536 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 20,1395. 
the witering-pot will cause it to crumble sufiBciently. If, therefore, 
we wish to follow one crop closely with another during the sumoier 
months, digging may well be avoided in most instances. Some of 
the best Celeriac, or Turnip-rooted Celery, I have ever grown was 
planted in close succession to early Cauliflower without any 
manuring or digging. The firm, yet by no means poor, root run 
favoured a sturdy top growth and the formation of extra fine 
“ knobs ” at their base. 
It is much the same with Turnips, Poor ground does not suit 
them, while the other extreme, coupled with looseness, promotes a 
far too leafy top growth. I have frequently grown good Parsnips 
on ground that had not been dug for that crop, and of the many 
scores of such beds I have inspected this season the roots that 
present the best appearance were sown on ground that had not been 
dug since other crops were cleared off in the autumn and early 
winter months. Those who have taken the most pains with the 
preparation of the ground, and had, perforce, to wait the longest 
for the surface to crumble down finely, have not as a rule promising 
crops of Parsnips. 
Do not think I am favouring methods of the “ lazy ” order 
generally. What I am constantly urging is the avoidance of set 
rules for all seasons and circumstances. Latterly I have my work 
cut out trying to prevent men carrying out what is locally termed 
“ flat hoeing ” among their rows of late-planted Potatoes. What 
they call “flat hoeing”! consider reckless, and in most cases 
uncalled for hacking. Heavy half-mattock hoes, and which I 
believe are made larger and heavier, specially for certain parts of 
Somerset, are driven deeply into the ground between and close up 
to the rows of Potatoes to the extent of bringing up some roots 
prior to “ round hoeing” or moulding up. What little moisture 
was in the ground this heavy hoeing either brings to the surface 
or else further exposes it to the drying influence of easterly winds 
and fierce sunshine. Either very lumpy or imperfectly worked 
ground would, as a rule, be benefited by this hoeing, but in most 
instances where such work was being carried on ground was quite 
loose, and a surface hoeing or cleaning would have met the case. 
In addition to giving themselves unnecessary labour this “ flat 
hoeing ’’ will undoubtedly have hastened maturation, and a light 
crop will be the consequence. Thickly planted rows are the first 
to give signs of suffering from drought, and this is another penalty 
for over-zealousness, or trying to get too much out of the ground. 
Far better have planted fewer rows and save extra expense. 
Of late years seeds have become considerably cheaper through 
the competition going on in every locality. One consequence of 
this is thick sowing. On all sides are to be seen crowded rows 
of Carrots, Onions, Turnips, Peas, Beans, and such like, and in the 
case of the three former at any rate this means so much extra 
labour in thinning, other ills also having to be reckoned with. By 
all means allow for various mishaps, but at the same time avoid 
sowing everything Mustard and Cress fashion. Very few growers 
care to thin out their Peas and Beans so freely as they ought to do, 
while in numerous instances the other kinds named are not yet 
thinned. Those responsible are or were waiting for the rain that 
failed to come just when wanted. 
About the time these notes were penned gardens in all directions 
were receiving their daily drenching with cold water, and the 
question is. Were those so busily engaged rightly advised in the 
matter ? Plants newly transplanted had to be kept alive; but is 
anything gained by the frequent watering of Onions, Carrots, and 
such like ? Where the ground was well prepared the crops still 
look remarkably well without any aid from the watering pot or 
hose, especially when the surface has been kept in a loosened state. 
Applying the Dutch hoe among advancing crops, not merely for 
the purpose of killing weeds, but with a view to keeping the 
surface from cracking, is rightly calculated to do more good than 
watering ; the latter, unless persevered in, actually doing more 
harm than good. Moisture supplied artificially soon evaporates in 
strong sunshine, and leaves the ground colder and poorer than it 
finds it. If a crop can Lave a thorough soaking, preferably with 
pond or warm softened water, followed by surface hoeing and a 
mulching of some kind, this might do good, the latter saving much 
hard labour.—W. Iggulden. 
HARDY FLOWER NOTES. 
Last year I referred to some charming blooms of Calochorti 
kindly sent me by Dr. Wallace of Colchester. Their beauty 
induced me to attempt their cultivation in order to test their 
endurance in our more northern land. A small selection was made, 
and the bulbs planted in September in one of the warmest and 
dryest places at command, this being a slightly elevated small 
plateau on a rockery facing south-west, and well protected from 
other sides. Some of them made growth rather early, and the 
intense frost penetrated the covering of a few inches of litter 
which was placed over them when the severe weather arrived. 
This has caused the loss of some varieties, but the proportion which 
has survived is quite an encouragement to persevere with these 
charming Mariposa Lilies. 
Planted beside them, and undergoing the same treatment, were 
a good many Ixias, Sparaxis, and Tritonias, which, with the saine 
amount of protection, generally survive our ordinary winters in 
this locality, but all of which have succumbed to the disastrous 
frost of 1894-5. Thus I consider the Calochorti hardier than these 
fine flowers. The soil was light, and was enriched by the addition 
of some bone-dust, which I frequently find beneficial to bulbous 
plants. I think, however, that I have erred on the side of safety, 
and that a firmer soil would have given me larger flowers, as those 
sent to me from Colchester were finer than those grown in my 
garden. Very beautiful they are, however, and certainly add much 
to the interest of one’s garden. Bright and cheerful has been the 
little C. Benthami (fig. 98, page 549), a dwarf species with rich 
yellow flowers produced several on a stem, and having the petals 
prettily covered with the hairs, which give so much additional 
beauty to the Calochorti. Less striking, but very fine also, has been 
C. coeruleus elegans, said to be synonymous with C. Maweanus, 
with white and purple petals. Taller and more effective than the 
latter was C. lilacinus, a pretty pink-coloured flower, which is said 
to have been figured in the “ Botanical Magazine ” as C. uniflorus, 
and to have the synonym of C. umbellatus. It is unfortunate that 
there is so much confusion in the nomenclature of the Calochorti. 
One could say something about other elegant and charming 
Mariposa Lilies, but it is not within the scope of these notes to 
deal exhaustively with them, and I must pass on with the con¬ 
viction that those who have had the pleasure of seeing these 
flowers will not cavil at their favourable mention now. 
We have Irises over so long a period that there are few months 
in which there is none in bloom. At this season in particular many 
call for mention, and amid the throng of more showy species and 
forms I should like to single out the white variety of the elegant 
Iris sibirica. We have many more massive flowers of the same 
colour, and many with greater purity of colour, but I. sibirica alba 
is so exceedingly neat in size, and so graceful with its grass-like 
leaves, that many who have not grown it should make its acquaint¬ 
ance. Its very smallness makes it desirable for cut flowers, and the 
colouring of the falls, which deprives it of perfect purity, adds to 
the pleasure felt when closely examining the flower. This colouring 
is a compound of white, yellow, green, and blue, the blade being 
veined slightly with blue only ; but as with nearly all the Irises the 
colour is so distributed and shaded as to baffle an attempt at 
description. While in commerce comparatively plentiful and 
cheap, in gardens it is comparatively scarce. This is not due to 
difflculties in the way of its cultivation, as it will grow readily 
either in a moist or dry place. I. sibirica belongs to the sub-genus 
Apogon, and with its varieties seems to be found over a wide 
region.—S. Arnott. 
THE PROFITABLE EMPLOYMENT OF GLASS 
STRUCTURES IN WINTER. 
[Silver Medal Essay by Mr. Peter Williams, Oakfleld, Nantwioh.] 
This is a subject which at the present time occupies the minds of 
persons whose business it is to grow produce for profit. Every endeavour 
is made to utilise conveniences at command to the best advantage, and the 
keen and ever increasing competition tax the ingenuity and experience 
of the grower to the utmost. Though the system of producing fruits, 
flowers, and vegetables for market has almost arrived at perfection, 
there nevertheless exists a period of about five months, during the 
winter and spring, in which expensive structures and appliances have 
to be comparatively idle. 
An inflexible code of what, and what not, to grow for market 
cannot well be laid down and applied to every locality. Some assert 
they find cut bloom a lucrative business. By all means let them follow 
it up; others assert to the contrary. It no doubt depends to a great 
extent on local circumstances, in which persons must be guided by 
discretion and observation. The greatest obstacle growers have to 
contend with in the cut bloom industry is the foreign competition, as 
were it not for this far better prices would be realised. If we take 
the supply despatched from the Riviera alone, according to the reports 
cut flowers by the ton or tons were sent over to this country, and, as is 
usual, disposed of by auction in central towns, and from thence 
despatched to all parts of the provinces in a short time. Wreath- 
making and kindred work, where there is a good demand, is a very 
profitable business, but according to the testimony of fiorists there is 
not a tithe of the demand now as was the case a few years ago. 
