Slay 24, 18S8. ] 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
437 
diluted petroleum ; their vigour, however, is considerable, and their 
ingenuity also in coneealing themselves. 
Plants for the Conservatory—Boses in Pots (If. S. S .').—If 
you had stated what eonvenience you have for growing plants other than 
the conservatory we should have been in a position to have given you 
a useful answer. If you write to us again stating your wants, v\ith 
the additional information we require, we will gladly assist you. You 
can pot the Roses directly they have ceased flowering, provided they 
require only the removal of the drain.age and shifting into larger pots 
without further disturbing the roots. The condition of the soil in which 
they are growing must guide you in this matter. If the soil is sweet, 
and you do not object to larger pots, they can be potted at the time 
named. By so doing they will be well established before the winter and 
in good condition for another year. If the soil is sour and the pots as 
large as you desire, you would hav(‘. to reduce the ball by one-third or 
one-half of its present size. To do this directly after flowering might 
prove injurious, and it would be better not done before the end of July 
or beginning of August. Roses will do in the same pots for several 
years if liberally supplied with stimulants. The best practice, however, 
is to turn them out of their pots at the time stated, carefully reduce the 
balls one-third, and repot them in the same size pots. This insures good 
drainage, and provides food without recourse to stimulants. After the 
operation has been done the plants shouhl stand in the shade for a 
fortnight and be liberally syringed to preserve their foliage in a fresh 
he.althy condition to encourage root activity. For H.P.’s a suitable 
compost is good fibry loam with one-seventh of decayed manure added, 
with a C-inch potful of quarter-inch bones, and the same quantity of soot 
to each barrowful of soil. If the loam is heavy add a liberal quantity 
of coarse sand ; if light, a small quantity, or perhaps none will be 
needed. 
Evaporation from Soil (IF. R. R .').—Undoubtedly evaporation 
is accomp.anied by a lowering of temperature of the surface, through 
which moisture in the form of vapour escapes, and ice can be formed in 
summer accordingly. But in practical culture the escape of moisture 
from the soil by evaporation at certain seasons is advantageous, hence 
the beneficial effect of east winds in drying wet ground by evaporation 
in spring and rendering it amenable to tillage. The surface of the 
earth may be cooleil somewhat during the process, but that is, at the 
time, and under the circumstances, the lesser of two evils, the 
greater, leaving the surface soil in a state of saturation. Loosening 
the surface soil—that is, exposing more and more of that below which 
is moist, in dry weather, and as the original surface dries, favours 
evaporation. If you place a quantity of ■wet soil on a bench in a 
dry potting shed, spread it out, and as often as the surface dries 
stir it to expose the damp particles below to the dry air, the bulk of 
the soil will be ready for use sooner than if it were pi-essed into a 
mass with a smooth firm surface and left undisturbed. In the most 
profitiable market garden culture men are constantly employed in 
stirring the soil amongst Cabbages and Lettuces in dry weather in 
spring, not for killing weeds, because there are none, but for favour¬ 
ing the escape of moisture and admitting the air. This brings the 
crops a few days or a week earlier into the market, making a differ¬ 
ence of £20, and often a good deal more, in their value per acre. If 
plants in pots are overwatered through ignorance or by accident, and 
are thereby endangered, stirring the soil is resorted to for favouring 
evaporation, and most gardeners know that Cucumbers, Melons, and 
other tender stemmed pl.ants have been saved in consequence. A 
layer of loose dry soil in summer also arrests evaporation, but this 
■would not be so if the soil were frequently stirred, each time bringing 
some of the moist earth below to the surface to become quickly dried, 
as obviously more moisture would then be extracted from the soil by 
ev.aporation in the process. Stirring the soil .and maintaining a loose sur¬ 
face m.ay therefore favour and arrest evaporation according to the manner 
in which the ■work is done. Sometimes we desire to promote .and some¬ 
times prevent the escape of moisture from the soil, and we act accord¬ 
ingly. We know the sandy Strawberry field very well to which you 
refer, and fail to see that it affords evidence in conflict with the teach¬ 
ings in the work you mention ; and if the practice of the author is right, 
we do not quite see this proves his reasons for it very far wrong. There 
is no doubt much to be said on your side of the question, and if you have 
no objection to discuss the m.atter in our columns with the author of the 
paragraph that does not represent your view of the c.ase, we will readily 
afford the opportunity. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— May 23rd. 
MARKET quiet owing to the holidays, ■with prices lower. 
B. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
Artichokes, dozen .. 
1 
0 to 
S 
0 
L3ttuce, dozen •• 
0 
9 to 
1 
8 
Asparagus,bundle .. 
1 
0 ' 
4 
0 
Atushrooms, punnet 
. . 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. 
. . 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress, pant. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen «. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Ouion?. bunch.. .. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli, bundle .. 
• . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
s 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts, A sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cabbage, dozen •• 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt.., 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicumf, per 100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
„ Kiduev, cerowt. 
4 
0 
0 
0 
Ca) rots, bunch •• 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle ,, 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafj", bundle .• 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Celt ry, bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzouera, bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale, basket •« 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Oucu mbers, each • • 
0 
4 
0 
7 
Shallots,per lb. •• 
0 
8 
0 
0 
Eudive, dozen ., • • 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach, bushel .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Hens, bunch •• •• 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Leekt, bunch 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips, bunch 
• • 
0 
4 
0 
0 
FRUIT. 
s. d. B. d. 
Apples, J sieve.2 6 to 4 6 
Nova Scotia and 
Canada barrel 10 0 18 0 
Cobs, 100 lbs. 45 0 0 0 
Grapies, per lb. 2 6 6 0 
Leiuous, case.10 0 15 0 
PLANTS 
B. d. 8. d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, dozf n .. 6 0 to 12 0 
Arborvlt£e(goiden) dozen 12 0 24 0 
Aram Liiies, dozen.. ..GO 12 0 
Cineraria, dozen .. 6 0 10 0 
Coieus, dezen. 3 0 6 0 
Cyclamen, dozen .. .. 12 0 18 0 
Eeatzia, per dozen ..6 0 9 0 
Dracaena terminalis, doz. 30 0 60 0 
„ viridts,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 
Evergreens, invar., dozen 6 0 24 0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen 4 0 18 0 
Ficus elastica, each ..18 7 0 
Foliage Plants, var..each 2 0 10 0 
Facisii,dozen pjts ..6 0 12 0 
s. 
a. 
8. 
d. 
Oranges, per 100 .. 
4 
0 to 9 
0 
Peaches, dozen .. .. .. 
12 
0 
20 
(> 
Pears, dozen. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each 
s 
0 
6 
0 
Strawberries, per lb. .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
IN POTS. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
a. 
Grenista, per dozen 
6 
0tol2 
0 
Heliotrope, dozen pots ,, 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Ivy Geranium. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Hydrangea, dozen .. .. 
9 
0 
18 
o 
Lilies Valley, dozen 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Lilium Harriseii, doz. po’s 
30 
0 
42 
0 
Lobelia, per dozen .. .. 
4 
0 
6 
O' 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Musk, dozen pots .. 
2 
e 
4 
o 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Nasturtiums, per dozen.. 
4 
0 
6 
o 
Palms, in var., each 
Pelargoniums, dozen 
2 
6 
21 
0 
6 
0 
18 
O' 
,, scarlet, doz. 
Spirea japonica, doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
6 
0 
12 
0- 
Stocks, per dozen • • •. 
8 
0 
6 
0 
CUT FLOWERS. 
Abntilons, 12 bunches .. 
Aneuome (Fulgens), 12 
bunches 
Anemones 12 bunches .. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
Azalea, 12 sprays ,, ,, 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
Caunellias, 12 blooms 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 
Cowslips, 12 bunches 
Cyclamen, 12 blooms .. 
DafEodiis, Double, 12 bobs 
„ Single, 12 bobs 
Daisies, 12 bunches 
Epipbyllum, 12 blooms ,. 
Encharis, dozen .. .. 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 
Hyacinths, French, 12 
bunches ,. 
„ (Dutch), box .. 
Lapageria, coloured, 12 
bloom s. 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 
blooms. 
Marguerites, 12 bunches 
s. d. B d. 
2 0 to 4 0 
3 0 6 0 
16 4 0 
2 0 4 0 
0 6 10 
0 6 10 
10 SO 
10 3 0 
0 9 16 
U 4 0 6 
2 0 4 0 
10 3 0 
2 0 4 0 
0 0 0 0 
2 0 4 0 
16 4 0 
0 0 0 0 
10 0 0 
10 16 
2 0 4 0 
2 0 6 0 
Lily of the Valley, 12 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
Bprays . 
0 
6 
to 1 
O' 
Mignonette, 12 bunches 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Narciss, various, 12 bobs 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Pansies, 12 bchs .. «. 
1 
0 
2 
O' 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
0 
6 
1 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
0 
4 
0 
& 
Polyanthus, 12 bchs 
1 
0 
S 
0 
Primroses, 12 bunches ., 
0 
6 
1 
0- 
Roses, Red, 12 blooms .. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
,, (indoor), dozen •• 
0 
6 
1 
& 
,, Tea, dozen .. •• 
1 
0 
2 
6 
red, dozen (French) 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ yellow . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Spiraea, bunch. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Stepbanotis, 12 sprays •• 
8 
0 
4 
0 
Stocks, 12 bunches .. ,* 
1 
6 
4 
0 
Tropaeolum, 12 bunches 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms •• 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Tulips, dozen blooms .. 
0 
3 
0 
& 
Violets, 12 bunches.. .. 
0 
0 
0 
O' 
„ (French), bunch 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ (Parme), bunch 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Wallflowers, 12 bchs 
2 
0 
4 
0 
White Lilac, per bunch .. 
5 
0 
6 
6 
AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION. 
Strange, most strange it is, that anyone paying ordinary 
attention to passing events should by any possibility take a wrong' 
view of the cause and remedy of the agricultur.al depression. Yet 
we not unfrequently he.ar the most extraordinary reasons advanced 
for it, and which are altogether beside the mark. The work of our 
■great agricultural societies is mentioned with a sneer ; the value- 
of the teaching at Cirencester and Downton is not simply ques¬ 
tioned, but, with the presumptuous folly of that outspoken conceit 
which is the invariable concomitant of ignorance, it is termed 
worthless. Agricultural experiments, too, come in for a full share 
of condemnation, while chemical manures are said to have poisoned 
the soil, to have rendered it barren and worthless, and to have con¬ 
tributed more than anything else to the ruin of farmers. It was- 
only a short time ago that we were assured a thousand acres of soil 
had been rendered worthless for agricultural purposes by the use of 
nitrate of soda, and one of our own h^-^ifs objected to the use of 
fish salt as a manure because he thought it caused the soil “ to run 
together and become hard.” Yet this very individual has for the 
last three years been using potash and other salts extensively under 
our direction with very profitable results, but then he had never 
heard the term of salt applied to them. 
Well, now, the only way to contend with such ignorance, if we 
notice it at all, is not by mere argument, but by the irrefragible 
proof of tangible results. At a meeting of the members of a 
farmer’s club for a discussion of the relative value of manures, wo 
