THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 255 
surplus plants in a mixed border, the way out of your difficulty is most easy. Re- 
move the flowers and water copiously, and the plants will soon start into an active 
growth, and furnish an abundant supply of young shoots that will make excellent 
cuttings. If there is any probability of the supply from the surplus stock being 
insufficient, pinch off the flowers from a few plants in the beds, Of course the 
flowers must not be removed from several plants close together, or an ugly gap 
will be made. It is unnecessary for us to point out the way to avoid this, 
The flowers that make their appearance after the first removal must, of course, be 
nipped off. 
New Praxrarions oF STRAWBERRIES. —Fragarian.—We are quite aware that 
a considerable diversity of opinion exists as to the proper time for planting new beds 
of strawberries, but why this difference of opinion should exist we are quite at a loss 
to understand. Runners planted at this season of the year, if watered a few times, 
quickly become established, and form strong crowns by the time the cold weather 
puts a stop to the growth, and produce a moderate crop the following summer. The 
extent of the crop depends entirely upon the preparation the runners undergo pre- 
vious to planting, and if they are allowed to grow into a mass and are then taken 
up and planted, of course the quantity of fruit willbe small. On the other hand, 
if they are layered in small pots and otherwise managed as those intended for forc- 
ing, and planted out immediately they are well rooted, the crop will be scarcely 
inferior to that produced by established beds. The advantages resulting from layer- 
ing the runners are so great that really we cannot understand why the common 
practice of lifting the plants from between the rows is not banished at once from all 
gardens where any pretensions are made of managing the affairs properly. Where 
spring planting is adopted, the runners must be grown somewhere during the winter, 
and there are but two ways of dealing with them; they must either be allowed to 
remain in the bed amongst the parent plants, which is certainly very undesirable, or 
they must be planted in nursery beds for the winter. It is certainly no more 
trouble to plant them in the permanent beds than it is in those of a more temporary 
character, without the extra labour required in planting them in their permanent 
quarters in the spring. A rather strong loam is undoubtedly the most suitable for 
strawberries, but they can be grown successfully in almost any soil, if it is libe- 
rally enriched with farmyard manure. The ground should be trenched to a depth 
of two feet. 
CarrrPititars on ZonaL PeLarconrums.—K. K.—Hand-picking is the only 
means by which the caterpillars can be extirpated, for they are on the under side of 
the leaves, and remain unaffected by the tobacco-powder. Perseverance in hand- 
picking will soon clear the plants. The geraniums named are procurable in the 
ordinary course of trade, and the first-named variety may be procured for a few 
shillings per dozen. 
INTERMEDIATE Stocks ror Sprinc FLiowErine.—Early in August sow the 
seed in pans or boxes, and place them in a shady position out-of-doors, When the 
stock is strong enough, pot off singly or put two plants in a pot, and keep them ina 
cold frame during the winter, with just sufficient protection from frost. A compost 
of turfy loam, enriched with one part thoroughly-decayed hotbed manure, will grow 
them to perfection. The soil must be perfectly free from wireworms, which do con- 
siderable mischief to stocks. 
LopexiAs ror ConsERvATORY Decorati0on.—W. B.—The easiest way to raise a 
stock for flowering early in the spring is to sow the seed some time during the 
present month, and then pot off the seedlings singly when strong enough to handle, 
Use three-inch pots, andin the early part of February shift into one or two sizes 
larger. Stop the leading shoots once or twice previous to shifting the stock in the 
spring, to promote the formation of bushy little specimens; but the growth must 
not be stopped after the plants are put in the pots in which they are to flower. Use 
a compost consisting of turfy loam, leaf-mould, manure from an_ old hotbed, and 
silyer-sand ; pot firm, and let the pots be drained effectively. During the winter 
keep near the glass in acool greenhouse, and whilst guarding against the soil be- 
coming dust-dry, avoid over-watering. In the spring, when the plants commence 
growing freely, water liberally, and after the pots are well filled with roots, use weak 
liquid manure once or twice a week, 
Metons Crackine.—A. B.—We expect you have allowed the plants to become 
too dry at the roots, and then give the bed athorough soaking of water. There is 
August. 
