August 30, 1888. ]1 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
207 
in early spring giving a luxuriant growth of grass and freedom from 
ant hills, with which the land was much infested. 
Making- a rig Border {Subscriber ').—A border of 3 to 4| feet is 
ample for Figs that are to cover an ordinary width of trellis. It is neces¬ 
sary that it be well drained, a 4-inch drain being laid with proper fall 
and outlet to carry off superfluous water. Nine to twelve inches depth 
of drainage should be used, preferably chalk or brick and mortar rub¬ 
bish, roughest at the bottom and finest at the top. The border should 
be not less than 18 inches, and need not exceed 24 inches in depth. 
Good loam should form the staple of the compost, using the top few 
inches of ameliorated soil, and if possible with the turf. If of a cal¬ 
careous nature so much the better, and if inclined to be heavy rather 
than light all the better. If light, add clay marl to the extent of a 
fourth ; if very heavy add a fourth to a sixth of road scrapings. An 
addition of a sixth of old mortar rubbish freed of pieces of wood may 
be added whatever the nature of the soil may be, and a twentieth of 
steamed or crushed bones, the whole well incorporated, and the border 
made with the material moderately dry, so as to admit of its being 
well firmed. An allowance should be made of a few inches increased 
depth for setting. A feet width of border will be sufficient for the 
first two or three years. The cause of the fruit falling is usually due to 
immature wood—the want of sturdy, thoroughly solidified wood, stored 
with elaborated sap. It sometimes arises from over-luxuriance, which is 
fatal to successful fructification, and not infrequently to a check conse¬ 
quent on excessive evaporation and inadequate supplies of water or food. 
Odontoglossum vexillarium — Quassia Water {Reader ').— 
During the summer months this species will do fairly well with cool 
kinds such as 0. Alexandra;, 0. Pescatorei, and others. But from the 
beginning of October until May 0. vexillarium should not be in a lower 
temperature than 55° to 00° at night according to the weather, whether 
mild or the reverse ; the day temperature may rise 10° higher. In this 
temperature it will grow strongly, and is benefited by the cooler tem¬ 
perature of the cool Odontoglossum house from the time its growth is 
completed until October. The greatest success is attained by aiming at 
an intermediate temperature the whole year round. That suitable for 
Cattleyas is too warm for the species in question, and if grown witl\ 
them it is very liable to be attacked with yellow thrip. A temperature 
between that maintained in the Cattleya and the Odontoglossum house 
with plenty of moisture is what is really required. This plant should 
be well elevated above the rim of the pot and the pots abundantly 
drained. The material for potting may consist of the fibry portion of 
good peat and sphagnum moss in equal quantities, with lumps of charcoal 
freely intermixed. On the surface there should be a thick layer of 
living sphagnum moss, which should be encouraged to grow. If the 
moss is kept growing the plant roots freely and abundantly near the 
surface. If you place a quarter of a pound of quassia chips in a gallon 
of cold water and boil for about twenty minutes, then when cool add 
another gallon of water, or even more, the solution will destroy green 
fly on Roses. It may be used stronger if necessary. 
Culture of Alocasia metallica {L. M. S .).—The following note, 
contributed some time since by an experienced cultivator, will meet 
your requirements :—Very turfy peat and loam, broken up with the 
hand and mixed in equal proportions, with the addition of about a sixth 
part of the whole of well-rotted leaf mould, and a sprinkling of silver 
sand and charcoal broken up fine, is a compost that suits this Alonasia 
well. Supposing that you have a healthy young plant well established 
in a 6-inch pot and in need of a shift, it may safely be transferred into 
a 9-inch pot. The drainage should be carefully secured, and the crocks 
thinly covered with a layer of the most fibry part of the soil. The 
operation of shifting need not have anything peculiar about it different 
from any other free-growing plant. In placing the fresh soil round the 
ball be careful to preserve the-strong fleshy roots, and keep the bulbous- 
looking base of the plant rather high than otherwise. It requires a high 
stove temperature to grow it freely, and a moist atmosphere is indispens¬ 
able to a healthy development of the foliage. It should be placed near 
the glass, and carefully shaded from the direct rays of the sun for the 
greater part of the day from the 1st of April till the middle of October. 
To grow it with all the compactness and strength which it is capable of 
acquiring it should have plenty of room, and be kept quite close to the 
glass. When crowded among other plants, and far from the glass, it 
becomes drawn, and loses that massive and imposing appearance peculiar 
to it when well grown. With a high temperature—say 75° at night— 
and potted in open well-drained soil, it delights in a good supply of 
water, and under these conditions will in one season form a large hand¬ 
some plant—an object well worthy of any extra care and trouble which 
may be bestowed upon it. 
Rainfall Figures {Ignorant ).—You say yourself and “ many 
others who are not so well educated as more fortunate brethren ” do not 
understand the figures which represent the quantity of rain recorded, 
and you cite the figures in the report from Derbyshire on page 168— 
namely, 7'95 inches, 10T0 inches, and 5 - 39 inches. It is not a question 
of great erudition, and several persons whom you describe as “ for¬ 
tunate ” have simply gained knowledge by reading carefully, remember¬ 
ing what they read, and by asking questions and not forgetting the 
replies. You are evidently not so apt as some of your brethren in 
educating yourself, or you would not spell puzzled with one z, nor 
render the word figures thus—“figers.” You must have seen those 
words in print hundreds of times, yet not once in the way you spell 
them. Thus a lack of knowledge may be attributable to oversight or 
lack of observation. Rainfall figures have been explained before, but 
we readily explain them again. In the majority of cases, as in the in¬ 
stance cited, an inch is divided into a hundred decimal parts. Fifty is 
half of a hundred, therefore 1^ inch of rain would be entered as 1'50. If 
the fall was a quarter of an inch it would be entered 0-25. If 1J inch. 
1-75. We think you will comprehend so far ; but may possibly want to 
know why the “ plain old way ” of setting down quarter, half, or three- 
quarter inch is departed from. The answer is very simple. Because the 
rain does not always stop at those measurements ; indeed, very seldom,, 
and account has to be taken of the quantity between, hence the practice 
that we hope will “ puzle ” you no longer after you have set down the 
figures in the following manner and added them together. 7 - 95 
Thus you see they give a total of 23‘44 inches, or 0 6 (six 10‘10 
parts out of a hundred) less than 23J inches. If you wish to 5 - 39' 
know more write again. We have any amount of patience in- 
endeavouring to aid gardeners in understanding what they 23'44 
read. 
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 or soft green leaves form the best packing, dry cotton 
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. 
{Taffee). —1, Lilium speciosum ; 2, Achillea Ptarmica flore pleno ; 
3, Insufficient without flowers ; 4, Spiraea Ulmaria. {IS. II., Kenley ).— 
Hieracium aurantiacum. (A. IK). —1, Cichorium Intybus ; the Begonia, 
leaves were not recognisable. {R. O.).— I, Calluna vulgaris, the common 
Ling ; 2, Erica cinerea; 3, Erica tetralix. {E. M .).—Campanula fragilis. 
alba, very attractive and worthy of cultivation. {R. I).). —1, Origanum 
vulgare (Marjoram) ; 2, Ruta officinalis (Rue) ; 3, Amberboa moschata 
4, Linaria purpurea; 5, Godetia rubicunda. We hope if you sencl 
again you will attach the numbers, so that they can be seen without 
untying the ligatures. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— August 29th. 
Market quiet, with no alteration. 
FRUIT. 
P. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
a. 
s. d. 
Apples, 1 sieve. 
2 
0 
to 4 
6 
Lmions, case. 
10 
0to 15 
O' 
Cherries, £ sieve .. •• 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges, per 10U .. .. 
4 
0 
9 
0 
Gobs, 100 lbs. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches, dozen. 
a 
0 
10 
» 
Currants (Red). J Bieve .. 
o 
6 
3 
0 
Pears, dozen. 
0 
9 
1 
6 
„ (Black) £ sieve.. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Piums, £-sieve. 
3 
0 
6 
O- 
Grapes, per lb. 
i 
0 
a 
6 
St. Micnael Pines, each 
3 
0 
5 
O 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
a. 
Artichokes, dozen .. •• 
2 
0 
to 3 
0 
Lettuce, dozen .. .. 
0 
9 
to 1 
3'- ' 
Asparagus,bundle .. • • 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet 
0 
6 
1 
O' . 
Beans, Kidney,per lb. .. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress, punt. 
0 
3 
0 
0- ■ 
Beet, Red, dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
New Potatoes, per owt... 
8 
0 
14 
O’ 
Broccoli, bundle .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bunch. 
0 
a 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprout?, £ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cabbage, dozen .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Capsicum?, per 100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0” 
Carrots, bunch .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
,, Kiduey, per cwt. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Cauliflower?, dozen 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle .. •• 
0 
a 
0 
Co " 
Celery, bundle .. .. 
1 
8 
a 
0 
Salsafy, bundle .. ,, 
1 
0 
1 
6. 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
a 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 
1 
6 
0 
0» 
Cucumbers, each .. .. 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Shallots, per tt> .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Endive, dozen . • •• . • 
l 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach, bushel .. .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Herbs, bunch.. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per tt>. 
0 
3 
0 
r 
Leeks, bunch. 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips, bunch .. •• 
0 
4 
0 
o» 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
S. 
d. 
8 
d. 
8. 
d. 
B. 
a. 
Abntilons, 12 bunches .. 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Marguerites, 12 bunches 
a 
0 to 6 
O' 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
a 
0 
s 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches 
l 
0 
8 
O' 
Asters, dozen bunches .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Pansies, 12 bchs .. .. 
l 
0 
3 
o 
„ French, per bunch 
i 
0 
i 
6 
Pelargoniums, 12 trasses 
0 
8 
1 
0 
Azalea, 12 sprays .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
0 
3 
0 
& 
Bouvardias, bunch .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Pinks, various, 12 bunches 
2 
0 
6 
&• 
Calceolaria, 12 bunches.. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Polyanthus, 12 bunches.. 
0 
0 
0 
O' 
Camellias, 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pyrethrum, doz. bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Roses, Red, 12 blooms .. 
0 
6 
1 
0- 
„ 12 bunches .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
,, (outdoor), 12 bchs 
2 
0 
6 
o- 
Cornflower, 12 bunches.. 
i 
6 
8 
0 
„ (indoor), dozen 
0 
rt 
1 
Ob 
Daisies, 12 bunches 
a 
0 
4 
0 
„ Tea,dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Eucharis, dozen .. .. 
a 
0 
4 
0 
„ yellow . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 
l 
6 
4 
0 
„ (Hose), 12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0- 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 
l 
0 
a 
6 
Stephanotis, 12 sprays .. 
1 
6 
8 
G> 
Lavender, 12 bunches .. 
s 
0 
4 
0 
Stocks, 12 bunches .. .. 
4 
0 
6 
O' 
Lilium candidnm, per 
S weet Peas, dozen .. .. 
a 
0 
4 
0 
bnnch 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Sweet Sultan, 12 bunches 
2 
0 
4 
O’ 
„ 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Tropaeolum, 12 bunches 
i 
0 
a 
0 
Lilium longidorum, 12 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms .. 
0 
6 
l 
0 
blooms. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Gladiolus, 12 sprays 
0 
6 
l 
6; 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
e. 
1. 
0. 
a. 
Aralia Sieboldi, dozen .. 
8 
0 to 12 
0 
Fuchsia, dozen pots 
3 
0 to 6 
O' 
Arbor vitse(golden) dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Genista, per dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0- 
Asters, 12 pots. 
8 
0 
6 
0 
Heliotrope, dozen pots .. 
8 
0 
6 
0’ 
Balsams, per dozen 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Ivy Geranium. 
3 
0 
6 
o< 
Calceolaria, per dozen.. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Hydrangea, dozen .. .. 
6 
0 
12 
ei 
Chrysanthemum, doz. box 
4 
0 
9 
0 
Lilies Valley, dozen 
0 
0 
0 
O' 
Coleus, dozen. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Lilium, various, doz. pots 
12 
0 
21 
O' 
Cra?6uia, dozen .. .. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
ia 
Obl 
Dracasna terminalis, doz. 
30 
0 
60 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen .. 
4 
0 
6 
cr 
„ viridis, dozen.. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Musk, dozen pots .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0> 
Euonymus, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
8 
0 
12 
O' 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
e 
0 
24 
0 
Nasturtiums, per dozen.. 
3 
0 
6 
»> 
Ferns, in variety, dozen 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Palms, in var.,each 
3 
a 
21 
0 
Ficus elastica, each 
i 
8 
7 
0 
Pelargoniums, dozen 
4 
0 
9 
» 
Foliage Plants, var.,each 
a 
0 
10 
0 
># scarlet,doz. 
8i 
a 
8 
0> 
