546 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 20, 189S. 
the foundation of a handsome framework for the future, and I attach 
great importance to this. There is no difficulty and there is no loss in 
having our Vines objects of beauty, and as we do not all intend to 
throw them away in ten or even twenty years, I advise a considerable 
amount of attention to this now, for if the chance is allowed to slip it 
cannot be remedied afterwards. There will generally be considerably 
more growths than are wanted for permanent laterals; the superfluous 
ones may either be rubbed off when they commence growing or they 
may be cut off later on, before they have had time to harden* From 
15 to 18 inches, according to the variety, should be allowed between the 
branches.—W m. Taylor. 
(To be continued.) 
SEASONABLE HINTS ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Auriculas. 
The most important point in tbe culture of these beautiful spring 
flowers is now engaging the attention of all who love their quaint 
and unique charms, for by this time the plants having been removed 
to their summer quarters, out of the influence of the hot sun and 
parching east winds, which we have for five or six weeks experienced, 
when watering has been so absolutely necessary, they will be anxious to 
place this into new soil where they may obtain fresh nourishment for 
their roots, that in which they have been growing for the last twelve 
months being very nearly exhausted of all its good qualities. Whatever 
may have been the opinions and practice of growers in times past, when 
each man of any celebrity was supposed to have his nostrum by which 
he ensured success, the treatment of the plant is now simplicity itself. 
I think most growers are agreed that good fibrous loam which has 
been laid up for about twelve months is the chief thing to be relied on 
in making the new compost; in fact, three parts of this combined with 
one part of well-decayed manure and leaf mould, the latter not too old, 
with a good dash of coarse sand, is sufficient for the purpose. Of course 
the fibrous loam varies in quality in different places. Most of our southern 
growers obtain it from Epsom Downs or some of the neighbouring Downs 
of a similar character. I remember in my earlier days what was 
called the Kilmacannock loam, which was obtained from the limestone 
districts in the county of Wicklow, was much coveted by the Dublin 
growers of Auriculas. It is perhaps better where possible to have the 
compost mixed together for some considerable time previously, but this 
is not essential, and if it has been kept under cover so that the good has 
not been washed out of it, it will lose nothing by being mixed just at the 
time of potting. 
Some growers prefer the use of horse and others of cow manure. 
The former is perhaps the stronger of the two ; but although I have 
the choice of both I think I prefer the latter. There is less pro¬ 
bability of fungus, which is very apt to run amongst the horse manure. 
In potting it is better to use too small pots than too large ones. 
Plausible reasons are brought forward by the advocates of both kinds. 
Coarse Bedtordshire sand or powdered charcoal may be added to keep 
the soil open. In potting it is very desirable that the soil should be 
well pressed down ; indeed, tight potting is what should be aimed at, 
for some of the ingredients not being quite decayed shrink as they 
become more so, and make the soil (what we call in this county) 
“ hover,” so that the water will pass too freely through it unless this 
plan be adopted. 
I need hardly say that perfect drainage is absolutely necessary, and 
that care should be taken before the compost is placed in the pots that 
worms and grubs of all kinds should be looked for and thrown away ; 
if left in, as the worms increase in size they are very apt to disturb the 
drainage, and there is nothing that the Auricula resents so much as 
stagnation. Deep potting is, I think, to be preferred, especially as by 
adopting this there is a greater likelihood of obtaining offsets; and I 
have been very much surprised to find how few of these there are this 
year. This is one of the causes of the Auriculas maintaining their 
price. We cannot make cuttings of them, nor layer them, but just 
simply wait for their pushing forth the offsets, and it not unfrequently 
happens that the plant will not do this for two or three years. Some 
varieties, such as Traill’s Beauty, and most of the seifs, are very prolific ; 
while others, such as Prince of Greens and Lancashire Hero, are very 
shy in producing offsets. 
When the plants are being potted it is well to have an empty frame 
in which they can be placed and shaded for a few days. All aphides 
should be brushed off before the plants are placed in their summer 
quarters—indeed, where they are grown in a pit, it is best to fumigate 
them before commencing potting. The frames should be opened after a 
few days, and for some time the outer leaves will gradually decay, and 
should he taken away for fear of creating damp. After this the plants 
will require but little attention save that of watering, weeding, and 
giving air upon all suitable occasions ; in fact, the frames ought never 
to be closed during the summer, for when they cannot be left entirely 
open they should be tilted. Of course, if persons wish to obtain new 
varieties this is a good time, but they are very few in number and their 
price is high. 
Carnations and Picotees. 
From all sides I hear lamentable complaints concerning these where 
they are grown in the open. Those who grow them under glass are 
doubtless independent of the elements, but we cannot all do this, and are 
therefore obliged to be content to grow them in beds, and a most 
disastrous time it has been for us. The summer of 1894 with its deluge 
of rain prevented the layers from rooting well; the grass was bo lishy 
that it seems not to have had the power of rooting well, and conse¬ 
quently, although I had a goodly number of both florist and border 
varieties, I have hardly a sufficient number of plants to make up a bed. 
The only exception to this disastrous condition is that of a number of 
seedling plants raised from seeds kindly sent me by Mr. Martin E. Smith. 
These have been out and unprotected all the winter, and are now stocky 
plants, promising an abundance of bloom. These are, of course, from 
the seeds of 1893. Every seed grew, and the plants seem exceptionally 
strong and vigorous. As the flower stems spindle for bloom they should 
be tied to stakes, and the surface of the bed may be top-dressed. Weeds 
should be looked after and earwigs trapped, as they have a bad habit of 
getting into the bed and nibbling away at the base of the petals, so as to 
entirely destroy the bloom; in fact, they are as great a pest to the 
Carnation as they are to the Chrysanthemum. The compost for 
layering should now be prepared in a dry place ; provided it is light and 
porous there is no need for being too particular about it. 
Gladioli. 
So far these promise well. There can be no question but that a 
dry season suits them best. I feared from the fact of last autumn being 
so wet that one might expect many of the corms to be feeble, but as yet 
I see no evidence of it, but I have long ceased to put any confidence in 
these bulbs. They are no doubt the subjects of a destructive fungoid 
disease, which Dr. Cooke, the eminent microscopist, to whom I sent 
some bulbs, has clearly shown. Unfortunately he suggests neither 
preventive nor cure. I think it will be well, as the plants are advancing 
in height, to water if this drought continues, net giving them driblets 
every day, but a good sousing now and again. Stakes should now be 
got ready, so that towards the end of the month, when the plants throw 
up their flowering stems, they may be placed to them, for it is a pity a 
good spike should be valueless by being crooked through want of support. 
Liquid manure may be applied with caution, and in light soils top¬ 
dressing with decayed manure may not be unadvisable, but the Gladiolus 
very much dislikes contact with fresh manure. 
Eanunculuses. 
I have a most melancholy tale to tell concerning these. My beds 
last year were a sight worth looking at, but this year there is hardly a 
bloom to be seen, and I fear very much the greater portion of the tubers 
may be lost. I do not attribute this to the severe weather of the present 
year, but to the excessive wet of the last; the tubers were not ripened 
properly as there was no sun to do it, consequently I believe there was 
no real vigour in them ; so largely did they increase last year that I 
gave hundreds away in all directions, and now I shall with difficulty 
save enough for planting again. Those who have any should carefully 
watch them and take them up when the foliage decays. The ground is 
now very dry, and should rain come they will commence growing, and 
this is fatal to them. 
Pansies. 
My small collection in pots has done exceedingly well, and T have 
had a good bloom. I cut them down and shall plunge them in pots, as 
in our drier climate I find they do better this way than in planting out. 
When it is desired to increase the stock cuttings may be made of the 
side shoots ; larger and hollow stems are of no use whatever, they are 
very much gone out in the South owing, probably, to our climatic 
conditions, but they are a very beautiful class of plants,— T>.,*I)eal. 
STRAWBERRY ROYAL SOYEREIGN. 
I SEND a sample box of outdoor grown Strawberry Royal Sovereign 
to show that it is a good early variety. We bad some fruits ripe on 
the 7th inst., growing side by side with Noble, under exactly the same 
conditions as to soil and treatment. We gathered three or four days 
earlier from Royal Sovereign, which I consider the best early Strawberry 
that has yet come under my notice of tbe Paxton type. So far as I can 
judge, when better known it will be larjiely grown by market growers. 
The fruits seem very firm, and will no doubt travel well, and as the price 
this season will be reasonable I would adviie all lovers of a good early 
Strawberry who do not possess Royal Sovereign to lose no time in 
securing a good stock for another season.—G. R. Allis. 
[The specimens were very handsome and of splendid flavour.] 
I WAS pleased to see Mr. Molyneux’s note (page 517) in reference to 
this magnificent Strawberry. I have at least twenty varieties, includ¬ 
ing all of the late Mr. Laxton’s raising, and in my suburban garden 
here, with strong calcareous addition to the ordinary soil, this is by far 
the best. It is a few days behind Noble, and as early as Sensation, but 
of better quality than either, and doubly prolifij. The berries are 
from to 2 ozs. each, and this notwithstanding tbe season here has 
been unusually dry and warm. I am surprised, in the sunny south of 
England, Mr. Molyneux did not pick his under glass until the end of 
May. The first week in June mine in the open, and without any 
particular care, were fit to pick. Other varieties give a few good berries, 
but Royal Sovereign promises to have successive pickings equally good. 
Rain yesterday (June 13th) diminished many ot my garden troubles, 
arising from the persistent and continued dry weather.—W. J. Murphy, 
Clon'inel. 
I CAN corroborate “ E. M.” (page 517) as to the good quality of this 
variety. I have not tried it for forcing owing to the stock being 
