72 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



In this district there are large fruit-gardens or orchards, and all 

 the farmers annually devote many acres to the growth of the most 

 common vegetables for market. What at first sight appears un- 

 accountable to many, is the fact that Peas sown by them at the same 

 time as we sow in private gardens (for experiment I have tried the 

 same varieties), are always fully a fortnight earlier than ours, and of a 

 much better quality. It is the same with Potatoes, Runner and Kid- 

 ney Beans, &c. ; and acres of Strawberries are picked long before 

 ours, and of a size and quality, too, so surpassingly good, both then 

 and later on, that we usually go to the fields for them whenever any 

 extra good ones are required. In how many gardens is the Alice Maud 

 Strawberry to be found? Very few, I opine, because of its bad 

 quality ; and yet this is grown in large quantities for the early supply. 

 This is followed by British Queen ; and this again by another variety 

 not so frequently grown as it deserves to be — Eleanor or the Oxonian. 

 All three varieties at fruiting-time present a sight very rarely indeed 

 to be met with in private gardens. Another curious fact is, that the 

 earliest and best vegetables and fruit are invariably found in the 

 centre of the field. That is a strong proof that growing them under 

 the shelter of walls, hedges, &c, is, if not altogether a mistake, far 

 from being either necessary or advisable, as it has the effect of stimu- 

 lating the growth at unseasonable times, on which the first un- 

 favourable change quickly has a very injurious effect. Those in the 

 open grow sturdy and strong, and consequently are better able to 

 withstand inclement weather, both with regard to the growth, but 

 more especially the bloom ; and what is undoubtedly of primary 

 importance, they obtain the most bountiful supply of light and air. 



Between here and London, I very frequently see hundreds of 

 acres of the most sturdy Cabbages, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, Onions, 

 and, very noticeably, Lettuce. One would think any gardener 

 who has seen the latter growing in the open, would in the future 

 give this most useful vegetable a fair chance. Yet this is not the 

 case; the majority apparently thinking the proper place for it is 

 among the fruit-trees, and other out-of-the-way spots, rarely grow 

 any really good Lettuce. Brown Cos Lettuce is never grown for 

 market, on account of its objectionable colour; but the varieties 

 of Green Cos appear hardy enough, having this season with- 

 stood twenty or more degrees of frost, and will no doubt eventu- 

 ally be fit for use before those wintered by gardeners in frames. 

 Vegetable Marrows and Cucumbers, again, are largely grown in the 

 open fields, and the crops are usually enormous. It is true they 

 are manured heavily, and early in the season are sheltered by lines 

 of Rye-grass sown for that purpose; but contrast them and their 



