u«r JLO, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
369 
the abundance, fine quality, and general cheapness of the fruit, 
which, during the season, is found on the tables of the poorest, as well 
as on those of the richest colonists.— John Plummek, Sydney. 
OLEARIA STELLULARIA. 
Although over eighty species of the genus Olearia are known 
to botanists, scarcely a dozen are found in gardens, and still less 
are generally valued for their ornamental characters. Two of the 
best known are Olearia, or Eurybia, Gunniana, and 0. Haasti, both 
with abundant white flower heads of shrubby habit, and hardy in 
many districts, the former, from Tasmania, requiring protection in 
exposed positions, and being rather more tender than the New Zealand 
0. Haasti. When in flower these shrubs are exceedingly ornamental 
and form conspicuous objects on a rockery or in a border. 0. stellularia 
is also effective when in flower, and a spray of this form, depicted in 
fig. 60, gives a good idea of its character. The flowers are starry in 
form, white, clustered towards the joints of the branches, the leaves 
small and closely set on the stems. The majority of the Olearias are 
natives of Australia, and the others are distributed through New 
Zealand and Tasmania. 
LIVERPOOL NOTES. 
Lily of the Valley aftbu Forcing. 
I QUESTION if there is at the present time in the whole of the 
garden under my charge anything more useful, or which finds so 
many admirers, as two large beds of Lily of the Valley. The 
majority of the flowers are just beginning to open, some planted 
against the wall of a forcing house are developed. Valuable as they 
now are, nothing has been so little trouble to cultivate. Crowns which 
have been forced in pots, instead of being thrown away, are either 
stood in cold frames or in a sheltered position outdoors and carefully 
watered for a time until acclimatised, when they are utilised to make 
up the beds. The ground previous to planting is taken out a “ graft ” 
deep, a layer of rough sod and horse manure being placed at the bottom. 
On this the plants are laid, the same material being used to fill in 
between, a good watering completing the operation. During the summer 
all weeds are picked out, and a mulch of leaf mould given, the winter 
dressing consisting of a layer of horse manure. As the crowns push 
through in the spring a good soaking of liquid manure is given, 
healthy leaves and stout spikes testifying to the value of it. 
Ghent Azaleas. 
How charming for spring decoration, either for cutting or adorning 
the pleasure grounds, are the many beautiful varieties of the Ghent 
Azalea, and how well they grow in the neighbourhood of Liverpool 1 
Planted at the foot of a sloping lawn, and in close proximity to a small 
lake, the border resembling a bog bed, the plants are flowering splendidly, 
the moist condition seeming to suit them, for in no part of the shrub- 
berit^s can I induce them to do so well. A shapely old Rhododendron of a 
scarlet colour, planted in the same bed, brightens up the white, pink, 
rose, yellow, and other shades of the Azaleas. From a walk on the other 
side of the lake the reflection in the water of the plants when in 
flower makes a charming picture. 
Cabbages. 
In most gardens in the district there appears to be the one complaint 
of the premature bolting of Cabbages. It is strange when many varie¬ 
ties go this way that we invariably find Ellam’s in good condition, this 
season being an exception, although the seeds were sown a little later 
than usual. From a pinch put in the second week in August I have 
some good plants, which will heart quickly now that we are hiving 
warm showers. In visiting a well known gardener in this neigh¬ 
bourhood I was shown a large number of plants which had all run to 
seed, whilst by the side this plantation were some very fine Sutton’s 
Earliest ready for cutting. Asked if they had been sown at the same 
time I was informed that, taking the dry summer into consideration, he 
feared the first sowing would be too early, and so made a second one, 
the value of which is mentioned above.—R. P, R. 
MARKET GARDENING. 
Thebe can be no doubt whatever that whilst there has been during 
the past winter and the present spring very much of dullness and 
almost of disaster in the market garden trade, yet does there seem to be 
but little inclination on the part of growers for market to breas away 
from old methods, and to strive to forward to the consuming public 
garden products in a more tasteful and acceptable fashion. I compare 
Brussels Sprouts with Sprouting Broccoli, for instance. The former are 
now sent to market with some considerable attention to appearance, so 
that the tops of the baskets are faced off to look most attractive. 
Unfortunately, as all must admit, the bottom sample is rarely equal to 
that presented in the selected surfacing, and there is in consequence 
much disappointment. Still, Brussels Sprouts have sold very well all 
the winter, and have afforded little cause for complaint ; but Sprouting 
Broccoli is cut by the head absolutely almost ere it has begun to 
sprout, so that hardly one-third of the whole is edible. Even later, 
when Sprouts are fully developed the market product is one-half waste. 
That disgusts also ; in fact there can be no greater folly than is found in 
sending to market material that is, after all, only inedible refuse. 
The same is found in so much of our coarser Brassica produce. Then 
look at what may be seen in shops, where the chief portion is eventually 
sold. It is found lying about in heaps inside and outside, exposed to 
sun and wind ; soon withering, or to use the common phrase “ welting,” 
toughening, losing all succulence and flavour. I have on a warm day 
rarely seen more pitiable defects than greengrocers’ shops present, with 
all the produce suffering more or less, but usually very much so, and 
thus making the article as offensive and worthless in the estimation of 
the consumer as well can be. Then, again, look at the exorbitant prices 
these retailers charge for products. Goods that have been purchased at 
Is. are offered for Ss. ; in fact, nothing less than a profit of from 150 to 
200 per cent, seems to satisfy the ordinary greengrocer. What wonder is 
it that in such case the consumption of what should be, and are when 
they come from the growers, sweet, wholesome vegetables, is extremely 
limited. 
Practically, our enormous metropolitan population alone ought to 
consume fully four times more of garden produce than it does. There 
is need for a radical reform of our methods of sending products to 
market, and in that respect we must not be so obtuse as to refuse to 
learn from our foreign competitors. In myriads of cases foreign produce 
finds a sale, though perhaps no better or so fresh and good as our own, 
simply because more cleanly, neatly, and desirably packed and pre¬ 
sented. This is an old story, but it is one that has to be constantly 
retailed, and it is to be feared will have to be so for many years. Then 
our greatest need is for better methods of distribution, so that consumers 
may be easily reached through the direct agency of the producer. Why 
should the middleman suck, as it were, the very life blood of the grower 
in one way and of the consumer in the other? We have no greater 
need than of numerous roomy covered cool public markets, where 
growers can meet the consumers and thus retail their own produce for 
the mutual benefit of both. Our existing market methods, most 
costly and incapable of meeting the needs of the vast population of 
to-day. There are few directions in which newly created public authorities 
can render better service than in the general creation of good public 
produce markets.—A. D. 
