September 11, 1884. ] 
JOURl^AL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
247 
have to shun Lettuce, wholesome as it is to those with good 
digestions who need a refrigerant vegetable. As to nourishment, 
the Lettuce affords but little, unless eaten in much larger 
quantities than is usual when partaking of a modern salad, since 
we, at least, have almost ceased to eat it either boiled or baked, 
though a good deal may be said in favour of the practice of the 
ancients. 
The London market gardeners, probably without the assist¬ 
ance of historic studies, were quick to discern that this vegetable 
would prove saleable all the year round could a continuous 
supply be sent into the market. By successive sowings and 
artial culture under glass, and following the plans suggested 
y some of the Dutch gardeners, our earlier cultivators of the 
Lettuce managed to raise plants that could be cut even in the 
winter season; but the principal sowing was made about Sep¬ 
tember, to obtain a crop for spring and summer use. It was 
often planted very freely upon land south and west of London, 
now nearly built over, in long rows amongst Cabbages and 
Cauliflowers, not suffering materially from the smoty atmo¬ 
sphere, but occasionally much beset by wireworm. Yarieties 
have greatly increased since the reign of Elizabeth. Some of 
the oldest seem to be the Large White Cos of Saxony, the 
Green Cos, the Red Eg 3 ^tian, the Green Dutch, and the Hardy 
Ham mersmith. 
The garden Endive is a species nearly related to the wild 
Chicory or Succory, and, like the Lettuce, it belongs to the 
Composite order. It also is an annual, and hardy, although not 
a native of temperate climates. India, China, and Japan have 
all been referred to as its home ; but probably the Endive was 
an Egyptian plant when it was first taken into cultivation. We 
may assume that it travelled into Greece and Italy at an early 
period, for Ovid speaks of it distinctly, so does Columella, both 
naming it as an esculent. Pliny, too, describes it and its iises, 
attributing to it sundry medicinal virtues, while he alludes to 
its being culti'ated as a plant suitable for stews and salads. 
The date of 1548 has been assigned, perhaps too positively, for 
its first appearance in Britain; about that period a variety of 
vegetables, previously unknown, were introduced from France 
and Holland. During the reign of Elizabeth its culture had so 
far progressed that the gardeners fully und rstood how to grow 
Endive and store it for winter use. Gerarde gives an explanation 
of the latter method in his wonted style. “ Endive being sown 
in July,” he writes, “ remaineth until winter, at which time it is 
taken up by the roots and laid in the sun or air for the space of 
two hours; then will the leaves be tough, and easily endure to be 
wrapped up in a heap and buried in the ground with the roots 
uppermost, where no earth can get within it (which, if it did, 
would cause rottenness). This being cov^ered, may be taken up 
at any time convenient, and used for salads all winter, as in 
London and other places may be seen.” McIntosh observes 
tbat this was really a very judicious practice, if the plants were 
dug up in November and dry peat earth put round them. But 
some one or other of the London gardeners devised a different 
method, which arose out of the introduction of flat tiles or 
boards for blanching, though the old plan of tying-up Endive 
with osier twigs or bass has never been entirely discontinued. 
Sheltered ban!-, s with a slope towards the south were set in 
October with rows of plants, each having its pantile, the convex 
side being turned to the sun. In the winter these banks were 
covered with clippings from hedges or with straw. 
The Batavian varieties of the Endive came early into repute, 
and kept their position through many years, the small Batavian 
being esteemed one of the best; but the Curled-leaved and the 
Lettuce-leaved have had their admirers, though the latter is only 
suitable for summer; also the French Green and their White 
Curled have been largely grown since their introduction. Those 
variet’es, however, called the Dutch and Italian have no special 
recommendations. 
The Chicory, Succory, also called the wild Endive, the ground 
root of which is often combined with coffee, has not been taken 
into garden cultivation to any extent in Britain ; but in France 
and the Netherlands it has for some time been regarded as a 
wholesome and agreeable addition to the list of vegetables. 
Sown thickly in frames or in the open air it is allowed to pro¬ 
duce a few leaves, and then cut as a small salad during the 
spring. The French know it as Barbe de Capucin, the leaves 
being blanched by the exclusion of light, when it is used instead 
of Endive. Also in some parts of Europe the fresh roots are 
scraped and served as we serve Parsnips. 
CYPKIPEDIUM SUPERBIENS. 
Cypripediums rank amongst the most beautiful of stove plants, not a 
few of them being highly effective in conservatories during the flowering 
period, where they continue attractive for weeks. Many handsome forms 
are now in cultivation, and one of them is C. superbiens. The flower repre¬ 
sented was from a plant in Mr. B. S. Williams’ collection at Holloway. The 
“ Orchid-Growers’ Manual” says :—“ This very handsome species of Lady’s 
Slipper is a native of Java and Assam, and may be regarded as the best of 
the C. barbatum group. It is of free growth and good habit, and has finely 
variegated foliage, so that when out of bloom it has a beautiful appear¬ 
ance. It blooms in June and July, and continues a long time in flower, so 
that it is invaluable for home decoration or exhibition purposes. When 
well grown this makes a grand'plant. It is sometimes grown under tho 
name of C. 'S^eitchianum.” 
BRIGHTON AND SUSSEX HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The executive of the above Society are to be congratulated on the success 
of the Show which marks the close of their thirty-second season, as both in 
Fig. 42.—Cypripedium superbiens. 
the quantity and quality of the exhibits, and in the attendance of visitors, 
there was every cause for satisfaction. The Show was held in the apartments 
and gardens of the Eoyal Pavilion at Brighton on September 3rd and 4th, 
under the superintendence of Mr. H. Chilman, and as liberal prizes were 
offered by the Committee, and various cups were also given by persons 
interested in the success of the Show, the plants and fruit sent were of a 
high standard of excellence, and competition in many cases remarkably 
keen. The Society, which has for its distinguished President the Duke of 
Devonshire, and as Vice-Presidents a long array of county and civic digni¬ 
taries, is in an exceedingly gratifying position; and while it arranges an 
equally liberal scale of awards, and is fortunate enough to possess, as it now 
does, the assistance of the directors of the London, Brighton, and South- 
Coast Railway in conveying plants from London free of charge, it may be 
safely prophesied that equal success will attend their future efforts to 
