December  29,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDEN  Ft: 
489 
For  Market  and  Private  Growers. 
Ornamental  Trees,  Shrubs,  Ac. 
DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUES  POST  FREE. 
NEW  CHRYSANTHEMUM 
“Archie  Ray.” 
£5  IN  PRIZES  FOR  6  BLOOMS. 
See  List  with  Illustration  (from  Photograph)  and 
Prices,  post  free  : 
RAY  &  CO..  TEYNHAM,  KENT. 
To  Nurserymen,  Builders,  Local  Bodies,  Vestries, 
AND  OTHERS  WHO  INTEND 
PLANTING  TREES  AND  SHRUBS  THIS  SEASON. 
ROBERT  NEAL,  F.R.H.S., 
THE  NURSERIES, 
319,  TRINITY  ROAD,  WANDSWORTH,  S.W., 
Begs  to  offer  an  extensive  Stock  of  FOREST  and 
ORNAMENTAL  TREES,  SHRUBS,  ROSES,  GRAPE 
VINES,  FRUIT  TREES,  CLIMBING  PLANTS,  &c., 
which,  being  grown  in  the  neighbourhood  of  London,  are 
especially  suitable  for  Town  Planting.  DESCRIPTIVE 
CATALOGUE  FREE. 
Derm  anclAee 
Our  Stock-Stools  of 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
They  are  now  in  their  zenith  of  perfection  ;  just 
those  that  would  delight  the  greatest  expert  ;  fact 
is  we  aim  for  perfect  Cuttings,  not  gigantic 
grouping.  Send  for  our  New  Illustrated  and 
Descriptive  Catalogue,  containing  the  1400  best 
varieties  from  the  first  introductions. 
Mr.  F.  G.  MILLS,  Glossop  Hall  Gardens. 
14th  December,  1898. 
“  Cuttings  to  hand  in  splendid  condition;  all  that  could 
be  desired.” 
H.  CANNELL  &,  SONS, 
SWANLEY,  KZS33MT. 
WARE’S 
NEW 
SEEDS 
♦  * 
Of  Finest  Flowers  and 
4  CHOICEST  VEGETABLES.  * 
^  See  Catalogue  ^ 
.  With  130  Illustrations  and  full  Descriptions,  * 
“  Post  Free  on  Application.  Contains  also  * 
full  Collections  oi 
BEGONIA*, 
DAHLIAS, 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS, 
LILIES, 
C ANNAS,  etc. 
Gardens  Laid  out  and  P  anted. 
THOS.  S.  WARE,  [ 
Hale  Farm  .Nurseries,  LTD., 
Tottenham,  London.  * 
WILLIAM  BARRON  &  SON 
Landscape  Gardeners  and  Nurserymen , 
Invite  intending  Planters  to  inspect  their  unrivalled 
Stock  of 
ORNAMENTAL  &  FOREST  TREES 
Send  for  Catalogues  and  List  of  Public  and  Private 
Works  carried  out  by  them. 
ELVASTON  NURSERIES,  BORROWASH,  DERBY. 
COTTAGE  GARDENING  ;  being  an  Essay  to 
which  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  awarded  Mr. 
W.  Egerton  Hubbard’s  Prize,  February  16th,  1870.  By 
E.  W.  Badger.  Third  Edition.  Price  3d. ;  post  free,  3£d. 
Journal  of  Horticulture  Office,  12,  Mitre  Court 
Chambers,  Fleet  Street,  E.C. 
Greenhouses  from  £3  5/-;  vineries, 
Conservatories,  Frames,  Summer  Houses,  <fcc. 
Illustrated  List  Free.  Makers  to  H.M.  the  Queen  and, 
H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales. 
OTTER,  HAWTHORN  &  CO.,  London  Works, 
READING.  (Name  Paper.) 
Superior  Garden  Seeds. 
DICKSON,  BROWN  &  TAITS 
NEW  ILLUSTRATED  PRICED  CATALOGUE  of  VEGETABLE  and 
FLOWER  SEEDS  is  now  published  ^and  may  be  had  free  on  application. 
A  Copy  lias  been  posted  to  each  of  their  Customers ;  should  anyone  not  have  received 
it  they  will  be  pleased  to  forward  another  copy. 
1(0 YAL  SEED  ESTABLISHMENT,  Corporation  Street,  MANCHESTER. 
No.  966.— Vol.  XXXVII.,  Third  Series. 
Joupiil  jjf 
THURSDAY,  DECEMBER  29,  1898. 
THE  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  can  be  obtained 
from  the  Office ,  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  St., 
London ,  post  free  for  a  Quarter,  3/9.  Editorial 
communications  must  be  addressed  to  8,  Rose 
Hill  Rd.,  Wandsworth,  S.W. 
CHRISTMAS  TIME  in  the  MARKETS. 
IN  connection  with  the  religious  belief  of  all 
countries,  be  they  Christian  or  otherwise,  it 
is  the  practice  to  observe  several  festive  seasons 
in  each  year.  Such  times  have  their  value  apart 
from  their  religious  aspect,  as  they  make  a  welcome 
break  in  the  monotony  of  the  lives  of  many, 
and  give  great  impetus  to  almost  every  trade. 
The  great  festival  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  is 
undoubtedly  Christmas,  and  under  the  genial  in¬ 
fluence  of  contagious  generosity  the  most  penurious 
usually  catch  the  spirit  of  the  times,  and  dive, 
though  perhaps  reluctantly,  into  their  well-lined 
pockets ;  while  others,  blessed  with  more  natural 
generosity,  spend  freely  their  hard  earnings  in 
bestowing  Christmas  gifts. 
That  the  commerce  of  horticulture  is  largely 
benefited  by  the  festivities  of  Christmas  is  abun¬ 
dantly  evident  in  the  markets  of  all  great  towns. 
The  wonder  sometimes  is  where  the  vast  amount 
of  materials,  of  such  varying  descriptions,  can  ail 
go.  It  has  become  the  fashion  of  late  to  con¬ 
tinually  disparage  the  British  trader;  want  of 
energy,  adaptability,  and  even  perseverance  are 
charges  laid  against  him,  in  so  plausible  a  manner 
as  to  make  them  generally  believed.  An  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  markets  and  some  ot  the 
great  salesmen  would,  I  think,  soon  convince  many 
that  the  “  croakers  ”  fall  into  the  common  error 
of  overstating  their  case.  I  have  often  watched 
the  wholesale  agent  disposing  of  enormous  con¬ 
signments  of  produce  in  a  short  time,  and  have 
thought  surely  the  commerce  of  England  is  safe 
in  the  hands  of  such  men.  Their  whole  energies 
seem  concentrated  upon  the  work  in  hand,  and 
the  amount  of  ingenuity,  smartness,  and  persistency 
they  bring  to  bear  upon  it  is,  I  fancy,  not  excelled 
by  any  class  of  business  men. 
The  exceptionally  mild  weather  of  the  last  two 
months  would  doubtless  considerably  affect  prices 
as  according  to  present  appearances  flowers  at  least 
must  be  unusually  plentiful.  At  one  time  it  was 
thought  to  be  a  “  great  hit  ”  to  have  plenty  of 
Chrysanthemums  at  Christmas,  and  the  pioneers 
in  the  movement  reaped  a  rich  harvest.  This 
No.  2622.— Vol.  XCIX.,  Old  Series. 
