April 10, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
811 
flavour when ripe, yet before they are ripe they are excessively sour, 
llurman says they contain a grateful acid juice, from which a syrup is 
made, and a conserve of the flowers, whicn are esteemed excellent in 
fevers and bilious disorders. Rumphius seems to think that, even when 
fully ripened, the fruit can never be eaten raw, but is only used to cook 
fish, fowl, and other viands, to give them an agreeable acidity, in the 
same way as we use sorrel and verjuice ; they are pickled in brine and 
eaten as we do olives or capers in conjunction with meats ; and pre¬ 
served in sugar, or with a little saffron, they are recommended to be 
eaten by those who go sea voyages. The tree is a member of the Oxalis 
family, and you will find specimens of the fruit in the No. 1 museum at 
Kew. 
Steptaanotis florlbunda (J. S.'). —As you say the plants have had 
a good season of rest, plunge these in pots in brisk bottom heat. Those 
planted out may be top-dressed with rich material and have the tempe¬ 
rature raised to 65°. If syringed twice daily they will soon start into 
growth. If there is any trace of mealy bug about the plants syringe 
them frequently with a weak solution of petro'eum and water, 1 oz. 
to the gallon. Svhen the plants are growing strongly it is difficult to 
get at this insect, for it establishes itself in the points of the shoots and 
in the flower trusses. The young plants, wintered in a temperature of 
60°, will have new roots and will need larger pots, supplying water with 
care afterwards. The Stephanotis does well in fibry loam, one-seventh 
of manure and sand. Plants that are thoroughly root-bound and in 
large enough pots but lack vigour will bear the reduction of their roots 
by one-third if done carefully. They quickly establish themselves again 
after they once commence growing. 
Management of Vines (.1/. B., Ayrshire ).—Some Vines show 
bunches on the laterals when four or five leaves are produced, and 
bunches ought to be visible on your Vines now, though you give no 
indication of the length and strength of the growths. If there are 
clusters of growths from the spurs the weaker should be removed by 
pulling them off one at a time from each spur daily, till two of the best 
are left, and when one of these containing a bunch is safely tied to the 
wire and not likely to break afterwards the duplicate may be removed 
except there is space of between 18 inches and 2 feet between the spurs 
along each side of the rods. When bunches form the ends of the laterals 
producing them should be nipped off at once two, or three leaves 
beyond, according as there is room for the development of the foliage. 
This topping should be done when the leaves are the size of a shilling. 
The process is illustrated in Barron’s “ Vines and Vine Culture,” free 
by post from this office for 63 . 3d. Aerial roots are the consequence of 
a moist atmosphere, and sometimes indicate sluggish root action in the 
soil. One bunch to each lateral is usually sufficient, and superfluous 
bunches may be removed when those intended to ripen have set the 
fruit and the berries are ready for thinning. 
Treatment of Ferns (G*. IF.).—Much more peat has been used in 
the compost for these plants than is really necessary. The cost of good 
peat after it has been conveyed a long distance by rail is a considerable 
item annually where plants are grown on a large scale. Many Ferns grow 
equally well in good loam, rough leaf mould that has laid for twelve 
months, and sand, with the addition of sandstone broken to pieces or 
soft bricks. Large plants in many cases do not need potting more often 
than every second year. When large plants of Davallia Mooreana begin 
to be bare or crowded with old rhizomes the plants should be broken up 
and repotted. They lose a fevv fronds, but soon recover and grow all 
the better afterwards. Large plants may be potted every second year, 
cutting away a few of the old rhizomes so as to work a little fresh soil 
amongst them, and they soon start into growth again and grow 
vigorously. This Fern does not need deep root room, and large shallow 
pans for it are infinitely better than pots. It makes a splendid basket 
Fern where plenty of room can be given it. If pieces are planted in 
baskets 18 inches over, the rhizomes will soon creep all round it and 
prove more effective suspended from the roof than a plant in either a 
pan or pot. Microlepia hirta cristata is a useful decorative Fern, but the 
stove is too warm for it. In too much heat it soon becomes a prey to 
scale. The roots of large plants can without injury be reduced, and in 
a short time they soon grow vigorously again. This Fern usually pro¬ 
duces a quantity of small crowns, which at potting time should be taken 
off and potted up singly. They make handsome plants for decoration in 
5 and 6-inch pots, and if well hardened they stand in good condition for 
a long time. Plants that have been used for this purpose soon start 
again into growth, when they can be cut into two or three and grown 
onMor the same purpose again. Stove Adiantums will do in the same 
compost, and strong growers will bear the reduction of their roots with¬ 
out much injury, where this must be done to keep them healthy in the 
same size pots. The more delicate the variety the greater should be the 
care in reducing them. All Ferns that it is necessary to grow on should 
be placed into larger pots without disturbing their roots. 
iTames of Plants. —We only undertake to name species of plant*, 
not varieties that have originated from seed and termed florist*’ 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. 
(_J. B .).—The specimen is not a good one for determination, and the 
flowers were too withered to be examined. It is probably a Boronia or 
Tetratheca, and in either case cuttings 2 inches long of the half- 
ripened wood can be inserted in a compost of sand and peat under a 
bellglass and placed in a cool frame or greenhouse where they can be 
shaded from the sun. They will require careful attention to prevent 
damping, and the bellglass should be removed every morning and 
wiped inside. The soil also must not be a'lowed to become dry or they 
will suffer in that way. All cuttings of this kind need close watching 
to ensure success. (./. II.). —1, Acacia armata ; 2, Acacia pulchella. 
(A Very Old Subscriber ).—A small flowered variety of Odontoglossum, 
pulchellum, similar to that originally named 0. Egertoni. (^Morpeth ).— 
The Daffodil with white sepals and a yellow crown is Narcissus bicolor 
Ilorsefieldi, the other is Narcissus princeps. 
Renewing Combs {Delta).—To renew combs at this season 
remove all the outer ones having no eggs nor brood, leaving those with* 
brood untouched until a more eonvenient season when there are no eggs 
or brood in them. In place of the removed combs give full frames of 
foundation ; these will be extended and filled with brood much quicker- 
than the old combs, and is a capital method of spreading brood andi 
filling the hives with bees. The manipulation will not in any way 
deteriorate nor lessen the supply of honey. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.—APRIL Oth. 
' Trade very dull. A few samples of new Grapes to hand from 58. to lOs. per lb. 
Strawberries in good supply, meeting a heavy sale. 
FRUIT. 
8. d. 
Apples, i sieve.2 0 
„ Nova Seotia and 
Canada, per barrel 18 0 
Cherries, i sieve .. .. 0 0 
Grapes, per lb. 3 6 
Lemons, ease.10 0 
Artichokes, dozen .. 
Asparappis, bundle 
Beans, Kidney, per lb 
Beet, Bed, dozen 
Bnissels Sprouts, J sit 
Cabbage, dozen .. 
Carrots, bunch 
Cauliflowers, dozen.. 
Celery, bundle .... 
Coleworts, doz. bunches 
Cucumbers, doz. 
Endive, dozen .. 
Herbs, bunch .. 
Leeks, bunch .. 
Lettuce, dozen .. 
Azalea, dozen sprays 
Bouvardias, bunch 
Camellias, dozen blooms 
Carnations, 12 blooms .. 
Crocuses, dozen bunches 
Daffodils, dozen bunches 
Deutzia, per bunch 
Epiphyllums, doz. blooms 
Eucharis, dozen 
Forget-me-not, doz. bnch. 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 
Hyacinths (Dutch), in 
boxes.each 
Hyacinths (Roman) dozen 
sprays . 
Lapageria, 12 blooms 
Lilium, various, 12 blms. 
Lilinm longillorum, 12 
blooms. 
Lily of the Valley, dozen 
sprays . 
Marguerites, 12 bunches 
Aralia Sieboldi, dozen . 
Arum Lilies, per dozen 
Arbor Vitae (golden) do 
Azalea, various, per doze 
Christmas Rose 
Cineraria, per dozen 
Cyclamen, per dozen 
Daffodils, 12 pots .. 
Deutzia, 12 pots 
Dracaena tcrminalis, dc 
„ viridis, dozen 
EpiphyUum, per dozen .. 
Erica, Cavendishi, per pt. 
„ various, dozen 
to 6 
25 
0 
6 
15 
Oranges, per 100 .. .. 
Peaches, dozen. 
Red Currants, per J sieve 
Black „ „ 
St. Michael Pines, each.. 
Strawberries, per lb. 
a. s. d, 
0 to 9 l> 
VEGETABLES. 
S. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
A. 
0 
0 
to 0 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet • • 
1 
6 
to 2 
II 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Mustard & Cress, punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
1 
0 
2 
9 
Parsley, do^en bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
9 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. •. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
0 
4 
0 
0 
„ New. 
0 
3 
0 
6- 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle .. • • 
0 
2 
0 
it 
1 
0 
1 
3 
Salsafy, bundle .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
r 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seorzonera, bundle .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Seakale, per bkt. 
1 
0 
1 
S: 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Shallots, per lb. *. • • 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel • • • • 
1 
0 
2 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes, per lb. 
0 
6 
0 
v> 
0 
9 
1 
s 
Turnips, bunch • • • • 
0 
4 
Q 
o 
CUT 
FLOWERS. 
ft. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
a. 
d- 
9S 
1 
0 to 4 
0 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
3 
0 
6 
0 
bunches . 
4 
0 
to 9 
0 
0 0 
4 0 
8 0 
4 0 
1 6 
0 6 
2 0 
2 0 
0 9 
0 0 
G 0 
6 0 
6 0 
3 0 
5 0 8 0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches 
,, Fr., large bnch 
Narcissus, 12 bunches .. 
Pelargonitims, 12 trusses 
„ scarlet, 12 bnebs 
Primroses, dozen bunches 
Primula (double) 1? sprays 
„ (single) 12 sprays 
Ranunculus, doz. bunches 
Boses (indoor), dozen , .. 
„ Red, 12 blooms .. 
„ Tea, white, dozen.. 
„ Yellow. 
„ French, per bunch 
Spiraea, dozen bunches .. 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms .. 
Violets, dozen bunches .. 
„ French, per bunch 
,, Parme, per bunch 
Wallflowers, doz. bunches 
4 (>■ 
2 0 
6 - 0 * 
6 0 
0 
8 0 
8 0 ’ 
4 (P 
0 0 
9 0- 
2 (V 
2 0 * 
2 0 ‘ 
4 0- 
6 O' 
0 
G 
1 
0 
IVhite Lilac, French, per 
2 
0 
s 
0 
bunch.. .. .. 
4 
0 
5 
Ot 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
ff. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
6 
0 to 12 
0 
Ficus elastics, each.. .. 
1 
6 to 
7 
0 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each 
2 
0 
10 
0 
6 
0 
14 
0 
GeniKta, per dozen . • .. 
8 
0 
12 
0* 
18 
0 
80 
0 
Hvacinths, 12 pots .. .. 
G 
0 
9 
(i' 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lily of the Valley, 12 pots 
12 
0 
18 
O' 
G 
0 
10 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
12 
O' 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen .. 
9 
0 
12* 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Musk, per dozen .. .. 
0 
0 
» 
0‘ 
G 
0 
9 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
O’ 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Palms, in var.,each., .. 
2 
6 
21 
0 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Primula (single), per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Rhodanthe, per dozen .. 
8. 
0 
10 
O' 
2 
0 
8 
0 
Roses (Fairy), per dozen 10 
0 
12 
0 
12 
0 
18 
0 
„ 12 pots. 
12 
0 
80- 
O' 
18 
0 
8) 
0 
Saiifroga pyramidolis. 
6 
0 
18 
0 
per dozen . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
G 
0 
24 
0 
Rpiroia, 12 pots. 
12 
0 
8 
0 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Tulips, 18 pots. 
G 
0 
9 
0 
„ . --, ,-- 
EuonymuR, var., dozen .. 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
Ferns, in variety, dozen.. 
Bedding Plants in variety, in box< • and pots. 
