j1 Prussian Seed JFarm. 163 



Who does not know, and consequently love, our gaudy Cardinal flower (lobelia 

 cardinalis), with its tall spikes of dazzling scarlet ? Here, in Benary's collection of 

 choice novelties, was a long bed, filled with a superb variety of the above, remarkable 

 for its rich purple leaves, and in every way a perfect "gem," They were ten years 

 in "setting" this sport, i. e., in making it come true from seed — a trial of patience 

 which none but an enthusiastic lover of flowers can appreciate. One of the enclo- 

 sures belonging to this firm, situated a short distance outside the walls of the town, 

 is devoted to the raising of cauliflowers and celery. Erfurt seed of these are cele- 

 brated wherever they are grown. Ten acres were in the enclosure, and the whole 

 area was laid out in beds, neatly edged with closely shaven grass. Between the beds 

 were streams of pure spring water, the ditches being ten feet in width, where a sweet 

 water-cress was luxuriating. Laborers, with tin-pans fastened to long poles, were 

 busy dipping up the water and irrigating the plants. The Erfurt Dwarf cauliflower 

 is considered the standard of excellence, and is very low, with large snow-white 

 heads. About 100,000 are annually grown by this firm alone, and their cultivation is 

 attended with no little expense and care. The beds are raised about two feet high, 

 and thoroughly enriched with well-rotted horse-stable manure. The seeds are sown 

 about the first of April, and the heads are fit to cut by the middle of July. 



In September, seeds are again sown for forcing. Prices here are very low — forced 

 heads usually bringing 6d. each ; by midsummer, they sell for sixpence, but later in 

 the season the price somewhat advances. Last year prices were exceedingly low, 

 fine heads selling from 4^d. to 5d. After the cauliflowers are cut, the ground is 

 planted with celery, and with such excellent culture as they here receive, one can 

 imagine the immense yield. We were informed that 150 acres around this city were 

 devoted to cauliflower-growing alone. After leaving these grounds, we rode to 

 another lot, where we saw thirty frames, filled with enormous cockscombs, of every 

 shade of color, making a rich show. Carnations in full bloom, then attracted our 

 notice, not only on account of the great diversity of color and markings, but for the 

 delicious perfume as well. On a covered platform were neatly arranged 10,000 pots, 

 with these very healthy plants, carefully trained to stakes, and filled with bloom. 

 Close beside them, about one acre of seedling plants, all double, were growing in the 

 open ground, and completely covered with blossoms. Only ten per cent, came single, 

 and these had been immediately taken out and destroyed. Three men attend exclu- 

 sively to the carnation department, and they are constantly employed during the 

 growing and seeding seasons. Another crop here, rising with the former, is the 

 immense stock of mignonette. As an instance of the amount of its seed grown by 

 this firm, fifty hundred weight is annually gathered and sold. The Ten Weeks' 

 Stocks require very careful attention if the finest strain of seeds is required. About 

 seven plants are grown in a six-inch pot, with a small percentage (two or three) of 

 the same, producing single flowers ; the pollen from the double blooms then fertilize 

 the single, and thus ensure in the succeeding generation a satisfactory amount of 

 double blossoms. The pots, of which 200,000 ar3 now in use, are placed on narrow 

 shelves, the latter one above another, until the structure is about twelve feet in height, 

 and at the top covered with a sloping roof. The seeds of " stocks," or, as they were 

 termed by old gardeners, " gillyflowers," will produce from fifty to eighty per cent. 



