January  23,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
79 
Dwarf  Fritillarias. 
A  selection  of  the  dwarfer  Fritillarias — those  not  exceeding 
1ft  or  16in  high,  must  include  the  common  Snake’s  Head  Lily, 
F.  Meleagris,  so  common  in  a  naturalised  state  in  the  meadows 
around  Oxford.  Such  others  as  F.  aurea,  delphinensis,  pudica, 
lutea,  camtschatcensis,  citrina,  and  racemosa  may  likewise  be 
named.  True,  all  are  not  very  showy.  Many  of  these  dwarf 
Lily-like  flowers  are  only  favourites  with  those  garden  lovers  to 
whom  all  hardy  plants  appeal,  and  receive  special  sympathy. 
The  little  F.  pudica,  and  aurea,  for  instance,  might  very  easily 
be  passed  by,  by  those  whose  taste  for  such  lowly  gems  has  not 
yet  been  quickened.  But  these  are  just  the  pet  favourites  of 
he  or  she  v'hose  heart  goes  out  to  the  tiny  occupants  of  the 
rock  garden  or  cosy  corner  of  the  hardy  plant  borders.  Mr. 
FRITILLARIA  RACEMOSA  AND  F.  CITRINA. 
TWO  SPECIES  THAT  ARB  RARE  IN  GARDENS. 
Arnott  will  probably  have  some  notes  of  welcome  to  send  when 
he  sees  the  figure  on  this  page.  F.  citrina  is  green,  shaded  with 
citron  yellow,  and  is  not  showy,  yet  is  truly  a  beautiful  flower. 
F.  racemosa  (on  the  left)  is  coloured  dark  purplish  chocolate, 
spotted  with  bright  green. 
Early  Melons. 
Where  seed  was  sown  early  in  January,  and  each  separately 
in  a  small  pot,  a  little  warmed  soil  should  be  as  a  top¬ 
dressing  as  the  plants  grow,  having  them  near  the  glass  to  jne- 
vent  drawing.  Keep  a  sharp  look  out  for  slugs.  A  rmS  of  dry 
soot  or  quicklime  placed  round  the  plants  will  generally  preserve 
them,  but  these  pests  and  woodlice  may  be  trapped  by  placmg  a 
little  bran  on  a  slate  and  inverting  the  half  of  a  Swede  or  Man¬ 
gold  Wurtzel,  with  the  centre  scooped  out  and  notched  at  the 
lower  edge  to  admit  the  molluscs  and  the  crustaceans  to 
hollow,  over  itj  examining  in  the  morning  for  the  woodhoe 
and  in  the  evening  for  the  slugs.  j  •  j 
Soil  should  be  placed  under  cover,  so  as  to  become  dried  pre¬ 
paratory  to  forming  it  into  hillocks  or  ridges  in  the  Melon  house. 
Good  strong  yellow  or  hazel  loam  is  suitable  for  Melons,  and  if 
it  has  been  laid  in  ridges,  so  as  to  reduce  tlie  herbage,  it  will  be 
in  a  fitting  state  for  the  purpose.  If  deficient  of  grit,  add  a  fifth 
of  road  scrapings,  and  if  not  of  a  calcareous  nature  a  similar  pro¬ 
portion  of  old  mortar  rubbish.  If  there  is  need  to  add  manure, 
nothing  is  better  than  fresh  but  sweetened  horse  droppings.  The 
composition  in  that  case  would  be  four  parts  of  loam,  one  part 
each  of  horse  droppings,  road  scrapings,  and  lime  rubbish. — 
Pomona. 
- - 
Strawberries  in  Pots. 
Proceed  steadily  with  plants  that  are  not  required  to  give  fruit 
at  a  particularly  early  stated  time,  especially  in  severe  weather ; 
oOdeg  to  55deg  is  ample  for  those  started  in  December,  and 
60deg  to  65deg  by  day,  erring,  if  at  all,  on  the  safe  side,  the 
low ;  therefore  5deg  less  in  cold  weather,  and  in  the  absence  of 
sun,  is  advisable.  Ventilate  whenever  there  is  a  chance;  the 
trusses  rise  boldest  and  the  flowers  are  strongest  when  the  plants 
have  the  foliage  well  elaborated.  Close  atmosphere  induces  soft 
tissues,  weakly  organs  of  fructification,  imperfect  sets,  and 
deformed,  ill-shapen  fniit. 
Introduce  more  plants  to  shelves  in  Peach  houses  and  vineries 
started  about  this  time.  Rectify  the  drainage  of  the  pots, 
remove  moss  or  other  matter  from  the  surface  of  the  soil^  and 
wash  the  pots  clean.  Surface-dress  with  an  approved  fertiliser, 
mixed  with  a  little  rich  soil,  or  use  fresh  horse  droppings  rubbed 
through  a  quarter-inch  mesh  sieve,  and  give  each  pot  about  half  a 
teaspoonful  of  the  fertiliser,  which  will  be  washed  in  fast  enough. 
Strawberries  require  phosphoric  acid,  potash  or  soda,  and 
nitrogen,  therefore  the  manure  should  consist  of  bone  super¬ 
phosphate  five  parts,  sulphate  of  potash  three  parts,  and  nitrate 
of  soda  two  parts,  mixed,  taking  care  to  have  the  nitrate  finely 
powdered.  Royal  Sovereign  is  a  fine  Strawberry  for  either  size 
or  quality.  Noble  is  an  excellent  kind  for  introducing  now  to 
fruit  in  April,  also  Auguste  Nicaise,  the  latter  being  the  brighter 
fruit.  President,  Sir  Joseph  Paxton,  and  Sir  Charles  Napier 
may  also  be  introduced ;  and  the  very  desirable,  but  seldom 
forced,  variety,  Lucas.  To  maintain  the  succession  of  finiit  un¬ 
broken,  plants  of  La  Grosse  Sucree  and  Vicomtesse  Hericart  de 
Thury  must  also  be  introduced  at  the  same  time. — Grower. 
Early  Cauliflowers. 
The  plan  formerly  adopted  in  securing  early  Cauliflowers, 
namely  sowing  in  September,  pricking  out  the  plants  in  frames 
or  sheltered  place  for  the  winter,  is  not  so  generally  followed 
now.  It  is,  however,  an  excellent  method  of  culture,  especially 
if  handlights  can  be  placed  over  the  plants  to  protect  them  from 
severe  spring  weather  after  planting  out.  The  square  handlights, 
with  moveable  tops,  are  the  best,  because  abundance  of  air,  which 
is  very  essential,  can  be  readily  given,  and  the  plants  fully 
exposed  on  favourable  occasions.  When  planting  for  covering 
with  handlights,  presuming  these  are  of  fair  size,  a  plant  may  be 
placed  in  each  comer,  for  by  the  time  the  plants  are  large  pro¬ 
tection  can  be  dispensed  with.  The  seedlings  ought  not  to  be 
wintered  in  rich  soil,  but  when  planting  out,  it  is  desirable  to 
afford  them  such.  Early  in  April  is  a  good  time  to  plant  them 
out.  .  . 
Many  prefer  to  raise  plants  from  a  January  sowing  rather 
than  have  the  trouble,  and  occupy  space,  by  wintering  ^em. 
An  early  sowing  answers  well  if  such  varieties  as  First  Crop, 
Snowball,  and  other  first  early  sorts  are  cultivated.  Very  little 
heat  is  required  to  germinate  the  seeds,  which  may  be  scattered 
thinly  on  the  surface  of  the  soil  in  a  box,  covered  lightly,  and 
sprinkled,  then  set  in  a  greenhouse  or  vinery.  When  the  seed¬ 
lings  appear  plenty  of  ventilation  must  be  given  to  maintain 
them  sturdy. 
Prick  them  out  in  boxes  or  frames  when  rough  leaves  appear, 
giving  them  4in  of  space  in  good  soil,  over  a  layer  of  manure.  The 
latter  is  useful  when  dividing  and  lifting  the  plants  for  permanent 
planting.  The  seedlings,  after  pricking  out  in  boxes,  must  not 
remain  too  long  under  glass,  but  should  have  frame  treatment,  so 
that  abundant  air  may  be  given  at  all  times  when  the  weather  is 
favourable,  gradually  inuring  them  to  the  open  air,  for  planting 
in  late  April  or  early  May.  ,  .  ,  ,  ,  .  , 
Successional  supplies  are  obtained  by  making  a  further  sowing 
of  Autumn  Giant,  which  is  one  of  the  best  varieties  for  late 
summer  and  autumn.  This  sowing  also  may  be  made  in  a  pan  or 
box,  subsequently  pricking  out  the  seedlings  m  boxes,  airl 
transplanting  them  at  the  end  of  May  into  rich  and  fertile 
ground.  Another  bateh  must  be  planted  from  an  outdoor  sowing 
made  at  the  beginning  of  April.  These  will  be  ready  for  plant¬ 
ing  in  June. — E. 
