THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 
Sliow at their own Crystal Palace at Edinburgh. We 
may mention, in connexion with this firm, that their 
employes recently invited Messrs. Downie and Laird (the 
members of the firm resident in Edinburgh), as a mark 
of their appreciation of the kindness and liberality of the 
treatment they receive, to a supper at Newhaven (a 
marine village near Edinburgh), where they enjoyed a 
most agreeable evening. It is eminently satisfactory, in 
these striking times, to know that mutual good feeling 
between masters and men has not become quite extinct. 
REVIEW. 
The ILandij-Booh of Fruit Culture under Glass. By 
David Thomson. Blackwood & Sons. 
The name of David Thomson is so well known to Ilor- 
ticidturists, his “ Ilandy-Book of the Flower Garden,^’ 
and other works, have so convinced the horticultural 
public of his thorough knowledge and practical skill, 
that it does not require us to say that his book is sure to 
be welcomed by a large circle of readers. His object, as 
detailed in his preface, is to supply a handy-book of 
moderate size, which shall enter into the forcing and 
general culture of those fruits which are usually so culti- 
vated ; and he has very wisely " kept in view the 
requii’ements of inexperienced amateurs who wish to 
superintend their own fruit-houses, and of young gar- 
deners entering on the study of their profession.” 
The fruits he describes the culture of are — the Pine 
Apple, the Grape Vine, Peach and Nectarine, Melon, 
Strawberry and Cucumber. Let us take one of these, the 
Strawberry, and see how he treats it. He enters upon 
the question which are the best runners, how to prepare 
them for the fruiting-pots, the kind of soil and how the i 
potting is to be done; then a description of the straw- 
berry-house, and bow they are to be forced, the setting j 
and thinning of the fruit, the insects to which they are ' 
subject ; how to grow strawberries in a greenhouse or pit, ' 
the tying-up of the fruit-stalks, how to pack ripe straw- 
berries for carrying, to prepare them for exhibition, and 
the best varieties for forcing : it will thus be seen that , 
no one point of interest has been omitted, and in order i 
to show the clear manner in which his information is 
given we extract the following : — I 
“I will suppose the 1st of January to have arrived, | 
the time when the earliest are, in the majority of cases, 
placed in heat. Let the required number of the best i 
plants in 5-inch pots be selected, all the brown and I 
much spotted leaves picked off them, their pots washed j 
clean, and if the roots appear rather bare, freely top- 
dress them with a little fine loam and well-rotted cow- 
manure in equal parts. If, as has already been recom- 
mended, a light pit with a bed of warm leaves is at 
command, plunge the pots in it, so that they may get 
a slight degree of bottom-heat. Keep the night tem- 
perature ranging from 50° to 55°, according as the 
weather is cold or mild; with sun heat 8° or 10° more 
may be allowed. A close stagnant atmosphere is most 
antagonistic to the strawberry, consequently give more 
or less air every day, leaving a very little on all night 
when mild. Being plunged in moist leaves watering 
will not often be required, but it must be attended to 
before the plants get too dry, so as just to keep the soil 
moist without being wet. As soon as ever the blooms 
can be discerned in the centres of the crowns increase the 
heat a few degrees, but do not exceed 60° in mild 
weather. "When the trusses are distinctly perfected 
remove the plants to a shelf near the glass, in any situa- 
tion where the night temperature ranges 60°, with 10° 
more by day. Avoid putting them where they will be 
subject to currents of cold air, or where on the other 
hand the atmosphere is close and very moist, such as a 
plant-house.” 
In a letter from Professor Owen, who is now the 
guest of the Khedive in Egypt, we learn so much of the 
beauty of the gardens of that country in winter, that we 
almost wish we could exchange places with the swallows, 
who are enabled so easily to escape from disagreeable 
regions in winter to enjoy a better climate. The Pro- 
fessor describes the garden which surrounds his resi- 
dence as being full of Mignonette, Zinnias, Marigolds, 
Beans, Roses, bedding plants, and many other of our 
summer favourites, all in full sweet bloom. — The Garden. 
There is a plant of Dendrobium Hillii now blossoming 
in the cool Orchid-house of the Royal Gardens, Kew, 
which has 20 flower-spikes, each measuring from 18 to 
21 inches long. The number of individual flowers at 
pr^ent on the plant is over 2500. — Gardeners’ Chronicle. 
CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Messrs. Hooper and Co., Covent Garden. — As usual, 
a comprehensive and well illustrated catalogue, and re- 
plete with information. 
P. G. Henderson and Co., Catalogue of Flower, 
Vegetable and A.gricultural Seeds. — One of the most 
extensive catalogues published, and containing many 
novelties of their own introduction, besides those of other 
growers. 
SnsiDcrs to Corresponlitnts. 
Capt. H. — See advertisement of “The Gladiolus” in the present 
number. 
V. A. — We have given our opinion on the appearance of the Roses 
on seedling briers ; we hope by-and-by to say what they are prac- 
tically. 
T. — The Lachenalias are pretty spring flowers, and very easily cul- 
tivated ; any nurseryman can supply bulbs. 
