454 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 24, 1892. 
skinned sorts, such as Victoria and others of that type, do not. 
Dark Plums are much more tempting in appearance when dried 
than green or light varieties; but whatever the colour, the fruit 
should be large, firm in the flesh, and stout in the skin. 
It is important, too, that the fruits be perfectly sound, as if any 
are bruised the juice escapes, and this passing to the sound fruits 
seals the pores, preventing the escape of the water from them by 
evaporation, and consequently the fruits split under the action of 
heat and are spoiled. 
As all know, bountiful fruit years, in which Plums and Apples 
are over-abundant, are commonly followed by years of scarcity ; 
and it is well to know also that by drying surplus produce in a 
domestic way for home use and on a large scale by the “ May- 
farth ” for town populations, that plenty of Apples and Plums 
may be had for cooking during seasons when few or none grow on 
the trees. But, apart from that, the consumption of dried fruit is 
enormous, no matter how good our fruit crops may be ; and, as 
both Apples and Plums can be dried in this country as well and as 
cheaply as in any other, it is for those who can provide the fruit 
and the means for dealing with it to consider how long it will be 
prudent to remain passive and allow the enterprising growers and 
merchants in other lands to monopolise this great industry and 
derive profit, as they must do largely at our expense. 
SEASONABLE HINTS ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS, 
The very varying character of our climate seriously modifies 
from year to year the treatment of the various productions of our 
garden, and what may be fitting for the same class of flowers in 
one year is totally unsuited for it in the following one ; and 
although we are continually saying that we have had an extra¬ 
ordinary season, I think it is only another way of saying that there 
is no accounting for our climate. But this is an extraordinary 
season, at least in my part of the country (East Kent). We had in 
the month of October 7‘45 of rain, which fell on twenty days, 
the highest rainfall being on the 4th—2 14 ; while on the first 
six days of November we had l - 35. In such a state of things 
what is to be done ? Land is unploughed, and consequently 
unsown. In my own garden I have neither planted a Rose nor 
lifted my Gladioli. I believe it is the same with all my neighbours. 
There is no question of covering up our frames, &c. Whether 
the frost will soon come we do not know, of course ; but at 
present we have escaped any severe attack of it. 
Auriculas. 
As far as my own small collection is concerned I may say 
these plants have had a good time of it. Where frames and houses 
are watertight the cool damp weather has suited them, and I 
have had but little autumn blooming, but I hear from my good 
friend Miss Woodhead that they have been troubled with it, 
showing how little we can account for it, for one would 
have thought in the far north (Yorkshire) they would have had 
less of it than we further south. The chief points to be 
looked at now are pulling off the outside dead leaves and to keep 
the houses, pits or frames where they are wintering well aired 
and ventilated both night and day. Of course unless the weather 
changes only a slight covering at night, if any, will be necessary. 
Much as I love this flower, and much as it fascinates those who do 
admire it, I do not believe it will ever be popular. It is a flower 
for the select few, and one has only to listen to the remarks of 
visitors at one of the Auricula shows to be assured that this is 
the case. 
Carnations and Picotees. 
These flowers, on the other hand, are likely to become more and 
more popular ; their beauty and variety, the ease with which many 
of them are cultivated, their delicious fragrance, their prodigality 
of flowers will, I am persuaded, win for them an increased amount 
of public favour. The many-headed multitude can admire them, 
although they may pass by the Auricula as stiff, formal, and 
quaint looking. I think that most people now have given up the 
notion of wintering them in the open ground, unless in the case of 
the old stools, which may be so treated; but all the varieties, whether 
of the old florist type or the seifs and border flowers, are much 
better wintered in pots, either singly or in pairs. In such a season 
as this these will require but little attention. Great care must be 
taken, however, on one point—that they do not get too damp ; in 
fact, they require but little watering, and must have plenty of air 
at all times. Should spot appear on any of the leaves the leaf 
ought at once to be picked off, as it very soon spreads to others. 
It may be, if the weather be mild, that aphides may appear ; in 
that case they had better be brushed off with a camel’s-hair pencil 
or the frames fumigated. It is well, too, occasionally to stir the 
surface of the soil in the pots. 
Gladioli. 
The wet season has completely prevented anything being done 
in lifting these, and it is here, as I have always maintained, that 
the French growers have the pull over us. It is rarely ever that 
they do not ripen in the open air at Fontainebleau the Musca¬ 
dine Grape, which is so largely grown there under the name of 
Chasselas de Fontainebleau, a feat which would be utterly impos¬ 
sible even in our most favoured localities, and this must, of course, 
help the ripening of the Gladioli bulbs ; and therefore, whatever 
their condition may be for this year, I cannot but think there is a 
gloomy prospect for next season. The bulbs must be saturated 
with wet; this will enfeeble their constitution, and make them a 
ready prey to fungus or disease. Every year I grow them the 
more they puzzle me. I have never known an amateur who has 
not had his bad quarter of an hour over them, and thus the lifting 
of large, handsome looking bulbs is no indication that they are 
going to be a success next year. I have, as usual, lost a large 
number this year, and intend, if I plant any more, to put them in 
an entirely different part of my garden. I would again urge upon 
all growers to save their spawn and sow it next spring. It is the 
only way, I am persuaded, to keep up your stock, and comparatively 
small bulbs will give good spikes of flowers. They should be kept 
in dry sand in paper bags or boxes, which should be carefully 
labelled ; but, as in many other flowers, the standard of excellence 
is becoming higher, and many of our cherished varieties will have 
to give place to others. 
Dahlias. 
The taking up and putting away in a dry place free from frost 
of the tubers will be the only point to be attended to. I may say 
that I have been greatly pleased with Mr. Girdlestone’s Tom 
Thumb single varieties, sent out by Messrs. Cheal & Sons. 
Pansies. 
It has been a good season for these in the South of England, 
which usually does not suit them. I do not, however, advise them 
to be left out. I have already taken up and potted mine, for even 
though I grow them in pots I always plant them out in a shady 
place in the summer ; they are now placed in a frame, where they 
will remain all the winter, and be potted off in the spring. 
Roses. 
It has been a quiet season for the queen of flowers, which has 
received but poor treatment from the weather, so that October 
planting has been an impossibility. One of our most successful 
exhibitors told me that he had moved many in his own garden 
and planted them in September, but this could only be done 
where they had simply to be transferred from one place in the 
garden to another, and not packed up and sent off a distance ; in 
fact nurserymen have had a difficulty in executing their orders 
owing to the condition of the soil. The very copious directions 
given in your columns from time to time by many of your 
correspondents renders it unnecessary for me to add anything on 
the subject of planting. Plant firmly, stake well, and avoid placing 
manure so as to come in contact with the roots, are things that 
ought to be attended to. 
Tulips. 
These are flowers which are never likely to regain the popularity 
they once enjoyed. Brilliant as they are they have no perfume, and 
they are about the worst flowers we have for cutting, and hence 
they do not please ladies, who naturally look for something for the 
adornment of their homes. There are, however, some who still 
admire them. The 20th of November used to be considered the 
orthodox time for planting them, and it seems as if this would be 
about the time for them this year if we do not get more rain, 
and surely it cannot rain for ever. I have the bigotry of an old 
florist, and although I never went in for them regularly as for other 
flowers, I know something about them ; so much so that the 
so-called Darwin varieties, which scoff at all florists’ rules, find no 
favour in my eyes. 
There is one hint which I think may be given on any of the 
above flowers — viz., that now is the best time to obtain new 
varieties, or to make additions to those the grower already possesses. 
In Auriculas this is not easy, for the new varieties are not to be 
had, and there are few growers for sale ; but in the others it is 
easy to obtain new varieties or first-class old ones, and it is better 
to have them under one’s own eye during the winter than to trust 
to the spring, when perhaps in reply to your order you may be 
told of those you have most set your heart upon, Sold out.— 
D., Deal. 
