Ju’y 16, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
43 
way, and the plants in the rows need not be mere than 9 inches or a 
foot apart. This Strawberry is generally planted in beds, but will 
succeed better if allowed ample room. It will require to be renewed 
from time to time by runners or by the raising of seedlings as a means 
of producing distinct and improved varieties. 
Management of the House. 
The summer management of the house I have described would con¬ 
sist in having all the fruit trees mulched with long manure, such as may 
be had from the stables. This will prevent evaporation, and keep the 
fruit clean. During dry weather well water the trees and syriDge the 
Cherries until the time the fruit begins to colour. If insect pests appear 
steps should be taken to destroy them. Black fly will be found one 
of the most troublesome to the Cherry, but can be kept in check by 
syringing with a mixture of soap water and quassia chips. If cater¬ 
pillars infest Gooseberries and Currants hellebore powder is an effectual 
remedy. The usual way to apply it is by dusting the bushes, but a 
better way would be to mix the hellebore powder in water and syringe 
the bushes with the mixture. After erecting a house of this sort every 
care should be taken to give the trees the attention necessary to ensure 
the best results, and this is best done by attending to every detail 
at the proper time, never putting off until to-morrow what can be done 
to-day. 
Varieties to Plant. 
Cherries. —In the case of these, early and late varieties are wanted 
so as to extend their season over as long a time as possible, and for this 
purpose I would recommend the following varieties :—Early Lyons, 
fruit very large, light red and yellow, June ; Early Rivers, fruit large, 
black, late June; May Duke, fruit large, red, late June; Frogmore 
Early Biggareau, fruit large, yellowish red, middle of June ; Black Tar¬ 
tarian, fruit very large, black, June to July ; Governor Wood, fruit 
large, light red, July ; Large Black Biggareau, fruit very large, black, 
July ; Napoleon Biggareau, fruit large, yellowish red, July to August ; 
Late Duke, fruit medium, red, August. The Morello Cherry I would 
leave out of this house, as there is generally a north wall which can be 
used for this useful kind. 
Gooseberries. —Late varieties are required rather than early ones, as 
an early supply can be had from the open quarters of the garden, and 
for this purpose I would recommend the following kinds : — Red: Crown 
Bob, Roaring Lion, Whinham’s Industry, Lancashire Lad, and Marquis 
of Stafford ; White : White Lion, Crystal, and Abraham Newland ; Green : 
Green Myrtle, Laurel and Jolly Angler ; Ye’low : Gunner. 
Currants. —Red : La Versailles, Red Dutch ; White : White Dutch, 
and White Grape ; Black : Champion and Lee’s Black Prolific. 
Blachberries. —Pride of the Market, Wilson, jun., and Best of All are 
most useful. 
Strawberries. —The Red Alpine or a stock raised from selected seed 
should have preference. If this system of raising from seed and select¬ 
ing the best varieties were more largely carried out, it might be the 
means of bringing this class of Strawberry into general culture, espe¬ 
cially if crosses could be made with some of the larger varieties, but yet 
preserve the season of fiuiting of the type. 
CONFERENCES OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY.— July 7th and 8th. 
Particulars of the Committee meetings of the Royal Horticultural 
Society at Chiswick on the above dates, with some notes on the Con¬ 
ference exhibits, were given last week, and it was intimated that further 
reference would be made to the proceedings. 
The Hardy Flower Conference. 
On the afternoon of the first day a conference on hardy flowers was 
held in the Gardens, but owing to the exceedingly inclement nature of 
the weather the attendance was comparatively small, and many pro¬ 
minent members of the hardy plant school were conspicuous by their 
absence. This is very much to be regretted, as some discussion on the 
papers that were read would have added materially to the interest of 
the gathering and afforded encouragement to the Council. The chair 
was taken by Mr. W. Marshall, and in the course of a few brief but 
pleasant introductory remarks he referred to the great interest and 
value of hardy plants, and the desirability of their extended cultivation. 
Some consideration they of course needed, for the bog plant could not 
be expected to succeed in sandy arid soil, but generally considered they 
were very easily grown, and if a miffy or troublesome plant wa9 found 
it should not be discarded, but studied and persevered with until its 
culture was thoroughly mastered. 
The first paper was by Mr. W. Robinson, and in the absence of the 
writer it was read by the Rev. W. Wilks, but owing to the fearful 
downpour of rain he had to resume his seat on one or two occasions, his 
voice being rendered quite inaudible, a fact which led to a suggestion 
that the subject of the paper ought to be bog gardens. The lecture 
discussed some results of experiments in wild gardening, with special 
reference to the employment ot hardy flowers in meadow grass. The 
writer said he had planted some thousands of bulbs and roots in grass 
with the most satisfactory and pleasing results. One valuable flower for 
the purpose was the blue Apennine Anemone, which had been planted in 
broken groups and masses. It required no attention, springing up from 
year to year, and the foliage was ripe by the time the grass was cut. It 
was very hardy, too, and never deteriorated, while the blue Greek 
Anemone appeared to be equally hardy and good. Narcissi were also 
extremely valuable, especially those of the Star group in variety, which 
throve remarkably well. The leaves disappeared by mowing time, but 
spring harrowing was somewhat against them. The Tenby Daffodil was 
also good, and the Poet’s Narciss invaluable. Other very useful flowers 
were Dog’s Tooth Violets, Grape Hyacinths, Snowdrops, Fritillarias, 
Crocuses, Ornithogalums, Snowflakes, Scillas, Chionodoxas, and Tulipa 
sylvestris. Success depended on having bold natural groups. A con¬ 
siderable quantity was required, and he thought the trade should grow 
suitable things largely, and offer them cheaply by the thousand. 
The second paper was by the well-known Isle of Wight amateur, the 
Rev. H. Ewbank, who appeared in person. His subject was “ Some of 
the Summer Flowers in my Garden,” and he treated it in a most 
sympathetic and pleasant manner. The paper was admirably written, 
and of much practical interest. Mr. Ewbank said he did not go in for 
effective arrangements, his object was to study the individual plants 
and make them do well. Amongst the most s riking of midsummer 
flowers were the Eremuri, Bungei at its best being very fine, and he had 
robustus 12 feet high. The species flowered successionally, and he 
thought they were far too little grown. They were not difficult to 
manage, but required plenty of space in well-worked soil. Melianthus 
major, though too tender for some gardens, was very effective in the Isle 
of Wight. The pride of the summer garden were Irises. Susiana, Gatesi, 
paradoxa, and allied species often gave disappointment, but he managed 
them most successfully by withholding all vegetable and animal matter 
from the soil, using good loam and road grit. They were dried off in 
July and August, in fact quite baked ; and he had found it of the 
greatest benefit to fix pieces of glass over them in winter. The Kmmp- 
feri group required sunshine and moisture. Amongst other plants to 
which special mention was given were Romneya Coulteri, Papavers, 
Tropaeolum speciosum, Cypripedium spectabile, Liliums, Rose species, 
including Fortune’s Yellow and berberidifolia, and Clianthus Dampieri. 
He deprecated the use of early flowering Chrysanthemums, regarding 
them as an unwelcome intimation of the approach of the dull season. 
The third and last paper, that by Miss Jekyll, whose name is known 
to all lovers of hardy flowers, was on “ the Picturesque Use of Hardy 
Summer Perennial Plants,” and it was read by Mr. Wilks. The subject 
was treated in a highly attractive and practical manner. Taking into 
consideration the number of plants at disposal for effective flower 
gardening, only a portion of which could be utilised, the writer pointed 
out the desirability of a careful selection of material, and recommended 
a reserve ground or nursery where observation could be made of other 
things. An essential feature of picturesque gardening was a well 
arranged mixed border, and hints were given on the arrangement of 
plants in such. It was recommended to carefully arrange plants of 
similar colour together, or even to inter-group such plants as Poppies 
and Tritomas, but Delphiniums required a contrast, such as white Lilies 
or GEnothera Lamarckiana. All labels should be abolished entirely. 
Some flowers, such as Lilies and Paeonies, were worthy of separate 
treatment. A special word of recommendation was given to Lilium 
giganteum and R.mneya Coulteri. Climbing and trailing plants could 
be appropriately utilised, and old walls could be furnished with Wall¬ 
flowers, Pinks, and other flowers. All results should be such as appeared 
to have happened and not been done. Discussion on all the papers was 
invited, but save for a little criticism on what was styled the heretical 
advice by Miss Jekyll to entirely dispense with labels in flower borders 
there was no response. A vote of thanks to the writers of the papers 
was moved by Mr. G. Paul, seconded by Mr. Pearson, and carried 
unanimously. 
The Conference on Small Fruits. 
This took place in the gardens on the afternoon of the second day, 
but the attendance was again small, and the interest far from being so 
lively as might have been expected. Possibly the Rose shows may have 
kept many away, and the weather, though finer than on the previous 
afternoon* was threatening, heavy thunder showers subsequently 
ensuiDg. The chair was taken by Mr. G. Bunyard, who fulfilled his 
duties in an admirable manner. 
Strawberries formed the subject of the opening paper, Mr. Allan, 
Gunton Park Gardens, Norwich, describing his method of obtaining 
fruit from June to October in the open garden. Under ordinary 
cultivation the supply of fruit lasted, he said, about three weeks only, 
but by choosing suitable positions, and with a proper selection and 
utilisation of varieties, fruit could be picked daily over the whole of the 
period named. He advocated the making of one bed and the destruction 
of another every year, considering that two seasons were enough for each 
bed. Yearling plants produced the largest individual fruits, but two- 
year-old plants the heaviest crop. He recommended bastard trenching 
the land in winter, with heavy manuring, but it was not necessary to 
keep the ground fallow till August, the time for planting the Straw¬ 
berries, as a crop of Carrots or Onions could be taken from it. Amongst 
the best varieties were La Grosse Sucr^e, Yicomtesse H4ricart de Thury, 
Six Joseph Paxton, President, British Queen, Dr. Hogg, Elton Pine, 
Loxford Hall SeedliDg, and Waterloo. He characterised the latter as a 
most valuable variety for planting under north walls to provide a late 
crop. 
Gooseberries for private gardens was the subject of a paper by 
Mr. D. Thomson. The fact, he said, of the Gooseberry season in the 
north being longer than that in the south indicated the advisability 
of choosing as cool a situation as possible for them in the south of 
England. He referred to methods of propagation, giving preference to 
cuttings, and detailing the methods of preparing and inserting them. 
