May  11,  1893. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
389 
amongst  it  Apricots  from  California,  Italy,  France,  and  Spain.  There 
are  eleven  steam -jacketed  vats  to  hold  70  lbs.  each,  and  two  to  hold 
half  a  ton  of  syrup  each,  which  were  in  use  at  the  time  of  my  visit. 
The  70  lbs.  vats  are  not  half  filled  in  jam-making,  only  about  28  lbs. 
being  put  into  each,  as  the  jam  is  better  when  made  in  somewhat 
small  quantity.  The  syrup,  simply  sugar  and  water,  after  being 
boiled,  is  first  placed  in  the  vats,  and  the  fruit  is  added  afterwards.  The 
heat  is  regulated  by  thermometers,  and  can  be  raised  if  desired  to 
225°  F.  Strawberries  require  to  be  boiled  for  only  seven  minutes,  and 
very  ripe  fruit  for  only  four,  while  Gooseberries  and  some  other  kinds 
of  fruit  need  more  time.  The  scum  is  thrown  away,  and  the  scrapings 
of  the  vats  are  not  allowed  to  go  with  the  whole-fruit  conserve. 
“  In  1889  Sir  Walter  Gilbey  commenced  to  grow  fruit  on  a  small 
scale  on  his  estate,  Elsenham  Hall,  Essex,  by  way  of  example  to  his 
tenant.®,  cottagers  as  well  as  farmers,  and  in  1893  he  started  a  jam 
factory.  To  encourage  the  cottagers  he  has  granted  pieces  of  land 
close  to  their  dwellings  rent-free,  and  provided  Strawberry  plants  for 
those  who  reqin'red  them,  on  condition  that  they  send  their  truit  to 
the  factory  at  market  prices,  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  a  good  many 
avail  themselves  of  this  advantage.  Jam  is  made  quite  in  the  home 
method,  except  that  steam  and  thermometers  are  used.  That  is  to  say, 
fruit,  excepting  some  of  the  Strawberries,  is  simply  boiled  with  the 
best  h  af  sugar.  The  only  fruit  boiled  in  syrup  previously  prepared  is 
the  Strawberry  for  whole-fruit  jam.  Kaspberries  are  boiled  only  six 
to  seven  minutes,  but  Strawberries  longer.  In  bottling  Gooseberries, 
the  fiuit  is  put  into  the  bottles,  which  are  then  wired  down,  and  placed 
in  cold  water,  to  be  gradually  heated  by  steam  and  kept  at  a  tempera- 
of  180  F.  for  about  two  hours. 
(To  be  concluded.) 
WKINKLES. 
“  Wp.ikkles,  indeed  !  As  if  there  were  not  enough  already  upon 
the  brow  of  care.”  It  is  admitted  ;  in  fact  it  “darna  be  disputed” 
when  one  thinks  of  spring  frosts  pouncing  down  on  the  early  Potato, 
and  blackening  tender  blossom  in  the  silent  watches  of  the  n'ght. 
Oh  !  the  perversity  of  Nature  !  Even  the  great  poet  must  have  had 
ah  inkling  of  such  matters  malignant  when  he  said,  ‘‘Eough  winds  do 
shake  the  darling  buds  of  May but  there  is  a  little  incentive 
admonition  in  the  information  that  “  Our  remedies  oft  in  ourselves 
do  lie  which  we  ascribe  to  Heaven.”  This  "  darna  be  di.®puted  ” 
either.  There  are,  of  course,  wuinkles  and  wrinkles,  and  some  of  the 
little  ones  profferred,  or  asked  fjr  here,  may  smooth  away  a  few  of 
the  big  kind. 
Preparation  is  half  the  battle  ;  timely  application  giveth  the 
victory.  I  served  under  one  old  gardener  who  rigidly  insisted  upon 
the  usual  nightly  covering  up,  independent  of  weather,  till  the  end  of 
the  “  merrie  month.”  To  us  of  the  bothy  it  was  sheer  vanity  and 
vexation  to  our  young  spirits.  To  some  extent  we  were  right,  for 
discrimination  wull  three  times  out  of  four  discern  the  shadow  of 
coming  events,  and  for  the  doubtful  fourth  always  make  ready.  But 
there  must  be  no  margin  for  errors  of  judgment,  or  hasty  conclusions 
at  night  may  b;ing  sorrowful  reflections  in  the  morning. 
Twenty-five  years  since,  in  a  large  garden  where  Potatoes  were  a 
good  gardener’s  pride,  came  a  cry  in  the  “  wee  sma’  hours,”  “Up  lads 
and  man  the  fire  engine,  or  the  Potatoes  will  be  all  burned.”  The  cry 
of  frost  was  as  thrilling  to  us  as  the  cry  of  fire,  so  we  “up”  and 
at  ’em — trundled  out  the  cumbersome  antiquity  kept  in  a  coach-house 
near  at  hand,  coupled  on  the  hose,  and  worked  with  a  will  while  the 
“gaffer”  sprayed  a  long  border,  and  a  large  plot  as  well,  ere  Sol’s 
rays  cculd  work  mischief.  They  w^ere  the  only  Potatoes  unscathed  in 
that  locality,  but  I  must  admit  it  was  the  only  fire  engine  too.  How¬ 
ever,  it  is  surprising  what  can  be  done  with  a  garden  engine,  syringe, 
QT  even  a  waterpot  and  rose  to  quench  the  “  burning.”  It  is  an  old- 
fashioned  remedy,  and  perhaps  worth  remarking  that  years  farther 
back  than  then  I  helped  to  drench  the  plants  in  a  greenhouse  which 
had,  through  a  breakdown,  been  frozen  stiff  in  the  pots.  In  this  case 
the  house  was  darkened  by  mats,  blinds — anything  to  hand  ;  and  for 
several  sharp  nights  following  the  frost  was  kept  out  by  a  few  candles 
kept  burning.  Eesults  exceeded  expectation,  and  I  was  impressed  by 
the  value  of  the  remedy. 
I  do  not  know  of  any  phase  of  work  in  which  the  old  aphorism 
“  necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention  ”  is  more  relevant  than  to  that 
of  gardening,  or  of  any  men  better  ab'e  to  emphasise  it  than  gardeners. 
I  think  young  fellows  are  the  better  for  having  served  under  men  who 
can  show  them  how  prompt  action  springs  from  dire  necessity.  Who 
shall  tell  what  a  night  may  bring  forth  ?  None,  truly  ;  but  there  are 
mt  wanting  those  who  think  it  expedient  to  inquire  of  Nature  herself 
what  little  surprises  she  may  have  in  store.  Bright  skies  with  a  high 
midday  temperature  are  not  uncommon  at  the  end  of  May ;  but  a 
passing  cloud  from  afar  patters  down  the  merry  little  hailstones, 
telling  of  a  cold  strata  ready  to  descend  at  midnight.  Or,  it  may  be, 
on  the  distant  horizon  a  dark  cloud  with  ominous  streaks  descending 
gives  portentous  signs.  It  is  hail.  There  is  no  mistaking  it  by  the 
watchful  eye,  and  when  hail  is  about  frost  is  at  hand.  “Oh!  I’ll 
chance  it  !  ”  is  a  very  common  expression  on  a  doubtful  night  from 
men  to  whom  knowledge  comes  but  wisdom  lingers.  “  Short  of 
mats.”  “  Litter  is  untidy.”  “Didn’t  think  it  would  freeze.”  Any 
amount  of  pegs  in  the  garden  handy  for  excuses,  but  necessity  can 
provide  some  queer  coverings,  even  to  blankets  off  a  curator’s  bed, 
but  “  that’s  another  tale,”  as  Mr.  Kipling  w'ould  say. 
“The  best  gardeners  are  the  biggest  grumblers”  has  been  said. 
The  farther  one  goes  in  gardening,  and  the  more  one  knows  of 
gardeners,  is  any  doubt  of  its  relevancy  removed.  Anticipating  what 
a  season  may  bring  forth,  a  spell  of  drought  is  met.  “Justwhtn  I 
didn’t  want  it ;  ground  baked,  can’t  get  out  the  green  stuff.”  Here  is- 
a  wrinkle  for  it.  Blend  up  fresh  cow  manure  with  water  to  the  con¬ 
sistency  of  cream,  and  as  the  plants  are  drawn  from  the  seed  beds,  dip 
in  root  and  stem  ere  dibbling  them  into  position.  I  have  seen  acres  of 
Brcccoli  and  Brussels  Sprouts  thus  treated  holding  their  own  till  the 
change  came  which  sent  them  ahead.  That  charming  feature  of 
English  gardening,  the  lawn,  is  often  marred  in  rather  important 
positions  by  bald  spots  under  trees.  Where  this  trouble  is  apparent 
now  is  a  good  time  for  sufl’erers  to  test,  what  others  have  proved  to  be 
a  remedy,  even  in  bad  cases.  Sow  grass  seeds  on  the  bare  places,  on  a 
little  fresh  soil  if  the  labour  is  not  grudged,  and  sow  liberally  with  the 
seeds  some  malt-ccmbs,  which  can  generally  be  obtained  at  any 
brew’oy.  When  the  blades  are  fairly  strong,  dust  more  of  the  malt- 
combs  through  them  and  note  the  effect  ct  this  restorer  on  bald 
patches. 
Now  is  a  good  time  to  think  of  the  treatment  of  that  popular 
plant,  the  Calla,  for  next  winter’s  display.  One  who  grows  2000  for 
market  purposes  gave  me  a  wrinkle.  He  has  found  his  method  the- 
easiest,  the  cheapest,  and  the  best  for  producing  fine  spathes  from 
autumn  till  mid-May.  At  the  latter  period  his  method  is  to  plant 
them  out  rather  thickly  in  a  sheltered  part  of  the  garden,  and  in  » 
fairly  cool  position,  all  double  crowns  being  divided.  From  thence 
till  September  nothing  more  is  done  for  them,  when  they  are  lifted 
and  potted  singly  into  7  or  8-inch  pots,  according  to  size,  and  removed 
under  cover.  With  a  night  temperature  of  50°  fine  spathes  are 
produced  freely  through  the  winter.  Potted,  as  they  are,  in  rather  poor 
soil,  an  occasional  sprinkle  of  chemical  manure  in  the  spring  is- 
beneficial,  but  stimulating  liquids  are  vigorously  excluded.  One  year 
only  was  the  drainings  from  a  “midden”  given  to  the  plants  m 
February,  resulting  in  a  crop  of  gigantic  leaves,  with  fewer  and 
smaller  blooms. 
Chemical  manures,  such  as  are  in  general  use  for  garden  purposes, 
appear  to  be  infinitely  j'referable  for  flowering  plants ;  whereas  the 
home-brewed  liquid  manures,  or  drainings  of  the  “  midden,”  seem  better 
adapted  for  promoting  leaf  development  ard  growth.  This  in  relation- 
to  pot  plants.  Perhaps  the  often  overfed  Chrysanthemum  may  be 
included  in  the  category,  for  troubles  are  not  unknown  in  connection 
with  the  subject.  Apropos  of  the  common  Calla,  or  Eichardia 
aethiopica,  is  it  generally  known  that  there  are  two  foims  of  it  ?  My 
friend,  “The  Busy  Man,”  who  has  done  so  well  with  it  for  years,  first 
called  my  attention  to  the  matter.  The  one  he  groivs  and  swears  hy 
has  a  reddish  tinge  at  the  base  of  the  leafstalks ;  the  other  he^  once- 
grew,  and  swore  about,  I  fear,  is  quite  green  without  a  suspicion  of 
red.  It  is  shy  and  generally  unsatisfactory,  or,  as  he  puts  it,  “doesn’t 
pay.” 
A  wrinkle  would  be  acceptable  about  Ivies.  Some  twenty  yeara 
ago  I  planted  a  number  of  Ivies  on  a  newly  restored  ohurch  in  a 
country  village,  “  far  from  the  madding  crowd.”  They  consisted  of 
three  or  four  varieties,  all  green,  the  names  of  which  I  cannot  give, 
but  they  w'ere  all  more  or  less  finely  cut  and  particularly  distinct  in 
character.  After  an  absence  of  some  years  I  recently  visited  the  spot, 
and  found  that  they  had  not  only  grown  apace,  by  reaching  to  the- 
top  of  the  edifice,  but  had  also  grown  out  of  all  knowledge,  having  lost 
all  trace  of  birth  or  breeding,  being  just  common  Ivies,  and  no  more. 
Can  anyone  elucidate  the  mystery  ?  It  may  be  added  that  I  propa¬ 
gated  them  from  cuttings,  and  that  they  were  well  rooted  plants  when 
planted  ;  also  that  I  saw  them  taking  a  good  grip  of  the  building  ere 
the  interregnum  came. 
How  many  times  has  the  “  varmint  ”  raised  a  wrinkle  anent 
newly  sown  Peas,  in  spite  of  drastic  so-called  remedies — Sweet  Peas, 
culinary  Peas,  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  Peas.  Would  one  credit 
that  mice  could  or  would  enjoy  Peas  soaked  in  petroleum,  and  liberally 
dusted  with  red  lead  ?  But  it  is  another  fact,  stubborn  though  it  be. 
Eow  upon  row  thus  treated  have  been  destroyed  just  as  the  seeds  were 
bursting,  and  the  “  varmint  ”  could  shell  them  easily.  There  was 
nothing  for  it  but  to  “  trap  ’em,”  and  it  was  a  good  investment  when 
two  dozen  “Delusion”  traps  (an  American  conceit)  were  bought  and 
placed  along  the  rows,  with  a  few  oats  as  bait.  This  trap,  a  self¬ 
setting  one  (I  do  not  know  if  it  is  procurable  now),  would  “  catch  ’em, 
alive,”  six  at  a  time  occasionally,  and  often  two  brace  of  fat  fellows 
were  shaken  out  of  one  trap  into  a  bucket  of  water  to  expiate  their 
crimes.  No  trap  we  ever  used  was  better  proof  that  their  schemes 
