October 25, 1894 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
395 
t)f Bedford Willow, or Salix Russelliana ; and mixed with these one 
plant of Populus alba, P. tremula, P. fastigiata, and P. balsamifera. 
Then the whole undergrowth might be a mass of Laurels, Privet, and 
Box, or walks might be made through it, and the following arranged in 
groups, so as to be very attractive, the last-named sorts being kept most 
to the outsides :—Evergreen Oaks, a few Hollies, common Laurels, 
Portugal Laurels, Boxes of sorts, Aucuba japonica. Daphne laureola, 
Arbutus unedo, Atriplex halimus ; Rhododendrons if a little peat can 
be given them, and there is little or no calcareous matter in the soil ; 
Hypericum calycinum, or St, John’s Wort, and Laurustinus, keeping 
the latter chiefly at the outside. Second, if the Willows and Poplars 
should be too light you may mingle with them a few Pines, as Spruce 
Firs (Abies excelsa), Picea pectinata, and Pinus austriaca and rigida ; 
but if these are encouraged to feather to the ground nothing else must 
be planted near them. Third, The Spruce Fir and Pinus austriaca 
and rigida would flourish pretty well in such a place, and would soon 
form a thicket of themselves ; but if the place were desired to look well 
from the house, and to be a place of resort as well, then if such sombre 
trees were planted from 30 to 40 feet apart walks could be carried 
through the space, and the above evergreens thrown into groups in the 
open spaces, to which might be added such deciduous plants as Privet 
and Dogwood, Fourth, If the surroundings admit of it, and as economy 
is your object, we would plant with Willows and Poplars, say from 
BO to 40 feet apart, including a few Spruce, and then use Laurels for 
undergrowth, with a belt of Laurustinus for the outside, 
Indian Figs—Cochineal (^Yorks'). —You are quite right in saying 
the fruit of Opuntia vulgaris is so called, but it is not that species that 
supports the cochineal insect, 0, vulgaris has been naturalised in the 
south of Europe, where, in Sicily, it has spread over expanses of volcanic 
sands and ashes where not a particle of vegetable soil exists. The fruit 
ia about the size of a Fig, and red on the inside. It is very much 
relished by some, but varies in quality according to the climate in which 
it is produced. The Sicilians grow it extensively, and esteem it one of 
their most valuable esculents. It forms an important article of diet 
with the inhabitants of that island during three months of the year, 
though strangers generally consider it insipid. In the countries where 
it grows the Prickly Pear is, on account of its rapid growth, much used 
for the formation of fences round lands and dwellings ; and the quick¬ 
ness with which it prows, and its long stout spines, speedily render it 
such a formidable enclosuie that neither man nor beast can penetrate it. 
■O. Tuna also makes strong fences, and when the island of St. Christopher 
was divided between the English and the French three rows of the 
Tuna were planted by common consent between the boundaries. Sir 
J. E. Smith states that the long and slender stamens of the flower are 
very irritable, and that if a quill or feather ia thrust through them, in 
the space of two or three seconds they begin to lie down gently on one 
side, and in a short time become recumbent at the bottom of the flower. 
The fruit yields a rich carmine pigment, which is used at Naples as a 
water-colour. 0. cochinillifera, or Nopal, is the plant on which the 
cochineal insect feeds and breeds. It is in Mexico where the production 
of cochineal is carried on to the greatest extent, but it ia also produced 
In the Canary Isles and in Java. The insect is the Coccus cacti. A 
number of the females are preserved during the rainy season. After the 
rains have ceased they are distributed over the plants, and having 
deposited their eggs speedily die. The eggs are hatched by the heat of 
the sun, and give rise to innumerable insects, the males of which are 
only in the proportion of one to a hundred or two hundred females, and 
being provided with wings they move about and fecundate the latter. 
After this period the females which before moved about attach them- 
.selves to the plant, and increase rapidly in s ze, so that in the end their 
legs, antennae, and proboscis are scarcely discernible, and they appear 
more like excrescences on the plant than distinct animated beings. 
They are now gathered by scraping them off by means of a blunt knife, 
or brushing them off with a quill, a feather, a squirrel’s or deer’s tail, 
a few being left to continue the race. They are destroyed by dipping 
them in hot water, or by the heat of a stove. In the former case they 
are afterwards dried in the sun. 
XTames of Fruits.— Notice. —We have pleasure in naming good 
typical fruits (when the names are discoverable) for the convenience of 
regular subscribers, who are the growers of such fruit, and not col¬ 
lectors of specimens from non-subscribers. This latter procedure is 
wholly irregular, and we trust that none of our readers will allow 
themselves to be made the mediums in infringing our rules. Special 
attention is directed to the following decision, the object of which is 
to discourage the growth of inferior and promote the culture of superior 
varieties. In consequence of the large number of woi-thless Apples and 
Pears sent to this office to be named, it has been decided to name only 
specimens and varieties of approved merit, and to reject the inferior, 
which are not worth sending or growing. The names and addresses of 
senders of fruit to be named must in all cases be enclosed with the 
specimens, whether letters referring to the fruit are sent by post or 
not. The names are not necessarily required for publication, initials 
-sufficing for that. Only six specimens can be named at once, and any 
beyond that number cannot be preserved. They should be sent on the 
first indication of change towards rigjening. Dessert Pears cannot be 
named in a hard green state. {J. K.j. —1, Baronne de Mello ; 
2, Huysbe’s Victoria ; 3, Mar^chal de Cour, poor specimen ; 4, Alfriston ; 
5, A promising fruit, worthy of a name. (IF. IF.).—1, General 
Todtleben ; 2, Grosse Calebasse ; 3, Pitmaston Duchess ; 4, Beurre 
Beauchamp ; 5, Hacan’s Incomparable ; 6, Beurr6 Diel. (//. S., Knowle 
Grcenj. —Brown Beurte. (A. A.f —1, Cox’s Pomona ; 2, Not known, 
probably local ; 3, Mar^chal de Cour ; 4, Beurr6 Capiaumont. 
(iV. S. R.j. —Neither of the Pears is Fondante d’Automne. 1 Is 
possibly Marie Louise d’Uccle; 2, Beurrh d’Amanlis ; 3, Autumn 
Bergamot; but the flavour of all is destroyed by having been in contact 
with some foreign matter. The Apple is Gravenstein. We have several 
packages of fruit containing neither names or addresses of the senders. 
These cannot receive attention. 
Thames of Plants,— 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. 
(F. C. M.'). —Sibthorpia europma. (L. O ').—Montbretia crocosmEeflora. 
(<S. Y.).—1, Dracaena australis ; 2, Croton Warreni ; 3, Crataegus 
coccinea. {Novaf — 1, Cypripedium insigne Maulei ; 2, Dendrobium 
phalmnopsis Schioderianum. {T. II. Sd). —Ceanothus rigidus. (^Ayton'). 
—Small flowers of Dendrobium Parish!. (Y. B.') —1, Populus hetero- 
phylla; 2, Populus canadensis. {Constant Reader').—I, Davallia 
Veitchi ; 2, D. dissecta; 3, D. canariense ; 4, a Lomaria, unfertile; 
5, possibly Lomaria blechnoides ; 6, Blechnum braziliensis. 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET. —October 24th. 
No alteration. Prices steady. 
Apples, per half sieve .... 1 
Grapes, per lb.0 
Oobs per ICO lbs.22 
Lemons, case .10 
FRUIT. 
8 . d. b. d. 
to 
3 
1 
25 
15 
Peaches, per doz. 
Plums, half sieve 
St. Michael Pines, each 
Strawberries per lb. .. 
s. d. a. d. 
1 0 to 10 0 
0 0 0 0 
2 0 6 0 
0 0 0 0 
VEGETABLES. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Beans, Kidney, per half 
Mushrooms, punnet .. 
0 
9 
to 1 
0 
sieve. 
1 
0 to 
1 
6 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 
0 
2 
0 
(i 
Beet, Red, dozen. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel. 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Carrots, bunch. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Parsley, dozen bunches .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Parsnips, dozen. 
1 
0 
0 
6 
Celery, bundle . 
1 
0 
1 
3 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
2 
0 
3 
G 
Coleworts, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy, bundle. 
1 
0 
1 
5 
Cucumbers, dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
2 
6 
Scorzonera, bundle .. .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Endive, dozen . 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Shallots, per lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Herbs, bunch . 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Leeks, bunch . 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes.per lb. 
0 
2 
0 
6 
Lettuce, dozen. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Turnips, bunch. 
0 
3 
u 
4 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE 
PRICES.- 
-CUT FLOWERS—Orchid Blooms in 
variety. 
S. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
4 
0 to 
6 
0 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
Asparagus Fern, per bunch 
2 
0 
3 
0 
bunches . 
4 
0 
to 6 
0 
Asters (English) doz.bnchs. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Orchids, per dozen blooms 
1 
6 
12 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
6 
U 
9 
u 
„ doz. bunches.. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Primula (double), dozen 
Chrysanthemums 
„ doz. blooms 
Cornflowers, doz. bunches 
Dahlias „ 
Eucharis, dozen 
3 0 
sprays . 
Pyrethrum, dozen bunches 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
„ (outdoor), doz. bnehs. 
Tea, white, dozen 
1 
4 
1 
12 
1 
GaiUardia, dozen bunches 
1 
0 
1 
6 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
„ Safrano (English),doz. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Gardenias, per dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
1 
0 
2 
(J 
Geranium, scarlet, doz. 
., Mardchal Niel, doz... 
Smilax, per bunch .. .. 
3 
0 
8 
0 
bunches. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
2 
0 
3 
n 
Gladiolus, dozen sprays ,. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Stephanotis, dozen sprays 
4 
0 
G 
0 
Lilium longiflorum, dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Tuberoses, 12 blooms.. .. 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
PLANTS 
IN POTS. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Arbor Vitse (golden) dozen 
6 
0 to 12 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen .. 
4 
OtolS 
0 
Aspidistra, per dozen .. 
18 
0 
36 
0 
„ (small'i per hundred 
Foliage plants, var., each 
4 
0 
G 
0 
Aspidistra, specimen plant 
5 
0 
10 
6 
2 
0 
10 
6 
Asters, dozen pots 
Chrysanthemums, per doz. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Lilium Harrisi, per dozen 
12 
0 
24 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
,, large, per doz. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Dracfena, various, dozen .. 
18 
0 
42 
0 
„ yellow, doz. pots 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Dractena viridis, dozen .. 
9 
0 
24 
0 
Mignonette, per doz. 
6 
0 
0 
0 
Erica, per dozen 
12 
0 
15 
0 
Myrtles, dozen . 
a 
0 
9 
0 
Euonvmus, var., dozen .. 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Palms, in var., each ., ,. 
„ (specimens) .. .. 
Primulas, per dozen ., 
1 
0 
15 
0 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
21 
0 
63 
n 
Ficus eiastica, each .. 
1 
0 
7 
0 
4 
0 
c 
0 
Solanums, per dozen .. .. 
10 
0 
12 
0 
ROUGH PASTURE. 
Coarse herbage in pasture is by no means a certain 
indication of inferiority; on the contrary, if it was laid down 
with care it may be highly nutritious. Cocksfoot, Meadow 
