40 



JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ July 17, 18G6. 



is, perhaps, deserving of all the praise that has been bestowed 

 on it when used for the class of plants for which it is suitable ; 

 but that its use can be recommended for all lands of plants is 

 by no means clear ; on the contrary, there is every reason to 

 believe that for some it is very improper. To make this ap- 

 pear more plainly, let us look at the character of the sands 

 ■which form the ingredients of the soils in which the various 

 plants cultivated in gardens flourish, and in doing so I shall 

 presuppose that all other pit sands are only suitable to the 

 plants for which each is fitted by its chemical constituents. 



Without entering into detail as to the requirements of each 

 class of plants, we may roughly divide these into the two classes 

 most dissimilar in respect to the soil in which they thrive best, 

 and preferring, the one a calcareous, the other a peaty soil. 

 Both these classes of plants require an admixture of sand in 

 the medium in which they grow, and in general both soils are 

 furnished with it in greater or less amount. The sand, how- 

 ever, is not alike in both, that in each soil partaking to a cer- 

 tain extent of the other constituents of the mixture of which it 

 forms a part ; and .supposing it were possible to separate the 

 sand frorn the one soil and add it to the other, the result would 

 in all probability be unsatisfactory in consequence of the an- 

 tagonistic properties of the materials so mixed. Instances of 

 this kind are sometimes met with in other branches of industry 

 than horticulture. I remember once noticing a large heap of 

 mortar that had lain some time, and which showed beyond the 

 possibility of a doubt the indiscretion of mixing substances 

 together that had no affinity. A bright yellow sand, sharp 

 enough to entrap an unwary builder into' the belief that it 

 would make good mortar, had been mixed with lime in the 

 usual way, and not being all wanted, a large heap lay some 

 months, when, on its being examined, it was found that the 

 lime was all but gone. The sand had " eaten it up," as the 

 labourer truly enough said, and the reason was plain enough. 

 The sand was strongly impregnated with iron, and, instead of 

 uniting with the lime, the result was the destruction of the 

 latter as far as the mortar was concerned. Now, it is easy 

 io perceive that something of the kind must occur when sand 

 of an unsuitable [character forms a component part in a mix- 

 ture for cultural purposes ; and although neutral sands may 

 with propriety be mixed with either calcareous or peaty soil, all 

 sands used at the potting-bench are not neutral, like the river 

 sand previously alluded to, and the drift sand also, though less 

 pure perhaps. Supposing any one were tempted to use the pure 

 white sand, which is dug in such large quantities in some neigh- 

 bourhoods for the manufacture of glass, as an ingredient in 

 a compost for growing Heaths or Bhododendrons, assuredly 

 the result could not be satisfactory ; rather let a soil containing 

 iron be used, and the chances of a favour-able result will be 

 greater. 



In advocating the use of sand charged with iron, where 

 American plants are grown, I by no means recommend a too 

 strong dose of it, for I have seen very fatal results follow the 

 planting of this class of plants in a sort of bog peat, too much 

 impregnated with that metal, but at the same time I have also 

 seen the evil effects of a silicious sand used for the same pur- 

 pose. A medium ought to be aimed at, and let the sand used 

 for American plants be only impregnated with a little iron, 

 but not at all so for other plants. The pleasing appearance of 

 nice white sand is a strong inducement to use it whenever sand 

 is wanted, and few people give themselves the trouble to find 

 out whether it is likely to suit the purpose they put it to or 

 not ; but at the same time grey or yellow sand is equally useful, 

 and the latter is more likely to answer in the case of a peaty 

 soil. I would advise those who have the opportunity of using 

 the last two, to try them for growing Heaths, and for other 

 purposes where they are brought in contact with peaty soil, 

 while the fine white sand so extensively employed for domestic 

 use, may be tried with good effect among plants not requiring 

 peat. 



All sand charged with poisonous matters should be avoided ; 

 a sort of greyish sandy material is found very extensively in 

 some mining districts, and is so poisonous that it kills all 

 plants on which it is laid, and is often used to throw on court- 

 yards or walks for the purpose of killing the weeds there. Such 

 a substance, of course, should never find its way into mixtures 

 intended for the culture of plants, and a sand, even though 

 containing a small proportion of anything deleterious, should 

 also be avoided. 



Although sand generally serves to increase the fertility of 

 the ground, yet where it exists in too great a proportion, it has 

 the contrary effect. The reason of this appears to be its want 



of adhesion, and the consequent too free access of air to the 

 roots, as well as the plants having to exist on such liquid food 

 as can be derived from external sources, and failing these 

 they suffer, just as plants cultivated in pots must in a great 

 measure depend on periodical waterings. Sand here becomes 

 an important agent, as it prevents the soil clogging, and allows 

 the superfluous water to pass off easily. This branch of the 

 subject, however, is only mentioned here to show the utility of 

 sand as an agent in the hands of the cultivator, and it is one to 

 which he has hitherto not paid so much attention as it deserves. 

 —J. Bobsoh. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Owing to M. Tan Houtte having facetiously dubbed me 

 "the sole arbiter" of the fate of seedling Strawberries, of 

 course you will expect that annually I shall say something on 

 the subject. I must, however, though much gratified by his 

 estimate, decline to be more than the expresser of an honest 

 opinion. I cannot be answerable for what is put in my mouth. 



My Strawberries of all kinds were removed here late in the 

 spring from Eushton ; and, considering this disadvantage, they 

 have done well. I here found these sorts, youthful and esta- 

 blished, and they have cropped finely — Bivers's Eliza, Trollope's 

 Victoria, Eugenie, and Eleanor. The following sorts I brought 

 with me : — Sir J. Paxton, Eciipse, Boyal Hautbois, Bivers's 

 Eliza, Old Pine, Scarlet Pine, Dr. Hogg, Mr. Eadclyffe, John 

 Powell, Bicton Pine, Eugfinie, Wonderful, Frogmore Late 

 Pine, and Cockscomb — a famous lot of good-constitutioned and 

 heavy cropping Strawberries, save one, the Old Pine. This 

 has been erroneously said to be the same as the Scarlet Pine, 

 which is more like the Bival Queen than any other. I fancy 

 the latter is a seedling from the Scarlet Pine. The Scarlet 

 Pine is a better setter than the Bival Queen, and is not subject, 

 as the Bival Queen is, to deformed, abortive, and cancerous 

 berries. The Scarlet Pine is the best flavoured Strawberry 

 here, or that I have ever tasted. I obtained my Scarlet Pines 

 from the late Mr. Nicholson, and the Old Pines from G. Sparkes, 

 Esq., of Bromley. They are not the same Strawberry. 



Before I proceed to speak of tried Strawberries, I must 

 mention, that, allured by a touching picture, I bought late in 

 the spring twenty plants of " The Lady " (Underbill), which I 

 deprived of their flowers. They are growing strongly, and are 

 commencing to run. It is of no use to crop late spring-planted 

 Strawberries. Deprive them of their flowers and the plants 

 will gain strength at once, run quickly, and do much better the 

 following year. You cannot judge accurately of them till they 

 have a large volume of perpendicular and horizontal roots. I 

 gave 30s. and 3s. carriage for " The Lady " — a very cheap lot. 



Before giving a list of Strawberries that can be recommended, 

 let me notice new Strawberries that I have sufficiently tried. 



1. Dr. Hogg (Bradley). — This is Al in every respect. A 

 noble dish of it was furnished by Mr. Turner, of the Boyal 

 Nurseries, Slough, for the Hole testimonial dinner.* It is in 

 constitution a Queen, more regularly coloured. It is hardy, 

 fine-foliaged, a heavy cropper, and has grown well in my 

 chalky land at Eushton, and still better in my fine, sandy, 

 deep loam here. I beg to universally recommend it. 



2. Mr. Eadclyffe. — Sent to me as Mr. Ingram's No. 10. This 

 is a splendid production from the Boyal Gardens, Frogmore. I 

 must hasten to acknowledge the high compliment paid to me. 

 I wrote to Mr. Ingram to ask what name he had determined 

 upon. I received a kind answer saying, that by my permission 

 he would call it Mr. Eadclyffe. I beg publicly to thank him 

 for the honour done to me. It is also in constitution a Queen, 

 hardy, fine Queen-foliaged, a good cropper, large, and Queen- 

 flavoured. Mr. Ingram's opinion of it is — " It is equal to the 

 Queen in all respects, but has a better constitution." I beg to 

 endorse this. 



3. Cockscomb (Mr. Ingram). — This is a very valuable Straw- 

 berry. It is suitable for all classes. It is hardy, a fine grower, 

 an immense cropper, of huge size, and of excellent flavour in 

 the Queen line. No Strawberry removed here from Eushton 

 has borne more heavily than this, and the Boyal Hautbois, 

 which is a jewel ! 



These three are all late Strawberries. They are sure to 



* I attended the Hole testimonial dinner at Anderton's. The " tea- 

 urn " (by Garrard & Co.), presented by the Rose growers of England, to 

 the Rev. S. R. Hole, originator of the National Rose Show, was elegant. 

 I can hardly soy how much pleasure I felt on the occasion. Long may 

 this, in every respect noble specimen of the human race, live to enjoy 

 with his wife and family this graceful and weil-descrved tribute. 



