318 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 14, 1888. 
FLORICULTURE. 
Look to the Daklia Hoots. 
Those who are preserving through the winter what 
are known as ground roots of Dahlias — that is, 
roots of plants that bloomed in the open ground last 
summer—should look them over occasionally to see that 
they are not decaying. The tubers are attached to the 
main portion or body of the root by a thick fleshy 
pipe or cord, and rot sometimes sets in at this point 
and spreads both ways. Some roots—roots of par¬ 
ticular sorts—keep badly, and so it is well to look over 
the stock occasionally, more especially on the part of 
those who propagate a great number of plants for sale 
purposes. Any rotten parts that are perceived should 
be cut away as far as practicable, and attempts made 
to dry up any affected parts. If the rot should have 
so laid hold upon a ground root that there is danger of 
losing it altogether, it would be well to take it up and 
put it into a large pot, and endeavour to get cuttings 
from it with all speed, so as to save as much stock as 
possible before it finally decays. Occasionally a root 
will go blind and not put forth a single cutting, which 
is a great disappointment. Pot roots, as they are 
called, are the roots of young plants struck from 
cuttings in the spring of 1887, and then put into 
thumbs or small 60-size pots for sale, allowing them to 
remain in these all through the summer. Anyone 
who walks through Mr. Turner’s nursery at Slough 
during the summer will see large numbers of plants of 
this character in pits. In the autumn the foliage is 
cut away, the roots shaken from the soil, and then 
stored away for the winter, when they come in very 
handy for executing orders for Dahlias during that 
season. Mr. Turner and others find it very convenient 
to have a good reserve of pot roots, as thej r prove useful 
for propagating purposes when the supply of ground 
roots are short, or any lost through the rot. Some 
varieties throw better show flowers from pot roots of 
the previous year than they do from spring-struck 
cuttings of the current year. I may add that the 
ground intended for the cultivation of Dahlias should 
now be well trenched and thrown up in ridges, or, at 
any rate roughly, so that the frost and cold winds can 
act upon it in the direction of well pulverising it. 
Dahlia ground should be trenched to the depth of 3 ft., 
provided that the sirbsoil is in every way suitable. A 
good deep dark or yellow loam, not too stiff, is the 
very thing for Dahlias.— R. D. 
-- 
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS. 
American Apples. — G. Herrington : The Melon Apple and the 
Mother Apple will both do well as pyramids or cordons; Reinette 
du Canada should be trained as a cordon or against a wall to get 
the best results ; Northern Spy and King of Tompkins County 
should both be grown against a wall; and Washington will give 
the finest fruits on pot trees grown under glass. The change of 
soil and climate does alter the character of the fruits, but for 
the better, insomuch as with us the varieties named have greater 
piquancy of flavour than the American-grown samples which 
come to our markets. We would not attempt to grow any of 
them for market as a speculation. In your soil—a rich stiff 
loam— all the varieties should be grown on the paradise stock. 
Cuop.ogi. — Amateur : Messrs. Barr & Son, we think, had some 
roots for sale last year, and probably can supply you now. The 
first notice of it in any English paper, appeared (with an illus¬ 
tration) in our issue for October 23rd, 1S86, under the name of 
Stachys affinis, which has since been changed to S. tuberifera. 
Pap.ks. —•/. S.: No ; both Battersea and Victoria Parks are 
now under the control and management of the Metropolitan 
Board of Works. 
Cypripedium Spicerianum, &c.— W . J ., jun .: We quite agree 
with you that the specimen of Cypripedium Spicerianum sent is 
equivalent to that of a good variety, chiefly on account of its 
size. The standard is much broader than long, and pure white 
with the exception of the median line, and a green blotch at 
the base. The petals are not particularly noticeable, but the 
labellum is both large and deeply coloured. The Odontoglossum 
possibly next week. 
Grafts. — G. A. L.: Your trees may be pruned without any 
further delay, and the prunings which you wish to preserve laid 
in soil behind a north aspect wall, where they will keep per¬ 
fectly fresh till required in March. The trees which you 
intend-to graft may now be headed down, or at any time soon 
while the weather is mild. You may either use grafting wax or 
clay. 
Names of Plants. — JV. HA.: Oncidium O'Brienianum.— 
Jock Scott : 1, Cypripedium insigne, a good variety; 2, C. ve- 
nustum, not so good ; 3, Lycaste Skinneri.— T. C. B.: 1, Libo- 
cedrus decurrens ; 2, Cupressus Nutkaensis ; 3, Wellingtonia 
gigantea ; 4, Cryptomeria japonica. — Boris : Jasminum nudi- 
florum. — H. II. 0. : One of the Hoyas, probably H. carnosa. 
Names of Fruits.— T . S . B . : We have failed to identify your 
Apple, which we believe is a local sort, and most largely grown 
in Worcestershire. 
Communications Received.—G. Beaton.— F. R. S. —E. .R, C. 
— H. D.—Man of Kent.—A. J. R.— S. & S.—J. L.—W. J. I.— 
A. H. E. — J. F.— A. T. M. — Inquirer. — S. C. B. 
TEADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. 
Thomas S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham.—New, 
Rare and Choice Flower Seeds, &c. 
R. B. Laird & Sons, 17, South Frederick Street, Edinburgh.- 
Kitclien-Garden and Flower Seeds, &c. 
Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, N.B.—Select Flower and Yegetible 
Seeds. 
Benjamin Soddy, 243, Walworth road, S.E.— Spring Catalogue 
of Flower and Vegetable Seeds. 
J. Cheal k Sons, Lowfield Nurseries, Crawley, Sussex.— 
Vegetable and Flower Seeds. 
Fred. Roemer, Quedlenburg, Germany.—Flower, Vegetable 
and Agricultural Seeds. 
J. B. Thomson, 20, High Street, Birmingham.—Seed Catalogue 
and Amateurs’ Guide. 
James Dickson & Sons, 32, Hanover Street, Edinburgh.— 
Vegetable and Flower Seed*. 
Thomas Lyxton, Bedford. — Novelties and Specialties in 
Flower and Vegetable Seeds. 
W. Drummond & Sons, Stirling.—Select Vegetable and Flower 
Seeds, &c. 
Dicksons & Co., 1, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh.—Catalogue of 
Seeds and Amateurs' Guide to Gardening. 
J. & R. Thyne, S3, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.—Choice 
Vegetable and Flower Seeds. 
W. Baylor Hartland, 24, Patrick Street, Cork.—Year Book 
of Seeds for the Season, 188S. 
William Bull, 536, King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W. — Select 
Flower and Vegetable Seeds. 
Little & Ballantyne, Carlisle. — Vegetable, Flower, and 
Farm Seeds, &c. 
-- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
January 1 1th. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 39, 
Seed Market, Mark Lane, London, report no trade 
in seeds at Mark Lane, owing to fog ; prices all round 
are firm, German Red Clover being held for an 
advance of 2s. per cwt. No change in values of White 
Alsyke or Trefoil. Bird Seeds are unchanged. 
~>X<- 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
January 12th. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Apples, £ sieve. 1 3 
Grapes .per lb. 1 0 
Grapes, Chan. Islands, 
per lb. 1 0 
Kent Cobs_100 lbs. 50 0 
Melons .each 0 6 
3 6 
2 0 
1 3 
2 0 
s.d. 
2 6 
1 6 
Pears, 4-sieve. 
Pears, French, doz. . 
Pine-apples, St. 
Michaels, each_ 2 0 
Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 1 0 
s.d 
6 0 
2 6 
5 0 
2 0 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s.d. 
Artichokes, Globe,doz. 2 0 
Beans, French, per lb. 0 6 
Beet, per dozen. 2 0 
Cabbages_per doz. 2 0 
Carrots.per bun. 0 9 
Cauliflowers, English, 
per dozen . 4 0 
Celery, per bundle ..20 
Cucumbers, each .... 0 6 
Endive, French, doz. 2 6 
s.d. 
3 0 
3 0 
2 6 
6 0 
1 0 
3 6 
0 4 
s.d. s.d. 
Horse Radish, bundle 3 0 5 0 
Lettuces .. per dozen 2 0 3 0 
Mushrooms, p. basket 0 9 13 
Onions, per bushel ..5 0 6 0 
Parsley, per hunch ..06 
Radishes, per dozen ..16 
Sea Kale, .per punnet 2 0 2 6 
Small salading,punnet 0 4 
Spinach, per strike ..20 
Tomatos, per lb.10 
Turnips_ per bun. 0 6 
Herbs, per bunch.... 0 2 
Potatos.- Kent Regents, 80s. to 100s. per ton ; Kent Kidneys, 
80s. to 100s. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
d. s.d. 
0 S 0 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 5 
Azalea .... 12 sprays 09 10 
Bouvardias, per bun. 0 6 10 
Camellias... .per doz. 2 0 5 0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 10 2 0 
Chrysanthemums, 
12 bun .IS 0 30 0 
Chrysanthemums, 
12 blooms 2 0 6 0 
Epiphyllum, 12 blms. 0 4 0 6 
Eucharis, per dozen.. 4 0 6 0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms. 9 0 15 0 
Hellebore or Christ¬ 
mas Rose..12 blms. 0 9 2 0 
Heliotropes, 12 sprays 0 6 10 
Hyacinths, Roman, 12 
sprays 09 16 
Lilium longiflorum, 
12 blooms 6 0 9 0 
Lilium speciosum, 
12 blooms 
Lily of the Valley, 
12 sprays 0 9 16 
s.d. 
Marguerites, 12 bun... 3 0 
Mignonette, 12 bun... 3 0 
Myosotis, 12 bunches 
Pelargoniums,12spys. 1 0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, 
12 sprays.. 0 S 
Poinsettia. .12 blooms 4 0 
I Primula, double, bun. 1 0 
Roses (coloured) .... 1 0 
Roses, Tea, per dozen 1 0 
Roses, mixed, per doz. 1 0 
— Saffrano .. per doz. 2 0 
Stephanotis 12 sprays 
Sunflower_12 bun. 
Tropieolums . 2 0 
Tuberoses, per dozen. 0 9 
Tulips ....12 blooms 0 9 
Violets.12 bun. 1 
— French.... 12 bun. 2 
-Parme. .12 bun. 5 
White Jasmine, bun. 0 
White Lilac per bun. 6 
s.d. 
6 0 
6 0 
1 6 
0 
0 
6 
0 
6 
2 0 
4 0 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, doz.. 6 0 18 0 
Azalea .per doz. 24 0 42 0 
Chrysanthemums ,, 12 0 24 0 
Cyclamen_perdoz.12 0 24 0 
Cyperus ..per dozen 4 0 12 0 
Dracsena term., doz. .30 0 60 0 
— viridis, per dozen 12 0 24 0 
Epiphyllums, per doz.12 0 30 0 
Erica, various ..doz. 9 0 IS 0 
Evergreens, in var., 
per dozen . 6 0 24 0 
Ferns, in var., do .. 4 0 IS 0 
Ficus elastica each.. 16 7 6 
s.d. s.d. 
Foliage Plants, vari¬ 
ous, each. 2 0 10 6 
Hyacinths, 
per doz. pots 6 0 10 0 
Marguerites per doz. 9 0 12 0 
Mignonette, .per doz. 
Palms in variety, each 2 6 21 0 
Pelargoniums,scarlet, 
per dozen . 30 60 
Poinsettias ..perdoz.12 0 IS 0 
Single Primula or 
sinensis .doz. 4 0 6 0 
Tulips ..per doz. pots S 0 10 0 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Amateurs’ Garden, the_ 311 
Apiary, the . 315 
Bullfinches and the Fruit 
Buds . 314 
Carnations, propagating .. 314 
Clover and Grass Seed.... 309 
Conifers for planting. 315 
Crassula lactea . 314 
Dalilia Roots, look to .... 31S 
Fruit-tree nomenclature .. 314 
Gardeners’ Benevolent 
Institution . 317 
Gardeners’ Calendar. 317 
Horticultural Exhibitions 317 
Horticultural Societies_316 
Hyacinths in glasses. 312 
Indoor decorations . 314 
PAGE 
Kennedya Marryattae .... 314 
Mount View. 312 
Novelties of the Season_ 310 
Nursery, Mr. Williams’ .. 312 
Orchids, Cape terrestrial.. 312 
Orchid Notes . 316 
Orchids, top-dressing .... 316 
Paraffin as an Insecticide.. 314 
Petunias . 307 
Plants, new, certificated.. 310 
Plant Propagation. 309 
Primulas, the Reading_ 313 
Propagation of Plants _ 309 
Reinwardtia tetragyna_314 
South Africa, notes from.. 312 
| Woodhatch Lodge. 309 
THE EARLIEST PEA IN THE WORLD 
CARTERS’ 
LIGHTNING 
“ Four Days Earlier tban 
Ringleader.” 
Mr. Wilson, Gardener to the Most 
Noble the Marquis of Hartington. 
“Ten Days Earlier than 
First and Best. ” 
Mr. Rabone, Gardener to the Right 
Hon. the Earl of Shrewsbury. 
EVERY GROWER OF EARLY PEAS 
SHOULD TRY THIS NOVELTY. 
Price in Sealed Packets. 
2/6 per pint; post free, 2/10. 
In Sealed Bags, price 30j- per 
Bushel, carriage free. 
CART ERS’, 
ROYAL SEEDSMEN BY SEALED WARRANT, 
High Holborn, London. 
SEEDS! SEEDS!! 
CHARLES TURNER’S 
Descriptive Catalogue of Seeds 
for the Garden and Farm is NOW BEADY, and may be 
had free on application. 
THE ROYAL NURSERIES, SLOUGH. 
CARNATIONS, PIC0TEES, 
Ana POT ROOTS c t DASHAS. 
M V stocks of above are by far the finest seen for several 
years, so that intending purchasers should have a copy 
before ordering elsewhere, as" the same for price and quality 
cannot he excelled, the collection having been awarded upwards 
of 130 prizes this season. Lists may be had Post Fiee. 
FRANK LAW, Carnation Gardens, RocMale. 
Write for Dr. Voelcker’s Report, Pamphlet, Testimonials, and 
Instructions how to apply 
JENSEN’S 
Every grain fertilises because the Guano is perfectly pure. It is 
a most economical Manure, 1 part to 100 parts of soil being ample 
for any plant. 
FISH-POTASH 
FISH-POTASH contains Ammonia, Phosphates, and Potash in 
large proportions, which arc the principal elements of fertili¬ 
sation. 
GUANO. 
PRICES 2-lb. Tin, Is. ; 7 lbs., 2s. ; 14 lbs., 4s.; 
28 lbs., 6s. 6d. ; 56 lbs., 10s, 6d.; 1 cwt., 16s. ; 
2 cwt., 30s. ; Bags free. Special Terms for 
large quantities. 
CHEAPEST AND BEST. ANALYSIS GUARANTEED. 
J, JENSEN & CO., Limited, 
109, Fenchurch Street, London, E.C. 
