January 14, 1886.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
35 
tive nature as to have been rendered sour by stagnant water. A sandy 
porous soil should always be used from which water can drain freely. Th 
bulb farms of Holland are composed marnly of sand, almost a “blowing 
sand ” in hot weather. N.B.—This reply was prepared for insertion last 
week, and we regret it was accidentally overlooked by the printer, but as 
you appear to have commenced doing very much what we have suggested 
we are glad to feel that no serious inconvenience is likely to result by the 
delay. 
Pears not Ripening (A. L .).—Many Pears fail to ripen because they are 
gathered too soon, and th' n stood in a very light dry place, whereby thei 
juices escape and the fruit becomes dry and remains firm. As you give 
ns no particulars to guide us in forming a judgment in your individual case 
we are only able to give this general reply. Wo did not publish the report 
to which you refer, because it was a distinct and most effective advertise¬ 
ment of the products of a firm who do not advertise in our pages; we do not, 
however, suppose for a moment that you were animated with other than a 
worthy motive in sending the report. 
Lapageria Unhealthy {Mitcheldean). —There are two main reasons why 
these plants are often in an unsatisfactory state in pots :—1, Close soil not 
sufficiently drained, and hence sour. 2, Pots so densely crowded with roots 
that the plants do not receive adequate support. Lapagerias usually grow 
best planted out in a bed at least 18 inches deep, the bottom 6 inches being 
of drainage, broken clinkers and charcoal being excellent, the remainder 
springy turfy peat and loam, twice the quantity of the former, with a 
liberal admixture of charcoal, the whole to be pressed down as firmly as 
the turfy nature of the compost permits. A hed thus prepared can scarcely 
be made sour, due provision being made for the free exit of water from the 
drainage, and when the soil is permeated with roots it is not easy to give 
too much water; until then water must be given more sparingly, jut the 
soil should never get anything like dry. If you prefer growing the plant in 
a pot, prepare the soil similarly. In the event of your plant not having 
rooted freely, it will be advisable to remove a good part of the old soil, 
which will be sour, and give fresh as suggested, thinning out and shortening 
wiry growths to the best buds you can find, syringing the plant twice or thrice 
a day according to the weather, to prevent excessive evaporation from the 
leaves, and so assist the emission of fresh healthy roots, which alone can 
invigorate the plants. We know of Lapagerias that grow luxuriantly and 
flower profusely on the north side of greenhouses. 
Planting and Pruning Apricot Tree (J. IF.).—We presume your tree is 
young. If it is well rooted—that is, has a good number of fibrous roots, we 
should not shorten the branches to any great extent. In planting cut off all 
jagged roots and bruised portions and plant in a mixture of fresh loam, lime 
rubbish, and wood ashes, laying the roots out straight, separating them, and 
packing the soil rather firmly round them, covering about 5 inches deep and 
spreading littery manure over the surface and for a foot or mire beyond the 
extension of the roots. If the branches are numerous remove some of the 
weaker entirely, so that the others can be disposed 8 or 9 inches apart, and 
if there is a foot between them at a distance of 3 feet from the stem all the 
better. Assuming roots are plentiful, we should only remove the unripe 
ends of the branches, say a length of 6 inches, more or less according to their 
condition and with due regard to the symmetry of the tree, cutting from 
below and starting the undercut above what is to be the terminal bud, not 
below it, bringing the knife out above, as is frequently done. The lower 
branches of a tree should as far as possible be in advance—that is, longer 
than those above them, so that the lower part of the wall may be furnished. 
There is no difficulty in covering the upper portion. When a branch is dis¬ 
posed to lag behind, it should be trained more or less towards a vertical 
position, those fully too strong being correspondingly depressed. When 
luxuriant shoots push from the centre of a tree and threaten to draw the sap 
from the weaker growths below, the tips may be taken from the strong shoots 
when 6 inches long, and the secondary growths that will push will quite 
equal in strength the first growths on the lower branches. Apricots trained 
thinly and a good balance of growths maintained in summer, the roots 
encouraged to extend in rather firm and not over-rich soil near the surface, 
produce short-jointed wood that matures and becomes fruitful in character, 
and no more shortening of the branches is then required in the winter than 
may be advisable for forming a well-balanced fruitful tree. Do not secure 
the branches tightly to the wall on planting, as the soil may settle somewhat 
and drag the roots downwards if the branches are immoveable. The Hems- 
kerk is a variety of the Moorpark, and one of the most useful Apricots you 
can grow. 
Pruning Fruit Trees ( W. A. K.). —The condition of the roots is an 
important factor in determining the extent to which the branches of 
recently planted trees should he shortened. The more plentiful the roots 
are, especially those of a fibrous nature, the longer the branches may be 
left, and the more sparse the rootB the closer should be the pruning of the 
shoots. See our reply to “ J. W.” on pruning and planting Apricot trees. 
You will perhaps not err by removing about one-fourth the length of 
the branches of your trained Plum and Cherry trees, but the roots must be 
your guide. The pyramid trees should be thinned out if the growths are 
numerous, the main branches being from 9 inches to a foot apart, any side 
growths on them shortened to about two buds, the terminals being left 8 or 
9 inches long according to their strength and the symmetry of the trees. 
Stone fruits are best attended to by disbudding and pinching the growths in 
summer so as to reduce the necessity of winter pruning to a minimum. 
Morello Cherries when established require scarcely any pruning in the 
winter, as the wood if trained thinly in the summer in order to become 
matured bears throughout its length like that of Peaches ; it is often advis¬ 
able, however, to both thin out and shorten the shoots of newly planted 
trees to insure a good growth the first season, then disbudding to prevent 
overcrowding is the most important point in management. The “ Garden 
Manual,” published at this office, price Is. Gd., post free Is. 9d., contains 
practical instructions on the management of trees. 
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. 
(J. L.) —The Grapes were more or less broken in transit. They appear to 
be well-kept examples of Foster’s Seedling. (A. Brook ).—The Pear is Yicar 
oi Winkfield. The Apple we do not recognise. (17. 77. Craw). —Nos. 1 and 
2 are quite correct. No. 3 is not Old Nonpareil. We believe it to be Ked- 
dleston Pippin. [J. Beadle). —1, Flower of Kent; 2, Wormsley Pippin; 3, 
Pomme de Neige ; 4, Alfriston ; 6, Calville Blanche. (Old Subscriber). —1, 
Ne Plus Meuris; 2, Comte de Lamy; 3, Not known;-4, Josephine de 
Malines. (J. A .).—Mere de Menage. We have boxes of fruit—indeed, we 
always have—with no senders’ names enclosed, and the specimens cannot 
consequently be named. 
COYBNT GARDEN MARKET.— January 13th. 
MARKET quiet, with Bhort supplies, owing to the frost. Good samples of Grapes 
shorter. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples. 
£ 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 lba. 27 
6 
30 
0 
.. dessert 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
1 
0 
1 
8 
Grapes.. 
1 
6 
4 
0 
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. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d 
S. 
d. 
8. 
a. 
Artichokes .. .. 
dozen 
l 
0 to 0 
0 
Lettuce. 
dozen 
1 
0 to 
1 
6 
Asparagus .. .. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mushrooms .. . 
punnet 
0 
6 
l 
0 
Beans, Kidney 
lb. 
0 
6 
l 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Beet, Red .. .. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli . 
bundle 
0 
9 
i 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts .. 
i 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 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
s 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
2 
0 
4 
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 doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. per basket 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Cucumbers .. .. 
each 
0 
9 
i 
6 
Shallots. 
0 
3 
0 
s 
Endive. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach . 
bushel 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Herns . 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
.. lb. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Leeks . 
bunch 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips .. .. ,, 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
S. 
a. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
a. 
8. 
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 
Azaleas. 
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 
Cineraria .. .. 
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 
Cyperus . 
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 
Solanum .. .. 
dozen 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Erica, various 
dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Tulips. 
12 pots 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Euonymus, in var. 
dozen 6 
0 
18 
0 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
s. 
a. 
s. 
a. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
a. 
Abntilons 
12 bunches 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Lapageria, red ., 12 blooms 
i 
0 to 
2 
0 
Acacia (Mimosa), Fr., per 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 blms. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
bunch , 
0 
6 
l 
0 
Marguerites .. 12 bunches 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Amm Lilies . 
. 12 blooms 
8 
0 
9 
0 
Mignonette .. 12 bunches 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Azalea .. . 
12 sprays 
1 
0 
i 
6 
Pelargoniums, per 12 trusses 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Bouvardias . 
. per bunch 
0 
6 
i 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Camellias 
12 blooms 
8 
0 
6 
0 
Poinsettia .. 12 b'ooms 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Carnations . 
. 12 blooms 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Roses (indoor), per dozen 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Chrysanthemums 12 blooms 
2 
0 
4 
0 
„ Tea. French., dozen 
0 
9 
1 
6 
12 bunches 
9 
0 
18 
0 
„ red, French., dozen 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Cyclamen 
doz. blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Tropmolum .. 12 bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Epiphyllum . 
doz. blooms 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Tuberoses .. 12 blooms 
i 
6 
S 
0 
Eucharis 
per dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Tulirs .. dozen blooms 
i 
0 
1 
6 
Gardenias 
. 12 bloom3 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Violets .. .. 12 bunches 
i 
0 
1 
6 
Hellebore 
doz. blooms 
0 
6 
1 
0 
,, Czar, Fr., .. hunch 
i 
6 
2 
0 
B yacinths.Roman, 12 sprays 
1 
0 
1 
6 
„ Farme, French, per 
Lapageria, white, 12 blooms 
2 
0 
3 
0 
bunch .. .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS. 
With a full recognition of the absolute necessity of close 
attention to economy in every detail of farming comes a 
natural longing for efficiency in the implements and 
machinery of the farm. In very few of these do we yet find 
absolute perfection, but progress is being made, in many 
instances with singular rapidity, arid we may certainly look 
with satisfaction from the sickle, flail, plough, wooden roller, 
and heavy tumbrils of our forefathers to the implements of 
our own day. Yet the change from unwieldly old tools to 
the lighter yet more useful modern ones has been, and in 
point of fact is still, marvellously slow. Many a man still 
clings persistently to old tools, and old half-worn farming 
plant is still in much demand, as the brisk competition by 
buyers at Michaelmas auction sales shows plainly. The 
