March 7, 1889. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
207 
atmosphere must be maintained by standing shallow trays of water on 
the flue and damping the floor and walls as may be necessary for the 
purpose in view. The air must be as sweet and pleasant as that out¬ 
doors after a warm shower on a mild day in April and May, and we 
suspect the atmosphere of the pit is far from being equally enjoyable. 
The plant of which you sent leaves resembles an Anthericum, and 
may be planted out in summer, preferably in not a very dry and sunny 
position. 
Covering- Mushroom Beds (//. T. H .).—Mushroom beds in the 
open air must be covered with litter, varying in thickness from (3 inches 
to more than thrice that thickness, according to the heat in the ridges 
or beds and the weather. Beds in unheated open sheds must be 
similarly covered. In heated Mushroom houses, unless they are very 
close, dark, and somewhat damp, the beds are best covered to prevent 
the evaporation of moisture from them, and a few gardeners use light 
wooden shutters, leaving sufficient space under them for the Mushrooms 
to grow. Possibly the difficulty your gardener experiences in breaking 
off the small Mushrooms in removing the litter arises from the soil being 
too light, or the temperature too high. Loam is composed of clay and 
sand ; when the former greatly preponderates it is strong or clayey 
loam, when the contrary is the case it is light or sandy loam. When 
clay is dried and crushed to powder it can be mixed with light soil for 
rendering it more adhesive. 
A Tern Puzzle (&).— We print your note and append our reply :— 
“ For the past two years I have attempted to grow Adiantum cuneatum, 
Pteris serrulata cristata, and other Ferns, but sow nearly what I will, I 
get Pteris tremula only. I sowed a quantity of A1 cuneatum and Davallia 
bullata spores, and every plant turned out P. tremula. Can you 
give me an explanation 1 ” The explanation is simple—the spores that 
produce Pteris tremula are produced by Pteris tremula ; Adiantum 
spores produce Adiantums ; Davallia spores Davallias, and the spores 
of Pteris serrulata do not produce plants of P. tremula. Those of the 
latter germinate freely, and the plants grow rapidly, and may have 
outgrown the others (if any) ; “ smothered ” them in accordance with 
the principle of the survival of the fittest, according to Darwin, but 
from your point of view the survivors were not the fittest for your 
purpose. We can see a million of young Adiantums any day springing 
from spores, and not a “ rogue ” amongst them. 
Grubs In Marguerite Leaves (J. M .).—If you had read the 
Journal attentively you would have seen many replies to correspondents 
such as you ask for. The leaf-mining insect is the larva of a small fly 
(Tephrites) similar to, if not identical with, the Celery fly which 
punctures the leaves and deposits eggs in them, these hatching into 
maggots that eat out this substance, often ruining the plants. The 
Celery fly can be prevented doing material injury by syringing the 
plants with a solution of petroleum and softsoap, 2 ozs. of the soap and 
a lump of soda being dissolved in a gallon of boiling water, stirring in 
very briskly while hot half a wineglassful, or a little more, of ordinary 
petroleum, or paraffin as it is incorrectly called, such as is burned in 
lamps. It should be applied after the sun leaves the plants in the 
evening, not in the morning, or they might be scorceed. We have 
known it to destroy the maggots in the leaves. You can try the experi¬ 
ment of dipping a plant in the solution and noting the effects. You 
might also try lemon oil, using it according to the instructions supplied 
by the vendors. 
Planting- and Cropping Vines (IF. J. S.). —You may safely 
plant the varieties you desire—namely, Gros Colman, Gros Guillaume, 
Lady Downe’s, and Muscat of Alexandria, as all may be grown in the 
same house. Your fanciful plan may answer, though it is not adopted by 
cultivators who grow splendid crops both for private use or sale. As we 
understand your letter you intend planting the Vines 2£ feet asunder, 
then when all are strong enough to bear fruit only letting half of them 
do so, cutting down the alternate Vines, so that each of these will pro¬ 
duce a strong cane while the others are bearing, and when the fruit is 
off cutting down these in turn, and so on. You say you “are aware 
that many growers crop new rods every year, but you think you would 
get better Grapes as stated.” Is not your plan “cropping new rods 2 ” 
If the Vines produce strong canes, and these are well ripened, they will 
no doubt bear well, especially towards the top of the house ; but whether 
the plan would answer with you better than the usual methods that 
answer so well with growers of Grapes, both for home use and for 
market, can only be determined by experience. We neither advise you 
to adopt the plan nor dissuade you from it. It is entirely a matter for 
individual preference and capacity. Vines may be planted when the 
growths push half an inch long or so, not forcing them into growth 
either before or immediately after planting. 
Musbrooms In Summer (IF B.'). —We gather from your letter 
that you desire to grow Mushrooms outdoors in summer. For that 
purpose a cool place is essential. Mr. R. Gilbert digs a trench of the 
requisite width on the north side of a wall, fills it with suitable manure 
pressed down in the usual manner, sloping the surface up to the wall, 
casing with soil, covering and keep all moist, and has excellent crops. 
In the absence of a position of that kind, choose the coolest you have, 
and under and behind evergreens would be likely to answer very well. 
We have had good crops in a cool heavily shaded orchard in the summer. 
The less grass the horses have the better for the purpose in view, though 
we do not think you ought to fail under the circumstances you describe. 
You may mix one-third of Beech or Oak leaves with the manure, taking 
care the whole mass is uniformly moist, not over-fermented when used, 
and then made very firm. Peat moss, after being used in stables, may 
be mixed with the other materials, but excellent crops of Mushrooms 
have been grown from it without any admixture beyond a little loam. 
It cannot be so well formed into ridges as manure consisting largely 
of decaying straw. You had better perhaps make the beds flat or nearly 
so, and cover them with shutters or anything that will throw off 
heavy rains. Narrow ridges are apt to get too dry in summer, and if 
you make a bed on the level of the ground, supporting with boards, 
care will be necessary not to let it get too dry, especially round the 
sides. 
Propagating Pit (.7. .27.).—The 18-inch upright lights are not in 
the least necessary for a propagating pit, but rather the reverse if the 
aspect is south, though as your pit may not be wholly required for pro¬ 
pagating purposes, the side light may be useful for certain plants that 
you may require to grow in the winter. According to your rough, 
sketch the flow and return pipes are covered. The return pipes would 
afford sufficient bottom heat, and an excess of this is not good for any 
plants. The outside shutters may possibly be useful in summer. We 
should prefer shutters in the inner pigeon-holed wall for regulating the 
heat. Cocoa-nut fibre refuse is suitable for plunging purposes, and 
what you object to in it is an advantage in securing an equable tempera¬ 
ture, the heat being slowly conducted out of it. The back wall will be 
suitable for Tomatoes in summer, at least if not shaded by any cover¬ 
ing on the roof that cuttings may require, and this can be entirely 
obviated by having close frames on the front pit which are provided in 
all well constructed propagating houses. ,We do not know whether you 
could grow Tomatoes in the pit in winter or not, but many persons- 
could, though they would not, plant them out in a border 10 feet from 
the roof but have them in boxes or pots raised so that the plants would 
not be far from the glass. They might be stood on a strong shelf affixed 
to the back wall, and the growths trained downwards over the path to 
wires strained a foot or so under the roof. We should not cover both 
if either of the flow pipes, and if only one, should have that next the 
glass exposed. 
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,. 
(T>. 7.).—The flowers sent apparently represent C. Harrisianum, but 
that, as you probably are aware, is a hybrid from C. barbatum and C, 
villosum, and not an imported plant. (Constant Reader'). —1, Alonsoa 
incisifolia ; 2, Aspidistra lurida variegata ; 3, the flowers had all fallen, 
and withered, but it appears to be a Tacsonia—perhaps T. eriantha. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— Maech 6th. 
BUSINESS still steady, and prices firm all round. 
FBUIT. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples, I sieve. 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 
4 
0 
to 9 
O 
„ Nova Scotia and 
Peaches, dozen. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Canada, per barrel 
7 
0 
16 
0 
Pears, dozen. 
0 
0 
0 
o 
Cherries, i sieve .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums, £-sieve .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes, per ft. 
1 
8 
5 
0 
8t. Michael Pine , each 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Lemons, case .. .. .. 
10 
0 
15 
0 
Strawberries, per 03. .. 
1 
0 
0 
A 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
Artiohokes, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 to 8 
0 
Lettuce, dozen .. .. 
0 
9 
to 1 
$ 
Asparagus, bundle .. • • 
10 
0 
12 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet 
0 
6 
1 
» 
Beans, Kidney,per lb. .. 
i 
3 
1 
9 
Mustard and Cress, punt. 
0 
3 
0 
O 
Beet, Red, dozen .. •• 
i 
0 
3 
0 
New Potatoes, per lb. .. 
8 
0 
10 
o 
Broccoli, bundle • • •. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel .. .• 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts, £ sieve 
Jl 
0 
1 
6 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
8 
0 
Cabbage, dozen .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Capsicums, per 100 .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
o 
Carrots, bunch .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
,, Kidney, per cwt. 
4 
0 
8 
O 
Cauliflowers, dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle .. .. 
0 
a 
0 
ft 
Celery, bundle .. .. 
1 
6 
9 
0 
Salsify, bundle .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
ft 
Ooleworts, dcz. bunches 
2 
Or 
4 
0 
Scorzonera, bundle ., 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Oucumbers, each .. .. 
0 
9 
i 
3 
Shallots, per tb, '.. .. 
0 
8 
0 
0 
Endive, dozen . • • • • • 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Spinach, bushel .. .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Herbs, bunch . • • • • • 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. 
0 
6 
1 
* 
Leeks, bujc •• •• •• 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips, bunch .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
ft 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
B. 
d. 
S 
a. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Anemones (French), 
Lilyof theValley, 12 sprays 
0 
6 to 1 
ft 
doz. bunches 
a 
0 to 6 
0 
Marguerites, 12 bunches 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms 
s 
0 
6 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunoheg 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Azalea, 12 sprays .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Narcissus (Paper White), 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
12 sprays .. 
1 
0 
1 
6- 
Camellias, 12 blooms .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
„ (French) bunch 
0 
3 
0 
e 
„ White, 12 bl... 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
1 
0 
1 
s 
„ Red, 12 blooms 
0 
9 
a 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Primroses, doz. bunches.. 
1 
0 
2 
o 
Cyclamen, dozen blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Roses, Red, 12 blooms •. 
e 
0 
9 
0 
Daffodils (single) 12 blooms 0 
9 
1 
6 
„ (indoor), dozen .. 
2 
0 
S 
& 
„ (double),12 blooms 0 
a 
1 
0 
„ Tea, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
0 
» 
Encharis, dozen .. .. 
s 
0 
6 
0 
„ yellow . 
8 
0 
8 
o 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 
15 
0 
30 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms •• 
1 
6 
8 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman), doz. 
Tulips, dozen blooms .. 
0 
6 
1 
(> 
sprays . 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Violets, 12 bunohes.. .. 
1 
0 
1 
e 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
a 
6 
„ Parme (French), 
Lilac, White (French), 
per bunch . • 
s 
0 
8 
0 
per bunch . 
6 
0 
6 
0 
„ Dark (Frenoh) bch. 
1 
6 
2 
a 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 
Wallflowers, doz. bunches 
4 
0 
6 
0 
blooms. 
4 
0 
9 
0 
„ (French), 12bchs. 
1 
0 
3 
0 
