January 7, 1886.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
13 
Privet and Fowls (Ii. H. J .).—"We are not aware that the leaves of 
Japanese Privet are poisonous to fowls. Birds eat the fruit of the common 
Privet with impunity, and the leaves have an astringent bitter taste. We 
have seen fow Is bask under Privet hedges, and have not known any injurious 
results accrue from the birds pecking the leaves. If the experience of any 
of our readers differs in this respect we will readily publish it if communi¬ 
cated. 
Leeks (Tomlinson). —It is difficult to form even an approximate estimate 
cf the weight of a market bunch of Leeks, as early in the season there are 
only eight to ten in a bunch, while later there are fourteen to sixteen. You 
can now form an estimate as well as we can. 
Alterations (An Old Subscriber). —Your having made the alterations to 
which you refer previous to the passing of the Agricultural Holdings Bill 
you do not come under the Act in question. If you are in trade as a 
nurseryman you can remove or sell your stock-in-trade, including the glass 
structures, on the expiration of your tenancy. The payment of rent deter¬ 
mines the character of your tenancy in the absence of any written agree¬ 
ment. A six-months notice of quittance on either side suffices, to terminate 
at the time you took possession of the premises. 
Eradicating Weeds and Moss (Constant Header). —A quartet of a pint 
of sulphuric acid mixed in a gallon of water and immediately poured upon 
the path will destroy all small weeds, so will an ounce of crude carbolic acid 
in the same quantity of water. A waterpot with a fine rose answers beBt 
for the work. Care must be taken not to let the acid touch the clothes or 
boots, or it will burn holes in them, and it will also kill Box or Grass edgings. 
Apply it in fine weather, and you will have no more weeds for several 
months. The acid can he had from any chemist or oil and colour dealer. 
Boiler and Pipes for Cucumber House (An Old Subscriber). —The 
boilers you name and others similar are suitable for heating a Cucumber 
house. You will need four rows of 4-inch pipes for top heat, and if you 
have the fruit early you will require pipes for bottom heat, two rows on the 
flat under a bed 4 feet wide, the pipes 1 foot from the sides, surrounded and 
covered with rubble to a depth of U inches, and above this you will need a 
space of 12 inches for soil. If you have the bed we should only have two 
rows of 4-inch pipes close to the front for top heat, and have the other two at 
the side of the bed towards the interior of the house, or on the brickwork 
forming the edge of the bed. 
Temperature for Vines at Rest (F. J.). —The temperature ought not to 
exceed 50 s from fire heat whilst the Vines are at rest, but 40° to 45° is suffi¬ 
ciently warm for greenhouse plants by artificial means, and is the tempera¬ 
ture that ought to be maintained. A valve ought not to he used for 
regulating the heat from the boiler unless there be more than one structure 
heated from the same boiler, then valves are necessary. What you seem to 
require is a damper so as to regulate the heat of the furnace, and consequently 
the heating of the water. Your boiler is too powerful or too hard stoked. 
Keep less fire, and regulate the draught by the ashpit door. Sixty is very 
much too high for Vines at rest, and is very prejudicial to greenhouse plants 
in winter. It is in fact a forcing temperature. Keep at the temperature 
named above. Coke is a preferable fuel for your description of boiler, 
breaking it small. 
Watering Vines in Winter (Merchant). —As the inside border near the 
water pipes is “ very dry,” by all means give water copiously at once, and 
do not let the soil get so dry again. It is quite immaterial whether you 
remove the surface-dressing of manure or not. Probably you can moisten the 
border more effectually by raking it off, pointing up the su'face of the soil 
lightly so that the water is evenly distributed, then replacing the manure. 
Possibly one watering may be quite inadequate, and two or three copious 
applications may be requisite; in this case the last may be with liquid 
manure if you have reason to think the soil has become impoverished. It is 
quite safe to water Vine borders in winter, danger lurking in allowing them 
to remain dry ; and liquid manure, if it be needed, may be given with equal 
safety when Vines are resting as when they are growing. You may plant your 
Hoses at any time when the weather is mild and the soil in a dryish, free- 
working condition. They may be partially pruned, removing a third or so in 
length of the shoots, pruning more closely in March or after fresh growth 
has started. 
Besi de Quessoy Pear (71 TV. G .).—The above is the name of your Pear, 
and it has seven other names. The following is the description in the 
frvit Manual: —“Besi de Quessoy (De Quessoy ; Besi de Caissoy; Poire 
de Caissoy; Petit Beurrd d’Hiver; Roussette d’Anjou; Nutmeg; Small 
Winter Beurre; Winter Poplin).—Fruit produced in clusters; small, 
roundish, and fattened at the apex. Skin rough, with a yellowish green 
ground, hut so covered with brown russet as to almost completely cover 
the ground. Eye open, set almost even with the surface. Stalk half an 
inch long, stout and thick, inserted in a pretty deep cavity. Flesh white, 
delicate, tender, buttery, with a rich aromatic and sugary flavour. A small 
dessert Pear, ripening in succession from November till March. The tree 
attains a good size, and bears abundantly as a standard, but does not suc- 
ce-d well on the Quince. The original tree was found growing in the forest 
of Quessoy, in Brittany. It is a very old variety, and is mentioned by 
Merlet. 
planted in the autumn, but will do now. Draw drills across the bed 2 inches 
deep and 5 or 6 inches apart, and plant the tubers 5 inches apart in the rows. 
For choice varieties, a thin layer of i-i nd scattered under and around each 
tuber will be useful. As soon as the bed is planted, cover the tubers with 
sandy loam from a basket or wheelbarrow. Take care that the tubers are 
placed the right side up, by observing the side that has the old small fibres 
on it. That side place next to the bottom of the drill. When all are planted 
and covered up the right depth (2 inches) then level the surface with a 
garden rake. The soil and preparation cf the bed you describe will suit 
them very well. Ranunculi will all probably succeed if you mulch the bed 
in the spring to keep it moist, but thi y prefer stronger soil. The season for 
planting is in the early spring, as Eoon as the most severe frosts have passed 
and the ground has become tolerably dry. Some time about the end of 
February or the first week in March, rake the surface of the bed in the 
morning of the day previous to that fixed upon for planting. Some recom¬ 
mend steeping the roots for twelve hours in water before planting, but we 
think this not necessary, except the planting season has been from some 
cause or other put off till the middle of April; then it may be useful. Sup¬ 
posing, then, that the weather is propitious, and all things prepared, com¬ 
mence by drawing with a hoe a drill across the end of the ted, 1J inch 
deep ; if deeper the roots will be weakened the succeeding year, by forming 
a kind of stem nearer the surface ; and if shallower, the plants are more 
liable to be struck with drought. Plant the tubets. if large, 4 inches apart 
in the row ; if small, 3b inches will be a sufficient distance, and cover them 
with fine sand. This wfll cause the tubers, when they are taken up in July, 
to come out of the ground quite clean for keeping. 
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 tor that. 
(Porno ).—The Apple Noir Binet is not grown in England under any other 
name. The American Apple has been called King of Tomkins County, but 
we do not think it is that variety. It is not easy to name foreign varieties 
from one specimen only. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET— January 6th. 
Market quiet. Supplies falling off, with a better demand for good 
samples of Grapes. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
Apples. 
b sieve 
l 
0 
to S 
6 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
4 
Oto 
6 
0 
„ Canadian .. 
barrel 
10 
0 
12 
6 
Peaches . 
perdoz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Nova Scotia 
10 
0 
12 
6 
Pears, kitchen 
. dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. per 
100 lbs. 
27 
6 
30 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English .. id. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Grapes. 
1 
0 
3 
6 
Plums. 
\ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons. 
.. case 
8 
0 
10 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Melons. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
B 
d. 
s. d 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Artichokes , • • • 
dozen 
1 
0 to 0 0 
Lettuce. 
dozen 
i 
0 
to 1 
6 
Asparagus .. .. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 0 
Mushrooms .. .. 
punnet 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Beaus, Kidney 
lb. 
0 
6 
1 0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
0 
0 
0 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 0 
Ouions . 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
1 0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts .. 
4 sieve 
2 
6 
3 0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 0 
Potatoes . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums .. .. 
100 
1 
6 
2 0 
,, Kidney .. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
bunch 
0 
S 
0 4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
3 0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celerv . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 0 
Scorzonera .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts dcz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 0 
Seakale .. .. par basket 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Cucumbers .. . • 
each 
0 
9 
1 6 
Shallots . 
.. ID. 
0 
S 
0 
6 
Endive . 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Herbs . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 0 
Tomatoes .. % . 
.. tb. 
0 
6 
O 10 
Leeks . 
bunch 
0 
s 
0 4 
Turnips .. .. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
u 
plants in pots. 
S. 
a. 
s. d. 
s. 
d. 
e. 
d. 
Aralia Sieboldi .. 
dozen 
9 
0 to 
18 0 
Evergreens, in var. 
dozen 
6 
0 
to 24 
0 
Arbor vitae (golden) dozen 
6 
0 
18 0 
Ficus elastica 
each 
1 
6 
7 
0 
„ (common) 
dozen 
6 
0 
12 0 
Ferns, in variety .. 
dozen 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Arum Lilies .. .. 
dozen 12 
0 
18 0 
Foliage Plants, var. 
each 
2 
0 
10 
0 
dozen 
24 
0 
42 0 
Hyacinths .. .. 
dozen 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Begonias 
dozen 
6 
0 
12 0 
Marguerite Daisy 
dozen 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Bouvardia .. 
dozen 
12 
0 
18 0 
Myrtles. 
dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
dozen 
10 
0 
12 0 
Palms, in var. .. each 
2 
6 
21 
0 
Cyclamen .. .'. 
dozen 
12 
0 
24 0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
dozen 
4 
0 
12 0 
Poinsettia .. 
dozen 12 
0 
18 
0 
Dracaena terminalis 
dozen 
30 
0 
60 0 
Primulas, single, 
dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
„ viridis .. 
dozen 
12 
0 
24 0 
Tulips.. .. .. 
12 pots 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Erica, various 
dozen 12 
0 
24 0 
Euonymus, in var. 
dozen 
6 
0 
38 0 
Stakes for Trees (Prince ).—The best we have used are of Larch, the 
young trees or the tops off them thinned from crowded plantations and 
divested of their side growths. We have found theee to last longer than 
Oak, or any other wood, probably because of the turpentine in the Larch. 
Creosote is a good preserver of wood. It can be 1 ad from chemists, and 
should he used hot, the end of the stakes being placed in an iron vessel 
containing it over a fire and boiled. Borne persons dip stakes in molten 
pitch, and others char them by inserting tbeir ends in a fire for a time, 
then withdrawing them and slaking with water. This is a simple and good 
plan when well carried out; hut whatever method may be adopted of pre¬ 
serving the wood it must be applied not to the points of the stak.s alone, 
but 3 inches above the part inserted in the ground. Stakes decay more 
rapidly quite close to the surface of the ground than several inches below. 
W e have been told that stakes soaked in petroleum are rendered additionally 
durable, but we have not tried it. 
Planting Anemones and Ranunculi (A'. Y. Z .).—Choose the first fine 
day when the scil works cleanly for planting your Anemones. They are best 
Abutilons .. 12 bunches 
Acacia (Mimosa), Fr., per 
hunch . 
Arum Lilies .. 12 blooms 
Azalea .. .. 12 sprays 
Bouvardias .. per bunch 
Camellias .. 12 blooms 
Carnations .. 12 blooms 
Chrysanthemums 12 blooms 
„ 12 bunches 
Cyclamen .. doz. blooms 
Epiphyllum .. doz. blooms 
Eucharis ,. per dozen 
Gardenias .. 12 blooms 
B yaeinths. Roman, 12 sprays 
Lapageria, white, 12 blooms 
„ red, .. 12 blooms 
CUT FLOWERS. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 blms. 
9 
Oto 12 
0 
Marguerites .. 12 bunches 
s 
0 
6 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
MigDonette .. 12 bunches 
3 
0 
6 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Pelargoniums, per 12 trusses 
1 
6 
2 
0 
1 
0 
i 
6 
scarlet, 12 trasses 
0 
9 
1 
0 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Poinsettia .. 12 b’ooms 
4 
0 
8 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Boses (iudoor), per dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
l 
0 
8 
0 
„ Tea. French., dozen 
0 
9 
1 
6 
2 
0 
4 
0 
„ red, French., dozen 
3 
0 
4 
0 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Tropaeolum .. 12 bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Tuberoees .. 12 blooms 
1 
6 
8 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Tulips .. dozen blooms 
1 
0 
i 
6 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Violets .. .. 12 bunches 
1 
0 
1 
6 
6 
0 
18 
0 
„ Czar, Fr., .. bunch 
1 
0 
2 
0 
1 
0 
2 
0 
„ Panne, French, per 
a 
0 
3 
0 
htiuch . 
4 
0 
6 
0 
l 
0 
a 
0 
