Harch 22, 1894 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
231 
stacking: Manure (IF. B. H .').—If you raise a station of soil 
6 inches thick, and on this stack the manure, also spread 2 or 3 inches of 
soil on every layer of about 1 foot thick, then cover the heap with soil, 
there will be small loss of ammonia, and by turning the whole heap, 
including the soil at the base, you will have a good compost for use 
in the autumn or when needed. 
Catkin (Ignoramus '),—A catkin is a form of inflorescence consisting 
of a number of scales called bracts arranged on a spike, each bearing 
a unisexual flower, as illustrated in the tassel-like male flowers of the 
Willow, the Nut, and the Poplar. A catkin is not a perfect flower. We 
presume this is what you desire to know ; but your card was evidently 
written hurriedly, and the terms are somewhat ambiguous. 
Beetles In a Tomato House (C. G .).—The examples sent are, 
as you surmised, one of the click beetles, the larvm of which, as 
“ wireworms,” are so frequently destructive, this particular species 
being Agriotes or Elater obscurus. It is not the common species to 
which the name wireworm more specially applies, yet also injurious, as 
you have found it to be, though its occurrence on this Tomato is some¬ 
what unusual. Trapping the larvm or grubs is certainly a good plan of 
thinning their numbers ; also the destruction of the mature insect. The 
mischief done by this group of insects is intensified by the fact that, 
though small, they live and feed in the larval stage for two, or even 
three, years. Though the usual time for the beetles to emerge is July 
or August, a portion of a brood will occasionally be found in spring, 
their development being hastened by a warm summer and autumn 
preceding. 
Prunlngr Clematis (Idem ).—The Clematis does not appear to have 
made much growth, and the soil must either be poor or have been very 
dry last summer. Shorten the stem about one-fourth or a little more— 
that is, if there are buds on it, as there should be, and spread a layer of 
manure 3 inches thick on the soil over the roots, covering the ground 
2 feet from the stem in all directions, and give water copiously once a 
week in hot weather. If the ground is dry and poor now give a good 
soaking with liquid manure, soot water being excellent. Allow the 
mulching to remain and decay. 
Strawberry Plants Unsatisfactory (T. L .).—The pistillate parts 
■of the flowers of Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury are imperfectly formed 
and developed, indeed, they are nearly sterile, and the fruit can only set 
badly if at all though the anthers laden with pollen. It is a peculiarity 
of the strong-growing and later form of Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, 
which is not such a good forcer as the dwarfer growing sort sometimes 
called Garibaldi. The plant is quite healthy, and the disaster is solely 
due to variety, over-luxuriance, and the want of thorough ripening and 
formation of the crowns. Had the plants been started a little later, 
and not been brought on too rapidly, the fruits would have set very much 
better. If you have any more plants bring them on more slowly, 
preferably in a cool house or one with a temperature of 40° to 45° at 
night, 50° by day artificially, and you will be well rewarded for the 
patience. The other plant, Auguste Nicaise, a poor sample of that 
fine variety, is blind, that is, it has not formed any flower buds in 
embryo, and cannot possibly throw up any trusses. It is one of those 
vagaries in Strawberries against which growers cannot be too careful 
in safeguarding themselves by layering runners only from fruitful 
plants. The plant is very unlike the true Auguste Nicaise, which is 
much more downy-leaved, also altogether more compact and sturdy 
in habit, being larger and highly coloured fruit. 
Treatment of Ferns (F. D .).—You are right in assuming that 
much more peat is used in the compost for these plants than is really 
necessary. The cost of good peat after it has been conveyed a long dis¬ 
tance by rail is a considerable item annually where plants are grown 
on a large scale. Many Ferns grow equally well in good loam, rough 
leaf mould that has laid for twelve months, and sand, with the addition 
of sandstone broken to pieces, or soft bricks. Large plants in many 
cases do not need potting more often than every second year. When 
large plants of Davallia Mooreana begin to be bare or crowded with old 
rhizomes the plants should be broken up and repotted. They lose a few 
fronds, but soon recover and grow all the better afterwards. Large 
plants may be potted every second year, cutting away a few of the old 
rhizomes so as to work a little fresh soil amongst them, and they soon 
start into growth again and grow vigorously. This Fern does not need 
deep root room, and large shallow pans for it are infinitely better than 
pots. It makes a splendid basket Fern were plenty of room can be 
given it. If pieces are planted in baskets 18 inches over, the rhizomes 
will soon creep all round it and prove more effective suspended from 
the roof than a plant in either a pan or pot. Microlepia hirta cristata is 
a useful decorative Fern, but the stove is too warm for it. In too much 
beat it soon becomes a prey to scale. The roots of large plants can with¬ 
out injury be reduced, and in a short time they soon grow vigorously 
again. This Fern usually produces a number of small crowns, which 
at potting time should be taken off and potted singly. They make 
handsome plants for decoration in 5 and 6-inch pots, and if well hardened 
they stand in good condition for a long time. Plants that have been 
used for this purpose soon start again into growth, when they can be 
cut into two or three and grown on for the same purpose again. Stove 
Adiantums will do in the same compost, and strong growers will bear 
the reduction of their roots without much injury, where this must be 
done to keep them healthy in the same size pots. The more delicate the 
variety the greater should be the care in reducing them. All Ferns 
that it is necessary to increase in size should be placed into larger pots 
without disturbing their roots. 
Bouble-spathed Arums (Rlchardlas) — (B, 4 ' &)•—The 
specimen you send is very far from being new to us. We have had 
many of the same nature sent to us from time to time during the past 
ten years. The large spathe is very fine, nearly 7 inches wide, and over 
10 inches long. The plant must have been well grown. We have heard 
that similar examples (two-spathersj are only produced under high 
cultivation, but do not know whether the statement is correct or not. 
Perhaps some of our readers can supply information. We have received 
a similar specimen from Mr. W. E. Tidy, which he thinks is a novelty. 
Probably it is in his locality, but judging from the many examples that 
have been sent to us we suspect there must be hundreds of double- 
spathed Arums in the country. 
Tke Cucumber Tree (II. F.). —We have before said that this 
popular name is applied to the Averrhoa Bilimbi, a native of Goa and 
other parts of the East Indies, and is now cultivated in South America. 
The tree is only about 8 feet high, and produces a beautiful green, 
smooth, fleshy fruit, of the size and shape of a small Cucumber. Kheede 
says that the fruit when ripe is excellent to eat, but when unripe they 
are preserved with sugar, or vinegar and brine, and although it should 
be of an agreeable acid flavour when ripe, yet before they are ripe they 
are excessively sour. Burman says they contain a grateful acid juice, 
from which a syrup is made, and a conserve of the flowers, which are 
esteemed excellent in fevers and bilious disorders. Kumphius seems to 
think that, even when fully ripened, the fruit can never be eaten raw, 
but is only used to cook fish, fowl, and other viands, to give them an 
agreeable acidity, in the same way as we use sorrel and verjuice ; they 
are pickled in brine and eaten as we do olives or capers in conjunction 
with meats ; and preserved in sugar, or with a little saffron, they are 
recommended to be eaten by those who go sea voyages. 
Hames 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. 
(Hoivarth, Sheffield). —1, Coelogyne cristata. 2, An Oncidium, but 
specimen insufficient for positive identification, possibly an extra good 
form of sphacelatum ; 3, Selaginella Emiliana. (J. B, S. F.) — 
Helleborus foetidus. (H. P. B.). —Magnolia conspicua. (A. F.).— 
Cypripedium barbatum. (X. Y, Z.). — 1, Platycerium alcicorne. 2, 
P. Wallichi. (Reader). —Allium neapolitanum. (B. C.). —1, Deutzia 
crenata flora-pleno. 2, Amygdalus communis. (F, S.). — Acacia 
Drummondi. (Hester).—!, Adiantum tenerum. 2, A. Bausei, 3, 
Davallia Mooreana. 4, Selaginella Willdenovi. 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET.— Maech 21ST. 
Market quiet, with a slack demand f@r house vegetables. Grapes gradually 
rising in value. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Apples, per bushel .. .. 2 
6 
to 9 
0 
Lemons, case . 
10 
Oto 15 
0 
,, Nova Scotia, per 
Peaches, per doz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
barrei.12 
0 
24 
0 
Plums, per half sieve ,. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cobs .45 
0 
0 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each .. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Grapes per lb.1 
0 
3 
0 
Strawberries per lb. 
4 
0 
10 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
3. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Asparagus, per bundle .. 7 
0 to 8 
0 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 
0 
2 
to 0 
0 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. .. 0 
6 
1 
0 
Onions, bushel. 
Parsley, dozen bunches .. 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen.1 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Carrots, bunch .. .. .. 0 
3 
0 
4 
Parsnips, dozen. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. .. 2 
0 
4 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
2 
0 
4 
6 
Celery, bundle .1 
0 
1 
3 
Salsafy, bundle .. ., ,. 
1 
0 
1 
5 
Coleworts, dozen bunches 2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera, bundle .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Cucumbers, dozen .. .. 2 
0 
6 
0 
Seakale, per basket .. ,. 
1 
3 
1 
8 
Endive,'dozen .1 
3 
1 
6 
Shallots, per lb. 
0 
3 
e 
0 
Herbs, bunch .0 
3 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Leeks, bunch .0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Lettuce, dozen.0 
9 
1 
0 
Turnips, bunch. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet .. .. 0 
9 
1 
0 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE 
PRICES.—OUT FLOWERS. 
Orchid Blooms in variety. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d 
8. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms ,. 1 
6 
to 3 
0 
Narciss, White (French), 
Azalea, dozen sprays.. .. 0 
4 
0 
6 
dozen bunches. 
3 
0 
to 5 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 0 
6 
1 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Camellias, dozen blooms .. 0 
9 
2 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 1 
6 
3 
0 
bunches. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Daflodil or Lent Lily .. 1 
6 
2 
0 
Primula (double), dozen 
0 
0 
„ double.2 
0 
3 
0 
sprays. 
6 
1 
„ single.2 
6 
9 
0 
Primroses, doz. bunches .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Eucharis, dozen.2 
0 
4 
0 
Pyrethrum, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Gardenias, per dozen ,. 6 
0 
9 
0 
Roses (indoor), dozen .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Hyacinths, dozen spikes .. 2 
0 
4 
0 
„ Tea, white, dozen ., 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Hyacinth, Roman, dozen 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
Roses (French), per dozen 
2 
0 
4 
(1 
sprays . 2 
0 
6 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Lilac (French) per bunch 2 
6 
4 
0 
Roses, Safrano (English), 
0 
Lilies of the Valley, dozen 
per dozen. 
2 
0 
3 
sprays . 0 
6 
1 
0 
Roses, Mardchal Neil, per 
0 
6 
0 
Liliumlongiflorum,perdoz. 3 
0 
6 
0 
dozen . 
3 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
Snowdrops, doz. bunches,. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
bunches.4 
0 
6 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 2 
0 
4 
0 
Tulips, dozen blooms 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches ,. 3 
0 
6 
0 
Violets, Parme (French), 
Myosotis or Forget-me- 
per bunch. 
2 
0 
3 
6 
nots, dozen bunches .. 3 
0 
6 
0 
Violets, Czar (French), per 
0 
Narciss, Yellow (French), 
bunch . 
2 
2 
6 
dozen bunches.1 
6 
2 
G 
Violets (English), dozen 
Orchids, per dozen blcoms 1 
0 
9 
0 
bunches. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
