March 27, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
475 
Wintering Strawberry Plants.— Your very- 
complimentary correspondent, “R. D.,” tells your 
readers that the cost of stacking Strawberries, and 
packing with coal-ashes, would cost no more than 
constructing a pit, purchasing the fibre, and filling it 
with pots. Now, I will leave your readers to draw 
their own conclusions. Mr. Roberts buys the timber 
and the fibre, while I use no timber, neither do I buy 
coal-ashes, so that mine must be the cheaper way. I 
would give something to have “ R. D. ” down here 
this evening, just to show him 200 ft. of shelving full 
of ripe Strawberries ; he would leave me a converted 
man. “R. D.” also says that Mr. Roberts thinks his 
plan the best, and so follows it, and I feel sure he will 
give me the same latitude. I, of course, think my 
plan best, and shall follow it.—A'. Gilbert, Burghley, 
March 20th. 
I have been greatly interested in the discussion of this 
subject in your columns. I have for several years tried 
stacking them in sawdust, leaves, or ashes, and fre¬ 
quently met with mishaps, especially during a sudden 
thaw following a severe frost, when down would come 
the Strawberry stacks, breaking the pots, bruising the 
crowns, and wasting time as well as plants—for it often 
happened that the balls of earth were in a half-frozen 
state, which made it impossible to re-fit them into 
fresh pots. Another great disadvantage was that, 
except in a very mild winter, all the healthy well- 
developed leaves were “browned” as if with fire, in 
fact, in just the same plight as our outdoor plants are 
after the late severe weather; consequently, the flower- 
spikes did not push so strong as they ought to have 
done, owing to their sap “laboratory” being so much 
impaired by cutting off the frost-bitten foliage. During 
the last ten years I have had my plants plunged in 
ashes in wooden frames, and I am sure the time and 
material used in making those frames has been well 
repaid in the healthier condition of the plants, fewer 
broken pots (often a considerable item), saving of time 
and temper, and, lastly but not least, the great advan¬ 
tage of being able to move them at all times and 
seasons. I may also add that our “blind” plants 
rarely average three per cent., though the winter 
storing has but little, if anything, to do with sterility 
in Strawberries.— Chas. Lawton, The Gardens, JFelton 
House, East Yorkshire. 
Two good Wood Sorrels. —Oxalis cornosa 
is a large yellow-flowered species of a shrubby habit, 
having long stems—which give it a bush-like appear¬ 
ance—4 ins. to 8 ins. high. It has green leaves, very 
much resembling those of the Ice plant, and the single 
’arge yellow blooms are produced in clusters on the top 
of stems 3 ins. or 4 ins. long. It blooms most con¬ 
tinuously through the summer, and is very showy for 
borders or rock-work, and I have seen it very effective 
as a bedding plant. It is quickly raised by cuttings 
in spring, and only needs to be just kept from frost. 
This plant does not appear to be half so much known 
as it deserves to be, and should be grown by all who 
are interested in good border plants. Oxalis Bowiei is 
so showy and beautiful that it deserves to be noticed. 
It has large, showy, vivid rose-coloured flowers, with 
large, broad, trifoliate! leaves. It has tuberous roots, 
and rests a good portion of the winter months.— Con. 
After Twelve Weeks of Snow.— After the 
heavy fall of snow on Wednesday, the 17th inst., thaw 
set in, and continuing on Thursday, Friday and 
Saturday, cleared the snow away, with the aid of two 
showers. Sunday was a glorious balmy day here, the 
birds making the woods echo with their songs. The 
season lias worked sad havoc amongst the rooks, many 
lying^dead by the brook-sides. The thermometer stood 
at 60’ at 7 p.m. on Sunday, but there was a slight frost 
on Monday morning. It was pleasant, however, to 
look round and see such a bright prospect amongst 
spring bulbs and hardy plants; Snowdrops and 
Aconites, semi-wild, were all aglow, and the flowers are 
very fine this year. Hepaticas give promise of a good 
display. The Crocuses will soon be gorgeous on the 
grass, as we plant all our bulbs after forcing round the 
boles of large trees, where they have a pleasing effect. 
Grape Hyacinths are pushing up strong, and shoving 
flower; Glory of the Snow, Dog’s-tooth Violets, Scillas” 
&e., are looking better than usual. Christmas Roses are 
still flowering, and I see double red Daisies peeping out. 
Wallflowers seem to have suffered worst of any thing, 
he vegetable garden does not assume quite so gay an 
appearance. Curled Green, Cottagers’ Kale, Chou de 
Kussie will afford us something to cut at; Chou de 
Burghlcy proved itself equally hardy, and gives a fine 
change, Sutton’s late Queen Broccoli is quite sound, and 
every plant true ; long may it remain so, for it has 
never failed me yet. There is a good row of White 
Gem Celery ; but the August-sown Onions all lay on 
top of the ground after the snow-coat had gone. A good 
flat of Lettuces stood to a plant, and Parsley kept well. 
We have been able to gather all through the season 
from under the snow. It never fails here with three 
sowings. We shall soon be able to get the spade in the 
ground, and we shall be glad of the chance, for we have 
not a seed in yet outside.— Geo. Bolas, Hopton. 
Flies and the Blue Gum Tree.— In reply to 
“Curio’s” question on p. 446, I would recommend a 
plant or two of Eucalyptus globulus to keep flies from 
entering the room. I have had no experience with it 
as an indoor window plant, but planted out in a 
border here, under the dining room windows, it grows 
vigorously, and during last summer, although flies were 
most abundant, none ventured into the room. It 
would be interesting to know if any correspondent has 
noticed other plants adapted for the same purpose.— 
G. IF. C. 
Wallflowers, in Pots. — The Double Dwarf 
German are exceedingly useful as pot plants early in 
the year, for cutting from, or as plants for filling 
baskets, &c., for house decoration. They are so sweet 
that they are always sought after by ladies, and when 
they have done blooming they can be destroyed, and 
so make room for other things. I have some plants 
before me, as 1 write, which are full of bloom in 48 
sized pots, and which commenced blooming in the 
early part of February. They were taken up in the 
autumn, potted into 48 and 60 pots, placed in a cold 
pit, and about Christmas transferred to a pit filled with 
fresh leaves to start Strawberries in. When the blos¬ 
soms began to open they were put into an intermediate 
house, and find more favour than many other things 
grown in pots.— Con. 
Black Prince Pine Apple.— It is seldom we 
see such a handsome example of this Pine Apple as 
that shown at Kensington the other week by Mr. Mitchell, 
Aberaman Park Gardens, Aberdare, and if it were 
easily obtained in such condition it would soon become 
a great favourite. The fruit was about 18 ins. high to 
the top of the crown, the latter being large and about 
6 ins. high, the fruit itself was broad at the base and 
gradually tapering to the top, thus assuming a distinct 
conical form. The pips were deep and even in size, 
and the fruit might be estimated to weigh about 9 lbs., 
well coloured and proportioned. We have not grown 
this variety, and should be pleased to learn from Mr. 
Mitchell, or others, something about the quality and 
whether any particular culture is needed, for though 
Pine Apples are not much grown in private gardens 
now, my employer is one of the few who likes to have 
some home-grown fruits, and those we rely upon are 
the well-known Queen’s and Smooth Cayennes.— G. 
Narcissus pallida Praecox. —This, despite 
the exceptionally severe weather, is the earliest of all 
the Daftodils. It is already 6 ins. or more high, just 
ready to expand. In colour it is a beautiful soft sulphur 
or straw colour, the cup and perianth being similar in 
this respect ; the cup is long and beautifully formed, 
and well recurved at the mouth. It is not unusual for 
this very pleasing form to flower in the open ground 
in January, so that when we add that it is not yet ex¬ 
panded out of doors, March 18tli, the lateness of its 
flowering this season will be all the more remarkable. 
All who delight in soft pleasing shades should make a 
note of this charming flower. — J. 
Apple Production in Canada.— We have it 
on authority that the production of Apples in Canada 
is very largely on the increase. It is authoritatively 
stated that “the Apple production of the Annapolis 
Yalley, in Nova Scotia is now about 200,000 barrels 
during good years, of which 100,000 are exported to 
Europe. It is only of late years that the people of the 
Yalley have awakened to the remarkable adaptability 
of their lands to Apple culture. Cheap railway and 
ocean communication, and the opening of the English 
markets a few years ago, inaugurated, however, a new 
era. In 1871 the acreage of the Yalley devoted to 
Apple culture was 5,152, in 1881 it had increased to 
8,500, to-day it is over 10,000 acres. When the next 
census is taken, there is every reason to believe it will 
be 16,000 acres, while the acreage of the province 
which to-day is about 25,000, will then be, at least, 
30,000 acres.” 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
As soon as the Indian Azaleas and those of the Mollis 
type which have been forced have done flowering, let 
them be removed from the decorative houses, and be 
placed in a structure where abundant atmospheric 
moisture prevails, that they may be encouraged to make 
a rapid and early growth, picking off remaining flowers 
and seed vessels. Should it be necessary to place them 
in a Vinery or Peach-house, I would also advise giving 
the plants of the Indian section a good syringing, 
especially upon the under-side of the foliage, with a 
wash composed of a wine glass of paraffin oil to one 
gallon of water, so as to be sure that tlirips are not in¬ 
troduced to the Vines or Peaches. It is amazing how 
rapidly they visit the young foliage of the Vines, and 
unless this precaution is taken a colony is speedily 
formed which takes several consecutive fumigations to 
eradicate. 
It will also be advisable now to look to the state of 
the roots, and where shifting on is necessary let it be 
done, but give a very small shift in preference to a full 
one. Deutzias, also, as they go over, may be better 
preserved in good health by similar treatment, only 
that less heat is required; Peach-house treatment, 
where they are heavily syringed, suits them admirably. 
The stock of Lobelia eardinalis should now be intro¬ 
duced into one of the started Vineries if not already 
done. Sprinkle the clumps with leaf-soil or other light 
material which will retain moisture, and when fairly 
started let the clumps be divided and potted singly 
into medium-sized 60’s, returning them to the Vineries 
for a time, from whence they may be placed in the 
cold frames, and will flower much earlier and more con¬ 
tinuously than if treated as an annual. Keep a sharp 
look-out on the stock of bedding stuff, and where any 
doubt exists lose no time in making every exertion to 
get what is required ; for although we have experienced 
a lot of bad weather, and the outside is so dreary¬ 
looking, I would intimate that we are fast approaching 
the end of the month of March. 
FORCING HOUSES. 
Work in this department will now be confined almost 
exclusively to the forcing of the different kinds of fruits. 
In the Vineries daily attention will now be needed all 
round ; do not further interfere with the laterals 
which have been lapsed where the Grapes are not set, 
as with the constant tapping of the rods to distribute 
the pollen, if they are looped too tight, some of them 
are sure to spring, and so leave ugly gaps in the trellis. 
Let the foliage be distributed as evenly as possible over 
the trellis so as to keep it healthy. If Gros Colmar 
is grown in the early house, the Vines should now be 
considerably developed, in which case, as we have so 
little sunshine, the foliage of this variety will be even 
more liable to scald than usual, and I would advise a 
little inch mesh netting to be tacked over the individual 
Vines as a safeguard. 
In the succession houses proceed with the disbudding, 
looping, and so on, and as the operation proceeds, thin 
off the surplus clusters of bloom ; in the house with us, 
which now needs this attention, there are from two to 
four clusters on each lateral. It would be a bad policy 
indeed to allow these to remain a moment longer than 
they can be got at, as it must prevent full develop¬ 
ment ; let the disbudding be carried out at intervals of 
of few days, always commencing at the top of the rods, 
and working downwards. I notice the Muscats are 
breaking freely, the extra sun and warmer air having 
contributed to this. 
Continue the heeling in and disbudding of Peaches 
as advised, and in the early house gradually reduce the 
remaining fruit as may be seen which are likely to be 
the best placed and most perfect. Keep the fruit thus 
early as free from shade as possible, as it is quite 
useless to think of getting highly coloured fruit if this 
is not attended to early in the season. In the second 
house we have a most abundant set, and, although we 
have not yet begun disbudding, we are removing a 
quantity of the underside fruit, so as to ease the trees 
as much as possible. 
Let an hour or two be devoted to the stopping and 
tying of the Cucumbers and Melons, as if once allowed 
to become over-run, the crop of the former will fall 
considerably shorter than should be the case if well 
