4 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  4, 1895. 
iStrawberries  under  glass.  One  person  of  my  acquaintance 
confines  his  Strawberry  growing  to  forced  plants,  and  with  good 
results,  as  I  happen  to  know.  He  does  not  try  to  ripen  the  fruit 
before  the  middle  of  March,  his  main  supply  comes  in  in  April,  and 
lealises  a  remunerative  price.  No  difficulty  is  experienced  in 
selling  the  first  samples  at  Ss.  6d.  per  pound,  or  even  more  than 
that.  Here,  again,  Noble  is  the  variety  grown.  Purchasers  of 
early  Strawberries  have  more  regard  for  appearance  than  individual 
'iavour  of  the  fruit.  Many  wrinkles  may  be  picked  up  in  Straw¬ 
berry  forcing  from  these  market  men,  some  which  I  may  refer  to 
on  a  future  occasion. 
Since  writing  the  foregoing  I  am,  through  the  courtesy  of  the 
station  master  at  Swanwick,  able  to  give  a  few  more  particulars 
regarding  the  enormous  traffic  done  at  this  small  station  with 
Strawberries  during  the  past  week.  On  Monday,  June  17th,  no 
less  than  25,000  baskets  were  despatched  to  London  only,  and  from 
dOOO  to  7000  were  sent  to  various  parts  in  addition,  giving  a  total 
of  32,000  in  one  day.  This  enormous  number  of  baskets  required 
eighty-six  specially  constructed  and  fitted  vans.  At  one  time 
standing  on  the  platform  there  were  no  less  than  4700  baskets,  in 
itself  a  wonderful  sight.  On  Tuesday,  18th,  102  vans  were  required 
to  despatch  the  fruit,  which  is  a  record.  It  should  be  understood, 
though,  that  many  of  them  were  not  specially  fitted  up,  and  there¬ 
fore  did  not  carry  so  many  packages  as  the  day  previous.  It,  how- 
ever,  goes  to  show  the  enormous  trade  done  in  Strawberries  at 
this  small  station,  and  the  requirements  of  the  railway  company  to 
despatch  with  such  promptness  as  they  do  so  remarkable  a  con¬ 
signment.  One  train  to  the  north  contained  no  less  than  thirty- 
one  vans.  For  six  days,  commencing  on  17cb,  no  less  than  77,529 
baskets  were  sent  to  London  only,  and  at  a  rough  calculation 
20,000  were  booked  northward,  making  a  grand  total  for  six  days  of 
nearly  98,000.  IE  we  average  these  baskets  as  weighing  6  lbs.  the 
enormous  weight  of  262  tons  10  cwt.  is  arrived  at,  or  a  daily 
average  of  43  tons.  Such  figures  as  these  may  interest  Journal 
ireaders,  and  give  to  the  public  some  idea  of  the  trade  done  in 
strawberries  in  Hampshire. — E.  Molyneux. 
SWEET  WILLIAMS. 
T  SAW  a  few  days  since  a  number  of  rich  crimson  single  Sweet 
Williams.  It  is  one  of  the  difficulties  incidental  to  Sweet  William  seed- 
aaving,  that  if  these  deep  rich-coloured  seifs  be  grown  in  conjunction 
with  the  light-coloured  flowers,  these  latter  dominate  so  much  that  it  is 
practically  impossible  to  keep  the  dark  seifs  true,  hence  for  seed  produc- 
sion  the^  importance  of  having  them  grown  removed  from  all  others. 
Then  it  is  also  one  of  the  peculiarities  of  this  self  section,  that  seldom 
are  the  flowers  so  large  or  so  finely  formed  as  are  those  of  the  light 
flowers.  Now  and  then  one  or  two  exhibit  very  fine  form,  but  as  a  rule* 
size  is  invariably  less.  That  defect,  if  it  be  so,  and  I  do  not  say  that  it 
is,  is  very  amply  compensated  by  the  intensely  rich  colours  found  in 
the  seifs,  some  of  which  should  be  mixed  with  every  collection. 
The  chief  fault  of  many  Sweet  William  strains  is  formality  arising 
from  the  somewhat  severe  floral  rules  governing  their  judging,  when 
exhibited,  as  smooth  edged  pips,  of  good  size,  and  having  ringed  or  edged 
Hiarkings,  are  those  chiefly  in  favour,  and  that  leads  to  the  growing  of 
strains  of  very  formal  or  uniform  style,  and  shuts  out  that  variety  which 
should  always  rnark  any  good  garden  strain.  Admittedly,  the  Sweet 
William  is  a  florist’s  flower,  and  as  such  very  often  exhibited  at  shows 
for  prizes,  yet  it  is  even  more  a  charming  hardy  border  flower,  and  so 
grown  is  all  the  more  pleasing,  the  greater  the  variety.  When  I  was, 
some  years  since,  growing  Sweet  Williams  largely  for  seed  production, 
X  concluded  tha*t  for  one  person  who  would  grow  for  show  fifty  would 
grow  for  ordinary  garden  decoration  ;  therefore  were  less  anxious  to  have 
large  smooth-edged  and  similar  looking  flowers  than  those  that  were  very 
varied  in  markings,  were  very  showy,  came  in  large  trusses,  and  were 
nevertheless  very  fine  pips. 
Many  of  those  having  serrated  edges  seemed  to  my  taste  to  have 
x^uite  as  much,  if  not  more  of  beauty,  than  the  smooth-edged  flowers 
had.  Very  many,  too,  produced  blooms  that  were  beautifully  marbled, 
a  most  interesting  feature  as  giving  variety — distinctly  novel.  Some 
were  pure  selfe,  such  as  white,  carmine,  or  deep  red. 
'/vas  the  charming  Auricula  eyed  section,  mostly  saw 
edged,  having  white  eyes  with  a  ground  of  red,  crimson,  plum,  or  some 
■dark  hue,  and  the  outer  margin  perhaps  of  a  light  shade.  These  again 
were  very  attractive  in  this  popular  flower.  Far  too  often  now  after 
there  has  been  such  fine  strains  so  long  in  commerce  very  small  flowered 
inferior  forms  are  found  in  gardens.  Surely  those  who  grow  them 
eanuot  know  of  the  very  much  finer  strains  that  can  be  purchased  just 
as  cheaply,  and  grown  with  the  same  ease.  It  is  rather  late  to  sow 
Sweet  William  seeds  now,  yet  not  too  late  to  get  plants  strong  enough  to 
carry  single  stems.  These  should  be  planted  in  trebles,  and  then  they 
give  very  good  effects  the  first  year. 
,  I  always  preferred  to  sow  seeds  early  in  May,  getting  good  strong 
seedlings  to  put  out  about  the  end  of  June  ;  and  such  plants  would  in 
fairly  good  soil  grow  into  quiie  big  clumps,  and  the  following  year  carry 
several  fine  trusses  of  bloom.  Such  plants  as  these  are  very  attractive 
objects  in  a  garden,  especially  if  from  one  of  our  modern  strains.  ' 
Sweet  Williams  will  often  stand  through  hard  dry  weather  better  than 
during  a  wet  winter.  Their  great  trouble  in  the  latter  case  is  in  an 
attack  of  fungus,  or  black  spot.  That  may  be  checked  by  applications 
of  sulphur  or  of  sulphate  of  copper  and  lime,  but  it  is  not  easy  to  correct. 
When  plants  that  have  once  bloomed  make  numerous  new  shoots  and 
are  left  to  winter  it  is  a  good  plan  to  strew  fine  potting  soil  in  and  about 
the  shoots.  The  effect  is  both  to  furnish  protection  for  the  winter 
and  to  promote  rooting. 
Specially  fine  sorts  can  in  this  way  be  easily  propagated,  or  they  will 
readily  root  as  cuttings  ;  still  it  is  well  always  to  save  seeds  from  the 
finest  and  most  attractive  flowers,  and  thus  promote  increase,  that  is  if 
It  be  thought  desirable  to  save  seeds.  Where  seeds  are  not  wanted,  then 
80  soon  as  the  flowers  die  off  the  heads  should  be  cut  out,  as  often  the 
stems  will  break  lower  down,  and  thus  give  many  small  trusses  from  side 
shoots. 
Very  easily  raised  from  seeds,  sowings  being  made  either  broadcast 
or  thinly  in  shallow,  broad  drills,  there  is  no  reason  why  plants  should 
not  be  had  in  abundance  every  year.  Usually  classed  with  biennials, 
Sweet  Williams  are  not  infrequently  perennials  in  a  restricted  sense. 
Still,  it  is  much  best  to  raise  from  seeds  every  year,  and  when  that  is  the 
case  flowered  plants  can  be  cleared  away  as  soon  as  their  season’s 
blooming  is  over,  and  strong  young  ones  take  their  places.  There  seems 
to  be  little  fear  that  any  new  fashion  in  garden  flowers  is  likely  to 
displace  so  old  a  favourite  in  popular  estimation. — A.  D. 
CURRENT  NOTES. 
The  Journal  of  June  20ch  contains  several  interesting  items,  on  a  few 
of  which  I  should  like  to  offer  some  remarks. 
“  Pomona,”  writing  of  red  spider  on  Grape  Vines,  speaks  somewhat 
disparagingly  of  sulphur  as  a  destructive  agent.  Once  spider  has  gained 
a  firm  footing  there  is  no  better  method  of  dislodging  the  enemy  than 
by  sponging.  For  some  years  I  was  annually  annoyed  with  attacks  on 
a  particular  part  of  a  vinery,  I  tried  painting  the  pipes  before  the 
time  of  attack  with  a  solution  of  sulphur,  soot,  and  softsoap,  the  latter 
to  cause  the  sulphur  to  stick,  and  the  soot  to  disguise  the  yellow  colour, 
and  for  years  there  has  been  no  appearance  of  the  dreadful  little  insect. 
Lime  and  sulphur,  it  may  be  said,  is  a  somewhat  risky  mixture  to  apply, 
and  one  that  cannot  be  safely  recommended.  Sulphur  itself  I  have  never 
known  to  act  harmfully  on  either  foliage  or  fruit. 
I  cultivate  a  few  Strawberries  in  pots  to  come  in  at  the  same 
time  as  those  noted  by  Mr.  Craven  on  page  535.  Instead,  however, 
of  placing  the  runners  in  their  fruiting  pots  at  once  I  allow  them 
to  form  good  balls  in  the  ground,  and  then  pot  them  in  the  usual 
way.  Strawberries  require  an  immense  amount  of  labour  when 
layered  in  small  pots,  and  that  at  a  time  when,  in  my  case  at 
least,  there  is  other  very  pressing  work  to  do.  My  plan  is  to  go 
over  the  plants  from  which  the  runners  are  to  be  taken,  select  the 
best  and  add  a  little  suitable  manure  to  the  surface  of  the  soil 
into  which  the  layer  is  to  root.  In  due  course  the  layers  are  again 
looked  to  and  the  connection  with  the  old  plant  severed.  The  manure 
causes  the  little  plants  to  form  a  densely  rooted  ball  close  to  the  base  of 
the  runner,  and  as  watering  does  not  begin  until  after  they  are  potted  in 
the  first  week  of  August,  the  saving  in  that  one  item  is  not  small. 
Mr.  Iggulden  (page  535)  touches  on  a  subject  of  the  utmost  import¬ 
ance,  and  one  that  may  be  considerably  extended  and  amplified.  Our 
northern  climate  has  everything  to  do  with  the  fact  that  crops  cannot  be 
taken  off  the  ground  so  early  or  so  quickly  and  others  got  in  so  soon  as 
in  the  south,  but  the  labour-saving  principle  applies  notwithstanding. 
We  cannot,  for  instance,  plant  Cabbages  after  Onions,  because  the  latter 
are  not  off  tue  ground  until  the  season  for  planting  the  first-named  is 
far  past.  We  can,  and  do,  however,  put  them  in  after  Potatoes,  which 
are  later  in  maturing.  The  ground  is  now  occupied  with  Brassica,  all 
the  preparation  having  been  met  by  hoeing  and  raking  over  the  ground. 
Then  part  of  our  late  Pea  crop  has  just  neen  sown,  the  preparation  in 
this  case  being  the  producing  of  shallow  trenches  and  digging  where  the 
Peas  were  to  be  sown. 
The  remarks  on  thick  sowing  are  exactly  to  the  point,  but  it  is 
almost  incredible  that  anyone  can  be  found  who  practises  sowing  so 
thickly  as  Mr.  Iggulden  indicates.  I  have  to  watch  that  young  men  do 
not  sow  thickly,  and  have  even  gone  to  the  extreme  of  making  a  zealous 
young  fellow  pick  up  and  bag  the  greater  portion  of  a  too  thickly  sown 
crop.  Cottagers,  again,  are  exceedingly  diffident  about  sowing  or  plant¬ 
ing  thinly.  I  showed  an  intelligent  man  the  other  day  the  good  effects 
of  sowing  Peas  thinly.  He  admitted  the  force  of  the  living  facts,  but 
in  hia  case  “  he  was  feared  it  wadna  do.” 
Much  saving  in  labour  is  effected  by  keeping  work  well  in  hand.  A 
week  too  late  during  the  summer  in  transplanting  a  crop  increases  the 
labour  to  an  enormous  extent.  Small  well-rooted  plants  are  easier  to 
handle  and  invariably  grip  the  soil  quicker  than  larger  ones.  They  can, 
moreover,  be  left  to  themselves  if  put  out  in  suitable  planting  weather, 
and  the  resulting  crop  is  always  better.  Then  there  are  methods  of 
work,  such,  for  instance,  as  hoeing,  or  tying,  or  removing  material, 
where,  without  exaggeration,  one  man  may  be  managed  so  as  to  do  the 
work  of  two.  As  a  rule  I  find  men  have  no  idea  of  either  saving  labour 
to  themselves  or  of  furthering  work. 
