April 22, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
637 
Hardy Cypripediums.—Several of these are- 
well worthy of cultivation in pots for greenhouse or 
conservatory work, or in any other plant house where 
they may be kept cool. While pushing up their 
flower stems they should be lightly sprayed with the 
syringe once or twice a day. The choice species for 
this purpose are C. spectabilis, C. macranthum, C. 
acaule.C. montanum, C. Calceolus, C. pubescens and 
C. parviflorum. 
Hardy Primulas in pots —Many of these have 
been in flower for some time past. The cold east 
winds have been very trying to them, and yet they 
must have ventilation. The sashes, where they are 
kept in frames, should be tilted up all along the side 
contrary to that from which the wind blows so that 
the wind may not blow directly upon them. 
Continue to supply them with plenty of water so long 
as they are making vigorous growth. 
Dahlias.—Continue to pot off the young plants as 
soon as they are rooted, and plunge the pots contain¬ 
ing them in the cocoa nut fibre of the propagating 
bed till they become thoroughly established. Those 
plants which have now attained some size may be 
relegated to cold frames as soon as the weather 
permits. 
Gladioli.—If not already accomplished, all the 
corms, old and young, should be planted out. Small 
corms planted in good fresh soil will make large ones 
in the course of the summer, and many of them will 
flower. 
Vines.—Plenty of artificial warmth should be 
given the earliest house whenever the Grapes 
commence to colour. By this means a liberal 
amount of ventilation may b’e given so as to ensure 
a free circulation of the air. It is not desirable that 
the east winds should play upon them to any extent; 
but if the houses are conveniently and properly 
sheltered by houses and walls, judicious ventilation 
should be productive of no material harm. An airy 
atmosphere will impart flavour to the berries. 
Peaches.—The final thinning of both fruit and 
wood should be given the trees in the earliest house, 
whjre the fruit will ripen about the end of next 
month. The shoots intended for bearing next year 
should be tied in at full length, while all super¬ 
numeraries that would tend to crowd the trees to no 
purpose should be cut out. 
The Orchard House.—There should be no 
complaints of a bad season for the setting of the 
fruit this year, as sunshine was plentiful and the 
atmosphere dry. Some cultivators move their trees 
out of doors on the approach of fine weather, and 
leave them there to ripen the fruit. If the position 
is sheltered and the trees well attended to in the 
matter of watering success is certain, and the fruits 
are much more highly coloured, even if they do not 
ripen so early. Plums succeed better under glass all 
the season, and ripen better than if placed outside 
like Apples and Pears. 
-- 
Questions add AnsroeRS- 
*, * Correspondents are requested, in order to avoid delay 
to address all communications to “ The Editor,” 
cr ” The Publisher,” and not to any person by 
name, unless the correspondence is of a private 
character. Telegrams may be addressed “ Bambusa, 
London 
Names of Plants. — R. C. Kingston : Chlorophy- 
tum elatum, often grown under various other names- 
J. West : i, Fritillaria Meleagris ; 2, Fritillaria lati- 
folia; 4, Primula rosea ; 4, Pyrus Maulei; 5, Carda- 
mine pratensis flore pleno. A. Fisher : 1, Amelan- 
chier Botryapium ; 2, Elaeagnus longiges also called 
E. edulis ; 3, Saxifraga crassifoliacordifolia ; 4, Nar¬ 
cissus poeticus ornatus. W. M. C. : Kerria japonica 
flore pleno. J. Potts: 1, Amelanchier Botryapium; 
2. Alyssum saxatile ; 3, Sanguinaria canadensis ; 4, 
Valeriana dioica ; 5, Narcissus moschatus tortuosus ; 
6, Coronilla Emerus. 
Sparrows and Sweet Peas.— A. G. : The dry 
weather, the absence of insects and the scarcity of 
food generally must be held accountable to a great 
extent for the trouble that sparrows are giving every¬ 
where just now. If you have no wire netting to place 
over the lines of Sweet Peas, you could adopt the 
simple expedient of stretching lines of black cotton 
thread over and along the lines of Peas at a height 
of two to three inches above the surface of the 
ground. The sparrows cannot see these threads 
when hopping over the ground, and when they strike 
against them take alarm directly ; or if they do see 
the threads they regard them with suspicion and keep 
at a respectable distance. 
Planting out Azalea Mollis.— Geo. Ward: 
We should have no hesitation in planting out the 
Azaleas you mention and which have been forced, 
provided you harden them off thoroughly in the first 
place. If you retain them in pots till the advent of 
showery weather, there will then be less danger of 
the young foliage getting injured by exposure. We 
understand you intend to leave them in the beds per- 
mently; then if planted now the roots would be 
thoroughly established before winter, and flower fairly 
well next year in early summer, but even better the 
year after. If peat is not plentiful mix plenty of leaf 
soil in a half-decayed state with the natural soil. 
White-Flowered Ranunculus Ficaria.— Viator: 
The white-flowered variety has been grown in gardens 
for many years, although it is not generally known 
even amongst the collectors and cultivators of 
herbaceous plants. When fully expanded under the 
influence of the sun it is pretty, but more especially 
by contrast with the yellow one. It is not so rare 
then as at first sight would seem,but is worth adding 
to your collection. Another point you might ascer¬ 
tain, namely, whether your plant is really the white 
variety or only a specimen with the old flowers 
bleached white,as frequently occurs, especially during 
cold and dry weather with frosty nights. 
Wood Ashes and Potatos.— Omega : Wood 
ashes are rich in potash, and that is one of the 
most valuable manures you could apply to Potatos. 
The smaller the twigs that are burned the richer in 
potash the ashes will be. 'They also constitute an 
excellent manure for heavy soils where farmyard 
manures would be less advisable ; but where the 
soil is light the ashes may be given in addition to 
the farmyard manure. 
Mushrooms amongst Raspberry Canes, etc.— 
Bettys : The specimens of fungi you send us are 
those of a species of Coprinus, probably C. comatus, 
which springs up with great rapidity and often in 
great quantity upon manure beds and heaps of farm¬ 
yard manure as well as on ground that has been 
heavily manured with it. The Mushrooms or Toad¬ 
stools are sometimes eaten when quite young, but 
more dangerous when old, and at the best rather 
suspicious, so that we cannot recommend them 
without this admonition. 
Artificial Manure for Oranges.— Omega: —In 
the way of artificial manures you could not do 
better than use Thomson's or Standen’s manures 
because they are good all round plant foods. Liquid 
manure might be given in a weak condition while the 
plants are making their growth, and even that could 
be alternated with a light sprinkling of guano. The 
temperature at which the plants should be kept in 
winter may range from 45 0 to 65° according to the 
state of growth, that is, whether they are resting or 
growing. Unless you want your plants to be grow¬ 
ing and developing flowers and fruit, 50° would be a 
good minimum night temperature. If the trees carry 
young fruits which you wish to hurry forward then 
the night temperature may be gradually raised to 65 ? , 
attending them carefully in the matter of water at 
the root, and in syringing overhead twice a day. 
Ringing Pear and Plum Trees.— Joseph J. 
Grossie : The plan of ringing fruit trees is an old and 
rather a barbarous practice, and we should not adopt 
it in the case of valuable trees. However, the plan 
is simply the cutting out of a ring of bark, all round 
the stem and right in to the wood. This should be 
done towards the base of the stem and just below the 
branches. If the ring is not very wide and the trees 
are vigorous, it would heal over again in the course 
of two or three years, more or less according to 
conditions. As to the width of the ring, that varies 
according to the view of the practitioner. A quarter 
of an inch to half an inch wide should be quite 
sufficient; the narrower width would act as a check 
for a time and might give the desired results for a 
year or two. We should suspect, however, that the 
branches of your trees want thinning out to encourage 
the proper ripening of the wood by exposure to light 
and air. They may also be starving in a poor soil. 
If so we should mulch with farmyard manure and 
water heavily at intervals from the time the trees 
come into bloom especially in dry weather. 
Communications Received.— N.S. — S.H.S. — 
J.T. — T.B. — A.J.B. — F.D.H. — R.D. — R.S. — 
G.Mc.A. 
-- 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
J. Cheal & Sons, Lowfield Nurseries, Crawley, 
Sussex.—Spring Catalogues of Dahlias Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, Bedding Plants, Phloxes, Violas, &c. 
E. H. Krelage & Son, Haarlem, Holland — 
Descriptive list of Bearded Herbaceous Irises. 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
April i8fA, 1893. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, of 152, Houndsditch, and 
39, Seed Market, Mark Lane, report an increasing 
demand for agricultural seeds. Trefoil and Alsike 
realise higher figures. Red and White steady. 
Italian Ryegrass firm. Perennial Ryegrasses cheaper. 
Mustard and Rape steady. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s. d 
Tasmanian Apples 
per case . 5 o 
Grapes.per lb. 20 
Grapes, new, per lb. 4 0 
Kent Cobs... 100 lb. 
Peaches ... per dozen 
Vegetables. 
s. d. 
s. d. 
Melons.each 
Strawberries, per lb. 20 
Pine apples. 
—St. Michael’s, each 2 6 
Apples...per J sieve 1 o 
| Plums...per J sieve 
Average Retail Prices. 
10 o 
4 ° 
5 6 
5 o 
r. d. s. d. 
Asparagus per buudle 16 501 
AruchokesGlobedoz. 30 bo 
Beans, French, perlb. 16 20 
Beet.per dozen 20 30 
Cabbages ... per doz. 16 26 
Carrots ... per bunch o 6 
Cauliflowers, Eng.dz. 30 50 
Celery.per bundle 2 6 
Cucumbers .each 04 08 
Endive. French, doz. 26 30 
Herbs .per bunch 02 06 
1. d. s. d. 
Horse Radish, bundle 20 40 
Lettuces ...per dozen 16 20 
Mushrooms, p. basket 1320 
Onions.per bunch 04 06 
Parsley ... per bunch o 6 
Radishes... per dozen 1 6 
Seakale .per bkt 1 6 20 
Smallsalading,punnet o 4 
Spinach ... per strike 1 6 
Tomatos. per lb. 1 6 20 
Turnips.per bun. 0 6 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices 
s. d. s d 
Anemones, doz. bnch 10 30 
Azalea, doz sprays.o 610 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 20 40 
Bouvardias, per bun. 06 10 
Carnations. 12 blooms 20 40 
Chrysanthemum,dz bn3 090 
Camellias doz blooms 1 020 
Cyclamen doz blocmso 406 
Daffodils, var. dz. bch. 16 90 
Eucharis ...per doz. 30 60 
Euphorbia Jackminafo- 
lia, doz. sprays 10 40 
Gardenias 12 blooms 1640 
Heliotropes,12 sprays 06 09 
Hyacinths per box... 10 30 
Lilac, White, French, 
per bunch... 30 46 
Lilium Harrisii, 
doz. blooms 30 40 
LilyoftheValleydz.sps.o 616 
MaidennairFern,i2bs. 6 090 
Margueiites, 12 bun. 20 40 
Mimosa (French)p.bh. 1 016 
... *.d. 1. d 
Mignonette... 12 bun. 20 40 
Narcisse, various, doz. 
bnchs . 20 40 
Pelargoniums, 12 sps. 09 10 
— scarlet.12 bchs. 40 6 c 
Primula, double, bun. 06 10 
Primroses doz. bchs 60 10 
Oi chid Bloom in var. 
per bloom, from 03 10 
Roses, yellow, dozen 20 40 
— French, per bnch 10 40 
— Red.doz. blms. 16 40 
— Saffrano...per doz. 20 30 
— Tea.per dozen 10 30 
Tuberoses, per doz 10 16 
Tulips, red, per doz. 06 09 
— White, perdoz. ...10 16 
— Yellow, per doz.... 10 16 
Violets, Parma, French 
per bunch .. 30 40 
—Czar, French, bun. 16 20 
Small „ doz. bun. 10 16 
Plants in Pots.—Average 
s. d. s. d. 
Azaleas... per doz 24 0 42 0 
Cyclamen per doz ... 9 0 18 0 
Cyperus .per doz. 4 0 12 o 
Cineraria ...per doz. 8 o 12 o 
Dracasna term., doz. 24 0 36 o 
Dracasna viridis,doz. 9 0 18 0 
Deutzia.perdoz. 60 90 
Dielytra.per doz. 60 90 
Erica, various, doz. 12 o 18 o 
Evergreens,invar.doz 6 o 24 o 
Ferns, invar.,per doz. 4 0 18 0 
Ferns, small, per 100 60 10 0 
Foliage Plants, doz. 12 0 60 0 
Wholesale Prices. 
s. d. 1 d 
Genesta.per doz. 9 o 15 o 
Hyacinths, doz. pots 8 o 12 o 
Lily of theValley doz. 
pots 9 o 18 0 
Marguerites, perdoz. 60120 
Palms in variety,each 2 6 10 o 
Palms, Specimen ... 15 0 63 c* 
Primula Sinensis 
per doz. 40 60 
Pelargoniums ... doz.12 0180 
— scarlet.per doz.12 0 18 o 
Tulips—various—• 
perdoz. pots 8 0 12 0 
GOITTBITTS. 
PAGE 
Adonis vernalis .535 
Alpine House at Kevv.529 
Androsace coronopifolia ...536 
Apple Jacquin .536 
Ard-Cairn Nurseries.533 
Auriculas .532 
Auriculas, Alpine.532 
Auricula Golden Queen.536 
Battle of Life, the .534 
Cattleya guaternalensi .536 
Cyrstopodium punctatum 
splendeus. 536 
Dendrobium Niobe.536 
Dog’s tooth Violets.530 
Dodwell, Mr. E. S.533 
Elaeagnus longipes.536 
Fruit Stones, carved.530 
Gardeners’ Calendar.536 
Gardeners, young .527 
Ghent Quinquennial .534 
PAGE 
Iberus sempervirens 
garrexiana.536 
Iris atropurpurea .535 
Johnson’s Gardener's Dic¬ 
tionary .530 
Leafage .528 
Narcissus, niandnis conev- 
lor.535 
Narcissus, triandrus, pul- 
chellus . 531 
Orchids, new. Certificated 536 
Plants, new, Certificated ...529 
Primulaceae. 528 
Priunus Pissardi...535 
Potatos .528 
Seed Sowing.531 
Turnips .531 
Vegetables at the Drill Hall 531 
Vegetable Garden .531 
FLOWER SHOWS, 1893. 
Revised to date. 
MAY. 
9 — R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
11,12.—Crystal Palace Flower Show. 
13.—Opening of Gardening and Forestry Exhibition 
at Earl’s Court. 
17—Royal Botanic Society. 
18. 19—Orchid Show at Earl’s Court. 
19. —Orchid Show at Old Trafford. 
24.—-Midland Counties Pansy Show at Tamworth. 
25,26.—R.H.S., Temple Show. 
JUNE. 
3 —Leicester and County Pansy Show. 
6,20.—R.H.S., Drill Hall. 
14,15,16.—York Floral Fete. 
20. —National Rose Show at the Drill Hall. 
21. —Royal Botanic Society. 
28.—Rose Show at Earl’s Court. 
28.—Richmond (Surrey) Flower Show. 
28.—Windsor Rose Show. 
JULY. 
1.—National Rose Show at the Crystal Palace. 
1.—Chingford Flower Show. 
4.—Bagshot Rose Show. 
4.—Diss Rose Show. 
4. —Gloucester Rose Show. 
5. —Ealing Flower Show. 
5. —Royal Botanic Society Evening Fete. 
5, 6.—Lee, Blackheath, and Lewisham Horticultural 
Society. 
6. —Bath Rose and Begonia Show. 
6 .—Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. 
6. —Farningham Rose Show. 
7. —Hitchin Rose Show. 
8—Reigate Rose Show. 
10.—Helensburgh Rose Show. 
