April  2§,  i8sif.  Journal  op  horticulture  and  cottage  gardener.  377 
Microscope  for  Examining  Fungoid  and  other  Micro¬ 
organisms  (H.  T.). — Mr.  Abbey  says  there  is  no  need  for  a  costly 
instrument  for  practical  and  really  useful  work.  There  are  no  mysteries 
about  the  subject,  nor  are  they  more  difficult  to  learn  than  the  science 
and  practice  of  growing  Cabbages.  A  good  garden  or  seed  microscope 
that  may  be  used  as  a  Bimple  and  compound  instrument  for  the  various 
requirements  of  gardeners  is  all  that  is  required.  He  further  says  it 
is  better  to  invest  in  the  United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident 
Society,  and  also  make  provision  for  old  age  by  becoming  a  life  member 
or  annual  subscriber  of  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution 
than  in  costly  microscopes  and  highly  scientific  works.  He  has  a  small 
microscope  that  may  be  packed  in  a  mahogany  case  4  inches  by  8  inches 
and  1J  inch  deep,  and  it  only  cost  £1  5s.  It  shows  all  fuugoid  pests  of 
crops,  eelworms,  and  mites,  as  large  as  need  be,  and  was  had  from  Mr. 
L.  P.  Casella,  147,  Holborn  Bars,  London,  E.C.  If  you  want  a 
thoroughly  reliable  English-made  instrument  we  advise  a  Student’s 
Improved  Binocular  Microscope,  costing  £6  6s.  To  discern  micro¬ 
organisms  of  the  bacterial  class  you  will  need  a  power  of  not  less  than 
750,  when  they  will  appear  as  mere  specks,  and  without  considerable 
practice  are  difficult  to  make  out.  The  instrument  would,  with 
reasonable  care,  last  a  lifetime,  and  certainly  be  all  you  could  desire  in 
your  practice  as  a  gardener. 
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  inferiof  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,  (M.  P.). — 1,  Bess  Pool  ;  2,  Dame- 
low’s  Seedling,  but  known  as  Normanton  Wonder  in  your  district  ;  3, 
Gooseberry  Apple  ;  4,  Lord  Burghley  ;  the  Pear  is  Bergamotte  Esperen. 
(Felix). — The  Grape  is  without  doubt  Lady  Downe’s,  unusually  fresh 
and  firm  for  the  season. 
Names  of  Plants. — We  only  undertake  to  name  apecies  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, 
at  being  often  difficult  to  separate  them  when  the  paper  is  damD. 
( C.F. ). — 1,  Arabis  alpina  ;  2,  Aubrietia  Leichttini ;  3,  dead.  (W.  J.  H.). 
— Auriculas  are  florists’  flowers  that,  can  onlv  be  named  by  comparison  in 
a  large  collection,  .such  as  that  of  Mr.  Douglas  at  Great  Bookham. 
(A.  T.) — The  Narcissus  is  bicolor  Horsefieldi,  and  the  Muscari  is 
botryoides.  (C.  S.). — No.  1  is  one  of  the  Broom  Rapes  (Orobanche),  a 
leaflets  herb,  which  lives  as  a  parasite  on  the  roots  of  other  plants  ; 
2,  Prunus  padus  (Bird  Cherry).  (W.  H.  F). — Oncidium  flexuosum  ; 
a  form  of  Adiantnm  trapeziforme,  but  the  specimen  is  not  large  enough 
to  distinguish  the  variety. 
Royal  Meteorological  Society.  —  The  monthly  meeting  of 
this  Society  was  held  on  Wednesday  evening,  the  21st  inst.,  at  the 
Institution  of  Civil  Engineers,  Great  George  Street,  Westminster,  Mr. 
E.  Mawley,  F.R.H.S.,  President,  in  the  chair.  Mr.  W.  H.  Dines  read  a 
paper  on  “  The  Relation  between  Cold  Periods  and  Anti-Cyclonic  Con¬ 
ditions  of  Weather  in  England  during  the  Winter.”  There  seems  to  be 
a  generally  accepted  belief  that  anti-cyclonic  conditions  during  the 
winter  are  likely  to  be  accompanied  by  exceptional  cold,  but  in  so  far 
as  England  is  concerned  the  author’s  observation  has  led  him  to  the 
opposite  conclusion,  and  he  always  expects  a  frost  to  break  up  as  soon  as 
the  barometer  gets  much  above  30  inches.  To  test  the  truth  of  this 
theory  he  tabulated  the  heighjb  of  the  barometer  during  all  the  cold 
periods  during  the  three  winter  months  of  the  fifty  years  1841-90.  Out 
of  seventy-four  frosts  he  found  that  sixteen  only  had  a  pressure  exce  d- 
ing  30’20  inches,  and  the  majority  of  these  were  of  very  short  duration. 
Thirty-three,  or  less  than  half,  had  a  pressure  exceeding  30  inches  ; 
twenty-one  had  a  pressure  below  29  80  inches,  and  these  included  almost 
every  frost  in  the  period  remarkable  for  its  length  or  severity.  A  paper 
by  Mr.  A.  Lawrence  Rotch  of  the  Blue  Hill  Observatory,  Mass.,  was 
read,  describing  the  use  of  kites  in  that  Observatory  to  obtain  meteoro¬ 
logical  records  in  the  upper  air.  A  paper  by  Mr.  A.  B.  MacDowall  on 
“  Suggestions  of  Sunspot  Influence  on  the  Weather  of  Western  Europe  ” 
was  also  read.  The  author  believes  that  there  is  a  tendency  to  greater 
heat  in  the  summer  half  year,  and  to  greater  cold  in  the  winter  half  year 
near  the  phases  of  minimum  sunspots  than  near  the  phases  of  maximum, 
the  contrast  between  the  cold  and  heat  of  the  year  thus  tending  to  be 
intensified  about  the  time  of  minimum  sunspots. 
GARDENERS’  CHARITABLE  AND  PROVIDENT 
INSTITUTIONS. 
The  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution.— Secretary, 
Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram,  50,  Parliament  Street,  London,  W.C. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society.— 
Secretary,  Mr.  W.  Collins,  9,  Martindale  Road,  Balham,  London,  S.W. 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — Secretary ,  Mr.  A.  F.  Barron, 
The  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund,  Chiswick,  W. 
CO  VENT  GARDEN  MARKET.— April  28th. 
fruit. 
1. 
a. 
8.  d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples,  J  sieve  - . 
1 
3  to  2  6 
Lemons,  case  ..  ..  .. 
11 
0  to  14 
0 
Filberts  and  Oobs,  per  1001b. 
0 
0 
0  0 
Plums,  £  sieve  . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes,  per  ib . 
3 
0 
3  6 
St.  Michael  Pines,  each  .. 
3 
0 
8 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
s.  d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Asparagus,  per  100  ..  .. 
0 
0 
to  0  0 
Mustard  and  Oress,  punnet 
0 
2 
to  0 
4 
0 
0 
0  0 
Onions,  bushel . 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Beet,  Red,  dozen . 
1 
0 
0  0 
Parsley,  dozen  bunches  .. 
2 
0 
t 
0 
OarrotiS,  bunch  . .  *  „ 
0 
3 
0  4 
Parsnips,  dozen  . . 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers,  dozen  ,.  .. 
2 
0 
3  0 
Potatoes,  per  cwt . 
2 
0 
4 
9 
Celery,  bundle  . 
1 
0 
0  0 
Salsaf  y ,  bundle . 
1 
0 
1 
0 
Ooleworts,  dozen  bunchei 
2 
0 
4  0 
Seakale,  per  basket  ..  .. 
1 
3 
1 
0 
Cucumbers  . 
0 
4 
0  8 
Scorzonera,  bundle  „  .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Endive,  dozen  -t 
1 
3 
1  6 
Shallots,  per  lb . 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Herbs,  bunch 
0 
3 
0  0 
Spinach,  pad  ..  ..  .. 
0 
0 
4 
0 
Leeks,  bunoh  . 
0 
2 
0  0 
Sprouts,  half  sieve  ..  .. 
1 
6 
1 
0 
Lettuoe,  dozen . 
1 
3 
0-  0 
Tomatoes,  per  lb . 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Mushrooms,  per  lb . 
0 
6 
0  8 
0 
3 
0 
0 
/ 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
8. 
d. 
8.  d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d* 
Arbor  Vitas  (various)  doz. 
6 
0  to  36  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each  ..  .. 
i 
0 
to  7 
0 
Arum  Lilies,  per  dozen  . . 
9 
0 
18  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.  each 
l 
0 
6 
0 
Aspidistra,  dozen  . .  . . 
18 
0 
36  0 
Genista,  per  dozen  ..  .. 
6 
0 
10 
0 
Aspidistra ,  specimen  plant 
5 
0 
10  6 
Hyacinths,  large,  per  dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Azalea,  per  dozen  ..  .. 
18 
0 
36  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  pots 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Oinerarias,  per  dozen. .  . . 
8 
0 
9  0 
Lycopodiums,  dozen  . .  .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Oyclamen,  per  dozen..  .. 
S 
0 
12  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  dozen.. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Dracaena,  various,  dozen  .. 
12 
0 
30  0 
Mignonette,  per  dozen 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Dracaena  viridis,  dozen  . . 
9 
0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  dozen  . 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Erica,  (various)  per  dozen 
9 
0 
18  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  eaoh  ..  .. 
1 
0 
15 
0 
Euonymus,  var.,  dozen  .. 
6 
0 
18  0 
,,  (specimens'  ..  .. 
21- 
0 
63 
0 
Evergreens,  in  variety,  doz. 
4 
0 
18  0 
Pelargoniums,  per  dozen  . . 
9 
0 
15 
0 
Ferns  in  variety, dozen  .. 
4 
0 
18  n 
„  Scarlet,  per  doz. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Ferns  (small)  per  hundred 
5 
0 
8  0 
Spiraea,  per  dozen  ..  .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Roots  for  the  garden  in  boxes,  and  in  great  variety. 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— OUT  FLOWERS.— Orchid  Blooms  in  variety. 
a.  d.  s.  d. 
3  0  to  6  0 
Anemones, dozen  bunches.. 
s. 
1 
d.  s. 
6  to  8 
d. 
0 
Mignonette,  dozen  bunches 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Narciss,  (various),  dozen 
Asparagus  Fern,  per  bnoh. 
2 
0 
3 
6 
bunches  . 
Azalea,  per  dozen  sprays  .. 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Narciss,  Yellow,  dozen 
Bouvardias,  bunch  ..  .. 
0 
6 
0 
9 
bunches . 
Carnations ,  12  blooms 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Orchids,  var.  doz.  blooms 
Daffodils,  double,  dozen 
bunches . 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Pelargoniums,  12  bunches 
Polyanthus,  dozen  bunches 
Daffodils,  single,  dozen 
bunches  . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Py rethrum,  dozen  bunches 
Roses  (indoor),  dozen 
Eucharis,  dozen . 
3 
6 
4 
0 
„  Tea,  white,  dozeD 
Gardenias,  dozen  . .  .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
„  Yellow,  dozen  (Niels) 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bunches  . 
6 
0 
9 
Q 
„  Red,  dozen  blooms  .. 
„  Safrano  (English), 
Hyacinth  (boxes)  Dutch.. 
1 
6 
4 
0 
dozen . 
Lilac,  White  (French),  per 
bunch . 
8 
0 
4 
0 
\  „  Pink,  per  dozen  . .  . . 
Smilax,  per  bunch  ..  .. 
Lilium  longiflorum,  12 
blooms  . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Tuberoses,  12  blooms..  .. 
Tulips,  dozen  blooms . .  . . 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12sprays, 
per  bunch . 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Violet  Parme,  per  bunch  . . 
„  per  doz.  bunches  . . 
Maidenhair  Fern,  per  dozen 
bunohes  . .  . 
6 
0 
8 
0 
„  (French),  per  dozen 
bunches 
Marguerites,  12  bunohes  . . 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Wallflowers,  dozen  bunches 
13  2  0 
1  0 
1  6 
6  0 
1  0 
3  0 
1  6 
0  9 
1  6 
2  0 
12  0 
9  0 
2  0 
3  0 
1  6 
2  8 
4  0 
4  0 
2  0 
8  0 
1  6 
4  0 
THE  TURNIP  CROP. 
The  time  for  sowing  Turnips  will  soon  be  here,  and  before 
considering  what  are  the  best  varieties  to  grow  and  the  best 
methods  of  cultivation,  we  should  like  to  briefly  discuss  what  is 
the  real  value  of  the  Turnip  crop  when  it  is  grown.  We  have 
been  much  interested  by  a  controversy  in  a  contemporary  between 
