January  18,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
Names  of  Plants. — We  only  undertake  to  name  species  of  cultivated 
plants,  not  wild  flowers,  or  varieties  that  have  originated  from  seeds  and 
termed  florists’  flowers.  Flowering  specimens  are  necessary  of  flowering 
plants,  and  Fern  fronds  should  bear  spores.  Specimens  should  arrive 
in  a  fresh  state  in  securely  tied  firm  boxes.  Thin  paper  boxes  arrive  in 
a  flattened  state.  Slightly  damp  moss,  soft  green  grass,  or  leaves  form 
the  best  packing,  dry  wool  or  paper  the  worst.  Those  arrive  in  the 
best  condition  that  are  so  closely  or  firmly  packed  in  soft  green  fresh 
grass,  as  to  remain  unmoved  by  shaking.  No  specimens  should  be  sent 
to  rest  in  the  post  office  over  Sunday,  on  which  day  there  is  no  delivery 
of  postal  matter  in  London.  Specimens  in  partially  filled  boxes  are 
invariably  injured  or  spoiled  by  being  dashed  to  and  fro  in  transit.  Not 
more  than  six  specimens  can  be  named  at  once,  and  the  numbers  should 
be  visible  without  untying  the  ligatures,  it  being  often  difficult  to 
separate  them  when  the  paper  is  damp.  (F.  K.). — 1,  Begonia  manicata ; 
2,  Phormium  tenax ;  3,  Maranta  Veitchi  ;  4,  Begonia  Tngrami ;  5, 
Peperomia  argyrea  variegata.  (P.  B.).  —  1,  Selaginella  CEOsia;  2, 
S.  Kraussiana  ;  3,  S.  apus.  The  Orchid  is  Oncidium  tigrinum. 
(C.  ill.).' — 1,  Asplenium  flaccid um  ;  2,  Pteris  cretica  albo-lineata ;  3, 
Cyrtomium  falcatum. 
CO  VENT  GARDEN  MARKET.— January  17th. 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— FRUIT. 
B.  d. 
8.  d. 
B.  d. 
8.  d. 
Apples,  English,  per  sieve 
3  0  to  7  0 
Lemons,  case  . 
4  0tol5  0 
,,  Canadian,  barrel  ... 
10  0 
15  0 
Melons  . each 
0  6 
1  6 
„  Nova  Scotian,  barrel 
10  0 
17  0 
Oranges,  per  case  . 
5  0 
15  0 
Cobnuts  per  100  lb . 
60  0 
70  0 
„  Tangierine,  box... 
0  6 
1  9 
Grapes,  black  . 
1  0 
3  0 
Pears,  Californian,  case... 
6  0 
9  0 
„  Muscat . 
2  0 
5  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
1  0 
6  0 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE 
PEICES.— VEGETABLES. 
B.  d. 
e.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz.  ... 
3  0  to  4  0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2  to  0  0 
Asparagus,  green,  bundle 
2  9 
3  3 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  3 
0  0 
„  giant,  bundle 
15  0 
20  0 
Lettuce,  doz.  ...  ...  ... 
1  6 
2  0 
Beans,  Jersey,  per  lb . 
2  0 
2  6 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
0  6 
0  9 
,,  French  Kidney,  lb. 
1  6 
0  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2 
0  U 
,,  Madeira,  basket  ... 
3  0 
4  0 
Onions,  bag,  about  1  cwt. 
4  0 
4  6 
Beet,  Red,  doz . 
0  6 
0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bunches  ... 
2  0 
4  0 
Brussels  Sprouts,  ^  sieve... 
1  6 
2  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
2  0 
5  0 
Cabbages,  per  tally . 
7  0 
0  0 
„  Teneriffe,  cwt.... 
18  0 
28  0 
Carrots,  per  doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
Seakale,  doz.  baskets 
12  0 
15  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  3 
0  0 
Celery,  per  bundle . 
1  0 
1  9 
Spinach,  per  bushel . 
3  0 
5  0 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
4  0 
8  0 
Tomatoes,  per  doz.  lbs.  ... 
2  0 
6  0 
Endive,  doz . 
2  6 
0  0 
Turnips,  bunch . 
0  3 
0  4 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE 
PRICES.— CUT  FLOWERS. 
8.  d. 
B.  d. 
8.  d. 
B.  d. 
Anemones,  doz.  bunches... 
2  6  to  5  0 
Lilac,  white,  bundle 
7  0 
to9  0 
Arums  . 
8  0 
10  0 
„  mauve,  bundle 
8  0 
10  0 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch... 
2  0 
2  6 
Maidenhair  Fern, doz. bnch 
8  0 
10  0 
Bouvardia,  bunch  . 
0  6 
0  9 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
3  0 
4  0 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
2  6 
3  6 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
4  0 
6  0 
Cattleyas,  per  doz . 
12  0 
24  0 
Mimosa,  per  bunch . 
2  6 
3  6 
Christmas  Roses,  doZ'.  ... 
1  0 
2  G 
Mignonette,  doz.  bunches 
6  0 
8  0 
Chrysanthemums,  white 
Narcissus,  white,  doz.  bun. 
2  6 
6  0 
doz.  blooms 
6  0 
9  0 
„  Yellow,  doz.  bunches 
5  0 
8  0 
„  yellow  doz.  blooms 
5  0 
8  0 
„  double,  doz.  bunches 
2  6 
4  6 
,,  bunches,  var.,  each 
1  6 
3  0 
Odontoglossums  . 
5  0 
7  6 
Daffodils,  double,  doz.  bneh 
15  0 
38  0 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs 
8  0 
12  0 
,,  single,  dcz.  bnch. 
15  0 
18  0 
Poinsettias,  doz . 
12  0 
18  0 
Eucharis,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
Gardenias,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
,,  Red,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
,,  Safrano,  packet 
2  6 
3  6 
bnchs . 
9  0 
12  0 
„  Tea,  white,  doz.  ... 
3  6 
6  0 
Hj'acinth,  Roman,  doz.  ... 
8  0 
10  0 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
5  0 
7  6 
Lilium  Harris!,  12  blooms 
12  0 
18  0 
„  Marechal  Niel,  doz. 
C  0 
12  0 
„  lancifolium  album  ... 
3  6 
4  G 
Srailax,  bunch . 
5  0 
7  6 
,,  ,,  rubrum... 
3  6 
4  6 
Violets,  Parma,  bunch  ... 
6  0 
8  0 
„  longiflorum,  12  blooms 
8  0 
12  0 
,,  dark,  French,  doz. 
2  6 
3  6 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun. 
12  0 
18  0 
„  „  English,  doz. 
2  0 
3  0 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
B.  d. 
B.  d. 
B.  d. 
s.d. 
Arbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz.  ... 
6  0to36  0 
Ferns,  small,  100  . 
4  0 
to  8  0 
Arums,  per  doz . 
18  0 
24  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each . 
1  6 
7  6 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
18  0 
36  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0 
5  0 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
15  0 
20  0 
Lily  of  Valley,  per  pot  ... 
1  6 
2  6 
Chrysanthemums,  each  ... 
1  0 
4  0 
Hyacinths,  Dutch,  doz.... 
10  0 
18  0 
Crotons,  doz . 
18  0 
30  0 
Hyacinths,  Roman,  per  pot 
0  8 
1  0 
Cyclamen,  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3  0 
6  0 
Daffodils,  pot  . 
1  0 
1  6 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.  ... 
12  0 
15  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz . 
12  0 
30  0 
Mignonette,  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
9  0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
Erica  various,  doz . 
30  0 
60  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each 
1  0 
15  0 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
6  0 
18  0 
,,  specimens  ...  _ 
21  0 
63  0 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz.  ... 
4  0 
18  0 
Poinsettiao,  per  doz. 
15  0 
20  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz . 
4  0 
18  0 
Solanums  per  doz . 
9  0 
18  0 
SIR  JAMES  BLYTHE  ON  THE  AGRICULTURAL 
SITUATION. 
Sir  James  has  evidently  got  an  idea  that  the  long  lane  is  near  a 
turn — that  there  is  a  chance,  indeed  a  certainty,  of  a  revival  in 
agriculture.  He  considers  we  have  slept  too  long,  that  it  is  high 
time  now  to  wake  out  of  sleep ;  he  sees  the  giant  stretching  and 
yawning,  and  he  prophesies  great  things.  We  confess  we  do  not 
altogether  follow  the  line  of  his  argument ;  we  have  only  a  life 
experience  of  hard  farming  to  set  against  his  experience  of  model 
farming,  with  a  large  income  to  back  it.  He  knows,  or  ought  to  do,, 
as  President  of  the  British  Dairy  Farmers’  Association,  far  more  of 
dairy  work  than  we  do ;  but  dairy  farming  is  not  everything  ;  nor  do 
we  see  in  it  a  way  for  the  salvation  of  the  general  farmer. 
“  In  the  multitude  of  councillors  is  wisdom  ;  ”  that,  of  course,  goes 
without  saying.  But  what  if  we  are  heretical  enough  to  doubt  the 
ability  of  our  advisers?  Sir  James  lays  great  stress  on  the  multiplica¬ 
tion  of  societies  more  or  less  connected  with  or  bearing  upon  agri¬ 
culture,  Of  what  practical  value  are  many  of  these  societies  ?  The 
training  centres  are  all  very  w'ell  in  their  way,  but  do  they  attract 
and  train  the  right  material  ?  The  experimental  stations  are  good 
in  their  way,  but  do  they  not  often  only  arrive  at  negative  results  ? 
As  for  the  shows,  we  will  begin  with  the  Royal — a  fine  institution 
in  itself,  but  cumbersome  in  its  machinery,  and  getting  rather  behind 
the  times.  There  seems  no  adequate  return  for  its  vast  expenditure. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  other  societies.  We  do  not  think  that 
England  will  benefit  to  the  extent  Ireland  has  done,  through  any 
organisation  society  ;  there  is  such  a  gulf  between  the  two  classes  of 
farm  management.  The  National  Poultry  Organisation  possibly  has 
a  useful  future.  The  chair  for  agriculture  will  mostly  benefit  the 
holder.  We  understood  that  the  training  colony  at  Lingfield  was 
mainly  intended  to  pull  up  those  male  members  of  society  who  had 
drifted  away  from  their  proper  sphere.  An  agricultural  side  to 
middle  class  schools  may  be  of  benefit,  provided  the  teachers  are  the 
right  men. 
Sir  James  talks  largely  of  the  greater  productions  of  the  minor 
farm  commodities.  We  quite  agree  with  him  there  ;  more  might  be 
done.  Woman  lost  us  Paradise.  Sir  James  argues  that  woman  is 
to  regain  the  earthly  equivalent.  He  lays  the  greatest  stress  on  the 
desirability  of  women  cultivators.  He  recurs  to  it  again  and  again. 
He  speaks  of  it  as  easy,  pleasant  work — merely  a  pastime.  We  know 
the  female  sex  does  predominate,  but  can  he  really  be  m  earnest  when 
he  talks  of  women  filling  up  the  gaps  left  by  the  exodus  of  the  village 
labourer  to  the  towns  ?  It  is  wonderful  what  hard  work  women  can 
do,  but  it  seems  hardly  fair  to  expect  them  to  do  the  work  usually 
delegated  to  men.  What  class  are  the  women  avorkers  to  be  taken 
from  ?  Not  the  peasant  clas.®,  they  are  fully  occupied.  The  lower 
middle  class  find  occupation  as  shop  girls,  teachers,  telegraph  cleiksy 
and  so  on. 
If  the  middle  class,  or  as  Sir  James  has  it,  “  women  of  gentle 
birth,”  are  to  be  the  saviours  of  agriculture  and  the  pioneers  of  small 
industries  we  are  sorry  for  them.  It  is  no  joke  producing  poultry, 
fruit,  butter,  eggs,  and  flowers  ;  it  means  much  hard  «ork,  harder  than 
Sir  James  imagines.  He  must  first  of  all  breed  a  class  of  women  for 
his  purpose,  as  they  don’t  exist  now.  They  must  be  intermediate 
between  Amazons  and  those  hard  unsexed  women  who  used  to  be 
found  on  Northumberland  and  Scotch  farms  and  women  from  the  pit 
brow.  We  thought  we  had  seen  the  last  of  this  state  of  things,  and 
that  in  these  latter  days  women  could  find  employment  in  work  more 
fitted  for  their  physical  strength. 
We  do  thoroughly  approve  of  any  scheme  that  will  bring  rural 
children  more  in  touch  with  their  surroundings,  and  doing  away  with 
