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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Ultra, and British Queen — for quality and general usefulness 

 these are difficult to beat ; whilst we find such varieties as Early 

 Emperor, Early Charlton, White and Blue Prussians, Waterloo 

 tall Marrows, and others that could be named, which were once 

 standard varieties and most largely grown, are now happily 

 almost entirely superseded by the later acquisitions. 



Under the general name of Brassica is included Cabbage, 

 Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale or Borecole, Brussels Sprouts, Savoy, 

 a series of vegetables of the highest importance as furnishing a 

 supply throughout the year. A review of what has been done 

 in the way of improvement during the past quarter of a century 

 must, however, be brief, taking them in the order named. Up- 

 wards of fifty names of Cabbage in seed lists thirty years ago are 

 not now found there, and perhaps deservedly ; but yet very few 

 real acquisitions have been made since. Ellam's dwarf Early 

 Spring, certificated in 1884 ; Early Etampes and other varieties 

 of French origin, valuable for spring sowing and main crops ; and 

 Early Offenham, a fine example of the old Enfield type, are all 

 of comparatively recent introduction. The Broccoli family has 

 always been a numerous one, as many as forty-five names have 

 been noted in a seed catalogue published at the beginning of the 

 period under review ; but all are now lost to fame ; their place 

 has, however, been taken by perhaps more than that number of 

 new names, their greatest merit being the lengthening of the 

 season. I must mention here the Cabbage-Broccoli called Chou 

 de Burghley, raised and distributed by Mr. Gilbert, of Burghley 

 Gardens ; and also the new form of sprouting cabbage raised by 

 Mr. Mclndoe, of Hutton Hall, both of which indicate a new 

 departure. Among the newer Cauliflowers, the Autumn Giant, 

 certificated in 1870, has stood the test of time, and is now an 

 established favourite both in gardens and for market purposes ; 

 its introduction prolonged the season very considerably, while 

 the Extra Early, certificated in 1880, has lengthened the season 

 in the opposite direction, by being grown in frames or under 

 hand-glasses. Kales are not much appreciated south of the 

 Tweed, although, after a severe winter, they may be relied on 

 when everything else is crippled. Many selections have been 

 offered during the past quarter of a century, but none much in 

 advance of the old Green Curled. In Brussels Sprouts, on the 

 contrary, a marked improvement has been made ; but the Savoy 



