April 18, 199S. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
349 
Mentzellas (T. P.).—These plants are hardy, annual, biennial, or 
perennial herbaceous plants, the flowers being orange or white, solitary, 
racemose or cymose, opening only during sunshine. They grow 1 to 
2 feet high or more in rich soil. The species are showy and well worth 
growing. Any ordinary garden soil suits them, and the seed may be 
sown early in April where it is to remain ; but in dealing with doubtful 
species it is desirable to raise the plants in gentle heat in spring, and 
when the seedlings are sufficiently large they should be placed singly 
into small, well drained pots, keeping them near to the light, not too 
close and not giving too much water. Some of the seedlings could 
be planted out, others kept in pots and wintered, if not annuals, on a 
dry shelf in a cool greenhouse or protected frame, planting out the 
fallowing spring after well hardened. 
Grubs in Turf for Potting Purposes (P J. M. DyTte ').— 
The “caterpillars” are the grubs known as leather-jackets,the larvae of 
the daddy longlegs or crane fly (Tipula oleracea). They feed on the 
roots of grasses and many other plants, gnawing the stems just below 
the surface of the ground, and thereby totally, or according to the 
damage, destroying the crop. The grubs are extremely difficult to kill by 
means of chemicals, the safest being nitrate of soda, the soil being spread 
about 1 foot thick and an ounce per square yard sprinkled on it, letting 
lie a few days and then turning. Another plan is to use traps of pieces 
of Carrot, Mangold Wurfzel, Potato, or Turnip affixed to sticks and sunk 
a few inches within the heap. These baits must be examined every day 
for a few days, and then every other day, the grubs found attached to 
them being removed and destroyed. By continuing this process, 
renewing the baits as required, the heap may be freed of the grubs, as 
they will make for the surface of the stack in quest of food. 
Tuberous-rooted Begonias (,7. P. A'.).—We expect to see thou¬ 
sands of Begonia plants raised from seed sown a month or two ago 
flowering beautifully this season, both in pots and planted out in flower 
beds. Grown well, under suitable conditions, the plants cannot help 
flowering the first season. Stout short-jointed cuttings, neither too soft 
nor too firm, root readily in a mixture of sand and leaf soil or cocoa-nut 
fibre refuse, with the pots plunged in a gentle hotbed of 80° or 85°, in a 
frame or other suitable place having a temperature of 60° or 65°, not 
overwatering, yet affording adequate moisture. Daily sprinklings are 
fatal to success if the soil is dry below. Cuttings root freely in the 
summer inserted in light soil under hand-lights in a shaded position in 
the garden ; indeed, many are rooted without the aid of glass. The less 
the plants are shaded the better, a little tiffany usually sufficing. In 
some houses they grow fairly well under light permanent shade, such as 
that from summer cloud. The most luxuriant and floriferous plants in 
open air beds are not artificially shaded, but have abundance of roots 
working freely in rich moist soil. 
Sowing Khododendron Seeds (F. TF,).—For the sowing of 
these seeds peat should be broken up and placed in a cold frame to the 
/ depth of about 2 inches, that placed on the top being very fine. The 
■' surface must be pressed down and made as level and even as possible, 
and the seed sown towards the end of this month. It must not be 
covered, but after sowing give a good watering with a fine-rose can. 
Great care must be taken that the surface never approaches dryness, not 
even after the seedlings appear. The lights of the frame in which the 
feed is sown should be whitewashed and kept close to prevent evapora¬ 
tion, and even when this is done it will be necessary to lay mats over 
the frame during very bright weather. As soon as the surface of the 
soil is green a little air must be admitted to prevent the seedlings 
damping off. They must be gradually exposed to light and air until the 
lights can be drawn off. This should be done at first during dull or 
showery weather, but care must be taken that the soil in which the 
plants are growing does not become saturated. When the seedlings are 
large enough, say during the early part of July, they should be pricked 
off into other frames or boxes, where they can be shaded until estab¬ 
lished, and protected with lights during the winter. It is not neces¬ 
sary to prick off the seedlings singly ; on the contrary, they may be 
transplanted in little patches, leaving an inch or a little more clear 
space between each patch of plants. The next season they will fill 
up this space. They should remain undisturbed during the winter, 
giving them the protection of mats or fern during severe weather. 
In spring, when all fear of frost is passed, the young plants may be 
transplanted 6 inches apart, so that a small hoe can be used amongst 
them. 
KTames of Plants.—We only undertake to name species of plants, 
not varieties that have originated from seeds 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. 
(J. I).'). —1, Celsia arcturus ; 2, Dendrobium Devonianum; 3, Fabiana 
imbricata ; 4, Grevillea robusta, ((?. i)/.). — Polygala Dalmaisiana. 
(^Oxon,'). —1, Coelogyne ocellata ; 2, Oxalis rosea ; 3, Coelogyne barbata ; 
4, A very good form of Lycaste Skinneri alba. (^Amateur ).—Through 
inefficient packing all your specimens were dead when they reached us ; 
send fresh examples, packing as directed in the above rules, and we 
shall be glad to assist you. (^Kemo ).— 1, Schomburgkia crispa; 2, 
Oncidium fiexuosum; 3, Dendrobium Farmeri. (E. B.'). —Vanda suavis. 
(F. F. IF.).—1, Cibotium princeps ; 2, Cyathea Smithi ; 3, Poly podium, 
possibly verucosum ; 4, Athyrinm Filix-foemina orbiculare ; 5 and 6, 
varieties of Dendrobium nobile. —A sub-species of Moisea, 
called Homeria, and very nearly allied to the Iris. 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 17rH 
il.iRKEl' very quiet, with prices practically unaltered. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, per half sieve 
,, Nova Scotia, 
per 
Oobs, per 100 lbs. 
Beans, Kidney, per ib. . 
Beet, Bed, dozen. 
Carrots, bunch. 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. . 
Oeiery, bundle. 
Ooleworts, dozen bunches 
Cucumbers, dozen .. . 
Endive, dozen . 
Herbs, bunch .. .. . 
Leeks, bunch . 
Lettuce, dozen. 
Mushrooms, punnet .. . 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms 
Azalea, dozen sprays ,. ., 
Asparagus Fern, per bunch 
Bouvardias, bunch .. 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
Daffodils, (dbl.),doz. bchs. 
„ (single), doz.bohj. 
Eucharis, dozen .. . 
Gardenias, dozen 
Geranium, scarlet, 
bunches. 
Lilac (French) per bunch 
Lilium longiflorum, dozen 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
bunches. 
Orchids, dozen blooms .. 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
Primula (double), dozen 
sprays . 
f. d. 
8. d. 
s. d. 
3. 
(1. 
I 6 to 4 6 
Grapes, per lb. 
1 6 to 
3 
G 
Lemons, case .10 0 
15 
<1 
10 0 
21 0 
St. Michael Pines, each 
2 0 
K 
0 
20 0 
21 0 1 
Strawberries, per lb. 
2 0 
6 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
a. d. 
S. d. 
0. d. 
fl. 
d. 
1 6 
to 2 0 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 
0 2 to 
0 
U 
1 0 
0 0 
Onions, bushel . 
3 6 
4 
0 
0 3 
0 4 
Parsley, dozen bunches .. 
2 U 
3 
0 
3 0 
6 0 
Parsnips, dozen .. . . . . 
1 0 
0 
6 
1 0 
1 3 
Potatoes, per cwt . 
2 0 
4 
0 
2 0 
4 0 
Salsafy, bundle . 
1 0 
1 
S 
2 0 
5 0 
Seakale, per basket . 
1 G 
2 
3 
1 3 
1 6 
Scorzonera, bundle .. .. 
1 6 
0 
0 3 
0 0 
Shallots, per lb . 
0 3 
0 
0 
0 2 
0 0 
Spinach, bushel . 
0 0 
0 
" 
0 9 
1 0 
Tomatoes.per lb. 
0 2 
0 
G 
0 9 
1 0 
Turnips, bunch. 
0 3 
0 
4 
PRICES.—CUT FLOWERS.—Orchid Blooms 
in variety. 
8. d. 
8. d. 
s. d. 
8. 
d. 
4 0 
to 6 0 
1 Roses (indoor), dozen 
0 6 to 1 
0 
0 6 
1 0 
„ Tea, white, dozen 
1 6 
2 
G 
2 0 
3 0 
i „ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
2 0 
3 
U 
0 6 
1 0 
„ Safrano (English), 
2 0 
3 0 
! dozen. 
2 0 
3 
0 
2 6 
3 6 
■ „ (French), yellow, doz. 
3 0 
4 0 
1 blooms. 
1 6 
0 
4 0 
6 0 
„ (French), Red, dozen 
3 0 
4 0 
blooms . 
2 0 
6 
Smilax, per bunch ,. .. 
4 0 
6 
0 
6 0 
9 9 
Tuberoses. 12 blooms.. 
u 4 
0 
6 
6 0 
1 6 
6 U 
0 6 
6 
6 
3 
8 
12 
9 
1 0 
Violets (English), dozen 
bunches. 
Violets (French), Parme, 
per bunch . 
Violets (French), Czar, per 
bunch . 
Violets (French), Victoria, 
dozen bunches.2 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
Arbor Vitae (golden) dozen 6 
Aspidistra, dozen .. ..18 
Aspidistra, specimen plant 5 
Azaleas, each .3 
Cinerarias, per doz.9 
Cyclamen, dozen .. .. 9 
Dracaena, various, dozen .. 12 
Dracaena viridis, dozen .. 9 
Erica, various, dozen .. 9 
Euonymus, var., dozen .. 6 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 6 
Fern? in variety, dozen .. 4 
d. s. d. 
0 to 12 0 
0 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
36 0 
10 6 
4 0 
12 0 
12 0 
30 0 
18 0 
18 0 
18 0 
24 0 
18 0 
Ferns (small) per hundied 
Ficus elastica, each .. .. 
Foliage plants, var., each 
Genistas, per dozen .. .. 
Hyacinths, dozen .. .. 
Lycopodiums, dozen .. .. 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
Myrtles, dozen .6 
Palms, in var., each ., .. 1 
„ (specimens) .. ,.21 0 
Primulas, doze-n.4 0 
8 . 
4 
1 
2 
9 
9 
3 
9 
d. 8. d. 
0 to 6 0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
7 0 
10 0 
12 0 
12 0 
4 0 
12 0 
9 0 
15 0 
63 0 
6 0 
MANGOLDS. 
Varieties of Mangolds are steadily increasing, and tte 
choice of sorts, which once lay between the Yellow Globe and 
Long Red, now ranges over nearly a score of sorts enumerated 
by some of the great seed firms. Though this multiplicity of 
sorts is somewhat of a nuisance, and may not point to any 
material improvement in the root itself, it is undoubtedly a sign 
of its popularity and increasing usefulness. For general 
practice it is considered that Long Red answers best for deep 
rich loams, Yellow Globe having preference for more shallow 
soils. In our practice we pay no heed to this, as we have 
invariably had full crops of both types by the process of lidging 
described last week. To select one kind as worthy of piefer- 
ence for general cultivation we may take kuttons G Iden 
Tankard as excelling in bulk of crop, quality of roots, and early 
maturity, such points being remarkable only under real y sound 
cultivation, and we muY not be understood to recommend this 
safe and excellent sort to the exclusion of all others. 
So important do we know early sowing to be, that we 
must again call particular attention to it. If, as we strongly 
recommend, the seeds are sown by the third week of April, 
the soil then retains sufficient moisture to insure quick 
