December  29,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
503 
varieties.  In  consequence  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  reiect  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  be  named  at  once,  and  any  beyond  that 
number  cannot  be  preserved.  They  should  be  sent  on  the  first  indication  oj 
change  towards  ripening.  Dessert  Pears  cannot  be  named  in  a  hard  green  state. 
{P.). — We  know  of  no  Apple  exactly  like  the  specimen  you  send,  and 
should  imagine  it  to  be  a  local  seedling.  {F.  IT.).  —  1,  Warner’s  King; 
2,  Dumelow’s  Seedling  ;  3,  New  Hawthornden  ;  4.  Gascoyne’s  Scarlet 
Seedling  ;  5,  Bramley’s  Seedling  ;  6,  Lord  Derby.  {G.  M.). —  1,  Golden 
Winter  Pearmain  ;  2,  Sturmer  Pippin  :  3,  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin  ;  4,  local 
seedling  of  no  merit.  ( H .  &).  —  !,  Round  Winter  Nonesuch  ;  2,  Yorkshire 
Greening. 
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  dowering 
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  4hem 
when  the  paper  is  damp.  {Taylor). — Through  misdirection  all  your 
specimens  were  dead  on  receipt  ;  please  read  rules  above  and  send  again. 
{F.  R.). — 1,  Adiantum  trapeziforme  ;  2.  Fteris  serrulata  ;  3,  Nephrolepis 
tnberosa  ;  4,  Adiantum  tenerum.  (/h  V.K.). — 1.  Lteliaanceps  ;  2,  Odonto- 
glossum  Rossi  majus. 
COYENT  GARDEN  MARKET.— Dec.  28th. 
FRUIT. 
s.  d. 
a.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
Apples,  i  sieve 
1  3  to  3  6 
Lemons,  case  . 
30  OtoGO  0 
Cobs  . 
...  45  0 
50  0 
St.  Michael’s  Pines,  each 
2  6 
5  0 
Grapes,  lb . 
... 
0  10 
1  6 
VEGETABLES. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Asparagus,  per  100  ... 
•  •• 
0  0  to  0  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2  to  0  4 
Beans,  J  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  0 
4  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  9 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
... 
0  6 
0  8 
Turnips,  bunch . 
0  3 
0  4 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Arbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz. 
6  0to36  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each . 
1  0 
to  7  0 
Aspidistra,  doz. 
•  •• 
18  0 
30  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0 
5  0 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
•  •• 
5  0 
10  6 
Liliurn  Harrisi,  doz. 
24  0 
36  0 
Crotons,  doz . 
•  •• 
18  0 
24  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz.... 
•  •• 
12  0 
30  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.  ... 
9  0 
12  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. 
8  0 
12  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz. 
... 
4  0 
18  0 
Solanums,  doz . 
6  0 
12  0 
„  small,  100  ... 
... 
4  0 
8  0 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— CUT  FLOWERS. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Arums  . 
•  •• 
8  0tol2  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  sprays 
1  0  to  2  0 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch... 
2  0 
2  6 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
G  0 
8  0 
Azalea,  white,  12  sprays 
1  0 
1  3 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
Bouvardias,  bunch  ... 
0  4 
0  0 
bnchs . 
6  0 
8  0 
Carnations,  12  blooms 
... 
2  0 
3  0 
Narcissus,  doz.  bnchs.  ... 
5  0 
6  0 
Chrysanthemums,  per  bch. 
0  6 
2  0 
Orchids,  var.,  doz.  blooms 
1  6 
9  0 
u  specimen 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs. 
6  0 
10  0 
blooms,  per  doz. 
4  0 
6  0 
Poinsettias,  doz.  blooms... 
12  0 
15  0 
Eucharis,  doz . 
4  0 
0  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  0 
bnchs . 
... 
8  0 
12  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 . 
5  0 
6  0 
Liliurn  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  0 
„  Parme,  bunch 
4  0 
6  0 
Lilac,  bunch  . 
... 
5  0 
6  0 
THE  VANISHING  YEAR, 
Before  these  liues  appear  in  print  we  shall  have  celebrated  our 
Christmas  feast  once  more  ;  we  shall  have  met  round  the  festal  board 
with  mingled  feelings.  The  least  reflective  of  us  will  have  cast 
glances  back  at  the  months  that  have  rolled  away  since  last  we 
honoured  Father  Christmas  in  the  wassail  bowl. 
As  years  roll  on  (and  how  fast  they  speed  nowadays)  every 
anniversary  comes  with  sad  as  well  as  pleasaut  memories.  To 
the  children  the  pleasures  are  as  yet  unmixed,  but  to  the  parents  the 
case  is  altogether  different,  in  several  homes  there  are  vacant  chairs 
and  empty  hearts;  in  many  a  sense  of  failure  and  disappointment. 
What  remains  of  the  present  year,  which  broke  so  brightly,  is  now 
fading  away ;  its  last  days — almost  its  last  moments — are  speeding 
into  the  past.  We  set  ourselves  such  great  tasks  at  the  beginning — 
would  that  we  may  find  we  have  accomplished  half  our  desire.  It  is 
not  that  we  would  decry  a  spirit  of  enterprise  which  would  make  all 
things  possible,  not  for  a  moment  ;  but  we  often  wonder  how  it  is, 
and  why  it  is,  that  we  (with  the  best  intentions  in  the  world)  fall 
so  far  short  of  our  own  ideals.  We  get  weary  in  the  race;  our 
footsteps  lag ;  we  are  daunted  by  the  thought  of  lions  in  the  way, 
and  we  have  let  them  impede  our  progress,  not  having  taken  the 
trouble  to  ascertain  that,  even  if  they  were  lions,  they  were  securely 
chained. 
Christmastide  comes  as  a  glad  break  in  the  monotony  of  life.  It 
is  a  little  holiday — a  time  of  pleasant  reunions  and  cheery  festival* 
and  we  fancy  in  the  country  Christmas  is  perhaps  yet  best  observed. 
There  is  not  the  rush  and  the  racket  there.  The  feeling  of  business 
at  high  pressure,  the  too  exhausting  toil,  mental  and  bodily  ;  and  the 
rejoicing  is  perhaps  keener  as  the  treats  to  the  country  folks  are  fewer. 
The  other  bank  holidays  do  not  so  much  affect  us — indeed,  we  only 
know  of  them  by  the  advent  into  our  quiet  homes  of  town  friends. 
In  the  villages  (at  least  in  those  we  know)  there  is  so  much  done  in 
a  quiet  way  to  provide  every  home,  however  poor,  with  the  where¬ 
withal  for  physical  refreshment.  We  are  all  so  closely  connected  by 
ties  of  long  standing,  and  we  know  each  other’s  affairs  so  perfectly, 
that  there  is  no  difficulty  at  guessing  at  each  other’s  needs,  and  no 
slackness  in  ministering  to  those  needs. 
There  have  been  preparations  afoot  for  some  time  in  our  homes — 
pork  pie  baking,  sausage  and  the  succulent  bacon  manufactured,  fowls 
of  water  and  land  carefully  plucked  and  still  more  carefully  prepared 
for  the  oven,  stones  of  rich,  black,  plum-bread  baked,  and  plum 
pudding  boiled,  jars  of  delicious  mincemeat  concocted  of  foreign  and 
home  products,  and  in  some  neighbourhoods  the  preparation  of 
“  frumenty  ”  creed  Wheat  boiled  with  new  milk  and  eaten  with 
cream  and  sugar  and  a  dash  of  nutmeg  on  Christmas  Eve. 
We  remember  in  our  younger  days  what  a  generous  saint  St. 
Thomas  proved  himself.  From  early  dawn  to  grey  evening  the 
widows  and  children  were  abroad,  and  calling  at  all  the  farm  houses, 
received  their  portion  of  dry  Wheat,  or  prepared  Wheat,  as  the  case 
might  be,  with  little  standing  meat  pies,  small  packets  of  tea  and 
sugar,  and  halfpence.  Those  days  appear  to  have  gone,  and  we 
regret  it.  We  never  now  see  a  sheep  cut  up  in  the  farm  kitchen  for 
distribution  among  the  labourers,  and  we  wonder  what  is  the  cause  ? 
We  fancy  several  things  may  have  contributed  to  the  change.  In  so 
many  parts  of  the  country  some  twenty  years  ago  the  agricultural 
labourer  yielded  to  the  spirit  of  the  age  and  joined  in  the  almost 
universal  strike  movement.  This  caused  a  breach  between  master  and 
man,  which  time,  so  far,  has  not  healed.  We  do  not  say  the  men 
were  altogether  wrong,  for  God  alone  knows  how  some  poor  fellows 
managed  to  struggle  on  and  get  a  bit  of  bread  for  themselves  and 
their  bairns;  but  the  feeling  of  soreness  has  never  quite  gone. 
