Angast 17, 1893. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
151 
of the individual blooms, bulking well. When the new white form, 
almost rivalling Her Majesty in size, is sent out by Mr. Eckford no 
variety ought to be more profitable. Blanche Burpee ii the name of 
thii variety, and growers would do well to note its advent. Then 
Mrs. Gladstone has a formidable rival in Blushing Beauty, a variety 
not quite so floriferous, but with much larger flowers and of a softer 
more satiny shade. Of crimson forms 1 still like Cardinal. Firefly has a 
larger bloom, but perhaps hardly so bright. Lady Penzance is excellent, 
and other good ones that I like not already named are Mrs. Eckford, 
Orange Prince, Captain of the Blues, and Royal Robe.—B. 
MR. LAXTON AND HIS WORK. 
The name of “Laxton” is so familiar to readers of horticultural 
literature all the world over that a portrait of the raiser of more new 
vegetables of sterling worth than probably any other man of his time, 
and also of several Strawberries and flowers, cannot fail to be acceptable 
to the great body of amateur and professional cultivators. 
Mr. T. Laxton commenced his experiments in hybridisation as an 
amusement about the year 1865, and on 7th July, 1868, he obtained his 
first certificate from the R.H.S. for the Pea Supreme, raised by crossing 
the old Sugar Pea (having an enormous pod, but few seeds) withNe Plus 
Ultra. This was followed by Alpha, certificated on August 2nd, 1869. 
At the same time he took the Zonal Pelargonium in hand, raising 
Jewell, certificated in 1871, and Emily Laxton, one of the first semi¬ 
double scarlets. He also raised the first double white, named in honour 
of the late Jean Sisley. Continuing his work among Peas he next 
produced William I., Dr. Hogg, Marvel, Omega, Fillbasket, and G. F. 
Wilson. 
Roses were not overlooked, his first being named Chas. Darwin, 
followed by Anne Laxton, Emily Laxton, Dr. Hogg and Mrs. Laxton, 
all purchased and sent out by Messrs. G. Paul & Son, Cheshunt. 
Princess Louise, Duchess of Bedford and Mrs. Harry Turner were also 
raised by Mr. Laxton. He still continued his experiments with Peas, 
and corresponded with the late Mr. Charles Darwin on the cross¬ 
fertilization of the Leguminosas. 
Mr. Laxton removed to Bedford in January 1878, and took trial and 
experimental grounds at Girtford, devoting his whole life and energy to 
the work he had always so much at heart. His next certificate, gained 
in 1879, was for Minimum Pea, a dwarf only 6 inches high ; then 
followed John Bull, William Hurst, Evolution and Charmer. He also at 
the same time gave attention to Potatoes, raising by cross-fertilization 
Reward, Bouncer and Beds Hero, and selected the valuable white 
variety from the original pink Beauty of Hebron, and which is now 
extensively grown by market gardeners as well as many others. Sweet 
Peas attracted his notice, and he raised the Invincible Carmine (still 
one of the brightest scarlets) followed by Invincible Blue, the nearest 
approach then to a blue Sweet Pea, but time would not allow of 
his continuing this branch, which he relinquished in favour of 
Strawberries. 
His first raised at Girtford was King of Ear lies, followed by Captain 
and the now world-renowned Noble. This, unlike nearly all his other seed¬ 
lings, was not an artificial hybrid, but a natural one from Forman’s 
Excelsior, probably fecundated by bee agency with the strong 
growing American variety, Kerr’s Prolific. He sowed the seeds from an 
exceedingly fine fruit, as he believed in the deterioration of a stock 
through saving seed, as is often done after all the best pickings have 
been taken. Tomatoes were also treated by him with success, Laxton’s 
Open Air being still considered one of the best. Onions were not over¬ 
looked, and Laxton’s Sandy Prize was the result of his endeavours 
for improvement. Then followed more Strawberries, Latest of All, 
A. F. Barron, Commander, Jubilee and White Knight, Potatoes still 
had a share of the labours, the recently certificated Early Laxton, 
(Sharpe’s Yictor x Ashleaf), being an improvement on both, and likely 
to be largely grown both in private and market gardens. 
Peas were still a factor, Walton Hero, Earliest of All, Early William 
(the early selection of William the First), Alderman, Oracle, then the 
fine “ Gradus,” which he considered his greatest achievement (Earliest 
of All X Duke of Albany), producing pods as early as the former with 
the size of the latter. It was only distributed last year by the raiser 
in conjunction with Messrs. Harrison of Leicester. The Brassica tribe 
did not claim much of Mr. Laxton’s attention, but Chou de Bedford 
was raised by him from the Chouve Tronchuda. 
Unfortunately, Mr. Laxton was taken away when his work was 
likely to gain for him some pecuniary recompense for the time and 
money expended in producing his novelties. His great aim was to pro¬ 
duce something better and distinct from existing varieties. Nearly 
everything raised was the result of careful selection and trial after 
artificial cross-fertilisation, not, as in so many instances, the mere 
selection from some well-known variety. He always advocated the 
careful selection and seeding from the best and strongest flowers or 
fruits. He never hybridised two weakly growing varieties. He also 
firmly believed in seed-saving from the earliest seed to produce earlier 
strains, and in this he was particularly successful—as, for instance, in 
the selection of William the First Pea, which gave him a strain called 
Early William, distinctly in advance of the existing stock. 
Runner Beans.—The Czar, the largest white-flowered Runner; 
Girtford Giant, a cross between Czar and the Old Scarlet; and the new 
Titan (Czar X Girtford Giant) are evidences of his success in this direc¬ 
tion. Laxton’s Open Air Cucumber was obtained from the outdoor 
Ridge X Telegraph, and produces in good seasons very handsome smooth 
fruits in the open. Much as Mr. Laxton has done he has left much 
uncompleted, and as he often remarked a man in his profession ought 
to have three lifetimes to see his work through. His last Strawberry 
Royal Sovereign, from King of the Earlies X Noble, he considers the 
best he has yet introduced, being only distributed this season. 
Mr. Laxton was for many years a Fellow of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, and served on the Fruit Committee. He was also formerly a 
Fellow of the Linnean Society. He wrote articles for horticultural 
journals both at home and in America till his health failed, thirty 
years of incessant work at his life hobby leaving him enfeebled. He 
leaves a widow and three daughters not, we are sorry to hear, too well 
provided for, and also four sons, by two of whom, William and Edward, 
the business will be continued. Mr. Laxton was an affectionate husband, 
indulgent parent, and a modest, unassuming, genial man. He was born 
at Tinwell, near Stamford, in 1830, and died on the date mentioned last 
FIG. 23,— MB. THOMAS LAXTOH. 
week. His remains were interred in the Bedford Cemetery, numerou 
wreaths being placed on the bier by relatives and friends. 
The above is an imperfect record of Mr. Laxton’s ■wmrk, but it 
sufifices to show that his name will long have a place in the annals of 
horticulture. _ 
Permit me as an old correspondent to express the surprise and deep 
regret with which I saw the announcement of the death of my dear 
friend Mr. Thomas Laxton of the Experimental Nursery, Bedford. It 
was only the other day seemingly that I had an interesting letter from 
him, making some inquiries about hybrid Tomatoes, Peas, and new 
varieties of Potatoes specially suited for Ireland, he had asked me to try 
and report on for him. It is quite a shock to think he is no more. I am 
sure I express the voice of thousands of my countrymen and women in 
wishing that long may the memory of so good a man be kept green. If 
a subscription list is opened with that object I shall be pleased to 
forward my cheque.—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
WINTER GREENS CLUBBING. 
I AM afraid clubbing will be pretty general in winter greens 
especially Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli. The plants here are in robust 
health, having grown freely, but they now show signs of distress in 
places, flagging under a very hot sun. It is getting late now to put out 
young plants, but something must be done or great loss among the 
plants will result. I only know of one remedy for plants already 
affected, and that is to make the ground firm around each plant by 
thoroughly treading the soil down with the feet, afterwards earthing the 
plants up the same as Potatoes are earthed in spring. The plants will 
soon make fresh roots higher up the stem than previously, and take 
possession of the additional soil afforded them. 
This has been an exceptionally dry season, making the work of grow¬ 
ing good Peas and Cauliflowers very difficult, especially in dry soils. 
If it is difficult to raise these two crops, it is also the plants which ar» 
