June  13,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
511 
Depth  of  Planting  Asparagus  ( S .  F.  O.  B.). — We  are  much  gratified 
by  the  practical  man  seeing  your  Asparagus  beds  expressing  himself  in 
their  favour,  he  not  having  seen  finer  plants  for  their  age.  We  do 
not,  however,  agree  with  what  he  suggests,  that  of  planting  them 
deeper,  as  that  would  ruin  the  plants  at  the  very  time  when  they  are 
coming  into  profit.  With  the  crowns  4  or  5  inches  beneath  the 
surface  the  depth  is  quite  deep  enough,  if  anything  too  deep,  to  seoure 
the  safety  of  the  buds  in  a  wet  winter,  and  as  for  the  heads  being 
too  short,  how  easy  to  place  on  the  beds  the  needful  amount  of  earth 
from  the  alleys  to  secure  the  required  length  of  blanched  stem,  if 
you  go  in  for  that  form  of  production.  Or  you  may  use  the  old 
Mushroom  bed  manure,  it  not  being  advisable  to  keep  the  orowns 
always  covered  so  deeply  as  6  to  8  inches,  only  doing  so  for  the 
purpose  of  blanching,  removing  it  as  soon  as  cutting  ceased  for  the 
season,  not  leaving  more  than  4  or  5  inohes  depth  over  the  crowns. 
Spot  on  Grapes  and  Syringing  Vines  (J.  D.). — Spot  is  very  different 
to  “  rust,”  though  some  cultivators  are  persuaded  that  it  is  a  chill 
which  produces  both,  the  atmosphere  being  allowed  to  acquire 
a  high  temperature,  with  the  concomitant  moisture,  and  then  air 
is  suddenly  and  in  large  amount  admitted.  No  doubt  mistakes  in 
cultivation  are  responsible  for  many  ills,  and  it  is  well  to  avoid  them 
as  much  as  possible.  When  Grapes  are  only  slightly  rusted  it,  as 
you  say,  disappears,  or  very  nearly  so,  when  they  turn  black,  which 
is  simply  a  sequence  of  the  relatively  greater  area  occupied  by  the 
rust  in  the  latest  than  in  the  earliest  stages,  for  the  rust  never 
entirely  departs  from  the  skin  of  the  berries  once  it  becomes 
determined  there.  It  may  be  caused  by  water  getting  there  when  this 
is  of  a  decidedly  irony  nature,  but  it  usually  arises  from  neglecting  to 
attend  to  the  veniilation  by  time  the  sun  acts  powerfully  on  the  house 
and  has  raised  the  temperature  considerably,  when  air  being  admitted 
too  freely  the  evaporation  is  so  excessive  as  to  produce  a  chill 
injuriously  affecting  the  skin  of  the  berries,  and  rust  is  the  consequence. 
In  syringing  Vines,  one  of  the  largest  growers  for  market  practises  it 
with  a  hose  pipe,  the  operator  holding  the  nozzle  close  to  the  Vine 
leaves,  and  spreading  the  water  by  means  of  the  finger,  thus  forcibly 
ejecting  the  red  spider,  and  only  from  the  leaves  affected  up  to  the 
Grapes  changing  colour  for  ripening.  By  this  means  the  Vines  are 
kept  free  from  the  pest  and  the  Grapes  are  not  prejudiced,  as  the  main 
of  the  water  reaches  the  under  side  of  the  leaves  aud  very  little  on  the 
bunches  of  Grapes.  We  have  also  practised  syringing  Vines  up  to  the 
Grapes  changing  colour,  using  clear  rain  water,  but  even  then  there  is 
danger  of  leaving  a  deposit  on  the  Grapes,  which  greatly  militates 
against  their  appearance. 
Names  of  Plants  (S.  P.). — No  trouble  ;  we  are  here  for  the  purpose 
of  affoi ding  assistance  ;  send  as  many  others  as  you  have  a  mind  to. 
1,  Saxifraga  hirta ;  2,  Saxifraga  Aizoon  notata ;  3,Saxifraga  rotundifolia ; 
4,  omitted  in  your  numbering;  5,  Saxifraga  geranioides;  6,  Saxifraga 
trifurcata;  7,  Ajuga  reptans.  (W.  Morris). — 1,  Tradescantia  virginica  ; 
2,  Agaricus  cepaestipes  (Gow),  poisonous  ;  3,  Physalis  Alkekengi,  the 
Winter  Cherry.  (Boy). — Menyanthestrifoliata,  the  Bog  Bean.  (F.  P.  B.O.). 
— -Haemauthus  coccineus,  belongs  to  Amaryllidae.  (/.  A.). — 1,  Dendro- 
bium  moschatum  ;  2,  Veronica  gentianoides;  3,  Corydalis  lutea  ;  4, 
Heuchera  glabra ;  5,  Geranium  pratense  ;  note  that  “Geraniums”  and 
Pelargoniums  are  distinct ;  6,  Iris  siberica  atropurpurea.  ( R .  F.). — • 
1,  Juniperus  Sabina,  the  Savin;  2,  Abies  pungens  glauca;  3,  Rubus 
odoratus  ;  4,  Cistus  laurifolius;  5,  Genista  virgata.  (Arthur  Woburn). — 
1,  Epidendrum  radicans  ;  2,  Cypripedium  Curtisi ;  3,  Drosera  rotundi¬ 
folia. 
Next  Week’s  Events. 
Friday,  June  14th. — Royal  Botanic  Society,  Regent’s  Park,  lecture  on 
“Plant  Cultivation  in  British  Colonies.” 
Tuesday,  June  18th. —  R.H.S.  Committees;  Cro}  don  and  District 
Horticultural  Mutual  Improvement  Society  meet,  leccture  on 
“  Vegetables  for  Exhibition.” 
Wednesday,  June  19th. — Oxfordshire  Horticultural  Exhibition. 
Thursday,  June  20th. — Linnean  Society  meeting;  Royal  Botanical 
Society  meeting. 
Phenological  Observations, 
June  14th  to  20th.  Plants  dedicated  to  each  day. 
14  Fri. 
15  Sat. 
16  Sun. 
17  Mon. 
18  Tu. 
19  Wed. 
20  Thr. 
Young  swallows  fledged. 
Yonng  redstarts  fledged. 
Ivy  casting  its  leaves. 
Hawthorn  loaded  with  blossom  (1900) 
at  St.  Arvans. 
First  hay  cut  (1900)  at  Bridgend. 
Tadpoles’  fore-feet  seen. 
Meadow  brown  butterfly  seen. 
Sweet  Basil. 
Sensitive  Plant. 
Moss  Rose. 
Horn  Poppy. 
Sweet  Rocket. 
Monkey  Flower. 
Doubtful  Poppy. 
Covent  Garden  market— June  12th. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices. — Fruit. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
a.  d. 
s.  d. 
Apples,  Tasmanian,  case 
12  0tol5  0 
Melons,  each  . 
1  6to2  6 
Figs,  green,  doz . 
4  0 
10  0 
Oranges,  case . 
15  0 
35  0 
Grapes,  Hamburgh,  lb. ... 
1  6 
2  6 
Pears,  case  . 
15  0 
25  0 
,,  Muscat  . 
3  0 
4  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s,  each 
2  6 
4  6 
Lemons,  Messinas,  case 
9  0 
12  0 
Strawberries,  lb . 
2  0 
3  0 
Average 
Wholesale 
Prices. — Vegetables. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
Artichokes,  green, doz.  ... 
2  0  to  3  0 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
0  l*to0  2 
„  Jerusalem,  sieve 
1  6 
0  0 
Lettuce,  doz . 
0  6 
1  0 
Asparagus,  English,  100 
1  6 
2  0 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb.  ... 
0  8 
0  9 
„  Giant,  bundle  ... 
15  0 
20  0 
Mustard  and  Cress,  pnnt. 
0  2 
0  0 
Batavia,  doz  . 
2  0 
0  0 
Onions,  Dutch,  bag 
5  0 
0  O' 
Beans,  French,  lb . 
0  9 
10 
„  English,  cwt.  ... 
5  0 
0  0 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
0  6 
0  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs. 
2  0 
3  0 
Broccoli,  bush . 
0  0 
1  0 
Potatoes,  cwt . 
3  0 
7  0 
Cabbages,  tally  . 
1  6 
3  0 
„  New  Jersey,  cwt 
12  0 
16  0 
Carrots,  doz.  bnch . 
2  0 
3  0 
Radishes,  doz  . 
0  6 
0  9 
Cauliflowers,  doz . 
1  0 
2  0 
Rhubarb,  doz . 
1  0 
1  3 
Chicory,  Belgian,  lb 
0  4 
0  0 
Savoys,  tally  . 
4  0 
5  0 
Corn  Salad,  strike . 
1  0 
1  3 
Shallots,  lb . 
0  4 
0  0 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
2  6 
4  0 
Spinach, bush . 
4  0 
5  0 
Endive,  doz  . 
1  3 
2  0 
Tomatoes,  English,  lb.  ... 
0  8 
0  9 
Greens,  bush . 
1  0 
1  6 
Turnips,  doz.,  new . 
4  0 
8  0 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
0  2 
0  0 
Watercress,  doz  . 
0  6 
0  8 
Horseradish,  bnch . 
1  2 
1  6 
1 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.  —  Plants  in  Pots 
8.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d. 
s.  d- 
Acacias,  var.,  doz . 
12  OtolS  0 
Foliage  plants,  var.,  each 
1  0  to  5  0 
Acers,  doz . 
12  0 
24  0 
Fuchsias  . 
5  0 
6  0 
Aralias,  doz . 
5  0 
12  0 
Geraniums,  scarlet,  doz. 
4  0 
5  0 
Araucaria,  doz . 
21  0 
30  0 
,,  pink,  doz . 
4  0 
6  0 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
18  0 
36  0 
,,  King  of  Denmark.doz. 
5  0 
6  0' 
Boronias,  doz . 
20  0 
24  0 
Hydrangeas,  white,  pink 
9  0 
12  0 
Crotons,  doz . 
18  0 
30  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz . 
3  0 
4  0 
Dracmna,  var.,  doz. 
12  0 
30  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz.... 
6  0 
12  0 
Dracaena,  viridis,  doz.  ... 
9  0 
IS  0 
Mignonette,  doz . 
6  0 
8  0 
Erica,  various,  doz. 
8  0 
18  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  0 
Euonymus,  var.,  doz.  ... 
6  0 
16  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' 
Ferns,  small,  100  . 
10  0 
16  0 
„  Ivy  leaf  -... 
6  0 
8  0 
Ficus  elastica,  doz. 
9  0 
12  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.  —  Cut  Flowers 
s.  d. 
8. 
i. 
s.  d. 
8. 
a- 
Arums,  doz . 
2  6  to  3 
0 
Maidenhair  Fern,  dozen 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bunch 
1  6 
2 
6 
bnchs .  4  0  to  6 
O' 
Carnations,  12  blooms  ... 
1  0 
1 
6 
Marguerites,  white,  doz. 
Cattleyas,  doz . 
6  0 
9 
0 
bunches .  3  0 
4 
0 
Cornflower,  doz.  bnchs.... 
1  0 
1 
6 
,,  yellow,  doz.  bnchs.  2  0 
3 
0 
Eucharis,  doz . 
2  0 
0 
0 
Narcissus,  dbl.  white,  doz.  1  6 
2 
6 
Freesia,  doz.  bnchs. 
0  0 
0 
0 
Odontoglossums  .  2  0 
3 
0 
Gardenias,  doz . 
1  6 
2 
0 
Roses,  Niphetos,  white, 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
doz .  1  0 
2 
0 
bunches . 
4  0 
0 
0 
,,  yellow,  doz.  (Perles)...  1  6 
2 
0 
Gladioli,  doz.  bnchs. 
6  0 
9 
0 
,,  red,  doz .  10 
1 
6- 
Iris,  Spanish,  doz.  bnchs. 
6  0 
8 
0 
Smilax,  bunch .  3  0 
4  0 
Liliurn  lan  cifolium  album 
2  0 
3 
0 
Spirma,  doz.  bnchs .  4  0 
6 
0 
„  '  ,,  rubrum 
3  0 
5 
0 
Stock,  white,  doz.  bnchs.  2  0 
2 
6 
„  longiflorum . 
2  0 
3 
0 
Sweet  Peas,  white,  doz. 
Lilac,  white,  bunch, 
3  0 
0 
0 
bunches .  4  0 
6  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley, 12  bnchs. 
8  0 
12 
0 
„  coloured, doz. bnchs.  4  0 
6 
0 
Mignonette,  English, doz. 
4  0 
6 
0 
The  Preservation  of  Fruit. — The  Technical  Education  Com¬ 
mittee  of  the  Kent  County  Council  have  just  issued  the  results  of 
further  investigations  by  the  Principal  of  the  South-Eastern  Agricul¬ 
tural  College,  Wye,  Kent  (County  Councils  of  Kent  and  Surrey),  on 
the  subject  of  fruit  preservation.  In  the  course  of  his  report  Professor 
Hall  states  that,  while  the  bottling  of  fruit  on  a  small  scale  “  is  easily 
done,  and  might  well  be  part  of  the  routine  of  every  household,  I  am  of 
opinion  that  it  cannot  be  taken  up  by  the  fruit  grower  on  a  large  scale, 
least  of  all  as  an  occasional  means  of  coping  with  a  year  of  glut.  The 
plant  required  and  the  staff  of  workers  would  be  expensive,  unless 
they  can  be  employed  during  more  than  the  brief  fruit  season.  In 
fine,  fruit  bottling  must  be  regarded  as  much  the  same  kind  of  industry 
as  jam-making,  and  there  is  plenty  of  experience  in  Kent  that  the  fruit¬ 
grower  should  not  attempt  jam-makiDg  as  an  adjunct  to  his  own 
business.”  On  the  subject  of  fruit  drying,  referring  to  an  experiment 
with  the  “  Mayfarth  ”  Evaporator,  which  was  carried  out  by  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  in  their  Chiswick  garden  during  the  fruit  season 
of  1891,  he  writes  :  “  The  experiments  were  chiefly  concerned  with 
Apples  and  Plums,  the  only  fruits  grown  on  a  large  scale  in  this 
country  that  are  suitable  for  drying.  As  regards  Apples,  no  difficulty 
was  found  in  turning  out  a  satisfactory  product,  particularly  with 
certain  kinds  of  Apples.  The  finished  articles  did  not,  however,  pay  for 
the  labour  and  fuel  required.  As  regards  Plums,  there  seems  to  be  plenty 
of  evidence  from  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  experiments  that  the 
ordinary  English  market  Plum  does  not  dry  satisfactorily,  being  too 
thin-skinned  and  juicy.” 
