March "9, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
243 
Heating a Glass Structure ( B. B. P.). —The house, we presume, is a 
lean-to, in which case three rows of 4-inch pirtes will be suitable for your pur¬ 
pose, and we should prefer them to six rows of 2-inch pipes. The latter 
would heat more quickly than the former, but would cool in the same pro¬ 
portion, and as a low temperature with consequent injury almost invariably 
occurs in early morning before the fire is attended to the larger pipes are 
more reliable. A small air-pipe should be inserted in the highest part of 
the flow-pipe most distant from the boiler, and the feed-cistern should be 
over the boiler, level with the highest part of the pipes in the house. 
Dahlias (N. S. B .).—The plan recommended by “ M. M.” on page 150 is 
equally applicable to plants intended for growing in pots and for planting 
out. In either case the young Dahlias are grown under glass in their early 
stages, and protected from frost so long as it occurs, then they can either be 
planted in the garden or transferred to larger pots, according to the wishes 
of cultivators. Our correspondent prepares his plants mainly, if not 
entirely, for planting. We do not suppose that every tuber forms a plant, 
and only such as push growths when closely packed in pots or boxes need 
be potted separately. The plan i3 simple and good when properly 
carried out. 
Planting Carpet Bed (A Young Header). —We have never undertaken to 
propose methods for planting flower beds without a list of the plants at dis¬ 
posal before us, and in such cases we have occasionally suggested what we 
consider effective arrangements. We much prefer, however, for individuals 
to submit their own mode of planting, and if we can suggest any improve¬ 
ments we are willing to do so. You do not even mention the size of the 
beds. If you write again it will be necessary for you to send another sketch, 
with your own idea of arranging the plants. 
Origin of the Keswick Codlin Apple (Native ).—This excellent Apple 
was first discovered growing among a quantity of rubbish behind a wall at 
Gleaston Castle, near Ulverstonp, and was first brought into notice hy one 
John Sander, a nurseryman at Keswick, who, having propagated it, sent it 
out under the name of Keswick Codlin. In the Memoirs of the Caledonian 
Horticultural Society Sir John Sinclair says: “The Keswick Codlin tree 
has never failed to bear a crop since it was planted in the episcopal garden 
at Rose Castle, Carlisle, twenty years ago (1813). It is an Apple of fine 
tartness and flavour, and may be used early in autumn. The tree is a very 
copious bearer, and the fruit is of good size, considerably larger than the 
Carlisle Codlin. It flourishes best in a strong soil.” 
Tomatoes in Greenhouse (C7. 1).). —We doubt if you will raise plants in 
your greenhouse which you only “ heat three times a week ” by sowing so 
early, as the temperature of the house will not be sufficient for them for some 
time to come. The middle of April will be quite soon enough for sowing, 
but very much depends on the weather. The plants should be first estab¬ 
lished in 4-inch pots, then when these pots are filled with roots and the 
plants are a foot high with stems as thick as your finger they may be 
transferred to 9-inch pots. Rough fresh turfy loam of a rather heavy 
nature, with a sixth part of decayed manure and a twentieth part of bone- 
meal, will form a suitable compost. When the potting is completed a space 
of 2 or 3 inches should be left for periodical top-dressings of soil and 
manure as the roots protrude through the surface. Topping must be 
governed by circumstances. If the first trusses of blooms set, and other 
trusses continue setting, there is no occasion for topping the plants, and 
all side shoots may be rubbed out when an inch long ; but if the flowers do 
not set, topping often becomes necessary for encouraging laterals for pro¬ 
ducing other flowers. We saw plants last year arranged 2 feet apart which 
had not been topped, and the stems, upwards of 12 feet high, clustered with 
fruit like ropes of Onions. In another house topping had to be resorted to 
and by subsequent care in thinning an abundance of fruit was produced 
For covering walls we prefer the plants on single stems. 
Learning Latin ( Discipulus ).—It is quite impossible for us to say how 
long it will take you to “ master Latin ” by devoting an hour a day to the 
task. Possibly you will never “ master ” it, and we think you mav employ 
your time with greater advantage by first mastering English. You will, 
perhaps, be surprised to learn that there are no less than seven errors in 
spelling in the short letter you have written to us, while in the division of 
the sentences it is very faulty. The two first words in your letter— 
“ comenced studing”—are both wrong, and the same errors are repeated, 
which show that the spelling of those simple words is not a mere accident. 
We point out your shortcomings, not by way of reproaching you, as your 
educational deficiency may not be the result of any fault of your own. 
Possibly you may not have had the advantage of much school learning, but 
in a g^eat measure have taught yourself. If this is so, we can only urge 
you to persevere until you can write a letter that would commend you to a 
nobleman or receive the approval of an editor. Gardeners who occupy the 
highest positions are not bad Latin, but good English scholars. Follow'their 
example, and for some time to come do not allow Latin declensions to mate¬ 
rially interfere with your endeavour to make yourself competent in the 
Infinitely more important work of corresponding correctly and intelligently 
in your mother tongue. Regard this as the substance of your hopes ; Latin 
as a mere shadow in comparison. In addition to studying English you may, 
if you have spare time, commence the study of botany, natural science, arid 
agricultural chemistry; all of which are, we think, included in the work 
you name. 
Grafting Wax (E. Edwards ).—There are several kinds that require to be 
used warm, one of the most simple being equal parts of yellow wax and 
rosin melted together and applied when cool enough. The following has 
not the inconvenience of requiring to be applied warm, and maybe prepared 
and used without being heated:—Yellow wax 1 lb., turpentine 1 lb., Bur¬ 
gundy pitch 8 ozs., mutton suet 4ozs. Mix all together and mix thoroughly, 
and leave them to cool. Form the mass into small balls, as it will not stick 
to the fingers, and use them when opportunity offers. Liquid grafting wax 
is a very useful application, and is, perhaps, the most convenient for the 
purpose of all the mastics used for covering wounds and grafting. It is of 
the consistency of varnish, and is applied very thinly with a brush. Care 
must betaken not to lay it on thickly, for the surface hardens so rapidly the 
alcohol is prevented from evaporating. Rosin 1 lb., beef tallow 1 oz.,spiri!s 
of turpentine one tablespoonful, alcohol (95 per cent.) 6 ozs. Melt the rosin 
over a slow fire, when melted take it off and add the beef tallow, stirring it 
constantly ; let it cool down somewhat, mix the spirits of turpentine little 
by little with it, and at last the alcohol in the same way. Should the alcohol 
be added while the mass is too hot, much will be lost by rapid evaporation ; 
if, on the contrary, it is too cool, it will form a viscid lump, and must be 
slightly heated again. Stirring briskly is indispensable to mix the ingredients 
thoroughly. In well-corked bottles it keeps for years. If in course of time 
it becomes too thick, the addition of some alcohol will make it liquid again. 
For this purpose it must always be wanned. It is a good plan to put the 
bottle containing it in boiling or hot water to accomplish this. 
Bantam Fowls and Woodlice ( South London). —You aek if -we have 
heard of the plan of the late Mr. Cuthill for getting rid of wooolice. We 
have not only heard of it, but have his description of the practice he adopted, 
which we give in case it may be useful to others as well as yourself. After 
mentioning many failures in attempting to destroy the pests, Mr. Cuthill 
states that, from trials made, “ I am convinced that woodlice may be killed 
by the use of bantam fowls. This plan may be put in operation by anyone. 
I first had a hundred woodlice caught at a rubbish heap, and gave them to 
three bantams ; they ate them up in something less than two minutes. I 
had these birds in attendance when turning over a rubbish heap, and not a 
woodlouse was allowed to escape, nor any insect, the bantams devouring 
everything. It will thus be seen that if bantams were encouraged and 
brought up in gardens they would effect much good ; and I am of opinion 
that it will soon be found to be as necessary to keep bantams to kill vermin 
as it is to keep cats to keep down rats and mice. They will save various 
crops from injuries to which otherwise they would be exposed. They 
would scratch a little, to be sure, but so do cats, and if the smaller kind of 
bantams are kept (those about the size of a partridge) their scratching 
would do little harm. Perhaps some plan might be found to envelope 
their feet in socks at certain times of the year. The reason why gardens 
are generally nurseries for all sorts of insects is, because they are guarded 
by cats, traps, nets, &c., in such a manner that no bird can approach them. 
If it were not for the wild birds of the fields, the farmers’ crops would be 
eaten up with vermin ; and I think that birds have as much right to alitt’e 
of the fiuits of this earth as we have, for helping to keep destructive 
insects in check. It will be the gardener’s own fault in future if he is 
much troubled with woodlice. This spring I had a temporary cage placed 
at the end of a twelve-light Cucumber pit; a brick was driven out in order 
to allow the ingress and egress of a large brood of bantams. I had those 
for this experiment from a fancier of the name of Dawson ; they ate up 
every insect in less than a week. Another year I intend to have a hole in 
all the pits, and move the young bantams from one pit to the others. I 
have a rubbish corner where all the rakings, leaves, and general refuse of 
the garden are put. This place is enclosed with 4 feet laths all round, 
and a brood of bantams was put there. This was at one time the grand 
breeding place for all sorts of insects, but now it is the most valuable 
corner which I have. The moment an insect comes to the surface it is 
eaten up. I have had three full-grown bantams at large nearly all the 
summer (Sir John Sebright’s Silver-spangled), and to see those birds 
with their hawk’s eyes, walking about through the sheds, houses, Mush¬ 
room places, up and down the alleys of the pits, i&c., picking up eveiy 
crawling insect, is very satisfactory. One bantam is worthy fifty toads. I 
do not mean to say that in a general kitchen garden it would do for them 
to be at large at certain seasons; but even then I should make them quite 
welcome to a few cabbage or lettuce leaves, for the great benefit that is to 
be derived from their destroying every sort of insect except the slug and 
snail, which a few young ducks in the autumn and spring would soon 
remove.” We think there is a great deal of sound sense in Mr.. Cuthill’s 
observations, and we are obliged to our correspondent for reminding us 
of their existence. 
Names of Plants. —We only undertake to name species of plants, not 
varieties that have originated from seed and termed florists’ flowers. 
Flowering specimens are necessary of flowering plants, and Fern fronds 
should contain spores. Specimens should arrive in a fresh state, in firm 
boxes. Slightly damp moss or soft green leaves form the best packing, dry 
cotton wool the worst. Not more than six specimens can be named at once. 
(M. H.). —As 90 per cent, of the Camellias in cultivation have originated 
from seed several varieties so closely resemble each other that they can 
only be correctly named by comparing them with others in a large collection. 
(J. W. Z.). —The flower of the Oncidium sent was too withered to be 
recognised. Please send another packed in damp moss. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— March 18th. 
There are no changes of any importance to record this week. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
c* 
A sieve 
2 
6 
to 4 
6 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
4 
0 to 
7 
0 
Chestnuts .. 
bushel 16 
0 
,0 
0 
Peaches. 
perdoz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. per 
100 lbs. 
55 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Currants, Red •• 
£ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Black .. 
| sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English .. tt>. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums . 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
.. lb. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Strawberries.. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons.. 
,. case 
10 
0 
15 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
3 
0 
7 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Artichokes •. •. 
dozen 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Lettuce. 
. dozen 
1 
0 to 
l 
6 
Asparagus •• •• 
bundle 
7 
0 
8 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
0 
0 
l 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
100 
2 
0 
2 
6 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
4 
Beet, Red 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Ouions . 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
s 
0 
Brussels Sprouts .. 
1 sieve 
2 
6 
S 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage . 
dozen 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney . 
cwt . 
4 
0 
5 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
Cauliflowers .. .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celerv . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzonera 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts dcz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. r er basket 
1 
0 
1 
0 
Cucumbers .. .. 
each 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Shallots. 
.. It.. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Endive. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
brsbel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Heros . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
.. lb. 
1 
0 
2 
6 
Leeks . 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Turnips .. ,. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
