July 21 . 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
69 
The Nettle as Food ( E, , F., Yorks'). —Young Nettle tops are closely 
gathered and readily eaten in some districts in the spring. As to their 
value, you may peruse what Mr. Josiah Oldfield, M.A., B.C.L. (Oxon) 
tvrote some time ago in the Pall Mall Gazette :—“It is in springtime 
that man’s heart is said to ‘lightly turn to greens,’ and this craving i 3 a 
warning of Nature not to be despised. Sprouts and Cabbages bound the 
horizon of ‘ greens ’ in the eyes of the ordinary cook, so that this scant 
variety, combined with a minimum of originality in the mode of tasty 
cooking, causes the crambe rejpetita to be a stock subject for scornful 
sarcasm. May I press upon your readers—with the hope that by 
patient persistence year after year our descendants may possibly be 
influenced to use foods that are now despised—that there*is a valuable 
vegetable that comes in early, when everything is scarce, and lasts in 
season till other things are abundant, which grows without care or 
trouble in every hedgerow and neglected corner, and loves the ditch 
banks beneath old fences ? Beds of it spring up year after year, tender, 
luscious, and juicy, on waste lands and entangled glades, and grow rank 
and strong, and die down again in autumn, unknown and uncared for, 
while all the time the poor are hungry, and the rich are dyspeptic, 
unconscious of the value of this plant to help to fill the stomachs of the 
first and relieve the troubles of the latter. The vegetable to which I 
refer is the common Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica). To gather it take 
out a basket, a pair of gauntlets, and a strong pair of scissors, and cut 
off the young shoots, which are just now ready in sheltered places and 
soon will be plentiful everywhere. Take them home, put them in a 
sieve, and pour water over them to cleanse them ; then put them into 
boiling water, and boil sharply till done. They have now lost all power 
of stinging, and taste like very delicate Turnip-tops. They may be 
served on toast like Spinach, with fried or poached eggs. If people 
believed more in the medicatrix vis natures, and took their tonics, anti¬ 
scorbutics, and diuretics direct from Nature’s delightful laboratory as 
she supplies them in their due season, we should have less and less of 
the miserable wail of an increasingly dyspeptic humanity and more of 
the happy melody of joyous health.’’ 
Potato Disease Experiments (F. Smithson ) —The Bordeaux mix¬ 
ture has been of service in some cases, while in others it has had no profit¬ 
able result.. Messrs. Robert Yeitch & Son, Exeter, sent us a report of 
their experiments last autumn, from which we cite the following :— 
u In our nursery we selected a piece of ground that was almost level, 
and of an oblong-square shape, measuring 90 feet by 60 feet. The soil 
was a deepish loam, resting on a bed of red clay, and the aspect was 
perfectly open. The drills ran the short way of the piece—east to west— 
and were thus each 60 feet in length. We planted ten varieties. Two 
were new to us, being sorts lately raised in America ; four were com¬ 
paratively new sorts, of English origin ; the other four were—The Dean, 
Village Blacksmith, Early Puritan, and Prodigious. Ordinary and not 
very rich animal manure was used, with a fair dose of lime put in at 
planting time. Eight feet of each drill was staked off at the top, and 
was treated on the Jenssen principle; 8 feet at the bottom was treated 
with the Bordeaux mixture ; and the 41 feet in the middle of the drills 
was not treated at all. By the 24th of July the disease had shown 
itself in a pronounced form, especially upon The Dean and the Village 
Blacksmith. To the 8 feet at the bottom of the piece we then applied 
the solution over the foliage, at the rate of 140 to 150 gallons per acre. 
A day or two after the application the rough-leaved sorts showed signs 
of having been ‘ burnt ’ in the foliage—the effect of the mixture—but 
the smooth-leaved sorts did not show any such effect. This seared 
appearance, however, soon passed off, and the plants apparently 
renewed their growing term and assumed a healthier hue than 
before. In due course, one after the other of the sorts began to 
show signs of maturity from the top of the piece to within 8 feet 
of the bottom, but, to a single plant, the instant the drill reached the 
copper-treated Potatoes, decay was arrested, and the haulm remained 
green and flourishing. We were astonished at this new phase, for, 
though several agriculturists in France, as we have since learned, had in 
1890 and 1891 noticed the same thing, we had not seen it mentioned in 
any English journal. The earliest of the sorts under trial showed proof 
of an extension of their time of growing under the copper treatment, 
while a late one—Prodigious, a vigorous grower—did not give up until 
the third week in September. On digging the lots and picking out the 
diseased Potatoes from each lot, the result was most convincing. In all 
the sorts the 8 feet of the drills treated on the Jenssen principle were a 
little diseased more or less, and the crop was, owing to the growth being 
checked, rather light. The 44 feet in the middle had, in some of the 
sorts, suffered most severely. But, on crossing the line and coming into 
the copper-treated territory, the crop was heavier in all the sorts, and 
the disease reduced to a minimum, in one case—that of Prodigious—not 
a diseased tuber being found. Comparing the result of the different 
courses of treatment, it may be put thus :—For the Bordeaux mixture, 
6 ; for the Jenssen method, 4 ; and for the ‘ leave to nature ’ policy 3 ; 
takirg these figures to represent the proportionate yield of sound tubers. 
In short, the French remedy proved with us an unqualified success, for 
it acted as a preventive where the disease had not yet appeared, and 
as a cure where it had done so, at the same time showing itself to have 
had a fertilising effect as well, by prolonging the growing period, 
especially of those sorts which were naturally late in maturing.” As 
has been remarked in this Journal, an extensive and successful grower 
of Potatoes for market, who is alive to most things that pay, says, in his 
opinion, it is “ better to grow the strong than doctor the delicate.” 
Names of Plants.—We only undertake to name species of plants, 
cot 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. 
(F. G. IF.).—1, Nlillia opalifolia ; 2, Philadelphus Gordonianus ; 3, 
Andromeda speciosa ; 4, Genista virgata. (J. $.).—1, Bromus sterilis ; 
2, Doronicum austriacum ; 3, Veronica rupestris ; 4, Bromus brizasformis ; 
5, Viburnum Opulus; 6, Rose Persian Yellow. (A. C .).—It is Olearia 
Haasti. (<7. iV.).—A Eucomis, probably punctata ; see Correspondence. 
(Y. L."). —1, Rhus cotinus ; 2, Cornus Spathi ; 3, A form of Ulmus 
montana ; 4, Cassinia fulvida ; 5, Choisya ternata ; 6, Spiraea Thunbergi; 
see Correspondence. (M. F. C.).— 1, Adiantum Weigandi ; 2, A. 
gracillimum. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— July 20th. 
Heavy supplies now to hand of sieve fruit, realising fair prices. 
FRUIT, 
s. d. s. d. 
Apples, Tasmanian, case 2 
Cherries, per half sieve .. 2 
Currants, Re i, half sieve.. 3 
„ Black, half sieve.. 5 
Crapes, per lb'. .1 
G to 5 0 
6 7 0 
6 4 0 
6 0 0 
0 2 6 
Lemoas, case . 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 
Peaches, per dozen .. .. 
St. Michael Pines, each .. 
Strawberries, per lb. 
s. d. s. d. 
10 0 to 15 0 
4 0 9 0 
2 0 8 0 
3 0 6 0 
0 3 10 
VEGETABLES. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. .. 
s. 
0 
d. 
9 
• S. 
to 1 
d. 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen. 
i 
0 
0 
0 
Carrots, bunch. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Celery, bundle .. .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
3 
Coleworts, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Cucumbers, dozen .. .. 
2 
6 
4 
6 
Endive, dozen .. .. .. 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Herbs, bunch . 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Leeks, bunch . 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Lettuce, dozen. 
0 
0 
1 
6 
Mushrooms, punnet .. .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 
s. 
0 
d. s. d. 
2 to 0 0 
Onions, bunch . 
0 
3 
0 
5 
Parsley, dozen bunclie3 .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Parsnips, dozen. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Salsafy, bundle. 
I 
0 
1 
s 
Scorzonera, bundle .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Seakale, per basket .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Shallots, per lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel. 
3 
0 
3 
6 
Tomatoes, per lb. 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Turnips, hunch. 
0 
6 
0 
8 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICES.—CUT FLOWERS. 
Orchid Blooms in variety. 
s. 
d. 
s. d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
2 
0 to 4 0 
Maidenhair Fern, doz. bclis. 
4 
0 to 6 
0 
Asters, French, bunch 
1 
0 
1 6 
Myosotis or Forget-me-not, 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
1 0 
dozen bunches. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
0 
6 
2 0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Carnations, Malmaison, 12 
Orchids, per dozen blooms 
2 
0 
8 
0 
blooms . 
2 
0 
4 0 
Pansies, dozen bunches .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Carnations, dozen bunches 
4 
0 
6 0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Cornflower, dozen bunches 
1 
6 
3 0 
„ scarlet, 12 bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Eschscholtzia,doz. bunches 
2 
0 
3 0 
Pinks, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Eucharis, dozen. 
2 
0 
4 0 
Poppies (var.), doz. buuch 
1 
6 
6 
0 
Fuchsias, per bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
1 0 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Gardenias, per dozen 
2 
0 
4 0 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
0 
9 
2 
0 
Gypsophilas, French, 
„ (outdoor), doz. buuch. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
large bunch . 
1 
0 
2 0 
„ Red, per doz. blooms.. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Gypsophilas, English, 
„ Tea, white, dozen .. 
1 
0 
3 
0 
small bunch. 
0 
4 
G 0 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Lilium candidum, bunch.. 
1 
G 
2 0 
Spiraea, dozen hunches 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Lilium longiflorum 12 
Stocks, dozen bunches 
3 
0 
6 
0 
blooms . 
2 
0 
4 0 
Sweet Sultan, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Lilium (var.) doz.blooms .. 
0 
6 
2 0 
Sweet Peas, dozen bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
2 
0 
4 0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. .. 
0 
4 
0 
6 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
S. 
d. 
S. (1. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Arbor Vitae (golden) dozen 
6 
0 to 12 0 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 
3 
0 
to 4 
0 
Begonia, per dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Calceolarias, per dozen 
3 
0 
6 0 
Mignonette, per dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Cupressus,large plants,each 
2 
0 
5 0 
Musk, per dozen. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Dracaena terminalis. dozen 
18 
0 
42 0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
„ viriuis, dozen .. 
9 
0 
24 0 
Palms, in var., each .. 
1 
0 
15 
0 
Euonvmus, var., dozen .. 
6 
0 
18 0 
„ (specimens) .. .. 
21 
0 
63 
0 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
24 0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
2 
6 
4 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen .. 
4 
0 
18 0 
„ per dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
„ (small) per hundred 
8 
0 
12 0 
Rhodanthes, per dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Ficus eiastiea, each .. 
1 
6 
5 0 
Saxifraga pyramidalis 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each.. 
2 
0 
10 0 
Spiraja, per dozen 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Fuchsia, per dozen .. 
3 
0 
8 0 
Trailing plants (various), 
Geraniums, Ivy. 
4 
0 
6 0 
per dozen. 
0 
0 
9 
0 
Hydrangea, per dozen 
9 
0 
15 0 
Tropmolum or Nasturtiums 
Lobelia, per dozen .. .. 
3 
0 
6 0 
per dozen. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
DAIRY COWS. 
“ The cows are gadding through fly to-day, there will not be 
much milk to-night,” said the wife of a dairy farmer on whom 
we called recently. She was naturally anxious, for though the 
season proves to be so good a one for cheese-making, it began 
badly, the milk yield being so low at the outset that in April 
and May, the first and second months of the cheese season, the 
