404 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
September 12. 
The nose bed is planted with a double-flowering Myrtle in 
the centre, surrounded by plants, in pairs, of different 
colours; at the opposite sides, ends, and angles, Scarlet 
Geraniums, Heliotropes, Fuchsias, A erbenas, Cinerarias, 
Petunias, Calceolarias, Mimuluses, interspersed with Stocks. 
The eyes are each planted in a similar order, from a standard 
Rose, Geant des Batailles, on the one, and Duchess of Suther¬ 
land on the other, in the centre of the bulbous extremity of 
the Pine; their stems growing, as it were, out of the midst 
of a Hydrangea reaching half way to the summit, and 
covered with its blue and pink flowers; proceeding onw’ards 
to the point, are, first — Aueuba Japonica, Arbutus An- 
drachne, Rhododendron ferrugineum, dwarf Erica, name 
unknown, and at the extreme point of each, a half-standard 
Rose, Duchess do Montpensier, in the one, and Angelina in 
the other, with a Clethra alnifolia, now showing a profusion 
of blossom-spikes, on the grass, in the centre, between the 
two points, and the two ovals. The edges (concave and 
convex) are filled up with Californian Annuals, German 
Stocks, Asters, &c., with Carnations and Pinks. Now, my 
object is to supplant the Annuals with small herbaceous 
Perennials of various and showy colours, but such has been 
the rage for growing bedding-out. things, that I can hardly 
find even a specimen plant in any of the Nurseries here, so 
that I am unable to keep up a constant supply of flowers in 
the borders of a straight central walk, having a hedge-row 
on each side, fencing it off 1 from the small fruit-garden on 
the one hand, beyond the cottage, and on the other, from 
the lawn in front, and miniature orchard on the left-hand 
side. Seeing, therefore, that you answer your correspondents 
so much to my taste, I would take it as a particular favour, 
if, from your own recollection of these things, you would 
name a few, such as you perceive I want. I should prefer 
seedlings, when seed is procurable, as I am fond of watching 
the varying features of the first opening flower-buds. Some 
years ago, I was instrumental in getting prizes given for 
seedling-Hollyhocks, as I found they were fast dying out, 
and I am happy to see that they are now more in vogue 
than ever. I was not so successful in getting the good, old, 
white, double Rocket of the last century re-established, and 
which used, in my boyish days, to grow in my grandfather’s 
cabbage-garden, I may say, without culture of any sort, to 
the size of a grenadier's feather of the olden time, in 
alternate clumps, with armsful of the double white Nar¬ 
cissus, both of which it was my privilege to cut across, close 
to the soil, with a rusty corn-sickle, when the flowers bad 
faded, to the no small danger of the little finger of my left 
hand. I am afraid that this good old flower has given place 
to the loose-spiked purple - and-white double French (?) 
Rocket, things which very frequently come from the seed of 
the common Gillyflower that grows in every Kail-yard.— 
Medicus Edinburgensis.” 
CO VENT GARDEN. —September 4th. 
FRUIT. 
Pine Apples, 2s 6d to 3s Gd 
per lb. 
Grapes, Hamburgh, 2s Cd to 
3s Gd per lb. 
AY all Grapes, Gs per doz. lbs. 
Peaches, 2s to 8s per dozen 
Nectarines, 2s to Gs per doz. 
Figs, 2s per punnet 
Plums, 8d to Is per punnet 
Green Gage Plums, 8s peri 
half sieve 
AVilliams’ Pear, 2s to 3s per 
half sieve 
Dessert Apples, 2s Gd to 3s 
per half sieve 
Plums, 6s per sieve 
Damsons, 4s per half sieve 
AYindsor Pears, 2s to 2s Cd 
per half sieve 
Filberts, 4s to Gs per doz. lbs. 
Melons, Is to 3s each 
Apples, Dessert, 7s per bush. 
Apples, Kitchen, Os per bush. 
Almonds, Os per peck 
Brazilian Nuts, 4s per peck 
Cob Nuts, 3s per peck 
Kiln-dried Walnuts, 3s p. pek 
Lemons, 8s to 10s per liun. 
Oranges, lGs to 18s per bun. 
Barcelonas, 5s Gd per peck 
VEGETABLES. 
Potatoes, 4s Cd to 5s per cwt. 
Greens, Is 9d p. doz. bunch. 
Cabbages, 8d per dozen 
Red Cabbages, Is Gd per doz. 
Brocoli, 4s pier doz. bunches 
Cauliflower, Is Gd per dozen 
Brussels Sprouts, Is 9d per 
half sieve 
Onions, Foreign, 12s to lGs 
per hundred 
Horse Radish, 2s Gd p. bunch 
Peas, 3s Gd per bushel 
Beans, Runners, 5s per bush. 
Kidney Beans, 2s per lif. s. 
Celery, Is to Is Gd per bunch 
Lettuces, Is per score 
Endive, 9d per score 
Cucumbers, Is to 3s per doz. 
Artichokes, 2s Gd per doz. 
Beet, Gd per bunch 
Vegetable Marrow, 8dp. doz. 
Radishes, Is per doz. bunch. 
AVater Cress, 4d to Gd per doz. 
bunches 
Spanish Black Radishes, 4d 
per bunch 
Onions, 3s per doz. bunches 
Mushrooms, Is per pottle 
Tomatoes, 4s per half sieve 
Pickling Onions, 2s Gd to 
3s Gd per half sieve 
Gerkins, 2s per hundred 
Small Salad, 2d per punnet 
Chervil, 2d per punnet 
Garlic and Shallots, 8d p. lb. 
Carrots, 3s Gd per doz. bnch. 
Turnips, Is Gd per doz. bnch. 
HERBS. 
Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Lemon Thyme, Burnet, Rosemary, 
Mint, Id to 3d per bunch. 
Cut Flowers. —Roses, Mignonette, Catananches, Ver¬ 
benas, Pansies, Sweet Peas, Sweet Scabiitsas, Pelargoniums, 
Cape Jasmines, Dahlias, Violets, from Id to Is per bunch. 
Bouquets, from Is to 2s Gd each. 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
GARDENING. 
N.B.—Avoid road-scrapings for any soil when the road is 
near Coltsfoot, as when wet it catches the winged seeds 
when a shower is followed by high winds. No eradicating 
this foul weed when once sown. 
[The “yarn” is well spun, but we protest against the 
very idea of French Rockets, or English ones either, ever 
coming from the seeds of the Gillyflower in the Kale-yard. 
AVe, too, have joined the throngs from Auld Reekie, down 
Cannon Mills, and on through Inverleith, to the lecture- 
room at the Botanic, but we never heard the doctrine in¬ 
sinuated there, or elsewhere, about the transmutation of 
species. 
AVe agree with you, however, about the mixed, in pre¬ 
ference to the massed, system of planting cottage gardens ; 
but we can no more influence the cottager from his en- 
I deavours to imitate my lord, than we could hinder the 
housemaid from cutting a pattern for her new dress from 
j my lady’s best silks and satins. These things had better be 
left to individual choice, and time will cure all fancies and 
| follies in the long run. In two or three weeks we shall 
furnish a choice selection of showy “ mixtures.”] 
UNFRUITFUL PEAR-TREES. 
“ 1 have a Pear-tree against a south wall, apparently in a 
healthy condition, but producing no fruit. It was well 
attended to.last fall and this spring. It did not show any 
blossom. It has made good, healthy shoots, to which the 
gardener paid attention at the proper time. AVhat treatment 
would you recommend this tree to have to render it fruitful? 
In this month last year, I troubled you with a few lines : in 
your reply (p. 472, No. GO.), you recommend the removal 
of the Pear-trees on the low trellis, as a means of ac¬ 
celerating their fruitfulness. I adopted your suggestion, 
and removed them to the opposite side of the walk, and had 
them pilanted in stations composed as nearly as possible 
according to Mr. Errington’s directions; but the result has 
not equalled my hopes, I had only a few blossoms and no 
fruit on any of trees. Pray what attention will these trees 
require during the autumn ? They cover from ten to 
fourteen feet each on the trellis. I thank you for the hint 
respecting Gooseberries. The young bushes have borne a 
few fine Gooseberries this year; I trust, should next season 
prove favourable, to have an abundant supply. The 
Currant-trees have yielded badly, particularly black Currants. 
My Asparagus-beds, though they were said to be three years 
old, did not produce a single cutting. AYhat treatment 
should they receive ? The result of carrying out your 
suggestions has been the great improvement of my garden. 
—R. G. M. near Dublin.” 
