October  12,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
325 
the  Apples  both  externally  and  internally,  and  have  no  doubt  that  the 
fruit  named  by  the  late  Dr.  Hogg  is  the  true  Maltster,  the  one  you 
assume  to  be  Maltster  is  a  fine  specimen  of  Yorkshire  Greening  ;  see 
descriptions  on  page  324.  (  W.  //.). — The  red  Apple  is  Court  Rendu  Plat ; 
shoots  should  have  been  sent  with  the  Plum,  it  resembles  Winesour. 
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.  ( R .  S.'). — 1,  Acer  colchicum  ;  2,  Crataegus 
prunifolia  ;  3,  C.  mollis.  ( 0.  F.), — Amaranthus  hypochondriacus,  com¬ 
monly  known  ns  Prince’s  Feather.  (/.  F.  <?.). — Escallonia  macrantha, 
excellently  coloured,  the  leaves  vary  considerably  in  size. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
II.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley. — Autumn  Catalogue. 
•J.  Looymans  &  Zonen,  Oudenbosch,  Holland. —  Trees,  Spc. 
Paul  &  Son,  Old  Nurseries,  Cheshunt. — Roses. 
F.  R.  Pierson  Co.,  Tarrytown-on-IIudson,  New  York. — Bulbs. 
W.  Rumsey,  Joyning’s  Nurseries,  Waltham  Cross. — Roses. 
J.  Walters,  Mount  Radford  Nurseries,  Exeter. — Roses,  Fruit  Trees, 
and  Shrubs. 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET. — October  11th. 
AVERAGE 
WHOLESALE  PRICES.— FRUIT. 
8.  d. 
b.  d. 
| 
s.  d. 
8.  d 
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... 
6  0 
9  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,  Prune,  per  sieve... 
6  6 
0  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 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE 
PRICES.  -VEGETABLES. 
b.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz.  ... 
1  0  to  2  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  3  to  0  0 
Aubergine,  per  doz . 
1  6 
2  0 
Lettuce,  doz . 
1  3 
2  0 
Beane,  \  sieve . 
2  6 
3  6 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
0  2| 
0  6 
,,  Scarlet,  sieve 
2  6 
4  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2 
0  0 
Beet,  Red,  doz . 
0  6 
0  0 
Onions,  bag,  about  1  cwt. 
4  0 
4  6 
Cabbages,  per  tally . 
7  0 
0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bunches  ... 
2  0 
4  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  0 
Celery,  new,  per  bundle ... 
1  0 
1  3 
Spinach,  per  bushel . 
2  0 
4  0 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
2  0 
4  0 
Tomatoes,  per  doz.  lbs.  ... 
2  0 
5  0 
Endive,  doz . 
1  6 
2  0 
Turnips,  bunch . 
0  3 
0  4 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2 
0  0 
Vegetable  Marrows,  doz. 
1  0 
1  6 
Trade  very  quiet. 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— CUT  FLOWERS. 
b.  d. 
b.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
Arums  ...  ...  ...  ... 
4  0  to  6  0 
Lilium  Harrisi,  12  blooms 
5  0  to  5  6 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch... 
2  0 
2  6 
,,  lancifolium  album  ... 
2  6 
3  6 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
2  6 
3  6 
,,  ,,  rubrum... 
2  6 
3  6 
Cattleyas,  per  doz . 
12  0 
18  0 
,,  longiflorum,  12  blooms 
6  0 
8  0 
Chrysanthemums,  white 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
doz.  blooms 
6  0 
9  0 
bnchs . 
6  0 
8  0 
,,  yellow  doz.  blooms 
5  0 
8  0 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
3  0 
4  0 
„  bunches  var. 
0  6 
1  6 
Mignonette,  doz.  bunches 
4  0 
6  0 
Eucharis,  doz . 
4  0 
6  0 
Odontoglossums  . 
5  0 
7  6 
Gardenias,  doz . 
3  0 
5  0 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs 
8  0 
12  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
bnchs . 
6  0 
9  0 
,,  Red,  doz . 
4  0 
6  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12 
,,  Tea,  white,  doz. 
2  6 
5  0 
sprays  . 
15  0 
18  0 
„  Yellow,  doz.  (Perlee) 
4  6 
6  6 
Smilax,  bunch . 
3  0 
4  0 
PLANTS  IN  POTS. 
b.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Arbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz.  ... 
6  0to36  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each . 
1  6  to  7  6 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
18  0 
36  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0 
5  0 
Vspidistra,  specimen 
15  0 
20  0 
Lilium  Harrisi,  doz. 
18  0 
24  0 
Chrysanthemums,  per  doz. 
6  0 
8  0 
Lilium  lancifolium  album 
30  0 
40  0 
'  ••otons,  doz . 
18  0 
30  0 
,,  „  rubrum 
80  0 
40  0 
Aracaena,  var.,  doz . 
12  0 
30  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3  0 
6  0 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
9  0 
18  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.  ... 
8  0 
10  0 
Erica  various,  doz . 
30  0 
60  0 
Myrtles,  doz.  . 
6  0 
9  0 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
6  0 
18  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each 
1  0 
15  0 
Ev  Tgreens,  var.,  doz.  ... 
4  0 
18  0 
„  specimens  . 
21  0 
63  0 
Fr  is,  var.,  doz . 
4  0 
18  0 
Pelargoniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
6  0 
8  0 
small,  100  ...  ... 
4  0 
8  0 
Phj  salis,  per  pot  . 
2  0 
4  0 
MENTAL  WORK. 
Of  physical  work  the  farmer  has  enough  and  to  spare.  As  in  a 
house,  so  on  a  farm,  work  is  never  done.  Mills  and  factories,  shops 
and  foundries,  offices  and  warehouses,  can  be  closed,  and  those- 
employed  go  home  to  a  well  earned  rest,  but  farmers  can  rarely  leave 
home,  their  presence  is  always  necessary,  and  some  at  least  of  the  men 
must  sleep  on  the  premises  to  he  ready  for  any  emergency  during  the 
long  dark  hours.  Sudden  sickness  seems  to  come  on  more  frequently 
during  the  night,  and  those  who  attend  to  live  stock  can  testify  to 
the  numberless  hours  when  they  have  sat  and  watched  when  all  the 
world  was  sleeping  round  them. 
The  working  day  begins  early.  Horses  must  be  fed  and  groomed 
ere  the  day  labourer  makes  his  appearance,  and  the  lowing  of  the  oxen 
and  the  grunting  of  the  pigs  are  pretty  strong  intimations  to  the 
yard  man  that  he  had  better  “  shake  off  dull  sloth.”  If  the  work 
begins  early,  in  the  winter  months  it  also  ends  early,  and  there  are 
several  hours  of  the  evening  that  might  be  better  employed  than  in 
dozing  round  the  kitchen  fire  and  reading  last  week’s  local  paper. 
“  Times  is  and  times  was,”  and  we  need  not  look  back  very  far  to 
those  times  when  few,  if  any,  of  the  agricultural  labourers  could 
read  or  even  write  their  own  names.  There  was  literally  nothing  to 
take  them  beyond  themselves  and  their  daily  rounds  of  monotonous 
work.  Papers  were  dear  and  comparatively  scarce,  badly  printed,  and 
containing  little  save  the  baldest  statement  of  news.  The  labourer’s 
world  was  bounded  by  his  parish,  the  parson  and  squire  the  greatest 
men  he  knew,  and  the  land  beyond  the  radius  of  twenty  miles  might 
have  been  Central  Africa. 
Hand  tillages  were  only  faintly  appreciated,  bones  aud  lime  were 
the  principal  stand-bys,  but  why  their  application  was  efficacious — 
well,  that  was  quite  beyond  his  powers  of  understanding.  Because 
he  did  not  understand,  new  fangled  ideas  about  change  of  seed  seemed 
a  very  folly,  and  ihe  system  that  preferred  constant  crops  instead  of 
seasons  of  fallow  was  simple  madness.  Why  should  not  any  sire  be 
used?  Why  try  and  supply  by  wise  mating  qualities  lacking  in  the 
dam  ? 
It  was  all  a  policy  of  penny  wise,  and  it  has  taken  years  of  ham¬ 
mering  at  facts  to  get  Hodge  to  understand  the  why  and  the  where¬ 
fore  of  many  a  new  agricultural  process.  As  a  wise  old  man  said,  we 
are  as  children  playing  with  pebbles  on  the  vast  shores  of  the  sea  of 
knowledge.  A  lifetime  is  all  too  short  to  gain  any  save  the  slightest 
inkling  of  the  workings  of  that  mighty  Providence  that  surrounds 
our  every  footstep. 
The  masters  are  only  just  grasping  the  fact  of  the  wonderful  fields 
of  knowledge  that  are  open  for  their  study.  One  great  society  takes 
as  its  motto,  “Practice  with  science,”  and  nowadays  the  science  must 
come  in  or  we  are  undone.  The  scientific  training  cannot  begin  too 
early.  The  village  schools  must  sow  the  seed  ;  poor  masters  !  we  put 
much  on  their  shoulders,  but  what  can  we  do  ?  Truths  learned  in 
youth  are  not  easily  forgotten,  and  processes  well  known  in  the  field 
will  be  surrounded  with  fresh  interests  if  the  lads  know  the  why  and 
the  wherefore. 
In  the  teaching  there  will  be  mistakes  at  first — too  much  will  be 
attempted — the  mind  has  to  be  educated  to  learn,  coaxed  as  it  were 
over  the  ruugh,  stony  parts,  and  allured  by  charm  of  voice  and 
manner.  Auy  subject  may  gain  or  lose  by  the  manner  in  which  it  is 
handled.  What  the  school  has  to  do  is  to  impart  a  taste  for  infor¬ 
mation  ;  it  must  wake  the  dormant  mind.  The  interested  lad  will  not 
close  his  books  as  the  school  door  shuts  behind  him ;  he  has  tasted  of 
the  tree  of  knowledge,  and  repairs  again  and  again  for  fresh  feasts. 
Happily  these  feasts  are  spread,  the  willing  guest  is  only  wanting. 
There  are  now,  within  reach  of  all,  lectures  and  classes,  books  and 
