March  10,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
229 
Blood  Manure  {F.  S.). — It  is  necessary  to  have  an  earthenware  vessel, 
a  wooden  one  absorbing  the  acid,  and  otherwise  being  unsuitable  j  also  to 
use  tbe  saturated  solution  of  the  hydrochloric  acid  which  contains  about 
42*4  per  cent,  of  real  hydrochloric  acid,  the  muriatic  acid  of  commerce 
containing  about  32’6  per  cent.  Above  all  allow  the  blood  to  become 
rancid  or  smell  strongly  before  treating  with  the  acid  and  iron.  For  some 
reason  the  recipe  has  not  always  answered  its  purpose,  and  chiefly  from 
those  points  mentioned  not  being  attended  to. 
Japanese  Irises  (J.  D.  Waw^'A).— You  ask  “in  what  way  these  Irises 
differ  from  others  ?  ”  We  might  ask.  From  what  others  ?  for  the  diversity 
is  great  indeed  in  this  beautiful  genus  of  flowers.  There  are  the  gorgeous 
Flag  or  German  Irises,  hearded  and  non-bearded,  also  the  bulbous 
English  and  Spanish  Irises,  with  smaller  and  very  beautiful  flowers,  as 
FiCr.  50. — Iris  ljevigata. 
familiar  well  marked  types.  Japanese  are  Flag  Irises,  like  the  German 
section  and  non-bulbous  ;  but  the  flowers  are  quite  different  m  being 
much  flatter,  and  many  of  great  size  and  richness  in  colouration.  Their 
character  is  represented  in  the  illustration  obligingly  furnished  by  Messrs. 
Barr  &  Sons,  but  the  blooms  are  thrice  the  size  of  those  in  the  figure. 
These  Irises  only  thrive  satisfactorily  in  moist  soil,  and  do  not  object  to 
some  peat  in  it.  They  seem  to  be  of  a  semi-aquatic  nature,  and  are 
grown  near  a  stream  at  Long  Litton.  Mr.  Joseph  Chamberlain  has  a  bed 
devoted  to  them  on  his  lawn  at  Highbury,  with  perforated  pipes  running 
through  it  connected  with  the  water  main.  In  the  summer  the  water  is 
turned  on  and  the  bed  maintained  as  a  swamp,  but  kept  drier  in  winter. 
It  is  not  a  sour  bog,  as  provision  is  made  for  conducting  the  water  away 
as  and  when  required.  The  plants  luxuriate  and  produce  their  gorgeous 
fliowers  abundantly.  ,  , ,  j  wv 
Nitrate  of  Soda  Solution  (E.  T.  .ff.).— Though  a  valuable  product  this 
is  by  no  means  a  complete  manure,  and  if  used  alone  over  any  long 
period  would  probably  do  more  harm  than  good.  You  do  not  say  for 
what  kinds  of  plants  you  intend  applying  the  solution.  It  is  likely  to 
promote  leaf  growth  at  the  expense  of  stem  substance  and  floriferousness 
You  had  better  proceed  experimentally  with  a  quarter  ounce  to  a  gallon  ot 
water,  and  even  this  may  not  be  beneficial  to  all  kinds  of  plants.  You 
may  also  bear  in  mind  that  nitrate  of  soda  lowers  the  temperature  ot 
water,  and  that  in  itself  might  be  prejudicial  to  some  of  your  plants. 
Names  of  Plants.— We  only  undertake  to  name  species  of  plants,  not 
varieties  that  have  originated  from  seeds  and  termed  hones’  flowers. 
Flowering  specimens  are  necessary  of  flowering  plants,  and  hern  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 
naner  the  worst.  Those  arrive  in  the  best  condition  that  are  so  closely  or 
Lmly  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  m 
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.  (^Weekly 
Subscriber), — All  the  Crotons  of  which  you  send  leaves  are  “varieties” 
of  evidently  well  grown  plants,  and  can  only  be  named  by  actual 
comparison  with  others.  If  you  deal  with  a  nurseryman  who  has  a  large 
collection  he  will  name  them  for  you.  As  you  will  see  by  the  notification 
above,  we  only  name  “  species.”  If  you  can  send  us  a  flowering  spray 
of  the  other  plant,  of  which  we  presume  you  require  the  name,  we  will 
endeavour  to  supply  it. 
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  cvdture  of  superior 
varieties,  /n  conseq^ience  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  fruits  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  bo  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. 
(Z>.  G.). — A  very  fine  specimen  of  Beauty  of  Hants.  (0.  F.  E.). — 1 
D’Arcy  Spice  ;  2,  Braddick’s  Nonpareil  ;  .3,  Scarlet  Nonpareil.  The  Peai 
is  Josephine  de  Malines. 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET.— March  9th. 
Apples,  J  sieve . 
Cobs  ...  ...  ...  ...  ... 
Filberts,  100  lbs . 
Asparagus,  per  100 . 
Beans,  A  sieve . 
Beet,  Red,  doz . 
Carrots,  bunch . 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
Celery,  bundle . . 
Coleworts,  doz.  bnchs.  ... 
Cucumbers . 
Endive,  doz . 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
Lettuce,  doz . 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
Arbor  Vitas,  var.,  doz.  ... 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
Azalea,  per  doz . 
Cineraria,  per  doz . 
Cyclamen,  per  doz  . 
Dracsena,  var.,  doz . 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
Erica  hyemalis,  per  doz  ... 
,,  gracilis,  per  doz.  ... 
,,  various,  per  doz.  ... 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz.  ... 
FRUIT. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
1  6  to  4  0 
Grapes,  lb . 
2  0  to  3  0 
21  0 
22  6 
Lemons,  case  . 
11  0 
14  0 
0  0 
0  0 
St.  Michael’s  Pines,  each 
2  6 
5  0 
VEGETABLES. 
B.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
0  0  to  0  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2  to  0  4 
0  0 
0  0 
Onions,  bushel .  ... 
3  6 
4  0 
1  0 
0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs....  ... 
2  0 
3  0 
0  3 
0  4 
Parsnips,  doz . 
1  0 
0  0 
2  0 
3  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
2  0 
4  0 
1  0 
0  0 
Salsafy,  bundle . 
1  0 
0  0 
2  0 
4  0 
Scorzonera,  bundle . 
1  6 
0  0 
0  4 
0  8 
Seakale,  basket . 
1  6 
1  0 
1  3 
1  6 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  3 
0  0 
0  3 
0  0 
.Spinach,  pad  . 
0  0 
0  0 
0  2 
0  0 
Sprouts,  1  sieve  . 
1  6 
1  9 
1  3 
0  0 
Tomatoes,  lb . 
0  4 
0  9 
0  6 
0  8 
Turnips,  bunch . 
0  3 
0  4 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
6  0to36  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz . 
4  0tol8  0 
18  0 
36  0 
Ferns,  small,  100  . 
4  0 
8  0 
5  0 
10  6 
Ficus  elastica,  each . 
1  0 
7  0 
24  0 
36  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0 
5  0 
6  0 
10  0 
Hyacinths,  doz.  pots 
8  0 
12  0 
9  0 
18  0 
Lilium  Harrisi,  doz . 
12  0 
18  0 
12  0 
30  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
4  0 
6  0 
9  0 
18  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.  ... 
6  0 
9  0 
9  0 
15  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
6  0 
9  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each . 
1  0 
16  0 
8  0 
12  0 
,,  specimens  . 
21  0 
63  0 
6  0 
18  0 
Pelargoniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
4  0 
6  0 
4  0 
18  0 
Tulips,  various,  doz.  bulbs 
0  9 
1  6 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— CUT  FLOWERS.— Orchids  in  variety. 
Anemone,  dozen  bunches 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  ... 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch... 
Azalea,  dozen  sprays 
Bouvardias,  bunch . 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
Daffodils,  doz.  bunches  ... 
Eucharis,  doz.  ...  _ . 
Euphorbia  jacquiniaeflora, 
per  bunch  . 
Gardenias,  doz . 
Geranium,  scarlet,  dozen 
bunches  . 
Hyacinths  (Roman)  dozen 
bunches . 
Lilac  (French),  bunch  ... 
Liliumlongiflorum,  12  blms 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12sprays 
Maidenhair  Fern,  dozen 
bunches . 
Marguerites,  doz.  bunches 
Mignonette,  doz.  bnchs. ... 
s.  d. 
fl.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
2  0  to  4  0 
Mimosa  or  Acacia,  bunch 
2  0 
3  0 
(French)  . 
0  9  to  1  0 
1  6 
4  0 
Nareiss,  white  (French) 
0  4 
0  8 
dozen  bunches  . 
2  6 
5  0 
0  6 
0  9 
Orchids,  var.,  doz.  blooms 
1  6 
12  0 
1  0 
3  0 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs. 
6  0 
9  0 
3  0 
8  0 
Primroses,  doz.  bunches... 
0  9 
1  0 
3  0 
5  0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
0  6 
1  0 
,,  Red,  per  doz . 
3  0 
5  0 
1  0 
2  0 
,,  Tea,  white,  dozen  ... 
1  0 
2  0 
4  0 
6  0 
„  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
1  6 
4  0 
,,  Safrano(English;doz. 
1  0 
2  0 
4  0 
6  0 
,,  Pink,  dozen  . 
4  0 
8  0 
Smilax,  bunch . 
1  6 
2  0 
4  0 
6  0 
Snowdrops,  12  bunches  ... 
0  9 
1  6 
3  0 
4  0 
Tuberoses,  12  blooms 
0  9 
1  6 
4  0 
6  0 
Tulips,  dozen  blooms 
0  6 
1  0 
0  6 
1  3 
Violets,  dozen  bunches  ... 
0  6 
1  0 
„  Parme  (French), 
4  0 
8  0 
bunch  . 
3  0 
4  0 
2  0 
3  0 
Wallflowers,  doz  bnchs.... 
3  0 
5  0 
2  0 
4  0 
