July 2, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
IB 
this is by no means the experience of the majority of cultivators, and 
probably ten times more of the latter are grown than the former. Mr. 
Lovel is a good authority on Strawberries for market. Our experience 
with John Iiuskin is too limited for us to speak decisively on its merits. 
Packing- Grapes and Flowers (IT. C.~). —We have found tin 
boxes excellent for sending both fruit and flowers by po3t, separately, 
the boxes in each case to be firmly filled, so that the contents are 
immoveable. Flowers should be cut young, either at night, and placed 
in water, or early in the morning before the petals become flaccid. The 
box may be slightly damped, and the heaviest flowers should be placed 
at the bottom, the lighter above them. These may be covered with 
Ferns previously dipped in water, then shaken out, or other soft 
greenery, and pressed firmly down with the lid. For Grapes the boxes 
must be dry. A layer of springy moss may be placed at the bottom, 
this to be covered with tissue paper, which should also reach up the 
sides and well above the top. The boxes should be a little slanted when 
filled, one end resting on a table, the other held up, and each bunch 
placed point downward, and affixed in position so that the stalk reaches 
a little above the top. Judgment should be exercised in placing the 
bunches in the right positions at the first, not shifting them in and out, 
and when all are in they should wedge each other. To render them 
still more rigid a little wadding may, if necessary, be forced down here 
and there between the paper and the box, the paper then drawn over 
and the lid placed on, gently pressing down the stems. We have tried 
all sorts of packing for surrounding the berrie3, but find that good 
Grapes, rightly placed in the boxes, come out of them in better 
condition when they simply press against each other. Thin-skinned 
loose bunches of ill-grown Grapes cannot by any method of packing be 
sent through the post to reach their destination in a satisfactory state. 
Black Currant Buds Destroyed (IF. K .).—We are in receipt of 
the specimens of the insect to which you attribute so much mischief. Those 
first sent were certainly in the pupal condition ; the second lot, in the 
winged state, prove that the enemy is a small two-winged fly, it is a 
species of Phora. (Its exact identification, however, would require the 
examination of a large number of specimens, as the species are very 
like each other.) This belongs to a group of very varied habit, some of 
them are useful, others, as well as the present species, are infesters of 
buds ; examples of them have been found on the Rose and Cherry, in the 
one case ruining the flower, in the other stopping the development of 
the fruit. Each bud apparently forms the home of one grub, and since 
the flies are emerging now, it is probable there is a second brood, which 
follows the habits of the spring brood, and from which flies doubtless 
emerge during the autumn. It may be suspected that these latter 
hybernate, hiding in nooks and corners, then appearing in April, they 
deposit egg3 on the young buds. We almost fear that this is one of 
those foes with which little can be done ; it is impossible to operate 
upon the grubs buried in the buds, nor could the minute eggs be 
detected. Of course all infected shoots should at once be removed and 
burnt. The only measure that could be tried would be spraying or 
washing the bushes with something that might disgust the flies, and 
drive them off at the egg-laymg season, such as a solution of Fir tree oil, 
petroleum, or decoction of hellebore ; but it has been noticed that flies 
of this group, although so small, are remarkably hardy. All the damage 
complained of is not traceable to this fly, we should state, for some 
of the buds show signs of the presence of the Black Currant mite 
(Phytoptus ribis). 
Destroying Woodlice (J/. H. A 7 .).—Toads and pieces of cut 
Potato are excellent means of destroying woodlice, but where they 
“swarm” more wholesale means must be employed. Woodlice mo9t 
frequent leaves, tan, old boards, and other decaying organic matter, 
secreting themselves in any cracks of the soil, by walls, or anywhere in 
moist places, and near their food plants. These habits have been taken 
advantage of for their destruction. The old-fashioned trap of boiled 
Potato wrapped loosely in a little hay and placed in a small flower-pot 
laid on its side in their haunts captures a good many, the baits being 
examined every morning, and the woodlice shaken out into boiling 
water. Placing a little hay by the side of walls upon the beds or 
borders, sprinkling over it a little scalded oatmeal or bits of boiled 
Potato, and over these scattering a little hay entices the woodlice, and 
pouring boiling water on the hay through a rose watering can in the 
morning soon destroys the insects. If the water is not used in greater 
quantity than to wet the hay, no damage is done to the roots of 
Cucumber or Melons, and very little, if any, to Mushrooms. Old tan 
serves equally well if placed on a narrow board at the side of the 
bed near the wall, especially -when mixed with a little boiled Potato, 
bread crumbs, scalded oatmeal, or pieces of raw Potato, Carrot, Beet, 
or Mangold Wurtzel, baiting fora few days to attract the woodlice, 
and then scald them with boiling water. Two pieces of old board 
placed one over the other, a small stone on one side keeping them 
about half an inch apart, and scattering a little boiled Potato on the 
board and over it a little hay, covering with the top board so as to lie 
rather loosely, answer admirably. Boards of about 2 feet length and 
11 inches wide serve the purpose well, or slates may be used, and in the 
morning remove the boards and scatter the contents in front of fowls. 
This if repeated a few times will soon clear the worst infected houses or 
frames, and there is no danger of interfering with the roots. Old boards 
form a trap that no woodlice can resist, and their use in Mushroom 
houses and elsewhere are attended with excellent results. Indeed, 
houses can be cleared rapidly and completely by that means without 
any injury to the beds of Mushrooms or the roots of Cucumbers 
and Melons. 
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, soft green grass or leaves form the best packing, dry 
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. 
( D .).—Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, the Ox-eye Daisy. (F. S ).— 
1, Epidendrum vitellinum ; 2, Odontoglossum crispum ; 3, Oncidium 
macranthum. (IF. IF). — 1, Onvchium japonicum; 2, Asplenium 
Adiantum - nigrum ; 3, Adiantum Capillus - Veneris; 4, Adiantum 
reniforme. ( Ji. IF). 1, Acalypha Macafeeana ; 2, Francoa sonchifolia; 
3, Insufficient without flowers; 4, Periploca gracca. (£7. D.). —Buddlea 
globosa. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— July 1st. 
Business brisker, with, good supplies, 
which are lower. 
Prices generally unaltered, excepting Peaches, 
FRUIT. 
Apples, Tasmanian, case 
Grapes, per lb. 
Kentish Cobs. 
Lemons, case. 
Asparagus, per bundle .. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. .. 
Beet, Red, dozen .. .. 
Cabbage, dozen .. .. 
Carrots, bunch .. .. 
Cauliflowers, dozen.. .. 
Celery, bundle. 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
Cucumbers, doz. .. .. 
Endive, dozen .. .. .. 
Herbs, bunch .. .. .. 
Leeks, bunch .. .. .. 
Lettuce, dozen. 
s. 
a. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
a. 
8. 
a. 
6 
0 to 14 
0 
Oranges, per 100 .. 
• • 
4 
U to 9 
0 
2 
0 
3 
6 
Peaches, per doz... 
v , 
3 
0 
i) 
0 
40 
0 
50 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each 
, # 
3 
0 
8 
0 
15 0 
20 
0 
Strawberries, per lb. 
• • 
0 
6 
1 
6 
VEGETABLES. 
S. 
a. 
8. 
a. 
8. 
a. 
8. 
a. 
0 
6 
to 2 
6 
Mushrooms, punnet 
• a 
U 
8 
to 0 
10 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Mustard & Cress, punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel.. .. 
5 
0 
6 
6 
3 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen 
• • 
1 
0 
0 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 
• • 
8 
0 
4 
0 
1 
0 
1 
8 
Rhubarb, bundle 
• • 
0 
2 
0 
3 
S 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy, bundle .. 
• • 
1 
0 
1 
6 
1 
6 
4 
0 
Soorzonera, bundle .. 
• • 
1 
6 
0 
0 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Shallots, per lb. 
• • 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel .. 
• • 
5 
0 
6 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. .. 
• • 
0 
6 
0 
8 
1 
0 
1 
3 
Turnips, bunch .. 
• • 
0 
0 
0 
4 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE 
Orchid Blooms very 
s. d. s. d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 2 0 to 4 0 
Bluebells, dozen bunches 10 2 0 
Bouvardias, bunch ..60 10 
Carnations, 12 blooms ..10 20 
Cornflower, doz. bun¬ 
ches . 20 40 
Eucharis, dozen .. .. 3 0 6 0 
Gardenias, per doz. 10 3 0 
Gladiolus (white), dozen 
bunches.6 0 12 0 
Iris (Various) doz. bchs. 4 0 8 0 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 2 0 4 0 
Lilac (French') per bunch 5 0 6 0 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 
blooms. 3 0 4 0 
Lilium (various) dozen 
blooms.10 30 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
bunches. 40 9 0 
Marguerites, 12 bunches 2 0 4 0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches ..3 0 6 0 
B. 
Aralia Sieboldi, dozen .. 6 
Arbor Vitae (golden) doz. 6 
Arum Lilies, per doz. .. 9 
Begonias (various), per 
dozen .6 
Calceolarias, per dozen .. 5 
Coleus (various), per doz. 3 
Dracaena terminalis, doz. 24 
„ viridis, dozen .. 12 
Erica, various, dozen .. 12 
Euonymus, var., dozen .. 6 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 6 
Fairy Roses, per doz. .. 6 
Ferns, in variety, dozen.. 4 
Ficus elastica, each.. .. 1 
Foliage plants, var., each 2 
Fuchsia, per doz.6 
Geraniums, Ivy, per doz. 4 
PLANTS 
d. s. d. 
0 to 18 0 
0 8 0 
0 12 0 
0 13 0 
0 9 0 
0 9 0 
0 42 0 
0 24 0 
0 21 0 
0 18 0 
0 24 0 
0 9 0 
0 18 0 
6 7 0 
0 10 0 
0 12 0 
0 6 0 
PRICES.—CUT FLOWERS, 
good, rather plentiful. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Mimosa (French), per 
bunch . 
i 
3 to 
1 
0 
Myosotis, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Pseonies, dozen bunches 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Pansies, dozen bunches.. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
4 
0 
9 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 bnchs 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Pink (various) doz. bchs. 
2 
0- 
4 
0 
Primula(double)12 sprays 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Pyrethrum, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Ranunculus, doz. bnchs. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Roses (indoor), dozen .. 
0 
6 
1 
6 
„ (mixed), doz.bnchs. 
2 
0 
6 
O 
„ Red (English) per 
dozen blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
O 
„ Red, 12 bis. (Fnch.) 
0 
6 
1 
0 
,, Tea, white, dozen.. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
„ Yellow, dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Spiraea, per bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Sweet Peas, doz. bunches 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Sweet Sultan, doz. bnchs. 
8 
0 
5 
O 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms .. 
0 
6 
1 
O 
IN POTS. 
8. 
d. 
8. <3. 
Heliotrope, per doz. 
4 
0 to 8 
O 
Hydrangeas, per doz. 
9 
0 
12 
O 
Lilium longiflorum, per 
dozen . 
18 
0 
so 
0 
Lobelia, per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen .. 
4 
0 
9 
0 
Musk, per doz. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Palms, in var.,each.. .. 
Pelargoniums, per doz. .. 
2 
6 
21 
0 
6 
0 
15 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, per 
dozen . 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Saxifraga pyramidalis, per 
doz. 
12 
0 
Li 
0 
Spiraea, per doz. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Stocks, per dozen .. .. 
4 
0 
6 
8 
Tropaeolums, per dozen .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Bedding plants (in variety) in boxes, from Is. to 3s.; in pots, per doz., Is. to 2s 
SMALL FARMS. 
It is undoubtedly a want of business aptitude, of keen fore¬ 
sight, of ability to meet a crisis, that not unfrequently tends to 
cripple the small farmer. The example given last week of an 
overstocked farm simply because prices had fallen is an instance 
