April 15, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
303 
make a water tank. Concreting is worse than useless if not made with a 
sharp slope and drains provided for the free exit of water. You had better 
describe the site and subsoil some time before commencing operations, and 
we shall be glad if we can give you further advice on the matter. 
Mildew on Strawberries ( A Reader ).—The great difference between 
the day and night temperatures and the action of cold on the tender 
foliage with, at the same time, a damp atmosphere favours the spread of 
mildew, and there are probably sharp currents of air through your impro¬ 
vised frames. As you have the means of shading the plants in the daytime 
you can also cover the glass at night, thereby arresting radiation and 
securing a more equable temperature. We suspect you do not admit air 
soon enough in the morning. Early ventilation and early closing is the 
right principle to adopt. On the first faint signs of mildew dust the foliage 
with sulphur, keeping it off the fruit. There is a fault somewhere in your 
method of ventilating. We will send your letter to Mr. Bardney as you 
request his opinion. 
Boiler Leaking {Horace). —Ten years is not an average length of time 
for a saddle boiler to last. We presume the boiler is a cast iron one, and if 
so it will be difficult to repair. If a wrought iron rivetted boiler it would 
be more readily repaired ; the advisability, however, of repairing can only 
be determined by an examination of the boiler, and ascertaining the nature 
and extent of the damage. If the boiler is so damaged as to cost a consider¬ 
able sum in repairs, being thin from corrosion, then we should decide in 
favour of a new boiler. Select one of the improved form of saddle, those 
with a waterway check end and side flues being preferred by many gar¬ 
deners. A wrought iron rivetted boiler is more costly than a cast-iron one, 
but is durable, repairable, and economically heated. 
Violets ( Young Gardener). —Violets are now so numerous and the 
varieties so much alike, especially several of the Neapolitan varieties, that 
it is extremely difficult to make out their distinctive characteristics from a 
plant in full foliage and flower, and the difficulty is still further increased 
when only leaves and flowers in a cut state are examined, whilst it is im¬ 
possible to be definite about their names when flowers only are submitted. 
The darkest-coloured flower of those you sent is probably New York (syn., 
Marie Louise, of some), the flowers of which are irregularly splashed with 
red more or less at the base of the petals. It is the best of all the Neapoli¬ 
tan forms of Violet for autumn and winter to spring flowering. The light 
flower is probably De Parme, the very best of the light-coloured forms of 
Neapolitan, and very distinct. The flowers, however, were much crushed 
in passing through the post. If De Parme the plant will be very compact 
in growth, and flowers will commence appearing in September; but if 
Neapolitan (old variety) it will not flower much until spring, and be prone 
to throw off many runners. The flowers are not very dissimilar, but the 
De Parme is much the best. The true variety of Marie Louise has a similar 
flower—viz., pale lavender with a white eye, and it flowers profusely from 
September to April, and is one of the very best and scarcest of Violets, 
being difficult to keep true through its sporting into the varieties that have 
the red splashing on the petals near the eye—the only difference between 
them. Judging from the flowers in the small bunches you sent us without 
foliage, we think they are as stated—viz., New York and De Parme, dark 
and light respectively. 
Making Vine Border (C. C. C.). —If there is no water in the sand be¬ 
neath the loam the necessity of drainage will not arise; but if there be 
water, as there frequently is in sand, it will be necessary to put in pipe 
drains so as to carry off the superfluous water, the drains having proper fall 
and outlet. In addition to these you will require a foot in depth of drainage, 
which should consist of brickbats or other material broken up, putting the 
roughest at bottom and smallest on the top. It would be well to cover the 
drainage with a Dyer of turf grass downwards. By mixing a sixth of old 
mortar rubbish with the strong loam and a similar quantity of horse manure, 
is is likely to make a suitable compost for Vines, the whole of the materials 
being well incorporated. If the soil is deficient of gritty matter, add a sixth 
of road scrapings. Two feet six inches is a suitable depth of border. The 
whole of the soil will need to be taken out, thrown in a heap for mixing 
with the other ingredients. You will require five barrowfuls of the loam, 
and one each of lime rubbish, horse manure, and road scrapings, to which 
you may, if you do not mind the expense, add half a bushel of half-inch 
bones, the whole to be thoroughly incorporated. If you can procure turf 
from a pasture where the soil is a light loam, and taken off about 3 inches 
thick, it would be preferable, omitting all the other ingredients except the 
lime rubbish and bones, and putting in a tenth only of the lime rubbish and 
half a bushel of bones, the turf being chopped up moderately small, and the 
whole well mixed. Good Grapes, however, are grown in ordinary soil, the 
chief thing is to make sure of thorough drainage, and to add sufficient lime 
rubbish and gritty matter to keep the soil open. Cow manure will be valu¬ 
able as a surface dressing, but it ought not to be mixed with the soil. A 
3 foot width of border will be sufficient for the first year. You may plant the 
Vines in May, and properly attended to they will make strong canes by 
autumn. Tne moss litter manure from stables is suitable for growing 
Mushrooms. A grower informs us that he had an abundant and paying crop, 
•from the employment of such litter on which hunters had stood, the beds 
beiDg outside, and the instructions followed as given in “ Mushrooms for 
the Million.” You may have an abundant crop of Tomatoes in the house 
this season with good management. 
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. 
(R. P.).—We cannot tell from the small withered flower and imperfect 
description, but perhaps it is a Streptocarpus. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 14th. 
Business steady, with Grapes in demand now old samples are nearly 
finished. 
FRUIT. 
a. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
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 
l 
6 
Cobs, Kent .. 
Figs .. .. 
per 100 lbs. 27 
6 
30 
0 
,, dessert 
.. dozen 0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English., lb. 1 
0 
1 
8 
Grapes .. .. 
2 
6 
8 
0 
Plums .. .. 
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 
e 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8 
d. 
s 
d 
8 
d. 
s. a 
Artichokes .. 
.. dozen 
l 
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 C 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
.. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions .. .. 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli .. .. 
0 
9 
i 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 2 
0 
s 
0 
Brussels Sprouts .. 4 sieve 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Parsnips .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Potatoes.. .. 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums .. 
100 
1 
6 
3 
0 
,, Kidney 
.. cwt. 4 
8 
5 
0 
Carrots .. •• 
0 
5 
0 
4 
Rhubarb.. .. 
3 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
dozen 
> 
0 
s 
0 
Salsafy .. .. 
0 
0 
6 
Celery .. .. 
1 
6 
s 
0 
Scorzonera .. 
.. bundle 1 
6 
0 
O 
Coleworts dcz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. 
per basket 2 
0 
3 
6 
Cucumbers 
.. each 
0 
3 
0 
8 
Shallots.. .. 
3 
0 
0 
Endive .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach .. .. 
6 
8 
0 
Herbs .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Tomatoes 
0 
3 
0 
Leeks .. .. 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips .. .. 
,, bunch 0 
4 
0 
0 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
a. 
Aralia Sieboldi 
.. dozen 
9 
0 to 18 
0 
Ficus elastics 
.. each 1 
6 to 7 
0 
Arbor vitas (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 
Arum Lilies .. 
,. dozen 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Genistas 
.. dozen 10 
0 
12 
0 
Azaleas .. .. 
0 
42 
0 
Hyacinths .. 
.. dozen S 
0 
9 
0 
Begonias 
. dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lilies of the Valley, in 
0 
Bouvardia .. 
.. dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
clumps or pots, per doz. 15 
0 
30 
Cineraria 
.. dozen 10 
0 
12 
0 
Marguerite Daisy dozen 8 
0 
12 
0 
Cyclamen 
.. dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Myrtles .. .. 
0 
12 
0 
Cvperus .. .. 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Palms, in var. 
.. each 2 
6 
31 
0 
Dracrena terminalis, dozen 30 
0 
60 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 6 
0 
9 
0 
„ viridis 
.. dozen 12 
0 
21 
0 
Primulas, single, dozen 4 
0 
6 
0 
Erica, various 
.. dozen 12 
0 
21 
0 
Solanum 
.. dozen 8 
0 
12 
0 
Euonymus, in var. dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Spiraea .. .. 
0 
18 
0 
Evergreens, in var. dozen 
6 
0 
21 
0 
Tulips .. .. 
0 
9 
0 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. <L 
Abntilons 
12 bunches 
0 
0 
to 0 
0 
Lilium longiflorum,12 blms. 0 
0 
to 0 
0 
Acacia (Mimosa), Fr., per 
Lily of the Valley, 12 sprays 0 
9 
1 
0 
bunch 
l 
0 
1 
6 
Marguerites .. 
12 bunches 6 
0 
8 
0 
Arum Lilies .. 
12 blooms 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Mignonette .. 
12 bunches 3 
0 
6 
0 
Azalea .. .. 
12 sprays 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Pelargoniums, per 12 trusses 1 
0 
1 
0 
Bouvardias .. 
per bunch 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ scarlet 
12 trusses 0 
9 
1 
9 
Camellias 
12 blooms 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Poinsettia 
12 b’ooms 0 
0 
0 
0 
Carnations .. 
12 blooms 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Roses (indoor), 
per dozen 3 
0 
9 
6 
Chrysanthemums 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Tea.. .. 
0 
4 
0 
12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ red, French., dozen 2 
0 
4 
0 
Cyclamen 
doz. blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Spirsea .. .. 
12 sprays 1 
0 
0 
6 
Epiuhvllam .. 
doz. blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Tropasolnm .. 
12 bunches 2 
0 
3 
6 
Eucharis 
per dozen 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Tuberoses 
12 blooms 8 
0 
0 
0 
Gardenias 
12 blooms 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Tulips .. dozen blooms 0 
9 
1 
0 
Hellebore 
doz. blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Violets .. .. 
12 bunches 1 
0 
1 
6 
Hyacinths.Roman, 12 spray3 
1 
0 
1 
6 
„ Czar, Fr., 
.. bunch 1 
6 
a 
0 
Lapaeeria, white, 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Parme, French, per 
6 
0 
Lapageria, red 
. 12 blooms 
1 
0 
2 
0 
bunch 
.. .. 4 
0 
PERMANENT PASTURE. 
During the present month much grass seed is sown either 
for layers or permanent pasture, and attention may therefore 
well be called to the consideration of ends and aims in this 
work. Consider the end, always consider the end, say we, 
and weigh well every detail of work and probable results 
before coming to a decision about it, but when this is done 
bring all possible energy and skill to bear upon the work, and 
be satisfied with nothing less than the best way. There is 
by far too much inferior work in agriculture, and this is 
owing to various 'causes ; insufficient capital, ignorance, 
prejudice, and thoughtlessness are other causes. 
Let us see now what can be said for and against per¬ 
manent pasture regarded from a general point of view. It 
may be laid down at the outset that an average crop of two 
tons of hay per acre may always be had upon really good 
permanent pasture. Last year we had almost double that 
quantity from some of our best pastures; nor was this simply 
owing to a favourable season, but rather from steady per¬ 
sistence in the use of the manures we have so often enu¬ 
merated in articles on this subject. The lowest price now for 
