a*. 
358 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
placed in the soil within the last year or two, and was selected 
because the young Fern can be more clearly shown. It should 
be added that of the four or five hundred bottles employed nearly 
two-thirds contain Ferns, the others being chiefly filled with 
Grasses and various weeds. In all cases the fresh healthy appear¬ 
ance of the plants indicates that they can well dispense with 
ventilation. 
If a few Ferns could be induced to grow in bottles like the 
above they would form rather interesting little ferneries, espe¬ 
cially for windows, as they could be inverted in pots or boxes, 
and would at least possess the advantage of requiring little 
attention or trouble. 
LA GROSSE SUCREE STRAWBERRY. 
When my note was penned with reference to the above I had in 
view Strawberries for early forcing, meaning thereby from early in 
the new year to the end of March, as after that time any variety of 
Strawberry will carry satisfactory cr.>ps without hard forcing. 
Your correspondent, Mr. S. Taylor (page 323) takes exception to 
my remarks with reference to Vicomtesse II. de Thury, and comes 
to the conclusion that I must have taken my runners from barren 
plants. Such was not possible, as we are most particular on that 
point. I obtained my original stock from one of our best private 
growers. I sent him some plants of La Grosse Sucree for trial, 
and in a communication received from him the first week of 
February of this year he says, “ My Yicomtesse are colouring; La 
Grosse Sucree just set,” which is the reverse of my experience of 
the two varieties here. Soil no doubt has much to do with it. 
President does well here as a later variety; also Admiral Dundas, 
large, and of good flavour. James Veitch has only size to recom¬ 
mend it. The same may be said of Auguste Nicaise, which we tried 
for two years. We have a variety on trial this year that we think 
highly of at present—namely, Dr. Morhre. It is a strong grower, 
and carries a good crop of large fruit, which are now ripening. The 
soil here is strong magnesian limestone. I may perhaps say that I 
obtained my stock of Vicomtes3e some three years since from 
Mr. Gilbert of Burghley. Early in the new year he told me he 
gathered a good dish on Christmas Day. He is forcing a quantity 
of La Grosse now. He says it is a “topper.” It does much better 
than anything here.—G. Summers, Sandbech Park. 
Scarlets —Major Cornwallis West (new), Drake Lewis, Charles 
Leicester, James Stephen (new), Miss Batchelor (new), and 
Walter H. Williams. 
Panics —Ovid, Burgundy, George Smith, Jame3 Tick, Prince 
Bismarck, and James Cocker. 
Maroons —George Rawlings (new), Prince of Denmark, Rev. J. 
Godday, Thomas Goodwin, and William Rawlings. 
Orange and Buffs —Aurora, Chairman, Joseph Ashby, Queen of 
Spain, Sunbeam, and Vice-President. 
Lilacs —Lady Wimborne, Mrs. Boston, and Rosy Morn. 
Edged Flowers —Henry Walton, Hon. Mrs. Percy Wyndham, 
H. W. Ward, Mrs. Harris, Lady Gladys Herbert, and Royal 
Queen. 
The names of these excellent varieties are given simply, as the 
descriptions of the flowers both as to character and tints are 
accurately rendered in catalogues. 
Of Fancy Dahlias the following are twelve of the best striped 
varieties :—Annie Pritchard, Edward Peck, Frederick Smith, 
Gaiety, George Barnes, Grand Sultan, Henry Glasscock (some¬ 
times produces crimson self flowers),'James O'Brien, Magician, 
Professor Fawcett, Rev. J. B. M. Camm, and Robert Burns. Eight 
superior tipped varieties are Fanny Sturt, Jessie McIntosh, Lady 
Antrobus, Lady Paxton, Laura Haslam, Mrs. Saunders. Peacock, 
and Prospero. All these are fine for exhibition, and the tipped 
varieties especially are most effective in gardens. 
Bouquet Dahlias constitute one of the most beautiful sections 
of the genus, and the varieties are not half sufficient grown in 
garden and shrubbery borders. The plants are so exceedingly 
floriferous, and the blooms so chaste, that they cannot be over¬ 
looked. The white varieties, such as Lady Blanche and White 
Aster, ought to be grown by the dozen for yielding flowers for 
cutting that are sure to be appreciated, and the brighter colours 
are most glowing. In addition to those named the following 
were noted as amongst the most attractive:—Adonis, rosy car¬ 
mine ; Comtesse Von Sternberg, yellow and white ; Dora, primrose 
and white ; Dr. Schwebes, bright scarlet; Fair Helen, white and 
lilac; German Favourite, crimson-lake, edged; Little Arthur, 
orange-scarlet ; Prince of Liliputians, maroon ; E. D. Jungker, 
amber ; and Professor Bergeat, rosy crimson. 
The varieties named would form an admirable if not a very 
extensive collection.— Fancier. 
SELECT DAHLIAS. 
No one who visited the National Dahlia Show at the Crystal 
Palace last year could fail being impressed with the striking 
beauty of the Dahlia as an exhibition flower, and those who sub¬ 
sequently had the opportunity of inspecting Mr. Turner’s great 
collection at Slough would with equal readiness admit that 
Dahlias are excelled by no plants for rendering gardens gay in 
the summer and autumn months. Calling on Mr. Turner last 
October I found acres of ground occupied with Dahlias, and 
countless thousands of blooms. For fully three months the 
plants had been flowering, and vast quantities of flowers were 
cut and sent to London and other large towns daily for church 
and civic decorations. The trade for blooms alone appears to be 
immense, and here the doubles have the advantage over the 
singles, as they travel better and last longer. The small- 
flowered bouquet varieties are in great demand every year for 
the purposes indicated, and thousands of large bunches of their 
symmetrical blooms are required weekly in London alone during 
the Dahlia season. 
Granting the special adaptability of single Dahlias for certain 
purposes of room-decoration, and their great beauty as border 
plants, yet the grand contour and marvellous symmetry of the 
best varieties of the double type must always command admira¬ 
tion. In respect of many flowers florists have reason to be proud 
of their work, but in none is their patience and skill better dis¬ 
played than in the variedly coloured, highly finished, and almost 
faultless flowers under notice. 
In inspecting the Slough collection some pains were taken to 
select a few of the leading varieties in their respective colours. 
Had these names been published at the time the list would have 
been of little service ; but now, on the eve of the planting season, 
it may be useful to some readers who will shortly be procuring 
plants for their gardens. In Show Dahlias from three to six 
varieties were selected as the best in their colours as follows :— 
Yellows— Acme of Perfection, Adelaide, Canary, John Neville, 
Julia Davis, and Prince Arthur. 
Whites —Henry Turner, Georgina (new), Annie Neville, Julia 
Wyatt, and Mrs. Henshaw. 
Crimsons —Alexander Cramond, James Service, John Wyatt, 
Mr. Spoffortb, John Standish, and Joseph Green. 
THE GARDEN WATER SUPPLY. 
Among the many practical and useful articles that have 
appeared weekly in these columns, few will command greater 
interest or prove more serviceable to gardeners who are, or were, 
seeking information on this subject than the able communication 
supplied under the above heading by Mr. Luckhurst (page 294). 
The information supplied therein proved very serviceable to us, as 
it appeared at an opportune moment, when we were discussing the 
subject of that important and indispensable adjunct to every 
properly equipped garden—“ hose ” and “ stopcocks.” A couple 
of years ago new indiarubber hose was purchased for the use of 
the garden here, and now it is worn out, although a good price 
was paid for it. The spell of dry weather experienced here until 
a few days ago warned us that we must obtain a new hose. Then 
the question arose, “ Which is the most efficient, durable, and 
economical form of garden hose to obtain—indiarubber or 
leather ? ” Whilst thinking the matter over the Journal came 
to hand, and on opening it and reading the article above alluded 
to, we at once decided on obtaining a leather hose similar to that 
recommended by Mr. Luckhurst. Of course a leather hose is 
more costly than an indiarubber one, but we fully concur in your 
correspondent’s statement that the additional outlay incurred will 
insure a more efficient and durable article, and afford greater 
satisfaction to employer and gardener. 
Every garden is not so fortunate in its water supply as this one. 
Under my charge hydrants are fixed within reasonable distance 
of each other in flower, pleasure, and kitchen gardens. Equipped 
with a good hose a considerable saving in labour is thus effected 
—a great desideratum to those whose labour power is curtailed.— 
T. W. S., Lee. 
Lily of the Valley for Forcing. —While thanking “R. T.” 
for the few lines that are to guide me to success, I hope he will 
make the subject still plainer. It is evidently a very easy matter 
to “begin at the wrong end,” since he himself has begun at the 
wrong end by not stating the first process to be observed—viz., when 
the crowns are placed in the pot or planted. For anything said to 
the contrary, imported clumps might have been used a season or two, 
and then termed “ home-grown.” I may state I am not quite igno- 
