88 
THE FLORIST. 
firm also came a plant and cut flowers of Monocheetum ensiferum, a 
profuse blooming and very handsome rosy flowered greenhouse plant. 
It was introduced from Columbia by Mr. Linden. 
A magnificent basket of Muscat of Alexandria Grapes in an 
excellent state of preservation, was shown by Mr. Hill, gardener t'o 
R. Sneyd, Esq. ; along with them were also the old white Tokay, and 
bunches of Black Hamburgh. Mr. Mitchell, gardener to Lord Wenlock, 
sent bunches of Black Barbarossa; and Mr. Tillyard, gardener to 
Viscount Eversley, had Black Hamburgh. The last-named exhibitor 
likewise sent two Antigua Queen Pine Apples, a quantity of Ne Plus 
Meuris and Beurre Ranee Pears, fine specimens, and both in excellent 
condition ; and a dish of American Cranberries. The following Apples, viz., 
Court Pendu Plat, large, and finely coloured; Ribston Pippin, Dume- 
low’s Seedling, and three unnamed kinds, were contributed by Mr. 
Tanton, gardener to H. 0. Nethercote, Esq., Moulton Grange, North¬ 
ampton. 
Vegetables consisted of dishes of White and Red Ash-leaved Kidney 
Potatoes from Mr. Tillyard, gardener to Lord Eversley, and a “new 
sort of Kale, called Cottager’s Kale,” from Mr. Turner, Royal Nursery, 
Slough. Of this Dr. Lindley speaks as follows, in the Gardeners Chro¬ 
nicle of the 22nd ult:— 
“ At the last meeting of the Horticultural Society there appeared, 
under the name of the Cottager’s Kale, a new vegetable that attracted 
great attention. It belonged to the well-known race of tall, open Cab¬ 
bages to which the French give the name of Chou caulier or Chou 
cavalier. In some respects it resembled the old-fashioned varieties 
called ‘ Curlies,’ ‘ German Kale,’ ‘ Scotch Kale,’ &c. ; but it was 
evidently a very distinct form. Perhaps it may be best described as a 
very fine Brussels Sprout, the sprouts of which will not heart. From 
the root to the very top of a stout stem 3 feet high it was crowded with 
little open Cabbages, of a purplish tint and delicate texture. When 
cooked we found it unsurpassed for sweetness, being quite free from the 
bitterish taste which is apt to accompany the Brussels Sprouts. The 
specimens before the meeting sufficiently showed that it added to its 
good qualities that of excessive productiveness. The specimens came 
from Mr. Turner, of the Royal Nursery, Slough, to whom belongs the 
credit of bringing so valuable a production into notice ; and to whom 
we are indebted for the following history of its origin. ‘This excellent 
vegetable originated some years since in the gardens of Sherburn Castle, 
Oxfordshire, the principal residence of the Earls of Macclesfield—its 
parents being the Brussels Sprouts and one of the ordinary varieties of 
Kale. Mr. Prior, the very intelligent and clever gardener at Midgham 
Park, obtained some of the seeds thus produced, the produce of which 
he fertilised with the old Purple Broccoli, and thus obtained what has 
been very aptly named, from its productiveness and hardy character, 
the ‘ Cottager’s Kale.’ It has been grown by Mr. Prior for several 
years, and its qualities have been thoroughly tested both at Midgham 
Park and at the Royal Nursery, Slough, where it has also been grown 
extensively—and found not only to be by far the most tender of all the 
greens and of exquisite flavour, but to possess the collateral advantages 
