452 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 8, 1893. 
a large shop where much other fruit is placed alongside seems to 
lose in size, and what a grower may think extra fine would perhaps 
be considered only moderately good by salesmen and fruiterers. 
My advice, therefore, to growers in a small way is to accept the 
quotations given as correct, and be also guided by them when 
fixing the prices of anything sold locally. I would also strongly 
advise private growers to sell as much as possible of their second- 
rate produce in the locality where it is grown, for it is very certain 
it does not pay nearly so well to consign it to Covent Garden or 
other important centres.— Market Grower. 
OTHER LANDS. 
In resuming this subject, we may state that California and 
Oregon, together with Washington and Nevada, form the Pacific 
States, or those lying between the outer range of the Rocky 
Mountains system and the Pacific Ocean. This range bears the 
name of “ the Sierras ” in California and “ the Cascades ” in 
Oregon. Owing to the interposition of these mountains, the 
Pacific Slope enjoys an immunity from the severe cold and 
blizzards which afflict the prairie States to the east, while a warm 
current, similar to our Gulf Stream, sweeping round from the 
direction of Japan, appreciably tempers the climate. Hence places 
on the Pacific Slope have a much higher average temperature and a 
more equable climate than those in the Eastern States lying upon 
the same latitude, just as Edinburgh differs in these respects from 
St. Peterburg or Moscow. Not more than once in a generation 
does snow fall upon the lowlands of Northern California, though 
it is more frequent in Oregon. Oregon, like California, can boast 
of having several zones of climate, in consequence of the Cascade 
range dividing her into two geographically distinct portions. The 
maritime or western portion enjoys an insular climate, somewhat 
like our own, while that of the tra-montane district is more 
continental and extreme. It is intelligible, then, that as the 
capacities of Oregon come to be better understood, California will 
not seem to possess such an extraordinary advantage over her 
sister State, whose development has received no stimulation from 
the gold fever. This has given a sort of prematurity to everything 
about California, and a spirit of boastfulness and speculation to 
her population. 
The State of Washington across the Columbia River, the 
northern boundary of Oregon, came very near to forming part 
of the Canadian Dominion. Fifty years ago, when the delimita¬ 
tion of the frontier was in discussion between the English and 
American governments, the line of the Columbia was proposed, 
and it looked as if the suggestion would be accepted, but the 
gorge of the Jefferson Bricks of that day rose at this concession 
io the “ blasted Britisher,” and the journals took to inflaming 
public opinion in the United States with the alliterative catch 
word “ fifty-four forty (i.e., degree of latitude), or fight.” It being 
a period when the colonies were at a discount, and the British 
Lion was not feeling particularly land-hungry. Uncle Sam managed 
to get the frontier line fixed at several degrees north of Columbia, 
and thus much territory was yielded by England which now is 
included in the younger Western States. Il was over much of 
this country that the Hudson Bay Company possessed the right of 
trading and trapping, and mar Portland in Oregon, at a place called 
Astoria, stood one of their forts. In books, now neglected for 
works on more newly opened lands, we read of the wild life which 
went on round these old trading stations, such as would shock the 
ears of Exeter Hal), and drive Mr. Stead into hysterics. When we 
learn, however, that what with the consequences of exposure, the 
perils from Indians, and the accidents peculiar to their calling, the 
average of life among the trappers was only three years, we cannot 
be astonished at their recklessness. It seems scarcely rational in 
those who sit at home at ease to complain of the imperfections of 
men who do the rough and dirty work of Society in first penetrating 
the wilderness. 
Similarly as Washington missed falling within the domain of 
John Bull, so, a few years later, at the time of the war between 
the United States and Mexico in 1846, England lost the opportunity 
of adding California and Oregon to her possessions. The story is still 
told of the way in which a Yankee skipper hurried to hoist the 
Sta,r and Stripes in Southern California, and thus neutralised any 
claims England might prefer by virtue of the visit of Vancouver 
to the coast a century ago, or by reason of the acts of the 
Hudson Bay Company. Had England been keenly alive to her 
own interests, she might, previously to the Mexican War, have 
purchased the nominal rights of Mexico over California for very 
nttle, when the most agreeable lands in the temperate zone of the 
northern hemisphere would have passed under her flag in addition 
to those of the southern. 
The whole of the Pacific slope is by nature isolated from the 
rest of the United States, and until connected with them by the 
formation of the Central Pacific Railway in 1869 the spirit of its 
population was by force of circumstances self-centred and sectional. 
It would not have been difficult, therefore, for England, had she 
been quick in annexing this territory sixty years ago, to consolidate 
her power along this coast as far as British Columbia, and shut the 
United States out from the Pacific Ocean. The millennium is as 
far off as ever, and time will show whether or not it was judicious 
of England to forego the advantage of excluding American 
influence from these waters. Americans cannot accuse England 
of having pushed her opportunities to the uttermost in this matter, 
or in abstaining from allying herself with the Confederate States 
during the War of Secession, and thus permanently rending the 
Union. Had England followed such a safely selfish policy there 
would probably have been no Chicago Exhibition, or at least a very 
much smaller one. The only reward vouchsafed her by the arrant 
partisan of the greatest people on earth is abuse for having let 
the “ Alabama ” escape to prey upon American shipping, and for 
which England voluntarily paid. Goodwill towards your rival 
can always be denied by him, but the advantage of position 
you have secured as against him is a self-evident and tangible 
thing, before which even he must be silent.—M. H. 
(To be continued.! 
BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 
This much-esteemed Brassica is one of the most useful vege¬ 
tables to grow for autumn and winter use. It scarcely seems 
possible to have too many. Let the winter be what it may, we can 
always rely on getting a good return of sprouts, which are 
invariably highly appreciated, often to the extent of consider¬ 
ably lessening the supply by gathering before fully developed. 
This, I think, may be in some degree obviated by planting out a 
good breadth somewhat earlier than is usually practised. To do 
this of course it is necessary to devote a piece of ground solely 
to this crop, so that the stems of the plants may become strong 
and sturdy, a condition absolutely necessary for the production of 
a full crop of firm sprouts. 
Rich firm soil is one of the greatest factors in bringing about 
this desirable state of affairs, so that when the land is in good 
heart no digging previous to planting is necessary ; but if it is only 
moderately fertile a good dressing of manure should be given, and 
the ground dug deeply some time previous to planting ; it is then an 
easy matter to tread firmly or roll the ground. Then by taking 
the precaution to give the plants plenty of room the growth made 
is strong, but at the same time sturdy and short-jointed. 
The various strains of exhibition Sprouts are, I think, the best, 
and under proper cultivation the stems are packed from top to 
bottom with fine solid buttons. The earliest plants ought now 
to be ready for planting in their final quarters, and when planted 
out thus early I find 3 feet apart each way is not too much room 
to give them. If drills are drawn a couple of inches deep the 
work of planting is afterwards expeditiously performed, and should 
watering be required no difficulty is experienced in thoroughly 
moistening the soil around to reach all the roots. If the plants 
have been previously pricked out 4 inches apart, by the aid of a 
trowel they may easily be lifted with good balls of earth and 
planted where required, pressing the soil very firmly about the 
roots. When once established there is then but little labour 
needed save that of keeping the ground free of weeds till the 
first buttons are ready. It is, however, a good plan to draw a 
little soil up to the stems on each side, as it prevents them to a 
great extent from being damaged by wind. 
Paragon is certainly a splendid variety, and should be largely 
grown where those of a dwarf habit of growth are preferred. 
The sprouts, which are produced in great abundance, are of 
extra fine flavour, and of a deeper green colour than many 
varieties. If the rows are arranged 2 feet asunder the plants 
may be set 18 inches apart in the rows. Northern Prize 
is another splendid variety, sturdy in habit of growth, requiring 
the same amount of space as preceding one. Other varieties 
might be enumerated, all of which have some feature to recom¬ 
mend them, but except for exhibition purposes there is no 
advantage gained in growing many sorts, and I think the three 
above named would be hard to beat. Our seed of the two last- 
named varieties being sown two or three weeks later than the 
exhibition strain, the plants are now ready for pricking into 
nursery beds ; a good succession will thus be obtained, but I 
endeavour to have the principal plants early, as their value is 
then greatly enhanced. 
Those who have at the present time ground lying idle will do 
well to plant as much of it as is practicable with this fine winter 
crop, and in some instances to plant between the rows of Potatoes 
