29i 
March  26,  1896.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
Utilising  Rose  House  after  Tune  (*S.  S.'). — We  do  not  know  of 
anything  better  than  Tomatoes.  The  price  is  certainly  much  lower  than 
formerly,  but  even  at  4d.  per  lb.  few  crops  pay  better  than  Tomatoes 
if  the  plants  are  strong  and  in  fruit  by  the  time  the  potted  Roses  are 
cleared  out  of  the  house.  A  certain  grower  makes  ends  meet  and  a  little 
more  by  acting  in  that  way,  having  Chrysanthemums  in  the  house  from 
October  to  January  inclusive  ;  but  another  grower  says  “mums”  do  not 
pay,  therefore  goes  in  for  Mushrooms  instead. 
Tuberoses  not  Flowering  (S.  C.  M.). — Judging  from  the  specimen 
received  we  think  the  cause  of  the  flower  stem  being  blind  is  due  to  a 
check,  probably  when  the  plants  were  removed  from  the  bottom  heat, 
it  not  having  been  done  gradually,  so  as  to  avert  a  sudden  cessation  of 
nutriment,  or  it  might  have  been  occasioned  by  removing  from  the 
stove  to  the  vinery,  the  former,  we  presume  being  fully  5°  warmer  than 
the  latter.  Sometimes  Tuberoses  go  blind  through  the  roots  being  lifted 
before  the  flower  buds  are  fully  formed  in  embryo,  the  growth  not  being 
completed,  and  though  they  throw  up  flower  stems  they  rarely  expand 
satisfactorily. 
Iilllum  auratum  Bulbs  Decaying  ( Lilium ). — The  scales  are 
attacked  by  the  fungus  named  Sclerotinia  bulborum,  Rehm.,  and  now  in 
the  conidial  condition,  when  the  parasite  is  named  Botrytis  cinerea,  and 
has  got  a  deep  hold,  receiving  nourishment  from  the  cells  of  the  bulbs. 
We  advise  submerging  the  bulbs  for  half  an  hour  in  a  solution  of 
Condy’s  red  fluid,  diluted  with  an  equal  quantity  of  water,  and  on 
taking  them  out  of  the  solution  place  crown  downwards  to  dry.  If 
the  bulbs  are  well  rooted,  clear  away  the  soil  from  the  crown  and  dress 
the  scales  with  the  solution  by  means  of  a  brush,  which  if  soft  and 
just  moistened  with  solution,  will  prove  almost  as  efficacious  as  the 
dipping.  It  is  necessary  that  the  affected  parts  be  well  moistened  ; 
indeed,  the  whole  of  the  bulbs  down  to  the  roots,  otherwise  the 
manganese,  which  is  really  the  active  agent,  cannot  tell  sufficiently 
on  the  fungus  to*compass  its  destruction. 
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. 
(Henri). — The  flower  was  dead  through  faulty  packing  ;  send  a  fresh 
specimen  in  a  box  and  we  shall  be  glad  to  assist  you.  (A  Reader). — 
The  Dendrobium  is  a  fair  form  of  nobile  ;  1,  Odoatoglossum  gloriosum  ; 
2,  0.  luteo-purpureum  ;  3,  0.  Sanderianum.  (T.  C.). — Begonia natalensis. 
(W.  II.  B.). — 1,  Selaginella  Wildenovi  ;  2,  Platycerium  alcicorne  ;  3, 
Acacia  Drummondi ;  4,  specimen  totally  insufficient.  (M.  C.  P.). — 
1,  Amygdalus  communis  ;  2,  Allium  neapolitanum  ;  3,  Deutzia 
crenata  flore-pleno.  (Nemo). — 1,  Oncidium  sphacelatum  ;  2,  Cypri- 
pedium  barbatum  ;  3,  Coelogyne  cristata.  There  is  nothing  very  special 
in  either  of  the  Orchids  sent,  though  all  are  good.  (Somerset). — A  pale 
form  of  C.  japonica. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
T.  B.  Blow,  Welwyn. — Bee  Appliances. 
J.  Cheal  &  Sons,  Lowfield  Nurseries,  Crawley.— Hardy  Plants. 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET. — March  25th. 
There  has  been  little  change  in  the  market  during  the  past  lew  weeks. 
FRUIT. 
1. 
d 
s.  d. 
) 
8. 
d 
0. 
d. 
Apples,  per  bushel  . .  . . 
2 
0 
to  4  6 
Peaches,  Cape,  per  case  . . 
0 
Oto  0 
0 
„  Nova  Scotia,  barrel  13 
0 
20  0 
Pears  „  ,. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes,  per  lb . 
1 
3 
3  6 
St.  Michael  Pines,  each 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Lemons,  case  . 
11 
0 
14  0 
Strawberries,  per  lb. 
8 
0 
14 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
B. 
d. 
g.  d. 
8. 
d. 
s 
d 
Asparagus,  per  100  . .  . . 
6 
0 
to  6  6 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0 
2 
to  0 
0 
Beans,  per  lb . 
0 
6 
1  3 
Onions,  bushel . 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Beet,  Red,  dozen . 
1 
0 
0  0 
Parsley,  dozen  bunches  . . 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Oarrots,  bunch . 
0 
3 
0  4 
Parsnips,  dozen . 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cauliflowers,  dozen  ..  .. 
2 
0 
3  0 
Potatoes,  per  cwt. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Oelery,  bundle 
1 
0 
0  0 
Salsafy,  bundle . 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Ooleworts,  dozen  bunches 
2 
0 
4  0 
Seakaie,  per  basket  ..  .. 
0 
9 
1 
3 
Cucumbers,  dozen  ..  .. 
2 
0 
4  0 
Scorzonera,  bundle  . .  . . 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Endive,  dozen  . 
1 
3 
1  6 
Shallots,  per  lb . 
0 
o 
o 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0 
3 
0  0 
Spinach,  pad  . 
0 
0 
4 
6 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0 
2 
0  0 
Sprouts,  half  siv . 
1 
3 
0 
0 
0 
9 
Lettuce,  dozen . 
1 
3 
0  0 
Tomatoes. per  lb . 
0 
6 
0 
Mushrooms,  per  lb . 
0 
6 
0  8 
Turnips,  bunch . 
0 
3 
0 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
0. 
d. 
8.  d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Arbor  Vitae  (golden)  dozen 
6 
0  to  12  0 
Ferns  (small)  per  hundred 
4 
0 
to  6' 
0 
Aspidistra,  dozen 
18 
0 
36  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each  .. 
1 
0 
;  7 
0 
Aspidistra,  specimen  plant 
5 
0 
10  6 
Foliage  plants,  var.  each 
1 
0 
5 
0 
Azalea,  per  dozen  . .  . . 
18 
0 
36  0 
Genista,  per  dozen 
8 
0 
12 
o 
Cineraria,  dozen  pots 
6 
0 
12  0 
Hyacinths,  dozen  pots 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Cyclamen,  dozen  pots 
8 
0 
15  0 
Lycopodiums,  dozen  . .  . . 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Daffodils,  dozen  pots..  .. 
6 
0 
9  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  dozen  .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Dracaena,  various,  dozen  .. 
12 
0 
30  0 
Mignonette,  dozen  pots  . . 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Dracaena  viridis,  dozen  . . 
9 
0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  dozen  . 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Ericas,  various,  per  dozen  . 
Euonymus,  var.,  dozen  .. 
Evergreens,  in  var.,  dozen 
9 
0 
24  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each  ..  .. 
1 
0 
16 
0 
6 
0 
18  0 
„  (specimens)  ..  ., 
21 
0 
83 
0 
6 
0 
24  0 
Tulips,  dozen  pots  .. 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Ferns  in  variety,  dozen  .. 
4 
0 
18  0 
average  wholesale 
PRICES 
-OUT  FLOWERS.— Orchid  Blooms  in  variety 
8. 
d. 
6. 
d. 
e. 
d. 
8. 
d 
Acacia  or  Mimosa  (French) 
Narcissi,  var..  doz.  bunches 
0 
9 
to  2 
0 
per  bunch . 
0 
9  to 
1 
6 
Orchids,  various,  doz.  blms. 
1 
6 
12 
0 
Anemone  (.French),  dozen 
Pelargoniums,  12  bunches 
6 
0 
9 
0 
bunches . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Primroses,  dozen  bunches 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Primula  (double),  cozen 
Asparagus  Fern,  per  bunoh 
2 
0 
4 
0 
sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Azalea,  dozen  sprays  . . 
0 
4 
0 
9 
Roses  (indoor),  dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Bouvardias,  bunch  ..  .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
„  Tea,  white,  dozen 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Camellias,  dozen  blooms  . . 
0 
9 
1 
6 
,,  Yellow,  dozen  (Niels) 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Carnations,  12  blooms 
1 
0 
3 
0 
„  Red,  dozen  blooms  .. 
3 
0 
8 
0 
Cyclamen,  dozen  blooms  .. 
0 
3 
0 
6 
„  Safrano  (English), 
Daffodils,  single,  doz.  blms. 
1 
6 
6 
0 
dozen . 
1 
6 
8 
0 
„  double,  doz.  blms. 
0 
4 
0 
9 
„  Pink,  per  dozen  . .  . . 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Eucharis,  dozen . 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Smilax,  per  bunch  .. 
5 
0 
9 
0 
Gardenias,  dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Spirfea,  dozen  bunches 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
Stephanotis,  dozen  sprays 
6 
0 
9 
0 
bunches  . 
4 
0 
6 
O 
Tuberoses.  12  blooms,. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Hyacinths,  dozen  spikes  . . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Tulips,  dozen  blooms 
0 
6 
1 
6 
Lilac  (French)  per  bunch 
3 
0 
5 
6 
Violets  Parme  (French), 
Lilium  longiflorum,  twelve 
per  bunoh  . 
4 
0 
5 
0 
blooms  . 
3 
0 
4 
0 
„  Czar  (French),  per 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
bunch  . .  . . 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Maidenhair  Fern.  doz.  bchs. 
4 
0 
8 
0 
„  Victoria  (French), 
Marguerites,  12  bunches  . . 
2 
6 
4 
0 
12  bunches 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Myosotis  or  Forget-me-not, 
„  English,  12  bunches 
0 
9 
1 
0 
dozen  bunches . 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Wallflowers,  dozen  bunches 
2 
0 
6 
G 
THE  AGRICULTURAL  LABOURER  AND  IIIS 
POSITION. 
A  great  deal  of  capital  has. been  made  out  of  the  monotony 
of  a  farm  labourer’s  life  How  does  it  compare  with  the 
monotony  of  a  factory  hand,  of  a  furnace  mao,  a  collier,  or  a 
thousand  other  employments  we  could  name  ?  In  most 
manufactures  there  is  a  great  subdivision  of  labour,  and 
consequently  the  men  are  told  off  to  one  department,  ani  kept 
there  day  after  day  and  year  after  year — that  is,  the  men  drawn 
from  the  same  class  as  the  agricultural  labourer.  If  a  man  by 
extra  ability  and  diligence  attains  to  higher  things  so  much  the 
better ;  in  every  known  kind  of  work  this  occurs,  but  we  are 
speaking  now  of  the  majority. 
Now,  on  a  farm  the  work  varies  from  day  to  day  and  from 
season  to  season,  and  the  work  is  always  of  a  progressive  nature. 
The  results  are  so  apparent  even  to  the  dullest,  and  it  is  a  sheer 
impossibility  that  there  can  be  such  terrible  monotony  out  in 
the  wide  fresh  fields  as  there  is  in  the  close  hot  room,  full  of 
noisy  machinery,  or  in  the  darkness  of  the  coalpit. 
Prom  the  sanitary  point  of  view  the  outdoor  labourer  is  also 
in  a  better  position.  How  many  very  aged  people  you  find  in 
the  villages,  and  how  much  more  robust  are  the  countrymen 
than  their  town  brethren.  Looking  back  for  the  last  thirty 
years  to  our  experience  on  a  farm,  how  very  few  have  been  the 
serious  illnesses,  and  indeed  how  very  few  “  days  off  ”  have  the 
men  been.  Rheumatism  is  the  chief  ailment,  and  bad  enough 
too,  but  it  is  not  a  fatal  one,  and  the  death  rate  is  very  low. 
Cheap  books  and  newspapers  are  within  the  reach  of  the 
many  now,  and  there  is  much  quiet  enjoyment  and  many  little 
pleasures  that  quite  escape  the  eye  of  the  casual  observer. 
There  is  in  the  rural  character  a  great  depth  of  religious  feeling, 
there  is  still  a  good  bit  of  the  old  Puritan  leaven  at  work,  and 
the  people  do  not  forget  to  work  as  well  as  pray.  It  is  the 
services  in  the  little  red  brick  chapels  that  prove  the  most 
attractive ;  many  of  the  ministers  are  drawn  from  among  them¬ 
selves,  the  edifice  is  of  their  own  raising,  and  the  service  is  in 
the  vernacular.  It  is  marvellous  where  all  the  money  comes 
from  to  meet  current  expenses,  when  the  richest  members  are 
only  Bmall  shopkeepers,  and  there  is  not  £1  of  endowment  for 
either  minister  or  chapel. 
There  is  another  pleasing  phase  of  the  agricultural  life,  the 
great  increase  of  temperance.  Indeed,  it  is  a  thing  almost 
