June  4,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OR  EORTI OULTURR  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
527 
with  a  sixth  part  of  decayed  manure’  and  a  little  bruised  charcoal, 
potting  firmly.  A  cold  frame  is  suitable  for  them  at  this  season,  with 
the  sash  drawn  ofE  day  and  night  in  fine  weather  when  the  plants  are  in 
free  growth.  They  are  often  drawn  and  spoiled  in  greenhouses  during 
the  summer,  and  damp  off  if  kept  too  close  when  young.  Light  green¬ 
houses  are  suitable  for  them  in  the  winter. 
Menyanthes  trifoliata  ( Gardener ). — The  above  is  the  name  of 
your  plant,  popularly  known  as  the  Buck  Bean  or  Bean  Trefoil,  described 
in  Hogg’s  “  Vegetable  Kingdom  ”  as  one  of  the  most  lovely  of  our  native 
plants.  It  grows  in  marshy  places,  and  is  very  plentiful  in  Britain, 
producing  an  abundance  of  its  white  bearded  rose  coloured  blossoms  in 
May  and  June.  The  whole  plant  is  intensely  bitter  and  somewhat 
nauseous,  and  its  bitter  properties  depend  on  a  principle  called  meny- 
anthin,  which  has  a  pure  bitter  taste,  is  soluble  in  alcohol  and  water, 
but  not  in  pure  ether,  and  is  chemically  neuter.  Besides  its  bitter  pro¬ 
perties,  which  are  equal  to  those  of  Gentian,  it  possesses  also  cathartic 
properties,  and  in  large  doses  acts  as  an  emetic.  It  is  a  cheap  and  very 
valuable  medicine,  and  ought  to  be  more  generally  used.  In  a  scarcity 
of  Hops  this  plant  is  used  in  the  north  of  Europe  to  give  a  bitter  to  the 
beer,  2  ozs.  supplying  the  place  of  1  lb.  of  Hops,  Some  people  smoke 
the  leaves.  Villarsia  (Limnanthemum)  nymphaeoides,  also  a  native  of 
this  country,  has  the  same  properties. 
Vagaries  in  Laburnums  (A.  8.  M,  C.'). — We  have  seen  several 
trees  similar  to  yours,  though  they  are  not  common  in  gardens.  It  is 
known  as  Cytisus  Adami,  and  is  a  graft  hybrid  between  C.  Laburnum 
and  C.  purpureus,  obtained  by  Mr.  Jean  Louis  Adam  in  1825  in  establish¬ 
ing  the  purple  species  on  the  common  Laburnum.  In  this  process  it  is 
supposed  that  a  cell  of  the  one  species  became  divided  and  united  to  a 
cell  of  the  other,  and  the  result  has  been  a  plant  producing  not  only 
flowers  of  each  species  separately,  but  others  partaking  of  the  characters 
of  both.  There  are  other  instances  in  the  vegetable  kingdom  in  which  a 
similar  union  of  cells  is  believed  to  have  taken  place,  but  Cytisus  Adami 
is  the  best  known  and  best  established.  It  is  remarkable  that  grafting 
or  budding  with  one  variety  will  occasionally,  as  the  tree  grows,  produce 
three  or  four  forms  differing  in  colour  and  the  character  of  the  leaves 
and  racemes.  We  have  not  only  seen  purple  and  yellow  flowers  on.  the 
same  tree  but  about  half  and  half  in  the  same  raceme  There  is  no 
accounting  for  the  vagaries  of  Laburnums  when  grafting  has  been 
resorted  to. 
Mildew  on  Strawberries  (Worried) — This  usually  results  from 
a  dry  and  cold  state  of  the  atmosphere,  which  is  not  favourable  to  free 
growth.  The  best  remedy  is  to  syringe  the  plants  well,  but  not  so 
forcibly  as  to  damage  the  foliage  and  fruit,  in  the  morning  and  early 
afternoon  up  to  the  latter  changing  colour  for  ripening,  when  the 
syringing  must,  of  course,  be  discontinued.  In  bad  cases  flowers  of 
sulphur  should  be  dusted  well  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves  and  the 
fruit  infested,  indeed  the  whole  plant,  and  after  remaining  forty-eight 
hours  it  may  be  washed  off  by  syringing,  the  fruit  being  thoroughly 
cleansed  before  ripening.  It  is,  perhaps,  better  to  use  the  following 
application — viz.,  boil  1  lb.  of  flowers  of  sulphur  and  1  lb.  of  quicklime 
in  2^  quarts  of  water  in  an  earthen  pot  for  ten  minutes,  constantly 
stiirmg  all  the  time  of  boiling ;  allow  to  settle,  and  pour  off  the  clear 
liquid  for  use,  placing  it  in  bottles.  Syringe  the  plants  with  a  dilution 
of  the  above  preparation  at  the  rate  of  a  quarter  of  a  pint  to  3  gallons 
of  water.  It  is  equally  efficacious  against  all  white  mildews  caused  by 
o'idium,  the  parasites  being  external  and  easily  eradicated  without 
injury  to  the  subject  attacked  if  applied  in  time 
Mushrooms  Withering  (Perplexed). — When  a  number  of  very 
small  Mushrooms  spring  up  round  the  larger  and  shrivel  after  the  best 
are  pulled  it  is  in  consequence  mainly  of  the  nutriment  having  been 
diverted  and  appropriated  by  the  larger  specimens.  You  may  regard 
it  if  you  like  as  an  example  of  the  principle  embodied  in  the  famous 
dream  of  old  of  the  “  fat  eating  up  the  lean  kine,”  or,  as  otherwise 
expressed  in  the  Darwinian  law  of  the  “survival  of  the  fittest.”  But 
when  small  pea-like  Mushrooms  appear  in  quantity  they  shrivel,  whether 
the  large  ones  are  cut  or  not,  also  if  there  are  no  large  ones.  This  is  the 
result  of  inherent  weakness,  esused  by  the  extreme  sub-division  of  the 
force  of  the  spawn,  instead  of  its  concentration  on  fewer  points.  The 
withering  is  more  common  at  this  period  of  the  year  than  earlier,  and 
a  multitude  of  small  Mushrooms  indicates  poveriy  of  material  in  the 
manure  or  soil,  and  also  sometimes  occurs  when  the  spawn  is  made  to 
“run”  near  the  surface  more  than  it  ought  by  some  error  in  covering 
the  beds.  If  you  think  the  shrivelling  of  the  small  is  caused  by  the 
pulling  of  the  large,  why  not  try  cutting  them  instead  ?  Many 
gardeners  cut  the  crops  and  twist  out  the  stems  a  day  or  two  afterwards, 
but  the  most  successful  growers  of  Mushrooms  for  market  do  not 
do  so  for  two  or  three  good  reasons  mentk  ned  in  the  work  to  which 
you  refer. 
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  bee! 
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. 
(J.  S.  N.)  — It  is  Scilla  campanulata  or  hispanica,  introduced  from 
Spain  in  1683.  (J.  F.  D.).  —  1,  Pyrus  Sorbus  ;  2,  Crataegus  tanace- 
tifolia ;  3,  Lonicera  fraerantissima  ;  4,  Prunus  padus  (Bird  Cherry); 
5,  Ajug*  alpina  ;  6,  Veronica  ebamaedrys.  (M.  F.),  —  Salisburia 
adiantifolia. 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET.— June  3rd. 
Business  much  improved,  with  prices  firmer.  A  few  outdoor  Strawberries  from 
Southampton  are  now  arriving. 
FRUIT. 
1. 
d. 
0. 
d. 
8. 
d 
s. 
d. 
Apples,  per  bushel  ..  .. 
2 
0 
to  4 
6 
Lemons,  case  . 
li 
0  to  1 4 
0 
„  Tasmanians,  per 
Peaches . 
6 
0 
15 
0 
case . 
10 
0 
12 
0 
St.  Michael  Pines,  each  . . 
2 
0 
,4 
0 
Grapes,  per  lb . 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Strawberries,  per  lb. 
1 
0 
5 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d 
8 
d 
Asparagus,  per  100  ..  .. 
2 
0 
to  3 
6 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0 
2 
to  0 
0 
Beans,  per  lb . 
y 
9 
1 
2 
Onions,  bushel . 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Beet,  Red,  dozen ..  ..  .. 
l 
0 
0 
0 
Parsley,  dozen  bunches  .. 
2 
0 
i 
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 
Seakale,  per  basket  . .  . . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers,  dozen  ..  .. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Scorzouera,  bundle  ..  .. 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Endive,  dozen  . 
1 
I 
1 
6 
Shallots,  per  lb . 
0 
3 
.  0 
0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Spinach,  pad  . 
0 
0 
4 
6 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Sprouts,  half  siv . 
0 
0 
(1 
0 
Lettuce,  dozen . 
1 
3 
0 
0 
Tomatoes,  per  lb . 
0 
6 
0 
9 
Mushrooms,  per  lb . 
0 
6 
0 
8 
Turnips,  bunch . 
0 
3 
0 
0 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
Arbor  Vitse  (various)  doz. 
6 
0  to  36 
0 
Hydrangea,  various,  doz.  .. 
9 
Oto  24 
0 
Arum  Lilies,  per  dozen  . . 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Ivy  Geranium,  per  dozeu  . 
3 
0 
7 
0 
Aspidistra,  dozen 
18 
0 
36 
0 
Lilium  Harrissi,  per  dozen 
15 
0 
24 
0 
Aspidistra,  specimen  plant 
fi 
0 
10 
6 
Lobelia,  per  dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Calceolarias,  per  dozen 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Lycopodiums,  dozen  .. 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Cineraria,  dozen  pots 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Marguerite  Daisy. dozen  .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Dracaena,  various,  dozen  .. 
12 
0 
30 
0 
Mignonette,  dozen  pots  .. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Dracaena  viridis.  dozen  . . 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Myrtles,  dozen  . 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Ericas,  various,  per  dozen  . 
9 
0 
24 
0 
Nasturtium,  per  dozen 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Euonymus,  var.,  dozen  .. 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Palms,  in  var..  each  .. 
1 
0 
15 
0 
Evergreens,  in  var.,  dozen 
6 
0 
24 
0 
,,  (specimens-'  .. 
21 
0 
R3 
0 
Ferns  iu  variety ,  dozen  .. 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Pelargoniums,  per  dozen  . . 
8 
0 
12 
0 
Ferns  (small)  per  hundred 
4 
0 
6 
0 
,,  scarlets,  per  dozen 
3 
0 
9 
0 
Ficus  eiastica,  each  .. 
1 
0 
1 
0 
Spiraeas,  doz . 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Foliage  plants,  var.  each 
1 
0 
S 
0 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE 
PRICES.- 
OUT  FLOWERS.— Orchid  Bloom 
in 
vaiiety . 
Anemone  (French),  doztn 
Orchids,  various,  per  dozen 
bunches . 
2 
0 
to  4 
0 
•  blooms  . 
1 
6  to  12 
0 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Paeonies,  various,  per  dozen 
Asparagus  Fern,  per  bunch 
2 
0 
4 
0 
blooms  . 
0 
6 
1 
6 
Azalea,  dozen  sprays  . . 
0 
4 
0 
t> 
Pelargoniums.  12  bunches 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Bouvardias,  bunch  ..  .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Polyanthus,  dozen  hunches 
1 
6 
2 
6 
Carnations,  12  blooms 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Poppies,  various,  per  dozen 
Cornflower,  dozen  bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
blooms  . 
0 
2 
0 
6 
Eucharis,  dozen . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Primula  (double),  cozen 
Gardenias,  dozen  .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
sprays 
0 
6 
•1 
0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
P>  rethrum,  dozen  bunches 
1 
6 
3 
0 
bunches  . 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Roses  (indoor),  dozen 
0 
6 
1 
6 
Iris  (English)  doz.  bunches 
4 
0 
6 
0 
„  Tea,  white,  dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Lilac  (French)  per  bunch 
3 
0 
4 
0 
,,  Yellow,  dozen  (Niels) 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Lilium  longitlorum,  twelve 
„  Red,  dozen  blooms  .. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
blooms  . 
3 
0 
6 
0 
„  Safrano  (English), 
Lilvof  the  Valley,  12  sprays 
0 
6 
1 
0 
dozen . 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Maidenhair  Fern.  doz.  bobs. 
4 
u 
8 
0 
„  Pink,  per  dozen  ..  .. 
3 
0 
5 
0 
Marguerites,  12  bunches  . 
2 
c 
3 
0 
Smilax,  per  bunch  ..  .. 
3 
0 
5 
0 
Mignonette,  per  dozen 
Spiraea,  dozen  bunches 
3 
0 
5 
0 
bunches . 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Stephanotis,  dozen  sprays 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Mvosotis  or  Forget-me-not, 
Tuberoses.  12  blooms. . 
0 
6 
X 
0 
dozen  bunches . 
1 
6 
2 
6 
Wallflowers,  per  dozen 
Narcissi,  var..  doz.  bunches 
0 
9 
2 
0 
bunches . 
2 
0 
3 
0 
NOTES  ON  DAIRY  WORK. 
In  fitting  tip  a  dairy,  “the  best  of  everything”  will  be 
found  cheapest  in  the  long  run.  For  instance,  all  tin  ware,  such 
as  milk  pails,  skimmers,  and  pans,  should  be  of  good  material 
and  well  made,  with  as  few  seams  as  possible  Cheap,  badly 
made  tins  soon  work  loose  at  the  joints  and  show  pin  pricks, 
where  drops  of  milk  can  lodge  and  turn  sour,  thus  rendering 
perfect  cleanliness  a  difficult  matter.  For  the  same  reason 
earthenware  vessels  used  in  the  dairy  should  be  thoroughly 
glazed. 
'Where  six  or  more  cows  are  kept  a  mechanical  separator 
will  be  found  the  best  means  of  obtaining  the  cream.  By  its  use 
more  butter  is  obtained  than  by  any  other  system,  and  it  is 
claimed  that  half  a  gallon  less  milk  is  required  to  make  1  lb. 
butter.  The  initial  cost  of  these  machines  being  as  yet  ratber 
high,  they  are  chiefly  to  be  recommended  for  a  large  dairy. 
The  simplest,  and  perhaps  best,  way  of  cream  raising  for  a 
small  dairy  is  by  means  of  “  coolers  ”  These  are  oblong  tins 
some  5  or  G  inches  deep,  into  which  the  milk  is  strained  directly 
