December 20,1894. 
JOURNAL OF nORTIGULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
575 
All correspondence should be directed either to “ The 
Editor or to “ The Publisher.’' Letters addressed to 
Dr. Hogg or members of the staff often remain unopened 
unavoidably. We request that no one will write privately 
to any of our correspondents, as doing so subjects them to 
unjustifiable trouble and expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions 
relating to Gardening and those on Bee subjects, and should 
never send more than two or three questions at once. All 
articles intended for insertion should be written on one side of 
the paper only. We cannot reply to questions through the post, 
and we do not undertake to return rejected communications. 
Chrysanthemums with Blind Centres (J1 TJ ).—You give no 
information as to whether the defective blooms are from early or late 
formed buds, or whether you refer to the Japanese or incurved section. 
If the buds are “ taken ” too early, the centre of the bloom often comes 
hard and scaly. Instead of the florets unfolding kindly they do not get 
beyond the calyx state of development. There is art in asking questions, 
and the better it is cultivated the better the information elicited. 
B.pple Small’s Admirable (^Reader ').—The above is no doubt the 
variety to which you refer. It is a very useful, hardy Apple, and we 
have often known it to be one of the few to crop well in adverse seasons. 
The tree is a very free bearer, and suitable for growing in the dwarf open 
bush form. When the requisite number of branches are formed, which 
should not he less than a foot apart, the after pruning is best limited to 
thinning, taking out superfluous growths in summer to prevent over¬ 
crowding, not shortening the main or bearing branches. This Apple 
was raised by Mr. Small of Colnbrook, near Slough. Trees, true to 
name, can be had from most, if not all, advertisers of fruit trees in our 
columns. 
Baurel Beaves Browned (/§. T. <7.).—The discolouration seems to 
be due to the action of some agent acting prejudicially on the tissues. 
This has certainly been a chemical one, lime being present, as there is 
an incrustation of calcium on some of the leaves; but the darker 
blotches give clear indications of cyanogen, which is the substance that 
gives the prussic acid when Laurel leaves are macerated in water for several 
hours to obtain the Laurel water sometimes used as an insecticide, 
though more frequently formerly than now. The young wood does not 
seem injured, but that does not contain the active principle referred to, 
except when passing from the immature to the ripened stage, and it is 
possible that you may find some of the one and two-years-old wood die as 
well as the leaves, in which case the plants will die down to the 
thoroughly ripened wood or even roots. The submersion by the floods 
is quite sufficient to account for the appearance of the leaves. 
Tecoma radlcans (£1. E. 31 .').—Sometimes this climbing plant is 
pruned in the winter, cutting the young shoots back as may be 
necessary, but the better plan is to keep the young growths thinly 
disposed in the summer. They will then mature and produce flowers if 
trained on a sunny south wall. It is difficult to ascertain when this 
beautiful deciduous climber was introduced to this country from North 
America its native place of growth. It was evidently cultivated in this 
country by Parkinson in 1640, as he has described it minutely, adding, 
“ This never bore flower with mee, nor any other that hath it in our 
country that I could heare of.” From that we may infer it could not 
have been long and generally cultivated, as the plant blooms freely 
enough when a few years old and the wood is well ripened. It used to 
be called Bignonia radicans, but was transferred to Tecoma, the diflEerence 
in the genera consisting chiefly in the partition of the fruit. Plants are 
raised from cuttings and layers in the autumn, and grow luxuriantly in 
rich soil, but firm growth in firm soil containing chalk is promotive of 
flowering. It is popularly known as the Ash-leaved Trumpet Flower. 
The Costard Apple (£1 B. C .),—The following quotation from 
the “Fruit Manual” will give the information you require regarding 
this Apple :—“ The large oblong five-ribbed and five-sided Apple, with a 
green skin and sometimes a brownish tinge on the side next the sun, an 
open eye and short stalk, is no doubt synonymous with the Catshead, 
and this accounts for George Lindley saying they are the same variety. 
But there are two other varieties of Costard which are undoubtedly 
distinct, and these are the Herefordshire or Dadnor Costard and the 
Gloucestershire Costard, which will be found described under these 
names. The Costard is one of our oldest English Apples. It is mentioned 
under the name of ‘Poma Costard’ in the fruiterers' bills of Edward I. 
in 1292, at which time it was sold for a shilling a hundred. The true 
Costard is now rarely to be met with, but at an early period it must 
have been very extensively grown, for the retailers of it were called 
Costardmongers, an appellation now transformed into costermongers. 
It is mentioned by William Lawson in 1597, who, in his quaint style, 
says, ‘ Of your Apple trees you shall finde difference in growth. A good 
pipping will grow large, and a Costard tree : stead them on the north 
side of your other Apples, thus being placed, the least will give sunne 
to the rest, and the greatest will shroud their fellowes.’ Modern authors 
make the Costard synonymous with the Catshead, chiefly, I think, on 
the authority of Mr. George Lindley, who has it so in the “ Guide to the 
Orchard;” but this is evidently an error. All the early authors who 
mention both varieties regard them as distinct, Parkinson describes 
two varieties of Costard—the ‘ Gray ’ and the ‘ Greene.’ Of the former 
he says, ‘ It is a good great Apple, somewhat whitish on the outside, and 
abideth the winter. The Green Costard is like the other, but greener on 
the outside continually.’ Ray describes both the Catshead and Costard 
as distinct, and Leonard Meager enumerates three varieties of Costard 
in his list—the white, grey, and red. Some etymologists, and Or. 
Johnson among the number, consider this name to be derived from Cost^ 
a head ; but what similarity there is between this Apple and a head, 
more than in any other variety, must puzzle anyone to discover. Is it 
not more probable that it is derived from Costatus (^Anglice, costate, or 
ribbed), on account of the prominent rib's or angles on its sides 1 I 
think this a much more likely derivation.” 
STames 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. 
(i£ 31.). — Apparently Caprifolium sempervirens; too withered to 
identify definitely. (IT. V. T.), —1, Cyperus alternifolius ; 2, Jasminum 
Sambac. (C. F.). —1, Cymbidium Lowianum ; 2, a fine form of 
Cypripedium insigne ; 3, Cypripedium barbatum. (^Amateur), — 1, 
Oncidium tigrinum ; 2, Sparmannia africana. E. E .).—Sonerila 
margaritacea. 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET.— December 19th. 
Heavy supplies of iniioor fruit for Christmas, with prices unaltered. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, per halt sieve .. 1 
„ Nova Scotia, per 
barrel.10 
Grapes, per lb.0 
Cobs, per 100 lbs.21 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. . 
Beet, Red, do^en. 
Carrots, bunch. 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. . 
Celery, bundle. 
Ooleworts, dozen bunches 
Cucumbers, dozen .. . 
Endive, dozen . 
Herbs, bunch .. .. . 
Leeks, bunch . 
Lettuce, dozen. 
Mushrooms, punnet .. . 
1 
0 
1 
1 
2 
2 
1 
0 
0 
0 
0 9 
Arum Lilies, 12 blooms .. 
Azalea, dozen sprays .. .. 
Asparagus Fern, per bunch 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
Chrysanthemums,doz.bch3. 
„ doz. blooms 
Bucharis, dozen. 
Gardenias, per dozen 
Geranium, scarlet, doz. 
bunches. 
Lilac (French) per bunch 
Lilium longiflorum, per 
dozen . 
Marguerites, 12 bunches .. 
Maidenhair Fern, dozen 
bunches. 
Mignonette, 12 bunches .. 
Orchids, per dozen blooms 
Pelargoniums, 12 bunches 
Primula (double), dozen 
snravs. .. 
d. 
b. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
a. 
d 
6 to 4 
6 
Lemons, case .. .. 
10 
0 to 15 
0 
Peaches, per doz. 
• « 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
15 
0 
Plums, half sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6 
1 
6 
St. Michael Pines, each 
• 
2 
0 
6 
0 
0 
23 
0 
Strawberries per ib. .. 
• • 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
3. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
6 to 0 
9 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 
0 
2 to 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions, bushel .. 
3 
6 
4 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Parsley, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
6 
3 
0 
Parsnips, dozen .. .. 
1 
0 
0 
6 
0 
1 
3 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy, bundle .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
5 
0 
6 
0 
Seakale, per basket .. 
•1 • 
1 
3 
1 
9 
3 
1 
6 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 
1 
6 
U 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Shallots, per lb. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Spinach, bushel .. .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Tomatoes. per lb. 
• • 
0 
2 
0 
6 
9 
1 
0 
Turnips, bunch .. ,. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
ICES.- 
•GUT FLOWERS.—Orchid Blooms in variety. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
e. 
d. 
0 to 8 0 
4 0 
5 0 
6 0 
1 6 
6 0 
12 0 
4 0 
4 6 
4 0 
6 0 
6 0 
9 0 
3 0 
6 0 
4 0 
12 0 
9 0 
0 6 10 
Pyrethrum, dozen bunches 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
„ Tea, white, dozen 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
„ Safrano (English),doz. 
., Mardchal Nisi, doz... 
„ (French), yellow, doz. 
blooms. 
„ (French), Red, dozen 
blooms . 
Smilax, per bunch .. .. 
Stephanotis, dozen sprays 
Tuberoses. 12 blooms.. 
Violets (English), dozen 
bunches. 
Violets (French), Parme, 
per bunch . 
Violets (French), Czar, per 
bunch . 
Violets (French), Victoria, 
/InrPT* hnnfiliPS.^ 
0 to 6 0 
1 0 
3 0 
16 2 0 
1 6 
2 6 
4 0 
6 0 
0 6 
2 6 
5 0 
2 0 
2 6 
s. 
Arbor Vit® (golden) dozen 6 
Aspidistra, per dozen .. 18 
Aspidistra, specimen ant 5 
Chrysanthemums,03 ioz. 4 
,, large,p doz. 9 
Cyclamen, per doze ,. 9 
Draccena, various, dozen .. 12 
Drac®na viridis, dozen .. 9 
Erica, various, per dozen .. 9 
Euonymus, var., dozen .. 6 
Evergreens, in var., per 
I dozen.6 
PLANTS 
d. s. d. 
0tol2 0 
0 36 0 
0 10 6 
0 8 0 
0 18 0 
0 12 0 
0 30 0 
0 18 0 
0 18 0 
0 18 0 
0 24 0 
IN POTS. 
Ferns, in variety, dozen .. 
(small) per hundred 
Ficus elastica, each ., .. 
Foliage plants, var., each 
Lycopodiums, per dozen .. 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen .. 
Myrtles, dozen . 
Palms, in var., each ., 
„ (specimens) .. .. 
Poinsettia, per dozen 
Primulas, per dozen .. .. 
Solanums, per dozen .. .. 
B. 
4 
4 
1 
2 
3 
6 
6 
1 
21 
10 
4 
10 
d. 9. d. 
0toI8 0 
0 6 0 
0 7 0 
0 10 0 
0 4 0 
0 12 0 
0 9 0 
0 15 0 
0 63 0 
0 15 0 
0 6 0 
0 12 0 
