.Ianuary lo. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENEE. 
27!) 
basket. An unconditioiial bushel means imperial mea¬ 
sure of four pecks; but sucli does not seem to be the 
case ill Covent Garden, us we liave in several cases 
lately been obliged to learn. We know there are some 
of the measures inadc use of in the vegetable and fruit 
markets—such as the pottle and the punnet —which 
have a vague and indefinite signification ; and we 
should have been induced to think the same of the 
bushel also, had we not discovered a system of decep¬ 
tion and roguery which has become too general, while 
at the same time purporting to supply imperial measure. 
In every instance which has come under our notice we 
have found the bushel basket to be filled about one- 
fourth of its depth from the bottom with straw, and the 
quantity of apples which are obtained is barely three 
pecks. Now this is a state of things which ought not 
to be permitted, and one which calls loudly for the 
interference of the proper authorities. Why should the 
public be robbed of their fruit with impunity, any more 
than of their sugar, or tea, or beef, or bread ? It would 
be well if some one who has time and ability would 
give heed to this matter. It requires only to be inquired 
into, and the proper machinery to be set in motion, to 
have the nefarious system abolished. 
The continuance of the present unseasonable and un¬ 
favourable state of the weather is operating very much 
on the trade of the markets, and the consequence is, the 
sales of every description of produce has been heavy. 
The supply of fruit continues good. Apples do not 
realise such high prices as during the last few weeks; 
good-looking varieties being to be had at from 4s. (id. to 
7s. fid., and dessert from Cs. to 8s. per bushel. The 
sorts which have been most plentiful are the old Royal 
Russet, which is an established favourite; the Wintei' 
Greening, or, as it has been called of late years, the 
French Grab, is also an old and excellent keejnng apple 
for kitchen use, as it continues in use as long as April 
and May, and, in some instances, when well kept, even 
as late as June and July. The Hanwell Souring, a va¬ 
luable sauce apple, is also pretty plentiful. There are 
also several parcels of Alfriston, Blenheim Pippin, Golden 
Winter Pearmain, and a few Beauty of Kent. We do 
not recollect ever seeing so few Nonpareils as this sea¬ 
son ; they are understood to be very scarce. An excel¬ 
lent dessert apple, which is largely gi-own in Surrey, 
called the Cockle Pippin, has appeared during the last 
week or two pretty plentifully, and meets with a ready 
sale. Newtown Pippins and Lady Apples are plentiful. 
In Pears, we have nothing new; and of what there is, 
the prices are such as to keep the supply equal to the 
consumption. The sorts are still, Nelis d'Hiver, Beurre 
de Ranee, Passe Colmar, Ghaumontel, Easter Beurre, Ne 
plus Meuris, and a very few Duchesse d'Angouleme. 
Grapes are scarce, and obtain great prices. Blade 
Hamburghs make from 5s. to 7s. Od. per tb. Muscat of 
Alexandria, 10s. Od. to 12s. Od. per fb. 
Vegetables continue in abundance, the prices being 
the same as quoted in our last report. Forced Sea-hale 
and Rhubarb are more abundant, and Asparagus has, 
during the past week, been pretty plentiful, but very 
small and weak. New Potatoes are being offered at one 
shilling for a small basket, containing about a piut-aiid- 
a halt, or little more. We also observed a few forced 
Mushrooms. 
Cut Fi.owers and Plants in Pots aro in great pro¬ 
fusion. The former arc of a more choice description 
than we have been accustomed to hitherto, being all 
the production of the greenhouse, stove, or forcing- 
house. They consist of Camellias, Azalea indica alba, 
Daniclsiana, and Lateritea; Cytisus racemosus; garlands 
of Passijlora Kermesina; spikes of EiqAiorbia jacquini 
flora; heads of Poinsettia pulcherrima; and bunches of 
Lilac, TAly of the Valley, Primulas, China Roses, Gera¬ 
niums, Violets, and Orange Flowers. H, 
The following is a list of the Poultry Shows of which 
we are at present aware. We shall be obliged by any 
of our readers sending us additions to the list, and 
giving the address of the Secretaries. 
Doncaster, January 21st. (-Sec. H. Moore, Esq.) 
Great Metropolitan, January 11th, 12th, 1.3th, and 
14th. {See. W. Houghton.) 
Reigate, February 1st and 2nd. {Sec. J. Richaidson, 
Esq.) 
Torquay, January 14th and 15th. {Secs. A. Paul, and J. 
C. Stack.) 
STRAWBERRY FORCING. 
There can be little doubt that with the e.xtension of 
glazed structures (consequent on their cheapness as 
compared with former days) the forcing of the Straw¬ 
berry will obtain an increase of patronage; and, if we 
may judge by the character of the inquiries made con¬ 
cerning them, they are as little understood as any of 
our forced fruits. We lately received a query from a 
subscriber to The Cottage Gardener throwing some 
light on what we mean. The writer, it appears, wanted 
ripe strawberries in February, and had purchased some 
plants for forcing of some gardener, or tradesman; and 
these, it appears, were simply runners pulled from the 
heels, and stuck into pots, when they immediately 
assumed the dignified title of “forcing strawberries;” 
and doubtless the increase in their price corresponded 
with the dignity of their improved position. Now, we 
are afraid to say what we think of the tradesman, if 
such he be, who could be guilty of such a transaction, 
provided that the unwary purchaser stated his objects 
properly. 
Let it be understood, then, by all those who aspire at 
proficiency in this proceeding, that no success can be 
expected from strawberry plants unless they have been 
duly prepared for the purpose; and we may here briefly 
state in what that preparation consists. The first object 
is to obtain early and stout runners; but, whether stout 
or not, they must be early; and to this end it is good 
practice to keep a row purposely to breed from. We 
have known this done many years since, and, indeed, 
have ourselves practised it; and care must be taken to 
make a bed on each side the row, in March, for the 
young runners to nestle and root in. This was done by 
breaking the surface up, and applying a surface-dressing 
of rich old manurial matter—that from an old hotbed 
of the previous year, composed originally of dung and 
leaves, is excellent. This, chopped well, and scattered 
three inches thick for a yard on each side the row, will 
speedily produce strong runners. Care should be taken, 
when the strings which produce the runners first ad- 
