July 7, 1888 | 



THE GARDENERS* CHRONICLE. 



21 



mean in ' Scotland, N.,' but more in all other dis- 

 tricts, the excess in most cases being very large ; in 

 'Ireland, N.,' and 'Scotland, W.,' it exceeded an 

 inch and a half. 



"Bright sunshine has been very little prevalent, 

 the percentage of the p >ssible amount of duration 

 ranging from 17 to 29 c .'er England, from 23 to 26 

 in Ireland, and from 32 lo 38 in Scotland." 



Enquiries. 



"He that questioneth much shall learn much." — Bacon. 



Edible Pine. — In The Long White Mountain (Man- 

 churia), by H. E. M. James (Longmans, 1.S88), at 

 p. 343, I find the following : — " On the third day, on 

 the road from Sansing to Ninguta, we reached a 

 forest of Birch, Spruce, and Pines. Amongst the 

 latter was the edible Pine, bearing cones 6 inches in 

 length, with seeds the size of Almonds, packed 

 tightly in rows at the base of each layer of leaves. 

 When the skin outside is cracked and stripped off, 

 the kernel is good to eat, though, perhaps, a little 

 tasteless. I counted 146 in one cone." What can 

 this be ? It is much too large for Pinus Ombra. 

 It is the size of the cone of Pinus pinea (the Stone 

 Pine of Italy), but the seeds of the latter are also 

 much smaller than these, which seem as large as 

 those of an Araucaria's, and the locality puts these 

 out of the question. I think there is on the Pacific 

 slope of the United States of America a Pine with 

 eatable seeds, but am not sure of it. In the index 

 of plants collected by the author I find only Pinus 

 Mandchurica and P. Koraiensis. J. J'. V. [Can it 

 be a Pine at all ? Ed.1 



Notices to Correspondents. 



ASIARVLLIDEJE, Mb. J. G. BaKEBS BOOK OS \ E. C. P. 



We do not know the price. Write to the pub- 

 lishers, Messrs. Bell & Sons, York Street, Covent 

 Garden, W.C. 

 Burnt Eabth : Burnt Earth. The best way to ob- 

 tain this on a small scale is to collect the garden 

 rubbish, wood-trimmings, &c, into a heap, and set 

 fire to it, after first covering it with litter, and 

 then on the outside with loamy, or, indeed, any 

 kind of soil that is handy. If the covering-up is 

 done in the charcoal-burner's manner of covering 

 a heap of wood to be converted into charcoal, and 

 by so regulating the vents that the materials are 

 not permitted to flare, the rubbish will be charred 

 into a useful material for mixing with potting 

 soils, and the 6-inch covering of soil, in which- 

 ever manner the job may be performed, will be 

 " burnt." On a larger scale, loamy earth may be 

 burnt in the same way that ballast is prepared 

 from clay, i.e., by burning it with a small propor- 

 tion of small coal in conical heaps. 



Cucumber Diseased : W. S., Stony Stratford. The 

 name of the fungus infesting your Cucumber 

 plants is Didymium dredaleum. We believe the 

 fungus to be very rare. For an illustrated account 

 of an allied fungus infesting Hart's-tongue Fern, 

 see Gardeners' Chronicle, July 15, 1882. W. G. S. 

 [We shall shortly illustrate this species also. Ed.]. 



Cuttino Back a Hollow Hedge: E. Cut it now, 

 and you will get some growth on it by the end of 

 August. The cutting of the other side may be 

 done next spring, just before growth commences. 

 It should be carefully done with the secateur, knife, 

 and saw. You do not say of what plants the hedge 

 is composed, so that we are advising without fully 

 knowing your case. 



Eucalyptus : J. G. If, as we understand yon, the 

 glaucous form is a seedling from the green, then, 

 undoubtedly, the two are but forms of one and 

 the same species, and that E. urnigera, as proved 

 by the flowers and seed-vessels you first sent. 

 We should not attach any great importance as a 

 differential character to the glaucousness of the 

 leaves, for that is notoriously variable according 

 to age and other circumstances, which are very 

 interesting. 



Giant Orach : F. W. H. A variety of Atriplex 

 hortensis, an annual plant of rather large growth, 

 the leaves of which are used as Spinach. It 

 produces best when sown in good ground, which 

 ia usually done in March and succetsionally 



throughout the summer months. Sow in drills, 

 2 feet apart, and thin the seedlings to 1 foot apart. 



" Horticultural Advertiser :" Poor Geordy. Messrs. 

 Foster & Pearson, Beeston, Notts. 



Insects : J. A. C. The worm was attacked by what, 

 from your description, was evidently the larva of 

 one of the larger beetles (Staphylinidje). W. [We 

 shall be enabled shortly to give a figure and de- 

 scription of the insect. Ed.]. 



Lilies Diseased : G. L., Hungerford. The Lilies 

 have been destroyed by the well-known Lily- 

 disease, which has been extremely prevalent this 

 year. It was described in the Gardeners' Chronicle 

 for September 10, 1881, under the name of Ovu- 

 laria elliptica. We shall publish a further account 

 of this disease shortly. 



Melons : B. Bigg. The leaves are affected by a 

 species of fungus similar to that which is ordi- 

 narily called Potato disease. There is no known 

 care. Burn the plants, and burn sulphur in the 

 structure before putting into it any kind of plant. 

 See article on Vine Mildew, p. 15. 



Mildew on Strawberries : H. J. Mildew usually 

 appears on these if the air in the house or pit is 

 close, cool, and moist, these being conditions 

 favourable to its development. It may be checked 

 if taken in time, without much damage being 

 done, by timely application of flowers of sulphur, 

 distributed by a " boite-a-houppe " — that is, a 

 wollen sulphur distributor — or by getting the heat- 

 ing apparatus warmed after smearing it with lime- 

 wash and flowers of sulphur. Take out badly 

 infected plants and burn them. Maintain a 

 healthier condition of the air within the house. 



Mushroom : if. J. Busscl. A Mushroom measuring 

 33 inches in circumference, with a stem of 5J 

 inches, and weight 17 07.., is phenomenal. One of 

 1 lb. 9 oz., and 36 inches in circumference, was 

 noticed in our pages October 19, 1878, p. 500. 



Names of Plants : J. F. Calycanthus floridus. — 

 L. J. W. Rhododendron cinnabarinum (Bland- 

 fordiseflora). — Lily. Lilium testaceum. When 

 you say " imported," we presume you mean from 

 Holland. If not, we should be glad to know- 

 whence. — B. P. 1, Hieracium aurantiacum ; 2, 

 Centranthus ruber ; 3, Hyacinthus comosus ; 4, 

 H. plumosus ; 5, next week ; 6, Chrysanthemum 

 Leucanthemum (Ox-eye Daisy). — J. H. 1, Escal- 

 lonia Philippiana ; 2, Diplacus glutinosus ; 3, 

 Fuchsia procumbens ; 4. Eupatorium Weinmanni- 

 anum. — B. A. G. 1, Nephrodium filix-mas var. 

 fluctuosa ; 2, Polystichum angulare var. oxyphyl- 

 lum ; 3, Lomaria alpina ; 4, Nephrodium filix- 

 mas var. cristata ; 5, Polystichum angulare var. 

 lineare ; 6, Aspidium acrostichoides ; 7, Erinus 

 alpinus ; 8, Cattleya labiata var. — Thorn. Spirsea 

 cantoniensis, Crataegus rotundifolia (a form of C. 

 coccinea). — C. E. B. Y. Sempervivum villosum. — 

 P. H. Trifolium striatum. — J. Morton. Cala- 

 mintha grandiflora. — J. B. Philodendron longe- 

 laminatum. — R. C. B. Vicia narbonensis var. 

 serratifolia. — Bexley. 1. Bhus cotinus; 2, Pyrus 

 aria; 3, Spiraea confusa; 4, Deutzia scabra. — 

 Martin. Lseliopsis domingensis. 



Peach : J. S. B., Chelmsford. Mildew. See this and 

 our last issue for particulars of remedy. 



Peach, Early Rivers : G. H. It has the fault of 

 splitting at the stone, even in dry seasons. It is 

 one of the finest of the early varieties, but we do 

 not know of any remedy for the splitting. 



Peach Trees: W. N. In September, as soon as 

 there is any sign of maturity in the leaves, care- 

 fully dig up the roots, after unnailing the shoots 

 and securing them in three or four bundles. Previ- 

 ously having prepared a new station, with plenty 

 of fresh loam mixed with a little of the staple, 

 plant the roots, carefully stretched out, at 6 inches 

 below the ground level. Mulch immediately on 

 planting, and fasten the shoots loosely to the wall. 



Potatos: /. 0. G. The earliest come from Malta, 

 Algiers, and South of France, later ones from 

 Jersey, Cornwall, and the South of England. 



Record of Certificates : J. T. P. The official list 

 is given to our representative at the close of the 

 meeting by the officers of the Society. At the 

 end of each half year the complete list is sent for 

 revision, when omissions are supplied and errors 

 rectified : hence the discrepancy. 



Tea-scented Rose : H. G. E. We cannot undertake 

 to name varieties of the Rose. Send it to a Rose 

 nursery. 



Thymus serpyllum : A. B., Cambridge. The occur- 

 rence of two forms, one with hermaphrodite, the 

 other with female flowers, is frequent. They do 

 not constitute separate varieties, but merely sexual 

 forms. You will find a full account, with illustra- 

 tions, in Miiller's Fertilisation of Flowers, English 

 edition, by DArcy Thompson, 1883, p. 473. 



Vines : H. L. Your leaves and berries are covered 

 with the spores of a fungus (Pilobolus) common 

 on dung. The spore-case bursts elastically, and 

 projects the spores on to the leaves, &c. We do 

 not think they will do any serious mischief. 



York Gala : Subscriber. No — not in our columns. 



-J. T.- 



COMMUNICATIIIKS RECEIVED.— W. H. C— D. 

 F. T. M.— J. S. G.— W. W.— W. B.— P. & M.— D. D.— U. D. 

 — H. V. W.— R. A. K.— F. R.— D.— E. C— J. Whittaker.— 

 \V. H— W. W.— Cocking & Co., Yokohama.— Deane & Co. 

 —Messrs. Carter & Co.— R. H. V.— Cooper. Taber & Co. 

 (already DOticed on these paces).— C. P. L.— P. Coney (fine 

 inflorescence, but on too small a scale to be of use). — J. R. 

 A. V.— J. S.— J. H.— J, W.. Kew.— J. V. & Sons.— J. D. & 

 S.— 3. J.— J. H. Krelage. 



Markets. 



COVEXT GARDEN, July 5. 



Outdoor Strawberries are in full supply and good 

 condition. Business quieter, and clearances made 

 at somewhat lower rates. James Webber, Wholesale 

 Apple Market. 



Fruit.— Average Wholesale Prices. 



s. d. s. d. s. d. a, d. 



Cherries, half-sieve... 4 0-70 Peaches, dozen ... 4 0-12 



Grapes, per lb. ...16-3 6 Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 2 0- ... 



Kent Cobs, 100 lb.. ..40 0-45 —St. Michael, each 2 0-50 



Lemons, per case ...12 0-21 Strawberries, lb. ... 6-10 

 Melons, each ...10-30, 



Vegetables.— Average Retail Prices. 



Artichokes, p. doz.... 

 Asparagus, Fr., bund. 

 — English, 100 ... 

 Beans, Kidney, lb. ... 

 Beet, red, per dozen 

 Carrots, per bunch... 

 Cauliflowers, each ... 

 Celery, per bundle ... 

 Cucumbers, each ... 

 Endive, per dozen ... 

 Green Mint, bunch... 

 Herbs, per bunch ... 

 Leeks, per bunch ... 

 Lettuce, per dozen ... 

 Potatos.— Jersey 



s. d. s. d. 

 4 0- ... 

 16-40 

 3 6-60 



1 0- ... 

 10-20 

 9- ... 

 8- ... 

 16-26 

 9-10 



2 0- ... 

 4- ... 

 4- ... 



6- ... 



1 6- ... 



Mushrooms, punnet 1 

 Mustard and Cress, 



punnet 



Onions, per bushel ... .5 

 Parsley, per bunch... 

 Potatos, per cwt. ... 4 



,, kidney, perewt. 4 

 Rhubarb, per bundle 

 Shallots, per lb. ... 

 Spinach, per bushel... 2 

 Sprue, per bundle ... 1 

 Tomatos, per lb. ... 1 

 Turnips, per bunch. 



4- ... 

 0-5 

 0-5 



Plants in Pots.— Average Wholesale Prices. 



Aralia Sieboldi, doz. 6 

 Bouvardias, per dozen 9 

 Calceolarias, dozen 4 

 Coleus, dozen ... 3 

 Crassula, per doz, ...18 

 Cyperus, per dozen . 4 

 Dracaena terminalis, 

 per dozen 30 



— viridis, per doz. 12 

 Ericas, various, per 



dozen 9 



— ventricosa. doz. 18 

 Euonymus, in var., 



per dozen 6 



Evergreens, in var., 



per dozen 6 



Ferns, in var., doz. 4 

 Ficus elastica, each . 1 

 Foliage plants, vari- 

 ous, each 2 



0-18 Fuchsias, doz. ... 4 0-90 

 0-12 Heliotropes, dozen... 6 0-90 

 0-9 Hydrangeas, dozen... 9 0-18 

 0-6 Liliums, var., doz. ...18 0-30 

 0-30 ! Lobelias, per dozen 3 0-60 

 0-12 Marguerites, doz. ... 9 0-12 



I Mignonette, 12 pots 4 0-80 

 0-60 Musks, dozen ... 1 6- 3 



0-24 Myrtles, per dozen... 6 0-12 



i Palms in var., each 2 6-21 

 0-18 Pelargoniums, doz... 6 0-15 

 0-30 — Ivy-leaf, dozen... 3 0-60 



| — scarlet, dozen ... 3 0-90 

 0-18 Rhodanthe, perdoz... 6 0-90 



I Roses, dozen 12 0-24 



0-24 ' Saxifrages, dozen ...12 18 

 0-18 Scented 'Geranium doz 3 0-6 

 6- 7 — Verbena, per doz. 4 0-60 

 Spiraeas, dozen ... 6 0-12 

 0-10 Zinnia, per dozen ... 4 0- 6 



Bedding-out Plants. 

 Per dozen, Is. to 2s. ; per box. Is. to 3s. 



Cut Flowers.— Average Wholesale Prices. 



Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 

 Bouvardias, per bun. 

 Carnations, 12 blms. 

 — dozen bunches... 

 Chrysant hemums, 



annual, 12 bun. ... 

 Cornflower, 12 bun. 

 Eucharis, per dozen 

 Forget-me-nots, 12 



bunches 



Gardenias. 12 blooms 

 Heliotropes, 12 spr. 

 Iris, various. 12 bun. 

 Lilium longiflorum, 



12 blooms 



Marguerites, 12 bun. 

 Mignonette, 12 bun. 

 Orange Lily, 12 bun. 

 Pansies, 12 bun. ... 



2 0-40 Peeonies, 12 bun. ... 9 0-18 

 6-10 Pelargoniums, 12 spr. 06-10 

 10-20 — scarlet, 12 spr.... U 3- 6 

 4 0-60 Pinks. 12 bun 30-60 



Poppies. 12 bun. ...40-60 

 10-30 Primulas, double, 12 

 16-30 sprays 09-10 



3 0-60 Pyrethrums, 12 bun. 20-40 



Rhodanthe, 12 bun. 4 0-60 



2 0-40 Roses, Tea, per doz. 06-16 

 16-40 — coloured, dozen. 20-40 



6-10 — red, perdozen ... 1 0- 2 



3 0-90 — ,, 12 bunches 30-60 



— Safrano, dozen... 9-16 

 3 0-50 — Moss, 12 bun. ... 3 0-12 

 3 0-60 Spiraea, 12 bun. ... 40-60 

 3 0-60 Stephanotis, J 2 spr. 20 40 

 6 0-12 Sweet Sultan, 12 bun. 3 0-60 



1 6- 3 o I Tuberoses. 12 blms.... uo-10 



, Orchid bloom i 



