488 
November 26, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Bee subjects, and should never 
send more than two or three questions at once. All articles in¬ 
tended for insertion should be written on one side of the paper 
only. We cannot reply to questions through the post, and we 
do not undertake to return rejected communications. 
Fungus on Chrysanthemum Leaves (C. II. M. Sheffield). —We have 
submitted the leaves to an experienced fungologist, who states that the 
nodules on the leaves are “ the sporangia of Pilobolus crystallinus, and pro¬ 
ceed from the dung on the surface of the soil; the leaf is not diseased. 
Transplanting Box (II. R.). —Box may be taken up and fresh edgings 
made now, or at any time when the weather is mild and the soil in free 
working condition. We have formed Box edgiDgs with equal success in 
November and March. If the portions divided and planted have roots we 
have no choice as to autumn or spring planting, but prefer forming lines of 
rootless slips in October. More depends, however, on the way in which the 
work is done than on any particular time between September and April 
for doing it. 
Laying down Old Laurels (Idem). —There is no better time than the 
present for thinning out and pegging down the tall stems of Laurels. We 
mention thinning, because it is often difficult and also undesirable to peg 
them all down. When the stems are very strong it is necessary to chop 
them with a long slanting cut near the base and sufficiently deep to enable 
them to be bent flat down, a very strong peg or two being driven in not far 
from the bend to keep them in position, as it is not sufficient to merely peg 
down the tips and leave other parts of the stem bent in the form of a bow 
a foot, more or less, above the surface. That indicates bad workmanship, 
and, besides, the shrubs so treated do not usually grow well. 
Laburnums for Towns (A. S.). —We think yon have been misinformed 
Laburnums grow free.y and flower beautifully in the suburbs of London) 
also in the metropolitan parks. We also remember seeing a tree planted in 
an area between Hyde Park and Victoria Station, its branches being trained 
up the wall and round a balcony, and they were covered with golden racemes. 
So far, then, from our confirming what you have been told, that “ Laburnums 
will not do well near towns,’’ we regard them as good town and suburban 
trees so far as regards their growth; but it should be remembered the seeds 
are poisonous. 
Passiflora Buonapartea.—Mushroom Spawn ( Constant Reader, Bourne¬ 
mouth). —The plant from which the engraving you refer to was prepared was 
obtained from Messrs. Veitch & Sons of Chelsea, and we have no doubt that 
you will be able to get as many plants as you require either there or at Mr. 
B. S. Williams, the Paradise Nursery, Upper Holloway, as all advertise it in 
their catalogues. The quantity of Mushroom spawn required to spawn three 
beds, each 12 feet long and 18 inches wide, would be exactly a bushel, or 
twelve bricks. As a guide to the quantity required and to the distance 
apart at which it should be inserted in the bed, we may mention that one 
brick should be divided into eight parts, and each of the latter inserted in 
the bed at 9 inches apart. If you are inexperienced in Mushroom culture, 
obtain “ Mushrooms for the Million,” price Is., published at this office. In 
this you will find all the information you need on this subject. 
White Grape for Cool House (W. A.). —It is extremely unlikely that 
you would find the Golden Hamburgh as satisfactory as the Golden Queen. 
It is earlier but not such a good grower, bearer, nor “ setter,” while its 
quality is only second rate. You are far more likely to succeed with 
Foster’s Seedling, which grows and bears well, and the fruit, though not 
large, is of better quality than the Golden Hamburgh, and does not crack 
under even fairly good management. Taking all its properties into con¬ 
sideration Foster’s Seedling is the best white Grape for growing with Black 
Hamburghs in a house where little fire heat is employed, and the fruit does 
not split except the house is kept too close and damp. A rather dry and 
buoyant atmosphere should be maintained during the ripening period, and at 
that time a little fire heat with judicious ventilation is often of great service 
to both this and the Black Hamburgh Grape. 
Exhibiting Plants (C. H). —In a class of “ six miscellaneous plants, 
three in and three out of flower, distinct varieties,” we consider that six 
plants and no more are eligible for prizes, and if we were judging in such a 
class and any exhibitor made up a pot of “five varieties of Oncidiums 
grown on blocks, and placed together in a large pot and shown as one plant,” 
we should at once have disqualified the collection. In such a class we con¬ 
sider the “made-up ” mass inadmissible on two grounds—an excess both in 
the number of plants and of varieties. It appears the more strange that 
this packing should have been allowed, since in former years Poinsettias 
and Euphorbias have been disqualified because there was more than one 
plant in a pot. In the class to which you refer there were, if you are 
correct in your statement, ten plants shown instead of six, and that appears 
to us quite conclusive as to the ineligibility of the plants in question for 
recognition by the judges. 
Anthurium crystallinum (Querist). —This is a stove plant, and succeeds 
best in a house where the temperature seldoms falls below 65°. When 
making its growth it enjoys a temperature from 70° to 90° with a moist 
atmosphere and a shaded position, dry air, sharp enrrents, and much sun 
being injurious. It requires a very rough open compost, such as lumps of 
peat, loam, charcoal, and sphagnum moss, the pots to be well drained and 
the plants elevated above the rims, somewhat as in potting Orchids. 
Abundance of water can then be given while the compost remains sweet. 
In the growing season water must be given copiously, reducing the supply 
on the approach of winter, then only giving sufficient to keep the leaves 
fresh till spring, The be3t time for potting or renewing the compost is 
when growth is commencing after a period of rest. 
Raising Apples and Clematises from Seed (Idem). —If you wish to sow 
a bushel of Apple pips or any such large quantity, you cannot do better 
than sow them in beds in the open ground in spring, as if sowing Radishes, 
covering the pips an inch deep with free soil. That is the plan adopted by 
nurserymen and raisers of stocks for grafting. If you have only a few seeds 
any particular variety, sow them in a pot or pan of sandy soil in a cool 
frame in spring. Clematis seed may be sown in the same way in a mixture 
of peat and loam, keeping the pots in a close and rather warm frame or 
light house, and the soil regularly moist. 
Apricot Branches Dying (B. D .).—There is a disease to which the 
Moorpark is liable, and which is sometimes attended with very serious con¬ 
sequences. It shows itself first in the leaves, which all of a sudden flag and 
wither away, and the branch which bears them dies. Frequently a whole 
limb, or the whole of one side of a tree, will exhibit this appearance in the 
space of a few hours. This effect arises, not as some say from the stock on 
which it is worked, or the soil in which it is planted, for it is met with on 
every description of stock and in all kinds of soil. It is not the result of a 
languid circulation, for trees in the full vigour of growth are as subject to 
it as those which are aged and going to decay ; but it is because of the natur¬ 
ally delicate constitution of this variety, which cannot withstand uninjured 
this variable climate of ours. It is caused from injuries received by frost 
either in spring or early summer, or in winter after a wet autumn when the 
wood has not been properly ripened. The frost lacerates the sap vessels of the 
external layers of the wood, and the circulation is limited to the inner layers. 
When vegetation commence?, and after the leaves are fully developed on 
the injured branch, the demand on the powers of the branch for a supply of 
sap to the leaves fails, and when the sun becomes powerful and evaporation 
increases, the supply becomes proportionately less, and for want of nourish- 
ment the leaves flag and the branch w’ithers and dies. Less luxuriant 
growth with matured wood, which can only be insured by a thin disposal 
of the branches, appear the chief points to be kept in mind in the cultiva- 
tion of this excellent but often disappointing variety. 
Names of Fruits.—The names and addresses of senders of fruit to 
be named must in all cases be enclosed with the specimens, whether 
letters referring to the fruit are sent by post or not. The names are 
not necessarily required for publication, initials sufficing for that. 
(W.J. S .).—The Pear is Comte de Lamy. 1, Round Winter Nonesuch; 2, 
Golden Spire ; 3, Mannington’s Pearmain ; 4, Ross Nonpareil; 5, Aromatic 
Russet. (B. P. 0 .).—Norfolk Beefing. (Backford).— 1, Bess Pool; 2, Lon¬ 
don Pippin ; 3, Small’s Admirable. (J. M. B.). —1, White Astrachan; 2, 
Yellow Ingestrie ; 3, Ribston Pippin ; 4, Glou Morqeau ; 5, Beurrb Ranee , 
6, Beurre d’Aremberg. (F. A.). —1, Beuri e Clairgeau ; 2, Easter Beurre ,3, 
Beurre Diel; 4, Vicar of Wmkfield ; 5, Golden Russet. (J. T. S.).— ihe 
carriage of your parcel was not paid, and it is a wonder it was taken in by 
our receiving clerk. If you send 6d. in stamps the fruits will be examined 
with the object of identification. 
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 hrm 
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. 
We have received sprays of shrubs and flowers presumably for naming, but 
no letters accompanying them, and consequently the specimens cannot be 
attend^ d to. (N. II., Somerset).— 1, Iris feetidissima ; 2, not in suitable con¬ 
dition to be determined; 3, Carpinus betulus. (J. L.). Solanum nigrum. 
(John Cameron).— 2, Juniperus recurvus. (Lady King).— Ligustrum lucidum. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— November 25th. 
Business at a standstill. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
£ sieve 
i 
0 
to S 
6 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
0 
0 to 
0 
0 
* *, Canadian.. 
barre 
10 
0 
15 
0 
Peaches . 
perdoz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
100 lbs. 22 
0 
25 
0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
dozen 
0 
8 
0 
9 
,, dessert 
dozen 
0 
4 
1 
6 
0 
6 
a 
0 
Pine Apples English., id. 
2 
0 
0 
0 
.. case 
15 
0 
21 
0 
Plums. 
£ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
Melons. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
1 
6 
5 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
8. d 
s. 
d. 
s. 
a. 
dozen 
l 
0 
to 0 
0 
Lettuce. 
. dozen 
i 
0 to 
1 
6 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mushrooms .. . 
punnet 
0 
6 
1 
0 
lb. 
0 
S 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
s 
0 
Brussels Sprouts .. 
) sieve 
2 
6 
3 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
dozen 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
100 
1 
6 
a 
0 
,, Kidney . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
bunch 
0 
s 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
bundle 
1 
6 
a 
0 
Scorzonera .. . 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
a 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. per basket 
2 
0 
2 
6 
each 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Shallots. 
0 
S 
0 
6 
dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach .. .. 
bushel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
bunch 
0 
s 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
Leeks . 
bunch 
0 
s 
0 
4 
Turnips .. .. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
WINTER DIET. 
THE FLOCK. 
Not until the value of green crops for ploughing in as 
manure is more clearly understood will the general practice 
