April  19,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
341 
2,  Oxalis  rosea;  3,  Grevillea robusta ;  4,  Morooa  eisyrinohium,  (M.F.). 
1,  Uendrobium  nobile ;  2,  Lycaste  Skinneri ;  3,  Dendrobinm  Farmeri ; 
4,  p.  primulinnm ;  5,  Coclogyne  ocellata.  (S.  R.  S.).—!,  Cyathea 
Smithi ;  2,  Dicksonia  antarctica  ;  3,  Asplenium  bulbiferum  ;  4, 
Adiantum  gracillimum ;  5,  A.  cuneatum.  (A.  0.  L.). — Narcissi  are 
florists’  flowers  that  can  only  be  named  by  comparison  ;  send  specimens 
to  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  Long  Ditton,  with  stamped  envelope  for  a 
reply,  and  we  have  no  doubt  they  will  assist  you. 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
W.  Clibran  &  Son,  Altrincham. — Manual  and  Reference  Guide. 
II.  P.  Kelsey,  Boston,  Mass. — Ginseng  Culture. 
J.  Stredwick,  St.  Leonard’s-on-Sea. — Dahlias. 
Covent  Garden  market. — April  IStli. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
B.  d.  B.  d. 
Apples,  English,  per  sieve  6  OtolO  0 
„  Californian,  per  case  8  0  14  0 
„  Nova  Scotian,  barrel  15  0  22  0 
„  Tasmanian  .  8  0  18  0 
Cobnuts  per  100  lb .  80  0  90  0 
Grapes,  black  .  5  0  10  0 
Lemons,  case  . 
Oranges,  per  case  . 
„  Californian, seedless 
Pears,  Californian,  case... 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
Strawberries,  lb . 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Vegetables. 
B. 
d. 
8.  d. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz.  ... 
2 
6  to  3  0 
Asparagus,  green,  bundle 
„  giant,  bundle 
5 
0 
5  9 
15 
0 
20  0 
Beans,  Broad,  per  flat  ... 
3 
0 
4  0 
„  Jersey,  per  lb . 
1 
0 
1  3 
„  Madeira,  basket ... 
2 
6 
3  6 
Beet,  Red,  doz . 
0 
6 
0  0 
Cabbages,  per  tally . 
9 
0 
12  0 
Carrots,  per  doz . 
3 
0 
4  0 
new  •••  •••  ••• 
0  10 
1  3 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
3 
0 
4  0 
Celery,  per  bundle . 
1 
0 
1  9 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
2 
0 
4  0 
Endive,  doz . 
1 
6 
2  0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0 
2 
0  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0 
3 
0  0 
Lettuce,  doz . 
0 
10 
1  2 
Mint,  green,  doz.  bunches 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
3 
0 
6  0 
0 
8 
0  10 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
Onions,  bag,  about  1  cwt. 
„  Egyptian,  cwt.  ... 
„  Spanish,  case 
Parslev,  doz.  bunches  ... 
Peas,  Jersey,  lb . 
„  French,  lb . 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
„  new  Jersey,  lb. 
„  Teneriffe,  cwt.... 
Radishes,  Jersey,  long, doz. 
French,  round,  doz. 
Seakale,  doz.  baskets 
Shallots,  lb . 
Spinach,  per  bushel . 
Sprue,  French,  per  doz. ... 
Tomatoes,  per  doz.  lbs.  ... 
Turnips,  bunch . 
„  new  . 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
Anemones,  doz.  bunches... 
B.  d.  B.  d. 
2  0  to  3  0 
Arums  . 
4  0 
6  0 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch... 
2  0 
2  6 
Bouvardia,  bunch  . 
0  6 
0  9 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
1  9 
3  0 
Cattleyas,  per  doz . 
10  0 
12  0 
Daffodils,  double,  doz.  bnch 
3  0 
5  0 
„  single,  doz.  bnch. 
6  0 
8  0 
Eucharis,  doz . 
Gardenias,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
3  0 
4  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bnchs . 
6  0 
9  0 
Lilium  Harrisi,  12  blooms 
6  0 
8  0 
„  lancifolium  album  ... 
3  6 
4  6 
,,  ,,  rubrum... 
3  6 
4  6 
„  longiflorum,  12  blooms 
8  0 
10  0 
Lilac,  white,  bundle 
4  0 
G  0 
„  mauve,  bundle 
6  0 
8  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun. 
6  0 
18  0 
Maidenhair  Fern, doz. bnch 
8  0 
10  0 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
3  0 
4  0 
„  Yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
3  0 
4  0 
Mignonette,  doz.  bunches 
Narcissus,  white,  doz.  bun. 
„  Yellow,  doz.  bunches 
Odontoglossums  . 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
,,  R>ed,  doz. ...  ...  ... 
„  Safrano,  doz  . 
„  Tea,  while,  doz.  ... 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
„  Marechal  Niel,  doz. 
„  English  (indoor)  ; — 
„  La  France,  doz. 
„  Mermets,  doz . 
Sinilax,  hunch . 
Tulips,  scarlet,  bunch . 
,,  yellow,  bunch  ...... 
,,  bronze,  bunch . 
Violets,  Parma,  bunch  ... 
,,  dark,  French,  doz. 
„  ,,  English,  doz. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Plants  in  Pots, 
Acacias,  per  doz. 
Arbor  Vitsu,  var.,  doz. 
Arums,  per  doz. 
Aspidistra,  doz. 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
Azaleas,  various,  each 
Boronias,  doz . 
Crotons,  doz . 
Cyclamen,  doz. 
Daffodils,  pot  . 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz.... 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
Erica  various,  doz.  ... 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz. 
Ferns,  var.,  doz. 
Ferns,  small,  100  ... 
B. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
12 
0to24 
0 
6 
0 
36 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
18 
0 
36 
0 
15 
0 
20 
0 
2 
6 
5 
0 
20 
0 
24 
0 
18 
0 
80 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
12 
0 
30 
0 
9 
0 
18 
0 
8 
0 
18 
0 
6 
0 
18 
0 
4 
0 
18 
0 
4 
0 
18 
0 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Ficus  elastica,  each . 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
Genistas,  per  doz . 
Geraniums,  scarlet,  doz.... 
„  pink,  doz.  ... 
Hyacinths,  Dutch,  doz. ... 
Hydrangeas,  white,  each 
„  pinlc,  doz.  ... 
Lily  of  Valley,  per  pot  ... 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.  ... 
Mignonette,  doz . 
Myrtles,  doz . 
Palms,  in  var.,  each 
,,  specimens  . 
Spit  mas,  per  doz . 
B.  d.  B.  d. 
4  0tol5  0 
5  0  15  0 
16  0  24  0 
6  0  12  0 
10  6  0 
6  0  10  0 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
0  2  to  0  0 
7  0  9  0 
8  0  0  0 
10  0  12  0 
2  0  4  0 
19  2  0 
0  7  0  0 
3  6  6  0 
0  2  0  5 
18  0  28  0 
0  8  0  10 
0  9  0  0 
18  0  21  0 
0  3  0  0 
3  0  5  0 
9  0  10  0 
4  6  6  6 
3  0  4  (r 
0 10  13 
s.  d.  B.  d. 
3  0  to  5  0 
3  6  4  0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
5 
0 
7 
6 
8 
0 
12 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
3 
0 
5 
0 
2 
6 
3 
6 
3 
6 
6 
0 
5 
0 
7 
6 
6 
0 
12 
0 
4 
0 
8 
0 
3 
0 
8 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
0 
6 
0 
8 
1 
0 
1 
6 
1 
0 
1 
6 
3 
0 
4 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d 
1 
6  to  7 
6 
1 
0 
5 
0 
8 
0 
15 
0 
6 
0 
10 
0 
8 
0 
10 
0 
10 
0. 
18 
0 
2 
6 
5 
0 
12 
0 
15 
0 
1 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
12 
0 
15 
0 
8 
0 
12 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
1 
0 
15 
0 
21 
0 
63 
0 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Dntcli  Fanning. 
In  May,  1899,  a  trip  to  Holland  was  organised  by  a  number  of 
Essex  farmers,  or  rather,  to  speak  more  correctly,  two  trips,  for  the 
forty-six  farmers  were  divided  into  two  parties,  and  left  England  at 
an  interval  of  a  fortnight,  though  each  party  carried  through  the 
same  programme.  The  report  of  the  visit  is  before  us,  and  we  think 
some  of  its  conclusions  are  worthy  of  note. 
The  places  visited  included  various  markets  and  farms,  agricultural 
schools,  an  agricultural  analysis  station,  a  condensed  milk  factory, 
a  co-operative  cheese  factory ;  coop,  dairy,  bulb,  fruit  and  vegetable 
farm-t ;  and  shrub  nurseries. 
The  Dutch  grow  the  ordinary  English  farm  crops,  but  in  addition 
there  is  a  very  large  acreage  of  Rye  grown  for  seed.  Caraway,  and 
Sugar  Beet.  The  Rye  probably  finds  its  markets  eastward  in 
Germany  and  Russia,  Dutch  seed  having  been  found  profitable  to 
sow,  just  as  English  fanners  purchase  warp-grown  seed  for  the  same 
reason.  Caraway  is  used  chiefly  for  kiimmel  distillation,  and  is  a 
very  profitable  crop;  but  there  would  be  a  very  small  demand  for  it 
in  this  country.  Sugar  Beet  is  said  to  le  the  sheet  anchor  of  Dutch 
arable  farming,  realising  as  much  as  £60  ;  er  acre,  but  the  value  is 
artificially  raised  by  the  bounty  put  upon  the  export  of  sugar.  This 
increases  the  price  so  much  as  to  make  sugar  an  article  too  costly  for 
consumption  by  the  Dutch  working  classes.  If  we  consider  the  low 
price  which  the  English  workman  pays  for  sugar,  jam,  and  sweets 
for  the  children,  we  must  conclude  that  the  profit  arising  from  this 
bounty  system  does  not  all  return  to  the  credit  of  the  Dutch  nation. 
The  Dutch  farmer  not  only  gets  the  value  of  the  sugar,  but  has  the 
pulp  for  use  amongst  his  cattle.  It  may  till  a  gap,  but  it  must  be 
poor  stuff  with  all  the  juice  extracted. 
Dairying — the  production  of  butter  and  cheese — appears  to  be  the 
chief  industry.  One  of  the  English  visitors,  Mr.  E.  C.  Pritchard,  says, 
“The  English  arable  farmer  will  not  find  much  to  copy  in  Holland- 
Their  methods  of  cleaning  land  and  making  ensilage  are  far  from 
satisfactory,  and  their  harvest  operations  would  be  too  expensive, 
going  back  to  the  days  of  our  great  grandfathers  ;  but  when  we  come 
to  the  question  of  dairy  farming  the  scene  changes,  and  in  dairying 
our  Dutch  friends  are  far  and  away  ahead  of  us  ”  In  the  parts  of 
Holland  visited  all  the  cattle  were  of  the  pure  Dutch  breed.  The 
Dutch  cow  is  not  a  good  beef  animal,  but  as  a  milk  producer  is  almost 
unrivalled.  Eor  instance,  at  the  Waddinjsveen  dairy  farm  during 
the  last  six  years  the  average  annual  pioduction  of  milk  per  cow 
was  880  gallons,  which  is  much  higher  than  that  of  most  English 
cows.  The  best  cow  gave  1179  gallons  in  1897,  and  1217  gallons 
in  1898. 
Practically  no  heifer  calves  are  fatted  and  killed  in  Holland;  all 
are  reared  and  tested  as  milkers,  and  only  non-breeders  and  the  few 
which  fail  as  milkers  are  fed  off  in  early  life.  In  cleanliness  Dutch 
farms,  and  especially  the  cowhouses,  compare  very  favourably  with 
their  average  British  rivals.  Listen  to  the  report:  “The  cows  are 
kept  in  a  condition  of  scrupulous  cleanliness,  and  to  such  an  extent 
is  the  cleanliness  of  the  cowhouses  carried  out  in  North  Holland,  where 
they  form  a  portion  of  the  farmhouses,  that  in  the  summer  it  is 
possible  to  use  them  as  sitting-rooms.”  Again,  “  In  view  of  the 
health  and  cleanliness  of  the  Dutch  herds,  and  of  their  great  milk- 
producing  value,  the  restrictions  on  the  importation  of  Dutch,  in 
common  with  all  other  live  cattle,  into  this  country  appear  entirely 
unnecessary.” 
This  sounds  all  right,  but  it  is  difficult  to  draw  a  lino  between. 
