March 10, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
441 
BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 
1 WAS much interested in reading Mr. Fry’s account of 
his freak of nature, viz., variegated Brussels Sprouts, 
as combining the novel and amusing use to which 
the foliage has been put without detection, which 
shows that the variegation is good ; and the editor’s 
appreciation of them when cooked also shows they are 
not behind the type or ordinary form as regards flavour, 
though I suppose they are not of such a beautiful green 
colour as a well-boiled dish of the ordinary Brussels 
Sprouts. [They had lost very little in colour when 
cooked.—E d. 1 A good variegated form is a novelty, 
and might prove useful to the sub-tropical flower 
gardener as being a fitting companion to some of the 
best types of Beetroot, thus combining use with 
ornament. 
Brussels Sprouts are one of the most prized of the 
Brassica tribe, and are acceptable in any household 
during their season ; though we frequently find them 
badly cultivated, the chief reason being that they 
receive a short season of growth. The plants are not 
on a border of good soil. The boards will shelter them 
from the wind, and they can be covered at night with 
mats; scrim canvas may be stretched over them 
in the day-time when first put out. Covering can be 
dispensed with when established, and the weather 
improves. Water them when necessary, and dust with 
soot, to prevent the ravages of slugs and sparrows. 
Whether from habit, or the restricted area of the 
kitchen-garden, it is a common practice to plant Brussels 
Sprouts between the rows of Potatos, but they well 
deserve more liberal treatment. Give them a position 
in the garden away from the shade of trees—a com¬ 
modity with which too many gardens, both suburban 
and country, are sorely troubled. The soil should be 
deep and rich, though an excess of manure worked in 
just previous to planting causes them to grow rank and 
coarse, such plants producing loose sprouts. A good 
selection, well cultivated, should yield close solid knobs, 
akin to walnuts. 
Before the plants become too thick in their nursery 
bed, they should be got out into their permanent 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
The evidently official publication of the proceedings 
of the council in the gardening .papers, is an un¬ 
doubted improvement upon what has so long been 
the practice, and is especially valuable because it 
is a recognition on the part of the council that not 
only have each of the papers equal claims upon 
its kindness, but that also the readers of all have 
similar privileges. In the past, information of what 
has been going on has leaked out piecemeal, sometimes 
in one of the privileged papers, sometimes in another ; 
but that sort of favouritism is now, let us hope, 
checked for good. The course now taken by the 
council of thus sending to all the papers a precis of its 
proceedings commands all approbation, and it is but 
right that readers should express such approval. 
With respect to some matters outside the council 
proceedings, it seems that one paper still eDjoys 
privileged information. Possibly it may be better that 
Passiflop.a CCERULEA, var. Eynsford GEM. 
got out soon enough, and are planted too often in pool’ 
soil and bad situations, the result being that they 
attain no height in the stem before the knobs begin to 
form, and the cold weather checks their growth. 
Seed should be sown at once, procuring some good 
selection. There is a new variety named President 
Carnot advertised in a contemporary ; it is highly 
spoken of, and if it only comes equal to the illustration 
both the exhibitor and kitchen-server may rejoice, as 
neither will have to travel far over the ground before he 
obtains a dish. The seed may be sown in pans or 
shallow boxes, according to requirements, scattering it 
thinly on the surface of the soil, which should be com¬ 
posed of sifted loam and leaf-soil, in equal parts, the 
rough stuff being placed at the bottom of the pan or 
box for drainage. Cover the seed very slightly, and 
place them on a gentle hot-bed, or in a house with a 
temperature of 55° or 60°. As soon as the young plants 
appear give them plenty of light, removing them to 
cooler and more airy quarters when established, to 
prevent their becoming unduly drawn. When large 
enough to handle, prick out about 3 ins. apart in a 
frame ; if not possessing that convenience, place a board 
edgewise round the space the plants are likely to occupy 
quarters ; it is both usual and advisable to perform 
such work during or after rain, as the plants do not 
then feel their shift, and become more quickly 
established ; they then take hold of the new soil, and 
do not involve a lot of labour in watering. But rain 
does ’not happen always to fall when required, and 
the multiplicity of work connected with a garden 
does not always allow of everything being performed 
just at the right time, but make the endeavour to get 
these planted out as soon as ready ; as I intimated 
before, a long season is necessary to success. Give the 
plants in the beds a thorough soaking of w r ater some 
hours before commencing planting ; take the plants up 
with as much soil attached as possible, and have the 
holes dug out ready to receive them, 30 ins. apart each 
way. Lift and plant with a trowel ; make the soil 
firm about them, leaving a good cavity round each 
plant, so that what water is given when planted and 
subsequently, they will receive the full benefit of around 
the roots. The dibble is a handy implement for some 
things, but Brussels Sprouts planted with it are often 
“hung” in the hole and not half fastened, conse¬ 
quently their recovery and progress is slow, especially 
in dry weather .—George Potts, Junr , 
the information should be thus partially published 
than not published at all; but it certainly does seem 
to me, and possibly to others, somewhat invidious 
that such information should be available in one 
direction only. Would it not be better, were those 
who have special interests in newspapers debarred from 
taking part in the actual government of the society, 
as such persons must be other than human if 
they do not take advantage of the opportunity 
offered, to serve the interests of their papers in 
preference to that of the society ? This seems to be 
so obvious, that whilst all the gardening papers have 
an equal interest in gathering information as to the 
society’s proceedings and maintaining the society in a 
sound position, it is evident that if facilities are 
afforded in one case they should be in all. I do not 
for one moment suggest that the publication of the 
society’s proceedings, of whatever kind, will prove 
harmful. So far from that being the case I cannot but 
think that the best way of securing public confidence is 
to be as liberal as possible in the giving of information. 
Still further, the wider all sorts of such information is 
diffused, so will active and doubtless practical interest 
in the society’s proceedings be engendered. 
