382 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  11,  1899. 
vegetables  than  the  latter  where  a  large  demand  has  to  be  met  with 
limited  accommodation,  for  it  is  dwarf  and  compact  in  growth,  very 
hardy,  and  never  turns  in  until  quite  the  middle  of  May.  Methven’s 
is  even  later,  but  not  so  large  or  distinct,  and  therefore  not  so  much 
to  be  depended  upon. 
With  regard  to  transplanting  Broccoli  much  misconception  exists. 
By  all  means  prick  out  the  plants  if  room  can  be  found  for  them,  but 
when  they  have  been  pricked  out  they  must  not  be  drawn  again  and 
planted  with  a  pin  or  dibber.  This  does  away  w'ith  many  of  the  best 
roots,  while  those  that  remain  are  crowded  and  cramped  into  a  hole 
not  large  erough  for  them.  Drills  should  be  drawn,  and  after  well 
soaking  the  plants  they  should  be  carefully  lifted  and  planted  out  with 
trowels.  I  never  dig  the  ground  for  Broccoli ;  it  follows  whatever 
crop  is  on  the  ground,  with  no  more  preparation  than  a  light  hoeing 
and  raking.  When  Strawberries  are  grown  on  the  three-years 
principle,  no  better  place  than  the  old  beds  can  be  found,  simply 
hoeing  off  the  Strawberries  and  planting  direct. — II.  E.  Eichards. 
BLACKBERRY  CULTIVATION. 
I  WAS  pleased  to  see  Mr.  Luckhurst’s  note  on  Blackbirry  cultiva¬ 
tion  in  your  issue  of  last  week  (page  355).  I  fully  agree  with  him 
that  this  is  a  much -neglected  fruit.  I  am  also  at  one  with  him  in  the 
conclusion  that  one  great  reason  of  its  having  failed  to  establish 
itself  in  the  favour  of  the  public  is  that  most  people  look  upon  it  as  a 
common  fruit  unworthy  of  a  good  situation  and  fair  cultivation,  in 
fact  it  is  usually  relegated  to  the  coverings  of  rough  rockeries,  banks, 
or  any  out  of  the  way  corner;  but  I  think  a  still  stronger  reason  is 
that  many  people  class  the  Parsley-leaved  Blackberry,  E.  laciuiatus, 
amongst  the  American  Blackberries,  so  many  of  which  have  been 
tried  and  found  wanting,  and  thus  condemn  all  alike,  without  giviuof 
our  English  friend  a  trial.  ° 
It  is,  of  course,  known  to  many  that  the  Parsley-leaved  is  a 
British  variety,  having  been  found  many  years  ago  as  a  chance 
seedling  in  a  bed  of  pot  pdants  at  Iland.sworth  Nurseries;  but  this 
knowledge  cannot  be  too  widely  diffused,  for,  to  tell  the  truth,  most 
of  us  are  a  little  sick  of  American  berries  of  all  kinds,  and  to  call  our 
friend  by  this  title  is  with  many  to  condemn  him  at  once. 
I  do  not  know  why  our  climate  does  not  suit  the  American  Black¬ 
berries,  but  certainly  no  one  on  this  side  the  Atlantic  has  succeeded  in 
growing  fruit  to  equal  the  photographic  reproductions  which  induced 
us  to  buy  these  much-belauded  berries.  I  must  confess  that  I  have 
sometimes  wondered  whether  the  photographic  art  over  there  was  in 
advance  of  ours.  We  have  now  tried  a  great  number  of  these  berries, 
and  one  has  to  confess,  when  aske.d  by  intending  planters  what  are 
their  merits,  that  they  are  small  from  a  practical  point  of  view,  how- 
ever  interesting  they  might  prove  at  a  hybrid  conference. 
Japanese  Golden  Mayberry,  which  one  bought  on  Mr. 
Burbank  s  recommendation,  coupled  with  a  most  taking  illustration  of 
the  fruit.  I  am  the  more  sore  about  this,  because  we  imported  a 
good  many  and  sold  them  freely,  and  if  our  customers’  exjierience 
with  them  is  no  better  than  our  own,  we  are  doomed  to  a  considerable 
share  of  abuse,  either  outspoken  or  otherwise.  The  first  year  the 
plants  were  imported  late,  and  were  very  small,  but  last  year  we 
expected  great  things,  when  lo !  the  spring  frost  cut  all  the  young 
growth,  and  no  fruit  appeared ;  and  now,  having  grown  some  fine 
plants,  the^  March  frosts  this  year  have  killed  them  back  to  the 
groimd;  this,  like  the  Japanese  Plums,  is  evidently  not  for  us. 
Then,  again,  take  the  Strawberry-Easpberry ;  it  is  certainly  a  very 
pretty  border  plant,  and  whether  in  bloom  or  fruit  interesting  and 
attractive.  But  as  a  fruit — well,  the  blackbirds  disregard  it;  and  I 
°°  niore.  These  same  judges  are  not  keen  about  tackling 
the  Blackcap,  and  I  agree  with  them  there.  As  to  the  Loganberry, 
whilst  it  may  prove  useful  for  jam-making — I  think  it  will,  but  it 
needs  a  good  deal  of  space,  and  I  fear  many  people  will  grudge  the 
T^i  1  r!"  Last  year  we  had  a  hedge  of  the  Parsley-leaved 
Blackberry  growing  alongside  these  other  fruits,  and  one  could  fill  a 
small  basket  with  the  berries  without  moving  one’s  feet,  added  to 
w  iich  the  flavour  was  such  that  all  visitors,  whether  feathered  or 
otherwise,  passed  by  all  others  in  their  favour. — A.  H.  Pearson, 
Chthoell,  Notts. 
[We  gave  prominence  to  Mr.  Luckhurst’s  notes  because  of  the 
splendid  crops  of  fruit  we  have  seen  of  the  Bramble  under  notice, 
c  jfihy  iR  gardens  around  Sheffield,  and  because  Mr.  Luckhurst 
pointed  ou^t  the  ciuse  of  many  failures,  also  of  the  method  to  pursue 
to  establish  robust  and  fruitful  plants  of  the  English  Parsley-leaved 
variety.  1  he  late  Mr.  Woodcock  used  to  grow  bushels  of  splendid  fruit 
or  Mrs.  birth  near  Sheffield,  the  plants  being  trained  over  tall  trellises 
and  ^  arches.  They  produced  ten  times  more  fruit  than  could  be 
obtaii^d  from  Easpberries,  however  well  grown,  while  the  value  of  the 
lackberries  wasenhanced  by  coming  into  use  when  all  other  berry  fruits 
wereover.  They  made  fruitingcanes  from  10  to  15  feet  long,  which  were 
laden  with  huge  clusters,  amounting  to  bushels  of  fruit.  The  Parsley¬ 
leaved' ought  to  have  been  named  the  Handsworth  Giant  Blackberr}’, 
as  it  is  distinct  from  and  far  superior  to  Eubus  laciniatus,  which  is,  we 
think,  of  American  origin,  but  of  this  we  are  not  certain.  We  have 
known  many  failures  in  establishing  fruit^’u!  plantations  simply 
because  the  canes  were  not  eut  down  for  at  least  two  years,  or  until 
robust  growths  issued  from  the  ground.  When  they  do  and  the  soil 
is  rich  and  deep,  the  crops  are  prodigious,  but  weakly  growths  from 
mismanaged  plants  in  poor  dry  soil  are  very  disappointing.] 
HYDRANGEAS. 
When  we  remember  that  thousands  of  young  plants  of  H.  hortensis 
annually  find  their  way  from  the  premises  of  the  trade  growers  to 
the  various  markets,  and  thence  to  the  many  homes  of  individual 
buyers,  one  is  tempted  to  wonder  what  the  final  resting  place  of  such 
numbers  must  be.  When  dwarf  Hydrangeas  are  produced,  as  our 
best  market  men  can  grow  them,  the  plants  are  objected  to  by  some 
persons  because  the  great  whorls  of  inflorescence  give  the  idea  of 
top-heaviness,  but  notwithstanding  this  objection  I  think  that  such 
plants  will  long  remain  public  favourites,  as  they  are  distinct  from  all 
others,  and  remain  effective  over  a  considerable  period. 
Hydrangeas  are  easily  propagated  from  cuttings  by  selecting  stcut 
young  shoots  in  the  early  part  of  July,  trimming  off  the  lower  leaves, 
and  making  a  smooth  clean  cut,  so  that  the  stem  may  rest  on  a  firm 
base  when  inserted  in  the  soil.  We  have  found  it  the  best  plan  to 
insert  the  cuttings  singly  in  2^  or  3-inch  pots,  rather  than  a 
greater  number  in  those  of  larger  size.  If  placed  in  a  close  frame  in 
a  warm  house  they  emit  roots  quicklj’,  though  they  are  not  slow 
in  doing  so  in  an  ordinary  Cucumber  frame  if  shaded  from  the  sun. 
Some  growers  transfer  the  small  plants  to  slightly  larger  pots,  and 
give  another  remove  in  early  spring  if  found  necessary,  but  others 
have  found  the  method  of  wintering  the  young  jfiants  in  small  pots, 
and  shifting  them  into  5  or  6-inch  sizes  in  February,  perfectly 
satisfactory.  Thousands  are  grown  in  the  manner  indicated,  and  a 
saving  of  time  and  space  effected. 
Some  growers  insert  sturdy  cuttings  taken  from  old  plants  in  the 
spring,  and  if  the  growths  thus  selected  have  bold  buds  in  their  points 
the  plants  flower  the  same  season,  but  the  greater  number,  and,  as  a 
rule,  better  plants  are  obtained  by  late  summer  propagation.  After 
floweiing,  and  the  removal  of  the  old  decayed  trusses,  the  plants  after 
hardening  are  stood  in  the  open  air  during  the  summer  months.  If 
large  specimens  be  required,  they  can  be  had  by  growing  them  in 
suitably  sized  pots  in  a  substantial  compost  of  loam  with  a  small 
proportion  of  decayed  manure.  If  the  loam  is  very  heavy,  an  admix¬ 
ture  of  leaf  soil  and  sand  may  be  advantageous. 
Old  plants  of  H.  hortensis  stand  the  winters  in  the  southern  parts 
of  the  kingdom,  if  during  very  severe  weather  a  covering  of  litter  or 
bracken  be  placed  over  them  and  the  pots  are  plunged  in  ashes.  In 
the  growing  season  water  is  required  in  abundance,  with  liquid 
manure  occasionally.  The  variety  Thomas  Hogg,  which  has  been 
deservedly  recommended  for  forcing,  should  be  grown.  The  flowers 
are  white,  freely  produced,  and  may  be  had  early  in  the  season.  I 
have  found  this  form  to  succeed  very  well  by  the  method  of  planting 
out  in  summer  and  lifting  again  in  autumn,  in  the  same  manner  as  is 
often  practised  with  Callas.  The  treatment  otherwise  may  le  identical 
with  that  of  H.  hortensis. 
H.  paniculata  and  its  companion,  p.  grandiflora,  are  usually 
regarded  as  outside  border  plants,  bat  with  cool  treatment  in  pots  they 
are  extremely  useful  for  house  and  conservatory  decoration.  H.  p. 
grandiflora  associated  with  Tritomas  in  the  foreground  of  shrubberies 
combine  in  forming  a  splendid  floral  picture,  the  long  pendulous 
'  trusses  of  the  Hydrangeas  contrasting  most  happily  with  the  glowing 
spires  of  the  “  Eed-hot  Pokers,”  and  both  are  effectively  displayed  by 
the  background  of  shrubs.  In  localities  where  the  soil  and  climate  are 
favourable,  H.  hortensis  assumes  ‘the  form  of  large  permanent  bushes 
out  of  doors,  and  when  covered  with  trusses  of  varied  tints  forms  the 
grandest  of  summer  flowering  shrubs,  which  materially  add  to  the 
beauty  of  gardens  and  pleasure  grounds. 
Much  has  been  written  from  time  to  time  as  to  the  best  method  of 
producing  the  blue  tint  of  colour  in  Hydrangeas.  In  some  soils  the 
flowers  are  blue,  more  or  less  intense,  the  soil  then  contains  iron. 
Where  it  is  not  present  a  solution  obtained  by  steeping  iron  filings  in 
water  and  given  to  the  plants,  has  in  some  instances  assured  the 
desired  result,  but  there  have  been  disappointments.  The  Hydrangea 
does  not  appear  to  have  many  insect  foes,  green  fly  on  the  young 
growths  appearing  to  be  the  most  troublesome,  and  this  is  often 
caused  by  too  much  heat  and  too  close  an  atmosphere.  As  frequent 
and  copious  supplies  of  water  are  necessary  when  the  pots  are  full  of 
roots,  it  is  wise  to  stand  them  in  saucers,  as  otherwise  it  is  obvious  that 
much  of  the  fertility  of  the  soil  would  bo  washed  away.  Let  the 
water  that  collects  in  the  saucers  be  imbibed  by  the  roots  ;  then,  and 
not  till  then,  give  more  to  the  soil  to  pass  through  to  be  collected 
again,  and  Hydrangeas  will  flourish. — J.  Shalfohd. 
