502 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Juno 24, 1866. 
the blind shoots. Personally I have experienced it in a very 
slight degree—indeed, if my attention had not been directed 
to it I should not have noticed the fact. 
So far there are very few complaints of aphis. There is 
a popular notion in our county that the east wind is favour¬ 
able to bringing fly, &c., on Hops: and if the same were to 
hold good with Roses we ought to have plenty of aphides, 
for we have had more of the easterly winds this season than 
I recollect. With Hops I believe the injury arises from 
checking the growths, and when they can get away up the 
poles the fly is comparatively innocuous. But this is not the 
case with the Rose, for it is on the soft new growth that the 
aphis especially delights to feast. I daresay before long we 
shall hear complaints of it, but at present it has not made its 
appearance to any extent. 
Mildew, which from the alternations of temperature we 
might have expected, is not as yet prevalent. Here and 
there I hear complaints of a few plants being touched by it, 
but that is all. We have not had hot weather sufficient to 
bring it out strongly, for it is when we get hot days and cold 
nights that it is most likely to prevail; but if it has not 
appeared, I find from a well known writer, “I). T. F.,” who 
hails from East Anglia, and seems to suffer from most Rose 
evils, that there has been a plague of what he calls red rust, 
but which we know better as orange fungus. It is, as he 
justly says, very early for it to make its appearance. Some 
years ago I used to be terribly troubled with this pest, but it 
never appeared until after the bloom was past; but I have 
had it set in with such violence then that at the end of 
July my small Rose garden was as bare of foliage as in 
November. I tried various plans, but nothing succeeded, 
and for three or four years it regularly appeared; but for 
some years past I have not experienced its ravages. Why I 
know not. My Roses are in the same place, and my treat¬ 
ment has not varied. The only thing that is different is that 
there used to be a small Hop garden at the side of my garden. 
This has been done away with, and whether the freer circu¬ 
lation of air had anything to do with it or not I cannot say, 
but since then I have not seen it. Of all the ills that the 
Rose is subject to this is the most disfiguring. Mildew is bad 
enough, but this is ten times worse. I pity “ D. T. F. ” to 
have had it so early in the season, when the wood is tender, 
for it must of necessity be much more injurious than when 
it attacks harder wood and foliage. 
Of the maggot the accounts vary. In some cases he is 
said to be very prevalent, and as usual very mischievous, but 
in the majority of those gardens of which I have heard or 
seen there is not more than the usual quantity, and where 
care is taken and hand-picking sedulously attended to it 
ought to occasion little damage. It so soon makes its pre¬ 
sence manifest that a little watchfulness will prevent its 
doing much injury. 
There is no prospect of any diminution either in the 
number or magnitude of the Rose Shows which are to be 
held this year. Some have passed away, it is true, but then 
others have arisen to take their places. If Newcastle-under- 
Lyme, Wirksworth, Leek, and others have died of inanition, 
Henfield, Ryde, Moreton-in the-Marsh have taken their place, 
and in some in a very spirited manner. Thus, one of the 
very best, if not the very best prize of the whole year is to be 
found in the schedule of the latter Society, where a prize of 
£10 is offered to nurserymen and amateurs for the best box 
in the Show irrespective of numbers. In the same way 
exhibitors pass away, grow tired of it, or remove their habi¬ 
tations to a less rosy district; but others come forward to take 
their place, and it is possible that we may see some new 
“hands” entering the lists this year. The National Rose 
Society has further stimulated the zeal of exhibitors by 
having had new dies cast for their medals, which the affiliated 
societies have obtained, and which will be competed for all 
over the kingdom. 
Such are, then, our prospects; but, as I have said, the 
next fortnight has a great deal to answer for it. The 
weather may be unpropitious and our besthopes be disappointed, 
or it may be fine, and then our Rose thermometer will go up, 
and when the exhibitions come there will be the making or 
marring of many a candidate for favour. Some speak as if 
Gloire Lyonnaise was to redeem its character, and, if not to 
come forth as a yellow H.P., yet to be a good exhibition 
Rose; then Her Majesty will have to stand the ordeal, to 
see whether she forfeits the high expectations that have been 
formed of her, and so with several others. Soon all surmises 
will be at an end, and let us hope that when we come to 
chronicle the results of the season we may be able to say 
that we have had a good time.—D., Deal. 
CULTIVATION OF THE STRAWBERRY. 
As discussion is invited on the cultivation of Strawberries, and 
on varieties suitable for open air culture, I send these notes, which are 
founded on experience gained in gardens in several widely separated 
counties. As to soil, a deep calcareous loam inclining to be heavy is 
the most suitable, and where the land is of this description good 
results may be obtained without any extra care, 6uch as is required in 
gardens where the soil is of a poor gravelly nature ; yet good Straw¬ 
berries may be grown in nearly all gardens if sufficient care be 
exercised in the preparation of the ground and points of culture. 
I have heard Mr. Douglas state that when he first went as gardener to 
Loxford Hall, it was pointed out to him that Strawberries and Apples 
were fruits that he would not be able to cultivate successfully, as the 
soil was not suitable, and that they never had done well, but with 
perseverance and high cultivation he succeeded. It was also an 
admitted fact that the Strawberries from those gardens were as fine 
as any that could be produced, and we have evidence of these facts 
in the prize lists of the London exhibitions in bygone days. In this 
particular instance fresh beds were made annually, as after the first 
season the plants deteriorated, although the Strawberry will bear 
annually for several years from the same plantation in good soils. 
If fine-looking fruits are required the plantation should not be allowed 
to remain longer than three years, and in cases where the plants 
show signs of deteriorating after the second year we should remove 
them at that time, and on poor gravelly soils every year with a good 
preparation, as it is possible with good culture to procure large crops 
annually. In no other way can that fine-looking and highly flavoured 
variety British Queen be brought to perfection. 
Before entering on notes of culture I will give my opinion on the 
varieties. I believe in growing a good number of varieties, as each 
has its own particular flavour. In cases where young gardeners are 
rather doubtful which to plant my advice is to have a trial plantation 
of varieties of proved merit, make a selection, and act accordingly. 
As the Editor truly remarks, “ the positions the plants occupy have an 
important influence on the duration of the Strawberry season, early 
varieties on warm borders and late sorts on northern aspects accele¬ 
rating and retarding the ripening of the fruit. Varieties :—Black 
Prince, Early Prolific, Keens’ Seedling, Sir J. Paxton, President, 
James Veiteh, British Queen, Sir C. Napier, Unser Fritz, Dr. Hogg, 
Frogmore Late Pine, and Loxford Seedling. Oxonian is a good late 
variety, and is grown much in the West of England. I saw it the 
second week in August at Stoke Edith Park ; it was growing on a 
north border. Varieties for market purposes Marguerite, if the 
market is near home this is a useful variety, as it is very prolific, with 
large fruits and a good blossom, but as it is rathtr soft it would not 
carry welt a long distance. If the above variety is not grown, 
substitute for it Vieomtesse Ilericart de Thury ; the other two should 
consist of Sir Joseph Paxton and Loxford Hall Seedling. Varieties 
for preserving Black Prince, Keens’ Seedling and Sir Charles 
Napier ; either of these is good, and should be grown in quantity for 
the purpose. Some gardeners mix the fruit of any varieties that 
may be in ; this I think is unwise, as many, especially of the large- 
fruited varieties, are not at all adapted for the purpose. 
Culture .—In private gardens as large a quantity of produce as 
it is possible to get is required off a small piece of ground, and it pays 
to cultivate this well. As I have previously stated, the soil in many 
gardens is the reverse of being good for Strawberries, and it would be 
ridiculous to treat this the same as market growers would good 
ground, which it generally is when they go in for Strawberries. 
Good Strawberry soil requires to be well worked (judiciously of course) 
if good fruit is required in quantity. I have had first-class Straw- 
betries from plants on ground that was simply dug, but then it was 
in what is termed good heart, and if Mr. Douglas had simply dug the 
ground at Loxford he would not have had such crops of fine fruit. Cir¬ 
cumstances alter cases, and we must act accordingly. I prefer making 
a plantation from prepared runners at the end of July, and gather 
a crop the following season. Some gardeners prefer planting the 
