March 12, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
443 
TURNIP, SUTTON’S CRITERION. 
In this we have an improvement upon the older and 
better known forms of the strap-leaved type of 
Turnip, well known for its service in furnishing the 
earliest supplies of an indispensable vegetable. The 
accompanying illustration shows how distinct the 
variety is in shape from the older strap-leaved varie- 
stood on the flat bottom of another, because it sinks 
partly within the rim, and is thereby held firmly. A 
glance at the accompanying illustrations will show 
the Rim by itself, also placed in position inside a pot, 
and also when used as a pot-holder when stood in a 
saucer. In the latter case it is narrow, and a large 
pot simply stood upon it. 
CABBAGE CARTERS’ MODEL. 
While the heads of this Cabbage are of fair average 
size for those of an early variety, they are developed 
close to the ground by reason of the shortness of the 
stem. The hearts are roundly-conical, firm, compact, 
and constitute tender and delicate eating when in 
their prime during the early part of summer. Owing 
The Rim as Pot Holder. 
Ivorine Label. 
Cabbage Carters' Model. 
ties. The root penetrates the soil more deeply and 
has a better command of the soil-moisture than 
stump-rooted sorts, which are liable to feel the 
effect of early drought, and run to seed at a time 
when they are much wanted in the kitchen. The 
new type under notice is early, and red where ex¬ 
posed above the soil, the rest beiDg white. The 
flesh is pure white, sweet, mild and otherwise deli- 
Pot shaped Teak Basket. 
cately flavoured. Meisrs. Sutton & Sons have 
enabled us to lay the figure of it before our 
readers. 
-- 
WEST’S PATENTS. 
Plant Pot Rim. 
This is a contrivance to prevent the water from run¬ 
ning off the compost and through the openings of 
perforated pots, such as are used for Orchids, 
Aroids, Ferns, &c. In those cases, if the compost is 
once allowed to get dry, there is great difficulty in 
getting the moisture again to penetrate the material. 
To obviate this difficulty the Plant Pot Rim has 
been made, and consists simply of a terra cotta rim 
perforated at the sides with three triangular holes. 
This is put inside the pot intended to hold the 
plants. A little compost or moss is put inside with 
it and pressed down till it is firm, and somewhat be¬ 
low the rim of the pot. The pot being well drained 
it is now ready for the compost and the plant. In 
the case of Orchids the roots find their way down 
the outside of the rim and fix themselves to it. The 
rim may be lifted out, compost and all, when looking 
for slugs, and put back again without damage to the 
plant. Another use to which the rim may be put is 
as a pot-holder, instead of using inverted pots when 
Orchids are stood over saucers of water. The rim 
holds the pot more securely than when the latter is 
Pot-shaped Teak Basket. 
For Orchid culture, Cattleyas more particularly, the 
Pot-shaped Teak Baskets are not only durable 
and handy, but extremely serviceable. There is no 
confinement to the roots anywhere, as in the case of 
the ordinary earthenware pots, but they make their 
exit everywhere, creep round and attach themselves 
to the wood, attaining a maximum development, 
which is hardly ever the case under ordinary pot 
culture. The baskets consist of upright, nearly 
square rods, but slightly bevelled towards their inner 
edges. Towards the top the rods are held apart by 
small blocks of bamboo, while for the rest they are 
simply threaded together by copper wires running 
through and securing them, one wire in line with the 
bamboo blocks, and the other towards the bottom. 
The accompanying illustration gives a general idea 
of this serviceable basket. 
Ivorine Plant Labels. 
Plant labels have been made of endless forms and 
materials. Those under notice consist of a flat, 
white ivorine disc of some secretly prepared sub¬ 
stance, specially intended for plant labels. The 
material is perfectly smooth on both faces, so that 
either or both may be written upon with pen and ink 
or pencil. A rubber stamp may also be used where 
a large number of impressions cf one name are 
necessary. For general purposes the pencil or pen 
are most serviceable. The label is bendable and 
elastic, that is, it may be doubled up and then 
flattened again without breaking; it may also be 
washed when it gets dirty, so as to show up the 
name. We think that the pen, dipped into ordinary 
writing ink, makes the best, most legible, and most 
enduring impression ; for it can at any time after¬ 
wards be washed without effacing the writing. The 
accompanying illustration shows the simplicity 
of the design. The label is thin, light, and simply 
suspended by means of a short copper wire stuck 
into the pot or basket in which the plant is growing. 
The disc itself may be made in any form, that shown 
in the illustration being considered the most suitable 
and serviceable. All of the illustrations were 
supplied us by The Leeds Orchid Company, Round- 
hay, Leeds, who issue West's patents generally, 
including those we figure. 
Soil for Lettuce.—Professor Galloway (U.S.A.) has 
declared that the soil best suited for the production 
of the finest Lettuce is '* one which contains much 
sand and little clay and silt, loose at all times regard¬ 
less of treatment, never ■ puddles ' when worked, and 
on which no matter how wet, clods and lumps never 
form." 
to the dwarf character of the variety, the plants 
require but a moderate amount of space, and fairly 
close planting makes them all the more serviceable 
for table use. The accompanying illustration, lent 
us by Messrs. J. Carter & Co., High Holborn, 
London, shows the general features of the variety. 
ROYAL GARDENERS’ ORPHAN FUND. 
Seeing your report of the meeting of the G. O. Fund 
in last week's paper, I cannot help thinking how 
much we who have its interest at heart have to be 
thankful for, espcially to our Committee, past and 
present, also to our good Secretary for the able way 
in which they have used the money entrusted to them, 
and for the untiring labour they have given for the 
benefit of others. Then again, there are those who 
have helped us with large sums of money, knowing 
that they themselves can in no way reap benefit for 
the same; but how little we have to thank those 
who will be the first to apply for help in their need, 
I mean the gardeners of Great Britain, a body who 
seem to forget that in helping this Fund, they are 
helping themselves; and the consequence is that 
certainly not one-tenth of them subscribe. I wonder 
if they have ever thought what the annual income 
would be. if everyone, gardeners, foremen and 
journeymen would subscribe one penny a week. I 
think if they would sit down and work this out the 
result would not only surprise them, but it would, I 
believe, nerve them on to the effort ; and with that 
income secured, many more Children would be 
enjoying help which now has to be so carefully 
harvested, and the funded property would be 
increased each year.— Charles Fenny. 
-- 
CLIMATIC NOTES AND SOILS. 
It is often asserted that climate alone is responsible 
fjr the production of fine fruits ; but the nature of 
the soil also plays an important part in the develop¬ 
ment of fruits. This we have proved in districts 
wide apart, with altitudes varying by hundreds of 
feet. But we never saw such a difference in Apples, 
Pears, and stone fruit, as in our present locality 
where the soil is of fine loam, and deep, resting on 
gravel. Some varieties do well, and would not be a 
discredit to cultivation in the finest districts in Eng¬ 
land. The same sorts (under our care) do not 
succeed well on cold damp soil When water cannot 
drain freely from the land the roots are kept cold. 
Though planted on elevations of brick rubbish the 
fruits do not attain to that excellence where the soil 
is naturally good, and the drainage in perfect order. 
