126 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
TO COEEESPONDENTS. 
Unhealthy Shcctjlents, — J . JB . — Perliaps your plants have had too much 
water during the winter, as ttiey require very little in that season. Tliose in a had 
condition, if their roots are out of order, had better he shaken out of the pots, and 
repotted in fresh stuff. They will begin to require more water now. 
Caladiums in Greenhouse. — H . I. K . — You will not he successful with 
Caladiums in a cool greenhouse. If you had a vinery or heated part in which to 
grow them through the spring and early part of summer, you might keep them in 
the, greenhouse for a couple or three months, say through June, July and August. 
The lowest temperature to keep them through the winter is 50°, and you have lost 
the bulbs through the temperature being too low. 
The Old Ashleaf Potato. — Clencus. — We are amazed at your asking for 
information as to where you can procure the Old Ashleaf Potato, for it is well 
known and justly valued in almost every garden in the country for its imiform 
goodness in all soils and climates. It is a regular and neat tuber of true kidney 
shape, the skin smooth, eyes rather crowded at the crown, but otherwise few, com- 
paratively inconspicuous, and those on the side marked with a neat shallow eye- 
brow ■ the growth moderate and neat, allowing of close planting. The flesh is 
decidedly yellow, which is the only defect of this fine old variety. The flavour is 
first-rate. The texture is mealy, light, and nutritious. A first-rate potato for 
forcing. There are many sub-varieties, which differ from the original in very 
trifling particulars, although two or three of them are, by their superior fruitful- 
ness, to be preferred. The real old Ashleaf potato may be obtained true without 
difficulty. If planted before April, it is usually ripe at the end of July, or the 
first week in August, and is very rarely touched with disease. 
Cooking Beet. — Mrs. Q -. — Messrs. Barr and Sugden offer, in the last issue of 
their Spring Catalogue, the following remarks on cooking Beet — “ In the process 
of cooking, beet is frequently made hard and unedible, and the seedsman or gar- 
dener made, to hear the consequences of the cook’s shortcomings. Following up our 
experimental trials, we have looked into the cook’s department, and offer to our 
readers the following conclusions. 1. In preparing beet for cooking, the greatest 
care must be taken not to braise the skin, or in any way wound the root ; and if 
by accident any injury has been done to the root, hake and not boil. 2. If a deep 
crimson hue is the colour preferred in the beet, or a firm flesh, this is best attained 
by baking the roots. 3. If a light, clear bright colour is desired, or a soft, juicy 
flesh, then boiling will secure this. 4. If a rich, agreeable flavour is sought for, 
then select the beet which, before cooking, has the most purple in it, and the flavour 
may be discovered by masticating a small portion of the uncooked root. If up to 
the mark it will leave a rich agreeable flavour on the palate without any sen- 
sation of astringency in the throat. Barr’s selection of Nutting’s Beet has the 
desired qualities in the highest degree. 5. Crimson-fleshed Beets are all very 
rich in flavour ; hut when masticated uncooked, an astringency will he discovered 
as above described ; this class of beets, however, has its advantages ; inasmuch 
as it can be sown earlier. Barr’s selection of Pine Apple Beet is the most 
desirable, of these ; it may he sown very early, and will not run to seed. G. 
Scarlet-fleshed Beet possess least of the saccharine flavour, and Nonpareil best 
represents this class. Thus it is that Nature is generous in providing for the 
various tastes of the children of men.” 
Greenhouse Bulbs. — 7U. G . — The following constitute a good selection : — 
Amaryllis, Aurca, Crispa, Hendersoni, Belladonna, Belladonna rosea perfecta. Bel- 
ladonna speciosa superba, Formosissima, Longifolia rosea, Procera, Revoluta. 
Ncrbie, Corusca, Fh xuosa, Fothergilh, Planti, Sarniensis, Undulata, Venu.sta. 
Vallota purpurea, Purpurea elata, Purpurea eximea, Purpurea major. Hyacinths, 
Single Hed, Amy Cavaignac, Diehitz Sabalskansky Emmeline, Fabinla, Florence 
Nightingale, Garibaldi, Gigantea. Howard, L’Ami du Coeur, Le Propliete, Lord 
Wellington, Macaulay, Madame Hodgson, Mrs. Beecher Stowe, Norma, Ornement 
de la Nature, Princess Clothilde, Princess Helena, Robert Steiger, Solfaterrc, Von 
Schiller, Vuurbaak. Single White, Alba maxima, Baroness Van 'i'uyk. Grand 
Vainqueur, Grande Vedette. Grandeur a Merveill, La Grandesse, L’ Innocence, 
Madame Van der Hoop, Mont Blanc, Queen of the Netherlands, Snowball. Single 
