426 
THE GARDENING WORLD. March 6,1897. 
and matting up the frames at night. Ne Plus Ultra 
I find very good for forcing, and Canadian Wonder 
for the latest batches. 
Potatos. 
" These are forced in several ways. I find 9 in. and 
12 in. pots suitable for a few early dishes. I place 
one tuber in the smaller pot and two in the larger 
one. Loamy soil, with a little horse droppings, 
makes a good compost. I start a batch early in 
January, and place them in an early Peach house at 
work. The tubers should have been previously 
prepared—that is, stood on their ends in a box with 
a little leaf soil scattered among them, and placed in 
the house about ten days before. These must be 
placed in their pots when 2 in. of growth has taken 
place. They must be given plenty of light, also air, 
when at all favourable, and I keep moving mine from 
house to house—Peach houses or vineries—as they 
are started, because they do not like too much heat. 
I leave room in the pots for an earthing up, as it 
were, when they get about 6 in. high. Frames 
placed on a hotbed are very suitable, too, and most 
excellent crops can be grown here. A foot of soil 
should be placed in the frame, and the tubers 
planted 5 in. deep, 8 in. apart, and 10 in. from row 
to row. I also make a point of earthing mine up 
with 3 in. of soil, when about 6 in. high. This 
assists to keep the growths upright. Here they will 
take a fair amount of water when in active growth, 
and the lights are drawn back altogether on very 
mild days, but placed on early in the afternoon and 
matted up each night. Heated and unheated pits 
too, are useful for forwarding this ever-required 
vegetable. As I have already said, they must have 
abundance of air as the season advances, and when 
water is necessary, it should have been warmed to 
about 6o°. I ought to add that I only advocate the 
pot method for the very earliest dishes. Mine ia the 
pits follow these, and are usually planted about 
January 20th. I find the Old Ashleaf, Veitch's, 
Myatt's, Rivers'Ashleaf, Sharpe’s Victor, and Early 
Puritan, good for forcing, but I prefer the first and 
last-named varieties. 
Carrots. 
“This is another acceptable dish, and much 
appreciated when in a young state, and may be 
brought on much earlier than it is possible to have 
them outside, by making up a bed of leaves and 
placing a frame thereon. What they require is 
similar to Potatos, a gentle lasting heat, which fresh 
collected leaves will give. The frame should have 
about 9 in. of soil which should be light and of a 
sandy nature, leaving space of 9 in. or 10 in. for the 
tops. The seed can be sown in drills 4 in. to 6 in. 
apart or broadcast. I adopt this last named plan, 
and it should not be sown too thickly, for, if it is, 
thinning must be done very early as the plants soon 
get crowded. The frame can be kept closed until the 
seeds germinate, when a little air will be necessary 
whenever the weather will permit. The lights can 
be drawn off altogether when mild and replaced 
about 3.30 in the afternoon. If bright, lightly syringe 
the bed, and then close up and replace the mats as 
long as cold weather lasts. I don’t think there is 
much gained by sowing until the middle of January. 
Parisian Forcing or Sutton’s Early Gem are suitable 
for this work.— J. Mayne. 
A considerable amount of discussion followed the 
reading of this paper in which the gardeners present 
evinced a keen interest. Various experiences as to 
the methods adopted in the forcing of vegetables 
generally, but more particularly of those forming the 
subject of the above paper, were given in detail by 
different members. Amongst those who took part in 
the discussion were Mr. Slade (Poltimore Gardens), 
Mr. Weeks (Stoke House Gardens), Mr. G. B. Carlile, 
Mr. F. Anning, Mr. Rogers, and Mr. W. Mackay, of 
Exeter.” 
SCHIZOSTYLIS COCCINEA. 
This plant has the merit of being perfectly hardy, 
but at the same time is never seen at its best if left 
to its own resources among other hardy herbaceous 
plants. Its month for flowering is December, and, 
when properly treated, it forms a most useful 
adjunct to the list of plants yielding a supply of 
flowers during the dull time of the year. It is an 
Iridaceous plant from the Cape, and when well 
grown reminds one of the Gladiolus. The colour of 
the flowers is very much like that of Linum grandi- 
fiorum. It may often be found, where neglected, 
just a mass of grassy foliage, with a few solitary 
puny flowers, whereas a good spike will be from 12 
ins. to 15 ins. in height, with several expanded 
flowers and spikes, such as are most serviceable to 
intersperse with other flowers, both on account of 
their colour and distinctive appearance. With a 
little trouble good spikes may be readily obtained 
by those having a stock to commence with. Our 
own practice has been to divide the last season’s 
plants in the spring into separate crowns, and plant 
the stronger ones six inches apart in rich, light soil, 
where little attention beyond keeping clear of weeds 
and watering in dry weather will be required, and 
during September or early in October, lifting them 
and cramming as many into 48 or 32-pots as we 
could. This gives them time to make fresh roots 
before severe frost sets in. A cold pit or frame is 
most suited for the requirements of this most useful 
plant, which when in flower may be moved into the 
greenhouse or conservatory.—IF. B. G. 
--*•- 
MR. CHAMBERLAIN’S GARDEN. 
Mr. Chamberlain has certain garden preferences 
that are in agreement with those of Lord Bacon, 
who insists that “ one part of the garden must be set 
aside as a wilderness.” A considerable portion of the 
garden at Highury is wild and uncultivated, and con¬ 
sisting of dell and copse and stream ; and it is this 
mixture of natural scenery and cultivated formal 
flower-garden that is the principal beauty of the 
place, and more alluring than the magnificent Orchid 
collection of which its owner is justly proud. But 
what a dazzling wealth of colour is presented by this 
collection of Orchid blooms, and what astonishing 
and almost intoxicating varieties of hue and tint! 
Here is a blossom, the Ada aurantiaca—so rich and 
glowing and vivid that only the miraculous hand of 
Rubens could transfer it to canvas; here is another, 
comparable to nothing but the dying rays of the 
setting sun ; and yet another, more lovely than either, 
the Cymbidium, whose delicate white flowers call up 
a vision of some air-bubble played upon by the most 
ethereal of moonbeams. The Orchid-houses, of 
which there are fourteen, open out of a long corridor, 
adorned on one side with a show collection of 
Orchids, Azaleas, Cyclamen, Cinerarias, and Pelar¬ 
goniums, each variety of which is kept separate and 
exquisitely arranged with rare Ferns, or the foliage 
most in harmony with its character. Facing this 
magnificent pageint of blue, pink, mauve, and 
amber, there stretches the corridor wall and ceiling, 
clo'thed with flowering climbing plants of every kind 
—Jasmine and Honeysuckle, Heliotropes, and 
Fuchsias, mingling their trailing foliage with the 
elegant blue flower of the Plumbago plant and the 
regal scarlet clusters of the Tropaeolum This 
charming floral promenade can be lighted with 
electricity, and on the occasion of balls and recep¬ 
tions, with its flowering roof and walls and many- 
coloured rainbow-like glasshouses, presents the 
appearance of a veritable fairyland.—From “ Mr. 
Chamberlain’s Garden,” in the English Illustrated 
Magazine for March. 
-- 
SUTTON’S FARMERS’ YEAR-BOOK FOR 
1897 . 
This well-known Farm Annual opens with an article 
on “ English Natural Grasses,” written from the 
farmer's point of view, and dealing especially with 
the agricultural value of the varions grasses and the 
proportions in which they should be used on diverse 
soils either for hay or grazing. The merits of the 
different varieties are discussed in a popular way with 
the practical object of securing the highest return 
for the outlay in every instance. To remedy a de¬ 
fective seeding is so difficult and expensive that 
Messrs. Sutton’s frank exposition of the case will be 
considered most opportune by those who contemplate 
laying down land to permanent grass 
Another article refers to the advantages of tem¬ 
porary pastures. The system of short term leys has 
often been advocated by the great Reading Firm, 
and the northern farmers have not been slow to avail 
themselves of its benefits, which include a large 
saving in the labour bill, a quick return for the initial 
outlay, heavier crops than can be obtained from 
permanent grass, and the best possible preparation 
of the land for root and straw crops. In this connec¬ 
tion the value of Lucerne and Sainfoin has not been 
overlooked. It is scarcely necessary to add that on 
the whole question of laying down land to grass Mr. 
Martin J. Sutton is a recognised authority. 
One of the most striking features of the Farmers' 
Year-Book is the series of voluntary reports of 
astonishing crops grown by customers, and these 
reports are accompanied with convincing photo¬ 
graphs of fields of Mangel, Swede, Cabbage and 
Carrot. 
Perhaps the most original illustrations in the book 
are the six views of Cattle and Sheep feeding off 
fields of Sutton’s Swedes in New Zealand. The 
photographs were brought home by Mr. Martin 
Hubert Sutton, the eldest son of the senior partner, 
who during the past year has made a prolonged 
business tour in South Africa, New Zealand and 
Australia. 
We will only add that the fund of information con¬ 
tained in the work is presented in an attractive form 
and is printed in clear and readable type. 
--*■- 
ROYAL GARDENERS’ ORPHAN FUND. 
Annual Dinner. 
At the dinner held in the evening of the 19th ult. 
between twenty and thirty were present, Mr. Owen 
Thomas presiding. The Chairman’s speech was a 
happy one,and proved how thoroughly he had entered 
into the details of the charity,and how truly he has the 
cause at heart. He said It only seems like yester¬ 
day when we were celebrating the J ubilee year of Her 
Majesty's accession Io the throne. It was on this 
occasion when gardeners, like other other loyal 
members of the community, were looking out for a 
way to give expression to their loyalty. It occurred 
to Mr. Penny, then of Sandringham, and Mr. 
Clayton, of Grimston, that the best way this ex¬ 
pression could take would be by forming an institution 
to befriend the orphans of gardeners, and I cannot 
but think that both these gentlemen will always look 
back with feelings of thankfulness for the inspiration 
that came to them to support the institution of this 
fund. At first the idea was met by many with mis¬ 
givings, as being too great an undertaking to be suc¬ 
cessfully launched. However, there were a few bold 
spirits in those days, and the prospect was no sooner 
mentioned by the gardening press than it was taken 
up with acclamation, not only by horticulturists but 
also by the garden-loving public, and the proud posi¬ 
tion the fund occupies to-day proves beyond doubt 
that a happier or a better suggestion could not have 
been made. 
So much for the reception of the Fund. What 
shall be said of its growth ? The excellent report in 
the hands of members will tell them much better than 
I can ; but I may be allowed to say this, that nearly 
£5,000 has been paid to destitute orphans cf 
gardeners during the past nine years, besides a sum 
of £9,000 which has been invested for their future 
benefit. This is a record to be proud of, and the 
management is to be congratulated. This great 
success has been brought about in the first place, I 
think, by virtue of the merit of the Charity, 
Gardeners’ Orphans. 
The English people have a garden, and they have 
opened their hearts and their pockets wide to help 
the objects of this charity. We know that our happy 
and favoured country is full cf benevolent and kindly 
feeling towards the weak and the destitute, but it is 
not everyone who has the power or the happy faculty 
of being able to bring this good quality into active 
existence. The Orphan Fund is happy in having 
those at its head who take an active personal and 
practical interest in its welfare. When it is said that 
at the head of the charity we have the honoured and 
much-loved name of H.R.H. the Princess of Wales, 
with His Grace the Duke of Bedford as president, 
our esteemed friend Mr. Marshall as chairman of the 
Executive Committee, with our old friend Mr. Barron 
as secretary, besides a working committee of gentle¬ 
men, everyone of whom is a well-known horticul¬ 
turist, it is not to be wondered at the success which 
has attended the establishment of the fund. We 
must not forget that the establishment of this institu¬ 
tion has imposed a serious responsibility on the 
shoulders of those who are responsible for its manage¬ 
ment and maintenance. 
To-day there have been added thirteen orphans to 
the benefit of the fund, at an extra annual expendi¬ 
ture to the charity of £170. A better commemora¬ 
tion of Her Majesty's long reign no institution could 
possibly make, and in view of this greater responsi¬ 
bility greater income must be forthcoming, or the 
