374 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
morning and then opening the ventilators so wide as to cause a sudden fall in 
the temperature. Air should be admitted early and gradually to prevent the 
temperature rising too high, not permitting the heat to unduly increase, and 
then aggravate the evil by reducing it suddenly, There does not appear to be 
any necessity for using sulphur on the pipes, judging at least by the leaves 
before us, and we should not employ it at present. With a judicious system of 
ventilating and allowing a free growth of laterals your Vines will, we think, 
soon recover from the effects of the check which they have received. 
Potting Azaleas (>S. F.). —Possibly your plants will sustain no injury 
whatever by deferring the potting until the time 3 r ou can obtain suitable soil. 
Had you stated the size of the plants and pots, also the condition of the former, 
we should have been better able to advise you on that phase of the subject. If 
you must pot them now you may use half light turfy loam, and half leaf soil 
with a liberal admixture of sand, potting very firmly; indeed, as hard as the 
soil can be pressed in the pots. The shift must only be large enough for the 
pottiug to be done comfortabty, and the soil the plants are now in must be 
moist, but not wet when transferred to the larger pots. Much care will be 
needed in watering, and the plants should be syringed frequently. 
Superphosphate of Lime (T. N. A.). —When bones are reduced to 
powder by tlie action of sulphuric acid, the acid combines with a portion of the 
lime and forms sulphate of lime (gypsum), while the remainder of the lime and 
the whole of the phosphoric acid are dissolved. The solution, therefore, con¬ 
tains an acid phosphate of lime, or one in which the phosphoric acid exists, in 
much larger quantity than in the earth of bones. The true superphosphate or 
bi-phosphate, when free from water, consists of 71^ of phosphoric acid, and 
28 J of lime. It exists in the urine of many animals, and is an important constituent 
of the liquid manures of the farmyard. The term “ reduced ” thus applies to 
this form of the manure, which is also known as bone superphosphate. Mineral 
superphosphate consists largely of minerals that contain much phosphate of 
lime, and coprolites or fossilised duug ground into powder and mixed with 
sulphuric acid and prepared for use by manufacturers of artificial manures. 
Nitrate of Soda (Idem) —This is a very active stimulant. It is distin¬ 
guished, like the salts of ammonia, for imparting to the leaves a beautiful dark 
green colour, and is applied with advantage to grass and young corn or crops 
of auy kind, at the rate of 1 cwt. to 1J cwt. per acre. The nitric acid it contains 
yield's nitrogen to the plant, while potash and soda are also put within reach of 
its roots, and no doubt serve many beneficial purposes. Upon land rich in 
phosphates, nitrate of soda is a profitable application to wheat. It is especially 
recommended for wheat on light, gravelly, and saudy soils, and on cold undrained 
clays. 
Peach Leaves Injured (A. Filch). —The foliage has no doubt been eaten 
by a small weevil, Curculio cupreus or C. oblongus, both of which occasionally 
attack the young shoots at this season of the year. These weevils are not easy 
to detect, but by"examining the trees at night with the aid of a lantern they may 
often be caught at their depredations. Spreading a sheet under the trees and 
shaking the foliage will cause some of the insects to fall, and they can thus be 
secured. Syringing the trees with a decoction of quassia water made by boiling 
a quarter of a pound of quassia chips in a gallon of water, and diluting with 
two or three gallons more, renders the foliage distasteful to these and some 
other insects that attack Peach trees. We are obliged by your offer, and should 
be glad to receive a little seed if you have any to spare. 
Uses of the Nettle (.4 Londoner). —From time immemorial the Great 
Nettle (Urtica dioica) has been employed in the manufacture of textile fabrics, 
particularly by the ancient Egyptians ; in Siberia, even at the present day, it 
furnishes the inhabitants with fishing lines and cordage ; and M. Bonafous 
states that in many villages of Piedmont it is converted into cloths. The 
young shoots in spring supply a wholesome vegetable when boiled in the same 
way as other greens ; and in some parts of the country they are extensively 
used in this way. As a fodder for domesticated animals the Great Nettle has 
been cultivated in Sweden for a very long period. The whole plant has been 
considered excitant, lithontriptic, emmenagogue, antiasthmatic, aperient, and 
astringent. A decoction of the plant, strongly salted, will coagulate milk 
without giving it any unpleasant flavour. By analysis M. Salladin found this 
plant to contain nitrate of lime, hydrochlorate of soda, phosphate of potash, 
acetate of lime, lignin, silica, and oxide of iron. 
Names of Plants (J. Williams ).—1, Lycaste flava ; 2, Allamanda nerii- 
folia ; 3, Pyrus spectabilis; 4, Amelancliier Botryapium ; 5, insufficient without 
flowers ; 6, Euonymus europreus. (/. M.). —Both specimens were much crushed, 
as such invariably are when sent enclosed in a letter. The white flower appears 
to be Scilla bifolia alba, and the tree is probably Amelanchier Botryapium. 
(A Young Gardener). —1, Asperula odorata; 2, Saxifraga Wallacei. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.—Mat 3. 
A STEADY improvement in our market, with prices generally firmer. 
FROIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d 
Apples. 
j sieve 
0 
0 to 6 
0 
Lemons. 
V case 
1.5 
0to20 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Melons . 
each 
o 
0 
0 
0 
^ lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines.. 
dozen 
6 
0 
0 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 16 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges .... 
^ 100 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Currants, Black.. 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Reaches .... 
dozen 15 
0 
20 
0 
„ Red.... 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
dozen 
8 
0 
10 
0 
dessert_ 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Filberts. 
^tb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples 
v tb 
i 
6 
2 
0 
Cobs. 
100 tb. 45 
0 
CO 
0 
Strawberries 
per lb. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Gooseberries .... 
4 sieve 
10 
0 
12 
0 
Walnuts ... 
bushel 
7 
0 
8 
0 
Grapes . 
v tb 
4 
0 
8 
e 
VEGETABLE?. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms 
punnet 
1 
0 to 1 
t> 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
3 
0 
7 
0 
Mustard* Cress . 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Beans,Kidney... 
V 100 
1 
3 
i 
6 
Onions. 
bushel 
3 
6 
0 
0 
Beet,Red. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
pickling .. 
quart 
0 
0 
0 
5 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
i 
6 
Parsley. 
doz.bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts. 
} sieve 
1 
3 
i 
6 
Parsnips .... 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage . 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes .... 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Kidney.... 
bushel 
3 
0 
3 
0 
Capsicums. 
^ 100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Radishes.... 
doz .bunches 
i 
0 
0 
8 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
1 
0 
3 
6 
Rhubarb .... 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Coleworts....doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
each 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
o 
Endive. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Shallots. 
4 ? tb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
3 
0 
0 
0 
Garlic . 
lb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. 
w tb. 
1 
0 
2 
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. 
MANUAL LABOUR IN FARMING. 
The labour in connection with home farm management, although 
it is extremely varied, whether paid for in cash or otherwise, is of 
great importance, and will under any circumstances prove one of 
the principal practical points connected with the home farmer’s 
position, which is in some respects peculiar. He has not to face 
the keen competition of neighbours, nor is he tempted to resort to 
the sharp practices which are but too common in some other 
cases, in order to maintain a position relatively to that of trade 
rivals. What his neighbours grow, or how much, is nothing to 
him, except that it may form a lesson to be copied or a scheme to 
be avoided. Farmers of every grade have interests in common, 
and such competition as exists amongst them is a friendly rivalry, 
arising from a desire to emulate each other in that calling which 
is the most extensive and important of national industries. We 
have sketched the simple position of the home farmer, because 
nothing but the absence of a sufficient amount of capital employed 
in his occupation can diminish his responsibility in the judicious 
management of the manual labour required in conducting his 
farming operations. 
The labour of men and their families is of great consequence, for 
we hold to the opinion that no part of the varied expenditure in 
the f rming business exercises so large an influence upon the 
balance-sheet of the home farm as well-appointed and judiciously 
ordered manual labour generally. There is, however, another side 
to this picture. The home farmer conducts his business under con¬ 
ditions which are ever varying, and which frequently baffle his skill 
and industry. He often has to deal with land naturally infertile. 
He must face the seasons, over which he can exercise no control. 
Crops to the growth of which he may have applied his own anxious 
care, and contributed all that good husbandry both in labour and 
manure can require, yet they may fail to fulfil their early promise. 
From year to year his crops are subject to great fluctuations both 
of quantity and quality. His cattle and sheep have for some years 
been affected by diseases formerly unknown, and have proved far 
more fatal and frequent than they used to be, while he is equally 
powerless to prevent them. 
After thus referring to the home farmer’s position and surround¬ 
ings, we will consider the position of the farm labourer, and in 
doing so we shall find that the introduction of machinery in farm 
work, instead of reducing the labour bill, has generally throughout 
the country enhanced it. This circumstance ought to teach the 
labourer how futile it is to attempt by combinations to exact a 
certain amount of wages and conditions of labour, for we can recol¬ 
lect perfectly well the excitement in the year 1830 amongst them 
when combining for the purpose of destroying threshing machines, 
under the idea that it would reduce the employment and wages of 
manual labour. What was the result ? Many who took part in 
the mobbing, as the movement was called at that time, were not 
only severely punished, but it has been found that as the use of 
machinery has been extended the wages of the farm labourer have 
gradually risen, with a more steady and constant employment. It 
illustrates a great and important fact—that the price of labour 
must ever in the long run be a matter of contract between the 
employer and the workmen. 
To come down nearer to the present time, let us consider the 
