November 9, 1882.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 487 
of water, and when clear use it in a diluted state, adding more or less water 
according to the plants and their condition to which it is applied. It is stronger 
than soot water. 
The Purple-leaved Birch (A Nurseryman ).—You are right. It was 
raised in America, and its discovery was described by M. Ed. Andrd in L'Illus¬ 
tration Horticole. “On the 6th of June, 1872,” writes M. Andrd, “whilst going 
through the horticultural exhibition at Orleans as one of the party of judges, 
the attention of myself and of my companions was drawn to a number of shrubs 
consisting of forty plants all of one species, which were almost hidden in the 
recess of a somewhat darksome corner. It required but a moment’s contempla¬ 
tion to enable us to grasp the full importance of the remarkable plant, which 
was, without doubt, the chief object of interest in the exhibition. It was a very 
beautiful variety of the common white Birch (Betula alba), but the leaves were 
completely purple or purple-black, like those specimens of the Beech so often 
seen in our parks. Here was indeed a real discovery, and a golden medal was 
with one accord awarded to it. It was obtained by chance by an old hand of 
the firm of Transon Brothers, named Dubois, from a sowing of the ordinary 
Birch. He very soon observed the unaccustomed appearance of the plant, and 
after having raised it he took grafts therefrom, and placed them on young stocks 
of the common variety, and afterwards established them in pots. It will be a 
great acquisition for our parks, and may be most advantageously associated with 
the Purple Beeches, the habit of which is quite different. It succeeds in the 
poorest soils, at the same time preserving all the strength and rural beauty of 
the original type.” 
Hanging Rats ( G. Burton ).—After some trouble we think we have found 
what you require. This method of catching rats was described by Mr. Graves 
as follows The trap consists of a hooked stick (fig. 1), a piece of straight 
stick about 4 inches long, with one end chisel-pointed and a slit in the other 
end, and a bender, or rod, about 4 feet long, not too stiff. A piece of string is 
tied to one end of the bender, and a piece of fine wire with a noose is attached 
to the string and made fast to the chisel-pointed stick about an inch from the 
slit end. To set the trap the hooked stick is driven firmly into the ground 
about 9 inches from the rats’ run or hole, and the bender is driven into the 
ground about 8 feet from it on the same side of the run or hole. The bender is 
then drawn down to the hooked stick, and the chisel-pointed stick is put under 
the hook and fixed in the notch, as shown in fig. 2. The wire snare is put in the 
slit and adjusted in the run about 1 inch from the ground. There may be 
several traps set on the same run. Fig. 2 shows the trap when set. When the 
rat is caught he pulls the stick out of the hook and is immediately suspended in 
the air, and is soon dead and out of the way of the next comer, which passes on 
to the next trap, and is very soon suspended likewise. There is no fear of catch¬ 
ing game, poultry, or cats in such traps, as is the case with iron ones. 
Names of Fruit (</. M., Barton-on-Humber). —We are unable to identify 
the Apple you have sent, which is evidently a good culinary variety. It is pro¬ 
bably one of the many local varieties which have been raised from seed so freely 
in North Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire. 
Names of Plants (I). T.). —1, Oestrum aurantiacum; 2, Clematis Viticella; 
3, I’bysalis Alkekengi. (0. IF. D.). —The white flower is Chrysanthemum 
maximum ; the leaf we do not recognise, and cannot determine its name without 
flowers as well. ( IF. J.). —1, JEschynanthus longiflorus ; 2, Selaginella Wildenovii; 
3, Doryopteris palmata ; 4, Platyloma cordata. The Ferns have been extremely 
well grown, the fronds being firm and healthy. The price of the work on 
British Ferns is 3s. 6d., post free 3s. 9<f. The “ Vegetable Kingdom ” is out of 
print, and cannot be supplied ; you might perhaps obtain a copy second-hand. 
Stamps or post-office orders should be sent to the publisher. (IF. E. B.). — Your 
plant is a Gesneria, and it closely resembles that described on page 337 of this 
Journal as Jeannot. 
Bee-keeping ( Odyssus). —1, Abee-house is by no means indispensable ; most 
advanced bee-keepers prefer hives on separate stands, as being more easy of manipu¬ 
lation and affording other advantages over houses. 2, We consider the autumn 
the best time to purchase, as the cottagers will then sell their hives at about 
their honey value, in preference to burning the bees. At spring they object to 
part with them, having generally reserved two or three colonies only to keep up 
their stock. A strong colony in March is worth at least 20 s. in a straw skep. 
3, Moveable-comb hives are now supplied by the chief hive-makers at prices so 
low that we advise you to purchase at least one as a pattern, in preference to 
constructing one yourself. The prize hives at South Kensington and the Dairy 
Shows, manufactured by Messrs. Dines of Maldon, Essex, and Mr. Blake of 
Dallinghoe, Suffolk, with roof, stand, and crate of sections for surplus honey¬ 
comb, well made from sound material, are being supplied in large numbers at 
10$. 6d. each. A good frame hive without stand can be obtained for 7s. 6 d. You 
woul d do well to purchase a colony in a straw skep, and allow it to swarm, when 
you can place the swarm in a bar-frame hive previously procured. If failing to 
purchase a stock swarms may always be obtained of cottagers on the day of 
swarming at 10$. each in May and June, and these may be placed in any hive 
you please. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET— November 8TII. 
Our Apple market is now considerably depressed owing to American impor¬ 
tations reaching us, superior sorts alone maintaining quotations. English 
Pines are in demand, and Kent Cobs selling freely at previous rates. Grapes in 
excess of demand. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples. 
1 sieve 
2 
0 to 7 
0 
Lemons. 
0to30 
0 
Apricots. 
doz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Melons. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cherries. 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines.. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges .... 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Currants, Black.. 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches .... 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Red.... 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears,kitchen .. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
dessert .... 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Filberts. 
lb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Pine Apples, English tb. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Cobs. 
ioo lb. 
0 
0 
45 
0 
Raspberries . 
lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Gooseberries .... 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Strawberries 
lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes . 
lb. 
X 
0 
3 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
2 
0 f.n 4 
0 
1 
0 to 1 
G 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mushrooms 
l 
0 
1 
6 
Beans,Kidney ... 
100 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard* Cress .. punnet 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
6 
Parsley. 
doz.bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts. 
4 sieve 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Parsnips .... 
1 
0 
2 
0 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Peas . 
0 
10 
0 
0 
Capsicums. 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Potatoes .... 
6 
0 
7 
0 
Carrots . 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Kidney.... 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Radishes.... 
doz. bunches 
1 
0 
0 
6 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Rhubarb .... 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Coleworts_doz. 
bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Scorzonera 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Endive. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Seakale 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
8 
0 
0 
Shallots .... 
. lb. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Garlic . 
lb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Spinach .... 
3 
0 
0 
0 
Herbs . 
bunch 
o 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. 
lb. 
0 
3 
0 
G 
Leeks. 
. bunch 
6 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips .... 
0 
2 
0 
4 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
NEGLECTED PASTURES AND WASTE LANDS. 
( Continued from page 41 7.) 
Neglected grass land may also be improved and renovated 
under one operation—that of paring and burning the old turf, 
which will clear away many weeds and objectionable grasses, 
rushes, and hassoc tufts. After this is completed the land will be 
free to receive new seeds without any cultivation or labour at all 
except that of sowing the seeds. As fast as the seeds are sown the 
ashes should be carted from the heaps and spread from the carts, 
so that the seeds may be covered about 2 inches deep, which will 
insure germination directly if sufficient moisture is contained in 
the soil, for it should be understood that the work of paring, turn¬ 
ing, seeding, and spreading the ashes should be done during the 
three months of March, April, and May. It is considered that the 
paring and turning, utilising the ashes, &c., cost some £3 or £4 per 
acre, according to the soil and the weather during the work 
required. Yet our experience in this matter enables us to estimate 
the ashes to be of far more value as manure than the cost of paring 
and burning, irrespective of the advantages to be derived from the 
method pursued of seeding and the certainty of its growth. 
Besides, we have known various instances in which the roots of 
some of the most permanent grasses from the old turf will shoot 
up again, and greatly assist in the formation of the new turf in 
conjunction with the newly sown seeds, more particularly as the 
heavy dressing of ashes is one of the most valuable dressings, as 
proved by the chemical contents that can be used for raising 
a new turf. 
The seeds which we advise being sown are exclusively of per- 
