August 29, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
829 
Cabbages, Brussel Sprouts and Spinach. The seeds 
only are eaten, and in some cases the skin of the 
seeds of Beans is removed before being placed on 
the table. Seeds constitute a part only of a fruit, 
yet in these cases they are classed amongst vege¬ 
tables. On the other hand the whole fruit including 
the pods and seeds of Phaseolus multiflorus and 
P. vulgaris, popularly known as Scarlet Runners and 
French or Kidney beans, respectively, is cut up, 
boiled and eaten under the name of vegetables. 
The inflorescence or flowering portion of the Cauli¬ 
flower shares the same fate, and enjoys no higher 
designation than a vegetable. A fruit must 
generally be a fruit, but a vegetable hnay^consist of 
the leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds only, or the roots, 
stems or branches of a plant. Carrots and Beet 
furnish instances of thickened and fleshy tap roots 
which are cultivated and classed under the general 
term of vegetables. Even here it is difficult to define 
exactly where the root ends and the stem begins. 
The thickened portion of a Turnip is as much a stem 
as it is a root, or more so, The thickened and fleshy 
stem of Kol>l Rabi and also those of the marrow- 
stemmed Borecoles are eaten as vegetables. Tfle 
underground tubers of the Potato are technically 
thickened portions of branches, and are vegetables 
by common consent. The true fruits of the Potato 
jf edible would probably have shared the same fate 
as the Tomato in being classed as a fruit or a yegg- 
fable according to option, 
The fleshy and edible portion of the Apple or 
Pear is simply the thickened footstalk of the flower, 
yet common sense would be shocked if it was spoken 
of under any other name than a fruit. The edible 
portion of a Strawberry plant is neither a berry nor 
a fruit, but is merely the swollen receptacle on 
which the true fruits are seated. The latter are 
popularly spoken of as seeds, and, being useless as 
food, would be removed if convenient or practicable. 
The fruits of the Peach, Plum, Apricot and Cherry, 
although belonging to the same family, are the 
valuable and edible portion of the trees in question. 
The hip of the Rose is not the true fruit but merely 
the hollow and fleshy receptacle. The same may be 
said of the Fig, for the true fruits are very numerous, 
small, of no practical value as food, and are spoken 
of as the seeds, while the edible and pulpy inflores¬ 
cence is unhesitatingly called a fruit. 
The leaf stalks of Rhubarb offer a peculiar case ; 
for is Rhubarb not classed amongst vegetables ? 
Yet the stalks are boiled, preserved with sugar, and 
used in many ways precisely as we do with fruit. 
Preserves may also be made of Beetroot, Vegetable 
Marrows, Celery, Parsley, and various other sub¬ 
jects whigh are designated vegetables in popular 
language. Mint, Thyme, Sage, Rue, Marjoram, 
Savory, Fennel, and similar subjects used for 
flavouring come under the general term of herbs, 
and complicate matters still further, for the parts 
eaten are not fruit, yet neither the gardener nor the 
cook would acknowledge them as vegetables,—J. F, 
F^unn Hotes. 
The Golden Spire Apple. 
Among a few hardy Apples recommended to my 
notice a few years ago by the Messrs. Drummond, of 
Stirling (who take a special interest in maintaining 
a good collection of hardy fruits in their nursery), 
was the Golden Spire, of which I planted several 
trees. Its usefulness can only be surpassed by its 
fruiting proclivities. The season after the young 
trees were planted they bore abundantly, and this 
year again they are loaded. The Apples grow to a 
good size, are beautifully yellow, and resemble the 
Keswick Codlin in form, but unlike that variety, 
which is soft and not a keeper, the Golden Spire is 
firm and crisp, and keeps far into the winter. If not 
watched and thinned in due time I really think the 
trees would fruit themselves to death. It is men¬ 
tioned in some fruit catalogues, but does not seem to 
be so widely grown in cold districts as it deserves.— 
Stirling. 
Strawberry Latest of All. 
The Elton Pine Strawberry has long held its own as 
a late variety, and well it might do, for I have seen 
it in fine condition of late, where no other late kinds 
seemed to be worth the trouble of growing. As a 
companion to it—and a good dessert kind to boot— 
as the Elton is not always valued for, I would 
recommend Latest of All, which with us on a cold 
heavy soil is a good bearer. I saw it in excellent 
condition in some English counties last year, but 
was somewhat sceptical about its doing so well 
further north. The finest sample I saw last year 
was in a Worcestershire garden, where all varieties 
were a heavy crop and of fine quality. In thife 
garden the Strawberry plants have to submit to the 
process of defoliation. As soon as the crop is 
finished an active hand goes over all the plants with 
a knife and cuts off every bit of foliage, leaving only 
the crowns of the plants. After this a good dressing 
of manure is spread all over the roots. The young 
foliage comes up thick and vigorous, and excellent 
crops of fruit are always forthcoming. I should like 
to learn more of this old custom.— Stirling. 
The Muscat Champion Grape. 
It is very seldom that we see this delicious Grape in 
vineries now, either in private or market gardens. 
Though not a black Grape it ought to be valued 
none the less, for when well done its colour is almost 
a rich purple, with a fine bloom. All to whom I 
have offered berries of this variety, during a period 
extending over some years, have been lavish in their 
praise of its rich Muscat flavour, so juicy and 
refreshing. The great size of its berries too renders 
it an acquisition for the dessert. When Mr. Carmi¬ 
chael (formerly of Sandringham) put the Muscat 
Champion in one of his collections of fruit, I thought 
the contrast between it, the black and the yellow 
varieties, was a desirable innovation. Red Plums 
are not despised on account of their colour, neither 
are red Cherries or any other fruits, then why 
should Grapes be confined to two colours ? Let 
every fruit according to its kind be as perfect as 
ossible in colour and every other desirable property, 
ut when desserts are arranged for effect I think a 
bright crimson or purple fruit breaks up the monotony 
of general effect. It is true that the Muscat Champion, 
like some others among the finest Grapes, is not so 
easily cultivated, but so far as I know special cultiva¬ 
tion has never been given to it.— Stirling. 
THE UMBElTfLOWERED 
SAND VERBENA. 
Of the various species of Abronia under cultivation, 
the Umbel-flowered species (A. umbellata) bears the 
most striking resemblance to a Verbena on account 
of its terminal umbels of rosy-pink flowers, and the 
procumbent habit of the stems favours the illusion. 
The leaves, however, are oval or oblong and entire, 
differing in that respect from a true Verbena. The 
stems vary from 6 in. to 2 ft. or more in length ac¬ 
cording to circumstances, and produce an umbel of 
pretty and slightly fragrant flowers at the tip of every 
shoot. The plant is usually described as a half-hardy 
annual, but with the protection of a greenhouse. it 
proves to be perennial. It is a native of California, 
and is readily obtainable in the seed shops. Raised 
like Stocks and Asters, it may then be planted in 
the border in ordinary garden-soil, and will flower 
continuously throughout the summer months till cut 
down by frost. It delights in light sandy soil, and 
maybe planted where other subjects find the soil too 
dry, or it may be grown so as to hang over stones or 
ledges on the rockery. Our illustration will give an 
idea of its habit and general appearance. Propaga¬ 
tion may also be effected by means of cuttings, and g, 
stock kepf in winter amongst bedding plants.. 
The Umbel-flowered Sand Verbena. 
