130 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ June, 
both for cutting and decoration. I can speak highly of D. hyhridus Iliglidere^ 
which, treated like the above, has been much used for button-holes.—A. H., 
Thoreshy. 
CATTEL’S ECLIPSE BROCCOLI. 
gardeners know the importance of having a good late Broccoli to 
JlJJJJj shake hands with the earliest Cauliflowers, but I am not sure whether 
this variety is sufficiently well known, as it should be, for this special 
^ object. It is certainly the latest I know of, and late enough for this 
part; not one of them is as yet (April 23) showing signs of flowering. It is a 
very hardy, robust sort, and one which it is in every way desirable to have where 
a good Broccoli is at all appreciated.—H. Knight, Floors. 
STRAWBERRY-FORCING. 
f CAN endorse what Mr. Gilbert says (p. 100) in regard to his earlier crops 
of Strawberries in Pots, having seen them some weeks ago. They were 
f then in excellent condition, and all the successions promised to do equally 
well. It might be profitable to the readers of the Pomologist if Mr- 
Gilbert would give us a little more of his experience in Strawberry-forcing— 
for example, what kinds he finds the most productive, the time they take from 
the starting to the picking of the fruit, the best-flavoured, &c. Such informa¬ 
tion might appear superfluous to some, but coming from the pen of one who 
decidedly stands in the first rank of cultivators, it cannot but be acceptable to 
readers in general. 
Not only is Strawberry-growing done well at Burghley, but all the produce 
there is managed in the same high-class style. One thing which particularly 
struck me under glass was the quantities of French Beans, so long and tender, 
growing in small pots. They appeared to be a speciality with Mr. Gilbert. 
[Will he kindly also explain his treatment of these ?— Ed.] I should be 
glad to learn what is his opinion of the plan of growing Strawberries in 
pits or houses, plunged in a gentle bottom-heat, compared with the common 
method of growing them on shelves. In my own case, the former system has 
proved at least to be equal to the latter, with a great reduction of labour, and 
finely-flavoured, high-coloured fruit have been produced. We have grown over a 
thousand so plunged, and I am encouraged to continue the practice, so far as pits 
can be spared. Mr. Speed, in his Strawberry-house at Ohatsworth, grows a large 
proportion of his stock in this way, with great success. 
This season we had a few lights to spare after the Strawberry-pots were in 
their quarters, and a quantity of (old) plants of President were lifted from the open 
ground, brought on gently in the pits till they were set, and afterwards driven at a 
rapid pace till colouring began. The result was, that great quantities of fair-sized 
fruit have been gathered : more than three times the weight of fruit has been 
ripened, as compared with those in pots in the same space. I think for late crops 
