January  9,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
47 
LECTURESHIPS  (W.  P.  W.  V.). — We  will  reply  by  private 
letter. 
SNAILS  IN  CUCUMBER  HOUSE  (Snail).— Speedily  decom¬ 
posed  and  unidentified. 
CAMELLIAS  (F.  L.). — Want  of  care  in  culture  might  be 
suggested ;  will  reply  more  fully  next  week. 
Is  there  anything  better  for  a  “  screen  ”  among  deciduous 
trees  than  Larch, or  a  faster  grower  ? 
[Larch  is  the  quickest  growing  coniferous  tree  for  a 
“  screen,”  but  Corsican  Pine  keeps  pace  with  it,  and  is  desirable 
for  its  evergreen  nature.  The  fastest  growing  deciduous  tree  is 
Huntingdon  Elm,  even  vieing  with  Canadian  Poplar  laterally, 
though  this,  as  regards  upward  growth,  is  the  quicker.  Both 
Huntingdon!  Elm  and  Canadian  Poplar  bear  cutting  well.] 
Is  there  any  better  or  faster  growing  Conifer  for  a 
“  screen  ”  than  Thuia  Lobbi  ? — (Shade.) 
[Thuia  gigantea  (Lobbi)  is  the  best  and  fastest  growing 
Conifer  for  a  division  hedge  or  screen,  it  bearing  cutting  well, 
or  naturally  forms  a  dense,  tapering  upwards  from  a  broad  base, 
vei'dant  wall.  For  quick  work  the  plants  are  placed  about  a 
yard  apart,  2ft  to  3ft  trees  being  employed,  or  4ft  to  5ft  high 
trees  are  placed  6ft  to  7ft  6in  apart,  double  rows  being  some¬ 
times  planted  a  yard  between,  and  the  trees  planted  so-called 
quincunx  or  opposite  vacancy  order,  thus  forming  a  block  at 
once.  An  evergreen  screen  with  immediate  effect  is  often  formed 
of  American  Arbor  Vitse  (Thuia  occidentalis),  6ft  to  8ft  trees 
being  planted  so  closely  in  line  as  to  touch.] 
BLINDING  THE  VIEW  (H.  M.).— Can  you  suggest  how  best 
to  blind  newly-erected  tenements  from  one’s  private  view  ? 
[The  best  way  to  shut  out  newly-erected  houses  is  to  plant 
Lombardy  Poplars  of  10ft  to  12ft  height  in  double  row  about 
7ft  6in  distance  apart  in  row,  and  half  the  distance  between  rows, 
placing  quincunx.  Tliese  trees  occupy  a  relatively  small  ground 
area,  and  on  that  account  are  often  preferred  to  Canadian  Pop¬ 
lar,  which,  though  much  quicker  growing,  has  a  base  only  little 
less  than  the  height.  For  hiding  or  covering  a  wall  Irish  Ivy 
(Hedera  Helix  canariensis)  is  the  best  evergreen,  and  of  deciduous 
subjects  Ampelopsis  hederaoea  (Virginian  Creeper)  or  A.Veitchi. 
Vitea  Coignetiae  has  a  very  brilliant  foliage  in  autumn,  and 
amongst  deciduous  climbers  has  no  equal  for  wreathing  veran¬ 
dahs,  old  buildings,  archways,  Ac.] 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS. —  Correspondents  whose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (A.  B.). — 1,  Hibbertia  dentata,  a  very  useful 
climber,  and  l)eautifiil  when  seen  in  a  good  state.  (L.  F.). — 1. 
Kadsura  sinensis  variegata,  much  like  Eurya  latifolia  variegata ; 
2,  Hedera  Helix  aurea  spectabile ;  3.  H.  H.  dentata;  4.  H.  H.  grandi- 
folia.  (J.  T.). — Exaeum  zeylanieum  macranthum.  (N.  N.). — 1.  Shoots 
of  Cornus  (alba)  stolonifera ;  2,  The  Cedrus  Libani.  (E.  Platt).— 
Next  week. 
- - 
Covent  Garden  Market,— Jannary  8tli, 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Plants  in  Pots. 
s.  d.  s.  d 
Aralias,  doz .  5  0tol2  0 
Araucaria,  doz.  ...  ...  12  0  30  0 
Aspidistra,  doz .  18  0  36  0 
Chrysanthemums,  doz.  0  0  0  0 
Crotons,  doz .  18  0  30  0 
Cyclamen,  doz . 10  0  12  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz.  ...  12  0  30  0 
Dracaena,  viridis,  doz.  9  0  18  0 
Erica  gracilis,  doz.  ...  10  0  12  0 
,,  cail’ra,  doz . 15  0  18  0 
,,  hyemalis  ...  .  9  0  15  0 
,,  ,,  alba . 12  0  18  0 
s.  d.  s.  d 
Ferns,  var,  doz .  4  0tol8  0 
Ferns,  small,  100...  ...  10  0  16  0 
Ficiis  elastica,  doz.  ...  9  0  12  0 
Foliage  plants,  var,  eacli  10.  5  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz.  ...  3  0  0  0 
INIarguerite  Daisy,  doz.  8  0  10  0 
INIyrtles,  doz .  6  0  9  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  doz.  ...  15  0  30  0 
,,  specimens  ...  21  0  63  0 
Primulas  .  3  0  4  0 
Shrubs,  in  pots  .  4  0  6  0 
Solanums  .  8  0  12  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Cut  Blowers 
Arums,  doz . 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bnch. 
Bouvardia,  white, 
doz.  bunches . 
Bouvardia,  coloured, 
doz.  bunches . 
Camellias,  white . 
Carnations,  12  blooms 
Cattleyas,  doz . 
C  h  r  y  s  a  11 1  h  e  in  u  m  s, 
specimen  blooms, 
doz . 1  . 
,,  white,  doz.  bnchs. 
,,  coloured, doz.  bnchs 
Cypripediums,  doz.  ... 
Eucharis,  doz . 
Gardenias,  doz . 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bnchs . 
Hyac  inth,  Roman, 
doz.  bunches . 
Lilium  laiicifolium  alb. 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d 
s. 
d. 
s. 
6 
0  to  8 
0 
Lilium  1.  rubrum 
2 
0  to2  6 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Lilium  longiflorum  ... 
5 
0 
8 
0 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12 
6 
0 
8 
0 
bnchs  . 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
6 
0 
8 
0 
bnchs . 
6 
0 
8 
0 
3 
6 
0 
0 
Marguerites,  white, 
1 
3 
1 
9 
doz.  bnchs . 
2 
0 
4 
0 
8 
0 
12 
0 
,,  j'ellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
0  6 
1 
0 
Odontoglossums . 
5 
0 
6 
0 
rrimula,  double  white, 
1 
0 
4 
0 
doz.  bunches . 
6 
0 
8 
0 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Roses,  Niphetos,  white, 
3 
0 
8 
0 
doz . 
1 
0 
3 
0 
3 
0 
4 
0 
,,  pink,  doz . 
4 
0 
6 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
,,  yellow,doz.(Perles) 
2 
0 
3 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
,,  red,  doz . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Smilax,  bnch  . 
2 
6 
3 
0 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Stephanotis,  doz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Tuberoses,  gross . 
6 
0 
0 
0 
8 
0 
9  0 
Violets,  single,  doz  ... 
1 
6 
2 
6 
2 
0 
2 
6 
,,  double,  doz . 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Fruit. 
s.  d. 
s. 
d 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
Apples,  cooking,  bush. 
6  0to8 
0 
Lemons,  Mesena,  case  12'0tol6,0 
,,  dessert  . 
8  0 
20 
0 
Oranges,  per  case  ...  4  0 
i6;o 
Bananas . 
8 
12 
0 
Pears,  English,  ^  sieve  0  0 
0  0 
Figs,  green,  doz . 
0  0 
0 
0 
Pears,  French,  crate...  9_0 
12  0 
Grapes,  Alicante,  lb. ... 
1  0 
1 
6 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,”' 
i  ' 
,,  Colman . 
1  0 
1 
6 
each .  2  6 
0 
,,  Hamburgh  ... 
0  0 
0 
0 
Plums,  i  sieve  .  0  0 
0  0 
,,  Muscat  . 
2  6 
3 
6 
Walnuts,  i  sieve  ...  ...  0  0 
0  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Vegetables, 
s.  d. 
s. 
d 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
Artichokes,  green,  doz. 
2  0  to  3 
0 
Leeks,  bunch  .  0  lltoO  2 
,,  Jerusalem,  sieve 
1  6 
0 
0 
Lettuce,  Cabbage,  doz  1  0 
1  3 
Batavia,  doz . 
2  0 
0 
0 
IMushrooms,  forced,  lb.  0  8 
0  9 
Beans,  French,  per  lb. 
0  8 
0 
9 
lilustard  &  Cross,  pnnt.  0  2 
0  0 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
0  6 
0 
0 
I’arsley,  doz.  bnchs  ...  2  0 
3  0 
Brussels  Sprouts, ^  sieve 
2  0 
3 
0 
Potatoes,  English,  cwt.  4  0 
5  0 
Cabbages,  tally  . 
1  6 
3 
0 
Radishes,  doz .  1  6 
0  0 
Carrots,  doz.  bnch. 
2  0 
2 
6 
Seakale  ...  - .  1  0 
1  3 
Cauliflower,  doz. 
3  0 
0 
0 
Shallots,  lb .  0  2 
0  3 
Corn  Salad,  strike 
1  0 
1 
3 
Spinach,  bush .  2  0 
3  0 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
6  0 
0 
0 
Tomatoes,  Canary  con¬ 
Endive,  doz . 
1  0 
1 
3 
signment  .  4  0 
5  0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2 
0 
0 
Turnips,  doz.  bnch.  ...  2  0 
3  0 
Horseradish,  bunch  ... 
1  6 
0 
0 
Watercress,  doz .  0  6 
0  8 
Working  Days. 
When  icicles  hang  by  the  wall, 
And  Dick  the  shepherd  blows  his  nails, 
And  Tom  bears  logs  into  the  hall. 
And  milk  comes  frozen  home  in  pails. 
When  blood  is  nipped  and  ways  be  foul. 
We  like  warmth.  No  summer  day  is  too  hot  for  our 
comfort — we  revel  in  the  sunshine — we  shrink  into  ourselves 
during  a  spell  of  frosty  weather.  Oh,  yes,  how'  exhilarating 
is  the  bright  frosty  morning !  It  may  be — but  not  to  us. 
We  try  to  rejoice  and  look  glad,  but  our  extremities  are 
too  pinched,  our  blood  won’t  circulate,  and  we  are  very 
miserable.  If  our  sufferings  in  the  cold  weather  are  so  painful 
what  must  be  the  effect  on  those  who  are,  ill-clad  or  in¬ 
sufficiently  clad  and  not  so  comfortably  fed  as  ourselves  ? 
It  is  all  very  well  to  plead  usage,  but  we  don’t  quite  believe 
working  men  and  working  women  are  so  thoroughly  inured 
to  hardship  as  to  be  perfectly  above  feeling  any  incon¬ 
venience  when  the  weather  is  unkindly.  Our  hearts  have 
a  soft  spot  where  these  poor  folk  are  concerned,  and  it  is 
during  the  winter  that  we  think  the  farm  worker’s  lot  is  not 
so  easy  or  pleasant  as  that  of  the  tow'ii  artizan. 
There  is  first  the  question  of  the  early  start.  Those  who 
have  horses  under  their  care  must  be  up  betimes. 
A  horse  should  nob^  be  hurried  over  his  breakfast, 
and  a  good  man  thinks  more  of  the  comfort  of  his 
horse  than  of  his  own.  Darkness  is  such  a  draw¬ 
back  to  quick  movements  it  is  impossible  not  to 
fumble  about  when  the  only  light  is  that  of  a  stable-lamp  ; 
and  then  outside  in  the  cart-sheds,  the  partial  light  only 
makes  confusion  more  confounded.  Dark  and  damp  the 
start  to  work  must  often  be  ;  ways  are  foul,  especially  field 
ways.  There  seem  to  be  few  clean  jobs  in  winter.  Even 
though  the  teams  are  on  the  road,  the  w'aggoner  must  be  at 
his  horses’  head  in  the  thick  of  the  mire.  Have  our  readers 
ever  plodded  alongside  of  a  waggon,  say,  for  eight  or  nine 
miles,  to  deliver  Corn  or  Potatoes  to  the  nearest  station? 
There  is  plenty  of  time  for  contemplation  during  that  long 
walk,  plenty  of  time  in  all  and  any  variety  of  weather,  and 
there  is  poor  chance  of  a  comfortable  meal  till  home  is 
reached,  and  the  horses  made  snug  and  warm.  There  are 
compensations.  Life  on  the  road  admits  of  possibilities, 
and  the  station  is  a  more  or  less  lively  place.  The  return 
journey  probably  is  not  a  quick  one,  as  there  is,  in  all  likeli¬ 
hood,  a  load  of  cake  to  bring  back  ;  then  it  is  trudge,  trudge, 
