September 6, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



199 



must save very much labour. On the whole, though it must 

 be admitted after a limited survey, I infer that our English 

 seedlings are coming to the front and likely to keep there. 

 Comparisons are odious ; were they made, our leading growers 

 would certainly not suffer by the side of foreign competitors. 

 What I have seen in England generally has been on a vastly 

 larger scale. M. Margottin informed me he had just taken the 

 two gold medals given by the city of Paris at their this year's 

 show for dwarf and standard pot Roses. — A. C, Hotel de 

 Louvre. 



STRAWBERRIES ON A LIGHT SOIL. 



As my remarks in the Journal the other day were intended 

 to give the result of my experience and to report on the Straw- 

 berries mentioned rather than to take up any side on the 

 question of annual renewal, I did not intend to write again ; 

 but as one or two persons have expressed a wish that I should 

 add a little to my notes, and the subject is not exhausted, I 

 willingly do so. 



In the first place I do not wish to mislead anyone as to the bed 

 of Keens' Seedling. It has only borne such wonderful crops 

 the last two or three years. Before that the crop was always 

 a good one and could be depended upon let the season be what 

 it might ; in fact this Strawberry in the position I have it is 

 " at home." Sir J. Paxton, President, La Constante, and 

 others do equally well ; they have now been grown four or five 

 years, and look likely to last as many more, but I am not sure 

 about the first. I do not feel bound by any particular time 

 for the renewal of beds, and only do so when they cease to be 

 profitable. " W. S. P." speaks of my method as being a 

 rough-and-ready one. I really was not aware of it. I am 

 desirous of following the beBt-known method, and I do not 

 think I am far from the mark on my own ground. I thought 

 of trying a few experiments with guano and soot this year, 

 but the weather in June was too dry, so I deferred it to another 

 year. 



When I first began growing Strawberries I did not succeed 

 as well as I do now, and was under the impression that they 

 required more frequent renewal than I have since found to be 

 the case, but the fact was I had not the most suitable sorts, 

 and was not sufficiently careful about removing the weeds in 

 time. There is no fruit crop which is so soon injured by the least 

 neglect in that respect, or so well repays the necessary care and 

 attention. The Boil now is sufficiently moist, and I am having 

 the beds trimmed up and cutting off all the leaves except five 

 or Bix at the top, and it is a matter of indifference whether 

 they are all cut off. On several occasions I have had a portion 

 left so and could observe no difference in the following crop ; 

 they will be Bure to throw-up plenty of new leaves before the 

 winter. The plants will be manured with some well-decayed 

 hotbed manure before Christmas, but I do not like the crowns 

 of the plants covered. If the manuring is delayed until after 

 Christmas sometimes a long period of dry weather sets in, and 

 the full benefit of it is not obtained. 



Mr. Luckhurst goes a little too far in his opening statement 

 about Strawberries succeeding everywhere. Mr. Rivers, a good 

 authority, says that Eliza does not thrive except on a chalky 

 soil ; and Mr. Darwin says, " That splendid fruit the British 

 Queen can be cultivated in few places either in England or 

 France, but this apparently depends more on the nature of 

 the soil than the climate." A famous gardener (Mr. D. Beaton) 

 says that " no mortal could grow the British Queen at Shrub- 

 land Park unless the whole nature of the soil was altered." 

 At the same time some sorts are so hardy as to thrive almost 

 anywhere. 



Anyone desirous of making a selection for planting could 

 not posBibly find a better guide than the report of the Straw- 

 berry election for 1872— at least with regard to the older varie- 

 ties. I have just procured Lucas and Unzer Fritz, the latter 

 highly recommended by Mr. Ferdinand Gloede, and perhaps 

 another day I may report on their behaviour. I am very 

 much pleased with the remarks of " C. P. P.," who is evidently 

 an experienced grower, although I do not follow the same 

 method of cultivation. — Ahateuk, Cirencester. 



ing here to isolate the patches infected by trenches, and then 

 cover the surface with sawdust soaked in benzoyl, which is to 

 be set on fire. After this the land is to be ploughed, again 

 saturated with the oil, and the surface again burnt." If the 

 beetle could survive that it must have indeed a charmed life. 

 But in the event of its having got too far ahead to admit of 

 this effective process, Mr. Rye advises a systematic and un- 

 wearied search for the imagos in spring, before the eggs are 

 deposited. It is encouraging to find that this authority is 

 inclined to pronounce against the probability of the beetle's, 

 effecting a settlement in Britain. — J. R. S. C. 



BATTERSEA PARK. 



THE COLORADO BEETLE. 



In an article on this unluckily famous insect which appears 



in the September number of "Science Gossip," and whioh is 



from the pen of Mr. Rye, deservedly reputed one of our ablest 



entomologists, it is recommended in the event of its appear- 



For varied and attractive scenes produced by its formation;, 

 for the diversified character of its ornamentation, and for its 

 excellent keeping, Battersea Park has always been renowned. 

 Every year since its establishment it has been beautiful, but 

 never has it been more greatly and justly admired than during 

 the present season. Its broad, smooth, capital walks, the 

 pleasing seclusion of its quiet nooks and shady groves, its rock 

 and water scenes, its Fern dells and alpine touches, its tropical 

 aspect and the artistic decoration of the beds, combine to 

 render this picturesque place of public resort increasingly 

 popular. 



Let us enter the Park by the western gate and note the 

 character of the decorations. Mixed borders are not generally 

 considered as being particularly attractive during the late 

 summer ; they are more frequently referred to under the con- 

 venient term of " interesting " — a term which may have a 

 wonderful amount of meaning or no meaning at all, according 

 to the fancy of the reader ; but the mixed borders here are 

 neither dull nor tame, but are lively and effective as such 

 borders should be. Their effect is probably enhanced by their 

 boldly curving nature and their front marginal lines of golden 

 Stellaria, silvery Gnaphalium, and blue Lobelia. They are 

 brightened also by the introduction of bold masses of the best 

 of the bedding Geraniums. But what renders them especially 

 attractive now are the rows of Anemone japonica, and espe- 

 cially its white variety alba (syn. Honorine Jobert), the flowers 

 of which are Bhown to great advantage by the background of 

 shrubs and bright scarlet Dahlias. Heliotropes in profusion 

 impart perfume to these gay mixed borders. Crossing the 

 carriage drive the entrance avenue becomes restricted. On 

 both aides of it are rows of the finest massing Geranium im 

 the Park, Waltham Seedling, and Calceolarias ; and especially 

 noticeable bright yet elegant rows of Pentstemons, behind 

 which, and partly amongBt the shrubs, are fine clumps of 

 Liliums, apparently L. lancifolium, in variety, with numerous 

 flowers on the eve of expanding. 



A short walk across a " bit of real park" and we arrive at 

 the decorations proper. A twisting walk less than 50 yards in 

 length leads to the subtropical enclosure. But short as it is, 

 this walk affords attractions on either hand — a bold dell-like 

 recess formed amongst the shrubs, the turf smooth and clean, 

 the beds of Cannas imposing, the overarching foliage of the 

 Tree of Heaven refreshing, the Geranium beds affording bright- 

 ness — Mrs. Turner, lavender pink, being especially fine — and 

 isolated specimens of Palms and Musas, all commanding ad- 

 miration. 



We are now-in the enclosure — an irregularly oval-Bhaped, 

 undulated, " treeified " lawn on the one Bide, and high banks 

 of dense foliage on the other, with a narrow strip of lawn next 

 the circular walk. Towering Cordylines, rich masses of 

 " tropicals," specimen Palms, informal mixed beds, very for- 

 mal carpet beds, and a few real flower beds constitute the 

 attractions here. A bed of the Coral Plant (Erythrina) 

 interspersed with golden Abutilon and edged with variegated 

 Mesembryanthemum fronts the entrance into the encloBure • 

 it is a raised bed, as are the two mixed beds on either side 

 of it. Jacaranda mimossefolia, here most elegant, Acacia 

 lophantha, and such like plants, are supporting mediums for 

 Thunbergia alata in variety. Towards the margin a broad 

 Eilver-leaved Artemisia is associated with Abutilons and 

 tuberous Begonias, the beds being edged with Alternantheras 

 and Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum. These are 

 charming beds, the Begonias in them having a rich yet grace- 

 ful appearance. Two large S-shaped carpet beds attract the 

 notice of visitors. Being partly under the shade of trees the 

 object has been to render them bright and cheerful. The 

 circular ends of the beds are planted with Golden Bicolor 

 Geraniums, the remaining portion of the beds being planted 



