256 



JOURNAL OF HOBTIOULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ April 15, 18C0. 



under a north wall in the end of July, in a box covered with 

 glass, he will not lose a cutting, providing they are attended to 

 properly in other respects. This plan is also the least trouble- 

 some, which is a great consideration in small places. — E. Wil- 

 son, Propagator, Chatsworth. 



SEEDSMEN'S MISTAKES— KITCHEN-GARDEN 

 CROPS. 



Ik reading over the report of the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 published some time ago in your Journal, in that part bearing 

 on the adulteration of seeds, if I mistake not it was stated that 

 the Society were convinced of the evil, but there was no redress. 

 This, I think, is much to be regretted, for many a gardener has 

 been driven to his own resources for raising choice productions 

 which he might wish to perpetuate, and in no case more so than 

 in that of the Cabbage tribe, especially the Broccoli. I have 

 complained of this before, and I do not feel aehamed to do so 

 again. There must be a fault somewhere. I would not for one 

 moment impute any sinister motive to our respectable firms, 

 bot it is an admitted fact that seeds in many instances are far 

 from being pure. I will give you an example. 



At the present time I am cutting some very fine Broccoli, 

 the seed producing which was supplied as Dwarf Russian, and 

 ■which I hoped to have to cut in May. The seed was from a 

 most respectable firm. The plants are growing on a north 

 border. It might be said, I ought to be thankful for them, and 

 so I am, but they are far more like what we used to get for 

 Wilcove Broccoli many years ago than the Dwarf Russian 

 Broccoli of twenty years since ; besides, March, you know, is 

 not May, and we have other kinds that are ready now. It is not 

 ■very pleasant, you will agree, to have to use now what we ex- 

 pected to do us good service in May. 



We have had a full supply of Snow's Winter White and Back- 

 house's Winter White Protecting Broccoli since November, in 

 fact we have not been without Cauliflowers and Broccoli since 

 last May. I hope we shall be able to keep up a supply until 

 the autnmn-sown Cauliflowers come in. 



At page 103 of " our Journal " is given by an able contributor 

 a list of useful kitchen-garden seeds, but one selection does not 

 answer in all places or meet all requirements. There are two 

 names omitted in the Broccoli department which some of us 

 nortbmen cannot dispense with. One of these is Purple Sprout- 

 ing Broccoli, or as some call it Asparagus Kale, but what I have 

 had under these names are two distinct plants. What we have 

 as Purple Sprouting Broccoli is in use now. The sprouts being 

 tafeen when 3 or 4 inches long, and the leaves removed, such 

 sprouts properly cooked, and served as Asparagus, make a most 

 desirable dish when vegetables are scarce, and are much esteemed 

 by many. The other vegetable which I cannot as yet dispense 

 ■with is Lee's White Sprouting Broccoli, which I do not see in 

 the selection ; with us it comes into use late in winter and early 

 in spring, and is in use now. When this was first sent out 

 by Messrs. Lee I procured a sealed packet for trial ; that is now 

 many years ago. I found it very useful, and have saved my 

 own seed since, and I have not regretted making the trial. My 

 plants produce a nice little Cauliflower at the top, and from 

 twelve to twenty side branches, which altogether make a very 

 respectable dish from one plant. They require watching as they 

 approach maturity, and when they show their flower I gather 

 the leaves up and tie them at the top, to keep the heads white 

 and save them from frost. A little hay, or a few evergreen 

 branches, will protect them. I find that the former answers 

 and gives the least trouble. 



With respect to the Nuneham Park Onion my last year's 

 packet of seed was nothing like what what first sent out, in fact, I 

 came to the conclusion that there was not an original Nuneham 

 Park Onion in the lot, but some very nice Danvers' Yellow ; 

 however, I took the precaution to grow some seed from the first 

 stock, therefore I expect to keep it true for some time. Some- 

 body has taken the cream oft the bowl with it, and now that the 

 price can be lowered from 2s. fid. to Is. per packet, the quality 

 might have been kept up a little longer. From the first half- 

 crown's worth I had of it I managed to raise sixteen Onions, 

 Tery fair profit that for a novelty. There is a saying that wit 

 is best bought, but it may at times be bought too dearly. 



I am inclined to think there exist some mistaken ideas 

 respecting the germinating properties of seeds. I have oft- 

 times proved that seeds of many of the Brassica tribe have 

 germinated very well after being kept several years ; Elletson's 

 Broccoli has done well after being kept six years ; Lee's White 



Sprouting four years ; Couve Tronchuda home-gro^wn five years. 

 Last year I had an excellent crop of Green-top Yellow Bullock 

 Turnips from seed nine years old. 1 find that seedlings from 

 old seed take a few more days than those from new seed to show 

 themselves above ground, but I can discern no difference in 

 the produce. 



We have had here a March month in earnest. I do not need 

 a microscope to discern a failure in wall fruit. Though we 

 have done the best we could with what means of covering we 

 had, I find that many fully expanded blooms are now falling, — 

 M. Heuelethwaite, Achlam Hall, Middleshiougli-on-TiCS. 



Messks. LiVNES SHOW OF SPRING-FLOTVERING 

 PLANTS. 

 Messes. Lane & Sons, of the Great Berkhampstead Nurseries, 

 have this year arranged in the Eastern Conservatory Arcade in 

 the Royal Horticultural Gardens at South Kensington, a nume- 

 rous and very pretty collection of the above plants, together 

 with fruiting Aucubas, and various graceful Conifers and other 

 subjects, which serve to set off and relieve the bright colours of 

 the groups of flowering plants. These consist of fine masses of 

 Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Roses, and a variety of miscellaneous 

 plants, the whole most tastefully arranged at the back of the 

 Arcade, and in excellent bloom. 



CAMELLIAS IN THE OPEN AIR. 



The timely and able articles by Mr. Robson and Mr. Kent on 

 their experiences of the capabilities of this magnificent shrub 

 for out-door cultivation, I trust will remove all doubts from 

 the minds of your readers as to the hardiness of the Camellia. 

 I append a list of the best varieties, all of which are growing 

 here without protection, and hope this may be a means of 

 inducing a more general cultivation of this queen of flowering 

 shrubs. 



■WHITE. 



Alba plena. — The old White needs no description. 



Matholiana alba. — Very double, pure white ; half expanded, 

 it is cup-shaped, with a tinge of yellow. Flowers 4 inches in 

 diameter. This is a magnificent flower. The plant is vigorous, 

 with handsome dark foliage. 



Candidissiiiia. — Pure white ; distinct from Alba plena, and 

 equally beautiful, with shell-like petals. 



lilanca Gcraldini.—Gte&my white; very large, cup-shaped. 

 The foUage is handsome ; but if the plant is not vigorousthe 

 flowers show a few stamens when fully expanded. This is a 

 fine bold flower. 



Fimbriata. — A favourite with the ladies, possessing all the 

 good qualities of the old White. The petals are finely serrated. 



Duclu'ssc Je Bern'.— Transparent white ; of good form and 

 substance. The plant is of rather straggUng growth. 



EED. 



Madame Le Bois. — Deep reddish crimson, superbly imbri- 

 cated, with shell-like petals; foliage of a deep lustrous green. 

 This is a first-rate flower, and the plant makes a splendid bush. 



Imbricata rubra. — A bright carmine red, often mottled ■with 

 pure white ; of perfect form. The plant is vigorous, with the 

 foliage of Alba plena. 



U'line des Flcurs (Commensa). — Deep red, shaded crimson ; 

 of splendid form, with shell-like petals. Habit of plant vigor- 

 ous and compact. 



Matholiana (rubra). — Deep crimson, with shell-like petals. 

 A bold and effective flower, perhaps coarse. 



Leon Leguay. —Ca,rmme, shaded with crimson ; very double. 

 A beautiful and telling flower. 



Pictorca rosea. — Bright rosy carmino ; very large, well im- 

 bricated, half-cup-shaped. This is a most effective flower. The 

 plant is of straggling habit. 



ROSE. 



Saccoircra. — Soft rose, semi-transparent petals; of perfect 

 form, and admirably imbricated. This is a model flower, of 

 great beauty and delicacy. The plant is vigorous and very 

 free-flowering. 



Valtevaredo. — Bright rose, often splashed with white; very 

 double, and of good form. The plant is vigorous. A first-rate 

 variety. . , v 



Landrethi. — Very similar to Saccoi vera m form and sub- 

 stance, with a deeper colour. The plant makes a symmetrical 

 bush. 



Imperatrice Eii/jane. — Light rose, with a violet tint, the onter 



