286 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October S, 1889. 
compact and long, tbe flowers being of a rich orange colour. It 
succeeds with the same treatment as the other species from the 
Cape of Good Hope. 
THE CHISWICK VEGETABLE CONFERENCE. 
Last week we gave a summary of the Exhibition, and referred to 
the papers announced in the programme to be read on Wednesday and 
Thursday, September 25th and 26th. We are now able to publish 
abstracts of some of the principal contributions, with a list of the awards 
made by the Committees of Selection. 
The proceedings commenced on Wednesday, at 2 P.M., by an opening 
speech from the President, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., who com¬ 
plimented the exhibitors on providing such a representative display of 
horticultural produce, and on behalf of the Society he extended a hearty 
welcome to the horticulturists present. He considered it was most de¬ 
sirable, in the interest of the community, that more vegetables should 
be eaten, for although he was not a vegetarian, he was assured that if 
more good vegetables and less beef and mutton were consumed, a great 
improvement would be effected in the health of the people. He also 
suggested that attention be paid to the preservation of vegetables in this 
country. It is at present neglected in England, and if he wanted pre¬ 
served vegetables he had to obtain supplies from abroad. He hoped 
that much would be done to bring into greater prominence the best 
varieties in the several sections, and also that attention might be directed 
to several really good vegetables but little grown. He mentioned the 
Turnip-rooted Celery and Cardoons as worthy of more general atten¬ 
tion. With regard to improvement in the cooking of vegetables, he 
appealed to the ladies present to do all in their power to effect a much- 
needed reform. 
Mr. H. J. Veiteh followed with an address on the improvement 
amongst vegetables during recent years, in which he remarked that 
though vegetables are not so important for exhibition as ornamental 
plants, flowers, and fruits, they are full of interest to the gardener, for 
to their production he had necessarily to devote a large share of his 
attention. He said Cabbages were generally grown throughout Western 
Europe 2000 years ago, and that the evolution of the numerous and 
widely diverse members of the Brassica family from the wild form 
represented a very long period. The Potato, introduced about 200 years 
ago, had undergone a great improvement, and it was probable that 
still further improvement might be effected by intercrossing. Of late 
years a considerable change had been made in Potato culture, and now 
tbe importance of a change of seed and a thorough tillage of the soil 
are fully recognised, with the result that the losses from disease had 
been much reduced. Of Peas in the lists twenty-five years 
ago about 100 have disappeared, the most important of the 
old varieties remaining being Ne Plus Ultra, Veitch’s Perfec¬ 
tion, Champion of England, and British Queen. The sorts which 
had disappeared were replaced by improved varieties, of which forty- 
two had after trial been certificated by the Royal Horticultural Society. 
These are undoubtedly superior to the older sorts. Beans also had 
materially improved, and he mentioned several as valuable additions. 
Several Butter Beans have been introduced, and he considered they 
deserved to be more generally grown, for when served in accordance 
with the practice which obtains on the Continent they are delicious. 
Carrots, Turnips, and Radishes were noted, and Mr. Yeitch observed that 
the cultivation of Mushrooms had been so greatly increased during the 
past thirty years that to every pound then grown at least one ton is 
now produced. If there had been activity in the introduction of new 
sorts, the manufacture cf new names had not been neglected, and the 
Royal Horticultural Society have been fully justified in making their 
comparative trials for the purpose of bringing more prominent into 
notice the finest kinds, and reducing the names both in gardens and 
catalogues. He hoped that gardeners would in all cases support the 
authority of the Society by adopting its recommendations in the matter 
of nomenclature. 
The next paper was by Mr. Hibberd, and was followed by an inter¬ 
esting discussion in which Sir Trevor Lawrence, Mr. H. J. Veiteh, and 
Mr. H. de Vilmorin joined. 
CULTIVATION OF ASPARAGUS. 
[Abstract of a paper read by Mr. Shirley Hibberd.J 
In a brief essay on this subject Mr. Hibberd said he had no intention 
of touching those points in the cultivation of Asparagus that were 
generally understood, but some exceptional matters, the consideration of 
which his own circumstances had forced upon him. The actual neces¬ 
sities of his domestic life during a series of years included a continuous 
supply of Asparagus for the table. To be without this vegetable for two 
or three months together had been to him so serious a matter that he 
was bound to adopt measures to bridge over the hiatus ; moreover, he 
had been compelled to produce a continuous supply on a heavy clay soil 
altogether unfit for the purpose. He had been enabled to secure any 
necessary amount of rubbish from the demolition of buildings, the usual 
cost of this material being Is. per cubic yard, with a trifling gratuity 
to the carters. When roughly turned over in the yard there was 
obtained a great bulk of broken lime and plaster, and this being mixed 
with decayed vegetable rubbish and the top spit of turf from the clay 
pasture to be operated on formed the material for the Asparagus beds. 
The beds were formed by simply depositing the mixture on the surface, 
and thereby forming banks 2 or more feet deep and 6 feet wide, and the 
rule had been observed of growing on these rough beds a quick green crop 
of Potatoes the first season. The preparatory crop being removed, and the 
beds dug over and liberally manured, they were sown with Asparagus inr 
rows 2 feet apart, after which the beds were cut down to a reasonable 
width for two rows of plants, and these as they advanced were thinned 
in the rows to 2 feet apart. In hot dry summer weather irrigation was 
practised, and great care was taken to keep down weeds and to ensure 
that only one stool should be formed at each station at 2 feet distance 
every way. The growth of the plant was vigorous ; in due time the sup¬ 
plies were liberal; and usually a fair supply of table grass was obtained 
agreeably to the primary requirement of a continuous supply. 
Certain rules observed in this culture were set forth, comprising 
first a conservative system of cutting; the removal of sprue not being 
allowed, and only so much of the ‘‘fat grass” being taken as was actually 
wanted. This treatment favours the accumulation of vigour in the 
plant, which is favourable to continuity of supply and the production of 
a fine sample. Another point of importance is to afford shelter in 
spring when growth commences by sprinkling light litter on the bed. 
The grass rises more freely when thus aided, and on occasions of sharp 
frosts in the month of May, loss by the freezing of the pushing points is 
avoided. Another system of shelter is secured by leaving the strawson 
the bed wholly untouched until the autumnal growth is stopped by frost, 
when the beds are cleaned and a good dressing of half-rotten stable 
manure is put on as a finish. 
Mr. Hibberd insists on the presence of lime in considerable pro¬ 
portion in the soil as essential to a fine growth of Asparagus. H'e 
condemns the cutting of sprue as a wasteful weakening of the plant, 
and as explaining the often poor quality of the Asparagus grown in 
English gardens. He placed before the meeting samples of several 
qualities of growth from 3 feet, with a circumference at the base of tbe 
straws of 1 i inch to straws of 7 and 8 feet with a circumference of 
2£ to 3 inches ; this growth being entitled to the name “ giant ,r 
Asparagus. As regards varieties, however, he insists there is but one,, 
and it is impossible there should be more so long as the plant is grown 
from seed ; the visible variations, therefore, must be attributed to local 
circumstances of soil, climate, and cultivation. 
On the subject of an autumn supply we were warned in a general 
way it was not to be looked for, and perhaps was not often wanted. 
In his case a great supply was not needed, but a continuous supply 
was of the utmost importance. He had therefore set apart a suffi¬ 
cient extent of plant for the autumn cutting, and from the beds so 
reserved not a single head was cut of the spring growth. A free early 
growth was the natural result, and this ripened off early, and then 
the plant would take a rest. By means of irrigation in July and 
August a new growth was obtained, and this in a favourable season 
would continue until about the 8th of October, when frost would put a 
stop to it. But in the least favourable seasons the supply during August 
and September was often not far short of what the same beds would 
have produced in spring had they not been reserved for this special 
purpose. He placed upon the table a nice sample of table grass, ths 
heads measuring 6 to 9 inches in length, and 11 to 2 inches in cir¬ 
cumference, with an abundant proportion of tender green top. Such 
Asparagus he averred was delightful eating with grouse or partridges, 
and probably in the more favourable parts of the island a supply might 
be secured even for an accompaniment to pheasants. His experiences 
had been acquired on the cold clay soils of the northern suburbs of 
London, and during some part of the time in the valley of the Lea, 
where frost and fog are frequent destroyers of garden produce as late 
as the end of May, and as early as the middle of August. Being 
exposed also to strong gales he had found it necessary to support his 
Asparagus with stout stakes such as are employed for the support of 
tall Peas. These are driven into the ground in such a way as to 
prevent the breaking of the straws, which would otherwise happen in a 
strong wind. 
Not a word was said by the author about the relative values oi 
English and French Asparagus, but from the beautiful examples of table 
Grass Mr. Hibberd displayed before the meeting it was evident that his 
taste inclines to the English custom of securing a green top full of 
flavour in place of the white Grass that is comparatively flavourless, 
though in such general esteem on the continent of Europe. It is some¬ 
thing to see Asparagus equal to that of average growth in June, cut 
after a frost of 10° has given new colour to the woodlands at the close 
of September. 
Mr. G. Norman’s paper on Winter Salads was brief and practicaP 
Lettuces and Endives receiving especial attention, and a vote of thanks 
to him concluded the first day’s business. 
Upon Thursday Mr. Shirley Hibberd presided, and there was a good 
attendance of Fellows and visitors. The first paper was that by Mr. 
J. Wright, which evoked considerable discussion of an instructive, 
character, and it was followed by papers read by Mr. A. Dean, Mr. 
T. Laxton, and Mr. J. Smith of Mentmore, abstracts of the three first 
named being appended in the order they were read. The proceedings 
of this most satisfactory Conference were terminated by the customary 
votes of thanks to the Chairman and contributors of papers. 
THE FOOD OF VEGETABLES. 
[Abstract of a paper read by Mr. J. tVrlgbt.] 
After alluding to the unprofitableness, for purposes of utility, of 
vegetables of enormous size, and giving a striking instance of the hoe 
as a creator of wealth, dwelling on the importance of turning the virtues 
