CHAPTER I 



A NEW IDEAL FOR TABLE VEGETABLES 



ALTHOUGH there is so little spectacular interest in 

 vegetable shows that they cannot be held except at a loss 

 and this at an epoch when gardening rides on a high 

 wave of public favour, and shows of popular flowers 

 are besieged by eager amateurs vegetable-growing has 

 made noteworthy advances during recent years. 



There has been a great development in vegetable- 

 forcing. In minor tents at great horticultural exhibitions 

 one sees here and there a modest display of early vege- 

 tables, and although the majority of the visitors pass them 

 by in order to save every available moment for the 

 flower-stands, a not inconsiderable sprinkling pauses to 

 take notes of the varieties. There are dainty dishes of 

 new Potatoes, small, beautifully formed, of refined 

 texture and of a snowy whiteness. There are dishes of 

 Peas, the pods covered with a greyish bloom that lies 

 like a silvery veil over the bluish green skin. Bunches 

 of tiny salmon-coloured Carrots, no bigger than Walnuts, 

 offer a suggestion of melting and deliciously flavoured 

 pulp. There are Cauliflowers, too, about the size of 

 cricket balls, close of grain and pure white. Rose, white 

 and crimson Radishes ; white, yellow and purple-topped 

 Turnips ; dainty crinkled Cabbage Lettuces ; mighty 

 heads of Asparagus ; long, thick, succulent-looking 

 Seakale ; neat little Cabbages with firm whity-green 



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