March 17,1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
223 
Ferns can be kept healthy for years with pood judgment in watering, in¬ 
cluding periodical applications of weak liquid manure and annual top- 
drebeings of fresh soil. A supply of plants is best maintained from spores, 
but only experts can rai-e them successfully, such pknts usually deve¬ 
loping better fronds than those established from divisions. The present is a 
good time to commence growing Ferns. Young plants grow the most freely 
in a mixture of loam, leaf soil, and sand, but stronger plant! enjoy more 
generous fare, such as sound turfy loam, much-decayed manure, and a free 
sprinkling of finely crushed boms, and if potted firmly they develops fine 
firm fronds. They enjoy some shade, such as Vines afford, and a genial 
atmosphere, but the more light they have the harder the fronds become, 
and the longer they k ep fresh when severed from the plants. They soon 
lose colour if not adequately supplied with water, or if the roots get dry 
before a liberal application. It is not easy to give too much water when 
the pots are densely packed with roots in the summer; but overwatering 
must be avoided in winter, also in the case of newly potted plants, for if the 
6oil is made sour roots will not readily take possession of it, and there can 
then be no healthy growth, but at the same time the soil must never get 
dry before water is given. A good wo k on Ferns is published by Mr. 
B. S. Williams, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Holloway, London, N. 
Inarching Camellias (Fork).—Inarching does not consist of taking 
portions from one plant and attaching them to another, that being grafting, 
but in placing two plants together and attaching portions of one to the 
branches of the other, by taking slices from the stems of each, fitting the 
growths carefully, and binding them wiih soft ligatures, not severing the 
attach d portions from the parent plant 
till the union of the two has been effected ; 
that is inarching. But you appear to de¬ 
sire to have recourse to grafting. This is 
easily effected in the case of young plants 
rjised from cuttings and established in 
small pots, because the plants can be con¬ 
veniently placed in close, moist, and rather 
warm cases. Well-ripened, short-jointed 
cuttings are taken of last year’s wood, 
sliced and affixed to the stock a little above 
the soil, and there secured with matting 
and mos3, one good leaf and bud sufficing 
above the ligature, though two are often 
left. As suggested, they must be kept close 
and damp, or the moisture will evaporate 
from the leaves of the grafts more quickly 
than it is supplied by the roots of the 
stock, tbe union then being slow if effected 
at all. If you desire to attach a number of 
grafts to a large plant or plants, and you can¬ 
not lay these down in a clo j e case, as sug¬ 
gested, you bad better try “bottle graft¬ 
ing,” which is very similar to inarching, the 
only difference being the grafts are kept 
fresh with water absorbed from the bottle 
instead of with sap supplied by the parent 
plant. The stock must be healthy and 
commencing free growth at the time the 
grafts are attached, the buds of which are 
swelling, or, in other words, the stock 
should be in advance of the scion. The 
Fig. <0. plants thus operated on must be placed in 
a shaded position in a warm house and 
frequently syringed to incite quick and free growth. The small engraving 
shows the method of bottle grafting, hut a little ingenuity may be 
needed to sufpend a number of bottles in suitable positions on a large 
plant. 
House for Half-Hardy Plants (H. B .).—If you require an ornamental 
structure it will be advisable to consult a horticultural bui der, who would 
also be best able to judge as to the kind of rockery most suitable to the 
situation. Houses of this kind have been devoted by a few amateurs to the 
purpose named, notably the late Mr. G. J. Joad, Oakfield House, Wimble¬ 
don. and Mr. J. Broome, Didsbury, Manchester. The former had the houses 
sufficiently heated to exclude frost in severe weather, with central and side 
bed.-, in which tbe occupants were planted out, and succeeded admirably. 
For the roof were employed Bomarea Caldasi, and B. Carderi, Oestrum 
aurantiacum, Clematis iudivisa, Hibbertia dentata, Abutilon vexillarium, 
Rhodochiton vo'ubile, Plumbago capensis, and Tacsonia insignis, any of 
which would succeed with you, also the Lipagerias, Tea Roses, Lonicera 
semi ervirens, and many others. In the b ds were numerous rare bulbs and 
such ornamental plants as Abelia rupestris, Lasiandra macrantha flori- 
bunda, Calceolarias, and a geneial collection of balf-bardy perennials, that 
rendered the house attractive for the greater portion of th; year. At the 
other establishment (Mr. J. Broome’s) the plants are mostly grown in pots, 
and are brought into the house from frames in succession, so that the 
arrangement can be frequently altered and tire old plants removed when the 
flowers fade. There are many Ferns adapted for such a house. Any of the 
■choicer varieties of British Ferns, such as the Athyriums, most of which are 
very graceful, can be employed ; and some of the most effective of others are 
the following :—Asplenium bulbiferum, A. dimorphum, A. flaccidum, 
Blechnum australe, Cyrtominm falcatum, Davallia canari* nis, Dcksonia 
antarctica, Gleicbenia dichotoma, Lastrea aristata, Loma ia pibba, Lygo- 
'lium scandens, Nepbrolepis davallioides furcans, Platycerium alcicorne, 
PurLs serrulata crntata, Thamnopteris Nidus, and Woodwardia radicans, 
Abundance of smaller growing plants will be found in tbe Adiantums. 
Aspleninms, and Pterises. If you require any further information we shall 
be p’eased to reply to any query. 
Names of Plants. —We only undertake to name species of plants, not 
varieties that have originated fiom 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 or soft green leaves form the best packing, dry 
cotton wool the worst. Not more than six specimens can be named at once. 
(J. H. M .).—Your plant is Iris fimbriata, which is often grown in pots for 
the greenhouse in old gardens. ( G. F. B .).—Brassavola nodosa. ( W. 
Litt ! e ).—Cymbidium pendulum. (J. B. P .).—Dendrobium fimbriatum 
oculatum, known in some gardens as D. Paxtoni. A fine specimen was 
figured in this Journal, page 425, May 27th, 1886. 
COVENT OARDEN MARKET.— March 16th. 
Trade dull. Good samples of Grapes making better prices. A few 
Strawberries to hand, with little demand. 
FRUIT. 
e. 
d 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples 
0 
to 5 
0 
Melon . 
0 
0 to 0 
0 
Nova Sootia and 
Oranges .. .. 
6 
0 
13 
0 
Canada, per barrel 10 
0 
18 
0 
Peaches . 
per doz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries 
0 
0 
0 
Pears. 
. dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Cobs 
. 100 lb. 60 
0 
70 
0 
Pine Apples English .. tb. 
i 
8 
2 
0 
Pigs 
•. dozen 0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums. 
£ sieve 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Grapes 
0 
8 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Lemous 
0 
15 
0 
Strawberries .. . 
per Hi. 
13 
0 
16 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8 
d. 
s. d 
8 
d. 
Artichokes 
dozen 1 
0 to 0 0 
Lettuce .. .. 
0 
to 1 
0 
Asparagus 
bundle 8 
0 
0 0 
Mushrooms .. 
..punnet 0 
6 
1 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
per lb 1 
6 
0 0 
Mustard and Cress punnet 0 
2 
0 
0 
Best, Red 
dozen 1 
0 
3 0 
Onions .. .. 
8 
0 
0 
Broccoli .. .. 
bundle 0 
0 
0 0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 2 
0 
s 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
# . 
) sieve 2 
0 
2 6 
Parsnips .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. .. 
dozen 1 
6 
0 0 
Potatoes .. .. 
e 
6 
0 
Capsicums 
100 1 
« 
J 0 
,, Kidney 
.. cwt. 4 
0 
5 
0 
Carrots .. .. 
bunch 0 
4 
0 0 
Rhubarb .. .. 
.. bundle 0 
2 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
dozen 3 
0 
4 0 
Salsafy .. .. 
0 
i 
0 
Celery .. .. 
bundle 1 
6 
2 0 
3corzonera .. 
.. bundle 1 
6 
0 
0 
Ooleworts doz. bunches 2 
0 
4 0 
Soakale .. .. 
per basket 1 
6 
a 
0 
Cucumbers .. 
each 0 
4 
0 6 
Shallots .. 
.. .. lb. 0 
8 
0 
0 
Endive .. 
dozen 1 
0 
3 0 
Spinach .. .. 
0 
4 
6 
Heros .. .. 
bunch 0 
3 
0 0 
Tomatoes 
0 
a 
0 
Leeks .. .. 
bunch 0 
8 
0 4 
Turnips .. .. 
,. bunch 0 
4 
0 
e 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
6. 
d. 
a. d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
4. 
Aralia Sieboldi 
dozen 9 
0 to 18 0 
Ferns, in variety 
.. dozen 4 
0 to 18 
0 
Arbor vitae (golden) dozen 6 
0 
9 0 
Ficus elastica 
. each 1 
6 
7 
0 
„ (common) 
dozen 6 
0 
12 0 
Foliage Plants, var. each 2 
0 
10 
0 
Azalea .. .. 
per 
dozen 24 
0 
86 0 
Hyacinths 
per dozen 6 
0 
9 
0 
Begonias 
dozen 4 
0 
9 0 
Lilies Valiev.. 
.. dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Cineraria 
per dozen 9 
0 
12 0 
Marguerite Daisy dozen 6 
0 
12 
0 
Cyolamen 
,, 
dozen 12 
0 
24 0 
Myrtles .. 
0 
ia 
0 
Dracaena terminalia, 
dozen 30 
0 
60 0 
Narciss (various) 
.. dozen 12 
0 
15 
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 
Eucnvmus, in var. 
dozen 6 
0 
18 0 
Solan* m3 
per doz. 9 
0 
12 
e 
Evergreens, in var. 
dozen 6 
0 
24 0 
Tulips .. ..per doz. pots 6 
0 
9 
0 
CUT FLOWERS. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
Abntilons 
12 bunches 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Lily of the Valiev, 12 sprays 
0 
9 to 1 
Arum Lilies . 
12 blooms 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Marguerites .. 12 bunches 
2 
0 
6 
Azalea .. . 
12 sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Mignonette .. 12 bunches 
4 
0 
6 
Bouvardias .. 
per bunch 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Narciss. Paper-white bunch 
0 
4 
0 
Camellias 
blooms 
I 
6 
4 
0 
„ White English, bunch 
1 
s 
1 
Carnations .. 
12 blooms 
1 
0 
8 
0 
Pelargoniums, per 12 trusses 
0 
0 
0 
12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ scarlet, 12 trusses 
0 
6 
1 
Chrysanthemums 12 bebes. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Roses .. 12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ (indoor), per dozen 
l 
0 
2 
Cornflower .. 
12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
„ Tea. dozen 
2 
0 
4 
Cyclamen 
12 blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
„ red (French) dozen 
2 
6 
8 
Dahlias 
12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parme Violets (French) 
6 
0 
7 
Epiphyllnm .. 
doz. blooms 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Poinsettia .. 12 blooms 
0 
0 
O 
Eucharia .. 
per dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Primula (single) per bunch 
0 
4 
0 
Gardenias 
12 blooms 12 
0 
21 
0 
,, (double) per bunch 
1 
0 
I 
Hyacinths. Roman, 12 sprays 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Stocks, various 12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
12 sprays 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Tropaeolam .. 12 bunches 
1 
6 
2 
Lapageria, white, 12 blooms 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Tuberoses .. 12 blooms 
2 
0 
4 
Lapageria, red 
. 12 blooms 
I 
0 
2 
0 
Tulips .. .. doz. blooms 
0 
6 
i 
Lilinm longitlorum, 12 blms. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Violets .. .. 12 bunches 
1 
6 
2 
Lilac (white), French, bunoh 
6 
0 
8 
0 
„ Czar, French, per bunch 
3 
0 
2 
0 
e 
6 
6 
a 
s 
0 
8 
8 
0 
0 
6 
< 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
• 
8 
REFORM IN AGRICULTURE. 
What is to be done with our farms under the depres¬ 
sion? This is a question often asked—more often 
answered, for we are told repeatedly by those lookers-on 
who are said to see most of the game, that we have only 
to do this or that in order to overcome our difficulties. 
Said a farmer of the old school after listening to a long 
speech about possible improvements in agriculture, “ It’s 
all bosh, what we want is better prices for our farm 
produce.” Of course we want better prices, but with the 
stern fact before us of increasing foreign competition, we 
