82 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 3% 1831. 
examples the Fuchsias are well developed plants, they are 
allowed plenty of space and have a good appearance the marginal 
lines being dark or light to contrast with the central plants. 
Amongst the other mixed beds Ivy Pelargoniums and Helio¬ 
tropes are employed with excellent taste, as the taller plants 
amongst Violas and other dwarf plants, with an edging of Iresines, 
Coleuses, Pelargoniums, Lobelias, or Pyrethrum. One example 
of Heliotropes with Carnations on yellow Violas margined with 
Iresine Lindeni and Pyrethrum Golden Feather is effective, as 
also is another of the same plants on a ground of Snowflake Violas, 
and Heliotrope President Garfield on yellow Violas margined 
with Coleus splendens. Iresine Herbsti and Lobelia Blue King 
provide a good combination ; while tall Heliotropes with Chrys¬ 
anthemum frutescens or Viola Snowflake is scarcely les3 note¬ 
worthy. Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums with Sweet Peas or blue Violas 
edged with Coleuses and Fuchsia Cloth of Gold make a beautiful 
bed, as do also Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums with Lilium auratum or 
Viola Blue Bell edged with Coleus Yerschaffelti and Lobelia Blue 
KiDg. 
Single Petunias look well in several instances as the leading 
plants associated with various others distinct in the colouring of 
the flowers or foliage. In one bed Coleuses and yellow Violas 
formed the ground, edged with Iresine Herbsti, Lobelia Ebor, and 
Fuchsia Cloth of Gold, pegged down. In another Amaranthus 
and Abutilons constitute the basis. Selecting from the other 
mixtures some of the most conspicuous the following are worthy 
of attention—Dracaena congesta and Tuberous Begonias on a 
base of Dactylis glomerata variegata ; blue Verbenas with white 
doubP Petunias on dark blue Violas ; scarlet Tuberous Begonias 
on a ground of Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum, 
edged with Echeverias, most effective ; Erythrina crista-galli, 
vigorous plants bearing abundant large bright red flowers on a 
base of Violas ; Cannas, Lilium auratum, and Canterbury Bells 
on a base of Violas edged with Iresine Lindeni, Lobelias, and 
Mesembryanthemums ; Stocks and Violas, edged with Pelargo¬ 
nium Queen of Queens and Viola Blue Bell ; Dracaena congesta 
and Ficus elastica on Oxalis floribunda rosea and Alternantheras, 
and various dwarf Roses on a dense base of common Musk, edged 
with purple Verbenas, a pleasing combination of colour and 
perfume. 
There are also good examples of the ordinary Pelargonium 
beds, with marginal lines of Lobelias and other plants ; the few 
cai’pet beds, too, are effectively designed, but we need not refer to 
these now, as the object of these remarks is to draw attention 
to the more special features of the Hyde Park gardening as 
indicated in the preceding notes. 
WET WEATHER STRAWBERRIES. 
Had the wet weather experienced during the first few days in 
July lasted much longer the Strawberry prospects would have been 
completely marred, and as it was large quantifies of fruit rotted on 
the ground. Fortunately the second week in the month finished 
better, and we have since been favoured with glorious weather 
to the no small benefit of the Strawberry and various other crops. 
While the dull, showery weather lasted I was disposed to con¬ 
gratulate myself upon superior forethought, especially with regard 
to preparing Strawberries for a wet season, this conceit not being 
taken out of me by a remembrance of the severe handling I had 
several years ago over the trenching question. Latterly I have 
had opportunities of inspecting several large and well managed 
kitchen gardens, and in nearly every case manure had been very 
freely used and trenching resorted to in the preparation of the 
beds. The natural consequence of this was a remarkably strong, 
leafy growth—it was never stronger, in fact—and a great 
abundance of fruit on the ground under it. Where good space 
had been allowed, the rows being not less than 3 feet apart, the 
fruit ripened fairly well, but in several instances the plants met all 
round the leaves, quite smothering the crops. When I returned and 
contrasted the state of the crops in the garden under my charge 
with that I had just seen I felt, as before stated, very comfortable 
indeed. Who in the southern or home counties has not seen one or 
more of the immense tracts of ground devoted to the cultivation of 
Strawberries for the market without also noting the sturdiness of 
the plants and the great prominence of the fruit? The field- 
grown plants are well clear of each other and wholly surrounded’ 
by fruit, a band of colour being plainly observable at a considerable- 
distance from the rows. Not only are the field crops exceptionally 
heavy, but the fruits attiin a good size and are of superior quality 
let the weather be what it may ; I had almost added let the 
varieties be what they may, but this would be going too far, 
unless in comparison with the same sorts grown in private gardens. 
Given plenty of light and air there is little likelihood of the fruit 
rotting, and I hold that it is wiser to prepare Strawberries forr 
withstanding all weathers than to fit them for a dry season only. 
That they are hungry and thirsty plants I readily admit, but that is 
no reason why they should be made topers and gluttons. On the 
contrary, all such bad habits should be combated, to a reasonable 
extent at any rate. 
The market growers have the advantage of a good open position, 
this, let the culture be what it may, favouring sturdy productive- 
growth ; but it is possible for private gardeners to succeed equally 
as well, if not better, if only they would go the right way to work. 
In very hot and dry positions something ought to be done to- 
increase the depth, richness, and moisture-holding properties of the 
soil, looseness, however, being guarded against ; but in the majority 
of gardens heavily manured, newly and deeply trenched ground is* 
quite unsuited for Strawberries unless grand masses of foliage and 
not the fruit are of primary importance. Strawberries succeed 
well on ground trenched for preceding crops, this having settled 
down considerably and not again manured, and I have known 
trenching specially for them answering remarkably well when the- 
plants are fruited for one year only. It is during the second and. 
third seasons that the leafy growth is most troublesome, and owing 
to the closeness of the plants much fruit is spoilt. In my case all 
the prepai'ation attempted, or sometimes possible, is to manure, 
deeply dig (not trench), and otherwise well prepare the intended 
Strawberry site for Ashleaf Potatoes, and directly the latter are 
cleared off the surface is levelled, fined down and firmed, and tha 
Strawberries put out. The latter are usually layered in soil or 
manure among the rows of established young plants, and being- 
firmly fixed and well attended to soon become established and 
strong enough to give a valuable early crop the following season.. 
Naturally they require to be well fed from the surface, heavy and 
early mulchings of strawy manure being also needed for preserving, 
the moisture, but no amount of surface-feeding causes a super¬ 
abundance of leafy growth, this being principally brought about by 
a loose root run and much manure deeply buried. Three crops are 
ample from the main and late breadths of plants ; in fact, they pay 
well if only fruited once, this being the extent of the duration of 
plantations intended to furnish the earliest crops. In any case 
there ought always to be a fresh bed made every summer, and the 
sooner it is planted after these lines appear in print the better. 
Both the earliest and finest fruits are produced by strong plants, 
and they are therefore of good service in lengthening out the 
supply of dessert Strawberries. 
Much in all instances depends upon the selection of varieties, 
and with so many recent additions to the list no great difficulty 
ought to be experienced in selecting five or six, and fully that 
number ought to be grown to suit all soils and localities. Extra 
strong growers, including Yicomtesse Hericart de Thury, Sir J. 
PaxtoD, Sir Harry, and The Captain, are scarcely suitable for rich 
and deeply cultivated soils, but succeed admirably as I cultivate 
them. So also do President, James Yeitch, Sir C. Napier, 
Souvenir de Kieff, Duke of Edinburgh, John Powell, Eleanor, and 
others of moderately strong growth. The best wet weather Straw¬ 
berries, though, are those of sturdier compact growth, of which the 
good old Princess Alice Maud is a noteworthy type. . Owing- 
probably to its unsuitability for pot culture this variety is now 
seldom met with in private gardens, and in the open fields has 
been ousted by earlier sorts, as a rule much inferior in point of 
flavour. With us it is a sure and heavy bearer, ripening at the 
same time as Sir J. Paxton ; the fruits of good size, bright in 
colour, firm, and briskly flavoured. It never fails, and is particu¬ 
larly serviceable during a wet season. The newer and earlier 
King of the Earlies also does well in a wet season ; the flavour 
being perhaps a little too acid, a “ good fault ” though ; and if only 
a little larger it would become popular. Noble, if fruited once— 
and it does not pay to keep it on the ground more than one year— 
ripens well in wet weather, and though second rate as regards 
quality, it is yet, on account of its earliness and great size, the 
most profitable Strawberry in cultivation. We gathered 1 cwt. of 
fruit of this variety at a time when they were worth Is. and 
upwards per pound in the mai’ket, but no old plants contributed 
towards this success. Dr. Hogg, again, never makes too much 
foliage, and the fruit ripens surely in all weathers. It is a 
