September 9, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
25 
Strawberries.— F. L. : Well, it is a debatable 
point. We should, if confined to three vaiieties, 
vote for first, Royal Sovereign, as an early variety o 
good size, appearance, flavour, and cropping powers, 
which seems to succeed very generally. Then, 
secondly, we should select Vicomtesse Hericart de 
Thury (syn. Garibaldi), a small fruited variety, but 
an excellent cropper; and thirdly, President for 
flavour, and also cropping qualities. 
Herbs for Drying.— Burton-on-Ttent : The best 
time to cut and dry herbs is just when their flowers 
are opening. This would suit at least for Mint, 
Thyme, Balm, Sage, &c. At this period they are 
found to contain more of the essential oil upon which 
their flowers depend than at any other. 
Soil for Winter Cucumbers —Experiment : A 
winter crop of Cucumbers are not at all easy to 
manage or profitable. Compost:—two parts turfy 
loam, one each of leaf mould and spent Mushroom 
dung, ebe something after the likeness to this 
material, and an opening quantity of lime rubble and 
sand. Mix this well, and have it well heated before 
using it.' Do not over-water your plants to start 
with. 
Cure for Mildew.— L. U. T., Beds. : We cannot re¬ 
commend anything more effectual for the suppression 
of this fungoid disease than very hot (130°) soapy 
water. Put a large piece of soft soap into three 
gallons of the water, and work it up with a syringe. 
Spray it on. Of course, gloves may have to be used 
to hold the syringe, it being so hot. Do not bear 
heavily upon young shcots. And it is well to syringe 
thoroughly with tepid water soon after the soapy 
water has dried off. 
Tui.ip Silver Standard. 
Copyright S. & S. 
one of the prettiest of Lachenalias or Cape Cow 
slips. The flowers are larger than either of the 
reputed parents and the stature somewhat greater. 
The drooping flowers are of a rich full yellow, 
entirely devoid of the green hue seen in L. tricolor, 
when fully developed, and we consider it fully 
deserving of more extended cultivation than it enjoys. 
The reason is probably that the bulbs are not yet 
so plentiful, for instance, as those of L. pendula; 
but a careful cultivator could soon increase the 
number of bulbs to form a very respectable batch of 
plants for the greenhouse or conservatory. A sandy 
and porous but rich soil will make a suitable com¬ 
post. The bulbs should be potted up at once and 
allowed to come on gradually. When the leaves are 
developing, the pots should be placed on the shelves 
of a vinery or other relatively cool house in winter 
so that the plants will be close to the glass. They 
must be kept relatively cool, airy or well ventilated, 
and exposed to all the light possible during the 
winter months, so that the flower scapes may develop 
slowly and sturdily, and produce large and durable 
fl.wers. The accompanying illustration, lent us by 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, shows the character of the 
flowers admirably. 
TULIP SILVER STANDARD. 
This may be described as one of the second early 
single Tulips, such as are used for bedding purposes 
and come into blcom just as the Hyacinths are get¬ 
ting past their best. The flowers of Silver Standard 
are more or less flamed and feathered with scarlet 
on a white ground. The variegation is akin to the 
“ breaking " or *' rectifying ” of the florists’ Tulips, 
but as the arrangements of the two colours do not 
correspond with the rules of the florist, the variety 
would simply be classed amongst the decorative 
sorts that are used for bedding purposes and pot 
work. For those who fancy variegated Tulips that 
under the notice is gracefully elegant, of a light and 
pleasing colour, and, therefore, amply deserving of 
extended cultivation. Many of the most interesting 
and prettiest of the old-fashioned Tulips “waste 
their sweetness on the desert air ’’ in old cottage gar¬ 
dens, till some one re-discovers them and brings them 
into fresh prominence. That under notice, however, 
is not a neglected old garden plant, but annually 
classed with lists of Tulips used for spring bedding. 
LACHENALIA NELSONI. 
The origin of this form is said to be a hybrid be¬ 
tween L. aurea and L. tricolor; but whether a 
hybrid or merely a variety of L. aurea obtained from 
seeck it is certainly a very handsome sutject, and 
Copyright S, & S. 
Lachenalia Nelsoni, 
