1883.] 
STRAWBERRY PLANTING. 
115 
roseus confirms tlie lingering suspicion, that 
it is the most pleasing of its race. 
A quarter of an acre of Lupinus nanus in 
full blossom is a sight not easily forgotten, 
its brilliant spikes of blue and white flowers 
being very effective ; and a bed of L. subcar- 
nosus near at band, reveals another charming 
annual with even richer blue in its flowers, but 
not quite so densely bloomed. Then we come 
to a large plot, probably the eighth of an acre 
in extent, of the bronzy Escbscboltzia (crocea) 
Mandarin, and another of the deep rose-coloured 
Rose Cardinal, both very effective. Long 
stretches of Petunias in full blossom showed an 
excellent strain of mixed varieties, in which the 
striped ones were predominant. The beds of 
Rocket Larkspur, dwarf and tall, of various 
colours, were singularly pure in strain and 
pleasing in appearance, especially the dwarf 
forms, which closely resembled beds of hya¬ 
cinths in their full glory ; the white, pink, and 
grey forms were particularly attractive. The 
true white Sweet Pea is a lovely form not so 
often met with as it deserves, since it must be an 
excellent bouquet flower, being pure in colour 
and rich in perfume. A large bed of Mimulus 
cupreus Brilliant, a selected form with brightly- 
tinted flowers, was quite a picture, its colour 
being rich and glowing ; and a smaller patch 
of Linaria reticulata aureo-purpurea was very 
attractive, the graceful twiggy dwarfish 
branches forming a pleasing base for the 
numerous spikes of rich bronzy-purple 
flowers, which are remarkable for their large 
deep orange-yellow palates, which give a dis¬ 
tinct effect of golden dotting over the surface 
of the plants. Finally we came to Lobelia 
Prima Donna, a decided novelty, of the speciosa 
type, bearing a profusion of flowers of rich 
maroon or ruby-crimson, a colour which, while 
it will not cause it to supersede the fine dwarf 
blue Lobelias, will no doubt come in as a very 
distinct and pleasing element in bedding com¬ 
positions. 
Perhaps one of the most effective of summer 
annuals is the Tom Thumb Tropaeolum ; and 
of this there were several varieties worthy of 
a place in all flower-garden arrangements. 
Beginning with the Empress of India, a 
splendid and recent variety with blossoms of 
tho deepest and richest crimson, we have next 
King of Tom Thumbs, an intensely bright 
scarlet; Spotted King, brilliant golden yellow 
with dark spot; Golden King, brilliant pure 
spotless yellow ; and coeruleo-rosea, a pleasing 
sort with flowers of a soft rosy hue flushed 
with a tint of blue—all true to a shade. 
The vegetable seeds, of which samples were 
fast ripening off, we are reluctantly obliged to 
pass over, with the remark that we noted 
wide breadths of two of the best Peas yet 
offered, and which we believe originated at 
St. Osyth, namely, Stratagem and Pride of the 
Market, varieties ■which stand at the head of 
their respective sections of wrinkled peas of 
high quality, the former as being adapted for 
private establishments, and the latter for 
market gardens. Beds of Perpetual Parsley, a 
beautiful mossy variety, which on Mr. Shar- 
man’s authority we may state, “won’t run to 
seed,” attracted attention ; amongst these were 
plants four years old, which had not yet taken 
on the flowering condition ; indeed we remem¬ 
ber to have seen the same bed in a fresh and 
green leaf}’ condition two years ago. 
It will be obvious from this very brief and 
imperfect sketch that seed farms are full of 
horticultural interest; and certainly that 
interest is abundantly developed in those of 
Messrs. Carter, Dunnett, & Beale at Dedham 
and St. Osyth.—T. Moore. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTING. 
T has often been our practice with certain 
kinds of Strawberries, when they had 
become scarce, to divide them and to 
plant the divided old plants on rich well 
prepared ground during the months of July, 
August, or September, as opportunity afforded. 
We never were disappointed at any time with 
the result. Of course plants which have been 
forced and well hardened before planting, or 
young plants carefully prepared and well 
treated, are always preferable ; but it often 
occurs that a difficulty is met by dividing the 
old plants. Last season when we had to 
increase our stock, a goodly-sized brake was 
lifted, divided, and planted, a quantity of rich 
soil being given to each plant. All were well 
mulched, and at present (early in July) the 
crop is turning in abundantly. The fruit is 
perhaps not so numerous as those on plants 
of the same age are bearing, which were 
left untouched last season, but I think are 
larger. We have seen the practice of dividing 
plants for forcing adopted, but never could 
say that it was a success, the plants having 
always been inclined to fruit, and persisting 
in throwing up small flowers when they should 
have been growing.—M, T., Stirlingshire. 
