May  18§6. 
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43$ 
Sendroblums  ( Juno ).  —  All  the  flowers  sent  are  Dendrobium 
thrysiflorum.  D.  Far'meri  is  quite  a  different  species,  the  lio  of  which 
is  more  downy,  and  the  sepals  and  petals  usually  lightly  suffused  with 
rose  ;  the  lip  has  also  a  fringe  more  or  less  deep,  and  this  you  will  see  is 
absent  in  all  your  plants.  There  is  nothing  in  any  of  the  flowers  sent 
to  render  a  varietal  name  necessary,  although  one  or  two  appear  to  be 
fairly  good  forms.  In  order  to  give  an  opinion  on  a  species  of  this  kind, 
the  whole  raceme  should  be  sent,  carefully  packed  ;  it  is  impossible  to 
judge  by  a  few  flowers  sent  loosely,  the  character  of  the  variety  not 
being  seen. 
Tomato  Culture  under  Glass  (Glass). — It  is  quite  possible  to 
grow  Tomatoes  successfully  in  an  unheated  greenhouse,  facing  south, 
during  an  average  summer.  The  start  ought  to  be  made  at  once.  Avoid 
overcrowding.  Many  articles  on  Tomatoes  under  glass  have  appeared 
in  these  columns,  and  we  could  mention  large  numbers  of  issues 
containing  them.  You  will  do  better  to  look  out  for  future  articles,  and 
in  the  meantime  to  procure  “  The  Tomato  ;  its  Culture  and  Uses,”  by 
W.  lggulden,  sent  post  free  from  this  office  for  Is  2d.  It  is  the  best 
treatise  on  the  subject,  and  will  give  you  all  the  information  needed  on 
Tomato  culture  generally. 
Peach  and  nectarine  Leaves  Injured  ( E .  C.  L).  —  The 
leaves  are  attacked  by  the  Pear  leaf  curl  or  blister  fungus  (Exoascus 
deformans),  which  causes  them  to  become  distorted,  swollen,  and  practi¬ 
cally  useless  to  the  trees,  hence  the  most  desirable  remedy  is  to  remove 
the  worst  infested  leaves  and  deformed  young  growths  by  degrees,  so  as 
not  to  denude  them  of  too  much  foliage  and  growth  at  once,  then  as  the 
weather  gets  warmer  new  growths  will  be  made  of  healthy  character, 
and  perfectly  free  from  the  malady.  The  best  preventive  is  efficient 
protection  for  the  blossoms  and  tender  foliage  in  the  early  stages,  such 
as  that  afforded  by  projecting  copings  and  a  canvas  screen  in  front,  so 
contrived  as  to  be  readily  let  down  before  night,  and  easily  drawn  up 
in  the  morning  after  the  frost  has  departed.  If  a  fixed  protection  is 
used  it  must  be  of  an  open  nature,  such  as  doubled  herring  nets,  affixed 
clear  of  the  blossoms  and  growths.  Burn  the  leaves  and  growths 
removed,  as  the  spores  may  spread  to  trees  of  a  different  kind,  on  which 
they  produce  the  tufted  growths,  called  witch-knots. 
Apple  and  Pear  Blossoms  Injured  ( R .  C.  A.)  — The  Apple  and 
Pear  blossoms  have  the  petals  and  calyxes  more  or  less  eaten  by  the 
caterpillars  found  in  the  rolled-up  leaves.  There  is  no  evidence  of  the 
Apple  blossom  weevil  larva  having  been  at  work — indeed,  the  stamens 
of  the  flowers  are  intact  and  the  anthers  not  interfered  with,  it  being 
the  fructifying  organs  that  the  grubs  of  the  weevil  feed  upon,  and  so 
cause  the  destruction  of  the  blossom  and  fruit,.  The  caterpillar  is  that 
of  the  brown  cloak  moth  (Spilonota  aquana),  which  feeds  on  youDg 
growths,  including  the  flowers  and  young  fruits  of  various  trees, 
especially  the  Apple  and  Pear,  but  is  frequently  found  on  Roses  and 
other  rosaceous  plants.  It  is  a  very  active  creature,  moving  either  back¬ 
wards  or  forwards  with  the  greatest  facility,  and  when  disturbed  lets 
itself  down  to  the  ground  by  means  of  a  silken  thread,  and  so  escapes 
destruction.  In  the  case  of  small  trees  the  best  remedy  is  squeezing  the 
rolled-up  leaves  between  the  thumb  and  fiDger.  When  this  cannot  b8 
practised  the  trees  should  be  syringed  with  an  insecticide,  such  as 
soluble  petroleum,  quassia  extract,  Fir  tree  oil,  Lemon  oil,  and  other 
advertised  preparations. 
Soli  for  Figs  (1.  C.  R.) — Almost  any  well-drained  soil  will  suit 
Fig  trees,  provided  that,  with  its  porosity,  it  also  possesses  that  kind  of 
mechanical  texture  which,  whilst  it  readily  transmits  moisture,  will  also 
retain  sufficient  to  withstand  a  hot  and  dry  period  in  the  middle  of 
summer.  It  is  well,  however,  to  lean  towards  an  open  porous  character  ; 
for  if  any  defect  arises  through  extreme  seasons  of  drought  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  the  soil  being  light,  a  remedy  of  a  very  simple  character  is 
always  at  hand  in  the  shape  of  a  good  top-dressing  and  a  bucket 
or  two  of  water.  When  the  native  soil  of  a  garden  is  too  clayey, 
thorough  drainage  and  the  introduction  of  a  liberal  amount  of  sand, 
lime  rubbish,  and  ashes,  with  a  slight  amount  of  vegetable  matter,  will 
in  general  suffice  to  make  it  fit  for  Fig  trees.  If  the  garden  soil  is  too 
light  and  porous  some  adhesive  loam  may  be  added,  or  indeed,  anything 
which  may  happen  to  be  at  hand  which  is  retentive  of  moisture  in  its 
own  nature.  Oue  thing  is  requisite— the  bed  of  soil  should  by  no  means 
be  deep.  We  would  never  allow  above  half  a  yard  in  depth,  unless  in 
situations  peculiarly  favourable  to  the  culture  of  this  fruit. 
The  IVIonkey  Nut  ( Telmah ) — The  Ground  Nut  or  Earth  Nut’ 
which  is  met  with  in  the  fruiterers’  shops  in  this  country,  is  the  fruit 
of  Arachis  hypogsea,  a  native  of  South  America,  but  cultivated  in  all 
the  Southern  States  of  North  America,  in  tne  South  of  Europe,  in 
Africa,  and  in  Asia.  It  is  an  annual  plant,  growing  to  the  height  of 
2  feet,  with  a  trailing,  straggling,  habit.  In  South  Carolina  this  is  cul¬ 
tivated  to  a  great  extent,  and  there  the  inhabitants  roast  the  “nuts,”  as 
they  are  called,  and  make  use  of  them  as  chocolate.  When  fresh  the 
seeds  or  “  nu*s  ”  have  a  sweet  taste,  not  unlike  that  of  Nuts  or  Almonds. 
The  natives  make  them  their  principal  food,  and  they  form  an  article 
of  great  consumption  among  the  negroes.  An  extremely  sweet,  fixe! 
oil  is  extracted  from  these  seeds,  which,  according  to  some,  is  quite  equal 
to  olive  oil,  and  does  not  become  rancid,  but  on  the  contrary  improves 
with  age.  There  is  something  remarkably  interesting  in  the  economy  oi 
this  plant.  After  the  flowers  fall  off  the  young  pods  are  forced  into  the 
ground  by  a  natural  motion  of  the  stalks ;  and  there  they  are  buried, 
and  are  only  to  be  obtained  by  digging  3  or  4  inches  under  the  soil, 
hence  their  name. 
Grubs  In  Vine  Border  ( Western). — The  grubs  are  the  common 
wireworm — larvae  of  the  skipjack,  spring,  or  click  beetle  (Elater  or 
Agriotes  lineatus).  If  you  dress  the  border  with  rape-dust  at  the  rate 
of  7  lbs.  per  rod,  and  let  the  wireworm  feed  on  it  for  two  or  three  days, 
and  then  water  the  border  with  a  solution  of  kainit,  1  oz.  to  a  gallon  of 
water,  and  use  3  gallons  per  square  yard,  you  may  afterwards  plant  it 
with  anything  you  like,  especially  if  before  doing  so  you  use  3  oza.  of 
bone  superphosphate  per  square  yard.  This  will  give  you  an  excellent 
dressing  for  a  Vine  border — namely,  the  gradually  yielded  ammonia  of 
the  rape-dust,  or  that  of  the  bodies  of  the  wireworm,  potash,  and 
magnesia  of  the  kainit,  and  the  phosphate  of  lime  of  the  superphosphate. 
If  you  want  otherwise  to  get  rid  of  the  pests  place  some  pieces  of  Carrot, 
or  “set’’  Potatoes  about  9  inches  apart  all  over  the  border,  and  about 
2  inches  deep,  examining  them  daily,  this  being  facilitated  by  a  stick 
thrust  into  each  bait.  They  will  certainly  otherwise  feed  on  the  rootlets 
of  the  Vines  and  seriously  injure  them. 
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. 
(.7.  F.). — 1,  Pulmonaria  angustifolia  ;  2.  Arabis  albida  ;  3,  Iberis  semper- 
virens.  ( R .  M.). — 1,  Begonia  fuchsioides  ;  2,  Acacia  Riceana  ;  3, 
specimens  much  too  withered  for  identification.  ( Manchester ).  — 
1,  Eupatorium  odoratissimum  ;  2,  Tnuja  aurea.  ( G .  F.  R). — The 
Cypripedium  was  Boxalli,  and  the  Cattleya  a  form  of  speciosa. 
(Rockingham). — There  is  nothing  special  m  the  Odontoglossum,  though 
the  form  is  certainly  a  good  one.  (D.  H.  31.). — We  have  often  seen 
Mardchal  Niel  Roses  such  as  you  have  sent  us  ;  there  is  nothing  special 
in  it. 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET.— May  6th. 
A  VERY  general  fall  in  all  kinds  of  goods,  supply  being  heavier,  and  no 
improvement  in  demand. 
FRUIT. 
Apples,  per  bushel 
„  Nova  Scotia, 1 
„  Tasmanians, 
per 
Asparagus,  per  100  ..  . 
Beans,  per  lb . 
Beet,  Red,  dozen . 
Carrots,  bunch . 
Cauliflowers,  dozen  ..  . 
Celery,  bundle  . 
Ooleworts,  dozen  bunches 
Cucumbers,  dozen  ..  . 
Endive,  dozen  . . 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
Lettuce,  dozen  ..  ..  , 
Mushrooms,  per  lb.  ..  . 
Arbor  Vit;e  (various )  doz. 
Arum  Lilies,  per  dozen  . . 
Aspidistra, dozen 
Aspidistra,  specimen  plant 
Azalea,  per  dozen  . .  . . 
lineraria,  dozen  pots  ..  6 
lyclamen,  dozen  pots  ..  8 
Dielytra,  per  dozen . .  ..  9 
Draeama,  various,  dozen  ..  12 
Dracsena  viridis,  dozen  ..  9 
Sricas,  various,  per  dozen  .  9 
Suonymus,  var.,  dozen  ..  6 
■Evergreens,  in  var.,  dozen  6 
IWns  in  varietv .  dozen  ..  4 
1. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d 
8. 
d. 
2 
0 
to  4 
6 
Grapes,  per  lb . 
i 
6  to  3 
6 
13 
0 
20 
0 
Lemons,  case  . 
n 
0 
14 
0 
St.  Michael  Pines,  each 
2 
0 
0 
1) 
0 
12 
0 
Strawberries,  per  lb. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
2 
0 
to  3 
6 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0 
2  Co  0 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Onions,  bushel  . 
3 
6 
4 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley,  dozen  bunches  .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Parsnips,  dozen . 
1 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Potatoes,  per  cwt . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Salsafy.  bundle . 
1 
0 
1 
6 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Seakale,  per  basket  ..  .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Scorzouera,  bundle  .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
1 
3 
1 
6 
Shallots,  per  lb  ..  ..  -• 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Spinach,  pad  . 
0 
u 
4 
6 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Sprouts,  half  siv . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1 
3 
0 
0 
Tomatoes  .per  lb.  .,  .. 
0 
6 
1 
3 
0 
6 
0 
8 
Turnips,  bunch  ..  .  .. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
6 
0  to  36 
0 
Ferns  (small)  per  hundred 
4 
0  to  6 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Ficus  eiastica. each  .. 
1 
u 
7 
0 
18 
0 
36 
0 
Foliage  plants,  var.  each 
1 
0 
5 
0 
5 
0 
10 
6 
Genista,  per  dozen 
8 
0 
10 
0 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Hydrangea,  various,  doz.  . . 
9 
0 
24 
0 
9  0 
15  0 
12  0 
30  0 
18  0 
24  0 
18  0 
24  0 
18  0 
Lycopodiums,  dozen  ..  ..  3 
Marguerite  Daisy. dozen  ..  6 
Mignonette,  dozen  pots  ..  6 
Myrtles,  dozen  . 6 
Palms,  in  var.  .  each  ..  ..  1 
,,  (specimens'  ..  21 
Spirae  is,  doz .  6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
o 
0 
4 
9 
9 
9 
16 
S3 
9 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE 
Anemone  (French),  dozen 
bunches . 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  .. 
Asparagus  Fern,  per  bunoh 
Azalea,  dozen  sprays  . .  . . 
Bouvardias,  bunch  ..  .. 
Camellias,  dozen  blooms  . . 
Carnations,  12  blooms  . . 
Ojclamen,  dozen  blooms  .. 
Daffodils,  single,  doz.  bun. 
Eucharis.  dozen . 
Gardenias,  dozen  .. 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bunches . 
Iris  (English)  doz.  bunches 
Lilac  (French)  per  bunch 
„  (E'  glish)  doz.  bchs. 
Lilium  longiflorum,  twelve 
blooms  . 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  sprays 
Maidenhair  Fern.  doz.  bchs. 
Marguerites,  12  bunches  . . 
Myosotis  or  Forget-me-not, 
dozen  bunches . 
Narcissi,  var..  doz.  bunches 
Orchids, various,  doz.  blms. 
PRICES.— OUT 
2 
0  to  4 
0 
2 
0 
4 
0 
2 
0 
4 
0 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
6 
1 
0 
0 
9 
1 
6 
1 
0 
3 
0 
0 
3 
0 
6 
1 
6 
6 
0 
1 
6 
3 
O 
2 
0 
3 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
3 
0 
4 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
4 
0 
8 
u 
2 
G 
3 
0 
2 
0 
4 
0 
0 
9 
2 
0 
1 
8 
12 
0 
FLOWERS.— Orchid  Blooms  in  valiety . 
Pelargoniums.  12  bunches 
6 
0 
to  9 
0 
Polyanthus,  dozen  bunches 
Primroses,  dozen  bunches 
1 
6 
2 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Primula  (double),  uozen 
sprays  ..  ..  ..0<  1  0 
Boses  (indoor),  dozen 
1 
u 
2 
u 
.,  Tea,  white,  dozen 
1 
6 
2 
6 
,,  Yellow,  dozen  (Niels) 
2 
0 
4 
0 
,,  Red,  dozen  blooms  .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Safrano  (English), 
dozen . 
1 
8 
2 
u 
,,  Pink,  per  dozen  . .  .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Smilax,  per  bunch  ..  .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Spiraea,  dozen  bunches 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Stephanotis,  dozen  sprays 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Tuberoses.  12  blooms. .  .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Tulips,  dozen  bunches 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Violets  Parrne  (French), 
per  bunch.. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
„  Czar  (French),  per 
bunch 
2 
0 
3 
U 
..  Victoria  (French), 
12  bunches 
1 
0 
1 
8 
English,  12  bunches 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Wallflowers,  dozen  bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
