Misrcli 20, 1£90. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
251 
loses strength by very long preparation. What you collect should not be 
placed in large heaps to heat violently long before making up the beds 
or ridges, but should not be spread so thinly as to become cold and 
drenched by heavy rains. If it can be protected from these in an open 
shed or under some improvised shelter all the better, but this is not 
necessary in dealing -with large quantities that can be got together in 
three weeks or a month. The question of increasing and decreasing 
heat is very simple. So long as a stick inserted in the mass gets hotter 
day by day do not insert the spawn ; when the greatest heat has been 
attained gradual cooling will follow, and there will be no material 
increase after that, though sometimes when the spawn commences 
running, the heat rises a little, but this can be regulated by the better 
covering. The sixth edition of “ Mushrooms for the Million ” is much 
larger and better than the first. You should procure a copy and read 
carefully. Its price is Is. 2d. by post from this office. 
with sulphur-coloured powder and with hairs from the skin woven into 
it, from which the moths hatch in July. The moths are variable in 
colouring, mostly with rusty fox or ochrey markings, but some have the 
fore-wings of a red-brown, with two pale ochreous streaks ; others- 
yellowish, with dark brown bars ; and others are variously tinted ; the 
hinder wings are reddish-brown. It is stated that the moths, and espe- 
cally the females, seldom fly, but remain concealed by day under leaves 
and in long grass, and come out at night. The caterpillars seldom do 
the enormous quantity of mischief with us that they are noted as 
causing in France, where, according to the old law, it was compulsory 
on proprietors to have the webs on the shoots cut off with shears and 
destroyed, in consequence of the ravages of the caterpillars (if left un* 
checked) ruining the Apple leafage over an extent of miles of country ; 
nevertheless their attacks are often the cause of much loss in this- 
country, and need attention.” 
Reading- and Working (A. B. D ).—We are pleased to find you 
agree with us, and we agree with you that great pressure of work must 
often of necessity leave too little time for reading. We doubt if there 
is a body of men engaged in any other occupation who work so earnestly 
and read so diligently .as the best gardeners do. We are quite aware 
that many persons who are employed in gardens, and we regret to say 
many young men, are the reverse of studious, and prefer to spend much 
more of what they earn in the frivolities of life than in providing them¬ 
selves with current and permanent garden literature ; but the fact remains 
that the most intelligent, best informed, and best situated gardeners are 
men who in their youthful days were zealous in acquiring information. 
We are very far from suggesting that young men should debar themselves 
of wholesome and healthy recreation—on the contrary, reasonable 
enjoyments, in which the mind is for a time diverted from labour, may 
be eonducive to effectual study ; but the point we desire to enforce is 
that the first and primary object of all should be the acquirement of 
knowledge, both by reading and working, that will fit them for the best 
positions in the gardening world. If these are not obtained the know¬ 
ledge gained will never be regretted, while the possessors of it who have 
to work hard for, it may be, the reverse of high wsges will become 
respected members of the community. We like the tone of your letter 
very much, as it indicates diligence in duty, with prudence, and the 
possession of a good share of that most valuable acquisition—common 
sense. 
Nectarines not Stoning- (IF. B .').—One of those tantalising diffi¬ 
culties and annoyances that beset the most skilled and experienced 
cultivators is the casting of fruits without apparent cause when the 
size (as in this case) of pickling Walnuts. The trees are apparently 
clean and healthy, the wood is not unduly vigorous, and it is firm and 
well ripened, but still the fruit does not pass the first stages of the 
stoning process satisfactorily ; half, or more than half, the fruits fall 
suddenly and unaccountably. We have had several cases of a similar 
nature to contend with, and have invariably found it rhost prevalent in 
trees to which nitrogenous manures had been mostly employed. These 
have a tendency to promote vigour of growth in the early stages. 
The vigour may not be striking, but it is decided and sufficient 
to cause abortion. Nothing can be done in the season of growth to pre¬ 
vent its effects on the current crop, although it may be mitigated in 
severity by allowing disbudding to stand over until a later stage than 
usual, and remove any growths that are unduly gross. This will effect 
a higher e’aboration of the sap and assimilation by the larger leafage, 
thereby affording a larger supply of the stone-producing matter to the 
fruit, and taken in time this mostly proves satisfactory. The remedy, 
however, is to be looked for in judicious applications of potassic and 
phosphatic manures in place of ammoniacal or nitrogenous manures, 
with applications of gypsum, so as to afford lime or preferably ground 
mineral phosphates (coprolites), and lifting annually until the tree is 
brought into a thoroughly satisfactory condition, when biennial or 
triennial lifting may only be necessary. The lifting in all cases should 
be done when the wood and buds are mature, but whilst the leaves are 
upon the trees, performing the operation very carefully, so as to give as 
slight a check as possible, making the soil firm, adding old mortar 
rubbish, or preferably clay marl if the soil is deficient of calcareous 
matter. 
Insect Eg-g-s on an Apple Tree Branch {Inquirer'), — The eggs 
are those of the Lackey Moth Bombyx (Clisiocampa) neustria. Mbs 
Ormerod gives the following description of the pest :—‘‘ The eggs are to 
be found in winter and spring, laid on naked twigs, in compact spirally 
arranged rings about half an inch Ipng. From these eggs small black 
hairy caterpillars hatch about the beginning of May, and immediately 
spin a web over themselves, which they enlai'ge from time to time as 
needed for their accommodation. In these webs they live in companies 
of from fifty to two hundred, and from them the caterpillars go out to 
feed on the leaves, returning for shelter in wet weather or at night. 
When alarmed, they all let themselves down by threads, either to the 
ground, or else after hanging in the air till the alarm is past they go up 
again by their threads to the tree. When full fed, which is about mid¬ 
summer, they are l-i inch in length, and hairy ; of a bluish-grey colour, 
marked with two black eye-like spots on the head, two black spots with 
a scarlet space between them on the next ring, and three scarlet stripes 
on each side and a white one on the back, all bordered with black along 
the rest of the caterpillar. At this stage the caterpillars no longer live 
in companies, but each finds some sheltered spot, between leaves, in 
hedges, beneath the bars of railings, under roofs of sheds, or even on the 
top of walls, where it spins a sulphur-coloured silken cocoon, mixed 
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, 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.. 
(77. P.).—1, Adiantum cuneatum var. gracillimum. 2, Adiantum 
cuneatum. {B. A. C .).—Leucojum vernum. (<?. T.). —Chionodoxa. 
LuciliEe. 
COYENT GAKDEN MARKET.—MARCH 19TH. 
Market still vei-y quiet -with eaily forced goods in fair supply, and prices kai-ely 
maintained. 
FBUIT. 
B. 
d 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
Apples, i sieve. 
2 
0 
to 6 
0 
Oranges, per 100 • • .. 
4 
0 
to 9 
0 
,, Nova Scotia and 
Peaches, dozen. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Canada, per barrel 18 
0 
25 
0 
Red Currants, per ^ sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries, ^ sieve ,. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Black „ „ 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes, per lb. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each.. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Lemons, case . 
10 
0 
15 
0 
Strawberries, per lb. 
4 
0 
16 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
a; 
Artichokes, dozen .. .. 
0 
0 
to 0 
0 
Leeks, bunch .. 
0 
2 
to 0 
G- 
Asparagus, bundle .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Lettuce, dozen. 
0 
9 
1 
S' 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. ., 
1 
6 
2 
6 
Mushrooms, punnet .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Beet, lied, dozen .. 
1 
0 
2 
9 
Mustard & Cress, punnet 
0 
2 
n 
0 
Broccoli, bundle .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel. 
8 
0 
4 
O' 
Brussels Sprouts, ^ sieve 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Parsley, do/en bunches 
2 
0 
8 
o 
Cabbage, dozen ., .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen ,. .. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Capsicums, })er 100,. ,, 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
8 
0 
4 
O' 
Carrots, bunch ., ,, 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle .. • • 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen., 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsify, bundle • • • • 
1 
0 
1 
Celery, bundle . 
1 
0 
1 
8 
Scorzonera, bundle .. •, 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts, do’'. bunches 
o 
0 
4 
0 
Shallots, per lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Cucumbers, do^. 
4 
0 
7 
0 
Spinach, bushel • • ,. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Endive, dO'^en. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. .. •, 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Herbs, bunch ,, ., ,, 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips, bunch * • •, 
0 
4 
0 
0 
CUT 
FLOIVERS. 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
(T. 
Acacia or Mimosa, French, 
Marguerites, 12 bunches 
2 
0 
,0 6 
G 
per bunch 
1 
0 
to 1 
6 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
„ „ per basket 
8 
6 
7 
6 
bunches. 
4 
0 
9 
O' 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
3 
0 
5 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches.. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Azalea, dozen sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
,, Fr., large bnch 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Narcissus, French, 12 
Camellias, dozen blooms 
1 
0 
4 
0 
hunches . 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms ,. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Christmas Roses, 12 blms. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 bnchs 
6 
0 
9 
{} 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
Primula{double)13 sprays 
1 
0 
1 
A 
bunches . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ (single) 12 sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Daffodils, dozen blooms.. 
0 
4 
1 
0 
Roses (indoor), dozen ., 
1 
6 
3 
G 
Deut'ia, per bunch 
0 
6 
0 
9 
„ Red, U blooms .. 
4 
0 
8 
f* 
Epiphyllums, doz. lilooms 
0 
6 
0 
9 
„ Tea, white, dozen.. 
1 
0 
3 
G 
Eucharis, dozen ,. .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
„ Yellow. 
2 
0 
4 
(i 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
„ French, per bunch 
1 
6 
5 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman) dozen 
Spiraea, dozen hunches .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
sprays . 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Stephanotis, dozen sprays 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lapageria, 12 blooms 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms .. 
1 
c 
2 
0 
Lilimn, various, 12 blm.s. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Violets, dozen bunches ,. 
1 
0 
2 
(» 
Lilium longiflorum, 12 
„ French, per bunch 
1 
0 
2 
if 
blooms. 
5 
0 
8 
0 
„ Parme, per bunch 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Lily of the Valley, dozen 
White Lilac, French, per 
sprays .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
bunch . 
4 
0 
6 
0 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
B. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
(t’. 
Aralia Sieholdi, dozen .. 6 
0 to 12 
0 
Ficus elastica, each.. .. 
1 
6 to 7 
Arum Lilies, per dozen .. 12 
0 
18 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each 
2 
0 
10 
0 
Arbor Vitee (golden! doz. 6 
0 
S4 
0 
Genista, per dozen . • .. 
8 
0 
IS 
01 
Azalea, various, per dozen 18 
0 
80 
0 
Hyacinths, 12 pets .. 
6 
0 
9 
(1 
Christmas Rose .. .. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Lily of the Valley, 12 pois 
18 
0 
30 
O' 
Cineraria, per dozen .. 8 
0 
1-2 
0 
Marguerite Daisv, dozen 
6 
0 
12 
Oi 
Cyclamen, per dozen ,. 9 
0 
18 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen .. 
0 
0 
0 
(1 
Daffodils, 12 pots .. .. 6 
0 
9 
0 
Musk, per dozen .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
o 
Deutzia, 12 pots .. .. G 
0 
9 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
01 
Dracsena terminalis, doz. 24 
0 
42 
0 
Palms, in var., each.. .. 
2 
6 
n 
0 
„ viridis, dozen .. 13 
0 
24 
0 
Primula (single), per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0; 
Epiphyllum, per dozen .. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Rhodanthe, per dozen .. 
0 
0 
0 
O-I 
Erica, Cavendishi, per pt. 2 
0 
5 
0 
Roses (Fairy s per dozen 1) 
0 
12, 
0., 
„ various, dozen .. 12 
0 
18 
0 
Saxifraga ijyramidalis, 
„ ventricosa, per doz. 18 
0 
8) 
0 
per dozen . 
0 
0 
0 
O' 
Euonymus, var., dozen .. 6 
0 
18 
0 
Solanums, per dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Evergreens, in var., do en 6 
0 
24 
0 
Tulii-s, Is pots. 
c 
0 
9 
0 
FeruB, in variety, dozen.. 4 
0 
18 
0 
