januai'y  25, 1896. 
JOURNAL  OP  EORTTCULTURE  AN P  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
outgrowth  in  your  specimen.  If  the  whole  of  your  plants  are  like  the 
one  examined  we  would  not  have  them  as  a  gift.  We  should  much 
prefer  others  by  sowing  seeds  very  thinly  and  growing  the  plants  under 
favourable  conditions  from  their  earliest  stages.  Thousands  of  Tomato 
plajits  are  practically  ruined  every  year  within  a  month  of  the  seed 
being  sown. 
Oncldlum  Phymatochllum  (  ffortus ). — Unless  your  Orchid  roots 
are  eaten  by  woodlice  or  other  insects,  there  is  something  in  the  moss 
that  is  detrimental  to  them.  Sphagnum  alone  is  hardly  the  material  to 
use  for  the  species  you  name,  but  if  properly  washed  and  picked  over  before 
use  it  would  not  cause  the  roots  to  decay.  The  best  thing  you  can  do  is  to 
find  out,  first  of  all,  whether  it  is  the  work  of  insects  or  not,  and  with 
plants  suspended  from  the  roof  this  is  an  easy  matter.  Dip  each  plant 
in  a  vessel  of  water  for  an  hour,  and  if  there  are  any  insects  in  the 
compost  this  will  drive  at  least  some  of  them  out.  After  this,  lay  some 
pieces  of  potato  about  them,  cutting  a  tuber  in  two  and  scooping  it 
out  a  little,  placing  the  hollow  Bide  to  the  compost.  Wait  a  day  or 
two  until  the  flesh  of  the  potato  shrivels  a  little,  and  then  examine  them 
every  morning.  If  there  are  any  you  can  take  it  that  herein  lies  the 
mischief,  and  when  all  are  trapped  it  will  cease  ;  but  if  none  are  founl 
then  it  must  be  the  compost,  and  the  best  thing  to  do  will  be  to  turn 
the  plants  out  of  their  baskets  and  give  fresh  material,  using  half  the 
quantity  of  moss,  the  other  half  good  peat  fibre.  See  that  no  foreign 
material  is  introduced  with  either  ingredient,  water  carefully  after 
repotting,  and  you  should  find  the  roots  enter  the  compost  freely.  Of 
course  we  take  it  for  granted  that  the  atmospheric  conditions  of  your 
house  are  right,  as  a  very  low  temperature  combined  with  too  much 
moisture  in  the  air  would  be  likely  to  cause  the  same  tendency  to 
decay. 
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  tarfe  huiriber  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  fruit  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  of  change  towards  ripening .  Dessert  Pears  cannot  be 
named  in  a  hard  green  state.  (P.  D.).— 1,  Bess  Pool ;  2,  Blenheim 
Orange  ;  B,  not  known,  probably  local.  ‘ 
Names  of  Plants. — We  only  undertake  to  name  species  of  plants 
not  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  firm 
boxes.  Slightly  damp  moss,  soft  green  grass,  or  leaves  form  the  best 
packing,  dry  wool  the  worst.  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. 
(P.  N.). — 1,  Euonymus  radicans  variegata  ;  2,  Trichomanes  reniforme  j 
3,  T.  radicans. 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET. — January  22nd. 
Very  little  home  produce  is  now  in  the  Market,  and  with  the  exception  of  Grapes 
and  Oucumbers,  it  is  almost  entirely  dependent  upon  foreign  supplies. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
8.  d. 
8. 
d 
a. 
<1. 
Apples,  per  bushel  . .  . . 
2 
0 
to  3  6 
Lemons,  case  ..  .. 
n 
Oto  14 
0 
„  Nova  Scotia,  barrel 
13 
0 
17  0 
Pears,  Oalifornian,  per  case 
13 
0 
14 
0 
Grapes,  per  lb . 
1 
0 
2  0 
St.  Michael  Pines,  each 
.. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
s.  d. 
8. 
d. 
8 
d. 
Beans,  per  lb . 
0  10 
to  1  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0 
2 
to  0 
0 
Beet,  Red,  doaen . 
1 
0 
0  0 
Onions,  bushel  . .  . . 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Carrots,  bunch . 
0 
3 
0  4 
Parsley,  dozen  bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cauliflowers,  dozen  ..  .. 
2 
0 
3  0 
Parsnips,  dozen  . .  . . 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Celery,  bundle  , .  . ,  . . 
1 
0 
0  0 
Potatoes,  per  cwt.  ., 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Ooleworts,  dozen  bunches 
2 
0 
4  0 
Salsafy,  bundle  . .  . . 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Oucumbers,  dozen  ..  .. 
4 
0 
14  0 
Seakale,  per  basket  . . 
#( 
1 
6 
1 
9 
Endive,  dozen  . 
I 
3 
1  6 
Scorzonera,  bundle  .. 
1 
b 
0 
0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0 
3 
0  0 
o 
3 
0 
o 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0 
2 
0  0 
Spinach,  bushel  tt 
2 
0 
2 
3 
Lettuce,  dozen . 
1 
3 
0  0 
Sprouts,  half  siv..  .. 
2 
6 
o 
0 
Mushrooms,  per  lb . 
0 
6 
0  8 
Tomatoes .  per  lb.  . . 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Turnips,  bunch  ..  .. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
8. 
d. 
b.  d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Arbor  Vita:  (golden)  dozen 
6 
0  to  12  0 
Perns  '’small)  per  hundred 
4 
0 
to  6 
0 
Aspidistra,  dozen 
18 
0 
36  0 
Ficus  elastica.  each  .. 
1 
0 
7 
0 
Aspidistra,  specimen  plant 
6 
0 
10  6 
Foliage  plants,  var.  each 
1 
0 
5 
0 
Chrysanthemums,  per  doz 
6 
0 
18  0 
Hyacinths,  dozen  pots 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Cineraria,  dozen  pots 
9 
0 
12  0 
Lycopodiums,  dozen  . . 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Cyclamen,  dozen  pots 
8 
0 
15  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Dracaena,  various,  dozen  .. 
12 
0 
30  0 
Myrtles,  dozen  ..  .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Dracama  viridis,  dozen  . . 
9 
0 
18  0 
Palms,  in  var..  each  ., 
1 
0 
15 
0 
Ericas,  various,  per  dozen  . 
9 
0 
24  0 
„  (specimens'1  .. 
21 
n 
S3 
0 
Euonymus ,  var.,  dozen  . . 
6 
0 
18  0 
Solanums.  per  dozen.. 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Evergreens,  in  var.,  dozen 
6 
0 
24  0 
Tulips,  dozen  pots  „ . 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Ferns  iu  variety,  dozen  .. 
4 
0 
18  0 
87 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES. — OUT  FLOWERS. — Orchid  Blooms  In  variety , 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
1. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Acacia  or  Mimosa  (French) 
Primula  (double),  dozen 
per  bunch  . .  .  ,  . .  . . 
0 
9. 
to  1 
6 
sprays  . 
0 
6  to 
1 
0 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  .. 
3 
0 
5 
0 
Roses  (indoor),  dozen 
t 
0 
2 
0 
Asparagus  Fern,  per  bunch 
2 
0 
4 
0 
„  Tea,  white,  dozen 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Bouvardias,  bunch  ..  .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
„  Yellow,  dozen  (Niels) 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Carnations,  12  blooms 
1 
0 
3 
0 
„  Red,  dozen  blooms  .. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Chrysanthemum,  doz.  Dnch 
3 
0 
6 
0 
„  Safrano  (English), 
Eucharis,  dozen . 
3 
0 
4 
0 
dozen . 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Gardenias,  dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
„  Safrano  (French),  per 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
dozen  . 
1 
6 
2 
0 
bunches . 
4 
0 
9 
0 
„  Pink  (French),  per 
Hyacinth  (Roman)  dozen 
dozen  . 
3 
0 
4 
0 
sprays . 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Smilax,  per  bunch 
5 
0 
6 
0 
Hyacinths,  dozen  spikes  . . 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Stephanotis,  dozen  sprays 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Lilac  (French)  per  bunch 
5 
0 
5 
6 
Tuberoses.  12  blooms. .  .. 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Lilium  longiflorum,  twelve 
Tulips,  dozen  blooms 
0 
6 
1 
6 
blooms  . 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Violets  Parme  (French), 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  dozen 
per  bunch  . .  . . 
4 
6 
6 
0 
sprays . 
0 
9 
1 
6 
„  Czar  (French),  per 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz.  bohs. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
bunch 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Marguerites,  12  bunches  . . 
2 
6 
4 
0 
„  Victoria  (French), 
Orchids,  various,  dozen 
12  bunches 
1 
9 
2 
6 
blooms  . 
1 
6 
12 
0 
„  English,  12  bunches 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Pelargoniums,  12  bunches 
6 
0 
9 
0 
PROFITABLE  FARMING. 
In  the  mixed  farming,  which  is  coming  more  and  more  to 
the  front,  fruit  holds  a  positibri  of  degrees  very  much  in 
accordance  with  apparent  possibilities.  The  proportion,  sorts, 
and  arrangement  of  fruit  are,  or  should  be,  governed  by  this  and 
by  special  requirements  on  the  farm.  Whatever  is  done  let  it 
be  done  thoroughly  after  deliberate  consideration  of  how  the 
fruit  is  to  be  cultivated,  and  how  turned  to  account.  The  man 
.  .  I  ■ 
who  tells  us  he  has  “  tried  fruit  ”  and  found  there  was  nothing  in 
it — i  6  ,  no  profit,  was  most  probably  ignorant  of  the  first 
principles  of  fruit  cultivation.  Many  a  time  have  we  when 
consulted  advised  caution  and  a  preliminary  trial  by  means  of 
test  crops,  or  else  the  employment  of  an  expert  of  approved 
capacity.  Such  annual  crops  as  corn  or  roots  are  trifles  in 
comparison  with  those  of  more  permanent  character,  like  fruit 
and  pasture. 
A  correspondent  residing  in  Kent  has  just  planted  fifteen 
acres  of  “  good  loam,  with  a  clay  subsoil,”  with  staodard  Cherries 
and  Plums,  the  Cherries  being  36  feet  apart,  with  the  Plums 
between  them  18  feet  apart.  He  intends  laying  this  land  down 
to  permanent  pasture  in  four  divisions  for  sheep,  and  asks  about 
seeds  to  be  sown  in  March  or  April,  how  soon  afterwards  he  will 
be  able  to  turn  in  sheep,  and  what  number  of  sheep  per  acre 
the  pasture  will  carry.  He  starts  with  the  very  sensible  and 
practical  premise  that  the  sheep  will  manure  the  pasture,  supply 
his  household  with  mutton,  and  afford  some  profit  by  the  sale 
of  surplus  animals.  Under  good  management  all  this  is  very 
possible,  and  as  such  a  bit  of  good  practice  is  entirely  on  the 
lines  of  sound  home  farming  it  has  a  prominent  place  here.  Let 
us  take  the  matter  in  detail  from  the  beginning. 
Autumn  tillage  by  means  of  a  steam  cultivator  and  harrows 
would  leave  the  land  in  perfect  order  for  planting  by  the  end 
of  October  or  early  in  .November.  No  manure  should  be  used 
at  the  planting,  but  in  March  before  sowing  the  seed  for 
permanent  pasture  a  proper  dressing  of  pure  home-mixed 
chemical  manure  should  be  sown  broadcast  and  well  hai’rowed 
in,  following  this  immediately  with  the  seed,  which  it  is  of 
especial  importance  to  cover  well,  or  the  loss  by  small  birds 
will  be  serious  as  they  swoop  down  in  vast  numbers  quickly 
after  the  sowing,  and  it  requires  an  active  boy  or  two  constantly 
on  the  alert  to  keep  them  off.  A  deep  fine  tilth  and  a  bush 
harrow  attached  to  fine  light  Barley  harrows  answers  best  for 
covering  the  seed,  which  should  consist  of  about  30  lbs.  of  Grass 
