April 9, l8 9 g - 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



2 Z7 



NSWER S. T 



G O R R E S PON DENTS 



Editorial communications should be addressed to the Editor of the Gardeners 5 

 Magazine, 148 and I49> Aldersgate Street, E.C. 



Four course System of Farming.-H. B. E., Buckingham : Briefly 

 stated the four-course system is as follows : First course-fallow crop, roots, such 

 L notatos, mangold, swedes, and cabbage ; second course-barley and oats ; 

 [bird course-clover, or clover with rye grass, beans, and peas ; fourth course- 

 wheat. — 



Nitrate of Soda for Asparagus. — A. W. P., Maidenhead : An excel- 

 lent dressing for asparagus beds at the present time is half an ounce of nitrate of 

 soda per square yard, to be followed by a similar dressing about the second week 

 in May. Salt is valuable because it attracts and retains moisture about the roots 

 of the asparagus. Soot, as a fertiliser for asparagus, is not used so much as it 

 should be ; it does not show to advantage, however, if the soil be at all chalky. 



White Fly on Tomatos.— E. F. H., Barnstaple : As a rule this is n Q t a 

 very troublesome pest in gardens, though where large quantities of to mato s are 

 grown it sometimes becomes a nuisance. It may be overcome by diPP*ng or 

 syringing the plants, using a solution of Calvert's carbolic soap at the rate of 

 2 oz. to each gallon of water. Dissolve the soap in hot water and then add the 

 cold, using the solution in a lukewarm condition. 



Cypripedium hybridum gigas. — J. C, Grantham : This cypripedium, 

 of which you have lost the record, is the result of crossing C. Lawrenceanum with 

 C. Harrisianum nigrum, and gained an award of merit from the Royal Horticul- 

 tural Society on January 14, 1892. It was raised at Elstead, Godalming, where 

 Mr. Bond is gardener to C. L. N. Ingram, Esq. Purplish crimson, white, and 

 green are the prevailing colours. The dorsal sepal measures two and a half inches 

 across. 



Scorched Vine Leaves. — L. W. W., Slough: The vine foliage sent has 

 been severely scorched by the bright sunlight of the past few days. Scorching, 

 such as this, frequently occurs when a period of dull weather is followed by several 

 days of bright sunshine. The damage is due to the lack of ventilation, or proper 

 ventilation, for during dull weather some growers are too apt to coddle their 

 vines, the leaf tissues are weakened and then are unable to stand the subsequent 

 bright light and hea,t. When fine weather succeeds a period of dulness be careful 

 to commence ventilating the vineries early in the day by opening the top ven- 

 tilators a very little, increasing the opening as the day advances and the sun gains 

 power. Vine growers need to be up early in the morning during March and 



Pansy Bronze Prince.-L. F. II., Berwick: This crimson-bronze pansy 

 was raised and sent out by Mr. H. Eckford, Wem, Salop ; about four years ago 

 it made its first appearance so far as we recollect. ^ 



Names of Plants.— M. I., Surbiton : r, Pteris umbrosa; 2, P. serrulata; 



3, Selaginella galeottiana j 4> S. amoena. 



W. T. P. Chelmsford : Spiraea media, better known as S. confusa. 



1 Si J ' S ' 5 MtaP . S j2 C y d , onia japonica; 2, Sedum aizoideum ; 3, Medicago 

 lupuhna ; 4, Muscan botryoides ; 5, Azalea mollis. K 



^ K '- G fl Lut ° n: f ii¥™** rnacrantha; 2, Clivia miniata ; 3,aTecoma, send 

 when in flower ; 4, Mahonia aquifolia ; 5, Azalea amrena ; 6, Acacia cordata. 



B S., Manchester : 1, Begonia albo- cocci n ea ; 2, Lachenalia tricolor; i, 

 Semele androgyne ; 4, Coccoloba platyclada. Jl 



n^Jwi A 't* Retf ° rd: *' Oncidium sphacelatum ; 2, Phaius grandifolius ; 3l 

 Dendrobium Bensonice ; 4, Trichopilia suavis. 4 



C. F., Bangor : 1, Vanda suavis. 



T , F ; Jk Sunderland: 1, Megasea Stracheyi ; 2, Acacia dealbata ; J. 

 Thyrsacanthus rutilans ; 4, Cyperus alternifolius variegatus. 



Tazetk var Eahng : *' Nardssus minimus 5 2 > Chionodoxa Lucilite j 3, Narcissus 



Markets. 



Covent Garden. 



Foreign apples are scarce, but the best samples command high rates. For oranges 

 and lemons there is a keen demand. Seakale and rhubarb are cheapening, but there 

 is scarcely sufficient to meet the demand. Green vegetables are in moderate supply, 

 and realise fair prices. Potato trade moderate, with a good demand for new. 



Fruit.— Nova Scotian apples, 15s. to 283. per barrel; Californian Newtowns, 

 7s. to 12s. per case; bananas, 5 s. to 10s. 6d. per bunch; pineapples, 2s. to 6s. 

 «ich; English grapes, is. 9 d. to 3s. 6d. per lb.; lemons, 6s. to 15s. per case: 

 Canary tomatos is. to 2s. per tray, 3s. 6d. to 5s. per case ; Valencia oranges, os. to 

 1 os. per case ; Jaffa, 10s. to 12s. 6d. per box. 



Flowers.— Arums, 3s. to 4s.; carnations, is. to 3s.; eucharis, 3s. to 4s.: 

 gardenias, 2s. to 3s. ; Lilium Harrisi, 3s. to 4s. ; tea roses, 6d. to is. ; pink rose*. 

 4s. to 8s. ; red roses, 3s. to 6s. ; cattleyas, 6s. to 9s. ; Odontoglossum crispum, 

 is. 6d. t0 4S.; tulips, 4d. to 9d. ; and tuberoses, is. to is. 6d. per dozen blooms; 

 Adiantum cuneatum, 4s. to 8s. ; marguerites, 2s. to 4s. ; narciss, various, is. 6d. to 

 3s. ; Roman hyacinths, 4s. to 6s. ; daffodils, 3s. to 6s.; mignonette, 2s. to 4s. ; 

 pelargoniums (scarlet), 4s. to 6s. ; wallflowers, 4s. to 6s. ; primroses, gd. to is. ; and 

 violets, 9d. to 3s. 6d. per dozen bunches ; azaleas, 6d. to gd. ; stephanotis, 4s. to 6s. ; 

 lily of the valley, 6d. to is. 6d. ; and pelargoniums, 6d. to 9d. per dozen sprays ; 

 bouvardias, 6d. to 8d. ; white lilac, 3s. to 4s. 6d. per bunch. 



Vegetables.— Seakale, 12s. to 15s. per dozen punnets ; celery, 8s. to 15s. per 

 dozen rolls ; English onions 7s. to 9s. per cwt. ; Valencia 10s. to 12s. per case ; 

 cabbages and savoys, 3s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. per tally ; green mint 4s. to 5s. ; carrots, 3s. to 

 3s. 6d. per dozen bunches ; French endive, is. 6d. to is. 9d. ; lettuce, 9d. to is. 3d, ; 

 cos, 2s. to 2s. 6d. ; cucumbers, 3s. to 6s. per dozen ; asparagus, 2s. to 8s. per bundle ; 

 French beans (Madeira) 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. per basket ; French green peas, 5c!. \q 

 6d. per packet ; Kentish broccoli, is. to 2s. 6d. per dozen ; Brussels sprouts, is. to 

 is. 6d. per half-sieve; Canary new potatos, 10s. to 16s. ; Malta, 10s. to 14s, 

 per cwt. ; mushrooms, 6s. to 8s. per doz. punnets. 



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