22 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 12, 1883. 
“ ITow not to do it ” may well be worth learning, for failures 
are not often pointed out, but now is the time to do it. If 
this paper does not afford a key to those who would know 
more about the matter we may refer them to what Mr. 
Thomson has to say in his standard “Hand-book of the 
Flower Garden and those who wish to go deeply into the 
subject will find an elaborate series of papers in Cassell’s 
“Technical Educator,” and really one must “ dig deep to 
find the gold.”-—A. H. 
STRAWBERRIES FOR FORCING. 
As the time has now arrived when it is necessary to prepare 
Strawberry plants for forcing next season, perhaps a few notes on 
that subject might be helpful to some of the readers of the Journal. 
I think I could not do better than record the method adopted at 
Ardgowan by Mr. Lunt, the able superintendent of the gardens- there. 
The Strawberries produced in that establishment are second to none, 
as those who have seen them can testify, and therefore justify the 
means adopted to procure them. 
As early in July as strong plants can be had soil and pots are got 
ready, and all other necessary preparations attended to. The orthodox 
system of layering the runners is departed from, they being severed 
from the parent plant and potted singly in 3-inch pots in free but 
rich soil. In these pots no crocks are used, but a small piece of half- 
decayed leaves is placed over the hole to keep the soil from choking 
it. They are then placed in a shaded position and well watered. In 
about three weeks they are sufficiently rooted and are shifted into 
the fruiting pots, the earlier being potted in 6-inch pots and the later 
ones in a size larger. These pots are well drained, and the crocks 
covered with sphagnum moss, over which a little soot is dusted. The 
soot benefits the plants, and also acts as a check against the ingress 
of worms. 
The soil used for the final potting is good fibry loam, which is 
further enriched by a liberal application of cow manure and a dash 
of crushed bones ; a li: tie sand is also added to keep the compost 
more porous. The plants are potted firmly, the soil being well 
rammed with a potting stick, and sufficient room is left to admit a 
liberal supply of water. After this operation they are again placed 
in a sheltered position and thoroughly watered ; here they remain till 
they become established in their pots. They are then removed to a 
position where they receive every ray of sunshine—a matter of the 
greatest importance, as without properly matured crowns a satisfactory 
crop of fruit cannot reasonably be expected. They are now carefully 
attended to as regards watering, keeping all runners cut off and the 
surface of the pots clear of weeds. As soon as the weather becomes 
cold and frosty at night they are stored away in commodious frames, 
the pots being packed close together, but not plunged. There they 
remain till placed in the forcing pits, receiving protection when the 
weather is very severe, and full exposure when it is mild. . 
The varieties grown are Garibaldi, Keen's Seedling, President, 
and Bothwell Bank Prolific. The last-named variety was tried last 
season for the first time, and has, I understand, given very satisfactory 
results.—W. L. 
GARDEN CHEMISTRY—LIMING. 
Besides the effects mentioned in my last article (page ) the 
application of lime supplies an indispensable plant food. It is hardly 
for this that lime is applied, but when it is wholly deficient, as it is 
apt to be where long manuring is practised, it acts as does ammonia 
or nitric acid in soils deficient in nitrogen. It is the missing link, 
and when supplied is frequently enough of itself. Mr. Taylor recently 
gave an instance where its absence caused failure in Vine-growing 
even in new loam. Mr. Speed of Chatsworth also chronicled the 
recovery of failing Vines through the application of lime alone. At 
Longleat it is said to act “ like magic " on everything to which it is 
applied. 
It is to be feared that sometimes it is imagined that lime is given 
where it is not. Most writers on the Vine recommend mixing lime 
rubbish with the soil when the borders are made up ; but what lime 
rubbish is, is not defined. Recently the writer saw some borders 
made up and liberally mixed with lime siftings. These siftings (from 
lime intended for building purposes) had every appearance of being 
lime, but they were only stones coated with lime. About new places 
it is to be feared that this mistake is often made. Occasionally the 
opposite mistake occurs. Lime rubbish is taken from ancient build¬ 
ings, probably pulled to pieces for the purpose. Oftener than is 
suspected this rubbish contains very little lime. Long ago it was 
dissolved out by rain charged with carbonic dioxide. 
Lime favourably affects most plants. To some, however, it is 
death. Heaths, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and other plants will not 
bear i s presence. Often when excluded from the soil it is supplied 
in the water, and the gardener cannot conceive what can be wrong 
with his plants. Getting just such treatment as others that thrive 
somewhere else, he is at his wit’s end. If the water supplied turns 
immediately white when lime water is mixed with it, the plants are 
being poisoned by lime. (In a paper on Waters we will show how to 
soften and purify such water.) 
Gaslime is a waste product, and may often be had for nothing. 
Farmers and gardeners fight shy of it “ because it kills,” as they will 
tell you. But this is because it is not properly used. It is chiefly 
composed of calcic carbonate and calcic hydroxide. But along with 
these there is a varying quantity of calcic sulphide, calcic hypo¬ 
sulphite, calcic oxysulphide, and other substances. These are very 
hurtful to vegetable life ; in any considerable quantity certain death, 
in fact, as many have proved to their cost. But when exposed to the 
air these substances change to the sulphate, which is not only not 
hurtful, but a valuable addition to any soil. Spread thinly on dry 
ground in October or November gaslime is perfectly harmless by 
March. It is a valuable insecticide, and no better exists for destroying 
the insects that prey on Onions, and sometimes make the cultivation 
of the Cauliflowers an impossibility. 
The quantity necessary for an application wholly depends on the 
soil to which the application is to be made. In the case of heavy 
sour clays as much as from 10 to even 15 tons have been applied with 
nothing but advantage ; but in gardens it will not bo good economy 
to give so much unless in extreme cases. Two tons of quicklime 
applied early in spring and afterwards forked in lightly will, in most 
cases, be enough Too heavy applications on soil rich in humus will 
liberate more food than the current crop can assimilate, and this 
would cause loss. Again, too much lime frequently makes soil too 
light and loose. When small doses are given this can be guarded 
against. Lime disappears sooner or later, and in time even heavy 
doses have to be repeated. In such cases there is at one time more 
than is necessary, at another not enough. When gaslime is used 
only small quantities should be used. Chalk, marl, or shell sand may, 
however, be put on in much greater quantities and at wider intervals. 
Acting less rapidly they are less apt to cause a too rapid waste of 
humus. 
When it is deemed necessary to apply lime to Vine or other 
borders which cannot be dug up, and when, notwithstanding, it is 
desired that the lime should reach every portion of the border, it 
should be watered in while yet soluble—that is, when in the form of 
the hydroxide. Of course in rich borders this will at once become 
insoluble, but as fast as the carbonic and humic acids are neutralised 
by the descending lime, a constantly increasing thickness of soil will 
be charged with lime. To completely impregnate a whole border at 
once would be a herculean task ; but it will be found better only to 
saturate the surface soil. Every watering will take down some, and 
indeed under such conditions wash it away ; for in carbonic dioxide 
lime is soluble, and where constantly decaying organic matter is there 
is no want of that. We are all familiar with the lime “ icicles ” that 
hang from bridges through which the water drains. These are pure 
calcic carbonate. The rain which passed through the bridge contained 
some carbonic dioxide, and small as is the portion so carried, it 
gradually dissolved the lime of the mortar and carried it down through 
the bricK or mason work ; but when exposed to the air the excess of 
the carbonic dioxide immediately left the lime it had dissolved, which 
once more became insoluble, and settled down in the form with which 
we are familiar. In this way great caves have been filled with pillars 
of stalactites, as they are technically called. Now the same process 
goes on in the soil, but with greater rapidity, for the supply of the 
acid is much more constant and abundant. For this and other reasons 
lime should not be too liberally applied to soils heavily manured or 
rich in organic remains. 
Some years ago Professor Way drew attention to the double 
silicates which generally accompany clay. Double silicates are 
silicates of alumina in which part of the base has been displaced 
and its room taken by soda, lime, potash, or ammonia. These have 
been considered of great importance. Curiously, they may be altered 
—that is to say, if a silicate of alumina and soda exists the soda will 
be displaced if lime be applied, the lime taking its place. In the 
same way potash takes the place of lime, and ammonia that of potash, 
but only in the order we have named—that is to say, soda cannot 
displace ammonia. To this fact clay owes much of-its value as a 
disinfectant as well as a deodoriser, and in this way for one ammonia 
becomes “ fixed.” How these double silicates are first formed is not 
very well understood, but it has been supposed that the application of 
quicklime is useful in originating them. The double silicate once 
formed easily passes through the form we have named. Lime water 
is frequently recommended for driving worms out of the pots, to 
cause them to come to the surface of lawns, bowling greens, tennis 
courts, and similar purposes. From what we have said it will be 
understood that it cannot be applied to all plants without harm, but 
