1878. ] 
NEW BROCCOLI.—HOUSES V. COLD FRAMES. 
5 
PINKS: THEIR TREATMENT. 
a S the season is advancing when we must 
think about filling up the vacancies that 
occur in our collections of these favourite 
flowers, and also decide upon the selection to be 
made from amongst the new varieties that are 
coming out, a few hints upon the preservation of 
the plants during the winter months may not be 
unseasonable or out of place, especially as the 
losses have, with very many growers, been 
unprecedentedly great during the past season 
or two, in consequence of the excessively moist 
weather we have had, combined with frost. I 
find that plants, however small, if wintered 
in small pots, and planted out (the weather 
being favourable) the first week in March, grow 
at once vigorously, and produce fine, large, 
well-laced flowers ; while the risk which would 
be run had they remained in the ground is 
obviated. I generally put single plants into 
3-inch pots, using a compost moderately rich. 
After potting, they should be placed in a cold 
frame, giving them plenty of air, and supplying 
them with water only when they really need it. 
The proper preparation of the bed in which 
the plants are to be placed, and to bloom, is of 
the greatest importance. It should be trenched 
and rotten manure plentifully worked in, and in 
addition to this a layer of manure two or 
three inches thick may be spread through the 
bed at the time of digging, at about 6 in. 
below the surface. The good effects of this 
treatment will be very apparent in the blooming 
season. It is important that the beds should 
be considerably raised above the walks, say, 
5 in. or 6 in., and if the surface is slightly 
rounded, it wall serve to throw off the heavy 
rains. In planting them finally in the bed, 
great care is necessary not to break the ball of 
earth surrounding the roots, as this frequently 
causes a check which it takes some time to re¬ 
cover. The plants should be placed at about 
8 in. from each other every way, taking care to 
secure all tall plants that are likely to be in¬ 
jured by the wind. As the soil on the surface 
of the bed becomes caked, it should be loosened. 
Top-dressing, with good rotten manure, early 
in March, will be the means of further in¬ 
creasing the growth of the plants. 
Below I give a list of varieties that I know 
are of sterling worth, and any of your readers 
who may select from amongst them will not, 
I am convinced, be disappointed, since the 
following are amongst the best in cultivation, 
—viz.: 
Boiard. 
Charles Turner. 
Emerald. 
Excelsior. 
John Ball. 
Mary Ann. 
Mrs. Mitchell. 
Rosy Gem. 
Bertram. 
Dr. Masters. 
Excellent. 
Genevieve. 
—John Ball, Slough. 
NEW BROCCOLI. 
MONGST the new vegetables exhibited 
this season worthy of notice, is Gough’s 
Late White Protecting Excelsior Broc¬ 
coli. This variety will prove a decided acquisi¬ 
tion, being one of the very latest hardy pro¬ 
tecting Broccolis, and one destined to fill up 
the gap between late Broccolis and early Cauli¬ 
flowers, and thus keep up a full succession of 
this most useful vegetable. The heads grow 
from 1 lb. to 16 lb. in weight, and are white 
as a Cauliflower, and both firm and compact.— 
Edward Bennett, Rahley Nursery , Herts. 
HOUSES u. COLD FRAMES. 
HEN I was a youth, in the days when 
heavy Excise duties made the use of 
glass impossible, save to the opulent, 
florists resorted to many expedients for the pro¬ 
tection of the objects of their care, which, if now 
recommended to our notice, would excite a smile 
of pity. Wooden shutters were generally adopted 
as coverings for pits, and even so late as 1849, 
as the importance of light came to be better 
though imperfectly understood, recipes for ren¬ 
dering light canvas waterproof and translucent 
were again and again asked for, and given in 
the pages of garden periodicals. 
Of course, as glass became available and 
its advantages apparent, wooden shutters 
and opaque coverings disappeared, though 
to my certain knowledge, not without grave 
apprehension and many a shake of the 
head from our floral fathers as to the evils 
which were to come from treatment so different 
to the practice of their lives. In the case of 
Auriculas and Carnations and Picotees, “ we 
Harry Hooper. 
Mrs. Waite. 
President. 
Reliance. 
Blondin. 
Device. 
Emily. 
Godfrey. 
Lady Craven. 
Mrs. Howarth. 
Prince F. William. 
Victory. 
