March  28,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
271 
Loudon’s  “Arboretum  et  Fruticetum  Britannlcum  ”  {Alice  Baker). — 
The  original  price  of  thiB  great  work  amounted  to  a  considerable  sum. 
The  selling  price  at  present  of  a  complete  copy,  eight  vols.,  8vo,  half 
calf,  with  a  MS.  letter  of  the  author,  is  about  £3  15s. 
Orchid  Book  {Albert  Rowland ). — We  do  not  stock  the  book  you  ask 
for,  but  we  might  probably  secure  it  for  you.  The  title  of  it  is  “  The 
Amateur  Orchid  Cultivator’s  Guide  Book,’’  price  2s.  6d.,  by  H.  A. 
Burberry  (1894),  published  by  Messrs.  Blake  &  MacKenzie  of  Liverpool. 
Pelargonium  (“Geranium”)  Seedlings  with  Three  First  Smooth  Leaves 
(Cotyledons)  {J.  E.  G-). — It  certainly  is  not  a  common  occurrence  for 
Pelargoniums  (“  Geraniums  ”)  to  come  up  [with  three  seed  leaves  or 
cotyledons,  as  verified  by  your  experience  of  several  dozen  seeds 
obtained  by  crossing,  the  plants  from  which  come  up  with  two  leaves, 
this  being  the  usual  characteristic.  But  in  the  case  of  plants  under 
high  cultivation  and  long  subjected  to  cross-fertilisation,  as  all  the 
improved  present-day  varieties  are  the  result  of,  the  seed  from  them,  or 
rather  the  plants  from  it,  come  up  with  three  first  or  smooth  leaves  or 
cotyledons  in  numerous  instances,  and  the  plants  are  usually  of  a 
superior  character  in  vigour  of  plant,  and  size  and  form  of  flower.  It 
is  also  not  unusual  for  Primula  sinensis  vars.  to  have  three  first  or  seed 
leaves,  than  which  perhaps  no  other  species  of  plant  has  attained  to 
such  a  high  degree  of  perfection,  partly  in  result  of  high  cultivation, 
and  partly,  if  not  chiefly,  by  cross-fertilisation.  Numerous  other 
instances  could  be  quoted. 
Water  from  Deep  Chalk  for  Watering  Purposes  {E.  L.). — The  water 
is  not  generally  suitable  for  garden  work,  such  as  syringing  and  watering 
in  plant  and  fruit  houses,  though  not  prejudicial  for  watering  ordinary 
crops  outdoors  or  even  indoors,  but  is  prejudicial  to  all  plants  that 
require  peat  soil  or  have  delicate  roots,  such  as  Azaleas,  Heaths, 
Rhododendrons,  &c.  To  render  the  water  suitable  for  watering  and 
syringing  with,  it  should  be  softened,  and  is  a  simple  process.  A  large 
body  can  be  softened  with  as  little  trouble  as  a  small  quantity.  Anti- 
calcaire,  commonly  called  milk  of  lime,  is  used.  To  250  gallons  of 
water  add  1  lb.  of  anti-calcaire,  stirring  well  up,  and  in  twenty -four 
hours  the  chalk  will  be  deposited  at  the  bottom  of  the  tank  and  the 
water  rendered  soft.  Common  washing  soda  is  also  good  for  softening 
chalk  water.  Dissolve  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  soda  in  hot  water,  add 
this  to  36  gallons  of  cold,  allowing  the  water  to  stand  as  before  for 
twenty. four  hours,  when  it  will  be  soft.  While  the  precipitation  of 
chalk  is  going  on  the  water  has  a  milky  appearance.  Where  the  water 
is  used,  care  should  be  taken  not  to  disturb  the  sediment,  and  the  tank 
or  vessel  should  be  frequently  cleaned  out. 
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.  (TV.  B.). — 1, 
Eupatorium  ianthinum  ;  2,  probably  a  specie?  of  Lselia,  but  too  poor  for 
identification.  ( J .  J.). — Tritouia  crocata,  very  good.  {R.  T.). — 1, 
Dendrobium  formosum  ;  2,  Cypripedium  villosum  ;  3,  Oncidium 
altissimum.  {R.  Hughes). — 1,  Saxifraga  apiculata;  2,  Daedalacanthus 
nervosus  ;  3,  Acacia  Drummondi ;  4,  Acacia  verticillata.  {A.  D.) — 1, 
Angracoum  sesquipedale.  {T.  L.  Barrow). — 1,  Narcissus  triandrus  albus 
(Angel’s  Tears);  2,  Chionodoxa  grandiflora.  (J.  TV.). —  1,  Celsia 
cretica ;  2,  Blechnum  occidentale  ;  3,  Adiantum  hirtum ;  4,  Adiantum 
tenerum  ;  5,  Pteris  serrulata ;  6,  Adiantum  ouneatum  var.  [If  “  J.  W.” 
and  others,  requiring  plants  to  be  named,  would  read  and  act  upon  our 
notice  re  “  specimens,”  and  send  good  workable  material,  not  rubbish- 
heap  scraps,  far  less  trouble  and  waste  of  time  would  be  caused  in  the 
naming.  An  hour  can  be  easily  spent  in  verifying  a  specimen  from 
insufficient  material,  which  would  have  been  recognised  at  sight  had  a 
good  representative  piece  been  sent. — Ed.]  {J.  T.  F.). — 1,  Hibbertia 
dentata ;  2,  Hamamelis  virginica  ;  3,  Pelargonium  quercifolium ;  4, 
Cyclamen  Coum.  (F.). —  1,  I.  reticulata;  2,  I.  persica. 
Penological  Observations. 
From  Mr.  Mawley’s  Latest  Report,  1899. 
April. 
3rd. — St.  Arvans,  Monmouth :  Chiffchaf  first  heard. 
4th.—  Chirnside,  Berwick:  Sand  martins  first  seen. 
5th. —  Chirnside  :  Wheatear  first  seen. 
6th. — Killarney :  A  northerly  gale  accompanied  by  hail  did  immense 
damage  to  young  vegetation  ;  leaves  of  Horse  Chestnut,  Hawthorn, 
aid  Larch  suffered  much,  while  Daffodils  in  full  bloom  were 
destroyed.  Wheatear  seen  at  Churt,  Surrey.  Willow  wren  seen 
at  St.  Arvans. 
8th. — St.  Albans,  Herts :  Blackthorn  shedding  its  blossoms, 
12th. — Bembridge,  Isle  of  Wight :  Cut  first  Asparagus  out  of  doors. 
13th.  —  Churt,  Surrey  :  Wryneck  first  heard. 
17th. — Killarney  :  Potatoes  cut  down  by  frost. 
18tb. — Bassaleg,  Monmouth :  Sycamores  in  full  leaf. 
20th.— Berkh  am  stead,  Berts :  Wild  Cherry  in  flower,  its  average  date 
for  previous  thirteen  years.  Cuckoos  and  nightingales  plentiful  at 
Market  Weston.  . 
23rd.— Edgworthston QorncrakjB  first  heard  and  sand  martin  seen. 
24th. —  Westport :  Swift  first  seen.  From  this  date  migratory  birds  are 
daily  recorded  from  various  parts  of  these  islands. 
Next  Week’s  Events. 
Friday,  March  29th. — Blackheath  Horticultural  Society  meets. 
Tuesday,  April  2nd. — Scottish  Horticultural  Association  meets. 
Wednesday,  April  3rd. — Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society’s 
Spring  Show  (two  days). 
The  Brighton  and  Sussex  Horticultural  Society’s  Show  has  now  been 
fixed  for  the  16th  and  17th  of  April. 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
Wm.  C.  G.  Ludford,  F.R.H.S.,  Amateur  Cactus  Grower,  Fern  Lea,  Four 
Oaks,  Sutton  Coldfield,  near  Birmingham.  —  List  of  Cacti  and 
Succulent  Plants. 
L’Horticole  Coloniale,  Parc  Leopold,  Brussels. — Special  Illustrated 
Catalogue  of  New  Plants,  1901. 
Covent  Garden  Ifarket, — Ifarcti  27th. 
fAverage  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Apples,  cooking,  bush.  ... 
5  0  to  7  0 
Lemons,  Messinas,  case 
9  0  to!2  0 
„  Californian,  case 
10  0 
12  0 
Oranges,  case . 
15  0 
25  0 
Cobnuts,  doz.  lb.,  best  ... 
4  0 
5  0 
Pears,  J  case  . 
14  0 
16  0 
Grapes,  black . 
2  0 
3  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
2  6 
4  6 
„  Dutch,  lb . 
1  6 
2  0 
Average  Wholesale 
Prices. — Vegetables. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Artichokes,  green, doz.  ... 
2  0  to  3  0 
Horseradish,  bnch . 
1  2  to  1  6 
„  Jerusalem,  sieve 
1  6 
0  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  14 
0  2 
Asparagus  (Sprue  Grass) 
0  0. 
10 
Lettuce,  doz.  French  ... 
1  0 
1  4 
„  English,  100 
4  0 
4  6 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb.  ... 
0  8 
0  9 
„  Giant,  bundle  . . . 
15  0 
20  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  pnnt. 
0  2 
0  0 
,,  Spanish,  bundle . 
1  9 
2  0 
Onions,  Dutch,  bag 
5  0 
0  0 
„  Paris  Green 
5  0 
6  0 
„  English,  cwt.  ... 
5  0 
0  0 
Batavia,  doz  . 
2  0 
0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
3  0 
Beans,  French,  per  lb.  ... 
1  0 
1  2 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
3  0 
7  0 
„  Jersey,  per  lb.  ... 
2  0 
0  0 
„  New  Jersey,  lb 
0  5 
0  6 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
0  6 
0  0 
Radishes,  doz . 
0  9 
1  0 
Broccoli,  bush . 
0  0 
1  0 
Rhubarb,  doz . 
1  5 
1  9 
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  0 
Carrots,  doz.  bnch . 
2  0 
3  0 
Seakale,  best,  doz . 
14  0 
18  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  0 
Corn  Salad,  strike . 
1  0 
1  3 
Tomatoes,  Canary,  case 
4  0 
4  6 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
3  0 
5  0 
Turnips,  doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
Endive,  doz  . 
1  3 
2  0 
Turnip  tops  . 
0  9 
1  0 
Greens,  bush . 
1  0 
1  6 
Watercress,  doz  . 
0  6 
0  8 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2 
0  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Plants  in  Pots 
Acacias,  var.,  doz.  ... 
Acers,  doz . 
Aralias,  doz . 
Araucaria,  doz. 
Aspidistra,  doz. 
Aspidistra,  specimen 
Azaleas,  various,  each 
Boronias,  doz . 
Cinerarias,  doz. 
Crotons,  doz . 
Cyclamen,  doz. 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz. 
Dracasna,  viridis,  doz. 
Erica,  various,  doz. 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz. 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz. 
s. 
d. 
8.  ( 
3. 
12 
0tol8 
0 
12 
0 
24 
0 
5 
0 
12 
0 
21 
0 
30 
0 
18 
0 
36 
0 
15 
0 
20 
0 
2 
6 
5 
0 
20 
0 
24 
0 
6 
0 
8 
0 
18 
0 
30 
0 
8 
0 
10 
0 
12 
0 
30 
0 
9 
0 
18 
0 
8 
0 
18 
0 
6 
0 
18 
0 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz . 
„  small,  100  . 
Ficus  elastica,  each 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
Genistas,  doz . 
Geraniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
,,  pink,  doz.  ... 
Hyacinths,  doz.  . 
Hydrangeas,  white,  doz. 
„  pink,  doz . 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.... 
Mignonette,  doz . 
Myrtles,  doz . 
Palms,  in  var.,  doz. 
„  specimens  . 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
4  0  to  18  0 
10  0  16  0 
1  0 
1  0 
8  0 
6  0 
8  0 
6  0 
18  0 
18  0 
3  0 
8  0 
6  0 
6  0 
15  0 
21  0 
7  6 
5  0 
12  0 
10  0 
10  0 
12  0 
24  0 
24  0 
4  0 
10  0 
9  0 
9  0 
30  0 
63  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
irums,  doz . 
Lsparagus,  Fern,  bunch 
Lzalea,  doz.  bnchs. 
Camellias,  white,  doz.  ... 
tarnations,  12  blooms  ... 
tattleyas,  doz. . 
)affodils,  doz.  bnchs.  ... 
lucharis,  doz . 
'reesia,  doz.  bnchs. 
lardenias,  doz . 
teranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bunches . 
[yacinths,  doz.  bnchs — 
/ilium  lancifolium  album 
„  „  rubrum 
„  longiflorum . 
/ilac,  white,  bunch, 
/ily  of  the  Valley, 12  bnchs. 
laidenhair  Fern,  dozen 
bunches . 
Iarguerites,  white,  doz. 
bnchs . 
,,  yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
4  0  to  5  0 
Mignonette,  English,  doz. 
6  0  to  9  0 
1  6 
2  6 
Mimosas,  bnch . 
1  0 
0  0 
4  0 
5  0 
Narcissus  Ornatus,  doz. 
4  0 
6  0 
2  0 
2  6 
„  Cnmpernelle  „ 
1  0 
1  6 
1  6 
2  0 
,,  Soliel  d’Or  „ 
1  0 
1  6 
10  0 
16  0 
Odontoglossums  . 
4  0 
5  0 
2  0 
8  0 
Primroses,  yellow,  doz.... 
1  0 
1  6 
2  0 
3  0 
Roses,  Niphetos,  white, 
1  0 
3  0 
1  6 
2  6 
doz . 
3  0 
0  0 
„  yellow,  doz.  (Perles) 
2  0 
4  0 
,,  red,  doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
6  0 
8  0 
,,  Catherine  Mermet, 
5  0 
8  0 
12  0 
doz . 
3  0 
3  0 
5  0 
Smilax,  bunch . 
3  0 
4  0 
3  0 
5  0 
Spirma,  doz.  bnchs . 
4  0 
6  0 
4  0 
6  0 
Stock,  white,  doz.  bnchs. 
1  6 
2  0 
3  0 
5  0 
Tulips,  yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
6  0 
9  0 
8  0 
12  0 
„  white  „  „ 
8  0 
10  o- 
• 
„  red  „ 
4  0 
6  0 
4  O' 
8  0 
Violets,  single, doz. bnchs. 
0  9 
1  0 
,,  double,  doz. bnchs 
1  6 
2  6- 
3  0 
4  0 
„  Star  ,,  „ 
1  6 
2  0 
2  0 
3  0 
