JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
224 
[ September 7, 1882. 
perience will suggest to them the advisability of charging uniform 
rates for given weights irrespective of distance. 
- Mr. Ferguson writes as follows on Rhubarb and 
Elder Berries —“ Amongst other things that are allowed annu¬ 
ally to go to waste nothing strikes me more forcibly than the 
quantity of Rhubarb that is unused every year. Tons of it all 
over the country lie and rot in the gardens of both the plebeian 
and the patrician. This ought not to be so. First-class jams and 
good British champagne can be easily and cheaply made of it. 
Nothing that I know of is much better drinking than good, whole¬ 
some, home-made Rhubarb wine ; and in the homes of the poorer 
classes it would be much better and cheaper than much of the 
ba l beer that finds its way there. I wonder very much that 
the wholesale jam manufacturers of our great towns do not use 
Rhubarb for making either Rhubarb jam, or for mixing it with 
other fruits, in preference to some of the unstateable ingredients 
that go to'make up that curious compound sold in the shops as 
jam. It would be much more wholesome than some things we 
know of. Elder berries are another plentiful product in many 
places that are not made the most of. Like Rhubarb [they make 
equally good wine and jelly. In fact, for coughs and colds, and 
for all the purposes that Black Currant jelly is used for, that of 
the Elder berry is to be preferred.” 
-Among recent gardening appointments we learn that 
Mr. W. K. Woodcock, late gardener to F. Mappin, Esq., has 
been appointed gardener to Mrs. Mark Firth, Oakbrook, Sheffield ; 
and that Mr. Robert Abbey has succeeded Mr. Young as gardener 
to Sir Henry Scudamore Stanhope, Bart., Holme Lacy, Hereford. 
- A CORRESPONDENT writes “ Those who desire to see a 
GRAND DISPLAY OF TUBEROUS BEGONIAS should visit the 
nurseries of Messrs. John Laing & Co. at Stanstead Park, Forest 
Hill. For sturdiness and vigour the plants are remarkable ; 
while their floriferousness and the^great size and varied colour 
of the flowers produce an effect that is at once brilliant and 
imposing.” Relative to the plants in question, the proprietors of 
the nursery have issued a general invitation to all persons inter¬ 
ested in these flowers to inspect the collection, whether they are 
purchasers of plants or not. 
- Under the heading of “ A Warning to Emigrants,” a 
Liverpool paper publishes the following :—“ At the Birkenhead 
police court fourteen men were charged with being stowaways on 
board the steamer Kansat of the Warren Line, which arrived at 
Birkenhead from Boston on the previous day. One of them, a gar¬ 
dener named Cain, said he had been in America only since June, 
having gone out thinking he could get plenty of work. He could 
only earn 4£ dols. a week, however, out of which he had 4 dols. to pay 
for board. Other of the men made similar statements. The officer 
from the steamer said, on behalf of the Company, he must press 
for a penalty, as it was desired to make an example of the prisoners, 
there being so large a number. The Magistrate said the case of 
the men was undoubtedly very hard, and in some cases painful, 
but as the owners pressed for penalties he must send them all 
to gaol for ten days, with the exception of one man, who had 
stated that he was employed on the steamer to tend the cattle. 
The Magistrate hoped the case would prevent people from rashly 
going to America,” 
- Some time ago a correspondent sent us the following ex¬ 
tract from a Durham newspaper :—“ A Remarkable Rose Tree. 
—There is growing at the New Gardens, Whitby, a Marshal Niel 
Rose tree which is exciting considerable interest from florists and 
horticulturists as well as from the general public. It was planted 
about eighteen years ago, and the present extremity of its growth 
horizontally is no less than 102 feet, being 48 feet to the left and 
54 feet to the right of the parent stem respectively. The average 
depth of the tree is between 6 feet and 7 feet. Last year 2500 
Roses were plucked from it, but this season no less than 3500 were 
counted by the proprietor of the gardens, Mr. H. K. Williamson. 
It is said to be the largest and most prolific tree of the kind in 
the United Kingdom.” Our correspondent adds “It would be 
interesting if we could give any further information as to the tree 
and its treatment. Although an old subscriber to the Journal, I 
do not remember having seen any record of a similar thing.” 
- The value of fruit-growing, says a daily paper, seems 
to be understood in the eastern counties. In one district the pro¬ 
duction of Gooseberries has been of late years greatly developed. 
The present has been a prolific and a profitable season, and the 
prices obtained for crops on the ground have ranged from £70 to 
£100 per acre. The raising of Gooseberries has been evidently 
stimulated by the demand from the north of England for the 
raw material for the manufacture of champagne. 
VIOLETS IN FRAMES. 
“ A GOOD Violet frame is always a centre of interest in gardens,” 
wrote the prompter of the remarks that will be given upon this 
subject, which are written in hope of meeting the request for 
information regarding the treatment of Violets for winter bloom¬ 
ing from a correspondent (“ C. R. W.”), who has a two-light 
frame with a good selection of Violet plants thriving in their 
summer quarters, including Victoria Regina, Lee’s Argentseflora, 
London, Single Red, De Parme, New York, Marie Louise, Old 
Neapolitan, Double Red, Queen of Violets, and Belle de Chatenay. 
I have about forty varieties. It is satisfactory, however, to observe 
that “ C. R. W.” has given the names of the best for the purpose 
required. As there are doubtless other readers who have two- 
light frames and would like to have Violets in them, notes on the 
subject suggested by your correspondent may be generally useful 
at this period of the year. 
I ought to state at the commencing that I have some of every 
sort grown here under glass from September to May, and have 
them outside as well for blooming in autumn, winter, and spring 
as the weather may favour, for, except in warm localities, such as 
the southern counties and near the coast, Violets are very un¬ 
certainly produced outdoors from November to March, and it 
ought to be stated from frames during that period should the 
weather be severe. Some have an idea that Violets may te 
gathered without hindrance through the winter from frames, but 
such has not been my experience. Much, nay every thing, depends 
upon the weather. It is necessary to state this to prevent dis¬ 
appointment. The case is different when heated frames or pits 
are at command, then a supply of blooms may be had despite 
wind or weather if a temperature of 50° be secured by day with 
free ventilation, and frost excluded at night. It is further neces¬ 
sary to observe that Violets delight in moisture, never damping 
except in a close atmosphere, which last points to the need of 
liberal ventilation ; and they like rich soil—such as is afforded 
by decayed leaves and manure, while the footstalks and sub¬ 
stance of the flowers are improved by the presence of calcareous 
matter. The disposition to flower and their continuity are also 
dependant upon the texture of the soil. If it be loose the plants 
will make a great amount of foliage with long petioles, the flowers 
being small, few, and unsatisfactory. But the soil being rich and 
firm the plants will make sturdy short growth and develope crowns, 
from which in due season will spring a profusion of large flowers 
with stout stems, long-lasting, and of great beauty and fragrance. 
With these preliminary remarks I will endeavour to answer 
“ C. R. W. ” in the order of his queries. 
1st, “ The best aspect and inclination for the frame ?” The best 
aspect is south, and the inclination one at which the water will 
pass off readily from the lights ; our lights have an angle of 30° to 
35°. The site should be sheltered ; if it have a hedge or wall to 
the north so much the better, for the warmer the situation the 
greater prospect of having Violets in winter or during unfavour¬ 
able weather. It should also be dry ; at least means should be 
adopted to prevent the bed becoming saturated by heavy rains or 
the melting of snow. 
“ The drainage, depth of manure, proper soil, and distance 
between the plants and from the glass ?” If the site be dry, so 
that water percolates through it freely, no drainage is necessary ; 
but if wet, about 6 inches of rubble or the coarse siftings of ashes 
will meet every want as to drainage. The depth of manure should 
be about 3 feet; stable manure and leaves in equal proportions 
answer satisfactorily by affording a very gentle heat. Loam with 
