February 27, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
409 
DAPHNE INDICA RUBRA. 
I have pleasure in sending you a photograph of a 
plant of Daphne indica rubra, now in flower in a 
greenhouse in the garden of Mr. J. T. Bickford, a 
prominent tradesman in the town of Exmouth. 
Like many others, Mr. Bickford has a vital interest 
in the business which he so honorably conducts; 
and I am sure there are many who would willingly 
bear testimony to the accuracy and expedition ever 
displayed in all phases connected therewith. But 
tastes and fancies often run in other directions, and 
when spare moments can be snatched, and the 
passion asserting itself, what more natural than that 
the favourite pastime should be indulged in, which I 
am happy to say in this case is none other than 
horticulture. 
Meeting the gentleman a few evenings ago in com¬ 
pany with one or two other friends, nothing would do, 
but that we should accompany him forthwith, to which 
we gladly gave assent. After passing through devious 
passages, and timidly glancing at various packages, 
by the way, on which were letters, signs and figures 
that suggested at least some mysterious connection 
with compounds of ahighly inflammable and explosive 
character, we at length entered a lean-to house facing 
south-east, and at the further end were requested to 
halt. Whilst the lamp, our worthy guide carried, 
was turned on to this unique and highly meritorious 
specimen, I need hardly say that to myself it 
appealed in a very pleasing manner ; for, often had 
I seen weak and puny plants apologising for the 
space they occupied, yet of which it was continually 
hoped "they will be better next year." But here 
was a plant in the best of health and floriferousress, 
7 ft. in height, and 4 ft. through, measured on the 
spot by one of the party who had a two-foot rule 
immediately at hand. This specimen was planted 
out in the border, and for years has flowered with a 
vigour and freedom shown in the accompanying 
illustration prepared from a photograph. I congratu¬ 
late Mr. Bickford on his great success. In a measure 
I envy hi m his plant, whilst I gratefully acknowledge 
my indebtedness for opportunity of inspecting the 
plant, and for the photo so kindly given.— W. Swan, 
By stock. 
- - 
FORCING OF VEGETABLES. 
At the fortnightly meeting of the Devon and Exeter 
Gardeners’ Association on the 3rd inst.,in the Guild¬ 
hall, Exeter, a paper on this subject, prepared by 
Mr. J. Mayne, gr. to the Hon. Mark Rolle, Bicton, 
was read by the hon. secretary, Mr. A. Hope, in the 
unavoidable absence of the writer. The chair was 
occupied by Mr. J. Abrahams, gr. to T. Kekewich, 
Esqr., Peamore. Mr. Mayne dealt with his subject 
in a very practical manner, as the subjoined will 
show. He is a frequent contributor to the “horti¬ 
cultural press," and takes high rank as a cultiva'or 
amongst the fraternity in Devon. His essay deals 
with the work he conducts every winter at Bicton, 
and is as follows :— 
Seakale. 
" Seakale is a very easily forced vegetable, and can 
be had ready for the table by the first week in 
December. I prefer the crowns to have a slight frost 
or two before making a start, though at times this 
does not take place so early in the mild climate of 
Devon. Consequently, a start must be made to in¬ 
troduce the first Latch the first week in November. 
As a rule, the majority of its growth is off by this 
date, especially if a frost has occurred. In lifting 
the roots, care must be exercised that the crowns are 
not bruised, and all the stout roots should be broken 
off and preserved to choose cuttings from. In my 
case I plant about 1,500 early in March, and these 
are the crowns that are forced the following autumn. 
The whole batch is lifted about the middle of Decem¬ 
ber, laid in thickly together outdoors, and the 
Crowns just covered with soil. Should severe frost 
occur, some long litter is placed over them so that 
they can be readily got at when required. I find the 
first few batches take rather a higher temperature to 
start them than later lots, say early in the New Year. 
A mushroom house which keeps about 55 0 to 6o° is a 
very suitable place. The crowns can be placed fairly 
close together, and should have sifted leaf-soil worked 
lightly around the roots and up level with the top of 
the crown. A can of water should be kept there and 
the crowns syringed daily. To keep up a succession, 
I put in 50 crowns each week, but the number, of 
course, can be easily altered more or less according 
to the requirements of the establishment. The roofs 
can also be forced in large pots or boxes and placed 
under stages or in any odd corner in a forcing-house. 
These must be covered with pots or boxes, as no 
light must reach the crowns in any stage of their 
growth, or blanching will not be perfect. Neither 
must they be subjected to too much heat at this 
date (February), 50° to 55 0 is quite high enough. 
" The best place to force this vegetable (that is by 
those who adopt the plan I do and lift all their roots) 
is to erect a shed-like place about 12 ft. long, 8 ft. 
wide, and 4 ft. 6 in. high, with 12 posts, five inches 
square, four on either side, and four in the centre to 
take the sides and top. Rough planks, two to three 
inches thick, should be nailed to those around the 
sides about one and half inches apart. The top should 
be of Oak, and rather stouter than the slabs used for 
the sides, so as to be able to carry the weight of 
leaves necessary to give the required heat. This little 
building should have a small door on the south side by 
which to get in and out; the other three sides should 
have from two to three feet in width of good Oak, and 
Beech leaves, if possible, placed around them, and the 
same thickness on the top. The material should be 
well trodden as the work proceeds. I keep adding to 
this as the leaves are brought in, should the weather 
be cold, but if mild, the first named will be sufficient, 
though the grower must exercise his own discretion 
on this point and see the place does not get too hot. 
I keep a thermometer hanging up inside, and if, when 
mild outside, it does not register above 6o°,all will be 
well. This heat from leaves is not so drying as from 
hot-water pipes. Some sifted leaf soil should have 
been got in readiness and placed inside to plant the 
roots in. I also keep a can of water and the syringe 
in here to damp the surroundings when at all dry. 
In passing, it may not be out of place to add that 
there is no better place to bring Rhubarb on than 
here in this little hut, if I may so term it. Delicious 
Kale and Rhubarb as crisp and blanched as it is 
possible to get them, can be forced here. There 
details apply to lifted roots only. 
" I now come to forcing crowns as they stand in 
the open ground. Of course, these are given a much 
wider berth than those grown and lifted ; they should 
be planted in groups or clumps of three to six, one 
foot apart, with three feet or more space between 
each clump, to allow for Seakale pots and hea ing 
material, which should be composed of fresh leaves 
three parts, the rest of stable litter—this should have 
been thrown together and mixed before. This must 
be packed around the pots and above them to the 
height of 30 to 36 inches. It will take six to eight 
weeks to get it ready for use this way, and, of course, 
can be had in by Christmas very well. A few test 
sticks should be placed in the heating material to as¬ 
certain how the heat is. What you have to avoid is 
too much heat, as the roots soon burn. A batch 
should be so treated about every three weeks or a 
month. The decayed leaves should be removed and 
the soil lightly forked up prior to forcing, the crowns 
earthed up a little way, and a small quantity of litter 
placed between them, as I do not consider it as well 
if the ground gets frozen very much. Excellen 
heads, and, probably, a trifle larger than the nine or 
ten months' old crowns I haved forced for several 
years past, can be brought on in this way, and for 
several years in succession ; but a new plantaiion 
should be made every three years or so. 
Another method I have seen adopted with fairly 
good results, where I was once foreman in Hereford¬ 
shire—a square was allotted in brick pits about 18 
feet long, by three feet six inches wide. These were 
pigeon-holed, and were about five feet deep, and 
every alternate one was filled with fermenting 
material, while the others were planted with three 
rows of crowns, and were forced three years, and 
then replanted, a part being done each year. Over 
Daphne indica rubra. 
