164 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 21, 1895. 
SEASONABLE NOTES. 
The great havoc which the past few weeks of intensely cold 
weather must inevitably make among the inmates of our gardens 
cannot be guaged with anything like accuracy until some weeks 
after the frost breaks up. It is therefore impossible in many 
instances to do anything at present to make good the losses we 
shall assuredly have to deplore. There is, however, one depart¬ 
ment in which we can do much to help to tide over difficulties 
which must occur later on. I refer to the kitchen garden. We 
may take it as a foregone conclusion that large breadths of Broccoli 
will be killed outright; none but the very hardiest will be able to 
withstand such a succession of severe frosts. 
Under such circumstances it is questionable i£ even such sturdy 
and reliable kinds as Leamington and Late Queen will not show a 
percentage of losses. Large numbers of Cabbages intended for the 
spring crop, especially those not planted early, will certainly 
succumb. Lettuce, too, which in the early autumn months were 
pricked out rather closely together in sheltered positions, ready for 
transplanting in the spring, will, I fear, be totally destroyed, even 
where the protection of straw or bracken has been given. 
Parsley is already extremely scarce in many gardens, for 
although these may have as large a stock as usual to begin the 
winter with, the suspension of growth for so long a time upsets 
all calculations as to supply and demand. Seeds should, of course, 
be sown at once in a brisk heat so as to get a stock of young 
plants as quickly as possible. But to tide over present difficulties, 
or rather those of the immediate future, plants may at once 
be carefully lifted from the open air, placed in boxes, and taken 
into heat. The work of lifting is not altogether easy, but it may 
be accomplished by the following method of procedure :—With 
the aid of a pick drill out a narrow channel on either side of a 
row of plants. Let this be 2 or 3 inches from the plants on either 
side, fill the channel with very hot water, and repeat the 
operation until it is possible to loosen and remove in large blocks 
the soil containing the Parsley roots. After placing these in 
heated structures to thaw, the additional operations necessary are 
simple enough. 
A sowing of some early variety of Cabbage ought also to be 
made at once. Veitch’s Earliest of All I find exceedingly useful for 
this purpose, as it grows and “ hearts ” very quickly, and is of 
the finest quality. I have already made a sowing of Golden 
Queen and Early Paris Market Cabbage Lettuces, and strongly 
advise those who have not done so not to delay longer, as the 
plants resulting from sowings made now cannot fail to be of 
great value. A moderate sowing of some well-tried variety of 
Cauliflower ought also to be made now. Extra Early Forcing 
is one of the best for the purpose. I find it is a good plan to 
sow seeds of the above description in shallow boxes, placing them 
in an intermediate temperature. When the young plants appear 
they should be kept near the glass, and as soon as the first rough 
leaf appears be pricked out 2 inches apart in other boxes, or in 
soil placed upon a hotbed. In either case they ought to be kept 
warm and rather close, and afterwards be gradually hardened till 
the weather is favourable for planting them in the open air, then 
they should be protected with spruce branches for a week or 
ten days. 
This work of seed-sowing with a view to securing an early 
supply of vegetables ought this year to be done more extensively 
than usual, for a dearth of “ green stuff ” must follow such 
exceptionally severe weather. Bearing this in mind, I am making 
two sowings of such indispensable vegetables as those enumerated, 
one being placed in heat, as before stated, the other in a pit to 
which only sufficient heat to exclude frost is given. This will 
insure a succession of plants, and at the same time help forward 
future operations by getting these important details off hand 
before the “ rush ” of work following the frost. 
During the prevalence of the present severe weather materials 
should be prepared, and hotbeds made up in every available pit. 
All spare frames ought also to have beds formed for placing them 
on. It is often necessary through force of circumstances to 
have these scattered about in various positions where shelter and 
sunshine can be obtained, but when it is possible to do otherwise 
it is a great advantage to have a proper frame ground, so that hot¬ 
beds for various purposes may be made up in ranges ; the labour 
involved in giving them the necessary attention is then reduced to 
a minimum, and loss of heat from the fermenting materials is 
more gradual than in the case of isolated beds. If any old lights 
are at command time will be well spent in fitting up rough boards 
to form sides for them on some of the prepared hotbeds. These 
will be of great service in raising early crops of Carrots, Radishes, 
Lettuce, Potatoes, young plants of Leeks, Cauliflowers, Celery, 
early Borecole, and Parsley. 
The winter and early spring of 1895 will in the future be 
looked on as an exceptional one, and a scarcity of vegetables there 
must be for some time to come, but those who are the most 
energetic now in taking time by the forelock, so as to provide early 
supplies as quickly and abundantly as circumstances permit, will 
undoubtedly meet with due reward. —Kitchen Gakdener. 
MR. GEORGE TABER. 
Me. George Taber, whose death was recorded in our columns last 
week, was one of the most widely known and highly respected members 
of the English seed trade. In his early manhood he occupied the 
position of head gardener to the Du Cane family at Braxted Park, and 
during this time he was a frequent and successful exhibitor at the 
metropolitan and local exhibitions. The seed grounds of Essex being 
close at hand soon attracted his attention, and ultimately led him, 
about forty years ago, to rent a small field in Eivenhall, and start in 
business as a seed grower. The extensive botanical knowledge which 
he had acquired proved of the greatest service to him in his new venture, 
and, united with sound judgment and untiring zeal, enabled him to 
build up a large and successful business. He has been heard to say 
that he found it necessary to grow 80 acres of one variety of Mangold 
Wurtzel to meet the demand for seed. 
With a view to obtaining some relief from the heavier burdens of 
this large and still increasing business, as well as the establishment of 
it on a permanent basis, Mr. Taber in 1887 joined with the executors 
of Mr. Robert Cooper in founding the business of Cooper, Taber & Co.» 
Limited, of Southwark, and Witham, Essex. Although on the formation 
of this Company he may be said to have practically retired from business 
life, he held a position on the Board of Directors, where his wide 
experience and extensive knowledge were of the greatest possible value. 
He also paid occasional visits to some of his old customers, by whom 
his genial manners and wise counsels were highly appreciated. The 
leisure he now enjoyed gave him the opportunity to accept a position on 
the Fruit and Vegetable Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
His extensive knowledge was of great value here, and he was quick to 
perceive the merits or shortcomings of anything brought under examina¬ 
tion. He took great interest in the vegetable trials at Chiswick, and he 
was rarely at fault in his estimates of the value of the kinds and varieties 
of vegetables under examination. He attended the meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society at Westminster last month, but did not 
appear to be in his usual health. 
In private life Mr. Taber was one of the most cheerful and estimable 
of men, an ardent supporter of the cause of temperance, and other 
good work. Many a struggling farmer, seed grower, and seedsman 
have been helped out of their difficulties by his generous aid, and one 
of the most pleasing acts of his closing years was the building of a 
number of cottages in the village of Rivenhall, in which the deserving 
poor might live rent free. 
He leaves one son, Mr. James Taber of Little Braxted Hall, who 
is also a director of Cooper, Taber & Co., Limited. The funeral took 
place on Saturday, 16th February, at the Rivenhall Parish Church. 
We give a portrait of Mr. George Taber, as a gardener who rose 
to affluence by his excellent work and business aptitude, and because 
he was a good and kind-hearted man. 
REMOVING INSECTS’ EGGS IN FEBRUARY. 
Gardeners sometimes complain, not unreasonably, of the 
peculiarities of the British climate, its frequent ungenial summers, 
its cold springs, and stormy autumns, but then there is a compen¬ 
sation which is often forgotten. The warmer, more equable 
climate of other countries, not to go farther than the Continent, 
favours the increase of insect life as well as the growth of plants ; 
thus, for example, there are various species of which we have only 
a yearly brood, though e’sewhere there are two or even three. 
Severe, too, is the British winter on many broods of hyber- 
nating caterpillars. The author who made himself so pathetic 
over the sorrows of a broomstick might have found a better theme 
in the trials of a juvenile caterpillar, which, after some small allow¬ 
ance of food in the autumn, has to endure the cold of winter 
patiently expectant of spring leaves. Many thousands no doubt 
never live to taste them, killed by damp or rough winds more 
frequently than by frost (the subterranean ones come off the best), 
other thousand* are devoured by birds, or destroyed by gardeners 
—when they can. 
Also, just about this time it is very desirable to remove all eggs 
of insects that can be got rid of before the hatching season arrives. 
