August 18,1881.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
1G5 
a light airy position. The shoots if growing irregularly may be stopperl, but 
not after June, and they should be tied in autumn after the manner of Azaleas. 
If the plants are young they may be potted in June, in addition to spring potting. 
The plants will therefore have a season to grow in and another to flower, so that 
two sets of plants will need to be grown to have flowers every year. Sandy 
fibrous peat four parts, very fibrous sandy loam one part, and one part in equal 
proportions of pieces of charcoal, broken pots, and silver sand, well mixed, and 
used rather rough, will constitute a suitable compost. 
Name of Fruit (Mrs. /?.).—The Apple was in such an immature state 
that its name could not be determined. 
Names of Plants (J. M.). —The leaves sent were much crushed, but are 
undoubtedly those of Clematis montana. (IF. J.). —1, Lasiandra macrantha ; 
2, Maurandya Barclayana : 3, Davallia canariensis ; 4, A strong shoot of Selagi- 
nella cresia. (0. L.). —1, Malope trifida ; 2, Kitaibelia vitifolia ; 3, Campanula 
carpatica. (J. F.). —2, Hypericum perforatum ; 4, Malva moschata alba; 6, Aco- 
nitum napellus autumnale ; 7, Campanula Trachelium; 8, Jasminum officinale ; 
11, Allium globcsum. The others were too withered to be recognised. 
Comb Foundation. —Hr. T. Varle.v desires information concerning the 
methods and cost of manufacturing comb foundation. 
COTENT GARDEN MARKET.— August 17. 
Market quiet, and prices generally lower. Large arrivals of Grapes from 
Channel Islands. Supplies of all classes of fruit in excess of the demand. 
FRT7IT. 
9. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
Apples. 
J sieve 
2 
0 to 2 
6 
Lemons. 
IP ease 12 
ntoi8 
0 
Apricots. 
box 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Melons . 
each 
2 
6 
3 
0 
n berries. 
ft. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
4 
o 
10 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges . 
IP too 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Currants, Black . 
£ sieve 
6 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
dozen 
4 
0 
9 
0 
,. Bed.... 
I sieve 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Fig's. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
e 
dessert . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Filberts. 
IPft. 
0 
0 
0 
8 
Pine Apples .... 
IP ft 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Gobs..... 
IP ft 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Strawberries .... 
per ft. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Gonvt-erries .... 
i sieve 
2 
G 
3 
6 
Wainuts . 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Urapps . 
IP ft 
0 
9 
4 
0 
ditto . . _ 
IP 100 
o 
o 
0 
o 
VEGETABLES. 
P 
d. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
p. 
d. 
Artichokes. 
dozen 
2 
u to 4 
0 
I 
O In 1 
fi 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard* Cress . 
.punnet 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Beans, Kidney... 
V lb. 
0 
o 
0 
6 
Onions. 
bushel 
3 
6 
5 
0 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
pickling. 
Quart 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Rroceoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
i 
6 
Parsley. doz.bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts. 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips. 
. dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage . 
dozen 
0 
G 
1 
0 
0 
o 
1 
o 
Carrots . 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Potatoes . 
bushel 
3 
9 
4 
0 
Capsicums. 
100 
1 
G 
2 
0 
Kidney. 
bushel 
4 
0 
4 
6 
Cauliflowers. 
doz.en 
0 
0 
3 
6 
Radishes.... doz 
•buuchts 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
6 
ColeTTorts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy. 
. bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
1 
0 
6 
Scorz,o"nera . 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Kndive. 
doz.en 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Seakale . 
basket 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Shallots . 
%> ft. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Garlic . 
^ ft. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
3 
0 
0 
0 
Kerbs . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Vegetable Marrows each 
0 
0 
0 
2 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE. 
(Continued from page 142.) 
In considering the position and condition of the business of 
farming, in which the home farmer will find his share of the 
difficulties, we reckon the labour question as it now exists as a 
serious matter. The causes of which he may have to complain 
are for the most part beyond his control. They consist chiefly of 
the increase of wages that have to be paid to farm labourers, the 
inefficient labour rendered for the wages paid, and the fact that 
farmers are obliged to employ men to do the work of hoys in 
consequence of the latter being kept at school through the opera¬ 
tion of the compulsory clauses of the Education Act. In various 
counties and districts it is also found that women are not avail¬ 
able for field work as formerly. The questions of labour, together 
with the increase in the amount of tradesmen’s bills, make up a 
formidable item in the account when we take the cost of produc¬ 
tion of corn, &c , into consideration. The only exception we can 
find in some oE the costs of labour is that which prevails in some 
of the northern counties, where the men and boys are provided 
for in the establishment of the farmer, either in his house or an 
attachment thereto. From various evidence this system of secur" 
ing farm labourers is said to answer, the men being constant 
workers by an agreement for the year’s service. This is, however, 
quite the exception to the rule of management connected with 
farm labour, and it is not likely to extend beyond those districts. 
There is no doubt in the rural districts, since education amongst 
the agricultural labouring classes has prevailed, that the young 
men and lads aspire to other work, and the best capable and most 
enterprising migrate into the towns, thus leaving the farmer the 
least capable and the indolent portion of the rising generation. 
The importance of labour-saving machinery now claims our 
notice, and with all the practical value attached to its use, such 
as the value of time saved in the operations ; yet it is found from 
evidence obtained by the Royal Commission, and particularly in 
the south and south-eastern counties, that after charging a fair 
and usual per-centage on the cost and maintenance of labour- 
saving machinery the whole cost of the labour on the best-managed 
farms has increased more or less during the last few years as com¬ 
pared with any former period. Nor, under the special circum¬ 
stances by which agriculture is surrounded is it easy to see with¬ 
out further inquiry how the home farmer is to'improve the position. 
He should not be discouraged by his present difficult position, hut 
pursue his calling with diligence and industry, so that he may 
avail himself of every change in conducting his business which 
promises increased advantages, whether it be in connection with 
the management of his live stock or the rotations of cropping the 
land. 
The report of the Royal Commission gives us a large amount of 
information relating to the stocking and cropping of the farm3 
throughout Great Britain as well as in different countries abroad ; 
we shall therefore introduce such changes as we may consider 
most likely to yield a profit. In order that the labour required 
on the home farm, as well as farms in hand, may be available, 
especially upon the outlying farms away from towns or populous 
villages, one of the first points to he considered is the cottage 
accommodation for a sufficient staff of workers, to include the 
labourers’ families and young men as lodgers. It never answers 
the purpose to depend upon casual labour, as it is seldom available 
at the time required, or efficient when obtained. In considering 
the future of practical farmiug, in order to anticipate the position, 
owners of land should first proceed with a determination to make 
the land more valuable as it comes to hand, or on the home farm 
to maintain and also improve its previous capacity for produc¬ 
tion. In doing this ample and convenient homesteads with 
covered courts must be provided or maintained. Iu setting out 
the land on the estate, in order that it may be either let off or 
held in hand according to circumstances, it will ^frequently he 
necessary to appropriate a portion of the poorest and least 
eligible land for cultivation for planting with Larch Firs. In 
order to obtain a quick return for the outlay they’may he planted 
as thick as Cabbages, or otherwise at intervals with underwood, so 
that after a crop of timber has been taken underwood may be left 
for future profit. These methods of planting will be suitable for 
nearly all soils beneath a certain annual value however situated. 
For a detailed statement on this point we must refer the reader to 
an article in this Journal of the 22nd of April, 1880, under the 
heading of “ Management of Woodlands.” Another important 
matter to which we will direct the home farmer’s attention is the 
laying down into permanent pasture all soils adapted for it, and 
in suitable situations ; for it is often the case that when farms 
come to hand after a previous letting, that various questions of 
importance arise which probably were viewed by the proprietors 
with little concern whilst held by a tenant. A statement in detail 
of laying down land into permanent pasture will be found in this 
Journal, dated February 5th, 1879. 
"We must now allude to another way of utilising the poorest 
