January 26, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
83 
Collecting- Orchids (^AlMoyi ).—We have no work on Orchid collect¬ 
ing. We cannot with certainty answer your other question, but you can 
obtain direct information by writing to the Curator, Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Beet for Size and Quality (^E. T. II .').—The variety you name as 
too small produces under good culture roots large enough for most 
persons. Nutting’s Dwarf Red, which has many synonyms, is medium 
in size, rich in colour, tender, and well flavoured. If you want a large 
Beet of dark colour and fine flavour some of the selections of Whyte’s 
Black would meet your requirements, Veitch’s Improved Black being a 
fine form ; but it must not be sown too early (say not before May) or it 
is liable to become too coarse for winter use, though when sown early it 
is good for autumn use. Pragnell’s Exhibition has handsome medium 
sized roots and deep crimson flesh. It is excellent in quality and flavour 
when cooked, and is one of the best Beets for general purposes. 
Vines Unsatisfactory (^Woodfoot). —The roots are simply destroyed 
by some corroding substance which may result from a close, soapy, 
rich soil deficient in gritty matter, consequently inert through want of 
oxidisation. The only remedy is to provide and mix such materials 
with the soil as will correct its sourness, and prevent its settling into a 
close mass again. The drainage must be efficient, concreting the 
bottom of the border if necessary, laying drains with a proper fall 
and outlet, and 1 foot in depth of rubble drainage, the roughest at the 
bottom and the finest on the top. The soil may have one-fourth 
of calcareous gravel mixed with it, or one-sixth of old mortar 
rubbish freed of pieces of wood, with two parts of drift sand, and to 
every square yard of border, of 2 to feet depth, add and mix with it 
28 lbs. of Thomas’ phosphate powder (basic slag). Thus renovated, the 
border may be as good as if fresh loam were procured if the needfuj 
supplies of phosphatic, potassic, and calcic elements are provided by 
surface dressings. 
^ IVIaklng a Pond (N. D.). —The excavation should be made 1 foot 
6 inches deeper and 3 feet wider and longer than the intended pond, and 
the sides should incline one-half the height or depth. The bottom and 
sides must be lined with clay, put in in layers of 6 inches in thickness, 
rammed well down and puddled, so as to form an impervious mass ; 
a coating of gravel may be placed on the surface of the clay and rammed 
into it. As to the cost, that depends entirely upon the easy means or 
otherwise of procuring the clay, the distance it has to be carted, and the 
rate of transit and labour. Another way of making a pond is to excavate 
sufficiently to admit of a 9-inch thickness of rubble at the bottom and 
sides of the intended pond, and provide a drain below that if the subsoil 
is not naturally drained. The rubble may consist of brickbats or stone, 
broken up to the size of road metal, roughest at the bottom and finest at 
the top, yet the fine particles must be sifted out, say with an inch sieve, 
and this material may be used for concrete mixed with one-third of 
Portland cement, formed into a “ running” mixture, and the rubble run 
with it. This will leave a rough surface, which may be coated 3 inches 
thick with cement concrete, formed of sandy unbinding gravel and 
best Portland cement in equal proportions, forming into a soft running 
mortar-like mass ; this brushed over with a half-worn birch broom, 
gives a pleasing rough surface. The expense of this depends entirely 
upon the cost of transit of the materials. 
Dressing- IMtanured Ground with Xilme (^Anglo-Soot). —There 
is no practical objection to dressing the ground with lime. The lime 
will hasten the decay of the organic matter, and that means ammonia. 
This may be volatilised and lose, or it may be “ fixed ” by the alumina 
and iron of the soil ; but it is possible that the lime will act in a bene¬ 
ficial manner by giving activity to the micro-organisms (bacteria) by 
which the ammonia is transformed into nitrites, and those by similar 
organisms into nitrates—that is, the nitrogen of the soil becomes food 
for plants, to wit, nitrate of calcium (lime). We have used lime and 
soot as a preventive of grub in Onions, Carrots, and other crops for many 
years, and always beneficially. About half a bushel of quicklime was 
used per rod (30square yards) just before the site -was got ready 
for sowing, spreading on the ground while hot, lightly pointing in, and 
mixing in the upper 6 inches of soil. This makes quick work of 
worms and slugs, and the decay of the manure is hastened for the benefit 
of the crops, so that they are flushed at the start and not late in the 
season. This is important, for when Onions continue growing instead of 
forming bulbs they are not satisfactory. The seeds were covered in the 
drills with wood ashes duly moistened, and when the crops were thinned 
a peck of soot per rod was strewn on them while they were damp with 
dew. This rendered the plants obnoxious to the flies, so that their eggs 
were not deposited on them, and the crops benefited by the soot as a 
manure. Soot is a carbonaceous substance, therefore supplies other 
elements besides nitrogen (equal to 3-50 per cent.). Use the lime, say 
half a bushel per rod, as it will assist in the manufacture of nitrates for 
the benefit of the crops. Pliny, Virgil, and Columella note (nearly 2000 
years ago) the benefit to be derived from lime as a manure for Cabbages, 
Radishes, and fruit trees in rich soils, and Theophrastus, at an earlier 
date, was well aware of the advantageous use of wood ashes, the effects 
being similar to that derived from nitrumor saltpetre, though the nitrum 
of the ancients was probably natrum (nitrate of soda). 
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 numher of worthless Aqjples and Pears sent to this office to 
he named, it has been decided to name only specimens and variet ies 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. (^Biddles Co.) —The Apple is Gloucestershire Costard, 
a fine fruit. QW. J.). —We can scarcely understand the two fruits 
coming from the same tree. The smaller symmetrical highly coloured 
fruit is, we think, Herefordshire Beefing. (^Pershore). —Apparently 
rather small fruits of Bess Pool. (^F. G.). —No. 1 is possibly local, and 
bears some resemblance to Queen Caroline, though two of the fruits are 
too conical for that variety. 2, Golden Reinette, fine specimens. 
We have a box containing several Apples without any letter referring to 
them, and some of the fruits are decaying. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— January 25th. 
No alteration. Trade slow. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
3. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples, half sieve .. .. 
1 
0 to 3 
6 
Lemons, case .10 
Oto 15 
0 
„ Nova Scotia, per 
Oranges, per 100 .. ,. 4 
0 
9 
0 
barrel. 
12 
0 
17 
0 
Peaches, per dozen .. .. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Oobbs, Kent, per 100 lbs. 
0 
0 
125 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each ,. 3 
0 
6 
0 
Grapes, per lb. 
0 
6 
2 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
3. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
9. 
d. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. 
0 
6 
to 0 
0 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 0 
2 
to 0 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen .. .. .. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bunch .0 
3 
0 
5 
Carrots, bunch. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Parsley, dozen bunches .. 2 
0 
3 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Parsnips, dozen.1 
0 
0 
0 
Celery, bundle . 
1 
0 
1 
3 
Potatoes, per cwt.2 
0 
5 
0 
Coleworts, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy, bundle.1 
0 
1 
6 
Cucumbers, dozen .. .. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Scorzonera, bundle .. .. 1 
6 
0 
Endive, dozen . 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Seakale, per basket, .. ,, 1 
S 
1 
9 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Shallots, per lb.0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel ,, .. .. 3 
0 
3 
6 
Bettuce, dozen. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb.0 
2 
u 
6 
Mushrooms, punnet ,. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Turnips, bunch.0 
3 
0 
4 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
S. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d 
Arbor Vitae (golden) dozen 
6 
0 to 12 
0 
Ficus eiastica, each .. .. 1 
6 to 10 
0 
Azalea, per dozen 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each.. 2 
0 
10 
0 
Chrysanthemums, per doz. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Hyacinths, dozen pots .. 8 
0 
12 
0 
Cineraria, per dozen .. .. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 3 
0 
4 
0 
Cupressus, large plants,each 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 6 
0 
u 
0 
Cyclamen, dozen pots 
9 
0 
18 
c 
Myrtles, dozen.6 
0 
9 
0 
Dracaena terminalis, dozen 18 
0 
42 
0 
Palms, in var., each .. .. 1 
0 
15 
0 
„ viridis, dozen .. 
9 
0 
24 
0 
„ (specimens) .. ..21 
0 
63 
0 
Euonym us, var., dozen .. 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Primula, single, doz. pots 4 
0 
6 
0 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Solanums per dozen ,. .. 9 
0 
12 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen .. 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Tulips, dozen pots .. .. 6 
0 
9 
0 
Ferns (small) per hundred 
6 
0 
8 
6 
AVERAGE 
WHOLESALE 
PRICES.—OUT FLOWERS. 
Orchid Blooms in variety. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d 
3. 
d. 
3. 
d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Narciss, var., French, dozen 
Azalea, dozen sprays.. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
bunches . 
3 
0 
to 6 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Orchids, per dozen blooms 
3 
0 
12 
6 
Oamelli as, doz .blooms .. 
1 
6 
4 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
Chrysanthemums, doz. bis. 
1 
6 
4 
0 
bunches. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
Poinsettia, per bloom 
0 
4 
0 
9 
bunches. 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Eucharis, dozen. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Roses (French), per doz. .. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Gardenias, per dozen 
12 
0 
24 
0 
,, „ boxes, 100. 
5 
0 
8 
0 
Hyacinth, Roman, 12 sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
„ (indoor), dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Lilac, white, French, per 
„ Red, per doz. blooms.. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
bunch . 
4 
6 
6 
0 
„ Tea, white, dozen .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Lilium longiflorum 12 
„ Yellow, dozen ,. .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
blooms . 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms,. .. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Lily of the Valley, dozen 
Tulips, dozen blooms 
1 
0 
3 
0 
sprays . 
0 
6 
1 
6 
Violets, Parme, French, per 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
bunch . 
7 
0 
1) 
0 
bunches. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Violets, Czar, French, per 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
bunch . 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Violets, Victoria, French, 
Mimosa, French, per bunch 
1 
0 
1 
6 
dozen bunches .. .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
THE PREVENTION OF POTATO DISEASE. 
Not always is success the best guide to follow; failure, if 
only we ascertain its cause, shows us what to avoid, and if its 
lessons are rightly applied leads to success. In the report of 
the Woburn experiments for the prevention of the Potato 
disease by Dr. Voelcker in the new number of the Journal of the 
Royal Agricultural Society, we have a remarkable instance of 
this. The sorts under treatment were—Early kinds: Myatt’s 
Ashleaf, Early Puritan, Early Rose, Beauty of Hebron. Medium 
kinds : Dalmahoy, White Elephant, Reading Giant. Late kinds: 
Imperator, Schoolmaster, Victoria. The first dressing with 
bouillie bordelaise was done on June 30th, the earlier kinds 
having grown sufficiently by then; the other varieties were 
