April S, IfSS- J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
269 
care is not taken to preserve the undoubtedly good character of the 
variety, which, as you present it, far excels any other so-called White 
Mignonette that has come under our nouice. You have evidently exer¬ 
cised judgment in saving the seed, and skill in cultivating the plants. 
Strawberries (X IF.).—We should choose the plants with the best 
crowns and the most fibrous roots, and if about three good crowns were 
attached to one rootstock we should not separate them ; indeed, those 
taken up singly we should probably plant triangularly a few inches 
asunder, and the triplets at the ordinary distances assigned to single 
plants. By thinning the crowns an<i replanting old Strawberries in 
enriched soil excellent crops of fruit were obtained by the late Dr. 
Newington. 
Peas In Trenches (id —Though a foot is a convenient and 
suitable width for a trench, it does not follow that it is necessary to sow 
the Peas all over a surface of that width, though there is no objection to 
the plan. You can, if you wish, make a level base 6 inches wide in the 
trench, and scatter the Peas all over it about an inch apart, these being 
new, heavy, and good. A narrow strip means a channel drawn with the 
corner of a hoe, and V-shape<l, which is the reverse of good for sowing 
Peas in, though it answers very well for Onion seed. 
Heating' QT. R. G .").—We have not had experience with the boiler you 
name. If you can refer us to an advertisement of it in our columns we 
will endeavour to obtain information on the subject. The consumption 
of coal does not so much depend on the extent of piping to be heated as 
on the dimensions of the house and the temperature that has to be 
maintained. The setting of saddle boilers with the arrangement of the 
pipes are also important factors in the case. The weekly consumption 
of fuel you name appears excessive for maintaining a temperature suit¬ 
able for greenhouse plants. 
Tar on Hot'-water Pipes (A Journal Rcador ').—We have no 
doubt that a serious mistake was made in coating the hot-water pipes 
with “ coal tar varnish,” though you do not appear to be responsible for it. 
The effluvium from coal tar is highly injurious to plants, and we have 
known serious consequences result from the use of tar even when 
it has not been applied to the hot-water pipes but only to the stages 
on which plants had been afterwards arranged. We are unable 
to point out any safe and easy method of removing the varnish, and 
suspect it will have to be scraped off, and the pipes washed with 
turpentine ; but if any of our readers can state how the pipes can be 
best cleansed we will readily publi.sh the information. A mixture of 
lampblack and linseed oil has teen many times mentioned in this Journal 
as suitable for coating hot-water pipes in plant houses. 
Peas Falling (^I Young Gardener ').—When peas are old some of 
them decay without germinating, others may germinate and attempt to 
grow, but perish in the attempt. We can distinguish old from new 
peas, but it is not easy to make the distinction clear on paper. Old 
wrinkled peas are much shrunk and have a dull dead appearance, lack¬ 
ing the freshness of life ; smooth white peas assume a yellowish hue 
when old. Peas sometimes fail to grow freely when the soil is very 
cold and wet, the roots decaying, and we have known coal ashes 
injurious, these varying. Why not test the seed by sowing some in a 
pot in a greenhouse ? A hotbed is scarcely a fair test, as we have known 
seeds to germinate freely and growth follow in a brisk moist heat that 
failed in the open ground. If you raise plants in pots now under glass, 
starting them in heat, then removing them to a lower temperature, and 
when ready and in good condition planting out, you may not be very 
late in gathering. They should be planted when the ground is in 
favourable condition, placing a compost consisting largely of leaf soil 
in contact with the roots to encourage their quick and free extension, at 
the same time protecting the tops from cutting winds with a few ever¬ 
green sprays or such other shelter as can be devised for the purpose. 
Peach Trees Falllngr (IF. IF.).—Judging from your letter and 
the sample of leaves sent we fear your Peach and Nectarine trees are in 
a hopeless condition. When the leaves assume a silvery appearance the 
trees are liable to go off any time. They are decaying internally, and 
if you cut off the branches bearing the silvery leaves you will find that 
only a thin portion of the outer wood is alive. When in this condition 
it is only a question of time before the trees die. We should say your 
trees are poisoned, either from the soil being impregnated with salt or 
from the sulphurous acid from the adjoining works. If trees grow out¬ 
side without showing signs of injury and decay, then you must turn to 
some other cause for the trees dying in the house. If they suffer only 
from the soil being impregnated with salt, then the difficulty can be 
overcome by a slight outlay in border preparation ; but if death is caused 
by sulphurous acid there is but little hope of success, even if you renew 
the border and plant afresh. If salt is the cause, we advise you to re¬ 
move the whole of the soil to a depth of 2 feet 3 inches, and thoroughly 
concrete the base, allowing the bottom to slope from the back to the 
drain in front. Six inches of good drainage will be ample, and this will 
leave 18 inches for soil. The soil should be secured from a distance, 
where you are certain it is free from salt. As you have a base of marl 
the bottom of the border should have been concreted in any case. We 
have seen trees fail repeatedly through their roots getting into the marl. 
They are then too far from the surface, too cold, and often too wet for 
the well-being of the trees. It is difficult for us to say what is actually 
the cause of failure in your hase, but we think the most probable cause 
is the salt, or that and the sulphur combined. If you can send further 
particulars that-may further enable us to help you, we shall be very glad 
to do so. 
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 or soft green leaves form the best packing, dry cotton 
wool the worst. Not more than six specimens can be named at once. 
(IF. 8d ).—It is Deutzia crenata flore pleno. (IT. P .).—A variety of 
Ccelogyne cristata, but not so good as such forms as maxima or the Chats- 
worth variety. The shrivelling of the pseudo-bulbs is caused by the 
flowering. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 4th. 
A verj- dull week. Prices of hothouse goods lower. 
FRUIT. 
B. d. B. d. 
6 to 4 
Apples, J sieve.2 
Nova Sootla and 
Canada barrel 10 0 
Cobs, 100 lbs.45 0 
Urspes, per lb. 3 6 
r, unoiiB, case.10 0 
18 
0 
6 
16 
B. d. 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 2 0 to 5 
Pears, dozen.3 0 6 
Pine Apples, English. 
per lb.0 0 0 
St. Michael Pines, each SO 5 
Strawberries, per lb. ..60 8 
VEGETABLES. 
B. d. e. d. 
Artiehokee, dozen .. .. 1 0to2 0 
Asparagus, bundle .. .. 8 0 0 0 
Beans, Kidney,per lb. ..16 0 0 
Beet, Red, dozen .... 1 0 2 0 
Broccoli, bundle .... 0 0 0 0 
Brussels Sprouts, J sieve 3 6 4 0 
Cabbage,dozen .... 1 6 00 
Capsicums, per 100 ,. 1 6 2 0 
Carrots, bunch .. .. 0 4 0 0 
Ciuliflowers, dozen .. 3 0 4 0 
Celery, bundle .... 1 6 2 0 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 2 0 4 0 
Cucumbers, each .... 0 4 0 7 
Eadive, dozen.1 0 2 0 
Herns, bunch. 02 00 
Lieks, bunch. 0 8 0 4 
Lettuce, dozen ., 
Mushrooms, punnet 
Mustard and Cress, punt 
Onions, buneb. 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
Parsnips, dozen .. 
Potatoes, per cwt... 
,, Kidney, per cwt 
Rhubarb, bundle .. 
Salsafy, bundle 
Scorzoners, bundle 
Seakale, basket .. 
Shallots, per Ib. ., 
Spinach, bushel 
Tomatoes, per lb. .. 
Turnips, bunco ., 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
Aralia Si.;bo1di, dozen • • 
6 
0tol2 
0 
A rum Lilt es, dozen.. .. 
9 
0 
15 
0 
Arbor vltse (golden) dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Azalea, dozen. 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Cineraria, dozen «• .. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Oyclamen, dozen .. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Dielytra, per dc'Z^n 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Dentzia, per dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Dracaena terminalis, doz. 
SO 
0 
60 
0 
„ viridis, dozen,. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Erica, various, dozen .. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
„ ventrioosa .. .. 
18 
0 
24 
0 
Euonymus, in var.,dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Kverenreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Ficus elastica, each 
1 
6 
7 
0 
Foliage Plants, var.,each 
2 
0 
10 
0 
B. 
d. 
cur 
s 
FI 
d. 
Abntilons, 12 bnnehes •. 
Anenome (Fulgens), 2 
bunches 
8 
0 
to 6 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Anemones (French), 12 
bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Arum Lilies,12 blooms .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Azalea, 12 sprays .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Camellias, li blooms . • 
1 
0 
4 
0 
Ctiraations, 12 blooms .. 
ChrysanthemumR ,12 bchs. 
1 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cyclamen, 12 blooms 
u 
6 
1 
0 
Daffodils, Double, 12 bchs 
„ Single, 12 bobs 
8 
0 
c 
0 
3 
0 
9 
0 
Daisies, 12 bunches .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Epiphyllum, 12 blooms 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Encharis, dozen •. •• 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms •• 
Hyacinths, Roman, 12 
sprays 
4 
0 
8 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
„ French, 12 
bunches .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Lapageria, coloured, 12 
blooms. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Lilinm longiliorum, 12 
blooms. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Marguerites, 12 bunches 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Fuchsia, dozen,. . 
Genista, per dozen 
Hyacinths, dozen , 
Hydrangea,dozen . 
Lilies Valley, dozen 
Lilinm laneifolium. 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
s. 
.. 0 
.. 6 
.. 5 
.. 0 
.. 18 
___ doz. 0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 9 
Myrtles, dozer..6 
Narciss, per dozen ,, 8 
Palms, in var.,each .. 2 
Pelargoniums, dozen .. 12 
,, scarlet, doz. 6 
Polnsettia, dozen .. .. 0 
Solanum, dozen .. .. 9 
Spirea japonica, doz, .. 9 
Tulips, dozen pots .. .. 6 
Lilies, White, 12 bunches 0 
„ Orange, 12 bunches 0 
Lily of the Valley, 12 
sprays . 0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches 3 
Narciss,■white (French) 13 
bunches . 2 
Narciss, var ous, 12 bchs S 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
Primroses, 12 bunches ., 
Primula (single), bunch.. 
„ (double), bunch .. 
Roses, Bed, 12 blooms ., 
„ (indoor), dozen .. 
.. Tea, dozen .. .. 
red, dozen (French) 
1 
0 
1 
0 
0 
2 
3 
1 
1 
yellow .3 
Snowdrops, 12 bunches .. 1 
Spirsea, bunch.0 
Stephanotls, 12 sprays .. 0 
Tropseolnm, 12 bunches 2 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms .. 2 
Tulips, dozen blooms .. 0 
Violets, 12 bunches.. .. 1 
„ (French), bunch 1 
„ (Parme), bunch 2 
White Lilac, perbunch.. 6 
S ff 
0 0 
B. d. B. du 
0 9 to 1 3 
6 1 u 
2 0 0 
3 0 a 
0 
0 
n 
0 
2 
0 
6 
3 
3 
6 
0 
4 
S 0 
0 0 
0 0 
1 6 
0 0 
d. B. d. 
0 to 0 O 
0 12 0 
0 10 O 
0 0 
24 
0 
12 
12 U 
10 0 
21 D 
18 0 
9 0 
0 0 
12 0 
16 D 
9 0 
d. s. d. 
0 to 0 0 
0 0 O 
1 0 - 
6 0 
0 6 . 
1 6 
6 0 
0 
O' 
0 
0 
O' 
4 
4 
3 
6 
3 
I 0- 
12 
3 
3 
1 
1 
2 
3 
6 
RESULTS. 
RESIDUE FROM MANURES—ESSEX EXPERIMENTS. 
AVe were recently offered a manure bearing the somewh: t 
singular title of A^itriolised Bones, with an assurance that it was a 
