318 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 21, 1887. 
secured the first prize in each class. The best six greenhouse Azaleas 
were shown by Mr. H. Eason, gardener to B. Noakes, Esq., Hope Cottage, 
Highgate, Mr. G. Wheeler, St. John’s Lodge Gardens, Regent’s Park, 
following with very poor specimens, and Mr. R. Wells, Sydenham, was 
third with similar plants. In the nurserymen’s class for six greenhouse 
Azaleas, Mr. C. Turner, Slough, was first with neat conical specimens, 
well flowered, of Madeleine, semi-double white ; Roi d’Hollande, brilliant 
red ; Madame Van Houtte, Comtesse de Elandres, Apollo, and Mrs. 
Turner. 
Cinerarias were extremely bright, especially those from Mr. James, 
Woodside, Farnham Royal, Slough, who had his customary handsome 
plants, and was easily first, followed by Messrs. Douglas and C. J. Salter. 
Alpine plants from Messrs. Paul & Son and Mr. T. S. Ware, who were 
respectively first and second with choice collections of plants, well 
flowered. With twelve Show Auriculas Mr. J. Douglas, gardener to F. 
Whitbourn, Esq., Great Gearies, Ilford, won chief honours with strong 
plants of Sir Lancelot (eighteen pips), Rev. F. D. Horner (eleven pips), 
Heatherbell, Abbe Lizst, George Lightbody, Mrs. Douglas, Conservative 
(eight pips), Rev. C. Kingsley (eleven pips), Dr. Kidd (ten pips), Mont¬ 
rose (ten pips), Mrs. Moore, and a Green-edge Seedling. Mr. C. Turner, 
Slough, was second in this class, but first with twelve Alpine Auriculas, 
followed by Mr. J. Douglas and Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt. Mr. 
Douglas also had the best twelve Polyanthus, Messrs. Paul <fc Son having 
the first prize collection of twelve hardy herbaceous plants, Viola pic- 
turata, Primula Croussei plena, and Fritillaria aurea variegata being the 
best. Mr. D. Phillips, Langley Broom, Slough, was the only exhibitor of 
nine Pelargoniums, gaining the first prize for well-flowered plants, 
Duchess of Edinburgh, Madame Thibaut, Rosetta, and Martial being the 
best. 
Messrs. Paul & Son were first with nine forced Roses in pots, 
specimens 3 or 4 feet in diameter and well flowered, especially Madame 
de St. Joseph, Celine Forestier, Madame de Montchaveau, Marie Van 
Houtte, and Catherine Soupert. Mr. W. Rumsey was second with 
smaller but vigorous plants. Mr. J. Douglas was first with twelve 
Amaryllises, comprising several new varieties ; Messrs. Paul & Son were 
'second with brightly coloured flowers, but rather smaller than those in 
the first prize collection. 
Miscellaneous collections and groups not for competition were very 
numerous, and of considerable merit as usual. Messrs. J. Veitch and 
Sons, Chelsea, sent a handsome group of Daffodils and Amaryllises. 
Amongst the former the Corbularias were very beautiful, especially as 
they were arranged with their own foliage. Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper 
Holloway, staged a magnificent group of Stove and greenhouse plants, 
comprising numerous good Orchids, Azaleas, Crotons, Draemnas, Palms, 
Ericas, Boronias, Amaryllises, and Imantophyllums (small silver medal) ; 
Mr. C. Turner, Slough, sent a group of well grown tree Carnations in 
pots bearing large flowers (certificate). Messrs. Barr & Son, Co vent 
Garden, had a very large group of Daffodils, Anemones, Chionodoxas, 
and choice hardy plants (large bronze medal). Mr. H. B. May, Upper 
Edmonton, had a group of Ferns in pots similar to that recently shown 
at Kensington, and very healthy (large bronze medal). Messrs. John 
Laing & Co., Forest Hill, showed a large and tasteful group of Orchids, 
Ferns, Palms, Anthuriums, Wistarias, &c., imagined with Selaginellas 
and small Ferns. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, had an exceedingly good group of 
standard Roses in pots ( remarkably well grown, and flowering beauti¬ 
fully. Both Tea and Hybrid Perpetual varieties were represented in 
about equal numbers (silver medal). Mr. W. Rumsey, Waltham Cross, 
staged a pretty group of standard and dwarf Roses in pots, margined 
with Adiantums (small silver medal). 
A charming group of Piimroses and Polyanthus was sent from Mr. 
Anthony Waterer, Knap Hall, Woking, most varied in colours from 
white to the richest crimson (small silver medal). Mr. T. S. Ware, 
Tottenham, contributed an extensive collection of Daffodils, representing 
a large number of'varieties, including all the best in cultivation (large 
bronze medal). Mr. J. Chambers, Isleworth, had fine plants of Violet 
Victoria, double dark blue (certificate). Messrs. Collins, Bros., and 
Gabriel showed a group of Anemones and Narcissi, of many varieties 
(bronze medal). Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Clapton, sent a box of 
Odontoglossum crispum varieties, including some fine forms, Dendro- 
bium Wardianum Lowi, a very large-flowered variety, a bright-coloured 
Dendrobium lituiflorum, well-flowered plants of Cypripediums eiliolare 
and Lawrencianum, and a box of Odontoglossum Roezli varieties. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Seakale. —This vegetable is easily propagated by dividing or cut¬ 
ting the old roots or from seed. If the roots which have been lifted for 
forcing, or any others, are cut into pieces 3 inches to 4 inches in length 
and planted they will soon produce leaves and roots, and form useful 
plants before the season is over. The crown pieces, as a matter of 
course, will do best, or at least they will be soonest in leaf, but it is 
astonishing how soon the cut parts throw up foliage. They should 
be planted in good soil at once at a distance of 2 feet apart each way. 
Seakale seed is about the size of Peas, and the present is a good time to 
sow it. They should be sown in twos or threes at a distance of 1 foot 
apart, and this will allow part of them to become a permanent planta¬ 
tion, while the others can be lifted and planted elsewhere. A deep 
rich soil suits the young seedlings best, and when well treated in this 
way they will often supply produce for the table when twelve 
months old. 
Peas. —Too much attention cannot be given to this favourite summer- 
vegetable. Our February-sown seed has produced capital rows, but 
later sowings are not pushing on so fast, as the soil has become very 
dry. Main crop varieties should now be sown everywhere, and as the 
seed sown now will produce plants which will bear in-July and the 
hottest and driest time of the season, a little extra attention should be 
given to them. We have sown Peas in trenches in February ; wet 
weather followed, and the whole of the wrinkled-seeded varieties 
perished. But there is no danger of this now, and from henceforth all 
Peas should be sown in trenches. These are formed as if for Celery, to- 
the depth of 1 foot, and well manured before sowing. They prevent 
the plants suffering from drought, and are altogether highly in favour 
of producing tender sweet Peas, which are often difficult to get in 
excessively dry weather when surface-sowing is practised. As a rule, 
we try a score of new Peas every year, and our batch this year is larger 
than ever ; but we do not sow these until now, as the best part of the 
year is always the proper period to test their qualities, and give all a 
fair chance. 
Broad Beans.—E arth up those which are from 3 inches to 6 inches 
high. When the soil is well drawn up on each'side it steadies the plants 
and prevents their being blown over. Sow more seed for a July supply. 
The heaviest soil in the garden will be found to grow the best Broad 
Beans. 
Turnips. —We sowed Early Milan the second week in February* 
We lost sight of the soil in which they were in for some tiine in March 
as it was covered with snow, but immediately this melted the young 
Turnips appeared ; but they have not made much progress since, and the 
seed we put in on April 1st has now produced plants that are as early 
and high as the February-sown ones. This ought to be noted as a hint to 
those who have sown early.; the more so, as we believe Turnips sown in 
April will be ready first and prove the finest roots; but none of those 
hitherto sown will be long in “ bolting” after the roots are formed, and a 
few rows should be sown once a fortnight from now until August, as 
this is the only way to secure tender roots throughout the hot dry summer 
weather. Sutton’s Snowball and Veitch’s Red Globe are two excellent 
summer varieties. Sow in rich soil, and thin the plants as soon as they 
are large enough. 
Spinach. —The whole of our winter Spinach perished in March, but 
the seed sown in the early part of that month has done well,' and the 
young plants are now showing the rough leaf. They will be ready for 
the kitchen early in May, but the early ’plants soon run to seed, and if 
a constant supply is desired a sowing must be made every three weeks. 
We never thin any of our Spinach plants until they are large enough 
for use, then those drawn up are sent to the kitchen, and those which re¬ 
main are allowed to grow until they seed, as it is only the side leaves 
which are taken. 
Sorrel. —This is not unlike Spinach in the leaves, and.it is a good 
vegetable, as the cook we have at present converts it into “a dish”' 
which is greatly relished by all who taste it. Of late we have been in¬ 
creasing our stock with the object of having more of it as a vegetable. 
It is a perennial, the roots remain in the ground quite sound year after 
year, and it is increased by lifting these, dividing them and replanting. 
Capsicums and Egg Plants. —We know of one or two localities 
where the former are shown as a dish of vegetables, but the chief object 
of growing them is either to use the plants for decoration with their 
red and yellow fruit, or as season pickles. Egg Plants bear fruits that 
are excellent in the hands of those who know how to cook them. The 
Capsicums and these require the same Culture. Sow the seed in a 
gentle heat, prick off the seedlings singly into small pots as soon as the 
plants are 4 inches high, grow them in a temperature of G5°, repot when 
necessary, and they will begin to flower and fruit freely when about 
1 foot high. Good plants may be grown in 6 inch and 8 inch pots. 
They root freely, require plenty of water, and must be frequently 
syringed, as they arc very apt to become infested with thrips and green 
fly- 
Broccoli. —Nothing is gained by sowing Broccoli seed too early. 
The present is a good time for sowing the main crops. Select a good 
piece of soil in the form of a long narrow bed, open drills across it at a 
distance of 9 inches or 10 inches apart, and about 2 inches deep ; sow 
rather thinly, cover firmly, and the young plants will appear in eight or 
ten days. Do not allow the birds to destroy them, and they will all be 
in prime condition for planting out by the end of May or early in 
June. 
Savoys. —As yet we have not sown any of these, as in some former 
years we have found our early April plants form heads in October anil 
burst before midwinter, whereas they ought only to be becoming haul 
in November and remain sound until March, but to have plants of this 
character do not sow the seed until the end of April. They are treated in 
all respects like the Broccoli already noted. Green Globe and Webb’s 
Little Wonder are two splendid Savoys, the Drumhead is too large and 
coarse. 
Kidney Beans.—H itherto our remarks on these have been confined 
