302 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 14, 1881. 
little firm but not hard when the cuttings are made. Ripened wood also strikes 
if inserted in moist sandy soil under a handlight in late summer or early autumn. 
Two-thirds of good turfy loatn, one-third of cowdung gathered from the field in 
a dry state and rubbed through a sieve, and a tenth part of coarse gritty sand or 
wood ashes, form an excellent compost for Pansies in pots. Decayed manure 
from an old hotbed will do if you have no cowdung. We are unable to help you 
in procuring flower pots. 
Walcheren “ Broccoli ” (G. 0. S.). —We are fully aware of the accuracy 
of your statement. The first of the catalogues we opened on receiving your 
letter contained these words in reference to this variety :—“Sow in March for 
use in September,” which confirms emphatically what we stated, that the Wal¬ 
cheren is more of a Cauliflower than a Broccoli. Why seedsmen class it as a 
Broccoli we do not know. It is certainly no more a Broccoli than Yeitch’s 
Autumn Giant Cauliflower is ; indeed it is neither so late nor so hardy as that 
variety. But the seedsmen make themselves safe, for they class the Walcheren 
also as a Cauliflower, for it may perhaps be as well to state that it is the same 
variety that is included under both heads. We might have gone further and stated 
that the Walcheren is not a Broccoli at all ; and most certainly it cannot be 
properly compared as to hardiness with the varieties of which Wilcove Broccoli 
is the type any more than the Paris Cos Lettuce can be compared in the same 
sense with the Hardy Hammersmith Cabbage variety. Relative to your other 
remarks we appreciate your prudence, and we wish all our correspondents were 
as thoughtful as yourself, but it is not for this reason alone that your communi¬ 
cations are valued. 
Raising Seeds of New Zealand Flax (J. Sinclair). —The seeds should 
be sown in light sandy soil, plunging the pots in moderate bottom heat in an 
ordinary propagating frame or other suitable position, and being careful to pre¬ 
vent the soil becoming dry. They usually germinate in about a month ; but the 
time varies, as with all seeds, according to the time of year when they are sown. 
In an establishment near London, where very laqge quantities of seeds are annu¬ 
ally received from a variety of climates, it is customary, if the consignments 
arrive in late autumn or winter, to sow a portion of each and retain the others 
until spring, as germination is then not only much quicker but frequently a 
great proportion of young plants are obtained from the same quantity of seed. 
The steeping you gave the seeds, so far from aiding them, has probably killed 
them. 
Maveclial Niel Rose Unhealthy (F. R.). —Your plant has become 
exhausted by profuse flowering, and in all probability the root action is 
defective, the soil perhaps having become sour by the constant applications of 
liquid manure that were necessary under the circumstances. Although you 
cannot “get at the roots” we should still endeavour to renovate the plant. 
The fact that it produced a “ fine shoot ” after being cut back in the autumn is 
both encouraging and suggestive, inasmuch as it affords reasonable proof that if 
the pruning had been still more severe that more than one young shoot would 
have followed, and if strong healthy growths of this Rose can be produced 
flowers are tolerably certain to follow. We do not quite understand whether 
the “ fine shoot ” to which you refer was produced last autumn after pruning or 
is a young growth of this spring ; however, the point is not of great importance, 
only we consider that the autumn is not the best time for priming this Rose, 
and especially when it is grown under glass. We have never produced so many 
and such fine blooms of Marechal Niel over a period of many years as by pruning 
severely immediately the blooms were all cut. When the pruning is done then 
young growths speedily follow (if the plant is healthy and root action free) that 
extend many feet the same season and become matured. Such growths if left 
their full length, or nearly so, are almost certain to produce a number of fine 
blooms. This, then, is what you must endeavour to encourage—young growth, 
and your only mode of succeeding is by shortening the main and weakly branches 
at parts where the wood appears healthy—nearly cutting the plant down, and 
then by syringing freely in bright weather new and probably strong growths 
will follow. If the fine shoot to which you refer was produced last year, and is 
flowering, we should cut it down too, leaving only four or five good buds at its 
base, from which you would be almost certain to have as many young growths 
that would mature this year and produce flowers the next. The pruning may 
be done now or after you have gathered the flowers. 
Sowing Peas and Broccolis for Succession (J. E.). —It is impos¬ 
sible to give dates for sowing Peas for producing an unbroken supply, as this 
work must be decided in accordance with the weather, and to give tabulated 
information of all the varieties grown would be more bewildering than instruc¬ 
tive to the majority of our readers. If you sow the first three varieties at 
the same time you will have a succession ; but it would be perhaps better to 
allow a week to elapse between the sowing of the first two you have named, 
the others may be sown as soon as those immediately preceding them appear 
above ground. As a rule it is a great mistake to grow as many varieties as 
rows when a regular supply is the chief consideration, and where a blank in 
gathering causes disappointment. The most experienced gardeners niver adopt 
this plan, because practice has proved to them that it is not a sa r e o ie. After 
ascertaining about three varieties that succeed best in the garden and give 
satisfaction at the table, they rely on these for affording an unbroken supply, 
and never fail in their object. New varieties are grown in smaller quantities 
for testing their merits and for ascertaining the time that is required for grow¬ 
ing them for table use; the regular supply, however, is provided for without 
taking the novelties into consideration. The Broccolis you name sown on the 
dates mentioned may be expected to afford a succession of heads, except the 
first, which sown during March and April is a Cauliflower, as it will form heads 
the same season. You must, therefore, make further sowings of Walcheren in 
May and June, and even then there may be a blank between this and Snow’s 
Broccoli; indeed this is sure to be the case if late-sown plants of the former 
are not protected in the autumn, as has repeatedly been advised in our “ Work 
for the AVeek.” A'eitcli’s Autumn Giant Cauliflower sown in May often comes 
in between the AA r alcheren and Snow’s AVinter AVhite Broccoli. 
Annuals for Exhibition (P. Henslow ).—It is impossible to name twelve 
annuals for growing in pots so as to ensure them all being in the best condition 
on a given day in August, as these flowers are much influenced by the season. 
Your only mode of securing your object is to grow mare than you require, and 
sow the seed at two different periods, and then select the best pots. Very much 
also depends on the treatment to which the plants are subjected. Stocks and 
Phlox Drummondi sown now in rich soil under glass, would, with good 
culture, be fine in August. Rhodanthe maculata is very fine in pots when well 
grown. The seed should be sown in the pots in which the plants are intended to 
flower; to be grown in a cold frame and not watered over the foliage. Sow 
towards the end of May and early in June. Schizanthuses are very effective, 
S. oculatus albus, S. tigridioides, and S. atroviolaceus being all good. Dwarf 
Tropaeolums, scarlet, crimson, and yellow, succeed well in pots, King of Tom 
Thumbs being the best. Collinsia multicolor and C. Bartsitefolia alba, Collomia 
coccinea, Convolvulus tricolor splendens, Nemophila insignis and N. maculata, 
A r enus’s Looking-glass, Kaulfussia atroviolacea, Leptosiphon densiflorus, Nolana 
paradoxa, Sphenogyne speciosa, Lupinus nanus, Linum grandiflorum, Dwarf 
Larkspurs aud Clarkias, and the talier annual Chrysanthemums are all suit¬ 
able for your purpose, and may be sown about the middle of May and early 
in June. A good display may be produced in 6-inch pots. After placing in the 
drainage fill the pots one-third of their depth with rich but not wet manure, 
pressing it firmly ; then fill up with soil—good turfy loam and a third of manure. 
Water the soil thoroughly before sowing the seed, which cover a little more 
than its own thickness with fine soil. AVhen completed a space of an inch must 
be left from the surface of the soil to the rim of the pot for holding water. 
Plunge the pots in ashes in an open position, and afford some protection during 
heavy rains and thunderstorms; otherwise permit full exposure night and day. 
Sow thinly and thin quickly, overcrowding in the early stages being ruinous to 
annuals. The soil must never be dry, and when the plants commence flowering 
clear soot water aud liquid manure made from fresh cow dung will be highly 
beneficial. With this generous treatment, and not allowing any seed pods to 
form, the plants may be maintained in beauty over a considerable period. Easily 
as annuals are grown in the open ground, it is by no means a simple matter to 
produce them in superior condition in pots, and to effect this object they need 
as much attention and cultural care as plants do that are of fifty times their 
value. Poor soil, neglect in watering, and overcrowding are the “ rocks ahead ” 
in growing annuals in pots during the summer ; avoid these and you may hope 
for success. AVhen prizes are given for annuals grown in pots, the size of the 
pots ought to be nanied, otherwise the plants may be exhibited in pots ranging 
in size from 5 inches to 12 inches in diameter. In this event the judges ought 
to take into consideration the sizes of the pots when awarding the prizes, and 
not give the awards simply to the largest masses, as some in the smaller pots 
may show equally good or even better evidence of superior culture. It would be 
well for you to obtain, if possible, some explicit information from the secretary 
on the point before sowing the seed. 
Names of Plants (IF. E. B., Bideford). —1, Fuchsia procumbens; 2, Pterls 
straminea ; 3, Nephrodium decompositum ; 4, Polypodium phymatodes ; 5, Re¬ 
sembles Pellsea cordata, but the specimen was insufficient to determine with 
certainty. ( IF. A.). — 1, Sericographis Ghiesbreghtiana ; 2, Asplenium maximum ; 
3, Polypodium plesiosorum ; 4, Nothoehlama Havens; 6, Asplenium furcatum ; 
6, Davallia Mooreana.—(IF. B .).—Thujopsis borealis. (//. A. T.). —Acer rubrum, 
the Scarlet Maple, introduced from North America in 1656, and is plentiful in 
many nurseries. (Mrs. 0.). —Sparmannia africana. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 13. 
In consequence of the holidays the demand for forced fruits has much fallen 
off, Strawberries being lower. A few samples of new Grapes to hand of inferior 
quality. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
fl. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples. 
} sieve 
2 
6to4 
6 
Melons . 
each 
0 
otoo 
0 
Apricots. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines.. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries. 
If* lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges - 
*>• 100 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 12 
0 
16 
0 
Peaches .... 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dozen 
2 
e 
8 
0 
Filberts. 
iFfb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
dessert .... 
dozen 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Cobs. 
lb 
2 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples 
IF ft 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Gooseberries .... 
} sieve 
0 
9 
0 
0 
Strawberries 
per ft. 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Grapes . 
ft 
6 
0 
15 
0 
Walnut* .... 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons. 
V case 12 
0 
IS 
0 
ditto . 
V 100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Artichokes. 
dozen 
2 
0to4 
0 
Mushrooms 
punnet 
1 
oto l 
6 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard* Cress . 
punnet 
0 
s 
0 
8 
Beans,Kidney.... 
V 100 
i 
0 
1 
e 
Onions. 
bushel 
8 
6 
5 
0 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
pickling .. 
quart 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
6 
Parsley. 
doz.buuclies 
6 
0 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprouts.. 
i sieve 
0 
9 
1 
3 
Parsnips .... 
dozen 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Cabbage . 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
o 
o 
0 
0 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
3 
9 
4 
0 
Capsicums. 
IF 100 
1 
« 
2 
0 
Kidney.... 
bushel 
4 
0 
4 
6 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
0 
0 
8 
6 
Radishes.... 
doz .bunches 
i 
6 
2 
0 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
i 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Scorzonera 
bundle 
i 
6 
0 
0 
Endive. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
8 
o 
3 
3 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
s 
0 
0 
& tt>. 
3 
0 
0 
Garlic . 
IF ft. 
0 
« 
0 
0 
Spinach 
bushel 
3 
0 
0 
e 
Herbs . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
c 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 
0 
s 
0 
4 
Vegetable Marrow* each 
0 
0 
0 
0 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
THE UTILISATION OF WASTE LAND. 
( Continued from page 282.) 
A mode of utilising waste land—by its entire reclamation from 
absolute sterility, or by improvement of tracts of but little value, 
although enclosed and turned to very little account—now deserves 
notice. The process we allude to is called “ warping,” which is 
made use of in certain districts bordering upon rivers and their 
tributaries. In order that this operation may be pursued with 
advantage several points are necessary—namely, that the general 
level of the country through which the river flows should be below 
