20 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January S, 1889. 
Untlrained soil is naturally cold, and for growing Cucumbers in fields it 
must be naturally warm, while richness is essential to quick growth. 
Many acres of Cucumbers are grown in Bedfordshire, the soil being 
rather light free-working loam, and is liberally manured and deeply 
worked in fine weather in the autumn or early spring, and stirred again 
previous to sowing for getting a good tilth, which is important. Land 
sloping to the south is preferred, but Cucumbers are also grown in fields 
where the ground is level ; but in this case, and indeed generally, 
shelter is afforded in a very simple manner. As soon as the land is in 
good working order in spring Eye is sown very thickly in lines 4 or 
5 yards apart, and as far as convenient running north and south, with 
an occasional cross line here and there if it is thought advisable. The 
Rye grows quickly, and by the time the Cucumbers are above ground is 
high above them, and they aTe thereby usefully sheltered from cutting 
winds in May and June. The seed is sown in the fields, sometimes 
about 6 inches apart in rows 24 to 3 feet asunder, and sometimes three 
or four seeds are placed in patches about a yard apart. Some seeds are 
expected to fail, this depending to a great extent on the weather, and if 
there are more plants than wanted it is easy to draw some of them out. 
The state of the soil and the weather are of more importance than any 
particular date for sowing ; but if the ground is fairly dry and warm, 
and the weather also, during the first days of May, the opportunity is not 
allowed to pass. The quicker the germination the better the growth. 
Many seeds are sown towards the end of the first week or beginning of 
the second of the month named. Hoeing very carefully and frequently 
stimulates growth and checks the movements of slugs, and occasional 
dustings with soot have the same good effect. Seed can be obtained, 
both of Gherkins and ridge Cucumbers, from the leading dealers and 
firms that advertise in these columns. Very often some small and 
malformed fruits are cut in their early stages from Cucumber plants, 
only the more promising and best-formed being allowed to attain the 
full size as Cucumbers, cutting these before they turn the least yellow. 
Cold wet summers are unfavourable for Cucumbers in fields, but usually 
the crops are fairly good, and sometimes abundant. In the market 
gardens near London ridge Cucumber plants are as a rule raised in 
pots, and are strong and well hardened for planting at the end of May 
or early in June, according to the weather. An excavation is quickly 
made, two or three large forkfuls of hot fermenting manure advancing 
to decay being trodden-in, covered with soil, the plant inserted, and a 
handlight, or even an old basket, placed over it for shelter, and in this 
way the plants are quickly established. Where baskets are used as 
makeshifts they are propped up on the “ warm side ” when weather 
permits, and let down at night till cold nights depart, and the plants 
are in free growth. Water is given as needed early in the afternoon, 
and the warmer it is the better for the plants. Sprinkling them with 
cold water every morning prevents their growing. You ask, ‘‘ What 
crop should follow ? ” That is a question of convenience and require¬ 
ments. Sometimes the ground is planted with Cabbages or winter 
Lettuces, and sometimes with nothing till spring. 
names of Fruits. —The names and addresses of senders of fruit 
to be named must in all cases be enclosed with the specimens, whether 
letters referring to the fruit are sent by post or not. The names are 
not necessarily required for publication, initials sufficing for that. Only 
six specimens can be named at once, and any beyond that number cannot 
be preserved. (J. Law ).—Owing to the great number of specimens 
sent to us, we are unable to keep in mind such as may have been from 
time to time under examination. We have at present no single specimen 
awaiting inspection. Therefore if the one alluded to reached our hands 
a reply would in the usual course be given in one of the issues of the 
Journal. If you cannot find any answer, and you can send another 
specimen at a convenient time, it shall have our best attention. (J. S. IF.). 
—Your Pear is the Styrian, specimens of which are not often sent to us. 
It is a good Pear, usually in season in October and November. 
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, 
and the numbers should be visible without untying the ligatures, 
it being often difficult to separate them when the paper is damp. 
(<r. il/'.).—We have repeatedly requested you to send better specimens, 
more carefully packed, but those to hand have arrived in the same con¬ 
dition as the others—namely, diminutive examples dried in loose tissue 
paper. We can only suggest that the following are the plants you 
have :—1, Is quite unrecognisable ; 2, Eestrepia antennifera ; 3 and 4, 
species of Rodriguezia. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— January 2nd. 
The holidays coupled with the fog have completely Cherked business, and we have 
no alteration to quote, with the exception of Canadian Applts, which are a very dull sale. 
FRUIT. 
0. 
d. 
8 . 
d. 
Aoplee,) sieve.. .. 
6 to 4 
6 
,, No /a Scotia 
and 
Canada, per barrel 
.. 6 
0 
12 
0 
Oherr es, J sieve .. 
.. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Cobs, 100 l'bs. 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes, per &>. 
.. 0 
9 
3 
0 
s. d. S. d. 
Lemons, case.10 0 to 15 0 
Oranges, per 100 .... 4 0 9 0 
Peaches, dozen. 0 0 0 0 
Pears, dozen.10 2 6 
Plume, i-ehye . 0 0 0 0 
St. Michael Fine , each 5 0 8 0 
B. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Artichokes, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
to 8 
0 
Asparagus, bundle .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Beans,Kidney,por lb. .. 
0 10 
0 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen 
1 
0 
© 
0 
Broccoli, bundle .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Brassels Sprouts, \ sieve 
1 
6 
2 
6 
Cabbage, dozen .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Capsicums, por 100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Carrots, bunch .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Celery, bundle .. .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Cucumbers, each .. 
0 
» 
0 
4 
Endive, dozen. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Hero?, bunch. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Leeks, bunch. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
e. 
d. 
CUT 
P 
F 
d. 
Abutilons, 12 bunches 
8 
0 to 6 
0 
Arum Liliep, 12 blooms .. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Azalea, 12 sprays .. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Bouvardiap, bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Camellias, 12 blooms .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Christmas Rose .. .. 
0 
6 
2 
0 
Chrysanthemums, 12 bl... 
1 
0 
8 
0 
„ 12 boha. 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Cyclamen, dozen blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Encharis, dozen .. .. 
s 
0 
6 
0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 
3 
0 
12 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman), doz. 
sprays . 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
6 
Lilac, While (French), 
per bunch . 
e 
0 
7 
0 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 
blooms. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Li’yof the Valley, 12 sprays 
0 
9 
1 
s 
Marguerites, 12 bunohes 
2 
0 
6 
0 
PLANTS 
Araiia Sieboldi, dozen .. 
s. 
6 
d. s. 
0 to 12 
d. 
0 
Atum Lilies, per dozen .. 
12 
0 
IS 
0 
Arbor vitae (goldeni dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
A Biers, 12 pots. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Azalea, per dozen .. .. 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Begonias, various, per doz 
. 4 
0 
9 
0 
Chrysanthemum, doz. .. 
4 
0 
9 
0 
large,doz. .. 
15 
0 
24 
0 
Cyclamen., dozen pots .. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Draeaiiia terminal's, doz. 
30 
0 
60 
0 
Dracerue viridis, doz. .. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Erica hyemalis, doz. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
„ gracilis, doz. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
„ various, doz. 
8 
0 
18 
0 
Euonymus, var., dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Lettuce, dozen .. .. 0 
9 
to 1 
3 
Mushrooms, punnet .. 0 
8 
1 
O 
Mustard and Cress, punt. 0 
2 
6 
0 
New Potatoes,per cwfc... 0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bunch.. 0 
S 
0 
0 
Parsley, dozen bunches 2 
0 
3 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. 1 
0 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 4 
0 
6 
O 
„ Kid nov, per cwt. 4 
0 
8 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle .. .. 0 
2 
0 
0 
Salsify, bundle •• c . 1 
0 
1 
6 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 1 
6 
0 
0 
Shallots, per ft .... 0 
s 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel .. .. 1 
6 
2 
0 
Tomatoes, per ft.0 
3 
0 
10 
Turnips, bunch .. ., 0 
4 
0 
0 
WEES. 
P. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Mignonette, 12 bunches 2 
Narcitsna (Poper White), 
0 
to 4 
0 
12 sprays ..10 16 
,, (French) bunch 0 3 0 6 
Pelargoniums. 12 trasses 10 16 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 6 0 IS O 
Poinsettia, dozen blooms 4 0 6 0 
Primroses, doz. bunohes ..10 20 
Roses, Red, 12 blooms ..10 2 0 
,, (indoor),dozen ..10 2 0 
„ Tea, dozen .... 1 0 4 0 
„ yellow . 8 0 6 0 
Stephanotis, 12 sprays ..DO 12 0 
Tropasolnm, 12 bunohes 10 2 0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms ..10 2 0 
Tulips, dozen blooms ..0 9 16 
Violets, 12 bunohes.. ..10 16 
„ Parme (French), 
per bunch .. 3 6 5 0 
„ (Frenoh) bnnch ..16 20 
Wallflowers, dcz. bunches 4 0 6 0 
IN POTS. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 to 24 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Ficus elastica, each 
1 
6 
7 
0 
Foliaga pUnts, var., each 
2 
0 
10 
0 
Hyacinths, per dozen .. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman), dcz. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Lily of the Valiev, 
doz. pots . 
18 
0 
42 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Palms, in var., each 
Pelargonium-*, scarlet, 12 
2 
6 
21 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Poinsettia, per dozen .. 
10 
0 
15 
9 
Primula, per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Solanums, doz. .. . 
9 
0 
15 
0 
CORN PROSPECTS. 
At the last market we attended last year a sample of Wheat was 
placed in our hands by a tenant farmer, who said, “ There ! You 
said you sold a lot of Wheat last week at 36s. per quarter; if you will 
sell this for me at the same price I shall be happy to allow you a 
commission of 2s. a quarter.” The Wheat was certainly dry, but 
sight and touch both proved it to be light, and when our friend sold 
it subsequently for 30s. 6d. per quarter he just about realised its full 
market value. We much fear this is only one more example of 
a general tendency to use inferior seed, yet how any sensible person 
can expect good corn from such seed passes our comprehension. 
Our Wheat, which sold readily at 36s., was a fine pure sample, 
exceptionally full and heavy for the year, and it well repaid us 
for our outlay in the purchase and growth of enough of it for 
each of our farms. 
Repeatedly have we shown that if the British farmer is to hold 
his own in competition with the markets of the world, he must 
strive for improvement both in the quality and quantity of his 
crops. In Wheat growing we have India, America, and Russia to 
take into account, and we may take it for granted that if either 
of those countries ‘fail to supply our wants, the others will at once 
come to the front, so that in any case British Wheat can never rise 
in value to the abnormal height of twelve or fourteen years 
