506 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 7, 1894. 
Broccoli. 
The season for sowing these is now at hand, there¬ 
fore it is well before doing so to consider well which 
are the best varieties to cultivate. Doubtless there 
are far too many kinds in commerce, and those who 
have not the room or inclination to test their various 
merits are puzzled to know which of them to sow. 
Having grown from thirty to forty different ones 
each season for several years, I have come to the 
conclusion that only a few of them are of real 
sterling merit, so that in future less kinds will be 
grown. In the north the usual time for sowing is 
about the first week in April, but in the south the 
latter end of that month is quite time enough for the 
late kinds ; some of the early ones, however, may be 
sown at the commencement of the month. 
About half a dozen kinds have done well with me 
this season, the others have suffered more or less 
from the severe frost. The earliest of these was 
Veitch’s Self Protecting, grown side by side with 
Snow's Winter White; it behaved in a far 
superior manner, as Snow's were nearly all killed. 
Next to this we have Veitch's Spring White and 
Main Crop. Then there is Sutton’s Safeguard and 
Leamington, all of which are very good. To grow 
Broccoli well they should make a firm compact 
growth to enable them to resist the cold in winter, 
otherwise they will not be satisfactory. There is 
much difference in soils and situations in this respect, 
but much may also be done by a judicious selection 
and cultivation. Where the ground is heavy and in 
low-lying positions the plants should be put a 
greater distance from each other, they should be 
planted when small, so that their stems may be close 
to the ground. When they become leggy it is that 
part of the stem just underneath the foliage that 
suffers the most, for being more exposed the frost 
takes greater hold of them. 
In districts where Broccolis are grown largely for 
market, only a few varieties are selected, and these 
of the most hardy constitution. Gardeners, how¬ 
ever, are obliged to have a succession, so that it is 
necessary for them to grow a greater number of 
kinds in order to extend the supply as long as 
possible. Since the introduction of the early 
varieties of Cauliflower the very late Broccolis are 
not needed, for with care the former may be had in 
the open ground in good condition in May, and as 
they take up so little room it is easy to find 
sufficient space for the plants to be grown till plant¬ 
ing out time. The sprouting Broccolis have pre¬ 
ference with some, being of a more hardy constitu¬ 
tion, but their flavour is far inferior to the curled 
kales, so that they are not general favourites. What¬ 
ever varieties are grown it will be necessary to pay 
particular attention to them while in the seed bed. 
The ground will need well preparing for this pur¬ 
pose. and plenty of lime should be worked into the 
surface to prevent clubbing. Sow the seed thinly in 
shallow drill four inches apart, for by so doing it 
will be more even than when down broadcast; it will 
also receive more moisture and therefore germinate 
more freely. Where small birds are numerous it 
should be covered with a net to ward them off, or 
they will take the greater 'psLrt.—Kitchen Gardener. 
-- 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN, 
Thyrsacanthus rutilans. —Where a stock of this 
subject is required, a number of plants may be set 
apart from which to obtain cuttings. After taking 
the top cuttings others will be produced lower down 
the stem, and they may be taken off and rooted in 
turn. It is always a good plan to retain some of 
the old plants, as they make very beautiful standards, 
and the long racemes have then a chance of being 
suspended naturally and therefore seen to advantage. 
Begonia incarnata (insignis).— The quantity 
of pink flowers produced by this plant is still a 
sufficient recommendaticn for its being grown for 
winter decoration, notwithstanding the large number 
Mhybrids now in cultivation. Now is the time to 
take cuttings so as to give them a long growing 
season to get good sized plants before the days 
shorten in autumn and become more cloudy. 
Gardenias. —Flowers for cutting can now be 
obtained in plenty ; they will last all the longer if 
cut before they are fully developed, that is before 
the petals in the centre are fully expanded. 
Ventilating the Stove. —East winds have been 
very prevalent for some time, making ventilation a 
matter of some difficulty, especially during the early 
part of the day. When sunshine is bright it is a 
good plan to let down the blinds and so prevent the 
temperature from rising very high. A little air can 
then be put on all the top ventilators with more 
safety, because the blinds prevent cold draughts 
from striking forcibly upon the plants beneath, com¬ 
pelling it to filter in more slowly. It is better to 
open all the ventilators just a little, than to open 
one or two more widely. 
. Show and decorative Palargoniums.— These 
are now throwing up their flower buds in many 
cases, and will require liberal supplies of water. 
Liquid manure will also prove very beneficial now, 
and cause the flowers to be larger than they other¬ 
wise would be. Fumigate for greenfly before the 
flowers open should the pest’ make its appearance. 
Chrysanthemums. —Pot on the plants as they 
require it, and attend more regularly to them in the 
matter of watering. Keep them fully exposed to 
air during the day, so as to keep them dwarf and 
sturdy as well as to retain their foliage. 
Cinerarias. —If it is intended to make a batch 
flower as late as possible, they may be taken to a 
cold pit where they can be kept cool and airy. Do 
not overlook them in the matter watering. See 
that greenfly does not effect a lodgment. 
Vines.—When the berries in the earliest house 
begin to colour, the atmospheric moisture should 
be gradually reduced and more ventilation given 
according to the state of the weather, [f the vines 
are planted out, a good watering may be,given when 
the berries begin to colour, and no more will be re¬ 
quired till they have ripened and been cut. Muscats 
will now be progressing favourably. When they 
come into bloom stop the shoots at the second or 
third joint beyond the bunch, always taking care 
that there is room for the foliage to develop properly. 
Attend to the thinning of the berries in second or 
third early houses as the case may be. 
Transplanted trees.— The long continued east 
winds of March have dried up the ground very 
much and newly transplanted trees are greatly in 
need of moisture. Ornamental trees would derive 
advantage from a mulch of decaying leaves, or 
old garden refuse from the rubbish heap. Fruit 
trees should have a coating of farmyard manure 
placed over the soil, and if birds are troublesome, 
a little loose soil might be placed over the manure 
to prevent it being scattered. Then in every case 
a good watering should be given, and if the trees 
could be drenched overhead with water it would 
help them greatly. 
Herbs. —April is the best month in which to sow 
seeds of Thymus vulgaris. Winter Savory, Sage, 
Hyssop, Fennel, Borage and Chervil. All this can 
be done in the open ground. They will require 
little further trouble beyond thinning out, after 
germinating and keeping the ground clean. The 
more tender annual kinds, such as Sweet Basil, 
Marjoram and Summer Savory should be sown in 
boxes and afterwards transplanted to the open 
ground. Such perennial kinds as Lemon-scented 
Thyme, Common Marjoram, Mint, Tarragon and 
other things of that kind can be renewed by division 
and making fresh plantations of them. 
Quescions add AnsojeR?. 
Wood Ashes for Potatos. —: They make 
an excellent manure for Potatos and may be put in 
the drills at planting time as you mention. It would 
be difficult to name the best all round Potato for a 
gentleman’s table and which would suit every one. 
Tastes differ, and some Potatos thrive better in 
certain localities and soils than in others. Some lay 
great stress upon Magnum Bonum as a good kidney 
for field work, and others believe in Main Crop. 
The latter is comparatively a new Potato, and has 
been making great headway amongst farmers. It is 
a heavy cropper, of good quality and disease 
resisting. 
Marechal Niel Rose Injured. — Mrs. A. Godman : 
There is no evidence of actual disease on the speci¬ 
mens you sent us, nor any trace of insects. We 
believe the blackened footstalks to be due to injury 
in some way or other. The foliage and other parts 
of the plant may have been moist in the morning 
while the sun came out strong and focused the light 
iri such a way as to burn the tender young bark, thus 
killing it. There may be flaws in the glass which 
would act in a similar way. Probably better venti¬ 
lation would have prevented it by making the young 
growths more sturdy. You must remember that the 
nights for some time past have been cold and frosty 
while the sun has been unusually warm durino- the 
day, so that it is not impossible that the temperature 
in the house has suddenly run up very high and 
acted injuriously upon the tender growths. Even in 
an unheated house you must guard against sudden 
and great fluctuations of temperature, especially 
when there may be moisture upon the foliat^e. 
Without seeing the plants or knowing the conditions 
of treatment, the above is about all that we should 
suggest, unless it be to ask whether the Rose is 
trained to galvanised wire, which often injures Peach 
trees in a similar way. 
Names OF Plants— R.IV.: i. Anemone pyrenaica; 
2, Saxifraga ligulata ; 3, Erythronium Dens-canis ; 
4, Narcissus Telamonius plenus ; 5, Scilla bifolia! 
H.C : I, Prunus cerasifera Pissardi; 2, Ericacarnea 
alba, otherwise known as E. herbacea : 3, F'orsythia 
viridissima; 3, Prunus sinensis flore pleno : 4, 
Rhododendron (Azalea) molle ; 5, Cytisus filipes ; 6, 
Acacia dealbata. R. J.\ Odontoglossum pulchellum 
majus. 
Entefing Kew. — P. R. A.: The best way would 
be to apply direct to the curator, Mr. George 
Nicholson, Royal Gardens, Kew, London, who would 
supply you with a copy of the regulations for entering 
the gardens. 
Communications Received.— J. C. P.—D. C.— 
J- Cl.—^J. F.—J. L.—A. M.— Q. R. —Scotia.— 
W. J. N. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED- 
William Paul & Co., Bridge of Weir, N.B.— 
Select list of Pansies, Violas, &c. 
--i—- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
A/)ril yd . 1894. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 
39, Seed Market, Mark Lane, E.C., report a brisk 
sowing demand for all Agricultural seeds. Trefoil 
realises extreme figures. White Clover has advanced 
los. per cwt. Alsikeis dearer. English and Foreign 
Red Clovers steady. 
COVENT GARDEN MAKKEI. 
April i^th, 1894. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s. d s , d . 
Apples.per bushel 4 0 10 0 
Cod Nuts, per 100 lb. 45 o 
Grapes, per lb. 2646 
s. d . 
Pine apples. 
—St. Michael's, each 2 6 
Strawberries, per lb. 4 o 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
{. d . 
ArtichokesGlobedoz. 3 0 
Beans, French, perlb. i 6 
Beet.per dozen 2 0 
Cabbages ... per doz. 2 o 
Carrots ... per bunch 0 6 
Cauliflowers, Eng.dz. 3 0 
Celery.per bundle i 6 
Cucumbers .each 0 6 
Endive, French, doz. 2 6 
Herbs .per bunch 0 2 
Horse Radish, bundle 2 0 
I. d . 
6 o 
2 0 
s . d . 
Lettuces ...per dozen 2 0 
Mushrooms, p. basket i o 
Onions.per bunch 0 4 
Parsley ... per bunch 0 6 
Radishes... per dozen i 6 
Seakale...per basket 2 o 
Smallsalading.punnet o 4 
Spinach ... per strike 3 0 
Tomatos. perlb. i o 
Turnips.per bun. 0 6 
s. d 
6 Q 
8 o 
!. d . 
3 0 
I 6 
0 6 
2 6 
I 6 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices 
t . d . s . d . 
Arum Lilies, per doz. 6 o 12 0 
Aspidistra, per doz 18 o 42 o 
—specimenplants,each5 0 15 o 
Azalea, per doz. 18 o 36 0 
Cineraria,per doz ... 6 o 12 0 
Cyclamen, per doz... 9 o 18 0 
Cyperus .per doz. 4 0 12 0 
Dracaena term., doz. 18 o 36 0 
Dracaena viridis,doz. 9 0 18 0 
Evergreens,invar.doz 6 0 24 0 
Ferns, invar.,per doz. 4 0 18 
. d . s d . 
Foliage Plants, doz. 12 o 60 o 
Genista...per doz. 9 0 15 o 
Heaths.per doz. 9 0 24 o 
Hyacinths... per doz. 40 80 
Marguerites, perdoz. 6 o 12 0 
Mignonette, per doz 6 o 10 0 
Palms in variety,each 2 6 10 0 
Paims, Specimen ... 15 0 63 o 
Pelargoniums,per dz.i8 o 24 0 
—scarlet.per doz...6 090 
Tulips. doz. pots 60 80 
0 
Ferns, small, per 100 4 0 10 0 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s . d . s . d 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 16 30 
Azalea, dozen sprays 04 09 
Bouvardias, per bun. 06 10 
Camellia doz. blooms 10 20 
Carnations...per doz. 10 30 
DaSodils, double 
doz. bchs. 16 30 
Daffodils, single 
doz. bchs. 3 o 
Eucharis ...per doz. 3 0 
Forget-me-Not, 
doz. belts. 3 0 
Gardenias 12 blooms 4 o 
Heliotropes,i2 sprays 0 6 
Hyacinths, doz. spks. 2 0 
Lilium Harrisii, 
doz. blooms 30 60 
Lily of the Valley, doz. 
sprays.0 6 10 
LilacFrench.perbch. 2640 
MaidenhairFern,i2bs.4 060 
Margueiites, 12 bun. 20 40 
Mignonette... 12 bun. 40 60 
Narciss, French,white 
doz. bchs. 30 50 
Narciss, French, 
variouE,doz. bchs. 30 60 
t . d . s . . 
Orchid Bloom in var. 
per bloom, from 03 10 
Mimosa, French. 
per bch. 102 
Pelargoniums 12 sps. 061 
— scarlet.12 bchs. 40 6 
Pyrethrum doz. bun. 164 
Primroses, doz. bchs. i 0 
Primula, double, bun. 0 6 
Roses (French) 
doz. blooms 2 o 
Roses, yellow, dozen 2 0 
— Red.doz. blms. 3 0 
— Saffrano...per doz. 20 30 
0 i — Tea.per dozen 06 20 
Tuberoses, per doz 06 10 
Tulips, doz. blooms 06 10 
Violets, Parma, French 
per bch. 163 
Violets, Czar, French 
per bch. 20 26 
Violets,English 
doz. bchs. o 9 i 
Violets, French, 
doz. bchs. 09 16 
Wallflowers,doz.bchs. 4060 
o 
0 
o 
0 
2 0 
I 0 
4 o 
4 0 
6 o 
GOnSTTElsTTS. 
PAGE PAGE 
Allamandas .501 Laelia callistoglossa.501 
Amateur, a remarkable.502 Nemopbilas .505 
Arboriculture .504 
Centradenia rosea .503 
Chysis bractescens.499 
Clivias at Forest Hill.505 
Clivia J. Fraser.503 
Dendrobium Euryalus.499 
Eria aeridostachya.499 
Euadenia eminens .503 
Exotic Ferns.504 
Floriculture .500 
Fruit Show, the proposed...498 
Gardenia gummifera.303 
Gardeners' Calendar.506 
Gas Lime, uses of..500 
Orchid Committee .497 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar 499 
Peperemia metallica .503 
Plants, new. Certificated ...500 
Rhododendrons,Himalayan503 
Sdience Gleanings.499 
Seeds, vitality of..497 
Streptocarpus, a new.500 
Stenandrum Lindeni.503 
Trees, annual growth of ...499 
Tulip Show for the South...500 
Vegetable Garden .506 
Vegetable Marrows.500 
Weather Prophecies .497 
Horticulture in U.S.A.502 Yosemite Valley, the.505 
