March 24, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AXD COTTAGE GARDENER . 
211 
safely used for the purpose, but doubt it would be beneficial applied to 
light soil, which it wou'd make still lighter, but it would hive a tendency 
to improve the meehan cd condition of heavy land. You will have found 
the information jou require on page 320 as to shortening long spurs on 
fruit tree*, which number h id not reached you when your letter w is written. 
Gladioli in Pots ( William). —We have seen numbers of Gladioli ad¬ 
mirably grown in pots and effectively employed in conservatory decoration. 
In order to have the flowers early the plants may be s’arted in framep, 
eventually plunging the pots in ashes or cocoa-nut fibre refuse, and growing 
the plants in the open air as if they were Chrysanthemums. One large 
corm may be placed in a 6-inch, and three medium-sized conns in a 7-inch, 
and a greater number in larger pots if bold masses are. desired. 
Vine Loaves Withering (Somerset). —If all the Vines are of the same 
variety the shrivelling of the foliage of one only must be due to some local 
cause. We once knew a similar ca-e, an 1 the evil was traced to the action 
of frost on the st -m outside tin house through the slippinr of ihe hiybaud 
with which it was wrapped. The cold arrestsd the flow of sap. We have 
also known mice to nibble the s - ems of Vines and prevent sap flowing with 
sufficient freedom from supporting these growths. In the case of your 
Vine, the sap has been sufficient to support the sub-laterals but not the 
large leaves, from which the transpiration of moisture would be con¬ 
siderable. 
Bose Sporting ( Frank Ashram). —It is extremely unusual fora Rose to 
throw such a distinct sport as the bloom you have sent represents—a dear 
yellow Ro e from Souvenir d’un Ami. Are you certain that no one has 
inserted a bu 1 < f M irdchal Niel ? The specimen resembles a small bloom 
of that, and it is lesa pointed than the blooms are of the variety from which 
it is cut. Assuming it is really a sport, by all means encourage it to grow 
and establish it by budding on separate stock*, then when you obtiin good 
well-developed blooms submit them to the Floral Commi.tee of the Royal 
Horticultural Societv. 
Market Gardeners Exhibiting (J. R. W ).—We do not think that as a rule 
market gardeners should be allowed to compete with gentlemen’s gardeners 
and amateurs in cla-ses from which nurserymen are excluded. A market 
gardener is as much a trader as a nurseryman is, and as such can purchase 
produce for exhibiting, but whether he does so or not we think he is equally 
with a nurseryman out of place in the amateur clas=e*. If it is the inten¬ 
tion of your Committee to place market gardeners on the same footing as 
nurserymen, you can inform them of that when they send in their entries ; 
then if they stage th*-ir produce in wrong classes the judge can bo instructed 
to pass them when awarding the prizes. 
Concentrated Manures (TV. J .).—The mixture to which you refer has 
given gr at satisfaction to the accomplished author of our Home Farm 
articles, who ha* proved th"ir value by experience ; at the same time o her 
excellent authorities are of opinion that muriate of potash is more econo¬ 
mical than the nitrate, and better also than kiinita or sulphate of potash. 
By all means try the dealer’s mixture against the other, employing either 
the nitrate or muriate of potash. Mr. Cooke, you would perceive on 
page 204, used the litter with extraordinary results. You mi lit perhaps 
like to try the two forms of potish on separate plots, expending an equal 
amount on each. Such experiments are both interesting and instructive. 
Vine Borders Covered with Galvanised Iron Sheeting (J. D .).—It is 
very unlikely to bring mildew on early Vines, but will probably prevent it. 
The most likely cause of the mildew is the outside border beiDg “wet and 
soapy,” which his thrown the Vines into ill health. We advise, as a 
remedy, lifting the Vines, or rather the roots in the outside border, re¬ 
moving th? old soil, and rectifying the drainage and relaying the roots in 
fresh compost nearer the surface. This may be done in August with Vines 
that ripen the Grapes in May. If covered with a good thickness of dry 
leaves and litter before forcing is commenced there is no danger of the 
roots being injur d by cold. 
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. 
( 8 .). —1, Echium fastuosum. 2, Gynura aurantiaca. ( B. IV)—Pittosporum 
undulatum. 
A Superbody ( F . <?.).—‘ Felix,” in reply to your letter, writes:—A 
‘superbody” is a hive placed upon another hive for the purpose either of 
enlarging the brood nest or of giving room for the storing of surplus honey. 
Many bee-keepers think that a hive containing ten standard frames is large 
enough for the “ brood nest.” They think that at supering time every cell 
in these ten frames should be filled with “ brood.” I think that bees are 
only fit for snpering when the body hive contains at l-ast ten pounds of 
honey and the other cells are filled with brood and po len. Now, if the size of 
a brood nest consisting only often standard frames is diminished by several 
combs containing a conside-able quan’ity of honey, further room must be 
given for the purpose of giving the queen an opportunity of extending the 
brood nest, aec -riling to her capacity for brood production. If a hive foms 
12 inches in depth and 18 inches in diameter is used supers may be placed 
when the be- s are ready to work in them. If a hive of ten or twelve frames 
is prefe-red it is wiser to place a “ superbody ” also of ten or twelve frames 
of the same size above the “ body hive,” and thus enable the queen to extend 
her brood nest and the bees to store sufficient honey, to which the bees 
can at all times have easy access without cramping the queen, and conse- 
quent’y ruining the stock. Those who use hives containing twenty or other 
large number of frames will not need to nse superbodies, it will suffice for 
them to place upon the stocks when in proper condition “ supers of frames,” 
from which the honey may be run or extracted. I have had hives of ten 
standard fram. s which have given good results, but good results are not 
what I require. I want the best ” results, and so it may be expected do 
all bee-keepers. On a strong stock managed on the “non-swarming” 
system at least five racks of twenty-one 1-lb. sections should be in various 
stages of progress at once, and unless the season is unfavourable nearly 
every section should be finished without trouble. The yield of section 
honey will not be diminished by giving room for an extended brood nest; 
it will be increased, and the combs in the super body will not—if the section 
arrangements are properly carried out—contain much honey. If you have 
no f am s of comb these frames of foundation may be used, and will be 
invaluable a* spare combs npon which to hive driven bees or for use in 
superbodies in the f Mowing year, even if it is not thought desirable to 
winter the stock on two tiers of frames. A strong stock will, with a little 
aid, drt wout sheets of foundation very quickly. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET— March 23hd. 
No alteration. Business very quiet. 
FRUIT. 
B 
d 
8 
d. 
8. 
d. 
0. 
1. 
Apples. 
4 sieve 
s 
0 
to 5 
0 
Melon . 
0 
0 to 0 
0 
„ Nova Scotia and 
Oranges .. .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Canada, 
per barrel 10 
0 
13 
0 
Peaches . 
perdoz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries. 
4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pears. 
dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Cobs . 
100 lb. 
GO 
0 
65 
0 
Pine Apples English .. th. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Figs . 
dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Plums. 
4 sieve 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Graues. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Lentous. 
0 
15 
0 
Strawberries .. . 
per lb. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8 
d. 
8. 
d 
8 
d. 
Artichokes .. 
. dozen 
1 
0 
to 0 
0 
Lettuce . 
. dozen 
1 
0 
to 1 
0 
Asparagus .. 
. bundle 
8 
0 
0 
0 
Mushrooms .. . 
punnet 
0 
8 
I 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
. per lb 
i 
G 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
6 
Beet, Red .. . 
. dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Ouions. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Broccoli. 
. bundle 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley .. dozen 
bunche 8 
2 
0 
8 
0 
Brussels Sprouts . 
. 4 sieve 
2 
0 
2 
6 
Parsnips . 
dozen 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Cabbage . 
. dozen 
i 
6 
0 
0 
Potatoes .. .. . 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums .. . 
100 
i 
6 
2 
0 
,, Kidney . 
. cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Khubarb .. « 
bundle 
3 
2 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers .. 
. dozen 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
1 
0 
Celery . 
bundle 
i 
6 
2 
0 
Scorzonera .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Coleworts doz. 
bunches 
a 
0 
4 
0 
Soakale .. .. per basket 
1 
6 
a 
0 
Cucumbers .. . 
. each 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Shallots. 
0 
8 
0 
0 
Eudive. 
. dozen 
l 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
8 
0 
4 
6 
Heros . 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
.. tb. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Leeks ..... 
0 
8 
0 
4 
Turnips .. .. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
0 
PLANTS IN POTS. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
0. 
a 
Aralia Sieboldi . 
dozen 
9 
0 to 18 
0 
Fern?, in variety . 
dozen 
4 
0 to 18 
Arbor vitfe (golden) dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Ficus elastic* 
each 
i 
6 
7 
n 
„ (common) 
dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Foliage Plants, var 
. each 
2 
0 
10 
0 
Azalea .. .. per dozen 24 
0 
8G 
0 
Hyacinths .. per dozen 
6 
0 
9 
n 
Begonias .. . 
dozen 
4 
0 
9 
0 
Lilies Valley.. .. 
dozen 
2 
0 
24 
O 
Cineraria .. per dozen 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Marguerite Daisy 
dozen 
G 
0 
12 
n 
Cyclamen .. .. 
dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Myrtles. 
dozen 
6 
0 
12 
n 
Dracaana termiualis, dozen 30 
0 
60 
0 
N arcUs ( various). 
dozen 12 
0 
15 
0 
„ viridis .. 
dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Palms, in var. 
each 
2 
6 
21 
n 
Erica, various 
dozen 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Primula sisensis 
per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Euonymus, in var. 
dozen 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Solan* ms 
per doz. 
9 
0 
12 
o 
Evergreens,in var 
dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Tulips .. ..per doz. pots 
0 
0 
9 
0 
CUT FLOWERS. 
8 . 
d. 
8 . 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d- 
Abntilons 
12 bunches 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Lily of the Valley, 12 sprays 
0 
9 
to 1 
0 
Arum Lilies .. 
12 blooms 
4 
0 
« 
0 
Marguerites .. 12 bunches 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Azalea 
12 sprays 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Mignonette .. 12 bunches 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Bouvardiis .. 
per bunch 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Narciss. Paper-white bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Camellias 
blooms 
1 
6 
4 
0 
„ White English, bunch 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Carnations .. 
12 blooms 
I 
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 
6 
Cyclamen 
12 blooms 
0 
4 
0 
9 
„ red (French) dozen 
2 
6 
8 
0 
Dahlias 
12 bunches 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parme Violets (French) 
6 
0 
7 
0 
Eplphyllnm .. 
doz. blooms 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Poinsettia .. 12 blooms 
0 
0 
0 
6 
Encharis 
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 
Tropseolum .. 12 bunches 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Lapageria, white, 12 blooms 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Tuberoses .. 12 blooms 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Latmgeria, red 
, 12 blooms 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Tulips .. .. doz. blooms 
0 
6 
i 
0 
Liliam longiflorum, 12 blms. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Violets .. .. 12 bunches 
1 
6 
2 
6 
Lilac (white), French, bunch 
6 
0 
8 
0 
„ Czar, French, per bunch 
2 
0 
2 
< 
REFORM IN AGRICULTURE. 
To improvements in the direction pointed out in our 
last paper we must add many others in order to effect a 
reform calculated to be thorough in every branch and 
detail of a farmer’s calling. It is undoubtedly owing to a 
want of enterprise and energy that we have allowed so 
much that is profitable in agriculture to be wrested from 
us by farmers on the Continent and in the Colonies. 
Shrewd men of business cater for popular wants, for 
requirements of a sure, lasting, and frequently growing 
