Norember  29,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
501 
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 
beat  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  oflBce  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  difiicult  to 
separate  them  when  the  paper  is  damp.  {Tyro). — We  have  repeatedly 
warned  our  readers  against  posting  flowers  for  naming  on  Saturday,  as 
this  involves  lying  in  the  post  over  Sunday.  Yours  were  quite  dead  ; 
send  fresh  ones  and  we  will  gladly  assist  you.  {M.  C.  C.). — 1, 
Asparagus  plumosus  nanus  ;  2,  A.  deflexus ;  3,  A.  Sprengeri.  (F.  S.). — 
1,  Aralia  Vietchi ;  2,  Bertolonia  guttata ;  3,  Justicia  coccinea.  {L.  G.). 
— 1,  Jasminum  nudiflorum  ;  2,  J.  revolutum.  {E.  D.). — 1,  Impatiens 
Sultani ;  2,  I.  Hawkeri ;  3,  Tradescantia  species ;  4,  Adiantum 
concinnum. 
- - 
Covent  Garden  market. — November  28tli. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
Apples,  table,  ^  bu.sli.  ... 
2  0  to  4  6 
Oranges,  case . 
6  OtolS  0 
„  cooking,  bush.  ... 
1  6 
5  0 
Peaches,  doz.  good  size ... 
6  0 
9  0 
,,  Californian,  case 
7  6 
9  6 
Pears,  crate  . 
3  0 
7  0 
Chestnuts,  bag,  from 
5  0 
15  0 
„  stewing,  case  of 
Cobnuts,  doz.  lb.,  best 
4  0 
5  0 
72  to  120 . 
4  6 
6  6 
Grapes,  black . 
0  6 
2  6 
,,  Californian,  case 
24  0 
0  0 
,,  white . 
1  6 
3  0 
,,  ,,  ^  case 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
12  0 
14  0 
Lemons,  case  . 
9  0 
16  0 
3  0 
6  0 
Melons,  house,  each 
0  6 
2  6 
Walnuts,  bag  . 
4  6 
6  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Vegetables. 
Artichokes,  green, doz. ... 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
3  0  to  4  0 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb.  ... 
s.  d.  3.  d. 
1  0  to  0  0 
„  Jerusalem,  sieve 
2  0 
0  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  pnnt. 
0  2 
0  0 
Asparagus  (Sprue  Grass) 
0  8 
0  0 
Onions,  Dutch,  bag 
4  0 
4  6 
„  Paris  Green 
5  6 
6  6 
„  English,  cwt.  ... 
5  0 
0  0 
Beans,  French,  per  lb.  ... 
0  4 
0  6 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
0  0 
„  Jersey,  per  lb.  ... 
1  3 
0  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
3  0 
7  0 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
0  6 
0  0 
Rhubarb,  doz. ...  . 
4  0 
6  0 
Brussels  Sprouts,  sieve... 
1  0 
1  6 
Savoys,  tally  . 
2  0 
3  0 
Cabbages,  tally  . 
3  0 
5  0 
Scotch  Kale,  bushel 
0  6 
1  0 
Carrots,  doz.  bnch . 
2  0 
3  0 
Seakale,  best,  doz . 
12  0 
15  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
1  0 
2  0 
„  2nd,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
Celery,  bundle^ . 
1  0 
0  0 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  2 
0  3 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
1  6 
3  0 
Spinach,  bush . 
1  0 
1  6 
Endive,  score  . 
1  6 
0  0 
Tomatoes,  English,  lb.  ... 
0  2 
0  5 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2 
0  0 
Turnips,  doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  li 
0  0 
Turnip  tops  . 
0  9 
1  0 
Lettuce,  doz.  French  ... 
0  9 
1  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
s.  d. 
8.  (i. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch 
1  6  to  2  6 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun. 
6  0itol5  0 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
1  0 
3  0 
Maidenhair  Fern,  dozen 
Cattleyas,  doz . 
6  0 
12  0 
bunches . 
4  0 
8  0 
Chrysanthemums,  dozen 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
4  0 
blooms  . 
1  0 
3  0 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
4  0 
Eucharis,  doz . 
1  6 
2  0 
Odontoglossums  . 
3  0 
4  0 
Gardenias,  doz . 
1  0 
2  0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz. 
2  0 
4  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
,,  Red,  doz . 
1  0 
2  0 
bunches . 
6  0 
9  0 
„  Safrano,  doz . 
1  6 
2  0 
Lilac,  white,  bunch. 
4  0 
6  0 
,,  Tea,  white,  doz.  ... 
1  0 
3  0 
Lilium  lancifolium  album 
1  6 
2  6 
„  Yellow,doz.  (Perles) 
2  0 
4  0 
„  „  rubrum 
1  6 
2  6 
Smilax,  bunch . 
2  0 
4  0 
„  various . 
2  0 
3  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Plants  in  Pots. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
8.  d. 
Acers,  doz . 
.  12  0to24  0 
Foliage  plants,  var. ,  each 
1  0to5  0 
Arbor  Vitae,  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 
„  pink,  doz . 
12  0 
15  6 
Boronias,  doz .  . 
.  20  0 
24  0 
,,  paniculata,  each 
1  0 
3  0 
Cannas,  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 
30  0 
Marguerite  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 
15  0 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz.  . 
.  4  0 
18  0 
,,  specimens  . 
21  0 
63  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz . 
.  4  0 
18  0 
Roses,  doz . 
6  0 
18  0 
,,  small,  100  . 
.  4  0 
8  0 
Stocks,  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each 
.  1  6 
7  6 
Farming  Witliont  Capital. 
If  we  were  asked  what  in  our  opinion,  next  to  foreign  com[etition, 
has  been  the  chief  agent  in  bringing  farmers  to  ruin,  we  should 
without  the  least  hesitation  say  “  want  of  sufficient  capital.”  Thirty 
years  ago  it  was  comparatively  easy  for  a  tenant  to  take  a  farm  and 
stait  w  th  barely  enough  money  to  pay  the  outgoing  tenant’s  claims 
and  buy  the  necessary  horses  and  implements  wherewith  to  work  it.  It 
was  comparatively  easy,  we  say,  for  him  to  rear  up  a  stock  of  cattle  and 
sheep  from  the  annual  |  rofits,  and  in  a  few  years  find  himself  with  a 
farm  which  has  stocked  itself  and  a  bank  book  with  the  balance  on 
the  right  side.  With  a  good  farm  at  a  reasonable  rent  many  a 
farmer  has  done  this,  and  we  could  mention  several  instances.  But, 
alas  !  that  was  a  fleeting  era  of  prosperity,  and  scores  and  hundreds 
of  others  emulating  their  example  and  imbued  with  the  idea  that 
farming  spelt  fortune,  tried  the  same  experiment  with  very  different 
results.  The  tide  of  foitune  was  at  the  ebb,  bad  weather  added  to 
rapidly  fallii  g  prices,  the  other  factor  necessary  to  complete  their 
discomfiture,  and,  instead  of  a  well  stocked  holding,  the  lapse  of  a 
few  years  found  them  selling  their  keeping  to  jobbers  or  more  opulent 
neighbours,  whilst  tne  bank  book,  if  inspected,  would  have  told  a  very 
sad  tale. 
Thousands  have  dropped  out  of  farming  who  never  really  were 
absolute  masters  of  their  holdings,  and  thousands  are  still  carrying  on 
an  unequal  struggle  under  similar  conditions.  Although  a  farmer  does 
not  make  such  constant  use  of  his  cheque  book  as  a  merchant  does,  or 
turn  over  very  large  sums  through  his  banker,  yet  he  is  looked  upon 
by  the  latter  as  a  fairly  safe  customer,  and  one  to  whom  a  large 
overdraft  may  be  allowed.  This  is  pleasant  enough  for  the  impecunious 
tenant,  but  the  charges  each  January  and  July  for  interest  and 
commission  when  entered  in  their  proper  place  in  the  balance  sheet 
have  a  sad  way  of  spoiling  its  appearance.  Scarcity  of  labour  is 
considered  to  be  the  chief  agricultural  difficulty  to-day,  but  a  farmer 
would  be  better  without  men  than  without  money,  for  with  the  latter 
he  is  master  of  himself  and  of  his  own  actions,  and  can  purchase 
machinery  to  take  the  place  of  men  as  far  as  possible. 
We  know  tenants  at  the  present  time  who  are  as  far  backward 
with  their  rents  as  their  landlords  will  allow  them  to  be,  who  have  to 
sell  lambs  to  find  money  for  harvest  wages  and  buy  lambs  again  to 
put  on  Turnips  in  October  as  soon  as  the  relieving  officer — ie.,  the 
threshing  machine — has  paid  a  lengthened  visit  to  the  stackyard. 
They  sell  everything  prematurely  because  they  are  compelled  to  do  so. 
The  corn  merchant  gets  good  bargains  by  buying  their  grain  and 
advancing  the  larger  portion  of  the  money  on  the  day  of  purchase ;  the 
Potato  merchant  gets  a  similar  pull  by  buying  the  crop  long  before  it 
is  ready  for  market  and  making  a  substantial  advance  upon  it;  the 
cattle  dealer  is  conveniently  handy  when  money  is  wanted,  and  though 
the  stock  offeied  him  may  not  be  in  very  saleable  condition  he  will 
regulate  the  price  to  meet  the  case,  and  having  grass  or  yard  keep 
waiting  to  meet  just  such  emergencies  he  can  accommodate  the  farmer 
by  acting  in  a  capacity  which  is  very  nearly  related  to  that  of  a 
pawnbroker. 
As  a  fact  in  many  cases  the  stock  remains  on  the  farmer’s  premises 
or  land,  the  dealer  paying  a  small  agistment  and  reselling  the  stock 
to  the  farmer  at  a  good  profit  when  the  latter  is  again  in  lunds.  But 
someone  will  say,  “Why  !  bank  interest  and  commission  would  be 
cheaper  accommodation  than  this.”  Yes,  so  it  would ;  but  in  such 
cases  the  credit  at  the  bank  will  already  have  been  stretched  to  its 
utmost  limit. 
Then  there  is  the  purchasing  side  of  the  account.  Cash  payments 
and  consequent  cutting  down  of  prices  to  the  lowest  point  being  not 
only  imfossible,  but  credit  having  already  been  accepted  from  the 
manure  mei  chant,  seed  merchant,  and  other  tradesmen,  all  the  articles 
required  and  bought  for  the  farm  have  been  and  are  bought  at  full 
credit  prices,  and  the  difference  between  these  and  those  quoted  for 
cash  it  does  not  require  a  Daniel  to  discern. 
Many  retail  manure  and  seed  merchants  make  a  living  by  allowing 
long  credit  to  farmers,  two  and  three  years’  credit  not  being  at  all 
uncommon.  The  dealer  purchases  from  the  manufacturers  for  cash, 
and,  in  order  to  make  his  interest  for  money,  his  profit,  and  a  margin 
for  bad  debts,  naturally  makes  the  retail  price  a  very  stiff  one. 
