70 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 26, 1888 
compare ia quality with that grown in the more favourable climes of 
southern latitudes, and I have yet to be converted into the belief that 
Tobacco growing will be a commercial success in this country. 
Orange, Lemon, and Lime trees of great age and size cover the back 
wall of a long lean-to house in the pleasure grounds, the body of the 
house being occupied with Camellias, also old and large, yet vigorous, 
many Tea Roses being grown in the same structure, and at one end 
as healthy a plant as has been seen of Magnolia fuscata in a pot in a 
shaded alcove, from which it is never removed. It flowers profusely, 
and fills the house with fragrance. At the opposite end of the house 
Solanum jasminoides is established, and grows right through the roof, 
its flowers hanging down in wreaths, and of a size I have never seen 
equalled, nor had Mr. W. Watson of Kew, who was my co-admirer of it, 
and who pronounced Margam as his ideal of a garden. It is a grand 
old place without a doubt, and Mr. Muir, as its manager, is the right 
man in it. His duties, however, extend far beyond the garden, and 
in an important work he has scored a triumph, in clothing with vege¬ 
tation some 2000 acres of sand blown from the beach into a long and 
broad range of hills, but ever shifting and eating up the land. He has 
stopped it, and I, for the present, must stop too.—A Tourist. 
THE CAULIFLOWER SUPPLY. 
A GOOD Cauliflower supply is appreciated in most establishments, 
but in dry and hot seasons like the past many of the plants have 
an annoying tendency to “ button,” especially where the ground 
is poor or not deeply worked. On light land a deeply worked 
and well-manured soil is essential, for if the season should prove 
dry a collapse is certain if the above conditions are not secured. 
During the past season we were rather fortunate in our supply, 
and especially so from the commencement of September onwards. 
These were grown on ground that had previously been occupied 
with Celery, and as this had been well manured and worked it was 
in good condition for the crop. Many failures are due to the 
young plants not being properly prepared in the first instance. 
The seed is often sown too thickly and the plants spindle before 
being pricked out, and are then pulled up and planted with a dibber, 
leaving the fibrous roots behind, thereby losing time and often 
courting failure. I have great faith in sowing the seed thinly 
and pricking out the plants when large enough into a frame, and 
into good loam that will hold together, and manure, say equal parts 
of each, which will cause the roots to become fibrous and plentiful. 
When planting time arrives each may be taken up with a good 
sized ball and planted with a trowel, when after a good soaking of 
water they will barely feel the shift. 
T am very much averse to planting Cauliflowers on the level. 
In all cases we cut out a deep drill as if for Potatoes, which gives 
shelter, especially so in the case of the early supply ; they also have 
the benefit of the water direct to the roots as well as rain. When 
the plants are about half-grown the ridges may be levelled in with 
the hoe about the stems, which keeps them firm. When planted 
on the level and earthed up very little water reaches the roots. 
These drills are also very useful for the second supply, as if the 
season should prove dry these require occasional soakings of water, 
and if at command liquid manure or sewage. 
Eclipse and Veitch’s Autumn Giant are grand Cauliflowers, one 
succeeding the other if sown at the same time, but in many districts 
they are sown too late to grow to any size or do much good before 
the frosts come. For our earliest supply we depend upon Early 
Dwarf Erfurt, Early London, and Large Asiatic, which succeed one 
another. The seeds are sown thinly on a west border the first week 
in September, and when large enough are dibbled out into a cold 
frame about a foot from the glass. There they remain through the 
winter, receiving air on all favourable occasions, and being protected 
from frost. Early in April they are planted out, the Early Erfurt 
on a warm border for the early supply, and the others for the main 
supply in the open. If handlights are at command these could be 
placed over a part of the early ones, which will hasten them on. 
To succeed these, about the middle of February a little seed is 
sown thinly in a box and placed in a slight warmth. A vinery just 
started will do admirably, and as soon as the seed germinates the 
box is placed in a cool house close to the glass or in a cold frame, 
but take care to protect from frost. This will cause the plants to 
become sturdy. When ready these are pricked out into a roughly 
made frame 4 inches apart and 6 inches between the rows, and as 
they become established are ventilated freely and hardened, taking 
care to protect from frost. When ready they are planted out. 
Eclipse, Autumn Giant, and Veitch’s Self-Protecting are the main 
autumn varieties. The seed is sown thinly in boxes and treated 
precisely as the former, but the plants are allowed a little more 
space when pricked out. When ready for planting a thorough 
soaking of water is given the night previous. We allow 30 inches 
between the plants in the rows, and 2 feet 9 inches between the 
rows. Of course showery weather is the best time to select for 
planting them out, but last season that was out of the question, and 
they only had a thorough watering at planting time and about 
twice afterwards, though they did remarkably well. The ground 
was kept well stirred with the hoe. I ought to have mentioned 
that we had a sowing of Veitch’s Self-Protecting the first week in 
April in the open border. These were planted out when ready, and 
came in very useful about the middle of November up till nearly 
Christmas. If the weather had been severe these would have been 
lifted and planted in pits.—A. Young. 
YELLOW SPORT FROM MRS. HEALE. 
In answer to “ An Exhibitor,” I wish to state that we hold here,, 
where it originated, the entire stock of that beautiful variety, which 
received a first-class certificate at Bath, November 9tb, 1887. The 
eolour is a deep primrose. I must also state that it is not in commerce 
at the present, and will not be this season. The stock being very small 
we intend growing it again before finally disposing of it. I am highly 
pleased that “ An Exhibitor ” has taken the trouble to make inquiries, 
as he evidently knows the value of the sport.—F. R. Hates, Gardener, 
Wuodville, Keiqliley, Yorltn, 
CHRYSANTHEMUM GOLDEN GEM. 
Those of my brother gardeners that have not yet had the above¬ 
variety in addition to their Chrysanthemums would do well to obtain it. 
For the decoration of house and conservatory it is highly valuable 
throughout January, being of a robust dwarf habit, retaining its foliage 
well to the time of its flowering. Those who have grown it well are 
most thankful for its production by Mr. Owen, the Floral Nursery,. 
Maidenhead, who has it in its true character.—-H. ViCKEBY, Ilmitsmoor 
Park, Ivor, Bucks. 
A CATALOGUE OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
It is announeed that the National Chrysanthemum Society intends- 
undertal«ng the production of a Catalogue of Chrysanthemums during 
the present year, and if they do it is to be hoped the task will be 
performed in such a way that it will be useful to growers and creditable 
to the Society. What we require is an authoritative list as full as 
possible that we can turn to as a reliable guide, and this could surely be 
accomplished by the Society named better than by any other. To ensure 
its success it must, however, be the work of the whole Society, and not 
the production of two or three members, utilise as far as possible the 
information obtainable from all the members of the Society, and then, 
with a good system of condensation and arrangement, a standard work 
of great value will be produced.—M. N. C. S. 
SECRETARIES JUDGING AND SHOWING. 
Some attention has been called to the fact that the Secretaries of 
Chrysanthemum and other societies occasionally either exhibit or assist 
in judging at the shows under their management, and I should like to 
know the opinion of some of your readers upon the subject. There is- 
no question that in the majority of cases the gentlemen who perform 
the very arduous duties of Secretaries are above any suspicion of unfair¬ 
ness, but their position necessarily gives them such opportunities for 
knowing who are the exhilntors of the particular produce to be judged, 
also the number, of competitors in the several classes, that their acting 
in any way outside their strictly oificial duties is apt to give rise to- 
unfavourable comments. The question is, whether it is desirable, in the 
interest of horticultural societies, that Secretaries should either compete 
or judge at their own shows.—A Provincial Exhibitor. 
EXHIBITING CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
It is possible that “ Wraith,” in your last issue, may represent the- 
feelings of a few gentlemen, but I am persuaded he does not represent 
those of the majority. Some do not like to see their names associated 
with every insignificant prize their gardeners may win, and rightly 
regard competition at shows as an eneouragement to those who are 
working for them. If an owner desires his name to appear no sensible- 
gardener would wish to suppress it, and the rule adopted by most 
societies is to give on their prize cards the names and addresses as they 
are received on the entry forms. That is the practice with the National 
Chrysanthemum Society, and official lists thus prepared at special 
request have been occasionally supplied to one of the gardening papers 
for gratuitous insertion as an advertisement.—-A Member of the. 
National Society. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM EXQUISITE. 
I SHOULD be glad to know whether any readers of the Journal who- 
have grown Chrysanthemum Exquisite have found it to be fragrant. 
In consequence of this variety being mentioned in the Journal last spring 
as a scented one I procured it, but have not found a vestige of scent. 
Most of the fragrant Chrysanthemums appear to lose their odour after 
they are about half expanded. Mrs. Langtry, however, and probably 
other single varieties, are exceptions to this.—R. Falconer Jameson. 
