290 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 17, 1878. 
A ‘theory having been started by a gentleman living near 
Epping of fruitful and unfruitful runners, we asked Mr. 
Doubleday’s opinion of the subject. He answered, “I give away 
bushels of fruit every year [he was too modest to add, “and 
frequently obtain prizes’’], and I can only say in twenty-nine 
beds averaging about twenty-five plants in each there is not a 
barren Strawberry, nor do I believe such a thing exists, except 
from bad cultivation. Ialways plant the earliest and strongest 
runners, and treat my beds almost as annuals, renewing them 
frequently with runners.” This system, of course, produces 
enormous fruit, but we have had fine healthy average Straw- 
berries weighing about two dozen to the pound from beds four 
or fiye years in cultivation, finding it sufficient to plant a 
young strong runner in the place of an old one here and there 
through the bed ; and Crimson Queen, a most capricious Straw- 
berry, was far more productive the third year than at first. 
Birds and frogs were our greatest enemies : against the former 
Mr. Doubleday’s plan of enclosing each bed with boarding 
14 inches-high and netting on top is an excellent guard; but 
in the case of our walled bed it could not be accomplished, 
and before the fruit was ripe we constantly found a plethoric 
amphibian monarch of all he surveyed guarding a heap of 
gathered and half-decayed Strawberries which he had eyi- 
dently procured for a bonne bouche. Iknow the fact of Straw- 
berries being devoured by frogs is doubted by many writers, 
but the same thing occurred in a friend’s plot of ground ; frogs 
and heaps of fruit were found by the gardener, who was at his 
wit’s end to discover the robber, “as there was not a rat in 
the garden.” 
With regard to watering our plants our kind old friend gave 
us another hint. ‘I never give my Strawberries any water if 
Ican possibly avoid it till the fruit is setting; then I make 
the gardener give each plant two quarts. Of course a dry 
or wet season must prove an amateur’s guide in this particular 
—i.¢c., whether this watering is to be repeated; but less than 
two quarts at a time will not saturate the ground sufiiciently 
to be of any real benefit to the plants.” 
Of the Strawberry runners sent by Mr. Doubleday we found 
Royalty, Sir Joseph Paxton, President, Cockscomb, and Ama- 
teur succeeded admirably, and Cuthill’s Prince of Wales bore 
abundantly its beautifully coloured fruit, of which such quan- 
tities are annually used by Gunter for preserves for the Royal 
household. Waltham Seedling failed on an exposed bed, and 
so did Crimson Queen till removed to a shaded border ; but 
except for show, from its brilliant colour and size, the latter 
is hardly worth growing for household purposes, as it is a 
decidedly shy bearer. 
I must now conclude this little history of a Strawberry bed. 
The friend to whose never-failing kindness we were indebted 
for success has passed away from us; but if the amount of 
varied information which his correspondents received from 
him could be collected and arranged a yolume of real practical 
value might be given to the public, with an assurance that 
whether the subjects treated of ranged from the markings on 
- a butterfly’s wing to the growth of a simple flower, they would 
stand the tests of deep study and truth. 
[The above notes are sent to us by Mrs. Battersby.—EDS. ] 
CULTURE OF AQUATIC PLANTS. 
I THINK the cultivation of aguatics in the flower garden is 
not nearly so general as their beauty and facility of growth 
require. I haye a small oval basin about 18 feet in the largest 
diameter, set round with a large rockery, which has for many 
months past been the most attractive feature in the garden, and 
at the very slightest expense or cost of trouble, I note a few 
facts for anyone desirous of making such an addition to their 
garden as that which has afforded me so much pleasure. 
The form and size of the basin will, of course, be determined 
by the space and locality. If the oval is chosen, which I think 
is the most effective, a good proportion for the diameter is 
3 to 2, and according to taste the margin may be flat and 
only slightly raised above the general level, or carried up to 
12 or 15 inches above the surface, so as to form a slope to 
back up the rockery and a site for the growth of Sedums, 
Saxifrages, &c. Ordinary poor cement concrete, with a thin 
surface coating of richer cement handfloated or trowelled off, 
are all that is requisite, and the cost should be inconsider- 
able. The depth of the basin need not exceed 3 feet, of which 
9 or 10 inches may be filled-in with soil (or the latter may be 
confined to large potsortubs disposed suitably on the bottom). 
In this the more robust plants may be planted. 
A few crowns of the white and yellow Water Lily (Nym- 
phza alba and N. lutea) suffice in the course of a season 
or two to cover, if permitted, a large portion of the surface 
with leaves and flowers. I find the first by far the freest in 
flowering, and have an abundance of flowers from early in June 
to late in September. The lutea I find later in commencing 
and earlier in ceasing to flower. Both in shallow water vary 
the usual habit of growth by projecting a portion of their 
large leaves in handsome groups above the water. 
There are many hardy aquatics both indigenous and exotic 
which may be introduced with good effect. The common 
Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), for example, which requires 
only 6 or 8 inches of water, may be grown in pots or boxes 
supported on inverted pots. The floating stems will extend 
on either side, and produce bunches of white flowers at the end 
of May or beginning of June. The Flowering Rush (Butomus 
umbellatus). The Cape Lily (Aponogeton distachyon), notice- 
able for its profuse and long-continued bearing of bizarre 
white aud speckled flowers. The Villarsia Lily (Villarsia 
nymphzeoides), beautiful either as to its small cordate variegated 
floating leaves, or the yellow blooms projecting conspicuously 
above the water surface. 
affording handsome yellow flowers late in the season and from 
having a very pretty habit of growth. Planted in shallow water 
it sends out numerous floating stems with, at frequent intervals, 
leaves and flower stalks ; its growth is extraordinary. ‘I have 
this season plants which haye made 18 feet in growth from 
cuttings taken late last season and put out early this spring. 
Handsome masses of foliage are afforded by several species 
of the Iris, the Water Plantain (Alisma Plantago), and the 
yarious. Bullrushes. The common Marsh Marigold (Caltha 
palustris) plunged in pots in the early spring will yield fora 
few weeks beautiful groupings of foliage and handsome yellow 
flowers, and may then be removed to make room for other and 
later-flowering plants. The variety Caltha palustris major has 
larger and handsome double flowers, commencing about a 
month later than the preceding. Again, nothing can be more 
ornamental than the common Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus 
aquatilis) which decks so many of the ponds in the vicinity of 
London. This may.be planted in small tufts, and will de- 
velope its surface leaves and great profusion of gay white and 
yellow blooms for several months, commencing in the early 
spring and lasting till May. The Frogbit again (Hydrocharis 
Morsus-Ranz) is an interesting plant, with free floating G-like 
leaves, extending by runners sending down filamentous 
roots. The small white flowers are produced for a month or 
two above the surface. The Calla ethiopica succeeds in a 
small depth of water: other Nympheeas, such as the charming 
N. odorata minor, and many other plants procurable from 
several of our florists may be employed in-the basin. Where 
stove or even greenhouse accommodation is possessed for 
shelter during winter a beautiful variation may be secured by 
putting out in the summer months the strange-looking floating 
Pontederia crassipes and the Limnocharis Humboldti, graced 
with a lovely Convolvulus-like large primrose-coloured bloom. 
Tf a plentiful water supply is obtainable and the pond is 
intended to subserve watering purposes, its abundant and fre- 
quent addition will insure cleanliness. If otherwise, the prin- 
ciple familiar to the possession of aquariums may be adopted, 
and no more added than is requisite to supply the loss from 
evaporation. In this case, after haying become clouded for a 
time by minute confervoid vegetation, will clear itself and 
remain so, this desideratum being hastened by the introduction 
of such fast-growing plants as Myriophyllum spicatum, Ana- 
charis Alsinastrum, Ceratophyllum demersum, &c., which 
rapidly oxygenate the water and also leave a supplemented 
groundwork to the more conspicuous form. These can readily 
be removed from time to time when too abundant. 
There are some plants, such as the Water Soldier (Stratiotes 
aloides), which have great effect, with, however, the objection 
that they are liable to emit secretions. If only a few water 
snails exist in the pond (and these latter are sure to be in- 
troduced sooner or later), a few bright-coloured gold fish and 
Crimean carp form appropriate and ornamental additions. 
Central fountains are to my mind eyesores, unless provision is 
made for their continuous supply. —J. PITHERS. 
FORCING VEGETABLES. 
FRENCH BEANS. 
FRENCH BEANS are from eight to ten weeks forming pods 
after the seed has been sown, ther fore those who wish to have 
Jussivea orandiflora, yaluable as © 
se 
