542 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 21, 1888. 
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS, 
It is particularly requested that correspondents 
will favour us with their communications as early in 
the week as possible, and that they address them only 
to “The Editor.” _ 
Transplanting Rhododendrons. — F. D. ill. ; Little or no 
harm will accrue to the plants even if lifted weeks hence, 
although the flower-buds are well advanced. Much will depend 
on the nature of the soil, however, in which they are grown, and 
the care with which the plants are lifted. Soil of a suitable 
nature for Rhododendrons should be so permeated with the 
slender fibrous roots that the plants may be taken up with a 
large ball. In preparing the new bed use a considerable amount 
of peat, or if that is not readily procurable in the neighbourhood, 
get the muddy and sandy scourings of ditches, ponds or similar 
places, and should they be partly decayed, all the better. Any¬ 
thing that will tend to retain the moisture, and yet not be too 
adhesive, will constitute a suitable medium in which to place 
newly-transplanted Rhododendrons with some hope of success. 
Gold-laced Polyanthus.— H. B.: Tour specimens of these 
to hand are indeed fine, and merit preservation. There will be 
no difficulty attached to their propagation if you leave them till 
out of flower. Then lift them carefully, and after having shaken 
the soil clean away, sever the rhizomes into as many pieces as 
there are crowns. This should be carefully done with a sharp 
knife, so that the cuts may heal over with as little injury to the 
plants as possible. Plant in a shady place, or, better still, in a 
frame, if at command, using a compost heavily enriched with 
well-decayed leaf-soil, which should be well drained. Water 
immediately, and shade from strong sunshine till established. 
Adiantum Legrandi.— G. Hendry: This garden variety of 
Maidenhair is merely a form of A. cuneatum, but is not identical 
with A. c. Pacottei. The former bears the same relation to the 
type as A. gracillimum does—that is, the pinnules are very 
slender and narrow in both A. c. gracillimum and A. c. Legrandi; 
but the latter is characterised by its short triangular fronds. 
A c. Pacottei has also even shorter triangular fronds, with 
broad densely-arraDged pinnules, so that their breadth dis¬ 
tinguishes this variety from A. c. Legrandi, with narrow pinnules. 
Deep Planting.— A. Moss : No good can result from burying 
the roots and trunks of your trees, and if it is imperative that 
the ground should be made up for the purpose you mention, we 
would advise you to lift the trees if not too large, provided they 
are sufficiently valuable to warrant the trouble of doing it. 
The access of air to the roots is as essential to their well-being 
as for the aerial parts of the trees themselves, and should they 
be so buried as to prevent this access of air, they suffer in con¬ 
sequence. Various Conifers, with the exception of Pines, will 
transplant after they have attained considerable size if lifted 
with a good ball, and kept watered till they have taken fresh 
hold of the new soil. Evidence of the value of keeping these 
trees well above the surface of the soil may be observed in the 
fine specimens planted at Dropmore by the late Mr. Frost. 
Calceolarias Dying. — Amateur: You did not say whether 
your plants are grown in a window or cold frame. The cause 
of their rotting away at the collar of the plant we should 
attribute to stiff and adhesive soil, or to overwatering while the 
drainage is in a bad condition. If the plants have been grown 
in a window they may probably have been weakened by too 
little air or light, thereby rendering them constitutionally weak 
and unable to withstand the evil effects above mentioned. We 
should advise you to examine the state of the soil, and if very 
bad you might avert further loss by carefully removing the 
lower part of the soil and re-potting afresh in light, fibrous, hut 
well-decayed and sandy loam, and if need be, add clean, sharp 
river sand to ensure porosity. 
Standard Pelargoniums. — H. Feo,rnside: If you desire to 
form standards, so as to elevate the weeping or Ivy-leaved kinds 
on a stem, you could not do better than graft them on to straight 
clean stems of some stronger-growing kind. The present month 
is suitable for the operation, which may be done in the ordinary 
way. Maintain a moist atmosphere in the house where they are 
located, with a medium warm temperature, till union is effected, 
which will take place sooner or later, according to the nature of 
the weather and the state of growth of the plants themselves. 
Secure firmly, so that the scion may not be displaced till a 
thorough union is effected. 
Hyacinths Failing.—/. Moir: We have had several instances 
of a similar kind with late-potted Hyacinths, and should suggest 
that the bulbs themseves might have been injured around the 
rooting surface before being potted. Another cause would be 
found in the lateness of the season (December) at which they 
were potted, so that winter was upon them, and the ground cold 
and sodden, as you say the soil in your neighbourhood is naturally 
very moist, from its vicinity to the flat and marshy lower reaches 
of the Thames. All these disadvantages militated against them 
and hindered the emission of roots, so that top growth had 
commenced before there were any roots to support it. All the 
lower regions of the bulbs are now rotten, so that the production 
of roots is impossible. These rotten parts are also swarming 
with mites and nematoid worms, which we merely consider as 
accompaniments to the evil, because they find food in the 
decaying matter. 
Thermometers.— P. E.: A thermometer costing half-a-crown 
will, of course, not be so elaborately got up as one costing half- 
a-guinea or a sovereign, but for all ordinary garden purposes 
will be equally useful, and register correctly, presuming that it 
is fairly correct when you buy it. We do not quite understand 
your second question, but may add that both the spirit and the 
mercurial thermometers are liable to get out of order after a 
time, which will occur sooner in the open air than under glass. 
Names of Plants.—/. C.: The hardy shrub is the Alexandrian 
Laurel, Ruscus racemosus; the Pelargonium is P. echinatum, 
with spiny stipules. IF. D. Marks : Vanda cristata, a very fine 
variety. A. Wright: Pulmonaria mollis. G. Beddoes: Cattleya 
TrianEe, a very fine variety, the lip being especially highly 
coloured. 
Communications Received.—A. O.—J. C. & Co.— C. H. P.— 
X P.—E. S.—De B. C.—E. H. A.—C. P. 
THE WEATHER. 
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean reading 
of the barometer during the week ending April 14th, 
was 29 '75 in. ; the highest reading was 29'93 in. on 
Tuesday evening; and the lowest was 29'o9 in. on 
Friday morning. The mean temperature of the air was 
42'2°, and 4'9° below the average in the corresponding 
weeks of the twenty years ending 1868. The mean 
was considerably below the average on each of the 
first five days of the week, but showed an excess on 
Friday and Saturday. The direction of the wind was 
variable, and the horizontal movement of the air 
averaged 13 '3 miles per hour, which was 1'2 mile 
above the average in the corresponding weeks of sixteen 
years. Rain fell on four days of the week, to the 
aggregate amount of O'11 of an inch. The duration of 
registered bright sunshine in the week was 21 '5 hours, 
against 13'4 hours at Glynde Place, Lewes. 
-- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
April 18th. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 39, 
Seed Market, Mark Lane, London, report a large de¬ 
mand for Grass and Clover Seeds ; but owing to stocks 
being fairly large, prices, with the exception of Alsike, 
remain unchanged. This article has advanced 2s. per 
cwt. Rape Seed is scarce. Bird Seeds unchanged. 
VEGETABLE, FLOWER AND FARM, 
Carefully Selected, 
AND FROM WHICH MAT BE EXPECTED 
THE BEST RESULTS 
EVER YET ATTAINED. 
ILLUSTRATED LIST, 
Containing Copious, Interesting, and Reliable In¬ 
formation, Free. 
RICHARD SMITH & Co., 
SEED MERCHANTS AND NURSERYMEN, 
WORCESTER. 
SPECIAL CULTURE OF 
FRUIT TREES AND R OSES, 
A Large and Select Stock is now offered for Sale. 
The Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue of Fruits 
Post Free. 
The Descriptive Catalogue of Roses Post Free. 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
April 19 th. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Apples, i sieve. 2 0 5 0 
Grapes .per lb. 3 0 6 0 
Kent Cobs ... .100 lbs. 40 0 45 0 
Pears, French, doz. .. 3 0 6 0 
s.d. s.d. 
Pine-apples, St. 
Michaels, each_ 2 0 5 0 
Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 1 0 2 0 
Strawberries .. per lb. 4 0 10 0 
THOMAS RIYERS & SON, 
NURSERIES, SAWBRIDGEWORTH, HERTS. 
FRUIT TREES, 
SEVENTY-FOUR ACRES. 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Artichokes, Globe,doz. 2 0 
Beans, French, per lb. 5 0 
Beet, per dozen. 2 0 
BrusselsSprouts.perlb 0 4 
Cabbages_per doz. 2 
Carrots.per bun. 0 
Cauliflowers, English, 
per dozen . 4 
Celery, per bundle .. 2 
Cucumbers, each .... 0 
Endive, French, doz. 2 
Herbs, per bunch.... 0 
3 0 
3 0 
2 6 
6 0 
1 3 
3 6 
0 4 
Potatos.- - Kent Regents, 80s. to 100s. per ton; Kent Kidneys. 
80s. to 100s. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
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 ..7 0 9 0 
Parsley, per bunch ..06 
Radishes, per dozen.. 1 6 
Sea Kale.. per punnet 2 6 3 0 
Small salading,punnet 0 4 
Spinach, per strike ..20 
Tomato's, per lb. 2 6 3 0 
Turnips_ per bun. 0 6 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, doz.. 6 0 18 0 
Azalea .per doz. 24 0 36 0 
Cineraria ..per dozen 6 0 12 0 
Cyclamen_per doz.12 0 24 0 
Cyperus ..per dozen 4 0 12 0 
Dracaena term., doz. .30 0 60 0 
— viridis, per dozen 12 0 24 0 
Epiphyllums, per doz.12 0 24 0 
Erica ventricosa doz. 18 0 30 0 
— various .doz. 9 0 18 0 
Evergreens, in var., 
per dozen . 6 0 24 0 
Ferns, in var., do .. 4 0 18 0 
Ficus elastiea each ..16 76 
s.d. s.d. 
Foliage Plants, vari¬ 
ous, each. 2 0 10 6 
Genistas.per doz 8 0 12 0 
Hyacinths, 
per doz. pots 6 0 10 0 
Lily of Valley,per doz.15 0 IS 0 
Marguerites per doz. 9 0 12 0 
Palms in variety, each 2 6 21 0 
Pelargoniums > scarlet, 
per dozen . 30 60 
Pelargoniums, dozenlS 0 24 0 
Primula sinensis, doz. 4 0 6 0 
Spiraeas.per doz. 9 0 15 0 
Tulips ..per doz. pots 6 0 10 0 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Acacia or Mimosa,bun. 0 9 16 
Anemone (French), 
doz. bunches 16 4 0 
— fulgens, 
doz. bunches 3 0 6 0 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 4 0 6 0 
Azalea .... 12 sprays 06 10 
Bouvardias, per bun. 0 6 10 
Camellias_per doz. 10 3 0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 16 3 0 
Cineraria, per doz.bun.6 0 12 0 
Cyclamen. .12 blooms 0 4 0 6 
Daffodils (double), 
12 bun. 4 0 6 0 
— single. ,, 4 0 9 0 
— (or Lent Lily) ,, 2 0 6 0 
Epiphyllum, 12 blms. 0 4 0 6 
Eucharis, per dozen.. 4 0 6 0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms. 3 0 6 0 
Heliotropes, 12 sprays 0 6 10 
Hyacinths, Roman, 12 
sprays 0610 
Lilium longiflorum, 
12 blooms 4 0 6 0 
Lily of the Valley, 
12 sprays 0 6 10 
s.d. s m d. 
Marguerites, 12 bun... 3 0 6 0 
Mignonette, 12 bun... 3 0 6 0 
Narcissus, various, 
12 bun. 3 0 6 0 
Paper-white Narcissus, 
12 bun. 10 2 0 
Pelargoniums,12spys. 10 16 
— scarlet, 12sprays.. 0 6 0 9 
Primroses ... .12 bun. 10 20 
Primula, double, bun. 10 16 
Roses (coloured) .... 2 0 4 0 
— Tea .... per dozen 10 60 
— Red.per doz. 2 0 6 0 
— Saffrano .. per doz. 16 3 0 
Snowdrops .. .12 bun. 10 4 0 
Tropieolums . 20 30 
Tuberoses, per dozen. 16 2 0 
Tulips .... 12 blooms 06 10 
Violets.12 bun. 0 9 10 
— French_12 bun.lS 0 24 0 
-Parme.. 1 bun. 2 0 3 0 
White Jasmine, 
per bun. 0 9 16 
White Lilac per bun. 3 6 6 0 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Idiantum Farleyense .... 534 
Idiantum macropliyllum.. 539 
Iracken Fern Silage. 532 
lalathea Warscewiczii.... 53S 
lattleya Bowringiana .... 539 
lattleya Lawrenceana .... 539 
Chrysanthemums, reflexed 
Japanese . 536 
Cinerarias, James’ strain of 536 
Florists and their critics .. 536 
Jardeners' Calendar. 540 
Chent Exhibition, the .... 533 
Horticultural Societies.... 540 
Soya imperialis. 538 
tlutchinsia alpina. 539 
lasminum species. 534 
Narcissus rupicola. 539 
PAGE 
Obituary . 541 
Odontoglossum imperator. 540 
Odontoglossum obtusum.. 540 
Paris Exhibition, 1S8S .... 53S 
Pines for present planting 534 
Plants for room decoration 532 
Plants, hardy. 534 
Plants, new, certificated.. 535 
Poinsettia, culture of the.. 534 
Polyanthuses . 537 
Potato, about the. 531 
Saxifraga Sibthorpii. 53S 
Scottish notes. 535 
Silene pendula coinpacta 11. 
pi. 533 
Vanda cristata. 539 
Woodbridge, Mr. J.,death of 541 
Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, 
md other Fruit Trees, as Standards, Dwarfs, Pyramids, Bushes, 
Cordon, and Trained Trees in great variety. 
VINES, excellent canes, 3s. 6 d. to 7s. 6 d. ORCHARD-HOUSE 
rREES in POTS, Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines, &c., from os. 
Figs from 3s. 6 d. ...... 
DESCRIPTIVE LIST, containing a sketch of the various 
forms of Trees, with Directions for Cultivation, Soil, Drainage, 
Manure, Pruning, Lifting, Cropping, Treatment under Glass; 
ilso their Synonyms, Quality, Size, Form, Skin, Colour, Flesh, 
Flavour, Use, Growth, Duration, Season. Price, &c., free by post. 
RICHARD SMITH & Co., 
fORC»8T?8, 
T REES AND SHRUBS suitable for Towns 
and Smoky Districts. Catalogue free on application.— 
RICHARD SMITH & Co., Nurserymen and Seed Merchants, 
Worcester. 
rriREES AND SHRUBS for the Sea-coast, 
I Catalogue free on application.—RICHARD SMITH & Co., 
Nurserymen and Seed Merchants, Worcester. 
HORTICULTURAL SOILS, MANURES, 
SUNDRIES, AND POTTERY. 
Garden Pots and Stands Rhubarb and Kale Pots 
Hyacinth Pots Egyptian Pots and Stands 
Seed Pans, square and round Garden Edging Tiles 
Mignonette Boxes Orchid Pots and Pans 
Wallflower Pots I Basket Fern Stands 
Orchid Pots and Pottery of every description made to order. 
Catalogue Post Free of every Horticultural Requisite. 
BENJAMIN FIELD, F-R-B.S-, 
Central Office and Sales Rooms : 
75a, Queen Victoria St. (near mansion house Station). 
Depot: Paragon Road, New Kent Road, S.E. 
Telegraphic Address : Floriculture, London. Estab. 1S54. 
The G ardening World. 
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uotations given for a series. . . , , 
Gardeners and others Wanting Situations, thirty words for 
Advertisements for the current week, and also “Stop Orders/ 
'.ust reach the office not laterihanthefirst post on Thursday mwit ng. 
Postal and Money Orders to be made payable to B. ynne at 
tie Drury Lane Post Office, W.C. 
7, CATHERINE STREET, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. 
H EAD GARDENER wishes engagement 
for May, Channel Islands or South of En S 1 ®”lU e , fer p 0 d s i 
»e 2S years ; good testimonials. — Address, ALPHA, i ost 
fffice, Milnathort, Kinross-shire, N.B. 
"j ARDENER (HEAD).—A first-class man 
J and thorough Orchid grower, now dis ? n S 3 S e ‘), 1 s seeking 
fresh annointment. Has had many years expenenqe in an 
inches of gardening, gained many prizes at exhtoitmn^ and 
en very successful in Fruit and Vegetable culture. Character 
d references of the best description.—S. M. L., Gardening 
orld Office. 
