NOTES ON FRUITS AND KITCHEN PLANTS. 
91 
well as in tlie purposes for which it is adapted, 
namely, the decoration of flower beds during 
summer. Wliether the growth of the plant 
will make it suitable for bedding en masse, 
will requii'e some experience of its habit to 
ascertain ; it will be so if it can be made to 
produce its branches" sufficiently numerous to 
cover the entire surface of the soil. Apart 
from this question, it is no doubt a very de- 
sirable plant, admitting either of culture in 
the iiower-garden, or in pots. 
The soil in which it has been found to 
thrive, is that of a light rich nature, and 
should contain a considerable proportion of 
sand. Naturally its branches lie upon the 
sandy beach of the ocean, where no moisture 
can lodge about the branches, and where the 
latter are exposed to an unimpeded circulation 
of air. Probably, therefore, it will not bear 
crowding. 
In the garden of the Horticultural Society 
it has been found to be easy of increase, either 
by means of seeds or cuttings ; and it is re- 
commended to t)e grown as an annual. It 
flowers dui'ing the summer months, from June 
till October. 
Besides Lamarck's name here adopted, this 
plant has received two others, which are 
these : — Abronia califormca (Rffiusch), and 
Tricratus admirahilis (L'Heritier). It was 
originally introduced to this country in 1823, 
but was soon lost. 
NOTES ON FRUITS AND KITCHEN PLANTS 
PROVED IN THE GARDEN OF THE HOR- 
TICULTURAL SOCIETY IN 1848. 
The following notes on new fruits and escu- 
lents, from the Journal of the Hortictdtural 
Society, are from the pen of Mr. Thompson, 
the superintendent of the fruit and kitchen 
garden departments in the Society's garden. 
They are highly valuable observations : — 
1. The Queen Muscat Gkape. — A plant 
of a vine under the above name was received 
last spring from Mr. Glendinning, Chiswick 
Nursery, Turnham Green. It was only a 
young plant raised from an eye in the previous 
season. It however fruited in an eight-inch 
pot. The size the bunch would attain from a 
Avell-established vine can therefore only be 
estimated comparatively with that of other 
sorts grown in a pot under similar circum- 
stances, and accordingly it may be stated to 
be larger than that of the Royal Muscadine. 
The berries are also fully as large as those of 
the latter, but perfectly distinct, being oval. 
They are yellowish white, semi-transparent, 
so that the one seed which each berry contains 
can be seen through the skin. The flesh is 
flrmer than that of the Sweetwater, but much 
more tender than that of the Muscat of Alex- 
andria, rich and sugary. It is an early grape ; 
and as far as can be judged of it, grown as 
above stated, it appears highly deserving of 
cultivation. For pot culture it has proved to 
be exceedingly well adapted. 
2. Cardon Puvis. — This is a variety of 
cardoon remarkable for its almost entire and 
spineless leaves. In this season there were 
some sharp frosts in November, the tempera- 
ture being sometimes 10°, and in one instance 
14°, below the freezing-point. It appeared 
from these circumstances that the Cardon 
Puvis was more tender than the Cardon de 
Toui's. 
3. Largest Asiatic Cauliflower. — 
This is a good variety of cauliflower, seeds of 
which were this year, and formerly, received 
from Messrs. Schertzer, of Haarlem. It grows 
taller, and produces larger heads than the 
common, under the same circumstances, 
4. Early Leyden Cauliflower. — Also 
received from Messrs. Schertzer, of Haarlem. 
This appeared identical with Legge's Walche- 
ren Brocoli or Cauliflower, noticed* vol. i. 
p. 309. To this notice, and particularly to 
the excellent directions by the late Mr. Legge 
for the cultivation of the variety, I would beg 
to direct attention. A correction is required, — 
" For the purpose oi sowing seed," read saving 
seed. It is difficult in very many cases to 
save brocoli seed correctly in this country, 
and to save it in any degree of perfection is 
often impossible. It is therefore satisfactory 
to know that this most useful variety, some- 
times difficult to obtain under the name of 
Legge's "Walcheren Brocoli or Cauliflower, 
may be procured under the name of the Early 
Leyden Cauliflower, from the Continent. 
* The heads are large, firm, white, like a very fine 
cauliflower, which in fact it closely resembles in appear- 
ance, except that the leaves are not so plain as those 
of the cauliflower. The diflerence in constitution must 
however be considerable, for it not only stands the 
winter cold, but likewise the summer drought much 
better than cauliflowers do; scarcely a head of the 
latter could be obtained in the diy hot summer of 
1844, and at the same time a quarter of Walcheren 
Brocoli formed beautiful heads of uniform closeness. 
The following are notes respecting it from Mr. Legge 
[late gardener at Bishopsthorpe, by whom the seeds 
were pi-esented to the Horticultural Society] : — " For 
the supply of a family, sow the third w^eek in April, 
middle and end of May, the middle and end of June, 
and the middle and end of July. This attention will 
give a regular supply till the end of the year. I had 
a regular supply last year [1845] till January 21st. 
For the purpose of sowing seed I recommend to sow 
my .Walcheren Brocoli at the time that the winter 
cauliflower is sown, say about the 25th or 27th of 
August, and winter the plants under hand glasses as 
Cauliflowers. Give them good soil, not too light, nor 
leave more than three or four under each glass, and 
let them be well attended to with respect to air." By 
timely sowings the Walcheren will afford a long and 
excellent supply equal in quality and appearance to 
Cauliflower. — Journ. Ilort. Soc. i. 309. 
