February  11,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
109 
NOW  READY. 
BARR’S 
SEED  GUIDE 
For  1897* 
Barr’s  Seed  Guide  is  full  of  practical  hints,  and  is  invaluable 
to  Gardeners,  Amateurs,  and  Exhibitors. 
8*r  FREE  TO  INTENDING  PURCHASERS. 
VEGETABLE  SEEDS. 
BARR’S  ILLUSTRATED  SEED  G-UIDE 
contains  a  Select  List  of  the  Best  Vegetable 
Seeds  for  securing  a  supply  of  Vegetables 
“  the  year  round.” 
FLOWER  SEEDS. 
BARR’S  ILLUSTRATED  SEED  GUIDE 
contains  a  Choice  List  of  the  best  Seeds 
for  the  Flower  Garden  and  Greenhouse. 
ALL  SEEDS  CARRIAGE  PAID  ON  RECEIPT  OF  REMITTANCE 
We  guarantee  all  our  Seeds  to  be  of  the  finest 
selected  strains ,  and  of  highest  growing  quality. 
BARR  Sc  SONS 
12  &  13,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  LONDON. 
VEGETABLE  ¥  FLOWER 
FOR  PRESENT  SOWING, 
AND 
BULBS  AND  PLANTS 
FOR  SPRING  PLANTING. 
COLLECTIONS  OF  VEGETABLE 
AND  FLOWER  SEEDS, 
Made  up  of  the  most  popular  Varieties ,  and  to  suit 
all  requirements,  from  2s.  and  upwards. 
DESCRIPTIVE  CATALOGUE  of  the  above,  with 
CULTURAL  DIRECTIONS,  will  be  sent  post  free 
on  application  to  our  Offices  at  OVERVEEN,  near 
HAARLEM,  HOLLAND,  or  to  our  General  Agents, 
Messrs.  MERTENS  &  CO., 
3  CROSS  LANE  LONDON,  E.C. 
No.  868. — Voi*  XXXIV.,  Third  Series. 
Tested  SEEDS. 
A  FEW  3VEORE 
New  and  Improved  Vegetables. 
CARTERS’  OUTDOOR  TOMATO. 
The  very  best  for  open-air  cultivation  we  know  of.  Should 
be  grown  by  everybody. 
In  Sealed  Packets,  price  2/6  each,  post  free. 
CARTERS’  LEVIATHAN  BROAD  BEAN. 
The  longest-podded  Broad  Bean  grown ;  fine  for  exhibition, 
and  one  of  the  best  for  cooking  purposes.  We  have  seen 
pods  21  inches  long. 
In  Sealed  Packets,  price  Is.  9d.  per  pint ;  3s.  per  quart, 
post  free. 
GARTERS’  RED  ELEPHANT  CARROT. 
A  veritable  giant,  both  in  length  and  rotundity.  Speci¬ 
mens  exhibited  at  our  establishment  measured  2£  feet 
in  length. 
In  Sealed  Packets,  price  1/6  each,  post  free. 
GARTERS’  EXTRA  EARLY  AUTUMN 
CIANT  CAULIFLOWER. 
This  magnificent  variety  is  more  dwarf,  considerably  earlier, 
and  altogether  better  than  the  old  form.  Grown  in  large 
quantities  for  Oovent  Garden  Market. 
In  Sealed  Packets,  price  2s.  each,  post  free. 
GARTERS’  SOLID  IVORY  CELERY. 
Still  maintains  its  position  as  one  of  the  be3t  white 
Celeries  in  cultivation.  A  customer  writes:— “It  was  the 
only  Oelery  we  found  good  at  the  break-up  of  the  intense 
frost.” 
In  Sealed  Packets,  price  1/6  each,  post  free, 
CARTERS’  MODEL  CUCUMBER. 
Many  so-called  new  Cucumbers  are  brought  forward  every 
season,  but  little  is  heard  of  them  afterwards.  This  fine 
variety  still  maintains  its  position  as  the  handsomest  in 
shape,  the  best  in  flavour,  and  the  finest  in  cultivation. 
In  Sealed  Packets,  price  2/6  and  3/6  each,  post  fese. 
CARTERS'  RECORD  ONION. 
The  largest  Onion  grown.  A  customer  writes  “  I  cleared 
the  whole  roost  in  the  Onion  competition  with  ‘  Record.’  ” 
We  have  seen  a  specimen  bulb  that  weighed  4J  lb. 
In  Sealed  Packets,  price  2/-  each,  post  free. 
THE  CARTER  SPINACH. 
Mr.  A.  PETTIGREW,  Head  Gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Bute, 
writes  : — “  The  best  Spinach  in  cultivation  :  quite  distinct 
from  all  others.”  Award  of  Merit,  R.H.8.  trials,  1895. 
In  Sealed  Packets,  price  2/6  per  pint ;  6d.  per  oz., 
post  free. 
Illustrated  CATALOGUE,  Gratis  and  Post  Free, 
THE  QUEEN’S  SEEDSMEN, 
237,  238,  &  97,  HIGH  HOLBORN, 
LONDON,  W.C. 
Jffiqjtal  of  |§OTttatliui[e. 
THURSDAY,  FEBRUARY  11,  1897. 
LEEKS  FOR  EXHIBITION. 
THE  Leek  play«  an  important  part  nowadays 
in  the  economy  of  the  kitchen,  being  used 
as  a  separate  dish,  and  not,  as  formerly,  simply 
for  flavouring.  The  culture  of  the  Leek  for 
exhibition  is  an  important  operation,  requiring 
great  patience  and  considerable  skill.  Nowhere 
are  Leeks  so  well  cultivated  as  in  the  north 
of  England  and  in  Scotland.  In  some  of  the 
Northumberland  and  Durham  villages  and  towns 
there  are  Leek  clubs,  and  the  annual  competi¬ 
tions  are  keen  and  exciting.  The  following 
method  is  the  one  usually  followed  in  the  north, 
where  length  of  blanch  is  more  sought  after 
than  thickness,  as  in  the  south. 
The  Needs  are  sown  early  in  February,  in 
2-inch  pots,  filled  with  a  rich  compost  of  good 
turf  and  decayed  manure,  these  being  plunged 
in  a  bottom  heat  of  70°,  or  80°  if  attainable. 
Three  seeds  are  placed  in  a  pot,  covered  over, 
and  in  three  weeks  the  plants  will  be  large 
enough  to  thin  out,  which  should  be  done  by 
taking  away  the  smallest,  and  leaving  the  largest 
plant  in  the  pot.  In  about  another  three  weeks 
from  this  time  they  will  be  ready  to  be  moved 
into  3^-inch  pots,  using  the  same  compost,  and 
being  careful  it  is  well  warmed  before  using. 
Replace  the  pots  in  the  bottom  heat,  shading 
from  bright  sun. 
If  they  can  now  be  plunged  in  a  bed  with 
a  few  inches  of  manure  on  it  they  will  be  greatly 
benefited  by  the  rising  ammonia,  while  the 
manure  helps  to  keep  them  moist.  Syringe  the 
plants  now  regularly  night  and  morning,  and  the 
more  moisture  kept  in  the  house  the  better  for 
the  Leeks.  When  the  pots  become  fairly  filled 
with  roots  they  should  be  watered  twice  a  week 
with  sulphate  of  ammonia,  in  the  proportion  of 
quarter  oz.  to  the  gallon  of  water.  If  time  and 
space  permit,  it  is  best  to  give  them  another 
shift  into  5-inch  pots,  three  weeks  after  the  first 
potting,  as  this  prevents  any  check.  At  the  end 
of  April  remove  the  plants  to  a  frame  where 
they  can  be  supplied  with  a  little  bottom  heat, 
and  gradually  expose  the  tops  to  the  air. 
In  a  week  if  the  weather  be  favourable  they 
will  be  ready  for  planting.  Dig  out  the  trench 
to  2  feet  deep,  and  pass  the  soil  through  a 
three-quarter  inch  sieve  to  remove  the  stones 
No.  2524.-701*  XOYI,  Old  SBRIBS, 
