24 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
Fenn’s, and hails from Bedfont, a place becom¬ 
ing equally noted for Potatos. Of American 
varieties a good many have appeared during 
the past year; but although handsome in 
appearance, it is premature to speak of them as 
suited for cultivation in this countiy. 
Amongst Cabbages, an inspection of the ex¬ 
tensive collection growing at Chiswick last year 
enables us to note several very distinct and 
little-known forms. The Early Boulogne is 
one of the very earliest of Cabbages. Louviers 
is an excellent early variety with the character 
of Little Pixie or small Oxheart. St. Johns 
Day Drumhead , although not new, and the 
Winnigstadt , must be noted as two of the 
finest of all Cabbages for autumn use. Jersey 
Wakefield is a very large-hearting sort from 
America. The Quintal Drumhead , a low- 
growing large-hearting sort, is very fine, and 
the Bacalay may be noted as a very beautiful 
and distinct sort. Of pure novelty the thick- 
leaved Coutances , a large strong-growing sort, 
with very thick fringed leaves, and forming 
white hearts; and the Glazed American , a 
variety with deep green, shining leaves, are the 
most noticeable. 
Of Savoys, the finest of the early sorts 
proved to be the Earliest Vienna of Senary, and 
another very distinct variety is the Early 
Lienay , forming deep-green open hearts, which 
stand uninjured in the severest winters. Of 
the large varieties, the Des Vertu is a splendid 
sort. 
In Cauliflowers and Broccolis, which we class 
together, w T e have a fine addition in Veitch’s 
Self-Protecting , succeeding the Autumn Giant. 
Sutton's Late Queen is also specially to be 
recommended. 
Of Kidney Beans we have not so many 
aspirants as usual. Sutton’s Ducrot is stated 
to be very excellent. 
Turnips furnish us with no novelty or im¬ 
provement, although new names were abundant. 
It may be noted, however, that the strap-leaved 
varieties have proved by far the earliest of any. 
Tomatos furnish us with a little novelty, and 
three gains in this now extremely popular 
vegetable or fruit, as the case may be—for 
many of the smaller sorts are used purely as 
dessert fruits, and eaten in a raw state. Early 
Gem is a very early sort, of medium size, and 
very valuable on that account. The Criterion , 
or Vick's Improved , is the greatest novelty, 
and is a decided acquisition—the fruits large, 
ovate in form ; and of a beautiful carmine- 
red colour. The Trophy is a very large sort, 
fine for exhibition purposes. Conqueror and 
Portsmouth are also early, hardy, free-fruiting 
sorts, good for open-air cultivation.—(Abridged 
from the Gardeners' Chronicle.') 
ADVANCES AMONG PRIMULAS. 
HAT there is a marked improvement 
. going forward in the Chinese Primrose 
will be evident to those who have seen 
the grand forms which have been exhibited of 
late years. The many superb double varieties, 
of which that which we recently figured is one, 
show a very decided advance ; for useful as is 
the old double form, the newer ones far surpass 
it in quality. But this is not the only direc¬ 
tion in which progress is to be observed. The 
single-flowered sorts have been perhaps even 
more improved in size, in substance, and in 
colouring. A batch of these has recently come 
before us, and in them we find these important 
qualities to be specially well marked. We refer 
to some choice forms which have been bred by 
Mr. Tomkins (Sparkkill Nursery, Birmingham), 
and of which we propose to specially notice 
four—namely, two white-flowered and two 
bright red varieties. 
Of the white, the best known is that called 
Princess Louise, previously known as Mar¬ 
chioness of Lome. This is a large pure white 
of remarkable substance and boldness of char¬ 
acter, with a w 7 ell-marked yellowish spot, and 
perfectly flat. It has foliage of the typical 
palmatifid t} 7 pe. A newer variety called 
Monarch is larger than this, but equally pure, 
equally stout, and considerably more frilled, so 
that it is scarcely so symmetrical, but is never¬ 
theless a bold and striking flower of great en¬ 
durance. This has a bold yellowish eye three- 
quarters of an inch across and differs essen¬ 
tially in having the more novel fern-like 
foliage characteristic of some of the sports. 
Of the carmine-red sorts just referred to, both 
are far in advance of anything yet in general 
cultivation. In size the flowers vie with the 
largest, in substance they compare favourably 
with the stoutest, while in colour nothing 
approaches them for brilliancy of hue. They 
