566 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  18,  1902. 
rough,  rocky  boulders  forming  bays,  promontories,  plateaus, 
mounds,  shady  nooks,  and  sunny  crannies,  each  suggestive 
of  suitability  for  particular  occupants,  either  as  protection 
for  the  weak  or  imprisonment  for  the  aggressively  strong. 
On  an  extensive  scale,  giving  a  variety  of  aspects,  heavy 
tree  roots  and  rough  logs  can  be  impressed  into  service  ; 
in  shady  angles  or  moisture-holding  spots  these  make  a 
break,  and  are  admirably  adapted  for  Ferns,  amongst  which 
Osmundas,  the  Struthiopteris,  and  Adiantum  peclatum  may 
well  find  a  place. 
More  Propagation. 
There  is  one  excellent  adjunct  to  hardy  plant  culture 
which  has  been  inadvertently  passed  over,  viz.,  a  Bur- 
biclgean  nursery  for  seedlings.  It  is  for  just  such  things  as 
may,  or  may  not,  grow ;  and  may,  or  may  not,  be  useful. 
The  groundwork  of  the  method  is  a  bed  in  some  quiet 
corner,  raised  for  preference,  and  edged  with  substantial 
stones.  The  filling  in  is  done  at  all  times,  and  pretty  with 
all  things  in  the  form  of  ripe  seed  pods  gathered  here, 
there,  and  everywhere  among  the  hardy  plants  whilst  Avail¬ 
ing  round.  Some  particular  things,  such  as  Meconopsis 
Wallichi,  claim  of  necessity  their  rights  to  a  seed  pan  or 
box  under  glass.  In  a  Burbidgean  bed  there  is  no  labelling, 
no  fuss,  and  from  this  stock  collection  many  a  good  thing 
can  be  extracted  when  identified,  and  transferred  to  its 
proper  position  in  the  garden,  or  in  somebody  else’s  garden 
where  beggars  abound.  “Finished?”  Nob  There  is  no 
finish  to  this  subject,  and'  for  those  Avho,  having  all  and 
knowing  all,  heeded  not  the  preliminary  advice  no  apology 
from — Quiz. 
- 1  <1  ♦ - 
STRAWBERRIES  IN  POTS. 
The  commencement  of  SAvelling  in  the  eroAvns  usually  marks 
the  advent  of  aphides  in  the  developing  leaves  and  trusses.  A 
close  scrutiny  must  be  made  for  these  pests  on  the  earliest  started 
batch  of  plants,  which  are  now  starting  from  the  crowns,  fumi¬ 
gating  repeatedly  until  the  pests  are  exterminated.  The  tem¬ 
perature  may  be  advanced  a  few  degrees  by  day,  but  it  is  acb'is- 
able  to  seek  this  from  sun  rather  than  procure  it  from  fire  heat. 
A  temperature  of  oOdeg  to  oSdeg  at  night  is  quite  sufficient  for 
the  present,  and  GOdeg  to  Godeg  with  sun,  and  a  free  circulation 
of  air.  This  will  insure  steady  and  sturdy  development,  and 
the  more  slowly  the  plants  are  brought  on  the  stronger  the 
blossom  and  better  the  setting.  This  means  relying  greatly  on 
sun  heat,  which  is  very  uncertain  during  the  winter  months; 
therefore  the  plants  have  to  be  brought  on  independent  of  the 
weather,  and  as  near  the  glass  as  safe,  in  order  to  secure  a 
stout  groAvth.  Syringing  the  plants  in  the  early  part  of  fine 
days  will  be  advantageous,  also  on  fine  afternoons,  but  avoid  a 
close  saturated  atmosphere.  Examine  the  plants  daily,  and 
apply  Avater  to  all  those  Avhich  require  it.  A  plant  Avith  the  soil 
too  dry  cannot  grow,  but  is  wasted  through  exhausting  the 
stored  juices,  and  one  Avith  the  soil  too  wet  is  stagnated,  the 
soil  being  poor  and  the  plant  unhealthy. 
Other  plants  should  be  started  for  affording  ripe  fruit  in  late 
March  or  early  in  April.  There  are  now  so  many  A’arieties  that 
it  is  difficult  to  make  choice  of  a  few,  so  as  to  include  the  best. 
La  Grosse  Sucree,  true  stock  of  Keen’s  Seedling,  and  Vicomtesse 
Hericart  de  Thury  are  not  a  great  way  behind  the  earliest  in 
ripening,  and  are  dependable,  as  also  is  Royal  Sovereign.  Noble 
and  Auguste  Nicaise,  with  James  Veitch,  will  satisfy  most 
people  in  need  of  a  big  crop  and  large  fruit.  Remove  the  decayed 
leaves,  attend  to  the  drainage,  and,  if  necessary,  rectify  it, 
washing  the  pots  clean.  Loosen  the  surface  soil  and  top-dress 
Avith  rotten  manure,  rubbed  through  a  half-inch  sieve,  adding 
about  a  pint  of  a  mixture  of  three  parts  superphosphate,  tAvo 
parts  poAvdered  saltpetre,  and  one  part  gypsum  to  each  bushel 
of  rotten  manure  or  rich  compost.  This  acts  well  on  the  roots, 
causing  them  to  push  fresh  fibreletsr  freely.  The  plants  may  be 
introduced  to  a  Peach  house  now  being  started,  or  to  a  Straw¬ 
berry  house  if  one  be  available. 
Plants  for  drafting  to  houses  as  started  should  be  placed 
in  frames,  or  in  a  house  from  which  frost  is  excluded,  so  that 
they  Avill  be  fit  for  work  when  required  ;  but  they  must  not  be 
kept  dry,  and  the  pots  must  be  plunged  if  there  is  danger  of 
frost,  as  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  they  be  kept  from 
damage  of  that  kind.  Plants  for  introducing  later  on  will  be 
quite  safe  in  their  quarters  out  of  doors  plunged  in  ashes  to 
the  rim  of  the  pots,  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 
— G.  A. 
The  Time  of  Striking  Cuttings. 
The  appetites  of  Chrysanthemists  have  now  been  appeased 
in  the  great  floral  feasts  now  just  over,  and  consequently 
thoughts  are  turned  towards  the  next,  that  of  November,  1903. 
There  always  have  been  mixed  feelings  among  growers  as  to  the 
better  time  for  striking  cuttings  to  get  the  best  results  from 
their  culture  for  specimen  blooms,  and  it  occurred  to  the  writer 
that  probably  a  “  show  of  hands  ”  in  favour  and  against  the 
practice  of  early  striking  may  be  useful  to  many  readers.  One 
may  hear  every  season  fresh  resolutions  made  by  almost  every 
groAver  affecting  some  technical  point  of  culture,  and  this  season 
is  not  less  fertile  in  such  matters.  Some  resolve  to  proceed  at 
cnce  at  the  close  of  the  shows  to  make  a  start  with  cuttings; 
others  Avill  defer  propagation  until  January  and  February. 
An  example  was  related  to  me  to-day  (December  11)  by  a 
very  good  groAver  that  his  best  blooms  this  year  were  from 
cuttings  struck  in  February  last.  This  fact  would  strengthen 
conviction  that  November’s  haste  did  not  apply  stamina  to  carry 
speed  to  a  successful  race.  This  opinion,  hoAvever,  from  another 
groAver  Avould  be  met  with  rebutting  evidence,  and  thus  two 
extremes  must  continue,  not  only  now,  as  in  the  past,  but  for 
all  time.  Some  kinds  probably  succeed  on  a  short  lease,  others 
fail;  but  the  object  of  this  note  is  not  to  argue  for  or  against 
the  practice,  but  to  seek  the  opinion  of  others  who  are  better 
qualified,  and  who  have  the  interest  of  the  flower  fresh  on  the 
mind.  Question:  In  Avhich  month  is  it  best  to  propagate,  to 
obtain  specimen  blooms? — W.  S. 
The  Height  of  Some  Novelties. 
In  a  somewhat  malignant  manner  Mr.  Wells  comments  on 
page  537  on  a  bloom  of  Mrs.  T.  W.  Pockett  which  I  placed  in 
one  of  my  exhibits.  Mr.  G.  Foster  asked  for  information  re¬ 
specting  one  of  the  novelties  recommended  in  a  previous  issue 
of  the  Journal,  and  Avhat  a  comparison  between  blooms  of  a 
different  variety,  Avhich  I  ^md  another  exhibitor  had,  has  to  do 
Avith  the  question  I  cannot  comprehend,  unless  it  be  that  Mr. 
Wells  is  anxious  to  belittle  my  efforts  as  a  groAver.  I  admit 
that  the  bloom  of  Mrs.  T.  W.  Pockett  Avas  nothing  to  be 
proud  of,  but  it  was  the  best  I  had  from  many  plants.  If  com¬ 
parisons  are  permitted,  I  would  say  that  even  Mr.  Pulling’s 
blooms  of  this  variety  cut  a  poor  figure  by  the  side  of  my  blooms 
of  Bessie  Godfrey.  Mafeking  Hero  can  hardly  be  termed  a 
novelty,  for  I  sent  it  out  two  years  ago.  Lord  Alverstone  in 
October  I  had  on  fine  plants  of  less  than  2ft  in  height.  On 
later  buds  it  was  less  satisfactory.  Three  fine  floAvers  I  placed 
before  the  Floral  Committee  of  the  R.H.S.,  but  as  they  Aver© 
past  I  suppose  I  over-rated  the  variety.  Still,  I  consider  very 
inferior  blooms  of  some  varieties  have  received  the  Award  of 
Merit.  The  blooms  of  Durban’s  Pride,  as  noted  by  “  Viator,” 
Avere  from  plants  which  I  imported  the  previous  season  from 
America.  It  is  without  question  the  same  variety  which  Mr. 
Wells  procured  plants  of  from  Australia.— W.  J.  Godfrey. 
Date  of  Chrysanthemum  Shows,  1903. 
The  societies  that  make  an  early  announcement  of  the 
date  of  their  shows  are  to  be  commended  for  various 
reasons.  In  the  first  place,  other  societies  have  then  an 
opportunity  to  arrange  their  fixtures  to  avoid  clashing  with 
others  in  the  same  locality.  Unfortunately,  though,  some 
do  not  pay  heed  to  such  forethought,  but  allow  their  society 
to  run  counter  to  another,  Avith  results  not  at  all  times  in 
the  interests  of  both,  either  financially  or  as  an  exhibition. 
In  the  second  place,  exhibitors  have  so  much  better  an 
opportunity  to  prepare  their  plants  AAThen  the  date  of  the 
exhibition  is  announced  ten  or  eA^en  twelve  months  in  acl- 
A^ance.  The  early  issue  of  prize  schedules,  too,  is  a  step 
in  the  right  direction.  I  have  known  important  societies 
issue  their  schedules  four  months  before  the  date  of  sIioav, 
and  then  complain  if  exhibitors  did  not  support  them  in 
force.  With  a  vieAv  of  assisting  the  executive  of  societies 
Avho  may  see  this  note,  I  give  the  dates  of  sIioavs  already 
arranged  for  1903  as  far  as  I  am  able.  Plymouth,  Novem¬ 
ber  3;  Cardiff  and  Cambridge,  November  4;  N.  C.S.  and 
Birmingham,  November  10 ;  Winchester,  November  11  ; 
West  Hartlepool,  November  17  ;  York  and  Hull,  November 
IS  ;  Edinburgh,  November  19  ;  Bolton,  November  20.  The 
date  given  represents  the  opening  day  of  each  show. — E.  M. 
