310 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 18, 1890. 
■whose wood the Cross was made. It is, therefore, an 
unlucky tree, and one that should never he bound up 
in faggots. On this account, also, the Elder is con¬ 
sidered safe from the effects of lightning. In some 
parts of the country there exists a prejudice that, if 
boys be beaten with an Elder-stick, their growth is 
sure to be checked.— B. D. 
-- 
GARDENERS’ ORPHAN FUND. 
Kindly give me a little space to record some gener¬ 
ous and most successful efforts which have recently 
been made in aid of our gardening charities. The 
promoters and conductors of such undertakings deserve 
our warmest and most sincere thanks, not only for the 
time and trouble they have devoted to the work, but 
for the splendid example they have set others to go and 
do likewise. 
At Worksop last month the gardeners of that Ducal 
district, headed by our good friends Mr. Henderson, of 
Thoresby (secretary), and Mr. Gleeson, of Clumber, 
organised a concert, which being patronised by the 
elite of the place, secured as a result a net profit of 
£56 4«. for the benefit of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
In accordance with the rules of the fund, the following 
members of the committee have elected to become life 
subscribers :—Mr. Egglestone, Eirbeck Hall Gardens, 
Rotherham ; Mr. Gleeson, Clumber Gardens, Work¬ 
sop ; Mr. Horton, Welbeck Gardens, Worksop ; Mr. 
Henderson, Thoresby, Ollerton, Notts ; Mr. Jefferson, 
gardener, Carlton House, Worksop ; Mr. Mallender, 
Hodsock Priory, Worksop ; Mr. Sutton, Worksop Manor 
Gardens, Worksop ; and Mr. Woods, Osber ton Gardens, 
Worksop. 
At Reigate the committee of the Eeigate and District 
Chrysanthemum Society (Mr. J. Brown, Great Doods, 
Reigate, secretary) decided to hold their show last 
autumn for the benefit of the two great gardeners’ 
charities—the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution 
and the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. Their efforts have 
been so successful as to secure a net profit of ^100, and 
with grateful thanks I have to acknowledge the receipt 
of £50 sent in aid of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
The following members of the committee have, in con¬ 
sequence, been elected life subscribers :—Mr. J. Brown, 
gardener to Mrs. Waterlow, Great Doods, Reigate ; Mr. 
Thomas Budgen, gardener to Miss Baker, Holmfels, 
Reigate; Mr. Alfred Elphie, gardener to J. Clutton, Esq., 
South Park, Reigate ; Mr. William Hamilton, gardener 
to Mrs. Grice, Beech wood, Reigate; Mr. James Hoad, gar¬ 
dener to G. Simpson, Esq., Wray Park, Reigate ; Mr. 
Fred. Parfitt, gardener to E. Horne, Esq., Park House, 
Reigate; Mr. Wm. Peters, gardener to W. Finch, 
Esq., Danecroft, Reigate ; Mr. James Port, gardener 
to J. C. Saunders, Esq., Shagbrook, Reigate; Mr. 
C. J. Salter, gardener to T. B. Haywood, Esq., 
Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate ; and Mr. Robert Y. Smith, 
gardener to A. G. Taylor, Esq., The Margery, Reigate. 
— A. F. Barron, Hon. Sec. Gardeners' Orphan Fund. 
-- 
SOME RELIABLE VEGETABLES 
FOR THE NEW YEAR. 
In my rambles among gardens and gardeners, acting as 
judge for many years at shows, and with more than 
thirty years’ experience since I first became a pupil of 
the Government Farming and Gardening Institute at 
Glasnevin, I never lose an opportunity of becoming 
acquainted with the best varieties of garden vegetables— 
ascertained from a due comparison of seeds, sorts, treat¬ 
ment, seasons, and results. Professional and amateur 
gardeners will shortly be filling their lists, so I take it 
the time is opportune to discuss the subject; and other 
readers and correspondents may give us their views. 
Taking them in the order in which they will be 
generally required :— 
Cauliflowers. 
Any day now a frame may be filled and the 
seed started and for this early work Carter’s Early 
Defiance still holds premier place. If a frame is 
not convenient, a large box in a warm greenhouse will 
suit, and the young seedlings can be pricked off later on. 
If more than one variety will be required, Sutton’s 
First Crop or Cannell’s Mammoth may be safely 
recommended. An English gentlemen wrote to me 
yesterday on the subject“ My gardener had on trial 
last year a selection from the old Autumn Giant Cauli¬ 
flower, that to my mind is in many respects superior. 
It is more dwarf, pjrobably as heavy a cropper, but not 
so coarse, and with finer flavour when cooked. It has, 
I understand, been put in commerce by Messrs. 
Carter, of Holborn.” The secretary of the Waterford 
show exhibited this, and I can only say, as one of the 
judges, our only complaint was that it was too large, if 
anything. For the main crop, this is likely to become 
a standard variety. If other varieties are required, 
add Snowball, Eclipse, and the still reliable Walcheren, 
if got true to name, after nearly a century’s trial. 
Peas. 
Everyone asks, “ Which is the earliest Pea, every¬ 
thing else being equal?” Having in mind old 
favourites, like First and .Best, Sangster’s No. 1, 
and othets, I unhesitatingly recommend Carter’s 
Lightning. The flavour, too, keeps pace with the 
rapidity of ripening and maturity, and when examined 
no empty pods are found. In size it cannot, however, 
hold a candle to Stratagem, which comes later and 
is probably the best all-round dwarf Pea in existence, 
though Messrs. Laxton and Culverwell have lately 
raised some promising good things, and more or less 
distinct from existing varieties. Many of my garden¬ 
ing friends patronise Sutton’s Dwarf Marrowfat. It 
also can be well grown without sticks, and gives a good 
return of early blue Peas. An excellent variety is 
Kentish Invicta. For second early and main crops, 
Early Favourite, Little Wonder, Pride of the Market, 
and Telegraph will prove thoroughly reliable. Sutton’s 
Jubilee and Latest of All will wind up the Pea season. 
It only remains to add, from this time forward, that the 
earliest varieties may be started in small pots, tin or 
zinc troughs, or otherwise, in such a manner in the 
greenhouse as to be readily lifted iuto the drills they 
are subsequently to grow in. 
Early Potatos. 
Potatos, as the premier vegetable, demand atten¬ 
tion in mid-January, if they are required early— 
say in May or June, or before that date. Every¬ 
thing is possible in these times. A noble duke’s gar¬ 
dener, in this vicinity, planted some tubers in pots at 
the end of October, and put them in front of the 
hot-water pipes in the early vinery, where they had a 
maximum of light—they had too much heat if any¬ 
thing—and astonished the editor of a local paper by 
sending him a dish in mid-winter. The varieties were 
old Ash-Leaf (true) and Carter’s First Crop. The best 
results, however, came from the open-air culture, and 
it is curious, while all other varieties degenerate, that not 
one of the thirty varieties that I experimented with 
thirty years ago are now in existence. The old Ash- 
Leaf still keeps first favourite for frame culture or early 
planting. Myatt’s is the smallest, but of the best 
quality. A promising variety is Cannell’s Victory, 
which was certificated at Chiswick. The Ash-Top 
Fluke would probably come next, and then Delight, 
which was sent out last year. In a good year, without 
late frosts, Ringleader and Snowflake are of fine quality; 
and I have a vivid impression of the fine crops given 
by Extra Early Vermont, which I believe to be almost 
lost to cultivation. I know a noble marquis who insists 
upon growing for table use so coarse a variety as Scotch 
Champion. Magnum Bonum, Imperator, Holborn, 
Hero, Abundance, and the coloured King of the 
Russets will afford excellent mid-season varieties to 
grow or choose from, for either the garden or home 
farm. I have raised several varieties, but cannot 
honestly commend one of them. 
Tomatos. 
I have no kind of doubt but that the time is 
rapidly coming when the Tomato will be considered as 
indispensable a resource of civilisation as the Potato, 
and be served up as regularly in all well-managed 
restaurants and hotels. It is the custom, I understand, 
even in common lodging-houses in America, and no 
Yankee thinks his liver able to perform its functions 
unless assisted by Tomatos, raw or cooked. Last year 
on finishing a new greenhouse about April, I planted 
Tomatos against the back wall, and besides supplying 
my family, a few plants of Carter’s Perfection have 
given enough for all my friends, and the crop will not 
be exhausted until the new ones come. Open-air 
culture does well at the base of a south wall up till 
September, but indoors gives the best flavour and results 
afterwards. Greengage, Golden Queen, Dedham 
Favourite, and Hathaway’s Excelsior give ample 
variety, but if a Tomato is wanted, as we say in Ireland, 
combining all the good qualities of crimson, orange and 
green, give me the richjuicy Blenheim OraDge. Forthose 
who must grow in the open air, Laxton’s, thus called, 
exceeds all others. Get the seed at once and sow, 
transplanting before it gets too drawn, as is too 
common. 
Broad Beans. 
These will ever be favourites with the masses, 
and the best authorities and analysts maintain 
tain that few vegetables come near the Beans in flesh 
formers and albuminoids. The hardy Mazagan is 
now in the ground, and Leviathan and Long Pod 
should be now put in for succession. It is taken for 
granted the soil is rich and well manured, though it 
is surprising, even in a town garden, with sooty and 
smoky surroundings, how those will thrive. In such 
gardens, if moist and cold, lime, brickdust, bone meal, 
coal ashes screened, or the rubbish from fallen walls, 
sand or lime screenings, all tend, if dug in, to sweeten 
the soil. 
Celery. 
Like Tomatos, Celery is a rheumatic antidote, 
and diaving a curative and preventative power, it 
becomes indispensable in most households, and those 
will at once be ordering it for an early crop, and where 
shows are held in late summer, except seed be got in at 
once the stalks will not be presentable. Heat is 
necessary to start it, either a frame on a manure heap, 
or a box in a warm greenhonse, to be duly pricked off 
in time. The best varieties are Solid Ivory and White 
Gem among whites, and Standard Bearer and Major 
Clarke’s among reds. This has been one of the best 
winters within memory for white Celery, as there was 
no frost to cause premature decomposition. Red is not 
so tender or fit for table use as the Solid White, which 
should never have hollow stems. 
Broccoli. 
Although there will be no hurry in sowing seed 
of Broccoli for at least a month, this important garden 
vegetable is generally ordered with the other vegetable 
seeds, and a selection must be made. Thirty years ago 
I grew Snow’s with a dozen others, and it had the 
highest number of points of excellence. Messrs. 
Carter have a selection from Sandringham made by 
Mr. Penny, and it holds the same position if obtained 
true. In succession would come Self Protecting, 
Michaelmas, Mammoth White, Spring and Summer 
Broccoli. It must be remembered the ground is to be 
very firm. 
Onions. 
These suit most constitutions, and very few can dispense 
with them. Many consider that the Giant Tripoli 
and Spanish Roccas are too coarse, and without the 
refined and delicate flavour of the smaller Onions, and 
accordingly give the latter a preference. Silver Ball is 
large, and Golden Queen Miniature small, but of 
exquisite flavour. I always like to have a bed of Old 
Strasburgh and James’s Keeping for late use. A 
friend who saw a splendid crop named Ne Plus Ultra) 
grown by Messrs. Cannell at the Eynsford Seed Farm, 
last autumn tells me, “Cannell has an Onion which 
will be heard of in future.” 
Cabbages. 
Of Cabbages there is a variety of Early York called 
Wellington, common in parts of Ireland, early, 
dwarf, of fine flavour, and turns in at all times of the 
year. The season here has been unprecedentedly mild, 
with the result that to-day, in mid-January, I have 
deliciously tender green Cabbages that I take with 
gravy before even Broccolis. The Cabbage I refer to 
is about the size of Heartwell Marrow, but not so 
robust as Beef Heart. Prizetaker and Drumhead will 
continue the main crop supply—the latter rather coarse 
for table use. Any notice of garden vegetables would 
be incomplete without including Scarlet Perfection 
and Summer Favourite Carrots, Maltese and Jersey 
Parsnips, Perfection and Crimson Ball Beet, Knicker¬ 
bocker Radish, and the new Perpetual and Fern-leaved 
Parsley.— IV. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
-->X<-- 
DECORATIVE ROSES. 
There are four ways in which Roses may be employed 
to make a very decorative effect as growing plants in 
the garden, namely, in beds of dwarf plants ; as large 
isolated bushes or real tree standards ; for the formation 
of Rose-pillars ; and as climbers, whether on walls or 
over arches, &c. 
In planting dwarf Roses in beds for the purpose of 
making an effective displaj T , the great thing to avoid is 
the employment of too many varieties. If a bed of 
seventy-two dwarf Rose trees is to be planted, half a 
dozen varieties are ample, the twelve plants of each variety 
being grouped all together ; and these varieties should 
be selected for their freedom of growth, abundance, and 
continuity of flowering, handsome foliage, as little 
liable to mildew as may be ; and, most important of all, 
their sturdy habit and ability to carry their flowers 
erect, pendulous blooms being necessarily ineffective on 
the plant. The flowers, moreover, should be substantial 
and of good quality, capable of enduring sunshine or 
