116 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ AHRBSt V, 1889. 
fall sun, so that the cut part may get dried or healed. They should 
then be laid (not inserted) on some damp moss or cocoa-nut fibre 
refuse, when roots will be emitted in a short time. They can then 
be potted in the ordinary compost as advised above. The spring 
is the best time to propagate, just as the plants show signs of start¬ 
ing into growth. 
Cereus McDonaldiae is another night flowerer, and although not 
so popular as C. grandiflorus, it is according to my fancy the most 
magnificent of all. The blooms are larger, often being 14 inches 
in diameter, but they lack the delicious fragrance of C. grandi¬ 
florus. Plants can easily be grown and flowered on the portable 
or restricted system. C. rostratus and C. triangularis are both of a 
rambling disposition, and produce handsome flowers, the latter 
species being an object of special interest when seen bearing its 
large-sized highly coloured fruit, which show to the best when 
trained in some way overhead. Both those decline to flower on 
the restricted system. Cereus speciosissimus produces the most 
brilliant coloured flowers imaginable, is of easy growth, and very 
free. It is probably better known than any other member of the 
family, with perhaps the exception of C. flagelliformis, called by 
cottagers the Rat’s-tail Cactus, and good plants may sometimes be 
seen in their windows. C. Mallisoni is also well worthy of general 
cultivation, producing its bright rosy crimson flowers freely when 
in a small state, or it may be trained up the rafters when its 
flowers may be seen to the best advantage.—W. C. 
(To be continued.) 
CROPS THAT PAY. 
Tomatoes raised from seed sown towards the end of April 
and brought forward under glass, however rude the structure, will 
grow strongly and sturdily from the first. This is the condition 
in which plants should be if the object the cultivator has in view is 
to be attained—namely, a good crop of fruit. When plants are 
drawn weakly in a close atmosphere they are too soft, and consider¬ 
able time is lost before they attain the solidity necessary to insure 
a good set. But when raised under cool conditions, and advanced 
without further artificial aid than cold frames afford until the weather 
is sufficiently genial in June to turn them outside, they generally 
give every satisfaction. So far the season has been unfavourable, 
and too cold for the well-being of Tomatoes. A week or two 
ago, what with wind and cold, the plants presented a wretched 
condition, but they are again growing vigorously. The growths 
are strong, but too soft to insure a good set from the base. How¬ 
ever, if fine weather sets in, reasonable success may be looked for, 
and if the plants will set their fruit the object we have in view will 
be attained. It is immaterial how small the fruit is when the 
plants are housed in September, provided they are not left out until 
they have been checked by cold. 
The easiest mode of raising Tomatoes for this purpose is to prick 
them out in frames in 3 or 4 inches of moderately light soil on a 
firm base, so that they can be lifted with good roots, transferred 
to 6-inch pots, and from these to 10-inch, or direct into the 
latter size. The latter is the most economical system, and this 
can be done in June when the plants are turned outside. In a 
few days, or a week at the most, they become established, when 
they should be stood in some position where they can be fully 
exposed to the sun. If they can be placed in the position they 
are to occupy all the better. In the southern parts of the 
country they will be do very well in the open, but in the more 
northern districts shelter must be provided ; the south side of a 
hedge will do very well if no better shelter can be given them. 
They can occupy ground from which an early crop has been taken. 
The pots should be plunged, placing them as thickly as they will 
stand in the row, and about 2.j feet between the rows, so that they 
can be easily trimmed whenever they need it. Each plant will 
require a stout stake 3 feet high. Strong cords can be run along 
the rows, with stakes at certain intervals to support them. This 
is the quickest and easiest method at first, but when the plants 
have to be lifted inside it is the work of two instead of one. 
Staking each plant at first is the best, all things considered. The 
pots can either be plunged, or the surface can be well mulched 
with manure to prevent evaporation and thus save labour in water¬ 
ing. All the attention needed is to water them occasionally if 
very dry weather follows, but if the pots are buried or liberally 
mulched they give but little trouble in this respect. Tie the 
shoots as they grow to the stakes, and remove all side growths. 
Confine the plants to one stem each, and the leaves must be reduced 
if they are becoming crowded. When the stems have attained a 
height of 2 feet 6 inches, or even 3 feet, they should be pinched, 
but this should be decided by the manner in which the fruits are 
setting at the base. If they are setting well no advantage is gained 
by allowing them to extend above the former height. The point 
of the plant should be taken out directly the desired height has 
been attained. It is a mistake to allow them to grow until a truss 
of flowers is produced at the height desired, and then cut away 
the portion above. If the plants are strong, as they should be r 
and «the point is removed directly it can be taken out without 
injury to the truss of flowers, the plants will devote all their 
energies to the production of very strong trusses near the top, 
which are almost certain to set well if the weather is favourable. 
When lifted indoors very little harm is done to Tomatoes by 
the destruction of a few roots that may have extended over the- 
sides of the pots or out at the base. A little fresh manure can be- 
placed on the surface, and if a little heat is employed in the 
structure, and it is kept moderately close for a few days, they will 
soon commence fresh root activity and perfect the whole of their 
fruit. Dwarf-growing varieties, after the style of Large Red, that 
commence fruiting freely near the base and produce a truss of 
flowers every second joint, are most suitable for this purpose. By 
growing late plants in pots and getting them set outside a supply 
of fruits can be had until the end of January.— Marketer. 
A HOLIDAY EXCURSION. 
The annual excursion of the Walkley Amateur Floral and Hortf- 
cultural Society, which took place on Wednesday, July 18th, took the: 
form, on this occasion, of a drive by road from Sheffield to the above- 
named fine Yorkshire residential estates, the parks of which are con¬ 
tiguous to each other, and an inspection, by permission previously 
obtained, of the beautiful and extensive gardens. Starting at 9 A.M. the 
first part of the journey—viz., from Sheffield to Rotherham, was per¬ 
formed through the busiest and blackest portion of what is frequently 
termed “ Smoky Sheffield.” Having passed through Rotherham (a quiet 
and sleepy sort of small market town, which in former years appears to 
have possessed much more importance and business energy than it now 
I does), we emerged into the open country, our road lying along a 
' typical English “ country lane,” the tall hedges and banks on either side 
being bright with wild flowers. The pretty village of Wickersley wa9 
also passed, where resides the Rev. F. Freeman, whose rectory garden is 
said to have been the first English home of the now popular summer- 
flowering Chrysanthemum. 
A halt was made at the village of Maltby, where the party partook 
of lunch. Advantage was taken of this by several of the party for a. 
ramble through the village churchyard, which is charmingly kept, and is. 
in all respects one of the most beautiful of its kind in the British Isles. 
Proceeding thence along another country lane which leads through a 
finely wooded district and past Roche Abbey, we arrived at the entrance 
to Sandbeck Park, owned by the Earl of Scarborough. The Park is 
extensive and contains some fine timber. A walk of about half a mile 
across it brings us to the gardens, where, on arrival, we are soon met by 
the head gardener, Mr. Summers, who showed us through the numerous, 
fruit and plant houses, and kitchen gardens. In the Peach houses- 
we found that the fruit had for the most part been gathered, the little 
which was left, and the general good condition of the trees, testifying t*> 
the fact of its having been of high quality. In the vineries heavy crops 
of Grapes are maturing, the bunches and berries being medium sized. 
The shoulders were taken off at the time of thinning to induce uniformity 
in size and shape of bunches. Several large houses we found to be occu¬ 
pied by fruiting plants of Tomatoes, of which immense quantities are 
here grown. The varieties most favoured by him are Hackwood Park 
Prolific and Hathaway’s Excelsior ; several other varieties being grown, 
but are not found so free and productive. In a house devoted to 
Orchids we found a large collection of healthy vigorous pieces recently 
collected and sent home by his Lordship during his travels in their 
native homes, and consisting mostly of Cattleyas, Vandas, Lselias, 
Catasetums, Ac., amongst them being several strong pieces of Laelia 
anceps alba. 
A new range of Peach houses has recently been erected, in which, in 
addition to trees trained in the usual manner upon the back wall, others 
are trained to trellises arranged transversely across the house from the 
front to the pathway at the back, at about 4 feet apart, each such trellis 
being what may be termed a double one, composed of two sets of wires 
with a space of 3 to 4 inches between each set, two trees being planted 
to each such trellis, back to back. This is certainly economising space 
to the utmost. As to the ultimate gain in the weight of fruit produced, 
such has as yet to be proved, the trees being yet too young, but in every 
respect looking very satisfactory. The kitchen gardens were in excellent 
order and well cropped. Hardy fruits also were good and abundant. 
Numerous plants of Raspberry Baumforth’s Seedling were bearing a. 
splendid crop of very large fruit, and were much admired. Some very 
fine fruit were also being gathered of La Grosse Sucrde Strawberry. 
A large and heavy crop of Potato Mona’s Pride was being dug. They 
were planted in rows a yard apart, with a row of Brussels Sprouts 
between each. The latter were larger and finer than any we have pre¬ 
viously seen this season. 
Leaving Sandbeck Gardens we soon arrived by a pleasant walk of 
about a mile at the entrance to the beautiful grounds of Firbeck Hall, 
the seat of the Rev. H. G. Jebb. There a short walk along the carriage 
drive (which is bordered by a broad belt of well-kept grass lawn and 
overhung by fine trees of Spanish Chestnut) brings us to the kitchen 
gardens, where at the entrance wo were met by the experienced head 
