March 20 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
237 
we cannot enter into the details of heating', nor must you expect us to recom¬ 
mend any particular boiler or manufacturer. Cannot you gain practical ex¬ 
perience on this matter by visiting one of the large horticultural establish¬ 
ments, of which there are so many within easy reach, where methods of 
heating can be inspected ? 
Names of Plants (Render). —Charieis heterophylla (Kaulfussia amel- 
loides). (Eighteen-years Subscriber). —1, A species of Aristolochia ; 2, A 
Palm (Attalea species) ; 3, Lagenaria vulgaris; 4, Acacia lophantha. 
(22. B.). —1, Narcissus pallidus ; 2, Narcissus minor; 3, Scilla bifolia; 4, 
Scilla bifolia rosea. (G. W. B .).—Dendrobium Findleyanum. (IF. E. B.). — 
1, Ranunculus Ficaria ; 2, Mercurialis annua ; 3, Scilla sibirica; 4, Coch- 
learia officinalis. ( D .).—1, Anemone coronaria var.; 2, Ccelogyne flaccida ; 
3, Calanthe maculata. (IF. S.). —The Cineraria is an ordinary variety of no 
particular merit. The other specimen was very imperfect, but appears to be 
Scilla bifolia alba. ( Bridge of Allan). —1, Maxillaria picta ; 2, Selaginella 
caulescens; 3, Adiantum assimile; 4, Adiantum Williamsii; 5, Pteris 
cretica; 6, Asplenium fasniculaceum. (.4 Constant Beader). —Both the 
leaves sent are those of species of Anthurium, but are insufficient to enable 
us to determine them. Certainly they produce flowers. The Orchid is 
Dendrobium Jamesianum. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. —March 19th. 
Business very dull, scarcely any alteration to quote. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
a. 
s. 
a. 
S. 
a. 
Apples. 
h sieve 
1 
6 
to 5 
0 
Nectarines .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
to 0 
0 
i, .. .. per barrel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
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 
6 
0 
Filberts. 
.. ft. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English., ft. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cobs . 
per ft. 
1 
S 
1 
6 
Plums and Damsons 
, , 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes. 
.. ft. 
5 
0 
10 
0 
Strawberries.. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Lemon .. .. 
,. case 
15 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
2 
0 
8 
0 
VEGETABLES 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
a. 
8. 
a. 
Artichokes 
. dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
1 
0 
to 1 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
100 
2 
6 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
. dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Onions . 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
8 
Broccoli .. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
. i sieve 
1 
6 
2 
6 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney .. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. .. 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Gelery 
. bundle 
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 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Shallots. 
.. ft. 
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 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Lettuce .. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
GRASS SEEDS FOR ALTERNATE HUSBANDRY. 
This is a subject of great importance in the cultivation of arable 
farms, and requires a more lengthened notice than appears at first 
sight, for we have not only the latest improvements to consider, but 
also as to how they can best be applied to the various soils and 
climates of this kingdom. At the same time we must endeavour to 
adapt the seeds to the different systems or rotations of cropping, especi¬ 
ally noticing the number of years which the land may be required to 
lie in grass, and the stock which may be kept for the consumption of 
the produce whether in hay, ensilage, or field grazing. Hitherto this 
subject has been most unfortunately neglected by many farmers who 
have continued certain plans and practices which were customs, and 
frequently the prejudices, of former times. But we have also some 
changes to provide for, which even now are not generally accepted by 
agriculturists, being still regarded only as experimental, and which 
nothing but actual aud careful comparison with former management 
can decide whether to adopt or abandon. 
We have now to refer to those rotations which will go far to 
influence our selection of seeds, for there are various points to be 
considered. The ordinary four-course rotation or Norfolk system of 
cropping consists of, first, fallow, green crop, or roots ; second, Lent 
corn or spring Wheat ; third, Clovers, &c., for m&wing or feeding ; 
fourth, Wheat, by once ploughing out of grass and Clover lea. It is 
■necessary to consider whether the Wheat eddish should be autumn 
fallowed, sown with catch crops, or sown in the Wheat for grazing 
"between harvest and the winter fallow ploughing. We have pre¬ 
viously omitted Italian Rye Grass, as though it was of no use, which 
is true if mixed with permanent Grasses for the production of a good 
turf as permanent pasture, but in alternate husbandry the case is 
altered. On the first introduction of this Grass from Lombardy about 
the year 1883, a neighbouring amateur farmer purchased some seed 
at one guinea per bushel, its growth attracted our attention, and we 
thought it may be judiciously grown, being sown in the Wheat in 
the spring for autumn grazing, for at that time our flock always con¬ 
sisted of the best and most forward lambing horned Dorset or 
Somerset ewes. For feeding these ewes and their lambs on the 
Wheat eddishes we found it invaluable without disturbing our four- 
course rotation of cropping, and have frequently folded off this Grass 
for grazing two or three times before breaking up and ploughing for 
the winter fallow. We have never found this Grass more valuable in 
use in any other way, for we have often made the choicest sucking 
lambs and sold at Christmas time, neither ewes nor lambs having 
received any other food but grazing on the Italian Rye Grass. 
The above way of seeding is available if the seed is clean, but un¬ 
fortunately the seed is often sold in this country containing the seeds 
of the worst grass or weed which can be found in any mixture—viz , 
Agropyrum or Triticum repens (Couch), and on this account much 
objection has been taken to the use of foreign seed for many years. 
It is also known that it does not suit the English climate, and that it 
does not maintain its character for early and successional growth in 
adverse seasons. It is, however, most important to notice that new 
varieties through selection and growth in this country are now sold, 
and are not only valuable for their evergreen and quick successional 
produce, but from having been raised in this country by judicious 
selection, they will be more likely to maintain their characteristics 
through having been grown in our climate. As several seed-growing 
firms offer their own home-grown seeds of “ evergreen " Italian Rye 
Grass they will prove valuable in a mixture for the purposes of alter¬ 
nate husbandry, but especially in mixtures for one or two years lea. 
In the four-course rotation the Clovers follow the Lent corn, and 
are seeded for in the spring ; now it is notorious that the broad or red 
Clover in the majority of soils will not bear a constant repetition on 
the same land, for although it may be a fair plant in the autumn, yet 
it dies away during winter, and the land is then considered Clover- 
sick. It is, however, not so generally known that when Trifolium is 
grown as a catch crop it frequently insures and secures with greater 
certainty the red Clover when it follows Trifolium in succession. 
Be this as it may we must provide against the failure of red Clover, and 
do our best to provide a substitute for the loss of the Clover plant, which 
has for many years been considered a prelude to the loss or injury of the 
Wheat crop which succeeds it. In the four-course rotation in con¬ 
sequence of the value of the Clover roots which in their death and 
decay furnish the most valuable manure for Wheat, and this is one 
of the points to be considered, in order that in the case of failure of 
the red Clover we may obtain a sufficiency of deep-rooting Grasses 
and their stems, which when ploughed-in out of lea shall furnish as 
valuable manure or nearly so as the red Clover roots are found to do, 
therefore in ordinary cultivation and seeding the common Rye Grass 
from time immemorial has been seeded in mixture with red Clover, 
and in consequence when failure of the Clover occurred no manurial 
remains were available to plough-in for Wheat. As the question 
of green and vegetable manuring is now better understood, our 
mixture must contain seeds which will, after being (mown or grazed 
with cattle, leave a large amount of roots and stems, which when 
ploughed-in shall manure the land with certainty for the Wheat crop. 
We therefore recommend the mixture as follows, for seeding-in Lent 
Corn or spring Wheat the latter being best ; where the land is not 
Clover-sick. First course, sow per acre— 
lbs. 
Red or Broad Clover.9 
Giant White or Dutch.3 
Evergreen Italian Rye Grass.4 
Cock’s-foot Grass ... .6 
Timothy Grass.3 
Total per acre.25 Dbs. 
SECOND OR ALTERNATE COURSE, SOW PER ACRE. 
lbs. 
Giant Perennial Cow Grass Clover.9 
Alsike or Hybrid Clover .3 
Evergreen Italian Rye Grass.4 
Cock’s-foot Grass .6 
Timothy Grass.3 
Total per acre.25 lbs. 
These alternate seedir.gs are advised, as the red or Broad Clover 
grown only once in eight years is more likely to retain its plant. 
The seeding just mentioned will apply chiefly to heavy or medium 
soils, furnishing crops adapted for mowing or grazing with cattle or 
sheep. We must, however, next refer to soils whereon sheep only 
are accustomed to graze, such as chalk, gravel, sand, or limestone, 
and it should apply to a rotation whereby the Grass lain is expected 
lie for three or four years, principally for sheep-feeding ; but still 
