The gardening world 
469 
March 17, 1900. 
grower resorts to a somewhat ingenious method of 
obtaining the same. That the lifting and "heeling in” 
of runners in autumn entail both a loss of time and 
means is clearly apparent; but instead, he runs be¬ 
tween the rows a drill grubber, which loosens them, 
causing them to produce an abundance of root fibre. 
By this method many runners are lost, but there 
always remain more than are desired. His plants 
now firmly established, little remains to be done, 
beyond keeping them clear of weeds, and mulching 
with stable litter during May. Peat moss litter is 
never used, as in its presence slugs usually abound ; 
strong wheat straw is what is desired; which by 
the agency of rain will have become sweet and 
clean, before the advent of ripe fruit. The fruit being 
ripe, the largest berries are packed in punnets and 
sent to the market; whilst the smaller ones are 
packed in barrels and consigned to the jam factories. 
With the removal of all runners and weeds, the 
growers’ work terminates, as no digging between the 
rows is allowed. 
Where an abundant supply of soft water is 
obtainable, irrigation is freely indulged in and highly 
recommended. It is the favourite remedial and pre¬ 
ventive method employed against " blight,” an 
appellation inaccuratly given to all insect and fungoid 
attacks.— McGregor, D G. 
NURSERY VISITS. 
Ryecroft Nurseries, Lewisham. 
After the recent meeting of the R.H.S., held at 
the Drill Hall, Westminster, I was tempted to take 
a visit to the above nurseries to learn how plants 
thrived in the surroundings of chimney pots and 
smoke. I was well satisfied with the pleasing two 
hours spent in the company of the proprietor, who 
was an excellent guide, and very instructive, explain¬ 
ing as we went on, the why and wherefore so and so 
was done. 
The large house on entering the nursery was well 
filled with stove and greenhouse plants, including a 
few Orchids. Of the decorative foliage plants, 
Crotons were largely in evidence, and included 
some very pretty varieties, such as gracile, Reedii, 
interuptum, etc.; many varieties of Dracaenas; 
while the slender foliage of the Aralias gave light 
and harmony to their many congeners. Acalypha 
■Sanderi here figures in noble plants, which later 
on will be a show in themselves, with their reddish- 
maroon, tail-like inflorescence. Pancratium fragrans 
flowered, my guide tells me, continually for the past 
three months ; also Eucharis amazonica with many 
spikes of their waxy-white flowers, and deliciously 
scented. Palms, Bamboos, Asparagus plumosus, 
and the beautiful A. Sprengeri were pictures in them¬ 
selves. 
Having finished we passed through long houses 
filled with Chrysanthemums, and were told that 
many thousands of rooted cuttings bad been posted 
since the frost had disappeared to all parts of the 
British Isles and the Continent. The bulbous 
portion of Mr. Jones’ nursery I was delighted with, 
for here in a long range of houses were growing all 
kinds of bulbs, a department so recently commenced 
as last year, and by the display of bloom in one of 
these he has proved a master. The Hyacinths, as 
arranged, were infinitely finer than wbat were 
exhibited at Westminster, and in much greater 
variety. These were potted in November, plunged 
outdoors in the usual way, and taken out about the 
first week in February. I will mention a few only 
that I noted, and most suitable varieties for exhibitor 
or amateur, viz —Roses and crimsons, Cosmos 
Cavaignac, Koh-i-noor, General Pelissier, Orange 
Brilliant, Solfaterre, ard Vuurbaak. Of pale blues 
and dark blues were Czar Peter, Graid Lilas, 
Grand Maitre, Lord Derby, King of Blues, and a 
new seedling variety named Mis. H. J. Jones, which 
is one that will be sought for when better known, 
having large, handsome bells, and immense spikes 
of pale lavender blue flowers, of strong, compact 
habit. Masterpiece and King of Blacks were the 
best of the very dark or almost black varieties. In 
whites L’lnnocence and La Grandesse were most 
beautiful, as also were Mont Blanc and Alba 
Maxima. The best yellows were Yellow Hammer 
and King of Yellows. 
For Daffodils Mr. Jones seems to have as much 
enthusiasm as for his older favourites, the Chrysan¬ 
themum and Begonia, and if one may judge by the 
varieties he has in flower (3rd March) one must wish 
him all success in his new enterprise. A few varie¬ 
ties I saw in flower were N. obvallaris, Golden 
Spur, Henry Irving, Bicolor Empress, B. Horsfieldi, 
N. incomparabilis Sir Watkin, Barrii conspicuus, 
Leedsii amabilis, poeticus ornatus, and two diminu¬ 
tive kinds, viz., N. cyclamineus, with reflexed sepals, 
and N. minimus, a perfect pigmy by the side of N. 
Golden Spur. 
Lachenalias were also in evidence, and carrying 
many spikes of bloom. Tulips were showing well, 
and may be expected in the near future to adorn the 
the hall at Westminster, when Mr. Jones hopes to 
show some new and rare varieties. The Azaleas, 
Cannas, Ivy-leaved and zonal Pelargoniums con¬ 
cluded my rounds, and after a most enjoyable 
couple of hours, and an invite to call and see his 
'Mums when in bloom, I wished my guide a polite 
good-day .—A Visitor. 
»l »- 
AMARYLLIS BELLADONNA. 
The culture of this is simple enough, providing you 
have a suitable place, which should be as near south 
as possible, the foot of a front wall of a forcing or 
greenhouse affording an ideal position. If it is in¬ 
tended to give them a trial the soil should be taken 
out quite a foot deep, and nearly as wide, replacing 
it with fibrous loam, coarse sand, and a fair sprink¬ 
ling of old mortar refuse, planting the bulbs within 
a few inches of the wall, 4 in. to 6 in. deep. The 
best time to plant is in July, before the flower spikes 
begin to appear and root action is over active (it is 
never idle). There is one drawback with these lovely 
autumn flowers, that is, if planted in any prominent 
position, on account of the foliage dying off early in 
summer, and looking very untidy during a couple of 
months, and it is not wise to remove it until 
thoroughly ripe. 
The narrow borders where ours are growing are 
18 in. wide, and 90 yds. in length, four in all. One 
is south-east and one south-west, and they do 
just as well as those due south, though I should not 
like to say the bulbs would flower as freely further up 
country, especially in the north, as ours is such a 
beautiful climate in Devon. We sometimes gather 
early in August, and the different positions give us 
grand spikes of a pale pink or flesh colour, quite to 
the end of October. We have tried several things 
to grow in front of these, nothing succeeding so well 
as Anemones, especially fulgens,which have been giv¬ 
ing us bloom ever since the New Year. We keep back 
the foliage of the Amaryllis with a few twigs as well 
as we can, so that the Anemones shall have all the 
sun possible In early summer to assist in ripening 
their foliage. After once planted they go on for a 
number of years, especially if a little new soil is re¬ 
placed in lieu of old once in four years.— J. Mayne, 
Bicton. 
--I*- 
THE FURZE DEBATE. 
Mair Wanted. 
E'en tho’ Furze blether blaws by I sinceerly houp 
that oor guidfreend "Geordie Tam” winna gie owre, 
writin’ noo he's opened oot into journaleesm. It dis 
ma hert guid tae see the auld mither tODgue in print; 
it’s asrafreshin’ as a "stirrup-cup ” efter a mornin’s 
hard wurk. Lots o’ fouk doon this wye (Lundin) 
wad like tae lauch at the braid Scotch an’ thae 
imagine we shud lauch tae. But for me I say, 
hardly yet, an’ ii’s jist for mair o’ " Geordie Tam’s ” 
claver that I noo write. Let’s ken what’s gaun on, 
and hoo’s a’ wi’ ye. Best respecks tae " G. T.” an 
the missus in their cauld surroondin’s, frae London 
Scottish. 
Funn Busses. 
It’snae a ccllieshangie " Alec Vricht ” an’ " Geordie 
Tam ” are haein’ aboot Funn busses bit a laich toot 
moot. Tak aff baith their breeks an doup them intil 
twa Funn busses an ye wunna be dieved wi’ ony 
mair argle barglln .—Allister Dhu, Norfolk. 
In relation to the above subject, Mr. J. Mayne, 
Bicton, sends us a box of shoots of the Furze in 
full bloom. The rich, golden-yellow of the flowers 
was very attractive, but the ill tempered Furze was 
armed to the teeth, so that it would require no 
ordinary courage on the part of the flower gatherer 
to make much impression on a bush. In any case the 
shoots served to show that the Furze was in full 
bloom in Devon on the 2nd inst , however much 
earlier. The lower blossoms would appear to have 
been open previous to the recent snowstorm. He 
sends them as a buttonhole for Sigma. 
ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 
The following is the method pursued by Messrs. 
George Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, who grow 
Asparagus extensively and successfully :— 
“ This esteemed vegetable does not require that 
care and labour which is often bestowed upon it, in 
order to get first-class heads. The raised beds so 
frequently seen are unnecessary, except in heavy 
soils and damp places; it can be, and is as well 
grown on the level. It is too often the fact, that 
constant heavy dressings of manure, with heaping 
up of raised beds leads to a growth of thin wiry 
grass, the roots being too deeply set to gain advant¬ 
age from the warmth of the sun. We might suggest 
when preparing new beds that the ground be first 
heavily manured (say 6 inches thick) and then be 
dug all over 18 inches deep, the manure being well 
A New Seedling Chinese Primula, natural 
size, described on p. 457. 
mixed in the soil, and if possible this work should 
be completed in January or February, in order that 
the frost may mellow the surface. About the middle 
of March, the plants being purchased, choose dry 
weather and set out the rows 2 or even 3 ft. apart; 
remove the soil 4 inches deep and about 1 foot wide, 
throwing it right and left as the work proceeds; then 
make this trench even and lay the plants out care¬ 
fully in the trench so that they may be flat on the 
surface at a distance of 2 feet apart if the rows are 
2 feet between, or 3 feet if 3 feet apart, as the latter 
where space permits will give the finest heads; but 
even if space is limited,' the 2x2 feet is a much 
better plant than the old-fashioned raised beds at 
1 foot apart, because in the wider plant, all the 
shoots are strong and vigorous, and except for soup, 
sprue (or wiry shoots) are little esteemed ; and the 
beds at wider distance last longer in good condition; 
while until the rows give offshoots and the beds get 
thick, Lettuces and Radishes can be grown between 
the rovs, so that there is not much loss of space. As 
the roots are placed, some soil should be lightly 
shaken over them to keep them moist, and the rest 
of the soil may then be raked over to complete the 
work; stumps should be placed at each end of 
the rows in order to mark the lines, so that when 
further manure or digging is needed the work can be 
done without any disturbance of the main roots. 
" It is not advisable to cut Asparagus the first year, 
as this weakens the crowns, but the shoots should be 
tied up to a stick in August to prevent their breaking 
off at the base; and when the stools get stronger 
the shoots can be gathered and tied together so that 
stakes are not required. At the same time all small 
weakly shoots can be pulled out, and the stools 
thinned, as that will strengthen the main roots. 
When the shoots turn quite yellow they should be 
cut off and the beds be cleared of weeds for the 
winter; and at all times they should be regularly 
weeded so that no strong weeds have to be pulled to 
disturb the main roots. 
" In January a 2-inch dressing of short well-rotted 
dung should be spread over the rows as a mulch, and 
as the heads begin to appear some nitrate of soda, 
say 2 oz. to a gallon of water, can be used to water 
the beds if the spring be dry, or it can be sprinkled 
on the surface, to be washed in by the rain. 
