126 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. L August 10 , un. 
cases, who voted in this matter, are found, as far as I know, 
without any l'emonstrance quietly helping to swell the exhibition 
tables of two-days shows. 
Now I hold that this is disloyal to the Rose and to the National 
Rose Society, and against the interests, if they would only see it, of 
those who are the chief offenders—i.e., the growers for sale. Disloyal 
I say to the Rose. Has anyone ever seen a box of Roses on the 
second day without mourning over its draggled and miserable con¬ 
dition ?—not a trace of the beauty which so charmed us the day 
before, and instead of the delicate and delicious fragrance a faint and 
sickly odour of decay. Nay, does not one call to mind some of those 
who have thus offended fuming and fretting because the judging was 
a quarter of an hour late, and declaring that their flowers would not 
be fit to be seen ? And yet—well, the inconsistency of “ human 
natur” is very wonderful. It is disloyal to the Society, for it stulti¬ 
fies its very foundation, it makes its resolutions a farce, and leads to 
the question, If one rule may be broken why not others ? 
Then, again, it is against, as I have said, the interests of the 
growers. If all have benefited by the establishment of the National 
Rose Society, assuredly the growers for sale have most done 
so. Let us take the demand for Roses now and compare it with that 
which existed before the Society was established, or let us see how 
the culture of the Rose has penetrated into districts where it was 
unknown before, and the truth of this must be acknowledged. But 
I wonder who ever received orders from a box of Roses two days 
old ; and must it not be seen that to let flowers for which a sale is 
expected be seen in this condition is “ a mockery, delusion, and a 
snare?” Let me put one question : Would any of our growers who 
have a seedling which they wish to sell cut it and expose it to the 
light, and then at the end of the second day let it be seen ? 
I have thus pointedly alluded to the growers for sale, not because 
I think they are greater offenders than the amateurs—all who have 
taken part in it are “ tarred with the same brush,”—but because I 
believe firmly the remedy lies with them. If those whom we can 
count on the fingers of one hand were to put their foot down and say, 
“ No, we cannot consistently show at a two-days exhibition,” the 
thing would be settled. Much as amateurs have done and are doing 
to make our shows a success, it cannot be doubted that if the long 
array of boxes which are exhibited in the nurserymen’s classes were 
absent many shows would be a failure ; and I am sure that had they 
done so in both of the instances to which I have alluded this year 
they would have gained their point and saved their consistency. 
I have not alluded to another reason, although to some it is a 
matter of no little importance. I mean the additional expense that 
is entailed by it. Instead of being able to get away the same night 
they must remain for another, or else leave a man or have their boxes 
forwarded. Now when an exhibitor has taken a goodly amount 
of prizes this is all very well; but when one has been unsuccessful 
or only gained some of the smaller prizes, “ the gilt is taken off the 
gingerbread” when another day’s sojourn is involved or when boxes 
have to be forwarded afterwards. 
I have thus pointed out the disease and suggested the remedy. 
I have done so in the interest of the Rose and without any 
personal feeling. I have striven “ naught to extenuate or set down 
aught in malice,” and I can only hope these observations I have 
made may be taken in the same spirit in which they are offered. 
—D., Beal. 
NOTES ON STRAWBERRIES. 
Shortly after Strawberries commenced ripening this year 
much fruit was noticed lying on the ground under the plants, 
and on examination it was apparent that mice had cut off the 
fruit for the sake of the seeds which they had nibbled out, the 
fleshy portion being left untouched. Curiously enough the only 
sort injured was President. 
I may say that our most satisfactory varieties are President and 
Yicomtesse Hericart de Thury. I have tried many kinds of late 
years, and generally with much dissatisfaction resulting. Helena 
Gloede I intend to give a further trial. It has been in crop three 
seasons, and although not very satisfactory, another opportunity 
of judging its merits will be given. Elton Pine, an old late sort 
which was discarded, I am going to try again, a crop of it I saw 
last year in another garden being one of the finest. Pioneer was 
discarded last year, and Loxford Hall Seedling this ; I have been 
unable to get either to ripen here. Dr. Livingstone has been so 
strongly pressed on me as a grand variety that a trial will be made 
of it for the first time. 
We have been busy planting out strong-rooted runners lately. 
This plan I have followed so successfully that I may refer to it 
again. I send a plant with the soil shaken frcm the roots to 
show the kind of thing we obtain by the simple method of root¬ 
ing the plants between the lines. They are lifted with balls 
6 inches across, a mass of roots, and are transferred at once 
to the quarter set apart for them, being set out in rows 3 feet 
apart and 2 feet from plant to plant. The ground is just cleared 
of a crop of Potatoes, the only preparation for the Strawberries 
being levelling it down with forks. Half an ounce of chemical 
manure suitable for the Strawberry is worked in round each plant 
as it is put out. I may say that I would prefer “ Single- 
handed’s” plan were we planting on a small scale, and would 
strongly recommend those who set out a few hundreds to follow 
his advice. 
One-fifth of an acre is being planted with Strawberries, and 
notwithstanding the protest of “ A Northern Gardener ” the 
other week, I do not find that it would be advantageous to stop 
intercropping. Turnips are not a suitable crop, as they require 
the same dominating manure as do Strawberries, but provided 
the Turnips are drawn young no harm is done. Lettuces, Endive, 
Onions, or Spinach do practically no harm. Avery slight dressing 
of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia mixed in equal pro¬ 
portions applied to either of the four vegetables will ensure a good 
crop. I am taking my latest crop of Lettuces from this quarter, 
and intend taking the earliest crop of the same vegetable from 
the same ground next spring.—B. 
[Such strong-rooted runners as the example sent, planted in 
July and well attended to, will produce an excellent crop the first 
season.] 
CHEAP FLOWERS. 
After a day spent among pleasant sights and objects of great 
beauty, some fine statuary, an exhibition of water-colour paintings, 
an extensive collection of rare works of art, a public garden rich 
in fine trees, gay flower borders and elaborate carpet beds, the 
brightest sight of all clinging to the memory with a freshness born 
of itself was a row of common Tropseolums growing in a cottage 
garden which I passed on my way home. The garden was at an 
angle of the road enclosed by a low fence, along the inner side 
of which seed of the Tropseolum had evidently been sown in 
spring ; and with the exception of keeping down weeds and slugs, 
no care or culture had been necessary to bring to perfection a 
fringe of floral beauty fit to grace the garden of a palace. Foliage 
was most abundant, forming a background and setting to the 
blossom that much enhanced its beauty, while both clustered 
charmingly around the neat white paling. Mine was only a 
passing glance, taking in the general effect and dwelling upon 
no colour in particular, and a closer inspection might have shown 
little variety ; yet [ may remind your readers that we now have 
shades of scarlet, yellow, crimson, rose, peach, and white, some ten 
or twelve in number, all to be had in a 3<A packet of seeds—no 
slight boon where space under glass cannot be had for wintering 
bedding plants. Let not the hint be thought untimely because of 
no avail for this year; now is the time to gain many a similar 
scrap of knowledge worth keeping for future use. 
A packet of Belgian Pansy seed purchased for a shilling and 
sown last year afforded me some dozens of plants—enough, in 
fact, to plant a narrow border of Tea Roses along one side of my 
house, up which the Roses are trained. The plants grew freely, 
and had some flowers last year. This year they soon filled the 
entire border, and for months have been one mass of flowers—all 
beautiful, and considerably varied in colours. An enthusiastic 
florist who came to see the Rhododendrons in full beauty declared 
that the Pansy border alone was worthy of a special visit, and was 
rewarded as he deserved by having cuttings of all of them. It 
must not, however, be thought that the flowers are florist’s flowers 
worthy of a place in an exhibition stand ; hardly any of the 
markings were sufficiently regular for that, but they are undeni¬ 
ably rich, varied, and curious. 
A row of Sweet Peas upwards of 100 feet long sown last 
autumn in light rich soil came into bloom in April, and continued 
in full beauty till the middle of July. They grew 7 feet high and 
were quite an imposing sight, all the more enjoyable from being 
near to a path. The hedge of sweet flowers filled the surrounding 
air with its fragrance, and afforded an inexhaustible supply of 
cut flowers, of which huge bowlfuls were used for corridors and 
other similar places. It would, of course, prove somewhat expen¬ 
sive to purchase enough seed for such a row, but I have been 
gradually extending the length of such rows for some years, and 
have now enough seed hanging upon this first row alone to sow 
some dozens of similar ones. Those who have only seen Sweet 
Peas in the ordinary little clumps can hardly form a true con¬ 
ception of the striking effect of a hedge of them, and every garden 
might afford space for something of the kind. 
A mixed packet of Chinese Pink (Dianthus sinensis) sown upon 
a slight hotbed in March afforded enough plants for two small 
beds, which are now com‘mg into bloom, large, rich, varied in 
colour, and abundant. The effect is charming, and tells well 
among surrounding beds of the ordinary bedding type. The seed 
bed was a very rude contrivance—a heap of leaves a yard high, 
four 9-inch boards nailed together for the sides, soil put in to 
wilhin an inch of the top, the seed sown in rows, and a glass light 
