March 17, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
209 
beetles, and then seek fresh pastures for their progeny. Another good 
plan, and one having very little to do with wireworm in many cases, 
yet efficacious where there are those and similar pests to contend with, 
as well as soil become effete for want of aeration and change of con¬ 
stituents, is to sow the border with Mustard if an outside one, and 
allow the crop to 0 ower, then turn it under if the roots admit; if not, 
tread it down and cover with soil. This is better than removing the 
crop, as the manorial elements brought up by the deep rooting of the 
Mustard are useful, as the roots die and leave the soil permeable 
by air, a similar process resulting from pulling up the Mustard ; but 
there is a distinct loss of fertilising substances. You would not be 
doing any harm by placing a little liquid manure from stables in the 
troughs on the hot-water pipes ; but care must be taken not to use it 
too strong, or the ammonia would injure the foliage. 
Weeds in I.awn (^One in Ironble ').—If the whole of the lawn is as 
represented by the samples it is practically beyond satisfactory improve¬ 
ment by any dressings. The weeds are not grown annually from seeds 
blown from adjacent land, but are perennials firmly established, and if 
they flower scatter their own seed. 1 is Cerastium vulgatum. 2 , 
Prunella vulgaris, 3 an Achillea and Moss. The whole should be forked 
up when the ground and weather are favourable for the removal of 
every particle of rubbish, which should be burned. The site should 
then be drained if needed, the surface soil enriched with a compost con¬ 
taining lime and wood ashes or a mixture of bonemeal and kainit made 
firm, rolled level, then scratched with a rake for forming a suitable 
tilth for a mixture of lawn seeds, which can be obtained in the right 
quantity and kinds on your describing the extent of the space to be sown 
and the nature of the soil to a seedsman or firm. By sowing in gen’al 
weather in April we have had a full and close lawn in six weeks. This is 
the cheapest and best way of forming lawns of a satisfactory character. 
Special Prizes (/T. Fairey, Cape Colony'). —We are sorry to hear 
the weather limited the competition at your “ Spring Show in 
November.” We also note that your “ Eose Show was, in consequence 
of the unfavourable season, postponed till January 29ch and 30th.” 
This we are pleased to learn was successful, though all the special 
prizes offered by friends were not awarded. In respect to these prizes 
we consider you took a very proper course in writing to the donors, and 
we suspect few of them would decline to place them at the disposal of 
the committee for a future show. You ask “ What the larg 6 seed firms 
who offer prizes in England would do if no one entered for th"se prizes?” 
They would simply not pay the money under thecircums ances, but in all 
probability repeat their offers another year if requested to do so. 
Kepetltlon of Sentences—Rules for Wrltlngr and Speaking* 
(^G. S.). —We are obliged by your letter. Tastes in literature vary as in 
flowers and food, still flowers must be presented in the best condition 
no matter what they are, and food of whatever kind must be palatable to 
be enjoyed. So it is in literary fare, and undoubtedly undue repetition of 
words and sentences mars the productions of many writers. Editors, so far 
as they can do so without destroying the substance of contributions, 
improve the style of expression ; but when sentence after sentence 
needs reconstruction, and writers employ the same words over and over 
again, as if there were no others to express their meaning, the work of 
revision becomes more tedious and costly (for time is money) than the 
articles are worth. We have had communicitions innumerable in the 
course of years which contained sound instruction, but so imperfectly 
conveyed as to br inadmissible, and it would have been much easier to 
have written original articles on the subjects than revise the MSS. to 
make them presentable. It is quite permissible, and often very con¬ 
venient to readers, for writers to reproduce a few sentences of their 
opponents in controversy for the purpose of comment, but this is not 
infrequently overdone, and judgment should always be exercis d in the 
practice. To be continually dragging sentences in that might easily be 
dispensed with is a mistake that does not strengthen the position the 
writer is endeavouring to maintain. Another mistake not very un¬ 
common is the habit of writers when stating a fact or expressing a 
thought not to quite finish either, then proceeding in a more laboured 
manner to do the work over again, for that is what it really is, though 
they are evidently unconscious of it. We have before us some “ Kules for 
W riting,” copied, we know not from whom, by a gentleman whose facile pen, 
correct, clear, concise, and excellent method of expression have materially 
helped him onwards and upward to the high position he occupies in the 
commerce of horticulture. Here are the rules :—1, Be brief. 2 , Be 
pointed ; don’t write round a subject without hitting it. 3, State facts ; 
don’t stop to moralise, that is drowsy work ; let the reader do his own 
dreaming. 4, Condense ; make sure you have an idea and then record 
it as shortly as possible. 5, Avoid high-flown language ; never use stilts 
when legs do as well. 6, Make your sentences short ; every period is a 
milestone at which the reader may halt and rest. 7, Write legibly. 
Good advice is quaintly conveyed in those rules, and several writers, 
young and old, might do worse than preserve them for their guidance. 
The “ Foreman ” to whom you allude, and whose opinion you convey, is 
evidently a critic, but how far he is a competent critic of literary style 
we have no means of knowing. We can judge of his capaeity if you can 
induce him to send us an article ; or he might compete for one of the 
medals we are offering. We shall have great pleasure in sending it to 
him if he wins it. Should he happen to be more a talker than writer, 
we have three “Rules for Speaking” by the unknown author above 
cited, which you might perhaps venture to bring before the “ Foreman ” 
at one of the friendly gatherings which he addresses, we hope to the 
benefit of his fellow men. Here are the rules :— 1 , Be sure you have 
something to say. 2, Get up and say it. 3, Get down when you have 
said it. Pithy and easy to be remembered. 
Names 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 consequence 
of the large number of loorthless Apples and Pears sent to this office to 
be named, it has been decided to name only specimens and varieties of 
approved merit, and to reject the inferior, which 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. (^Herbert). —These appear to us to be a set of seedlings, 
none of them possessing any great merit. 
Names of Plants.— 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. 
(./. M. F .).—Acacia Farnesiana. (IF. i?.).—1, Nephrolepis davallioides ; 
2, Lomaria gibba ; 3, Lindsasa cultrata ; 4, Hypolepis distans. (Y. IF.). 
—The specimens are not satisfactory, nor were they sent in accordance 
with our instructions, which you should read carefully. No. 1 appears, 
however, to be Begonia natalensis. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— March 16th. 
FRUIT. 
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, buneb.0 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. .. 2 
Celery, bundle . 1 
Ooleworts, dozen bunches 2 
Cucumbers, dozen .. .. 6 
Endive, dozen .1 
Herbs, bunch .. ,. .. 0 
Leeks, bunch .0 
Lettuce, score .0 
Mushrooms, punnet ,. .. 1 
d. s. d. 
0 to 4 0 
25 
45 
Grapes, per lb. 
Lemons, case .. .. 
Oranges, per 100 
St. Michael Pines, each 
s. d. s. d. 
1 9 to 3 6 
15 0 2) 0 
4 0 9 0 
3 0 6 0 
d. 
9 to 
0 
4 
0 
0 
0 
0 
3 
3 
2 
9 
6 
VEGETABLES. 
s. d. 
2 
0 
0 
3 
1 
4 
10 
1 
0 
0 
1 
2 
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. 
s. d. 3. d. 
0 2 to 0 0 
3 0 5 
0 0 
3 0 
0 0 
3 0 
1 6 
0 0 
1 9 
0 0 
0 0 
0 6 
0 4 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICES.—CUT FLOWERS. 
Orchid Blooms rather scarce in variety. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 2 
Azalea, dozen sprays .. .. 0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 0 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 2 
Cineraria, dozen bunches.. 9 
Cyclamen, dozen blooms .. 0 
Daffodils (double), dozen 
bunches .2 
Daffodils (single),doz.bnoh. 3 
Eucharis, dozen.4 
Euphorbia jacquinheflora 
dozen sprays.2 
Epiphyllum, dozen blooms 0 
Freesia, dozen bunches .. 3 
Gardenias, per dozen .. 4 
Hyacinths, dozen spikes .. 4 
Lilium longiflorum 12 
blooms .6 
Lilium (vari us) dozen 
blooms .2 
Lily of the Valley, dozen 
sprays . 0 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 3 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
bunches .6 
Lrbor Vitie (golden) dozen 6 
Lzalea, per plant .. .. 2 
Jineraria, per dozen ., .. 6 
lyclamen, per dozen .. .. 9 
)aflEodils, per dozen .. .. 9 
Iracama terminalis, dozen f4 
„ viridis, dozen .. 12 
!rica gracilis, per dozen .. 9 
„ hyemalis, dozen .. 12 
Cuonymus, var., dozen .. 6 
jvergreens, in var., dozen 6 
^erns, in variety, dozen .. 4 
Tcus elastica, each .. .. 1 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
0 
to 5 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
1 
6 
to 3 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Mimosa or Acacia (French) 
6 
1 
0 
per bunch. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
0 
3 
0 
Narciss (French) dozen 
0 
12 
0 
bunches . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Narciss (various), Scilly 
dozen bunches. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
6 
4 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
9 
0 
12 
0 
0 
8 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 bunches 
6 
0 
9 
0 
0 
6 
0 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
1 
6 
3 
0 
0 
3 
0 
„ Red, per doz. blooms., 
4 
0 
9 
0 
6 
0 
9 
„ Tea, white, dozen .. 
1 
0 
3 
0 
0 
6 
0 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
2 
6 
6 
0 
0 
8 
0 
Snowdrops, dozen bunches 
1 
6 
3 
0 
0 
6 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Tulips, dozen blooms.. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
0 
9 
0 
White Lilac (French) per 
bunch. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
0 
4 
0 
Violet Parme, French bohs. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
„ Czar „ „ 
1 
0 
2 
0 
6 
1 
0 
„ „ small bunches 
1 
6 
2 
0 
0 
4 
0 
„ English, doz. bunch. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Wallflowers (foreign), dozen 
0 
12 
0 
bunches . 
2 
0 
3 
0 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
0 to 12 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each.. 
2 
Oto 10 
0 
6 
3 
6 
Genista, per dozen .. .. 
10 
0 
12 
0 
0 
9 
0 
Hyacinths, per dozen.. .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
0 
18 
0 
Lily of the Valley, per pot 
1 
3 
2 
0 
0 
15 
0 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
0 
42 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
6 
0 
ltd 
0 
0 
24 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
0 
12 
0 
Palms, in var.. each .. 
1 
0 
21 
0 
0 
18 
0 
„ (specimens) .. .. 
10 
6 
63 
0 
0 
18 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
0 
24 
0 
Solanum, per dozen .. .. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
0 
18 
0 
Tulips, dozen pots .. .. 
6 
0 
8 
0 
7 0 
ECONOMY IN CROPPING. 
Professor Paul Wagner last year called special attention to 
be fact of leguminous plants being absorbents of atmospheric 
itrogen in such large quantities as not only to induce growth of 
