January 17 1884.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
55 
Divide the kitchen garden into quarters by two central paths intersecting 
each other at the middle of the garden, also make a path round the garden 
<i or 8 feet inside the boundary ; 4 feet is an ample width for the paths of 
so small a garden. This method of division gives facility of access to 
every part; it also gives four large square plots for the main vegetable 
crops, and borders for Strawberries, salading, herbs, and many other 
vegetables of which small quantities in succession are required. Fruit trees, 
whether espaliers or pyramids, should be planted alongside the paths, so 
as to encroach as little as possible upon the squares or borders. Shelter 
from the north and east is required in winter and early spring when 
deciduous trees are bare of leaves. Ev„rgreen Firs must, therefore, be used 
either mixed of common Spruce, Scotch, Silver (Picea pectinata), or Austrian 
Pine, or separately. If the position is much exposed plant several rows, 
so as eventually to have a dense mass of foliage, the permanent trees to 
be 12 feet apart, with Larches between 3 feet apart. The Larches are gradu¬ 
ally removed as the branches of the other trees spread, and afford a supply 
of stakes that is useful for garden purposes for several years. Keep the 
front row of this sheltering belt full 30 feet from the garden boundaries, 
so as to avoid risk of the roots encroaching upon the crops. In connection 
with shelter do not forget that a wall is not only valuable, but that trees 
trained against it very frequently have fruit in abundance when those out 
in the open garden have none at all. 
Select Hardy Plants and Shrubs ( Idem ).—If you will make your query 
as to what flowers you shall plant somewhat more definite we shall then 
be able to assist you. Your expressed desire for “herbaceous borders” 
shows that you care for such plants, so we name a few, but there are 
numerous others worthy of a place :—Acanthus latifolius, A. mollis, A. 
spinosus, Achillea Ptarmica flore-pleno, Schizostylis coccinea, Allium 
pedemontanum, Anemone japonica, A. japonica alba, Spiraea palmata, S. 
japonica, S. filipendula flore-pleno, Aquilegia glandulosa, A. chrysantha, 
Bocconia cordata, Carnations, Picotees, Pinks, Pyrethrums, Pentstemons, 
Delphiniums, Irises, Phloxes, Paeonies, Polygonums, Potentillas, Dictamnus 
Fraxinella, Monardas, Dielytra spectabilis, Meconopsis nepalense, Papaver 
orientale, Plumbago Larpentoe, Tradescantia virginica, Zauschneria cali- 
fornica, with all the old familiar varieties of bulbs intermingled, with space 
between for the best annuals, such as Asters, Larkspur, Stocks, Mignonette, 
Zinnias, Candytuft, Phlox Drummondi, Petunias, Godetias, and Balsams. 
Of evergreen climbers for your house take Escallonia macrantha, Ceanothus 
rigidus, Berberidopsis corallina, Akebia quinata, Garrya elliptica, Cotone- 
aster microphylla, C. Simmondsii, Elaeagnus pungens variegata ; and of 
deciduous sorts Ampelopsis Veitchii, Lonicera flexuosa, L. brachypoda, 
Clematis montana, C. flammula, C. Jackmanii, C. The Queen, C. coccinea, 
Wistaria sinensis, Jasminum officinale, J. nudiflorum, and Solanum jas- 
minoides ; and in planting mix evergreen with deciduous, so that the growth 
may blend and the walls never become bare. Give your gardener £65 a year, 
with cottage, fuel, vegetables, and milk to begin with, and if he proves a 
really valuable servant add to his wages subsequently, for be assured that 
liberality then will be to your mutual advantage. 
Mushroom Spawn (./. E., Essex). —Your questions are exactly similar 
to some received from a correspondent some time ago, and answered as 
follows :—Milltrack Mushroom spawn is that which is found in the ac¬ 
cumulated manure of horse or cow stables. It used to be plentiful in 
the tracks of horses that were employed in working mills and threshing 
machines in the olden time, hence its name. It is almost impossible to 
teach anyone to make Mushroom spawn bricks except by example, and it 
is not unlikely you will err if you attempt to make a “ large quantity.” 
Try a small quantity first. The following is the plan described in the 
“ Cottage Gardeners’ Dictionary,” and is good when properly carried out:— 
“ Take three parts of horse dung without litter, two of cow dung, one of 
decayed tanner’s bark, and one of sheep’s dung, and one of good loam ; 
mix to the consistency of mortar, and mould in small frames like those 
used by brick-makers, 6 inches long, 4 broad, and 2 deep. Three holes 
to be made half through the bricks, an inch apart, with a blunt dibble 
for the reception of the spawn. They should be put on boards for the 
convenience of moving abroad during fine days, as they must be made 
perfectly dry, which they often appear to be on the outside when they are 
far otherwise internally. Before they are perfectly dry they require great 
care in handling and turning, from their aptitude to break ; but in about 
three weeks, if dry weather, when perfectly dried, they become quite firm. 
To pervade them with the spawn, a layer of fresh horse litter, which has 
laid in a heap to sweeten, as for a hotbed, must be formed, 6 inches thick, 
in a dry shed. On this a course of the bricks is to be laid, and their holes 
completely filled with spawn ; and, as the bricks are laid in row3 upon each 
other, the upper side of each is to be scattered over with some of the same. 
The bricks are not placed so as to touch, so that the heat and steam of the 
■dung may circulate equally and freely. The heap is to terminate with a 
single brick, and when completed covered with a layer 6 inches thick of 
hot dung, to be reinforced with an additional 3 inches after a lapse of two 
weeks. The spawn will generally have thoroughly run through the bricks 
after another fortnight. If, however, upon examination this is not found 
to be the case, they must remain for ten days longer. The bricks being 
allowed to dry for a few days before they are stored, will then keep for 
many years.” 
Names of Plants (W. E.). —We have frequently stated that we do not 
undertake to name florists’ flowers, as it is almost impossible to determine 
them without comparing them with a large collection. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— January 16th. 
No alteration with the exception of Grapes and Cucumbers, both of which are in good 
•demand at improved prices. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples .. 
1 
6 
to 5 
0 
Nectarines .. .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
to 0 
0 
»» • • 
.. per barrel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges. 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Apricots 
.. .. box 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Chestnuts 
.. .. bushel 
10 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen 
dozen 
I 
0 
1 
6 
Figs 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
5 
0 
Filberts.. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English 
.. lb. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cobs 
.. .. per lb. 
1 
3 
1 
4 
Plums and Damsons 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes .. 
1 
6 
5 
0 
Strawberries.. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemon .. 
15 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 
o 
0 
8 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
Artichokes 
.. dozen 
s. 
2 
d. s. 
0 to 4 
d. 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
8 . 
1 
d. 
0 
s. 
to 1 
d. 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
100 
i 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
. . dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Onions . 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
3 
Broccoli . . .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley . . dozen bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
. . | sieve 
1 
6 
2 
6 
Parsnips . 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
s 
0 
Capsicums 
.. 100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
„ Kidney . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Rhubarb . 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
.. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celery .. .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzonera 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale. 
basket 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Cucumbers 
.. each 
1 
0 
1 
9 
Shallots. 
.. lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Endive .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Herbs .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. 
0 
3 
0 
10 
Leeks .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
8 
0 
0 
Lettuce .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
NEW and IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY. 
{Continuedfrom page 34.) 
Corn and seed-dressing machines were a large and important 
part of the late Show at Islington Hall. The cellular class of rotary 
corn and seed-separators were more numerous than on any former 
occasion. At a former meeting of the Royal one of these, a French- 
made machine, was shown, and shortly after an improvement was 
patented and shown by Mr. Charles Dellar of Melbourne, Cambs. 
This year Mr. Dellar has exhibited an improved machine patented 
by him, the cup cells on the inner periphery of the cylinder being 
arranged diagonally. The cells can be made of any size, and the 
cylinders of any diameter and length. They are a practical success, 
and are in extensive demand for use by corn merchants and millers 
in cleaning home-grown corn as well as imported Wheat, Barley, 
and Oats, also by the farmer for separating seeds from his Wheat. 
At the same time they are recommended for the separation of Oats 
from Barley, as it is notorious that the best grain for malting 
purposes is frequently found in the samples of drege. We know 
one corn merchant who is a large buyer of drege, and makes it 
answer his purpose well to separate the Barley, &c., from samples of 
mixed corn. Jt can also be used for separating the grain when 
Beans and Peas or Beans and Vetches are grown together, and as 
this practice is becoming more general by Bean cultivators on strong 
soils it is of increasing importance. Corn and seed-drying machines 
can be made upon the same principle, and would not only prove 
better but cheaper than are Gibbs’ drying machines ; and to this we 
call the attention of Mr. W. Gibbs and other makers of corn-drying 
machines, the cell principle adopted being decidedly superior to any 
other plans yet discovered. Messrs. Burlingham, Innes & Co. of 
the Exchange Works, Hitchin, also exhibited a screen for the 
same purposes of separating corn from weeds, for which the power 
required in working is very small compared with some other 
machines. At the same time where large quantities are required to 
be dealt with two or more of these cylinders can be combined to 
work in one frame. 
Messrs. R. A. Lister & Co. of the Victoria Ironworks, Dursley, 
Gloucestershire, exhibited a new and improved mill that will meet 
a long-felt want, and is capable of cracking or crushing from 
eighteen to twenty bushels of corn per hour, or grinding from 
six to eight bushels into meal of the finest condition adapted for pig 
or cattle-feeding. It can be driven by a small three-horse-power 
engine, and is so simple in construction that any ordinary labourer 
can manage it. Under our present system of feeding our horses, 
cattle, sheep, and pigs, it is of far greater importance than at any 
former period. The home farmer now never thinks of feeding his 
horses with whole corn of any kind, as he knows that crushing is of 
vast importance in feeding, but more particularly where some of the 
animals are aged and having often defective teeth. When crushed, 
however, meal should be mixed with pulped roots or damp chaff 
of hay to prevent waste. But in feeding our fatting cattle or 
dairy cows it is best to give all artificial or corn foods in the meal 
state and in admixture with cut or pulped roots. Again, with sheep 
feeding both cake and corn should be reduced to meal and mixed 
with cut roots in order to prevent waste. Pigs also at the early 
stages of feeding should get meal mixed with pulped roots, varying 
in proportion to their fatness. 
Messrs. Vipan & Headley, of Church Gate, Leicester, showed a 
number of dairy appliances, and it is said that their newest railway 
milk-churn cannot be improved upon, as it is most substantial, being 
made of steel in one plate, with only one seam, and coated with tin. 
