September  21,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
261 
Planting  Narcissi  and  Daffodils  (7'.  Q.). — The  best  time  to  trans¬ 
plant  these  bulbs  is  in  July  and  August,  the  season  when  they  are  usually 
dormant.  New  roots  are  made  simultaneously  with  the  dying  of  the  old 
ones,  or  very  shortly  afterwards,  hence  it  transplanting  takes  place  later 
in  autumn  more  or  less  injury  or  cheek  to  the  new  growth  must  take 
place.  Of  course  purchased  bulbs  are  planted  much  later,  but  the  earlier 
it  is  done  the  better,  never  deferring  the  planting  after  the  end  of  this 
month  e>r  the  beginning  of  October  if  avoidable,  though  we  have  had 
air  results  from  planting  in  November. 
Mushroom  Beds  in  Houses  or  Sheds  {Idem). — The  best  time  to  make 
Mushroom  beds  in  these  is  trom  September  to  January.  Beds  formed  at 
the  beginning  of  the  first  named  month  come  into  bearing  at  the  end  of 
October  or  beginning  of  November,  and  fresh  beds  made  about  every 
six  weeks  to  the  end  of  January  or  beginning  of  February  maintain  the 
supply  until  April,  when  they  become  maggotty,  and  are  best  grown 
outdoors  or  in  cool  sheds  with  a  north  aspect. 
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  culture  of  superior 
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  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  ppst  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  of 
change  towards  ripening.  Dessert  Pears  cannot  be  named  in  a  hard  green  state. 
The  practice  of  pinning  numbers  to  the  eyes  of  the  fruits  tends  to  destroy  one 
of  the  most  characteristic  features  and  increases  the  difficulty  of  identifica¬ 
tion.  (H.  S.). — As  we  have  said  before,  specimens  of  the  young  wood 
must  accompany  Plums  sent  for  identification  ;  your  fruit  resembles  Coe’s 
Golden  Drop  ;  the  Pear  is  Hessle.  (R.  M.W.). — Pearson’s  Plate.  (/.  H.). 
— 1,  Mabbot’s  Pearmain  ;  -2,  Gascoyne’s  Scarlet  Seedling  ;  3,  Colonel 
Vaughan  ;  4,  Lady  Henniker  ;  5,  Seaton  House  ;  6,  Scarlet  Nonpareil. 
(/.  R.  S.).—  1,  Golden  Winter  Pearmain  ;  2,  Spaton  House  ;  3,  The  Queen; 
4,  Lord  Derby  ;  5,  Tower  of  Glamis  ;  6,  Alfriston.  (  W.  R.). —  1,  Calville 
Rouge  Prdcoce  ;  2,  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin  ;  3,  Blenheim  Pippin  ;  4, 
Ribston  Pippin  ;  5,  Mrs.  Barron  ;  6,  Gascoyne’s  Scarlet  Seedling. 
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.  (Surrey). — 1,  Probably  iEsculus  Pavia  ; 
2  and  3,  forms  of  Quercus  Ilex,  the  Holm  Oak.  ( Garden  Boy). — Coleuses 
come  within  the  category  of  florists’  flowers,  and  your  only  means  of 
certain  identification  is  to  forward  them  to  some  nursery  where  you  know 
a  good  collection  is  grown,  to  be  there  named  by  comparison. 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET. — September  20th. 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— FRUIT. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  <?. 
Apples,  English,  per  sieve 
2  0  to  3  0 
Nectarines,  per  doz. 
3  0  to  6  0 
Cobnuts  per  100  lb.... 
•  •• 
70  0 
0  0 
Peaches,  per  doz . 
3  0 
6  0 
Damsons  . 
•  •  • 
4  0 
5  0 
Pears,  Californian,  case... 
3  0 
6  0 
Figs,  green,  per  doz. 
•  •  • 
1  0 
3  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
1  0 
6  0 
Grapes,  black  . 
•  •• 
0  6 
3  0 
Plums,  English,  per  sieve 
3  0 
5  0 
Lemons,  case  . 
•  •• 
14  0 
20  0 
,,  Californian,  case... 
4  0 
8  0 
Melons  . each 
0  6 
1  6 
Walnuts,  fresh,  bushel  ... 
20  0 
0  0 
,,  Rock  . 
1  9 
2  6 
Trade  very  quiet. 
AVERAGE 
WHOLESALE 
PRICES.  -VEGETABLES 
6.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz. 
•  •• 
1  0  to  2  0 
Lettuce,  doz.  ...  ...  ... 
1  3  to  2  0 
Aubergine,  per  doz.... 
•  •  • 
1  6 
2  0 
Mu-hrooms.  lb . 
0  6 
1  0 
Beans,  h  sieve . 
•  •• 
2  6 
3  G 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2 
0  0 
,,  Scarlet,  sieve 
•  •  • 
2  G 
4  0 
Onions,  bag,  about  1  cwt. 
4  0 
4  6 
Beet,  Red,  doz . 
•  •• 
0  6 
0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bunches  ... 
2  0 
4  0 
Cabbages,  per  tally  ... 
•  •• 
7  0 
0  0 
Peas,  per  bushel  . 
6  0 
8  0 
Carrots,  per  doz. 
•  •• 
2  0 
3  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
2  0 
5  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz.  ... 
•  •  • 
2  0 
3  0 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  3 
0  G 
Celery,  n-w,  per  bundle 
Cucumbers,  doz. 
•  •  • 
1  9 
0  o 
Spinach,  per  bushel . 
2  0 
4  0 
... 
2  0 
4  0 
Tomatoes,  per  doz.  lbs.  ... 
2  0 
3  6 
Endive,  doz . 
1  G 
2  0 
Turnips,  bunch . 
0  3 
II  4 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  3 
0  0 
Vegetable  Marrows,  doz. 
1  0 
1  6 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
... 
0  2 
0  0  1 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— CUT  FLOWERS. 
b.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Arums  . 
3  0  to  4  0 
LilyoftheValley,12  sprays 
12  0tol5  0 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch... 
2  0 
2  6 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
1  G 
2  6 
bnchs . 
4  0 
6  0 
Cattleyas.  per  doz . 
12  0 
18  0 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
3  0 
4  0 
Chrysanthemums,  white 
Mignonette,  doz.  bunches 
4  0 
6  0 
doz.  blooms 
G  0 
9  0 
Montbretia,  per  bunch  ... 
1  0 
1  6 
,,  yellow  doz.  blooms 
5  0 
8  0 
Odontoglossums  . 
5  0 
7  6 
„  bunches  var. 
0  3 
0  6 
Pelargoniums,  dozen 
Eucharis,  doz . 
4  0 
6  0 
bunches  . 
4  0 
6  0 
Gardenias,  doz . 
1  6 
2  6 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
,,  Red,  doz . 
1  0 
2  0 
bnchs . 
4  0 
6  0 
,,  Tea,  white,  doz. 
1  6 
2  6 
Lilium  Harrisi,  12  blooms 
4  6 
5  6 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
2  6 
3  6 
„  lancifolium  album  ... 
2  0 
3  0 
„  Safrano,  doz.  ., 
2  0 
2  6 
,,  ,,  rubrum... 
2  0 
3  0 
Smilax,  bunch . 
8  0 
4  0 
,,  longiflorum,  12  blooms 
4  0 
6  0 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Arbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz.  ... 
6  0to36  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0 
to  5  0 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
18  0 
36  0 
Fuchsias,  doz . 
4  0 
6  0 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
15  0 
20  0 
Heliotropes,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
Chrysanthemums,  per  doz. 
6  0 
8  0 
Lilium  Harrisi,  doz. 
12  0 
18  0 
Crotons,  doz . 
18  0 
30  0 
Lilium  lancifolium  album 
30  0 
40  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz . 
12  0 
30  0 
,,  ,,  rubrum 
30  0 
40  0 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
9  0 
18  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
Erica  various,  doz . 
30  0 
60  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.  ... 
6  0 
8  0 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
6  0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz.  ... 
4  0 
18  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each 
1  0 
15  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz . 
4  0 
18  0 
,,  specimens  . 
21  0 
63  0 
„  small,  100  . 
4  0 
8  0 
Pelargoniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
4  0 
6  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each . 
1  6 
7  6 
Bedding  out  plants  in  variety  from  3s.  doz. 
THE  POTATO  HARVEST. 
Whilst  the  area  of  the  grain  crops  of  the  United  Kingdom  has 
been  decreasing  the  area  occupied  by  Potatoes  has  been  extending. 
Potatoes  are  grown  now  much  more  generally  than  they  were  thirty 
years  ago,  and  farmers  who  in  those  days  would  have  scorned  to 
demean  themselves  by  Potato  growing  are  now  cultivating  the  tuber 
veiy  largely,  and  well  known  names  could  be  mentioned  as  examples. 
Prejudice  has  much  to  answer  for  in  the  agricultural  world,  and 
the  ancient  customs  of  many  large  estates,  unalterable  as  the  laws 
of  the  Medes  and  Persians,  have  often  stood  in  the  way  when  the 
possession  of  splendid  Potato  land  should  have  meant  a  highly 
profitable  crop  to  the  occupier.  To  a  large  extent  the  same  thing 
applies  yet,  and  the  tenant,  bound  by  an  agreement  not  to  plant 
more  than  1  per  cent,  of  his  holding  with  Potatoes,  runs  the  risk 
of  a  heavy  fine  if  he  exceed  that  proportion  without  special 
permission. 
There  is,  however,  another  factor  at  work  to  prevent  increase  of 
the  Potato  area — the  labour  question.  This  is  the  corn  harvest 
difficulty,  magnified  four  times.  An  acre  of  grain  may  now  be 
harvested  for  about  10s.  or  12s.;  an  acre  of  Potatoes  will  cost  £2, 
if  hands  can  be  got  to  do  the  work.  A  few  years  ago  very  large 
numbers  of  Irish  labourers  came  over  for  the  harvest,  and  a  good 
proportion  of  them  stayed  to  help  lift  the  Potatoes.  Few  Irishmen 
come  over  now,  anu  they  are  difficult  to  retain  after  the  corn  is  in, 
as  they  seem  more  anxious  to  be  returning  home,  and  are  evidently 
less  dependent  on  wages  earned  on  English  soil. 
We  believe  that  the  British  Isles  contain  the  best  Potato  soil  ia 
the  world  in  combination  with  a  suitable  climate;  but  what  pro¬ 
portion  of  our  Potatoes  is  grown  on  suitable  soil  ?  The  answer  to  that 
question  would  be  very  interesting.  No  crop  is  more  fastidious  as  to 
its  habitat  than  the  Potato  ;  yet  we  find  it  dumped  down  to  make 
an  attempt  at  reproduction  on  poor  sand,  wet  peaty  bog,  or  heavy 
clay,  because  the  railway  station  or  market  are  close  at  hand,  and 
labour  of  a  kind  to  be  had  at  a  price. 
As  a  consequence  the  long-suffering  consumer  has  to  eat  Potatoes 
