468 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  December  15,  1898. 
that  as  regards  the  Maincrop  ('ho  va’iety  used  for  those  tests)  a  large 
sized  set  is  the  best. 
Set  between  1^  and  H  inch,  cut  in  two,  produced 
„  „  1|  and  1^  inch,  whole  produced 
,,  „  and  2  inch,  ,,  „ . 
,,  „  2  and  2^  inch,  „  . . 
,,  over  2 h  inch  „  „ . 
tons.  cwt.  q-. 
8  1  2 
10  13  0 
11  18  2 
12  10  1 
17  13  3 
This  all  against  the  very  small  and  in  favour  of  the  very  large  set, 
and  as  the  Maincrop  is  a  shy  j  ielder  and  not  a  strong  grower,  it  would 
seem  advisable  to  use  large  sets  of  this  variety  ;  but  it  d  >es  not  follow 
that  there  would  be  the  same  result  with  otheis,  and  probably  in  such 
as  Up-to-Date,  Giants,  Imperators,  and  others  wlvch  are  apt  to  grow 
very  large,  a  moderate  sized  set  would  bring  as  good  a  result  as  a 
large  one. 
The  trials  of  manures  have  shown  that  artificials  will  pay  when  used 
on  very  rich  soil  and  in  addition  to  a  heavy  m  inuring.  The  results  of 
the  various  mixtures  are,  however,  not  sufficiently  consistent  to  be 
very  conclusive. 
Superphosphate  seems  to  improve  the  sizi  as  well  as  the  bulk. 
Sulphate  of  ammon:a  gave  the  best  results  of  the  nitrogenous 
manures. 
Muriate  of  potash  gave  a  better  result  than  sulphate  of  potash,  but 
kiinit  was  considerably  below  either. 
As  a  whole  the  trials  have  been  very  satisfactory,  and  well  woith 
the  trouble  and  expense  they  have  cost  the  county  of  Cheshire,  and 
we  must  congratulate  the  County  Council,  also  Mr.  Gordon  and  his 
staff,  on  the  admirable  manner  in  which  they  have  carried  out  the 
work. 
WORK  ON-  THE  HOME  FARM. 
We  are  still  ploughing  fallows,  and  there  has  been  so  much  rain  the 
last  few  days  as  to  make  the  work  go  none  too  well,  even  on  light  land. 
We  do  not  like  to  plough  land  in  a  wet  state,  but  it  is  time  that  the  woik 
was  finished,  and  we  must  trust  that  there  will  be  a  sufficiency  of  frost  to 
correct  any  evil  effects. 
"We  have  a  breadth  of  Turnip  land  behind  the  sheep  ready  and  waiting 
for  the  plough,  but  we  shall  defer  turning  it  over  until  the  weather  is 
more  favourable. 
Sheep  are  d  ing  well  this  season  ;  they  keep  health}',  and  losses 
have  been  very  small.  We  have  just  had  the  lambs  dipped  again,  and 
they  will  bo  all  right  now  until  clip-day.  Turnips  are  lasting  out  wtl', 
having  continued  grcwir.g  much  later  than  usual.  Swedes,  too,  have  done 
well  lately,  and  there  should  be  a  suTcicnt  winter  supply  of  roots,  though 
nothing  like  a  plethora. 
As  sheep  are  doing  so  well  it  will  be  advisable  not  to  increase  the 
c.ike  yet  awhile.  January  will  be  quite  soon  enough,  unless  the  weather 
changes  materially,  when  we  should  recommend  an  increase,  at  the  same 
time  remembering  the  flowers  of  sulphur  twice  a  w  eek,  which  is  such  a 
safeguard  when  young  animals  are  undergoing  a  forcing  treatment. 
There  is  now  a  good  opportunity  to  attend  to  the  fences,  particularly 
big  old  hedges  which  require  taking  down.  The  usual  custom  is  to 
plash  and  lay  in  such  hedges,  but  we  prefer  to  take  them  right  down  to 
about  a  foot  high,  and  make  a  thoroughly  new  start  from  the  bottom. 
For  one  thing,  a  plashed  hedge  always  requires  protecting  fur  at  least 
three  years  against  cattle  and  horses,  and  if  the  cost  of  the  stakes,  which 
are  not  required  for  the  more  drastic  plan,  is  spent  in  improving  and 
making  more  permanent  the  protecting  wire  or  beard,  the  expense  would 
not  be  more,  but  rather  less,  for  plashing  done  well  is  expensive  work. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  the  hedge  taken  right  oT  woul  1  afterwards  grow 
much  more  vigorously,  and  if  properly  attended  to  make  a  Letter  and 
more  lasting  fence  than  the  plashed  oiie. 
American  Prosperity  and  Grain  Pjrices.— Rv  the  latest  tele¬ 
graphic  intelligence  from  the  United  States  we  are  told  that  signs  of 
prosperity  abound  on  every  hand.  Money  is  so  plentiful  that  the  savings 
banks  are  forced  to  reduce  their  rate  of  interest,  and  they,  in  common 
with  other  large  guardians  and  investors  of  capital,  experience  great 
difficulty  in  finding  remunerative  investments.  Money  is  so  plentiful  in 
the  West  because  of  the  high  prices  for  Whca%  corn,  and  Oats,  that 
farmers  are  payingoff  mortgages  in  advance  of  the  expiration,  thus  reducing 
the  field  of  investment.  It  is  estimated  that  the  value  of  the  corn  and 
Oat  crops  this  year,  while  these  are  only  slightly  larger  than  those  of  last 
ycr,  will  be  83,000,000  dollars  greater  becau  e  of  the  higher  prices. 
This,  assuming  all  to  be  true,  night  to  have  a  favourable  re3ex  action  on 
British  agriculture  ;  but  our  home  farm  authority  should  know  best 
about  that.  .  i  d 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET.— Dec.  14th. 
FRUIT. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
Apples,  J  sieve 
...  1  3  to  3  6 
Lemons,  case  . 
•  •• 
30  OtoCO  0 
Cobs  ...  . 
...  45  0 
50  0 
St.  Michael's  Pines,  each 
2  6 
5  0 
Grapes,  lb.  ...  ... 
...  0  10 
1  6 
VEGETABLES. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
b.  d. 
Asparagus,  per  100  ... 
...  0  0  to  0  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2  to  0  4 
Beans,  \  sieve  . 
...  0  0 
0  0 
Onions,  bushel . 
•  •• 
3  6 
4  0 
Beet,  Red,  doz....  ... 
...  1  0 
0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs.... 
... 
2  0 
3  0 
Carrots,  bunch . 
...  0  3 
0  4 
Parsnips,  doz . 
... 
1  0 
0  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz.  ... 
...  2  0 
3  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
2  0 
4  0 
Celery,  bundle  ...  ... 
1  0 
0  0 
Salsafy,  bundle . 
1  0 
0  0 
Coleworts,  doz.  bnchs. 
..;  2  o 
A  0 
Scorzonera,  bundle ... 
... 
1  6 
0  0 
Cucumbers . 
...  0  4 
0  8 
Seakale,  basket . 
1  6 
1  0 
Endive,  doz . 
...  1  3 
1  6 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  3 
0  0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
...  0  3 
0  0 
Spinach,  pad  . 
... 
0  0 
0  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
...  0  2 
0  0 
Sprouts,  |  sieve 
1  6 
1  9 
Lettuce,  doz . 
...  1  3 
0  0 
Tomatoes,  lb.  . 
... 
0  4 
0  1> 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
...  0  6 
8 
Turnips,  bunch . 
... 
0  3 
0  4 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
s.  d. 
s.  d.- 
s.  d. 
b.  d. 
Arbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz. 
...  6  0to36  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each ... 
... 
1  0 
;o7  O 
Aspidistra,  doz. 
...  18  0 
36  0 
Foliaige  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0 
5  0 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
...  5  0 
10  6 
Lilium  Harris),  doz. 
... 
12  0 
18  0 
Crotons,  doz . 
...  18  0 
24  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz.  ... 
... 
3  0 
4  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz. ... 
...  12  0 
30  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  ddz. 
... 
6  0 
9  0 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
...  9  0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  doz.  . . 
... 
6  0 
9  0 
Erica  various,  doz.  ... 
...  9  0 
24  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each 
... 
1  0 
15  0 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
...  6  0 
18  0 
,,  specimens  ... 
... 
21  0 
63  0 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz. 
...  4.0 
18  0 
Pelargoniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
4  0 
6  0 
Ferns,  var..  d"Z, 
..,  4  0 
18  0 
1*  J* 
8  0 
10  0 
„  small,  100  ... 
...  4  0 
8  0 
Solanums,  doz . 
... 
6  0 
12  0 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— CUT  FLOWERS.— Orchids  in  variety. 
b.  d. 
8. 
d. 
s.  d. 
b.  d. 
Arums  . 
6  0 
to  8 
0 
LilyoftheValley,12  sprays 
1  0  to  2  0 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch... 
2  0 
2 
6 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
6  0 
8  0 
Azalea,  white,  12  sprays 
1  0 
1 
3 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
Bouvardias,  bunch . 
0  4 
0 
6 
bnchs.  ...  ...  ...  ... 
C  0 
8  0 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
2  0 
3 
0 
Narci-sus,  doz.  bnchs.  ... 
5  0 
6  0 
Chrysanthemums,  per  bch. 
0  6 
2 
0 
Orchids,  var.,  doz.  blooms 
1  6 
9  O 
„  specimen 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs. 
6  0 
10  O 
blooms,  per  doz. 
3  0 
4 
0 
Poinsettias,  doz.  blooms... 
12  0 
15  O 
Eucharis,  doz . 
3  0 
4 
0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
2  0 
4  0 
Gardenias,  doz.  . 
2  0 
3 
0 
,,  Red,  doz. ...  ...  ... 
6  0 
8  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
,,  Tea.  white,  doz. 
3  0 
4  O 
bnchs . 
8  0 
10 
0 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
2  0 
3  0 
Lapageria  (white)  . 
1  6 
2 
0 
„  Safrano(English)doz. 
2  0 
2  6 
„  (red)  ...  ... 
1  0 
1 
3 
„  Pink,  doz . i. 
5  0 
6  0 
Lilium  lancifolium,  white 
3  0 
4 
0 
Smilax,  bunch . 
2  6 
3  0 
„  „  pink 
3  0 
4 
0 
Violets  . 
1  0 
2  6 
longiflorum,  12  blooms 
8  0 
10 
J) 
„  Parme,  bunch 
5  0 
6  0 
Lilac,  bunch  . 
5  0 
6 
0 
METEOROLOGICAL  OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden  Square,  London. 
Lat.  51°  32'  40"  N.;  Long.  0°  8'  0"  W.;  Altitude  111  feet. 
Date. 
9  A.M. 
In  the  Day. 
.5 
*3 
1898. 
December. 
Barometer 
at  32°,  and 
Sea  Level 
Hygrometer 
Direc¬ 
tion  of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of  soil 
at 
1  foot 
Shade Tern, 
perature. 
Radiation 
Tempera¬ 
ture. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun 
On 
Grass 
inchs 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
inchs. 
Sunday  .... 
4 
29'966 
52-6 
51-2 
S.W. 
47-1 
57-1 
50-1 
68-9 
441 
o-oio 
5 
[30-064 
53-9 
52-3 
S. 
48-3 
54-9 
52-9 
56-8 
47-0 
— 
6 
'30-046 
54-8 
52-4 
S.W. 
49-1 
56-2 
53-9 
64-6 
49-0 
0-872 
Wednesday 
29-714 
45-0 
44-9 
N.W. 
49-1 
45-1 
45-0 
47-7 
444 
0-364 
Thursday  . . 
8 
[30-067 
42-7 
41-3 
W. 
46-9 
49-7 
39-9 
60-2 
33-6 
0-102 
Fridav . 
9 
'29-687 
50-5 
49-2 
W. 
46-0 
51-3 
39-2 
64-4 
29-2 
; - 
Saturday .... 
10 
:30TS4 
51-6 
47-6 
W. 
45-3 
54-3 
41  -9 
64-8 
34-9 
— 
29-961 
50-2 
48-4 
47-4 
52-7 
46-1 
61-1 
40-3 
1-348 
REMARKS. 
4th.— Sunny  t  ill  1  p.M.,  then  overcast,  and  occasionally  rainy. 
5th.— Mild  and  fair,  with  occasional  spots  of  fine  rain. 
6th.— Fair  morning  ;  occasional  drizzle  after  noon,  and  rain  from  3.30  to  8.30«P.ivr. 
7th.— Steady  rain  from  1.30  a.m.  to  1  P.M.  ;  fair  and  frequently  sunny  after  2  pm.; 
clear  night. 
Sth  —  Sunny  nearly  all  day,  but  faint  in  afternoon  ;  fair  night. 
9th  — Rain  from  4.30  to  6  a.m  ,  then  overcast ;  generally  sunny  from  10  A.M.,  and 
bright  night. 
10th.— Generally  overcast,  hut  occasional  bright  sun  in  morning. 
A  warm  and  wet  week  ;  the  minimum  on  the  6th  higher  than  has  occurred  in 
December  for  more  than  forty  years.  The  mean  minimum  for  the  past  week  is 
higher  than  the  mean  maximum  for  the  corresponding  period  of  an  average? 
year.— G.  JV  Symons. 
