282 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [December, 



Between these curves the main wall faces south, and is occupied first by eight 

 Vines grown on the single-rod system, and then Peaches and Nectarines as the 

 early crop. But before I go further, I must just speak of these vines. They are 

 now covered with noble bunches of grapes, which would not disgrace Her Majesty's 

 table. My intention was to have restricted their produce to twelve bunches 

 each, but their average is fifteen, and the strong ripe rods for nest season's 

 work show that their energies have not been overtaxed. They now succeed the 

 early vinery, and will yield an ample supply to the family till Christmas. 



A few feet down the roof strong claws support, through the whole length of 

 the house, neat deal shelves, on which are placed zinc troughs broad enough to 

 hold a 24-pot. In these troughs I place 100 pots of Straioherries^ ecj^ual numbers 

 of Sir Joseph Paxton, President^ and Dr. Hogg. But I must digress a moment 

 to describe their preparation. The first runners thrown out by the garden crops 

 are firmly secured to the ground by pins. In a few days these will send forth other 

 runners, which must be pinched off. By the end of July these layers will be 

 robust plants, and ready for removal. Twenty-fours are a nice-sized pot for their 

 reception, and they should be perfectly clean. A few bits of charcoal and coarse 

 bones, if you have them, improve the drainage by being mixed with the crocks. 

 The soil should be firm and unexhausted, and mixed with one-third of old manure, 

 or better still, old cow-dung. The plants are carefully lifted, and in planting 

 them I ram the mould very firmly into the pots till they are full. The pots are 

 then well watered, and stand in the shade for a couple of days, when they are 

 placed on gravel, or any substance into which the roots will not run. Here they 

 remain till October (the runners being in the meantime frequently removed), 

 when they are placed in the zinc troughs close to the glass till the new year 

 begins to feel the influence of lengthening days, when they are cleaned off. Their 

 growth will soon be rapid, and their flowering profuse. Pot-watering will now 

 be necessar)', and when the height of the sun and the rapid growth of the plants, 

 added to the swelling of the fruit, render that supply insviflicient, the usefulness 

 of the troughs will be recognised. With the prospect of a fine day pour into 

 them a liberal supply of fresh water, which the plants will eagerly take up, and 

 by the next morning will require another supply. I gather the first fruit about 

 May 1.5, three weeks in advance of the out-door crops. This crop I may pro- 

 nounce my greatest success ; it is abundant, the fruit large, highlj'-coloured, and 

 of exquisite flavour, and it will hang several days after maturity without deteriora- 

 tion. I do not gather it in small fancy l:)askets, but in good sensible-sized dishes, 

 enough for the family and many friends, who greet them with a warm reception 

 as the first fruit of the season. An experienced nurserjnnan went through my 

 houses early in June, when the strawbenies were hanging in rich clusters over- 

 head, and he said to me, " Well, D., this ought to be seen ; I never in my \\hi 

 saw anything to equal it." The pots bear continuously till the garden beds begin 

 to ripen, when they are removed, and having never been forced, are very useful 

 to a neighbour, who by planting them at once in good soil, may obtain a full 

 crop the following summer. 



