February 19, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
143 
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Royal Society at 4.30 P.M. Linnean Society at 8 P.M. 
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1st Sunday in Lent. 
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Royal Geographical Society at 8.30 P.M. 
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Society of Arts at 8 P.M. 
ARE OUR VEGETABLES IMPROVING? 
N my opinion they certainly are, and cultivators 
who are inclined to direct their labours to the 
growth of the good old varieties of twenty years 
ago may rest assured that they are not making 
the most of their opportunities. Complaints are 
frequently heard of multiplying the names of 
vegetables without improving their qualities, 
and there may be much of this, but there is 
no lack of new and improved varieties of our 
leading vegetables. Indeed it would be strange if so much 
skill and attention were devoted to their improvement with¬ 
out anything being accomplished. We all know that many 
new vegetables have been introduced which were not of 
superior merit, but it is equally certain that advancement 
has been made, and many vegetables brought to a perfection 
which was never dreamed of twenty years ago. It is often 
said that vegetables have now become so numerous that it 
must be difficult for many to select the best, and there is 
some truth in this, but no one who reads need be at a loss 
what to grow, as the merits and demerits of all are discussed 
in a way which forms a ready guide to their value. 
Probably Peas have had as much attention in efforts to 
improve them as any vegetable, and it is only right that this 
should be so, as they are a most important crop, grown every¬ 
where, and appreciated by all. Mr. Laxton’s Peas and Mr. 
Culverwell’s are earlier, hardier, more prolific, and of better 
quality than any known before their time. Mr. Abbott is 
following in their footsteps. Messrs. Carter have been 
fortunate in being the means of popularising many good 
Peas, and Messrs. Webb of Stourbridge ; Veitch, London; 
Sutton, Reading; and Sharpe, Sleaford, are prominent in 
the same way. Earliest of All, Giant Marrow, Telegraph, 
Paragon, Stratagem, Duke of Albany, Latest of All, Gladi¬ 
ator, American Wonder, Sturdy, Wordsley Wonder, Sunrise, 
and Perpetual Bearer are a few of the new Peas which have 
outdistanced old varieties. 
The improvement effected in Tomatoes is very great, 
and we need go no further to prove it than by naming such 
handsome sorts as Hackwood Park Prolific, Sutton’s Reading 
Perfection, with Carter’s Dedham Favourite and Greengage. 
Those have put the old sorts in the background and also 
the American varieties, which were the most promising at 
one time. Amongst Beans of the runner section we have 
a wonderful variety in Laxton’s Girtford Giant, and amongst 
the broad varieties Carter’s Leviathan is similar, while dwarf 
sorts are well to the fore in Canadian Wonder and Cooling’s 
Ne Plus Ultra. In Cauliflowers we have Yeitch’s Pearl, 
Extra Early, and Autumn Giant, all splendid varieties, 
closely followed by more modern ones, such as Webb’s 
Mammoth, Sutton’s King, and Eclipse. Chou de Burghley 
is a capital addition to improved vegetables. In Broccoli 
we have Yeitch’s Autumn Protecting variety, Backhouse’s 
Winter White, Cooling’s Matchless, Sutton’s Winter Mam¬ 
moth, and Sutton’s Late Queen, which produce heads of 
the highest quality in certain succession from November 
until June. Of Cabbages there are several first-rate new 
varieties, such as Ellam’s Dwarf Early Spring, Webb’s 
Emperor, Wheeler’s Imperial, and Carter’s Miniature Drum¬ 
head. Gilbert’s Universal Savoy is the latest addition to 
this class, and it has only to be grown once to prove how 
very superior it is. 
Cucumbers have been keeping pace with other vegetables. 
Pettigrew’s Cardiff Castle is very useful, Tender and True 
is a splendid fruiting variety for summer use. Lettuce and 
Endive now assume a size and possess a tenderness when 
matured quite unknown in former days. Endive Round¬ 
leaved Batavian, and Lettuces Perfect Gem, Marvel, Sum- 
merhill, Kingsholm, Little Queen, Northern King, and several 
others are valuable. Leeks have been brought to an 
enormous size, and The Lyon is the latest improvement. 
Onions have had attention, and have amply repaid it, as 
will be readily admitted by all who have grown Webb’s 
Improved Banbury, Reading Improved, Giant Zittau, Rou- 
sham Park Hero, Golden Globe, and Golden Queen. As a 
garnishing Parsley Carter’s Fern-leaved variety is exquisite. 
Radishes are very numerous, and further, the newer ones 
are very good. They are produced in many colours and forms, 
and are both attractive and useful. Sutton’s Earliest Frame, 
Carter’s Holborn Crimson Marble, the new Crimson French 
Breakfast and the new China Rose are excellent. Turnips 
are now brought to great perfection. The new Milan variety 
is the earliest Turnip known, Sutton’s Snowball is a beauty, 
Veitcli’s Red Globe is most valuable, and Carter’s Jersey 
Lily is fine in every respect. 
Vegetable Marrows are as good as can be desired, and 
Potatoes were certainly never so fine. I wonder what 
gardeners would think nowadays had they to be contented 
with such as the Rock and Regent ? Good Potatoes in 
their way, but nothing as early or heavy-cropping varieties. 
Of Kidneys we have Veitch’s Improved Ashleaf, Covent 
Garden Perfection, Magnum Bonum, Snowdrop; and of 
rounds we have Reading Hero, Schoolmaster, Reading 
Russet, and Webb’s Reliance. 
In these brief notes I have only named varieties of recent 
introduction which I know to be improvements on their 
predecessors, and all that their raisers and distributors claim 
for them. New vegetables are often thought to be expensive, 
but although higher in price than common and inferior 
varieties, they really are not dear, as the excellence and 
quantity of the produce in the end amply compensate for 
the first outlay.—A Kitchen Gardener. 
VIOLETS. 
The Violet is beyond doubt a general favourite. Poets 
for ages have extolled its praises, an emblem of modesty and 
sweetness. Common although it be, even the wild Violet has 
its charms, and many a wayfarer’s heart has been gladdened 
at the sight of a batch clustering beneath the sheltering 
stump of a Hazel or an Ash, by the side of a wood or 
country lane. 
“ Full against the morning sun, 
Of heavenly blue, there Violets grew, 
His hand invited one by one.” 
If the wild Violet with its scant perfume has such a firm 
hold on our affections, it is not surprising that the more 
richly perfumed and deeper-coloured cultivated varieties 
should be so highly prized. Every garden of whatever pre¬ 
tentions has, or should have, a Violet bed or clump, and 
many where circumstances admit grow them under the 
protection of frames or pits for a winter supply of flowers, the 
time they are more especially valued. Still it is a singular 
fact in the cultivation of the Violet, whether it be the 
common single ones or the choicer double varieties, that 
although there are some gardens where they grow without 
any trouble, there are others where they usually fail. A 
frequent complaint is heard that they will not grow, and the 
No. 243 .—Vol. X., Third Series. 
No. 1899 .—Vol. LXXII., Old Series. 
