THE ADVANTAGES AND EVILS OF SIZE IN FLOWERS &c. 413 



often the big tempting-looking specimens are worthless as compared with 

 those which are smaller and less attractive, and until the public are 

 educated more in this respect, so long will the producer continue to place 

 these on the market. What we want to encourage are those varieties 

 which are well known to contain all the attributes of high quality, and 

 endeavour to produce them to perfection. 



" The Grape is perhaps the most important of all fruits grown under 

 glass in this country, and in Grape culture especially, only those varieties 

 which possess the highest quality should be encouraged ; there are plenty 

 of good ones suitable for all seasons. 



" Many of the larger and showy peaches are inferior in flavour to the 

 smaller- fruited ones. And, indeed, the same applies to nearly all fruits, 

 such as Strawberries, Figs, Apples, Pears, Melons, Gooseberries, Plums, 

 Medlars, Cobnuts, and Walnuts. 



" Though vegetable culture is generally regarded as the lowest grade in 

 horticulture, it is certainly not the least important, and unless I am 

 greatly mistaken the production of high-class kitchen garden produce 

 will take a greater part in the future than it has hitherto done, and this 

 can only be accomplished by educating the producer generally to a higher 

 standard than has so far been the case. 



" Young men who have made up their minds to become gardeners far 

 too often consider that the details in connection with vegetable culture 

 are beneath their notice, and can be acquired when they are placed in 

 responsible positions as head gardeners — a sad mistake, which they often 

 find out to their cost. I am perfectly convinced that there is no depart- 

 ment in horticulture which demands more care, skill, and thought than 

 this, if high -class vegetables are to be produced all through the year. 

 Many vegetables which are offered for sale are really not fit for human 

 food ; and as with fruit so with vegetables : many of the products tempting 

 to the eye are scarcely worth cooking. The selection of varieties is of 

 the utmost importance, whether for private or market use, and in making 

 awards at our exhibitions judges do not take into consideration the 

 quality of the varieties as much as they ought. Large and coarse varieties 

 should be rigorously excluded from all lists, as they are neither good nor 

 profitable. Especially does this apply to Potatos, Cabbage, Savoys, 

 Beetroot, Turnips, and many others. 



" I am quite at a loss to understand why our market gardeners do 

 not cultivate the better varieties, many of which are more prolific and 

 quite as easily grown. For example, Peas and Runner Beans. It is almost 

 impossible to get the first named fit to eat at any of our hotels or 

 restaurants during the season ; and why not grow the new and improved 

 varieties, which are certainly vastly superior in every way ? 



" The highest system of culture should be the aim of the producer, 

 whether it be flowers, fruit, or vegetables, of all the best known varieties, 

 so that each specimen may be of the highest excellence." 



Mr. Geo. Bunyabd, V.M.H., of Maidstone :— " I certainly find that 

 medium and small fruits have the best flavour, though in large fruits 

 of Peaches and Pears you may get a softer texture, making them more 

 digestible and more full of refreshing juice. My theory is that the flavour 

 lies near the skin, and therefore it is a mistake to pare some fruits ; they 



