198 
THE FLORIST AND POHOLOGIST. 
than the latter. A good strain will also contain flowers of both these divisions, 
so there is no certainty in keeping them distinct. 
In order to preserve a successson of blooming plants, some can be retarded 
by delaying giving them larger pots, but they should be well supplied with 
water, and some manure water ought to be administered also. Mr. George 
Dawson once recommended, that the plants to be retarded should be kept near 
the glass, that a free circulation of air should be permitted, and that when any 
flower-buds offered, as soon as their footstalks were a quarter of an inch long, 
they should be rubbed off with the finger, and that this operation should be 
repeated even a dozen times if required. Thus, in Mr. Dawson’s experience, 
from one sowing there could be kept up a good succession of Balsams in flower 
from the middle of May to the end of November. 
Quo. 
A FEW OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING VEGETABLES. 
Haying been kindly invited by “ E. W. ” in last month’s Florist and 
Pomologist to give my experience with some of the new vegetables that 
yearly swell the fat catalogues of our leading seedsmen, and as I generally pro¬ 
cure all new sorts of Lettuces, Cauliflowers, Broccolis, Cabbages, and Peas, 
as soon as they come out, I gladly beg to inform “ E. W. ” what kinds I have 
tried and found the best. Ivery]s Nonsuch Lettuce I have grown for the last 
two years, and find it an excellent variety for summer use. The Holme Park 
Cos Lettuce I have not grown yet. For sowing now (August) for standing the 
winter, the Bath Cos, Hammersmith Hardy Green, and Tom Thumb Cabbage 
Lettuce, I consider the best. 
Cauliflowers with me this summer have done very badly, the best being the 
true Walcheren from early spring sowings. All the autumn-sown under hand- 
lights and in the open ground came generally with strangely-shaped heads and 
small, and I hear of many of my neighbours complaining in the same way. 
My list of varieties comprised Asiatic, London, Lenonnand’s, Early Paris, Er¬ 
furt, Mitchell’s Hardy, and Squibb’s Dwarf. Of these I consider the Asiatic 
and London the best of the tall-growing varieties, and Squibb’s, if true, the 
best of the dwarfs; but there is none better than the Walcheren, if true, for 
summer and autumn use. 
As to Broccolis, their name is legion, and a great many might be discarded 
from the catalogues and never missed. The early varieties I have selected and 
find the best for succession and good qualities are the following:—Grange’s 
Early Cape, Snow’s True Winter White, Early Penzance, Dilcock’s Bride, and 
Osborn’s Early White. This last variety is very distinct, and does not stand 
severe winters in the midland counties, having a deal of the Cauliflower breed 
in it. For April, May, and June I have found the following keep up a good 
succession :—Knight’s Protecting, Dalmeny Late ; and for the very latest, the 
Richmond and Carter’s Champion. Cattell’s Eclipse I am trying this year. 
On the vexed question of early Peas some strong opinions have lately been 
expressed, that we have been buying old sorts for new, and at high prices. I 
am certain of one thing, that as to the earliness of Peas much depends upon 
the season, and that an old variety, called the Early Kent (or Nimble Tailor), 
could be got as early in May in the open air as the First Crops and Ringleaders 
of the present day. Having a glass-covered wall, 800 feet long, I this spring 
had all these new early Peas grown in pots, and found that although the first 
crop on Ringleader was about a week earlier than Sangster’s No. 1 and Car¬ 
penter’s Express, the size of the pods was so small, only two or three Peas 
being in them, that I shall give up growing these early Peas in pots for the 
