April  25,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
359 
Crushed  Bones  (D.  B.). — Do  not  turn  them  but  crush  them  small, 
in  that  slate  they  are  best  applied  to  Roses  or  any  other  garden  plants. 
Mowing  Lawns  (T.  B.  L.). — Lawns  require  to  be  frequently  mown 
if  yon  would  keep  them  in  good  condition.  It  is  a  great  mistake  to 
permit  the  grass  to  grow  to  a  great  length  before  mowing,  as  then  more 
time  is  necessary  to  do  the  work,  the  machine  is  strained,  and  the  lawn 
never  looks  well.  If  you  continue  employing  the  machine  you  will  find 
it  the  most  economical  to  run  it  over  the  lawn  at  least  once  a  week  at 
this  time  of  the  year.  We  never  care  to  recommend  the  implements  of 
any  special  maker.  Both  the  scythes  you  name  are  alike  good,  and 
equally  good  work  can  be  done  with  them  by  a  competent  workman, 
and  both  are  equally  difficult  to  beginners,  especially  in  the  important 
matter  of  sharpening.  Purchase  the  most  inexpensive  of  the  two 
“  warranted  ”  articles,  and  persevere  until  you  can  use  it  well. 
Green  Primroses  (A.  Jordan ). — Simply  a  case  of  a  plant  having 
luxuriant  conditions,  whereby  the  most  crude  nourishing  matter  is 
pumped  up  into  the  foliage-leaves.  These,  being  half  hidden  and  very 
likely  well  shaded  in  the  ditch,  did  not  receive  sunshine,  so  that  the 
crude  acids  within  the  cells  of  the  leaves  had  not  become  elaborated  as 
they  otherwise  ought  to  and  would  have.  Were  you  to  plant  the 
Primrose  in  an  open,  moderately  sunny  position,  it  would  almost 
certainly  return  to  a  normal  condition.  Blue  Primroses  are  common. 
Green  as  a  colour  in  flowers  is  somewhat  rare,  although,  of  course,  we 
have  a  green  Rose  (Rosa  viridissima),  an  ugly  monstrosity  ;  and  again 
our  florists  have  perpetuated  a  green  edge  to  the  Fancy  Auriculas.  The 
Auricula,  by  the  way,  is  regarded  as  a  species  of  the  genus  Primula 
(Primrose),  and  from  Primula  Auricula  have  come  all  the  manifold  types 
of  Auriculas  to  be  seen  in  the  gardens  of  to-day. 
Hawks  to  Frighten  Birds  from  Orchard  (A  Constant  Reader). — The 
hawks  may  be  used  to  advantage  in  the  orchard  by  having  them  in 
separate  cages  open  all  round,  or  at  least  on  two  sides,  so  that  each  can 
be  seen  by  the  small  birds,  and,  thus  attracted,  they  will  have  their 
attention  fixed  on  the  hawks  and  be  kept  from  preying  on  the  buds  and 
fruit  later  on.  However,  the  stomach  rules  bird  life,  and  after  the  birds 
find  ont  that  the  hawks  are  powerless  to  inflict  injury  or  death  upon 
them,  they,  whetted  in  appetite,  “  fall  to  ”  on  the  buds  or  fruit,  as  the 
case  may  be,  and  feed  to  their  heart’s  content,  while  the  hawks  sit 
mopiDg  in  their  cages,  impotent  for  either  scaring  the  birds  or  inflicting 
injury,  that  acts  very  deterrently.  Still  the  birds  are  kept  more  or  less 
on  the  alert,  and,  especially  newcomers,  to  a  great  extent  from 
committing  havoc  on  the  fruit  buds  or  fruit,  the  hawks  being  shifted 
from  one  place  to  another,  and  being  pinioned,  put  in  trees  so  that  they 
can  move  freely.  We  give  these  particulars  as  matters  of  experience, 
having  had  hawks  in  gardens  and  orchards  for  many  years,  and  found 
them  useful  ecarers  of  birds  that  prey  on  blossom  buds,  and  also  those 
that  feast  on  the  various  fruits  in  their  season.  There  is  the  mobbing 
of  the  hawks  by  the  small  birds,  especially  the  thrush  family,  whioh  in 
itself  is  great  hindrance  to  depredation,  and  the  predatory  kinds  give 
the  hawks  a  wide  berth.  But  the  insectivorous  birds  are  also  scared, 
so  that  the  good  the  hawks  do  must  be  carefully  weighed  against  that 
they  prevent  being  done. 
Lilacs  alter  Flowering-  ( Forty  Years’  Subscriber). — We  regret  not 
being  able  to  inform  you  how  to  treat  Lilacs  in  pots  so  as  to  make 
them  flower  the  following  year,  as  this  is  one  of  the  many  things  we 
have  often  tried,  but  never  onoe  succeeded  in  doing  satisfactorily 
when  the  plants  have  been  forced  to  flower  early  in  the  year;  and  even 
those  flowered  in  relatively  cool  houses  during  March  and  April  are 
not  always  satisfactory,  they  being  continued  under  glass  until  the 
latter  part  of  May,  and  then  placed  outdoors  in  a  sheltered,  but  Bunny 
position.  The  pots  should  be  stood  on  a  base  impervious  to  worms,  and 
plunged  to  the  rim  in  coal  ashes,  syringing  so  as  to  keep  the  foliage 
cleaD,  and  duly  supplying  with  water  and  liquid  manure  occasionally 
at  the  roots.  Under  this  treatment  the  plants  give  occasionally  some 
flowers  the  following  year,  but  are  much  better  allowed  to  grow  on  a 
year  before  again  being  forced.  In  the  case  of  plants  forced  to  flower 
early,  it  is  a  good  and  proper  plan  to  cut  the  growths  after  flowering 
back  to  within  2  inches  of  the  starting  point  of  the  previous  year, 
continuing  under  glass  in  a  cool  house,  but  safe  from  frost,  until  the 
frosts  outdoors  have  departed,  the  plants  being  well  hardened  off. 
The  plants  will  make  a  good  growth,  and  in  the  following  year  form 
flower  buds  and  be  suitable  for  forcing  the  succeeding  winter,  say 
from  November,  to  flowetr  at  Christmas,  fresh  plants  being  introduced 
at  intervals.  As  a  rule  Lilacs  do  not  answer  well  for  forcing  two  years 
in  succession,  consequently  two  batohes  of  plants  should  be  kept,  one 
to  remain  in  the  ground  outside  whilst  the  other  is  being  forced. 
Names  of  Fruits  (Peach). — Apple  Golden  Russet-  (Londonderry). 
— Apple  White  Paradise. 
Names  of  Plants  (F.  L.  W.). — Onoidium  unguiculatum.  (J.  T.). — 
1,  Onoidium  ooDColor  ;  2,  Lycaste  Skinneri.  (A.  J.). — Primula 
floribunda.  We  are  always  willing  to  help,  but  please  send  good 
specimens,  not  shrivelled  scraps.  (A.  L.  8.). — 1,  Ipomaaa  Horsfalliae ; 
2,  Agapanthus  umbellatus  var.  variegatus ;  3,  probably  Cupressus 
fucebris,  but  it  has  not  attained  its  true  character  yet  ;  4,  Aspidium 
angulare  var.  bulbiferum ;  5,  Aspidium  aristatum  ;  6,  Araujia  grandiflora. 
(A.  B.  C,). — Shrubs — 1,  Pieris  floribunda,  also  called  Andromeda  flori¬ 
bunda  ;  2,  Skimmia  japonioa.  (Climber). — 1,  Bignonia  pallida ;  2, 
Toxioophlaea  spectabilis,  not  a  climber,  but  a  greenhouse  flowering  shrub. 
Please  number  your  specimens  consecutively  on  another  occasion. 
Covent  Garden  market. — April  24tl(. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
Apples,  cooking,  bush.  ... 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
5  0  to  7  0 
Oranges,  case . 
s.  d.  a.  d. 
15  0  to25  0 
„  Tasmanian,  case 
12  0 
15  0 
Pears,  £  case  . 
9  '0  10  0 
Cobnuts,  doz.  lb.,  best  ... 
6  0 
0  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
'2;6  ;;4  6 
Grapes,  Hamburgh,  lb. ... 
4  6 
5  0 
Strawberries,  lb . 
3  0  5  0 
Lemons,  Messinas,  case  9  0  12  0 
Average  Wholesale 
8.  d.  s.  d. 
Artichokes,  green, doz.  ...  2  0to3  0 
Prices. — Vegetables. 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
0  lAtoO  2 
„  Jerusalem,  sieve 
1  6 
0  0 
Lettuce,  doz.  French  ... 
1  0 
1  4 
Asparagus  (Sprue  Grass) 
0  0 
10 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb. ... 
0  8 
0  9 
„  English,  100  ... 
8  0 
9  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  pnnt. 
0  2 
0  0 
„  Giant,  bundle  ... 
15  0 
20  0 
Onions,  Dutch,  bag 
5  0 
0  0 
„  Spanish,  bundle . 
1  9 
2  0 
„  English,  cwt.  ... 
5  0 
0  0 
„  Paris  Green 
6  0 
8  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
3  0 
Batavia,  doz  . 
2  0 
0  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
3  0 
7  0 
Beans,  French,  lb . 
1  0 
1  2 
„  New  Jersey,  lb 
0  5 
0  6 
„  Jersey,  lb . 
1  3 
1  6 
Radishes,  doz . 
0  9 
1  0 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
0  6 
0  0 
Rhubarb,  doz . 
1  0 
1  3 
Broccoli,  bush . 
0  0 
1  0 
Savoys,  tally  . 
4  0 
5  0 
Cabbages,  tally  . 
3  0 
5  0 
Scotch  Kale,  bushel 
0  6 
1  0 
Carrots,  doz.  bnch . 
2  0 
3  0 
Seakale,  best,  doz . 
14  0  16  0 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
1  0 
2  0 
„  2nd,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
Chicory,  Belgian,  lb 
0  4 
0  0 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  4 
0  0 
Corn  Salad,  strike . 
1  0 
1  3 
Spinach,  bush . 
4  0 
5  0 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
2  6 
4  0 
Tomatoes,  Canary,  case 
4  0 
4  6 
Endive,  doz  . 
1  3 
2  0 
,,  English,  lb.  ... 
1  0 
1  3 
Greens,  bush . 
1  0 
1  6 
Turnips,  doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
Herbs-  bunch  . 
0  2 
0  0 
Turnip  tops  . 
0  9 
1  0 
Horseradish,  bnch . 
1  2 
1  6 
Watercress,  doz  . 
0  6 
0  8 
Average  Wholesale  P 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
Acacias,  var.,  doz . 12  OtolS  0 
rices. — Plants  in  Pots 
Ferns,  small,  100  . 
s.  d.  s.  d. 
10  0  to  16  0 
Acers,  doz . 
12  0 
21  0 
Ficus  elastica,  each 
1  0 
7  6 
Aralias,  doz . 
5  0 
12  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0 
5  0 
Araucaria,  doz . 
21  0 
30  0 
Fuchsias  . 
9  0  10  O 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
18  0 
36  0 
Genistas,  doz . 
8  0  12  0 
Aspidistra,  specimen  ... 
15  0 
20  0 
Geraniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
6  0  10  0 
Azaleas,  various,  each  ... 
2  6 
5  0 
,,  pink,  doz.  ... 
8  0  10  0 
Boronias,  doz . 
20  0 
24  0 
Hyacinths,  doz . 
6  0  12  0 
Cinerarias,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
Hydrangeas,  white,  doz. 
18  0  24  0 
Crotons,  doz . 
18  0 
30  0 
„  pink, doz . 
18  0  24  0 
Cyclamen,  doz . 
8  0 
10  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz. 
12  0 
30  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.... 
8  0  12  0 
Dracaena,  viridis,  doz.  ... 
9  0 
18  0 
Mignonette,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
Erica,  various,  doz. 
8  0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz.  ... 
6  0 
18  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  doz. 
15  0  30  0 
Evergreens,  var.,  doz.  ... 
4  0 
18  0 
„  specimens  . 
21  0  63  0 
Ferns,  var.,  doz . 
4  0 
18  0 
Pelargoniums . 
10  0  12  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Cut  Flowers. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
8.  d. 
a.  d. 
Arums,  doz . 
1  6  to  2  6 
Maidenhair  Fern,  dozen 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch 
1  6 
2  6 
bnchs . 
4  0  to  6  0 
Azalea,  doz.  bnchs. 
4  0 
5  0 
Marguerites,  white,  doz. 
Camellias,  white,  doz.  ... 
2  6 
0  0 
bunches . 
3  0 
4  0 
Carnations,  12  blooms  . . . 
1  6 
2  0 
„  yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
3  0 
Cattleyas,  doz . 
10  0 
12  0 
Narcissus  Ornatus,  doz. 
1  0 
1  t? 
Daffodils,  doz.  bnchs.  ... 
1  0 
2  0 
Odontoglossums  . 
3  0 
4  0 
Eucharis,  doz . 
2  0 
0  0 
Roses,  Niphetos,  white, 
Freesia,  doz.  bnchs. 
1  6 
2  6 
doz . 
1  0 
2  0 
Gardenias,  doz . 
2  0 
3  0 
„  yellow,  doz.  (Perles)... 
2  0 
0  0 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
„  red,  doz . 
2  0 
0  0 
bunches . 
4  0 
6  0 
,,  Catherine  Mermet,doz. 
2  0 
4  0 
Hyacinths,  doz.  bnchs _ 
8  0 
0  0 
Smilax,  bunch . 
3  0 
4  0 
Lilium  lancifolium  album 
2  0 
3  0 
Spiraea,  doz.  bnchs . 
4  0 
6  0 
„  „  rubrum 
3  0 
5  0 
Stock,  white,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
2  6 
„  longiflorum . 
2  0 
3  0 
Tulips,  white,  doz.  bnchs. 
10  0 
12  0 
Lilac,  white,  bunch, 
3  0 
0  0 
„  red  „ 
6  0 
8  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley, 12  bnchs 
8  0 
12  0 
Violets,  single, doz. bnchs. 
0  9 
1  0 
Mignonette,  English,  doz. 
6  0 
9  0 
,,  double,  doz. bnchs 
1  6 
2  6 
Phenological  Observations. 
April  26th — May  2nd.  Plants  dedicated  to  each  day.. 
26 
Fri. 
Lesser  whitethroat  heard. 
Hedge  Mustard. 
27 
Sat. 
Cuckoo  heard.  Swallows  seen. 
Great  Narcissus. 
28 
Suu. 
Reed  buutjng  sipgs. 
Cuckoo  Pint  (Arum). 
29 
Mod. 
Young  redbreasts  fledged. 
Herb  Robert. 
30 
Tu. 
Martin  first  seeD. 
Cowslip. 
1 
Wed. 
Yellow  wagtail  arrives. 
Tulip. 
2 
Thr. 
Young  rooks  fledged. 
Charlook. 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
H.  Cannoll  &  Sons,  Swanley,  Kent. — Floral  Guide. 
Alexis  Dalliere,  Horticultural  Establishment,  Chaussee  de  Brussels,. 
Ghent,  Belgium. — Palms,  Orchids,  Stovs  and  Greenhouse  Flowering 
and  Foliage  Plants. 
