JOOBNiL OF HOBTIODLTDBE AUD OOTTAGE OABDEMBR. 



I Jalr 1. 1889. 



the operation of plantiog, oircmnstaDCcs mast determine the | 

 exact vray in which it is best performed. On heavy cold soils, \ 

 upon which it is advisable to tread as little aa possible after it j 

 is trenched, I have frequently left the trenching till the time of 

 planting, and put the plants out as the trenching proceeded, j 

 Having a heap of light rich soil in readiness beforehand, a I 

 couple of spadefu'is of it were pat roand the ball of each plant to 

 give it a start. This may perhaps be considered a preferable J 

 way of doing the work on such soils, to that of hrst trenching 

 the ground and then throwing oat pita for the light soil, inas- 

 much as all treading of the ground is avoided. In free fine I 

 soils there is nothing necessary beyond setting the line and 

 planting the plant-balU entire in the natural ground. They 

 should always be planted at such a depth that the soil reaches 

 up to the first leaves of the plants. Two feet by two will be plenty 

 of room for producing moderate-sized heads. If large ones for 

 the hall be an object, some of them may be planted wider ; but 

 for all practical purposes, 2 feet by 2 will be enough. 



In heavy soils, slags are a great pest if the spring proves 

 wet, and a few plants should be kept in reserve to make ap 

 blanks. Cinder ashes, sand, and various other things which 

 slags do not relish, may be spread over the soil round each 

 plant to help to check their work ; but to catch them and kill 

 them is probably the best way of saving the plants. 



Where the ground is exposed to the north and east, it is a 

 good plan to stick in a stiff sprig or two of evergreen on those 

 sides of each plant, to protect them from cutting winds, which 

 often prevail at that season. As they progress in growth they 

 must be attended to by drawing a little soil to them, to keep 

 them from becoming loose at the neck ; and, if dry. a good 

 watering should be given before they are moulded up. 



To make sure of succession, I have frequently planted some 

 ol these potted plants on a north border, and found them come 

 in very handy, especially when the season proved hot and dry. 

 About the middle of February, a sowing should be made in 

 ■heat to succeed the autumn-sown plant.". The temperature 

 should be from 55' to 60° till they come up ; then they should 

 be removed to a dry cold pit or frame and placed near to the 

 glass, and when about 2 inches in height pricked off into rich 

 soil in a cold frame. Here they are completely protected from 

 4iny frost that may occur, but otherwise hardily reared. These 

 .make fine strong plants by May, ready to be planted out. They 

 should be lifted with good balls, and carefully planted and 

 attended to with water should the weather be dry, till they get 

 & good h )ld of the soil. For summer plantations a good, hold- 

 ing, well manured and worked, loamy soil s the best: and in 

 dry sandy soils it is most difBcultto prevent a great bulk of the 

 .crop from buttoning if the season prove dry. 



To succeed this sowing made in heat, I have usually found 

 it desirable to make another under hand-glasses on a wall 

 border about the middle of March, and afterwards at intervals 

 of three weeks, up to the middle of .June. The plants should 

 always be pricked-out into beds of rich soil as soon as they can 

 be conveniently handled, and before they become drawn in the 

 seed bed. They suffer less from the transplanting when young 

 than if it be delayed till they form deeper tap-roots. From 

 the time they are pricked-out till they are established in the 

 garden quarters, they mast never be allowed to get a check from 

 want of water, for if once they become "blue," there is little 

 chance of their doing well afterwards. This frequent sowing, 

 and as frequent planting, is the only way to be sure of keeping 

 up a constant succession of nice heads, fit to present in the 

 dining room. It is not necessary to make large plantations, 

 except in the case of the last for the season, from which a 

 winter supply is expected at least np to Christmas. The last 

 should, therefore, be the largest of the plantings, as it comes 

 in at a cool season, when the heads stand long in good condi- 

 tion, aud can be stored away to keep in quantities. 



The time for making the last sowing and planting will re- 

 qaire always to be determined by the climate of different 

 localities. Here the latest may be delayed till August, bnt in 

 most places in Scotland it will require to be planted somewhat 

 earlier. By the time the latest is consumed, it is succeeded by 

 that excellent variety of Broccoli, known by the name of 

 Snow's Winter Broccoli, easier known by name than by expe- 

 rience, although I always manage to obtain it true. 



In light dry soils I have found it a good plan, to make sure of 

 rgood Cauliflower, in very dry seasons, to plant a few rows among 

 rows of Peas, kept rather wider apart than is common. The 

 Peas afford shade to the plants, and I have seen them do well 

 ■when they buttoned extensively in open quarters. The later, 

 and particularly the latest, should always be in well-exposed 



sitnations. It is > practice in England to take two crops of 

 Caaliflowers from the same ground. When those planted in 

 April in an open quarter are cut, which is generally by the 

 1st of July. I have frequently trenched or dag the ground and 

 planted again, and had two good crops in the same place. The 

 latest planting has generally succeeded the earliest sowing of 

 Kidney Beans and second-early Potatoes. 



In keeping up a constant supply of this vegetable, one of 

 the most necessary auxiliaries is a cool, dry, dark cellar, with 

 its floor, or part of it at least, covered li inches deep with moist 

 sand. When CauU flower comes in quicker than it can be used, 

 it should be cut — when scarcely so big as is desired for toble — 

 with half a foot of the stem attached, the leaves cut off square 

 with the surface of the flower, and then stuck into the sand in 

 the cool dark place. In this way they keep crisp for weeks ; 

 and for saving the late crop when frost sets in, it is a plan much 

 preferable to that of hanging them up in sheds with the leaves 

 and stumps attached ; and late in the season particularly, it is 

 surprising how long they keep in good condition. 



As to the best kinds of Cauliflower for different seasons, I 

 think, if I had to confine myself to one sort, I would choose 

 the Walcheren. For a summer variety probably the New Frog- 

 more is preferable, inasmuch as it stands longer without open- 

 ing or running than the Walcheren. These two. with the Early 

 London, are the varieties I confine myself to. About fifteen or 

 perhaps more years ago, there was a sort grown about London 

 as Myatt's Cauliflower, which to my mind was the best I ever 

 saw, but have not seen it trae for a good many years. — D. 

 Thomson {Tlir (iardencr.) 



GjiJlDENERS' ROY.VL BENEVOLENT 

 INSTITUTION. 



Thk twenty-sixth onniverBary dinner of this Institntion took place 

 at the London Tavern, BishopsEatc Street, on the 23rd of .lane. The 

 Dnke of Argyll. K.T., took the chair, and was supported by G. F. 

 Wilson, Esq., F.R.S. ; J. Bateman. Esq . F.R.S. ; Professor Owen, 

 A. Helps. Esq., K. Wrench. Esq., and .1. J. Mcchi, Esq. Among tho 

 company, which was more than usnally ntimerons. were Mr. .John Lee, 

 Mr. Charles Lee, Mr. Williams. Mr. Corraichael. of Sandringham 

 Oarilens, Mr. Eyies. Mr. EarU-y, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Jadd, 

 Mr. Marnock, and Mr. Taylor. 



The Chairman, in proposing the hcaltli of Her Majesty, dwelt at 

 some length on the interest which she takes in plants, especially in 

 those which flonrish on alpino snmmits. where Nature, as if to com- 

 pensate for the fewness of her gifts, had given the flowers such exqoi- 

 site delicacy and beanty. And he related that only three weeks ago 

 Her Majesty had asked him if he remembered the name of a flower 

 which sho had brought home in one of her Highland excursions, and 

 he was sorry to sny he did not, but Her Majesty showed him the whole 

 collection of dried specimens of the plants of Braemar ; he examined 

 them, and he believed he was correct in stating that the plant was 

 Azalea procumbens. He mentioned this to show the interest Her 

 Majesty takes in botany. 



After the other loyal and patriotic toasts, the Chairman, in pro- 

 posing the toast of the evening, " Prosperity and Success to the Gar- 

 deners' Koyal Benevolent Institution, said he well knew there were 

 present those who were better acquainted with its objects aud operation 

 than himself, hut the object was to provide retiring allowances or 

 pensions to gardeners, market gardeners, nurserymen, and their widows, 

 to make them comfortahle in their old ago. He rejoiced to say that it 

 was not one of tho conditions attached to the pension that the reci- 

 pients should live immured in buildings, hut they could live with their 

 friends, and in this way a comparatively small sum sufliced to make 

 them comfortable. The mle by which preference is given to those 

 who have subscribed for fifteen years so long as any such are candi- 

 dates for election, was commended as being very judicious. And then, 

 referring to the mode in which the funds are raised, it was remarked 

 that they are partly derived from gardeners themselves, but still more 

 largely from others : but if all the working gardeners in this country 

 were to subscribe, the funds would be more than sufficient. Nothing 

 had surprised the public more than the large sums of money which had 

 been subscribed by trades' societies throughout tho country, showing 

 what could be done l>v a long pull, a strom; pnll, and a pull all together. 

 Bnt Iricklaycrs. carfwnters, and other trades were chiefly gathered 

 together in "the great centres of industry, while gardeners have been 

 under great disadvantage? in this respect from shunning these centres, 

 and especially the chimnies. From being thus scattered in remote 

 dittricte, gardeners had some difllcnlty in providing for themselves 

 funds for their maintenance in sickness and old ago ; at the same time 

 he would earnestly recommend tho adoption of some more ample 

 system of organisation for the purpose. Iteferring then to the market 

 gardeners, he knew nothing more wonderful than how London 8 

 3.000,000 of population were provided with fruit and vecetables— a po- 

 pulation exceeding that of many of the roost powerful states of ancient 

 I history. One had only to walk ont on a hot summer's evening, and he 



