October 23, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
385 
may disappear with well-developed summer blooms. In colour the variety 
appears distinct, rosy crimson with a faint purple tint. 
A Smoke Difficulty (Fred). —We shall be very glad if any of our readers 
can inform you “if any particular kind of top can be placed on the chimney 
that will prevent the soot particles falling into the stove.” Sooty particles 
can in a great measure be prevented entering greenhouses by stretching fine 
hexagon netting across the openings for ventilation, as these exclude much 
of the soot while admitting air to the houses. This plan is found of great 
service by florists in the vicinity of large smoky towns. 
Lapageria alba Unhealthy (J: IL). —Taking up the unhealthy plant, 
potting, and placing in gentle heat, was quite right. We presirme the decayed 
parts of the roots were cut away, and the whole of the soil washed off the 
roots by tepid water, fresh compost being employed, aird rather rough, with 
a free admixture of sand and charcoal, good drainage afforded, and the soil 
well worked in amongst the roots. To facilitate root-action a bottom heat 
of 80° or 90° at the base of the pot would be an advantage. Before again 
planting out see that the soU is sweet and good drainage provided. 
Young Vines in Wide Border (Town Gardener). —As the Vines have 
been planted three years, and we presume are growing well, we do not think 
it would be judicious to take out the part of the border not now occuiried 
with roots, as, if it be properly drained, there is no fear of its becoming sour. 
Eemoving it would entail much labour, and perhaps no corresponding ad¬ 
vantage would follow. It is well to make a border by degrees, a width of 
4 to 6 feet being ample in the first instance, adding to it as the roots showing 
at the sides give indications of needing more space. We cannot express an 
opinion on the practice of your predecessor, and you will be consulting your 
own interests to refer to his practice as little as possible. 
Seedling Damsons (4. D.). —Trees from stones will bear in due time 
without being grafted, but are usually less free than those raised from 
suckers, budding, or grafting, although they bear freely enough after the 
trees attain age. They make the free-growing and healthy trees. 
Sowing Perennial Poppies (Idem). —We hardly know which of the 
Poppies to which you allude, whether the Welsh (Meconopsis cambrica) or 
the Horned Poppy (G-lauciirm luteum), which last is difficult to grow away 
from its native habitat. The seed is first sown in April, only just covering 
it with light soil, and keeping it moist. The plants may be pricked off when 
large enough, and should be shaded from bright srrn until established. In 
autumn they may be moved to where they are to flower, or it may be done in 
spring, in each case it is necessary to move with a good ball. The seed may 
also be sown where the- plants are to remain, keeping the soil moist, and 
thinning out the seedlings in good time. 
Gooseberries as Espaliers (J. F.). —They do very well grown in the 
form in question ; but instead of training them fan-shaped we prefer the 
method that is employed when they are trained to walls—namely, training 
two branches horizontally, and from these securing growths at intervals of 
8 inches for training upright. We have seen hedges of Gooseberries, the 
growths having simply been secured in an irregular manner to stakes, so 
that all the space was occupied, and the rows were very productive. 
Twin-flowered Cypripedium insigne (J. J.). —This peculiarity is of 
occasional occurrence, but not very frequent, and possesses nothing to 
specially recommend it more than ordinary good varieties of the species. In 
the opinion of some growers it is a distinct sport, but it seems to be chiefly 
influenced by some peculiarity in the soil or treatment, as plants which have 
hitherto produced the flowers singly will sometimes commence bearing the 
twin flowers, and continue doing so. The exact cause cannot be ascertained, 
as, like»many other phenomena of a similar character, it depends upon con¬ 
ditions the operation of which it is very difficult to investigate. We have 
this week received a twin-flowered sample of Cypripedium Lawrencianum 
from Dr. Paterson, Bridge of Allan, which indicates by its great strength 
and length of flowerstalk very liberal culture, pointing to the probable cause 
of the same character in C. insigne. 
Top-dressing Vine Border (A Constant Subscriber). —The present is a 
capital time to top-dress an outside Vine border. The most suitable compost 
is turfy loam of a light rather than heavy nature, to which add a tenth of 
old mortar rubbish, a twentieth of charred refuse or charcoal, and a fortieth 
part of bone dust, the whole well incorporated. Blood is a good manure, 
and may be mixed with the loam, one part blood to twenty of loam, it being 
chiefly valuable for the salts it contains. Remove the surface soil down to 
the roots and clear it away, then pick out any soil from amongst them that 
can be done without injury to them, and add the fresh compost, not covering 
the uppermost roots deeper than 4 inches. Mulch over the surface with 
short manure after making the fresh material firm, and put on the shutte s, 
leaving the ends open so as to admit of a current of air beneath the shutters 
for the present, but it would be advisable to close the ends on severe weather 
setting in. The shutters should have a sharp incline from the house to the 
front, so as to throw off the wet. 
Top-dressing Lawn (A. D .).—The decayed manure and leaf soil would 
be a capital dressing for the lawn, and assist in a good turf being formed, 
making it thick and elastic; indeed newly formed lawns are often too much 
neglected, being left to take care of themselves, and as a consequence they 
are worse if anything the year following than in that of sowing down. If 
the lawn is somewhat open at the bottom and not very even in surface it 
would be well to mix the whole of the material at command, or so much as 
will be required together, which will be better suited for filling up any in¬ 
equalities of the surface and not being so stimulating as the manure and leaf 
mould alone conduce to a less vigorous growth of plant, and so contribute to 
the development of the smaller grasses. It would be well to pass it through 
a half-inch sieve, which would save much after trouble in raking off the 
rough and picking up the stones ; any that pass the meshes of the half-inch 
sieve would be readily disposed of by rolling. Twenty cartloads per acre 
would not be too much if you mix the whole together, or twelve of the 
manure and leaf mould, spreading it evenly over the surface, and now if you 
do not object to the appearance, or so soon after the middle of February as 
the weather is mild. 
Amateur and Cottager Exhibitions (J. C. B.). —It is quite true as 
you say that in the catalogues of some flower shows there are two classes of 
exhibitors—viz., amateurs and cottagers, and you would like to know where 
they draw the line between the two classes—viz., what qualification is neces¬ 
sary to show in the amateur class, and what qualification is necessary to 
show in the cottager class. In most schedules there is an explanatory clause 
on this subject, and there ought to be in all of them. It is usually to the 
effect that exhibitors in the cottagers’ classes must be bond fide wage-earning 
artisans or labourers who are not employed in gentlemen’s gardens. Ama¬ 
teurs, as distinguished from cottagers, are usually considered as persons who 
manage their own gardens with or without occasional assistance, but not 
employing a regular gardener. In very large exhibitions, where all the 
classes are divided between nurserymen and amateurs, all exhibitors are 
regarded as amateurs who are not nurserymen. In all cases of doubt it is 
well to write to the secretaries of shows and ascertain the meaning of the 
terms employed in their schedules, as there is considerable local variation in 
the matter, the definitions being often founded on custom and local circum¬ 
stances. 
Names of Fruit (B. D. L.). —1, Forge; 2, Franklin’s Golden Pippin ; 
3, St. Germain ; 4, Doyenne du Comice ; 5, not known; G, "Winter Pearmain 
(Duck’s-bill). (H., Notts ).—The larger green-and-recl Apple is Yorkshire 
Greening, the smaller one we do not know; the Pear is Thompson’s. 
(B. J. B.). —1, Gravenstein; 2, Cox’s Orange Pippin ; 3, Ne Plus Meuris ; 
4, Yorkshire Greening; 5, Dumelow’s Seedling; 6, Adams’ Pearmain. 
(James Davis). —1, Hot known ; 2, Duchess’s Favourite ; 3, Scarlet Russet; 
4, Herefordshire Costard ; 5, Mere de Menage; 6, Round "VVinter Nonesuch. 
(IF. IV. Brown cj- Cc.). —1, Not known ; 2, Winter Colman ; 3, Scarlet Pear¬ 
main ; 4, Trumpington ; 5, Barchard’s Seedling ; 6, Margil. (G, Picker ).— 
1, Margil; 2, Dutch Mignonne. The seedling is no improvement on ex¬ 
isting varieties. The Pear is Van Mons Leon Leclerc. (B. Morse). —It is 
a beautiful Apple, but we do not know the Apple. (W. Hawley). —We should 
like to know something of the histoi-y of your Apple ; it is remarkably hand¬ 
some. We do not remember to have seen it before. (Lady King). —We have 
examined your Apple with great care and compared it with many others. It 
is very similar to if not indentical with a variety that has been certificated 
this year by the Royal Horticultural Society under the name of Jacobs’ 
Strawberry—a very fine early summer Apple, the origin of which we should 
be glad to trace. 
Names of Plants (E. S .).—Tradescantia virginica. (C. T.). —Hlschynan- 
thus fulgens. (E. F .).—The plant is Tropseolum tuberosum, a native of Peru, 
introduced to this country in 188G. It requires protection during the winter, 
and grows very well in a cool house, such as a conservatory or greenhouse. 
(Subscriber). —1, Pinus ponderosa ; 2, Pinus Pinaster ; 3, Quercus macro- 
phylla ; 4, Acer campestre ; 5, Alnus glutinosa laciniata ; 6, Abies Donglassi. 
(IF. ;S.).—Begonia Evansiana. (J. J., Lancashire ).—1 is a species of Eria, 
and 2 a species of Ctelogyne, but neither is of any horticultural value; 
3 is Oncidium prajtextum; and 4 is a variety of 0. Forbesi. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— October 22nd. 
Market very quiet. All classes of goods in heavy supply, Pears alone being short. 
American and Canadian arrivals heavy, but samples indifferent and fetching low prices. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
i sieve 
2 
6 
to S 6 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
8 
0 to 12 
0 
Chestnuts .. 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 0 
Peaches . 
perdoz. 
3 
0 
8 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. 
per 100 lbs. 
55 
0 
60 0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Currants, Red 
A sieve 
0 
0 
0 0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
„ Black 
1 sieve 
0 
0 
0 0 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Pigs .. .. 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 0 
Plums . 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes .. .. 
.. lb. 
0 
6 
4 0 
Strawberries.. 
., lb. 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons., .. 
, 
,, case 
15 
0 
21 0 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 
7 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
s. d. 
s. 
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 
S 
Beet, Red 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Broccoli .. .. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 0 
Onions. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Brussels Sprouts 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
s 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
1 0 
Parsnips. 
. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
1 
6 
2 0 
Potatoes. 
. cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 4 
,, Kidney . 
. cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Cauliflowers ,. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 0 
Rhubarb. 
. bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Celery .. .. 
bundle 
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 .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Herbs .. .. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 0 
Tomatoes .. ., 
.. lb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Leeks ,. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
WIN TEE OlTS. 
“ Despite the fact of Wheat being now much less in market 
value than Barley, almost as much land will probably be cropped to 
the former as usual, no class being more slow to move out of the 
groove of custom than farmers. The trammels of habit cause them 
to adhere to the old ways long after thej^ have become unprofitable ; 
consequently, although they ought to be well aware that Wheat is the 
most costly of the grain crops to cultivate, and that the winter 
varieties of Beans, Oats, and Barley would prove admirable substitutes 
