June 17, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
659 
place in the book, as for many years to come it is 
likely to be in request as a bedding plant, and to 
grow into specimens for the conservatory. Its 
peculiarity is its golden variegation, a most unusual 
occurrence in a plant of this kind, yet one we might 
expect, for the silvery hue of the Cineraria Mari- 
tima is not a case of variegation at all, it is the 
result simply of the close, thick down with which the 
plant is clothed.” 
How little did the writer think that this beautiful 
hardy plant would for years sink into obscurity, and 
then be reproduced to the gardening public as a new 
thing ! —A . D. 
-- 
Ill VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
The Early Forcing of Vegetables. 
In a paper on this subject read at a recent meet- 
of the Dundee Horticultural Society, Mr. Mungo 
Temple, Carron House Gardens, Falkirk, said it was 
well known to practical men that there were many 
plants which, with ordinary requirements, could 
fairly well take care of themselves when growing in 
the open ground, but when under artificial treatment 
they must have the most watchful care and pains¬ 
taking attention, and the skill and energy of the 
cultivator were often severely taxed, especially if 
the appliances at command were inadequate to the 
demand. Heat, moisture, and food had to be 
supplied, and by artificial means did fairly well; but 
there was one element in nature which no art or 
science had yet supplied—namely, light. The sun 
was the propelling power by supplying the best 
heat, and its light was life-giving. It consolidated 
foliage, as well as completed the maturation of fruit 
and developed flowers. He referred to this, because 
some choice vegetables were forced in the dark, by 
covering in close, light-excluding structures. Speak¬ 
ing of forced Asparagus, he said there was probably 
no vegetable sent to the culinary department which 
gave greater satisfaction to a chef than well grown 
asparagus, especially during the weeks between the 
end of October and the month of February. It 
took the place of green peas from the open ground, 
in the same way in which green peas took the place 
of asparagus in summer. In cultivation strong, 
well-ripened, and healthy roots and crowns were 
essential, each plant being grown separately and 
freely exposed to the sun and air, so that the crowns 
might be thoroughly matured. Undrained land and 
wiry soil in a shady position would never grow good 
Asparagus, and plants so grown were totally unfit 
for early forcing. He dwelt next on French Beans, 
Potato culture during winter, and how to grow 
Potatos so as to have them young and fresh all the 
winter through; and, in conclusion, said that 
success in early forcing could not reasonably be 
expected when due advantage was not taken of the 
aid rendered by sun and natural elements. All 
artificial assistance must be accepted as necessary 
evils, and such must not be tampered with, even 
when one was sure that such was indispensable. 
At the close, Mr. Temple was accorded a hearty 
vote of thanks. 
Early (?) Mazagan Bean. 
In the majority of seed catalogues, and certainly in 
those of the London wholesale trade, this Bean is 
given as Early Mazagan. A generation ago—before 
we had the Seville and the Aquadulce, or the earlier 
forms of the long pod—it may have been early as 
compared with the Windsor Beans, but early it is 
not. I have tried it year after year, and it always 
comes dawdling along after the others. In addition 
to this it is a poor little thing, and not much better 
than a Horse Bean. Its one redeeming feature is 
that it can be sown in autumn, for it is hardy, but 
even then it does not come in early. Why grow it 
at all ?— Devoniensis. 
Early Peas. 
This year I sowed American Wonder on a warm 
south border on the fith of February and Carter’s 
Lightening in the open two days later. I have this 
day, June yth, gathered our first dish from the latter, 
while American Wonder will not be ready for another 
fortnight.— T. Cockerill, The Gate House, Wirksworth, 
Derbyshire. 
Onions and Peas at Ham House. 
The spring sown Onions at Ham House, Richmond, 
Surrey, one of the seats of Lord Dysart, have been 
making excellent progress. They were sown the 
first week of March, and although the weather has 
been dry ever since and they have received no water¬ 
ing, they showed no trace of the Onion maggot when 
we noted them on the 3rd inst., although they are 
being decimated by it in many of the neighbouring 
gardens. The Peas are also making good progress 
notwithstanding the dry weather and the porous 
nature of the soil, which is simply a very fine 
alluvial silt, consisting of sand and mud laid down 
by the Thames in bygone times. American Wonder 
was the first to give a return on the 24th ult. It 
was sown on a vinery border in the beginning of 
February and has not been staked. The haulm is 
about g in. to 12 in. long and lays upon the ground. 
When treated in this way it would make a suitable 
Pea for small gardens, as the rows could be sown 
comparatively closely together so as to economise 
space. It was succeeded four days later by William 
I., now in full bearing, and 3 ft. to 4 ft. high, having 
apparently suffered no diminution in stature through 
adverse conditions May Queen was the next to fill, 
being ready on the 1st inst. The stems are about 
3 ft. high in ordinary seasons, but at present are 
only 2 ft. The Peas are of good rich flavour, and in 
this respect excel William I., although not in 
earliness. These latter too are sown in the open 
ground alongside of later kinds, which are making 
most wonderful progress. The secret of all this is 
that the ground has been well mulched and watered. 
It speaks well for the cultural skill of Mr. Sage, the 
gardener, who knows how to contend with circum¬ 
stances. 
Pea Blue Express. 
Horticulturists need not now place so much de¬ 
pendence upon American Wonder for a first crop in 
view, of the fact that considerable progress has been 
made in the raising of more productive sorts, which, 
if not earlier, are of better quality. By reason of 
its short stems, and more especially in dry seasons, 
it soon gives over bearing. Blue Express was fit for 
use on the 24th ult., and was sown in the open without 
any protection. The stems are now about 2 ft. high, 
and look as if they would continue bearing for some 
time in the garden of J. McMeekin, Esq., Falkland 
Park, South Norwood Hill. The variety named 
First Crop was not ready till the 1st inst., although 
there is little to complain about that. The soil of 
the garden is very light, consisting of alternating 
layers of gravel and clay. 
Cabbage Sutton’s Imperial. 
This is one of the numerous varieties of conical 
Cabbages of the old Early Battersea type. It proves 
a useful variety for spring work, inasmuch as it is 
not liable to “ bolt ” or run to flower, but forms firm 
heads of a useful size and good quality. When 
cooked, the leaves are firm, sweet and otherwise of 
excellent flavour. Mr. Wright, the gardener at Falk¬ 
land Park, South Norwood Hill, makes several sow¬ 
ings of Cabbages at intervals in August, and speaks 
in favourable terms of Sutton’s Imperial Cabbage as 
the best for autumn planting, in his gravelly soil at 
least. 
Rhubarb Seedling. 
Last year a very promising variety of Rhubarb was 
sent to the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, Chiswick, where it may be seen 
labelled Seedling (Dawes 1892). It resembles 
Victoria in the form of the leaves and stalks, but 
looks as if it would exceed that well-known variety 
in size if planted in good soil and well-manured. 
The leaves are large with broad, deeply-grooved 
stalks having rounded edges. These stalks under 
present, and not particularly favourable con¬ 
ditions, measure 15 in. to 30 in. in length and 1 in. 
to 2 in. wide. At first they are wholly of a deep 
crimson-red, ultimately becoming nearly green at 
the top as they get old. It may be noted that some 
of the longest stalks are comparatively thin, but this 
may be due in part to crowding and other circum¬ 
stances, as the clumps of it are very large. The 
variety has every appearance of being productive, 
and may be grown for weight if so desired. 
General Work. 
The last sowing of Peas should now be made, and 
all the rows as soon as staked must be mulched with 
litter, or anything else available, to prevent evapora¬ 
tion. Good soakings of water must also be given 
regularly so long as the dry weather lasts. Finish 
earthing up the late Potatos, and if possible, give 
water before these begin to suffer. Celery must be 
planted as soon as the plants are ready, as they soon 
spoil if crowded in a frame. Dig in plenty of rotten 
manure at the bottom of the trenches before planting 
and give liberal supplies of water afterwards. Vege¬ 
table Marrows must be kept free from weeds, and 
well watered, and the shoots pegged out so that they 
do not overcrowd each other. Asparagus should not 
be cut after the middle of June, especially consider¬ 
ing how early it started this season. The growth 
should, if possible, be tied securely to sticks, or it is 
liable to get broken at the crowns, which does 
great injury to next year’s crop. Dressings of salt 
and soot do good at this season and weeds must be 
kept down. Tomatos planted either in or out of 
doors must be carefully pinched so as to keep the 
growth from overcrowding. Single stems are the 
best, and when good crops are set a little manure- 
water may be applied with advantage. Sow more 
Dwarf Beans and the last rows of Runners.— G.H.S. 
-- 
QH^anings Jmnn tfre L HDudtr 
uf Science* 
Behaviour of flowers in foggy weather.— 
Plant growers in the suburbs of smoky towns are 
familiar with the dire effects of fog upon the leaves 
of plants, but particularly flowers and buds. What 
are usually considered tender may not prove so 
under the action of fog, and the different parts of 
plants do not by any means behave in the same way 
when under the same conditions. Professor F. W. 
Olive in his report on the “ Effects of Urban Fog ” 
has made some interesting observations on the 
behaviour of certain flowers and buds under the 
action of fog. Pink and blue flowers, such as those 
of pink Calanthes, Vanda ccerulea, Bouvardias, etc , 
suffer a loss of colour and get more or less destroyed. 
Flower buds of Orchids and other plants usually 
drop off, if they are on the point of expansion, but 
suffer to a less extent if very small. A curious ex¬ 
ception to this occurs in Salvia lantanifolia and 
various species of Ixora, whose buds soon fall in 
foggy weather, while the fully-expanded flowers re¬ 
main uninjured. The buds of hybrid greenhouse 
Rhododendrons are not injured while covered by the 
bud scales, nor do the fully-expanded flowers suffer, 
but if just on the stage of expansion they get crippled 
directly, or if the scales are just opening the fog so 
injures the buds that they are unable to free them¬ 
selves and are held as in a trap. The flowers of 
various species of Angraecum escape uninjured, 
while the buds and flowers of A. sesquipedale, as 
growers well know, are amongst the first of Orchids 
to suffer. It is pleasing to note how many white 
flowers that bloom in winter prove comparatively 
hardy, to wit, white Tulips, Narcissi, Hyacinths, 
Allium, Crinum, Primula sinensis, Cyclamen, and 
Deutzia. Why this should be so is not easy of 
explanation. 
Methods of Storing Celery. —The winter in 
the northern part of the United States is more 
severe than with us. More trouble is therefore 
taken to house or protect Celery, both for market 
purposes and for the use of private establishments. 
In the latter case the Celery is lifted, roots and all, 
in the first or second week of November, and placed, 
as thickly as the roots will allow, in deep boxes, with 
a little moist manure or soil at the bottom with 
which to cover the roots. These boxes are placed in 
dry, frost-proof cellars, and kept moist at the roots, 
but dry overhead. Another method is to take out 
the manure from hot-bed frames, and plant the 
Celery at the bottom as in the last case. Hay or 
leaves are placed over the Celery, the lights put on, 
the frames well banked up at the sides with earth, 
and the top covered with straw, and that again with 
earth. Trenches of greater or less width are taken 
out of the ground, so that the leaves of the Celery 
when planted in them may be on a level with the 
ground. An arched roof of boards is then put over, 
the top thatched with straw, and covered with earth. 
For the first fortnight the Celery throws off a deal 
of moisture ; the roof is therefore put on to Keep off 
the rain, and the other coverings are kept off as long 
as frost will permit. The ends are constructed so 
that they can be removed in mild weather during 
winter to afford ventilation and prevent rotting. 
Leaves and stalks alike get thoroughly blanched by 
this process. These records are made by Mr. T. 
Greiner in his little book on “Celery for Profit,” pub¬ 
lished by W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Philadelphia. 
Trenches in the open ground are made on a large 
scale by the market growers. Some of these methods 
might be adopted with advantage in this country, to 
secure the Celery from the destruction which it fre¬ 
quently suffers. 
