February 23 , 1882 .] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 163 
is the real cause of your Camellia flowers falling directly they expand without 
seeing the plants. At one time we were inclined to think it constitutional to 
some varieties, but from close observation now think differently. Yours is not 
a mere case of bud-dropping, but is brought about by a similar cause. If you 
examine the buds that have not developed upon the same plant you will find in 
many cases the centre turning brown, and by the time the flower fully expands 
it is black and unable to retain the petals. It is not uufrequently caused by the 
want of nourishment when trees are carrying a large number of flower buds, 
and perhaps are not very luxuriant. They require supplying liberally with 
stimulants to enable them to perfect the flowers. In no stage do they require 
such attention as when their buds are swelling. The soil in which they are 
growing may' be unsuitable, and the plant is therefore unable to supply all the 
requirements. It will happen with healthy luxuriant trees in fertile soil, but 
can then be traced eitLer to dryness in the air or at the roots, a stagnant wet 
soil, or the plants being suddenly placed in strong heat—in fact, a check while 
the buds are swelling will bring about a blackened condition of the centre, and 
nothing afterwards will prevent them falling prematurely, or at the latest 
when fully expanded. 
Liquid Manure for Roses (E. C .).—It is always difficult to state what 
quantity of water should be added to the drainage from stables, as frequently 
much water is used in the buildings. It is, however, always wise to err on the 
safe side by using the liquid manure much diluted and frequently, rather than 
giving it to the plants strong and at wider intervals. We think your propo¬ 
sition to add six parts of water will be safe. It will be for lioses, but we cannot 
answer for its effects on “ other plants” unless we know what they are and the 
condition in which they are in. As a rule liquid manure can only be beneficially 
used when the pots are filled with roots, and the plants need more support than 
the soil affords, and we know that many plants are injured by liquid manure 
injudiciously applied. 
Bouvavdias Unhealthy (Idem). —The discoloration of the leaves sent is 
not the result of red spider nor of any other insects. It is due to defective root- 
action or to a too dry or low temperature, or a combination of these conditions. 
Plants after flowering not unfrequently become unsightly, chiefly from the soil 
being exhausted, but often by some error in watering—the soil being too wet at 
one time and too dry at another. Either of these extremes cause defective root- 
action and brown leaves. Shortly after the plant?have flowered they may be 
pruned rather closely, and if when fresh growths appear the plants are slightly 
disrooted and repotted in good soil, the succeeding growth will under good 
management be healthy. They require the genial temperature of an inter¬ 
mediate house to preserve them in health and encourage free growth at this 
season of the year. 
The Linnean System of Classification (A". L., Cheshire). —The abbre¬ 
viations and names which have puzzled you refer to the Linnean classification, 
and indicate the position of the plants in that system. Thus—Pentandria Mono- 
gynia after the name of a genus signifies that it is included in the first order of 
the fifth class ; Liiadelphia Decandria, that the plant is in the fourth order of the 
seventeenth class. It is termed the sexual system because the arrangement is 
founded upon the number of stamens and styles in the flowers, whether they are 
united or separate in the same flower or in different flowers. For instance, the 
names of the classes Monandria, Diandria, Triandria, Tetrandria, Pentandria, &c., 
signify respectively one, two, three, four, and live stamens, those being the 
number of staniens in tire flowers of the plants included in those classes. In the 
same way Monogynia, Digynia, Trigyuia, Ac., signify one, two, or three pistils, 
and constitute sub-divisions or orders of the various classes. Other characters 
are also adopted—for example, Monadelphia and Diadelphia, stamens united by 
their filaments in one or two bundles ; Syngenesia, stamens united by their 
anthers ; Gynandria, pistils and stamens united ; Moncecia, pistils and stamens 
in different flowers upon the same plant; and JJioecia, with the stamens and 
pistils in different flowers and on different plants. Some of these designations 
are also adopted as names of orders. In most works on elementary' botany you 
will find the system explained at length. 
Heating a Vinery (F. C.) — We certainly never told you to place the three 
pipes “ all inside the pit.” We told you to have two rows of 4-inch pipes along 
the front of the bed (not in it, nor under it), and one pipe, the return, next the 
path back to the boiler. This means they were all to be outside the bed (two in the 
front, and one at the back), under which you proposed conducting the flue for 
affording bottom heat. The plan you now submit is essentially different from the 
other and better. You may carry the flue as you propose and also the pipes under 
the bed, but you must have sliding shutters in the walls of the pit for admit ting 
heat into the house, otherwise your bed will be too hot and the temperature of 
the house insufficient; or you may have one pipe in the pit and the other outside, 
the former for affording bottom and the latter top heat. Either of the plans 
will answer, as also will the boiler, provided it is correctly set and the pipes are 
properly arranged. We think one pipe with the flue will give sufficient top heat 
for a house of such small dimensions. There will only be room for one row of 
Pines to fruit. 
Marechal Niel Roses in Pots ( M. A. A.).—As the plants are “healthy 
and strong ” we presume they produced long and stout growths last season, 
and being under glass these growths ought to be matured. Assuming that 
they are in the satisfactory state implied by your letter, you have only to 
train them round sticks inserted in the pots or secure them near the glass 
after the manner of Vines, and afford the necessary support to the shoots, and a 
flower will be produced by almost every growth from almost every eye of the 
young wood. If the pots are filled with roots, as they ought to be, it will be 
well to remove an inch or two of the surface soil and add a fresh compost of 
turfy loam and decayed manure in equal parts. After growth has commenced 
a slight sprinkling of bonemeal applied to the surface of the soil weekly, or a 
thin covering of soot, will enrich the colour of the foliage and blooms. 
Scilla siberica not Growing (Idem). —The plants succeed in precisely 
the same kind of soil that Hyacinths and Tulips thrive in—namely, turfy 
loam, leaf soil, and decayed manure, with a liberal admixture of sand. How 
and when were the bulbs potted '! Where had the pots been kept, and to what 
treatment has the soil been subjected 't It is so unusual for the Scillas to fail 
that we are at a loss to suggest a cause for your bulbs not starting without some 
data that you have not supplied. 
Mustard and Cress for Market ( S. II. It.). —In the market gardens 
where Mustard and Cress are largely grown the seeds are sown either on the inside 
borders of vineries or in small span-roof houses and frames especially devoted to 
the purpose. In the latter case a light moderately rich soil is employed, gene¬ 
rally old Mushroom beds, the surface being rendered smooth and level. The 
seeds are sown on the surface, carefully watered, and covered with mats until 
after germination, when they are removed to allow the growth to advance. We 
do not know a firm which makes a speciality of the knives used in cutting this 
salad, but any cutler would make one for you. They are furnished with blades 
1J inch wide, about a foot long, with a crank at right angles near the haft about 
3 inches in length, resembling a bricklayer’s trowel, and the end of this is again 
turned at right angles and inserted into a small handle. An article upon this 
subject will be shortly published in these pages, from which you will derive 
further particulars. 
Aucubas Fruiting ( G. II.).— -When you wrote to us before you did not 
state your object. It is not necessary to graft the plants for securing fruit, nor 
are they so grafted. Provided both the forms are flowering at the same time, 
and the pollen is transmitted from one to the other, fruit will follow. This is 
every year effected by the wind, and we know of many Aucubas that are laden 
with fruit with no other aid than a male variety planted near them. To cut 
down your plant as suggested would prevent what you hope to obtain. When 
small plants in pots are produced densely covered with fruit the pollen is applied 
to the stigmas with a camel’s-hair brush, but for ordinary purposes you have 
only to plant out your male plant near the other, and fruit will follow when the 
weather is favourable for the dispersion of the pollen. Failures not unfrequently 
occur by persons keeping the male plants in pots under glass, and thus induce 
them to flower long before the others in the open air expand their blossoms. 
Under these conditions no fruit can follow'. If your plant is in a pot, retard the 
expansion of the flowers until those open on the shrub that is planted out, then 
shake tiie pollen of the former over the latter, and you may expect a crop of 
fruit. You would certainly' fail in your object if you attempted grafting. If 
the pollen is mature before the female flowers have expanded preserve some in 
paper m a dry place, as instances have occurred where the pollen has retained 
its fertilising power for a week or more. 
Heating (C. P. L .).—As you do not intend having a door between the stove 
and greenhouse, we presume you will have a stage across the end of the latter. 
In that case the pipes could be arranged all round the house except the doorway ; 
and although you do not state the height of the house, two 4-inch pipes would 
probably afford you sufficient heat, our judgment being founded on your ex¬ 
perience with the present house during a severe winter. You will of course re¬ 
quire valves for admitting heat to the greenhouse when needed, as there will bo 
occasions when artificial heat will be essential in the stove only. We do not 
prefer 2-inch pipes for connecting the boiler with the house, but as they have 
answered in the past they will probably answer also in the future. Tanks are 
by no means essential, but evaporating troughs on the flow pipes in the stove 
would be of great value. Your proposal of having four 3-mch pipes would 
certainly be ample, and may be adopted if more convenient. If we have failed 
to understand your case we will readily attend to another letter if you feel that 
further information is desirable. Could you not secure the advice of a com¬ 
petent gardener in your district who has had experience in heating garden 
structures ? 
Liquid Manure (F. P. D.). —One of the simplest, safest, and best kinds of 
liquid manure for plants in pots is that made from soot, and the best mode of 
preparing it is as follows—Tie up about a peck of soot in a piece of old sacking 
and immerse it in a tub containing thirty gallons of water. Let it remain 
there, and in a few days a scum will form on the surface which should be 
skimmed off. If the liquid is not clear add a few lumps of fresh lime, say* 4 or 
5 lbs., and again remove the film ; the soot water will then be as clear as sherry, 
and in the right condition for use, but will be too strong for most plants, there¬ 
fore dilute until of the colour of very pale ale. This will be good for all the 
plants you name, but when such as Chrysanthemums are growing freely and 
the pots are crowded with roots the soot water may be stronger. At the same 
time you must remember that liquid manure if given injudiciously will do harm 
rather than good to plants. As a rule no stimulants should be given until 
plants are placed in the pots in which they are desired to bloom, or to remain if 
they are fine-foliaged plants, and then only when the pots are filled with roots. 
Much injury is caused by giving liquid manure to plants before they need it— 
that is, before the roots have taken possession of the soil. 
Names of Fruits (IF. Pollen).— We are sorry we cannot recognise the 
Apple you have sent. 
Names of Plants (J. U.). —We have received no specimens of Begonias 
from you. All the specimens which reached us have been attended to. (S. B.). 
—1, Uncidium flexuosum ; 2, Cypripedium venustum ; 3, Zygopetalum crinitum. 
(C. E. M .).—1, Muhlenbeckia complexa ; 2, Specimen insufficient without flowers ; 
3, Dictyopsis Thunbergi; 4, Linaria Cymbalaria ; 5, Sisyrinchium graudifloruin ; 
6, a species of Viburnum, but cannot be determined without flowers. (J. 11. B.). 
—Rhodora canadensis. (Inquirer). —Specimen much crushed and quite unre¬ 
cognisable. (E. M., Canterbury). —Two diminutive leaves such as y'ou sent arc 
quite insufficient for identification. Send a few shoots, and give us some par¬ 
ticulars of its habit. 
Frame Hives (F. J .).—As you will perceive in the report of the British 
Bee-keepers’ Association’s meeting a standard frame is not determined, but a 
committee is formed to consider the subject. You cannot do better than await 
the report of this committee, composed as it is of some of the most skilled api¬ 
arians in Britain. We have had great success with frames similar to your own, 
and if you manage your bees well you have nothing to lose by awaiting the 
report in question before making any alterations in your hives. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— FEBRUARY 22. 
Trade steady, and prices well maintained. 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d 
Artichokes. 
dozen 
2 
0to4 
0 
Mushrooms 
X 
o to 1 
6 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
9 
0 
10 
0 
Mustard & Cress .. punnet 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Beans,Kidney .... 
V 100 
2 
0 
2 
6 
Onions. 
3 
6 
0 
0 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
pickling .. 
u 
0 
0 
5 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
i 
6 
Parsley. 
doz.bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts.. 
} sieve 
1 
3 
i 
6 
Parsnips .... 
1 
0 
2 
0 
0 
o 
1 
0 
Potatoes .... 
2 
G 
6 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Kidney.... 
3 
0 
3 
0 
Capsicums. 
W 100 
I 
6 
2 
0 
Radishes.... 
doz .bunches 
1 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
3 
6 
0 
4 
0 
G 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Salsafy. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera 
1 
0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Seakale .... 
1 
0 
1 
G 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Shallots .... 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Spinach .... 
3 
0 
0 
0 
V tb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. 
. ** lb. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Herbs. 
bunch 
o 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips .... 
bunch o 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Vegetable Marrows each 
0 
0 
0 
0 
