February 14, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
139 
anything else has brought Begonias into disrepute as plants for the flower 
garden. 
Names of Fruit (.1 Terse, of Berwickshire). —-1, Golden Winter Pearmain, 
commonly called King of the Pippins ; 2, Grey Leadington (?); 3, Downton 
Nonpareil. ( Colonel Gleig). —1, Golden Pearmain; 2, Golden Reinette ; 3, 
Eldon Pippin ; 4, Golden Noble. ( F. J.). —Reinette de Canada. ( F. G.). — 
The Pear is not known. 
Names of Plants.—Several correspondents have sent us Camellia flowers 
for naming. These being varieties and not species we do not, as we have 
many times stated, undertake to name them. There are so many forms so 
closely resembling each other that they cannot be satisfactorily identified 
except by comparison with others in a large collection. The same rule 
applies to all varieties of florists’ flowers. We do not refuse to give the name 
of a Camellia that we can determine with accuracy ; but in a case of doubt it 
would be inadvisable to give a name that might not be correct. ( E. P.).— 
Clematis indivisa lobata. 
Feeding Bees (Old Subscriber ).—Your bees are probably starving. Give 
them syrup in shallow vessels, which you can easily place under the hive. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— February 13th. 
TRADE continues quiet, Grapes scarcely maintaining their value. Cucumbers lower. 
Kent Cobs stagnant. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Apples • • • • • 
A sieve 
1 
6 
to 5 
0 
Nectarines .. .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
to 0 
0 
„ .. .. per barrel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
6 
O 
10 
0 
Apricots 
box 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Chestnuts .. 
bushel 10 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen 
dozen 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
5 
0 
Filberts. 
.. ft. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English .. lb. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cobs . 
per lb. 
1 
S 
1 
4 
Plums and Damsons .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes. 
.. lb. 
1 
6 
5 
0 
Strawberries.. 
.. ft. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemon .. .. 
,. case 
15 
O 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
2 
0 
8 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
d. 
s 
Artichokes .. 
. dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
1 
0 
to 1 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
100 
1 
O 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions . 
bushel 
3 
6 
3 
8 
Broccoli .. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
. ) sieve 
1 
6 
2 
6 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney .. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. .. 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
. dozen 
3 
0 
3 
0 
Salsaty. 
bundle 
1 
O 
0 
0 
Celery .. .. 
1 
8 
2 
0 
Scorzonera .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Cole worts doz 
bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale. 
basket 
1 
0 
1 
0 
Cucumbers 
. each 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Shallots. 
.. ft. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Endive .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach .. „ .. 
bushel 
3 
6 
3 
6 
Herbs .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes 
0 
3 
0 10 
Leeks 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Lettuce .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
e 
\ 
GRASS SEEDS FOR PERMANENT PASTURE. 
The subject of “ Laying down Land to Permanent Pasture” was 
discussed in this Journal on the 5th, 12th, and 19th of February, 1880. 
Since that time, however, a great revolution has occurred, or a great 
necessity for changing our opinions upon the subject of seeds to be 
used for the purposes. Much care has been bestowed upon the 
subject, which has been considered in a thoroughly practical light by 
an excellent authority, who has given us the full benefit of his expe¬ 
rience—we allude to Mr. C. De Laune Faunce-De Laune, whose 
essay appears in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of 
England for 1882 “ On Laying down Land to Permanent Grass,” 
and which will be of immense importance to the owners and occu¬ 
piers of land, and more particularly at this period of depression in 
agriculture, when the statistics show that a large increase of land 
laid into pasture has taken place during several years past. No doubt 
in the future obtaining seeds for the purpose will be more simple, 
better defined, and at some considerable less cost than in the past. 
It is notorious that a great want of knowledge has existed upon the 
subject, which has been shown not only by the farmers, but also in 
some cases by the seedsmen, as regards the habit of growth and 
feeding properties of grasses produced by seeds commonly used for 
the seeding of land for peimanent grass, in consequence of which a 
large number of seeds of sorts ill adapted for the purpose have been 
included in the mixtures. Still we cannot but admire the interest 
taken in the subject by those firms and seedsmen who have taken 
great pains in directing the farmers as to the value of the 6eeds 
which, in their estimation, both as to sons and quantities, were best 
adapted for use on the different soils and climates of the various 
counties and districts of England, Ireland, and Scotland. Much 
trade has been done in selling grass for use in our colonies, as well 
as the continental States ; and no doubt as the cultivation of land in 
America, Canada, &c., extends, that a great future for the seedsmen 
will open abroad for them ; but more particularly shall we expect 
this after the full experience of those who have studied the matter 
of selection of seeds has been more fully developed and admitted as 
correct in practice. 
In the essay above named the author says—“ Although I have, 
during the last nine years, bestowed much attention on the formation 
of permanent pastures, I should have hesitated to undertake the task 
of attempting to enlighten others, had I not been assured by many 
very competent advisers that a promulgation of the results of my 
experiments would be greatly for the public advantage ; the more so, 
as on many essential points my views differ materially from those of 
most writers on the same subject. In the limited space of this 
article I intend to confine myself to that which I deem the most 
important—viz , the kinds of seed suitable to be laid down. Unfor¬ 
tunately for owneis and occupiers of land the grossest ignorance 
prevails about grasses. To many landowners and farmers almost 
every herb that is green is considered to be grass; hence the ordinary 
circumspection used in purchasing grain-crop seeds has not been 
exercised in the case of grass seeds. It is generally, I might almost 
say invariably, alleged, and truly so, that newly formed pastures have 
been found to deteriorate greatly after the first two or three years. 
1 will explain my view of the reason of this determination and point 
out the remedy, and in so doing correct what I conceive to be some 
erroneous impressions that are generally entertained respecting grasses. 
The terms ‘ coarser grasses,’ and ‘ finer grasses,’ which are so fre¬ 
quently used, have led to serious mischief in the formation of new 
pastures. The coarser are popularly believed to be the inferior, and 
the finer grasses the better sort, but in reality the four best grasses 
for pasture are all large grasses, and come, popularly speaking, under 
the head of coarse grasses. There are perennial, biennial, and annual 
grasses. The two latter ought, in my opinion, under all circumstances, 
to be carefully excluded when a permanent pasture is desired. The 
use of short-lived grasses and of biennial Clovers, coupled with an 
insufficiency of proper seed, is the main cause of deterioration of new 
pastures after the first two or three years. 
“ The four coarse grasses valuable beyond all others for permanent 
pasture are Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), Meadow Fescue (Fescue 
pratensis), and its ally, Tall Fescue (Festuca elatior), Catstail or 
Timothy (Phleum pratense), and Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pra¬ 
tensis). These five grasses should form the bulk of all pastures on good 
soil, either for sheep or cattle. The finer or minor grasses are Crested 
Dogtail (Cynosurus cristatus), Hard Fescue (Festuca duriuscula), Rough 
Meadow Grass (Poa trivialis), Fiorin (Agrostis stolenifera), Sheep's 
Fescue (Festuca ovina), and Golden Oat Grass (Avena flavescens). A 
meadow composed of the above would be perfect as regards grasses, 
assuming that the proper proportions are used ; it would produce food 
for stock during neatly every month of the year. The Clovers which 
should, however, be used in a much smaller proportion than the 
grasses are permanent Red Clover, Cow Grass, Alsike, and White or 
Dutch Clover. Seeds of Milfoil or Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), 
ought never to be omitted. The above are really all the plants re¬ 
quired for a permanent pasture of the finest quality on first-rate or 
medium soils throughout Britain. On inferior soils or soils possess¬ 
ing special qualities some of these grasses would not be suitable, and 
a selection must be made. Thus, on dry lands, Foxtail, Rough Meadow 
Grass, and Fiorin should be omitted, and a smaller quantity of Meadow 
Fescue used, while a greater proportion of Cocksfoot, Crested Dogstail, 
and Yarrow should be substituted.” 
This lengthened quotation has been given because it exactly de¬ 
scribes the new movement or changes required in the seeding of land 
for permanent grass. When compared with the mixtures heretofore 
recommended by most writers on the subject, and the major portion 
of the seedsmen who furnish ready mixed grass seeds for the pur¬ 
pose, and which have previously been accepted by the farmers, who 
in general through not studying the matter for themselves and their 
interests, have trusted to seedsmen to prepare mixtures for them. 
We were somewhat in the same position as most farmers, for during 
eight or ten y ears we had trusted to firms to supply grasses of our 
choosing, but we are still in the dark whilst making our own 
selections ; for although we objected to inferior sorts of grasses, yet 
we were induced to use seeds such as Italian Rye Grass, Perennial 
Rye Grass, and other varieties of Rye Grass. Now, however, wo 
can see the mistake that was made. Rye Grasses make a great show, 
and although cheap were the principal cause of all the subsequent 
failures of the p'ant so common in the previous system of seeding. 
About four or five years ago we recommended a friend to sow a 
mixture of Rye Grasses with the best permanent grasses, but when we 
viewed the laud a few months ago our friend complained that all the 
grasses, except Cocksfoot and some Dutch Clover, had entirely dis- 
