June 3, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
455 
soil near the surface, the growths trained thinly in the summer, the foliage 
kept clean, and the wood well ripened, Vines are bound to show bunches, 
and, rightly managed, perfect fruit in due time. 
Melons not Swelling (A. L.). —There can be little doubt that you 
indicate the cause of the failure in the sentence “ It is impossible to keep 
up the required heat at night, owing to bad arrangement of the boiler.” 
Melons cannot he growing satisfactory in a temperature too low for their 
requirements. In defectively heated structures it is a mistake to raise and 
plant Melons so early in the season as you have done. By planting very 
strong plants at this season of the year in good soil over a bed of fermenting 
materials we have had good crops of excellent Melons in a house where no 
means of affording artificial heat were provided; but the house was closed 
early with much sun heat, and the glass was covered with a blind on cold 
nights. If you adopt the same plan of arresting radiation you will have 
a night temperature in your house from o° to 10° higher than without any 
covering, and this may make all the difference between success and 
failure. 
Planting Vines ( Ferndale ).—The Vines would probably have been better 
had the roots only been covered with about 4 or 6 inches of soil. If this 
had been done, and the border mulched in early spring to prevent evapora¬ 
tion, the roots could have been kept near the surface. They descend 
quickly enough without placing them too deeply in the border. Vines 
always make a certain amount of growth before the roots commence activity. 
When the roots commence working the foliage assumes a much darker and 
healthier shade of colour. The foliage, even of established Vines, is always 
pale at first until root-action has commenced. If the border has been in a 
proper state for moisture since the Vines were planted and the roots are 
still alive, they are certain to start working ; the deeper they are laid in 
the border the longer generally are they before action commences. The 
formation of the roots near the surface is due to the extra warmth and 
moisture which they receive. We not believe it prudent to bury much 
of the stems of Vines to induce the formation of roots from them, for they 
are generally formed at the expense of the lower or main roots. It is very 
difficult to say why your Muscats have not set well without knowing exactly 
the condition of the wood, the state of the roots, the temperature and 
moisture of the atmosphere of the house, as well as other cultural particu¬ 
lars to which they may have been subjected. The dull weather should not 
have been the cause if all other conditions were favourable. We have 
generally noticed that Muscats set the best when the weather is not too 
bright. Some excellent and successful cultivators apply light shade to the 
glass during very bright weather while the Vines are in bloom. 
Orchids {Idem). —There can be no doubt that the compost in which 
your Orchids were potted was rendered sour through being kept too wet 
during the winter. Many species and varieties of Orchids require very 
little water during the winter or resting period, and if over-watered in that 
stage the roots are certain to decay. After potting them they should be 
watered with great care, being kept rather dry than wet until the formation 
of new roots and the commencement of growth, then more liberal supplies 
should be given. Sphagnum moss in a living state is largely used by most 
Orchid growers for many varieties, and they do wonderfully well in it, pro¬ 
vided it is removed when it becomes decomposed and is replaced with fresh— 
that is, annually or every second or third year, according to the nature and 
requirements of the plants cultivated. Ants are very troublesome and diffi¬ 
cult to eradicate. Strong petroleum and water poured into their nests will 
destroy them, so will boiling water in which a good quantity of salt has 
been dissolved. Another plan is to set traps, such as basins, small bottles, 
<fcc., with some sweet material in them, and then immerse them into boiling 
water daily. Hollow bones with a little fat left in them are also good traps 
for them, and by carrying out persistently these methods they can be got 
rid of. But this is a work of time and requires patience. 
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. 
(TV. B., Lancashire). —1, Cereus Jamacaru ; 2, Cereas speciosissimus. 
(Wm.) —1, Gloxinia tubiflora ; 2, Melissa officinalis variegata. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— June 2nd. 
Trade steady, and with good supplies prices lower. 
FRUIT. 
0. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples. 
J sieve 
2 
0 to S 
6 
Peaches.. .. 
6 
0 tc20 
0 
„ Canadian .. 
barrel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, kitchen 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cobs, Kent .. per 100 lbs. 27 
6 
30 
0 
,, dessert 
.. dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Figs . 
dozen 
S 
0 
6 
0 
Pine Apples English .. lb. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Grapes. 
2 
6 
S 
0 
Plums .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons. 
0 
15 
0 
St. Michael Pines ..each 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Melon.. 
1 
6 
3 
6 
Strawberries .. 
.. per Sb. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Oranges .. .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d 
Artichokes .. . 
. dozen 
1 
0 to 0 
0 
Lettuce .. .. 
1 
0 
to 1 
6 
Asparagus .. . 
. bundle 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
..punnet 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Beans, Kidney 
lb. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red .. . 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
s 
0 
Brussels Sprouts . 
£ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage . 
dozen 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Potatoes .. .. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums .. . 
100 
1 
8 
2 
0 
,, Kidney 
.. cwt. 
4 
8 
6 
0 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Khubarb.. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Salsafy .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzonera 
.. bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts doz. 
bunches 
a 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale .. .. 
per basket 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers .. . 
each 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Shallots .. 
0 
s 
0 
0 
Endive. 
dozen 
i 
0 
a 
0 
Spinach .. 
8 
0 
4 
0 
Heros . 
. bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Leeks . 
. bunch 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips .. ., 
,, bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
s. 
a. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
a. 
8. 
a. 
Aralia Sieboldi .. dozen 
9 
0 to 18 
0 
Ficus elastica .. each 
1 
6 to 
7 
0 
Arbor vitro (golden) dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Fuchsia .. per dozen 
G 
0 
12 
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 
4 
0 
42 
0 
Hydrangea .. per dozen 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Bedding Plants, var. doz. 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Ivy Geraniums per dozen 
5 
0 
6 
0 
Begonias .. .. dozen 
G 
0 
9 
0 
Lilies of the Valley, in 
Calceolaria .. per dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
pots, per doz. 12 
0 
13 
0 
Cineraria .. .. dozen 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Lobelias .. .. per dozen 
4 
0 
a 
0 
Cyclamen .. .. dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Marguerite Daisy dozen 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Cyperus.dozen 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Mignonette .. per dozen 
5 
0 
8 
0 
Dracaena terminalis, dozen 30 
0 
60 
0 
Musk .. .. per dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
„ viridis .. dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Myrtles.dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Erica, various .. dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Palms, in var. .. each 
2 
6 
21 
0 
Euonymus, in var. dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, doz. 
8 
0 
6 
0 
Evergreens, in var. dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Pelargoniums per dozen 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Ferns, in variety .. dozen 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Spirroa.dozen 
6 
0 
12 
9 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
a. 
s. 
d. 
0. 
d 
Abutilons .. 12 bunches 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Marguerites .. 12 bunches 
3 
0 to 6 
0 
Anemone .. doz. bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mignonette .. 12 bunches 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Arum Lilies .. 12 blooms 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Narcissus, various 12 bnches 
2 
0 
S 
0 
Azalea .. .. 12 sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
„ white 12 blooms 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Bouvardias .. per bunch 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Pelargoniums, per 12 trusses 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Camellias .. 12 blooms 
1 
6 
4 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
0 
4 
0 
8 
Carnations .. 12 blooms 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Proonies, various 12 h’ooms 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Chrysanthemums 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Roses (indoor), per dozen 
1 
0 
s 
0 
Cowslips .. doz. bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Tea. dozen 
0 
9 
2 
0 
Cyclamen .. doz. blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ red .. .. dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Daffodils .. 12 bunches 
1 
6 
6 
0 
Primrosep, Yellow, dozen 
Epiphyllum .. doz. blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
bunches. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Eucharis .. per dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Primroses, Double White, 
Gardenias .. 12 blooms 
1 
0 
3 
0 
dozen bunches .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Hellebore .. doz. blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Spirroa .. .. 12 sprays 
9 
G 
1 
0 
Hyacinths, Roman, 12 sprays 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Stephanotis .. 12 sprays 
2 
0 
3 
0 
„ Dutch .. per box 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Tropajolum .. 12 bunches 
i 
0 
3 
0 
Lapageria, white, 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Tuberoses .. 12 blooms 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Lapageria, red .. 12 blooms 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Tulips .. dozen blooms 
0 
2 
0 
6 
Lilac .. .. per bunch 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Violets .. .. 12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 blms. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
„ Czar, Fr., .. bunch 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lily o£ the Valley, 12 sprays 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Wallflower .. 12 bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
THE FUTURE OF FARMING. 
Wheat-growing will probably dwindle to very narrow 
limits upon many farms, especially where there are inferior 
crops again this year, yet we may well inquire if those who 
fail in the culture of Wheat are likely to do better with other 
crops. One of our tenants could only obtain 24s. a quarter 
for his Wheat, and the yield of grain from that crop would 
probably not exceed as many bushels an acre. Another had 
no difficulty in selling his Wheat at 33s., and the average 
yield of his fine crop was close upon 48 bushels an acre, 
which represents a return for grain alone of £9 18s., and if 
we add the value of the straw £2, we have the very satisfac¬ 
tory total of £11 18s. per acre. Bearing in mind the very 
general recent reduction of rent we cannot refrain from asking 
if after all the farmer is such an object of pity as he is gene¬ 
rally supposed to be ? We may doubtless be told that not 
many farms would afford so fine an average as the high one 
mentioned; yet if we ask why, shall we not find blame 
attached to the soil and not to its cultivation ? Puzzled ! it 
might be said truthfully enough of many a farmer who now 
sees his corn crops of a sickly yellow hue and weak in growth. 
He tries to account for it by talking of drought, or wet, or 
cold, but at the same time his mind is beset with doubts of 
the condition and of his treatment of it. Not at all un¬ 
common is it to hear a certain field termed a “bad ” field, 
j ust as though it were incapable of improvement. A farmer 
whose span of life is fast approaching its full limit of three¬ 
score years and ten said to us recently with an air of doubt 
and a tone of inquiry, “I have said I would use no more 
artificial manure, but I don’t know ? ” Low prices for farm 
produce had evidently set him thinking, and raised doubts 
in his mind as to the soundness of his practice. 
In the future of farming we shall, simply because we 
must, possess sufficient knowledge of the nature of the soil 
