May 31, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
429 
planting out, which ought not to be done before the middle of June. 
D. terminalis is better for the purpose than D. Cooperi. 
Flower Bed Planting ( Merchant). —You do not state what you have 
for the centre of the bed, but we may suggest that it should be scarlet 
Pelargonium. 1 and 4, Happy Thought Pelargonium ; 2 and 5, Mrs. Pollock 
Pelargonium ; 3 and 6, Flower of Spring Pelargonium ; 7 and 10, purple 
Pansy, with a line all round of white Yiola ; 8 and 11, yellow Pansy, with 
a line around of blue Viola ; 9 and 12, blue Pansy, with line around of 
yellow Viola ; 13 and 16, blue Lobelia, dotted up the centre with Echeveria; 
15 and 18, Cerastium, dotted Golden Feather ; 14 and 17, Golden Feather 
Pyrethrum, dotted blue Lobelia. The bed may be edged with Echeverias 
or Cerastium. In dotting only use single plants, and allow sufficient space, 
so that the dots will show distinctly, the plants needing to be about a foot 
apart, more rather than less. The dots being intended to take off the ribbon 
character of the arrangement, and render it less tame. 
Large Onions (A . Bennett). —The large Onions you have seen at the 
Bkows are usually grown under special treatment. Early in the winter the 
ground is heavily dressed with good solid farmyard or stable manure ; it is 
then deeply dug or thrown up roughly, in order that it may become 
thoroughly pulverised during the winter. As early in the spring as the 
weather and state of the ground permits, the autumn-raised Tripolis are 
transplanted from the seed beds in rows about 15 inches apart, and the 
plants not less than 6 inches asunder in the rows. The seed of those of 
the White Spanish type, such as the Improved Banbury. Improved Reading, 
and Rousham Hero, is sown at the same time as the others are trans¬ 
planted, and these mature where they are sown. In addition to the solid 
manure, about two surfacings of some kind of artificial manure are given, 
nothing being more effective than guano at the rate of about 3 ozs. to the 
square yard. This should be sown between the rows, preferably during 
showery weather, and be lightly stirred in with the Dutch hoe. Liquid 
manure of any kind or sewage is also given by some growers, and this is 
also best applied during showery weather, or before the ground has become 
very hard and dry. Neither water nor liquid manure should be given after 
the Onions are approaching maturity, or it will induce them to crack or 
become irregular in shape. It is too late to transplant your Tripolis, but 
you can thin them out freely and otherwise treat them as above outlined. 
Many of them will probably bolt, but the remainder, if liberally treated, 
may yet grow to a size fit for exhibition. All kinds of growing crops, 
and Onions in particular, are greatly benefited by having the ground 
about them frequently stirred, though not deeply, so as to disturb the 
roots. If your Vegetable Marrows are being grown in a frame without 
heat, or in the open and lightly protected, most probably they fail to set 
owing to the long prevalence of cold weather. Under glass we usually find 
it necessary to fertilise the early blossoms, much as we would Cucumbers 
and Melons. They remain open but a very short time, and have to be 
watched closely accordingly. Later on, when the plants are receiving 
plenty of room, light, and air, no artificial setting will be necessary. 
Names of Fruit (Thinghill). —Moss’s Incomparable. 
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 ariive 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. 
(W. W.). —Ornithogalum nutans. (Subscriber). —The Orchid is Maxillaria 
Harrisonias, and the red flower Bauera rubioides. (A Turner ).—Ribes 
aureum. (F. N .).—1, Reedia glaucescens ; 2, Callicarpa purpurea ; 3, not 
recognisable ; 4, Maxillaria picta; 5, Paullinia thalictrifolia ; 6, Abutilon 
vexillarium. ( W. A. B.). —Flowers sent for naming ought to be numbered. 
The white is Saxifraga ceratophylla, the small yellow Alyssum saxatile, 
purple Lunaria biennis. Please send information about the double prim¬ 
rose-coloured flower. Is it hardy or tender, shrubby or herbaceous? No 
stems or foliage accompanies it. What is the size of the Conif r of which 
you have sent a spray ? (If. M .).—The plant sent is Ornithogalum umbel- 
latum, and is popularly known as the Star of Bethlehem. Ornithogalum 
nutans has no special name. Omphalodes is called the Creeping Forget- 
me-not, and amplexicaulis means stem-clasping, referring to the leaves. 
(C. S.). —1, Viburnum macrocephalum ; 2, Calycanthus floridus ; 3, Semper- 
vivum ciliatum ; 4, Raphiolepis ovata ; 5, Alonsoa linifolia; 6, Prunus 
Padus. (Beader). —Pulmonaria officinalis. (Harrison). —Ixia amcena. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.—May 20th. 
Market heavily supplied with forced fruits, Grapes and Strawberries being cleared 
only at lower prices. Vegetables plentiful. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
i sieve 
3 
8 
to 4 
6 
Oranges. 
4 
0 to 
7 
0 
Chestnuts .. 
# . 
bushel 16 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
perdoz. 
15 
0 
21 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. 
per 100 lbs. 
0 
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. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Figs .. .. 
dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Plums . 
A sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes .. .. 
s 
0 
5 
0 
Strawberries.. .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Lemons.. .. 
» . 
# . case 
10 
0 
15 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 
3 
0 
7 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Artichokes 
, , 
dozen 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Lettuce. 
dozen 
l 
0 to 
2 
0 
Asparagus 
, , 
bundle 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
0 
0 
1 
4 
Beans, Kidney 
, , 
100 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punne t 
0 
3 
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 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Capsicums 
, , 
100 
1 
8 
3 
0 
,, Kidney . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Carrots .. ,. 
bunch 
0 
s 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
dozen 
s 
9 
3 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celery .. .. 
bundle 
1 
8 
2 
0 
Scorzonera .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts dcz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. per basket 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers .. 
each 
0 
S 
0 
6 
Shallots. 
0 
3 
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 
LeekB .. .. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
DAIRY FARMING. 
SPRING. 
With the coming of spring the winter diet of the dairy 
cows, consisting of Carrots, Cabbages, Mangolds, bran, and 
hay, but no cake or Turnips, is changed—first to Thousand¬ 
headed Kale and Rye, then to Rye Grass, and now to meadow 
grass. As cow after cow calved, and the calves were weaned, 
and the fresh green food of spring came into use, the dairy 
produce improved every week ; more and richer milk, with a 
proportionately increasing quantity of butter of that high 
colour and fine flavour which tells more than anything else 
can do that the cows are upon a full diet of sweet, tender, 
succulent food. It is our custom to have the milk of all the 
cows in full profit measured once a week, and to have a strict 
account kept in the dairy book under the following headings : 
—Cows in milk ; Quarts daily ; Milk used ; Cream used ; 
Butter made ; Butter used ; Butter sold. In the stock book 
there should also be entries of the name and age of each 
cow, date of entering the herd, time of first and subsequent 
calvings, an account of the calves and what becomes of them, 
whether they are reserved for store beasts or heifers for 
breeding, or if they are fattened and sold for veal, with the 
age at which they are sold and the prices obtained for them. 
It is only by close attention to such details that we can know 
all that is requisite about the herd and dairy. Once estab¬ 
lished as a rule of the farm it is seldom that there is any 
trouble about keeping correct entries, provided a little careful 
supervision is given occasionally, our rule being to have the 
books sent in for inspection every week. 
Sex, breed, size, and condition at birth, and the age and 
character of the cow are all matters that exercise some in¬ 
fluence upon our decision as to the fate of each calf, and that 
decision is arrived at quickly. A healthy w’ell-formed cow 
calf from a really good dairy cow is always saved for trial as 
a heifer to calve when two years old, and although a full yield 
of milk is not given till the second calving, yet one is able 
to see at the first calving if a heifer is likely to be worth 
saving for the dairy herd or not. So, too, with bull calves. 
Big-framed sturdy animals at birth are generally worth keep¬ 
ing for twenty to twenty-four months, if our knowledge of 
the parentage enables us to feel assured that the young 
stock at that age will be ripe for the butcher ; if not, there 
should be no hesitation about fattening them at once for veal. 
It never answers to keep inferior animals for store stock. At 
a large cattle market where many hundreds of cattle pass 
under the auctioneer’s hammer weekly, we recently saw lot 
after lot of wean-year calves about ten months old sold at 
from £5 to £6 apieco. Now, fat calves eight to ten weeks 
old have sold readily at about £4 for veal, and one naturally 
inquires, not what is the profit, but rather what is the loss 
upon the older animals. 
Calves reserved for store stock must be kept going from 
the first if they are to afford us that margin of profit which 
all farm produce must be made to yield by hook or crook. 
We must keep “ calf flesh ” on, and as Mr. Evershed tells 
us so clearly, “ The progress in growth of flesh and fat 
accumulation must not only be unbroken but rapid a diet 
of milk for the first five or six months, crushed corn, cake 
and bran being given them as soon as they can eat it, and 
then grass, hay, Oat straw, and cut Turnips and Mangolds. 
“ One great point is,” says another practical man, “ never to 
allow the stirks to lose their calf-lyre, and keep them steadily 
growiug and improving. If this be done, there is not the 
slightest difficulty in bringing tlem out, on an average, 
60 stone w’eight (of 14 lbs.) at twenty-two to twenty-four 
