12 
The Illustrated Guide for Amateur Gardeners. 
DANIELS’ CRIMSON PERFECTION. 
“I have had very great success with the Seeds which 
you sent me last Spring. The Beet, Daniels’ Black 
Q,ueen, is much admired by my friends and neighbours." 
-Mr. F. KEER, Houndslow. 
Beet. 
Cultivation. — This is one of our most valuable vegetables, and takes 
a high place amongst them. The culture is extremely simple. A free open 
soil suits it best ; and to grow it well a shallow bastard trench should be worked 
sixteen to twenty inches deep, at the very bottom of which a layer of well decayed 
manure should be laid. Do not manure the layer of soil above, but fork it over 
just before sowing the seeds. Make an early sowing about the 10th of April, and 
a main sowing about the 5th of May. Sow in shallow drill rows twent}' inches 
apart, or even less if a short-top kind is chosen, as by this means the ground 
is better protected from the too scorching rays of the sun. The seedlings 
should be thinned out to about six or eight inches apart, or even more if 
large kinds are grown, which is not advisable. Hoe them occasionally during 
the whole Summer to ensure both the destruction of weeds and that a free 
soil exists around them. The earlier sown might be drawn for use as soon as 
they have become large enough. Take the main crop up within a week of October 
1st, and during a dry da} r . Every root must bo taken up carefully and with 
a fork, so as not to break off a single fibre, which is essential to their future 
merits both as regards colour and flavour when cooked. Never cut the leaves 
off; but twist them off w r ith the hands. "VVo would direct special attention 
to Daniels* Crimson Perfection Salad, which will be found a most useful and 
splendid variety. Also Dracaena-leaved; this latter, a highly desirable variety for 
the Flower Garden. 
DANIELS’ CRIMSON PERFECTION SALAD. 
A new dark-leaved variety with crimson flesh, of excellent quality. 
An acquisition in the way of ornamental Beet, having deep blood red 
foliage with metallic hue ; fine for flower-garden decoration and for 
salads ... ... ... ... ... per pkt. 6d. 
Daniels’ Black Queen. Pine new dark -leaved variety per pkt. 4d. 
Dark Bed Salad 
Dell’s Black. A fine dark-foliaged variety ... per pkt. 3d. 
Egyptian Dark Bed Turnip-rooted. One of the best for Summer 
Salads, as it comes into maturity very early ... per pkt. 3d. 
Eclipse. A fine early Turnip-rooted variety ... „ 4d. 
Henderson’s Pine Apple. Dark-leaved ... „ 3d. 
Nutting’s Dwarf Bed. Pine dark foliage ... „ 3d 
Omega, a useful variety ... ... ... „ 4d. 
Dracaena-leaved, a highly ornamental variety for the Flower 
Garden. The leaves are fine, long, and of a deep rich crimson. The 
root is of fine quality and excellent colour. A most desirable variety, both 
for ornamental and culinary purposes ... ... per pkt. 4d. 
Ornamental Chilian. Non-edible ; a strikingly handsome 
variety ; invaluable for subtropical and ornamental gardening per pkt. 6d. 
Silver Sea Bale or Spinach Beet. The leaves make an excellent 
substitute for Spinach ... 
per oz.— s. d. 
6 
0 
6 
9 
10 
0 
9 
10 
0 
1 0 
0 - 6 
Broccoli. 
Cultivation. As the aim of every cultivator should be to grow as constant a succession of this very valuable vegetable as 
possible, hence it will be necessary not only to make occasional sowings, but also to choose several distinct varieties so to treat. The first 
sowing should be made early in March in a gentle heat, and this should consist of Snow’s Winter White, and also, if possible, Daniels’ 
New Year. Make other and successional sowings about once a fortnight, commencing about April 10th. In regard to culture these 
require a peculiar kind of soil, viz., one that is at once consistent and somewhat stiff, yet such as does not hold moisture in any great 
degree. The site these are to be planted upon cannot be worked too deeply, or manured too heavily, and it should always, where 
practicable, be trenched a month or two before the time for planting arrives. Take advantage of damp weather upon wdiich to forward 
all transplanting work. The seedlings should be transplanted thickly on to what is termed nursery beds, at distances of about five iuches 
apart. Thin out the strongest plants to treat thus, permitting tho smaller ones to remain in the seed bed until they become large enough 
for final transplanting. So soon as the early sown plants become large enough for the latter purpose, transplant them into drill row 7 s 
previousl}' drawn for them at distances of three feet apart, and allowing a similar distance between each plant in the row r . The later 
Winter crops should he planted a foot less apart all ways. No opportunity should be missed to give them good waterings during all 
subsequent dry periods, and manure water will aid them greatly. Always take care to cut the heads for use immediately the “flower” 
is seen through or between the apices of the leaves. It is a commendable practice to cut the top or chief head off all “sprouting” kinds 
so soon as it is seen to have produced the necessary bulk. The late Autumn kinds should always be protected by means of bracken fern, 
straw, or any similar material at the approach of frost, or if the “ heads” are fit for use the plants may be drawn bodily and hung up in 
any cool shed until required for use. Our own specialities in this class, viz., Daniels’ Norfolk Giant, a splendid kind, which has been 
grown to the enormous weight of 28 lbs., should be sown in March and April for cutting the following Spring; W'hilst Daniels’ King of 
the Broccoli, the best late variety in cultivation, should be sown in April and May for cutting in May and June the following season. 
EVIDENCE OF QUALITY. 
“ Your Norfolk Giant Broccoli arc the finest stock I ever grew. The heads large, white, and solid, and stand 
well through the severest weather. Out of 2000 plants I only lost about 30 during the past winter, when most other varieties 
were destroyed. They came in very regular, and I did not have one bad one in tho whole lot.”- -Mr. J. CATTON 
The Gardens, Saxlingham Hall. ’ 
