October 2, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
319 
with care and judgment, not wetting the foliage at this period of the year. 
If the plants are in 4-inch or 5-inch pots, and these not filled with roots, do 
not repot. If you had stated a few particulars about the plants and your 
glass accommodation we should, perhaps, have been able to give you a more 
satisfactory reply. 
Cherry not Bearing {T. T. W .).—Your Cherry is, we think, the Late 
Duke. The tree will probably bear now it is established provided you train 
the growths so thinly that the leaves on one branch do not overlap and 
shade those on another. Sufficient growths must be trained for furnishing 
the fence ; the others, if any, cut out, leaving four or five leaves at the base 
of each shoot. In the future prevent too many shoots extending by dis¬ 
budding, and shorten the shoots retained at intervals along the branches 
early in the season. We usually commence pinching early in June, or when 
half a doz^n are formed, and all subsequent growths are pinch -d to one leaf 
as often as it developes throughout the season. By this practice and keeping 
the leaves free from insects clusters of fruit buds form, and good crops follow' 
if the blossom is not destroyed by spring frosts. 
Pruning Vines in Autumn (TFl).—That the practice as described and 
adopted by Mr. Taylor at Longleat w'as good is proved by results, Graj^es 
from the Longleat vineri's winning first prizes at the great Show' at South 
Kensington last week in the Black Hamburgh, Muscat, and Alicante classes, 
an achievement which is creditable alike to Mr. Pratt and his predecessor. 
Something more than autumn pruning, however, is needed to secure such 
Grapes as those alluded to ; indeed, w'e are not at all certain that the Vines 
were pruned last year when the foliage was green and healthy, birt we 
have seen some very competent gardeners what they term “half prune” 
the laterals now', with the object of “ plumping ” the base buds. Supposing 
there are six developed leaves on each lateral this preliminary pruning 
consists in removing that portion bearing three of them. We have tried 
this plan, sometimes with advantage, but not always ; we c.m only say that 
in the Vines operated on it never proved injurious. You may safely try the 
plan, proceeding, however, experimentally, and you will soon learn whether 
it is of advantage to the Vines in your charge. 
Millipedes in Soil {H. J .).—When we find land so infested w'ith the 
pests of which you enclose samjiles—a species of Julus—w'e have always a 
suspicion that it needs draining. If this is so in your case, and you can 
determine the point by a few trial holes in winter, you should drain it 
effectually. When water settles in excavations 2 feet deep draining is 
needed. If the ground is not naturally wet then we should give it a very 
heavy liming. Unslaked lime should he placed in convenient heaps at 
the rate of 100 bushels per acre at least, the heaps to be covered with soil 
dug from around them. In the course of a short time the lime w'ill swell 
and burst through the soil, the moisture causing it to “ fall,” when it should 
he spread and forked in as quickly as possible. The best plan is probably 
to ridge up the land before winter, level it down in spring, and use the 
lime then when the soil works freely. 
Liquid Manure in Winter (.4 Surprised Reader). —There is nothing to 
be surprised about in the remarks to which you refer. Giving liquid 
manure to Kose beds in winter is not a “ new notion ” by any means. On 
this subject the following was written many years ago by Mr. Beaton and 
published in the “ Cottage Gardener.” It was also incorporated in our little 
manual on manures :—“ When a crop of anything is in rows, whether they 
be bedders or for the pot or table, liquid manure of any strength may be 
applied in the centre between the rows with less risk or danger than in 
any other way. I have often poured down large quantities of the very 
strongest liquid manure between rows of plants, one drop of which would 
be destruction to any one of them if it touched the leaves or roots ; but 
filtering to the roots through a few inches of soil all harm is avoided, which 
goes to show that a fair porous surface of earth is the best and safest fixer 
of ammonia and aU over-strong mattir in the liquid. Every one of my own 
bulbs thus gets it, and I never lose a leaf. I quite agree with clarifying 
liquid manure for pot-cultur>'>, and in the hands of those who do not know 
practically what a plant can digest, or what the strength of their liquid is. 
But to keep a bed or border in good heart for a whole season at ttie least 
possible expense, have no recourse to clarifying the goodness out of the 
stuff, but give it to the plants fresh from the stable, cow-house, or piggery, 
or where it may be got much stronger, and one good soaking of it w'ill last 
the whole of the season ; the spring is the right time to apply it. Then, in 
June, if a handful of mould from below the sm'face is as good as a smelling- 
bottle, you may depend upon a good show of Loses and most bedding 
plants, if the beds wanted any assistance that way. Mr. Eivers has been 
recommending, for a long time, one or two thorough good soakings of the 
richest liquid manure to the Rose beds in the winter ; and if Roses are ever 
to come out healthy on a thin, poor, sandy soil, that is just what will do it. 
When flower beds and borders get exhausted by cropqnng, this strong 
liquid is very much better for them than rotten dung.” 
Errata.—In the article on “ Imported Denbrobinms,” page 280, for 
“mean annual” read “mean winter temperature.” On page 270, in the 
notes on “ Gentiana Kurroo,” referring to the colour, the sentence should 
be “densely spotted with white in a reniform blotch.” On page 292, in the 
fourth line from the bottom of the second column, the winner of the third 
prize should read “ W. H. Long, Esq., M.P. (gardener,Mr. A. Miller), who had 
good samples of Stamfordian Tomatoes, Canadian Wonder Beans, Bread-fruit, 
Potatoes, Snowball Turnips, and Leicester Red Celery.” 
Names of Fruits (TV. E. Musson). —1, Golden Reinette; 2, not known ; 
3, Longville Ki^rnel. {M. J. Kendal ).—2, Royal Codlin ; the others not 
known, probably local varieties. {X., Lougligall). —1, Formosa Nonpareil; 
2, Royal Codlin ; 3, Alfriston. 
Names of Plants {A. E. B .).—1, Sednm hispanicum glaucum ; 2, Sedum 
acre. (TV. A.). —The jellow flower is Celsia cretica ; the oth r is much 
shrivelled, but resembles Saxifraga ceratophylla. (.4 Novice). —1, Sedum 
spectabile ; 2, Leycesteria formosa ; 3, Solidago Virga-aurea ; 4, Chelone 
obliqua ; 5, Centranthus ruber; G, Aira pulchella, a native of Europe. It is 
a very graceful Grass, much used for stands of flowers in table decoration. 
An Essay on Bees {li. C. V. P .).—The above is the title of the work to 
which you refer, and which was awarded the prize offeied by the Highland 
and Agricultural Society of Scotland for the best essay on bee-culture. The 
author, as is stated on the title page, is Mr. William Thomson, known as 
“ A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper.” It is published by William Munro, 80, Gordon 
Street, Glasgow. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. —September 30th. 
Trade still remains steady. Good Pines are nowiin demand. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
2 
6 
to 4 
6 
Oranges. 
8 
0 to 12 
0 
Cliestpnts .. 
.. bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
perdoz. 
3 
0 
8 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. 
per 100 lbs. 
50 
0 
65 
0 
Pears, kitchen 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Currants, Red 
., i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
„ Black 
Pigs .. .. 
.. 1 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
4 
0 
C 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Plums . 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes .. .. 
0 
6 
4 
0 
Strawberries.. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons .. .. 
, case 
15 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Artichokes 
,, dozen 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Lettuce. 
. dozen 
1 
0 to 
1 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
0 
0 
1 
6 
Beet, Red 
.. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
l)unnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Broccoli .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Onions. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Brussels Sprouts 
.. i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
8 
0 
Cabbage .. 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. 
0 
S 
0 
4 
,, Kidney . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
C.iulifiowers .. 
.. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Celery 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
6 
Coleworts dcz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Cucumbers 
.. each 
0 
2 
0 
4 
Shallots. 
.. lb. 
0 
S 
0 
0 
Endive .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
Tomatoes 
bushel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Herbs 
0 
2 
0 
0 
.. lb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Leeks 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
MICHAELMAS. 
WAYS AND MEANS. 
“ WiiAT is to be done ?” is the cry of both landlord and tenant 
now that Michaelmas has come and the results of the year’s work are 
found to be unfavourable in many localities, ruinous in others, bright 
and satisfactory in none. Even fruit and Hop farmers share the 
general feeling of depression, for the Apple, Pear, and Plum crop is 
generally deficient, and Hop culture has been so costly that £5 per 
cwt. can hardly be regarded as covering the outlay, to say nothing 
of that broad margin of profit which was so confidently counted upon, 
and which may still be had by those who can afford to wait for it. 
Unfortunately most farmers are obliged to sell a certain proportion 
of the farm produce at Michaelmas to obtain means wherewith pay¬ 
ments may be made for rent and extra labour, and corn or Hops sold 
now, if not of an exceptionally high quality, are undoubtedly sold at 
a loss. 
Since the home fanner has had so much additional land thrust 
upon his hands the question of profit and loss has become a far more 
serious one for him than it was a few years ago, and he will certainly 
do well to turn his experience in dairy-farming to account, and enlarge 
his stock of cows and pigs fully in proportion to his increasing means 
of producing food for them. First of all let him weigh the advan¬ 
tages and difficulties of his position both in the production and sale 
of a class of produce for which there is an unfailing demand. The 
high price of the best butter will probabl}' tempt liiin to see what 
can be done in that market, and he will find it answer provided that 
he has cows j'ielding plenty of milk rich in cream and an economical 
and efficient system of dairy management ; but it is also well to see 
if the sale of part or all of the milk would not answer better. We 
know two dairy farms only three miles apart, one adjoining a railway 
station whence the milk is despatched twice daily by rail to a large- 
growing town some ten miles distant. The other farmer three miles 
from the station finds it answer his purpose best to send butter and 
not milk to the same town ; he also rears large numbers of pigs upon 
buttermilk and the corn, which would otherwise have to be sold at 
a loE-s. Milk, cream, butter, pork, bacon, poultry, and eggs, are these 
articles of commerce of too trivial a nature for the attention of the 
British farmer? Is he aware of the immense amount of capital 
invested in the trade of these important articles of farm produce? 
Will he rest satisfied to allow the thrifty farmers of France, Holland, 
and Denmark to absorb millions of caiutal out of the country for 
these indispensable articles of diet, while he continues growing corn 
at a dead loss, and leaves the dairy and poultry to his wornenkind ? 
Home farmers know full well how easily pork can be converted into 
first-class bacon. The process is simplicity itself, the sale for it is 
sure, the profit is lai'ge, yet such a thing as a bacon-making farm is 
