December 7, 1871. 1 



JOUBNAL OF flORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



449 



to them. Tlieee oroBs pieces on the upper side we found to be 

 disadvantageous, as the damp lodged against them, and the 

 frame was made heavier. 



For many years we made the under side of the frame as above 

 described to lieep the straw from the sash, but after packing 

 with straw, on reverting the frame we merely put a cross 

 piece of wood at each end, chiefly with the view of afluiding a 

 hold in lifting, and took a string, firmly secured with tacks, 

 across just above the lower cross piece. This made the cover 

 lighter, and the rain passed off more freely. These strings can 

 te made rather tighter if stout cord instead of tar string is used, 

 and they may soon be run across with a small brush and tar 

 to prevent their decaying. In fact, when there was an oppor- 

 tunity of well drying them previous to use, we often painted all 

 the upper surface of the straw with warm tar, just having a 

 little grease or oil in it to make it run freely. These made the 

 covers almost waterproof, bat they hardly lasted so long as 

 those untarred, as the tar rendered the straw more brittle. We 

 are now nearly out of such covers, but for protection we con- 

 sider them second only to wooden shutters. We thick some 

 years ago we mentioned as a proof of their ifJScacy to convince 

 one who could not believe in their utility, that in a low house, 

 divided in the middle, the division that was r( quired to be 

 hottest was covered with these straw covers, one to every sash. 

 There had beea a sharp frost, and 3 inches of snow during the 

 night. On the uncovered part the snow was all melted a little 

 after ten o'clock. On the covered part the snow was not at all 

 , touched at that time, and to tfiord a little more light the covers 

 were pulled down, and put on again in the afternoon with the 

 snow lying on them. The glass beneath the covering was much 

 warmer than the exposed glass, but the heat from the former 

 could not pass through the straw to the snow. What will keep 

 heat in will keep cold out. 



The only drawback to the free use of such straw covers and 

 wooden shutters, is the simple fact that there must be two men 

 to carefully put them on and take them off, but the work can be 

 done with great rapidity. Such covers with us usually lasted 

 on an average three years, some much longer, with a little 

 looking-over. Even if matting, calico, tarpaulin, or frigi domo 

 is used, and where two men ate available for the purpose, it is 

 best when such covering is fastened to poles, so that in the 

 case of pits and frames one man may move or roll the covering 

 behind, and another in front. They are thus more easily dried 

 and rolled up ready for use. All protecting material will be 

 effectual in proportion to its dryness. 



We write these details for the benefit of those who wish to 

 know how to do things with the greatest present economy. 

 Hot water might be cheaper in the end, but there are thousands 

 who can stand much work, and a small present outlay, but who 

 cannot make a large outlay at once. Even in the case of low 

 pits and low houses heated by Lob water, and where a high 

 temperature is necessary, a little protection over the glass will 

 often be found of great advantage, as wherever there is only a 

 small amount of air shut in the changes from heat to cold, and 

 from dampness to dryness, are more frequent than in larger 

 houses, and not so uniform in either as when a little covering 

 over the glass is used. Even a piece of calico strained or pulled 

 tightly outside the g'a=s makes a great difference on the in- 

 ternal atmosphere in a frosty night. 



FKUIT GlEDEN. 



Fruits, especially Pears, are keeping lather worse than usual, 

 chiefly owing to the dampnOEB of the autumn. Apples, though 

 on the whole smaller than usual, are keeping better, and are of 

 good flavour. Used a little brisk fire every day in the late vinery 

 to prevent damp, allowing the pipes to become somewhat cool 

 before night, and then leaving the least amount of air on to 

 prevent moist vapours collecting. In order to be sure we have 

 taken a good many boxes of cuttings into the house. Pruned, 

 nailed, and prepared sites for trees ; the last can be done 

 in the most frosty weather. Placed all the Strawberry plants 

 in earth pits, so as to give them a little protection. This 

 season we have taken out a trench at one end, deep enough 

 to set a row of pots in up to the rims, packed them round 

 with earth, and followed with another row, and so on. Round 

 the ends, back, and front of this bed of pots in the earth 

 pit, we left a breadth of about 6 inches, which we palted-down 

 smooth, and then poured some tar along from the spout of an 

 old pot, which neither rat nor mouse will care to pass while 

 moist. Such a cordon of tar would not do in a heated building, 

 but the fumes of the tar will do no harm in a cold earth pit. 

 We might have kept the plants, as we have done, uninjured in 

 beds in the open ground until now, but we feared lest one night 



of keen unexpected frost should injure the roots and the con- 

 sequent crop if little or no protection were given. No better 

 place can be found for such a purpose than an orchard house, 

 but ours are at present too crowded to place them there. We 

 have tried numerous plans, such as building the pots up like 

 the roof of a span house, packing them layer above layer ; but 

 the buds are apt to turn to one side and the roots at times to 

 become too dry, and even then the vermin would get at Ihem. 

 Whatever rest the crowns may have, the fresher and less in- 

 jured the roots are when forcing is commenced the better chance 

 is there for free blooming and free fruiting. 



Insects attacldnrj Strawberries. — From a leaf bed that afforded 

 the slightest bottom heat we last week filled five lights of 

 a pit neatly 6 feet wide, and which had been appropiiated 

 to Cucumbers, the pit being heated by hot water, though not 

 enough for Cucumbers. A high temperature and a dry atmo- 

 sphere soon bring on attacks of red spider on Strawberry plants. 

 In low pits they are also liable to suffer when in bloom from 

 too much humidity in the atmosphere, which clogs up the 

 pollen and prevents free-setting. For the latter more dryness 

 and more air ate the best remedies, and at the worst times 

 covering the glass at night to prevent condensation of moisture. 

 Such an evil is seldom felt in large houses. In all cases, how- 

 ever, it is well to use preventives against the coming of insects. 

 When the place is empty sulphur-smoking may be resorted to ; 

 but our chief reliance is washing the walls and woodwork with 

 water as warm as it can be made — if containing some soap in 

 solution all the better — and painting the walls with quicklime 

 and sulphur. The part of the wall above the Strawberry pots 

 we frequently paint over again with a solution of soft soap and 

 sulphur in waim water. This adheres well, and as the sun 

 plays on it slight fumes of sulphur will be emitted. In such 

 small places where the air shut in is very limited it is better 

 to place sulphur in water in evaporating pans than on a heating 

 medium, be it flue or hot-water pipe. Before putting-in the 

 plants most of the old leaves are removed, the pots are washed, 

 and a little rich top-dressing given. Attention to these minor 

 details will help to secure success, more especially if the lise 

 of temperature is very gradual. 



Cleanliness as a Preventive of Insects. — We have not had the 

 opportunity of trying the ffficacy of many insecticides, because 

 we would rather prevent iuiccts coming than kill them when 

 they come, and run a lisk of injuring the plants too. Whenever 

 we change crops in pits, frames, and houses, we place great 

 reliance on the free application of hot water, as hot as it can 

 be used, if with soap in it all the better. A syringe is generally 

 first used with a thick glove or a piece of cloth to protect the 

 hand, whilst sending water not far from the boiling point into 

 every crevice of the wall and woodwork, not using it quite so 

 warm for the glass. The walls are then scrubbed, and a fresh 

 application of the hot water made. In addition to this, if a 

 pit or frame stands apart from others, we often put the lights 

 on and burn some sulphur. This cannot be done unless the 

 place contains no growing plants, and has no connection with 

 others. It is true economy, as well as prudent, to do all this 

 even when there has been little or no appearance of insects. 

 Considerable practice has led us to the conclusion that it is 

 better to prevent than to cure. 



Temporary Stages for Strawherrij Pots in Pits. — In building 

 new pits we have several times alluded to the importance of 

 leaving out a ledge of bricks an inch or so in width all round 

 inside, so that by placing stout boards across one could either 

 use the bottom of the pit or one or more platforms nearer the 

 glass to accommodate dwarfer plants, unless in a span-roofed 

 house or pit with glass at the sides as well as roof, and nothing 

 to shade the plants. 



Strawberry plants will not force well if placed at a great dis- 

 tance from the glass. From 12 to 15 inches from the glass to 

 the top of the pot may be considered a good average distance 

 for most kinds of Strawberries. The above mode will give a 

 good base for easily forming a sloping stage. It is a good ar- 

 rangement to have stages formed for the purpose to lift out 

 when done with ; but even with all advantage they require much 

 storage room in summer when the pits are used for other pur- 

 poses. As a makeshift we often lay bearers across, say old 

 rafters or poles 2J inches in diameter, and on these rest the 

 shelves lengthwise. At times we have fastened a rail at the 

 requisite height back and front for the cross-pieces to rest on, 

 but we do not consider that necessary. The simplest plan is 

 to take a line and measure the exact length from the front to 

 the back wall where you wish the bearers to rest ; and then, 

 cutting the ends of these bearers a little diagonally, they will 



