JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 28, 1881. ] 
a profusion of pinkish-white flowers, so charming at Regent’s Park four years 
ago ” was, we think, the above annual as exhibited by Messrs. Carter &, Co. It 
has also been grown at Chiswick, and makes a pleasing marginal line to groups 
of plants. The seed should be sown very thinly, so that the seedlings do not 
become crowded in their young state, and about seven plants should be trans¬ 
ferred to a 5-inch pot; or the seed may be sown in 5-inch pots and the super¬ 
fluous plants be drawn out, leaving those remaining an inch apart. The plants 
should be raised in a cool and very light frame, keeping them close to the glass, 
and eventually removing the lights entirely, except in stormy weather and 
during drenching rains. Rich soil and abundant supplies of water are requisite 
for growing the plants healthily. When well cultivated the plants produce a 
charming effect, but if either starved or drawn they have a miserable appear¬ 
ance. This annual grows and flowers freely in moist soil in the open air. 
Annuals Distasteful to Slugs (G. Watson ).—We have nothing to add 
to the following reply we gave to a coi-respondent some time ago, and perhaps 
before you were a reader of the Journal—“ There are few plants that snails and 
slugs will not devour. We have observed, however, that Nasturtiums (Tropaec- 
lums), Convolvulus minor, Limnanthes Douglasi, and Venus’s Looking-glass are 
not so much eaten as some other annuals; but our practice is to grow what 
plants are desired and destroy the slugs. When the annuals are aboveground 
sprinkle a little dry soot over them late in the evening or early morning; this 
makes the plants very distasteful to the snails and slugs.” 
Black Currants Unsatisfactory (If. J. G .).—The bushes are in a 
debilitated state—probably worn out, or nearly so, by neglect or old age, or 
both. If you were to prune a portion of them severely, almost cutting 
them down, and apply a heavy dressing of manure over the roots, the branches 
would in all likelihood push fresh growths altogether of a more vigorous cha¬ 
racter than the portions you have sent, and the bushes might again bear good 
crops. To cut them all down at once would be to deprive yourself of even a 
moderate crop of fruit for a year or two. You would do well also to plant some 
young trees. Such wood as you have sent is of no use for cuttings, and you had 
better therefore purchase young trees, unless, indeed, you can procure cuttings 
from healthy bushes in the autumn. We should not hesitate to cut some of the 
trees down at once, we mean by this shortening all the principal branches, and 
fresh growths would be produced during the present season. Copious supplies 
of liquid manure, as well as a rich surface dressing, would induce growths to 
break from the old wood. By adopting this practice we have converted tall 
useless old trees into dwarf free-bearing bushes, and obtained from them a 
serviceable supply of fruit. 
Whitewash for Shading (M. H. M .).—You may take off the “white 
glare ” by adding Brunswick green for the tint required. A very good wash 
may be made as follows. Ingredients : 1 lb. of wheat flour, half pound of 
whiting, and 1 lb. of common candle or Russian tallow. Make the flour into 
a paste and then put in the candles while the paste is hot, crush the 
whiting into a powder, mix with cold water, and then add to the paste, also 
adding as much Brunswick green as you need. When required for use warm it 
in a pail and paint the glass when the sun is shining upon it. The Rhododendron 
is, we think, Countess of Haddington, but the blooms were far too withered for 
satisfactory identification. 
Crimson Vesuvius Pelargonium (Render i- Sons ).—The flowers un¬ 
fortunately arrived in a very withered state, but we had no difficulty in perceiv¬ 
ing that the colour of your “ sport ” is decidedly deeper and richer than the 
parent; the flower stem is also stouter, and truss and flowers larger than those 
of Vesuvius that you sent for comparison. This is the darkest of all the forms 
of the singularly sportive variety that has come under our notice, and will 
doubtless be valuable both for pots and beds. 
Eucharis amazonica (R. C. S. P.). —As wo had a suspicion that the 
insects to which you referred as “ eating into the roots ” were not the cause of 
the unhealthy condition of the plants, but rather the result of decaying matter 
at the base of the bulbs, it became necessary for us to keep the examples you 
sent for some time for examination and experiment. We are now able to say 
that the insects are not the primary cause of your plants not blooming. By 
drying the bulbs we have cleansed the base of the decaying matter, and find 
that the insects have not penetrated the healthy parts. The roots of the plants 
are in a very bad state—either the result of unsuitable soil, injudicious watering, 
or they have been seriously checked by the plants having been removed 
from a warm house into one too cold for them. Let the cause, however, of the 
decaying roots be what it may, there is only one course for you to pursue in 
reinvigorating the plants. Turn them out of the pots, removing the soil and 
every particle of decaying matter from the bulbs, washing them if necessary in 
warm water. When they are dry pot them in small pots filled one-third with 
potsherds, the drainage being protected with, moss or fibre from which the soil 
has been shaken. The compost employed should consist of turfy loam and a 
little peat, but the latter is not essential, and a liberal admixture (at the least 
one-sixth) of bruised charcoal, a little of which crushed to powder should be 
placed round the base of the bulbs. The pots should be placed in a stove, and if 
they can be plunged in bottom heat it will be a great advantage. By adopting 
the practice indicated and exercising great care in watering you will promote 
the emission of healthy roots, and this being accomplished the plants will in 
time regain their lost 'health. You would do well, perhaps, to obtain some 
healthy plants from a vigorous stock, as once established in a healthy condition 
the plants are easy to manage ; but it is not easy to “ bring round ” plants that 
are in such an unsatisfactory state as yours appear to be. If the soil is moist 
when used, and the pots are plunged, no water will be needed for a week beyond 
an occasional sprinkling with a syringe, as if the soil is kept wet fresh roots 
will not readily take possession of it. We think that your plants, considering 
their comparatively rootless state, have been much over-watered. 
Names of Plants (Young Gardener). —1, Caltha palustris, Marsh Mari¬ 
gold ; 2, Alliaria officinalis, Jack by the Hedge. (IF. E. R.). — 1, Pestuca ovina 
glauca ; 2, Coccoloba platyclada; 3, is a Billbergia or Pitcairnia, but was too 
withered to be determined ; 4, Maxillaria Harrisonm ; 5, Antlmrinm Schertzeri- 
anum. (IF. C. A., Devon). —1, Cereus McDonaldise; 3, Salvia Grahami; 4, 
Kaulfussia amelloides : 5. Hupatorium rupestre ; 6, The Fern is not sufficient for 
identification ; it resembles Asplenium obtusatum. We do not undertake to 
name Rose3, nor varieties of any other florists’ flowers, still we do not object 
giving the names of those we can readily identify. The bloom sent is too 
much expanded, and we can only say it resembles Madame, de St. Joseph. 
(IF. H. R.). —1, Narcissus moschatus ; 2, Narcissus nobilis. 
Bees (Inquirer.) —“The Apiary” by Alfred Neighbour is a good modern work 
on bee-keeping. Special attention is devoted to bees in our columns, to which 
the leading apiarians of every “ school” contribute. 
Boiling Bees’ Combs (IF. A'.).—The quantity of water is not material. If 
you boil the combs thoroughly until dissolved the wax will rise to the surface, 
and can be collected when the water has cooled. 
345 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.—April 27. 
We have been well supplied with house fruits this week, and prices have been 
somewhat lower, 
more particularly with Grapes, some 
very good 
samples 
reaching us from the Channel Islands. 
Trade improving. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
Apples. 
J sieve 
2 
6 to 4 
6 
Melons . 
each 
0 
OtoO 
0 
Apricots. 
box 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries. 
IF lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges . 
IF 100 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 12 
0 
10 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Filberts. ... 
IF lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
dessert. 
dozen 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Cobs. 
IF ft 
2 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples .... 
IF ft 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Gooseberries .... 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Strawberries .... 
per lb. 
3 
0 
8 
0 
Grapes . 
IF lb 
0 
0 
12 
0 
Walnuts . 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
enions. 
IF case 12 
0 
18 
0 
ditto . 
IF 100 
o 
0 
0 
o 
VEGETABLES. 
s 
d. 
s. d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Artichokes. 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms . 
punnet 
1 
Otol 
a 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard* Cress . 
. punnet 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Beans,Kidney... 
IF UIO 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Ouions. 
bushel 
3 
6 
5 
0 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
pickling. 
quart 
0 
0 
0 
Q 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
i 
6 
Parsley. doz.bunches 
6 
0 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprouts. 
i sieve 
0 
9 
i 
S 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Potatoes . 
bushel 
3 
9 
4 
0 
^ 100 
l 
6 
2 
0 
4 
0 
4 
6 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
0 
0 
3 
6 
Radishes.... doz .bunches 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
4 
. o 
6 
Scorzonera . 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
F.ndive. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Seakale . 
basket 
3 
0 
3 
8 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
ft). 
3 
0 
0 
Garlic . 
V lb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
3 
0 
0 
0 
Herbs . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Vegetable Marrows each 
0 
0 
0 
0 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY. 
In again referring to this interesting and important subject 
we will first notice'a novelty—namely, a patent manure spreader, 
shown at Islington Hall last December by Messrs. Pamphilon 
and Co. This machine is intended for attachment to the rear of 
any loaded manure cart by patent connecting apparatus. The 
interior consists of an endless sparred traveller band, the cross¬ 
bars having short spikes so arranged as not to follow in each 
other’s track. Over the traveller band an arrangement of bent 
knives revolves in the opposite direction, so as to cut up the 
manure as the spiked band brings it forward, distributing it 
on the land of uniform thickness. Above these is an oscillating 
cleaning fork, with a number of prongs pendant from a rocking 
shaft, for the purpose of preventing the knives from clogging. 
In front the mouth of the machine is so formed that, with a dung 
grapple by the man unloading, thejmanure can be drawn on to 
the endless spiked traveller band. Motion for driving the endless 
band and the revolving shaft is taken from the supporting wheels. 
The thickness of the feed can be regulated partly by the man with 
the dung grapple, but chiefly by the speed of the traveller. The 
machine has been in use for some time, and those who are using 
it speak highly of its merits. 
This machine effects a greatjsaving of labour, and also economy 
in the application of the manure, for the manure can be distri¬ 
buted very quickly, and with greater regularity than it is fre¬ 
quently done by hand labour. Another point is, that as fast as 
the manure is laid out it can immediately be ploughed down—a 
matter of importance at certain times of the year, because whilst 
the dung is fresh it is more easily covered and buried by the act 
of ploughing-in. Long dung can also be severed and more easily 
distributed by the action of the machine than is done by hand 
labour. Nor has the dung time to lie about in heap, losing 
moisture as well as ammonia., if the land is ploughed close behind 
the spreading machine. The use of the spreader in pasture land 
is that the action of the manure will be immediate ; and the regular 
