January 4 ,1883. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 7 
tried sorts as only auxiliaries to early Hamburgh houses. Your 
readers could, I submit, put no other construction on your cor¬ 
respondent’s words than I have done, and everyone I have spoken 
to on the subject apprehended them in that sense and no other.— 
Head Gardener. 
In reply to “ Head Gardener,” on page 577, while I decline to 
notice his personalities, I maintain every word I wrote about 
Madresfield Court and the Duke. I never said they were Grapes 
of easy culture, but pointed out defects that had to be overcome 
before they could be successfully grown. When these defects are 
combated no two finer early Grapes can be found. “ Notes about 
Grapes ” does not imply that all the kinds referred to are recom¬ 
mended for “general culture” to the exclusion of others. This 
was made plain on the page above quoted.— Honi Soit qui 
Mal t Pense. 
As the writer of the article in which the Muscat Hamburgh is 
favourably spoken of, I have to say that 1 never advised the 
“ general culture ” of this Grape, as is stated by “ Head Gardener ” 
on page 577. A correspondent, “ J. E. R. I.,” wrote asking about 
specified Grapes. 1 replied, and in so doing was careful to refer 
to the defects of certain of the Grapes mentioned. He asked to 
be advised if he might plant one Vine each of four varieties that 
he named. Can this be called “ general culture ?” Success with 
Muscat Hamburgh means something to be appreciated. I told 
“ J. E. R. I.” that when successfully grown Muscat Hamburgh is 
a grand Grape. Who will deny this ? It can be grown, and if 
anyone wishes to try it why should they be advised not to do so, 
especially when its weaknesses are pointed out and are capable of 
being overcome ? No one possessing the smallest amount of 
knowledge concerning Grapes would think of disparaging the Black 
Hamburgh. It is an old and trusty friend, but when something 
extra fine in regard to flavour is wanted this old favourite must 
yield to others. — Vitis. _ 
“ Head Gardener’s ” method of criticism will not commend 
itself to all readers. It was apparent on the face of the article which 
he criticised that it was not intended as a mere list of “ Grapes 
for general culture.” As to advising “everybody” to grow the 
Duke of Buccleuch, it would be obvious to most readers that the 
meaning of the phrase was that everybody should grow it who are 
able to do so, and useful hints were given on its requirements. If 
“ Head Gardener ” is not one of these he can scarcely be regarded 
as an impartial critic. If he can give an assurance that he grows 
it well, then his remarks will have some weight. That it can be 
grown well evidence has been adduced, and it is not usual for 
those who succeed to condemn this variety. In his allusion to the 
exclusion of the Black Hamburgh by “Vitis” your clever critic 
is quite out of court, for “ Vitis ” distinctly expressed his sur¬ 
prise that it was not included in the list of Grapes for September. 
How different in tone is Mr. Roberts’s article last week. This is 
a model of criticism, as the merits or failings of the varieties alone 
are pointed out without any unpleasant allusions to any writer 
whose experience differs from his own. I can grow the Duke, but 
everybody cannot, neither can “ everybody ” grow the Black 
Hamburgh. Means and skill are necessary elements in Grape 
culture, and moderation in expression is an important element in 
effective criticism.— Another Head Gardener. 
[On this account we have modified some of the expressions of 
our correspondent, and prevented him giving an example of 
what he condemns. Matters, not men, are proper subjects for 
criticism.] 
COLLECTIONS OF SEEDS. 
We must thank your correspondent, “ C. T. H.” (page 565, last 
volume), for an opportunity of explaining the object and advan¬ 
tages claimed for our collections of garden seeds. We thank your 
correspondent, because had we attempted an explanation without 
his suggestion having appeared our action might have been open 
to a charge of seeking to obtain a gratuitous advertisement for 
our goods. 
Your correspondent is not quite correct in all his assumptions. 
One of the most important reasons for our offering these collec¬ 
tions is that by so doing we are enabled to prepare a very large 
number, running into some thousands of these boxes of seeds 
before the high pressure of our busy season comes on. This, it will 
be seen, provides occupation for the large staff that we must at 
all times employ, and by the early preparation of the boxes the 
labour of some three hundred or four hundred men, women, and 
boys is released, and can then be devoted to the urgency of orders 
which come at a certain season of the year for immediate execu¬ 
tion. There is again a saving in making up a large number of 
boxes at one time ; but this to a great extent would be absorbed 
if purchasers were to send orders for irregular quantities such as 
your correspondent suggests, because each order would not only 
have to be executed on its own merits, but there would be a con¬ 
siderable addition to the labour and expenses of supervision. 
There is no doubt that purchasers of these seeds save fully the 
amount “ C. T. H.” states, and it would be simply a repetition 
of the famous fable if we or any other house were to attempt to 
make up a box to please everybody. We claim, however, for our 
boxes that, in addition to the great saving in cost, the varieties 
contained comprise for all general table purposes the best standard 
sorts in cultivation. 
We append herewith a copy of the average contents of our 
guinea box, and we respectfully challenge any gardener to suggest 
a better collection as an all-round one to produce quality both for 
exhibition and for table. 
Peas. —One pint each of the following varieties :—Carters’ 
First Crop, G. F. Wilson, Hundredfold, Essex Rival, Champion of 
England, Bishop’s Longpod, Dickson’s Favourite, Telegraph, 
Standard, Yorkshire Hero, Carters’ Selected Tom Thumb, Ne Plus 
Ultra, Fortyfold. 
Beans. —One pint each of Improved Windsor, Seville Longpod, 
and Giant Longpod ; half pint each of Carters’ Champion Runner, 
Early Prolific French, and Longpodded Negro French. 
One packet each of Beet, Carters’ Perfection ; Borecole, Dwarf 
Green Curled ; Brussels Sprouts, Carters’ Perfection ; Broccolis, 
Carters’ Summer, Carters ’ Early Sprouting, and Adams’ Early 
White ; Cabbages, Carters’ Early, Carters’ Miniature Drumhead, 
and Enfield Market; Savoy, Dwarf Green Curled ; Colewort, 
Hardy Green. 
Carrot. —1 oz. each of Long Red Surrey, James’ Intermediate, 
and a packet of Carters’ Improved Horn. 
A packet each of Cauliflower, Carters’ Dwarf Mammoth ; 
Celery, Carters’ Incomparable Crimson and Sandringham White; 
Cucumber, Carters’ Champion and Best of All Ridge; Endive, 
Best Green Curled ; Leek, Musselburgh ; Lettuces, Carters’ Giant 
White Cos, Winter Cabbage, Winter Cos, and All the Year Round ; 
Melon, mixed prize varieties ; Onions, White Spanish, Giant White 
Tripoli, Long-keeping, and Blood Red ; Parsley, Carters’ Covent 
Garden Garnishing ; Parsnip, Carters’ Maltese. Radish, 2 ozs. of 
Long Particular Long Red; and a packet each of mixed Turnip 
and Scarlet Olive-shaped. Cress, 2 ozs. of Plain, 1 oz. of Curled, 
and a packet of Australian. Mustard, 4 ozs.; Spinach, 2 ozs. each 
of Round and Prickly-seeded; Turnips, 1 oz. each of Carters’ 
Nimble Six Weeks, and Orange Jelly ; and a packet each of 
Tomato ; Vegetable Marrow, Moore’s Cream ; pot herbs, mixed. 
We think it would have served the interests of the gardening 
world if your correspondent had been a little more explicit upon 
the following point. He says—“ This looks very well, but I was 
obliged to buy certain sorts that were deficient, although there 
were enough of those valueless sorts to sow a large garden.” We 
have no reason to think that your correspondent has purchased 
one of our boxes, but we should like him to state for the benefit 
of everybody what seeds were “deficient,” and in addition give 
the names of those varieties that were “ valueless.” 
In conclusion, we can only add that, great as the sale of these 
boxes of seeds is with us, our surprise is no less considerable that 
they are not more generally adopted ; and if your correspondent 
“ C. T. H.” thinks he can make a selection which would lead to 
increased popularity of these boxes we would cheerfully adopt it 
if it were practicable, and we should thank him for the suggestion. 
We have, however, given many years of personal attention to 
this subject, collections of seeds having originated with our house 
upwards of fifty years ago.— James Carter & Co. 
CULTURE OF STEPSANOTIS FLORIBUNDA. 
Few flowers are more prized than those of the Stephanotis, and 
there are not many gardens in which this favourite stove climber 
is not grown. Its liability to be infested with mealy bug appears 
to be the great drawback in its cultivation, but this pest can be 
kept down more easily than many suppose ; in fact, keeping it 
clean is the chief point to be aimed at, for mealy bug spoils the 
blooms, rendering them deformed and unsightly. If the plant is 
clean there is no better way of keeping it so than by continuous 
syringing with rain water ; but if infested, the best way is to pour 
a quarter of a pint of petroleum in three gallons of water and well 
syringe with that. To apply it properly two persons are required, 
one with his syringe continually disturbing the water so that the 
oil does not rise to the surface, while the other applies it to the plant. 
A porous loamy soil is the best suited for it, and, though often 
grown in pots, it thrives best when planted in a prepared border 
