Apr 1 1, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
263 
members of the staff often remain unopened unavoidably. AYe 
request that no one will write privately to any of our correspon¬ 
dents, as doing so subjects them to unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. 
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. 
a rim of ashes. Pour on as much water as the bones will absorb, and then 
pour on sulphuric acid, about 2 lbs. sufficing for 5 lbs. of bones. It will 
boil somewhat violently for a while. When this has subsided it will get 
tolerably solid. The ashes and all may then be shovelled up together, and 
will he tit for use in a few days. 
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 he named at once. 
(A. Y.). —1, Celsia Arcturus ; 2, Alonsoa Warscewiczii. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS.—We desire to assure those of our corre¬ 
spondents whose letters and communications are not promptly 
inserted that they are not the less appreciated on that account. 
Our pages are practically filled several days prior to publication, 
and letters arriving on Wednesday morning, except by special 
arrangement, are invariably too late for insertion. The delay in 
the publication of some of these is not of material importance, 
Due reports of meetings and shows held a week previously lose 
much or all of their value if not received in time to appear 
in the current issue. 
Barleysugar ( B. C .).—The barleysugar is a fairly serviceable sample, 
and will be readily made use of by the bees. It has been a little over-boiled. 
When making the next keep testing to see whether it is done by pouring a 
little on to a cold surface. If on cooling it becomes crisp and brittle, and 
very slightly sticky, it is ready for removal; if soft and sticky it requires 
more boiling. Syrup should now be UBed in preference to candy in all 
cases where food is required. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— March 31st. 
Liverpool Horticultural Association (.7. ir.).—- Mr. E. Bridge, 3, Cedar 
Terrace, Huyton, Liverpool, is the Secretary of the above Association. 
Butterflies have been seen in warm localities since the favourable change in 
the weather. 
Marsh Mallow (T. N.). —You ask if this plant belongs to the Cranesbill 
or to the Hollyhock. Genetically it does not belong to either, but is classed 
in the same natu al order as the Hollyhock—Malvaceae. 
Camellias (7. C.). —The culture of Camellias has been frequently and 
fully described in our columns, and if you preserve the back numbers you 
will find an excellent article on page 153, February 19th, 1885. There is no 
pamphlet such as you appear to require. If you can make the actual 
condition of your plants clear to us, and state your means of growing them, 
we will readily advise you on their management. 
A New Insecticide ( W. B. B.). —The formula to which you refer is not 
Professor Church’s, and our report does not state he gives it to the world. 
He brought the preparation to the notice of the Scientific Committee of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, and explained he had no interest in it except 
a scientific one. It is a proprietory invention, and will presumably be 
manufactured for sale, and, therefore, no doubt advertised. We are not in 
possession of the formula. 
Protecting Fruit Blossom (E. B.). —By all means affix the blinds, 
especially as they can be “ so arranged as to be drawn up and let down aB 
required.” That is the best plan undoubtedly. It does not at all follow 
that because the weather is now so mild that it will remain so, and sharp 
frosts or cutting winds may yet occur to injure the blossom on your Peach 
trees. It is wise to expect that adverse weather changes will be sudden, 
and to be provided accordingly. Blossom is often injured by thick 
permanent coverings in mild weather, but at the same time it is to be 
remembered that a crop of fruit may be destroyed in one night. Where 
moveable blinds are provided and judiciously used it is not often the 
•blossom so protected fails to set. The young fruit also needs protection 
from frost. We have known Peaches and Apricots destroyed when as large 
as Nutmegs. 
Market Garden Ground ( W. J. It.). —Good market garden land at £4 
per acre well cropped and managed ought to afford a good return to a 
person with sufficient capital, which ought not to be less than £20 per acre, 
and with a good practical knowledge of gardening ; but much depends upon 
the condition of the land. If poor or exhausted by the outgoing tenant it 
will need a considerably larger amount of capital for manure, and the value 
of the crops would be lessened for a time through their not being heavy 
nor of such quality as to bring the best prices in the markets. Then if the 
land be foul or weedy state it will add to the capital necessary to clean it 
and correspondingly take from the profits; it will make a considerable 
difference also if the land needs draining, and further in the method of 
cultivation adopted, for if the land has been under plough and you put it 
under spade cultivation the capital needed will be considerably more than 
were you to keep it to the plough. Then you make no mention of buildings, 
which must or ought to exist on a ten-acre plot, and means of working, 
conveyance of goods to and off the land, with nearness of market will have 
to be taken into account, these being matters for serious consideration. 
With the land fairly clean and in good heart we think it would pay good 
interest on the capital invested, providing average management is exercised 
in cultivation. We think land at £4 per acre is too good for poultry and 
rabbits ; or if not, it is not worth £1 per acre for market gardening. 
Tacsonia Dying (IF. L., Co. Down). —Your plant that “ flowered pro¬ 
fusely yet grew very little ” was in a very enfeebled state, the flowering being 
as it were a last flioker of life—a sort of gasping yet futile effort of the 
plant to perpetuate its species by the production of seed before it died. 
Its cankered stsm, a portion of which you have sent, shows that very litt'e 
sap could be supplied by the roots, the channels through which it should 
pass being either obstructed or decayed. It is certain it would not have lived 
long in the absence of frost, but this undoubtedly accelerated its death. 
You were therefore not far wrong in your verdict. We suspect the stem 
has sustained injury at some time, which predisposed it to decay, and we 
•do not think the origin of the evil was in the soil. 
Dissolving Bones (W. A.). —There is a slow and a quick method of 
reducing bones to powder:—1, Take a large watertight hogshead, and 
cover the bottom with about 6 inches deep of dry soil; on this put a layer 
of bones of the same depth, and cover them entirely with wood ashes ; on 
these another layer of bones, then ashes, and so on till the hogshead is full. 
Leave it exposed to the rains all summer and winter till spring. Then on 
removing the contents of the hogshead the bones will crumble to powder 
■under a slight pr. ssure and form one of the most valuable manures ready 
■for immediate use. 2, Place the bones on an earthen floor surrounded by 
Maeket with little alteration. Grapes lower. Trade better. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
Apples. 
£ sieve 
2 
0 to S 
6 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
4 
0 to 
6 
0 
,, Canadian .. 
barrel 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Peaches . 
per doz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Nova Scotia 
10 
0 
12 
6 
Pears, kitchen 
dozen 
1 
0 
i 
6 
Cobs, Kent .. per 100 lbs. 27 
6 
30 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Grapes. 
2 
6 
7 
0 
Plnms. 
£ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons. 
8 
0 
10 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Melon . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Strawberries .. .. 
per oz. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
8 
d 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d 
Artichokes .. 
dozen 
l 
0 to 0 
0 
Lettuce. 
dozen 
l 
0 to 
1 
6 
Asparagus .. .. bundle 2 
Beans, Kidney lb. 2 
Beet, Red .. dozen 1 
Broccoli.bundle 0 
Brussels Sprouts .. £ sieve 6 
Cabbage . dozen 3 
Capsicums .. .. lOO 1 
Carrots .. .. .. bunch 0 
Cauliflowers .. .. dozen 2 
Celery .bundle 1 
Coleworts doz. bunches 2 
Cucumbers .. .. each 0 
Endive.dozen 1 
Herbs .bunch 0 
Leeks .bunch 0 
8 0 
0 8 
2 0 
0 0 
0 4 
Mushrooms .. ..punnet 
Mustard and Cress punnet 
Onions.bunch 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
Parsnips.dozen 
Potatoes. cwt. 
,, Kidney .. cwt. 
Rhubarb.bundle 
Salsafy.bundle 
Scorzonera .. .. bundle 
Seakale .. .. per basket 
Shallots.lb. 
Spinach.bushel 
Tomatoes 
Turnips .. 
lb. 
bunch 
1 0 
0 0 
0 0 
0 0 
o 0 
0 6 
Aralia Sieboldi .. 
Arbor vitse (golden) 
,, (common) 
Arum Lilies 
Azaleas .. 
Begonias 
Bouvardia 
Cineraria 
Cyclamen 
Cyperus .. 
Dracsena terminalis, 
„ viridis .. 
Erica, various 
Euonymus, in var. 
Evergreens, in var. 
Abutilons 
Acacia (Mimosa), Fr., per 
bunch 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 
dozen 9 0 to 18 0 Ficus elastica .. each 1 6 to 7 0 
dozen 0 0 0 0 Ferns, in variety .. dozen 4 0 18 0 
dozen 6 0 12 0 Foliage Plants, var. each 2 0 10 0 
dozen 9 0 18 0 Genistas .. .. dozen 10 0 12 0 
dozen 24 0 42 0 Hyacinths .. .. dozen 8 0 9 0 
dozen 0 0 0 0 Lilies of the Valley, in 
dozen 0 0 0 0 clumps or pots, per doz. 15 0 30 0 
dozen 10 0 12 0 Marguerite Daisy dozen 8 0 12 0 
dozen 12 0 24 0 Myrtles.dozen 6 0 12 0 
dozen 4 0 12 0 Palms, in var. .. each 2 6 21 0 
dozen 30 0 60 0 Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 6 0 9 0 
dozen 12 0 24 0 Primulas, single, dozen 4 0 6 0 
dozen 12 0 24 0 Solanum .. .. dozen 8 0 12 0 
dozen 6 0 18 0 Spiraea.dozen 12 0 18 0 
dozen 6 0 24 0 Tulips.12 pots 6 0 9 0 
CUT FLOWERS, 
d. 
0 
s. d. s, 
12 bunches 0 0 to 0 
Arum Lilies 
Azalea 
Bouvardias 
Camellias 
Carnations 
Cyclamen 
Epiphyllum 
Eucharis 
Gardenias 
Hellebore 
1 0 
4 
0 
12 blooms 4 0 
12 sprays 0 6 
per bunch 0 0 
12 blooms 2 0 
12 blooms 1 0 
Chrysanthemums 12 blooms 0 0 
12 bunches 0 0 
doz. blooms 0 4 
doz. blooms 0 0 
per dozen 4 0 
12 blooms 6 0 
doz. blooms 0 0 
Hyacinths.Roman, 12 sprays 1 0 
Lapageria, white, 12 blooms 0 0 
Lapageria, red .. 12 blooms 1 0 
1 
6 
1 
0 
5 
8 
0 
0 
0 
0 
8 
18 
0 
1 
0 
2 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 blms. 
Lily of the Valley, 12 sprays 
Marguerites .. 12 bunches 
Mignonette .. 12 bunches 
Pelargoniums, per 12 trusses 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
Poinsettia .. 12 b'ooms 
Roses (indoor), per dozen 
„ Tea. dozen 
„ red, French., dozen 
Spirtea .. .. 12 sprays 
Tropaeolum .. 12 bunches 
Tuberoses .. 12 blooms 
Tulips .. dozen blooms 
Violets 
12 bunches 
Czar, Fr., .. bunch 
Parme, French, per 
bunch .. .. 
d. s. d. 
0 to 0 0 
1 6 
8 0 
6 0 
9 0 
4 6 
2 0 
4 0 6 0 
ROOT CROPS. 
It Las been said of Mangolds that even when at the best, 
as they are at this season of the year, they will not fatten 
