790 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 10, 1895. 
must now be looking finer than when we saw them, 
at least, those which are still in season. Many of 
the flowers named below will sufficiently indicate 
the date of our visit. The Violas and Pansies must 
be much finer, for they delight in moisture. About 
two acres of ground are devoted to the cultivation of 
these popular flowers, and take a man's time and 
labour to look after them. About 8,ooo cuttings 
were wintered in one house, the varieties, including 
the best of the more recent varieties, both rayed and 
rayless, being very numerous. A large proportion 
of the stock is grown on a wide border between two 
hedges. Eynsford Sweep looked very sooty in juxta¬ 
position to the creamy-white CouDtess of Hopetoun. 
Other kinds flowering very freely here were Ariel, 
blue and white; Lottie, dark violet; Chelsea Belle, 
an improvement on Bluebell; also here, Sylvia, 
creamy-white ; True Blue, a rich blue and floriferous 
sort; Chieftain, darker than Blue King; Cliveden 
Blue, Souvenir, large light blue ; and The Mearns, 
one of the dwarfest and most floriferous of the parti¬ 
coloured kinds. The beautiful rosy Wm. Neil did 
not like the dry weather, but is perfectly happy now. 
Duchess of Fife, Ardwell Gem, and the pale blue or 
lavender Duchess of Sutherland were, on the con¬ 
trary, remarkably floriferous. Purpurea is a bright 
purple self, while Archibald Grant is an intense 
violet-blue. The flowers of Miss Cannell were 
large, pure white, with a large golden eye, very flori¬ 
ferous, and made many of the so called white 
varieties look pale by comparison. We noted a 
curiosity in the old-fashioned double Pansy. 
On passing from this border to the low grounds in 
the bottom of the nursery we came upon a large 
plantation of Violas which had been planted the 
previous year. As a considerable number of them 
have already been mentioned, it is unnecessary to 
repeat the names, suffice to say that they were 
remarkably floriferous, and Miss Cannell here again 
sustained its reputation and could be singled out 
even at a distance by the quantity of flowers it pro¬ 
duced and their purity. A large collection of fancy 
Pansies in frames arrested our attention by the size 
and rich colours of their flowers as well as quality. 
They had been better looked after in the matter of 
watering. Close by were other frames containing a 
collection of the new race of rayless Violas, so 
charming in their refinement. Border Witch is a 
huge white flower clouded with light blue, Queen of 
the May is creamy with a golden lip, Oriole is yellow 
with a golden lip, and Grander is a very choice pure 
white one. Pride of Etal is blue with a white centre 
and quite new, as many others are. The soft 
lavender flowers of Princess May are furnished with 
a yellow blotch. Blue Gown is one of the best of the 
dark blue rayless sorts. Old Gold is still a gem 
amongst the " miniature ” race. 
Large plantations of seedling Carnations were 
remarkably floriferous, though few of the blooms 
were then expanded, and showed great variation in 
habit. One lot consisted of seedlings of the 
Malmaison race, and another batch had been raised 
from Mr. Martin Smith’s seeds. About an acre of 
Paeonies which had bloomed splendidly was just 
passing out of season. Amongst herbaceous border 
plants proper we noted fine Cup and Saucer Cam¬ 
panulas, Geraniums, Oriental Poppies, a collection 
of Irises, Leucanthemum grandiflorum like a great 
Ox-eye Daisy, Erigeron philadelphicus, Campanula 
persicifolia in variety, Heuchera' sanguinea, the 
double pure white Dame's Violet, and many others. 
There was about an acre of Violets proper recently 
planted, including the splendid Californian Violet 
and the still better Princess of Wales, both grown in 
quantity. Not far off was a fine plantation of Inter¬ 
mediate Stocks of good quality in bloom. In a 
sheltered situation was a fine plantation of Onions, 
which had been sown under glass early in the year 
and planted out later on. Even at the early period 
of our visit some of the bulbs measured 7 in. in cir¬ 
cumference, and would have taken a lot of beating 
at that time. 
From thence we passed up the hill to the hot¬ 
houses overloking the valley. Here were two houses, 
each 100 ft. long, filled with a new variety of Tomato 
raised in Denmark and named the King. They were 
planted on raised but solid benches, and were 
remarkable for their dwarfness, short nodes, fine 
leafage, and fruitfulness, the lower clusters almost 
touching the soil. A house was occupied with young 
Vines, and another with tuberous Begonias planted 
out. A fine batch of an early Wallflower, that 
originated in France and had been sown early this 
year, was passing into seed. A houseful of Stocks 
also grown in pots, including Intermediate and Ten 
Weeks varieties, was very interesting. Amongst 
others we noted the pure while Princess Alice, Fire 
King, crimson and notably dwarf, being only 6 in. to 
8 in. high even under hot-house culture. Interesting 
also was the soft buff-pink Isabel. Both the Tomatos 
and the flowers under glass are cultivated for the 
production of seed and promised well at the time of 
our visit. 
--*■- 
GARDENS AND THE DROUGHT. 
The long severe period of drought during the past sea¬ 
son will long be remembered by many horticulturists— 
aye, and judging from the dwarfed Oats, Barley and 
Wheat, so general in many districts, many farmers 
will not readily forget the summer of 1895 ; while 
Turnips and some other green crops are failures in 
many districts. I am able to say that I never saw 
these finer, and Potatos also, than in some large fields 
in the Stirling district. In gardens, fruits, flowers 
and vegetables often suffer from drought, especially 
where ground is light and poor. We were with¬ 
out rain to moisten the ground under the surface 
more than an inch deep, from early in May to well 
into July. I could not say that there was real suffering 
of vegetation, and at present I do not remember 
having better vegetable crops. Celery well mulched 
and planted in ridges of three and four rows, Cauli¬ 
flowers, Peas, Turnips, and most other crops were 
never more satisfactory ; deeply trenched ground 
has most to do with this. Watering was only done 
at the time of planting or sowing. 
Small fruits were never larger nor in greater 
quantity. Flower beds and borders suffered a little 
at first, but soon were in active growth. Herbaceous 
borders have filled up well, Paeonies, Asters, 
Delphiniums Potentillas have been extra robust. 
Pansies which have flowered from April are getting 
towards their best and likely to be a mass of 
inflorescence till checked by frost. It is incom¬ 
prehensible why so many cultivators of these 
beautiful and most popular of flowers, do not make 
special preparation in their beds and borders for 
them. Deep trenching, liberal supplies of decayed 
manure, the seed pods kept off as soon as the flowers 
fade will, in any locality, secure a long season of 
abundant inflorescence. From Rothesay while I 
write, I have before me a selection of Violas, 
beautiful and fresh. The two recently certificated 
at the Newcastle-on.Tyne exhibition, and raised by 
Mr. M. Cuthbertson, have created quite a sensation 
at that well-known grower's nurseries, and at the 
public park, Rothesay, and are very beautiful. The 
purple blue William Haig is an acquisition, and 
Mrs. R. Kennedy Mitchell red and purple with 
white centre is a most attractive variety.— 
M'Temple, Catron, Stirlingshire, N.B. 
-- 
Peaches. —As soon as trees in the succession houses 
have been relieved of their burden of fruit the same 
treatment as was accorded the earlier ones must be 
given to them. The trees should be syringed 
regularly and well, and the borders examined to see 
that they have not been allowed to get too dry during 
the time the fruit was ripening. If so they must be 
thoroughly soaked with water. Air should be ad¬ 
mitted with all freedom, for now that the present 
season's crop has been secured, all attention must be 
turned to the furnishing of the rest, and if this is to 
be likewise satisfactory the wood must be healthy 
and well matured. 
Strawberries for Forcing. —By this time the 
layers should be well rooted, and therefore no time 
should be lost in transferring them to their fruiting 
pots, as it is necessary to allow a good long season 
of growth for the production of strong reliable 
crowns. Six-inch pots are the ones generally used. 
It is important that these should be dry and clean, 
whilst if new from the potteries they should be 
soaked for a while in water before they are used. 
Having regard to the natural thirstiness of the 
Strawberry, and the large quantities of water that 
have to pass through the pots during the forcing 
period, it is almost unnecessary to say that efficient 
drainage is a great desideratum. The soil should 
consist of the best loam procurable, nicely chopped 
up by means of the spade, to which may be added a 
third part of dried cow manure, a little coarse river 
sand, and a liberal sprinkling of soot. The whole 
should be well mixed up before potting is com. 
menced. 
Firm Potting is essential, and if the compost is 
not too wet at the time of using, the bandrammer 
may be plied fairly freely. Carefully avoid filling 
the pots too full of soil. In all cases the surface of 
the latter should be fully half an inch below the rim 
of the pot, thus allowing sufficient room for enough 
of water to be given at one application to thoroughly 
soak the ball. 
Varieties. —The varieties of Strawberries now 
upon the market is legion ; but it does not follow 
that all of them will force well by any means. 
Indeed the number that will stand this treatment, 
and yield satisfactory crops, is comparatively limited, 
although sufficient for all purposes. Sir Joseph 
Paxton, Keen's Seedling, and Vicomtesse Hericart 
de Thury have won for themselves golden opinions 
from hosts of cultivators as to their good forcing 
qualities, and we question if their superiors are yet 
forthcoming. Laxton’s Noble also stands forcing 
exceedingly well, although now and again we hear 
a murmur or two that its flavour is not so good as it 
might be. Other good sorts which can be con¬ 
fidently recommended are James Veitch, Sir Charles 
Napier, President and La Grosse Sucree.— A.S.G. 
* 
Raspberries.— In some localities where it has 
not been possible to give these plenty of water, the 
crop has been a decidedly scanty one; but in others 
where water has been given, followed by good 
mulchings of short manure, plenty of fine fruit has 
been gathered. Now, however, the season is well 
nigh over, and steps may therefore be taken to relieve 
the stools of some of the strain by cutting out the 
old canes from which the fruit has been gathered. 
The canes which have been produced this season, 
and from which next year’s supply of fruit will be 
obtained, may likewise be thinned out somewhat. 
Five or six growths may be left to each stool, tying 
these neatly up to the stakes or espalier wires, 
whichever it may chance to be. All the energy of 
the plants will thus be turned towards developing 
and maturing these chosen canes. 
Strawberries. —The old stools which it is decided 
to leave for another season to produce fruit for 
preserving purposes may now be trimmed neatly up 
with a sharp knife, removing the greater portion of 
the old leaves together with all runners, the rooted 
layers having been previously removed with a trowel. 
All the rubbish may then be carted away and burned, 
the spaces between the plants hoed and cleaned, and 
things will be ship-shape once more. 
New Plantations. —As advised in the previous 
calender, the beginning of the present month is the 
best time to make these, and if the instructions for 
the preparation of the ground have been followed, 
everything will be in readiness for planting. Some 
growers adopt ihe practice of putting three plants 
together, but we prefer the plan of planting good 
strong plants singly. As a rule two feet between the 
rows, and from fifteen to eighteen inches between the 
plants will be enough of space to allow for varieties 
of ordinary habit; but in the case of especially 
vigorous sorts on extra rich land, a few inches more 
room either way may be given with advantage. As 
to this, however, the cultivator must use his own 
discretion. The runners which have been a'lowcd 
to root themselves in the existing beds will, if care¬ 
fully lifted with a good ball of earth attached, start 
away quickly and well. For this purpose a day 
should be chosen if possible when the soil is nicely 
damp from previous rains, for then the young plants 
can be lifted with the least likelihood of their coming 
to grief. Still, as we have intimated in previous 
issues, where the time can be spared to layer the plants 
into pots a great deal is gained ; for no matter how 
carefully the runners are lifted from the open they are 
almost sure to receive a slight check, of which there 
is but little fear with the plants in pots, seeing their 
roots are practically not disturbed at all. Another 
advantage which the latter practice has over the 
former, moreover, is that it admits of the old plants 
being trimmed up or removed entirely which ever it 
is proposed to do, rather sooner than can be done if 
