May 3 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
347 
fruit—an important point. Some marketmen grow a limited number 
of others, such as Noble, Eleanor, or Alice Maud, in hopes of their 
ripening a few days in advance of the old favourite, but as a main 
crop variety Sir J. Paxton is the one to depend upon. 
The manner of planting varies according to the soil and the amount 
of leafage made. In some districts a space of 3 feet 6 inches is allowed 
between the rows, and quite a yard from plant to plant. Some growers, 
on the other hand, have the rows 2 feet 2 inches asunder, allowing but 
16 inches between the plants ; they allow a few runners to remain, and 
in three years the rows are in a mass from end to end. Let no one 
assume, however, that the plants are so thick that they crowd each 
other unduly : the market man fully understands the risk he would run 
in allowing this to take place, but he also knows how to make the most 
of his land. From these remarks the beginner in Strawberry growing 
will at once see there can be no hard and fast line to follow as regards 
the distance to plant. 
What is known as “ bedding” the plants'is an important detail in 
cultivation. Nothing is better than wheat straw for the purpose. It is 
laid between the rows neatly at the time the first blooms open, thus 
preventing the fruit being splashed with the soil by heavy rains. There 
is another advantage in putting it on thus early, that of conserving the 
moisture in the soil. To a gardener it is astonishing how the market 
man’s Strawberry plants exist through such a season as last summer, 
and still bear the enormous crops of fruit. The market grower previous 
to “ bedding ” the plants keeps the surface well worked by the hoe, thus 
reducing to a minimum the opportunity for evaporation of moisture. 
The treatment of the plants after they are relieved of their crops is 
another detail in Strawberry culture. The question of cutting off 
most of the leaves at the time of clearing away the runners is a 
debatable one amongst gardeners, and so is that of digging between the 
rows, but not so with the grower for market. One large cultivator of 
my acquaintance the year before last penned a flock of sheep on his 
Strawberry plants early in July, for the express purpose of clearing the 
plants of their leaves, runners, and what few weeds there were. No 
Strawberry plantation could look better, and the crop last summer was 
the best he had experienced, in spite of the extreme drought. Many 
persons, no doubt, will be apt to think that the crowns of the plants 
would be injured by the sheep nibbling them too hard ; but not so, 
every leaf was ate, but the crowns remained intact. Apart from the 
utility of the plan in the saving of labour and also in providing “ keep ” 
for the sheep for a few days, a considerable amount of manure is added 
to the ground. The ordinary grower who does not utilise sheep for 
clearing his Strawberry quarters employs the fag-hook for the purpose 
of cutting off the surplus leaves. 
All the growers that I am acquainted with fork between the rows, 
some of them work in a dressing of partly decayed manure. The only 
difference in the digging is the time when it is d^e. Where the land is 
inclined to be heavy the autumn is chosen for tfie work, the winter frost 
pulverises the soil, and renders it easy of management in the spring. In 
the case of light sandy soil the manuring and digging is postponed until 
the spring. Let no one suppose that the ground is dug deeply ; the 
surface but a few inches deep is moved, sufficient to bury the manure 
and break the “ crust.” 
Well-rooted runners are chosen for planting. Those usually found 
between the rows in the well-trodden ground are preferred to any that 
could be obtained by layering in pots. Most of the growers utilise the 
space between the rows the first year with a crop of some shallow¬ 
rooting vegetable—for instance. Onions for pulling green, or Lettuce. 
Althoueh this intermediate crop renders the task of keeping down weeds 
more difficult, the outlay in labour is more than balanced by the crops 
obtained.— E. Molyneui. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. 
The recent spring Show of the Royal Horticultural Society of 
Ireland showed a gratifying advance over its predecessors of recent 
years, but the attendance was hardly so large as might have been 
expected. Could these exhibitions be kept open till a later hour, many 
persons might extend their patronage who are precluded by business from 
attending earlier in the day. The arrangements were admirably 
carried out by Mr. W. P. North, the courteous Secretary. 
The Royal University, with its spacious carriage approach, is 
admirably adapted to the requirements of our first Exhibition of the 
season. The entrance hall and large concert hall, in which the exhibits 
were staged, were well filled, and the powers that be deserved some 
meed of praise for tbe perfectness of their arrangement, not only having 
a place for everything, but having everything in its place at the 
appointed hour for those “ good men and true ” who are to record their 
verdicts. Hamilton Drummond, Esq., the Hon. Secretary, and the 
Council of the Society were favoured by a visit from His Excellency the 
Lord Lieutenant. The fine group of plants from the Viceregal Gardens, 
amongst which was a grand Medinilla, brought back memories of the 
past when this Society was in the height of its glory, from which it 
slowly ebbed till some two years since a storm blew down its tents at 
the autumn Show and all but extinguished it. But friends rallied 
round the scattered debris, and have the gratification of seeing their 
efforts rewarded in the rebuilding, in which some changes have been 
effected to meet the new order of things. One thing, and one thing 
only, is now wanting, viz., appreciation of the public, and if they want 
anything more than is now provided, I fear the worthy Secretary must 
obtain it, even to fireworks. 
The blue riband of this Exhibition was for the best stand of hardy 
flowers bloomed in the open, to consist of twenty-four bunches of not 
less than twelve varieties nor more than three of one genus. This prize 
(a 10-guinea cup) was taken by J. G. Nutting, Esq., Gortmore, 
Dundrum. Mr. Watt, gardener to Mrs. Pease, of Willow Park, was 
placed second. Third, Mrs. Lawrenson, who, under the noni de plume 
of “ St. Brigid,” is associated with that glorious strain of Anemones. 
Hyacinths, which are generally seen in fine condition here, were only 
represented by twelve plants from Mr. Stewart, and two entries in the 
class for nine, all of which were past their best. As with Hyacinths 
so with Narcissus ; here amateurs were quite out of it. In the nursery¬ 
men’s class, Messrs. Henderson were, with a stand in which the minor 
varieties showed most, deservedly awarded the Society’s large silver 
medal. Mar^chal Niel Roses were well represented. Captain Osborne’s 
stand being an easy first. A few Auriculas were to be noticed, but 
fashion does not appear to favour them now. Some veteran gardeners, 
‘‘heroes of a hundred fights,” while looking at the few now staged, 
think of the past, shake their heads, and talk of ” how fields were won ” 
in days of yore. The premier honours for stands of Roses, Tulips, Zonal 
Pelargoniums, and Pansies were taken by J. P. Stewart, Esq., who 
usually takes the lion’s share in these classes, and was also awarded 
first for Roses in pots, shown in fine form. 
In the separate classes for nine foliage and flowering plants, six 
exotic Perns, and six specimen Azaleas, Mr. G. L. Watson was placed 
first. Mr. Jameson’s group of plants included a magnificent Cycas 
revoluta. Cinerarias filled a stage at one end of the concert hall, and 
were probably the finest yet staged in Dublin, Mrs. McCann took first 
with six excellent plants. Deutzias, a new feature here, were good, 
Mrs. Millar being first. At the end of the entrance hall Mr. Watson of 
the Clontarf Nurseries, had amongst a variety of plants a well flowered 
specimen of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum. Plants of Genista scoparia 
Andreana had also many admirers. Groups from Messrs. Ramsay of the 
Ball’s Bridge Nurseries, and Messrs. Henderson of Templeogue, con¬ 
tributed more than their usual quota of interest to the Exhibition. 
Mr. Smith of Newry, whose name is par excellence coupled with hardy 
flowers, had one of his inimitable stands fixed in a corner of the orchestra. 
They have a magnetic influence over visitors, which even the close 
proximity of music in the form of a military band fails to dispel. 
Opposite to this was a stand of stove and greenhouse plants from Mr. 
Jameson’s Nursery. Last but not least, Glasnevin as usual nobly 
supported by a company of its best the present year’s first field day of 
the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland.—E. K., J)ublin. 
SOME NEGLECTED PLANTS. 
[A paper read by Mr. R. Pijtn'IXGTON', The Gardens, Blacklow House, Roby, at a 
meeting of the Liverpool Horticultural Association.] 
In dealing with this subject I am conscious of the possibility of 
being able to only touch the fringe as it were of a list of plants which 
are much neglected by the majority of cultivators, and that notwith¬ 
standing the great progress made in the introduction of new plants 
and the vagaries of fashion in the present day are worthy of being more 
extensively grown. What interest would be centred in many gardens 
if some of those older plants were again cultivated in real earnest 1 In 
this paper I have selected half a dozen plants, the cultivation of which 
I will deal with as briefly as possible. 
Callicarpa purpurea. 
Anyone seeing the magnificent specimens of this singularly beautiful 
plant, with its clusters of purple metallic-like berries, as grown by Mr. 
Latham at the Birmingham Botanic Gardens, cannot fail to be impressed 
with its usefulness from a decorative point of view. It is a grand plant 
for a warm house, and when in berry comes out in striking contrast to 
other occupants. It was introduced from the East Indies over seventy 
years ago. The plants are not difficult to grow, and may either be raised 
from cuttings or seeds. If cuttings are placed in sandy soil, put 
into a brisk heat and carefully shaded they will very soon root, but 
I would give a word of advice not to let much moisture remain on the 
foliage whilst they are rooting, as it often causes decay. 
When rooted place them in 3-inch pots, using two parts leaf mould, 
one of loam, and some coarse sand. Keep growing quickly, and care¬ 
fully syringe, and when ready move into 6-inch pots, using two parts 
loam, leaf mould, horse manure, and coarse sand. When the flowers can 
be seen opening maintain a drier temperature. When the berries are 
formed, supplies of weak liquid manure and soot water maybe given 
at intervals, the latter doing wonders for both foliage and berries. When 
the berries are well coloured, the plants will bear a rather lower 
temperature, and are certain to find hosts of admirers. If required, 
grand specimens may be grown by the second year by cutting the 
shoots well in and keeping the plants in a warm moist atmosphere. 
The same routine of cultivation may be pursued as advised for the 
plants grown from cuttings. 
Leschenaultia biloba major. 
There is no denying the fact that amongst the whole range of blue 
flowered plants, we have nothing to supersede the charming shade of 
colour in the flowers of this beautiful Leschenaultia. It is so uncommon 
nowadays, and so little ihought of, that when one meets such a 
charming bank of healthy well flowered plants as that staged by 
Messrs. Balchin & Son, Hassocks Nursery, Brighton, at Manchester 
Whitsuntide Show last year, it makes one long to see them back in their 
