July 10. 188-i. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
45 
nert Bubsoil, where they cannot find wliat is needed for perfecting the 
cr p. The length of the footstalk of the leaf and its peciiliar colour and 
texture indicate this, and we suspect also that the wood is long-jointed 
Let the young canes have abundance of light and air, encourage by every 
possible means the extension of roots in the inside border, and when these 
are established lift the roots outside, shorten them, and place them in fresh 
soil. What your Vines need is a mass of fibres working in good soil as near 
the surface as possible, both outside the house and in. These provided and 
well fed, also othenvise good treatment given, you will have no more 
shanked Grapes. At present the root-action of your Vines is no doubt 
defective. We must inform you that although the leaves are large we do 
not consider the Vines are in a really healthy condition. 
Grapes Scalded (An Anxious One). —Judging both by the appearance of 
the leaves and the fruit you have sent we think your vinery has been kept 
very moist at night and too long closed on some particular morning, then the 
lights thrown open suddenly to bring down the too high temperature. One 
of the leaves is scorched near the edge, and this we attribute to excessive 
evaporation and the consequent chill and shrinkage of the tissue. Precisely 
the same effect is shown by the fruit, and by the same cause. Open the 
ventilators very early indeed, and, if necessary, sprinkle the glass with white¬ 
wash to subdue the rays of the sun if excessively hot weather prevails. The 
system of management that has answered in other years has broken down 
during this hot summer, or there has been an accident of the nature indicated. 
We can only repeat, ventilate very early and eventually very freely ; also, do 
not use so much moisture in the house, and especially late in the afternoon. 
The top ventilators ought to be left slightly open all night. 
Nectarines Shrivelling ( W. H. D.). —We shall not be surprised if your 
trees are infested with red spider or some other insects that are extracting 
the juices that should go to the sustenance of the fruit. If this is not so, 
then the root-action of the trees is defective or the nourishment in the 
borders inadequate for the requirements of the crop. The trees would 
in all probability be much improved if the roots were raised out of the 
inert soil in which they are probably ramifying, and placed in turfy loam 
5 or 6 inches below the surface. A skilful gardener would do this as soon 
as the fruit was gathered, sjuinging and shading the trees to maintain tlie 
freshness of the leaves. In the absence of competent assistance it would 
be safer to defer this work till October. In the meantime examine 
the soil 18 inches or more below the surface, and if it is at all dry pour on 
water repeatedly till it passes quite through to the drains. A want of 
water may be the cause of the fruit shrivelling. Your letter is singularly 
devoid of data for enabling us to form an opinion of the actual condition of 
your trees. 
Names of Plants (Miss L. S.). —The small Lily from which all the petals 
had fallen appears to be a pale variet}' of Lilium Martagon; the large 
flower is L. umbellatum. (I). MacTcay). —1, Deutzia scabra; 2, Calycanthus 
praecox ; 3, Epimedium alpinum; 4, a Euphorbia ; 5, Hemerocallis disticha. 
(J.A., Gain.'borough). —Your Orchid is Stanhopea tigrina major—a very fine 
variety. (Reader). —The Lily is Lilium Martagon album, the other plant 
Oxalis corniculata rubra. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— July 9th. 
Heavy supplies of soft fruit now reaching us, but prices are not good. Cherries alone 
maintaining fair value. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
i sieve 
1 
6 
to 5 
0 
Oranges. 
.. too 
6 
0 to 10 
0 
Cherries.. .. 
\ sieve 
10 
0 
15 
0 
Peaches . 
per doz. 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Ch&stnuts 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen 
dozen 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Currants, Red 
J sieve 
4 
0 
5 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
5 
0 
„ Black 
J sieve 
4 
6 
6 
0 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Figs ., .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
R.ispberries .. 
per lb. 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Grapes ., .. 
.. tb. 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Strawberries.. 
.. lb. 
0 
2 
0 
9 
Lemons.. .. 
■ 
.. case 
15 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
0 
0 
6 
VEGETABLES 
s. 
d. 
s. d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Artichokes 
dozen 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
0 
0 
to 1 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
Ih. 
0 
9 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions. 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
0 
Broccoli .. .. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums 
too 
1 
« 
2 
0 
,, Kidney . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. 
bunch 
0 
8 
0 
4 
„ New .. 
cwt. 
5 
0 
9 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Celery .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Saisafy. 
bundle 
i 
0 
0 
6 
Goleworts doz, bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
6 
Cucumbers 
each 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Shallots. 
..lb. 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Hhdive .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Herbs .. .. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
.. lb. 
0 
0 
0 
9 
Leeks 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Lettuce .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
1 
P 
., New .. 
bunch 
1 
0 
0 
0 
THE LONGHOKN BREED OF CATTLE. 
(^Continued from page 22.) 
Having previously brought the history of Longhorns down to 
the year 1870, the year in which Mr. J. Nevill Fitt wrote his essay 
in the Royal Agricultural Society’s Journal, it will be necessary for 
us to make a few remarks as to their peculiarities as milkers and 
feeders. In so doing we will first quote a passage from the 
“ Druid’s ” excellent article on Longhorns, wherein he records the 
following experiments:—“Mr. S. Craven Pilgrim, of Burbage near 
Hinckley, is a noted breeder of Shorthorns, which are of the Bates’ 
blood, and which he cultivates for milking properties. Mr. Pilgrim 
selected his six best cows against a like number of Mr Chapman’s 
[Longhorn]. The Shorthorns produced 152 lbs. of milk, and the 
Longhorns 135 lbs. The weight of curd for the Longhorns was 
194 lbs., but that from the Shorthorns was only 14^ lbs. This 
experiment was made in June. The trial was again made in Septem¬ 
ber—the whole of Mr. Pilgrim’s cows, numbering thirty-six, against 
Mr. Chapman’s thirtj^-two Longhorns. The Shorthorns produced 
605 lbs. of milk, which only made 6 G 4 lbs. of curd. The Longhorns 
produced 553 lbs. of milk, which made 69 lbs. of curd.” These 
experiments give the milk-sellers’ idea of value. Still it is well 
known and recognised amongst men of experience that when ripe 
they are really good butcher’s beasts, and we have previously given 
instances that the breed was well known in Smithfield Market for 
affording the most valuable joints from the back and ribs, and to 
generally die with a large amount of internal fat. It has also been 
proved that they are capable of making first quality of “ baby beef ” 
at an early age, as evidenced by their having been reared and fed 
side by side with Shorthorns of the like age and from the best strains. 
We find that Mr. J. N. Fitt’s concluding remarks in his essay are as 
follows :—“ No breed could be found more suitable to adorn the park 
or the home pastures of hall or grange, for the long tapering horns, 
sometimes 8 feet in width, and tapering in spiral curves from the 
head, at others wreathed into the most picturesque and fantastic 
shapes ; the true colour brindled red or finch, with white backs, and 
the rough curly coats, must render them objects of admiration to all 
who have an eye for the beautiful, while their docile tempers 
peculiarly fit them for parks or much-frequented pastures. The 
Longhorn has endured a long eclipse, but now there seems every 
indication that he is about once more to emerge from obscurity and 
take his proper place amongst the magnificent breeds of cattle for 
which England is famous.” 
An appropriate sequel to Mr. J. N. Fitt’s descriptive essay of the 
Longhorn cattle we find in a report by Mr. Joseph Darby on Long¬ 
horns exhibited in the same year (1876) at the R.A.IS.E. meeting 
held at Birmingham, which states—“ A leading feature was the large 
display of Longhorn cattle, which had never on any previous occasion 
presented anything like such an imposing muster. Very interesting 
and attractive thej" appeared with their long curling horns and hand¬ 
somely marked colours. But however pleasing to look at, it is by no 
means certain that they are a sort desirable to own for grazing pur¬ 
poses. The handling of not a few in Aston Park was extremely 
indifferent, a thickness of hide responding to touch, but liitle under¬ 
stood by those whose experience lies among Shorthorn, Devon, and 
Hereford cattle. This was not so in the case of all—the Duke of 
Buckingham’s animals, with the ‘Conquerer’ blood, in particular 
displaying much more softness and elasticity. No doubt the modern 
revival of this old-e.stablished breed will lead to a great improvement 
in this respect, for in these days of beef-making no sort of animals 
can be expected to extend themselves unless they possess thoroughly 
wealthy characteristics. The fact that more than sixty animals of 
the breed were brought together at Aston Park, and that they were 
from more than a dozen herds distiibuted all over the midland 
counties, and as far west as Somerset, shows that the revival move¬ 
ment has taken a good hold on the couniry. The old bull class had 
nine entries, with the Duke of Buckingham’s ‘ Conqin rer 3rd ' to 
lead them. He seemed by far the best, and one of his sons, ‘ The 
Marquis,' conquered in the yearling bull class. Some of the other 
bulls were handsome and somewhat grandly shaped, but very few 
handled at all kindly. The cows looked milkers all over, and no 
doubt the good dairy properties of the breed, combined with great 
hardihood, is what recommends it so much in the midland counties. 
Mr. Forrest’s ‘ Lady ’ and ‘ Bluebell,’ both bred by Mr. J. H. 
Burberry of Kenihvorth, were considered by the Julges the best 
specimens of the breed in the class, and certaiiily they were good- 
looking ones. In the three-year-old heiRr class two daughters of 
the first-prize old bull from the Duke of Buckingham’s herd, ‘ Lady 
T \vy cross ’ and ‘Barmaid,’ took first and second prizes. 3 hey 
possessed the same kindl}" touch as their sire. The Longhorn and 
dairy cattle came to the same ring, and were judged bj^ the same 
Judges, who state in their report : ‘ We found the classes well rcqire- 
sented, especially the aged bulls ; and the three-year-old heiters w'ero 
very good. The dairy cows also were useful,vand the young stock 
veiy promising.’ ” Mr. Wells, the senior bteward, reports on Long¬ 
horns at the Royal Agricuitural Societj^’s meeting held at Kilbtirn 
in 1879 : “ It may be mentioned here that until quite within recent 
date Longhorns were not allotted separate classes at the Royal 
