October 20, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
865 
Xisellas Decaying: (B. R —The Laslia purpurata pseudo-bulb 
you sent is rotten. Insufficient drainage or too much moisture when 
resting will produce this result; a very low temperature will also cause 
them to go off. Ljelias and Cattleyas require more sun and air than 
as generally accorded them ; keep the plants much drier and let them 
have more light at all times. 
Top-dressing Peach and Nectarine Trees In Pots ( Oakbank ). 
—The proper way is to remove the soil to such depth as will admit of 
an addition of fresh, and still leave room for holding water and top- 
dressings of rich compost below the rim ; also to remove the soil at the 
sides, at least two-thirds the depth of the pot, so as to allow of some 
fresh soil being placed all round the ball and rammed well. We have 
not only seen the operation carried out at Sawbridgeworth, but have 
practised it ourselves for many years, and found it to answer well. 
You cannot do better than strictly follow Mr. Rivers’ teaching, as given 
in his book, “ The Orchard House,” page 82, sixteenth edition, to which 
you refer. 
Chrysanthemums Damping ([C. G. -Z?.).—It is very difficult to 
point out the cause of your blooms damping without seeing them and 
knowing exactly how they have been treated in every respect. If the 
plants are active at their roots, we are inclined to think they may have 
been left outside too long, and have been slightly checked. Damping is 
also due to a superabundance of moisture in the atmosphere and defec¬ 
tive ventilation. During changeable weather the utmost care is neces¬ 
sary to maintain a uniform condition of moisture in the atmosphere. 
When the sun bursts out brightly, and ample ventilation is not quickly 
provided, the moisture of the atmosphere is condensed on the florets, and 
quickly ends in their destruction. The varieties you name are very 
liable to damp, especially in a house where a little fire heat may be used 
and the atmosphere close and rather moist. They always open best when 
housed before the flower buds are too far advanced, and where they can 
have liberal ventilation. Any attempt at hurrying them frequently 
ends in damping. With the best of men scores of fine blooms are often 
lost after a fog. It is possible that a few early buds on some of your 
plants may have been taken, and this will account for other plants 
running up so much taller on the same plant. Sometimes insects destroy 
the bud, and the shoot has to be allowed to extend again to form another 
bud. Sometimes they miss showing a bud that would develope into a 
good bloom. It is not uncommon to see buds on plants such as you 
describe in different stages of growth. 
Retubblng Seville Orange Tree ( Pelargonium ).—The tree 
grown in an ordinary conservatory should be retubbed about the end 
of March or just before it commences to push its blossom buds. The 
tree should be kept rather dry, but not so much so as to distress the 
foliage, causing it to become and remain limp. If you wish to return 
the tree to the same tub, remove the drainage and pick out the old soil 
from the base, sides, and surface of the ball with the tine of an old 
fork, taking care not to injure the fibres more than can be helped, and 
if the ball can be reduced in that way so as to admit of an inch or a 
little more of fresh soil all round, it may be returned to the same tub, 
after it has been thoroughly washed and dried, and efficiently drained 
with clean drainage. But if the roots are very closely matted they 
must not be disturbed much, merely removing the drainage, loosening 
the sides of the ball, and removing the surface soil down to the fibres, 
then afford a new tub not less in diameter and depth than 2 inches 
larger inside measure than the old, nor more than 4 inches. This will 
admit of an inch or two, as the case may be, of fresh soil, under and 
around the ball, the smaller shift being best. The best compost is good 
fibrous yellow loam, cut 2 inches thick from an old upland pasture, 
torn up with hands; to this add one-fifth of decayed stable manure, 
and to each three bushels of the mixture a 9-inch potful of crushed 
half-inch bones, and the same quantity of charcoal in pieces about the size 
of a hazel nut, incorporating the whole thoroughly. The drainage should 
be good, and formed of clean broken potsherds, placed in carefully, and 
over them some loam fibre, raising it to the required height, and 
rammed firmly so as to keep the compost from mixing with the drainage. 
Keep the collar rather high, just above the general level, to leave room 
for water and surface dressings, say a couple of inches below the top, 
and make the compost firm about the ball, taking care not to leave any 
space unfilled, and just cover the upper roots with soil. Do not give 
water for a few days, but syringe the tree two or three times a day ; and 
when the roots are working in the new soil apply water as required, 
maintaining a genial atmosphere. The soil should be moderate moist 
when used, and prepared a month or so previously and slightly warm. 
If the compost is cold and wet the roots will not take to it freely. The 
central mass or old ball of soil and roots must be moist, but not sodden 
when the work is done. 
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. (A. Reid, jun.'). —1, Cellini ; 3, Fearn’s Pippin ; 4, Court 
of Wick. ( Perseverance ).—1, Minchall Crab; 2, Bedfordshire Foundling ; 
3, Tower of Glamis. The box was much crushed and the labels were dis¬ 
placed. (P. P.). —1, Adams’ Pearmain ; 2, Norfolk Stone Pippin ; 3,Sturmer 
Pippin ; 4, Yorkshire Greening ; 5, Northern Greening ; 6, Beurr6 Diel. 
(«/. C.). —2, Chaumontel; 3, Beurrb Sterckmans ; 4, General Todleben ; 5, 
Van MonsLbon Leclerc ; 6, Winter Hawthornden. (F.J. G"ay). —1, Uve- 
dale’s St. Germain ; 2, Red Doyenne ; 3, Beurr4 Capiaumont; 5, Marie 
Louise ; 6, Beurrb Bose. (J. IF. H .).—Carlisle Codlin. (6*. «/.).— 
1, Queen Caroline ; 2, Gloria Mundi ; 3, Court of Wick ; 4, Mbre de 
Manage. (IF. M. R .).—Your Pear is certainly not Beurrb Superfin, but 
probably Duchesse d’Angouleme. The only security for correct 
nomenclature is to procure trees from some recognised authority in the 
horticultural world. (R. C. L.). —The boxes of fruit that contained no 
letters in them were retained a week after our notification on page 319 
(October 6th) and then had to be removed. We have now attended to 
all the parcels which contained letters with the fruit up to the latest 
date for naming (Wednesday morning, 19th inst.). ( Finglas ).—The 
Pear appears to be one of the many continental varieties that are, like 
the specimen, of inferior quality in this country. 
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 ligatures, 
it being often difficult to separate them when the paper is damp. 
(«7. C. S'). —Odontoglossum hystrix. ( Amateur ).—Sedum spectabile. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. —October 19th. 
Market very flat indeed, with prices much depressed. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples, half sieve .. .. 
1 
0 to 3 
6 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 
4 
0 
to 9 
0 
Grapes, per lb. 
0 
6 
1 
6 
Peaches, per dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Filberts, Kent, per 100 lbs. 75 
0 
80 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Lemons, case . 
15 
0 
35 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. 
0 
2 
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 .. .. 
1 
6 
3 
6 
Scorzonera,'bundle .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Endive, dozen . 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Seakale, per basket .. .. 
0 
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 
4 
Mushrooms, punnet .. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Turnips, bunch. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
AVERAGE 
WHOLESALE 
PRICES.—OUT FLOWERS. 
Orchid Blooms in variety. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
4 
0 to 6 
0 
Lilium (var.) doz. blooms 
i 
0 
to 3 
0 
Asters, English, doz. bnchs. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Maidenhair Fern, doz. bchs. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
Orchids, per dozen blooms 
3 
0 
12 
0 
blooms . 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
0 
6 
0 
9 
bunches . 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Pyrethrum doz. bunches .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Eucharis, dozen. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
0 
9 
2 
0 
Fuchsias, per bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
„ (outdoor), doz. bunch. 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Gardenias, per dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
„ Red, per doz. blooms.. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Geraniums, scarlet, 12 bchs. 
6 
0 
8 
0 
„ Tea, white, dozen .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Gladioli (various). 12 sprays 
1 
0 
2 
0 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Lilium longiflorum 12 
Sweet Peas, dozen bunches 
1 
0 
3 
0 
blooms . 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. .. 
0 
6 
0 
6 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Arbor Vitae (golden) dozen 
6 
0 to 12 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each.. 
2 
Oto 10 
0 
Begonia, per dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Fuchsia, per dozen .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Chrysanthemums, per doz. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Heliotrope, per dozen .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
„ large plants, each 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Lilium lancifolium „ 
12 
0 
15 
0 
Cupressus, large plants,each 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Dracaena terminalis. dozen 
18 
0 
42 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
„ viridis, dozen .. 
9 
0 
24 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Euonvmus, var„ dozen .. 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Palms, in var., each .. .. 
1 
0 
15 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen .. 
4 
0 
18 
0 
„ (specimens) .. 
21 
0 
63 
0 
„ (small) per hundred 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
6 
0 
tr 
u 
Ficus eiastica, each .. 
1 
6 
10 
6 
Solanums, per dozen .. .. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE FARMING. 
Not market gardening at all; that is not what our title 
po : nts to, but to the production of both fruit and vegetables— 
food for the people, upon a larger scale than has hitherto been 
