January  10,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
43 
Agricultural  Education  (Self  Help). — The  Royal  Agricultural  Society 
of  England  conduct  examinations  in  agriculture  and  award  diplomas. 
For  particulars  write  to  Sir  Ernest  Clarke,  13,  Hanover  Square, 
London,  W.  Reading  alone  will  hardly  be  sufficient  unless  you  have 
already  considerable  practical  knowledge.  Agricultural  training  can  be 
acquired  at  Wye,  Leeds,  Nottingham,  Aspatria,  Newcastle,  Holmes 
Chapel,  Dauntry,  &c.,  at  reasonable  charges  for  information.  Apply  to 
the  organising  secretary  of  the  various  counties. 
Pear  Tree  Scale  (P.  B.  D.). — The  growths  of  the  Pear  tree  are 
infested  with  mussel  scale,  which  may  be  destroyed  by  painting  with 
petroleum  emulsion  and  other  advertised  insecticides,  or  a  wash 
formed  of  half  a  pound  each  of  caustic  soda  and  pearlash  to  six 
gallons  of  water,  applying  with  a  brush  at  a  temperature  of  120°  to 
130°,  wetting  every  part.  This  wash  must  only  be  used  whilst  the  tree 
is  dormant,  and  care  taken  not  to  dislocate  the  buds.  The  whole  tree 
must  be  treated  with  the  solution,  without  allowing  it  to  run  down  the 
branches. 
Vine  not  Fruiting  (J.  W.  Wood). — Your  seedling  Vine  is  not  likely  to 
be  of  any  use,  and  young  wood  of  the  Black  Hamburgh,  the  same 
thickness  as  the  cane,  bad  better  be  inarched  on  it  in  the  spring.  A 
graft  or  scion  18  inches  long,  sliced  nearly  half  through  for  a  foot  in 
the  middle,  or  a  little  higher,  the  seedling  cane  sliced  also,  and  the  two 
sliced  parts  made  to  fit  well,  bound  with  tape,  then  mossed,  kept  moist, 
and  the  lower  end  of  the  graft  in  a  bottle  of  water,  will  result  in  a 
union,  and  when  growth  extends  from  the  graft,  that  on  the  stock  or 
seedling  can  be  suppressed. 
Black  Dots  on  Strawberry  Leaves  (A.  P.  J.). — The  small  shining 
black  dots  are  the  eggs  of  aphides,  which  in  due  course  will  hatch, 
and  the  parthenogenitic  insects  emerging  will  infest  the  buds  or 
expanding  young  leaves  and  trusses  of  bloom.  No  insecticide  will 
destroy  the  eggs  without  also  killing  the  leaves;  but  when  the 
aphides  appear  they  should  be  promptly  annihilated — under  glass  by 
fumigation,  repeating  at  intervals  so  as  to  have  the  plants  perfectly 
clean  before  they  come  into  flower.  Outdoors  you  may  use  a  decoction 
of  quassia  chips,  or  dust  the  plants  when  the  young  leaves  appear  with 
tobacco  powder  or  some  advertised  insecticide.  This  is  imperative  for 
securing  healthy  growth  and  clean  fruit. 
Chimonanthus  fragrans  in  Pots  (S.  D.). —  Chimonantbus  fragrans 
can  be  flowered  in  a  pot,  but  it  requires  a  very  large  one,  good  loam, 
with  a  little  peat,  plenty  of  water  in  summer,  and  a  warm  sunny  place  in 
the  autumn,  and  the  water  to  be  reduced  then  to  harden  the  wood.  It 
requires  much  the  same  culture  as  a  spurred  Currant  tree  would  do, 
only  that  the  young  stubby  shoots  are  what  must  be  looked  after  and 
prepared  for  winter.  If  a  plant  has  several  stems  now,  and  they  are 
bristling  with  short  shoots,  these  may  all  be  cut  in  to  a  bud  in  the  end 
of  March.  Ere  long  they  will  push.  If  the  shoots  come  strong  pinch 
them  back,  so  as  to  obtain  two  instead  of  one.  If  the  shoots  produced 
are  of  the  size  of  from  a  crowquill  to  a  goosequill  they  will  be  quite 
strong  enough,  and  if  these  side  shoots  grow  longer  than  from  8  to 
10  inches  nip  out  the  points.  If  the  shoots  are  too  thick  to  obtain  light 
enough  thin  them  out.  Give  all  the  heat  possible  out  of  doors  in 
autumn,  and  as  much  dryness  as  the  plants  will  stand,  to  ripen  the 
shoots.  If  the  plants  must  stand  out  in  winter  protect  the  roots  with 
litter.  As  the  soil  becomes  damp  and  the  weather  is  mild  the  buds  will 
expand.  After  flowering  prune  as  before. 
Uses  of  Flue  Dust  (J.  F.  TP.).— This  substance  is  not  soot,  but  that 
burned,  so  that  nothing  remains  of  a  fertilising  value  except  potash,  lime, 
and  other  mineral  matter.  If  you  place  a  little  in  the  fire  you  will  find 
that  it  does  not  burn  ;  if  you  do  similarly  with  a  little  soot  it  will  burn, 
and  the  result  of  the  combustion  is  ash,  and  corresponds  to  your  sample 
of  flue  dust.  It  has  no  appreciable  fertilising  action,  but  from  its 
mechanical  effect  may  be  of  slight  service  on  stiff  clay  or  peaty  soils, 
and  on  garden  ground  rich  in  humus.  If  you  have  ground  of  such 
description  you  may  find  it  serviceable — indeed,  we  have  used  similar  on 
garden  ground  which  had  been  heavily  manured  for  a  number  of  years, 
about  a  barrowload  being  used  per  square  rod  (30£  square  yards), 
spreading  evenly  on  the  surface,  and  pointing-in  to  a  depth  of  4  to 
6  inches.  The  lime  acts  beneficially  on  the  organic  matter,  making  it 
readily  available  as  food  for  plants  by  converting  it  into  ammonia 
compounds,  and  these  in  turn  into  nitrates  and  nitrates  of  lime,  in 
which  form  the  plants  take  up  the  chief  of  their  food.  The  potash  of 
the  flue  dust  is  also  of  service,  and  there  is  some  phosphoric  acid,  which 
we  have  found  to  have  a  good  effect  on  grass  land,  also  in  the  garden, 
but  the  chief  factors  are  the  lime  and  potash. 
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.  (IF.  N.  E.). — 1,  Cupressus 
torulosa ;  2,  Diplopappus  chrysophyllus.  (T.  R.  0.). — 1,  Pteris 
longifolia;  2,  Nephrolepis  davallioides  furcans;  3,  Pteris  argyrea  ;  4, 
Polystichum  aculeatum.  (C.  O.). — 1,  Cattleya  Walkeriana ;  2,  Lafiia 
autumnalis  ;  3,  Hedychium  Gardnerianum.  ( E .  G.  F.). — 1,  Rivina 
humilis  ;  2,  Ardisia  crenulata  ;  3,  Dieffenbachia  picta ;  4,  Phoenix 
rupicola  ;  5,  Kentia  Canterburyana ;  6,  Geonoma  gracilis. 
Covent  Garden  market— January  9th. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
Apples,  table,  J  bush.  ... 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
2  0  to  4  6 
„  cooking,  bush.  ... 
2  6 
7  0 
,,  Californian,  case 
7  6 
9  6 
Chestnuts,  bag,  from  . . . 
5  0 
15  0 
Cobnuts,  doz.  lb.,  best  ... 
4  0 
5  0 
Grapes,  black . 
0  6 
2  6 
„  white,  per  lb.  ... 
1  6 
5  0 
Lemons,  case  . 
9  0 
16  0 
Melons,  house,  each 
0  6 
2  6 
Average 
Wholesale 
Artichokes,  green, doz.  ... 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
2  6  to  4  0 
„  Jerusalem,  sieve 
1  6 
0  0 
Asparagus  (Sprue  Grass) 
0  8 
0  0 
„  Paris  Green 
4  6 
5  0 
Beans,  French,  per  lb.  ... 
0  6 
0  9 
„  Jersey,  per  lb.  ... 
1  6 
2  0 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
0  6 
0  0 
Brussels  Sprouts,  sieve... 
0  9 
1  6 
Cabbages,  tally  . 
3  0 
5  0 
Carrots,  doz.  bnch . 
2  0 
3  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
1  6 
3  0 
Celery,  bundle . 
1  0 
0  0 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
12  0 
18  0 
Endive,  score  . 
1  6 
0  0 
Herbs,  bunch  ...  ...  ... 
0  2 
0  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  1} 
0  0 
Lettuce,  doz.  French  ... 
0  0 
1  6 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
Oranges,  case .  6  0tol5  0 
Pears,  crate  .  3  0  7  0 
„  stewing,  case  of 
72  to  120  .  4  6  6  6 
,,  Californian,  case  15  0  18  0 
,,  Jr  case .  4  0  9  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each  3  0  6  0 
Walnuts,  bag  .  46  60 
Prices. — Vegetables. 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb.  ...  0  8  to  0  9 
Mustard  and  Cress,  pnnt.  0  2  0  0 
Onions,  Dutch,  bag  ...  3  6  0  0 
,,  English,  cwt.  ...  5  0  0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs.  ...  2  0  0  0 
Potatoes,  cwt .  30  70 
Rhubarb,  doz .  16  19 
Savoys,  tally  .  2  0  3  0 
Scotch  Kale, per  bushel...  0  9  10 
Seakale,  best,  doz . 10  0  15  0 
„  2nd,  doz .  6  0  8  0 
Shallots,  lb .  0  2  0  3 
Spinach,  bush .  10  16 
Tomatoes,  English,  lb.  ...  0  4  0  7 
Turnips,  doz .  2  0  3  0 
Turnip  tops  .  09  10 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
Cattleyas,  doz . 
Chrysanthemums,  dozen 
blooms  . 
Daffodils,  doz . 
Eucharis,  doz . 
Gardenias,  doz . 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bunches . 
Hyacinths,  doz . 
Lilium  lancifolium  album 
,,  ,,  rub  rum 
„  various . 
s.  d.  s.  d.  | 
1  6  to  2  6  !  Lilac,  white,  bunch, 
1  0  3  0  |  Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun. 
10  0  18  0 
Maidenhair 
bunches 
Fern,  dozen 
1  0 
12  0 
4  0 
3  0 
12  0 
4  0 
3  0 
3  0 
4  0 
3  0 
18  0 
6  0 
5  0 
18  0 
8  0 
5  0 
5  0 
8  0 
Marguerites,  doz.  bnchs. 
„  Yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
Mimosas,  bnch . 
Odontoglossums  . 
Poinsettias,  doz.  blooms . 
Roses  (indoor),  doz. 
,,  Safrano,  doz . 
,,  Tea,  white,  doz.  ... 
,,  Yellow, doz.  (Perles) 
Smilax,  bunch . 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
4  0  to  6  0 
12  0  18  0 
4  0  8  0 
2  0  4  0 
2  0  4  0 
10  16 
6  0  8  0 
8  0  12  0 
2  0  4  0 
16  2  0 
10  3  0 
2  0  4  0 
3  0  5  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Plants  in  Pots. 
Acers,  doz . 
Arbor  Vitae,  var.,  doz. 
Aspidistra,  doz. 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
Azaleas,  various,  each 
Boronias,  doz . 
Cannas,  doz . 
Crotons,  doz . 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz. 
Dracaena,  viridis,  doz. 
Erica,  various,  doz. 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz. 
Ferns,  var.,  doz. 
,,  small,  100 
Ficus  elastica,  each 
s.  d. 
s.d. 
12  0to24  0 
6  0 
36  0 
18  0 
36  0 
15  0 
20  0 
2  6 
5  0 
20  0 
24  0 
18  0 
0  0 
18  0 
30  0 
12  0 
30  0 
9  0 
18  0 
8  0 
18  0 
6  0 
18  0 
4  0 
18  0 
4  0 
18  0 
4  0 
8  0 
1  6 
7  6 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each  1  0to5  0 
Geraniums,  scarlet,  doz.  6  0  10  0 
,,  pink,  doz.  ...  8  0  10  0 
Hydrangeas,  white,  each  2  6  5  0 
„  pink,  doz . 12  0  15  6 
,,  paniculata,  each  10  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 .  6  0  9  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each  ...  10  15  0 
,,  specimens  .  21  0  63  0 
Roses,  doz .  6  0  18  0 
Stocks,  doz .  8  0  12  0 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
W.  Cutbush  &  Son,  Highgate. — Seeds,  Chrysanthemums. 
E.  P.  Dixon  &  Sons,  Hull. — Seeds. 
Fisher,  Son  &  Sibray,  Ltd.,  Handsworth,  Sheffield. — Seeds. 
J.  Forbes,  Hawick. — Seeds. 
Kent  &  Brydon,  Darlington. — Seeds. 
Little  &  Ballantyne,  Carlisle. — Seeds. 
Peed  &  Son,  West  Norwood.— Seeds. 
Toogood  &  Sons,  Southampton. — Seeds. 
A.  F.  Upstone,  Rotherham. — Seeds. 
R.  Veitch  &  Son,  Exeter. — Seeds. 
J.  Wood,  Penrith. — Seeds. 
