January  17,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
63 
Strawberries  in  Pots. 
Any  hurrying  of  the  plants,  even  those  that  are  to  afford  fruit  at  a 
stated  time,  may  result  in  a  bad  set  and  ill-shapen  fruits.  Proceed, 
therefore,  steadily;  a  temperature  of  50°  to  55°  is  ample  for  those 
started  in  December,  that  not  being  exceeded  on  dull  days,  when  the 
night  and  day  temperatures  vary  little,  and  60°  to  65°  in  the  day¬ 
time  with  gleams  of  sun,  up  to  70°  to  75°  with  bright  sun,  will  bring  the 
plants  on  quite  fast  enough  for  insuring  a  satisfactory  result.  Ventilate 
whenever  there  is  a  chance.  The  trusses  rise  boldest  and  the  flowers 
are  strongest  when  the  plants  have  the  foliage  sturdily  formed,  and  that 
elaborates  more  food  and  is  healthier  than  drawn  and  thin. 
Close  atmosphere  induces  soft  tissues,  weakly  organs  of  fructification, 
imperfect  sets,  and  deformed,  badly  shapen  fruit.  La  Grosse  Sucree, 
however,  seems  to  do  better  in  moister  atmosphere  than  most  varieties; 
even  Black  Prince  and  the  better  variety,  King  of  the  Earlies,  forgets 
to  mildew  when  it  is  syringed,  also  when  a  little  sulphur  is  placed  on 
the  hot-water  pipes  in  good  time,  so  that  the  fumes  make  speedy  work 
of  the  germinal  tubes  of  the  spores,  and  then  the  mildew  (O'idium 
balsami)  is  not  in  evidence.  Another  plague  is  the  aphis.  These 
creatures  pass  the  winter  in  the  egg  state,  which  appear  as  little  black 
specks  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves,  and  start  into  life  directly  the 
growth  takes  place  in  the  buds.  Therefore  keep  a  sharp  look  out  and 
fumigate  with,  tobacco,  or  vaporise  with  nicotine  directly  the  first  is 
seen,  and  repeat  at  intervals,  for  it  does  not  answer  to  do  either  after 
the  blossoms  appear. 
Introduce  more  plants  to  shelves  in  Peach  houses  or  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  thoroughly 
decayed  manure  rubbed  through  a  sieve.  There  is  nothing  better  than 
a  quart  of  soot  and  a  similar  amount  of  superphosphate  mixed  with  a 
bushel  of  turfy  loam,  or  blood  manure  (blood  dried  and  ground  to  a 
powder),  superphosphate,  and  wood  ashes  in  equal  quantities  and 
amount  last  named,  are  excellent  for  stimulating  and  sustaining  growth. 
Royal  Sovereign  is  a  good  variety  for  introducing  now,  also  Noble 
and  Auguste  Nicaise,  these  producing  large  fruit,  and  are  very  prolific. 
President,  Sir  Joseph  Paxton,  and  Sir  Charles  Napier  may  also  be 
introduced,  but  to  maintain  the  succession  plants  of  La  Grosse  Sucree 
or  Vicomtesse  Hericart  de  Thury  should  be  introduced  at  the  same 
time.  Lucas  is  one  of  the  best  forcing  Strawberries,  and  the  quality 
is  unsurpassed.  It  is  a  neat  grower,  and  deserves  extensive  cultivation, 
but  is  better  for  home  use  than  for  marketing. — Practice.  .. 
- - 
Young  Gardeners’  Domain. 
“An  Old  Boy”  Speaks. 
May  I  be  permitted  to  thank  “J.  S.,  Aigburth ,”  for  his  kindly 
thought  and  reciprocative  greeting  on  page  41  P  His  allusion  to  the 
“  trials  and  troubles  ”  of  bothyites,  which,  as  I  well  know  from 
experience,  are  not  a  despisable  quantity,  prompts  the  further 
expression  of  a  thought  for  those  young  gardeners  who  perforce  of 
circumstances  are  for  the  time  being  relegated  to  lodgings  outside  the 
garden.  An  example  of  this  kind  has  lately  come  into  my  experience, 
and  doubtless  there  are  many  others  to  be  found  in  the  great  gardening 
world.  The  typical  lodging  outside  of  the  garden,  with  all  its 
impedimenta,  often  including,  as  the  case  in  point  does,  a  brace  of 
babies,  seriously  militates  against  a  young  fellow’s  self-improvement  in 
the  leisure  hour.  In  this  particular  case  the  garden  office  has  been 
opened  to  the  one  deprived  of  those  privileges  and  comparative  privacy 
the  bothy  affords,  and  it  is  gratifying  to  note  that  the  advantages  are 
both  availed  of  and  appreciated,  the  old  “  head  ”  guiding  the  young 
hand  through  the  intricacies  of  the  drawing-board,  and  encouraging 
the  youthful  aspirant  to  higher  flights  amid  the  fairly  representative 
stock  of  garden  literature  the  said  office  contains.  It  is  pleasing  to 
interpret  the  signs  of  the  times  as  pointing  to  brighter  prospects  on  the 
gardening  horizon  at  the  dawn  of  the  new  century,  hence  this  note  of 
acknowledgment  to  “J.  S.”  may  include  congratulations  to  all  young 
friends  from — An  Old  Boy. 
- 1  i - 
Spread  of  Botanical  Science. — We  learn  that  the  prizes  offered 
by  the  Paris  Academy  of  Science  this  year  include  the  following  : — 
The  Gay  Prize  (2500  fr.),  for  a  study  of  the  .distribution  of  Alpine 
plants  in  the  mountains  of  the  Old  World  ;  the  Bordin  Prize  (3000  fr.), 
for  a  study  of  the  influence  of  external  conditions  upon  the  protoplasm 
and  nucleus  in  plants;  the  Desmazieres  Prize  (1600  fr.),  for  a  study  of 
cryptogams;  the  Montagne  Prizes  (1000  fr.  and  500  fr.),  for  researches 
on  the  anatomy,  physiology,  description,  or  development  of  the  lower 
cryptogams;  the  Thore  Prize  (200  fr.),  for  the  best  work  on  the  cellular 
cryptogams  of  Europe ;  and  the  De  la  Fons  Melicocq  Prize  (900  fr.), 
for  botanical  work  done  in  the  north  of  France. 
WRKjofi-T™  WEEK,. 
Fruit  Forcing, 
Vines — Early  Forced  in  Pots. — When  the  Vines  have  developed 
growth  and  foliage,  root  action,  provided  the  medium  is  in  a  suitable 
condition,  proceeds  rapidly,  as  the  evaporation  of  water  from  the  leaves 
is  considerable  during  daylight,  and  the  atmosphere  drier  in  con¬ 
sequence  of  the  sun’s  influence  or  from  ventilation.  Up  to  leaf 
formation  Vines  in  pots  should  be  kept  on  the  dry  rather  than  the 
excess  side  of  moisture  at  the  roots,  then  they  will  form  fresh  rootlets, 
and  be  in  a  position  to  absorb  and  transmit  abundant  supplies  of 
nourishment ;  this  is  absolutely  essential  after  the  first  formed  leaves 
are  full  sized,  but  at  no  time  may  the  supplies  be  such  as  to  produce  a 
soddened  condition.  During  flowering  the  Vines  should  have  a  night 
temperature  of  70°  and  75°  by  day,  with  10°  to  15°  rise  from  sun  heat. 
Attend  to  thinning  as  soon  as  the  berries  are  swelling,  indeed,  it  should 
be  done  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  set.  Encourage  growth  above  the  fruit, 
yet  only  as  much  as  can  have  exposure  to  light.  Surface-dress  the  soil 
with  short  manure,  and  when  roots  are  emitted  freely  from  the  collar 
some  turves  may  be  placed  around  the  rims  of  the  pot,  extending  about 
a  couple  of  inches  inside  and  over  them,  so  as  to  be  on  the  fermenting 
material.  Let  the  temperature  range  from  65°  to  70°  at  night,  70°  to  75°, 
and  80°  to  85°  or  90°  from  sul  heat ;  ventilate  from  75°,  allow  the  proper 
advance  from  sun’s  influence,  and  close  early  so  as  to  raise  and  maintain 
a  temperature  of  85°  to  90°  with  the  aid  of  sun  during  the  early  part  of 
the  afternoon.  Avoid  syringing  the  foliage  after  the  Grapes  commence 
swelling,  as  there  is  always  danger  of  the  water  leaving  a  deposit, 
which  spoils  the  appearance  of  otherwise  well  grown  and  finished  fruit. 
There  must  not,  however,  be  any  deficiency  of  atmospheric  moisture, 
but  damp  the  floors  and  walls  in  the  morning,  early  in  the  afternoon, 
and  if  necessary  in  the  evening.  Keep  the  evaporation  troughs  charged 
with  weak  liquid  manure. 
Early  Houses. — If  any  Vines  were  started  in  November  or  early 
December  they  will  be  making  progress,  and  need  the  greater  care  in 
ventilating,  not  admitting  cold  air,  draughts  crippling  the  foliage  and 
rusting  the  berries,  and  both  on  that  account  are  unable  to  perform 
their  functions,  the  former  not  assimilating  food,  and  the  latter  not 
swelling  properly.  Disbud  and  tie  the  shoots  before  they  touch  the 
glass.  In  stopping,  which  should  be  done  when  the  leaf  at  the  joint  is 
about  the  size  of  a  halfpenny,  allow  two  or  more  joints  of  growth 
beyond  the  show  of  fruit,  or  where  there  is  room  ;  do  not  confine  the 
stopping  to  any  given  number  of  joints  beyond  the  bunch,  but  extend 
the  growth,  so  that  an  even  and  ample  supply  of  foliage  will  be  insured. 
Crowding,  however,  is  very  disastrous,  therefore  allow  no  more  foliage 
to  be  made  than  can  have  full  exposure  to  light  and  air.  Remove  all 
superfluous  bunches  early,  incipient  clusters  being  inimical  to  a  good 
set  and  prompt  swelling  of  the  berries.  When  the  flowers  are  open 
maintain  the  temperature  night  and  day  at  70°  to  75°,  with  a  rather  dry 
atmosphere,  not  going  to  the  extreme  of  depriving  the  air  of  the 
Deedful  moisture  essential  to  the  health  of  the  foliage.  If  there  be  any 
Muscat  of  Alexandria  keep  the  points  of  the  bunches  well  up  to  the 
light,  and  fertilise  the  flowers  when  fit  with  pollen  from  free-setting 
varieties. 
Hoists  Started  at  the  New  Tear. — Many  growers  still  cling  to  the 
old-fashioned  Black  Hamburgh  and  Buckland  Sweetwater,  or  Foster’s 
Seedling,  as  the  best  for  early  marketing  purposes  ;  but  some  prefer  the 
higher  quality  Grapes,  as  Madresfield  Court  and  Muscat  of  Alexandria, 
and  getting  good  samples  of  these  early  in  June,  make  a  larger  margin 
of  profit  and  a  surer  sale,  as  there  is  less  danger  of  a  glut,  and  when 
it  comes  to  choice  the  higher  quality  fruit  takes  precedence.  The 
borders  for  these  high-class  varieties  require  to  be  wholly  inside,  and  to 
be  composed  of  thoroughly  sound  materials  over  perfect  drainage,  then 
they  are  as  easily  managed  as  other  Grapes,  if  care  is  given  to  the 
setting  of  the  fruit.  Puke  of  Bucclecch  is  superior  when  put  into  the 
market  in  good  condition,  but  it  is  a  bad  traveller  compared  with  the 
Muscats,  as  its  skin  discolours  with  the  slightest  jolt  of  one  berry 
against  another,  and  this  is  pretty  often  in  travelling  by  rail.  With  a 
proper  moisture  at  the  roots,  and  a  genial  atmosphere,  the  Vines 
previously  forced  soon  break,  especially  if  a  little  liquid  manure  is 
used  on  the  floors  by  sprinkling.  Syringe  the  rods  two  or  three  times 
a  day  with  clear  water,  maintaining  a  temperature  of  50°  to  55°  at 
night,  60°  to  65°  by  day,  ventilating  freely  above  65°.  For  Musoats, 
allow  5°  more  all  round.  The  roots  and  canes  of  young  Vines  should 
be  slung  in  a  horizontal  position  to  secure  the  buds  starting  evenly. 
Late  Houses. — Thick-skinned  Grapes  require  to  be  kept  cool  and 
uniform  in  temperature.  This  can  hardly  be  assured  to  them  after  the 
sun  gains  power  without  covering  the  lights.  However,  we  have  not 
found  the  Grapes  keep  so  well  on  the  Vines  as  in  a  suitable  Grape  room, 
which  means  any  dry  compartment  from  which  frost  is  excluded  and 
not  liable  to  sudden  fluctuations.  The  Grapes  should  be  cut  with  as 
