AprilU,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTTCULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
3:57 
Leucopliytoii  Browni  (/7.  H.), — In  the  propagation  of  this  serviceable 
carpeting  plant  it  is  essential  to  bear  in  mind  that  it  is  most  impatient  of 
fire  heat,  and  the  cuttings  are  certain  to  fail  if  subjected  to  it.  The 
proper  time  to  insert  the  cuttings  is  during  the  month  of  September,  and 
they  ought  to  be  treated  exactly  the  same  as  Violas  or  Calceolarias. 
Either  three  parts  fill  frames  set  on  a  hard  dry  base,  with  nearly  exhausted 
heating  material,  or  set  hand-lights  on  a  bed  of  the  same.  Cover  with 
about  3  inches  of  fine  sandy  soil,  face  over  with  sharp  sand,  and  dibble 
out  the  cuttings  thickly,  keeping  them  rather  close  and  shaded  from  bright 
sunshine  till  rooted,  and  in  all  other  respects  treat  similarly  to  Calceolarias. 
They  would  receive  the  least  check  when  bedded  out  if  first  established 
in  thumb  pots,  but  keep  them  out  of  the  houses. 
Anemones  from  Seed  (Veto  Reader). — Certainly,  single  Anemones  can 
be  readily  raised  for  seed,  and  plants  from  seeds  sown  now  will  commence 
flowering  next  year  if  g  own  in  fertile  soil.  The  year  following  they  will 
be  very  fine  if  the  tubers  are  not  disturbed.  The  seed  being  very  woolly 
must  be  separated  by  rubbing  it  with  sand,  and  then  scattered  in  drills 
about  6  inches  apart  and  1  inch  deep,  saturating  them  before  sowing  if 
the  soil  be  cry.  Should  bright  weather  follow  it  will  be  advisable  to 
shade  the  beds  with  mats  or  some  other  material,  or  the  seed  will  not 
germinate  freely,  and  shading  is  much  better  than  watering  after  sowing. 
If  the  seedlings  are  crowded  patches  of  them  may  be  dug  up  with  earth 
adhering  to  the  roots,  and  transplanted  in  showery  weather  in  summer. 
Fresh  seed  should  be  obtained,  as  the  old  does  not  germinate  freely. 
The  Caper  Plant  (./.  W.  Wi). — We  imagine  you  must  be  a  compara¬ 
tively  new  reader,  as  we  have  more  than  once  stated  that  Capparis  spinosa, 
from  which  the  capers  of  commerce  are  obtained,  grows  abundantly  in 
the  south  of  Europe,  along  the  shores  and  on  the  islands  of  the  Mediter¬ 
ranean,  and  in  Syria.  It  is  generally  found  wild  on  walls  and  rocks  ;  it 
is  met  with  on  the  walls  of  Rome,  Sienne,  and  Florence,  and  is  extensively 
cultivated  in  .the  south  of  Europe,  particularly  between  Marseilles  and 
Toulon,  and  in  many  parts  of  Italy  ;  but  it  is  from  Sicily  that  the  greatest 
supply  is  brought.  The  flower  buds  form  the  capers  so  much  used  as  a 
pickle  and  a  sauce,  but  in  some  parts  the  fruit  is  also  employed.  In  the 
early  part  of  summer  the  plant  begins  to  flower,  and  the  flowers  continue 
to  appear  successively  till  the  beginning  of  winter.  The  young  flower 
buds  are  picked  every  morning,  and  as  they  are  gathered  they  are 
put  into  vinegar  and  salt ;  and  this  operation  continues  for  six  months, 
as  long  as  the  plants  are  in  a  flowering  state.  When  the  sesson  closes 
the  buds  are  sorted  according  to  their  size  and  colour,  the  smallest  and 
greenest  being  the  best ;  these  are  again  put  into  vinegar,  and  then 
packed  up  for  sale  and  exportation.  Capers  are  stimulant,  antiscorbutic, 
and  are  much  employed  as  a  condiment,  but  the  medicinal  virtues  of  the 
plant  reside  in  the  root,  which  is  slightly  bitter,  somewhat  acrid  and  sour, 
and  is  diuretic. 
Convolvulus  cneorum(V.  S.  W.).— This  is  commonly  known  as  the 
Silvery  Bindweed,  and  is  a  dwarf  shrub  from  Greece  with  lanceolate 
leaves.  It  grows  about  18  inches  high,  and  is  of  semi-procumbent  habit, 
which  renders  it  very  effective  on  the  dry  sunny  aspect  of  rockwork, 
where  it  is  hardy  in  all  but  the  severest  winters.  The  plant  is  evergreen, 
and  bears  a  number  of  shining  white  flowers,  which  have  the  glitter  of 
pearl,  and,  like  it,  are  slightly  tinged  with  red.  Of  free  growth  it  soon 
forms  a  spreading  low  bush.  Cuttings  rooted  in  late  summer,  wintered 
in  a  cold  frame,  and  planted  out  in  the  spring,  form  a  bush  nearly  a  yard 
across  by  September,  during  which  it  commences  flowering  and  continues 
until  frost.  In  order  to  guard  against  mishap  from  frost  it  is  well  to 
root  cuttings  in  August  under  a  hand-light,  pot  them  when  rooted,  and 
winter  in  a  cold  frame  or  house.  Plants  raised  in  this  way,  grown  in  a 
cool  house,  and  shifted  into  larger  pots  as  required,  are  very  showy  for 
conservatory  decoration.  The  flowers  are  borne  like  those  of  C.  mauri- 
tanicus  at  the  points  of  the  growth,  hence  stopping  must  not  be  continued 
longer  than  is  needed  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  compact  plant.  Although 
not  nearly  so  trailing  in  habit  as  C.  mauritanicus  it  makes  a  desirable 
basket  plant,  but  is  best  seen  as  a  rock  plant.  It  does  well  in  loam  with 
u  little  leaf  soil  or  decayed  manure,  and  a  little  sand  to  keep  it  open. 
Layering  Chrysanthemums  (A.  Thompson). — This  operation  is  com¬ 
paratively  easy,  and  with  ordinary  attention  you  need  have  no  fear  of 
failure  occurring.  Plant  a  few  old  plants  out  of  doors  in  a  row  ;  let  them 
grow  as  wild  as  they  choose  till  the  month  of  .July  ;  then  take  as  many 
pots  as  plants  are  required,  and  plunge  them,"'Jille(i  with  some  rich  soil, 
into  the  ground  at  such  a  distance  from  the  plants  growing  in  the  ground 
as  will  allow  the  tops  only,  when  bent  down,  to  reach  the  pots  ;  bring 
them  carefully  down,  and  peg  each  branch  firmly  into  the  soil.  Leave 
about  2  inches  of  the  top  out  of  the  soil.  If  the  shoot  is  branched  it  is 
well,  but  if  not  it  must  not  be  topped,  because  there  is  some  danger  that 
the  layer  may  continue  to  grow  and  not  flower  if  topped  so  late  in  the 
season.  The  aim  of  this  mode  of  propagation  is  to  make  them  flower 
when  very  dwarf,  and  therefore  the  layer  should  have  buds  upon  it  just 
visible  at  the  time  when  layering  is  performed.  Keep  the  soil  in  the 
pots  moderately  moist  till  roots  are  formed,  and  after  that  water  more 
freely.  When  it  is  certain  the  layers  have  made  plenty  of  roots,  cut  them 
off  from  the  parent  plant,  and  remove  them  into  a  frame  or  pit  deep 
enough  to  receive  them.  Should  they  flag  during  the  day,  give  a 
sprinkling  of  water,  and  shade  for  a  day  or  two  till  they  recover  ;  then 
give  air  and  water  freely.  They  will  then  be  good  plants,  about  a  foot 
high,  with,  perhaps,  six  or  ten  flowers  on  each. 
Names  of  Plants. — We  only  undertake  to  name  species  of  cultivated 
plants,  not  wild  flowers,  or  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  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  paper  the  worst.  Those  arrive  in  the  best 
condition  that  are  so  closely  or  firmly  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  in  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.  (S.  H.  P.). — 1,  Doronicum  Clusi ;  2,  Pitto- 
sporum  Tobira  ;  3,  Cydonia  Maulei.  (W.  /.). — 1,  Primula  farinosa  ;  2, 
Omphalodes  verna  ;  3,  Primula  japonica  ;  4,  Kerria  japonica  flore-pleno. 
((7.  M.).—\,  Odontoglossura  pulchellum  :  2,  Cypripedium  villosum. 
(P.  P.  P.).  — 1,  Celsia  arcturus  ;  2,  Sedum  lydium ;  3,  Herniaria  glabra  ; 
4,  Spiraea  prunifolia ;  5,  Ribes  aureum  ;  6,  Forsythia  intermedia. 
(P.  L.). — 1,  Euonymus  latifolius  variegatus  ;  2,  E.  japonicus  aureo- 
variegatus  ;  3,  Erythonium  grandiflorum  ;  4,  Primula  capitata  ; 
5,  Pulmonaria  officinalis  ;  6,  Muscari  conicum,  poor  form.  (W.  M.).  1, 
Tropasolum  trioolorum  ;  2,  not  yet  ident'fied  ;  3,  Diplopappus  chryso- 
phyllus.  _ _ 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET.- 
FRUIT. 
Apples,  4  sieve  ... 
Cobs  . 
Filberts,  100  lbs. 
Asparagus,  per  100 
Beans,  4  sieve  ... 
Beet,  Red,  doz.... 
Carrots,  bunch  ... 
Cauliflowers,  doz. 
Celery,  bundle  ... 
Coleworts,  doz.  bnch 
Cucumbers . 
Endive,  doz. 
Herbs,  bunch  ... 
Leeks,  bunch  ... 
Lettuce,  doz.  ... 
MusKrcoros.l  •  . 
Arbor  Vita3,  var.,  doz. 
Aspidistra,  doz. 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
Azalea,  per  doz. 
Calceolaria,  per  doz. 
Cineraria,  per  doz.  ... 
C5^clamen,  per  doz  ... 
Dractena,  var.,  doz.  ... 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
Erica  byemalis,  per  doz 
,,  various,  per  doz. 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz. 
Ferns,  var.,  doz. 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.- 
8.  d.  8.  d. 
Anemone,  dozen  bunches  2  0  to  4  0 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  ...  3  0  4  0 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch...  2  0 
Azalea,  dozen  sprays  ...  0  6 
Bouvardias,  bunch .  0  6 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ...  1  0 
Daffodils,  doz.  bunches  ...  2  0 
Eucharis,  doz .  4  0 
Euphorbia  jacquiniaeflora, 
per  bunch  .  1  0 
Gardenias,  doz .  2  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  dozen 
bunches .  6  0 
Lilac  (French),  bunch  ...  3  6 
Liliumlongifloruni,12blms  4  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12sprays  0  9 
Maidenhair  Fern,  dozen 
bunches .  6  0  8  0 
-April  ISth. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
1  6  to  4  0 
Grapes,  lb . 
••• 
2  0  to  3  0 
21  0 
£2  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. 
s.  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,  4  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. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
6  0to36  0 
Ferns,  small,  100  ... 
••• 
4  0  to  8  0 
18  0 
36  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each... 
•  . 
1  0 
7  0 
5  0 
10  6 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0 
5  0 
24  0 
36  0 
Genista,  per  doz. 
... 
8  0 
12  0 
8  0 
12  0 
Hyacinths,  doz.  pots 
... 
8  0 
12  0 
6  0 
9  0 
Lilium  Harrisi,  doz.... 
••• 
12  0 
18  0 
9  0 
18  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz.  ... 
... 
4  0 
6  0 
12  0 
30  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz. 
... 
6  0 
9  0 
9  0 
18  0 
Mignonette,  doz. 
... 
6  0 
12  0 
9  0 
15  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
... 
6  0 
9  0 
8  0 
12  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each... 
... 
1  0 
15  0 
6  0 
18  0 
,,  specimens  ... 
... 
21  0 
63  0 
4  0 
18  0 
Pelargoniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
4  0 
6  0 
4  0 
18  0 
Tulips,  various,  doz.  bulbs 
0  9 
1  6 
-CUT  FLOWERS.— Orchids  in 
4  0 
1  0 
0  9 
8  0 
4  0 
6  0 
1  3 
Marguerites,  doz.  bunches 
Mignonette,  doz.  bnchs. ... 
Myosotis,  dozen  bunches... 
Narciss,  dozen  bunches  ... 
Orchids,  var.,  doz.  blooms 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs. 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
,,  Red,  per  doz . 
,,  Tea,  white,  dozen  ... 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
,,  Safrano(English]doz. 
,,  Pink,  dozen  . 
Smilax,  bunch . 
Tulips,  dozen  blooms 
Violets,  dozen  bunches  ... 
„  Parme  (French), 
bunch  . 
Wallflowers,  doz.  bnchs.... 
variety, 
d.  s.  d. 
0  to  4  0 
0  4  0 
G  0 
4  0 
12  0 
8  0 
3  0 
1  0 
1  0 
3  6 
4  0 
SOMETHING  WRONG. 
We  most  of  us  know  by  sad  experience  the  horror  of_  the  short 
sea  passage  in  well  appointed  boats,  either  over  the  English  Channel 
or  the  stormy  waters  that  separate  us  from  the  Sister  Isle.  To  some  of 
