April 8,18M. ] 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
291 
should be grown where Ferns are in demand for this purpose. The 
plants started some time ago should be grown without shade for the 
present, and as cool as possible to harden the fronds. 
Sbamrock (5. T.'). —The botanical name of this is O-^alis acetosella, 
the common \Vo^ Sorrel, or Shamrock. The plant is a native of the 
moist shady woods of this country, Europe, and North America, and is 
one of the most elegant of wild flowers. It delights in retired shady 
woods, groves, and hedges, and flowers in April or May. It w.as called 
by the old herbalists Alleluja and Cuckoo’s Meat, because, as Gerard 
says, “ when it springeth forth, the cuckoo singeth most ; at which time 
also Alleluya was wont to be sung in our churches.” But Alleluja is 
merely a corruption of the Calabrian name Juliola. The whole plant 
has a grateful acid taste, much more so than the common Sorrel, and is 
on that account used in salads and in sauces. In Lapland it is so 
plentiful that Linnaeus says the inhabitants of that country take 
scarcely any other vegetable food than Sorrel and Angelica. The 
expressed juice of the plant is employed to remove spots and iron moulds 
from linen, and this it does by the great quantity of binoxalate of 
potassa which it contains. Twenty pounds of the fresh leaves have 
been found to yield 6 lbs. of juice, from which 2 ozs. 2 drachms and 
1 scruple of salt, besides 2 ozs. and 6 drachms of an impure saline mass 
are obtained, and is sold under the name of salt of Sorrel and essential 
salt of Lemons. 
XTsea of the Termlnallas (^B. S .').—The plant is no doubt a 
species of Terminalia, and the following uses have been described ;— 
The roots of Terminalia alata are used in India as a febrifuge, and 
the powder, mixed with oil of sesamum, is employed. The juice 
of the leaves is injected into the ears to cure earache. T. agentea, 
a native of Brazil, yields a resin similar to gamboge, which is 
purgative in the dose of half a scruple. T. catappa, a native of 
India and the Mauritius, produces a fruit 3 inches long and egg- 
shaped, the kernel of which has a flavour of Almonds or Filberts, 
and from which a soil is expressed equal to the best olive oil 
that does not become rancid. They are used for tarts and for pectoral 
emulsions. The Indians employ the juice of the leaves, mixed with 
rice water, to moderate cholic, the heat of the bile, and to allay head¬ 
aches arising from bad digestion. The wood is white, hard, and useful 
for a variety of purposes ; and the tree itself, on account of its beauty 
and the shade it yields, is planted about houses. T. mauritiana is a 
resinous tree growing in the Isle of Bourbon, and there called False 
Benzoin. It furnishes a sort of resin called gum benzoin, distinct from 
benzoin. Its bark is thick, covered with a yellow, resinous, and 
fragrant dust, which colours the saliva a greenish yellow colour ; it is 
of an astringent taste, and serves to tan the skins of the country where 
it grows ; its decoction precipitates iron black, and it is employed in 
the island as a sudorific. The kernels of the fruit of T. moluccana are 
eatable, but do not yield any oil. T. vernix is one of the trees which 
furnish the celebrated Chinese black lacquer. Its juice is said to be 
caustic, and its exhalations dangerous. 
Sunflowers for tJse ( Gardener). —Perhaps the following information 
will be suitable for placing before your employers. The produce of 
seed per acre depends on soil, situation, and culture, but has been found 
to average about 60 bushels—equal to 60 gallons of oil and about 
1500 lbs. of oilcake ; and the stems of the crop, if burnt for alkali, will 
yield about 10 per cent, of potash, while the leaves may be dried and 
pulverised and mixed with bran for fodder. The crop, however, has a 
very scourging effect on land, and particularly robs it of potash, and is 
peculiarly unsuitable for going before Potatoes in a rotation. The soil 
most suitable is light, friable, and richly alkaline, and does admirably 
well to be manured with fresh seaweed ; and if loamy or clayey may be 
advantageously prepared by commixations of shell sand, limestone gravel, 
or any other opening calcareous substance ; and, in any case, must be 
well tilled and finely pulverised. The situation most suitable is a 
moderately sheltered one, with sufficient exposure to enjoy free and 
constant circulation of the air. The sowing may be done at any time in 
April when the weather and soil are favourable. The rows should not 
be less than 2^ feet apart and the plants 18 inches asunder. Kainit is 
one of the cheap)est and best manures for this crop, and a dressing of 
5 cwt. per acre, with two of superphosphate of lime would not be too much, 
1^ cwt. of nitrate of soda to be applied as a top-dressing after the plants 
are fairly growing, if they do not make satisfactory progress. About 2 
bushels of seed will suffice for sowing an acre at the distances recommended. 
Especial care should be directed to remove all weeds for about a month 
or six weeks, and occasionally to mould up the earth around each plant. 
When the heads are quite or nearly ripe, the plants should he cut down 
at about an inch from the ground, and removed to a shed or some other 
place of complete shelter from rain, and there left till they become dry ; 
and either then or afterwards they may be freed from the seed ; but 
they must not, in any case, be left on the ground, as they have a great 
capacity for moisture, and would be very likely to attract it and to 
become filled with insects. 
XTamea 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, 
(d/. T.). —1, Narcissus pseudo-Narcissus. 2, N. poeticus. 3, N. incom- 
parahilis. (^G. B. 5.).—!, Doodia aspera. 2, Pteris longifolia. 3, Sela- 
ginella Martensi. (^Amateur). —1, Odontoglossum Edwardi. 2, Cyrto- 
podium punctatum. 3, Cattleya Trianm. 4, Oncidium concolor, 
{E. n. 7y.).—Even if we undertook to name Roses, which as florists’ 
flowers we do not, but only “ species ” as indicated above, the specimen 
you forwarded w’as crushed and shrivelled beyond identification. 
(A. 0 .).—All the flowers you have sent are florists’ varieties, having 
originated from seed, and of these there are many so closely re¬ 
sembling each other that the only certain method of determining the 
identity of those without names is by comparison in a large collection 
or a specialist in charge of a collection might possibly name some from 
memory. As above stated, we only undertake to name species of plants 
when characteristic specimens reach us in good condition. (71 W. S .).— 
1, Hippeastrum aulicum. 2, Adiantum hispidulum. 3, Chlorophytum 
orchidastrum. 4, An excellent variety of Dendrobium Wardianum. 
5, An ordinary form of Dendrobium Wardianum. 
Bees—Old Comb (Delta ).—The sooner you remove all the black 
comb, like the sample before us, and give fresh foundation, the better. 
Bees might possibly be raised in the old comb, but they would be small 
and weak. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.—APRIL 2XD. 
Trade very dnll in view of the holidays. A few samples of new Grapes to hand 
from 5s. to 10s. per Ih. Strawberries in good supply, meeting a heavy sale. 
FRUIT. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. d. 
B. 
d. 
Apples, 4 sieve. 
2 
0 
to 6 
0 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 
4 0 
to 9 
0 
Nova Scotia and 
Peaches, dozen. 
0 0 
0 
O' 
Canada, per barrel 18 
0 
25 
0 
Red Currants, per J sieve 
0 0 
0 
a 
Cherries, ^ sieve .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Black „ „ 
0 0 
0 
0 
Grapes, per lb. 
3 
6 
6 
0 
St. Michael Pines, each.. 
2 0 
6 
O' 
Lemons, case. 
10 
0 
15 
0 
Strawberries, per lb. 
4 0 
8 
a 
VEGETABLES. 
B. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
B. d. 
S. 
d. 
Artichokes, dozen ., .. 
0 
0 
to 0 
0 
MuAhrooms, punnet • • 
1 6 
to 2 
0 
Asparagus, bundle 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Mustard & Cress, punnet 
0 2 
0 
0 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel. 
3 0 
4 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
9 
Parsley, dozen hunches 
2 0 
8 
G 
Brussels Sprouts, ^ sieve 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. .. 
1 0 
0 
0. 
Cabbage, dozen .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
3 0 
4 
0 
Carrots, bunch ,. ,, 
0 
4 
0 
0 
,, Nevr. 
0 3 
0 
6 
Cauliflowers, dozen., .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle .. .. 
0 9 
0 
0 
Celery, bundle . 
1 
0 
1 
3 
Salsafy, bundle • • • • 
1 0 
1 
6 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera, bundle .. . • 
1 6 
0 
0 
Cucumbers, doz. 
3 
0 
5 
0 
Seakale, per bkt. 
1 0 
1 
3 
Endive, dozen .. ., .. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Shallots, per lb. . • .. 
0 3 
0 
0 
Herbs, bunch. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel •« .. 
1 0 
2 
0 
Leeks, bunch. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. 
0 6 
0 
!> 
Lettuce, dozen. 
0 
9 
1 
s 
Turnips, hunch • • • • 
0 4 
0 
0 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
B. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. d. 
s. 
iK 
Acacia or Mimosa, French, 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
• per bunch 
1 
0 
to 1 
6 
bunches . 
4 0 
to 9 
(h 
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 
bunches . 
1 0 
3 
a 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
1 0 
1 
6- 
Chrysanthemums, dozen 
„ scarlet, 12 hnchs 
6 0 
9 
0 
hunches . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Primroses, dozen hunches 
0 9 
1 
0 
Crocuses, dozen hunches 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Primula(double)12 sprays 
1 0 
1 
6. 
Bofifodils, dozen bunches 
3 
0 
8 
0 
„ (single) 12 sprays 
0 6 
1 
(r 
Beut^ia, per bunch 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Roses (indoor), dozen .. 
1 6 
3 
0 
EpiphyUums, doz. blooms 
0 
6 
0 
9 
„ Red, 12 blooms .. 
3 0 
6 
0 
Eucharis, dozen .. .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
„ Tea, white, dozen.. 
1 0 
8 
G 
Gardenias, 12 blooms . • 
6 
0 
12 
0 
„ Yellow. 
2 0 
4 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman) dozen 
„ French, per hunch 
1 6 
5 
G 
sprays . 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Spircea, dozen bunches .. 
6 0 
9 
0 
Lapageria, 12 blooms 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms .. 
1 6 
2 
0- 
Lilium, various, 12 blms. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Violets, dozen bunches .. 
1 0 
2 
0 
LUium longiflomm, 12 
„ French, per hnnch 
1 0 
2 
0 
blooms . 
5 
0 
8 
0 
„ Parme, per bnneh 
8 0 
4 
0 
Idly of the Valley, dozen 
■Wallflowers, doz. hunches 
2 0 
6 
sprays . 
0 
6 
1 
0 
White Lilac, French, per 
Marguerites, 12 bunches 
2 
0 
6 
0 
bunch. 
4 0 
6 
0. 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
B. 
d. 
R. 
d. 
p. d. 
8. 
d;. 
Arolia Sieboldi, dozen .. 
6 
0 to 12 
0 
Ficus elastica, each. • .. 
1 6to 7 
0 
Arum Lilies, per dozen .. 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each 
2 0 
10 
G 
Arbor Vitce (golden) doz. 
6 
0 
!4 
0 
Genista, per dozen • • •. 
8 0 
12 
0 
Azalea, various, per dozen 18 
0 
80 
0 
Hyacinths, 12 pots .. .. 
6 0 
9 
0 
Christmas Rose .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lily of the VaUey, 12 pots 
18 0 
80 
0 
Cineraria, per dozen 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 0 
12 
0 
Cyclamen, per dozen 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen .. 
9 0 
12 
0- 
Boifodils, 12 pots .. .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Musk, per dozen .. .. 
0 0 
0 
0 
Deutzia, 12 pots .. .. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 0 
12 
0 
Draceena terminalis, doz. 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Palms, in var., each.. . • 
2 6 
81 
G 
„ vuddis, dozen .. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Primula (single), per doz. 
4 0 
6 
0 
E pi phyllum, per dozen .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Rhodanihe, per dozen .. 
0 0 
0 
G 
Erica, Cavendishi, per pt. 
2 
0 
s 
0 
Roses (Fairy), per dozen 
10 0 
12 
0 
„ various, dozen 
12 
0 
18 
0 
„ 12 pots . 
12 0 
80 
G 
„ ventricosa, i>er doz. 
13 
0 
8) 
0 
Saxifraga pyramidalis. 
Euonymus, var., dozen .. 
6 
0 
18 
0 
per dozen . 
0 0 
0 
0 
Evergreens, in var., do*en 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Spirtea, 12 pots. 
12 0 
8 
a 
Ferns, in variety, dozen.. 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Tulips, It pots. 
6 0 
9 
G 
