April 8, 1886. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
283 
aiamed does no harm to smooth leaves. We advise its use during the evening, 
soon enough for the Vines and plants to get dry before nightfall, as the 
action of the sun on the wet foliage may cause injury. Still as much 
depends on the effective preparation of the mixture, you had better try 
it on one or two plants and parts of a Vine, noting its effect before 
syringing the whole of the Vines and plants. 
Lengthening Lawn Tennis Ground (Merchant ).—The lower part of the 
ground will no doubt consist of good soil, and that would be best removed 
•and placed handy for covering any rubbish you may bring in to raise the 
ground. You may fill up with cinders or any other description of rubbish 
until you get within 2 feet C inches or 3 feet of the intended surface, and 
that should be good soil for insuring a good growth of grass, and a 
similar thickness should be present on the face of the embankment for 
the satisfactory growth of the shrubs. We do not consider Rhododendrons 
suitable for a steep slope. Laurels would be better, and, pegged down, would 
have a neat appearance, besides helping to keep the bank up. Even with 
common Laurels pegged down you will not be able to have so steep a slope as 
if it were turf-d or covered with Ivy, but the best form of slope is that hav¬ 
ing a base double that of the height. For instance, if you raise the ground 
2 or 3 yards, the width of the base of the Blope should be 4 or 6 yards respec¬ 
tively. This is very much better in every respect than a steeper slope, 
indeed it is as steep as it ought to be for planting with shrubs. The mode 
■of levelling the ground is right— i.e., level it with pegs to the extent required 
from the present ground to which it is to be a continuation. In putting in 
the materials they should be well trodden down or rammed so as to prevent 
their settling. If you have the ground asphalted or cemented cinders 
would be far the best material, ramming them well down. At the end, in¬ 
stead of a slope you could have a retaining wall, but a slope planted with 
common Laurel would be the most pleasing. If you have a retaining wall 
it should incline inwards about 1 foot in 9 or 10 feet of height. Drainage 
will not be necessary if you use rubble, and certainly not if it be cemented. 
Asphalt .s not suitable, as the smell of tar is not pleasant for a long time 
a p ter making. 
Destroying Ants (Liverpool ).—If the ants have their nests in the open 
ground where they can be got at readily, a dry time should be selected, 
hollow out the nest so as to form a cavity, and pour into it a solution of 
Fir tree oil insecticide at the rate of a pint to a gallon of water at a 
temperature of 100°, or if there are no plant roots it may be applied at any 
temperature between that and boiling. The ammoniacal liquor from the 
gasworks is also useful. It may be applied where there are plants growing 
diluted with six times the quantity of water. Guano Bprinkled over their 
nests and haunts will drive them away. If the ants have their nests in 
plant houses or where the above cannot be applied, the best plan we know 
is to get some pieces of sponge, the coarser the better, and dip them whilst 
squeezed in the fingers in a vessel containing honey or treacle, withdrawing 
the pressure the honey or treacle will be absorbed into the interior of the 
sponge. Place these as baits on pieces of slate or plates, which will attract 
the ants, and when a good number have entered the pieces of sponge they 
may be thrown into a pail of boiling water. Wash the sponges clean in 
warm water, dry them, and repeat the bait. They may also be poisoned by 
mixing honey and arsenic together, but it must be thoroughly mixed or the 
ants will take the honey and leave the arsenic. It must be used with great 
care. Half-picked bones are excellent baits. Petroleum is a gocd ant 
eradicator. A lump of camphor the size of a Filbert dissolved in a quart of 
water and this applied, has been found effectual without injuring the roots 
of plants. We give a choice of remedies, so that if one fails or is inapplic¬ 
able in any particular case, another may be tried. 
Cyclamens (./. H. Y.).—Many gardeners fail in growing these plants 
satisfactorily, not from want of skill so much as by lack of suitable con¬ 
veniences. The finest examples are produced in low heated span-roofed 
houses wholly devoted to these plants, the pots standing on a close moist 
base, not dry open stages, and a geniil atmosphere maintained, the night 
temperature being about 60°. They must have all the light possible, yet 
shade from bright sun, as if this extracts the moisture from the leaves more 
rapidly than it is supplied by the roots the plants cannot be satisfactory. 
They succeed well in frames in the summer with good attention as regards 
watering, syringing, shading, and ventilating. Mr. Hugh Ranger, an 
admirable grower of Cyclamens, read a paper on their culture at Liverpool. 
This was published in the Journal on page 541, December 18th, 1884, and as 
the number is out of print we cite the following:—“Cyclamen persicum 
and its varieties may be had in flower from the beginning of September 
until the end of March, or even the end of April. In order to grow them 
successfully very careful treatment is required. The seed should be sown 
in September in shallow seed pans, and the pans placed on a Bhelf close to 
the glass in a warm greenhouse or cool stove, where the temperature will 
be about 60°, shaded from the sun, and the soil kept constantly moist. The 
seed will germinate in about six weeks, and as soon as the first leaf is 
developed the seedlings should be placed singly in 2-inch pots, and still 
kept in the same temperature close up to the light, but shaded from the sun. 
They may remain in these pots until the beginning of February, when they 
should be shifted into 3i-inch pots, and still kept in a similar temperature, 
and sprinkled occasionally in the mornings of bright days ; and as the season 
advances the young plants will make rapid growth, which must be 
encouraged, and great care must be taken to avoid giving them a check in 
any way. The plants will do in these pots till about the beginning of June, 
when they may be placed into '.‘ arm pits for ten days or a fortnight, and 
then transferred into 5 or 5J-inch pots. After potting they should be kept 
close, syringed, or sprinkled with a fine-rose watering can, and shaded for a 
time until the roots have taken to the new soil, when air may be admitted 
freely. They should still be shaded from the sun, syringed twice a day, 
and the house closed at night. The larger size pot will be a good one to 
flower them in, but if extra large plants are required the best and largest of 
them may be potted again about the end of July or the beginning of 
August, this time into 7-inch or 8-inch pots. By the end of October the 
plants in the Bmaller pots will be 10 inches across, and those in the larger 
pots 15 inches across, carrying from 100 to 200 flowers each, provided the 
plants have done well. Thus by following the course I have indicated, 
Cyclamen persicum can be grown 15 inches in diameter in thirteen months 
from the time of sowing seed. To flower them well they should be placed 
in a light airy house with the temperature from . r 0° to 55°. The soil I have 
found to suit Cyclamens best is a mixture of three parts good fibrous loam, 
two parts good leaf mould—the latter not too much decayed—and a 
sprinkling of silver sand, with the addition of a little Clay’s Fertiliser, say 
a oj-inoh potful to a barrowload of the compost.” The plants must be kept 
scrupulously free from insects, or the best of soil will not avail to produce 
good flowering plants. 
Notes on Bee Management (A. S .).—We are obliged by your letter. You 
will find something of what you require in this issue of the Journal, and 
more plain notes will follow. If you desire specific information on any 
particular point, and state your requirements from time to time, your letters 
shall have attention. That before us now appears to embody general sug¬ 
gestions pertaining to the whole routine of bee-keeping, and the various 
points indicated are not likely to be overlooked. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 7th. 
Prices remain the same. Trade as last week. 
FRUIT. 
3. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
2 
0 
to S 
6 
Peaches .. .. 
0 
to 0 
0 
,, Canadian., barrel 
12 
0 
20 
0 
Pears, kitchen 
.. dozen 1 
0 
1 
6 
Cobs, Kent .. 
per 100 lbs. 
27 
6 
30 
0 
,, dessert 
.. dozen 0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English .. lb. 1 
0 
1 
6 
Grapes .. .. 
2 
6 
7 
0 
Plnms .. .. 
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 
0 
9 
Oranges 
4 
0 
6 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
S 
d. 
8 
d 
8. 
d. 
S 
a 
Artichokes .. 
.. dozen 
1 
0 
to 0 
0 
Lettuce .. .. 
0 
to 1 
6 
Asparagus 
.. bundle 
2 
0 
8 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
..punnet 0 
6 
1 
0 
Beans, Kidney 
lb. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Mustard and Cress punnet 0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
.. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Ouions .. .. 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli •• •• 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 2 
0 
s 
0 
Brussels Sprouts .. * sieve 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Parsnips .. .. 
.. dozen 1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Potatoes .. .. 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums .. 
.. 100 
i 
8 
2 
0 
,, Kidney 
.. cwt. 4 
e 
6 
0 
Carrots .. .. 
0 
s 
0 
4 
Rhubarb.. .. 
2 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
.. dozen 
2 
0 
s 
0 
Salsafy .. .. 
0 
0 
6 
Celery .. .. 
i 
8 
1 
0 
Scorzonera 
.. bundle 1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. 
per basket 2 
0 
s 
6 
Cucumbers .. 
.. each 
0 
3 
0 
8 
Shallots .. .. 
.. .. lb. 0 
S 
0 
0 
Endive .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach .. 
0 
8 
0 
Heros .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes •• 
. .. tb. 1 
0 
3 
4 
Leeks ., .. 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips .. 
.. bunch 0 
4 
0 
0 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
a. 
Aralia Sieboldi 
.. dozen 
9 
0 to 18 
0 
Ficus elaBtica 
.. each 1 
6 to 7 
0 
Arbor vitEe (golden) dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Ferns, in variety 
.. dozen 4 
0 
18 
0 
(common) dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Foliage Plants, var. each 2 
0 
10 
0 
.. dozen 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Genistas 
.. dozen 10 
0 
12 
0 
Azaleas .. 
0 
42 
0 
Hyacinths .. 
.. dozen 6 
0 
9 
0 
Begonias 
.. dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lilies of the 
Valley, in 
.. dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
clumps or pots, per doz. 15 
0 
30 
0 
Cineraria 
.. dozen 10 
0 
12 
0 
Marguerite Daisy dozen 8 
0 
12 
0 
Cyclamen 
.. dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Myrtles .. .. 
0 
12 
0 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Palms, in var. 
.. each 2 
6 
21 
0 
Dracsena terminalis, dozen 30 
0 
60 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 6 
0 
9 
0 
„ viridis 
.. dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Primulas, single, dozen 4 
0 
6 
0 
Erica, various 
.. dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Solanum 
.. dozen 8 
0 
12 
0 
Euonymus, in var. dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Spiraea .. .. 
.. dozen 12 
0 
18 
0 
Evergreens, in var. dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Tulips ,. .. 
0 
9 
0 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
a. 
Abutilons 
12 bunches 
0 
0 to 0 
0 
Liliumlongillorum,12blms. 0 
0 
to 0 
0 
Acacia (Mimosa), Fr., per 
Lily of the Valley, 12 sprsys 0 
9 
1 
6 
bunch 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Margueriies .. 
12 bunches 6 
0 
8 
0 
Arum Lilies .. 
12 blooms 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Mignonette .. 
12 buDch.es 3 
0 
6 
0 
Azalea .. .. 
12 sprays 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Pelargoniums, per 12 trusses 1 
0 
1 
6 
Bouvardias .. 
per bunch 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ scarlet 
, 12 trusses 0 
9 
1 
0 
12 blooms 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Poinsettia 
12 b'ooms 0 
0 
0 
0 
Carnations .. 
12 blooms 
i 
0 
8 
0 
Boses (indoor), 
per dozen 3 
0 
9 
0 
Chrysanthemums 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Tea.. .. 
.. dozen 2 
0 
4 
6 
12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, red, French., dozen 2 
0 
4 
0 
Cyclamen .. 
doz. blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Spiraea .. .. 
12 sprays 1 
0 
0 
0 
Epiphyllum .. 
doz. blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Tropaeolnm .. 
12 bunohes 2 
0 
3 
0 
Eucharis 
per dozen 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Tuberoses 
12 blooms 3 
0 
0 
0 
Gardenias 
12 blooms 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Tulips .. dozen blooms 0 
9 
i 
0 
Hellebore 
doz. blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Violets .. .. 
12 bunches 1 
0 
1 
6 
Hyacinths.Roman, 12 sprays 
1 
0 
1 
6 
„ Czar, Fr., 
.. bunch 1 
6 
a 
0 
Lapageria, white, 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Parme, French, per 
Lapageria, red 
. 12 blooms 
1 
0 
2 
0 
bunch 
.. .. 4 
0 
6 
0 
CLOVER AND GRASS. 
Red Clover sown annually with a corn crop is a part of 
the old four-course shift to which many a farmer still clings 
with characteristic persistence, and there is undoubtedly 
