April  30,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
393 
BOOK  (J.  D.  A.). — Ye?,  Sir  Joseph  Paxton  wrote  a  book 
inider  the  title  you  name.  It.  is  probably  to  be  obtained  second¬ 
hand. 
RASPBERRY  SHOOTS. — A  bunch  of  Raspberry  shoots  has 
reached  us,  but  without  any  coniniunicatioii.  Will  the  sender 
kindly  supply  particulars? 
WEED  TO  NAME,  AND  BEST  WAY  TO  GET  RID  OF 
IT  IN  A  MEADOW  (T.  S.). — The  weed  is  a  species  of  Ruinex, 
and,  judging  from  the  young  fragments,  may  bc'  that  known  as 
Sorrel  or  Sour-gi'ass  (R.  acetosa),  of  which  there  are  numerous 
forms,  termed  by  farmers  Sour-dock,  and  is  ecmmon  in  damp 
meadows,  and  not  infrequently  associated  with  common  Docks, 
though  these  prefer  damp  positions.  The  best  means  of  eradi¬ 
cation  is  to  extract  the  rootstocks  by  means  of  a  Dock  fork,  an 
implement  with  a  spade  handle  and  a  strohg  cleft  blade  with  a 
shoulder  or  priser,  so  that  when  the  implement  is  thrust  into 
the  ground,  the  cleft  seize.s  the  taproot,  and  by  bending  down 
the  handle,  the  Dock  or  Sorrel  is  bodily  uplifted  and  pulled  up. 
This  operation  is  be-st  performed  in  the  late  winter  or  early 
spring,  when  the  ground  is  moist,  and  is  known  as  “  docking,” 
and  is  frequeirtly  necessary  in  growing  crops  of  corn,  and  also 
on  grass  land,  of  which  Docks  and  Sorrels  are  common  weeds, 
mere  especially  of  hayfields  than  of  pastures.  The  implemeiit 
known  as  a  “  Weed  Sting”  is  sometimes  used  for  destroying  such 
weeds  as  Docks,  Dandelion,  Plantain,  Ac.,  being  charged  with 
weed-killer,  and  a  puncture  made  in  the  heart  of  the  weed ; 
then  a  valve  is  opened  by  a  slight  pressure  of  the  finger  on  a 
stud,  and  the  weed-killer  escapes  and  destroys  the  weed.  Woods’ 
Weed  Sting  costs  about  9s.,  and  is  veiw  handy  and  effective,  the 
weed-killer  not  injuring  the  surrounding  grass. 
VINE  SHOOTS  AND  LEAVES  FOR  OPINION  (Nemo).— 
We  have  carefully  examined  No.  I  Vine  shoots  for  alien  bodies, 
but  have  not  found  airy  traces  of  mildew  or  other  fungoid  affec¬ 
tion  ;  indeed,  the  growths  are  c|uite,  healthy  and  vigorous,  the 
leaves  having  a  good  gloss,  and  are  stout  and  leathery  in  tex¬ 
ture.  The  younger  leaves,  however,  are  somewhat  crumpled, 
which  is  probably  due  to  a  sudden  reduction  of  temperature,  or 
an  inrush  of  cold  air.  No.  2  leaves  are  in  the  state  known  as 
waiting,  which  consists  of  small  green  excrescences  on  the  backs 
or  under  side  of  the  leave.s,  and  a  sort  of  extravasation  of  saji 
through  the  cuticle  of  the  leaf.  It  is  caused  by  a  too  close  warm 
atmosphere  saturated  with  moisture,  and  is  usually  most  pre¬ 
valent  in  the  case  of  vigorous  Vines  which  in  the  early  stages  of 
growth  have  to  be  kept  close  on  account  of  the  external  condi¬ 
tions  being  unfavourable  for  ventilating.  The  affection  is  no 
doubt  aggravated  by  cold  draughts  of  air  after  spells  of  keefping 
the  house  close  and  inoi.st.  The  warts  are  injurious  to  the 
leaves  as  affecting  respiration,  and  the  parts  do  not  recover, 
but  abide  and  become,  in  bad  cases,  brown  in  colour.  However, 
we  have  not  found  the  warts  to  seriously  affect  the  health  of  the 
Vineis,  or  prejudice  the  swelling  and  perfecting  of  their  crops. 
NAMES  OF  PLANTS. — Correspondents  whose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (S.  P.). — 1,  Narcissus  Nelsoni  major;  2,  Pyrus 
salicifolius ;  3,  Berberis  stenophylla  ;  4,  Polemoninm  niexicana ;  5, 
Mesenibryanthemuni  diminutiini ;  6,  Euphorbia  eapitata.  (,J.  D.  A.). — 
Next  week.  (X.  Y.  Z.). — Maranta  pieta. 
- - 
Meteorological  ObserYations  at  Chiswick. 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens  at  Chis¬ 
wick,  height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Covent  Garden  Market.— April  29tli. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Fruit. 
s.  d.  s.  d  s.  d.  s.  d 
Apples,  culinary,  bush.  3  0to6  0  Cobs  and  Filberts,  lb.  0  0  to  0  0 
,,  Tasmanian, case  12  0  14  0  Lemons,  Messina,  case  10  0  15  0 
Bananas .  10  0  15  0  ;  Oranges,  case  .  10  0  20  0 
Grapes,  Alicantes  ...  0  0  0  0:  Pines,  St.  Michael’s  3  6  5  0 
,,  Colman  .  3  6  4  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Vegetables. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz. 
,,  Jerusalem,  sieve 
Batavia,  doz . 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
Cabbages,  Spring,  tally 
Carrots,  bunch  . 
,,  new,  bnch.  ... 
Cauliflowers,  doz. 
Corn  Salad,  strike 
(i,'os  Lettuce,  doz . 
Cucumbers  doz . 
Endive,  doz . 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
Horseradish,  bunch  ... 
s.  d.  s.  d 
2  0  to  3  0 
16  0  0 
2  0  0  0 
0  6  10 
3  0  4  0 
0  2  0  0 
0  6  0  8 
16  0  0 
10  13 
4  0  5  0 
3  0  4  0 
16  0  0 
0  2  0  0 
13  16 
s.  d.  s.  d 
Lettuce,  Cabbage,  doz.  1  Otol  3 
Leeks,  bunch  .  0  2  0  2^ 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb.  0  8  0  9 
Mustard  &  Cress,  doz. 
punnets .  16  0  0 
Onions,  bushel  .  3  0  0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs.  ...  2  0  3  0 
Potatoes,  ewt .  4  0  6  0 
Radishes,  doz .  0  9  10 
Spinach,  bush .  3  0  0  0 
Tomatoes,  Canary  Isles, 
per  case  .  4  0  0  0 
Turnips,  bnch .  0  0  0  2 
,,  new,  bnch.  ...  0  7  0  8 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.- Plants  in  Pots. 
Most  of  the  undermentioned  plants  are  sold  in  48  and  32-sized  pot. 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
Aralias,  doz . 
5  0tol2  0 
Araucaria,  doz . 
12  0 
30  0 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
18  0 
36  0 
Cinerarias,  doz . 
4  0 
6  0 
Crotons,  doz . 
Cyperus  alternifolius 
18  0 
30  0 
doz . 
4  0 
5  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz.  ... 
12  0 
30  0 
,,  viridis,  doz. . 
9  0 
18  0 
Erica  melanthera,  doz. 
24  0 
30  0 
,,  Wilmoreana 
10  0 
15  0 
,,  persoluta  . 
15  0 
18  0 
,,  Cavendish! . 
18  0 
24  0 
.,  candidissima  ... 
18  3 
21  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz . 
4  0 
18  0 
,,  small,  100 . 
10  0 
16  0 
s.  d.  s.  d 
Ficus  elastica,  doz.  ...  9  0tol2  0 
Foliage  plants,  var,  each  10  5  0 
Grevilleas,  48’s,  doz.  ...  5  0  0  0 
Heliotrope  .  8  0  9  0 
Hydrangeas,  pink  ...  10  0  15  0 
white  ...10  0  15  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz.  ...  3  0  0  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.  8  0  9  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 
Pelargoniums  . 10  0  12  0 
Shrubs,  in  pots  .  4  0  6  0 
Spirteas,  5in.  pots  ...  6  0  8  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.- Cut  Flowers 
Arums,  doz . 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bnch. 
Carnations,  12  blooms 
Cattleyas,  doz . 
Croton  foliage,  bun.  ... 
Cycas  leaves,  each 
Daffodils,  single,  doz. 
bnch . 
,,  double,  doz. 
bnch . 
Eucharis,  doz . 
Gardenias,  doz . 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bnchs . 
Ivy  leaves,  doz.. bun. ... 
Lilium  Harris!  . 
Lily  of  Valley,  12  bnchs 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
bnchs . 
Marguerites,  white, 
doz.  bnchs . 
,,  yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
s.  d.  s.  d 
3  0  to  4  0 
1  0 
1  3 
12  0 
0  9 
0  9 
2 
2 
15 
1 
1 
6  0 
1  6 
4  0 
9  0 
3  0 
1  6 
3  0  4  0 
3  0  4  0 
0  0  5  0 
2  0  2  6 
0  0 
0  0 
5  0 
12  0 
7  0  8  0 
4  0 
2  0 
Myrtle, English,  bunch 
Narcissus,  Sol  d’Or,  doz. 
,,  Poeticus,  doz  bnchs 
,,  Grand  Primo  ,, 
Odontoglossums . 
Orange  blossom,  bunch 
Roses,  Niphetos,  white, 
doz . 
,,  pink,  doz . 
,,  yellow,doz.(Perles) 
,,  Liberty,  doz . 
,,  Generals . 
Smilax,  bunch  . 
Tuberoses,  dozen . 
Tulips,  pink,  doz.bnch. 
,,  white,  ,, 
,,  yellow,  ,, 
,,  terracotta  ,, 
,,  scarlet  ,, 
Violets,  doz.  bun. 
,,  Marie  Louise... 
s.  d.  s.  d 
0  6  to  0  0 
0  0  0  0 
16  2  6 
10  16 
4  0  5  0 
2  0  0  0 
16  2  0 
2  0  4  0 
16  2  0 
2  0  4  0 
2  0  2  6 
4  0  5  0 
0  9  0  0 
8  0  10  0 
8  0  10  0 
8  0  10  0 
8  0  0  0 
4  0  6  0 
2  0  2  6 
2  0  3  0 
Date. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Boil. 
At  9  A.M. 
o 
1903. 
April. 
a 
At  9  A.M, 
Day. 
Night 
‘S 
P4 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-£t. 
deep. 
3  CO 
"S  -la  ® 
^  ©0 
u 
a 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
43 
U2 
O 
bD 
5 
43 
00 
O 
s 
o 
a 
<u  ° 
Bnnday  ...19 
N.N.E. 
deg. 
57'3 
deg. 
34-6 
deg. 
54-1 
deg. 
280 
Ins. 
deg. 
43  2 
deg. 
45-5 
deg. 
47-2 
deg. 
15-1 
Monday  ...20 
S.E. 
46-9 
41-9 
56-1 
29-0 
— 
43-8 
45-7 
47-0 
17  5 
Tuesday  ...21 
E.S.E. 
46-8 
42-5 
47-9 
33-9 
— 
44  6 
45-8 
47-0 
22-3 
Wed'sday  22 
E.N.E. 
43-7 
38-6 
44-3 
34 '8 
— 
44-1 
45-8 
46-9 
26-2 
Thursday  25 
N. 
42-8 
39-5 
48-1 
31-3 
— 
45-7 
45'7 
46'8 
21-4 
Friday  ...24 
N. 
41-8 
381 
48-3 
34-7 
— 
44-6 
45-5 
46-8 
25-3 
Saturday  25 
S.S.E. 
47  2 
40M 
58-2 
28-2 
0-33 
• 
43q 
45-3 
46-8 
12-3 
Means  ... 
43'8 
39-4 
51-0 
31-4 
Total. 
0  33 
439 
45'6 
46  9 
20'1 
A  fine  week,  with  cold  wind  and  sharp  ground  frosts  every  morning. 
Some  Losses  among  Stock, 
Again  and  again  the  bolt  falls  from  a  clear  sky.  The 
greater  part  of  the  farmer’s  capital  is  locked  up  in  his 
stock,  the  value  of  which  fluctuates  in  a  much  greater 
measure  than  the  outsider  would  suppose.  YVe  do  not 
mean  to  say  the  fluctuations  are  as  varied  and  cpiick  as 
those  on  “Change;”  our  business  is  slower  altogether; 
but  we  have  known  a  good  warm  rain  at  this  time  of  the 
year  make  sheep  run  up  several  shillings  per  head  during 
