August  23,  1900 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
189 
Names  of  Plants. — We  only  undertake  to  name  species  of  cultivated 
plants,  not  wild  flowers,  or  varieties  that  have  originated  from  seeds  and 
termed  florists’  flowers.  Flowering  specimens  are  necessary  of  flowering 
plants,  and  Fern  fronds  should  bear  spores.  Specimens  should  arrive 
in  a  fresh  state  in  securely  tied  firm  boxes.  Thin  paper  boxes  arrive  in 
a  flattened  state.  Slightly  damp  moss,  soft  green  grass,  or  leaves  form 
the  best  packing,  dry  wool  or  paper  the  worst.  Those  arrive  in  the 
best  condition  that  are  so  closely  or  firmly  packed  in  soft  green  fresh 
grass,  as  to  remain  unmoved  by  shaking.  No  specimens  should  be  sent 
to  rest  in  the  post  office  over  Sunday,  on  which  day  there  is  no  delivery 
of  postal  matter  in  London.  Specimens  in  partially  filled  boxes  are 
invariably  injured  or  spoiled  by  being  dashed  to  and  fro  in  transit.  Not 
more  than  six  specimens  can  be  named  at  once,  and  the  numbers  should 
be  visible  without  untying  the  ligatures,  it  being  often  difficult  to 
separate  them  when  the  paper  is  damp.  (P.  H.). — 1,  Lajlia  elegansj 
2,  Ixora  Duffi ;  3,  Pavonia  grandiflora.  (F.  W.  TF.). —  1,  Catalpa 
bignonioides  (syringsefolia),  of  which  we  hope  to  give  an  illustration, 
with  letterpress,  in  an  early  issue.  (Fei'n  Lover). —  1,  Blechnum 
brasiliense ;  2,  Anthurium  variegatum  ;  3,  Kalosanthes  coccinea  ; 
4,  Adiantnm  cuneatum  ;  5,  A.  concinnum  ;  6,  Pteris  tremula.  (H.  J.  R.). 
—  1,  Hyacinthus  candicans  ;  2,  Heuchera  sanguinea ;  3,  Trollius 
europseiis  ;  4,  Chrysanthemum  maximum;  5,  Rubus  odoratus  ;  6,  Loni- 
cera  involucrata.  {0.  B). — Olearia  Haasti  ;  the  Fern  is  Pteris 
loiigifolia.  (W.  E.). — 1,  Crataegus  coccinea  variety  ;  2,  Kalmia  angusti- 
folia  rosea;  3,  Kerria  japonica  ;  4,  Campanula  lacti flora  ;  5,  Pernettya 
mucronata  ;  6,  Leucothoe  Catesbcei.  Only  six  specimens  can  be  named 
in  one  issue. 
- - 
Covent  Garden 
Ilarket. — Anpst  22nd 
% 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
B.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  r. 
Apples,  4  bushel  .  2  6  to  5  0 
Greengages,  box  . 
0  4  to  1  6 
Apricots,  box .  0  8 
1  3 
„  sieve  . 
4  6 
6  0 
Cherries,  J  bushel  .  6  0 
12  0 
Lemons,  case  . 
10  0 
30  0 
„  4  bushel .  3  0 
6  0 
Melons,  house,  each 
2  0 
3  0 
,,  cooking,  sieve  ...  5  0 
6  0 
Oranges,  case  . 
10  0 
25  0 
Currants,  sieve .  6  0 
7  0 
Nectarines,  doz . 
1  6 
9  0 
,,  red,  sieve .  4  0 
6  0 
Peaches,  doz.  small . 
1  0 
2  0 
Figs,  green,  doz .  1  6 
8  0 
„  doz.,  good  size... 
6  0 
9  0 
Gooseberries,  ripe,  J  bushel  2  0 
2  6 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
3  0 
8  0 
„  green,  J  bushel  4  0 
7  (1 
1  Plums,  4  bushel  . 
3  6 
5  0 
Grapes,  black  .  0  6 
2  6 
Raspberries,  12  lbs . 
3  0 
6  0 
Average  Wholesale 
Prices. — V  egetahles. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz.  ...  1  6  to  2  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  8  to  0  0 
Beans,  Long  Pods .  2  0 
3  0 
Mint,  green,  doz.  bunches 
2  0 
0  0 
„  French,  sieve  ...  2  0 
3  0 
Mushrooms,  lb . 
1  3 
1  6 
„  scarlet,  sieve  ...  2  0 
3  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  punnet 
0  2 
0  0 
Beet,  red,  doz .  0  6 
1  6 
Onions,  Egyptian,  bag  ... 
4  0 
0  0 
Cabbages,  tally .  3  0 
6  0 
Parslev,  doz.  bunches  ... 
2  0 
4  0 
Carrots,  doz.  bunches  ...  2  0 
3  0 
Peas,  English,  per  bushel 
1  6 
5  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz .  3  0 
4  0 
Pot&tiO0Sf  cwtj*  •••  •••  ••• 
5  0 
10  0 
Celery,  bundle .  1  0 
1  9 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  2 
0  3 
Cucumbers,  doz .  2  0 
4  0 
Spinach,  bushel  . 
2  0 
6  0 
Endive,  doz .  1  6 
0  0 
Tomatoes,  English,  doz.  lb. 
3  0 
5  0 
Herbs,  bunch  .  0  2 
0  0 
Turnips,  doz . 
4  0 
6  0 
Lettuce,  doz .  1  0 
2  6 
Vegetable  Marrows,  doz.... 
0  9 
1  6 
„  Cos,  score,  from  0  6 
2  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
8.  d. 
B.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch...  1  6  to  2  0 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0  to  4  0 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ...  1  0 
2  0 
„  Yellow  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
4  0 
Cattleyas,  per  doz .  6  0 
12  0 
Oduntoglossums  . 
3  0 
4  0 
Eucharis,  doz .  2  0 
3  0 
Pelargoniums,  doz.  bnchs 
2  0 
4  0 
Gardenias,  doz .  10 
2  0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
Geranium, scarlet.doz.bchs.  4  0 
5  0 
fi>0df  doz*  •••  ••• 
1  0 
2  0 
Lilium  lancifolium  album  2  0 
3  0 
„  Safrano,  doz  . 
1  6 
2  0 
„  „  rubrum  2  0 
3  0 
„  Tea,  white,  doz.  ... 
2  0 
3  C 
,,  various  .  2  0 
3  0 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
1  0 
2  6 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun.  8  0 
18  0 
„  English: — 
Maidenhair  Fern,  dozen 
„  La  France,  doz. 
1  0 
2  0 
bunctes .  2  0 
4  0 
Smilax,  bunch . 
2  0 
4  0 
Mignonette,  doz.  bunches  1  0 
2  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Plants  in  Pots. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
Acers.  doz . 12  0to24  0 
1  Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0  to  5  t 
Arbor  Vilaj,  var.,  doz.  ...  6  0 
36  0 
Geraniums,  scarlet,  doz.... 
6  0 
10  0 
Aspidistra,  doz . 18  0 
36  0 
„  pink,  doz.  ... 
8  0 
10  0 
Aspidistra,  specimen  ...  15  0 
20  0 
Hydrangeas,  white,  each 
2  6 
5  0 
Azaleas,  various,  each  ...  2  6 
5  0 
,,  pinit,  doz. 
12  0 
16  0 
Boronias,  doz . 20  0 
24  0 
,,  paniculata,  each 
1  0 
3  6 
Gannas,  doz  . 18  0 
0  0 
Lilium  Harrisi,  doz . 
8  0 
18  0 
Crotons,  doz . 18  0 
30  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3  0 
6  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz . 12  0 
80  0 
M^arguerite  Daisy,  doz.  ... 
8  0 
10  0 
Dracaena  viridis,  doz.  ...  9  0 
18  0 
Mignonette,  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
Erica  various,  doz .  8  0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz.  ...  6  0 
18  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each 
1  0 
16  0 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz.  ...  4  0 
18  0 
,,  specimens  . 
21  0 
63  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz .  4  0 
18  0 
Roses,  per  doz . 
6  0 
18  0 
„  small,  100  .  4  0 
8  0 
Stocks,  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
Ficus  elastica,  e»ch .  16 
7  6 
The  Outlook— Is  it  Good? 
We  have  before  us  the  completed  crop  reports  published  by 
the  “Times”  and  the  agricultural  journals,  and  after  a  little  study 
of  them  we  are  enabled  to  arrive  at  a  fairly  accurate  conclusion  as 
to  the  productiveness  of  this  season’s  crops.  The  grain  crops  are 
easy  lo  estimate,  as  they  are  ready  to  secure,  and  there  is  not  much 
danger  now  that  the  root  crops  will  vary  to  any  great  degree  from 
the  various  estimates.  The  period  of  very  wet  and  stormy  weather 
which  occurred  simultaneously  with  the  publication  of  the  reports 
must  have  done  considerable  damage  to  Barley  and  Oats,  and  as 
regards  the  earlier  districts  the  reports  must  be  accepted  with 
considerable  modification.  We  know  personally  of  very  serious 
damage  to  B.rrley,  both  cut  and  standing;  the  former  being  badly 
sprouted,  and  the  latter  necked,  as  well  as  very  much  twisted 
about. 
Of  one  thing  we  are  convinced — i.e.,  that  the  reports  may  be 
accepted  as  being  representative  of  the  most  intelligent  and  advanced 
opinion  of  the  farmers  of  the  various  counties,  the  names  of  those 
who  contribute  them  being  almost,  if  not  altogether,  the  best  possible 
selection  that  could  be  made.  After  a  close  analysis  of  the  collective 
wisdom  of  these  experts,  it  is  found  that  52  per  cent,  give  Wheat 
as  an  average  crop,  8  per  cent,  report  it  as  over  average,  and  40  per 
cent,  make  it  below  the  average.  Few  speak  of  either  good  or  bad 
crops;  and  as  regards  the  yield  of  grain,  we  have  concluded  the  Wheat 
crop  to  be  nearly  up  to  the  average,  which  might  actually  bo  reached 
if  the  report  of  the  threshing  machine  is  quite  satisfactor)'.  We  fear,, 
however,  that  the  ears  are  not  long  enough,  or  sufficiently  wide- 
chested  to  pleasantly  surprise  farmers  in  that  way.  That  there  is  not 
a  heavy  crop  of  Wheat  straw  has  been  evident  since  the  spring,  and 
this  view  is  entirely  borne  out  by  the  repot  ts,  many  of  which  speak 
of  shortness,  but  none  of  length  of  straw. 
Turning  to  Barley,  we  acknowledge  a  surprise.  So  much  of 
this  crop  was  sown  under  adverse  conditions,  and  the  weather 
did  so  little  to  encourage  growth  until  far  into  summer,  that 
an  average  crop  was  hardly  looked  for.  Such  a  crop,  however,  we  ■ 
must  take  to  be  the  Barley  crop  of  1900,  for  although  30  per  cent, 
of  the  reports  give  it  as  below  the  average  as  compared  to  22  above, 
the  latter,  as  a  rule,  speak  of  it  in  such  glowing  terms  that  these 
favoured  districts  should  make  up  the  full  deficiency  of  those  below 
average.  The  straw  also  is  better  spoken  of  than  that  of  Wheat, 
some  reports  saying,  “  Straw  longer  than  it  has  been  for  years.”  It 
is  to  be  feared  that  the  good  promise  of  these  crops  may  not  be 
entirely  fulfilled  if  they  have  been  subjected  to  a  fair  .share  of  the 
storm  and  flood  of  last  week. 
The  Oat  crop  is  not  so  bad  as  last  year,  but  the  records  are  very 
discouraging,  particularly  so  as  the  bad  accounts  come  in  many  cases 
from  peculiarly  Oat  growing  districts  where  it  is  the  chief  cereal,  and 
an  important  item  in  the  economy  of  the  farm.  No  less  that  56  per 
cent,  of  the  reports  are  below  average,  and  the  terms  “  bad,”  “  very 
bad,”  “much  under,”  constantly  occur,  the  straw  being  spoken  of  as 
very  short  and  light,  in  fact  the  failure  of  the  crop  seems  to  have 
been  accomplished  in  its  early  stages  ;  34  per  cent,  proclaim  the  crop 
an  average  one,  and  10  per  cent,  over  average  ;  of  these  but  two  are 
couched  in  at  all  glowing  terms,  and  four  of  the  10  per  cent,  come 
from  one  county,  Devonshire.  It  is  very  noticeable  that  winter  Oats 
are  all  very  favourably  spoken  of,  as  also  are  the  earliest  sown 
spring  crops.  Considering  that  winter  Oats  are  an  almost  unvarying 
success,  we  wonder  that  they  ate  not  more  largely  grown.  They  are 
