May  12,  1904. 
JGURI^AL  CF  IIOB.T1GULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
405 
Mixed  Avitli  preserved  Strawberries  with  the  aid  of  a  little  flour 
and  water  a  presentable  tart  can  be  turned  out.  Possibly  some 
colouring  matter  is  utilised,  for  the  French  Strawberry  is  usually 
very  pale. 
Britifili  Strawberry  growers  should  arrange  to  market  a 
plentiful  supply  of  this  fruit  early  in  June.  The  demand  in  the 
home  markets  should  be  completely  satisfied  with  English  fruits 
from  the  first  week  in  June.  It  may  be  objected  that  this  in¬ 
volves  special  treatment  and  attention.  Of  course  it  does;  and 
also  necessitates  the  nse  of  the  best  and  earliest  varieties.  But 
when  the  Continental  producer  tuins  his  attention  to  the 
English  markets  he  does  not  allow  snch  considerations  to  impede 
him  in  his  work.  AVe  can  raise  all  the  Strawberries  we  require 
from  the  first  week  in  June  if  we  care  to  take  the  matter  in 
they  carried  on  their  bus.'iu'ss  as  English  growers  do.  Efficient 
distribution  and  skilled  culture  are  the  basis  of  all  profit  in 
these  days  of  increasing  competition.  These  facts  are  recog¬ 
nised  by  the  French  fruit  producers,  thus  they  are  able  to  send 
huge  consignments  to  our  ports. — (“  Newcastle  Chronicle.”) 
Spanish  Irises, 
Though  these  and  the  fortnight-later-flowering  English  Irises 
are  not  abloom  in  tlie  beds  and  borders  of  our  Fnglish  gardens 
yet — not  till  the  middle  of  next  month — yet  their  lovely  and 
graceful  flowers  are  numej'ously  on  the  market.  And  they  are 
Bunch  of  mixed  Spanish  Irises. 
hand.  AVhen  we  suggested  an  all  the  year  round  supply  of  home¬ 
grown  forced  Grapes,  the  idea  was  criticised,  yet  Grapes  which 
are  home-grown  can  now  be  obtained  from  January  to  Decem¬ 
ber.  AAJiy  should  not  British  Strawberry  growers  also  cater  for 
an  extended  season,  and  meet  the  wants  of  trade  buyers  ?  Straw¬ 
berry  growing  as  an  industry  can  be  made  most  lucrative.  It 
is  possible  with  10,000  plants  to  the  acre  to  get  10,000lb  of  frnit 
of  good  saleable  quality.  True,  this  cannot  be  done  with  tiie 
use  of  ordinary  plants— plants  which  have  not  been  propagated 
properly.  Yet  a  10,0001b  crop  by  no  means  surpasses  the  limit  of 
pos.sible  productiveness.  Keturns  ranging  in  value  from  £50 
to  £100  an  acre  are  easily  obtainable  under  good  culture.  It 
is  a  pity  to  see  such  a  fruitful  plant  as  the  Strawheny  treated 
in  the  way  it  so  often  is.  The  Plougastel  fruit  growers  could 
not  get  the  large  yields  they  do  from  their  Strafl'berry  fields  if 
admirable  for  floral  decorative  purposes,  the  blues  and  the 
yellows.  Both  the  English  and  Spanish  Irises  thrive  in  well- 
drained  loams,  and  grow  particularly  well  in  sandy  loams, 
thoroughly  porous,  yet  rich,  warm,  and  sunny.  They  must 
have  a  supply  of  water  during  the  period  in  which  growth  is 
being  made,  else  they  either  only  partially  open,  or  they  fad(^ 
and  pass  away  quickly.  AVe  have  grown  them  to  grand  effect 
in  small  beds  side  by  side  on  a  long  cross-border  near  to  a  ro.sery, 
and  here,  in  a  suitable  soil,  and  sheltered  by  cosy  hedges,  they 
flowered  magnificently.  These  bulbous.  June-flowering  Irises 
ought  to  be  planted  in  October  or  November.  Alany  fine 
varieties  are  offered,  and  we  would  name  Thunderbolt, 
Avalanche.  Blue  Beaiilv.  liemon  Queen,  Othello,  AA'ouverman, 
and  Mon  Bijou,  for  which  descriptions  are  given  in  nursery 
catalogues. 
