December 22, 1892. ] 
journal of horticulture and cottage gardener . 
559 
expecting the sulphuric acid to act on old and decayed bones that 
have lost the greater part of the phosphate of lime through the acids 
of the soil and abstraction by the roots of plants, leaving little beyond 
carbonate of lime. Your sample is a very poor one, not only old, but 
containing much earthy matter, and appears to have lain a consider¬ 
able time. Use good and fresh bonemeal, and when dissolved, if you 
want it dry, mix with fine, dry ashes so as to form a powder. 
Making Superphosphate of Xilme (Bones'). — See reply to 
“ T. C.” No liquor should remain at the bottom of the cask, all the 
bone being converted into superphosphate—a paste which is, perhaps, 
best mixed with wood ashes in a perfectly dry state, so as to form a 
rather lumpy but palpable powder, easily distributed, as well as 
thoroughly soluble in water A good way to utilise bones is to place 
them in a cask, stood outdoors, as they are forthcoming, putting a layer 
of earth—say, 4 inches thick, then the bones in similar layers, sprinkling 
wood ashes over each layer of bones so as to fill the interstices, and so 
on until the cask is filled. A few loose boards may be placed over the 
top of the cask, but not so as to exclude air, and in twelve months or 
less the bones will crumble and form superphosphate—a crumbling 
powder—excellent for top-dressing plants of all kinds, including fruit 
trees, for which it is better than superphosphate prepared by dissolving 
bones in sulphuric acid. Any liquor remaining in the cask to which 
you allude is injurious to vegetation, but there ought not to be any in a 
properly made superphosphate. 
Hard Carrots (E. T. H.'). —There is a tendency in some varieties, 
particularly those which form part of the root above ground, to become 
more or less hard in places. The defect is very common this season in 
the earliest sown main crop roots. This is partly due to the early 
sowing (late March or early April). The hardness of the flesh is in 
no way attributable to the manure. We should not sow before the 
middle of April for the main crop, and even then in light silicious 
and calcareous soils the roots are liable to become overgrown—that is, 
advanced towards the seeding state, and so have more or less hard cores 
or parts that do not become tender without extra long boiling. In such 
soils it is sometimes necessary to sow early in July to produce a late 
crop; the roots then attain to a good useable .size, and are tender and 
delicious when cooked. James’ Intermediate is one of the best garden 
Carrots, the root being formed below ground or the crown level with the 
surface, and it keeps excellently when stored in moist sand or light soil 
in a cool place. There is no edible value in that part of a Carrot grown 
out of the ground, and we advise you to grow those only for table U9e 
that produce their roots within the ground, say Early Scarlet Horn 
for early use, and James’ Intermediate Scarlet for winter supply. 
Early and Eate Chrysanthemums for Market (F. II'). — A 
successful grower of blooms and sprays for market gives the folowing 
information. Presuming that by the term “early,” varieties are 
required to bloom in September, six are named as being suitable. Some 
of the Desgranges may be disbudded if fine individual blooms are in 
request, though fleecy sprays are sometimes more profitable. Most 
varieties answer either way, except the “ Tecks,” which in all cases must 
be disbudded. The letter “D” is appended to those which are good 
for that purpose. Early varieties. — Madame C. Desgranges (d) and 
Mrs. Pitcher, white ; Mrs. Hawkins (d), clear yellow; Mons. Gustave 
Grunerwald (d), rich pink; Golden Shah, bright golden yellow, and 
Mr. Burrell (d), primrose. October hinds.— La Yierge (d) and Mrs. 
Cullingford, white; Pynaert Van Geert (d), golden yellow; Roi des 
Pr4coces, dark crimson; Alexander Dufour, rich purple, and Mons. Wm. 
Holmes (d), crimson scarlet. The Desgranges may be had through 
October by stopping the plants later ; these also make good pot plants 
for market use, as do Mons. Gustave Grunerwald, La Vierge, Roi des 
Precoces, Alexander Dufour, and Mons. Wm. Holmes. Late varieties. — 
Princess Teck (d) and Boule de Neige, white ; M. Bergman and Golden 
Madame Pages, yellow; Massalia, bright crimson ; and Julie Lagraviere, 
red. In addition to these Admiral T. Symonds, single yellow, and Frank 
Wilcox, reflexed, bright chestnut red flaked with gold, are both good 
and should be included. 
Orcbld (T. T. IP.).—Judging from the flower of your Cypripedium 
insigne the variety is either a very poor one or the plant is in an un¬ 
healthy condition. We are inclined to think the latter is the case, and 
if the growth were strong and well developed the flowers would improve. 
If the pots are very full of roots the plants may need repotting, and 
this is best done in the early part of February. The roots often cling 
tenaciously to the pots, which in that case would be broken, and portions 
of pot that do not fall off naturally should be placed in fresh pots with 
the roots adhering. All old and decayed potting material should be 
carefully removed. If this cannot be done without seriously disturbing 
the roots place the plants in tepid water and carefully work the soil from 
amongst the roots. Allow the plants to drain thoroughly before they 
are repotted. The new compost, consisting of rough peat, charcoal in 
lumps, broken crocks and living sphagnum moss should be worked 
amongst the roots. The fibre from loam will do if peat cannot be 
obtained. When finishing put a layer of moss on the surface and pieces 
of peat and moss between all the growths as far as possible for inciting 
fresh roots. Very careful watering will be needed after potting. The 
plants should be kept in a cool house until February, and then intro¬ 
duced into gentle warmth, say 45° to 50° at first, gradually rising to 60°, 
providing shade from bright sunshine and a moist atmosphere are 
needed. When the new growths are well developed the plants should 
be gradually hardened to cool greenhouse treatment, where they will 
complete the development of their growths. During early autumn or 
winter if the plants are introduced into a temperature of 50° they will 
soon push up their flowers. This Cypripedium should flower annually 
from every fully developed growth. If your plants are in a healthy 
condition at their roots you may improve them very much if grown 
according to the advice given, without repotting, by applying weak 
liquid manure every time they need water during the season of growth - 
They should be kept rather dry than wet at the roots during the winter. 
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, hi 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 .').—Probably Lord Lennox. (George Steel). —1, 
Winter Strawberry ; 2, Yellow Ingestrie. (31. W. Chessington). — 
Ribston Pippin. ( W. W. C.').— 1, Cellini; 2. Ilollandbury ; 3, Gloria 
Mundi ; 4, Sturmer Pippin; 5, Han well Souring; 6, King of the 
Pippins. (A. Z., Thirshj. —Tower of Glamis. (G. T. A.). —You have 
overlooked the above conditions. On receipt of your name and address 
the fruit will be examined. It is essential that the districts be named 
in which fruit is grown, as the information leads to the more certain 
identification of varieties. 
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. 
(II. 31.).— 1, Tillandsia (Vriesia) carinata (see page 547), not an Orchid ; 
2, the Climbing Fern, Lygodium scandens. (T. K.). —Lrnlia rubescens, 
var. rosea (syn. L. acuminata). 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— December 21st. 
Trade slow, good supplies with no alteration in prices. 
s. 
Apples, half sieve .. .. 1 
„ Nova Scotia, per 
barrel.12 
Cobbs, Kent, per 100 lbs. 0 
Grapes, per lb.0 
FRUIT, 
d. s. d. 
0 to 3 6 Lemons, case . 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 
0 17 0 Peaches, per dozen .. .. 
0 100 0 St. Michael Pines, each .. 
6 2 0 1 
VEGETABLES. 
13 
4 
0 
3 
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 .. .. 
s. d. s. d. 
0 6 to 0 0 
10 0 0 
0 4 0 0 
2 0 3 0 
10 13 
2 0 4 0 
16 3 6 
13 16 
0 3 0 0 
0 2 0 0 
0 9 10 
0 9 10 
■ s. 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 0 
Onions, bunch .0 
Parsley, dozen bunches .. 2 
Parsnips, dozen.1 
Potatoes, per cwt.2 
Salsafy, bundle.1 
Scorzouera, bundle .. .. 1 
Seakale, per basket, .. ,. 3 
Shallots, per lb. .. .. .. 0 
Spinach, bushel.3 
Tomatoes, per lb.0 
Turnips, bunch.0 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICES.—CUT FLOWERS. 
d. s. d. 
0 to 35 0 
0 9 0 
0 0 0 
0 6 0 
d. s. d. 
2 to 0 0 
3 0 5 
0 3 0 
0 0 0 
0 5 0 
0 16 
6 0 <• 
0 0 0 
3 0 0 
0 3 6 
2 0 6 
3 0 4 
Holly and Mistletoe plentiful, very 
s. d. s. d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 4 
Azalea, dozen sprays.. .. 1 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 0 
Camelilas, doz. blooms .. 1 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 1 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
blooms .1 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
bunches.6 
Eucharis, dozen.4 
Gardenias, per dozen .. 6 
Hyacinth, Roman, 12 sprays 0 
Lilac, white, French, per 
bunch .4 
Lilium longiflorum 12 
blooms . 9 
Lilium (var.) doz. blooms 3 
Lily of the Valley, 12 sprays 3 
Maidenhair Fern, doz. bchs. 4 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 3 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 3 
0 to 9 0 
0 16 
6 10 
6 4 0 
0 3 0 
6 4 0 
0 12 0 
0 6 0 
0 9 0 
9 10 
6 6 0 
0 12 0 
0 5 0 
0 6 0 
0 8 0 
0 6 0 
0 6 0 
good. Orchid Blooms in variety. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Mimosa, French, per bunch 
1 
0 to 
1 
6 
Orchids, per dozen blooms 
3 
0 
12 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
bunches . 
6 
0 
9 
u 
Poinsettia, per bloom 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Pyrethrum doz. bunches .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Roses (French), per doz. .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
,, „ boxes, 100. 
5 
0 
8 
0 
„ (indoor), dozen 
2 
0 
4 
U 
„ Red, per doz. blooms.. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
„ Tea, white, dozen .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Violets, Parme, French, per 
bunch . 
4 
6 
6 
0 
Violets, Czar, French, per 
bunch . 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Violets, Victoria, French, 
dozen bunches .. .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
8. 
Arbor Vitae (golden) dozen 6 
Azalea, per dozen .. ..42 
Begonia, per dozen .. .. 6 
Chrysanthemums, per doz. 6 
„ large plants, each 1 
Cupressus, large plants,each 2 
Dracaena terminalis, dozen 18 
„ viridis, dozen .. 9 
Euonvmus, var., dozen .. 6 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 6 
Ferns, in variety, dozen .. 4 
„ (small) per hundred 6 
PLANTS 
d. s. d. 
0 to 12 0 
0 60 0 
0 12 0 
0 9 0 
0 3 0 
0 5 0 
0 42 0 
0 24 0 
0 18 0 
0 24 0 
0 18 0 
0 8 0 
IN POTS. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
Ficus elastica, each .. 
1 
6 to 10 
Foliage plants, var., each.. 
2 
0 
10 
Heliotrope, per dozen 
6 
0 
9 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 
3 
0 
4 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 
Mignonette, per dozen 
6 
0 
12 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
9 
Palms, in var., each .. .. 
1 
0 
15 
„ (specimens) .. .. 
21 
0 
63 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
6 
0 
9 
Primula, single, doz. pots 
4 
0 
6 
Solanums per dozen ,. .. 
9 
0 
12 
d. 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
