hy Slips or Cuttings. 227 - 



heard of it before, and promised to give the plan a trial in 

 the Society's garden at Chiswick. The paper above alluded 

 to reports the very satisfactory result of several trials made 

 by his directions, and I had hoped some further notice would 

 have been taken of it, as that gentleman assured me he 

 thought it a useful plan, and well worth general adoption. 



The following extract from an old Morning Herald, of the 

 23d of October last, taken up by accident a few days ago, 

 must be my apology for addressing you on the subject : — 



'^'^ Extract of a Letter from the Swan River. — Cabbage seed 

 is of great value, as none of ours have seeded this year, and 

 the Cape gardeners send to England for it, as it degenerates 

 very much in a warm climate." 



Had the writer of the above been aware that cabbages 

 may readily be propagated from slips, he would most likely 

 have availed himself of this simple method to replenish his 

 garden, instead of waiting for a supply of seed either from 

 the Cape of Good Flope or England. 



Having no copy of the paper read by Mr. Lindley, I will 

 endeavour briefly to describe my method of propagating, 

 which I have practised with perfect success. The slips, 

 when taken from the cabbage stalk, are exposed a sufficient 

 time to the sun and atmosphere to cauterise the wounded 

 part : in the summer 24 hours is sufficient, and two or three 

 days in the winter ; rubbing a little wood-ashes on the part, 

 as recommended by Mr. Lindley, greatly assists in cauterising 

 the wound, and prevents bleeding. Plant them, and they 

 require no further trouble. After cutting the cabbages, the 

 sprouts again afford a supply of slips for plants, and thus a 

 regular succession of cabbages is secured throughout the 

 whole year, with the certainty of preserving the quality of 

 the parent stock unchanged^ and of doing away with the 

 necessity of raising plants fr6m seed at all. 



It is well known how little reliance can be placed upon the 

 plants raised from seed being equal to the parent stock 

 in quality, and how many disappointments arise in conse- 

 quence. All this may be avoided, and each variety of 

 cabbage propagated, without the least change or deter"ioration 

 in its quality ; and I have every reason to believe an earlier 

 supply may be brought to table by planting slips, than from 

 seedling plants. I am. Sir, yours, &c. 



Peter Kendall. 

 HigJiam Lodge, near Stratford St. Mary's, 

 Suffolk, Feb. 4. 1833. 



q, 2 



