December 15, 1S81. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
551 
and ratlier severe pruning may be needful in the spring to induce early and 
good growth that will ripen in the summer. 
Sea Sand for Plants (Preston). —The advantages and disadvantages of sea 
sand for plants have often been incidentally pointed out by correspondents in the 
Journal. It no doubt varies in quality, and possibly is not suited alike for all 
kinds of plants, and, especially if used in a fresh state, it may prove injurious to 
some. Mr. Drotherston has described on page 350, vol. ii., new series, that his 
“ Alternantheras did not pass the winter well, and in order to raise a stock of 
healthy plants for propagating later on all the cuttings which could be had 
were taken and inserted. They died in scores, and it was not until others were 
inserted, and which damped off at the soil level in the same manner, that the 
cause was discovered. The sand used, instead of having been laid up for two or 
three years, was fresh from the seashore, and directly the plants and cuttings 
were transferred into other sand the losses were stopped.” IVe may also cite 
what Mr. Cannell publishes in his “ Floral Guide”—“Having been called to do 
duty as judge at the Margate and Ramsgate Flower Show, I was so surprised to 
sec the good result of sea sand compared with the ordinary pit stuff generally 
used, that I was induced to procure a supply at once, and to my surprise the 
small portion of salt it contains certainly adds vigour to the whole soil; at all 
events cuttings strike in it most freely, and it is my opinion that it is far the 
best sand for floricultural purposes I have ever used, and is in every way superior 
to the Leighton Buzzard sand.” This is the experience of an observant man 
and excellent cultivator, and it is certain he would not use this sand if he did 
not find the advantage of doing so. The sand Mr. Cannell uses is without doubt 
safe, and his store is not freshly gathered. Whether all other sea sand, and 
especially that recently collected, is equally safe appears to be doubtful, as is 
evident from Mr. Brotherston’s experience above quoted. 
Lapageria rot Flowering (K. Zb).—Your plant is still young, and in 
all probability will flower next year if it has been raised from a layer and not 
from seed, seedling plants being often shy in flowering. Still, you.must prevent 
the slugs eating the young growths, or those made afterwards will not have 
time to ripen, and hence will not produce flowers. After the plant has made 
good growth place it in a moderately' sunny position and where it can have 
plenty of air, as, if the shoots are healthy and solidified, flowers may be expected 
to follow. We doubt if you would improve it by placing the pot in a saucer of 
water, as there would be a danger of rendering the soil sour, and the plant 
would in that case inevitably lose its health and vigour. The white worms in 
flower pots have been introduced with the soil or manure. Apply clear lime 
water, which will probably either kill the worms or cause them to come to the 
surface. The lime water may be made as advised in answer to a correspondent 
on page 485. 
Chrysanthemum Cuttings (An Amateur'). —It is the custom of some 
florists not to acknowledge the receipt of orders unless they exceed a given 
amount as stated in their catalogues. The delay of a week in the execution of 
an order is not unusual, as cuttings of certain varieties are not always ready on 
a given day. In sending cuttings they are often accompanied by numbers only, 
the names corresponding to which and the descriptions of the varieties being 
given in the catalogue of the vendor. One of the names you have sent is in¬ 
correctly spelled, and to an amateur is no doubt illegible, but we have no 
difficulty in reading it—MarOchal Duroc, a rosy lilac variety. Progne is a re- 
flexed variety, rich amaranth in colour, and fragrant. Mrs. Dixon is one of the 
most useful incurved yellow varieties in cultivation. We presume this is the 
information you require, and you could scarcely expect to have suck written on 
the labels attached to the cuttings. 
Conservatory Unsatisfactory (G. P. N., Devon). —We wish all who seek 
information on garden structures would send such clearly drawn plans as you 
have sent, and the replies would be more easy to us and satisfactory to those 
desiring instruction. Your letter, too, is very clear as far as it goes, but you 
have omitted to say one word as to the way' in which the house is heated. For 
anything we know to the contrary, the system of heating may be defective, and 
contribute to the evil of which you complain ; further, in houses so situated 
gas is often burned, and this is prejudicial. But assuming the conservatory is 
properly heated, there is certainly not sufficient provision made for ventilation, 
and the ill results arising from this defect are aggravate ! by the smooth surfaces. 
The back wall being of glazed bricks, and the floor paved with encaustic tiles, 
no moisture can be absorbed and given off again as is the case with surfaces of 
plain bricks and the soil of beds, which vapour is of the greatest benefit to plants. 
Y r ou can only render such a house even fairly suitable for plants by greatly 
increasing the roof-ventilation at the top of the house. A continuous ventilator 
to open at the least a foot wide—18 inches would be better—would not be too 
much there at certain seasons; if you cannot adopt this mode, provide as many 
separate openings as you can. Then, according to the weather, you must use 
much moisture. If this cannot be sprinkled on the floor many plants might be 
stood in saucers of water, and others on pots inverted in saucers, where water 
in immediate contact with the roots is undesirable. Until you have more 
moisture in the atmosphere your plants cannot thrive. The ventilators at the 
top of the house should be first opened, and if sufficient air can be admitted by 
these without opening the front ventilators all the better, but at any rate do not 
open these more than is necessary. By acting judiciously on the lines in¬ 
dicated the plants will be maintained in health much better than under pre¬ 
sent circumstances. No doubt a well-constructed and properly managed house 
in the position yox name would answer either for Vines or plants or both. The 
plant of which you have sent a leaf is not Hoya bella, but H. carnosa. 
Trellis for Vinery (F. —The screws or nuts for tightening the wires 
are of brass, and are somewhat difficult to describe, but we can perhaps send you 
one if you will forward to our office your address and stamps to prepay postage. 
“ Eyed straining screw with nut ” will also answer for tightening the wires, and 
may be had of Messrs. Brown & Co., 90, Cannon Street, London. The copper 
tacks for securing the squares should be three-quarters of an inch long. For 
each square you will require four tacks—two at the bottom to prevent the 
square slipping down, and two near the bottom above the glass to prevent its 
being blown out. When glazed coat well with paint, coining over a little on the 
glass, but not quite so much as the width of the rebate or bed of the putty 
beneath the glass. Half-an-inch lap is too much, a quarter of an inch being 
ample, as the more lap the more water gets in, and the more danger there is of 
breakage in frosty weather. 
Cesspool (Idem). —The content? of the cesspool from the dwelling-house 
may be applied in moderate quantity to fruit trees during the winter, and 
between the rows of Strawberries, but if strong w ould be best mixed with soil 
and applied as a top-dressing. If applied too freely or too strong it will injure 
if not kill the fruit tree’. 
Asters for Cutting (J . A.). —The same varieties that are grown and 
fevered out of doors may be flowered also in pots, but they must be grown to a 
to vering stage under full exposure to the air—that is, either outdoors or in 
cold fiames with the lights removed except during drenching rains late in the 
season. 'I he simplest mode is to grow the plants in rich soil and pot them 
when the colours of the flowers are visible; indeed, thousands of plants are 
potted when in full flower and sold in the streets of London every autumn. 
Some of the best kinds for pots and for affording flowers for cutting are Boltzc's 
Dwarf Bouquet, I'ompon Imbricated, Dwarf German (early), and Dwarf Chrys¬ 
anthemum-flowered (late). The best larger kind for your purpose is the 
Victoria. Seed of the kinds named can be had in mixture or in separate colours, 
white flowers being generally acceptable. For ensuring late Asters you must 
sow the seed late. We obtain our latest flowers by sowing seed of the Dwarf 
Chrysanthemum-flowered kind about the second week in June, and growing the 
plants in a cool moist position, and before the Aster flowers have faded Chrys¬ 
anthemums are plentiful. 
Names of Fruits.—We have many times notified that only six varieties of 
fruits can be named at once; still large packages reach us, the contents of which 
cannot be examined. Some fruits are not named because the sender’s name 
does not accompany them, and we cannot always determine to whom the re¬ 
spective parcels belong, even by the aid of letters received by post. Pears, we 
have previously intimated, ought to be ripe or approaching ripeness when sent, 
or a number of them cannot be identified. All packages must be carriage paid ; 
unpaid parcels are sent every week that are not taken in. The fee for naming 
fruit to non-subscribers is 5s. It is important that these conditions be attended 
to for preventing disappointment. (A. F., No. 1).—The Pear you have sent is 
Fondante de Malines. (dames Searle ).— Apple— 12, Emperor Alexander ; Pear — 
6, Colmar d’Aremberg. IVe do not know the names of any of the others. (II. C. 
Prinsep ).—28, Josephine de Malines; 32, Flemish BonchrOtien. (S. <S’.).—1, 
Tower of Glamis ; 2, Dutch Mignonne. ( Pi/rus). —1, Rymer ; 2, Wyken Pippin. 
(T. II.). —8, Hoary Morning; 2, one of the Costards; 3, Striped Beefin ; 4, 
Blenheim Pippin ; 5, Devonshire Queen ; S, not known. ((!. Ii. C ).—The Pear 
is Colmar d’Aremberg, the Apple Norfolk Beefin. 
Names of Plants (F. II ).—The specimen you have sent is a well-grown 
form of Lygodium scandens, a species that was introduced from the E. Indies 
towards the close of the last century. Your plant is unquestionably worth 
preserving, but we doubt if it is distinct enough to merit the award you desire; 
still, you might submit it to the consideration of the Committee. (C. E. P ).— 
The large brownish flower is Cypripedium insigne, and the small flower ii, we 
think, Cymbidium Mastersii, but it could not be satisfactorily determined. 
(E. \V. Ii .).—Owing to the spray having been wrapped in dry cotton wool and 
enclosed in a letter, it arrived as much withered as if it had been exposed to the 
sun throughout a hot summer’s day, and was quite unrecognisable. As we have 
said on many occasions, this material extracts all the moisture from leaves and 
flowers. Sprays should be packed in something damp and sent in small boxes. 
If we receive a specimen even in a fairly fresh state we will name it for you. 
(F. S.). —1, Cotyledon fascicularis ; 2, Sempervivum tortuosum ; 3, Gasteria 
verrucosa ; 6, Euonymus radicans variegata. The others were too withered to 
be recognised. _ 
CO VENT GARDEN MARKET.— DECEMBER 14. 
We have no alteration to quote this 
the same. 
s. d. s. d. 
Apples. J sieve 1 0to3 G 
Apricots. doz. 0 (l 0 0 
Cherries. pit. 0 0 0 0 
Chestnuts. bushel 1G 0 0 0 
Currants, Black . j sieve 0 0 oo 
„ Red.... £ sieve 0 0 0 0 
Figs. dozen 0 0 0 e 
Filberts. Vtb. 0 0 0 0 
Cobs. W 100 ft.75 0 0 0 
Gooseberries .... j sieve 0 o 0 0 
Grapes . 0 G 4 0 
VEGE 
s. d. s. d. 
Artichokes. dozen 2 0to4 0 
Asparagus. bundle on on 
Beans,Kidney .... %>• 100 1 0 0 0 
Beet, Red. dozen 10 2 0 
Broccoli. bundle 09 1 G 
Brussels Sprouts., i sieve 2 0 2 G 
Cabbage. dozen 0 6 10 
Carrots. bunch 0 4 0 6 
Capsicums. ^ 100 1 6 2 0 
Cauliflowers. dozen 10 3 6 
Celery . bundle 16 2 0 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 20 4 0 
Cucumbers. each 0 G 0 8 
F.ndive. dozen 1 0 2 0 
Fennel. bunch 0 3 0 0 
Garlic . Pit). 0 6 0 0 
Herbs. bunch 0 2 00 
Leeks. bunch 0 3 0 4 
reek, trade being very quiet and prices 
s. d. s. d. 
Lemons. ^ case 12 Gold 0 
MelonR . each 0 0 0 0 
Nectarines. dozen 0 0 00 
Oranges . ^ 100 4 0 6 0 
Peaches . dozen 0 0 0 0 
Pears,kitchen .. dozen 10 1 G 
dessert. dozen 10 3 0 
Pine Apples .... p fb 1 6 2 0 
Strawberries .... per lb. 0 0 0 0 
Walnuts . bushel 7 0 8 0 
4.BLES. 
S. d. s. d 
Mushrooms .punnet 1 Otol 6 
Mustard* Cress .. punnet 0 2 0 3 
Onions. bushel 3 6 0 0 
pickling. quart 0 0 0 5 
Parsley. doz.bunches 3 0 4 0 
Parsnips. dozen 10 20 
Potatoes. bushel 2 6 3 0 
Kiduey. bushel 3 0 3 6 
Radishes.... doz .bunches 10 0 0 
Rhubarb. bundle 0 4 0 6 
Salsafy. bundle 10 0 0 
Scorzonera . bundle 1 6 0 <1 
Seakale . basket 2 0 2 3 
Shallots. IP lb. 0 3 0 0 
Spinach . bushel 3 0 0 0 
Tomatoes . V lb. 0 8 1 0 
Turnips. bunch 0 4 0 0 
Vegetable Marrows each 0 0 0 0 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY. 
We have from time to time called the attention of the home 
farmer to this subject, as it is not only a very wide and important 
one but also continually subject to changes in consequence of the 
introduction of improvements, or attempted reforms, which may 
be suitable only under the varying circumstances of farm manage- 
