January 7 , 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
13 
watering them the same as you do Chrysanthemums. IE you want very 
large bushes in the shortest time you may plant out the Dautzias and 
repot in the autumn ; but plants so treated do not usually flower so 
freely as those kept in pots. 
rrult Trees for South-east by South Wall (i^. J .').—Plums 
would succeed admirably, such as Green Gage, Jefferson’s, Kirke’s, and 
Coe’s Golden Drop. The trees may .safely be planted during mild weather 
up to the middle of February. The damp on the fruit in the fruit room 
after a frost is due to the moisture of the air condensing on the fruit 
through the latter being colder than the atmosphere ; but when the 
fruit becomes as warm as the air the moisture disappears. Do not wipe 
the fruit, but admit a little air, which will dissipate the moisture, but 
avoid making the atmosphere very dry, as that would cause the fruit to 
shrivel. 
Dahlias Showing: “Byes” In the Blooms (^E. G. N.'). —The 
chief cause of Dahlias having “eyes” is usually lack of that steady 
development of the plant so es.sential to the proper building up of the 
flower, and is best avoided by a proper preparation of the soil, not using 
freshly manured ground, but having it in good heart, deeply stirred and 
in good tilth. This will secure sturdy growth and well formed' blooms 
provided the plants are given plenty of room and sturdy plants are put 
out in proper time. Wet seasons tend to encourage the production of 
“eyes,” and too severe disbudding acts similarly by inducing grossness 
of plant, also weakly cuttings seldom throw good flowers. This should 
be avoided by selecting short-jointed cuttings. The tubers you have are 
more likely to give the proper sort of Cuttings than any tubers you may 
purchase, and you may propagate from them with every confidence, only 
give the plants plenty of rOom, and keep the growths fairly thin. 
Cropping: Vines (^A. A. B.). —We are glad to see that you turned 
the advice we gave to such profitable account. The samples of canes 
sent are excellent, the wood being strong enough, very firm, and con¬ 
taining little pith. For cropping over a series of years most gardeners 
would shorten the canes to about 3 feet, and take from each perhaps 
2 lbs. or 3 lbs. pf Grapes, a little more or less according to the character 
of the. laterals; but most “market growers” would leave such canes 
twice the length or more, and cut twice the weight of Grapes from them 
next year, applying judiciously adequate support in the form of mulch¬ 
ing, chemical top-dressings, and occasional applications of liquid 
manure. When a good length of cane is left, bending them in a hori¬ 
zontal position, or with the point below the horizontal line in spring, is 
often desirable to induce the lower buds to start freely. You will pro¬ 
bably have read the account of the Ashford Vines on page 557 last 
week, and >ve shall, before very long, publish another example of suc¬ 
cessful Grape culture, and the methods that led to good results. 
Artificials for Mixing: with Sods for Cucumbers (.7. B.) — 
There is no better material for mixing with poor “sods” than horse 
manure, using a fourth part, well,incorporated, as humus is absolutely 
essential, and to give vigour to the plants you may use the following 
mixture: — Superphosphate two parts, nitrate of potash one part, 
sulphate of lime one part, all by weight, mix, and apply 1 lb. to each 
square yard of surface 1 foot deep, incorporating with the soil before 
planting, using as surface dressings afterwards as vigour is needed at the 
rate of 2 to 4 ozs. per square yard. Kbubarb revels in humus pro¬ 
vided it is not waterlogged, and takes almost any amount of manure. 
It is also a potash plant, its stalks containing, as shown by their ash, 
59'59 per cent., but like the Strawberry it can use soda as well as 
potash, for in some soils the stalks contain potash 14'47, and soda 
31‘77 per cent. These substances must not be lacking, but nitrogen is 
an all-important element, therefore Peruvian guano is an excellent 
dressing for Rhubarb at the rate of 2 or 3 ozs. per square yard, applying 
about the stools when the crowns are swelling, and before the leaves 
appear, repeating occasionally up to June. Nitrate of soda is a capital 
dressing on light soils, using 2 to 3 cwt. per acre when the crowns are 
swelling, just before they unfold, repeating it in May or early June, but 
not over the leaves. - — 
Endive Culture (^B, B. A'.).—The best varieties for general use are 
Improved Round-leaved Batavian and Green Curled Improved. It is 
hardly worth while sowing Endive before the middle of June for the 
first main cropi the principal.crop—that is, that for winter use, needing 
to be sown early-in July, and that for spring use at the end of that month. 
The seed may be sown in drills 15 inches apart and the plants thinned to 
1 foot distance in the rows. This is the best for the early crops’ or those 
that have to be blanched on the ground, for which there is no better 
method than tying the head with matting dr covering them with pots, 
closing the apertures so as to exclude light. The leaves should be 
gathered together and tied near the top, and in a week afterwards they 
should be again tied, this time about the middle, and the plants must 
be perfectly dry. About ten days in summer and three weeks in winter 
are necessary for blanching. The crops that are intended for lifting and 
placing in frames are best sown thinly in rich fine soil in shallow drills 
about 4 inches apart, sowing the seeds thinly, thinning to 3 inches apart, 
and when having four leaves take up carefully and plant in rows 
15 inches apart and 1 foot asunder in the rows, watering as required. 
These lift with better roots than if not transplanted. The plants should 
be placed in frames or pits before being frosted, be well ventilated in 
favourable weather, and protected in severe weather so as to exclude 
frost. Blanching is effected in the same way as with those outdoors—• 
namely, by tying up the leaves about three weeks before the heads are 
required for use, tying up a quantity each week, by doing which a 
constant succession of blanched heads will be secured. Late crops may 
be planted at the foot of walls or in frames protected from frost, and are 
blanched in spring same as the early crops by tying, covering with pots, 
or placing a slate or tile over the curled varieties. 
IVaxnes of Fruits.— Notice. — Special attention is directed to the 
following decision, the object of which is to discourage the growth of 
inferior and promote the culture of superior varieties. In conacquence 
of the large number of worthless Apples and Pears sent to this offlee to 
be named, it has been decided to name only specimens and varieties of 
approved merit, and to reject the inferior, w}hich are not worth sending 
or growing. The names and addresses of senders of fruit to be named 
must in all cases be enclosed with the specimens, whether letters 
referring to the fruit are sent by post or not. The names are not 
necessarily required for publication, initials sufficing for that. Only six 
specimens can be named at once, and any beyond that number cannot 
be preserved. (IF. C.'). —If you read our conditions above you will 
perceive that the names and addresses of senders of fruit must accompany 
the specimens. If you send yours the fruits will be examined. (/. (7.)— r 
Baronne de Mello. 
BTames of Plants.—We only undertake to name species of plants, _ 
not varieties that have originated from seed and termed florists’ flowers. 
Flowering specimens are necessary of flowering plants, and. Fern fronds- 
should bear spores. Specimens should arrive in a fresh state in firrn boxes.- 
Slightly damp moss, soft green grass or leaves form the best packing, dry 
wool the worst. Not more than six specimens can be named at once, 
and the numbers should be visible without untying the ligatures, 
it being often difficult to separate them when the paper is damp.r 
(,/. N.).—1, Cyperus alternifolius ; 2, Grevillea robusta ; 3, Araucaria 
excelsa ; 4, Araucaria Bidwilli ; 5, Geonoma gracilis. (A. M. G.).-p- 
1, Aralia Veitchi; 2, Fittonia argyroneura ; 3, Dracaena torminalis. 
(T. T.'). —1, Plaiyloma rotundifolia; 2, Actiniopteris radiata; 3, 
Hypoplepis tenuifolia ; 4, Todea intermedia. (A. B .'),—A leaf without 
flowers or description is insufficient for' naming. (J. J. D .').— 
1, Adiantum concinnum ; 2, Cyperus alternifolius variegatus.; 
3, Justicia calycotricha; 4, Eranthemum pulchellum; 5 and 6, 
insufficient. __ 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— January 6th. 
Business very quiet with scarcely any alteration in prices. 
8. 
Apples, ^-sieve. 1 
Apples, Canada and Nova 
Beotia, per barrel .. .. 12 
Cobs, Kent, per 100 lbs. .. 30 
s. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. .. 0 
Beet, Bed, dozen.1 
Carrots, bunch ., ,. .. 0 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. .. 2 
Celery, bundle . 1 
Coleworts, dozen bunches 2 
Cucumbers, dozen .. .. 4 
Endive, dozen .1 
Herbs, bunch .. ,. .. 0 
Leeks, bunch .0 
Lettuce, score .0 
Mushrooms, punnet .. .. 1 
. s. 
to 4 
FRUIT, 
d. 
18 0 
Grapes, peril). 
Lemons, case ., 
Oranges, per 100 
VEGETABLES. 
d. s. d. 
4 to 0 6 
0 0 0 
4 GO 
0 3 0 
0 13 
0 4 0 
0 9 0 
3 16 
3 0 0 
2 0 0 
9 10 
6 2 0 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 
Onions, bunch.. 
Parsley, dozen bunches .. 
Parsnips, dozen. 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
SaLsafy, bundle. 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 
Seakale, per basket .. .. 
Shallots, per lb. 
Spinach, bushel. 
■ Tomatoes, per lb. .. .. 
Turnips, bunch .. .. .. 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICES.—CUT FLOWERS. 
Orchid Blooms rather scarce in variety. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
Azalea, dozen sprays .. .. 
Bouvardias, bunch .. ,. 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
Christmas Roses, dozen 
blooms . 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
blooms . 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
bunches .. ■ .. .. 
Cyclamen, dozen blooms .. 
Eucharis, dozen. 
Euphorbia jacquiniseflora 
dozen sprays. 
Epiphyllum, dozen blooms 
Free.sia, dozen sprays 
Gardenias, per dozen 
Hyacinths, dozen spikes .. 
Hyacinths (Roman) dozen 
sprays. 
Lilium longiflorum 12 
blooms . 
Lilium (var.) dozen blooms 
Lily of the Valley 12 sprays 
Marguerites, 12 bunches ., 
s. d. s. d. 
6 0 to 8 0 
10 16 
0 6 10 
2 0 3 0 
10 16 
0 9 3 0 
4 0 12 0 
3 0 6 0 
4 0 GO 
3 0 6 0 
0 6 0 9 
4 0 6 0 
4 0 8 0 
6 0 9 0 
0 6 10 
6 0 9 0 
2 0 4 0 
10 2 6 
3 0 4 0 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
bunches . 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
Mimosa or Acacia (French) 
per bunch .. . 
Narciss (French) dozen 
bunches . 
Pelargoniums; 12 brmches 
„ scarlet, 12 bmiches 
Poinsettia, dozen blooms.. 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
„ Red, i)er doz. blooms.. 
„ Tea, white, dozen .. 
„ Yellow, dozen ., .. 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. 
Tulips, dozen blooms.. .. 
White Lilac (French) per 
bunch. 
Violet Parmo, French bchs. 
„ Czar „ „ 
„ ., small bunches 
„ English, dozen 
bunohes . 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
Arbor Vitas (golden) dozen 
Azalea, per phint .. .. 
Chrysanthemums, per doz. 
„ large, doz. 
Cyclamen, per dozen .. 
Uraemna terminalis, dozen 
„ viridis, dozen .. 
Epiphyllum, per pot .. 
Erica gracilis, per dozen .. 
„ hyemalis, dozen 
Euonymus var., dozen .. 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
8. d. s. 
C 0 to 12 
2 6 3 
4 0 9 
12 0 24 
Vi 0 18 
f4 G 42 
12 0 24 
16 2 
9 0 12 
12 0 18 
6 0 18 
6 0 21 
d. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Ferns, in variety, <iozen .. 
Ficus clastica, each .. 
Foliage plants, var., each.. 
Hyacinths, per dozen . .. 
Lily of the Valley, per pot 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
Myrtles, dozen. 
Palms, in var.. each .. .. 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
Poinsettias, per dozen 
Solanum, per dozen .. .. 
Tulips, dozen pots .. .. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
0 
6 to 2 
6 
15 
0 
2) 
0 
4 
0 
9 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
0 
.2 to 0 
0 
0 
3 
0 
5 
2 
0 
3 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
1 
0 
1 
6 
1 
6 
0 
0 
1 
6 
1 
9 
0 
3 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
0 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
0 
-0 
4 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
4 0 to 9 0 
16 3 0 
10 2 0 
3 0 6 0 
9 0 16 0 
6 0 9 0 
4 0 9 0 
0 6 10 
16 3 0 
2 0 4 0 
10 3 0 
3 0 6 0 
10 16 
10 2 0 
6 0 7 6 
3 6 5 0 
2 6 3 6 
3 0 6 0 
16 2 0 
s. d. s. d. 
4 0 to 18 0 
16 7 0 
2 0 10 0 
6 0 0 0 
2 0 2 6 
6 0 12 0 
6 0 12 0 
2 6 21 0 
4 0 6 0 
9 0 15 0 
9 0 12 0 
7 0 9 0 
