54 



JOUENAIi OF HOETICDLTOBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEB. 



I Janaary 16, 1868. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— January 15. 



There oro no alterations worth notice. A slight improvement may be 

 observed in the demand for a few choice articles, but that ig partial and 

 limited to country orders. Yerj' large arrivals of Oranges are reported, 

 and prices must recede. 



PEUIT. 



Apples i sieve 2 



Apricots doz. 



Cherries lb. 



Chestnuts bush. 8 



Currants ^ sieve 



Black do. 



Figs doz. 



Filberts lb. 1 



Cobs lb. 1 



Gooseberries ..quart 



3Tapes, Hothouse.. lb. 6 



Lemons 100 B 



e. d. e. 

 2 6to4 

 







































12 



Melons each 



Nectarines doz. 



Oranges 100 



Peaches doz. 



Pears (dessert) ..doz. 



Pine Apples lb. 



Plums ^ sieve 



Quinces doz. 



Raspberries lb. 



Strawberries lb. 



Walnuts bush. 10 18 



do per 100 10 2 



Artichokes doz. 



Aspara^B ICO 6 



Beans, Kidney 100 



Beet, Red doz. 2 



Broccoli bundle 



BruB. Sprouts i sieve 2 



Cabbage doz. 1 



CapBicums 100 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 3 



Celery bundle 1 



Cucumbers each 1 



Endive doz. 1 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish .. bundle 2 



VEGETABLEG. 



d. B. d 



OtoO I Leeks bunch 



10 j Lettuce per score 



3 , Mushrooms pottle 



3 ■ Mustd.& Cress, punnet 



6 16 1 Onions per bushel 



2 6 I Parsley per sieve 



4 2 Parsnips doz. 



Potatoes bushel 



8 i Kidney do. 



6 Radishes doz. bunches 

 I Rhubarb bundle 



2 Savoys doz. 



Sea-kale basket 



1 Shallots lb. 



\ Spinach bushel 



I Tomatoes per doz. 



4 I Turnips bunch 



d. 8. d 

 3 too 



1 6 



3 







5 



6 

 

 6 

 6 

 

 

 

 3 

 



TO CORRESPOhSDENTS. 



Geatting Wax (Southampton).— Take common sealing was. any colour 

 but green, one part; mutton fat, one part; white wax, one part; and 

 honey, one-eighth part. The white wax and the fat are to be first melted, 

 and then the sealing wax is to be added gradaally. in small pieces, the 

 mixture being kept constantly stiiTed; and, lastly, the honey must he put 

 in just before taking it off the fire. It should be poured hot into paper or 

 tin moulds, to preserve for use as wanted. 



Hays's Patent Stove (T. C.).— You are only one of many who cannot 

 obtain peat charcoal. Surely there must be some to be had of the com- 

 pany who manufacture it for manure. Can any of our readers give 

 relative information ? 



Gas Lime for Manure (C. B. F.).—li is a compound of sulphite of lime 

 — which becomes gypsum (sulphate of lime) by exposure to the air ; and 

 a little ammonia is mixed with it. It has been found very beneficial to 

 all the Clovers, Turnips, and other members of the Cabbage family. 

 Thirty bushels per acre are sufficient. The idea that this mnuure en- 

 com-ages the growth of coarse Grasses is quite erroneous. 



CoiTFRET (J. W. Edgar).— li is a native of England, and commonly 

 found on the banks of wet ditches and rivulets. It is called by botanists 

 Symphytum officinale. The roots contain much mucilage, and are em- 

 ployed in making drinks for those afflicted with coughs and other internal 

 irritations. The leaves are aromatic, and used to give a flavour to cakes, 

 Ac. The young stems and leaves ore boiled for use as a culinary veget- 

 able. 



LiLiDM MONAJ)ELPHUM suPEREUii. — We arc informed that this can be 

 had of M. Max Leichtlin, Carbruhe, Baden. 



Orchid Baskets. — A correspondent, " H. H.," wishes to know where 

 those figui"ed in Appleby's, " Orchid Manual " can be purchased. 



Vise in a Fern Case {Valentine Dalton). — A Black Hamburgh or a 

 Royal Muscadine will be the best Vine, if your case is to stand in a room 

 and have no heat except what the room affords. For your bos 2^ feet 

 long, 1 foot wide, and 18 inches deep for the Vine, we advise you to have 

 the bulk of the soil fibrous loam, and mixed with a peck of lime rubbish, 

 half a peck of broken boiled bones, and as much charcoal in small pieces, 

 not dust. In this the Vine will grow well, and you can keep up the 

 strength by rich top-dressings. 



Gladiolus on North Aspect (Fred). — The Gladiolus will not succeed 

 on the north side of a houee. where it will have but little sun. It should 

 have a good situation, and no shade whatever. To make a showy bed 

 the bulbs should be planted from 9 inches to 1 foot apart ; and in planting, 

 silver sand will answer best to place around the bulbs, but clean river 

 sand will do. 



Lobelias and TaorxoLUM? from Seed fW(?ni).— Plants from seed grow 

 much more freely than those from cuttings, and they flower very well the 

 first year, but not so early as plants struck from cuttings. 



Painting a Greenhouse {Idem). — You ought to have given the green- 

 house at least one coat of paint before it was pnt up ; and as soon as the 

 putty, after glazing, had become hardened, two nr three coats of lead and 

 oil paint ought to have been given. We advise you to lose no time in 

 having it well painted, taking care to have the woodwork thoroughly dry 

 before applying the paint, otherwise painting is worse than useless. 



Camellia Bloom Buds Falling {E. AT.).— The cause of the buds falling 

 is an insufficient amount of food supplied to them by the roots, in conse- 

 quence of these being inactive or not numerous enough to maintain the 

 plant in a healthy state. You can only effect a remedy by promoting a 

 more healthy root action. Probably the plant requires a change of soil, 

 the drainage may not be good, or too many buds may have been left. 

 One or at moBt two buds are Botficient to leave upon each shoot. 



Camellia Leaves Sticky (A Sub8cribcr).~yfe think that the CamcUias 

 are infested with scale ; and in that case your remedy will bo the washing 

 of the plants with a sponge dipped in a solution of soft soap at the rate 

 of 4 ozs. to the gallon of water, giving the plants a thorough cleaning on 

 the imder as well as the upper surface of the leaves, and the -shoots and 

 branches should be well washed. This will also free the plants of the 

 monldy spots, and be very beneficial. The Primula leaves are probably 

 sticky from the plants being placed under the Camellias, and their leavei 

 being covered with the secretion of the scale insect on the Camellias. 

 If you perceive very small pale brown spots on the midribs of the leaves, 

 or at the angles formed by the junction of the leaves or buds with the 

 shoots, pick them off with the point of a knife. These are the scale 

 insects that make the leaves sticky and cause the mouldy spots. Fnmi- 

 I gation with tobacco will not be effectual. You should keep the plants 

 well supplied with water, but not give any until the soil becomes dry : 

 then afford a good supply. A temperature of from 4QP to 45- by night, and 

 of 50 ' by day. is sufficient at this season, and in that your Camellias ought 

 to swell their buds well. 



Aquatic Plants for Ponds {J. E. J5oytf).— Nothing is more simple or 

 easy than the culture of aquatic plants, providing the bottom is covered 

 with a few inches thick of mud, and the plants are well planted. Before 

 the plants ore put into the water they should be fastened to a piece of 

 charred turf containing enough soil to sink it. Small or large stones in 

 proportion to the size of the plants will answer the same purpose. Thin 

 copper wire is best for securing the plants to the turf or stones. The 

 plants may then be dropped into the water at the places required. 

 In the deepest parts you may plant Nuphar lutea, Nymphrea alba, Alisma 

 plantago, A. lanceolata, Iris pseud-acorus. Rumcx hydrolapathum. Typha 

 latifolia, and ViUarsia nymphieoides ; whilst near to the margin" you 

 may plant, but in water of a depth of 1 foot or a little more. Stratiotes 

 aloides, Vallisneria spiralis, Pontedera cordata, P. Itinceolata. Myriophyl- 

 lum spicatum, Hydropeltis purpurea, Hottonia palustris, Btitomus um- 

 bellatus, Utricularia vulgaris, Ranunculus aquatilis, Hydrocharismorsus- 

 raniE, Carex acutum, Potamogeton densum, P. gramineum, Sagittaria 

 sagitt.-e folia and its double variety. Cyperus glomeratus ; and on the 

 margin, in the water but not overhead, Cardamine pratcnsis, C. pratensis 

 flore pleno. Caltha palustris, C. palustris flore pleno. Ranunculus tripar- 

 titus, Justicia pedunculosa, Menyanthes trifoliata, and Lysimachia thyr- 

 siflora. 



LiMEWASHiNG GOOSEBERRY BuSHES (IgnoramiMs). — Limewash apphed 

 to Gooseberry bushes will not injure them in the least; on the contrary, 

 it will free the stems of moss, and to a certain extent prevent the depre- 

 dations of birds. Nothing is so effectual in keeping birds from the buds 

 as stringing the bushes with worsted, extending this from branch to 

 branch, and crossing it as much as possible, so as to form meshes about 

 2 inches wide. 



American Blight {Idem). — The jiresence of American blight is indi- 

 cated by the branches having a white snow-like down hanging on them, 

 and the shoots swelling where it appears. The remedy is to apply train 

 oil with a brush to the parts affected. 



Scale on Pear Trees (W^hO.— This may be detected by the oblong 

 speck-like appearance of the insect on the shoots, and especially on the 

 spurs. The insects may be removed very readily with the point of a 

 knife, and a dressing of train oil will destroy them. It should be applied 

 whilst the trees are at rest. 



ORCH.utD Trees Unfruitful (Sew Subscriber).— We think your only 

 remedy is to have the ground drained. An occasional flooding would do 

 no great harm ; but as your soil is a stiff loam, too much water probably 

 lodges in the subsoil, and, owing to its not passing away, the growth does 

 not ripen well. We know a similar case, where drainage effected a com- 

 plete cure. It is difficult to explain why some trees should be fruitful 

 and others unfruitful. Unfruitfulness is sometimes constitutional, some- 

 times an effect of soil and climate. Carter's Prolific Raspberry will no 

 doubt bear, only do not shorten the canes much, as from their vigour the 

 side shoots may prove unfruitful. We should be glad if you would give 

 us the names of the kinds of Apples that bear well in your soil. Such 

 information is very valuable. 



Wire Netting for Protecting Fruit Trees from BraDS (J. N. P.).— 

 The mesh of the wire netting to exclude small birds should not exceed 

 1 inch. We presume you intend it to be movt-able, and only to be em- 

 ployed to protect the buds in spring and the fruit in summer, in which 

 case it would be excellent ; but if kept over the trees permanently we 

 fear it would exclude light to an injurious extent. 



BiGNONiA JASMINOEDES NOT FLOWERING (L. E.).— The pieco of shoot 

 enclosed was that of the Jasmine Begonia, a very handsome climber for 

 a greenhouse. The plant is probably too liberally potted, and is growing 

 very freely. We would confine its roots, still aUowiog them enough of 

 pot room for the plaat to make a good growth. It should be kept well 

 supplied with water whilst it is growing, but when at rest little water 

 will be necessary. The shoots must be kept moderately thin, so as to 

 expose them fuUy to light and air, and the hghter and nearer they are to 

 the glass the better will be the chance of bloom. The Fern fronds sent 

 us are those of Adiantum assimile, or a weak form of Adiantum cuneatnm, 

 but we are unable positively to ascertain which without seeing better 

 specimens. 



Stove Plant Culture {A S'-vcn-ycars Subscriber).— The Allamandas 

 may be pruned in February, cutting out the old and bare straggling 

 shoots, and shortening the growths of the previous year, leaving enough 

 young shoots or wood to furnish new shoots. When the plants have 

 begun to gi-ow they should be carefully turned out of the pots and re- 

 potted, removing as much of the old soil from amongst the roots as 

 possible, using for that purpose a pointed piece of wood, and taking care 

 not to injure or disturb the roots more than can be avoided. The plants, if 

 large, may be placed in the same size of pot as before ; but if large speci- 

 mens are wsmted and the plants are young and vigorous, it would be well 

 to give them larger pots. Good drainage and clean pots should be 

 afforded, and a compost of equal parts of sandy fibrous peat, turfy loam, 

 and leaf mould, well mixed with about a fourth part of pieces of charcoal 

 from the size of a pea up to that of a hazel nut, and silver sand. The 

 peat and loam should be torn in pieces with the hand, and be used rather 

 rough, pressing the soil rather firmly about the roots in potting. The 

 compost should be dry rather than wet. A gentle watering miy be given 

 after potting, and the plants should be sprinkled overhead twice daily 

 with water of the same temperature as the house, and every available 



