January  15,  1S03. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
65 
Covent  Garden  Market.— Januarj  14th, 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Fruit. 
s.  d.  s.  d 
Apples,  Blenheims, 
bu.sh.  7  0  to  0  0 
,,  culinary,  bush.  3  0  4  0 
,,  King  Pippins, 
^-sieve  3  0  0  0 
Bananas . 10  0  15  0 
Cobs  and  Filberts,  lb.  0  5  0  0 
Grapes,  Muscat  .  3  0  5  0 
s.  d.  s.  d 
Grapes,  Alicantes  ...  1  6  to  2  6 
,,  Cohnan  .  16  2  6 
Lemons,  JNIessina,  case  10  0  15  0 
Oranges,  case-  .  10  0  20  0 
Pears,  dessert,  ^-sieve  3  0  6  0 
stewing,  i-sieve  2  6  3  6 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s, 
each .  2  6  5  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Vegetables. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz. 
,,  Jerusalem,  sieve 
Batavia,  doz . 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
Brussels  Sprouts, 
sieve . 
Cabbages,  tally  . 
Carrots,  new,  bun. 
Cauliflowers,  doz. 
Corn  Salad,  strike 
Cucumbers  doz . 
Endive,  doz . 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
s.  d.  s.  d  s.  d.  s.  d 
2  0  to  3  0  Horseradish,  bunch  ...  2  0  to  2  6 
1  6  0  0  Leeks,  bunch  .  0  1^  0  2 
2  0  0  0  Lettuce,  Cabbage,  doz.  13  0  0 
0  6  0  0  Mushrooms,  forced,  lb.  0  8  10 
I  Mustard  &  Cress,  pnnt.  0  2  0  0 
1  6  0  0  Onions,  bushel  .  3  0  4  0 
3  0  0  0  Parsley,  doz.  bnchs.  ...  2  0  0  0 
0  2  0  0,  Potatoes,  cwt .  5  0  6  0 
2  0  2  6  Radishes,  doz .  10  0  0 
10  13  Spinach,  bush .  2  0  2  6 
10  0  12  0  Tomatoes,  Canary  Isle.s, 
1  6  0  0/  per  case  .  4  0  4  6 
0  2  0  0  Turnips,  bnch .  0  0  0  2 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Plants  Jn  Pots. 
Most  of  the  undermentioned  plants  are  sold  in  48  and  32-sized  pots 
Aralias,  doz . 
s. 
5 
d.  s. 
0tol2 
d 
0 
Araucaria,  doz . 
12 
0 
30 
0 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
18 
0 
36 
0 
Crotons,  doz . 
Cyperus  alternifolius 
doz . 
18 
0 
30  0 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Dracaena,  van,  doz.  ... 
12 
0 
30  0 
,,  viridis,  doz. . 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Erica  melanthera,  doz. 
24 
0 
30  0 
,,  hyemalis  . 
10 
0 
12  0 
Ferns,  van,  doz . 
4 
0 
18 
0 
,,  small,  100 . 
10 
0 
16 
0 
Ficus  elastica,  doz.  ... 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Average  Wholesale 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d 
Arums,  doz . 
4 
0to5 
0 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bnch. 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Bouvardia,  coloured, 
doz.  bunches  . 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Carnations,  12  blooms 
1 
3 
1 
9 
Cattleyas,  doz . 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Chrysanthemums,  doz. 
bun. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
,,  doz.  blooms 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Croton  foliage,  bun.  ... 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Cycas  leaves,  each 
0 
9 
1 
6 
Cypripediums,  doz.  ... 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Daffodils,  single,  doz. 
bnch . 
10 
0 
15 
0 
,,  double,  doz. 
bnch . 
12 
0 
15 
0 
Eucharis,  doz . 
3 
0 
0 
0 
Freesia,  white,  doz. 
bnch . 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Gardenias,  doz . 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bnchs . 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Ivy  leaves,  doz.  bun. ... 
1 
6 
0 
0 
Lilium  Harris!  . . 
4 
0 
5 
0 
,,  lancifoliumalb. 
2 
0 
2 
6 
,,  1.  rubrum . 
2 
0 
0 
0 
,,  longiflorum  ... 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Foliage  plants,  var,  each 
s.  d.  s.  d 
1  0  to  5  0 
Grevilleas,  48’s,  doz.  ... 
Lycopodiums,  doz.  ... 
5  0 
0  0 
3  0 
0  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz. 
8  0 
10  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  6 
Palms,  in  var.,  doz.  ... 
15  0 
30  0 
,,  specimens 
21  0 
63  0 
Pandanus  Veitchi,  48’s, 
doz . 
24  0 
30  0 
Primulas  . 
4  0 
5  0 
Shrubs,  in  pots  . 
4  0 
6  0 
Solanums  . 
10  0 
12  0 
?rices.— Cut  flowers 
Lily  of  Valley,  12  bnchs 
s.  d.  s.  d 
9  0tol8  0 
Maidenhair  Pern,  doz. 
bnchs . 
.  8  0 
9  0 
Marguerites,  white, 
doz.  bnchs . 
3  0 
4  0 
,,  yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
1  6 
2  0 
Myrtle,  English,  per 
bunch  . 
0  6 
0  0 
Narcissus,  Sol  d’Or,  doz. 
2  6 
4  0 
,,  paper  white,  ,, 
Odontoglossums . 
1  6 
2  0 
4  0 
5  0 
Orange  blossom,  bunch 
2  0 
0  0 
Roses,  Niphetos,  white, 
doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
,,  pink,  doz . 
2  0 
5  0 
,,  yellow,doz.(Perles) 
1  6 
3  0 
,,  Liberty,  doz . 
18  0 
0  0 
Smilax,  bunch  . 
2  6 
3  0 
Tuberoses,  dozen . 
0  9 
1  0 
Tulips,  pink,  doz.  buch. 
10  0 
]5  0 
,,  white. 
10  0 
15  0 
,,  yellow, 
,,  terra  cotta  ,, 
10  0 
15  0 
10  0 
15  6 
,,  scarlet  ,, 
6  0 
8  0 
Violets,  doz.  bun. 
1  0 
1  0 
,,  Alarie  Louise... 
3  0 
4  0 
Big  Trees  In  California. 
A  determined  effort  will  be  made  by  a  number  of  public 
.'spirited  organi.sations  in  the  West  to  get  a.  bill  through  Congress 
at  this  session  for  an  appropriation  to  purchase  the  Calaveras  big 
tree.s  in  California  and  have  the  tract  containing  these  wonders 
of  Nature  turned  into  a  national  park.  The  preparatory  .step, 
says  an  American  paper,  in  this  matter  was  taken  at  a  meeting 
called  by  the  members  of  the  C’alifoniia  Club,  at  San  Francisco, 
December  8.  At  this  meeting  it  was  decided  that  no  time  should 
be  lost,  and  it  was  decided  to  invite  a  number  of  local  organisa¬ 
tions  to  appoint  from  their  muster  rolls  a  delegate  each,  to  form 
a  central  committee  to  see  that  no  stone  .shall  be  left  unturned 
in  endeavouring  to  get  the  appropriation  through.  The  big 
grove  of  Sec|uoias  is  on  what  is  known  as  the  Sperry  tract,  and 
compri.ses  2,300  acres  of  land.  Should  Congress  pass  the  bill, 
that  calls  for  an  appropriation  of  $200,000,  Robert.  B.  White- 
side,  the  pre.sent  owner  of  the  property,  would  bei  tendered  the 
money,  and  .should  he  refuse  to  accept  such  sum  condemnation 
proceedings  would  at  once  be  instituted. 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
Barr  and  Sous,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C. — Seed  Guide,  lOOd. 
Bull  and  Sons.  Chelsea,  London. — Seeds. 
Win.  Colehc.ster  and  Co.,  fpswieh. — Fertilisers. 
Dicksons  and  Co..  1,  W  aterloo,  Edinburgh. — See  's. 
Drummond  and  Sons,  Ltd.,  58  and  59,  Dawson  Street,  Dublin.— Sm/s. 
Fi.sher,  Son  and  Sibray,  Ltd.,  Royal  Nurseries,  Handsworth,  Sheffield, 
—Seeds. 
Gilbert  and  Sons,  Anemone  Nurseries,  Dyke,  Bourne,  Lincolnshire. — 
Sweet  Peas. 
Hogg  and  Robertson,  22.  Mary  Street,  Dublin. — Seeds. 
Kent  and  Brvdon.  Darlington. —  Seed  Guide,  1903. 
Ki-iiger  and  Schwenke,  Sehonelierg.  Berlin. — Seeds. 
3.  R.  Pearson  and  Sons.  Chilwell  Nurseries.  Lowdham,  Notts. — Seeds. 
Friedr.  tt  Pomrencke,  Altona,  Hamburg. —  Seeds. 
F.  A.  Roseoe,  The  Golden  Orchard,  Steeple  Morden,  Royston.— 
Sweet  and  Culinary  Peas. 
Thomas  S.  Ware  (1902),  Ltd.,  Hale  Farm  Nurseries,  Feltham,  Middle¬ 
sex. — Seeds. 
Williams  and  Son,  Victoria  and  Paradise  Nurseries,  Upper  Holloway, 
London,  N. — Seeds, 
Friends  or  Foes? 
Bacteria,  a  subiect  so  ^yide,  so  vast,  and  so  complex 
that  it  frightens  us  off  from  the  beginning!  We  should 
Qcver  have  tackled  it  but  for  the  fact  of  having  just  leacl, 
with  immense  profit  (we  hope)  and  pleasure  (we  are  sure), 
work  on  bacteriology  in  relation  to  agriculture  by  an 
American  savant  called  H.  W.  Conn.  By  the  way,  we  get 
many  good  things  in  the  way  of  agricultural  books  from 
ficross  the  Herring  Pond.  Only  last  week  three  big  volumes 
same  under  our  notice,  and  we  begin  wdth  this  as  being, 
perhaps,  in  the  most  condensed  form.  ,  „  „  , 
We  were  rather  puzzled  as  to  how’  best  to  defane  the  w’orcl, 
out  we  have  it  here  specified  and  labelled.  Bacteria  belong: 
o  the  group  of  colourless  plants  called  Fungi.  The  higher 
organisations  wm  know  as  Mushrooms,  and  the  second  are 
-he  budding  fungi  (yeasts),  wholly  microscopic  oval  oi* 
5pherical  cells,  which  multiply  by  small  buds  which  grow  on 
he  sides.  The  third  are  also  microscopic,  and  reproduce 
hemselves  somewhat  differently  from  the  second.  Instead 
of  forming  buds,  they  lengthen  themselves  somewhat,  and 
-hen  divide  into  two  equal  halves,  and  as  they  can  do  this 
under  favourable  conditions)  in  half  an  hour,  it  is  needless 
io  say  their  multiplication  is  rapid.  Some  bacteria  have 
5till  another  mode  of  reproduction,  that  is,  by  ^ 
mores  ;  and  these  spores  are  very  much  more  difficult  to 
lestroy  than  bacteria  proper.  Whereas  mo.st  bacteria  can 
oommonly  be  killed  by  a  temperatiii^  of  16(^de^  F.  the 
mores  will  resist  a  far  greater  degree  of  heat.  This  is  a  point 
-o  be  borne  in  mind.  It  is  all  very  well  killing  the  crocodile, 
mit  what  about  the  undestroyed  eggs  !  „  , 
Well,  what  does  bacteria  for  the  farmer?  We  fancy  most 
M  us  would  say  Haim,  simply  because  it  is  of  the  harmful 
Dacteria  we  know’  the  most.  Professor  Conn  gives  us  quite 
fnew  light  on  the  subiect.  He  tells  of  the  wonderful  mode 
ny  which  these  myriads  have  disintegrated  tfie  sub- 
Bvided  minerals  and  in  fact  prepared  the  soil— bioken  it 
;lp,  is  it  ”“e  r  BO  that  plant  life  may  be  brought  mto  con- 
‘““Then''  iliim‘’tve  knotv  that  plant  life  cannot  thrive 
a-ithoiff  the  help  of  nitrogen.  W^here  does  all  the  supply 
-ome  from WTiy  has  it  not  been  exhausted  in  past  ages  ? 
Simply  because  the  nitimgen  does  not  disappear  ;  ^ 
Dver  and  over  again;  brought  back  to 
indefatigable  workers,  extracted  from  every  n^oisel  ot 
organic  matter  which,  serving  them  first  as  food,  soon  sees 
'^^^A^Gve^b^Seria  in  soil  will  greatly  increase  its  fertility, 
especially  if  it  oe  the  nitro-bactena,  and  the  stimulus  it 
aeeds  is  a  wet  soil  and  an  alkaline  medium,  and  also  a  good 
supply  of  oxygen,  which  can  only  be  obtained  by  thorough 
deep  cultivation  and  pulverisation.  W^e  wonder  if  we  have 
