636 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 4, 1898. 
Very large numbers subscribe to sick and benefit 
clubs, and these are a very costly luxury indeed. 
Taking the very best and most liberal of the English 
industrial insurance offices.it will be found that, on an 
average for several years past, for every shilling paid 
in premiums less than 4-id. has been paid back, all the 
remainder going in expenses, profits to shareholders, 
&c. What this really means none but those behind 
the scenes know, but it is a fact that the difference 
between the premiums paid to one office only exceed 
the amount paid for claims during the last year by 
considerably over £2, 800,000 ! In the face of such 
figures as these one ceases to wonder at the palatial 
offices, the salaries to officials, and the high price of 
the shares. Let it be borne in mind that this is only 
one out of a great many offices, and the loss to the 
poor workman will be appreciated. If a gardeners’ 
industrial assurance can be inaugurated, dispensing 
with all the magnificent offices, salaries, and profits, 
and a fair and certain return for his hard-earned 
money could be depended on, it would not be 
necessary to make urgent appeals, they would gladly 
come in in their thousands, without being asked. At 
present they naturally like to feel they are saving 
something, and the Post Office Savings Bank is their 
best gardeners' benevolent society. Can this be 
wondered at ? And, if I am wrong, will someone set 
me right ?— Thos. Fletcher , Grappenhall , Cheshire. 
-—-a-- 
LATE VEGETABLES. 
During April and the early part of May vegetables 
(otherwise than those which have been forced) are 
not in great variety, and where the Cabbage comes 
in early and Broccoli remain in good condition late 
in the season, the culinary department will not suffer 
much. 
Looking through the Cabbage plots, to take stock 
of the earliest and most serviceable varieties, I notice 
that Hurst’s First and Best is worthy of its name ; 
on a sheltered border and also in an exposed position 
it is the earliest, and the compact, upright hearts are 
handsome. Veitch’s Earliest of All is again first- 
rate, being early, compact, and handsome. Early 
Etamps is also good. Winningstadt long stood the 
test in the north as an exhibition sort—certainly its 
perfect form and firm heart gives it a good position 
—but after testing a number of sorts last season to 
prove the quality of each, Winningstadt was among 
the most tender and of good quality. There are 
about a dozen sorts in all here, and scarcely a 
“ bolted ” Cabbage among them Rosette Coleworts 
have done good service during the winter, and are 
still in use. It is one of the hardiest of its species, 
like a huge Brussels Sprout, and may be had when 
other Cabbages are very scarce. 
The Broccoli crop has stood veil, for some time 
past has been in quantity, and I hope to have sup¬ 
plies till Cauliflower is turning in for use. Meth- 
ven’s June is the latest we have had for some years. 
The plants are strong and promising this season. 
Veitch’s Model is also a very late variety, of even, 
close growth, and evidently very hardy. I hope to 
have good heads from it well into June. Cattell’s 
Eclipse, as usual, is still much in favour, but is now 
(middle of May) nearly over. Gordon’s Niddrie, 
which preceded Cattell’s, is a capital sort for Scot¬ 
land. To get the plants hardy and of medium 
growth, dwarf, and compact, it is a good old practice 
to put them into undug ground, if such is at the 
time of planting at command. In market establish¬ 
ments in the South of England this was almost an 
established practice, cultivators often inserting the 
roots with a crowbar. 
After Onions are removed, Coleworts are a most 
suitable crop to fill the space which remains undug, 
and the Rosette is one of the best for the purpose. 
We planted our Broccoli last season on the same 
ground whence the preceding crop was removed. Be¬ 
tween the rows, where the old plants were growing, 
a pointed iron dibber was used with good effect. 
Watering once, and destroying the weeds as they 
appeared, was all the cultivation the Broccoli had, 
and we never had greater reason to be satisfied. 
Many years ago, when visiting my late friend, Mr. 
Gilbert, he pointed out an immense breadth of 
Broccoli, which had been treated as indicated. The 
plants were (then late in April) in capital condition. 
Lettuce has stood well this year, losses having 
been nil. Bath Cos is best; All the Year Round 
Cabbage Lettuce is in fine form too. Leeks are 
nearly over, but have done well. The Lyon and 
Musselburgh are highest in favour, and have been so 
(with us) for some years. Celery is now over, but 
kept remarkably well. Major Clarke’ Red was, as 
usual, the best keeper, and was of fine quality. 
Veitch’s Early Rose was first-rate, but was used 
earlier.— M. Temple, Carron, N.B. 
-- 
THE SUMMER SHOW AT THE 
ALEXANDRA PALACE. 
A three days’ show was opened at the Alexandra 
Palace on Wednesday the 18th ult. The exhibits, 
which were not very numerous were accommodated 
in the Central Hall, a large and roomy place, and 
one well suited for such a show. 
Competitive Exhibits. 
The classes according to schedule were very poorly 
patronised, for strictly speaking there was competi¬ 
tion only in one. There were no exhibits forth¬ 
coming in several, and the rest had only one each. 
The good quality of these exhibits, however, secured 
for them in each case the first award. 
Pot Plants. —Messrs. J. Peed & Sons, Roupell 
Park Nurseries, W. Norwood, S.E., were the only 
exhibitors in the class for a circular group of flower¬ 
ing and foliage plants occupying 250 sq. ft. Their 
exhibit, however, fully deserved the first prize it 
received, for round the central mound of Palms 
were staged tuberous Begonias, Boronias, Ericas, 
Hydrangeas, Crotons, Dracaenas and Ferns in 
great variety, in capital condition. 
The best nine foliage plants were also sent by the 
same firm, the subjects being Croton Weismanni, 
Dracaena Gladstonei, D. Lindeni, Phormium tenax, 
Kentia fosteriana, Pandanus Veitcbii, Latania bor- 
bonica, Kentia belmoreana and Caladium Mrs. H. 
Veitch. 
Mr. George Cragg, gardener to W. C. Walker, 
Esq., Percy Lodge, Winchmore Hill, N., won the 
first award for a group of Orchids filling a table 
12 ft. by 4 ft. 
Cut Flowers. —Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old 
Nurseries, Cheshunt, were first for the collection of 
cut hardy flowers filling a table space’ of 20 ft. by 
6 ft. A collection of large trusses of Rhododen¬ 
drons and Azaleas were the chief feature here. 
Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry, were first for 
one bride’s and two bridesmaid’s bouquets with 
magnificent bouquets,in which Odontoglossums, Lilies 
of the Valley, and Carnations figured conspicuously. 
We have never seen the Coventry firm put up three 
finer samples of their art. Mr. Henry O. Garford, 
Stoke Newington, was second, also with three fine 
bouquets; and Mr. L. H. Calcutt, Fern Bank Nur¬ 
sery, Stoke Newington, was third. 
Mr. George Mount, of Canterbury, scored 
successes for Roses, for he won the first prizes for 
both the twenty-four and the twelve blooms. His 
strongest varieties were Mrs. John Laing, Captain 
Hayward, Fisher Holmes, Catherine Mermet, Ulrich 
Brunner, Prince Arthur, and Caroline Testout. 
Mr. George Cragg scored for twenty-four bunches 
of cut flowers, with a showy exhibit. 
Mr. Amos Perry, Winchmore Hill, won the first 
prize for the table, measuring 15 ft. by 4 ft., of hardy 
cut flowers. 
Miscellaneous Exhibits. 
These comprised a number of interesting and 
meritorious groups, for which medals of varying 
values were given. 
The premier award, a large Gold Medal, went to 
Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, N., for an 
imposing circular group of miscellaneous plants. 
Amongst the flowering element breaks of Malmaison 
Carnations Princess of Wales and Princess May, 
Erica Cavendishii, E. perspicua nana, and E. ven- 
tricosa coccinea minor were noticeable. These were 
tastefully relieved by Palms, Ferns, Japanese 
Maples, and other foliage plants. 
A Silver Gilt Medal went to Mr. H. George 
Bourne, Grove Villa, High Road, New Southgate, 
for a very comprehensive collection of succulent 
plants. 
Mr. S. Mortimer, of Rowledge, Farnham, Hants., 
received a small Gold Medal for a magnificent lot of 
Cucumbers and Tomatos. Of the former there 
were exceedingly fine samples of such varieties as 
Pride of the Market, Sutton’s Matchless, Progress, 
Sutton’s Ai, and Rochford’s Market, whilst 
Mitchell’s Hybrid, Conqueror and its improved 
form, and Abundance represented the Tomatos. 
A small Gold Medal also went to Mr. L. H. Cal¬ 
cutt for a superb table of floral decorations. The 
central trophy of Irises, Lilium Harrisii, and Fern 
fronds stood fully 7 ft. above the table. The other 
epergnes, floral arches, glasses, &c., on the table 
were both light and elegant, and the effect was com¬ 
pleted by the trails of Smilax and Asparagus 
Sprengeri, which were spread on the cloth. 
Mr. James Williams, of 4A, Oxford Road, Ealing, 
W., had a smaller table, prettily ornamented with 
the Poet’s Narcissus and Yellow Tulips with grasses. 
A Silver Medal was voted it. 
Decidedly the best exhibit in hardy plants, both 
for quality and comprehensiveness, was the exhibit 
sent by Mr. T. S. Ware, of Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham, N. A small Gold Medal was given it. 
The pretty Edwardian ware in a variety of shapes, 
sizes, and devices, and filled with growing Ferns 
was a special feature, that was contributed by 
Messrs. W. Edwards & Son, of Nottingham. These 
variously sized receptacles on view attracted much 
attention from their manifest elegance and suit¬ 
ability for the purposes for which they are recom¬ 
mended. 
An attractively set-up stand of horticultural re¬ 
quisites was set up by Messrs. W. Wood & Son, of 
Wood Green The numerous garden tools, manures, 
bamboos, shading materials, &c., were tastefully 
interspersed with waving plumes of grass, both 
dyed and in the natural colours. 
The Ichthemic Guano Company, of Ipswich, also 
had a stand of their well known fertiliser. 
■--S--- 
MORLAND NURSERY, SOUTH 
NORWOOD. 
In addition to the numerous Palms, Crotons, and 
Dracaenas, which are grown so admirably by Mr. C. 
F. Bause, at the Morland Nursery, and which we 
mentioned last week, there are several other note¬ 
worthy features. Not the least of these is the col¬ 
lection of Bertolonias. These diminutive, but 
exceedingly handsome foliage plants do not often 
find lavished upon them the attention that is com¬ 
mensurate with their beauty. They are rather 
delicate subjects perhaps, and will not stand the 
rough and ready treatment under which many stove 
plants will thrive ; in short,they are the aristocrats of 
the stove, and must be treated as such. At Morland 
Nursery they are accommodated in a close frame in 
the propagating pit, the temperature of wnich suits 
them exactly. Here they produce large, healthy 
leaves, and develop to the full those exquisite 
colourings that are to be found nowhere else in such 
charming association. B. argyroneura with the 
multitude of white spots on light green is rendered 
yet more handsome by the myriads of silvery hairs 
with which the whole of the leaf is clothed. This is 
indeed one of the hairiest of all the Bertolonias, and 
certainly one of the most beautiful. Mme. Alfred 
Bleu is a new variety of great promise. When 
properly develop.d the leaves are of great size, the 
white spots and mottlings on the light green ground 
being exceedingly attractive. The same may be said 
of the rich magenta and olive-green foliage of Mme. 
August Van Geert Souvenir de Gand which has very 
prominent midribs and veins of cerise running 
through a groundwork of dark olive-green. The 
effect of the association of the two colours is at once 
rich and striking. Triomphe de l’Exposition is one 
of the best. Here we have a dark green ground, 
with pink veins, the whole surface being profusely 
dotted with small white dots, and prettily crenated. 
A collection of Nepenthes is another of the 
special points of the establishment. Here we 
noticed that very intractable species N. sanguinea. 
This is very handsome when it can be got to do well, 
which, to tell the truth, is only very rarely. The 
full-sized pitchers are from 10 in to 12 in. in length, 
bright rosy-red in colour, and are furnished with two 
wings, which bear a few long, stout spines. We 
noticed several plants of this rarity, and they all 
appeared to be growing well. N. Rajah is another 
species that is one of the most trying to the gar¬ 
dener’s patience, for it often refuses to do at all. It 
is very handsome, this Bornean species, but, like N. 
sanguinea, a puzzle to the cultivator. 
Caladiums are grown largely, but here again it is 
the finer varieties, particularly the golden and 
delicate white leaved forms that occupy the bulk of 
the attention. Still, it must not be imagined that other 
varieties are neglected, for this is far from being the 
