August 8, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Ill 
that soil held the ammonia applied ; but although this is true enough, 
it is only recently that it has been demonstrated that ammonia 
speedily changes its form. One way of saving the nitrates is by 
keeping the soil filled with active roots. On fallow ground Eape, 
Mustard, Turnips, Ryegrass, or other quick-growing crop, will gather 
up these valuable nitrates and convert them into forms less liable to 
be washed away. Such, turned under, will then be equal to fresh 
manure, though costing less—only a little trouble. These growing 
crops are serviceable for evaporating water, and prevent rain passing 
through the soil to an extent equal to what it does on bare fallow. 
Leaving the ground firm and undug till spring, thus causing the body 
of the rain to find its way into the drains by means of cracks, worm- 
tunnels, &c., will also do much to save them ; but attention will be 
more particularly directed to this under another head. 
In dry seasons applications of ammonia salts frequently have 
no effect. This is because the soil does not afford the necessary 
conditions for their being changed to nitrates. It must be in a moist 
condition for this. Under such conditions nitrates are often better, 
but neither is of much value unless water enough be applied to 
keep them in solution. 
Sulphate of ammonia is generally applied at the rate of 100 lbs. 
an acre ; nitrate of soda at the rate of 150. For some garden crops 
considerably more may be given, but not at once. All plants grown 
for their foliage alone, whether in the flower garden or in the vege¬ 
table quarters, are greatly benefited by these salts. In the case of 
flowering plants flowerlessness is sometimes induced, especially in 
wet seasons. They cause luxuriance at the expense of floriferousness. 
It is only on very poor soils, rich in the mineral food of plants, that 
they are of any benefit to plants grown for their fruit. When 
depended upon for such plants as Melons grand leaves are produced 
but poor crops of fruit. They are frequently used with mineral 
phosphates on various crops with success.— Single-handed. 
(To be continued.) 
STRAWBERRIES IN POTS. 
In all establishments where Strawberries are extensively forced 
or are grown in small quantities only, two points to be considered are 
which are the most profitable varieties, and how best to secure strong 
early plants, and a few remarks upon the subject may be seasonable 
and acceptable. It appears to me that Strawberry forcing is not 
considered so difficult of accomplishment as was the case at the com¬ 
mencement of my gardening career. Better houses, more suitable 
varieties, and a better acquaintance with, or at any rate a closer 
attention to, the few cultural details necessary, all contribute to the 
marked improvement to be observed generally. A good batch of 
well-fruited Strawberries in pots always commands admiration, but is 
now-a-days considered common enough. At the same time, at the 
outset I wish to disavow all intention of encouraging amateurs or the 
proprietors of comparatively small gardens to commence or persevere 
in the pot culture of Strawberries. Unless well grown or appreciated 
to their full value they must be considered unsatisfactory and unprofit¬ 
able, besides being a nuisance to most already overworked gardens, 
and a source of danger in crowded houses, as they are almost certain 
to leave a legacy of red spider or other pests. If there are no suit¬ 
able shelves or stages that can be wholly devoted them, and plenty of 
manual labour, few or no early Strawberries ought to be expected. 
At one time we layered all the requisite runners into small pots, 
later on shifting them into their fruiting pots, and this practice 
still finds favour with the majority of cultivators. However, I dis¬ 
covered that Mr. Bardney secured better plants than I had by layering 
direct into the fruiting pots, and the next season I adopted the same 
plan with very satisfactory results. I find it is the least laborious ; 
the work is performed more thoroughly, as the soil can be rammed 
down evenly and firmly before the runner is fixed to the surface with 
a stone, with the result of easily securing grand early plants. They 
60 on fill the pots with roots, and then unless separated will, as a 
friend once observed, contribute to the vigour of the parent plant, a 
by no means desirable reversion. Before this takes place they should 
be separated, placed thinly on ashes in the full sunshine, and kept 
carefully watered. 
Most gardeners are well aware that the youngest plants yield the 
earliest and strongest runners. In large gardens the best plan is to 
annually plant the requisite number of rooted runners in a convenient 
spot, specially and exclusively for an early crop of runners the next 
season. Even where space is limited a portion of an early border 
might be devoted to this purpose, the plants in this case perfecting 
an early crop of fruit in addition to the runners, and then the 6ame 
season be destroyed. As I have recently asserted, Strawberries 
require to be kept constantly rooting in firm ground, but I do not like 
the heavy trampling incidental to layering the runners in large or 
small pots and the subsequent waterings. This is another reason why 
I prefer to have two rows of plants alongside a walk and very near 
a good supply of water. These plants, not being allowed to fruit, are 
available for the production of early runners during two seasons 
before being destroyed. 
We are not particular as to the size of the fruiting pots, but the 
majority' are fruited in 7-inch pots, and that size answers well for 
both early and late crops. It is all-important that suitable varieties 
be selected. In most cases, in addition to being free-setting, heavy¬ 
cropping, and good in quality, they must also be good travelling sorts. 
Much depends upon the convenience for forcing Strawberries. 1 f 
grown on shelves near the ventilators nearly any variety will set well 
and be of fairly good flavour, the air admitted whenever the weather 
permitted materially contributing to these results. In some in¬ 
stances it is necessary to shift the earliest-forced plants when in 
flower to a more airy' house to set, or to artificially impregnate the 
blooms with a camel's-hair brush, the latter being the most simple 
method. Then again, all early varieties with one exception are sour 
if ripened in a strong moist heat, and the plants must be shifted to a 
cooler house to finish off properly. The one exception is Vicomtesse 
Ilericart de Thury, and this variety being also vigorous and heavy¬ 
cropping we consider it advisable for two-thirds of the stock for 
forcing to consist of it. Others may perfect larger individual fruits, 
but with us it is the heaviest cropper tried, and decidedly the most 
superior in point of flavour. La Grosse Sucree, Sir C. Napier, Presi¬ 
dent, and Sir J. Paxton are all suitable for later crops, the latter 
perhaps being the best traveller. 
At one time varieties with the seeds to a certain extent embedded 
in the pulpy matter were preferred, at any rate this was the case 
when the old soft-fruited Trollope’s Victoria was introduced. This 
variety was one of a batch of about thirty' seedlings raised by Mr. 
Trollope, Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts, and was selected by a horticul¬ 
tural and medical acquaintance of mine. The remainder of the 
seedlings were thrown away, but it is very probable, if varieties that 
would travel were valued then as now, other good sorts would have 
been selected from them. Princess Alice Maud, better known by the 
abbreviation, “Alice Maud,” was also raised by' Mr. Trollope, and is 
still extensively grown for market. Mr. Laxton's new Strawberry 
The Captain, figured on page 12 of the present volume of the Journal 
of Horticulture, did not exactly please the above-mentioned medical 
gentleman, simply because the seeds were too prominent, but he 
readily admitted that surface-seeders are the best travellers, and there¬ 
fore the most liked by gardeners. We do not want fruit partaking 
of the character of Raspberries, such being the worst of travellers, 
and would in reality be no better for the seeds being covered with 
pulp.—W. Iggulden. 
JUDGING COTTAGE GARDENS AND THEIR 
PRODUCE. 
As there are several cottage garden shows about to take 
place in this neighbourhood, a great favour would be conferred 
on many competitors if experienced judges and correspondents 
would (through the Journal of Horticulture) give a few hints on 
judging gardens and garden produce. An impression prevails 
among some persons that a tastefully arranged flower garden 
should receive more points than a well-stocked and nicely kept 
kitchen garden, while others express a contrary opinion. A few 
hints on vegetable-judging would be very acceptable; as, for 
instance, would Red Cablage go before White Cabbage, Peas 
before Beans, Cauliflower before Potatoes, or Celery before 
Carrots, supposing them all to be as good as it. is possible 
to grow; or whieh of the above vegetables should be entitled 
to the first place? Others might be named, such as Onions, 
Beet, Parsnips, Turnips, Leeks, &c. Information on those 
matters would be very useful and greatly appreciated.— 
Reader. 
[We shall be glad if those of our correspondents who are 
interested in this subject, or are wiling to help those who are 
endeavouring to help themselves by cultivating their gardens 
profitably, and making the surroundings of their dwellings 
attractive, will send us their views on this matter. On the 
principle that that which is useful and serviceable is of greater 
importance to the cottager and artisan than that which is merely 
ornamental, we anticipate that the majority of persons will be 
of opinion that a “ well-stocked and nicely managed kitchen 
garden” should receive more marks of approval than a “taste¬ 
fully arranged flower garden; ” still the skill that is exercised in 
the cultivation of flowers, and the taste displayed in arranging 
them, should not be overlooked, as the time spent in this work 
is commendably occupied. Some societies, we believe, often 
separate prizes for the best managed vegetable garden and the 
most attractive and enjoyable flower garden, and the plan is 
worthy of consideration. 
As to the relative merits of vegetables, that is a point not 
