264 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTXJRE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. t 8«pt«mber S3, im. 



the Cauliflower, as it his proved itself an invaluable kind with 

 me, for I find that many more plants can be planted in a 

 given space than can be done with the larger-growing kinds ; 

 it cornea in much sooner, preserves its compactness much 

 longer, and does not sufler so mach as the taller kinds do 

 from the weather. 



" Who is to blame " in these two instances is rather hard for 

 one to determine, as it not unfreqnently happens that the cry 

 may come from where the fault originates, for this reason — 

 many persons are often toe fond of giving rather much atten- 

 tion to new introductions of seeds and plants, which ends in 

 disappointment, and then a hasty conclusion is arrived at, that 

 the seeds or plants are worthless and too dear. To those who 

 may be so disappointed I would recommend the old maxim of 

 " Try again." If gardeners were to manifest a reluctance to 

 try new introductions of seeds, &c., as ia said by " C. C. E.," 

 they would soon retrograde, and many line varieties wonld 

 lie in oblivion. — Jons BoYiE, Narrow IVater Castle Gardens, 

 Co. Down, Ireland. 



" C. C. E." rather runs down Laxton's Supreme Pea ; cer- 

 tainly it attains a greater height than is stated in any cata- 

 logue, but taking its bearing qualities and flavour into con- 

 sideration, it is a very desirable variety. This spiiug I sowed 

 half a pint of the seed alongside of Veitch'a Perfection, Won- 

 derful, Ne Plus Ultra, and other first-clasa sorts, but taking 

 every thiug into consideration, it yielded more and lasted longer 

 in gathering than any other variely I grew. I had about 

 thirty-two rows of diilerent kinds across one-half of the 

 garden. Its height did not exceed 4* feet, but the pods were 

 produced in such profusion, that to keep the haulm from 

 breaking down, my men ran three rows of tar cord on each 

 side. I must confess I never counted fourteen Peas in a pod, 

 but there were from eight to ten or twelve in most of the pods. 

 Everyone who saw it in bearing asked me its name. As for 

 flavour, the first time a dish was gathered for the room table, 

 my employer said, "What Peas had we in to-day, Bowlby?" 

 I said, " Laxton's Supreme." His answer was, " I thought it 

 either was a fresh sort, or else the cook had them prepared in 

 a fresh way." It certainly must prove an acquisition where 

 flavour, colour, and bearing are taken into consideration. It 

 must not be supposed that a Pea will keep to its stated height ; 

 ground, mannre, climate, and the difference of seasons have 

 all to be considered. As with other new subjects, there will 

 always be found some one to depreciate them, even in the face 

 of competent judges, and after full experiment. I think 

 Kessrs. Carter would not willingly impose an article upon the 

 pablic without giving it a fair trial, or having judgment pro- 

 nonnced in its favour. — John Bowlby. 



I BOTTGHT a sealed packet of Laxton's Supreme Pea, and 

 sowed the seed in a part of the garden that was considered the 

 best in all respects ; it grew higher than my head (I am 6 feet), 

 and the pods were no larger than those of Ne Plus Ultra. In 

 short, you could not distinguish one from the other, except we 

 fancied Ne Plus Ultra had the finer flavour. — H. A., Prestwich, 

 Manchester. 



POTATO-GROWING EXTRAORDINARY. 



The Rev. B. Glazebrook, who last year succeeded in growing 

 two crops of Potatoes in the same ground in his garden at 

 Bodmin, fifty miles eastward of Penzance, and not the best 

 aspect — sloping to the north — has this year, by the simple 

 process of intercropping, thus gaining time, succeeded in grow- 

 ing two double crops, a feat probably never before accomplished, 

 if even attempted; whilst no larger breadth of ground was 

 occupied than is usually taken for one crop. The process was 

 the following :— 



The first Ash-leaf Kidneys when banked, were intercropped 

 in the furrows with Bread Fruit of middle kind. This double 

 crop was dug seriatim, principally in June, banking with tbe 

 soil the adjoitiiug and forthcoming crop, and their places im- 

 mediately occupied with late Potatoes. Thus no time was lost. 

 The second double crop is now (September 4tb)— a month earlier 

 than last year — being dug, and is a fair average crop, not- 

 withstanding the drought. Mr. Glazebrook has preserved seed 

 and inspection specimens of the whole four products, crops, and 

 intercrops. A row of the first intercrop, 2'} feet long produced 

 when weighed 6* lbs. of Potatoes. A little additional manure 

 was used when the Potatoes were tilled. The above simple 



process is likely, if properly earned out, to be many a ehilling, 

 if not crown , in a cottager's way, n ith his limited plot of gronnd. 

 — {fVesIrm Morning News.) 



LABELS FOR FRUIT TREES. 

 One of the most interesting features oi fiuit-growing is to 

 have the name. One of the simplest and best meiiioda ia writing 

 with a common lead pencil on a piece of zinc. We have some 

 which have been in use ten years, and the writing is blacker and 

 plainer than when first done ; indeed it can be scarcely traced 

 when first WTitten. A triangular piece is used, and the narrow 

 end coiled once or twice round a branch ; as the girth increases 

 the zinc opens. If it do happen to get tight, a moment sooD 

 corrects it. The following illustrates the phm. 



-{American Gardener's Monthly.) 



THE LADY-BIRD. 



Whtle many conflicting opinions are going the round of tho 

 gardening and other papers as to the cause of such myriads of 

 this pretty Coccinella so suddenly visiting our gardens and 

 fields, and whether we are to consider them as enemies to onr 

 crops or as enemies to the aphides, I am glad to be able to give 

 some quite conclusive evidence respecting the great good they 

 have done by their visit. Although I have not actually seen 

 the lady-bird eating aphides, those trees which were laden with 

 them were after its appearance suddenly cleared of the destroyers, 

 while other trees which were healthy and free from green fly, 

 were also free from lady-birds. Now, if the aphides were not 

 destroyed by the lady-birds, their sudden disappearance is a 

 mystery. However, I have further evidence in favour of the 

 lady-bird being an aphis destroyer. I had a large old plant of 

 Franciscea angustifolia covered with mealy bug, and after leav- 

 ing it out of doors for a few hours it was invaded by lady-birds, 

 which cleared off every mealy bug. Of this I am certain, for I 

 saw the lady-birds eating the mealy bugs ; and after the bnlk 

 of these were consumed, it was curious to see the rapidity with 

 which the lady-birds travelled over every leaf and branch in 

 search of more. Finding none, they gradually left the plant. 

 — Thomas Recobd, Hawkhurst. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



It was stated by one of our contemporaries the week before 

 last that onr notice of the late Mr. Robert Thompson was 

 written by his son. It is but right to that gentleman for us to 

 say that no portion of that notice was either written or dictated 

 by him. 



An Irish contemporary has thrown ont a suggestion 



that the Rot.u. Hortici-ltubal SocrETiEs of London and 

 Dublin should unite in holding a Great loternational Exhi- 

 bition next year in the latter city. The notion is a praise- 

 worthy one, but we are afraid there are difiicnlties in the way 

 which will frustrate so good an intention. First of all, there 

 are the physical difficulties of those four hours of sea between 

 Holyhead and Kingstown ; the many changes that would neces- 

 sarily have to take place between such towns as London, 

 Manchester, and even Liverpool, to say nothing of more out-of- 

 the-way localities. There have been attempts to hold such 

 International Exhibitions in Edinburgh, and although there is 

 no break in the railway communication between England and 

 Scotland, these Edinburgh exhibitions are practically Scotch, 

 and only international in name. It would be the same if the 

 London and Dublin Societies were to combine ; the result 

 wotild be virtually an Irish exhibition. However, it is a 



