98 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August 4, issi. 
something that he thinks he has seen others do, is about as apt 
to fail as succeed, as there may be circumstances which his 
untrained mind did not enable him to appreciate that rendered 
his and his neighbour’s case the reverse of identical. There is 
nothing more true than the old saying, that work well done is 
twice done, and this applies with special force to Raspberries, 
and indeed Vines and fruit crops generally; for if pruning and 
thinning are properly done in summer the crops of fruit are 
greatly increased, and the winter work is reduced by half the 
labour that would be otherwise requisite for its performance. 
By adopting the practice recommended in Raspberry culture 
large bunches of fruit are produced almost to the ground, and 
with otherwise good culture three quarts of fruit have been 
gathered from a bush ; according to the rough-and-ready mode 
of culture, or want of culture, not more than one quart would 
have been produced on the same space of ground. By the 
thicket system the soil is exhausted, while light and air are not 
utilised ; but by a more rational process the resources of the 
soil under the beneficent influences of those all-important 
elements are turned to direct and profitable account. Old 
diggers will probably not accept this doctrine, but young pro- 
bationists may possibly ponder over it with advantage. In the 
meantime, however, all who grow Raspberries will not err by 
thinning out the crowded growths now instead of waiting until 
winter. — A Northern Gardener. 
CARNATIONS FROM SEED. 
Beautiful as the choice named varieties of Carnations ad¬ 
mittedly are that, are propagated by layers, it is a question if they 
are so useful to the majority who grow flowers for decorating their 
rooms and gardens as Carnations that are raised from seed. Many 
of the finer florists’ varieties that are so regular and rich in their 
markings are comparatively delicate in constitution, and if the 
plants pass the winter in the open ground they produce but few 
flowers the following summer. It is true that such varieties are 
usually wintered in pots, and undoubtedly they are worthy of the 
attention that they receive in this respect; yet there are many 
great admirers of Carnations who are not able to grow them after 
the manner of the florists, nor do they desire to grow them with the 
same object, yet they may have hundreds, even thousands, of these 
sweet and attractive flowers, with almost the same ease and cer¬ 
tainty as they can produce Wallflowers and Sweet-Williams ; and 
this is by raising the plants from seed. 
A strong well-grown plant of a seedling Carnation will produce 
five, even often ten times, as many flowers as a plant of a named 
florist’s variety that is the result of a layer, and the flowers of 
the former will be as valuable for vase decoration as the latter, 
and can be cut without compunction or hesitation. Indeed, when 
a plant produces fifty or a hundred flowers, as many seedling 
Carnations will and do, it is an advantage to the plants to relieve 
them of a portion of their burden, and there are at the same time 
plenty of flowers both for the vases indoors and for leaving the 
plants attractive in the flower beds. Further, increasing the 
plants or raising a stock in the manner indicated being the easiest 
mode of all, it is suitable for beginners who will, after growing seed¬ 
lings for a year or two, almost certainly desire flowers of higher 
quality, and gradually they will gain experience and also be im¬ 
pelled to purchase a few of the named varieties, and thus become 
florists. This is in fact the way in which new florists are made. 
They start like boys at school with what is easy, and on accom¬ 
plishing their first task acquire a liking for the work, and so go on 
step by step to greater attainments, and become in time teachers 
instead of learners. Is not this the course that the cutler florist 
of Sheffield pursued—Mr. B. Simonite, who now ranks among the 
foremost Carnation growers of the day, and is the raiser of some 
of the standard varieties ? Let others follow in his footsteps. 
The nath leading to success is open to all, if it is pursued intelli¬ 
gently and perseveringly. 
But it may be urged ihat a portion of the plants that are raised 
from purchased seed will produce single flowers. No doubt this 
will be the case, but even those are suitable for cutting ; yet the 
great majority of the plants will yield double flowers, a few of 
which in all probability will be of standard merit and worthy of 
being perpetuated by layers. This very probable step is a clear 
step in advance to floristhood, and is certain to lead to further 
progress, and possibly to future fame. It is encouraging, too, that 
plants thus raised—that is, by layers from seedling plants, nearly 
always flourish. They appear to inherit in a great degree the 
vigour of the parents, with their hardiness and floriferous charac¬ 
ter, while the markings usually become brighter and more 
defined. But it is for affording cut flowers and making gardens 
delightful that the mode of raising the plants from seed is recom¬ 
mended. Carnation seed is usually growD on the continent, where 
great r are appears to be taken in selecting the varieties, for 
assuredly the produce of the seed that is sold by the leading nur¬ 
serymen and seed merchants is much superior to that of a few 
years ago. 
The seed may be sown either in the spring in a little heat or 
late in summer, in this case no artificial heat being required. 
Spring-raised plants are apt to become too large before winter, 
yet few, if any, of them flower ; therefore summer sowing is prefer¬ 
able, as sturdy plants are produced that will pass the winter with 
little or no protective aid, and will flower beautifully the follow¬ 
ing summer. June is perhaps the best month for sowing, but if 
seed is sown now—at once, a valuable stock of plants may be 
obtained that will eventually give much satisfaction. 
It is well to sow in boxes, nearly filling them with a mixture of 
sandy loam and leaf soil, watering it copiously, sprinkling the 
seed thinly, and covering with squares of glass. The boxes should 
either be placed in a shaded position or covered from the rays of 
the sun, it being essential that the soil be kept constantly and 
regularly moist. Shortly the seedlings will appear, when air and 
light must be admitted ; and in due time the young plants must be 
transplanted in generous soil, either in other boxes that are larger 
and deeper, or under handlights, and a stock of healthy plants 
and eventually a wealth of handsome fragrant flowers will reward 
the cultivator for his pains.—J. W. 
NEW PEAS—CARTER’S STRATAGEM. 
Permit me to thank all those correspondents who have com¬ 
municated their experiences in the culture of Day’s Early Sunrise 
Pea. Although there is a great divergence of opinion relative to 
the merits of that Pea, I think we shall at least be justified in 
leaving out the adjective “early.” Day’s Sunrise appears to be 
a good second early Pea, but I shall not venture to rely on it for 
a first crop. It appears to me that such letters as those that have 
been published cannot fail to be of great practical value to many 
whose love for their gardens is greater than their means of pur¬ 
chasing new introductions. I must confess to a hankering after 
everything that is new, but can no longer indulge in the pleasure 
of purchasing articles of speculative merit; I have, therefore, 
perforce to bide a wee, and profit by the experience of others. It 
is a great satisfaction that, there are those in the gardening ranks 
who are so ready to aid through the medium of the Journal in 
imparting information that is of substantial use to many readers ; 
and as experience has taught me that a specific request is fol¬ 
lowed by the most satisfactory results, I will now venture to ask 
for practical information relative to the merits of Carter’s Stratagem 
Pea that was sent out this spring. There must be several readers 
who have tried this Pea. and information given in respect of it 
with the same freedom as in the case of Day’s Sunrise will be 
very welcome to me, and 1 doubt not to many others similarly 
circumstanced.— Clericus. 
DIFFICULTIES IN GRAPE-GROWING. 
Your correspondent Mr. Jacob Robinson, writing under this 
heading in your last issue, may consider himself fortunate in 
managing to keep his Vines from scalding for so many years past. 
If I read correctly his statement I must at once conclude his 
vinery is insufficiently ventilated. During the extreme heat 
experienced of late, vineries could not be too much ventilated ; 
scarcely a breath of air existed, and the ventilators opening only 
in the end is not sufficient to cause a thorough circulation of air, 
which is most essential to the proper development of Vines. It 
would prove a decided advantage to the Vines if the house were 
more freely ventilated at the top. and undoubtedly prevent the 
bunches being scalded in future. It is not easy to determine the 
cause of scalding on this particular occasion. The Vines might 
have been dry at the roots, or their energy so depressed from one 
or more causes that it would be impossible for them to resist the 
burning heat of the sun. It is not easy to suggest the reason why 
the Vines do not do so well in the other house. It not un- 
frequently happens that Vines in the same house do not always 
do alike, some doing well, while others will do but poorly. The 
erection of stables or any other structure at the back could 
make little difference. They should do as well with only a back 
wallas if joined to any other building. Hundreds of vineries are 
built with only a single wall at the back, and answer remarkably 
well. Have the Vines been overcropped at any time during 
their existence? The soil in the border may have become ex¬ 
hausted, and be the cause of the deficiency in size of bunch and 
