414 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 5, 1872. 



in the schedule of the late Exhibition at South Kensington, it 

 ■was presumed that the fruit exhibited was the production of 

 the exhibitor. — Eds.] 



STRAW MATS FOE COVERING FRAMES. 



In answer to one of your correspondents, I have been accus- 

 tomed to make several of these for the last three years, and I 

 will state- the method I adopt as briefly as possible. 



In the first place I procure a stool or trussle about 3 feet 

 high, and as long as the mat to be made ; I next procure some 

 good wheat straw in the front of this stool, and then I and 

 my man stand behind the stool, each with a bunch of string 

 cut into convenient lengths. I have a boy to draw a small 

 handful of straw and supply me and my man alternately ; 

 we then tie it at four different places at equal distances apart, 

 but not cutting the string. This done, I take another handful 

 of straw, tie it with the other, and so on, until the mat is made. 

 "When one string is used I take another from the bunch from 

 my shoulder. It may be as well to state thafr^, notch should be 

 made in the , stool, and every time a tie is made I place the 

 string in this notch, which enables the workman to keep re- 

 gular with the tying from top to bottom. I find that these mats 

 with a little care last from two to three winters. Care should 

 be taken to have them thoroughly dry before they are rolled- 

 np in fine weather. — H. Mooee, Old Windsor. 



In answer to "R.," I will describe the way I make them. 

 Procure some rods as straight as yon can — a stout beanstick 

 would do if nothing else were at hand. Make the length you 

 require your mat, then make fast some large common tar twine 

 6 inches apart the whole length of your rod ; next lay the rod 

 on the potting-bench, and then drive some nails the same 

 distance apart the farther side of the bench, and strain the 

 strings to them. With some small tarred twine make fast to the 

 rod at the same places as the others. "We are now ready for laying 

 on the straw ; some wheat sheaves with the ears cut off are the 

 best. Now draw a dozen straws or so from the sheaf, and lay 

 alongside the rod on the large strings, and then with the 

 smaller pass over the straw, draw underneath the- large ones, 

 and draw up tightly ; your straw is then fixed between the two 

 strings. Go along the length of the rod, and commence again, 

 and so continue till you get to the nails, and then, if not wide 

 enough, let loose the strings and strain as before till you have 

 the desired width. Fasten another rod on the ends of the 

 string, and then you have a neat mat to roll up and carry about 

 at will. Mats may be made without rods, but I prefer those 

 with rods. I first saw them made at Mr. Ivery's, at Dorking. 

 They are there made by simply drawing the straw from the 

 truss and raking it smooth with the head of an old iron rake as 

 it is drawn. — C. H. Talbot, Gardener, Spritig Souse, Midhurst. 



GLADIOLUS CULTURE. 



Along with the many lovers of the Gladiolus, I have taken 

 a deep interest in the recent correspondence on the above 

 subject in this Journal. Some of your readers may have had 

 longer experience, but I very much question whether any of 

 them have a warmer attachment for, or take a greater interest 

 in the cultivation of that noble flower than your present corre- 

 spondent. Unfortunately in its cultivation, before the end 

 of all our care can be attained, there are many and mys- 

 terious difficulties to contend with ; our best-laid plans are 

 frequently thwarted, and where only health and bean y are 

 expected, and certainly deserved, it far too often happens that 

 a few sickly-looking leaves and a poor, shrunk, undesirable 

 bulb are all that is left to recoup — sinking the labour — a very 

 considerable expense. 



My stock this season consisted of seven hundred bulbs, and 

 I cert ainl y never grew them previously with corresponding 

 satisfaction, or took so many or such valuable prizes ; but 

 fortune with good named varieties having well-nigh driven me 

 to despair, I this season relied principally on the seedling 

 bulbs brought out by Mr. Cannell, of the Woolwich Nurseries, 

 and which, I suppose, are raised by E. Banks, Esq. When I 

 got them they were to some extent spotted, but after taking 

 the greatest part of them up I have not yet seen one spotted 

 bulb amongst them, and was about to remark, neither have I 

 amongst the named varieties ; but I find on a further in- 

 spection that some of the latter are spotted, but up to the 

 present time there is not one such as far as I see amongst the 

 seedlings, which are sound and plump, in fact the best I ever 

 harvested. 



I have entirely discarded potting, but when this system is 

 resorted to the pot ought never to be less than 6-inch, and 

 then, never minding the height of the spike, the plant ought 



to be planted out before the roots touch the sides, as without 

 question it is better not to deter their spreading. I once re- 

 commended the mixing of silver sand with broken charcoal to 

 surround the bulb, which answered well, but now I use nothing 

 but common river-side sand for the purpose, and am not 

 certain that it is of any material advantage. Independent of 

 known diseases, unquestionably bulbs degenerate, and without 

 their being spotted, the spike keeps getting unmistakeably 

 less. This is the most disheartening circumstance that at- 

 tends them, and, consequently, that to which we ought to 

 devote all our efforts. I have been able to turn brown foliage 

 - green, but not to grow the spikes so well after the first year of 

 their being imported. I have many times this season wondered, 

 and occasionally, without getting an answer, asked the question, 

 "Do the French cut their spikes?" Next year for my own 

 satisfaction, and as I never cared to keep secrets, and for any 

 other lover of the Gladiolus, I intend to plant side by side the 

 bulbs from cut and uncut spikes. 



I believe our frequent cutting is one great cause of de- 

 generation. I once thought that " inferior bulbs after being 

 killed " were mixed and sent out, but I am now, after greater 

 experience, rather more dubious about that opinion. I believe 

 that fresh soil from the turf heap is more suited to their 

 nature. When they turn brown it will be found that they 

 have few if any healthy rootlets. By pulling them through 

 your fingers the skin by disease slips off as it does off a 

 mouse's tail. This is the most important disease I have 

 hitherto had to contend with, and the best remedy for which — 

 and several times the effect has been most magical — is, as I 

 have before advised, a strong mixture of nitrate of soda. X 

 dug some into the soil last autumn, and some I used in water, 

 but I am strongly convinced that I have frequently used too 

 little, " never too much." 



A proper box to grow them in is also a matter of great import- 

 ance. My own contrivance is simple, I do not think there is any 

 better; andif " D." of Deal, Mr. Banks, or you, Messrs. Editors, 

 will accept of one as a present, I shall only be too happy to 

 send it, including glass prepared for the purpose. Of the same 

 seedlings I am anxiously expecting a letter to say that I am 

 thus next year to have one thousand, and I strongly impress 

 upon all to get a few ' imported ' bulbs of the best grown, and 

 then back-up with English-raised seedlings. My own — that is, 

 those spoken of, in many instances have been superb, one pure 

 white especially, or with only a very thin streak of scarlet 

 around the throat. I appeal to aU who saw it in the winning 

 stand at the Hetton Horticultural Show if it was not the 

 best white bloom they ever saw ; in fact, the three first stands- 

 were decidedly the best set I have seen this season. My 

 stand at Bishop Auckland second to the Rev. Lord Hawke 

 was very second-rate, as were aU the rest, save those of his; 

 lordship. The bottom bloom of the seedling measured 5J inches 

 in diameter as it hung on the spike, and unfortunately it was- 

 exhibited under a great disadvantage, as the second, bloom 

 through my own carelessness never opened. I sometimes 

 practise wrapping a piece of bass around the bottom blooms to 

 keep them back, and in this instance it had got slipped back 

 and hid from view, and before detected the bloom had spent 

 its strength and never opened. Should any other grower of 

 Mr. Banks's seedlings, or that gentleman have one similar, I 

 should be glad if they would give the name I have thought 

 about, or at any rate let us give to one variety one name. 



This season I grew my Gladioli where I had previously grown 

 Dahlias, on ground the fourth season after been broken-up, 

 and gave no manure, but I believe cow manure is the best. I 

 should like to have had a word or two more on the same 

 subject, had I not been held back by a pledge, but next year, 

 possibly " D., Deal," or Mr. Banks will devote one comer to a. 

 plan they will otherwise hear of. — J. Wiihekspoon, Chesicr- 

 le-Street, Durham. 



HISTORY OF COVENT GARDEN MARKET.- 

 No. 2. 



The disgraceful nuisances and the mere sheds and stall; 

 occupied by the retailers continued during the first quarter of 

 the present century. But during that period the great increase 

 of the metropolitan population and wealth not only made the 

 complaints of both vendors and purchasers more commanding 

 attention, but the managers of the Bedford estate saw that its 

 interests urged improvement. 



Although fruits and vegetables were sold in the Borough, 

 Farringdon, Portman, and Spitalfields markets, yet more were 



