OPENING ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN. 



9 



The season for garden Turnips has commenced earlier by the 

 introduction in 1883 of the extra Early Milan, which comes into 

 use from ten to fourteen days before any other sort. Many of 

 the old kinds of Onions are still the best, but among more recent 

 and desirable varieties I may mention the Rousham Park, the 

 Queen, the Roccas and other Italian Onions, all useful introduc- 

 tions and much in demand of late years. 



The Vegetable Marrow, one of the most popular and cheapest 

 of vegetables when in season, has received at least two useful 

 additions of late to the number of its varieties in Pen-y-Byd (the 

 best in the world), raised by Mr. Muir, of MargamPark, Glamor- 

 ganshire, a small round-fruited sort, and Hibbert's Prolific, a 

 small egg-shaped variety. One of the first to improve this vege- 

 table was the late Mr. Thomas Moore, of the Chelsea Botanic 

 Garden, who raised Vegetable Cream. 



A few other kinds of vegetables have yet to be noticed which, 

 on account of some special requirements in their culture, are still 

 restricted to gardens in which these necessary requirements can 

 be provided, or can be grown on a large scale for market. Among 

 these the fine form of Sea-kale called Lily White is an improve- 

 ment both in colour and flavour on the old form with purple 

 colouring. The Tomato is yearly increasing in popularity, and 

 receives a corresponding increase of attention from cultivators ; 

 its season has been extended to almost throughout the year. 

 Thirty years ago not more than four or five varieties appeared in 

 seed lists, but now the enumeration of them fills well-nigh a 

 whole page of some catalogues ; without referring to any of them 

 by name, the best of them are undoubtedly in advance of such 

 old sorts as De Laye, Powell's Prolific, &c. The cultivation of 

 the Mushroom has increased enormously of late years ; it is per- 

 haps no exaggeration to say that, for every pound produced by 

 cultivation thirty years ago, upwards of a ton is so grown 

 now. 



I will take but a glance at the progress made in Saladings. 

 In Lettuce, during the period under review, a multitude of varietal 

 names have appeared and almost as rapidly disappeared. In the 

 Cabbage-lettuce section, the kind known as All the Year Round 

 has proved a useful introduction, and retains its place as one of 

 the best ; Early Paris Market is one of the best early kinds, and 

 is much cultivated. In the Cos section, Paris White, Hicks' 



