March  31,  Itlcl.. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
287 
correspondoiico  relatinj^  to  editorial  matters  sliouUI  iie 
directed  to  “  The  Editok."  12.  Mttke  Covht  Chambers, 
Flei-:t  Street,  London,  K.C.  It  is  recjiiested  tliat  no  one 
will  Miite  privately  to  any  ot  our  correspondents,  seeking 
information  on  matters  discussed  in  this  Jonrnal,  as  doing 
so  snbjects  them  to  nn.jnstitiahlo  trouble  and  expense.  In 
naming  plants  we  only  undertake  to  name  species,  or  well- 
marked  varieties,  and  only  six  on  any  one  occasion.  Florists’ 
flowers  we  do  not  name. 
BOOKS  (H.  P.). —  A  maunal  of  Exotic  fknns  and  Selaginella, 
their  history,  culttire,  and  management,  by  E.  Sandford. —  Elliot 
Stock,  G2,  Paternoster  Row,  E.C.,  181)4.  Cactns  Cmture  for 
Amatenrs,  by  IV.  Watson.  —  L.  Epcott  Gill,  170,  Strand,  W.C., 
1889. 
GRAFTING  (A.  B.). — 'Phe  method  yon  describe  of  splitting 
the  stock  is  cleft  grafting;  cntting  a  wadge  out  of  the  stock  and 
fitting  the  scion  in  is  wedge  grafting:  slitting  the  liark  and  in¬ 
serting  scions  between  it  and  the  wood,  then  liinding  as  you  sug¬ 
gest,  is  the  simplest  form  of  crown  grafting.  We  do  not  know 
to  what  particidar  notes  yon  allude,  as  you  do  not  quote  the 
page  in  which  they  appear. 
FNISEXEAL  FLOWERS  AND  CATKINS  (Ignoramus).— 
The  Birch,  Willow,  Hazel,  Alder.  Oak.  Plane,  Poplar,  Horn])eam 
and  Beech  are  all  amentaceous  or  catkin-beaiing  plants.  Catkins 
are  male  or  female,  that  is,  composed  wholly  of  maie  or  wholly 
of  female  flowers.  The  Elm  and  the  Ash  are  not  amentaceous 
or  catkin-bearing  plants,  but  by  abortion  the  flowers  have  a 
unisexual  character,  except  in  the  case  of  the  Ash,  v  hen  they 
are  sometimes  bisexual. 
PROPAGATING  LEFCOPHYTON  BROWNI  'G.  A.  K.).— 
Tins  serviceable  carpetino:  plant  is  mosr  impatient  of  fire  heat, 
and  the  cuttings  are  certain  to  fail  if  subjected  to  it.  The  proper 
time  to  insert  the  cuttings  is  during  the  month  of  September, 
and  they  ought  to  be  treated  exactly  the  same  as  Violas  or 
Calceolarias.  Either  three  imrts  fill  frames  set  on  a  hard  dry 
base,  with  neai'iy  exhausted  heating  material,  or  set  hand-lights 
on  a  bed  of  the  same.  Cover  with  about  Sin  of  fine  sandy  soil, 
face  over  with  sliarp  sand,  and  dibble  out  the  cuttings  thickly, 
keeping  them  rathoi’  close  and  .shaded  fiom  bright  sunshine  till 
rooted,  and  in  all  other  respects  treat  similarly  to  Calceolaiias. 
They  would  receive  the  least  check  when  bedded  out  if  first 
established  in  thumb  pots,  but  keep  them  out  of  the  houses. 
INCREASING  LOBELIAS  (F.  ID. -The  ordinary  bedding 
Lobelias  are  propagated  l)y  division  and  cuttings  in  preference 
to  seedilngs,  the  latter  rarely  being  sufficiently  neat  growing. 
Bluebeard,  pumila  magnifica,  and  Brighton  are  all  excellent 
blue  sorts,  and  supposing  a  )iumber  of  plants  of  either  of  these 
have  been  wintered  in  boxes  in  .a  rather  low  temperature,  on 
being  introduced  into  an  early  vineiy  or  in  a  moist  heat  every 
shoot  will  quickly  emit  roots.  These  may  be  judlcd  off  and 
dibbled  in  rather  thickly  in  boxes,  and  eventually  bedded  out 
in  cold  frames,  or,  if  a  little  bottom  beat  is  available,  these 
divisions  may  be  placed  on  beds  of  good  soil  and  about  4in 
.■^(jjai't  each  nay,  vhere  they  will  soon  gi’ow  to  a  good  size,  the 
frames  or  lights  being  then  available  for  other  purposes,  some 
other  protection  beiiig  provided  for  the  Lobelias,  Thousands  of 
good  plants  may  thus  be  raised  without  much  trouble.  Seedling 
Lobelias  shonid  be  pricked  out  before  becoming  crowded  and 
weakened.  The  herbaceous  sorts  may  be  divided  when  the 
suckers  are  well  above  the  soil. 
AR  I'IFKTAL  ^lANFRE  FOR  ASTERS  AND  OUTDOOR 
CHRYSANTHE.M  U:\1S  (N.  Y.  Z.).-A.s  you  have  used  about  oQ 
tons  of  good  stable  manure  per  acre,  and  the  blooms  an*  not  as 
good  as  desired,  even  with  the  addition  of  dissolved  bone 
manure,  yon  may  have  I’ecourse  to  the  following  mixture  ;  Niti'ate 
of  soda,  2  parts  (lbs  or  cwts) ;  sulphate  of  ammonia,  2  ;  dried 
blood  (ground),  1  ;  dried  fish  (ground),  1  ;  dissolved  bonemcal, 
10;  muriate  of  potash,  4.  This  contains  oi  per  cwt  of  nitrogmi, 
9  per  cent,  of  jihosphoric  acitl,  and  10  per  cent,  of  ])otash.  Ti  o 
mixture  may  be  used  at  the  rate  of  2)cwt  to  dewt  ])er  acre.  Fill) 
to  3-ilb  per  rod,  or  in  cas(>  of  not  using  animal  manure,  oewt  to 
lOcwt  per  acre,  3Alb  to  71b  per  rod.  'riie  fertiliser  should  be 
applied  shortly  in  advance  of  placing  out  the  plants,  it  not  being 
used  in  immediate  contact  vith  the  roots,  and  if  n.sed  after 
planting  out  must  be  kept  from  the  tops  of  the  jilants. 
NAMES  OP  PL.4N'rS.  —  Correspcmdcids  tvhose  queries  are 
nna’fiswered  in  the  present  issue  are  respeefj  uU ij  requested  to  cuasult 
the  fotlouing  nnmhcr.  (  H.  B.). — 1,  Primula  nivalis ;  2,  Scilla  sibiiica 
alba;  5,  Sedum  acre  atireum  ;  4,  Blechnum  occi  dentale.  (F.  L.). — 
1,  Dendrobium  AVardianum  (a  good  form)  ;  2,  D.  .Vinswurthi ;  3,  D. 
nobile  Balliamim.  (.J.  P.). — 1,  Peperomia  nigra;  2,  Asarum. 
Covent  Garden  Market,  March  30th, 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Fruit. 
s. 
d. 
s.  d 
s.  d. 
d 
American  Limes,  400-.700 
Grapes,  in  barrel  . 
12  (itolS 
0 
in  case  . 
7 
0  to  9  0 
,,  Muscats,  A.,  11). 
6  D 
s 
0 
Apples,  home  cookers, 
„  ..  B.,  lb. 
2  0 
. » 
II 
bush. 
4  0 
n  0 
,,  Canon  Hall,  A.,  lb. 
2  0 
8 
0 
,,  American,  brl.  ... 
12 
0 
1.5  0 
,,  Gros  Colnian,.4.,lb. 
1  C 
d 
,,  Californian,  case  . 
7 
0 
14  0 
Lemons,  per  case  . 
8  0 
10 
0 
Bananas,  bunch  . 
6 
0 
14  (1 
Lychees,  box  . 
1  2 
0 
II 
Chestnuts,  liag  . 
19 
0 
0  0 
Oranges,  per  case . 
8  (1 
35 
0 
Cobnuts,  per  it) . 
0 
74 
0  0 
Pears,  per  case  . 
12  0 
14  0 
Cranberries,  per  case  ... 
10  6 
13  8 
.,  stewing,  ^-sieve  ... 
9  (1 
11 
0 
Figs,  per  box  . 
0 
10 
1  (1 
Pines,  each  . 
2  0 
•  j 
0 
Grapes,  Alicante,  lb. 
1 
6 
2  () 
Strawberries,  lb . 
10  0 
15 
() 
Average  Wholesale 
Prices.— Vegetables. 
s. 
d. 
s.  d 
S.  ll. 
s. 
d 
Artichokes,  Jerusalem, 
Onions,  jier  case  . 
0  (ito  (3 
d 
sieve  . 
1 
0  to  1  3 
,,  per  bag  . . 
4  0 
d 
d 
Asparagus,  Sprue,  buinlle 
0 
10 
0  (1 
,,  picklers,  sieve  ... 
3  0 
5 
(1 
,,  Paris  (Ti-een  . 
4 
0 
f)  0 
,,  English,  cwt.  ... 
7  0 
0 
0 
j,  English,  bun. 
5 
(1 
7  0 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs. 
1  C 
2 
II 
Beans,  dwarf,  per  lb.  ... 
2 
() 
3  0 
,,  sieve . 
0  (1 
0 
0 
.,  Madeira,  basket  . 
1 
6 
2  0 
Parsnips,  per  bag  . 
2  0 
2 
d 
Beetroots,  per  bushel  ... 
"2 
d 
3  6 
Potatoes,  per  ton  . 
99  0  lid 
1,1 
Brussels  Sprouts,  sieve... 
1 
0 
1  6 
,,  New  Teneriffe, 
Cabbages,  tally  . 
•) 
0 
5  0 
per  cwt 
12  (1 
14 
(1 
Carrots,  doz.  bun . 
2 
(1 
6 
Radishes,  doz.  bun. 
0  9 
1 
II 
per  bag  . 
2 
t) 
4  0 
Rhubarb,  per  doz . 
0  9 
1 
0 
Cauliflower,  doz . 
i 
6 
3  6 
Salad,  small,  pun.,  doz.... 
0  d 
1 
0 
Celery,  per  doz.  bun.  ... 
12 
0 
24  0 
Savoys,  tally  . 
3  0 
4 
0 
Cress,  per  doz.  pun. 
(1 
9 
1  0 
Seakale,  per  doz . 
10  0 
14 
(1 
Cucumbers,  doz . 
7 
0 
10  0 
Shallots,  per  lb  ’  ....  ... 
0  U 
0 
•  > 
Endive,  i)er  doz . 
1 
f> 
0  0 
Spinach,  per  bush . 
3  D 
o 
O 
d* 
Garlic,  per  lb.  ...  . 
0 
2 
0  3 
Tomatoes,  C  x  n  a  r  y 
Horseradish,  foreign,  per 
Deeps,  lb . 
3  0 
-i 
0 
bundle  . 
1 
•  1 
O 
1  6 
Turnips,  dor.  bun . 
1  d 
O 
1) 
Leeks,  per  doz.  bun. 
1 
6 
0  0 
„  per  bag.  ...  ... 
2  D 
.> 
d 
Lettuces,  Cabbage,  doz.  . 
1 
0 
1  3 
Watercress,  per  dozen 
Mushrooms,  house,  lb.  ... 
1 
0 
1  (5 
bunches . 
0  4 
0  8 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Plants  in  Pots. 
Alost  of  the  undermentioned  xdanta  are  sold  in  48  and  32-sized  pots. 
Adiantums,  per  doz. 
Aralias,  per  doz . 
Arbor  Vit.c,  per  doz. 
Aspidistras,  per  doz. 
Auenbas,  per  doz . 
Azaleas,  each  . 
Begonias,  per  doz . 
,,  Gloire  de  Lor¬ 
raine,  per  doz. 
Callus,  per  doz . 
Chrysantlicnnun,  doz.  ... 
Cinerarias,  doz . 
Coleuses,  jier  doz . 
Crotons,  per  doz . 
Cyclamens,  per  doz. 
C\  perns,  per  doz . 
Daffodils,  per  doz . 
Dracmn.as,  vary.,  doz.  ... 
Er  eas,  per  doz . 
Kuonyinus,  vars.,  doz.  ... 
Anemones,  doz.  bun. 
Azaleas,  per  bun. 
Houvardias,  per  Ini 
Callus,  per  doz. 
Camellias,  box  .. 
Carnations,  per  bni 
Daffodils,  bunch 
Eucharis,  per  doz. 
Ferns — .Asparagus,  bun.  . 
French,  doz.  bunches 
Maidenhair,  doz.  bun. 
Freesia,  per  doz . 
Gardenias,  box  of  l.S-24 
blooms . 
Lilac  ( French),  bun.  .  . 
L  i  1  i  u  m  longiflorum , 
doz.  blooms. 
,,  lancifolium  ,, 
,,  auratum  . 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  per 
doz.  bun . 
Marguerites,  yeilol»,  per 
doz.  bun . 
Mignonette,  ]>er  doz. 
Mimosa  (.-Veacia)  per  bun. 
d. 
R.  cl 
.S.  ‘1. 
s. 
d 
12 
OtooO  0 
Ferns  in  var.,  per  doz. ... 
4  0to30 
Cl 
4 
0 
8  0  1 
Ficus  elastica,  doz. 
9  0 
24 
1) 
4 
0 
8  0  1 
Genistas,  doz . 
()  0 
10  (1 
9 
0 
18  0 
Hyacinths,  Roman  (48- 
IS 
II 
3d  0 
pots),  doz . 
8  0 
9 
0 
4 
0 
8  0 
,,  Dutch  . 
8  II 
12 
II 
1 
d 
3  d 
Lvcopodiums,  per  doz.  ... 
3  II 
4 
ll 
8 
0 
18  0 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  doz.... 
9  0 
24  0 
Marguerites,  white . 
4  0 
8 
(1 
8 
24  (1 
Orange  Trees,  each 
3  d 
111 
d 
10 
0 
12  0 
Palms,  var.,  each  . 
3  0 
20 
0 
d 
0 
12  0 
Poinsettias,  per  doz. 
8  (1 
15 
0 
d 
0 
24  0 
Primulas,  per  doz . 
Pteris  fremula,  per  doz.  . 
4  II 
d 
0 
4 
0 
5  0 
4  (1 
8  0 
12 
0 
24  0 
,,  AVimsetti 
4  <1 
8  0 
9 
0 
18  0 
,,  major  ., 
4  (1 
d 
0 
•  > 
.) 
II 
4  0 
Solanums . 
4  0 
d 
0 
d 
II 
8  0 
Spirmas.  doz . 
6  II 
9 
0 
12 
0 
48  0 
Tulips,  red,  doz.  roots.  ... 
1  (1 
0 
0 
d 
0 
12  0 
,,  yellow,  doz.  roots 
1  d 
0  0 
4 
0 
d  0 
tiolesale 
Ppiees.— Cut  Flowers. 
d. 
S.  (1 
H.  cl. 
3. 
d 
1 
d  to  2  d 
Narcissus,  doz.  bun. 
1  ,,  Soleil  d'Or,  per  doz. 
1  0  to  2 
0 
1 
II 
2  0 
3  (1 
4  0 
0 
4 
(1  d 
'  ,,  Pheasant’s  Eye  ,, 
2  0 
4 
ll 
3 
II 
5  0 
Orchid,  various,  per  doz. 
,,  Odontoglossums  ., 
;>  (1 
12 
11 
1 
d 
2  6 
2  d 
•  » 
II 
1 
0 
3  0 
,,  Cypripedium  in- 
2 
d 
d  0 
signe,  per  doz. ... 
Pelargoniums,  zonal,  doz. 
1  d 
O 
t) 
o 
0 
4  0 
1 
0 
2  G 
bun . 
4  ft 
i! 
il 
0  4 
0  d 
Poinsettias,  bun . 
1  d 
0 
ll 
4  0 
d  0 
Roman  Hyacinths,  per 
1 
1 
d 
2  0 
bunch  . 
II  d 
0 
Roses,  Mermet,  per  doz. . 
3  (1 
0 
0 
4 
0 
5  0 
.,  Various,  per  bun. 
0  d 
1 
d 
1 
d 
3  0 
,,  AVhite  ., 
1  d 
i) 
0 
„  Pink 
1  0 
o 
0 
4 
0 
7  0 
Smilax,  per  doz.  trails  ... 
1  0 
1 
d 
1 
d 
3  0 
Snowdrops,  doz . 
1  0 
1 
d 
O 
d 
4  0 
Stephanotis,  per  doz.  ... 
Tuberoses,  strong, bun.... 
1  d 
:! 
1 
d 
1  II 
d 
6  0 
15  0 
„  ,,  doz.... 
Tulips,  per  bunch . 
II  d 
0 
9 
(1  d 
1) 
9 
1 
0 
2  0 
A"iolcts,per  doz.  bun.  ... 
1  d 
1 
9 
•> 
•J 
0 
4  (1 
.,  Parma  ,, 
1  d 
•  ) 
d 
0  9 
1  II 
