Jane S), 1(90. ] 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
541 
vine Boots (JF. C .').—It was not necessary to send soil, though 
you might have described its nature ; but it was very necessary to 
describe the treatment to which the Vines have been subjected, also the 
length and strength of the canes when planted. You state nothing to 
enable us to form an opinion as to the cause of the failure, and we can 
only say if the roots are just as they came from the soil, not wetted 
afterwards, the border is a very great deal too wet, or just in the con¬ 
dition for preventing root extension and the consequent free growth of 
young Vines. If you like to write more fully, the case shall have our 
further attention. Have you been using liquid manure 2 
Second Crops of Melons (TV. IT'.).—We have h.ad many second 
crops, and sometimes these have been even better than the first. For 
insuring this the plants must be early, and the first crop ready, say 
early in July ; there must be a good command of heat and good cultural 
attention. The plants must not be dried in the manner that some 
cultivators deem necessary for ripening the fruit, but must be kept 
steadily growing, the foliage always fresh, and no red spider or other 
insects permitted on it. After the first crop is cut a slight pruning and 
re-arrangement of the growths may be needed, and a little of the sur¬ 
face soil removing from the bed, fresh being added to incite the forma¬ 
tion of fresh roots. These produced, the rest is easy, amounting to a 
repetition of the treatment by which the first crop was produced. 
When the first ripe fruits are removed the plants grow freely, and soon 
commence flowering. Space must be aSoided for the newly developing 
leaves, some of the older, which will be fading, being removed for that 
purpose. We do not approve of withholding water from Melons to 
improve the flavour ; healthy active foliage well exposed to the light 
and air is far more effectual in imparting flavour to the fruit than dry 
soil is and withered leaves. 
Boses not Opening (J. IF.).—The buds, stems, and leaves sent 
indicate exhaustion of the plants. They may be enfeebled by old age 
or by the soil becoming impoverished. After Roses have been long 
established the roots extend far distant from the stems, often into 
subsoil from which they can derive little support. In some soils Roses, 
if kept clean, continue healthy and floriferous for several years, but 
this is not the case everywhere. You say nothing about pruning, and 
the examples before us suggest that this has not been sufficiently close. 
It is certain the nutriment supplied by the roots is inadequate for the 
support of good foliage and fine blooms. If water passes from the 
soil freely copious supplies of liquid manure given during the winter as 
well as summer would be likely to do good, not poured round the stems 
merely, but a distance from them equal to twice the length of the 
branches. When the ground is in good condition for the reception of 
liquid manure in winter it may be given of twice the strength at which 
it is usually applied in summer, and it has proved of great benefit to 
enfeebled Roses and fruit trees. The oldest and weakest wood should be 
cut out in pruning, reliance being mainly placed on cut back young 
shoots for producing blooms. If you had given fuller information 
about the condition of the plants and the treatment to which they have 
been subjected we should be in a better position for answering your 
letter to our satisfaction. 
Pruning Prult Trees and Bushes {St. Julien ).—If by “ five 
snags ” you mean that five young growths are pushing in a cluster, 
you may remove three of them, and those remaining, if stopped in the 
summer and cut back in the winter as advised in the work alluded to, 
will form fruit buds in due time. If we do not comprehend your 
question please send a fairly representative sketch, not necessarily 
artistic, and we will try again. The summer shortened shoots of Goose¬ 
berries should be cut back a little in winter the same as Red Currants, 
but some young shoots of Gooseberries should be retained when there 
is room for them without overcrowding the bushes. It does not matter 
how many leaders of Red Currants are left from each stem provided 
they are trained 6 inches apart, and it is desirable that they be as equal 
in growth as possible. If one or two grow much more luxuriantly than 
the others nip out the points of the former, taking one resulting shoot 
from each for the leaders, pinching to three leaves any others that 
push at the same time. We presume you do not need information on 
the Grapes and Tomatoes to which you refer, as you do not ask any 
question about them. Skilful Grape growers make their crops pay very 
well, but they cannot grow good crops of Tomatoes under fruiting 
Vines. Many persons can grow Tomatoes profitably who are unable 
from various causes to succeed equally with Grapes. Grapes are kept 
in rooms in hundreds of establishments. 
iramea of Planta. —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. 
We have received several boxes and packets of specimens for naming 
80 carelessly packed that the p’ants could not be recognised when they 
reached us. At this time of year especial care is necessary, as if parcels 
are delayed in the post, flowers packed in dry paper or cotton wool are 
completely withered in a short time. {J. II.'). —1, Viburnum Opulus. 
The others were dried beyond recognition. {II. T. 11.). — Dictamnus 
fraxinella albus. {AdoleMens). —Varieties of Campanula persicifolia. 
{B. It.). —1, Geranium pratense flore-pleno; 2, Hiera( ium aurantiacum ; 
3, Platystemon californicus ; 4, Thalictrnm aquilegi'olium. {S. T.). — 
All the specimens were too withered. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— June 25th. 
Trade brisk, with good snppUeB, and prices generally lower. Grapes as 
ast week- 
FRUIT. 
s. 
d. 
B. 
a. 
8. 
a. 
8. 
a. 
0 
-0 6 
0 
[0 
0 to 15 
» 
„ Nova Scotia and 
Melons, each*. 
2 
0 
3 
6 
Canada, per barrel 18 
0 
25 
0 
Oranges, per 100 •• .. 
4 
0 
9 
0 
„ Tasmanian, p. case 15 
0 
0 
0 
Pooches, dozen. 
4 
0 
12 
0 
Cherries, per ^ sieve . • 9 
0 
12 
0 
St. Jlichael Pines, each.. 
O 
0 
6 
0 
Cirapes, p«r lb.1 
6 
8 
0 
Strawberries, per lb. 
0 
0 
0 
G 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
(i. 
P. 
a. 
B. 
a. 
6. 
A 
Artichokes, dozen •• .. 0 
0 
^0 0 
0 
Mushrooms, punnet 
1 
6 
to 2 
0 
Asparagus, bundle .. 2 
0 
4 
0 
Mustard A Cress, punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beans, Kidney, per Ih. .. 0 
9 
1 
0 
Onions, bushel. 
8 
0 
4 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen .. . • 1 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts, J sieve 0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. . • 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cabbage, dozen .. .. 1 
6 
0 
0 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
8 
0 
4 
0 
Carrots, bunch .. 0 
4 
0 
0 
,, New, per lb, .. 
0 
2 
0 
o 
Caulitiow’ers, dozen.. •• 2 
0 
4 
0 
Rhubarb, bundle .. •. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Celery, bundle.1 
0 
1 
3 
Salsafy, bundle . • • • 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Colew'orts, doz. bunches 2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera, bundle ,. • • 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Cucumbers, doz.2 
0 
8 
6 
Scakale, per bkt. . • • • 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Endive, dozen.1 
0 
0 
0 
Shallots, per lb. •. • • 
0 
3 
0 
9 
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. 
s. 
a. 
B. 
a. 
p. 
d. 
p. 
a. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches.. 
2 
0 
to 4 
0 
Asters, per bunch, French 1 
6 
2 
0 
„ Fr.,large bnch 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch ., 0 
6 
1 
0 
Narcissus, 12 bunches .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Carnations, 12 bunches .. 4 
0 
6 
0 
Pffiony, dozen bunches .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
„ 12 blooms .. 1 
0 
2 
0 
Pansies, dozen bunches .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Calceolaria, doz. bunches 4 
0 
G 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 trusses 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Cornflower, doz. bunches 2 
0 
4 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 hnchs 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Eschscholt^ia, 12 bunches 2 
0 
4 
0 
Pinks (various), doz. bchs. 
8 
0 
6 
0 
Eucharis, dozen .. .. 4 
0 
6 
0 
Primula(double)12 sprays 
0 
6 
1 
9 
Forget-me-not, doz. bnch. 1 
6 
4 
0 
Ranunculus, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms .. 1 
6 
3 
0 
Roses (indoor), dozen ., 
0 
6 
1 
6 
Iris, various, dozen bnehs. 6 
0 
18 
0 
„ Moss ^Eng.), 12 bch. 
6 
0 
11 
0 
Lapageria, 12 blooms .. 2 
0 
4 
0 
,, Red (Eng.) 12bch. 
4 
0 
9 
0 
Gladiolus, 12 bunches .. 4 
0 
9 
0 
,, Red, 12 blooms .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Gypsopbila, per bunch, Fr. 1 
6 
2 
0 
„ Tea, white, dozen.. 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Lilium, various, 12 blms. 0 
9 
2 
0 
„ Yellow. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
„ longiflorum,12blm8. 2 
0 
4 
0 
Spircca, dozen bunches .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
^larguerites, 12 bunches 2 
0 
6 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
Wallflowers, doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
(> 
bunches.4 
0 
9 
0 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
p. 
a. 
B. 
a. 
B. 
a. 
B. 
a. 
Aralia Sieboldi, dozen .. 6 
Oto 12 
0 
Geraniums Scarlet, p. doz. 
3 
Oto 6 
0 
Arum Lilies, per dozen .. 8 
0 
12 
0 
Heliotrope, per doz. 
5 
0 
8 
0 
Arbor Vit© (golden) doz. 6 
0 
8 
0 
Hydrangea, doz. pots .. 
9 
0 
18 
(> 
Azalea, various, per dozen 0 
0 
0 
0 
LUy of the Valley, 12 potB 
u 
0 
0 
0 
Calceolaria, per doz, .. 6 
0 
9 
0 
Lobelia, per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Climbing Plants, various, 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
dozen pots.4 
0 
9 
0 
Mignonette, per dozen .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Cyclamen, per dozen .. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Musk, per dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Beutzia, 12 pots ,, .. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Drac®na terminalis, doz. 24 
0 
42 
0 
Nasturtiums, dozen pots 
3 
0 
4 
0 
,, viridis, dozen ., 12 
0 
24 
0 
Palms, in var., each., .. 
2 
6 
21 
0 
Epipbyllum, per dozen .. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Pelargoniums, per doz. .. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Erica, Cavendisbi, per pt. 2 
0 
8 
0 
Rhodanthe, per dozen .. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
„ various, dozen .. 12 
0 
18 
0 
Boses (Fairy), per dozen 
8 
0 
10 
0 
Euonymus, var., dozen .. 6 
0 
18 
0 
„ 12 pota . 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Evergreens,in var., do'en 6 
0 
24 
0 
Saxifraga pyramidalis, 
Ferns, in variety, dozen., 4 
0 
18 
0 
per dozen . 
18 
0 
24 
0 
Ficus elastica, each.. .. 1 
6 
7 
0 
Spiraea, 12 pots. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Foliage plants, var., each 2 
0 
IQ 
0 
Stocks, per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Fuchsia, per doz.4 
0 
9 
0 
Tropaeolums, various, per 
Geraniums, Ivy, per doz. 4 
0 
6 
0 
dozen . 
8 
0 
6 
0 
Bedding Plants in variety, in boxes and pots. 
POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENT. 
Where can we get good butter ? This is the question that h.as 
become so common as to take rank among the most prominent of 
our household words. With he.althy cows and plenty of green food 
really good butter is hardly to be met with, and whether we turn 
to grocer or farmer a more or less inferior article—a mere apology 
for butter—is offered us. Can we wonder that the price of such 
fresh butter has fallen to Gd. per lb., and that dairy cows are con¬ 
sequently also falling in price ? There is the British Dairy 
Farmers’ Association holding its sixth annual Conference—this 
time in Yorkshire—yet nothing like an attempt at general improve- 
