165 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, June 15, 1858. 
much more depends on the time when the queens are bred, 
and the state of the weather. Therefore, the removal of the 
stocks cannot affect, or stop, the process which governs the 
laws of swarming. Nay, nothing short of extracting the brood 
of queens in the cells can do it,—a thing which cottagers will 
seldom practice.— J. Wigeton. 
NEW AND RARE PLANTS. 
Dendeobium ciirysotoxum ( Golden-arched Dendrobium). 
Imported from India by Messrs. Henderson. Flowers of 
a golden-yellow colour, with a particularly arch-shaped lip, 
whence its specific name. Blooms fri March, and is then 
very ornamental.— (Botanical Magazine, t. 5053.) 
Rhododendron argenteum (Silver-leaved Rhododendron). 
Native of Sikkim, Himalaya, at elevations between 8000 and 
10,000 feet. It is there a tree thirty feet high, with “ leaves 
often a foot long, broad in proportion, and always silvery 
beneath.” Flowers pink whilst in bud, white when expanded. 
Bloomed at Kew, in a cool greenhouse, during March, 1858. 
— (Ibid. t. 5054.) 
Xiphidium eloeibundum (Copious-flowered Xiphidium). 
It has also been known by the specific names alhidum , 
album , cceruleum , and giganieum ; also as Ixia Xiphidium. 
It is a native of tropical South America, and several of the 
West India islands. Flowers white.— (Ibid. t. 5055.) 
Oberonia acaulis (Stemless Oberonia). 
This Orchid is a native of Churra, in Eastern Bengal. 
Flowers yellow, opening in February. Requires a block of 
wood suspended from the roof of the stove, to allow room for 
its long, pendulous racemes.— (Iibd. t. 5056.) 
Polygala Hilairiana (St. Hilaire's Milkwort). 
Native of Bahia, in South Brazil. Leaves large and ever¬ 
green ; flowers white, but not showy. Blooms in spring.— 
(Ibid. t. 5057.) 
STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 
A Correspondent of The Cottage Gardener com¬ 
plains that his British Queen Strawberries cannot be made to 
bear well. This is no uncommon complaint; and, as the 
time for propagating the Strawberry plant, and making new 
beds, is now approaching, perhaps you will allowune to make 
a few remarks upon Strawberry culture, which will, I think, 
if due attention be paid to them, remove most of the diffi¬ 
culties and disappointments attending it. 
In the first place, the sorts must be selected with judgment, 
and obtained true to name. I am unable to give the results 
of my experience with the newer varieties, since, being so well 
satisfied with those of older date, I have tried’but few ; but 
the following I can confidently recommend as likely to answer 
the purpose of most growers. For early, take Black Brince , 
and Keens' Seedling ; for main crop, Hooper's Seedling (not 
of the highest flavour, but a wonderful bearer) ; and for late 
sorts, British Queen and Kit on Bine. The true old Bine I 
have never been able to procure, but I know that to be quite a 
j first-rate variety. 
The stock having been procured, begin to propagate at the 
| end of June; peg the rootlets of the runners (choosing only 
those from the strongest plants) firmly into small 48-pots, 
filled with tolerably light soil, and drained. Take care to 
water well; in hot weather, night and morning. As soon as 
it is ascertained that the young plants are well rooted, sever 
the runners, and remove them in separate divisions to a north 
aspect, shaded from the sun during a great part of the day. 
Select an open piece of ground for the new beds, and let it be 
dug over, and thoroughly cleared of weeds, by the* end of July. 
Commence planting immediately. Each plant is to be two 
feet apart in the row, and each row twenty inches from its 
neighbour; and the plants are to stand alternate, not opposite; 
then each one will be about two feet from its neighbour every 
way. Pay attention to watering, to encourage growth, and 
keep all weeds down. Plants established thus early will bid 
defiance to worms and frosts. At the beginning of March, 
place round each plant a tump of the richest stable dung ; 
not a mere sprinkling, but a tump, or hillock, drawn and 
pressed firm and close round each plant; so that, when 
finished, it shall be at the least six inches high, and form a 
circle two feet in diameter, leaving the crown visible in the 
middle. The bed will then present a series of circles touching 
one another, with the ground appearing in the interstices. 
The spring rains will wash the goodness of the dung to the 
roots of the plants ; the tumps will gradually settle down, and, 
when the berries are getting ripe, will be converted into a clean 
substratum, from which no dirt will splash upon them. No 
watering whatever is required, as this system of management 
bids defiance to the weather. The following spring these 
hillocks of manure will have crumbled into dust, and the 
above operation must be repeated. 
Now for the results. If due attention has been paid to 
every particular, each plants with the exception of those of 
British Queen , will produce a dish of f ruit during the season. 
Hooper's Seedling produces with me, the first season, berries 
that average twenty to the pound ; and twelve of the largest 
in a dish will measure seven inches round each. 
All Strawberries produce the heaviest crop the second year, 
but with smaller berries. If they have borne well, I never 
leave any, except British Queen , more than two seasons. That, 
however, may be left three, or sometimes even four, with ad¬ 
vantage. Hooper's Seedling and Black Brince ought, certainly, 
not to remain more than two seasons. 
No one who gives this system a fair trial will have reason 
to regret it. I have followed it myself, for the last six years, 
with complete success. It cannot be said to be a waste of 
manure, for the Strawberry will repay all you give it. A 
large saving of ground is effected, since fewer plants will be re¬ 
quired than under any other system ; and, when the beds are 
broken-up, the ground is in first-rate condition for other 
crops. 
The only difficulty your readers will experience, is the 
getting them gardeners to follow these directions implicitly. 
I have had friends constantly express admiration at the size 
and abundance of my fruit, and eagerly inquire how it is I 
manage to produce it in such perfection. I take them to my 
Strawberry-beds, and explain the whole process, carefully 
pointing out and insisting upon the main point in the system, 
viz., the large tumps of good rich manure round each plant. 
They see the results and the simplicity of the whole matter, 
and resolve to imitate my example ; but they reckon without 
their host. Their gardeners won’t do it. The next season they 
complain they have not succeeded in growing such Straw¬ 
berries as mine ; I go to the garden, and see a sprinkling of 
manure over the ground, between the plants. This will not 
do, and I can assure anyone who wishes to follow out this 
plan, that he must stand by in the spring and see a good 
hillock of manure, pressed solid with the hands, and standing 
from six to seven inches high round one plant, as a model, and 
then give strict directions that all the other plants are to be 
treated in exactly the same manner. The essence of the plan 
consists in good plants, and abundance of rich manure. 
The system is equally applicable to the Raspberry.— 
H. 0. X., S - Rectory , Hereford. 
How to Keep Rats out oe your Dwellings. —Let the 
bricklayer secure all the holes, and put the drains in complete 
repair, and after that well line them with a thick layer of 
cement. But, if they are very much dilapidated, it will be 
much cheaper and much safer to have them done with 
pottery drain-pipe, with a trap at the end—for pottery-pipe 
is entirely proof against the teeth and claws of rats ; while, on 
the other hand, they will gnaw through both lead and zinc. 
But should you have them repaired with brick, let him run 
iron gratings, in grooves, at the ends; then, if at any time 
there should be a stoppage, it will only be necessary to draw 
up the gratings, and the obstruction is removed; but be sure 
to let them down directly after. By this means the rats 
will be kept most effectually out of your premises, and all 
the annojances and expenses they otherwise incur be entirely 
obviated.— Bats; their History , with numerous Anecdotes , 
“ by Uncle James." 
