412 



JOUBKAL OF HORTICULTOBK AND COTTAGE GABDKNER, 



[ June 4, 1888. 



after planting. By means of Bmall holes this stiff soil waa well 

 watered afterwards, and as soon as the surface was a little dry 

 an inch of dry riddled mushroom dung was placed over it to 

 prevent evaporation from the soil. In one case no more water- 

 ingor syringing was given. In a second case, by means of 

 upright drain tiles water was transferred to near the bottom of 

 the soil, just as the Melons commenced swelling to ripening. 

 Neither foliage nor the surface of the soil was wetted from the 

 day of planting, but a few pans were set inside supplied with 

 water. These experiments are best done in small places where 

 the experimenter can attend to all himself. An assi-stant or a 

 labourer may easily derange the whole. Vfe merely mention 

 it that people may see that the daily shower bath" over the 

 foliage is not ahsolutely necessary. These Melons had no great 

 amount of artificial heat except in dull weather, and with a 

 temperature averaging 60° at night, with air given early. So 

 little was air given, that the thermometer often rose to 90°, 

 and 5° more in the heat of the day when the sun was bright ; 

 but it rose gradually and fell gradually, and there was no con- 

 fined scalding vapour. 



OP.NAMENTAL DETAKTMEXT. 



The hot days were trying to some fresh-planted subjects ; 

 but instead of deluging the ground with water and thus cooling 

 the soil about the roots, and as shading such numbers of plants 

 would be out of the question, the garden engine was employed 

 twice or thrice during the day just to sprinkle the foliage, and 

 what fell on the soil was soon raised about the plants by eva- 

 poration. One engine full of water would thus do a great deal 

 of this refreshing work. One reason why our planting the 

 flower garden takes so much time is the necessity of supporting 

 most of the plants on account of the wind ; and for this pur- 

 pose we use rough bushy twigs, not very pretty at first, but 

 which are soon concealed, and then they hold the plants quite 

 firmly and securely through the season. — E. F. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET— Jlne n. 



We have bad n cnntimious steady snpplv, and bnsinesa is rnther more 

 satisfactory than it was, but still falls far short of what we have been 

 accustomed to at this season. Pines, Peaches, Nectarines, and Grapes 

 are lower-priced than usual, and broupht in ranch larj»er quantities. 

 French produce is also amply supplied, and consists of Apricots, Cherries, 

 Figs, Melons, and Strawberrios, with the usual description of Salads, &c. 

 Large arrivals of non- Potatoes have reduced the price to 23«. per cwt. 



FRUIT, 



i. d. B. d 

 Apples ^ sieve 3 0to5 



Apricots doz. 2 



Cherries lb. 2 O 



Chestnuts bush. 



Currants ^ sieve n 





 



Black do. 



FiRS doz. 12 18 



Filberts lb. 10 



Cobs lb. 9 1 



Gooseberries ..quart 4 

 Grapes, Hothouse, .lb. 8 12 

 Lemons 100 8 12 



Melons each 4 



Nectarines doz. 10 



Oranges 100 4 



Peaches doz. IS 



Pears (dessert) ..doz. 



Pine Apples lb. 8 



Plums ^ sieve 



Quinces doz. 



Raspberries lb. 



Strawberries., per lb. 1 



Walnuts bush. 10 



do perlOO 1 



d. 



0to8 

 2!) 



d 





 

 



35 

 



10 



10 



Artichokes doz. 



Asparagus 100 



Beans, Kidney ....100 



Beet, Red doz. 



Broccoli bundle 



Brns. Sprouts ^ sieve 



Cabbage doz. 



Capsicums 100 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 



Celery bundle 



Cucnrabers each 



Endive doz. 



Fennel bunch 



Garlio lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish . . bundle 



VEGETABLES, 

 e. d. B. d I 



2 Oto3 Leeks bunch 



2 6 Lettuce .... per score 



16 Mushrooms .... pottle 2 



2 3 Mustd.4 Cress, punnet 

 9 1 0, Onions.... perbushel 4 



0; Parsley per eieve 3 



10 1 6 I Parsnips doz. n 



I Peas per quart 1 



10 Potatoes bushel 4 



SO 8 ' Kidney do. 4 



16 2 I Radishes doz. bunches 



4 1 , Rhubarb bundle 



10 ] Sea-kale basket 



3 0] Shallots lb. 



8 0' Spinach bushel 2 



3 ! Tomatoes per doz. 3 



3 5 1 Turnips bunch 



d. fl. d 



3 toO 

 fi 1 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



••• We request that no one -will write privately to tbe depart- 

 mental 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 addi-essed solely to 

 The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture^ d-c, 171, Fleet 

 Street, London, E.C. 



Currant Trees with Yellow Leaves (C. C. 17.).— The leaves are very 

 beautiful, and it the trees would permanently praduce such golden foliage 



they would he an acquiRition as ornamental shrubs. We think that the 

 seven trees which produro them must be decHninET in vi(^imr. If so, the 

 addition of manure and mulching the surface over the roots would 

 restore the natural green colour. 



AucrTHA Pollen {jB. M. Ro yds). —The male blossoms have passed away 

 a fortnight since. 



Daphnes (.7. iecl.— You can obtain them from any nurseryman. Thera 

 are many species, and they vary in price. 



Vine Cuttings tor Nfav Zealand {T. I-nrtf).— We think that they 

 would arrive in a condition capable of vegetating if hermetically enclosed 

 in gutta percha and stnt by mail rid Panama. 



Polyanthuses iAuricula, Duhlin).~0\\T correspondent, as well as 

 many otliers, wishes to purchase a collection of these and other old- 

 faaliioned flowers. If florists who have them would advertise that fact, 

 and state their readiness to send catalogues, we think they would find 

 the announcement remunerative. 



Floral Committee lA Sub»criber, P.).~No fee is needed. Send your 

 seedling Pelargonium on the Monday preceding the day of meeting, and 

 write to the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Richards, at the same time. 



Seedling Pansies and Mimdlus (C. S., Hilhrde Cottartr).~The white 

 seedling Pansy is a very tine fl<nver, but not better than nor distinct from 

 Queen of England und other whites. The hybrid Mimulus between cupreus 

 and another is a nicelv formed flower, but too dull in colour. The seed- 

 ling from Stuart's hybrid is bright and well marked. There are many 

 seedlings like it. 



Candle Plant Lin Inquirer). — If you send ns a specimen we will en- 

 deavour to identify it. 

 Nectarine Leaves Blistered {Old Siibiirr[hcr).—The leaves are 

 I blistered in consequence of cold nights Bucceeding hot sunny days. The 

 circulation of the sap is obstructed, the whole or part oif the leaves 

 become inert crumpled masses, and are uidstly attaeUoJ by white fungus 

 or mildew. There is no remedy, but the evil may be prevented by 

 affording a warm covering at night. It never shows itself on trees under 

 glass. The blistered leaves should be picked oflf at once, and every 

 encouragement afforded the tree to produce fresh healthy foliage. 



Green Fly on Roses (E. A. S.)-— "I hand-kill and syringe. This is a 

 sure cure. I hnve no faith in remedies. The leaves of my wall fruit 

 trees (about 188 Peaches and Xectfirines), are clean and beautiful. I never 

 knew tbrips and aphides so abundant. The Peach aphis and the Aphis 

 rosie are not the same. Soft-soap contains arsenic ; this and quassia, as 

 you suggest, would injure nothing. — W. F. Radclyfee." 



Nehiusi Culture (^(7lrtOl/^^0— It is a good practice to place the pots 

 in saucers kept full of water during the season of growth. They delight 

 in moisture and a hot bright atmosphere. 



Pot Roses Mildewed (T'/cih).— Mildew usually shows itself on plants 

 kept in a close moist atmosphere. The best remedy is to dust with 

 flowers of sulphur the parts aflected. A good preventive is to wash the 

 walls of the house with lime and flowers of sulphur, in equal quantities, 

 brought to the consistency of whitewash with a solution of soft-soap, 

 2 ozs. to the gallon. Also lightly coat the hot-water pipes with sulphur, 

 brought to the consistency of paint with soapy water. Apply it with a 

 brush. 



Propagating Perennials (jY. <?.).— Saxifraga hypnoides is propagated 

 by division of the plant after flowering, the divisions being taken off with 

 a small portion of root to eawh. Plant them in light santly soil, and keep 

 moist and shaded until they become well rooted. Yellow Alyssum is in- 

 creased by cuttings from now to September, the cuttings being taken 

 from the growing point with a portion of tbe preceding year's stem to 

 e.\ch. Insert them in sandy soil, afford t^hade, and keep them moist until 

 well rooted. The white may also be propagated by cuttings and seed, 

 and so may the yollow by seed. Now is a good time to sow it. The Double 

 Lychnis may be propagated by cuttings of the young shoots from 4 to 

 6 inches long, taken with a small heel. Delphiniums are increased by 

 division of the roots in spring. Each division should be taken off with a 

 portion of root attached to it, and may be planted at once where it is to 

 remain. They may also be raised from cuttings ; tbe side shoots rising 

 from the crown and not flowering may he slipped off, preserving a email 

 heel to each, which should he pared smooth at the end, and inserted in 

 sandy soil, giving shade from sun, and keeping them moist until rooted. 

 Delphiniums are also raised from seed, which may be sown now. The 

 herbaceous Veronicas are increased by division in spring, or now if they 

 are not in flower, each shoot or division being taken off with a portion of 

 root, inserted in sandy soil, and kept moi»t and shaded until growing 

 freely. The shrubby Veronicas, as V. Andersoni, are propagated by 

 cuttings, the young shoots lieing taken off with three joints, cut across 

 below the lowest joint, and the leaves removed from tbe two lowest ones, 

 putting in the cuttings round the sides of the pot and up to the leaves 

 left. The pot should he well drained, and filled to within an inch of the 

 rim with sandy soil, and then to the rim with silver or sharp sand. 

 Place it in a frame, and keep close, moist, and shaded until the cuttings 

 be rooted. 



Taking up Crocuses [Idem).— li is well not to take them up oftener 

 than every three years, and then only for the purpose of dividing the 

 roots, affording them more room, and enriching the ground, planting 

 them again immediately. The operation is best performed as soon as the 

 bedding plants are removed, or early in October. 



Forget-me-not for Spring Blooming {Idem).— The best blue Forget- 

 me-not for spring blooming is Myobotis montana; but M. palustris, 

 M. arvensis, and M. alpestris are most generally grown. The seed should 

 be sown at once. 



Sowing Annuals to Bloom in October (/(Z-^m).— Annuals to flower 

 in October should be sown from the middle of June to the first week in 

 July, and Gladioli to bioom at the same time ought to be planted in the 

 second or third week in May. 



Pelargonium Grafting {Idem). — Yon may graft your Giant Pelargo- 

 nium with any of the Zonal kinds, but we do not think budding would 

 be successful. Madame Rendatler, rosy salmon; Clipper, scarlet; and 

 Rebecca, cherry, would be suitable kinds. 



Maiden-hair Fern Fronds Destroyed (ij. H. M. P.).~We think tha 



fronds must be cut off by slugs, of which you may probably discover tbe 



I traces, and if so, examine the plants after dark with a lantern. You will 



