42 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jnly 19, 1888. 
early have the advantage over their brethren who are generally 
behindhand with their work. Some of them may be helpless to 
avoid this, while otheis may not be quick to see what must be 
done at a given time and what may wait ; then follows hesita¬ 
tion, and there are moments when the “ man who hesitates is 
lost.’’ We can only hope now that the winter is at last over 
and that summer may yet come and terminate in a brilliant autumn. 
FRIZE GROUPS. 
The tasteful arrangement of plants is a portion of a gardener’s 
duties now much in request, for never have plants been so exten¬ 
sively and generally employed for decorative purposes as within 
the past ten years. The classes provided at the principal horti¬ 
cultural shows throughout the country for groups have no doubt 
tended largely to the improvement of taste in these matters, not 
only amongst exhibitors, but amongst the more numerous garden¬ 
ing visitors who do not compete publicly, yet have much home 
work of a similar character requiring their attention. At one ex¬ 
hibition near London, i.e., that held by the Chiswick Horticultural 
Society, the groups have for several years been an important fea¬ 
ture, and recognising this a generous supporter of the Society, Mrs. 
S. A. Lee, determined last year to give still further encouragement 
to exhibitors. This took the form of a Jubi'ee challenge cup, 
value twenty-six guineas, offered with the condition that it 
“ became the absolute property of the exhibitor who is awarded 
tl e first prize three years, not necessarily in succession.” The 
group to be arranged for effect in a space not exceeding 100 square 
feet. Money prizes, consisting of £4, £3, £2, and £1, were also 
contributed by the Society, and although there were only three 
competitors at the 1887 Show, and the same number at that held 
last Thursday, the style of their arrangement and their general 
excellence were distinctly in advance of what are ordinarily seen at 
shows. It will be remembered that last year Mr. W. Brown, St. 
Mary’s Grove Nursery, Richmond, was the winner of the first 
prize, and his group, an exceptionally beautiful one, was illustrated 
in this Journal, page 75, July 28th. This season he repeated his 
former success in winning the premier prize, but surpassed his 
previous efforts in graceful arrangement. The winning group was 
critically examined by a number of horticulturists, and only one 
opinion was expressed even by the other defeated but generous 
competitors—namely, that it was faultless. Of hundreds of such 
groups, staged in all parts of the country, 1 have never seen one so 
admirably finished, so light and so bright without a preponderance 
of colour or the introduction of discordant tints. It bore the im¬ 
press of a keen and accurate study, combined with excellent taste, 
so that the art employed was most carefully concealed, and the 
effect natural and pleasing in the extreme. No unsightly pots or 
bare ugly stems visible, not a suspicion of crowding nor yet of 
thinness, all the plants well chosen, and an admirably finished 
margin. It was, in fact, a surprise even to the exhibitor’s closest 
friends, and amply deserved what was freely accorded—the highest 
praise. 
A few details respecting the plants employed may be given, but 
it is difficult to convey an accurate idea of their combination and 
the many points which made the group remarkable. The taller 
plants in the background were light graceful Palms, Cocos Wed- 
delliana, Kentias, &c. ; the chief other foliage plants, Caladium 
argyrites, a few well-coloured Crotons, clearly variegated Cyperus 
alternifolius and Eulalias, with a groundwork of Adiantum cune- 
atum. One characteristic of the Ferns, and it added much to the 
beauty of the group, was their fresh bright green colour, owing to 
the number of young well-developed fronds with which they were 
furnished, and it was surprising what an influence this had on the 
general effect, the soft green of young Adiantum fronds being a 
particularly pleasing yet almost neutral tint. The flowering plants 
were Lilium lancifolium varieties, L. longiflorum, L. auratum, and 
L. candidum, only a few of each, two or three richly coloured 
Cattleyas peeping out near velvety Gloxinias and delicate Odonto- 
glossums, a small graceful yellow-flowered Oncidium in the centre 
near a deep red narrow-leaved Croton having a charming appear¬ 
ance. In the background, partially concealed by the Eulalias and 
other foliage plants, were some brilliant Kalosanthes, which in a 
more prominent position would have <l killed ” all other colours, 
but placed as they were they afforded a kind of subdued light, im¬ 
parting life and warmth to the group. Very few Crotons were 
employed, medium-sized plants well-coloured and furnished with 
foliage to the pots, one of the red-veined majesticus type in the 
centre, two of the graceful drooping golden interruptus aureus type 
at the sides, and two Disraeli varieties towards the front. The 
margin also was carefully considered, very fresh Adiantums, the 
silvery and red-veined Fittonias, and Caladium argyrites being the 
plants associated together in a free natural manner, and all pots 
concealed. 
The two other groups were commendable in no ordinary degree. 
That from Messrs. Hooper & Co. was but few points behind the. 
first, but two or three slight mistakes were noticeable. First,, 
slightly too many plants were employed ; secondly, a dark 
Anthurium was placed in the background, which had precisely the 
opposite effect to what was needed on so dull a day ; and thirdly,, 
the margin was partially of dark moss and partially of Selaginella. A 
point would be lost on each of these defects, but beyond that ifr 
was equal to the other in style, arrangement, and harmony, for Mr. 
Bruckhaus is one of the most experienced and successful competi¬ 
tors in such classes.' Mr. Fromow’s had all the merits of lightness 
and grace, but was slightly wanting in finish, while in another class 
Mr. Hudson’s silver medal group afforded ample evidence of good 
taste. Altogether there is no question that such groups are not 
only useful and educational, but they also afford an interesting 
feature to visitors. — L. Castle. 
STRAWBERRIES FOR FORCING. 
SINGLE CROWNS. 
That plants restricted to one crown are better for forcing than 
those allowed to form a number of crowns cannot be substantiated. 
It is a theory that has originated undoubtedly by making no pro¬ 
vision for early runners, thus half the season has gone before the. 
plants have been started, leaving insufficient time to thoroughly 
develope one good crown. When the plants have been allowed a; 
natural course they have developed minor crowns, which have told 
against the principal one, and being insufficiently matured to flower 
have only crowded the plants with foliage, hence those with more 
than one crown have been condemned for forcing purposes. If 
notions of this nature become firmly established they are difficult, 
to eradicate. 
The single crown theory has led to evils, and crown-splitting is 
one result. It is unnatural for many varieties to be restricted to a 
single crown. Take Sir Joseph Paxton and Vicomtese Hericart de- 
Thury for example. Long before they have developed a strong 
crown or produced others, attempt to restrict these to one crown, 
and the result, if layered, say before the close of July, and with 
an average season, is that a large per-centage will split their crowns 
in the last stages. President may be taken as an example of those- 
that naturally develope one strong crown instead of three or more.. 
Crown-splitting with varieties of this type is more liable to take 
place under any system of culture than those that increase their 
crowns naturally in the early stages of their growth. Splitting 
nearly always takes place near the end of the season when the plants 
have developed their main crown. This seldom occurs when they 
have other channels in which to direct their energies, but when- 
restricted nothing but a divided crown can be anticipated. 
When the plants are layered early, say by the end of June, the 
crowns will be fully developed while the weather is good and the 
sun has still power. A divided crown is not then such an ob¬ 
jectionable feature as many would lead us to believe. A plant 
that has split its crown just before early frosts is certainly unfortu¬ 
nate, but when it takes place in time for both crowns to be further 
developed and thoroughly matured, it is capable of producing 
more large fruits than a single crown. If layers are taken early 
and allowed a natural course no one need trouble about crown¬ 
splitting. 
A friend writing a week or two ago said, “ I know your plan of 
raising plants and retaining a plantation purposely for runners is- 
an excellent one, but many situated as I am have not the room or 
time to attend to them.” I know exactly how my friend is placed, 
but very little room is wasted by carrying out the plan on the lines 
I have advised. For example, let us look at the border which is 
producing runners this season. The Strawberries were planted 
after a crop of early Potatoes (Myatt’s Prolific) without manuring 
or digging the ground, the rows being 18 inches apart and the 
plants 1 foot asunder in the rows. Between the rows a late crop 
of Cos Lettuces was taken. Another crop of Cos Lettuces has 
been taken from the border this season. The available space 
between the rows is now filled with 5, 5j, and 6-inch pots, with 
the runners pegged into them. There is no method known to me 
that requires less labour than layering direct into the largest pots. 
Layering into small pots with watering and potting will take 
double tne time. A smart man in a day of ten and a half hours 
will fill with soil 1000 5 or 6-inch pots, provided the pots are 
crocked, the soil ready, and placed on the bench. But to return to 
the plantation. When one is planted every season for yielding 
early runners it is in the best possible condition for bearing a heavy 
crop of fine fruit the following one, and this leaves a plantation to 
be destroyed after the fruit has been gathered, and from the 
