164 



THE FLORIST AND P0M010G1ST. 



17. The Great English Strawberry. — Were I asked, so far as my locality is 

 concerned, which is the most accomplished Strawberry, combining with 

 invariable good flavour all the talents, I should say at once, Rivers' Sliza. It 

 is not quite equal to the Queen and some of her race ; but it borders near the 

 Queen in flavour, and as to general attributes, it will beat her and her whole 

 race put together. Such fragarians as Dr. Roden, of Kidderminster, and 

 Messrs. May, Hector, and Ingram, of Blaudford, my three kind neighbours, 

 will grow the Queen with almost unerring success, their soils being very suitable 

 to her ; but they are the only persons that I know who can, year after year, 

 grow her majesty. Mr. May never fails. I have seen as many as fifty big 

 Queens on a plant. The soil is alluvial, by the river Stour, and it is deep, 

 rich, and good. He manages Strawberries better than, any one that I know. 

 He has no trees to interfere with their roots ; and the sun, concentrating its rays 

 between two narrow walls, gives him the benefit of a forcing-house out of doors. 

 I have seen there, however, the truth of what Mr. Saul has said in the Florist — 

 viz., her foliage burnt up, and her immense crop stewed. The best supplies for 

 the Queen and her race are Eliza, Wonderful, and La Constante, three great 

 croppers, and generally growable. 



Rushton Rectory. W. F. Radcxypfe. 



GLADIOLUS AS A POT PLANT. 



Good gardeners have told me that you cannot succeed with blooming 

 Gladioli well in pots ; but having a good deal of decoration to carry out, I was 

 induced to try them, and really I am quite satisfied with the result. I potted 

 my bulbs in April last, using pots 7 inches deep and 6 inches wide, which shape 

 I use for bulbs generally. I employ a rich sandy loam, or good Hyacinth soil, 

 and the pots are buried in old tan until the leaves appear, when this material is 

 cleared away down to the surface of the pots. About June the pots are set 

 thinner and in the full sun, merely filling-up the space between them with 

 plunging material. They now require manure water twice a»week, and the 

 flower-scapes tying-up as they appear. About the beginning of August the 

 blooms are commencing to open, and they are made use of. One especial use 

 for them is to fill-up central beds in the flower garden, which have been 

 occupied with such things as Liliums, tall Lobelias, &c, mixed with Cineraria 

 maritima, and Ribbon-grass. Either of these, mixed with parti-coloured 

 Gladiolus, is magnificent. They also have a fine effect mixed with fine-foliaged 

 plants, as Cannas and Caladiums ; to the former, especially, they give colour 

 and contrast of leaf ; and, as they continue to bloom until frost comes, are 

 invaluable. I also use them for decorating balconies, entrance halls (again 

 mixed with Cannas), and any places where colour is desired in contrast to 

 masonry I find so useful, that, against the commonly-received opinion, I ask my 

 brother gardeners to try them when frost sets in. The pots are easily removed 

 to any spare vinery, and any blooms remaining come in admirably as cut 

 flowers, for which nothing is better adapted ; but for this object they should be 

 grown in beds. R. S. 



GOLDEN HAMBURGH GRAPE. 



Having fruited Golden Hamburgh for four successive years, with some 

 six other varieties, in a vinery where the fruit usually ripens about the first week 

 in September, I am obliged to endorse the opinion expressed by your corre- 



