November 24, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
195 
soils—peat and loam. The three varieties he liked the 
best were the Queen, the Smooth Cayenne, and the 
Montserrat. Mr. Northwood remembered seeing Pine 
Apples grown most successfully in peat and sand. 
The Chairman : I am very glad to hear Mr. Gleeson 
laying stress upon the character of the soil used, 
because there is a very distinguished member of this 
society who will have it that soil has nothing to do 
with it. Mr. A. Stansfield pointed out that the Pine 
Apple was a seaside plant, and was, therefore, accus¬ 
tomed to the brine, and he thought that in its 
cultivation salt, or some chemical substance resembling 
salt, should be employed. It was important to bear in 
mind the natural habits of plants, and to treat them 
accordingly. Mr. E. G. Hughes was convinced that 
some animal manure must be mixed with the soil. 
The flavour of fruit came entirely from the sun, and if 
a gardener gave his plants plenty of sun he would do 
more for them than by using soil from all parts of the 
country. They must come to the conclusion that the 
soil had very little to do with it. Mr. Gleeson told 
them that he used the best manures. The Chairman : 
Mr. Gleeson uses loam and manure. Mr. Hughes : 
Why does he mix bones with the soil ? It is the cost 
that prevents gardeners from cultivating Pine Apples 
more extensively. 
Mr. Gleeson, in replying to a vote of thanks, which 
was proposed by Mr. R. Tait and seconded by Mr. F. 
Robinson, said he. did not agree with Mr. Stansfield in 
thinking that the Pine Apple was a maritime plant. 
It was discovered in South America by Baron Humboldt. 
He mixed bones with the soil because they contained 
lime—one of the necessary ingredients. With respect 
to profits, he had sent some to the Lord Mayor’s 
banquet, and was paid 3s. Qd. per lb. for them, and he 
estimated that he could grow Pine Apples in one of his 
beds which would in eighteen months produce £80. 
What, he asked, could he grow that would yield more 
in cash ? 
Mr. Stansfield observed that a plant might still be a 
maritime subject although found growing on the top of 
a mountain. Geology explained why it was that they 
came to be on the mountains. The waves of the sea at 
one time swept those mountains, and it was the de¬ 
pression which had taken place that had caused the 
mountains. Botanical geography brought them face 
to face with numerous mysteries ; but if they called in 
the aid of the sister science, geology, then all was 
accounted for and explained. 
-—-- 
ON FORCING STRAWBERRIES. 
Hap.dlt is the bustle and activity of spring and summer 
over, and ere we get accustomed to the comparative 
quietude of autumn, than the time comes again for com¬ 
mencing forcing operations, and to this end preparations 
must at once be made. In large gardens the forcing of 
Strawberries is an important item in fruit culture, and 
where thousands of plants are annually grown for this 
purpose, it requires much forethought and detailed 
manipulation to furnish a constant supply of fruit 
during the early months of the year. 
A house exclusively devoted to them is the best, and 
if such is obtainable it should be thoroughly washed, 
thereby ridding it of any insects or other pests common 
to gardens, so that a clean start may be made. The 
shelves should be placed as near the glass as will be 
found convenient for watering, so that the plants may 
have the benefit of all the light possible to keep 
them sturdy. Fresh ashes will be required for the 
pots to stand on, so as to allow the water to dram 
off quickly, as well as to keep a little moisture round 
the pots. 
Those plants which were potted first can now be 
brought in, having been picked over first, and these 
should be succeeded by batches introduced from time 
to time at intervals of three or four weeks. They 
should be put first into a cool house, and sub- 
quently into the Strawberry houses, where a temper¬ 
ature of 50° to 55° at night, with a rise of 10° in the 
day, according to the weather, will suit them. When 
in bloom a drier atmosphere should be maintained to 
assist in the fertilisation, and thereby improve the 
chance of a good set ; a rabbit’s tail drawn over the 
flowers daily will also tend to like results. Thin the 
fruits to about five or six, according to the variety, of 
course retaining the strongest and most perfect in 
shape. To bring them on more rapidly and finish 
them off, a shelf in the Pine pits is an excellent 
position for them. Extreme precaution must be taken 
to prevent a check in moving them from one house to 
another, as the weather may be severe at the time, 
and a batch will soon spoil if the change be too sudden 
and severe. 
During the short days little water only will be 
required, any excess being carefully avoided, but when 
the sun’s rays are more felt, constant attention is 
requisite to keep them well supplied with water 
warmed to 60° or 65°, as neglect in this important duty 
is very injurious ; indeed, when the plants need 
watering two or three times a day, it will be obvious 
to anyone, that those who have charge of them will 
need all the energy and activity at their command. 
Liquid manure in weak doses will be found beneficial 
to help the swelling, discontinuing it when the fruits 
are coloured. 
Should green-fly appear, gently fumigate two or 
three nights in succession till all are killed. For early 
forcing and general crop the following sorts have given 
great satisfaction : Yicomtesse Hericart de Thury, a 
sure cropper, ; Keen’s Seedling, an old and trusty 
friend ; and La Grosse Sucree ; while for late use, Sir 
Joseph Paxton still commends itself.— F. E. S. 
-- 
THE TREE OF HEAVEN. 
Thanks for the defence of this noble tree, by your 
correspondent, “ E. W.,” see p. 132. Yes, it is 
largely grown in our cities, but not nearly so much as 
it should be, as it is, without exception, the finest of 
all trees for the city, and no less beautiful for the 
country, where, as a street tree or in clumps, it gives 
the landscape a sub-tropical appearance, that cannot 
be produced with any other tree. Its adaptation to 
dry, gravelly soils is a great point in its favour. In 
this country it thrives with great vigour in our dry 
sandy soil, and is to our trees what the Jerusalem 
Artichoke is to our vegetables—growing vigorously in 
spite of difficulties. 
The male tree with us does not form the finer object, 
on the contrar} 7 , the female tree when loaded with its 
immense clusters of orange-coloured fruits, which 
contrast finely with its foliage, is a tree remarkable 
for its rich beauty. There is a serious objection to 
the male tree, which the female tree is entirely free 
from, viz., the sickly smell of its flowers ; it is because 
of this disagreeable feature that the Ailanthus has not 
been more generally cultivated. This should not be an 
objection, as the female trees only should be planted. 
These can readily be obtained by root cuttings, which 
grow only too freely ; all that is necessary is to take a 
small piece of root in spring, and plant where the tree 
is wanted. It is preferable to take a good-sized tree 
from the nursery, but of the female kind only. 
The Ailanthus is not only an ornamental, but a useful 
tree, its timber being nearly if not quite as valuable as 
that of the Locust, and it is a more rapid grower. On 
our farm there are trees with a diameter of trunk nearly 
20 ins.,and the trees have not been planted twentyyears. 
Lumber from this tree is not likely to warp, check or 
twist. Whether it will thrive as well in your climate 
as ours is a question for you to answer.— C. L. Allen, 
Garden City, N. Y. 
- ■«$<■<■ - 
otes from Scotland. 
Hints for Amateurs. — Vines. — I am often 
sorry for amateurs when they see their pet plants 
failing to give anything like satisfaction, while all the 
means they are familiar with are being used to restore 
the delinquents to good behaviour, and give some 
tangible return for labour and time expended. Practical 
men, too, are often in a dilemma to know what to do 
when they see their Vines making good growth, fine 
foliage, and showing nice bunches of fruit, and when 
just as they are supposed to be coming to their best 
they begin to shank, and show in an unmistakeable 
manner that there is something materially wrong. 
The Vine border is examined, and though known to be 
formed with consummate care, yet the idea does not 
always occur that Vine roots grow rapidly outward, 
and in the course of a few seasons become fastened into 
whatever soil is beyond the border. In a dry season 
the roots are soon buried deeply in the sub-soil, and 
the change from a rich soil quickly shows the mischief 
which is at work far from the surface, while the 
original border is of no more use to the roots 
than if it were not there. Inert soil, especially of a 
sandy nature, which gives myriads of red-spider and 
endless other evils, is worse than a damp clay. There 
is not much harm in the clay itself if it is free from 
iron and other substances pernicious to all species of 
plants, but the “rusty light” material is destructive 
in every sense. Some enrich the surface of the border, 
dig in lime as a purifier, and use a host of other 
agencies to ward off the evil, but no good can come of 
it, because the source is not checked. In dealing with 
many such cases the writer found that where the 
feeders could not be allowed to extend with safety 
they were either lifted carefully or cut off altogether, 
and a wall placed between them and the dangerous 
ground. In no case has this method failed, but proved 
most satisfactory. 
Peaches and Other Fruits. —It is true that it is 
unwise to interfere with plants when they are doing 
well, and “let well alone” is a useful old theory, but 
when roots are far underground, it is not easily 
ascertained how far one can let things alone, when they 
are so distant from one’s vision. When Peaches, 
Apricots, Plums, and all stone fruit show a decrease of 
vigour it might fairly be supposed that starvation is at 
work. The dying back of branches, canker, and a host 
of ev’ls go to prove that the tree is not getting the food 
necessary to support it, and the fruit or the nutriment 
is of a pernicious and unwholesome kind. The roots in 
the course of time have stretched far from the original 
border, and now cannot draw the necessary food from 
the poor land which they have penetrated ; disease at 
once shows itself, and in due time increases. It is 
therefore well, with the most vigorous and fruitful trees, 
to examine their feeders yearly, keeping at a safe 
distance from the trunk, and if there is danger ahead it 
is better to cut off any which are in harm’s way. Ram 
good loam, brick and plaster rubbish in front of them, 
clear off the surface soil, and lay over the roots a good 
portion of the same material mixed with some of the 
famous manures manufactured for the purpose. Make 
all firm, and it will be found that abundance of fruit on 
healthy trees, caused by a dense mass of fibre, will 
always be the result.— Scot. 
Fruit Tree Planting.—It is often said that 
horticultural writers do not sufficiently go into details, 
and note the amenities of their practice while adducing 
what they consider the best course to follow, and I 
dare say we are far from being infallible in this respect, 
often forgetting that green hands are in their “ ’prentice” 
experience, and that amateurs who wish to go deeply 
into the minuthe of cultural practice are left to struggle 
upwards as best they can. At the present season I 
would beg to offer a few remarks on the planting of 
fruit trees, as errors arise from simple causes which 
prompt the inexperienced to cast the blame on items in 
practice quite foreign to the real reason. 
The following are some of the things which should 
be avoided :—When purchasing a tree, do not select one 
which has often been cut back and shows wounds and 
snags ; these are sometimes found among collections in 
first-class nurseries. Rather purchase a maiden tree 
which has never had a knife upon it than accept such 
an one for nothing. If the roots be not plentiful and 
healthy, and much broken, cast such a tree aside as 
worse than useless. If the trees have been grown long 
on the same ground (if rich all the worse) without being 
lifted, and the wood gross and unequal in growth, such 
is not a good one to start with. In preparing the 
ground, first ascertain if the drainage is perfect; if not, 
put it right. If the position is low, plant the roots 
above the level ground ; but if high and dry, keep them 
under the surface-level and apply extra mulching. 
Examine all roots of young trees, and if they are long 
and fibreless, cut them back and remove broken pieces. 
Place a layer of broken bricks under the roots to prevent 
them from growing down.— Caledonian. 
Sacrifice of Bulbs, &c.— It is not an un¬ 
common practice for growers of bulbs to remove them 
from their coverings of ashes, tan, or whatever is used, 
and immediately afterwards to place them in strong heat. 
The result from such a practice I need not say is 
fraught with evils, such as inferior inflorescence, or no 
flowers at all. Complaints are often raised against 
bulbs as being bad (there are a few exceptions) even 
when they are of the finest quality, but the cultivation 
has been bad, and the change to sudden strong heat is 
the untoward practice. It has seldom happened in 
my lifetime that I have had bad seeds or inferior 
bulbs supplied. Roman Hyacinths, which are so 
valuable at this season, are often quite ruined by the 
practice adduced ; and I have already seen this season 
a number of bulbs which were denounced as useless, 
because they had grown to long weakly leaves without 
showing a flower spike, but having purchased some 
hundreds out of the same consignment as these spoilt 
bulbs were from, I have proved them to be all I 
could desire. They were potted, covered with sand, 
placed under a wall till grown about 1 in. or so, then 
placed on a shelf near the glass in a moderately warm 
house, and since the middle of October the supply of 
fine spikes of flower has been by the hundred. —Cale¬ 
donian. 
