506 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 3, 1885. 
Variegated Fern (/. G.). —The frond of Pteris ssrrulata is clearly 
variegated, and if the character is maintained and the plant grows freely it 
will be very attractive for table and other purposes of decoration. We have 
not seen an example in which the white is so pure. 
Poinsettias Failing (/. L. E.). —As the plants were so sturdy and vigorous 
by being grown outdoors in the summer, we can only suggest that their 
failure to produce good bracts is the result of the plants being left out too 
long. When they remain in cold positions until the leaves droop, growth 
ceases, and the roots first become torpid, then shrivel or decay. If you ex¬ 
amine the roots of your plants and they are d;ad or brown in colour, you 
may conclude we have either indicated the cause of the failure or you have 
given them an overdose of liquid manure. We feel confident the roots are 
not fresh and active, in which case it is impossible that large whorls of bril¬ 
liant bracis can be produced. 
The Trout Pear ( B. £>.).—Undoubtedly there is a Pear known under 
this name, that being a popular synonym of the Forelle Pear, which is 
described in the “ Fruit Manual ” as follows :—“ Fruit medium sized ; 
oblong obovate, but sometimes assuming a pyriform shape. Skin smooth 
and shining, of a fine lemon-yellow colour ou the shaded side, and bright 
crimson on the side next tne sun, covered with numerous crimson spots, 
which from their resemblance to the markings on a trout have sug¬ 
gested the name. Eye small, set in a rather shallow basin. Stalk an 
inch long, slender, inserted in a small shallow cavity. Flesh white, deli¬ 
cate, buttery, and melting, with a rich, sugary, and vinous flavour. An 
excellent Pear, in use from November till February. The tree is hardy and 
a good bearer.” 
Notes (An Old Subscriber). —We are obliged by your letter, which is one 
of several widely differing in tone. It is, we presume, not sent for publica¬ 
tion, or it would illustrate what you very properly condemn. We coincide 
in your views on the main question, but if you could see what we do not 
print you would, perhaps, be more surprised than ever. 
Mushrooms Outdoors ( Scotch Mist). —The long lapse of time before 
Mushrooms appeared was no doubt mainly the result of the temperature 
falling too low after the mycelium had permeated the mass, or in other 
words after the spawn had run. Mushroom spawn remains quiescent for a 
long time under a low temperature, and do’s not appear to be materially 
weakened thereby. Beds that have been quite frozen in the winter have 
produced good crops of Mushrooms in the spring. It is evident the 
bed to which you refer was warm enough for a time or the mycelium would 
not have spread, but the temperature fell too low during the cold weather 
that followed for inciting the production of Mushrooms. If a thermometer 
laid on the surface of the bed or ridge under the covering registers 50° the 
interior will be upwards of 20° higher, and if the material be good and the 
spawn strong Mushrooms will push through the soil freely. Two works on 
market gardening are Earley’s, which treats on outdoor crops, and Shaw’s, 
which includes plant culture as well. The first is published at 170, Strand, 
London, the other by G-. Routledge & Son3, Ludgate Hill. 
Cutting Back Roses in the Autumn (H. G.). —Your plan of shortening 
the strong roots in November—that is, the long loose ends that have an un¬ 
tidy appearance, cannot possibly weaken the plants, but on the contrary, as 
you observe, it has a tendency to cause the lower buds to swell somewhat, 
and these buds have to be reliei on for strong growth and fine blooms. If 
shortened too severely in the autumn these lower buds often start too soon in 
the spring and the young shoots are cut by frost, but as you say you have 
the growths about 3 feet long that is certainly not close autumn pruning. 
Many good growers both thin out weakly growths and remove the ends from 
the stronger in October with excellent results, as the strength of the plant is 
then not wasted on useless portions, while the growths left are assisted to 
ripen by being more directly exposed to the sun and air. It is a mistake to 
suppose that the sap in the ends of the shoots removed would, if they were 
left uncut, return to the roots during the winter and feed them. There is 
little or no nutrient matter deposited anywhere by the necessarily soft un¬ 
ripe ends of the growths, and what there is is secreted before the leaves fall 
in the wood and round the buds, chiefly remaining there for their nourish¬ 
ment. The method you adopt is, in our opinion, perfectly sound, and the 
excellent results you obtain suggest there is nothing to be gained by any 
departure from it. 
Popular Roses (J. Melton). —If you mean by these, Roses that are the 
most generally grown for exhibiting, the following fifty Hybrid Perpetuals 
and twenty-five Teas and Noisettes will answer your purpose :—La France, 
Marie Baumann, A. K. Williams, Baroness Rothschild, Marquise de Castel- 
lane, Madame Gabriel Luizet, Charles Lefebvre, Captain Christy, Alfred 
Colomb, Franpois Michelon, Etienne Levet, Duke of Edinburgh, Marie Rady, 
Louis Yan Houtte, Dr. Andry, Marguerite de St. Amand, E. Y. Teas, Com- 
tesse d’Cxford, Merveille de Lyon, Madame Hippolyte Jamain, Duchesse de 
Yalloml rosa, Horace Yernet, Madame Lacharme, Madame Victor Verdier, 
Marie Verdier, Fisher Holmes, Beauty of Waltham, Duke of Wellington, 
Pride of Waltham, Senateur Vaisse, Camille Bernardin, Dupuy Jamain, Le 
Havre, Xavier Olibo, Comtesse de Serenye, Star of Waltham, Marie Finger, 
Abel Carriere, Eug6nie Verdier, Mrs. Charles Wood, General Jacqueminot, 
John Hopper, Ferdinand de Lesseps, Countess of Rosebery, Monsieur 
Noman, Edouard Morren, Prince Arthur, DukeofTeck, Ulrich Brunner, 
Duchesse de Morny. Teas and Noisettes—Souvenir d’un Ami, Marshal 
Niel (N.), Catherine Mermet, Marie Van Houtte, Niphetos, Souvenir d’Elise 
Vardon, Jean Ducher, Innocente Pirola, Devoniensis, Caroline Kuster (N.), 
Rubens, Comtesse de Nadaillac, Souvenir de Paul Neyron, Madame Willer- 
moz, Anna Ollivier, Etoile de Lyon, Alba Rosea, Perle des Jardins, Madame 
Lambard, Belle Lyonnaise, Madame Bravy, Madame Margottin, Madame 
Angele Jacquier, Madame Welche, La Boule d’Or. 
Planting Marechal Niel Roses in Chrysanthemum House ( Cambridge ). 
—We presume you do not desire to cover the body entirely, but only thinly 
or partially, so as to admit light to Chrysanth-mums in the autumn. Thi3 
being so, we question if there is a better plan than that adopted by Mr. 
Gilbert at Burghley, which enables him to produce the greatest number of 
fine blooms, while at the same time admitting light to trees and plants. 
The Burghley example was alluded to as follows in March, 1882, by the 
writer of these lines :—“ In one house Figs covered the back wall, with 
Marechal Niel Rose on the roof in grand condition. We have seen many 
remarkable examples of this fine Rose, one of them bearing three thousand 
blooms, but the Burghley specimen surpasses them all as a type of high 
culture. It ia on the Briar, and fortunately worked low, as ought always to 
be the case when this Rose is worked at all. It is planted in the centre of 
the house and close to the front, horizontal main branches being trained 
right and left along the base of the rafters. These horizontal mains are 
the only permanent portions of this fine tree. At intervals of 5 or 6 feet 
wires are stretched up the roof, and to these are secured the flowering 
shoots; and it is to be particularly noted they are annual shoots—that is to 
say, as soon as the blooms are cut in May or Juno the growths are cut quite 
down to the base of the rafters. The roots being in rich soil and generously 
fed, strong growths start at once, snd four or five of these are trained up 
each wire. They speedily reach the top, and are then shortened. These 
young growths are fully as thick as an ordinary pencil and many of them 
much thicker, while the foliage is remarkable for its size, substance, and 
deep rich green. One of the leaflets casually measured exceeded G inches 
by 5, exclusive of the footstalk. When it is remembered that every bud on 
wood thus prepared affords at least one flower, some idea may be formed of 
the pendent massive lines of golden blooms that must be produced. The 
effect cannot but be magnificent and worth a long journey to see. This is 
the simplest and best of all systems of growing the Marechal Niel Rose 
under glass. We have proved its value years ago and seen the plan carried 
out by others, but neyer so well as in the example under notice. The wires 
are placed at the distance stated, so that the Figs on the back wall received 
the light between the cordons of Roses. The stock of the Marechal, as is 
almost invariably the case, has increased much faster than the Briar. This 
is the cause of the death of many fine plants, or rather trees, when budded 
high, but worked low the junction can be covered with soil. This is what 
has been done at Burghley by packing a wall of turves round the stem 
after a sharp knife has been drawn down the Briar portion, cutting quite 
through the bark, and it is expecttd the health and vigour of the specimen 
will be maintained. The roof under which this Rose is trained is 30 feet 
long by 18 or 20 deep. Worthy of record as are many doings at Burghley, 
not one is more worthy than this splendid instance of Rose culture.” To 
that it is only necessary to add, if you wish to have wires covered with 
growths as quickly as possible, you had better plant one Rose for each wire. 
If you commence at 2 feet from the ends of the 24-feet compartment you 
will have space for three wires on each side with intervals of 8 feet between 
them. In the other compartment you can either have two wires up each 
side at wider intervals than stated, or three a little closer ; or either ten or 
twelve plants altogether. In this way you might grow numbers of Rose 
blooms without materially depriving Tomatoes of light in the summer or 
Chrysanthemums in the autumn. You ought to have very strong plants of 
Tomatoes by the first week in May. The soil for the Roses cannot well be 
too rich, and the plants should be pruned quite closely after planting. 
Many Marechal Niel and other Roses are ruined by having long shoots 
before root-action is powerful. 
Names of Fruits.—-The names and addresses of Eendcrs 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. 
(J. W. A.).—The portion of fruit sent is of the Forelle or Trout Pear. See 
reply to another correspondent. (C. IF).—1, not known ; 2, Comte de 
Lamy ; 3, Bergamotte de Jodoigne ; 4, Marechal de Cour. (Slinketh). —1, 
General Todtleben ; 2, Doyenne Goubault; 3, Golden Reinette; 4, Scarlet 
Nonpareil; 5, Adams’ Pearmain. ( James Pound). —5, Beurre de Jonghe; 
10, Ne Plus Meuris ; 16, Duchess’s Favourite; 19, Striped Beefing; 22, 
Claygate Pea: main; 23, not known. (J. T. S.). —1 and 2, Beurrh Diel ; 
3, not known, worthless; Apple, Golden Russet. ( Walter Kruse). —Prince 
Albert. 
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 or soft green leaves form the best packing, dry 
cotton wool the worst. Not more than six specimens can be named at once. 
(A. Batty). —1, Zygopetalum Mackayi; 2, Hedychium Gardnerianum, which 
can be grown in a good compost of loam and old manure in an ordinary 
stove, though it succeeds very w r ell in a greenhouse during the summer. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— December 2nd. 
Trade very quiet. Heavy supplies of Grapes making exceptionally low prices. 
Large arrivals of Nova Scotia Apples at lower rates. 
FRUIT. 
3. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples. 
£ sieve 
1 
0 
bo S 
6 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
0 
Oto 
0 
0 
„ Canadian .. 
barrel 
10 
0 
15 
0 
Peaches . 
per doz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Nova Scotia 
10 
0 
12 
6 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Cobs. Kent .. per 100 lbs. 
22 
0 
25 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
0 
4 
1 
6 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
8 
0 
9 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
2 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes . 
0 
6 
2 
0 
Plums. 
£ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons .. .. 
•. case 
15 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
1 
6 
5 
0 
Melons. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Artichokes .. .. 
dozen 
l 
0 to 0 
0 
Lettuce. 
. dozen 
l 
0 to 
i 
6 
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 
l 
0 
2 
0 
Onions. 
bunoh 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
© 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts . 
£ sieve 
2 
6 
S 
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 
5 
0 
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 
2 
0 
Scorzonera .. . 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts dcz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. per basket 
2 
0 
2 
6 
Cucumbers 
each 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Shallots. 
.. ft. 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Endive. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach .. 
bushel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Heros . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. 
.. lb. 
0 
4 
6 
0 
Leeks . 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 
4 
Turnips .. .. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
