LEEKS TRIED AT WISLEY, 191 7-1 8. 



Ill 



LEEKS TRIED AT WISLEY, 1917-18. 



Thirty-one samples of Leeks were sent for trial in 1917. Four were 

 said to be for summer use (Nos. 1 to 4 below), and were sown in pots 

 on March 17, and planted in their permanent quarters on June 25. 

 The seeds of the remainder were sown both in the open ground on 

 March 17 and in pots on March 23. The seedlings of the latter, like 

 the early varieties, were pricked out into boxes, and planted out on 

 July 4, the outdoor-sown seedlings being transplanted on July 11. 



The plot was deeply dug and manured well in early June, the 

 plants being put out into shallow trenches 2 feet apart, with plants 

 12 inches apart in the rows. 



All made good growth, and there was little to choose between 

 those raised under glass and those sown in the open. 



The Committee visited the trial on February 19, 1918, and 

 recommended awards as follows : 



Award of Merit. 



No. 18, ' Champion,' sent by Messrs. Dobbie ; 16, ' Internationa 

 Prize,' sent by Messrs. Dobbie ; 25, * Prizetaker,' sent by Messrs. 

 Sutton ; 10, ' Royal Favourite,' sent by Messrs. Sutton. 



Highly Commended. 



No. 30, ' Improved Musselburgh,' sent by Messrs. Sutton ; 2, 

 'Large Early Poitou,' sent by Messrs. Barr ; 14, 'Large Rouen,' 

 sent by Messrs. Barr ; 26, * Renton's Monarch,' sent by Messrs. 

 Nutting ; 22, ' The Lyon,' sent by Messrs. R. Veitch. 



Commended. 



No. 13, ' Giant Winter,' sent by Messrs. Barr. 



No variety under any of the above names had received an award. 



A system of planting Leeks that is very simple, economical, and 

 much practised in some parts of the country, is to sow the seeds 

 thinly at the end of February or early in March, in good soil and a 

 sunny position, and when the plants are 6 or 7 inches long, to put 

 them out in lines 1 foot to 15 feet apart, and the same distance between 

 the plants in the rows. When planting they are put in with a dibber, 

 making a hole 6 or 7 inches deep. A very little soil is put into the hole 

 merely to cover the roots and the hole is left unfilled ; water is given 

 as required, and as the plants grow the usual hoeing to keep down 

 weeds gradually fills the hole left by the dibber, and by the time the 

 Leeks are wanted for use, each plant is blanched 5 or 6 inches at the 

 base. Deep cultivation and liberal manuring naturally tell in the 

 length and thickness of the plants, and, except where exhibition plants 

 are wanted, we can strongly advocate this system. 



