6 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 5, 1896. 
hardy may be relegated to the greenhouse, 
which is their proper place, while the 
majority are perfectly able to take care of 
themselves in the open. To say that these 
hardybulbsare popular, isbuta feeble wayof 
expressing the fact that they are more or 
less grown by everybody who has a garden, 
and even by those who have no garden 
except a window. 
Those of our readers who are of a 
botanical turn of mind, will notice that 
every subject we mention in the way of 
bulbs and their allies, belongs to one or 
other of three natural orders—namely, 
Liliaceae, Amaryllideae and Irideae, in the 
order of importance given. The selected 
lists which we furnish are in many cases 
limited, but beginners may rely upon their 
being the best of each respective kind, 
exclusive of new, scarce and expensive 
varieties. The lists have been made out to 
include the highest quality at the smallest 
expense compatible with efficiency. Some 
experienced growers for exhibition might 
feel inclined to substitute other varieties for 
certain we have named ; and as there is 
always room for differences of opinion, we 
should welcome an expression of the same. 
This being the first number of a new 
volume, we take the opportunity of heartily 
thanking our supporters contributors, 
readers, and friends generally. The greatly 
increased correspondence on all subjects 
pertaining to gardening with which we have 
been favoured during the past year, tends 
to show that we are giving our readers a 
certain measure of satisfaction ; and to 
maintain this impression, it will be our con¬ 
stant endeavour to attend to duty to the best 
of our ability. 
hat is a bulb ? In ordinary parlance 
we are prone to speak of so many 
different things as bulbs,that we are liable to 
include some structures under that term 
which are not bulbs at all. There are bulbs 
proper, corms, and tubers,which,externally, 
appear very much alike, and are yet mor¬ 
phologically, that is structurally, very 
different. To get over the difficulty in 
doubtful cases, the permanent portions are 
termed roots or crowns. Lily of the Valley 
and Solomon’s Seal would come under such 
a designation. Botanically thewoid crown 
is generally used in a very different sense, 
and if applied to the central part of the 
flower of Eucharis or Narcissus the term 
coronna is used. The word root is inapplic¬ 
able to the fleshy portion of the rootstock 
of Lily of the Valley, surmounted by a tuft 
of scales and leaves, enclosing a raceme of 
flowers. This fleshy portion is an under¬ 
ground stem. 
What, then, isa bulb ? From the botanist’s 
point of view the answer is easy in most 
cases, but there are some complications and 
exceptions to the general rule. A bud is a 
short stem or axis remaining permanently in 
the condition of a bud. It consists of a 
thin, flat, or slightly conical, solid portion, 
bearing on its upper surface, numerous modi¬ 
fied leaves of a fleshy character, and arranged 
over one another in a globose or conical mass. 
These fleshy, modified leaves remain under- 1 
ground as a rule, and contain a store of 
reserve material to enable the bulb to throw 
up a flower scape or stem in the following 
spring or summer. Bulbs are of two types 
— namely, scaly or tunicated. The bulb 
of Lilium auratum is scaly, and is so termed 
because the scales do not overlap one 
another, at least to any great extent. 
Tunicated bulbs have very broad scales like 
the Hyacinth and Tulip, overlapping one 
another to a considerable extent ; or the 
scales form entire conical sheaths, the larger 
lying over the smaller like a series of candle 
extinguishers, as in the Onion, Daffodil, 
Snowdrop, and Snowflake. These two types 
—namely, scaly and tunicated bulbs, may 
be readily understood and remembered by 
getting samples of each and carefully 
removing the fleshy scales or leaves one by 
one till the centre is reached. The outer, 
thin and membranous coat of an Onion. 
Hyacinth, or Tulip merely consists of dried- 
up scales. 
In the common German Iris, the root- 
stock consists of a fleshy stem creeping 
above or slightly beneath the soil; but the 
English and Spanish Irises are termed 
bulbous. Close examination will show a 
considerable difference from the bulb of a 
Hyacinth, not merely in outward form, but 
in internal structure. The central portion 
is relatively large and solid, forming in 
reality, a very much shortened rhizome, 
covered with thin membranous scales 
instead of fleshy ones. Almost a similar 
condition prevails in Freesia. The under¬ 
ground portion of these plants therefore 
consists partly of a bulb and partly of a 
rhizome, forming an exception to the general 
rule. The rootstock of the Crocus and 
Gladiolus is a corm, that is, a very much 
shortened and flattened stem bearing buds 
on the top. By removing the leaves from 
the corm of a Gladiolus, this arrangement 
can readily be seen by the naked eye. All 
the central portion is structurally a stem, 
containing a great quantity of starch and 
other reserve material, which, in the case of 
a Hyacinth or Lily, is stored in the fleshy 
scales. The corm of Gladiolus and Crocus 
is annual, for a new one is formed on the 
the top of the old during the period of 
growth, while the old gradually shrivels up 
and decays. There is yet another struc¬ 
ture amongst the subjects dealt with in this 
issue, namely a tuber, occurring in the 
Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa). A tuber 
may either be a root structure as in the 
Dahlia, or a stem as in the Potato, Jerusa¬ 
lem Artichoke, and Tuberose. Specifically 
it is a stem or branch thickened into a fleshy 
mass by the excessive development of the 
soft tissue. Amongst the subjects under 
notice in this issue we have bulbs, corms, 
tubers, and a structure intermediate between 
a bulb and a rhizome or underground stem. 
—--- 
Jersey Show.—Our special correspondent has sent 
in a detailed account of this show ; but want of space 
precludes its appearance till next week. 
The “Bulb Number” is worth saxpence o’ ony 
man’s siller ; therefore to gie it awa’ for a penny is 
positeevely redeekulous. 
The many friends of Mr. Peter Blair, of Trentham 
Gardens, who are also readers of this paper, will 
be very glad indeed to learn that he is fast 
recovering from the effects of his accident. 
Bulbs for the London Parks.—We are informed that 
the whole of the bulbs required by the London 
County Council for the parks this season, will be 
supplied by Messrs. William Cutbush & Son, High- 
gate Nurseries, London, N. 
A Big Sunflower. —A Sunflower of extraordinary 
size and weight has been grown by Mr. J. G. Lee, 
South Douglas Road, Cork, and may be seen in the 
window of Messrs. Browning and Jagoe. The 
flower head measures 50 in. in circumference. 
Cricket: Hurst & Son v. Longmans, Green & Co.— 
This match resulted in a drawn game, Hurst getting 
151 runs for eight wickets, and Longmans 81 for 
nine wickets. Another match played by Hurst & 
Son v. St. Paul’s Athletic, was won by Hurst & Son. 
Hurst, 98 runs for four wickets ; St. Paul's, 68 runs. 
Buxted Flower Show was held at Buxted Park, on 
the 26th ult. The entries numbered 662 as com¬ 
pared with 537 last year, independently of the 
poultry department. The competitive exhibits in 
the horticultural division occupied a marquee, and 
the non-competitive exhibits filled another. Here 
Mr. H. G. Prinsep, gardener to Viscountess Portman 
occupied the whole of the central area. Mr. G. W. 
Piper, Uckfield, Messrs. Wood & Son, Maresfield, 
and Messrs. J. Dennet & Sons, staged fine collections 
of cut flowers. Mr. A. J. Ridley showed a wasps' 
nest with the industrious insects at work. 
Glut of Fruit. —The South Lincolnshire markets 
are glutted at present owing to the abundant crop of 
fruit, and prices are very unremunerative. Apples 
of first-class quality are selling at 6d. to 8d, per 
stone, and Plums at 6d. to is., the average price 
being 9d. Pears are likewise very cheap. It is 
feared that prices will yet rule lower so that the 
crop will not pay for gathering. 
The New Conservatory in Sefton Park, Liverpool, 
which has been presented to the city by H. Yates- 
Thompson, Esq., at a cost of £10,000, will probably 
be opened in the first week of October. We under¬ 
stand that Mr. Thompson himself will perform the 
ceremony and that the honorary freedom of the city 
will be conferred upon him in recognition of his 
munificence. The freedom will be presented in a 
silver casket. 
Orchids at the Sale Rooms.—There was not a very 
large sale at the rooms of Messrs Protheroe & 
Morris, Cheapside, on the 28th ult., but two pieces of 
Laeliocattleya andreana were knocked down at 3§ gs. 
and 5$ gs. respectively. Hybrids of Cattleya 
bicolor went for £1 10s. each ; and a small plant of a 
hybrid Dendrobium obtained fromD. nobilenobilius, 
crossed with D. findlayanum, was sold for £1 12s. 6d. 
Very fine plants of Vanda caerulea, well furnished 
with leaves went at prices ranging from 2s.6d. to 3s. 6d. 
each ; while the same specimens at a more favour¬ 
able time of the year would have fetched 10s. 6d. to 
15s. apiece. Such opportunities for getting a cheap 
supply of imported Orchids should not be missed by 
those getting a collection together. 
German Horticultural Exhibition at Hamburg in 
1897 .—The first appendix to the programme of the 
1st April 1896 is now published in the German lan¬ 
guage. The exhibition will remain open from May 
to September. England will be represented on the 
committee by the following members of the Royal 
Horticultural Society : —Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 
Sir J. H. Schroder, Bart., W. T. Thiselton Dyer, Esq., 
F.R.S., Dr. Morris, C.M.G., Rev. W. Wilks, M.A., 
J. T. Bennett-Poe, Esq., Charles Shea, Esq., Philip 
Crowley, Esq,, W. Marshall, Esq., Harry J. Veitch, 
Esq., Geo. Bunyard, Esq., H. Self Leonard, Esq., 
and Owen Thomas, Esq. Numerous money prizes 
are offered, including 1,000 marks (a mark is equal 
to a shilling of our money) for the best collection of 
market Carnations ; 5,000 marks together with a 
work of art worth 2,000 marks for a complete repre¬ 
sentative collection of Orchids in the early part of 
the year, &c. Communications should be addressed 
to the Comite der Allgemeinen Gartenbau-Ausstel- 
lung in Hamburg, 1897. 
Mr. G. Bunyard on Fruit Culture.—At the monthly 
meeting of the Brighton and Sussex Horticultural 
Society, on the 20th ult., Mr. J. Cheal in the chair, 
a lecture on " Fruit Culture ” was delivered by Mr. 
Geo. Bunyard, of Maidstone. The lecturer com¬ 
menced by stating that the scope of his subject made 
it difficult to deal with in the time at command. He 
therefore proposed to deal with some common errors, 
including too deep planting, which arose frequently 
from the piling on of manure. The soil was frequently 
too light so that the trees failed to get a good grip. 
Vegetable crops were often planted too close to the 
trees. Wall trees were allowed to get too dry at the 
roots, the wall drawing the moisture from the soil and 
also intercepting the rain when blown from the direc¬ 
tion covered by it. Pruning was done too early in 
the season. Summer pruning should not be com¬ 
menced before August to prevent the trees making a 
second growth. September and October were the 
months for root-pruning, whereas it was often left 
till November. Trees were often trained too closely 
together, and orchards were neglected instead of 
being properly thinned. The foliage of vines was 
often too severely thinned and too much stopping 
done. The soil round fruit trees should be made 
quite firm ; and when grown in houses the trees 
should not be too near the glass. The sashes might 
be removed during the ripening of Peaches. Amateurs 
were apt to neglect thinning the fruits of Apples and 
to pick them before they were perfectly ripe. In the 
matter of storing Mr. Bunyard recommended a little 
moisture and free ventilation, while the fruit must 
be kept in the dark. Early Pears should be gathered 
before they were quite ripe and late ones allowed to 
hang as long as possible. Gooseberries, Red and 
Black Currants, Raspberries, Stawberries. and Plums 
were also dealt with seriatim. 
