440 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 4, 1908. 
= Bottling ■ 
—'"'V Fruit and Vegetables. 
The advantage of bottling surplus fruit 
and vegetables during the season of 
plenty to supply us during the winter can¬ 
not be over-estimated. However skilfully 
fruits may be preserved with the aid of 
sugar, it cannot be done without to some 
extent sacrificing the essential flavours of 
the finest fruits, therefore that which can 
effect the same purpose without the addi¬ 
tion of sugar or salt, as the case may be, 
will always command favour with a 
greater number of persons when it be¬ 
comes more thoroughly understood. 
Within recent years the bottling of fruit 
and vegetables' has been steadily on the 
increase. There is not the slightest 
doubt that it is the cost of the bottles that 
has checked the more rapid development 
of this most useful industry both from the 
market and private grower’s point of 
view. This method is particularly adapted 
for Plums. Damsons, Apricots, Peaches, 
Nectarines, Green Gooseberries, Cher¬ 
ries, Red, White, and Black Currants, 
Peas, Tomatos, Runner and French 
Beans, and many other fruits and vege¬ 
tables. 
The process is very simple, and of 
course essentially the same whether for 
large or small quantities of bottles. The 
fruit, etc., to be preserved should be joer- 
fectly clean and free from stalks, etc., as 
well as dry. No further preparation will 
be necessary. Place it at once in the 
bottles, which should be perfectly dry in¬ 
side, and all is ready for the final opera¬ 
tion. A wide boiler or copper is essen¬ 
tial, sufficiently deep to allow the bottles 
to be submerged up to the necks or about 
a foot in depth. The bottles most com¬ 
monly used are about 10 inches in height 
with a mouth of from 2 to 3 inches in 
diameter. Before putting the bottles in 
the boiler a piece of coarse canvas should 
be placed in the bottom to assist in re¬ 
ducing the number of breakages. The 
mouths of the bottles must of course be 
left open until after the boiling process. 
When the bottles are in position add 
warm water till the desired height is 
reached, i.e., up to the necks. The water 
must then be slowly raised to boiling 
point, and be allowed to boil very slowly 
for a few minutes only, for if overdone 
the contents of the bottles will be ren¬ 
dered soft and practically flavourless. It 
is also essential when bottling to preserve 
as far as possible the natural form of the 
fruits and vegetables; if the skins get 
broken the appearance is spoilt. This 
is, of course, of great importance when 
the produce is for sale, as the value 
would be greatly reduced. 
Have a good supply of boiling water at 
hand, and as the bottles are removed 
from the boiler fill them up. Allow them 
to cool somewhat, then tie down or cork 
and seal with ordinary sealing wax in 
such a manner that they are perfectly air¬ 
tight, and the contents will then keep for 
a considerable time. 
Those who wish to prepare only a 
small quantity can obtain a cheap and re¬ 
liable boiler large enough to hold one 
dozen bottles. The boiler, which is 
round, has a thermometer at the side, and 
with the addition of one dozen bottles can 
be purchased for a very moderate sum. 
The bottles themselves are fitted with 
metallic tops, which are secured by spring 
clips, which are easily removed and re¬ 
placed, and answer all the purposes of a 
cork or bladder top. Whichever method 
is adopted the essential point is that the 
boiling should be done slowly, and the 
more gradual it is done within reason the 
more likely is the fruit to retain its na¬ 
tural form, colour, and flavour, so that 
when it is used it should as nearly as pos¬ 
sible resemble the fresh produce. 
L. S. Small. 
-- 
Strain of Brompton Stocks. 
A very fine strain of the true old 
Brompton Stock was shown by Messrs. R. 
Veitch and Son, Exeter, at the meeting 
of the R.H.S. on June 9th, and was ac¬ 
corded an Award of Merit for the strain. 
The strong branching spikes are 18 in. 
to 20 in. long, covered with remarkably 
large and double flowers of a dark mauve- 
purple colour. The pips measured 2 in. 
to in. across. These fine Stocks were 
grown in their Exminster Nursery within 
the influence of the sea and were remark- 
ablv fine. 
- a. w. - 
Prize Competitions. 
CENERAL CONDITIONS:—Competitors must 
write on one side of the paper only. Regular 
paid contributors to THE GARDENING 
WORLD or other gardening journals are de¬ 
barred from entering, but occasional con¬ 
tributors may compete. The name and ad¬ 
dress of the competitor must appear on each 
article sent for competition. The Editor’s 
decision is final, and he reserves the right 
to reproduce, in any way,! any artiole or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINGS will be given 
for the best paragraph or short article on any 
gardening subject, such as hints of practical 
interest to gardeners, notes on the propaga¬ 
tion or cultivation of flowers, fruits or vege¬ 
tables, eradication of pests, etc. The para¬ 
graph or article must not exceed a column, but 
value rather than length will be considered in 
making the award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
following date, of issue. Entries received later 
than Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
the following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. 6d. will be awarded each 
week for the two best letters, not exceeding 
150 words, on any interesting gardening sub- 
jeot. 
RESULTS OF 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the beat papers in this competition 
are too long, and we desire readers to keep 
within a column. 
-The prize in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “TV. Glover” for the article on 
“ The Rockery,” page 424. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize 
was awarded to “ Wm. Smith,” for the article 
on “ Schizanthus ” ; and another to “ A. 
Middleton ” for the article on “ Beauty of 
Nice Stock,” page 432. 
= Violets = 
And their Cultur 
In growing Violets, it is essential 
take cuttings as soon as the plants ha' 
finished flowering, choosing the you: 
growths that come direct from the bottu 
of the plant, as I find these produce :: 
the best plants and have not such a tti- 
dency to make runners. In selecting t; 
position for the cuttings, choose one tit 
is partially shaded, as this will helpo 
check red spider and retain moisture, a 
preparing the bed for receiving the c- 
tings it is essential to dig deeply, s 
Violets roots, especially those of Princs 
of Wales, descend to two feet or en 
more, hence the deepest cultivation of e 
soil is necessary; success depends largy 
upon it, for there is nothing more oppod 
to their ultimate welfare than trying o 
grow them on a poor, shallow soil, [t 
must be worked to a minimum depfinf 
two feet, plenty of leaf soil, or the s- 
mains of the old hotbed, being wellh- 
corporated with the soil. This shouloe 
placed evenly in each trench, the hot 
of the trench being well broken up, 
on this should be put some old mo 
rubble and soot. Finally dust with Jor 
and prepare for planting. 
Plant firmly and about fifteen inces 
apart. To obtain success, it is esseral 
to pay the greatest attention to the pi 
while they are in their summer quart s: 
the soil must be kept free from weeds, id 
hoed frequently, so as to keep it sm 
and as they begin to grow, a sprinklinof 
be 
soot will be found beneficial, and 
syringe must be applied several ties 
daily, taking great care to get underlie 
leaves, otherwise that much dreaded st. 
red spider, will get into them and irk 
havoc with a promising batch of sff. 
All runners must be removed. An c:a- 
sional syringing with soot water wil be 
found a very effectual remedy for ed 
spider. 
By the beginning of September re¬ 
parations should be made for their flejer- 
ing quarters, and for this purpose noting 
is better than a hotbed made with deefed 
leaves and stable litter, a little in advjice 
and on this place a frame in a pos.on 
so as to get as much sun as posale. 
Cover the bed with about fifteen inch| of 
soil, old- potting soil mixed with 
ashes suiting them well. Place otthe 
>od 
ind 
ver 
ves 
lights and keep close for a few days 
in the event of very scorching sun, 
with a mat, as the flagging of the 1 
is very injurious to the plants. Iijall 
suitable weather the lights should be 
taken, off,-all decayed matter shoul be 
removed, and they should be afhded 
plenty of air, as purity and air arejery 
essential to them. By adopting lose 
methods Violets can be grown to po¬ 
tion. • 
I append what I consider to be thuo^: 
varieties, namely: — Swanley White, ady 
Hume Cambell, Marie Louise, N-po- 
litan, and Mrs. J. J. Aster, doubles. »nd 
Princess of Wales, La France, and 
Baroness Rothschild, singles 
H. Steves. 
