March 28, 1889. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
267 
Composition of the Cucumber (77. ( 7 .). —We are able to publish 
what you -wish, though it is doubtful if the information will be of much 
assistance to you in the selection and application of manure. You will 
see that upwards of 97 per cent, of the fruit consists of water. Rough 
turfy loam, with an admixture of dried, but not much-fermented horse- 
droppings, will grow Cucumbers well if properly watered and otherwise 
well managed. The following is the result of Dr. John’s analysis :— 
Water. 
Substance similar to fungin 
Soluble vegetable albumen... 
Resin ... . 
Extractive with sugar 
Mucus. 
Phosphate of lime .... 
Phosphate of potash. 
Phosphoric acid 
Ammoniacal salt 
A ma'ate . 
Sulphate of potash. 
Muriate of potash ... 
Phosphate of iron.. 
97T3 
0-53 
0-13 
0-04 
1-66 
0 51 
1000 
Plums (J. W., Per shore ).—The Plums you have had sent are highly 
worthy of cultivation. The Czar has given good proof of its value for 
FIG. 40.— GRAND DUKE PLUM. 
market purposes, and trees are being more extensively planted yearly. 
Grand Duke is a very fine late dark Plum, and, like The Czar, was raised 
by Mr. Rivers. We append a figure of the Grand Duke from a fruit that 
was gathered in November. We remember the Apples and prepared a 
note referring to them for insertion, and cannot understand its non- 
appearance. We could not identify them and thought them of local 
origin. 
Transplanting Asparagus (,/. G .~).—If the ground is well 
stirred, as you propose, to a depth of 2 feet or 2 feet 6 inches, and ten 
cartloads of manure are added and well incorporated with the soil, care 
being taken to keep the good soil on the top, not burying it at the bottom 
of the trenches nor bringing much, if any, of the poor soil to the 
surface, it ought, if of a friable nature, to grow good Asparagus. It is 
well not to move the plants until they are beginning to grow, and if the 
shoots have pushed a few inches it will be an advantage rather than other¬ 
wise. Lift them carefully, preserving all the live roots possible. As the 
plants are ten to twelve years old they will probably have a number of 
decayed roots. It is not necessary to ft or preserve any except the live 
crowns with their shoots and buds and all the live roots attached. 
Stretch a line where you wish the rows to be, and take out a trench on 
both sides with a spade, sloping outwards from the line about 9 inches 
wide and 6 inches deep at the extremities ; this will give a ridge which 
should be knocked down where the plants are to be, so as to form a seat, 
and so deep that the top of the crown will be level with the top of the 
ridge. Dispose the roots evenly in the sloping cuts on both sides of the 
ridge, and cover them with some fine rich soil. Cover with the soil 
taken out, and place it over the crown to the depth of 2 or 3 inches. 
Mulch between the rows and over the crowns with a couple of inches of 
lumpy manure, the remains of spent Mushroom beds or partially 
decayed leaf soil. After the plants are in free growth liquid manure 
may be given between the rows, and continued at weekly or fortnightly 
intervals up to early September. The first growths will perhaps be 
comparatively poor, being crippled by the transplanting and consequent 
disturbance and loss of roots ; but after the plants become established' 
they push a strong second growth, and to throw the full vigour of the 
plants into them the first growths should be cut away when the second 
are well advanced above ground or beginning to “feather;” and a 
reservation should be made of two or three of the strongest about 
midsummer, the other being cut away. If the plants are large more 
shoots may be left, but crowding is a great evil, and one of the chief reasons 
why the “ produce ” is so small as to please nobody. With attention' 
to these matters, and to staking if necessary to prevent damage from 
winds, there is no reason why the plants should not succeed and afford 
good heads for cutting next spring. 
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.. 
(IF. A?.).—Leucojum vernum, the Spring Snowflake. (AT. Cl).—Lastrea- 
dilatata, var. spinulosa. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— March 27th. 
Market still quiet, with little or no alteration. 
FRUIT. 
B. d. s. d. 
Apples, I si97e. 2 0 to 4 0 
„ Nova Scotia and 
Canada, per barrel 7 0 16 0 
Cherries, J sieve .... 0 0 0 0 
Grapes, per ft. 1® 50 
Lemons, case.10 0 16 0 
B. d. F. d- 
Oranges, per 100 ,, .. 4 0 t( 9 0 
Peaches, dozen. 0 0 0ft 
Pears, dozen. 0 0 0 O 
Plums, J-sieve. 0 0 0 O 
8t. Michael Pine , each 2 0 6 0 
Strawberries, per lb. ..6 0 10 0 
VEGETABLES. 
Artichokes, dozen .. 
s. 
2 
d. 
0 
s. 
to 3 
d. 
0 
Asparagus, bundle .. .. 
10 
0 
12 
0 
Beans,Kidney,per lb. .. 
1 
3 
1 
9 
Beet,Red, dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Broccoli, bundle •. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprouts, J sieve 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Cabbage, dozen .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Capsicump, per 100 •, 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Carrots, bunch . • .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Celery, bundle . • •. 
1 
6 
a 
0 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Oucumberp, each •• •• 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Endive, dozen. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Herbs, bunch. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Leeks, bunch. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
s. 
d. 
s. 
a. 
Lettuce, dozen •• 
0 
9 
to 1 
a 
Mushrooms, punnet 
.. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Mustard & Cress, punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
New Potatoes, per lb. 
• • 
0 
4 
0 
R 
Onions, bust el 
.. 
8 
(1 
4 
v 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
3 
0 
a 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. 
• • 
1 
0 
0 
ft 
Potatoes, per cwt... 
• • 
4 
0 
f 
ft 
,, Kidney, oer cwt. 
4 
0 
8 
ft 
Rhubarb, bundle .. 
• • 
0 
3 
0 
ft 
Salsify, bundle .. 
•• 
1 
0 
1 
ff 
Scorzonera, bundle 
. . 
1 
6 
0 
e> 
Shallots, per lb •• 
0 
S 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel •• 
• a 
s 
0 
4 
ft 
T omatoes, per R>. •. 
• a 
0 
6 
1 
3 
Turnips, bunch •• 
• • 
0 
4 
0 
ft 
CUT FLOWERS. 
s. 
d. 
a 
a. 
Acacia, dtz bunches 
9 
0 to 12 
0 
Anemones (French), doz. 
bunches . 
i 
8 
4 
0 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
8 
0 
6 
0 
Azalea, 12 sprays .. .. 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. . • 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Camellias, White, 1§ hi... 
2 
0 
4 
0 
,, Red, 12 blooms 
0 
9 
i 
6 
Carnations, 12 blooms •• 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cineraria, per bunoh 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Crocuses, d^z. bunche3 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Cyclamen, dozen blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Daffodils (various), doz. 
bnnches. 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Daffodils (double), doz. 
bunches . 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Daffodils (single), doz. 
bunches. 
8 
0 
6 
0 
Eucharis, dozen .. .. 
8 
0 
6 
0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .a 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman), doz. 
sprays . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
6 
Lilac, White (French), 
per bunch . 
5 
0 
6 
0 
Lilinm longiflorum, 12 
blooms. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
a. d. a. d. 
LilyoftheValley, 12 sprays 0 6 to 1 O' 
Maidenba'r Fern, doz. 
bunches.. 6 0 12 O' 
Marguerites, 12 bunohea 2 0 6 0 
Mignonette, 12 bunchea 2 0 i 0 
Myosotis or Forgetmenots 
doz. bunches 4 0 6 0 
Narcia r (various) .... 4 0 9 0 
,, (French) bunch 0 3 0 6" 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 10 10 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 6 0 9 0 
Primroses, doz. bunches.. 0 6 I O' 
Roses, Red, 12 blooms .. 8 0 9 0 
„ (indoor),dozen .. 2 0 3 0 
„ Tea, dozen .... 2 0 4 0 
„ yellow .SO 6 0 
Snowdrops, doz. bunches 10 3 0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms ..16 SO 
Tulips, dozen blooms ..06 1 O- 
Violets, 12 bunches.. ..10 16 
„ Parme (French), 
per bunoh .. 2 6 8 6 
,, Dark (Frenoh) bch. 16 2 0 
Wallflowers, doz. bunches 4 0 6 0- 
„ (Frenoh), 12 bchs. 1 0 2 0> 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
ralia Sieboldi, dozen .. 6 
.rum Lilies, per dozen .. 12 
rbor vit£e(goldeni dozen 12 
.sters, 12 pots.0 
zalea, per dozen .. .. 24 
egonias, various, per doz. 0 
hristmas Rose •. •. n 
ineraria, per dozen 
'yclsmen , dtzenpots .. 
Iracrenaterminalis. doz. 
Iracfena viriais, dcz. .. 
Irioa hyemalis, doz. 
,, various, doz. 
luonymus. var.. dozen 
a tier rl/vraTI 
0 
8 
9 
30 
12 
12 
8 
6 
d. 
8 . 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8 . 
a*. 
0 to 12 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen 
4 
0 to 18 
O' 
0 
18 
0 
Ficuselastica, each 
i 
6 
7 
C?' 
0 
24 
0 
Foliage plarts, var., each 
a 
0 
10 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Genista, per dozen .. .. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
0 
42 
0 
Hyacinths, per dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman), doz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Q 
Lily of the Valley, 
0 
30 
0 
doz. pots . 
13 
0 
18 
0 
0 
18 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
0 
60 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
0 
24 
0 
Palms, in var., each 
2 
6 
21 
0 
0 
34 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, 12 
6 
0 
9 
0- 
0 
18 
0 
Primula, per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
(i 
0 
18 
0 
Solanums. doz .. . 
9 
0 
12 
0 
0 
24 
0 
Tulips, doz. pots .. .. 
6 
0 
9 
ft 
