April II, 1908. THE GARDENING WORLD. 
The Cabbage Family. 
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Read at the Linnean Society. 
In various places on our sea coasts the 
wild Cabbage grows in the form of a 
somewhat fleshy-leaved weed with small 
yellow Cross-shaped flowers, and no one 
looking at it would imagine that such a 
plant could be the origin of the wonderful 
wealth of nutritious vegetables which we 
possess in the shape of Cabbages of vari¬ 
ous forms, shapes, and colours, Kales of 
equal variety, Cauliflowers, Broccoli, 
Brussels Sprouts, and even that singular 
Turnip-like form, Kohl Rabi. It is, how¬ 
ever, beyond all doubt that it is to the 
peculiarly sportive nature of this weed 
and its singular capacity of responding 
to high culture, that all those varieties 
are due. Our seedsmen's catalogues will 
also show us that each of these types has 
given innumerable sub-varieties, so that 
there are hundreds of varied descriptions. 
The process of selection which has led 
up to these, is, however, still going on, 
and Mr. Arthur \V. Sutton, F.L.S., of 
the well-known Reading firm, gave a most 
interesting paper at the Linnean Society 
at a recent meeting, which, being 
illustrated by a large number of lan¬ 
tern slides, showed how even this multi¬ 
tude of forms could be increased by cross¬ 
ing, several new ones of great value 
being exhibited, such as combinations of 
Brussels Sprouts with the Savoy and other 
Cabbages, increasing size and weight, 
and consequent food value. 
Independently, however, of such ac¬ 
quisitions, the experiments described by 
Mr. Sutton had for their object the settle¬ 
ment of the vexed question among seed 
growers as to how far plants of these 
different forms, grown from seed, could 
be safely associated without risk of 
deterioration by intercrossing, a risk 
which has on more than one occasion led 
to law suits, seed supplied having mysteri¬ 
ously yielded inferior or even worthless 
crops, although derived from apparently 
reliable sources. In this connection it is 
not merely the Cabbage species proper 
(Brassica oleracea) which is concerned, 
but its near allies, -B. Rapa, the Turnip, 
B. campestris, the Swede, and B. Napus, 
The Rape, which, as Mr. Sutton’s slides 
clearly demonstrated, are capable of 
intercrossing to some extent, a possible 
result being that a crop of Turnip seed 
may be so affected by neighbouring Rape 
pollen, that few or no Turnips would 
result, the Rape influence predominating. 
The paper had also considerable in¬ 
terest from the purely scientific side, and 
a number of prominent scientists were 
consequently present to hear what evi¬ 
dence the experiments afforded in connec¬ 
tion with the Mendellian theory, or rather 
law of inheritance of characters, and it 
was noted with great satisfaction that, 
although the families concerned were of 
such a variable nature, the ratios in which 
the two parental characters of crossed 
forms came out separatelv and clearly in 
the next generation but one, agreed 
closely with what that law would lead us 
to expect. 
Returning to the question of purity of 
seed crops, it was clearly established that 
certain varieties and species might quite 
safely be grown side by side, or even 
intermixed without the least risk of cross¬ 
ing, while others crossed so freely under 
like circumstances, that a more or less 
Impure and mongrel crop of plants was 
sure to result from their seed. The long 
series of experiments concerned had 
therefore had a threefold value, by giving 
us new and improved vegetables for 
culinary purposes, instructing seed 
growers as to what crops might or might 
not be grown in association, and finally 
by adding some important data to our 
scientific knowledge of the laws under¬ 
lying inheritance, which until Mendel s 
Theory was published, remained an ap¬ 
parently insoluble enigma. Professors 
Farmer and Percival, and Mr. Bateson, 
In the subsequent discussion, emphasised 
the value of Mr. Sutton’s experiments, es¬ 
pecially from the scientific point of view. 
The additional paper on the tuber bearing 
Solanums was unavoidably postponed 
owing to lack of adequate time. 
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Novelties. 
JlmaUus’s SeUcUoiu 
Every amateur would do well to select 
a fair number of novelties so that his gar¬ 
den may have a distinct individuality, and 
not lose its charm by being exactly like 
all the gardens around it. On the other 
hand, whilst saving it from being com¬ 
monplace, we must not be singular or 
ostentatious. 
Novelties may be just ordinary plants, 
which are only novelties because none of 
your neighbours have them. Look round 
then, and see what they are doing, and 
without attempting to spoil their ideals 
by too vivid a contrast, do try to have in 
your garden something that is different 
and yet in reasonable harmony with their 
arrangements. For example, if your 
neighbour has a white Mespilus, it may 
be doing him a kindness to have a purple 
Plum (Prunus cerasifera atropurpurea) 
In your garden to complete the effect. 
Think the matter out, consult with those 
around you, and in this way, without in¬ 
creased cost, you can have many real 
local novelties. 
If you want some of the newer kinds of 
plants, it is a laudable ambition, but at 
the same time do not neglect the old 
friends who are so dear to the gardener’s 
heart. For instance, by all means have a 
Frau Karl Druschki Rose, but do not let 
it oust Merveille de Lyon and Margaret 
Dickson. 
To buy costly novelties merely for the 
sake of crowing over your neighbours be¬ 
cause you can spend more money is cad¬ 
dish in the extreme. Nor is it fair to 
plant species and singular varieties in 
juxtaposition to other gardens. For these 
things set aside a plot where they may 
reign alone. 
Many so-called exceedingly costly 
novelties differ so little from those which 
are in daily use that only a trained ex¬ 
pert can distinguish between them. Thus 
you can buv, say, a Narcissus at five 
guineas which is not one atom better for 
geneial effect than one you can purchase 
for five farthings, and may be not quite 
so good. 
Catalogue descriptions are usually mis¬ 
leading, for the enthusiasm of the seller 
carries him away into using (unintention¬ 
ally) terms which captivate the inexperi¬ 
enced amateur. There are firms who 
point out these masters in their cata¬ 
logues, who, if you ask them, will 
honestly tell you .shat are the best novel¬ 
ties for either the moneyed enthusiast or 
the amateur with a slender purse and no 
experience. 
Curious plants, however novel, are 
rarely suitable for an ordinary garden. 
Rather seek your novelties in really new 
kinds of standard merit or in improved 
forms of some old and well-tried friends. 
BAYNTON-T AYLOR. 
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The Manure Heap. 
It is to be regretted that with many 
gardeners and others so little attention 
is paid to the manure heap. It seems to 
be looked upon as being merely the 
refuse store until the time comes to put 
the manure on to the land. Little wonder 
it is practically useless for nourishing the 
ground, after having been left lying 
about in a loose state, exposed to the rain 
and sun, and so washing or evaporating 
the best out of it. The manure heap, if 
properly managed, is a valuable adjunct 
to cultivation, but if treated with absolute 
neglect it may become useless. What I 
suggest is that as the manure comes to 
hand, from whatever source, it should be 
stacked up in the same way as making a 
hay rick, with straight sides, therefore 
only exposing the top to the elements. 
The rain will soak into it and help to rot 
it. Another advantage of this method is 
that the whole mass solidifies, so that 
evaporation is not so free as when the 
heap is in a loose state, the heating pro¬ 
cess is accentuated, and the whole stands 
a better chance of becoming what is re¬ 
quired, namely, a rotten mass. 
Every manure heap should be turned, 
that is, stirred over, two or three times 
before being applied to the ground, and 
this should be made a thorough job of, 
commencing at one end and going right 
along to the other end, and working right 
down to the bottom, each forkful that 
is taken up being well shaken to pieces. 
The operation of turning and mixing the 
manure heap is a simple one, and the 
extra expense and trouble are repaid over 
and over again, because of the advantages 
obtained. 
The spreading of the well-rotted 
manure on the land is easier and more 
completely accomplished than when not 
properly prepared. This preparation of 
the manure heap in readiness to be trans¬ 
ferred to the ground should be thought 
worthy of attention by every gardener. 
Well-rotted manure can be more easily 
handled and incorporated with the soil, 
and is more quickly assimilated than 
great lumps of strawy manure, which are 
difficult to dig in with the spade. What 
I have proved to be an excellent plan for 
increasing the quantity and quality of 
the manure heap is to gather up any old 
sods or turf, and cut them up small with a 
spade, and put a layer of this material 
occasionally between the manure. The 
drainings from stable or cow-house mav 
also be thrown on the heap, but too much 
must not be used at a time, or all the 
goodness of the manure will be washed 
through to soil underneath. 
Albert J. Shepherd. 
