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. 



i'lgs doz. 



Filberts & Nuts loQ lbs. 6j 



Grapes, Hamburffhs. lb. 1 



Hambro's, Foreign 



Muscats 3 



Lemons 100 6 



Melons each 1 



d. s. 

 Gto4 

 



Mulben-ies quart 



Oranges 100 



Feais bush. 



dessert ^ sieve 



Pine Apples lb. 



Plums ....5 sieve 



Pomegranates eacli 



Quinces doz. 



Walnuts bush. 14 6 20 



VEGETABLES. 



.\sparagus bundle 6 



Beans, Kroad bush. 



Kidney J sieve 



Beet, red doz. 1 



Broccoli bundle 



Cabbage doz. 



Capsicums 100 1 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 2 



Celery bundle 1 



Cucumbers doz. 6 



Endive score 1 3 



F"ennel bunch 3 



Garlic and Shallots, lb. 8 



fiourds & Pumpk., each 



Herbs bunch 3 



Horseradish ... bundle 1 6 



d. s. d 

 to 10 

 



a 



6 

 6 



12 



3 2 6 



3 U 



8 











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. 



3 t 



1 

 1 



2 



2 

 2 

 



2 



6 



3 



6 



U 

 5 



1 (i 

 U 



4 



8 



4 



9 







8 



2 







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«»<t).--- We think 7™^ Grapes 

 are sutteiin- from mould. The berries are not sufficiently thinned for 

 han-ing, and the footstalks consequently mould from want of air. Ihe 

 bernes should be thinned so that they do not touch each other The 

 bunches should be daily examined to see that no mou dy berry exist and 

 when one is seen it should be taken out immediately, otherwise U>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- 



