246 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t March 22 , m 3 . 
Winter and Spring Onions—A Coming Contest (John Topham). — 
As your question is an unusual one, we print it and append our reply :—“ Our 
township have matched themselves against another for £10 this year to show 
forty-eight Onions on each side. The conditions are—‘ Forty-eight spring- 
sown and spring-grown Onions of the flat variety.” Now our competitors have 
been told that spring does not commence till the 25 th March, and some of them 
have sown on the 7 tli of this month, and they are afraid of the other side taking 
advantage of this and call their Onions winter-sown. I shall be glad if you will 
say whether Onion seed sown in March is winter-sown or spring-sown.” Our 
answer is that it must be decidedly regarded as spring-sown, and to object to 
the produce on the ground stated would be an unworthy quibble. Winter 
Onions are so designated, not because the seed is sown in winter, but because it 
has germinated in the autumn, and the plants have passed the winter in the 
open air. Plants raised from seed sown in the open ground any time in March 
could not possibly appear until spring, hence could not be “ winter ” Onions. 
We cannot imagine any such objection as that named being seriously advanced, 
and if it should be it cannot be sustained. The term, “winter-sown,” is a mis¬ 
nomer. There are two seasons for sowing Onion seed—autumn and spring, and 
that sown in March, at whatever date, is spring-sown. As the Onions in the 
coming contest will not have completed their growth by the 21 st of June, at 
which date the summer quarter commences, but must grow for some time after 
that, it might with as much reason be urged that the plants were not “ spring- 
grown ” as that the seed was not “ spring-sown.” This shows the absurdity of 
such an objection as that anticipated, We shall be glad if you will send us the 
particulars of your Onion contest, stating the weights and varieties of the best 
collections. 
Leaves for Forcing ( E. S. A.).—It depends entirely what you want to 
force and the time you wish to commence, as to whether linings will be needed 
or not. We have grown Cucumbers and Melons in pits, forced such vegetables 
as Asparagus and Potatoes, and such flowers as Hoses, Lilies, and various other 
kinds in pits with the aid of a thick bed of leaves alone ; but we did not plant 
the two first-named crops before the middle of May. Very early forcing cannot 
be satisfactorily accomplished with the aid of leaves alone, as, although they 
afford a gentle bottom heat, they do not give the requisite top heat when used 
as linings to pits and frames. For this purpose fermenting manure should be 
mixed with them, and even then but little heat could pass through brick walls, 
which, we presume, form the sides of your pits. Your letter is not sufficiently 
explicit to enable us to give a more definite reply. There is no cheap book 
which gives the information you appear to require so fully as you will find 
recorded in our “ Work for the Week ” columns during the past twelve months. 
The best work on fruit-forcing is Mr. D. Thomson’s “ Fruit Culture under 
Glass.” It is published by Messrs. Blackwood, price Is. 6 d. 
Names of Plants (C. J. .S').—Andromeda floribunda. (./. N., Neath ).— 
Although we do not undertake to name plants without seeing their flowers, we 
will endeavour to name yours |if you will send us some particulars about it, 
such as its size and the conditions under which it is grown. We presume it 
has not flowered. Without some data of the nature indicated we cannot deter¬ 
mine the name of your plant. (J/. C. B.) — No doubt a form of Tecoma australis, 
which is a very variable plant as regards foliage. It ought to flourish in a 
greenhouse. Perhaps there is not sufficient light for it to flower. Is the house 
warm ? It is grown out of doors at Kew. (Captain II.). —There are two or 
three Hollies so closely resembling yours, and the texture of the leaves is so 
much influenced by soil, that we are unable to state with certainty the name of 
the variety. By far the best plan for you to adopt will be to send a spray to a 
large nurseryman from whom you intend obtaining shrubs. This is the surest 
way to prevent disappointment. 
Clay’s Fertiliser (F. J .).—We are obliged to Messrs. Clay & Levesley, the 
manufacturers of this manure, for correcting a mistake—a clerical error—which 
we made last week in advising you to use one part of the fertiliser to twenty of 
compost. The safe quantity is one in eighty, or a 48 -sized potful to a fair-sized 
barrowload of soil. AVhen plants are in vigorous growth and have filled the 
pots with roots, a top-dressing of a small teaspoonful to a 48 -pot may be given 
with advantage. It is important that the public in estimating the value of 
this manure should notice the small quantity required. 
Feeding Bees (.4. B .).—The weather has lately been too cold and snowy 
for feeding bees. In such weather they sit closely in clusters in the centre of 
their hives, and will not expose themselves to cold more than is necessary, but 
as bees cannot live without food they should be fed if they have no food in 
their hives. As there is a hole in the top of your hive the bees in it could easily be 
fed through the hole. Put a teacupful of good warm syrup—sugar and water— 
into a small pitcher, take the lid off the hole, and pour the syrup amongst the 
combs as well and widely as you can. By holding the hive in a slanting position 
the syrup will run into the cells and not drop straight down to the board. All 
this can be done before the bees have time to rise, and when it is done close the 
door and the top hole of the hive so that all the bees are kept inside. In very 
cold weather some weak hives so treated are taken near the kitchen fire or into 
a warm place, where the bees soon become lively and take all the food given 
to them. Your bees may soon be taught to come to the top hole for a little 
food daily. Cover your hive well and keep the bees comfortable. The cap you 
mention is meant for supering, and should be put on in May or as soon as the 
hive is filled with bees. From such caps good honey and honeycomb are 
obtained. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— MARCH 21ST. 
Market still slack, with no 
over. 
s. d, 
Artichokes. dozen 2 0 
Asparagus, English bundle 12 0 
Asparagus, French bundle 25 0 
Beans, Kidney .... 100 2 0 
Beet,Red. dozen l 0 
Broccoli. bundle 0 9 
Brussels Sprouts.. J sieve 1 6 
Cabbage. dozen o 6 
Capsicums. 100 l 6 
Carrots . bunch 0 4 
Cauliflowers. dozen 2 0 
Celery. bundle l 6 
Cole worts.... doz. bunches 2 0 
Cucumbers. each o 4 
Endive. dozen i o 
Fennel. bunch o 3 
Herbs . bunch o 2 
Leeks. bunch 0 8 
signs of improvement until the holidays are 
VEGETABLES. 
. s. d. 
to 4 0 
0 0 
30 0 
0 
2 
1 
2 
1 
2 
0 
0 
8 
0 
0 
0 
0 0 
3 0 
2 0 
4 0 
0 8 
2 0 
0 0 
0 0 
0 4 
Lettuces . score 
Mushrooms .punnet 
Mustard* Cress .. punnet 0 
Onions. bushel 
Parsley. doz.bunches 
Parsnips. dozen 
Peas . quart 
Potatoes. cwt. 
Kidney. cwt. 
Radishes.... doz.bunches 
Rhubarb. bundle 
Salsafy. bundle 
Scorzonera . bundle 1 
Seakale . basket 1 
Shallots. lb. o 
Spinach . bushel 3 
Tomatoes . lb. 1 
Turnips . bunch 0 
d. 8. d 
Otol 6 
0 16 
2 
0 3 
2 6 
6 0 
e 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
0 3 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d 
Apples. 
2 
0 to 7 
0 
Grapes . 
Ib. 2 
0 
0 
40 
0 
Lemons. 
case 10 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Melons . 
each 
0 
0 
it sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Nectarines. 
dozen 
0 
0 
Chestnuts. 
. bushel 10 
0 
12 
0 
Oranges . 
100 
8 
0 
Currants, Black 
. j sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
dozen 
0 
0 
,, Red.. 
. i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears,kitchen .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
Figs. 
. dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
dessert . 
dozen 
1 
0 
Filberts. 
lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples, English ft>. 
X 
6 
Cobs. 
„ 1001b. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Raspberries. 
ib. 
0 
0 
Gooseberries .. 
. 4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Stra'wberries .... 
OZ. 
0 
6 
d 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
9 
m HOME FARM 
IIP/. a! W ' Afe. ^ j., „ m ' 3=5 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
THE POLLED BREEDS OF CATTLE. 
(Continued from page 226 .) 
Of the “ Polled Herd Book,” first published in 1862, six volumes 
have been issued, in which there have now been registered 1930 bulls 
and 5054 cows and heifers. The “ Herd Book ” is now owned by 
the Polled Cattle Society, the Editor being Mr. Alexander Ramsay, 
from whose'essay in the “ Live Stock Journal Almanack ” for 1879 
we have gleaned much important information. The rise in the 
value of this o breed within the past fifteen years has been most 
remarkable, and has continued up to the present time ; for 
although Mr. McCombie’s stock were sold in 1880 at what 
was then considered high prices, yet the herd of selact animals 
from Mr. H. D. Adamson, sold in May, 1881, was dispersed at 
Aberdeen at still higher prices. The averages were, fifteen cows 
£74 185. each, ten yearling heifers £47 155. each, and younger 
animals in proportion ; and to show the value of pedigree, eleven 
“Prides of Aberdeen” brought an average of £96 85 ., and three 
“ Sibyls ” £116 45. each. Again, we find that never in the history 
of any breed°of cattle has the advance been so rapid as for the 
native breed of polled Aberdeen and Angus “ doddies.” They 
have doubled their price within the past few months, speaking of 
the end of the year 1882. The sales at Montbletton of forty 
lots averaged nearly £98 ; at Advie forty-two animals averaged 
£88 35.; and at Cortachy fifty-seven animals averaging £108 115., 
took everybody by surprise. These high figures are due to 
the demand from America, as shown by the purchases made 
by Mr. Wilken of Forbes, who bought at several sales lately 
fifteen polled cattle for the Hon. J. H. Pope of Canada at a cost 
of about £1500, and eight for the Hon. M. H. Cochrane, Hillhurst, 
at a cost of £1864. With regard to success at the Smithfield Show 
of fat cattle, for several years Sir W. C. Gordon Cumming has been 
the most prominent champion prize and medal winner. Since the 
rage for baby beef has set in,[a great many polled cattle have been 
fed off at twenty-four to thirty months old, making £24 to £35 
each. In the London Christmas' market it is stated, choice three- 
year-old black polled bullocks bring from £40 to £48, and even in 
some cases over £80. We must conclude by stating the opinion 
based upon our observation and experience, that a herd for the 
production of young beef of Angus cows crossed with a full 
pedigree Shorthonfibull, will pay better and make greater weight 
for age, with best quality, than any other known cross. 
The red-polled cattle of Norfolk and Suffolk have within the 
past few years made rapid progress in public estimation. So 
much interest has been displayed by some of the most eminent 
agriculturists of the eastern counties in their history and qualifi¬ 
cations for public’favour, that they can no longer be allowed to 
remain a merely local breed, useful only in their native districts, 
