576 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 27, 1888 
Each season must bring with it its lessons, but the danger is 
that in our variable climate one season is so unlike another that 
we mu-t not suppose it is always to be the same as that which we 
have suffered from. Could anything be more opposite than the 
seasons of 1887 and 1888—-one, the perfection of a summer, the 
other without any summer worth the name ? In fact an English 
gardener must be armed at all points and be cautious. Already I see 
that persons are calculating on a late season next year because we 
have had a late one this year, whereas it may be an early one. We 
have a dry season, and we get all sorts of warning about the folly of 
not storing our water ; we have a wet one, and then we are told how 
foolish it is not to devise means of getting rid of our superfluous 
water. Do not run into extremes; the middle course is the 
safest. 
And now, my brothers and sisters in the craft, a word of 
encouragement. “ I have been young and now am old.” I can 
look on upwards of fifty years of gardening, and can truly say that 
it has been to me a source of joy and happiness. A large portion 
of my life was an arduous and weary one, but I can say that, 
whether in the midst of all the cares and worries of a large town 
parish, or in the quiet moments of a rural one, I have ever found 
my love of flowers helpful. I love them for their own sakes, and 
they have returned my affection. I can say, too, that they have 
brought to me many friends and but few enemies (I believe that 
the man who has none is a poor jellyfish sort of a man who has 
shirked his duties and responsibilities) ; and now, as the evening of 
1 ife is closing round me, I can wish my readers no better wish than 
that they, too, may find in their gardens the solace and the pleasure 
that I have done; and so, in this, the last issue of a year’s Journal, 
m which I have often spoken to them, I wish them one and all, 
A Happy New Year. 
—D., Deal. 
COVtNT GARDEN AT CHRISTMAS TIME. 
At all seasons of the year a visitor who is interested in the 
horticultural products of this country can spend a profitable half 
hour in Covent Garden Market, especially if he select the early 
hours of a market morning for his visit. But at particular periods 
of the year, whenever the British public are preparing for a general 
festival, and cultivators are making special efforts to meet the 
demands for abundance of flowers, fruit, and vegetables, Covent 
Garden Market can be seen at its best and its astonishing resources 
realised. For general supplies, no time of the year equals Christmas. 
In the spring months there is, of course, a greater abundance of 
flowers, and during the Strawberry season there is a corresponding 
bustle in the fruit market, but at this time of year concentration 
of work and supplies is more evident in all departments together 
than at any other time. Salesmen, shopkeepers, and porters are 
busily employed in disposing of the produce which arrives in such 
large quantities, the frequent auction sales are attended by crowds 
of eager purchasers, and the whole aspect of the market is one of 
earnest hurried business. A brief glance at the respective depart¬ 
ments will give some idea of what is provided for metropolitan 
celebrators of the Christmas festival. 
FLOWERS. 
The chief demand is apparently for white flowers, at least these 
constitute a large proportion of the supplies, Chrysanthemums, 
Lilies of the Talley, Camellias, Eucharis, and Roman Hyacinths, 
with the stately spathes of Ricliardias being first favourites amongst 
these. But in addition there is abundance of white Azaleas, 
Bouvardias (these also furnishing coloured varieties valuable for 
wreaths, sprays, and buttonholes), Cyclamens, Lapagerias, Carna¬ 
tions, and French Lilac, Paper White Narciss, Roses, Tuberoses, 
Gardenias, and Stephanotis. Several of these, besides the Bou¬ 
vardias of course, also afford coloured flowers, as Cyclamens, Lapa- 
gerias, Narciss, and, Roses, but the principal rich colours are afforded 
by the Zonal Pelargoniums, the Poinsettia bracts, and the brilliant 
wreath-like branches of Euphorbia jacquiniaeflora. More delicate 
shades are supplied by Primroses, Mignonette, and Marguerites, 
while the indispensable Violets, though numerous, seem to be in 
unfailing demand. From this list Christmas Roses (Hellebores) 
must not be omitted, as they are especially appreciated at this 
season, and they make charming wreaths, one we saw recently 
consisting of bronzy Ivy leaves and Christmas Roses alone having a ; 
most elegant appearance, far superior to those overloaded with 
Richardias or even Camellias. 
The plants in the market at this time of year consist mainly of 
small evergreens in pots, with the ordinary foliage plants employed 
for decorative purposes, such as Palms, Dracaenas, and Ferns, but 
amongst flowering plants the winter-flowering Heaths are con¬ 
spicuous, Erica hyemalis and E. gracilis being sent in large numbers. 
Forced bulbs, like Roman Hyacinths, are plentiful, but Lilies of 
the Yalley in pots are not supplied very largely so early as this. 
Poinsettias, Marguerites, Pelargoniums, Primulas, Solanums, Cycla¬ 
mens, Chrysanthemums, and Begonias are sent in by many growers, 
Cyclamens being perhaps the most numerous. 
FRUIT. 
During the whole of last week the market has appeared to be 
simply glutted every day with fruits ; huge piles of boxes, barrels, 
and baskets filled every available portion of space, and it is astonish¬ 
ing where such quantities could be disposed of. Apples and Oranges 
are the two great features of the Christmas market, and the supply 
this year seemed to be greater than ever. It has recently been 
noted that the supply of American Apples is larger than usual, 
nearly twice as many (half a million barrels) having been already 
shipped to Europe as in the same months last year. In the Floral 
Hall at Covent Garden many thousands have been sold by auction 
within the past week, one salesman alone having disposed of 4000 
barrels in a morning’s sale. These are mainly Newtown Pippins, 
which command the highest prices, and the fruits take their places 
in the best fruiterers’ windows, the richly coloured Baldwins, 
and King of Tompkins County, which some of the shopkeepers 
abbreviate to “King Tompkins.” A few choice consignments 
of English Apples are seen, but these are very much in the 
minority. 
As an ornamental Apple, the pretty little Api, or Lady Apple, 
tastefully wrapped in coloured tissue paper and displayed in neat 
boxes, is very notable, and few, probably, of those who admire it, 
have any idea of the history attached to it. A full and learned 
account is given in Dr. Hogg’s “ Fruit Manual,” but the clref 
points are that it is of great antiquity, and has been said to have 
been introduced to Rome from Peloponesus by Appius Claudius, 
though others assert it was first found as a wilding in the forest of 
Api in Brittany. It was not known in this country until the end 
of the seventeenth century, and is now extensively grown in the 
United States. 
Pears do not call for special mention. Grapes include both 
English and foreign produce, the former running up to 4s. 6d. 
per lb., quite a small price compared with svhat used to be paid for 
good Grapes at Christmas. Oranges are supplied in thousands of 
cases, from the huge Jaffa variety to the miniature and delicately 
aromatic Tangierine, which, in silver paper and ornamental boxes, 
makes a companion for the Lady Apples already noted. Pine 
Apples are seen in all grades and qualities, from those which make 
their subsequent appearance on costermongers’ barrows to hand¬ 
some fruits of exhibition size, which adorn the windows of such 
fruiterers as Messrs. Webber & Solomon in the Central Row. 
Of other tropical fruits the Prickly Pears, Mangoes from 
Madeira, Custard Apples, and Lytchees are the principal, but 
they are only sold in relatively small quantities as curiosities, or 
for the tables of those who have been familiar with them in other 
lands. 
Nuts are also an important commodity in Covent Garden at 
Christmas, bulky bags and capacious baskets being filled to over¬ 
flowing with small nuts, Brazils, Chestnuts, Almonds, Cocoa Nuts, 
and Walnuts ; while of what may be termed the curiosities there 
are Sapucaias, something like Brazils, and the Butter-nut (Caryocar 
nuciferum), not often seen in London markets. 
The indispensable Christmas accessories, such as Mistletoe, 
Holly, and miscellaneous evergreens for decorative purposes, are 
supplied as usual in large quantities, the crates of Mistletoe 
arriving by waggonloads. It is evident that, great as is the annual 
demand for this plant, there is no falling off in the supply.— 
Visitor. 
STEPHANOTIS FLORIBUNDA. 
During the past few years we have heard considerably less 
about shy or non-flowering varieties of this plant. I am of 
opinion that there have never been substantial reasons for such 
opinions, and the fault has been with the cultivator and not with 
the plant. I do not mean to infer that there are not varieties of 
different merit. It is just possible that improved forms may be in 
existence by raising seedlings and careful selection. Two examples 
have come under my own observation, and the only noticeable 
difference that I could discern was in the shape of the foliage, 
the difference being so slight that it was not seen by a casual glance 
