258 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 21, 1893. 
concentrate the resources on the main stem-leaves, and fruit, and do 
not top the plants till they attain the required height.” 
After telling you what not to do, he would, in his quiet firm 
way, tell you what he does, and what others should do. “ Sow 
thinly about the middle of March, and keep the plants growing 
steadily and sturdily close to a glass roof, so that they will have 
short-jointed stout stems and thick leaves. In due time gradually 
inure them to the full exposure for which they are intended, and 
which they should endure without a leaf suffering. Have them 
dwarf when planted out towards the end of May, or when the 
weather is safe, with the leaves resting on the ground, and they 
will be ready for work forthwith. Though the plants are stout 
enough to stand alone, yet as stakes will be needed provide them 
at once, and there will be no root disturbance. See that every 
plant is in the right condition as to root moisture, neither too dry 
nor too wet, and plant shallow. The roots should be in the 
warmest soil, and the deeper they are sunk in the ground the 
colder is the medium surrounding them. We want them to start 
growing at once, not stand as if paralysed for a month, thus losing 
precious time that can never be regained. Forcing the growth 
under glass too early in the season, to be chilled and checked 
later, is exactly the wrong way ; it is a bad beginning, and we 
have no right to expect it can lead to a good ending—healthy 
plants bearing full crops of fruit for ripening as soon as the 
weather will permit.” Such in effect is the routine, and it will be 
conceded that it embodies sound cultural principles, and it certainly 
answers well. The plants are grown a little more than a foot 
apart, in rows 3 feet asunder, across a series of long narrow beds. 
Each plant is confined to a single stem, and topped at a height of 
about 3| feet, no laterals being allowed to extend, and, as produc¬ 
ing stem-leaves, and fruit alone, there appears to be no over¬ 
crowding, though some of the robust varieties were evidently not 
amenable to such restricted culture in this country. 
The collection is grown, like collections of everything else by 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, for testing varieties by comparison, selec¬ 
tion, and elimination. Those that succeed the best are retained, 
come from whence they may, and endeavours are constant for 
improving by selections from the best, and not without success. 
For instance, there are several stocks or strains of Earliest of All, 
but one stands out clear as the first and in every way the best, four 
tiers of the huge clusters of fruit being completely ripe, the next 
nearest having the fourth cluster changed, but not ripe. Bell’s 
Defiance appears to be a good type of the variety named, but not 
quite so early as the best selection. Then we have what seems 
an absurdity in terms—an improvement on Perfection, the fruits 
being deeper than those of the type, and the handsomest for exhibi¬ 
tion ; it will simply supplant the old form, and not presumably be 
invested with a distinguishing name. “ Perfection” means some¬ 
thing absolutely complete, not open to the smallest improve¬ 
ment, and the term “ degrees of perfection ” too commonly 
used ought to be abolished. Returning to the varieties, for 
size and beauty of fruit with productiveness Magnum Bonum, 
perhaps, bears the palm, and it is undoubtedly a Tomato of high 
excellence, also early. Al, too, is a noble and beautiful fruit, and 
the crop was a valuable one. The three last named varieties, with 
Main Crop, form a quartette of Tomatoes which it would be hard 
to excel in size, symmetry, and brightness of colour. 
But there are smaller red Tomatoes of note, of what may be 
termed the Prelude type, as bearing the fruit not so much in 
bunches as long racemes, but Prelude is too small. Abundance 
excels it in being larger, and growers who desire a groat abundance 
of medium-sized fruits for market may have them in this variety. 
Conference partakes of this type in part, but the very bright and 
rather small fruits are borne more in clusters. Not so those of the 
comparatively new variety, Sutton’s Dessert, for the scarlet Plum¬ 
like fruits hang in distinct racemes a foot long. The plants were 
objects of beauty, and Tomato connoisseurs who enjoy the fruit 
in an uncooked state will have a treat in this distinct variety. 
Amongst the large fruited yellow Tomatoes the handsomest was 
perhaps Golden Perfection, in size and shape the fruit being exactly 
like its scarlet precursor. It is more appropriate for growing under 
glass than outdoors, and for weight of crop in the open it did not 
by any means equal Golden Queen, of which handsome fruits were 
bountifully produced. One more yellow Tomato must have 
mention, the smallest of all, but charming in appearance and 
excellent in quality. Golden Nugget. No one could see the plants 
of this variety without being impressed by their beauty. The 
fruits are like Golden Gage Plums, but brighter, and it was not in 
the least difficult to find from twenty to thirty in a branching 
cluster. The plants were laden with them, those on the fourth 
cluster being quite ripe, a sufficient indication of earliness. A 
nnmber of such plants in the London or any other parks or 
gardens would create something of a sensation. Berry-bearing 
plants are grown for decorative purposes under glass, and certainly 
those of this golden-berried Tomato were strikingly ornamental in 
the open air. This variety has received the maximum number of 
marks of merit at Chiswick, and like the scarlet dessert sort 
above noticed, is a distinct acquisition. The collection included a 
number of other meritorious Tomatoes that cannot be named. 
Such complete trials as the one in question, in which every variety 
receives the best possible attention, are decidedly instructive and 
worthy of recognition.— An Old Gkower. 
SUMMER BEDDING DURING TROPICAL 
WEATHER. 
The summer of 1893 has been an ideal one for flower gardening 
in all instances where good facilities for watering were provided 
and made use of, but a disastrous one in those places where water 
could be only sparingly given. Where the plants have been grown 
under the most favourable conditions the majority of them have 
done remarkably web, and an unusually long season of beauty has 
been secured. Planting was accomplished early, and at the present 
time (September 9th) the beds look brighter than I previously 
remember them to have done at the same date. 
This satisfactory state of affairs is doubtless due, in a great 
measure, to the absence of heavy rains, which frequently start the 
plants into strong growth never remarkable for floriferousness. 
This is particularly noticeable in the case of Pelargoniums. At no 
time throughout the summer have they made growth rapidly ; 
indeed for some time after planting the weather was so tropical 
that with the best attention in the way of watering they were 
longer than usual in establishing themselves, but from the time 
they began to flower freely till now the best varieties of Pelar¬ 
goniums have provided a continual display of attractive colours. 
Large trussed varieties like Henry Jacoby and John Gibbons have 
exhibited their true form ; plenty of sunshine and an almost entire 
absence of rain favoured the full development of their enormous 
trusses, which are undoubtedly attractive. Although I like these 
bold trussed Pelargoniums, I am also fully alive to the great value 
of the older varieties which bear a profusion of flowers, though the 
trusses are small, for in dull or wet seasons these often make the 
best display. As a bright scarlet I think there is none to eclipse 
Vesuvius. Indian Yellow is another splendid bedder which for 
years to come will keep alive the memory of Donald Beaton, its 
gifted raiser. Large masses of this seen from a distance have a 
unique and beautiful appearance, and its attractiveness is by no 
means diminished on closer inspection. I know of no other bedding 
plant which produces flowers of so peculiar, yet pleasing, a shade 
of colour. This was recently described to me by an artist of 
repute, as a true Indian pink. 
Among Ivy-leaved varieties Madame Crousse still holds the 
foremost place, making as it does good growth under conditions 
not favourable to many plants, and producing at all times 
abundance of flowers. The past season has suited it exactly, and 
four large beds in the flower garden are still one mass of salmon- 
pink colour. I find Mrs. Clibran Tropasolum, or Golden Harry 
Hieover Pelargonium, form effective edgings for beds planted 
with this variety, the slight lilac tint in the flowers is then 
shown up to advantage. Two beds of Souvenir de Charles Turner, 
edged with a broad band of Mrs. Perry Pelargonium, were 
attractive early in the season. The bold trusses of deep rose- 
coloured flowers borne by the plants in the centre of the bed 
exhibited a marked contrast to the silver variegation of the edging. 
There is, however, I think, no comparison between Madame 
Crousse and Souvenir de Charles Turner Pelargonium; the former 
flowers freely all through the season, the latter grows strongly but 
