8 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
[ July 7, 1892. 
- Medinilla magnifica. —A fine specimen of this magnificent 
plant is now flowering profusely in the Victoria House at Kew, standing 
in the tank. It is a native of the Phillipine Islands, introduced by 
Messrs. Veitch & Sons through their collector Thos. Lobb. A plant was 
exhibited at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society by Messrs 
Veitch as long ago as April 2nd, 1850, and received at that time the 
Society’s large Banksian medal.—C. K. 
- Deutzia crenata flore-pleno. —A well-flowered specimen 
of this fine Japanese shrub may be seen loosely trained to a wall in the 
Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Chiswick. Although facing 
east it is somewhat sheltered, and is flowering in advance of the plants 
in the borders. The ovate leaves are rough to the touch, and the white 
or blush-coloured flowers are produced in abundance. It is a wonder 
that it is not planted more extensively on sheltered borders and 
shrubberies.—C. K. 
- Harvard University is indebted to the munificence of 
Prof. George L. Goodale, the Director of the Botanic Garden at 
Cambridge, Mass., for a remarkable development of the botanical 
establishment of the University during the last ten years. It has 
acquired a large fire-proof Museum, to contain not only its collections 
but its lecture-rooms and laboratories ; has added greatly to its collec¬ 
tions and its library ; and has also obtained larger permanent funds for 
its support. 
- Early Paris Market Lettuce.—T his fine variety has 
proved of great service this season. With us it hearts very quickly, and 
was the earliest Lettuce producing large heads, which are crisp and 
tender. It should be grown by all. Paris Green has proved a grand 
Cos Lettuce on our light soil, and although the weather has been 
exceedingly dry not one plant has bolted. The large full heads of this 
variety have been our mainstay of late, and have been much appreciated 
—H. Dunkin. 
- Propagating Lobelias. —During an interesting discussion 
at the last meeting of the Sunderland Gardeners’ Improvement Society, 
the principal point advocated in the increase of these plants was striking 
the cuttings now in a cold frame. When rooted, the plants are kept 
close to the glass with abundance of air. By that practice robust 
cuttings are plentiful in January, and if the plants raised from these 
are grown in a moderate temperature they assume a sturdy habit and 
flower early and continuously. 
- June Weather in Herts. —The past month has been highly 
favourable for agricultural and horticultural purposes. With the 
exception of the frost on the morning of the 14th there has been little to 
complain of. Of sunshine there has been an abundance and rains 
frequent. Rain fell on fourteen days during the month. The maximum 
in any twenty-four hours was 0 61 inch on the 28th ; minimum, 0 2 inch 
on the 19th. Total for the month, 2‘71 inches, against D40 inch during 
June, 1891.—E. Wallis, Ilamels Park, Buntingford, Herts. 
- Dr. Livingstone Strawberry.—I am sending you a few 
Strawberries of Dr. Livingstone so highly spoken of by “A Lanarkshire 
Bee-keeper.” It is highly approved by my employer for its good flavour, 
and the crop is heavy. The fruits are of fair size with us, those sent 
being large and small to show a fair sample; grown in dry sandy soil on 
sharp slope to the S.W. I think on better soil it would grow larger ; it 
follows Noble in ripening.—R. C. [Many of the fruits were spoiled in 
transit, but those which arrived sound were of excellent quality—the 
flavour reminding of Keens’ Seedling in its best condition, but fuller 
and richer. Dr. Livingstone, we suspect, is a good Strawberry.] 
- Burning Old Potato Tops. —There is very little value in 
Potato tops except their ash. They are rich in potash, and this mineral 
is not lost by burning nor made less available. Time was when it was 
commonly advised to gather Potato tops in the barnyard and rot them 
down for manure. But this is possibly the surest way to spread the 
germs of disease. It is quite likely that as the Potato growth begins to 
decay then disease attacks it and hastens this process. Certainly there 
is very little bulk left in spring of a large heap of green Potato tops 
that have lain on the ground through the winter. Burning the tops rids 
the ground so far as possible of the germs of disease for future Potato 
crops. Still, whatever care be used, it is never advisable to plant 
Potatoes twice in succession. The tubers rot worse in gardens than in 
open fields, where no crop is grown two years in succession, and 
probably for this reason.— (American Cultivator.') 
- Gardening Appointment.— Mr. George H. Head has been 
appointed gardener to Mrs. Gregory, Oakfield, Reading. 
_A New Way of Draining Land.—H. Kennedy writes to the 
“ American Agriculturist ” that he has tried the following method of 
draining his garden, which is located near the top cf a hill: “ The soil 
is a heavy clay about 4 feet deep and underlaid with slate, which is 
impervious to water. I drilled a 4-inch hole, 12 feet deep, and put in 
2 lbs. of dynamite and 25 lbs. of rock powder ; then I inserted a double 
fuse, filled up the hole with dry sand and filed the fuse. The explosion 
made very little report, but raised the top of the ground at the hole 
about 2 feet, and the surface was raised all round for fully 30 feet from 
the hole. The expense was not very great, and the success quite 
decided.” 
- Arches of Fuchsias. —The single Begonia house in Messrs, 
Veitch & Sons’ Nursery at Chelsea is now a beautiful sight. In addition 
to the Begonias there are a series of Fuchsia arches formed by training 
plants up the rafters and along the top stays. They are full of luxuriant 
leafage and brilliant with flowers. Amongst the varieties are Souvenir 
de Mrs. Todman, which is loaded with bloom, The Shah, Maud, Elegans r 
Mrs. Todman, Olympia, General Grenfell, Dr. Matthew, Andrew’ Gill, 
and Grande Duchesse Marie. The plants are in 8-inch pots, a pair being 
placed side by side and trained up each rafter. Their clusters of graceful 
flowers drooping down over the pathway in thousands produce a splendid 
effect. 
- Begonia Vernon (B. semperflorens atropurpurea).—It may 
be well to note the behaviour of this Begonia under exposure in the 
open. The nlants which had been kept under glass last year gave not 
the slightest sign of being other than a bright-flowered form of B. 
semperflorens, I transplanted them to a sunny border, and never 
beheld a more remarkable transformation in any plants. Within two- 
days the deep green leaves began to take on bronzy and blood-stained 
tints of the most striking character, and the indications are that in 
this variety we have a new bedding plant possessing many excellent 
points, easily and quickly propagated, bright, striking, showy, and free 
flowering, dark crimson usually. It should be a good wet weather 
plant. Its ability to stand full exposure without scorching of the margin 
of the leaves remains to be tested. It is certainly a variety worthy of 
trial.—J. N. G. (in Garden and Forest). 
_ Earliest and Best Varieties of Strawberries— I am 
deeply interested in all fruits, but Strawberries in particular, and gladly 
accept the invitation in “ Nomad’s ” interesting leader, to give my 
experience, so far. I say “ so far,” for the Strawberry season in Ireland, 
and presumably in the greater part of England and Scotland, has 
only fairly commenced. My earliest variety was Scarlet Queen, a 
comparatively light cropper, but of the most delicious flavour on 
June 9th on a warm south border, from young plants received direct 
from the raiser, and which presumably will be finer and larger next 
season. In flavour this leaves nothing to be desired. Noble came nexU 
just a few days later ; it has larger berries, and is, at least with me, three 
times a heavier cropper. I admit it has not the rich vinous flavour of 
Scarlet Queen, but when grown in the open without any shading the 
flavour is rich and luscious. For market purposes I have yet to learn 
the name of any variety to compare with Noble. Vicomtesse H&ricart 
de Thury came next, and whatever it does in other soils (I will refer to 
mine later on), I shall be obliged to discard it. Competitor (Laxton) 
was the next, and I am not sure it will not be the largest fruit and 
heaviest cropper of twenty varieties I shall test. It may be described 
as scarlet orange, and for an early Strawberry seems very prolific. 
Commander closely followed, and in bearing aloft its finely flavoured 
fruits, on stout stalks, is distinct from any other. The flavour is 
excellent, but I notice the later fruits on the stalks, unless the plants 
are fed, will be smaller. White Knight I have been gathering fine fruit 
of, but it would be a mistake to suppose it is “ white, the colour being 
light scarlet, and shading to white underneath where the light could 
not reach. This variety, like most others, likes plenty of room, and 
does best on a somewhat raised bed. The shape of the berries reminds 
me of Auguste Nicaise, but they are not so long or conical; it is a 
heavier cropper. Strange as it may seem, Sir Joseph Paxton has wholly 
failed with me on a south-east aspect, and British Queen on a west 
makes more growth than fruit. Dr. Hogg is medium, and James 
Veitch very prolific. Latest of All promises well. Mine is a walled-in 
town garden, fully exposed, and with light soil of a limestone formation 
on a gravelly subsoil. I must decidedly keep manuring and feeding. 
—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
