February 10,1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 119 
leaves iu which they are plunged unless means are taken to prevent them doing 
so. The remedy you propose would not bo a.safe one. It would be better to 
mix lime and soot with the leaves, and in addition we should spread a thick 
layer of it just below where the base of the pots would rest when plunged. AVhen 
the plants are potted, too, it is a good plan to first cover the drainage with fibry 
turf from which the soil lias been shaken, or tree leaves, and on this drainage- 
protecting medium spread a thin layer of soot; this will in a great measure 
prevent the ingress of worms, and will be a suitable fertiliser for nearly all 
plants. 
Plants for Back Wall of Vinery (Idem). —As you say the house is 
hip-roofed we presume the plants will receive light from the “hip.” In this 
case, as you require fragrant flowers, we think few will be so satisfactory as such 
Boses as Mar6chal Niel, Belle Lyonnaise, Gioirede Dijon, and Cheshunt Hybrid. 
Heliotropes will also be suitable, the old species being as good as any for this 
purpose. Rhynchospermum jasminoides would succeed in such a position, and 
afford abundance of its pure white and sweet flowers. AVe have seen Cytisus 
racemosus cover a wall attractively, and produce its bright yellow honey- 
scented flowers freely in spring. A plant of the Lemon-scented Verbena (Aloysia 
citriodora) would afford a large supply of highly perfumed sprays for cutting. 
Table Plants (7. P„ Dublin). —Suitable plants for growing in your stove 
for the above purpose are Dracaenas terminalis, terminalis alba, Cooperi, 
Ernesti, Sydneyi, jucunda, and gracilis ; Crotons angustifolius, Johannis, majes- 
ticus, and Weismanni ; Aralias elegantissima, leptophylla, and Veitchii; Pan- 
danus Veitchii, Cocos Weddelliana, Geonoma gracilis, Dremonorops plumosa, 
Ananassa sativa variegata, and Reidia glaucesens. Adiantums cuneatum, 
scutum, assimile, gracillimmn, and the new variety Bausei, with Pteris tremula 
aud serrulata, are useful among Ferns, and may be grown in the Cucumber 
house, as shade is beneficial rather than injurious to them during the summer. 
Cyperus alternifolius and C. laxus may be grown in a similar position if needed, 
and the variegated form is also attractive. The lovely Caladium argyrites does 
not object to shade while it enjoys heat and moisture. Gloxinias may be started 
on the bed in the Cucumber house, and be afterwards grown on shelves in the 
same structure, one of which can usually be suspended on each side of the path, 
aud level with or above the trellis ; such shelves would be of great value for all 
kinds of stove plants in a small state. Amongst flowering plants suitable for 
your purpose are Gloxinias in variety. Tydasas (for culture and varieties see 
page 573 of last volume), Gesneras cinnabarina, refulgens, zebrina, and exoniensis, 
small plants of such Begonias as insignis, fuchsioides, and metallica, besides some 
of the tuberous forms, Ixoras, Poinsettias, Euphorbia jacquiniseflora. Aplie- 
landra aurantiaca Roezli, Scutellaria Mocciniana, Epiphyllum truncatum, with 
Eucharises, Stephanotis, Gardenias, and Tuberoses for cutting. The Begonias 
will require the coolest position. 
Spotted Lettuces (7. P.). —The spotted Lettuces are rarely grown in 
England, and hence seed is not offered by seedsmen in this country. Amongst 
the varieties mottled with reddish brown that are grown on the continent are 
the Spotted Tiger, Spotted Trout, Coblenz, Emperor’s Head, Perpignan, and 
Sanguinea Panachee, all of which are sold by E. Benary, Erfurt, Prussia. If you 
are ordering seeds from an English seedsman he would no doubt obtain you a 
packet of any one of these varieties; or you might send Is. 6 d. or 2s. to 
the address given, and ask for a packet of the best variety of the kind you 
would describe in your letter. The Stanstead Park, to be obtained of any 
seedsman, is usually a little spotted when young, but is not nearly so 
marked in that respect as the varieties above named. In respect to Lettuces 
not running to seed quickly, all does not depend upon the variety, as if required 
to “ stand ” well they must be well grown. The owners of many small gardens 
are apt to sow the seed very thickly, neglecting to either thin-out the plants or 
transplant till they are much drawn, and then perhaps in a position partially 
shaded by fruit trees, where oftentimes manure aud moisture are insufficient. 
Sow often and thinly, either in rows, where the plants are to remain, thinning 
out early and freely; or in a bed, and transplant before the seedlings are crowded, 
selecting good open ground in botli instances. Lettuce well repay good culture, 
and by following the above simple practice a supply may be maintained with 
either Cabbage or Cos varieties. 
Dressing Seeds with Paraffin (//.).—It does not injure the seeds if 
they are merely damped with it. AVe have no doubt it would ward off attacks 
of mice, but doubt its effect upon birds. Nothing applied to the seed peas will 
prevent the young growth being eaten by birds, and we should rather syringe 
them with paraffin, using it at the rate of one wineglass to three gallons of water, 
keeping it stirred in the watering pot by discharging back each alternate 
syringeful. If this fails wood ashes or soot and lime may be dusted over fre¬ 
quently when the growth is dewy, which may probably have the desired effect. 
With small seeds again the husks are not generally eaten, the embryo growth 
being the delicate morsel aimed at, and which is picked out when germination 
has commenced. A few yards of fish netting properly stretched over the seed 
beds is after all the most effective, especially in districts where chaffinches and 
sparrows are very voracious. The latter eat the seed leaves principally, and 
which aro unaffected by any application to the seed, hence the advisability of 
using netting. If this is unobtainable Pea stakes may be substituted, carefully 
disposing them over the beds, birds not liking to venture among these. 
Relative Fall of Temperatures In and Outdoors (II. Yates).— 
The temperature of a vinery being 65° when the thermometer outside was 32°, 
the temperature of the vinery would fall correspondingly, but not in the same 
ratio with the outside temperature. The outside temperature, for instance, 
shall be 32° at dusk ; by 9 p.m. it has fallen to 12°, or 20° below freezing ; the tem¬ 
perature in the vinery will have fallen about 4° or 5°, and if the external tempe¬ 
rature continue at 12° through the night, the temperature of the vinery in the 
morning will be found between 50° and 55°. For the size of the house, the thick¬ 
ness of the glass, the openness or closeness of the laps, and the wind both iu 
force and direction, will make a difference of about 5°. The reduction in tem¬ 
perature of an artificially heated structure is about half that of the decrease of 
the external temperature, or with a vinery at 65° with the outdoor 32° it would 
fall about half of the decrease of the outside temperature of 12° as your minimum, 
or to 55° in the course of six or nine hours, and remain stationary (presuming 
the frost to continue at 12°) at 50°. The higher the difference between the 
internal and external temperature the greater will be the divergence. There is 
a difference of 33° between 65° and 32°, and the loss will be about half, but with 
the internal temperature at 50° and outside 32° there is only a difference of 18° ; 
and presuming the temperature outside to fall to 22°, the loss would not be so 
gTeat, being about 10°. A great deal depends on the wind, the extent of the 
glass surface, and the continuance of the cold. 
I Names of Plants (C. F.). —The spray arrived much crushed and withered ; 
it appears to be Spiraea Thunbergii, which you will find illustrated and described 
on page 131 of our issue of February 14th, 1878. If you have not preserved this 
number it can be had from the publisher, price 3 %d. This Spiraea is very useful 
for early forcing, and may be easily had in flower in January. 
CO VENT GARDEN MARKET.— February 9. 
Good well-kept Grapes are now in demand and fetching good prices, otherwise 
our market remains the same ; American Apples arriving in bad condition, 
sound samples realising better prices. 
FRUIT. 
9. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples. 
J sieve 
2 
6 to 4 
6 
Melons . 
0 
0 too 
e 
Apricots. 
box 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines.. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries. 
IP lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges .... 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 12 
0 
16 
0 
Peaches .... 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears,kitchen .. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Filberts. 
%>Ib. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
dessert .... 
2 
0 
4 
9 
Cobs. 
$>• tb 
2 
0 
0 
a 
Pine Apples 
.... lb 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Gooseberrios .... 
1 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes .. 
V lb 
3 
0 
8 
0 
Walnuts ... 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons. 
IP’ case 12 
0 
18 
0 
ditto . 
.... 100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8 
d. 
9. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
Artichokes. 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms 
A 
0 to 1 
6 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard* Cress .. punnet 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Beans, Kidney.... 
W 100 
1 
0 
l 
6 
Onions. 
3 
6 
5 
0 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
pickling .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
i 
6 
Parsley. 
doz.bunches 
6 
0 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprouts.. 
J sieve 
0 
9 
i 
3 
Parsnips .... 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbaare. 
o 
a 
1 
o 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Carrots. 
0 
4 
0 
6 
3 
9 
4 
0 
Capsicums. 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Kidney.... 
4 
0 
4 
6 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
0 
0 
3 
6 
Radishes.... 
doz .bunches 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
S 
2 
0 
Rhubarb .... 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
0 
6 
0 
9 
1 
(1 
0 
0 
Endive. 
x 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
3 
0 
Fennel. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
3 
0 
3 
Garlic . 
V lb. 
0 
e 
0 
0 
Spinach .... 
3 
0 
0 
0 
Ilerbs . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 0 
3 
0 
4 
Vegetable Marrows each 0 
0 
0 
0 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
WEEDS OF THE FARM, AND HOW TO DESTROY 
THEM. 
( Continued from page 100.) 
In continuation of this subject we will briefly refer to the mode 
of destroying Docks, this being the last weed spoken of on 
page 100. We have always employed for the purpose a small 
pickaxe firmly fixed in a light but strong handle, which has a 
point at one end and a narrow cutting edge at the other, the 
former being used instead of the spud, and the latter for loosen¬ 
ing the earth round the roots. 
The field Convolvulus, with a pretty pink flower, is, of all our 
twining weeds, the most troublesome upon the best Turnip soils; 
and as these plants are perennial, with roots striking deep into 
the subsoil, they flourish in extremely dry seasons when the root 
crops make slow growth, and often cost great labour to remove 
them, and sometimes they destroy the crop entirely. The usual 
way to destroy these weeds is to kill the surface runners by hoeing, 
and to weaken the roots in the subsoil by deep cultivation. It is 
often called Bindweed, and is found winding its tough and curl¬ 
ing stems around the corn stalks, and also taking fast hold of 
Beans and Peas, to the serious injury of the crops. 
The plants called Crowfoots, of which there are many forms, 
are also known as Buttercups; but the flowers vary in size and 
shape, although generally of a yellow colour. All Crowfoots 
contain much acridity, and are disliked by cattle on that account, 
whether they grow on arable or pasture land, but especially the 
latter, as dairy cows often yield milk which is injuriously affected 
by it. These weeds in Grass land have such a strong hold on the 
subsoil that they cannot be destroyed except by breaking up the 
soil and cultivating, which we have done in some instances ; but 
upon strong land they are sure to appear again after a few years. 
Upon arable land, too, they grow strongly, and the only means 
