November 24, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
473 
Metal Stakes (C. IF.).—The effect of small wrought iron stakes 
in pots upon the soil is not material if they do not remain so long as 
to become much corroded. The oxide of iron is then more injurious 
than beneficial, unless it is ammoniated through the plants being fed 
with ammoniacal manure, such as guano and sulphate of ammonia, in 
which case the iron aids in the formation of the green colouring matter 
(chlorophyll) of the leaves and enlarges the growth generally. The 
galvanised iron stakes are not likely to be materially affected by the 
acids of the soil. We have not found any appreciable detriment to 
accrue to plants by the use of either kind of stake mentioned. 
Improving- Sandy Soil ( Anglo-Scot ).—A dressing of lime would 
improve the sandy peat soil by rendering its vegetable matter more 
available as plant food, but an excessive quantity would be injurious. 
About one bushel per rod would be a sufficient quantity to apply, 
using it fresh. Place the lime in convenient small heaps, covering with 
a little soil, and when “ fallen ” spread evenly and fork in lightly, 
choosing dry weather. If the soil is not very peaty it would be desirable 
to employ Thomas’s phosphate powder instead of the lime at the rate of 
10 cwt. per acre or 7 lbs. per rod, as a top-dressing, and leave it for 
the rains to wash in. The lime should not be mixed with the decayed 
manui’e, but apply the former now, and the latter early in spring. 
As an artificial manure use 3 cwt. superphosphate and 2 cwt. nitrate 
of soda, mixed, per acre, or 3J lbs. per rod, and apply it at the time of 
sowing or planting, or when the crops are appearing above ground. 
Extirpating Mealy Bug on Vines (Buggy). —It is not possible 
to extirpate mealy bug on Vines by one winter dressing, as they take 
care to find safe quarters before the Vines are pruned, and some are 
certain to appear soon after the Vines start into growth. We have not 
found anything better as a winter dressing than syringing the house well 
in every part with a petroleum mixture, a wineglassful to 4 gallons of 
water, kept well mixed by one person syringing into the vessel whilst 
another applies it thoroughly to every part of the structure and Vines. 
Then, after pruning the Vines, stripping ofiE the rough and loose bark, 
wash them with a softsoap solution 3 ozs. to a gallon of water. After¬ 
wards apply with a brush a petroleum emulsion 4 ozs. softsoap dissolved 
in a gallon of boiling water and a wineglassful of petroleum churned 
violently for several minutes with a force pump or garden engine into 
the same vessel until thoroughly emulsified. Keep a sharp look out for 
bug in spring, and if any appear touch each with a very small brush dipped 
in methylated spirits. Have nothing to do with coal tar, though it is 
efficacious and not injurious when very carefully used. 
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 worthless 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. (J. D.). —1, Cockle’s Pippin ; 2, Kerry Pippin ; 3, worth¬ 
less ; 4, Fearn’s Pippin; 5, worthless; 6, Autumn Bergamot. (J. 
Milne). —1, Nanney ; 2, probably local, and worth grafting on a young 
stock ; 3, Dumelow’s Seedling ; 4, is not Wellington, and not known ; 
5, probably local; 6, Waltham Abbey Seedling. ( Jarman Co.). — 
Waltham Abbey Seedling. N.B.—Fruits that do not arrive before 
Wednesday can seldom be named in the current issue. 
Names 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 ligature-, 
it being often difficult to separate them when the paper is damp. 
(^Briton). —Vanda coerulea. (W.A.J). —1, Polypodium aureum ; 2, Adi- 
antum cuneatum cristatum ; 3, frond too immature to identify ; 4, Pteris 
longifolius ; 5, Adiantum pubescens ; 6, Gymnogramma chiysophylla. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Fisher, Son & Sibray, Handsworth Nurseries, Sheffield.— Roses. 
The “ Stott ” Specialities, Barton House, Deansgate, Manchester.— 
Price List and Testimonials. 
Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, N.B .—Neat Violas and Pot-root Dahlias. 
Little & Ballantyne, Carlisle.— Forest and Ornamental Trees and 
Shrubs, S)C. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— November 23rd. 
Trade slow, good supplies with no alteration in prices. 
VEGETABLES. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. 
8. 
0 
d. 
6 
s. 
to 0 
d. 
0 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 
s. 
0 
d. 
2 to 
3. 
0 
d. 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen .. • • .. 
i 
0 
0 
0 
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 
I 
6 
Cucumbers, dozen .. .. 
1 
s 
3 
6 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Endive, dozen . 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Seakale, per basket .. 
3 
0 
0 
0 
Herbs, bunch .. ,. ,. 
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, punnet .. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Turnips, bunch .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
6. 
d. 
3. 
a. 
Apples, half sieve .. .. 
1 
0 to 3 
6 
Lemons, case . 
15 
Oto 35 
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 
100 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Grapes, per lb. 
0 
6 
2 
0 
AVERAGE 
WHOLESALE PRICES.—OUT FLOWERS. 
Orchid Blooms in variety. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
S. 
a. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
3 
0 to 6 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
3 
0 to 
6 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Mimosa, French, per bunch 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Orchids, per dozen blooms 
3 
0 
12 
0 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
8 
0 
12 
0 
blooms . 
1 
6 
4 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
bunches. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
bunches. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Poinsettia, per bloom 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Eucharis, dozen. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Gardenias, per dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Pyrethrum doz. bunches .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Geraniums, scarlet, 12 bchs. 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
0 
9 
2 
0 
Hyacinth, Roman, 12 sprays 
0 
9 
1 
0 
„ Red, per doz. blooms.. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Lilac, white, French, per 
„ Tea, white, dozen .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
bunch . 
4 
6 
6 
0 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Lilium longiflorum 12 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. .. 
0 
4 
0 
9 
blooms . 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Violets, Parme, French, per 
Lilium (var.) doz. blooms 
3 
0 
5 
0 
bunch . 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Lily of the Valley, 12 sprays 
10 
0 
12 
0 
Violets, Czar, French, per 
Maidenhair Fern, doz. bchs. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
bunch . 
2 
0 
2 
6 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Violets, Victoria, French, 
dozen bunches .. .. 
1 
6 
2 
6 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
3. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
3. 
a. 
Arbor Vitas (golden) dozen 
6 
0 to 12 
0 
Ficus eiastiea, each .. .. 
1 
6 to 10 
6 
Begonia, per dozen .. .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each.. 
2 
0 
10 
0 
Chrysanthemums, per doz. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Heliotrope, per dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
„ large plants, each 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Oupressus, large plants,each 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Dracaena terminalis. dozen 18 
0 
42 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
„ viridis, dozen .. 
9 
0 
24 
0 
Myrtles, dozen .. .. .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Euonvmus, var., dozen .. 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Palms, in var.. each .. .. 
1 
0 
15 
0 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
„ (specimens) .. .. 
21 
0 
63 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen .. 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
6 
0 
9 
\J 
„ (small) per hundred 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Primula, single, doz. pots 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Solanums, per dozen .. .. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
PROFITABLE FARMING. 
In continuation of the teaching of our last article on Wheat¬ 
sowing, we desire to call attention to each detail of farm 
management which may reasonably be calculated to afford 
something towards a profitable result—a fair return upon 
capital invested in land cultivation. We said in that article 
that with land rich in fertility, and fine heavy seed, 80 or 
90 bushels an acre of Oats may be had. This statement was 
well within bounds, that quantity being frequently exceeded ; 
but alas! it is much more frequently not approached by 30 or 
40 bushels. Surely it must be worth while setting ourselves to 
meet hard times by improved cultivation of any crop out of 
which profit is possible. As well cry for the moon as expect a 
return to the excessively high rates of a day that is past and 
gone never to return. No, our markets are open to the world, 
and they will continue open ; let us therefore resolve to bow to 
the inevitable, and make the best of things by leaving off the 
culture of certain crops, or reducing them to safe limits, and 
adding others which under good management are known to 
answer. More than this, let us rise superior to the promptings 
of petty vanity, and have the good sense to admit that our 
practice is capable of change for the better. Depend upon it 
the farmers’ advisers—leaders of thought, who tell them that 
persistence in Wheat-growing anywhere and everywhere is 
right, that their remedy lies in excessive rent induction and a 
duty on imports—are the fai’mers’ enemies, and not their friends. 
Never, probably, has there b?en such a demand for rent 
reduction as there was this Michaelmas. But how his this been 
done? Have tenant farmers come forward in a manly way, 
saying to landlord or agent, “We have earnestly set ourselves 
to meet our difficulties by changes in the management of our 
farms, where such changes appeared possible and were calcu¬ 
lated to prove profitable ? ” Have they invited inspection and 
fair criticism ? Notice of intention to leave the farm has been 
the first step, followed by an intimation of a desire to remain 
