton and others wore admitted into the poultry bay at Bingley HaU dm-ing the time the Judges were making then- awards, v/e are informed by the Secretary that such was not the case, no person whatever being admitted to this part of the building until after the Judges had completed their duties. Captain Heaton did not enter Bingley Hall, until some time after the Judges had given in their awards in the Cochin classes. [The above has been sent to us by the Council of the Birmingham Cattle and Poultry Show; and Mr. Lythall, the Secretary, adds, that Mr. J. H. Williams, in whose name Mr. Hindson's Game fowls were exhibited, is the Mayor of Welsh- pool. We never suspected Capt. Heaton of influencing the Judges in their decisions ; but tlic complaint made is, that he and others were admitted into the j^oultry depai-tment in direct violation of the Society's rule 17, and especially of that ijart which precludes the public from being present whilst any part of the judging is proceeding. With regard to the Mayor of Welshpool, he appears to be the guilty party in exhibiting falsely another person's Game fowls as his own ; and, if so, we agree with Mr. Hindson in thinking that " his situation in life should have made him above such a scandalous action."] I HAD quite made up my mind not to reply to any more anonymous correspondence ; for I have but a poor opinion of a man who attacks another under the protection of an assumed name ; but I think the letter of Mr. Manning requu-es an answer from me — first, because he tills me in a straightforward manner that he considers I have committed an error ; and, secondly, because he imagines that I wilfully broke one of the regulations of the Bii-mingham Show. To justify my conduct with the pubUc, and to prove that the Birmingham Committee never attempted to show any favour towards me, I beg to state the circumstaoces under which I viewed the poultry on the Saturday evening exactly as they happened ; and I trust, by so doing, I shall convince your readers that I am not the dreadful culprit that some would have them believe. I was one of those who paid 10s. to see the cattle judged. About six o'clock (the Judges having completed their awards), whilst I was talking to one of the Committee, I heard him give an order to the poHceman in charge of the entrance to the poultry department to admit all who wished to look at the fowls. I saw numbers enter the room ; and, having heard a distinct order given from one in authority, I did not consider (nor do I now), that I was breaking any rule, or taking an unfair advantage of others in following those who had gone before me. The ord^^r from the Com- mittee did not emanate from any request of mine. It is not my intention to reply to the remarks of my poetical friend " Small Fey ;" for, were I to do so, 1 should widen the breach rather than heal it. I must now leave you and your readers to decide if I am guilty of the faults laid to my chai'ge. — Henet Heaton. I AM obliged for the insertion of my letter, and also Mr. Smith's, refuting the charge insinuated in a previous article on the Birmingham Show. Unfortunately, however, your c including commentary would seem to imply that there was coUuslon of some nature ; and from this 1 can scarcely think you have given either of the letters inserted an at- tentive perusal. Tou say, "It is unfortunate Mr. Hind- son did not announce his discovery untU after one of the public had detected the fact." This is met by the assertion in my letter that I was the first to make, as well as the first to announce, the discovery that the birds were my own and exhibited without my knowledge or consent, and this assertion is corroborated by Mr. Smith in his letter. Surely such a satisfactory statement, so respectably and empha- tically verified, should have protected me from any implied aspersion ? As to who Mr. WiUiams is, I can only give you hearsay information, as I am unacquainted with this person, and have no desire to cultivate an intuuacy with him ; but I am told he either now holds, or has held, the position of Maror of Welshpool. I trust this rejoinder wiU clear all doubts upon the subject.— Joseph Hindson, Barton House, near Llcerpool. That the awards to three of the pens of Game fowls at Bumingham this year have caused more astonishment and animadversion than all the others put together will be ac- knowled"-ed by those amateurs present at Bingley Hall on November 30th, and probably by hearsay from many others who had not the opportunity of then seeing them. One fact connected with this case seems now quite overlooked, but at the time it was not only a most prominent one, but such also as in the opinion of those present thi-ew a strong light on the subject. It, however, still remains unexplained —all three of these Game cocks in the afterwards " dis- qualified " pens were marked alike in the nostiils, and, after the most caa-eful examination by a host of amateurs of every other pen containing a Game cock thi-oughout the whole Show, there proved not a single cock among the others similarly marked. It seems, at least, on the fii'st blush of the thiniT, as somewhat remarkable that a fact so obvious to strangers in these three fowls, should be quite passed over without instant detection by Mr. Hindson their owner. Perhaps, therefore, that gentleman mil explam this for the benefit of a poultry amateur who never yet exhibited a— Game Cock. In the last Number of your Journal you say it is to be regretted that Mr. Hindson did not declare the birds to be his before the fact was discovered by one of the public. 1 should readilv admit the force of this remark if it were true. But is" it true ? You do not say when the discovery you refer to was made ; but unless it was previous to the openino- of the Show on the Monday morning, it was not before Mr. Hindson had supplied the information upon which these pens were disqu.alified. It is true some little delay occun-ed before there was a public announcement that the prizes had been canceUed ; but as this delay was not occasioned by any hesitation or reluctance on the part ot S20 JOURNAL OP HOKTICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ ccoember 29, 1863. jVIr. Hindson, it is rather hard that it shoiUd be made the ground of an inference ac,'aiiist him. Tour inquiries about Mr. Williams I am quite unable to answer. I neither know who he is nor by what means he became possessed of these fowls. I should, liowever, be surprised to learn that there is any truth in the report you refer to— that lie is a person under the control of Mr. Hindson ; and, until some proof is produced ou this point, I must take the liberty of disbelieving that such is the case. But let tliis be as it may, the real vital question is — "Were these fowls sent to Bbmingham with Mr. Hindsou"s knowledge or consent? If it can be proved they were, I should be the first to admit that no defence, or even extenuation, is possible ; but if, as I beHeve, they were obtained from the person who had charge of tliem without M!r. Hindson' s authority, tlie imputations cast ui3on him are rmjust, and ought to be retracted. I never saw Mr. Hindson until I met him at Bh-mingham, and I have no motive, except a regard for what is just and fan-, in offering my testimony on liis behalf. I believe he performed his duties with ability and con- scientiousness ; but I declaj'e my conviction that he is free from all reproach in tliis matter, because what I know of his conduct in reference to these prizes is entii-ely inconsistent with any other suijposition. — J. H. Smith. MAjN'CHESTER EXHIBITIOJV OF POULTRY. The Poultry Show at Mancljester being one of the last if not the very last show of the kind that takes place in tlie yeai-, is always looked forward to with great interest by exhibitors. This year it formed no exception to those pre- viously lield, for not only was there a good general compe- tition, but certainly the attendance of amateurs was also numerically strong. A great featm-e of the Poultry Show thus annually lield at the BeUe Vue Zoological Gardens is this, the proprietors never leave anything connected with then- exhibition to be carried out by others, unless imder then- own immediate supervision, and it is but common justice to add, that nearly the whole of the actual labour is cheerfully undertalcen by the Messrs. Jennisou, as a task to be personally fulfilled. To this very cause may be attributed no small amount of the Manchester Show's success, and the absence of most of those errors that ofttimes arise in those instances where such matters fall only into the hands of underlings. It is known to many of our readers that the large hall in connection with this establishment is appro- priated for the time being entirely to the purposes of the Poultry Show. A more commodious and well-lighted edifice for a i^oultry exhibition could not be devised than the one referred to; and it is well just to name, that by no means the least advantage is the fact, that the whole is properly heated in case of any sudden requirement, as was the case this year the first day, from stress of weather. A Dog Show is held simultaneously, and the care bestowed on this department is equally worthy of commendation, though, perhaps, some- what digressive from matters connected with poultry. On the morning at an early hour, before the Judges awarded the premiums to the dogs, every dog was carefully permitted to exercise itself in the open air under the care of an appointed attendant, which the dogs evidently much enjoyed, and thus when the Arbitrators proceeded to their duties the animals seemed far more comfortable and at home than we usually find with dogs when first tethered in strange jjlaces. Their rooms were also properly heated. It is these little acts of attention that tend so much to make shows of any descrip- tion successful, and we proceed at once to notice the poultry particularly. The Silver-Grey Dorliiigs were certainly not nearly so good as might have been fairly anticipated ; in the class for adults there being not a pen to be CixUed a really good one — so much so, that the Judges must have strained their forbearance considerably to awai-d the prizes at all. We admit the first-prize pen to be the best of them ; but really their condition was the very opjjosite of good, the cock's comb lopping down over the eye more so than any bird's of like breed we ever met with ; but the other competing pens were all of them very faulty in colour of plumage. It is really a pity so good a breed of poultry as the Silver-Grey Dorkings shoixld be so badly represented, for they are not omy useful, but decidedly one ot the most attractive varieties (when truly bred), of any of the Dorking family. The Coloured Dorking classes and the White ones made ample amends for previous shortcomings. It is hopeless to wish for better than the Coloured exhibited by Viscountess Holmes- dale, which were rosy-combed ones, and yet by no means of coarse character. The great fault of the White Dorkings arose from the monstrous deformities of the combs in the cocks ; stiU, as before said, this breed of birds was at least equal to those formerly shown. It is essential for amateurs to see that the entries are prefectly correct, as at Manchester several pens of the best of the Dorkings were disqualified from being exhibited in the wrong classes. The Black S2xmish fowls, for which no less than six classes appeared in the Manchester prize schedule, were really a chief feature of the Show, and produced a lai-ge entry of the best of birds. Some of the hens, particularly, were of first- rate excellence. In the Cochin-china classes for Cinnamon and Buffs, Capt. Heaton left a very slight sweeping of premiums for his rivals. This gentleman, it vfiU be seen by reference to the prize list, secured no less than five first prizes out of the six offered for Buffs — a most extraordinary occurrence in these days for any one yard. The winners at the recent Show at Darlington are now added to Capt. Heaton's stock, so that with proper care and attention not only may he challenge present corapetition, but douljtless wiU be hai-d to beat in futm-e years also, providing the proper mating of his immense stock for breeding purposes be judiciously carried out. Certain it is no one breeder has so many high- class Buff Cochins in his possession at the present moment as Capt. Heaton. The Brown and Partridge-coloured Cochins were of quite average merit and formed a good col- lection. The White Cochins were perfect, Messrs. Dawson and Whitwell showing such as would prove a pride to any meeting. The lirahmas were not so good as hoped for, and the Malay classes were absolutely without a single entry in any of the four classes appropriated to them. Some capital Polands were shown so far as only two pens were concerned, but the Polish did not muster even half a dozen pens in the whole. The Game classes have rarely been excelled, and the com- petition was great. The Uamburcjhs were best among the Spangled varieties, the Pencilled not being so perfect in markings as they should be. The Geese, llucks, and Turkeijs were magnificent throughout. In the class for ornamental water fowls, the proprietor of the gardens had a really well-filled class of entirely his own birds, and this class was one of the most attractive to sight- seers of any in the Shov.-. Among them were admu-ably plumaged specimens of the Bean, Bai-nacle, and Brent Geese, and by no means less worthy Carolina Ducks, Pin- tails, Widgeon, Teal, Shelldiakes and CaU Ducks, yet the gardens themselves seemed still as well stocked as ever, the quantity kejit by the Messrs. Jenuison being beyond the credence of those who have not yet visited Belle Vue. As there was no competitor, Messrs. Jennison's prizes must literally have walked out of one pocket into the other. The entries for Tu/keys were small, but the quality was excellent. The feeding and watering of the poultry was most me- thodically carried out, and the Mauchesier Show proved not to have lost interest. The shov,- of Pigeons was better than any that has taken place before under the auspices of this Society. Dorkings (Silver Ore}-).— First, E. D. Holt. Second, J. K. Fowler. Cork. — Fir.-t, F. II. Taylor. C'/iifU«s.— i''ii>t, '1'. Slalter. ^ecl, H. Lacy. Second, 31. Hedley. Cockerel. — Fir.st, C. Priest, sccimd, .1. Wiighf Polish fBIacK witli Wlute Crests). — Coik, — Prize, J. Smith. Chickens. — Prize, J. Smith. Polish (Silver).— Cu(7i.-Prize, J. Heath. Hambliighs (Golden-pencilieu). — First, J. K. Powers. Second, J. Neville. Chickens.— Vn^t. and Second, T. H. Ashton. Third, Captain Pares. Cockerel. — Fir;t, N. Barter. Second, M'. Kershaw. Hambuiigiis (Silver-spangledi.— First, Kialit Hon. Viscountess Holmes- dale, ."-(-cond, J. Mobinson. Chickniis —^\vr^i, P.iitht Hon. A'iscountesa Holraesdale. Secor.d, C. M. Kryds. iligilly Commended, J. Robinson. 0)cA-ei-p/.— fiist, .1. itobinson. Second, T. W. Walsh. IlAMDL-itGH Hens (Pencilled).— Prize, C. W. brie.-ley. P/(//eZ«.— First, Kev. T- L. Feiiowes. Second, W. Kothwell. Highly Commended, J. Morris. HAMBt'RGHs (Golden-spangled) ^First. J. Robinson. Second, I. Davies. Coc/i. — First. H. W. B. Be nviuk. Secmd, G Brook. C/iic/.f(is.— First, iV. Marlor. Second, C. Broudbent, C"o(.7.T/-e/.— Firat, S. H. Hyde. Second, W. Kershaw. Hamburghs (Silver-Spangled).— First, W. Cannon. Second, T. Dale. Cock.—tivsl and Second, W. Slepb»ns, C/ncA-e7i.s. — First, Right Hon. Visconntess Holmesd.ile. Second, r. H. Aslitoii. Commended. J. Robinson. <7o( A'err/.— First, \V. Hargreaves. Second. V. Swindells. Hens. — tirst, llev, W. Sa'jeantsun. Second, H. W. B. Berwick. Hamburghs (Spangled).- First, W. W. Micholls. Second, Rev. T. L. Feiiowes. Game (EKack-bi-rasted Reds).— First, S. Matthew. Second, M. Billinff, jun. Third. Mrs. Hay. Highly Commended, F. Sales. 6'ot7i:.— First, C. Chaloner. Second, H. M. Juli.in. Third, .1. J. Craitidge. Highly Com- mended, J. Sundeiland. jun.; M. Billing, jun. Coinmeiided, i;. Hewer. Chickens.— ^u-^t, il li.lling. jun. Second. W. T. Kverard. Third, J. Halsali. Commended, H. Paikinson; C. Slubbs. Cockerel. — First, M. Billing, jun. Second, J. Slubos. Gajie (Brown and other Reds, except Blaik-breasted). — Fiist, T Robinson. Second, IJ. Adams. Cock. — First, C. Challoner. Second. W. Boyes. Third, W. \Vhit«ell, Higbly Commended, .\l.;liilllng, jun. Com- mended, T. Statter; M. Billing, jun. Chickens. — First. Mrs. Hay, Second, W. Copple. Third. \V. \YbittteU. Highly Commenaed, S. Matllien ; T. Statter; Mrs. E.Bennett. Commended, J. Wood. Cockerel. — First, E. Bowers. Second, T. Siatter. Commen'^ed, J. Wood. Gamk Hkss.— Flrtt. W. Boyes. Second, H. Adams. Higbly Com- mended, A. Woods; E. Aykrojd; M. Billing, jun. rullet.—ii\s,t, C. \\. Biierley. Second; G. Clements. 'Jliird, M. billing, jun. Ilii^hly Com- mended, E. Ajkroyd; Mrs. S. .L Whitham ; G. Ciemcuts. Commended, '£. W. Redhead. Game (Duckwings and other Greys and Blues).— First, S. Matthew. Second, W. Boyes. Commended, H. .Adams, r/iiciens. — First, J. Halsali. Second, W. T. F:verald. Third. E, Aykroyd. Highly Commended, J. Holme. Game (except Black-breasted and other Ktdsj. — First, E. Aykroyd. Second, M. Billing, jan. Hij;lily Commended, H. .\dauis ; E. Needbam. C'/(ir/.f?'6— First, W. T. Everard. Second, iM. Billing, jun. Game (Black and Brassy-winged, except Greys).— Prize, M. Billing, jun. C/ifcAtvis. —Prize, U. M. .lulian. Game (White and Files).— First, M. Bil ing, jun. Second, T. West. Higlily Commended, S. .Matthew ; li. Adams. Commended, Mrs. S. J. Whitham. C/iiV/iiiii'.— First, T. West. Secord. M. Billing, jun. Ga-me Hens : except lilack-breasted and other Reds). — eiist, H.Adams. Second, J. Goodvvm. C/iu7i-e«5.— X''ir.-t, T. NVest. Second, W. T. Everurd. Game Bamams ( tdatk-breasled and olher Rfds'.— F'iist, E. W. Crawlord. Second, Sir St. G. Gore, Bait. Third, J. .Munn. Highly Commended, E. Musgrovc. Commended, C. Martin. GA>n: Bantams (Any other variety).— Prize, C. W'. Brierley. Fullcti.- First, E. A. Crawford. Second, J. Garlick. Game Bantam Cock — tirst, C. W. Br.erley. Second, E. Musgrove. Cockerel— Idlest, J. \V. Morris. Second, J. Shortbose. Bantams (Siiver-laced). — Prize, R. Chase. Chiikens. -Fvize^ J. W. Morris. Bantams (White, Clean-legged;.— Prize, F. Marten. Chickens.- Pny.e, Sir St. G. Gore, Bait. Bantams i Black, Clean-legged).— Prize, Miss K. Charlton. Chickens. — First, .\li,-s K. Charlton. Second, Mrs. F. Hus.-ey-Freke. Bantams i Any other variety).- Prize, F. Mai ten. Bantams (except Game Bantams). — Prize, C. W. Brierley. Ducks (While Aylesbury).— Fiist, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. Second, J. IC Fowler. Highly Commended, J. Piatt; J. Smith. Commended, J. K. t Fowler. 1 Docks (Bonen).— First, S. Shaw. Second, W. Copple. Third, J. Holme. Ducks (Black East Indian).— First, K. W. Earle. Second, J. it. Jessop. Docks (Any other variety).-Fii>l, C. P. Ackers. Second, T. WakeReld. Ornamental \V.\tir Fowls. — Fust, Second, Third, Highly Com- mended, and Commended, J. Jennison. Geese ( Wbuel.— Fir^t, W. Kershaw. Second, J. Southern. Highly Commended, J. K. Fowler. Coinmeii ed, J, Brundrett, jun. Gekse lOrey and .Mottled).- First, J. K. Fowler. Second, J. Southern. TURKBVS.— Prize, J. Smith. Commended, Mrs. E. Skerrett. Poults.— First, J. W. Smith. Second, Rev. W. Serjeantson. Highly Commended, Mrs F.. Skerrett. Commended, .1. Smith. KxTiiA Stock.— First, K. F. Goodwin (Black Hamburgh). Second, W. Nicholls (BLi.k Hamburgh). PIGEONS. The collection of Pigeons, altliougli not numerous, was exceedinglv choice. In Fowters Mr. Eden had a very easy- victory with his fine Whites and Blues. Carriers were ex- ceDent, Messrs. Eden and Else taking all the prizes ; the most noticeable being the Duns aud wonderful Black cock of the former, and Mr. Else's remarkably line Black Hen. In Dragoons good Blues were fu-st and Yellows second. In Jacobins Mr. Esquilaut was first with a very small fine pair of Eeds ; and Mr. Lawrence's excellent Yellows were second, reversino- the late Bii-miugham decisions. In Witiis the Black-headed variety took the prize. In Barbs Mr. Eden was first with a promising pair of young Blacks, and also received high commendations for a like pair. Mr. Sanday took second with Blacks also, one of which was so much ail'ecte i in the head as to be out of place in an exhibitiou-pen, and unlikely to reach home alive. In Turhits Mr. Shaw had first with a good pair of Eeds in splendid condition ; Blues taking second. Owls formed one of the best classes in this department, good "Whites taking both prizes. In Trum- jteters Mr. Gates struggles manfully with his capital Whites, always well shown, but has to succumb to Mr. Shaw's mag- nificent Black Mottles whenever they put in an appearance. As on many previous occasions the above-named again occupied the respective positions of first and second ; and Mr. Shaw has reason to be proud of his reaUy wonderful pair. In Fantails it seems to be the humour- of the " ruliiig powers" to prefer Crested birds. A short time ago this variety merely received " high commendation as IndiaJis." The present instance was no exception to late decisions. No doubt they were excellent in tail, but the smaJlness, extraordinary grace, and symmetry of some of the Smooth- headed kind is wanting. In Almond Tumblers the late Bir- mingham decisions were reversed, Mr. Eden having both prizes, while Mr. Else's ■/, ere very highly commended. The second-prize pen were rather unevenly matched, though good in other respects. Balds were good. Mi-. EsquUant having both jirizes witli Blues. In Beards Messrs. Fielding and E'squUant divided the prizes with fine Blues. Any other Variety Tumblers was a good class, both prizes being awarded to ill-. Lden's very fine Black Mottles. In ^liiy other new or distinct breed, Mr. Yardley added another to his Ust of prizes with his well-known Satinettes ; a beautiful pair of Isabels taking second, and Hyacinths were commended. A pair of Black -taOed Owls were again tried in this class, and were passed over unnoticed. It would seem that the Ai-bi- trator coincides with our remarks on the Birmingham Show —that the birds in question are improperly classified. Powters.— First and Second, P. Eden. „■ , , Carriers iWacK) Cw/t.-First, P. Eden. Second, F- I'-'se. ^ ei-y Highly Commenced, J. Wads xorlh ; 1'. Eden. Co.k of anij other Colour.-Pnze, P. Kden i/en (Black).— First, F. Else. Second and Highly Commended, P. Eden. Jlen oj any other Coiour.— Prize, P. Eden Commended 'dka'goons -First, J. Perciva!. Second, F. Esquilant. Commended , J. Wadswoitli; F.Mangnull. JAC0Bi.->s.-Fir-t, F. F^quiiant. Second, J. T. Lawrence. Nuns. — Prize, T. U'-dpeih. „.,,-, , , BARBS.-First. V. Eden. Second, G. \l. S.imly. Highly Commended, P. Eden. Commended, s. Shaw. ^ j j ,, -c. Ti-hbits.— First, S. Shaw. Second, H. JIagson, Commended, M. E. ''"owLS.-First, J. Fielding, jun. Second, G. H. Sanday. Commended, TnUMPETEES.-First.S .«haw. Second, W. H. C. Gates. FANTAILS. - First, H. Yardley. Second, J. W. Edge. Commended. ''''Al'.MON'D'TcMBLEES.-First and Second, P. Eden. Very Highly Com- mended, F. Else. Balds.— First and Second. F. Esquilant. , „ „, r. a a Ti MBLF.RS (Any other variety l. -First and Second, P. Eden. Commended, W. Woodhouse;'j. Fielding, jiui. BEARUS.-First. J. Fielding, jun. Second, F. Esquilant. ANV oiuFR New ur Distinct VAUiETV.-First, H. Yardley (Satinettes). Second, the Countess of Derby (Isabels). Commended, J. Cheetham (Hyscinlhs). 622 JOTXRNAL OF HOBTICTJLTTJBE AND COTTAGE GAEBENEE. [ December 29, 1863. Kabbitf..— Black and TT/itff.— Prize, G. F, Greensill. i'elloiv and White. —First, G. Wood. Second, K. I. Anson, 'JhrtuisesJiell —Virst, G. h\ GreenisiU. Spc(i;jd, H. Handlord. Itliic and White.— Vrize^ G South, jun. Grey and White.— Vir&i, H. Hiindf..rd. Second, A. Firth, ^etf Colour.— Prize, G. Jones. Longest JFars.— Prize, R. I. Anson. Foreign— ^nze^ J. Buchanan. Judges. — Povltry : Dorking, Creve Cceiir, Spanish, CocLin China, Brahma Pootra, Malay, and Polish Fowl — Mr. Hewitt, Birmingham; Mr. Teebay, Preston. Hamburgh, Bautam, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys, and Extra Stock — Mr. Douglas, London ; Mi*. Leuo, Dunstable. Game — Mr. Challoner, Chesterfield ; Mr. Sutherland, Burnley. Pigeons : Dr. Cottle, Cheltenham. Rabbits : Mr. Owen, London. SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. The fifth annual Exhibition of Pigeons and Canary birds, under the auspices of this Association, was held on the ISth and 19th inst., at the Eifie Hall, Waterloo Street, corner of Pitt Street, Glasgow. The entries were numerous, there being no fewer than 400 pens of Pigeons, and 211 cages of Canary bu-ds, numbering about 1000 head, and forming one of the finest exhibitions of the kind ever seen in this quarter. In the Pigeon department the competition was very keen, con- sequent upon the large number of excellent bu-ds which were brought forward. The entries for the silver cup consisted of very beautiful bh"ds, which were much admii-ed. In the Powter class the entries were more numerous than on any previous occasion, and the Pigeons were in splendid condi- tion; indeed, the competition in all the classes entered for medals was of a very keen description. The show of Can*ier Pigeons, both old and young, was also good, many birds remarkable for their beauty being exhibited. In the other classes, including Short-faced Tumblers, there was an ex- cellent display. The entries of Canary birds were also more numerous than last year ; and amongst the collection were many really pretty bu-ds, whose ibrms were faultless. Amongst the Belgian Fancy were some splendid bu-ds ; and in this class the competition was exceedingly keen. The show of Piebalds and Goldfinch Mules was much admired, the collec- tion containing many beautifully marked bii'ds. The following is the list of awards: — PIGEONS. PowTEES [Black Cocks).— First, H. Hawkins, Belfast. Second, K. Fulton, Deptfurd. Very Hi^ihly Commtnded, J. Miller, Glisgon. Highly Com- mended, M. Siiiait, Gly^fio\v. Coiiiiiiended, G. Uie, Dundee. PowiERS (Wliite Cocks),— First and Second, an^ Columbarian Medal, G. Ure, Dundee. Very Highly Commended, J. Wjillaco, Gla?KOw. PowTERS (Blue Cocks).— First, li. Fulton, Dei>tford. Second. D. Stewart, Penh. Very Highly Commended, J. MUler, Glasgow. Highly Com.- mended, J. li. Frame, Carluke. PowiEKs (Kcd Coek«j.— Fir^t, H. Ilawkin?, Belfast. Second, J. Ruthven, Glasgow. Very Highly Commended, J. U. Frame, Carlune. Highly Com- mended, J. \Vallacf, <;i:'S!^o\v. Comiiicnded, II. Brown, Sheffield. PowTEEs (Yellow Cocks).— First, J. Kmhven, Glaegow. teeond, G. Ure, Dundee. PowTERs [Cotk, Any other colour). — First, \V. Lightbody, Glasgow. Second, J. Wallace, GI;isgow. PowTERs (Black Hens). — First, J. H. Frame, Carluke. Second, G. Ure, Dundee. PowiKHs (White Heiis).— First and Columharian Medal, M. Sanderson, Edinburgh. Second, G. Ure, Dundee. Very Highly Commended, H. Hawkins, Belfast. Jli^hly Commended, G. Uie, Dundee. PowiERs (Blue Hens].— Firht, J. Cochran, Glasgow. Second, J. Ruthven, Glasgow. Very Highly Commended, G. Ure, Dundee. Highly Com- jQended, H. Hawkins, Belfa'-t. PowTEBs [lied Hens).— First, G. Ure. Dundee. Seconil, G, R. Potts, Snnderiand. Very Highly Commended, W. Is'ewtun, Newurk. PowTEiis (Yellow Hens).— lrn>t, G. Ure, Dundee. Secund, J. Huie, Glasgow. Very Highly Commended, M. tjtuart, Glasgow. Highly Com- roendcd, w. Newton, Newark. PowTEBS (Hen, Any other colour).— First, J. Muir, Glasgow. Second, J. Ruthven, Gla«igow. Cakkiees (Black Cocks).— First, G. Ure, Dundee. Second, T. CoUey, Sheffield. \n-v Highlr Commended, T. Collev, Highly Commended, H. Hawkins, Belfast. Cariuers (Dun Cocks), — First and Columbarian Medal, J. AVallace, Glasgow. Second, T. CoUey, Sheffield. Carriers (Black Hens).— First and ColumbiUan Medal, J, H. Frame, Carluke. Second, T. CoUcy, Sheffield. Very Highly Commended, G. Ure, Dundee. CAnaiKns {Dun Hens). — First, H. Holman, Plymouth. Secnnd, F. Else, London. Very Highly Commended, T. Sliori, Glae-gow. Highly Com- mended, T. Collev, Sheffield. Commended, H. Hawkins, Belta^t. SHORT-rACED SloTTLED TUMBLERS (An> colour). — First, G. Ure, Dundee. Second, H. Martin, Glasgow. Very Highly Commended, J. "Wallace, Glasgow. Short-faced Tumbt.ebs (Any other colour or vai iely). — First and Second, M. Stuart, Glasgow. Very Highly Cummended, M. Stuart. Highly Com- mended, 11- Fulton, Deptlord. ALMo^D Tumblers [Short-faced). — First and Columbarian Medal, M. Stuart, Glasgow. Second, G. Ure, Dundee. Very Highly Commended* J. Montgomery, Belfabt. lllghly Commended, J. Wallace, Glasgow. Com- mended, M. Stuart. Barbs (Cocks).— First and Second, J. H. Frame, Carluke. Babbs (Hens).— Firs', and Second, J. H. Frame, Carluke. Very Highly Commended, J. H. Rennards, Helensburgh. Fantail'^. -First and Silver Medal, H. Beldon, Bingley. Very Highly Cummended, J. P,. Jessop, Hull. F'antails,- First, G. Ure, Dundee. Second, J. L. Irvine. Very Highly Commended, R. Trench, sen., Pai(>lev. Jacobins.— Fir>t, R. Pickering, Carlisle. Second, J. Sharp, Johnstone. Very Highly Commended, T. Shore, Glasgow. Highly Commended, J. A. G. Chalmers, Gla-gow. Trbmpktfbs.— First, L. M. Ewart, Belf.ist. Second, H. Y'ardley, Bir- mingham. Very Highly Commended, F. Key, Beverley. TuBBns.— First, H. Y;irdley, Birmingham. Second, J. It. liennards, He!ensbur»;h. Very Highly Commended, F. Key, Beverley. Owls.— First, H. Beldon. bingk-y. Second, J, Fielding, Rochdale. Very Highly Commended. J. H. Frame, Carluke. Hichly Commended, H. Yardley, Birmingham. C'miniended, R. rickering, Carlisle. ^'u^s.— First, F. Key. Btnerley. Second, D. Gray, Kilbarchan. Very Highly Commended, H. Y'ardley, Birmingham. fllAcriES.— First, J. Peicivni. Ptckhara. Second, L. M. Ewart, Belfast Very Highly Commended, T. Short, Glasgow. Tumblers (Common).— First. A. Mortii^oii, Glapsow. Second, M. E. Jobling, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Third, W. Weir, GUsgow. Very Highly Commended, R. Pickering, Carlisle. Highly Commended, J. F'ielding, Kocbdale. OraER Breeds.— First, J. Huie, Glasgow. Second, G. Ure, Dundee. Third, M. £. Jobling, Newcasile-on-Tyne. Very Highly Commended, M. E. Jobling. Highly Commended, G. Jeffrey, Edinburgh. Comme&ded, J. Ruthven, Glasgow. EXTRA piii:;es. Three pens Fiintails, Jacobiu:*, Trumpeters, Turbits, Owls, Nuns, and Magpies.- First iJ^ilvt-r Cup), G. Die. Dundee. Very Hidily Commended, J. li. Uennaids, Helensburgh. Highly Commended, F. Else, Loudon. Com- mended. J. H. Frame, Carluke. Powteus (Black). -First (Silver Medal), G. Ure, Dundee. Very Highly Commended, G. Jeffrey, Edinburgh, Highly Commtnded, T. Short, Glasgow, PowTERs (White).— First (Silver Medal), G. Ure, Dundee. Very Highly Commended, M. Saudeibon, Edinburgh. Highly Commended, G. Ure, Dundee. Powter* (Blue).— First (Silver Medal). M. Stuart, Glasgow. Very Highly Co-nmenoed, G. Ure, Dundee. Highly Commended, J. Aiiller, Gla:?gow. Carriers (Any colour).— First (Silver Medal). H. Hawkins, Belfast. Very Highly Commeiided, G. Ure, Dundee. Highly Commended, R. Pickering, Carlisle. Almond Tumblers (Short-faced). — Firp-t (Silver Medal), M. Stuart, Glasgow. Very Hiciily Comnienrted, J. Crawford, Glasgow. Barbs (Any colour; —First (-Sliver Medal), J. H. Frame, Carluke. Very Highly Commended, !►. Stuart, Perth. Highly Commended, M. E. Jojling, Neucastle-on-Tjne. Commended, P. H. Jones, London. CANARIES. Pair Scotch fancy, the produce ot ISGi. or prior thereto— Firat (handsome piece of silver plutej ; and. Second, G, Wasterion, Glasgow. Scotch Fancy. Yellow Cocks.— First, T. Buchanan, Glasgow. Second, A. ^Vil80Il, Wishaw. Thud, S. Brown, Glasgow. Fourth, W. M'Leod, Glasgow. Buff Cocks.— First, G. Aviton, Glasgow. Secoud, J. Mitchell, Perth. Third, G. Binnie, Perth. Fourth, D. Stewart, Perth. Yellow Hens.— First. A. Wilson, \Vi:haw. Second, G. Masterton, Gla-gow. Third, W. Ferguson, Beiih. Fourth, R M'jMillan, Steven^ton. Buff Hens.— First, D. Johnstone, Glasgow. Second, J. M'Gill, Edin- burgh. Thiid, J. Kerr, Penh. F'ourtb, W. Thorn, Stevenston, Bet o IAN Fancy, YELLo\r Cocks.- First, R. Foi.'^yth, Edinburgh. Second, T. Haddow, Gl.isyo^. Third, J. Ruthven, Glasgow. BvFF Cocks— First, J. Huie, Glasgow. Second, W. Forrest, Edinburgh. Third. J. Edington, Leith. Yellow Hens. — F'irst, Mrs. Clark, Ghl^gow. Second, J. Beeby, Carlisle. Third, J. Henderson, Kendal. hcFF Hens.— First and Second, J. Huie, Glasgow. Third, R. Ruthven Glasgow. ^ Piedaliis. I Y'elt.ow Cocks.— First, C. Mnvilliauip, Glasgow. Second, H. Fisher, ■ Glasgow. Third, W. WiI»on, Muuchline. Buff Cocks —First, A. Wilson, Wishaw. Second, J. Johnston, Glasgow, Third, N. M'Lt-an. Glasgow. Y'kllow Hens.— First, T. Law, Newarlhill. Second, J. Fulton, Eeith. Third, H. Newail, Glasgow. Bltf Hkns. — First, J. Binning, Hamilton. Second, J. Armstrong, Glasgow, Third, R. "White, Paisley. Goldfinch Mcles. Yellow Cocks.— First, ^V. Kirk, Dunfermline. Second, J. Himilton. liuFF Cocks. — First, T. Buchanan, Glasgow, ftecoud, W. Kirk, Dun- fermline. Goldfinches. First, T. Adam, Paisley, Second, K. Paterson, Ghisgow. Third, G. Hamilton, Hamilton. The following gentlemen officiated as Judges : —For Pigeons: E. L. Corker, Esq., Croydon, SuiTey; and D. "Wol- steuliolme, Esq., Gray's Inn Koad, London. For Canaries : Messrs. James Graliam, Kilmai-nock ; Thomas Pate, Beith; Kobert Crawford, Kilbh:nie ; George Masterton, Thos. Had- dow, and George Horsbui-ghj Glasgow, Midland Counties Bird Show.- — It will be seen on refer- ence to our advertising columns that it is contemplated December 29, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTtTBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 523 holding an exhibition of Canaries, British and Foreign Birds, &c., at the Mechanics' Hall, Derby, on the 15th and 16th of next month. Derby, there can be little doubt, presents facilities for such an exhibition second to none in the king- dom, as it enjoys railway communication with all parts and is pretty centrally situated. ME. ALFRED HEATH'S ISABEL POWTERS. Being last week on a visit near Calne, I iaquu-ed for the residence of Mr. Alfred Heath ; for having read in this Journal an account of his Isabels or Isabel Powters, I had a curiosity to see the same I fortunately found Mr. Heath at home ; he most readOy and kindly showed me his birds, and I spent some time very pleasantly (for in the country a pigeon-fancier seldom meets with a brother), in examining the whole of his stock. In regard to the Isabels, there can be no doubt that they are Powters. As one jjair was recently sold by Mr. Stevens, Mr. Brent if not the buyer, probably saw them, and was confirmed in his opinion that they are Powters, as un- doubtedly they are, and nothing less or more. They have a very refined and delicate look, and I could not, when see- ing them, sever from my mind the idea of the Collared Turtle Dove (Columbarisoria), possibly this arose from their colour only. They also struck me as being admirably suited for an aviary, or where birds are kept confined, being just the Pigeons to be ladies' pets, and the nearer view you get of them the prettier they are, their elegant cream colour, to be fully appreciated, demanding a close mspeotion. The very full development of the crop in the hen is wox'th notice, and the thoroughly feathered state of their legs. On the whole, prettier, more slender-shaped, and more elegant Pigeons I never saw, and though Powters, yet among a number of those birds my eye fell upon them at once, for beauties of their own. Theii' fi'equently producing white or nearly white young ones, looks, I fancy, as if they were originally bred from a white Powter and another Pigeon, could it be the Columba risoria ? I once saw a young bird, but wliicli died, bred from a hen Dove and a very small high- bred Tumbler. I believe this was the case, a schoolfellow possessed the bu-ds and I was frequently his playmate and recollect seeing all three. After, therefore, a caa-eful examina- tion, I would certainly say that the Isabel Powter is a gain to our varieties of Pigeons. One word more. We know how very small difficulties become when a man is iu earnest in a pursuit or hobby. I have heard of such a man saying, " Sir, I never spell diffi- culty with a great D." And Spitalfields weavers with their valuable Tumblers, and Lancashire cotton operatives with their stands of fine Auiicidas, show that men in piu'suing recreations can make much out of scanty means. Here was Mr. Heath with a small square yard, with high buildings around — for Calne is an old-fashioned town with the streets naiTOw and the houses near together — yet iu this small yard he manages to have on the south side, a capitally arranged pigeon-loit on the ground floor-, full of valuable birds on the separate box system, each box capable of being closed, and all the birds having theh' freedom ; there is a covered run on another side for Spanish fowls, a fountain in the middle, and a little shallow bit of clean water on the Pigeon side with its tiny jet, for the Pigeons to bathe in — and aU, Pigeons and fowls, looking healthy. How Mr. Heath manages to prevent depredations from cats I cannot conceive, with such capital cat promenades all round him. "Who can estimate the in- nocent enjoyment, in the hours of leisure from business, which that small yard and its inhabitants afford Mr. Heath ? — WiLTSHIKB EeCTOE. POLLEN-GATHEBING AND BeES BeEEDING IN DeCEMEEE. — As a proof of the mildness of the winter, I may mention the following fact. Having occasion on .the afternoon of Satur- day, the 19th inst., to examine the roots of a wall tree immediately behind one of my hives (a Stowarton), to pre- vent annoyance from the bees, I ran in the sliding-door. Shortly thereafter I observed three foragers on the board anxiously awaiting admittance ; and to my surprise, in each case theii- thigh-baskets were sparingly laden with dark- coloured pollen, similar to what I was enabled to report collected in the end of January in the three last seasons. While surveying the ravages of foul brood in another stock on the 17th inst., I noticed a sprinkling of newly-laid eggs. Neither hive was excited by deeding ; the former was set on a ventilating eke. Fniit-buds on young pyramid pears are beginning to expand. — A Kenfkewshiee Bee-keepbe. u]S"itinct bees. Having given full particulars in page 423, of what I have found the best mode of driving a stock of bees and securing its queen, I now come to the means to be adopted for uniting the expelled workers to another colony. If the bees to which they are to be united are domiciled in a common hive, I know no better means of effecting the desired object than that described in page 59 of the last edition of " Bee-keeping for the Many " — viz., about an horn- after sunset to spread a cloth on the groimd opposite the stock to which the bees are to be joined, on which cloth two sticks must be laid about 8 inches apart, then with a smart stroke dash out the bees between the sticks, and in- stantly, but very gently, place the stock they are intended to enter upon the sticks, leave them for the night, having fii-st defended them from rain, should any fall, and in the morning an hour before sunrise replace the stock in its original position, and all will be peace and harmony. Thus far Mr. Payne, and he may be, and probably will be found to be right in a majority of cases ; but in many in- stances I have known daylight reveal a sickening scene of slaughter, so extensive as to make it more than doubtful if sufficient bees survived to render the attempted union of the slightest advantage to the stock intended to be benefited thereby. In order to diminish as much as possible the risk of such an unwelcome catastrophe, it is a good plan to treat both parties to a copious sprinkling of sugared water scented with pepijermint, which is easOy prepared by means of a little ordinary peppermint water added to simple syrup. This acts as a peacemaker in a double capacity — fir-st, by con- fusing their sense of smell, and by this means rendering it more difficult for them to identify one another; and, secondly, by inducing the probable belligerents to gorge themselves with food, in which stats " peace at any price " is theh' general maxim. When, on the other hand, the destitute family is to be united to one domiciled in either a bar or a frame-hive, I confine them towai'ds evening by tying them up seciu-ely in a cloth, and convey them in-doors for the night. In the forenoon, or towards the middle of the next day, I remove the crown-board of the hive to v/hich they are to be added, and temporarily deepen it above the bars by laying on it a wooden frame of the same diameter as the hive, 1 to IJ inch in depth. This done I replace the crown-board, blow a few whilis of smoke under it, and proceed to loosen the knots of the cloth and cord by which the expatriated unfortunates are confined. All being ready, the crown-board is once more removed, and the bees treated to a liberal dose of the scented syrup. Almost at the same moment the restraining cloth is removed from the straw hive, and a few whiffs of smoke blown on the bees clustered within. This is followed by in- verting the hive, and sprinkling the cluster with scented syi'up. The next instant the enth-e cluster is dashed on the top of the exposed bars of their new domicile, and the crown- board being replaced before the cluster has time to spread, or many bees to take wing, the junction is effected in far less time than it has taken to describe the mode in which it is managed. When both colonies are lodged in either bar or frame- hives of similar construction in the same apiai-y, I remove so many combs from the sides in such hive as to reduce them to one-half their original number, looking over the remaining combs one by one so as to assure myself of the existence of a queen in one case, and removing her entirely in the other.* These objects having been attained, the remaining combs and bees of the queenless stock are lifted out and placed on * She may be kept nlive a few days in order to provide against accident, by being placed with a fi:v^ of her subjects and a bit of honeycomb or barleysugar in a small perforated box, or under a -wine-Klass slightly raised on one aide to admit air, and kept in a warm room. 624 JOITENAL OF HOETICXJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ December 28, 1863. each side of the combs in the other hive ; stragglers having been brushed out on the to]) of the exposed bai-s, the crown- board may be replaced, and the job is complete. The use of smoke and scented syriip is an additional safeguard against a quarrel ; but as the bees usually gorge themselves with honey during the preliminary examination and removal of a moiety of the combs, I generally omit these precautions, and seldom have reason to regi'et the omission. All these modes of efi'ecting autumnal unions liave been fully tested, and may be relied upon as being eft'ectual in the great majority of cases. An occasional quarrel may sometimes ai-ise, and it is probable that with such pugnacious and beUicose insects no mode that can be devised wiU entu'ely obviate the possibility of such a contre (emps. When it is desired to unite common to Liguriaa bees the risk is considerably increased. Still, even this may be success- fully effected in the great majority of cases, if all those pre- cautions are adopted vt'hich have been indicated by — A Devonshike Bee-keepee. BEE-FLOWEES. I CAN confirm the observations of "A Eenfeewshiee Bee-keepek," that the value of Melilotus leucantha as a bee-flower is very much over-estimated by some writers. I had some for several years, and found that the bees fre- quented it so little that I discontinued growing it. Borage, on the contrary, the bees are so fond of that I have a succession of three crops during the season ; the fii'st I raise as early as jiossible, and the last is generally cut down with the frost, when about three parts of the flowers have come out. I also sow a succession of French poppies, which yield an immense quantity of farina, and also look very gay in the garden. On the 10th of October, my bees were so busy collecting farina from the poppies, that I counted eight bees on one flower at the same time. I never saw so many on one flower before. My bees were carrying farina into the hives on the 24th of November, which is some weeks later than the average of years. — William Caek, Clayton Bridge Ainary, Newton Seath, near Manchester. Acclimatisation at the Antipodes. — The Acclimati- sation Society of Victoria has fortunately met with very liberal support from the Government, and has been enabled to obtain a most valuable site in a reserve of &U0 acres appropriated as the Eoyal Park. It is described as being well grassed and timbered, presenting an agreeable un- dulating sui-face, though somewhat bleak and exposed. To this spot the Society and its fi-iends are enabled to take the animals and bu-ds which they may import into the colony. In order to fit it for the reception of animals a sum of about ^4000 has been expended. There are paddocks with sheds erected, into which the goats and llamas that feed about the park in the daytime are driven for shelter. In the 50 acres which are allotted to the Society ample arrange- ments have been made for dividing and classifying the Uve stock. Substantially-constructed cages contain pheasants and doves, and such class of birds, with shelter-cots in the centre. The water fowl have their ponds in which to disport, themselves and an island on which to breed. The zebras, the elks, and the ostriches have theu' separate compart- ments ; a system, in short, is provided even more complete than that which exists at the Zoological Gardens in the Eegent's Park. What would, however, be a novelty, and, indeed, a matter of surprise to many persons in this country, is the care which is manifestly bestowed upon the protection of those small birds which ai-e considered here as the general enemy of the gai-dener and fai-mer. There, sparrows, and rooks, and finches, and yeUowhammers, and blackbu-ds, and thrushes, and linnets, and robin redbreasts, and a host of other famUiar members of the feathered tribes have been brought together, and after resting from the fatigues of then- voyage across the sea, they are set at liberty to breed in the country, and establish for their races a home among the wilds of Australia. The birds which have been set at liberty at the Botanical Gardens of Victoria up to the present time have been eighteen canai-ies, eighteen black- birds, twenty-four thrushes, six Californian quails, sixty English wild ducks, thirty-five Java sparrows, four English robins, eight tui-tle doves, and fifty minor birds. At another point there have been located five pheasants, six skylarks, six Californian quails, four thrushes., four blackbirds, one pair white swans ; at Sandhm-st, four pheasants, four skylarks, and four thrushes ; at Yarra, six thrushes and four skylarks; and near Sydney, seven thrushes four skylarks and ten blackbirds. The stock on hand of beast, birds, and fishes is not only interesting, as showing the value which is set upon many things held as of little worth in this country, but is, moreover, highly creditable to the managers of the Society m the colony. — {Australian and New Zealand Gazette.) HEEBIVOKOUS ANIMALS AMONG YEWS. I HAVE always found in regard to the danger of yew to cattle, slieeiD, and horses, that in a growing state it is harm- less, but when cut and withering it has killed every animal that has eaten of it (as far as my experience goes), except a goat. The goat was with the heifers which died, but I cannot say positively that it ate the yew, though we always believed it did so. — J. M. S. [There is a decided conflict of evidence on this point. Dr. Martyn in his edition of Miller's " Gardeners' Dictionary " says : — " Some intelligent persons assert that the branches of yews while green are not noxious ; but among the number of cattle that we have known fall victims to this deadly food, not one has been found when it was opened but had a lump of green yew in its paunch."] Seeing an article on the above in yoiir Journal of the 15th December, page 471, recalls to my memory a fact to which I can fully bear testimony. Early in the spring of 1855, I was living at Stapleford Park, Leicestershii-e, the seat of the late Earl of Harborough, and in the end of January, or beginning of February, a very severe fi'ost set in, and the deer walked over the ice to a small island in the lake which was planted with some very fine yew trees ; and the consequence was, that in the course of two or three days more than one hundred head of deer were poisoned by browsing on the yew. This shows that the statement you have quoted from Gilpin,, is not correct, .although it is very possible that the poisonous effects of the yew might act with more deadly effect in consequence of the deer being starved to eat it in large quantity. — H. Gent, Loioer Clapton. [This is very important evidence. Mr. Gilpin evidently doubted the statement that deer are not poisoned by brows- ing on the yew, for he introduces it with " as park-keepers say."] Substitutes fob Holly Bebeies. — In answer to a cor- respondent, you say that you know of no method of dyeing peas so as to make up for a deficiency of holly berries in, winter decorations, and suggest that they should be dipped in melted sealing-wax. Here in Yorkshire we use glass beads similar to the enclosed, and a very good substitute they make. They may be jjurohased at the wholesale toyshops, and are generally sold at a low pi-ioe by the ounce. — Eustic EOBIN. [The beads sent are of glass, coated inside with melted red sealing-wax.] OUR LETTEE BOX. To Breeders of Partridge Cochins.— A few amateurs propose to raise by a subscription of agutaei each (subject to 10 per cent, rcductinn, for expenses} a fund to be awtiriied at the next Birmingham Show, in one prize (cup or specie) to the best pen of chickens of tlie above breed. This prize is to bo awarded to subscribers' birds only; the prize toco in accordance ■with the Birmingham prize list ; but should not a subscriber's birds be in the BirminKham prize list, the Judges ■wilt be requested to award tliio prize. The subscription will cUse on the 1st of March next. Subscribers' names must be sent in on or before that date to E. Tudman, Esq., Ash Grove, Whitchurch, Salop, who has kindly consented to receive the same. Newport Poultby Show.— In our notice of the main features of this Show, we inadvertently stat^,d that Lady Holmesdale had taken tliree first and five second prizes besides com mendntinns. whereas the prize list indicates Lady Holmesdale to have been a^\;irded^'?e first prizes, independently of the one for the best cnllection of Poultry, and the same number of second prizes, and one third prize ; such success we need hardly say, is only obtained by tlat good rwanagementand perseverance which Lady Holmesdale has always ehown in the condition of the fowls she has exhibited. y "~^l New York Botanical '"^'''"'".t-'^'^. 3 5185 00266 2854 mk Y P '3 >* M ,,^^9 ' ^^H ^..m l\ m ' '*^'^bL ff\ M^l m^^ ik f J jj w w . ¥' / ?f 1 1 If Ml «4 WN :C %.j