1873.] NOTES ON HARDY CONIFERS. 345 



soil chiefly composed of leaf-mould is much to be preferred to 4 or 5 

 sets in a large pots ; the small pots can be accommodated on shelves 

 near the glass with greater convenience and with less labour, and 

 many shelves will hold the small size which would not take the larger. 

 The cliief point is, however, that a better crop is raised in the large 

 pots from the same number of sets. The tops do not run so high in 

 the small pots ; they are not so liable to be over-watered and sodden, 

 than which nothing is more mischievous to forced Potatoes. A very 

 small amount of water at the root is really necessary; the young 

 Potatoes will attain a very good size with very little green top. Assist 

 the maturation of the young tubers ; it is indeed well known that 

 tubers wUl form on the old sets under certain conditions without any 

 growth at top at all, so that it is better to have the soil in the pots 

 leaning to the dry side, so as to stunt the growth of the tops, than to 

 encourage them to lengthen. 



The same remarks apply to the forcing of Cucumbers in winter ; 

 they may be grown with perfect success in pots or in boxes with a 

 small amount of soil, the object being to secure the whole of the soil 

 being perfectly taken possession of by the roots, so that sourness can- 

 not ensue, and feeding by liquid manure becomes almost a necessity. 



The earliest crop of Melons will also be found to do best in small 

 pots, or in some way by which the roots maj be comparatively con- 

 fined. Our plan has long been to plant in an inverted Seakale pot 

 placed on a hard bottom, the roots being permitted to escape as the 

 season advances and the plants demand more nourishment. 



This is not the time to be discussing the use of small pots in the 

 forcing of vegetables; it is, however, opportune for Strawberries, 

 which we have particularly in view ; and the time for potting Dutch 

 Bulbs is at hand. The Squire's Gardener. 



[We commend tkese remarks to the attention of all who are engaged in early 

 forcing. We know that many most successful Pine-growers have this spring 

 failed to get their early plants to start into fruit ; they grew into mere leaf in- 

 stead : and why ? owing to the sunless summer of last year. There was not 

 sufficient sun to put fruit into the plants, and no effort could do it this spring. 

 If the dulness of 1872 could have been foreseen, pots half the usual size would 

 have met the case. — Ed.] 



NOTES ON HARDY CONIFERS. 



RETINOSPORA (tHE JAPAN CYPRESS). 



The beautiful shrubs and trees comprised in this genus are indi- 

 genous to Japan, where also, with their numerous varieties, they are 

 extensively planted for ornamenting gardens and pleasure-grounds. 



