August 23, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
173 
shy seeder. It seems difficult to improve this form, but raisers are 
never satisfied. From this house a crop of Tomatoes had been taken 
previously. 
Now comes an 80 feet house, planted on each side with the very 
fine variety certificated both at the Drill Hall and Regent’s Park in 
June. It is named Progress, which may be assumed to indicate that, in 
spite of its wonderful excellence, the raiser thinks yet more of advance 
is possible. Here on each side run three 4-inch pipes, and upon them 
direct the soil to a depth of 6 inches is laid, the rougher portions being 
lowest. It is kept in place along the front by a 6-inch board. This 
Progress Cucumber has fruits ranging from 20 to 24 inches long, 
which are of a dark green hue, have on them a little of the well-known 
Telegraph ridge, and are of the colour of Lockie’s Perfection. It sets 
freely, and here is producing a really grand crop of the most perfect of 
fruits. One more sort. Success or Sutton’s Peerless, certificated last 
year, is growing on one side only of a 50-feet span. The plants were 
put out at the end of July, and are later in cropping, yet now carrying 
many splendid fruits. These are long, rich in colour, very handsome, 
and in the green or edible condition slightly spined, giving to it a 
feature so many growers prefer. This completes the mention of the 
remarkable series of Cucumbers at Mr. Mortimer’s nursery, and they 
afford not only special evidence of excellence, but also of the very best 
cultivation.—A. D._ 
BORDER PINKS. 
“Wanderer” in his notes of Easton Lodge (page 155) speaks of 
Her Majesty Pink as “ perhaps the best variety yet in commerce.” I 
think he cannot have seen a still finer white variety raised by Mr. Joseph 
Lakin of Oxford, and named Mrs. Lakin, a large number of plants of 
which I have repeatedly seen growing in Mr. Robert Sydenham’s garden 
in Birmingham this year, as well as in the Sparkhill Nurseries, by 
the side of Her Majesty and other white varieties. All who saw them 
decided that Mrs. Lakin was the best in possessing a pod which does not 
burst, and is a better formed pure white flower, with a close growing 
free blooming erect habit. 
Until Mrs. Lakin came under notice in the Midlands, Her Majesty 
was hailed as a great advance on Mrs. Sinkins and others. Mrs. Welsh 
is another very fine white, of erect habit, excellent pod, and a pure 
white smooth edged flower. Of other border Pinks which do well in 
the Midlands, Lord Lyons must have a foremost place, of good erect 
habit, medium height, with bright deep rose coloured flowers, a charming 
variety. Ascot is a pale pink ; Ernest Ladhams is very showy indeed, 
of erect habit and a very free bloomer, but has a bursting pod. Some 
of the laced Pinks, that is those with a white ground colour with a 
lacing or bordering of a shade of rosy purple, varying a little in tint, 
are good exhibition varieties. Of these, John Lowe is very fine and an 
early bloomer. Mrs. Barlow, Ada Louise, John Ball and others are 
excellent free blooming kinds.—W. D. 
Border Pinks at Shirley. 
A recent hurried visit to the hardy plant nursery of Mr. B. Lad- 
hams at Shirley, near Southampton, enabled me to note the behaviour of 
many varieties of Pinks as compared to what is seen of them when 
staged in a cut state for exhibition. Although Pinks make a good dis¬ 
play when tastefully arranged in bunches in an exhibition their proper 
place appears to be in the garden, where by the profuse manner in which 
their blooms are produced they are general favourites. A varied collec¬ 
tion of varieties affords much interest, not only in the difference that 
exists in colour but in form also, and in the manner in which they 
bloom. 
Mr. Ladhams has for several years paid considerable attention to the 
raising of seedling varieties, many of those he has obtained being a 
decided advance on some older kinds. The bulk of the newer kinds are 
perpetual flowering, which is a decided gain, the plants continuing to 
make “ grass ” all the summer, and with it a succession of flowers. Many 
of them are hybridised with laced varieties, the free flowering sorts 
being the basis of the crossing with an obvious view of improvement. 
In addition to those named Mr. Ladhams has scores of others that will 
be sent out when properly tested side by side with those already 
approved. 
Commencing with the new seedling. Queen of the South, which was 
recently granted a first-class certificate, I may say that this is a 
decided improvement even upon Mrs. Sinkins, which is acknowledged 
to be one of the leading kinds. In the former the flowers are full, 
pure in colour, and not liable to burst, which is a great gain. Lizzie 
Duval is intense rose, fading to a rich lilac, a perpetual flowering variety. 
Percy Ladhams is dark rose centre, rosy lilac edge, which is smooth, 
free and dwarf. Charles has a dark centre with rose edge, strong 
growth, and very free. A sport from the above is quite distinct, having 
a pure white edge. Harlequin is somewhat peculiar in colouring, as 
well as in the formation of the blooms, some being smooth, others fringed 
at the edges. In colour some have dark centres, others pale rose. As a 
novelty this Pink is peculiar. Little Kate is pure white, free and 
dwarf, fimbriated edges. Her Majesty has larger blooms than the well- 
known Mrs. Sinkins, pure white, but unfortunately the pods split, which 
deteriorates from its quality considerably. Caroline is fringed, dull 
white, free, and dwarf in habit. John Ball is dark plum purple, free, 
and of good form. Jane Duval is a seedling of much merit, fimbriated 
lightly at the edge, dark centre, very sweet; while Mrs. Welsh is pure 
white, dwarf, and free. Fimbriata major is white with cream coloured 
centre, heavily fringed or deeply laciniated. Lowlander is a deep red 
bloom, and Derby Day pink, heavily laced bright red. Boadicea has a 
very dark edging, smooth, and sweetly perfumed. Ernest Ladhams is 
blush white, with darker centre, large blooms, which are fragrant, very 
free, and a continuous bloomer.—E. Molyneux. 
SELECT PEAS. 
The wet sunless season has in some districts been very unfavourable 
for the growth and proper development of Peas in order to secure a good 
succession. I thought, therefore, a few notes of mine might prove 
useful, and perhaps bring into notice some good varieties which have 
done as well this year as during 1893. 
Last year we commenced to gather Chelsea Gem on May 13th, but 
it was the 8th of June this season before we were able to pick pods of 
the same variety, the seeds being sown on south borders in February. I 
have relied for several years on Chelsea Gem as my first crop, and it is a 
well-known fact it is a most productive Pea. It is of dwarf growth, 
producing pods in pairs, which yield under good cultivation from nine 
to eleven peas each. When cooked the flavour is excellent, and the 
colour is all that one can desire. Veitch’s Selected Early, William the 
First, Exonian, and Duke of Albany were all sown on the same day ; 
but Chelsea Gem was ready for picking ten days before these. Selected 
was next ready for picking, followed closely by Exonian, which is of a 
good colour and flavour, although I think it useless to grow it and 
William the First. 
Duke of Albany is a strong growing Pea, so should be sown thinly, 
and is useful, the pods being large. I also find this variety turns in 
very quickly, and can soon be cleared off the ground. Champion of 
England always does well, and although tall in growth I consider it one 
of the most useful and productive Peas in cultivation for a second early 
supply. Another Pea I should like to call attention to is Duchess of 
Edinburgh, which I have grown this year instead of Criterion, as I 
could not procure seeds of the latter variety. I have no cause to regret 
making the change. Duchess of Edinburgh has grown to the height 
of 6 feet, it withstood mildew, the plants being strong and yielding an 
enormous crop of well - filled pods of peas of delicious flavour and 
beautiful green colour. Gladiator is a Pea of great value, particularly 
where sticks are scarce, as it only grows 3 feet in height. It is a splendid 
cropper, with large pods, and the peas are of good colour and flavour. 
It is also a valuable Pea for amateurs, and is suitable for field culture. 
Telephone has done well with me this year, and is a well-tried sort, 
needing no comment. Prodigy I consider to be the most profitable 
midseason Pea with which I am acquainted. It is a prodigious 
cropper, producing with me last year, as well as this season, 20 pecks of 
Peas from 1|- pint of seeds, sown in a row 70 feet long. Tne flavour 
and colour are excellent when cooked. British Queen and Ne Plus 
Ultra have done equally well this last two seasons. They are of 
rather tall growth, but the quality of the peas is excellent, and they 
cannot he dispensed with where a regular supply has to be maintained. 
To my mind the Pea of the season is Veitch’s Maincrop, recently 
certificated. The growth with me is from 3 to 4 feet, and the pods are 
produced in pairs, and filled with from nine to eleven large peas in 
each one. The peas are of a beautiful colour and flavour when cooked. 
Perfection is literally hung with pods. This is an old standard 
variety, and scarcely any gardener cau afford to exclude it from his 
order. Autocrat will follow Perfection, and is growing and looking 
well. I have grown this variety every year since it was introduced to 
commerce, and if I were tied to grow only four sorts of Peas, Autocrat 
would certainly be one of them. It has always proved satisfactory with 
me, and resists mildew well. Sturdy is another Pea of great value, and 
one I can always depend on for a late supply, yielding a good crop of 
well-flavoured green peas; it also does well for field culture. Two 
other Peas which had done well with me are Talisman and McLean’s 
Best of All ; they are strong, clean, and healthy at the present time. 
For a late supply I rely on Chelsea Gem and Exonian. The former 
can be easily protected late in the season, and yields, like Exonian, 
valuable dishes of well-flavoured peas. I always have trenches pre¬ 
pared for my midseason and late Peas, the same as for Celery, digging 
the manure in the bottom, after which I tread the ground firmly, sow 
the seeds, and cover with soil taken out of the trench. Mulching is 
applied according to the season. The rows should never be less than 
9 feet asunder, which admits light and air to the Peas, and does not 
cause a weakly growth. The ground between the rows can be cropped 
with any vegetable of quick growth, which can soon be cleared off the 
ground.— JOHN Chinnery. 
THE COMING OF AGE OF THE FIRST FRUIT 
GROWERS’ JAM FACTORY IN ENGLAND. 
This happened on the Wednesday of the Royal Show week at 
Cambridge, and might have received official, if not Royal, recognition 
and honours. In the near future the coming of age of the first English 
fruit-growers’ jam factory may prove to have done more for the 
future prosperity of our national agriculture than one or several of the 
National Society’s great shows. The whole encouragement given to jam 
and preserves by the Royal Agricultural Society of Engla.nd hardly 
exceeds that given to a single horse or bullock, and yet fruit growing 
and preserving are about the only industries that are thriving on the 
land at the present moment, affording a practical solution of two of the 
most difficult problems confronting our statesmen and philanthropists. 
