18 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  0,  1899. 
ABNORMAL  TULIP. 
The  Tulip  sent  by  “  K.  B.”  is  certainly  curious,  and  though  we  have 
occasionally  seen  examples  of  the  same  nature  in  the  late  Dr.  Hogg's 
collection,  we  have  not  observed  any  so  strong  as  the  specimen  which  is 
reproduced  in  fig.  5. 
We  sent  the  specimen  to  one  of  our  great  Tulip  experts,  who  replied  : 
“There  is  nothing  very  extraordinary  in  the  occurrence  of  an  axil-bulb, 
as  we  call  it — i.e„  ‘  c  ’  :  still  it  is  a  very  interesting  variation,  and  seems 
a  curious  place  for  a  bulb  to  form. 
“Among  my  Tulips  I  have  noticed  one  or  two  similar  instances.  In 
1892  or  1891  1  collected  seven  or  eight  from  a  collection  of,  as  near  as  I 
can  recollect,  1200  bulbs,  and  planted  them  and  kept  them  separately 
Fig.  5.— Tulip  with  Bulb  formed  in  Axil  of  Leaf  above 
(i ROUND.  (Slightly  below  natural  she.) 
References.— a,  ground  level;  b,  new  bulb  formed  in  the  soil;  <•,  bulb  in  axil 
of  leaf. 
noted  as  ‘  axil '  bulbs  ;  when  they  bloomed,  they  were  just  of  the  same  kind 
and  as  though  one  had  planted  an  ordinary  offset ;  size  for  size  1  should 
prefer  an  offset  as  stronger  and  likely  to  bloom  sooner. 
“  Interesting  the  occurrence  is  decidedly;  taken  in  conjunction  with 
the  fact  of  the  bulbs  putting  down  ‘  droppers  ’ — that  is,  an  offset  bulb  (1  or 
7  inches  below  the  other  effsets  or  main  bulb  at  tho  bottom  of  a  sort 
of  pipe. 
“I  can  frame  no  theory  on  this  fact  ;  I  once  thought  tlint  if  tho 
Tulip  sometimes  produced  a  bulb  on  the  stem  in  the  axil  of  the  guard 
leaf,  and  I  took  away  a  stem  from  the  bulb  as  soon  ns  the  plant  was  well 
grown,  I  might  perhaps  propagate  a  plant  like  a  cutting,  but  tho  experi¬ 
ment  was,  of  course,  a  failure.” 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
The  Strawberry. 
The  Strawberry  is  ono  of  the  best,  and  also  the  most  popular  and 
profitable  of  small  hardy  fruits.  It  is  well  worthy  of  tho  position  it  holds, 
as  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  of  anything  more  pleasing  than  clean,  fresh, 
well-ripened  fruits.  The  supply  from  tho  open  ground  may  be  consider¬ 
ably  prolonged  by  making  sinal*  plantations  on  borders  with  south  and 
north  aspects;  the  main  portion  occupying  one  of  the  quarters,  and 
succeeding  those  on  ti  e  south  borders,  and  preceding  those  on  the  north 
borders. 
To  secure  the  necessary  plants  in  good  condition  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  3  or  4-inch  puts  may  be  filled  with  a  compost  of  good  loam,  leaf  soil, 
and  decayed  manure  ;  and  in  these  the  runners  should  be  layered  as  early 
as  obtainable.  It  is  much  better  to  layer  them  in  pots,  as  by  this  raeana 
earlier  and  better  plants  can  be  obtained,  and  no  check  will  be  experienced 
in  removing  them  to  their  final  positions.  The  pots  must  be  examined 
daily  for  water,  and  growth  should  not  be  allowed  to  extend  beyond  tho 
layered  plant.  When  rooted  they  may  be  detached  and  placed  in  a  shady 
position,  where  they  should  remain  until  the  land  is  ready  for  their 
reception. 
Ground  that  i9  moderately  rich  and  inclined  to  be  heavy  is  best 
suited  for  the  cultivation  of  the  Strawberry.  If  the  site  is  wet  mildew 
will  uttack  the  plants,  if  too  dry  they  will  suffer  from  drought.  It 
should  be  trenched  2  feet  deep,  mixing  plenty  of  stable  manure  with  the 
soil  during  tho  operation,  that  there  may  be  a  store  of  food  from  which 
the  plants  may  obtain  an  unfailing  supply,  Newly  trenched  ground 
should  be  allowed  to  settle  or  be  well  trodden  before  planting,  to  secure 
that  firm  fine  tilth  so  essential  to  the  cultivation  of  hardy  fruitH. 
Some  growers  put  the  plants  into  nursery  beds,  and  defer  planting 
until  spring  ;  but  in  my  experience  I  have  invariably  observed  the  best 
results  to  come  from  those  planted  in  August,  as  these  make  good  plants 
by  the  end  of  autumn,  end  a  crop  of  fruit  [will  be  secured  the,  following 
season.  The  distance  apart  at  which  the  plants  are  to  be  put  will 
depend  upon  the  variety  ;  from  18  to  30  inches  between  the  rows,  and 
IS  to  24  inches  in  the  row,  may  be  taken  ns  a  safe  rule.  It  will, however, 
be  found  a  good  plan  to  put  double  the  number  of  plants  in  the  row  ; 
the  crop  they  yield  will  amply  repay  for  the  little  extra  labour.  After 
the  first  year’s  fruit  is  gathered  every  other  plant  may  be  removed  ;  the 
remaining  ones  will  then  be  at  the  normal  distance  apart. 
Dur  ng  the  month  of  May,  or  earlier  if  required,  strawy  stable  manure 
may  be  put  between  the  rows  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  fruits  clean, 
retaining  moisture,  and  serving  as  a  mulch  to  tho  plants,  first  going  over 
with  the  Dutch  hoe  to  loosen  the  surface  soil  and  to  destroy  weeds. 
Before  the  fruit  commences  to  ripen  it  is  good  practice  to  raise  them 
from  tho  ground  ;  this  may  be  done  by  means  of  forked  twigs,  but  a 
better  way  is  to  place  three  or  four  stakes  to  a  plant,  and  to  put  some’ 
rallia  round  them  on  which  to  suspend  the  trims.  The  work  can  be 
easily  and  quickly  done,  and  muny  ol  the  finest  fruits  will  bo  preserved 
that  might  otherwise  decay,  especially  during  wet  weather.  To  protect 
the  fruit  from  birds,  stakes  should  be  driven  in  round  tho  quurter  and 
down  the  centre  ;  along  the  tops  of  these  wire  or  string  may  be  fastened, 
and  over  this  the  net  can  be  placed,  pegging  it  down  at  the  sides  and' 
ends. 
Attention  will  be  required  in  taking  off  runners,  especially  from  young 
plantations,  on  which  they  are  produced  earlier  and  more  freely  than  old 
ones,  and  it  not  required  they  should  bo  removed  as  they  appear,  that  the 
plants  may  not  be  weakened  by  useless  growth.  When  the  fruit  is 
gathered,  and  the  requ  red  number  of  young  plants  obtained,  the  planta¬ 
tion  may  be  cleaned,  removing  all  runners,  dead  leaves,  and  manure,  and 
lightly  stir  tho  surface  of  tho  soil  to  encourage  the  growth  and  the 
maturing  of  strong  crowns  fur  the  ensuing  season. — S.  1*. 
Aquilegias. 
At  tho  present  time,  amongst  all  our  hardy  plants,  too  much  praise 
can  scarcely  bo  bestowed  upon  these  interesting  plants.  Their  hurdiness. 
freedom  in  blooming,  and  effectiveness  in  various  colours  make  the 
Columbines  most  useful.  The  claims  of  these  plants  are  such  that 
their  exclusion  from  gardens  cannot  be  justified.  A  few  sprays  will 
furnish  any  vase,  as  there  is  such  a  degree  of  lightness,  coupled  with 
the  peculiar  lormatiou  of  the  (lowers,  tnat  makes  them  almost  unap¬ 
proachable. 
Tlioro  are  a  large  number  of  so-called  double  varieties  of  the  old- 
fashioned  and  widely  known  vulgaris  which  in  us  many  forms  and  colours 
is  very  desirable.  The  singular  spur-like  appendages  attached  to  the 
Columbines  of  the  present  time  hugely  increase  their  beauty,  and  have 
raised  them  to  a  favourable  position  in  gardens.  Then  we  have  splendid 
hybrids  from  the  Californian  species,  also  hybrid  forms  of  Aquilegiu 
cicrulea,  A.  chrysantha,  and  A.  canadensis,  and  others  that  1  have  not 
enumerated,  all  of  which  assist  m  the  adornment  of  our  borders. 
The  culture  of  Columbines  is  extremely  simple.  A  deep  rich  soil  is 
most  suitable  for  them.  Some  gardeners  sow  the  seed  us  soon  as  it  is 
ripe  where  the  plants  are  to  flower,  and  tho  method  saves  time  and  labour. 
But  on  the  oilier  hand,  better  plants  aie  obtained  by  sowing  the  seed 
early  in  the  year  under  glass  in  a  box  of  light  soil,  and  as  soon  as  tho 
seedlings  attain  a  suitable  size  they  should  be  pricked  off  into  boxes. 
From  these  they  may  be  removed  to  nursery  beds,  where  they  should  bo 
regularly  watered,  except  in  showery  weather,  and  finally  the  plants  may 
be  lifted  with  a  ball  of  soil  and  placid  where  they  are  to  flower  in  the 
autumn,  or  they  may  remain  where  they  were  originally  planted. — 
F.  W.  G. 
York  Show.—  Correction.— Mr.  J.  Tullett,  Ruby  Castle  Gardens* 
writes  ;  “  I  have  been  reading  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  your  report 
of  tho  grand  Yorkshire  Gala.  For  the  collection  of  fruit,  six  varieties, 
you  have  put  Mr.  Mclndoe  first  ard  myself  second.  This  is  an  error,  as 
I  secured  the  premier  award,  and  Mr.  Mclndoe  the  second.” 
