April 23, 1835. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
843 
Manures ( T. J.). —Your paper contains several statements which may be 
misleading. For instance, you say “ the five principal food elements plants 
use,” which ought to have been elements required to he applied to the soil, 
these elements being not by any means the principal means of sustenance. 
About the statement that nitrogen in the air is drunk in by the leaves in 
the shape of ammonia, it may be noted that this question is not very well 
cleared up, but it is supposed that nitrogen from the atmosphere is used as 
nitrogen, and nitrogen from the soil in the shape most probably of nitrates. 
It is only some plants, moreover, that make much use of atmospheric 
nitrogen. We think you are wrong in placing so much weight on “phos¬ 
phorus ” as opposed to nitrates. The fact is the only sensible mode of 
employing so-called artificial manures is to abstain from using any one of 
them separately to any extent. We have no doubt your garden experiments 
were rendered nugatory by overlooking this primary fact. There is much 
that is of value in your paper, your remarks on humus being good, and the 
value of urine as a manure requires to be often stated. We would advise 
you to dispense with nitrate of potash as a manurial agent. It is expensive, 
and gives no better results than does sulphate of potash or the muriate. 
Plaster of Paris is a good manure in some cases. Weed-growing to increase 
the productiveness of land is a proposition of doubtful utility, and we think 
you are wrong in your ideas respecting heavy dung dressings. If ground 
is heavily cropped farmyard dung is indispensable in heavy dressings. 
Climbers for an East Aspect ( S. T.). —A trellis of stout wire will answer 
best for your purpose. Before covering the house front with Portland 
cement drive in iron staples 4 feet apart, leaving them far enough out to 
project through the cement, so that the wires can be fastened to them after 
it is put on. A row of staples at the top and bottom and five rows between, or 
forty-two staples for each space of 20 by 24 feet. Strain the wire diagonally 
so as to make a diamond pattern, both for stability and neatness, and give it 
two or three coats of paint. The climber you mention is probably Ligustrum 
coriaceum, of a distinct, compact, and very neat habit of growth. But for the 
beauty of its flowers and bolder appearance Ligustrum japonicum is decidedly 
preferable, only it requires more care in pruning and training to keep it 
within bounds. Four feet apart is close enough for the permanent health 
and vigour of the climbers, and this distance will enable you to have eight 
plants arranged in the order they are named—Lonicera flexuosa, the 
sweetest of all Honeysuckles ; Ligustrum japonicum, (Japanese Privet), 
Jasminum officinale (White Jasmine, very fragrant), Escallonia macrantha, 
Lonicera brachypoda, almost as sweet as L. flexuosa, Berberis Darwinii, 
Jasminum nudiflorum (Yellow Jasmine, flowering in winter and early 
spring),and Ceanothus rigidus, quite hardy enough for an east aspect in 
Surrey, and very lovely in spring with densely clustering pale lavender 
flowers. One, three, five, and seven are deciduous, the others arranged with 
them alternately are evergreen. Let the growth mingle, and you will thus 
have a clothing of green foliage in winter, and the fresh growth and beauty 
peculiar to the other seasons of the year as well. Plant carefully as soon as 
possible in rich soil 3 or 4 feet deep and wide, and see that there is an out¬ 
let for rain water, which is apt to accumulate about the foundations of 
buildings. 
Lime for Grass Land (T . Griffiths). —On land where the soil is deficient 
in lime or only existing in small quantities, lime is one of the most valuable 
manures that can be applied. Land that has been frequently top-dressed or 
manured with vegetable matter for a series of years would be wonderfully 
improved by a good dressing of lime. We know fields and gardens that 
have been manured heavily for years, and yet failed to produce good crops, 
but a heavy dressing of lime restored them to a high state of fertility. You 
could not do better than add about 10 per cent, of lime to the manure and 
vegetable refuse, mixing the whole well together before applying it to the 
land. The grass land should have been top-dressed before now if intended 
for mowing this year. However, it would be better to apply it at once than 
to leave it until another season. The condition of fields that were dressed 
early show at the present time a very marked improvement over those that 
have not been done, or only just been attended to. 
House for Forcing Strawberries ( D. E.). —In very few gardening 
establishments where Strawberries are largely forced are there to be found 
any other convenience than shelves in forcing houses and heated frames 
such as you describe. The plants do much better in frames, and produce 
finer fruits with greater certainty than is the case upon shelves after the 
season has advanced and the sun has great power. On shelves when the 
sun is very bright and hot not only do the flowers fail to set satisfactorily, 
but the fruit is often seriously injured by exposure to the sun. A heated 
frame where air can be admitted freely is admirably adapted for the purpose 
you have in view, but if you intend erecting a structure on purpose we 
should advise a low span-roofed house, or a three-quarter span, with a walk 
down the centre and a stage on each side. You could arrange a wide shelf 
over the walk capable of accommodating two rows of plants, which could 
be lifted from the beds to the shelf to ripen. A house 9 feet high and from 
10 feet 6 inches to 12 feet wide outside (including the walls) would be of a 
suitable size. If the side walls were 2 feet 3 inches above the ground level 
you could arrange small front lights for the purpose of admitting air when 
required. The reason we advise a house of this description is not only 
because you could get at the plants and attend to their wants better than in 
a frame, but because the house could be utilised for a variety of purposes 
after the Strawberry season was over to which the frame could not be 
applied. 
Gymnostachyum Culture (G. H .).—These are of easy cultivation, and 
can be successfully grown by anyone having the convenience of maintain¬ 
ing a stove temperature. They are easily propagated by cuttings, which 
root quickly if inserted in sand and placed in brisk heat in a close frame or 
under a bellglass and well shaded. After the plants are well rooted 
specimen pans can be made up with a number of them. The centre of the 
pan should be elevated considerably, but this should be carried out accord¬ 
ing to taste. They can be grown to look well in baskets or in small pots. 
They delight in a light soil, which Bhould consist of fibry peat, the small 
particles of soil being shaken out, sphagnum moss, charcoal, and plenty of 
sand. While growing abundance of water should be given and the plants 
liberally syringed. They grow with the greatest rapidity in a close moist 
atmosphere well shaded from strong light. When specimens are made up 
and the plants have grown a little the growth should be pegged down, when 
the stems will quickly throw up a number of roots. These plants are very 
beautiful when grown in connection with small-growing Ferns to cover vacant 
walls in stoves. They also look very attractive when growing amongst the 
moss on Orchid pots, but must be kept in due bounds. Gymnostachyums 
will not fail to grow luxuriantly if plenty of heat, water, shade, and a light 
compost is given them. 
Marking Fruit (C. L. JR .).—This is the produce of Semecarpus anacar- 
dium, is a large tree, 50 feet high, a native of the mountains of the East 
Indies, and is called Marking Fruit. What constitutes the fruit is the 
swollen receptacle, which, when ripe, is yellow, and is roasted in ashes and 
eaten by the natives. They have the flavour of roasted apples ; but when 
unroasted they taste astringent and acrid, leaving a painful sensation on 
the tongue for some time. When unripe it may be made into good bird¬ 
lime by pounding it. The nut is heart-shaped and seated on the receptacle, 
black, and consists of a cover or shell composed of two skins—an outer 
an i an inner—and a kernel. Between the two skins is contained a black, 
acrid, resinous juice, which, before it is ripe, is of a pale milk colour. This 
black acrid juice of the shell is by the natives applied externally to remove 
rheumatic pains, aches, and strains. In tender constitutions it often causes 
inflammations and swelling, but where it does not produce these effects it 
is an efficacious remedy. It is in general use for making cotton cloths, and 
the colour is improved and prevented from running by a little mixture of 
quicklime and water. The juice is not soluble in water, and is only diffu¬ 
sible in spirits of wine, for it soon falls to the bottom unless the menstruum 
be previously alkalised, but then the solution is pretty complete, and of a 
black colour. It sinks in fixed oils and unites peifectly with them, but the 
alkaline solution acts upon it with no better success than plain water. The 
kernels are rarely eaten. The wood is reckoned of no use, not only on 
account of its softness but also because it contains much acrid juice, which 
makes it dangerous to cut down and work upon. 
Names of Plants (E. JR. C .).—It is impossible to determine the name of 
the Palm fiom such a poor specimen, but it resembles Rhapis flabelliformis 
and will succeed in an ordinary stove or warm greenhouse. The soil should 
be good loam with a little sand. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 22nd. 
A BETTER demand is now influencing our Market, and prices have generally risen 
With the present fine weather a good supply oi Strawberries is reaching us. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
h 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 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Black 
| sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English .. lb . 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Figs .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums . 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes ,. 
.. lb. 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Strawberries.. 
.. lb. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Lemons .. .. 
.. case 
10 
0 
15 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 
3 
0 
7 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
S. 
d. 
s. d 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d- 
Artichokes .. 
dozen 
2 
G to 4 
0 
Lettuce. 
dozen 
1 
0 to 
2 
0 
Asparagus 
bundle 
7 
0 
8 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
0 
0 
1 
4 
Beans, Kidney 
100 
1 
0 
0 
0 
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 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
s 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
1 sieve 
0 
0 
■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 
0 
Carrots .. 
bunch 
0 
S 
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 dez. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. per basket 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Cucumbers 
each 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Shallots. 
.. lb. 
0 
S 
0 
0 
Endive .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Heros .. .. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
.. lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Leeks .. .. 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
WAYS AND MEANS. 
At most farms that are within reasonable distance by 
rail of the great centres of population an important way of 
obtaining quick returns and a steady inflow of ready money 
is found in the sale of milk. There is quite a cheerful air of 
business at many a quiet country station as the milk cans 
are brought in for despatch by the early morning train, and 
we were amused and interested while recently waiting for 
our train at such a station to hear the farmers exchange 
congratulations upon having a south wind with warm April 
showers. Well might they do so, for with the wind blowing 
steadily from the east for weeks together the pastures re¬ 
mained bare, and the hayricks were daily growing smaller or 
had vanished altogether upon many a farm. So small was 
the hay crop upon numerous poverty-stricken meadows last 
summer that the stock was exhausted in many an instance 
