86 Provincial Horticultural Societies : — 



Observations. — The unusual and uninterrupted openness of the season 

 has enabled the growers to continue supplying the market regularly ; so that 

 little fluctuation has at present taken place in the prices of vegetables, which 

 have been brought in tolerable quantities, and of excellent quality. This has, 

 in a measure, remedied the apprehended scarcity from the preceding dry 

 weather in August, September, and October ; so that foreigners, who visit 

 our market, frequent!}' observe that we experience here no difference in winter 

 and summer ; that we are equally well supplied in the different seasons with 

 the respective articles, which with them is not the case. This is in a great 

 measure true, but not altogether attributable to the causes which they assign, 

 but rather to the extraordinary industry of the cultivators, and, I presume, 

 the higher state of the art of horticulture, as practised here, compared with 

 that where even the climate does so much to assist it. 



Forced asparagus is now becoming general, and of good quality : a fine 

 specimen of it has been seen, imported from France, evidently under a different 

 system of culture, as it closely resembles the new variety of Grayson's in its 

 natural state. We have yet to acquire the knowledge how this is to be 

 obtained here. On referring to the Bon Jardinier for 1834, I find the plan 

 described there, and it would, I think, be well worth inserting in your Magazine. 



Of sea-kale we have a good supply, of excellent quality ; and, I believe, in 

 this we stand unrivalled ; for few foreigners, to this time, appear even to esti- 

 mate its true value as a vegetable, and have not as yet brought it into culture 

 generally. From our intercourse with France, the culture of it there is likely 

 to become more general, as it is highly recommended to the attention of 

 the public in the work referred to before. Broccoli has been furnished in 

 tolerable abundance, and, should the present open season continue, will be so 

 throughout the spring, as there appears to be a large breadth planted out 

 late in the autumn. In no article has there been more evident improvement 

 (from competition), most of the extensive growers having a variety or two 

 peculiarly their own, effected by hybridising one or more good sorts. The 

 supply of colewort cabbage has also been very general ; and even in this 

 article there is evident improvement, as most of the growers pay more attention 

 to the variety in use for it. Formerly it was generally the large loose Battersea 

 cabbage planted out for the purpose of bunching; now the dark-green Lan- 

 cashire colewort is extensively cultivated, and gives to the grower an equal 

 return, as the quantity from an acre is quite equal to the former, from being 

 planted closer in the rows. Turnips have been generally good ; the late-sown 

 crops rather small. Carrots, owing to the prevalent drought in the summer, 

 have not been so fine as usual, but have been in moderate supply. Potatoes 

 continue to be furnished in quantity of good quality, but maintain an equal 

 price. This is, I believe, owing to the general deficiency of the crop. 



Apples are supplied altogether from our own growth ; very few foreign have 

 yet been imported, or are likely to be, as our own stock is yet very good : 

 indeed, with tolerable seasons, we shall always have enough, as our plantations 

 are now much more extended, and, from the introduction of so many new 

 varieties, generally more productive. Of pears we have no supply at present : 

 it will require time, care, and attention to effect a change in this article, equal 

 to the present demand for it. — G. C. 



Akt. VIII. Supplement to the Notices of the Provincial Horticultural 

 Societies for 1833. 



In our last Number (IX. 751.) we promised to give, in a supplement, all 

 the notices of meetings of the provincial horticultural societies which might 

 be sent to us between the middle of October, 1833, and January 1. 1834. 

 We now redeem our pledge ; and we are glad, at the same time, to notice 

 some newly formed societies, which will be found mentioned under their 

 proper heads. 



