December  27,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
585 
Spikes  of  Coelogyne  cristata  Damping  Off  (J.  McM.). — The  flowers 
are  decayed  in  the  sheathe,  this  probably  arising  from  the  plants  being 
syringed,  and  the  water  resting  on  the  sheaths.  Water  should  be 
supplied  without  wetting  the  leafage  or  flower  spikes.  Of  course  the 
plant  may  not  hare  been  so  treated  ;  or  if  it  has,  its  constitution  may 
be  weaker  than  the  adjoining  one,  and  in  consequence  more  readily 
affected  by  damp. 
Ornithogalum  lactenm  ((7.  B.). — This  plant  should  be  grown  in  a 
cool  greenhouse  in  well  drained  pots  in  a  loamy  soil.  Flowers  are 
usually  borne  in  late  spring  or  early  summer.  Plenty  of  water  is 
required  during  the  growing  season,  reducing  the  supply  as  the  leaves 
begin  to  decay.  After  the  leaves  have  died  a  rest  of  several  months’ 
duration  is  required.  When  repotting  is  necessary  it  should  be  done 
jnst  before  growth  commences.  It  rejoices  in  plenty  of  sun  and  air. 
Frost  and  Snow  Table  Decorations  (S.  W.). — Various  methods  are 
adopted  for  giving  to  branches  of  Larch,  Spruce,  Gorse,  and  other 
materials  the  appearance  of  being  coated  with  frost  or  snow.  One  is 
to  dip  them  in  whitewash,  and  then  dust  flnely  powdered  glass  over 
them  to  add  a  glistening  appearance.  A  lighter  dressing,  to  represent 
frost  rather  than  snow,  is  applied  by  jnst  dipping  the  materials  in 
water  (containing  enough  size  to  make  it  adhesive)  and  then  dusting 
them  with  finely  powdered  whitening  and  glass.  If  you  first  try  a  few 
experiments  you  will  soon  be  able  to  secure  the  appearance  you  desire. 
There  is  we  believe  a  special  preparation  now  made  for  the  purpose, 
but  we  have  had  no  experience  in  the  use  of  it. 
Wame  of  insect  {W,  J.,  Walton- on- Thames), — The  specimens  sent 
are  chrysalids  of  some  smalj  butterfly,  as  appears  by  their  angular 
form — probably  those  of  one  of  the  small  whites,  either  Pieris  rapae  or 
P.  napi,  but  this  can  only  be  ascertained  by  their  emergence  in  spring. 
No  caterpillar  of  any  British  butterfly  is  recognised  as  a  foe  to  the 
Vine,  but  some  species  occasionally  feed  upon  plants  not  their  wonted 
food,  owing  to  some  eccentricity  of  the  mother  insect.  Or,  it  may  be, 
the  caterpillars  fed  up  during  autumn  on  some  adjacent  plants,  and 
resorted  to  the  Vino  rods  as  offering  a  convenient  spot  for  suspension 
through  the  winter.  Anyway,  it  is  not  very  likely  the  caterpillars  will 
hereafter  appear  on  the  Vine  to  do  mischief. 
Ashes  of  Burnt  Horse  Manure  with  Deal  Wood  Chippings  {Constant 
Header). — The  ashes  are  mainly,  but  not  exclusively,  a  potassium 
manure.  If  exposed  to  the  weather  for  any  length  of  time,  or  leached, 
they  rarely  contain  more  than  1  or  2  per  cent,  of  potash  and  about  1  per 
cent,  of  phosphoric  acid.  The  ashes  are  valuable  for  leguminous  crops, 
such  as  Broad  and  Kidney  Beans  and  Peas,  and  as  a  top-dressing  on 
lawns,  grass  lands  and  pastures.  For  the  Brassica  tribe  the  ashes  are 
effective,  but  should  be  mixed  in  the  proportion  of  parts  of  the 
unleached  ashes  and  65  parts  of  bonemeal,  applying  the  mixture  at  the 
rate  of  10  lbs.  per  rod,  or  4  ozs.  per  square  yard,  afterwards  pointing 
in  lightly.  The  mixture  is  also  effective  for  fruit  trees,  applying  in  the 
autumn  or  very  early  spring. 
Propagating  Lemon-scented  Verbena  (H.  8.). — The  best  plan  is  to 
provide  thrifty  young  plants  in  the  spring  and  grow  them  on  for  the 
season.  As  the  wood  ripens,  give  them  less  water  until  they  are  at 
rest,  when  it  must  be  nearly  withheld.  At  the  end  of  January  or  begin¬ 
ning  of  February  bring  them  into  light  and  warmth,  and  water 
thoroughly.  As  the  plants  are  merely  intended  to  furnish  cuttings  they 
need  not  be  pruned,  only  it  is  an  advantage  to  cut  off  the  unripened 
points  of  the  shoots  so  as  to  cause  them  to  push  strong  growths  f^om 
the  parts  that  remain.  When  the  young  shoots  are  about  3  inches  in 
length,  they  should  be  taken  off  with  a  heel,  have  the  base  trimmed 
smooth,  the  leaves  removed  about  half  their  length,  and  then  inserted 
in  sandy  soil,  placing  the  cuttings  around  the  side  of  pots  in  the  usual 
way,  and  then  plunging  in  a  mild  bottom  heat,  or  standing  in  a  propa¬ 
gating  frame,  keeping  rather  close,  and  shaded  from  bright  sun  and  too 
powerful  light.  Care  must  be  taken  not  to  overwater,  yet  keeping 
moist,  and  the  atmosphere  not  too  close  and  stagnant,  yet  sufficient  to 
prevent  flagging.  The  cuttings  will  root  in  about  three  weeks,  when, 
being  gradually  hardened  off,  they  may  be  potted  off  singly  and  grown 
on  in  gentle  heat,  ultimately  hardening  off  and  transferring  to  a  green¬ 
house,  or  even  outdoors  at  the  early  part  of  June.  The  plants  will 
require  stopping  to  produce  bushy  plants. 
Names  of  Fruits  (E.  C.  TF.). — Marechal  de  Cour.  (E.  D.  8.). — 
Beauty  of  Hants.  {D.  A.). — 1,  Bramley’s  Seedling;  2,  Tower  of 
Glamis ;  3,  Warner’s  King.  (S.  J.  G.). — Excellent  examples  of  Dume- 
low’s  Seedling;  this  varmty  is  known  as  Wellington  in  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  of  the  metropolis,  and  as  Normanton  Wonder  in  the  Midlands. 
(C.  F.). — 1,  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin  ;  2,  Claygate  Pearmain ;  3,  Keinette 
de  Canada;  4,  Baumann’s  Red  Winter  Reinette;  5,  Foster’s  Seedling. 
(J.  T.). — 1,  Golden  Winter  Pearmain  ;  2,  Count  Pendu  P14t ;  3, 
unknown,  probably  local ;  4,  small  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin ;  5,  large 
Cobham. 
Names  of  Plants  (H.  A.). — 1,  Cyperus  alternifolius ;  2,  Ardisia 
crenulata;  3,  Adiantum  formoenm.  {W.  It.). — 1,  Cypripedium  insigne, 
good  form  ;  2,  Lselia  arcei  s ;  for  particulars  of  cultivation  see  article 
by  “  J.  P.  B.”  on  page  573.  (A.N.). — I,  Libonia  floribunda;  2,  Cuphea 
platycentra;  3,  Begonia  manicata;  4,  Daphne  indica.  (G.  W.  R). — 
I,  Stachys  Sieboldi;  2,  Erigeron  speciosus;  3,  Phyllocladus  sp. 
(probably  P.  rhomboidalis)  ;  4,  Selaginella  Emiliana ;  5,  Libonia  flori- 
bnnda  ;  6,  impossible  to  name  without  flowers. 
Covent  Carden  ll[arket, — December  26tli. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
Apples,  table,  ^  bush.  . . . 
„  cooking,  bush.  .. . 
,,  Californian,  case 
Chestnuts, bag,  from  ... 
Cobnuts,  doz.  lb.,  best  ... 
Grapes,  black . 
„  white,  per  lb. 
Lemons,  case  . 
Melons,  house,  each 
Artichokes,  green,  doz.  .. 
„  Jerusalem,  sieve 
Asparagus  (Sprue  Grass) 
„  Paris  Green 
Beans,  French,  per  lb.  ... 
„  Jersey,  per  lb.  .. 
Beet,  red,  doz _  ...  .. 
Brussels  Sprouts,  sieve... 
Cabbages,  tally 
Carrots,  doz.  bnch.... 
Cauliflowers,  doz.  ... 
Celery,  bundle . 
Cucumbers,  doz. 
Endive,  score  . 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
Lettuce,  doz.  French 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
Cattleyas,  doz. . 
Chrysanthemums,  dozen 
blooms  . 
Daffodils,  doz . 
Eucharis,  doz . 
Gardenias,  doz . 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bunches . 
Hyacinths,  doz . 
Lilium  Ian  cifolium  album 
„  „  rubrum 
„  various . 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
2  0  to  4  6 
Oranges,  case . 
6  0  tol5  0' 
2  6 
7  0 
Pears,  crate  . 
3  0 
7  0 
7  6 
9  6 
„  stewing,  case  of 
5  0 
15  0 
72  to  120 . 
4  6 
6  6 
4  0 
5  0 
,,  Californian,  case 
15  0 
18  0 
0  6 
2  6 
„  i  case  . 
4  0 
9  0 
1  6 
5  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
3  0 
6  0 
9  0 
16  0 
Walnuts,  bag  . 
4  6 
6  0 
0  6 
2  6 
Wholesale 
Prices. — Vegetables. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
2  6  to  4  0 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb.  ... 
0  8  to  0  9 
1  6 
0  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  pnnt. 
0  2 
0  0 
0  8 
0  0 
Onions,  Dutch,  bag 
3  6 
0  0 
4  6 
5  0 
,,  English,  cwt.  ... 
5  0 
0  0 
0  6 
0  9 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
0  0 
1  6 
2  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
3  0 
7  0 
0  6 
0  0 
Rhubarb,  doz . 
1  6 
1  9 
0  9 
1  6 
Savoys,  tally  . 
2  0 
3  0 
3  0 
5  0 
Scotch  Kale,  per  bushel. . . 
0  9 
1  0 
2  0 
3  0 
Seakale,  best,  doz . 
10  0 
15  0 
1  6 
3  0 
„  2nd,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
1  0 
0  0 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  2 
0  3 
12  0 
18  0 
Spinach,  bush . 
1  0 
1  6 
1  6 
0  0 
Tomatoes,  English,  lb.  ... 
0  4 
0  7 
0  2 
0  0 
Turnips,  doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
0  li 
0  0 
Turnip  tops  . 
0  9 
1  0 
0  0 
1  6 
1 
Wholesale 
Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
1  6  to  2  6 
1  0 
10  0 
3  0 
18  0 
10  3  0 
1.5  0  20  0 
5  0  7  6 
3  0  5  0 
12  0 
4  0 
3  0 
3  0 
4  0 
18  0 
8  0 
5  0 
5  0 
8  0 
Lilac,  white,  bimch,  ...  4  0  to 6  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun.  12  0  24  0 
Maidenhair  Fern,  dozen 
bunches .  40  80 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs.  2  0  4  0 
,,  Yellow,  doz.  bnchs.  2  0  4  0 
Mimosas,  bnch .  10  16 
Odontoglossums  .  6  0  8  0 
Poinsettias,  doz.  blooms .  8  0  12  0 
Roses  (indoor),  doz.  ...  2  0  4  0 
,,  Safrano,  doz .  16  2  0 
,,  Tea,  white,  doz.  ...  10  3  0 
,,  Yellow,doz.  (Perles)  2  0  4  0 
Smilax,  bunch .  3  0  5  O' 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Plants  m  Pots. 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
Acers,  doz . 12  0to24  0 
Arbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz.  ...  6  0  36  0 
Aspidistra,  doz .  18  0  36  0 
Aspidistra,  specimen  ...  15  0  20  0 
Azaleas,  various,  each  ...  2  6  5  0 
Boronias,  doz .  20  0  24  0 
Cannas,  doz .  18  0  0  0 
Crotons,  doz .  18  0  30  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz.  ...  12  0  30  0 
Dracaena,  viridis,  doz.  ...  9  0  18  0 
Erica,  various,  doz.  ...  8  0  18  0 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz.  ...  6  0  18  0 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz.  ...  4  0  18  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz .  4  0  18  0 
„  small,  100  4  0  8  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each  ...  16  76 
s.  d.  s.  d.. 
Foliage  plants,  var. ,  each  1  0  to  5  0 
Geraniums,  scarlet,  doz.  6  0  10  0 
,,  pink,  doz.  ...  8  0  10  0 
Hydrangeas,  white,  each  2  6  5  fl 
,,  pink,  doz . 12  0  15  6 
,,  paniculata,  each  1  0  3  0- 
Lilium  Harrisi,  doz  ...  8  0  18  0' 
Lycopodiums,  doz .  3  0  6  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz....  8  0  10  0 
Mignonette,  doz .  8  0  12  0 
Myrtles,  doz .  60  90 
Palms,  in  var.,  each  ...  10  15  0 
„  specimens  .  21  0  63  0 
Roses,  doz .  6  0  18  0 
Stocks,  doz .  8  0  12  0- 
Looking  Back. 
To  think  that  another  year  has  nearly  closed;  that  another 
century  will  soon  be  numbered  with  the  past !  Why,  it  hardly  seems 
more  than  a  week  or  two  since  Christmas  and  the  New  Year  were 
here.  Either  we  are  getting  old  or  time  flies  as  it  never  did 
when  we  were  young.  We  never  get  in  all  we  want^  to  do  ;  perhaps 
it  is  lack  of  method,  perhaps  we  overrate  our  abilitus,  our  staying 
powers— a  little  of  both.  The  sins  of  on. is-ion  are  more  in  evidence 
than  the  sins  of  commission.  1901  s  breaking  more  brightly  than 
1900.  Last  Christmas  it  was  not  “Peace  on  earth.”  We  heard  the 
clash  of  battle.  The  Angel  of  Death  was  abroad— pestilence  as  well 
