February  8.  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
127 
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.  (C.  B.  A.), — 1,  Asplenium 
pubescens ;  2,  Onychium  japonicum ;  3,  Polystichum  angulare  pro- 
liferum  j  4,  Scolopendrium  vulgare  cristatum  ;  5,  Cyrtomium  falcatum. 
(S.  8.). — 1,  Thuiopsis  dolabrata ;  2,  Berberis  Darwini  ;  3,  Garrya 
elliptica.  (W.M.  W.). — 1,  Zygopetalum  Mackayi ;  2,  Justicia  speciosa  ; 
3,  Eucalyptus  globulus;  4,  Cupressus  macrccarpa;  5,  C.  Lawsoniana; 
6,  C.  L.  erecta  viridis. 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET. — February  7th. 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— FRUIT. 
B.  d.  8.  d. 
Apples,  English,  per  sieve  3  0  to  7  0 
„  Canadian,  barrel  ...  10  0  15  0 
,,  Nova  Scotian,  barrel  10  0  17  0 
Cobnuts  per  100  lb .  60  0  70  0 
Grapes,  black  .  16  4  0 
,,  Muscat .  2  0  6  0 
Artichokes,  green,  doz.  ... 
Asparagus,  green,  bundle 
„  giant,  bundle 
Beans,  Jersey,  per  lb . 
,,  French  Kidney,  lb. 
„  Madeira,  basket  ... 
Beet,  Red,  doz . 
Brussels  Sprouts,  J  sieve... 
Cabbages,  per  tally . 
Carrots,  per  doz . 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
Celery,  per  bundle . 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
Endive,  doz . 
Anemones,  doz.  bunches... 
Arums  . 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch... 
Bouvardia,  bunch  . 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
Cattleyas,  per  doz . 
Christmas  Roses,  doz.  ... 
Chrysanthemums,  white 
doz.  blooms 
„  yellow  doz.  blooms 
„  bunches,  var.,  each 
Daffodils,  double,  doz.  bnch 
„  single,  dcz.  bnch. 
Eucharis,  doz . 
Gardenias,  doz . 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bnchs . 
Hyacinth,  Roman,  doz.  ... 
Lilium  Harris!,  12  blooms 
„  lancifolium  album  ... 
„  ,,  rubrum... 
„  longiflorum,  12  blooms 
Lilac,  white,  bundle 
„  mauve,  bundle 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun. 
8.  d.  s.d. 
6  0  to  0  0 
5  0 
15  0 
2  0 
1  6 
2  0 
5  9 
20  0 
2  6 
0  0 
2  6 
0  0 
2  0 
0  0 
3  0 
3  0 
1  9 
8  0 
0  0 
B.  d.  B.  d. 
2  6  to  5  0 
4  0 
2  0 
0  6 
2  6 
12  0 
1  0 
8  0 
6  0 
6  0 
6  0 
4  0 
3  6 
6  0 
2  6 
0  9 
3  6 
24  0 
2  0 
9  0 
8  0 
3  0 
10  0 
12  0 
10  0 
8  0 
9  0 
8  0 
8  0 
4  6 
4  6 
10  0 
6  0 
8  0 
18  0 
Arbor  Vitee,  var.,  doz.  . 
Arums,  per  doz. 
Aspidistra,  doz. 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
Chrysanthemums,  each 
Crotons,  doz . 
Cyclamen,  doz . 
Daffodils,  pot  . 
Dracsena,  var.,  doz . 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
Erica  various,  doz.  . 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz.  , 
Ferns,  var.,  doz.  ...  . 
s.d.  s.d. 
6  0to36  0 
18  0  24  0 
8.  d. 
8*  C  • 
Lemons,  case  . 
4  0tol5  0 
Melons  . each 
0  6 
1  6 
Oranges,  per  case  . 
5  0 
15  0 
„  Tangierine,  box... 
0  6 
1  9 
Pears,  Californian,  case... 
6  0 
9  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
1  0 
6  0 
PRICES.— VEGETABLES. 
8.  d. 
A.  d. 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2  to  0  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  3 
0  0 
LbKqcCj  doz*  •••  •••  ••• 
1  6 
2  0 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
0  6 
0  9 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2 
0  1) 
Onions,  bag,  about  1  cwt. 
4  0 
4  6 
Parsley,  doz.  bunches  ... 
2  0 
4  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
„  Tenefiffe,  cwt.... 
2  0 
5  0 
18  0 
28  0 
Seakale,  doz.  baskets 
12  0 
15  0 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  3 
0  0 
Spinach,  per  bushel . 
3  0 
6  0 
Tomatoes,  per  doz.  lbs.  ... 
6  0 
8  0 
Turnips,  bunch . 
0  3 
0  4 
PRICES.— CUT  FLOWERS. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
Maidenhair  Fern, doz. bnch 
8  OlolO  0 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
3  0 
4  0 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
4  0 
6  0 
Mimosa,  per  bunch . 
1  6 
2  0 
Mignonette,  doz.  bunches 
6  0 
8  0 
Narcissus,  white,  doz.  bun. 
2  6 
3  6 
„  Yellow,  doz.  bunches 
3  0 
5  0 
„  double,  doz.  bunches 
2  6 
4  6 
Odontoglossums  . 
5  0 
7  6 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs 
8  0 
12  0 
Poinsettias,  doz . 
12  0 
18  0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
R0df  doZt  •••  ••• 
6  (' 
8  0 
„  Safrano,  packet 
3  6 
4  0 
,,  Tea,  while,  doz. 
3  6 
6  0 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
5  0 
7  6 
„  Marechal  Niel,  doz. 
6  0 
12  0 
Smilax,  bunch . 
Tulips,  scarlet,  bunch . 
6  0 
7  6 
0  6 
0  8 
,,  yellow,  bunch . 
1  0 
1  6 
,,  bronze,  bunch . 
1  0 
1  6 
Violets,  Parma,  bunch  ... 
4  0 
6  0 
,,  dark,  French,  doz. 
2  6 
3  6 
,,  ,,  English,  doz. 
2  0 
3  0 
N  POTS. 
B.  d. 
B.d. 
Ferns,  small,  100  . 
4  0  to  8  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each . 
1  6 
7  6 
18  0 
15  0 
1  0 
18  0 
8  0 
1  0 
12  0 
9  0 
30  0 
6  0 
4  0 
4  0 
36  0 
20  0 
4  0 
80  0 
12  0 
1  6 
80  0 
18  0 
60  0 
18  0 
18  0 
18  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
j  Lily  of  Valley,  per  pot  ... 
!  Hyacinths,  Dutch,  doz,... 
:  Hyacinths,  Roman,  per  pot 
I  Lycopodiums,  doz . 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.  ... 
I  Mignonette,  doz . 
Myrtles,  doz . 
Palms,  in  var.,  each 
!  „  specimens  . 
I  Poinsettias,  per  doz. 
Solanums  per  doz . 
1  (I 
1  6 
10  0 
0  8 
3  0 
12  0 
8  0 
6  0 
1  0 
21  0 
15  0 
9  0 
5  0 
2  6 
18  0 
1  0 
6  0 
15  0 
12  0 
9  0 
15  0 
63  0 
20  0 
18  0 
BASIC  SLAG. 
Owing  to  the  drop  in  the  price  of  grain — a  drop  which  makes  that 
grain-growing  a  most  unprofitable  and  heartbreaking  process — and 
owing  also  to  the  fact  that  the  question  of  labour  is  a  burning  one> 
there  is  naturally  a  tendency  to  lay  down  more  ground  as  permanent 
pasture.  Some  of  the  land  is  well  adapted  for  this  plan,  and  given 
a  really  good  selection  of  proper  seeds  in  a  few  years  the  result  is 
satisfactory. 
In  taking  a  railway  journey  or  a  bicycling  tour  of  any  length, 
how  many  different  kinds  of  pasture  we  come  across,  and  we  are 
not  the  first,  nor  shall  we  be  the  last,  who  have  noted  with  sorrow 
the  indifferent  management  of  a  great  part  of  that  grass  land.  Of 
course,  we  are  well  aw’are  there  are  acres  upon  acres  of  splendid  grass 
which  practically  “manages”  itself,  and  it  would  take  a  wonderful 
concatenation  of  adverse  circumstances  to  spoil  it.  We  remember  in 
the  seventies  seeing  park  grass  in  Northumberland  which  let  for  £7 
per  acre.  We  uever  quite  saw  how  that  rent  was  afforded:  but  it 
was  given,  and  the  north  country  farmer  is  not  a  baby.  But  enough 
of  this  super-excellent  pasture  ;  what  of  the  great  middle  class  and 
the  moderate  ?  We  all  admit  there  is  room  for  improvement  there. 
True,  you  can  never  make  silk  purses  out  of  sow’s  ears,  but  you 
might  make  a  good  leather  wallet. 
The  first  essential  point  is  to  find  out  what  is  lacking  in  the  con¬ 
stituency  of  the  soil.  There  may  be  various  valuable  ingredients 
lying  dormant,  and  they  want  just  the  right  sort  of  fillip  to  put 
them  into  full  working  activity.  Sometimes  exchange  of  stock  will 
prove  beneficial ;  sometimes  lack  of  drainage  is  the  great  need.  All 
sorts  of  applied  fertilisers  mean  an  outlay  in  hard  cash,  and  generally 
in  the  economy  of  a  farm  it  is  only  the  arable  crops  that  get  a 
dressing  ;  this  because  they  show  the  immediate  benefit,  and  also  as 
there  is  an  idea  that  the  improvement  by  stock  suffices  for  pasture. 
Of  late  years  a  new  material  has  come  much  into  vogue — it  is 
the  outcome  of  modern  science — a  waste  product  of  a  great  manufacture 
and  a  waste  product  of  great  valhe.  We  refer,  of  course,  to  basic 
slag.  Anyone  who  reads  the  agricultural  papers  will  have  seen  the 
discussions  for  and  against  this  manurial  agent.  Like  all  new  things 
it  finds  enthusiastic  partisans  and  emphatic  detractors.  Some  people- 
go  red  hot  into  any  new  scheme,  and  therefore  generally  burn  their 
fingers.  Others  hasten  slowly,  and  it  is  their  opinions  that  ought  to 
carry  weight.  We  find  every  season  there  are  fresh  adherents,  and 
these  among  men  who  know  what  they  are  about. 
We  were  glad  to  read  in  the  Eoyal  Agricultural  Society’s  Journal  a 
most  favourable  report  of  the  basic  slag  that  had  been  submitted  to 
analysis.  Dr.  Voelcker  says  for  the  year  ending  December,  1899  : — 
“  Basic  slag  has  undoubtedly  been  used  more  generally  and  olten  to 
much  advantage,  more  especially  on  poor  heavy  land  pasture.  When 
first  introduced  as  a  manurial  article,  the  greater  part  of  the  bas’c 
slag  produced  in  this  country  was  sent  abroad,  but  I  am  informed  that 
quite  two-thirds  of  the  out-turn  is  u.sed  here.  At  the  same  time  there  has 
been  a  steady  improvement  both  as  regards  the  quality  of  the  material 
supplied,  i.e.,  its  richness  in  phosphoric  acid,  and  also  in  respect  of  the 
fineness  of  grinding,  a  most  material  point  which  should  never  be 
overlooked.  From  time  to  time  I  have  felt  it  right  to  alter  the  terms, 
of  our  recommendations  to  purchasers  of  basic  slag,  each  time  in  an 
upward  direction;  and  while  14  or  15  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid 
and  a  fineness  of  70  per  cent,  were  not  long  ago  all  that  could  be- 
demanded,  a  good  quality  sample  will  now  give  17  per  cent,  or  over 
of  phosphoric  acid  and  a  fineness  of  80  per  cent.” 
This  seems  to  us  a  good  testimony  as  to  the  character  of  the  article 
to  be  purchased.  Now  a  little  as  to  its  use.  First,  what  does  basic 
slag  contain? — phosphate  and  lime,  both  unrivalled  as  dressings  lor 
