582 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  27,  1900. 
man’s  hand,  emptying  themselves  in  the  grass  of  what  was  a  beautiful 
park  viewed  from  the  mansion.  It  may  be  greener  in  the  future. 
Now  I  have  known  this  place  for  a  number  of  years,  and  have  seen  the 
garden  pony  carting  water  day  after  day  from  a  distant  pond,  being 
weeks  together  without  water  for  even  their  plants,  not  to  mention 
Vine  and  Peach  borders.  The  new  proprietor  has  not  only  run  the 
sewage  out  of  reach  of  his  kitchen  garden,  but  he  has  actually  run  every 
drop  of  rain  water  off  the  roof  into  the  sewers.  I  begin  to  feel  sympathy 
for  the  gardener  who  will  shortly  come  into  this  place,  and  for  all 
gardeners  who  fiud  themselves  without  water  when  rain  fails  and  the  sun 
shines  as  it  did  for  weeks  together,  during  the  last  two  summers. — K.  I. 
- - - 
Strawberries  in  Pots. 
The  commencement  of  swelling  in  the  crowns  usually  marks  the 
advene  of  aphides  on  the  developing  leaves  and  trusses.  A  close 
scrutiny  for  these  pests  must  be 
made  on  the  earliest  stock — those 
started  at  the  beginning  of  Decem¬ 
ber,  which  are  now  pushing  growths 
from  the  crowns — fumigating  re¬ 
peatedly  until  the  pests  are  entirely 
exterminated.  The  temperature 
should  be  advanced  a  few  degrees 
by  day,  but  it  is  advisable  to  seek 
this  from  sun  rather  than  procure  it 
from  fire  heat.  A  temperature  of 
60°  AO  55°  at  night  is  suflicient  for 
the  present,  and  60°  to  65°  with  sun 
and  a  free  admission  of  air.  This 
will  insure  steady  and  sturdy  de¬ 
velopment,  and  the  more  slowly  the 
plants  are  brought  on  the  stronger 
the  blossom  and  better  the  setting. 
This  means  relying  greatly  on  sut. 
heat,  which  is  very  uncertain  during 
the  winter  months,  therefore  the 
plants  have  to  be  brought  on  iede- 
pendently  of  the  weather,  and  as  near 
the  glass  as  safe,  in  order  to  secure 
a  stout  growth. 
Syringing  the  plants  in  early  part 
of  fine  days  will  be  advantageous, 
also  early  on  fine  afternoons,  but 
avoid  a  close  saturated  atmosphere. 
Examine  the  plants  daily,  and  apply 
water  to  those  which  require  it.  A 
plant  with  the  soil  too  dry  cannot 
grow,  but  is  wasted,  exhausting  the 
stored  juices  and  one  with  the  soil  toe 
wet  is  stagnated,  the  soil  being  sour 
and  the  plant  unhealthy. 
Other  plants  should  be  started  for 
affording  ripe  fruit  in  lateSMarch  or  early  in  April.  There  are  now  so 
many  varieties  that  it  is  diflSoult  to  make  choice  of  a  few  so  as  to  include 
the  best.  For  marketing  it  suffices  if  the  fruit  be  of  a  good  glossy  colour, 
large  or  even  sized  and  shapely,  quality  being  of  little  account,  as  sugar 
and  cream  make  up  for  that  deficiency.  La  Grosse  Sucree,  Royal  Sove¬ 
reign,  and  Vicomtesse  Hericart  de  Thury  form  a  trio  hard  to  be  beaten, 
while  Auguste  Nicaise  will  'satisfy  most  people  in  need  of  a  big  crop, 
and  large  fruit.  Remove  the  decayed  leaves,  and,  if  necessary,  rectify 
the  drainage,  washing  the  pots  clean.  Loosen  the  surface  soil,  and  top- 
dress  with  horse  droppings  rubbed  through  a  half-inch  sieve.  This  and 
a  pinch  of  superphosphate  acts  well  on  the  roots,  causing  them  to  push 
fresh  fibrelets  freely.  The  plants  may  be  introduced  to  a  Peach  or  Straw¬ 
berry  house  if  one  be  at  command. 
Plants  for  drafting  to  houses  as  started  should  be  placed  in  frames, 
so  that  they  will  be  fit  for  work  when  required ;  but  they  must  not  be 
kept  dry,  and  the  pots  ought  to  be  plunged  if  there  is  danger  of  frost,  as 
it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  they  be  kept  from  damage  of  all  kind. 
Plants  for  introducing  later  will  be  quite  safe  in  their  quarters  out  of 
doors  plunged  in  ashes  to  the  rim,  and  a  light  covering  of  dry  fern  or 
litter  may  be  given  in  severe  weather,  allowing  to  remain  on  whilst  frost- 
bound,  removing  in  mild  weather,  but  not  exposing  frozen  plants  from 
beneath  protection  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun. — Practice. 
Death  of  lUr.  Pliilip  Crowley. 
The  entire  world  of  gardening  will  deeply  regre:  to  learn  of  the 
death  on  December  20th  of  Mr.  Philip  Crowley,  of  Waddon  House, 
Croydon.  His  was  a  busy  life,  and  yet  he  found  time  therein  to  follow 
the  hobby  of  gardening,  in  which  his  tastes  were  catholic.  Fruits, 
flowers,  and  vegetables  alike  came  within  his  sphere,  and  all  were 
admirably  grown  on  his  fine  estate  near  Croydon,  As  a  chairman 
he  was  exceptionally  popular  with  every  member  of  committee;  while 
as  a  man,  his  urbanity  and  unfailing  kindness  gained  for  him  an 
appreciation  that  falls  to  the  lot  of  few — that  of  universal  esteem  and 
respect.  In  the  last  issue  of  the  Journal  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  his  portrait  and  a  life  sketch  were  given,  and  the  latter  we 
reproduce,  with  a  comparatively  recent  photograph. 
“Philip  Crowley,  Esq.,  P.L.S.,  P.Z.S.,  treasurer  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  and  master 
of  the  Worshipful  Company  of 
Gardeners  in  the  City  of  London, 
is  the  son  of  Abraham  Crowley, 
and  was  born  at  Alton,  in  Hamp¬ 
shire,  on  August  28th,  1837.  He 
was  educated  pri'ately,  and  since 
1857  has  been  a  partner  in  the 
brewing  firm  of  Messrs.  Crowley 
of  Alton  and  Croydon,  In  1863  he 
married  Anna,  only  daughter  of 
the  late  John  Warner,  Esq.,  of 
Hoddesdon,  and  since  1869  has 
lived  at  Waddon  House,  Croydon. 
Very  early  in  life  he  displayed  a 
strong  love  for  natural  history,  and 
possesses  what  is  considered  to  be 
the  largest  and  finest  collection  of 
birds’  eggs  in  the  world,  including 
representatives  of  nearly  4000 
species,  and  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  perfect  collections  of  exotic 
butterflies.  He  has  always  taken 
great  interest  in  horticulture,  and 
has  tried  many  and  various  experi. 
ments  in  fruit  growing  at  Waddon, 
but  the  soil  and  atmospheric  con¬ 
ditions  have  been  against  him.  He 
has  also  cultivated  Chrysanthemums 
on  a  large  scale,  as  well  as  many 
Orchids  and  foliage  plants.  He  has 
for  many  years’been  chairman  of 
the'  Fruit  and  'Vegetable  Com¬ 
mittee  of  the  society,  and  on  the 
resignation  of^^Dr.  Morris  in  1890 
he  was  appointed’  treasurer  of  the 
society  with  a^seat  on  the  council 
In  1899  he  was  elected  master  of  the  Worshipful  Company  of 
Gardeners,  and  was  unanimously  re-elected  for  a  second  year  of  office 
in  1900. 
“  As  treasurer  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  he  has  paid 
unremitting  attention  to  the  finances  of  the  society,  whose  prosperity 
is  in  no  small  measure  due  to  his  thorough]  business  aptitude  and 
knowledge  and  his  constant  and  watchful  care,  and  as  chairman  of  the 
Fruit  and  Vegetable  Committee  he  has  made  himself  equally  respected 
and  beloved  by  every  member  of  the  committee  by  his  firm  but  gentle 
rule  and  his  unvarying  courtesy  and  cordiality  to  all,  and  in  both 
offices  alike  he  has  been  remarkable  for  the  ungrudging  and 
unwearying  amount  of  personal  work  he  has  bestowed,  and  for  the 
almost  infinitesimal  amount  of  credit  which  he  has  been  willing  to 
accept.  He  has  ever  been  one  of  those  most  kind  of  all  kind  helpers 
— viz.,  those  who  work  their  best  and  hardest  andjjthen  make  light 
of  it.  May  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  never  ^be  without  such  a 
treasurer !  ” 
On  Monday,  December  24th,  the  remains  of  Mr.  Crowley  were 
interred  in  Shirley  Churchyard,  near  Croydon.  The  weather  was 
foggy  in  the  metropolis,  and  this  militated  against  a  large  attendance 
of  those  persons  who  would  have  desired  to  pay  their  last  respects 
I  to  the  memory  of  an  esteemed  colleague  and  friend. 
J  c. 
Fig.  152. — Me.  Philip  Crowley. 
