I 
November 11. 
THE COTTAGE GAKHENEE. 
99 
COYENT GAEDEN. 
Those only who live, and those who have lived, in 
London, know the effect a wet day has on the trade of 
^ this great mart; but, when such a state of matters con¬ 
tinues, not for ono day, but for six, the effect is great 
indeed. Such has been the case for the last week or ten 
I days, and the consequence is, that business of every 
kind has been at its lowest ebb. It would be sti’ange if, 
in the midst of all this depression, Covent-Garden should 
escape; and still there are some who wonder why it 
should not, for, say they, people must have potatoes, and 
cabbages, and fruit; these don’t spoil with a wet day, 
and consumers do not go to market themselves. But, 
when it is considered that a great amount of the market 
produce is supplied to costermongei's, and that during 
[ such weather as we have had lately these persons cannot 
follow their calling in the streets, it will be at once 
understood how it is the market has been heavy. 
Fruit. —The supply of fruit continues abundant. In 
Apples, the winter varieties begin to come up, and 
among them we observed our old friend the Gatshead. 
This is a fine old English baking apple, not so much 
cultivated in these days as it once was, but still a 
favourite in all markets. Wherever there is an orchard 
planted for the supply of large towns, this is one 
variety which should always be introduced, as it 
measures well, and is always in demand. The Yorkshire 
Greening has also appeared during the week, and this, 
too, is one of those which meet with a ready sale; it is 
I well adapted for sauce, and generally commands a good 
1 price. The Hanwell Souring is another of the same 
description, and of it there have been several parcels. 
The prices which these cooking apples make is from 
3s. M. to 4s., and 5s. per bushel when very fine. Golden 
Winter Pearmains still continue abundant, and realised 
from 3s. OtZ. to 5s., according to the quality. We have also 
observed a few Dumeloivs Seedling, but it is rather early 
for them. Ribston Pippins are still plentiful, and make 
from 5s. to Ts. V,d. per bushel. Doivnton Pipgnns are to 
be met with at the same prices, but not so plentifully. 
We stated last week that Newtown Pippins had arrived 
from America. This, and the Lady Ap>pde, is, we believe, 
the only apples which are imported to this country as 
rarities, and the reason is, because they cannot be pro¬ 
duced in this climate in the same degree of perfection 
! as in America. Even against a wall the fruit of the 
Newtoirn Pijjpin never possesses the same fine flavour 
as is to be met with in the imported specimens. The 
Lady Apple is the variety which is known in the collec¬ 
tions of this country and the continent as Ponime d’Api. 
It was first introduced here in the reign of Charles the 
Second ; but the only attraction it seemed to have was, 
that it “ served the ladies, at their toilets, as a pattern 
to paint by!" We do not know to what use they are 
j applied now, but we may charitably suppose that 
j the lady who bought half-a-dozen the other day in 
the Covent-Garden arcade had no intention of applying 
them to such a purpose as the belles of Charles’s time 
did. PE.4.RS are also plentiful. Beurre Gapiaumont 
continues to take the lead. A few Bishop's Thumbs 
may still be met with, and several bushels of Messire 
Jean have also been offered. This was, at one time, 
grown to some considerable extent, but its cultivation 
has now been discontinued; and we question if there 
is a nursery where it is now propagated. The orchards 
from which the supplies have come must, therefore, be 
of an early date, for since the beginning of this century, 
at least, it has not been met with in the nurseries in 
any quantity. It is one of those old French varieties, 
which were, in all probability, introduced by London 
and Wise, of the Bromptou Park Nursery. We observed 
also, in the centre arcade, a few Olout Morccau and 
Passe Golmar; of these we shall remark on a future 
occasion. They are both first-rate varieties, and should 
be in all choice collections. 
Vegetables. —There is no variation either in the 
supply or the prices of vegetables. Cabbages are plen¬ 
tiful, at from Cd. to Is. fid. per dozen bunches. Cauli- 
^ flowers are also plentiful, at 2s. fid.; and, indeed, every 
other description of this department continues much 
the same as last week. We need not, therefore, repeat 
what we said in our fonner reports. 
Plants and Flowers. —The supply of Et^EROREENs 
IN POTS continues to increase. They are generally hand¬ 
some, well-grown, bushy plants, and consist of Aucuba 
japonica, Red Cedars, Siberian and Chinese Arbor vita. 
Tree Box, Spruce Firs, and Laurustinus. Cut Flowers 
are becoming more choice, the recent cold, wet weather 
having played sad havoc among the border flowers. 
They consist chiefly of Camellias, Scarlet Geraniums, 
Double and large-fringed Single Chinese Primroses, 
Verbenas, Double Blue Violets, and Azalea Indica. 
Some of the Bouquets are very beautiful. We promised 
last week we should, from time to time, furnish descrip¬ 
tions of any which attracted our notice. We noticed 
one this week which had a fine, large, double white 
Camellia for a centre, round which was a thick belt of 
double blue Violets; these, again, were bounded with 
another belt of Scarlet Geraniums, and the whole 
fringed round with leaves of the Eose-scented Geranium. 
H. 
GOSSIP. 
He who has written ono of the best books upon 
British Ferns, Mr. Moore, Curator of the Chelsea 
Botanic Garden, is the most fit person to prepare other 
assistance for those whom he has induced and aided by 
his little volume to collect specimens of this beautiful 
order of plants. One of the first wants felt by such 
collectors is that of a neat and correct set of labels for 
his collection. To supply this want, Mr. Moore has 
published a complete set of Fern labels. The names of 
the sections of the Order are in large capitals; the names 
of the genera in smaller capitals ; and the names of the 
species in letters still smaller, but all very legible. The 
names of the botanists who bestowed each title, and 
some synonyms are added to the specific names. 
The following is an epitome of the results of the 
cultivation of Kitchen Vegetables and Fruits, alleged to 
