December  30,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES-  RECEIVED. 
J.  Carter  &  Co.,  High  Holborn. — Seeds. 
Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay. —  Catalogue  and  Competitors'  Guide. 
Little  &  Ballantyne,  Carlisle.— jjeerfs. 
E.  Webb  &  Sons,  Wordsley. — Seeds. 
W.  Wells,  Earlswood. —  Chrysanthemums. 
COVENT  GARDEN  MARKET.— Dec.  29™. 
FRUIT. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Apples,  i  sieve . 
.  1  6  to  4  0 
Grapes,  lb . 
•  •  • 
0  8  to  2  0 
Cobs  ...  ...  ...  ... 
...  22  6 
24  0 
Lemons,  case  . 
•  •• 
11  0 
14  0 
Filberts,  100  lbs. 
• 
.  0  0 
0  0 
St.  Michael’s  Pines, 
each 
2  6 
5  0 
VEGETABLES. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
6.  d. 
s.  d. 
Asparagus,  per  100  ... 
0  0  to  0  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2to  0  4 
Beans,  ^  sieve  . 
0  0 
0  0 
Onions,  bushel . 
•  •• 
3  6 
4  0 
Beet,  Red,  doz . 
1  0 
0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs.... 
•  •• 
2  0 
3  0 
Carrots,  bunch . 
0  3 
0  4 
Parsnips,  doz . 
1  0 
0  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz. 
2  0 
3  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
2  0 
4  0 
Celery,  bundle . 
1  0 
0  0 
Salsafy,  bundle...  ... 
•  •  • 
1  0 
0  0 
Coleworts,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
4  0 
Seakale,  basket . 
1  6 
1  9 
Cucumbers . 
0  4 
0  8 
Scorzonera,  bundle  ... 
1  6 
0  0 
Endive,  doz . 
1  3 
1  6 
Shallots,  lb . 
•  •• 
0  3 
0  4 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  3 
0  0 
Spinach,  pad  . 
0  0 
0  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  2 
0  0 
Sprouts,  J  sieve . 
1  6 
1  9 
Lettuce,  doz . 
1  3 
0  0 
Tomatoes,  lb . 
0  4 
0  0 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
0  6 
0  8 
Turnips,  bunch . 
... 
0  3 
0  0 
PLANTS 
IN  POTS. 
s.  d. 
B.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d- 
Arbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz. 
•  •• 
6  0  to  36  0 
Evergreeens,  var.,  doz. 
... 
4  0tol8  0 
Aspidistra,  doz. 
18  0 
36  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz. 
4  0 
18  0 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
•  •• 
5  0 
10  6 
Ferns,  small,  100 
4  0 
8  0 
Azalea,  per  doz.  ... 
•  •• 
30  0 
42  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each... 
1  0 
7  0 
Chrysanthemums,  doz. 
•  •• 
4  0 
9  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0 
5  0 
,,  „  single  plants 
1  6 
2  0 
Lilium  Harrisi,  doz..,. 
... 
12  0 
18  0 
Cineraria,  per  doz. 
•  •  • 
9  0 
15  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz.  ... 
•  ». 
3  0 
4  0 
Cyclamen,  per  dozen 
•  •• 
12  0 
18  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz. 
... 
4  0 
9  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz.... 
•  •  • 
12  0 
30  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
... 
6  0 
9  0 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz. 
9  0 
18  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each... 
... 
1  0 
15  0 
Erica  hyemalis,  per  doz. 
9  0 
15  0 
,,  specimens 
... 
21  0 
63  0 
,,  gracilis,  per  doz. 
•  •• 
6  0 
9  0 
Pelargoniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
4  0 
6  0 
„  various,  per  doz. 
17ni^riT7Tiniio  ttqi* 
... 
8  0 
n  n 
12  0 
i«  n 
Tulips,  various,  doz.  bulbs 
0  9 
1  6 
AVERAGE  WHOLESALE  PRICES.— (lUT  FLOWERS.— Orchids  in  variety. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
8  d. 
8.  d. 
Arum  Lilies,  12  blooms  ...  4  0to6  0 
Mignonette,  doz.  bnchs. ... 
2  0  to  4  0 
Asparagus  Fern,  bunch  ...  1  0 
2  6 
Mimosa  or  Acacia,  bunch 
Bouvardias,  bunch  .  0  6 
0  8 
(French)  . 
0  9 
1  n 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ...  1  0 
3  0 
Narciss,  white  (French) 
Chrysanthemums,  12  bnchs.  2  0 
6  0 
dozen  bunches  . 
1  0 
2  6 
,,  ,,  12  blooms  1  0 
4  0 
Orchids,  var.,  doz.  blooms 
1  6 
12  0 
Eucharis,  doz .  4  0 
6  0 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs. 
4  0 
6  0 
Gardenias,  doz .  3  0 
6  0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
0  6 
1  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
„  Tea,  white,  doz.  ... 
1  0 
2  0 
bnchs .  6  0 
9  0 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
1  6 
4  0 
Hyacinths  (Roman)  dozen 
,,  Safrano{Engli8h)doz. 
1  0 
2  0 
bunches .  0  9 
1  0 
„  „  (French)  per  doz. 
0  6 
1  0 
Lilac  (French),  bunch  ...  3  0 
5  0 
„  „  .,  per  100... 
5  0 
7  0 
Lilium  longitiorum,  12 
„  Pink,  doz . 
1  0 
2  6 
blooms  .  4  0 
6  0 
Smilax,  bunch . 
1  6 
2  6 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12 
Tuberoses,  12  blooms 
0  3 
0  4 
sprays  .  1  0 
2  0 
Tulips,  doz.  blooms  ...  ... 
1  0 
1  6 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs....  2  0 
3  0 
Violets,  doz.  bnchs . 
1  6 
2  0 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
,,  Parme  '.(French), 
bnchs .  4  0 
8  0 
bunch . 
3  0 
4  0 
BEYOND  RECALL— 1897. 
Shakespeare,  who  knew  more  than  any  other  living  man  of  the 
thoughts  and  feelings  of  the  human  race,  is  for  ever  summing  up  our 
virtues  and  our  iweaknesses  in  a  few  short  words  or  phrases  that  go 
straight  to  the  goal  as  ever  did  arrow  of  Robin  Hood. 
How  true  to  all  eternity  are  those  words  of  his  relative  to  the 
flight  of  time  as  experienced  by  various  individuals.  The  slow  pace 
of  time  to  the  maid  who  wearies  her  wedding  day  ;  tlie  lazy  pace  of 
time  for  the  unlettered  priest  and  rich  man,  and  the  galloping  ot  time 
fur  the  poor  criminal  who  awaits  execution  (“As  You  Like  It,” 
act  iii.,  3.  ii.).  As  we  get  older  time  appears  to  fly — the  seasons  come 
and  go  so  quickly  that  we  hardly  mark  the  changes.  Certain  it  is  we 
never  get  the  half  done  we  intended  ;  whether  it  is  that  we  plan  out 
for  ourselves  more  than  is  possible  of  execution,  or  whether  it  is  that 
our  powers  are  failing  us,  is  an  open  question — probably  both  causes 
are  at  work. 
The  cry  is  ever  of  unfinished  work,  uncompleted  task,  and  the  end 
of  the  year  finds  us  lamenting  over  lost  opportunities  and  chances  gone 
for  ever.  We  shall  never  again  see  such  a  year  as  this  wonderful 
1897.  And  it  is  doubtful  if  our  children’s  children  can  ever  show  one 
so  full  of  incident.  It  has  pleased  the  Almighty  to  make  us  a  power 
among  the  nations.  We  have  lived  for  sixty  years  under  the 
beneficent  rule  of  a  justly  loved  Sovereign.  Peace  and  plenty  crown 
our  board,  and  prosperity  would  be  the  motto  of  our  trade,  if  only  the 
evil  spirit  of  discontent  would  spread  his  wings  and  leave  us.  Happily 
it  is  only  in  one  branch  of  our  industry  that  distress  prevails,  and  we 
are  hoping  daily  that  affairs  will  be  adjusted,  and  that  masters  and 
men  may  be  on  better  terms  and  understand  one  another  better  than 
they  have  done  for  years. 
We  think  we  may  say  without  hesitation  that  for  the  agriculturist 
the  year,  on  the  whole,  has  been  better  than  for  several  past.  The 
winter  was  mild  and  open — indeed,  almost  too  open.  The  autumn  of 
1896  was  exceedingly  wet,  and  the  wetness  of  the  season  affected  the 
growth  of  the  Wheat  crop ;  the  verdict  generally  was,  “  Gone  away 
thin.”  A  good  spell  of  frost  is  always  beneficial  to  the  land.  There 
is  nothing  like  frost  for  producing  a  fine  mould,  in  which  the  young 
rootlets  so  delight. 
The  spring  and  early  summer  generally  were  dry,  and  the  south 
and  south-east  suffered  much  from  lack  of  moisture.  This  applies 
particularly  to  pasture  lands.  Happily,  a  warm  genial,  and  we  may 
say  general,  rain  fell  in  J une  and  put  us  all  in  heart  again. 
There  was  much  complaint  in  parts  about  the  failure  of  early 
Turnips,  and  fears  were  entertained  for  the  safety  of  the  Swede  crop. 
Potatoes  need  moisture  in  July,  and,  alas!  many  fields  had  to  go 
without.  Harvest  came — fine,  brilliant  weather  in  the  earlier  part, 
so  that  south  country  farmers  and  “  forrard  ”  northerners  got  their 
crops  housed  in  grand  condition  ;  not  heavy  crops,  but  the  colour  and 
quality  made  amends.  Then  the  weather  broke. 
Roots  were  much  benefited;  but  what  suited  the  Turnip  and  Man¬ 
gold  fields,  although  improving  the  quantity  of  the  Potato,  bidly 
spoilt  the  quality;  in  fact,  some  of  the  Potatoes  were  too  far  gone, 
haulms  drj"  and  withered,  “second  growth”  was  all  the  story,  and 
from  land  that,  as  a  rule,  sends  only  Potatoes  to  Covent  Garden,  the 
sample  is  very  poor.  We  have  heard  of  some  fortunate  speculators 
who  went  in  for  “  Up  to  Dates,”  and  we  are  glad  to  think  they  are 
recovering  a  little  of  that  Potato  money  lost  last  season. 
The  end  of  September  the  weather  took  up,  and  the  autumn  has 
been  one  of  the  most  beautiful  we  ever  remember — a  perfect  boon  to 
all  concerned  in  agriculture.  There  was  one  touch  of  frost  in 
October,  but  since  then  up  to  the  date  of  writing,  8t.  Thomas’  Day, 
there  has  been  nothing  material.  L'he  pastures  are  a  most  beautiful 
green,  and  little  or  no  inroad  has  been  made  on  the  store  of  winter 
provisions. 
Grazing  beasts  have  not  done  well  except  in  favoured  places.  The 
early  drought  told  on  their  pastures,  and  it  also  told  on  the  dairy 
cows.  Lambs,  taking  the  country  throughout,  have  done  well.  We 
all  know  the  old  expression  as  to  how  lambs  prefer  roast  to  boiled  food. 
There  have  been  local  outbreaks  of  disease,  but  in  many  cases  these 
outbreaks  were  the  result  of  overcrowding.  A  farm  gets  “sheep 
sick,”  and  is  no  longer  a  healthy  habitat,  and  yet  the  farmer,  despite 
of  warning,  will  go  against  Nature  and  keep  a  huge  flock,  hence  a 
heavy  bill  of  mortality.  Mr.  Thornton  reports  some  capital  averages 
at  Shorthorn  sales,  and  Messrs.  Sexton  &  Grimwade  have  made  grand 
prices  of  shire  horses.  Many  of  the  best  and  pirrest  Lincoln  rams 
have  gone  abroad,  and  the  breeders  look  with  satisfaction  on  the 
handsome  cheque  left  by  the  “  furriuer.” 
Now  for  a  comparison  of  prices.  Nothing  beats  figures,  they 
