14 THE FLORIST. 



strikingly amongst Hyacinths, Tulips, &c, forming a pleasing effect. 

 The balls containing the bulbs of this plant should be turned out and 

 repotted about the beginning of September, carefully removing all the 

 youn<T or weak bulbs, which must be potted by themselves, as they 

 require to be grown one season before the flowers come good. Having 

 selected the best bulbs, and having the pots well cleaned and drained, fill 

 them with the following compost, to within an inch and a half of their 

 rims : two parts peat to one of yellow loam, well mixed together, adding 

 at the same time a good supply of sand. Some prefer peat and sand 

 only ; this I think is apt to weaken the bulb ; consequently the flowers 

 cannot be so fine ; neither do they turn out so clean when potted. 

 The pots being filled to the height required, press the soil gently down, 

 making it level ; then place the bulbs thickly in the pot, as they are 

 small, to make them adhere to the soil ; then fill the pot with the same 

 compost to the rim, pressing it down, and the work is finished. About 

 two dozen pots (48's and 32's) will be enough filled at one time ; 

 about the end of the month, pot off the same number, which will be 

 quite sufficient to keep up a good succession during the winter. On 

 removing the pots from the potting shed, place them in a cool frame or 

 pit, giving just enough water to moisten the soil. The roots will shortly 

 begin to push vigorously, filling the pots ; and as soon as the top of the 

 plant is seen to appear remove them to a shelf, near the glass, in 

 the greenhouse (which is preferable to a forcing pit, as they are apt to 

 grow fast, and produce abortive flowers), when they should be well 

 supplied with water, and occasionally a little liquid manure. In this 

 situation the plants will show for bloom ; then they may be placed in 

 the conservatory, or where flowers may be required. 



These plants, if well treated, will continue for some time in flower ; 

 when on the wane, water must be gradually withheld ; when done 

 flowering, place them in a warm pit, to gently ripen them off, and 

 finally remove to a dry shed, when the pots may be stacked on their 

 sides till required again next season. Each batch of pots should be 

 carefully labelled when stowed away, to prevent mistakes, as it is 

 necessary to use them in proper rotation. 



C. 



MONSIEUR FERDINAND GLOEDE ON STRAWBERRIES. 

 A Letter addressed to the Rev. W. F. Radclyffe. 



Les Sablons, near Moret-sur-loing, France. 

 Rev. and Dear Sir, — Although not having the honour of being 

 known to you, still on the strength of certain sympathies existing 

 between us, I take the liberty of addressing to you these lines . From 

 various highly interesting articles in the Florist, and, if I mistake not, 

 in the Midland Florist also — for which the horticultural world is 

 indebted to you — 1 learned that the Strawberry is one of your plants 

 of predilection. Being myself a most enthusiastic lover of this 

 delicious fruit, it struck me that it might be mutually agreeable for us 

 to communicate to each other occasionally our experience and ideas on 

 this subject. I possess the most complete collection in the worid ; 



