August'S,  1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
143 
Absorption  of  Moisture  by  Xtoaves  M.  G.), — The  leaves  of 
Seakale,  Strawberries,  and  Spinach,  as  well  as  the  Grape  Vine,  absorb 
moisture  when  in  contact  with  their  surfaces,  and  the  moister  the 
atmosphere  or  conditions  under  which  they  are  produced  the  readier 
they  take  in  the  water  when  dry.  The  water,  however,  enters  most  pro¬ 
nouncedly  by  the  footstalk,  as  you  say,  and  for  all  practical  purposes  it 
is  well  to  act  on  the  principle  that  leaves  do  not  absorb  moisture,  as  it  is 
a  fundamental  principle  that  the  roots  of  plants  be  properly  sup¬ 
plied  with  water  and  nutriment.  This  is  better  than  physiological  ideas 
based  on  conjectural  physiology  or  quotations  from  books.  Only  practical 
experiments  with  a  view  to  usefulness  have  weight  with  cultivators. 
Asters  Dead  at  tbe  Collar  (^Chas.  Beilis). — The  second  batch 
of  Asters  have  the  same  appearance  as  the  first — namely,  destroyed  in 
the  stem  as  if  by  an  overdose  of  chemical  manure  or  too  strong  liquid. 
As  you  say  neither  has  been  used,  and  there  not  being  anything  in  the 
shape  of  the  outgrowths  of  a  fungus  in  the  present  specimen,  we  are 
unable  to  account  for  the  sudden  collapse  of  the  plants  beyond  what  was 
stated  in  the  reply  on  page  95.  There  is  the  similar  mycelium  of  a 
fungus  in  the  dead  woody  tissue  of  the  second  specimen  as  in  the  first, 
which  may  give  rise  to  Pusarium  my oso tides  later,  and  on  the  dead 
r  oots,  or,  rather,  in  the  dead  tissues,  there  are  resting  spores.  The  plants 
given  away  and  collapsing  similarly  to  your  plants  were  probably  infested 
when  presented,  for  Fusariums  are  proverbially  “  sleepy  ’’  in  their  action, 
as  Tomato  growers  know  to  their  cost,  generally  causing  the  collapse  of 
the  plants  when  coming  into  profit,  just  as  your  Asters  fail  when  giving 
promise  of  fine  flowers  ;  indeed,  they  are  excellently  grown  plants,  and 
barring  tbe  stem  malady  perfectly  healthy  in  the  tops.  It  is  at  the  root 
where  the  mischief  is,  and  your  not  having  it  before  on  the  same  ground 
is  no  reason  why  the  plants  should  not  be  attacked  this  year.  Most 
crops  are  grown  on  the  same  ground  until  they  cannot  be  grown  any 
longer,  for  it  is  simply  a  question  of  host  and  of  parasite ;  but  your 
plants  are  not  in  this  category,  as  they  have  not  been  grown  on  the  same 
ground  before.  By  liming  the  land  you  will  get  rid  of  the  spores,  or  the 
organic  matter  on  which  they  are  fostered  in  development,  and  beyond 
that  nothing  is  usually  necessary. 
Culture  of  Aphelandra  Roezll  iC.  L.), — The  following  note  by 
a  successful  grower  will  answer  your  question  : — This  is  a  handsome 
plant  either  for  the  stove  or  for  room  decoration.  The  flowers  are  of 
very  short  duration  in  a  cut  state  ;  indeed,  for  this  purpose  it  is  of  little 
use,  as  the  whole  spike  is  never  fully  out  at  one  time,  and,  moreover,  the 
expanded  flowers  are  so  very  easily  shaken  from  the  spikes  that  the 
least  touch  causes  them  to  drop.  This  Aphelandra  is  easily  propagated 
either  by  cuttings  or  from  seeds.  The  latter  mode  is  by  far  the  best  ; 
from  seeds  they  grow  much  stronger,  producing  finer  leaves  and  flower 
spikes.  The  seeds  are  very  readily  produced  if  the  plants  are  kept  in  a 
dry  high  temperature  when  in  flower,  and  not  allowed  to  become  dry 
at  the  roots.  Plants  in  flower  about  Christmas  will  under  ordinary 
treatment  ripen  their  seeds  by  May,  when  they  should  be  sown  in  a 
moist  heat  and  well  shaded ;  indeed  this  is  a  very  essential  point  through 
all  their  growing  period,  for  if  exposed  any  length  of  time  to  direct 
sunshine  the  foliage  soon  becomes  twisted  and  hard,  with,  in  most  cases, 
a  drooping  tendency.  The  seeds  should  be  .sown  on  the  surface  of  a 
propagating  bed,  that  is,  if  the  material  which  covered  the  bed  is  old 
leaf  soil  or  spent  tan.  They  germinate  freely  without  any  covering, 
and  when  the  plants  are  large  enough  to  handle  they  should  be  pricked 
singly  into  thumb  pots,  using  a  mixture  of  leaf  soil  and  silver  sand, 
placing  them  on  a  shelf  close  to  the  glass.  In  three  or  four  weeks  they 
will  require  a  shift  into  larger  pots,  say  5  inches  in  diameter.  The 
soil  this  time  must  be  more  substantial,  and  consist  of  good  fibry  loam 
two  parts,  one  part  of  sheep  droppings  or  cow  manure,  and  one  part  of 
crushed  charcoal  and  a  dash  of  sand.  They  should  be  potted  very 
loosely,  care  being  taken  in  draining  the  pots  that  a  little  charcoal  is 
used  with  the  crocks,  as  it  tends  to  keep  the  roots  healthy.  If  the 
plants  when  in  flower  are  removed  to  a  little  lower  temperature  than 
that  in  which  they  have  been  grown  their  flowering  season  will  be 
prolonged.  They  enjoy  supplies  of  weak  liquid  manure  twice  a  week 
alll  through  their  growing  season  ;  it  enlarges  the  foliage  and  imparts 
a  deep  silvery  sheen. 
The  Margaret  Apple  (^Somerset). — The  Apple  of  which  you  send 
samples  has  many  names,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  Fruit  Manual,  from 
which  we  give  an  extract.  “  Margaret  (Early  Bed  Margaret ;  Early  Eed 
Juneating  ;  Red  Juneating  ;  Striped  Juneating  ;  Early  Striped 
Juneating ;  Striped  Quarrenden  ;  Summer  Traveller  ;  Eve  Apple,  in 
Ireland  ;  Early  Margaret  ;  Marget  Apple  ;  Maudlin  ;  Magdalene  ; 
Marguerite  ;  Lammas). — Fruit,  small,  2  inches  wide,  and  the  same  in 
height ;  roundish  ovate,  and  narrowing  towards  the  eye,  where  it  is 
angular.  Skin,  greenish  yellow  on  the  shaded  side,  but  bright  red  next 
the  sun,  striped  all  over  with  darker  red,  and  strewed  with  grey  russety 
dots.  Eye,  half  open,  and  prominent,  with  long,  broad,  erect  segments, 
surrounded  with  a  number  of  puckered  knobs.  Stamens,  median  ;  tube, 
funnel-shaped.  Stalk,  short  and  thick,  about  half  an  inch  long,  inserted 
in  a  small  and  shallow  cavity.  Flesh,  greenish  white,  brisk,  juicy,  and 
vinous,  with  a  pleasant  and  very  refreshing  flavour.  Cells,  roundish 
ovate  or  obovate  ;  axile,  closed.  A  first-rate  early  dessert  Apple ;  it  is 
ripe  in  the  beginning  of  August,  but  does  not  keep  long,  being  very  liable 
to  become  mealy.  To  have  it  in  perfection,  it  is  well  to  gather  it  a  few 
days  before  it  ripens  on  the  tree,  and  thereby  secure  its  juicy  and  vinous 
flavour.  The  tree  does  not  attain  a  large  size,  being  rather  a  small 
grower.  It  is  a  good  bearer,  more  so  than  the  Joaneting,  and  is  quite 
hardy,  except  in  light  soils,  when  it  is  liable  to  canker.  It  is  well 
adapted  for  growing  as  dwarfs,  either  for  potting  or  being  trained  as  an 
espalier,  when  grafted  on  the  Doucin  and  Pomme  Paradis  stock.  This  is 
a  very  old  English  Apple.  It  is  without  doubt  the  Margaret  of  Rea, 
Worlidge,  Ray,  and  all  our  early  pomologists  except  Miller.  ‘  The 
Margaret  or  Magdalen  Apple  is  a  fair  and  beautiful  fruit,  yellow,  and 
thick  striped  with  red,  early  ripe,  of  a  delicate  taste,  sweet  flavour,  and 
best  eaten  off  the  tree.’  Ray  gives  no  description  of  it,  but  it  is  only 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  it  is  this  variety  he  refers  to,  seeing  it  is  the 
Margaret  of  all  authors  both  immediately  preceding  and  subsequent  to 
him.”  You  would  make  sure  of  perpetuating  the  variety  by  grafting, 
but  trees  can  be  obtained  from  good  nurseries. 
zramea  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  of  tea  diflScult  to  separate  them  when  the  paper  is  damp. 
iF.  B,.), — 1,  Gypsophila  paniculata  ;  2,  Mimulus  cardinalis ;  3,  Lilium 
chalcedonicum  ;  4,  Lilium  Martagon ;  5,  Spiraea  filipendula  flore  pleno. 
{B.  S.). — 1,  Acer  Negundo;  2,  Populus  alba;  3,  Sedum  ibericum;  4, 
Francoa  ramosa ;  5,  specimen  insufficient.  (J”.  J,  C.).  —  Quercus 
ambigua.  (_H.  M,  G.). — It  is  impossible  to  say  from  the  miserable 
specimens  sent  whether  the  Currants  are  Raby  Castle,  La  Versaillaise, 
or  Long  Bunch  Red.  (6*.  C.). — Rhynchospermum  jasminoides. 
OOVENT  GARDEN  MARKET. — AUGUST  7th. 
Owing  to  Bank  Holiday  nothing  of  note  has  happened  this  ■week. 
FRUIT. 
t. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
a. 
d. 
Apples,  Nova  Scotia, 
per 
Currants,  per  half  sieve 
..  3 
3  to  6 
6 
barrel..  .. 
0 
0 
to  0 
0 
Grapes,  per  lb . 
6 
1 
6 
„  Tasmanian, 
I)er 
Lemons,  case  ..  .. 
0 
16 
0 
case  . .  . . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches,  per  dozen  . , 
..  2 
0 
6 
0 
Cherries,  per  half  sieve 
•  • 
4 
0 
9 
0 
Plums,  per  half  sieve 
..  3 
6 
4 
0 
Oobs,per  100  lbs.  .. 
•  • 
0 
0 
0 
0 
St.  Michael  Pines,  each 
..  2 
0 
6 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
I. 
d. 
Beans,  Kidney,  pet  lb,  ..  0 
6 
to  0 
0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet  0 
2  to  0 
U 
Beet,  Red,  dozen . 1 
0 
0 
0 
Onions,  bushel . 3 
6 
4 
0 
Carrots,  bunch . 0 
3 
0 
4 
Parsley,  dozen  bunches  . .  2 
0 
3 
0 
Cauliflowers,  dozen  ..  ..  3 
0 
6 
0 
Parsnips,  dozen . 1 
0 
0 
6 
Celery,  bundle  . 1 
0 
1 
3 
Potatoes,  per  cwt . 2 
0 
4 
0 
Coleworts,  dozen  bunches  2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy,  bundle . 1 
0 
1 
6 
Cucumbers,  dozen  ..  ..  1 
6 
3 
0 
Seakale,  per  basket  . .  . .  0 
0 
0 
0 
Endive,  dozen . .  1 
3 
1 
6 
Soorzonera,  bundle  ..  ..  1 
6 
0 
0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 0 
3 
0 
0 
Shallots,  per  lb . 0 
3 
0 
0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 0 
2 
0 
0 
Spinach,  bushel . 1 
0 
1 
s 
Lettuce,  dozen . 0 
9 
1 
6 
Tomatoes, per  lb . 0 
3 
0 
4 
Mushrooms,  punnet  ..  ..  0 
9 
1 
0 
Turnips,  bunch . 0 
3 
0 
6 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— 
OUT  FLOWERS.— Orchid  Blooms  invaiiety 
8 
d 
B. 
d. 
6. 
d. 
1. 
d. 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  ..  3 
0  to  4 
0 
Orchids,  dozen  blooms  ..  1 
6  to  12 
0 
Asparagus  Fern,  per  bunch  2 
0 
4 
0 
Pansies,  various,  dozen 
Asters  (English)  doz.  bchs.  3 
0 
6 
0 
bunches . 1 
0 
2 
0 
Asters  (French),  dozen 
Peas,  Sweet,  doz.  bunches . .  2 
0 
4 
0 
bunches . 9 
0 
15 
0 
Pelargoniums,  12  bunches  4 
0 
9 
0 
Bouvardias,  bunch  ..  ..  0 
6 
1 
0 
Primula(double),doz.spy3.  0 
6 
1 
0 
Carnations,  12  blooms  . .  1 
0 
3 
0 
Roses  (indoor),  dozen  ..  1 
0 
2 
0 
„  dozen  bunches..  4 
0 
8 
0 
„  Tea,  white,  dozen  . .  1 
0 
2 
0 
Cornflower  „  „  ..1 
0 
2 
0 
„  Yellow,  dozen  (Niels)  3 
0 
6 
0 
Eucbaris,  dozen . 1 
6 
2 
6 
„  Safrano  (English), 
Gaillardias,  doz.  bunches..  2 
0 
3 
0 
dozen . 1 
0 
2 
0 
Gardenias,  dozen  ..  ..  3 
0 
4 
0 
„  Yellow,  dozen  blooms  0 
6 
0 
9 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
„  Red,  dozen  blooms  ..  1 
0 
1 
6 
bunches . 4 
0 
6 
0 
„  various,  doz.  bunches  3 
0 
6 
0 
Lilium  lancifolium,  twelve 
Smilax,  per  bunch  ,.  2 
0 
4 
0 
blooms . 1 
6 
2 
6 
Stephanotis,  dozen  sprays  1 
6 
2 
0 
„  longiflorum,  12  blooms  2 
U 
3 
0 
Sunflowers  (small)  dozen 
Marguerites,  12  bunches  . .  1 
0 
3 
0 
bunches  . 2 
0 
3 
0 
Maidenhair  Fern,  dozen 
Sweet  Sultan,  doz.  bchs.  2 
0 
3 
0 
bunohea  .  4 
0 
6 
0 
Tuberoses.  12  blooms..  ..  0 
4 
0 
6 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
B. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
f. 
d. 
Arbor  Vit®  (golden)  dozen  6 
0  to  12 
0 
Geraniums,  Ivy,  per  dozen  3 
0 
to  6 
0 
Aspidistra,  dozen  . .  . .  18 
0 
36 
0 
Heliotrope,  per  dozen  ..  4 
0 
6 
0 
Aspidistra,  specimen  plant  6 
0 
10 
6 
Hydrangeas,  per  dozen  . .  12 
0 
42 
0 
Calceolaria,  per  doz .  3 
0 
4 
0 
Lilium  lancifolium,  12  pots  12 
0 
18 
0 
Coleus,  per  doz . 2 
6 
4 
0 
Lobelia,  per  dozen  ..  ..  3 
0 
4 
0 
Dracmna,  various,  dozen  ..  12 
0 
30 
0 
Lycopodiums,  dozen  . .  . .  3 
0 
4 
0 
Dracmna  viridis,  dozen  . .  9 
0 
18 
0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  dozen  ..  6 
0 
9 
0 
Euonymus,var.,  dozen  ..  6 
0 
18 
0 
„  Yellow  „  ,.9 
0 
18 
0 
Evergreens,  in  var.,  dozen  6 
0 
24 
0 
Myrtles,  dozen . 6 
0 
9 
0 
Ferns,  in  variety,  dozen  ..  4 
0 
18 
0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each  ..  ..  1 
0 
16 
0 
Ferns  (small)  per  hundred  4 
0 
6 
0 
„  (specimens)  ..  ..21 
0 
63 
0 
Ficus  elastica,  each  . .  . .  1 
0 
7 
0 
Pelargoniums,  per  dozen  . .  8 
0 
12 
0 
Foliage  plants,  var.  each  2 
0 
10 
0 
„  scarlets,  doz.  3 
0 
6 
0 
Fuchsias,  per  dozen  . .  . .  4 
0 
6 
0 
Rhodanthe,  per  dozen  . .  4 
0 
6 
0 
AUTUMN  WORK. 
Though  an  early  harvest  may  mean  light  corn  crops,  it 
also’gives  us  clear  stubbles  in  time  for  thorough  autumn  tillage, 
