VEGETABLE CULTIVATION DURING QUEEN VICTORIA'S REIGN. 383 



In 1837 several of the leading varieties of the present day 

 were in use, including, amongst the Cabbage varieties, Brown 

 Dutch, Brown and White Silesian, Drumhead, Grand Admiral, 

 Hammersmith, and one or two others ; and in the Cos, "White 

 seeded and Black-seeded Bath, Florence Green, White, and 

 Spotted. 



By 1842 Paris White and Green were announced, and the 

 various selections of this type are amongst the best Cos Lettuces 

 at the present time. More recently a very large form of great 

 excellence, named Mammoth Cos, has appeared and is very 

 popular. White Heart, intermediate in colour between Paris 

 White and Green, deserves a place as a popular introduction of 

 recent years. With regard to Cabbage Lettuce the number of 

 varieties now available is extraordinary. All the Year Round 

 was amongst the first improvements, and so good is it that it 

 has been honoured with several distinctive names. Wheeler's 

 Tom Thumb, Veitch's Perfect Gem, Standwell Green, and 

 others are excellent varieties largely grown, while more recently 

 Commodore Nutt, Favourite, and Daniel's Continuity are 

 improved types of great merit, the two latter standing longer 

 than any other without running to seed. 



Recently my house has introduced the Intermediate— a 

 variety resulting from a cross between the Cabbage and Cos 

 Lettuce, which is highly prized by many. 



The Melon 



has advanced during the past sixty years by leaps and bounds. 

 Every year witnesses the advent of new varieties, and the Fruit 

 Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society can testify to the 

 constant succession of aspirants for honours. 



In 1837 gardeners depended upon the Cantaloup, Scarlet- 

 fleshed, Green-fleshed, Lord Sondes, and Queen Anne's Pocket. 

 In 1842 Windsor Prize Green and one or two scarlet-fleshed fruits 

 were distributed. Ten years Jater Beechwood, Bromham Hall, 

 Victory of Bath, and other standard varieties were grown, 

 followed at short intervals by Scarlet Gem, Blenheim Orange, 

 Hybrid, Cashmere, Imperial Green, and Hero of Lockinge, the 

 latter still retaining the first place as the best Melon for frames. 

 So easy is its culture that it has acquired the reputation of being 

 essentially the amateur's Melon. 



