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JOUENAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 16, 1875. 



the first frost of winter — by that frost they are injured — but 

 it IB the locg cold feim Bucceeding which completee the rnin 

 if shelter is net afforded to encourage tlieir spring growth. 

 Protection also serves another important purpose by sheltering 

 from the enn and insuring a gradual thawing of the frozen 

 plants or crops, a matter which is of the utmost consequence, 

 and should never be disregarded. 



It is surprising how (ffectual is even a little protection. 

 There are few who have not noticed that when a few sticks — it 

 may be a loose bundle of pea rods or a handful of thorns — 

 have been casually left on a plot of grass or weeds during the 

 winter that the vegetation under even that skeletonised form 

 of shelter has in spring — say in February — perhaps grown 2 or 

 3 inches, and is fresh and green whilu the unprotecttd surface 

 is totally destitute of verdancy. If a similar covering is placed 

 over a Radish bed, or any other low crop, the effect of such 

 trifling shelter is equally manifest, and suggests how beneficial 

 even a little shelter may be during the season when every 

 additional degree of heat is valuable and every degree of cold 

 is dangerous. Asparagus tops without the seeds, pea haulm, 

 evergreen boughs, a few leaves, and a little litter where it can 

 be used, are all sheltering aids which are not to be despised ; 

 and those who use such aids freely, yet intelligently, are 

 generally the most successful in providing a supply of these 

 requirements which sustain their own credit and win their 

 employers' satisfaction. 



But there are plants of a different nature than the above 

 which are individually more valuable, and if destroyed cannot 

 qnickly be replaced, which need protection against the exces- 

 sive severity of the frost. Eoses are frequently endangered, 

 and newly-buddfd and choice sorts should have some pro- 

 tection afforded them. In protecting newly-budded Briars, or 

 Roses that have not large heads, nothing is better, more neat 

 and effectual, and more easily applied than to wrap a hayband 

 round the stccks — for these are as susceptible of injury as the 

 heads — and to envelope the heads in the old straw-bottle enve- 

 lopes which have been sent from the wine merchant's. These 

 are generally well and closely made, and will last for several 

 years if taken care cf. I have collected them for several years 

 until quite a store has accumulated, and it is not too much to 

 Bay that by their aid I have preserved hundreds of Eoses from 

 being killed ; the proof being the destruction of many old 

 sorts or plants not greatly valued which have not been covered, 

 and which have succumbed to the intense frost, while those 

 which have had the protection have passed through the winters 

 in safety. When the Eoses are thus encased they have a snug 

 comfort<ible appearance which is not at all unsightly — in fact 

 the utility of the coverings is so manifest that they almost 

 appear attractive, which they certainly are to the employer for 

 whom I have grown and protected Eoses for several years. If 

 these envelopes are not to hand from the wine cellar it is not 

 difiicnlt to make some after the same fashion which will an- 

 Bwer the purpnse equally well, although they may not be so 

 artistically made. The same mode of enveloping dwarf Eoses 

 should be adopted whenever there is danger of their being 

 destroyed by the frost; neat cones made of straight-drawn 

 straws are not unsightly, and are c ffective. Air can be admitted 

 on any side according to the weather, and to prevent — which 

 is very important — the buds swelling into growth before their 

 proper time. 



The same mode can bo adopted in protecting tender plants 

 and Conifers on lawns. A framework of stakes arranged round 

 each specimen, and laced with common cord as a foundation 

 for the envdope of straw, and a few more outer cords to keep 

 the straw in its place, is all that is needed : the protection is 

 complete, and the cost trifling. Plants on walls, as Myrtles, 

 ChimonanthuB, Figs, Eoses, &c., should have coverings of 

 mats or straw, or both if needed ; or by lack of an hour's work 

 in this matter given at the proper time a wall bare of flowers 

 will have to be endured, which will take, it may be, years to 

 cover as before. 



But while the work of covering is important, so also is that 

 of uncovering. The work must be done gradually and at the 

 proper time. There must be no forgetfulnesa and a sudden 

 tearing away of the protection on finding that it has been per- 

 mitted to remain too long. It must not remain too long, for 

 that is an abuse of a practice which if properly used is not 

 only beneficial, but in many cases and districts is absolutely 

 necessary. The nf cessity of protecting plants which are liable 

 to injury, and of sheltering simple yet important crops, is too 

 often admitted at the wrong end of the season. That is just 

 after the injury is done instead of just before, that I am induced 



to record my practice, in the hope that it may yet be in time 

 to serve some useful purpose. — A Nobtheen G.iKDEKEK. 



REPORT ON ONIONS GEOWN AT CHISWICK 



FOK TRI.Ui BY THE FRUIT AND \T:GET4BLE COMMITTEE OF 

 TEE EOYAL HOUTICULTUBAL SOCIETY, 1875. 



The seed for this trial was furnished by the following gentle- 

 men — viz., Messrs. Barr & Sugden ; Messrs. Carter & Co.; 

 Messrs. Cntbush & Son ; Messrs Benary, Erfurt ; Messrs. 

 Nutting & Son ; Messrs. Sutton & Sons ; Messrs. Yeitch and 

 Sons; Messrs. Vilmorin & Cie., Paris; Messrs. Harrison and 

 Sons; Messrs. Stuart & Mein ; Messrs. Piccirillo; Messrs. 

 Hovey cfe Co., Boston ; Mr. Dancer, Mr. J. Perry, Mr. A. Par- 

 sons, Mr. E. Dean. 



The seed was sown on March 16th in well-pulverised mode- 

 rately rich soil, which had the previous season been well 

 manured for Celery. The season was on the whole favonrabl& 

 for the growth of Onions, so that the trial was so far of a very 

 satisfactory character. Altogether 155 samples were sown, re- 

 presenting ninety-eight different names, of which number 

 twenty are here described as quite distinct. 



The report only extends to those varieties which have been 

 proved to be well adapted for spring sowing and early autumn 

 or winter use, the remainder of the Tripoli and Silver-skinned 

 sections being again submitted for trial as antamn-sowu 

 Onions. 



1. White Spanish [synotiyms, Banbury (Perry), Banbury 

 Improved, Nuneham Park, Improved Nuneham Park, Beading, 

 Improved Reading, Naaeby Mammoth (Carter & Co.), Oxonian 

 Prize (Nutting & Son), Cutbush's Al (Cntbush & Sons), Por- 

 tugal, Cantello's Prize (Waite, Bnrnell & Co.)]. — This variety 

 is the one most generally cultivated. The plant is of free 

 growth, the neck of medium size, and ripens off early and 

 well. The bulbs are large, a fair-sized specimen measuring 

 about 12 inches in circumference, and from 2 to 2J inches in 

 thickness. The shape is flattened, the base broad, flat, fre- 

 quently a little hollowed and uneven, somewhat globular to- 

 wards the stalk in the best forms. Skin pale straw, falling off 

 readily and exposing the pale greenish-yellow outer flesh. The 

 flesh itself is firm and solid, almost white, and of excellent 

 quality. This variety keeps generally in good condition up to 

 the month of March. The Banbury and Nuneham Paik types 

 were the most approved. 



2. Lauge Straw-coloueed (Vilmorin) [syn., Yellow Flat 

 (Hovey & Co.)] . — This is only to be distinguished from the 

 White Spanish by the darker colouring of the outer skins. 



* Yellotv Lescure (Vilmorin), Yelluic Cambrai (Vilmorin). — 

 These were considered very spurious stocks of the Large 

 Straw-coloured. 



3. White Globe. — Plant of free growth, forming in general- 

 a small neck ; ripens off early and well. The bulbs are of 

 medium size, from 9 to 10 inches in circumference, and about 

 2j inches in depth. The shape is somewhat globular or 

 obovate, with a finely rounded high crown. The skin is pale 

 straw like the White Spanish, and it is, indeed, similar to that 

 variety in every other respect but its more globular form. It 

 is an excellent keeping sort, and much esteemed. 



Whitf Ititvnnediate, Oscar (Cntbush & Sons).— These are 

 mixed and indifferent stocks of White Globe and White 

 Spanish. 



4. Teeeoss (Vilmorin et Cie., Stuart & Mein).— Plant of frc& 

 growth but somewhat tender, succeeding best in a warm 

 season. Neck somewhat gross. The bulbs are of very large 

 size — about V.i inches in circumference, and from 3 to 3J inches 

 in depth. The shape is obovate, the base somewhat broad 

 and flat, whilst the top tapers more to the stalk or neck. The 

 fkia is pale straw, and peels off readily like the White Spanish. 

 The flesh is pale and rather soft and flabby, but of mild and 

 excellent quality. This is a very large and handsome Onion 

 for early autumn use. It does not keep well, and generally 

 begins to shoot before Christmas. It bears a close resem- 

 blance to the Imported Spanish Onions. 



5. Yellow D.\NTEES (Hovey it Co., Vilmorin et Cie., Carter and 

 Co.) — [syn., Danvers Yellow] . — This is a very fine and distinct 

 Onion. The plant is of free growth, the top slender, of a 

 rather pale green colour, and with a very fine slender neck, 

 so that it ripens off well. The bulbs are of medium but very 

 even and regular size, from 10 to 11 inches in circumference, 

 and about 2^ inches in depth. The shape is roundish globular, 

 very regular, with a small base and a small neck. The skin is 

 of a dark straw colour, the outer coating peeling off freely but 



