March  14,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
231 
Clipping  ivy  (F.  G.  D.). — We  would  not  advise  you  to  prune  until 
about  the  first  Week  in  April.  If  you  clip  the  Ivy  now  the  walls  will 
appear  unsightly  for  many  weeks  longer  than  they  would  do  were  you 
to  shear-off  the  old  foliage  just  prior  to  the  time  when  the  new  growth 
will  have  started.  There  is  then  no  “gap,”  as  it  were,  for  fresh  green 
leaves  immediately  take  the  place  of  the  old  ones. 
Manuring  Narcissi  (T.  A.). — If  the  soil  is  as  poor  as  you  state  it  to 
be  the  only  way  to  help  the  Narcissi  is  to  apply  an  artificial  manure. 
The  amount  of  bonemeal  you  name  is  none  too  much,  and  it  will 
go  a  long  way.  Bs sic  slag,  however,  would  act  more  speedily.  As  the 
plants  are  now  a  considerable  size  you  will  have  to  scatter  it  amongst 
them,  choosing  a  showery  day  if  possible  for  doing  so.  It  is  too  late  to 
apply  nitrate  of  soda. 
Standard  Crittenden  Damson  Trees  not  Satisfactory  (17.  17.,  Berks). — 
Instead  of  pruning  the  heads  of  trees  that  are  healthy  and  make  a  good 
deal  of  spray,  but  fruit  very  indifferently,  it  would  be  advisable  to  root- 
prune  them,  taking  out  a  trench  3  or  4  feet  from  the  stem,  and  severing 
some,  if  not  all,  of  the  thickest  roots  found  theie,  afterwards  filling  the 
trench  firmly.  This  would  check  the  undue  vigour,  which  is  probably 
the  cause  of  the  indifferent  bearing,  and  induce  shorter  growths,  with  a 
plentiful  number  of  fruit  spurs.  It  is  not  advisable  to  prune  the  heads  of 
standard  trees  to  any  great  extent,  merely  thinning  where  the  growths 
are  crowded,  removing  branches  crossing  each  other,  and  judiciously 
shortening  straggling  parts,  so  as  to  keep  the  head  fairly  open  and 
evenly  balanced.  The  root-pruning  may  yet  be  performed,  but 
operate  with  as  little  delay  as  possible. 
Passion  Flower  not  Flowering  (Idem). — If  the  growths  are  cut  back 
to  a  bud  or  two  of  their  base  the  growths  from  this  ripened  wood  ought 
to  flower  during  the  summer,  provded  they  are  trained  rather  thinly. 
The  pruning  should  be  done  during  next  month.  As  the  growth  is  so 
free  it  would  also  be  advisable  to  take  out  a  trench  about  2  feet  from 
the  stem  and  as  deeply  as  the  roots,  so  as  to  sever  them,  filling  in  the 
trench  firmly.  This  ought  to  result  in  a  sturdy  and  floriferous 
growth. 
Pruning  Clematis  montana  (Idem). — The  pruning  should  be  confined 
to  removing  the  weak  and  overcrowded  branches,  but  as  your  plants  are 
becoming  exhausted  they  should  have  all  the  weak  as  well  as  dead  wood 
cut  away,  shortening  some  of  the  branches  to  near  their  base,  and  thus 
giving  space  for  young,  vigorors  growths,  and  these,  well  ripened,  will 
give  gai lands  of  flowers  on  branches  several  feet  in  length  another 
season,  the  unripe  wood  only  being  out  off. 
Rusty  Spots  on  Vine  Leaves  (7.  Z). — The  leaves  you  sent  were  badly 
affected  with  warts;  but  we  have  seen  worse  specimens  without  having 
detected  any  great  harm  from  the  same.  The  warts,  as  you  may 
notice,  are  green,  and  that  some  of  them  are  djing,  giving  the  leaves  a 
rusty  appearance.  Waits  are  nearly  or  always  caused  by  too  moist  and 
stagnant  an  atmosphere.  To  remedy  this  you  will  have  to  ventilate  a 
little  mt'  re  freely,  though  cautiously  all  the  same,  and  the  syringing 
must  not  be  carried  out  ofteuer  than  twice  on  bright  days,  aud  once, 
with  agoed  damping  down,  on  dull  days.  It  is  a  penny  wise  pound 
foolish  policy  to  keep  houses  very  close  in  order  to  economise  the  0"al 
bill.  It  cannot  be  kept  up  with  justice  to  Vines.  The  Vine  foliage 
should  always  be  thoroughly  dry  at  least  once  in  the  twentv-fi-ur 
hours.  The  middle  of  the  day  is  the  best  time  for  this.  The  leaves 
will  then  become  tough  and  strong  to  resist  disease  or  pest. 
Names  of  Plants  (H.  17.). — 1,  Dendrobium  Wardianum  var. 
candidum  ;  2,  Dendrobium  nobile,  good  form. 
Next  Week’s  Events. 
Thursday,  March  21st. — Linnean  Society  committees’ meeting  ;  Royal 
Botanical  Society  meeting  ;  “  Hurst  &  Son  ”  Musical  Society 
(Ladies’  Evening  Concert),  Council  Chamber,  Holborn  Restaurant. 
Covent  Garden  Market. — Ifarcli  13th. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
8.  d. 
V  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Apples,  cooking,  bush.  ... 
2  6  to  7  0 
Oranges,  case . 
6  0tol5  0- 
„  Californian,  case 
7  6 
9  6 
Pears,  crate  . 
3  0 
7.0 
Apricots,  Cape,  box 
8  0 
10  0 
„  stewing,  case  of 
Cobnuts,  doz.  lb.,  best  ... 
4  0 
5  0 
72  to  120 . 
4  6 
6T6 
Grapes,  black . 
0  6 
2  6 
„  Californian,  case 
15  0” 
1810 
„  Dutch,  lb . 
0  6 
1  0 
,,  ^  case  ...  ...  ... 
9  o; 
14'0 
„  white,  per  lb.  ... 
1  6 
5  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
1  6 
4(6 
Lemons,  case  . 
9  0 
16  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Vegetables. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz. ... 
2  6  to  3  6 
Greens,  hush . 
0  6  to  1  0 
„  Jerusalem,  sieve 
1  6 
0  0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2 
0  0 
Asparagus  (Sprue  Grass) 
0  6 
0  8 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  14 
0  0 
„  English,  100  ... 
7  0 
0  0 
Lettuce,  doz.  French  ... 
0  8 
1  4 
„  Giant,  bundle  ... 
15  0 
20  0 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb.  ... 
0  8 
0  9 
„  Spanish,  bundle . 
1  6 
1  9 
Mustard  and  Cress,  pnnt. 
0  2 
0  0 
„  Paris  Green 
5  0 
6  0 
Onions,  Dutch,  bag 
3  6 
0  0 
Batavia,  doz  . 
2  6 
3  0 
„  English,  cwt.  ... 
5  0 
0  0 
Beans,  French,  per  lb.  ... 
1  0 
1  2 
Parsley,  doz.  hnchs. 
2  0 
3  0 
„  Jersey,  per  lb.  ... 
2  0 
0  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
3  0 
7  0 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
0  6 
0  0 
Radishes,  doz . 
1  0 
1  3 
Broccoli,  bush . 
0  6 
1  0 
Rhubarb,  doz . 
1  2 
1  5 
Brussels  Sprouts,  sieve... 
1  0 
2  0 
Savoys,  tally  . 
4  0, 
5  0 
Cabbages,  tally  . 
3  0 
5  0 
Scotch  Kale, per  bushel... 
0  6 
1  3 
Carrots,  doz.  bnch . 
2  0 
3  0 
Seakale,  best,  doz . 
12  0 
0  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
1  6 
3  0 
„  2nd,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
Celery,  bundle . 
1  0 
1  9 
Shallots,  lb. 
0  4 
0  0 
Chicory,  Belgian,  lb 
0  4 
0  0 
Spinach,  bush . 
4  0 
5  O’ 
Corn  Salad,  strike . 
1  0 
1  3 
Turnips,  doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
4  0 
6  0 
Turnip  tops  . 
0  9 
1  0 
Endive,  doz  . 
1  3 
2  0 
Watercress,  doz  . 
0  8 
0  0- 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
8.  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 
Roses  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. 
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 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
12  0to24  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0to5  0 
6  0 
36  0 
Geraniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
6  0 
10  0 
18  0 
36  0 
„  pink.  doz.  ... 
8  0 
10  0 
15  0 
20  0 
Hydrangeas,  white,  each 
2  6 
5  0 
2  6 
5  0 
„  pink, doz . 
12  0 
15  6 
20  0 
24  0 
„  paniculata,  each 
1  0 
3  0 
18  0 
0  0 
Lilium  Harrisi,  doz 
8  0 
18  0 
18  0 
30  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3  0 
6  0 
12  0 
30  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.... 
8  0 
10  0 
9  0 
18  0 
Mignonette,  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
8  0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
6  0 
18  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  each 
1  0 
15  0 
4  0 
18  0 
„  specimens  . 
21  0 
63  0 
4  0 
18  0 
Roses,  doz . 
6  0 
18  0 
4  0 
8  0 
Stocks,  doz . 
8  0 
12  0 
1  6 
7  6 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
Ellwanger  &  Barry,  The  Mount  Hope  Nurseries,  Rochester,  New  York, 
U.S.A. — General  Catalogue. 
Otto  Katzenstein,  Pmehurst  Nurseries,  Moore  County,  North  Carolina, 
U.S.A. —  Woody  and  Herbaceous  Plants  and  other  Ornamentals. 
E.  H.  Krelage  &  Son,  Bloemhof  Nurseries,  Haarlem,  Holland. — 
Catalogue  of  Novelties,  Begonias,  Cannas,  Herbaceous  Perennials. 
Thos.  S.  Ware,  L’d.,  Hale  Farm  Nurseries,  Feltham,  Middlesex. — Hardy 
Plant  Catalogue. 
The  Price  of  Seeds. 
Gardeners’  Providei|t  and  Charitable  Institutions. 
The  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution.  —  Secretary, 
Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram,  175,  Victoria  Street,  S.W. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. — Secretary, 
Mr.  W.  Collins,  9,  Martindale  Road,  Balham,  London,  S.W. 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — Secretary,  Mr.  Brian  Wynne, 
8,  Danes  Inn,  Strand.  London,  W.C. 
The  profits  of  agriculture  are  so  small,  and  the  difficulty  of  even 
makiDg  ends  meet  such  an  ever  present  one  with  the  farmer,  that  it  is 
but  natural  for  him  to  resent  any  increase  in  price  of  any  commodity 
which  he  purchases,  as  tending  to  still  further  diminish  those  profits  or 
increase  that  difficulty  ;  but  there  are  circumstances  under  which,  and 
to  make  the  best  of  them,  it  is  wisest  to  look  facts  calmly  in  the  face 
and  avoid  the  penny-wise  pound-foolish  policy. 
