July 3, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
7 
of the worst varieties for bad Strawberry soil, as Noble is one of the 
best. They practically ripen at the same time, and nearly a week after 
Crescent Seedling. 
One other distinctly early Strawberry may be named—Pauline, but 
it is exceedingly capricious. In one garden I find large fruits of it ripe 
with King of the Earlies ; in another they are small and unshapely. It 
is a'variety to be tried experimentally, and where it succeeds it will 
probably be increased, for in the best form the fruit is good in size and 
quality. 
On warm sandy soils and sheltered positions Marguerite ripens early, 
and produces magnificent fruit, but is (not to be relied on in cold soils 
and districts. I may refer to it again. 
Late Strawberries. 
We wi’l now pass to the late Strawberries, and lif the best of these 
can be determined by experienced cultivators their verdict will be 
acceptable to the less experienced, who desire to extend the Strawberry 
season, bat are in doubt as to which varieties to plant. Bear in mind 
that profit is not the object, but pleasure—the pleasure of gathering 
good disfies of fine Strawberries when the crops have been over a fortnight 
in a neighbour’s garden. I think I never saw a clergyman so pleased 
as when in this position, and it was not a selfish pleasure, for he gave 
most of his fruit to his friends, the sick poor having the first claim to 
his produce. The variety was Eleanor (sometimes, I believe, called 
Oxonian). ^It is the largest late Strawberry I have grown, though I am 
not sure it is the best and most useful, when handsome fruits of Elton 
Pine are remembered at the same time, and perhaps a little later. 
Frogmore Late Pine],lingers long in the beds, but, like Pauline, the 
variety seems to have peculiar preferences, and in some gardens is of 
little or no value. 
Waterloo is a Strawberry to plant for succeeding the midseason 
sorts. It is not the latest, but the largest and darkest, and the only late 
Strawberry I know that is wanted before it is ready. This is the Chis¬ 
wick experience, and those who “ take ” the fruit from there anxiously 
wait for the great crimson purple berries of Waterloo, art 3 , wonder they 
are so long in coming. As pointing to a well marked distinction 
between early and (late Strawberries, it may be stated that when the 
crop of Crescent Seedling was ripe this year at Chiswick the plants of 
Waterloo were expanding their flowers. 
Loxford Hall Seedling is one of the latest, and where it succeeds one 
of the best. I have seen it succeed admirably, but am bound to add 
that I have also seen it fail disastrously. 
Trial rows of Strawberries form an interesting feature in gardens, 
and cost little ; while if a few varieties fail the knowledge gained 
affords abundant compensation. I know of no other method of deter¬ 
mining the varieties which will give individual cultivators such com¬ 
plete and permanent satisfaction. 
The varieties suggested for trial for affording the earliest and latest 
supplies then stand thus :— 
Early. 
Noble. 
Crescent Seedling. 
King of the Earlies. 
Pauline. 
Marguerite. 
Late. 
Elton Pine. 
E leanor. 
Waterloo. 
Frogmore Late Pine. 
Loxford Hall Seedling. 
If I were limited to six out of the ten varieties named I should take 
the first three in each case ; but should like them all to be tried in 
gardens in which they have not hitherto been grown. The best early 
and late sorts settled, a good and varied midseason supply is easily 
produced. 
(To be continued.) 
[The conclusion of Mr. Shirley Hibberd’s and of Mr. J. Wright’s 
papers are unavoidably held over until another issue. The publication 
of the admirable papers on “ The Market Culture of Strawberries,” by 
Mr. G. Bunyard, and on “ Seedling Strawberries,” by Mr. Thomas 
Laxton, must also be postponed, owing to the demand on our space this 
week.] 
THE LATE MR. B. S. WILLIAMS. 
In our brief note last week it was impossible to give any details of 
the late Mr. Williams’ career. We therefore take the first opportunity 
to furnish our readers with an outline sketch of his life. Mr. B. S. 
SVilliams was born at Hoddesdon on March 2nd, 1824, his father being 
a gardener, who at the age of ninety-four is still alive. After a due 
period of schooling Mr. Williams commenced his gardening career at 
the age of fourteen under his father in Mr. John Warner’s garden at 
Hoddesdon. Leaving there after three years’ service he spent some 
time in another garden, where he began exhibiting Pansies, with other 
plants and flowers. He was also in Messrs. Paul & Sons’ Nursery at 
Cheshunt, and then returned to Hoddesdon for a time, and was 
appointed gardener to Mr. C. B. Warner. In the service of this 
gentleman he made his name as a highly successful plant cultivator 
and exhibitor, excelling specially with Orchids. 
In 1851 Mr. Williams contributed a series of articles to the Gar¬ 
deners' Chronicle, entitled “ Orchids for the Million,” which were sub¬ 
sequently republished as the “ Orchid Growers’ Manual,” a book that 
has obtained a large share of popularity, being now in its sixth edition. 
Several other books on Ferns and stove and greenhouse plants have also 
been published by Mr. Williams, which are familiar in many garden 
libraries. To Mr. Warner’s fine work, “ Select Orchidaceous Plants,” 
Mr. Williams also contributed, and later still he commenced the monthly 
issue of the “ Orchid Album,” devoted entirely to coloured plates and 
descriptions of Orchids, eight volumes having appeared up to the pre¬ 
sent time, comprising nearly 400 plates. 
Mr. Williams commenced business as a nurseryman in 1836, at the 
Seven Sisters Road, Holloway, in partnership with Mr. R. Parker, but 
afterwards removed to Upper Holloway, where the Victoria and Paradise 
Nurseries have gained considerable fame for the collection of choice 
Orchids and plants of all kinds. A short time since Mr. B. S. Williams 
took his son Mr. Henry Williams into partnership, who for seme years 
has rendered his father valuable assistance in the management of a large 
business. Mr. Williams was a frequent visitor to the principal horti¬ 
cultural shows in the kingdom, both as judge and exhibitor, and his 
unvarying genial manner endeared him to thousands of horticulturists. 
The funeral took place at Highgate Cemetery at 12 noon on Monday 
last, when a large number of friends assembled, nearly 400 gathering 
round the grave. Flowers were contributed in profusion, and ample 
testimony was afforded of the high respect in which the late Mr. 
Williams was held by all who knew him. 
Events of the Week. —This is the height of the Rose Show 
season, and the exhibitions follow rapidly for the next week or two. 
To-day (Thursday, July 3rd) Shows will be held at Bath, Farningham, 
and Norwich. On July 5th the National Rose Society’s Metropolitan 
Exhibition will be held at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, the great event 
of the Rose season. On July the 8th the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Fruit, Floral, and Orchid Committees meet at the Drill Hall, West¬ 
minster, at twelve noon. Shows will also take place on the same day at 
Winchester, Ipswich, and Gloucester. July 9th is devoted to shows at 
Teddington, Brighton, Diss, Ealing, and Tunbridge Wells. 
- The weather in the Metropolitan District has been 
generally wet and dull, relieved by comparatively few hours’ sunshine. 
Many gardeners and farmers would now gladly welcome a change to a 
summer temperature and a clear atmosphere. 
- At the Richmond (Surrey) Horticultural Society’s 
Show last week Mrs. Ford had a floral stall for the benefit of the 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. It proved a great success, realising a profit 
of £6 6s. 6d. for the Fund, and Mrs. Ford wishes to thank the numerous 
donors of flowers and the ladies who assisted her on that occasion. 
-An extremely Novel Table Decoration was recently pro¬ 
vided at Stafford House, the London residence of the Duke of Suther¬ 
land, and one of the most palatial mansions in the metropolis. The 
idea was a winter scene and snowstorm, and it was carried out in an 
artistic manner by the gardener, Mr. Peter Blair. At each end of the 
table was a large brarchof tree-like proportions of the common Birch, 
denuded of its leaves and covered with flour, powdered glass, or plaster 
of Paris secured to the branches by a previous moistening with water. 
Around these were stems and leaves of Arundinaria falcata, Cupressus, 
and Ivy, the centre of the table being occupied with a large block of ice 
covered with snowclad Ivy. Silver plate was employed on the table, the 
only colour being afforded by the fruit, handsome samples of Nectarines, 
Peaches, Grapes, Strawberries, &c. For a summer table a cooler effect 
could not be produced, and when lighted up the appearance was most 
beautiful. 
- The same evening we inspected an example of Mr. Wills’s taste¬ 
ful work in Floral Decoration at a mansion in South Audley Street. 
Roses, White Lilies, and Hydrangea paniculata were almost exclusively 
employed with Ferns, Palms, and other foliage plants, but the manner 
in which they were arranged in recesses on the staircase, in the windows, 
