344 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 23, 1908. 
shifting may not be required for several 
years, hence the necessity for paying par¬ 
ticular attention to drainage. Plants of 
this class, if inclined to get too large, can 
easily be pruned. All that is necessary 
is to cut back long rambling shoots so 
as to maintain the symmetry or perfect 
outline of the bush. This may be re¬ 
garded as the simplest of all forms of 
gardening, and those who have an eye 
to symmetry and the beauty of a plant 
cannot make a mistake if they prune 
simply, so as to remove stragglers and 
keep the plant from getting too large. 
If stood too near a wall or doorway while 
making its growth, it would be well to 
turn the tub round at least once a week 
so as to induce an equal growth on all 
sides. By that means it is possible to 
maintain the plant in beauty and a useful 
condition for a much longer period of 
time. 
Strawberries 
In the Open. 
Strawberries cultivated in the open are 
more important to the majority of growers 
than forced plants ; they are of simple 
culture, but the treatment varies, as if 
the Strawberries were all grown one way 
the results would be less satisfactory. 
The old system was to plant a bed every 
half-dozen years, but this is not much 
practised now, and few who study quality 
allow the plants to remain more than 
three years, as the best results are se¬ 
cured from young plants. I even go 
further, and only take one crop from such 
kinds as will fruit freely. The Pine sec¬ 
tion—British Queen, Empress of India, 
and a few others, Latest of All especially 
— do best the second year, that is, as re¬ 
gards quantity of fruit. If the three 
years’ system be adopted, everyone should 
know that Strawberries like a holding or 
rather a heavy soil. Light soil will sup¬ 
port the fruit, but the crop is not so good, 
and suffers badly in hot, dry seasons; 
on the other hand, deeply-dug ground, 
well enriched with decayed manure, will 
be beneficial. 
It is well to plant firmly and not let 
drought check growth. Planting may be 
done in the spring, or the end of summer, 
preferably the latter period, as then the 
plants grow away freely in the spring. 
If planted early in the year the crop is 
nil, but the plants will be building up 
crowns for the next year. If the plants 
are layered into small pots they may be 
planted out well into August, and as re¬ 
gards distance, space must be governed 
by the time the Strawberries are to occupy 
the land. If three years, give i\ ft. be¬ 
tween the rows and 18 in. between the 
plants; if less, say, two years, give 6 in. 
less between the rows ; and if grown as 
annuals, then space need not be so great, 
sav, 18 in. between the rows and the same 
between the plants. Light soils may be 
improved by adding heavy materials, such 
as clay, marl, or cow dung, used as a 
mulch in the summer after the fruit is 
over, or lightly forked in early in April. 
F. SMEDLEY. 
COMPETITION. 
PRIZE LETTER 
Readers are invited to contribute to this 
column short letters, discussing any 
gardening subject. 
Letters should not exceed 150 words 
each in length, and must be written 
How to Make Leek Collars. 
Leek collars can be quite easily made 
b” anyone. A round stick ii inches in 
diameter, a few pieces of good cardboard, 
and some string are the necessary ma¬ 
terials. Cut the cardboard into pieces 
55 inches square, roll it round the stick, 
tie both ends firmly with string, and the 
collar is complete. Zinc collars can be 
made in the same way, and old soft soap 
tins are very useful for the purpose. The 
collars should be put on after planting 
if the plants are of sufficient size, as this 
serves to shelter them till they get estab¬ 
lished. If the collars are drawn up as the 
plant grows above them and partly 
earthed up to keep them firm, they will 
be blanched as white as snow, and have 
a telling effect on the exhibition table. 
W. Chalmers. 
Muchalls. 
How to Grow Mushrooms. 
This fungus is welcome on the table 
the whole year round. I have found a 
good way to grow it is as follows :—When 
making up a hotbed in spring such as is 
usually made for raising seeds, etc., make 
it about three feet wider all round than 
the frame, and when the heat is declin¬ 
ing, put about two inches of soil on and 
put in the spawn. This should be 
covered with straw or other material to 
keep it dark and prevent the moisture 
escaping too quickly. Another plan, 
where space is limited, is to get some 
orange boxes and fill them with horse ma¬ 
nure which has been well aired. Press 
firm, and cover with soil and spawn it. 
Then place the boxes one on top of the 
other in an outhouse and leave space be¬ 
tween them for examination. 
A. Dennett. 
Harbledown. 
Horse-shoe Bed. 
The above makes a pretty bed for 
Pansies in two colours, or, in fact, any 
small, rather close growing plants, red 
and white double Daisies, Forget-me- 
nots, and double Arabis, blue Lobelia, 
and Golden Feather, and many other 
things. It looks best on a lawn, and will 
do well for a centre to a tiny front grass 
plot or for “filling in” between other 
designs on a large lawn. It may be 
shaped like two horse-shoes linked to¬ 
gether, one filled, for example, with bright 
yellow Pansies and the other with dark 
purple, the nails being represented in the 
reverse colours. A little'judicious pinch¬ 
ing will be required where the shoes cross 
each other to keep the outline sharp. 
White and blue Lobelia on a background 
of crimson Irisine, the words “Good 
Luck” in Golden Feather or Echeveria, 
look very well. 
D. V. E. 
on one side of the paper only. 
Two Prises of 2S. 6d. each will be 
awarded each week for the two Letters 
which the Editor considers to be the 
best. 
Kohl Rabi, Knol Kohl, or Turnip-Rooted 
Cabbage. 
This is a vegetable which, if better 
known, would be highly appreciated. It 
is of exquisite flavour, and the past dr\ 
seasons, when the ordinary Turnips have 
been almost useless here, Kohl Rabi has 
been a great acquisition as a substitute. 
It delights in deeply dug and well ma¬ 
nured ground. Seed can be sown at am 
time from April to June in drills 2 fee' 
apart and 5-inch deep, afterwards thinning 
out the seedlings to 1 foot apart, whict 
can be transplanted to another bed 1: 
necessary. In so doing, do not plan 
them too deeply, or it will prevem tht 
globular roots from swelling up to thei 
natural size, which is the edible portioi 
used during the end of summer. Tht 
young sprouts also make a very agreeabh 
dish. It is very hardy, and a drough 
resister. 
L. S. Small. 
Beckenham. 
How to Grow Good Violets. 
In many gardens these sweetly-scentei 
flowers are left in the same position yea 
after year without any attention whateve 
with the result that in time they de 
teriorate. Now to my mind there is no 
thing that repays so well for a little extr; 
attention. This is the usual method 0 
cultivation: As soon as they have ceasei 
flowering they are dug up and only th 
young vigorous runners and side shoot 
saved, these being planted out singly nin 
inches apart in well dug ground and wel 
watered until they are thoroughly estab 
lished. During the summer all runner 
are cut off so that the whole strength i 
thrown back to the centre crown. In dr 
weather they are considerably benefite' 
by occasional soakings with weak liqui 
manure. Two good single varieties ar 
Princess of Wales and Amiral Avellan 
and the best double is Marie Louise. 
E. Miles. 
Canterbury. 
A Bright Winter-Flowering Climber. 
Manettia bicolor is a plant' which dr 
serves greater popularity; few winter 
flowering plants give as good returns fc 
so small an amount of labour. It is a! 
uncommon plant, and blooming as it doe 
throughout the winter months, its scarle 
and yellow flowers never fail to catch th 
eye. 
Cuttings should be struck in March c 
April and potted in two shifts into 6-inc: 
pots, when they may be placed in a cole) 
partially-shaded frame 1 till September 
then topdress them, and place in the 
winter quarters, which should be in 
house where a night temperature of 5 
degrees can be maintained. Tied to th 
wires on the roof is its ideal situation i 
