January  29,  189?. 
JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
85 
Pruning  Potted  Malden  Apricot,  Peach,  and  Nectarine 
Trees  (if.  D.  B.). — The  proper  method  is  to  cut  the  trees  down  to  the 
point  marked  in  your  sketch  A,  shorten  the  two  pairs  of  side  growths  to 
about  half  their  length,  or,  say,  the  lower  to  6  inches  and  the  upper 
ones  to  3  or  4  inches.  Next  year  take  a  shoot  from  the  top  and  train  it 
upright,  pinching  it  at  12  inches,  and  if  it  break  again  allow  growths  to 
6  inches,  then  pinch.  Stop  the  side  branch  growths  at  6  inches  ;  second 
growths  to  3  inches,  and  in  that  way  you  may  get  as  fine  pyramids  as 
need  be,  it  being  simply  a  matter  of  shortening  the  leader  and  getting 
side  branches  as  you  go  along  each  year.  By  proceeding  on  the  lines 
marked  out  by  B  in  your  sketch  you  will  get  a  fairly  good  pyramid,  but 
the  vigour  will  in  a  few  years  increase  in  the  upper  part  at  the  expense 
of  the  lower  and  weaker,  the  tree  branches  developing  into  a  standard, 
as  you  say.  There  is  no  difficulty  in  pruning  standard  Peach  trees  ;  it 
is  a  question  of  thinning  in  summer  to  prevent  overcrowding  of  the 
foliage,  removing  very  strong  and  very  weak  shoots,  retaining  the  sturdy 
and  short-jointed  for  bearing. 
Garden  Soil  Infested  with  White  Itnsects  (J.  Very  Old 
Subscriber'), — Had  you  sent  a  little  of  the  soil  containing  the  insects  we 
might  have  been  able  to  tell  you  what  they  are  and  to  advise  more 
definitely.  As  yon  have  tried  “  quicklime  (a  heavy  dressing)  salt,  and 
soot,”  all  excellent  dressings  for  destroying  ground  pests,  you  may  use 
gaslime  fresh  from  gas  works  at  the  rate  of  4  tons'  per  acre,  or  66  lbs. 
per  rod,  or  a  little  less  than  2  lbs  per  square  yard,  but  upon  the  distinct 
understanding  that  it  be  spread  evenly  and  left  on  the  surface  for  six 
weeks  before  it  is  dug  in.  Make  no  mistake  in  this  matter,  and  it  will 
not  make  any  about  the  pests  in  the  soil.  It  ought  to  be  applied  in  the 
autumn,  or  at  once,  so  that  it  can  lie  on  the  surface  as  stated.  As  you 
may  not  be  able  to  wait  six  weeks  you  may  use  half  the  amount  of  gas- 
lime,  2  tons  per  acre,  28  lbs.  per  rod,  leaving  it  on  the  surface  three 
weeks  and  then  work  into  the  soil  by  digging  with  a  fork,  taking 
small  spits.  This  will  usually  banish,  if  not  kill,  most  ground  pests, 
and  without  prejudice  to  the  crop  following.  If  you  cannot  use  the 
gaslime  apply  3J  lbs.  of  kainit  per  rod,  distributing  evenly  before  the 
middle  of  February,  or  as  soon  afterwards  as  the  ground  is  thawed.  This 
will  not  injure  anything  in  the  way  of  trees  or  plants,  and  it  will  make  an 
end  of  most  grubs.  In  putting  in  crops  employ  3  J  lbs.  of  dissolved  bones, 
dry  and  crumbling,  per  rod.  and  when  the  plants  are  growing  apply 
lb.  nitrate  of  soda,  finely  crushed,  per  rod.  This  management 
ought  to  give  you  abundant  crops  where  you  can  simply  grow  nothing 
on  account  of  the  insects. 
Gros  Colman  Grapes  Cracked  at  the  Footstalks  of  the 
Berries  (IF.  IF). — The  berries  are  in  a  sad  condition  from  the  cracking 
around  the  footstalks,  and  covered  there  with  a  mould— a  fungus, 
Aspergillus  glaucus,  Link— the  conidial  condition  of  the  higher  form 
known  as  Eurotium  herbariorum,  Link.  The  fungus  is  found  on  fruit, 
branches,  leaves,  and  all  kinds  of  decaying  organic  matter,  and  wholly 
regarded  as  a  saprophyte  j  but  that  does  not  mean  that  it  will  not 
attack  fruit  other  than  in  a  state  of  decay,  for  when  a  fruit  has  ripened 
it  is  practically  dead,  and  the  least  flaw  in  the  skin  of  a  Grape  or  other 
fruit  is  sufficient  to  give  the  needful  access  to  the  fungal  germ-tube, 
and  then  decay  proceeds  rapidly.  Whilst  the  skin  of  the  berries  is 
intact  the  fungus  has  no  power  to  break  it  down,  but  the  presence  of 
moisture  for  any  length  of  time  thereon  so  weakens  the  cuticular  cells 
that  the  germinal  tubes  easily  pass  tdrough  the  skin.  The  cause  of  the 
cracking  was  no  doubt  the  great  quantity  of  rain  in  the  autumn  and 
until  recently  continued,  the  soil  being  heavy  and  surcharged  with 
water,  and  the  berries  thus  gorged  with  fluid  simply  burst  their  skins. 
This  in  a  dry  atmosphere  is  at  the  nose,  and  in  a  moist  one  around  the 
footstalks,  at  least  such  is  our  observation.  Keeping  the  houses  damp 
in  the  summer  time  to  prevent  red  spider  would  not  cause  the  Grapes  to 
crack  after  they  were  ripe.  It  is  the  wetness  of  the  border  and  also  that 
of  the  house  recently  which  has  caused  the  cracking  or  decay  of  the 
berries  at  the  footstalks,  for  there  is  the  mould  on  several  of  the  berries 
without  any  cracking  of  the  skin.  More  air — some  constantly — would 
no  doubt  have  made  a  difference,  as  it  was  the  accumulated  moisture  on 
the  berries  that  provided  favourable  conditions  for  the  growth  of  the 
fungus. 
Names  of  Fruits. — Notice. — We  have  pleasure  in  naming  good 
typical  fruits  (when  the  names  are  discoverable)  for  the  convenience  of 
regular  subscribers,  who  are  the  growers  of  such  fruit,  and  not  col¬ 
lectors  of  specimens  from  non-subscribers.  This  latter  procedure  is 
wholly  irregular,  and  we  trust  that  none  of  our  readers  will  allow 
themselves  to  be  made  the  mediums  in  infringing  our  rules.  Special 
attention  is  directed  to  the  following  decision,  the  object  of  which  is 
to  discourage  the  growth  of  inferior  and  promote  the  culture  of  superior 
varieties.  In  consequence  of  the  large  number  of  worthless  Apples  and 
Pears  sent  to  this  office  to  be  named ,  it  has  been  decided  to  name  only 
specimens  and  varieties  of  approved  merit,  and  to  reject  the  inferior , 
which  are  not  worth  sending  or  growing.  The  names  and  addresses  of 
senders  of  fruit  or  flowers  to  be  named  must  in  all  cases  be  enclosed  with 
the  specimens,  whether  letters  referring  to  the  fruit  are  sent  by  post  or 
not.  The  names  are  not  necessarily  required  for  publication,  initials 
sufficing  for  that.  Only  six  specimens  can  be  named  at  once,  and  any 
beyond  that  number  cannot  be  preserved.  They  should  be  sent  on  the 
first  indication  of  change  towards  ripening.  Dessert  Pears  cannot 
be  named  in  a  hard  green  state.  (J.  P.  A.) — No  person  living  could 
name  the  Apple  in  its  crushed  and  semi-decayed  state.  In  size  and 
shape  it  resembles  Old  Nonpareil.  ( T .  IF). — 1,  Cornish  Aromatic  ;  2, 
Royal  Russet;  3,  The  Queen,  (X.  <?.). — Tyler’s  Kernel.  (A.  M). — 1, 
Court  Pendu  Plat  j  2,  Golden  Noble  j  3,  Cos’s  Orange  Pippin. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIYED. 
F.  G.  E.  Bonnett,  Heathfield,  Sussex. — Seeds. 
W.  Pull,  610,  King’s  Road,  Chelsea. — Sseds. 
B.  R.  Davis,  Yeovil. — Begonias. 
Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay. — Farm  Seeds. 
Dobie  &  Mason,  22,  Oak  Street,  Manchester. — Seeds. 
Fotheringham  &  King,  Dumfries. — Seeds. 
J.  Turner,  North  Street,  Wetherby,  Yorks. — Seeds. 
Webb  &  Sons,  Wordsley,  Stourbridge. — Seeds. 
COYENT  GARDEN  MARKET.— January  27tH. 
FRUIT. 
Apples,  J  sieve . 
Filbertsand  Oobs,per  lOOlbs. 
drapes,  per  lb . 
Asparagus,  per  100  ..  . 
Beans,  £  sieve  . 
Beet,  Bed,  dozen . 
Carrots,  bunch  ..  . 
Cauliflowers,  dozen  ..  . 
Celery,  bundle  . 
Ooleworts,  dozen  bunches 
Cucumbers  . 
Endive,  dozen  . . 
Herbs,  bunch  . . 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
Lettuce,  dozen . . 
Mushrooms,  per  lb . 
i.  d.  a.  d. 
fl. 
d.  s. 
d, 
1  3  to  2  6 
Lemons,  case  ..  .. 
0  to  14 
0 
45  0  50  0 
Plums,  i  sieve  ,.  .. 
0  0 
0 
10  19 
St.  Michael  Pines,  each 
..  8 
0  8 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8.  d.  s.  d. 
8. 
d.  8. 
d- 
0  0  to  0  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
Onions,  bushel . 
Parsley  .dozen  bunches  . . 
Parsnips,  dozen . 
Potatoes,  per  cwt . 
Salsafy,  bundle . . 
Seakale,  per  basket  ..  .. 
Scorzonera,  bundle  ..  .. 
Shallots,  per  lb . 
Spinach,  pad  . 
Sprouts,  half  sieve  ..  .. 
Tomatoes,  per  lb . 
Turnips,  bunch  ..  .. 
PLANTS  IN  POTS. 
2  to  0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
1  0 
0  8 
1  9 
0  0 
0  0 
Arbor  Vitse  (various)  doz. 
Aspidistra,  dozen  ..  .. 
Aspidistra,  specimen  plant 
Azalea,  per  dozen  ..  .. 
Chrysanthemums,  per  doz. 
„  her  plant 
Cyclamen,  per  dozen..  .. 
Dracaena,  various,  dozen .. 
Dracaena  viridis,  dozen  .. 
Erica,  per  dozen . 
„  hyemalis,  per  dozen 
Euonymus.var.,  dozen  .. 
Evergreens,  in  var., dozen 
Ferns  in  variety, dozen  .. 
Ferns  (small)  per  hundred 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE 
Anemones, dozen  bunches.. 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  .. 
Asparagus  Fern,  per  bunoh 
Azalea,  per  dozen  sprays  .. 
Bouvardias,  bunch  ..  .. 
Carnations .  12  blooms 
Christmas  Roses,  12  blooms 
Chrysanthemums,  dozen 
bunches  . 
Chrysanthemums, 12  blooms 
Daffodils,  dozen  biooms  . . 
Eucharis,  dozen . 
Gardenias,  dozen  .. 
Geranium,  soarlet,  doz. 
bunches  . 
Hyacinths  (Roman).  1 2 
sprays,  and  per  bunch  . . 
Lilac,  White  (French),  per 
bunch . 
Lilium  longiflorum,  12 
blooms  . 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12sprays, 
per  bunoh . 
Marguerites,  12  bunches  . . 
Maidenhair  Fern, per  dozen 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d* 
6 
0  to  36 
0 
Ficus  elastica,  each  ..  .. 
l 
0 
to  7 
0 
18 
0 
36 
0 
Foliage  plants,  var.  each 
l 
0 
6 
0 
6 
0 
10 
6 
Genista,  per  dozen  ..  .. 
10 
0 
15 
0 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Hyacinths,  large,  per  dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
6 
0 
12 
0 
„  (Roman),  doz.  pots 
6 
0 
8 
0 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Lycopodiums,  dozen  ..  .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  dozen.. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
12 
0 
30 
0 
Myrtles,  dozen . 
6 
0 
9 
0 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Palms,  in  var..  each  ..  .. 
1 
0 
15 
0 
9 
0 
12 
0 
,,  (specimens’*  ..  .. 
21 
0 
63 
0 
10 
0 
15 
0 
Poinsettia,  per  dozen. .  . . 
9 
0 
12 
0 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Primula  sinensis,  per  dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
6 
0 
24 
0 
Solanums,  per  dozen  . .  . . 
9 
0 
12 
0 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Tulips,  dozen  pots  ..  .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
„  in  boxes,  per  dozen 
0 
8 
1 
6 
PRICES.- 
-OUT  FLOWERS.— Orchid  Blooms  in 
variet)  • 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
2 
0  to  4 
0 
Mignonette,  dozen  bunches 
3 
0  to  6 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Mimosa  (French)  per 
2 
0 
2 
6 
bunch . 
1 
0 
l 
6 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Narciss,  White  (French), 
0 
6 
0 
9 
dozen  bunches . 
1 
6 
2 
6 
1 
0 
3 
6 
Narciss,  Yellow  (French), 
1 
0 
1 
6 
dozen  bunches  ..  .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Orchids,  various,  per  dozen 
3 
0 
9 
0 
blo"ms  . 
1 
6 
12 
0 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Pelargoniums,  12  bunches 
6 
0 
9 
0 
0 
9 
1 
6 
Pyrethrum,  dozen  bunches 
1 
6 
3 
0 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Roses  (indoor),  dozen  .. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
..  Tea,  white,  dozen 
1 
0 
2 
6 
„  Yellow,  dozen  (Niels) 
6 
0 
9 
0 
0 
0 
9 
0 
,,  Red,  dozen  blooms  .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
„  Safrano  (English), 
0 
6 
1 
0 
dozen . 
1 
0 
2 
0 
,,  Pink,  per  dozen  . .  .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
3 
6 
5 
0 
Smilax,  per  bunch  ..  .. 
3 
6 
7 
0 
Snowdrops,  dozen  bunches 
1 
0 
2 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Tuberoses.  12  blooms..  .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Tulips,  dozen  blooms  .  .. 
0 
6 
1 
6 
0 
9 
1 
6 
Violet  Panne,  per  bunch  .. 
8 
0 
4 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
„  per  doz.  bunches  . . 
1 
6 
2 
0 
„  (French),  per  dozen 
4 
0 
8 
0 
bunches  ..  .. 
1 
6 
2 
6 
PREPARING  FOR  THE  LAMBING  SEASON. 
No  excuse  i*  offered,  and  we  think  none  is  required,  for  again 
presenting  to  our  readers  a  few  hints  and  a  few  warnings  to  that 
they  may  lay  to  heart  before  this  critical  time  for  the  flock  master 
arrives . 
As  so  far  we  have  only  been  able  to  wrest  from  Nature  one 
corn  harvest,  we  have  still  but  one  crop  of  lambs  per  year,  and  that 
being  a  crop  of  great  value  it  behoves  us  to  use  all  diligence  and 
skill  to  preserve  these  young  lives,  and  to  prevent  as  far  as  in  us 
lies  undue  mortality  among  the  ewes.  We  have  just  read  with 
great  pleasure  and  profit  an  article  in  the  last  issue  of  R.A.3. 
