February 21, 1884. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
159 
Tightly too. Plants with powerful odours will sometimes produce that effect. 
I hare known ladies that could not go near a Jasmine ; others that hated 
Musk; some that would faint at the propinquity of a Heliotrope, and others 
that only approved of Mignonette when not nearer than a furlong. All of 
us have something peculiar in our likes and dislikes. It is rather ill natured to 
consider such peculiarities as mere fid-fad imaginaides. Common prudence 
would say, ‘ Keep at a distance from whatever harms you.’ In bedrooms that 
are shut close at night I would advise dispensing with flowers having 
powerful odours, even though agreeable to the olfactory nerves of the owner. 
If he prefers retaining them it would be advisable to place them nearer the 
floor than the couch on which he reposes. But why not have air in the 
sleeping-room at night, instead of shutting it up close, when the weather is 
at all favourable, and thus serve the interests of the occupants and those of 
the plants at one and the same time ? The idea of the unhealthiness of 
plants in living and sleeping-room3 has been suggested by our chemical 
friends demonstrating the influence of vegetation on the atmosphere, and the 
reciprocal action ever going on between the vegetable and the animal world. 
They tell us truly that animals are continually taking oxygen gas from the 
•atmosphere, and throwing, by exhaling, carbonic gas into it, and that 
•from this and other causes, but for living vegetation, the air would become 
impure and unfit for breathing. The solid part of plants being chiefly carbon 
—of which charcoal may stand as a familiar type—and every green part of a 
plant having the power to absorb this carbonic gas in the atmosphere during 
light, its quantity is thus lessened, while the action of the sunbeam enables 
the plant to decompose the carbonic acid thus received, to retain, add, or 
assimilate the solid matter (the carbon) to itself, and to set the other con¬ 
stituent (oxygen) free for the benefit of the animal world. Thus it would 
seem that the nearer we get to healthy vegetation the more likely we shall 
be to get the benefit of this fresh-forming oxygen; but, as if to damp our 
enthusiasm, we are presented with a lesser and a greater drawback to our 
satisfaction. This lesser is, that all unhealthy parts of a plant, yellow leaves, 
<fec., and, what is more painful still, all flowers in proportion as their colour 
recedes from the green, vitiate the atmosphere rather than improve it even 
during the day. The second drawback is, that at night, or in darkness or 
much shade, even healthy plants exhale carbonic acid gas and inhale oxygen, 
and just in proportion to their size and powers deteriorate the atmosphere 
like ourselves, and therefore become, especially after twilight, very undesir¬ 
able neighbours in our dwelling and sleeping-rooms. To this heavy accusa¬ 
tion I reply that, in general, the size of flowers, in proportion to green leaves 
the plants grown in rooms, is so small that during the day the advantage 
greatly outweighs the disadvantage ; and though undoubtedly plants do give 
off carbonic acid gas at night, yet at that time the rooms are generally at 
their coolest, and as this gas is something like three to two heavier than 
common air, it will, in such circumstances, fall to the floor, and only be 
mingled with the general atmosphere by the heat and the sunshine of the 
following day. Unless the plants were extra numerous the absorption of 
oxygen would not much influence the air of the apartment. All or almost all 
injury might be avoided by seeing that the plants were lower than the seat 
or couch of the owner. I believe this the more because dew, the condensed 
moisture in the air near the ground, holds much more of this gas in solution 
in general than common water does. On the whole, then, unless in the case 
of delicate invalids, or of plants with very large flowers or having a powerful 
odour, I believe that healthy plants in rooms are decidedly beneficial, and 
promotive alike of cheerfulness and health, and that this is especially 
the case in large cities and towns.” To that we have only to add that a 
very large number of plants would be needed to vitiate the air so much as 
would be done by one adult individual. Hardy Kerns may be planted just 
as they are commencing growth. 
Names of Fruits (G. Randall). —Golden Knob. (G. Cummins). —Dumelow’s 
Seedling. 
Names of Plants (C . E. T. M.). —Helleborus guttatus. (Z7. S.). — 1 
R,uscu3 hypophyllum ; 2, Eleagnus variegatus ; 3, Eurya latifolia variegata 
(G. R. J.). —Centaurea candidissima. (IF. G, Leeds). —A poor variety of 
Laelia superbiens. (IF. D.). —The flower was almost unrecognisable, but it 
resembles Philadelphus coronarius. {W.J.). —Rhodora canadensis. ( James 
Woods). —As we stated last week, and many times previously, we do not 
undertake to name Camellias nor varieties of any florists’ flowers. See page 139 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— February 20th. 
Trade brisker, prices all round being firmer. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d 
Apples. 
h sieve 
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 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
fi 
0 
Filberts. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English .. lb. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cob3 . 
per lb. 
1 
S 
1 
4 
Plums and Damsons 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Strawberries .. ,. 
0 
0 
2 
0 
Lemon. 
.. case 15 
0 
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 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions . 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
3 
Broccoli .. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
. 4 sieve 
1 
« 
2 
6 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Capsicums 
. 100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
„ Kidney .. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Carrots .. ,. 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celery .. ,. 
. bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzonera 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts doz 
bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale. 
basket 
1 
0 
1 
0 
Cucumbers .. 
. each 
1 
0 
1 
9 
Shallots. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Endive .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Herbs .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
2 
0 
2 
6 
Leeks ., .. 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Turnips .. .. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Lettuce ., .. 
1 
e 
1 
6 
GRASS SEEDS FOR LAYING DOWN LAND TO 
PERMANENT PASTURE. 
(Continued from page 140.) 
Having discarded all ideas of obtaining any advantage by the 
growth of any variety of Rye or Ray Grass, what varieties shall we 
substitute for the heterogeneous mixtures to which we have been 
recommended by the various firms and seed establishments in diffe¬ 
rent parts of the kingdom ? The reply to this question it must 
naturally be made a matter of soil and climate. In describing these 
the seedsmen have in various instances well set forth the soils by 
placing them in separate divisions for adjusting the sorts and quali¬ 
ties of seeds per acre. Therefore we cannot do better than adopt 
these divisions in most cases, and furnish a list of seeds which we, 
through the Experience of Mr. Faunce de Laune and our own, 
recommend as the best varieties to be used, together with the quan¬ 
tities of each per acre. We have still numerous varieties of per¬ 
manent Grasses from which to choose, after having discarded all and 
every kind of Rye Grass. We will therefore choose those varieties, 
including some Clovers, best adapted for our purpose for seeding 
upon certain defined soils, taking hist the strong clays called tenacious 
and London clays. We propose to seed them with the Grasses and 
quantities per acre as follows :— 
tbs. 
Dactylis glomerata (Cock’s-foot) . 12 
Phleum pratense (Timothy or Cat’s-tail). 4 
Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dog’s-tail). 5 
Festuca elatior (Tall Fescue). 4 
Festuca pratensis (Meadow Fescue). 4 
Alopecurus pratensis (Meadow Foxtail). 4 
Trifolium pratense perenne (Cow Grass or Perennial 
Red Clover). 4 
Trifolium repens (Dutch Clover) . 4 
Total quantity per acre. 41 
We choose the sorts of seed here enumerated not only as well 
adapted for the soils named, but because they are recognised by a 
great consensus of opinion by practical and experienced authorities, 
but by many firms of seedsmen whose experience justifies our selec 
tion. To satisfy the home farmer, our readers, and farmers generally 
it will be necessary to take first, and give the qualities and general 
value as to permanency. Commencing with the Cock’s-foot, this is 
by far the most valuable of all Grasses, because it grows in all soils, 
it produces the greatest amount of keep, it is the most nutritious 
Grass, and seems to grow faster and stronger in extremes of weather, 
either wet or dry, than any other Grass. There is, moreover, hardly 
any stage of its growth in which stock do not eat it greedily, and its 
flower heads appear to be especially nutritious to all kinds of stock, 
young or old, in excessively wet weather. Cock’s-foot has no chance 
of seeding, unless there is a great abundance of it and the stock are 
running light. Cock’s-foot is often objected to, as it is said that 
stock pull it up by the roots ; but it will be observed that it is not 
the centre root but the side shoots that are lying on the ground, 
Cock’s-foot being different from the other permanent Grasses in its 
growth. It also grows quicker than any other permanent Grass after 
having been mown, and its long leaves may be invariably observed 
wherever it is present in a meadow after it has been mown for hay. 
On this account it is extremely objectionable in lawns or cricket 
grounds. 
Timothy or Cat’s-tail commences to grow about as early as Cock’s 
foot in the spring, and bears feeding-off remarkably well, as it 
seems to produce as heavy a crop in summer after having been 
fed-off in the early part of May as it would have done had it not 
been so fed-off. It is, like Cock’s-foot, never allowed to seed by the 
stock, for its flower-heads are extremely grateful when the seed is 
ripe to both young and old animals. This Grass is much objected 
to by many on account of its apparent coarseness, but as all stock 
like it there is no force in the objection. The aftermath of this 
Grass does not appear so strong in growth as that of either Foxtail 
or Cock’s-foot. 
Crested Dog’s-tail is found everywhere. The roots penetrate 
deeply, therefore it retains its freshness and successional growth for 
a longer period than most other Grasses. It is an essential element 
in mixtures for permanent pasture, as it forms a close dense turf 
