January 31, 1389. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
97 
check. It may be the result of crowding, or a current of dry or cold 
air striking against them ; or it may arise from an error in watering, 
though you say the roots are satisfactory. We can scarcely understand 
how they can be, for the cessation of growth and general withering of 
the plants must afiect the roots prejudicially, therefore these may not 
be in such a good and active state as you suppose. We think that a 
careful investigation of the whole circumstances will reveal to you the 
cause of the evil in question. 
Carrot Fly and Magrg-ot (f?. O .').—You say '‘seeing is believing,” 
and you “ cannot understand how eggs deposited on the surface can 
cause grubs to creep into Carrots some inches below the ground, and 
these you have seen.” Doubtless, you would be lucky as a gardener 
if you had not. We now show you an illustration of the fly that you 
have not seen, in the hope you will be better able to understand the 
whole matter. The fly hardly measures half an inch across the wings 
when they are expanded ; it is almost black or blackish green (hence 
occasionally called the Negro), with transparent wings, head and legs 
reddish yellow. Of this there appear to be two or three broods during 
the summer season, the first deposition of eggs taking place about the 
end of May or in June, these flies being produced from larvae or pupae that 
have lived through the winter. Like others of the group, the larvae or 
maggot is legless, having a sharp head and a blunt fail, which has just 
above it two raised p'ates that aid the movements of the insect as it forms 
its burrows or galleries ; the surface is smooth, shiny, and pale yellow. 
The different forms of the insect are represented in the engraving. 
FIG. 17.— CARROT FLY AND LARVAE. 
I, £, and 3, Larvae natural s : ze and mignifled ; 4, Infested Carrot; S and 6, Pupa:; 
7 and 8, Carrot Fly, natu-a! size and magnified. 
Young specimens of this pest are numerous during June, and from 
that date until the last Carrots are pulled in the autumn maggots are 
to be found where preventive means have not been taken ; and even 
after the Carrots have been removed some will subsist upon the fibrous 
roots left in the soil ; hence the advisability of clearing the ground 
thoroughly about November, well digging and dressing with gas lime 
where the fly has occurred. We all know that young Carrots must be 
thinned ; this thinning operation is in this way detrimental, that it 
enables the first brood of flies to lay their eggs more readily, hence 
some have advised early thinning before the flies are out, and also 
after thinning a filling-up of the opened soil by a mixture of soot and 
wood ashes, which proves besides of value as a manure. Before thin¬ 
ning is requisite, if the insect has been troublesome the previous year, 
it is of benefit to dust the young plants with these, and lime in addition. 
The application of diluted paraffin, a wineglassful to a gallon of water, 
has been tried and found of utility ; a few have tried combining paraffin 
with an absorbent, such as wood ashes. No doubt regular watering at 
the season when the flies are noticed helps to keep them off the 
plants, for it is in dry weather they make their attacks most readily. 
Profitable Culture (E. G. _Y.).—You ask “ if it would pay if 
yourself and a friend with a small capital built houses with your own 
labour, and grew in them such things for instance as Tomatoes, Cucum¬ 
bers, Grapes, early Kidney Beans, Marshal Niel Roses, and white cut 
flowers, at the same time combining a little dairy and bee farming.” It 
depends entirely on yourself and your friend, both as regards means at 
disposal and mechanical and cultural aptitude, whether you would 
succeed or fail. In the erection of glass structures most persons who 
have had no experience in the work would find it advantageous to 
purchase materials and employ artisans for carrying it out, affording 
them such assistance as could be given by unskilled helpers. We know 
that some persons are so “handy” and persevering that they succeed 
in almost everything they undertake, but they at the same time judge 
with a near approach to accuracy whether the project is within their 
means. If we were to take twenty men, unskilled both as mechanics 
and cultivators, we should expect nineteen of them to fail in working 
profitably on the lines you propose. It is true if they had sifficient 
capital to enable them to support themselves pending the time they 
could gain experience in growing flowers and fruit under glass, also in 
managing bees and co.vs, they might eventually succeed ; but not a few 
we suspect would purchase their experience somewhat dearly. It is an 
enti e fallacy to suppose that any industrious man who has had no 
expeiience in such matters as those referred to can compete with expert 
growers in supplying the markets with forced flowers and fruit, with or 
without the addition of hees and dairying. Many persons who have 
ong tried to do this have found it hard to gain a livelihood, while not a 
few who have attempted the enterprise have failed. An idea seems to 
be prevalent that any industrious man, without experience in the work, 
can make flower and fruit culture under glass “ pay.” We cannot con¬ 
ceive it possible that any such undertaking could be advocated by 
practical men. If we knew somewhat of your capacity for entering into 
work of the nature suggested, and the capital at your disposal, we could 
perhaps form some idea as to whether you would be likely to succeed or 
not in the enterprise. In the absence of such information we must, 
decline the responsibility of encouraging anyone to invest, it may be, 
their hardly earned savings in the work. As to books, if you have had 
no experience in cultivation, we are unab'e to recommend any that 
would enable you to carry out your scheme profitably. If you like to 
write again we wid return to the subject, for no pleasure would be 
greater to us than to help earnest and industrious men to win success’ 
in the work in question, but we will not knowingly mislead. 
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. 
(D. B.j .—1, Veltbeimia viridifolia ; 2, Polypodium pectinatum ; 3, Poly- 
stichum angulare ; I, Adiantum hispidulum ; 5, Pteris cretica albo- 
lineata ; fi, Pteris serrulata. (//. C.'). —1, Polypodium Lingua ; 2. 
Platyloma rotundifolia ; 3, Asplenium viviparum ; 5, Pteris umbrosa. 
The others were not in suitable condition to be recognised. (A r . C .)— 
The plant is probably Dendrobium aureum, but it is not usual to name, 
plants from drawings, and specimens of flowers should be sent when 
possible. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— January 30th. 
Trade quiet, with supplies more than equal t> the demaul. Prices unaltered. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
B. 
a. 
8. 
a. 
Apples, J sieve.. .. .. 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Lemons, case .. .. .. 
10 
0 to 16 
a 
„ Nova Scotia and 
Oranges, per 100 ,, .. 
4 
0 
9 
a 
Canada, per barrel 
5 
0 
9 
0 
Peaches, dozen. 
0 
0 
0 
a 
Oberr es, $ sieve .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears, dozen. 
i 
0 
2 
8 
Oobs.lOOlbs. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums, £-sieve. 
0 
0 
0 
» 
Grapes, per lb. 
0 
9 
2 
6 
St. Michael Pine , each 
2 
0 
6 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Artichokes, dozen •• •• 
2 
0 to 8 
0 
Lettuce,dozen .. .. 
0 
9 to 1 
ff 
Asparagus,bundle.. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet 
0 
6 
1 
a 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. .. 
0 10 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress, punt. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
New PotatDes, per cwt... 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Broccoli, bundle .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Ouions, bunch. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprouts, £ sieve 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
8 
Cabbage,dozen .. .. 
1 
8 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cap8icump, per 100 •. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Carrots, bunch •• .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
„ Kidney, rer cwt. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Celery, bundle .. .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Salsify, bundle .. M 
1 
0 
1 
6- 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Cucumbers, each .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Shallots, per tb .. .. 
0 
8 
0 
0 
Endive, dozen. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach, bushel .. .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Heros, bunch. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. 
0 
6 
1 
» 
Leeks, bunch. 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips, bunch .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
a 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
8. 
d. 
0 
d. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Abntilons, 12 bunches .. 
8 
0 to « 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches 
2 
0 to 4 
a 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Nareitsua (Paper White), 
Azalea, 12 sprays .. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
12 ►prays .. 
i 
0 
1 
& 
Bouvardias, bunch .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
„ (French) bunch 
0 
3 
0 
ff 
Camellias, 12 blooms 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
1 
0 
i 
8 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
a 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
9 
0 
15 
9 
Christmas Bose 
0 
6 
2 
0 
Poinsettia, dozen blooms 
4 
0 
6 
a 
Chrysanthemums, 12 bl... 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Primroses, doz. bunches.. 
I 
0 
2 
0 
„ 12 bohs. 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Roses, Red, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
» 
Cyclamen, dozen blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
,, (indoor), dozen •• 
2 
0 
s 
0 
Eucharis, dozen .. •• 
s 
0 
fi 
0 
„ Tea, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
6 
O 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 
15 
0 
30 
0 
„ yellow . 
8 
0 
8 
a 
Byacintbs (Roman), doz. 
Stephanotis, 12 sprays .. 
9 
0 
12 
a 
spray8 . 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Tropseolum, 12 bunches 
i 
0 
2 
o. 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
6 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms .. 
1 
6 
S 
0 
Lilac, White (Fiench), 
Tulips, dozen blooms .. 
0 
9 
1 
6 
per bunch . 
S 
0 
7 
0 
Violets, 12 bunches.. .. 
1 
0 
i 
G 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 
„ Parme (French), 
blooms. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
per bunch 
8 
6 
5 
0 
Li' yoftheV alley, 12 sprays 
0 
9 
1 
e 
,. Dark (French) bob. 
6 
2 
9 
Marguerites, 12 bunches 
a 
0 
6 
0 
Wallflowers, dcz. bunches 
4 
0 
6 
a 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Aralia Sicboldi, dozen .. 
6 
0 to 12 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen 
4 
Oto 18 
n 
Arum Lilies, per dozen .. 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Ficus elastica, esch 
i 
6 
7 
9 
Arbor vitas (golden - * dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Folisge plants, var., each 
2 
0 
10 
0 
AsterB, 12 pots. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Hyacinths, per dozen .. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Azalea, per d< zen .. .. 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman), dcz. 
9 
0 
12 
ft 
Begonias, various, per doz. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Lily of the Valle.', 
Chrysanthemum, doz. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
doz. pots . 
12 
0 
36 
» 
Cyclamen , dt zen pots .. 
9 
0 
13 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
12 
ft 
Pracrenaterminalis. doz. 
so 
0 
60 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
O 
Placet re viridis, d< z. .. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Palmp, in var., each 
2 
« 
21 
a 
Erica hycmalis, dcz 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Pelargonium 0 , scarlet, 12 
6 
0 
9 
0 
„ gracilis, doz. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Poinsettia, per cozen .. 
10 
0 
15 
0 
,, various, doz. 
8 
0 
18 
0 
Primula per doz. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Euonymn8, var.. dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Solanum8. doz .. . 
9 
0 
12 
<> 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
21 
0 
Tulips, dcz. pAs .. .. 
8 
0 
9 
