JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  23,  1900, 
1^0 
Strawberries. 
The  season  of  1899  was,  without  doubt,  one  of  the  worst  on  record 
■for  the  outdoor  cultivation  of  this  fruit.  Many  acres  failed  to  pay 
the  rent  of  the  land,  to  say  nothing  of  the  cost  of  labour  and  other 
incidental  expenses.  This  year  we  have  had  a  complete  reversal  on 
the  score  of  productiveness,  with  the  set  off,  in  many  instances,  of  a 
great  amount  of  spoiled  fruit  owing  to  the  wet  weather  which 
prevailed  during  the  gathering  period.  The  gardener  is  bound  by 
the  exigencies  of  the  daily  needs  ot  those  for  whom  he  caters  to  be 
constantly  looking  ahead.  It  is,  however,  just  as  needful  that  a 
retrospective  glat  ce  be  taken  now  and  then  as  a  guide  for  the  future, 
and  I  think  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  lesson  of  the  past  points 
to  the  fact  that  in  dry  seasons  Strawberries,  as  far  as  possible,  should 
be  amply  supplied  with  water  even  when  growing  in  the  open 
ground. 
The  splendid  crops  frequently  seen  as  the  result  of  treating  the 
plants  as  annuals  teaches  another  lesson  that  ought  not  to  be  dis¬ 
regarded.  Layered  into  small  pots  containing  fairly  rich  soil,  the 
young  stock  quickly  becomes  est  tblished  and  ready  for  life  on  their 
own  resources.  The  best  place  for  their  reception  I  have  yet  found  is 
the  site  used  for  the  summer  crop  of  Onions.  The  bulbs  are  cleared 
off,  the  ground  hoed  and  raked,  one  or  two  barrowloads  of  dry  wood 
ashes  spread  over  the  surface,  and,  unless  drought  is  experienced  at  the 
time,  is  then  ready  for  planting.  Last  August  we  found  it  necessary 
to  draw  drills  and  thoroughly  water,  but  vhere  great  numbers  are 
planted  this  would  not  be  easy  of  accomplishment.  A  light  dressing 
of  superphosphate,  and  after  a  fortnight  another  of  soot,  were  all  the 
manures  given.  The  land  had,  however,  been  exceptionally  veil 
prepared  for  the  Onions  in  the  prtvious  winter,  and  once  more  it  was 
found  what  lasting  benefits  accrue  to  those  who  deeply  and  liberally 
cultivate. 
One  thing  in  connection  with  manuring  occurs  to  me  at  the 
moment.  Some  of  our  scientific  writers  have  condemned  the  use  of 
kainit  in  the  culture  of  Strawberries.  I  fail,  however,  tos'e  if  this 
is  used  in  proper  proportions  why  the  potash  it  contains  should  not  be 
beneficial,  if,  as  we  are  led  to  suppose,  that  embodied  in  wood 
ashes  is  calculated  to  do  so  much  good.  I  do  know  that  oi  e  of 
the  best  crops  of  Strawberries  I  have  seen  for  a  number  of  years  had 
no  stimulant  other  than  two  parts  of  superphosphate  with  one  of 
kainit  added. 
To  add  anything  to  what  has  already  been  written  on  the  details 
of  pot  culture  seems  almost  superfluous.  The  plants  should  b^ 
layered  early  and  grown  strongly  to  induce  the  f  rmation  and  proper 
maturation  of  fruitful  crowns  ;  especially  is  this  desirable  when  they 
are  required  for  early  forcing.  It  is  interesting  to  note  the  different 
methods  employed  in  obtaining  the  current  year’s  stock  by  private 
gardeners  and  growers  for  market.  The  market  man  with  his 
colossal  numbers  can  scarcely  be  expected  to  be  as  particular.  In  the 
case  of  a  grower  for  home  use  of  a  few  hundreds,  he  is  careful  to  see 
that  all  runners  are  removed  as  they  appear,  the  idea  being  to 
concentrate  the  energies  of  the  plants  upon  the  production  of  fruit 
alone.  Not  so  he  who  serves  the  public  !  In  many  instances  the 
runners  from  his  pot  plants  form  his  only  means  of  propagation.  But 
it  may  be  as  well  to  point  out  that  while  the  latter  generally  takes 
care  to  make  due  provision  in  the  matter  of  house  and  pit  room  and 
other  conveniences,  the  private  gardener  has  to  do  the  best  he  can  with 
shelves  in  all  sorts  of  awkward  draughty  positions.  For  the  market, 
too,  there  is  very  little  of  that  generous  feeding,  without  which  it 
would  be  almost  impossible  for  a  man  who  has  to  make  all  sorts  of 
shifts  serve  to  bring  on  a  few  dozens  to  keep  his  plants  in  a  suffi¬ 
ciently  healthy  condition  to  withstand  the  insect  and  fungoid  enemies 
that  are  ever  to  hand  to  do  battle  with  and  wrest  Irom  him  the 
results  of  past  labour. 
A  few  remarks  on  varieties  may  not  be  out  of  place,  and  here  it  is 
impossible  to  avoid  noticing  the  great  popularity  deservedly  gained  by 
Eoyal  Sovereign — a  popularity  destined,  I  think,  to  remain  for  some 
•considerable  time.  A  few  years  ago  Noble  was  exploited  and  bec  ime 
a  great  favourite,  but  appears  to  have  quickly  waned  in  pul  lie  lavuur. 
When  Dr.  Hogg  can  be  persuaded  to  give  of  its  best  it  is  a  grand  variety  ; 
an  old  sort,  but  none  the  worse  for  that.  The  charge  ot  being  too 
small  is  often  made  against  “  Thurys,”  but  I  have  seen  very  fine 
samples  gathered  from  early  forced  pot  plants  when  thinning  has 
been  well  carried  out.  Keen’s  Seedling  is  now  somewhat  ancient, 
but  well  ripened  how  good  it  is  !  Sir  Joseph  Paxton  it  has  been  neces¬ 
sary  for  me  to  discard,  with,  I  am  bound  to  say,  some  regret,  as  in 
certain  localities  it  is  of  fine  flavour  and  crops  splendidly.  It  would 
be  to  little  purpose  to  prolong  the  list  of  names,  but  it  is  not  easy  to 
avoid  mentioning  President,  once  so  indispensable,  m  w  seldom  seen 
in  good  condition.  When  properly  grown,  as  it  was  years  ag  <,  there 
was  none  to  surpass  its  exquisite  flavour.  Of  the  newer  varieties  I  nave 
had  little  experience,  and  therefore  leave  them  to  other  pens. — J.  W.  J, 
WOKK.^o^^WEEK.. 
Fruit  Forcing, 
vines. — Early  Forced  in  Pots. — The  Vines  intended  for  starting  by 
the  beginning  of  November  must  be  strong,  short- jointed,  brown,  and 
hard  in  the  wood,  with  round,  plump,  well-formed  buds.  Although  the 
leaves  may  not  be  off  the  Vines  will  now  be  at  rest,  for  when  the  wood 
is  properly  ripened,  and  water  not  supplied  oftener  than  necessary  to 
keep  the  soil  from  becorhing  dust  dry,  and  the  house  or  place  where 
they  are  is  kept  cool  and  dry,  there  is  no  danger  of  starting  the  cane 
buds,  even  when  the  Vines  have  the  laterals  closely  pruned  and  the 
shortening  effected  to  about  6  feet.  Vines  that  mature  with  clean, 
healthy  foliage  are  the  only  ones  giving  satisfactory  results  when  early 
forced,  but  this  is  conditional  on  their  being  stored  with  concentrated 
food  for  utilisation  in  the  early  stages  of  their  growth  under  forcing 
treatment.  When  the  Vines  have  to  be  bought  orders  should  now  be 
placed,  or  even  the  canes  selected  and  marked  for  delivery  at  an  early 
date.  All  points  considered  there  are  no  varieties  equal  to  Black 
Hamburgh  and  Foster’s  Seedling  for  very  early  forcing.  White 
Prontignan  forces  splendidly,  but  the  clusters  and  berries  are  too  small 
for  marketing.  Madresfield  Court  is  one  of  the  best  for  early  work, 
and  when  well  done  commands  good  prices  by  its  taking  appearance 
and  high  quality. 
Eaily  Forced  Planted  out  Vines. — There  is  seldom  any  question  as 
to  the  ripeness  of  the  wood  in  the  case  of  early  forced  Vines.  It  is 
different  with  those  not  previously  subjected  to  early  forcing,  bub  those 
intended  for  starting  in  November  or  early  in  December  should  now 
have  the  wood  ripe,  and  some  foliage  perhaps  falling.  There  must 
not,  however,  be  any  attempt  at  removing  it  ;  nor  to  cut  the  laterals 
close  in,  as  that  may  cause  the  principal  buds  to  start,  therefore  remove 
the  laterals  by  degrees  and  shorten  some  of  the  long  shoots,  still 
preserving  some  growth,  especially  when  the  basal  leaves  are  down, 
the  final  pruning  being  deferred  until  the  early  part  of  next  month. 
In  the  case  of  such  Vines  it  is  desirable  to  remove  the  old  surface  soil 
^rom  amongst  the  roots  carefully  with  a  fork,  taking  advantage  of  this  to 
raise  any  that  are  deep,  laying  them  in  fresh  material  near  the  surface. 
Good  calcareous  loam  is  the  most  suitable,  with  an  admixture  of 
crushed  bones  and  other  substantial  enriching  substances.  If  the  soil 
be  light  add  a  sixth  of  clayey  marl  dried  and  pounded,  or,  if  stiff,  a 
similar  proportion  of  calcareous  gravel  or  old  mortar  rubbish. 
Midseason  Houses. — The  Vines  this  season  have  had  abnormal 
external  conditions  to  contend  against,  and  the  weather  has  favoured 
red  spider,  thrips,  and  other  pests  of  Vines.  It  has  also  been  prolific 
of  scorched  leaves  and  scalded  Grapes,  also  of  spotted,  all  ot  which  are 
avoidable  by  early  ventilation,  especially  after  a  few  days  of  dull  weather 
and  a  return  to  bright.  Mildew  has  also  been  rampant  in  some  I  calities, 
and  appears  to  thrive  in  droughty  weather  with  moisture  at  night 
Buffioient  for  germinating  purposes.  Mealy  bug  likewise  has  had  a  fine 
season,  and  is  not  by  any  means  a  stranger  in  vineries.  All  these  pests 
and  many  others  are  sure  to  take  advantage  of  their  opportunities, 
therefore  the  only  safe  course  is  to  pursue  sound  cultural  management 
and  keep  a  sharp  look  out  for  the  enemy,  which  in  one  form  or  other 
ever  attends  the  cultivation  of  Vines. 
Midseason  Vines  delight  in  a  good  spread  of  foliage,  every  principal 
leaf  having  a  full  exposure  to  light  and  air,  and  with  these  formed  under 
well  veniilated  conditions  the  wood  is  then  stout  and  short- jointed,  the 
leaves  thick,  leathery,  and  deep  green  in  colour,  the  Grapes  well 
nourished,  colouring  and  finishing  well,  while  the  wood  ripens  kindly, 
being  brown  and  hard,  and  the  buds  plump  and  promising  for  next 
season’s  work  and  cropping.  Copious  supplies  of  water  and  top- 
dressings  of  fertilisers  have  done  wonders  this  season.  Mulching  light 
soils  has  materially  aided  results  where  water  has  been  scaice.  Even 
sewage  water  has  b'  en  used  with  advantage.  The  recent  rains  have 
brought  outside  borders  into  a  thoroughly  moist  condition.  Watering 
inside  borders  must  not  be  overdone,  for  an  overstrong  dose  of  liquid 
manure  and  needless  waterings  are  the  precursors  of  shanking,  which 
haa  been  no  sinecure  this  season  as  regards  giving  employment  to 
scissors  in  removing  such  berries. 
Sustaining  rather  than  stimulating  food  is  desirable  for  Vines 
ripening  their  crops.  Moderate  supplies  of  nitrogen  aid  the  Vines 
immensely  in  the  late  stages  of  swelling,  but  that  from  bone  and  blood 
manures  and  good  all-round  fertiliseis  is  better  than  nitrates  directly 
applied.  Fire  heat  is  often  necessary  to  ripen  midseason  Grapes 
perfectly,  but  with  ventilaiion  day  and  night  to  insure  a  circulation  of 
air;  it  may  often  be  dispensed  wi'h  in  bright  weather.  The  nights, 
however,  are  now  getting  cold,  and  fire  heat  may  be  necessary,  though 
a  good  rest  at  night  aids  Vines  wondei fully  that  are  carrying  heavy 
c  ops  of  Grapes.  Enough  fire  heat  shou  d  be  given  to  maintain  the 
temperature  at  70’  to  75"  by  day,  and  60’  to  65“  at  night,  allowing  5° 
moie  for  Muscats  or  similar  varieties. 
