April 9, 1885. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
299 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Bee subjects, and should never 
send more than two or three questions at once. All articles in- 
tended for insertion should be written on one side of the paper 
only. We cannot reply to questions through the post, and we 
do not undertake to return rejected communications. 
Cerasus Chamaecerasns ( Campus Martins). —We presume that you 
ref. r to the above small tree, the Siberian or Ground Cherry ; but, as you will 
see, the name was very incorrectly spelled in your letter. All the deciduous 
Cherries can be budded or grafted upon C. sylvestris, the wild Cherry, and 
that is the one usually employed for the Ground Cherry. 
Roses from Cuttings {J. IF., Pershore ).—The “good gardener” to 
whom you allude as saying that if Roses are propagated from cuttings 
systematically they will in time change to Briars must have been sporting 
wiih your credulity. Some varieties are not so vigorous as when attached 
to Briar or other stocks, but numbers of Roses do not degenerate at all 
when perpetuated by cuttings and well grown. We saw a large bed of 
wonderfu ly luxuriant Roses a few years ago, but they never flowered. They 
had been raised from cuttings, but these had unfortunately been made from 
suckers of the Manetti stocks on which some Roses had been worked and 
failed, while the stocks grew vigorously and were increased under the 
impression that they were the best varieties of Roses. Possibly the “good 
gardener,” if he is serious in his views on the subject, may have made a 
similar mistake, and, if so, he can scarcely be admitted as an authority on 
Roses. 
Tuberose not Flowering (G. J .).—Judging from the specimen received 
we think the cause of the flower stem being blind is due to a check, probably 
when the plants were removed from the bottom heat, it not having been 
done gradually so as to avert a sudden cessation of nutriment, or it might 
have been occasioned by removing from the stove to the vinery, the former, 
we presume, being fully 5° warmer than the latter. Sometimes Tuberoses 
go blind through the roots being lifted before the flower buds are fully formed 
in embryo, the growth not being completed, and though they throw up 
flower stems they rarely expand satisfactorily. It is likely the second 
batch will be all right, as the heat of the vinery will more accord with that 
of the stove in which, we presume, they have been started similarly to the 
first batch. 
_ Improving a Lawn {Merchant). —It would improve the grass to dress it 
with lime, but it ought not as a rifle to be applied later than March, as it 
will interfere with mowing, not having time to become washed in, though 
much may be done by rolling. The lime should be mixed with six tim s 
the quantity of soil or compost, that from decayed vegetable matter being 
best, the debris of the rubbish heap answering perfectly. Before applying 
it to the lawn it is advisable to pass it through a half-inch sieve, which will 
save trouble in clearing off rubbish and stones. The lawn should be well 
scratched with an iron rake, and the dressing given about half an inch 
thick. About the middle of April sow some lawn grass seed, about a 
quarter of a pound per rod (30 J square yards), with a small quantity of white 
Clover. Rake in and roll well. The lawn will be much improved. 
Potting Cinerarias—Dwarf Chrysanthemums {Idem). —Plants of 
Cinerarias to bloom in November, which will be f om seed sown now, 
should be shifted into their largest pots not later than the early part of 
August, but preferably about the middle of July. To keep Chrysanthe¬ 
mums dwarf they should be stopped when about 6 inches high, and then 
to every three or four joints as made until the early part of July, after 
which they must not be stopped, but be tied down and out so as form 
dwarf symmetrical plants. Very dwarf p'ants are had by layering into 
6 or 7-inch pots in September strong shoots of plants outside, keeping them 
well supplied with water, detaching them when well rooted, and housing 
before frost; or small plants may be raised from cuttings inserted in 
August. See an article on this subject on page 141 in our issue of 
August 14th, 1884. 
Destroying Woodlice {Subscriber). —The most wholesale mode of rid¬ 
dance is to place some boiled Potato round the inside of the frame or pit on 
the surface, and cover with a little hay loosely. Do this as a bait for a 
couple of nights, and in the morning of the second night have some boiled 
water in a watering pot, and pour it through the spout on the hay around 
the sides of the pit or frame. This will not do any harm to the plants pro¬ 
vided it is not used upon them, or ev n to their roots, unless used in ex¬ 
cessive quantity. It may be necessary to repeat in the course of a week, 
which the presence or otherwise of the pests will determine. Some baits 
formed by placing a boiled Potato wrapped loosely in a little hay in a small 
flower pot laying on its side near the haunts of the woodlice in the evening, 
and in the morning shaking the vermin into a bucket of scalding water 
from the hay in which they will be secreted after or still feeding on the 
Potato. This persisted in will eradicate them. A toad introduced will 
devour great numbers, and is an aid in the destruction of woodlice too 
little called into requisition. 
Old Nonpareil Apple {Clericus). —It is generally allowed that the 
Nonpareil is originally from Prance. Switzer says, “ It is no stranger in 
England ; though it might have its oiigin from France, yet there are trees 
of them about the Ashtons in Oxfordshire of about a hundred years old, 
which (as they have it by tradition) was first brought out of France and 
planted by a Jesuit in Queen Mary or Queen Elizabeth’s time.” It is strange, 
however, that an Apple of such exc Hence, and held in such estimation as 
the Nonpareil has always been, should have received so little notice from 
almost all the early continental pomologists. It is not mentioned in the 
long list of the Jardinier Francois of 1653, nor even by De Quintinye, or 
the Jardinier Solitaire. Schabol enumerates it, but it is not noticed by 
Bretonnerie. It is first described by Duhamel and subsequently by'Knoop. 
In the Chartreux catalogue it is said “Elie est forte estimee en Angleterre,” 
but, among the writers of our own country Switzer is the first to notice it. 
It is not mentioned by Rea, Worlidge, or Ray, neither is it enumerated in 
the list of Leonard Meager. In America it is little esteemed. The Scarlet 
Nonpareil was discovered growing in the garden of a publican at Esher, 
Surrey, and was first cultivated by Grimwood of the Kensington Nurs'ry. 
Cooking Potatoes (D. Weston ).—Opinions vary on the subject, and so 
does the skill of cooks. We can give you no better reasons why Potatoes 
should be cooked before being peeled than these adduced by Mr. M. 
Williams, which we published some time ago as follows:—“From 53 to 
56 per cent, of the saline constituents of the Potato is potash, and potash is 
an important constituent of the blood—so important that in Norway, where 
scurvy once prevailed very seriously, it has been banished since the intro¬ 
duction of the Potato, and according to Lang’and other good authorities, it 
is owing to the use of this vegetable by a people who formerly were in¬ 
sufficiently supplied with saline vegetable food. Potash salts are freely 
soluble in water, and I find that the water in which Potatoes have been 
boiled contains potash, as may be proved by boiling it down to concentrate, 
then filtering and adding the usual potash test, platinum chloride. It is 
evident that the skin of the Potato must resist the passage of the potash 
into the water, though it may not fully prevent it. The bursting of the 
skin only occurs at quite the latter strge of the cooke y. The greatest 
practical authorities on the Potato, Irishmen, appear to be unanimous. I 
do not remember to have seen a pre-peeled Potato in Ireland. I find that 
I can at once detect by the difference of flavour whether a Potato has been 
boiled with or without its jacket, and this difference is evidently saline.” 
Choice Rhododendrons {E. L. B.). —The following are very good, and 
would form an excellent “small collec'ion.” They may be safely planted 
now provided the roots are not dried in transit, and water is given when 
needed to prevent the leaves flagging :— White and Blush. —Mrs. J. Clutton, 
The Queen, Madame Carvalho, Album grandiflorum, A. elegans, A. tri- 
umphans, Delicatum, Exquisite, Ingrami, Mrs. Tom Agnew, Perfection, 
Purity, Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Normanton, Jean Stearn, Lady 
Guinness, and Lady Rolle. Purple and Mauve. —King of the Purples, 
Nero, Old Port, Purpureum elegans, Schiller, Sir Thomas Sebright, Everes- 
tianum, Fastuosum, and Surprise. Plum and Bake. —Joseph Whitworth, 
Cruentum, Fervum, and W. H. Punchard. Pink. —Lady Francis Crossley, 
Mrs. R. S. Holford, Mrs. John Penn, Kate Waterer, Lady Grenville, Mrs. W. 
Agnew, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Heywood, Madam Van der Weyer, Duchess of 
Edinburgh, and John Spencer. Rose. —Lady Falmouth, Lady Claremont, 
Mrs. Thomas Longman, Mrs. Thomas Wain, W. E. Gladstone, Titian, 
Notabile, Lady Eleanor Cathcart, and Lady Armstrong. Crimson and 
Scarlet. — Michael Waterer, Beauty of Surrey, Chailes Bagley, Frederick 
Waterer, H. W. Sargent, H. H. Hunnewell, James Bateman, John Waterer, 
Lord Selborne, Lord Clyde, Meteor, Pelopidas, and William Austin. Rosy 
Crimsons. —Alexander Dancer, Archimedes, Blandyanum, Decorator, Mrs. 
Joseph Shuttleworth, and Raphael. 
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 Frrn fronds 
should contain spores. Specimens shou’d ariive in a fresh state in firm 
box< s. 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. 
{J. C.) —1, Begonia albo-coccinea; 2, Begonia Warscewiczii; 3, Begonia 
Lapeyrousii; 4, Abuti’on vexillarium. {E. P.) —1, Cyrtopteris fragilis ; 
2, Pellsea hastata ; 3, Selaginella Kraussiana; 4, Pteris tremula; 5, Funkia 
ovata. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 8th. 
Owing to the holidays our market kefps very quiet, and goods generally 
are at a standstill. Grapes still keep below their usual average. Straw¬ 
berries in little request. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
A sieve 
2 
6 
to 4 
6 
Oranges. 
4 
0 to 
7 
0 
Chestnuts .. 
# . 
bushel 16 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
perdoz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. 
perlOOlhs. 55 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Currants, Red 
A sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Black 
| sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English .. lb . 
1 
8 
2 
0 
Figs .. .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums . 
£ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes .. .. 
.. lb. 
5 
0 
8 
0 
Strawberries.. .. 
.. tb. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Lemons .. .. 
,. case 
10 
0 
15 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 
3 
0 
7 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8 
d. 
s 
d 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Artichokes .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Lettuce. 
. dozen 
1 
0 to 
1 
0 
Asparagus 
bundle 
7 
0 
8 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
0 
0 
1 
4 
Beans, Kidney 
. , 
100 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Broccoli .. .. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
, , 
£ sieve 
2 
6 
3 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
1 
8 
2 
0 
,, Kidney . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Carrots .. .. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
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. 
.. lb . 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Endive .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
brshel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
HerDS .. .. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
.. tb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Leeks .. .. 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
hunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
ARABLE SHEEP FARMING. 
Turnips almost finished ; pastures absolutely bare of keep, 
so closely have they been eaten off by hungry sheep ; seeds 
backward, and in many fields a poor thin plant; dry cold 
weather—so cold that spring growth is almost at a stand- 
