388 



GA RDENERS' MA GAZTNE. 



June is, l8gl 



Chrysanthemums. 



SUMMER MANAGEMENT. 



As soon as the work of potting is completed the plants may be set 

 out in their summer quarters. A position should be chosen where the 

 full influence of the sun may reach the plants from early morning till the 

 close of the day, because it is very essential to the production of good 

 flowers that the growth be well matured. Any position near large trees, 

 or overshadowing buildings should be avoided so far as they interfere 

 with the sunlight, but at a reasonable distance these offer a considerable 

 advantage as a shelter from strong and cold winds. Most frequently the 

 plants are placed in rows by the sides of garden paths during summer, 

 an arrangement that is very convenient for small collections, but where 

 several rows are arranged together, it is important to set out the rows 

 running from north to south, and leave between these a space of four feet 

 or more, with about two feet from plant to plant, in order to give 

 abundant room for development. Boards or pieces of slate under the 

 pots are necessary to prevent worms entering through the drainage, and 

 also to prevent the plants ultimately rooting through into the ground, and 

 so encouraging a late, and probably too vigorous growth, besides which 

 the check resulting from the inevitable loss of such roots when the plants 

 are removed inside, would be more or less serious in its effect on the 

 opening blooms. 



Some years ago we tried the experiment of planting out some 

 Japanese varieties and several Queens along the front of a greenhouse 

 outside. The border was specially prepared with soil as for potting and 

 the plants set out at the end of May. During summer their growth 

 was carefully attended, three shoots were left to each plant and 

 at the end of September the growths were drawn inside the 

 front ventilators and suspended from the roof, the outside portion 

 of the stems being protected and the necessary opening leit to 

 admit the stems, also covered, as far as possible, with mats. 

 The resulting blooms were very disappointing, for although the growth 

 was free, and apparently satisfactory, not one of the flowers were up to 

 exhibition form. The lesson we gained from this was that unlimited root 

 room is the adverse of advantageous in the cultivation of large flowers. 

 Possibly an extended trial might have led to more satisfactory results^ 

 but we found nothing more encouraging than the saving of labour in 

 watering to warrant further experiment. Extreme caution must be 

 exercised in watering, as it is somewhat difficult to determine, at the 

 present stage, the exact condition of the roots. When the new soil gets 

 ( fairly well occupied by roots, of course it is a very simple matter, but just 

 after potting the ball of roots naturally dries more quickly than the sur- 

 rounding new soil, so that there is more need for sound judgment, based 

 on the usual requirements of particular varieties. Such, for instance, as 

 Etoile de Lyon, require considerably more water than the less vigorous 

 and more shy rooting variety, Mdlle. A. de Galbert. Showery weather is 

 apt to mislead us in giving water, by keeping the surface soil moist 

 while the lower portion may become quite dry ; hence, in growing plants 

 in pots, the oft-repeated advice against watering in driblets is sound, 

 because there is no appreciable reserve of moisture available for the roots 

 through capillary attraction, as in the case of plants in the open garden ; 

 and we must especially guard against the chances of the lower roots 

 suffering from want of moisture. 



In this garden we are invariably troubled with thrips, and constant 

 synngings are a great help in keeping these pests at bay. During very 

 hot weather the plants are well wetted over two or three times a day, 

 and the surrounding paths also well moistened. If, owing to dull 

 weather, the damping is discontinued, to prevent as far as possible the 

 encouragement of soft growth, we find the use of the contrivance 

 known as Stone's Pneumatic Spray Diffuser the most convenient and 

 economical method of directing a spray of insecticide into the centre of the 

 growing points ; this is more effectual than tobacco powder, because it 

 penetrates more thoroughly, though for aphides the tobacco powder is a 

 very satisfactory agent to keeping the growths clean. Growths will be 

 rapid from now onward, and all such details as staking and tying of 

 shoots will urge their own need, and little beyond this, and the daily 

 routine of watering and syringing will claim attention for some time yet. 



The unfortunate disposition to form flower buds instead of growing 

 after the first break is formed appears likely to be troublesome in one or 

 two ofthis year's new varieties. President Nonin and Lady Isabel are 

 with us as bad as Viviand Morel, and Mdlle. Lucie Faure is likely to 

 prove so. This latter, by the way, will probably be as often shown in 

 classes for Japanese as for incurved, at least outside the influence of the 

 A.L.b. rules. I saw beautiful flowers of distinctly Japanese character 

 from early buds last season, and though on late buds it may prove a very 

 suitable companion for incurved varieties, lam not quite satisfied that 

 tins is the most desirable section with which to class it. 



A very gratifying feature of several prize lists for the coming season 

 tiSS £ crcascd ^couragement offered for displays of cut blooms exhi- 

 showin* Smnn 11 1 **! instead of the usual method of 



523? £n2u33 S u ands ' denuded of a11 their leaves and > ™nse- 

 rqu^ £*5 of their natural beauties. There can be 



«t wJh ^firffi? 5* best manner of staging the flowers. Blooms 



flowers keening fraha.»t F • v om an y P oint of v,ew - To en sure the 



mos^Sy in the^ften o?^ f ! ° ng I peri ° d aS P 0SSib,e ' and 

 it is better to st rip off?he l ;r er he f ated atmosphere of an exhibition hall, 



tie on a separate Ttet ^ ta?L T ^ "T! "T"? the I b, °° m and 

 the showing of flowers on wir» £ 5 OW - unnatural and cru el a practice 

 greenery £ & quite as wi * OU I ^ of their own nat «ral 



governing compethion to t£ wh< ? have t0 Submit to the rules 



how slowly we" relinquish c5d custn^ ° a \° utslde XT' and 



i oia customs. The Scottish Horticultural 



section of the exhibition. One ofThe SSS^S^^ cut 



is the Putney and Wandsworth, and I note ibeml Tl SUburban s <**£ 

 offered in the right direction. The society W ^° U ? gement »S 

 McLeod's services as hon. secretary, which ensures of Mr. 



strong committee, a large measure of success el P °f it 



Trent Park Gardens. 



THE 



Strawber 



Crop 



THOUGH full early to talk of the quantity or aualitv nf *i 

 words as to protection and lengthening the season L I! Crop a fe » 

 may not be out of place. Our earliest fruits this season" 5 P °n S ' ble 



^ v * a.* lies i iruits this season a n 



very heavily cropped so will " Ko >' al 

 extra attention for the production of fruit as early as possibS I r f pay 

 additional care we may make the best of what is anything h,',t fJ a , 

 weather. Plants hav iwr a jrreat «.i<ri,» ~r t-.u anytning but favourable 



weather. Plants having a great weight of fruit to sufpon ™ ^ 

 advantage be given supports, and I find it a good plan to nlari h 

 slates under the fruits to promote earlv rioeninp Mar,,, -ii iT or 

 to afford the aids advised, but other means may be employed l int i? Ue 



a f r«S ? CeU T Pla , n 10 Place Sma11 bush y s t^ks undenhe truss^ 

 and if lifted from the soil or protecting material as advised the r S 



period will be much earlier, as no matter how well mulched it is a d.3 

 matter in a dripping season to protect the best fruit from slues Z 

 they can be kept dry by being lifted there will be a great savin? Th. 

 placing of twigs is not a tedious work, as if the trusses are held in om 

 hand and the other used for placing the wood a lot of plants may be dZl 

 in a short time ; I do not mean forked sticks, one to each truss, but short 

 bushy material, to support the weight .of fruit. When in country districts 

 I have used all kinds of wood if sufficiently bushy and stout There are 

 wire supports, but so far I am not much impressed with them, as they are 

 not at all pliable or easily adjusted. In heavy clay soil supports of some 



in a wet season to prevent losses. 

 Ordinary mulching will suffice for sorts not used for dessert, and cases if 

 used liberally, should be placed as lightly as possible over the roots a 

 heavy rains cause the fruits to lay close to the material, and so it is worth 

 while replacing straw or giving the best position to the finest fruits 

 Much may be done to further the ripening or removal of useless foliage ; 

 indeed, in a wet season I have found it advantageous to cut away a little 

 of the gross leafage, and this admits the light and air so necessary for 

 ripening. Many growers would not agree to the removal of foliage at 

 this season, but so much depends upon the variety, whether closely 

 planted or not, and the weather. Such kinds as have a long stalk will not 

 need this treatment, but these are the sorts that benefit by being raised 

 from the soil or mulch to promote early ripening. 



Another point often lost sight of in gardens is prolonging the season 

 as much as possible, and in our own case we endeavour to have the fruit 

 as late as we can. Some of the latest are not the best flavoured, and last 

 year our latest strawberry was Eleanor, only a second rate variety, but 

 where there is a demand for late fruits one cannot always study variety. 

 I wish Laxton's Latest of All was a little later here, for it is a specially 

 good fruit, with a distinct indication of Queen flavour, and a firm fruit not 

 readily affected by rains ; though not a gross grower, it is a most prolific 

 variety for its size and quality. Those who can plant the latest varieties 

 on a north border will find these plants invaluable, as they will give 

 fruits when those in the open are past ; such are not yet in flower, owin^' 

 to the late season, so that they will be a welcome addition to the fruit 

 supply in a few weeks' time. I always leave the mulching of these late 

 kinds as long as possible, as I think it retards the bloom. To hasten a 

 few plants on early borders when in the north, I always placed a few 

 spare sash lights over plants growing at the foot of a south wall or in 

 front of vineries, these were placed on inverted ten-inch flower pots, and, 

 given shelter, gave us fruit at least ten days before those in the open came 

 in, and in a wet season the fruits thus protected were of high quality. I 

 have found Royal Sovereign excellent if given protection in this way, and 

 previous to the last-named variety appearing, Noble was our earliest 

 fruiter, but the good quality of the newer variety has ousted Noble. 



A word as to protection of the fruits when ripe. I am aware there is 

 nothing new to relate, but I would point out the advantages of netting, so 

 that any one may gather the fruit without moving the nets ; this is a 

 great gain, and it can be done now with a great saving of time, as once 

 in position it remains there till the fruits are cleared. Stakes six feet ill 

 height placed twelve feet apart will do well as supports if the nets are 

 strained over them, and if light bamboo sticks are used as stretchers at 

 the top so much the better, but lath or other supports to keep the ne., 

 in position will suffice. G. WythB. 



Warm versus Cold Water for Plants.— The question as to the rejatiit 



value of warm and cold water for plants grown in a temperature equivalent w 

 that of the ordinary plant stove has been discussed from time to time in Affl«» 

 as in this country, and it is of interest to mention that experiments ^ 

 made at the Wisconsin Experiment Station to test the effects of water of diftcftfj 

 temperatures upon hothouse plants. The temperatures tried were 35, f> °> "T 

 86 degrees F., the subjects being coleus and tomato plants. Water of thelo^ 

 temperature checked the growth of the coleus plants, but no *PP™» hk J£^ 

 was noticeable in the growth of the plants treated with water of the J^dET 

 temperatures. Tomatos proved more susceptible to modifications 

 As m the ease of the coleus plants, their growth was checked by *e Wfjjj 

 of water at 3S degrees F., while they grew best when supplied . with water 



mil? 5 F ° r CXam P le > twent * da ? s after P laDt ng thC g T- dSU 



millimetres (25 to the inch) was 101%, after watering with water at ^ /J^Jg 



I3^% after water at 50 degrees, 1C4 after water at 65 degrees, and if>A % ^ 



water at 86 degrees. In other trials the results were proportionate 



degrees, having uniformly piomoted the most vigorous growth. 



