February 27, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
187 
Peacbes for Plantlngr (& T .').—You cannot do better than plant 
the Nectarine you name, Pine Apple. If you want a succession of 
Peaches, plant Grosse Mignonne, Bellegarde, and Barrington. If you 
plant Royal George it would ripen before you had finished gathering 
Grosse Mignonne. Alexandra Noblesse is a splendid Peach, but tender 
in the skin, and is easily damaged ; at the same time it is rather shy. 
Dymond is an excellent Peach, but not better than Royal George. If 
you could place the last-named in the coolest portion of the house, then 
we should prefer it to Bellegarde, for the flavour is superior, 
IVames of Fruits.—The names and addresses of senders of fruit 
to be named must in all cases be enclosed with the specimens, whethe 
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. (IF. //. J }.).—A solitary Apple may or may not be 
fairly typical of the variety, and your “ last ” specimen we are inclined 
to think is somewhat more conical than the majority. In all other 
characters it resembles the Norfolk Beefing, and that is possibly what it 
is. Reine Marie Henriette is a suitable companion Rose to Gloire 
de Dijon. (P. H. &).—The Apple you send is, we think. Lord Derby, 
which sometimes keeps till this period of the year. When preparing the 
fifth edition of the Fniit Manual in 1883 Dr. Hogg says on page 135 
that he then had fruits 4 inches in diameter and the same in height, 
and the description there given is applicable to your specimen. This 
Apple is not so well adapted for culture in the north as the south of 
England. (72. IF. IF.).—Your letter has been sent to us from the pub¬ 
lisher’s department, but we have not received an Apple which you say 
was “enclosed,” nor can we find, on inquiry, any specimen in the 
department in question. 
irames 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. F. S.'). —1, Asparagus tenuissimus ; 2, Insufficient without flowers ; 
3, Siphocampylus bicolor ; 4, Asplenium viviparum. (IF. G .').— 
1, Nephrodium molle ; 2, Onychium japonicum ; 3, Insufficient without 
flowers, probably an Anthericum ; 4, Asplenium viviparum. (J. II.). — 
Livistonia inermis. {Aihstralid ).—1, Drimys Winteri ; 2, Raphiolepis 
ovata. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— February 2Gth. 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
6. 
d. 
Aralia Sieboldl, tlozon .. 6 
0 to 12 
0 
FoIiaRO plantp, Tar., each 
2 
Oto 10 
0 
Ai’uin Lilies, per dozen .. 12 
0 
18 
0 
Genista, per dozen .. .. 
8 
0 
1-3 
(> 
Arbor Vitre (golden) doz. 6 
0 
:4 
0 
Hyacinths, 12 pots .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Azalea, various, per dozen 18 
0 
80 
0 
Lily of the Valley, 12 pots 
18 
0 
30 
0 
Christmas Rose .. .. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Cyclamen, per dozen .. 9 
0 
18 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Daffodils, 1 2 pots .. .. 6 
0 
9 
0 
Musk, per dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Deutzia, 12 pots .. .. 8 
0 
12 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
G 
0 
12 
0 
Dratjasna terminalis, do’^, 24 
0 
42 
0 
Palms, in var,, each.. 
2 
6 
21 
0 
,, viiidis, dozen .. 11 
0 
24 
0 
Primula (single), per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Epiphyllmn, per dozen .. !■? 
0 
24 
0 
Rhodahthe, per dozen .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Erica, various, dozen .. 12 
0 
18 
0 
Roses (Fairy>, per dozen 1) 
0 
12 
0 
Euonymus, var., dozen .. 6 
0 
18 
0 
Saxifraga p^*ramidalis, 
Evergreens, in var., do en 6 
0 
24 
0 
per dozen . 
0 
0 
0 
O' 
Ferns, in variety, dozen.. 4 
0 
18 
0 
Solanums, per dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Ficus elastica, each., .. 1 
G 
7 
0 
Tulips, l i pots. 
8 
0 
10 
0 
Some recent correspondence which has appeared in the Times 
upon this subject has given rise to the question, “ Is the earth 
gradually becoming less fertile ?” or, as it has also been put, “ Is 
there a loss of primal fertility in the soil ?” By primal fertility 
we take it is meant the condition of virgin soil when first brought 
under cultivation, and chemists tell us that ordinary soil contains 
less than 4 per cent, of the essential elements of plant food, the 
greater part being derived from air and rain, to which must be 
added about 3 per cent, of fertilisers, consisting of clearly defined' 
quantities of potash, nitrogen, lime, and phosphoric acid in order 
to insure a full crop. 
Although the term of primal fertility is certainly vague and 
calculated to mislead, yet we are bound to welcome any discussion 
which tends to draw attention to the soil and its cultivation. But 
Market very quiet, business consistiug principally of foreign importations, such as 
Apples, Tomatoes and New Potatoes. 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
6. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples, J sieve.2 
0 
to 6 
u 
Oranges, per 100 .. ,. 
4 
0 
to 9 
0 
„ Nova Scotia and 
Peaches, dozen. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Canada, per barrel 18 
0 
25 
0 
Plums, ^ sieve. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries, ^ sieve .. .. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Red Currants, per ^ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes, per lb. 2 
0 
5 
0 
Black ,, „ 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons, case.ID 
0 
15 
0 
St, Michael Pines, each.. 
o 
0 
6 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
6. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Artichokes, dozen .. ., 0 
0 
to 0 
0 
Leeks, bunch. 
0 
2 
to 0 
0 
Asparagus, bundle 6 
0 
8 
0 
Lettuce, dozen. 
0 
9 
1 
S 
Beaus, Kidney, per lb, .. 1 
6 
2 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen ,, ,, 1 
0 
2 
9 
Mustard & Cress, punnet 
0 
2 
n 
0 
Broccoli, bundle ., ,. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Brussels Sprouts, i sieve 1 
G 
2 
0 
Parsley, do^en bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cabbage, dozen .. ., 1 
6 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. ,. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Capsicums, 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 
Cauliflowers, dozen,, ,, 2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsify, bundle .. ,, 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Celery, bumlJe . l 
0 
1 
8 
Scorzonera, bundle .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts, do'.bunches 2 
0 
4 
0 
Shallots, per lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Cucumbers, do"'.6 
0 
9 
0 
Spinach, bushel ,, .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Endive, dozen.1 
0 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. 
0 
G 
0 
9 
Herbs, bunch.0 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips, bunch ,, ., 
0 
4 
0 
0 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
Acacia or Mimosa, French, 
Marguerites, 12 bunches 
2 
0 
to 6 
0 
per bunch 0 
8 
to 1 
0 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
,1 „ per basket 3 
c 
7 
6 
hunches . 
4 
0 
9 
0 
Arum, LiUes, 12 blooms .. 3 
0 
5 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches.. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Azalea, dozen sprays ,. 0 
6 
1 
0 
„ Fr., large hnch 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. 0 
6 
1 
0 
Narcissus, French, 12 
Camellias, dozen blooms 1 
0 
4 
0 
bunches . 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 1 
0 
2 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Christmas Roses, 12 hlms. 0 
0 
0 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 hnchs 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
Primula(double)12 sprays 
1 
0 
1 
G 
bunches .4 
0 
9 
0 
„ (single) 12 sprays 
0 
G 
1 
0 
Daffodils, dozen blooms,. 0 
4 
1 
0 
Roses (indoor), dozen ., 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Deutzia, per bunch .. 0 
6 
0 
9 
„ Red. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
EpiphyUmns, doz. blooms 0 
6 
0 
9 
„ „ li blooms 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Eucharis, dozen .. .. 3 
0 
4 
0 
„ Tea, wbite, dozen.. 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 12 
0 
24 
0 
„ Yellow. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman) dozen 
„ French, per bunch 
2 
0 
G 
0 
sprays .0 
G 
1 
0 
Spirma, dozen hunches .. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 2 
0 
4 
0 
Stephanotis, dozen sprays 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lilium, various, 12 hlms, 2 
0 
4 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms .. 
1 
G 
2 
0 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 
Violets, dozen bunches .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
blooms.9 
0 
12 
0 
„ French, per hunch 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Idly of the Valley, dozen 
„ Panne, per bunch 
3 
0 
4 
0 
sprays . .. 0 
G 
1 
0 
White Lilac, Fr., per buch 
4 
0 
6 
0 
surely it must be apparent to everyone that there is some exhaus¬ 
tion of the soil by every ciop taken from it, and that if we would 
do what is possible to insure a succession of full crops the soil 
must be kept stored with fertility by the systematic use of 
fertilisers. However different opinions may be as to the best form 
in which manure should be used, the fact remains that manure is 
indispensable, and it is equally beyond question that the best 
manure is that in which efficiency and economy are bes'’^ combined. 
It has been laid down by unquestionable authorities that the- 
soil is superabundantly provided naturally with soda, silica, mag¬ 
nesia, sulphuric acid, chlorine, and ferric oxide. It derives carbon, 
oxygen, and hydrogen from the air and rain ; it may also obtain 
some portion of the other manorial constituents from decaying 
vegetation. It may,'of course, possess enough of lime naturally, as 
it undoubtedly does in certain formations ; it may even contain 
enough potash ; but the four chief fertilisers must be present in 
sufficient quantities for the requirements of each crop, and in our 
endeavour to store them in the soil it is to be feared some waste is 
unavoidable. That enough potash is present in the soil much more 
generally than was supposed has been proved by the widespread use 
of muriate of potash, to which Mr. Cook’s remarkable success with 
the use of it in Barley culture at Flitcham Abbey gave rise. The 
fact that nobody else has obtained anything approaching the 
Flitcham results tends to show that it was decidedly an exceptional 
case. 
Potash had a thorough trial last year in the experiments of the 
Bath and YVest of England Agricultural Society, carried out upon 
nine farms upon red sandstone, five upon chalk, and five upon 
other soil. The result of these trials in Barley culture affords 
additional proof of the value of nitrate of soda in combination 
with mineral superphosphates. The best dressing to Barley per 
acre consisted of 1| cwt. nitrate of soda, 2 cwt. mineral superphos¬ 
phate, and 3 cwt. of common salt, and the value of this addition 
