May 12. 1893 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
865 
Its nature is to fix itself (the female) by its beak pushed into the bark, 
and by that means abstract the sap for its nourishment; and once fixed 
it never moves, but in due course deposits eggs, which hatch, and the 
young are protected by the “scale” (that noi being the insect, but its 
covering, as the shell is to the snail), which shrinks as the parent ages 
and dies, and sets the young scale free. The insects not only impair 
the health of the tree by extracting the sap, but their secretions clog 
the pores of the leaves, shoots, and fruit ; they also become food for 
a fungus, which reproduces itself by an immense number of spores, 
those being the black deposit on the affected part. The scale is difficult 
to dislorlge when the tree is in foliage and fruit, but you may try the 
following :—Softsoap 1^ lb., boiling water I 4 gallon, and petroleum 
1 gill. Dissolve the softsoap by stirring, add the petroleum, churn 
violently with a force pump as used for spraying until a cream is 
formed, then add 10^ gallons of hot water ; thoroughly mix, and apply 
in the evening to the infested tree, as hot as the hand can be borne in the 
solution one minute, with a syringe, but spraying is more effectual and 
economical. Kepeat, if necessary, in two or three days, thoroughly 
cleansing the tree by forcible syringings with clear water. 
Aubrletlas (.S'. C .').—When large numbers are required for spring 
bedding the simplest method is to raise them from seed. We have raised 
thousands in this manner ; and although all the varieties were not 
precisely alike in the size of the flowers and habit of the plants, the 
diversity was not so great as to be any serious obstacle to the plants 
being employed in lines or masses, while when grown in isolated places 
in borders and on rockeries the variations are acceptable rather than 
otherwise. The plants cannot be raised too early now. We should sow 
the seed in boxes, to be placed in heat and covered with squares of glass, 
keeping the soil constantly moist. When the seedlings are large enough 
transplant them 6 inches apart in rows 1 foot asunder in good soil and a 
sheltered position, and with care in watering as needed, and stirring the 
soil frequently, good plants will be had in October for planting where 
they are required to ilo'wer. 
Poor and “Dirty” Dand (H'. P.).—You say the soil is “ so poor 
and light (sandy) that it will not grow anything satisfactorily ; ” also, 
“ so dirty ” (with weeds, we presume) “ that it is not worth cropping.” 
Yet you ask what sort of a crop to sow and grow that it may be 
turned in in the autumn to clean and manure the land. You 
evidently think something will grow after all, though we do not 
know of anything that will do what you expect—clean the land and 
manure it usefully. No crop cleans land better than strong-growing 
Potatoes, and we should be surprised if we could not obtain a crop of 
Imperator Irom it that would defray the cost of cultivation. Tuis is 
probably the best Potato for poor soil, and we have seen good crops 
in sand which rose in clouds under strong wind. A mixture of super¬ 
phosphate of lime and nitrate of soda, two parts of the former and one 
of the latter, was scattered in the drills with the sets at the rate of a 
handful in a length of 7 or 8 yards, and a farther dre.ssing of nitrate 
of soda given alone when the plants appeared at the rate of 2 cwt. per 
acre. There is still time for planting. We know of acres of land 
once “so poor and dirty” that one tenant did not think it “worth 
cropping” and left in a waste, but his 8ucce?sor has ob'.ained crops of 
Potatoes from it which he has sold for more than £20 an acre. He took 
particular care, however, to keep down weeds e-irly in the season, 
knowing it would not pay him to purchase fertilisers for their sup¬ 
port. You will never render the land sufficiently fertile to grow useful 
crops by the methods you propose. If you choose to let it go wild you 
might perhaps grow chickens. 
M'ames of rrults.—Wefree.—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 worthless Apples and Fears sent to this qfee to 
he named, it has been decided to name only specimens and varieties of 
approved merit, and to reject the inferior, ivhich 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, wbether letters 
referring to the fruit are sent by post or not. The names are not 
necessarily required for publication, initials sufficing fur that. Only six 
specimens can be named at once, and any beyond that number cannot 
be preserved. (P. A. d/.).—The Apple you have sent from the Cape is 
Queen Caroline, also known as Spencer’s Favourite. It is a good 
specimen of a good variety, rather more highly coloured than home 
grown fruit. 
N’ames 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 fresn state in firm boxes. 
Sliphtlv damn 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. 
(^Lady K.). — Alyssum saxatile. (P. P.). — 1, A fine form of Den- 
drobium riobile ; 2, D. marmoratum; 3, U. densiflorum. Tne Orchid 
sent with your previous letter was Epidendrum Parkinsonianum. 
(A. MoD ) —1 is Pime'ea spectabilis, the other specimen is insufficient. 
(P. II. L ) —1, Boronia heterophyila ; 2, Cytisus praecox ; 3, Lycaste 
Hkinneri; 4, Odontoglossum Pescatorei var.; 5, Odontoglossum citros- 
mum ; G, Odontoglossum Kossi majus. We do not name more than 
six specimens at one time. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 11th. 
BusinBSS improvingf, but prices remain unaltered. 
FRUIT. 
B. d. s. d. 
Apples, i-sieve.1 0 to 5 0 
Apples, Canada and Nova 
Beotia, per barrel .. .. 12 0 20 0 
Apples, Tasmanian, per 
case.7 0 12 0 
Grapes, New, per lb. 
Lemoas, case . 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 
St. Michael Pines, each ,. 
Strawberries, per lb. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. 
Beet, Red, dozen. 
Carrots, bunch. 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. .. 
Celery, bundle . 
Coleworts, dozen bunches 
Cucumbers, dozen 
Endive, dozen . 
Herbs, bunch .. .. .. 
Leeks, bunch . 
Lettuce, dozen. 
Mushrooms, punnet .. 
VEGETABLES, 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
0 
9 
to 1 
0 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bunch . 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Parsley, dozen bunches .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Parsnips, dozen. 
1 
0 
1 
3 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Saksafy, bundle. 
2 
6 
4 
6 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Seakale, per basket .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Shallots, per lb. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel. 
1 
3 
1 
9 
Tomatoes, per lb. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Turnips, bimch. 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICES.—OUT FLOWERS. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
Bluebells, dozen bunches .. 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
Carnations, Malmaison, 12 
blooms . 
Cineraria, dozen bunches.. 
Cowslip, dozen bunches .. 
Daffodils (double), dozen 
bunches . 
Daffodils (single),doz. bnch. 
Eucharis, dozen. 
Euphorbia jacquiniffiflora 
dozen sprays. 
Freeaia, dozen bunches 
Gardenias, per dozen 
Hyacinths, dozen spikes .. 
„ Dutch, per box 
Lilium longiflorum 12 
blooms . 
Lilium (various) dozen 
blooms . 
Lily of Valley, doz. sprays 
„ „ doz. bunchs. 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
s. 
2 
0 
0 
1 
2 
6 
1 
2 
1 
4 
2 
2 
1 
1 
1 
2 
1 
0 
4 
3 
Orchid Blooms in variety. 
d. s. d. 
0 to 4 0 
9 1 0 
6 10 
0 3 0 
0 GO 
0 9 0 
0 16 
0 4 0 
6 6 0 
0 6 0 
0 3 0 
0 4 0 
6 4 0 
0 2 0 
6 4 0 
6 4 0 
0 3 0 
6 0 10 
0 12 0 
0 4 0 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
bunches . 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
Narciss (various), Scilly 
dozen bunches. 
Fseonies, dozen blooms 
Pansies, dozen bunches .. 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
„ scarlet, 12 bunches 
Polyanthus, dozen bunches 
Primroses, dozen bunches 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
„ Red, per doz. blooms.. 
,, Tea, white, dozen .. 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
Spirasa, dozen bunches .. 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. 
1 ulips, dozen blooms.. 
White Lilac (French) per 
bunch. 
Violet Parme, per 
bunch. 
Violet, English, doz. bunch. 
Wallflowers, dozen bunches 
s. 
Arbor Vitse (golden) dozen 6 
Arum Lilies, per dozen .. 6 
Azalea, per plant .. .. 2 
Calceolarias, per dozen .. 6 
Cineraria, per dozen .. .. 4 
Cupressus, large plants,each 3 
Dracaena terminalis, dozen <4 
„ viridis, dozen .. 12 
Erica various, per dozen .. 12 
„ Willmoreana, dozen 12 
Euonymus, var., dozen .. 6 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 6 
Ferns, in variety, dozen .. 4 
„ (small) per hundred 8 
Ficus elastioa, each .. ,. 1 
Foliage plants, var., each.. 2 
Fuchsia, per dozen .. .. 6 
PLANTS 
d. s. d. 
0 to 12 0 
0 9 0 
0 3 0 
0 9 0 
0 8 0 
0 5 0 
0 42 0 
0 24 0 
0 24 0 
0 18 0 
0 18 0 
0 24 0 
0 18 0 
0 12 0 
6 5 0 
0 10 0 
0 12 0 
IN POTS. 
Genista, per dozen .. .. 
Geraniums, Ivy. 
Lilac, each. 
Lily of the Valley, per pot 
Lobelia, per dozen .. .. 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
Mignonette, per dozen 
Musk, per dozen. 
Myrtles, dozen. 
Palms, in var.. each .. 
„ (specimens) .. 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
„ per dozen .. 
Rhodanthes, per dozen .. 
Saxifraga pyramidalis 
Spirsea, per dozen ,. .. 
Bedding Plants in variety in pots and in boxes. 
B. 
3 
10 
4 
3 
1 
s. 
0 
0 
2 
1 
2 
1 
1 
1 
0 
3 
0 
0 
4 
2 
2 
1 
1 
6 
4 
1 
0 
0 
1 
2 
1 
2 
4 
1 
0 
4 
2 
1 
2 
s. 
6 
6 
2 
1 
6 
3 
6 
6 
3 
6 
1 
21 
4 
9 
6 
1 
8 
d. 8. d. 
6 to 4 0 
0 15 0 
0 9 0 
0 6 0 
0 4 0 
d. s. d. 
2 to 0 0 
3 0 5 
0 3 0 
0 0 0 
0 3 0 
0 16 
6 0 0 
6 19 
3 0 0 
0 3 6 
4 2 0 
0 0 4 
d. s. d. 
0 to 8 0 
0 6 0 
0 4 0 
0 2 0 
0 2 0 
0 9 0 
0 6 0 
0 2 0 
6 0 9 
6 0 9 
0 2 0 
0 4 0 
0 3 0 
0 6 0 
0 6 0 
0 2 0 
6 10 
0 5 0 
6 3 6 
0 16 
0 4 0 
d. s. d. 
0 to 10 0 
0 9 0 
0 3 6 
0 16 
0 8 0 
0 4 0 
0 13 0 
0 10 0 
0 6 0 
0 9 0 
0 15 0 
0 63 0 
0 6 0 
0 18 0 
0 8 0 
6 2 0 
0 12 e 
THE LAMBING SEASON. 
A COLD wet summer, followed by a wet autumn and a long 
hard winter, proved a severe trial for sheep of all kinds. The 
strain upon ewes was exceptionally severe, but under good 
management they passed through the long spell of ungenial 
weather w'onderfully well, the best proof of this being found in 
the large number and excellent condition of the lambs. It may 
be stated that last September, and ever since, the ewes had a 
liberal allowance of trough food, to which, as the weather became 
very cold, a regular supply of fodder in racks was added. This 
use of dry food so early in autumn was essential owing to herbage 
being so poor, notwithstanding its abundance. There was very 
