September 18 1884. ] 
JOURl^AL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
255 
18 
th 
Cheltenbara Show. 
19 
p 
20 
s 
21 
SUN 
16th Sunday after Trinity. 
22 
M 
23 
T0 
Fruit and Vegetable Show, South Kensington (two days). 
24 
W 
VEGETABLES IN 1884. 
QUIET look round after the hurry and bustle of 
the day is over enables one to arrange matters 
in the best way for the morrow, to detect faulty 
workmanship, to take stock of crops in use and 
for a future supply, and above all to study 
errors of practice, in view of setting matters right 
as speedily as may he possible. That the plan 
is a good one all thoughtful earnest men will 
agree, for it is only by close attention to results 
as they occur that we can hope to do as well or better sub¬ 
sequently. The weather of the summer that is now well 
nigh over has been a series of extremes, which have proved so 
trying to growing crops that more than ordinary care and 
thought have been called for in order that no serious failure 
should occur in the vegetable supply. But the long period 
of drought and great heat has come to an end, and my stroll 
this evening has given rise to several thoughts in connec¬ 
tion with the drought, some of which may prove worth 
recording. 
Glad am I to say that vegetables have been plentiful 
and good, which agreeable fact is undoubtedly greatly owing 
to an abundant supply of water and to an efficient apparatus 
for its use. Fully exposed to sun and air, by a simple 
arrangement of piping, stopcocks, and hose, the water is 
applied to the crops with ease and facility, and in the best 
possible condition for the purpose. Let me here note that 
the best hose is of leather—a little more expensive than other 
kinds perhaps, but so durable as to be much cheaper in the 
end ; and that for large gardens there should either be a 
very large main pipe or three or four small ones, so that more 
than one stopcock and set of hose may be at work at the 
same time, which is impossible if the main or supply pipe is 
of the same diameter as the hose. The soil became dry so 
early that even the first crops of Potatoes had to be watered, 
and exceedingly well did they answer. Myatt’s Prolific 
Ashleaf is my favourite early sort, alike excellent in quality, 
size, and quantity. It was followed by Snowflake and Early 
Eose, both exceedingly good this year, and so abundant 
that it has been somewhat difficult to find room in the store- 
sheds for later sorts. Mulching with short fresh stable 
manure has been of material use, especially among Cauli¬ 
flower, Broccoli, and winter greens, most of which have grown 
so freely that the mulching is hidden by the leaves. Early 
London, Walcheren, and Veitch’s Autumn Giant are the 
Cauliflowers I prefer as^affording an early, intermediate, and 
late supply. 
The early Celery was well established in the rows before 
the drought became severe, but the main crop had to be 
transplanted under a burning sun, and after the plants had 
become large and tall trenches for single rows were got 
ready, the soil watered, the plants well watered before and 
after the planting, and well shaded hy branches of under¬ 
wood thrust into the ground on both sides of each row. 
This with heavy daily waterings prevented drooping, caused 
the roots to spread quickly in the rich soil of the trenches, 
No. 221,—YoL. IX., Third Srriek. 
and the plants are now growing freely with clean healthy 
foliage without a trace of maggot. 
For three months an abundant daily supply of Peas was 
had, but towards the end of August drought and excessive 
heat had rendered the air so dry and parching that it told 
severelyupon the haulm. Despite all possible care in watering 
and mulching, stunted growth and mildew lessened the supply 
so much that it became broken by intervals of one or two 
days, when other vegetables had to be used. This was 
matter for regret, for we have no real substitute for Peas. 
Everybody likes them so well that we seldom hear of the 
most fastidious eater growing tired of them. I make ten to 
twelve sowings during the season—sowing once in January, 
February, July, and August, and twice in March, April, 
May, and June. The May sowings proved to be my weak 
point. Twolongrows of British Queen and Ne Plus Ultra were 
sown in the first week and again in the third week of that 
month, and had the growth been as vigorous as usual the 
supply would have proved ample ; but it was not, and in 
future, if space can be had by any means, eight rows instead 
of four will be sown in May to prevent any failure in the 
supply of young and tender Peas in August. No doubt a 
lesser number of sowings than I have mentioned would afford 
a supply of Peas, but tliey would not be young and tender— 
an indispensable point to keep in view in Pea culture. Then, 
too, a liberal margin must be allowed for large and sudden 
demands over and above the ordinary supply. When an 
establishment of fifteen or twenty persons is liable to be 
swollen to double that number by visitors, there must be no 
question about a few rows of Peas more or less. That deli¬ 
cious old Pea Champion of England has been most valuable; 
no other is equal to it for the March and April sowings, and 
it was found infinitely more useful than the long-podded 
Telephone. 
Of Tomatoes the new variety Hackwood Park Prolific 
proves worthy of the first-class certificate awarded to it by the 
Eoyal Horticultural Society last year. The crop of it is 
abundant and fine, but it is not so early as my old favourite 
Early Gem, which will still be retained to fill half the space 
that can be spared for the culture of Ihis useful vegetable. 
Extra Early Milan Turnip is certainly earlier than all other 
sorts, but it seems to seed sooner than Early Munich, so 
that it will still be advisable to sow both together as was 
done this season. Stewed Lettuce has become such a 
favourite vegetable that the Lettuce beds have goneongrowing 
in size till they almost rival those of Cabbages and Cauliflowers, 
and the plants certainly exceed both of them in numbers. 
Ivery’s Nonesuch is the favourite, as from its large size it is 
the most useful for this purpose in summer. To those who 
have not yet tasted stewed Lettuce I strongly recommend it 
as a tender, succulent, delicious vegetable, making a nice 
change when variety is cared for. Lettuces, too, are of such 
easy culture that a supply is always at hand for any emer¬ 
gency, however hot the weather may be 
Mr. Gilbert’s new vegetable Chou de Burghley gave such 
a good supply of large tender hearts throughout last winter 
that I regard it as indispensable for that purpose alone. Its 
flavour was always so delicate and delicious that I really 
wondered it should share the adverse criticism to which all 
new introductions are subjected. Ellam’s Dwarf Early 
Spring Cabbage is sent out with the tempting statement that 
“ If sown early, on or about the 10th of July, it will not run 
to seed the following spring, but will be ready for use two or 
three weeks before any other kind.” 1 have so sown it, and 
only hope it may answer to this description next spring. 
Veitch’s Fine Spring White Broccoli is without doubt the 
best early Broccoli I have ever grown ; its firm white large 
heads surpass all others while it is in season. I much fear 
the stock of Leamington Broccoli has become mixed,!for it has 
much deteriorated from its original excellence, many of the 
heads being meagre and unprotected. 
Lily White Seakale proves to be a distinct variety of 
No. 1877.—VoL. LXXr., Old Series. 
