May  17,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
429 
Book  on  Orchids  {H.  TF.). — It  would  have  been  much  easier  to 
answer  your  question  had  you  given  some  indication  of  the  price  you 
were  prepared  to  pay  for  the  book.  “  Williams’  Orchid  Manual,”  price 
25s.,  is  a  standard  work,  and  may  be  obtained  from  Messrs.  B.  S. 
Williams  &  Son,  Upper  Holloway.  In  a  more  popular  style,  and  at  a 
lower  price  (about  3s.),  you  will  find  “  Orchid  Growing  for  Amateurs,” 
by  Mr.  H.  A.  Burberry,  late  Orchid  grower  to  the  Et.  Hon.  Jos. 
Chamberlain,  excellent.  The  cultural  details  in  this  book  are  the 
result  of  many  years’  practical  experience,  and  are  thoroughly  reliable. 
The  publishers  are  Messrs.  Blake  &  Mackenzie,  School  Lane,  Liverpool. 
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.  (G.  H.). — 1,  A  fairly  good 
form  of  Cypripedium  barbatum  much  resembling  C.  b.  bifloram  ;  2, 
C.  b.  Crossi,  true.  (T.  A.  J.). — 1,  Spiraea  japonica;  2,  Eose  Harrison’s 
Yellow;  3,  Deutzia  gracilis ;  4,  Fritillaria  Imperialis  ;  5,  F.  Imperialis 
var. ;  6,  Cydonia  (Pyrus)  japonica.  (IF.  TF.  B.). — 1,  Primus  (Cerasus) 
Padus ;  2,  P.  nana ;  3,  Genista  racemosus ;  4,  Phlox  setacea ; 
5,  Lycium  europEBum.  (K.  8.). — 1,  Berberis  Darwini ;  2,  Doronicum 
plantagineum  var.  ;  3,  Magnolia  Soulangeana  ;  4,  Berberis  stenophylla. 
Covent  Garden  Ufarket. — May  16tli. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
Apples,  English,  sieve  ...  6  OtolO  0 
Grapes,  black  .  ... 
2  0  to  4  0 
„  Californian,  case  ...  8  0 
14  0 
Lemons,  case  . 
4  0 
15  0 
„  Nova  Scotian,  barrel  15  0 
22  0 
Oranges,  per  case  . 
6  0 
15  0 
„  Tasmanian  .  8  0 
18  0 
„  Californian,  seedless 
16  0 
24  0 
Apricots,  per  box  .  1  6 
0  0 
Pears,  Californian,  case... 
6  0 
12  0 
Cherries,  per  box  .  1  G 
0  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
1  0 
6  0 
Cobnuts  per  100  lb . 80  0 
90  0 
Strawberries,  lb . 
3  0 
6  0 
Average  Wholesale 
Prices. — Vegetables. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz.  ...  2  6  to  3  0 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
0  8  to  0  10 
Asparagus,  green,  bundle  0  9 
3  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2 
0  0 
„  giant,  bundle  4  0 
6  0 
Onions,  bag,  about  1  cwt. 
7  0 
9  0 
Beans,  Broad,  per  flat  ...  8  0 
4  0 
„  Egyptian,  cwt.  ... 
8  0 
0  0 
,,  Jersey,  per  lb .  1  0 
0  0 
Parslev,  doz.  bunches  ... 
2  0 
4  0 
„  Madeira,  basket ...  2  6 
3  6 
Peas,  Jersey,  lb . 
0  9 
1  0 
Beet,  Bed,  doz .  0  6 
0  0 
,,  French,  per  pad  ... 
2  6 
3  6 
Cabbages,  per  tally .  6  0 
6  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
3  6 
6  1) 
Carrots,  doz .  3  0 
4  0 
„  new  Jersey,  lb. 
0  2 
0  6 
,,  new,  bunch .  0  3 
0  4 
„  Teneriffe,  cwt.... 
18  0 
28  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz .  1  6 
3  0 
Eadishes,  long, doz . 
0  6 
0  0 
Celery,  bundle .  1  0 
1  9 
„  round,  doz. 
1  0 
0  (1 
Cucumbers,  doz.  ...  ...  2  0 
4  0 
Seakale,  doz.  baskets 
4  0 
7  0 
Endive,  doz .  16 
2  0 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  3 
0  0 
Herbs,  bunch  .  0  2 
0  0 
Spinach,  bushel  . 
2  0 
3  0 
Leeks,  bunch  .  0  3 
0  0 
Tomatoes,  doz.  lbs . 
4  6 
6  6 
Lettuce,  doz . 0  10 
1  2 
Turnips,  bunch . 
3  0 
4  ( 
„  Cos,  doz .  2  0 
3  0 
)f  a,,  ,,, 
0  5 
0  7 
Mint,  green,  doz.  bunches  3  0 
6  0 
Average  Wholesale 
Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
B.  d. 
Arums  .  2  0  to  3  0 
Mignonette,  doz.  bunches 
3  0 
to  5  0 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch...  2  0 
2  6 
Odontoglossums  . 
5  0 
7  6 
Bouvardia,  bunch  .  0  6 
0  9 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs 
8  0 
12  0 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ...  16 
2  0 
Eoses  (indoor),  doz . 
2  6 
3  6 
Cattlevas,  per  doz .  0  0 
12  0 
,,  Eed,  doz . 
2  0 
4  0 
Dafibdila,  single,  doz.  bnch.  2  0 
6  0 
„  Safrano,  doz  . 
2  0 
3  0 
Bucharis,  doz .  3  0 
4  0 
„  Tea,  white,  doz.  ... 
2  0 
3  0 
Gardenias,  doz .  1  6 
2  6 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
3  0 
4  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
„  Marechal  Niel,  doz. 
6  0 
12  0 
bnchs .  6  0 
9  0 
„  English  (indoor)  : — 
Lilium  Harrisi,  12  blooms  3  0 
40 
„  La  France,  doz. 
3  0 
6  0 
„  longiflorum,  12  blooms  3  0 
4  0 
„  Mermets,  doz . 
3  0 
8  0 
Lilac,  white,  bundle  ...  3  0 
4  0 
Smilax,  bunch . 
4  0 
6  0 
„  mauve,  bundle  ...  2  0 
3  0 
Tulips,  scarlet,  bunch . 
0  6 
0  8 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun.  6  0 
18  0 
„  yellow,  bunch . 
1  0 
1  6 
Maidenhair  Fern,doz. bnch  8  0 
10  0 
,,  bronze,  bunch  ..ft,. 
1  0 
1  6 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs.  3  0 
4  0 
Violets,  Parma,  bunch  .., 
3  0 
4  0 
„  "'Yellow,  doz.  bnchs.  3  0 
4  0 
„  English,  doz.  ... 
2  0 
3  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Plants  in  Pots. 
Acacias,  per  doz. 
8.  d.  8.  d. 
...  12  0to24  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each . 
8.  d.  s.d 
1  6  to  7  6 
Arbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz. 
Arums,  per  doz. 
Aspidistra,  doz. 
...  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 
86 
0 
Geraniums,  scarlet,  doz.... 
6  0 
10  G 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
...  15  0 
20 
0 
,,  pink,  (Ifiz.  ... 
8  0 
10  0 
Azaleas,  various,  each 
...  2  6 
6 
0 
Hyacinths,  Dutch,  doz. ... 
10  0 
18  0 
Boronias,  doz . 
...  20  0 
24 
0 
Hydrangeas,  white,  each 
•2  6 
5  0 
Crotons,  doz . 
...  18  0 
30 
0 
,,  pinic,  doz.  ... 
12  0 
16  0 
Cyclamen,  doz. 
...  6  0 
8 
0 
Lily  of  Valley,  per  pot  ... 
1  0 
2  0 
Daffodils,  pot  . 
...  0  6 
1 
0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3  0 
6  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz _ 
...  12  0 
30 
0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz,  ... 
12  0 
15  0 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
...  9  0 
18 
0 
Mignonette,  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
Erica  various,  doz.  ... 
...  8  0 
18 
0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
...  6  0 
18 
0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each 
1  0 
15  0 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz. 
...  4  0 
18 
0 
,,  specimens  . 
21  0 
63  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz. 
„  small,  100  ... 
...  4  0 
18 
0 
Spiraeas,  per  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
...  4  0 
8 
0 
At  the  Otlier  Side. 
Thkocgh  the  courtesy  of  a  friend  we  have  been  allowed  to  see 
a  packet  of  most  interesting  pamphlets  and  leaflets,  all  relating  to 
practical  airiculture,  but  not  English  agriculture — they  come  from 
the  far-otf  islands  of  New  Zealand,  where  there  is  a  most  active 
department  of  agriculture  under  the  direction  of  the  Hon.  John 
Mackenz  e.  From  his  name  we  should  guess  he  is  of  Scotch 
parentage,  and  certainly  he  and  his  department  are  doing  actively 
good  work  “  at  the  other  side.” 
The  first  papers  we  take  up  relate  to  dairying  service,  cheese 
and  butter  factories.  It  appears  the  Government  support  and  find' 
work  for  a  dairy  commissioner  (we  wonder  where  Mr.  Long’s  com¬ 
missioner  is  and  what  he  is  called  ?}  We  turn  to  the  dairy  work 
first  because  we  have  just  seen  in  a  neighbouring  town  excellent 
New  Zealand  butter.  Now  we  find  these  good  fulks  are  in  advance 
of  us.  They  are  getting  rid  of  the  small  dairies  up  and  down  the 
country,  from  which  the  output  of  butter,  though  good,  is  never 
uniform.  They  have  grasped  the  fact  that  it  is  more  economical  and 
more  profitable  to  work  the  butter  and  cheese  trade  by  co-operation, 
and  factories  are  springing  up  all  over  the  land.  There  is  one  very 
snggestive  remark  that  caught  our  eye  at  once  : — “  Government 
advances  to  dairy  companies.  For  particulars  of  this  means  of  raising' 
money  see  the  Dairy  Industry  Act,  1898.”  That,  to  our  mind,  speaks 
volumes.  It  is  a  difficulty  to  find  the  money  privately  for  the  erections 
of  this  nature,  but  we  feel  sure  that  if  there  were  an  available  fund 
here  in  Old  England  for  such  a  purpose,  only  too  gladly  would  it  be 
applied  for.  Private  enterprise  is  all  very  well,  but,  so  far,  it  has  not 
answered  at  home,  else  why  the  lack  of  factories  and  creameries? 
The  Government  inspector  finds  the  same  faults  existing  there  as 
he  would  do  were  he  to  visit  us,  and  he  lays  great  stress  <  n  ceitain 
points.  He  finds  much  fault  with  the  quali  y  of  the  milk,  and 
considers  this  is  owing,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  bad  keep  cows 
receive  in  the  winter  before  calving.  The  cows  are  not  in  condition 
either  to  produce  good  milk  or  strong  healthy  calves.  As  the  milk  is 
paid  for  in  proportion  to  the  butter  fat  it  contains,  this  is,  to  say  the 
least  of  it,  bad  policy.  He  also  suggests  that  a  rug  for  the  cows  in 
winter  would  be  a  great  addition  to  their  comfort  and  health;  certainly 
it  would  be  a  better  way  of  retaining  heat  than  by  keeping  them  too 
closely  packed  in  ill-ventilated  byres.  Then,  again,  he  milk  flavour 
is  not  all  that  can  be  desired.  He  suggests  several  causes  for  this,  the 
main  one  being  strong-tasted  weeds  and  coarse  herbage,  the  unclean 
state  of  the  milking  sheds,  or  the  low  condition  of  the  cow  induced 
by  excessive  scouring.  We,  out  selves,  have  often  got  hold  of  very 
moderate-flavoured  butter  in  summer,  butter  that  shtuld  have  been 
