Siptember £0, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
259 
A S time rolls on more and more attention appears to be given 
to the particular aspect of gardening that is represented by 
food-producing crops. But while this is so it is satisfactory to 
know that the ornamental and pleasure-giving parts are not 
correspondingly neglected. With commercial prosperity and a 
-growing disposition among the greater number to engage in home 
pleasures and occupations the advancement of the useful and the 
decorative branches will be contemporaneous. “ Horticulture can 
never flourish in any country where the pleasures of life are not 
sought for at home.” Thus wrote the founder of this Journal 
sixty years ago. Those words represent the truth and go to the 
root of the whole matter of prosperity in gardening. Those 
■"home pleasures” which it is so desirable to promote may take 
various forms. The cultivation of plants and flowers may be 
indulged in by some who are made happier by the association, 
but, either connected with them or independent of them, fruit and 
■vegetable production is an occupation which affords delight equally 
to many, and the number is undoubtedly increasing. 
Vegetables are now under more immediate consideration, and 
these have been more extensively represented during recent years 
at most of the important exhibitions of garden produce than was the 
case in past times, and with scarcely an exception quality has ad¬ 
vanced with quantity. New varieties have superseded the old 
except in a few instances, and greater care has been exercised by a 
greater number in producing them in the highest condition. 
Possibly a tendency has been apparent to grow certain vegetables to 
an abnormal size ; but as any approach to coarseness meets with 
*the disapproval of the best judges there is not much fear that bulk 
will, except by accident, be honoured at the expense of quality. It 
is not easy to err perhaps in growing some vegetables too large- 
Asparagus, for instance; and small ill-fed Peas are inferior to some 
•of the larger and better supported ; but unwieldiness in size of 
the majority of vegetables, root as well as green crops, represents 
waste both in the form of labour and manure, while grossly 
overgrown examples are defective both in flavour and nutritious 
properties. 
The cultivation of vegetables with the object of maintaining a 
supply of the different kinds as they can be had for use, and in the 
best condition in which they can be produced, as estimated by their 
appreciation at table, is an engagement worthy of the best efforts 
of the best men in the gardening ranks. As is well known the most 
competent of these pay particular attention to the culinary depart¬ 
ment, and it is very rare indeed that those who succeed there fail 
generally. Competency in vegetable culture is one of the most 
substantial of the gardener’s acquisitions, and the possession of the 
qualifications give to a gardener a distinct advantage in his calling. 
This is a fact, and it should be recognised by young men especially 
who are hoping to attain to good positions in life. If they make 
themselves masters of the art of vegetable production, the know¬ 
ledge they have gained will be available for other purposes, and they 
will not experience many cultural difficulties which they cannot 
surmount in other departments so far as means permit. 
Having in view the great importance of a full and high class 
vegetable supply, also the desirability of judging by comparison of 
the claims to favour of the different varieties, recognising also the 
desirability of acquiring information pertaining to the whole 
No. 483.—Vol. XIX., Third Series. 
subject, the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society placed 
themselves at the head of a great effort to bring garden vegetables 
more prominently forward, and to assign them, in fact, a front rank 
position in the gardening world. The result of the decision may 
be seen at Chiswick, for these lines will reach many who are 
interested before the conference closes, and the gathering is a great 
success. Entries are received from various parts of the country of 
the best examples of culture from England, Ireland, Scotland, and 
Wales, with samples from France. An idea of the extent of the 
aggregate contributions may be gathered from the provision made 
for their reception. The famous vinery, 180 feet long, is furnished 
with four lengths of tabling, and the same number of tables are 
similarly arranged in a tent 190 feet long, or allowing for space for 
the conference, the reading of papers, and discussion, over 1000 feet 
in length of tables are required for the selected produce as invited 
by the Committee. 
As a non-competitive display it is an extraordinary exhi¬ 
bition, and it is doubtful if any other horticultural society 
in the world could obtain such a show without offering a single 
prize; all the exhibitors and judges performing their tasks 
without reward beyond the satisfaction derived from assisting in 
a useful work. This fact alone must be most encouraging to the 
Council and officials of the Royal Horticultural Society, as it 
proves conclusively that this body still possesses considerable 
power over the gardening community of this country, and its 
influence exercised in right directions i3 productive of much good. 
It also redounds greatly to the credit of horticulturists in such a 
prize-giving and prize-winning age as this that so many are ready 
to give their services for the general rather than special or indi¬ 
vidual benefit. As M. Henry Yilmorin rightly remarked at the 
dinner held on Tuesday evening, the Chiswick exhibition reflects 
as much honour on those who have provided it as upon the Council 
of the Society who originated the idea and the Committee that 
elaborated and carried it into execution. 
Regarded simply in the same way as a competitive show of 
vegetables, that at Chiswick might not be considered satisfactory 
except in a few classes like those for Onions and Carrots. But the 
chief object has been to show as many distinct varieties, types, or 
strains as possible, each sufficiently true to indicate its respective 
characters, and to enable the public to form some idea of the best 
in each class. Much assistance has necessarily been rendered in 
this direction by seedsmen who in the majority of cases show praise¬ 
worthy samples of their specialties, and in the few instances where 
there is a falling off in quality it is mainly due to the date being a 
little too early for the particular sorts. This is seen in the Brussels 
Sprouts class more especially, but it is noticeable also in the Savoys 
and some other classes. Amply sufficient is staged in all classes to 
afford the Committees due opportunity of making fair comparative 
selections, and to these we must look for the practical outcome of 
the Vegetable Show. It is true that a few of the leading seedsmen 
have not contributed to the display, but in private growers’ 
collections many of their varieties are admirably represented, so 
that it will not materially affect the decisions of the selecting 
Committees. 
Awaiting these selections we have been unable to give more 
than a summary review of the classes and exhibits, pointing out 
those varieties which are shown in the best condition, and naming 
the seedsmen or gardeners who contribute most largely to this 
instructive Exhibition. The different districts and soils from 
which the produce is sent should also indicate in an interesting 
manner, when all the particulars are available, the behaviour of 
certain varieties under widely different circumstances—a good 
test of their characters. 
Novelties are not numerous, and there are no special departures 
from ordinary types to be chronicled, but all who visit Chiswick 
must agree that it is the most representative and important 
display of vegetables ever brought together in this country. 
No. 2139.— Vol. LXXXL, Old Series. 
