March  15,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
235 
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.  H.). — 1,  Cornus  mas; 
2  and  3,  seedling  forms  of  Cupressus  Lawsoniana  ;  4,  Thuiopsis 
dolabrata.  (TK.  P.). — 1,  Acacia  longifolia ;  2,  A.  ovata ;  3,  Fuchsia 
procumbens ;  4,  Statice  profusa ;  5,  Anthericum  variegatum ;  6,  Fran- 
ciscea  latifolia.  (<?,  A.  F.). — 1,  Cattleya  Trianae  ;  2,  Coelogyne  cristata  ; 
S  Cypripedium  Spicerianum.  (E.  B.). — 1,  Berberis  Darwini ;  2, 
Daphne  Mezereum  ;  3,  Crataegus  pyracantha. 
CoveDt  Garden  market.— marcli 
Trade  better. 
s.  d.  8.  d. 
Apples,  English, per  sieve  6  OtolO  0 
„  Californian,  per  case  8  0  14  0 
„  Nova  Scotian,  barrel  15  0 
Cobnuts  per  100  lb . 80  0 
Grapes,  black  .  2  6 
„  Muscat .  4  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
8.  d.  8.  d. 
Lemons,  case  .  4  0tol6  0 
Oranges,  per  case  .  5  0  15  t 
„  Californian,  seedless  16  0  24  C 
Pears,  Californian,  case...  6  0  9  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each  10  6  0 
22  0 
90  0 
5  0 
8  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Vegetables. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz.  ... 
Asparagus,  green,  bundle 
B.  d.  s.  d. 
2  6  to  3  0 
8.  d.  s.d. 
Lettuce,  doz . 0  10  to  1  2 
5  0 
5  9 
Mushrooms,  lb .  0  8 
0  10 
„  giant,  bundle 
15  0 
20  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet  0  2 
0  (I 
Beans,  Jersey,  per  lb . 
2  0 
2  6 
Onions,  bag,  about  1  cwt.  4  0 
8  0 
,,  Madeira,  basket  ... 
2  6 
3  6 
Parsley,  doz.  bunches  ...  2  0 
4  ( 
Beet,  Red,  doz . 
Brussels  Sprouts,  J  sieve... 
0  6 
0  0 
Potatoes,  cwt .  3  6 
6  ( 
1  6 
2  0 
,,  Tenerifie,  cwt....  18  0 
28  0 
Cabbages,  per  tally . 
9  0 
12  0 
Radishes,  Jersey,  long, doz.  Q  8 
0  10 
Carrots,  per  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
„  French,  round,  doz.  1  6 
Seakale,  doz.  baskets  ...  9  0 
0  t 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
14  0 
Celery,  per  bundle . 
1  0 
1  9 
Shallots,  lb .  0  3 
Spinach,  per  bushel...  ...  3  0 
0  0 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
4  0 
8  0 
6  0 
Endive,  doz . 
1  6 
2  0 
Sprue,  French,  per  doz. ...  9  0 
10  0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2 
0  0 
Tomatoes,  per  doz.  lbs.  ...  4  b 
5  6 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  3 
0  0 
Turnips,  bunch .  4  0 
6 
Average  Wholesale  Prices-. — Plants  in  Pots. 
8.  d. 
8,  d. 
8. 
d. 
s.  d. 
icacias,  per  doz. 
12  0tc24  0 
Ferns,  small,  100  . 
4 
0 
0  8  b 
irbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz. 
6  0 
36  0 
r'ltut  elasiica,  each . 
1 
6 
7  6 
Arums,  per  doz. 
•  s* 
8  0 
12  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1 
0 
5  C 
ispidistra,  doz. 
•  •• 
18  0 
36  0 
Genistas,  per  doz . 
8 
0 
15  0 
Ispidistra,  specimen 
•  •  • 
15  0 
20  0 
Lily  of  Valley,  per  pot  ... 
1 
0 
2  0 
lorcnias,  doz . 
t  •  • 
20  0 
24  0 
Hyacinths,  Dutch,  doz.... 
10 
0 
18  0 
Crotons,  doz . 
•  •  • 
18  0 
30  0 
.  Hyacinths,  Roman,  per  pot 
0 
8 
1  0 
Cyclamen,  doz. 
•  •• 
6  0 
8  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3 
0 
6  0 
Caffodils,  pot  . 
•  •• 
0  6 
1  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.  ... 
12 
0 
15  0 
Cracaena,  var.,  doz.... 
•  •• 
12  0 
30  0 
Mignonette,  doz . 
8 
0 
12  0 
Cracasna  viridis,  doz. 
•  •• 
9  0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6 
0 
9  0 
Lrica  various,  doz.  ... 
•  •  • 
8  0 
18  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each 
1 
0 
16  0 
Duonymus,  var.,  doz. 
•  •• 
6  0 
18  0 
„  specimens  . 
21 
0 
63  0 
ivergreens,  var.,  doz. 
•  •• 
4  0 
18  0 
Solanums  per  doz . 
9 
0 
18  0 
'  ems,  var.,  doz. 
... 
4  0 
18  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
B.  d. 
8.  d. 
B. 
d. 
B.  d. 
tnemones,  doz.  bunches...  2  0  to  3  0 
Lfums  .  2  6  3  6 
isparagus,  Fern,  bunch...  2  0  2  6 
louvardia,  bunch  .  0  6  0  9 
larnations,  12  blooms  ...  2  6  3  6 
lattleyas,  per  doz . 10  0  12  0 
laffodils,  double,  doz.  bnch  6  0  8  0 
,,  single,  dcz.bnch.  6  0  12  0 
ucharis,  doz .  2  0  3  0 
rardenias,  doz .  6  0  8  0 
manium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bnchs .  6  0  9  0 
[yacintb,  Roman,  doz.  ...  5  0  6  0 
iiiium  Harris!,  12  blooms  6  0  8  0 
lancifolium  album  ...  3  6  4  6 
,,  rubrum...  3  6  4  6 
longiflorum,  12  blooms  8  0  10  0 
ilac,  white,  bundle  ...  4  0  6  0 
„  mauve,  bundle  ...  6  0  8  0 
ily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun.  6  0  18  0 
laidenhair  Fern, doz. bnch  8  0  10  0 
Larguerites,  doz.  bnchs.  3  0  4  0 
Yellow,  doz.  bnchs.  4  0  6  0 
I  Mimosa,  per  bunch .  1  6  to  2 
I  Mignonette,  doz.  bunches  6  0  8 
I  Narcissus,  white,  doz.  bun.  2  6 
„  Yellow,  doz.  bunches  2  0 
j  Odontoglossums  .  5  0 
[  Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs  8  0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz .  6  0 
,,  Red,  doz .  6  0 
„  Safrano,  packet  ...  3  6 
,,  Tea,  while,  doz.  ...  3  6 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles)  5  0 
„  Marechal  Niel,  doz.  6  0 
„  English  (indoor)  : — 
i  „  La  France,  doz.  ...  6  0 
„  Merrnets,  doz .  3  0 
;  Smilax,  bunch .  5  0 
i  Tulips,  scarlet,  bunch .  0  6 
„  yellow,  bunch .  1  0 
!  ,,  bronze,  bunch .  1  0 
Violets,  Parma,  bunch  ...  3  0 
,,  dark,  French,  doz.  2  0 
„  „  English,  doz.  2  0 
3 
3 
7 
12 
8  0 
8  0 
4  0 
6  0 
7  6 
12  0 
12  0 
6  0 
6  0 
0  8 
1  6 
1  6 
4  0 
3  0 
3  0 
Agricultural  Demonstrations  at  Caine. 
We  have  been  favoured  with  the  report  of  trials  by  the  Wiltshire 
County  Council  during  the  past  year.  The  experiments  were  con¬ 
ducted  in  connection  with  the  growth  of  rotation  crops,  grass,  Clover, 
and  Potatoes. 
There  were  two  trial  stations,  one  at  Quemerford  being  on  strong 
clay,  the  other  at  Lickhill  being  on  lighter  soil,  but  we  have  no 
evidence  to  show  that  it  is  really  what  is  called  light  land.  The 
rotation  crops  were  such  as  are  generally  associated  with  heavy  land, 
and  have  no  relation  to  tho  four-couise  system;  they  were  Mangolds, 
Barley,  Beans,  and  Oats. 
The  experiments  had  for  their  principal  objects — 
(1.)  The  proof  that  really  good  rotation  crops  can  be  grown 
without  the  aid  of  farmyard  manure  for  many  years  provided 
that  artificials  be  judiciously  employed,  and 
(2.)  The  determination  of  the  quantities  of  the  latter  which  it 
may  be  most  economical  to  apply  on  a  stiff  clay  soil. 
The  conclusions  arrived  at  by  the  committee  as  expressed  in  the 
report  are  as  follows  : — 
“  (1.)  That  it  is  quite  possible  to  grow  on  land  such  as  that 
at  Quemerford  good  paying  rotation  crops  of  Mangolds,  Barley,. 
Beans,  and  Oats  for  many  years  in  succession,  with  the  aid  of 
artificials,  assisted  by  farmyard  manure,  all  the  produce  being  sold 
off  the  land. 
“  (2.)  That  manures  suitable  for  the  purpose  are  for  Mangolds, 
nitrate  of  soda  4^  cwt.,  salt  3  cwt.,  and  superphosphate  1  cwt. 
per  acre  ;  for  Barley,  nitrate  cf  soda  cwt,  and  superphosphate 
3  cwt.  per  acre. 
“  (3.)  That  Mangold  was  most  responsive  to  the  action  of 
artificials,  and  Beans  least  so.” 
We  imagine  that  most  people  who  have  been  making  a  study  of 
the  results  of  farm  trials  which  have  been  conducted  during  the  last 
half-century  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  a  fairly  heavy  or  even 
strong  soil  is  necessary  for  success  in  the  continuous  growth  of 
cereals.  Practical  farmers  would  also  be  fairly  unanimous  in  preferring 
a  farm  inclined  to  the  strong  rather  than  the  light  side,  for  the  manures? 
especially  the  nitrogenous  ones,  take  a  much  longer  time  to  wash 
through  a  strong  than  through  a  light  soil. 
Whether,  however,  the  committee  is  right  in  coming  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  crops  they  are  growing  in  small  plots  are  really 
paying  ones  may  be  open  to  question.  M  hen  the  prophet  explains 
the  source  of  his  inspiration  there  are  generally  a  few  unbelievers  ta 
be  found  who  scoff  at  him  and  his  faith.  So  when  we  find  the  Barley 
crop  from  strong  clay  land  valued  at  45s.  per  quarter,  and  Barley 
straw  at  £2  per  ton  to  go  off  the  farm,  we  are  inclined  to  wish  that 
we  farmed  strong  land  in  a  district  where  maltsters  and  straw 
dealers  were  in  such  a  benevolent  humour.  Our  experience  is  that 
Barley  is  worth  only  28s.  per  quarter  from  some  of  the  finest  Barley 
land  in  the  country,  and  that  Barley  straw  may  be  easily  bought  at 
25s.  per  ton. 
We  quite  agree  with  the  committee  that  the  use  of  artificials  on 
strong  land  should  pay,  hut  we  would  not  go  so  far  as  to  say  that 
artificials  will  make  poor  strong  land  profitable.  They  may  make  the 
contra  balance  a  smaller  one,  and  in  some  cases  even  show  a  small , 
profit  ;  but  the  hard  and  stubborn  fact  is  that  agricultural  j  rices  are 
too  low,  and  that  there  is  not  sufficient  encouragement  to  farmers  to 
speculate  by  sinking  money  in  expensive  manures  when  the  prospect 
of  a  profitable  return  is  so  extremely  uncertain. 
