DR. ROBERT HOQG's REPORT ON KALES. 
171 
XX. Eeport on Kales grown in the G-arden at Chiswick in 
1871-72. By Robert Hogg, LL.D., P.L.S. Pomological 
Director. 
It is exactly ten years since the last trial of kales was made in 
the Garden of the Society. That was a very partial one in com- 
parison with this upon which I am now about to report, the 
number of varieties being much less, and the various names 
under which the different varieties were received greatly more 
numerous. When I reported on the same subject in 1862, 1 was 
struck by the amazing confusion in which the kales were found; 
and my surprise has not been lessened by the present trial. 
From the very much fuller character of this year's experiments, 
I have been enabled in many cases to add to, and in some to correct, 
those of 1862. This I have been enabled to do by the very prompt 
and liberal manner in which the members of the seed-trade have 
placed their collections at the disposition of the Society. 
It is proper here to state that, although many errors in nomen- 
clature are to be found in this report, apparently originating among 
the seedsmen, no blame is to be attributed to them, nor is there to 
be any impeachment of their good faith on that account ; for this 
confusion of nomenclature has existed not only for years but for 
generations, and, however anxious they may have been to correct 
it, the task was one most difficult of accomplishment. 
Now, however, that something like order has been attained, 
I trust that a more general concurrence in nomenclature will be 
maintained. 
Asparagus Kale. 
The original asparagus kale of a century and a half ago was a 
sprouting broccoli, which was introduced from Italy. It received 
its name from the young shoots, terminated by a " button," bear- 
ing somewhat of a resemblance to the young shoots of asparagus. 
In course of time the name gradually ceased to be identified with 
the broccoli, and was applied to another variety of kale also in- 
troduced from Italy, called Milan kale, or Chou de Milan, which 
has the property of throwing up in the spring a profusion of long 
succulent shoots, which, when fully grown, resemble the shoots 
of asparagus. But there are several other varieties of kale to 
which the name is applied ; and as there seems no uniformity on 
