J ami a r y , 1917 
23 
can put after each of the subdivisions in 
the list above a number of varieties. Then 
go carefully over the descriptions and de¬ 
termine which seems to match most closely 
the descriptions you have already put down 
yourself. Applying the process of elimina¬ 
tion, you can decide what is the most prom¬ 
ising variety to try. 
Take, for instance, bush beans. The 
first type you want is for the earliest plant¬ 
ing that can be made. Among the possible 
\-arieties to consider, you might put down 
five as follows: 
Be.vns : 
H a r d i - 
est cjuality 
early green- 
pod. 
■ Early Red Valentine X 
Early Mohawk X 
-I Stringless Green-pod 
Bountiful 
^ Early Yellow Six Veeks X 
After a careful study of the catalog, you 
would hnd reason to cross out or mark with 
an X the first, because it is not quite string¬ 
less ; the second because it is old and of in¬ 
ferior quality; and the last because it is not 
as good, or as productive, as the third 
fourth variety. 
As another illustration, take cabbage. 
Early W’innigstadt 
Early Jersey Wakefield 
Copenhagen Market 
Early Spring 
All-head Early 
Cabbage: 
Extra early, 
u n i f o r m 
good size. 
or 
The first and the second would be elimi¬ 
nated because they are not as large nor as 
uniform as the third ; and the fourth and the 
fifth because they are not as early as the 
Copenhagen Market. 
In making your selection, an important 
thing to remember is that a variety, and 
especially a comparatively new variety that is 
listed in the majority of catalogs—although 
it may not be “featured” in all of them—is 
pretty sure to be a “safe” bet. 
You will notice that the descriptions of 
many of the new varieties are remarkably 
alike, no matter how different may be their 
names. In many cases the varieties are not 
really distinct. Unfortunately, there is not 
as yet a very uniform classification, and 
the result is a good deal of confusion for 
the beginner. However, if he sticks to 
his principle of “type” first, he can not go 
far wrong because a good old variety un¬ 
der a new name, or a good new variety un¬ 
der a different name, will still be satis¬ 
factory in the qualities described. 
Another mistake to which the beginner is 
prone is the assumption that the new and 
highly praised varieties are as superior to 
the old standard sorts as the space devoted 
to featuring them would imply. The more 
brand new things you can try in your garden 
the better; but take the claims made for 
them—particularly about extreme earliness 
and gigantic yields—with a grain of salt. 
It may be true that the yields mentioned 
in connection with them have actually been 
made, but it by no means follows that, un¬ 
der the condition you can supply, the vari¬ 
eties which you are already using will not 
do as well for you as the new things. 
\\''here you are getting very satisfactory 
quality, be slow to change for claims of 
“three days to a week earlier,” or “twenty 
to thirty per cent bigger yields.” Stick to 
the standards that you find listed in most of 
the catalogs, and try the novelties, if you 
will, on a very small scale at first. 
Another thing to keep in mind, after your 
selection of varieties has been made and 
you are ready to place your order, is that 
there is almost as much to choose between 
different “strains” as there is between dif¬ 
ferent varieties. Careful selections and 
high breeding are of the utmost importance. 
As a general rule, the house which origi¬ 
nated or “introduced” a particular variety 
will be more interested than anyone else in 
maintaining its quality and supplying the 
highest grade of seed there is to be ob¬ 
tained. This is worth remembering when 
you are looking for special quality.' 
Summing the whole thing up, it is evident 
that the modern seedsmen’s catalogs, how¬ 
ever complicated they may seem to the un¬ 
initiated, are greatly simplified l)y .studying 
them according to some definite, concrete 
plan. The im])ortant thing for the beginner 
to bear in mind is that he must not allow 
himself to become so involved in their pages 
that he begins to doubt his own mind. The 
case of the experienced gardener is some¬ 
what different: but then, this article is not 
addressed to him. 
If you try to follow the suggestions here 
given in a thorough, painstaking way, you 
will find that it is no small task, and can 
hardly be completed in a single evening. 
But you are likely to find it interesting—in 
fact, really fascinating—work; and as a re¬ 
sult of your study you will find yourself far 
more familiar with the things you have to 
grow, and much better able to plan your gar¬ 
den intelligently for a continuous supply of 
vegetables which will be at the height of 
their table quality when you want to use 
them. It is information that will stand you 
in good stead, not only for this year’s gar¬ 
den, but through every succeeding year that 
you have one. As a result you will be able 
to get not only more service out of your cata¬ 
logs, but very much more satisfaction out 
of your garden. 
This Siamese sextette does not follow the good old tradition 
of the twins, for they come singly or in bulk, according 
to taste. They are of black teakwood. hand-carved, and the 
smallest two-inch-high one sells for 50 cents 
This old silver tea-set is gold plated inside and wrought 
with scenes of a mythology older than the gods of Greece. 
$200; cannot be duplicated. The cloth is silk-embroidered 
in an Eastern pattern. 41" by 21"; $12.50 
Mr. Kipling to the contrary, we are prepared to offer evidence that East 
and West do meet now and then. For who of the most Oceidental extraction 
and training could resist the charms of objects such as these? The names 
of shops carrying East Indian curios may be had of the House & Garden 
Information Service, 445 Fourth Avenue, New York, or the Shopping 
Ser-cice will be glad to purchase any article for you free of charge. 
A hand wrought 
bell of b r ass 
lohich is 6" high 
and costs $1.50 
Fan made from 
the roots of the 
Kahus - Kahus 
plant. A good 
loall -decoration. 
50 cents 
This pilloio i s 
embroidered on 
both sides in 
brig h t colors. 
$2.50 
