March 10, 1892 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
191 
Coboea scandens and Clematis Jackmannl Flowers (J. ^ )•— 
The flowers of Coboea scandens areeasily fertilised by applying the pollenot 
the anthers to the stigmas, but the plants are generally grown too coot 
and in too little light to render the fructifying organs perfect, the plants 
needing a much drier and warmer atmosphere to produce seeds sa is- 
factorily. Clematis Jackmanni for a similar reason does not produce 
perfect seeds, the plants not ripening pollen, though many flowers se 
freely, but the seeds are imperfect, because the summers are oo s or 
to ripen them, and to secure seeds plants require to be grown specia y 
for that purpose and carefully fertilised under glass. 
Fertilisation M.).—You either did not clearly unde^tand the 
lecturer, or he was inaccurate in some of his statements. Dew is no 
essential for the adherence of pollen to the stigma, as it is rendered 
viscid by a natural secretion in the daytime, and it is then, an no a 
night, that bees convey pollen from flower to flower, while, as you 
correctly state, fertilisation by manipulation is always effected in the 
daytime, when the pollen is dry. The germinal tube from the pollen gram 
penetrates between the cells through the style, much in the same way 
that the root (radicle) from a seed penetrates the soil, forcing i s way 
through the interstices, the cuticle of the seed usually being forced 
above ground, and similarly what may be termed the shell of the pollen 
grain remains on the stigma and shrivels. The grains are not trans¬ 
mitted through the style, but only a cellular elongation of or from 
them, and it is the action of this on the ovules that perfects the seed 
and influences the progeny from it. 
Striking- Pelargoniums from Eyes (^Mason ).—Certainly these 
plants can be raised from leaves with the eye attached, or, in other- 
words, from eyes. Take the cuttings from the plant, cut transverse y 
below the lowest leaf, and then, placing the knife about half an inch 
above the eye, cut the stalk in a sloping direction towards the base 
of the shoot. The large leaves only are available for forming leaf cuttings. 
The extremities of the shoots should be inserted, like ordinary cuttings, 
with one joint in the soil, and the growing point above. Ihe cuttings 
being made as described, drain the cutting pots effectually, and fill thern 
to within half an inch of the rim with sandy loam, leaf mould, and 
silver sand in equal parts. A little silver sand is then placed in t e 
pot, a quarter of an inch or so, and the cuttings inserted about hair an 
inch deep, each leaf being tied to a small stick, with matting round le 
footstalk, to maintain it in an erect position. A slight watering is then given, 
and the pots pi ungel in a bottom heat of 75°, a top heat of 60 or 70 neing 
afforded. The frame having a moist atmosphere, there is little necessity 
to water ; none should be given so long as the soil remains moist and 
the less water needed the better, as the great evil is the liability of the 
footstalk of the leaf to decay, and the consequent destruction of the eye 
before a callus is formed. Shade is given for a few days, until the 
leaves are able to bear the sun ; and in this position they remain until 
the shoot from the eye appears, when they are gradually hardened ofl:, 
and finally potted singly in small pots. 
iffames of Plants.— We only undertake to name species of plants, 
not varieties that have originated from seed and termed florets flowers. 
Flowering specimens are necessary of flowering plants, and r ern wonas 
should bear spores. Specimens should arrive in a fresh state in firm 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 beine often dififlcult to separate them when the paper is damp. 
1, Phajus Wallichi; 2, Coelogyne flaccida ; 3, Ixora alba; 
4, Peperomia arifolia ; 5, Begonia fragrans ; 6, Begonia nitida. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— March 9th. 
BUSINESS still quiet, witli supplies of hotliouse goods shorter. 
Apples, J-sieve.1 
Apples, Canada and Nova 
Scotia, per barrel .. .. 12 
Cobs, Kent, per 100 lbs. .. 0 
s. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. .. 0 
Beet, Red, dozen.1 
Carrots, bunch.0 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. .. 2 
Celery, bundle . 1 
Coleworts, dozen bunches 2 
Cucumbers, dozen .. .. 6 
Endive, dozen .1 
Herbs, bunch .. ,. .. 0 
Keeks, bunch .0 
Kettuce, score .0 
Mushrooms, punnet .. .. 1 
Arbor Vitae (golden) dozen 6 
Azalea, per plant .. .. 2 
Cineraria, per dozen .. .. 6 
Cyclamen, per dozen .. .. 9 
Daffodils, per dozen .. .. 9 
Dracaena terminalis, dozen S4 
„ viridis, dozen .. 12 
Erica gracilis, per dozen ,. 9 
„ hyemalis, dozen .. 1-2 
Euonymus, var., dozen .. 6 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 6 
Ferns, in variety, dozen .. 4 
Ficus elastioa, each .. .. 1 
FRUIT. 
d. s. d. 
0 to 4 0 
0 25 0 
0 4.5 0 
Grapes, per lb. 
Lemons, case 
Oranges, per 100 
St. Michael Pines, each 
VEGETABLES. 
d. s. d. 
9 to 2 0 
0 0 0 
0 0 
3 0 
1 3 
4 0 
10 0 
1 6 
0 0 
0 0 
1 0 
2 0 
PLANTS 
d. s. d. 
0tol2 0 
3 6 
9 0 
18 0 
15 0 
42 0 
24 0 
12 0 
18 0 
18 0 
21 0 
18 0 
r 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 .. .. 
IN POTS. 
Foliage plants, var., each.. 
Genista, per dozen .. .. 
Hyacinths, per dozen.. 
Lily of the Valley, per pot 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
Myrtles, dozen. 
Palms, in var., each .. 
„ (specimens) .. 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
Solanum, per dozen .. 
Tulips, dozen pots .. .. 
s. d. 
3 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
6 
3 
U 
4 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICES.—CUT FLOWERS. 
Orchid Blooms rather scarce in variety. 
s. d. s. d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
Azalea, dozen sprays .. .. 
Bouvardias, bunch .. 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
Cineraria, dozen bunches.. 
Cyclamen, dozen blooms .. 
Daffodils (double), dozen 
bunches . 
Daffodils (single), dozen 
bunches .9 
Eucharis, dozen.4 
Euphorbia jacquiniaiflora 
dozen sprays.2 
Epiphyllum, dozen blooms 0 
Freesia, dozen bunches .. 3 
Gardenias, per dozen .. 4 
Hyacinths, dozen spikes .. 4 
Hyacinths (French) dozen 
bunches . 
Lilium longiflorum 12 
blooms . 
Lilium (various) dozen 
blooms . 
Lily of the Valley, dozen 
sprays . 
Marguerites, 12 bimches .. 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
2 0 to 5 0 
0 6 0 9 
B. d. s. d. 
.. 1 9 to 3 6 
.. 15 0 2 I 0 
.. 4 0 9 0 
.. 3 0 6 0 
0 0 
0 6 
2 0 
9 0 
0 3 
2 6 
1 0 
3 0 
12 0 
0 6 
4 0 
8 0 
6 0 
3 0 
0 9 
6 II 
8 0 
6 0 
s. d. 
0 2 to 0 0 
6 
1 
3 
6 
6 
1 
10 
4 
9 
6 
16 3 0 
6 0 9 0 
0 5 
3 0 
0 0 
3 0 
1 6 
0 0 
1 9 
0 0 
0 0 
0 6 
0 4 
2 0 
4 0 
1 0 
4 0 
3 0 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
bunches . 
Mimosa or Acacia (French) 
per bunch. 
Narciss (French) dozen 
bunches . • • 
Narciss (various), Scilly 
dozen bunches. 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
„ scarlet, 12 bunches 
Poinsettia, dozen blooms.. 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
„ Red, per doz. blooms.. 
„ Tea, white, dozen .. 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
Snowdrops, dozen bunches 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. .. 
Tulips, dozen blooms.. .. 
White Lilac (French) per 
bunch. 
Violet Parme, French bchs. 
,, Czar ,, ,1 
„ „ small bunches 
„ English, dozen 
bunches . 
Wallflowers (foreign),dozen 
bunches . 
s. d. s. d. 
6 0 to 12 0 
16 2 0 
2 0 4 0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
6 
0 
0 
6 
6 
0 
6 
4 0 
2 0 
1 0 
1 6 
1 0 
2 0 
4 0 
12 0 
9 0 
6 0 
0 9 
3 0 
9 0 
3 0 
6 0 
3 0 
2 0 
1 0 
6 0 
3 0 
2 0 
2 0 
1 6 
3 0 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
The “ Stott ” Fertiliser and Insecticide Distributor Co. (Ld.), 
Barton House, Deansgate, Manchester.—TAd Stott Horticultural 
"^^^DTcksols & Co., 1, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh.—Cataicywd of Farm 
'^'^^Messrs. Harrison & Sons, Leicester .-of Farm Seeds. 
s. d. s. d. 
2 0 to 10 0 
10 0 12 0 
9 0 
2 0 
4 0 
H 0 
9 0 
21 0 
63 0 
6 0 
12 0 
8 0 
SOILS AND MANURES. 
Again ? Yes ! most emphatically again, and many more^ times 
do we intend returning to this, the most important section of 
agricultural training, the basis of all good culture, the very key¬ 
stone of success. One or two lessons are of very little use. When 
we come into actual contact with ignorance and prejudice, the only 
safe plan is to keep on teaching the same plain lesson, each time 
giving examples from actual practice calculated to enforce the 
truth Here is an instance of one of those half statements which 
tend'to hinder rather than help either the beginner or old 
practitioner. 
Speaking on the comparative value of manures a week or two ago, 
the President of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture said that farm¬ 
yard manure was indispensable for heavy land because of the 
vegetable matter in it ; without such vegetable matter he could 
not make the land “work.” Now, nothing could be more 
va<me and misleading than such a statement. What the speaker 
meant to convey was evidently the fact that the decaying vege¬ 
table matter—humus—in farmyard manure acts mechanically upon 
soil at first, such action becoming less, and ceasing altogether with 
the final decay and absorption into the soil of humus. In p am 
lam^uage, the straw or litter becoming mixed with the soil separates 
its particles for the moment, but it is obvious the effect only lasts 
while the litter remains at all hard and firm in texture. Clearly, 
then, the speaker valued manure even more for its mechanical action 
than for its manorial constituents. He might as well have said farm¬ 
yard manure has this effect, which is so essential in heavy land 
tillage, therefore it must be used ; chemical manure has not this 
effect, therefore it must not be used, and we must go on making 
muck at any cost. Yet, at the same meeting, Mr. F. J. ^ooke tad 
said that a farmer of his acquaintance had shown him that his 
farmyard manure cost him as nearly as possible £1 per ton, on 
account of the loss on the bullocks he kept during winter Add 
to this the cost of carting, placing in a heap, turning the heap 
