July  27,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
71 
more  closely,  there  is  a  profusion  of  runners  radiating  from  it  earlier 
than  the  others,  and  extending,  if  allowed,  through  several  rows  on 
each  side.  It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  a  vigorous  plant  on  good 
ground  will,  during  the  season,  cover  an  area  of  more  than  50  square 
feet. 
It  requires  no  great  stretch  of  imagination  to  see  how  the  runners 
from  one  such  plant  would  affect  a  new  p'antation.  They  are  just  the 
kind  the  uninitiated  would  select,  for  they  are  the  earliest,  most 
numerous,  and  most  vigorous.  The  plants  thev  produce  are  not, 
however,  always  barren,  for  when  grown  and  well  ripened  they  will 
produce  fruit  of  medium  size,  usually  round,  of  a  pale  pink  colour, 
rather  s-weet,  with  a  sub-acid  flavour,  which  leaves  an  unpleasant 
after  taste  on  the  palate. 
It  would  be  a  mistake  to  leave  the  rampant  runner-producing 
plants  till  the  ordinary  runner- taking  time,  as  it,  -would  be  difficult 
then  to  trace  the  fruitful  plantlets  among  them.  The  rogues  are  easily 
discovered  during  the  flowering  time,  when  they  should  be  pulled  up 
bodily  before  the  runners  emit  roots,  and  so  avoid  much  after  trouble 
and  disappointment. 
We  have  at  present  two  small  Strawberry  beds  on  a  south  border 
— one  of  Black  Prince,  the  other  of  NobR — in  their  fourth  year,  which 
are  fairly  overrun  with  these  “  rogues.”  Yerv  little  attention  was  paid 
to  them  for  the  last  year  or  two,  and  it  was  by  chance  they  were  not 
destroyed.  •  During  flowering  time  I  removed  several  harrowloads  of 
barren  plants  from  these  beds,  but  sufficient  remain  to  form  a  good 
object  lesson  on  the  question  at  issue. 
I  am  sending  you  a  barren  and  a  fruitful  plant  with  runners 
attached  from  each  bed,  whereby  you  may  probably  be  able  to  see  the 
difference  in  the  character  of  the  leaves,  as  well  as  the  vigour  of  the 
plants.  I  would  not  think  of  planting  runners  from  these  without 
using  the  greatest  care  in  selecting  them. 
Perhaps  I  ought  to  apologise  for  intruding  in  this  discussion,  but 
seeing  that  there  are  diversified  opinions  on  the  subject  I  thought  I 
would  give  you  my  experience  on  the  subject.  If  Mr.  Pearson  should 
still  be  sceptical  on  the  question  I  shall  have  pleasure  in  forwarding 
him  a  score  or  two  of  strong  runners  from  “barren,”  “spurious,”  or 
“sporting”  Noble  Strawberry  plapts  to  experiment  uron,  warning 
him,  however,  to  give  them  an  isolated  position — R.  McIntosh, 
York. 
[No  apology  is  needed :  on  the  contrary,  records  of  practical 
experience  are  welcomed.  The  difference  in  the  character  of  the  plants 
received  is  very  apparent.  We  are  not  strangers  to  similar  freaks  on 
the  part  of  Strawberry  plants,  but  only  in  one  instance  have  we  tested 
the  progeny  of  one  of  the  rampant  rogues  in  question.  This  was 
many  years  ago,  and  the  results  are  embodied  somewhere  in  the 
Cottage  Gardener.  For  the  purpose  of  a  trial  of  several  varieties  six 
plants  were  purchased  of  iLa  Constante  Strawberry.  Five  of  these 
afforded  good  crops  of  line  fruit;  the  sixth  grew  luxuriantly,  the 
foliage  possessing  the  same  characteristics  as  the  others,  but  larger, 
and  the  plant  much  taller.  Six  runners  were  taken  from  it,  which 
developed  into  plants  of  remarkable  luxuriance,  but  not  one  of  these, 
nor  the  parent,  produced  a  blossom  during  five  years,  but  then-  runner 
producing  power  was  extraordinary.  We  suspect  that  soil  exerts  an 
influence  in  changing  the  character  of  Strawberry  plants.  From  the 
most  productive  bed  of  the  variety  President  we  have  ever  seen  a 
gentleman  took  runners.  In  the  richer  deeper  soil  of  his  garden  the 
plants  attained  unusual  dimensions,  but  they  were  practically  barren 
and  worthless.] 
Large  American  Strawberries. 
The  Strawberry  season  just  closing  has  been  remarkable  in  many 
respects,  including  the  unusual  profusion  of  the  fruits  and  their  fine 
quality,  but  it  has  been  made  memorable  by  the  production  of  the 
largest  berries  on  record.  Several  days  ago  Mr.  Arthur  T.  Golds- 
borough  presented  to  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  some  berries  he  had 
raised  at  his  place  on  Wesley  Heights.  The  official,  astounded  at  their 
size,  handed  them  over  to  the  acting  pomologist,  who  took  six  of 
them,  that  filled  a  quart  box,  and  weighed  each  separately.  The 
average  weight  of  each  rvas  three  ounces  and  six  one-hundredths. 
Total  weight  of  six,  eighteen  and  two-fifths  ounces.  The  largest  berry 
weighed  four  ounces,  and  was  ten  and  one-half  inches  in  circumference. 
Some  idea  can  be  formed  as  to  the  size  of  these  berries  when  it  is 
known  that  a  one-ounce  berry  is  rarely  seen  in  our  market.  A  quart 
of  berries  usually  weighs  between  seventeen  and  eighteen  ounces,  and 
a  box  of  good  berries  contains  generally  between  thirty  and  forty.  It 
is  doubtful  whether  a  two-ounce  berry  was  ever  shown  at  the  depart¬ 
ment  before. 
The  fruit  was  of  a  handsome  bright  crimson  colour  with  dark  red 
flesh.  A  three-ounce  berry  was  shown  in  Boston  several  years  ago, 
and  a  four-ounce  berry  has  been  recorded  in  England.  The  average 
weight  of  Mr.  Goldsborough’s  berries,  however,  has  never  been  equalled. 
— (“  Washington  Star.”) 
[We  shall  be  pleased  to  have  particulars  of  the  largest  Strawberries 
grown  in  this  country.] 
CYPERUS. 
These  elegant  Rush-like  plants,  which  are  of  easy  culture,  should 
bo  grown  by  all  who  possess  a  greenhouse  or  stove,  as  they  are  pretty 
plants  for  room  decoration,  and  their  long  stems  surmounted  by 
whorls  of  leaves  are  at  all  times  welcomed  when  cut  for  mixing 
with  flowers  in  vases.  The  Papyrus  of  the  Egyptians,  upon  which 
so  many  ancient  records  are  written,  is  said  to  be  a  species  of  Cyperus, 
but  the  leaves  as  we  see  them  in  English  greenhouses  seem  somewhat 
narrow  for  that  purpose,  though  doubtless  when  grown  b}*-  the  rivers 
of  tropical  countries  they  are  of  far  larger  dimensions,  and  probably  it 
was  the  practice  to  fasten  several  of  them  together.  Fortunately  we 
are  now  well  supplied  with  infinitely  better  materials  for  writing 
upon,  and  we  enjoy  also  the  priceless  blessing  of  a  powerful  press, 
which  disseminates  knowledge  on  any  subject  under  the  sun.  Blessed 
indeed  are  we  of  the  nineteenth  century  when  compared  with  the  sages- 
of  ancient  times. 
The  particular  reason  which  led  me  to  pen  these  notes  is  that  we- 
are  now  engaged  in  propagating  a  large  number,  as  the  plants  are  in 
great  demand  during  the  autumn  and  winter  months,  and  indeed 
throughout  the  year.  Perhaps  one  reason  for  this  demand  is  that  as 
they  are  easily  and  quickly  grown  the  plants  may  be  sold  cheaply, 
and  are  thus  suitable  for  those  who  never  manage  to  keep  plants  of 
any  description  very  long  in  a  flourishing  condition. 
Propagation  may  be  effected  by  division,  by  seed,  or  by  inserting- 
the  tops  as  cuttings.  If  plants  are  required  to  send  up  a  few  very- 
strong  shoots,  a  vigorous  old  specimen  should  be  divided  into  pieces, 
each  having  two  or  more  crowns.  Plants  raised  from  cuttings,  how¬ 
ever,  make  the  best  little  specimens  for  ordinary  decorative  purposes, 
as  the  growth  is  so  compact,  and  this  method  of  propagation  is  the  one 
usually  adopted.  It  is  done  in  the  following  way:  Cut  off  the 
tops  with  an  inch  of  stem  attached,  then  shorten  the  leaves  about 
one-third,  and  press  them  into  pure  coarse  sand  placed  on  a  bed  in  the 
pjopagating  house.  If  such  convenience  is  not  at  command,  place 
the  sand  in  shallow  boxes,  cover  with  a  sheet  of  glass.  e<-"~d  in  a 
stove,  Cucumber  house,  or  even  in  a  cold  frame  whicn  is  kept  close. 
In  either  case  water  thoroughly  through  a  rose,  and  keep  the  sand 
constantly  moist.  With  proper  attention  in  this  respect  every  top  will 
root,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  young  shoots  will  spring  from  < 
the  centre  of  each  top.  When  these  are  from  1  to  2  inches  in  length,, 
lift  and  pot  into  3-inch  pots,  using  a  compost  of  loam  and  leaf  soil  in/ 
equal  parts,  or  peat  may  be  substituted  for  the  leaf  soil. 
If  the  young  plants  are  placed  in  a  warm  moist  house  and  kept 
freely  syringed  they  will  make  rapid  progress,  and  soon  be  ready  for 
another  shift  into  5  or  6-inch  pots,  using  soil  of  a  similar  nature  to 
that  already  described :  but  in  this  instance  it  should  be  in  a  rough-v 
state.  After  this  potting  has  been  performed  grow  the  plants  in  a 
warm  moist  temperature  for  a  couple  of  weeks,  then  gradually  admit 
more  air  to  insure  sturdy  growth,  and  a  few  weeks  later  they  may  be 
treated  as  ordinary  greenhouse  plants,  with  the  exception  that  the  stages 
or  beds  upon  which  they  are  arrauged  should  be  kept  moister  than 
is  necessary  for  the  majority  of  greenhouse  plants.  It  is  a  good  plan 
to  keep  some  of  the  plants  in  3-inch  pots,  as  they  are  extremely  useful 
for  placing  in  little  vases  for  room  or  dinner  table  decorations,  or  for 
mixing  with  flowering  plants  in  bowls  or  jardinieres.  When  the  soil 
is  packed  with  roots  an  occasional  application  of  chemical  manure 
helps  to  keep  them  healthy  and  vigorous,  and  the  leaves  of  a  deep 
green  colour.  During  the  winter  the  plants  should  be  grown  in  a 
stove  or  intermediate  house,  because  in  a  cool  structure  the  points  of 
the  leaves  are  apt  to  become  browned. 
When  grown  in  heat  abundance  of  water  at  the  root  ought  to  be- 
given,  as  all  the  Cyperus  are  moisture-loving  plants,  and  succeed  well 
when  grown  in  tanks  among  Water  Lilies  in  an  aquatic  house.  Many 
stoves  and  greenhouses  have  a  tank  fixed  in  a  prominent  position, 
which  is  by  no  means  a  thing  of  beauty.  Such  may  be  considerably 
improved  in  appearance  by  sinking  a  few  strong  potfuls  of  Cyperus 
in  them.  They  quickly  accustom  themselves  to  the  altered  conditions, 
and  throw  up  very  strong  shoots,  which  come  in  useful  for  cutting,  or 
for  supplying  seed.  This  leads  me  to  advance  a  few  words  about  raising 
plants  from  seed,  which  is  a  convenient  method  to  practise  when  tops 
are  scarce.  As  soon  as  the  seed  is  ripe  and  just  ready  to  drop,  gather 
and  place  in  a  paper  bag,  which  may  be  hung  in  a  sunny  position  in  a 
dry,  airy  house.  In  a  few  weeks  it  will  be  ready  for  sowing.  Sow 
in  shallow  boxes  or  pans,  just  covering  the  seed  with  light  soil,  and 
the  box  with  a  sheet  of  glass.  As  in  the  case  of  cuttings,  ketp  con¬ 
stantly  moist,  and  the  young  seedlings  will  be  quickly  ready  for 
pricking  out  intoother  boxes,  and  a  short  time  after  potting  into  3-inch 
pots.  When  this  stage  is  reached,  the  treatment  advocated  for  plaids 
raised  from  cuttings  will  be  suitable  for  the  seedlings. 
The  best  varieties  for  ornamental  purposes  are  C.  alternifoli  is, 
its  variegated  form,  and  C.  laxus.  The  latter  is  a  very  effec  ive- 
variety,  not  so  well  known  as  its  merits  deserve. — II.  D. 
