December 5, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
499 
to grow Mushrooms profitably, you had better follow the methods of 
persons who have had the greatest success in their culture, and they do 
not incur the expense of building sheds for saving manure, but spend 
the money the sheds would cost in the purchase of the requisite quantity 
of manure, and if they could not obtain this they could not grow Mush¬ 
rooms. In the railway tunnel at Edinburgh flat beds have been tried, 
but abandoned in favour of the ridges. If you wish to discover new 
methods of producing Mushrooms, by all means make experiments, but 
be prepared to lose some money in the enterprise. If you desire to grow 
a few for your own use with the least quantity of manure, do like some 
others, press the best you can obtain in boxes a foot deep and place 
them in a cellar or room in which the temperature does not long remain 
below 50°. If you want to know anything more write again, and you 
may perhaps elicit information that will be useful to others as well as 
yourself. 
Propagating- Conifers (IF. R .~).—At no period of the year is the 
propagation both of hardy flowering shrubs and Conifers carried on in 
nurseries with greater rapidity than from the end of August onwards. 
The majority of Conifers are propagated by means of cuttings and 
grafting, many Pines excepted, and a few common varieties of Cupressus, 
which are readily raised from seed. The system adopted where the 
work is carried out on a large scale entails much labour. Narrow beds 
are formed about 2 feet wide, with a row ot bricks placed edgeways 
on each side of the bed, leaving the tops of the bricks just above the 
soil. Handlights or small glazed boxes about the same width, and about 
3 feet G inches in length, are in readiness before the cuttings are inserted. 
A heap of coarse river or red sand is placed at hand, and a good 
proportion is mixed in the soil, the surface being covered about half an 
inch in depth, after which it is ready for the cuttings. These, when the 
wood is fairly ripened, are frequently taken from the plants intended 
for sale, and others from stock plants kept in borders for the purpose. 
Some care is necessary in taking them so that the plants be not 
disfigured. The portions intended for cuttings should be so taken that 
when dressed each will have a heel. It is necessary that the cut be 
cleanly done with a sharp knife. The cuttings should be made clean 
for about an inch of the stem near the base, and should be from 2 to 
4 inches in length, but the length matters little provided a good heel is 
left and the wood is in a proper state of ripeness. This mode of 
making the cuttings applies with equal force to all the Cupressus, 
Thuias, Retinosporas, and many others, but such kinds as Cryptomeria 
elegans, Retinospora ericoides, and others equally free strike readily 
without a heel. The cuttings are inserted as thickly as possible under 
the handlights on the prepared border, making the soil firm around 
them. A good watering is then given and the handlights placed over 
them. These miniature frames are generally arranged in rows, leaving 
about 2 inches between each bed to allow room for the frames to be 
removed as occasion may require. Little trouble is necessary afterwards, 
only giving shade if the sun proves very hot for a time after the cuttings 
are inserted. It is scarcely necessary to again lift the lights before the 
early spring, as the cuttings seldom need water before then. Sufficient 
will soak in round the handlights during wet weather, and keep the soil 
moist during the winter. The cuttings should be kept as close as possible 
until they are well callussed, which will be the case in spring, as if air 
is given in their early stages many of the cuttings may damp off. 
During winter the only attention that is needed is to cover the frames 
with mats or other protecting material in severe weather. It is better if 
they can be so covered as to exclude all frost, but this is not absolutely 
necessary. I have seen the soil frozen hard for a long time and little or 
no injury has resulted therefrom. Another course of propagation can 
be effected by placing the cuttings in pots in the Conifer house, which 
is generally kept at a temperature of 40° to 45° during the winter. This 
system is practised to a large extent because smaller cuttingg can be 
employed, which is often convenient with new and choice varieties. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— December 4th. 
Oob Market is nor very quiet, home-grown produce ccmiDg very light. Apples 
chiefly supplied from Nova Scotia and Canada, sampler ruling inferior. Grapes in good 
supply with prices low. 
FRUIT. 
6. 
d. 
a. 
d. 
8. 
a. 
8. 
a. 
ApplOS, i 8S8V8. 
2 
0 to 6 
0 
Oranges, per ICO .. 
4 
0 
to 9 
0 
„ Nova Scotia and 
Feaehes. dozen. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Canada, per barrel 12 
0 
20 
0 
Floras, £-sieve. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries, £ eievo .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Red Currants, per ^-eieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes, per Is. .. 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Black „ „ 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons, c&88 .. .. .. 
10 
0 
16 
0 
St. Michael Pints, each 
a 
0 
6 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
e. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
0. 
d. 
Artichokes, dozen c « 
4 
0 
to 5 
0 
Leebs.bunch .. •• *. 
0 
2 to 0 
0 
Asparagus, bundle .. e 0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lettuce, aozen ... 
0 
9 
1 
3 
Beans, Kidney,psrlb. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet 
1 
e 
2 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen .. 
I 
0 
2 
0 
Mustard & Cress, punnet 
0 
a 
0 
0 
Broccoli, bundle .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel .. .. 
8 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts, £ sieve 
1 
6 
a 
0 
Farslev, dozen bunches 
a 
0 
3 
0 
Cabbage,dozen ,, 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. .. 
l 
0 
0 
0 
Capsicums, ner 100 .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Carrots, bunch c « «• 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Rhubarb, bund'.? .. 
0 
a 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. 
a 
0 
4 
0 
Salsify, bundle ,, 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Calory, bundle .. 
1 
0 
i 
8 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Ooleworts, doz. bunches 
a 
0 
4 
0 
Shallots, per lb .. 
0 
8 
0 
0 
Oncnmbers, eaoh ., .. 
0 
8 
0 
6 
Spinach, bushel .. .. 
1 
0 
a 
0 
Endive, dozen ., .. .. 
I 
0 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per Hi. .. .. 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Herbs, bunch .. 
6 
a 
0 
0 
Turnips, bunch .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
CUT FLOWERS; 
8. 
d. 
p. 
d. 
8. 
a. 
d. 
Arum Lilies, 15 blooms .. 
8 
0 to 6 
0 
Mignonette. 12 bunches 
a 
0 to 4 
O 
Astera. perbuneb, French 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Fr., large bnch 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Azalea, dozen sprays 
0 
9 
1 
6 
Myoaotis or Forgetmenots 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
1 
S 
s 
0 
Camellias, doztn blooma 
1 
6 
4 
0 
Narcissus (Paper-white), 
Onruatione, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
dozen sprays 
l 
0 
1 
8 
Christmas Roses, 12 blms. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
» French. 12 buoha 
4 
0 
6 
(► 
Chrysanthemums, doz< n 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
1 
0 
1 
» 
blooms. 
0 
6 
3 
0 
e , scarlet, 12 bunohes 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
1 
0 
1 
8 
bunches . 
3 
0 
9 
0 
„ (single) 12 sprays 
0 
9 
1 
O 
Epipbylluras, doz. blooms 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Roses (indoor), dozen .. 
0 
8 
1 
6 
Eucb ari 8, dozen .. .. 
8 
0 
5 
0 
„ Bed, dozen bunches 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
„ ,, 12 blooms 
1 
0 
a 
Gladiolus (various) dozen 
„ Tea, white, dozen,. 
1 
0 
s 
0 
sprayH . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
4 
Hyacinths (Soman) dozen 
French, per bunch.. 
2 
0 
3 
© 
sprays . 
0 
6 
i 
6 
Spiraea, dozen bunohee .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
6 
Stephanotis, doz. sprays 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Lib'um, various, 12 blms 
a 
0 
4 
0 
Sweet Peas, doz. bunches 
0 
0 
0 
© 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 
Tubsrosos, 12 blooms .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
blooms. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Violets, dozen bunche3 .. 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Maidenhair Fern, doz. 
„ French, per bunch 
i 
3 
a 
© 
bunches. 
4 
0 
9 
0 
,, Parme. per bunch 
8 
0 
4 
0 
Marguerites, 12 bunohea 
a 
0 
6 
0 
White Lilac, Fr., per bnch 
6 
0 
8 
© 
PLANTS 
IN POTS, 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
0. 
d. 
iralia dleboldi, dozen .. 
6 
0 to 12 
0 
Ficus elastics, each 
l 
6 to 
7 
0 
Arum Lilies, per dozen .. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each 
a 
0 
10 
0 
ArborvItce(golden'» dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Hyacinths ( Roman)12 pots 
9 
0 
15 
9 
Azalea, various, p r doz. 
SO 
0 
42 
0 
Geraniums, Ivy. doz. 
0 
0 
0 
9 
Begonias, various, per doz 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Lobelias, per dozen 
0 
0 
0 
9 
Balsams, per dozen.. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
la 
0 
Caladiums, per dcz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Christmas Rose .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Musk, per do?en .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
O 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
6 
0 
15 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Dracfcnaterminalis, doz. 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Palms, in var., each 
3 
6 
21 
© 
DraoasDa viridis, doz. .. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, 12 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Epiphyllum, per doz. .. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Primula (single) per dcz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Erica, various, dozen 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Rhodauthe, per dozen .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Euonymus, var., dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Saxafraga pyramid alis, 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
per dozen .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Solanums, per dezen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
PORK AND BACON. 
Now is the time when we begin pig killing for home consump¬ 
tion, and the addition of choice home-fed pork to the household 
dietary is a welcome one, both as sausages and in joints ; but pickled 
pork does not hold the prominent place at table that it used to do, 
yet it is undoubtedly both wholesome and palatable. Time was in 
our recollection when two or three huge tubs of pickled pork were 
always part of our winter supply from the home farm, but taste 
changes, and pickling tubs for such a purpose are very much a. 
thing of the past. 
Well cured bacon and hams are and always will be in constant 
request, and the home farmer has now to gradually make an ample 
provision of both for the next twelve months. In view of this 
care was taken as the store pigs were withdrawn from the stubbles 
after harvest to select enough of them with large long bodies te 
fatten gradually for this particular purpose, the more forward ones 
being pushed on quickly, to be followed by others as fast as the 
curing can be done, the number to he cured at a time being entirely 
a matter of convenience, and the total number according to the 
supply required. The farm produce book should always enable one 
to see at a glance the probable number of hams, sides of bacon, 
and chaps that will be wanted ; but we always take good care to 
have a safe surplus for emergencies, such as extra company or a. 
change of cooks, the latter especially often making a material 
difference in the quantity used, some chefs being very big men 
indeed, whom it is unwise to offend, as they have it in their power 
to make matters very unpleasant at the home farm, so that provided 
they keep within reasonable bounds it always answers best to meet 
their requirements with promptitude and cheerfulness. 
Hams of about 20 lbs. weight are a favourite size, and we have 
pickling pans large enough to contain two of these on end side by 
side—not laid upon each other—in the pickle, where they are 
turned daily for a month. The pickle for each pair of hams con- 
