! 
April 8. 
CO U NT11Y GEN TLE MAN'S COM PA NI ON. 
; prolific of new kinds; Put the respective merits of each 
need not be discussed here. However, it must be borne 
in mind that soil and situation have more to do with 
this plant than with many others. A hot summer, with 
a fair share of moisture, is necessary to bring it to per¬ 
fection; while a wet, cold one, and the aggravated ad¬ 
dition of a cold, bleak situation, is the worst it can 
have, the plant delighting in sunshine and a genial, 
moist atmosphere, and no plant being more impatient 
of cold, and none showing its effects in a more pointed 
way. Consequently, it cannot be cultivated out-of-doors 
until all danger from frost is over, which is not before 
the first week in May. Therefore, it is not prudent 
to sow before the middle of April, unless there be 
some means of affording the young plants a little pro¬ 
tection ; but even protection from frost is not all that is 
wanted, for the young plants cannot withstand the cold 
j they are subjected to very early in the season ; and 
when they are, with much trouble, saved from the 
: elfects of frost, they are often so stunted with the cold- 
! ness of the atmosphere and soil they are growing in, 
1 that they aro later than those sown some time after 
them. Therefore there is no real advantage in sowing 
them before the middle of April, except in very warm, 
early situations; and the Scarlet-Runner section need 
not be sowui until the last week in April, as this plant, 
though quite, as robust as most garden vegetables, when 
in good health and advanced growth, is very impatient 
of cold in its young state. 
In general, the Dwarf hinds may be planted in drills, 
or rows, about two-and-a-half or three feet apart, and 
the seed dropped in about three inches from each other. 
An open, sunny situation is the most suitable, and 
although the ground for this crop ought to be good, vet 
I it need not be too rich, otherwise rankness of growth, 
J instead of fruitfulness, will be the result. Cover the 
seeds lightly, and take notice when they come up that 
slugs and other enemies do not destroy them. Should 
there he any danger of that, it is prudent to sow r a little 
seed in some pan, or pot, to grow and plant out, to fill 
up any gaps that may be made in this way. Scarlet 
Runners may be treated in like manner; and in some 
situations, when these crops cannot well be planted so 
soon as stated above, it will often lie found advisable to 
sow some under glass, to plant out when the danger of 
frost is over. 
Although these useful vegetables are among the most 
! common wc have, yet they certainly are of the most 
i delicate as regards being sensitive to cold, for the first 
frost in autumn destroys them as surely as it does the 
l Ridge Cucumber, the Potato, and other things of that 
kind; besides which, it is liable to be attacked by Red 
Spider in hot, dry situations, and is not always fruitful in 
moist, cold ones. Nevertheless, with all these, drawbacks, 
a good plot of Scarlet-Runner Beans affords a greater 
amount of useful food than most things; and it is on 
this account that it is so great a favourite with the cot 
tager, whose means of calculating profitable returns is 
not to be despised, independent of it being a general 
favourite at table. 
When opportunity offers, it is very good practice to 
sow r a few pans of Early-forcing Dwarf-Kidney Beaus 
in the middle of March, which, being placed in heat, 
speedily vegetate; these, on being planted out on some 
! slight hotbed, with some rough covering over them, 
generally bear well, and come into use at least a month 
earlier than the out-door crop. I have found the old 
! Dun-coloured come in quite as early as Fulmer's Early 
Forcing, which possibly arises from its being more 
hardy. When planted in a hotbed they may stand 
closer than when on tho open ground, as it is advisable 
to make tho most of such places; but it must be borne 
in mind that this object is sometimes defeated when too 
many plants are crowded into one place, and a choking, 
spindling growth ensues, instead of that robust form 
which alone is the proof of good culture. 
One of the best kinds for ordinary out-door culture is 
the Canterbury Speckled. There is also a Liver-coloured 
one very good. In fact, the quality of the crop often 
arises from other causes than the variety. Let it be 
borne in mind, that in dry, gravelly soils the produce is 
not so good in quality as in cooler soils, especially when 
the weather is very dry. In such cases, the watering- 
pot may be successfully used, avoiding hard spring 
water, and adding, where practicable, some litter-manure 
to the water, which will improve both the quantity and 
quality of the produce. J. Ron son. 
THE BEST DAHLIAS. 
Tx accordance with your wishes, I forward you my opinion 
on the best thirty-six Dahlias which will be ingrowth lor the 
season of 18'ifi. The inducements held out, particularly at 
the Crystal Palace, will, no doubt, induce many growers 
and much competition; and if the few remarks I have made 
are attended to, I nm persuaded the amateur will show a 
stand of (lowers which will hear the test, and stand high in 
the awards.— .Toxin Keynes, Salisbury. 
Aitcnnisnop of Canti.rcury (Rawlings'), four feet; dark 
plum.—This flower was shown early in the season hy 
Rawlings, and bid far to lie good ; but the locality of its 
growth produced thrip, which so disfigured its colour as to 
make it not allowable in good ground, and well grown, cut 
nut. and shaded, it will prove very useful, and fit fur any 
stand. 
Amazon (Holmes'),light-edged purple; three to four feet. 
—This useful flower requires good growth, and very little 
cutting nut; rather quilly, and would be improved by being 
placed under a hand glass to blcom three or four days 
before wanted. 
Admiral Drums (Lawton’s), lniflf; four feet..—Requires 
moderate growth. Rather flat, but good centre; not to be 
cut out. 
Anntf, Rawlings, four feet; lilac.—One of (lie best. Re¬ 
quires to be very much thinned ; eannot.be grown too strong, 
and the larger the flower the better it is. Keep this well 
out. out. 
Beauty of Slough (Bragg’s), light ground, edge purple; 
four to five feet.—Uncertain, but when caught very first-rate. 
This flower would he more likely to be allowable if grown 
from a pot-root or part of the old root. Not much thinning 
required; but semi double, blooms removed as soon as 
perceived. 
Crr.uiF.LTON (Rawlings), yellow, sometimes tipped with 
scarlet; two to three feet.—Requires to be much thinned, 
and will then be a very first-class flower. The buds will all 
fill, never coming semi-double. Keep well cut out. 
Duchess of Wf.t.t.ington (Sainsbury’s), light, salmon; 
four feet.—This flower I saw growing at Mr. Sainsbnry’s ; it. 
is very constant, and requires cutting out. In a fine season 
it will be first rate; lmt cold weather will cause it to quill a 
little. The colour is beautiful, and it deserves a place in 
every collection. 
Duetoh. The finest rose; four feet,—This flower was 
selected from thirty varieties sent, me from France. It is, 
unquestionably, n. very first-class flower, requiring no cutting 
out; always full; perfect centre, quite up; and one of the 
best flowers I know. 
Duke of 'Wellington (Drummond's), three to four feet. 
—So well known, requires no comment. 
Essex Triumph, four feet.—The finest dark flower we 
have yet, when shaded; cannot be dispensed with. Same 
remarks as the Duke. 
Empress (Proctor’s), light ground, pencilled with lilac; 
three feet.—Requires no cutting out; a very certain show- 
flower; easy of growth ; and everybody's flower. 
Eclipse (Wheeler's), dark purple ; three feet.—A very 
good, certain flower, well up in the centre, not quite so good 
an outline as I like; but, its general character will ensure 
admirers, being easy of growth, and always making one 
when wanted. 
