10 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 1, 1886. 
against a wall with an easterly aspect, and is 300 feet long by 6 feet 
wide, in two divisions, and heated by two rows of 3-inch pipes extending 
the whole length. One division is devoted to Plums trained fan-shape 
to a trellis near the glass, and all appeared very healthy. The varieties 
most prized are Transparent Gage, Coe’s Golden Drop, Bryanston Green¬ 
gage, and Guthrie’s Late Greengage, but other varieties found very useful 
are Reine Claude de Bavay, Cox’s Emperor, Prince Englebert, Dennis- 
ton’s Superb, Jefferson's and July Greengage. The trees are planted in 
an inside border and liberally treated, the result being abundant crops of 
good fruit. The Peach house contains some fine trees that have for 
several years produced some handsome fruits. The varieties Royal 
George, Walburton Admirable, Dante, Sea Eagle, and Dymond are repre¬ 
sented by good trees; and of Nectarines, Elruge, Lord Napier, Humboldt, 
and Prince of Wales are the favourites. 
-It is seldom that two such beautiful specimens of Miteaeia 
COCCINEA are seen as those in the garden named above. They are 
about 3 feet in diameter, trained in globular form, and when bearing 
their bright scarlet flowers have a most pleasing appearance. This old 
plant is somewhat neglected in many gardens, yet for greenhouses, con¬ 
servatories, or similar cool structures it is very useful, and it is not 
difficult to grow satisfactorily. Nerines are another important feature 
at The Dell, but the plants are now having a season of rest in frames 
fully exposed to the sun, where they receive no water during the summer 
months. 
- A cobeespondent sends the following on Geouping Oena- 
MENTAL-leaved Sheubs :—“ This is a somewhat modern practice for 
beautifying our lawns, but as the various combinations of tints become 
more fully tested the system increases in popularity. Many of the trees 
with purple and variegated leaves, if closely pruned, may be used for 
creating rich effects. Such species as the golden and purple-leaved Oaks, 
purple Beech, purple Birch, &e., may be forced to do duty as large-sized 
shrubs for several years, and when no longer needed for the above purpose 
may be permitted to attain their full size, and the adjoining shrubs be 
removed to other locations. Each year adds its quota to the list of hardy 
shrubs with ornamental foliage, although unfortunately a small proportion 
of them only will Btand hot dry summers. Such old kinds as the varie¬ 
gated Weigela, purple Hazel, golden Spirsea, purple Berberry, variegated 
Dogwood, and a few others, are in early summer when new growth is 
forming at their best, and no bed of flowers can exceed their attrac¬ 
tiveness.” 
-Peoeessob Buebill, of the University of Illinois, has made 
some experiments in Hybbidising the Stbawbeeby, and is decidedly 
of opinion that the fruit, popularly so called, of the Strawberry is not 
affected by the kind of pollen used in fertilisation of the ovules. His 
reasons for this opinion are stated, in his last report, as follows :—“ In the 
spring of 1884 we planted a single isolated row of Crescent seedling 
Strawberries to test the matter of the alleged effect upon the berry pulp 
of fertilisation by pollen from different varieties. This one row of 
Crescents was put at the greatest convenient distance from any Strawberry 
beds, the nearest being about 20 rods to the north. On the sides of 
the prevailing winds, south and west, there were no cultivated S raw- 
berries for several miles. Alongside the rows of Crescents, which have 
almost no pollen, we placed ten plants of eight of the most characteris¬ 
tically different sorts we could select, the ten of each kind being placed 
near together, and an interval of 2 rods left vacant in the row between 
them. By the mistake of a workman two of these groups were dug up at 
one end of the row, so that there was a space of between 5 and 
6 rods where the Crescent stood alone. The results obtained were wholly 
against the idea of the effect of the pollen upon the fruit substance, and 
altogether confirmed expectations from scientific deductions. A box of 
Crescent berries picked from the vicinity of Sharpless plants was placed 
beside others obtained from near a wild variety bearing very small dark- 
coloured fruit with deeply sunken seeds, as different as one can well 
imagine from the Sharpless berry, and the two boxes were submitted to 
the inspection of several persons. No one was able to make out aDy 
difference between the two. The same was true in the other cases.” 
PACKING STRAWBERRIES. 
Thebe is no kind of fruit more commonly sent by rail than 
Strawberries. _ Their cultivation is more general than Grapes, Peaches, 
and other fruits under glass, and I know many amateurs with small 
gardens and no glass who take a great delight in sending Strawberries 
to their friends, so that the packing of this fruit is very important. 
As a rule, I think packing is overdone, being often almost double the 
weight of fruit, and certainly double the bulk is used of packing 
materia], whereas one quarter the weight of packing is ample. A 
great bulk of material does not insure the safety of the fruit. Card¬ 
board boxes, or boxes which will give way under any slight pressure, 
must never be used. It is better to send 1 lb. of fruit in good con¬ 
dition than 6 lbs. in a slim box with the object of saving on the 
carriage. Tin boxes are very durable and good, and light wooden 
ones are also excellent These may be made in various ways. Where 
large quantities of fruit are packed weekly the best way is to have 
several shallow trays made to tit into a box on the top of each other. 
If each tray is from 18 to 20 inches long, 1 foot in width, and about 
2 inches deep they will hold a quantity of Strawberries. As one is 
filled it is put into the box and the next one acts as a lid to it. Three 
trays of the size indicated will hold a large number. Where only 
small quantities are sent a shallow box about the same dimensions as 
the trays will be found very convenient. Those who do not care to 
go to the expense of having them made new may buy them very 
cheap at any confectioners. 
The best material for packing are Strawberry leaves ; they should 
be gathered a day or two before they are wanted and placed in the 
shade, when they 7 will become soft. A layer of these two deep should 
be placed at the bottom of the tray or box, then have the fruit on your 
right hand side and the leaves on your left, place a leaf in the palm 
of the left hand, and with the right put a fruit on the top of this, 
then bring the leaf over it on each side, and in this position place it 
in the box, beginning at one corner and following with others in the 
same style until the layer is completed. Each fruit should be pressed 
very gently against the former one, as they must be packed so as not 
to shake, and if carefully done they will turn out at the end of a long 
journey almost as good as when gathered. The packing is completed 
by placing more leaves over the surface until the level of the lid is 
reached, as this should just press down to prevent disturbance but 
nothing more. When several trays are placed in a box each one 
should have a small piece of cord round it that it may be lifted out 
without any attempt at twisting. Properly made boxes may have 
rings placed on them as handles. 
The lids must never be firmly nailed down, as it injures the boxes 
in extracting the nails, and they cannot be taken out without much 
shaking. It is a good plan to have the lid on hinges with a screw in 
front, or the lid may be firmly tied down without nailing. Our boxes 
have neither nails nor hinges, but two holes on each side and the 
same on the lids, and they are fastened by passing pieces of cord 
through these and tying them. As the cords on one side are cut 
the two on the other side act as hinges, and the lid is easily sepa¬ 
rated from the box. Only good fruit should be packed, and it should 
all be gathered t efore it it dead ripe. The stems must always be left 
on, and never attempt to pack with either the fruit or leaves wet. 
In gathering fruits for packing they should not be placed on the top 
of the others in the basket or whatever they may be gathered in, 
as any blemish previous to packing will become worse in the journey. 
—J. Muie, Mar gam. 
GERMAN IRISES. 
Are the numerous splendid varieties of German Iris 
sufficiently known ? Possibly not, or they would be grown in 
every garden in the land where hardy border flowers are cherished. 
The old blue Flag Iris is effective in masses, but the newer forms 
must not be compared with that, except as regai'ds habit and 
foliage. The colours surpass description. The “ fall ” petals of 
several of the forms equal in richness the lips of Cattleyas, while 
some far surpass them—streaks of silver on blue and purple, 
and burnished golden lines on crimson velvet grounds, with 
standards in varied colours in deep contrast with the pendent 
parts. 
It is fair to say that no other hardy flowers include such a 
combination of resplendent colours as do the Irises. They have 
been described as the Orchids of the parterre, and the simile is 
not very f r fetched, for both are included in the same section of 
the vegetable kingdom; and though differing in several essential 
characters, are yet in botanical phraseology “ not far apart.” 
Then how easy these plants are to grow. They are not 
“ miffy.” not dainty as to soil, not particu ar as to aspect. Give 
them plain good fare, sitch as Cauliflowers and Cabbage feed 
upon, and they will not be slow to manifest their appreciation in 
the produc ion of broad glaucous leaves, and in due time strong 
spikes bearing noble and brilliant blooms. Mr. Ware has a fine 
assortment of varieties at Tottenham, as has Mr. Barr at Tooting, 
and Messrs. Yeitch & Sons at Langley, and private collections 
are being formed in many gardens. The best of these that I 
have seen is iu Dr. Hogg’s interesting garden in Sussex, where 
