April 25,1! 83. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
347 
proceedings of P. Ribis, more especially in the case of the Black Currant. 
Owing to its minuteness and its mode of life the species doubtless passes 
unseen in many instances. There is ample proof that this mite is lurk¬ 
ing within the Currant buds by November, if not earlier. It is, how¬ 
ever, during the spring that our attention is called to them, when by 
their feeding between the young leaflets, abstracting their sap, they 
effectually stop the development of flowers, leaves, and twigs. As Mr. 
Andrew Murray remarks, “ the buds attacked are seen to languish and 
decay, or to assume a rounded swollen form without pushing out 
(‘knotted ’ some correspondents style it). On tearing open one, hundreds 
of very small semi-transparent moving things may be seen by a lens. 
FIG. 55. —“KNOTTED” CURKANT SHOOTS. 
All the surface of the leaflets on which they are scattered has a moist 
raw-like appearance ; in fact, the Phytopti have browsed on it until 
they have flayed it to the quick.” Close and severe pruning is the 
method suggested by this author for the diminishing of their numbers, 
but he scarcely thinks their extirpation can be thus brought about. 
Syringing or washing the bushes with one of the many solutions or 
compounds that are efficacious for the destruction of insects might clear 
some of them out of the expanding buds in spring, but would not save 
the buds from dying off. Then the bushes where the mite has been 
observed might be also syringed in the autumn, since there may then 
be a migration from bud to bud. It seems to be most frequent in the 
northern division of this island, where we have seen many bushes 
attacked, and some ruined. It may, however, be present also in the 
south. Bushes infested with this destructive mite should never be 
propagated from. Young trees should be procured that are perfectly 
clean and healthy, and be planted as far distant as possible from those 
affected. We have seen perfectly healthy bushes and others seriously 
knotted in plantations less than 30 yards apart, and we have cut down 
affected bushes entirely, burning the branches, the resulting growths 
from the “ stumps ” of the decapitated trees being quite free from the 
pest; but if the mite exists on one plant it soon spreads through a plan¬ 
tation. If any of our readers have succeeded in extirpating this small 
mite, yet great Currant enemy, they will do good service by making 
their method known. 
Writing for the Press (J. 7?.).—You are quite right, we did 
omit an important point in our reply to a correspondent last week. It 
is a rule with printers not to accept “ copy ” that is written on both 
sides of the paper, and thousands of excellent articles are rejected by 
editors through the non-compliance of the writers with that rule. We 
state every week that “ all articles intended for insertion should be 
written on one side of the paper only,” but every week we receive' 
matter written on both sides. Much of this is not inserted, and such 
articles never can be printed without delay occurring. We should have 
been glad to publish a very good one in the present issue, but this 
could not be done owing to the writing being on both sides of foolscap,, 
and obviously it could not be cut into strips for distribution amongst a 
number of compositors for setting up quickly. We shall be glad if all 
contributors will attend to this very simple rule of the press. 
Portulacas (T. Adams ).—The culture of these handsome half- 
hardy annuals is very simple, but they must have a warm, sunny situa¬ 
tion and a light dry soil. The seed should be sown in pots or pans in a 
compost of light loam and peat in equal parts, and one-third of the com¬ 
post should be brick and lime rubbish or gravel. The pans or pots 
should be well drained. Being placed in a mild hotbed water should be 
sparingly given, and only when necessary, then enough to run through 
the soil. When the seedlings are about an inch high remove them to a. 
greenhouse or frame, and in June plant them out on ledges of rockwork, 
in rustic baskets, or in a sunny warm situation, giving them to grow in 
at least a foot of the soil recommended for sowing, and if a foot of 
gravel or brick rubbish is placed under that all the better, as they 
flourish in a light well drained soil, on shallow soil on ledges of rocks, 
and on dry well drained slopes having a southern exposure. 
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. C .).—Your Polyanthus is Platype^ala plena, one of the most effective 
of the purple varieties when well grown in pots or beds. ( W. E. C.). 
—1, Erica candidissima. 2, E. ventricosa rosea. 3, Pernettya mucronata. 
4, Chorozema Henchmanni. The Azaleas are florists’ varieties, not 
species, hence, as you will see by the above intimation, we do not under¬ 
take to name them. (If. IF.). —The plant you have raised from a 
“ round black seed ” is a Canna, popularly known as Indian Shot, from 
the uses to which the seeds were applied by the natives of the districts 
where the plants abound. (If. J. P .).—Cymbidium aloifolium. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 24th. 
During the holidays no business doing. * 
FRUIT. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples, i sieve. 
z 
0 to 4 
0 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 
4 
0 
tr 9 
ft 
,, Nova Scotia and 
Peaches, dozen. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Canada, per barrel 
7 
0 
16 
0 
Pears, dozen. 
0 
0 
0 
0> 
Cherries, £ sieve .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums, J-sieve. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes, per tt>. 
1 
6 
6 
0 
8t. Michael Pine , each 
2 
0 
6 
ft 
Lemons, case.. 
10 
0 
16 
0 
Strawberries, per lb. .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Artichokes, dozen .. •• 
2 
0 tn 8 
0 
Lettuce, dozen .. .. 
0 
9 
to 1 
ft 
Asparagus,bundle .. .. 
10 
0 
12 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Beans, Kidney,per lb. .. 
1 
3 
1 
9 
Mustard & Cress, punnet 
0 
9 
0 
ft 
Beet,Red, dozen .. •• 
1 
0 
2 
0 
New Potatoes, per lb. .. 
0 
4 
0 
ft 
Broccoli, bundle .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel 
8 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprout.-, J sieve 
1 
0 
l 
6 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
o 
0 
A 
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 
6 
ft 
Carrots, bunch .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
„ Kidney, per owt. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
ft 
Celery, bundle .. .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Salsify, bundle .. ,, 
i 
0 
1 
ft 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 
i 
6 
0 
O' 
Cucumbers, each .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Shallots, per ft> .. •• 
0 
I 
e 
0 
Endive, dozen. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach, bushel .. .. 
8 
0 
4 
0 
Herbs, bunch. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per Jt>. 
1 
0 
2 
ft 
Leeks, bunch. 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips, bunch .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
8. 
d. 
8 
4 
8 . 
d. 
8 . 
d. 
Acacia, dcz. bunohes 
0 
Oto 0 
0 ' 
Lilyof theValley, 12 sprays 
0 
6 to X 
0- 
Anemones (French), doz. 
Maidenhair Fern, doz. 
bunches. 
1 
6 
4 
0 
bunches. 
6 
0 
9 
ft 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Marguerites, 12 bunohes 
2 
0 
H 
0 
Azalea, 12 sprays .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches 
8 
0 
' 6 
ft 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
0 
9 
X 
0 
Myosotia or Forgetmenots 
Camellias, White, 1* bl... 
2 
0 
4 
0 
doz. bunches 
8 
0 
fl 
cr 
,i Red, 12 blooms 
0 
9 
i 
6 
Narcis t (various) .. .. 
4 
0 
9 
ft 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
„ (French) bunch 
0 
8 
0 
6 
Cineraria, per bunoh 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Pelargoniums. 12 trusses 
1 
0 
X 
6 
Crocuses, doz. bunched 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 bunches 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Cyclamen, dozen blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Primroses, doz. bunohes.. 
0 
6 
x 
ft 
Daffodils (various), doz. 
Roses, Red, 12 blooms .. 
8 
0 
6 
a 
bunches. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
„ (indoor), dozen 
1 
0 
2 
O' 
Daffodils (double), doz. 
„ Tea, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
4 
o< 
bunches . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
„ yellow . 
s 
0 
6 
0 
Daffodils (single), doz. 
Snowdrops, doz. bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
bunches. 
1 
6 
8 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Encharis, dozen .. .. 
8 
0 
8 
0 
Tulips, dozen blooms .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 
8 
0 
6 
0 
Violets, 12 bunches.. .. 
0 
s 
1 
0 
Hyacinths (French), per 
„ Parme (French), 
bunch . 
1 
6 
2 
G 
per bunch 
8 
6 
8 
6 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
6 
„ Dark (French) boh. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Lilac, White (French), 
Wallflowers, doz. bunches 
3 
0 
4 
0 
per bunch . 
0 
8 
6 
„ (French), 12 bchs. 
X 
0 
3 
0 
LUinm longiftorum, 12 
blooms. 0 6 0 
