24 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Janirary 8,18SJ; 
risk they incur in investing too freely in fruit culture as a means 
of livelihood. 
Fruit culture as a home pursuit in which persons can afford 
to indulge, apart from deriving profit therefrom, is very delightful, 
and especially when the results are so satisfactory as described by 
“ A Herefordshire Incumbent.” It is apparent from the communi¬ 
cation of this gentleman that he is an expert cultivator, and his 
remarks on soil improvement in texture and fertility, also in the 
important matter of cleanliness of the growths from the first, are 
worthy of the most attentive consideration. He tells us he is his own 
“head gardener,” and it would be well if all men who are included 
in that honourable category acted on the same intelligent lines, for 
if they did there would certainly be less failures with Peaches on 
walls, while Apples and Pears would be finer. 
Mr. Baillie’s paper on fruit production is altogether excellent. 
He wishes to encourage the extended use of fruit as food, and 
judging by his remarks, as well as by his “ noble presence,” it is 
not conceivable that anyone can act more effectually in the matter 
than himself. When the supply of fruit is improved and cheapened, 
or in other words when fruit of the best quality can be obtained 
at the current prices of the untempting and inferior, then will 
fruit have a larger share in the diet of the nation, and children 
especially will not be debarred from an adequate supply of what 
their instinct suggests to us is, to a large extent, their natural 
food. Nor need what is sure to come—the cheapening of fruit— 
frighten planters; for though all men may not know it, it is all 
the same true that the cost of growing fruit of the first quality is 
less than that incurred in growing trash, of which the rind, core, 
and seed form the greater part, the juicy flesh the least. Improve¬ 
ment and cheapening of supplies is the first condition for extending 
the use of fruit as food. This Mr. Baillie knows very well, and 
also knows that the fruit he longs for in abundance cannot be 
grown by anyone and anywhere. He does not mislead ; sounder 
doctrine was never taught than this. “ In growing fruit there 
must be due provision of intelligent labour, directed by skilful 
supervision. In newly formed gardens and orchards, planted with 
young trees, judicious planning in the arrangement, and careful 
regard to right principles in the execution of the work as it pro¬ 
gresses, and to the trees as they grow, are essential, otherwise a 
waste of land, time, and labour will readily result.” Teaching 
such as that cannot be too widely disseminated. It is the truth in 
a nutshell. Go on, Mr. Baillie, in your beneficent crusade, and if 
you lead to a fiftyfold increase in the consumption of fruit as 
food you will deserve well of your country. 
I had intended alluding to other matters that impressed me in 
reading the New Year’s number, and which I marked for the pur¬ 
pose, but I must not trespass unduly, as I am conscious that better 
men are at work, and I have no right to press my claims on 
space that they can occupy more usefully. For instance, I had 
margined Mr. Bardney’s article on “ Continuous Potting,” as 
plants need it in winter with—“ Yes, conditions being favourable, 
and the attendants capable of exercising sound judgment in the 
application of water.” Nurserymen and their responsible foremen 
have told me, in answer to inquiries on the subject, that very few 
men indeed who enter nurseries for awaiting situations can be trusted 
to water valuable plants, and especially those recently repotted. 
Watering plants appears to be a very simple matter, but I am 
assured it is not so simple as it seems. 
Mr. Burberry writes well on Masdevallias. I happen to know a 
little about these plants and how easy they are to grow and how 
easy to spoil, and there is sufficient in the paper in question to show 
that the author of it is not a “ spoiler.” Mr. S. T. Wright appears 
to have proved what many persons suspected, and several denied, 
that the wingless winter moth can be assisted into fruit trees by 
her winged mate for depositing eggs, to be followed by a scourge 
of caterpillars which devour the blossoms and defoliate the trees. 
Mr. Shea communicates what may be fairly termed a model article 
on Chrysanthemums, the information conveyed being precise. 
concise, and just the kind wanted in respect to many other varieties* 
besides those named ; and Mr. Pithers gives very practical infor¬ 
mation on cutting down plants. 
Mr. Abbey is almost too much for me in his philosophising on> 
iron, but his article sets one a thinking, and that is something, and' 
it may be as well to wait for the end before saying more about it,, 
though a gardener who is troubled with irony soils, which he say» 
makes his fruit trees canker, has already given his verdict. He is 
rather a rough diamond, and thus summed up the subject,. “ firon 
for feeding plants, what next ? Why the man who ‘ wuifc that 
screed ’ ought to be a blacksmith !” 
As I cannot hope to make a better finish than that T close: 
with apologies to the Editor, and to Mr, Abbey, and retire.:— 
A Looker-on. 
[The Editor desires no apologies for such articles, but rather 
likes them, and Mr. Abbey can take care of himself.} 
USEFUL VEGETABLES. 
It is somewhat surprising to find that some good and by no 
means uncommon vegetables are little known to many who might' 
be expected to have been acquainted with their merits, and are- 
absolutely unknown to others. One such is the Rosette or Londott 
Colewort, which I find many gardeners to be rather in the dark 
about. Why I do not know, for it is so useful and good a 
vegetable that it should undoubtedly find a place in every garden.. 
I use it only in autumn and the early part of winter, and while it* 
lasts it forms a standing dish for the dining room. June is qmte- 
early enough to sow, and it should be transplanted when ready m> 
ground not by any means rich. The plants fill a space of 1 foot 
each way, but if ground is limited 1 foot by 9 inches will do very 
well. The plants left in the seed bed if thinned properly will 
provide a supply earlier than those transplanted. 
Another instance of a good vegetable very much neglected is to- 
be found in Sprouting Broccoli. The old purple is good, but much, 
superior in appearance is the white form. This provides a capital 
dining room vegetable in spring when there is often a scarcity. 
I think it of better flavour than ordinary Broccoli, and in appear¬ 
ance if properly prepared it is quite as good. We sow at the same 
time as the ordinary Broccoli, allow them 3 feet by 2, and secure- 
strong plants. 
Scotch Kale, 
Curly Greens and Green Kale this distinct vegetable is called im 
Scotland. As a spring vegetable there is nothing more delicious^ 
at the same time it proves of great value as a change when choice^ 
vegetables are not plentiful. Possibly the term “ choice ” may b& 
objected to, but always provided a proper strain is secured, and 
other items of culture and cooking are attended to, the term is- 
perfectly correct. For one thing the seed is as a rule sown much« 
too early. For the south of England the second week in June 
would be as early as necessary. In the north ten days or a fort¬ 
night earlier would be nothing too late. It is essentially one of 
those vegetables which a sharp frost improves, and thereEore- 
should be made use of either in a winter or spring—preferably the 
latter. Then it is a great mistake to apply manure heavily, as I 
have seen it advised. Ground in good condition should have no¬ 
manure added. The plants do not grow so large under these con¬ 
ditions, but they become quite large enough for every purpose, and 
are less liable to be damaged in severe weather. Two feet between, 
the rows by 18 inches asunder is enough space. Stocky plants will’ 
fill that by winter. The difference in the strain is as marked as- 
one sees in Parsley. A good strain is of a light green colour, and 
the “ curling ” of the foliage close and fine, A few of the leaves- 
make a dish, as they are bulky and go a long way. 
Leeks, 
Leeks are commonly grown, but like the last their cultivation is- 
not well understood. Of late years the demand in our own case^ 
has increased to a great extent. A well grown succulent Leek is- 
most acceptable, and is not so much a substitute for mild Onions as* 
some people use it, but is in itself a distinctly flavoured vegetable,, 
and well worth growing. I think that the Lyon is the best of 
Leeks, though perhaps a little tender. As in the case of Scotch 
Kale I save seed for my own use, and I have a strain of a much, 
hardier Leek with no lack in length or flavour. In cultivating 
Leeks it is to be borne in mind that the larger they are the finer the- 
quality. This test is absolute. Then they must have a long season 
of growth, the seed being sown as early as possible in February 
or not later than the beginning of March. High culture from the* 
outset is another point of absolute necessity. It is not of course. 
