Varch 13, 188 <• J 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
211 ' 
of room. The rows ought to be as far apart as the Peas grow in 
lieight. For instance, a distance of C feet apart is not too much 
for either Telephone or Duke of Albany. Isolated rows, or those 
disposed 10 feet or more apart, the intervening spaces being planted 
■with Cauliflowers, Broccoli, or somewhat similar crops, give the 
best returns, and this is a good method of arranging the ordinary 
rows of Peas. We always open the drills G inches wide, and in dry 
warm weather 3 inches deep is not too much. The seed is sown 
■thinly and covered with good fine soil, this being brought from the 
frame ground if need be, rather than place hard lumpy soil on the 
«eed. Instead of moulding up the rows when about 4 inches high, 
support them with spray, and finally stake before they are far 
Jidvanced, taking care not to bring the points of the stakes too 
■closely together, or a second lot of stakes will be needed to support 
the haulm. Prior to staking, however, thin out the plants where 
crowded, leaving them not less than 6 inches apart. When given 
good room, nearly all the exhibition varieties are encouraged to 
branch strongly, and as a consequence produce a long succession of 
fine pods. After the staking is completed raise a small ridge on 
each side, so as to form a basin 12 inches wide, this greatly facili¬ 
tating the work of thoroughly watering the rows whenever necessary. 
Dryness at the roots ought always to be anticipated, as it is almost 
impossible to moisten the ground when once allowed to become dry. 
Driblets are simply thrown away, nor are ordinary rains of much 
benefit to the established rows of Peas. They also require frequent 
supplies of liquid manure, that obtained from a farmyaid or by soak¬ 
ing good manure in a tub of water being excellent for the purpose, 
being diluted with water, in each case, according to its strength. 
When Messrs. Carter’s famous Peas, Telegraph, Telephone, 
Stratagem, and Pride of the Market were first introduced, valuable 
prizes were repeatedly offered for dishes of them to be shown at 
South Kensington and elsewhere. The most successful exhibitor, 
if I mistake not, was Mr H. Marriott, Boston, Lincolnshire, and he 
attributes much of his success to a free use of blood fresh from a 
slaughter house. This was poured along the rows, and either 
washed in by the rains, or watered in in dry weather, and better 
Peas I have not seen, and very few to equal them. In addition to 
this liberal treatment, it is also advisable to pinch out the points of 
the haulm when the first pods are set, the pods also being thinned 
after it is seen which are most perfectly formed. Stopping the 
haulm also hastens the development of the pods. Retarding is 
not a very easy matter, but when it is seen the first-formed pods 
are too early, cut them off, and trust to the later ones. They will 
fill properly in from fourteen to twenty-one days, according to the 
time of year. 
For exhibition late in May or early in June there is none to 
surpass William I., and a well grown dish of it is very telling in 
November, the seed in this instance being sown as soon as ripe in 
the summer. Telephone and Telegraph, the latter being the 
greener of the two, follow closely on William I. Stratagem and 
Pride of the Market, as far as the size and appearance of the pods 
are concerned, respectively resemble Telephone and Telegraph, but 
as they rarely exceed a height of 3 feet they are the best for small 
gardens. Ail may be materially forwarded by being sown in small 
pots, turves, or boxes under glass, and duly planted out before they 
are much drawn. Duke of Albany may be described as a late form 
of Telegraph, and is a fine handsome Pea for the July and early 
August shows. Prodigy (J. Veitch & Sons) is another handsome 
main crop variety ; and Autocrat another of Veitch’s novelties, 
promises to be grand for the August shows. Laxton’s Walton 
Hero, a fine late variety, and Charmer, by the same raiser, though 
Tiot large podded, is yet of good taking appearance and does well 
in a dry season. Ne Plus Ultra, when well grown, is yet hard to 
•surpass, many judges having a “ weakness ” for this welt tried 
main crop and late Pea.— Exhibitor. 
(To be continued.) 
THE CULTURE OF FREESIAS. 
I VERY gladly give my experience in the successful culture of 
Freesias for the benefit of those readers who may not be acquainted 
Avith their requirements. I have reason to believe their cultivation 
is not yet understood by a large number of gardeners and others 
who would find these flowers most useful during the winter months ; 
the number of failures and the inquiries respecting their culture 
confirm this belief. It would not perhaps be out of place to say 
that owing to our success, and the bulbs having increased so fast, we 
liave been able to supply friends with bulbs which would have 
amounted to more than our present stock, and all these have been 
produced from six single bulbs purchased the first year they were 
sent out. Where failure occurs it plainly shows the plants are 
either neglected at some period, or their management is not under¬ 
stood. We have about 150 plants which have flowered, and these 
will make three times that number for next year, besides a quantity 
of smaller bulbs, which would floAver the folloAving year if potted 
and grOAvn precisely the same as those expected to flower. Our 
first plants were in bloom at the beginning of the year, others Avere 
brought on in succession, and there are some twenty in flower at 
the present time, giving us from tAventy to thirty spikes of bloom 
each, and I think there would be no difficulty of extending their 
flowering period over three months if desirable. 
As the plants finish floAvering the dead blooms are picked off, for 
if the seed were allowed to remain on the plants it would consider¬ 
ably weaken the bulbs, and most likely failure would be the result 
next year. After this they are removed to our latest vinery, and 
watered the same as while fioAvering, for they are now perfecting 
the next season’s floAvering bulbs. The pots remain in this house 
until repotting is required, and have water supplied as they may 
need ; but as soon as the foliage shows signs of turning yelloAv they 
gradually receive less water until the foliage is dead, when all 
further watering must be discontinued. After this Ave place them 
on a shelf close to the glass, the pots being laid on their sides : 
they remain in this position all the summer baked in the sun till 
the beginning of August, by Avhich time they are ready for repotting. 
The soil is shaken from the pots, the bulbs after being sorted 
into different sizes to be placed together, as then the groAvth will 
come of equal strength. The soil Ave use is a mixture of leaf 
mould, yellow loam, and silver sand. The pots are three parts fillesl 
with this soil, and then eight bulbs are placed in each 5-inch po^. 
They are stood close together in a cold frame and watered through 
a fine rose. After a day or two they are covered Avith ashes the 
same as our other bulbs. After three Aveeks or a month they must 
be frequently examined to see if the growth has commenced. If 
left so long under the ashes there is a great risk of breaking their 
small growths. When the growths are about 1 inch or so aboA'e 
the soil tbe ashes must be removed, and the small plants be kept 
partly dark for a week or so, gradually hardening them to the 
light, precisely the same as with other bulbs. They remain in the 
same frame until the nights get cold and there is danger from 
frosts, when they are again transferred to our late vinery and 
placed on a light shelf, and from there to warmer places any time 
Avhen sufficiently strong from the beginning of December onwards, 
or let them bloom in any cool house where frost is excluded.—R. 
FERTILISATION OF EARLY PEACHES. 
Numbers of gardeners devote much time to the fertilisation of 
early Peaches, and various methods are practised. Some dust all the 
flowers with a camel-hair brush, a very tedious process, taking 
much time often Avanted for other purposes Avhere there is insuffi¬ 
cient help ; others use a rabbit’s tail in much the same manner ; 
and many now recommend slightly syringing the trees during sun¬ 
shine, certainly a much quicker operation, but of its efficacy in 
early houses I am not quite certain. All of the aboA'e methods are 
dispensed Avith here, and the following simple plan adapted which 
invariably leads to good results. When the trees are in flower Ave 
make it a rule to have a little ventilation on the front of the 
house at night, AV’hich tends to maintain the atmosphere in a pure 
and buoyant state, keeping the temperature at 50° to 55° by fii’e 
heat. The ventilation is increased in the morning as the external 
temperature rises. Sometimes it is necessary to open the top 
ventilators, at the same time closing the bottom ones, for Ave neA'er 
have both open at once, except in warm sunshine with the absence 
of cold wind, cold draughts being carefully guarded against. Tavo 
or three times during the day the trellis wires throughout the 
house are given a sharp rap with a stick, which causes the pollen 
to be abundantly dispersed. These are the only means used, and 
the good sets of fruit Ave obtain amply demonstrates the efficacy of 
the practice ; in fact I have not noticed a single floAver in either 
of our two early houses Avhich has proA’ed unfertile.—S. T. C. 
AUTUMN-SOWN TURNIPS. 
We have found these very useful this winter, although little 
larger than fowls’ eggs. If they are still in the seed bed no time 
should be lost in lifting them, as Avith the return of Avarmer 
Aveather they will soon produce top ^-OAAdh, Avhich aauII spoil the 
roots. When draAvn they should be trimmed ready for the kitchen, 
and then buried in sand or sifted ashes behind a north Avail, Avhere 
they win remain fit for use for a long time. 
Turnip-tops are much appreciated in most places, hence, as 
“ greens ” are very scarce this winter, extra means should be taken 
to secure a good supply. If those roots too small for use be planted 
at once, 6 inches by 4 inches apart, some on a south and others on a 
north border, they will be found very useful, while the seed bed 
will be at command for other crops. 
Swedish 'ruuNir.—We are just noAV cutting splendid tops 
of these from the Mushroom house ; they are appreciated by all. 
