September 16, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
31 
THE BEST 
Bulbs 
at cheapest rates. 
EXTENSIVE COLLECTIONS OF 
Hyacinths, Tulips, 
Narcissi, Snowdrops, 
Lillies, Crocuses, Scillas, 
ETC., ETC. 
ALL THOROUGHLY RIPENED. 
Descriptive Catalogue, No. 428 , PostifFree 
on Application. 
Delivered Free by Rail or Parcel Post. 
Dicksons Chester 
IP YOU WANT TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION OF 
ZONAL PELARGONIUMS 
(Gex^a.n.l'uxxxs) 
I^TO W XS TTgE T IIMIE- 
H. J. J. can supply strong cuttings of Finest new single var¬ 
ieties from Pearson’s, Miller’s, and Cannell’s 1893 sets, is. each, 
9s. per dozen. Finest Single Varieties, 1891 and 1892; 3s. per 
dozen. Finest Single Varieties, general collection, is. 6d. per 
dozen. Finest New Double Varieties, including Rasphail 
Improved, six for 2S. 6d. Finest Double Varieties, general 
collection, is. 6d. per dozen. All Free for Cash with order. 
Ryecroft Nursery, Hitlier Green, Lewisham, S.E. 
MR. DODWELL’S 
GRAND GARNATIONS. 
THE FINEST GROWN 
All Classes, 10/6 per dozen. 
Mr. Dodwell’s List of Specialties is now ready. 
Send Stamp and get copy. 
The Cottage, Stanley Road, Oxford. 
N'O'THIN'O is too small. 
NOTHING is too much trouble. 
Inspection Invited. The Trade Supplied. 
You will NOT be worried to order. 
E. D. 8HUTTLEW0RTH & CO. 
{LIMITED), 
Albert Nurseries, 
Palms, Ferns, Stove & Greenhouse Plants, &c., 
PECKHAM RYE, LONDON, S.E. 
Herbaceous Plants, General Nursery Stock, 
Bulbs, &c. 
DUTCH & GAPE BULBS 
And 
Direct from the Growers at Growers’ Prices, 
ROOZEN BROTHERS, 
Overveen, Haarlem, Holland. 
Delivered entirely free in Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, 
Cardiff, Cork, Dover, Dublin, Edinburgh. Glasgow, 
Gloucester, Goole, Grangemouth, Greenock, Grimsby, 
Guernsey, Harwich, Hull, Isle of Man, Leith, Limerick, 
Liverpool, London, Londonderry, Middlesboro’, New- 
castle-on-Tyne, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton 
or any other port in direct communication with Rotterdam or 
Amsterdam. 
Orders above £2 los. sent free to destination to any place in 
England, Scotland, or Ireland. Club (joint) orders for the 
same amount also delivered free to destination. No charge 
for packing or packages. 
Full particulars of our enormous Collection of BULBS, with 
List of SPLENDID NOVELTIES, will be found in our New 
List for 1893, 87 pages in English, which will be sent to all 
applicants, post tree. 
ROOZEN BROTHERS, 
OVERVEEN, Haarlem, HOLLAND. 
Please name this Paper. 
DnMilhl UVAOlilTLIC ^^d other early-dower 
nUmHn niMUIIII no ing FORCING BULBS 
We have made a specialitv of Roman Hyacinths for the lasi 
to years, with the result that we now sell nearly 100,000 
annually. We do not try to tempt you with a low price ; but 
if you wish to buy bulbs that are certain to flower well with 
several spikes—if yon force them properly—give us a trial 
order. For prices of these and other Bulbs, see our new 
Bulb ist, post free. 
Wm CLIBRAN & SON, 10 & 12, MARKET ST., 
MANCHESTER. 
And Oldfield Nurseries, Altrincham. 
For Index to Contents see page 42. 
NEXT WEEK'S ENGAGEMENTS. 
Monday, September i8th.—Bulb Sale at Protheroe & Morris' 
Rooms, and every day in the week. 
Bulb Sale at Stevens’ Rooms. 
Tuesday, September 19th.—Orchid Sale at Protheroe & 
Morris’ Rooms. 
Wednesday, September 20th.—Bulb Sale at Stevens’ Rooms. 
Thursday, September 21st.—Bulb Sale at Stevens’ Rooms. 
Friday, September 22nd.—Sale of Orchids at Protheroe & 
Morris’ Rooms. 
Edited by BRIAN WYNNE, F.R.H.S. 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER i 6 th, 1893. 
a ARKET Grapes. —Although in relation to 
returns for market Grapes it is often 
said that they suffer severely from foreign 
competition, it is really more worthy of 
consideration whether home competition 
is not the primary cause of the comparative 
lowness of prices that prevail. When we 
look at the enormous increase that has 
taken place in' the number of houses 
specially devoted to Grape culture for bona- 
fide sale, and then regard the thousands 
of private gardens rapidly increasing year 
by year, that send the chief part of their 
products into the market in what may well 
be termed an illegetimate fashion,is it to be 
wondered at that the prices of good Grapes 
are low ? For whilst excellent home-grown 
Grapes may be sold at from even is. to 
IS. 6d. per pound by the grower, they are 
sold to the public at from 2s. to 3s. per 
pound, and what of the great mass of even 
the lower middle class can purchase Grapes 
at that price ? 
Still further, for some time past, owing to 
the contraction of trade, incomes have been 
restricted in amount, hence it has not been 
possible for great masses of the community 
to purchase home-raised Grapes. However, 
they do consume immense quantities at 
from fid. to 8d. per pound of foreign Grapes, 
and gladly do they do so, because these give 
to them that fruit luxury which the rich can 
have of the best grown at home. Nay, at 
qd. per pound, at which price very fair 
Spanish Grapes may be obtained at certain 
seasons, even the poorer classes get their 
share, and had we not these cheap Grapes, 
all those of the short monied classes would 
have to go without. To assume that all 
these, if they could not have foreign Grapes, 
would therefore purchase home-grown fruit, 
is absurd, because they could not possibly 
afford to do so. 
After all, we have but to visit some of 
our great modern Grape growing establish¬ 
ments where tons are produced yearly, to 
note how possible it seems for even the 
legitimate trader to satisfy all fair public 
needs. Left alone, he would have no cause 
to complain of prices, but when he has to 
compete with the private grower who hopes 
only to help out his garden expenses, and 
accepts, meekly, whatever price is returned, 
then fair prices are out of the question. It 
is practically impossible that any grower 
can get much profit out of Grapes sold at 
IS. or IS. fid. per pound, but give him from 
2s. fid. to 3s. a pound, and he will do well. 
Still, there is always the risk that with fair 
prices ranging, either others will come into 
the trade or else the anxiety to do more 
trade, which so much afflicts successful 
men, will urge the present growers to extend 
their glass, and thus help themselves to 
bring down prices. 
^he Onion,— It is very evident that this 
most useful bulb is becoming more 
than ever a popular exhibition subject and 
article of diet. Too few persons knowhow 
delicious and refreshing is a boiled or baked 
Onion, especially the large and mild ones 
that under the show method of culture now 
come from ifi oz. to 30 oz. in weight so 
freely. We heard the other day of a wealthy 
gentleman who almost lives on horseback 
in the hunting season, and whose gardener 
is almost, if not actually, the champion 
grower of these bulbs, who partakes of one 
for his supper every winter night. As he 
entertains for Onions the very highest 
respect, as strengthening diet, it is in this 
direction that we find the best excuse for the 
present method of growing Onions that 
range so heavy as to astonish those who see 
them. 
We have recently seen probably the 
largest and finest bulbed collection grown 
in an}^ one garden in the kingdom. Many 
of these bulbs ranged from 30 oz. to 40 oz., 
and yet were in every respect perfect in form 
and in finish. That such huge samples 
would be grown without the stimulus of 
prizes, we can hardly believe, because they 
exceed all common requirements. Still 
there can be no doubt but that the prize¬ 
giving system has done very much to 
popularize Onions, to render their culture 
better understood, and to increase varieties. 
True, we have for many years had good 
sorts and stocks, so far satisfying all require¬ 
ments. But the need for large bulbs for 
eating cooked as mentioned, and the stern 
requirements of prize schedules, have 
rendered the production of larger sorts 
essential, hence we have to-day, varieties 
that under ordinary culture turn out very 
fine average crops, and under the newer 
culture produce mammoth bulbs. 
Of course, there is much difference of 
opinion as to the value of these giants for 
ordinary purposes. That, however, in this 
case we may well put aside, especially when 
we regard as a most helpful factor in the 
case the growing consumption of boiled or 
baked Onions for supper, and for a cold 
winter night’s repast it is very hard, indeed, 
to find anything more enjoyable or nutritious. 
Possibly the prize-giving force will presently 
be expended, but we hope the diatetic force 
will grow, and thus make the production 
of very fine Onion bulbs a permanent 
necessity. 
Wke Verbena Again.— We but recently 
discussed the merits of this old favour¬ 
ite, yet are tempted from more recent 
observation to refer to the subject again. 
It is, indeed, of exceeding interest to find 
these old and very beautiful flowers again 
becoming so popular. We have been 
neglecting these charming old bedding 
plants so long, that to find them now crop¬ 
ping up here and there in very beautiful form 
is quite delightful. Some of this renewed 
popularity is doubtless due to the fact that 
we can now get really first-rate Verbenas 
