December 28, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 589 
Queen, Smooth Cayenne, Charlotte Rothschild, and Black Prince is 
possessed of varieties that have every good quality. 
The objection that used to be urged against Pine-growing, “ that 
they took so long to produce a fruit,” does not hold now-a-days, 
when we can produce them in the year from the time the sucker 
is potted on. The old system of growing the plants for two or 
three years has long been exploded. 
Pine-growing, strangely enough, has been always considered a 
remarkably difficult part of a gardener’s duties, hut this is a great 
mistake. If a few simple rules that experience has shown to be 
right be adhered to, the cultivation of Pines is child’s play com¬ 
pared to the growth of hardwooded plants or the management of 
a kitchen garden as it should be managed. Gentlemen who 
desire to have the fruit in its perfection must have them grown at 
home, and gardeners who are thus called upon need not tremble 
at the mention of Pine-growing, as I have seen some do, who 
considered that there were some mysterious secrets connected with 
the cultivation of this noble fruit.—J. 
MR. G. F. WILSON’S GARDENS. 
Few names are more prominent in the horticultural world than 
that of Mr. G. F. Wilson, and his gardens are famed for the great 
collections of hardy, herbaceous, alpine, and bulbous plants that are 
grouped in a tree and informal manner, which to many is so enjoy¬ 
able. The annexed engraving from a photograph represents a portion 
of one of Mr. Wilson’s gardens, which is being admired by the 
owner, his son, and Mr. Harry Stevens of the celebrated firm of 
horticultural auctioneers. The friends of these gentlemen will have 
no difficulty in recognising them, but for the information of others 
it may he stated that Mr. Wilson is the central figure in the view 
submitted. As the gardens in question were fully described in our 
Fig. 101 .—Mr. G . f. Wilson’s Garden. 
columns so recently as June 3rd, 1880, it is not necessary to enlarge 
on them here, as readers who are interested in the details will find 
them in the number quoted. 
SELECT VEGETABLES. 
The selection of vegetables to be grown during the approaching 
year should no longer be delayed, and with the object of giving 
assistance at the present time in this important work these notes 
are written. Some of the varieties recommended for general 
culture in the following notes are new and others old, but indi¬ 
vidually or collectively they are capable of giving the greatest 
satisfaction. 
Asparagus .—This is undoubtedly one of the choicest and most 
useful vegetables, and too much attention cannot be given to 
secure the best variety, as, unlike many other vegetables, when 
seed of an inferior sort is sown it cannot be changed again for a 
better the following season ; but it may be three or four years 
after sowing before the mistake is discovered, and as long again 
before bearing plants of a superior variety can be raised. The 
Giant or Battersea is the smallest of our English varieties, one of 
the oldest and least worth growing. Reading Giant is a large 
superior sort which can be recommended. Next to this comes 
Connover’s Colossal, which is also a sterling variety. The Purple 
Argenteuil, so much grown in France, has been recommended by 
Mr. Laxton for cultivation in this country. 
Artichokes .—Of the two distinct kinds of Artichokes, the Globe 
and the Jerusalem, the first is not a general favourite or a profit¬ 
able crop to grow, but the other is a first-class vegetable deserving 
extensive cultivation. In Globes the green one is very much 
better than the one which produces purple heads. At first the 
green one does not bear so freely as the other, but when esta¬ 
blished it succeeds far better. There is only one variety of Jeru¬ 
salem Artichoke, which produces the largest, most numerous, and 
best tubers when the plants are 2 feet or so apart. 
Beans .—Amongst the hosts of dwarf French varieties Osborn’s 
Forcing and Canadian Wonder are still the best. They are now 
generally regarded as standard varieties. Osborn’s is the better 
of the two for forcing, and Canadian for the open air. In Runner 
varieties Suttons’ Giant White and Carter’s Champion are alike 
good : in fact there is no difference visible in them when growing, 
but the seeds are not the same colour. Mont d’Or is the name 
of what is termed the Butter Bean. It is a runner, and produces 
long narrow pods of a cream colour. It takes its name from the 
flavour it is said to possess, but although we have had it cooked 
in a variety of ways we never found the butter very prominent 
in texture or flavour. 
Broad Beans .—These are equally as popular as the preceding. 
