January 23, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
79 
season of 1888 was. Blossom buds can be distinguished from wood 
buds now on careful examination. Are the main branches too close 
together? They should be sufficiently distant for a little of the wall 
to be seen between them when the tree is in full leaf in the summer. 
Many trees are prevented bearing by overcrowding of the gro ivths and 
foliage. If you had stated the length of the summer shoots or breast- 
wood we could have formed our own opinion as to whether that is 
excessive or not. On many trees not only are the branches too close, 
but the spurs are too near together on them, and we have seen excel¬ 
lent results follow through some of them being cut out. Also when 
Pear trees refuse to form fruit buds under ordinary spur pruning, we 
have seen them rendered fruitful by cutting out some of the branches, 
and so affording space for training selected summer growths their whole 
length, and where the leaves were not shaded in the least by the growths 
from contiguous branches. On such unshortened young wood fruit 
buds form naturally if the trees have sufficient fibrous roots in good and 
firm soil. Digging and cropping to within 2 or 3 feet of the stems of 
fruit trees is not conducive to fruitfulness, We should hesitate before 
destroying a healthy tree of such a good Pear as Doyenn^ du Comice. 
This variety bears us good crops of excellent fruit. If you like to give 
more particulars of the tree, and briefly describe the method of summer 
and winter pruning that has been pursued, enclosing a rough sketch if 
practicable, your letter shall have attention. We much prefer returning 
to a subject when we can do so usefully than dismissing it summarily, 
if additional information can he supplied. 
A Too Successful Prizewinner (IleaiL Gardener'). —The pro¬ 
posal you submit is a novel one, and we print the substance of your 
letter in case any of our readers can aid in solving the problem. Here 
it is : —“ An exhibitor last year took away all the best prizes at our local 
show, which caused a feeling of jealousy amongst the cottagers. Our 
Committee are desirous of preventing a recurrence at the next show, 
and proposed to introduce a new rule as follows;—‘ No exhibitor shall 
be allowed to receive more than three first prizes.’ Now comes a diffi¬ 
culty. The Judges will in all probability award many more than three 
first prizes to one exhibitor, as was done last year ; but having the above 
rule against them their decisions are to be set aside at the time the 
prizes are paid to the winner, by only giving him the three first prizes 
as above stated, and should the Judges have awarded him more the 
winner is to be informed he is not entitled to them under the new rule, 
and must give them up to a second prize winner in the same class, and 
he (the first prize winner) take the seconds. I am inclined to think the 
above will cause a great dispute, but should be glad to have your 
opinion.” Our opinion is the same as yours—namely, that a “great 
dispute ” will arise if the project is carried out, and it will not be sur¬ 
prising if a successful exhibitor, who is fully entitled to compete in the 
classes, finds many friends who will dissent from the treatment indi¬ 
cated. A person is either eligible to compete, or he is not. If he is, 
and the Judges award him a first prize in every class, he is entitled to 
those prizes. They are the rewards for excellence. If a number of 
these prizes were taken from him and given to exhibitors of inferior 
produce, this would be according honours to which the second prize men 
had no just claim. When the Committee can prove that two wrongs 
make a right, it will be soon enough, in our opinion, to adopt the curious 
proposal. If a striving man wins so many more prizes than his fellow 
competitors, it is for them to bestir themselves and defeat him honour¬ 
ably, and if they cannot do so to submit manfully. That is our view of 
the case, and if those of our correspondents who have had to encounter 
difficulties in the management of cottagers’ shows can tell you how to 
proceed in surmounting yours, they are at liberty to do so. 
iTames 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. (C. G.). —The Apple resembles Sweeny Nonpariel, but 
the fruit is imperfect; no one could name it with certainty. (J. B .).— 
The seedling Apple is worthless; we should cut the tree clown and 
insert scions of a known good variety. 
MTames 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, soft green grass or leaves form the best packing, dry 
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. G.). —You think there was a “mistake somewhere,” but state 
no reasons for the i ssumption. Perhaps you made a mistake in the 
numbers. We have no doubt the specimens were correctly named. 
COVENT G.4RDEN MARKET.— Januaby 22xd. 
No alteration. 
FEUIT. 
8. d. 8. d. 
Applea, i sieve.a 0 to 6 0 
„ Nova Scotia and 
Canada, per barrel 12 0 20 0 
Oherriee,} sieve .... 0 0 0 0 
drapes, per ft. 2 0 4 0 
Lemoue, case.10 0 IE 0 
8. d. 8. d. 
Oranges, per 100 .. 4 0 to9 0 
Peaches, dozen. 0 0 0 0 
Plums, i-sieve. 0 0 0 0 
Bed Currants, per J-sieve 0 0 0 0 
Black „ ,, 0 0 0 0 
Bt. Michael Fines, each 2 0 6 0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
■s. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
ArMohekes, dozen •• •« 
4 
0 
to 6 
0 
Leeffs. bunch. 
0 
2 
to 0 
0 
Asparagufl, bundle . • •• 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lettuce, aozon ,, •• 
0 
9 
1 
3 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. •• 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Beet, Bed, dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Mustard & Cress, punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Broccoli, bundle .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bustel .. .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts, | sieve 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
8 
0 
Cabbage, dozen ., .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. ., 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Capeicump, per 100 ., 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt.,, •, 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Canote, bunch .. ., 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Rhubarb, bund> •• •• 
u 
2 
0 
0 
Oanliilowerp, dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsify, bundle ,, ,, 
1 
0 
1 
e 
Celery, bundle •• •, 
1 
0 
1 
8 
Scorzonera, bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Ooleworts, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Shallots, per lb •• •• 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Oucuaibersi, each .. ,. 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Spinach,bushel •• •• 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Endive, dozen. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. •* *, 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Hor OS, bunch •• •• •• 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips, bunch •• ,, 
0 
4 
0 
0 
CUT 
FLOWERSi 
8. 
d. 
8, 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Arum Lilies,12 blooms ., 
4 
0 to 6 
0 
Maidenhair Fern, doz. 
Azalea, dozen sprays .. 
0 
9 
1 
6 
bunches.. .. ,. .• 
4 
0 to 9 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch . • .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Mignonette. 12 bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Oimollias, dozen blooms 
1 
6 
4 
0 
„ Fr., large bnoh 
1 
6 
2 
O^irnations, blooms .. 
1 
0 
S 
0 
Narcissus (Paper-whits), 
Christmas Boses, 12 hlms. 
0 
6 
2 
0 
dozen sprays 
1 
0 
1 
S 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
„ French,12 bnohs 
3 
0 
6 
(> 
blooms. 
0 
6 
3 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
1 , scarlet, 12 b'uuches 
6 
0 
12 
0 
bunches. 
G 
0 
12 
0 
Primula (double) 12 sprays 
1 
0 
1 
6 
DaSodills,dozen blooms., 
1 
0 
3 
0 
,, (single) 12 sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Epiphyllums, doz. bljo ns 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Rcses (indoor), dozen ,, 
1 
6 
8 
o 
Eacharis, dozen .. •• 
4 
0 
6 
0 
„ Bed. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Gardenias. 12 blooms •• 
12 
0 
16 
0 
,, ,, 12 blooms •• 
1 
6 
2 
B 
Gladiolus (various) dozen 
,, Tea, white, dozen., 
1 
0 
s 
0 
sprays . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Yellow . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Hyacinths ( Roman) dozen 
„ French,per bunch.. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
sprays . 
0 
6 
1 
6 
Suirma, dozen bunohes .. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Stephanotis, doz. sprays 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lilium, va'-ious, 12 hlms 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Sweet Peas, doz. bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lilium iongiUorum, 12 
Tuberoses. 12 blooms «• 
1 
6 
2 
0 
blooms. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Violets, dozen bunches .. 
1 
0 
O 
0 
Lily of the Valley, .dozen 
,, French, per bunch 
2 
0 
3 
0 
ppr-tys . 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Parine. per bunch 
s 
0 
5 
a 
Margneritea, 12 bunches 
2 
0 
6 
0 
White Lilac, Fr., per bnch 
6 
0 
8 
0 
PLANTS 
IN POTS* 
B. 
a. 
8. 
d. 
s, 
3. 
8. 
d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, dozen .« 
6 
0tol2 
0 
Pious elastica, es ch 
1 
6 to 7 
0 
Arum Lilies, per dozen .. 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Poliag. plarts, var., each 
2 
0 
10 
0 
ATborvitJe(golJcn'' dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Byiointh?, 12 p.ots .. .. 
7 
0 
10 
0 
Azalea, various, p r doz. 
2 i 
0 
ss 
0 
„ (Roman) 12pot3 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Begonias, various, psrdoz 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Lily of the Valley, 12 pots 18 
0 
30 
0 
Bilflams, per dozen.. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Caladiums, per doz, ., 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen •• 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Ohrietmas Bose ,. ., 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Musk, per do en .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Chrysanthemnnos, dozen 
G 
0 
15 
0 
Myrtles, dozen .. ,, • • 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Drachmaterminalis, doz. 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Paims, in var., each .. 
2 
6 
21 
0 
Dra^Esna viridis, doz. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Primula (single) per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Epiphjlliim, per doz. .. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Rhodanthe, per dozen .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Erioa, various, dozen ,. 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Saxafraga pyramidalis, 
Enonymus, var., dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
per dozen. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Solanums, per dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Ferns, in rariety, dozen 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Tulips, 12 pots. 
8 
0 
10 
0 
MANURE FOR GRASS LAND. 
Moisture and heat for the growth, fine weather for the har¬ 
vest, and an ample store of fertility in the soil, are the chief 
factors to success in a crop of hay. We cannot command fine 
weather, but we can ensure an early vigorous growth by the timely 
and judicious use of manure. Careful experiments of the vari¬ 
ous fertilisers known to us have been tried on the land in different 
parts of England and Scotland, and the results show uniformity in 
one point only— i.e., that it is impossible to fix the exact quantity 
per acre of any manure for general use, or even for particular 
localities. Some results are positively misleading, as for example 
in the recent report of the Dyson Wood experiments, we are 
told that one of the plots dressed with 3 cwts. dissolved bones at a 
cost of IBs. per acre yielded 38 cwts. 11 qr. of hay. Nowhere 
the cost and the results are alike tempting ; but anyone who has 
had practical experience of such manures must know that interest¬ 
ing and valuable as this experiment is when taken in comparison 
with the others at Dyson Wood, yet it is worthless for general 
adoption. No doubt dissolved bones are a particularly safe form 
of manure for general use, but pasture, like animals, thrives best 
on mixed food, and the mixture can be had for very little more 
than the cost of the dissolved bones. 
