March 2, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
189 
be to waste it, and an outlay in phosphates might be far more profitable. 
Experiments conducted over and over again have shown that suitable 
additions of nitrogen, potash, and phosphates are sufficient for producing 
maximum crops of all kinds under otherwise good practice in cultivation ; 
and in the absence of essential cultural details, apart from manuring, 
storing the soil with exactly what crops need, may have no profitable 
result. If you can enable us to comprehend the nature and condition 
of your soil, and the crops you desire to grow, we think we can give 
information that will enable you to use chemicals reasonably, as well as 
farmyard manure. 
Measuring- Trees (A Young Gardener ').—You are right; the art 
of measuring trees is not so well known amongst young gardeners as it 
ought to be, and we have pleasure in advising you and other inexperi¬ 
enced readers as to how it may be done. Mr. Harding, the gardener at 
Orton Hall, near Peterborough contrived the simple home-made 
appliance shown in the accompanying illustration (fig. 40), and by 
adopting this means one can ascertain the exact height of Conifers and 
other trees. The tree measurer on the right of the figure consists of a 
staff 6 feet long pointed for pressing into the ground. To the centre of 
the staff a piece of half-inch board 12 inches wide and exactly square 
is affixed with screws. The diagonal cross lath is 3 feet long and per¬ 
fectly straight. It may be fixed or moveable ; if the latter, a small 
batten being screwed on the board for it to rest on when in use. The 
plumb line is indispensable, as no correct measurement could be had 
without it. The plumb-bob may be about the size of a small Walnut, 
the string passing through its centre, then knotted to make all secure. 
In measuring the tree the staff is placed at a distance from it so that 
with the plumb exactly perpendicular, the cross lath points to the top 
of the tree, the person taking the “ sight ” resting on one knee or 
reclining to bring the eye to the bottom of the lath. The lath is then 
drawn to the ground, where the end rests at c in the figure, or if the 
lath is fixed a string will answer the purpose of extending the sight 
line to the ground. From this point C to the centre of the trunk, not 
the face of it nearest the point, but the middle, will represent the actual 
height of the tree ; or to put the matter concisely, the horizontal line, 
A c is equal to the vertical A B ; and if the tree were blown or cut 
down its top would follow the course shown by the curved line and rest 
ate. If a tree has several leaders, as Pinus excelsa and some others 
often have, the sight should be taken of the most central one, or 
nearest in perpendicular with the roof of the tree, not a side branch 
that may happen to be a little taller, as the base line would then not 
give the true height of the specimen. On level ground it is easy to 
perceive that altitudes of a number of trees can be quickly ascertained. 
When the ground is irregular provision must be made for having the 
line level from the root of the tree, or A in the figure to C. The 
central board, it may be repeated, must be a true square, the per¬ 
fectly straight sighting lath resting across it exactly from corner to 
corner, as the least deviation will lead to error, and the weight must 
hang positively plumb, as not otherwise can the measurement be 
accurate. Any handy man can make an appliance of this kind. 
Cordon Pears (./. J?.).—You have overlooked exactly what you 
wish to know. The pruning is not only described but illustrated in 
Wright’s “ Fruit Essay ” (see pages 95 and 96). The trees will answer 
very well trained to stakes along the sides of garden walks. We know 
of hundreds so grown forming lines of fruitful cordons 9 feet high—the 
trees planted about 2 feet asunder or a little less. Do not shorten the 
leader except it terminates in a fruit bud, in which case cut back to a 
wood bud. The side growths may be shortened now, as the few there 
are can exert no material influence in the promotion of roots. You 
would find Wright’s “ Primer of Horticulture ” useful, this principle of 
pruning being shown in connection with cordon Gooseberries on 
page 105. Your letter arrived too late for insertion this week, as our 
pages had to be made up earlier than usual, to afford the printers time 
for producing the extra large number of copies required at the hour of 
publication. 
Arrears of Wages (J.W., Gardener ).—We could better understand 
the case if you had sent copies of the letters on which the engagement 
was based. If we comprehend what you wish to know chiefly it is this : 
“ Whether you can retain possession after the expiration of a notice to 
leave that may be served on you by an employer on the grounds that 
the said employer is in arrears in paying your wages ?” If that is your 
question we suspect that the fact of money being owing to you by your 
employer and landlord, does not debar him from ejecting you at the 
expiration of the term of a proper notice to leave. Your remedy is to 
sue for the arrears, and this you can do at any time, either before or 
after leaving your situation. The case as you state it is, we hope, a very 
rare one. 
Buttes of Gardeners (J. S. J3 .).—As you are evidently a young 
man without experience in, as you say, a “ large ” garden, the very best 
way in which you can obtain the information you seek is by obtaining 
employment, not so much in a very large, as in a moderate sized garden 
where most of the duties of a gardener are carried out well. You 
cannot possibly learn from books what a good gardener can teach you. 
Strive for a situation under one, then be obedient, punctual, observant, 
diligent, obliging, and industrious. These are the first cardinal duties 
of a young man, and after he has had a little experience he will be the 
better able to comprehend the’teachings of books. In the meantime 
read attentively the Journal of Horticulture., and file the copies for 
future reference. You will then soon have a valuable store of informa¬ 
tion on almost every subject in connection with gardening. 
Ifames 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 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 being often difficult to separate them when the paper is damp, 
( Q. Jl).—Cattleya Trianse rosea, very poor form indeed. 
OOVBNT GARDEN MARKET.— Maech 1st. 
Supplies more limited, causing a alight rise in prices, more particularly of Grapes. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
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 
Cobbs, Kent, per 100 lbs. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Grapes, per lb. 
1 
6 
3 
6 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. ., 
0 
6 to 1 
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 
Ooleworts, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy, bundle. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Cucumbers, dozen .. .. 
5 
0 
7 
6 
Scorzonera, bundle .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Endive, dozen . 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Seakale, per basket .. .. 
1 
6 
1 
9 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Shallots^^ per lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Leeks, bunch . 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel. 
3 
0 
3 
6 
Lettuce, dozen. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. 
0 
2 
0 
6 
Mushrooms, puimet .. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Turnips, bunch. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
S. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d 
Arbor Vitae (golden) dozen 
6 
Oto 12 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each. . 
2 
Oto 10 
0 
Aspidistra, per dozen 
18 
0 
36 
0 
Genista, per dozen .. . , 
9 
0 
15 
0 
Aspidistra, specimen plant 
5 
0 
10 
6 
Hyacinths, dozen 'pots 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Azalea, per dozen .. .. 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Lily of the Valley, dozen 
Cineraria, per dozen . . .. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
pots . 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Oupressus, large plants,each 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Cyclamen, dozen pots .. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Dracaena terminalis, dozen 
18 
0 
42 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
„ -viridis, dozen .. 
9 
0 
24 
0 
Palms, in var., each .. .. 
1 
0 
15 
0 
Euonymns,var., dozen .. 
6 
0 
18 
0 
„ (specimens) .. .. 
21 
0 
63 
n 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Primula, single, doz. pots 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Perns, in variety, dozen .. 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Solanums per dozen ,. ,. 
9 
0 
12 
a 
Ferns (small) per hundred 
6 
0 
8 
6 
Tulips, dozen pots ,. .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Ficus eiastica, each .. .. 
1 
6 
7 
6 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE FRIGES.—OUT FLOWERS. 
Orchid Blooms in variety. 
s. 
d. 
3. 
d 
8. 
d. 
3. 
d. 
Anemones (French), dozen 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
3 
0 ta 6 
0 
bunches. 
2 
0 to 6 
0 
Mimosa, French, per bunch 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Narciss, var., French, dozen 
Azalea, dozen sprays.. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
bunches. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Orchids, per dozen blcoms 
3 
0 
12 
6 
Camellias, doz. blooms .. 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
bunches. 
5 
0 
8 
0 
bunches. 
4 
0 
9 
0 
Primroses, dozen bunches 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Daffodils, double, dozen 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
0 
9 
1 
0 
bunches. 
3 
0 
9 
e 
Roses (French), per doz. .. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Daffodils, single, dozen 
,, „ boxes, 100. 
5 
0 
8 
0 
bimches. 
4 
0 
12 
0 
„ (indoor), dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Eucharis, dozen. 
8 
0 
6 
0 
„ Red, per doz. blooms.. 
3 
0 
9 
0 
Gardenias, per dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
„ Tea, white, dozen .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Hyacinth Roman, 12 sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Lilac, white, French, per 
Snowdrops, dozen bunches 
1 
0 
2 
6 
bunch . 
3 
0 
5 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Lilium longiflornm 12 
Tulips, dozen blooms 
0 
6 
1 
6 
blooms . 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Violets, Parme, French, per 
Lily of the Valley, dozen 
bunch . 
2 
0 
3 
0 
sprays . 
0 
6 
1 
6 
Violets, Czar, French, per 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
bunch . 
1 
6 
2 
6 
bunches. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Violets, Victoria, French, 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
dozen bunches .. .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
