December 20, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
541 
much on the condition of the material that is used and the after-manage¬ 
ment that is accorded. With the best material and subsequent attention 
Mushrooms are producible on a bed 6 feet long, but you would have a 
better chance of success if it were longer. We intended to have published 
this reply last week, but it was crowded out. It will, however, be soon 
enough for you to act safely, as it is advisable that the trees be quite at 
rest before you introduce fermenting materials into the house, and then, as 
above intimated, you must give abundant ventilation. 
Love-in-a-Mist ( Header of the Journal). —This name is popularly applied 
to Nigella damascena, a plant included in the Ranunculus family, found in 
several parts of Europe, and has been cultivated in Great Britain for over 
300 years. Its flowers are bluish, and it owes its popular name, as well as 
several other local titles, to the number of finely divided bracts. The generic 
name Nigella is from niger, black, in reference to the colour of the seeds, 
those of seme species (especially N. sativa) being formerly employed in 
medicine as a stimulant and carminative, and in some parts of Europe they 
are yet used as spice and in adulterating pepper. N. arvensis is a nearly 
related species, its seeds having been employed in a similar manner. N. his- 
panica and several others are also grown in gardens. They are hardy 
annuals which thrive in any ordinary garden soil, the seeds being sown early 
in spring. The leaves are finely divided, and to this character is due the 
English name applied to all the species—namely, Fennel Flower. 
Apples for Shallow Soil (J. E. B.). —Six kitchen Apples : Duchess of 
Oldenburgh, Keswick Codlin, Stirling Castle, Warner’s King, Wormsley 
Pippin, Dumelow’s Seedling. Six dessert: Red Joanetting, Worcester Pear- 
main, Margil, King of Pippins, Adam’s Pearmain, Sturmer Pippin. All these 
answer well in such a soil as yours, but they will not continue healthy or 
live long if the soil is not deepened and enriched with manure. Artificial 
drainage is not required in your subsoil of sand and gravel. Make stations 
for the trees a little raised above the common level, 2 feet deep and 6 feet 
square. Procure strong healthy trees of the varieties named, plant care¬ 
fully, fasten securely so that they cannot become loose in the newly moved 
soil. Attend closely to the dii'ections in our hardy fruit calendar, where 
all cultural details are fully given from time to time, and you will obtain 
fruit in due course and have no further difficulty. You might also en¬ 
deavour to improve the trees you already possess by replanting the best of 
them on prepared stations, the mounds to be quite 9 inches above the ground 
level of the soil. 
Vine Roots Cankered (A. E.). —We have examined minutely the roots 
you have sent and find them seriously cankered, the injury, we conclude, 
being done by some corroding agency in the soil. There are no insects on 
the roots nor signs of any, and no fungus except that which is usually found 
on decaying matter, and what little there is, is a result of the canker, and 
certainly not the cause. What the nature of the fungus may be to which 
you allude appearing on the blotches on the leaves we have no means of 
knowing, but it seems evident that it did not cause the injury to the Vines. 
The state of the roots is quite sufficient to account for the blotching and 
shrivelling of the foliage and the shanking of the fruit. We should at once 
lift the Vines, wash the roots, removing all cankered and decayed portions, 
replanting in a narrow border of fresh loam with an admixture of bones, 
lime, and wood ashes ; and should prepare a compost of the latter with good 
leaf soil, a little loam, and a liberal admixture of gritty matter for placing 
in immediate contact with the roots, with the object of accelerating the emis¬ 
sion of young fibres. If it be necessary to prune the roots severely, as is 
probable, then the rods must also be pruned closely, perhaps shortened, 
and the Vines should not be forced into growth in the spring. If nothing 
was added to the soil in the border that would cause decay of the roots it 
would be wise to procure loam from another source for making a new border. 
It need not be much wider than the extension of the roots after pruning, but 
the surface should be kept moist during the summer by an ample mulching 
of manure. 
Senecio pulcher (M. E. H .).—This is a vigorous-growing perennial) 
with large fleshy or almost leathery leaves of a deep green colour and 
shining; the radical or root leaves are variously dentated and lobed, while 
those on the stem are ragged and irregularly cut. The flower stems are 
from 2 to 3 feet high, very stout, freely branching at the top, and support¬ 
ing numerous flowers with the rays of a brilliant purplish crimson colour, 
and the disk or centre golden yellow, measuring 3 inches or more in diameter, 
and lasting a considerable time in beauty. It flowers during the late 
autumn months, when it is of special interest and very welcome; and 
when well cultivated it is a most attractive plant. It may readily be 
cultivated in ordinary borders, but especially does it thrive in rich loamy 
soil in a damp situation, as it enjoys plenty of moisture during the summer 
months. As regards the pot culture of this plant, there is no difficulty in 
securing good flowering plants by that treatment in, say, 5 or G-inch pots, 
using as soil good yellow loam, leaf soil, and well-decayed cow manure 
with some wood ashes and sand, or in lieu of the ashes fine nodules of 
charcoal: the latter is of decided advantage in growing the plant. Perfect 
drainage is also essential, and an abundance of moisture during the growing 
season ; and it would be advisable to plunge the pots in some material such 
«.3 spent hops or ashes, which would greatly assist to keep the roots cool 
and moist. Other particulars in reference to the culture of the plant are 
given in this Journal on page 131, August 10th, 1882, and an illustration 
was published on page 312, October Gth, 1881. 
Names of Plants (PV. H.). —The specimen sent was very imperfect, but 
it bea 3 some resemblance to Agrostis alba, which is a Grass with creeping 
iroots frequenting moist situations. Several varieties are known and cul¬ 
tivated in such positions. It could be removed by forking out the roots. 
Drones still Living (J. H .).—Both Italian and common bees kill their 
•drones at certain periods of their history, generally twice a year—once after 
swarming and at the close of the season if the hives are healthy and have 
fertilised queens. A few years ago many of our hives did not kill off their 
drones till October and November, but this is very unusual. Your Italian 
swarm that has drones alive now has probably lost its fertilised queen, and 
has now one unfertilised and worthless, hatched at the end of the season 
But on this point no one can speak with certainty. Stimulate the bees to 
breed early, and the brood will reveal to you the state of your hive. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— December 19th. 
Our market fs considerably depressed, only first-class samples of Apples meeting with 
any demand. Foreign importations short. Grapes firmer. Kent Cobs quiet. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples. 
£ sieve 
1 
6 
to 4 
0 
Nectarines .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
to 0 
0 
. per barrel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Apricots .. .. 
box 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Chestnuts .. 
bushel 
10 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen 
dozen 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
5 
0 
Filberts. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cobs. 
per lb. 
1 
4 
1 
5 
Plums and Damsons .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes. 
1 
6 
4 
0 
Strawberries.. 
.. lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemon. 
15 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
2 
6 
3 
0 
Melons. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Artichokes 
. dozen 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
i 
0 
to 1 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
100 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions . 
bushel 
2 
6 
8 
3 
Broccoli .. .. 
. bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
. i sieve 
1 
6 
2 
6 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes .. .. .. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney .. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. 
. bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celery .. .. 
. bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzonera 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Cole worts doz 
bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale. 
basket 
2 
8 
2 
9 
Cucumbers 
. each 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Shallots. 
.. lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Endive .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Herbs .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes 
.. lb. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Leeks .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Lettuce .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
THE BREEDING AND TRAINING OF MULES 
FOR FARM WORK. 
(Continued from page 522.) 
A very important point to be considered is the longevity of the 
mule, as when employed in the tillage of the farm and other work, 
including the pastures and parkland, some comparison must be made 
as between it and the cart horse. Horses are sometimes useful at a 
great age, say over twenty years, but the general capability of the 
horse for farm labour on the average we only estimate at about nine 
years—that is to say, that if horses are capable of farm labour at four 
years old, they do not last more than about nine years, or, in other 
words, fail to pay for food after the age of thirteen years, except 
sometimes for breeding purposes. Still, looking at the matter in this 
way, accidental injury and disease have to be included in deduction 
for inefficiency. The mule is much more hardy than the horse, and 
less prone to disease. They will labour for a longer day than horses, 
and especially if well cared for and fed at the same cost and expense 
as horses ; the amount of active and heavy work they are capable of 
is quite unknown to farmers in general. The type and size of mule 
required in this country is that which is used in America for 
agricultural purposes, the next best is that of Poitou. The best 
Poitevin sires are reared in the district of Melle in the Deux Sevres. 
The most esteemed are black or brown-bay, but the tip of the nose 
must be of a greyish white (commonly called mealy white) like those 
of the finest Jersey cattle ; a black-nosed mule being condemned as 
not thoroughbred. We are told by Mr. J. Chesney in his essay 
previously referred to, that the sale of sires is so profitable that the 
greater number of farmers in the district of Poitevin keep females, 
and nothing can exceed the extreme care of which the future mother 
is the object during the last month of her gestation. She is watched 
day and night, and very rarely will the Poitevin householder delegate 
even to his son the performance of this important duty. If a young 
male arrives in due season great is the joy of the whole family, while 
one of the opposite sex is received with expressions just the reverse. 
The young male once born receives the greatest possible attention, 
although through ignorance and prejudice the care and attention in 
various points is extremely injudicious, for the French farmers, few 
of whom can be persuaded to let the young animal have its mother’s 
fir.'t milk, a deprivation which naturally causes the death of not a few 
of these little creatures. 
Besides this, the mother is rarely in a condition for making a good 
nurse, these people being deluded with the idea that the more the 
