September 3, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
195 
this season. Much the same remarks apply to various other winter 
vegetables, notably Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Savoys, Chou de 
Burghley, and Celery, all of which are growing far too rankly to 
please experienced gardeners. With the ground in such a wet and 
cold state, there being little likelihood of its getting any warmer 
this year, frosts may reasonably be expected both early and severe, 
and it is not unlikely that the vegetable crops may be cut even 
more severely than they were last winter. 
It is to be hoped, however, that the majority have profited by 
the experience of the past, every effort having been made to grow 
more of the hardier or most reliable kinds of vegetables, steps also 
having been taken to prepare the less hardy kinds for severe 
weather. We have always grown a moderately large breadth of 
Seakale, but this year I have put out three times more than ever 
before, and the variety, Lily White, being very superior to the old 
form, the probability is that not a root too many will be prepared, 
either for forcing or cutting from where grown. Jerusalem Arti¬ 
chokes, Salsafy, Scorzonera, early raised breadths of Turnip Chirk 
Castle Black Stone, and young Carrots are among the most reliable 
winter vegetables, and abundance of these ought always to be 
grown. If somewhat scarce, then what there is of them should be 
taken good care of till other less hardy vegetables are less plentiful. 
There would be fewer failures with Celery if this was heavily 
banked up with soil before severe weather sets in, not more than 
half of the leaves, or even less, protruding after the final moulding 
is given. If the stalks are badly frosted decay soon spreads to the 
hearts, but when only the leaves are crippled the keeping qualities 
of the Celery are not greatly impaired. The Turnip-rooted Celery 
ought also to be taken good care of, roots well moulded over 
keeping well, and form by no means a despicable vegetable. Let 
Brussels Sprouts have abundance of room—even if this necessitates 
drawing a considerable number of plants—and they will then solidify 
considerably, producing closer sprouts, and prove hardier in con¬ 
sequence. Crowding is even more fatal to Broccoli. Much-drawn 
plants are certain to lose their lower leaves early, and the exposed 
stems, being the most vital part of the plants, collapse after only a 
moderately severe frost. After the experience of the last winter 
more gardeners than formerly will be disposed to lift and store the 
greater portion of their breadths of Yeitch’s Protecting Broccoli 
before severe frosts set in, and thereby be certain of a good mid¬ 
winter supply of medium-sized, well-blanched hearts. It will also 
be in accordance with the same idea to lift and bed in a consider¬ 
able number of plants of later varieties where they can be heavily 
protected with mats, bracken, or dry litter whenever severe frosts 
are imminent. 
As it happens there is yet plenty of time to think of these 
various protective measures, but there are a few other matters that 
will admit of no delay. For instance, it is scarcely possible to 
overrate the value of a good supply of Mushrooms during the 
winter, these constituting a dish hard to surpass on either the 
breakfast or dining table, cooks also putting them to other good 
uses. As a rule Mushroom houses proper are far too limited in 
size, but they are almost indispensable du ing severe winters. 
Mushrooms can be and frequently are grown in a variety of places 
other than the orthodox house, but in hard weather little 
dependance can be placed on any beds not given the benefit of a 
little fire heat. Instead, therefore, of filling the houses at this 
early date or any time before October, with beds that will most 
probably be exhausted before cold weather sets in, the wiser plan 
is to form the early beds in various makeshift positions, including 
open sheds, disused cellars, stables, and such like, forming the 
principal winter beds in the heated Mushroom house. Ridge¬ 
shaped, open air beds, properly managed, are remarkably pro¬ 
ductive, and these ought always to supplement those formed under 
cover of any kind. Where failures with these ridge-shaped beds 
occur they are often traceable to either the use of too raw or too fine 
materials. Not thoroughly well prepared by repeated fermentation 
and turnings, such a solid mass of manure is certain to heat too 
strongly, this perhaps both destroying the spawn and quite unfitting 
the material for the growth of Mushrooms. It must also be borne in 
mind that a considerable amount of somewhat short straw or fully 
one-third of the bulk of the heap should be kept with the horse 
manure, or it will not hold together or answer well in other 
respects. Wright’s “Mushrooms for the Million” ought to be in the 
hands of all would-be successful growers. 
Tomatoes, again, are of the greatest value, either as a vegetable 
or salad, during a hard winter, and with such a prospect before us 
of the early collapse of various watery vegetables, the attempt 
to keep up a supply of Tomatoes during the winter ought to 
be made on a larger scale, it may be, than usual. Instead of closely 
stopping all the plants in Peach houses and cases, vineries, and 
other places, where they are treated as supernumerary crops, let 
some of the leading growths extend and set clusters of fruit, and 
these will most probably ripen, or can be ripened during the winter. 
Plants in various other heated houses and pits, now nearly cleared: 
of their crops, may easily be induced to start afresh into actives 
growth. Removing some of the old soil, watering with liquid) 
manure, and then giving a top-dressing of good loamy compost^ 
also keeping the structures somewhat closer and warmer than:* 
heretofore, quickly have the desired effect. A moderate number of 
young shoots being reserved on the old stems these will flower and- 
set good clusters of fruit long before the winter sets in, and the- 
maintenance of a somewhat dry but not strong heat during the- 
winter will insure all ripening in due course. If there are no old 
roof or other plants to renovate, nor no young ones that can be put 
out in ridges of soil or potted, then lift some of the healthiest of 
those growing against dry warm walls. They will move without 
experiencing much check, and the fruit already set on them ripero 
well.— W. Iggulden. 
FRUITERERS AT CRAWLEY. 
On Saturday last several members of the Court of the- 
Worshipful Company of Fruiterers visited the nurseries of 
Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons. They travelled in a saloon carriage 
from London Bridge, Sir James Whitehead, Bart., Master of the 
Company, meeting them at Three Bridges Station from East¬ 
bourne. Crawley Station is the nearest to the nurseries (a little 
more than a mile), but Three Bridges and Horley have better 
quick train accommodation—that is to say, are “stopping stations” 
for several of the London and Brighton expiesses. The distance- 
from these stations to the nurseries is about three miles, and a 
drive on a fine day along the Surrey and Sussex roads and lanes is- 
very delightful. Amongst the company were G. J. Brocklesby,. 
Esq., Upper Warden ; H. Martin, Esq., Renter Warden ; and' 
Past Masters G-. Cutt, W. N. Froy, and H. R. Williams, Esqs. 
A. H. Smee, Esq., and other gentlemeD were present, also some- 
ladies. All were greatly interested by an inspection of the fruit 
and Dahlias for which the nurseries are famed, and more than> 
satisfied with the pleasant reception accorded them by Messrs* 
J. & A. Cheal. They had 'also much pleasure in meeting- 
Mr. Cheal, sen , a gentleman ninety-two years old. He has had to- 
battle against a serious attack of the influenza epidemic, which has. 
conquered so many, but his sound constitution shook off the enemy, 
and the nonagenarian is now active, vivacious, and well. 
Twenty years ago the site of the chief nursery was unbroken,- 
common, the land so heavy and wet that local farmers considered, 
it worthless, and would have left it to its fate. Not so the Messrs. 
Cheal. They believed that by drainage, cultivation, and tall 
sheltering hedges they could do something with it. They have- 
done a great deal, not for themselves alone, but for the district. 
Previous to their possession of the land it afforded practically no 
employment to men who live by their labour, but now the 65 acres- 
afford regular -work for sixty-five persons. The staple of the land* 
is sound—a “ holding ” clayey loam, and when ameliorated soil of 
that character is highly productive. In the Lowfield Nurseries, 
some parts are heavier than others but none light, and by adapting, 
the crops to the soil all appear to thrive exceedingly well. 
Conifers, Rhododendrons, various kinds of ornamental trees and- 
shrubs, Roses, Dahlias, hardy and herbaceous plants thrive quite- 
as well as the fruit trees, and these are as clean, healthy, and 
productive as anyone could wish for trees to be. 
Naturally the “ Fruiterers ” first desired to see the fruit. 
Passing under a tunnel of Pears, the trees planted close to the side 
of the walk and trained over as single cordons, a liveryman observed 
that it was the best method of turning paths to account he had 
seen, and thought many gardens might be improved in appearance 
and productiveness by similar canopies of fruit. “ Hedges ” of 
Apples and Pears were also greatly admired, the former trained 
diagonally across each other, forming a sort of diamond fruit fence,, 
the trees sustaining each other, and the Pears trained obliquely to- 
wires stretched from post to post 7 or 8 feet high. The trees were- 
laden with fruit, and it is not conceivable that an equal weight could 
be obtained from the space occupied so inexpensively in any other 
way except trained in the same manner to a boarded fence with 
a southern aspect. The Pears on such a fence were bearing fine* 
fruit in the greatest profusion, and it was thought by more than 
one visitor that the value of this one crop was equal to the cost of' 
the boarding. “ Is it the soil or the climate, Mr. Cheal, that does 
so much for you?” asked the Master. “The soil, Sir James, 
was the reply, “ is what we have made it out of the clay, by- 
working and top-dressing, and as for the climate we have been 
deluged with rain—yesterday the paths were full of water. 
“ Yet,” was the rejoinder, “ some newspapers tell us that fruit can¬ 
not be grown in this country ; it is here, however, and we must be* 
allowed to believe what we see.” There were certainly plenty of 
Pears to be seen, indeed no room for more on the trees or the* 
