m 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTTCULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENETl 
December  2,  1897. 
Asparagus,  of  the  right  type  for  decorative  purposes,  were  there  in 
abundance,  and  Poinsettias  and  Gesneras  added  plenty  of  colour  to  the 
scene. 
In  a  cool  house  at  the  end  of  the  range  I  noticed  a  grand  array  of 
Cyclamens,  plants  ot  large  size,  having  fine  leathery  leaves  and  a  wealth  of 
flower  buds  just  beginning  to  expand.  They  are  fine  examples  of 
cultural  skill,  and  will,  without  doubt,  be  highly  prized  at  Christmas  time. 
Winter  flowering  Pelargoniums  are  also  well  grown  here,  the  favourite 
variety  being  Kate  Farmer,  a  soft  salmon  pink  with  large  flower  pips. 
Chrysanthemums  made  a  good  display  in  the  conservatory,  and  although 
they  are  not  grown  for  exhibition  many  of  the  flowers  were  wonderfully 
fine.  The  plants  grown  on  the  large  bloom  jirinciple  are  found  particularly 
useful  for  dotting  among  Palms  in  the  conservatory,  and  for  arranging  at 
intervals  among  those  grown  as  bushes  ;  indeed,  for  such  purposes  a  few 
large  blooms  ought  to  lie  grown  in  every  garden. 
A  good  sized  Peach  case  has  recently  been  erected.  In  this  young 
trees  are  advancing  well,  and  the  wood  being  thinly  disposed  and  not  too 
strong,  must  ripen  well.  A  few  large  bunches  of  Alicante  Grapes  remained 
in  the  late  vinery.  All  the  Vines  are,  however,  old,  and  the  borders  are 
being  renovated  as  quickly  as  circumstances  will  allow.  On  a  shelf  near 
the  glass  in  one  of  the  fruit  houses  INfalmaison  Carnations  were  to  be  seen 
in  splendid  condition,  each  leaf  being  perfectly  free  from  disease'  and  of  a 
deep  green  colour. 
The  soil  at  Bericote  is  good,  being  a  sound  loam,  rather  heav}q  just 
such  a  one  as  most  gardeners  delight  in  after  it  has  been  well  worked. 
This  is  being  done,  and  there  are  evidences  on  ever}'  hand  at  Bericote  that 
Captain  Starkey  has  a  practical  gardener  who  delights  in  his  work,  and 
performs  with  a  will  the  duties  entrusted  to  him  and  his  assistants. — 
Waxdeker. 
Rose  Crimsok  Rambler. 
How  much  has  IMr.  William  Paul’s  recent  note  on  this  fine  climbing 
Rose  evidenced  the  value  of  euphony  in  a  name.  Who  would  have  cared 
for  a  Rose  under  the  name  of  “  Engineer  ”  or  “  Paniculata  ?  ”  I  hope  that 
these  harsh  sounding  appellations,  whatsoever  their  priority,  will  be 
buried  and  forgotten.  No  name  could  have  been  happier  than  is  that  ot 
Trimson  Rambler,  and  evidence  of  its  suitability  to  the  plant  has  been 
furnished  by  the  way  it  has  caught  on  with  the  public.  The  case 
illustrates  the  need  there  is  for  more  names  that  are  of  a  catching  and 
pleasing  nature.  We  have,  especially  in  Roses,  far  too  many  of  what  I 
may  term  epitaphal  names,  because  they  have  served  to  rescue  from 
merited  oblivion  so  many  living  or  dead  persons  never  previously  heard 
of.  Very  questionable  honour  is  paid  to  worthy  persons  when  flowers 
are  named  after  them.  Perhaps  they  are  named  in  one  year  and  found 
worthless  and  forgotten  the  next.  Such  is  floral  fame.— A,  D. 
Autumn  Pruning. 
In  many  instances  inexperienced  growers  whose  Roses  have  made 
shoots  4  feet  and  5  feet  in  length  during  the  summer  and  autumn  are 
tempted  to  cut  them  back  with  the  view  of  making  them  look  tidy  during 
the  winter.  Others  have  an  impression  that  when  the  wood  has  been 
formed  and  matured  the  sooner  it  is  pruned  the  better  ;  but  all  pruning 
in  autumn  is  a  mistake,  and  should  never  be  done.  Its  injurious  effects 
may  not  be  seen  immediately,  but  in  the  majority  of  cases  they  will 
become  disagreeably  visible  before  the  summer.  I  have  rarely  known 
long  uncut  well-ripened  Rose  shoots  injured  by  the  severity  of  any 
ordinary  winter  ;  but  when  they  were  cut  in  autumn  I  have  frequently 
seen  them  die  back  a  considerable  way  from  the  cut  part  in  passing 
through  a  winter  of  no  uncommon  severity,  while  intense  frosts  and  bad 
weather  killed  many  of  them. 
Again,  it  is  well  known  that  the  buds  at  the  tops  of  Rose  shoots 
always  start  into  growth  first  in  spring,  and  when  the  weather  is  mild 
in  February  the  shoots  on  the  tops  of  the  branches  may  become  some 
inches  in  length  ;  but  the  keen  winds  experienced  as  a  rule  in  IMarch 
destroy  these  to  such  an  extent  that  all  chance  of  their  becoming 
useful  ends.  It  is  after  this  that  the  great  advantage  of  being  able  to 
cut  back  the  growths  until  sound  plump  buds  are  reached  gladdens  the 
cultivator  ;  but  with  autumn- pruned  plants  no  benefits  of  this  kind  can 
be  experienced,  as  they  are  cut  in  until  only  a  few  buds  remain,  which 
may  be  induced  to  start  prematurely  in  spring,  when  they  are  killed.  If 
not  quite  killed  these  early  growths  are  almost  certain  to  be  checked,  and 
fail  to  become  so  strong  or  bloom  so  free!}'  as  later  growths. 
I  would  rather  see  my  Rose  buds  quite  dormant  about  the  beginning 
of  March,  then  the  young  shoots,  several  inches  in  length  in  April  and 
May,  would  be  free  and  vigorous,  and  this  can  only  be  properly  managed 
by  entirely  avoiding  autumn  pruning.  Some  growths  may  be  so  long 
and  straggling  now  that  to  allow  them  to  remain  so  might  injure  the 
roots  of  the  plant  through  their  being  twisted  by  the  wind,  and  in  such 
cases  firm  staking  and  tying  is  best  ;  or  if  cutting  must  be  done,  the 
shoots  should  only  be  shortened  back  without  going  so  deeply  into  the 
wood  as  to  call  it  pruning.— RoSARlAN. 
CONIFERS  AND  THE  LATE  WINDS. 
Tjie  gale  that  passed  over  this  district  (North  Midland)  on  Monday, 
November  29th,  was  the  mo'st  severe  since  the  one  in  March  of  1895. 
The  last  named  did  a  large  amount  of  damage,  not  only  to  property,  but 
was  also  so  destructive  in  the  uprooting  of  fine  trees,  ])articularly  the 
Coniferous  family. 
The  strong  north-westerly  gale  of  last  IMonday  destroyed  or  mutilated 
many  of  this  family,  notably  a  tine  example  growing  here  of  the  Greek 
Silver  Fir,  Abies  cephalonica.  This  tree  w'as  feathered  from  the  ground 
to  the  apex  with  healthy  branches  and  foliage,  and  annually  produced 
large  numbers  of  its  beautiful  cones  7  to  8  inches  in  length.  This  year 
there  were  many  hundreds  of  them,  and  their  fine  chestnut-brown  colour 
was  a  striking  feature  in  the  autumn  sunshine.  The  tree  was  Gfi  feet  in 
height,  with  a  trunk  7  feet  ti  inches  in  circumference  at  8  feet  from  the 
ground. 
Although  it  has  withstood  the  force  of  winds  for  perhaps  fifty  or  sixty 
years,  it  happens  that  when  these  Silver  Firs  attain  to  a  certain  height 
their  tops  or  heads  spread  out  and  become  heavier,  so  it  demonstrates 
their  unfitness  for  the  planting  of  avenues.  The  gale  of  1895  was 
particularly  destructive  to  the  Silver  Fir  family,  most  notably  Abies 
pinsapo,  A.  cephalonica,  A.  lasiocarpa,  and  A,  excelsa,  all  upwards  of 
GO  feet  in  height.  The  Lebanon  Cedar  also  suffered  severely,  many  fine 
specimens  being  blown  down,  and  others  Viroken  about  badly. 
Not  a  tree  in  the  long  avenue  of  Wellingtonias  here  has  been 
disturbed  by  the  winds,  and  the  giant  Arbor  Vitm,  Thuia  gigantea,  of 
which  there  are  large  numbers  of  tine  specimens,  60  feet  high,  stands  the 
strong  winds  well.  The  same  may  be  said  of  Libocedrus  decurrens. 
These  three  species  of  Conifers  are  certainly  most  useful  for  their  wind- 
resisting  power  to  anyone  contemplating  avenues  of  Conifers,  but  for 
their  successful  well  doing,  a  good  loam  of  sufficient  de])th  is  necessary. 
They  are  growing  here  in  a  soil  with  an  average  depth  of  2  to  3  feet,  with 
gravel  beneath. — A.  Harding,  Orton. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Early  Forcing  Straavberries. 
In  many  establishments  the  earliest  Strawberries  are  usually  started 
early  in  December,  and  will  produce  fruit  in  March  or  April  if  desired. 
To  maintain  a  continual  supply  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  in  quantities 
of  plants  at  intervals  of  about  three  weeks  or  a  month. 
All  dead  or  decayed  leaves  must  be  removed  from  the  plants,  and  the 
pots  be  well  cleaned.  Place  the  plants  close  to  the  glass  in  a  temperature 
of  45'"'  by  night,  with  5°  or  10°  higher  in  the  day.  After  a  few  weeks  the 
temperature  may  be  raised  from  5°  to  10°  higher.  The  syringe  may  be 
used  twice  daily  in  favourable  weather  up  to  the  flowering  stage,  when  it 
should  be  discontinued  until  after  the  fruit  is  set. 
During  the  flowering  season  the  atmosphere  ought  to  be  kept  some¬ 
what  drier,  and  a  free  circulation  of  air  should  be  maintained  on  every 
available  occasion.  Give  the  flower  trusses  a  gentle  tap  about  midday,  as 
this  will  assist  the  distribution  of  the  pollen.  In  many  cases  it  may  be 
advisable  to  thin  out  the  fruit,  when  the  remaining  ones  will  be  of  much 
better  quality.  As  soon  as  the  fruit  commences  to  swell  the  temperature 
may  be  raised  gradually  to  60°  or  65°  by  night,  with  5°  to  10°  higher  in 
the  day.  A  top-dressing  of  some  artificial  manure  will  prove  beneficial 
to  the  fruit,  but  in  my  opinion  it  is  best  to  be  applied  only  after  the  fruit 
commences  to  swell.  The  flavour  of  the  fruits  is  much  improved  by 
admitting  more  air. 
Strawberries  do  not  force  well  more  than  one  season,  so  that  a  fresh 
supply  of  plants  should  lie  prepared  annuall}'.  The' soil  most  suitable 
is  a  strong  and  rich  loam,  with  the  addition  of  some  decayed  manure. 
Royal  Sovei'eign  is  one  of  the  best  for  early  use. — J.  F.  D.,  Yorks. 
Calanthes. 
There  are  many  useful  Calanthes,  some  of  which  are  of  evergreen 
foliage,  while  others,  such  as  C.  vestita,  Veitchi,  and  Turneri,  are  of  a 
deciduous  nature.  They  generally  lose  their  foliage  about  the  time  they 
commence  flowering.  IVhen  arranged  tastefully  with  Ferns  and  other 
foliage  plants  they  produce  a  charming  display  for  a  considerable  time, 
while  they  last  along  time,  either  as  cut  flowers,  for  which  they  are  of  great 
value,  or  when  allowed  to  remain  on  the  plants.  Nearly  all  the  species 
have  striking  and  attractive  flower  spikes,  the  majority  of  which  are  large 
and  of  an  erect  habit.  They  are  of  easy  cultivation,  and  are  unsurpassed 
by  any  plant  as  regards  their  usefulness. 
The  compost  I  have  s(  en  them  most  successfully  grown  in  is  good 
fibrous  loam  and  peat  in  equal  parts,  one-quarter  part  dried  cow  manure 
and  silver  sand.  On  this  occasion  they  were  grown  in  6  and  7-inch  pots, 
which  were  clean,  and  about  half  full  of  crocks.  The  pseudo-bulbs  were 
sorted  out,  and  three  or  four,  according  to  their  size,  were  placed  in  a  pot. 
They  had  been  previously  rooted  in  boxes  in  a  temperature  of  65°  by 
night,  and  from  5°  to  10°  higher  in  the  day.  The  boxes  had  1  inch  of 
sphagnum  in  each,  which  seemed  to  suit  the  Calanthes  admirably. 
After  potting  they  were  kept  close  and  well  syringed  about  the  pots, 
but  the  foliage  was  not  wet  at  all.  We  watered  them  very  carefully  until 
the  plants  were  well  established,  when  they  were  removed  to  a  tempera¬ 
ture  of  55°  by  night,  and  10°  higher  in  the  day.  A  cleaner  or  healthier 
collection  of  Calanthes  I  have  never  seen.  The  greatest  possible  care 
was  exercised  in  admitting  air,  and  the  plants  were  wmll  shaded  from  the 
hot  sun  ;  but  as  much  light  as  possible  was  afforded  to  them  by  removing 
