199 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 28, 1858. 
the latter, as I said before, would be more likely to produce plants 
running to seed in autumn, than with hollow stems. It is only 
hetfeSsary to be more careful to securo a better description 
another year ; for, though many kinds of garden seeds—as 
Onions, Kidney Beans, Peas, ana other things—degenerate but 
little, their produce is dependant more on cultivation and the 
nature of the season. 
The merits of Red Beet and Celery are in a greater measure 
due to hnving seed only of the best variety. Hence, many culti¬ 
vators grow seeds of those two articles for their own use, and 
they often find it to their advantage to do so. At the same time, 
it is also proper to have an exchange from a distance; for, how¬ 
ever carefully the kind may bo attempted to be perpetuated on 
the same spot, it is sure to degenerate; hence, in seed growing, 
as well as in breeding of animals, crossing is nocessary. But 
this has been shown before.— J. Robson. 
HODSON’S INDELIBLE GARDEN LABEL. 
Last week an advertisement of these labels appeared in our 
Columns, and we have since received specimens and information 
which induce us to recommend them to our readers. The names 
recpiired are printed upon them, the labels being of a pre¬ 
pared cloth, which does not curl up by exposure to the vicissi¬ 
tudes of the seasons ; and we have before us one which for 
three years has been begrimed by exposure to London smoke in 
the open air, and yet the inscription is perfectly legible. There 
is a metallic-lined hole in each label, through which a piece of 
string is passed, for attaching it to (he plant. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM DRESSING. 
As one of the exhibitors of the Chrysanthemum at the Crystal 
Palace, on the 6tli November, I trust I may be permitted to offer 
Borne observations on the contents of a letter which appeared in 
your impression of the 30th of November, from “ Will 
Worth.” 
“WillWoetii” exhibited at Stoke Newington, on the 2nd 
of November, obtained a fourth prize, and was beaten by Mr. 
A. Wortley, Mr. James, and myself—all three holders of silver 
cups, gained in hard-fought contests with the best growers of the 
day. We met again at the Crystal Palace on the following Satur¬ 
day, with the same result. After speaking, as I think, most un¬ 
fairly, of the Crystal Palace Exhibition, with which most people 
were highly delighted, “ Will Woetu ” says, “ I do not write 
invidiously, because, at the Crystal Palace, I did not get a prize. 
The twelve flowers I showed were the very same for which, at 
Stoke Newington, I was awarded a fourth-class prize; but not 
being touched up again,— replugged and retubed,— of course, 
amongst their newly-dressed neighbours, they cut but a so-soish 
figure.” 
That his miserable flowers cut but a “so-soish figure” by the 
side of ours , no one who saw them can deny ; but the reason 
assigned for the difference is incorrect, because our flowers, like 
his own, were the very same, and in precisely the same condition 
as when we showed them at Stoke Newington. 
“Will Worth” condemns as dishonest the system of 
“ dressing,” but adopts it himself! In his letter in your columns, 
to which I have already alluded, he confirms the honesty of 
“ dressing,” if there bo any meaning in the following :—“ 1 am 
told that, try as I may, I shall never write down the ‘ dressing ’ 
practice. Nous verrons. The system is dishonest, excepting 
amongst exhibitors themselves.” Why, this is the very essence 
of inconsistency, to call it by no harder name ! 
“ Throw away the steel and ivory tweezers,” by all means. But 
let “Will Woetii ” set the example by throwing away his own, 
purchased, be it remembered, about the time his letter, con¬ 
demning the use of them, appeared, on the 9 th of October! 
Any one reading his ridiculous tirades against “ dressing,” 
would suppose that “ dressing ” obtains only with the Chrysan¬ 
themum. Nothing of the sort; “ dressing ” obtains with almost 
every florists’ flower ; — it is a practice sanctioned and adopted by 
the best and most respectable florists in the country. Why, then, 
should “ Will Woetu ” select one of the least perfect of Flora’s 
offspring for his attack, wdicn there is a wider field open to his 
ambition, and better game to run down ? 
I am neither the eulogist of the practice, nor the advocate for 
its suppression. The abrogation of the system of “dressing” 
might open the door to every species of chicanery, and bo fruitful 
of discontent, envy, and uncharitableness. Let us then— 
“ Rather bear those ills wo have, 
Than fly to others that we know not of.” 
Floral ability is not an inspiration : it is the result of practice 
and observation. For a novice, “WillWoetii” has accom¬ 
plished more than might have been expected of him. Amor 
! vincit omnia. Let him persevere. Flora is coy, she must be 
wooed, and not unsought bo won.— G. Sanderson, Chairman of 
J the Stoke Newington Chrysanthemum Society. 
SELECT FRUITS ADArTED TO THE VARIOUS 
LOCALITIES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
(Continued from pay e 184.) 
CHERRIES. 
Adams’ Crown. —Medium sized, obtuse heart-shaped, 
and slightly compressed on one side. Skin pale red, 
mottled with yellow. Stalk two inches long. Flesh 
white, tender, juicy, and richly flavoured. An exceUent 
bearer, and a first-rate early cherry. Beginning of July. 
All Saints’ {Autumn-hearing Cluster; De St. Martin; 
Toussaint). —Small and oblate. Skin red, becoming dark 
red as it hangs on the tree. Stalk two inches long. Flesh- 
white, reddish next the stone, juicy, and acid. This is 
generally grown as an ornamental tree. 
AmareRe du Nord. See Ratafia. 
Amber Gean. — Below medium size, generally in 
triplets; obtuse heart-shaped. Skin thin and trans¬ 
parent, pale yellow, or amber, tinged with delicate red. 
Stalk slender, an inch and a half long. Flesh white, 
tender, and juicy, with a rich, sweet, and delicious flavour. 
Beginning of August. 
Ambree. See Belle de Choisy. 
Amber Heart. See White Heart. 
American Amber {Bloodgood’s Amber; Bloodgood’s 
Honey). —Medium sized, growing in clusters; roundish, 
inclining to heart-shaped. Skiu thin and shining, clear 
yellow, mottled with bright red. Stalk an inch and a 
half long. Flesh amber coloured. Beginning of July. 
American Doctor {The Doctor). —Medium sized, ob¬ 
tuse heart-shaped. Skin clear yellow, washed with red. 
Stalk an inch and a half long. Flesh yellowish white, 
tender, juicy, sweet, and richly flavoured. End of June. 
I have named this “ American Doctor ” to distinguish it 
from the German “ Doktor Kirsche.” 
Angleterre Hative. See May Duke. 
Anglaise Tardive. See Late Duke. 
Anscll’s Fine Black. See Black Heart. 
Archduke. —Larger than May Duke, obtuse heart- 
shaped, with a deeply-marked suture at the apex, diminish¬ 
ing towards the stalk, and very slightly pitted at the apex. 
Skin thin, pale red at first, but becoming dark red, and 
ultimately almost black. Stalk very slender, an inch and 
a half to two inches long. Flesh deep red, very tender 
and juicy, sweet, and briskly flavoured ; but sugary when 
highly ripened. Middle and end of July. Tree some¬ 
what pendulous when old. 
Armstrong’s Bigarreau. See Bigarreau dc Hollandc. 
D’Aremberg. Sec Reine Hortense. 
Baumann’s Mat {Bigarreau de Mai). — Below the 
; medium size, ovate, inclining to cordate, and irregular in 
| its shape. Skin of a fine dark red colour. Stalk about 
; two inches long. Flesh purple, tender, juicy, and ex- 
j cellent. Ripe the middle of June. 
Belcher’s Black. See Corone. 
; Belle xYgathe. —Small, produced in clusters ; heart- 
shaped. Skin dark crimson, with minute yellow mottles 
over it. Stalk an inch and a half to an inch and three 
| quarters long. Flesh yellowish, firm, sweet, and very 
