April 12, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
311 
Keating- (J. It. 6'.'). —The boiler to which yon refer is no doubt 
good when coke is largely or exclusively used as fuel, but if coal is used 
alone, or mainly, it is apt to “ cake ” in boilers of that type, steady and 
regular combustion not being assured except by frequent attention. 
There may be exceptions, but that is the rule. 
Strawberries {Temple'). —We suspect the atmosphere has been kept 
fully too moist, and perhaps the days were dull when the ])lants were 
flowering. The air should be dry enough for the liberation of the pollen, 
and it is a good plan to draw the hand lightly over the trus.ses, or rather 
draw them lightly through the hand, during the forenoon, for aiding its 
dispersion. 
Scale on Pear Trees (11’. S.). —The spurs are seriously infested 
with the oyster scale, Aspidiotus ostreasformis. It may be destroyed by 
applying methylated spirits well rubbed into every fissure with a brush, 
also by petroleum, but it is desirable to keep it from the buds. If you 
dissolve I ozs. of softsoap in a g.allon of boiling water, stirring well in 
while hot a qu.art of petroleum, and apply this with a brush, it will 
destroy the scale. It is well to keep stirring the mixture as the application 
proceeds. 
Strawberries — Vines {F. C.). —If the house is very light indeed 
the Strawberries would succeed either planted out or with the pots 
plunged in a moist medium, care being taken that the roots are not in 
the least dry when the work is done. We have seen heavy crops pro¬ 
duced with the pots plunged, also -when the plants have been turned 
out of them into good soil. Both methods are adopted where Straw¬ 
berries are grown for market in very light pits. If your house is light 
enough, the plants, if good and well managed, will produce good crops of 
fruit. We are by no means certain you have done right in respect to 
the Vine border. Point the lime lightly in, make the bortler moderately 
firm, give a dressing of Thomson’s Vine manure, and mulch to prevent 
the surface drying excessively, this causing the roots to go downwards, 
and often into ungenial soil. The condition of the Vines and the nature 
of the border have to be considered in the application of manure. If 
the border is inside the house examine it, not on the surface only, and 
if in the least dry apply sufficient tepid -water for rendering it moist 
before applying manure or mulching. 
Consumption of Fuel (./. II. S.). —The coal consumed in your 
garden during the past year appears at first sight to be very large ; 
but after making a careful comparison of the fuel consumed in another 
garden, where economy has been exercised and the most approved 
systems of heating adopted, the quantity, as you will see, does not seem 
to be excessive. Coal, however good it may be. is not the most economi¬ 
cal fuel that can be used for garden furnaces ; for, however well the 
stoking may be done, there is a great loss by the escajje of unconsumed 
gases, and. this must take place to a very large extent at night after the 
fires are banked. According to various exjieriments this loss, in the 
ordinary methods of burning coal, amounts to 3S per cent., therefore 
62 ton.s of oven coke would evolve as much heat as 100 tons of good 
average coal. Gas coke is considered 124- per cent, inferior to this; 
therefore 74^ tons would be equal to the same quantity of coal (100 
tons). This, then, puts a different aspect on the quantity of coal con¬ 
sumed in your garden. The 2.77 tons used would prove little if any 
better than 1.59 tons of oven coke, or nearly 192 tons of gas coke. This 
appears to be fully borne out by practical experience. In the garden to 
which reference has been made be.st steam nutfs were used foi fuel 
during the years 1878 to 1882 inclusive, and the average cost per ye.ar 
was £189 6s. Id. During the years 1883 to 1886 inclusive the average 
cost for gas coke per year was £113 Is. 3d. Tlie average quantity con¬ 
sumed during those years was 198 tons 9 cwts, and 2 (jrs. The highest 
year was £124 18s. lOd. ; quantity consumed, 210 tons. 5 cwts. 0 qrs. 
The lowest year was £99 9s. 5d. ; consumed, 183 tons 11 cwts. 0 qrs. 
If we take the highest co.st of the previous dates, when nutts were 
used, we at once see a striking difference—namely, £212 0.s. 5d., while 
the lowest was £164 12s. 9d. The difference is gi'eat. but it goes to sho-w 
that the figures given above have foundation in fact. There was no 
falling off in the quantity of heat during the years coke was consumed ; 
on the contrary, the temperatures on the whole were higher, and main¬ 
tained with greater certainty, with an additional house heated to a stove 
temperature during that period. The quantity of piping heated is 6500 
feet, against 4780 in your case. Three boilers in each case were used ; 
but in the one we have taken for comparison less fuel is consumed than 
is the case with you. This is re.adily accounted for. One of the boilers, 
a gold medal, heats 1500 feet of piping, for which two boilers—common 
saddles -with brick flues—were formerly employed. The temperature of 
the house was raised 5° during the whole of the winter months, and the 
boiler now in use does its work with fully one-third less fuel. The other 
two boilers in use are set side by side, and work separately or conjointly 
as required. They are said to be capable of heating 20,000 feet of 4-inch 
piping. These are saddles, with ten 5-inch tubes running through 
each, which confines all the heat within the boilers ; in fact, the smoke 
as well as the heat, after striking the back of the boiler, must travel 
through the lower five tubes to the front, and again through the top 
layer before an escape to the chimney can be effected. You appear to 
liave plenty of boiler power—if the boilers are what we presume them 
to be—but if they are the old saddles with brick flues they are not the 
most economical that can be used, and their power is deficient. Too few 
pipes in any of the houses, which would entail overheating to keep the 
desired temperature, is the reverse of economy. But vvithout doubt the 
lower temperature to which you are subjected during winter and spring 
would alone account for greater consumption of fuel than is the case in 
the garden wa have selected for comparison. You may not be fully 
aware how the external temperature affects the quantity of fuel con¬ 
sumed. To give an example, we will take the quarter ending March, 
1883, and the consumption amounted to 71 tons 16 cwts. Again, the 
same quarter in 1886 the consumption was only 1 ton 1 cwt. less ; while 
only 41 tons 1 cwt. was consumed during the same quarter of 1885 ; and 
the previous year was coirespondingly low. To further show the effect 
of the external temperature, two ([uarters ending December may be 
noted. In 1881, (16 tons odd was used, while in 1886 only 49 tons odd. 
Y"our boilers appe.ar to be exceptionally high and w'ide, and therefore 
w'e conclude they are not the common saddle boilers, but saddles with a 
number of tubes through them, and in addition flues at the sides the 
same as is neco-sary in setting the ol<l saddle forms. These are good 
boilers, but not so economical as boilers in which all the heat is confined 
and exhausted before it can make any escape. 
Karnes of Plants. —\Ve 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. 
(■/. IT. 11'.).—The plant is a strong form of Aloe ciliaris. We shiall be 
pleased to name the others for you, but it would be an advantage if you 
sent several together, and -^veil-developed leaves would be sufficient with 
the most distinct. 
COVENT GARDEN 
Biisine=ifl improving. Prices steady, 
against good samples of old ones. 
MARKET.— Apeil 11th. . 
Some Inew Grapes to hand, Jbnt unsaleable 
s. d. B. 
Apples, i sieve.2 6 to 4 
Nova Scotia and 
Canada barrel 10 0 18 
Cobs, 100 lbs. 46 0 0 
Grapes, per ft. 3 6 6 
heinous, case.10 0 15 
FRUIT. 
d. 
Oranges, per 100 
Pears, dozen .. .. 
Apples, English, 
Pine 
St. Michael Pines, each 
Strawberries, per lb. 
Artichokes, dozen .. 
Asparagus, bundie .. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. 
Beet,Red, dozen .. 
Broccoli, bundle .. 
Brussels Sprouts, i siev 
Cabbage, dozen 
Capsicums, per 100 
Carrots, bunch . 
Cauliflowers, dozen 
Celery, bundle 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
Cucumbers, each 
Endive, dozen .. 
Heros, bnnch ., 
Leeks, bunch ,, 
e 3 6 
s, 
Aralia Sieboldi, dozen .. 6 
Arum Lilies, dozen.. .. 9 
Arbor vltre (golden) dozen 6 
Azalea, dozen.24 
Cineraria, dozen .. .. 6 
Cyclamen, dozen .. .. 12 
Dielytra, per dozen .. 12 
Dentzia, per dozen .. 6 
Dracrona terminalis, doz. 30 
„ viridis, dozen.. 12 
Erica, various, dozen .. 9 
„ ventricosa .. .. 18 
Euonymus, in var.,dozen 6 
Evergreens, invar., dozen 6 
Ferns, in variety, dozen 4 
Ficus elastica, each .. 1 
Foliage Plants, var.,each 2 
Abntilons, 12 bunches .. 
Anenome (Fulgens), 2 
bunches 
Anemones (French), 12 
bunches 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
Azalea, 12 sprays .. .. 
Bouvardias, bunch ., .. 
Camellias, 12 blooms .. 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 
Chrysanthemums,12 bchs. 
,, 12 blooms 
Cyclamen, 12 blooms .. 
Daffodils, Double, 12 bchs 
„ Single, 12 bchs 
Daisies, 12 bunches 
Epiphyllum, 12 blooms .. 
Eucharis, dozen .. ,. 
Gardenias, 12 blooms ,, 
Hyacinths, French, 12 
bnnohes ., 
Lapageria, coloured, 12 
blooms. 
Lilinm longiflorum, 12 
blooms. 
Lilies, -White, 12 bnnohes 
„ Orange, 12 bunches 
VEGETABLES. 
s, d, s, d, 
1 0 to 2 0 
8 0 0 
16 0 
Lettuce, dozen .. .. 
Mushrooms, punnet 
Mustard and Cress, punt. 
Onions, bunch. 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
Parsnips, dozen .. .. 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
„ Kidney, per cwt. 
Rhubarb, bundle .. .. 
Salsafy, bundle .. ,. 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 
Seakale, basket .. .. 
Shallots, per ft. 
Spinach, bushel .. ., 
Tomatoes, per ft. 
Turnips, bunch .. .. 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
d. s. d. 
0tol2 0 
0 15 
9 0 
42 0 
10 0 
24 0 
18 0 
9 
60 
24 
13 
24 0 
18 0 
24 0 
18 0 
7 0 
10 0 
doz. 
Fuchsia, dozen.. . 
Genista, per dozen 
Hyacinths, dozen . 
Hydrangea, dozen . 
Lilies Valley, dozen 
LiUum lancifolinm, — 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
Myrtles, dozen. 
Nareiss, per dozen 
Palms, in var., each 
Pelargoniums, dozen 
„ scarlet, doz. 
Poinsettia, dozen .. .. 
Solanum, dozen .. .. 
Spirea japonlca, doz. .. 
Tulips, dozen pots .. .. 
CUT FLOWERS. 
B. d. s d. 
8 0 to 6 0 
3 0 6 0 
4 0 
6 0 
U 6 
6 0 
9 0 
1 0 
1 0 
4 0 
0 0 
0 0 
2 0 
1 6 
6 0 
0 0 
0 0 
Lily of the Valley, 12 
sprays . 
Marguerites, 12 bnnohes 
Mignonette. 12 bunches 
Naroiss.white (French) 12 
bunches . 
Nareiss, various, 12 bchs 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
Primroses, 12 bunches .. 
Primula (single), bunch.. 
„ (double), bunch .. 
Roses, Red, 12 blooms .. 
„ (indoor), dozen .. 
,, Tea, dozen .. .. 
red, dozen (French) 
„ yellow . 
Snowdrops, 12 bunches .. 
Spirsea, bnnoh. 
Stephanotis, 12 sprays .. 
Tropmolum, 12 bunches 
Tuberoses. 12 blooms •• 
Tulips, dozen blooms ,, 
Violets, 12 bunches.. .. 
,, (French), bunch 
„ (Parme), bnnoh 
White Lilac, per bunch .. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
2 
0 to 6 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
’ 0 
0 
0 
0 
3 
0 
5 
0 
6 
0 
0 10 
s. 
d. 
s. d. 
0 
9 to 1 
3 
0 
6 
1 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
0 
3 
0 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
4 
0 
S 
0 
4 
0 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
1 
0 
1 
e 
1 
6 
0 
0 
1 
S 
1 
9 
0 
3 
0 
0 
1 
6 
2 
0 
1 
0 
1 
6 
0 
4 
0 
6 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
0 
0 
to 0 
0 
6 
0 
12 
0 
5 
0 
10 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
18 
0 
24 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
9 
0 
12 
0 
6 
0 
12 
0 
8 
0 
10 
0 
2 
6 
21 
0 
12 
0 
18 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
9 
0 
12 
0 
9 
0 
15 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
0 
6 to 1 
0 
2 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
6 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
6 
0 
1 
0 
1 
6 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
9 
1 
6 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
9 
1 
«i 
2 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
4 
0 
1 
6 
4 
0 
1 
6 
8 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
1 
0 
3 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
8 
0 
9 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
I 
6 
2 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
1 
0 
1 
0 
1 
6 
2 
0 
2 
0 
8 
0 
5 
0 
6 
6 
