Febrtiary 13, 189D. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
143 
Sizes of Pots (TF. A. 5.).—Please quote the page of the essay you 
mention in which the reference appears. Pot manufacturers sell by 
“ casts,” and a No. t cast, or 4’s, are 15 inches wide across the top, and 
13 inches deep ; a No. 2 cast, or 2’s, 18 inches wide across the top and 
14 inches deep. 
Trade Dealing's (J. S.'). —It is impossible we can form an opinion 
on the case in the absence of the “ chapter and verse ” referred to, but 
in our experience more than half the “ showing up ” articles we receive 
affecting individuals are libellous, notwithstanding all that may be true 
in them, and we act accordingly. 
Protecting Apricots (C. JI.}. —Under the circumstances you 
describe nothing could be better than glass protectors, either moveable 
or abundantly ventilated, so that the period of blossoming is not ad¬ 
vanced. The earlier the expansion of the flowers the greater their 
liability to be injured by sharp spring frosts, even under glass, where 
no artificial heat is afforded and no other covering applied. 
Tomatoes (H. G.'). —Itis seldom that Wednesday morning letters can 
be answered in the current issue, and we can only say briefly in answer 
to yours that the house may be closed early with sun heat, bat not so 
early as a Cucumber frame, nor with half so much moisture. Still the 
atmosphere must be pleasant and genial. Syringing is only occasionally 
needed. Firm growth is the desideratum, and this is the result of firm 
soil, full light, and judicious ventilation. 
Protecting Stra-wberrles (id J.'). —Many persons have found it 
profitable to cover strong healthy Strawberries with sashes for accelerat¬ 
ing the ripening of the fruit by a week or ten days, but the extent of 
profit derivable from the plan depends entirely on the character of the 
plants. A 13-inch board firmly affixed on edge for the back of the 
enclosure, and a 9-inch board along the front for the sashes to rest on, 
will suffice for your making the experiment. We are unable to decipher 
the name of the plant on which you ask for information, and suspect it 
is something misspelt. Please describe the plant, and we may perhaps 
know what is meant. We may add, however, that the time of flowering 
is not suitable for transplanting. 
Treatment of Pancratlums (N. N.). — Those that have had a 
good season of rest may now be repotted or top-dressed. If the latter, 
use two-thirds loam and one of cow manure prepared as previously 
advised. If they need the former the compost advised for Eucharises 
will suit these plants well. Too much drainage should not be employed, 
as the plants root deep and with great freedom. In repotting shake 
away the whole of the old soil from the roots, and be careful not to bury 
the bulbs, or a large per-centage of the soil will not contain a single 
root. Spread out the roots carefully near the surface, for they are 
certain before the end of the season to be crowded round the drainage. 
These plants will grow in almost any position in the stove after potting 
until they are again established, even standing under the shade of large 
plants ; syringe liberally, but do not give too much water. Watch for 
thrips, for if there is any in the house they are certain to attack the 
under side of the foliage of these plants. 
Apple Royal Somerset (G*. i).).—Yes ; the variety is in cultiva¬ 
tion, and Messrs. Laing & Sons of Forest Hill recently sent an excellent 
specimen. It is thus described in the “ Fruit Manual —Fruit rather 
above medium size, 3 inches wide, and rather more than inches high; 
roundish ovate, generally higher on one side than the other, handsome 
and regularly shaped. Skin smooth, pale yellow, with a tinge of green 
on the shaded side, but brighter yellow, marked with faint broken 
streaks and mottles of crimson, on the side next the sun ; the whole 
strewed with russety dots, which are most numerous in the basin of the 
eye. Eye large and open, with very short, stunted, erect, divergent 
segments, placed in a round, even, and pretty deep basin. Stamens 
marginal or median ; tube conical or funnel-shaped. Stalk upwards of 
half an inch long, slender, and inserted almost the whole of its length 
in a deep, round, smooth, funnel-shaped cavity. Flesh yellowish, very 
tender and juicy, with a pleasant, delicate, sub-acid, but not brisk 
flavour. Cells ovate, axile. A very excellent culinary Apple ; in use 
from November till March. Like the Dumelow’s Seedling this Apple is 
translucent round the eye. The Royal Somerset of the Horticultural 
Society’s Catalogue is London Pippin ; but the variety described above 
is a very distinct fruit, and has more the resemblance of a medium¬ 
sized Blenheim Pippin, both in shape, colour, and the formation of the 
eye. I obtained this in 1847 from the late Mr. James Lake, nurseryman 
of Bridgewater, 
Endive and Splnacb (id W.).—We do not 'think you will find 
Endive so profitable a crop as Lettuce ; in fact the demand is not 
nearly so large. If you are close to a market where there is a good 
demand for Endive it might pay you as a catch crop, being better than 
having the ground vacant. We have seen it stated that Is. a dozen 
can be obtained for Endive, and we do not doubt this. If that price 
for a good crop can be realised it will pay well. But we have grave 
doubts whether large quantities could be disposed of to pay for the 
trouble and labour of planting. It is easily raised and not long on the 
ground, and if there were a ready sale it would prove most remunera¬ 
tive. We know a market grower in the neighbourhood of a large 
provincial town who grew Moss-curled and Round-leaved Batavian, but 
could not dispose of sufficient to pay him for the labour of planting and 
the seed. If you decide to try, we advise you to plant a small quantity at 
first until you find out whether you can dispose of it at profitable- 
returns. The seed should be sown thinly in beds from the 20th of June 
to the middle of July. The plants should be placed out during showery 
weather, when large enough, 1 foot apart. In some markets there is a 
good demand for Spinach more or less throughout the season. We have 
found it sell very well early in the season, and for this purpose it is a 
good plan, where it stands well through the winter, to sow on slightly 
raised ridges, and thin out the plants liberally. If allowed to crowd 
one another they seldom do any good. This is sown during August, 
from the middle to the end of the month, on ground that is to be 
occupied with early Peas. A sowing should be made during the few 
last days of March, and successional sowings should be made at intervals 
of a fortnight, in any space where it can be cleared off without 
damaging the main crop, of whatever it may be, against which it may 
be growing. We have seen useful and profitable rows grown on the 
narrow strips of ground that divide one crop from another. For 
instance, the space between the last row of Onions and the first row of 
late Potatoes, if they follow close to the Onions, and so on. Ground that 
is ready early in the season and intended to be planted with late 
Potatoes 2 feet 6 inches apart, can have a thin row of Spinach sown 
between them. It must be cleared off directly it is ready, so that the 
ground can be worked between the Potatoes. We advise you to treat 
Spinach as a catch crop only, and grow it between early crops, and after 
they have been cleared from the ground. We have known Spinach pay 
well early in the season, after a severe winter, for sowing on a warm 
border and covering with an old frame or two, and a few spare lights. 
We advise you to try small quantities first, and when you have decided 
upon your market you will be able to judge from the returns of the 
salesman you select whether it will pay you to grow, and you would 
also be able to ascertain from him about what quantities he could dis¬ 
pose of for you. 
frames 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. 
—(A'. II. B .').—Doryopteris palmata. (fr. T.). —1, Adiantum decorum : 
2, Asplenium bulbiferum ; 3, Todea superba. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— February 12th, 
Oiir Homs Market ia completely stagnant, supply baing entirely dependant npon 
imported goods. Good samples ot Grapes are now coming short, and realising good 
valnes. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
fl. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Apples, i sieve. 
2 
C to 6 
0 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 
4 
0 
to 9 
0 
,, Noth Scotia and 
Peaches, dozen .. .. ,. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Canada, per barrel 18 
0 
25 
0 
Plums, i-sieve. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries, i sieve . • .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Red Currants, per ^-sieTd 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Or.apes, per lb.,, .. ., 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Black ,, 
0 
0 
0 
0 
L^tQuus.oasa .« •• •• 
10 
0 
16 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each 
2 
0 
6 
0 
VEGETABLES, 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
0. 
d. 
0. 
d. 
Artiohokes, dozen ,. ,, 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Leeks.bunch •• •• •• 
0 
2 to 0 
0 
Asparagus,bundle.. e« 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Lettuce, aozen •• •• 
0 
3 
1 
3 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet •• 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Beet, Red,dozen .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Mustard & Cress, punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Broccoli, bundle •• •• 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel .. •• 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts, J sieve 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
8 
0 
3 
u 
Cabbage, dozen .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen •• •• 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Oapsicump, per 100 • • 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. •• 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Carrots, bunch ,, ., 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle •• •• 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Oauliflowerp, dozen •• 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsify, bundle •• t» 
1 
0 
1 
e 
Celery, bundle .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
8 
Scorzonera, bundle •• 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Shallots, per ft .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Cucumbers, doz. .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Spinach, bushel «• •• 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Endive, dozen. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per ft. .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
a 
Herbs, bnnch ,. .. ,. 
0 
8 
0 
0 
Turnips, bunch •• •• 
0 
4 
0 
0 
GUI 
FLOWERSi 
8. 
d. 
B, 
a. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Amm Lilies, 18 blooms .. 
4 
0 to 6 
0 
Maidenhair Fern, doz. 
Azalea, dozen sprays .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
bunches.. • • 
4 
0 to 9 
0 
Bouvardiaa, bunch . • .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Mignonette. 12 bnnches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
OameUias, dozen blooma 
1 
6 
4 
0 
„ Fr., large bnch 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Carnations, I'j blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Narcissus (Paper-white), 
Christmas Roses, IS blma. 
0 
6 
2 
0 
dozen sprays 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
„ French .12 bnohs 
1 
0 
3 
0 
bunches.. 
4 
0 
9 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 trasses 
1 
0 
I 
6 
Baffof^ills, dozen blooms • • 
0 
6 
1 
6 
», scarlet, 12 banohes 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Deutzia, per bench 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Prlmnla (doable) 12 sprays 
1 
0 
1 
0 
EpiphyllumB, doz. blooms 
0 
6 
0 
g 
„ (single) 12 sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Eucharis, dozen •« •• 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Boses (indoor), dozen .. 
1 
0 
S 
0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms ,. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
„ Bed. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Qladiolns (various) dozen 
„ ,, 12 blooms •• 
1 
6 
2 
0 
sprays . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Tea, white, dozen.. 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman) dozen 
,, Yellow . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
sprays . 
0 
s 
1 
0 
„ French,per bnnch.. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Spirsea, dozen bunohes • • 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Lilinm, various, 12 bims 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Stephanotis, doz. sprays 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lilinm longifloram, 12 
Tuberoses. 12 blooms •• 
1 
6 
2 
0 
blooms. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Violets, dozen banohes . • 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Lily of the Valley..dozen 
„ French, per bnnoh 
1 
0 
2 
0 
sprays •• •• .. .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
,. Farme, per bnnoh 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Margnerites, 18 bnnoheg 
2 
0 
6 
0 
White Lilac, Fr,, per bnoh 
4 
0 
6 
0 
