December 24, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
265 
considerable rise by day from sun heat, giving plenty 
of ventilation as it rises to 65° or above it. Get the 
heat up pretty early in the day so as to make the 
most of the light while it lasts. In establish¬ 
ments where there are several houses another ma y 
be closed for starting at once, and another to¬ 
wards the end of January for a succession. 
Orchard House. —If the trees are required to 
come into early bearing, or if there are two or more 
houses, one of them may be closed now for starting. 
This applies more particularly to houses of pot 
plants chiefly of Peaches and Nectarines, because 
Plums, Cherries, and Pears do not set very freely at 
this time of the year on account of the bad light and 
the moist and heavy nature of the atmosphere. A 
night temperature of 50° will be quite sufficient to 
start with, and hard forcing should be avoided as 
prejudicial to success. See that the trees are always 
kept moderately moist at the roots by thoroughly 
effective waterings when necessary. 
Peas. —Make an early sowing of some reliable 
early sorts in pots. A Vinery or Peach house will 
be sufficiently warm to give them a start. When 
the stems are well above the soil, remove the pots 
to a house from which frost is merely excluded, 
keeping them close to the glass to prevent drawing. 
After having been thoroughly hardened off they may 
be planted on a warm sheltered border towards 
spring. 
Quescions add msojgks. 
Correspondents are requested, in order to avoid delay, 
to address all communications to “The Editor” 
or “ The Publisher,” and not to any person by 
name, unless the correspondence is of a private 
character. Telegrams may be addressed " Bambusa, 
London.” 
Fruit Without Seeds — Thos. C. Steel : It is 
contrary to the usual rule for plants to produce 
fruits without being fertilised, and fruits that do grow 
generally contain seeds. But there are many cases 
of imperfect fertilisation amongst Orchids, which 
bear fruits that swell up and appear perfect, and 
further contain what would be termed seeds, but as 
the latter contain no embryo they cannot germinate. 
Cucumbers never require to be fertilised to produce 
fruit—-a fact new well known amongst gardeners, 
but such fruits do not contain perfect seeds. On the 
contrary, those who grow Cucumbers for seed, take 
care, to fertilise the flowers when they expand. 
Melons, on the contrary, require to be fertilised before 
the fruit will set and swell up at all. We have 
known fruits to grow without having been fertilised 
artificially, but they might, and in all probability 
were, fertilised by insects. Besides the Cucumber, 
there are other plants that produce fruit and may 
not contain any seed, as in the case of Bananas and 
Pineapples, that have been cultivated for centuries 
and propagated from suckers only. There are, 
doubtless, many other cases amongst cultivated 
plants if they were looked up. For instance the 
Viola known as Duchess of Fife seldom makes an 
attempt at producing capsules as far as we have ob¬ 
served, but we have nevertheless picked several fully 
grown capsules that contained not a single seed. 
You may have a similar experience. Some years ago 
the female plant of Coelobogyne illicifolia was in 
cultivation while the male plant was not introduced ; 
yet the former produced fruits and what was appar¬ 
ently perfect seeds, for when put under favourable 
conditions they germinated. On scientific examina¬ 
tion it was found to be merely a case of budding or 
proliferation—the production of a young plant from 
the nucellus of the ovule, and not an embryo at all. 
Green Flowers and Insects.— Thos. C. Steel : 
It would be rash to state that only flowers of bright 
colours are visited by bees. On the contrary many 
flowers that are comparatively unattractive as far as 
colour is concerned, are great favourites with bees 
and other insects. Mignonette and Listera ovata 
might be mentioned as examples. Some flowers are 
sweetly scented and serve to attract insects in that 
way, others are known to possess nectar, and when 
such is the case they are sure to have visitors. Many 
of the grasses are doubtless fertilised by the wind, 
but some of them are self-fertilised at the time of 
opening their flowers or even before it. As far as 
we remember the flowers of Leeks produce nectar, 
and in such a case they would be sought after by 
insects. The cross fertilisation of Leeks could easily 
be affected by growing two or more varieties intended 
to be operated upon, and when in flower, the pollen 
from one should be taken from the stamens of one 
and transferred to the stigmas in the centre of the 
flowers of another variety. This may be done with 
a camel hair brush. Be careful to observe whether 
the anthers have burst so as to show the pollen, and 
see that the stigmas are also fully developed. 
Elephant Plant.— Thos. C. Steel : The leaves you 
send are those of what is known as Sedum 
spathulatum in the London parks. We have never 
heard of the appellation you give it. The flowers 
are yellow, but they are not very frequently produced. 
The plant requires to attain some age, and to be kept 
in a dry warm house in winter to flower it. They 
are produced in trusses terminating the stronger 
stems. 
Pears decayed. — S G. Wilcocli: The Pears you 
send us are not those of Madame Treyve, but some 
variety which we have been unable to get named. 
Madame Treyve comes into use during September, 
and would therefore be naturally out of season by 
this time. The fruits sent are evidently affected 
with a fungus, the nature of which at present does 
not seem to be well known. Pears have come in 
from several parts of the country all affected in the 
same way this year; in fact the complaints are 
much the same as yours—namely, that the fruits of 
one tree only go bad, while the rest grown under the 
same conditions are sound. Seeing that the mis¬ 
chief, whatever it is, occurs inside the fruit, it would 
be difficult or impossible to suggest a cure, judging 
from the fact that the fruit of only one tree has been 
affected in this way for the past three years, we 
should consider that the variety is either peculiarly 
liable to attack, or that the fungus has effected an 
entrance into the tree, and continues to live there, 
attacking the fruit year after year. The soil as you 
describe it is well suited for fruit culture, and if the 
tree is vigorous and bears well, we would not suggest 
root-pruning, more especially as that would not 
affect the well-being of the fruit. We would keep 
the fruit of this particular variety separate from the 
rest to prevent the latter from being affected, and 
also watch the behaviour of the tree in question. 
Should we find out anything about the nature of the 
disease, we will make a communication on some 
future occasion. 
Names of Fruits.— W. R. G : Apple Wadhurst 
Pippin; 2, not recognised; 3, Dutch Codlin; 4, 
Crimson Queening ; 5, Blenheim Orange ; 6, Golden 
Reinette.— C. W., West Worthing : 1, Colonel 
Vaughan ; 2, Royal Russett. 
Polypodium Lingua. — G. R.\ This is the most 
correct name of the plant, and that adopted by the 
leading authorities on Ferns. As a sectional name 
Niphobolus Lingua might be used; but modern 
authorities do not approve of the cutting up of a 
genus into a number merely because the members 
may be classified into a number of groups having 
certain characters of minor importance in common. 
The plant has also been known under the name of 
Niphobolus latus, doubtless given to it on account of 
the size of its leaves compared with the other 
species of the section, which are dwarf creeping 
plants with fronds only 2 in. or 3 in. long, in some 
cases even including the petiole. 
Acorus Calamus variegatus. —J. Mitchell : The 
plant is truly an aquatic as you say, but it may 
also be grown with great facility in the ordinary 
border provided it keeps moderately moist through 
the summer months. You may place it in a position 
where the sun will not strike directly upon it, but it 
must not be overhung with trees or it will make poor 
growth. Should the ordinary border be rather dry 
for it, you mav improve the natural soil by means 
of leaf soil and well-decayed hot-bed manure. 
Gooseberries, and Caterpillars.— Henry Calder : 
Yes, the practice pursued by your neighbours we con- 
der a good one, even if not absolutely efficacious. It 
entails practically very little extra labour, and while 
it serves to destroy part of the pupae in the 
soil, it is worthy of attention. The pupae of the 
Gooseberry Sawfly would rest in the upper 3 in. of 
the soil, and the caterpillar of the Gooseberry Moth 
lives through the winter in the neighbourhood of the 
bushes, it may be, hidden amongst the fallen leaves. 
Then when all has been cleared away into the middle 
of the space between the bushes, it may be buried 
somewhat deeply there or a good sprinkling of gas 
lime may be mixed with it provided nothing is 
planted there for six or eight weeks, after which the 
gas lime becomes harmless to plant life. The roots 
of the bushes may be covered with fresh soil from 
the middle of the trench. Then in spring, when the 
leaves commence to open, you could scatter a good 
sprinkling of quick lime over the surface of the soil 
and around the bushes. This will help to prevent 
those caterpillars which may be alive from ascend¬ 
ing the bushes. 
Soil for Sarracenias. — T. Davidson : Peat and 
chopped sphagnum will furnish them with all they 
require. The peat however must beof a good fibrous 
nature, such as will not decay rapidly, seeing that 
they require a large amount of water during the 
growing season more especially. If the peat is of a 
dusty or earthy character it gets sodden and sour 
long before the plants should be repotted. Should 
your peat not be so gopd as desirable then you could 
improve its porosity by using a considerable quantity 
of broken pot-sherds in the potting material. This 
should be done later on, say in spring, just as the 
plants show signs of making fresh growth. Some 
growers keep the plants in too high a temperature. 
A very cool greenhouse where frost is merely ex¬ 
cluded in winter and which can be kept quite cool in 
summer will enable the plants to make better 
pitchers than in a stifling atmosphere. The roots 
should be kept quite moist and also the atmosphere 
about them. 
Names of Plants. — J. W. W.: 1, Cyperus Meyen 
ianus apparently ; 2, Malva sp. ; 3, Pteris longifolia ; 
4, Doryopteris palmata; 5, Cryptomeria japonica; 
< 5 , Thuya occidentalis ; 7, A Juniper or Cupressus, 
could you send fruit; 8, Not in character, there are 
no spores; 9, Send when in flower. — Nemo : The 
three pale flowers are those of a pale variety of 
Odontoglossum crispum Andersonianum ; the other 
is Oncidium tigrinum ungriculatum. 
Communications Received. — J. H. — J. W. — 
J.B.—F. T.—A. H.—F. H.—W. M.-S. C.—J. C. 
& Co.—G. S. 
--J-- 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading.—Amateur’s Guide in 
Horticulture tor 1893. 
Charles Frazer’s Exors., Palace Plain Works, 
Norwich.—Illustrated Catalogue of Conservatories, 
Greenhouses, etc. 
James Veitch & Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea, 
5. W.—Seed Catalogue for 1893. 
Edward Webb & Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge.— 
Spring Catalogue of Seeds, 1893. 
W. Baylor Hartland, 24, Patrick Street, Cork. 
—“ Little Book ” of Seeds and Plants. 
John Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, 
orwood Road, S.E.—Seed Catalogue for 1893. 
Dickson’s, Limited, Chester. — Vegetable and 
Flower Seeds, Seed Potatos, etc. 
-- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
December 19 th, 1892. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 
39, Seed Market, Mark Lane, report trade in agri¬ 
cultural seeds slow. Red Clover continues steady 
in America, and has advanced 2s. per cwt. in Ger¬ 
many. English White Clover offers more freely at 
slightly reduced rates. Alsike and Trefoil steady. 
English Cowgrass and Red Clover do not meet with 
attention at present, dealers being of opinion that 
prices asked are much above values of qualities 
offering. Ryegrasses unchanged. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
December 21 st. 
Fruit.- 
Grapes.per lb. 06 20 
Kent Cobs ...100 lb. 120 o 150 o 
Peaches ... per dozen 
Melons.each 
Average Wholesale Prices 
s. d 5. d. 
Pine apples. 
—St. Michael’s, each 2 6 
Apples...per | sieve 1 0 
Plums...per A sieve 
s. d. s.d. 
6 0 
3 6 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s. d. s. d. 
ArtichokesGlobe doz. 3 
Beans, French, perlb. 1 0 
Beet.per dozen 2 o 
Cabbages ... per doz. 1 6 
Carrots ... per bunch 1 o 
Cauliflowers, Eng.dz. 3 o 
Celery.per bundle 2 6 
Cucumbers .each o 3 
Endive, French, doz 
Herbs .per bunch 0 2 
6 0 
3 0 
2 6 
5 0 
o 6 
26 30 
o 6 
4 0 
s . d. s. d. 
Lettuces ...per dozen 16 20 
Mushrooms, p. basket 13 20 
Onions.per bunch 04 06 
Parsley ... per bunch o 6 
Radishes... per dozen 1 6 
Seakale .per bkt 3 6 
Smallsalading,punnet o 4 
Spinach ... per strike 1 6 
Tomatos. per lb. o 9 10 
Turnips.per bun. 0 6 
Horse Radish, bundle 2 0 
Potatos. —Kent Regents, 80s. to 100s. per ton ; Kent Kidneys, 
80s. to toos. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s. d. s. d. 
Azaleas ... per doz. 42 0 60 0 
Cyclamen per doz.... 9 o 24 o 
Cyperus .per doz. 40120 
Dracasna term., doz. 24 o 36 o 
Dracasna viridis,doz. 9 0 18 0 
Erica Hyemalis, doz. 12 o 18 o 
,, Gracilis, doz... 9 o 12 o 
Evergreens,invar.doz 6 o 24 o 
Ferns, invar.,per doz. 4 o 18 0 
Ferns, small, per 100 60100 
s. d. s. d 
Chrysanthemum, doz. 40 90 
Foliage Plants, doz. 12 o 60 o 
— large, doz.12 o 30 o 
Marguerites, perdoz. 6 o 12 o 
Palms in variety,each 2 6 10 o 
Palms, Specimen ... 15 0 63 0 
Poinsettia ..per doz. 10 0 15 0 
Primula Sinensis 
per doz. 40 60 
Solanums.perdoz. 9 o 12 0 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s. d. 
Azalea doz sprays.o 9 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 4 o 
Bouvardias, per bun. 0 6 
Carnations, 12 blooms 1 0 
Chrysanthemum,dz bn4 o 
— .doz. blooms 1 o 
Camellias doz blooms 1 o 
Cyclamen doz bloomso 6 
Eucharis ...per doz. 4 o 
Gardenias 12 blooms 4 0 
Heliotropes,12 sprays 0 6 
Hyacinths Roman 
doz. sprays 06 10 
Lilac, White, French, 
per bunch... 5060 
Lilium Harrisii, 
doz. blooms 60 90 
Liliums var., dz.blms. 20 40 
LilyoftheVaUeydz.sps.3 090 
MaidenhairFern,i2bs.4 o 6 0 | 
Holly and Mistletoe, very good. 
d 
1 6 
8 0 
1 o 
3 o 
9 o 
6 o 
4 o 
o 9 
6 o 
6 0 
0 9 
d. 
Margueiites, 12 bun. 4 0 
Mimosa (French)p.bh. 1 o 
Mignonette... 12 bun. o 9 
Pelargoniums, 12 sps. 0 9 
— scarlet.12 bchs. 6 o 
Primula, double, bun. 0 6 
Oi chid Bloom in var. 
per bloom, from 0 3 
Roses, yellow, dozen 3 o 
French, per bnch 1 6 
s. d 
6 6 
1 o 
1 0 
1 o 
8 0 
1.0 
1 o 
6 o 
4 o 
French, 100 blms 6 o 12 o 
— Red.doz. blms. 10 20 
— Sa£frano...per doz. 20 30 
— Tea.per dozen 10 30 
Tuberoses, per doz 06 10 
Violets, Parma, French 
per bunch .. 50 70 
—Czar, French, bun. 20 40 
—Small ,, doz. bun. 16 26 
OOITTBJnTS. 
PAGE 
Apple, the,.262 
Apple,Fearn’s Pippin.263 
Apple, Winter greening.263 
Apples under glass.263 
Carnations at Christmas ...260 
Cattleya labiataalba.264 
Christmas berries .256 
Christmas vegetables.255 
Chrysanthemum Ba’on 
Hirsch.261 
Chrysanthemums in 
America .260 
Chrysanthemumsjapanese 257 
Cypripedium Arete.264 
CypripediuinJohnsonianum264 
Ferns, mimicry amongst ...263 
Gardeners in Council.262 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevo¬ 
lent Institution.259 
PAGE 
Laslia hybrida Fincheniana 262 
Masdevallia hybrida 
McVittias. 264 
Mushrooms in aWine Cellar259 
National Chrysanthemum 
Society .259 
National Rose Society .256 
Orchid Notes.263 
Palms, branching in .259 
Peach trees, gumming in ...261 
Platycerium alcicorne .266 
Root Pruning .262 
Roses, on protecting .262 
Science Gleanings.259 
Sophro-Cattleya Calypso ...264 
Vegetable Garden, the.259 
Vegetables for Exhibition 262 
Violas in Pots . 260 
