February  28,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
185 
Covent  Garden  market. — February  27th. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Fruit. 
a  i  ,  .  ,  ,  s.  d.  s.  d.  s.d.  s.d. 
Apples,  cooking,  bush. ...  2  6  to  7  0 .  Lemons,  case  .  9  0tol60 
,,  Californian,  case  7  6  9  6  Oranges,  case .  60  150 
Apricots,  Cape,  box  ...  8  0  10  0  Pears,  crate  .  30  70 
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  15  0  18  0 
„  Dutch,  lb .  0  6  10  ,,  4  case .  9  0  10  0 
„  white,  per  lb.  ...  1  6  5  0  Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each  16  4  6 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Vegetables. 
&.  d.  s.  d. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz.  ...  2  6  to  3  6 
„  Jerusalem,  sieve  16  0  0 
Asparagus  (Sprue  Grass)  0  6  0  8 
„  English,  100  ...  7  0  0  0 
„  Giant,  bundle  ...  15  0  20  0 
„  Spanish,  bundle  .16  19 
„  Paris  Green  ...  5  0  6  0 
Batavia,  doz  .  13  16 
Beans,  French,  per  lb.  ...  010  0  0 
.,  Jersey,  per  lb.  ...  1  6  2  0 
Beet,  red,  doz .  0  6  0  0 
Broccoli,  bush . ,r  ...  0  6  10 
Brussels  Sprouts,  sieve...  10  2  0 
Cabbages,  tally  .  3  0  5  0 
Carrots,  doz.  bnch .  2  0  3  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz .  16  3  0 
Celery,  bundle .  10  19 
Chicory,  Belgian,  lb  ...0  4  0  0 
Corn  Salad,  strike .  10  13 
Cucumbers,  doz . 12  0  18  0 
Endive,  doz  .  16  00 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Greens,  bush . 
0 
6  to  1 
0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Leeks,  bunch  ...  ' . 
0 
14 
0 
0 
Lettuce,  doz.  French  ... 
0 
8 
1 
0 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb.  ... 
0 
8 
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 
3 
0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
3 
0 
7 
0 
Badishes,  doz  . 
1 
0 
1 
3 
Bhubarb,  doz . 
1 
2 
1 
5 
Savoys,  tally  . 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Scotch  Kale,  per  bushel... 
0 
6 
1 
3 
Seakale,  best,  doz . 
12 
0 
0 
0 
„  2nd,  doz . 
6 
0 
8 
0 
Shallots,  lb . 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Spinach,  bush . 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Turnips,  doz . 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Turnip  tops  . 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Watercress,  doz  . 
0 
8 
010 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch 
1  6  to  2  6 
Maidenhair  Fern,  dozen 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
2  0 
3  0 
bunches . 
4  0  to  8  0 
Cattleyas,  doz . 
10  0 
18  0 
Mimosas,  bnch . 
1  0 
1  6 
Daffodils,  doz .  . 
6  0 
9  0 
Odontoglossums  . 
4  0 
8  0 
Eucharis,  doz . 
4  0 
6  0 
Boses  Tea,  white,  doz.  ... 
1  0 
3  0 
Gardenias,  doz . 
3  0 
5  0 
„  yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
2  0 
4  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
„  red,  doz . 
6  0 
10  0 
bunches . 
8  0 
12  0 
„  Catherine  Mermet, 
Hyacinths,  doz . 
4  0 
8  0 
doz . 
6  0 
12  0 
Lilium  lancifolium  album 
3  0 
5  0 
Smilax,  bunch . 
3  0 
5  0 
,,  „  rubrum 
3  0 
5  0 
Tulips,  yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
6  0 
9  0 
„  various . 
4  0 
8  0 
„  white  „  „ 
8  0 
10  0 
Lilac,  white,  bunch, 
3  0 
5  0 
„  red  „  „ 
6  0 
8  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  12  bun. 
8  0 
12  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Plants  in  Pots. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.d. 
s.  d. 
Arbor  Vitas,  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 
12  0to24  0 
6  0 
18  0 
15  0 
2  6 
20  0 
18  0 
18  0 
12  0 
9  0 
8  0 
6  0 
4  0 
4  0 
4  0 
1  6 
36  0 
36  0 
20  0 
5  0 
24  0 
0  0 
30  0 
30  0 
18  0 
18  0 
18  0 
18  0 
18  0 
8  0 
7  6 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each  1  Oto  5  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 .  ...  60  90 
Palms,  in  var.,  each  ...  10  15  0 
„  specimens  .  21  0  63  0 
Boses,  doz .  6  0  18  0 
Stocks,  doz .  8  0  12  0 
More  About  Fertilisers. 
In  dealing  with  this  subject  lately  we  referred  more  particularly 
to  the  various  forms  of  phosphate,  and  as  this  manure  is  practically 
the  only  one  which  is  of  use  in  growing  Turnips,  we  may  in  a  few 
words  dismiss  the  root  crop  from  our  present  article.  We  have  before 
us  the  results  of  the  very  valuable  experiments  of  the  Wilts  County 
Council,  and  note  that  in  the  growth  of  Swedes  with  superphosphate 
the  addition  of  1  cwt.  per  acre  of  nitrate  of  soda  produced  only  12  cwt. 
more  roots  than  super  alone,  and  did  not  pay ;  2  cwt.  nitrate  produced 
an  increase  of  32  cwt.,  just  paying  for  itself ;  whilst  3  cwt.  produced 
a  very  small  increase  indeed,  and  was  quite  a  failure.  This  was  on 
light  sandy  land  at  Lickhill,  and  is  quite  corroborative  of  our  own 
experience,  that  there  are  only  two  things  worth  applying  to  light 
soils  for  Swedes — viz.,  phosphate  (in  the  form  of  bonemeal  or  super, 
or  both),  and  spit  muck. 
In  speaking  of  roots  we  only  referred  to  Turnips,  and  did  not 
include  Mangolds,  which  most  decidedly  benefit  from  liberal  supplies 
of  nitrogen.  At  Quemerford,  in  Wiltshire,  on  strong  soil,  and  there¬ 
fore  favourable  to  the  Mangold  crop,  the  following  mixture  was  used 
for  it,  the  Mangold  being  grown  after  Oats  manured  with  2  cwt.  of 
nitrate  of  soda  and  3  cwt.  of  superphosphate.  The  Mangold  manure  : 
nitrate  of  soda  4j  cwt.,  superphosphate  1  cwt.,  salt  3  cwt.  per  acre. 
On  the  average  of  four  years  the  unmanured  plot  produced  19  tons  per 
acre,  and  the  manured  34  tons,  showing  a  gain  of  15  tons  of  Mangold, 
worth  at  least  £7  lCs.,  produced  at  a  cost  of  £2  6s.,  and  showing  a 
nett  profit  of  £5  4s. 
The  nitrate  was  applied  in  several  dressings,  no  more  than  14  cwt. 
at  one  time.  We  take  it  as  proved  that  for  Mangold  on  heavy  land 
farmyard  muck  may  be  dispensed  with,  and  in  fact  if  the  seedtime  be 
a  dry  one  the  use  of  any  considerable  quantity  of  muck  may  be 
attended  by  considerable  risk  of  failure  in  obtaining  a  good  plant. 
Favourable  as  the  Quemerford  results  are,  however,  we  should  like  to 
suggest  that  tne  second  top-dressing  should  take  the  form  of  an 
equivalent  quantity  of  sulphate  of  ammonia  in  place  of  the  nitrate, 
and  even  the  third  dressing  might  profitably  take  the  form  of  sulphate. 
We  have  used  both  forms  of  nitrogen,  and  found  them  equal  as  regards 
produce,  but  we  thought  the  sulphate  produced  bulbs  of  better 
quality. 
Artificials  used  to  aid  the  growth  of  grain  crops  are  not  so  much 
favoured  by  agriculturists  as  they  should  be.  When  we  consider  the 
whole  cost  of  a  crop — rent,  labour,  and  seed — an  additional  outlay  of 
£1  or  £1  5s.  per  acre  does  not  seem  an  excessive  outlay  when  it 
practically  assures  a  full  profitable  crop.  Of  course  there  is  land  which 
is  naturally  so  fertile  that  if  it  is  kept  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation  it 
will  produce  a  full  crop  without  artificial  assistance.  By  a  full  crop 
we  mean  as  much  as  the  land  can  carry  and  bring  to  maturity. 
Overdpne,  unhealthy  crops  are  not  generally  profitable.  But  we  may 
see  at  Quemerford  an  illustration  of  profitable  top-dressing.  The 
Barley  crop  after  Mangold  was  dressed  with  1^  cwt.  nitrate  of  soda  and 
4  cwt.  basic  slag  per  acre,  the  latter  being  applied  during  the  winter. 
The  cost  per  acre  was  £1  4s.  3d.,  and  the  gain  over  an  unmanured 
plot  was  750  lbs.  of  grain  and  '14  cwt.  of  straw,  together  valued  at 
£3  12s.  4d.,  and  showing  a  profit  per  acre  on  the  manure  of  £2  8s.  Id. 
This  was  very  satisfactory.  The  Lickhill  Barley  experiment  was  not 
so,  however,  but  we  attribute  this  less  pleasing  result  to  the  fact  that 
the  Barley  was  grown  after  a  Potato  crop,  which  experience  teaches  us 
is  a  bad  preparation  for  Barley,  especially  on  light  soils. 
During  a  thirty  years  experience  on  light  land  we  have  thrice 
allowed  Barley  to  follow  Potatoes.  The  third  trial  was  convincing, 
and  proved  that  dressings  of  nitrogen  did  positive  harm.  At  Lickhill 
the  Barley  was  dressed  with  3  cwt.  superphosphate,  and  with  nitrogen 
in  varying  quantities.  One  plot  had  l|  cwt.  nitrate  per  acre,  one 
1  cwt.,  a  third  half  cwt.  The  results  showed  a  profit  over  the 
unmanured  plot  of  13s,  per  acre  on  plot  1,  16s.  4d.  per  acre  on  plot  2, 
and  2s.  2d.  per  acre  upon  plot  3.  The  quality  of  the  grain  must  have 
been  very  moderate,  as  it  weighed  only  51  lbs.  per  bushel  on  the 
manured  plots,  and  51J  lbs.  on  the  unmanured,  and  it  must  have  been 
very  similar  to  that  we  grew  after  Potatoes — viz,  little  better  than  hen 
corn.  N.B. — Wheat  should  fo  low  Potatoes. 
The  Quemerford  experiments  with  Oats  had  very  mixed  results,  for 
whereas  a  dressing  of  2  cwt.  nitrate  of  soda  aud  4  cwt.  of  basic  slag 
pmduced  13  bushels  per  acre  more  than  an  un  nanured  plot,  the  latter 
produced  7  bushels  more  than  a  plot  manured  with  4  tons  per  acre  of 
farmyard  manure.  The  latter  can  hardly  have  done  harm  if  it  did 
no  good,  but  Mr.  Corbet,  the  secretary,  explains  that  the  Clover  crop 
which  preceded  the  Oats  was  experimented  upon  with  a  compound 
Clovtr  manure,  that  where  none  of  this  was  used  the  crop  was  almost 
entirely  one  of  Clover,  which  would  leave  a  valuable  residue,  whereas 
where  the  manure  was  used  the  grasses  (or  in  bis  language  gramineous 
herbage)  were  greatly  encouraged,  the  crop  contained  very  little  Clover, 
and  the  residue  was  of  proportionately  less  value.  This  Clover  manure 
must  have  contained  considerable  nitrogen  to  act  as  it  did.  A 
mixture  of  potash  and  phosphates  would  seem  to  have  been  more 
suitable  to  encourage  Clover.  However,  this  difference,  or  rather 
patchiness  in  the  Clover  crop,  spoiled  the  Oat  experiment,  and  we  can 
only  gather  one  essential  fact/that  the  applications  of  nitrogen  and  lime 
in  artificial  form  were  decidedly  profitable. 
Manures  for  Potatoes  are  probab'y  the  most  important  items  in 
connection  with  their  cultivation.  Iso  crop  pays  better  for  high 
