October  24,  1901. 
389 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
QUERY. — “  Can  anyone  tell  us  wlio  employs  motor  cars  or 
waggons  successfully  for  conveying  Strawberries,  Tomatoes,  and 
such  perishable  soft  produce  direct  to  Covent  Garden  Market? 
A  speed  of  eight  miles  per  hour  is  said  to  he  made,  and  the  cost 
for  about  sixteen  miles’  return  trip  is  about  5s.  3d.  The  saving 
of  time  is  also  found  to  be  most  valuable.” 
MAKING  MUSHROOM  BEDS  ON  GROUND  THAT  THE 
MANURE  HAS  BEEN  PREPARED  ON  (G.  T.  O.  B.).— There  is 
really  no  objection  to  make  up  the  beds  on  the  same  ground  the 
manure  has  been  prepared  on,  we  having  practised  it  for  many 
years,  and  the  site  of  the  old  beds  can  be  re-occupied  indefinitely. 
This  applies  to  both  outdoor  and  indoor  beds. 
GARDENERS’  RIGHTS  ON  LEAVING  SITUATIONS 
(Henri).- — (1)  If  you  have  received  notice  to  leave  at  once  without 
having  committed  disobedience  or  gross  neglect  of  duty,  you  are  en¬ 
titled  to  a  month’s  wages,  to  a  month’s  house  rent,  to  value  of  garden 
produce,  and  all  advantages  “  in  kind  ”  which  it  was  clearly  agreed 
should  form  part  of  your  remuneration,  though  not  expressed  as 
wages.  (2)  Unless  agreed  upon  beforehand  in  writing,  it  is  ex¬ 
tremely  unlikely  that  any  employe  will  recover  from  his  em¬ 
ployer  his  travelling  expenses  incurred  in  reaching  his  situation. 
Even  a  subsequent  promise  of  the  employer  would  be  only  in  the 
nature  of  a  bare  promise,  or  debt  of  honour. 
TOP-DRESSING  ASPARAGUS  BEDS  WITH  KAINIT 
(Idem). — There  being  lime  in  the  soil,  without  which  it  would  not 
be  fertile,  does  not  militate  against  the  use  of  kainit,  for  the 
large  percentage  of  salt  (chloride  of  soda)  it  contains  will  be  in¬ 
directly  useful,  even  on  limestone  soils,  and  on  land  to  which 
lime  has  been  applied,  by  exchanging  acids  with  the  lime  and 
forming  muriate  of  lime,  which,  in  its  turn,  combines  readily  in 
the  soil  with  the  ammonia,  some  of  which  might  otherwise  have 
been  volatised  as  carbonate.  Besides,  salt  is  well  known  as 
directly  useful  to  Asparagus,  and  potash  one  of  its  chief  com¬ 
ponents,  as  shown  by  analysis  of  the  ashes  of  the  plant.  We  do 
not  know  where  “  wattle  hurdles  ”  are  to  be  procured.  Perhaps 
some  correspondent  may  be  able  to  supply  the  desired  informa¬ 
tion. 
PRUNING  HYDRANGEAS  (Regular  Reader). — The  pruning 
may  not  have  had  anything  to  do  with  the  plants  flowering  un¬ 
satisfactorily,  as  the  flowering  depends  on  well  matured,  sturdy 
growths,  and  the  formation  of  plump  buds.  We  should  rest  the 
plants  during  the  winter,  not  keeping  so  dry  as  to  cause  the  wood 
to  shrivel,  and  when  the  buds  are  commencing  to  swell  cut  out  the 
weaker  and  least  promising  wood,  shortening  the  flowered  parts 
to  plump  buds,  and  leaving  the  last  year’s  growth  entire.  On 
this  principle  the  finest  plants  we  have  ever  seen  were  grown  this 
year  by  an  amateur.  It  would  hardly  do  to  cut  the  roots  in  half 
and  repot  into  the  same  sized  pot,  for  pot-bound  plants  really 
require  a  larger  size,  and  should  be  given  to  secure  well-flowered 
specimens.  However,  if  you  reduce  the  heads,  the  soil  may  be 
removed  about  an  inch  all  round  the  ball  and  under  it,  cutting  off 
any  straggling  roots,  and  repotting  into  the  same  size  pot.  This 
should  be  done  just  before  or  when  the  buds  commence  swelling. 
NAMES  OF  FRUIT. — Correspondents  whose  queries  are  un- 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  A  number  of  replies  are  necessarily  held  over  till 
next  week. 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS. —  Correspondents  whose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (A.  T.). — 1,  Rondeletia  speeiosa  ;  2,  Ravenia 
spectabilis  ;  3,  Cupressus  Lawsoniana.  (Reader).  —  1,  Adiantum 
trapeziforme  ;  2.  Cattleya  aurea.  (F.  Reid).— Acacia  alata.  figured  on 
page  353.  (J.  Cowper). — Iris  fcetidissima.  (D.  R.). — Next  week 
without  fail ;  must  compare  with  growing  specimens,  and  so  far  our 
editorial  duties  have  quite  absorbed  our  time.  (A.  A.). — 1.  Leycesteria 
formosa  ;  2.  Polygonum  orientale  ;  3.  Heliantlms  orgyalis.  (R.  Ct.). — 
No.  2  was  Adiantum  sethiopieum,  not  A.  Faulkneri. 
EDITORIAL  NOTICE. — Oxxr  readers  can  greatly  assist  in  adding 
interest  to  the  pages  of  “The  Journal”  by  their  kindly  con- 
tribution  of  timely  notes  and  notices,  and  at  the  present  period 
of  the  year  there  may  be  photographic  examples  of  well-grown 
fruit,  &c..  growing  or  otherwrise,  that  would  be  worthy  of  repro¬ 
duction.  The  Editor  woxxld  be  pleased  to  have  such  subjects  for 
consideration  and  probable  use.  He  does  not  guarantee  to  pay 
for  prints  unless  by  special  agreement. 
- - 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
J.  Cheal  &  Sons,  Lowfield  Nurseries,  Crawley,  Sussex. — Ornamental 
Trees  and  Shrubs,  Fruit  Trees,  Forest  Trees,  Rhododendrons,  dbc. 
Dicksons.  Chester. — Catalogue  of  General  Nursery  Stock. 
Hudson.  Hudson’s  Bulb  Depot,  34,  Chiswick  High  Road,  London,  W. — 
Bulbs  and  Hardy  Lilies. 
Chas.  Turner.  The  Royal  Nurseries,  Slough. — Fruit  Trees,  Coniferce, 
Ornamental  Trees,  Shrubs,  Climbing  Plants,  dc. 
W.  Wells  &  Co..  Earls  wood  Nurseries,  Redhill,  Surrey. — Descript  ive 
List  of  Chrysanthemums  for  1901-1902. 
Covent  Garden  Market— October  23rd. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Fruit. 
s.  d. 
S. 
d 
xVpples,  cooking,  bush. 
2  0  to  6 
0 
Melons,  each  . 
,,  dessert  . 
3  0 
6 
0 
Pears,  English,  £  sieve 
Bananas . 
8  0 
12 
0 
Pears,  French,  crate... 
Cobnuts,  lb . 
0  8 
0 
9 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s, 
Figs,  green,  doz . 
Grapes,  Hamburgh,  lb. 
1  € 
2 
0 
each . 
0  6 
1 
0 
Plums,  £  sieve  . 
,,  Muscat  . 
1  0 
2 
6 
Walnuts,  ^  sieve . 
Lemons,  Naples,  case 
24  0 
30 
0 
Average  Wholesale 
Prices.— Vegetables. 
s.  d. 
s. 
d 
Artichokes,  green,  doz. 
2  0  to  3 
0 
Horseradish,  bunch  ... 
,,  Jerusalem,  sieve 
1  6 
0 
0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
Batavia,  doz.  . 
2  0 
0 
0 
Lettuce,  Cos,  doz . 
Beans,  French,  bushel 
1  0 
2 
0 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb. 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
0  6 
0 
0 
Mustard  &  Cress,  pnnt. 
Brussels  Sprouts, £  sieve 
2  0 
2 
3 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs  ... 
Cabbages,  tally  . 
1  6 
3 
0 
Potatoes,  English,  cwt. 
Carrots,  new,  doz.  bnch. 
Cauliflower,  tally 
3  0 
7 
0 
Radishes,  doz . 
6  0 
8 
0 
Shallots,  lb . • . 
Corn  Salad,  strike 
1  0 
1 
3 
Spinach,  bush . 
Tomatoes,  English,  lb. 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
2  0 
3 
0 
Endive,  doz . 
1  0 
1 
3 
Turnips,  doz.  bnch.  ... 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2 
0 
0 
Watercress,  doz . 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Plants  in  Pots. 
Ai’alias,  doz . 
Araucaria,  doz . 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
Chrysanthemums,  doz. 
Crotons,  doz . 
Dracaena,  var. ,  doz.  ... 
Dracaena,  viridis,  doz. 
Erica  gracilis,  doz.  ... 
,,  cafl'ra,  doz . 
Ferns,  var,  doz . 
,,  small,  100 . 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d 
5 
0tol2 
0 
Ficus  elastica, 
doz.  ... 
12 
0 
30 
0 
Foliage  plants, 
var,  each 
18 
0 
36 
0 
Lycopodiums, 
doz. 
6 
0 
30 
0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz. 
18 
0 
30 
0 
Myrtles,  doz. 
. 
12 
0 
30 
0 
Palms,  in  var. 
doz.  ... 
9 
0 
18 
0 
,.  specimens 
10 
0 
12 
0 
Primulas 
15 
0 
18 
0 
Shrubs,  in  pot 
8  . 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Solanums 
10 
0 
16 
0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Blowers. 
s.  d.  s.  d 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bnch.  1  0  to  2  0 
Carnations,  12  blooms  10  13 
Cattleyas,  doz . 12  0  18  0 
C  h  r  y  s  a  n  t  h  e  in  u  m  s, 
specimen  blooms, 
doz .  10  4  0 
,,  white,  doz.  bnchs.  2  0  4  0 
,,  coloured,  doz.  bnchs  2  0  3  0 
Eucharis,  doz .  16  2  0 
Gardenias,  doz .  16  2  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bnchs .  3  0  4  0 
Lilium  laneifoliumalb.  16  2  0 
,,  ,,  rubrum  13  16 
,,  longiflorum  ...  3  0  4  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12 
bnchs  . 12  0  18  0 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
bnchs .  3  0  4  0 
Mignonette,  English, 
doz . 
Marguerites,  white, 
doz.  bnchs . 
,,  yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
Odontoglossuins . . 
Roses,  Niplietos,  white, 
doz . 
,,  pink,  doz . 
,,  yellow, doz.  (Perles) 
,,  red,  doz . . 
Smilax,  bnch  . 
Stephanotis,  doz. 
Stock,  white,  doz.  bnchs 
,,  coloured,  doz. bnchs 
Tuberoses,  gross . 
Violets,  single,  doz  ... 
,,  double,  doz . 
d. 
S. 
d 
0 
9  to  1 
0 
2 
0 
6 
0 
4 
0 
9 
0 
3 
0 
4 
6 
2 
0 
3 
0 
2 
0 
3 
0 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d 
1 
0t< 
D  0 
0 
0 
1± 
0 
2 
1 
0 
2 
0 
0 
8 
0 
9 
0 
2 
0 
0 
2 
0 
5 
0 
3 
0 
5 
0 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
2 
0 
3 
2 
0 
3 
0 
0 
2 
0  2* 
2 
0 
3 
0 
0 
6 
0 
8 
<2. 
d. 
s. 
d 
9' 
0tol2  0 
1 
0 
5 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
6 
0 
9 
0 
15 
0 
30 
0 
21 
0 
63 
0 
3 
0 
4 
0 
4 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
10 
0 
s. 
d. 
S. 
d 
0  9tol 
6 
1 
0 
2 
0 
0 
6 
1 
0 
4  0 
5 
0 
1 
0 
2 
0 
1 
0 
3 
0 
1 
0 
1 
6 
0 
6 
1 
0 
1 
0 
2 
6 
3 
0 
0 
0 
1 
6 
2 
0 
3 
0 
0 
0 
4 
0 
5 
0 
1 
0 
1 
6 
3 
0 
4 
0 
Mr.  Haggard  and  Changes  in  Farm  Practice. 
At  last  we  have  Mr.  Haggard’s  summary  of  his  tour  of  inspec¬ 
tion  of  British  farming  and  the  conclusions  which  he  has  deduced 
therefrom.  That  he  has  arrived  at  a  true  estimate  of  the  present 
state  of  agriculture  in  this  country  few  will  deny.  It  is  notor.ous 
and  patent  to  anyone  who  lives  in  the  country  with  open  eyes, 
that  only  wrhere  the  land  is  cultivated  by  small  holders  is  there 
anything  like  an  adequate  supply  of  labour.  The  farm  labourer 
is  tired  of  working  without  a  monetary  interest  in  his  labour,  and 
failing  it,  be  goes  to  the  town,  where,  at  any  rate,  be  has  mere 
amusement  during  his  leisure  hours. 
That  in  two  points  Mr.  Haggard  has  hit  the  nail  on  the  head 
we  are  ready  to  agree.  Small  holdings,  uhlcli  lend  themselves  to 
