H ORTI CULTURE 



August 12, 1905 



British Horticulture 



A SEED-GKOWING CENTER 



Although Essex lias suii'ereJ in recent years from 

 depression in general agriculture, farmers have found 

 a profitable line in growing seeds' for the leading firms. 

 Hundreds of acres are devoted to vegetables and flowers, 

 and the climate and soil are particularly suitable for this 

 branch of growing. The season is sufficiently early to 

 grow general vegetable crops wliioh cannot be matured 

 further north. Within a radius of a few miles below 

 Witham is to be found the largest seed-growing district 

 in the country. Here are to be found the seed farms of 

 Messrs. Cooper, Taber & Co., Messrs. King & Sons, 

 Messrs. Bobbie & Co., of Eothesay, who make a specialty 

 of sweet peas. When I visited the district a few days 

 ago there were many complaints prevalent as to the 

 need of rain. The green pea and runner bean crops 

 were sutfering, owing to the lack of moisture. One crop 

 of peas 1 noticed would not yield more than a quarter of 

 a crop, and would be grown at a loss. At the trial 

 grounds of Mr. W. Deal, at Brooklands, Kelvedon, a 

 variety of peas are grown each year. The three varie- 

 ties being harvested at this time were Sutton's Little 

 Marvel, Green Gem, and Pilot. Mr. Deal considers 

 tliat the first named is the best early pea in cultivation, 

 and in spite of tlie drought he has some very heavy crops 

 this sei;ison. 



SOME USEFUL PEAS AND POTATOES 



Mr. Deal also spoke highly of the pea, Thomas 

 Laxton, which is similar to Gradus, but a stumjjed 

 pod and a better cropper, and a very useful market 

 variety. For a second early, Sutton's Dwarf Defiance 

 has come out well in the trials. It has a very fine dark 

 green pod, growing about two feet high, and it keeps its 

 character. Amongst the newer kinds. Leader, a second 

 early bi-ought out last year by Messrs. Johnson of 

 Boston, was seen to be making a good show, and it is 

 likely to become very popular for market purposes. On 

 the potato section some trials are in progress of interest 

 to the trade. These are being made on behalf of the 

 National Potato Society to demonstrate the variation in 

 the yield of tubers grown at different distances apart. 

 A large variety of the new kinds of potatoes were being 

 tested in other parts of the grounds. Amongst these, 

 Vermont Gold Coin, which has been introduced from 

 America, was seen to be making a sturdy growth. 

 Other meritorious kinds were the Nobleman, a new mid- 

 season kidney; the Highlander, a new crop which has 

 done well in various parts of the country; Excelsior, a 

 first early; the Gem, first early kidney; Sutton's Dis- 

 covery, etc. Mr. Deal is strongly opposed to the system 

 which has been extensively adopted of forcing the 

 tubers unnaturally to produce a big result from a small 

 quantity of seed. All his potatoes are grown under 

 normal conditions, and as a rule, with favorable 

 weather, good crops are secured. In the cooking tests 

 the Essex potatoes have held their own. 



THE I!. H. S. GARDENS 



The new gardens of the Eoyal Horticultural Society 

 are now looking at their best. Those members who 

 have not been able to visit Wisley, which is some dis- 

 tance out of London, were able to-day to judge of the 

 beauties of the place from a series of lantern slides 

 shown at a lecture given by Mr. T. S. Wright, the 

 superintendent at the Eoyal Horticultural Hall. The 

 growth of London rendered it necessary for the society 

 to give up the gardens at Chiswick, and to remove 

 farther into the country, and they have been able to 

 secure a veritable beauty spot in the heart of rural 

 Surrey, through the generosity of Sir Thomas Hanbury, 

 V. M. H. Here a large range of glass-houses has been 

 erected, a new house for the superintendent and other 

 buildings have been completed. A good start has been 

 made in the practical uses to which the gardens are to 

 be devoted. Seven acres have been planted with a rep- 

 resentative collection of fruit trees and bushes presented 

 to the Society by such well-known firms as Messrs. G. 

 Bunyard & Co., Dicksons, Ltd., John Eraser, H. Lane 

 & Co., Hugh Low & Co., Paul & Son, J. E. Pearson & 

 Sons, Thomas Elvers & Sons, W. Spooner & Sons, 

 and J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd. The report which 

 will be available as a result of the trials will prove 

 very helpful to the fruit growers, for this is a branch in 

 which there is scope for some useful work, and hitherto 

 the researches as affecting commercial fruit growing 

 have not been very numerous. 



THE WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED 



The garden trials will be supplemented by work in a 

 laboratory for scientific research in questions relating 

 to plant life, diseases, and insect pests. The serviceable 

 aid to horticulture in training students will also receive 

 ample attention. During the past nine years this has 

 been an important branch of the Sui ici\V ci|H-riiiions at 

 Chiswick, under the direction of Mi. W M-hi ; and the 

 students have secured many high p(.iMiinn~ mi,! Imrticul- 

 tural honors at home and abmad. iii. IikIiii;^ iwh who 

 have established businesses in lli<' rinnJ Siai.-. It is 

 reported that 90 per cent, of the siu.irnis aiv .Imng well, 

 a satisfactory recortl. At Wisley the students are 

 admitted for a period of two years, and are thoroughly 

 trained in practical horticulture. That the training is 

 efficient is attested by the many applicai i(ll1^ made to 

 secure the students when they ha\i' i(iiii|il( iid their 

 course of study. Last year applicalicii^ wciv received 

 for thirty-six head gardeners, three single-handed 

 gardeners, ten foremen, eleven journeymen, three for- 

 t'sKTs, and several as nursery foremen, landseajje gar- 

 iliiinv. |ii'..|ia,-ators. etc., and as a rule those who have 



I'fin IV, iiiriHlnl liave given the fullest satisfaction. 



'I'll!' Snriclj IS Fortunate in having such a capable 

 superintendent as j\Ir. Wright, who is appreciated for 

 his sterling worth, and courteous fulfilment of his 

 duties. 



>tyY, aM^. 



London, Eng., Juh/ IS, J0U5. 



