February U, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
153 
Culture of Gazanla nivea (^Ross-slbire). —The plant comes 
readily from seed, as you proved last year, in gentle heat. The 
seedlings should be potted singly as soon as they show the second or 
t:ue leaves, and the work must be done carefully, as the seedlings are 
rather impatient of transplantation, and the soil should be moist, so 
as to avoid having to give water immediately. With shade from 
bright sun and a gentle warmth they soon become established, and 
should be hardened and grown in a light airy position in a greenhouse 
or frame from which frost is excluded. When the weather becomes 
settled, or early in June, they may be planted out in sandy soil over 
good drainage, and in a sheltered sunny situation. If kept in pots 
they should have a compost of sandy loam and peat in equal parts, 
with about a sixth of charcoal, or broken crocks, and a free ad¬ 
mixture of sand, with thorough drainage. Avoid overpotting, keep 
near the glass in plenty of air, and supply water only when the soil 
is getting dry, then give enough to show at the drainage. The usual 
cause of Gazanias not thriving is over-watering, too rich soil, and the 
want of light and air. The plants require greenhouse protection in 
winter. Wright’s Fruit Essay, Is. 3d., post free, from this office, gives 
plain instructions on pruning fruit trees and bushes, but the most 
exhaustive work on fruit culture and pruning is the “ Fruit Growers’ 
Guide,” published by Messrs. Virtue & Co., City Road, London. 
Growing Tomatoes for Profit (Saw Green). —What was most 
probably the cause of the partial failure is given at the end of your 
note. The border must have been too rich, and the luxuriant growth 
was not of a nature to produce fruit freely. The border might not have 
been too rich had it been made solid by trampling, and the plants 
allowed more room. If instead of planting twenty or more cross rows, 
with fourteen plants in each, the gardener had been content with 
seventeen rows at about 3 feet apart, and not more than twelve plants 
in each, heavier crops would have been almost certain. Grown thickly 
the plants smother each other, and many of the fruits that set are 
frequently hollow and weigh lightly. No fresh soil need be brought in 
this winter, but we would advise trenching and well mixing the old 
soil; also that it be made moderately firm prior to planting. If, when 
the plants are cropping heavily, they give signs of having exhausted the 
border, apply a mulching of short manure and use liquid manure freely. 
Nothing will be gained by lowering the bot-water pipes. If they 
warmed the border, where close on them, to the extent of benefiting the 
plants, the difference in the crops would have shown this. There was 
no necessity to make the wall plates perfectly level. The houses could 
have run with the ground, the side walls being of a uniform height 
throughout, and the roofs set a little out of the perpendicular or against 
the slight fall of the ground. 
A Good Bresslngr for Fruit Trees (A. G. S.). —Gas tar is 
injurious to the bark of all except very old trees, and it often does 
considerable damage to the roots, as more or less tar water is washed 
down to them. It is, however, an excellent insecticide, and in mixture 
with clay has no deleterious effect on the bark. The following is 
an excellent wash for fruit tree stems and limbs ; Take quicklime, 
freshly burned and light lumps, slake and prepare as for an ordinary 
whitewash, in an old barrel or tub. Of this take enough at a time to 
make a pail two-thirds full and the proper consistency for ordinary 
whitewashing, Now add one part of gas tar, 1 lb. of softsoap, and 
dissolve 1 lb. of pearlash in about 1 quart of water, adding to the 
mixture ; then add clay enough to make (with water added) the 
bucketful (4 gallons) of wash of proper consistence to be applied with 
a whitewash brush. Apply during mild weather, and while the trees 
are quite dormant, to the large limbs and trunk down to the ground or 
roots. The wash will destroy all insects and outgrowths of lichen and 
moss, and give the trees a bright, clean, healthy appearance. It will 
also drive out borers or kill them, and moths will not deposit eggs on 
the trees during the same season, nor will rodent animals girdle trees 
where the dressing is used. For the looper caterpillars you should use 
Paris green just before the buds unfold, and again before the blossoms 
expand, but not by syringing, as that is certain to give an overdose, 
but by a proper spraying apparatus. 
Cockscomb Culture (^Inquirer). —Mr. A. Young has given con¬ 
cisely the chief points to be attended to in growing these plants. He 
very truly says it is of the first importance to obtain a good strain of 
seed, as some of the strains are worthless; and the next thing is to 
iprovide a good manure frame, as the plants will not do at all well in a hot- 
water heated structure. The seed may be sown the first week in 
March, and plunged in the frame, which should have a minimum 
temperature of 70°, and the plants must be kept in this temperature all 
’through their growing season. After the seeds have germinated place 
the pots near the glass to prevent the young seedlings from becoming 
drawn. When strong enough transfer the plants to 60-size pots, placing 
the stems as low as possible, in a compost of two parts turfy loam, one 
of leaf soil, and a little sand. Keep them plunged close to the glass 
until they have finished growing. Keep them in these pots until the 
'flower heads appear, and then repot in 48-size pots in the following 
compost : Two parts turfy loam, one part leaf soil, and one part well- 
decayed cow manure, with a liberal sprinkling of charcoal and sand. 
After they have filled these with roots transfer them into 8 or 9-inch 
pots, which must be well drained. When the plants are well rooted 
supply them with warm liquid manure until they have attained their 
full size, when they should be hardened and removed to the greenhouse. 
Under the treatment described, heads have been grown measuring more 
than 80 inches from tip to tip, these almost curling over to the rims of 
the pots, the foliage of great substance, and very dark in colour. 
Hibiscus sinensis {Tom 2J.) —When your plant has commenced 
growth potting should be done if needed. Turn the plant out of its 
pot, removing carefully a portion of the old ball ; then place it in the 
same or a larger pot, using a compost of good fibry loam, a little leaf 
mould, and about a seventh of decayed manure, with sufficient sand to 
make the whoie porous. After potting plunge in bottom heat, and 
water carefully until the roots are growing freely in the new compost. 
The plant should be grown as close to the glass as possible to keep the 
growths dwarf and sturdy, instead of drawing up tall and weak. It is 
important if you are to flower this plant profusely that you keep it in as 
light a position as possible to solidify the growth as it is made. When 
the shoots have attained a length of 6 inches to 1 foot in length they 
must be tied out to form the base of the specimen. The strongest may 
be brought lowest so as to give the weaker ones a chance. If any shoots 
take the lead of the rest pinch them until your specimen is well 
furnished with shoots all in the same stages of development. 
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. 
{Reader). —1, Cyperus nepalensis ; 2, Anthericum variegatum ; 3, Wood- 
wardia radicans. {Sunbeam). —A, Freesia refracta alba ; B, Possibly 
Grevillea robusta, specimen withered. {T, P.). — 1, Cypripedium 
villoium ; 2, A variety of Odontoglossum grande. {R. D. J.). —Your 
specimens, through inefficient packing, were quite dead. Read the 
rules above, and then send again. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
W. Bull, King’s Road, Chelsea.— Catalogue of Seeds. 
A. B. Greenfield, 10, North Street, Wandsworth.— Seed Catalogue, 
Hender & Sons, Plymouth.— Seed and Plant Catalogue. 
F. Sander & Co., St. Albans.— List of New Orchids. 
Louis Van Houtte, Pere, Ghent, General Plant and Seed 
List. 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET.— Febeuaby 13th. 
Market at a standstill. No buyers owing to the continued frost. 
FEtriT. 
8. 
d 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d 
Apples, per half sieve 
1 
6 
to 4 
6 
Lemons, case .10 
0 to 15 
0 
„ Nova Scotia, per 
Peaches, per doz.0 
0 
0 
0 
barrel. 
10 
0 
21 
0 
Plums, half sieve .. .. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes, per lb. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each ., 2 
0 
6 
0 
Gobs, per 100 lbs. 
20 
0 
21 
0 
Strawberries per lb.0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
• 
8. 
d. 
s. d. 
a. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. .. 
0 
10 
to 1 
0 
Mustard and Oress, punnet 0 
2 
to 0 
0 
Beet, Red, dosen. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, hnshftl .. S 
6 
4 
0 
Oarrots, bunch. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Parsley, dozen bunches .. 2 
0 
3 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Parsnips, dozen. 1 
0 
0 
6 
Oelery, bundle . 
1 
0 
1 
3 
Potatoes, per owt.2 
0 
4 
0 
Ooleworts, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy, bundle.1 
0 
1 
6 
Oucumbers, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakaie, per basket .. 1 
3 
1 
9 
Endive, dozen .. 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Scorzouera, bundle .. .. 1 
b 
U 
0 
Herbs, bunch . 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Shallot.s, p«r Ih.0 
3 
0 
0 
Leeks, bunch . 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel.1 
6 
3 
(1 
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 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE 
PRICES.—OUT FLOWERS.—Orchid Blooms in variety. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
e. 
d 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
4 
0 
to 6 
0 
Poinsettia, dozen blooms ., 4 
0 
to 6 
0 
Azalea, dozen sprays .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Pyrethrum, dozen bunches 2 
0 
4 
0 
Asparagus Fern, per bunch 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Roses (indoor ), dozen .. 0 
6 
1 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch ,. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
„ Tea, white, dozen .. 0 
6 
2 
0 
Oarnations, 12 blooms 
1 
6 
3 
0 
„ Yellow, dozen ., .. 2 
0 
3 
0 
Chrysanthemums,doz,bchs. 
4 
0 
12 
0 
„ Safrano (English),doz. 1 
3 
2 
0 
„ doz. blooms 
1 
0 
4 
0 
., MaiAchal Niel, doz... 3 
0 
6 
0 
Daffodils, (dbl.),d07. bchs. 
16 
0 
18 
0 
„ (French), yellow, doz. 
„ (siugle), doz. bchs. 
24 
0 
30 
0 
blooms . 1 
6 
2 
0 
Bucharis, dozen . 
4 
0 
6 
0 
„ (French), Red, dozen 
Gardenias, per dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
blooms .2 
0 
9 
6 
Geranium, scarlet, doz. 
Smilax, per bunch .. .. 4 
0 
6 
0 
bunches . 
G 
0 
8 
0 
Stephanotis, dozen sprays 4 
0 
6 
0 
Lilac (French) per bunch 
6 
0 
6 
6 
Tuberoses. 12 blooms.. .. 0 
4 
0 
6 
Lilium longiflorum, per 
Violets (English), dozen 
dozen . 
C 
0 
9 
0 
bunches. 1 
6 
2 
6 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Violets (French), Parme, 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
per bunch . 5 
0 
6 
0 
bunches . 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Violets (French), Czar, per 
Orchids, per dozen blooms 
1 
6 
12 
0 
bunch . 2 
0 
4 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Violets (French), Victoria, 
Primula (dbl.), doz. sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
dozen bunches . 1 
0 
6 
Q 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
8« 
d. 
6 . 
d. 
8 . 
d. 
8 . 
d. 
Arbor Vit® (golden) dozen 
6 
0 to 12 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen .. 4 
Oto 18 
0 
Aspidistra, per dozen 
18 
0 
36 
0 
(small'i per hundred 4 
0 
6 
0 
Aspidistra, specimen ant 
5 
0 
10 
6 
Ficus elastica, each .. .. 1 
0 
7 
0 
Chrysanthemums, per doz. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each 2 
0 
10 
0 
,, large, per doz. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Lycopodiums, per dozen . . 3 
0 
4 
0 
Oyclamen, per dozen 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen . , 6 
0 
12 
0 
Dracffina, various, dozen ,. 
12 
0 
30 
0 
Myrtles, dozen .6 
0 
9 
0 
Drac®na viridis, dozen .. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Palms, in var., each ., .. 1 
0 
16 
0 
Erica, various, per dozen ,. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
„ (specimens) .. ..21 
0 
63 
0 
Euonvmus, var., dozen .. 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Poinsettia, per dozen .. 10 
0 
15 
0 
Evergreens, in var., per 
Primulas, per dozen .. .. 4 
0 
6 
0 
dozen . 
6 
0 
24 
Solanums, per dozen .. ,. 10 
0 
12 
0 
