January 17, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
39 
handhghtg is the Extra Early Forcing, this, I believe, being very 
similar to Dean’s Snowball. It is particularly good for sowing in 
heat in spring, in the case of plants from autumn-sown seed being 
scarce. Early London and Dwarf Erfurt Mammoth, the latter being 
pier erred by me, are both good for early crops, and to succeed these 
Veitchs Pearl is recommended. We found this novelty decidedly 
good for the main crop, as it produced good heads till long after the 
autumn and earliest spring-sown plants of Veitch’s Autumn Giant 
were hearting-in. The latter can, as a rule, be had very good until 
December if sown late in May. Eclipse, in the way of Autumn 
Giant, is. much earlier, and is invaluable in gardens where there are 
w , f f i!ities ra ’" s i n g an early batch of plants of the latter. 
Walcheren Cauliflower I do not believe in. 
Celery'. —Our earliest Celery is secured with the aid of a superior 
form of the Dwarf White Incomparable, selected by Mr. D. Thomson, 
Drumlanrig, but as this cannot be bought I should recommend 
oandnngham ^ Dwarf White or a new variety of Suttons’ in lieu of 
it. Williams’ Matchless Red grows to a good size, is of excellent 
quality, and well adapted for exhibition purposes. The true Leicester 
Red and Major Clarke’s Solid Red are of about equal merit, and 
both are. remarkably solid, crisp, and good. Carter’s Incomparable 
Gnmson is also very good, and is perhaps the most hardy of all. 
Endive. —Moss-curled is excellent for the earliest crops, this to 
be followed with either Green-curled or Picpus Green-curled, while 
for the latest crops the Improved Round-leaved Batavian is invaluable. 
Lettuces. —The very quick-growing Early Pans Market is the 
best for frames and sheltered borders. Tom Thumb for the autumn, 
and Hardy Hammersmith to stand the winter, are the only other 
Cabbage varieties we grow. With regard to Cos varieties, I am 
completely converted to Mr. Taylor’s opinion that the Black-seeded 
Brown Cos is by far the best variety for nearly all seasons. If 
greener sorts are preferred, and we generally sow a row at the same 
time as we do the brown sort, I should recommend one of the many 
selections of Paris White Cos. Hick's Hardy Green is one of the 
hardiest sorts we have. 
Leeks. —I am afraid our seed of the new Lyon Leek was u cooked,” 
at any rate none of it germinated, although treated exactly the 
same as the Ayton Castle Giant and Musselburgh. The latter is not 
so large as the Ayton Castle, but either are good enough for ordinary 
purposes. The Carentan is much too coarse-grained, and will not 
long remain in cultivation. 
Onions. —I find the White Neapolitan Tripoli early and good, 
this being followed by the Giant White Madeira, with Giant Rocca 
for keeping. For spring sowing I like Banbury Improved, this 
being large and handsome. If larger* than this is required Walker’s 
Exhibition should be grown. Besides the foregoing I much like 
Giant Zittau, believing it to be one of the most profitable sorts 
catalogued. It is very heavy aud keeps well. Brown Globe com 
pletes the list. 
Most seedsmen now possess an extra good strain of Curled 
Parsley, and besides this the Fern-leaved variety may well be grown. 
I prefer the Student Parsnip, and often wonder why so few Parsnips 
are grown and eaten. Radishes of the Extra Early Dwarf Top type, 
French Breakfast, and Wood’s Frame are good for forcing, and 
there are several new sorts also good. Wood’s is also the best for a 
sheltered, border, and the Long Red is grown to succeed this, and 
also for late work. The Red and White Turnip varieties are the 
best for summer sowings. Of Rhubarbs I give the preference to 
Johnson’s St. Martin’s for forcing, but it seldom comes true from 
seed. Royal Albert is also early and good, and Myatt’s Victoria 
grows to a great size. 
Savoys. —Tom Thumb and Little Pixie Savoys are both excellent, 
neat-growing, and early. Early Ulna forms a good succession. To 
follow this we have Dwarf Green-curled, and the latest crops are of 
Drumhead. 
Seakale and Artichokes. —Seakale is easily raised from seed, 
but can be grown to a much larger size in one season from small 
pieces of roots. Globe Artichokes ma} 7 also be raised from seed, 
but half of the seedlings are of no value when grown, this being 
most marked with the Purple Globe varieties. 
Srinach. —The Round or Summer variety is good for either early 
or late sowings, being quite as hardy as the Winter or Prickly- 
seeded. A few plants of New Zealand Spinach reared in heat and 
planted on a sunny border will during the summer yield a great 
number of shoots at a time when the other sort completely fails. 
Tomatoes. —The Dwarf Orangefield Tomato is still one of the 
best, especially for pot work ; and the Large Red, or a good selection 
of it, such as Earley’s Defiance, crops still more heavily both under 
glass and in the open. Phillip’s Perfection is one of the hand¬ 
somest varieties I am acquainted with, and the quality, too, is first- 
class. Dedham Favourite is handsome and good, and for all pur¬ 
poses Trentham Early Fillbasket is to be recommended. 
Turnips. —The Early Munich is much the earliest variety we 
have, but that is its only recommendation, as it is very inferior in 
quality. To succeed this a good selection of Snowball, such as 
Jersey Lily, may well be grown, while for autumn and winter 
Veitch’s Red Globe is much the best. The hardiest is the Chirk 
Castle Black Stone. 
Vegetable Marrows. —We onty grow the Long White. The 
Custard Marrow is miuch liked by some, and Muir’s Prolific Hybrid 
is also highly spoken of ; it was the raiser’s fault that I am unable 
to speak concerning its merits. As I have already written at con¬ 
siderable length, remarks I wish to make concerning a considerable 
number of Peas and Potatoes must be deferred.—W. Iggulden, 
Marston. 
PROFESSIONAL GARDENERS’ FRIENDLY BENEFIT 
SOCIETY. 
Although this Society was established in Leeds and has been successfully 
managed there by a Committee of gardeners for several years, it is very far 
from being of a local character. All bond fide gardeners are eligible for 
membership, and a considerable number reside in different parts of the 
country. It is customary to have an anniversary dinner yearly, at which 
the Mayor of the town with other influential gentlemen attend, as the 
Society is regarded as eminently worthy of their countenance and support. 
The seventeenth meeting of the nature indicated was held on the 11th inst., 
Henry Oxley, Esq., presiding, supported by John Barran, Esq., M.P., 
Councillor Loe, and G. W. Morrison, Esq. (Town Clerk). Letters of apology 
were read from the Mayor, W. L. Jackson, Esq., M.P., and Herbert J. 
Gladstone, Esq., M.P. There was a very large attendance, including a 
number of visitors, the representatives of provincial nursery firms, and 
others, the spacious room being crowded. After the usual loyal toasts the 
following report of the Society was read by Mr. W. Sunley. the Secretary :— 
Report op the Professional Gardeners’ Friendly Benefit Society 
In presenting the seventeenth annual report, your Committee beg to 
direct attention to the annexed balance sheet, which shows cause for 
satisfaction. 
£ s. <J. 
The Society’s income for the past year has been.182 10 10 
Its expenditure for the same period has been . 156 13 2 J 
Which leaves a saving for the past year of.26 8 7.J 
This amount, added to the savings of the sixteen previous years of £649 2 10 
Makes the total amount now placed to the Society’s credit of .. £675 6 5 ^ 
Representing the value to each financial member of £6 2s. 
Your Committee beg gratefully to acknowledge the very liberal support 
accorded to the Society by its honorary members, and cordially welcome the 
five additional gentlemen who have been enrolled during the past year. 
The Society now numbers seventeen honorary and 110 ordinary members. 
Henry Oxley, Esq., very generously offered to give £5 to further encourage 
members contributing and reading essays at the monthly meetings. After 
careful consideration it was thought advisable to apportion this amount into 
three prizes. Eight essays have been contributed during the year, but only 
three members consented to enter for competition. These three essays were 
duly forwarded to the Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, who very kindly 
consented to adjudicate the order of merit. The first prize of £2^10s. was 
awarded to Mr. George Winterburn, gardener to Lomas Joy, Esq., ’Weetwood 
Lane. Subject, “ Furnishing the Conservatory.” 
The second prize of £1 10s. was awarded to Mr. James Inman, Chapel 
Allerton. Subject, “ Cultivation of the Vine.” 
The third prize of £1 was awarded to Mr. William Jackson, gardensr to 
Henry Milligan, Esq., Benton Park, Rawdon. Subject, " Cultivation of 
Eucharis amazonica.” _ . 
As these essays are the means of exciting much discussion and emulation, 
and thereby diffusing much useful knowledge, your Committee most 
earnestly hope members will continue to render their support in this very 
important matter. The best thanks of the Society arc due to Mr. Oxley for 
his generosity, and to the Editors of the Journal of Horticulture , wao have 
so kindly given their valuable services, also to the several members who 
contributed the essays. 
Your Committee will always endeavour to promote the welfare of the 
Society, and continue to rely on the kindly forbearance and support of the 
members generally. 
Bacchus Hill, Moor-Allerton, Signed on behalf of the Committee, 
January 1st, 1884. William Sunley, Secretary. 
The distribution of the above-mentioned prizes was a feature of the meet¬ 
ing, and the Chairman in an excellent and practical address pointed out the 
great advantages of the practice of preparing such essays both to the writers of 
them and those to whom they were read and who shared in the discussions 
thereon, promising also to give a similar amount in prizes to be competed 
for another year. Mr. Barran in responding to the toast of the borough mem¬ 
bers said he felt happy in being present among so many of Natures gentle¬ 
men who were not only cultivating plants, but the taste of the people also ; 
and every step taken in gardening tended to elevate and refine that taste, 
Much fault was found with Parliament as to the way in which its money 
was spent, but in no department of expenditure bad there being more satis¬ 
faction than in that which had reference to horticulture. All that had been 
done at Kew and Battersea Park had been received on the part of the public 
with the utmost satisfaction. He should be glad to see some of the northern 
towns, although they had to contend with difficulties of climate, emulating 
Parliament by doing something in the way of providing (lower gardens. 
Next to the expenditure on education, the cultivation of plants and flowers 
would be a very great boon to the people, and would be exceedingly well- 
spent money. Taking it on the whole, there were very few investments 
which paid better than this, or which tended more to improve the moral tone 
of the people. Taking a still more narrow view, in everyday life people 
