April  26,  1900, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
3G3 
bushes  being  well  coated  with  it  on  a  tine  day.  It  saves  the  buds 
from  sparrows,  and  to  a  great  extent,  if  not  wholly,  from  the  bull¬ 
finches.  We  have  also  found  great  benefit  from  running  black  thread 
all  over  the  bushes  so  as  to  form  large  meshes.  Mr,  W.  Taylor 
advised  the  following  wash  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  as  obnoxious 
to  birds.  “  The  ingredients  are  a  quarter  of  a  peck  or  more  of  quite 
fresh  quicklime,  a  pint  of  sulphur,  and  1^  lb.  of  softsoap.  Choose 
lime. that  weighs  very  lightly,  dip  a  few  of  the  lumps  in  or  sprinkle 
with  water  (hot  water  is  the  quickest  in  action),  and  place  in  a  bucket 
or  other  vessel,  sprinkle  a  little  of  the  sulphur  thinly  over  it,  then  add 
more  lime,  just  damp  enough  to  slake,  then  add  more  sulphur  on  the 
top  of  it,  repeating  the  process  till  all  the  sulphur  is  used.  When  the 
lime  is  slaked  it  will  be  seen  that  the  sulphur  is  quite  dissolved,  and 
is  scarcely  visible  except  in  the  dark  colour  it  has  given  to  the  lime. 
The  quantity  of  lime  used  is  not  important  so  long  as  there  is  sufiioient 
to  dissolve  the  sulphur.  The  softsoap  should  be  dissolved  separately, 
and  afterwards  mixed  with  the  lime  and  sulphur,  and  sufficient  water- 
added  to  make  three  gallons  in  all.  If  the  mixture  is  not  thick  enough 
to  apply  with  a  brush,  clay  or  more  lime  may  be  added.  If  the  glaring 
white  is  bbjt^oted  to  mix  soot  with  it.  If  mixed  in  the  way  I  have 
described  and  applied  in  dry  weather  no  amount  of  rain  will  wash  it 
off  ;  but  if  lime  is  used  that  has  been  some  time  exposed  to  the  air 
the  sulphur  will  not  properly  dissolve,  and  the  first  shower  will  wash  it 
off.  It  is  necessary  to  caution  my  readers  against  dissolving  the  sulphur 
in  a  house  containing  plants  in  a  growing  state,  as  the  gas  emitted  will 
burn  up  every  leaf  just  as  completely  as  if  fire  had  been  used.  I  have, 
however,  never  found  trees  irijured  from  being  painted  with  this 
mixture;  it  is  only  the  sulphurous  gas  that  i%  dangerous,  and  that 
probably  would  not  injure  plants  in  a  dormant  state.”  The  mixture 
may  be  dashed  amongst  bushes  with  a  whitewash  brush,  or  made  thin 
enough  lo  be  pasted  through  a  syringe.  Birds  will  not  touch  buds  that 
are  well  coated  with  it.  We  have  no  experience  of  arsenic  for  the 
purpose  you  meution,  and  severely  deprecate  its  use  over  fruit  trees 
and  bushes,  not  only  as  extremely  dangerous  to  animal  life,  but  also 
deadly  to  plants. 
Names  of  Plants. — We  only  undertake  to  name  species  of  cultivated 
plants,  not  wild  flowers,  or  varieties  that  have  originated  from  seqds  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  fiim  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  iiijured  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.  (6?.  S.). — Dendrobium 
iDevonianum ;  thanks  to  your  excellent  packing  the  flower  arrived 
n  perfect  condition.  (JI.  F.). —  1,  Veronica  elliptica ;  2,  Cytisus 
racemosus ;  3,  Eupatorium  odoratum ;  4,  Anemone  nemorosa;  5, 
Saxifraga  oppositifolia ;  6,  Iris  fimbriata.  (C.  S.  B.). — 1,  Diosma 
ericoides;  2,  Sparmannia  africana;  3,  Dendrobium  Wardianum ;  4, 
D.  luteolum.  (S.  F.  F.). — Chionodoxa  sardensis. 
Covent  Garden 
Market. — April  25tli. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
Apples,  English,  per  sieve 
5  OtolO  0 
Lemons,  case  . . 
4  0tol6  0 
„  Californian,  per  case 
8  0 
14  0 
Oranges,  per  case  . 
5  0 
15  0 
„  Nova  Scotian,  barrel 
16  0 
22  0 
„  Californian,  seedless 
16  0 
24  0 
„  Tasmanian  . 
8  0 
18  0 
Pears,  Californian,  case... 
6  0 
12  0 
Cobnuts  per  lOO  lb . 
80  0 
90  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
1  0 
6  0 
Grapes,  black  . 
5  0 
10  0 
Strawberries,  lb . 
6  0 
10  0 
Average  Wholesale 
Prices.  — Vegetables. 
8.  d. 
B.  d. 
8.  d. 
«.  d. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz.  ... 
2  6  to  3  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2  to  0  0 
Asparagus,  green,  bundle 
5  0 
6  9 
Onions,  bag,  about  1  cwt. 
7  0 
9  0 
„  giant,  bundle 
16  0 
20  0 
„  Egyptian,  cwt.  ... 
8  0 
0  0 
Beans,  Broad,  per  flat 
8  0 
4  0 
,,  Spanish,  case 
10  0 
12  0 
„  Jersey,  per  lb . 
1  0 
1  3 
Parslev,  doz.  bunches  ... 
2  0 
4  0 
„  Madeira,  basket  ... 
2  6 
3  6 
Peas,  Jersey,  lb . 
1  9 
2  0 
Beet,  Red,  doz . 
0  6 
0  0 
„  French,  lb . 
0  7 
0  0 
Cabbages,  per  tally . 
9  0 
12  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
3  6 
6  0 
Carrots,  per  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
„  new  Jersey,  lb. 
0  2 
0  5 
HGW  •••  ••• 
0  10 
1  3 
„  Tenerift'e,  cwt.... 
18  0 
28  (1 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
Radishes,  Jersey,  long,  doz. 
0  8 
0  10 
Celery,  per  bundle . 
1  0 
1  9 
„  French,  round, doz. 
0  9 
0  n 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
2  0 
4  0 
Seakale,  doz.  baskets 
18  0 
21  0 
Endive,  doz . 
1  6 
2  0 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  3 
0  0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2 
0  0 
Spinach,  per  bushel . 
3  0 
6  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  3 
0  0 
Sprue,  French,  per  doz. ... 
9  0 
10  0 
Lettuce,  doz . 
0  10 
1  2 
Tomatoes,  per  doz.  lbs,  ... 
4  6 
6  6 
Mint,  green,  doz.  bunches  3  0 
6  0 
Turnips,  bunch . 
3  0 
4  1. 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
0  8 
0  10 
If  DGW  •••  ••• 
010 
1  3 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
i.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
Anemones,  doz.  bunches... 
2  0  to  3  0 
Mignonette,  doz.  bunches 
3  0  to  5  0 
Arums  . 
4  0 
0  0 
Narcissus,  white,  doz.  bun. 
3  6 
4  0 
■\Rparagu8,  Fern,  bunch... 
2  0 
2  6 
„  Yellow,  doz.  bunches 
2  0 
3  0 
Bouvardia,  bunch  . 
f  6 
0  9 
Odontoglossums  . 
5  0 
7  6 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
1  9 
3  0 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs 
8  0 
12  0 
Cattlevas,  per  doz . 
10  0 
12  0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
Daffodils,  double,  doz.  bnch 
3  0 
5  0 
,,  Red,  doz . 
3  0 
5  0 
,,  single,  doz.  bnch. 
6  0 
8  0 
„  Safrano,  doz  . 
2  6 
3  6 
Eucharis,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
,,  Tea,  white,  doz. 
3  6 
6  0 
Gardenias,  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
5  0 
7  6 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
„  Marechal  Niel,  doz. 
6  0 
12  0 
bnchs . 
6  0 
9  0 
„  English  (indoor) ; — 
Lilium  Harris!,  12  blooms 
6  0 
8  0 
„  La  France,  doz. 
4  0 
8  0 
„  lancifolium  album  ... 
3  6 
4  6 
„  Merniets,  doz . 
3  0 
8  0 
„  ,,  rubrum... 
3  6 
4  6 
Sinilax,  bunch . 
4  0 
6  0 
.,  longiflorum,  12  blooms 
8  0 
10  0 
Tulips,  scarlet,  bunch . 
0  6 
0  8 
Lilac,  white,  bundle 
4  0 
G  (> 
,,  yellow,  bunch . 
1  0 
1  6 
„  mauve,  bundle 
6  0 
8  0 
,,  bronze,  bunch . 
1  0 
1  6 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun. 
G  0 
18  0 
Violets,  Parma,  bunch  ... 
3  0 
4  0 
Maidenhair  Fern, doz. bnch 
8  0 
10  0 
„  dark,  French,  doz. 
2  0 
3  0 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
3  0 
4  0 
,,  ,,  English,  doz. 
2  0 
3  0 
„  Yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
3  0 
4  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Plants  in  Pots. 
Acacias,  per  doz. 
Arbor  Vita),  var.,  doz. 
Arums,  per  doz. 
Aspidistra,  doz. 
Aspidii-tra,  specimen 
Azaleas,  various,  each 
Bon  nias,  doz . 
Orotons,  doz . 
Cyclamen,  doz. 
Daffodils,  pot  . 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz.... 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
Erica  various,  doz.  ... 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz. 
Ferns,  var.,  doz. 
.,  small,  100  ... 
B.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.d 
12  0to24  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each . 
1  6  to  7  6 
6  0 
36  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0 
5  0 
6  0 
8  0 
Genistas,  per  doz . 
8  0 
15  0 
18  0 
36  0 
Geraniums,  scarlet,  doz.... 
6  0 
10  0 
15  0 
20  0 
„  pink,  doz.  ... 
8  0 
10  0 
2  6 
6  0 
Hyacinths,  Dutch,  doz.... 
10  0 
18  0 
20  0 
24  0 
Hydrangeas,  white,  each 
2  6 
5  0 
t8  0 
30  0 
,,  pinlt,  doz.  ... 
12  0 
15  0 
6  0 
8  0 
Lily  of  Valley,  per  pot 
1  0 
2  0 
0  6 
1  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3  0 
6  0 
12  0 
30  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.  ... 
12  0 
16  0 
9  0 
18  0 
Mignonette,  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
8  0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
6  0 
18  0 
Palma,  in  var.,  each 
1  0 
15  0 
4  0 
18  0 
„  specimens  . 
21  0 
63  0 
4  0 
18  0 
Spirseas,  per  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
4  0 
8  0 
Poultry  Tormentors. 
Now  that  the  warmer  days  are  at  hand,  and  all  things  living  are 
breeding  and  multiplying,  there  is  great  activity  among  creatures 
great  and  small  on  the  farm.  We  are  going  to  leave  the  creatures 
great  and  confine  ourselves  to  the  life  history  of  creatures  small ;  so 
small,  indeed,  that  unless  we  are  blessed  with  good  young  eyesight 
they  might  escape  our  observation  altogether.  We  may  see  their 
effects,  but  miss  them.  We  may  say  with  truth  we  may  feel  their 
effects,  for  some  of  us  have  very  sympathetic  skins  which  resent 
the  big  red  blotches  caused  by  nefarious  insects  of  different  kinds» 
How  one  poor  little  flea  will  cause  in  some  folks  a  complete  upset  to 
the  system  for  hours.  What  a  hunt  till  the  tiny  creature  is  fairly 
trapped  and  squashed,  and  what  irritation  it  can  leave  behind  !  Of 
course,  as  some  folks  may  be  flea  proof,  so  some  fowls  may  be  flea, 
proof  too  !  But  there  must  be  a  cause  for  the  scratching  and  pecking 
and  ruffling  of  the  plumes  that  may  be  seen  in  any  pjultry  yard  by 
the  careful  observer. 
If  we  asked  the  majority  of  our  readers  to  define  a  hen  pest,  the 
answer  would  be  without  doubt  flea.  The  answer  would  be  quite 
right,  but  also  quite  incomplete.  The  flea  is  there,  cheerful  and 
industrious,  but  he  has  company  equally  acive  and  possibly  more 
injurious.  First  in  order  comes  the  flea;  there  are  several  kinds  of 
flea  (we  believe  somewhere  about  twenty-two  varieties),  but  the  one 
we  treat  of  is  known  as  Pulex  Gallinse,  a  grand  name  for  so  small  a 
creature.  A  well  known  patent  medicine  always  heads  its  advertise¬ 
ments  thus,  For  the  blood  is  the  life.”  The  flea  thinks  the  same» 
