738 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 21, 1894. 
Waterloo, (1S94) was of a soft indigo blue tint with 
dark veins. Border Witch, pale blue with a white 
centre and white streaks, was typical of certain 
others, to wit Ella Russell (1894), Belladonna (1894), 
and Miss Amy Lumsdame (1894), differing in the 
smaller size of the blooms, and, in some cases, having 
a golden blotch on the lip. All were charming in 
their way. Florizel {1894) had lilac flowers shot with 
blue veins, and was large. 
Several of them were intermediate in size making 
it diflScult to determine whether they belonged to the 
large or miniature type; in fact the distinction is 
very much broken down by many of the varieties. 
Blush Queen ischaiming and now well known. A 
miniature named Dark Blue (1894) ^^.d oblong, 
beautiful dark flowers, but scarcely more so than an 
unnamed one of the Blue Gown type. Queen of the 
Year (1894), was a pleasing light blue with a white 
blotch round the eye. Hillside Beauty was a charm¬ 
ing sky blue with a small golden blotch extending 
down from the eye. A pleasing soft mauve was 
Douglas Gordon (1894). Queen (1894), was one or 
two shades paler. Belladonna, No. 3, was white 
with a broad pale sky blue border. Rosea Pallida 
(1894) was of the softest rosy lilac with darker veins, 
and being a moderately large one, ought perhaps to 
be included amongst the large type, but was hardly 
larger than .Blush Queen, but several shades darker. 
Blush Beauty (1894), was a shade darker than the 
latter but had not the blotch on the lip. Most or all 
of the above varieties' were more or less distinctly 
and sweetly scented—a circumstance greatly in 
favour of this charming strain of rayless Violas. 
The dwarf and tufted habit of a great many of them 
which we have seen is another great recommendation 
for bedding and edging purposes. 
THE CABBAGE. 
Next to the Potato this is the most generally grown 
of Vegetables. The poor man with his allotment 
prides himself upon the size he can grow them to, 
while the private gardener, who has to supply the 
table with the choicest and most delicate vegetables 
he can raise, is content with quite a different pro¬ 
duction to that of the allotment holder, or to what 
may constantly be seen in the greengrocers’ shops. 
That the taste fcr small Cabbages is spreading 
among those dependent upon the retailer for their 
supplies we have had some opportunity of knowing, 
for some will readily pay more for a small well- 
hearted Cabbage than for the usual monsters. Our 
own ideal is never to send them to table of larger 
size than can be served up whole. At the same time 
the many w'ill be better pleased for some time to 
come with those of larger growth. The thrifty 
housewife likes plenty for her money. There are 
those who affect to dispise the Cabbage because it 
is so common, but in my estimation a well-grown 
Cabbage when at its best can scarcely be reckoned 
second to any vegetable grown. 
When the broadcast system of sowing in beds is 
carried out, the beds ought not to be more than 
4 ft. in width in order to avoid pressing them with 
hand or foot when weeding or watering them. If 
dry weather prevails at sowing time, well water the 
beds previous to sowing the seed and scatter the 
seed thinly enough to avoid the necessity of pricking 
out into beds, which causes extra labour and retards 
the growth of the plants. By sowing thinly time 
will be saved and a sturdy hsalthy stock of plants 
will be secured much superior to those which have 
been drawn up in a thickly sown bed and afterwards 
pricked out. This is a simple matter in which the 
market men often steal a march on private growers, 
who it may be from want of space and the necessity 
of netting almost all seeds of the Brassica family to 
keep off the greenfinches which abound in some 
localities leads to the sowing of this and other kinds 
of seeds rather too thick for the well-being of the 
plants, and necessitates pricking them off into beds, 
so that they have one check more to their growth 
than the market grower often gives his. He sows 
thinly, keeps them free from weeds by the use of 
their handy crooked hand hoes, so that by the time 
his ground is ready the plants are dwarf and have 
more stamina in them than those which have gone 
through a coddling process, and will more readily 
take a fresh hold of the soil and withstand drought 
to an extent which will kill drawn up sappy plants. 
In all likelihood, too, they will produce well-hearted 
Cabbages two or three weeks in advance of those 
which have gone through the choking process 
described, although of the same variety and sown 
the same date, a result largely due to the difference 
received when in the early stage of their growth. 
The most general time of sowing for the main 
crop is from the fifteenth to the twenty-first of July. 
Those sown at the earlier date sometimes prove too 
forward, and for that reason it is better to either 
make two sowings or sow at the latter date. A 
sowing during the earlier part of August, including 
red Cabbage to remain in the seed bed all the 
winter, will often be of service in making good 
losses among those planted out in autumn, and those 
planted from this sowing in the spring will prolong 
the time, during which fresh young Cabbages can 
be cut. It occasionally happens that from the 
severity of the winter the greater part of the autumn 
sown ones are lost. When this occurs a sowing 
should be made in gentle heat about the middle of 
January, and when the young plants are fit to handle 
they may be pricked off in warm frames and 
gradually hardened off. We have practised the 
pricking off of this sowing into shallow boxes, the 
same as are so extensively used for cuttings, and found 
it a most convenient method, as they can be placed 
almost anywhere where there is a gentle heat, and 
when established can be placed outside, where 
temporary shelter can be given if required. Another 
advantage of this plan is that the boxes can be 
carried out at planting time to the spot chosen and 
a few plants removed for planting as required. This 
results in the saving of many young fibres which 
would otherwise perish. 
A sowing made in March or the early part of April 
will throw a crop of nice sweet Cabbage when those 
from the autumn sowing will have deteriorated in 
quality. Some sow almost every month in the year, 
but this is scarcely necessary, at the same time to se¬ 
cure them at their best more frequent sowing and plant¬ 
ings are necessary than is commonly the case. The 
main crop may be planted out any time from the 
close of September till November. The ground for 
this crop cannot be made too rich, and ought to be 
well dug. The distance apart at which to plant 
them must be regulated to meet the requirements of 
the varied varieties grown ; the smaller kinds from 
I ft. to ft. each way, the larger from 2J ft. to 
3 ft. It is a good plan where space is limited to 
plant double the thickness required and remove 
every ether plant for use as bunched greens before 
overcrowding takes place. If the young greens 
from the old stalks, which shoot out after the 
Cabbage is cut, are required, leave the side leaves 
on about a week, as the after growths will be stronger 
than if the stems are denuded of leaves at the time 
of cutting. Many leave these old stems, which will 
often throw small hearted Cabbages, which are 
often of great use, and the old stems will yield a 
supply of greens for a lengthened period. 
Like every other cultivated crop, the Cabbage is 
liable to the ravages of various insects. The cater¬ 
pillars of the white butterflies often during the 
summer render the crops almost worthless, and 
various remedies are recommended, such as syring¬ 
ing with solutions of soft soap, lime, and sulphate of 
iron. Our own plan has been, if they are badly 
affected at a time when other vegetables are plenti¬ 
ful. to cut them all over and either burn or bury the 
lot, caterpillars and all. This is a drastic remedy, 
but certainly the best we know of. The Cabbage 
moths, Mameotra brassica andM. oleracea, often do 
great damage, and killing the moths or hand-picking 
the caterpillars must be resorted to. M. brassica 
has often given us a deal of trouble. During one 
season we had to replant a large piece of ground 
three times. As this foe is most insidious in its 
operations, working just below the surface and eating 
through the stems of plants, it must be searched for 
and destroyed. This entails the expenditure of 
much time when the ground is badly infested with 
these caterpillars. The grub of the crane fly or 
daddy long-legs is sometimes troublesome, and if any 
plants are found with the stems eaten through, it is 
quite certain that one or other of these two pests 
are at work. 
The Gall Weevil which produces the white swelling 
on the roots of Cabbage and all the other allied 
plants generally known as Ambury, might, we be¬ 
lieve, be often kept down if more care were taken to 
remove the swelling, and destroying the maggots in 
them at planting time. Another destructive insect 
is the larvae of a fly which eats its way through the 
stem, and in bad cases will destroy a plot. These 
are all most destructive enemies, but frequent 
changes of ground and dressings of salt, scot, and 
other artificial manures will materially assist in 
keeping them at bay. Clubbing in many gardens is 
most troublesome, and owing to the frequency these 
crops have to be grown on the same ground most 
difificult to deal with. We have known a puddle of 
red-lead used, as a preventative. This was made 
with a mixture of clay, and the plants well dressed 
with it at planting time, and I think from what I 
saw of it that those who have to contend with club 
among Cabbage and other like crops will do well to 
give it a trial. A dressing of gas lime put on and 
dug in some time before planting is often of service, 
and will assist in clearing the soil of insect pests. 
As regards varieties, we have found for small 
Cabbages nothing better than Ellam’s Dwarf 
Early and Little Pixie; for larger kinds, Enfield 
Market, Early Rainham (a great favourite with 
market men), Atkinson’s Matchless, and Daniel’s 
Defiance, but many seedsman have selections of 
their own which often, when tried on the chance of 
their being something fresh, prove to be new in the 
name only.— W. B. G. 
-- I — " ■ ■ 
DEVON AND EXETER GARDENERS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
Summer Outing. 
The third, and in the opinion of those who attended, 
the best, summer meeting this vigorous Society has 
held, took place last week, when members and 
friends to the number of over fifty set out for a long 
drive through some of the loveliest landscapes that 
even flowery Devon can boast. Leaving Exeter at 
breakfast-time and travelling in well-appointed four- 
horse brakes, a drive of an hour, passing through the 
village of Alphington—from the church tower of which 
was hung, by the rebels, the vicar of the parish, and in 
the aisle of which there lies ■' three twins,” who 
damped off early in life’s career—the picturesque 
estate of Haldon was reached. Here, alas, was 
evidence of absenteeism and the accompanying 
neglect. Lord Haldon not having resided there for 
many years. The property has lately been bought 
by T. B. Bolitho, Esq., one of the Cornish family of 
bankers, and as Mr. Bolitbo is likely to reside there, 
the place will, it is hoped, soon assume a happier 
aspect. Mr. Field, the head-gardener, conducted 
the party round the place and proved a most intelli¬ 
gent guide. Among the interesting objects noted 
were some fine Oaks. The Cork Oak, 10 ft. in girth 
and 10 ft. clear in the stem ; an English Oak with 
a clean bole of 20 ft. and a girth of 18 ft.; Lirio- 
dendron tulipifera, 65 ft.; a Cedar of Lebanon, 16 ft. 
in girth and 18 ft. clear in the stem ; fine examples 
of the Weeping Ash, Cedar of Lebanon, deciduous 
Cypress, Arbutus, Pinus nobilis, and other good 
conifers. On the lawn was a fine plant of Chamae- 
rops excelsa in flower, some beds bordered with 
variegated ground Elder, and a fine big clump of 
Eryngium Bourgatti. Near the ditch in the 
shrubbery were some bits of Gunnera scabra. 
Mounting the hill by the Eelvidere tower, one of 
the grandest panoramic views to be seen in England 
opened out. Here was a wealth of w’oods all 
around, with the estuary of the Exe glistening to the 
right, the city of Exeter at our feet, the ancient forest 
of Dartmoor stretching to the horizon in front, and 
the sheltered coombes and valleys of South Devon 
behind us, while here and there bright patches of 
purple heather lightened up the landscape and made 
it a veritable pixyland 
A drive of an hour along the ridge of Haldon Hill 
and sweeping along the avenues and woodland drives 
brought us to Whiteway House, the seat of the 
Dowager Countess of Morley. The heartiest of 
Devonshire welcomes was given to the party, and in 
the dining-room a bounteous lunch was prepared for 
the visitors. On behalf of the gardeners, Mr. Andrew 
Hope (Hony. Sec.), who presided, expressed the deep 
appreciation of all present for Lady Morley’s hand¬ 
some hospitality. The Dowager's health was drunk 
with much enthusiasm. Lady Katherine Parker ex¬ 
hibited a rare collection of fossils and minerals and 
some of the old family paintings and illuminated 
books from the library. Mr. Nanscawen, the ex¬ 
ceptionally able head-gardener conducted the guests 
through the pleasure grounds and flower gardens in 
whicti are some fine specimens of trees and shrubs. 
There are five grand examples of the flowering Ash, 
some of them running 60 to 70 ft. in height. Ailan- 
