July SO, 1885. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
101 
immersed in a vessel of water till the latter is coloured as indicated. Twice 
or thrice a week will probably be often enough to give liquid manure. 
Syringe amongst the pots frequently in hot w'eather, and keep the base on 
which they stand moist. 
Bertolonia Van Houttei (Constant Header). —The beautiful ornamental- 
frdmged plant requires to be grown in a case or under a glass shade in a 
shaded position in a warm stove to bring out its glistening colours. Shade, 
beat, and moisture are the chief requirements. It grows freely in a com¬ 
post of fibry peat, leaf mould, and sand, but will not grow freely in the sun 
or a dry- atmosphere. Caladiums also require heat and moisture, with shade 
from bright sun, the strong growers luxuriating in a rough compost of loam, 
decayed manure, and crushed charcoal, the pretty little C. argyrites prefer¬ 
ring an admixture of peat. No stove plants are more easy to grow than 
Caladiums, but they must have plenty of moisture at the roots and a 
moist genial atmosphere. 
t( Ammonia for Vinos (F. J.). —Time after time it has been stated in 
VV ork for the Week,” in articles, and in answers in this column, that 
ammonia can be beneficially applied to Vines in the form of strong guano 
water sprinkled in t.he house and placed in troughs on the pipes. We are 
most willing to advise you at all times, but have often observed you apply 
for information that has been given a few weeks before, and consequently a 
few weeks too late for your deriving full benefit from the replies that we can 
give on a subject. Mix one or two ounces of guano in a gallon of water, 
and make every available plant of the house wet with it every evening when 
you close the sashes. You cannot very well use too much of this in hot 
weather until the Grapes colour, but open the lights an inch or two at the 
top before nightfall, and the front lights also on sultry nights, and leave 
them open, giving more air very early in the morning in advance of the 
rising temperature—that is to prevent the heat rushing up suddenly, then 
having to throw open the ventilators to reduce it. This latter practice, 
which is much too common, is the cause of many failures. The night 
temperature you name is quite 5® higher than is recommended in the 
Journal ; in fact 10°, and we fear you do not read attentively. If the ther¬ 
mometer registers 65° the first thing in the morning the house will be quite 
warm enough, but there must always be a free circulation of air. Shallow 
vessels may still be kept filled with water in hot weather, but the ammonia 
applications had better cease when the Grapes are fairly colouring and before 
they are ripe. As has frequently been stated, this should commence when 
the berries are about stoning. 
Budding Briars (J. B.). —If you cut the strong shoots clean away you 
will check the flow of sap so seriously that you will probably entirely fail 
in your object. We should not shorten the growths at all, but simply 
remove the soil from the stems, give a good watering, insert the buds at 
or.ce, bind with matting or worsted, and cover any roots that may be 
exposed with soil, but not the inserted buds. It is very important that the 
shoots from which the buds are taken be kept moist, as if the leaves wither 
and the bark shrinks even slightly the buds will not grow, and they should 
be inserted as quickly as possible when taken from the stems. We should 
not shorten the shoots after the insertion of the buds—at least, not until 
they are pruned in winter. By shortening the growths after the buds are 
established they are often made to push just before winter and be killed. 
They are better in a dormant state till spring, and are then sure to push 
strongly, and most of them produce fine blooms. The more growths the 
stocks make this summer the greater is the root-action for supporting the 
Boses next year. Beauty of Hebron Potato is ready for taking up when 
the leaves turn yellow. 
Vinery for Market Purposes ( W.). —The best description of house is a 
span-roof about 20 feet in width, either with or without glass sides. The 
latter is the cheapest, but we prefer the houses with about 2 feet G inches of 
brickwork, and 3 feet of glass at the sides. The wall admits of slope for 
shutter or other covering of the outside borders, which is necessary when 
late Grapes or early-forced ones are grown, and the side lights admit of ven¬ 
tilation. The pitch of roof we should have at an angle of about 65°, or cal¬ 
culating for half the width, 7 feet 6 inches being the height of the ridge above 
the eaves, so that with the sides as above indicated the house will be 13 feet 
in the centre from the floor line to the ridge. The rafters we should have 
7 inches by 3 inches, and the sash-bars 3 inches by li inch, two sash-bars 
between each rafter, fixed so as to take squares about 13 inches wide. You 
will need lights 2 inches thick on both sides of the ridge about 2 feet wide, 
and opening the full length by lever movement, and similar means of ven¬ 
tilation on both sides. The glass should be 21 oz. thirds. You will need 
iron tie-rods to every alternate rafter. If you want plainer houses, read what 
will be published about Mr. Ladds’ in an early issue. They are both lower 
and flatter than that above described. The pitch of a house may with ad¬ 
vantage be greater in dull northerly districts than in the south, and you do 
not state from whence you write. The house recommended is for late 
Grapes mainly, or those that have to hang a considerable time after ripening. 
Mushroom Culture ( Cryptogami ).—Sphagnum can be procured of most 
nurserymen ; but it is of no use for mixing with straw to make a Mushroom 
bed. As you cannot procure droppings in other than small quantities, they 
should, as collected, be placed in a shed or other place secure from wet, 
spreading out thinly, and turning over occasionally so as to keep it from be¬ 
coming stale. When you have collected sufficient droppings throw all to¬ 
gether into a heap, mixing the fresh with the old, and when it has become 
warm form into a bed. You could not do better than procure “ Mushrooms 
for the Million,” which gives minute directions for growing Mushrooms 
under a great variety of circumstances. It may be had from our office for 
Is. 2d. post free. 
Figs Falling Off (J. F. L.). — The cause of the Figs falling is undoubtedly 
owing to the immaturity of the wood, which may be due to the roots 
running riot in the border, which keeps up growth until a late period, and 
the wood consequently does not ripen to the point. The shoots also may be 
crowded, so as not to admit light and air, hence wood is not solidified as made, 
as is evidenced by the growth, which is long-jointed. We should confine 
the roots to the pots, giving them a shift into larger in autumn, or it may 
be done now, draining well, and using good loam with a sixth of old mortar 
rubbish intermixed. Pot hard, the harder the better, then cut or tie down 
the shoots, stopping the side growths, keeping them rather thin so as to 
admit air to the interior, and well exposed to the light. Feeding is best 
done on the surface with a mulch of turf and well-rotted manure, with liquid 
manure as necessary. If the trees are much rooted from the pots the roots 
should be cut through gradually so as not to give a too severe check. The 
crop also appears heavy. The fruit sent is unfertilised. The variety appears 
to be the White Ischia. 
Address (J. F.). —Messrs. Hooper & Co., Florists, Central Avenue, 
Covent Garden, London, W.C. 
Vines Unhealthy (II. C .).—Your Vines are in a deplorable state, but we 
see no evidence of the presence of the phylloxera. They shall be further 
examined and a fuller reply given in a future issue. 
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 contain 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. 
(J. B.). —1, Gnaphalium uliginosum ; 2, Gnaphalium luteo-album ; 3, Filago 
spathulata ; 4, Erigeron acre ; 5, Centaurea montana alba ; 6, Sisymbrium 
pannonicum. (Mater). — Our conditions, which are regularly published, 
stipulate for six plants only at one time, and we cannot undertake to name 
more ; also, Ferns sent for naming should have spores on the fronds. 5, 
Begonia metallica ; 8, Lonicera aurea reticulata; 9, Euonymus radicans ; 
10, Campanula; specimen insufficient; if rather tall-growing it is C. grandis. 
11, Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy); 13, Aconitum versicolor. (Boh ).— 
3, Blechnum spicant; 4, Asplenium trichomanes ; 5, Asplenium Adiantum 
nigrum; 7, Polypodium Phegopteris ; 9, Polystichum angulare ; 12, Cysto- 
pteris fragilis. ( TV. P .).—Acropera concolor. (C. II. Stephens). —1, Physalis 
Alkekengi; 2, Hemerocallis fulva ; 3, Phacelia tanacetifolia ; 4, Liadelophia 
spectabilis ; 5, Aconitum paniculatum ; G, Argemone sulphurea. 
A Straw Skep as Super (Header ).—By putting a skep on the top of 
the stock you have simply supered it. and if it has not swarmed in your 
absence the super should be filled with pure comb and honey, which should 
be removed by passing a cord between it and hive, then drive out the bees 
in the usual manner, rapping gently when driving, as the combs will be soft. 
The under hive, if of sufficient weight, may be arranged for winter. If not 
heavy enough syrup should be given next month to bring it up to a proper 
weight, which ought to be from 30 to 40 lbs., exclusive of hive and board. 
If the hive has its original queen it would give more satisfaction next year. 
If she was deposed and a young one joined, or as it is early in the season, a 
young one raised in hive now would be certain to mate; but as queens are 
often lost when on tho wedding tour, a nucleus should be formed by driving 
a few bees on the tenth day into a small box or hive, and insert beside them 
a piece of comb containing a queen cell. This would give an extra queen 
in case of casualty, or if not required, could be fed up and kept over till 
spring, when she could be easily disposed of. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— July 29th. 
There is no alteration from last week. 
FRUIT. 
Apples .. .. 
J sieve 
8. 
0 
d. 8. 
0 to 0 
d. 
0 
Lemons.. .. 
8. 
.. case 15 
d. s. 
0 to 21 
d. 
0 
Cherries 
A-sieve 
4 
0 
10 
0 
Oranges. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. 
per 100 lbs. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches . 
per doz. 
1 
6 
8 
0 
Currants, Red 
A sieve 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Black 
| sieve 
4 
0 
4 
6 
,, dessert 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
a 
Figs .. .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Pine Apples English .. lb. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Gooseberries. • 
A sieve 
i 
8 
3 
0 
Strawberries.. 
0 
3 
0 
9 
Grapes .. .. 
i 
0 
2 
6 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 
3 
0 
7 
0 
Artichokes • • 
dozen 
8. 
1 
VEGE1 
d. s. d 
0 to 0 0 
ABLES. 
Lettuce •• •• . 
. dozen 
8. 
1 
d. s. 
0 to 2 
d. 
0 
Asparagus 
bundle 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Mushrooms .. . 
punnet 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Beans, Kidney 
lb. 
i 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Onions. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli .. .. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
6 
Brussels Sprouts 
i sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
1 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
8 
Carrots .. .. 
bunch 
0 
s 
0 
4 
Rhubarb . 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Salsafy . 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celery .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Scorzonera .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts dcz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. ,. per basket 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers 
each 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Shallots . 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Endive .. .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Herbs .. .. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
5 
Leeks .. .. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
6 
0 
0 
THE CLERGYMAN’S FARM. 
(Continued from page 80.) 
For intrinsic value and general utility Oats may be re¬ 
garded as even more important than Wheat upon the clergy¬ 
man’s farm. As whole or bruised corn it is indispensable 
