4 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ J. nuary 6,1887. 
foreign competition which is pinching us so severely. Our syste¬ 
matic neglect of some of the richest land of the country, coupled 
with what seems a hereditary feeling of sticking to the old orthodox 
lines and growing the same crops just because our forefathers grew 
them, is fast injuring the British agriculturist. A new departure 
will have to be made, and in this departure I believe the Onion will 
play an important part. There are hundreds of acres in this 
country capable of producing as good Onions as any that are im¬ 
ported. A few remarks on the mode of culture that we practise 
here might be of interest to some of the readers of the Journal. 
The ground intended for the Onion crop receives a good dressing 
of farm manure in autumn before we throw it up into ridges two 
spits deep, as our soil inclines to be heavy. I much prefer the 
ridging to trenching, as more surface is exposed to the frost, also in 
spring the ridges have the advantage, for in some wet seasons the 
main crop can be sown weeks earlier than if the ground had been 
left with a level surface, as it generally is after trenching. After 
the middle of February we never let a chance pass to get in the 
main crop ; but before we have the ground dry enough to allow the 
ridges to be thoroughly broken up fine with steel forks, it is often 
the middle of March. Taking advantage of a dry morning we give 
the ridges a good dressing of soot, a'so a sprinkling of Thomson’s 
Vine and plant manure, which appears to suit the crop well, both 
being thoroughly mixed with the soil as the forking of the ridges 
proceeds. After the break is levelled the surface can still be made 
finer with rakes, to secure a smooth, shallow drill for the reception 
of the seed, and if one follows the sower with some fine soil saved 
from old potting material, and covers the seed slightly, that is all 
the covering necessary. If the ground be dry enough to allow a 
light roller to be used it makes a capital finish. No other attention 
is required till the young plants appear above ground. When they 
are in this stage they are much benefited by giving them another 
dusting of soot, and stirring the surface soil with either hoe or rake. 
I quite agree with Mr. Ward of Longford Castle, in advocating 
the use of soot to check the maggot, an enemy that is very injurious 
to the Onion crop in some soils, and particularly in some seasons 
after having a cold spring. To guard against such seasons we always 
sow seed in a few boxes for transplanting, treating the young plants 
like early Leeks. I have found this to answer well, the crop keeping 
more healthy and less liable to disease than when sown in the ordi¬ 
nary way. Also the bulbs ripen earlier and keep quite sound till 
the autumn-sown Onions are fit for using in spring. — David 
Murray, Culzean Gardens, Maybole. 
READING AND WRITING. 
Few persons in (he humbler ranks of life have better opportunities for 
improving their minds by reading than young men engaged in gardening, 
especially those who are located in bothies. The majority of these young 
men are not slow to take advantage of the quietude incidental to these 
places to indulge freely in reading ; but the question arises whether it is 
carried out with a view to intellectual improvement or mere amusement. 
Ji for the latter purpose only it is cf little value from an educational 
point of view, because the mind is not thereby framed to receive impres¬ 
sions of ideas and objects, and convert the same into useful knowledge. 
To derive the greatest amount of good from reading books, 
magazines, and newspapers a course of prccidure should be mapped out 
and rigidly adhered to, with a resolve to read not merely for pleasure 
alone, but also for instruction. Literature of the highest class only, and 
tb e re is plenty of such available at reasonable rates at the present time, 
°f t0 rea< ^ P re f erenc e to that of a trashy description. In that 
°f the former, whether of science, art, poetry, or prose, the studious 
perusal of it will educate and lift the mind up to a higher level, create a 
broader and deeper sympathy with all good objects affecting the welfare 
ot mankind. There will be no great difficulty in attaining this end if 
the mind is thoroughly made up to read both for instruction and pleasure. 
A man thus determined can educate himself in those arts, sciences, and 
accomplishments that will be of advantage to him throughout life. 
There are those who, unfortunately for themselves, do not believe in 
teai ;“ 1Q o power and value of book", and therefore strive to discourage 
others from taking an interest in the subject. This is a great mistake, 
entirely due to want of knowledge. The mind cannot be too fully en¬ 
riched with the stores of valuable information gleaned by a judicious 
perusal c f high-class works. As in searching the earth for gold and silver 
and other minerals, the greater the diligence bestowed the more success¬ 
ful will the finding of the treasure ultimately be, so will the car.ful 
reading and analysis of each sen‘ence yield priceless gems of knowledge 
which would never be obtained by a careless reader. Pursue this impor¬ 
tant object, then, throughout life, remembering that the fact of your 
doing so not only improves your mind and your social position, but also 
ruses you to a higher level of respect in the eyes of your fellow man. 
Turning to writing, we may say that unless a man is, or has been a 
great reader, he cannot become an intelligent and successful writer. The 
two subjects are so inseparably connected in their common relations to 
each other that it is impossible to discuss the one w tbout the other. It 
has been said with great truth by a distinguished man that conversation 
makes a ready man ; reading a full man; and writing an exact man. 
Those who write for the Press frequently derive great benefit from doing 
so, owing to the fact that when engaged in teaching others they are 
teaching themselves. This proves at once the great value of acquiring a 
faculty for writing as well as reading. It must not be done merely for 
the sake cf it, but for a higher purpose—the imparting of useful know¬ 
ledge to those in need of it. To do this successfully, whatever ideas are 
intended to be conveyed must be clothed in as simple a language as 
possible. As a valued friend once pointed out to us—“ It is to the plain 
and homely Sixon character of the language used by John Bright and Mr. 
Spurgeon that their effectiveness and popularity are mainly due ”—and so 
it is and will be in the case of writers on gardening, who embody abundance 
of useful information in simple language. 
Editors are resolute yet generous men, and though they appreciate 
copy containing well-rounded periods, with gracefully and elegantly woven 
sentences, they accord a welcome to brief mitter, every sentence of which 
is pregnant with some useful fact or hiot. Mere word-spinning should 
never be attempted; rather communicate what you have to say in 
a few brief lines, and have the pleasure of being respected alike by Editor 
and reader'. 
To young men who are ambitious to appear in print a word of advice 
may be useful. In the first place, avoid plagiarism as you would a 
reptile, for depend upon it if you become too intimate therewith you will 
always feel its never to be forgotten sting. It is an unpardonable act. 
Do not attempt to write lengthy articles at first, but commence in a 
smalt way and you will gradually gain confidence and strength. Write 
on subjects that you are well acquainted with only, giving preference to 
practical ones. 
In summing up the advantages of these essential subjects to young 
gardeners, it will appear clearly to most of them that the reading, of high 
class literature with a view to their educational improvement will prove 
more valuable to them ; and further, this fact should be well home in 
mind, that no amount of casual loading will elevate the mind of those who 
practise it. Nothing less than a resolve to grasp and fix the meaning of 
whatever you read will succeed. Bear in mind, too, that next in impor¬ 
tance to the latter is the subject of writing. If you wish to be a good 
writer cultivate latent talent by contributing brief notes from time to 
time, or preparing short essays by way of practice. Store your mind full 
of useful knowledge by taking observation of places, persons, and things, 
and then, with a well-trained and ordered memory, you will at some time 
be fully prepared to 1 unch out in the world of letters. Everyone should 
have some o ject in view, some ideal to attain, which will eventually be 
reached by patient plodd ng perseverance and a determination to succeed. 
—A Young Head Gardener. 
STRAWBERRIES—NEW AND OLD VARIETIES. 
During the last five or six years we have grown a great many 
varieties of Strawberries both old and new. Each year we have 
made a selection and retained only those which have proved most 
satisfactory in their respective seasons. Few, if any, of the newer 
varieties have come up to our old standard varieties, hence we have 
only retained the very best for future trial and experiment. The 
cultivation of this fruit has been so often written upon that I shall 
only state a few important points that we have found beneficial. 
In light sandy soils the ground can hardly be made too solid where 
the plants are to grow. A good dressing of rich decayed cowdung 
should always be used for such soils. Here our soil is a strong 
loam resting on clay, so that we never require to make it so firm 
for planting, as it always has a tendency to get firm with rains. 
We use mostly horse manure, with occasionally a good dressing of 
lime rubbish round the plants placed close under the leaves. This 
we find an excellent dressing for heavy tenacious soils. Our plan¬ 
tations continue in good condition for three and even four years, 
but on light sandy soils the beds and plants should be renewed 
every alternate season. We allow ample room between the plants. 
Our plantations are mostly 3 feet apart from row to row, and strong¬ 
growing varieties 2 feet apart in the rows ; others 18 inches in the 
rows. This we find much better than having them too close 
together, especially in damp seasons. 
Among the older varieties, we grow the following in quantities, 
viz., Yicomtesse Hericart de Thury, also grown under the name of 
Garibaldi. This is of French origin, and has been extensively 
cultivated for years. It is a good grower, with strong healthy 
foliage, very early, abundant bearer ; fruit moderate sized, bright 
red colour, of excellent flavour. Keens’ Seedling, early, and when 
kept true is still one of the very best. Comte de Paris is con¬ 
sidered an improved variety of this. Lucas is a splendid variety 
of excellent flavour. Sir Joseph Paxton, good for main crop, 
travels well, good grower, of excellent flavour and appearance. Sir 
Charles Napier, a very excellent sort, well known, and highly 
esteemed by many growers for market. British Queen, rather un¬ 
certain and tender, but the best flavoured sort grown. Dr. Hogg 
and Mr. Radclyffe are both hardy, of the same flavour, and often 
flourish where British Queen is a failure. Elton Pine and Oxonian 
