which the late Mr. Veitch, of Exeter, gave me, and it was one that his collector sent home previous to our seeing or knowing what like the plant was. This season, however, we have cones of the natural size, and containing perfect seeds. Why is this? Because we have had, and shall have again, male catkins on those trees, and such catkins were not observed in previous years. It will certainly be interesting to know what others have observed in these

matters.

Bicton.

JAMES BARNES.

NOTES MADE AT THE FLORAL AND FRUIT COMMITTEES.

AT the meeting of February 20th, an extremely interesting show of Apples was an object of considerable interest. Though the season has been generally admitted to be one adverse to the keeping of Apples, it would not have been supposed to be true by any one who could have seen the splendid fruit shown. The fruits were large, plump, and fresh-looking, and seem as if they had been well and carefully preserved.

A first-class certificate was awarded to Messrs. Rivers & Son, of Sawbridgeworth, for a collection of American Apples, grown and ripened out of doors on Paradise stocks, and shown to evidence how very favourable to their proper development was the season just past. The varieties were large and nicely coloured. They were Boston Russet, Allen's Everlasting, Esopus Spitzemberg, Baldwin, Calville St. Sauveur, Rhode Island Greening, Lady's Sweeting, Lodgemore Nonpareil, Newtown Pippin, Melon Apple, Rome Beauty, Calville Blanche, and Sturmer Pippin. The same award was made to Mr. S. Ford, gardener to W. E. Hubbard, Esq., Horsham, for a collection of Apples, Pears, Oranges, and Limes. Of the former there were excellent examples of Scarlet Nonpareil, Court-Pendu-Plat, very highly coloured; Adams' Pearmain, Blenheim Orange, remarkably good; Dutch Mignonne, Royal Pearmain, Elstead Pippin, Black Jack, Shepherd's Seedling, King of Pippins, Scarlet Pearmain, Norfolk Beefing, Holland Pippin; of Pears, Knight's Monarch, Easter Beurré, Uvedale's St. Germain, March Bergamot, Joséphine de Malines, and Bequêne Musqué. Also sweet Oranges, which were said to be used at table; and some fruit of the prolific Lime. The same award was also given to Mr. Lynn, gardener to Lord Boston, Hedsor, for a collection of Apples, comprising Scarlet Nonpareil, excellent Cockle Pippin, Wellington, French Crab, so yellow in colour, and large in size, as to create some discussion as to whether it had been correctly named; Scarlet Russet, Cox's Orange Pippin, Small's Nonpareil, fine Court-Pendu-Plat, Lemon Pippin, Herefordshire Pearmain, Sturmer Pippin, Bess Pool, Golden Russet, Lewis's Incomparable, and a very fine yellow sort, name unknown. Mr. Lynn also sent some Black Hamburgh Grapes, which had been hanging since September, to show its valuable keeping properties; and a trio of Hedsor Prolific Winter Cucumber, a medium-sized fruit of the Sion House strain, very prolific, and invaluable for house work.

fine

From Mr. W. Hill, the Gardens, Keele Hall, Staffordshire, came very fruit of Citrons, to which a first-class certificate was awarded; and from the same exhibitor came a bunch of Lady Downe's Grape, also a bunch of Golden Lady Downe's, a medium-sized berry; no report was made as to its qualities.

To the department of the Floral Committee came from Mr. F. J. Graham, of Cranford, several large plants of the new Russian Violet Czar. The flowers are very large, of a purplish violet colour, and beautifully fragrant. A smaller variety, named Dagmar, was also produced, but was considered to be a good deal inferior to the foregoing.

Mr. W. Bull had three varieties of Camellias-Contessa Morella, white, slightly flaked with carmine; Venanzio, pale pinkish blush, suffused and flaked with rose; and Archiduc Carlo di Toscano, bright crimson, with pale rose centre, suffused with crimson, and flaked with white. From Messrs. Waterer

and Godfrey came three plants of Aucuba japonica vera, one of them a very handsome variety, having very large clusters of bright red berries. From the gardens of the Society came various ornamental and flowering plants, among them was a Cattleya, sent home by Mr. Weir, and Libonia floribunda, a very handsome and free-flowering greenhouse shrub, which was awarded a first-class certificate.

At the usual scientific meeting afterwards (presided over by Lord Henry Lennox, M.P.), the Rev. J. Dix made some comments on a few of the subjects present; as also did Mr. G. F. Wilson in regard to some of the fruit. The Rev. M. J. Berkeley produced a small branch of Wellingtonia gigantea, with male catkins, which had been obtained at Orton Longville, near Peterborough, and said to be the only specimens that had ever been produced in this country. Mr. W. Wilson Saunders also gave a very interesting address on the cultivation, &c., of some Orchids he had brought with him.

THE CULTIVATION OF THE MUSHROOM.

R. D.

THE excellent article on the cultivation of the Mushroom by Mr. Saul (see page 22), is so much to the purpose, that I have some hesitation in sending a few observations on the growth of Mushrooms in a house built here. This Mushroom-house is heated with hot-water pipes, and the beds have slate sides and bottoms, with iron pillars to support them, thus doing away with all timber fittings, which constantly decay and favour the breeding of woodlice

and other insects.

Mr. Saul's mode of preparing the horse-droppings is the best that can be adopted, for I find when droppings are thoroughly turned over daily in an open shed till dry, that beds can then be made with safety. His system of mixing loam with the droppings for large beds in sheds is likewise an excellent way of keeping such beds in a good bearing state, from the solidity and moisture so given them. When filling the beds here, after the droppings have been well turned over, and are dry enough, the beds are well trodden, or beaten very hard, and sometimes spawned on the same day. If any doubts are entertained as to the droppings not being fermented enough, or too wet, the holes are made and kept open, but the spawn is not inserted for a few days, till the heat is ascertained to be all right. The temperature of the house being kept at about an average of 60°, Mushrooms invariably appear in these beds in three or four weeks if the spawn be fresh and good. To make sure, I generally mix together the spawn from two or three different makers, when spawning the beds. The number of beds in the house here is twelve, and they are of large size, and the ease and certainty with which a large establishment can be daily supplied with Mushrooms is a proof that such houses are invaluable.

Another great advantage in having such a house is, that Sea-kale, Rhubarb, Endive, and Chicory can be easily forced in any quantities. I keep a lot of deep boxes with lids for the Sea-kale and Chicory, the roots being boxed in November, and covered with litter, so as to be always ready for bringing in during the most severe weather. The Endive is brought in from the protected borders as wanted, and planted in an open bed, where it blanches in a few days. I call this house the Russian-house, for it does duty for thawing frozen vegetables in hard winters, as well as furnishing all the above necessaries.

In my opinion there is not a more useful structure in a garden than a good Mushroom-house, where a large establishment has to be supplied in the winter months, and where gardeners want to live on good terms with the cook. In general, back sheds, or stokeholes have to be used for such purposes, but the supplies can never be regulated so well as in houses built for the purpose, and properly heated.

Welbeck.

WILLIAM TILLERY.

ON THE CULTURE OF THE NEAPOLITAN VIOLET. As winter flowers are so much sought after and esteemed, I venture to offer a few hints on the cultivation of the Neapolitan Violet, than which none is a greater favourite with the ladies; and with the exception, perhaps, of the Rose, none imparts a more delightful fragrance to the atmosphere of a room. It may be had in bloom from the first week in October to the last week in March, a period of six months; and if Roses be supplied during the other six, few other flowers will be required for cutting for the drawing-room or boudoir; indeed it is upon these two that I mainly rely to meet the demands for that purpose.

Writers in former Numbers of this periodical, have stated that the Neapolitan Violet may be grown in such places as turf pits, as recommended by Mr. Barnes, of Bicton; but it should be borne in mind that here, as well as at other places forty miles east of London, we are not favoured with a Devonshire climate. Even in the neighbourhood of Newbury, in Berkshire, where I lived eighteen years ago, I found it requisite to grow this plant in a brick pit heated by hot dung. In Violet-growing, as in everything else in gardening, unless the heart is in the work, failure will be the result, and instead of an abundance of flowers there will only be leaves.

My own mode of cultivation is as follows: About the first week in April I take the plants out of the pit, a common Melon pit, and cut the roots to pieces, avoiding any that are old and hard, as I prefer the young pieces that are rooted, for these make the best plants. I bed them out on a north border, in rows 15 inches apart, and the same distance from plant to plant in the row; this gives room for working the hoe between them, as well as for cutting off the runners as fast as they are produced, with the view of keeping the plants to one crown. It is necessary to use the hoe among them several times in the course of the summer, to keep the soil sweet and free from weeds; and should the weather become very dry, water must be given, either with a rose wateringpot, or from the syringe-I prefer the latter-about twice a-week during the hot weather, as the Violet delights in moisture. Abundance of bloom in December and January are the reward of careful summer treatment, especially in respect to watering.

For soil I prefer plenty of leaf mould, with the addition of a good proportion of road sand. I use about one barrowful of the latter to three of the former for growing them, both in the border and in the pit.

I will suppose that the summer's growth is completed, and that the plants are both large and full of flower-buds. About the first week in October, a pit is prepared as follows: Planks are laid crossways inside the pit, resting on the tops of the pigeon-holes, and on them is placed a single layer of faggots for drainage, and then just sufficient long dung to prevent the soil falling through. A depth of about 6 inches of soil will be found sufficient. The plants are then taken up, preserving a good ball to each, carried on a handbarrow to the pit, and planted in rows, in about 8 inches of soil, and with their tops about

8 inches from the glass. The distance apart must be regulated by the size of the plants; I generally allow about 1 foot between them each way.

After planting in the pit, should the soil become too wet from over-watering, it should be occasionally stirred with a small hoe, and any damp leaves picked off, as well as all the runners. I am aware that some gardeners do not take this trouble, but neither do they have much trouble in gathering the blooms. They get leaves in winter, and blooms in spring, when there are plenty in the hedgerows.

If the above directions be attended to, and fresh linings of hot dung placed round the pit or frame, so as to maintain a nice bottom heat, the glass covered with mats when necessary, and air given on all favourable occasions, plenty of beautiful double blooms will be ready to pick at any time during the winter months.

Elsenham Hall Gardens.

WILLIAM PLESTER.

A FEW REMARKS ON INSECTS.

THERE is nothing so destructive to a fruit garden as insects; nor is there anything in the business of gardening that requires more attention than obtaining an acquaintance with their character and habits, that we may be able to combat such enemies successfully. The subject is one of great importance, but gardeners will easily acquire from observation and books such a knowledge as will suffice for their profession.

In seasons favourable to them, the power which some insects, such as green fly, have of multiplying themselves, is almost incredible.

The Apple trees about London, and in some of the southern counties, suffered very much from insects last season. In Yorkshire, and other northern counties, the Apple trees escaped from caterpillars uninjured, and promise an abundant crop in the coming season; but during the early part of last summer thrips abounded, every flower, plant, shrub, and tree, being covered with them. On hot burning soils the red spider was also very numerous, attacking Strawberry plants in the open ground, and the Raspberry, Gooseberry, Peach, Apple &c. During the early part of September, aphides were unusually numerous for several days; they settled in masses on the Peach trees, which soon shed all their leaves. Fortunately, owing to the fine weather that had prevailed previously, the wood was pretty well matured, otherwise, the prospect of a crop this season would have been very doubtful.

I would strongly impress on fruit-growers the importance of watching carefully this season, and making an early attack upon every species of insect. As a precautionary measure, all the old shreds and ties should be removed from Peach trees, and the wood should all be well washed with a mixture of sulphur, soft soap, soot, and clay, mixed to the consistency of paint. If all the wall trees were painted it would be an advantage. Standard trees of all kinds will have been pretty well cleansed by the heavy rains we have had. Careful and unceasing attention in watching and destroying all insects on their first appearance is the best method of keeping them down. A few moments, in the early stage of insect life-at the first birth of the new colony-will do more to rid us for the season of that species than whole days of toil after the matter has been so long neglected that the enemy has become well established. Once left to multiply, the difficulty and labour of eradicating insects are considerably increased. The difference between destroying them at first and a fortnight afterwards, is frequently as between ten and ten thousand. A very little time and attention regularly devoted to the extermination of insects will

keep a large garden free from them. Constant attention and watchfulness in destroying insects on their first appearance, save a great deal of labour in the end.

The many insects that infest fruit trees may, for all practical purposes, be divided into four classes: 1st, Those which for a time harbour in the ground and may be attacked in the soil; 2nd, Winged and other species which may be attacked among the branches; 3rd, Aphides, or plant lice, which infest the young shoots; 4th, Moths, and all flying insects.

Insects, the larvae or grubs of which harbour in the ground during a certain season, are all, more or less, affected by the application of common salt as a topdressing. Salt is very disagreeable to nearly all this class of insects, but being a very powerful agent, it must be employed for this purpose with the greatest caution and judgment; if applied very frequently, or too plentifully, it will certainly cause the death of any tree.

It is astonishing what havoc caterpillars make of fruit trees if allowed to increase; in an incredibly short time a tree, or a whole orchard, as the case may be, is denuded of all its leaves, than which there is nothing so unsightly in a garden during the summer months, to say nothing of the loss of fruit. Watching well, and destroying them on their first appearance, is the best and wisest course that can be adopted; and, in default of other more rapid expedients, the old mode of hand-picking and crushing is the safest and surest that can be followed.

When caterpillars are very numerous, and hand-picking would occupy too much time, powdered white hellebore is a sure and quick means of destroying them. The mode of applying it is to dust it on them from a small dredger, One dose is, in general, sufficient; but as many of the caterpillars may be on the under side of the leaves at the time, and so may not get any, it is advisable to repeat the application after a few days; it is rarely that a third application is required. When caterpillars are very numerous on fruit trees, this is the surest and most speedy mode of destroying them.

Of the winged and other species which may be attacked among the branches, many small insects may be destroyed either by powerful odours, or by a strong decoction of tobacco. The great point is to do it in time; one or two syringings with tobacco water, and one or two fumigations with tobacco, will soon destroy a young colony; but if not taken in time, and allowed to increase, the difficulty of exterminating them effectually is very much greater.

Aphides, or plant lice, which infest the young shoots, are readily destroyed by fumigating with tobacco, and for clearing plants under glass it is the best and surest mode; but when fruit trees on walls and in the open ground are infested, the best mode to adopt is to syringe with tobacco water, which is an efficient remedy for aphides and many other insects that feed upon the young shoots and leaves of plants. The young shoots of Plum trees, Cherries, Peaches, Gooseberries, Currants, &c., are often infested with aphides in summer; the best plan for destroying these, is to dip the end of the shoots into tobacco water; it is rather a tedious plan, but for the black fly which attacks Cherry and Peach trees it is the best remedy. When the trees are syringed, the water does not reach all the insects so effectually as when the shoots are dipped into the water.

Moths, and all night-flying insects, are destroyed in large numbers by the following mode:-A flat saucer or vessel is set on the ground, and in it is placed a light, partially covered with a common bell-glass besmeared with oil. All the small moths are directly attracted by the light, fly towards it, and, in their attempts to get at the light, are either caught on the sides of the bell-glass, or fall into the basin of oil beneath, and in either case soon perish. If a