153 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
in fhp cultivator to stage the 
’■ r'« Wrlv closely to the roof-glass whilst 
* their growth, also to supply 
rrac"pheric moisture by clamping floor and 
supplemented by overhead wator- 
^ !£ilv until they are allowed to com- 
wLmine To maintain a buoyant 
plMts from the direct rays of the sun 
dTring the hottest part of the day. From 
the t^c the plants are firmly established 
i- the pots in which they are to bloom 
ir4,*iJ manure may be applied once a week 
with advantage. u jj- „ 
4 few first-rate varieties for bedding 
purposes are Mrs. Langtry, white; Count 
^pelin, glowing scarlet; Gambetta, of 
similar colouring; Major Hope, a popular 
kind in light rose; Mrs. French, creamy- 
white; Hilda, deep salmon; Marquis of 
Suffurd, crimson; Lafayette, crimson-scar¬ 
let ; Rev. E. Lascelles, yellow; Hollyhock, 
S ink; Argus, a pleasing shade of scarlet; 
arryLaiiig, brick red; President Savage, 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
During late years we have heard much 
about cloches, intensive cultivation, French 
gardening, and the like, but many who 
are strong advocates of this system fail to 
recognise the important part played in gar¬ 
dening by pits and frames, or ignore them 
altogether. Cloches may be very well, but 
I fail to see their very great merits. Cer¬ 
tainly they are handy for protecting plants 
in the herbaceous borders against the in¬ 
clement weather, or useful for putting over 
salads or herbs; but for bringing things 
forward I should much prefer a cold 
frame, as that does not entail half the 
labour. 
I remember, when first starting garden¬ 
ing, more than half a century ago, that 
hand-lights were then much in vogue. A 
whole host of plants were protected by 
them, hut, as glass became cheaper, these 
hand-lights gave place to frames. In some 
instances they were permanent structures 
At that time I lived not far from the 
moors, where we could obtain plenty of 
ling, and this was made into mats by l^ing 
woven into a frame made of wood, so as 
to form a kind of thatch. Mats of this 
description were warm, ami would keep out 
much snow and rain, as well as the frost, 
and they were very portable, being readily 
handled by a man. In those days most of 
the early produce, such as potatoes, car¬ 
rots, lettuce, celery, French beans, and the 
like’were grown in these primitive struc¬ 
tures. Some others were used for forcing 
asparagus, while bedding plants occupied 
not a few, the old hand-light, cloche, or 
other portable protector being discarded. 
It would, however, appear that the cloche 
was a new invention, and so it may be in 
its present shape, but it has long since 
been put on one side by the more practical 
for something more useful and economical, 
such as pits, frames, and portable low 
houses, which are far less trouble, and give 
greater satisfaction. H. C. P. 
BED OF SEEDLING DOUBLE TUBEROUS BEGONIAS 
In Messrs. Blackmore and Langdon’s Nursery, Twerton Hill, Bath 
fev deep 
• Sne sort ® ^ 
S^'^mmend^; Le„a, rosy-cr 
.••^!o*7 Fie®,'®']*’' ; Alice M 
•'■“k; Golden ^ 
Cactus 
'^elv deep red, , 
Mar’v «®Pecially foi 
^•srd Xl7 white 
5‘“‘P BrandV = Mrs. A 
2^ Ssre, yellow*® i. 
^ Buinford ’ goW; ] 
pi: Lady ( 
77pink;’GladvrTl^'‘^*'® 
♦nnge. > “nd I^ne Tamblini 
WawEE H. Ac 
made of bricks, while in others they were 
temporary ones made of rough boards. 
These latter answered the purpose very 
well. Stakes were driven into the ground 
wide enough apart to take the lights; to 
these rough boards were nailed, and by 
this means a frame was made as long as 
desired. A hotbed was made in a portion, 
if not the whole length, and over this a 
whole host of seeds were sown. In some 
instances the seeds were sown in boxes, 
in others they were sown in specially pre- 
ared soil. As the heat declined fresh 
eds were made, to which the more tender 
subjects were transferred, while those 
in which the heat was on the wane were 
used for pricking out cauliflowers, lettuces, 
celery, etc. These frames, with their glass 
lights, would hold far more than the same 
space covered with cloches, and could be 
readily covered at night with mats or 
other protecting material. 
Planting Vines.— Any preparations 
necessary should now be made for planting, 
but. it ia time enough for a couple of months 
yet to place the vines in the borders. Have 
in readiness a sufficient quantity of good 
loam, old mortar rubble, charred wood, and 
earth, bone-meal, and a little vine manure, 
if considered necessary, mixing all well to¬ 
gether by turning several times. See that 
the drainage is perfectly clear before plac¬ 
ing on the turf, grass side downwards, fol¬ 
lowing afterwards with the compost, which 
can hardly be made too firm. Make the 
border about four feet wide. Those who in¬ 
tend planting one-year-old vines must dis¬ 
entangle the roots before planting, spread¬ 
ing them out carefully, and covering them 
with a nice sharp compost to the thickness 
of about three inches, giving a good water¬ 
ing afterwards with water at 75 degrees. I 
much prefer planting green vines in May or 
June, or even later, prepared from eyo —F. 
Jordan, War ter Priory Gardens. 
