828 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 19, 1889. 
NOTES ON VEGETABLES. 
Kales foe Winter and Spring. 
In the suburbs of London it is difficult to get Cabbages, 
Savoys, or other winter vegetables to stand the winter 
with any degree of success. The chronic smoke and 
fogs to which London is continually subject in winter, 
must be held responsible for this state of matters ; for 
these hardy subjects like a clear clean atmosphere just 
as much as the more tender hothouse plants. There 
are, however, a few things that will even withstand 
the smoke and blacks of a London atmosphere even in 
winter, and amongst these the Kales take a leading 
place. The undermentioned are a few of the kinds we 
noted in the trial grounds of Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons 
at Chiswick. 
The dwarf and finely curled kinds are known in some 
parts of the country under the name of Curlies. Dwarf 
Green Curled is perhaps the best known, and like 
others of the same type is generally the most useful. 
The dwarfest of all is Chelsea Exquisite, which has 
very closely curled leaves lying close to the ground, 
and of a clear bright green colour. The best time to 
use the leaves as a vegetable is in summer, when they 
are tender and growing rapidly, or again in winter after 
they have had a little frost, when they again become 
tender. 
They are more valuable in winter, however, than 
in summer, because vegetables are generally more 
abundant during the latter season. Read’s Hearting 
Kale is also closely allied to the above in the character 
of its leaves and the use made of them, but the crown 
bud forms a head like a small Cabbage in spring. This 
variety is also valuable for late work, and is in fact the 
last to run to seed. At present the plants range from 
10 ins. to 14 ins. high, and are quite fresh and unhurt 
by the fog and frost to which they have lately been 
subjected. 
Yery similar to Cottagers’ Kale is Chou de Milan, as 
both are valued for the quantity of high quality sprouts 
which they produce in spring. The stems range from 
1J ft. to 2 ft. high, and bear narrow drooping leaves of a 
deep glaucous green, more or less tinted with red on the 
veins. The crown is open, and the axillary buds are 
the best part of them for human food. Buda Kale also 
appears a very coarse kind compared with curled Kales, 
and to the casual observer more resembles Swedes than 
anything else, but has, of course, no tuber. The 
stems are very dwarf and bear coarse glaucous foliage, 
but in spring a quantity of sprouts are produced, 
which may be blanched in the same way as Sea Kale. 
The dwarf stems facilitate this operation. The variety 
is sometimes called Asparagus Kale; but the same 
name is also applied to Egyptian Kale, the Portugal 
Cabbage, and the Jerusalem Kale, all being used in 
the same way ; so that it is difficult to say to what 
plant the name should be properly applied. The 
Jerusalem Kale is grown in the trial grounds here, 
under the name of Delaware Kale, and is dwarfer even 
than Buda Kale, but has its leaves more or less 
curled at the margins, and tinted with purple. 
Besides these there are several varieties of variegated 
Kales, which have occasionally been used for decorative 
purposes in the flower garden during winter. They are 
exceedingly hardy and ornamental in their way, and 
those who do not object to their colour may use them 
in the same way as the curled Kales, to which they 
are closely allied in all except colour. The different 
strains vary in height from 10 ins. to 15 ins., and 
bear bushy heads of much-curled leaves. Some are 
variegated with red, others with red and white, and 
creamy yellow shaded with red, and the variegation is 
generally along the centre of the leaf, including the 
principal lateral veins occasionally, while the much- 
curled margin is green. The young leaves are the best, 
because the contrasting colours are stronger or better 
defined on them. 
There are several other varieties grown here, and the 
collection is one of the most complete in this country 
as far as this ra~e of the wild Cabbage (Brassica 
oleracea) is concerned. They deserve more recognition 
in the south than is generally accorded them on account 
of their hardiness. 
Pea, William Hurst. 
This is one of the best dwarf Peas in cultivation, but 
is not nearly so much grown as it deserves to be. It is 
an enormous cropper, and can be grown in rows 2 ft. 
apart; but I prefer 4 ft., with either Lettuce or 
Spinach grown between ; then the rows are a picture, 
plenty of pods full of grand, sweet peas, just the thing 
for either the squire or the workman. I always put a 
few sprays of Larch on each side of the rows, as with 
good cultivation it grows 2 ft. high ; then the pods are 
easy to pick, and are kept cleaner than if allowed to fall 
on the ground.— Southdovjn. 
Chelsea Giant White Runner Bean. 
This is undoubtedly one of the largest Runner Beans 
in cultivation. Last season, though late in consequence 
of the wet and cold weather, it did fairly well, the 
enormous pods, some of which measured over 12 ins. 
in length and proportionately broad, being very fleshy 
and of splendid table quality. They were very much 
admired, and will doubtless be eagerly sought after by 
exhibitors when better known. Good cultivation is 
essential, for without it they are not seen to so great 
advantage. To get them early, sow two beans in a 
60-sized pot about the middle of April, place in any 
warm house, and as soon as they show the rough leaf 
remove to a cold frame or a cold Peach house. Re-pot 
into 32's if necessary, placing a twig or two of Birch in 
the pots, and transfer them to the open ground about 
the middle of May. Stake at once, and place a few 
twigs of Larch or Beech on each side of the row for 
protection from sun and winds. I find that after 
planting out such tender subjects the hot sun shrivels 
the young leaves, and though the plants ultimately 
recover, they lose time, so that a little protection given 
at first is a gain.— Southdown. 
The Duchess Pea. 
Having grown this new Pea, which I see advertised in 
a recent issue, for two seasons, I can with confidence 
recommend all who love a good Pea to include this in 
their order list. It is all the Messrs. Hurst claim for 
it, and well deserved the First Class Certificate— 
though I was not aware till now that it had received 
one.— B. L. 
The Conqueror Brussels Sprout. 
Firm compact Sprouts have not generally been 
abundant this season, owing no doubt to the super¬ 
abundant rainfall, and perhaps for this reason the 
season has hardly been a favourable one for comparing 
the respective merits of different varieties. Still, with 
us, The Conqueror, a variety very similar to the 
Aigburth, has come out the best, the number and 
solidity of the Sprouts having been all that could be 
desired, and the number of “ rogues ” in the brakes 
singularly few.— B. L. 
-- 
VALLOTA PURPUREA AS A 
WINTER-FLOWERING PLANT. 
It may interest some of your readers to know that this 
usually-considered autumn-flowering plant has been in 
bloom with us during the last two months, and we have 
a dozen heads of bloom to open yet. When the scarcity 
of choice flowers is taken into consideration at the 
present dark season of the year, the blooming of this 
plant may be considered of some importance, for the 
size of each individual flower will cover as much space 
as a Eucharis bloom, and being bright scarlet in 
colour, they make an exceedingly fine contrast with the 
Amazonian Lily. Independent of this, the flowers last 
a much longer time in perfection now than they do in 
the autumn. I have kept the flowers in water together 
with Eucharis for a week round, and they have 
appeared as fresh as when first cut. 
I cannot say that any special culture has been given 
to flower these bulbs at the present time. They are 
ordinary-sized bulbs, one in a 5-in. pot, and each has 
thrown up two heads of flowers. They were allowed to 
stand all the spring and summer through in a very 
cool greenhouse, just giving them a little water 
sometimes; in fact, they may be said to have taken 
their chance, hit or miss. No signs of the flower- 
stems were visible until well on into October, and then 
they only came very slowly forward, the plants 
having to be placed in a warmer house to bring them 
along into flower for December and January. We 
have yet a dozen heads of flowers to open, and very 
serviceable we find them as they appear. 
Whether this is simply a freak of nature only, or 
whether the blooming period may in future be prolonged 
till December is an open question. Tre bulbs have 
never been denuded of their foliage, like some of the 
Amaryllis, so that it cannot be from being too dry 
that they have flowered thus late in the season. 
Whatever may be the cause, I think it worth notice, 
and I shall watch the progress of events another season. 
— IV. G. ... _ 
Sutton's Exhibition Brussels Sprout.— The past 
wet season has acted on this useful variety much in the 
sama way as cultivators have found the case with other 
well-known kinds, namely, by causing the sprouts to 
become loose and open in many cases. AVith this 
exception, however, Mr. Aitken, gardener at Farkside, 
Ravenscourt Park, says the crop has been excellent. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Cinerarias. —The earliest batch is now in a very 
forward state, and some of the first blooms are already 
expanded. If so required, the best of them may be 
placed in the conservatory to help in giving variety to 
the occupants of that structure. Attend carefully to 
the watering, and see that the soil is never allowed to 
become very dry, otherwise the roots will get damaged, 
and the foliage will never be able to maintain its fresh 
and un tarnish ed appearance. For the sake of the foliage, 
the plants must also be kept near the glass, and 
crowding avoided. Feed with artificial and liquid 
manures, which will greatly assist the plants in the 
production of large flower heads. Keep a watchful eye 
on the plants, so that insect pests may find no quarter. 
Potting. —Before potting commences in earnest, the 
compartments under the potting benches should be well 
filled with the different kinds of soil, manures, peat, 
sand and other requisites. This is necessary for various 
reasons. In the first place it is most economical to 
have a store at hand so as to avoid the necessity of 
going to the general store out of doors every time a 
small quantity is wanted for any particular class of 
plants. Then, again, we are liable to much rain 
at frequent intervals, so that exposed soil is always 
kept in a sodden and wet state, a condition that is 
highly objectionable while the potting operations are 
being carried on, because in the working it gets 
puddled and pasty, and afterwards settles down in a 
solid state that is altogether prejudicial to the roots 
they enclose. A good store of clean pots should also be 
in readiness, and as the work proceeds the empty ones 
should be washed and placed to dry. A small quantity 
of paraffin in the water greatly assists the operator in 
facilitating the work. A quantity of clean crocks is 
also necessary. 
THE FORCING HOUSES. 
Early Peach House.— Where the earliest house was 
closed in November the flower-buds will now be well 
advanced or on the point of expanding. Before this 
happens the house should be fumigated to destroy any 
traces of green-fly, as the operation cannot safely be 
performed while the trees are in flower, because the 
blooms are so susceptible of injury from smoke. During 
the flowering period it is necessary to keep the atmo¬ 
sphere of the house drier, in order to favour the 
dissemination of the pollen, and enable a good set to be 
made. Previously to this there would be no difficulty 
in keeping down insect pests by syringing; but during 
the cessation of this most beneficial operation, insects 
will multiply apace. After the flowers expand, a 
brisker atmosphere should be maintained during the 
day to favour the setting of the flowers. A suffi¬ 
ciently moist atmosphere can be maintained by the 
damping down of the paths and walls. Plenty of 
ventilation must be given while the weather is favour¬ 
able, and assistance may be given to the setting of the 
flowers in some of the many ways usually practised. 
Cucumbers. —The batch now commenced to fruit 
must be carefully attended to in the matter of tem¬ 
perature. The bottom-heat especially requires careful 
regulation, but the matter will be greatly simplified if 
the mid-winter batch be grown in pots. During the 
prevalence of frosty weather very high temperatures 
should be avoided, as severe forcing always has a ten¬ 
dency to favour the increase of insect pests, such as 
red-spider, if there is any trace of them present. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Wheeling Manure. —During the prevalence of frosty 
weather, omit no opportunity that presents itself for 
wheeling manure to the squares and borders, so that all 
may be in readiness for digging when the ground is 
again in suitable condition. Yery little wheeling should 
be done when the walks are soft, and least of all when 
they are wet and muddy after a thaw sets in, as they 
are not only thereby cut up, but the soil gets conveyed 
from the ground to the gravel, till the latter becomes 
utterly spoiled. 
Pruning Gooseberries. —This operation is fre¬ 
quently delayed, with the idea that bullfinches and 
sparrows may yet do them a deal of harm by destroying 
the flower-buds. The season is, however, advancing 
and the buds are swelling, and should we have another 
recurrence of mild open weather before the winter is 
over, the buds will soon be on the point of expansion. 
Pruning must not therefore be delayed, but prosecuted 
at once, so that every bud left may have its proper 
share of sap directed into it. Unless where the spur 
system is adopted (as in the northern counties), all the 
leading shoots that radiate away from the centre of the 
bush should merely be shortened back, while useless 
shoots and those that grow in the wrong direction 
should be cut back to within a few buds of the base. 
Remove entirely all suckers that come up from below 
the surface of the ground. 
