i87i.] 



NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



437 



send away, when it is necessary to 

 gather them a little earlier. Give those 

 from which the cr ops are all gathered an 

 occasional syringing, so as to keep the 

 foliage healthy until it has properly 

 performed its functions, and drops off 

 naturally. Plants in pots from which 

 all fruit are gathered, may be placed in 

 any warm place outdoors, where they 

 will get full sun, and be sheltered from 

 high winds, which would tarnish their 

 leaves. 



Melons. — Keep fruit that have got 

 to the ripening stage diy, and well 

 exposed to light and air. The night 

 temperature should range about 70°, for 

 Melons ripened in a low temperature 

 and damp atmosphere are scarcely eat- 

 able. Be careful not to water crops 

 that are nearly fully swollen, or the 

 chances are that they will burst and be 

 spoilt. The best way is to mulch the 

 surface of the soil with a little leaf- 

 mould or rotten manure to prevent the 

 surface of the bed from becoming too 

 dry, and from cracking. Late crops 

 that are swelling rapidly should be kept 

 warm, and, now that the nights are 

 longer and cooler, should have fires put 

 on to prevent the temperature from 



sinking below 70° to 75°, according to 

 the state of the weather. 



Cucumbers. — Plants raised from 

 seed sown about the middle of August 

 will soon be ready to plant out. A 

 light moderately - rich soil is best for 

 winter Cucumbers. Grow them on 

 with as much light and air as possible, 

 in order to get them strong and healthy 

 before shorter and duller days arrive. 

 Plants still in bearing should be watered 

 occasionally with liquid manure. Keep 

 the temperature from 70° to 75° at night. 

 If a low temperature is allowed at this 

 season, mildew is sure to attack and de- 

 stroy them. All symptoms of it should 

 be checked by dusting the affected parts 

 with flower of sulphur. 



Strawberries in Pots. — If former 

 directions have been carried out, these 

 will now have well filled their pots with 

 roots ; and should the weather be hot 

 and dry, give them frequent supplies of 

 dung or guano-water. It is best to 

 water them in the morning after this 

 season, as the drier they are at night, 

 the less likely are they to be affected 

 with spot in their leaves. Keep them 

 free from runners and weeds, and give 

 them plenty of room. 



We deeply regret that, owing to press of matter, several communications of 

 great interest are unavoidably postponed. 



All business communications should be addressed to the Publishers, and com- 

 munications for insertion in the ' Gardener ' to David Thomson, Drumlanrig 

 Gardens, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, It will farther oblige if all matter intended 

 for publication, and questions to be replied to, be forwarded by the middle of the 

 month, and written on one side of the paper only. It is also requested that 

 writers forward their name and address, not for publication, unless they wish it, 

 but for the sake of that mutual confidence which should exist between the Editor 

 and those who address him. We decline noticing any communication which is 

 not accompanied with name and address of writer. 



A Lover op Herbaceous. — We do not consider that the plant you name should 

 be included in the category of hardy herbaceous plants. Although in diy sandy soils 

 nearly the whole of the genus do occasionally live over the winter, yet in heavy 

 soils and in cold localities there are ten chances to one against their living through 

 the winter, and consequently we would not by any means accept them as hardy 

 in a collection ' of hardy herbaceous plants. 



Anderson Forstthe. — 'Botany for Ladies' by Dr Lindley (Ridgeway, Lon- 

 don), is the most suitable book we know for your purpose, 



2h 



