May 5, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
S69 
appear, on the main stem particularly, should be 
removed to induce continued and vigorous growth. 
Achimenes.—The stock of these plants can 
be propagated or increased if so desired by 
taking off the tops of the young plants and rooting 
them. Should this be done, more room should be 
allowed the old plants to develop an increased 
number of stems, which the stopping induces. The 
cuttings will flower in autumn, and form a succession 
to the old plants. 
Gesnenas.—If not already eftected, the batches 
of fine foliaged and garden varieties of Gesneras 
should be started for autumn flowering. This may 
be accomplished by placing the pots containing the 
tubers into heat, and merely keeping them slightly 
moist until they start into growth, after which the 
larger tubers should be potted singly in moderate 
sized pots to be shifted on again if necessary. Such 
species as G. cinnabarina, G. cardinalis and G. 
Donckelaarii should be treated in the same way, or 
the bulbs in either case may be shaken out and 
placed in moist leaf soil or cocoa-nut fibre in the 
stove till they start. 
Vines.—The mild weather continues favourable 
to the ripening of early grapes. Damp down the 
paths and borders early in the day, and give 
ventilation freely and early, reducing it again early 
in the afternoon. Leave a little air on all night and 
keep the hot-water pipes warm at all times to keep 
up a free circulation of air as this tends to ripen off 
and colour the fruit well, besides greatly improving 
the flavour. When fully matured they should be 
kept cooler. Muscats should not be thinned quite 
so early as the Hamburghs, until it can be seen 
which berries are to take the lead. Keep the night 
temperature at 70° after thinning has been effected, 
and see that the borders are kept properly watered. 
Melons. —When the fruit in early houses attains 
maturity the atmosphere of the house should be 
kept drier and more freely ventilated to insure well- 
flavoured fruit. In successional houses where the 
fruits are still swelling maintain a minimum 
temperature of 70°, and when it rises to 750 put on 
a little air, even early in the day, and increase it in 
proportion to the heat. Shut up the house about 
three or four in the afternoon, at the same time 
damping down the house liberally. Top dress the 
beds or mounds when the roots push through the 
soil plentifully. 
Figs. —In houses where the fruitsare now ripening 
care must be taken not to wet the mature fruit, 
otherwise they will split and get spoiled. At the 
same time the trees must not be allowed to suffer a 
ack of moisture, lest the younger fruits and the 
foliage sustain injury by lack of moisture and the 
consequent encouragement to red spider. Damp down 
the paths and the surface of the pots, but avoid syring¬ 
ing the tops of the trees except immediately after 
all the ripe fruits have been gathered. 
Peaches and Apricots on Walls.— The 
necessary disbudding should be attended to from 
the earliest stages if an evenly balanced growth of 
the trees is to be maintained. The shoots intended 
for next year’s fruiting should spring from the 
base of those now in bearing or as near thereto as a 
shoot of moderate vigour may arise. Higher up the 
superfluous shoots may be stopped at an early 
period, and many of them will give rise to fruiting 
spurs. Destroy green and black fly on their 
earliest appearance by the use of tobacco powder. 
Bedd ng plants. —Some relief may be gained in 
cold frames by planting out Pansies, Violas, 
Calceolarias and similarly hardy subjects. The 
last named should be well hardened off by this time. 
Stocks, Asters, Lobelias, Everlastings, Zinnias, 
Chinese Pinks, Marigolds, Chrysanthemum coron- 
arium, C. carinatum. Phlox Drummondi and others 
of that class should be transplanted into boxes or 
cold frames, or temporary shelters which will pro¬ 
tect them and encourage free growth. 
Fern Rockeries.—When trimming up these 
places for the season, occasion should be taken to 
supply a good sprinkling of the fine-foliaged Begonias 
of the B. Rex type. They associate well with Ferns, 
and like the damp atmosphere suited for either the 
warm or cool kinds. Bare patches may also very ap¬ 
propriately be covered with Selaginellas, particularly 
S. Kraussiana for the cooler houses and both that 
and reptans for the damp rocks of the warmer ones. 
The variegated forms of Senecio Kaempferi can also 
be used to advantage. 
QUGSClOnS ADD ADSOJeRS 
Planting out Tomatos.— R.T.: There is little 
danger of your plants being injured after this, if 
properly hardened off before planting them under 
the shelter of a wall. Should cold or frosty nights 
occur, stick in some branches of some evergreen tree 
so as to shelter the plants at night. The hardening 
off process is a matter of great importance, and the 
hardiness of plants at this early season will depend 
largely upon the thoroughness in which this has been 
effected before committing them to an open wall 
Dendrobium AND Oncidium.— A.P. : The Dendro- 
bium you send has long been known in gardens 
under the name of D, pulchellum, and as such is 
described in the Botanical Magazine, t. 5037, as well 
as in Loddige's Botanical Cabinet and Maunds 
Botany; but as recently as 1887 it was discovered 
that it was not the true D. pulchellum, and it was 
accordingly named and described as D. Loddigesii, 
which must now be regarded as the proper appella¬ 
tion. The Oncidium is O. sarcodes, a very 
handsome plant when well grown, so that you have 
new an opportunity of developing a useful and 
showy Orchid to proper dimensions. The flower 
stems attain a length of 3 ft. to 5 ft. with a branching 
panicle. 
Grafting Epiphyllums.— J. W : The operation is 
very easily performed if you have anything to answer 
as a stock. That most commonly used is Pereskia 
Bleo or P. aculeata, the latter being the most 
common. For taller standards P. Bleo is the most 
suitable, as it is a stronger grower and may be grafted 
at any required height. The cylindrical and ribbed 
stems of some of the species of Cereus may also be 
employed to advantage, because if strong, upright 
ones are used, no staking is required for the stem. 
Make a slit or incision at the top of the stem and 
take one of the joints of the variety of Epiphyllum 
you wish to propagate and insert it in the slit. 
Secure it with a piece of matting, and if the grafted 
plants are placed in a warm, moist atmosphere, no 
further attention will be necessary, as a union will 
soon be formed. 
Names of Plants.— J. H. 0 ., Erin : i, Narcissus 
biflorus ; 2, Narcissus poeticus recurvus ; 3, Clematis 
montana ; 4, Celsia Arcturus ; 5, Jasminum revolu- 
tum ; 6, Muscari racemosum ; 7, Alyssum saxatile; 
8, Paeonia Moutan. G. A. : 1, Spiraea Thunbergii ; 
2, Lonicera tatarica ; 3, Erysimum ochroleucum ; 
4, Sedum reflexum ; 5, Veronica repens. 
Tulips not Flowering.—C. B. G. : Without 
knowing the circumstances, it seems to be a case of 
starvation. The British species, Tulipa sylvestris, 
in a wild state, seldom flowers, as a result probably 
of exhaustion of the soil and crowding of the bulbs. 
If they have been grown in the same place for a 
number of years, a change of soil as we have our¬ 
selves proved, has given rise to a great number of 
bulbs in a few years, a larger proportion of which 
flowering than was customary formerly. In any 
case plant in good loamy soil, not necessarily heavily 
manured, and in a position well exposed to sunshine. 
A sheltered position is preferable to a windy expo¬ 
sure. The shrub bearing dense clusters of flower 
buds was Cornus sanguinea, or the common Dog¬ 
wood. The Tea Tree also known as Box Thorn is 
Lycium barbarum, an Asiatic plant naturalised in 
England in some places, generally in hedges. 
Potash in Pot.atos.— Oniega : The average per¬ 
centage of potash in the ashes of Potatos artificially 
dried is 55-75, but the ashes after the tubers have 
been burned only give 46 80 per cent, of potash. 
The tops after being artificially dried give 14-96 per 
cent, of ashes, of which 28 02 is potash. The quantity 
of potash in the ashes of wood varies immensely 
according to the kind of wood, and also whether the 
wood Isold or young. The twigs and young branches 
as well as the leaves of any tree always contain more 
potash than the trunk and old branches of the same. 
The wood of the Apple tree contains 19 24 per cent, 
of potash in the ashes ; the vine contains a variable 
quantity, but the mean of five analyses, according to 
Levi, gives 27 88 per cent, of potash ; and the wood 
of the Cherry gives 20-78 per cent, of potash. 
Railway Sleepers and Melon Pits.~ 0 ?nega : 
Railway sleepers are steeped in creosote, but after 
they have lain in the ground till of no more service 
for railway work they should be quite harmless to 
plants. We know that houses are built of the 
sleepers for the purpose of growing Tomatos, and 
the latter succeed admirably. We do not see there¬ 
fore that any harm would accrue to Melons grown in 
houses constructed with old railway sleepers. 
Communications Received. —W.M.—J. L. & S — 
K. & S.—A. D. W.—A. J. B.—P. & S.—A. O — 
F. S. & Co.—T. A. 
- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
May jst, 1894. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 
39, Seed Market, Mark Lane, E.C., report a 
falling off in the demand for Agricultural Seeds. 
Alsike and Red Clover steady. White Clover, Trefoil 
and Italian easier. Rape seed dearer. Mustard 
cheaper, Perennial Ryegrass unchanged. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
i. d s. d. 
Apples.per bushel 4 o lo o 
Cob Nuts, per 100 lb. 50 o 
Tasmanian Apples, 
per case 8 o 12 6 
New Grapes, per lb. 3 6 60 
4. d. S. d 
Pine apples. 
—.St. Michael's, each 26 60 
Strawberries, per lb. 
Box off rail . 10 20 
Morning gathered 2050 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices, 
I. d. s. d. 
ArtIchokesGIobedoz. 30 60 
Beans, French, perlb. 1620 
Beet.per dozen 20 30 
Cabbages ... per doz, 20 30 
Carrots ... per bunch o 6 
Carrots, new, per bch. i 6 
Cauliflowers, Eng.dz. 30 60 
Celery.per bundle 16 20 
Cucumbers .each 04 08 
Endive, French, doz. 26 30 
Herbs .per bunch 02 06 
Horse Radish, bundle 20 4 0 | 
1. d. 
Lettuces ...per dozen 2 0 
Mushrooms, p. basket i o 
Onions.per bunch 0 4 
Parsley ... per bunch 0 6 
Radishes... per dozen i 6 
Seakale.,.per basket 0 o 
Smallsalading,punnet 0 4 
Spinach per bushel 3 0 
Tomatos. per lb. i o 
Turnips.per bun. o 6 
Turnips,new,per bch. i 6 
/. d. 
3 0 
i 6 
0 6 
0 0 
I 6 
Plants in Pots.—Average 
s. d. s. d. 
Arum Lilies, per doz. 6 o 12 0 
Aspidistra, per doz 18 0 42 o 
—specimenplants,each5 0 15 o 
Azalea, per doz. 18 o 30 0 
Cineraria,per doz ... 5 0 go 
Cyperus .per doz. 4 0 12 0 
Dracaena term., doz, 18 0 36 0 
Dracaena viridis.doz. 9 0 18 0 
Evergreens,invar.doz 6 0 24 0 
Ferns, invar.,per doz. 4 0 18 0 
Ferns, small, per 100 4 0 10 0 
Foliage Plants, doz. 12 0 60 0 
Wholesale Prices 
I. d. I d. 
Genista...per doz. 6 o 12 o 
Heaths.per doz. 9 0 24 o 
Ivy Geraniums, doz. 40 80 
Marguerites, perdoz. 6 0 12 0 
Mignonette, per doz 40 80 
Nasturtiuns.p«rdoz. 16 60 
Palms in variety,each z 6 10 0 
Palms, Specimen ... 15 0 63 0 
Pelargoniums,per dz. 9 o 18 0 
—scarlet.per doz...4 060 
Spiraea...per doz.... 6 0 12 0 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
Arum Lilies, izblms. 16 3 0 
Azalea, dozen sprays 04 09 
Bluebells, 12 bun. 10 16 
Bcuvardias, per bun. 06 10 
Camellia doz. blooms 10 20 
Carnations...per doz. 1030 
Cowslips, 12'bun. ...10 20 
Eucharis ...per doz. 30 40 
Forget-me-Not, 
doz. bchs. 13 30 
Gardenias 12 blooms 10 30 
Heliotropes,i2sprays 06 09 
Lilium Harrisii, 
doz. blooms 20 40 
Lily of the Valley, doz. 
sprays.0 6 i 0 | 
LilacFrench.perbch. 2640 
MaidennairFern,i2bs.4 060 
Margueiites, 12bun. 2040 
Mignonette... 12 bun. 40 60 
Narciss, various, 
doz. bchs. 30 60 
I. d. s. d. 
Orchid Bloom in var. 
per bloom, from 03 10 
Pelargoniums 12 sps. 06 09 
— scarlet.12 bchs. 40 60 
Pyrethrum doz. bun. 40 60 
Primroses, doz. bchs. 10 20 
Primula, double, bun. 06 10 
Roses (French) 
doz. blooms 10 20 
Roses, yellow, dozen 20 40 
— Red.doz. blms. 16 30 
— Saffrano...per doz. 16 20 
Spiraea, 12 bun. 40 60 
— Tea.per dozen 06 20 
Tuberoses, per doz 06 10 
Tulips, doz. blooms 02 06 
Violets, Parma, French 
per bch. 2636 
Violets, French 
per bch. 09 10 
Wallflowers, doz.bchs. I 626 
GOnSTTEI^TTS. 
page 
Adiantum, prolification of 567 
Angels'Tears .568 
Auricula Show, the.560 
Berberis Darwinii .568 
Bush Hill, Enfield .565 
Caltha leptosepala.567 
Cattleya Trianae Schro- 
derae .564 
Corydalis nobilis.56S 
Clubbing.566 
Coelogyne Swanniana .563 
Cucumbers, Ridge.562 
Cypripedium Annie 
Measures .563 
Eyebrights, the.567 
Floriculture .564 
Fritillary, the.567 
Gardeners Associations ...567 
Gardeners' Calendar.568 
Judging. Canons of.567 
PAGE 
Miltonia Stellata.563 
Odontoglossum crispum 
Florrie.563 
Odontoglossum crispum 
Lowianum.563 
Orchid Gleanings .563 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar 563 
Oranges, Onion tainted.561 
Pansies and Violas.564 
Phaius Ovveniana.563 
Pinks in pots.564 
Plants, new. Certificated ...561 
Propagating, timely .561 
Root Action in Winter .562 
Rose Garden, the .564 
Rose Shows, the.5J9 
Science Gleanings.563 
Snowy Mespilus, the.565 
Vegetable crops, thinning...560 
Vegetable Garden .562 
B00K3. 
THE NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY’S 
CATALOSUE. —Centenary Edition. Containing 
1,000 new varieties. All the novelties. A history 
and complete bibliography of the Chrysanthe¬ 
mum, by Mr. C. Harman Payne. Price, is.; post 
free, is. ijtf. 
PERNS AND FERN CULTURE- By J. Birkenhead, 
F.R.H.S.—How to grow Ferns, with selections 
for stove, warm, cool and cold greenhouses ; for 
baskets, walls, wardian cases, dwelling houses, 
&c. Price, IS.; by post, is. 3i. 
HARDY ORNAMENTAL FLOWERINS TREES AND 
SHRUBS, by A, D. Webster. A valuable guide 
to planters of beautiful trees and shrubs for the 
adornment of parks and gardens. Price, 3s.; post 
free, 3s. 3^. 
THE CARNATION: ITS HISTORY, PROPERTIES, 
AND MANAOEMENT ; with a descriptive list of 
thebest varieties in cultivation. By E. S. Dodwell. 
Third edition, with supplementary chapter on the 
yellow ground. Price, is, 6 d.; post free, is. -jd. 
Any of these books oan be had from The Publisher, 
" (jARDENING WORLD” OfRoe, 1, Clemen’s Inn, 
Strand. Lonaon, W.C. 
The Late MR. DODWELL’S 
GRAND CARNATIONS. 
THE FINEST GROWN. 
All Classes, 10/6 per dozen. 
List of Specialties can be obtained of— 
Mr. A. MEDHURST, 
The Cottage, Stanley Road, Oxford. 
