March 8,1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
183 
Tomato Seed (FT. M .).—We are obliged by the seed you have sent; it 
differs somewhat from other samples we have, and the variety shall he 
grown during the present season. Are you sure it is not Capsicum seed ? 
London Flower Shows in March (A. if .).—We have not had any noti¬ 
fication of any special shows to be held at South Kensington, hut meetings 
of the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Sooiety will be held on 
March 8th and 22nd, at both of which spring flowers are certain to be repre¬ 
sented. The fmt spring show of the Royal Botanic Society will be held on 
March 23rd, and a flower show will be held at the Crystal Palace on the 
26th of the month. 
Double Cineraria (J. H.) —The specimen you have sent is very well 
grown, and we doubt not you find it useful for decorative purposes. But it 
is not superior to existing varieties ; in fact, the flower are neither so large 
nor double as many we have seen, and there are others similar in colour. 
It is attractive, but we doubt if it is of aDy great commercial value. 
Daisies on Lawn ( Farnworth ).—No doubt the artificial manure would 
invigorate the Daisies. Many persons have cleared Daisies from their 
lawns by occasional applications of Watson’s lawn sand, which is made and 
sold for the purpose. We have seen it used with stood effect, but it does not 
appear to have been effectual in all cases, possibly in some of them through 
the directions not having been carefully followed. It is sold by moBt dealers 
in horticultural requisites, also by many nurserymen and seed merchants. 
It is worth trying under the circumstances you describe. 
Zonal Pelargoniums for Winter (E. M.). —It is not easy to name two 
cnlv in each colour as bearing the “finest flowers,” and as a practical way 
of determining a few that are really good the following are selected from 
Mr. Cannell’s great collection that is now and has been through the winter 
a brilliant feature at Swanley. Singles: dark and crimson—Mr. H. C mnell, 
and Raphael; scarlets—Ajax and C. H. Swinstead; orange or salmon— 
Sw-mley Gem ’and Lady Chesterfield; pink—Edith George and Eurjdice ; 
white—Queen of the Belgians and Eureka. Doubles : F. Y. Raspail, scarlet; 
Lord Derby, pink; Blanche perfecta, white; Black Knight, crimson. 
Stoneless Grapes (C. p.).—This subject was ably discussed by Mr. S' 
Castle in our issue of January 6th of the present year. The setting of 
Grapes is the result of fertilisation, and this, as Mr. Castle observed, aids 
their stoning, hut the lack of stones in full-sized berries is indicative of the 
absence of sufficient calcareous matter in the soil. You had better read 
attentively the article in question ; then, if you need further information on 
the subject you can write again. 
Roses (A. B. C .).—Assuming your Roses were correctly named we are 
not able to account for the lack of richness in the colours. A trace of iron 
in th6 soil is said to deepen the colours of dark RoBes, and liberal applica¬ 
tions of wood—not coal—ashes or broken charcotl to the soil might be of 
benefit in your case. You may spread it on the surface an inch thick if 
you have sufficient, pointing in lightly with a fork. Failing a supply of 
charred material you may with advantage give a good dressing of soot, 
making the soil black with it and pointing it in. Copious applications of 
liquid manure, such as the drainings from manure heaps, or soot water, 
when the buds are swelling, would increase the size and deepen and brighten 
the colours of your Roses. 
Briar Cuttings (A. M. B .).—We prefer inserting them in November, 
but you may try some now, choosing firm matured portions of last year’s 
wood, cutting in lengths of about 8 inches the lower end of each smoothly 
close under a joint, and insert firmly in sandy soil, only one, or at the most 
two, buds being above the surface; but all the buds must be cut clean out 
except those, or suckers will spring up. If the cuttings root and grow well 
the stocks may he grafted next spring, attaching the scions to the upper 
part of the stock within the soil, which must of course be cleared away for 
that purpose if the plants are not taken up and potted for grafting. To 
facilitate budding and grafting in situ it is usual to insert the cuttings 
firmly about half their length, and draw soil up the remaining portion as if 
earthing Potatoes, their ridges being easily levelled down for operating on 
the stocks. They often have to remain two years to get strong enough, 
and the more roots the stocks have the better is the growth of the attached 
Roses. 
Old Fruit Trees (W. B.). —Limewash, or dusting the tr t es with dry 
lime when the branches and twigs are wet, as they are on a damp, still, 
foggy day, will destroy moss on them, and any lime falling to the ground 
will also be of benefit to the roots. Old healthy Plum tr:es with long spurs 
often hear well, and it is certain if you cut back all those spurs you will 
have no fruit this year. If much crowded it may be desirable to thin some 
of them out, retaining the best placed and most promising, and some of 
them may possibly be tied back to the main branches. It is important to 
so prune and dispose the growths that the foliage will be fully exposed to 
the Bun and air in summer, a thicket of leaves being the reverse of conducive 
to fruitfnl wood. Fresh roots near the surface of the ground also pro¬ 
mote fruitfulness, and they may be incited by removing some soil, just 
baling some of the roots, and adding fresh, containing a good propor¬ 
tion of charred material and some lime rubbish, pressing it down pretty 
firmly, and mulching with manure to prevent the escape of moisture from 
the soil in summer. We know of no book that will exactly suit you, but we 
shall shortly publish an article descriptive of a method adopted by a gar¬ 
dener in renovating old trees on walls and making them fruit f ul, and the 
'■•'■me plan intelligently carried out might be similarly beneficial in your 
oase. 
Names of Plants.—We only undertake to name species of p’ants, not 
varieties that have originated from seed and termed florists’ flowers. 
Flowering specimens are necessary of flowering plant-", and Fern fronds 
should bear spores.' Specimens should arrive in a fresh state in firm 
boxes. Slightly damp moss or soft green leaves form the best packing, dry 
cotton wool the worst. Not more than six specimens can be named at once. 
(R. J .). —Catasetum fridentatum. (T. S.). —The plant is a bulb, Veltheimia 
viridifolia. (Constant Header ).—1 resembles Ledum palustre. 2 is quite 
unrecognisable without flowerB. Both were poor examples for naming. 
(R. W.). —Small pieces of leaves are insufficient for determination; only the 
two following can be named. 6, Pepepomia arifolia. 6 ,Goodyera or Hrcma r ia 
discolor, 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— MARCH 2nd. 
Market very quiet. Prices without alteration. 
FRUIT. 
8 . 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d 
Apples 
0 to 5 
0 
Melon .. .. . 
0 
0 to 0 
0 
!• 
Nova Scotia and 
Oranges .. .. 
6 
0 
13 
0 
Canada, per barrel 10 
0 
13 
0 
Peaches . 
perdoz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries 
0 
0 
0 
Pears. 
. dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Cobs 
0 
70 
0 
Pine Apples English.. ID. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Figs 
0 
0 
0 
Plums. 
i sieve 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Grapes 
6 
6 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Lemons 
0 
IS 
0 
Strawberries .. . 
per lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d 
8. d 
8. 
d. 
Artichokes .. 
.. dozen 
i 
0 
to 0 
0 
Lettuce.dozen 
i 
0 to 
i 
< 
Asparagus 
.. bundle 
8 
0 
0 
0 
Mushrooms .. ..punnet 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Beans, Kidney 
.. per lb 
1 
9 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Be<?t, Red 
.. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Ouions.bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
8 
0 
Brussels Sprouts .. j sieve 
2 
0 
2 
6 
Parsnips.dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
i 
6 
0 
0 
Potatoes. cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Capsicums 
.. 100 
i 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney .. cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. .. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Rhubarb,. bundle 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
.. dozen 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy .. .. ,. bundle 
1 
0 
1 
0 
Celery .. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzonera .. .. bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Soakale .. •• per basket 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Cucurobers .. 
•• each 
0 
6 
x 
0 
Shallots. ft. 
0 
8 
0 
R 
Endive .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach.bushel 
8 
0 
4 
0 
Herns ,. .. 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoos .lb. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Leeks ,. .. 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips .. .. ,. bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
CUT FLOWERS. 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Abntilons 
12 bunches 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Lily of the Valley, 12 sprays 
0 
9 to 1 
6 
Arum Lilies .. 
12 blooms 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Marguerites .. 12 bunches 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Azalea .. •. 
12 sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Mignonette .. 12 bunches 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Bouvardias .. 
per bunch 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Narciss, Paper-white, bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Camellias 
blooms 
1 
6 
4 
0 
,, White English, bunch 
1 
8 
1 
6 
Carnations .. 
12 blooms 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Pelargoniums, per 12 trusses 
0 
0 
0 
0 
12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
0 
6 
1 
6 
Chrysanthemums 12 bches. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Roses .. 12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
»* 
12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ (indoor), per dozen 
1 
0 
2 
6 
Cornflower .. 
12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, Tea . dozen 
2 
0 
4 
9 
Cyclamen 
12 blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
„ red (French) dozen 
2 
6 
S 
6 
Dahlias 
12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parrae Violets (French) 
6 
0 
7 
0 
Epfphyllum .. 
doz. blooms 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Poinsettia .. 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Enchari8 
per dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Primula (single) per bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Gardenias 
12 blooms 12 
0 
24 
0 
,. (double) per bunch 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Hyacinths,Roman, 12 sprays 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Stocks, various 12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
12 sprays 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Tropfeolum .. 12 bunches 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Lapageria, white, 12 blooms 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Tuberoses .. 12 blooms 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Lapageria, red . 
. 12 blooms 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Tulips .. .. doz. blooms 
0 
9 
i 
0 
„ lougiflorum,12blms. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Violets .. .. 12 bunches 
1 
6 
2 
8 
Lilac (white), French, bunch 
9 
0 
8 
0 
Czar, French, per bunch 
2 
0 
3 
6 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
8. 
d. 
6. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
t. 
Aralia Sioboldi .. 
dozen 
9 
0 to 18 
0 
Ferns, in variety 
. dozen 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Arbor vitas (golden) dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Ficus elaRtica 
. each 
i 
6 to 
7 
0 
„ (common) 
dozen 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Foliage Plants, var. each 
2 
0 
10 
0 
Azalea .. .. per dozen 24 
0 
36 
0 
Hyacinths 
per dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Begonias .. .. 
dozen 
4 
0 
9 
0 
Lilies Valiev.. 
. dozen 
13 
0 
24 
0 
Cineraria .. per dozen 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Marguerite Daisy 
dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Cyclamen 
dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Myrtles .. .. 
. dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Dracaena terminalis 
dozen 
30 
0 
60 
0 
Narciss (various). 
12 
0 
16 
0 
,, viridis .. 
dozen 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Palms, in var. 
. each 
2 
6 
31 
0 
Erica, various 
dozen 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Primula sisensis 
per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Euonymus, in var. 
dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Solan i ms 
per doz. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Evergreens,in var. 
dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Tulips .. ..per doz. pots 
6 
0 
9 
0 
DAIRY FARMING. 
Farms situated within an hour or two’s journey by 
rail from large towns have exceptional advantages for the 
disposal of dairy produce, and it must he owned that the 
farms around Liverpool and Manchester, and in the home 
counties have such advantages. But there are few farms 
where butter and cheese may not be made profitably, and 
all dairy farms should have a fair proportion of pigs and 
poultry. r ihe selling of milk and cream must always 
depend upon the locality in which a farm is placed, but 
butter and cheese have only to be really good to com¬ 
mand a quick sale everywhere, for they are in daily 
use in every household ; yet notwithstanding this certainty 
of a ready sale for them, it is the exception and not the 
rule to find really good butter in au ordinary farmhouse, 
