532 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 13,1895. 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE 
PRIOES 
— 
OUT FLOWERS.—Orchid Blooms in variety 
B 
d 
B. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
«. 
d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms ,. 
4 
0 to 
6 
U 
Pansies, various, dozen 
Azalea, dozen sprays .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
bunches. 
1 
0 
to 2 
0 
Asparagus Fern, per bunch 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
6 
u 
9 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Primula(double), doz. spy?. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Ranunculus, doz. bunches 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Euoharis, dozen. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Gardenias, dozen 
3 
0 
4 
0 
„ Moss (French) per doz. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Geranium, scarlet, doz. 
,, Tea, white, dozen 
1 
6 
2 
6 
bunches. 
4 
0 
6 
ft 
„ Yellow, dozen (Niels) 
3 
u 
6 
u 
Lilac (French) per bunch 
3 
6 
4 
6 
„ Safrano (English), 
Lilium candidum, dozen 
dozen. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
blooms . 
1 
0 
2 
0 
„ Yellow, dozen blooms 
1 
6 
2 
(1 
Lilium longiflorum, dozen 
3 
(t 
4 
u 
„ Red, dozen blooms .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
1 
c 
3 
0 
Smilax, per bunch 
4 
0 
6 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
Spirasa, dozen bunches .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
bunches . 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Stephanotis, dozen sprays 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Orchids, dozen blooms ,. 
1 
6 
12 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. .. 
u 
4 
0 
6 
SWINE. 
‘‘ Buy when live stock is cheap, sell when it is dear,’’ is a 
trade maxim which might be applied to swine now with advan¬ 
tage. For a longer time than usual pigs have been so h'gh in 
price that breeders have found them very profitable; but the 
usual reaction has come again at last, and store pigs have fallen 
to a nominal price. At two markets recently we have bought 
sturdy little “stores” at 12s. apiece. We could take almost an 
unlimited number of really healthy pigs at that price for our 
corn farms, giving them a run on grass near the homestead with 
just enough corn to keep them in fair growing condition till the 
corn stubbles are ready. 
As they come off the stubbles they are pushed on for market 
briskly, most of them being sold as “ light bacons ” or 
“ middles.” These are pigs in prime condition, with a range in 
weight from 130 lbs. to 190 lbs , and with a thickness of fat not 
exceeding 2j inches in any part of the back. Such pigs com¬ 
mand the highest prices from the best bacon firms if consigned 
to them by the truckload of twenty-five pigs. They will 
purchase others at special quotations up to a maximum 
weight of 240 lbs and a back fat thickness of not more 
than 3 inches, the price falling with every 20 lbs in weight over 
190 lbs. and with a proportionately greater thickness of fat, 
but they will not quote for heavier pigs in quantity. 
This is an aspect of the pig trade with which farmers 
generally are unacquainted Our special object in mentioning 
it is to urge on their attention the true importance and 
profit of striving for a share of the big wholesale trade in the 
prime light and middle bacon pigs which we have described. 
To take full advantage of it, or, in point of fact, of the pig trade 
at all, the breeding, selection, and classification of swine must 
be more systematic and on a much larger scale. In this, as 
in most other farm produce on which a profit is still possible 
we want regular consignments by the truckload from rural 
districts; we should then cease to hear complaints of preferen¬ 
tial railway rates because they would cease to exist. It is 
simply because most imported farm produce can be handled in 
bulk with such ease and so quickly that the railway rates for it 
are so low. But this is a matter which must be dealt with in 
another article. 
Turning now to the question of breeding, we would have 
middle whites or a good cross for porkers, and Tamworths for 
bacons. The beneficial effect of judicious cross-breeding is 
simply marvellous. Berkshire or Suffolk sows crossed with a 
pedigree middle white boar give excellent porkers, on which 
a profit is always possible. Porkers of 50 or 60 lbs., and bacons 
of about three times that weight, are profitable pigs. Have no 
sows that are unsatisfactory in any way. Begin breeding at 
the age of six months, and as fast as possible subsequently. 
After the first farrow a sow should average at least twenty pigs 
a year, but it should not be kept for breeding when it becomes 
very big and unwieldly. As to the number of sows, we should 
like to have seen very many more of them during the two years 
of high prices through which we have just gone. It is certain 
that in 1892 when pigs were so cheap they proved very profitable 
to those who had the wit to buy cheap in the autumn of that 
year and sell in the spring of 1893, when they became very dear. 
With corn so cheap we certainly do not think it advisable to 
reduce the number of sows now—rather would we take advantage 
of a cheap market to add to their number. 
Always have before you the risk of swine fever, and not only 
keep sty and litter thoroughly clean, but pay heed to the 
dietary, which change occasionally. If the sow and pigs cannot 
have a run out on grass give them such green food or roots as 
the season affords, a few coal cinders occasionally, also some 
Thorley’s condimental food, and above all constant attention. 
WOBK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Mangolds generally appear to be a full, strong plant, and we have 
seen much singling and hoeing being done among them during the past 
week. Continuous Mangold growing is done on the sewage farm 
at Luton with complete success, the crop every year being a fine 
one. In 1892 it was remarkably so, but then and always the narrow 
beds were enriched and moistened by the sewage with which the 
trenches between the beds are kept filled. The obvious lesson is not 
merely immunity from drought by such a system of irrigation, but alsa 
how, when soil fertility is as fully sustained as this is, Mangolds or any 
other crop may be grown in it to perfection continuously. 
Wild Mustard is rampant more or less just now wherever we go. We 
have a small arable field lying fallow which is just a sheet of yellow 
with it. The flower petals are falling, and we intend having it well 
worked by the steam cultivator before the seed of the Mustard, Charlock, 
or Kedlock ripens at all. This has been an arable field for many years, 
and it would still be very useful for green crops or roots, but with the 
Charlock before we have decided to get it fairly clean this summer, and 
then lay it down to grass with a corn crop. To keep it in plough means- 
a long battle with the Charlock at a considerable outlay to very little 
purpose. Laid down to grass the pest is beaten, and the matter settled 
once for all. 
Dull weather has retarded the haymaking, but no harm has been 
done, as what thunder showers there has been were very local. Mixed 
seeds are a splendid crop, both Rye Grass and Cocksfoot being alike 
vigorous. Meadow grass comes on apace, and the Haymaking in all rich 
pasture south of the Trent will soon be general. Growth in poor 
meadows lags behind sadly, growth waits on rain as usual. If rain 
does not come soon there will be no mowing till the first weak growth 
that should have been the hay crop is getting brown and sere, and what 
should have been the aftermath has grown up among it. This sort of 
semi-failure is no new thing, but happens more or less yearly. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Oamden Square, London. 
Lat.51° 32'40" N.; Long. 0° 8^ 0" W.; Altitude 111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M, 
In the Day. 
S 
"Si 
P3 
1895. 
June. 
1 Barometer 
at 32°, and 
1 Sea Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Inohs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchs.. 
Sunday .. 
2 
29 921 
56-2 
51-4 
S.W. 
59-0 
65-4 
45-8 
103-3 
42-0 
— 
Monday .. 
3 
30117 
618 
54-9 
N. 
57 7 
78-0 
43-2 
12-1-3 
3S-4 
Tuesday .. 
4 
30-225 
60-2 
56-9 
N. 
59 2 
64-4 
55-4 
93-1 
55-1 
— 
Wednesday 
5 
30-330 
67-3 
65-2 
N. 
58-9 
72-7 
55-6 
111-1 
49-6 
— 
Thursday.. 
6 
30-309 
57-9 
52-8 
N.E. 
58-3 
67-4 
49-8 
117-0 
44-2 
— 
Friday 
7 
30-230 
64-9 
57-0 
N. 
58-9 
79-3 
49-7 
124-1 
44-7 
— 
Saturday ,. 
8 
30-170 
66-9 
589 
N. 
CO-4 
82-7 
49 7 
126-9 
43-1 
— 
30-186 
60-7 
55-3 
58-9 
72-6 
49-9 
114-8 
45-3 
REMARKS. 
2nd.—Fine all day, but brighter in the after part. 
3rd.—Bright, with hot sunshine till about 3 P.M.; overcast after, and drizzle in 
evening. 
4th.—Overcast all day, a little sunshine in evening. 
6th.—Drizzly early, and overcast morning ; generally sunny after 2.30 P.M. 
6th.—Generally overcast till 11 A.M. ; bright sunshine all afternoon, 
7th.—Brilliant throughout, with pleasant breeze. 
8th.—Bright and warm throughout. 
A uniformly fine week, but of variable temperature; the high maximum on. 
Saturday made the mean for the week slightly above the average.—G. J, Symons. 
