September 24,1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
285 
course of a week or two, so as soon as the flowers begin to open ; the holes 
from which the pots are taken can then be filled with suitable compost. 
Cover the bulbs about 4 inches deep. 
Outdoor Mushroom Beds ( Earnest Inquirer ).—After a bed has ceased 
bearing it m ust be entirely cleared away. Some beds continue productive 
for more th an three months, others do not bear so long. The amount per 
yard to which you refer is realised in three months by competent growers, 
often much more, but whether you will succeed in the first attempt or not it 
is impossible for us to say. Your proposed arrangement of preparing the 
beds will do very well, and the third bed should be made early, not late in 
January. 
Fruit for Market (II. S.'E .).—It is next to impossible to name the “ best ” 
varieties of fruit without reservation, as some succeed in one district and 
not in another. The following are generally good:—Pears: Jargonelle, 
Williams’ Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Hessle, Fertility, and 
Doyennh du Comice. Plums : Early Prolific, The Czar, Green Gage, Vic¬ 
toria, Mitchelson’s and Kirke’s. Apples : Irish Peach, Worcester Pearmain, 
Cox’s Orange Pippin, King of the Pippins, Blenheim Pippins, and Dume- 
low’s Seedling. '_'Vseberries : Whinham’s Industry and Whitesmith. Red 
Currants : Raby Castle (Victoria) and Red Dutch. Black Currants : Black 
Naples and Lee’ Prolific. Raspberries : Carter’s Prolific and Baumforth 
Seedling. Strawberries: Sir Joseph Paxton and Vicomtesse Hericart de 
Thury. 
Enlarging Vinery (An Old Subscriber ).—We are glad to learn that you 
continue to enjoy your garden and the Journal that you have read for so 
many years. It is not easy to determine the best method to adopt in fur¬ 
nishing the additional part of the house ; but as the Vines are healthy and 
We ^ we s h° u ld hesitate to lay the stems in the soil lest the resulting 
m Should t°° exuberant. The alternative plan would answer, but 
tae h montal portion of the rod would be of no use for bearing. Probably 
the best plan would be to again lift the Vines, drawing them to the front of 
the bouse. They appear to be in excellent condition for removal, and if the 
work is done at once, taking particular care that the roots are not dried, 
syringing the Vines and shading the house afterwards if needed for keeping 
the foliage fresh, they would commence rooting at once and start into 
Dext y ear a k° u * as strongly as if they had not been disturbed. By 
this plan you would lose no portion of the rods for bearing, and a much 
greater extent of the roof would be covered than by either of your proposi¬ 
tions of bending the stems. If you do not remove the Vines, we prefer the 
plan (No. 2 in your sketch) of not burying the rode. 
Pears not Ripening—The Congress (J. II. W.). —Many varieties of lat e 
Pears refuse to ripen when the roots of the trees are in cold clayey soil. 
The only remedy is to proceed as you have done with the Jargonelles, 
mulching heavily to keep the soil moist near the surface in the summer. 
If it gets dry there the roots will certainly strike down into the subsoil, no 
matter how ungenial it may be. If you place them in good soil near the 
surface, and keep them there in the manner suggested, we have no doubt 
the fruit will ripen. All you can do to induce the Pears to ripen is to place 
them in a close box in a very warm house. A closely observant person 
having a fair knowledge of Pears, may determine the names of several 
varieties by an attentive examination of their characters with those 
described in the “ Fruit Manual.” You, with others who are interested in 
Pears, should endeavour to attend the ensuing Pear Congress at South 
Kensington ; and we should be very glad if gardeners could be encouraged 
by their employers to visit a collection that will be highly instructive, as a 
lopg time may elapse before a similar opportunity may occur again for 
gaining knowledge of the nature indicated. 
Ash Tree Roots in Vine Border (4 Single-handed Grower). —Provided 
you were careful to remove all the roots of the Ash, or the woody portions 
of them, there is no reason why the Vine roots should not thrive in the 
border. The Ash roots would no doubt have greatly impoverished the soil, 
which you will in some measure have enriched by working in .“ a quantity 
of good stable manure,” which may be advisable in your case, though not 
generally so, as the manure for Vine borders is best given at the surface as 
a mulching. If, however, the roots of the Ash have not been removed, 
there is danger of fungus being produced and passing from the decaying Ash 
roots to those of the Vines. You would be acting wisely in removing the 
surface soil down to the roots in the inside border, picking the soil from 
amongst the roots without injuring them, substituting good turfy loam, to 
which has been added about 12 per cent, of bone meal or dust. Do not mix 
any manure with the soil, but mulch the surface with 3 inches thickness 
of Bhort fresh stable manure. It will not be safe to lift the whole of the 
roots, but a portion may be lifted without prejudice to next year’s crop, 
though it must be done with care, and as soon aB the wood becomes ripe, to 
lift the roots confined to the inside border would certainly tell disastrously 
upon next year’s crop. 
The Nutmeg Tree (J. C .).—The Nutmeg Tree (Myristica moschata) is a 
native of the Moluccas and neighbouring islands, but is now cultivated in 
Java, Sumatra, Penang, the Isle of Bourbon, Mauritius, and other parts of 
the East, and in Cayenne, Martinique, and some of the West India islands. 
It attains the height of 30 feet, with a straight stem and a branching head. 
The juice is acrid, viscid, and abundant; of a red colour, and dyes linen a 
permanent colour. The leaves are oblong-oval, glossy on the upper surface, 
and whitish beneath, and with an aromatic taste. The flowers are male 
and female on different trees, insignificant, and of a yellowish colour. The 
fruit is round or oval, about the size of a small Peach, with a smooth sur¬ 
face, green at first, but becoming yellow when ripe. The external cover- 
ing, which may be called a husk, is thick and fleshy, containing an austere, 
astringent juice ; becoming dry by maturity, it opens in two valves, and 
discovers the nut covered with its aril, or mace, which is of a beautiful 
blood-red colour; benegth the mace is a brown shining shell, containing the 
kernel or nutmeg. A plantation of Nutmeg trees is always made from seed, 
and it is not till the eight or ninth year that the trees produce flowers. 
The sexes being on different trees, after the plants are two years old they 
are all headed down and grafted with scions taken from the female tree, 
reserving only one male stock for fecundation. The natives of the Moluccas 
gather the fruit by hand, strip off and reject the pulpy husk, detach the 
mace carefully and expose it to the sun, which soon changes its beautiful 
blood-red colour to a light brown; it is then sprinkled with sea water to 
render it flexible and preserve it. The nuts are first sun-dried and then 
smoked, until the kernels rattle against the shell. This shell being removed 
the kernels are dipped twice or thrice in lime water, laid in heaps for two 
or three days, wiped, and packed in bales or barrels. There are two varie¬ 
ties of the Nutmeg, distinguished as the “green’’and the “royal;’’the 
royal is larger, and produces mace longer than the nut, while that of the 
green extends only half way down. 
Names of Fruits (T. C.). —1, Souvenir du Congres; 2, Jargonelle; 3, 
Windsor; 4 and 5, not known, too unripe ; C, Winter Nelis. (County Dublin 
Subscriber). —1, Diamond Plum ; 2, Prince of Wales ; 8, not known ; 4, Wind¬ 
sor Pear ; 5, Beurre d'Amanlis ; G, not known, too unripe, (H. Eutehinson). 
—1, Peach; 2, Hampden’s Bergamot. (H. Ilewat CraiS).— White Astra- 
chan. (J. R .).—Plums, red one Victoria, the three yellow ones Jefferson. 
1 ou, will find the history and descriptions of those you mention in new 
edition of the “ Fruit Manual.” (Lieut.-Col. Ward ).—The Apple is quite new 
to us, and is one you would do well to preserve. It is very beautiful, but 
we cannot form an opinion of its merit, as it is long past its best and is quite 
mealy. If it is of good flavour, its appearance and earliness are great 
accompanying recommendations to it. (T. W. Sanders).— Jersey Gratioli. 
(X Lougligate). —1 is undoubtedly Dutch Codlin. The Royal Codlin is quite 
distinct, and if you refer to the new edition of the “ Fruit Manual ” you will 
there find it described ; 3 is Court Pendft Plat. Your specimens of Royal 
Codlin are certainly small. (George Picker). —1,White Doyenne ; 2, Fondante 
d’Automne ; 3, Van Mons Leon Leclerc; 4, Durondeau ; 5, Duchesse de Bor¬ 
deaux ; 6, Beurre Sterckmans. (Sandbeck Park). —Spanish Warden. 
Names of Plants.—We only undertake to name species of plants, nor 
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. 
(G.O.). —1, Clematis tubulosa ; 2, not recognisable ; 3, Selaginella Martensi 
variegata; 4, S. caulescens ; 5, Polypodium aureum ; 6, Davallia canariensis ; 
(W. A. M.).—\, Selaginella Kraussiana ; 2, Ceanothus divaricatus; 3, Adi- 
antum concinnum ; 4, Selaginella Wildenovi. (A Young Gardener). —1, As- 
plenium formosum ; 2, Polypodium pectinat.um ; 3, Polystichum aculeatum ; 
4, Dracmna indivisa ; 5, Viburnum montanum. (A. S., Bedale). —1, Probably 
the variety of Hop is theColdgate; 2, Viburnum montanum; 3, Lychnis 
diurna flore pleno ; 4, Campanula Trachelium. 
Unfilled Sections (A. G. F .).—You may keep the unfilled supers and 
place them on the hive next year at the time you propose—that i3 early in 
the summer, when blossom is abundant and honey plentiful. If your hive 
is not heavy now the bees should be fed for the winter. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET— September 23rd. 
Trade heavy, with prices still lower. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples. 
b sieve 
i 
0 to 3 
6 
Melons .. .. .. 
1 
0 to 1 
6 
Cherries .. .. 
A-sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Oranges. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Cobs. Kent .. per 100 lbs. 24 
0 
26 
0 
Peaches. 
per doz. 
1 
6 
6 
0 
Currants, Red 
A sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Black .. 
\ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
8 
0 
9 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Gooseberries.. .. 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums. 
A sieve 
1 
3 
2 
6 
Grapes. 
0 
6 
2 
0 
Strawberries.. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons. 
•. case 
15 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 
3 
9 
7 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d 
Artichokes •. • 
. dozen 
l 
0 to 0 
0 
Lettuce. 
dozen 
1 
0 to 
1 
0 
Asparagus .. . 
. bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mushrooms .. . 
punnet 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Beans, Kidney 
. lb. 
0 
s 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red .. . 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions . 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
•8 
0 
Brussels Sprouts . 
. £ 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 
e 
5 
0 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Cauliflowers .. . 
. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
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 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Herns . 
. bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks . 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
THE CLERGYMAN’S FARM. 
(Continued from page 242.) 
Animals of the farm are generally spoken of as live stock, 
even poultry being included by this comprehensive term. 
For our small farm of 80 acres or less, the number of 
animals required cannot be large. This, however, is a 
matter entirely dependent upon the size of the family. For 
example, the dairy may consist of two or three cows, or it 
