February  ll,  1397. 
JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
ni 
Fancy  Pansy  Miss  Paterson  Diseased  (/.  IF). — The  specimen 
arrived  in  a  shrivelled  condition,  the  moss,  instead  of  having  been  damp, 
being  as  “  dry  as  dust.”  The  ieaves  are  infested  with  the  Violet  rust 
f ungas  (Peronospora  violse),  which  appears  as  small  rounded  brown 
spots,  and  causes  the  leaf  to  wither  and  die.  It  is  generally  supposed  to 
be  induced  by  keeping  the  plants  too  close  and  moist,  which  promotes  a 
weakened  and  soft  growth,  air  being  one  of  the  best  preventives,  with 
no  more  water  than  sufficient  to  keep  the  plants  fresh.  The  advice 
commonly  given  is  “  burn  all  infested  plants,  and  do  not  use  the  same 
soil  again  for  Violacae,”  is  excellent,  no  doubt.  We  have  found  dusting 
with  air-slaked  lime,  dry  and  floury,  very  useful,  giving  some  air 
constantly,  or  when  not  frosty  ;  while  the  advertised  fungicides  in 
powder  containing  sulphate  of  copper  are  efficacious  preventives,  and 
prevent  the  disease  spreading. 
Basic  Slag  Phosphate  for  Vines  (&). — It  is  a  good  manure 
for  Vine  borders,  especially  when  rather  strong  or  close  from  being 
heavily  dressed  with  manure  or  even  liquid  manure  from  stables.  It  is 
best  applied  in  the  autumn,  but  may  be  used  now,  sprinkling  half  a 
pound  on  each  square  yard  and  pointing  in  lightly  with  a  fork,  not 
damaging  the  roots.  It  is  best  applied  along  with  double  sulphate  of 
potash  and  magnesia,  using  of  this  4  ozs.  per  square  yard,  and  pointing 
into  the  soil  with  the  basic  cinder  phosphate.  The  foregoing  are 
maximum  quantities  to  use.  Ordinarily  half  quantity  suffices,  and  is 
better  when  the  roots  are  near  the  surface,  following  in  the  spring,  when 
the  buds  begin  to  swell,  with  a  mixture  of  bone  superphosphate,  three 
parts ;  powdered  saltpetre,  one  part ;  and  ground  gypsum,  one  part, 
mixed,  using  4  ozs.  per  square  yard,  and  a  similar  amount  when  the 
Grapes  are  thinned,  washing  in  moderately. 
Preparing  Material  for  Mushroom  Beds  (TV.  0.  P.). — Yes, 
there  is  great  danger  of  the  material  becoming  too  spent  before  making 
up  when  the  manure  has  lain  for  some  time,  and  had  what  may  be 
termed  an  extra  “  sweating  ”  before  taken  in  hand  by  the  Mushroom 
grower.  This  is  a  matter  upon  which  growers  must  exercise  judgment, 
for  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  material  when  made  into  beds 
have  plenty  of  “  life  ”  in  it  so  as  to  retain  its  warmth  over  a  consider¬ 
able  period,  slowly  decomposing  and  affording  food  for  the  Mushroom 
mycelium.  The  plan  you  propose  would  be  likely  to  answer  in  your 
case  better  than  so  much  turning  at  more  distant  intervals  ;  but  the 
thing  is  to  sweeten  the  material,  and  so  secure  steady  and  prolonged 
warmth  without  overheating  in  the  first  instance,  for  when  this  dries 
the  material  too  much  the  “  spawn  ”  cannot  run  in  it,  though  even  that 
is  better  than  “dead”  material,  rotten  and  wet.  We  have  often  used 
manure  from  stables  after  removing  the  long  litter,  throwing  in  a  heap 
to  get  warm,  and  turning  twice  at  intervals  of  three  or  four  days,  and 
had  excellent  crops.  Overspent  manure  is  worthless,  hence  the  necessity 
of  exercising  discriminative  judgment.  The  evil  of  over-exhaustion  of 
manure  is  forcibly  pointed  out  in  pp.  25  and  26  of  “  Mushrooms  for  tie 
Million,”  the  late  Mr.  Gibert’s  remarks  being  cited  ; — “  To  gather 
droppings,  lay  them  in  a  shed,  dry  them,  and  turn  them  till  there  iB  no 
strength  in  them,  and  then  expect  Mushrooms,  is  to  me  something  like 
madness.” 
Xvy  on  Old  Plane  Tree  Stem  (G.  B.  T."). — As  the  old  Plane  tree 
is  70  feet  high  and  still  vigorous  (not  decaying  materially),  thp  Ivy 
clinging  round  its  stem  would,  to  some  extent,  affect  the  life  of  the  tree,  as 
it  does  all  trees  ;  but,  as  stated  in  our  reply  last  week  (page  106),  is  far  more 
prejudicial,  for  obvious  reasons,  to  young  and  growing  trees  than  to  those 
arrived  at  full  growth.  In  the  case  of  developed  yet  healthy  trees  Ivy 
on  the  stems  (not  crowding  the  heads)  does  not  appear  to  be  appreciably 
injurious,  while  in  the  estimation  of  many  persons  it  adds  to  their 
beauty.  The  matter  is  one  of  taste.  Some  persons  would  prefer  the  old 
Plane  tree  without  the  Ivy,  when  the  tree  might  be  expected  to  live 
longer.  We  give  the  two  views  to  assist  you  in  deciding  as  to  which  you 
would  prefer.  Ivy  on  young  trees  prevents  their  attaining  full  develop¬ 
ment,  or  as  much  as  they  would  without  it,  and  causes  premature 
senility.  On  old  trees  it  hastens  their  decline,  especially  when  out¬ 
growing  them.  If  you  desire  to  preserve  the  Plane  tree  as  long  as 
possible  cut  the  Ivy  off  at  the  ground,  severing  its  stem  or  stems,  but 
making  sure  not  to  injure  the  Plane  tree,  and  leave  the  Ivy  to  die  before 
withdrawing  it  from  the  trunk.  Thus,  if  cut  now,  leave  the  Ivy  until 
summer  when  the  Plane  tree  is  in  full  leaf,  then  there  will  neither  be 
danger  of  its  being  chilled,  as  it  would  if  removed,  nor  of  sun-burning  if 
suddenly  taken  away  in  summer.  The  root-stems  of  the  Ivy  should  also 
be  carefully  removed,  otherwise  they  would  perhaps  grow  again. 
Names  of  Plants. — We  only  undertake  to  name  species  of  plants* 
not  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  firm 
boxes.  Slightly  damp  moss,  soft  green  grass,  or  leaves  form  the  best 
packing,  dry  wool  the  worst.  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. 
(P.  L,'). — Bupatorium  riparium.  ( G .  H.  L.~) — 1,  Ccelogyne  ocellata  ; 
2,  C,  cristata.  ( J .  6.  P.). — Physalis  Alkekengi.  (A.  B.  C  ). — All  the 
Ferns  were  dead  ;  the  Cypripedium  is  a  form  of  Harrisianum.  (W.  A  ). 
— 1,  Asplenium  bulbiferum  ;  2,  Davallia  canariensis  ;  2,  Nephrolepis 
exaltata  ;  4,  Adiantum  capillus  Veneris  ;  5,  Aspleninm  nigrum  ;  6, 
Adiantum  trapeziforme.  (P.  (?.). — 1,  Cupressus  Lawsoniana  ;  2,  Abies 
Douglasi ;  3,  Cryptomeria  elegans  ;  4,  Thuiopsis  dolabrata.  (IF.  P.)— 
Varieties  of  Primula  sinensis  are  florists’  flowers  that  can  only  be  named 
by  comparison. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
Dickson,  Brown,  &  Tait,  Corporation  Street,  Manchester. —  Farm 
Seeds. 
Peter  Henderson  &  C^.,  35,  Cortlandt  Street,  New  York. — Manual  of 
Everything  for  the  Garden. 
J.  R.  Pearson  <fc  Sons,  Chilwell,  Notts. —  Zoml  Pelargoniums 
J.  Yate,  Little  Uaderbaak,  Stockport. — Seeds. 
COVBNT  GARDEN  MARKET.— February  10th. 
FRUIT. 
fl. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
I. 
d. 
a. 
d 
1 
3  to  2 
6 
Lemons,  case 
11 
0  to  1 4 
0 
Filberts  and Oobs.perlOOlb.  45 
0 
50 
0 
Plums,  J  sieve  . 
0 
o 
0 
0 
Grapes,  per  lb . 
1 
3 
2 
0 
St.  Michael  Pines,  each  .. 
3 
0 
8 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
a. 
d. 
a. 
d. 
Asparagus,  per  100  ..  .. 
0 
0 
to  0 
0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0 
2  t. 
0 
4 
Beans,  £  sieve  . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Onions,  bushel . 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Beet.  Bed,  dozen . 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley, dozen  bunches  .. 
2 
0 
2 
0 
Carrots,  bunch . 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Parsnips,  dozen . 
1 
0 
0 
e 
Cauliflowers,  dozen  ..  .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Potatoes,  per  cwt . 
2 
0 
4 
9 
Celery,  bundle  . . 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Salsafy,  bundle . 
1 
0 
1 
0 
Ooleworts,  dozen  bunohei 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale,  per  basket  .. 
1 
6 
1 
0 
Cucumbers  . 
0 
4 
0 
8 
Scorzonera,  bundle  ..  .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
1 
5 
X 
6 
Shallots,  per  lb  ••  ••  •• 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
3 
o 
u 
Spinach,  pad  ..  ..  .. 
0 
0 
4 
0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Sprouts,  half  sieve  ..  .. 
i 
6 
1 
9 
Lettuce,  dozen . 
1 
3 
0 
0 
Tomatoes,  per  lb . 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Mushrooms,  per  lb . 
0 
6 
0 
8 
Turnips,  bunch  ..  . 
0 
3 
0 
0 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
s.  d. 
8. 
d. 
Arbor  Vitse  (various)  per 
Ferns  (small)  per  hundred 
4 
0  to  s 
0 
dozen . 
6 
0  to  36 
0 
Ficus  elastica,  each  ..  .. 
i 
0 
7 
0 
Aspidistra,  dozen 
18 
0 
36 
0 
Foliage  plants,  var.  each 
i 
0 
5 
0 
Aspidistra, specimen  plant 
5 
0 
10 
8 
Genista,  per  dozen  ..  .. 
10 
0 
12 
0 
Azalea,  per  dozen 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Hyacinths,  large,  per  dozen 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Chrysanthemums,  per  doz. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
„  (Roman),  doz.  pots 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Cinerarias,  per  dozen. .  . . 
10 
0 
12 
0 
Lycopodiums,  dozen  ..  .. 
3 
0 
6 
u 
Cyclamen,  per  dozen. .  .. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  dozen.. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Daffodils,  per  dozen  . .  . . 
8 
0 
10 
0 
Myrtles,  dozen  . 
6 
0 
9 
u 
Dracaena, various,  dozen  .. 
12 
0 
30 
0 
Palms,  in  var..  each  ..  .. 
1 
0 
15 
0 
Dracaena  viridis,  dozen  .. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
,,  (specimens'  ..  .. 
2 1 
0 
63 
0 
Erica.  Der  dozen . 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Poinsettia,  per  dozen . .  . . 
9 
0 
12 
0 
..  hvemalis,  per  dozen  10 
0 
15 
0 
Primula  sinensis,  per  dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Euonymus,  var.,  dozen  .. 
e 
0 
18 
0 
Solanuins,  per  dozen  . .  . . 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Evergreens,  in  var.,  dozen 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Tulips,  dozen  pots  ..  .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Ferns  in  variety, dozen  .. 
4 
0 
18 
0 
„  in  boxes,  per  dozen 
0 
8 
i 
(5 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE 
PRICES.- 
OUT  FLOWERS.— Orchid  Blooms  in  var  e 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
B. 
d. 
inemones, dozen  bunches.. 
Lrum  Lilies,  12  blooms  .. 
Lsparagus  Fern,  per  bunoh 
izalea,  per  dozen  sprays  .. 
iouvardias,  bunch  ..  .. 
larnations.  12  blooms  . . 
Ihristmas  Roses,  12  blooms 
Chrysanthemums,  aozen 
bunches  . 
Chrysanthemums, 12  blooms 
)affodils,  dozen  b  .ooms  . . 
Eucharis,  dozen . 
lardenias ,  dozen  ..  .. 
leranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bunches  . 
lyacinths  (Roman).  12 
sprays,  and  per  bunch  . . 
,ilac,  White  (French;,  per 
bunch . 
.ilium  longiflorum,  12 
blooms  . 
,ily  of  the  Valley,  12sprays, 
per  bunch . . 
larguerites,  12  bunches  . . 
laidenhair  Fern, per  dozen 
bunches  ..  ..  .. 
0  to  4 
1  6 
1  o 
3  0 
2  0 
0  9 
3  6 
4  0 
6  0 
0  6 
8  6 
6  0 
0  6 
2  0 
0 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
6. 
0 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Cl 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
6  0  8  0 
Mimosa  (French)  per 
bunch . 
Narciss,  White  (French), 
dozen  bunches . 
Narciss,  Yellow  (French), 
dozen  bunches 
Orchids,  various,  per  dozen 
blooms  . 
Pelargoniums,  12  bunches 
Py  rethrum,  dozen  bunches 
Roses  (indoor),  dozen 
„  Tea,  white,  dozen 
„  Yellow,  dozen  (Niels) 
,,  Red,  dozen  blooms  .. 
„  Safrano  (English), 
dozen . .  .. 
„  Pink,  per  dozen  ..  .. 
Smi  lax,  per  bunch  ..  .. 
Snowdrops,  dozen  bunches 
Tuberoses.  12  blooms.. 
Tulips,  dozen  blooms  .  . . 
Violet  Parme,  per  bunch  . . 
„  per  doz.  bunches  . . 
„  (French),  per  dozen 
bunches  ..  . . 
3  0  to  6  0 
1  0 
3  0 
1  0 
1  6 
6  n 
1  6 
1  0 
1  0 
6  0 
2  0 
1  0 
3  0 
5  0 
1  0 
1  0 
0  6 
2  0 
1  6 
1  6 
6  0 
2  0 
12  0 
9  0 
3  0 
2  0 
2  6 
9  0 
3  0 
2  0 
6  0 
e  o 
*  o 
10  2  0 
THE  WORLD’S  BREAD  CORN. 
In  these  days,  when  all  industries  are  closely  watched,  and  all 
esults  reduced  to  figures,  it  is  interesting  and  not  a  little  instruc 
ive  to  look  back  for  a  few  years  on  the  development  and  growth 
f  the  corn  cultivation. 
It  is  a  fact  we  are  likely  to  lose  sight  of  sometimes  that  til 
itely  a  vast  population,  numbering  millions,  fed  on  bread  stuffs 
aade  of  other  than  Wheat  flour,  Rye,  Barley,  and  the  like.  They 
id  not  eat  these  inferior  grains  from  choice  but  of  necesaity,  and 
io  sooner  did  Wheat  flour  become  both  cheap  and  plentiful  than 
