168 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[November, 
each bunch, but if quantity is desired a dozen 
or more per bunch may be left, for some 
prefer small fruits to large ones, especially 
when they are used at dessert, and for this 
purpose they are every season becoming more 
popular. I have no doubt that when a taste 
is acquired for them in their raw state, they 
will compete fairly with melons, figs, and other 
fruits. 
I have grown a dozen or more kinds for 
comparison, but for productiveness none sur¬ 
passes the Old Red and Orawjefield. Acme, 
some seeds of which I had from America, 
appears to be similar to the kind which has 
done so well at Clovenford and Drumlanrig ; 
at both places I have seen them in the highest 
excellence. This kind, taking all points into 
consideration, ranks the first in favour. Our 
plants, which have been in bearing since the 
end of June, are still doing well, and quantities 
are being gathered from them daily. Hatha¬ 
way's Excelsior is very handsome, being of a 
magenta colour ; it is, however, more liable to 
disease than some of the kinds. We planted 
in a new range of vineries and peacheries some¬ 
thing over 103 strong plants, and had w T ebeen 
growing for market (which we were not) I feel 
sure no crop of grapes would have paid so 
well as the Tomatos. We proved this when 
we were obliged to grow for sale ; at that time 
we published our experience and its results. 
Then one well-known grower near London 
assured us that be was induced to try the ex¬ 
periment of Tomato growing versus “super¬ 
numerary ” Vines, for crops to realise the best 
returns, and the former was vastly more profit¬ 
able. We have supernumerary Vines expected 
to fruit well next year, which have not been 
interfered with in any respect by the Tomatos, 
though now the latter are a little shaded by 
the Vines, but as an abundance of fruit is set 
we expect good supplies for weeks to come. 
In the peach-houses the Tomatos (Oct. 7) are 
unmolested, and are setting and ripening as 
freely as ever. 
We find that the Tomato, like the Potato, 
is an air-loving plant, and when forced abun¬ 
dance of air should be admitted daily. Wo 
have two span-roofed houses planted for 
winter supply in which Tomatos are growing. 
In one, aloDg wfith the first batch of French 
Beans, which are being brought on slowly, 
where air has seldom been entirely off night 
or day, the plants are doing better and bearing 
more freely than those in company with 
cucumbers, which are kept closer and at a 
higher temperature. 
We find Tomatos delight in frequent (say 
three or four times during the season) applica¬ 
tions of Thomson’s Vine Manure. We have 
also applied this favourite fertiliser to cucum¬ 
bers, melons, celery, chillies, &c., with the best 
results.—M. Temple, Falkirk. 
GOLD-LACED POLYANTHUSES. 
N the early part of the summer I planted 
out what few plants of named varieties 
I had remaining, on a well-prepared 
border under a north house, and I am 
happy to say they did well; I scarcely lost 
a plant, and indeed any diminution of my 
stock was due more to the ravages of cats 
than any other cause. I have bought in this 
autumn a few plants of such varieties as Lancer, 
Prince Regent, Formosa, &c., and instead of 
potting all of them as heretofore, I have planted 
them out on my north border. A few have 
been potted up, but they have stood out in 
the open air, and are rooting nicely. Those 
planted out will remain there all the wunter 
for the execution of orders, and they will 
have a little litter thrown over them in bitter 
weather. 
I am certain that the losses among Gold- 
laced Polyanthuses, which we have frequently 
to deplore in spring, arise from keeping them 
too dry during the winter. I know one leading 
grower in the north who stands his potted 
plants out of doors all the winter, exposed to 
all weathers, and he has but few losses. I 
find that the potted plants which die in spring 
generally appear to have done so from dry 
rot; and they show scarcely any trace of 
having thrown out fresh roots at the collar. 
But all my plants that are fully exposed are 
doing this, and I am hopeful they will make 
good balls of roots. 
The conclusion that I have come to is, that 
while it may be well to keep Auriculas pretty 
dry in winter, such a course of treatment does 
not suit the laced Polyanthus. And they are 
impatient of a dry atmosphere also, therefore 
it is better to fully expose the plants, leaving 
them to the tender mercies of Mother Nature, 
than to risk almost certain loss by keeping 
them too dry both at the leaves and roots.— 
R. Dean, Ealing, JV. 
