April 22, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
325 
sturdy and insure a branching habit. When the pots are well filled with 
roots shift the plants into pots 7 inches in diameter, and in potting lower 
them down to the seed leaves, or, rather, the joint where they were. Pot 
them moderately firm, the most suitable compost being light turfy loam 
with a fifth of well-decayed manure intermixed. A quart of soot may be 
mixed with each bushel of compost. Avoid over-watering the plants, but 
do not let them become so dry as to cause the foliage to flag. Fumigate 
upon the first appearance of aphides. Red spider may be kept under by 
syringing. When the pots are filled with roots liquid manure may be given, 
applying it weak and tepid. If the plants are well grown each pot would 
afford three dozen pods. The number would be much increased by superior 
treatment. 
Chrysanthemums for Exhibition ( Chrysanthemum ).—Plants of Chrys¬ 
anthemums now showing flower buds Bhould have all such buds taken off, 
and when the breaks follow and are strong select three and tie them to a 
stake ; but, as sometimes occurs at this stage, if two of the shoots are strong 
and one weak leave two only, and select a third shoot when the plants 
break again. Naturally, three blooms to a plant of such large-growing 
kinds as those you name are sufficient, and in the case of smaller-bloomed 
sorts, such as Bouquet Fait and Mrs. G. Rundle, for instance, you may 
retain four stems, which will produce the same number of blooms if ail 
other details necessary are carried out. Such plants as you name in your 
second question would be perfectly eligible to employ a group of plants in 
the class you mention for the show in question, but we do not think varie¬ 
gated Fuchsias and Pelargoniums at that season would carry much weight. 
We have seen variegated Abutilons used for such a purpose with excellent 
effect, but too many should not be introduced on account of the colour of 
the foliage ; but if you could have a few Palms, such as Seaforthia elegans, 
Cocos Weddelliana, Areca lutescens, the group could be made much more 
effective. 
Mushrooms Outdoors {Black Mountain ).—They are grown near London 
on ridges 2 j feet wide at the base, sloping to about 6 inches at the top, 
which is rounded, the height being the same as the base. In the north the 
ridges are better 3 feet wide and high. The manure from horse stables is 
composed of about half straw and half droppings, fermented, partially 
decayed, and turned till it is sweet. The ridges are made very firm, and 
after the heat rises and falls again to about 90° two inches beneath the surface, 
spawn is inserted 9 inches apart, a brick being broken into eight parts for 
this purpose. The ridges are at once covered a foot or so thick with litter 
to maintain the heat about 80° ; as soon as the spawn is seen to be spreading 
the ridges are cased with good soil, which is beaten 2 inches thick. The 
ridges are again covered, and if a thermometer laid on the soil under the 
litter registers 00° the ridges will be warm enough. In winter they are 
sometimes oovered 2 feet thick, but half that covering often suffices. July 
is the best month for commencing, the next best December. If you commence 
now you will fail unless the ridges are in a cool shaded place. We know a 
grower who gathered and sold 7 tons of Mushrooms from outdoor ridges last 
year. All the details of culture are given in Wright’s “Mushrooms for the 
Million,” the fourth edition of which is being reprinted with a supplement. 
after the bees have ceased flying, and remove them before they commence 
in the morning. Do not feed bees with honey that is sour, thin, or candied; 
use such for domestic purposes and feed the bees with sugar. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 21st. 
Trade falling off, and prices of house fruit lower. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples. 
4 sieve 2 
0 to S 
6 
Peaohes. 
perdoz. 0 0 to 0 
0 
„ Canadian .. 
barrel 12 
0 
20 
0 
Pears, kitchen .. 
dozen 1 0 
1 
6 
Cobs, Kent .. per 100 lbs. 27 
6 
80 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 0 0 
0 
0 
Figs . 
dozen 0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples English.. It. 1 0 
l 
6 
Grapes, New.. .. 
6 
8 
0 
Plums. 
£ sieve 0 0 
0 
0 
Lemons. 
0 
10 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
..each 2 0 
6 
0 
Melon.. 
0 
0 
0 
Strawberries .. .. 
per lb. 3 0 
8 
0 
Oranges .. .. 
0 
« 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s 
d. 
8 
a 
s. d. 
6. 
a 
Artichokes .. .. 
dozen 1 
0 to 0 
0 
Lettuce. 
dozen 1 0 to 1 
6 
Asparagus .. .. 
bundle 2 
0 
8 
0 
Mushrooms .. . 
punnet 0 6 
1 
0 
Beans, Kidney 
lb. 2 
0 
2 
6 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 0 2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red .. .. 
dozen 1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions . 
bunch 0 3 
0 
0 
Broccoli . 
bundle 0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 2 0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts .. 
4 sieve 0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 1 0 
2 
0 
Cabbage . 
dozen 3 
0 
4 
0 
Potatoes . 
cwt. 4 0 
5 
0 
Capsicums .. .. 
100 1 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney . 
cwt. 4 9 
6 
0 
Carrots. 
bunch 0 
s 
0 
4 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 0 2 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. .. 
dozen 2 
0 
8 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 1 0 
0 
6 
Celery . 
bundle 1 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzonera .. .. 
bundle 1 6 
0 
0 
Coleworts doz. bunches 2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. per basket 2 0 
s 
6 
Cucumbers .. .. 
each 0 
s 
0 
8 
Shallots. 
.. ft. 0 s 
0 
0 
Endive. 
dozen 1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 3 0 
4 
0 
Heros . 
bunch 0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
.. It. 1 0 
3 
0 
Leeks . 
bunch 0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips .. .. ,, 
bunch 0 4 
0 
0 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
8. 
a. 
8. 
d. 
s. d. 
s. 
a. 
Aralia Sieboldi .. 
dozen 9 
0 to 18 
0 
Ficus elastica 
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 
Arum Lilies .. .. 
dozen 9 
0 
18 
0 
Genistas .. ,. 
dozen 6 0 
12 
0 
Azaleas. 
dozen 24 
0 
42 
0 
Hyacinths .. .. 
dozen 6 0 
9 
0 
Begonias .. .. 
dozen 0 
0 
0 
0 
Lilies of the Valley, in 
Bouvardia .. .. 
dozen 0 
0 
0 
0 
clumps or pots, per doz. 12 0 
18 
0 
Cineraria .. .. 
dozen 8 
0 
12 
0 
Marguerite DaiBy 
dozen 8 0 
12 
0 
Cyclamen .. .. 
dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Myrtles. 
dozen 6 0 
12 
0 
Cvnerus. 
dozen 4 
0 
12 
0 
Palms, in var. 
each 2 6 
21 
0 
Dracffina terminalis, dozen 30 
0 
60 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 4 0 
8 
0 
,, viridis .. 
dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Primulas, single, 
dozen 0 0 
0 
0 
Erica, various 
dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Solanum •. .. 
dozen 0 0 
0 
0 
Euonymus, in var. 
dozen 6 
0 
18 
0 
Spiraea. 
dozen 12 0 
18 
0 
Evergreens, in var. 
dozen 6 
0 
24 
0 
Tulips. 
12 pots 6 0 
9 
0 
Marechal Niel Rose—Blood Manure (S. L. B., Liverpool ).—You have 
erred in not pruning the Rose, and it is not very easy for anyone to compre¬ 
hend the real condition of the plant without Beeing it. There is no doubt 
that the plan of cutting back the growths of th ; s Rose after flowering 
answers admirably in many cases—that is, when roots are active in good 
soil and there are good buds on those parts of the stems to which the shoots 
are pruned. If you can see prominent wood buds on a healthy part of the 
stems you may cut the plant down to them ; if there are no such buds, and 
especially if the root-action is defective, such severe pruning might not 
result in free growth. Free root-action is the most important factor in 
producing healthy growth, and this can only be insured with good soil and 
judicious applications of water. Mistakes in watering nullify the effects 
of the best of soil, and if this is alternately too wet and too dry nothing 
can thrive. Liquid manure does more harm than good when given to plants 
that can derive sufficient food from the soil; when they cannot, and the pots 
are filled with roots, manurial applications once or twice a week are valuable. 
Keep your Rose in the lightest position in the greenhouse rill the weather 
is mild, then place it outside in a shaded place for a week or so till the 
leaves acquire sufficient texture for withstanding the sun. If taken direct 
from the greenhouse to the full sun the foliage will be scorched. The pot 
must be shaded from the sun by either plunging it in ashes or sinking in a 
larger pot when the plant is stood outside. It will not grow satisfactorily 
in a greenhouse in summer the roof of which is covered with Lapagerias. 
We know of no means of making hard blood manure soluble than smashing 
it small and letting it remain a sufficient time in water. An ounce to a 
gallon of water is ample for strong-growing plants in pots, such as 
Chrysanthemums ; half that quantity for weaker, such as Fuchsias and the 
others you name; nearly 2 ozs. per gallon may be given to Dahlias when 
they attain strength, and Roses in the open air. We consider a mixture of 
superphosphate of lime and sulphate of ammonia preferable to blood 
manure in the condition you describe. 
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. 
(0. S.).—The Orchid is Dendrobium Devonianum; the other is Fabiana 
imbricata. 
Feedin® Bees with Old Honey {J. B.).—Ii your bees are in want of 
food, and the last year's honey in the comb is good, and can be put inside 
the hive so as to constitute part of it3 comb, do so. But if it is in any way in¬ 
ferior do not give it to the bees. Neither on any pretext whatever lay it 
outside for the bees to find, as by doing so it would make them vicious and 
cause robbing, resulting in the loss of queens. If foul brood is anywhere 
near some of your bees are sure to catch it. If the combs are not such as 
will fit into the interior of the hive, place them at the entrance of the hives 
CUT FLOWERS. 
s. d. s. d. 
Abutilons .. 12 bunches 0 0 to 0 0 
Acacia (Mimosa), Fr., per 
bunch.2 0 4 0 
Arum Lilies .. 12 blooms 4 0 6 0 
Azalea .. .. 12 sprays 0 6 10 
Bouvardias .. per bunch 10 16 
Camellias .. 12 blooms 2 0 6 0 
Carnations .. 12 blooms 10 8 0 
Chrysanthemums 12 blooms 0 0 0 0 
„ 12 bunches 0 0 0 0 
Cyclamen •• doz. blooms 0 4 0 6 
Daffodils .. 12 bunches 16 6 0 
Epiphyllum .. doz. blooms 0 0 0 0 
Eucharis .. per dozen 4 0 8 0 
Gardenias .. 12 blooms 2 0 6 0 
Hellebore .. doz. blooms 0 0 0 0 
Hyacinths.Roman,12 sprays 0 6 10 
Lap&geria, white, 12 blooms 0 0 0 0 
Lapageria, red .. 12 blooms 10 2 0 
8. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 blms. 
6 
0 
to 9 
0 
Lily ol the Valiev, 12 spray3 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Marguerites .. 
12 bunches 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Mignonette .. 
12 bunches 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Pelargoniums, per 12 trusses 
0 
9 
1 
0 
„ scarlet 
, 12 trusses 
0 
4 
0 
8 
Poinsettia 
12 h’ooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Roses (indoor), 
per dozen 
1 
0 
8 
0 
„ Tea.. .. 
0 
9 
2 
6 
„ red 
.. dozen 
a 
0 
6 
0 
Spirsea .. .. 
12 sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Tropeeolum .. 
12 bunches 
s 
0 
3 
0 
Tuberoses 
12 blooms 
l- 
6 
2 
0 
Tulips .. dozen blooms 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Violets .. .. 
12 bunches 
0 
4 
0 
8 
„ Czar, Fr., 
, .. bunch 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Parme, French, per 
bunch .. .. 
t 
0 
4 
0 
FORAGE CROPS. 
To have a few ricks of hay to spare in March or April 
may certainly be taken as an indication of sound practice by 
either the home or tenant-farmer. If really good such forage 
can always be disposed of advantageously, for it can be 
retained in the ricks till prices invite a sale. Occasionally 
after a long drought or otherwise unfavourable season meadow 
hay will reach the high figure of £7 per ton, but £4 per ton 
may be given as an average price for hay in the rick. 
Farmers "who are fully alive to the feeding value of straw, 
now dispose of most of their hay, and depend almost entirely 
upon chaffed straw as forage for home consumption. Under 
good management the chaffing is by no means a daily or 
