foecember 5, 1903. 
THE GARDEN! NO WORLD. 
1003 
value of deep cultivation for herbaceous plants cannot be too 
pin-lily estimated, and is 1 not yet fully recognised, as many of 
the subjects are deep rooters and gross feeders and penetrate 
deeply in search of moisture in diy weather. Especially when 
making new borders should the soil be deeply tilled, for not 
only are the results most apparent, but the labour of watering 
and mulching in dry weather is greatly reduced if the plants! 
have a deep, free root-run. This, may occupy a little more 
time, but. in, the end one will be amply repaid, and the work of 
replanting will not need doing nearly so frequently. 
Plants in Frames. —Cuttings of the summer bedding plants, 
such as Violas, Pentstemons, and the like, also plants which are 
being wintered in ports, should be aired a.s freely as possible on 
all favourable occasions so that they make a sturdy, healthy 
growth, but. when frost is expected, a mat or some protection 
should be placed over the glass. A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenliam House Gardens, Elstree. 
Fruit Under Glass, 
Pot Strawberries. —To he enabled to gather ripe fruit early 
in the month of March, the first batch should be forthwith 
introduced to a growing temperature—namely, 45 deg. to 
50 deg. at night,, with a, slight, advance by day, and where no 
Strawberry house proper is at command and early Peaches are 
forced, place the pots on light airy shelves, where I find they 
come along very satisfactorily when duly attended to as regards 
water, etc. In our case the earliest vinery is closed at the 
same time the Peach house is, and we make it a point to fill 
a long shelf with about 100 plants, where, with the increased 
heat as the Vines advance in growth, the plants come intoi 
flower quite a fortnight earlier than those placed m, the Peach 
house at the same time; and as soon as the flowers begin toi 
open, the plants are removed into the Peach house, where more 
ventilation can be afforded, and when properly set, shifted 
back into the vinery again and gather quite a fortnight earlier 
than from those ini the Peach house. 
Thoroughly wash the pots, and see the drainage hole is 
clear; lightly pricking over the surface; soil will be all that 
is necessary for a, start. When growth becomes active, weak 
manurial waterings may be given occasionally, and the foliage 
lightly syringed once a. day when fine, doing this in the morn- 
iuo\ Koval Sovereign and La Gross© Sucree 1 are two of.the 
best for early work ; and should worms have penetiated into, 
the soil, a little weak lime,water will usually drive them out. 
Succession Vineries —As the Vines become leafless push 
forward the pruning and washing of the same. The glass and 
woodwork should be thoroughly washed down, walls white¬ 
washed and hot-water pipes painted, if need be, which will 
give a, clean look to the interior of the houses. In case the 
woodwork requires painting, now is the time to tackle the job, 
before the borders are put in order for another season. Old 
Vines, having unsightly spurs should be replaced with young 
rods trained up from the base, leaving about 2 ft. 6 in. of rod, 
and cutting away a few spurs each year as the new canes 
extend; this only to be attempted where the borders are rn, 
o-ood heart, and it is not convenient to grub tire old ^ mes out 
and replant the bouse after fornring new borders;. 5 oung 
Vines planted within the past two or three years, and only a 
small piece of border made at the time, will need extending 
as soon as it is seen the roots have reached the limit ol the 
border and this is best done piecemeal in preference to putting 
all the border at once, about 4 ft. being enough to add at 
one, time, building up the face of the border with good turves 
if the old border has all been got out; otherwise Elm boards 
should be placed so that the roots may not enter the. old 
material. Borders 2 ft. to 24 ft. in depth is ample after the 
drainage is in, the components of which were given, in nry 
calendar for October 10th. 
Succession Peach Houses.—Here the work will include the 
pruning out of any ill-ripened wood, and here and there entire y 
removing a large branch probably that has got bare o youn c 
wood at the base,, so as to give more space for tire younger 
growths. Wash the glass, woodwork, etc., also the trees, as 
vset forth in u. previous calendar. Allow a space of from 3 in. 
to 4 in. between each shoot when tying the trees, and do not 
tie, too tight. Remove the rubbish, as well as a couple of 
inches of the inert soil, replacing this with similar soil as 
recommended for the earliest Peach house, and afford water 
at tire root should the borders appear at all diy. Keep thei 
structures well ventilated until closing time arrives, which 
need not be until the new year arrives, as with the increasing 
daylight trees come along much faster than those started in 
November. James Mayxe. 
Bieton, Devonshire. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Polygonatum multiflorum (Solomon’s Seal). —This species 
is the best of the genus for pot culture, and is easily grown 
and forced into, flower during the winter and spring months. 
Imported clumps may be purchased and potted up, or if a 
stock of plants already exists in the garden they may new be 
lifted and potted. A compost consisting of two parts 1 loam, 
one of leaf-soil, and one of well-decayed manure, with sand or 
road-grit added, will answer well. The plant delights in 
abundance of water when, in active growth. They may be 
potted into 6-in. or 7-in. pots and the creeping rhizomes should 
not be entirely buried in the soil. Hard forcing ,should be 
avoided, or the growth made will lack substance. By intro¬ 
ducing a few plants into a, warm house every' ten days ai 
succession of flowers can be maintained fora, long time. Not 
the least of the plant’s beauty is, its bright green leafage borne 
on stiff arching stems, from which depend their greenish-white 
fragrant, flowers. These last for a considerable' time when cut 
and placed in vases of water, whilst as a decorative plant for 
the greenhouse or dwelling it is unique. A Peach house or 
vinery that is being" started will suit them well, and if a bed 
of tree leaves and stable manure has been placed therein for! 
providing warmth and humidity the plants may be plunged 
to the rims of the pot in it. 
Forcing Lilacs. —The sweet-scented Lilac is always admired, 
and It is one of these plants that respond well to gentle forcing 
in winter. Bushy plants well clothed with flower-buds may 
now be purchased, or some may be lifted from the shrubberies 
if not too large;. Like, most liardv plants, .and slirubs, tlie : Lilac 
resents hard forcing ; a temperature of 50 deg. or 55 deg. will 
be ample for the first fortnight after housing : afterwards a, 
rise of a few degrees by sunlieat may be accorded. A Peach 
house or vinery will answer where they can be syringed twice 
or thrice daily. In some gardens a properly-appointed pit or 
house is set apart for forcing these and other plants, and if 
not kept too hot here the Lilacs may be brought on. Those! 
who have lofty structures may lift one or two large bushes 
that have, been transplanted during the last year or two, taking 
care to retain a good ball of soil to them. It is not absolutely 
necessary to pot these ; they may be stood upon the fiooi and 
the roots covered with old potting or other soil. Abundance ot 
tepid water both at the roots and overhead is essential until 
the blossoms 1 begin to open, when, the overhead syringing 
should cease. Excellent varieties for the purpose are Charles 
X., single, Madame L. Lemoine, Virgin it e, and Leon Lemoine, 
double. 
Helleborus niger (Christmas Rose).— There are few hardy 
flowering plants that, surpass this for beauty and utility. The 
uses, to which the flowers may be put are many and varied, and 
the methods adopted for producing pure white flowers are; 
almost as much so. Before recommending the lifting of these 
plants for gentle forcing, I would warn the. inexperienced that 
all this "enus are impatient of having their roots disturbed ; 
therefore unless one lias a large stock of well-established 
plants it’is not advised to lift and pot, them, but to place hand- 
lights or frames over the plants to bring on the flowers. If 
some protection is not afforded the flowers will not be pure 
